Effects of Nitrogen Fertilization on Monoterpenes of Jack Pine Seedlings and Weight Gain of Jack Pine Budworm (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Nine-month old jack pine (Pinus banksiana) seedlings were grown in a greenhouse under four nitrogen fertilization regimes. Levels of total nitrogen and five monoterpenes in new foliage were measured. Fertilization resulted in four significantly different levels of foliar nitrogen; means ranged from 1.8-4.5 percent dry weight. Contrary to predictions of resource availability theory, seedlings grown under the highest fertilization regime had higher foliar monoterpene levels than seedlings in the other treatments. Newly molted, sixth-instar female jack pine budworm (Choristoneura pinus pinus [Lepidoptera: Tortricidae]) larvae were allowed to feed for four days on new foliage of the seedlings. Larvae that fed on low-nitrogen seedling gained less weight and process more vegetation than did larvae on high- nitrogen seedlings. Larval weight gain was positively related to foliar nitrogen

Supplemental macronutrients and microbial fermentation products improve the uptake and transport of foliar applied zinc in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants. Studies utilizing micro X-ray florescence.

Enhancing nutrient uptake and the subsequent elemental transport from the sites of application to sites of utilization is of great importance to the science and practical field application of foliar fertilizers. The aim of this study was to investigate the mobility of various foliar applied zinc (Zn) formulations in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and to evaluate the effects of the addition of an organic biostimulant on phloem loading and elemental mobility. This was achieved by application of foliar formulations to the blade of sunflower (H. annuus L.) and high-resolution elemental imaging with micro X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) to visualize Zn within the vascular system of the leaf petiole. Although no significant increase of total Zn in petioles was determined by inductively-coupled plasma mass-spectrometer, μ-XRF elemental imaging showed a clear enrichment of Zn in the vascular tissues within the sunflower petioles treated with foliar fertilizers containing Zn. The concentration of Zn in the vascular of sunflower petioles was increased when Zn was applied with other microelements with EDTA (commercial product Kick-Off) as compared with an equimolar concentration of ZnSO4 alone. The addition of macronutrients N, P, K (commercial product CleanStart) to the Kick-Off Zn fertilizer, further increased vascular system Zn concentrations while the addition of the microbially derived organic biostimulant "GroZyme" resulted in a remarkable enhancement of Zn concentrations in the petiole vascular system. The study provides direct visualized evidence for phloem transport of foliar applied Zn out of sites of application in plants by using μ-XRF technique, and suggests that the formulation of the foliar applied Zn and the addition of the organic biostimulant GroZyme increases the mobility of Zn following its absorption by the leaf of sunflower

Selenium Biofortification in Radish Enhances Nutritional Quality via Accumulation of Methyl-Selenocysteine and Promotion of Transcripts and Metabolites Related to Glucosinolates, Phenolics, and Amino Acids

Two selenium (Se) fertilization methods were tested for their effects on levels of anticarcinogenic selenocompounds in radish (Raphanus sativus), as well as other nutraceuticals. First, radish was grown on soil and foliar selenate applied 7d before harvest at 0, 5, 10 and 20 mg Se per plant. Selenium levels were up to 1,200 mg Se/kg DW in leaves and 120 mg Se/kg DW in roots. The thiols cysteine and glutathione were present at 2-3 fold higher levels in roots of Se treated plants, and total glucosinolate levels were 35% higher, due to increases in glucoraphanin. The only seleno-aminoacid detected in Se treated plants was Se-methyl-SeCys (100 mg/kg FW in leaves, 33 mg/kg FW in roots). The levels of phenolic aminoacids increased with selenate treatment, as did root total nitrogen and protein content, while the level of several polyphenols decreased. Second, radish was grown in hydroponics and supplied with 0, 5, 10, 20, or 40 \uf06dM selenate for one week. Selenate treatment led to a 20-30% increase in biomass. Selenium concentration was 242 mg Se/kg DW in leaves and 85 mg Se/kg DW in roots. Cysteine levels decreased with Se in leaves but increased in roots; glutatione levels decreased in both. Total glucosinolate levels in leaves decreased with Se treatment due to repression of genes involved in glucosinolates metabolism. Se-methyl-SeCys concentration ranged from 7-15 mg/kg FW. Aminoacid concentration increased with Se treatment in leaves but decreased in roots. Roots of Se treated plants contained elevated transcript levels of sulfate transporters (Sultr) and ATP sulfurylase, a key enzyme of S/Se assimilation. No effects on polyphenols were observed. In conclusion, Se biofortification of radish roots may be achieved via foliar spray or hydroponic supply. One to ten radishes could fulfill the daily human requirement (70 \uf06dg) after a single foliar spray of 5 mg selenate per plant or one week of 5-10 \uf06dM selenate supply in hydroponics. The radishes metabolized selenate to the anticarcinogenic compound Se-methyl-selenocysteine. Selenate treatment enhanced levels of other nutraceuticals in radish roots, including glucoraphanin. Therefore, Se biofortification can produce plants with superior health benefit

Horticultural Studies 1999

Horticultural Studies 1999 is the second edition of a Research Series dedicated to horticultural programs in the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. This publication summarizes research, extension, and educational activities that serve horticultural industries and interest groups in Arkansas. The goals of this publication are to provide relevant information to the growers and end-users of horticulture crops in Arkansas and to inform the citizens of Arkansas and the surrounding region of activities related to horticulture

Impact of foliar diseases in organically grown barley: Influence of fertilization, nutrient content in leaves, varietal disease resistance characteristics and yield potential

Significant increase in severity of powdery mildew,leaf rust and net blotch with increasing N-content in plant leaves 30 days after germination (all years where the relevant diseases were present at a substantial level). This may explain: · Most of the environmental main effects (field) on disease. · Effect of treatments, i.e., treament 4 resulted in reduced N/increased K content in leaves, which coincided with reduced levels of disease. We observed no clear effect of P, Ca, S, and Zn content in leaves on disease. Micronutrients as Cu, Mo and Mn showed significant effects on powdery mildew in one year but not the other; further interpretation may not be possible due to inter-correlation among the effect of micro-nutrients. The diseases had a significant yield reducing effect, in particular powdery mildew and net blotch, which occurred at highest severities. In addition, net blotch affected root development, resulting in significant shorter roots, whereas powdery mildew did not. The effect of disease on root length was of the same order of magnitude as the factor 'variety', but larger than effects of 'year'

Growth response of lutz spruce saplings to the removal of a herbaceous competitor and the application of fertilizer in Southeast Alaska

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2014.Herbaceous competitor species such as fireweed can impact future survival and growth of Lutz (Picea x lutzii Little, Pinaceae) spruce saplings. Fertilizer is applied to crop trees in order to supply more nutrients to promote growth. However, fertilizer benefits competitor species as well. Literature regarding the impacts of competition for resources between fireweed and spruce saplings are lacking, but the impacts of resource competition on seedling growth and fireweed are documented as significant. Seedlings are distinguished from saplings by differences in height and/or diameter. In order to test the influence of both competitor species and added fertilizer, we analyzed growth response of Lutz spruce saplings to fireweed removal and applied fertilizer through treatments and controls using a two by two factorial experiment. Results revealed that fireweed removal had a positive effect on sapling growth response, while added fertilizer alone showed no effect on sapling growth response. I found a strong, positive correlation between soil moisture and fireweed cover. I also found a strong, positive relationship between sapling growth and soil moisture as well as sapling growth and fireweed cover. This study demonstrates that spruce saplings positively responded to fireweed removal compared to the application of fertilizer. More importantly, the overall conclusion is that when saplings are not N limited soil, moisture is the driving factor in sapling height growth. The long-term effects of harvesting an efficient nitrogen competitor species are not well known and could be detrimental to future site fertility

Effects of foliar fertilization of a biostimulant obtained from chicken feathers on maize yield

Due to the important contribution that it makes to human nutrition, maize is one of the most widely-consumed cereals in the world. There is, therefore, high demand for fertilizers that will maintain maize production at both high yield and quality levels. The objective of this work was to study the effect of foliar fertilization using a biostimulant, obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis from chicken feathers, on the productivity and quality of maize crops (Zea mays, L. cv PR32W86 Pioneer), located in Trujillanos (Extremadura, Spain), over two consecutive seasons. Foliar biostimulant/biofertilizer was applied three times each season and at two rates (3.6 and 7.2 l ha−1). At the higher rate and for both seasons, foliar fertilization significantly increased the leaf concentrations of macro- and micronutrients, while grain protein content and yield increased by 26% and 14%. These results suggest that the foliar use of this biostimulant could be of great interest to the farmer for improving both maize crop yield and quality.Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad CTM2015-64354-C3-1-RMinisterio de Economia y Competitividad CTM2015-64354-C3-3-RJunta de Andalucía RNM-2011-788