Fungal Diversity in Field Mold-Damaged Soybean Fruits and Pathogenicity Identification Based on High-Throughput rDNA Sequencing.

Continuous rain and an abnormally wet climate during harvest can easily lead to soybean plants being damaged by field mold (FM), which can reduce seed yield and quality. However, to date, the underlying pathogen and its resistance mechanism have remained unclear. The objective of the present study was to investigate the fungal diversity of various soybean varieties and to identify and confirm the FM pathogenic fungi.

Metabolism variation and better storability of dark- versus light-coloured soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) seeds.

The effects of storage duration on the seed germination and metabolite profiling of soybean seeds with five different coloured coats were studied. Their germination, constituents and transcript expressions of isoflavones and free fatty acids (FFAs) were compared using chromatographic metabolomic profiling and transcriptome sequencing. The seed water content was characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry.

[Effects of N application reduction and fertilizing distance on saving fertilizer and improving yield in maize/soybean intercropping system].

To study the effect of N supplied levels and fertilization distances on saving fertilizer and improving yield in maize/soybean intercropping system, a field experiment was carried out with three N supplying levels ( RN: 210 kg N·hm, RN: 270 kg N·hm and CN: 330 kg N·hm) and four fertilizing distances (D: 0 cm, D: 15 cm, D: 30 cm and D: 45 cm, indicating the distance between fertilizing site and maize in narrow row). Compared with CN, the results showed that dry matter accumulation and translocation, and their contribution to grain of post-anthesis maize under RN were increased by 1.4%, 23.

[Effects of potato/soybean intercropping on photosynthetic characteristics and yield of three soybean varieties].

The potato/soybean intercropping trials using three soybean varieties including Zhonghuang 30 (early-maturing variety) , Jidou 17 (mid maturing variety) and Qihuang 34 (late maturing variety) with the sole cropping potato as control were carried out to determine the dynamic changes of leaf area index (LAI) of soybean, accumulation of dry matter, photosynthetic characteristics, yield and yield components. The results showed that the LAI, dry matter accumulation, net photosynthesis (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr) and stomatal conduction (g(s)) of soybean in all intercropping systems were lower than in monoculture because of the influence of intensified lower light during earlier growing stage, and the duration from planting to flowering was extended. When the potato was harvested, the LAI, dry matter accumulation, Pn, Tr and g(s) of soybean in all intercropping systems increased, especially for mid-maturing and late-maturing varieties, which became much closer to those in the monoculture.

[Effects of nitrogen management on maize nitrogen utilization and residual nitrate nitrogen in soil under maize/soybean and maize/sweet potato relay strip intercropping systems].

A large amount of nitrogen (N) fertilizers poured into the fields severely pollute the environment. Reasonable application of N fertilizer has always been the research hotpot. The effects of N management on maize N utilization and residual nitrate N in soil under maize/soybean and maize/ sweet potato relay strip intercropping systems were reported in a field experiment in southwest China.

[Effect of reduced N application on soil N residue and N loss in maize-soybean relay strip intercropping system].

A field experiment was conducted in 2012, including three planting pattern (maize-soybean relay strip intercropping, mono-cultured maize and soybean) and three nitrogen application level [0 kg N x hm(-2), 180 kg N x hm(-2) (reduced N) and 240 kg N x hm(-2) (normal N)]. Fields were assigned to different treatments in a randomized block design with three replicates. The objective of this work was to analyze the effects of planting patterns and nitrogen application rates on plant N uptake, soil N residue and N loss.

[Effects of reduced N application rate on yield and nutrient uptake and utilization in maize-soybean relay strip intercropping system].

A field experiment with three N application rates (0, 180, 240 N kg x hm(-2), representing zero, reduced and conventional N application, respectively) and three planting patterns (maize monoculture, soybean monoculture and maize-soybean relay strip intercropping) was conducted to reveal the effects of cropping patterns and N application rates on yield, nutrient uptake and nitrogen use efficiency of maize and soybean. The results showed that the grain yield, N, P and K uptake and harvest index of the intercropped maize reduced slightly compared with the monoculture maize, however these indices of the intercropped soybean increased significantly compared with the monoculture. With the increase in nitrogen fertilizer application, the excellence of relay strip intercropping was weakened in the maize-soybean intercropping system.

[Effects of different cropping modes on crop root growth, yield, and rhizosphere soil microbes' number].

A multi-year field experiment was conducted to study the variation features of rhizosphere environment and crop root growth under the cropping modes of wheat-soybean (A1), wheat-sweet potato (A2), maize (A3), wheat/maize/soybean (A4), and wheat/maize/sweet potato (A). Among the five modes, A4 increased the plant biomass, root activity, and root dry mass of wheat, maize, and soybean at their flowering and maturing stages, and the quantity of rhizosphere soil bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes. The biomass and quantity of rhizosphere soil microbes were relay strip intercropping > single cropping, soybean > sweet potato, and fringe row > center row.

[Effects of different planting modes on soil nitrogen transformation and related enzyme activities].

A 2-year field experiment was conducted to study the dynamics of soil nitrogen content and urease, proteinase, and nitrate reductase activities in a wheat/maize/soybean relay strip intercropping system under effects of five planting modes, i.e., wheat-soybean (A1), wheat-sweet potato (A2), maize (A3), wheat/maize/soybean (A4), and wheat/maize/sweet potato (A5).

[Effects of planting system on soil and water conservation and crop output value in a sloping land of Southwest China].

A three-year experiment was conducted to study the effects of wheat/maize/soybean with total no-tillage and mulching (NTM), wheat/maize/soybean with part no-tillage and part mulching (PTM), wheat/maize/soybean with total tillage without mulching (TWM), and wheat/maize/ sweet potato with total tillage without mulching (TWMS) on the soil and water conservation, soil fertility, and crop output value in a sloping land of Southwest China. The average soil erosion amount and surface runoff of NTM were significantly lower than those of the other three planting systems, being 1189 kg x hm(-2) and 215 m3 x hm(-2), and 10.6% and 84.