Plant, Soil and Environment, 2007 (vol. 53), issue 3
Conversion of sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) bands into high-throughput DNA markers based on RAPD technique for detection of the stem nematode Ditylenchus dipsaci in crucial plant hosts
M. Zouhar, M. Marek, O. Douda, J. Mazáková, P. Ryšánek
Plant Soil Environ., 2007, 53(3):97-104 | DOI: 10.17221/2226-PSE 
Ditylenchus dipsaci, the stem nematode, is a migratory endoparasite of over 500 species of angiosperms. The main method of D. dipsaci control is crop rotation, but the presence of morphologically indistinguishable host races with different host preferences makes rotation generally ineffective. Therefore, a sensitive, rapid, reliable, as well as cost effective technique is needed for identification of D. dipsaci in biological samples. This study describes the development of species-specific pairs of PCR oligonucleotides for detection and identification of the D. dipsaci stem nematode in various plant hosts. Designed DIT-2...
Yield and quality of grain amaranth (Amaranthus sp.) in Eastern Austria
D.M. Gimplinger, G. Dobos, R. Schönlechner, H.-P. Kaul
Plant Soil Environ., 2007, 53(3):105-112 | DOI: 10.17221/2224-PSE
The introduction of a new crop requires adapted genotypes as well as optimum crop management practices. This study was conducted to determine the optimum crop density of adapted grain amaranth genotypes in the Pannonian region of Eastern Austria. The genotypes Neuer Typ (A. hypochondriacus), Mittlerer Typ (A. hypochondriacus) and Amar (A. cruentus) were established at plant densities of 8, 17 and 35 plants/m2 in 2002 and 2003. Average hand-harvested yields ranged from 2200 to 3000 kg/ha without significant genotypic differences. Genotypes differed in thousand seed weight (0.55-1.04 g), time from sowing to harvest (97-130...
Response of Neotyphodium lolii-infected perennial ryegrass to phosphorus deficiency
Ren A.Z., Y.B. Gao, F. Zhou
Plant Soil Environ., 2007, 53(3):113-119 | DOI: 10.17221/2225-PSE
It has been demonstrated that endophyte-infected (EI) ryegrass performed better in response to N deficiency than its endophyte-free (EF) counterpart. When P is considered, there is a lack of related information. In this study, Lolium perenne L. infected with Neotyphodium lolii was employed to establish EI and EF populations. Soil-grown EI and EF ryegrass were tested for their responses to P deficiency. The results showed that the endophyte infection improved the adaptability of ryegrass to P deficiency. When P was limited, EI roots were significantly longer (EI, 398.8; EF, 323.4 m/pot) and heavier (EI, 30.58; EF, 23.20 g/pot) than EF...
Effect of foliar urea application on quality, growth, mineral uptake and yield of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L., var. italica)
E. Yildirim, I. Guvenc, M. Turan, A. Karatas
Plant Soil Environ., 2007, 53(3):120-128 | DOI: 10.17221/2227-PSE
The objective of this study was to determine the effect of foliar urea applications on quality, growth, mineral content and yield of broccoli under field conditions in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Broccoli cultivars AG 3317 and AG 3324 were treated with foliar urea applications at different concentrations (0.0, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.0%). Foliar applications of urea, especially 0.8 and 1.0% resulted in larger heads, weightier heads and plants as well as higher plants. Conversely, the greatest head and leaf dry matter contents were obtained with no fertilizer-nitrogen application. SPAD chlorophyll readings that were measured in the third year increased with elevated...
Modification of cadmium toxicity in pea seedlings by kinetin
A.M.A. Al-Hakimi
Plant Soil Environ., 2007, 53(3):129-135 | DOI: 10.17221/2228-PSE
The effect of foliar application of kinetin on the growth and some physiological processes of pea plants growing in soil supplemented with 25 or 50µM Cd were studied. Cadmium treatment inhibited the growth rate, chlorophyll (Chl) content, net photosynthesis (PN), content of soluble sugars and free amino acids of either shoots or roots. The application of kinetin (kin) enhanced the growth rate, Chl content, PN, soluble sugars and free amino acids content of shoots and roots; dark respiration rate (RD), contents of soluble protein and proline were increased by cadmium treatment. The addition of kinetin to Cd-stressed...
Effect of perforated foil and polypropylene fibre covers on development of early potato cultivars
W. Wadas, E. Kosterna
Plant Soil Environ., 2007, 53(3):136-141 | DOI: 10.17221/2223-PSE
The effect of perforated polyethylene foil and polypropylene fibre cover on the development of the early potato cultivars Aksamitka and Cykada was investigated. The use of the covers resulted in an increase in the soil temperature at the depth of 100 mm on average by 2.2°C at 8 a.m. and by 4.0°C at 2 p.m. in the year with warm spring and by 1.5°C and 3.2°C in the year with cold spring, respectively. A higher increase in the soil temperature, on average by 1-2°C, was caused by the use of the perforated foil than by the use of the polypropylene fibre. The increase in the soil temperature as a result of covering forced the plant emergence on average by...