EFFECT OF SALINITY STRESS ON PHYSIOLOGICAL, BIOCHEMICAL AND ANTIOXIDANT DEFENSE SYSTEMS

Salinity stress is a major adverse factor that limits agricultural productivity and this is one of the major abiotic stresses faced by plants. Salinity affects plant growth, physiological activities and developmental processes. Soya bean is one of the proteinaceous commercial crops in India, where salt stress is the limiting factor. In the present work, six cultivars of beans (ADB-22, DSB-20, JS-93.05, JS-93.37, JS-335, and LSB-18) were tested under differing NaCl concentrations to assess their performance in salt conditions. The aim was to select salt tolerant bean cultivars. In order to investigate the effect of salt stress on plant height, fresh and dry weight, chlorophyll levels, total protein content, SOD, Catalase, Lipid peroxidase (LPX), Glutathione reductase (GR) and Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) of Soya plants of all the six cultivars subjected to salinity levels at varyin

Comparison of Short-grain Rice Cultivars Grown in Japan and the United States

Although short-grain rice accounts for less than 2% of U.S. rice production, the demand for short-grain rice is expected to increase because of the increasing popularity of sushi and sake. The objective of this study was to compare the physical, chemical and textural properties of short-grain rice cultivars grown in Japan and in the U.S. Seven short-grain rice cultivars from the 2016 crop year were collected, including five cultivars (Hatsushimo, Kinuhikari, Koshihikari, Nanatsuboshi, and Yumepirika) grown and purchased in grocery stores in Japan, one (RU9601099) grown in Arkansas, and one (CH-202) grown in California. The rice cultivars were characterized for kernel dimensions, color, chemical composition, amylopectin fine structure, and gelatinization, pasting and textural properties. RU9601099 had a smaller kernel width and a greater whiteness (L*) value than the other cultivars. Japanese cultivars were comparable in protein content, while RU9601099 had the greatest and CH-202 had the lowest protein content. RU9601099, CH-202 and Kinuhikari shared a similar value of average amylopectin chain length and gelatinization temperatures and enthalpy, which were significantly greater than the other cultivars. Kinuhikari and RU9601099 displayed greater peak and trough viscosities, whereas Hatsushimo and Nanatsuboshi had lower peak and breakdown viscosities. When cooked, the Japanese cultivars exhibited significantly greater hardness than the U.S. cultivars. Based on Ward’s cluster analysis considering all data, CH-202 shared similar properties with Kinuhikari, and RU9601099 was distinctively different from the other cultivars in most properties. The information obtained from this study will help future cultivar development and marketing of existing short-grain rice cultivars in the U.S

Genotype x Environment Interactions of Winter Wheat

Winter wheat cultivars for organic farming have to be adapted to highly variable environments. Yield and yield stability, the nutritional value and the bread making quality are here of major importance. Particularly, seed quality, tillering capacity, regeneration ability after harrowing, weed suppression ability, resistance or tolerance against diseases and improved nutrient use efficiency (NUE) under limited nutrient conditions need to be improved by specific breeding efforts (Kunz et al., 2006; Löschenberger et al., 2008). Ten winter wheat cultivars were grown in 2007 in two organic systems of the DOK long-term experiment in CH-Therwil. Eight of these cultivars were tested in 2008 at three organic farms in different pedo-climatic environments in Switzerland to observe genotype x environment interactions under different organic conditions. In contrast to the DOK site on a fertile loess soil, the on-farm sites were located on sandy or sandy-loamy sites with lower inherent yield potential. We assessed grain yield, yield components and parameters related to baking quality and NUE. Grain yield at the on-farm sites ranged between 2.2 t ha-1 and 2.8 t ha-1 and was much lower than at the DOK sites ( 3.7 t ha-1 to 4.2 t ha-1) (Hildermann et al., 2009). Cultivars and sites significantly affected grain yield. Genotype x environment interactions were significant across the three on-farm sites; however they were not significant across all five organically managed sites. Calculated across the on farm sites, there was a tendency towards higher yields of the organically bred cultivars. This effect was statistically significant at the lowest yielding site, where yield of the organically bred cultivars was 14% higher than yields of the conventionally bred cultivars. However, at the DOK sites and averaged across all five organic sites, the organically bred cultivars could not outperform the conventionally bred cultivars. Similar to the grain yield, the total gluten content increased from the on-farm sites to the DOK sites. Irrespective of the site, the gluten index of the cultivars Scaro, Antonius and Caphorn was stable. In contrast, the gluten index of the cultivars Sandomir, CCP and Titlis highly varied between the tested environments. Yield was significantly correlated with grain N yield (r = 0.93) and nitrogen (N) utilization efficiency (NUtE) (r = 0.72). Genotype x environment interactions were not significant for grain N yield, however strongly significant for NUtE (p < 0.01). The conventionally bred cultivars strongly responded to environmental conditions and showed a low NUtE under at low N supply. In contrast, NUtE of the organically bred cultivars Scaro and Sandomir was stable across all test environments. Beside high yields, cultivars suitable for organic farming should achieve high baking quality and nutrient use efficiency under nutrient limited conditions. Among the tested cultivars, the organically bred cultivar Scaro revealed such a performance across all tested sites

Influence of management practices on quality and biodiversity of tomatoes in Germany

Four old and endangered tomato cultivars were cultivated under greenhouse conditions with different levels of organic N-fertilisation and harvest at different maturity stages in order to develop a conclusive concept to preserve the diversity of old, endangered and multicolour cultivars. First results of several physio-chemical and sensory parameters were analysed to describe product quality. In order to assess consumer acceptance, 550 consumers were interviewed. The individual attributes of the cultivars, which differ in size, shape, colour, taste and health-related, beneficial physio-chemicals, are promoted by optimal harvest time. A combination of these cultivars distributed in regional markets is considered as a suitable concept for saving these endangered cultivars

Does Wheat Cultivar Choice Affect Crop Quality and Soil Microbial Communities in Cropping Systems?

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars may have differential effects on soil microbial communities and the breadmaking quality of harvested grain. We compared six Canadian spring wheat cultivars under organic and conventional management systems for yield, breadmaking quality and soil phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFA) profile. Yields were lower, but protein levels were higher in the organic system. Cultivars differed for quality traits, but all cultivars had acceptable levels for processing. There were small differences in PLFA profiles for cultivars in the conventional system, but none in the organic system. More significant correlations between grain quality and PLFA measures were present in the organic system. Protein levels and breadmaking quality at least equal to conventional systems can be achieved in organic systems. Wheat cultivars differed for grain quality in both organic and conventional systems, and culivars altered the soil microbial profile in conventional systems. Microbes may play a greater role in determining crop quality in organic systems than in conventional systems

Apple and Pear Cultivars for Organic Production in a Cool Climate

Only early ripening cultivars of apples and pears may be grown successfully in the short and rather cool growth season of the fruit producing areas of Norway. Due to a combination of high yield, good fruit quality and scab resistance, the Swedish cultivar ‘Aroma’ is recommended as major cultivar for organic apple production today. ’Philip’ is recommended as cultivar for organic pear production. During 5 years 21 apple cultivars and 15 pear cultivars have been tested in organic orchards in comparison with ‘Aroma’ and ‘Philip’. Several cultivars in the trial are promising for use in organic production

Assessment of the susceptibility to pests and diseases of 36 apple cultivars in four low-input organic orchards in France

One of the keystones of the organic orchard is the cultivar choice as one element of pest and disease control. However, few exhaustive data sets concerning the cultivar susceptibility to pests and diseases are available for growers. In order to identify cultivars adapted to organic production methods, the susceptibility to scab, aphids and powdery mildew and the agronomic properties of 36 cultivars were assessed in four French sites under different pedo-climatic conditions. Different levels of susceptibility to scab were observed for 23 scab Vf-resistant and 13 other cultivars. In the North of France where Vf resistance is overcome, the Vf cultivars displayed different levels of scab severity. A high variability in the susceptibility to aphids was observed whereas susceptibility to powdery mildew varied less. The analysis of susceptibility properties, yield and fruit quality, fruit storability and tree behaviour permitted to identify a set of interesting cultivars according to the site

Effect of Cultivar on Chlorophyll Meter and Canopy Reflectance Measurements in Cucumber

Optical sensors can be used to assess crop N status to assist with N fertilizer management. Differences between cultivars may affect optical sensor measurement. Cultivar effects on measurements made with the SPAD-502 (Soil Plant Analysis Development) meter and the MC-100 (Chlorophyll Concentration Meter), and of several vegetation indices measured with the Crop Circle ACS470 canopy reflectance sensor, were assessed. A cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) crop was grown in a greenhouse, with three cultivars. Each cultivar received three N treatments, of increasing N concentration, being deficient (N1), sufficient (N2) and excessive (N3). There were significant differences between cultivars in the measurements made with both chlorophyll meters, particularly when N supply was sufficient and excessive (N2 and N3 treatments, respectively). There were no consistent differences between cultivars in vegetation indices. Optical sensor measurements were strongly linearly related to leaf N content in each of the three cultivars. The lack of a consistent effect of cultivar on the relationship with leaf N content suggests that a unique equation to estimate leaf N content from vegetation indices can be applied to all three cultivars. Results of chlorophyll meter measurements suggest that care should be taken when using sufficiency values, determined for a particular cultiva