Kinematics of the seedling plant with vertical distributor and buckets

In this paper are presented some theoretical and experimental research on the kinematics of planting seedlings of vertical disc type and buckets, the variant of planting directly in the cultivated soil, the kinematics that must ensure the correlation between the working speed of the planting equipment and the speed periphery of the bucket, so that the seedling is planted in an upright position. After a brief presentation of the research carried out worldwide in the field, the kinematic scheme of the planting apparatus and the condition that must be fulfilled by the construction and operation of the apparatus for the correct planting of the seedling are presented. The relations for the projections of the studied point, called the tracer (root of the seedling) and of the afferent angular velocity, are written in a system of xOy coordinates. Using the real values of a studied planting machine, the real and corrected trajectories of the studied tracer point were drawn, using the MatLab program. Following the research, the related conclusions and recommendations for improvement were formulated.

The Effect of Seed Weight on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.

Loquat, a fruit crops, has been naturalized in Indonesia. Moreover, seed quality is an important factor for generative propagation of loquat. Based on field observation, there was variation on seed size of loquat. Therefore, this research aimed to determine the effect of seed size on the germination and seedling growth of loquat. This research was compiled using a Randomized Complete Design with four different seed groups as treatments. The loquat seeds were obtained from Danau Toba region and grouped based on the weight of seeds, i.e. Grade I (<0.6 g), Grade II (0.6 - <0.9 g), Grade III (0.9 - 1.2 g) and Grade IV (> 1.2 g). Percentage of germination, abnormal seedling, plant height, number of leaves, stem diameter, root length, fresh and dry weight of plant were observed during experiment. The results showed that seed size affected all the observed parameters, except the roots length. In order to obtain the high quality seedling of loquat, suggested to use loquat seed with seed weight more than 1.2 g.

NBS-LRR gene TaRPS2 is positively associated with the high-temperature seedling plant resistance of wheat against Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici

Xiaoyan6 (XY6) is a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar possessing non-race-specific high-temperature seedling plant (HTSP) resistance against stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst). Previously, we identified one particular gene, TaRPS2, for its involvement in the HTSP resistance. To elucidate the role of TaRPS2 in the HTSP resistance, we cloned the full length of TaRPS2 from XY6. The transcriptional expression of TaRPS2 was rapidly up-regulated (19.11-fold) under the normal-high-normal temperature treatment that induces the HTSP resistance. The expression level of TaRPS2 in leaves was higher than that in the stems and roots. Quantification of the endogenous hormones in wheat leaves after Pst-inoculation showed that 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), salicylic acid (SA), and jasmonic acid (JA) were involved in the HTSP resistance. In addition, detection of the H2O2 accumulation indicated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst was also associated with the HTSP resistance. Two hours after exogenous H2O2 treatment or 0.5 h after SA treatment, the expression level of TaRPS2 was increased by 2.66 times and 2.35 times, respectively. The subcellular localization of eGFP-TaRPS2 fusion protein was in the nucleus and plasma membranes. Virus-induced gene silencing of TaRPS2 reduced the level of HTSP resistance in XY6. Compared with the non-silenced leaves, the TaRPS2-silenced leaves had the reduction of necrotic cells but a greater number of uredinia. These results indicated that TaRPS2 positively regulates the HTSP resistance of XY6 against Pst and is related to the SA and H2O2 signaling pathways.

Effect of Different Types of Soil on the Growth & Productivity of Tomato Solanum lycopersicum var. Rio Grande in Libya

The growth performance of plants varies in different environments and is strongly influenced by various biotic and abiotic factors. This, in turn affects the composition of the active compounds which are the product of metabolism (such as photosynthesis, respiration, etc.). Soil quality is considered to be important factor that negatively affect plant growth and productivity. Tomatoes are widely produced and consumed due to their high nutritional value and its important compounds have a role in the prevention of many diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of three different soil types (clay, sand and compost) on growth and yield parameters of tomato Solanum lycopersicum var.Rio Grande. The experiment was done on the Faculty of Science in Gharyan University (April 2017). The tomatoes were grown in pots; twelve replications were used for each group of soils. Growth parameters such as number of seedling, plant height, number of leaves and number of fruits were recorded. The results indicated that soil quality hada highly significant effect (P < 0.001) on growth parameters. Compost was the optimal soil types for growth performance and production of tomatoes, while the growth performance was reduced in clay and sand soil. By contrast, tomatoes that grew in clay soil showed the least growth performance. On the other hand, tomato plants cultivated in clay and sand soil failed in production of flowers and fruits, unlike tomatoes grown in compost. Overall, soil quality and properties have affected tomato growth performance and productivity.

INCREASING THE PRODUCTIVITY OF YUBILEINY NOVY 142 TOBACCO BY USING THE RAIKAT START GROWTH REGULATOR IN THE CENTRAL ZONE OF KRASNODAR REGION

Efficiency of new natural growth stimulator Raykat Start for seedling plant growing (tobacco) has been studied on the base of All-Russian research institute of tobacco makhorka and tobacco products. We used west-subcaucasian leached black soil on the experimental field. Laboratorial, greenhouse and field experiments have discovered that soaking seeds in solution with concentration of growth stimulator 0.0001 % during 6 hours leads to germs mass increasing by 70 %. Seeds treatment before sowing with efficient concentration of stimulator (0.0001 %) in combination with further double spraying (in basic stages ofplant development: “cotyledon” and “ready for transplanting” before pulling plants from seedbed) on plants until their total moistening of above earth plant parts leads to increasing plant length from collar to growing point by 32 %, to leaf tips - by 23 %, above earth plant mass - by 78 %, root mass - by 60 %, stalk diameter in collar part - by 25 %. It was also noticed significant decreasing of stalk and root decays (up to 52 %) in areas with plants treated by stimulator. Surviving of transplanted plants treated with Raykat Start was 95 %, they had increased growing and developing rates both in the beginning of field stage and in the end of vegetation. These led to increasing plant length, leaf area, which increased by 31 % and plant productivity which increased by 17.6 %.

Revealing Differentially Expressed Genes and Identifying Effector Proteins of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici in Response to High-Temperature Seedling Plant Resistance of Wheat Based on Transcriptome Sequencing

ABSTRACT Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is one of the most important diseases of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) globally. Recently, more aggressive Pst races have evolved to acquire new virulence profiles and are adapted better to high temperature than most of the previous races. Breeding cultivars with durable high-temperature seedling-plant (HTSP) resistance is an important strategy for controlling stripe rust. Understanding the mechanism of wheat HTSP resistance against Pst is important for more efficient breeding to improve host resistance. In the present study, transcriptomic analysis identified 25 Pst differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were involved in the HTSP resistance in wheat cultivar Xiaoyan6 (XY6). Functional annotation indicated that these DEGs are related to membrane proteins, mRNA binding proteins, cell membrane transporters, and synthesis of cell nitrogen compounds. Among these DEGs, a candidate effector, PstCEP1 (PSTG_13342), was identified and cloned, and its function was verified. Barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV)-mediated host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) of PstCEP1 reduced Pst virulence. Signal peptide verification and functional testing in Nicotiana benthamiana indicated that PstCEP1 is a secreted protein and has the function of suppressing programmed cell death (PCD). PstCEP1 as a candidate effector was further supported by type three secretion system (TTSS)-mediated overexpression responding to wheat HTSP resistance via affecting the pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI). IMPORTANCE In the present study, we performed transcriptomic analysis to identify differentially expressed genes and effector proteins of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) in response to the high-temperature seedling-plant (HTSP) resistance in wheat. Experimental validation confirmed the function of the highest upregulated effector protein, PstCEP1. This study provides a key resource for understanding the biology and molecular basis of Pst responses to wheat HTSP resistance, and PstCEP1 may be used in future studies to understand pathogen-associated molecular pattern-triggered immunity and effector-triggered immunity processes in the Pst-wheat interaction system.

TaXa21, a Leucine-Rich Repeat Receptor–Like Kinase Gene Associated with TaWRKY76 and TaWRKY62, Plays Positive Roles in Wheat High-Temperature Seedling Plant Resistance to Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici

Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici causes wheat stripe rust, one of most important diseases of wheat worldwide. High-temperature seedling plant (HTSP) resistance of wheat to P. striiformis f. sp. tritici is one specific type of host resistance, induced by high temperature (HT). Receptor-like kinases (RLKs) play key roles in regulating plant development and signaling networks, but there have been no reports on possible roles played by RLKs in wheat HTSP to P. striiformis f. sp. tritici. In the present study, a leucine rich repeat (LRR)-RLK gene, TaXa21, with a high homology with rice bacterial blight resistance gene Xa21, was cloned from wheat cultivar Xiaoyan 6 (XY 6). TaXa21 expression was up-regulated by the exposure to HT (20°C) for 24 h at 8 days postinoculation with P. striiformis f. sp. tritici and was induced by ethylene (ET) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Knocking down TaXa21 using virus-induced gene silencing reduced HTSP resistance to P. striiformis f. sp. tritici compared with the control plants. In addition, the expression level of TaCAT in the H2O2 pathway was induced and TaACO in the ET signal pathway was reduced in the HT-treated TaXa21-silenced plants. Transient expression of TaXa21 in tobacco leaves confirmed its subcellular localization in plasma membrane, consistent with the prediction from bioinformatics analysis. The transmembrane and kinase domain of TaXa21 can interact with TaWRKY76 in the nucleus and cell membrane, which is different from the localization of Xa21 in rice. The interaction between TaWRKY76 and TaWRKY62 (positively involved in the HTSP resistance of XY 6) were observed. Together, these results indicated that TaXa21 is a RLK associated with TaWRKY76 and TaWRKY62 and functions as a positive regulator of wheat HTSP resistance to P. striiformis f. sp. tritici. Furthermore, the host defense is mediated by the H2O2 and ET signal pathways.

Competition, seed dispersal and hunting: what drives germination and seedling survival in an Afrotropical forest?

Disentangling the contributions of different processes that influence plant recruitment, such as competition and seed dispersal, is important given the increased human-mediated changes in tropical forest ecosystems. Previous studies have shown that seedling communities in an Afrotropical rainforest in southeastern Nigeria are strongly affected by the loss of important seed-dispersing primates, including Cross River gorillas (Gorilla gorilla diehli), chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes elioti) and drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus). Here we study how germination and survival of tree seedlings are affected by competition and reduced seed dispersal in three contiguous forest reserves, in southeastern Nigeria, with similar mature tree species composition and structure. We use an experimental design aimed at manipulating the effect of competition among seedlings in three protected and three hunted sites within the reserves. We use a total of sixty 5 × 5 m plots of three types: plots cleared of all seedlings, plots selectively cleared of all primate-dispersed seedlings and control plots. All seedlings were identified, measured, assigned to dispersal mode and tagged, and after 1 year we evaluated survival, mortality and new recruits. We found that in hunted sites germination of abiotically dispersed species was over four times higher in cleared plots compared to control plots, whereas germination of primate-dispersed species was the same, which indicated that dispersal limitation was the dominant force in seedling recruitment in hunted sites. This was supported by the fact that the germination of all dispersal modes in the selectively cleared plots in protected sites was similar to the control plots in the same sites, but germination of abiotically dispersed species was significantly lower than in cleared plots in hunted sites. Competition among seedlings was mostly evident from the fact that 75 % more seedlings of primate-dispersed species germinated in cleared compared to control plots in protected sites. We conclude that inter-seedling competition may be irrelevant to seedling recruitment in hunted sites, where dispersal limitation appears to be a much stronger force shaping the seedling plant community, and thus hunting indirectly reverses the importance of competition and dispersal limitation in structuring seedling communities.