Morphophysiological traits of soybean leaflets and their relationship with crop agronomic performance

Soybean genotypes have distinct morphophysiological traits, which may influence the crop agronomic performance. The aim of this work was to evaluate the productive parameters of three contrasting soybean genotypes for leaf morphophysiological traits. The experiment was carried out at in a typical Distroferric Red Latosol, located at latitude 25º41'52" S and longitude 53º03'94" W; in the 2015/16 (CY1) and 2016/17 (CY2) seasons. The genotypes tested were: BS 2601 RR® (lanceolate and smaller leaflets); NS 6006 IPRO® (triangular and intermediate leaflets) and homozygous lineage CI 21 IPRO® (oval and larger leaflets). The gas exchange, chlorophyll index, leaf area, leaflet length and width, and petiolulus length were evaluated when plants of each genotype were at the beginning of flowering. At harvest, the variables analyzed were: first pod insertion, plant height, number of pods and grains per plant, grains per pod, mass of one thousand grains and grain yield. The design used was randomized blocks with four replicates. Photosynthesis per leaf area unit was higher in CY2, and is related to greater stomatal conductance, higher chlorophyll index, lower transpiration and lower leaf area of plants. The lanceolate leaf cultivar showed higher grain yield due to the higher number of grains and the greater mass of these grains in the two crop years. In addition, it was the one that obtained lower leaf area and lower transpiration. The cultivar NS 6006 presented greater productive stability, but this trait does not confer greater productive potential.

Crop Yield and the Quality of Sunflower Seeds in the Use of Fertilizers and Growth Regulation Substances

In the Russian Federation the most favorable area for high and stable yields of sunflower crop is the Northern zone of Krasnodar region. The research was conducted in multivariate experience of long-term stationary monitoring. We researched the effect of doses of mineral fertilizers and furolan on sunflower yield and seed quality. It was found that it is expedient and cost-effective to use small doses of nitrogen fertilizers for sunflower. The expediency of application of plant growth regulator (Furolan) during vegetation is shown. We found that the use of mineral fertilizers and the use of furolan contributed to the activation of growth processes of sunflower plants which led to the formation of optimal plant density. Improving the nutritional status of plants has provided an increase in the leaf area unit. The treatment of sunflower crops on the background of fertilizers N20P30 and the furolan has had a positive impact on the value of photosynthetic potential. Under the influence of mineral fertilizers there was an increase in the dissemination of the sunflower head, weight of seeds and weight of 1000 seeds, which has a positive impact on productivity. With the increase of fertilizer doses, the oil content of seeds increased when compared to the unfertilized variant. The treatment of plants with furolan has not violated the process of accumulation of protein and fat.

Production of Piptadenia stipulacea (Benth.) Ducke seedlings irrigated with fish farming wastewater

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth of ‘jurema-branca’ seedlings (Piptadenia stipulacea (Benth.) Ducke.), irrigated with effluent from fish farming in order to meet the nutritional demand in the initial growth stage. The treatments consisted in the dilution of fish farming wastewater in different concentrations (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) with supply water. Seeds were sown in 0.9-L polyethylene bag containing a mixture of soil and manure. At 54 days after sowing the shoot length, stem diameter, height/diameter ratio, number of leaves, leaf area, unit leaf area, dry matter of stem, leaves, shoots, roots and total, chlorophyll content index and Dickson quality index were evaluated. The growth of ‘jurema-branca’ seedlings is favored by the dilution of 25% of fish farming wastewater in the supply water. Using up to 25% of the concentration of the fish farming effluent does not significantly affect the dry biomass accumulation in ‘jurema-branca’ seedlings, in relation to the control. The reuse of fish farming wastewater diluted at proportion of up to 25% is a viable alternative to meet the water demand in the production of forest seedlings.

Anatomical structure of moss leaves and their photosynthetic activity

The photosynthetic activity of the leaf area unit increases depending on the degree of differentiation of the anatomical structure of the leaves of six chosen moss species. There is a correlation between the leaf area and the degree of differentiation of the anatomical structure resulting in enlargement of the area of contact of the assimilating cells with air. The leaves of <em>Catharinea undulata</em> having a one-layer blade and provided with several lamellae show a higher photosynthesis per 1 cm² of their surface than the one-layer leaves of <em>Mniurnm</em> or <em>Funaria. Aloina</em> leaves are the smallest in area among those of the moss species discussed, however, their photosynthetic rate is almost 4.5 times higher than in <em>Funaria</em> leaves. By analogy to the structure of leaves and their function in vascular, plants, these changes and correlations may be considered as attempts of primeval adaptation of mosses to terrestrial conditions of living.

Transpiration and stomatal conductance of mistletoe (Loranthus europaeus) and its host plant, downy oak (Quercus pubescens)

Sap flow rate was measured in the crown of a solitary specimen of downy oak (Quercus pubescens) infested by mistletoe (Loranthus europaeus). Five oak branches and two mistletoe plants were selected for analysis. The seasonal sum of transpired water expressed per leaf area unit was five times higher in the mistletoe than in the oak. In addition, the diurnal curves of sap flow were different between the plants. In the morning, the sap flow measured in the mistletoe lagged one hour behind the sap flow measured in an oak branch unencumbered by mistletoe. In contrast, no time lag was observed in the evening. The proportion of water transpired at night relative to the total transpiration was 7% in both species. The stomatal conductances derived from the inverted Penman-Monteith equation and their dependence on global radiation and the vapour pressure deficit (D) revealed that D exerts a different behaviour in stomatal control of transpiration in the mistletoe. We also determined that the concentration of calcium in the leaf mass could serve as a proxy for transpiration rate, however the relationship was not proportional.