甘蔗蔗糖磷酸合成酶基因(SofSPSA)的克隆及正反义植物表达载体的构建

蔗糖磷酸合成酶(sPs)是植物体内控制蔗糖合成的关键酶.本研究通过搜索NCBI数据库获得迄今植物中所有的蔗糖磷酸合成酶基因序列共77条,其中全长序列43条;对全长序列进行进化分析表明,植物SPS基因分为A、B、C和D四个家族,同一植物体内有多个分别属于不同家族的SPS基因;比对A家族中进化关系很近的甘蔗(Saccharum officinarum )SofS PSl、水稻(Oryza sativa)OsSPS4、黑麦草(Lolium perenne )LpSPS和竹子(Bambusa oldhamii)BoSPS基因序列,并在保守区设计一对引物扩增获得甘蔗A家族SPS基因(SofSPSA)2 553 bp序列,结合5’-RACE和3’-RACE技术获得甘蔗SofSPSA基因全长cDNA序列3 906 bp;该序列包含一个3 183bp的开放阅读框(ORE),编码1 060个氨基酸残基的蛋白,其理论分子量和等电点分别为l18.4kD和6.09.该序列的起始密码子(ATG)位于转录起始位点后359bp处,终止密码子(TAA)后还有一段365bp的非编码序列,并带有真核生物典型的polyA尾巴(GenBank登录号:HM854011); SofSPSA与SofSPSⅡ、OsSPS4、LpSPS、BoSPS的氨基酸相似性分别为99.3％、91.8％、91.6％和91.9％,一致性分别为99.2％、87.9％、87.5％和87.8％;设计引物分别扩增正、反向SofSPSA基因ORF并分别连到pBI121上获得由组成型表达启动子35S驱动的正、反义植物表达载体pBI-SofSPSA和pBI-anti- SofSPSA,为进一步研究甘蔗SPS基因的生物学功能及利用甘蔗SPS基因改良作物品种提供科学依据.     

高等植物基因上游可译框架（uORF）的分析

真核生物mRNA 5’非编码区上游可译框(uORF)在基因翻译水平上的调控具有重要作用。对植物2200多个cDNA序列5’非编码区的uATG和uORF进行统计分析，结果表明，含uATG的基因高达18％，这一比例比估计的10％要高得多，其中含单个uATG的基因约占50％，含2个uATG的基因占20％左右；大部分uORF属于非交叉uORF，约占85％：编码1～5氨基酸的uORF占30％以上，大部分uORF编码多肽小于20个氨基酸，占77．6％；mRNAORF起始密码子ATG的两边序列有显著的偏爱性，与植物共有序列UAAACAAUGGCU或AACAAUGGC基本一致，但有uATG的mRNA ORF起始密码子ATG的两边序列比不含uATG的mRNA ORF起始密码子ATG的两边序列偏爱性要差。大多数uATG两边序列缺乏植物ORF起始密码子ATG的两边序列的偏爱性。不同种属mRNA5’非编码区uORF氨基酸并不具有显著的同源性，如果植物S-腺苷甲硫氨酸脱羧酶等少数基因具有非常保守的uORF，氨基酸序列同源性高达75％～100％，显著高于植物S-腺苷甲硫氨酸脱羧酶之间的同源性。     

昆虫特异性神经蝎毒素AaIT基因的改造,人工合成及序列分析

根据植物基因的密码子选择偏向、总Ｇ＋Ｃ含量和密码子第三位碱基的Ｇ＋Ｃ含量，同时天真核系统中影响基因转录、翻译及影响ｍＲＮＡ稳定性等因素，在不改变所编码的氨基酸序列的基础上，设计并人工合成了适合于在植物中高效表达的ＡａＩＴ基因。合成的ＡａＩＴ基因总Ｇ＋Ｃ含量和密码子第三位碱基的Ｇ＋Ｃ含量分别由原ＡａＩＴ基因的３４．６％，３２．３％提高到４８％，７１．３％。合成的基因被克隆并进行了序列分析。     

蒺藜苜蓿WRKY转录因子密码子使用偏好性分析

密码子使用偏好性普遍存在于各种生物中,但突变和自然选择压力对每种生物密码子使用偏好性不同.WRKY基因家族是一类只存在于植物的转录因子,主要参与植物体内转录调控和信号转导过程.本研究以蒺藜苜蓿(Medicago truncatula)WRKY转录因子(MtWRKY)为研究对象,揭示Mt WRKY基因密码子使用偏好性形成的主要因素,并筛选最优密码子.研究结果表明,代表MtWRKY基因的点均分布在有效密码子数(effective number of codons,ENC)标准曲线以下,表明密码子受自然选择压力或突变选择压力或其他因素影响;密码子第1、2位平均GC含量(GC12)与密码子第3位GC含量(GC3)相关性分析发现,GC12与GC3呈显著正相关(r=0.34,P＜0.01),表明突变压力导致密码子3个位点具有相似的GC含量;GC3s值分布在0.2～0.5之间,表明密码子使用偏好性主要受突变压力影响.奇偶偏好分析表明,MtWRKY基因第3位密码子CT含量＞AG含量.G和C(或者A和T)不成比例分布在密码子第3位上,表明密码子使用偏好性受到自然选择压力影响,但很可能突变压力仍起主要作用.最优密码子使用频率(frequency of optimal codons,Fop)与GC含量以及序列长度相关性分析发现,Fop与外显予GC含量呈显著正相关(r=0.57,P＜0.01),而与内含子GC含量呈较弱正相关(r=0.09,P＞0.05);Fop与外显子序列的长度呈正相关(r=0.28,P＜0.05),而与内含子长度呈负相关(r=-0.01,P＞0.05).表明MtWRKY基因外显子和内含子序列的形成受不同选择压力影响;外显子密码子使用偏好性受突变压力影响,而内含子可能是由于自然选择压力作用于突变选择形成的.确定了4个以G或C结尾的最优密码子.研究结果为WRKY转基因研究过程中密码子优化提供了理论支持.     

人工合成苏云金芽孢杆菌杀虫蛋白基因cryI A（c）在大肠杆菌中…

用化学合成法和分子生物学技术合成了ｃｒｙ Ｉ Ａ（ｃ）基因编码杀虫蛋白中决定杀虫活性的第２９至６１３氨基酸部分的１７５５ｂｐ ＤＮＡ。合成中改变了多处ＡＴ富集区和可能引起该基因转录提前终止或引起ｍＲＮＡ不稳定的序列。与野生型基因相比，新合成基因的ＧＣ比例由野生型的３８％增加到４７％，更接近于植物基因的特点。有５２％的氨基酸密码子改变为植物偏爱密码子。Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ印迹分析及虫试结果表明合成的ｃｒｙ     

甘薯肌醇-1-磷酸合成酶基因的克隆及序列分析

甘薯(Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.)新品系农大603是从感茎线虫(Ditylenchus destructor)病品种徐薯18的辐照后代中获得的一个抗茎线虫病的突变体。以农大603和徐薯18块根的mRNA为模板，根据植物抗线虫病基因NBS保守氨基酸序列设计引物，进行 RT-PCR分析，发现农大603的肌醇-1-磷酸合成酶(Myo inositol-1-phosphate synthase , MIPS)基因的表达量高于徐薯18。采用3'RACE技术扩增出MIPS基因的3'末端cDNA。根据植物MIPS基因 5'端一段保守的氨基酸序列设计兼并引物，并与3'端的特异引物组合，扩增出该基因的5'端cDNA序列。DNA序列比对表明，甘薯MIPS基因与大豆(Glycine max)、番茄(Lycopersicon esculentum )的MIPS基因同源性较高，分别达83.63 %和83.89 %。甘薯MIPS基因全长cDNA的克隆，有利于进一步研究该基因与抗甘薯茎线虫病的关系。     

甜高粱蔗糖合成酶基因（Susy2）的克隆及结构和功能分析

本研究以甘蔗蔗糖合成酶基因(susy2)cDNA序列为探针,对高粱EST数据库进行同源检索,将获得的4条与甘蔗相似性很高的EST序列进行拼接,后经基因组PCR、分子克隆和序列分析验证获得了甜高粱(sorghum bicofor)蔗糖合成酶基因DNA序列(Susy2,GenBank登录号为FJ513325).该序列全长4587 bp,起始密码子至终止密码子序列长4350 bp,包含一个2409 bp的开放读码框.该序列包含15个外显子和14个内含子,剪接方式都为GU/AG模式.Susy2编码的蛋白由802个氨基酸组成,分子量大小为91.7 kD,等电点pI为6.15.保守结构域分析表明,此蛋白含有一个475个氨基酸的GTI糖基化酶保守结构域(275～759),有4个ADP结合位点,能催化6-磷酸果糖和UDPG形成6-磷酸蔗糖.     

气孔蛋白同源物在单、双子叶植物中的生物信息学分析

本文对NCBI数据库中的4种单子叶植物（玉米,高粱,水稻和二穗短柄草）和5种双子叶植物（筷子芥,大豆,蒺藜苜蓿,毛果杨和蓖麻）的气孔蛋白同源物,利用生物信息学分析工具在基因结构、碱基组成、氨基酸理化性质、信号肽结构、磷酸化位点、二级结构及三维结构上进行了比较分析,并构建系统进化树。结果表明,单、双子叶植物中的气孔蛋白同源物在基因结构上均由3个外显子和2个内含子构成;编码的蛋白均属于不稳定的疏水性蛋白,且存在信号肽结构和C端保守的6个半胱氨酸残基;在保守的成熟肽区段含有酪蛋白激酶Ⅱ磷酸化位点（T）,不含α-螺旋结构,但三维结构基本一致。它们之间的不同点如下：单子叶植物气孔蛋白同源物在基因结构上存在一致的上游同框终止密码子,且G-C含量高于双子叶植物,而AT含量低于双子叶植物;单子叶植物中气孔蛋白同源物的氨基酸残基数目较庞大（除大豆外）,在前肽和信号肽区域分别含有相对保守的酪蛋白激酶Ⅱ磷酸化位点（S）和N端豆蔻酰化位点;二级结构中的延伸折叠结构和任意卷曲结构分别多于和少于双子叶植物。系统进化树表明,气孔蛋白在单子叶作物和双子叶植物之间产生了进化上的差异。气孔蛋白同源物在单、双子叶植物中存在明显的差异,这可能与基因的表达调控以及蛋白功能的活化机制有关。但是否与单、双子叶植物表皮细胞气孔的形态差异有关仍待进一步的研究。     

人溶菌酶基因在烟草中的表达

根据植物偏爱的密码子，改变G＋C总量和密码子第三位碱基的G＋C含量，同时避免在真核表达中影响转录，翻译及mRNA稳定性的序列如AATTAAA和ATTTA，在原氨基酸序列不变的基础上，设计并合成了适合在植物中中高效表达的人溶菌酶(human lysozyme,简单HL）基因。构建了含HL基因的植物表达载体。用根癌农杆菌（Agrobacterium tumefaciens)介导法将其转化烟草（Nicotiana tabacum).PCR和Western检测表明，HL基因在转基因烟草中得到整合和表达，提高了转基因烟草离体叶对野火病（Pseudomonas syringaepv.tabaci)的抗性。     

玉米密码子用法分析

生物中普遍存在密码子使用偏性,这对外源基因的表达强度有着较大影响。本研究运用Codon W软件和CUSP程序对玉米基因组中的7402个蛋白质编码基因序列进行了分析,计算了编码氨基酸的密码子使用频率,并将其与人、酵母、大肠杆菌、果蝇等不同种类的模式生物及与拟南芥、烟草、水稻、小麦等双、单子叶植物进行比较,结果显示玉米密码子偏爱性与模式生物有不同程度的差异,与拟南芥、烟草双子叶植物的密码子使用频率差异较大,与水稻、小麦单子叶植物的密码子偏爱性一致。分析结果对玉米基因的转化及高效表达系统的选择等具有重要指导意义。     

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,     

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.     

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.