Induced Variations in Brassinosteroid Genes Define Barley Height and Sturdiness, and Expand the Green Revolution Genetic Toolkit

Reduced plant height and culm robustness are quantitative characteristics important for assuring cereal crop yield and quality under adverse weather conditions. A very limited number of short-culm mutant alleles were introduced into commercial crop cultivars during the Green Revolution. We identified phenotypic traits, including sturdy culm, specific for deficiencies in brassinosteroid biosynthesis and signaling in semidwarf mutants of barley (Hordeum vulgare). This set of characteristic traits was explored to perform a phenotypic screen of near-isogenic short-culm mutant lines from the brachytic, breviaristatum, dense spike, erectoides, semibrachytic, semidwarf, and slender dwarf mutant groups. In silico mapping of brassinosteroid-related genes in the barley genome in combination with sequencing of barley mutant lines assigned more than 20 historic mutants to three brassinosteroid-biosynthesis genes (BRASSINOSTEROID-6-OXIDASE, CONSTITUTIVE PHOTOMORPHOGENIC DWARF, and DIMINUTO) and one brassinosteroid-signaling gene (BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE1 [HvBRI1]). Analyses of F2 and M2 populations, allelic crosses, and modeling of nonsynonymous amino acid exchanges in protein crystal structures gave a further understanding of the control of barley plant architecture and sturdiness by brassinosteroid-related genes. Alternatives to the widely used but highly temperature-sensitive uzu1.a allele of HvBRI1 represent potential genetic building blocks for breeding strategies with sturdy and climate-tolerant barley cultivars.

Robust features of future climate change impacts on sorghum yields in West Africa

West Africa is highly vulnerable to climate hazards and better quantification and understanding of the impact of climate change on crop yields are urgently needed. Here we provide an assessment of near-term climate change impacts on sorghum yields in West Africa and account for uncertainties both in future climate scenarios and in crop models. Towards this goal, we use simulations of nine bias-corrected CMIP5 climate models and two crop models (SARRA-H and APSIM) to evaluate the robustness of projected crop yield impacts in this area. In broad agreement with the full CMIP5 ensemble, our subset of bias-corrected climate models projects a mean warming of +2.8 °C in the decades of 2031–2060 compared to a baseline of 1961–1990 and a robust change in rainfall in West Africa with less rain in the Western part of the Sahel (Senegal, South-West Mali) and more rain in Central Sahel (Burkina Faso, South-West Niger). Projected rainfall deficits are concentrated in early monsoon season in the Western part of the Sahel while positive rainfall changes are found in late monsoon season all over the Sahel, suggesting a shift in the seasonality of the monsoon. In response to such climate change, but without accounting for direct crop responses to CO2, mean crop yield decreases by about 16–20% and year-to-year variability increases in the Western part of the Sahel, while the eastern domain sees much milder impacts. Such differences in climate and impacts projections between the Western and Eastern parts of the Sahel are highly consistent across the climate and crop models used in this study. We investigate the robustness of impacts for different choices of cultivars, nutrient treatments, and crop responses to CO2. Adverse impacts on mean yield and yield variability are lowest for modern cultivars, as their short and nearly fixed growth cycle appears to be more resilient to the seasonality shift of the monsoon, thus suggesting shorter season varieties could be considered a potential adaptation to ongoing climate changes. Easing nitrogen stress via increasing fertilizer inputs would increase absolute yields, but also make the crops more responsive to climate stresses, thus enhancing the negative impacts of climate change in a relative sense. Finally, CO2 fertilization would significantly offset the negative climate

Development of salinity tolerance in rice by constitutive-overexpression of genes involved in the regulation of programmed cell death

Environmental factors contribute to over 70% of crop yield losses worldwide. Of these drought and salinity are the most significant causes of crop yield reduction. Rice is an important staple crop that feeds more than half of the world’s population. However among the agronomically important cereals rice is the most sensitive to salinity. In the present study we show that exogenous expression of anti-apoptotic genes from diverse origins, AtBAG4 (Arabidopsis), Hsp70 (Citrus tristeza virus) and p35 (Baculovirus), significantly improves salinity tolerance in rice at the whole plant level. Physiological, biochemical and agronomical analyses of transgenic rice expressing each of the anti-apoptotic genes subjected to salinity treatment demonstrated traits associated with tolerant varieties including, improved photosynthesis, membrane integrity, ion and ROS maintenance systems, growth rate, and yield components. Moreover, FTIR analysis showed that the chemical composition of salinity-treated transgenic plants is reminiscent of non-treated, unstressed controls. In contrast, wild type and vector control plants displayed hallmark features of stress, including pectin degradation upon subjection to salinity treatment. Interestingly, despite their diverse origins, transgenic plants expressing the anti-apoptotic genes assessed in this study displayed similar physiological and biochemical characteristics during salinity treatment thus providing further evidence that cell death pathways are conserved across broad evolutionary kingdoms. Our results reveal that anti-apoptotic genes facilitate maintenance of metabolic activity at the whole plant level to create favorable conditions for cellular survival. It is these conditions that are crucial and conducive to the plants ability to tolerate/adapt to extreme environments.

Ozone-induced signaling in Arabidopsis thaliana

Tropospheric ozone (O3) is one of the most common air pollutants in industrialized countries, and an increasing problem in rapidly industrialising and developing countries in Asia, Africa and South America. Elevated concentrations of tropospheric O3 can lead to decrease in photosynthesis rate and therefore affect the normal metabolism, growth and seed production. Acute and high O3 episodes can lead to extensive damage leading to dead tissue in plants. Thus, O3 derived growth defects can lead to reduction in crop yield thereby leading to economical losses. Despite the extensive research on this area, many questions remain open on how these processes are controlled. In this study, the stress-induced signaling routes and the components involved were elucidated in more detail starting from visual damage to changes in gene expression, signaling routes and plant hormone interactions that are involved in O3-induced cell death. In order to elucidate O3-induced responses in Arabidopsis, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling was studied using different hormonal signaling mutants. MAPKs were activated at the beginning of the O3 exposure. The activity of MAPKs, which were identified as AtMPK3 and AtMPK6, reached the maximum at 1 and 2 hours after the start of the exposure, respectively. The activity decreased back to clean air levels at 8 hours after the start of the exposure. Both AtMPK3 and AtMPK6 were translocated to nucleus at the beginning of the O3 exposure where they most likely affect gene expression. Differences were seen between different hormonal signaling mutants. Functional SA signaling was shown to be needed for the full protein levels and activation of AtMPK3. In addition, AtMPK3 and AtMPK6 activation was not dependent on ethylene signaling. Finally, jasmonic acid was also shown to have an impact on AtMPK3 protein levels and AtMPK3 activity. To further study O3-induced cell death, an earlier isolated O3 sensitive Arabidopsis mutant rcd1 was mapped, cloned and further characterized. RCD1 was shown to encode a gene with WWE and ADP-ribosylation domains known to be involved in protein-protein interactions and cell signaling. rcd1 was shown to be involved in many processes including hormonal signaling and regulation of stress-responsive genes. rcd1 is sensitive against O3 and apoplastic superoxide, but tolerant against paraquat that produces superoxide in chloroplast. rcd1 is also partially insensitive to glucose and has alterations in hormone responses. These alterations are seen as ABA insensitivity, reduced jasmonic acid sensitivity and reduced ethylene sensitivity. All these features suggest that RCD1 acts as an integrative node in hormonal signaling and it is involved in the hormonal regulation of several specific stress-responsive genes. Further studies with the rcd1 mutant showed that it exhibits the classical features of programmed cell death, PCD, in response to O3. These include nuclear shrinkage, chromatin condensation, nuclear DNA degradation, cytosol vesiculation and accumulation of phenolic compounds and eventually patches of HR-like lesions. rcd1 was found to produce extensive amount of salicylic acid and jasmonic acid in response to O3. Double mutant studies showed that SA independent and dependent processes were involved in the O3-induced PCD in rcd1 and that increased sensitivity against JA led to increased sensitivity against O3. Furthermore, rcd1 had alterations in MAPK signature that resembled changes that were previously seen in mutants defective in SA and JA signaling. Nitric oxide accumulation and its impact on O3-induced cell death were also studied. Transient accumulation of NO was seen at the beginning of the O3 exposure, and during late time points, NO accumulation coincided with the HR-like lesions. NO was shown to modify defense gene expression, such as, SA and ethylene biosynthetic genes. Furthermore, rcd1 was shown to produce more NO in control conditions. In conclusion, NO was shown to be involved in O3-induced signaling leading to attenuation of SA biosynthesis and other defense related genes.

Jatkuvasatoisten mansikoiden lannoitus rajoitetussa kasvualustassa

Mansikka (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) on tärkein Suomessa viljelty marja sekä määrällisesti että taloudellisesti. Suomessa ongelmana on lyhyt satokausi ja matala satotaso. Pääsadon aikaan runsas mansikan tarjonta markkinoilla laskee huomattavasti mansikan hintaa. Paras hinta saadaan normaalin satokauden ulkopuolella. Jatkuvasatoiset mansikkalajikkeet mahdollistaisivat pidemmän ja tasaisen satokauden, mikä vakauttaisi mansikan hintaa. Jatkuvasatoinen mansikka sopii viljelyyn kausihuoneissa korotetuilla kasvualustoilla, jolloin lannoitus ja kastelu hoidetaan tippukastelulla. Jatkuvasatoinen mansikka tuottaa kukkia ja marjoja koko satokauden, mikä vaikuttaa sen ravinnetarpeeseen. Tehdyssä tutkimuksessa testattiin kolmea eri lannoitustasoa 1,5 mS/cm, 2,3mS/cm ja 3,0 mS/cm, joiden N:K –suhde marjojen kypsymisvaiheessa oli 1:1,5. Neljäs käsittely oli kastelu johtokyvyllä 2,3 mS/cm N:K –suhteen ollessa 1:2 marjojen kypsyessä. Tutkimuksessa havainnointiin taimien vegetatiivista kasvua sekä sadon muodostusta ja marjojen laatua. Samalla seurattiin ylivaluntaveden määrää sekä veden mukana huuhtoutunutta fosforia ja typpeä. Tutkimuksessa käytetyt lajikkeet olivat ’Malling Opal’ ja ’Rondo’. Tämän tutkimuksen tulokset tukevat aikaisempia tutkimuksia, että mansikan ravinnetarve on suhteellisen matala. Voimakkain vegetatiivinen kasvu, suurin sato ja suurimmat marjat saatiin alimmalla testatulla johtokyvyllä (1,5 mS/cm). Lannoitustasolla oli hyvin vähän vaikutusta marjan laatuun tai sadon ajoittumiseen. Myöskään N:K – suhteen muutoksella ei ollut vaikutusta marjan laatuun. Taimien veden otto oli suurinta alimmalla lannoitustasolla, ja mahdollisesti kasteluveden korkea ionipitoisuus vaikeutti kasvin veden ottoa korkeilla veden johtokyvyillä. Valumaveden mukana poistuneet typpi- ja fosforipäästöt kasvoivat huomattavasti kasteluveden johtokyvyn noustessa.

Localized data gathering paradigms for small and marginal farm lands in Semi-Arid region – Issues and Concerns

In this work we explore the application of wireless sensor technologies for the benefit of small and marginal farmers in semi-arid regions. The focus in this paper is to discuss the merits and demerits of data gathering & relay paradigms that collect localized data over a wide area. The data gathered includes soil moisture, temperature, pressure, rain data and humidity. The challenge to technology intervention comes mainly due to two reasons: (a) Farmers in general are interested in crop yield specific to their piece of land. This is because soil texture can vary rapidly over small regions. (b) Due to a high run-off, the soil moisture retention can vary from region to region depending on the topology of the farm. Both these reasons alter the needs drastically. Additionally, small and marginal farms can be sandwiched between rich farm lands. The village has very little access to grid power. Power cuts can extend up to 12 hours in a day and upto 3 or 4 days during some months in the year. In this paper, we discuss 3 technology paradigms for data relaying. These include Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity), GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) and DTN (Delay and Disruption Tolerant Network) technologies. We detail the merits and demerits of each of these solutions and provide our final recommendations. The project site is a village called Chennakesavapura in the state of Karnataka, India.

Reservoir Operation with Fuzzy State Variables for Irrigation of Multiple Crops

This paper presents the development and application of a stochastic dynamic programming model with fuzzy state variables for irrigation of multiple crops. A fuzzy stochastic dynamic programming (FSDP) model is developed in which the reservoir storage and soil moisture of the crops are considered as fuzzy numbers, and the reservoir inflow is considered as a stochastic variable. The model is formulated with an objective of minimizing crop yield deficits, resulting in optimal water allocations to the crops by maintaining storage continuity and soil moisture balance. The standard fuzzy arithmetic method is used to solve all arithmetic equations with fuzzy numbers, and the fuzzy ranking method is used to compare two or more fuzzy numbers. The reservoir operation model is integrated with a daily-based water allocation model, which results in daily temporal variations of allocated water, soil moisture, and crop deficits. A case study of an existing Bhadra reservoir in Karnataka, India, is chosen for the model application. The FSDP is a more realistic model because it considers the uncertainty in discretization of state variables. The results obtained using the FSDP model are found to be more acceptable for the case study than those of the classical stochastic dynamic model and the standard operating model, in terms of 10-day releases from the reservoir and evapotranspiration deficit. (C) 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.

补充灌溉及氮磷配施对黄土塬区冬小麦水分利用及产量的影响

采用裂区试验设计,对黄土塬区补充灌溉及氮磷配施条件下麦田土壤水分动态、作物产量及水分利用效率等进行研究。结果表明:1)冬小麦对土壤水分的利用深度随小麦生长发育逐渐加深,在越冬前期和孕穗期分别达1.2和2.2 m土层以下,不同处理土壤含水量在小麦生育前期差异不明显,孕穗后氮磷配施处理的土壤含水量显著低于不施肥处理;2)试验条件下,补充灌溉后同样施肥处理的作物产量与雨养相比,虽有增加但不显著;不论是雨养水平,还是补充灌溉水平,氮磷配施均表现出显著的增产效果,从低氮低磷到高氮高磷,增产幅度在134%到240%之间;3)氮磷配施能显著提高冬小麦水分利用效率,而补充灌溉后水分利用效率降低3%~30%,但未达显著水平;4)不同氮磷配施的增产效应高于补充灌溉,补充灌溉与高氮高磷处理有显著的水肥协同效应,能显著提高作物产量并保持较高的水分利用效率。

施氮水平对黄土旱塬区小麦产量和土壤有机碳、氮的影响

施用氮肥是提高作物产量和土壤有机碳(SOC)、氮(TSN)含量的重要养分管理措施。利用长期田间试验(19842~007),定量评价了常规耕作条件下5个施氮水平N 0(N0)、45(N45)、90(N90)、135(N135)和180(N180)kg/hm2处理下,小麦子粒产量、SOC、TSN和氮肥利用效率的变化。研究了施氮水平对黄土旱塬区小麦产量、SOC和TSN积累的影响。结果表明,19842~007年期间,N0、N45、N90、N135和N180处理小麦产量的平均值依次为1.2、2.4、2.9、3.2和3.4t/hm2;N0处理的小麦产量随试验年限而降低,年降低幅度达67 kg/hm2(P<0.001);但增施氮肥处理小麦产量降低趋势得到显著控制,当施氮水平提高到N 90 kg/hm2时,产量随年限呈现出缓慢升高的趋势。随着施氮水平的提高,地上部氮肥利用率由40%(N45)降低到28%(N180)。不同施氮水平条件下,SOC含量随年限呈缓慢升高趋势。23年后(2007年),N0、N45、N90、N135和N180处理下,0—20 cm土层SOC储量依次为16.9、18.2、18.7、19.0和19.1 t/...

CLIGEN非降水要素在黄土塬区的适用性评估

许多基于物理机制的水文和作物模型需要日序列气象数据来驱动,CLIGEN是为WEPP等模型产生气候输入文件的天气发生器,可以产生10个日序列气象变量来满足这种需要,但是其在中国的适用性需要进行评估。研究的目标是利用黄土高原陕西长武1957~2001年的气象数据评估CLIGEN产生非降水要素(最高温度、最低温度、露点温度、太阳辐射和风速)的能力。结果表明,CLIGEN对最高温度、最低温度和露点温度的模拟效果较好,对太阳辐射和极端气候事件的模拟效果较差,对风速的模拟效果最差。相关性检验表明CLIGEN很好地保持了气象要素的季节性,这对模拟农业生产是非常重要的;但是没有保留气象要素逐日的自相关和互相关性,进而导致产生的温度变化不符合连续渐变的规律。

不同复合措施的次降雨径流、产沙调控率和作物产量

针对单一径流调控措施难以得到较好水土保持效果的问题,本研究通过天然降雨径流、产沙的试验定位观测,对几种措施复合后的次降雨径流、产沙的调控率,及对作物产量的影响做了分析。研究表明:复合措施可以有效地对坡面径流、产沙进行调控,减少坡面径流量和产沙量90%以上,同时提高农作物的产量10%以上。复合措施因其优异的径流、产沙调控能力,增产明显,成本低廉,实施简便,成为一种性价比较高的坡面径流调控模式。

渭北旱塬冬小麦水·肥·产量关系研究

探讨了不同供水条件下土壤水分与作物产量的关系。[方法]以冬小麦品种长旱58为试材,设肥力和水分2因子高、中、低3水平9个处理组合,通过试验资料分析了不同养分和水分条件下作物的产量响应。利用2006年9月~2007年7月的气象资料研究了冬小麦不同生育期耗水量。[结果]各生育期耗水量占全生育期总耗水量的百分比以孕穗灌浆期最大,达45.6%,其次为拔节期,约21.5%,越冬期最小,约8.4%。底墒对旱作作物产量具有重要影响,施肥量过量会影响农田水分循环过程,使得高产农田的产量随降水量的变化而波动。[结论]提高作物土壤耗水量和土壤底墒利用率是黄土高原旱地农业实现高产稳产的关键。

黄土高原地区耕作技术效益研究

黄土高原地区地形破碎 ,坡地所占比例大 ,水土流失严重。调查和试验表明 ,在坡耕地上 ,因地制宜地采取各种水土保持耕作技术措施 ,对改变坡面微地貌 ,减少水土流失 ,增加土壤抗蚀、蓄水、保土性能 ;培肥地力和提高作物产量 ,都具有显著作用。着重分析了效果明显的八种耕作技术及其特征 ,供决策部门在制订规划时参考

地下滴灌的经济与环境效益研究综述

地下滴灌是一种新型的节水灌溉技术 ,具有诸多优点 ,不仅在技术和经济方面 ,而且在生态环境保护方面都是最有发展前途的节水灌溉技术。对地下滴灌技术的发展历史、经济与环境效益进行了综述 ,并讨论了存在的问题 ,对研究的开展提出了一些建议

黄土高原地区耕作技术效益研究

黄土高原地区地形破碎 ,坡地所占比例大 ,水土流失严重。调查和试验表明 ,在坡耕地上 ,因地制宜地采取各种水土保持耕作技术措施 ,对改变坡面微地貌 ,减少水土流失 ,增加土壤抗蚀、蓄水、保土性能 ;培肥地力和提高作物产量 ,都具有显著作用。该文着重分析了效果明显的 8种耕作技术及其特征 ,供决策部门在制订规划时参考。