四川省夏玉米机械粒收适宜品种筛选与影响因素分析

为筛选适宜四川机械粒收夏玉米品种,明确玉米机械粒收质量影响因素,2017—2019年在四川省中江县开展了夏玉米机械粒收品种筛选试验研究,对参试28个玉米品种、98个品次机械粒收质量、籽粒含水率和产量数据进行分析。结果表明,玉米籽粒破碎率和落穗损失率高是四川夏玉米机械粒收存在的主要问题。夏玉米机械粒收籽粒破碎率平均为5.63%,杂质率平均为2.39%,落穗损失率平均为4.12%,籽粒总损失率平均为4.76%,其中落穗损失占籽粒总损失的86.55%。籽粒含水率与籽粒破碎率、杂质率、落粒损失率呈显著正相关,而与落穗损失率、籽粒总损失率相关不显著。收获时较高的籽粒含水率是导致籽粒破碎率高的主要原因,适当推迟收获时间可有效降低籽粒含水率,进而降低机械粒收籽粒破碎率。种植行距与收获机械行距不匹配导致错行收获是落穗损失率高的主要原因,保证收获机对行收获可显著降低落穗损失率,进而降低籽粒总损失率。本研究以玉米产量和机收时籽粒含水率为指标,筛选出产量高、籽粒含水率低的‘仲玉3号’‘渝单30’‘正红6号’‘延科288’ 4个玉米品种,可作为四川省夏玉米适宜机械粒收的品种。     

基于X-ray μCT技术的玉米籽粒结构特征的粒位效应分析

玉米籽粒因其在果穗上着生位置不同存在较大差异,明确籽粒结构特征的粒位效应为玉米的消费、加工和播种质量等玉米产量和品质性状的评价提供参考。该研究以3个不同籽粒类型的玉米品种登海618(DH618)、KX3564和先玉335(XY335)为材料,利用X射线计算机断层(X-ray micro-computed tomography,X-ray μCT)技术扫描测试样本,通过图像滤波、阈值分割等图像分析方法重建籽粒3维结构,获取玉米果穗不同粒位籽粒的胚、胚乳、皮下空腔、胚空腔、硬质胚乳、粉质胚乳、胚乳空腔等结构参数。数据分析表明,籽粒不同结构指标在果穗上呈现不同的变化规律,从基部到顶部(不考虑果穗两端的极端籽粒),胚、胚乳及硬质胚乳体积线性下降,各指标在果穗上的变化范围分别为15.82～33.36、180.15～296.50及87.13～166.00 mm~3;胚乳空腔皮下空腔胚空腔,果穗中部籽粒的空腔较小且稳定,3个品种表现一致;胚与胚乳的比值在粒位间基本稳定,粉质胚乳体积、硬质胚乳与粉质胚乳的比值从基部至顶部逐渐减小,但不同指标的变化斜率存在差异。3个供试品种的籽粒结构参数不同:DH618果穗不同部位籽粒胚与胚乳的比值大于KX3564和XY335,XY335籽粒硬质胚乳与粉质胚乳的比值大于DH618和KX3564。在籽粒空腔方面,KX3564皮下空腔的比例较高,而XY335胚乳空腔的比例较高。3个品种胚、胚乳、皮下空腔体积在玉米籽粒中的比例平均分别为9.27%、89.87%、0.86%。X-ray μCT扫描技术为玉米籽粒性状的研究提供新的方法与思路,明确果穗籽粒结构的粒位效应有利于全面地掌握玉米果穗上籽粒的性状特征,为玉米的生产、加工及品种改良等提供借鉴。     

山西省春玉米机械粒收质量及其影响因素分析

开展玉米机械粒收质量及其影响因素研究,对推动山西省玉米机械粒收发展,提升玉米产业核心竞争力有重要意义。本文以5个前期试验筛选的适宜机械粒收品种为材料,设置6个收获时期,在同一地块采用同一台机械与同一位农机手操作收获,研究不同收获期对机械粒收质量与产量的影响。研究表明,籽粒含水率随着收获时期的延迟降低;籽粒破碎率与机收落粒率随着收获时期延迟前期快速降低后期趋于稳定略有升高;杂质率随着收获时期的延迟逐步降低最后趋于稳定;落穗损失率随着收获时期的延迟升高。10月15日收获比9月24日收获平均增产11.9%。高的籽粒破碎率是限制山西省春玉米机械粒收的主要因素。籽粒含水率与破碎率模型为y=0.03x~2-1.224x+16.78 (R~2=0.802**)。当籽粒含水率为20.4%时,籽粒破碎率最低。籽粒含水率在15.6%～25.2%区间收获,破碎率能够达到≤5%的国家标准。在山西省春玉米区选择适宜机械粒收品种,收获时间推迟到10月15日,可达到理想粒收质量并增产。‘长单511’‘迪卡159’和‘长单716’在粒收质量与产量方面均表现优秀,可作为山西省春玉米区机械粒收品种推广应用。     

基于扩散理论的华北春玉米生理成熟后籽粒脱水过程分析

玉米机收籽粒可以显著提高玉米的生产效率,是玉米生产的发展方向。生理成熟后的籽粒含水率是决定机收质量的关键,受品种、密度和气候等多种因素影响。准确估算生理成熟后玉米籽粒含水率,进而分析其主要影响因素,最终确定玉米收获时间和筛选适宜机收的品种,对玉米主产区华北的春玉米籽粒机收发展具有重要意义。因此,于2017年和2018年在河北省泊头、南大港、玉田和山西榆次进行了两年田间春玉米试验,每年设置7个共性品种,每个品种3个密度,对生理成熟后籽粒含水率、品种性状、气象和管理要素进行了监测,并利用基于扩散理论考虑空气温湿度的脱水模型对籽粒含水率进行了模拟,进而计算脱水曲线下的面积(AUDDC),用以筛选脱水优异的玉米品种。结果表明,基于扩散理论的籽粒脱水模型对玉米生理成熟后籽粒含水率的模拟效果较好;年份、地点和品种对生理成熟时籽粒含水率(M_0)和水分扩散速率(k)具有显著影响,密度对脱水参数影响不显著。逐步线性回归分析得到灌浆期参考作物蒸发蒸腾量(ET_0)、最高气温和灌水量对M_0具有显著的正效应,生理成熟后30 d内ET0和灌浆中后期降雨对k具有显著的正效应,全生育期降雨对k具有显著的负效应。品种性状中对M_0影响最大的为苞叶层数(正效应),对k影响最大的为叶片数(负效应)。通过模型计算得到,生理成熟后10d华北地区春玉米籽粒含水率可以下降到28%,籽粒含水率下降到25%的概率为50%。由模型计算得到各品种生理成熟后10 d内的AUDDC,与AUDDC平均值比较发现‘京农科728’‘张1453’‘华农887’‘广德5’和‘金科玉3306’为脱水表现优异的品种。     

玉米机械粒收籽粒含杂率与穗轴特性关系分析

明确玉米机械粒收籽粒含杂率及其与穗轴特性的关系,对于实现高质量粒收,推动玉米机械粒收技术发展具有重要意义。该研究于2018—2020年在四川中江同一地块,采用同一机械、操作人员进行分期收获试验,调查籽粒含杂率、各杂质组分绝对含量、穗轴弯曲强度和含水率,探讨各收获期杂质组分和穗轴特性变化规律,以期明确籽粒含杂率与穗轴特性的关系。结果显示,随收获期推迟,籽粒含杂率、杂质中穗轴绝对含量和穗轴含水率显著降低,穗轴弯曲强度先升高后降低。不同收获期穗轴均是主要的杂质成分,比例达32%～79%,平均为51.45%。籽粒含杂率与穗轴弯曲强度和穗轴含水率关系分析结果显示,籽粒含杂率与穗轴弯曲强度不相关,与穗轴含水率呈指数关系(y=0.045 6e~(0.063 7x),R~2=0.774 7, n=75),玉米穗轴含水率降低至65.72%以下收获机械粒收籽粒含杂率可降至3%以下。进一步分析发现,在相同收获期或穗轴含水率相近时,籽粒含杂率与穗轴弯曲强度关系不大。穗轴作为玉米机械粒收主要的杂质成分,其含水率能很好解释籽粒含杂率的变化。生产上选择和选育玉米穗轴脱水快、含水率低或通过推迟收获期在玉米穗轴含水率较低时进行机械粒收,可显著降低机械粒收含杂率。     

京津冀地区密植高产宜机收籽粒春玉米品种筛选

机收籽粒可以显著提高玉米生产效率降低生产成本，但是目前京津冀地区适宜机收籽粒的玉米品种较少，品种筛选评价体系缺乏，阻碍了玉米籽粒机收的推广实行。针对这一问题，该研究开展了3 a春玉米品种和种植密度互作试验以及2 a玉米籽粒机收试验。根据宜机收籽粒品种要求、该地区气候和种植条件，设置宜机收性、高产稳产优质性和水分利用效率（Water Use Efficiency, WUE）高稳性3个一级评价指标。宜机收性下二级评价指标为籽粒破碎率、含杂率、总损失率和收获速率。籽粒破碎率和含杂率与籽粒含水率分别呈二次函数关系和指数关系，籽粒破碎率≤5%的籽粒含水率在3.6%～24.8%之间；当籽粒含水率≤26.99%时，含杂率≤3%的，因此将生理成熟后10 d的籽粒含水率≤25%作为籽粒破碎率和含杂率的三级评价指标。总损失率与籽粒含水率二次函数关系，与倒伏倒折率和穗位高标准差呈线性关系，因此将生理成熟后10 d的籽粒含水率（≤25%）、倒伏倒折率（≤5%）和穗位高标准差（≤5.93 cm）作为总损失率的三级评价指标。由于倒伏倒折率是影响收获速率的主要作物指标，因此将倒伏倒折率（≤5%）作为收获速率的三级评价指标。品种―种植密度互作试验的平均产量、WUE和穗粒腐病率分别为10 889.64 kg/hm2、2.28 kg/m3和1.75%，产量和WUE标准差平均值分别为1 776.79 kg/hm2和0.43 kg/m3，产量和WUE高稳系数平均值分别为0.53和0.46。通过相关性分析计算，种植密度增加15 000株/hm2条件下春玉米产量和WUE平均增加6.59%和11.89%，单株产量平均下降8.38%。据此得到高产稳产优质性和WUE高稳性下的二级评价指标及其判别标准。在确定各级评价指标及其判别标准的基础上，通过层次分析法和熵权法得到末级评价指标的组合权重，并将各评价指标的判别标准作为判别品种的指标值，避免单纯依靠排序确定品种优劣。通过综合性状评价筛选出豫丰98、豫单9953和金科玉3306为京津冀地区适宜籽粒机收的春玉米品种。分析发现该地区宜机收籽粒春玉米品种应具有籽粒脱水快、高产、稳产、增密增产、穗粒腐病率低、WUE高的特点。通过构建适宜的品种筛选体系，有利于玉米籽粒机收技术在京津冀地区推广，对其他地区密植高产宜机收籽粒玉米品种的筛选有一定的借鉴意义。     

制种玉米种子乳线发育的水氮效应

乳线是判定玉米成熟度的重要指标之一,为明确灌水和施氮对制种玉米种子乳线发育的影响,以‘郑单958’和‘先玉335’制种玉米为研究对象,设置充分灌溉(6 000 m3·hm?2,W6000)、中度胁迫(4 500 m3·hm?2,W4500)、重度胁迫(3 000 m3·hm?2,W3000)3个灌水梯度,不施氮[0 kg(N)·hm?2,N0]、中氮[225 kg(N)·hm?2,N225]、高氮[450 kg(N)·hm?2,N450]3个施氮水平,研究不同水氮应用对制种玉米种子乳线发育进程、籽粒含水量、百粒重、籽粒脱水和灌浆速率的影响。结果表明,不同制种组合在不同水氮条件下种子乳线发育表现出明显差异;不同水氮条件下‘郑单958’乳线发育进程历时18~24 d,较‘先玉335’的33~36 d短;随灌水量增加,‘郑单958’种子乳线发育有延迟趋势,而‘先玉335’种子乳线受灌水量影响不显著;在乳线同一发育阶段,灌水和施氮均对籽粒含水量无显著影响,百粒重均表现为施氮处理显著高于不施氮;不同灌水处理间,‘郑单958’种子在重度胁迫条件下的脱水速率显著高于中度胁迫和充分灌溉,施氮量间无显著差异,‘先玉335’种子脱水速率各灌水量间无显著差异;‘郑单958’种子的灌浆速率各灌水处理间无显著差异,充分灌水条件下,不施氮处理灌浆速率显著高于施氮处理,而‘先玉335’灌浆速率随灌水量增加而增加,同一灌水条件下均是中氮处理高于不施氮和高氮处理;‘郑单958’种子每脱水1%,籽粒百粒重增加幅度在0.37~0.88 g,而‘先玉335’在0.43~1.34 g。因此,‘郑单958’种子乳线发育受灌水影响显著,水分亏缺致使种子脱水加速,乳线进程加快;‘先玉335’种子乳线发育受氮素影响显著,氮素不足和过量均影响种子灌浆,延迟乳线发育。     

黄淮海夏玉米机械化粒收质量及其主要影响因素

针对黄淮海夏玉米区机械粒收质量差及其主要影响因素不明确,该研究选择黄淮海夏玉米区2013-2019年机械粒收技术联合试验示范的1 250组测试样本进行籽粒含水率、破碎率、杂质率和损失率等粒收质量统计分析,结果表明,夏玉米机械粒收时籽粒含水率平均为27.38%,破碎率平均为9.29%,杂质率平均为1.68%,损失率平均为3.28%,籽粒含水率和破碎率明显高于全国平均值。从不同年份收获质量看,2018、2019年收获籽粒平均含水率下降至25.45%和25.05%,平均破碎率下降至9.07%和7.88%,虽仍然高出国家玉米机械收获规定的破碎率标准(≤5%)的要求,但收获质量已发生明显改善。破碎率与收获期籽粒含水率之间呈二次曲线关系,破碎率最低时籽粒含水率为21.08%。因此,破碎率高仍然是黄淮海夏玉米机械粒收存在的主要质量问题,而收获期籽粒含水率高是导致破碎率高、制约机械粒收的主要原因。针对黄淮海夏播区热量资源梯度分布差异较大,玉米收获季节窗口期短的特点,选择早熟、脱水快的品种,进行品种脱水与区域气候资源配置,进一步降低收获期籽粒含水率,规范宜机械粒收栽培技术以及收获机操作规程是破解黄淮海夏玉米粒收质量差的关键。     

陇东旱塬区机械粒收玉米新品种品质分析

为筛选出适合陇东旱塬区机械籽粒直收的优质丰产玉米新品种,采用DA7200型近红外品质分析仪对平凉市泾川县高平玉米籽粒机械直收试验的20个玉米品种的籽粒进行了蛋白质、脂肪和淀粉含量测定。结果表明,有13个品种的蛋白质、脂肪和淀粉含量都达到了国家级玉米品种审定标准,其中MC703、新玉108、瑞普909、联创825、先玉698、MC618和京科999在淀粉和蛋白质含量较高的同时,脂肪含量也比较高,淀粉、蛋白质和脂肪含量3个指标比国家级玉米品种审定标准分别高1.45%～3.33%、7.50%～21.25%和16.67～43.33%。结合产量和籽粒机械粒收指标数据,从参试品种中筛选出3个品质指标均较高且适宜旱塬区机械粒收的丰产优质玉米新品种是可行的。     

密度对春玉米生理成熟后倒伏变化的影响

晋中盆地热量资源丰富,后期可供春玉米立秆脱水时间充足,抗倒性是该区域实施春玉米机械粒收的关键因素。增密种植与立秆延期收获是机械粒收技术发展和推广的重要措施,而玉米生长后期倒伏是限制种植密度进一步提升的重要因素,如何合理选择种植密度同时兼顾高产和抗倒就成为该区域实施春玉米机械粒收技术面临的重要问题。为此于2017—2019年在山西省农业科学院东阳试验示范基地,以29个玉米主栽品种和已审定、待审定、有潜力的宜机收品种为材料,分析了春玉米3个种植密度(6.0万株·hm~(-2)、7.5万株·hm~(-2)和9.0万株·hm~(-2))下生理成熟后倒伏情况。结果表明,随着种植密度增加,春玉米生理成熟期平均倒折率分别为0.4%、1.2%和2.5%,生理成熟后平均倒折率呈显著(P0.05)增加,且每推迟10 d玉米倒折率分别平均增加0.2个、0.7个和1.5个百分点。根据拟合方程,以GB/T 21962—2008规定的玉米机械粒收条件倒折率小于5%为标准, 9.0万株·hm~(-2)仅可立秆至10月2日, 7.5万株·hm~(-2)和6.0万株·hm~(-2)可充分利用当地积温立秆脱水至11月。根据收获期产量和倒折率双向平均法, 3年都稳定表现出高产抗倒的品种为‘金科玉3306’(7.5万株·hm~(-2))、‘金科玉3306’(9.0万株·hm~(-2))、‘迪卡517’(7.5万株·hm~(-2))和‘华农887’(7.5万株·hm~(-2)),收获期平均产量为14 091.8kg·hm~(-2),平均倒折率为1.7%,可推荐为该区域春玉米适宜机械粒收的品种和密度。一般可根据降水年型、灌溉条件以及品种耐密性等,合理选择6.0万株·hm~(-2)或7.5万株·hm~(-2)两种种植密度,以实现高产抗倒,最终提高春玉米机械粒收产量和质量。     

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.     

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.     

“绿色革命”以来大气CO2浓度升高对C3作物营养品质的影响

自20世纪60年代"绿色革命"以来,育种技术和农耕技术的发展促进了农作物产量的大幅提升,然而作物的营养品质出现下降趋势。在相似的遗传背景下,大气CO_2浓度升高会使单位体积农作物产品的营养元素含量下降,因此"绿色革命"至今,农作物产品的营养元素下降可能受大气CO_2浓度升高影响。通过植物生长箱模拟"绿色革命"初期和目前的大气CO_2浓度水平(310μmol/mol和400μmol/mol),针对主要C_3作物水稻、小麦和大豆,研究"绿色革命"以来大气CO_2浓度升高对其籽粒的C、N、Fe、Zn元素含量的影响,结果表明:CO_2浓度升高对3种作物籽粒的C元素含量几乎没有影响,变化幅度在±1.5%之间;籽粒的N、Fe、Zn元素含量普遍呈现下降趋势,但均未达到显著水平。     

Potential of wild species for genetic enhancement of some semi-arid food crops

Discovery and incorporation of genes from wild species provide means to sustain crop improvement, particularly when levels of resistance in the cultigens are low and virulent strains of pests and pathogens overcome the host plant resistance. The extent of utilization and the potential of the wild genepool for genetic enhancement were reviewed in five important food crops viz. sorghum, pearl millet, chickpea, pigeonpea and groundnut grown in the semi-arid tropics. Introgression from compatible wild germplasm in the primary gene pool resulted in transfer of new cytoplasmic male sterility systems in pearl millet and pigeonpea, development of high protein, cleistogamous flower and dwarf pigeonpea lines and foliar disease resistant groundnut cultivars. Utilization of wild species in secondary and tertiary gene pools has been generally limited due to sterility, restricted recombination or cross incompatibility. Nevertheless, these species are extremely important as they contain high levels of resistance to several important biotic and abiotic stresses. Several of them, like those belonging to the Parasorghum section and the rhizomatous Arachis species are sources of multiple resistances and hold great promise to sustain crop productivity.     

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.     

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     

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.     

Einfluss der düngungsmethoden auf die entwicklung von zuckerrübenkrankheiten

Während neunjähriger (1994-2002) Untersuchungen in der Versuchsanstalt Ba?cyny (Fahlerde, Fall-Gleyboden, ausgebildet aus leichtem Lehmboden) wurde der Befall mit Krankheiten an der Zuckerrübe in Abhängigkeit von der Düngungsmethode bewertet. Folgende Methoden wurden angewendet: A - Mineraldünger, B - Stalldung und Mineraldünger, C - Stroh-, Gründung und Mineraldünger, D - Kompostdünger und Biopräparate (ökologische Düngung). Auf den Objekten A, B, C wurden bei konstanter Phosphor-Kalium-Düngung die Stickstoffgaben von 0 bis 180 kg.ha^?1 differenziert. Auf dem ökologischen Objekt D ohne Mineraldünger wurden statt Stickstoff die Biopräparate P₅₀₀ und P₅₀₁ verabreicht. Der geringste Befall von Krankheiten wurde an der Zuckerrübe auf jenem Objekt festgestellt, das mit Kompost und den Biopräparaten gedüngt worden war. Im Rahmen der konventionellen Düngungsmethoden wurde allgemein die höchste Intensität der Krankheiten an der mit Stroh, Gründung und Mineraldünger gedüngten Zuckerrübe beobachtet. Ausnahmen von dieser Regel bildete das Vorkommen von echtem Mehltau und Keimlingsfäule. Auf den Objekten A, B, C nahm die Intensität der Krankheiten mit der Steigerung der Stickstoffgabe zu. Auch die auf Objekt D verabreichten Biopräparate stimulierten die Entwicklung der Krankheiten. The effect of various fertilization methods on the diseases of sugar beet was estimated on the basis of nine-year studies (1994-2002) conducted in the Experimental Production Farm in Ba?cyny on loess-based, sedimentary-gley, light-clay soil. The following fertilization methods were applied: A - mineral fertilization, B - mineral and manure fertilization, C - straw, green manure and mineral fertilization, D - ecological compost and biodynamic preparations fertilization. In the objects A, B and C fertilized with phosphorus and potassium, various doses of nitrogen ranging from 0 to 180 kg/ha^?1 were used. In the ecological object D, where mineral fertilization was not used, biodynamic preparations P₅₀₀ and P₅₀₁ were applied instead of nitrogen. The lowest ratio of the diseases of sugar beet was observed in the object fertilized with the compost and biodynamic preparations. In view of the conventional fertilization methods, generally the highest incidence of diseases was noted in the sugar beet fertilized with straw, green manure and mineral fertilizers. The exception was the occurrence of powdery mildew and the black leg. In objects A, B and C the incidence of the diseases increased with the increase in nitrogen doses. The applied biodynamical preparations in the object D stimulated the development of diseases too.     

Prospects for control of Pythium damping-off of lettuce with Trichoderma,Gliocladium and Enterobacter spp.

Summary Damping-off of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) caused by Pythium ultimum was studied in pots containing a non-sterile potting mix in the glasshouse. Fifty P. ultimum sporangia g^-1 compost reduced the plant stand to 15% and shoot dry weight to 18%, but this reduction was totally prevented by applying Trichoderma harzianum at 2×10⁵ viable propagules g^-1 potting mix. Gliocladium virens and Enterobacter cloacae also alleviated the damping-off. E. cloacae did not adversely affect the action of the fungal antagonists. The co-existence of the bacterial and fungal antagonists was revealed on the root surface and inner surface of the testa by scanning electron microscopy, indicating the compatibility of the biocontrol agents.