Volume 8 Issue 11 | November 2014 issue
Table of Contents
8(11) 2014

>>>Return to home page
Southern Cross Publishing Group©2014
AUSTRALIA




Australian Journal of Crop Science | November 2014


Volume
8 Number 11  Year 2014



Sources of phosphorus with sugar cane filter cake on the nutritional status and productivity of sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum L) cultivated in red-yellow latosoil

Ricardo de L. Vasconcelos*, Renato de M. Prado, Cid N. S. Campos, Gustavo Caione, Hilαrio J. de Almeida, Leandro R. Moda, Fernando T. Mello, Claudia C. Dela Marta

Sγo Paulo State University “Julio de Mesquita Filho”, UNESP, Faculty of Agrarian and Veterinarian Sciences , Via de acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane s/n, CEP: 14884-900, Jaboticabal-SP-Brazil
Syngenta, Crop Protection - units 91 and 92, Av. Maurνlio Biagi, 800, CEP: 14020-750, Ribeirγo Preto-SP-Brazil

Summary

Limited sources and phosphorus dynamics in tropical soils justify the search for alternative sources of the element, especially in sugar cane culture. The sugar cane filter cake, a by-product of sugar cane juice filtration is one option, which contains appreciable concentrations of various nutrients including phosphorus, an adequate complement on the use of mineral fertilizers. The effects of phosphorus sources application in different doses combined with sugar cane filter cake were evaluated in sugar cane culture by phosphorus concentrations in soil, plant nutritional status, and stalk productivity. Applications of  phosphorus and sugar cane filter cake increased nutrient concentrations in soil, leaves and plant aerial parts by 47.2% (15.4 mg dm-3),  7.1% (1.4 g kg-1) and 36.3% (10.6 kg ha-1), respectively. The sugar cane filter cake alone increased stalk production by 3.4% (122.6 t ha-1). TS with sugar cane filter cake combined or its higher doses stood out in all determined properties with the exception in stalk production, which was higher (126.7 t ha-1) by application of BP (360 kg ha-1).

Pages 1467-1474 | Full Text PDF
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

The effects of light wavelength and intensity on the germination of pitaya seed genotypes

Alessandro Borini Lone*, Lνlian Keiko Unemoto, Edilene Aparecida Preti Ferrari, Lϊcia Sadayo Assari Takahashi, Ricardo Tadeu de Faria

Department of Agronomics at the State University of Londrina (UEL), Londrina, Paranα State, Brazil

Summary

Pitaya is the name given to the fruits of several climbing cactus plants (Cactaceae), some of which are potentially suitable for commercialization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the germination of the seeds of five pitaya genotypes under light of different wavelengths and intensities. The genotypes studied were Hylocereus undatus (HU), H. Polyrhizus (HP), Selenicereus megalanthus (SM), H. undatus x H. costaricensis (PH1) and H. costaricensis x H. undatus (PH2). The wavelengths tested were red (R), far-red and white light, at intensities of 3.4, 10.1 and 17.9 ΅mol m-2 s-1. All genotypes germinated in the dark, but light produced favorable results in the germination percentages of SM, PH1 and PH2. Light wavelength did not affect the germination percentage of the Hylocereus genotypes.

Pages 1475-1480 | Full Text PDF
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Tifton 419’ Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon Χ C. transvaaliensis) response to plant grow inhibitors

Sidnei Roberto de Marchi*, Dagoberto Martins, Neumαrcio Vilanova da Costa

Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Avenida Governador Jaime Campos, 6390 - Barra do Garηas, MT, Brazil, 78600-000
Faculdade de Ciκncias Agronτmicas - FCA/ UNESP, Dep. de Produηγo Vegetal-Agricultura, Fazenda Experimental Lageado, s/n, Caixa Postal 237, 18610-307 Botucatu, SP, Brazil
Centro de Ciκncias Agrαrias, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paranα, Caixa Postal 91, 85960-000, Marechal Cβndido Rondon, PR, Brazil

Summary

‘Tifton 419’ bermudagrass cultivar [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. Χ C. transvaalensis Burtt-Davy] is the most preferred turfgrass for sportive, commercial and residential lawns. A very limited research has been reported yet on the PGRs regarding seasonal effects of single vs. multiple applications of these products on turfgrass quality and clipping production on South America. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sequential applications of different plant growth inhibitors during re-growth and flower rachis emission of ‘Tifton 419’ Bermudagrass. The results showed that only bispyribac-sodium provided visual injury on ‘Tifton 419’ Bermudagrass, but the symptoms quickly tend towards zero at 21 days after second application (DASA). ‘Tifton 419’ Bermudagrass greens could be better handle by sequential application of trinexapac-ethyl, or prohexadione-calcium or bispyribac-sodium, once the height of plants, seedhead emission and total clipping dry mass reduction were over than 37%, 91% and 88%, respectively, for a period up to 60 DASA.

Pages 1481-1486 | Full Text PDF
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Dynamics of zinc (Zn) and nickel (Ni) in a Cerrado Oxisol treated with sewage sludge for a long period

Fernando Giovannetti de Macedo*, Wanderley Josι de Melo, Luciana Cristina Souza Merlino, Riviane Maria de Albuquerque Donha, Gabriel Maurνcio Peruca de Melo, Josι Lavres Jϊnior

Department of Plant Nutrition, Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Centenαrio, 303, Piracicaba, SP, 13400-970, Brazil
Department of Technology, Sao Paulo State University, Access route Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n., Jaboticabal, SP, 14884-900, Brazil

Summary

This study aimed to evaluate the dynamics of Zn and Ni in a soil/plant system regarding extraction methods to determine the quantity of plant nutrients in the soil as well as the soil enzymatic activity in an area treated with sewage sludge for eleven years. The increments of Zn and Ni in the Cerrado Oxisol as a function of sewage sludge application over a long time were small. The Mehlich-3 extractant was the best correlated with Zn and Ni extraction by the corn plants. In the eleventh year of application, sewage sludge was not efficient at supplying Zn to plants. The application of high doses of sewage sludge for a long time affects soil enzymatic activity.

Pages 1487-1494 | Full Text PDF
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Physiological mechanisms of improving rice (Oryza sativa L.) seed vigor through arc-tooth-shaped corona discharge field treatment

Min Tan, Jiang Xu, Fade Li, Chunqing Zhang*


State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Agricultural College, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, China, 271018
Mechanical and Electrical Engineering College, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, China, 271018

Summary
Corona discharge field treatment is capable of improving seed vigor, but its physiological mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, Tianyou 1, Tianyou 3 and Tianyou 5 indica hybrid rice seeds were treated with arc-tooth-shaped corona discharge field under 360Kv/m for 4.3min. Then, seven physiological and biochemical indexes, which reflect membrane repair, metabolic enzymes and anti-oxidation enzymes, were analyzed at five germination periods (0, 24, 48, 60, 72h). The results showed that the respective levels of respiration rate (26.8%, 30%, 31.5%), dehydrogenase (41.6%, 24.6%,22.3%), a-amylase (23.3%, 32.7%, 22.3%), superoxide dismutase (31.7%, 44.9%, 23.4%), peroxidase (35.2%, 40.1%, 19%) and catalase (22%, 34%, 27.8%) increased compared with the control in three hybrid rice seeds, whereas the electrical conductivity reduced (11.3%, 15.2%, 9.9%).

Pages 1495-1502 | Full Text PDF
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Validation of molecular markers linked to alleles controlling growth habit in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Vanusa S. R. Martins, Maria Celeste Gonηalves-Vidigal*, Giselly F. Lacanallo, and Pedro S. Vidigal Filho

Departamento de Agronomia, Universidade Estadual de Maringα, Av. Colombo, 5790, 87.020-900, Maringα, Paranα, Brazil

Summary

This work had objectives to determine the inheritance growth habit of the Andean cultivar Jalo-UEM using the F2 populations from the Jalo-UEM Χ Cornell 49-242 and Jalo-UEM Χ Michelite crosses; and, to investigate the utility of Bmd45-AIA molecular marker for identifying plants having FinFin and/or finfin alleles in these segregating populations. Phenotypic and molecular analyses were conducted in two segregating populations derived from crosses between a line displaying a determinate growth (Jalo-UEM) and two cultivars with an indeterminate growth (Cornell 49-242 and Michelite) habit. The results demonstrate that the inheritance of the indeterminate growth habit was conferred by a single dominant gene, Fin. Molecular analysis using the microsatellite marker Bmd45-AIA revealed co-dominant segregation for both study populations, with fragment sizes of 207 and 245bp linked to the Fin (indeterminate) and fin (determinate) alleles, respectively. The segregation ratio of this marker was 1Fin/Fin: 2Fin/fin: 1fin/fin in the F2 populations from the Jalo-UEM Χ Cornell 49-242 (p = 0.56) and Jalo-UEM Χ Michelite (p = 0.42) crosses. This study further establishes the relevance of the Bmd45-AIA marker for marker-assisted selection of common bean plants architecture and should allow common bean breeders to identify plants with different growth habit.

Pages 1503-1509 | Full Text PDF
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Growth and production of secondary compounds in monkey-pepper (Piper aduncum L.) leaves cultivated under altered ambient light

Fernanda Ventorim Pacheco*, Ivan Caldeira Almeida Alvarenga, Pedro Martins Ribeiro Junior, Jose Eduardo Brasil Pereira Pinto, Rafaella de Paula Avelar, Amauri Alves Alvarenga

Departamento de Fisiologia Vegetal, Laboratσrio de Crescimento e Desenvolvimento de Plantas, Universidade Federal de Lavras, 37200-000, Lavras, Brazil
Departamento de Agricultura Geral, Laboratσrio de Cultura de Tecidos e Plantas Medicinais, Universidade Federal de Lavras , 37200-000, Lavras, Brazil
Embrapa Semi-Αrido, BR 482, Km 152, 23, 56302-970, Petrolina, Brazil

Summary

The species Piper aduncum L., native to the Americas, has important biological benefits for the production of secondary compounds such as phenolics and flavonoids. This study aimed to evaluate the growth and production of different secondary compounds (total phenolic acids, flavonoids, lignin and activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase - PAL) of Piper aduncum L. The treatments were: four shading greenhouses (modified ambient lights), with 50%, 70% of natural irradiance, red and blue nets, and one at full sun (100% of natural irradiance), with 20 replicates per treatment. The growth of Piper aduncum was affected by the different altered ambient light, showing a higher growth under blue net. However, the species shows responses which allow its survival at full sun, such as more production of roots. The production of secondary compound was also affected by light, and the production of phenolic compounds and lignin higher (respectively 0.18 and 11.7 ΅g g DM-1) in treatment of blue net shade greenhouse.

Pages 1510-1516 | Full Text PDF
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Zinc doses, sources and application times: seed physiological potential and flooded rice yield

Amauri Nelson Beutler*, Vanessa Neumann Silva, Evandro Ademir Deak, Giovane Matias Burg, Marcelo Raul Schmidt, Marcos Toebe

Federal Universtiy of Pampa, Campus Itaqui, Itaqui, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Summary

We evaluated the effect of dose, source and application time of zinc (Zn) on germination, cold test (germination), seed physiological potential and flooded rice yield. The results showed that the Zn rice seed treatment did not change germination or seedling emergence. The seedling dry mass and germination at low temperatures (cold test) are the physiological potential parameters that benefited when using
ZnSO4.7H2O. Foliar application of ZnCl2 at the V11 vegetative stage caused leaf damage when used at a dose of 400 g ha-1, and caused more intense damage at 1600 g ha-1. Treating rice seeds by coating with ZnCl2 provided 6.4% higher grain yield compared to that of ZnSO4.7H2O. Applying Zn by coating the seeds promoted 5.8% higher rice grain yield and increased grain yield 7.0% by spraying at the V11 stage compared with that at the V4 vegetative stage. The principal components analysis by seed treatment condition showed that the cold test and accelerated ageing had the highest contributions to the first and third components and acted in opposition to grain yield.

Pages 1517-1525 | Full Text PDF
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Response of the roots of oil palm OΧG interspecific hybrids (Elaeis oleifera ΧElaeis guineensis) to aluminum (Al3+) toxicity

Yurany Dayanna Rivera-Mιndez, Andrιs Leonardo Moreno Chacσn, Hernαn Mauricio Romero*

Biology and Breeding Research Program, Colombian Oil Palm Research Center, Cenipalma - Calle 20A # 43A-50, Piso 4, Bogotα, Colombia
Department of Biology, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Carrera 30 Calle 45, Bogotα, Colombia

Summary
To understand the physiological and biochemical response of oil palm rootlets to aluminum toxicity and to identify possible tolerance mechanisms and the materials best adapted to this stress, six oil palm interspecific OΧG hybrids (U1273, U1737,  U1757, U1859, U1914, and U1990) were planted in a hydroponic system with three levels of aluminum concentrations (0, 100 and 200 ΅M) in a randomized complete split-plot design with three replications. The root variables of growth, accumulation of aluminum, nutrient content, production of spermidine, and exudation of organic acids were recorded. High levels of aluminum inhibited root growth, altered the absorption of water and nutrients, especially nitrogen, calcium, iron, and manganese, and activated tolerance mechanisms, such as organic acid release, homeostasis of certain essential ions, and spermidine production.

Pages 1526-1533 | Full Text PDF
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Is grain zinc concentration in wheat limited by source?

Na Liu, Yinghua Zhang*, Bin Wang, Yingwen Xue, Peng Yu, Qi Zhang, Zhimin Wang*

Key Laboratory of Farming System, Ministry of Agriculture; College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, No.2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100193, China
College of Agronomy, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, Heilongjiang, China

Summary
Increasing zinc (Zn) concentration in wheat grain is important to human health. In order to clarify the source limitations of grain Zn concentration, ears of winter wheat were grown in detached ear culture under different Zn supply levels (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 ΅mol l-1) and sucrose supply levels (2%, 4% and 6%). To investigate sink limitations, some ears were subjected to partial spikelet removal. The result showed that wheat grain yield did not change; however, the concentration of Zn, iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and protein in grain was significantly (p<0.05) increased by Zn application. At 90 ΅ mol l-1 Zn supply, grain Zn concentration reached a maximum of 100 mg kg-1; compared to the no Zn treatment, this represented 5.5 to 9.8-fold and 5.7 to 8.4-fold increase, for superior grain and inferior grain, respectively.

Pages 1534-1541 | Full Text PDF
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Morphogenetic characterization of seeded and seedless varieties of Kinnow Mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco)

Sadaf Altaf, Muhammad Mumtaz Khan*, Muhammad Jaffar Jaskani, Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Muhammad Usman, Bushra Sadia, Faisal Saeed Awan, Asif Ali, Azeem Iqbal Khan

Citrus Nursery Sanitation Laboratory, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan
Department of Crop Sciences, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, PO Box 34, Al-khod 123, Sultanate of Oman
Plant Tissue Culture Cell, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan
Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Centre of Agricultural Biochemistry and Biotechnology (CABB), University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Centre of Agricultural Biochemistry and Biotechnology (CABB), University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

Summary

Kinnow (Citrus reticulata Blanco) mandarin is a superior fruit crop in Pakistan; however, it is characterized by high number of seeds which is disliked by consumers and the processing industry. The objective of this work was to document the morphological and genetic differences in selected seeded and seedless Kinnow strains from two different. The morphological characters suggested variations in external and internal characters of seeded and seedless fruits such as growth habit, fruit shape and texture. Likewise chemical composition of seedless fruit was different than seeded including TSS and Ascorbic acid. Whereas PCA analysis suggested fruit weight, peel weight, non-reducing sugars and fruit diameter were largely contributing for the variations among the seeded and seedless strains of Faisalabad and Sargodha regions. The genetic characterization was carried out using Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers. Two unique fragments of sizes 1000 bp each were detected by RAPD primers GL A-2 and GL C-19 in seedless strains which can be used as a fingerprint for the identification of seedless plants. The results obtained from SSR analysis showed 81.62% of overall polymorphism in seeded and seedless strains of two locations. This variation will help to develop molecular markers for seedless Kinnow strains.

Pages 1542-1549 | Full Text PDF
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Mineral contents in grains of seven food-grade sorghum hybrids grown in a Mediterranean environment

Paola Pontieri*, Jacopo Troisi, Raffaele Di Fiore, Antimo Di Maro, Scott R. Bean, Mitch R. Tuinstra, Earl Roemer, Antonio Boffa, Angelica Del Giudice, Graziano Pizzolante, Pietro Alifano, Luigi Del Giudice

Istituto di Bioscienze e BioRisorse-UOS Portici-CNR c/o Dipartimento di Biologia, Sezione di Igiene, Napoli, 80134, Italy
Laboratorio Chimico Merceologico Az. Spec. CCIAA, Napoli, 80143, Italy
Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Seconda Universitΰ di Napoli, Caserta, 81100, Italy
USDA-ARS, CGAHR, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA
Purdue University, Department of Agronomy, West LaFayette, IN 47907, USA
Nu Life Market, 3005 N Sycamore Healy, Kansas USA 67850
Dipartimento di Medicina, Servizio di Allergologia, Ospedale Martini, Torino, 10171, Italy
Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali, Universitΰ del Salento, Lecce, 73100, Italy

Summary

The objective of this study was to determine the mineral contents in grains of seven white food-grade sorghum hybrids, bred and adapted for growth in the central USA and grown in a Mediterranean area of Southern Italy. The seven hybrids were analyzed for grain ash and for minerals contents. Nutritionally, essential macro-, micro- and trace elements content were investigated. The analysis of essential elements was performed by mass spectrometry using a mix solution of internal isotopes standard. The results demonstrated that food-grade sorghum was characterized by high Mg, Fe and Zn content, high K:Na ratio and low Ca:P ratio, compared to other crops, due to the fact that the grain mineral contents of crop species are influenced by the effects of genotypes and environments.

Pages 1550-1559 | Full Text PDF
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Starch granule size distribution and morphogenesis in maize (Zea mays L.) grains with different endosperm types

Lina Cui, Shuting Dong*, Jiwang Zhang, Peng Liu

State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology / Agronomy College of Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, Shandong, P. R. China
Dezhou Agriculture Bureau, Dezhou 253000, Shandong, P. R. China

Summary
In this study we investigated starch granule size distribution and morphogenesis in the grains of maize with different endosperm types. Four maize varieties including super-sweet (Huawei NO. 6), pop (Tebao NO. 2), waxy (Xixinghuangnuo NO. 6), and dent corns (Zhengdan 958) were examined for starch granule size distribution and arrangement within the grains using a laser diffraction grain size analyzer, transmission electron, and scanning electron microscopies. The distribution of starch granule volume formed a triple humped curve in which granules with a diameter of less than 2 ΅m were abundant, while greater than 15 ΅m were most prevalent. Super-sweet corn bucked the trend slightly, with granules from 2-15 ΅m predominating. Average diameter showed the following order: waxy>pop>dent>super-sweet.

Pages 1560-1565 | Full Text PDF
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Development of closed-type transplant production system and discussion of its application mode for flue-cured tobacco

Jiang Hou-Long*, Li Na-Jia, Xu An-Ding, Yang Chao, Wang Hong-Feng, Chen Hai-Tao, Shan Pei-Xiang, Ding Wei

Chongqing Tobacco Science Research Institute, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Postdoctoral Research Station of Plant Protection, Chongqing 400716, China
College of Agronomy Biotechnology of Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
Dali Branch of Yunnan Province Tobacco Company, Dali 671000, Yunnan, China

Summary
To overcome difficulties in seedling breeding in low temperature areas and in areas receiving a low amount of, a closed-type transplant production system was designed and studied using flue-cured tobacco as the plant material. The system was used for breeding the tobacco seedlings and was compared with the floating system. The closed-type transplant production system shortened the breeding period, with the tobacco seedlings reaching the 5-leaf growth stage at approximately 25 d sooner than in the floating system. Our results showed that the closed-type transplant production system effectively mitigated the problems of long seedling age and low rate of healthy seedlings in low temperature areas and in areas receiving a low amount of sunlight without lowering the agronomic qualities of seedlings. Furthermore, this closed-type transplant system reduced the consumption of wetland peat, which is a non-renewable resource, thereby significantly reducing the cost of seedling breeding. This system can potentially solve transplant crop production problems encountered in low temperature areas and in areas receiving a low amount of sunlight in China.

Pages 1566-1570 | Full Text PDF

Australian Journal od Crop Science