A Method for Rapid Salt-extraction of High-quality Genomic DNA from Plant Seeds

[Objective] This study aimed to explore an effective method for rapid salt- extraction of high-quality genomic DNA from dried seeds of plants. [Method] Seeds of seven varieties of crops were ground into powder. A hundred milligrams of seed powder was added to extracting solution for high salt-extraction of genomic DNA. The yield and quality of extracted DNA were determined by using ultramicro UV/Vis spectrophotometer detection method, PCR and restriction enzyme digestion. [Result] About 619.67-1 811.21 ng of genomic DNA was extracted from per 100 mg of dried seed powder of seven varieties of conventional crops. A260/A280 ratios of the obtained DNA solution all ranged from 1.87 to 2.07, the purity and quality of PCR were suitable for PCR and restriction enzyme digestion. Clear target bands of specific endogenous gene fragments of seven varieties of crops were amplified by PCR, and the obtained DNA could be fully digested with EcoRV and Hindlll.[Conclusion] This method could be used for rapid extraction of high-quality genomic DNA from dried seeds.

Prevention Effects of Pyrazosulfuron-ethyl·Quinclorac 50% WP on Stem and Leaf of Dry Direct Seeded Rice

[Objective] The aim was to explore the prevention effects of pyrazosul-furon-ethyl·quinclorac 50% WP on stem and leaf of dry direct seeded rice. [Method] Totaling 7 drug doses were set in the test and the effects were observed 5, 10, 15 and 30 d after drug application, with the remained weeds surveyed 15 and 30 d after drug application. [Result] The test showed pyrazosulfuron-ethyl·quinclorac 50%WP was safe to rice as treatment agent of stem and leaf, and rice yield increased dramatical y, with the growth rate in 2.1%-49.3%. After the drug application, the prevention effects on Echinochloa crusgal i, Ludwimlia prostrata, Monochoria vamli-nalis, and Zong grass were 92.2%, 96.6%, 93.5%, and 94.8%, and the effects on fresh weight were 94.8%, 97.1%, 93.3% and 94.9%, respectively. [Conclusion] Pyra-zosulfuron-ethyl·quinclorac 50% WP can be taken as treatment agents of stem and leaf of dry direct seeded rice.

Effect of Seed Coat on Drying Kinetics of Kidney Bean Seed

Kidney bean seed was dried in a laboratory scale fixed bed. The effect of seed coat on drying dynamic characteristics and the changes of seed coat structure were investigated. A mathematical model was established to simulate the drying process and determine the moisture diffusivity. Numerical results agree well with the experimental data. The average moisture diffusivity of the seed with separated coat is 1.67 times larger than that of the seed with coat, and the moisture diffusivity of seed cotyledon is 3.2 times larger than that of the seed coat. It is proved that the seed coat is the most main resistance of mass transfer and is also one of the key points of the optimization of heat and mass transfer for seed drying.

Correlation of Leaf and Root Senescence During Ripening in Dry Seeded and Transplanted Rice

Dry seeding is a resource-saving rice establishment method. With an equivalent yield, dry seeded flooded rice （DSR） has been considered as a replacement for traditional transplanted flooded rice （TFR）. However, the differences in leaf and root senescence during grain filling between DSR and TFR were seldom identified. In this study, the root length, root tip number and leaf senescence of rice varieties Huanghuazhan and Yangliangyou 6 during ripening were compared between DSR and TFR. Results showed that top three leaves in DSR had the characteristics of relatively lower SPAD value, lower N content and premature leaf senescence. In addition, both the total root length and total root tip number of DSR were significantly lower than those of TFR. In conclusion, premature and quick leaf senescence was related with inadequate root length and root tip number during ripening, which might result from the deficiency of nitrogen supply in DSR. Techniques on improving leaf nitrogen status and delaying the leaf senescence during grain-filling in DSR should be developed in future researches.

The effects of grain texture and phenotypic traits on the thin-layer drying rate in maize(Zea mays L.) inbred lines

To explore the relation of maize grain texture and phenotypic traits with grain thin-layer drying rate,we observed the ultra-structure of maize grain,and tested three traits about the maize grain texture and four phenotypic traits.The vitreous part percentage was different（P〈0.05） among different maize inbred lines.There was a significant relationship between the drying rate with grain texture and phenotypic traits.Main factors that influenced the drying rate were different during different drying stages.New results observed that empirical constants（k and N） in drying equation were different for seed of the 30 inbred lines of maize.The k of simplified diffusion equation and N of page equation were significantly influenced by both grain texture and phenotypic traits.These results could be used as guideline parameters for drying maize seeds having different grain characteristics during different drying stages.

Prediction of Canola Seed Longevity in the Drying Process

The probit analysis has been an important tool to predict seed longevity during storage and has been applied for seed drying simulation. Sealed aluminum pouches containing approximately 50 g of canola seed at moisture range of 7% to 21% of water content web basis （%） were conditioned in water-bath at 50, 60 and 70℃ to obtain the model to evaluate the reduction of canola seed germination. This model was included in the drying simulation program and the estimated germination was compared to the experimental values of germination during drying to validate the model. Canola seeds at 21% of moisture content and germination of 93% were dried at 51℃ and 61 ℃, and the model represented significantly the drying experiments. The aim of this study was to propose a germination model to evaluate the quality of canola seeds during the drying process and to offer the seed producers an important tool to control the drying process. The experimental data validated the objectives of the proposed drying model, optimizing the process at given conditions, managing the energy consumption, according to the minimum germination or maximum moisture content limitation for seed storage. For 51℃, the drying time for canola seed would be about 6 h to maintain germination above 90% and for 61℃, 4 h of drying time maintained germination up to 89%.

Chemical Weeding in Dry Direct Seeding Fields of Single Cropping Middlelate Rice

Chemical weeding in dry direct seeding fields of single cropping middle-late rice was studied in Huida vegetable farm of Huizhou City in 2012. The main treatment was herbicide（ pretilachlor ＋ bensulfuron-methyl,Yangguo and butachlor）,and the sub-treatment was application method（ soil treatments,seedling treatment and integrated treatment）. The results showed that 80 g pretilachlor ＋ bensulfuron-methyl（ 36% pretilachlor ＋ 4% bensulfuron-methyl） diluted with 50 kg water could be sprayed or 200 g Yangguo（ 23. 9% butachlor ＋ 1. 1% bensulfuron-methyl） mixed with 15 kg sandy soil could be broadcasted per 667 m2 on the sowing day or the second day under moist condition of soil,which could effectively control weeds in dry direct seeding fields of single cropping middle-late rice.

Effects of different mechanical direct seeding methods on grain yield and lodging resistance of early indica rice in South China

Direct seeding of rice has become a main planting method due to the low labor input and high economic benefit in South China.Dry direct seeding(DDS)has been widely used for single-season rice planting establishment.However,few studies have examined the performance of early-season indica rice under mechanical dry direct seeding.A two-year field experiment was conducted with two indica rice cultivars(i.e.,Zhongjiazao 17 and Zhuliangyou 819)to study lodging characteristics and grain yield formation under DDS,flooded direct seeding(FDS)and wet direct seeding(WDS)patterns.The results showed that the annual grain yield in DDS was higher by 14.42–26.34%for cultivar ZLY819 and 6.64–24.58%for cultivar ZJZ17 than in WDS and FDS,respectively,and these increases were mainly attributed to the improvement of the panicles.The DDS pattern significantly increased the seedling emergence rate of early indica rice cultivars,and increased total dry weight and crop growth rate.Meanwhile,shorter basal internodes,better stem diameter and stem wall thickness and lower lodging index were found in DDS in contrast to FDS and WDS.In particular,DDS improved the stem lodging resistance.Our results suggested that the appropriate direct seeding method was beneficial for improving the grain yield and lodging resistance of early indica rice.

Relations Between Photosynthetic Parameters and Seed Yields of Adzuki Bean Cultivars (Vigna angularis)

The study comparatively examined the leaf photosynthetic capacities of different adzuki bean cultivars, high-yield 2000-75 and Jihong 9218, and low-yield Hongbao 1 and Wanxuan 1 from flowering to ripening. It showed that after flowering, the leaves of the cultivars gradually aged, the leaf chlorophyll （Chl.）, soluble protein （SP） contents, net photosynthetic rates （Pn）, transpiration rates （Tr） and stomatal conductance （G） of the cultivars tended to decline, but the leaf intercellular CO2 concentration （Ci） of the cultivars tended to rise. The leaf photosynthetic capacities of the cultivars decreased gradually from the lower to the upper nodes. The dry seed yields of the cultivars were positively correlated with their leaf Chl., SP, Pn, and Tr and Gs, and negatively associated with their leaf Ci. At the late growth stages, the high-yield cultivars maintained higher leaf Chl. contents, SP contents, Pn, Tr, and Gs than the low-yield cultivars, indicating that leaf photosynthetic capacity was one of important yield-affecting factors of adzuki bean. Therefore, it was important for a crop at the crucial stage of yield formation to maintain a high leaf chlorophyll content and a high leaf photosynthetic capacity and delay leaf aging.

Water Consumption Processes of Different Planting Models in Rice Production of Northeast China

Different irrigation schemes have different effects on water consumption in rice production.However,few studies have been conducted on the water consumption processes between dry direct seeding rice and transplanting rice under different irrigation schemes.Water consumption process,water use efficiency and correlation effect of water consumption on yield under different planting models in rice production were investigated in northeast China in 2018.Seven treatments were implemented:drip irrigation dry direct seeding rice(DDSR),wet irrigation dry direct seeding rice(WDSR),flooded irrigation dry direct seeding rice(FDSR),transplanting flooded rice(TFR),controlled irrigation transplanting rice(CTR),intermittent irrigation transplanting rice(ITR)and wet irrigation transplanting rice(WTR).Among them,TFR was the control.The results showed that the peaks of the water consumption amount,intensity and its modulus coefficient of the seven treatments all appeared in the middle tillering and the jointing booting stages.The total water consumption amount(ET)and average water consumption intensity of DDSR,WDSR,FDSR and WTR were lower than those of TFR,CTR and ITR.The maximum water use efficiency of yield(WUEy)occurred in DDSR with a value of 3.8 kg·m^(-3).WUEy of DDSR,WDSR and FDSR were significantly higher than those of TFR,CTR and ITR.In the middle tillering and the heading and flowering stages,the water consumption amount of each treatment had a positive effect on yield formation,and the water consumption amount in the late tillering stage had a negative effect on yield formation.The relationship between ET and yield(Y)of dry direct seeding and transplanting planting models showed a quadratic function curve.ET of transplanting planting model had a significant positive impact on Y,and ET of dry direct seeding planting model had no impact on Y.DDSR had the least total water consumption of 199.8 mm·m^(-2),the lowest water consumption intensity of 2.0 mm·d^(-1) and the greatest water use efficiency of 3.8 kg·m^(-3),which suggested that DDSR had the most significant water saving effect.The combination of dry direct seeding planting model and drip irrigation scheme would be a good option for determining a water-saving rice planting model in northeast China.