Biosensor-based spatial and developmental mapping of maize leaf glutamine at vein-level resolution in response to different nitrogen rates and uptake/assimilation durations

Replicate versus treatment variability of the GlnLux in situ imaging protocol. Three replicates of raw GlnLux agar plate images (Fig. 3) were analysed for each N treatment (+/-) and leaf (1-3) combination (6 plates total per leaf). A 1 x 10-2 M Gln agar disk was also included on each plate for standardization. The ratios of luminescence produced by each standard disk against the GlnLux agar background were pooled to generate SEM and an estimate of plate-to-plate variability. The luminescence output of all three replicates for each N treatment was pooled to generate SEM, and an estimate of the comparative variability due to N uptake/assimilation. Values represent the SEM of 6 plates each. Significant difference at P<0.05 between the variance of the standardization ratio and leaf luminescence is indicated with an asterisk, as determined with F tests. Quantification of luminescence was performed using WinView software (version 2.5.16.5, Princeton Instruments, Trenton, USA). (DOCX 43 kb

Genetic diversity and genomic resources available for the small millet crops to accelerate a New Green Revolution - final

TG received partial scholarship support from the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology and additional support from a grant to MR from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) as part of the CIFSRF program.Small millets are nutrient-rich food sources traditionally grown and consumed by subsistence farmers in Asia and Africa. They include finger millet (Eleusine coracana), foxtail millet (Setaria italica), kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum), proso millet (Panicum miliaceum), barnyard millet (Echinochloa spp.), and little millet (Panicum sumatrense). Local farmers value the small millets for their nutritional and health benefits, tolerance to extreme stress including drought, and ability to grow under low nutrient input conditions, ideal in an era of climate change and steadily depleting natural resources. Little scientific attention has been paid to these crops, hence they have been termed “orphan cereals.” Despite this challenge, an advantageous quality of the small millets is that they continue to be grown in remote regions of the world which has preserved their biodiversity, providing breeders with unique alleles for crop improvement. The purpose of this review, first, is to highlight the diverse traits of each small millet species that are valued by farmers and consumers which hold potential for selection, improvement or mechanistic study. For each species, the germplasm, genetic and genomic resources available will then be described as potential tools to exploit this biodiversity. The review will conclude with noting current trends and gaps in the literature and make recommendations on how to better preserve and utilize diversity within these species to accelerate a New Green Revolution for subsistence farmers in Asia and Afric

Whole plant acclimation responses by finger millet to low nitrogen stress final Tech Annex 8

This research was supported by CIFSRF grants to MNR from the Canadian International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD).The objective of this study was to survey shoot and root morphometric acclimation responses of FM to very low background N. To ensure minimal levels of N, plants were grown in pails containing an inert clay substrate called Turface in a semi-hydroponic system without added N (Tollenaar and Migus, 1984; Figures 1B,C). This system permitted a more detailed analysis of fine root traits including root hairs, as shown by our group with maize (Gaudin et al., 2011 a,b) and recently in FM (Goron et al., 2015), compared to excavation from soil. At the beginning of the study, it was unclear whether FM plants would reach maturity in the absence of added N

Application of biostimulant products and biological control agents in sustainable viticulture : A review

Current and continuing climate change in the Anthropocene epoch requires sustainable agricultural practices. Additionally, due to changing consumer preferences, organic approaches to cultivation are gaining popularity. The global market for organic grapes, grape products, and wine is growing. Biostimulant and biocontrol products are often applied in organic vineyards and can reduce the synthetic fertilizer, pesticide, and fungicide requirements of a vineyard. Plant growth promotion following application is also observed under a variety of challenging conditions associated with global warming. This paper reviews different groups of biostimulants and their effects on viticulture, including microorganisms, protein hydrolysates, humic acids, pyrogenic materials, and seaweed extracts. Of special interest are biostimulants with utility in protecting plants against the effects of climate change, including drought and heat stress. While many beneficial effects have been reported following the application of these materials, most studies lack a mechanistic explanation, and important parameters are often undefined (e.g., soil characteristics and nutrient availability). We recommend an increased study of the underlying mechanisms of these products to enable the selection of proper biostimulants, application methods, and dosage in viticulture. A detailed understanding of processes dictating beneficial effects in vineyards following application may allow for biostimulants with increased efficacy, uptake, and sustainability