转Cry1Ab/Ac基因水稻对稻田底栖动物群落的影响

转Bt基因抗虫水稻的成功研发,为有效控制鳞翅目害虫对水稻的危害提供了一条最为有效、经济的途径。稻田底栖动物群落是转Bt基因抗虫水稻的重要非靶标生物。为了解转Bt基因水稻对稻田底栖动物群落的安全性,以转Cry1Ab/Ac基因抗虫水稻‘华恢1号’(简写为HH1)为材料,以其非转基因亲本‘明恢63’(简写为MH63)为对照,以稻田底栖动物群落为指示生物,运用群落学方法,通过连续2年在江西南昌的大田试验,研究了转Cry1Ab/Ac基因抗虫水稻对稻田底栖动物群落的影响。结果显示:2012年在HH1与MH63的稻田中分别采集到底栖动物22种与25种,其中两生境中相同物种19种,两群落物种组成相似度为0.808 5,有7种优势种,优势种相似度为0.833 3。2013年在HH1与MH63稻田中分别采集到底栖动物26种与28种,两类稻田相同底栖动物22种,两群落物种组成相似度为0.814 8,有6种优势种,优势种相似度为1.000 0。2012年与2013年群落总体分析与时间动态分析均显示,两类稻田中底栖动物的物种丰富度、个体数量、多样性指数、均匀性指数及优势集中性指数变化趋势相似,且均无显著差异。结果表明:连续种植2年转Cry1Ab/Ac基因水稻HH1对南昌稻田底栖动物群落无明显的负作用。     

转CryIAb水稻对稻田杂草群落组成及多样性的影响

尽管基因工程技术可以增加作物产量, 但转基因作物是否对农田生态产生影响受到广泛关注。本研究通过田间定位试验, 应用群落生态学方法研究了转CryIAb基因抗虫水稻"Mfb"连续2年在传统栽培和半野生条件下对稻田杂草群落组成及多样性的影响。调查结果显示: 转CryIAb基因稻"Mfb"与非转基因稻"明恢86"田间杂草种类没有显著差异。稻田杂草的频度和密度与栽培方式有关, 半野生稻田杂草的频度和密度显著高于传统稻田, 但相同栽培条件下, 转基因稻"Mfb"与非转基因稻"明恢86"田间杂草频度和密度在整个生长期内均无显著差异。半野生稻田物种丰富度(Sr)指数明显大于传统稻田; 相同栽培条件下, 相同生长时期抗虫转基因水稻"Mfb"与其非转基因对照"明恢86"对稻田杂草群落丰富度的影响差异不显著。稻田杂草群落优势度(D)、均匀度(J)以及多样性(H)各处理、各生长时期内转基因稻与非转基因稻相比均没有显著差异。稻田杂草Shannon-Wiener多样性指数变化无明显规律, 相同栽培方式相同生长期的抗虫转基因水稻"Mfb"与其非转基因对照"明恢86"的Shannon-wiener指数差异不显著。综合上述分析, 转CryIAb基因抗虫稻对稻田杂草群落的组成及多样性没有显著影响。     

转基因抗除草剂水稻对稻田叶冠层节肢动物群落多样性的影响

转基因抗除草剂水稻可能对稻田节肢动物产生影响。对转Bar基因抗除草剂籼稻"Bar68-1"和非转基因对照"D68"稻田叶冠层节肢动物群落的结构和特征进行调查、比较。结果显示,转基因水稻和非转基因对照水稻间的冠层节肢动物各亚群落中相对丰盛度高的物种(科)具有较大相似性,但在相对丰盛度低的科上有所差别;除2007年不喷药处理区天敌亚群落的Simpson指数(D)有差异外,转基因与非转基因对照稻田之间叶冠层节肢动物群落、亚群落的多样性指数(物种丰富度、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Pielou均匀度指数、Simpson优势集中性指数)差异不显著;在水稻分蘖中期、分蘖末期、齐穗期和乳熟期等4个生育期,95.3%的稻田节肢动物群落主要参数时间动态的品种间差异不显著。研究结果表明转Bar基因抗除草剂水稻"Bar68-1"对稻田叶冠层节肢动物的群落组成和多样性无显著影响。     

华北北部地区转Cry1A+CpTI和Cry1A基因棉田节肢动物多样性*

2000～2001年采用背负式机动吸虫器取样法在河北省廊坊研究了转(Cry1A CpTI)基因棉(Gossypium hirsutum)(SGK321)、转Cry1A棉(GKl2)和其受体棉(G．hirsutum)棉田的节肢动物总群落、害虫亚群落、天敌亚群落和中性昆虫亚群落的多样性。采用SHANNON信息多样性指数分析显示,转抗虫基因棉的害虫多样性和天敌亚群落多样性与普通棉施药和非施药处理没有显著差异,但由于在棉花生长中、后期转抗虫基因棉处理的中性昆虫多样性显著高于普通棉施药处理,导致同期转基因棉的节肢动物总群落多样性明显高于普通棉的施药防治棉铃虫处理。表明转抗虫基因棉由于减少棉铃虫防治用药量,而显著提高了棉田中、后期生态系统节肢物的群落多样性,有利于生态系统的稳定和害虫的综合治理。     

转基因水稻秸秆还田对土壤硝化反硝化微生物群落的影响

转基因作物可能通过根系分泌物和植株残体组成的改变及外源基因的转移释放令土壤微生物群落产生变化,影响土壤微生物的生态功能。氨氧化细菌和反硝化细菌是驱动土壤硝化和反硝化过程的关键微生物,其群落结构的变化直接关系土壤氮素的转化与利用。本研究利用荧光定量PCR和PCR-DGGE技术分析了转cry1Ac/cpti双价抗虫基因水稻‘Kf8’秸秆还田降解过程中,土壤氨氧化细菌和反硝化细菌群落丰度与组成的变化,探讨转基因水稻是否存在影响稻田土壤氮素转化与N2O排放的可能。结果显示:无论是氨氧化细菌amo A基因还是反硝化细菌nirS基因,其丰度在转基因水稻‘Kf8’与非转基因水稻‘Mh86’的秸秆还田土壤中都没有显著差异;转基因水稻‘Kf8’和非转基因水稻‘Mh86’秸秆还田降解过程中0~10 cm土层中的amo A基因丰度均显著高于10~20 cm及20~30 cm土层(P0.05);各深度土层中的nirS基因丰度均存在随秸秆还田时间延长而增加的趋势。水稻秸秆还田降解过程中,转基因水稻‘Kf8’的土壤氨氧化细菌和反硝化细菌的群落多样性指数及组成,均与非转基因水稻‘Mh86’没有显著差异。相关分析结果表明土壤氨氧化细菌和反硝化细菌群落组成均与水稻秸秆还田时间存在显著相关性(P=0.002),反硝化细菌群落组成还与土层深度显著相关(P=0.024)。本研究表明转cry1Ac/cpti抗虫基因水稻秸秆还田对稻田土壤硝化和反硝化关键微生物群落不会产生明显影响。就土壤微生物群落而言,转cry1Ac/cpti抗虫基因水稻秸秆还田不存在影响土壤氮素转化与N2O排放的可能。     

转Chi＋Glu双价基因棉对土壤微生物群落功能多样性的影响

为研究转Chi＋Glu双价基因棉对土壤微生物群落功能多样性的影响,揭示其对土壤生态系统的安全性,在大田试验条件下,利用Biolog代谢指纹方法分析了种植转Chi＋Glu双价基因棉、转Bt基因棉和常规棉不同生育期土壤微生物群落功能多样性。结果表明,两个转基因棉花土壤微生物数量差异不显著,而转基因棉花土壤细菌和放线菌数量在花期和铃期显著高于常规棉花（P〈0.05）,真菌数量在花期和铃期却显著低于常规棉花（P〈0.05）。与非转基因棉花相比,转基因棉花土壤微生物群落碳源利用能力在花期和铃期显著增加,转基因棉花土壤微生物群落的Shannon指数和McIntosh指数在花期、铃期和吐絮期显著高于常规棉花,Simpson指数在花期和铃期则显著低于常规棉花。主成分分析结果显示,花期转基因棉花和常规棉花对31种碳源的利用差异较大。转基因棉花在苗期和蕾期对羧酸类、氨基酸类和多胺类,花期和铃期对糖类、羧酸类和双亲化合物类的利用分别较常规棉高;吐絮期转基因和常规棉花对所有碳源的利用均较低,其中转基因棉花对糖类和羧酸类的利用高于常规棉花。研究结果显示,种植转Chi＋Glu双价基因棉花在花期和铃期对土壤微生物群落影响显著,其与转Bt基因棉花无明显差异。     

花药培养获得转Bt基因抗虫水稻纯系*

采用改良一步成苗法，对转Bt基因水稻(Qryza sativa L.)“克螟稻”与粳稻(O.sativa ssp.japonica)品种秀水63的杂种F1进行花药培养，结果表明：Bt基因不影响花培绿苗分化，但改变绿苗分化进程。对“克螟稻”与秀水63的杂种花培株观察表明，Bt基因按孟德尔规律简单遗传。携带Bt基因与否直接影响花培苗的成活率；潮霉素筛选可增加Bt转基因阳性株的相对比率，但显著降低绿苗率；花培产生的带Bt基因株系与不带Bt基因株系间的农艺性状差异不显著。经培养，成功选育3个抗虫和高产的转基因新品系。     

土壤真菌群落和潜在功能对施加外源Bt毒素的响应

【目的】转Bt基因植物和Bt菌生物农药释放的Bt毒素是一类具有生物毒性的潜在环境外源污染物，Bt毒素环境行为和生态效应是转基因植物和植物用转基因微生物安全风险评价的重要内容，但是外源Bt毒素对土壤真菌群落和潜在功能的影响还不清楚。【结果】本研究发现，Bt毒素施加量和培养时间均可以显著影响土壤真菌群落组成，且随着Bt毒素施加量增加和土壤培养时间延长，土壤真菌群落差异性逐渐变大。施加Bt毒素提高了土壤真菌群落香农指数和关联网络的负相关性比例及模块数，因而没有对土壤真菌群落的多样性和稳定性产生负面影响。【结论】上述结果表明，评估Bt毒素的环境行为及微生态效应要关注Bt毒素施加量及其长期影响。随着Bt毒素施加量增加，Phymatotrichopsis、Homalogastra、Geosmithia和Apiotrichum等真菌以及参与蛋白质降解、碳素代谢和磷素代谢的功能基因编码酶相对丰度显著升高，推测上述真菌物种和潜在功能参与了Bt毒素在土壤中的降解和转化过程。研究结果为转Bt基因植物、Bt重组菌生物农药以及Bt毒素的生态安全风险评价提供了科学参考和理论依据。     

铜胁迫对抗虫转基因水稻根际土壤微生物的影响

根际土壤微生物群落是联系土壤环境与作物生长的重要纽带,也是转基因作物环境安全评价的主要指标,而Cu胁迫对转基因水稻根际土壤微生物的影响目前尚不清楚。本研究基于盆栽试验,采用高通量测序等技术研究Cu胁迫(Cu含量100 mg/kg)对抗虫转基因水稻华恢1号(HH)及其亲本非转基因水稻明恢63(MH)农艺性状及成熟期根际土壤微生物的影响,并以不施加Cu胁迫处理为对照。结果显示:Cu胁迫显著降低了水稻株高、生物量及产量;Cu胁迫改变了水稻根际土壤总氮、铵态氮含量及氧化还原电位值,而种植转基因水稻仅降低了根际土壤氧化还原电位值;Cu胁迫没有影响水稻根际土壤细菌丰度,但降低了细菌群落Alpha-多样性,改变了水稻根际土壤细菌群落组成和群落结构;相同Cu含量胁迫下,HH和MH水稻生长指标及根际土壤细菌群落结构及组成差异较小。上述研究表明,Cu胁迫抑制了水稻农艺性状及根际土壤细菌群落,但种植抗虫转基因水稻没有影响水稻植株及根际土壤细菌群落对Cu胁迫的抗性。     

浮萍覆盖对稻田杂草群落组成及多样性的影响

在农业可持续发展的背景下,稻田杂草防控需要兼顾生物多样性的保护。为了解浮萍覆盖对稻田杂草群落组成及物种多样性的影响,运用群落生态学的方法,研究了多根紫萍覆盖(SP)、少根紫萍覆盖(LP)和不投放浮萍(CK)3种处理下稻田杂草发生量和群落多样性在水稻4个生育期(分蘖期、孕穗期、扬花期和成熟期)的动态变化,并对水稻产量进行分析。结果表明:SP和LP处理在前两生育期分别比CK显著降低杂草密度60.3%～75.8%和81.1%～90.4%,在整个水稻生育期能分别降低杂草鲜重生物量48.0%以上和81.3%以上,杂草群落中阔叶类杂草比例明显下降。不同处理下,稻田最主要杂草类别均是莎草科杂草;不同处理的杂草群落中重要杂草的种类和相对重要程度都有较大差异,SP和LP处理重要值较高的杂草均为莎草科的萤蔺和碎米莎草,CK处理重要值较高的杂草则为阔叶类的鸭舌草;在多数生育期,两种浮萍覆盖下的杂草群落的Margalef丰富度指数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数和Simpson优势度指数均与CK无显著差异。SP和LP处理水稻的每穗粒数和穗重均有不同程度显著提高, SP处理的水稻产量显著提高28.0%。综合上述分析,稻田投放初始覆盖面积70.0%的多根紫萍和少根紫萍都能在降低稻田杂草密度和生物量的同时维持杂草群落的多样性,且多根紫萍覆盖能促进水稻产量增长,对保护稻田生物多样性和促进农业可持续发展有重要意义。     

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.     

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.