Growth Chamber Experiments Research Articles

Impacts of Mo application on biological nitrogen fixation and diazotrophic communities in a flooded rice-soil system

Molybdenum (Mo) deficiency in the farmland of China may limit biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), however, the impact of Mo application on BNF capacities and diazotrophic communities in rice-soil systems is unclear. In this experiment, treatments in a 6.7 atom% 15N2-labelling field-based growth chamber for 74 days and treatments in a 99 atom% 15N2-labelling microcosm experiment for 40 days combined with 16S rRNA gene sequencing and DNA-stable isotope probing (SIP) were used to investigate the impacts of Mo application on BNF and diazotrophic communities. Our results showed that under the condition that no nitrogen (N) fertilizer was applied, Mo application (500 g sodium molybdate ha−1) significantly increased N2 fixation in a rice-Inceptisol system, from 22.3 to 53.1 kg N ha−1. Mo application significantly increased the number of nifH gene copies and the relative abundance of cyanobacteria in both growth chamber and microcosm experiments. Among cyanobacteria, the relative abundances of the most abundant genera Leptolyngbya and Microcoleus were significantly increased by Mo application. 15N2-DNA-SIP further demonstrated that Leptolyngbya and Microcoleus incorporated 15N2. Mo application greatly increased BNF in Mo-deficient paddy field (≤0.068 mg kg−1) and stimulated the growth of cyanobacteria. These results indicated that Mo application in Mo-deficient paddy field could be a useful measure to increase soil N input under no N fertilization.

How potassium deficiency alters flower bud retention on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

ABSTRACTPotassium (K) is fundamental for plant growth and development but despite the increased quantities of fertilizers applied, incidents of K deficiency are commonly observed. The objective of this study was to record the effects of K deficiency during cotton’s (Gossypium hirsutum L.) early reproductive stage on carbohydrate content and metabolism, total antioxidant capacity and oxidative damage of cotton flower buds as well as the physiology of the leaf, subtending to the flower buds. Growth chamber experiments were conducted using cotton cultivar DP0912 and treatments consisted of normal K and deficient K fertilization for the duration of the experiment. Potassium deficiency resulted in significant oxidative damage in the cotton flower buds, despite the substantial increase in their total antioxidant capacity. Sucrose metabolism of the flower buds was markedly affected resulting in significant reductions in all non-structural carbohydrate concentrations. Furthermore, K deficiency disturbed leaf physiology leading to increased membrane damage, decreases in chlorophyll and carotenoid content and ultimately leaf photosynthetic rates. Concomitant increases in specific leaf weight under K deficient conditions indicated reductions in photoassimilate translocation, which in conjunction with the disruptions observed in flower bud sucrose metabolism, due to the insufficient antioxidant response, resulted in significant decreases in flower bud retention.

Management of Delia (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) through selectively timed planting of Phaseolus vulgaris (Fabaceae) in Atlantic Canada

AbstractDelia Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Anthomyiidae), including Delia platura (Meigen), are known pests of vegetable crops. Here, three studies were conducted to examine the relationship between Delia species and Phaseolus vulgaris Linnaeus (Fabaceae). Field studies documented a relationship between planting date and occurrence of Delia damage on P. vulgaris. Plantings in mid-June resulted in higher crop yields (mean bean pods per plant) and reduced damage ratings compared with earlier plantings. Late-May and early-June planting dates were not favourable, as they resulted in high damage ratings and low plant survival. Late-June and July plantings resulted in low damage ratings but low crops yields. Growth chamber experiments examined oviposition preference of D. platura females at eight phenological stages for two varieties of P. vulgaris. Results indicated significantly higher oviposition rates on bean plants at early phenological growth stages, with no significant varietal preference shown by maggots. Laboratory experiments quantified the impact of D. platura larval infestation on two P. vulgaris varieties at two growth stages. Results indicated no significant difference in variety choice. Recommendation for planting P. vulgaris to coincide with Delia phenology using a degree-day model is discussed.

The Effects of ILeVO and VOTiVO on Root Penetration and Behavior of the Soybean Cyst Nematode, Heterodera glycines.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of ILeVO (fluopyram) and VOTiVO (Bacillus firmus I-1582) seed treatments on Heterodera glycines second-stage juvenile (J2) root penetration and behavior. In a growth chamber experiment, roots of soybeans grown from treated or untreated seeds were inoculated with H. glycines J2s at soil depths of 2.5, 5, or 7.5 cm. ILeVO significantly reduced H. glycines root penetration compared with the untreated control, but only when J2s were inoculated at a soil depth of 2.5 cm, which was near the seed. Changes in nematode behavior were assessed by collecting 60-s videos of J2s after 2 h of exposure to exudates from treated seeds or radicles from treated seeds or from soil leachates in which treated seeds were planted. X- and y-coordinates of each of the 13 reference points were recorded every hour for 24 h. A custom program analyzed and transformed the coordinates into nematode motion parameters (speed and total change in curvature). ILeVO, but not VOTiVO, seed exudates significantly reduced J2 speed relative to the untreated control. Soil leachates from ILeVO or VOTiVO treatments had no consistent effect on H. glycines speed or total change in curvature compared with the untreated control. In another experiment, treated or untreated seeds were incubated in wells of 6-well tissue culture plates containing 11.5% Pluronic gel. Seeds were removed after 2 h, and approximately 50 J2s then were pipetted into each well. The plates were scanned every 60 min for 24 h, and the number of J2s in each well that moved a minimum distance of ≥300 µm was determined using another custom software program. ILeVO, but not VOTiVO, significantly reduced the movement of J2 populations relative to control wells in which no seeds were added. And wells that had seeds, treated or not, yielded significantly less J2 movement compared with the no-seed control. The results of these experiments indicate that ILeVO reduces activity on H. glycines J2s but may not affect nematodes beyond a limited area surrounding the treated seed.

Integrated aerial and destructive phenotyping differentiates chilling stress tolerance during early seedling growth in sorghum

Sorghum with greater chilling tolerance during early season has the potential to minimize terminal drought and heat stress damage and efficiently utilize early season residual moisture. Four promising chilling stress tolerant sorghum advanced breeding lines, a known early stage chilling tolerant Chinese landrace (Shan Qui Red - SQR) and a susceptible US elite cultivar (RTx430) as checks were assessed for chilling tolerance during emergence and early growth under field and controlled environments. Plants were exposed to a maximum day-time/minimum night-time temperature of 6/6°, 8/8°, 10/10°, 15/15°, 20/10°, 20/15° and 32/22 °C in two independent controlled environment growth chamber experiments. Field studies were conducted with two early (April 01 and 15) and regular (May 13 and June 02) plantings in 2016 and with one early (April 21) and regular (May 25) planting in 2017. Emergence rate and from seedlings harvested one month after emergence, leaf area, shoot weight, root weight, and other root morphological traits were recorded from all experiments. Aerial phenotyping using UAV fitted with multispectral camera was used to capture reflectance-based vegetation indices (NDVI and NDRE). Some advanced breeding lines recorded significantly better emergence, seedling growth and vigor, root biomass compared to SQR under chilling conditions. Aerial phenotyping indices from images taken between 30 and 60 days after emergence were consistently correlated with destructive measurements under early plantings, indicating their effectiveness in differentiating chilling responses. Aerial phenotyping indices have the potential to be utilized effectively for phenotyping genetically diverse populations for improving early season chilling tolerance in sorghum.

Jasmonic Acid-Dependent Defenses Play a Key Role in Defending Tomato Against Bemisia tabaci Nymphs, but Not Adults.

The silverleaf whitefly Bemisia tabaci is an important and invasive crop pest in many countries. Previous laboratory studies with Arabidopsis demonstrated that B. tabaci can suppress jasmonic acid (JA) defenses and thereby enhance B. tabaci performance. Whether B. tabaci can suppress JA-regulated host plant defenses in field is unknown. In the present study, we found that, relative to wild-type (WT) tomato plants, transgenic tomato mutants that activated JA defenses (35s::prosys) or impaired JA defenses (spr-2 and def-1) did not affect the survival or reproduction of B. tabaci adults in growth chamber experiments. In contrast, tomato mutants that activated JA defenses slowed B. tabaci nymphal development, while mutants that impaired JA defenses accelerated nymphal development. These effects of JA defenses on nymphal development were also documented under semi-field conditions. Changes in the expression of defense genes and in the production of phytohormones indicated that B. tabaci adults can suppress JA-dependent defenses after infestation for >72 h. The suppression of JA was correlated with the induction of salicylic acid (SA) in B. tabaci-infested leaves under laboratory and under semi-field conditions. If SA signaling was blocked, JA accumulation increased in infested leaves and B. tabaci nymphal development was delayed. These results indicate that, although JA signaling helps in mediating tomato responses against B. tabaci nymphs, B. tabaci can inhibit JA biosynthesis and its action in an SA-dependent manner.

Does sowing an oats catch crop reduce nitrate leaching from urine deposition following simulated winter forage grazing? - a growth chamber experiment

Growing winter forages, such as brassicas and fodder beets, is a common feed strategy to build body condition for non-lactating cows, prior to calving, in the temperate regions of New Zealand. However, the large quantities of feed grown, ~14-20 tonnes ha-1, and resulting high stocking rates, means large volumes of urine are deposited during grazing, over relatively small areas, on cool, bare and often wet soils. These conditions create a high potential for large N leaching losses. Sowing a catch crop might be one way to mitigate this potential but most catch crops are sown in late-summer/autumn, not late winter/spring, so this study’s objectives were to examine the potential of a cold-tolerant cereal, oats, to establish and take up soil N over this period. A study was undertaken using free-draining repacked soil cores in two climate-controlled growth chambers at 6° and 10°C, and at two lighting intensities, 5 and 10 MJ m-2, reflecting the mean soil temperature (0-100 mm) and light levels experienced in Canterbury, New Zealand, around late winter and mid spring, respectively. The cores all received an application of 15N-labelled urine (350 kg N ha-1) and two weeks later, oats were sown in half the soil cores, with the remainder left fallow. Sowing oats at 6° and 10°C both proved highly effective in reducing nitrate leaching loss by around 33% and 75%, respectively, compared to fallow treatments. Soil temperature, however, was the chief driver of oats development, growing an order of magnitude more rapidly at 10°C and reducing nitrate leaching loss quickly through a combination of increased N uptake and reduced drainage. However, ammonia oxidising bacteria (AOB) abundance in 10°C fallow treatments increased more rapidly after urine application than at 6°C, meaning soil nitrate concentrations rose quickly, leaching twice as much nitrate as the 6°C fallow treatments after 90 days. Greater plant growth (10-times more) at 10°C than at 6°C, 75 days after sowing, was offset to some degree by greater N% and N content in the plant stems and roots at 6°C (2-4 times more). Higher light intensity increased evaporative water loss in both 6° and 10°C chambers, reducing drainage and nitrate leaching, and increasing the rate of oats development at 10°C. The sowing of oats as a catch crop following simulated winter forage grazing conditions shows promise as an effective means to limit nitrate leaching. Further research, however, is needed to show that a catch crop can be sown successfully in most years at farm paddock scale across a range of soil conditions.

Testing the AC/DC hypothesis: Rock and roll is noise pollution and weakens a trophic cascade.

Anthropogenic sound is increasingly considered a major environmental issue, but its effects are relatively unstudied. Organisms may be directly affected by anthropogenic sound in many ways, including interference with their ability to detect mates, predators, or food, and disturbances that directly affect one organism may in turn have indirect effects on others. Thus, to fully appreciate the net effect of anthropogenic sound, it may be important to consider both direct and indirect effects. We report here on a series of experiments to test the hypothesis that anthropogenic sound can generate cascading indirect effects within a community. We used a study system of lady beetles, soybean aphids, and soybean plants, which are a useful model for studying the direct and indirect effects of global change on food webs. For sound treatments, we used several types of music, as well as a mix of urban sounds (e.g., sirens, vehicles, and construction equipment), each at volumes comparable to a busy city street or farm tractor. In 18‐hr feeding trials, rock music and urban sounds caused lady beetles to consume fewer aphids, but other types of music had no effect even at the same volume. We then tested the effect of rock music on the strength of trophic cascades in a 2‐week experiment in plant growth chambers. When exposed to music by AC/DC, who articulated the null hypothesis that “rock and roll ain't noise pollution” in a song of the same name, lady beetles were less effective predators, resulting in higher aphid density and reduced final plant biomass relative to control (no music) treatments. While it is unclear what characteristics of sound generate these effects, our results reject the AC/DC hypothesis and demonstrate that altered interspecific interactions can transmit the indirect effects of anthropogenic noise through a community.

Transcriptional responses of soybean roots to colonization with the root endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica reveals altered phenylpropanoid and secondary metabolism

Piriformospora indica, a root endophytic fungus, has been shown to enhance biomass production and confer tolerance to various abiotic and biotic stresses in many plant hosts. A growth chamber experiment of soybean (Glycine max) colonized by P. indica compared to uninoculated control plants showed that the fungus significantly increased shoot dry weight, nutrient content, and rhizobial biomass. RNA-Seq analyses of root tissue showed upregulation of 61 genes and downregulation of 238 genes in colonized plants. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses demonstrated that upregulated genes were most significantly enriched in GO categories related to lignin biosynthesis and regulation of iron transport and metabolism but also mapped to categories of nutrient acquisition, hormone signaling, and response to drought stress. Metabolic pathway analysis revealed upregulation of genes within the phenylpropanoid and derivative pathways such as biosynthesis of monolignol subunits, flavonoids and flavonols (luteolin and quercetin), and iron scavenging siderophores. Highly enriched downregulated GO categories included heat shock proteins involved in response to heat, high-light intensity, hydrogen peroxide, and several related to plant defense. Overall, these results suggest that soybean maintains an association with this root endosymbiotic fungus that improves plant growth and nutrient acquisition, modulates abiotic stress, and promotes synergistic interactions with rhizobia.

Allelopathy of a native shrub can help control invasive grasses at sites under ecological restoration in a Neotropical savanna

ABSTRACTBackground: African C4 grasses threatens newly restored areas in Neotropical savannas. Allelopathy exhibited by some native species may contribute to ecological restoration.Aims: To establish the potential use of Lepidaploa aurea (Asteraceae) in ecological restoration of invaded savannas, we evaluated its allelopathic effects on two invasive grasses, a native grass, and two native trees (one savanna and one riparian forest species).Methods: We tested the allelopathic effects of the leaves and roots of L. aurea in a growth chamber, a greenhouse, and in field experiments.Results: Leaf extracts reduced the growth of all other species in the growth chamber experiment. Root extracts reduced growth in one invasive grass and promoted root growth in the savanna tree. The invasive grass and riparian forest tree were negatively affected when planted in soil where L. aurea had grown, whereas the savanna tree showed increased growth. Lepidaploa aurea litter reduced growth in one invasive grass species and increased root biomass accumulation in the native grass species.Conclusions: Lepidaploa aurea negatively affected the growth of invasive grasses, through plant extracts, litter and through soil. These patterns could explain its ability to colonise abandoned pasturelands and its high success of establishing in restoration areas.

Response of Sesame to Selected Herbicides Applied Early in the Growing Season

Growth chamber experiments were conducted to evaluate the response of sesame to PRE and POST applications of soil residual herbicides. PRE applications of acetochlor andS-metolachlor at 1.26 and 1.43 kg ai·ha−1showed little or no sesame injury (0 to 1%) 4 wks after herbicide treatments (WAT). POST treatments of acetochlor and trifluralin made 3 wks after planting (WAP) resulted in greater sesame injury (40%) compared to applications at bloom (18%). Field studies were conducted in Texas and Oklahoma during the 2014 and 2015 growing seasons to determine sesame response to clethodim, diuron, fluometuron, ethalfluralin, quizalofop-P, pendimethalin, pyroxasulfone, trifluralin, and trifloxysulfuron-sodium applied 2, 3, or 4 weeks after planting (WAP). Late-season sesame injury with the dinitroaniline herbicides consisted of a proliferation of primary branching at the upper nodes of the sesame plant (in the shape/form of a broom). Ethalfluralin and trifluralin caused more “brooming” effect than pendimethalin. Some yield reductions were noted with the dinitroaniline herbicides. Trifloxysulfuron-sodium caused the greatest injury (up to 97%) and resulted in yield reductions from the untreated check. Early-season diuron injury (leaf chlorosis and necrosis) decreased as application timing was delayed, and late-season injury was virtually nonexistent with only slight chlorosis (<4%) still apparent on the lower leaves. Sesame yield was not consistently affected by the diuron treatments. Fluometuron caused early-season injury (stunting/chlorosis), and a reduction of yield was observed at one location. Pyroxasulfone applied 2 WAP caused up to 25% sesame injury (stunting) but did not result in a yield reduction. Quizalofop-P caused slight injury (<5%) and no reduction in yield.

Floral trait variation and links to climate in the mixed-mating annual Clarkia pulchella

The benefits of self-fertilization can vary across environments, leading to selection for different reproductive strategies and influencing the evolution of floral traits. Although stressful conditions have been suggested to favour self-pollination, the role of climate as a driver of mating-system variation is generally not well understood. Here, we investigate the contributions of local climate to intraspecific differences in mating-system traits in Clarkia pulchella Pursh in a common-garden growth chamber experiment. We also tested for plastic responses to soil moisture with watering treatments. Herkogamy (anther–stigma spacing) correlated positively with dichogamy (timing of anther–stigma receptivity) and date of first flower, and northern populations had smaller petals and flowered earlier in response to experimental drought. Watering treatment alone had little effect on traits, and dichogamy unexpectedly decreased with annual precipitation. Populations also differed in phenological response to watering treatment, based on precipitation and winter temperature of their origin, indicating that populations from cool and dry sites have greater plasticity under different levels of moisture stress. While some variation in floral traits is attributable to climate, further investigation into variation in pollinator communities and the indirect effects of climate on mating system can improve our understanding of the evolution of plant mating.

The triple oxygen isotope composition of phytoliths as a proxy of continental atmospheric humidity: insights from climate chamber and climate transect calibrations

Abstract. Continental atmospheric relative humidity (RH) is a key climate parameter. Combined with atmospheric temperature, it allows us to estimate the concentration of atmospheric water vapor, which is one of the main components of the global water cycle and the most important gas contributing to the natural greenhouse effect. However, there is a lack of proxies suitable for reconstructing, in a quantitative way, past changes of continental atmospheric humidity. This reduces the possibility of making model–data comparisons necessary for the implementation of climate models. Over the past 10 years, analytical developments have enabled a few laboratories to reach sufficient precision for measuring the triple oxygen isotopes, expressed by the 17O-excess (17O-excess = ln (δ17O + 1) – 0.528 × ln (δ18O + 1)), in water, water vapor and minerals. The 17O-excess represents an alternative to deuterium-excess for investigating relative humidity conditions that prevail during water evaporation. Phytoliths are micrometric amorphous silica particles that form continuously in living plants. Phytolith morphological assemblages from soils and sediments are commonly used as past vegetation and hydrous stress indicators. In the present study, we examine whether changes in atmospheric RH imprint the 17O-excess of phytoliths in a measurable way and whether this imprint offers a potential for reconstructing past RH. For that purpose, we first monitored the 17O-excess evolution of soil water, grass leaf water and grass phytoliths in response to changes in RH (from 40 to 100 %) in a growth chamber experiment where transpiration reached a steady state. Decreasing RH from 80 to 40 % decreases the 17O-excess of phytoliths by 4.1 per meg/% as a result of kinetic fractionation of the leaf water subject to evaporation. In order to model with accuracy the triple oxygen isotope fractionation in play in plant water and in phytoliths we recommend direct and continuous measurements of the triple isotope composition of water vapor. Then, we measured the 17O-excess of 57 phytolith assemblages collected from top soils along a RH and vegetation transect in inter-tropical West and Central Africa. Although scattered, the 17O-excess of phytoliths decreases with RH by 3.4 per meg/%. The similarity of the trends observed in the growth chamber and nature supports that RH is an important control of 17O-excess of phytoliths in the natural environment. However, other parameters such as changes in the triple isotope composition of the soil water or phytolith origin in the plant may come into play. Assessment of these parameters through additional growth chambers experiments and field campaigns will bring us closer to an accurate proxy of changes in relative humidity.

Parallel altitudinal clines reveal trends in adaptive evolution of genome size in Zea mays.

While the vast majority of genome size variation in plants is due to differences in repetitive sequence, we know little about how selection acts on repeat content in natural populations. Here we investigate parallel changes in intraspecific genome size and repeat content of domesticated maize (Zea mays) landraces and their wild relative teosinte across altitudinal gradients in Mesoamerica and South America. We combine genotyping, low coverage whole-genome sequence data, and flow cytometry to test for evidence of selection on genome size and individual repeat abundance. We find that population structure alone cannot explain the observed variation, implying that clinal patterns of genome size are maintained by natural selection. Our modeling additionally provides evidence of selection on individual heterochromatic knob repeats, likely due to their large individual contribution to genome size. To better understand the phenotypes driving selection on genome size, we conducted a growth chamber experiment using a population of highland teosinte exhibiting extensive variation in genome size. We find weak support for a positive correlation between genome size and cell size, but stronger support for a negative correlation between genome size and the rate of cell production. Reanalyzing published data of cell counts in maize shoot apical meristems, we then identify a negative correlation between cell production rate and flowering time. Together, our data suggest a model in which variation in genome size is driven by natural selection on flowering time across altitudinal clines, connecting intraspecific variation in repetitive sequence to important differences in adaptive phenotypes.

Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Activity of Endophytic Bacterial Populations From Chinese Traditional Medicinal Plant Licorice and Characterization of the Bioactive Secondary Metabolites Produced by Bacillus atrophaeus Against Verticillium dahliae.

Endophytic bacteria associated with medicinal plants possess unique strategies that enhance growth and suvival of host plants, many of which are mediated by distinctive secondary metabolites. These bacteria and their secondary metabolites are important subjects for both basic and applied research aimed at sustainable agriculture. In the present study, 114 endophytic strains isolated from the wild ethnomedicinal plant Glycyrrhiza uralensis (licorice) were screened for their in vitro antimicrobial activities against common fungal pathogens of tomato (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp., Fulvia fulva, Alternaria solani), cotton (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Vesinfectum, Verticillium dahliae), pomegranite (Ceratocystis fimbriata), Cymbidinium (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides), and Tsao-ko (Pestalotiopsis microspora and Fusarium graminearum) and the common bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella enteritidis, and Escherichia coli. Several Bacillus strains, particularly Bacillus atrophaeus and Bacillus mojavensis, had a broad spectrum of antifungal and antibacterial activity. A total of 16 strains, selected based on broad antimicrobial activity, were shown to contain at least one putative secondary metabolite-encoding gene (i.e., polyketide synthase or non-ribosomal peptide synthetase) and/or one lytic enzyme (i.e., protease, cellulase, lipase, chitinase), which may be important mediators of antagonistic activity against pathogens. Five strains, representing Bacillus atrophaeus and Bacillus mojavensis, were selected for plant growth chamber experiments based on strong in vitro antifungal activities. All five strains significantly reduced disease severity in Arabidopsis thaliana plants challenged with V. dahlia infection. Gas-chromatography/mass-spectrometry analysis of cell-free extracts of Bacillus atrophaeus strain XEGI50 showed that at least 13 compounds were produced only during co-cultivation with V. dahlia, including putative compounds known to have antimicrobial activity, such as 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis (2-methylpropyl) ester; 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-, methyl ester; 9-octadecenoic acid, methyl ester, (E)-; and decanedioic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester. To our knowledge, this study is the first to report that bacteria isolated from G. uralensis have biocontrol abilities. Our findings provide new insights into the antimicrobial activities of natural endophytes, particularly B. atrophaeus, and suggest this species may a promising candidate as a biocontrol agent to confer resistance to Verticillium wilt disease and other phytopathogens in cotton and other crops.

Improved flooding tolerance and carbohydrate status of flood-tolerant plant Arundinella anomala at lower water temperature.

BackgroundOperation of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR, China) imposes a new water fluctuation regime, including a prolonged winter submergence in contrast to the natural short summer flooding of the rivers. The contrasting water temperature regimes may remarkably affect the survival of submerged plants in the TGR. Plant survival in such prolonged flooding might depend on the carbohydrate status of the plants. Therefore, we investigated the effects of water temperature on survival and carbohydrate status in a flood-tolerant plant species and predicted that both survival and carbohydrate status would be improved by lower water temperatures.MethodologyA growth chamber experiment with controlled water temperature were performed with the flood-tolerant species Arundinella anomala from the TGR region. The plants were submerged (80 cm deep water above soil surface) with a constant water temperature at 30°C, 20°C or 10°C. The water temperature effects on survival, plant biomass and carbohydrate content (glucose, fructose and sucrose and starch) in the viable and dead tissues were investigated.Principal findingsThe results showed that the survival percentage of A.anomala plants was greatly dependent on water temperature. The two-month submergence survival percentage was 100% at 10°C, 40% at 20°C and 0% at 30°C. Decreasing the water temperature led to both later leaf death and slower biomass loss. Temperature decrease also induced less reduction in glucose, fructose and sucrose in the roots and leaves (before decay, p < 0.05), but only marginally significant in the stems (p < 0.05). However, the starch content level did not differ significantly between the water temperature treatments (p > 0.05). Different water temperatures did not alter the carbon pool size in the stems, leaves and whole plants (p > 0.05), but a clear difference was found in the roots (p < 0.05), with a larger pool size at a lower temperature.Conclusions/SignificanceWe concluded that (1) A. anomala is characterized by high flooding tolerance and sustained capability to mobilize carbohydrate pool. (2) The survival percentage and carbohydrate status of submerged A. anomala plants were remarkably improved by lower water temperatures. The survival of submergence seemed to be closely associated with the sugar content and carbohydrate pool size of the roots, which contained the lowest amount of carbohydrates. Three Gorges reservoir impoundment in winter is beneficial to the survival of submerged A. anomala in riparian area of the reservoir due to the low water temperature.

Genetic differentiation in cauline-leaf-specific wettability of a rosette-forming perennial Arabidopsis from two contrasting montane habitats.

An altitudinal gradient of leaf wettability is often observed between and within species. To understand its functional significance, positional variation of leaf surfaces within plants should be taken into account. In rosette-forming plants, rosette leaves are near the ground and their adaxial surfaces are exposed, whereas cauline leaves are lifted from the ground throughout the reproductive season, and their abaxial surfaces are more exposed. Here, we investigated leaf wettability of cauline and rosette leaves of Arabidopsis halleri subsp. gemmifera growing in contrasting montane habitats along an altitudinal gradient at Mt Ibuki, Japan. We conducted field investigations and a growth chamber experiment to determine whether field-observed variation in leaf wettability was caused by genetic differentiation. We further performed gene expression analysis of a wax-related gene, i.e. AhgCER1, a homologue of A. thaliana ECERIFERUM1 (CER1) that may be involved in differentiation of leaf wettability. We found cauline-leaf specific genetic differentiation in leaf wettability between contrasting montane habitats. Cauline leaves of semi-alpine plants, especially on abaxial surfaces, were non-wettable. Cauline leaves of low-altitudinal understorey plants were wettable, and rosette leaves were also wettable in both habitats. AhgCER1 expression corresponded to observed leaf wettability patterns. Low wettability of cauline leaves is hypothesized to keep exposed surfaces dry when they are wrapping flowering buds in early spring, and presumably protects flowering buds from frost damage. The genetic system that controls wax content, specifically for cauline leaves, should be involved in the observed genetic differentiation, and AhgCER1 control is a strong candidate for the underlying genetic mechanism.

Salinity tolerance of germinating alternative oilseeds

Integrating oilseed crops into rotations can improve soil health benefits, nutrient retention, and pollinator provisions. Field margins represent areas where incorporation of oilseeds is feasible. However in the northern Great Plains, field margins can oftentimes be areas of saline soil, which can impact seed germination and seedling establishment. Therefore, a replicated growth chamber experiment was used to determine winter camelina (Camelina sativa), winter pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.), echium (Echium plantogineum), cuphea (Cuphea viscosissima X Cuphea lanceolata), and calendula (Calendula officinalis) tolerance to germinating under saline conditions. A total of 50 seeds, replicated 3 times were germinated in petri dishes saturated with NaCl, CaCl, and Na2SO4 solution at 0, 0.2, 2, 4, 8, and 16 dS m−1 in an incubator at constant 20 °C. Fully germinated seeds were counted and removed daily for 7 days, followed by every other day for a total of 21 days. Final germination percent, corrected germination rate index, and germination velocity were calculated. Germination percent, corrected germination rate index and germination velocity were negatively affected by increases in salinity for camelina, pennycress, cuphea, and calendula. Echium germination was not impacted by salt or salinity level. Sodium based salts were more detrimental for camelina, pennycress, and calendula. Camelina and cuphea germination was tolerant to salinity, with average salinity thresholds of 8.0 and 3.1 dS m−1 and a 25% germination decline at 35.3 and 11.0 dS m−1, respectively. Pennycress and calendula germination was moderately tolerant to salinity with average salinity thresholds of 5.9 and 2.7 dS m−1 and a 25% germination decline at 9.4 and 7.7 dS m−1, respectively. These oilseeds show potential for adoption in saline soils.

Effect of Temperature on Clopyralid Safety in Strawberry

AbstractStrawberry is an important horticultural crop in Florida. The long growing season and escapes from fumigation and PRE herbicides necessitate POST weed management to maximize harvest potential and efficiency. Alternatives to hand-weeding are desirable, but clopyralid is the only broadleaf herbicide registered for use. Weed control may be improved by early-season clopyralid applications, but at risk of high temperature and increased strawberry injury. The effect of temperature on clopyralid safety on strawberry is unknown. We undertook a growth chamber experiment using a completely randomized design to determine crop safety under various temperature conditions across acclimation, herbicide application, and post-application periods. There was no effect of clopyralid on the number of strawberry leaves across all temperatures. Damage to the strawberry manifested as leaf malformations. Acclimation temperatures affected clopyralid-associated injury (p=0.0309), with increased leaf malformations at higher temperatures (27 C) compared to lower (18 C) temperatures. Pre-treatment temperatures did not affect clopyralid injury. Post-application temperature also affected clopyralid injury (p=0.0161), with increased leaf malformations at higher temperatures compared to lower ones. Clopyralid application did not reduce flowering or biomass production in the growth chamber. If leaf malformations are to be avoided, consideration to growing conditions prior to application is advisable, especially if applying clopyralid early in the season.

Bacterial wilt symptoms are impacted by host age and involve net downward movement of Erwinia tracheiphila in muskmelon

Cucurbit bacterial wilt, caused by Erwinia tracheiphila, is a devastating disease of cucurbit crops in the Midwest and Northeast U.S. Current management of bacterial wilt relies primarily on insecticide applications to control striped and spotted cucumber beetles (Acalymma vittatum and Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi, respectively), which vector E. tracheiphila. Development of alternative management strategies is constrained by a lack of understanding of bacterial wilt etiology. The impact of host age on rate on symptom development and extent of bacterial movement in the xylem of muskmelon (Cucumis melo cv. Athena) was evaluated following wound inoculation of 2- to 8-week-old plants in growth chamber experiments. Wilting occurred more rapidly in plants after inoculating E. tracheiphila into 2- or 4-week-old plants than 6- or 8-week-old plants. Recovery of viable cells from stem segments revealed that vascular spread of E. tracheiphila was more extensive below than above the inoculation point. These findings provide experimental evidence that host age impacts the rate of symptom development in cucurbit bacterial wilt and that movement of the xylem-inhabiting pathogen E. tracheiphila within muskmelon plants occurs primarily in the downward direction.