This study conducted to elucidate the change of the cation content (Na+ , K+ , and Ca2+ ), the L-proline content, and the sugar and starch content in the stems, roots, and leaves of three cultivars of the 30 days old seedling soybeans (Glycine max L. cv. Danwonkong, Hwang-keumkong, and Kwangankong) after 100 mM NaCl stress containing 1/2 Hoaglands nutrient solution in the sand culture. The reduction of the dry matter weight after 100 mM NaCl treatment among cultivars was higher in the order of Kwangankong, Danwonkong, and Hwang-keumkong. The highest reduction of the dry matter weight was occurred at the roots among three parts of plant. The Na+ content increased with NaCl treatment in overall and specially greatly increased in roots and stems. The K+ and Ca2+ content decreased with NaCl treatment at the roots and stems. The K+ content, however, at the leaves increased in all three cultivars with the NaCl treatment. The L-proline content with NaCl stress increased greatly. The increment of the L-proline content at the stems and roots of Hwangkeumkong was lower than that of other two cultivars, K wangankong and Danwonkong. The sugar content decreased with NaCl treatment at the stems and leaves. The starch content also decreased at the stems and leaves with NaCl treatment.aCl treatment.
In spite of simple and cheap cultivation method, water broadcast-seeded rice demonstrates uneven and unstable seedling establishment per unit land area and requires more herbicide and labor-input for weed control. Three experiments were conducted in a phytotron at 18~circC to evaluate the adaptability of seed-mat mulching cultivation technologies in water seeded rice for the uniform seedling establishment and the inhibition of weed occurrence without herbicide application. Five different kinds of mat with different mesh sizes and fabric properties were tested. The emergence of rice was the highest in Lawn-mat treatment, being comparable with the control, in which seeds were sown without mat. The Lawn-mat also exhibited the lowest mat tension. Mat tension may influence the emergence of rice. And once it was soaked in water, it didn't maintain its original shape any more. The emergence rate of rice was the lowest in Safer-mat treatment. In Lawn-mat treatment, which was the most effective for rice emergence in the first study, the differences of emergence and seedling establishment of rice depending on the seeding position (upper, beneath, and between mats) treatments were negligible, while they were higher in dry seeds than in pre-germinated seeds treatment. The emergence as affected by the kinds of mat also showed the same trend when tested using barnyard grass. Depending on the kinds of mat, the inhibition effect of weeds was the greatest in Safer-mat and the poorest in Lawn-mat. These results strongly suggest the possibility that the uniform seedling establishment and weed management without chemical could be achieved simultaneously by seed-mat mulching through the combination of effective mat for the emergence of rice and another efficient mat for the inhibition of weed occurrence. This possibility was also tested in the field.
Antibodies raised against the purified p-subunit of β -conglycinin were used in immunohistochemical studies to monitor the pattern of β -conglycinin mobilization in the cotyledons during soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed germination. Western blot analysis revealed that the break down of the β -subunit of β -conglycinin commenced as early as 2 days after seed imbibition (DAI). Concurrent with the degradation of the β -subunit of β -conglycinin, accumulation of 48, 28, and 26 kD proteolytic intermediates was observed from 2 to 6 DAI. Western blot analysis also revealed that the acidic subunit of glycinin was mobilized earlier than the basic subunit. The basic glycinin subunit was subjected to proteolysis within 2 DAI resulting in the appearance of an intermediate product approximately 2 kD smaller than the native basic glycinin subunit. In contrast to the major seed storage proteins, lipoxygenase was subjected to limited proteolysis and was detected even after 8 DAI. The first sign of β -conglycinin breakdown was observed near the vascular strands and proceeded from the vascular strands towards the epidermis. Protein A-gold localization studies using thin sections of soybean cotyledons and antibodies raised against the β -subunit of β -conglycinin revealed intense labeling over protein bodies. A pronounced decrease in the protein A-gold labeling intensity over protein bodies was observed at later stages of seed germination. The protein bodies, which were converted into a large central vacuole by 8 DAI, contained very little 7S protein as evidenced by sparse protein A-gold labeling in the vacuoles.
To investigate the changes in the composition and pool size of nitrogen metabolites under drought stress, white clover (Trifolium repens L.) were exposed to -0.04MPa (well-watered, control) or to -0.12MPa (drought-stressed) of soil water potential during 28 days. Dry weight of leaves in drought-stressed plants was remarkably decreased by 45% and 74% within 14 days and 28 days, respectively, compared with control. For nitrate concentration after 28 days of treatment, a significant difference (1.6 times higher in drought-stressed plants) was observed only in stolon. NH3 -NH4 + concentration in all three organs of drought-stressed plants linearly increased to more than 1.6 times higher level at 28 day when compared to the initial level (day 0), while the increasing rate in control was much less than that of drought-stressed plants. Proline concentrations in drought-stressed plants remarkably increased and reached to 7, 13 and 17 times higher level at 28 day compared to control. Protein concentration in leaves of drought-stressed plants tended to decrease, while it slightly increased during the first 14 days and reached a plateau afterward in control. There was not significant difference in the proteins concentration of stolon and roots throughout experimental period. On SDS-PAGE analysis, two major proteins specifically induced by drought stress (16-kD and 18-kD) were detected in stolon.n.
Cereal grains are rich in phenolic compounds that give beneficial effect in human health. Although several research works have been reported on the effects of phytochemicals of plant origin, such as fruits, vegetables, few studies have examined the antioxidative effects of whole cereal grains. The objective of this study was to determine total antioxidant capacity of 80% ethanolic extracts of cereal grains by testing the ability of the extracts to inhibit UV -induced lipid peroxidation in vitro using linoleic acid in comparison to well-known antioxidant such as ascorbic acid and tannic acid. The total phenolic content of the cereal grain (80% ethanolic extracts) investigated in this study varied from 2.1 mg/g (wheat cv. Olgeurumil) to 10.4 mg/g (barely cv. Seodunchalbori). Highly positive relationship between total phenol compounds and antioxidant activity was found. When the antioxidant activities of all investigated extracts were measured with application of same quantity of phenol compounds, oat grain extracts showed similar antioxidant activity of barely cultivars. However, barely extract appeared as the most potent antioxidant activity of inhibition of UV -induced lipid peroxidation. This indicated that factors such as phenolic compound composition and their individual antioxidant activity could playa crucial role in the total antioxidant activity of cereal grains.
The effects of long-term fertilization on soil properties and nutrient availability are not well documented for cassava cultivation in Vietnam. In 1990, a field research plots were established with 12 treatments to test the effect of different rates of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) on soil properties in Acrisols at Thai Nguyen University in Northern Vietnam. In 1999, composite soil samples (0 to 20cm depth) were collected from eight selected plots for measurements of nutrient supply rates by ion exchange membrane probes and for growing corn and canola in a growth chamber with and without added lime. Generally, long-term nitrogen (N) fertilization increased available N supply rates but decreased available potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg). Long-term phosphorus(P) applications increased canola N, calcium (Ca) and Mg uptake. Canola P uptake increased with increased P rates only when lime was added. Long-term K applications increased canola N, K, Ca, Mg uptake but only significantly increased corn N uptake. Liming significantly increased uptake of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S for both corn and canola. However, N H4- N, K and Mg soil supply rates were reduced when lime was added, due to competition between Ca from the added lime and other nutrients.
Dehydrins (LEA Dll proteins) are one of the typical families of plant proteins that accumulate in response to dehydration, cold stress, abscisic acid, or during seed maturation. A 1.3-kb cDNA was cloned from a cDNA expression library of 5-day-old germinating maize scutellums under drought stress. The deduced protein sequence indicated a dehydrin gene encoding SK3 LEA protein typically expressed during cold acclimation, but not by drought stress in barley and wheat. Thus, it was named maize DEHYDRIN2 (ZmDhn2). It accumulates rapidly and highly in drought-stressed scutellum and leaf tissues at any stage, but not under cold stress. ZmDhn2 gene was transformed into Arabidopsis thaliana for functional analysis under drought condition. From electrolyte leakage test, no significant difference showed between wild type and transformants under normal growth condition, but the leakage level of electrolyte in wild type plants was about 3 times as high as that in the transformed plants under drought stress. It suggests that ZmDHN2 playa role in increasing drought tolerance.
Lipoxygenase might be associated with seed deterioration by catalyzing the incorporation of molecular oxygen into fatty acids and generating free radicals. This study was performed to determine whether seed lipoxygenase activity would alter soybean seed longevity. In this study, germination percentage of lipoxygenase-lacking cultivar Jinpumkong2 (lx1lx1lx2lx2lx3lx3) was lower than that of Taekwangkong (Lx1Lx1Lx2Lx2Lx3Lx3). Segregation ratio for the three lipoxygenase isozymes of the F2-derived from the cross between Taekwangkong and Jinpumkong2 was fitted to 9 (Lx1Lx2Lx3) : 3 (Lx1Lx2lx3) : 3 (lxllx2Lx3) : 1 (lx1lx2lx3), suggesting the tight linkage between the Lx1 and Lx2 loci. Germination percentages varied widely but not differed among lipoxygenase isozyme types of F3 seeds before and after accelerated aging. Seed coat of Jinpumkong2 was damaged severely following accelerated aging, whereas that of Taekwangkong was not. Thus, seed of lipoxygenase-lacking soybean cultivar, Jinpumkong2 showed greater deterioration compared with that of the normal Taekwangkong. However, the presence or absence of lipoxygenase activity had no effect on soybean germination
Critical nitrogen concentration (Nc), which is defined as the minimum % N in shoots required to maintain the maximum growth rate of top dry weight (W) at any time, was determined for rice plant. Using two rice varietal groups, japonica varieties and an indica ~times japonica "Dasanbyeo", 18 data points fulfilling the statistical criteria for determining Nc were obtained through eight N-fertilization experiments over two years at Suwon (37~circ 16'N), Korea. Nc dilution curve for each variety was obtained by fitting the Nc-W relationship to power function. However, The critical nitrogen curves for the two variety groups were not different statistically. Thus, a Nc dilution curve was fitted for the Nc data points pooled over the two variety groups and proposed in rice as: Nc=4.08, where W<1.73 t h a-1 , Nc=5.197 W0.425 3/ (R2 =0.964), where 1.73 t h a-1 <W<12 t h a-l . The Nc for W<1.73 t h a-l were estimated as a constant value of 4.08%, the mean value of the maximum N concentration for N-limiting condition and the minimum N concentration for N non-limiting condition. The model for Nc is applicable to diagnosing the nitrogen nutrition status during the rice growth period from emergence to heading stage. The Nc curve well discriminated the 144 data points between the N limiting and the N non-limiting groups regardless of varieties, cultural methods, and years.-limiting groups regardless of varieties, cultural methods, and years.
The rice straw managements are essential for maintaining soil fertility as well as reducing chemical fertilizer application in paddy field. A field experiment was conducted on moderately well draining alluvial paddy soil to investigate the decomposition pattern of rice straw. The mesh bags containing the rice straw harvested in the previous year were placed at soil surface and buried into around 10cm depth and recovered periodically for determining the straw decomposition. Pot experiments were conducted to investigate the fates of N released from 15 N-labeled rice straw under different levels of N fertilizer application. The overall decomposition patterns of rice straw were similar for the two incorporation depths in transplanted paddy field. The straw incorporated at transplanting date showed weight loss of about 50%, 70% and 90% after 2 months, 5 months, and 2 years, respectively. The decompositions of straw cell wall components showed somewhat different pattern. The decompositions of cellulose and silica were similar to that of dry weight while the decomposition of lignin was slower than that of cellulose and silica. N was released from rice straw 42% and 65 % of the initial N after one month and after five months, respectively. P release was faster than N release. Recoveries of rice straw-15 N by rice plants were 10.2, 13.4 and 14.9% in 0, 120 and 240 mg N pot-1 , respectively. Soil recoveries of rice straw 15 N were 17.3, 20.6 and 18.9% in 0, 120 and 240mg N pot-1 , respectively.
Decomposition of green manure is necessary for the nutrient supply in farm soil. Hairy vetch as a green manure is superior to other winter legumes in terms of wintering ability and N accumulation. This experiment was carried out to investigate the decomposition and N release of hairy vetch and its effect on rice production as the following crop in paddy field. Decomposition of hairy vetch placed by soil depth of 0, 10 and 20cm at transplanting time was investigated by mesh bag method, which was enclosed chopped residue in mesh bags. The fate of 15 N derived from 15 N-labeled hairy vetch was investigated at harvest in three levels of N fertilization. Grain yield of the transplanted paddy rice cultured with hairy vetch as starter N were compared with that of applying urea as starter N in the field. Hairy vetch residue decomposed very rapidly both in transplanted and dry-seeded paddy field. In transplanted paddy field, hairy vetch residue lost 72-81 % and 86-90% of its weight after one and five month, respectively, as affected by incorporation depth. The C/N ratio of the decomposing vetch residue increased sharply during the early stages and after then, decreased slowly. The amounts of N and P released from the vetch were about 90% and 97% of initial content after one month, respectively. Recoveries of hairy vetch-15 N by rice plant were 30.6, 34.6 and 35.7% in 0, 6 and 12 kg urea-N 10 a-l application, respectively, indicating that N fertilization increased the recovery of hairy vetch. 15 N. Hairy vetch residue incorporated as starter maintained significant N H4 + -N concentration in soil water of plow layer until effective tillering stage. Grain yield in the plot applied with hairy vetch was not significantly different from that in the plot with urea. We concluded that hairy vetch incorporation could substitute starter N fertilization and showed possibility to reduce N amount of top-dressing.g.g.