基于小波变换的华北平原耕地复种指数提取

该文以中国华北平原为研究区域,提出了基于小波变换的耕地复种指数遥感提取方法。首先,利用小波变换对2007年36景SPOT VGT/NDVI（SPOT VEGETATIONVGT数据归一化植被指数）遥感数据进行去噪处理,重建耕地农作物生长NDVI（归一化植被指数）曲线;然后,结合地面样点数据、农时数据和农业统计数据,采用二次差分法提取了华北平原2007年耕地复种指数和空间分布特征。研究结果表明,华北平原5省市耕地复种空间分布存在明显的地域特性,河南省耕地复种指数最大,达到179.4%,山东省次之,北京市最小。该研究结果与统计数据和其他遥感监测比较结果表明,基于小波变换去噪时序遥感数据提取耕地复种指数的技术方法与统计数据和其他遥感监测结果总体上具有较好的一致性,复种指数空间分布变化趋同。     

基于HJ时间序列数据的农作物种植面积估算

通过对长时间序列遥感影像的波谱变化特征分析,可以有效地进行农作物种类识别与信息提取,提高农作物种植面积的遥感监测精度。中空间分辨率多光谱遥感影像适合于中国大范围大宗农作物面积监测,也是能够提供稳定时间序列遥感数据源之一。该研究以河北省衡水市为研究区域,采用2011年10月3日-2012年10月24日期间,16景30 m空间分辨率的HJ-1A/B卫星CCD(电荷耦合元件,charge-coupled device)影像月度NDVI(归一化植被指数,normalized difference vegetation index)时间序列数据,针对冬小麦、夏玉米、春玉米、棉花、花生和大豆等主要作物类型,在全生育期波谱特征曲线分析基础上,提取主要作物类型的曲线特征,采用基于NDVI阈值的决策分类技术,进行了农作物种植面积遥感识别,以15个规则的2 km×2 km的地面实测GPS(全球定位系统,global positioning system)样方进行了精度验证。考虑到大豆和花生2种作物的NDVI时间序列特征相似性较高,将这2种作物合并为一类进行分类,并命名为小宗作物。结果表明,冬小麦、夏玉米、春玉米、棉花和小宗作物等5类目标可以有效识别,分类总体精度达到90.9%,制图精度分别为94.7%、94.7%、82.4%、86.9%和81.2%,其他未分类类别精度为85.9%。利用中高分辨率遥感时间序列卫星影像,在大宗农作物时间序列的变化规律分析基础上,可以准确地提取大宗农作物种植面积,在农作物面积资源调查中具有较大的应用潜力。     

中低分辨率小波融合的玉米种植面积遥感估算

采用中分辨率与低分辨率数据相结合的遥感估算方法是获取大范围作物种植面积的主要趋势之一。在MODIS时序影像和TM影像支持下,采用小波变换融合方法获取30m分辨率的NDVI时间序列信息,构建主要秋季作物的NDVI标准生长曲线,以最小距离分类器进行分层分类,获得河南原阳县玉米种植面积总量信息和空间分布,并以野外实测地块样本进行精度评价。由于充分利用MODIS影像的时间序列优势和TM影像的空间分辨率优势,通过秋季作物之间的物候差异,有效地区分出各种秋季作物的空间分布,基于融合NDVI时间序列信息玉米种植面积遥感估算的位置和面积精度分别达到79%和89%,远高于常规的监督分类,为大范围玉米种植面积遥感估算提供了一种可行的方法。     

基于变化向量分析的冬小麦长势变化监测研究

现有的农作物长势遥感监测的基本思路是利用NDVI曲线形态变化与作物苗情变化的响应关系,提取特征参数,推测作物的生长发育状况.但由于表征NDVI时间序列曲线的特征参数较多,难以对所有特征参数进行全面变化分析.本研究引进变化向量分析理论,以东部五省冬小麦为研究对象,以1999-2005年SPOT-VGT的旬最大合成NDVI数据为主要数据源,采用Savizky-Golay滤波器重构NDVI时间序列,进而构建基于变化向量分析的长势监测模型,分别对研究区的年际与年内长势变化进行时间和空间上的定量分析.研究表明,变化向量分析方法能有效地从空间域和时间域反映东部五省冬小麦长势变化规律,以单一综合性指标综合了NDVI时间序列曲线的大多数特征参数,为农作物长势遥感监测提供了一种新的研究思路.     

基于S G滤波的陕西关中地区冬小麦生育期遥感识别和长势监测

采用SPOT VGT S10产品数据,通过S G滤波处理,重构NDVI时间序列,分析陕西关中地区冬小麦返青期和抽穗期在遥感影像上NDVI时序曲线变化特征,对冬小麦的返青期和抽穗期进行遥感识别。通过与站点观测的生育期数据比较,遥感识别的均方根误差大部分在±20d之内,返青期均方根误差（RMSE）为14.29d,抽穗期RMSE为9.16d,表明基于SPOT VGT数据对关中地区冬小麦返青期和抽穗期进行遥感识别是可行的。采用差值模型基于环境减灾小卫星（HJ星）数据进行渭南市2012年冬小麦抽穗期长势监测研究,结果显示大部分地区2012年冬小麦长势稍好于2011年,经与实地调查资料比较,监测结果与实际情况基本一致。采用HJ星数据进行冬小麦长势监测,结果纹理清晰,且以同源数据提取的冬小麦种植面积作为掩膜剔除非麦区域,降低了重采样带来的误差,用其进行长势监测研究具有明显优势。     

基于决策树和混合像元分解的江苏省冬小麦种植面积提取

归一化植被指数(normalized difference vegetation index,NDVI)时间序列曲线能提供作物生长动态变化信息,将其应用于农作物种植面积提取具有一定优势。该文以江苏省为研究区域,采用2013年1月1日-2014年12月19日46景250 m空间分辨率的MODIS-NDVI时间序列数据、2014年4月23日的MOD09A1反射率影像及Landsat数据,开展冬小麦种植面积的遥感识别,首先利用MODIS数据建立作物的归一化植被指数时间序列曲线,再采用Savitzky-Golay滤波方法对NDVI时间序列数据进行重构,并基于农作物物候历、种植结构和种植模式等信息,提取研究区域典型地物物候生长期的关键值,在分析冬小麦、林地、水稻物候期(生长期开始时间、生长期结束时间、生长期幅度、生长期长度及生长期的NDVI最大值)变化趋势的基础上,综合比较分析不同地物平滑重构后的NDVI时间序列曲线特征,界定作物种类,确定训练规则,利用快速、高效的决策树方法,通过多阈值限定进行分类,初步提取冬小麦的空间分布范围;但是由于存在混合像元,阈值范围的设定会影响冬小麦种植面积的提取精度,针对此类问题,运用地表反射率影像数据提取冬小麦端元波谱曲线,结合线性光谱混合模型进行混合像元分解,进而根据冬小麦丰度比例精确提取冬小麦种植面积;最后利用统计数据和空间分辨率较高的Landsat TM 8影像数据对提取结果进行县域级验证。精度评价结果表明,研究区域的冬小麦种植面积提取精度达到90%,能够较准确地反映研究区域冬小麦的分布情况,表明运用中高分辨率遥感时间序列影像数据可以准确提取作物种植面积,为农作物种植面积信息提取提供参考。     

基于多源数据和决策树估算夏玉米种植面积

以低空间分辨率遥感数据为主要信息源提取大范围作物种植信息时,为克服混合像元影响,提高提取精度,提出一种基于多源数据和决策树的夏玉米种植面积估算方法。综合FY-3/MERSI数据的时间序列特征和TM数据的中空间分辨率光谱特征,在对作物物候历进行分析的基础上制定多时相决策树规则,融合多时相MERSI数据和TM数据,分析多源融合后NDVI时序数据的光谱特征确定阈值,提取夏玉米种植信息,根据农业统计数据验证种植面积提取精度为95.1%,根据野外调查数据验证位置精度为81.0%。研究结果可为大范围的作物种植信息准确提取提供方法支持。     

基于MODIS时序数据的Landsat8影像选取及面向对象分类方法的农作物分类

利用遥感技术进行农作物分类,可近实时地获取各种农作物种植的空间分布状况,对于农业生产管理和农业政策制定等都具有十分重要的意义。为避免单时相遥感影像存在同物异谱、同谱异物的现象,提高以往基于MODIS数据提取农作物分布方法的精度,改善传统分类方法存在椒盐噪声及分类效率低的缺点,本文基于MODIS NDVI时间序列曲线,确定作物识别的最佳时段,结合辐射分辨率较高的多时相Landsat8 OLI影像,采用面向对象的分类方法,充分利用物候特征及光谱信息区分作物类别,并在黑龙江省重点产粮区-北安市进行应用,获得北安市各类农作物的空间分布信息。地面调查验证结果表明,该农作物类别识别方法分类效果较好,总体精度达90.7%,kappa系数为0.88。研究结果说明,基于多时相Landsat 8 OLI影像及面向对象分类的方法,并结合MODIS时间序列数据,可以高效、精确地提取农作物信息,应用潜力巨大。     

基于多源遥感数据融合和LSTM算法的作物分类研究

准确、及时地获取农作物的空间分布信息,对于指导农业生产、制定农业政策具有重要意义。为了检验长短时记忆网络(long short-term memory,LSTM)算法在基于时序遥感数据进行作物分类中的优势,该文以临汾盆地为研究区域,利用Savitzky-Golay滤波对MODIS NDVI进行平滑处理,并采用ESTARFM(enhanced spatial and temporal adaptive reflectance fusion model)算法对滤波后的MODIS NDVI和Landsat NDVI进行融合,生成空间分辨率为30 m、时间分辨率为8天的时序NDVI。基于Landsat NDVI利用LSTM算法进行作物分类,同时,基于融合NDVI分别利用LSTM算法和神经网络(neuralnetwork,NN)算法进行作物分类,并对比3种方法的分类精度。结果表明,Savitzky-Golay滤波后的时序MODISNDVI能够反映不同作物的物候特征;基于融合NDVI的分类精度明显高于基于LandsatNDVI的分类精度,表明融合后的时序NDVI由于具有更高的时间分辨率,能够更加突出不同作物的物候特征,显著提高作物分类精度;基于融合NDVI和LSTM算法的分类精度高于基于融合NDVI和NN算法的分类精度,前者的冬小麦面积估测精度高于后者的估测精度,表明LSTM算法的分类精度高于NN算法。该文可为基于遥感影像进行不同作物种植区域提取的研究提供重要的方法参考。     

综合季相节律和特征光谱的冬小麦种植面积遥感估算

及时准确地获取区域和国家尺度的作物种植面积和空间分布具有重要意义。针对目前中低分辨率遥感数据相结合方法的局限,提出一种新的作物类型识别方法。首先基于MODIS NDVI数据的时间优势,提取研究区各类植被的NDVI时间序列曲线,从而分析冬小麦在季相节律上的识别特征,构建冬小麦识别模型。再将MODIS像元分类处理,纯耕地像元利用冬小麦的季相节律特征识别;耕地与其他植被的混合像元利用混合像元分解的思想提取耕地组分的NDVI时间序列,从而进行识别,进一步根据空间关系将识别结果重新定位到中分辨率尺度上;冬小麦与其他作物的混合像元覆盖区则利用TM遥感影像的光谱差异加以区分。在伊洛河流域主要农业区,以冬小麦为识别对象,结果表明识别精度达到96.3%。该方法为作物种植信息的提取提供了新的解决问题的途径,也对其他类型作物的识别也具有重要的参考价值。     

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.