互花米草入侵对闽江河口裸滩湿地土壤有机碳的影响

为揭示互花米草入侵对裸滩湿地土壤有机碳的影响,选取闽江河口裸滩湿地和被互花米草入侵的裸滩湿地为研究对象,测定其不同土层土壤的有机碳和活性有机碳质量分数,同时对土壤的各种理化性质进行测定分析。结果表明:裸滩和互花米草湿地0~60 cm土层土壤有机碳质量分数变化范围分别为0.95~12.43 g/kg和1.45~10.04 g/kg,平均质量分数分别为4.03和4.35 g/kg;互花米草湿地0~60 cm土层土壤微生物量碳、可溶性有机碳和轻组有机碳平均质量分数分别增加12.76%、40.86%和12.62%,土壤易氧化有机碳平均质量分数基本不变。研究结果表明互花米草入侵裸滩在一定程度上增加了土壤有机碳及不同活性有机碳质量分数,但影响并不显著。     

新疆艾比湖湿地土壤有机碳含量的光谱测定方法对比

干旱半干旱地区湿地土壤中的有机碳是影响土壤质量,制约植物生长的重要因素之一,其含量的变化会影响生态系统的安全和稳定。为快速估测湿地土壤有机碳含量,在新疆艾比湖湿地保护区采集140个荒漠土壤样品,利用土壤可见/近红外光谱数据以及化学分析获取的土壤有机碳数据,在对土壤原始光谱反射率进行卷积平滑的基础上,获取了一阶微分、倒数对数一阶微分2种光谱预处理指标,采用蚁群-区间偏最小二乘法、基于支持向量机的回归特征消去法,选择土壤有机碳含量近红外光谱特征波长,在此基础上构建土壤有机碳含量偏最小二乘回归、支持向量回归模型。结果表明:1)利用原始一阶微分建立的模型,预测能力优于倒数对数一阶微分建立的模型。2)4种建模结果比较显示,利用原始一阶微分经基于支持向量机的回归特征消去法进行特征变量选择后建立的土壤有机碳含量模型,预测精度最高。训练集的相关系数以及均方根误差分别为0.9687、0.158%;测试集的相关系数和均方根误差分别为0.9091以及0.268%。因此,经过卷积平滑以及一阶微分预处理、并利用基于支持向量机的回归特征消去法建立的模型具有较高的预测精度和较好的稳健性,可以作为有效手段估算荒漠湿地土壤有机碳含量。     

互花米草入侵对潮滩土壤活性有机碳组分的影响

对外来种互花米草替代本土植物盐蒿后生长8、12、14年的湿地土壤以及盐蒿湿地表层土壤(0～10 cm)的活性有机碳(微生物量碳、可溶性有机碳)特征进行了研究,分析了不同湿地的土壤活性有机碳与土壤总有机碳之间的关系。结果表明:不同类型湿地的土壤活性有机碳组分含量存在显著差异,土壤活性有机碳、土壤总有机碳的变化趋势一致,表现为互花米草湿地>盐蒿湿地,且随着互花米草生长时间增长而明显增加;土壤活性有机碳与土壤总有机碳存在显著正相关关系;土壤活性有机碳与土壤总有机碳的比值则随着互花米草生长时间增长而逐渐减小,表明入侵年限长的互花米草湿地活性有机碳库周转率降低,生物可利用性减小,有利于土壤有机碳的累积。这可能是互花米草生长导致土壤总有机碳含量显著增加的主要原因。     

闽江口互花米草不同治理方式对土壤有机碳及养分含量的影响

有效控制与管理米草属植物入侵是人类社会面对全球变化的一个巨大的挑战,不同治理措施对于治理区土壤环境影响的评估也逐渐引起关注。采集闽江口鳝鱼滩湿地互花米草不同治理措施试验区土壤样品,开展互花米草不同治理措施对于土壤有机碳和养分含量的影响研究。"刈割+围堰水淹"处理根除互花米草后,3年未种植替代植物的试验地内仍无互花米草入侵地段0-40cm土层土壤有机碳(SOC)含量显著低于对照样地;互花米草湿地刈割开垦为滩涂鱼养殖场后SOC含量较对照互花米草样地SOC含量稍有下降,但差异不显著(P>0.05),土壤总氮(TN)和总磷(TP)含量变化同样不显著,但是土壤无机氮含量显著增加;经过"围堰+刈割+水淹"处理根治互花米草后,在短期(8个月)内不论是否种植替代植物,与对照相比,试验区0-40cm土层SOC含量均无显著变化。     

互花米草入侵对闽江河口芦苇湿地土壤有机碳的影响

 以闽江河口鳝鱼滩湿地为研究区域,选取芦苇和互花米草为研究对象,对其根际土壤有机碳质量分数和储量的垂直分布特征及其影响因子进行测定分析。结果表明:芦苇和互花米草0～60cm根际土壤有机碳平均质量分数分别为15.54和17.16 g/kg,表层（0～10 cm）有机碳质量分数最大,分别为19.69和22.02g/kg;芦苇和互花米草0～60 cm根际土壤有机碳储量总和分别为6 794.20和8 231.48 t/km2,芦苇根际土壤有机碳储量在30～40cm达到最大,而互花米草为010cm有机碳储量最大;互花米草的入侵增加了芦苇湿地根际土壤碳质量分数和储量;2种植物根际土壤有机碳质量分数与含水量和盐度之间均呈显著正相关。从闽江河口互花米草入侵的角度提出了管理该湿地的一些建议。     

互花米草入侵对我国红树林湿地土壤碳组分的影响

以福建漳江口、九龙江口、闽江口和浙江乐清湾为研究区,采集红树林和入侵种互花米草(入侵前为红树林)湿地土壤样品,分析互花米草入侵后土壤有机碳(SOC)、有机碳储量(SOCS)、活性有机碳组分(微生物生物量碳MBC、易氧化有机碳EOC、水溶性有机碳WSOC)以及有机碳键合组分(钙键结合有机碳(Ca—SOC)和铁铝键结合有机碳(Fe(Al)—SOC))的变化,探讨互花米草入侵对土壤有机碳组分以及稳定性的影响。结果表明:互花米草入侵红树林后,土壤SOC、SOCS、MBC和EOC总体上有所降低,尤其是SOC和SOCS,其降低的比例分别约为9.86%~27.13%和13.95%~26.29%;土壤WSOC含量则增加,增加比例约为5.75%~53.52%;互花米草入侵对土壤有机碳键合组分也具一定的影响,其中Ca—SOC/SOC比值增加,而[Fe(Al)—SOC+残渣态SOC]/SOC比值降低。这些结果预示着互花米草入侵改变了土壤有机碳库,同时也一定程度削弱了土壤有机碳稳定性。土壤有机碳的化学键合可能是红树林湿地土壤有机碳稳定的主要保护机制,对红树林碳汇功能具有重要意义。     

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。     

闽江河口互花米草入侵过程对短叶茳芏湿地土壤氮矿化的影响

对闽江河口湿地互花米草入侵对土壤氮矿化影响进行时空变化研究,选择闽江口鳝鱼滩湿地互花米草入侵斑块中央(A)、互花米草入侵斑块边缘(B)及未被入侵的短叶茳芏沼泽群落(C)为研究对象,探讨互花米草入侵过程对土壤氮矿化的影响,并对其进行原因分析。结果表明:互花米草入侵闽江河口短叶茳芏湿地后,从时空两个方面均改变了原有湿地土壤氮的矿化水平,总体上互花米草入侵在一定程度上增强了土壤的矿化作用。从季节上来看,春夏秋冬4个季节互花米草入侵斑块中央(A)矿化速率变化范围分别为(-2.50~6.25),(-5.0~8.5),(-0.35~0.9),(-0.37~0.22)mg/(kg·d);互花米草入侵斑块边缘(B)分别为(-3.37~6.25),(-7.5~5.5),(-0.15~0.55),(-0.25~0.21)mg/(kg·d);未被入侵的短叶茳芏沼泽群落(C)分别为(-5.8~3.6),(-5.7~5.4),(-0.12~0.55),(-0.13~0.09)mg/(kg·d)。互花米草入侵对土壤氮矿化速率的影响随着季节变化表现出显著的规律,即入侵过程中3种不同土壤类型均表现为夏季春季秋季冬季;相同季节3种样地同层土壤氮矿化速率总体表现为ABC。从土壤分层来看,在培养时期内各土层土壤氮矿化速率总体呈现出随着培养时间的增加而降低的趋势;在同一培养时期内,不同土层土壤矿化速率总体呈现出随土层深度的增加而降低的现象。这主要是由于互花米草入侵对闽江口湿地土壤温度、湿度、微生物活动、植物的生长周期以及生长特性等因子随时空变化的改变有关。     

长江口九段沙湿地土壤有机碳及微生物陆向分布

通过分析九段沙湿地土壤有机碳及微生物因子的陆向分布,研究了土壤有机碳的空间差异性及其与土壤微生物因子的相互关系。结果表明,九段沙土壤有机碳的陆向分布具有显著差异（P〈0．05）,随着高程上升,其含量整体呈现增大趋势,互花米草区／芦苇混合区最高（9．18g·kg^-1）;土壤微生物因子的陆向分布与土壤有机碳相似,且与土壤有机碳含量呈显著正相关关系（P〈0．01）,其中以土壤微生物呼吸和土壤脱氢酶最为明显;互花米草的引种及蔓延,增加了区域土壤有机碳含量,也增强了土壤微生物活性。     

杭州湾滨海湿地CH4排放通量的研究

2013年4—9月,利用静态明箱–气相色谱法对杭州湾裸滩湿地、海三棱藨草湿地、芦苇湿地和互花米草湿地CH4排放通量进行了原位观测,并利用室内厌氧培养法测定了0~30 cm深度的土壤CH4产生潜力。结果表明:整体而言,裸滩湿地表现为CH4的吸收源,CH4排放通量春季高、夏季低;海三棱藨草湿地、芦苇湿地和互花米草湿地表现为CH4的排放源,CH4排放通量均呈现夏季高、春秋季低的季节变化。平均CH4排放通量表现为:互花米草湿地(1.589 mg/(m2·h))芦苇湿地(0.722 mg/(m2·h))海三棱藨草湿地(0.218 mg/(m2·h))裸滩湿地(–0.068 mg/(m2·h)),互花米草湿地各月CH4排放通量均显著高于其他湿地。0~30 cm深度平均土壤CH4产生潜力表现为:互花米草湿地(0.050μg/(g·d)芦苇湿地(0.042μg/(g·d))裸滩湿地(0.030μg/(g·d)海三棱藨草湿地(0.027μg/(g·d)),互花米草湿地各土层CH4产生潜力显著高于其他湿地(除0~5 cm外)。裸滩湿地土壤CH4产生潜力没有明显的空间垂直变化趋势,CH4产生潜力最大值、最小值分别出现在10~20 cm和5~10 cm土层。其他3类湿地0~5 cm土层的CH4产生潜力最大,土壤CH4产生潜力整体上随着土壤深度的增加而减小;海三棱藨草湿地和芦苇湿地5~10 cm土层的CH4产生潜力最小,互花米草湿地20~30 cm土层的CH4产生潜力最小。土壤p H、有机碳和全氮含量对CH4排放通量有显著的影响。     

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.     

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.