加气灌溉改善温室番茄根区土壤通气性

为揭示加气灌溉对温室番茄根区土壤通气性的影响,探索加气灌溉下土壤温度、氧气含量、充气孔隙度与土壤呼吸和土壤微生物呼吸的关系,试验设置作物-皿系数为0.6、1.0这2种灌水水平和加气、不加气地下滴灌,共4个处理。结果表明,与地下滴灌相比,加气灌溉下土壤微生物呼吸显著增大了11.5%(P0.05),土壤氧气含量、土壤呼吸、温度、和植物根系呼吸均有所增大。而且作物-皿系数为1.0灌水水平下加气灌溉与不加气相比,土壤和植物根系呼吸显著增大了25.5%和38.8%(P0.05)。因此,加气灌溉通过调控土壤水气配合条件,促进了土壤、土壤微生物和植物根系呼吸,有效改善了土壤通气性。而且相比于不加气地下滴灌和作物-皿系数为0.6水平下加气灌溉,作物-皿系数为1.0时加气灌溉在促进土壤和植物根系呼吸方面的效果更明显。另外,土壤温度、充气孔隙度和氧气含量是土壤和土壤微生物呼吸的重要影响因子。番茄生长前期,土壤呼吸与充气孔隙度和氧气含量显著正相关,与土壤温度显著负相关(P0.05);番茄生长后期,土壤和土壤微生物呼吸与土壤温度显著正相关,与氧气含量显著负相关(P0.05)。     

不同增氧水平对夏玉米生长及氮素利用的影响

为探究有利于夏玉米生长和氮素利用的适宜灌溉水溶解氧浓度,本试验以夏玉米为供试作物,采用地下滴灌供水方式,以地下水灌溉为对照,设置10(OA10)、20(OA20)和40(OA40) mg·L^-1灌溉水溶解氧浓度3个增氧水平,研究不同增氧水平对盆栽夏玉米生长、产量和氮素利用的影响。结果表明,增氧地下滴灌显著提高了土壤溶解氧浓度,与对照相比,OA40、OA20和OA10处理土壤溶解氧浓度平均提高14.83%、9.71%和8.00%,表现为作物生长增强,作物产量和氮素利用效率均显著提高(P<0.05)。与对照相比,OA10处理的株高、叶鲜质量和叶干质量分别增加7.39%、16.30%和12.02%;OA40处理叶干质量和茎鲜质量分别增加15.82%和12.43%;OA10、OA20和OA40根系鲜质量分别增加60.00%、17.66%和52.98%,根系体积分别增加34.03%、14.56%和51.32%;OA10和OA20处理根系活力分别增加272.77%和64.44%;OA10和OA40处理产量分别增加24.46%和21.83%,水分利用效率分别提高19.10%和21.61%,百粒重分别增加17.53%和15.14%。OA10和OA40处理籽粒氮素吸收量较对照分别增加63.90%和35.27%,OA10处理籽粒氮素分配比例和氮素吸收效率分别增加21.57%和33.33%。上述差异均具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。综上,增氧地下滴灌可显著提高作物根区溶解氧浓度,促进作物生长,提高产量及氮素吸收利用,以OA10处理效果最为显著。本研究结果为增氧灌溉技术在实际生产中的合理利用提供了理论依据。     

微纳米增氧水添加对土壤中溶解氧耗散的影响

微纳米增氧灌溉可缓解作物根区氧气限制,促进作物代谢活动和生长发育。为探究微纳米增氧水添加后土壤溶解氧耗散规律及其增氧效果,该研究以初始干旱土壤和初始湿润土壤为研究对象,使用微氧电极技术,监测不同微纳米增氧水平下淹水土壤溶解氧浓度变化规律。结果表明：1)土壤溶解氧浓度随时间呈现快速下降阶段、缓速下降阶段两段式规律,其中快速下降阶段土壤溶解氧耗散以气体扩散为主,耗散曲线符合对数函数规律;缓速下降阶段土壤溶解氧耗散以微生物消耗为主,耗散曲线符合Logistic函数或线性函数规律;2)在初始干旱土壤试验的快速下降阶段,与常规对照处理CK(O₂浓度：8～9 mg/L)相比,O1(O₂浓度：15 mg/L)、O₂(O₂浓度：20 mg/L)处理溶解氧留存时间分别延长了40.11%和189.62%;在初始湿润土壤试验的快速下降阶段,O₁、O₂处理溶解氧耗散时间分别延长了445.16%和2741.94%;3)在微生物活性较低的土壤(初始干旱土壤)中,氧气与底物都是溶解氧消...     

水氮耦合氧灌对温室辣椒土壤肥力及细菌群落的影响

为揭示水氮耦合氧灌对温室辣椒土壤肥力、细菌多样性及群落的影响,该研究设置施氮量(225和300 kg/hm2)、通气量(通气比率为15%和0)和灌水量(0.6和0.9倍作物-蒸发皿系数)3因素2水平试验,采用高通量测序等方法研究土壤细菌群落与土壤通气性指标、土壤肥力因子之间的关系。结果表明,低水量常氮氧灌和高水量常氮氧灌条件下,果实膨大期灌水后3d的土壤溶解氧、土壤呼吸和氧化还原电位分别较不加氧对照组增加16.73%、38.78%、26.04%和18.58%、46.58%、29.09%(P0.05)。低水量低氮氧灌和高水量低氮氧灌条件下,土壤可溶性有机碳、硝态氮含量较不加氧对照组分别增加26.40%、28.22%和19.67%、18.46%(P0.05);低水量常氮氧灌和高水量常氮氧灌条件下,土壤可溶性有机碳、硝态氮含量较不加氧对照组分别增加20.38%、19.25%和17.49%、17.93%(P0.05)。Shannon、Pielou-e指数表明,加氧处理可显著提高细菌群落多样性和均匀性,而高水量和常氮处理只提高细菌群落均匀性(P0.05)。常氮高水量下,加氧处理的硝化螺旋菌属(硝化作用)和芽孢杆菌属(固氮作用)相对丰度较对照增加24.24%和20.11%,而土微菌属(反硝化作用)相对丰度较对照降低22.66%;加氧低水量下,常氮处理的硝化螺旋菌属和芽孢杆菌属相对丰度较对照增加22.95%和34.12%(P0.05)。高水量低氮和常氮条件下,加氧处理的放线菌门相对丰度较对照增加16.84%和13.37%;高水量常氮条件下,加氧处理的γ-变形杆菌较对照降低15.75%(P0.05)。土壤呼吸、Eh与Shannon指数、硝态氮含量、硝化螺旋菌属和芽孢杆菌属呈显著正相关,与γ-变形杆菌呈显著负相关。综上,水氮耦合氧灌能有效改善土壤通气性改变细菌群落结构,提升土壤肥力,为设施蔬菜水肥高效利用提供理论依据。     

滴灌灌水均匀系数与灌水量对土壤水分分布及温室番茄产量的影响

为探索灌水均匀系数与灌水量对温室番茄产量和土壤水分变化的影响,确定合理的滴灌灌水均匀系数,本研究设置65%、75%和85%3个灌水均匀度水平, 190 mm、220 mm和250 mm 3个灌水量水平,测量番茄生育期内土壤含水率及番茄产量,计算土壤含水率均匀系数和番茄灌溉水利用效率。结果表明,当灌水均匀系数为65%～85%时,土壤水分均匀系数均值(82.57%～93.76%)接近或高于设置的滴灌灌水均匀系数的最大值(85%)。滴灌灌水均匀系数对土壤含水率均匀系数影响权重最大,灌水量、灌水均匀系数、土壤初始含水率均值3个影响因素与土壤含水率均匀系数均值之间呈线性关系(P0.05),决定系数为0.918。当土壤初始含水率占田间持水量比重60%,灌水量低于15mm时,灌水均匀系数与灌水量二者的交互作用与土壤含水率均匀系数为显著线性关系(P0.05),其他情况下均无显著性关系。灌水量对产量为显著影响(P0.05),灌水均匀系数及二者的交互作用对番茄产量无显著影响,考虑产量及灌溉水分利用效率,灌水量220 mm、灌水均匀系数75%组合为最优组合。因此在西北地区,综合考虑经济性和系统的可靠性,建议下调现行滴灌灌水均匀系数标准。     

过氧化氢增氧水的理化特性及其在黏土中入渗分析

地下滴灌的黏土通常伴随着缺氧的特征。过氧化氢增氧灌溉是改善土壤通气性的有效方法。为探讨添加过氧化氢对水的理化特性及其在土壤中入渗的影响,该研究分析了不同浓度的过氧化氢增氧水(H₂O₂浓度分别为0、600、800、1 000 mg/L)的溶解氧浓度、氧气传质系数、表面张力系数、电导率和pH值以及入渗过程。结果表明：溶解氧浓度随H₂O₂添加浓度的增大而增大,表面张力系数则呈现出相反的趋势。溶解氧浓度与表面张力系数存在良好的对数函数关系,二者可以作为过氧化氢增氧水理化特性的定量评价指标。与对照相比,过氧化氢增氧水促进了土壤水分入渗过程,提高了土壤的持水能力。土壤累积入渗量、湿润锋深度以及土壤含水率均随H₂O₂浓度的增加先上升后下降,最大值在800 mg/L处理中获得。Philip入渗模型能够较好地模拟过氧化氢增氧水的入渗过程,吸渗率随H₂O₂浓度的增加先上升后下降,最大值出现在800 mg/L处理。吸渗率与溶解氧浓度之...     

增氧型复混肥提高土壤氧化还原电位促进水稻养分吸收

  【目的】   稻田长期淹水所导致的土壤通气性差妨碍水稻的生长。探索增氧型复混肥对改善土壤通气状况的作用，为水稻专用肥研发提供理论依据。   【方法】   在复混肥制造过程中，添加特制的粘结剂和3.6%、4.8%、6.1%的过氧化钙制成具有增氧功能的复混肥OCF1、OCF2、OCF3。以Q681 (全两优681) 和EK1 (鄂科1号) 两种常规中稻品种为试材进行盆栽试验。设淹水 (WL)、增氧灌溉 (MBWI) 和分次增施过氧化钙 (FCP) 为对照，一次性基施OCF1、OCF2、OCF3 3个处理，在水稻主要生育期，测定土壤氧化还原电位、无机氮含量和pH，测定水稻叶片光合作用、水稻产量及氮磷钾养分含量。   【结果】   增氧措施OCF2和OCF3处理均能不同程度地提高移栽期、分蘖期、齐穗期和乳熟期土壤的氧化还原电位。与WL、MBWI和FCP处理相比，OCF1、OCF2和OCF3处理的土壤在分蘖期和齐穗期保持较高的氧化还原电位，其中以OCF2和OCF3的作用最明显；整个生育期，对照和各处理的土壤pH没有显著差异，与WL处理相比增氧型复混肥还可提高齐穗期土壤过氧化氢酶的活性。所有增氧处理均能够保持或显著提高耕层土壤铵态氮含量，其中OCF2和OCF3表现最明显。与WL处理相比，各增氧处理均不同程度地提高水稻叶片的光合速率，其中OCF3处理增幅最大，提高了11%以上，高于或显著高于增氧灌溉和分次增施过氧化钙处理 (MBWI和FCP)。OCF3处理的有效穗数、千粒重和产量比淹水灌溉WL处理分别提高25%、38%和107%，比MBWI和FCP处理提高29%～58%。   【结论】   增氧型复混肥能较长时间提高土壤通气性和土壤的氧化还原电位，有利于水稻对土壤养分的吸收利用。与分次追施过氧化钙和增氧灌溉相比，肥料制作过程中添加过氧化钙制备增氧型复混肥提高水稻土通气性的效果更好，操作更加方便，是提高水稻专用肥效益的有效途径。     

气源及活性剂对曝气滴灌带水气单双向传输均匀性的影响

曝气滴灌过程中水、氧、气传输均匀性是评价曝气灌溉质量的重要指标。活性剂的添加和传输方式的优选对曝气滴灌传输过程中微气泡的存在和溶解氧的保持有重要意义。为提高水气耦合物在滴灌过程中传输的距离和均匀性,该文采用Mazzei 1078文丘里空气射流器进行曝气增氧,以空气和氧气为供试气源,研究活性剂BS1000浓度(0、1、2和4 mg/L)和传输方式(单向和双向)对曝气滴灌下水、氧、气传输特性的影响。结果表明:曝气导致单向传输下流量均匀性略有下降,但可显著提高灌溉水中溶解氧和掺气比例;随着活性剂浓度的增加,掺气比例显著增加(P0.05);活性剂的添加促进了氧气曝气下溶解氧的增加;溶氧均匀性和流量均匀性随着活性剂浓度的增加无显著性变化,但单向传输下4 mg/L BS1000的出气均匀性较未添加活性剂显著降低;双向传输的流量均匀性、溶氧均匀性和出气均匀性分别在95%、96%和67%以上,较单向传输分别平均提高14.00%、4.05%和30.64%(P0.05),是曝气滴灌长程管道传输推荐的布置方式。研究结果为曝气滴灌过程中灌溉技术参数优化和管道的科学布置提供理论依据。     

增氧灌溉对棉花营养特征及土壤肥力的影响

以新陆早41号为材料,通过模拟试验和田间小区试验,研究增氧对灌溉水溶解氧的影响,以及增氧灌溉对棉田土壤养分、土壤微生物数量、棉花养分吸收和产量的影响。增氧灌溉模拟试验设计4个充氧浓度(CK-0%、O_2-21%、O_2-30%、O_2-50%),连续测定主管道和滴灌带不同监测点位灌溉水溶解氧浓度;田间试验设计3种增氧灌溉方式,物理增氧PO、化学增氧CO和常规滴灌CK。结果表明,增氧灌溉能够明显提高灌溉系统内灌溉水的溶解氧浓度,并且随着溶解氧浓度的增加衰变增加,灌溉水溶解氧浓度增加至12~14 mg L~(-1)较为适宜;增氧灌溉显著促进棉花增产,PO、CO棉花产量分别较对照增加11.39%、11.42%;增氧灌溉能促进棉花对土壤养分的吸收,从而降低土壤中养分含量,棉田土壤速效氮、有效磷、速效钾、有机质含量均有所降低,CO处理土壤速效氮、有机质含量与对照之间的差异达到显著水平,分别降低27.23%、9.61%,PO处理速效钾含量与对照之间的差异达到显著水平,较对照降低5.78%;增氧灌溉对棉田土壤细菌、真菌、微生物数量有促进作用,PO、CO处理细菌数分别较对照提高28.38%、21.05%,微生物总量分别提高27.86%、20.63%,处理间差异均达到显著水平。说明棉花根系对氧敏感,增氧灌溉能够进一步挖掘棉花生产潜能,不同增氧措施均能在一定程度上促进棉花生长和促进棉花对土壤养分的吸收,能加速土壤有机质分解和养分释放。     

膜下滴灌对土壤CO2与CH4浓度的影响

在温室进行了马铃薯盆栽试验,采用静态暗箱气相色谱法比较了滴灌(D)和漫灌(F)两种不同灌溉制度对土壤CO2与CH4浓度的影响。在每种灌溉制度下再分设覆膜(M)与不覆膜两种农艺措施处理。覆膜滴灌(MD)下按土壤湿润比(P)不同,再设3个处理,分别为P1(P=25%)、P2(P=33%)、P3(P=50%),共6个处理,即DP1、MDP1、MDP2、MDP3、FC(不覆膜漫灌)和MF(覆膜漫灌),裸土(BS)和覆膜裸土(MBS)为对照。研究结果表明:覆膜的增温保湿作用及薄膜对土壤与大气间气体传输的自然阻隔作用使土壤CO2浓度升高10.4%~94.5%,CH4浓度降低5.1%~47.4%。滴灌的干湿交替现象以及漫灌对土壤通气性的降低使漫灌处理土壤中CO2浓度高于滴灌7.4%~49.7%,CH4浓度降低6.6%~68.2%。而土壤湿度通过影响土壤通气性和土壤溶解性有机质两方面来影响土壤温室气体排放,覆膜滴灌下湿润比越高,土壤中CO2浓度越低,其对CH4浓度的影响不确定。土壤温度是土壤呼吸的主要驱动因子,也会影响CH4的氧化过程。观察DP1处理灌水后土壤中温室气体浓度发现,CO2浓度与温度呈显著正相关关系,CH4浓度与温度呈显著负相关关系,土壤中CO2浓度与CH4浓度呈显著负相关关系。     

“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.