Accumulation and subcellular distribution of cations in relation to the growth of potassium-deficient barley

Abstract Growth of barley (Hordeum vulgare L., cv. Georgie) was insensitive to soil K content above about 150 mg kg^?1, but at lower levels it declined. The reduction in yield was greater in soils containing approximately 10 mg Na kg^?1 than in soils with about 90 mg kg^?1 of Na. Growth was unaffected by changes in shoot K concentration above 75 mol m^?3, but declined at lower concentrations, and the decrease was less in plants grown in soils with high Na. Growth responses were not simply related to tissue K concentrations because plants grown in soils with extra Na had higher yields but lower K concentrations. When soil Na was low, plants accumulated Ca as tissue K declined, but when Na was provided this ion was accumulated. Plant Mg concentrations were generally low but increased as K decreased. The Ca and Mg were osmotically active. There were highly significant inverse linear relationships between yield and either the Ca or Mg concentrations in the shoots. X-ray microanalysis was used to examine the compartmentation of cations in leaves from barley plants (cv. Clipper) grown in nutrient solutions with high and low K concentrations. In plants grown with 2.5 mol m^?3 K, this was the major cation in both the cytoplasm and vacuole of mesophyll cells. However, in plants grown with 0.02 mol m^?3 K it declined to undetectable levels in the vacuole, although it was still detectable in the cytoplasm. In all plants, Ca was mainly located in epidermal cells. The implication of the results for explaining responses to K. in terms of compartmentation of solutes is discussed.     

X-Ray Micro-Analysis of Cells and Cell Compartments of A triplex spongiosa: I. LEAVES

Atriplex spongiosa was grown in hydroponic culture with additionsof 0, 200, 400 and 600 mM NaCl. Frozen, hydrated cells and cellcompartments of young and mature leaf tissue were analysed byX-ray micro-analysis. Evidence for low K + Na and Cl content,and high K selectivity in the bundle sheath cytoplasm was obtainedfrom data on X-ray count ratios and on total X-ray counts. Vacuolesof the major cell types of the mature leaf had either high Kor high Na and Cl contents when grown in the absence or presenceof NaCl. Comparison of K, Na and Cl content of different cell types inthe mature leaf showed gradients in selectivity for K. relativeto Na between the bundle sheath cells and the bladder cells.In the young expanding leaves salt was sequestered in the numeroussalt bladders on the leaf surface, while the cytoplasm and developingvacuoles of undifferentiated cells contained largely K and littleNa or Cl. The results support general views on the compartmentation ofsalt in plants cells in relation to osmotic or saline stress. Key words: Atriplex spongiosa, X-ray analysis, Salinity, Compartmentation, Leaf     

Response of Melanthera biflora to Salinity and Water Stress

Melanthera biflora (Asteraceae) is a moderately salt-tolerantplant from the Indo-Pacific region. In laboratory studies itsgrowth was inhibited by salt above 50 mol m^–3, but itwas able to survive salinities approaching that of seawater,namely 400 mol m^–3. Shoot potassium concentrations weremaintained over a range of salinities up to 400 mol m^–3,while sodium and chloride accumulation followed closely theincrease in external osmotic pressure. In contrast, the increasein osmotic pressure of the leaf sap of Melanthera biflora, subjectedto water stress, was due mainly to a decrease in the ratio offresh weight/dry weight. 3-dimethylsulphoniopropionate (3-DMSP)and glycinebetaine were identified by fast atom bombardmentmass and ¹H -NMR spectroscopy, with 3-DMSP being the main oniumcompound and glycinebetaine absent in some accessions. Onium(quaternary ammonium and/or tertiary sulphonium) compounds andproline increased during salt and water stress due mainly toa decrease in the fresh weight/dry weight ratio of tissue, althoughpart of the increase in salt-stressed tissue was due to an increasein the accumulation of the onium compound. This salt-inducedincrease in 3-DMSP was inhibited in conditions of low sulphursupply and there was no compensatory increase in proline. Key words: Melanthera biflora, Asteraceae, salinity, glycinebetaine, 3-dimethylsulphonioproprionate     

A survey of black dot and other fungal tuber blemishing diseases in British potato crops at harvest

Black dot and other fungal blemishing diseases were assessed on tubers from crops in eastern England in 1987 and 1988, and in 1989 and 1990 from crops throughout Great Britain. Black dot was found on tubers in crops from all areas of the country, and was most common in those from eastern and southern England. The disease was scarce on most Scottish crops, but occasionally some were severely affected. In 1988 there was no consistent relationship between the amounts of disease on the seed and subsequent ware crop. On average, the disease was more prevalent in irrigated crops and where the interval between successive potato crops was short. In 1990 treating seed tubers with fungicide had no effect on subsequent levels of disease. Few crops were unaffected by silver scurf, and it was most common in crops from southern and eastern England. In the national survey common scab was the most prevalent disease, black scurf was less common and skin spot and powdery scab uncommon except in some Scottish crops.     

The effect of oxamyl and the growing of susceptible and resistant potato cultivars on the population dynamics of Globodera rostochiensis throughout the soil profile

Comparisons are made between the population dynamics of potato cyst nematode and root growth of Pentland Crown and Maris Piper potato cultivars. Large changes in the number of eggs occurred to a depth of 48 cm, particularly in a peaty loam and in plots treated with oxamyl. Oxamyl delayed the hatch of eggs in the peaty loam but not in the sandy loam, giving the protected plants several weeks without invasion damage during which they became bigger with their roots better established deeper in the soil. Oxamyl killed or impaired the movement of second stage juveniles but appeared to have little systemic activity to hinder juvenile development within roots.     

Observations on take-all and eyespot diseases of wheat in Yorkshire

Wheat crops were surveyed in Yorkshire from 1944 to 1946 on farms where crops were reported to be unsatisfactory. Take-all ( Ophiobolus graminis (Sacc.) Sacc.) and eyespot ( Cercosporella herpotrichoides Fron.) were both found to be present; the latter is the most serious trouble on the better wheat lands.
The variation in the incidence of these diseases on selected farms during the three seasons has been compared.
The effect of rotation has been examined; both diseases were found to be encouraged by too frequent cropping with wheat or barley. The incidence of disease in wheat crops following a 1-year seeds ley was found to be influenced by the nurse crop used to undersow the seeds, and also by the time at which the ley was ploughed up. Oats were found to be preferable to either wheat or barley as a nurse crop, and in 1946 late ploughing considerably reduced the amount of eyespot disease present in the following wheat crop.
A 1-year ley is considered to be of too short a duration to ensure the disappearance from the soil of Ophiobolus graminis and Cercosporella herpotrichoides surviving from the previous crop, and a period of 2–3 years is suggested as being desirable.     

Resistance in maize to a third East African race of Puccinia polysora Underw

In 1961 a third race, EA. 3, of Puccinia polysora was recognized in Kenya. This was virulent to maize carrying either of the genes Rpp ₁ or Rpp ₂, previously isolated. Resistance to EA. 3 was found in many Central American maizes; in two, Andaqui (Colombia) and Zapalote Chico (Mexico), genes Rpp ₁₀ and Rpp ₁₁ were recognized. Rpp ₁₀ was fully dominant and its genotypes highly resistant to both EA. 1 and EA. 3. Rpp ₁₁ was incompletely dominant, but determined effective resistance to both races when homozygous. Experimental crosses gave no evidence of linkage between the genes Rpp ₁, Rpp ₁₀ and Rpp ₁₁.     

Chemical control of potato cyst-nematode in sandy clay soil

In sandy clay soil in Bedfordshire, potato cyst-nematode (Heterodera rostochiensis Woll.) was controlled and yields of Majestic potatoes greatly increased when i-2g aldicarb, 4-0 g fensulphothion or 10-3 g diazinon, disulphoton, ‘Isolan’ (i-isopropyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolyl dimethylcarba-mate) or thionazin per m² were incorporated in the top soil before potatoes were planted. Diethyl phosphorothioates controlled H. rostochiensis better than dimethyl phosphates. One hundred and eleven g methyl bromide, 47-6 g carbon disulphide or 45-2 g D-D per m² applied to the soil and covered with polyethylene sheeting greatly increased the yield of potatoes, but also increased the number of nematodes in the soil. Estimates of the number of larvae able to invade potato roots in treated soil after harvest and of cysts, total eggs or live eggs selected the same range of treatments as effective in controlling H. rostochiensis.