Identification of Quantitative Trait Loci Controlling Seed Physical and Nutrient Traits in Cotton

Cotton(Gossypium spp.) is the leading fiber crop,and an important source of the important edible oil and protein meals in the world.Complex genetics and strong environmental effects hinder

Temporal shifts in the explanatory power and relative importance of litter traits in regulating litter decomposition

Background:Litter traits critically affect litter decomposition from local to global scales.However,our understanding of the temporal dynamics of litter trait-decomposition linkages,especially their dependence on plant functional type remains limited.Methods:We decomposed the leaf litter of 203 tree species that belong to two different functional types(deciduous and evergreen)for 2 years in a subtropical forest in China.The Weibull residence model was used to describe the different stages of litter decomposition by calculating the time to 10%,25%and 50%mass loss(Weibull t_(1/10),t_(1/4),and t_(1/2)respectively)and litter mean residence time(Weibull MRT).The resulting model parameters were used to explore the control of litter traits(e.g.,N,P,condensed tannins and tensile strength)over leaf litter decomposition across different decomposition stages.Results:The litter traits we measured had lower explanatory power for the early stages(Weibull t_(1/10)and t_(1/4))than for the later stages(Weibull t_(1/2)and MRT)of decomposition.The relative importance of different types of litter traits in influencing decomposition changed dramatically during decomposition,with physical traits exerting predominant control for the stages of Weibull t_(1/10)and MRT and nutrient-related traits for the stages of Weibull t_(1/4),and t_(1/2).Moreover,we found that litter decomposition of the early three stages(Weibull t_(1/10),t_(1/4),and t_(1/2))of the two functional types was controlled by different types of litter traits;that is,the litter decomposition rates of deciduous species were predominately controlled by nutrient-related traits,while the litter decomposition rates of evergreen species were mainly controlled by carbon-related traits.Conclusions:This study suggests that litter trait-decomposition linkages vary with decomposition stages and are strongly mediated by plant functional type,highlighting the necessity to consider their temporal dynamics and plant functional types for improving predictions of litter decomposition.

The relationships between maize(Zea mays L.)lodging resistance and yield formation depend on dry matter allocation to ear and stem

Lodging is a critical constraint to yield increase.There appear to be tradeoffs between yield formation and lodging resistance in maize.Hypothetically,it is feasible to reduce lodging risk as well as increase grain yield by optimizing dry-matter allocation to different organs under different environments.A three-year field experiment was conducted using four maize cultivars with differing lodging resistances and five growing environments in 2018–2020.Lodging-susceptible(LS)cultivars on average yielded more than lodging-resistant(LR)cultivars when lodging was not present.The yield components kernel number per ear(KN)and thousand-kernel weight(TKW)were both negatively correlated with lodging resistance traits(stalk bending strength,rind penetration strength,and dry matter weight per internode length).Before silking,the LR cultivar Lishou 1(LS1)transported more assimilates to the basal stem,resulting in a thicker basal stem,which reduced dry matter allocation to the ear and in turn KN.The lower KN of LS1 was also due partly to the lower plant height(PH),which increased lodging resistance but limited plant dry matter production.In contrast,the LS cultivars Xianyu 335(XY335)and Xundan 20(XD20)produced and allocated more photoassimilates to ears,but limited dry matter allocation to stems.After silking,LS cultivars showed higher TKW than LR cultivars as a function of high photoassimilate productivity and high assimilate allocation to the ear.The higher lodging resistance of LS1 was due mainly to the greater assimilate allocation to stem after silking and lower PH and ear height(EH).High-yielding and high-LR traits of Fumin(FM985)were related to optimized EH and stem anatomical structure,higher leaf productivity,low assimilate demand for kernel formation,and assimilate partitioning to ear.A high presilking temperature accelerated stem extension but reduced stem dry matter accumulation and basal stem strength.Post-silking temperature influences lodging resistance and yield more than other environmental factors.These results will be useful in understanding the tradeoffs between KN,KW,and LR in maize and environmental influences on these tradeoffs.