The response of alpha-amylase activity during wheat grain development to nitrogen fertiliser

Field trials at Beverley (19911, Salmon Gums (1991; 2 sites) and Merredin (1992; 2 sites), each with 5 rates of nitrogen (N) and 3 levels of weed control, were used to investigate the effect of weeds and N on wheat grain yield and protein concentration during 1991 and 1992. Weeds in the study were grasses (G) and broadleaf (BL). Weeds reduced both vegetative dry matter yield and grain yield of wheat at all sites except for dry matter at Merredin (BL). Nitrogen fertiliser increased wheat dry matter yield at all sites. Nitrogen increased wheat grain yield at Beverley and Merredin (BL), but decreased yield at both Salmon Gums sites in 1991. Nitrogen fertiliser increased grain protein concentration at all 5 sites-at all rates for 3 sites [Salmon Gums (G) and (BL) and Merredin (G)] and at rates of 69 kg N/ha or more at the other 2 sites [Beverley and Merredin (BL)]. However, the effect of weeds on grain protein varied across sites. At Merredin (G) protein concentration was higher where there was no weed control, possibly due to competition for soil moisture by the greater weed burden. At Salmon Gums (G), grain protein concentration was greater when weeds were controlled than in the presence of weeds, probably due to competition for N between crop and weeds. In the other 3 trials, there was no effect of weeds on grain protein. The effect of weeds on grain protein appears complex and depends on competition between crop and weeds for N and for water at the end of the season, and the interaction between the two.

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Primary metabolite mobilization during germination in rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora Ducke) seeds

Revista Árvore ◽

10.1590/s0100-67622008000100003 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 19-25 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Renata Braga Souza Lima ◽

José Francisco de Carvalho Gonçalves ◽

Silvana Cristina Pando ◽

Andréia Varmes Fernandes ◽

André Luis Wendt dos Santos

Keyword(s):

Seed Germination ◽

Amylase Activity ◽

Starch Content ◽

Initial Period ◽

Soluble Sugar ◽

Soluble Sugars ◽

Alpha Amylase ◽

Primary Metabolite ◽

Radicle Growth ◽

Starch Mobilization

This study aimed to characterize protein, oil, starch and soluble sugar mobilization as well as the activity of alpha-amylase during rosewood seed germination. Germination test was carried out at 25°C and the following parameters were analyzed: percentage of germination, initial, average, and final germination time. Seed reserve quantification was monitored in quiescent seeds and during different stages of radicle growth. Starch mobilization was studied in function of a-amylase activity. Germination reached 87.5% at the initial, average, and final time of 16, 21 and 30 days, respectively. Oil mobilization showed a negative linear behavior, decreasing 40% between the first and the last stage analyzed, whereas protein levels increased 34.7% during the initial period of germination. Starch content (46.4%) was the highest among those of the metabolites analyzed and starch mobilization occurred inversely to the observed for soluble sugars; alpha-amylase activity increased until the 15th day, a period before radicle emission and corresponding to the highest starch mobilization. The high percentage of rosewood seed germination may be related to the controlled condition used in the germination chamber as well as to high seed reserve mobilization, in special oil and starch.

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