毛乌素沙地南缘人工植被恢复对表土机械组成和养分的影响

为深入了解人工固沙植被恢复对表层土壤理化性质的影响,对毛乌素沙地南缘不同类型固沙植被(杨柴Hedysarum mongdicum、紫穗槐Amorpha fruticosa、沙地柏Sabina vulgaris)恢复区和裸沙(对照)0~2 cm和2~5 cm层土壤机械组成和养分含量进行了测定,并运用灰色关联法分析了植被恢复对土壤养分的改良效果。结果表明:除杨柴样地0~2 cm层和紫穗槐样地0~2 cm、2~5 cm层土壤中中沙含量显著低于裸沙外(P0.05),不同类型固沙植被恢复区表层土壤机械组成与裸沙无显著差异。不同类型固沙植被恢复区0~2 cm层土壤有机碳、全氮、碱解氮、速效磷含量以及2~5 cm层土壤速效磷、速效钾含量均显著高于裸沙(P0.05),而0~2 cm和2~5 cm层土壤全磷含量与裸沙无显著差异。灰色关联分析结果表明,0~2 cm土层灰色关联度由大到小依次为沙地柏(0.8119)、杨柴(0.8110)、紫穗槐(0.8086)和裸沙(0.8031);2~5 cm土层灰色关联度依次为杨柴(0.8347)、沙地柏(0.8301)、紫穗槐(0.8276)和裸沙(0.8258)。沙地柏的种植对0~2 cm土层的改良效果最佳,杨柴和沙地柏的种植对2~5 cm土层的改良效果最佳,紫穗槐的种植对0~2 cm和2~5 cm土层的改良效果最差。     

植被恢复对侵蚀坡地表层土壤性质的影响

为了评价表层土壤有机碳和养分对放牧和不同植被类型互作的反应,选择四川省西昌市西溪乡牛郎村马家松坡放牧丘陵坡地,分别在坡顶、上、中、下部各层采集有乔木(桉树)、灌木(米油枝)、草本3种类型植被覆盖以及无植被覆盖的0—5 cm表层土壤,测定分析了土壤容重、土壤有机碳、速效氮含量。结果表明,植被对改善表层土壤有机碳和速效氮含量的作用大小顺序为:米油枝>草本植物>桉树。米油枝、草本植物能显著提高土壤有机碳和速效氮含量,桉树改善表层土壤有机碳和速效氮含量的作用则比较小。不同坡位对土壤有机碳、速效氮含量无显著影响。不同植被类型下表层土壤容重变化为:米油枝下土壤<桉树下土壤<草地<裸地。米油枝能显著降低表层土壤容重,而在不同坡位间无显著差异。不同植被类型下表层土壤对放牧的反应不同。放牧显著降低了桉树林下表层土壤有机碳和速效氮的含量,对米油枝和草本植物覆被下表层土壤性质的影响不显著。     

地膜覆盖对黄土高原旱作春玉米田土壤碳氮组分的影响

基于2年田间试验,研究了地膜覆盖对旱作春玉米田土壤有机碳、全氮及其组分的影响,试验包括地膜覆盖玉米田、无覆盖玉米田和裸地休闲3个处理,分层测定了0—40cm土层有机碳、全氮、颗粒有机碳氮、潜在矿化碳氮和微生物量碳氮含量。结果表明:在0—40cm土层,各处理间土壤有机碳和全氮含量均无显著差异。与不覆盖相比,地膜覆盖处理0—40cm土层颗粒有机碳氮及其所占比例分别降低了29.0%,33.3%,29.9%,35.7%;0—10cm土层潜在可矿化碳及其所占比例分别降低了17.8%和16.1%,潜在可矿化氮和微生物量碳及其所占比例无显著差异,但在0—10cm土层地膜覆盖微生物量氮含量及其所占比例分别较不覆盖处理提高了10.6%和10.5%(p0.05)。与裸地休闲相比,无覆盖处理0—40cm土层潜在可矿化碳氮分别提高了12.8%和14.7%,地膜覆盖处理则分别提高了7.8%和6.5%(p0.05),但种植玉米降低了微生物量碳氮含量及其所占比例。在0—40cm土层覆盖与否对潜在可矿化碳氮和微生物量碳氮影响不显著。总体来看,地膜覆盖能够在一定程度上提高表土微生物量氮组分及其所占比例,但显著降低了中活性碳氮组分含量及其比例,不利于长期的土壤碳氮固定。     

高原鼠兔干扰与高寒草甸退化的时空耦合关系

[目的]高原鼠兔是青藏高原高寒草甸生态系统的关键物种。分析鼠兔活动与草甸退化之间的耦合关系,为进一步完善高原鼠兔干扰强度观测体系,提供更加全面、科学的鼠兔活动调查数据。[方法]本研究利用无人机对地观测与深度学习构建了一种鼠兔干扰强度观测与分级方法,并利用景观指数和耦合度模型开展了时空变化分析。[结果](1)ResNet-101残差网络模型提取鼠丘秃斑的精度可达92.7%。2019年研究区鼠兔干扰微度和轻度面积占总面积的82.0%,2021年中度及以上干扰强度占62.5%。2019—2021年鼠兔干扰明显、显著和极度增强的面积占43.0%。(2)2019,2021年高寒草甸植被均以中度退化为主,2019—2021年中度退化转变为重度退化的面积占30.2%,植被覆盖度出现显著降低的面积占7.7%。(3)研究区景观以单一方向变化为秃斑,景观类型向更加聚集、规则、单一化的方向转变,秃斑景观的优势度显著上升。(4)2019—2021年研究区大部分区域的耦合度增加,鼠兔干扰与高寒草甸间的相互作用增强。[结论]研究区高原鼠兔干扰强度显著变大,植被覆盖度降低,景观逐步向秃斑类型转变,高寒草甸在高原鼠兔...     

黄土高原不同植被群落多样性与土壤有机碳密度关系研究

为了探明黄土高原不同植被群落多样性与土壤有机碳密度关系,在黄土高原纸坊沟小流域选取几种典型的植被群落(刺槐Robinia pseudoacacia、铁杆蒿Artemisia gmelinii、长芒草Stipa bungeana、狼牙刺Sophora davidii和柠条Caragana korshinskii),野外调查了植被多样性,同时室内测定0—100 cm土壤有机碳含量、密度以及相关土壤环境因子。结果显示:(1)不同植被群落多样性指数(Margalef丰富度、Mclntosh均匀度和Shannon-Wiener多样性)表现出相同的变化特征。柠条和刺槐群落差异不显著(p>0.05),二者显著低于其他植物群落(p<0.05),长芒草和狼牙刺群落最高,二者之间差异不显著(p>0.05),显著高于其他植物群落(p<0.05); 不同植物群落Simpson优势度指数呈现出相反的变化趋势,刺槐>柠条>铁杆蒿>狼牙刺>长芒草。(2)不同植物群落土壤全氮含量、微生物量碳、微生物量氮、速效养分(硝态氮、铵态氮、速效磷)大致表现为相同的变化特征,均表现为长芒草和狼牙刺群落高于其他群落,而柠条和刺槐群落土壤养分含量低于其他植物群落,不同植物群落土壤pH值表现出相反的变化特征。(3)在垂直方向,土壤有机碳密度随土层深度的增加而逐渐减小,80—100 cm土层土壤有机碳密度最低(p<0.05),0—20 cm土层土壤有机碳密度最高,表现出明显的“表聚性”,相同土层土壤有机碳密度大致表现为长芒草和狼牙刺群落高于其他植物群落。(4)相关性分析显示,不同植物群落多样性指数与有机碳和有机碳密度呈显著或极显著的正相关。冗余分析显示,土壤pH值和微生物量碳含量是主导植被多样性和土壤有机碳密度重要驱动因子; 双因素分析表明植被类型和土层深度对土壤有机碳含量和密度具有显著的影响(p<0.05)。     

杭州湾湿地不同植被类型下土壤有机碳及其组分分布特征

土壤有机碳及其活性组分能够敏感地反映土壤碳库的变化。调查采集杭州湾自然滩涂湿地土壤样品(0~10 cm、10~20 cm、20~30 cm),比较分析芦苇、互花米草、海三棱藨草、裸滩的土壤有机碳(SOC)、水溶性有机碳(DOC)、易氧化碳(ROC)和轻组有机质(LFOM)的变化。结果表明:(1)0~30 cm各土层,芦苇、互花米草、海三棱藨草和裸滩的SOC平均含量依次为3.87~5.08 g kg-1,6.46~6.78 g kg-1,4.33~4.48 g kg-1和4.99~5.25 g kg-1,互花米草SOC含量高于相同土层的其他类型;(2)互花米草DOC和LFOM平均含量分别为90.69~98.90 mg kg-1,2.35~2.95 g kg-1,高于相同土层的海三棱藨草、芦苇和裸滩,而裸滩ROC含量(2.06~2.22 g kg-1)却高于相同土层的其他三种类型;(3)芦苇、互花米草和海三棱藨草DOC占土壤有机碳的分配比例无显著性差异,而相同土层的DOC占土壤有机碳的分配比例大小依次为裸滩海三棱藨草芦苇互花米草;(4)SOC和DOC、ROC、LFOM、全氮(TN)、土壤含水量、p H之间均存在极显著关系(p0.01),各指标与p H之间均表现为负相关性。研究表明互花米草的入侵增强了滩涂湿地的固碳能力,有机碳活性组分能够反映有机碳库的变化。     

马尾松-麻栎混交林土壤溶解性有机碳、氮空间分布特征

以河南省驻马店西部低山丘陵区马尾松—麻栎混交林为研究对象,分析土壤有机碳(SOC)、溶解性有机碳(DOC)和溶解性有机氮(DON)储量及其对坡向、土层深度(0—10cm和10—20cm)及胸高断面积的响应规律。结果表明:坡向和胸高断面积显著影响SOC和DOC储量(p0.05),且不同坡向土壤中SOC、DOC和DON的影响因素不同。阳坡SOC储量主要限制性因素是速效钾,阴坡是全氮;阳坡与阴坡土壤DOC和DON储量主要受全氮的影响。另外,土层深度亦对SOC、DOC和DON储量有显著影响(p0.05),且随土层加深而降低,呈表层富集的现象。相关性分析表明,SOC、DOC和DON储量与土壤物理性质即土壤湿度、紧实度及土壤中颗粒组成存在显著的相关性。SOC、DOC和DON两两之间呈显著正相关关系,并均与土壤全氮、有效氮(铵态氮、硝态氮和碱解氮)、速效磷和速效钾等含量也存在显著的相关性(p0.01),表明土壤养分含量是影响马尾松—麻栎混交林土壤有机碳储量及溶解性有机碳、氮空间分布的重要因素。     

祁连山天老池小流域土壤有机碳空间异质性及其影响因素

采用野外取样和室内分析,结合地统计学方法和方差分析方法,分析了祁连山天老池小流域0~30 cm层的土壤有机碳的分布特征及其与植被类型、地形和土壤性质等因素的关系。结果表明,该流域土壤有机碳垂直分布存在显著的差异,随着土层深度的增加,土壤有机碳含量显著减少,0~10、10~20、20~30 cm土层土壤有机碳含量分别为105.08、81.46、62.62 g/kg,土壤平均有机碳含量为83.05 g/kg,变异系数为0.56。不同的植被类型0~10 cm土层土壤有机碳含量表现为青海云杉(138.20 g/kg)灌丛(118.49 g/kg)亚高山草甸(100.43 g/kg)祁连圆柏(74.17 g/kg)干草原(43.94 g/kg);随着海拔的升高土壤有机碳含量增加,阴坡有机碳含量明显高于阳坡;经相关性分析表明,土壤有机碳与土壤全氮和砂粒呈显著正相关关系,与土壤体积质量、黏粒和粉粒呈显著负相关关系。     

祁连山东段不同植被下土壤养分状况研究

通过分析祁连山东段天祝县地区5种植被类型（丛生禾草草地、银露梅灌丛、青海云杉林、青海云杉-白桦混交林和白桦林）覆盖下土壤碳、氮、磷含量的变化情况,研究了不同植被对土壤养分的影响。结果表明:植被对土壤养分具有表聚效应,不同植被覆盖下的土壤0-20 cm土层养分含量显著高于20-40 cm土层（p<0.05）,乔木林的表聚效应强于灌丛和草地。随上覆植被从草本植物到灌木再到乔木的变化,土壤有机碳、全氮、铵态氮和速效磷等养分均呈现出逐渐增加的趋势（p<0.05）;硝态氮含量变化情况为白桦林>银露梅灌丛>青海云杉林>青海云杉-白桦混交林>丛生禾草草地,土壤全磷除白桦林下较高外,其他4种植被之间都无显著差异（p>0.05）。青海云杉-白桦混交林维持土壤养分平衡的能力强于其他4种植被。     

臭氧污染对麦田土壤不同活性有机碳库的影响

近年来大气臭氧危害加剧,臭氧浓度升高影响植物—土壤系统进而影响土壤有机碳库周转。本研究在开放条件下,采用Chan修订的Walkley-Black方法,研究了连续5年增加稻—麦轮作系统大气臭氧浓度(较周围大气高50%)对麦季农田土壤不同活性有机碳库的影响。结果表明,大气臭氧浓度升高致使0~3 cm、10~20 cm土层土壤有机碳含量显著降低,累积导致耕层(0~20 cm)土壤有机碳含量下降18.4%(p0.05)。臭氧浓度升高显著降低了0~3、3~10、10~20 cm 3个土层中的活性有机碳含量;臭氧升高使0~3 cm土层的受保护缓性有机碳含量增加了10.8%(p0.05),并使未受保护缓性有机碳含量降低了59.7%(p0.05);臭氧升高条件下10~20 cm土层的受保护缓性有机碳含量降低了59.6%(p0.05)。臭氧升高对不同活性碳占总有机碳比例的影响受活性碳类型和土壤层次的制约,显著降低了3~10 cm土层活性有机碳所占比例(p0.05),未对耕层各层次上的稳定有机碳含量及其分配产生显著影响。臭氧升高导致土壤中占土壤有机碳比重59.3%~69.8%的活性碳库的库容变小,应是土壤有机碳库下降的直接原因。本研究表明长期大气臭氧浓度增加具有降低土壤有机碳含量并改变不同活性有机碳库分配与周转的态势。     

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.