Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: S. Anuradha Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Botany, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India Author-Name: S.S.R. Rao Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Botany, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India Title: The effect of brassinosteroids on radish (Raphanus sativus L.) seedlings growing under cadmium stress Abstract: The effect of 24-epibrassinolide and 28-homobrassinolide on seed germination and seedling growth of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) was studied under cadmium toxicity. The impact of brassinosteroids (BRs) on free proline levels and the activity of antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT; EC 1.11.1.6), peroxidase (POD; EC 1.11.1.7), superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1), ascorbic peroxidase (APOX; EC 1.11.1.11) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX; EC 1.11.1.7) in radish seedlings under Cd toxicity was evaluated. The effect of BRs on the activity of ascorbic acid oxidase (AAO; EC 1.10.3.3) and lipid peroxidation in radish seedlings challenged with Cd stress was also investigated. BRs supplementation alleviated the toxic effect of the heavy metal and increased the percentage of seed germination and seedling growth. Out of the two substances, HBL was found to be more effective than EBL in stress alleviation. HBL (3µM) alleviated the toxic effect of the heavy metal and increased the percentage of seed germination by 57% over Cd and 20% over unstressed control. Similarly supplementation of HBL (3µM) caused an increase of 156%, 78% and 91% in length, fresh weight and dry weight of seedling, respectively, over Cd treatment alone. The amelioration of seedling growth by BRs under metal toxicity was associated with enhanced levels of free proline. The activities of antioxidant enzymes CAT, SOD, APOX and GPX were increased in the seedlings from treatments with Cd along with BRs. Brassinosteroid treatment reduced the activity of POD and AAO in heavy metal stressed seedlings. Lipid peroxidation induced by Cd was found reduced with the supplementation of BRs. The results obtained in the study clearly indicated the ameliorative influence of brassinosteroids on the inhibitory effect of Cd toxicity. Keywords: brassinosteroids, radish, cadmium, seedling growth, catalase, peroxidase, proline, superoxide dismutase Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 465-472 Volume: 53 Issue: 11 Year: 2007 DOI: 10.17221/2307-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/2307-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-200711-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:53:y:2007:i:11:id:2307-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A. Zaniewicz-Bajkowska Author-Workplace-Name: University of Podlasie, Siedlce, Poland Author-Name: R. Rosa Author-Workplace-Name: University of Podlasie, Siedlce, Poland Author-Name: J. Franczuk Author-Workplace-Name: University of Podlasie, Siedlce, Poland Author-Name: E. Kosterna Author-Workplace-Name: University of Podlasie, Siedlce, Poland Title: Direct and secondary effect of liming and organic fertilization on cadmium content in soil and in vegetables Abstract: A direct and secondary effect of liming and organic fertilization on the cadmium content in soil and in vegetables was examined. Celeriac (Apium graveolens L. var. rapaceum) was cultivated in the first year after lime application and organic fertilization whereas leek (Allium ampeloprasum ssp. porrum J. Gay) was grown in the next year. Soil was limed with a calcium carbonate fertilizer at the rate of 2.0 t CaO/ha. The following were applied as organic fertilizers: farmyard manure (60 t/ha), rye straw (4 t/ha), rye and winter vetch, both the plants cultivated as winter catch crops for green manure. Liming significantly reduced the available cadmium content in the soil in the first and second year after its application. Also, it significantly reduced the cadmium content in celeriac and leek compared with no-liming cultivation. Organic fertilization, especially farmyard manure and straw, significantly reduced the soil available cadmium content as compared to the untreated control (without organic fertilization). The aforementioned factor significantly reduced the cadmium content in the examined vegetables. Cadmium lowest content in celeriac leaves and leek was recorded after the application of farmyard manure. A combined application of liming and organic fertilization in the form of farmyard manure most beneficially influenced celeriac leaves with respect to their cadmium content. Keywords: heavy metals, cadmium, liming, organic matter application, celeriac, leek Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 473-481 Volume: 53 Issue: 11 Year: 2007 DOI: 10.17221/2305-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/2305-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-200711-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:53:y:2007:i:11:id:2305-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: V. Mrvić Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Soil Science, Belgrade, Serbia Author-Name: M. Jakovljević Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agriculture, Belgrade, Serbia Author-Name: D. Stevanović Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agriculture, Belgrade, Serbia Author-Name: D. Čakmak Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Soil Science, Belgrade, Serbia Title: The forms of aluminium in Stagnosols in Serbia Abstract: The interactive relations of Al forms and the most important characteristics of Stagnosols were researched to diagnose which factors are the best to control the content of phytotoxic Al forms. The values of exchangeable Al (AlKCl) range from 0.0 to 560.7 mg/kg and increase with depth. The variation of exchangeable Al is high and it depends on the changes of all forms of soil acidity and the degree of base cation saturation. Their relation is best described by a non-linear function. The contents of total Al and Al extracted by ammonium oxalate in dark (Al amorphous, Aloxa) increase with depth, together with the increase of the content of clay particles. The values of Al extracted by sodium citrate/dithionite (Al crystalline, Aldit), 0.5M CuCl2 (AlCu) and 0.25M EDTA (AlEDTA) are in good correlation and they predominantly depend on the parameters of soil acidity. The value of AlCu-AlKCl (in eluvial horizons) is best represented by organically bound Al. Effects of the reserves of aluminium Aldit, AlCu and AlEDTA on the changes of exchangeable Al are higher (medium and high correlation), while the effects of the total Al and Aloxa are lower. Keywords: Stagnosol, soil, exchangeable Al, Al amorphous, Al crystalline, organic Al Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 482-489 Volume: 53 Issue: 11 Year: 2007 DOI: 10.17221/2303-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/2303-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-200711-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:53:y:2007:i:11:id:2303-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Chen Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Biological Sciences, China Agriculture University, Beijing, China Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory for Microbial Technology, College of Biological Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China Author-Name: Q.-J. Chen Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Biological Sciences, China Agriculture University, Beijing, China Author-Name: X.-G. Niu Author-Workplace-Name: College of Land and Environment, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China Author-Name: R. Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Biological Sciences, China Agriculture University, Beijing, China Author-Name: H.-Q. Lin Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Biological Sciences, China Agriculture University, Beijing, China Author-Name: C.-Y. Xu Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Biological Sciences, China Agriculture University, Beijing, China Author-Name: X.-C. Wang Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Biological Sciences, China Agriculture University, Beijing, China Author-Name: G.-Y. Wang Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Biological Sciences, China Agriculture University, Beijing, China Author-Name: J. Chen Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Biological Sciences, China Agriculture University, Beijing, China Title: Expression of OsNHX1 gene in maize confers salt tolerance and promotes plant growth in the field Abstract: Maize yield is severely affected by soil salinity. In an effort to engineer maize for improved salt tolerance, embryogenic calli of maize were co-bombarded with plasmids containing Oryza sativa Na+/H+ antiporter gene (OsNHX1) and bar genes. For the molecular analysis of putative transgenic samples, PCR, Southern and Northern blots were carried out. The maize plants over-expressing OsNHX1 accumulated more biomass when grown in the presence of 200mM NaCl in greenhouse conditions. Higher Na+ and K+ content was observed in transgenic leaves than in wildtype leaves when treated with 100~200mM NaCl, while the osmotic potential and the proline content in transgenic leaves was lower than in wild-type maize. A field trial revealed that the transgenic maize plants produced higher grain yields than the wild-type plants at the vegetative growth stage. These results demonstrate that the OsNHX1 gene was successfully transferred into Zea mays, and the salt-tolerance of transgenic maize was improved by overexpression of the OsNHX1 gene. Keywords: Na+/H+ antiporter, salt-tolerance, transgenic maize Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 490-498 Volume: 53 Issue: 11 Year: 2007 DOI: 10.17221/2302-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/2302-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-200711-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:53:y:2007:i:11:id:2302-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: L. Krejčířová Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: I. Capouchová Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Petr Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: E. Bicanová Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: O. Faměra Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic Title: The effect of organic and conventional growing systems on quality and storage protein composition of winter wheat Abstract: Protein composition of the grain storage proteins (evaluation using electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel - the SDS-PAGE method) and selected parameters of bread-making quality in a set of 6 winter wheat varieties from organic and conventional growing in Central Bohemia (elevation 295 m a.s.l.) were evaluated during a two-year experiment (2004 and 2005). In comparison with the varieties from organic growing, wheat varieties from the conventional growing were characterized by twice the percentage of High Molecular Weight (HMW) glutenins, responsible for dough elasticity (conventional wheat in average 25.22%, organic wheat 12.71%). At the same time, varieties from conventional growing generally reached higher, more positive values of crude protein content and wet gluten content in grain dry matter, sedimentation index by Zeleny and yield of bread. On the other hand, wheat varieties from organic growing were mainly characterized by significantly higher percentage of nutritionally valuable albumins and globulins (organic wheat in average 17.69%, conventional wheat 7.33%). In both systems of growing the highest percentage of HMW glutenins was determined in varieties from the quality group E (elite, the most suitable for bread-making), while the varieties from the quality group C (wheat unsuitable for bread-making) reached the highest percentage of residual albumins and globulins. Keywords: wheat, organic and conventional farming, storage protein composition, technological quality Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 499-505 Volume: 53 Issue: 11 Year: 2007 DOI: 10.17221/2304-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/2304-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-200711-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:53:y:2007:i:11:id:2304-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. Vaněk Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Economics and Management, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Jarolímek Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Economics and Management, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: P. Šimek Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Economics and Management, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic Title: eFarmer - project "Bringing the datawarehouse for agriculture into practice" Abstract: The key focus of the project "Bringing the datawarehouse for agriculture into practice" is to develop an IT solution for the implementation of data integration in agriculture. This solution is elaborated in cooperation with a whole range of bodies in the Czech Republic; the lead partner is the Pardubice region where the pilot phase of datawarehouse implementation is being performed. Apart from Czech legal subjects, partners from Finland, Estonia and Poland are also participating in the eFarmer operation. The datawarehouse project is one of the biggest subprojects of the eFarmer operation and is directly connected to the subproject of "Analysis of data and information flow and storage in rural regions", which was carried out within the eFarmer operation in the last period. Keywords: datawarehouse, ICT, Internet, information, eFarmer Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 506-510 Volume: 53 Issue: 11 Year: 2007 DOI: 10.17221/2306-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/2306-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-200711-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:53:y:2007:i:11:id:2306-PSE