Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A.N. Misra Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Fakir Mohan University, Nuapadhi Campus, Balasore, India Author-Name: M. Misra Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Fakir Mohan University, Nuapadhi Campus, Balasore, India Author-Name: R. Singh Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Fakir Mohan University, Nuapadhi Campus, Balasore, India Title: Nitric oxide ameliorates stress responses in plants Abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous diatomic molecule with a wide variety of physiological and pathological implications in plants. Presence of unpaired electron in its molecular orbital makes it highly reactive; it can react directly with metal complexes, radicals, DNA, proteins, lipids and other biomolecules. Nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are known to play essential role in a number of important plant physiological processes. This manuscript reviews the role of NO on these processes during various biotic and abiotic stresses. Keywords: nitric oxide (NO), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), reactive oxygen species (ROS), stress Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 95-100 Volume: 57 Issue: 3 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/202/2010-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/202/2010-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201103-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:57:y:2011:i:3:id:202-2010-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: W.M. Bhutta Author-Workplace-Name: Centre of Advanced Studies in Applied Genetics and Saline Agriculture, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan Title: Antioxidant activity of enzymatic system of two different wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars growing under salt stress Abstract: Soil salinity and semi-arid and arid climate of Pakistan is a major constraint in agriculture and predominantly in foodstuff production. It limits crop yield and use of land previously uncultivated. Wheat is moderately salt tolerant. A great variation was observed between and within the cultivars (genotypes: S-24 salt tolerant and DN-27 salt sensitive) in relationship to the choice of salinity level (control and treatments: in increment of 25 mol/m3 NaCl/day to a final level of 80 and 160 mol/m3 NaCl into the nutrient solution) that will be used for screening purpose. Relative water content (RWC), membrane stability index and the activities of some antioxidant enzymes were determined after 20 and 40 days of salt stress exposure. As a result of activity enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase increased in S-24 with the increase of salt stress, while in DN-27 all the enzymes showed constant activity at all the stress levels. Meanwhile, relative water content and membrane stability index decrease the value as well as they increases the stress levels. It can be concluded that all three antioxidant enzymes were limiting factors for these genotypes and these reasons also led to the salt sensitivity in DN-27. Different selection methods should be applied to improve different traits in different conditions in wheat. Keywords: Triticum aestivum L., osmotic stress, oxidative damage, defense response of plant, reactive oxygen species (ROS) Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 101-107 Volume: 57 Issue: 3 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/95/2010-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/95/2010-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201103-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:57:y:2011:i:3:id:95-2010-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: X. Zeng Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment and Climate Change, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Q. He Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment and Climate Change, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: L. Bai Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment and Climate Change, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: L. Li Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment and Climate Change, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: S. Su Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment and Climate Change, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Title: The arsenic speciation transformation in artificially arsenic-contaminated fluvo-aquic soil (Beijing, China) Abstract: Arsenic (As) speciation transformation often accompanies adsorption-desorption when exogenous arsenide is poured into soil. Disregarding the speciation transformation when evaluating adsorption-desorption of As can greatly influence the experimental results. In this study, batch experiments were conducted, and the results indicated that exogenous monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) or dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) added to fluvo-aquic soil collected from agricultural area in Beijing of China, was completely converted into As(V) after cultivated for60 or 90 days. However, when exogenous As(V) was added to the soil, no speciation transformation of As(V) was observed. Furthermore, although the total As concentration, which was 6.55 or 11.55 mg/kg in aqueous extracts of the soil to which MMA or DMA had been added, respectively, remained stable after cultivated for 30 or 60 days, the As speciation transformation of MMA or DMA into As(V) in soil still occurred. Differences in As speciation can result in different fates and behaviors of As in soil, and As speciation transformation should be taken into account when evaluating the adsorption-desorption of As. Keywords: As(V), MMA, DMA, conversion, adsorption-desorption Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 108-114 Volume: 57 Issue: 3 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/198/2010-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/198/2010-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201103-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:57:y:2011:i:3:id:198-2010-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: X.B. Zhou Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Y.H. Chen Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, P.R. China Author-Name: Z. Ouyang Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Title: Effects of row spacing on soil water and water consumption of winter wheat under irrigated and rainfed conditions Abstract: The results of two seasons' work on soil water content (SWC), evapotranspiration (ET), total dry matter (TDM), and harvest index (HI) of crops under different row spacing (RS), as well as possible ways to improve water utilization, have been reported. Field experiments were carried out at the Experimental Farm of Shandong Agricultural University (36°09'N, 117°09'E) in 2006-2007 and 2007-2008. Four types of RS were treated under two different water conditions (rainfed and irrigated) and set up in a randomized plot design. RS did not exhibit any obvious effects on SWC during the study period. SWC was enhanced evidently by irrigation, especially in the 10-60 cm soil layer. Irrigation increased the ET of crop. At the seeding-jointing stage, the ET of RS14 was significantly higher than those during other treatments (P < 0.05). Irrigation increased yields, ET, and TDM, while it decreased water use efficiency and HI. There were significantly negative correlations between TDM and RS (P < 0.05). The HI of the rainfed crop was higher than that of the irrigated crop. Results showed that high yields of wheat could be achieved in northern China by reducing RS under uniform planting density conditions. Keywords: evapotranspiration, harvest index, crop yield, dry matter, water use efficiency Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 115-121 Volume: 57 Issue: 3 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/130/2010-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/130/2010-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201103-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:57:y:2011:i:3:id:130-2010-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: D. Egamberdieva Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Biology and Soil Sciences, National University of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan Title: Survival of Pseudomonas extremorientalis TSAU20 and P. chlororaphis TSAU13 in the rhizosphere of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) under saline conditions Abstract: The abilities of Pseudomonas extremorientalis TSAU20 and P. chlororaphis TSAU13 to colonise and survive in the rhizosphere of common bean under saline conditions were studied. Four salinity levels (5.0, 7.5, 10.0, and 12.5 dS/m) were maintained in the gnotobiotic system using NaCl salt. Results showed that with increasing salt content root-tip colonization of both bacterial strains was reduced. Both bacterial treatments used in the study increased root and/or shoot length compared to non-treated plants at each NaCl concentration tested, whereas shoot growth was not stimulated at high saline condition (12.5 dS/m). In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that P. extremorientalis TSAU20 and P. chlororaphis TSAU 13 have the ability to survive in ecologically stressed conditions, such as saline and nitrogen deficient soils, and may positively effect on plant growth of bean. High salinity inhibited their colonisation in the rhizosphere of bean and thus their stimulatory effect on plants was also reduced. Keywords: Rhizosphere bacteria, root colonisation, Phaseolus vulgaris, salinity Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 122-127 Volume: 57 Issue: 3 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/316/2010-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/316/2010-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201103-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:57:y:2011:i:3:id:316-2010-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: W.J. Xie Author-Workplace-Name: Shandong Key Laboratory of Eco-Environmental Science for the Yellow River Delta, Binzhou University, Binzhou, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, P.R. China Author-Name: H.Y. Wang Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, P.R. China Author-Name: J.B. Xia Author-Workplace-Name: Shandong Key Laboratory of Eco-Environmental Science for the Yellow River Delta, Binzhou University, Binzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Z.G. Yao Author-Workplace-Name: Shandong Key Laboratory of Eco-Environmental Science for the Yellow River Delta, Binzhou University, Binzhou, P.R. China Title: Influence of N, P, and K application on Zea mays L. growth and Cu and Pb accumulation Abstract: Fertilization affects soil processes in many ways that remain unclear. The effects of N, P, and K application on plant growth and Cu and Pb accumulation were thus evaluated in a soil-maize system using five treatments: N, P, and K application; N and P application; N and K application; P and K application; and control (no fertilization). Compared to the control, fertilizer application treatments, especially N application, significantly increased maize photosynthetic rate, which further improved shoot biomass production. Root growth, root and shoot Cu and Pb concentrations, and Cu and Pb mobility also significantly altered with fertilizer application. Shoot Cu contents, root Cu uptake and translocation factors were significantly increased in the N-fertilized treatments. The significant decrease of shoot Pb concentration and root Pb uptake and increase of Cu and Pb immobilization were observed in theP-fertilized treatments. No significant correlation was observed between K application and Cu and Pb accumulation in maize. Our results show that an increase in P application and decrease in N application is recommended to reduce agro-ecological risks associated with Cu and Pb in soil-maize systems. However, the mechanisms governing the relationship between nutrients and heavy metal transformation in soil-plant systems needs further research. Keywords: soil heavy metals, Cu and Pb mobility, ecological risk, translocation factor Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 128-134 Volume: 57 Issue: 3 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/225/2010-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/225/2010-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201103-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:57:y:2011:i:3:id:225-2010-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: P.C. Magalhães Author-Workplace-Name: National Maize and Sorghum Research Center, Sete Lagoas, MG, Brazil Author-Name: T.C. de Souza Author-Workplace-Name: PlantPhysiology Lab, Biology Department, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, MG, Brazil Author-Name: F.R.O. Cantão Author-Workplace-Name: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, USA Title: Early evaluation of root morphology of maize genotypes under phosphorus deficiency Abstract: In Brazil savanna type of soils presents problems with phosphorus content. The selection and identification of maize genotypes to such environments is a high priority of Brazilian research. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate, in soils with different P concentrations, the dry mass attributes and characteristics of root morphology in eight maize lines with different genetic background and origins of the Breeding Program of the National Research Center for Maize and Sorghum. The experiment was carried out in plots prepared with two levels of phosphorus: high phosphorus (HP) and low phosphorus (LP). The experimental design was randomized blocks with three replications. The evaluation of the characteristics of the shoots and the root system morphology was performed 21 days after sowing. The WinRhizo program of images analysis was used for the root morphology. There were no differences between the phosphorus levels for the dry mass attributes. However, when we compared P levels, root morphology of L13.1.2 strain performed the highest surface area (SA) and total root length (RL), length of thin (TRL) and very thin (VTRL) roots in low P concentration. The root systems digital images analysis techniques allowed efficient discrimination of maize genotypes in environments with low P levels. Keywords: phosphorus concentrations, Zea mays, root length, WinRhizo Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 135-138 Volume: 57 Issue: 3 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/360/2010-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/360/2010-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201103-0007.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:57:y:2011:i:3:id:360-2010-PSE