Production of betaine from Australian Melaleuca spp. for use in agriculture to reduce plant stress

2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (9) ◽  
pp. 1163 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. P. Naidu
Keyword(s):  
Stress Tolerance ◽  
Foliar Application ◽  
New South ◽  
Plant Stress ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
Tea Tree ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Simple Extraction ◽  
New Industry ◽  
Better Than

Some of the Melaleuca spp., native to Australia, are unique in their ability to withstand environmental stresses. The stress tolerance of these species is attributable to their ability to accumulate large quantities of organic compounds known as osmoprotectants or proline (betaine) analogues. Osmoprotectants can be extracted easily from these plants and used in seed treatment and foliar application to increase the stress tolerance of economic crops. This paper examines the potential of 8 Melaleuca spp. for the production of osmoprotectants. Melaleuca bracteata, which accumulates the proline analogue trans 4-hydroxy-N-methyl proline (MHP), was the most vigorous of all 8 species field tested in New South Wales and Queensland. A simple extraction protocol for commercial use is suggested. By growing M. bracteata, it is possible to achieve an average yield of 493 kg/ha of MHP along with 218 kg/ha of essential oil, with a gross economic return of AU$14505/ha. This return is better than that estimated for M. alternifolia, $3200/ha, which is currently grown for the production of tea tree oil. The cultivation of M. bracteata has the potential of creating a new industry for Australia, in addition to its positive role in the control of dryland salinity.

Overwintering of Tranzchelia discolor in prune orchards in New South Wales

1987 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 895 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJ Ellison ◽  
L McFadyen ◽  
PF Kable
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Cross Infection ◽  
Infected Leaf ◽  
South Wales ◽  
One Year ◽  
Tranzschelia Discolor ◽  
Better Than

There are several ways in which Tranzschelia discolor may overwinter in prune orchards in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Areas of New South Wales. The aecial state, cross-infection from peach and almond, twig cankers, and urediniospores on living leaves persisting through winter were considered, but were thought to be unlikely. The ability of urediniospores to survive on infected leaf litter, either on the ground under trees or lodged within the framework of trees, was studied over two winters. Urediniospore viability declined with time, but in both seasons a proportion were capable of germination in the spring. Spores exposed within the tree framework survived better than those exposed on the ground, with about 20% and less than 5% respectively remaining viable by spring. In both winters spores from litter which overwintered within the framework of the tree were able to infect prune leaves in the spring. The infectivity of spores exposed on the ground was tested in the spring of one year and infections resulted on inoculated plants. The implications of these findings for the control of the rust in prunes are discussed.

scholarly journals HIPPI-2: A versatile high-precision polarimeter

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy Bailey ◽  
Daniel V. Cotton ◽  
Lucyna Kedziora-Chudczer ◽  
Ain De Horta ◽  
Darren Maybour
Keyword(s):  
High Precision ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The University ◽  
Better Than

Abstract We describe the High-Precision Polarimetric Instrument-2 (HIPPI-2) a highly versatile stellar polarimeter developed at the University of New South Wales. Two copies of HIPPI-2 have been built and used on the 60-cm telescope at Western Sydney University’s (WSU) Penrith Observatory, the 8.1-m Gemini North Telescope at Mauna Kea and extensively on the 3.9-m Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT). The precision of polarimetry, measured from repeat observations of bright stars in the SDSS g′band, is better than 3.5 ppm (parts per million) on the 3.9-m AAT and better than 11 ppm on the 60-cm WSU telescope. The precision is better at redder wavelengths and poorer in the blue. On the Gemini North 8-m telescope, the performance is limited by a very large and strongly wavelength-dependent TP that reached 1000’s of ppm at blue wavelengths and is much larger than we have seen on any other telescope.

Banana weevil borer control in south-eastern Queensland

1995 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 1165 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Smith
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Entomopathogenic Nematode ◽  
Insect Pest ◽  
Free Water ◽  
Banana Weevil ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Test Current ◽  
Nematode Mortality ◽  
Better Than

Banana weevil borer Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar) is the main insect pest of bananas in south-eastern Queensland and northern New South Wales. Four trials were conducted over 3 years to test current and new pesticides and 2 species of entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis zealandica Poinar (strain 327) and Steinernemu carpocapsae (Weiser) (strain BW), in growers' plantations at Yandina and Wamuran. Nematodes were applied in a thickened aqueous solution into 200 mm deep incisions in the residual rhizomes of harvested plants usually at bimonthly intervals from November to May. The treatments were not effective possibly because of early nematode mortality caused by free water in the spike holes and/or because of the need for more frequent application. More than 1 or 2 applications a year, however, would probably be uneconomic. Prothiophos (5 g a.i./stool) was the most effective of the currently registered pesticides and bifenthrin (0.25 g a.i./stool) consistently effective among the new pesticides. Both were significantly better than all other treatments on most occasions. Efficacy was assessed using pseudostem traps (to assess beetle activity) and a sliced peripheral cut to the side of the rhizome (to assess damage by larvae). Monitoring of populations and damage by these techniques will promote the most effective and minimal use of pesticide treatments. Average beetle catches of 2 per trap and damage ratings of 2 are proposed as action thresholds for south-eastern Queensland.

A survey approach to evaluating the effects of management on semi-arid lands in New South Wales.

1989 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
BH Downing ◽  
JC Evans
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Dietary Preferences ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Coefficients Of Variation ◽  
History Of ◽  
Woody Growth ◽  
Survey Approach ◽  
Better Than

One hundred and ten paddocks were surveyed to give an overview of the effects of management burning, grazing by cattle, goats and sheep, and protection from livestock, on major vegetation types in the rangelands. A commercial paddock scale was used to complement information previously available on dietary preferences of livestock from a few, small research sites. In this dry period study, estimates of woody and herbaceous cover were not significantly different overall among paddocks subjected to the various kinds of management. However, herbaceous cover in protected or spelled paddocks was better than in the others. Also, no significant relationships were found between woody cover and herbaceous biomass in any treatment. Despite moderate sample sizes, high coefficients of variation occurred throughout the results. These were regarded as being a true reflection of the variability between paddocks in the rangeland. Underlying differences between management types may have been masked by the heterogeneity of the paddocks within each type due to a complex history of rainfall, burning and grazing. Cluster analysis of the 110 paddocks revealed floristic (woody spp.) similarities of mulga, poplar-box, pine and some belah-rosewood woodlands, whereas saltbush and mallee were distinct. Further comparisons of management types were made on mulga woodland alone. Domestic goats were kept in the most heavily wooded paddocks and, in contrast with sheep, checked the growth of woody plants < 2m high. Woody growth recovered in the < 2m stratum several years after burning. Further evaluation of the herbaceous layer and of woody/herbaceous relationships is recommended after a wet summer.

Influence of foliar-applied fungicides on seed yield of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) in northern New South Wales

1995 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Marcellos ◽  
KJ Moore ◽  
A Nikandrow
Keyword(s):  
Vicia Faba ◽  
Seed Yield ◽  
Faba Bean ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Yield Reduction ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Chocolate Spot ◽  
Seed Yields ◽  
Better Than

The effects of 5 foliar-applied fungicides on seed yield of faba bean (Vicia faba) cv. Fiord were studied over 3 years at Tamworth in northern New South Wales. In 2 seasons when the diseases chocolate spot (Botrytis fabae) and rust (Uromyces viciae-fabae) were significant, 5 applications of foliar fungicides after flowering increased yield, by up to 1.6 t/ha in 1990 and nearly 0.9 t/ha in 1992, compared with the unsprayed treatment.Mancozeb, dichlofluanid, and tebuconazole were the most effective fungicides for preventing yield reduction, and vinclozolin and procymidone had little or no effect. Mancozeb and tebuconazole were effective in reducing the severity of both diseases, whereas procymidone was only active against chocolate spot. Differences between the most effective fungicides when applied 5 times or twice (at early and mid flowering) were seldom significant. Seed yields following 2 applications of tebuconazole were significantly higher than from 1 application, but for mancozeb, 2 applications were better than 1 in 1992 only. It was estimated that rust accounted for most of the yield loss in 1990 and 1992, and did so mainly by reducing seed size. Application of mancozeb early and during late flowering provided an effective and economical increase in grain yield in 1990 and 1992.

Effects of plant spacing and season on growth of Melaleuca alternifolia and yield of tea tree oil

1981 ◽  
Vol 21 (111) ◽  
pp. 439 ◽  
Author(s):  
BEJ Small
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
New South ◽  
Oil Yield ◽  
Production Plant ◽  
Plant Spacing ◽  
Average Increase ◽  
Tea Tree Oil ◽  
Melaleuca Alternifolia ◽  
Tea Tree ◽  
South Wales

A plant spacing experiment with the tea tree oil species, Melaleuca alternifolia was carried out at Castle Hill, New South Wales, from 1970 to 1979. The study compared the response to three within-row spacings and measured the effects of seasons over seven harvests. The planting patterns tested were 1.22 x 1.22, 0.61 and 0.305 m. For all years there was an average increase in leaf and oil yield of 93% (2.9 l/ha and 46 l/ha, respectively) in the highest population (26 908 trees/ha) compared with the lowest (6727 trees/ha). Large differences in growth rate and oil yield occurred between years. I conclude that M. alternifolia is amenable to cultivation for tea tree oil production, plant spacing is an important factor in its management and optimum population exceeds 27 000 trees/ha.

The effect of temperature on the hardseed content of some annual legumes grown on the northern slopes of New South Wales

1990 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 941 ◽  
Author(s):  
GM Lodge ◽  
RD Murison ◽  
EW Heap
Keyword(s):  
Seed Set ◽  
New South ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Summer Rainfall ◽  
Effect Of Temperature ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Fluctuating Temperatures ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Better Than

Two laboratory experiments were conducted to assess the effects of constant and fluctuating temperatures on the hardseed content of a range of legume species. In the first experiment the effects of constant (10/10,25/25,40/40�C) and fluctuating temperatures (40/10,40/25�C) on the rate of breakdown of the hardseed of 15 legumes was examined over a 12-month period. The second experiment investigated the hardseed level of seven of these legumes stored at temperatures of 25/25,40/25,60/25�C over 11 months. A method of analysing these data is presented which describes the hardseed profile over time and allows the rates of change to be compared. For seed collected in a summer rainfall environment fluctuating temperatures of 40/10�C significantly reduced the hardseed level of Medicago aculeata Willd. and M. scutellata (L.) Mill, cv. Sava, Trifolium subterraneum ssp. subterraneum Katzn. et Morley cv. Woogenellup and T. subterraneum ssp brachycalycinum Katzn. Et Morley cv. Clare. A 40/25�C regime reduced the hardseededness of M. minima (L.) Bart, M, aculeata, M. truncatula Gaertn. cv. Sephi, T. subterraneum ssp, subterraneum Katzn. et Morley cvv. Nungarin and Woogenellup and cv. Clare. At 60/25�C the hardseed level of all legumes declined over time. Further at 60/25�C hardseed contents declined at a significantly faster rate than for those at 40/25�C. Field observations of the number of seedlings emerging in the summer after seed set followed a similar pattern to that expected from the laboratory studies. From these studies it is proposed that, provided their seed set is adequate, cultivars with comparatively low levels of hardseed may perform better than expected when grown in a summer rainfall environment, particularly when they are either grown in association with native grasses or have a high proportion of buried burrs. Under these conditions temperatures of around 40/25�C could be expected.

scholarly journals The Foliar Application of Rice Phyllosphere Bacteria induces Drought-Stress Tolerance in Oryza sativa (L.)

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 387
Author(s):  
Arun Kumar Devarajan ◽  
Gomathy Muthukrishanan ◽  
Jaak Truu ◽  
Marika Truu ◽  
Ivika Ostonen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
Stress Tolerance ◽  
Foliar Application ◽  
Oryza Sativa L ◽  
Plant Stress ◽  
Rice Cultivar ◽  
Single Strain ◽  
Rice Leaves ◽  
Stress Related Genes ◽  
Induced Tolerance

This study assessed the potential of Bacillus endophyticus PB3, Bacillus altitudinis PB46, and Bacillus megaterium PB50 to induce drought tolerance in a susceptible rice cultivar. The leaves of the potted rice plants subjected to physical drought stress for 10 days during the flowering stage were inoculated with single-strain suspensions. Control pots of irrigated and drought-stressed plants were included in the experiment for comparison. In all treatments, the plant stress-related physiochemical and biochemical changes were examined and the expression of six stress-responsive genes in rice leaves was evaluated. The colonization potential on the surface of the rice leaves and stomata of the most successful strain in terms of induced tolerance was confirmed in the gnotobiotic experiment. The plants sprayed with B. megaterium PB50 showed an elevated stress tolerance based on their higher relative water content and increased contents of total sugars, proteins, proline, phenolics, potassium, calcium, abscisic acid, and indole acetic acid, as well as a high expression of stress-related genes (LEA, RAB16B, HSP70, SNAC1, and bZIP23). Moreover, this strain improved yield parameters compared to other treatments and also confirmed its leaf surface colonization. Overall, this study indicates that the foliar application of B. megaterium PB50 can induce tolerance to drought stress in rice.

Studies on alternative means of legume inoculation: microbiological and agronomic appraisals of commercial procedures for inoculating soybeans with Bradyrhizobium japonicum

1988 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 965 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Brockwell ◽  
RR Gault ◽  
DF Herridge ◽  
LJ Morthorpe ◽  
RJ Roughley
Keyword(s):  
Bradyrhizobium Japonicum ◽  
New South ◽  
Gum Arabic ◽  
Seed Inoculation ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Alternative Means ◽  
Glycine Max L ◽  
Uninoculated Control ◽  
Sowing Seed ◽  
Better Than

Four commercial procedures for inoculating soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) with Bradyrhizobium japonicum were compared at three sites in New South Wales. Three procedures involved applying inoculant to the seed shortly before sowing (seed inoculation) as a slurry in water or gum arabic adhesive or by sprinkling inoculant on the seed in the seed box of the planter. In the fourth, inoculant was suspended in water and sprayed directly into the seed bed alongside and beneath the seed (liquid inoculation).With seed inoculation substantial losses of viability of inocula (94%-99.95%) occurred between inoculation and sowing. Some of the loss was attributable to separation of inoculant and seed, as it passed through the machinery; no such loss of viability occurred with liquid inoculation. Colonization of the rhizosphere relative to the numbers of rhizobia delivered into the seed bed was poorer with liquid inoculation than with the slurry treatments. This was attributed to the uniform distribution of rhizobia applied as liquid inoculant in the seed bed, in contrast to the concentration of rhizobia applied as slurries in the vicinity of each seed. Slurry treatments generally promoted earlier nodulation than liquid inoculation, but as the crops aged, the differences disappeared and were not reflected in seed yield or seed nitrogen. Application of inoculant to seed in the seed box, although better than an uninoculated control, was consistently inferior to the other inoculation procedures.Given favourable environmental conditions both at sowing and afterwards, slurry inoculation and liquid inoculation were equally likely to initiate a successful symbiosis. Slurry inoculation may be superior when there is limited soil moisture after sowing, whereas liquid inoculation may be better when seed is sown into relatively dry soil with good moisture beneath.

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