Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. Chen Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Subtropical Wetland Ecosystem Research, Ministry of Education of China, Xiamen University, Xiamen, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, P.R. China Author-Name: Q. Xiao Author-Workplace-Name: School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Laboratory of Biological Resources Protection and Utilization of Hubei Province, Hubei Institutes for Nationalities, Enshi, P.R. China Author-Name: F.H. Wu Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Subtropical Wetland Ecosystem Research, Ministry of Education of China, Xiamen University, Xiamen, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, P.R. China Author-Name: Z.M. Pei Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, USA Author-Workplace-Name: School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, P.R. China Author-Name: J. Wang Author-Workplace-Name: Center for Environmental Monitoring, Xiamen Environmental Protection Agency, Xiamen, P.R. China Author-Name: Y.G. Wu Author-Workplace-Name: Center for Environmental Monitoring, Xiamen Environmental Protection Agency, Xiamen, P.R. China Author-Name: H.L. Zheng Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Subtropical Wetland Ecosystem Research, Ministry of Education of China, Xiamen University, Xiamen, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, P.R. China Title: Nitric oxide emission from barley seedlings and detached leaves and roots treated with nitrate and nitrite Abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) emission from detached barley leaves, roots and whole plants treated with various nitrate or nitrite concentrations under light/dark and aerobic/anaerobic conditions was quantified by using a chemiluminescence detector. NO emission from detached tissues and whole plants treated with moderate nitrate concentration (60mM) was relatively higher under anaerobic condition, and was positively correlated with nitrite concentration. Darkness and anaerobic condition remarkably induced NO emission from detached barley leaves. On the contrary, NO emission from detached roots and whole plants was relatively higher in light. As for whole plants treated with 60mM nitrate and 12mM nitrite, the pattern of NO emission in normal environment was broken by light-dark and aerobic-anaerobic transition. Light and anaerobic condition induced NO emission significantly in the whole plant. The whole barley plant emitted significantly higher amount of NO than detached leaves or roots. Keywords: Hordeum vulgare, chemiluminescence, light, dark, aerobic, anaerobic Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 201-208 Volume: 56 Issue: 5 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/231/2009-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/231/2009-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201005-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:56:y:2010:i:5:id:231-2009-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: R. Hajiboland Author-Workplace-Name: Plant Science Department, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran Author-Name: F. Amirazad Author-Workplace-Name: Plant Science Department, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran Title: Growth, photosynthesis and antioxidant defense systém in Zn-deficient red cabbage plants Abstract: The effect of Zn deficiency was studied in red cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata f. rubra) plants grown in nutrient solution under controlled environmental conditions. Zinc starvation affected the number (61%), surface area (72%) and biomass (62%) of leaves more than root biomass (42%). Although chlorophyll fluorescence parameters revealed occurrence of photoinhibition following declined stomatal conductance and reduction of CO2 available at carboxylation sites, photosynthesis apparatus was not damaged seriously under Zn deficiency conditions. Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll a/b ratio, soluble carbohydrates and starch declined but anthocyanins and free phenolics were accumulated under Zn deficiency conditions. Activity of ascorbate peroxidase, catalase and peroxidase enhanced under Zn deficiency conditions, whereas activity of superoxide dismutase declined in leaves but not in roots of Zn-deficient plants. Maintenance of superoxide dismutase activity and malondialdehyde content in roots demonstrated that roots were more protected against reactive oxygen species imbalance under Zn deficiency conditions compared with leaves that was correlated well with the lower sensitivity of roots to low Zn supply. Keywords: antioxidant defense system, carbohydrates, chlorophyll fluorescence, CO2 assimilation, Brassica oleracea, Zn Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 209-217 Volume: 56 Issue: 5 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/207/2009-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/207/2009-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201005-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:56:y:2010:i:5:id:207-2009-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A. Madani Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Gonabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Gonabad, Iran Author-Name: A. Shirani-Rad Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Oilseed Crops, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Karaj, Iran Author-Name: A. Pazoki Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agriculture, Shahr-e-Rey Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Author-Name: G. Nourmohammadi Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Gonabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Gonabad, Iran Author-Name: R. Zarghami Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute, Karaj, Iran Author-Name: A. Mokhtassi-Bidgoli Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran Title: The impact of source or sink limitations on yield formation of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) due to post-anthesis water and nitrogen deficiencies Abstract: The experiments were laid out to understand the mechanisms causing yield limitations imposed by post-anthesis water and nitrogen deficiencies in plants with modified source-sink ratios. Two soil-water regimes were allotted to the main plots. At anthesis, three levels of N were applied: none, 25% and 50% of total the N supply. Spike-halving caused reduction in grain yield at both water regimes and all N supply levels, showing that the reduction in grain number can not be compensated by a higher individual grain weight. Sink reduction by trimming 50% of the spikelets reduced grain number per ear by 38.5% and increased individual grain weight by 12.0%, which shows the plasticity in grain weight and grain set of wheat if sufficient assimilates are available. Additional nitrogen supply at anthesis had no significant effect on the total aboveground biomass, but increased grain yield through more allocation of dry matter to grains. Our findings suggest that for rainfed wheat with optimum N supply and supplemental irrigation, wheat growers should choose cultivars with a high grain number per ear and manage the crop to increase grain number per unit of land (sink capacity). Keywords: drought stress, grain number, grain weight, grain yield, Harvest-index, nitrogen availability Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 218-227 Volume: 56 Issue: 5 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/193/2009-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/193/2009-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201005-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:56:y:2010:i:5:id:193-2009-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: U.R. Sangakkara Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka Author-Name: P. Amarasekera Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka Author-Name: P. Stamp Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Plant Sciences, ETH Zentrum, Zurich, Switzerland Title: Irrigation regimes affect early root development, shoot growth and yields of maize (Zea mays L.) in tropical minor seasons Abstract: Moisture stress is an important factor affecting field-grown maize in the tropics, especially in the minor dry seasons, and irrigation is required for successful crop growth and yields. Field experiments evaluated the impact of four irrigation regimes ranging from 3 to 21-day intervals on growth of maize (Zea mays L.) roots and shoots at critical stages and on seed yields when compared to those of irrigated maize plants in two minor seasons at Sri Lanka. While surface wetting at planting induced germination in all treatments, growth of seminal and first-order lateral roots was enhanced by increasing irrigation intervals. Relative water contents were similar at irrigation intervals of 3, 7 and 14 days and declined thereafter. At anthesis, root length and weight densities indicated the greater penetration into soil layers with increasing intervals of water supply. The highest yields were at 7 and 14-day irrigation intervals thus illustrating that regular water supply in minor dry seasons may be detrimental for maize growth and yields. Keywords: maize, minor seasons, tropics, irrigation, root initiation, development, yields Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 228-234 Volume: 56 Issue: 5 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/217/2009-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/217/2009-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201005-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:56:y:2010:i:5:id:217-2009-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: H.T. Song Author-Workplace-Name: Instituteof Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: S. Cheng Author-Workplace-Name: Instituteof Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biology, Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Forestičre Interuniversitaire (GREFi), Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, Canada Title: Various growth strategies of yellow birch seedlings in multiple-abiotic factor changing environments Abstract: Elevated CO2 concentration, light intensity and soil-sterile conditions are thought as three of the most important factors to affect plant growth and development. However, their combined physiological effect on plants is unknown so far. In this study, we measured the possible individual and combined impacts of the three factors on the growth of yellow birch seedlings (Betula alleghaniensis Britton). Our results showed that from individual perspective, elevated CO2 can significantly increase biomass attributes (e.g., leaf, root, and stem) and root biomass ratio; light intensity can significantly influence traits like total biomass and leaf biomass; while soil conditions can influence traits like height and leaf biomass. From two-way interaction perspective, the interaction CO2 and soil can significantly influence total plant biomass, root biomass and R:S ratio; the interaction of light and soil significantly influenced the height, basal diameter, stem biomass, and so on; the interaction between CO2 and light did not significantly influence the plant growth parameters except for branch biomass ratio. From three-way interaction perspective, both traits stem biomass and root biomass were influenced by the co-effect of the three environmental factors. In conclusion, single or interactive effects among CO2, light intensity and soil conditions can lead to various growth strategies for the yellow birch. Keywords: elevated CO2, interaction, light, soil nutrition, yellow birch seedlings Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 235-243 Volume: 56 Issue: 5 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/213/2009-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/213/2009-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201005-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:56:y:2010:i:5:id:213-2009-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: K. Agyarko Author-Workplace-Name: Collegeof Agriculture Education, University of Education, Winneba, Mampong- Ashanti, Ghana Author-Name: E. Darteh Author-Workplace-Name: Collegeof Agriculture Education, University of Education, Winneba, Mampong- Ashanti, Ghana Author-Name: B. Berlinger Author-Workplace-Name: National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway Title: Metal levels in some refuse dump soils and plants in Ghana Abstract: Concentrations of Cd, Hg, Pb, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mo and As were determined in soils and leaves of plants from refuse dumpsites and background soils in two cities, a municipality and a rural community in Ghana, using a ThermoFinnigan Element 2 high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric (HR-ICP-MS) instrument. The refuse dump soils were classified between 'Uncontaminated to Moderate' and 'Strongly Contaminated'. Pollution levels for Cd (Igeo = 2.06-2.40) and Zn (Igeo = 2.95-3.36) were higher than of the other metals. The refuse dump soil from the rural community was the least polluted with the metals. Fe and Ni loads in plants from the refuse dump soils in the cities and the municipality were beyond the normal ranges of 40-500 µg/g (Fe) and 0.02-5.00 µg/g (Ni). Transfer ratios for Cd, Hg, Cu, Zn and Pb and Fe of plants from the background soils were higher than those from the refuse dump soils, which might be due to the higher levels of organic matter, pH, phosphate, Ca and Mg in the refuse dump soils. Keywords: metal, refuse dump soil, Geoaccumulation index(Igeo), transfer ratio Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 244-251 Volume: 56 Issue: 5 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/13/2010-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/13/2010-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201005-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:56:y:2010:i:5:id:13-2010-PSE