Scientific Journals of INIA (Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria)
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Soil carbon sequestration and stocks: short-term impact of maize succession to cover crops in Southern Brazil Inceptisol
Get PDFAim of study: To evaluate soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and stock over the succession of maize to winter cover crops under a short-term no-tillage system.Area of study: A subtropical area in Southern Brazil.Material and methods: The experiment was implemented in 2013. The treatments were: seven winter cover crops single cultivated (white-oats, black-oats, annual-ryegrass, canola, vetch, fodder-radish and red-clover); an intercropping (black-oats + vetch); and a fallow, with maize in succession. Soil samples were collected after four years of experimentation, up to 0.60 m depth, for SOC determination.Main results: SOC stocks at 0-0.6 m depth ranged from 96.2 to 107.8 t/ha. The SOC stocks (0-0.60 m depth) were higher under vetch and black-oats, with an expressive increase of 23 and 20% for C stocks in the 0.45-0.60 m layer, compared to fallow. Thus, SOC sequestration rates (0-0.60 m depth), with vetch and black oats, were 1.68 and 0.93 t/ha·yr, respectively.Research highlights: The establishment of a high-quality and high C input cover crops in the winter, as vetch or black-oats in succession to maize, are able to increase SOC stocks, even in the short term.
Morphological descriptors for the characterization of teak clones (Tectona grandis L.f.) in plantations
Get PDFAim of study: The objective of this work was to identify possible morphological descriptors for teak clones, in order to support the cultivars protection process of this species.Area of study: This experiment was carried out in ‘São José dos Quatro Marcos’, Mato Grosso, midwest Brazil.Material and methods: A teak clonal test, assessing 18 clones, was evaluated at the ages of 29 and 41 months by means of 41 morphological characteristics, related mainly to the branches, leaves and trunk. The clonal test was established in a randomized block design composed by three blocks, each block containing 18 plots, one for each clone. Each plot had 36 plants, but only the innermost five individuals were selected and evaluated. The information was organized in a presence and absence matrix. Subsequently, genetic similarity measures were estimated, by means of the Jaccard index, and a clustering was performed by the Unweighted Pair Group Method using the Arithmetic averages (UPGMA) method.Main results: A total of 26 and 28 morphological characteristic that exhibited DHS (distinction, homogeneity and stability) were identified at the ages of 29 and 41 months, respectively. Of these, 17 characteristics showed the same behavior at 29 and 41 months of age. However, it is important to emphasize that the evaluation must be performed under the same planting conditions in which these descriptors were developed.Research highlights: These 17 morphological characteristics can compose the list of potential morphological descriptors to be used in the process of teak clones/cultivars protection.Keywords: cultivars protection; morphological characteristics; distinction, homogeneity; stability
A fast, flexible and inexpensive protocol for DNA and RNA extraction for forest trees
Get PDFAim of the study: DNA and RNA extraction are still one of the most important and challenging steps of many molecular genetics applications such as Next-Generation Sequencing technologies. In this study, traditional laboratory preparation protocols and commercially available nucleic acids extraction kits’ features were combined into a procedure suitable for extraction of either DNA or RNA in 96-well plate format at high throughput.Area of study: The study covers forest tree species from the United States of America.Materials and methods: The DNA and RNA protocol were tested on 27 species, including especially recalcitrant forest tree species, from five angiosperm and three gymnosperm families. DNA was also extracted from stored (from 2 to 6 years) silica-dried samples of 11 species of Pinaceae.Main results: The spectrophotometric analysis of DNA and RNA showed that gymnosperms yielded lower quantity, but higher quality nucleic acids than angiosperms which have variable results among species. The quantity and quality of DNA from stored samples were generally lower than fresh silica-dried samples. The RNA results showed high-enough yield (6.6 to 8.8 RIN) for downstream analyses.Research highlights: It was demonstrated that high quality and high molecular weight nucleic acids for Next-Generation Sequencing applications can be isolated from hundreds of samples from a wide range of taxonomic groups. The new protocol has features similar to both traditional laboratory and commercial extraction kits; is easy to set up in any molecular research laboratory, can be applied to a large number of samples (hundreds) in a working day, uses inexpensive reagents and supplies, and is compatible with automation.Key words: Angiosperms; gymnosperms; isolation protocol; nucleic acids
Differential water-use efficiency and growth among Eucalyptus grandis hybrids under two different rainfall conditions
Get PDFAim of the study: To analyze the course of leaf water status, water-use efficiency and growth in Eucalyptus grandis and hybrids throughout seasons with different rainfall.Area of study: The study was conducted in northern Uruguay.Methods: A randomized block trial was established containing E. grandis (ABH17), E. grandis × Eucalyptus camaldulensis (GC172), E. grandis × Eucalyptus tereticornis (GT529), and E. grandis × Eucalyptus urophylla (GU08). Predawn leaf water potential (Ψpd) and midday leaf water potential (Ψmd) were measured every six weeks from the age of 16 months, throughout two growing seasons. Stomatal conductance (gs), net photosynthetic rate (A), and leaf-level transpiration (E) were measured once in each growing season, along with leaf carbon isotope discrimination (∆13C) and tree growth. Stomatal density and distribution were studied.Results: ABH17 and GU08 had the lowest daily fluctuation of leaf water potential and showed stronger stomatal regulation; they were hypostomatic, and stomata on the adaxial leaf surfaces remained immature. GC172 and GT529 (Red-Gum hybrids) were amphistomatic and transpired more intensively; they were less efficient in instantaneous and intrinsic water use and grew faster under high soil moisture (inferred from rainfall). Under such conditions, GC172 reached the highest gas-exchange rate due to an increase in tree hydraulic conductance. ABH17 and GU08 were hypostomatic and used water more efficiently because of stronger stomatal regulation.Research highlights: Red-Gum hybrids evidenced less water use efficiency due to lower stomatal regulation, different stomatal features, and distinct growth patterns as a function of soil moisture (inferred from rainfall).Keywords: Eucalypt hybrids; stomatal conductance; water-use efficiency; transpiration.Abbreviations used: Ψpd:predawn leaf water potential;Ψmd: midday leaf water potential; ΔΨ: daily fluctuation of leaf water potential ( ; A: net photosynthetic rate, E: leaf transpiration rate, gs: stomatal conductance, WUE: instantaneous water-use efficiency; WUEi: integrated water-use efficiency; A/E: leaf photosynthesis-to-leaf transpiration ratio; ∆13C: leaf carbon isotope discrimination; K: tree hydraulic conductance; E/∆Ψ: ratio between leaf transpiration and daily fluctuation of leaf water potential; δ13C: natural abundance of 13C
Characterization and challenges of livestock farming in Mediterranean protected mountain areas (Sierra Nevada, Spain)
Get PDFAim of study: To characterize and analyse the extensive livestock farming systems in environmental protected area and propose strategies for their sustainable improvement.Area of study: Sierra Nevada Protected Area (Spain)Material and methods: Data were collected from a sample of 85 farmers and 48 experts. The information from farmers was expressed in 35 variables, 23 of which were qualitative and 12 quantitative. A multivariate analysis was conducted.Main results: The principal components explained 71.2% of the total variance and the k-means cluster analysis identified three groups: C1 (38 farms), medium-size farms with a predominance of goats and relative dairy specialization; C2 (12 farms), large-size farms with extensive grazing lands, a high proportion of meat purpose animals and managed by young and dynamic farmers and C3 (35 farms), medium-size farms with a high proportion of meat purpose animals and undeveloped business management. The main problems reported were: insufficient pastures for livestock, stagnation of product prices, lack of generational renewal and need for social recognition of livestock farming. These obstacles could be overcome by implementing measures aimed at improving feed self-sufficiency -and thus reduce production costs- increasing income through social recognition of farming, achieving product differentiation, and strengthening short marketing channels. This would be favoured by an increase in associationism and specialized training.Research highlights: Farm management and marketing are important for improve these farming systems. The extensive livestock farming continues to be an important activity in European protected mountain areas
Phenological diversity in a World Olive Germplasm Bank: Potential use for breeding programs and climate change studies
Get PDFAim of study: Crop phenology is a critical component in the identification of impacts of climate change. Then, the assessment of germplasm collections provides relevant information for cultivar selection and breeding related to phenology, being the base for identifying adaptation strategies to climate change.Area of study: The World Olive Germplasm Bank located at IFAPA Centre “Alameda del Obispo” (WOGB-IFAPA) in Cordoba (Southern Spain) was considered for the study.Material and methods: Data gathered for nine years on flowering and ripening time of olive cultivars from WOGB-IFAPA were evaluated. Thus, full flowering date (FFD) for 148 cultivars and ripening date (RD) for 86 cultivars, coming from 14 olive growing countries, were considered for characterization of olive phenology and for calibration/validation of phenological models.Main results: The characterization of WOGB-IFAPA has allowed the identification of cultivars with extreme early (‘Borriolenca’) and late (‘Ulliri i Kuq’) flowering as well as the ones with extreme early (‘Mavreya’) and late (‘Gerboui’) ripening dates. However, the very limited inter-cultivar variability, especially for FFD, resulted in a non-optimal simulation models performance. Thus, for FFD and RD the root mean square error was around 6 and 24 days, respectively. The limited inter-cultivar variability was associated to the low average temperatures registered during winter at WOGB-IFAPA generating an early accumulation of the chilling requirements, thus homogenizing FFD of all the analyzed cultivars.Research highlights: The identification of cultivars with early FFD and late RD provides useful information for breeding programs and climate change studies for identifying adaptation strategies
Morphological and physiological responses and some WRKY genes expression in cherry rootstocks under salt stress
Get PDFAim of study: To determine morphological, physiological and molecular responses of cherry rootstocks under salt stress condition.Area of study: Konya, Turkey.Material and methods: A pot trial was conducted to assess moderate salt stress (35 mM NaCl) effects on cherry rootstocks (CAB-6P, MaxMa 14 and Mazzard). We have evaluated many morphological and physiological parameters and analyzed WRKY genes (WRKY25, WRKY33 and WRKY38) under salinity conditions.Main results: All rootstocks survived with slight leaf burn under salinity conditions and the plant growth and physiological parameters, except membrane permeability, decreased in all rootstocks. The membrane permeability increased with salinity and the lowest increment in the membrane permeability (12.17%) was in MaxMa 14, while CAB-6P and Mazzard showed higher levels of increases reaching 46.81 and 56.42%, respectively. Furthermore, the expression of WRKY25, WRKY33 and WRKY38 genes was significantly increased by salinity. The rankings of the WRKY genes expression levels among control rootstocks were: MaxMa 14 < CAB-6P < Mazzard.Research highlights: CAB-6P, MaxMa 14 and Mazzard rootstocks were found relative salt-tolerant at the moderate salinity levels and there is a cross-talk between physiological and molecular responses. Mazzard had higher tolerance to salinity shown in molecular responses. The study possesses importance for plant physiologists and cherry growers as it showed how cherry rootstocks respond to salt stress
Commercial growth regulator has adverse effect over soybean seedlings under different cadmium levels
Get PDFAim of study: Soils contaminated by heavy metals, such as cadmium, may reduce plant development. Exogenous application of plant growth regulators (PGR), are used for optimizing the crops production in stressful environments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Cd concentrations on the development of soybean seedlings under exogenous application of a commercial PGR.Area of study: Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil.Material and methods: Soybean seeds were pre-treated in distilled water (control treatment) and in solution with plant growth regulator (PGR treatment) and then germinated with distillated water. The germinated seeds were transferred to different levels of Cd (0, 100, 500 and 900 mg of Cd).Main results: Cd exposure at increasing concentrations, decreased root development, (area, length and volume of roots) and activity of enzymatic antioxidants (SOD, CAT and APX) and enhanced MDA. These responses were accentuated by the PGR exposition. The root morphology and activity of antioxidant enzymes presented "hormesis" responses until 500 mg L-1 of Cd, and the proline content may have played a fundamental role in the maintenance of metabolic activities and biomass.Research highlights: The results indicate that the use of PGR intensified the toxicity responses caused by exposure to increased Cd level. In addition, stress indicators such as MDA content and antioxidant activity in different organs (root and shoot) of soybean seedlings, responded differently according with the use of PGR under exposure of Cd
Effect of cover crops in olive groves on Cicadomorpha communities
Get PDFAim of study: To identify the environmental variables that affect the Cicadomorpha communities and the role played by cover crops in olive groves by comparing olive orchards with cover crop to those with bare ground.Area of study: Córdoba, Spain.Material and methods: Two study plots, one with cover crop and the other with bare ground, were delimited in three areas of olives orchards. Three passive samplings (May, June and July) were performed in each study plot to estimate the abundance and the species richness of potential Cicadomorphas vectors of Xylella fastidiosa. In each sampling, eight yellow sticky traps (22 × 35 cm) were randomly distributed in each study plot (n = 144 traps).Main results: The Cicadomorpha communities were mainly affected by landscape variables (such as the total surface and the distance to remnants of natural vegetation) and environmental variables (such as the temperature, moisture or ETo), whereas cover crops played a secondary role in the abundance of the Cicadomorpha.Research highlights: The results of the study suggest that Cicadomorpha richness and abundance depend on the structural complexity provided by cover crops (positive effect) and live hedges (negative effect), which may be owing to the higher food abundance and shelter when cover crops are present, whereas higher insect predation may occur close to hedges, probably owing to insectivorous song birds