bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Grain Weight Reductions in Wheat Associated with Semidwarfism: an Analysis of Grain Weight at Different Positions Within the Spike of Near‐isogenic Lines
Authors: Miralles D. J. , Slafer G. A. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractSemidwarf genes have made a major contribution to grain yield gains in wheat during this century. These genes have frequently been reported to increase grain number but decrease grain size. To analyse possible causes of this negative association between number of grains per head and mean grain weight, grains from different positions within the spikes were individually weighed in three isolines (standard‐height, SH; semidwarf, SD; and dwarf, DD) of the spring wheat cultivar Maringa grown under field conditions.Dwarfing genes affected both grain number and grain weight. Increasing doses of Rht genes resulted in a decreased average grain weight (ca. 22 %) but in a greater increase in number of grains per m2 (ca. 40%). Since the isogenic lines did not differ in either the number of spikes per m2 or number of spikelets per spike, the frequencies of appearance of grains in the distal positions (florets 3 and 4) of the central spikelets and in the top spikelets of the spike was much higher for the SD and DD lines than for the SH line. Averaging across spikelets, basal grains (grains 1 and 2) of SH, SD and DD lines represented ca. 82, 73, and 69 %, respectively, of the total number of grains. On the other hand, grain 4 was almost absent in the SH line but represented around 10 % of the grains in the DD line.Averaging across lines and spikelets, basal grains weighed ca. 30 mg, which is approximately 20 % heavier than grain 3 (ca. 25 mg) and 85 % heavier than grain 4 (ca. 16 mg). Although there was a clear trend for a greater grain weight in the SH line (with no major differences between the SD and DD line) when basal grains were considered, grains 3 and 4 did not show any clear difference between lines.The fact that genotypes with Rht alleles had grains in the distal positions with a much higher frequency of appearance than in the SH line could be the main reason for their lower average grain weight. Therefore, the negative relationship between grain number and average grain weight might be not reflecting that competition for assimilates among grains of the DD and SD lines is stronger than that in the SH line.
Evaluation of Root Sink Ability of Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas Lam.) Cultivars on the Basis of Enzymatic Activity in the Starch Synthesis Pathway
Authors: Yatomi M. , Kubota F. , Saito K. , Agata W. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractActivities of five enzymes, sucrose synthase (SUS), uridine 5′‐diphosphate glucose pyrophosphorylase (UDPGPPase), fructose‐1,6 bisphosphatase (FBPase), adenosine 5’diphosphate glucose pyrophosphorylase (ADPGPPase) and starch synthase (STS), in the metabolic pathway of starch synthesis, were compared between two sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas Lam.) cultivars, Koganesengan (C.V.KOG, a recently released high yield cultivar) and Tsurunasigenji (C.V.TSU, an old, local cultivar with poor yield). The measurements were carried out using the root samples (tuberous, thick and fibrous roots) harvested at the fast tubering stage. Of the five enzymes, SUS, ADPGPPase and STS showed high activities in the tuberous root, particularly in that of C.V.KOG, and a similar trend was observed for activities of these enzymes on a protein basis. The increased activity of the three enzymes is considered to be one of the characteristics in a high yield cultivar, allowing the root to function effectively as a starch synthesis and storage organ.
Effect of Depth and Method of Irrigation and Nitrogen Application on Herb and Oil Yields of Java Citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt.) under Semi‐arid Tropical Conditions
Authors: Singh M. , Ganesha Rao R. S. , Prakasa Rao E. V. S. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractA field expenment was conducted during 1992–94 at CIMAP, Field Station, Bangalore, India to study the effect of depth (25, 37.5 and 50 mm) and methods (Ridge and furrow and Broad Bed and furrow method) of irrigation and nitrogen levels (0, 200 and 400 kg N ha−1 year−1) on herb and oil yields of Java citronella. At the highest level of N application (400 kg N ha−1 year−1) ridge and furrow method was better suited for irrigating citronella. However, under lower N levels (0 and 200 kgN ha−1 year−1), as much as 30 % water can be saved by the broad bed and furrow method. The results have shown that highest herb and oil yields of citronella were achieved with the application of 400 kg N and maintaining 25 mm depth of irrigation. Content and quality of oil were not affected either by irrigation or nitrogen.
Effects of Timing of Drought Stress on Leaf Area Development and Canopy Light Interception of Short‐duration Pigeonpea
Authors: Lopez F. B. , Chauhan Y. S. , Johansen C. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractLeaf area index (LAI), fractional canopy light interception (F) and plant mortality at maturity, were determined for nine short‐duration pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan [L.] Millsp.) genotypes in response to drought during the late‐vegetative and flowering (stress 1), the flowering and early podfill (stress 2), or podfill (stress 3) stages. LAI and F were reduced, but plant mortality did not increase under drought. Stress 2 reduced LAI to the greatest extent, consistent with the effects on seed yield. At the end of stress 1, seed yield was closely related to LAI for the different genotypes in stressed but not in unstressed (control) plots. Reductions in LAI due to reproductive growth were as great or greater than those due to water stress. Indeterminate genotypes had smaller but more leaves per plant compared to the determinate genotypes. The importance of these differences to drought resistance was not apparent. Production of leaves with decreasing specific leaf area throughout plant growth may be advantageous, especially when drought is likely to occur during reproductive growth. Values of F during and following water stress gave an indication of genotypic drought resistance, with the most drought‐sensitive genotype showing the largest reduction in F under water stress and the slowest rate of recovery following rewatering. For short‐duration pigeonpea, where plant mortality is not a factor under water stress, the maintenance of both LAI and F appears to indicate genotypic drought resistance.
Breaking Uniculm Growth Habit of Spring Cereals at High Latitudes by Crop Management. II. Tillering, Grain yield and Yield Components
Authors: Peltonen J. , Peltonen‐Sainio P. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractLong days at high latitudes inhibit tillering of cereals and hence seeding rates of 500–700 seeds m−2 are commonly used for spring wheat, barley and oats in Finland. Costs could be reduced by using a lower seeding rate in combination with crop management to produce more head‐bearing tillers m−2. This study was designed to assess possibilities of breaking the uniculm growth habit of spring cereals by (1) lowering the seeding rate from 600 to 300 seeds m−2 and (2) manipulating tiller growth with early mechanical treatments to the crop (rolling, cutting) or chemical applications (foliar urea, CCC and GA). A low seeding rate and early application of foliar CCC at high latitudes, under good moisture conditions prior to heading, promoted 20% more head‐bearing tillers and 6% higher grain yield than standard management practices. However, cultivars differed in their response to CCC. The advantageous effects of CCC at a low seeding rate were attributed to increase, over the controls, in contribution of head‐bearing tillers to grain yield in wheat (cultivar Heta), but more grains per head in oats (cultivar Veli). Varietal recommendations for use of low seeding rate in combination with early CCC spraying should be examined further.
Yield Formation in Mixtures of Rust Resistant and Susceptible Plants of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)
Authors: Panse A. , Davis J. H. C. , Fischbeck G. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractIn a two‐factorial trial, conducted in 1986 at the CIAT farm in Palmira (Colombia), the performance of nine tropical bean lines differing in resistance to rust and seven mixtures obtained by combining these lines on the basis of equal proportions in seed number was evaluated in a rust inoculated treatment and in a fungicide treated control.Compared to the fungicide treated control, rust attack significantly reduced the yield of all susceptible lines by 24 to 56% in pure stands. In rust inoculated mixtures containing resistant, intermediate and susceptible genotypes, mixture effects on yield increased only by 3.3% compared to the fungicide treated control. In mixtures of common bean a higher proportion of resistant lines appears to be required compared to cereals for comparable reductions in the spread of rust due to lower plant density and correspondingly higher autodeposition rate of uredospores.
Maximizing Sugarcane Yield by Increasing Plant Population Density, Minimizing NO3‐N Leaching and Improving Soil Organic Matter in Different Crop Rotations
Authors: Yadav R. L. , Prasad S. R. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractIn a field experiment conducted during 1992–95 at Lucknow, India, sugarcane was planted in rows 60 and 90 cm apart in three crop rotations (rice‐sugarcane‐ratoon, Sesbania aculeata for green manure‐sugarcane‐ratoon, and cowpea‐sugarcane‐ratoon) with 0, 150 and 300 kg N ha−1 as urea either with or without farmyard manure (FYM) at 10 t ha−1. Sugarcane yields were significantly greater in the Sesbania rotation than in the other because of a larger N uptake. N uptake of the crop was significantly affected by soil organic carbon, and available N and K contents. Ratoon yields, however, were largest in the cowpea sequence followed by the rice rotation, probably due to a prolonged residual effect of cowpea and rice root residues. The residual effect of a Sesbania green manure was negligible as demonstrated by the low NO3‐N content of the soil profile after sugarcane harvest compared to the other two crop sequences. The total cane productivity (main sugarcane plus ratoon) was greater (156 t ha−1) in the cowpea rotation than the Sesbania (152 t ha−1) and rice (140 t ha−1) rotations.
Smut Disease Incidence and Mineral Composition of Corn as Affected by N Fertilizer Sources and K Application Rates
Authors: Kostandi S. F. , Soliman M. F. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractA 2 year field experiment was initiated to compare the effect of ammonium nitrate (AN) and urea (U) fertilizer sources at 0, 45, 90 and 135 kg N acre−1 in combination with 0 and 48 kg K2O acre−1 on dry matter yield (DM), smut index (SI) and ear leaf nutrient composition. The plants at 8‐leaf growth stage were exposed to artificial infection and the severity was rated on a 1–9 scale. Elemental leaf (N, K, Ca and Mg) and DM were determined at silking and harvest time, respectively. N:(K+Ca+Mg) ratio in plant tissue was calculated. The plants supplied with AN fertilizer appeared to have had greater advantage in DM yield, accompanied by a marked increase in smut severity at higher N rates than U‐treated plants. On average, the relative increases in DM and SI for AN were 8.2 and 9.1%, respectively. Potassium application suppressed smut incidence by 19.6%. The leaf analysis data showed that the plants treated with AN were associated with greater cation uptake than LJ‐fed plants. Increasing N rates enhancedsmut severity and resulted in remarkable increases in DM and ear leaf nutrient composition. Leaf Ca and Mg contents were decreased hy increasing K3O rates. The correlation coefficients (r) between ear leaf nutrient contents and SI showed variable significant effects among N sources. Because the plant nutrient levels are determined by many variables, attention was drawn to N:(K+Ca+Mg) ratio in plant tissue for better smut disease interpretations.
Effects of Tillage and Cropping Systems on Soil Moisture Balance and Pearl Millet Yield
Authors: Saxena Anurag , Singh D. V. , Joshi N. L. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractA 2‐year study was conducted to determine the effects of tillage and cropping systems on soil moisture balance, growth and yield of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.). Three tillage treatments, viz. minimum tillage (one harrowing), conventional tillage (two harrowing, cross) and deep tillage (ploughing followed by two har‐rowings), and four cropping systems, viz. monoculture of pearl millet, pearl miliet‐clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetra‐gonoloba (L.) Taub.) rotation, monoculture of pearl millet with 5 t ha−1 farm yard manure (FYM), and intercropping of pearl millet and clusterbean, were compared. Deep tillage improved the soil moisture storage, water use efficiency and grain yield of pearl millet while consumptive use of water was higher with minimum tillage. Total dry matter yield with deep tillage and conventional tillage was 23.2 and 10.2% higher than minimum tillage in the season 1, and the corresponding values for season 2 were 30.7 and 13.3%. The Pearl millct‐clusterbean rotation and monoculture of pearl millet with the application of 5 t ha−1 FYM gave 17.2 and 6.1% higher yield than monoculture of pearl millet, respectively. Maximum water use efficiency was observed in rotation followed by FYM application.
Plant Nutrient Supply from Nine Agroforestry Tree Species to Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Analysed by Vector Diagnosis
Authors: Anthofer J. , Hanson J. , Jutzi S. C. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractSix‐week‐old wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum) grown in pots with an alfisol soil with vertic properties and mulched at a rate equivalent to 10 t ha−1 with leaf prunings of Grevillea robusta, Erythrina abyssinica, Gliricidia sepium, Albizia schimperiana. Acacia nilotica. Acacia polyacantha, Leucaena leucocephala, Leucaena pallida and Entada abyssinica were used to diagnose nutrient contributions by these tree species. A control treatment of 20kg P+ 30kg N ha−1 was chosen as the reference treatment for the vector analysis applied to the mulch effects. Nitrogen was found to be the most important nutrient in seedlings mulched with L. pallida, L. leucocephala, Erythrina abyssinica and to a lesser extent A. schimperiana. Other nutrients of these mulches were also in the deficiency zone but with shorter vectors and therefore with lower impact. Since all these mulches showed increased values for shoot dry weight, nutrient concentration and nutrient uptake they have still reserves for further plant growth and appear therefore to be good mulch sources for annual crops. In contrast, wheat seedlings treated with A. polyacantha and Entada abyssinica had at least some vectors in the toxic zone due to an excess of nutrients while Grevillea treated plants showed a typical toxicity response with large vectors for all nutrients in between the toxic and the antagonistic zone. Allelopathic compounds might also have been involved.
Effects of Stem‐Injected Sucrose on Photosynthesis and Productivity of Water Stressed Corn Plants
Authors: Zhou X. M. , Madrmootoo C. A. , MacKenzie A. F. , Smith D. L. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractWater stress during silking or early kernel development decreases the number of kernels set by corn (Zea mays L.) plants. Previous work has suggested that lack of assimilate supply due to water stress at silking was a major factor in the resulting reproductive failure. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that sucrose supplementation of water stressed corn plants can prevent decreased kernel set. Sucrose was injected into corn stems at three concentrations [0 (distilled water), 150 and 300 g L−1] for 30 days starting at silking. Water availability was controlled by either maintaining a water table at 50 cm from the soil surface (well watered) or by withholding water starting one week before silking (water stress) until the fifth day after silking. The photosynthesis rate of water stressed plants was 25% that of well‐water plants on the first day of silking. On average, the daily injection rate for distilled water was 1 mL higher than that of the sucrose treatments over a 30 day injection period. No difference in daily uptake rate was observed between the 150 and 300 g sucrose L−1 treatments. Over water availability treatments approximately 17 g sucrose were injected into corn plants during the 30 day injection period. Corn plants receiving sufficient water supply produced bigger ears, with more seeds and greater 100‐seed weight values, leading to higher total plant dry matter accumulation than water stressed plants. Injection of 300 g sucrose L−1 increased the weight of the injected internodes by 28%, compared with distilled water injection. The highest grain yield was for the plants injected with 150 g sucrose L−1, but only under sufficient water supply. The plants injected with 300 g sucrose L−1 produced the least grain regardless of moisture availability. Thus, the exogenous sucrose supplementation influenced kernel set only under conditions of sufficient soil water supply. These results indicate that plant reproductive development after silking was limited more by water availability than assimilate supply, suggesting that some overall plant response to water stress, perhaps mediated by hormonal signalling, was more important than carbohydrate supply. These results indicated that plant desiccation occurred during floral development or pollination; irreversible loss of florets on unsuccessful pollination could result, thus, grain yield would be limited more by sink size than by availability of photosynthate.
Some Agronomic and Physiological Aspects of Salt Tolerance in Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)
Authors: Qadir M. , Shams M. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractEvaluation of commonly grown cotton (Gossypium hir‐sutum L.) genotypes under saline environment may help to cope with the venture of the crop failure in salt‐affected soils. In a pot experiment, four cotton genotypes (MNH‐93, NIAB‐78. S‐12, and B‐557) were grown to compare their relative performance on a sandy clay loam soil (original ECe = 1.9 dS m−1) salinized with a salt mixture (Na2SO4, NaCl, CaCl2, MgSO4 in the ratio of 9:5:5:1 on equivalent basis) to EQ levels of 10 and 20 dS m−1. The crop was raised to the flower initiation stage. The imposed salinity stress exhibited deleterious effect on the germination and vegetative growth with significant differences among the genotypes. Leaf area, stem thickness, shoot (stem + leaves) and root weights decreased with the increase in substrate salinity. NIAB‐78 showed the least decline followed by MNH‐93. Leaf thickness showed an opposite trend as an increase in this parameter was observed with the rising salinity, the maximum increase being in the case of NIAB‐78. Analysis of the leaf sap showed increased Na+ and Cl− concentrations and decreased K+ concentration with the increase in substrate salinity. A better osmotic adjustment, a lower Na+/K+ ratio and a lower Cl concentration were found in the leaves of NIAB‐78 followed by MNH‐93. This contributed towards their better growth performance under saline conditions.
Sulphur and Micronutrient Nutrition of Groundnut in a Calcareous Soil
Authors: Singh A. L. , Chaudhari V. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractField experiments conducted on a calcareous soil have shown that application of elemental sulphur reduced the chlorosis of groundnut leaves and increased the dry matter, nodule biomass, pod, haulms, and oil yields, and concentration of nutrients in leaf tissue and their uptake by groundnut. The application of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) further helped in recovering the chlorosis of groundnut and increased the above parameters. On average, application of 20 kg S ha−1 as elemental sulphur (S) increased pod yield by 8.6–9.8% and oil yield by 8.8–15%. However, application of 10, 2, and 4 kg ha−1 of Fe, Zn and Mn, increased pods by 19.5, 13.6, and 11.7% and oil yield by 20.1, 13.9 and 12.2%, respectively.
Effect of Relative Sowing Time on the Growth and Yield of the Component Crops in Okra/Maize and Okra/Cowpea Intercropping Systems
Authors: Muoneke C. O. , Asiegbu J. E. , Udeogalanya A. C. C. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe effects of variations in the relative sowing time of component crops in okra/maize and okra/cowpea intercropping systems were examined in 1990 and 1991 cropping seasons. Okra was either sown the same day as, or two weeks before or after maize or cowpea. Intercropping reduced the growth and yield of okra, maize and cowpea relative to their sole crops. However, okra yield was depressed more by maize than by cowpea, especially when okra was sown two weeks after maize. Comparative assessment of okra/maize and okra/cowpea mixtures suggests that it is better to grow okra and cowpea together than intercropping okra and maize because yield advantages were always higher in okra/cowpea (67% and 59% in 1990 and 1991 respectively) than in okra/maize (15% and 29%). The results were discussed in light of competitive abilities of the various components in the mixtures.
Yield Stability in Long‐term Released Maize Hybrids FAO 100 and 200
Authors: Rozman L. , Vasilj Đ. , Kozumplik V. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to assess changes in yield stability of tnaize hybrids during a 20‐year period and to relate them to yield changes. The data on FAO 100 and FAO 200 hybrids, released by the former Yugoslav Committee for Releasing Varieties, were utilized. Most ofthe released hybrids fell into the first and the second stability group (Francis and Kannenberg 1978). The bi values (Finlay and Wilkinson 1963) of the released hybrids, except two from FAO 100 and four from FAO 200 group, did not differ significantly from 1.0. Also, all but one from FAO 100 and one from FAO 200 released hybrids did not differ in aj value (Shukla 1972) significantly from 0. Values of A, and aj stability parameters changed only slightly during the 20‐year period. During the same time the yield ofthe FAO 100 hybrids did not change. In the FAO 200 group the yield increased, but the genetic gain was not significant. The stability parameters were not in a significant correlation with the yield.
Effect of Okra Planting Density and Spatial Arrangement in Intercrop with Maize on the Growth and Yield of the Component Species
Authors: Muoneke C. O. , Asiegbu J. E. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe effects of three okra planting densities (28 000; 56 000 and 111 000 plants ha1) intercropped within or between maize rows were investigated in two field trials during the 1990 and 1991 wet seasons at Nsukka. The plant height and the leaf area index (LAI) increased as the planting density increased in sole or intercropped okra while the number of branches per plant decreased with increasing okra planting density. The height of maize plants also increased as okra planting density increased but the LAI decreased. Intercropping reduced the yield and yield components (number and weight of pods per plant) of okra and maize (number of cobs, cob length and 100‐grain weight). Increasing okra planting density reduced the sole and the intercropped okra and also the maize intercrop yield by reducing the number of pods and grains as well as the pod and grain size, respectively. Assessment of the productivity ofthe mixtures showed that the highest yield advantage (35%) of growing okra and maize together was obtained at 28000 okra plants ha1 while the highest monetary return was realized at the highest okra planting density of 111000 plants ha1 intercropped between maize rows. The patterns of row arrangement did not have effect on the growth, yield and yield components of the mixtures.