油菜持续受渍试验研究

为了探索易涝易渍地区油菜田的排水管理,利用测坑进行了油菜持续受渍试验.研究表明1)油菜花期和花果期持续受渍对产量影响最为敏感;2) 花果期持续受渍胁迫影响油菜正常开花结实,导致有效角果数减少、产量下降;3)春季短期(7d以内)受渍对油菜产量影响不大,减产小于10.0%,当连续发生2～3个受渍过程时则对产量有显著影响,减产幅度达15.4%～36.8%.搞好春季排水管理对油菜生产具有重要意义.     

基于地下水埋深的江汉平原冬小麦防涝渍排水指标确定

2014—2015年在测坑(筒)分别开展孕穗期、灌浆期冬小麦遭受浅地下水埋深和先涝后渍胁迫试验,研究江汉平原冬小麦关键生育期适宜的地下水埋深。同时,构建不同排水标准计算方法,量化作物相对产量,提出先涝后渍胁迫下的排水指标。结果表明,孕穗期0、20和40 cm地下水位(持续受渍18 d)分别使小麦减产44.78%、17.31%和10.44%,而灌浆期相应减产67.72%、33.70%和10.34%。导致小麦减产的主要原因可能是穗粒数减少和千粒质量降低,建议江汉平原小麦田孕穗期和灌浆期地下水位维持在50 cm左右。先涝后渍过程中涝害使小麦减产幅度大于渍害,可以考虑以受涝历时和降渍历时为控制指标的排水模型、按时间划分涝害和渍害的排水模型,以及涝渍综合水深指标作为江汉平原小麦花后排除涝渍的排水模型。若允许小麦减产15%(即相对产量为85%)作为排水控制标准,建议小麦花后涝渍综合水深指标控制在275.6~283.6 cm·d。     

棉花先涝后渍减产规律分析及排水指标确定

为探究棉花多生育期先涝后渍胁迫下的减产规律,于2008-2011年在武汉大学灌溉排水试验场开展了不同涝渍水平、涝渍发生生育期(蕾期、花铃期和吐絮期)和涝渍形式(单涝、单渍和先涝后渍)的测坑试验。分析了2类排水指标的合理性,量化了多生育期先涝后渍胁迫下不同涝渍形式及涝渍发生生育期的减产作用,提出了棉花多生育期先涝后渍排水指标。结果表明:在先涝后渍胁迫下,基于淹水和受渍时间划分的涝渍指标(淹水期间地表及地下累计超标准水深和受渍期间地下累计超标准水深)比基于地表和地下水动态划分的涝渍指标(地表、地下累计超标准水深)更为合理;单渍的减产作用是单涝的0.759倍;先期的涝会增强棉花对后续渍的适应性,先涝后渍胁迫下渍的减产作用是涝的0.293倍;花铃期、蕾期和吐絮期的减产作用之比为1:0760:0.220;多生育期地表及地下累计超标准水位与棉花减产率之间呈极显著的线性关系(R2=0.629,P0.001)。研究成果可为多生育期先涝后渍胁迫下棉田排水标准的制定提供参考依据。     

棉花花铃期涝渍相随对棉花产量的试验研究

在南方易涝易渍地域，棉花花铃期适逢雨季，常受涝渍综合胁迫，对生长发育和产量均有较大影响。笔者利用测坑试验对该问题进行了研究，建立了涝渍灾害型农田4种排水控制指标模式，初步提出了棉花花铃期的涝渍综合排水控制指标，探讨了体现涝渍兼治的排水控制指标。     

黄淮地区涝渍胁迫影响夏玉米生长及产量

在黄淮平原,夏玉米常因降水过多遭受涝渍害而减产,确定其能忍受的涝渍胁迫天数,可为该区减轻涝渍引起的夏玉米产量损失和农业生产防灾减灾管理提供依据。该研究在田间条件下以玉米品种浚单20为试验材料,分别于玉米拔节期和抽雄期设置持续淹水(3和5 d)和渍水(5、7和10 d)处理,旨在研究黄淮地区夏玉米拔节期和抽雄期持续涝渍胁迫对其生长及产量的影响。结果表明:玉米拔节期连续淹水3 d或拔节期、抽雄期连续渍水5 d夏玉米产量开始降低,产量损失率随涝渍时间延长而增加:拔节期淹水3 d、抽雄期淹水5 d,其产量损失率分别为28.4%和42.8%;拔节期或抽雄期渍水5 d的产量损失分别为13.8%和5.5%(2011年)和3.0%和3.4%(2012年);拔节期淹水5 d产量损失是淹水3 d的3.1倍;拔节期或抽雄期渍水10 d产量损失分别为渍水5 d的1.3和3.0倍(2011年)、2.4和3.2倍(2012年)。淹水天数相同时,拔节期淹水产量损失率大于抽雄期淹水。所有淹水处理都会降低每平方米有效株数,而抽雄期淹水5 d还影响秃尖比,拔节期淹水5 d影响所有测定指标如收获指数、果穗性状等。不同于淹水处理,所有渍水处理都不影响每平方米有效株数,但影响果穗长和秃尖比、收获指数(抽雄期渍水5 d除外)。涝渍胁迫的后续影响与胁迫生育期、及涝渍天数有关,如抽雄期淹水3~5 d和抽雄期渍水5 d只影响乳熟期地上部分干质量累积,而抽雄期渍水7 d会影响所有生育期干质量累积。拔节期淹水5 d和渍水10 d使玉米后期(吐丝后25~35 d)灌浆速度降低59.6%和28.9%。因此在玉米实际生产中出现连续强降水天气时,建议尽快采取排涝降渍措施减少以避免玉米拔节期连续淹水3 d或抽雄期连续渍水5 d,从而降低涝渍胁迫对玉米生长及产量的影响。     

花后渍水对不同耐渍型冬小麦籽粒灌浆特性的影响

江汉平原冬小麦中后期常遭受涝渍灾害，为明确花后渍水对冬小麦籽粒灌浆进程的影响，以郑麦9023（耐渍型）和扬麦20（敏感型）2个小麦品种为研究对象，利用灌排可控的测坑模拟冬小麦花后不同天数（5、9、13和17 d）的渍水胁迫，应用Richards模型对冬小麦籽粒灌浆进程进行了模拟，在此基础上分析各籽粒灌浆参数与渍水天数的关系。结果表明：花后渍水5、9、13和17 d，郑麦9023（耐渍型）分别减产10.84%、19.51%、25.93%和36.52%，扬麦20（敏感型）分别减产14.25%、25.84%、37.26%和47.84%。导致冬小麦减产的主要原因是千粒质量降低，花后渍水天数每增加1 d，冬小麦郑麦9023和扬麦20千粒质量分别降低0.961和0.996 g。Richards方程能极显著模拟花后渍水冬小麦籽粒灌浆过程，拟合方程决定系数均在0.99以上。对耐渍型冬小麦，花后渍水主要显著缩短活跃灌浆期，且主要是显著缩短籽粒灌浆快增期和缓增期的持续天数；对敏感型冬小麦，花后渍水主要显著降低籽粒灌浆三阶段的灌浆速率。花后渍水增加1 d，郑麦9023籽粒活跃灌浆期缩短0.827 d，籽粒灌浆快增期、缓增期灌浆持续天数分别缩短0.492、0.963 d，扬麦20单粒最大灌浆速率降低0.046 mg/d、单粒平均灌浆速率降低0.032 mg/d，籽粒灌浆渐增期、快增期和缓增期单粒灌浆速率分别降低0.011、0.040和0.010 mg/d。研究可揭示花后渍水致使冬小麦减产的影响过程，为冬小麦涝渍灾害防控提供理论支撑。     

以涝渍连续抑制天数为冬小麦排水指标的试验

为了探讨在冬小麦抽穗开花期以涝渍连续抑制天数作为排水指标的可能性,该文利用测坑试验研究了冬小麦抽穗开花期不同涝渍处理对其生理指标及产量的影响,建立了作物相对产量Ry（涝渍胁迫处理下小麦产量与对照的比值）与涝渍连续抑制天数CSDI的关系模型。结果表明,涝渍处理对冬小麦光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率具有明显的抑制作用,在地表水累积深度SFW相同的情况下,地下水埋深小于50 cm的累积深度SEW50越大,冬小麦减产越严重;在单纯受渍情况下,冬小麦相对产量Ry随SEW50的增大而呈减小的趋势,但各处理之间差异不显著。冬小麦相对产量Ry与SEW50和CSDI均具有较好的线性关系;涝害权重系数CW是一个随涝渍状态而变的状态变量,说明在涝渍连续情况下,用涝渍连续抑制天数作为控制排水指标比较合理。     

小麦对渍涝的响应及排水指标确定

湖北平原地区春季雨水较多,麦田易受渍涝危害,研究小麦对渍涝的响应,并建立作物相对产量与渍涝天数的关系模型,可为该区冬小麦农业生产防灾减灾管理提供依据。在可控制灌排的有底混凝土测筒中于小麦孕穗期和灌浆期设置持续渍涝(5、10、15和20 d)处理,旨在研究江汉平原冬小麦孕穗期和灌浆期持续渍涝胁迫对其生理活动及产量的影响。结果表明:小麦孕穗期、灌浆期受渍涝胁迫均导致叶绿素a、b和2者总含量降低,且渍涝时间越长,含量越低。孕穗期和灌浆期渍涝后,过氧化氢酶活性在旗叶、根系、灌浆期幼穗中的变化趋势均是先升高后降低,除孕穗期根系在渍涝15 d时达到最大,其余部位均是渍涝10 d时达到最大,在孕穗期幼穗中的变化趋势是随着渍涝程度的加剧,其活性持续升高;除孕穗期幼穗、灌浆期根系外,其余部位过氧化物酶活性的变化趋势是持续增加,且渍涝程度愈重,其增加幅度愈大,在孕穗期幼穗中的活性恰恰相反,在灌浆期根系中的变化趋势是先降低后升高,渍涝10 d时降到最低;旗叶、根系和幼穗中超氧化物歧化酶活性降低,且渍涝程度愈重,其降低幅度愈大。孕穗期、灌浆期小麦遭受渍涝后减产严重,孕穗期渍涝5、10、15和20 d 4个处理实际产量分别减少了18.4%、45.5%、63.9%、85.5%,灌浆期分别减少了7.6%、17.8%、43.7%、70.2%,孕穗期渍涝小麦减产的原因是单株有效穗数和穗粒数减少,灌浆期是穗粒数和千粒质量减少。若以小麦减产15%作为田间渍涝排除标准,孕穗期、灌浆期能承受的渍涝时间为3.6、6.4 d,田面渍涝排除后应在3 d内将地下水位降到70 cm以下。该研究可为长江中下游稻作区麦田排水管理提供科学依据。     

花铃期高温受涝对棉花的交互效应及排水指标确定

湖北平原地区棉花花铃期恰逢强降水和高温易发期,棉田易遭受雨涝和高温热害双重胁迫,研究棉花对涝和高温及其复合胁迫的响应,可为该区棉花生产防灾减灾管理提供依据。2013和2014年在可控制灌排的有底混凝土测筒中于棉花花铃期设置持续受涝和高温+受涝处理,旨在研究江汉平原棉花花铃期持续受涝和高温+受涝对其形态、生理活动及产量的影响。结果表明:常温或者高温时,花铃期淹涝3 d棉花开始显著变矮、倒4叶可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白质含量开始显著增加;常温时淹涝6 d果枝数开始显著降低,倒4叶丙二醛含量开始显著增加,而高温时是3 d;常温或者高温时,淹涝12 d倒4叶叶绿素a含量才显著降低;常温时淹涝12 d倒4叶叶绿素含量才显著降低,而高温时是15 d;花铃期受涝、高温和高温+受涝均使籽棉产量显著下降,其影响程度顺序为涝+高温胁迫涝胁迫高温胁迫,主要原因是桃数和单铃质量显著下降。若以棉花减产20%作为排水标准,假设在受涝过程中出现连续4 d的高温,则应在3.4 d内排除田面涝水,田间涝水排除后应在3 d内将地下水位降到80 cm以下。     

摘薹对甘蓝型油菜产量及效益的影响文献分析

对46篇摘薹试验文献的产量、植株性状、经济效益数据进行了综合分析。结果显示:油菜摘薹对菜籽产量有一定的影响,不同试验不同处理中有的增产有的减产,油菜摘薹平均每公顷菜籽产量为2 350.71 kg,与不摘薹平均产量(2 412.60 kg)相比,减产不明显;油菜摘薹作蔬菜食用,每公顷菜薹产量最高可达8 289.45 kg,最低为945.75 kg,平均为3 609.10 kg;油菜摘薹每公顷平均产值为18 107.83元,比不摘薹产值(9 540.46元)增收89.80%。推广油蔬两用油菜栽培技术,不仅可收获菜籽榨油,且可摘薹作蔬菜,促进农户增收增效。     

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,     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.