干旱条件下栓皮栎叶片光系统活性受损的温度指标

利用盆栽控制土壤水分和气候箱控制温度的方法,定量研究高温对栓皮栎幼苗胁迫的温度指标。设定土壤体积含水量>14.5%（无干旱胁迫,T0）、12.5%～14.5%（轻度干旱,T1）、9.5%～11.5%（中度干旱胁迫,T2）、5.5%～7.5%（重度干旱胁迫,T3）4种土壤水分处理水平,在气温35、37、39、…、49℃下,各温度处理时间均设置为1、2、…、6h。通过测定干旱条件下栓皮栎叶片光系统PSII最大量子效率Fv/Fm、光合量子产额Y(II)、调节性热耗散Y(NPQ)和非调节性热耗散Y(NO)等叶绿素荧光参数随温度的变化过程,确定叶片光系统活性受损的温度指标。结果表明：（1）从T0、T1、T2到T3,Fv/Fm、Y(II)随温度上升其曲线的降低幅度逐渐增加,说明干旱水平对胁迫温度指标有较大影响;（2）由Fv/Fm确定的不同干旱水平PSII受损的温度指标为51.6～57.5℃;而由Y(II)确定的胁迫影响光合作用产率的温度指标为40.7～52.5℃;（3）Y(NPQ)开始上升的温度由T0、T1的45℃降至T2的43℃、T3的41℃;（4）Y(NO)的变化表现为T0不升高,T1大于47℃时开始升高,T2和T3在45℃以上开始升高。说明干旱和高温叠加条件下,PSII受损的温度和光合作用产率下降的温度指标与无干旱相比有较大差异,干旱胁迫越严重叶片光系统PSII受损的温度指标越低。干旱使栓皮栎主动和被动热耗散均增加,主动耗散过剩光能开始增加的温度低于被动热耗散开始增加的温度。     

土壤电导率对时域反射仪测定土壤水分的影响

试验通过往土壤中加入电介质溶液 ,以及在不同粘粒含量土壤上用时域反射仪 (TDR)测定土壤含水量 ,研究结果表明 :在较低含水量情况下 (砂土 <0 1 5cm3cm- 3,砂质壤土 <0 .1 8cm3cm- 3) ,电导率的增加不易引起TDR测定值的明显偏差 ;但在较高含水量下 ,当溶液电导率增加到 8dSm- 1 (砂质壤土 )和 1 1dSm- 1 (砂土 )时 ,TDR测得的含水量值明显高于实际值。在较高电导率 ( <1 6dSm- 1 )下 ,K0 .5a 与实际含水量仍呈较好的线性关系 ,但电导率引起的介电损失影响了K0 .5a ～θ线性关系的斜率和截距。本文给出了考虑电导率影响的K0 .5a ～θ线性关系的校正方程。土壤粘粒含量的增加也会引起TDR测定偏差 ,在低含水量时测定值偏低 ,在高含水量时测定值偏高。粘粒含量 <5 0 %时 ,测定偏差 <0 .0 2cm3cm- 3。     

水稻田土壤甲烷氧化活性及其环境影响因子的研究

报道环境因子土壤含水量、温度和pH对发育于河流沉积物母质的水稻田土黄松泥田土氧化外源甲烷活性影响的研究结果。表明土壤中存在有氧和无氧两个甲烷氧化系统。有氧甲烷氧化系统 (AMOS)最适条件下的氧化甲烷最大活性比无氧甲烷氧化系统(AAMOS)最适条件下的氧化甲烷最大活性高 1至 2倍。在土壤通气良好的条件下 ,AMOS占主导地位 ,在无氧或极微氧的土壤中 ,AAMOS起主要作用。影响活性的主要因子是土壤的分子氧含量、甲烷含量、水含量、温度和pH值。分子氧对AAMOS氧化甲烷的活性具有一定抑制作用 ,土壤中甲烷量和含水量对AAMOS氧化甲烷活性的影响比对AMOS氧化甲烷活性的影响更为强烈。土壤氧化甲烷的活性对温度较为敏感 ,其最适氧化甲烷的温度范围在 2 5～ 35℃之间。当土壤在 5 0℃培养的时间超过 6h后 ,土壤氧化外源甲烷的活性全部丧失 ,且不能在2 8℃下得到恢复。pH是另一个影响土壤氧化甲烷的重要环境因子。其最适pH范围在 6～ 7之间 ,pH低于 3或pH高于 9时 ,几乎完全丧失氧化外源甲烷的活性。     

温度对不同年限日光温室土壤氮素矿化特性的影响

【目的】日光温室作为具有我国特色的一种高强度的栽培方式,过量施肥问题突出。随着温室栽培在我国北方地区规模的不断扩大,由此带来的土壤退化和地下水污染问题值得关注。不少研究表明,随着日光温室栽培年限的增加,土壤有机质含量不断增加;且温室栽培中的土壤温度与露地存在很大差异,其土壤氮素矿化特性如何,尚缺乏研究。【方法】本研究以位于黄土高原南部陕西省杨凌示范区不同栽培年限的日光温室土壤为研究对象,采用室内好气培养法(84 d)测定不同培养温度(20℃和30℃)对不同年限温室(0 3年)土壤0—20 cm及20—40cm土层氮素矿化量,采用一级动力学方程拟合土壤氮素矿化曲线,根据土壤氮矿化势(N0)评价不同栽培年限温室土壤氮素矿化特性。【结果】1)随着日光温室栽培年限的增加,土壤有机质、全氮含量和氮素累积矿化量随之显著增加。2)30℃的土壤氮素累积矿化量高于20℃的矿化累积量;栽培年限长的日光温室矿化作用对温度的敏感程度高于年限短的温室。3)若温度和栽培年限同时增加,土壤氮素累积矿化量随之增加,说明温度和栽培年限对土壤氮素净矿化量有一定的交互作用,但差异不显著(P0.05)。4)日光温室栽培年限越长,土壤氮矿化势(N0)越大;与种植前相比,第2a、3a温室土壤氮矿化势增加了5.59和11.48倍。5)回归分析表明,0—20 cm土层土壤有机质含量每增加1 g/kg,20℃和30℃条件下土壤氮矿化势(No)分别增加2.70及3.18 mg/kg;土壤全氮含量每增加1g/kg,No分别增加37.28及43.12 mg/kg。【结论】日光温室土壤氮素矿化量随其栽培年限的增加显著增加;培养温度由20℃增加到30℃,土壤氮素矿化量也明显增加,日光温室栽培年限和温度对土壤氮矿化有一定的正交互效应。因此,在日光温室氮素管理中应考虑栽培年限和温度对土壤氮素矿化的影响,以采取针对性的氮素管理措施。     

黑碳添加对土壤有机碳矿化的影响

通过室内培养试验,向土壤中分别添加不同温度制备的黑碳,热解温度分别为350℃(T350)、600℃(T600)和850℃(T850),研究了黑碳添加对土壤有机碳矿化的影响。结果表明,不同温度条件制备的黑碳在15℃和25℃培养条件下,土壤CO2释放速率总的趋势是前期分解速率快,后期缓慢。在整个培养过程中(112天),随着培养时间的延长,土壤CO2释放速率下降趋势逐渐降低,CO2释放速率相对值的大小随着培养温度的的升高而增大。在不同温度培养条件下,添加黑碳后土壤CO2-C累计量均是T350>T600>T850,T350土壤CO2-C累计量最高分别为415.26 mg/kg和733.82 mg/kg。添加不同黑碳后,土壤有机碳矿化增加率存在极显著差异(p<0.01),表明不同温度制备的黑碳对土壤有机碳矿化的影响显著。     

基于高频探地雷达的土壤表层含水量测定

高精度快速探测土壤表层水分状况,对于精准农业生产、水资源精确管理及防治坡耕地水土流失具有重要意义。现有探地雷达(ground penetrating radar,GPR)低频探测技术不能满足表层土壤含水量高精度要求,需要发展和应用高精度探测技术。本研究采集江宁某蔬菜地水稻土表层(0~20cm)土壤(粉砂质黏壤土),通过室内模拟试验,利用高频(1 GHz和2 GHz)探地雷达在不同土壤含水量状况下进行探测,获取GPR数据图像信息,提取电磁波谱特征参数,分析其与土壤含水量之间的定量关系。结果表明:1 GHz和2 GHz频率GPR探测的土壤介电常数ε与实测土壤含水量θ拟合的ε~θ模型决定系数R2分别为0.94与0.97,高频探地雷达技术预测粉砂质黏壤土表层土壤含水量是可行的;与低频探地雷达技术相比,高频探地雷达技术能够高精度探测表层土壤含水量。     

温度、水分和施肥对甜菜黑土氮素迁移转化的影响

以东北甜菜主产区的黑土为材料,采用模拟土柱方法,研究了不同温度(5℃和20℃)、水分(10%,20%和30%)和施肥(尿素)条件对甜菜0—90cm土层土壤无机氮(NH4+-N和NO3--N)迁移转化的影响。结果表明:在整个培养期内,温度和水分对不同施肥处理、不同土层土壤NH4+-N和NO3--N含量的影响不同。不施肥土壤NH4+-N和NO3--N含量在不同水分和温度下均无显著差异。不同温度和水分条件下施肥处理各土层NH4+-N、NO3--N平均含量均随土层深度增加而下降,在相同温度条件下,土壤水分为20%时为甜菜土壤矿化和硝化作用的最适水分,而10%水分时,0—15cm土层土壤硝化作用受到明显抑制。施肥明显增加0—15cm土层NH4+-N、NO3--N含量,分别与不施肥相比增加2.71~16.65倍和1.04~9.05倍。5℃时,NH4+-N、NO3--N在土柱内的迁移距离和硝化作用主要发生在0—15cm土层内;20℃时,主要发生在0—15cm和0—50cm土层内。施肥与不施肥土壤NH4+-N含量与温度、水分均呈负相关,NO3--N含量和硝化率(Nr)呈正相关,多因素统计分析表明,温度和水分的提高可以增强施肥土壤的氮素转化,温度、水分和施肥三者对土壤NH4+-N、NO3--N含量迁移有交互作用,但是对土壤氮素的转化没有显著影响。     

超声波土壤含水量检测装置的模型建立与验证

为探究利用超声波脉冲速度检测土壤体积含水量的可行性,以广东省红壤、赤红壤、水稻土为研究对象,设计了一种超声波土壤含水量检测装置,并利用ZBL-U510型非金属超声波检测仪在3种不同温度环境下(10、20、30℃)对不同含水量的土壤样本进行声速测定,构建了土壤体积含水量与超声波差值声速的温度效应数学模型。结果表明:超声波在水稻土中的传播速度比红壤、赤红壤快,且温度对超声波声速随土壤体积含水量变化节律的影响不同。20℃环境下超声波在土壤中的传播速度最快,10℃其次,30℃最慢。采用Richards模型表征土壤体积含水量与超声波差值声速关系的预测误差在3%左右,采用分段结构温度效应模型的预测误差在5%以内,证明该文提出的超声波脉冲速度-土壤体积含水量的温度效应模型可用于动态温度条件下的土壤含水量预测。该研究可为超声波技术在土壤水分检测领域的应用研究提供参考。     

冻融对青藏高原高寒草甸土壤碳氮磷有效性的影响

以青藏高原高寒草甸土壤为研究对象,通过室内模拟冻融循环过程,研究不同土壤含水量条件下冻融频次和冻结温度对土壤碳氮磷有效性的影响。结果表明:(1)土壤可溶性氮(DTN)、硝态氮(NO-3-N)和有效磷(PO3-4-P)含量随冻融频次增加呈下降趋势,但铵态氮(NH+4-N)和可溶性磷(DTP)含量呈现上升趋势;(2)在冻融频次相同情况下,高含水量土壤在-15℃/5℃冻融循环处理下的可溶性有机碳(DOC)、DTN和NH+4-N含量显著高于-5℃/5℃冻融循环处理下的含量;(3)含水量高的土壤在冻融处理后,DOC、DTN、NH+4-N、DTP和有效磷(PO3-4-P)的含量通常高于含水量低的土壤,但NO-3-N则相反。由此可见,冻融频次、冻结温度和土壤含水量都是影响高寒草甸土壤冻融效应的关键因子,在评价冻融作用对高寒草甸土壤碳氮磷有效性影响时,还应充分考虑这些因子间交互效应。     

水热条件对华西雨屏区柳杉人工林土壤氮矿化的影响

采用室内培养方法研究了温度(5、15、25和35℃)和湿度(20、40、60和80%田间持水量(FWC))对华西雨屏区柳杉(Cryptomeria fortunei)人工林表层(0~20 cm)土壤氮素矿化的影响,并探讨了温度和湿度与土壤氮素矿化的关系及土壤氮素矿化的最适温度和湿度。结果表明:在30 d的培养过程中温度和湿度均对华西雨屏区柳杉林土壤氮矿化有显著影响(p0.05);相同水分条件下,土壤净氨化速率和氮净矿化速率均随温度的升高而增加;净硝化速率先随温度的升高而增加,在25℃时达到最大值,之后又随温度的升高而降低。相同温度条件下,土壤净氨化速率、净硝化速率和氮净矿化速率均先随水分含量的升高而增加,在60%FWC时达到最大值,之后又随水分含量的升高而降低。在温度和湿度16个交互处理中,35℃和60%FWC条件下土壤净氨化速率和氮净矿化速率最高,在25℃和60%FWC条件下土壤净硝化速率最高;在5℃和20%FWC条件下土壤净氨化速率、净硝化速率和氮净矿化速率最低。土壤氮净矿化的最适温度和湿度分别为32.9℃和64.1%FWC。研究区各土壤水分含量(x1)和温度(x2)条件下的氮净矿化速率(y7)可用关系式y7=-0.5374+0.05001x2+0.04374x1-0.0009228x22-0.0003749x12+0.000215x1·x2进行估算。土壤氮矿化Q10值在5~35℃内随温度的升高而降低,氮净矿化在5~15℃内对温度敏感性最高。氮净矿化作用产生的无机氮中铵态氮占77.6~87.6%,说明该区柳杉人工林表层土壤氮矿化形成的铵态氮只有少部分转化成了硝态氮,这有利于减少研究区多雨条件下矿质氮的淋失。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Effect of some fungicide seed treatments on the survival of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and on the nodulation and yield of soybean [Glycine max. (L) Merr.]

Several commercial fungicide seed treatments were evaluated for their possible effect on the survival of Bradyrhizobium japonicum on seeds and on the nodulation and yield of soybeans in a greenhouse and a field experiment. quinolate Pro (carbendazim and oxine copper), Vitavax 200FF (carboxin and thiram), and Monceren (pencycuron) had a small effect or no effect on the survival of B. japonicum and on the nodulation and yield of soybeans. They can thus be considered compatible with soybean seed inoculation. Germipro UFB (carbendazim and iprodione), Apron 35J (metalaxyl), and Tachigaren (hymexazol) decreased B. japonicum survival and the nodulation and yield of soybeans and thus cannot be considered compatible with soybean seed inoculation.