Differentiation of Barley Genotypes with High Phosphorus Efficiency under Low Phosphorus Stress

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate differences in phosphorus effi-ciency between two-rowed barley and multiple-rowed barley and differences in phos-phorus efficiency among various agronomic traits, and to explore the relationship be-tween agronomic traits and row type with phosphorus efficiency. [Method] Under available phosphorus mass fractions of 1.32 and 36.6 mg/kg, 172 barley varieties, including 79 two-rowed foreign barley, 22 multiple-rowed foreign barley, 58 two-rowed Chinese barley and 13 multiple-rowed Chinese barley, were selected to com-pare differences in phosphorus efficiency-related agronomic traits. Plant height, spike length, number of unfil ed grains, number of unfil ed grains, main panicle weight, to-tal panicle weight, total stem weight, weight of aerial part and heading stage were surveyed for statistical analysis. [Result] The results showed that, various agronomic traits were larger under fertilization condition than under non-fertilization condition ex-cept number of unfil ed grains and heading stage. Plant high, spike length, weight of aerial part and heading stage varied greatly under non-fertilization condition; number of fil ed grains, number of unfil ed grains and total stem weight varied greatly under fertilization condition. In two-rowed barley, plant height and number of fil ed grains of Chinese varieties were higher than those of foreign varieties, while other agronomic traits such as spike length, number of unfil ed grains, main panicle weight, total panicle weight, total stem weight, weight of aerial part and heading stage of foreign varieties were higher than those of Chinese varieties. Spike length and weight of aerial part in multiple-rowed and two-rowed foreign barley were higher than those in Chinese barley. In multiple-rowed barley, plant height, number of unfil ed grains, total panicle weight and total stem weight of foreign varieties were higher under non-fer-tilization condition and lower under fertilization condition compared with those of Chi-nese varieties; number of fil ed grains, main panicle weight and heading stage of foreign varieties were lower under non-fertilization condition and higher under fertil-ization condition compared with those of Chinese varieties. [Conclusion] Heading stage, number of fil ed grains, number of unfil ed grains and total stem weight are more sensitive to phosphorus efficiency. Multiple-rowed barley is more sensitive to phosphorus efficiency than two-rowed barley.

Analysis of Phosphorus Nutrition Efficiency of Soybean Genotypes with Different Phosphorus Efficiency at Blooming Stage under Low Phosphorus Stress

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the phosphorus nutrition effi- ciency of different soybean genotypes at blooming stage under low phosphorus stress. [Method] By using four ＂low phosphorus efficiency＂ soybean genotypes （D03, D05, D17 and D18） and four ＂high phosphorus efficiency＂ soybean genotypes （D31, D34, D37 and D38） as experimental materials, soil culture experiment was conduct- ed with two treatments of high phosphorus （＋P） and low phosphorus （-P）, to analyze the relationship between phosphorus content, phosphorus uptake, phosphorus use efficiency and phosphorus efficiency of soybean genotypes with different phos- phorus efficiency. [Result] Under low phosphorus conditions, four soybean genotypes with high phosphorus efficiency showed significant advantage in phosphorus uptake at seedling stage, to be specific, D34 showed relatively high phosphorus absorption capacity but no advantage in adaptability of phosphorus use efficiency, while only D37 showed relatively high phosphorus absorption capacity and phosphorus use ca- pacity. Correlation analysis and path analysis showed that the level of phosphorus efficiency of soybean at blooming stage under （-P） and （＋P） treatments was mainly determined by phosphorus absorption capacity, and that under （-P） treatment was significantly greater than （＋P） treatment. Phosphorus uptake and phosphorus use ef- ficiency under （-P） and （＋P） treatments both showed great direct effects on phos- phorus efficiency, and phosphorus uptake made greater contribution; however, the indirect effects were relatively low, Under low phosphorus stress, the mechanisms for various soybean genotypes with high phosphorus efficiency to adapt to low phospho- rus stress were different, and phosphorus absorption efficiency （phosphorus uptake） was the main variation source of the phosphorus efficiency of various soybean genotypes at blooming stage. [Conclusion] This study revealed the contribution made by phosphorus absorption efficiency and phosphorus use efficiency to phosphorus efficiency of soybean.

Seasonal variations of phytoplankton phosphorus stress in the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass

The Yellow Sea is located between the China Mainland and the Korean Peninsula, representing a typical shallow epicontinental sea. The Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass（YSCWM） is one of the most important physical features in the Yellow Sea. The characteristics of vertical profiles and seasonal variations of biogenic elements in the YSCWM may lead the variations of nutrient availability（e.g., phosphorus） and phosphorus stress of phytoplankton. In this study, the authors surveyed the seasonal variations of phytoplankton phosphorus stress with emphasis on the effect of the YSCWM during the four cruises in April and October 2006, March and August 2007. Using both bulk and single-cell alkaline phosphatase activity（APA） assays, this study evaluated phosphorus status of phytoplankton community, succession of phytoplankton community and ecophysiological responses of phytoplankton to phosphorus in the typical region of the YSCWM. With the occurrence of the YSCWM, especially the variations of concentration of dissolved inorganic phosphorus（DIP）, the results of bulk APA appeared corresponding seasonal variations. Along Transects A and B, the mean APA in August was the highest, and that in March was the lowest. According to the ELF-labeled assay＇s results, seasonal variations of the ELF-labeled percentages within dominant species indicated that diatoms were dominant in March, April and October, while dinoflagellates were dominant in August. During the four cruises, the ELF-labeled percentages of diatoms except Paralia sulcata showed that diatoms were not phosphorus deficient in April 2006 at all, but suffered from severe phosphorus stress in August 2007. In comparison, the ELF-labeled percentages of dinoflagellates were all above 50% during the four time series, which meant dinoflagellates such as Alexandrium and Scrippsiella, sustained perennial phosphorus stress.

Physiological responses of needles of Pinus massoniana elite families to phosphorus stress in acid soil

Pinus massoniana Lamb. is a major timber species widely planted in the South China, where the soil is acidic and deficient in phosphorus （P） due to fixation by aluminum and iron. Understanding the physiological responses to rhizospheric insoluble P is essential for enhancing plantation productivity. Thus, a sand culture experiment was conducted with four levels of P treatment （0, 5, 20 g insoluble P and 10 g soluble P）, and 11 P. massoniana elite families. Physiological responses were measured after two months of stress. Compared to the normal soluble P treatment, the insoluble P treatment significantly reduced the proline content and the APase activity in the needles, while it significantly increased the catalase activity by 1.3-fold and malondialdehyde content by 1.2-fold. Soluble protein content was unaffected by the treatments, but chlorophyll content was significantly lower in P-deprived treatment compared with soluble and insoluble P treatments. These physiological responses also exhibited highly significant variation among families （p 〈 0.01）. The findings suggest that increased catalase activities in the presence of insoluble P might be involved in the activation of an anti-oxidation defense mechanism that scavenges the reactive oxygen species elicited by the stress. And this response has a strong genetic control that can be exploited to identify desirable genotypes.

Differences in Phosphorus Absorption and Utilization Efficiency of Soybean in Mature Period under Phosphorus Stress

In this study, four phosphorus-inefficient soybean genotypes （1903, 1305, D17 and D18） and four phosphorus-efficient soybean genotypes （D31, D34, D37 and D38 ） were selected as experimental materials for soil culture experiment under high and low phosphorus treatments, to investigate the grain yield, phosphorus content, phosphorus uptake and the relationship between phosphorus utilization efficiency and phosphorus efficiency of soybean genotypes with different phos- phorus efficiency in mature period. According to the experimental results, under low phosphorus treatment, four phosphorus-efficient soybean genotypes exhibited significantly high phosphorus uptake in mature period, especially for D31 and D37; however, three phosphorus-efficient genotypes showed no advantages in adapta- bility of phosphorus utilization efficiency, while only I）31 exhibited high phosphorus utilization and absorption capacity. Correlation analysis and path analysis showed that phosphorus deficiency of soybean was mainly detemained by phosphorus absorption capacity, and phosphorus deficiency under （-P） treatment was sig- nificandy higher than （ ＋ P） treatment. Phosphorus uptake and phosphorus utilization efficiency posed great direct effects on phosphorus efficiency, and phosphorus uptake exhibited a greater contribution ; in addition, these two factors both posed small indirect effects. In mature period at reproductive growth stage, phosphorus absorption efficiency （phosphorus uptake） was the main variation source of phosphorus efficiency of various soybean genotypes in mature period. Therefore, strong phosphorus uptake and accumulation capacity of phosphorus-efficient soybean genotypes in mature period is an important nutrition foundation for the information of high grain yield.

Screening Index for Low Phosphorus Tolerance at Seedling Stage

[Objective] Simple and reliable identification criteria used in screening phosphorus efficiency of soybean at seedling stage was discussed.[Method] Using the high and low phosphorus soil pot experiment,the soybean seedling stage＇s 5 criteria including RPH,RAW,RRW,RAPC and RRPC were studied.[Result] Low phosphorus stress had the low effects on relative plant height,the coefficient of variation was only 9.07%,has not achieved the remarkable level with its its criteria＇s relevance;Low phosphorus stress had the higher effects on relatively above-ground dry weight and relative dry weight of root,relatively above-ground phosphorus concentration and relative root phosphorus concentration,its coefficient of variation was also big,in turn is 26.67%,22.68%,24.01% and 15.87%,The correlation coefficient among the indicators had significantly or extremely significantly positive correlation.[Conclusion] Relatively above-ground dry weight and relative dry weight of root,relatively above-ground phosphorus concentration can be used as an important indicator of comprehensive evaluation of screening phosphorus efficiency of soybean at seedling stage,while the relative root phosphorus concentration can be used as secondary screening index.

Difference in Absorption of N, P and K among Different-Phosphorus Efficiency Soybean Genotypes at the Seedling Stage

The low-phosphorus efficiency soybean genotypes, D03, D05, D17 and D18, and the high-phosphorus efficiency soybean genotypes, D31, D34, D37 and D38 were selected. The soil culture experiment was conducted. There were 2 treat- ments, high phosphorus （＋P） and low phosphorus （-P）. The difference in absorption of N, P and K among different-phosphorus efficiency soybean genotypes at the seedling stage was analyzed. The results showed in the low phosphorus （-P） treat- ment, the P absorption amount differed among roots, stems and leaves of different high-phosphorus efficiency genotypes. The P absorption amount was positively relat- ed （P〈0.05, P〈0.01） to the dry weights of root, stem and leaves, but was negative- ly related to the utilization efficiency of phosphorus （P〉0.05）. The N and K absorp- tion amounts of root, stem and leaves all trended to decrease. The low phosphorus stress would inhibit the absorption of N, P and K in soybean plants at the seedling stage. However, the adaptability of the high-phosphorus efficiency soybean geno- types to low phosphorus stress was significantly higher than that of low-phosphorus efficiency genotypes.

Comparative growth, dry matter accumulation and photosynthetic rate of seven species of Eucalypt in response to phosphorus supply

Plantations of eucalypts as short-rotation tree crops are rapidly expanding in tropical and sub-tropical regions, including southern China, where the soils are acidic and available phosphorus （P） is limited. We investigated seedling growth, dry matter accumulation, and the dynamics of photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll content of seven Eucalyptus spe- cies/hybrids （E. dunnii, E. grandis, E. grandis x E. camaldulensis, E. urophylla x E. camaldulensis, E. urophylla x E. tereticornis, E. grandis x E. tereticornis, E. urophylla x E. grandis） in response to different levels of P supply （0, 6, 12 and 18 mg-kg-l KH2PO4）. The photosynthetic rate and the chlorophyll content significantly declined as the P supply declined in almost a linear fashion for all species as the P stress period extended. In the absence of P supply, height growth of seedlings of all species was significantly impaired, while root collar diameter growth and whole plant dry matter accumulation was not affected by the level of P supply in most of the species. Significant inter-species variations in growth, dry matter accumulation and photosynthetic rate in response to P supply were detected. Eucalyptus dunnii had the lowest growth perform- ance across all levels of P supply while E. urophylla x E. tereticornis showed superior growth performance. From a practical point of view, E. urophylla x E. tereticornis is suggested as a candidate hybrid for planting on slightly P-deficient sites in southern China while E. dunnii, being a slow-growing species, is not suitable for short-rotation plantation. On plantation sites where severe P deficiency exists, P fertilization needs to be considered to boost rapid growth of seedlings so as to meet the man- agement objectives of short-rotation plantation.

Screening and identification of soybean varieties with high phosphorus efficiency at seedling stage

In order to simplify the workload and find a reliable method for screening soybeans with different phosphorus(P)efficiencies,47 soybean varieties were screened from 90 varieties according to yield under normal phosphorus,and 10 indicators including root phenotype,phosphorus utilization efficiency at the seedling stage and yield were measured.Through single-index cluster analysis,the performance value and relative value of the abovementioned indexes under low-phosphorus conditions were analyzed,and then,the combined indexes were analyzed by principal components method.The membership function method and the cluster analysis method was used to calculate and analyze the comprehensive score value.Three indexes of root P utilization efficiency(X_(1)),relative value of root P utilization efficiency(X_(2)),and root volume(X_(3))under low P at the seedling stage were selected as the most consistent with the yield screening results under low P condition,and the mathematical model of the comprehensive score value was obtained:D=1.218X_(1)t 0.320X_(2)t 0.007X_(3)-0.664(P=0.000,R^(2)=1.000).The comprehensive score can screen and identify the P efficiency of soybeans with fewer indexes in the early growth stages,which provides a more rapid and reliable mathematical model for screening and identifying a larger number of germplasm resources for P efficiency.