Effect of simulated rainfall during wheat seed development and maturation on subsequent seed longevity is reversible

Poor wheat seed quality in temperate regions is often ascribed to wet production environments. We investigated the possible effect of simulated rain during seed development and maturation on seed longevity in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. Tybalt grown in the field (2008, 2009) or a polythene tunnel house (2010). To mimic rain, the seed crops were wetted from above with the equivalent of 30mm (2008, 2009) or 25mm rainfall (2010) at different stages of seed development and maturation (17 to 58 DAA, days after 50% anthesis), samples harvested serially, and subsequent air-dry seed longevity estimated. No pre-harvest sprouting occurred. Seed longevity (p50, 50% survival period in experimental hermetic storage at 40°C with c. 15% moisture content) in field-grown controls increased during seed development and maturation attaining maxima at 37 (2008) or 44 DAA (2009); it declined thereafter. Immediate effects of simulated rain at 17-58 DAA in field studies (2008, 2009) on subsequent seed longevity were negative but small, e.g. a 1-4 d delay in seed quality improvement for treatments early in development but with no damage detected at final harvests. In rainfall-protected conditions (2010), simulated rain close to harvest maturity (55-56 DAA) reduced longevity immediately and substantially, with greater damage from two sequential days of wetting than one; again, later harvests provided evidence of recovery in subsequent longevity. In the absence of pre-harvest sprouting, the potentially deleterious effects of rainfall to wheat seed crops on subsequent seed longevity may be reversible in full or in part

Longevity of 285 seed lots of wheat in hermetic storage compared with independent estimates from the seed viability equation

The longevity in hermetic storage at 40°C with 14.1-15.7% moisture content of 285 seed lots of wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Tybalt), harvested at or before maturity from control or modified environments under rain shelter or after simulated rainfall in three consecutive years (2010-12), was compared with independent estimates from the seed viability equation and previously-published viability constant values for wheat. Around half of the observations provided good agreement with these independent estimates of longevity, but some of the seed lots harvested close to maturity in 2012, or before the end of the seed-filling phase in 2011, survived longer in storage than prior estimates

Performance of edible cactus (Opuntiaficus-indica) in saline environments

Edible cactus [Opuntiaficus-indica (L.) Mill.] has been used as fruit, vegetable, forage and wide range of commercial purposes in arid regions. It has high efficiency to produce biomass per unit water use due to specialized photosynthetic mechanism. Owing to its tolerance to low input and adverse conditions, it has ample scope for introduction and cultivation in arid and saline parts of world. A field experiment was conducted to standardise planting techniques and irrigation requirements of cactus at Hisar (Haryana) during 2008-2010. Cactus clones 1270, 1271, 1280 and 1287 were planted on ridges, flat beds and furrows with no irrigation, irrigations at one month and two months interval using saline ground water. Raised bed plantations resulted in better survival and plant height. The survival was higher without irrigation but the plant height was higher with monthly irrigation. Clone 1270 sprouted earliest and highest survival was recorded in clone 1271. To assess salinity and alkalinity tolerance, clone 1280, was planted at Karnal. Three soil salinity (ECe) levels and four pH levels were maintained along with no fertilizer, NPK and FYM. This clone was found to tolerate moderate salinity (52 mM) but sensitive to pH and had negligible growth at pH 9.8. Application of NPK and FYM helped in mitigating the effects of salt stress. Raised bed planting was advantageous and once established, Opuntia can sustain saline groundwater irrigation for optimum growth and production

Development of ability to germinate and of longevity in air-dry storage in wheat seed crops subjected to rain shelter or simulated supplementary rainfall

Climate change will alter rainfall patterns. The effect of rainfall during seed development and maturation on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seed quality (ability to germinate normally; air-dry longevity in hermetic storage at 40oC with c. 15% moisture content) was investigated in field experiments (2011, 2012) by providing rain shelter or simulating additional rainfall. High ability to germinate was detected from mid seed filling until after harvest maturity. Subsequent longevity was more sensitive to stage of development. It increased progressively reaching maximum values during maturation drying at 53-56 DAA, 5-11 (2011) or 8-14 (2012) days beyond mass maturity; maximal values were maintained thereafter in 2011; longevity declined with further delay to harvest in 2012. Post-anthesis protection from rain had no major effect: in later harvests longevity was slightly greater than the control in each year, but in 2011 wetting treatments were also superior to the control. Wetting ears at all stages of development reduced longevity immediately, but considerable recovery in subsequent longevity occurred when seeds re-dried in planta for several days. The greatest damage to longevity from ear wetting occurred with treatments at about 56 DAA, with poorest recovery at 70 DAA (i.e. around harvest maturity) in absolute terms but at 56-70 DAA relative to gross damage. Hence, seed quality in highly-dormant wheat varieties was resilient to rain. Net damage was greatest from rain late in maturation. The phase of seed quality improvement in planta was dynamic with deterioration also occurring then, but with net improvement overall

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Not AvailableThe effect of high residual sodium carbonate (RSC) irrigation water and its neutralization with gypsum/H 2SO4 on sorghum [(L.) Moench] was evaluated in a micro-plot experiment during rainy () season (May to September 2013) at ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana. The experiment was conducted in randomised block design, consisted of 5 treatments of different RSC levels [RSC nil (control), RSC 5meq/L, RSC 10meq/L, RSC 10meq/L (neutralized 5meq/L with gypsum), RSC 10meq/L (neutralized 5meq/L with H2SO4)] with 4 replications. Increase in concentration of RSC in water from RSC 5 to 10 resulted in reduction in growth parameters like plant height, leaf to stem green biomass, leaf area index, but extent of reduction was lesser, while using RSC water reclaimed with gypsum and sulphuric acid. Neutralization of RSC in irrigation water with gypsum proved a safer and economical option to use high RSC groundwater for irrigation of sorghum for profitable fodder production as compared to sulphuric acid.Not Availabl

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Longevity of 285 seed lots of wheat in hermetic storage compared with independent estimates from the seed viability equation

The longevity in hermetic storage at 40°C with 14.1-15.7% moisture content of 285 seed lots of wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Tybalt), harvested at or before maturity from control or modified environments under rain shelter or after simulated rainfall in three consecutive years (2010-12), was compared with independent estimates from the seed viability equation and previously-published viability constant values for wheat. Around half of the observations provided good agreement with these independent estimates of longevity, but some of the seed lots harvested close to maturity in 2012, or before the end of the seed-filling phase in 2011, survived longer in storage than prior estimates

Rain, shelter and wheat seed quality development

Not AvailableClimate change will alter rainfall patterns. The effect of rainfall during seed development and maturation on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seed quality (ability to germinate normally; air-dry longevity in hermetic storage at 40°C with c. 15% moisture content) was investigated in field experiments (2011, 2012) by providing rain shelter or simulating additional rainfall. High ability to germinate was detected from mid seed filling until after harvest maturity. Subsequent longevity was more sensitive to stage of development. It increased progressively, reaching maximum values during maturation drying at 53–56 days after anthesis (DAA), 5–11 (2011) or 8–14 (2012) days beyond mass maturity; maximal values were maintained thereafter in 2011; longevity declined with further delay to harvest in 2012. Post-anthesis protection from rain had no major effect: in later harvests longevity was slightly greater than the control in each year, but in 2011 wetting treatments were also superior to the control. Wetting ears at all stages of development reduced longevity immediately, but considerable recovery in subsequent longevity occurred when seeds re-dried in planta for several days. The greatest damage to longevity from ear wetting occurred with treatments at about 56 DAA, with poorest recovery at 70 DAA (i.e. around harvest maturity) in absolute terms but at 56–70 DAA relative to gross damage. Hence, seed quality in a strongly dormant wheat variety was resilient to rain. Net damage was greatest from rain late in maturation. The phase of seed quality improvement in planta was dynamic with deterioration also occurring then, but with net improvement overall.The Commonwealth Scholarship Commissio