黑龙江凉水自然保护区苏云金芽孢杆菌的收集与鉴定

黑龙江凉水自然保护区是我国现有保存下来的较大片原始红松林基地之一,总面积6394hm^2,森林覆盖率95％以上。本研究从小兴安岭凉水自然保护区采集土样782份,采用醋酸钠培养基结合高温方法筛选土壤中的芽孢杆菌,通过光学显微镜观察鉴定产生伴胞晶体的苏云金芽孢杆菌（Bacillus thuringiensis．Bt）。总计分离得到芽孢杆菌和苏云金芽孢杆菌分别为1735株和33株,Bt菌株的分离率和出菌率分别为1．90％和4．22％。利用SDS-PAGE和PCR—RFLP方法对筛选获得的成分离株进行了杀虫晶体蛋白和基因型分析,结果表明14株产菱形伴胞的＆菌株,SDS-PAGE电泳分析芽孢后期产生分子量大小130kD蛋白带,PCR-RFLP分析初步鉴定为crylAc基因,其它产圆形或其它不定形晶体蛋白的＆分离菌中,芽孢后期主要蛋白大小为20～150kD不等,PCR—RFLP方法鉴定结合PCR片段测序分析这些菌株含有新型cry4、cry39和cry40基因等。本研究是“中国助资源收鉴与利用”项目组成部分之一,凉水自然保护区苏云金芽孢杆菌的收集与鉴定目的是要对整个东北地区成资源分布和多样性作一个初步评估,实验结果表明东北森林地区具有丰富多样的威菌株和杀虫基因资源。     

广西大王岭和大明山自然保护区苏云金芽孢杆菌收集与鉴定

从广西大王岭和大明山两个自然保护区共采集到土样264份，共分离出597株芽孢杆菌，通过光学和电子显微镜检观察，16株分离株观察到伴胞晶体蛋白，初步确定为苏云金芽胞杆菌（Bacillus thuringiensis，简称Bt），出菌率为6．06％。在16株肪分离株中，有4株在芽孢形成过程中能产菱形晶体蛋白，其余12株能产圆形和其他形状的晶体蛋白。利用PCR—RFLP方法和SDS．PAGE方法对16株助分离菌进行了蛋白和基因型的鉴定，结果表明，16株分离株中含有4株crylAc基因，表达约130kD的晶体蛋白，其中含有cry30基因和cry40基因的菌株分别1株和3株，表达大约75kD的晶体蛋白；另外8株戤菌株表达蛋白大小不一，其基因型尚不能确定，有待进一步分析。生物测定表明，产菱形晶体含有crylAc基因的4株励分离株对鳞翅目小菜夜蛾幼虫有很强的毒杀活性，而其它分离株对小菜夜蛾没有毒杀活性。     

苏云金芽孢杆菌Cry1Ac杀虫晶体蛋白及其分子设计

Cry1Ac编码的杀虫晶体蛋白是苏云金芽孢杆菌（Bt）产生的多种杀虫晶体蛋白中对鳞翅目昆虫有很高毒性的蛋白。第一个Cry1Ac杀虫晶体蛋白最早在库斯塔克亚种HD73中以伴胞晶体形式分离获得,其编码区为3534bp,编码蛋白分子量为133kD,含1178个氨基酸,等电点为4.84。白此以来,Cry1Ac杀虫晶体蛋白结构、功能以及应用研究一直是Bt杀虫晶体蛋白研究的重要方向。本文介绍了苏云金芽孢杆菌中应用最广泛的Cry1Ac杀虫晶体蛋白家族的结构、功能及其基因分类,并进一步就基于苏云金芽孢杆菌Cry1Ac杀虫晶体蛋白的基因工程研究做了分析,提出了持续利用Bt Cry1Ac杀虫晶体蛋白的一些见解。     

草菇低温诱导蛋白的分离与纯化

低温4℃诱导草菇（Volvariella volvacea (Bull.ex Fr)Sing.)菌丝体2h后，对其可溶性蛋白进行分析，发现草菇在低温胁迫下有新的可溶性蛋白质产生。应用硫酸铵分级沉淀和电泳分离制备技术，分离和纯化得到了草菇菌丝体中的一个低温诱导蛋白，用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和等电聚焦电泳等方法分析该蛋白，结果均呈现为单一条带。SDS－聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳结果表明蛋白是由分子量为51kD的一个亚基组成，等电聚焦电泳结果发现该蛋白的等电点为3．73。     

苏云金芽孢杆菌S1478—1分离株的特性鉴定及cry1Ac同源基因克隆

本研究对从海南岛尖峰岭热带雨林自然保护区的土壤样品中分离出的＆菌株S1478～1进行了特性鉴定,研究表明S1478—1分离株菌落形态和生长特征和励参照菌株HD73极其相似。16SrDNA序列分析表明,S1478—1分离株与其它＆thuringiensis、B．cereus和B.anthracis的16S rDNA序列相似性达到99％。分离株能产菱形伴胞晶体,SDS-PAGE蛋白电泳分析表明,菌株在生长后期,形成芽孢同时分泌130kD大小的晶体蛋白。生物测定表明S1478—1分离株对小菜蛾具有很高的毒杀活性,LC50值高达5．159×10^8cfu／mL。初步显示S1478—1分离株可作为防治鳞翅目害虫的生物农药菌株。利用PCR—RFLP方法鉴定S1478—1分离株含有cry1Ac同源基因,以PCR粘性端克隆方法扩增全长基因,序列测定表明该基因ORF为3537bp,编码1178个氨基酸,推定的编码蛋白分子量为133．3kD,与其它cry1Ac基因序列最高达到99％同源,因此,该基因可作为杀虫工程菌及培育转基因抗虫作物的候选基因。     

地衣芽孢杆菌β-1,3-1,4葡聚糖酶基因的克隆和表达

提取地衣芽孢杆菌(Bacillus licheniformis)基因组，通过PCR克隆了该菌的β-1，3-1，4．葡聚糖酶基因全长。该基因全长818bp,ORF为732bp,编码243个氨基酸，计算分子量为27.35kD，等电点为8．31。经Blast分析，该序列与短小芽孢杆菌(B．pumilus)同源性最高(99％)，而与基因库中地衣芽孢杆菌的同源性为94％，该基因已被GenBank接受(AY225317)。用BamHI和XhoⅠ双酶切目的片断和表达载体pET-30a( )后相连接，构建重组表达载体pET-lic，并导人大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)BL21菌株中表达。酶学特性表明：SDS-PAGE电泳在27kD左右有表达蛋白带，该工程菌总酶活达67．34U／mL，是出发菌的60倍，最适温度在50℃左右，最适pH在5～6之间。该工程菌可作为材料构建耐热性好和酶活高的杂合基因工程菌。     

杀雄剂SQ-1诱导小麦雄性不育花药蛋白质组分分析

采用固相pH梯度SDS聚丙烯酰胺双向凝胶电泳技术对杀雄剂SQ-1处理和未处理的小麦单核期、二核期花药总蛋白进行了分离，通过考马斯亮蓝G-250染色，获得了分辨率和重复性较好的双向电泳图谱。通过PDQuest 2DE图像分析软件的分析，在等电点(pI)4～7之间可识别约500个以上较为清晰的蛋白质点，处理和对照各时期蛋白质在等电点5～6，分子量20～40kD之间相对较集中；检测到单核期差异点43个，二核期差异点45个，并计算出了各差异点的分子量和等电点。其中11个点在处理材料的单核期缺失而在对照中表达，7个在处理中表达而在对照中缺失，14个点表达量在处理中明显减弱，而另外11个明显增强；在二核期45个差异点中，有13个在处理中缺失而在对照中表达，7个在处理中表达而在对照中不表达，12个表达量在处理中明显减弱而另外13个明显增强。经SQ-1处理后在单核期和二核期A-Z3（26.8/5.7）和C-Z5（26.8/5.7）点均缺失。点A-L10(26.8/5.9)在单核期处理的表达量下调，而到了二核期完全缺失C-Z6（26.9/5.9）点。通过双向电泳技术获得的这些差异蛋白可能直接或间接地参与了花药发育的各个途径，因此，处理和对照图谱中表现出的差异蛋白很可能与SQ-1诱导小麦雄性不育有关。     

一株对马铃薯瓢虫幼虫有特异活性的苏云金芽孢杆菌新菌株的研究

苏云金芽孢杆菌WZ-9是本室从河北省土壤中分离的对马铃薯瓢虫的幼虫有特异杀虫活性的新菌株，本文对该菌株的形态特征、生长特性、生物活性、基因型和蛋白型等方面进行了研究。结果表明该菌株可产生菱形伴孢晶体，SDS-PAGE检测表达的主要蛋白条带分子量约为130kDa，生长周期是24h，随菌株的生长培养基pH值发生变化；生物活性测定表明该菌对马铃薯瓢虫2龄幼虫72h校正死亡率达100%，LC50为2.95×107细胞/mL；基因型鉴定表明含有cry7基因，获得了一条总长为3781bp基因序列，其中包含了一个3414 bp的开放读码框，其编码的蛋白由1138个氨基酸残基组成，与Cry7Ab2具有99.65%的序列同源性，存在4个氨基酸差异，亲缘关系最近，该蛋白被Bt 杀虫晶体蛋白命名委员会命名为Cry7Ab3( 登录号为BI 1015188) 。     

苏云金芽孢杆菌Ly30株cry1Ac基因的克隆及表达*

Bt菌Ly30株是中国自行分离的对多种害虫具有高毒力的苏云金芽孢杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis,Bt),经CAPS(cleaved amplified polymorphic sequences)系统鉴定。它含有cry1Ac基因。以全长基因PCR产物的粘端定向克隆的方法,设计1对特异引物,分别引入SalⅠ和BamHⅠ酶切位点。以Ly30质粒DNA为模板扩增cry1Ac全长基因,与表达载体pET-21b相应的酶切产物连接,转化大肠杆菌(Eschrichia coli),获得含有cry1Ac基因重组质粒pEKLy1Ac。该基因的亚克隆和序列测定结果表明,其编码区为3534bp。编码蛋白分子量为133.5kD,含1177个氨基酸,等电点为4．8,与CrylAc3同源性最高,存在4个氨基酸的差异,与Cry1Ac10之间则有6个氨基酸的不同。该基因序列已在GenBank中登记注册为AF482767,并被国际Bt杀虫晶体蛋白基因命名委员会正式命名为cry1Ac14该基因经诱导获得高效表达,SDS-PAGE电泳检测到明显的133．5kD蛋白带。室内生物测定结果表明,诱导表达的Cry1Ac蛋白对棉铃虫、甜菜夜蛾等鳞翅目害虫幼虫均有较高的杀虫活性,其LC5o值分别为19.236和3276μg／g饲料。     

苏云金芽孢杆菌cry1Aa14基因的分离、克隆及其表达

Bt25是中国自行分离的对小菜蛾(Plutella xylotella)具有高毒力的苏云金芽孢杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis),经PCR-RFLP鉴定含有cry1Aa基因。以全长基因PCR产物的粘端定向克隆的方法,设计1对特异引物,以Bt25质粒DNA为模板扩增cry1Aa全长基因。序列测定结果表明,该基因编码区为3552bp,编码1183个氨基酸,分子量为133．7kD,pI4．755。该基因序列已在GenBank注册,登记号为AY197341,并获得正式命名cry1Aa14。在氨基酸序列918～1180间,和已知的11种cry1Aa存在22-23个氨基酸的差异(其中1094～1097的4个氨基酸无对应序列),而这段区域和Cry1Ab氨基酸序列的对应区域无差异。cry1Aa14全长基因插入Bt表达载体,获得了重组表达质粒pBYB1,转化Bt无晶体突变株HD73cry-,经过抗性筛选、DNA酶切分析和PCR检测,证实转化成功。SDS-PAGE分析表明,该基因在上述受体中能正常表达133kD蛋白。杀虫生物测定结果表明,cry1Aa14表达产物对小菜蛾幼虫具有显著的毒杀作用,与cry1Aa12进行比较,毒力无明显差异。这种单基因菌株的发现及其基因的获得,为害虫抗性研究和高效工程菌的构建提供了重要实验材料。     

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.     

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.