Browsing by discipline "Kasvintuotantotieteet (kasvinviljelytiede)"

Protein-energy malnutrition and mineral deficiencies are two of the three forms of nutritional deficiencies that affect most developing countries due to inadequate access to food and diets based on a sole crop. Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the staple crop of Nicaragua and it has the potential to improve the nutritional status of the poorest group of the nation. Its high content of both protein and nonhaem iron provides many nutrients, but inhibitors also may prevent absorption of iron and zinc by the human consumer. A proper production chain must be followed to ensure the best grain quality for the consumer. To achieve food security, both production and high nutritional content must be maintained. Four nationally important accessions of common bean, with different harvesting dates, were selected to be submitted to two treatments: to evaluate the impact of storage conditions on the end quality of the grain. The duration of the study was six months with sampling every six weeks, and the two treatments were controlled one stored at 40°C and 75 RH %, and the other was stored in in-situ conditions. Proximate and mineral composition was evaluated as well as tannin, phytate and bioavailability. Significant differences among different accessions were found, being the most significant in protein, Fe and Zn content, tannins and phytate. Protein values ranged from 21-23%. Iron content was 61-81 mg/kg but only 3-4% was bioavailable. Zinc content was 21-25 mg/kg and 10-12% was bioavailable. The concentration of phytate ranged from 8.6-9.6 mg/g while tannin values ranged within 37.7-43.8 mg/g. Storage at high temperatures was demonstrated to have an impact on certain nutritional compounds and proved detrimental to final grain quality. Soluble sugar content and tannin content decreased after six months in both storage conditions, IDF decreased in the in-situ and SDF in the stress. The iron content and bioavailability in INTA Biofortificado were not as outstanding as expected, so experiments should be conducted to compare its iron uptake and delivery with other cultivars.

Andean lupin (Lupinus mutabilis Sweet) is a potential oilseed crop, with a very high protein content (40–45%) and 15–20% oil content. It is valued as an alternative protein source for both human and animal consumption, and like several other lupin species, has a potential role in phytoremediation. Previous experience in central and southern Europe has shown the crop to have low and unstable yields with high sensitivity to heat and drought during the grain–filling stage. The species may therefore be more suitable for cool–temperate climates, as it comes from similar altitudes and latitudes as potato. Therefore, an experiment was set out to quantify the responses of Andean lupin to heat stress, using both gradually and suddenly rising temperatures during grain filling. In preliminary tests 60 accessions from 4 germplasm banks were screened for time to flowering and daylength sensitivity. For this experiment, 3 accessions were chosen, 478435, 457972, 457977, with vegetative phase durations of 44, 53, 64 days from sowing to first flower, respectively. Forty two plants of each accession were sown and reduced to 30 on the basis of uniformity. Plants were grown in a glasshouse with 22 °C, 18 h days and 18 °C, 6 h nights until about 25 days after flowering. Ten plants of each accession were subjected to one of the following treatments: control (continuing in the same glasshouse conditions), sudden heat stress (transferred to a growth chamber and subjected to 38 °C from 11:00 to 15:00) or gradual heat stress (transferred to a growth chamber and subjected to temperature increases of 4 °C day temperature and 2 °C night temperature, with the final two days at 38 °C from 11:00 to 15:00). The plants were returned to the glasshouse and when mature, the seeds were harvested and pooled into 3 replicates per accession and treatment for quality analysis. Seed protein, oil, soluble sugar, ash and moisture content were determined. Data were calculated on the basis of percentage of overall seed mass and also on a milligrams per seed basis in order to reflect the seed physiology at grain–filling stage. Sudden heat stress had greater effects on seed composition than gradual heat stress. When compared with control, sudden heat stress resulted in more loss of every component than gradual heat stress, on a per–seed basis, in all 3 accessions and the responses of the accessions to the sudden stress were not statistically different. Under sudden heat stress, mean seed weight declined by 70%, protein content by 70%, oil content by 85%, ash content by 50%, and soluble sugar content by 75%. The accessions responded differently, however, to the gradual heat stress. Accession 478435 experienced significantly greater reduction in seed weight, protein and ash content than accessions 457972 and 457977. Oil content per seed and soluble sugar content per seed were also lower in 478435 than in the other two cultivars, but the difference was not significant. On the flour basis, sudden heat stress increased ash content and decreased oil content and soluble sugar content significantly in all accessions. Accession 478435 had highest value in ash content at significant level. Under gradual stress, protein and ash content were increased while oil mass and soluble sugar mass were decreased. 478435 had significantly higher protein mass and ash mass in flour with respectively 57% and 5.1%, 457977 had significantly higher soluble sugar content with 112 mg/g. The results showed that heat stress can have a significant effect on the quantity and quality of seed yield in Andean lupin. While all tested accessions were severely susceptible to sudden heat stress, gradual stress identified differences between accessions, with one being much more susceptible than the other two. The most susceptible accession was the earliest to flower. Gradual heat stress allows better resolution than sudden heat stress when screening germplasm for heat tolerance.

Drought is one of the most important abiotic stresses that causes significant reductions in crop yield, and thus hinders the food security of the growing world population. In consequence, it is urgent to select crops able to resist drought, maintain high yield and have a good nutritive content. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the responses of different accessions of Andean lupin to drought stress, and identify if there are significant differences in their physiological responses. To identify germplasm for further investigation, thirty accessions of Lupinus mutabilis Sweet. and one accession of L. albococcineus Hort. were screened in two sets, A of 15 and B of 16 accessions. From these sets, four lines were chosen on the basis of extreme values in the measurements, and this set of four was investigated in depth (set C). In all experiments, ten seeds of each chosen accession were sown in pots and grown in a glasshouse with 22°C, 18 h days and 18°C, 6 h nights, and were well watered until day 50 after planting. The pots were arranged in a randomized complete block design. The eight most uniform plants were chosen, and four were exposed to water stress while watering of the other four was continued. Water stress consisted of controlled water loss from the soil, 20% water holding capacity at 2% per day over 9 days, so the soil reached 2% moisture content and was held at this level for 2 days more. In all experiments, leaf temperature, stomatal conductance, relative water content, water potential, ion membrane leakage, and shoot dry weight were measured and transpiration efficiency was calculated. In set C, carbon isotope discrimination, root length, root dry matter, proline content and soluble sugar content were also determined. The analysis of set A and B revealed significant differences between treatments for all the parameters measured, except for relative water content, and there were also differences amongst accessions in certain parameters. PI 457972 and PI 457981 were selected for further investigation because of their low stomatal conductance under water stress conditions and low water use, and PI 510572 was selected as sensitive to drought stress due to its high water use, ion membrane leakage and water potential under water stress conditions. In addition AC 2792 (L. albococcineus) was selected due to its low stomatal conductance and water use, and high leaf temperature under water stress conditions. In the final experiment, PI 457981 and PI 457972 appeared to avoid drought through appropriate stomatal characteristics. PI 457981 showed low stomatal conductance, high leaf temperature and also high root length, similarly, accession PI 457972 showed low water potential, low stomatal conductance, low carbon isotope discrimination and accumulation of soluble sugars. Accession PI 510572 contrasted for these stomatal traits, but interestingly it showed low membrane ion leakage, high proline content and soluble sugars content, suggesting that it was capable of drought tolerance by osmotic adjustment. Finally, accession AC2792 showed low water use, low water potential and low carbon isotope discrimination. This survey thus identified accessions of Andean lupin that were able to avoid drought stress through stomatal traits and root traits, and other that were able to tolerate drought through the accumulation of osmotically active substances. Thus, there are good prospects for breeding of Andean lupin to improve its drought resistance.

In Finland, potato is cultivated on more than 22 000 hectares, which makes it one of the most important crops. Potato is considered drought sensitivive because of it´s shallow roots. Thus, irrigation is recommended to improve not only the yield but to ensure good tuber quality. However irrigation is increases production costs. Nitrogen fertilization also affects yield and tuber quality but excess nitrogen can increase costs, nutrient leaching and reduce tuber quality. Thus, the equipment that can be used to estimate nutrient deficiencies have become more common. The effect of irrigation and nitrogen fertilization on growth and tuber yield of potato was investigated during 2001 – 2003 at Potato Research Institute in Lammi, Finland. Irrigation methods were surface irrigation and subsurface drip irrigation. Nitrogen was applied as a single dose when planting or as sidedress. Further interest was to find out whether SPAD values could be used to evaluate both the demand and timing of potato nitrogen fertilization. Irrigation did not affect potato development, tuber yield or starch content. Irrigation methods had no effect on tuber yield either. However, irrigation reduced the yield of marketable tuber yield. The benefit of drip irrigation was the possibility of combined irrigation and fertilizer application. Nitrogen increased tuber yield. The potato stand that received nitrogen as a single dose produced the greatest yield. However, even the potato stand which did not receive nitrogen produced quite large yield, over 30 tn/ha. In 2003, the stands which were given sidedress nitrogen with drip irrigation produced even greater yield than the ones that had been given nitrogen as a single dose. The stands which did not receive nitrogen had highest starch content. The SPAD values were used when estimating the demand of nitrogen fertilization with drip irrigation. SPAD measurements are easily conducted and non-destructive. SPAD values can be used to estimate the demand and timing of fertilization, even though there seems to be slight delay until the values indicate the nutrient deficiency.

Timothy (Phleum pratense L.) and meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.) are generally grown forage grasses at high latitudes. Growing of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and xFestulolium hybrid is possibly increasing in the future. The climate change will alter autumn growth conditions in Finland. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in autumn growth and accumulation of reserve carbohydrates between forage grass species and cultivars from different geographical origin. The objective was also to study autumn growth ability after third cut, cold tolerance, tiller density and content of soluble sugars in chosen cultivars in field conditions during winter. This study was carried out at growth chamber experiment and field trial. There were four different autumn growth conditions in growth chambers: first 5 °C/14 h and 10 °C/14 h and secondly 15 °C/12 h and 15 °C/14 h. Vegetative factors like ligule height and activity of photosynthesis and concentration of soluble sugars were measured from timothy, meadow fescue, perennial ryegrass and xFestulolium lines. Autumn growth yield after third cut, cold tolerance (LT50) and reserve carbohydrates of perennial ryegrass and xFestulolium cultivars during winter were measured in field trial (Nov. & Jan./Feb.). According to this study low temperatures (5 and 10 °C) prevented formation of lateral tillers effectively in timothy but not in other species because they formed new lateral tillers and accumulated biomass. Low temperatures (5 and 10 °C) prevented height growth in all studied lines and long day length (14 h) allowed height growth only in higher temperature (15 °C). Perennial ryegrasses and xFestulolium cultivars grew similarly in short (12 h) and long (14h) day length but the growth of timothy was delayed in short day length. Southern timothy breeding line grew significantly height in the 15 °C and 14 h growth conditions whereas northern timothy breeding line formed more lateral tillers. The photosynthesis activity of all tested genotypes was high in all growth conditions and concentration of soluble sugars increased in low temperatures but not in high temperatures except in northern timothy. According to the field trial the overwintering of perennial ryegrasses and xFestulolium cultivars was challenging especially in second winter and the decline of low temperature tolerance was connected to vernalization saturation of xFestulolium cultivars during winter. There was strong variation in autumn growth between years.

Sulfonylureas is large, widely, especially in cereal production, used herbicide group since 1980’. Continual unilateral use of sulfonylureas has resulted in development of sulfonylurea resistant weeds. Common chickweed [Stellaria media (L.) Vill.] is common weed in Finland, which is known to have developed sulfonylurea resistance. The aim of this work was to investigate herbicides to control sulfonylurea resistant chickweed as well as to optimize the timing of the weed control. Further attention paid to the effect of weed control to the barley grain yield and its quality. This study was organized as a field experiment in Somero during summer 2012 a randomized complete block design. Sulfonylurea resistant chickweed population was found from this specific field. Experiment included 14 herbicide treatments. One of the herbicides studied was sulfonylurea. Herbicides applied at early and late timing. After treatments, the number of chickweed was counted, its biomass was weighed and N content analysed. Furthermore, the coverage of chickweed and the herbicide efficacy was evaluated visually. Barley was harvested and the grain yield and its quality was analysed. Sulfonylurea Express 50 SX did not control chickweed as effectively as expected. Starane 180 was effective only when 0,6L/ha dosage was used. Ariane S, K-Trio and Primus were effective, with efficacies over 90%. Efficacies of these herbicides were not dependent of timing. Oxyril did not control chickweed as well as was assumed. Efficacy of Oxytril was better when applied at early timing. It seems that the best options to for weed management in case of sulfonylurea resistant chickweed are Starane 180, K-Trio and Ariane S.

Forage crops are an important part of agriculture in worldwide since about 69 % of the agricultural area is covered with permanent meadows and pastures. In Finland forages cover up to 29 % of the agricultural area and production is based on intensive cultivation. The most cultivated species in Finland is timothy grass (Phleum pratense ssp. pratense L.). It is very frost resistant and that is why it is suited for northern growth environment. Timothy cultivars can be divided based on their genotypic origin to southern, northern and intermediate types. Cultivars differ in their growth and development habit. Along climate change extreme weather conditions become more frequent, mean temperature will rise and winters will be rainier. This research tries to find out how the different cultivars from different origins differ in their cold tolerance, growth and development speed and how vernalisation affects. Besides these it was researched if different methods for evaluating the vernalisation response in winter crops were useful methods to evaluate vernalisation response in forage grasses. Research composed two years long field trial and growth chamber trial. Vernalisation accelerated the growth and development of timothy. Based on this research the southern cultivars already had readiness for growth and development despite of the vernalisation if environmental conditions were favourable. Northern cultivars attained this readiness along the vernalisation. Vernalisation affected also to the architecture of the grasses. The number of generative tillers, that produce the inflorescence, increased due to vernalisation response. The number of vegetative tiller, not inflorescence tiller, became less due to vernalisation. The research revealed that cold tolerance was dependent on the temperature of the autumn hardening period (FH-COLD). High mean temperature during the hardening period decreased the cold tolerance. If the temperature was between 0 °C and + 5 °C cold tolerance increased. According to this research vernalisation had a clear effect on timothy growth and development for example. Northern cultivars do not necessarily need such a long vernalisation as Finnish winter is. Also methods for evaluating the vernalisation response in winter crops are partly useful in pure timothy cultivars too.