氮锌配施对石灰性土壤锌形态及肥效的影响

通过分析石灰性土壤上施用锌肥后土壤中锌的形态变化,研究锌肥的有效性及后效,为指导合理施用锌肥提供理论依据。结果表明在潜在性缺锌的石灰性土壤施锌肥没有明显的增产效果,可增加小麦籽粒锌含量,但不同基因型反应差异很大;土壤中的锌主要以矿物态存在,占全锌91.5%~97.6%,其次为松结有机态锌(1.34%~5.53%)、碳酸盐结合态锌(0.47%~1.55%);施入土壤中的锌增加了交换态、松结有机态、碳酸盐结合态、氧化锰结合态锌含量,但大部分转化为矿物态;种植小麦可以使土壤中的锌向有效态转化;施氮增加了小麦对锌的吸收,也增加了锌矿化的比例;主成分分析结果表明,交换态、松结有机态和碳酸盐结合态均能不同程度反映土壤锌的有效性,石灰性土壤中碳酸盐结合态和有机结合态锌含量占有较为可观的比例,因此增加这两种形态储备容量是调节和控制土壤锌营养状况的重要措施。     

锌源和施锌方法对石灰性土壤锌组分及锌肥利用率的影响

【目的】选用合适的锌肥以及合理的施肥方式不仅可以提高小麦籽粒锌营养品质,还可以提高石灰性土壤的锌肥利用率。因此,研究不同锌源和施肥方式对石灰性土壤中锌组分含量以及锌肥利用率的影响具有重要意义。【方法】采用盆栽试验,设置两种锌源(水溶态锌肥Zn SO4·7H2O和螯合态锌肥Zn-EDTA)全层混匀均施和表面条施两种方式,调查了土壤中交换态Zn(Ex-Zn)、松结有机态Zn(LOM-Zn)、碳酸盐结合态Zn(Carb-Zn)、氧化锰结合态Zn(Ox Mn-Zn)、紧结有机态Zn(TOM-Zn)5种形态锌的含量,分析了小麦对锌肥的利用率。【结果】全层混匀均施与表面条施,两种锌肥均增加了小麦籽粒和秸秆Zn含量,全层均施Zn SO4·7H2O处理的籽粒Zn含量比对照提高43%,均施和表面条施Zn-EDTA的籽粒Zn含量分别比对照提高57%和75%;Zn-EDTA均施和条施的锌肥利用率分别为6.5%和5.3%,Zn SO4·7H2O均施和条施的锌肥利用率分别为3.6%和1.3%。小麦收获后,条施Zn SO4·7H2O和Zn-EDTA的施锌区有效锌含量分别为9.25和1.97 mg/kg,分别为均施处理的2倍和1.8倍;与对照相比,Zn SO4·7H2O和Zn-EDTA条施及均施的4个处理均增加了土壤中各形态锌的含量,并且4个处理与对照土壤中各形态Zn含量的规律一致,即:松结有机态碳酸盐结合态紧结有机态氧化锰结合态交换态。均施Zn SO4·7H2O和Zn-EDTA 2个处理的交换态Zn含量分别为0.12和0.13 mg/kg,条施分别为0.38和0.54 mg/kg;均施处理松结有机态Zn含量分别为5.26和1.56 mg/kg;不同处理碳酸盐结合态Zn含量变化趋势与松结有机态Zn含量基本一致;条施Zn SO4·7H2O施肥区氧化锰结合态Zn含量为对照的4倍,不同处理的土壤中紧结有机态Zn含量变化规律与氧化锰结合态Zn含量变化规律相似。相关分析表明,土壤交换态Zn、松结有机态Zn和碳酸盐结合态Zn含量均与有效锌含量呈显著正相关关系,与不施锌肥相比,Zn-EDTA施入土壤后,小麦收获后松结有机态Zn和碳酸盐结合态Zn含量明显增加,而紧结有机态Zn则相对减少。【结论】潜在缺锌石灰性土壤上施用螯合态锌肥Zn-EDTA能显著增加土壤中潜在有效的锌组分以及锌肥利用率,而且施用螯合态锌肥后,较高的有效锌含量可以维持至小麦收获后,有效提高了锌肥利用率。与均施处理相比,条施这种集中施用的施肥方法可以增加近根系土壤中有效性较高的锌形态含量。     

新疆石灰性土壤锌状况及锌肥效研究

采用室内测试分析和盆栽试验相结合的方法,研究新疆耕地土壤微量元素锌状况及叶面施锌对棉花锌吸收和产量的影响。结果表明,各地区土壤有效锌含量较为接近,但全锌含量差异明显。3种类型土壤有效锌平均含量为潮土(0.69mg/kg)>棕漠土(0.57mg/kg)>灰漠土(0.51mg/kg)。低锌土壤施锌对棉花具有增产作用,土壤有效锌含量越低锌肥增产作用越明显,可用函数y=5.2195x-2.792(r=-0.880 1)表示增产率与土壤有效锌之间的关系。土壤有效锌含量低时施用锌肥能够增加棉花总干物重,并显著增加棉花各器官锌含量。不同类型土壤施锌后棉花增产率大小为灰漠土>棕漠土>潮土。     

绿洲盐化潮土施锌对玉米生长和锌形态转化的影响

为了揭示施锌对绿洲盐化潮土区玉米生长和锌形态变化的影响,通过盆栽模拟的方法,探讨了不同盐分浓度条件下(轻度、中度、重度)外源锌施入对玉米株高、干重、含锌量、吸锌量和各形态锌含量的影响。结果表明:相同盐分浓度条件下,施锌10 mg/kg使得玉米株高、干重、含锌量、吸锌量和土壤有效锌含量分别增加了8.5%～21.6%、21.7%～333.3%、107.3%～154.7%、166.7%～965.9%和451.3%～547.2%,碳酸盐结合态、松结有机态、氧化锰结合态、无定形氧化铁结合态、晶型氧化铁结合态、残留矿物态锌含量分别增加了147.4%～173.3%、122.4%～152.1%、11.6%～12.6%、32.6%～33.4%、17.6%～18.0%、3.1%～3.2%;相同施锌条件下,随着土壤盐分浓度的增加,玉米株高、干重、含锌量、吸锌量和土壤有效锌含量分别降低了6.5%～36.4%、12.8%～89.9%、5.5%～22.0%、17.4%～92.2%和4.8%～18.1%,碳酸盐结合态、松结有机态、氧化锰结合态锌含量分别降低了4.7%～15.0%、3.6%～13.7%、10.4%～25.6%,无定形氧化铁结合态、晶型氧化铁结合态、残留矿物态锌含量分别升高了1.9%～5.8%、0.4%～3.5%、0.6%～2.2%。综合分析认为,在盐渍化环境中,施锌能够改善玉米生长状况的主要原因是大幅度提高了碳酸盐结合态、松结有机态2种有效态锌含量,在短期内改善了土壤-作物系统锌营养水平,提高了玉米的耐盐性。     

盐渍条件下不同施锌量对玉米幼苗生长和锌形态转化的影响

为揭示外源锌在绿洲盐化潮土中的转化特征,通过盆栽模拟试验,探究了盐渍条件下不同施锌量对玉米幼苗生长和锌形态转化的影响。结果表明,无论非盐渍条件还是盐渍条件下,随着施锌量的增加玉米的株高和干重均呈先增加后减小的趋势,施锌量为5～10 mg/kg时达到最大。玉米含锌量随施锌量的增加而增大,吸锌量随施锌量的增加先增大后减小,施锌量为10 mg/kg时达到最大。施锌0.5、1.0、2.0、5.0、10.0、20.0 mg/kg处理的株高与不施锌比较,在非盐渍条件下分别增加13.60%、13.89%、15.58%、20.84%、21.57%、19.58%,在盐渍条件下分别增加3.31%、8.00%、9.74%、11.51%、8.41%、6.87%。由此认为,绿洲盐化潮土的适宜施锌量为5～10 mg/kg,有害或过量施锌量为≥20 mg/kg。随施锌量的升高,盐渍条件下的土壤有效锌(DTPA-Zn)、碳酸盐结合态锌(CAB-Zn)、松结有机结合态锌(WBO-Zn)、氧化锰结合态锌(OxMn-Zn)、无定形氧化铁结合态锌(AOFe-Zn)、晶形氧化铁结合态锌(COFe-Zn)和残留矿物态锌(RES-Zn)均呈上升趋势,分别增加了15.63%～767.19%、7.69%～296.92%、5.68%～270.45%、0.72%～19.42%、1.82%～65.25%、1.01%～37.61%、0.18%～6.92%。与非盐渍条件下相比,盐渍条件下的玉米株高、干重、含锌量、吸锌量、土壤有效锌(DTPA-Zn)、植物可利用态锌(碳酸盐结合态锌、松结有机结合态锌、氧化锰结合态锌)均降低,其他态锌(无定形氧化铁结合态锌、晶形氧化铁结合态锌和残留矿物态锌)均升高。综合分析认为,施用适量锌肥能显著提高玉米的耐盐性,缓解长期盐分胁迫带来的毒害,在短期内能有效改善土壤-作物系统的锌营养水平。     

氮锌配施对冬小麦根土界面锌有效性及形态分级的影响

【目的】 氮能够促进冬小麦根系对锌的吸收及在籽粒中的积累。研究氮锌配施对冬小麦根土界面锌有效性及形态分级的影响,有助于探究氮锌配施促进冬小麦吸收锌的可能机制,为合理施用氮肥来提高冬小麦籽粒锌含量提供一定的理论依据。 【方法】 以冬小麦为试材进行了根箱培养试验。分别设置三个氮水平 (0、0.2和0.4 g/kg) 和两个锌水平 (0和10 mg/kg),分析了冬小麦地上部锌含量、根际土和非根际土有效锌含量、pH以及六种锌形态含量。 【结果】 氮锌配施 (N_0.2Zn₁₀和N_0.4Zn₁₀) 处理显著提高了冬小麦地上部干物质重和锌含量。在不施锌 (Zn₀) 条件下,N_0.4处理显著提高根际土壤的有效锌含量;在Zn₁₀条件下,N_0.4和N_0.2处理均显著降低根际土有效锌含量,却提高了非根际土有效锌含量。无论施锌与否,N_0.4和N_0.2处理均显著降低根际土壤的pH,但对非根际土壤的pH影响不大。在Zn₀条件下,N_0.4和N_0.2处理显著降低了根际土壤交换态锌、碳酸盐结合态锌及非根际土氧化物结合态锌含量,提高了非根际土交换态锌、根际与非根际土壤残渣态锌含量。在Zn₁₀条件下,N_0.4和N_0.2处理显著提高了根际和非根际土交换态锌、非根际土松结有机态和紧结有机态锌及根际土残渣态锌含量,降低了根际土松结有机态、碳酸盐结合态锌及根际与非根际土壤残渣态锌含量。 【结论】 氮锌配施提高冬小麦锌含量,促进冬小麦锌的吸收,可能是由于氮锌配施与冬小麦根系共同作用降低了根际土壤pH,促进土壤中锌从松结有机态和碳酸盐结合态向交换态转化,从而提高了土壤锌的有效性。      

粤东凤凰山茶区土壤镉赋存形态特征及茶叶有效性

通过对粤东凤凰山茶区12个大型茶园土壤和茶叶进行采样,采用连续提取法将茶园土壤Cd分为可交换态、碳酸盐结合态、铁锰氧化物结合态、有机束缚态和残渣态,探讨了茶园土壤Cd的5种化学形态组成特征及其与土壤理化性质和茶叶Cd积累的关系。结果表明:(1)茶区土壤中镉的化学形态分布受到土壤pH值和有机质含量的影响,土壤中Cd的5种化学形态分布的规律为:残渣态>碳酸盐结合态>可交换态>铁锰氧化物结合态>有机束缚态;茶区土壤可交换态Cd和残渣态Cd与土壤中的pH值呈极显著负相关性关系,而有机结合态Cd与土壤pH值呈显著正相关关系;有机质含量与氧化物结合态Cd和有机束缚态Cd呈显著正相关关系,而与可交换态Cd和残渣态Cd呈显著负相关关系。(2)茶叶中Cd含量在0.30~0.98mg/kg,平均含量为0.65mg/kg;茶叶中的Cd含量与土壤中可交换态Cd有显著正相关关系,而与土壤pH值呈显著负相关关系。因此,可以通过调节茶园土壤pH值,影响土壤中Cd的化学形态分布,最终达到降低茶叶中Cd含量,提高茶叶品质的目的。     

粤东凤凰山茶区土壤不同形态铅含量及其影响因素

通过对粤东凤凰山茶区12个大型茶园土壤和茶叶进行采样,采用连续提取法将茶园土壤Pb分为可交换态、碳酸盐结合态、铁锰氧化态、有机束缚态和残渣态,探讨茶园土壤Pb的5种化学形态分布与土壤理化性质、茶叶Pb含量的相关性关系。结果发现,土壤中Pb的5种化学形态分布的规律为残渣态〉铁锰氧化态〉交换态〉有机束缚态〉碳酸盐态。土壤有机质与可交换态Pb含量呈显著负相关,与碳酸盐结合态Pb呈极其显著负相关,而土壤pH值与土壤可交换态Pb呈显著负相关,与碳酸盐态Pb和有机束缚态Pb呈极其显著正相关。茶区12个茶园土壤样品的Pb生物有效性系数范围在0.029～0.113,平均值为0.061;Pb可迁移性系数范围在0.021～0.078,平均值为0.044。凤凰山茶叶Pb含量的范围在1.39～1.82 mg/kg之间,平均为1.56 mg/kg。茶叶中的Pb含量与土壤氧化物结合态Pb、有机束缚态Pb呈显著正相关,与土壤有机质呈极其显著正相关。     

珠江三角洲城郊菜地耕层土壤中Cd、Pb赋存形态及其相互关系

选取珠江三角洲典型区域城郊菜地41个耕层土壤样品,采用化学形态分级-连续提取法研究了土壤中Cd、Pb赋存形态,通过统计分析,揭示了菜地耕层土壤Cd、Pb形态分布特征及其相互关系。Cd赋存形态平均含量顺序为:铁锰氧化物结合态(32.4%)≥碳酸盐结合态(27.2%)≥交换态(21.0%)>残渣态(10.4%)>有机态(9.0%);Pb则为:残渣态(54.1%)>铁锰氧化物结合态(27.5%)>有机态(11.6%)>碳酸盐结合态(4.6%)>交换态(2.1%)。非残渣态Cd占各形态Cd总和的平均比例(89.6%)明显高于Pb(45.9%)。碳酸盐结合态Cd分别与铁锰氧化物结合态Cd、有机结合态Cd呈极显著正相关和显著正相关(前者r=0.8482,P<0.01;后者r=0.4090,P<0.05),但与残渣态Cd呈极显著负相关(r=-0.5343,P<0.01),铁锰氧化物结合态Cd和有机结合态Cd分别与残渣态Cd呈极显著正相关(前者r=0.6965,p<0.01;后者r=0.5379,P<0.01);铁锰氧化物结合态Pb与残渣态Pb呈极显著正相关(r=0.5217,P<0.01),但有机结合态Pb却与残渣态Pb呈显著负相关(r=-0.3252,P<0.05)。在散点图矩阵的基础上建立了曲线估计的回归方程,用之可预测土壤中交换态Cd、Pb的大致数量及植物有效性。     

河北主要土壤中Cd和Pb的形态分布及其影响因素

采用网室盆栽试验和大田取样 ,运用连续提取方法 ,研究了河北平原潮土和潮褐土两种土壤中Cd、Pb的化学形态特征及与其影响因素的关系。结果表明 :随着Cd、Pb污染程度的增加 ,其交换态有增加趋势。当高浓度重金属污染土壤时 ,Cd(潮土 >1mgkg- 1、潮褐土 >5mgkg- 1)主要以交换态存在 ,并表现为 :交换态 >碳酸盐结合态 >铁锰氧化物结合态 >有机结合态 >残留态 ;Pb主要以碳酸盐结合态和铁锰氧化物结合态存在。在低浓度重金属污染的土壤中 ,Cd (潮土 <1mgkg- 1、潮褐土 <5mgkg- 1)的残留态、有机结合态成倍增加 ,甚至超过交换态 ,表现为 :残留态 >碳酸盐结合态 >有机结合态 >交换态 >铁锰氧化物结合态 ;Pb主要以铁锰氧化物结合态和残留态存在。Cd、Pb在土壤中的分布与土壤的pH值 ,有机质含量密切相关。     

“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.