Spatial aluminium sensitivity of root apices of two common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes with contrasting aluminium resistance

The initial response of plants to aluminium (Al) is an inhibition of root elongation. In the present study, short and medium-term effects of Al treatment (20 muM) on root growth and Al accumulation of two common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes, VAX-1 (Al-sensitive) and Quimbaya (Al-resistant), were studied. Root elongation of both genotypes was severely inhibited during the first 3-4 h of Al treatment. Thereafter, both genotypes showed gradual recovery. However, this recovery continued in genotype Quimbaya until the root elongation rate reached the level of the control (without Al) while the genotype VAX-1 was increasingly damaged by Al after 12 h of Al treatment. Short-term Al treatment (90 microM Al) to different zones of the root apex using agarose blocks corroborated the importance of the transition zone (TZ, 1-2 mm) as a main target of Al. However, Al applied to the elongation zone (EZ) also contributed to the overall inhibition of root elongation. Enhanced inhibition of root elongation during the initial 4 h of Al treatment was related to high Al accumulation in root apices in both genotypes (Quimbaya>VAX-1). Recovery from Al stress was reflected by decreasing Al contents especially in the TZ, but also in the EZ. After 24 h of Al treatment the high Al resistance of Quimbaya was reflected by much lower Al contents in the entire root apex. The results confirmed that genotypic differences in Al resistance in common bean are built up during medium-term exposure of the roots to Al. For this acquisition of Al resistance, the activation and maintenance of an Al exclusion mechanism, especially in the TZ but also in the EZ, appears to be decisive.     

Quantitative trait loci for root morphology traits under aluminum stress in common bean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaseolus vulgaris</Emphasis> L.)

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a major limiting factor of crop production in acid soils, which are found mostly in developing countries of the tropics and sub-tropics. Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is particularly sensitive to Al toxicity; and development of genotypes with better root growth in Al-toxic soils is a priority. The objectives of the present study were to physiologically assess root architectural traits in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population of common bean that contrasts for Al resistance (DOR364 × G19833) and to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling root growth under two nutrient solutions, one with 20 μM Al concentration and the other without Al, both at pH 4.5. A total of 24 QTL were found through composite interval mapping analysis, 9 for traits under Al treatment, 8 for traits under control treatment, and 7 for relative traits. Root characteristics expressed under Al treatment were found to be under polygenic control, and some QTL were identified at the same location as QTL for tolerance to low phosphorous stress, thus, suggesting cross-links in genetic control of adaptation of common bean to different abiotic stresses.     

A comparative study on plant growth and root plasticity responses of two Brachiaria forage grasses grown in nutrient solution at low and high phosphorus supply

Brachiaria forage grasses are widely used for livestock production in the tropics. Signalgrass (Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk, CIAT 606) is better adapted to low phosphorus (P) soils than ruzigrass (B. ruziziensis cv. Kennedy, CIAT 654), but the physiological basis of differences in low-P adaptation is unknown. We characterized morphological and physiological responses of signalgrass and ruzigrass to low P supply by growing both grasses for 30 days in nutrient solution with two levels of P supply using the hydroxyapatite pouch system. Ruzigrass produced more biomass at both levels of P supply whilst signalgrass appears to be a slower-growing grass. Both grasses increased biomass allocation to roots and had higher root acid phosphatase and phytase activities at low P supply. At low P supply, ruzigrass showed greater morphological plasticity as its leaf mass density and lateral root fraction increased. For signalgrass, morphological traits that are not responsive to variation in P supply might confer long-term ecological advantages contributing to its superior field persistence: greater shoot tissue mass density (dry matter content) might lower nutrient requirements while maintenance of lateral root growth might be important for nutrient acquisition in patchy soils. Physiological plasticity in nutrient partitioning between root classes was also evident for signalgrass as main roots had higher nutrient concentrations at high P supply. Our results highlight the importance of analyzing morphological and physiological trait profiles and determining the role of phenotypic plasticity to characterize differences in low-P adaptation between Brachiaria genotypes.     

Fungal endophyte association with Brachiaria grasses and its influence on plant water status,total non-structural carbohydrates and biomass production under drought stress

Plant and Soil - The main aim was to evaluate the effect of endophytic association of Sarocladium implicatum on drought responses of Brachiaria grass cultivars under greenhouse conditions. We...     

Nitrogen recoveries from organic amendments in crop and soil assessed by isotope techniques under tropical field conditions

The integration of multipurpose legumes into low-input tropical agricultural systems is needed because they are a nitrogen (N) input through symbiotic fixation. The drought-tolerant cover legume canavalia (Canavalia brasiliensis) has been introduced for use either as forage or as a green manure into the crop-livestock system of the Nicaraguan hillsides. To evaluate its impact on the subsequent maize crop, an in-depth study on N dynamics in the soil-plant system was conducted. Microplots were installed in a 6-year old field experiment with maize-canavalia rotation. Direct and indirect ¹⁵N-labelling techniques were used to determine N uptake by maize from canavalia residues and canavalia-fed cows?? manure compared to mineral fertilizer. Litter bags were used to determine the N release from canavalia residues. The incorporation of N from the amendment into different soil N pools (total N, mineral N, microbial biomass) was followed during the maize cropping season. Maize took up an average of 13.3 g?N?m^?2, within which 1.0 g?N?m^?2 was from canavalia residues and 2.6 g?N?m^?2 was from mineral fertilizer, corresponding to an amendment N recovery of 12% and 32%, respectively. Recoveries in maize would probably be higher at a site with lower soil available N content. Most of the amendment N remained in the soil. Mineral N and microbial N were composed mainly of N derived from the soil. Combined total ¹⁵N recovery in maize and soil at harvest was highest for the canavalia residue treatment with 98% recovery, followed by the mineral fertilizer treatment with 83% recovery. Despite similar initial enrichment of soil microbial and mineral N pools, the indirect labelling technique failed to assess the N fertilizer value of mineral and organic amendments due to a high N mineralization from the soil organic matter.     

Low phosphorus tolerance mechanisms: phosphorus recycling and photosynthate partitioning in the tropical forage grass, Brachiaria hybrid cultivar Mulato compared with rice

The Brachiaria hybrid cv. Mulato is well adapted to low-fertility acid soils deficient in phosphorus (P). To study the grassy forage's mechanisms for tolerating low P supply, we compared it with rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Kitaake). We tested by using nutrient solution cultures, and quantified the effects of P deficiency on the enzymatic activities of phosphohydrolases and on carbon metabolism in P-deficient leaves. While P deficiency markedly induced activity of phosphohydrolases in both crops, the ratio of inorganic phosphorus to total P in leaves was greater in Brachiaria hybrid. Phosphorus deficiency in leaves also markedly influenced the partitioning of carbon in both crops. In the Brachiaria hybrid, compared with rice, the smaller proportion of (14)C partitioned into sugars and the larger proportion into amino acids and organic acids in leaves coincided with decreased levels of sucrose and starch. Hence, in P-deficient leaves of the Brachiaria hybrid, triose-P was metabolized into amino acids or organic acids. Results thus indicate that the Brachiaria hybrid, compared with rice, tolerates low P supply to leaves by enhancing sugar catabolism and by inducing the activity of several phosphohydrolases. This apparently causes rapid P turnover and enables the Brachiaria hybrid to use P more efficiently.     

Secretion of phytase from the roots of several plant species under phosphorus-deficient conditions

Phosphorus (P) deficiency increased the secretion of phytases from roots of various plant species. The secretory phytases were collected with a dialysis membrane tube for 24 hours from roots of sixteen plant species grown with low or adequate supply of P in nutrient solutions. The activity of not only secretory phytase, but also acid phosphatase, increased with the low P treatment in all of the plant species examined. Secretion of phytase by the roots under P-deficient conditions was highest in Brachiaria decumbens CIAT 606, Stylosanthes guianensis CIAT 184 and tomato, moderate in Brachiaria brizantha CIAT6780, Stylosanthes guianensis CIAT 2950, alfalfa, white clover and orchard grass, and lowest in Andropgon gayanus CIAT 621, Stylosanthes capitata CIAT 10280, upland rice, timothy, redtop, alsike clover, red clover and white lupin plants. An immunoreactive protein band that reacted with a polyclonal antibody raised against wheat bran phytase, corresponding to molecular weight 35–40 kD, could be detected in seven of the species tested. These results indicate that the secretory phytase may provide an efficient mechanism for certain plants to utilize inositol hexaphosphate in soil.     

Interaction of aluminium and drought stress on root growth and crop yield on acid soils

Background

Aluminium (Al) toxicity and drought stress are two major constraints for crop production in the world, particularly in the tropics. The variation in rainfall distribution and longer dry spells in much of the tropics during the main growing period of crops are becoming increasingly important yield-limiting factors with the global climate change. As a result, crop genotypes that are tolerant of both drought and Al toxicity need to be developed.

Scope

The present review mainly focuses on the interaction of Al and drought on root development, crop growth and yield on acid soils. It summarizes evidence from our own studies and other published/related work, and provides novel insights into the breeding for the adaptation to these combined abiotic stresses. The primary symptom of Al phytotoxicity is the inhibition of root growth. The impeded root system will restrict the roots for exploring the acid subsoil to absorb water and nutrients which is particularly important under condition of low soil moisture in the surface soil under drought. Whereas drought primarily affects shoot growth, effects of phytotoxic Al on shoot growth are mostly secondary effects that are induced by Al affecting root growth and function, while under drought stress root growth may even be promoted. Much progress has recently been made in the understanding of the physiology and molecular biology of the interaction between Al toxicity and drought stress in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in hydroponics and in an Al-toxic soil.

Conclusions

Crops growing on acid soils yield less than their potential because of the poorly developed root system that limits nutrient and water uptake. Breeding for drought resistance must be combined with Al resistance, to assure that drought resistance is expressed adequately in crops grown on soils with acid Al-toxic subsoils.     

Phenotypic evaluation and QTL analysis of yield and symbiotic nitrogen fixation in a common bean population grown with two levels of phosphorus supply

Common bean is an important staple crop in Eastern Africa and Latin America. Low soil fertility is a major limitation to agronomic productivity. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) is an important property of legumes, leading to high protein levels and high nutritional value. Nitrogen (N) metabolism and yield traits were evaluated in the common bean population DOR 364 × BAT 477 in field experiments under moderate and low phosphorus (P) soil conditions resembling environments found on farmers’ fields. Low P availability in soil severely limits seed yield, and trait correlations with yield reveal that high biomass as well as early maturity and efficient seed filling are important for good performance in low P stress, resembling drought resistance. Investigation of SNF and soil N uptake under low P stress showed reduced seed nitrogen levels and major variation in soil-derived N. In low P conditions, no significant reduction of %N derived from the atmosphere (%Ndfa) was observed; however, %Ndfa was correlated with yield, indicating that under stress SNF becomes an important asset. Significant genetic variation was observed for yield, yield components, and SNF ability suggesting that traits can be improved by breeding. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for %Ndfa and seed N concentration were discovered on chromosomes Pv07 and Pv02; independent yield QTLs were identified on the same chromosomes. Two QTL hotspots that affect several traits including yield components were found on Pv02 and Pv06; the latter represents a constitutive QTL hotspot independent from the environment. QTLs may be used for marker design and molecular breeding.