水分胁迫对茶树叶片叶绿素荧光特性的影响

以"铁观音"和"福鼎大白茶"两个茶树品种为试验材料,研究水分胁迫对茶树叶片叶绿素荧光特性的影响.结果表明:水分胁迫下,茶树叶片的基础荧光(Fo)显著升高,最大荧光(Fm)、可变荧光(Fv)、PSⅡ原初光能转化效率(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ的潜在活性(Fv/Fo)显著下降,表明水分胁迫使茶树叶片PSⅡ反应中心受到伤害;水分胁迫还可降低茶树的光化学反应速率(Prate),缩短荧光上升时间(T1/2),抑制PSⅡ反应中心电子的传递(ETR降低),导致天线色素热耗散速率(Drate)、非光化学猝灭(qN)和光合功能相对限制值(LPFD)升高,光化学猝灭(qP)和PSⅡ实际光化学效率(Yield)显著下降.比较水分胁迫下"铁观音"和"福鼎大白茶"叶片叶绿素荧光变化发现,"铁观音"PSⅡ反应中心的胁迫耐性较强,叶片光化学效率较高.     

施氮对旱地不同抗旱性小麦叶片光合色素含量与荧光特性的影响

在田间试验条件下,研究了不同抗旱性小麦品种全生育期叶片光合色素含量和叶绿素荧光参数的关系及其氮素响应。结果表明,光合色素各组分含量随施氮量增加有明显的升高趋势,品种间差异又因生育时期而不同;施氮显著提高了拔节期实际光化学效率(ФPSⅡ)和光化学猝灭系数(qP)、扬花期和灌浆期的最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm),降低了全生育期非光化学猝灭系数(qN)。提高叶绿素a含量能显著提高叶片ФPSⅡ、Fv/Fm、qP和降低qN;叶绿素b含量的升高能显著增强热耗散,增加类胡萝卜素含量则促进水地品种叶片光能的光合碳同化作用和旱地品种的热耗散。拔节期对照处理的旱地品种的ФPSⅡ和qN显著高于水地品种,在该时期品种抗旱性差异表现较为明显,能够通过提高光合机构实际光化学效率和热耗散来增强光合机构对干旱的适应能力。     

旺长期烤烟叶片的叶绿素荧光特性与激发能分配

以烤烟品种龙江911为试验材料,研究了烤烟植株上、中、下3个部位叶片实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)和PSⅡ最大光能转化效率(Fv/Fm)的日变化,以及激发能的分配特性。结果表明,烤烟叶片Fv/Fm和实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)中午降低,PSⅡ功能下调,有明显的光抑制。在光合有效辐射(PPFD)逐渐增强过程中,Fv/Fm和ΦPSⅡ降低,非光化学猝灭(NPQ)增加,激发能由PSⅠ向PSⅡ分配的比例增加,说明引起烤烟光抑制的原因除了NPQ之外,分配给PSⅡ能量增加是光抑制非常重要的因素。PPFD逐渐减小时,光抑制逐渐减缓,光化学效率恢复,激发能分配不平衡性系数(β/α-1)下降,PSⅡ能量负荷减轻,失活的PSⅡ恢复活性。     

高温胁迫对大白菜叶绿素荧光特性的影响

在光照培养箱中,耐热性不同的大白菜幼苗在18℃/22℃、29℃/36℃和29℃/40℃(夜/昼)下分别处理8d,研究大白菜幼苗叶片的叶绿素荧光特性。结果表明,在高温胁迫处理下,不同程度的提高了大白菜幼苗叶片的Fo(初始荧光)和qN(非光化学猝灭系数),使Fm(最大荧光)、Fv/Fo(PSⅡ的潜在活性)、Fv/Fm(最大光化学量子产量)、qP(光化学猝灭系数)、ETR(表观光合电子传递速率)、Yield(PSⅡ实际光化学量子产量)和ΦPSⅡ(实际光化学效率)总体上呈现先下降、后又上升的趋势,相同温度不同品种间的变化相似,其中耐热品种热抗7号与对照相比表现稳定,在高温下表现出的耐热性较强。     

外源一氧化氮对NaCl胁迫下番茄幼苗叶绿素荧光特性的影响

通过水培试验, 研究了外源NO供体硝普钠(SNP)处理对100 mmol·L-1 NaCl胁迫下番茄幼苗叶绿素荧光特性的影响.结果表明, 外源NO提高了盐胁迫下番茄幼苗叶片的最大荧光(Fm)、PSⅡ最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ潜在活性(Fv/Fo)、表观光合电子传递速率(ETR)、实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)、光化学荧光猝灭系数(qP)和光化学速率(Prate), 降低了初始荧光(Fo)、非光化学荧光猝灭系数(qN)、天线热耗散速率(Drate)和PSⅡ激发能压力(1-qP), 同时降低了激发能在两个光系统间的分配不平衡性.表明外源NO通过减少过剩激发能的耗散, 提高光合电子传递效率, 可有效缓解盐胁迫对番茄PSⅡ系统的伤害, 进而在缓解盐胁迫中发挥重要作用.     

氯化胆碱对干旱胁迫下地黄抗氧化代谢及梓醇含量的影响

用100,300,500 mg/L的氯化胆碱(CC)水溶液喷施干旱胁迫下的地黄叶片,研究了CC对干旱胁迫下地黄叶片抗氧化代谢、细胞膜稳定性、叶绿素荧光参数及块根中梓醇含量的影响.结果表明,叶面喷施CC有效调节了干旱胁迫下地黄叶片的抗氧化酶SOD、APX、CAT的活性,降低了叶片MDA的含量和相对电导率,减缓了叶绿素的降解.因此,使地黄叶片在干旱胁迫条件下维持较高的通过PSI的电子传递速率(Fv/Fo)、PS Ⅱ最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、实际光化学效率(ΦPS Ⅱ)和光化学猝灭系数(qP),从而提高了干旱胁迫下地黄块根的产量和梓醇含量,其中以300 mg/L的CC浓度效果较好.     

磷供应水平对大豆不同生育期磷铁比及光合效率的调节

  【目的】  明确磷 (P)不同供应水平对大豆生理性状的影响及其基因型差异,以及这些性状对单株粒重的影响,为磷肥的合理施用提供理论依据。  【方法】  水培试验以Hoagland 营养液为基础,设置4个磷供应水平处理,分别为0 (CK)、100、500 和1000 μmol/L。供试大豆为6个磷高效基因型和6个磷低效基因型。在大豆生长的始花期、结荚初期测定叶片光合性能和磷、铁浓度,在成熟期测定籽粒磷铁含量及单株籽粒重。对光合性能数据与铁、磷浓度进行典型相关性分析,利用单株粒重建立逐步回归方程并进行通径分析。  【结果】  CK处理的磷高效和磷低效基因型大豆植株在始花期的初始荧光 (Fo) 值极显著高于其他处理;P 100 μmol/L处理极显著提高了两类基因型大豆始花期的PSⅡ实际光化学效率 (Φ_PSⅡ),有助于提高其光能转化率,因而单株粒重均较高。相比于P 100 μmol/L处理,磷高效和磷低效基因型大豆结荚初期叶片中的铁浓度及其铁/磷值都随着磷供应量的增大而降低。相比于P 100 μmol/L处理,P 500 和1000 μmol/L处理下,磷高效基因型单株粒重并没有显著上升,而磷低效基因型单株粒重则下降。此外,结荚初期两个基因型大豆叶片的SPAD值在P 100 μmol/L处理下达到峰值,鼓粒初期叶片SPAD值与磷高效和磷低效基因型大豆单株粒重均有正效应。  【结论】  磷供应水平影响大豆叶片中的P/Fe值,进而影响着叶片光合效率。无论磷高效还是低效基因型大豆品种,较低的磷供应水平 (100 μmol/L) 可调节始花、结荚初期和鼓粒期的叶绿素含量,进而调控代谢过程有利于最终籽粒的形成。过高的磷供应水平无益于大豆单株粒重的增加,还可能产生负作用。     

酸雨对勋章菊保护酶活性及叶绿素荧光参数的影响

采用盆栽方法,以不同pH值(5.6、4.5、3.5、2.5)的模拟酸雨胁迫试验,探讨其对勋章菊(Gazania Hybrids)叶片质膜透性、MDA含量、保护酶活性、叶绿素含量及叶绿素荧光参数的影响.结果表明,随pH值的降低,勋章菊叶片质膜透性和MDA含量呈逐渐升高的趋势,且二者呈显著正相关;SOD、CAT和POD活性呈先升高后下降的单峰曲线变化,其中SOD、CAT和POD活性最大值均出现在pH4.5处理;叶绿素a、叶绿素b、叶绿素a+b的含量、叶绿素a/b、PSⅡ最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ的潜在活性(Fv/Fo)、PSⅡ实际光化学量子产量(Φps.Ⅱ)、光化学淬灭系数(qP)均随pH值的降低而下降,非光化学淬灭系数(qN)随pH值的降低而升高.模拟酸雨对勋章菊叶片隐形伤害的阈值为pH≤3.5,表明勋章菊对酸雨具有较强的耐受性,可作为酸雨危害较严重地区的园林绿化地被植物之一.     

不同生育时期渍水对冬小麦旗叶叶绿素荧光及籽粒灌浆特性的影响

渍害是南方稻茬小麦高产障碍因子之一。2011—2013年以小麦品种‘川麦104’和‘内麦836’为材料,设置对照(CK)和不同时期渍水处理(分蘖期、拔节期、孕穗期、灌浆期,渍水时间均为35 d),测定花后旗叶叶绿素含量(SPAD值)、叶绿素荧光参数和籽粒灌浆参数,以明确不同生育期渍水对小麦光合特性及籽粒灌浆的影响。结果表明,随时间推移,花后0~25 d,两品种的SPAD值和叶绿素荧光参数(Fv/Fm、Fv/F0、ΦPSⅡ、q P和NPQ)变化不大;到花后35 d,SPAD值、Fv/Fm、Fv/F0和ΦPSⅡ急剧下降,NPQ明显上升。渍水处理对花后15 d和25 d的SPAD值和多数叶绿素荧光参数无显著影响;花后35 d,分蘖期渍水和灌浆期渍水的SPAD、Fv/Fm、Fv/F0、ΦPSⅡ和q P显著高于对照,NPQ则显著低于对照。分蘖期渍水和灌浆期渍水对粒重及籽粒灌浆进程影响较小,拔节期渍水和孕穗期渍水显著提高了灌浆速率、缩短了灌浆持续时间,粒重较低。粒重与SPAD值呈显著正相关,粒重和SPAD值均与灌浆速率无相关性,但与灌浆持续时间(有效灌浆期和活跃灌浆期)、尤其灌浆中后期(快增期和缓增期)呈显著正相关。‘川麦104’在灌浆期均表现出较高SPAD值、Fv/Fm、Fv/F0、ΦPSⅡ和q P。结果表明,分蘖期渍水和灌浆期渍水对旗叶花后光合能力及灌浆进程影响较小,在四川稻茬小麦栽培管理中,应重视拔节期和孕穗期渍害的排除,以保证花后较高的光合能力及较长籽粒灌浆时间,从而保证较高粒重。     

大豆幼苗光合特性对锰营养的响应

采用溶液培养方法,设Mn2+浓度为0、0.05、0.50、5、30、50.mg/L,探讨了2种大豆品种(浙春2号、东北大豆854-11)的幼苗光合特性对不同锰浓度的响应。结果表明,低锰浓度提高了大豆叶片的初始荧光(Fo)、最大荧光(Fm)、PSⅡ原初光能转化效率(Fv/Fm)、潜在光化学活性(Fv/Fo)和光化学猝灭系数(qP),高锰降低了Fo、Fm、Fv/Fm、Fv/Fo、qP。随着锰营养的增加,非光化学猝灭系数(qN)增大。适量的锰浓度显著提高了大豆的净光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、气孔导度(Gs),降低了气孔阻力(Rs)和细胞间CO2浓度(Ci),随着锰浓度的逐渐增大,降低了Pn、Tr、Gs,提高了Rs、Ci。0.50.mg/L下的锰浓度有最大的Fo,5.mg/L下的锰浓度有最大的Fm、qP、Fv/Fm、Fv/Fo,表明0.505～mg/L的锰浓度有利于大豆的光合作用。在50.mg/L的锰浓度下,两个大豆品种有最大的qN、Rs、Ci和最小的Tr、Pn,此时两个品种大豆耗散了过剩的激发能,降低了大豆叶片的光合速率,对大豆已产生了一定的伤害。两个品种大豆光合特性对锰的响应存在着基因型差异,浙春2号较东北大豆耐锰胁迫。     

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.