Effects of Fertility and Density on Biomass Production,Translocation and Lodging Resistance of Millet(Setaria italica L.)in North China

In this study, the plant biomass production, biomass translocation rates across tissues and the lodging resistant-associated traits of millet （ Setaria italica L.） in North China were investigated. Among the four summer millet cultivars, Baogu 19 exhibited improved plant biomass （PB） production at flowering and maturity stages, biomass translocation amount （BTA） from vegetative tissues to seeds during filling period, and lodging resistant-associated （LRA） traits compared with other cultivars, including enhanced stem lignin contents, increased anti-broken resistance （ABR）, anti-puncturing resistance （APR）, and stem diameter （SD） of plants. Compared with treatment regular cultivation （RC）, high fertility treatment （HF） increased the plant BP, BTA from vegetative tissue to seed at filling stage, and the plant LRA traits; whereas high density treatment （HD） decreased the plant BP at plant level, plant BTA from vegetative tissues to seeds at filling stage, and the plant LRA traits. Correlation analysis revealed that stem ABR is significantly correlated with the plant lodging resistant-associated traits including APR and SD in the summer millet cultivars examined under various cultivation treatments. Our investigation indicates that cultivar Baogu 19 together with suitable fertilization and density can promote the plant biomass production, enhance vegetative tissue biomass translocation to seeds, and improve the lodging resistance of summer millet plants in North China.

^14CO2 Fixation and Translocation of Photoassimilates as Selection Criteria of Egyptian Taro Genotypes

The growth characterlstlcs, different physlological parameters, photosynthetic activity （^14CO2 fixation）, and the translocatlon rate of photoassimllates In different taro （Colocasia esculenta L. Schott） genotypes was studled In order to determlne the posslble use of these parameters as selectlon crlterla for dlfferent wldely used genotypes of taro （Delta No. 9, 15, 20, 21, and balady）. The results obtalned suggest that Delta No. 21 shows the most slgnlflcant increase In all parameters tested compared wlth the control （balady）, followed by Delta No. 9, 15, and 20, respectively. The results show a positive correlation between photosynthetlc actlvlty, translocatlon efflclency, and total yield. The selected clone Delta No. 21 Is recommended for cultlvatlon In the delta reglon of Egypt.