芪合酶基因转化小白菜的研究*

利用质粒pBin438构建了含有NPT Ⅱ基因和葡萄芪合酶(RS)基因的芪合酶组成型植物表达载体EHA105/pBinRS。用根癌农杆菌(Agrobacterium tumefaciens)介导法将RS基因导入纯合系小白菜(Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis)品种中，经Kan抗性筛选、PCR及RT-PCR检测，RS基因已整合到小白菜基因组中并得到了表达，共获得了7株转基因植株。     

植物芪类次生代谢物的功能、合成调控及基因工程研究进展

芪类(stilbenes)是松树、葡萄和花生等植物中发现的具有抗病及保健等多种功能的次生代谢物。芪合酶是芪类次生代谢物合成途径的关键酶。植物大多数芪类次生代谢物都具有诱导合成的特性，它们的诱导合成是芪合酶基因在各种诱发因子作用下被诱导转录和翻译的结果。利用已克隆的芪合酶基因，可在转基因植物中引入芪类合成支路以合成芪类次生产物，从而达到改变转基因植物抗性及保健品质的目的。     

中慢生型天山根瘤菌CCBAU060A自体诱导物合酶基因的筛选及其在大肠杆菌中的表达

细菌在高细胞密度下可以产生化学信号分子调控细菌相关基因的表达,这种信号分子被称为自体诱导物(Autoinducer,AI)。采用检测菌株JZA1在中慢生型天山根瘤菌CCBAU060A(Mesorhizobium tianshanenseCCBAU060A)培养上清液中检测到了高活性的自体诱导物;利用转座子随机突变的方法获得了AI缺失突变株,并克隆得到了相关的自体诱导物合酶基因;将自体诱导物合酶基因在大肠杆菌中进行表达,对大肠杆菌重组菌株进行自体诱导物检测发现,该合酶基因在大肠杆菌中能够合成四种自体诱导物分子。     

外源NO对铜胁迫下小白菜SBPase基因表达特性及其光合速率的影响

【目的】本研究通过克隆小白菜光合暗反应中限制核酮糖-1, 5-二磷酸(RuBP)再生的关键酶景天庚酮糖-1,7-二磷酸酶(sedoheptulose-1, 7-bisphosphatase,SBPase)基因,分析铜胁迫及添加外源一氧化氮(NO)供体硝普钠(SNP)缓解铜胁迫时该基因的表达情况,并将其与对应处理下小白菜净光合速率(Pn)的变化情况结合在一起进行分析,以期为全面了解外源NO缓解铜胁迫植物光合作用机理提供理论依据。【方法】以小白菜品种“上海青”3~4片真叶大的幼苗为材料,采用RT-PCR技术克隆小白菜SBPase基因,铜处理浓度为200 μmol/L,外源NO供体SNP浓度为300 μmol/L,同时设置相关的4个对照组排除其他可能因素的干扰,在添加处理液后的0、 4、 8、 12 d上午九点测定各处理小白菜相同节位叶片的净光合速率,并利用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测在对应的处理时间及对应节位小白菜叶片中SBPase基因的表达情况。试验环境条件为光照强度200 μmol/(m2·s),光周期12 h,温度25℃/18℃。【结果】 1)克隆得到小白菜SBPase基因(Genbank登录号:AHY18974.1),开放阅读框为1182 bp,编码393个氨基酸,蛋白质分子量为42.34kD,理论等电点为5.85。2)序列分析表明其含有氧化还原活性位点,包含一个具有59个氨基酸残基的叶绿体转移肽序列。小白菜SBPase基因推导的氨基酸序列与其他物种中已分离的SBPase编码的氨基酸序列具有很高的同源性。3)实时荧光定量PCR分析表明,SBPase基因在铜胁迫下的小白菜叶片中表达量下降,且随着胁迫时间的延长下降程度加剧;而在铜胁迫的基础上添加外源NO可以在一定程度上缓解铜胁迫引起的小白菜叶中SBPase基因表达量的下降。4)铜胁迫下小白菜叶片Pn显著下降,且随着胁迫时间的延长,Pn下降加剧,施加外源NO后Pn的下降得到一定程度的缓解,各处理下Pn的变化与SBPase基因表达量变化趋势一致。【结论】铜胁迫及在铜胁迫的基础上添加外源NO后小白菜叶片中SBPase基因表达量的变化,可能是影响对应条件下小白菜叶片的净光合速率变化的原因之一。     

PHAs合酶phaC2基因转化烟草叶绿体的研究

中长链羟基脂肪酸聚酯 (medium-chain-length-PHAs, mcl-PHAs) 属于微生物聚酯。Ⅱ型PHA合酶是mcl-PHAs生物合成途径中的关键酶。将编码Ⅱ型PHA合酶的基因phaC2与水稻(Oryza sativa )叶绿体psbA基因的启动子和终止子构建表达盒(RpsbA-pro-phaC2-RpsbA-ter)，连同壮观霉素抗性基因aadA表达盒(prrn-aadA-TpsbA-ter)一起克隆进烟草叶绿体基因组同源片段rbcL和accD中，构建了烟草叶绿体转化表达载体pTC2。基因枪法转化烟草(Nicotiana tobacum L.)叶片，获得具有壮观霉素抗性的转基因烟草。对T0代和T1代转基因植株的PCR和Southern blot鉴定结果表明, 外源基因确已整合进烟草叶绿体基因组中，T1代转基因植株已达同质化。RT-PCR分析结果证实phaC2基因已在转录水平上表达。转基因植株的正反交试验证明外源基因在转基因后代中遵循母性遗传规律，不存在转基因的花粉漂移现象。通过叶绿体遗传转化, 实现中长链羟基脂肪酸聚酯合成关键酶基因phaC2在烟草叶绿体基因组中的稳定转化。     

小白菜BcGSH的克隆及其与BcMT2a基因的表达分析

镉(Cd)、铅(Pb)污染是最常见的重金属污染,而小白菜(Brassica campestris ssp.chinensis)又是富集重金属较高的叶菜类蔬菜之一。为了探明小白菜对Cd~(2+)、Pb~(2+)单一及其复合胁迫响应的作用机理,本实验采用不同浓度Cd~(2+)、Pb~(2+)处理小白菜幼苗,对其与重金属富集相关的植物络合素(phytochelatins,PCs)途径关键基因小白菜谷胱甘肽基因(glutathione,BcGSH)进行克隆且对其所编码的蛋白进行生物信息学分析,并对BcGSH基因与金属硫蛋白途径(metallothionein 2a,BcMT2a)的基因进行组织特异性和相对表达量分析。结果表明:克隆获得BcGSH基因(Gen Bank No.MH414515)全长为1 178 bp,编码369个氨基酸,没有信号肽位点,为非分泌性蛋白,亚细胞定位预测,该基因主要存在于细胞质中,为亲水性不稳定蛋白;BcGSH与BcMT2a基因的表达在小白菜中存在组织特异性,BcGSH基因主要在根中表达,BcMT2a基因主要在叶中表达。且二者的相对表达量在一定浓度范围内,随着Cd~(2+)、Pb~(2+)单一及其复合浓度的升高而增加,当Cd~(2+)、Pb~(2+)及Cd~(2+)-Pb~(2+)浓度分别为20、300、10/300 mg/L时,BcGSH基因的表达量达到最大值,当Cd~(2+)、Pb~(2+)及Cd~(2+)-Pb~(2+)浓度分别为40、900、40/900 mg/L时,BcMT2a基因的表达量达到最大值。研究表明小白菜在受到重金属离子Cd~(2+)、Pb~(2+)及Cd~(2+)-Pb~(2+)胁迫时,BcGSH与BcMT2a基因有明显的应答,可增加小白菜对Cd~(2+)、Pb~(2+)的耐受性。本研究为重金属污染的植物修复提供理论依据。     

铜胁迫下小白菜叶片基因表达谱的cDNA-AFLP分析

本研究以小白菜品种‘上海青’为试验材料,利用Cu2+质量浓度为10 mg·L-1的营养液水培小白菜幼苗,通过cDNA-AFLP技术分析小白菜响应铜胁迫相关基因及其表达情况。试验中利用多态性较好的135对引物进行扩增,共获得5 800多条转录衍生片段(TDFs),平均每个引物组合扩增出30~60条,片段大小主要集中在100~1 000 bp,根据条带强弱和有无的变化,其表达模式可以分为持续表达、瞬时表达、上调表达和下调表达4种情况。通过筛选获得180条差异表达TDFs,其中上调表达77条(42.8%),下调表达61条(33.9%),瞬时表达42条(23.3%)。选取其中152条差异表达TDFs进行回收测序,最终得到151个有效序列,其中上调表达68条(45%),下调表达50条(33.1%),瞬时表达33条(21.9%)。Blastx比对结果显示,112条TDFs序列与已知基因具有较高的相似度,涉及能量代谢、物质合成与运输、逆境响应、信号转导等多种途径,16条TDFs序列与功能未知或假定基因的同源性较高,其余23条TDFs序列与已知功能基因的同源性较低或零匹配,可能是一些新的铜胁迫应答基因。从151条TDFs选取4条TDFs,以小白菜actin基因为内参照,对其在不同胁迫处理时间的表达情况进行荧光定量RT-PCR验证,分析结果与cDNA-AFLP结果基本吻合,表明cDNA-AFLP技术是研究小白菜铜胁迫相关基因差异表达的有效方法。小白菜铜胁迫相关基因表达情况较为复杂,涉及多种代谢途径。本研究结果可为探讨小白菜铜胁迫的分子机理和相关基因的克隆提供理论依据。     

二化螟鞘磷脂合酶相关基因CsSMSr的克隆、真核表达及表达谱分析

鞘磷脂合酶(SMS)基因家族在鞘脂质代谢中起着关键作用,可以通过调节神经酰胺和甘油二酯的平衡调控细胞的生存和凋亡.本研究利用RT-PCR和RACE技术克隆得到1个二化螟鞘磷脂合酶相关基因的全长eDNA,命名为CsSMSr(Genbank登录号:JQ664739).CsSMSr开放阅读框1587bp,可编码528个氨基酸;序列分析表明,CsSMSr基因编码的蛋白N端具有保守的SAM结构域,含6个跨膜区域,并且有4个SMS家族特有的保守区域D1～D4,保守区D3和D4上有活性中心包括3个氨基酸残基(催化三联体):His302,His345,Asp349.CsSMSr在粉纹夜蛾Tn细胞内成功表达,Western blot检测表达产物分子量约60kDa.应用实时荧光定量PCR方法分析该基因在二化螟不同发育阶段和不同组织的表达,结果表明,CsSMSr随着二化螟的生长发育表达水平逐渐升高,在成虫时期达到最大;CsSMSr的表达具有组织特异性,二化螟雌成虫和雄幼虫生殖器官中的CsSMSr表达量都显著高于其他器官,在二化螟雄成虫精巢中表达量也较高,但与中肠和马氏管差异不大.CsSMSr的表达有时间特异性和组织特异性,推测该基因在二化螟的发育和生殖中有重要作用.本研究成功克隆并表达了二化螟鞘磷脂合酶相关基因,为进一步对该基因进行功能鉴定奠定了基础.     

白藜芦醇合成酶(RS)基因转化胡萝卜及高白藜芦醇转基因胡萝卜株系的筛选

白藜芦醇是具有抗病及多种保健功能的芪类次生代谢物,胡萝卜(Daucus carota var.sativa)则是富含β胡萝卜素等多种营养成分的重要蔬菜。研究着眼于创建具有白藜芦醇保健功能的胡萝卜新种质资源,在对葡萄(Vitis vinifera L.)白藜芦醇合成酶(resveratrol synthase,RS)基因在胡萝卜中高效表达的密码子优化基础上构建无潮霉素磷酸转移酶(HPT)抗性基因的转化载体pCB-RS-hyg-,应用根癌农杆菌(Agrobacterium tumefaciens)介导法将pCB和pCB-RS-hyg-共转化到胡萝卜并获得再生植株。经过T0、T1和T2代的逐代筛选,获得2个白藜芦醇含量较高(11.34和15.23mg/g)的转基因胡萝卜株系。     

金龙胆草查尔酮合酶基因(CHS)的克隆及其在花期不同组织的表达量分析

查尔酮合酶(chalcone synthase,CHS)是植物类黄酮化合物合成的第一关键酶。为了获得金龙胆草(Conyza blinii Lévl.)CHS基因,本研究采用快速扩增cDNA末端(rapid-amplification of cDNA ends,RACE)技术克隆得到了金龙胆草CHS基因的DNA和cDNA全长序列,并进行生物信息学分析,通过RTPCR检测该基因在花期不同组织部位中的表达情况并检测对应部位的相对花青素含量。结果表明,获得的CHS基因DNA全长2 098 bp,包括2个内含子;cDNA全长为1 692 bp,含有完整开放阅读框(1 197 bp),编码399个氨基酸,包含查尔酮合酶的标志性序列,命名为CbCHS(GenBank登录号:KJ155749)。序列比对结果显示,金龙胆草CbCHS基因与已报道的其它植物的CHS氨基酸序列具有很高相似性(最高为95%)。半定量RT-PCR结果显示,在叶和茎的表达量最高,相对表达量分别达到87.03%和98.33%,表达量之间没有显著差异(P0.05);在根中CbCHS基因表达量最少,相对表达量仅为9.43%,表达量与其余部位具有显著差异(P0.05)。花青素含量也以茎和叶中最高,根中微量,表明CbCHS基因与花青素的蓄积有一定相关性。本研究首次克隆了金龙胆草CbCHS基因的全长DNA及cDNA序列,研究了其在花期不同组织器官中的表达量差异及与花青素的含量关系,为进一步研究CbCHS基因对金龙胆草黄酮含量的影响及其调控机制提供了基础资料。     

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.