Effects of Soil Amendment with Chinese Herbal Medicine on Cassava Growth and Rhizosphere Microbial Diversity

This study aimed to determine the effects of different dosages of Chinese herbal compound soil amendment on cassava growth and rhizosphere microbial diversity. In this study, Cassava SC8 growth was determined under four treatments. The growth was promoted by the application of the Chinese herbal compound soil amendment powder and agent. After 240 days of treatment, we measure its height, diameter of the stem, maximum perimeter of cassava, tuber number, weight of single tuber, yield per hectare, the mineral elements in cassava, the ash content in starch and the microbial diversity in the soil. Compared with the control group, the height, diameter of the stem, maximum perimeter of cassava, tuber number, the weight of a single tuber, yield per hectare in the treatment groups all show increase, and the application of 1200 kg of Chinese herbal compound soil amendment per hm2 (T2) had the strongest positive effect on the cassava growth. As for the water content of tubers, that of T2 decreased by 5.96% compared with T4, while no substantial difference among other groups. The Fe content in T2 decreased by 29.46%, and Zn in T3 increased by 39.48%, while the content of other metal ions in four treatments showed no substantial difference. At the same time, the experiment also found that, as bacterial abundance in soil, Streptophyta dominated in T2, and Fimbriimonas is a unique genera of T2. In addition, the abundances of Nocardioides and unclassfied_Spartobacteria in the T2 were greatly considerable than other treatment groups. As fungal abundance in soil, after treated with different concentrations, the composition of soil fungi differed greatly among the groups, and the samples at different concentrations contained more than 20 species of unique bacteria. At the genus level, compared with the control group, the relative abundance of unclassfied_Chaetomiaceae in the treatment group was considerably reduced, and the relative abundance of Psathyrella in the T1 increase substantially. We speculates that these advantages and the existence of bacteria and fungi can affect rhizosphere soil microorganisms, further improve soil effective nutrients and enzyme activities, thereby affecting the growth and physiological indicators of cassava plants.

Assessment of the Nursery of the Ecological the Experiment of the Udmurt Research Institute of Agriculture

The results of studies of the best samples in the breeding nursery of the environmental test of 2018 are presented. Samples were obtained in the process of selection for a complex of biological and economically valuable traits that meet the conditions of the Udmurt Republic. The purpose of the research in 2018 is to create promising varieties of potatoes according to a complex of biological and economically valuable traits. Research conducted according to methods: Research methodology for potato culture, Methodological guidelines for technology of potato breeding. In the framework of agreements on joint scientific activity, hybrid combinations (single-tuber) were selected, bred by leading institutes of potato growing: All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Potato Economy. Lorch, Falensky selection station, Ural Agricultural Research Institute. According to the results of 2018 studies in field breeding nurseries, including hybrid single-tuber combinations (42 combinations, 2453 tubers), 15 lines, 35 hybrids, 64 numbers, 13 promising numbers and 3 varieties of potatoes were studied. In the ecological experiment nursery, there were 16 numbers on the study, including the number 13–06–7 — the Tyuragai variety and 10–06–2 — the Zarni variety of the joint selection of the Udmurt Research Institute of Agriculture and the Falensky selection station (2016), 0–8–38 — a new variety Parus of joint selection of the Udmurt Research Institute of Agriculture and the Ural Research Institute of Agriculture (2018). Promising samples showed a yield of 34.9–38.7 t/ha, Tyuragai varieties (13–06–7) with a potato tuber yield of 35.8 t/ha and Zarni (10–06–2) with a potato tuber yield of 40.5 t/ha confirmed their suitability for cultivation in the region’s climatic conditions. The new Variety Parus (0–8–38) with a yield of 38.1 t/ha has established itself as a stable variety with high yields.

Draft Genome Resource for the Potato Powdery Scab Pathogen Spongospora subterranea

The Plasmodiophorida (Phytomyxea, Rhizaria) are a group of protists that infect plants. Of this group, Spongospora subterranea causes major problems for the potato industry by causing powdery scab and root galling of potatoes and as vector for the Potato mop-top virus (PMTV) (genus Pomovirus, family Virgaviridae). A single tuber isolate (SSUBK13) of this uncultivable protist was used to generate DNA for Illumina sequencing. The data were assembled to a draft genome of 28.08 Mb consisting of 2,340 contigs and an L50 of 280. A total of 10,778 genes were predicted and 93% of the BUSCO genes were detected. The presented genome assembly is only the second genome of a plasmodiophorid. The data will accelerate functional genomics to study poorly understood interaction of plasmodiophorids and their hosts.

Artificial Cultivation System for Gastrodia spp. and Identification of Associated Mycorrhizal Fungi

The Orchidaceae are the largest and most diverse family of flowering plants on earth, and include some of the most important horticultural plants. While mycoheterotrophic orchids belonging to the genus Gastrodia are known to be provided with carbon through mycorrhizal fungi, the relationship between the plants and fungi is poorly understood. Furthermore, it is challenging to cultivate Gastrodia spp. in vitro. In this study, we present an efficient method for germinating Gastrodia pubilabiata (Gp), Gastrodia nipponica (Gn), and Gastrodia confusa (Gc) plants in vitro, which results in the production of a protocorm and tuber, as under natural conditions. The Gp and Gc plants produced flowers 126 and 124 days after germination, respectively, and set seed under our artificial conditions. In addition, Gp plants flowered up to three times a year from a single tuber. Using our artificial cultivation system, we identified some of the mycorrhizal fungi associated with these plants. Gastrodia spp. appear to obtain carbon from many kinds of mycorrhizal fungi. Our artificial cultivation method is a rapid and efficient means of growing Gastrodia spp. In addition to having applications in research and commercial nurseries, this method could be used to conserve Gastrodia spp. in ex situ, many of which are endangered.

2. Additional Observations as to the Poisonous Properties of Œnanthe crocata

In this paper the Author added a few supplementary observations to those made on the alleged poisonous properties of the Œnanthe crocata, in his paper on the poisonous Umbelliferœ, read on the 4th December last.He stated that he had met with other cases of poisoning with this plant, recorded by Continental authors, shewing that death may take place in an hour,—that so small a quantity as a single tuber, no bigger than the finger, has proved fatal,—that the roots are poisonous in some countries, from the beginning of January till the middle of October at all events, and probably throughout the whole year; and that Spain may be added to the countries formerly mentioned, where fatal effects have been produced by the plant.