冷却牦牛分割肉酶嫩化技术研究

牦牛肉色泽鲜红，风味纯正，营养丰富，但肌纤维较粗，易出现“冷收缩”现象，使质地坚硬，嫩度下降。为提高冷却牦牛肉的嫩度，改善肉质，该研究将木瓜蛋白酶用于冷却牦牛分割肉嫩化，通过L₉(3⁴)正交试验选择出最佳嫩化工艺参数，即酶浓度9 mg/kg，处理温度15℃，处理时间3 h。采用注射嫩化法，真空包装、急速冷却后在0～4℃条件下贮藏。结果表明，木瓜蛋白酶可明显提高肉的嫩度，使剪切力值(48.44 N/cm²、肌纤维直径(8.03 μm)、失水率(5.91%)下降，口感改善，对冷却肉的贮藏性无影响(0～4℃，9 d)，操作方法简单，成本低，适合工厂化生产，实用性强。     

两段式冷却对牛肉食用品质的影响

为探讨两段式冷却对牛肉食用品质的影响,以20头杂交牛胴体（延边牛×西门塔尔牛）按试验设计进行两段式冷却（温度-13～-15℃、时间2 h,风速3 m/s,随后转入常规冷却间至24 h）和常规冷却处理（温度0～4℃、时间24 h）相比较,研究不同处理对牛肉食用品质的影响。表明：两段式冷却处理加快胴体温度下降速率,减缓pH值下降速率,显著降低胴体冷却质量损失,使肉的色泽鲜红,提高肉的剪切力,对背最长肌的保水性无影响。可以认为在肉牛屠宰加工流程中,单独采用两段式冷却处理能降低肉的嫩度,但随时间的增加,剪切力值会有所降低,建议应用时结合电刺激处理来同时改善肉的食用品质。     

宰后盆骨吊挂方式及成熟时间对黄牛牛肉品质的影响

为研究宰后盆骨吊挂技术对中国黄牛牛肉品质的影响,该试验选取12头品种、年龄和活体质量相近的鲁西黄牛杂交西门塔尔牛,屠宰后左半胴体采用跟腱吊挂,右半胴体采用盆骨吊挂。分别成熟1、4、7、14和21 d后测定pH值、汁液损失率、蒸煮损失率、肉色、剪切力、肌节长度等指标。研究发现,和传统跟腱吊挂相比,盆骨吊挂能够显著降低肉牛背最长肌宰后7 d之内的剪切力值,并使背最长肌宰后14 d的剪切力值50.71 N低于跟腱吊挂宰后21d的剪切力值58.48 N,此外,盆骨吊挂可以显著增加肌节长度,增值为0.44μm,使牛肉的汁液损失由5.44%降低到4.29%。因此,盆骨吊挂技术具有工业化推广的价值,可以达到快速提高牛肉嫩度,减少牛肉成熟时间的目的。     

不同贮藏温度下宰后羊肉的肉质变化及其影响因素

为研究宰后羊肉中一磷酸腺苷活化蛋白激酶（AMPK）的活化程度对糖酵解进而对肉质的影响,探讨肌肉宰后成熟的机理。将宰后羊肉分别放置在0、4和15℃下保存,在保存后的0～24 h内测定羊肉的AMPK活性、肌糖原（mg/g）、pH值和乳酸（μmol/g）,在保存后的0～7 d内测定羊肉的剪切力、熟肉率、肌原纤维小片化指数（MFI）和肉色的变化。结果表明,保存在15℃的羊肉具有最高的AMPK活化值（P＜0.05）,肌糖原和pH值下降快,乳酸蓄积多,剪切力的回降速度和熟肉率的回升速度快,MFI高,肉色变差最快。这说明宰后羊肉的保存温度越高,AMPK越容易被激活,肉的糖酵解和成熟速度越快。     

不同品种、部位生鲜肉冰点和过冷点研究及预测模型构建

为明确生鲜肉的冰点、过冷点，探讨快速获取生鲜肉冰点、过冷点的方法，本试验以不同品种、部位生鲜肉为研究对象，系统分析其冰点、过冷点差异，并构建冰点、过冷点预测模型。结果表明，猪肉、牛肉、羊肉、鸡肉冰点和过冷点温度范围分别为-1.48～-1.21℃和-2.69～-2.27℃、-1.53～-1.10℃和-2.72～-2.08℃、-1.32～-0.76℃和-3.14～-1.84℃、-1.44～-1.23℃和-2.20～-2.10℃，鸭肉的冰点温度为-1.07℃，过冷点温度范围为-1.99～-1.65℃。猪、牛、羊腿肉的冰点和过冷点均高于腹肉(P<0.05)；鸡、鸭胸肉和腿肉的冰点、过冷点无显著差异(P>0.05)。生鲜畜禽肉的冰点、过冷点与水分含量呈正相关。进一步研究发现，冰点、过冷点与自由水弛豫峰面积百分比P₂₂呈显著正相关，相关系数分别为0.84和0.83,P₂₂预测生鲜猪肉冰点、过冷点的最优模型为ExpDec1、Logistic拟合模型，拟合方程分别为y=-1.427 3×exp(-x/1.515 39)-0.360 95(R     

不同因素对羔羊皱胃酶凝乳活性的影响

研究结果表明，羔羊皱胃酶最适凝乳温度为45℃；35℃以上热处理对酶凝乳活性有不同程度的损失，60℃热处理10 min活性完全丧失；pH值为5～8时凝乳活性随乳pH值的降低而增强，酶在pH2.5～7.5之间处理20h凝乳活性稳定；Ca²⁺具有明显的促凝作用；底物浓度对酶活性的影响符合米氏规律。     

营养液加热消毒机的设计与灭菌性能试验

设计了一种专用于营养液消毒的加热消毒机，可以自动实现排液流量1 m³/h、营养液由室温加热至85℃、保温滞留0～3 min的任务。杀菌试验结果表明本机对番茄萎蔫病病原菌、黄瓜枯萎病病原菌、番茄细菌性青枯病病原菌都有较好的杀灭效果；同时性能稳定、可靠。在杀灭营养液中的这3类病原菌时(起始病原菌浓度为3.9×10⁵～8.3×10⁵ cfu/mL)，75℃/90s的杀菌组合，可以达到100％的杀菌效果。     

吊挂时间对蛋鸡与肉鸡宰后肌肉品质的影响

为国内禽类清真屠宰企业提供数据指导和帮助,该文采用两因素可重复裂区试验设计,以淘汰蛋鸡和AA肉鸡(arbor acre broiler,AA broiler)2个鸡种为主区,5个吊挂时间(0、30、60、90、120 s)为裂区,研究吊挂时间对淘汰蛋鸡与AA肉鸡宰后肌肉品质的影响,结果表明,随着吊挂时间的延长,AA肉鸡在吊挂90 s时,体温变化、宰后24 h pH值、红度值、滴水损失、蒸煮损失显著增大,自由水含量、肌酐酸(inosine monophosphate,IMP)含量显著减小(P<0.05);当吊挂120 s时,淘汰蛋鸡宰后24 h pH值、红度值、蒸煮损失显著增大,IMP含量显著减小(P<0.05).主效应和交互作用分析结果表明,鸡种对体温变化、亮度值、滴水损失、蒸煮损失、结合水含量、不易流动水含量、自由水含量、IMP含量影响显著(P<0.05),吊挂时间对体温变化、红度值、滴水损失、蒸煮损失、自由水含量、IMP含量影响显著(P<0.05),鸡种与吊挂时间的交互作用对红度值、滴水损失、自由水含量、IMP含量影响显著(P<0.05).根据研究结果,建议AA肉鸡适宜的吊挂时间为12~60 s,淘汰蛋鸡适宜的吊挂时间为12~90 s,研究结果为提高宰后鸡肉品质提供参考.     

运输时间和温度对生猪应激和猪肉品质的影响

为了研究运输时间和温度对生猪应激及猪肉品质的影响,该文以三元杂交猪杜长大为研究对象,测定了运输前、运输3、6、9h以及运输温度-10~0℃、0~10℃、10~20℃、20~30℃等条件下生猪的血液生化指标、宰后猪肉p H值、肉色等指标。结果表明:运输6 h后三元猪出现应激反应,9 h以后应激反应显著增强(P0.05),运输6 h以上三元猪与运输3 h相比,宰后45 min p H值显著降低(P0.05),肉色分级显著升高(P0.05),肉品质降低;运输温度低于10℃时三元猪出现应激反应,-10~0℃时应激反应显著增强(P0.05),-10~0℃和20~30℃条件下宰后24 h p H值显著高于0~10℃和10~20℃(P0.05),肉品质降低。因此,为防止生猪运输应激及改善猪肉品质,生猪运输时间应小于6 h,运输温度为10~20℃。该研究结果对屠宰行业减少生猪应激提高猪肉品质提供参考。     

猕猴桃速冻处理低温贮藏恒温缓解工艺的试验研究

对猕猴桃在冻结温度下恒温贮藏随着时间的推移能自然缓解的问题作了阐述。试验表明，在-36℃的条件下将猕猴桃果心温度迅速降至-4.5℃～-1.5℃使猕猴桃发生冻结，并在该温度下恒温贮藏，贮藏到一定时间后能自然缓解，同时，在该温度范围内，冻结与贮藏的温度愈低，缓解所需的时间愈长。缓解后的果实硬度可达88 N/cm²，继续在该温度下贮藏45 d左右，仍有60 N/cm²以上的硬度或较好的商品性及8～10 d的货架寿命，对维生素C的保存量远高于其它工艺的贮藏结果，贮藏150 d后的失水率比常规工艺降低8%。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.