不同根型苜蓿根系对低温胁迫的响应及其抗寒性评价

为了解不同根型苜蓿在越冬期根系对低温胁迫的响应特征及其抗寒性强弱, 本研究以根茎型“清水”紫花苜蓿 (Medicago sativa L. cv. “Qingshui”)、根蘖型“甘农2 号”杂花苜蓿(M. varia Martin. cv. “Gannong No. 2”)和直根型“陇东”紫花苜蓿(M. sativa L. cv. “Longdong”)为材料, 于2009 年9 月15 日、10 月15 日、12 月15 日, 2010 年1 月15 日、3 月15 日在甘肃天水、榆中和武威3 个生态区, 对自然降温、升温过程中苜蓿根系脯氨酸、可溶性蛋白质、可溶性糖和丙二醛(MDA)含量及过氧化氢酶(CAT)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性6 项生理指标的动态变化进行监测。结果表明, 在3 个生态区, 3 类根型苜蓿根系MDA 含量随气温的变化均呈先升高后降低再升高的变化趋势; 脯氨酸、可溶性糖含量和CAT 活性均随气温的下降而增加, 随气温升高而减少; 而可溶性蛋白质含量和SOD 活性在不同生态区的不同品种间随气温的变化规律不同。应用隶属函数法进行抗寒性综合评判, 不同根型苜蓿抗寒性强弱顺序为: 根茎型“清水”紫花苜蓿>根蘖型“甘农2 号”杂花苜蓿>直根型“陇东”紫花苜蓿; 同一品种在不同生态区抗寒性强弱顺序为: 榆中>武威>天水, 与所在地的海拔呈显著正相关。     

黄土塬区三种豆科牧草的竞争生长

通过田间试验研究了沙打旺、紫花苜蓿和达乌里胡枝子3种豆科牧草在黄土旱塬以不同密度单播、混播时的竞争生长能力及水分利用效率.单播时苜蓿生长次年3个密度的生产力分别为15349kg·hm-2、20582kg·hm-2、21531kg·hm-2,沙打旺和胡枝子3个密度的生产力分别为7979kg·hm-2、16440kg·hm-2、21055kg·hm-2和2412kg·hm-2、5270kg·hm-2、7102kg·hm-2.混播草地生产力以苜蓿 胡枝子最高(平均19227kg·hm-2),沙打旺与胡枝子混播的生产力最低(平均11977kg·hm-2).和生产力较高的参混种苜蓿、沙打旺单播相比,苜蓿与沙打旺混播及沙打旺与胡枝子混播的生产力在3种密度下均有不同程度的降低.苜蓿主根下扎深度2m,0～60cm根系占总根量的66%,沙打旺和胡枝子根系最大下扎深度分别为1.8m和1.5m,0～60cm根系占总根量比例分别是80%、91%.3种牧草中苜蓿的平均水分利用效率最高,为25.75kg·mm-1·hm-2,胡枝子最低为7.71kg·mm-1·hm-2,沙打旺居中.苜蓿群体种内个体间竞争强度高于沙打旺和胡枝子.结果表明在黄土旱塬上苜蓿的竞争生长能力和水分利用效率高于沙打旺和胡枝子;不同牧草混播后可以提高水分利用效率,但生产力相对降低.     

田间越冬期不同根型苜蓿根系的生理生化特性

以根茎型清水苜蓿、直根型陇东苜蓿、根蘖型甘农2号杂花苜蓿和野生黄花苜蓿为试验材料,在田间条件下,测定3类根型的4个苜蓿品种(材料)在秋末至翌年初春根系脯氨酸、丙二醛、可溶性糖及可溶性蛋白质含量、过氧化氢酶和超氧化物歧化酶活性6项指标的变化,以研究不同根型苜蓿品种(材料)对低温的适应性.结果表明,4个苜蓿品种(材料)其脯...     

小麦品种混播条件下条锈病发生、扩展研究

在田间分别设计6个小麦品种单播及其9个组合混播小区,研究条锈病在小麦混播群体中的发生、扩展情况及品种混播对条锈病的控制效果。结果表明,苗期品种混播小区发病中心的数量明显减少,条锈病发病中心越冬率达77.78%,单片病叶也可越冬。品种混播降低了条锈病传播距离,条锈病在各小区呈中心式分布。品种混播在孕穗期的相对防效为16.25%～58.89%,平均为35.31%。相对防效以"陕138"和"西农979"品种混播及"陕138"、"小偃22"和"西农889"品种混播最高,分别达58.89%和52.19%。品种混播对小麦条锈病有较好的控制效果,可作为生态防病措施之一。     

基于主成分分析法的红枣1年生枝条抗寒性研究

以6个红枣品种临泽小枣、俊优2号、脆枣、骏枣、爆米花和子弹头的1年生枝条为试材,测定相对电导率、可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白、丙二醛、游离脯氨酸含量等指标,研究其在低温处理下的生理变化特征,并用主成分分析法对其抗寒性进行综合评价.结果表明,6个品种枣树的半致死温度值(LT50)为-23.73～-16.06℃,俊优2号的最低、子...     

不同播种方式下苜蓿与无芒雀麦人工草地的小气候特征分析

为指导北方地区人工草地的建植和调控,以不同播种方式的2a生人工草地的头茬草为试验对象,采用田间测定小气候要素的方法,研究了紫花苜蓿（Medicago sativa L．cv．Algonquin）与无芒雀麦（Bromus innermis Leyss cv．Carlton）在同行混播（TH）、间行混播（JH）和单播（单播紫花苜蓿DM,单播无芒雀麦DW）方式下草地群体的小气候特征。结果表明,在紫花苜蓿处于初花期、无芒雀麦处于孕穗期时,群体内部光照强度和风速均为：单播无芒雀麦〉同行混播、间行混播〉单播紫花苜蓿;温度：单播无芒雀麦〉单播紫花苜蓿〉同行混播、间行混播;相对湿度：同行混播、间行混播〉单播紫花苜蓿〉单播无芒雀麦;浅层地温为单播无芒雀麦明显偏高,其余差异不大。株高是影响田间小气候的关键因素,不同播种方式下平均株高与0cm、20cm和40cm处平均光照强度均呈极显著的负相关（r0cm=-0．973,r20cm=-0．994,r40cm=-0．973,r0.01=0．959）,与30cm和60cm处平均风速负相关也达到极显著水平（r30cm=-0．959,r60cm=-0．973）。单播无芒雀麦由于氮素养分缺乏而植株矮小,群体光截获少,光能利用率低;单播紫花苜蓿群体光截获量最大,基部光照已处于光补偿点,下部叶片净光合速率开始下降;同行混播和间行混播群体下部光照强度适宜,群体保持较高的光合速率,并最终形成了较高的草产量。     

菌肥对混播牧草土壤酶活性及微生物的影响

为研究菌肥与混播对土壤酶活性及微生物生物量的影响,本试验以苜蓿和饲用高粱为研究对象,设8个处理,分别为苜蓿单播(N1)、饲用高粱单播(N2)、苜蓿与饲用高粱同行混播(N3)、苜蓿与饲用高粱间行混播(N4)以及分别施入微生物菌肥(T1、T2、T3与T4)。在饲草生长的苗期、旺盛期与收获期分别取0～20、20～40和40～60 cm土样并测定土壤脲酶、蔗糖酶、过氧化氢酶活性以及微生物生物量碳、氮含量。结果表明:菌肥及混播各处理土壤酶活性及微生物生物量均显著高于未施菌肥及饲草单播各处理,且混播配施菌肥效果更优。土壤酶活性随土层深入逐渐降低,随生育期推进,过氧化氢酶和蔗糖酶活性呈现先降低后升高趋势;土壤脲酶活性呈现先升后降趋势,微生物生物量碳、氮的规律与脲酶相同。混播配施菌肥有利于增加有益酶活性,提高土壤微生物生物量,增强土壤生产力的可持续性,从而达到保护和改善土壤环境的效果,为内蒙古地区马铃薯提供倒茬作物,提供充足饲草,对农业与畜牧业发展意义重大。     

冬季低温对沙漠植物约书亚树幼苗生理生化指标的影响

利用2年生约书亚树(Yucca brevifolia)幼苗进行低温越冬试验,对冻害程度及其生理生化指标进行测定分析.结果表明:随着冻害程度的加重,质膜透性、游离脯氨酸及可溶性糖含量逐渐升高,叶绿素含量SPAD值逐渐降低,其中覆土容器苗的冻害程度最为严重,其质膜透性、游离脯氨酸及可溶性糖含量分别达到了74.869 8%,3.558 3 mg/g和174.886 4 mg/g,SPAD值仅为28.566 7,与对照相比差异均达到极显著水平;林下约书亚树幼苗的MDA含量最高,达到了5.511 5 mmol/g,且与其他处理间存在极显著差异.结合越冬后约书亚树幼苗的冻窖指数及生理生化指标,利用主成分分析法综合评价3种越冬方式下约书亚树幼苗的表现为地窖内防寒越冬效果最好,室外覆土容器苗和林下栽植幼苗冻伤较严重.     

7份红豆草对低温的生理响应及抗寒性评价

为了解不同红豆草材料在越冬期根系对低温胁迫的响应特征及其抗寒性强弱,以7份红豆草(5份来自俄罗斯、2份来自国内)为供试材料,对红豆草根系可溶性糖含量、可溶性蛋白质含量、脯氨酸(Pro)含量、丙二醛(MDA)含量、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性、过氧化物酶(POD)活性等6项生理指标的动态变化进行了监测。结果表明,供试红豆草材料根系可溶性糖含量(WWS)、可溶性蛋白质含量(SP)和脯氨酸含量及CAT活性和POD活性均随着气温下降而增加,随气温升高而减少,MDA含量呈下降趋势。经抗寒隶属度分析,得出其抗寒性由大到小的顺序为ZXY2003p-132、ZXY2010p-7369、蒙农红豆草、甘肃红豆草、ZXY2003p-147、ZXY2005p-623、ZXY2007p-3423。从俄罗斯引进的红豆草材料ZXY2003p-132和ZXY2010p-7369比国内红豆草品种蒙农红豆草、甘肃红豆草抗寒性强。     

黄土塬区三种豆科牧草的土壤养分剖面分布特征与平衡

为了解豆科牧草短期种植对土壤养分环境影响的进程和规律,通过田间试验对沙打旺、苜蓿和胡枝子等3种豆科牧草以不同密度单播、混播对土壤有机质、全氮、全磷剖面分布和平衡输出的影响进行了定性和定量分析。所有处理土壤全氮和有机质含量在土壤剖面2m深度范围内均呈典型的“S”形分布,全磷呈抛物线形分布。单播牧草固氮能力与播种密度呈正相关;苜蓿固氮能力最强,高密度下表观生物固氮量达507．5kg·hm^-2。沙打旺生长1年可使土壤有机质平均净增3．51％。沙打旺和苜蓿全磷平均输出比率分别为43．14％和40．24％,显著高于胡枝子（23．74％）;胡枝子与沙打旺、苜蓿的两两混播处理和3种牧草混播处理平均全磷输出比率分别为20．73％、26．33％、25．83％。试验结果表明,3种豆科牧草均可显著提高土壤有机质累积,沙打旺和苜蓿对土壤全氮和全磷的消耗显著大于胡枝子,但前两者的固氮能力也强于后者。以适当密度进行的不同牧草混播处理由于种间良性竞争和共生协调作用可优化混播群体对土壤养分的消耗利用。     

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,     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.