微囊藻毒素在铜锈环棱螺肝组织中的累积降解及对3种酶活性的影响

把铜锈环棱螺（Bellamya aeruginosa）暴露于不同浓度的有毒微囊藻藻液中（对照组：只投喂四尾栅藻（Scenedes musquadricanda）;混合藻组：50％四尾栅藻＋50％铜绿微囊藻（Microcystis aerugirtosa）;蓝藻组：只投喂铜绿微囊藻）,用酶联免疫检测法（Enzyme—linked immuno sorbentassay,ELISA）检测藻液和肝组织中藻毒素浓度,藻液中包括藻相和水相的总微囊藻毒素（MC）浓度分别为：对照组0ug·L^-1;混合藻组（14．47±1．22）ug·L^-1;蓝藻组（29．47±2．43）ug·L^-1。螺在两种不同毒素浓度藻液中暴露15d后再移人四尾栅藻藻液中降解15d。结果表明,暴露期间,混合藻组、蓝藻组螺肝组织中MC含量均为先增加后减少,再增加,且同期混合藻组MC含量都明显高于蓝藻组;作为机体代谢生物标志物的酸性磷酸酶（ACP）和碱性磷酸酶（ALP）活性随MC浓度及其暴露时间发生相应变化;作为解毒生物标志物的谷胱甘肽硫转移酶（GST）活性在混合藻组先被诱导后被抑制,在蓝藻组初期变化不明显后表现为诱导。在15d降解过程中,混合藻组和蓝藻组MC含量均持续下降;机体生物标志物ACP、AIJP和GST活性表现为不同程度的降低。本试验结果为ACP、ALP和GST活性作为MC胁迫的生物标志物提供了一些依据。     

氮磷比对两种蓝藻生长及竞争的影响

通过室内实验研究了不同氮磷比条件下主要水华藻类——铜绿微囊藻（Microcystis aeruginisa）和巨颤藻（Oscillatoria princeps）的生长和种间竞争。结果表明,无论在纯培养体系还是混合培养体系中,微囊藻在中氮磷比（N/P=4.5）下生长最好,颤藻在低氮磷比（N/P=0.45）下生长最好;氮磷比对藻类的种间竞争抑制参数能够产生明显影响,中氮磷比时微囊藻对颤藻的竞争抑制参数最大,分别是高氮磷比（N/P=45）和低氮磷比时的1.38倍和1.35倍;而颤藻对微囊藻的竞争抑制参数则是在低氮磷比时最大,分别是高氮磷比和中氮磷比时的2.22倍和4.02倍。中、高氮磷比时微囊藻对颤藻的竞争抑制参数（α）大于颤藻对微囊藻的竞争抑制参数（β）,而低氮磷比时则相反。根据Lotka-Volterra竞争模型中两物种的竞争结局可初步判断,中、高氮磷比时,微囊藻在竞争中占优势,低氮磷比时,微囊藻和颤藻不稳定共存。     

应用彗星试验研究产毒微囊藻喂食暴露对铜锈环棱螺肝细胞DNA的损伤

把铜锈环棱螺（Bellamya aeruginosa）暴露于3组不同成分的微藻悬浮液中[蓝藻组：只投喂产毒铜绿微囊藻（Microcystis aeruginosa）;混合藻组：50%四尾柵藻（Scenedesmus quadricanda）＋50%产毒铜绿微囊藻;对照组：只投喂四尾柵藻],用酶联免疫检测法（Enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay,ELISA）检测藻液和螺肝组织中的藻毒素浓度。结果表明,藻液中包括藻相和水相的总微囊藻毒素（MCs）浓度分别为：蓝藻组（36.34±4.12）μg·L-1;混合藻组（18.69±2.12）μg·L-1;对照组未检出。在喂食暴露的前6h内,混合藻组和蓝藻组螺肝组织中微囊藻毒素含量持续增长,而后出现下降趋势;第12h更换藻液并将微藻浓度调整至初始值后,肝组织中MCs含量又迅速回升。同期螺肝细胞DNA损伤指标彗星尾长（TL）、彗星尾距（TM）和彗星尾部DNA百分含量（Tail DNA%）也随螺肝组织中MCs含量发生相应变化,各项DNA损伤指标均在产毒微囊藻喂食暴露6h时达到最大值,之后,各项指标值有所回落,但第12h更换藻液后,DNA损伤再次加剧。整个实验期间（24h）,混合藻组和蓝藻组的DNA损伤指标均显著高于对照组,混合藻组均显著高于蓝藻组。说明铜锈环棱螺经产毒微囊藻喂食暴露后,其肝组织细胞的DNA受到损伤,且螺肝组织MCs积累越多,DNA损伤越严重。     

铜绿微囊藻对亚硝态氮的利用

通过室内培养,研究了不同亚硝态氮浓度对铜绿微囊藻（Microcystis aeruginosa）生长的影响和藻对亚硝态氮的利用,实验分析了水体中亚硝态氮、硝态氮和铵态氮浓度的变化,测定了铜绿微囊藻的生长曲线、藻细胞内亚硝态氮含量和藻亚硝酸氧化酶（NOR）。结果显示,在10mgNO^-2-N·L^-1的处理组中,培养基中亚硝态氮和硝态氮浓度同时减少,说明铜绿微囊藻可以同时利用亚硝态氮和硝态氮;在20和30mgNO^-2-N·L^-1的处理组中,随着藻的生长培养基中亚硝态氮的浓度减少,硝态氮浓度增加,而且电泳实验显示此培养条件下铜绿微囊藻能产生亚硝酸氧化酶,表明培养基中的亚硝态氮被亚硝酸氧化酶氧化为硝态氮。本实验也表明高浓度的亚硝态氮（大于10mgNO^-2-N·L^-1）能够抑制藻的生长。     

稀土元素钕对铜绿微囊藻生长和生理特性的影响

通过模拟培养试验,研究了不同Nd3＋初始浓度条件下铜绿微囊藻（Microcystis aeruginosa）的生长及生理变化。结果表明,相对BG11培养基（Nd3＋初始浓度为0 mg.L-1）,低初始Nd3＋浓度（0.01、0.05、0.1、0.5、1 mg.L-1）条件下,随着Nd3＋浓度的增加,藻细胞中叶绿素a含量、可溶性蛋白含量和过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性均呈增加趋势,促进了铜绿微囊藻生长;在Nd3＋初始浓度为5 mg.L-1和10mg.L-1时,藻细胞丙二醛（MDA）含量急剧增加,CAT活性下降,藻细胞清除活性氧（ROS）能力下降,抗氧化防御体系被破坏,膜脂过氧化严重,严重抑制藻细胞生长,在初始Nd3＋浓度50 mg.L-1胁迫下,铜绿微囊藻无法生长。藻细胞超微结构表明,过量的Nd3＋破坏了藻细胞内的类囊体结构,胞内脂质体含量增加,细胞膜变粗糙甚至变形破碎,对藻细胞造成不可逆伤害。     

珠江河口区罗非鱼养殖池塘中浮游微藻的群落特征

2009年5月至11月,在广州市番禺区海鸥岛对6口罗非鱼河口养殖池塘的微藻群落结构和水质因子进行定期采样分析,共检出微藻7门157种,其中绿藻67种,蓝藻34种,硅藻18种,甲藻5种,隐藻3种,裸藻28种,金藻2种。各池微藻优势种种类丰富,但不同门类优势种单胞体积差异较大,其中：数量优势种多为蓝藻类的威利颤藻、点形平裂藻、褐色念珠藻、圆胞束球藻、坚实微囊藻、不定微囊藻等和绿藻类的蛋白核小球藻、镰形纤维藻、空星藻等;生物量优势种多为裸藻类的鱼形裸藻、秋鳞孔藻、琵鹭扁裸藻、扭曲扁裸藻、糙膜陀螺藻和甲藻类的加顿多甲藻、多纹膝沟藻以及隐藻类的啮蚀隐藻、具尾蓝隐藻等;卷曲螺旋藻既是数量优势种又是生物量优势种。微藻数量和生物量在养殖前中期增加较快,物种多样性丰富,后期多呈较低水平,物种多样性也逐渐下降。养殖前中期各池微藻数量范围为（0.59～72.85）×107ind·L^-1,生物量范围为1.12～114.14mg·L^-1,多样性指数平均为2.98;养殖后期微藻数量范围为（16.29～67.37）×107ind·L^-1,生物量范围为6.57～67.76mg·L^-1,多样性指数平均为2.78。各池微藻数量或生物量多与COD、DIN等营养因子呈显著正相关关系。罗非鱼也可通过滤食作用有效影响池塘微藻群落结构和水质因子的变动。     

水体氮浓度对狐尾藻和金鱼藻片段萌发及生长的影响

为了厘清水体氮浓度对沉水植物片段萌发及生长的影响,通过模拟控制试验,设计了水体总氮浓度分别为0 (CK)、 0.5 mg/L (N1)、 2 mg/L (N2)、 8 mg/L (N3)和12 mg/L (N4）共5个处理,研究了水体不同氮浓度条件下狐尾藻 (Myriophyllum spicatum) 和金鱼藻 (Ceratophyllum demersum)片段(3节)萌芽数、 萌发位置、 芽长和生物量的差异。结果表明, 水体氮浓度对不同沉水植物片段萌发的影响存在差异,较高的水体氮浓度不利于狐尾藻片断萌发,而对金鱼藻片段却有一定程度的促进;氮浓度处理促进了狐尾藻顶端优势,却抑制了金鱼藻的顶端优势。狐尾藻以0.5 mg/L处理的芽长较长,生物量以2 mg/L处理最大;而金鱼藻以8 mg/L处理芽长最长,生物量以2 mg/L处理最大。由此可见,不同沉水植物对水体氮适应性存在差异,水体氮浓度较低时,沉水植物断枝可以进行萌发和生长, 而当氮浓度超过2 mg/L时,对沉水植物断枝萌发及生长反而有抑制作用;金鱼藻片段比狐尾藻对水体氮浓度的耐受性强。     

巢湖藻类组成与环境因子典范对应分析

2008年5月—2009年5月对巢湖藻类组成及水质的季节变化进行了逐月调查研究。鉴定的藻类共6门31属48种,其中绿藻比例最高,占47.9%。藻类优势种群为蓝藻门的铜绿微囊藻（Microcystic aeruginosa）,出现频度为90.9%。3个采样点藻类群落组成没有明显差异,藻类物种丰富度指数（Margalef值）和藻细胞密度的变化范围分别为0.10~1.84和（12.65~825.00）×106 cell.L-1,且冬季值较低。同时,叶绿素（1.30~41.10μg.L-1）和总磷（0.06~0.48 mg.L-1）含量分别在秋季和夏季显著高于其他季节。典范对应分析（CCA）显示,藻类种群分布受水环境因子的影响较为明显。整体上,TP是影响巢湖藻类种群分布的重要因素。     

伊乐藻对污染水体中氮、磷的净化效果及其克藻效应

为了科学评价伊乐藻在水生态修复中的实际应用价值,在模拟条件下初步研究了沉水植物伊乐藻（Elodea nuttallii）对污染水体中氮、磷的净化效果及其克藻效应。结果表明,伊乐藻对总氮、氨态氮、硝态氮和总磷均具有一定的净化效果,并且水体中氮、磷起始浓度越高,其去除效果越明显;不同生物量伊乐藻对河水中其他藻类均具有较强抑制作用,并且随着生物量增加,其克藻效应更加明显。     

沉水植物对重金属Cu2＋的生物吸附及其生理反应

采用室内培养实验方法,研究了沉水植物轮叶黑藻（Hydilla verticillata）和穗花狐尾藻（Myriophyllum spicatum）在吸收铜离子过程中产生的生理反应。以上两种沉水植物在Cu2＋浓度分别为0、2、4、8、16、32、64mg·L-1的溶液中暴露了24、48、72、96h,结果表明：黑藻对铜的积累量明显高于狐尾藻对铜的积累量,本实验中黑藻对铜的最大积累量为11295．31μgCu·g-1（干重）,而狐尾藻对铜的最大积累量为6861．26μgCu·g-1（于重）;对以上两种植物的叶绿素含量、SOD和POD活性产生胁迫效应的Cu2＋浓度明显不同,表明狐尾藻较黑藻对重金属Cu2＋胁迫具有更高的耐受性。以上研究结果对利用沉水植物去除重金属污染能起到一定的指导和参考作用。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

Faculty positions:Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Assessing the effectiveness of conservation measures: Resolving the “wicked” problem of the Steller sea lion

“Wicked” problems are those that are complex and that change when solutions are applied. Many conflicts in conservation fall into this category. The study approached the problem of how to constrain the apparent wickedness of a problem in the conservation management of a species by using simple empirical indicators to carry out iterative assessment of the risk to a population and to document how this risk evolves in relation to the addition of new data and the implementation of management actions. Effects of high levels of uncertainty within data and also concerning population structure were examined through stochastic simulation and by exploration of scenarios. Historical trends in the example used, the Steller sea lion, showed rapid declines in abundance in some regions during the 1980s. The current total population is 130,000-150,000 Steller sea lions through Alaska and British Columbia and this number has been stable since about 1990 in spite of regional differences in population dynamics. Regional differences in the sequence of changes in the number of pups and non-pups, suggested that an internal re-distribution of juveniles could have happened between 1980 and 1990. Current productivity also appears close to the long-term mean. Stochastic population projection using various scenarios showed that, based upon this history, the risk of extinction for the population has declined and is below reasonable thresholds for considering the population to be endangered. The trends in risk suggest that management actions taken since 1990 have probably been effective. Consequently, the conservation management objectives for the Steller sea lion are probably being met. The approach provides a mechanism, based upon experience and scenario analysis, for exploring future policy options and may help to constrain the debate amongst stakeholders about the cost-benefit trade-offs associated with different options.     

Soil-profile distribution of primary and secondary plant-available nutrients under conventional and no tillage

Nutrient distributions under no tillage (NT) compared with conventional disk-and-bed tillage (CT) management in the warm, humid region of the southeastern USA need to be assessed so that future placement, quantity, and type of fertilizers can be altered, if necessary, to efficiently match crop demands. We determined soil-profile distributions of pH, N, P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu to a depth of 0.9 m at the end of 8.5 years of continuous CT and NT management on a Weswood silty clay loam (fine, mixed, thermic Fluventic Ustochrept) in southcentral Texas. Most dramatic changes occurred within the 0–0.05 m depth, where soil under NT had lower pH, Fe, and Cu than under CT, but greater P, K, Zn, and Mn. Greater P and K under NT than under CT also occurred below the till-zone (0.15–0.3 m). At a depth of 0–0.3 m, soil under NT contained greater amounts of extractable P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu than under CT. Nitrogen fertilization had little effect on nutrient distributions, except resulting in greater extractable K at 0–0.05 m and greater nitrate at 0–0.15 m. Few changes in soil-profile distributions were observed for extractable S, Ca, Mg, and Na. Long-term continuous use of NT on this fine-textured, high-fertility (except for N) soil had no apparent adverse effects on nutrient distributions relative to CT, but enhanced conservation and availability of P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu near the soil surface where crop roots proliferate.     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.     

Variation in quality parameters between and within 14 Nordic tree fruit and berry species

Abstract

A 3-year study was carried out to investigate quality parameters in 14 tree fruit and berry species grown in southern Norway. The species were blueberry, apple, aronia, sour cherry, sweet cherry, red raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, gooseberry, red currant and elderberry, harvested along with wild bilberry, cloudberry and lingonberry. Significant differences between species were identified for all quality parameters. The coefficient of variation between species was lowest for pH (12.5%), dry matter (18.9%) and soluble solids (25.3%), followed by titratable acids (59.3%), total phenolics (83.8%), antioxidant capacity FRAP (85.7%) and antiradical power by the DPPH-assay (97.8%), total monomeric anthocyanins (132%) and ascorbic acid (137%). Average coefficient of variation within species were lower and ranged from 4 (pH) to 62% (ascorbic acid). Only the FRAP values were significantly affected by harvesting year with lower levels in 2004 than in 2005 and 2006. There were significant interactions between species and harvesting year for dry matter, soluble solids, pH, ascorbic acid and FRAP. The results indicate generic ranges in composition within species independent upon growing location and climate, and the composition of the tree fruits and berries is not likely to deviate from these ranges. It is concluded that desirable composition of tree fruits and berries and their products should primarily be achieved by selection among species rather than searching fors broadened variation within individual species.     

Enhanced establishment and growth of giant cardon cactus in an eroded field in the Sonoran Desert using native legume trees as nurse plants aided by plant growth-promoting microorganisms and compost

To evaluate the feasibility of long-term desert reforestation technology of mixed vegetation, cardon cactus (Pachycereus pringlei) seedlings from indoor and outdoor nurseries were planted in the field adjacent to one seedling of potential legume nurse trees: mesquite amargo (Prosopis articulata), yellow palo verde (Parkinsonia microphylla), and blue palo verde (Parkinsonia florida). Some of the planting holes were also supplemented with common dairy compost. Additionally, the combinations of legume tree–cactus were inoculated with either a consortium of desert arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB; the diazotroph Azospirillum brasilense Cd, and the phosphate solubilizer Paenibacillus sp.), or a mixture of all. The field experiments were evaluated periodically during 30 months for survival and growth. Cardons reared in an outdoor screen house survived better in the field than those reared in a controlled growth chamber and hardened later outdoors. Association with any legume nurse tree increased survival and enhanced growth of untreated cardons. For cardons growing alone, application of either compost, AM fungi, and all the treatments combined increased survival. For these plants, no treatment affected plant growth during the first 3 months after transplanting. Later, all treatments, except for AM fungi, enhanced plant growth. However, only 2 years after transplanting the enhanced growth effect of AM fungi was also significant. In the presence of the legume nurse trees, transient positive effects on cardon growth were recorded. General evaluation after 30 months of cultivation showed that the treatments positively affected cardon growth when growing alone or in combination only with mesquite amargo but not with the other two legume trees. This study proposes that young legume trees have the capacity to enhance survival and growth of cardon cactus, depending on the legume cactus combination. Additional treatments such as compost or PGPB can either amplify the effect or else attenuate it.     

Karyotypic and genome size variation in Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. (pigeonpea) and some wild relatives

Detailed karyotypes and 4C DNA amounts have been studied in five cultivars of Cajanus cajan and 20 species belonging to Cajanus, Rhynchosia, Dunbaria, Flemingia and Paracalyx. C. cajan shows intraspecific variability and its karyotype is most similar to that of C. cajanifolius (sect. Cajanus) in the morphology and number of satellite chromosomes and the lack of any correlation between chromosome size within the complement and asymmetry. Karyotypes of C. lineatus and C. sericeus belonging to sect. Atylia are similar with respect to maximum r-index and the ratio of longest and shortest chromosomes in their respective complements. C. acutifolius (sect. Frutocosa) is distinct in having a very low ratio (1.44) between the longest and the shortest chromosomes, while in C. albicans, C. goensis, C. scarabaeoides (sect. Cantharospermum) there is no chromosome pair with r-index >2.0. C. mollis and C. volubilis (sect. Volubilis) show similarity with regard to ratio between the longest and the shortest chromosomes and a distinct chromosome pair with an arm ratio of 2.7 and C. platycarpus is distinct (sect. Rhynchosoides) in having the smallest ratio (1.36) between the longest and the shortest chromosomes. 4C DNA amounts in Cajanus and Rhynchosia vary between 3.28 pg to 11.69 pg and 4.92 pg to 11.13 pg respectively, while in Dunbaria, Flemingia and Paracalyx these vary between 4.70 and 7:06 pg. In the genus Cajanus karyotypic features and 4C DNA amounts agree with the sectional classification and bring out a close relationship between C. cajan and C. cajanifolius. This is supported by studies based on seed protein patterns, isozyme analysis, trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitor patterns, RFLP and RAPD data and crossability relationships. A clear relation between DNA amount and abnormalities effecting the extent of pairing and recombination in interspecific hybrids shows the importance of this study in developing future breeding programme involving C. cajan and its wild relatives that are of potential value.     

Potassium Fixation and Release Characteristics in Rhizosphere and Nonrhizosphere Soils for a Rapeseed–Rice Cropping Sequence

Potassium (K) fixation and release in soil are important factors in the long-term sustainability of a cropping system. Changes in K concentration and characteristics of K fixation and release in rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils in the rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)–rice (Oryza sativa L.) rotation were investigated using a rhizobox system. The concentrations of different forms of K in both rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils decreased with plants compared to without plants, regardless of K fertilizer application. Potassium uptake by crops mainly came from the rhizosphere soil. In the treatment without K fertilizer (–K), the main form of K supplied by the soil to the crops was 1.0 mol L^?1 nitric acid (HNO₃) nonextractable K, followed by nonexchangeable K, and then exchangeable K. In the treatment with K fertilizer (+K), the main K forms supplied by the soil to the crops were exchangeable K and nonexchangeable K. The amount and rate of K fixation after one cycle of the rapeseed–rice rotation was greater in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The amount and rate of K fixation of soil in the +K treatment were significantly less than in the –K treatment. The cumulative amounts of K released with 1.0 mol L^?1 ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) and 1.0 mol L^?1 HNO₃ extraction increased with the increasing numbers of extractions, but the K-releasing power of soil by successive extraction decreased gradually and finally became almost constant. The release of K was less in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The release of K in the +K treatment was similar to that in the –K treatment in rhizosphere soil, but the K release in nonrhizosphere soil was greater with the +K than the –K treatment. Overall, the information obtained in this study will be helpful in formulating more precise K fertilizer recommendations for certain soils.