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Efficient and affordable plant phenotyping methods are an essential response to global climatic pressures. This study demonstrates the continued potential of consumer-grade photography to capture plant phenotypic traits in turfgrass and derive new calculations. Yet the effects of image corrections on individual calculations are often unreported. Turfgrass lysimeters were photographed over 8 weeks using a custom lightbox and consumer-grade camera. Subsequent imagery was analyzed for area of cover, color metrics, and sensitivity to image corrections. Findings were compared to active spectral reflectance data and previously reported measurements of visual quality, productivity, and water use. Results confirm that Red–Green–Blue imagery effectively measures plant treatment effects. Notable correlations were observed for corrected imagery, including between yellow fractional area with human visual quality ratings (r = −0.89), dark green color index with clipping productivity (r = 0.61), and an index combination term with water use (r = −0.60). The calculation of green fractional area correlated with Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (r = 0.91), and its RED reflectance spectra (r = −0.87). A new chromatic ratio correlated with Normalized Difference Red-Edge index (r = 0.90) and its Red-Edge reflectance spectra (r = −0.74), while a new calculation correlated strongest to Near-Infrared (r = 0.90). Additionally, the combined index term significantly differentiated between the treatment effects of date, mowing height, deficit irrigation, and their interactions (p < 0.001). Sensitivity and statistical analyses of typical image file formats and corrections that included JPEG, TIFF, geometric lens distortion correction, and color correction were conducted. Findings highlight the need for more standardization in image corrections and to determine the biological relevance of the new image data calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient and affordable plant phenotyping methods are an essential response to global climatic pressures. This study demonstrates the continued potential of consumer-grade photography to capture plant phenotypic traits in turfgrass and derive new calculations. Yet the effects of image corrections on individual calculations are often unreported. Turfgrass lysimeters were photographed over 8 weeks using a custom lightbox and consumer-grade camera. Subsequent imagery was analyzed for area of cover, color metrics, and sensitivity to image corrections. Findings were compared to active spectral reflectance data and previously reported measurements of visual quality, productivity, and water use. Results confirm that Red–Green–Blue imagery effectively measures plant treatment effects. Notable correlations were observed for corrected imagery, including between yellow fractional area with human visual quality ratings (r = −0.89), dark green color index with clipping productivity (r = 0.61), and an index combination term with water use (r = −0.60). The calculation of green fractional area correlated with Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (r = 0.91), and its RED reflectance spectra (r = −0.87). A new chromatic ratio correlated with Normalized Difference Red-Edge index (r = 0.90) and its Red-Edge reflectance spectra (r = −0.74), while a new calculation correlated strongest to Near-Infrared (r = 0.90). Additionally, the combined index term significantly differentiated between the treatment effects of date, mowing height, deficit irrigation, and their interactions (p < 0.001). Sensitivity and statistical analyses of typical image file formats and corrections that included JPEG, TIFF, geometric lens distortion correction, and color correction were conducted. Findings highlight the need for more standardization in image corrections and to determine the biological relevance of the new image data calculations.

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) is the most cultivated cool-season grass worldwide with crucial roles in carbon fixation, turfgrass applications, and fodder for livestock. Lolium perenne forms a mutualism with the strictly vertically transmitted fungal endophyte, Epichloë festucae var lolii. The fungus produces alkaloids that protect the grass from herbivory, as well as conferring protection from drought and nutrient stress. The rising concentration of atmospheric CO2, a proximate cause of climatic change, is known to have many direct and indirect effects on plant growth. There is keen interest in how the nature of this plant--fungal interaction will change with climate change. Lolium perenne is an obligately outcrossing species, meaning that the genetic profile of the host is constantly being reshuffled. Meanwhile, the fungus is asexual implying both a relatively constant genetic profile and the potential for incompatible grass--fungus pairings. In this study, we used a single cultivar, "Alto", of L. perenne. Each plant was infected with one of four strains of the endophyte: AR1, AR37, NEA2, and Lp19 (the "common strain"). We outcrossed the Alto mothers with pollen from a number of individuals from different ryegrass cultivars to create more genetic diversity in the hosts. We collected seed such that we had replicate maternal half-sib families. Seed from each family was randomly allocated into the two levels of the CO2 treatment, 400 and 800 ppm. Elevated CO2 resulted in an c. 18% increase in plant biomass. AR37 produced higher fungal concentrations than other strains; NEA2 produced the lowest fungal concentrations. We did not find evidence of genetic incompatibility between the host plants and the fungal strains. We conducted untargeted metabolomics and quantitative proteomics to investigate the grass-fungus interactions between and within family and treatment groups. We identified a number of changes in both the proteome and metabalome. Taken together, our data set provides new understanding into the intricacy of the interaction between endophyte and host from multiple molecular levels and suggests opportunity to promote plant robustness and survivability in rising CO2 environmental conditions through application of bioprotective epichloid strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract Seagrass meadows are complex social-ecological systems. Understanding seagrass meadows demands a fresh approach integrating “the human dimension”. Citizen science is widely acknowledged for providing significant contributions to science, education, society and policy. Although the take up of citizen science in the marine environment has been slow, the need for such methods to fill vast information gaps is arguably great. Seagrass meadows are easy to access and provide an example of where citizen science is expanding. Technological developments have been pivotal to this, providing new opportunities for citizens to engage with seagrass. The increasing use of online tools has created opportunities to collect and submit as well as help process and analyse data. Citizen science has helped researchers integrate scientific and local knowledge and engage communities to implement conservation measures. Here we use a selection of examples to demonstrate how citizen science can secure a future for seagrass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This conference report describes the programme of the 12th International Seagrass Biology Workshop, its highlights, areas of growth for the workshop, and potential future directions for the workshop series. The report is written with an eye toward where it fits within the field of seagrass research. Highlights • The size and profile of the International Seagrass Biology Workshop is increasing. • The rising profile of the workshop is in line with increase in attention for seagrass in the scientific community and media. • The next iteration of the workshop should consider more social science content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seagrass has not yet received the necessary attention in Indian research and policies, a major reason for its decline in Indian coastal waters. A conference held in New Delhi, India, in July 2016, aimed to address this lacunae by bringing together renowned national and international seagrass experts. The conference dealt with the status, ecosystem services, and conservation and management options for seagrass. This paper integrates the discussions and recommendations from the conference. Recommendations included, among many others, suggestion for a National Action Plan with an ecosystem approach for seagrass conservation and management in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modified nano-carbon adsorbents have been employed in the immobilization of heavy metals in soil due to their good adsorption capabilities regarding metal ions. However, an assessment of their risks has not been extensively performed with soil organisms. To assess the toxic effects of three types of modified nano-carbon black (CB) on soil organisms, a laboratory test was conducted to expose the earthworm Eisenia fetida to artificial soil supplemented with 5% H 2 SO 4 -, HNO 3 - and KMnO 4 -modified nano-CB (SCB, NCB and KCB, respectively) under turfgrass growing conditions. The tested earthworms were systematically investigated for survival, biomass and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT). SCB and NCB were found to be more toxic and ecologically dangerous to E. fetida because significant decreases in biomass and survival were observed after 35- and 60-d exposures and the survival rate showed a tendency to decrease with exposure duration. The activities of SOD, CAT and POD were inhibited in all treatments with modified nano-CBs at 35- and 60-d, which indicated that oxidative stress was induced by modified nano-CBs. The results suggest that there is potential harm to earthworms in soil with 5% modified nano-CB and that it deserves special attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grasses began to diversify in the late Cretaceous Period and now dominate more than one third of global land area, including three-quarters of agricultural land. We hypothesize that their success is likely attributed to the evolution of highly responsive stomata capable of maximizing productivity in rapidly changing environments. Grass stomata harness the active turgor control mechanisms present in stomata of more ancient plant lineages, maximizing several morphological and developmental features to ensure rapid responses to environmental inputs. The evolutionary development of grass stomata appears to have been a gradual progression. Therefore, understanding the complex structures, developmental events, regulatory networks, and combinations of ion transporters necessary to drive rapid stomatal movement may inform future efforts towards breeding new crop varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While many studies have addressed the effect of individual stresses on plant-plant associations, few have addressed the effects of co-occurring stresses. We therefore investigated how associations between Wyoming big sagebrush ( Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis) and 2 native grasses ( Poa secunda and Elymus elymoides) responded to different combinations of grazing and moisture stresses in the Great Basin, USA. Positive (i.e., facilitative) interactions between nurse plants and their beneficiaries are predicted to increase with increasing moisture limitation and grazing stress, but these interactions may break down at extreme levels of stress. We hypothesized that (1) competitive interactions and negative shrub-grass spatial associations would occur under the least stressful conditions (low grazing intensity / high precipitation); (2) positive shrub-grass spatial associations would dominate at intermediate levels of stress (high grazing intensity / high precipitation and low grazing intensity / low precipitation); and (3) negative grass-shrub relationships would dominate at extreme levels of stress (high grazing / low precipitation). We sampled 5 site pairs (high vs. low grazing intensity) that occurred over a precipitation gradient. We assessed how abundance of the 2 grasses P. secunda and E. elymoides responded to sagebrush microsite (canopy vs. interspace), grazing intensity, and precipitation. We found that both grass species were positively associated with A. tridentata canopy microsites at low annual precipitation levels. However, grazing stress appeared to weaken this effect for P. secunda, indicating, as we predicted, a potential breakdown of facilitative interactions in highly stressful conditions. Although we predicted that facilitation would dominate in moderately stressful conditions, we only found this to be true (for both grasses) in one of the 2 moderately stressful scenarios (low grazing / low precipitation). Our results provide insights into how Great Basin plant communities may respond to the separate and combined effects of grazing and drought stresses, both of which may intensify in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Malesia there are 4 species of Dimeria (Gramineae). A brief history of the genus with a key, nomenclature, descriptions, and notes is provided. Dimeria ciliata, D. dipteros, and D. fuscescens are reduced to D. chloridiformis, D. leptorhachis and its var. velutina to D. gracilis, D. monostachya to D. kurzii. Dimeria ornithopoda var. gracillima is not recognised. Cymbachne is doubtfully referred to Ischaemum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scientific correspondence of the Argentine botanist Lorenzo Raimundo Parodi (1895-1966) includes 5280 letters interchanged between 1916 and 1966 with 1257 correspondents from 50 countries. Parodi's correspondence is comparatively rich in copies of his own letters, and therefore it offers both an insight into his personal views and a record of the ways in which he communicated with an extensive network of relationships. The article first describes the structure and formation dynamics of the documentary corpus, then analyzes in detail the thirty epistolary exchanges in which Parodi´s participation (as measured by the number of his own letters) was maximal. Also, a full index of the correspondence is added as an electronic supplement. In spite of Parodi's various academic interests and of the considerable diversity of his partners, the correspondence unequivocally reflects that research on grasses was the axis that organized Parodi's scientific life. The central position he occupied in Argentina's botany during the first two thirds of the past century, along with his international reputation as agrostologist, makes his correspondence a repository of manuscripts by virtually every significant member of these two corporations that were active during Parodi´s life. This article makes a contribution to the scarce bibliography on epistolary exchanges of Argentine scientists, and is apparently the first edited correspondence of an Argentine botanist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides spatial estimates of potentially available biomass for bioenergy in Australia in 2010, 2030 and 2050 (under clearly stated assumptions) for the following biomass sources: crop stubble, native grasses, pulpwood and residues (created either during forest harvesting or wood processing) from plantations and native forests, bagasse, organic municipal solid waste and new short-rotation tree crops. For each biomass type, we estimated annual potential availability at the finest scale possible with readily accessible data, and then aggregated to make estimates for each of 60 Statistical Divisions (administrative areas) across Australia. The potentially available lignocellulosic biomass is estimated at approximately 80 Mt per year, with the major contributors of crop stubble (27.7 Mt per year), grasses (19.7 Mt per year) and forest plantations (10.9 Mt per year). Over the next 20-40 years, total potentially available biomass could increase to 100-115 Mt per year, with new plantings of short-rotation trees being the major source of the increase (14.7 Mt per year by 2030 and 29.3 Mt per year by 2050). We exclude oilseeds, algae and 'regrowth', that is woody vegetation naturally regenerating on previously cleared land, which may be important in several regions of Australia ( Australian Forestry 77, 2014, 1; Global Change Biology Bioenergy 7, 2015, 497). We briefly discuss some of the challenges to providing a reliable and sustainable supply of the large amounts of biomass required to build a bioenergy industry of significant scale. More detailed regional analyses, including of the costs of delivered biomass, logistics and economics of harvest, transport and storage, competing markets for biomass and a full assessment of the sustainability of production are needed to underpin investment in specific conversion facilities (e.g. Opportunities for forest bioenergy: An assessment of the environmental and economic opportunities and constraints associated with bioenergy production from biomass resources in two prospective regions of Australia, 2011a). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise of the study: There is a need for microsatellite primers to analyze genetic parameters of Fargesia denudata (Poaceae), the staple-food bamboo of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). Methods and Results: Using next-generation sequencing technology, we obtained a 75-Mb assembled sequence of F. denudata and identiied 182 microsatellites. Primer pairs for 70 candidate microsatellite markers were selected and validated in four indi- viduals, and 42 primer pairs generated reliable amplicons. Fourteen of 16 tested markers were found to be polymorphic in 72 individuals from four F. denudata populations. The number of alleles ranged from two to 19 per locus; the observed and ex- pected heterozygosities ranged from 0 to 1 and from 0 to 0.87, respectively. The transferability of these 16 novel microsatellite markers was validated in ive related species. Conclusions: These markers will be useful for examining the genetic diversity, genetic structure, and cloning of F. denudata, the staple-food bamboo of the giant panda, and related bamboo species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the lemma micromorphology of 17, primarily Siberian, species of Stipa using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All the species had variants of the micromorphology considered typical for Stipa but each had a unique combination of characteristics, enabling its identification solely on the basis of its lemma micromorphology. Phenetic analysis revealed little correlation between the observed variation and the current sectional treatment of the species. The data support exclusion of Stipa borysthenica from Stipa pennata. A key to the species is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to scarce nutritional data, this study assessed the productivity and nutritional value of Echinolaena inflexa (EI) grass, native to the Cerrado biome. It was compared to B. brizantha (BB), one of the most cultivated grasses in Brazil, during a whole year (rainy; RS and dry season; DS). Sampling was held in accordance with pasture management (entry / exit height; 50 / 5cm and 80 / 25cm for EI and BB, respectively). Dry matter production (DMP), crude protein (CP), neutral and acid detergent fiber (NDF; ADF), hemicellulose (HCEL), PB insoluble neutral and acid detergent (PIDN; PIDA), total and non-fibrous carbohydrates (TC; NFC), ether extract (EE), and mineral matter (MM), and in vitro fermentation kinetics and DM degradability (DMD) were evaluated. A completely randomized design (season as a fixed term) and average treatment compared by Tukey post test were applied. EI produced 38.5% of the DMP of BB. A higher CP (75.3; 73.5 in the RS and DS), PIDA (12.5; 8.7), PIDN (47.1; 40.1), NDF (714.4; 749.5) and ADF (396.0; 419.0) were obtained by EI in relation to BB (CP (60.3; 33.5), PIDA (6.0; 3.5), PIDN (21.4; 10.8), NDF (673.0; 675.1) and ADF (335.5; 351.4) during the RS and DS, respectively (g kg-1 DM). In vitro data were directly associated with chemical composition, resulting in lower DMD of EI compared to BB. EI showed productive similarity (DMP) during RS and DS (939.3; 809.8kg DM respectively). Although EI showed greater nutritional stability (CP) between seasons, 17% of CP was linked to ADF and therefore, not available for rumen microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Northern peatlands have accumulated one third of the Earth's soil carbon stock since the last Ice Age. Rapid warming across northern biomes threatens to accelerate rates of peatland ecosystem respiration. Despite compensatory increases in net primary production, greater ecosystem respiration could signal the release of ancient, century- to millennia-old carbon from the peatland organic matter stock. Warming has already been shown to promote ancient peatland carbon release, but, despite the key role of vegetation in carbon dynamics, little is known about how plants influence the source of peatland ecosystem respiration. Here, we address this issue using in situ 14C measurements of ecosystem respiration on an established peatland warming and vegetation manipulation experiment. Results show that warming of approximately 1 °C promotes respiration of ancient peatland carbon (up to 2100 years old) when dwarf-shrubs or graminoids are present, an effect not observed when only bryophytes are present. We demonstrate that warming likely promotes ancient peatland carbon release via its control over organic inputs from vascular plants. Our findings suggest that dwarf-shrubs and graminoids prime microbial decomposition of previously 'locked-up' organic matter from potentially deep in the peat profile, facilitating liberation of ancient carbon as CO2. Furthermore, such plant-induced peat respiration could contribute up to 40% of ecosystem CO2 emissions. If consistent across other subarctic and arctic ecosystems, this represents a considerable fraction of ecosystem respiration that is currently not acknowledged by global carbon cycle models. Ultimately, greater contribution of ancient carbon to ecosystem respiration may signal the loss of a previously stable peatland carbon pool, creating potential feedbacks to future climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding phenotypic plasticity and patterns of biomass allocation of turfgrass under shade is needed for better turfgrass management and the development of cultivars that persist under shade. The objectives of this study were to (i) compare turf performance and determine the relationship between the phenotypic plasticity in growth, biomass allocation and turfgrass quality (TQ) under different light intensities under greenhouse condition; and (ii) assess the turf establishment and performance in response to moderate shade under field conditions in zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.). A greenhouse experiment evaluated 11 cultivars under four shade levels. Plasticity in leaf extension rate (LER) had a positive relationship with the plasticity in clipping dry weight (CDW, R² = 0.31), total dry weight (TDW, R² = 0.16), and TQ (R² = 0.32), indicating less decline in TQ was associated with more biomass allocated to shoot growth and/or more biomass storage during the study period. Under 90% shade, cultivars JaMur (plasticity in TQ = -0.12), Empire (-0.13), El Toro (-0.16), Palisades (-0.17), and BA-305 (-0.21) were identified as the top performers with less decline in TQ and higher turf performance index (TPI). Cultivar Emerald demonstrated a low reduction in TDW and no plasticity in LER, indicating a different shade response mechanism compared to BA-305. A separate field experiment evaluated eight cultivars under full sun and 63% shade. The moderate shade resulted in limited variation and results on cultivar difference in shade tolerance were inconclusive. Nonetheless, cultivars BA-189, Shadow Turf, and Empire had faster establishment than Emerald. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photorespiratory glycine shuttling and decarboxylation in bundle sheath (BS) cells exhibited by C2 species is proposed to be the evolutionary bridge to C4 photosynthesis in eudicots. To evaluate this in grasses, we compare anatomy, cellular localization of glycine decarboxylase (GDC), and photosynthetic physiology of a suspected C2 grass, Homolepis aturensis, with these traits in known C2 grasses, Neurachne minor and Steinchisma hians, and C3 S. laxum that is sister to S. hians. We also use publicly available genome and RNA-sequencing data to examine the evolution of GDC subunits and enhance our understanding of the evolution of BS-specific GDC expression in C2 and C4 grasses. Our results confirm the identity of H. aturensis as a C2 species; GDC is confined predominantly to the organelle-enriched BS cells in H. aturensis and S. hians and to mestome sheath cells of N. minor. Phylogenetic analyses and data obtained from immunodetection of the P-subunit of GDC are consistent with the hypothesis that the BS dominant levels of GDC in C2 and C4 species are due to changes in expression of a single GLDP gene in M and BS cells. All BS mitochondria and peroxisomes and most chloroplasts in H. aturensis and S. hians are situated centripetally in a pattern identical to C2 eudicots. In S. laxum, which has C3-like gas exchange patterns, mitochondria and peroxisomes are positioned centripetally as they are in S. hians. This subcellular phenotype, also present in eudicots, is posited to initiate a facilitation cascade leading to C2 and C4 photosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Puccinia striiformis causes stripe rust on cereal crops and many grass species. However, it is not clear whether the stripe rust populations on grasses are able to infect cereal crops and how closely they are related to each other. In this study, 103 isolates collected from wheat, barley, triticale, rye, and grasses in the United States were characterized by virulence tests and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Of 69 pathotypes identified, 41 were virulent on some differentials of wheat only, 10 were virulent on some differentials of barley only, and 18 were virulent on some differentials of both wheat and barley. These pathotypes were clustered into three groups: group one containing isolates from wheat, triticale, rye, and grasses; group two isolates were from barley and grasses; and group three isolates were from grasses and wheat. SSR markers identified 44 multilocus genotypes (MLGs) and clustered them into three major molecular groups (MG) with MLGs in MG3 further classified into three subgroups. Isolates from cereal crops were present in one or more of the major or subgroups, but not all, whereas grass isolates were present in all of the major and subgroups. The results indicate that grasses harbor more diverse isolates of P. striiformis than the cereals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides information on Microstegium vimineum A. Camus. Topics discussed include its identity, geographical distribution, history of its introduction and spread, its description, its habitats, natural enemies, uses and benefits, pathways for movement, its effects on plants, its environmental and social impact and its control.

This research investigated the effect of shade from Melia azedarach L. on the physiology, production, and forage quality of Megathyrsus maximus cv. Tanzania and cv. Mombaza, and the Urochloa hybrids Oaxaca and Yacaré. Evaluations were made during the rainy (August 2013) and windy (February 2014) seasons under sun and shade. Mombaza and Tanzania produced more forage biomass (4683 ± 4529 and 4279 ± 4745 kg DM ha harvest; P < 0.05) than hybrids, and there was more biomass during the rainy (8236 ± 4257 kg DM ha harvest; P < 0.0001) than the windy season, although biomass declined by 44 % ( P < 0.05) under shade. Leaf crude protein was similar among grasses ( P = 0.516), although Mombaza and Tanzania had higher neutral detergent (49.2 and 50.2 %, respectively; P < 0.05) and acid detergent fiber fractions (34.4 and 34.1 %, respectively; P < 0.05), making them less digestible (61.7 and 61.6 %, respectively; P < 0.05) than the hybrids. Overall, nutritional quality increased during the windy season ( P < 0.05) and under shade ( P < 0.05). Assimilation of CO was greater during the rainy season ( P < 0.0001) and under sun (19.1 ± 8.2 vs. 8.6 ± 4.4 µmol m s; P < 0.05). The most favorable conditions for biomass production occurred during the rainy season, although nutritional quality was better during the windy season. Shade affects photosynthetic rate and production, and promotes the nutritional quality of all grasses. Oaxaca and Yacaré appear to be more adapted to shade by responding with greater production stability and better forage nutritive quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brachiariagrass is an important tropical forage grass cultivated around the world. Despite its global importance, the development of brachiariagrass breeding programs was delayed by the complications of recombining aposporous apomictic genotypes until the late 1980s. 'Mulato' is the first apomictic hybrid cultivar of brachiariagrass with the development of synthetic sexual tetraploid lines. An amplified fragment-length polymorphism ( AFLP) linkage map of the apomictic pollen donor 'Mulato' was developed to identify molecular markers for apospory. The map contained 29 linkage groups with 272 markers. Twelve tightly clustered AFLP markers related to apospory were identified in linkage group 2. Furthermore, we identified quantitative trait loci ( QTLs) for leaf width, leaf shape ratio (width/length), stem diameter and percentage of filled seeds using simple interval mapping and composite interval mapping. The AFLP markers tightly linked to apospory and QTLs associated with important agronomical traits will be valuable tools for marker-assisted selection in brachiariagrass improvement programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An existing varying coefficient calibration method for estimating herbage mass from rising plate meter reading was validated using datasets for different years and pastures, and the variation among these in the coefficients of the model was structurally assessed using a linear mixed effects model to develop a versatile calibration equation. The calibration's advantage was confirmed by the lower Akaike's information criterion values in the two current pooled models than those in the model that assumes fixed coefficients throughout the year. While sites affect the degree of gradual change after the reproductive stage in the slope coefficient, years affect the degree of steep change before the reproductive stage in the intercept coefficient. Further, the shift in the levels of both coefficients was detected by site and year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Festulolium is a hybrid between Festuca and Lolium species that has valuable agronomic traits from both grass species. The purpose of our breeding program is to produce hexaploid festulolium that introduces tolerance to summer depression into Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) by crossing it with tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea). However, we found the DNA ploidy of hexaploids was not stable and was reduced in successive generations. We aimed to find out how to obtain stable high-ploidy festulolium. F1 hybrids of L. multiflorum and F. arundinacea were produced. The F3 generation was produced from putative hexaploid F2 individuals by open pollination. The F4 to F6 generations were obtained by polycrossing. The DNA ploidy levels of F2 to F6 individuals were estimated by flow cytometry. Cytological characteristics of the F5 and F6 individuals were investigated by FISH and GISH. The DNA ploidy level of hexaploid festulolium was reduced and stabilized at almost the same level as a tetraploid. Seed fertility was inversely correlated with an increase in ploidy level. GISH revealed no preferential Lolium transmission. FISH with a telomere probe revealed that counting the exact number of chromosomes in festulolium was difficult. DNA ploidy level was strongly correlated with the number of chromosomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To describe ultrasonographic findings and outcomes for dogs with suspected migrating intrathoracic grass awns. DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS 43 client-owned dogs. PROCEDURES Records for dogs with suspected migrating intrathoracic grass awns examined between 2010 and 2013 were reviewed. Ultrasonographic images and additional information such as signalment and pleural fluid analysis, radiographic, bronchoscopic, and CT findings were collected. Surgical treatments and outcomes were also reviewed. RESULTS Transthoracic or transesophageal ultrasonography revealed grass awns in the pleural space (n = 13) or pulmonary parenchyma (10) of 23 dogs. Surgical removal of grass awns was successful on the first attempt in 21 of these 23 dogs (including I 1/23 that had intraoperative ultrasonography performed to aid localization and removal of the awn). In the remaining 2 dogs, a second surgery was required. Twenty dogs with evidence of migrating intrathoracic grass awns had no foreign body identified on initial ultrasonographic evaluation and were treated medically; 16 developed draining fistulas, and awns identified ultrasonographically at follow-up visits were subsequently removed from the sublumbar region (n = 10) or thoracic wall (6).The remaining 4 dogs had no grass awn visualized. Clinical signs resolved in all dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Transthoracic, transesophageal, and intraoperative ultrasonography were useful for localization and removal of migrating intrathoracic grass awns. Ultrasonography may be considered a valuable and readily available diagnostic tool for monitoring dogs with suspected migrating intrathoracic grass awns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on a research work on the flora of Mills County, located in the Lampasas cut plain ecoregion of Texas. Topics discussed include field work conducted by the researchers in the region; use of standard herbarium procedures for the identification of the plants; and extended range of research done in plants including Euphorbiaceae, Poaceae, and Scrophulariaceae.

Understanding what constrains the persistence of species in communities is at the heart of community assembly theory and its application to conserving and enhancing biodiversity. The 'environmental heterogeneity hypothesis' predicts greater species coexistence in habitats with greater resource variability. In the context of community assembly, environmental heterogeneity may influence the variety and strength of abiotic conditions and competitive interactions (environmental filters) to affect the relative abundance of species and biodiversity. We manipulated key resources that influence plant diversity in tallgrass prairie (i.e., soil depth and nitrogen availability) to increase environmental heterogeneity prior to sowing native prairie species into a former agricultural field. We compared variability in nutrient availability, aboveground annual net primary productivity ( ANPP), and the composition of species between replicate plots containing soil heterogeneity manipulations and plots with no resource manipulations ( n = 4 per treatment) during the first 15 yr of community assembly as a test of the 'environmental heterogeneity hypothesis.' The manipulations increased environmental heterogeneity, measured as the coefficient of variation in NO3-N availability and ANPP. Plant diversity, however, was similar and decayed exponentially and indiscriminately over time between the heterogeneity treatments. Species richness declined linearly over time in both heterogeneity treatments, but richness was higher in the more heterogeneous soil 2 yr following a second propagule addition 8 yr after the initial sowing. As a result, there was a lower rate of species loss over time in the more heterogeneous soil (0.60 species yr−1) relative to the control soil (0.96 species yr−1). Communities in each treatment exhibited strong convergence over time resulting from a shift in dominant species across all treatments and a gradual increase in the clonal C4 grass, Andropogon gerardii. We attribute the weak effect of heterogeneity on diversity to increasing dominance of a clonal species, which decreased the scale of soil treatments relative to plant size, dispersal limitation, and absence of a key driver (grazing) known to increase plant diversity under a frequent fire regime. Thus, steering community assembly to attain high biodiversity may depend more on manipulating processes that reduce dominance and facilitate the arrival of new species than promoting environmental heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many species assemblages represent a nonrandom subset of a larger species pool. When an assemblage tends to contain close evolutionary relatives or species with similar functional traits, it can be described as phylogenetically or functionally clustered. Clustering is often interpreted as evidence for filtering by some combination of environmental and biotic factors. At sufficiently large spatial extents, however, biogeographic barriers can also lead to strong clustering. Here, we suggest that the breakdown of biogeographic barriers associated with human introductions of exotic species can be used as an unintentional experiment to assess their importance in driving phylogenetic and functional structure. An important role of biogeographic barriers would be revealed by a breakdown in clustering, particularly phylogenetic clustering, following species introductions. On the other hand, a role of filtering can be supported by similar patterns of clustering in the native and exotic assemblages along environmental gradients. We test these predictions using the grasses of California, a diverse group including many introduced species. Native grass assemblages in the state are highly clustered with respect to the global grass species pool, both phylogenetically and functionally. Within the state, variation in the strength of clustering is well explained by climatic variables, suggesting an important role for environmental-biotic filtering. Further, subregions within the state with highly clustered native assemblages also contain highly clustered exotic assemblages. Contrary to expectation, though, the introduction of exotic species led to even more strongly clustered assemblages. We conclude that biogeographic barriers have generally not excluded the major grass lineages (e.g., tribes) from the state and likely act only on finer taxonomic scales (for example, excluding particular genera). Our approach should prove broadly applicable and contribute to improved understanding of broad-scale patterns of assemblage structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sucrose content is one of the most important traits considered in sugarcane breeding. Since sugarcane cultivars possess >100 chromosomes (2 n = 100-130) and are genetically complex polyploid and aneuploids, identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with sucrose content is considered the best option to improve sucrose content through molecular breeding. A preliminary genetic linkage map of Louisiana sugarcane cultivar 'LCP 85-384' from a previous study was enriched using 65 additional polymorphism simple-sequence-repeats (SSR) primer-pairs to identify more co-segregated and homologous groups (CGs and HGs) and QTLs controlling sucrose content. Eighty-four SSR primer-pairs produced 456 markers, of which 441 were polymorphic. Both simplex (993) and duplex (225) amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and target region amplification polymorphism (TRAP) markers reported previously were also included to construct the LCP 85-384 map. These simplex and duplex markers were assigned to 108 CGs successfully using JoinMap. This map had a cumulative genome length of 7406.3 cM that included 675 AFLP (69.8 %), 90 TRAP (9.3 %), and 202 SSR (20.9 %) markers. The 202 SSR markers were assigned to 65 CGs and 8 HGs. Based on this map, 24 putative QTLs affecting sucrose content were identified. Five QTLs were unlinked and the other 19 QTLs were located on nine CGs within four HGs. Of these QTLs, 11 had an effect in both plant-cane (20.33 %) and first-stubble (25.68 %) crops. A higher efficiency of QTLs' identification with AFLP, TRAP and SSR markers in such a genetically complex crop, proposes its wider utility in molecular breeding in sugarcane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urochloa panicoides is an annual weed of summer crops. In Argentina, in subhumid areas with monsoon rainfall, it germinates and establishes in a single flush. To (i) identify the environmental factors that modify its seed dormancy level and germination and (ii) quantify the parameters describing the thermal behaviour of the germination and emergence dynamics of this weed under non-limiting water conditions, we established a set of germination experiments performed (i) under controlled conditions using seeds after ripened for 3 or 6 months in different thermal and hydric conditions and (ii) under field conditions, where the soil temperature was modified by applying different shading levels. Seed dormancy level remained high with 3 months after ripening in all treatments. After 6 months, seeds stored at 4°C in dry conditions did not germinate at any temperature, while seeds stored at 25°C in dry conditions and in situ germinated c. 20% and 60% respectively. Germination percentage was higher in seeds harvested before their natural dispersal. The base, optimum and maximum temperatures for seed germination were 6, 35 and 45°C respectively. Shading reduced the number of emerged seedlings, possibly by reducing the soil thermal amplitude. The results explained the dormancy-breaking mechanism of U. panicoides that allows a high germination rate in the field when rainfall occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), is a well-known perennial forage species; however, rust diseases have caused a noticeable reduction in the quality and production of orchardgrass. In this study, genetic diversity was assessed and the marker-trait associations for rust were examined using 18 EST-SSR and 21 SCoT markers in 75 orchardgrass accessions. A high level of genetic diversity was detected in orchardgrass with an average genetic diversity index of 0.369. For the EST-SSR and SCoT markers, 164 and 289 total bands were obtained, of which 148 (90.24%) and 272 (94.12%) were polymorphic, respectively. Results from an AMOVA analysis showed that more genetic variance existed within populations (87.57%) than among populations (12.43%). Using a parameter marker index, the efficiencies of the EST-SSR and SCoT markers were compared to show that SCoTs have higher marker efficiency (8.07) than EST-SSRs (4.82). The results of a UPGMA cluster analysis and a STRUCTURE analysis were both correlated with the geographic distribution of the orchardgrass accessions. Linkage disequilibrium analysis revealed an average r² of 0.1627 across all band pairs, indicating a high extent of linkage disequilibrium in the material. An association analysis between the rust trait and 410 bands from the EST-SSR and SCoT markers using TASSEL software revealed 20 band panels were associated with the rust trait in both 2011 and 2012. The 20 bands obtained from association analysis could be used in breeding programs for lineage selection to prevent great losses of orchardgrass caused by rust, and provide valuable information for further association mapping using this collection of orchardgrass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fructans are an important nonfiber carbohydrate in cool season grasses. Their fermentation by ruminal microbes is not well described, though such information is needed to understand their nutritional value to ruminants. Our objective was to compare kinetics and product formation of orchardgrass fructan (phlein; PHL) to other nonfiber carbohydrates when fermented in vitro with mixed or pure culture ruminal microbes. Studies were carried out as randomized complete block designs. All rates given are first-order rate constants. With mixed ruminal microbes, rate of substrate disappearance tended to be greater for glucose (GLC) than for PHL and chicory fructan (inulin; INU), which tended to differ from each other (0.74, 0.62, and 0.33 h-1, respectively). Disappearance of GLC had almost no lag time (0.04 h), whereas the fructans had lags of 1.4 h. The maximum microbial N accumulation, a proxy for cell growth, tended to be 20% greater for PHL and INU than for GLC. The N accumulation rate for GLC (1.31 h-1) was greater than for PHL (0.75 h-1) and INU (0.26 h-1), which also differed. More microbial glycogen (+57%) was accumulated from GLC than from PHL, though accumulation rates did not differ (1.95 and 1.44 h-1, respectively); little glycogen accumulated from INU. Rates of organic acid formation were 0.80, 0.28, and 0.80 h-1 for GLC, INU, and PHL, respectively, with PHL tending to be greater than INU. Lactic acid production was more than 7-fold greater for GLC than for the fructans. The ratio of microbial cell carbon to organic acid carbon tended to be greater for PHL (0.90) and INU (0.86) than for GLC (0.69), indicating a greater yield of cell mass per amount of substrate fermented with fructans. Reduced microbial yield for GLC may relate to the greater glycogen production that requires ATP, and lactate production that yields less ATP; together, these processes could have reduced ATP available for cell growth. Acetate molar proportion was less for GLC than for fructans, and less for PHL than for INU. In studies with pure cultures, all microbes evaluated showed differences in specific growth rate constants (μ) for GLC, fructose, sucrose, maltose, and PHL. Selenomonas ruminantium and Streptococcus bovis showed the highest μ for PHL (0.55 and 0.67 h-1, respectively), which were 50 to 60% of the μ achieved for GLC. The 10 other species tested had μ between 0.01 and 0.11 h-1 with PHL. Ruminal microbes use PHL differently than they do GLC or INU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stubby-root nematode, Trichodorus obtusus, was recently identified on zoysiagrass in South Carolina, USA. In Florida, T. obtusus causes more damage than other stubby-root nematodes encountered in turfgrass. The objective of this study was to use morphological analysis, mitochondrial DNA (COI: cytochrome oxidase 1) and nuclear (18S rRNA) sequence data to study the genetic structure and haplotype diversity of populations recovered from turfgrasses in South Carolina. Numerous morphological differences were observed among populations. Three 18S haplotypes were shared among South Carolina and Florida populations, and six mitochondrial haplotypes were identified in South Carolina samples. Of the six COI haplotypes, four haplotypes were restricted to one population from St Augustinegrass. The lowest haplotype diversity was found in samples from zoysiagrass. Sequences of the COI mtDNA gene of T. obtusus were published in GenBank and represent the first mtDNA sequences for the genus Trichodorus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review summarizes available data related to turfgrass evapotranspiration (ETc) and crop coefficients(Kc) for both warm-season and cool-season grasses. Daily, monthly, or seasonal ETc rates and Kc values determined atdifferent locations in the U.S. are shown in this review, as well as the methods used to determine or estimate these values.Warm-season turfgrasses are characterized by their lower ETc rates compared to cool-season turfgrasses. Results showedthat ETc is highly variable, not only between species but within same species. For example, 'Tifway' bermudagrass, awarm-season turfgrass, showed ETc values of 1.78 mm d-1 in central Florida and 4.83 mm d-1 in Colorado, whereas zoysiagrassshowed an ETc value of 9.40 mm d-1 in Texas. On the other hand, creeping bentgrass showed an ETc value of3.3 mm d-1 for 'Pennlinks' variety, while 'Seaside' showed an ETc value of 10.7 mm d-1, both in Nebraska. This variabilitywas affected by genotype and plant morphological characteristics but was also due to weather conditions. Variability wasalso observed in turfgrass Kc. Minimum and maximum monthly Kc values for cool-season grasses were estimated as 0.05and 1.05, respectively; for warm-season grasses, monthly Kc values ranged from 0.28 to 0.99. The lowest reported Kc valueswithin a turfgrass species could serve as selection criteria to breed new varieties resistant to drought or contributingto water savings. Evapotranspiration rates and crop coefficients should be used with awareness of the local conditionsunder which the values were developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At water resource recovery facilities, nutrient removal is often required and energy recovery is an ever-increasing goal. Pyrolysis may be a sustainable process for handling wastewater biosolids because energy can be recovered in the py-gas and py-oil. Additionally, the biochar produced has value as a soil conditioner. The objective of this work was to determine if biochar could be used to adsorb ammonia from biosolids filtrate and subsequently be applied as a soil conditioner to improve grass growth. The maximum carrying capacity of base modified biochar for NH3-N was 5.3 mg/g. Biochar containing adsorbed ammonium and potassium was applied to laboratory planters simulating golf course putting greens to cultivate Kentucky bluegrass. Planters that contained nutrient-laden biochar proliferated at a statistically higher rate than planters that contained biosolids, unmodified biochar, peat, or no additive. Nutrient-laden biochar performed as well as commercial inorganic fertilizer with no statistical difference in growth rates. Biochar from digested biosolids successfully immobilized NH3-N from waste-water and served as a beneficial soil amendment. This process offers a means to recover and recycle nutrients from water resource recovery facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chicory (Cichorum intybus L.) is a summer-active forage herb which has been proposed as an option to increase summer feed supply, increase dry matter intake, nutrient intake, and milk yield from nonirrigated dairy production systems in southern Australia. Dry matter intake, nutrient intake, milk yield, and yield of milk fat and protein of predominantly Holstein-Friesian dairy cows in late lactation consuming 3 herbage-based diets (4 replicates per treatment) were measured. The 3 grazed herbages were second-year chicory (CHIC) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.; PRG) monocultures and a mixed sward (~50:50) of chicory and perennial ryegrass (MIX). All diets (CHIC, PRG, and MIX) were supplemented with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) hay (5.5 kg of DM/cow per day) and an energy-based concentrate pellet (4.0 kg of DM/cow per day). There were no significant differences in milk yield (12.0 to 12.6 kg/d across the treatments) or the yield of milk fat (539 to 585 g/d) and milk protein (433 to 447 g/d) between the 3 herbage-based diets. No differences in DMI (17.9 to 19.2 kg/d) or estimated metabolizable energy intake (173 to 185 MJ/d) were noted between treatments. Estimated metabolizable energy concentrations in the forages on offer were lower in CHIC than PRG (7.6 vs. 8.2 MJ/kg of dry matter), but the concentration in consumed herbage was not different (9.1 vs. 9.2 MJ/kg of dry matter); as such, potential for increased milk yield in cows offered CHIC was limited. Increased concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids was observed in chicory herbage compared with perennial ryegrass. This was associated with increased milk conjugated linoleic acid and milk polyunsaturated fatty acids when chicory formed part of the diet (CHIC compared to PRG and MIX). Chicory could be used as an alternative to perennial ryegrass in summer; however, the developmental stage of chicory will influence concentrations of metabolizable energy and neutral detergent fiber and, therefore, intake and milk production responses compared with perennial ryegrass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Literature lacks large-scale studies on cumulative C storage capacity of perennial grasses in Europe. At the same time, there is raising interest toward growing biomass crops in Europe, especially under marginal lands of the Mediterranean basin. In the present study, we used the DAYCENT model to estimate the potential of switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.) as a bioethanol crop to store soil C in the Mediterranean basin. Two scenarios were simulated: (i) cultivation only on heathlands, shrublands, and pastures (1.76 Mha) and (ii) cultivation on heathlands, shrublands, and pastures, plus 5 % of arable lands currently used for cereals (2.97 Mha in total). Cumulative biomass resulted in 184 and 303 Mt over 15 years, while soil organic carbon (SOC) storage values were 6.1 and 12.4 Mt, respectively. Mean annual biomass yield ranged between 5.6 and 9.4 Mg ha, while annual SOC accumulation was 0.02 to 0.62 Mg ha. Fossil fuel displacement resulted in 54 and 89 Mt of C, i.e., 198 and 327 Mt of equivalent CO in the first and second scenarios, respectively. In the second scenario, switchgrass SOC storage was much more pronounced. However, a loss of 54 Mt of grain commodities was also caused by switchgrass cultivation on 5 % of arable lands with consequent indirect land use change (ILUC) effects. The latter were, however, quite low (16 %) when compared to environmental benefits as stored SOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perennial rhizomatous grasses are regarded as leading energy crops due to their environmental benefits and their suitability to regions with adverse conditions. In this paper, two different experiments were carried out in order to study the salinity ( S) and water stress ( WS) effects on biomass production in giant reed ( Arundo donax L.). In Experiment 1, eight clones of giant reed were subjected to four salinity ( S) and water stress ( WS) treatments: (1) well watered with non-saline solution, (2) water stress with non-saline solution, (3) well watered with saline solution and 4) water stress with saline solution. In Experiment 2, five clones of giant reed were subjected to increasing S levels in two locations: University of Catania (UNICT-Italy) (1) well watered with non-saline solution and (2) well watered with mild saline solution; and University of Barcelona (UB-Spain) (3) well watered with non-saline solution and (4) well watered with severe saline solution. Photosynthetic and physiological parameters as well as biomass production were measured in these plants. According to our data, giant reed seems to be more tolerant to S than WS. Both stresses mainly affected stomatal closure to prevent dehydration of the plant, eventually decreasing the photosynthetic rate. The differential performance of the giant reed clones was ranked according to their tolerance to S and WS by using the Stress Susceptibility Index. 'Agrigento' was the most WS resistant clone and 'Martinensis' was the most S resistant. 'Martinensis' and 'Piccoplant' were found to be the most suitable clones for growing under both stress conditions. Moreover, 'Fondachello', 'Cefalú' and 'Licata' were the most resistant clones to increasing S levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungicides applied to turfgrass in temperate climates prior to snowfall are expected to suppress fungal diseases such as microdochium patch ( Microdochium nivale) until infection conditions become unfavourable the following spring. However, mild winters with inconsistent snow cover may alter fungicide persistence and render the turf more susceptible to fungal infection. This study was conducted to determine the effect of snow cover on the persistence of the fungicides chlorothalonil and iprodione applied to creeping bentgrass ( Agrostis stolonifera), maintained as a golf course fairway. The fungicides were applied 1 day prior to the first accumulating snowfall in Madison, Wisconsin, for four consecutive winters, beginning in 2009/10. Fungicide treatments were kept under continuous snow cover or maintained free of snow cover the entire winter to determine the effect of snow cover on fungicide persistence (2010/11 to 2012/13) and microdochium patch development in a controlled environment chamber (2009/10 to 2012/13). Iprodione concentration was not impacted by snow cover in 2010/11 but was reduced under snow cover relative to bare turf in 2011/12 and 2012/13. Chlorothalonil concentration was not impacted by snow cover in 2011/12 but was greater under snow cover in 2012/13. Microdochium patch severity in the controlled environment chamber was not impacted by snow cover with either fungicide in 2009/10 or 2011/12 but was slightly reduced under snow cover with both fungicides during 2010/11 and 2012/13. The majority of fungicide depletion occurred shortly after rainfall or snowmelt events, except in 2010/11 when both fungicides rapidly depleted during a warming trend without rainfall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to analyze the botanical composition, grass production, carrying capacity, and potential production of nutrients in pasture located in Timor Tengah Selatan Regency. The experiment was conducted from February to July 2013, using field survey method. The botanical composition, grass production and carrying capacity on real condition were analyzed descriptively, while the grass production and carrying capacity based of cutting arrangement were analyzed by using randomized block factorial design with 3 altitude locations (Sub District of Mollo Utara with altitude of 1007 m above sea level; Sub District of Noebeba, 500 m ASL, and Sub District of Amanuban Selatan, 65 m ASL) x 2 cutting intervals (1 and 2 month) and 5 replications. The results showed that the grass type dominated the pasture in the Sub District of Mollo Utara, while legum type was more dominant in the pasture in the Sub Districts of Noebeba and Amanuban Selatan. The potential production of dry matter grass in Timor Tengah Selatan Regency based on real condition was 150 to 390 kg/ha/yr, this could accommodate 0.24 to 0.63 AU/ha/yr. The arrangement of cutting interval by 1 month in Mollo Utara and 2 months in Noebeba and Amanuban Selatan could increase (P<0.05) grass production and carrying capacity. The potential productions of grass nutrients were higher in Sub District of Mollo Utara, while potential production of grass dry matter was higher in Sub Districts of Noebeba and Amanuban Selatan. It was concluded that grass dry matter potential production and carrying capacity in Timor Tengah Selatan Regency were low. The arrangement of cutting interval could increase grass dry matter potential production, carrying capacity, nutrition production, and quality of nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Among the largest and most diverse transcription factor families in plants, basic leucine zipper (bZIP) family participate in regulating various processes, including floral induction and development, stress and hormone signaling, photomorphogenesis, seed maturation and germination, and pathogen defense. Although common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most widely cultivated and consumed food crops in the world, there is no comprehensive analysis of bZIPs in wheat, especially those involved in anther development. Previous studies have demonstrated wheat, T. urartu, Ae. tauschii, barley and Brachypodium are evolutionarily close in Gramineae family, however, the real evolutionary relationship still remains mysterious. Results: In this study, 187 bZIP family genes were comprehensively identified from current wheat genome. 98, 96 and 107 members of bZIP family were also identified from the genomes of T.urartu, Ae.tauschii and barley, respectively. Orthology analyses suggested 69.4 % of TubZIPs were orthologous to 68.8 % of AetbZIPs and wheat had many more in-paralogs in the bZIP family than its relatives. It was deduced wheat had a closer phylogenetic relationship with barley and Brachypodium than T.urartu and Ae.tauschii. bZIP proteins in wheat, T.urartu and Ae.tauschii were divided into 14 subgroups based on phylogenetic analyses. Using Affymetrix microarray data, 48 differentially expressed TabZIP genes were identified to be related to anther development from comparison between the male sterility line and the restorer line. Genes with close evolutionary relationship tended to share similar gene structures. 15 of 23 selected TabZIP genes contained LTR elements in their promoter regions. Expression of 21 among these 23 TabZIP genes were obviously responsive to low temperature. These 23 TabZIP genes all exhibited distinct tissue-specific expression pattern. Among them, 11 TabZIP genes were predominantly expressed in anther and most of them showed over-dominance expression mode in the cross combination TY806 × BS366. Conclusions: The genome-wide identification provided an overall insight of bZIP gene family in wheat and its relatives. The evolutionary relationship of wheat and its relatives was proposed based on orthology analyses. Microarray and expression analyses suggested the potential involvement of bZIP genes in anther development and facilitated selection of anther development related gene for further functional characterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing the biomass energy industry has become a new idea for solving the energy crisis. The plant,Miscanthus, which has a high content of cellulose, is an optimal material for biorefinery. In this review, the characteristics ofMiscanthusare first briefly introduced. Then, the biorefinery general scheme, main process, and existing problems ofMiscanthusare summarized. Finally, its application is prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A diverse group of soil bacteria known as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is able to inhabit the area close to plant roots and exert beneficial effects on plant growth. Beneficial interactions between rhizospheric bacteria and plants provide prospects for isolating culturable PGPR that can be used as bio-fertilizers for sustainable crop production in communities that cannot easily afford chemical fertilizers. This study was conducted with the aim of isolating rhizospheric bacteria from grasses along the Kavango River and screening the bacterial isolates for plant growth promoting characteristics. The bacteria were isolated from rhizospheres of Phragmites australis, Sporobolus sp., Vetiveria nigritana, Pennisetum glaucum and Sorghum bicolor. The isolates were screened for inorganic phosphate solubilization, siderophore production and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production. The nitrogen-fixing capability of the bacteria was determined by screening for the presence of the nifH gene. Up to 21 isolates were obtained from P. australis, Sporobolus sp., S. bicolor, P. glaucum and V. nigritana. The genera Bacillus, Enterobacter, Kocuria, Pseudomonas and Stenotrophomonas, identified via 16S rDNA were represented in the 13 PGPR strains isolated. The isolates exhibited more than one plant growth promoting trait and they were profiled as follows: three phosphate solubilizers, four siderophore producers, eight IAA producing isolates and five nitrogen-fixers. These bacteria can be used to develop bio-fertilizer inoculants for improved soil fertility management and sustainable production of local cereals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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