J. T. Tsialtas

Irrigation and rootstock effects on the phenolic concentration and aroma potential of vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes

Compositional changes of skin and seed phenolic compounds and berry glycosylated aroma precursors were measured in Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon onto 1103P and SO4 rootstocks, in three irrigation regimes (FI, 100% of evapotranspiration; DI, 50% of evapotranspiration; and NI, non-irrigated). The study was conducted in a commercial vineyard of central Greece, in a factorial experiment during two growing seasons (2005-2006). Grape samples were obtained at commercial harvest. The deficit water supply decreased berry size but did not affect the skin/pulp weight ratio. Water limitation, especially pre-veraison, caused a substantial increase of skin anthocyanin concentration, and this effect was independent of water deficit-induced reductions in berry size and vine vigor. Among individual anthocyanins, malvidin-3-O-glucoside was mostly affected by water supply. The rootstock genotype did not affect berry growth parameters and skin polyphenol concentrations. The irrigation regime (mainly post-veraison) and rootstock genotype affected total flavan-3-ol monomers in seed tissue, mainly as a result of variations in the catechin amount. The lower seed phenolic concentration was found in non-irrigated and SO4-grafted vines, probably as a result of the restriction of scion vigor caused by these treatments, thereby altering cluster exposure. Skin and seed tannins were not affected by either rootstock or irrigation. The limited water supply was associated with increased aroma potential at harvest.

Leaf area estimation by simple measurements and evaluation of leaf area prediction models in Cabernet-Sauvignon grapevine leaves

For two growing seasons (2005 and 2006), leaves of grapevine cv. Cabernet-Sauvignon were collected at three growth stages (bunch closure, veraison, and ripeness) from 10-year-old vines grafted on 1103 Paulsen and SO4 rootstocks and subjected to three watering regimes in a commercial vineyard in central Greece. Leaf shape parameters (leaf area-LA, perimeter-Per, maximum midvein length-L, maximum width-W, and average radial-AR) were determined using an image analysis system. Leaf morphology was affected by sampling time but not by year, rootstock, or irrigation treatment. The rootstock×irrigation×sampling time interaction was significant for all the leaf shape parameters (LA, Per, L, W, and AR) and the means of the interaction were used to establish relationships between them. A highly significant linear function between L and LA could be used as a non-destructive LA prediction model for Cabernet-Sauvignon. Eleven models proposed for the non-destructive LA estimation in various grapevine cultivars were evaluated for their accuracy in predicting LA in this cultivar. For all the models, highly significant linear functions were found between calculated and measured LA. Based on r2 and the mean square deviation (MSD), the model proposed for LA estimation in cv. Cencibel [LA = 0.587(L×W)] was the most appropriate.

Dry matter and nitrogen partitioning and translocation in winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) grown under rainfed Mediterranean conditions

Abstract. For crops grown in Mediterranean environments, translocation of pre-anthesis assimilates to the fruit is of great importance, because hot and dry conditions during fruit ripening diminish net assimilation rate and nitrogen (N) uptake. This field study was conducted to assess the pattern of dry matter and N accumulation and the role of assimilate translocation in pod development of oilseed rape plants in a Mediterranean environment. Four cultivars of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), i.e. three hybrids (Royal, Exact, Excalibur) and an inbred line (Fortis), were grown for two growing seasons (2005–06 and 2006–07) in northern Greece. On average, 581, 1247, 1609, and 2749 growing degree-days (GDD) were required for six leaves, stem elongation, 50% anthesis in main stem, and physiological maturity in the first year, and 539, 1085, 1601, and 2728 GDD in the second year. The R2 of the modified Richards function indicated that aboveground biomass and N accumulation were described with high approximation efficacy. The across-cultivars genotype mean maximum predicted total aboveground dry matter and N content were 1368.8 and 21.4 g m–2 in 2006 and 1655.1 and 25.4 g m–2 in 2007. In 2007, dry matter and N translocation from vegetative tissues to pods were 464.4 and 21.0 g m–2, and significantly higher than the corresponding values recorded in 2006 (264.4 and 17.0 g m–2). These differences were due to greater amounts of dry matter and N accumulating at anthesis and the greater sink capacity of plants (pod number) in 2007. The fact that pod development occurred in a period when N accumulation by oilseed rape plants had stopped led to high values of contribution of pre-anthesis N accumulation to pod N content in both years (92.8% in 2006 and 96.6% in 2007). Results indicated that hot and dry weather post anthesis reduced dramatically the net assimilation rates; thus, translocation of pre-anthesis assimilates was crucial for pod development. The results demonstrate that variation in weather conditions between growing seasons is one of the main causes of seasonal variation in oilseed rape productivity under Mediterranean conditions.

Strontium Absorption by Two Trifolium Species as Influenced by Soil Characteristics and Liming

Strontium absorption by plants is specific to individual species and also depends on the underlying soil properties. The purpose ofthis study was to evaluate the effect of certain soil characteristics and liming on Sr absorption by twoTrifolium species. One-liter volume of two inorganic and three organic soilswere treated with a combination of three CaCO3 levels, 0, 3.6 and 7.2 g, × two Sr levels, 50 and 100 mg, (treatments) in four replications. Trifolium repens L. was grown in thetreated soils, in pots, harvested twice, and Sr in theabove-ground biomass of each harvest and soil exchangeable Caof each treatment were determined. The experiment was repeatedwith Trifolium subterraneum L., harvested once. For bothspecies, Sr transfer factor (T.F.) values of the varioustreatments were calculated. Shoot Sr concentrations weresignificantly affected by soil characteristics and Sr additionrates and were greater in T. repens. In all cases, theSr concentrations of plants grown in the organic soils, whichwere characterized by higher exchangeable Ca and cationexchange capacity (C.E.C.) values, were lower than those ofplants grown in the inorganic soils. Among the organic soils,Sr concentrations of the plants grown in the soil with thehighest values of C.E.C., organic matter and exchangeable Cawere the lowest. Liming decreased significantly the Srconcentrations in T. repens and T. subterraneumgrown in the two acid soils, while the pH and exchangeable Cawere increased. Shoot Sr concentration (log scale) wassignificantly, negatively correlated with soil exchangeable Ca. Strontium T.F. values were quite similar between the two Sr application rates and were affected by the same soil characteristics.

Leaf Physiological Traits and their Importance for Species Success in a Mediterranean Grassland

We related leaf physiological traits of four grassland species (Poa pratensis, Lolium perenne, Festuca valida, and Taraxacum officinale), dominant in a Mediterranean grassland, to their origin and success at community level. From early May to mid-June 1999, four leaf samplings were done. Species originating from poor environments (P. pratensis, F. valida) had low carbon isotope discrimination (Δ), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf water and mineral contents, and net photosynthetic rate on mass basis (Pmass) but high chlorophyll content. The reverse traits were evident for the fast-growing species (L. perenne, T. officinale). Under the resource-limiting conditions (soil nitrogen and water) of the Mediterranean grassland, the physiological traits of P. pratensis and F. valida showed to be more adapted to these conditions leading to high species abundance and dominance.

Application of linear models for estimation of leaf area in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr]

Leaf area estimation is an important measurement for comparing plant growth in field and pot experiments. In this study, determination of the leaf area (LA, cm2) in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] involves measurements of leaf parameters such as maximum terminal leaflet length (L, cm), width (W, cm), product of length and width (LW), green leaf dry matter (GLDM) and the total number of green leaflets per plant (TNLP) as independent variables. A two-year study was carried out during 2009 (three cultivars) and 2010 (four cultivars) under field conditions to build a model for estimation of LA across soybean cultivars. Regression analysis of LA vs. L and W revealed several functions that could be used to estimate the area of individual leaflet (LE), trifoliate (T) and total leaf area (TLA). Results showed that the LW-based models were better (highest R2 and smallest RMSE) than models based on L or W and models that used GLDM and TNLP as independent variables. The proposed linear models are: LE = 0.754 + 0.655 LW, (R2= 0.98), T = −4.869 + 1.923 LW, (R2 = 0.97), and TLA = 6.876 + 1.813 ΣLW (summed product of L and W terminal leaflets per plant), (R2= 0.99). The validation of the models based on LW and developed on cv. DPX showed that the correlation between calculated and measured LA was strong. Therefore, the proposed models can estimate accurately and massively the LA in soybeans without the use of expensive instrumentation.

Sugar beet root shape and its relation with yield and quality

In a two-year (2002–2003) field study, six sugar beet cultivars were arranged in a Randomised Complete Block design with six replications. The aim of the work was to study the root shape variability using an image analysis system and to relate root shape parameters [area (A, cm2), maximum length (L, cm), maximum width (W, cm), average radial (AR, cm), radial variation (RV), circularity (Circ), elongation or the ratio W/L (El) and shape factor (SF)] with yield [fresh root weight (FRW), sugar yield (SY)] and quality [sucrose content % fresh root weight (SC), K, Na, α-amino N]. The main factors (year, site, cultivar) and their interaction had smaller effects on root shape parameters than on yield and its components. Cultivar affected only W but it had a significant impact on all quantitative and qualitative traits. No significant relationship between root W and yield or quality was found for cultivars. Significant, positive relationships between A and FRW or K in roots were found for the year × site × cultivar interaction. SC in roots was related with more rounded roots as revealed by the relationships between SC and Circ or El. Also, rounded roots were related with increased accumulation of K and decreased Na concentrations in sugar beets.

First report of a “Candidatus Phytoplasma solani” related strain associated with a disease of Datura stramonium in Greece

Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium), family Solanaceae, a common weed in spring crops in Greece, includes two botanical varieties (var. stramonium and var. tatula). During a field trial at the Aristotle University Farm (40o32N’ 22o59’E, 6 m asl), in which four accessions of D. stramonium were tested for growth rate and alkaloid content, phytoplasma-like symptoms were observed. Initially, the affected plants showed interveinal chlorosis of the upper leaves, stunting and flower malformation, whereas at maturity they did not form normal fruits and developed leaf necrosis. To investigate the possibility of a phytoplasma infection, DNA was extracted from leaf samples of symptomatic and apparently healthy plants of both varieties according to Psifidi et al. (2010). A nested PCR was performed using two universal primer sets specific to the phytoplasma 16S rRNA gene: P1/P7 (Schneider et al., 1995) followed by R16F2n/R16R2 (Gundersen and Lee, 1996). The expected ca. 1,200 bp product, amplified esclusively from symptomatic plants of both varieties, was cloned and sequenced. BLAST analysis revealed 99% similarity with sequence AF248959 of stolbur phytoplasma (16SrXII group, Ca. Phytoplasma solani). Sequences from both varieties were identical, indicating infection by the same phytoplasma strain and were deposited in EMBL-EBI (accession Nos HE598778 and HE598779). Diseased plants of var. tatula and stramonium showed 49-69% and 38% reduction of the above-ground fresh weight, respectively, compared to healthy plants, hence making the phytoplasma an important pathogen of jimsonweed, which constitutes a reservoir plant in the field. This is, to our knowledge, the first report of a Ca. Phytoplasma solani-related disease in jimsonweed in Greece.

TRACING NITROGEN IN SOIL-ROOT-PETIOLE-LEAF CONTINUUM IN SUGAR BEETS: CAN SPAD-502 HELP?

This work aimed to study whether soil plant analysis development (SPAD) and its modifications (SPAD/SLA, SPAD/N) were sensitive indicators of intra-seasonal nitrogen (N) changes in the soil-root-petiole-leaf continuum in sugar beets. In a three-year, field experiment, 11 occasions of measurement per year took place. Significant intra-seasonal changes of soil [total N, nitrate (NO3)-N], root (α-amino N), petiole (NO3-N) and leaf [SPAD,%N, SLA, SPAD/N, SPAD/SLA, specific leaf nitrogen (SLN)] traits were found. SPAD readings failed to predict N status changes in soil and sugar beets. SPAD modifications (SPAD/SLA, SPAD/N) gave significant correlations with root α-amino N (r = −0.80, P < 0.001, n = 33) and petiole NO3-N (r = −0.53, P < 0.01, n = 33) which are considered as sugar beet N status indicators. SPAD readings adjusted for intra-seasonal, leaf ontogenetic changes as they captured by SLA improved the correlations with the indicators of sugar beet N status and especially with root α-amino N. Also, SPAD/SLA gave a significantly correlation with leaf %N (r = −0.82, P < 0.001, n = 33).

First report of oilseed rape stem rot caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in Greece.

Oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) was recently introduced into Greece for the production of biofuels. During May of 2007, symptoms typical of stem rot were observed on oilseed rape plants in three commercial fields in the area of Galatades-Pella, Central Macedonia, Greece. Approximately 30% of the plants were affected. Symptoms began as a chlorotic wilt on the foliage and developed into necrosis of basal stems. In the advanced stages of the disease, stems and branches became bleached and eventually died. White, as well as black, mycelium and irregularly shaped sclerotia (2 to 5 mm in diameter) were produced abundantly on and inside the affected stems. To isolate the pathogen, 20 symptomatic 6-month-old plants were collected from each field. Sclerotia were dipped in 70% ethanol, surface sterilized in 1% sodium hypochlorite for 1 min, and rinsed in sterile water. Sclerotia placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) were incubated in the dark at 25°C for 10 days. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary was identified on the basis of morphological characteristics (2). To conduct pathogenicity tests, 10 6-week-old oilseed rape plants (cv. Titan) were each inoculated with a 5-mm-diameter colonized PDA disk placed in wounds made in the basal stem with a sterile scalpel. Five control plants were treated similarly except that the agar disk did not contain mycelium. Plants were then covered with a plastic bag to maintain high humidity. After 72 h, the bags were removed and the plants were maintained in a growth chamber at 23 to 25°C with a 12-h photoperiod and 75% relative humidity. Pathogenicity tests were repeated three times. Symptoms identical to those observed in the field developed within 12 days after inoculation; control plants remained healthy. The fungus was reisolated from all inoculated plants, confirming Kochs postulates. S. sclerotiorum has been reported on oilseed rape in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the United States, and New Zealand (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of Sclerotinia stem rot of oilseed rape in Greece. References: (1) D. F. Farr et al. Fungal Databases. Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory. Online publication. ARS, USDA, 2008. (2) L. M. Kohn. Phytopathology 69:881, 1979.