BS-Tween20复配修饰膨润土对Cd~(2+)吸附的研究

采用不同比例十二烷基二甲基甜菜碱(BS-12)+Tween20复配修饰膨润土,以批处理法研究了不同修饰比例、温度、p H、离子强度下,修饰膨润土对Cd2+吸附的效果,并从吸附等温线、温度效应和热力学角度探讨了吸附机制。结果表明,供试土样对Cd2+的平衡吸附量呈现BS+0.25TBS+0.5TBSBS+1TBS+1.5TCK的趋势,复配修饰土样对Cd2+的吸附随Tween20修饰比例的增加而降低。Tween20复配修饰比例小于0.5时有利于复配修饰土对Cd2+的吸附,而大于0.5时复配修饰土对Cd2+的吸附量则降低。修饰膨润土对Cd2+的吸附等温线均符合Langmuir模型。温度升高、p H增加、复配修饰土对Cd2+的吸附量增加、离子强度的增大减弱了土样对Cd2+的吸附。热力学参数结果表明,修饰土样对Cd2+的吸附是熵增控制的自发性过程;各土样对Cd2+吸附均为吸热过程。     

BS-12+DAS复配修饰膨润土对苯酚、菲的不同吸附模式和机理

为探究阴离子型表面修饰剂对两性修饰膨润土吸附不同类型有机污染物的影响,采用阴离子型表面修饰剂正十烷基磺酸钠(DAS)对两性修饰剂十二烷基二甲基甜菜碱(BS-12)修饰膨润土进行复配修饰,恒温浸泡处理法研究复配修饰膨润土对疏水性不同的有机污染物苯酚和菲的吸附模式差异及原因,并对比了不同温度、pH和离子强度条件下供试土样吸附苯酚及菲的吸附量及表观热力学参数。结果表明:BS+DAS复配修饰土样对苯酚及菲的吸附量随DAS修饰比例的增大而减小,且苯酚吸附量变化更为显著,复配修饰土样对苯酚的吸附模式为"无限"型分配吸附,对菲为"有限"型分配吸附;供试土样对苯酚及菲的吸附均为物理吸附,呈现增温负效应;pH升高促进了供试土样对苯酚的吸附,抑制了菲的吸附;离子强度在0.001~0.1 mol L~(-1)范围内,可促进供试土样对苯酚及菲的吸附;热力学参数结果表明,BS+DAS两性复配修饰膨润土对苯酚及菲的吸附是自发的物理吸附过程,DAS增大了土样表面正辛醇/水分配系数的对数(logP),造成了苯酚及菲吸附模式的不同,结果证实,以化学修饰方式增强土样有机碳含量以增加对不同疏水性有机污染物的吸附,不但要考虑有机碳含量的影响,同时也要考虑土样表面有机相和污染物之间"相溶性"的差异。     

长链两性修饰土对Cd2＋的吸附动力学

以两性表面修饰剂十八烷基二甲基甜菜碱（BS-18）修饰的塿土土样为研究对象,在Cd2＋单一条件和与苯酚共存的复合条件下,通过不同的速度参数研究了修饰土样对Cd2＋的吸附动力学特征,并对吸附机制进行探讨。结果显示,在20℃和40℃温度下单一、复合两种处理的条件下,不同修饰比例BS-18修饰土样的各速度参数均大于未修饰土样,且总体上均随着修饰比例的增加而增大,表明修饰可以显著加快塿土土样对Cd2＋的吸附速度;吸附反应分为快速反应和慢速反应2个阶段,总反应平均速度Vt由快速吸附反应速度Vf和慢速吸附反应速度Vs共同决定;温度升高,单一处理Cd2＋的总反应平均速度基本不变,复合处理则下降;加入苯酚可以加快Cd2＋的总反应平均速度,40℃时则表现为抑制效应。Cd2＋吸附速度的描述以双常数方程动力学模型为最佳模型,模型参数A、B值可以用来描述吸附速度的大小。     

高岭土对BS-12的吸附特征及影响因素的研究

采用两性表面活性剂十二烷基二甲基甜菜碱(BS-12)对高岭土进行修饰,以批处理法研究了在不同温度、p H和离子强度条件下,高岭土对BS-12的吸附特征。结果表明,高岭土对BS-12的吸附符合Henry方程。温度的升高不利于高岭土对BS-12的吸附;总体上p H对BS-12的吸附影响不大;离子强度增加,吸附量下降。通过X射线衍射(XRD)和总有机碳(TOC)分析表明,50BS、100BS、150BS高岭的XRD图谱没有明显变化,BS-12修饰高岭土的有机碳含量随修饰比例的增加而增加,BS-12的吸附率在53.5%~64.1%之间,BS-12主要以静电引力方式吸附在高岭土表面。     

有机修饰(土娄)土对CrO42-吸附特征的初步研究

以CTMAB（十六烷基三甲基溴化铵）单一修饰和CTMAB＋SDS（十二烷基磺酸钠）混合修饰塿土耕层、粘化层土样，从修饰比例、土层、温度角度探讨了有机修饰塿土对CrO4^2-的平衡吸附特征。结果表明，各供试土样中CrO4^2-平衡吸附量均随CrO4^2-平衡浓度增高而增大，有机修饰土对CrO4^2-的吸附等温线呈现L型等温线形式，原土土样的吸附等温线基本上类似于S型吸附等温线形式，两层次各土样对CrO4^2-的吸附量呈现100CB〉120CS〉50CB〉CK的顺序（100，120，50分别表示修饰比例为100，100＋20，50；CB为CTMAB修饰；cs为CTMAB＋SDS修饰；CK为未修饰原土）；随着平衡浓度的增大，耕层原土对CrO4^2-的吸附能力增加较快而粘化层原土增加较慢，塿土粘化层修饰土样对CrO4^2-的平衡吸附量均高于塿土耕层土样，但修饰比例增高导致两层次土样对CrO4^2-吸附亲和力的差异减小；未修饰原土对CrO4^2-吸附呈现增温效应，粘化层CK土样增温效应高于耕层CK土样，表明增温促进粘粒矿物对CrO4^2-的专性吸附。随平衡浓度的增大，修饰土样CrO4^2-吸附温度效应比值均变化不大，耕层各修饰土样对CrO4^2-吸附呈现增温负效应，而粘化层修饰土样对CrO4^2-吸附的温度效应则与修饰剂和修饰比例有关。     

有机修饰(土娄)土对CrO2-4吸附特征的初步研究

以CTMAB(十六烷基三甲基溴化铵)单一修饰和CTMAB+SDS(十二烷基磺酸钠)混合修饰(土娄)土耕层、粘化层土样,从修饰比例、土层、温度角度探讨了有机修饰(土娄)土对CrO2-的平衡吸附特征.结果表明,各供试土样中CrO2-4平衡吸附量均随CrO2-4平衡浓度增高而增大,有机修饰土对CrO2-的吸附等温线呈现L型等温线形式,原土土样的吸附等温线基本上类似于S型吸附等温线形式,两层次各土样对CrO2-4的吸附量呈现100CB＞120CS＞50CB＞CK的顺序(100,120,50分别表示修饰比例为100,100+20,50;CB为CTMAB修饰;CS为CTMAB+SDS修饰;CK为未修饰原土);随着平衡浓度的增大,耕层原土对CrO2-4的吸附能力增加较快而粘化层原土增加较慢,(土娄)土粘化层修饰土样对CrO2-4的平衡吸附量均高于(土娄)土耕层土样,但修饰比例增高导致两层次土样对CrO2-4吸附亲和力的差异减小;未修饰原土对CrO2-4吸附呈现增温效应,粘化层CK土样增温效应高于耕层CK土样,表明增温促进粘粒矿物对CrO2-4的专性吸附.随平衡浓度的增大,修饰土样CrO2-吸附温度效应比值均变化不大,耕层各修饰土样对CrO2-4吸附呈现增温负效应,而粘化层修饰土样对CrO2-吸附的温度效应则与修饰剂和修饰比例有关.     

有机修饰(土娄)土对CrO_4~(2-)吸附特征的初步研究

以CTMAB(十六烷基三甲基溴化铵)单一修饰和CTMAB SDS(十二烷基磺酸钠)混合修饰土耕层、粘化层土样,从修饰比例、土层、温度角度探讨了有机修饰土对CrO42-的平衡吸附特征。结果表明,各供试土样中CrO42-平衡吸附量均随CrO42-平衡浓度增高而增大,有机修饰土对CrO42-的吸附等温线呈现L型等温线形式,原土土样的吸附等温线基本上类似于S型吸附等温线形式,两层次各土样对CrO42-的吸附量呈现100CB>120CS>50CB>CK的顺序(100,120,50分别表示修饰比例为100,100 20,50;CB为CTMAB修饰;CS为CTMAB SDS修饰;CK为未修饰原土);随着平衡浓度的增大,耕层原土对CrO42-的吸附能力增加较快而粘化层原土增加较慢,土粘化层修饰土样对CrO42-的平衡吸附量均高于土耕层土样,但修饰比例增高导致两层次土样对CrO42-吸附亲和力的差异减小;未修饰原土对CrO42-吸附呈现增温效应,粘化层CK土样增温效应高于耕层CK土样,表明增温促进粘粒矿物对CrO42-的专性吸附。随平衡浓度的增大,修饰土样CrO42-吸附温度效应比值均变化不大,耕层各修饰土样对CrO42-吸附呈现增温负效应,而粘化层修饰土样对CrO42-吸附的温度效应则与修饰剂和修饰比例有关。     

CTMAB对BS-12修饰膨润土的复配修饰模式

研究了十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTMA)在十二烷基二甲基甜菜碱(BS-12)修饰膨润土表面的复配模式,通过BS-12膨润土表面Ca2+/2和CTMA总浓度(SCC)变化及20℃和40℃条件下CTMA吸附量的变化可知:存在离子交换和疏水键合模式。CTMA在25%、50%、100%BS-12修饰(25BS、50BS和100BS)膨润土表面出现疏水键的临界比例(RC)分别为20.30%、11.56%和2.00%,且疏水比例随CTMA复配比例(R)及其摩尔分数的增大而增大,疏水键合模式占绝对优势的临界比例(RC′)分别为200%、150%和100%。对于BS-12单一修饰及BS-12+CTMA复配修饰比例之和,50%及200%分别是膨润土表面出现疏水键合及其占绝对优势的转折点。RRC,离子交换模式;RC≤R≤RC′,离子交换与疏水键合共存;RRC′,疏水键合占绝对优势。RC、RC′及CTMA最大吸附量(qm)呈现25BS50BS100BS特点,升温使qm减小。     

有机修饰塿土对苯胺的吸附

以十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTMAB)单一修饰和CTMAB+十二烷基磺酸钠(SDS)混合修饰塿土耕层和粘化层土样,从吸附实验和热力学角度研究修饰土样对苯胺的吸附特征和机理。结果表明,供试土样对苯胺吸附均呈现100CB>50CB>120CS>CK的高低顺序,耕层修饰后对苯胺的平衡吸附量增大了4.5￣8.57倍,粘化层土样增大了6.0￣18.33倍;温度为40℃时耕层未修饰土样对苯胺的吸附量高于粘化层未修饰土样,20℃时则低于粘化层原土土样,而修饰土样则均呈现粘化层修饰土样对苯胺的吸附高于塿土耕层修饰土样的结果;耕层土样随温度升高苯胺平衡吸附量升高,而粘化层土样则表现出降温有利于苯胺吸附的现象,修饰剂对土样的修饰对苯胺的吸附具有"感温钝化"效应;Henry模型适用于描述苯胺的吸附;修饰土样对苯胺的吸附自由能变均为ΔG<0,属于自发反应,粘化层各土样对苯胺吸附为放热熵减过程,吸附自发性由焓减控制,耕层各土样对苯胺吸附为吸热熵增过程,其吸附自发过程为熵增控制过程;疏水吸附是修饰土样对苯胺吸附的主要机理,但修饰剂对于土壤表面的修饰是不均匀修饰,粘化层土样以物理吸附机制为主,耕层土样则存在化学吸附的机制。     

有机修饰改性土对镉离子的吸附及温度效应

主要研究了以不同比例十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTMAB)单一修饰和十六烷基三甲基溴化铵 十二烷基磺酸钠(CTMAB SDS)混合修饰的土耕层、黏化层土样对重金属镉离子的吸附。结果表明:吸附量顺序分别为耕层原土(GCK) >CTMAB5 0 %修饰改性土(5 0GCB) >CTMAB10 0 % SDS2 0 %修饰改性土(12 0GCS) >CTMAB10 0 %修饰改性土(10 0GCB)和粘化层原土(NCK) >CTMAB5 0 %修饰改性土(5 0NCB) >CTMAB10 0 %修饰改性土(10 0NCB) >CTMAB10 0 % SDS2 0 %修饰改性土(12 0NCS)的顺序,表明以表面修饰剂修饰土表面,确实存在着使得镉离子吸附能力减弱的趋势,但并未使修饰改性土完全丧失对于镉离子的吸附能力;吸附等温线可以用Langmuir方程描述;热力学参数的研究表明Cd2 吸附反应是熵增控制的自发性过程,但在探讨吸附自发性和最大吸附量关系时应考虑土壤本身的容量性质。机理研究认为,表面修饰剂对土壤表面的修饰改性是不均匀的,阳离子交换吸附和疏水键键合两种机制的竞争性吸附是修饰改性土壤依然具有对镉离子吸附作用的原因。土耕层各改性土样对Cd2 吸附的温度效应明显高于粘化层土样,证实了耕层对镉离子的化学吸附作用强于粘化层的结果     

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.