Effects of Weak- and Semi-Winter Cultivars of Wheat on Grain Yield and Agronomic Traits by Breaking through Traditional Area Planting

Global warming has changed the suitability of areas traditionally planted with crops, raising concerns about cereal security. To investigate the possibilities and constraints of increasing yields by breaking through traditional area plantings of wheat cultivars, a two-year field experiment was conducted in southern and northern locations in the Yangtze River basin (YRB), China (separated by approximately 180 km), with seven weak-winter types and six semi-winter types, respectively, bred for the two regions. The movement of weak-winter-type cultivars to the north increased or did not change grain yield and their grain yields were not significantly higher than those of local semi-winter-type cultivars. The movement of semi-winter-type cultivars to the south significantly decreased their yields. Thus, breaking through traditional area plantings did not significantly increase grain yields compared with those of local wheat cultivars. Grain yield of wheat planted in the northern YRB was higher by 5 to 20% than that in the southern YRB because of an increase in spikes that resulted from a longer spike formation phase. In addition, the post-anthesis leaf area declined more slowly in the northern YRB because of higher main stem and tiller survival. High-yielding cultivars always had more spikes and larger photosynthetic areas after anthesis than those of low-yielding cultivars regardless of the planting locations, which led to increases in post-anthesis biomass. However, the grain yield of different cultivars was highly variable under different environmental conditions. The coefficient of variation (CV) of grain yield in different cultivars was significantly positively correlated with the CV of spike number and post-anthesis biomass, implying that flexibility spike number and post-anthesis biomass in response to environmental changes can maximize release of yield potential. Therefore, improving main stem and tiller survival can increase spike number and maintain post-anthesis photosynthetic areas and help to establish a large, highly stable, and productive population with a high level of suitability and production through effectively utilizing the resources during the late growth phase. Valuable suggestions for breeding high-yield and -stability cultivars and confirming their planting range in the future are given.

Agronomic responses of diverse bread wheat genotypes to phosphorus levels and nitrogen forms in a semiarid environment

Increasing wheat production has become an urgent requirement to cope with rapid population growth and abrupt climate change. The management of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) is one of the most important factors for sustaining and increasing wheat production, particularly in semiarid environments. This 2-year field study, which aimed to investigate the effect of P levels (0, 35, and 70 kg P2O5 ha−1) and N forms (urea, ammonium sulfate, and ammonium nitrate) on the yield attributes of three diverse high-yielding commercial wheat cultivars (‘Shandawel-1’, ‘Sids-14’, and ‘Sakha-95’), was carried out at Om-Elzain Village, Zagazig, Egypt. The results indicated that increasing P levels was accompanied by a substantial increase in all evaluated traits, except spike length, and that high P level (70 kg P2O5 ha−1) was superior. Considerable genetic variation was detected among the evaluated cultivars for all studied traits. Cultivar ‘Sakha-95’, followed by ‘Sids-14’, presented the most vigorous growth and enhancements in most yield components, grain yield, and biological yield. Furthermore, ‘Sakha-95’ recorded the highest agronomic P use efficiency, followed by cultivar ‘Sids-14’. N forms did not significantly affect all of the tested traits except plant height, spike number m−2, and 1000-grain weight, during both seasons. Ammonium-containing fertilizer (ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate) resulted in the highest values for these traits when compared with urea. Accordingly, ‘Sakha-95’ and ‘Sids-14’ are recommended for commercial use under high P levels. N forms had a marginally substantial effect on grain yield and its attributes.

Two-dimensional molybdenum disulfide artificial synapse with high sensitivity

This paper reports the fabrication of an artificial synapse (AS) based on two-dimensional molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) film. The AS emulates important synaptic functions such as paired-pulse facilitation, spike-rate dependent plasticity, spike-duration dependent plasticity and spike-number dependent plasticity. The spike voltage can mediate ion migration in the ion gel to regulate the MoS2 conductive channel, thereby realizing the emulation of synaptic plasticity. More importantly, benefiting from the atomically-flat surface of MoS2 film, the device has a high sensitivity to external stimuli. It can effectively respond to presynaptic spikes that have an amplitude of 100 mV. The development of this device provides a new idea for constructing a highly-sensitive and multifunctional neuromorphic system.

Effects of Potassium Availability on Growth and Development of Barley Cultivars

Potassium deficiency is one of the major issues affecting crop production around the globe. Giving the high cost of potassium fertilizers and environmental concerns related to inappropriate fertilization practices, developing more potassium use efficient (KUE) varieties is critical for sustainable food production in agricultural systems. In this study, we analysed the impact of potassium availability on agronomical attributes of thirty barley genotypes grown at four different levels of potassium (0.002 mM, 0.02 mM, 2 mM, 20 mM) under glasshouse conditions. The results showed that the availability of potassium in the soil had a major effect on yield components i.e., spike number, grain number and grain weight. Furthermore, grain weight showed a strong correlation with grain number and spike number at all levels of potassium supply. Although an increase in potassium supply led to an increase in plant height in all genotypes, the correlation with grain weight was very weak at all levels. Potassium supplementation caused an increase in shoot dry weight, which also showed a weak correlation with grain weight at the 0.002 mM potassium supply level. The genotypes Gebeina, Skiff, YF374, Flagship and YF374 were highly efficient in performing at suboptimal K supply levels and, thus, can be recommended to be grown in K-impoverished soils. We also suggest that grain and spike numbers could be used as proxies for KUE studies, to construct DH lines and identify QTL to improve low potassium tolerance and KUE in barley.

Determination of Genetic Diversity Depending on Quantitative Characters Among Genotypes of Triticale (X Trititcosecale Wittmac) Using Cluster Analysis

The study included twenty genotypes of triticale, whose seeds were sown during 2018-2019 season at the Research Station of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kirkuk in the Sayyadah region on three dates (5 November, 20 November and 5 December) using randomized complete block design according to split plot system with three replications. The data were recorded for traits: first, second and third developmental stages, number of days to 50% flowering, plant height, flag leaf area, number of tillers per plant, number of spikes per plant, length and weight of spike, number of spikelet’s per spike, number of grains per spike, 1000 grains weight, biological yield, grain yield per plant, harvest index, protein percent, specific weight, gluten percent, flour strength, moisture percent and ash percentage, The data were analyzed to identify the nature of the differences between genotypes and planting dates. Because of the significant (genotypes x planting dates) interaction, a cluster analysis was conducted with the aim of grouping similar genotypes into homogeneous groups and estimating the degree of genetic diversity between them through the use of hierarchical clustering technology to estimate distances between groups of genotypes formed for each planting date separately. The results showed that the mean squares of genotypes' was highly significant 1% for all traits except harvest index, with a highly significant interaction with dates for all traits except number of spikelet’s and protein percent. The stages of the cluster analysis showed that the genotypes were distributed into 13 groups for the first date and 14 groups for the second and third dates. Some groups included one genotype, indicating the difference of these genotypes from other due to the difference in their genetic origin, which was consequently reflected on their performance, while other groups includes two genotypes. It is concluded from the results of the clustering analysis that there is a strong convergence between the genotypes of stage 18 with the genotype LIRON at the first date and with POLLMER in the second and third dates because they have the lowest euclidean distances, and this requires avoiding crosses between these pairs, while the highest distance was between CMH80 and CMH82 in the first and third dates and CENT/1715 and POPP-CAAL in the second date indicated high genetic variation between them and other genotypes, which may be due to the variation in their genetic origin or to having preferred main genes, other genotypes devoid of them, which encourages their introduction into hybridization with genotypes that showed distinct genetic variation to take advantage of the phenomenon of heterosis and its segregations.

Assessment of Inter-varietal Cross Lines of Gladiolus on Vegetative and Floral Traits for Selection and Promotion in Nepal

Artificial crossing between species and varieties has been effective in producing new gladiolus cultivar with desirable traits. The seeds obtained from the total of twelve inter-varietal cross lines were raised in nurseries in 2013. The corms and cormels were selected yearly from the first phase to the fourth phase of selection. Forty seven inter-varietal cross lines and one check genotype were assessed in preliminary non-replicated trial in 2017 in the field of Regional Agricultural Research Station, Lumle, Nepal. A total of twenty five inter-varietal cross lines of gladiolus was selected, and assessed to develop new productive and attractive varieties of gladiolus on the basis of sixteen traits: the first spike emergence, complete spike emergence, the first floret loosening, maximum number of floret opening at a time, floret diameter, number of florets /spike, days to the seventh floret wilting, flower life, plant height, spike length, rachis length, number of spikes/ mother corm, number of marketable spikes /mother corm, number of filled capsules/spike, number of unfilled capsules/spike and total number of capsules/spike. Forty six inter-varietal cross lines were selectively reduced to twenty five inter-varietal cross lines after they had been assessed in the preliminary trial. Eventually ten cross lines: HRSDG-013-2.17(A), HRSDG-013-7.4(B), HRSDG-013-7.8(A), HRSDG-013-7.8(B), HRSDG-013-8.5(A), HRSDG-013-8.16(A), HRSDG-013-9.12(A-2), HRSDG-013-10.24, HRSDG-013-11.7(B) and HRSDG-013-11.17(B-2) are likely to be promoted for replicated trial so as to develop new desirable varieties in future.

Variabilitatea caracterelor biomorfologice la mutantul calcaroides de orz de primăvară în generațiile M3-M7

The variability of quantitative traits (plant height, spike length, apical internode length, number of spikelets and grains per spike, number of productive tillers per plant) in barley calcaroides mutant of cv. Sonor induced by gamma rays (250 Gy) has been studied. The analysis of variance showed that year condi-tions were mainly responsible (10.59 to 46.96%) for variation of studied traits, followed by the genotype (1.48 to 20.5%) and the interaction of these factors (1.94 to 8.64%), with only one exception for number of grains per spike. Variation of this trait depends mostly on genotype factors. The mean values of all studied traits of mutant form were lower than of Sonor variety. This morphological mutant has a scientific importance.

CO2 Responses of Winter Wheat, Barley and Oat Cultivars under Optimum and Limited Irrigation

Field crop production must adapt to the challenges generated by the negative consequences of climate change. Yield loss caused by abiotic stresses could be counterbalanced by increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration, but C3 plant species and varieties have significantly different reactions to CO2. To examine the responses of wheat, barley and oat varieties to CO2 enrichment in combination with simulated drought, a model experiment was conducted under controlled environmental conditions. The plants were grown in climate-controlled greenhouse chambers under ambient and enriched (700 ppm and 1000 ppm) CO2 concentrations. Water shortage was induced by discontinuing the irrigation at BBCH stages 21 and 55. Positive CO2 responses were determined in barley, but the CO2-sink ability was low in oats. Reactions of winter wheat to enriched CO2 concentration varied greatly in terms of the yield parameters (spike number and grain yield). The water uptake of all wheat cultivars decreased significantly; however at the same time, water-use efficiency improved under 1000 ppm CO2. Mv Ikva was not susceptible to CO2 fertilization, while no consequent CO2 reactions were observed for Mv Nádor and Mv Nemere. Positive CO2 responses were determined in Mv Kolompos.

Evaluation of advanced bread wheat lines for yield components during season 2019-2020

ABSTRACT A study was conducted with seven advanced bread wheat lines to determine grain yield, a thousand grain weight, grain length, grain weight per spike, number of grains per spike, spike length and spike weight, at the Norman E. Borlaug Experimental Station in the Yaqui Valley, Sonora, Mexico, during the 2019-2020 crop season. Plots were 100 m long on three beds, 0.80 m apart, with two rows, and three replications; seed density was 100 kg/ha. Sowing date was December 14, 2019. Experimental lines were generated by the Global Wheat Program from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, and they are candidates for commercial release by the National Institute for Forestry, Agriculture, and Livestock Research in Mexico. Genotypes BORL14*2/5/ATTILA/3*BCN*2//BAV92/3/ KIRITATI/WBLL1/4/DANPHE, BORL14*2//MUNAL#1/FRANCOLIN#1, and PREMIO /4/CROC_1/AE.SQUARROSA(205)//KAUZ/3/PIFED/5/BORL14, showed the highest grain yield with 7.1, 7, and 6.9 t/ha, respectively, which can compete with current bread wheat cultivars in southern Sonora, Mexico, like Borlaug 100. The third line also showed the highest a thousand grain weight, grain length, grain weight per spike, and spike weight. RESUMEN Se realizó un estudio con siete líneas avanzadas de trigo pan para determinar el rendimiento de grano, peso de mil granos, longitud de grano, peso de grano por espiga, número de granos por espiga, longitud de espiga y peso de espiga, en la Estación Experimental Norman E. Borlaug en el Valle del Yaqui, Sonora, México, durante la temporada de cultivo 2019-2020. Las parcelas tuvieron una longitud de 100 m en tres camas, separadas 0.80 m, con dos hileras y tres repeticiones; la densidad de semilla fue de 100 kg/ha. La fecha de siembra fue el 14 de diciembre de 2019. Las líneas experimentales fueron generadas por el Programa Global de Trigo del Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo, y son candidatas a ser liberadas comercialmente por el Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias de México. Los genotipos BORL14*2/5/ATTILA/3*BCN*2//BAV92/3/ KIRITATI/WBLL1/4/DANPHE, BORL14*2//MUNAL#1/FRANCOLIN#1, y PREMIO /4/CROC_1/AE.SQUARROSA(205)//KAUZ/3/PIFED/5/BORL14, mostraron el mayor rendimiento de grano con 7. 1, 7 y 6.9 t/ha, respectivamente, que pueden competir con los cultivares actuales de trigo pan en el sur de Sonora, México, como Borlaug 100. La tercera línea también mostró el mayor peso de mil granos, longitud de grano, peso de grano por espiga y peso de espiga.