磁致伸缩生物传感器尺寸对沙门氏菌检测灵敏度的影响

为了研究不同尺寸传感器的检测灵敏度,该文以磁致伸缩膜片为物理传感器,多克隆抗体为生物识别元件,采用Langmuir-Blodgett(LB)技术将多克隆抗体固定在磁致伸缩膜片表面,制备了用于检测沙门氏菌的磁致伸缩生物传感器。检测时,将不同尺寸的生物传感器浸在含有沙门氏菌的被测溶液里,由于生物传感器对沙门氏菌的吸附使传感器质量增加,从而使传感器共振频率发生改变。采用尺寸为2 mm×0.4 mm×15μm,5 mm×1 mm×15μm和25 mm×5 mm×15μm的传感器检测浓度为102~109 CFU/m L的沙门氏菌溶液,并利用扫描电子显微镜观察传感器表面。研究结果表明,由传感器共振频率变化计算获得的沙门氏菌浓度与扫描电子显微镜观察统计分析获得的直观浓度吻合得很好,两者最大相对差值小于10%。传感器尺寸越小,检测灵敏度越高。尺寸为2 mm×0.4 mm×15μm,5 mm×1 mm×15μm和25 mm×5 mm×15μm的检测极限分别为5×103 CFU/m L,105 CFU/m L和107 CFU/m L。研究结果可为磁致伸缩生物传感器实际应用时,根据预测的细菌浓度,在保证灵敏度的前提下选择合适尺寸的传感器提供参考。     

同时检测沙门氏菌和炭疽杆菌磁致伸缩生物传感器制备与应用

为探索2个磁弹性生物传感器进行串联是否会存在耦合干扰,继而影响各自的检测精度,该文以磁致伸缩带材(2 826 MB Metglas TM)为传感器膜片,不同种类噬菌体为生物识别元件,制备了可同时检测沙门氏菌和炭疽杆菌2种病菌的磁致伸缩生物传感器系统。采用物理吸附法在部分磁致伸缩传感器表面固定了对沙门氏菌具有检测专一性的E2噬菌体,用于检测沙门氏菌;部分磁致伸缩传感器表面固定了对炭疽杆菌具有检测专一性的JRB7噬菌体,用于检测炭疽杆菌。在磁致伸缩传感器表面固定噬菌体后,采用牛血清蛋白作为阻滞剂覆盖没有固定噬菌体的局部区域,防止检测中非专一性细菌吸附导致的检测误差。同时,制备了一种没有固定任何噬菌体只覆盖牛血清蛋白阻滞剂的参考传感器,目的是探索牛血清蛋对被检病菌吸附到传感器表面的阻滞效果。在检测过程中,传感器由磁场定位,将传感器浸入到病原体溶液中,吸附细菌后传感器质量增加,导致其共振频率降低。研究发现:所研制的生物传感器系统不存在相互耦合干扰,每种生物传感器能专一性地吸附与表面噬菌体对应的被测病菌。对浓度范围为5×10~5×108 CFU/m L菌液检测还发现,该系统具有良好的检测灵敏度,本研究所采用尺寸规格的传感器灵敏度同单个传感器检测灵敏度一样,为103 CFU/m L。同时,参考传感器浸入到病原体溶液中频率无变化证明了牛血清蛋白阻滞剂可有效消除没有固定噬菌体的局部表面对细菌的非专一性结合。扫描电镜对传感器样品表面进行观察,直观地证明了生物传感器与其目标被测物之间的吸附情况,观察结果为生物传感器对细菌的检测提供了可靠的参考证据。     

萘在土壤上的吸附行为及温度影响的研究

采用批量平衡法研究了多环芳烃萘在塿土耕层土、塿土粘化层土、塿土古土壤、黄壤、紫色土和石灰土上的吸附行为,比较了不同吸附模型方程对实验数据的拟合情况,并探讨了温度对萘在土壤上吸附行为的影响机理及吸附热力学特征。Henry模型、Freundlich模型和deBoer-Zwikker极化模型均能较好地拟合萘的吸附等温线;45℃下的吸附等温线明显地高于25℃的吸附等温线,表现出随温度升高吸附量增大的趋势。Freundlich模型的吸附容量参数Kf和deBoer-Zwikker模型的起始吸附势ε0在两个温度下有极显著的差异;但Freundlich模型的n参数表征了土壤颗粒表面的性质,对温度变化不敏感。在25℃条件下,萘在土壤有机碳上的分配可能是吸附的主要机制,但随着温度增加,吸附机制变得复杂。土壤对萘的吸附是一吸热反应,整个吸附体系中熵增是吸附作用进行的主要驱动力。     

磁改性柚子皮与杏仁壳生物炭的理化性质研究

分别以柚皮和杏壳为原料经磁改性热解制备生物炭,考察磁改性处理在不同温度下(300～600℃)对材料理化特性的影响。结果表明:磁改性生物炭中铁主要以Fe3O4的形式存在,少量与铝、镁等形成复杂矿质氧化物。磁改性处理生物炭灰分与挥发分增加,而固定碳和热值均明显降低,且这种增加/降低的效应随温度升高而加剧。比表面积和总孔容均增大,而平均孔径减小。磁改性处理对2种原料生物炭的pH值影响不同:磁改性杏壳生物炭的pH值整体较原生生物炭降低;而在400～600℃温度范围,磁改性柚皮生物炭的pH值明显升高。FTIR分析表明磁改性杏壳400与600℃热解炭含氧基团(酚羟基伸缩振动)特征峰明显增强,这也解释了其较原生生物炭灰分增加而pH值却降低的现象。     

不同温度花生壳生物炭孔隙特征及其差异

为评价花生壳生物炭农业与环境领域应用价值与潜力,该研究分别在100~800℃条件下制备花生壳生物炭,测定其孔隙参数,以期了解花生壳生物炭在不同热解温度条件下的孔结构变化规律。结果表明,在100~500℃条件下制备的花生壳生物炭以中孔和大孔为主,其吸附解析等温线为Ⅱ类吸附等温线,迟滞回线属于H3型,孔隙结构主要由狭缝孔构成;600~800℃条件下制备的生物炭以微孔为主,其吸附解析等温线为Ⅰ类吸附等温线,迟滞回线属于H4型,孔隙结构主要是锥形孔。当热解温度从100℃上升至600℃过程中,BET比表面积、比孔容均呈上升趋势,同时t-Plot微孔比表面积、t-Plot微孔孔容、中孔比表面积、中孔孔容也均在600℃时基本达到最高水平。花生壳生物炭的孔径分布随温度的变化非常明显,孔峰主要在3~5 nm处,100~600℃条件下峰值表现为升高趋势,600~800℃条件下峰值逐渐降低,与比表面积分布图结果相一致。花生壳生物炭孔隙表面分形维数D1和体积分形维数D2均在600~800℃条件下水平较高,高热解温度导致孔隙结构的复杂程度有所增加,生物炭表面更加粗糙。根据花生壳生物炭在不同热解温度条件下的孔结构变化规律,为花生壳生物炭制备及应用提供参考依据,有利于实现花生壳综合高效利用。     

超高静压下食品压致升温规律的研究

为了弄清食品在超高静压下的压致升温规律,以便准确控制杀菌的加工工艺条件,通过聚四氟乙烯套筒模拟较小热损失条件下,将温度探头伸入高压腔内在线测定了液态食品和固态食品在超高静压下的温度变化情况,研究得出其在不同条件下的压致升温规律。结果表明：在室温下100～400 MPa范围内,脂肪含量高的食品的压致升温值明显高于含水率高的食品的压致升温值,且都随压力的增加而减小。在25～55℃和200 MPa时脂肪含量高的食品压致升温值随初始温度的增加而减小,而水的压制升温值受初始温度影响较大且随初始温度的增加而增加。可见,食品压致升温值主要受其成分的影响。故在食品的超高静压杀菌过程中必须考虑不同食品的压致升温值及热效应问题,以便合理确定食品的超高静压加工工艺条件。     

秸秆生物炭对棕壤中Cu(Ⅱ)的吸附效应及影响因素

以棉花、花生秸秆为原料,采用限氧热裂解法分别于350℃、500℃、650℃下制备生物炭,通过等温吸附和吸附动力学实验,研究两种秸秆生物炭对棕壤中Cu(Ⅱ)的吸附特性和修复效应。结果表明:随裂解温度上升,秸秆生物炭的碳化程度和BET比表面积增加,而含氧官能团、H/C和O/C的比值则减少,且花生秸秆生物炭的芳香化程度、碳化程度和比表面积均高于棉花秸秆生物炭;不同温度梯度制备的生物炭在吸附效果及机制方面存在差异,秸秆生物炭对Cu(Ⅱ)的吸附效果与Lagergren动力学方程的二级动力学方程、Langmuir等温方程可以较好拟合;随着pH的升高,吸附量均增加,吸附量在6.5时达到最大,且花生生物炭的吸附量大于棉花生物炭;SEM电镜扫描图展示了花生秸秆生物炭的表面特征和孔隙结构比棉花明显;FTIR谱图分析表明秸秆生物炭含氧官能团含量随裂解温度的升高而减少。综上,花生秸秆生物炭对山东棕壤重金属污染的修复效果更优。     

玉米秸秆生物炭对Cd（Ⅱ）的吸附机理研究

以玉米秸秆为原料,在350℃和700℃热解温度下分别制备了两种生物炭（BC350和BC700）,并对其理化性质进行了表征。在700℃下制备的生物炭芳构化程度更高,疏水性更强,比表面积更大,孔结构发育更加完全。研究Cd（Ⅱ）在两种生物炭上的吸附发现,Two-site Langmuir吸附等温模型比One-site Langmuir吸附等温模型能更好描述Cd（Ⅱ）在生物炭表面的吸附。BC700对Cd（Ⅱ）的吸附容量大于BC350,解吸率远小于BC350,吸附效果更好;离子交换和阳离子-π作用两种吸附机理同时存在并共同作用,前者分别占BC350和BC700总吸附容量的13.7%和1.1%,后者分别占86.3%和98.9%,阳离子-π作用是最主要的吸附机理。红外光谱FTIR分析表明,生物炭表面的含氧官能团和π共轭芳香结构分别提供不同机理的吸附位点。由于具有更多的离子交换位点,BC350对Cd（Ⅱ）吸附受pH影响较BC700更大。     

果品冷凉库库温波动原因分析及控制

果品冷凉库库温波动,特别是大幅度波动,严重影响了中长期贮藏的果品保鲜质量。该文采用自行设计的简易方法对温控仪表的温度漂移和库温进行检测,结果表明温控仪表的温度漂移是库温发生大幅度波动的主要原因。根据检测结果,通过对温控仪表电路进行改进,使温控仪表的温度漂移得到有效控制,从而降低了库温误差。温控仪表温漂误差幅度由3.5℃下降到0.3℃,库温波动幅度由5.3℃下降到1.4℃。温控仪表漂移误差得到有效控制,对提高果品贮藏保鲜质量具有重要意义。     

皇竹草生物炭的结构特征及其对（）的吸附性能

以皇竹草茎秆为原料,在限氧控温（300、500、700℃）条件下制备生物炭,研究该生物炭的结构特征及其对Cr（Ⅵ）的吸附行为。结果发现,随着热解温度的升高,皇竹草生物炭的产率下降,而灰分、pH呈上升趋势;电镜扫描（SEM）观察可见不同热解温度下所制备的生物炭结构相似,均具多孔和管状结构,但在700℃条件下所制备的生物炭相对300℃下制备的生物炭孔壁变薄,且孔壁有附着物,切面有突起结构。三种温度下制备的皇竹草生物炭对溶液中的Cr（Ⅵ）都具有较好的吸附作用,且500、700℃下制备的生物炭比300℃下制备的生物炭具有更好的吸附效果。在0~1 h之间,三种热解温度下制备的生物炭对铬的吸附量均随着时间的延长而快速增加,当吸附至1h时,基本达到饱和状态,随后吸附量无明显变化。     

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.