Morphogenetic characteristics of timothy grown with varying N nutrition

1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Bélanger

The leaf area development of grasses and subsequently radiation interception depends on morphogenetic processes such as leaf extension and appearance. Leaf extension and appearance of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) grown with varying rates of N nutrition and their impact on sward structural characteristics were studied during primary growth in spring and during a summer regrowth. With no N applied in spring and summer, the leaf extension rate (LER) and the leaf appearance rate (LAR) of timothy were approximately 40% and 65% of that obtained under non-limiting N conditions (140 kg N ha−1 in spring and 120 kg N ha−1 in summer). Nitrogen deficiency reduced tiller density in spring but increased it in summer. The differential effect of the N deficiency on LER and LAR modified the sward structural characteristics. Nitrogen deficiency decreased the length of mature leaves, their width and the total leaf length per tiller. The reduced LER associated with N deficiency explained for the most part the N effect on leaf area expansion and radiation interception. Key words: Phleum pratense L., timothy, leaf extension, leaf appearance, tillering, nitrogen

1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Bélanger

The leaf area development of grasses and, subsequently, radiation interception depends on morphogenetic processes such as leaf extension and appearance. No detailed studies of leaf extension and appearance of field-grown timothy (Phleum pratense L.) cultivars differing in maturity have been reported in the literature. Leaf extension and appearance of field-grown timothy cultivars differing in maturity and their impact on sward structural characteristics such as leaf size per tiller and tiller density were studied during primary growth in the spring of 1991 and 1992. The leaf extension rate of early-maturing cultivars was greater than that of late-maturing cultivars during primary growth of timothy. There were no differences in leaf appearance rates among cultivars Hence, individual tillers of early-maturing cultivars developed a larger leaf size than late-maturing cultivars. In 1992, late-maturing cultivars had a greater tiller density than early-maturing cultivars which compensated for the smaller leaf size. Different tiller density-tiller size characteristics of early and late-maturing timothy cultivars resulted in a similar outcome in terms of LAI. Key words:Phleum pratense L., timothy, leaf extension, leaf appearance, tillering


1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Bélanger ◽  
R. E. McQueen

Nitrogen fertilization is known to have a limited effect on the digestibility of grasses. In a previous paper, however, we reported that N deficiency increased the proportion of leaves in the shoot biomass, and hence, indirectly increased the digestibility of timothy (Phleum pratense L). This was mitigated by the direct negative effect of N deficiency on the digestibility of leaves or stems or both early in the regrowth. The objective of this study was to determine the direct effect of N deficiency on three parameters of nutritive value of leaves and stems of timothy cv. Champ. The evolution of leaf and stem in vitro true digestibility (IVTD), in vitro cell wall digestibility (IVCWD), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration of field-grown timothy fertilized with four rates of N was studied during a spring and summer regrowth cycle by sampling at weekly intervals. The rate of decline in leaf nutritive value in spring was greater than that in summer, and was less than the rate of decline in stem nutritive value during spring. Nitrogen deficiency consistently increased the NDF concentration of leaves but had a lesser effect on the NDF concentration of stems. Nitrogen deficiency decreased leaf IVCWD when the leaf-to-weight ratio (LWR) was high early in the spring and summer regrowth cycles. At the end of regrowth when LWR values were low, leaf IVCWD was greatest when no N was applied. As a result, the negative effect of N deficiency on the leaf IVTD during the early part of the spring and summer regrowth cycles diminished as the regrowth cycles progressed. Nitrogen deficiency had a limited effect on stem IVCWD. We concluded that the direct negative effect of N deficiency on the digestibility of the timothy shoot biomass can be attributed primarily to its effect on the NDF concentration and cell wall digestibility of leaves. Key words: Phleum pratense L., grasses, digestibility, cell wall, nitrogen


1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 373-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Bélanger ◽  
J. E. Richards

Nitrogen fertilization increases yield of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) but little knowledge exists on the effect of N fertilization on the growth processes of field-grown timothy. The objective of this study was to analyze the growth of timothy fertilized with increasing rates of N in spring and summer and, in particular, to determine the relative importance of radiation interception and radiation-use efficiency in explaining the differences in shoot growth caused by N deficiency. In two separate experiments conducted in spring 1993 and summer 1994, shoot growth, leaf area development, radiation interception and radiation-use efficiency of timothy grown with four N rates (0, 70, 140 and 210 kg N ha−1 in 1993; 0, 60, 120 and 180 kg N ha−1 in 1994) were determined using weekly sampling. Maximum leaf photosynthesis was also measured. The maximum shoot growth and LAI were reached with 140 kg N ha−1 in the spring of 1993 and 120 kg N ha−1 in the summer of 1994. The rates of N fertilization required to produce these maximum values of shoot growth were those that resulted in shoot N concentration equal to or greater than the optimal N concentration. The concept of an optimum N concentration was therefore useful in identifying situations of N deficiencies. When no N was applied, the growth rates were 32 and 33% of the maximum growth rates in spring and summer, respectively. The impact of the N deficiency was greater on RUE than on cumulative intercepted PAR. When no N was applied, the RUE and cumulative intercepted PAR were respectively 45 and 61% of their maximum values in spring, and 52% and 80% of their maximum values in summer. A general and synthetic expression of the effect of crop N concentration on shoot growth was developed using the concept of an optimal N concentration. Key words: Phleum pratense L., timothy, growth, radiation, photosynthesis, nitrogen


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (14) ◽  
pp. 7674
Author(s):  
Ting Liang ◽  
Zhengqing Yuan ◽  
Lu Fu ◽  
Menghan Zhu ◽  
Xiaoyun Luo ◽  
...  

Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient for plant growth and development. The root system architecture is a highly regulated morphological system, which is sensitive to the availability of nutrients, such as N. Phenotypic characterization of roots from LY9348 (a rice variety with high nitrogen use efficiency (NUE)) treated with 0.725 mM NH4NO3 (1/4N) was remarkable, especially primary root (PR) elongation, which was the highest. A comprehensive analysis was performed for transcriptome and proteome profiling of LY9348 roots between 1/4N and 2.9 mM NH4NO3 (1N) treatments. The results indicated 3908 differential expression genes (DEGs; 2569 upregulated and 1339 downregulated) and 411 differential abundance proteins (DAPs; 192 upregulated and 219 downregulated). Among all DAPs in the proteome, glutamine synthetase (GS2), a chloroplastic ammonium assimilation protein, was the most upregulated protein identified. The unexpected concentration of GS2 from the shoot to the root in the 1/4N treatment indicated that the presence of an alternative pathway of N assimilation regulated by GS2 in LY9348 corresponded to the low N signal, which was supported by GS enzyme activity and glutamine/glutamate (Gln/Glu) contents analysis. In addition, N transporters (NRT2.1, NRT2.2, NRT2.3, NRT2.4, NAR2.1, AMT1.3, AMT1.2, and putative AMT3.3) and N assimilators (NR2, GS1;1, GS1;2, GS1;3, NADH-GOGAT2, and AS2) were significantly induced during the long-term N-deficiency response at the transcription level (14 days). Moreover, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis demonstrated that phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and glutathione metabolism were significantly modulated by N deficiency. Notably, many transcription factors and plant hormones were found to participate in root morphological adaptation. In conclusion, our study provides valuable information to further understand the response of rice roots to N-deficiency stress.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 2119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Rezaul Karim ◽  
Ruonan Wang ◽  
Lu Zheng ◽  
Xiaoying Dong ◽  
Renfang Shen ◽  
...  

Nitrogen deficiency usually occurs along with aluminum toxicity in acidic soil, which is one of the major constraints for wheat production worldwide. In order to compare adaptive processes to N deficiency with different Al-tolerant wheat cultivars, we chose Atlas 66 and Scout 66 to comprehensively analyze the physiological responses to N deficiency, coupled with label-free mass spectrometry-based proteomics analysis. Results showed that both cultivars were comparable in most physiological indexes under N deficient conditions. However, the chlorophyll content in Scout 66 was higher than that of Atlas 66 under N deficiency. Further proteomic analysis identified 5592 and 5496 proteins in the leaves of Atlas 66 and Scout 66, respectively, of which 658 and 734 proteins were shown to significantly change in abundance upon N deficiency, respectively. The majority of the differentially expressed proteins were involved in cellular N compound metabolic process, photosynthesis, etc. Moreover, tetrapyrrole synthesis and sulfate assimilation were particularly enriched in Scout 66. Our findings provide evidence towards a better understanding of genotype-dependent responses under N deficiency which could help us to develop N efficient cultivars to various soil types.


1985 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 787-791
Author(s):  
H. A. BURITY ◽  
B. E. COULMAN ◽  
M. A. FARIS

A greenhouse experiment has shown that total nitrogenase activity of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is not significantly affected when grown in association with timothy (Phleum pratense L.), smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss) or orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) except after initial harvest when decreased alfalfa activity was associated with smooth bromegrass or orchardgrass. It was concluded that mixed cultures of alfalfa with timothy, smooth bromegrass or orchardgrass have no effect on alfalfa N2 fixation. The results also suggest the occurrence of N transference from alfalfa to associated grasses. It is speculated that this transfer is not primarily due to the death of roots and nodule tissue (after harvest), but involves some degree of N excretion during the period before initial harvest.Key words: Alfalfa-grass mixtures, N2-fixation, nodule activity, N-transference


1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 1121-1129 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. N. MASON ◽  
P. M. FLIPOT

Five timothy (Phleum pratense L.) cultivars, Clair, Champ, Milton, Climax and Bounty, were harvested at first flower stage during 2 consecutive years and in the regrowth for 1 yr. The forages were each offered as hay to 15 young rams to evaluate voluntary intake. Five animals were used to determine initial harvest dry matter digestibility. The cultivars varied significantly in voluntary intake at first flower stage. The highest intake (g kg−0.75 d−1) averaged for the years was obtained in the early cultivar Champ (65.9), which was 10% more than that of the medium-late cultivar Climax. The cultivars did not differ significantly in dry matter digestibility. In the regrowth, the relative intakes of the cultivars were essentially reversed from that of the initial harvest. The voluntary intake was substantially higher but the differences among forages were less marked. Climax regrowth voluntary intake was higher (P < 0.05) than all cultivars, except Bounty. A 15% range in digestible dry matter intake was present among cultivars. The ranking of the culivars for digestible dry matter was different than for dry matter yield. Key words: Timothy, Phleum pratense L., voluntary intake, dry matter digestibility


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