Hordeum Brevisubulatum Research Articles

HbCIPK2, a novel CBL‐interacting protein kinase from halophyte Hordeum brevisubulatum, confers salt and osmotic stress tolerance

Protein kinases play an important role in regulating the response to abiotic stress in plant. CIPKs are plant-specific signal transducers, and some members have been identified. However, the precise functions of novel CIPKs still remain unknown. Here we report that HbCIPK2 is a positive regulator of salt and osmotic stress tolerance. HbCIPK2 was screened out of the differentially expressed fragments from halophyte Hordeum brevisubulatum by cDNA-AFLP technique, and was a single-copy gene without intron. Expression of HbCIPK2 was increased by salt, drought and ABA treatment. HbCIPK2 is mainly localized to the plasma membrane and nucleus. Ectopic expression of 35S:HbCIPK2 not only rescued the salt hypersensitivity in Arabidopsis mutant sos2-1, but also enhanced salt tolerance in Arabidopsis wild type, and exhibited tolerance to osmotic stress during germination. The HbCIPK2 contributed to the ability to prevent K(+) loss in root and to accumulate less Na(+) in shoot resulting in K(+) /Na(+) homeostasis and protection of root cell from death, which is consistent with the gene expression profile of HbCIPK2-overexpressing lines. These findings imply possible novel HbCIPK2-mediated salt signalling pathways or networks in H. brevisubulatum.

Comparative analyses of genetic/epigenetic diversities and structures in a wild barley species (Hordeum brevisubulatum) using MSAP, SSAP and AFLP

We analyzed genetic diversity and population genetic structure of four artificial populations of wild barley (Hordeum brevisubulatum); 96 plants collected from the Songnen Prairie in northeastern China were analyzed using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), specific-sequence amplified polymorphism (SSAP) and methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) markers. Indices of (epi-)genetic diversity, (epi-)genetic distance, gene flow, genotype frequency, cluster analysis, PCA analysis and AMOVA analysis generated from MSAP, AFLP and SSAP markers had the same trend. We found a high level of correlation in the artificial populations between MSAP, SSAP and AFLP markers by the Mantel test (r > 0.8). This is incongruent with previous findings showing that there is virtually no correlation between DNA methylation polymorphism and classical genetic variation; the high level of genetic polymorphism could be a result of epigenetic regulation. We compared our results with data from natural populations. The population diversity of the artificial populations was lower. However, different from what was found using AFLP and SSAP, based on MSAP results the methylation polymorphism of the artificial populations was not significantly reduced. This leads us to suggest that the DNA methylation pattern change in H. brevisubulatum populations is not only related to DNA sequence variation, but is also regulated by other controlling systems.

Origin of the H genome in StH-genomic Elymus species based on the single-copy nuclear gene DMC1

Previous studies have suggested that the H haplome in Elymus could originate from different diploid Hordeum species, however, which diploid species best represent the parental species remains unanswered. The focus of this study seeks to pinpoint the origin of the H genome in Elymus. Allopolyploid Elymus species that contain the StH genome were analyzed together with diploid Hordeum species and a broad sample of diploid genera in the tribe Triticeae using DMC1 sequences. Both parsimony and maximum likelihood analyses well separated the American Hordeum species, except Hordeum brachyantherum subsp. californicum, from the H genome of polyploid Elymus species. The Elymus H-genomic sequences were formed into different groups. Our data suggested that the American Horedeum species, except H. brachyantherum subsp. californicum, are not the H-genomic donor to the Elymus species. Hordeum brevisubulatum subsp. violaceum was the progenitor species to Elymus virescens, Elymus confusus, Elymus lanceolatus, Elymus wawawaiensis, and Elymus caninus. Furthermore, North American H. brachyantherum subsp. californicum was a progenitor of the H genome to Elymus hystrix and Elymus cordilleranus. The H genomes in Elymus canadensis, Elymus sibiricus, and Elymus multisetus were highly differentiated from the H genome in Hordeum and other Elymus species. The H genome in both North American and Eurasian Elymus species was contributed by different Hordeum species.

The use of microsatellite markers for genetic diversity assessment of genus Hordeum L. in Kerman province (Iran)

In this study, gene diversity and genetic relationships among 30 genotypes of genus Hordeum from Kerman province (Iran) were assessed using 10 simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers. Seven of these markers were highly polymorphic. A total of 96 alleles were detected. The number of alleles per microsatellite marker varied from 2 to 18. Except for Bmag0603, HVM36 and HvWAXY4, all the other markers showed on average, a high value of gene diversity ranging from 0.68 to 0.89. Primer GMS003 and GMS056 had the highest polymorphism information content (PIC) and so were able to distinguish different Hordeum genotypes. Cluster analysis based on unweighted pair group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) was accomplished by using the NTSYS-pc version 2.02 software for 4 major clusters which were finally extracted. Cluster 1 includes Hordeum distichon , Hordeum vulgare and Hordeum spontaneum , cluster 2 comprises Hordeum leporinum and Hordeum glaucum, cluster 3 has Hordeum bulbosum and cluster 4 includes Hordeum brevisubulatum ssp. iranicum . Data obtained from analysis are in complete agreement with taxonomic and gene pool classifications proposed previously. This study reports the first application of the SSR technique in characterization of genus Hordeum from Kerman province (Iran). Key words: Microsatellite markers, Hordeum , gene diversity, genetic relationships.

Comparative leaf anatomy of the genus Hordeum L. (Poaceae)

The genus Hordeum L., one of the most economically important cereal crops in the tribe Triticeae, has a worldwide distribution mainly in temperate and dry regions of the world. In Turkey, Hordeum is represented by 12 taxa, namely Hordeum violaceum Boiss. & Hohen., H. geniculatum All., H. marinum var. marinum, H. marinum Hudson var. pubescent (Guss.) Nevski, H. murinum L. subsp. murinum, H. murinum subsp. glaucum (Steudel) Tzvelev, H. murinum subsp. leporinum (Link) Arc. var. leporinum, H. murinum subsp. leporinum var. simulans Bowden, H. bulbosum L., H. spontaneum K.Koch, H. distichon L., and H. vulgare L. The main objective of this study is to assess the significance of anatomical characteristics of the leaves. For this purpose, dehydrated specimens were embedded into paraffin and transverse sections were gathered. Furthermore, the leaf surfaces were examined. Results of the study show that anatomical characteristics of the leaf blades vary between the taxa in both qualitative and quantitative values. Sclerenchymatic cells, silica bodies, and stomata, furrow and rib properties, the existence of midrib and bulliform cells, and indumentum properties such as arrangement, density, and length of macro hairs are all included in these diagnostic characteristics. Based on these anatomical characteristics, an identification key for the taxa is given for the first time.

Control of Clavicipitaceous Anamorphic Endophytes with Fungicides, Aerated Steam and Supercritical Fluid CO2-Seed Extraction

The effects of soil drenches with systemic fungicides on viability of clavicipitaceous anamorphic endophytes, non-choke inducing endosymbiotic fungi of the genus Neotyphodium that systemically infect grasses, were tested in endophyte-infected seedlings of Hordeum brevisubulatum subsp. violaceum, Lolium perenne and Festuca arundinacea germplasm. None of the endophytes of these grasses were sensitive to benomyl at 3-5 ppt. The endophyte of H. brevisubulatum was sensitive only to propiconazole. The viability of the F. arundinacea endophyte (N, coenophialum) was reduced, but not completed eliminated by prochloraz, imazalil and propiconazole in the 2-3 ppt range. Aerated-steam seed treatments at 60 C for 5 min were effective in reducing viability of the perennial ryegrass endophyte (N. lolii) by 83%, although some reduction in seed germination and negative growth effects were observed. A novel disease-control method, supercritical fluid carbon dioxide extraction (SFE-Cod, for the elimination of Neotyphodium-endophytes in grass seeds is reported here for the first time. The endophyte N. lolii was completely controlled in seeds of L. perenne cv. Ellett by extracting the seeds at 400 atmospheres for 10 or 20 min. Only minor reductions in seed germination resulted from the SFE-CO, seed-extraction treatment and no appreciable effects on growth of seedlings or mature plants were observed. Several potential applications of these disease-control technologies for seedborne fungal pathogens are discussed.

Desirable characteristics in perennial Triticeae collected in China for wheat improvement

Perennial Triticeae in China contain an enormous gene pool that has a great potential for wheat improvement. Collecting expeditions to 12 provinces of Northern China have been carried out. It has been found that most collections of Agropyron mongolicum, A. cristatum, A. desertorum, and Leymus chinensis, h. secalinus are drought tolerant, and that some collections of Hordeum brevisubulatum, Leymus chinensis are tolerant to saline-alkali soil. 448 accessions of perennial Triticeae were screened for resistance to powdery mildew, 248 accessions and 93 accessions were screened for resistance to BYDV strains PAV and RPV, respecitvely, and some species resistant to the diseases were found. A brief description of utilization of perennial Triticeae for wheat improvement in China is given in this paper.

Utility of the methylation‐sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) marker for detection of DNA methylation polymorphism and epigenetic population structure in a wild barley species (Hordeum brevisubulatum)

AbstractWe report here that by using a modified scoring criterion, the methylation‐sensitive amplified polymorphism or MSAP marker can be used effectively to detect polymorphism in DNA methylation patterns within and among populations of a perennial wild barley species, Hordeum brevisubulatum. Twenty‐four selected individual genotypes representing four natural populations of H. brevisubulatum distributed in the Songnen Prairie in northeastern China were studied. The utility of MSAP was evidenced by its detection of high levels of polymorphism in DNA methylation patterns between individuals within a given population, and the clear inter‐population differentiation in methylation patterns (methylation‐based epigenetic population structure) revealed among the four populations. The resolving power of MSAP to detect DNA methylation polymorphism was found to be comparable with that of a retrotransposon‐based sequence‐specific amplified polymorphism marker, or SSAP, to detect genetic polymorphism in the same set of plants, suggesting that MSAP with a modified scoring criterion can be used efficiently to detect DNA methylation polymorphism and assess epigenetic population structure in natural plant populations.

Genetic variation in natural populations of Hordeum brevisubulatum native to the Songnen Prairie in northeastern China: Comparison of four nuclear DNA markers

Hordeum brevisubulatum (Trin) Link, a perennial wild grass, shows high tolerance to salinity- and/or alkaline-eroded soil, and is an important forage grass. Nonetheless, the genetic variation within and among natural populations of this species has not been investigated. In this study, four PCR-based dominant nuclear DNA markers, i.e., amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR), retrotransposon-microsatellite-amplifiedpolymorphism (REMAP), and random amplified polymor phic DNA (RAPD) were used to investigate the genetic variation of a total of 80 plants with an average of 20 individual plants randomly collected from each of the four natural populations of H. brevisubulatum distributed in the Songnen Prairie in northeastern China. Results indicated that all four markers detected a surprisingly high level of genetic variation among the individual genotypes both within and among populations. Specifically, (i) of the 708 bands produced by 10 AFLP primer pairs, 223 (32%) were polymorphic, corresponding to a genetic similarity coefficient (Dice) range of 0.703 to 0.895 with a mean of 0.793; (ii) of the 174 bands produced by 12 ISSR primers, 149 (85%) were polymorphic, corresponding to a genetic similarity coefficient range of 0.524 to 0.826 with a mean of 0.676; (iii) of the 104 bands produced by REMAP (one retrotransopon-specific primer in combination with each of 8 ISSR primers), 89 (85%) were polymorphic, leading to an average similarity coefficient range of 0.494–0.840 with a mean of 0.688, and; (iv) of the 150 bands produced by 17 RAPD primers, 117 (77%) were polymorphic, giving a similarity coefficient range of 0.526–0.909 with a mean of 0.713. Thus, all four markers are highly informative in detecting genetic variations among the individual genotypes in natural populations of H. brevisubulatum. Nevertheless, no correlation was detected among the markers, suggesting that they likely targeted to different genomic regions of H. brevisubulatum. Whereas ISSR, REMAP and RAPD showed significantly higher levels of polymorphism than AFLP, only the latter was capable of grouping some of the plants largely in accordance with their geographic localities, suggesting population differentiation probably occurred preferentially at genomic regions targeted to by AFLP primers. Key words: Genetic diversity, Hordeum brevisubulatum, Molecular markers, Population differentiation

Genetic and epigenetic instabilities induced by tissue culture in wild barley (Hordeum brevisubulatum (Trin.) Link)

A simple tissue culture protocol was developed for efficient plant regeneration from young inflorescence-derived calli in wild barley, Hordeum brevisubulatum (Trin.) Link, an important pasturage grass. Genetic and epigenetic instabilities in the regenerated plants (regenerants) were assessed by three molecular markers AFLP, S-SAP and MSAP. Two pools of calli derived from young inflorescences of a single donor plant and 44 randomly chosen regenerants were subjected to AFLP analysis. Results showed that 74 out of 793 scored bands were polymorphic among the studied samples, giving rise to a genetic variation frequency of 9.3%. The number of variant bands as compared to the donor plant varied greatly among the regenerants, with a small number of regenerants accumulated a large number of variant bands (maximum 55), while the majority of regenerants showed only 2–3 variant bands. A subset of regenerants together with the two pools of calli were selected for S-SAP and MSAP analysis to detect possible retrotranspositional activity of a prominent retroelement family, BARE-1, in the genomes of Hordem species, and possible alterations in cytosine methylation. S-SAP analysis showed that of the 768 scored bands, 151 were polymorphic among the analyzed samples, giving rise to a genetic variation frequency of 19.7%, albeit no evidence for retrotranspositional event was obtained based on locus-specific PCR amplifications. MSAP analysis revealed that tissue culture has caused cytosine methylation alterations in both level and pattern compared with the donor plant. Sequencing of selected variant bands indicated that both protein-coding genes and transposon/retrotransposons were underlying the genetic and epigenetic variations. Correlation analysis of the genetic and epigenetic instabilities indicated that there existed a significant correlation between MSAP and S-SAP (r = 0.8118, 1,000 permutations, P < 0.05), whereas the correlation between MSAP and AFLP (r = 0.1048) is not statistically significant.

Seed maturity and harvest time effects seed quantity and quality of Hordeum brevisubulatum

Seed maturity and harvest time effects seed quantity and quality of Hordeum brevisubulatum

Characterization of low-molecular-weight glutenin subunit genes from Hordeum brevisubulatum ssp. turkestanicum

Three novel low-molecular-weight glutenin subunit (LMW-GS) genes (designated as Ht1, Ht2, and Ht3) were isolated from the genomic DNA of Hordeum brevisubulatum ssp. turkestanicum by PCR amplification (accession no. Y0695). The coding regions of Ht1, Ht2, and Ht3 were 924, 924, and 903 bp, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequences were 306, 306, and 299 amino acid residues each with a signal peptide, a central repetitive region rich in proline and glutamine, and N- and C-terminal non-repetitive domains. A comparison was carried out of these genes with other known B hordein genes from cultivated barley and LMW glutenin genes from wheat. The results indicated that Ht1, Ht2, and Ht3 had a more similar structure and a higher level of homology with the LMW-GS genes than the B hordein genes. In order to investigate the evolutionary relationship of the novel genes with the prolamin genes from barley and wheat, the phylogenetic tree was constructed and the subfamilies of these prolamin genes were identified. The results suggested that the three novel genes were glutenin-like proteins designated as LMW-m type genes.

Nutritive value of some Zagros Mountain rangeland species

This experiment was conducted to compare forage quality of 22 native species of The Zagros Mountain in Chaharmahal Bakhtiary province of Iran: Agropyron trichophorum, A. intermedium, Bromus tomentellus, Dactylis glomerata, Hordeum bulbosum, H. violaceum, Melica jaquemontii, Centaurea virgata, Coronilla varia, Fibigia suffruticosa, Galium verum, Lotus corniculatus, Medicago sativa, Onobrychis sativa, Plantago lanceolata, Sanguisorba minor, Silene chlorifolia, Trogopogon buphtalmodi, Lonicera nummulariifolia, Pterocephallus canus, Pterocephallus falcatus and Scropholania nervosa. Plant samples were collected from an exclosure about mid June, after-flowering stage. Forage quality was evaluated based on crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), dry matter digestibility (DMD) and metabolizable energy (ME) contents. For 10 species DMD was also measured using in situ procedure. There were significant differences between CP contents among legume ( P < 0.05) and grass species. High ADF percentages were obtained in Centaurea virgata (47.4%) and Hordeum violaceum (47.3%). Low ADF contents were in Galium verum (27.2%) and Trogopogon talmoedi (27.3%). Hordeum violaceum exhibited the lowest DMD (47.6%), which was significantly different from other species except with Centaurea virgata. Metabolizable energy ranged from 1.69 for Hordeum violaceum to 2.36 Mcals kg −1 DM for Onobrychis sativa. Among three life forms of grasses, forbs, and shrubs, generally forbs species showed higher CP content (11.13%), lowest ADF (27.8%) and highest DMD (64.6%) obtained from shrubs. Positive correlation between CP and DMD, and negative correlation between ADF and DMD, and between CP and ADF were obtained. There was no significant difference between DMD estimated from equation and measured, using in situ procedure. Adequate nutrients are available in vegetation communities including the evaluated species.

Antiporter Gene from Hordum brevisubulatum (Trin.) Link and Its Overexpression in Transgenic Tobaccos

Abstract: A vacuolar Na+/H+ antiporter cDNA gene was successfully isolated from Hordeum brevisubulatum (Trin.) Link using the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) method. The gene was named HbNHX1 and was found to consist of 1 916 bp encoding a predicted polypeptide of 540 amino acids with a conserved amiloride‐binding domain. Phylogenetic tree analysis of the Na+/H+ antiporters showed that the HbNHX1 gene shares 55.3%–74.8% similarity with the vacuolar‐type Na+/H+ antiporters. Transgenic tobaccos that contain the HbNHX1 gene, integrated by forward insertion into the tobacco genome, were obtained via Agrobacterium tumerfaciens and characterized for the determination of the concentration of Na+ and K+ ions, as well as proline, in the presence of 300 mmol/L NaCl. The T1 transgenic plants showed more tolerance to salt and drought than did wild‐type plants. Our data suggest that overexpression of the HbNHX1 gene could improve the tolerance of transgenic tobaccos to salt and drought through the function of the vacuolar Na+/H+ antiporter.(Managing editor: Li‐Hui ZHAO)

Palaeobotanical evidence for warm summers in the East Siberian Arctic during the last cold stage

Plant macrofossils from the “Mamontovy Khayata” permafrost sequence (71°60′N, 129°25′E) on the Bykovsky Peninsula reflect climate and plant biodiversity in west Beringia during the last cold stage. 70 AMS and 20 conventional 14C dates suggest sediment accumulation between about 60,000 and 7500 14C yr B.P. The plant remains prove that during the last cold-stage arctic species ( Minuartia arctica, Draba spp., Kobresia myosuroides) coexisted with aquatic ( Potamogeton vaginatus, Callitriche hermaphroditica), littoral ( Ranunculus reptans, Rumex maritimus), meadow ( Hordeum brevisubulatum, Puccinellia tenuiflora) and steppe taxa ( Alyssum obovatum, Silene repens, Koeleria cristata, Linum perenne). The reconstructed vegetation composition is similar to modern vegetation mosaics in central and northeast Yakutian relict steppe areas. Thus, productive meadow and steppe communities played an important role in the Siberian Arctic vegetation during the late Pleistocene and could have served as food resource for large populations of herbivores. The floristic composition reflects an extremely continental, arid climate with winters colder and summers distinctly warmer than at present. Holocene macrofossil assemblages indicate a successive paludification possibly connected with marine transgression, increased oceanic influence and atmospheric humidity. Although some steppe taxa were still present in the early Holocene, they disappeared completely before ∼2900 14C yr B.P.

Detrimental and neutral effects of wild barley–Neotyphodium fungal endophyte associations on insect survival

Abstract Neotyphodium (Clavicipitaceae: Balansieae) fungal endophyte infection does not always confer temperate grass resistance to insect herbivores, although reports indicate that over 40 species are adversely affected by its infection. Laboratory and glasshouse experiments were conducted to improve our knowledge of the anti‐insect properties of Neotyphodium‐infected (E+) non‐commercial grasses, and E+ wild barley (Hordeum) specifically. Neotyphodium infection of four plant inventory (PI) lines of wild barley conferred resistance to Mayetiola destructor (Say) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), whereas none of the E+ wild barley accessions reduced the survival of Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) (Homoptera: Aphididae). Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker) (Homoptera: Aphididae) densities were significantly lower on the E+ clones of Hordeum brevisubulatum ssp. violaceum (Boissier and Hohenacker) (PI 440420), compared with densities on endophyte‐free (E–) plants of this species in population growth experiments. Neotyphodium infection of three Hordeum bogdanii (Wilensky) PI lines did not confer resistance to M. dirhodum; however, one of these E+ lines (PI 314696) was resistant to this aphid in a second population growth experiment. Our results provide additional evidence that the outcome of a grass–endophyte–insect interaction is influenced by the host grass species or genotype, Neotyphodium species or genotype, and the insect species involved. They also reinforce this phenomenon for non‐commercial grass–endophyte–insect interactions and underscore the potential role of endophytes in mediating wild barley–insect interactions and their potential to act as defensive mutualists.

Effects of salinity on germination of six salt‐tolerant forage species and their recovery from saline conditions

Seed germination of six forage species under salt stress and their recovery response from saline conditions were studied. The forage species studied were Bromus inermis, Elytrigia elongata, Puccinellia tenuiflora, Hordeum brevisubulatum, Kalidium gracile, and Suaeda salsa. All of these plants are important forage plants in the inland areas of northern China. Seeds were germinated in solutions of 0, 21, 66, 110, 155, 200, 267, 334, 445 mmol/litre NaCl. After a 21‐day period, the ungerminated seeds were removed to Hoagland solution to observe the recovery germination, radicle, and shoot length. The percentage germination of all the species tested, except E. elongata, significantly decreased with increasing salinity (P < 0.01). The lengths of radicles and shoots were increased at 21 mmol/litre NaCl as compared with that in the control, except for S. salsa. Recovery germination and length of radicles and shoots in Hoagland solution increased with increasing salinity in treatment solutions. The recovery germination performances of the six species indicated that inhibition of germination under NaCl stress was induced by osmotic effects. Shoot growth of P. tenuiflora had the highest tolerance to NaCl stress, which suggests why it is the most widely used plant species for saline soil rehabilitation in northern China. The evaluation of salt tolerance in the early stage of growth should emphasise the response of germination and shoot or radicle growth under salt stress.

New eriophyoid mites (Acari: Eriophyoidea) associated with grasses from Mongolia

Two new species, Aculodes mongolicus sp. n. from Hordeum brevisubulatum (Trin.) Link, Eriophyes bromusi sp. n. from Bromus inermis Leyss, are described from Mongolia. Four new records of eriophyoid mites collected from grasses in Mongolia are also presented.

Protective Grass Endophytes: Where are they from and where are they going?

erhaps the most widely used agents of biological plant protection are endophytic fungal symbionts (endophytes) of forage and turfgrasses. These are fungi of the family Clavicipitaceae, which grow between host cells in vegetative tissues, ovules, and seeds of systemically infected grass plants. The existence of these endophytes was not fully appreciated until recent years, although the protection they provide against insect damage (Fig. 1) and drought contributes to the superior agronomic qualities of favorite pasture grasses in North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Unfortunately for livestock farmers, these endophytes also provide a degree of protection from grazing mammals. In 1977, Bacon et al. (2) reported that the grass Festuca arundinacea var. genuina Schreb. (hexaploid tall fescue) had a fungal endophyte related to Epichloe typhina (Pers.:Fr.) Tul., and that this endophyte— now known as Neotyphodium coenophialum (Morgan-Jones & Gams) Glenn, Bacon, & Hanlin—was responsible for toxicosis suffered by livestock grazing the grass. Epichloe species were known for many decades (44), but reports relating that nonpathogenic endophytes could be detrimental to livestock provided new impetus for intensive studies, making the grass–endophyte associations among the best characterized symbioses in biology. Less than two decades of research have yielded a rich body of knowledge about these symbioses: their secondary product chemistry, ecology, evolution, genetics, and molecular biology; their ecological roles as protectants from insect and vertebrate herbivores, pathogenic fungi and nematodes, and drought; and their effects on host growth and competitiveness. The endophytes produce numerous alkaloids, some of which are unrelated to any known from plants or other fungi. Their genetic and evolutionary complexity is extraordinary. They were the first fungi genetically documented as interspecific hybrids (47,53). Meanwhile, molecular genetic techniques were applied to the endophytes of tall fescue and other grasses, bringing us closer to the prospect of reducing or eliminating their toxicosis to livestock while continuing to employ their bioprotective qualities.

Gypsum amendment improves native grass establishment on saline‐alkali soils in northeast China

Abstract. Soil salinity and alkalinity reduce plant production and alter species composition of meadow grasslands in western Jilin Province, China. This study was designed to compare the survival and growth of three grass species (Aneumlepidium chinense, Puccinellia tenuijlora and Hordeum brevisubulatum) transplanted into saline‐alkali soils in the field, and to evaluate the effects of gypsum amendments on soil properties and growth of these species. Gypsum treatments decreased soil pH, electrical conductivity, and chloride and sodium levels; water infiltration and calcium levels were increased. Survival of grass transplants was increased by gypsum treatments. Tiller number and height, and grass yields were all increased by the application of gypsum. Improvements in plant growth and survival with gypsum treatment appeared to be due to reduced chloride levels and increased Ca availability in the soil, and to changes in soil structure leading to improved infiltration rates. Revegetation of salinelalkaline soils in this region would be improved by application of gypsum in the range of 14–19 t/ha.