玉米生产施用锰渣混配肥的肥效试验

电解金属锰渣含有丰富的矿物质营养元素,将其处理加工成锰渣混配肥,在农作物生产中应用能促进作物的生长和提高产量,是可以开发的新型肥料资源.     

Structural Investigation and Molecular Modeling Studies of Strobilurin-Based Fungicides Active against the Rice Blast Pathogen Pyricularia oryzae

The increasing emergence of fungicide-resistant pathogens requires urgent solutions for crop disease management. Here, we describe a structural investigation of new fungicides obtained by combining strobilurin and succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor pharmacophores. We identified compounds endowed with very good activity against wild-type Pyricularia oryzae, combined in some cases with promising activity against strobilurin-resistant strains. The first three-dimensional model of P. oryzae cytochrome bc1 complex containing azoxystrobin as a ligand was developed. The model was validated with a set of commercially available strobilurins, and it well explains both the resistance mechanism to strobilurins mediated by the mutation G143A and the activity of metyltetraprole against strobilurin-resistant strains. The obtained results shed light on the key recognition determinants of strobilurin-like derivatives in the cytochrome bc1 active site and will guide the further rational design of new fungicides able to overcome resistance caused by G143A mutation in the rice blast pathogen.     

Formation of Proto-Kranz in C3 Rice Induced by Spike-Stalk Injection Method

Introduction of C4 photosynthetic traits into C3 crops is an important strategy for improving photosynthetic capacity and productivity. Here, we report the research results of a variant line of sorghum–rice (SR) plant with big panicle and high spikelet density by introducing sorghum genome DNA into rice by spike-stalk injection. The whole-genome resequencing showed that a few sorghum genes could be integrated into the rice genome. Gene expression was confirmed for two C4 photosynthetic enzymes containing pyruvate, orthophosphate dikinase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. Exogenous sorghum DNA integration induced a series of key traits associated with the C4 pathway called “proto-Kranz” anatomy, including leaf thickness, bundle sheath number and size, and chloroplast size in bundle sheath cells. Significantly, transgenic plants exhibited enhanced photosynthetic capacity resulting from both photosynthetic CO₂-concentrating effect and improved energy balance, which led to an increase in carbohydrate levels and productivity. Furthermore, such rice plant exhibited delayed leaf senescence. In summary, this study provides a proof for the feasibility of inducing the transition from C3 leaf anatomy to proto-Kranz by spike-stalk injection to achieve efficient photosynthesis and increase productivity.     

Genome-Wide Analysis Identified a Set of Conserved lncRNAs Associated with Domestication-Related Traits in Rice

Crop domestication, which gives rise to a number of desirable agronomic traits, represents a typical model system of plant evolution. Numerous genomic evidence has proven that noncoding RNAs such as microRNAs and phasiRNAs, as well as protein-coding genes, are selected during crop domestication. However, limited data shows plant long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are also involved in this biological process. In this study, we performed strand-specific RNA sequencing of cultivated rice Oryza sativa ssp. japonica and O. sativa ssp. indica, and their wild progenitor O. rufipogon. We identified a total of 8528 lncRNAs, including 4072 lncRNAs in O. rufipogon, 2091 lncRNAs in japonica rice, and 2365 lncRNAs in indica rice. The lncRNAs expressed in wild rice were revealed to be shorter in length and had fewer exon numbers when compared with lncRNAs from cultivated rice. We also identified a number of conserved lncRNAs in the wild and cultivated rice. The functional study demonstrated that several of these conserved lncRNAs are associated with domestication-related traits in rice. Our findings revealed the feature and conservation of lncRNAs during rice domestication and will further promote functional studies of lncRNAs in rice.     

The AFLATOX® Project: Approaching the Development of New Generation,Natural-Based Compounds for the Containment of the Mycotoxigenic Phytopathogen Aspergillus flavus and Aflatoxin Contamination

The control of the fungal contamination on crops is considered a priority by the sanitary authorities of an increasing number of countries, and this is also due to the fact that the geographic areas interested in mycotoxin outbreaks are widening. Among the different pre- and post-harvest strategies that may be applied to prevent fungal and/or aflatoxin contamination, fungicides still play a prominent role; however, despite of countless efforts, to date the problem of food and feed contamination remains unsolved, since the essential factors that affect aflatoxins production are various and hardly to handle as a whole. In this scenario, the exploitation of bioactive natural sources to obtain new agents presenting novel mechanisms of action may represent a successful strategy to minimize, at the same time, aflatoxin contamination and the use of toxic pesticides. The Aflatox^® Project was aimed at the development of new-generation inhibitors of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus spp. proliferation and toxin production, through the modification of naturally occurring molecules: a panel of 177 compounds, belonging to the thiosemicarbazones class, have been synthesized and screened for their antifungal and anti-aflatoxigenic potential. The most effective compounds, selected as the best candidates as aflatoxin containment agents, were also evaluated in terms of cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and epi-genotoxicity to exclude potential harmful effect on the human health, the plants on which fungi grow and the whole ecosystem.     

Simulation of nitrogen dynamics and biomass production in winter wheat using the Danish simulation model DAISY

A dynamic simulation model for the soil plant system is described. The model includes a number of main modules, viz., a hydrological model including a submodel for soil water dynamics, a soil temperature model, a soil nitrogen model including a submodel for soil organic matter dynamics, and a crop model including a submodel for nitrogen uptake. The soil part of the model has a one-dimensional vertical structure. The soil profile is divided into layers on the basis of physical and chemical soil characteristics. The simulation model was used to simulate soil nitrogen dynamics and biomass production in winter wheat grown at two locations at various levels of nitrogen fertilization. The simulated results were compared to experimental data including concentration of inorganic nitrogen in soil, crop yield, and nitrogen accumulated in the aboveground part of the crop. Based on this validation it is concluded that the overall performance of the model is satisfactory although some minor adjustments of the model may prove to be necessary.     

Crystallography and equilibrium solubility for ammonium and potassium orthophosphites and hypophosphites

The composition and solubility properties of eight ammonium and potassium orthophosphites and hypophosphites were determined to evaluate the potential of these classes of materials for increasing the plant nutrient content of liquid fertilizers. Phase relationships for the systems (NH₄)₂O-P₂O₃-H₂O, K₂O-P₂O₃-H₂O, (NH₄)₂O-P₂O-H₂O, and K₂O-P₂O-H₂O were determined along with the crystallographic properties (X-ray and optical) of the solid phases. Toxicity and phosphite response was tested in greenhouse experiments for the compounds.     

Integrated fertilizer requirements of groundnut-wheat cropping system

Investigations were carried out in a long term field experiment from 1976 to 1982, on a loamy sand soil to find out the fertilizer requirements of groundnut and wheat grown in fixed rotation. Application of 26 kgP/ha to wheat alone was found to be sufficient for both wheat and succeeding groundnut. Application of phosphorus to both wheat and groundnut did not result in extra beneficial effect over P application to wheat alone. However, application of 26 kg P/ha to groundnut alone was not sufficient for succeeding wheat. There was no response from K application (25 kg K/ha) in either of these two crops. Increasing the dose of N from 50–150 kg/ha to wheat significantly increased the grain yield of wheat but the pod yield of succeeding groundnut were markedly lowered. Response of wheat to 150 kg N/ha was more marked when P was also applied to wheat and response was less when P was applied to preceding groundnut alone. Zinc application at 6.25 kg/ha to wheat alone resulted in significant increase in grain yield of wheat and pod yield of succeeding groundnut.     

Agricultural use of three organic residues: effect on orange production and on properties of a soil of the ‘Comarca Costa de Huelva’ (SW Spain)

Disposal of urban, agricultural and industrial organic residues impliesan increasing problem because of all the economic and environmentalrepercussions involved. One of the most adequate ways of managing this problemis the agricultural use of these wastes as organic amendments. Three organicresidues (AC, olive mill waste water sludge compost; MWC, municipal solid wastecompost; and PS, paper mill sludge) were used in a 3-year field experimentinvolving orange production. The effect of their application on crop productionand on soil quality was investigated. Soil samples (0–20 cm depth)collected 11 months after the last soil amendment were analysed for: pH and EC,Kjeldahl-N, available-P, available-K, total organic carbon, humic substances,dehydrogenase, phosphatase, -glucosidase, urease andbenzoyl-argininamidehydrolysing protease (BAA-protease) activities. Generally, the application of the MWC and PSincreased orange yield when compared to control. Moreover, total organic carbonand humic substances significantly increased in soils treated with all theorganic amendments. Organic fertilisation increased the Kjeldahl-N andavailable-P contents of the soil. The application of the organic residues also causedsignificant increases in dehydrogenase, -glucosidase, urease andBAA-protease activities of the soil. Significant positive correlations (p <0.01) between these enzymatic activities and total organic carbon were foundforall treatments. Significant positive correlation between dehydrogenase, urease,-glucosidase, and BAA-protease and orange yield was also found. However,a clear inhibition of phosphatase activity was observed in soils treated withPS. The results indicate that the repeated application to the soil of moderateamounts of organic amendments has positive effects on the chemical andbiochemical properties of the soil, as well as on the orange yield.     

Effect of nitrogen,phosphorus and soil and crop residues management practices on maize (Zea mays L.) yield in ultisol of eastern Cameroon

The shortening of fallow period in several areas in tropical Africa has reduced soil fertility and exposed soils to erosion and run-off. Fertilizer application and crop conservation practices are needeed to sustain high crop yield and to conserve the natural resource base for upland crop production in the continent. Field trials were carried out to evaluate the effect of fertilizer application and soil and crop residues management practices on yield of maize (Zea mays L.) planted on a Plinthudult soil at Bertoua, Eastern Cameroon. Maize yields increased significantly with nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application. Under the rainfall pattern prevailing in the area, the amount of nitrogen required for maximum yield was higher in the second season. On the other hand, the amount of phosphorus required for maximum yield appeared to decrease with time. The burning of crop residues and weeds prior to planting together with no-till practive gave higher yield of maize than other soil and crop residues management practices.