How the seed coat affects the mother’s oviposition preference and larval performance in the bean beetle (Acanthoscelides obtectus, Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae) in leguminous species

Background The host specificity and host range of the dry bean beetle, Acanthoscelides obtectus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae), a seed predator of beans, is poorly known. In addition, the female oviposition preference and larval performance relationship is complicated by the respective importance of seed coat and cotyledon, because, paradoxically, females lay eggs on the basis of stimuli of the seed coat alone, without directly being able to assess the quality of the cotyledon’s suitability for larval development. Conversely, the thickness of seed coat may prevent first instar larvae from entering the seeds, even if cotyledons are suitable for development. Methods The seeds of 62 leguminous species and 75 cultivars and accessions occurring in Hungary were evaluated for preference-performance relations. The preference of female bean beetles for seeds was measured in no-choice egg-laying tests. The ability of first instar larvae to overcome the seed coat as a physical barrier was tested with intact seed coat, while pre-drilled seed coats allowed the larvae to assess the suitability of cotyledon for development. The number of emerging adults was recorded. The thickness of seed coats and the weight of seeds were measured. Nonparametric tests and logistic regression were used for the statistical analyses of data and effect sizes were also calculated. Results Seeds of 18 leguminous species (35% of them Lathyrus) supported larval development to adults if the seed coat was pre-drilled; however, only nine leguminous species supported development to adults if the seed coat was intact. Seed coat thickness beyond a critical threshold of 0.1 mm strongly influenced survival of first instar larvae. There was no overall positive correlation between oviposition preference and larval performance, except for 16 so-called acceptable non-hosts (Kendall’s τ = 0.3088). A. obtectus females also showed an ovipositional hierarchy of legume species even in no-choice tests. Conclusions The results suggest that whereas the use of some acceptable non-host species by the A. obtectus is possible in seed stores, the same is unlikely under outdoor conditions, where the recognition of a diverse set of seed pod-related compounds would be necessary to induce egg-laying.

Evaluating The Performance of Nutrients Uptake Capabilities and Enzymatic Activities in The Different Green Manures

Winter green manure potentially uptake large amount of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) from the soil. However, the mechanism underlying nutrient uptake in green manure varieties remain elusive. This study illustrates the P and K uptake potential in different leguminous and non-leguminous species through integrated approaches. The designed studies evaluated the 10 green manure crops included five leguminous species (i.e smooth vetch hairy vetch, common vetch, lathyrus sativus, and milk vetch) and five non-leguminous species (i.e February orchid, chinese radish, forage radish, rapeseed and ryegrass) were planted. Experimental results indicated that the smooth vetch had highest P and K uptake capabilities among all leguminous species. While, rapeseed and chinese radish greatly P and K obtain among all non-leguminous treatments. Therefore various species also affected soil P and K availability and soil enzymes. Soil enzymatic activities including phosphatase (150.7%) and N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (95.4%) were elevated in lathryus sativus compared to the hairy vetch and common vetch respectively. The highest β-glucosidase (95.2%) and leucine-aminopeptidase (107.6%) activities accumulated in lathyrus sativus greater than the smooth vetch in all legumes species. In non-leguminous treatments phosphatase (500.5%), β-glucosidase (424.4%), and N-acetylglucosaminidase (256.3%) activities were improved in chinese radish as compared to the rapeseed. In constrast ryegrass was promoted greatest leucine-aminopeptidase activity by 182.7% higher than forage radish. However soil enzymes significanlty improve soil nutrient status. As a conclusion smooth vetch, rapeseed, and Chinese radish varieties have more P and K obtain capacity and forage radish could enhance soil enzyme activities. It is suggested these varieties might be a better choice in green manuring practice for improving nutrient management and soil nutrient quality in agro-ecosystems.

Effects of Life-form and Plants Functional Traits on Carbon, Nitrogen and Sulfur Distributed in Different Parts in Dry Region of Western India

Background: Plants adapt to adverse environmental conditions accumulate varying concentrations of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) compounds to cope up with adverse climatic conditions. Carbon, N and S concentrations were determined in roots, stem and leaves of 33 species of trees/shrubs with objectives to observe the effects of life-form and plants functional traits, and select species with high concentration of these elements for their utilization in afforestation and medicinal uses. Results: Concentrations of C, N, and S and C: N and N: S ratio varied (P<0.05) between species, organs, life-forms and functional traits (legume vs non-legume). These variables were higher (except C in roots and stem) in trees than shrubs, and in leguminous than non-leguminous species. Non-leguminous species showed high S content and low N: S ratio. Antagonistic and synergistic relations were observed between C and N, and N and S concentration respectively. Species showed varying potential in assimilating carbon by regulating uptake and accumulation of these elements in different organs making them adapt to the habitats affected by drought and salinity. We observed strong plant size/life-form effects on C and N content and C: N and N: S ratios and of function on S content. Conclusions: Life-form/size and varying functions of the species determined C: nutrient ratio and elemental composition and helped adapting varying environmental stresses. This study assist in selecting species of high carbon, nitrogen and S content to utilize them in afforesting the areas affected by water and salt stresses, increased carbon storage and species with high S/N content in medicinal uses.

Transcriptome-wide Development and Utilization of Novel Intron-length Polymorphic (ILP) Markers in Common Vetch (Vicia Sativa Subsp. Sativa)

Common vetch (Vicia sativa subsp. sativa) is one of the most economically important forage legumes with rich nutritional value and multiple uses. Though the large-scale development and application of microsatellite markers have been conducted in common vetch germplasm evaluation, the investigation and exploitation of intron-length polymorphic (ILP) markers have not been systematically analyzed. In this study, the intron positions of common vetch genome were located by aligning the RNA-Seq sequences of common vetch with Medicago truncatula, soybean (Glycine max), and Arabidopsis thaliana genomic sequences, and used for VsILP marker development. A total of 10,400 markers were generated from 44,582 common vetch unigenes. Out of 300 randomly selected VsILP markers, 283 resulted in successful amplification in common vetch. Among these markers, 40 produced length variation in 30 common vetch accessions, collectively yielding 166 alleles with an average of 4.0 alleles per locus. The polymorphic information content (PIC) values extended from 0.06 to 0.81 with a mean of 0.49. Of the 283 VsILP markers, 84.8% exhibited transferability to leguminous and non-leguminous species. We presented here the first large-scale development of ILP markers in common vetch and their utility in germplasm evaluation and transferability, which will be valuable for further comparative genomic studies, genetic relationship assessments, and marker-assisted breeding of leguminous and non-leguminous species.

Leguminous species effect in agroforestry systems in the Portuguesa state. Venezuela

Six leguminous species Frijol bayo (Vigna unguiculata), Frijol white Var. Orituco, Quinchoncho dwarf (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp., cv. Aroita), Kudzú tropical (Pueraria phaseoloides), Crotalaria (Crotalaria juncea), Sesbania (Sesbania grandiflora) were established in an agroforest systems to assess his effect on the chemical property of a Alfisol soil at municipality Ospino Portuguese state, at the farm La Yaguara planted with E. urograndis. In a design in random blocks with 7 processings and 4 repetitions, employing STATIXTIS 9.0 to carry out the ANDEVA and for variables where differences are presented the test was employed of Tukey (5%); obtaining as results that in the soil of the farm The Yaguara alone significant differences were found (P<0,05) for the variables relation C/N, CO, Zn, highly significant and differences (P<0,01)for N; being the Sesbania and quinchoncho the best treatment in relation C/N; for CO the frijol blanco and the treatment control; for Zn the quinchoncho and treatment control, frijol blanco and kudzú tropical; in the N quinchoncho and Sesbania. To confirm the generated profit to the agroforestry system analysis were completed foliate to the eucalyptus, finding highly significant differences for P with Frijol blanco and Kudzú and significant for Zn where is quinchoncho and treatment control.

Contribution to the Study of the Relationship between Gammaproteobacteria and Rhizobia in Legume Species of the Genus Hedysarum

The nodular contents of the leguminous species of the genus Hedysarum (H. carnosum, H. spinosissimum subsp capitatum and H. pallidum) consist of cultivable bacteria belonging to the class Gammaproteobacteria, while the rhizobia of these leguminous species are not cultivable. Rhizobium sulla is the specific micro-symbiont of the H. coronarium leguminous species. The aim of this study is to see if the Gammaproteobacteria that inhabit the nodules of the three species of the genus Hedysarum (H. carnosum, H. spinosissimum subsp capitatum and H. pallidum) could have acquired the symbiotic criteria from rhizobia and cause nodulation in these host legume species by the transformation process. Transformation is carried out by extracting the plasmid DNA from the R. sulla strain and incorporate it into the bacterial strains of the Gammaproteobacteria class. Nodulation assay is performed to evaluate the ability of transformed strains to cause nodulation in legume species. The results showed that although there has been a transformation, there is a total failure of nodulation in the three legume species. This is explained by the specificity of molecular signals between bacteria and host plants as well as the genetic information carried by the plasmid is not sufficient to achieve a complete symbiotic relationship.