Assessment on Phosphorus Efficiency Characteristics of Soybean Genotypes in Phosphorus-Deficient Soils

A glasshouse study compared the growth and phosphorus （P） efficiency of 96 genotypes of soybean [Glycine max （L.） Merrill] in a P-deficient soil. The soybean genotypes differed greatly in growth, nodulation and P uptake after growing in the soil for 45 days, with shoot biomass ranging from 0.91 to 1.75 g per plant. The application of P improved biomass production, nodulation and P uptake and decreased root to shoot ratio, root length and surface area and P utilization efficiency. The 96 soybean genotypes were divided into 3 categories in P efficiency using the principal component analysis and cluster analysis, and 4 categories according to F values in combination with growth potentials. The Pefficient genotypes were associated with high biomass production, root to shoot ratio, root length and surface area and P uptake but low shoot to root P concentration ratio under P deficiency. The results indicate that there is a substantial genotypic variation in P efficiency in existing germplasm, and that P efficiency was correlated positively with dry weights of shoots and roots, ratio of root to shoot dry weight, root length and surface area, root P content and total P uptake. The shoot dry weight under P deficiency and relative shoot dry weight （deficient P/adequate P supply） are effective and simple indicators for screening P-efficient genotypes at the seedling stage.

Oxidative Stressand Antioxidant Responses in Young Leaves of Mulberry Plants Grown Under Nitrogen, Phosphorus or Potassium Deficiency

The aim of this study was to associate the generation of reactive oxygen species （ROS） with Induced antloxidant responses and disturbed cellular redox environment in the nitrogen-（N）, phosphorus-（P）, or potassium-（K） deftcient mulberry （Morus alba L. var. Kanva-2） plants. The indicators of oxidative stress and cellular redox environment and antioxldant defense-related parameters were analyzed. Oeficlency of N, P or K suppressed growth, accelerated senescence, and decreased concentrations of chloroplastic pigments and glutathione. Lipid peroxidation and activities of superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase were also increased in these N, P, or K deprived plants. Concentration of hydrogen peroxide Increased in plants deficient in N or P. Oeficlency of N or P particularly altered the cellular redox environment as indicated by changes in the redox couples, namely ascorbic acid/total ascorbate decreased in P-, glutathione sulfydryl/total glutathione decreased in N-, and Increased in P-deficient plants. Activity staining of native gels for superoxide dismutase revealed Increased activity as Indicated by Increased intensity of bands, and induction of few new isoforms in P- and K-deficient plants. Oifferences in the patterns of superoxide dismutase isoforms and redox status （ascorbic acid/total ascorbate and glutathlone sulfydryl/total glutathione） Indicate that N-, P-, or K-deficiency altered antioxidant responses to varying extents in mulberry plants.