非生物胁迫诱导的玉米蛋白激酶基因ZmCIPK1的cDNA克隆和表达分析

CIPK（CBL-interacting Protein Kinase）在植物非生物胁迫信号转导中起重要作用。应用电子克隆的方法在玉米中克隆了一个cDNA全长为1395bp的蛋白激酶基因ZmCIPK1（GenBank接受号为EF158034）。其编码的蛋白含有465个氨基酸,分子量为51.98KD,等电点为6.92。推断的ZmCIPK1催化结构域中包含蛋白激酶催化结构域保守的11个亚结构域, 蛋白C端具有植物CIPK蛋白家族特有的包含24个氨基酸的NAF结构域。半定量RT-PCR结果表明,在甘露醇、氯化钠、ABA和4°C低温诱导时,ZmCIPK1在玉米幼苗叶片中表达量明显上调,在24小时内保持较高的转录水平。试验结果表明,ZmCIPK1是一个新的玉米蛋白激酶基因,响应多种非生物胁迫信号。     

山葡萄VaCIPK18原核表达与多克隆抗体制备

类钙调磷酸酶B亚基蛋白(CBLs)互作蛋白(CIPKs) 作为类丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶,在植物响应非生物胁迫信号转导中起着重要作用。基于前期山葡萄响应低温胁迫转录组测序结果,发现低温胁迫引发的早期伤害及感知阶段的激酶基因中涉及CBL-CIPK 信号通路的VaCIPK18表达显著上调。为进一步研究山葡萄(Vitis amurensis)VaCIPK18激酶参与低温胁迫的功能,采用同源克隆获得了VaCIPK18基因,其开放阅读框为1 320 bp,编码439个氨基酸。基于对VaCIPK18蛋白生物信息学分析,获取胞外结构域中抗原表位丰富的肽段,并将其C端调控结构域(230~439 aa)构建到原核表达载体pET28a-SUMO。将重组表达载体转化至大肠杆菌(E. coli Rosetta)中,经0.8 mmol·L^-1 IPTG、37℃诱导4 h表达出大小为42 kDa的包涵体蛋白。将重组蛋白作为抗原免疫日本大耳白兔,获得anti-VaCIPK18多克隆抗体,经检测具有高效价及特异性。Western Blot结果表明,该抗体可以与葡萄内源CIPK18特异性结合,且在50 kDa位置出现与预期一致的条带。同时,CIPK18在低温胁迫后葡萄叶片中蛋白表达水平与室温下相一致,但两种状态下均存在可能的磷酸化与泛素化修饰现象。本研究结果为进一步探究VaCIPK18的蛋白定位、表达及其功能奠定了基础。     

巴西橡胶树HbNAC33基因的克隆和表达分析

植物特有的NAC转录因子在植物的生长发育、胁迫应答和激素调节等方面具有重要功能。本研究从橡胶树胶乳cDNA中克隆了HbNAC33基因,生物信息学分析显示该基因的完整开放阅读框（ORF）为1 092 bp,编码363个氨基酸。HbNAC33蛋白的N-端第3～156位氨基酸之间含有一个典型的NAC结构域,酵母试验表明,HbNAC33具有转录激活活性,转录激活区在C-端,具备了NAC转录因子的基本特征。序列比对和系统进化分析表明HbNAC33蛋白属于NAC转录因子家族中的ANAC011亚族。实时荧光定量PCR分析表明,HbNAC33在叶中的表达量显著高于其他部位;割胶,乙烯利（ET）和茉莉酸（JA）处理均能诱导HbNAC33的表达上调。以上结果表明,HbNAC33可能参与植物的生长发育和胁迫应答过程。     

植物BAG家族蛋白研究进展

Bcl-2相关抗凋亡(Bcl-2 associated athanogene,BAG)家族蛋白具有不同生物学功能,该家族成员广泛参与了肿瘤调控、细胞凋亡以及胁迫响应等多种生物学过程。目前,对植物中BAG家族生物学功能的研究主要集中于拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)。本文对植物中BAG家族的生物学功能进行总结:1)BAG家族成员的C末端都含有一个进化上高度保守的BAG结构域,该结构域具有与Hsp70相关蛋白结合的功能;2)N末端的特异结构域如类泛素化结构域、钙调蛋白结合结构域等使得蛋白成员参与不同的生物学过程;3)BAG家族蛋白参与植物对温度、盐以及病原菌侵染等逆境胁迫的响应、植物程序性细胞死亡等生物学过程。本综述重点阐述已经报道的BAG家族蛋白在植物响应逆境胁迫方面的功能研究,有助于农作物中该家族蛋白抗逆方面研究以及分子育种工作的开展。     

烟草WRKY12基因的分离、表达与多克隆抗体的制备

在高等植物中,WRKY转录因子家族成员广泛参与植物的生长发育、代谢、生物胁迫和非生物胁迫等生理过程的调控.本研究采用同源序列克隆的方法获得烟草WRKY12基因,序列分析表明,该蛋白属于WRKY家族第2类成员,只有一个WRKY结构域,锌指结构为C-X4-C-X23-H-X1-H.构建系统发育树结果表明,它与大豆中GmWR...     

印度南瓜Na+/H+逆向转运蛋白基因CmaSOS1的克隆与表达分析

Na⁺/H⁺逆向转运蛋白(SOS1)是植物耐盐的关键因子之一,在植物响应非生物胁迫过程中发挥着重要作用。为解析印度南瓜SOS1基因的序列特征和功能,利用生物信息学和分子生物学方法对其进行研究。结果表明,克隆获得印度南瓜SOS1基因cDNA全长序列,命名为CmaSOS1,GenBank登录号:NW_019272028。序列分析表明,CmaSOS1基因的cDNA全长3 940 bp,包含一个3 429 bp的开放阅读框架,编码1 142个氨基酸。CmaSOS1基因含有23个外显子和22个内含子,全长46 314 bp。CmaSOS1蛋白的分子量为126.7 kDa,理论等电点为5.92,包含12个跨膜结构区域,具有一个Na_H_Exchanger superfamily结构域和一个CAP_ED superfamily结构域;CmaSOS1蛋白属于疏水性稳定蛋白,二级结构元件多为无规卷曲和α-螺旋。CmaSOS1蛋白与葫芦科的中国南瓜、西葫芦、甜瓜、黄瓜和苦瓜Na⁺/H⁺逆向转运蛋白的同源性较高,序列一致性分别为98%、98%、90%、89%和89%。实时荧光定量PCR分析表明,CmaSOS1基因在印度南瓜的根和叶中表达量较高,在茎、花、果实中的表达量较低;该基因受NaCl和聚乙二醇(PEG)诱导后均呈上调表达,推测CmaSOS1基因可能在印度南瓜抵御盐分胁迫和干旱胁迫过程中发挥重要作用。本研究为进一步揭示CmSOS1在非生物胁迫下的功能奠定了基础。     

盐碱胁迫下野生大豆CBL-CIPK通路表达分析

野生大豆(Glycine soja)是栽培大豆(Glycine max)的近缘野生种,含有栽培大豆中不存在的优异基因。为了明确类钙调磷酸酶B蛋白(CBL)与其互作蛋白激酶(CIPKS)组成的CBL-CIPK通路蛋白在野生大豆抗盐碱胁迫中的功能,本研究在盐碱胁迫下高耐及敏感野生大豆材料转录组分析的基础上,利用在线生物学工具对野生大豆CBL-CIPK通路蛋白结构、亚细胞定位、磷酸化位点及系统发育进行了分析。结果发现,10个野生大豆CBLs蛋白均含有3个EF手结构;7个CBLs蛋白定位于细胞核,另外3个分别定位于细胞质、叶绿体和内膜系统。38个CIPKs蛋白均含有ATP结合结构域、丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶活性结构域和NAF结构域;20个CIPKs蛋白定位在细胞质中,9个定位在叶绿体中,6个定位在细胞核中,另有3个分别位于细胞器膜、线粒体和内膜系统。野生大豆与栽培大豆的CBL-CIPK通路基因高度同源,但野生大豆GsCIPK5_like基因与栽培大豆GmCIPK5亲缘关系较远,栽培大豆GmCIPK21基因与野生大豆GsCIPK21亲缘关系较远。在盐碱胁迫处理0和10 h后,GsCBL10基因在高耐材料中的表达量比敏感材料显著上调;在盐碱胁迫处理0 h后,GsCIPK10基因在高耐材料中的表达量也比敏感材料显著上调。本研究为阐明CBL-CIPK通路对野生大豆耐盐碱胁迫中的功能奠定了理论基础。     

F-box蛋白家族在植物抗逆响应中的作用机制

SCF复合体泛素连接酶E3介导的泛素化蛋白降解是翻译后水平上对生命进程进行调控的一个重要方式。它的关键组分F-box蛋白负责识别被降解的靶底物蛋白。植物F-box基因家族成员众多,极具多样性。F-box蛋白N端常含F-box基序,C端常为蛋白互作保守结构域,该结构具多样性,可识别不同底物,是F-box蛋白分类的依据。研究表明,F-box蛋白参与调控植物的许多生命进程,包括抗逆反应。本文就近年来F-box蛋白在植物抗逆反应中的作用机制进行总结。F-box蛋白大多以SCF复合体泛素连接酶E3介导的泛素化蛋白降解目标蛋白的方式调控抗逆反应,也有不依赖形成SCF复合体的方式行使功能,不少F-box蛋白参与了植物激素信号传导,通过调控转录因子活性而改变下游基因的表达,由此影响了植物的抗逆反应。基因表达谱的生物信息学预测表明,大多数F-box基因参与了植物抗逆反应,目前只有其中一小部分已报道了其抗逆调节功能。在此综述了这些F-box蛋白在植物抗逆胁迫中的研究进展。在干旱和盐碱胁迫反应中,F-box基因常通过影响植物激素脱落酸、乙烯等植物激素信号传导而调控抗逆。由于干旱和盐碱胁迫具协同性,不少F-box基因同时参与抗旱和抗盐碱胁迫,但调节方式有所不同,一些F-box基因对抗干旱和盐碱的反应具协同性,从总体上调控植物的渗透胁迫和离子毒害反应;而另一些F-box基因对干旱和盐胁迫反应的调节作用相反,它们可能在植物抗逆的精细调节中起作用。在低温胁迫反应中,F-box蛋白可调节植物抗低温的CBF信号途径。在生物胁迫反应中,F-box基因常通过影响植物激素茉莉酸和水杨酸途径来调控抗病,病原菌也以攻击植物SCF复合体使植物致病。此外,植物激素信号途径之间相互作用,共同影响抗逆反应。     

玉米逆境响应基因ZmGST23克隆和表达分析

谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶(glutathione S-transferases,GSTs)是植物抗氧化系统的重要成员,在初生代谢、次生代谢、细胞信号转导及逆境响应等生物学过程中发挥着重要作用.本研究以GenBank中公布的玉米谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶23基因(ZmGST23)mRNA序列(GenBank登录号:NM_001111524)为依据,采用RT-PCR方法从玉米(Zea mays)自交系F83中克隆得到ZmGST23基因669 bp的完整开放阅读框(open reading frame,ORF),编码222个氨基酸,蛋白分子量为24.84kD,理论等电点为5.68.保守结构域分析表明,该基因具有GSTs所特有的N端及C端结构域,并含有典型的G位点及H位点,属于Tau类谷胱甘肽硫转移酶.系统进化分析表明,ZmGST23编码蛋白与高粱(Sorghum bieolor)GST蛋白亲缘关系最近,且在不同物种间存在明显的种属特性.启动子序列分析结果显示,ZmGST23基因启动子区含有多个响应逆境及植物激素的作用元件,包括脱落酸(abscisic acid,ABA)响应元件、生长素(auxin,IAA)响应元件、赤霉素(gibberellin,GA)响应元件、厌氧响应元件、防御及逆境响应元件以及干旱诱导的MYB转录因子(v-myb avian myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog,MYB)结合位点.胁迫诱导表达分析表明,ZmGST23的表达显著受干旱脱水、水涝、盐、ABA、IAA、GA、低温及高温等非生物胁迫的诱导.组织特异性表达分析表明,ZmGST23基因在幼芽和成熟叶片中表达量较高,在幼根、花丝、苞叶、雌穗及雄穗中表达量较低,存在明显的组织特异性.将ZmGST23基因片段连接至原核表达载体pEASY-E1中,转化大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)BL21,用0.5 mmol/L的异丙基硫代半乳糖苷(isopropylβ3-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside,IPTG)诱导表达1～4 h后获得30 kD的诱导蛋白.本研究结果为进一步利用该基因进行玉米抗性改良提供了一定的理论依据.     

水稻WRKY基因家族功能研究进展

WRKY蛋白是一类重要的转录因子家族,因含有高度保守的WRKY结构域而得名,主要存在于植物中。WRKY域长约60氨基酸,其靠近N-端有WRKYGQ(K/E)K基序,后面跟有1个C2H2或C2HC锌指型结构。依据WRKY结构域基本结构特征的差异,水稻WRKY家族可以分成3大类,它们通过调控生长调节物质介导的信号途径,广泛地参与调节水稻生长发育和生物与非生物胁迫应答。     

“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.     

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     

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.     

Collection and preliminary evaluation of native turfgrass accessions in Italy

Despite a raising interest on turfs in Italy, all theavailable varieties of this kind in the Country are of foreign origin, and areoften poorly adapted to the prevailing climatic conditions. This prompted tobegin a collection activity of indigenous turfgrass species, with the ultimategoal of identifying promising materials for future breeding based on localgenetic resources. The collection was carried out in three areas of Italy, viz.the northern Po Plain, the coastal region of Liguria, and the island of Sardiniathat are characterised, respectively, by subcontinental, warm temperate, andtypical Mediterranean climate. Altogether, 141 sites were visited, yielding 226accessions belonging to eight species of potential interest for turfs:Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis,Festuca rubra, Festuca arundinacea,Lolium perenne, Agrostis stolonifera,Agrostis tenuis, and Cynodon dactylon,this last being a warm-season grass. Poa pratensis andCynodon dactylon were mostly collected in northern Italyand Sardinia, respectively, whereas Festuca arundinacea andLolium perenne were rather ubiquitous. The collection sitesranged from 0 to 1040 m asl, but sites over 750 m wereonly visited in the inner part of Sardinia. All the accessions, collected aswhole plants, were transplanted at Lodi, northern Italy, where they are beingevaluated. Their preliminary evaluation for traits of importance for turf use,such as sward colour and overall quality, highlighted the great variation andthe occurrence of interesting accessions in all species. Other characters wererecorded, bearing specific importance in individual species, and in all casespromising accessions were identified. The germplasm of Festucarubra, Festuca arundinacea, and Loliumperenne proved highly infected by endophytic (symbiotic) fungi of thegenus Neotyphodium.     

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.     

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.     

Leaf position and genotype differences for mineral element concentrations in sorghum grown on tropical acid soil 1

Mineral element deficiencies and toxicities are common problems associated with sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] production on acid soils. To better understand some of the mineral element problems and the analysis of plant tissue of sorghum plants grown on acid soils, four sorghum genotypes were grown on an acid Oxisol at Carimagua, Colombia limed with dolomite at 2 and 6 Mg ha^‐1.

Samples for mineral element analyses were obtained from leaves at different positions on the four genotypes. Concentrations of P and Mg were highest in the flag leaf (Leaf No. 1) and decreased as the position on the plant declined from the top of the plant for plants grown at 2 Mg lime ha^‐1. Similar decreases in P, Mg, K, and Zn concentrations occurred in plants grown with 6 Mg lime ha^‐1. Concentrations of Ca, S, Si, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Al increased as leaf position declined from the flag leaf for plants grown at 2 and 6 Mg lime ha^‐1. The higher lime supply enhanced Ca and reduced Mn and Fe concentrations in leaves. Differences in mineral element concentrations for the four genotypes used were fairly extensive. The elements to show the greatest range among genotypes were Al and Si and the elements to show the least range among genotypes were P, K, and S. Care should be used in collecting leaf samples for plant analysis and genotypic differences for accumulation of mineral elements should be considered in interpretation of results.