榨菜瘤状茎膨大性状遗传分析

利用茎膨大与不膨大的两个芥菜变种为亲本,构建P1、P2、F1和F2群体,采用植物数量性状主基因+多基因混合遗传模型分析法,对榨菜瘤状茎3个膨大性状进行了遗传分析。结果表明:茎重和横径性状遗传符合2对加性-显性-上位性主基因+加性-显性多基因模型,而纵径遗传符合加性显性多基因模型。茎重与横径主基因遗传率分别为70.23%和62.3%,三者多基因遗传率分别为6.18%、13.1%和69.79%。同时,三者遗传变异平均值分别占其表型变异的76.41%、75.30%和69.79%,表明榨菜瘤状茎的3个膨大性状主要受遗传因子控制。     

玉米与四倍体大刍草杂交结实性的遗传分析

研究发现不同玉米材料与四倍体大刍草杂交,其结实性存在很大的差异,在普通玉米基因组中可能存在影响远缘杂交亲和性的基因。为研究这一现象的遗传本质和规律,本研究采用植物数量性状主基因+多基因混合遗传模型方法,对以玉米自交系975-12与R18为亲本组配的两套正反交6个世代群体与四倍体大刍草杂交的种子结实率数据进行了分析。结果表明:正交群体杂交结实性的遗传符合两对加性-显性-上位性主基因+加性-显性多基因混合遗传模型,反交群体杂交结实性的符合两对加性-显性-上位性主基因+加性-显性-上位性多基因模型。在正交组合中主基因遗传率在家系F2中最高,为88.9456%,多基因遗传率在家系B1中最高,为14.1564%;在反交组合中主基因遗传率在家系F2中最高,为87.2997%,多基因遗传率在家系B2中最高,为80.7618%。     

普通高粱与甜高粱杂交组合株高、糖度的主基因多基因模型遗传效应分析

对普通高粱与甜高粱杂交组合(石红137×L-甜)的株高与糖度进行主基因多基因遗传模型分析,以期研究株高、糖度的遗传效应。获得了2个性状的最适遗传模型,株高的最适遗传模型为2对完全显性主基因+加性-显性多基因混合遗传模型,主基因遗传率为74.4%,多基因遗传率为22.1%;糖锤度的最适遗传模型为1对加性-显性主基因+加性-显性-上位性多基因混合遗传模型,主基因遗传率为65.72%,多基因遗传率为20.43%。主基因个数和基因效应的预测与分子检测的主效QTL个数和基因效应基本相符。     

甜瓜株型性状的遗传分析

为了明确了甜瓜(Cucumis melo L.)主要株型性状的遗传模型与基因的作用方式,并估测了主基因遗传效应与遗传力,本研究以网纹甜瓜RE-19(Cucumis melo var.cantalupensis Naudin)和哈密瓜AM-5(Cucumis melo var.ameri Pangalo)为亲本,构建4世代群体(P1、P2、F1和F2),对甜瓜4个株型性状采用植物数量性状主基因+多基因混合遗传模型分析法进行了遗传分析。结果表明,节间长和侧枝长遗传符合E-2模型,即两对加性-显性主基因+加性-显性多基因模型,主茎直径遗传符合E-1模型,即两对加性-显性-上位性主基因+加性-显性多基因遗传模型,叶面积遗传符合C-0模型,即加性-显性-上位性多基因遗传模型。节间长、侧枝长和主茎直径的主基因遗传率分别为75.03%、54.86%和42.83%。节间长、侧枝长、主茎直径和叶面积的多基因遗传率分别为2.68%、6.41%、2.1%和55.47%。4个性状遗传变异平均值分别占其表型变异的77.68%、61.06%、50.25%和55.47%,表明甜瓜株型相关的4个性状主要受遗传因子控制,且甜瓜节间长与侧枝长主基因遗传力较高,主茎直径主基因遗传力较低,而叶面积受多基因控制,无主效基因。因此,在甜瓜株型育种中,在早期世代进行节间长与侧枝长的选择是有效的,而对主茎直径和叶面积的选择,宜在高代进行选择。本研究为甜瓜的株型改良育种提供了理论基础。     

不结球白菜抽薹开花性状的主基因+多基因遗传分析

为了研究不结球白菜抽薹开花性状的遗传规律,并对其耐抽薹品种进行鉴定筛选,以不结球白菜易抽薹纯系M10-1和耐抽薹纯系M10-2杂交获得的6世代(P1、P2、F1、B1、B2和F2)群体为材料,利用植物数量性状主基因+多基因多世代联合分析的方法对不结球白菜抽薹性状(现蕾期)和开花性状(开花期)进行遗传分析。结果表明,控制抽薹性状的为2对加性-显性-上位性主基因+加性-显性多基因,并存在明显的加性、显性和上位性效应。其中,2对主基因的加性效应值均为正,显性效应值hb大于ha,且以第2对主基因的正向显性效应为主;抽薹性状存在较大的主基因加性×加性和显性×显性互作效应,以呈负向的多基因的加性效应为主。B1、B2和F2的主基因遗传率分别为83.83%、87.82%和88.31%,多基因遗传率均为0,主基因+多基因遗传率平均为86.65%,环境变异占表型变异平均为13.35%,说明抽薹性状主要受主基因控制,在育种上可以应用抽薹性状(现蕾期)作为不结球白菜耐抽薹性的鉴定标准,并可在早期世代对其耐抽薹性进行选择,且要注意一定的环境因素。开花性状与抽薹性状遗传相似,均受到2对主基因控制,但主基因+多基因遗传率平均为9.57%,而环境变异平均为90.43%,对开花的影响显著,说明开花性状与环境的互作效应非常明显,不适宜作为耐抽薹性的鉴定指标。利用本研究获得的抽薹性状作为不结球白菜耐抽薹性的鉴定指标,并应用于育种实践,对选育不结球白菜耐抽薹新品种,提高产量具有重要意义。     

辣椒果实Vc含量的变化规律与遗传分析

为明确辣椒果实Vc含量的遗传规律,通过对不同辣椒和甜椒类型品种及其不同成熟期的果实Vc含量进行测定,并利用高Vc含量辣椒材料M5与低Vc含量甜椒材料Z243构建P1、P2、F1、B1、B2和F26个联合世代群体,应用植物数量性状主基因+多基因联合分离分析方法,进行辣椒红熟果实Vc含量遗传分析。结果显示,辣椒类型果实Vc含量显著高于甜椒类型,绝大多数类型的成熟果Vc含量明显高于嫩熟果,完熟果较成熟果Vc含量显著降低。辣椒红熟果实Vc含量由一对加性-显性主基因+加性-显性-上位性多基因控制(符合D-0遗传模型),d为18.4276,表明主基因加性效应明显,为正向效应,h为-13.3018,表明主基因显性呈负向部分显性,显性程度较高。F2的主基因遗传率和多基因遗传率分别为25.97%和17.13%,因此,遗传变异占表型变异的43.1%,环境变异占表型变异的56.9%,表明辣椒红熟果Vc含量受环境影响明显。本研究为以果实Vc含量为育种目标的辣椒品质育种提供了科学依据。     

黄瓜节间长的主基因+多基因混合遗传模型分析

为了明确黄瓜(Cucumis sativus)节间长性状的遗传模型与基因的作用方式,并估测其主基因、多基因遗传效应与遗传率,利用短节自交系SJ57-h为P1和长节自交系SJ11-1为P2构建6世代遗传群体,在春秋两季种植,采用主+多基因遗传分析方法,开展节间长性状的遗传研究。研究结果显示,两季节间长受1对加性-显性-主基因+加性-显性-上位性多基因控制(D-0模型),且均偏向长节间亲本优势,长短更趋近于SJ11-1亲本。春季B_1、B_2、F_2三个分离世代的主基因遗传率分别为68.5%、36.2%和56.3%,多基因遗传率分别为0.6%、17.1%和0.6%,环境变异平均值占表型变异的比例平均为40.2%;秋季B_1、B_2、F_2三个分离世代的主基因遗传率分别为68.5%、40.5%、65.1%,多基因遗传率分别为1.2%、40.6%和5.4%;环境变异平均值占表型变异的比例为26.3%。表明黄瓜节间长受一对主基因控制,主基因在B_1、F_2世代选择效率高,B_2世代加强多基因的选择,该性状受环境影响较大。节间长性状适宜在早期世代进行选择。本研究为黄瓜的株型改良育种提供了理论基础。     

花生种子休眠性的遗传分析及影响因素的研究北大核心CSCD

以花育22号和06B16杂交后代衍生的包含146家系的RIL群体(F6、F7)为材料,不同年份种植,检测P1、P2及RIL群体各株系种子休眠性。运用植物数量性状主基因+多基因混合遗传模型进行花生种子休眠性遗传分析。结果表明:2010年和2011年花育22号x06B16组合种子休眠性的遗传均符合两对加性-上位性主基因+加性-上位性多基因混合遗传模型(E-1-0),且主基因遗传率大于多基因遗传率。相关性分析表明该组合后代的种子休眠性与油酸(C18:1)和花生烯酸(C22:1)含量呈极显著正相关、与棕榈酸(C16:0)和亚油酸(C18:2)含量呈显著负相关。去种皮发芽试验检测的7个有休眠的材料中,除H13和H17外,其它材料去除种皮后的种子发芽率均在90%以上,表明花生种子休眠性与种皮有一定关系。     

黄瓜嫩果果皮颜色的遗传研究

黄瓜嫩果果皮颜色是最重要的商品性状之一,在当前育种目标转向多样化和专用化的过程中引起了人们越来越多的关注。本研究以嫩果果皮颜色不同的3份黄瓜(Cucumis sativus L.)品系为亲本,分别配制2个杂交组合Q16(深绿色)×Q8(黄白色)及Q16×Q24(黄白色),构建6个世代遗传群体,通过目测与色差仪相结合的方法对6个世代各单株的黄瓜嫩果果皮颜色性状进行观察和分级处理,并应用植物数量性状主基因+多基因模型进行世代联合分析,研究了黄瓜嫩果果皮颜色的遗传规律。结果表明,Q16×Q8和Q16×Q24两个杂交组合中,嫩果果皮颜色性状的分离群体世代呈现单峰或双峰偏态分布,这表明该性状为数量性状且有主基因控制。遗传分析表明,两杂交组合中黄瓜嫩果果色遗传都符合2对主基因的加性-显性-上位性遗传模型(B-1模型);说明黄瓜嫩果果皮颜色性状由2对主基因控制,在两组合中,其主基因遗传力在F2群体中最高,分别为87.4%和93.1%,另外,两对主基因在两个组合中的加性效应近似相等,分别为1.368、-0.132和1.451、-0.049,两组合中两对主基因的显性效应分别为0.625、1.625和0.529、1.530,两对主基因中第一对主基因加性效应明显,而第二对主基因显性效应明显。两个组合主效基因表现的遗传力较高,表明在杂交育种中对黄瓜嫩果皮色可以进行早代选择。本研究结果为黄瓜嫩果果皮颜色性状的基因定位和新种质创制提供了理论依据。     

利用花生RIL群体进行芽期耐寒性遗传特性分析

花生是我国分布极广的重要油料和经济作物,低温寒害是高纬度高海拔产区严重限制其生产发展的关键逆境因素,其中发芽期的危害最为普遍和严重。为深入研究花生芽期耐寒性遗传特性,本研究以耐寒性强的品种和耐寒性弱的品种杂交［HY44×DF12（HD-RIL）和YZ9102×XZ68-4（YX-RIL）］构建了两个重组自交系（RIL）群体,利用主基因+多基因混合遗传模型对2个RIL群体低温胁迫后的相对发芽率进行遗传特性分析。结果表明,2个RIL群体的耐寒性在2020年海南乐东（E1）环境中均表现为由3对加性上位性主基因+加性多基因控制,HD-RIL和YX-RIL的主基因遗传率分别为86.72%、91.46%,在2021年山西汾阳（E2）环境中均表现为由2对显性上位主基因+加性多基因控制,主基因遗传率分别为74.35%、79.56%;HD-RIL群体在2021年海南南滨（E3）环境中与YX-RIL群体在2020年山西汾阳（E4）环境中耐寒性均表现为由2对累加作用的主基因+加性多基因控制,主基因遗传率分别为64.20%、59.05%。本研究结果为深入开展花生芽期耐寒性分子机制研究、提高耐寒性分子育种效率提供了重要的理论基础。     

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.     

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.