长期大气CO2浓度升高对稻田CH4排放的影响

大气CO2浓度升高可直接或间接影响稻田CH4排放。深入研究长期大气CO2浓度升高对稻田CH4排放及其相关微生物的影响，对评估和应对未来气候背景下稻田CH4排放的响应具有重要意义。为探明长期大气CO2浓度升高对稻田CH4排放的影响及其机制，依托连续运行10年以上的中国稻田FACE（free-air CO2 enrichment）平台，观测2016—2017年正常大气条件（ACO2）和大气CO2浓度升高200 μmol?mol-1条件（ECO2）下稻田CH4排放通量、产甲烷菌和甲烷氧化菌群落丰度，并采用Meta分析方法定量研究CO2熏蒸年限对稻田CH4排放及其相关微生物群落丰度的影响。结果表明：对比ACO2处理，长期ECO2处理使稻田CH4排放降低28%（P<0.05），产甲烷菌群落丰度降低39%（P<0.05），同时甲烷氧化菌群落丰度增加21%（P>0.05）。Meta分析结果发现，随着CO2熏蒸年限的增加，大气CO2浓度升高对稻田CH4排放和产甲烷菌群落丰度的促进作用逐渐减弱，对甲烷氧化菌群落丰度的促进作用却逐渐增大。因此，未来气候条件下，长期大气CO2浓度升高会降低稻田CH4排放，这对缓解水稻种植带来的温室效应具有重要意义。     

大气CO2浓度缓增对稻田土壤甲烷氧化过程的影响

微生物介导的甲烷好氧氧化,对控制稻田甲烷排放起着重要作用。本文从基因、群落、活性等多个层次上解析CO₂浓度缓增对稻田土壤甲烷好氧氧化过程的影响及其作用机理。依托于田间CO₂浓度自动调控平台,在背景CO₂浓度(AC)基础上,设置了CO₂浓度缓增处理(每年增加40μL·L^-1,持续4年)(EC)。采用室内泥浆培养以及高通量测序和定量PCR技术,对不同CO₂处理下水稻关键生育期(分蘖期、拔节期、扬花期和乳熟期)土壤中的甲烷氧化潜势及其功能微生物的丰度和群落结构进行了系统研究。结果表明：大气CO₂浓度升高促进了稻田甲烷氧化潜势和甲烷氧化菌丰度的增加;CO₂浓度升高还使得土壤中甲烷氧化菌的群落结构发生了显著变化,其优势菌从Ⅱ型菌转变为Ⅰ型菌。CO₂浓度升高所致的土壤中甲烷、氧气浓度以及氮素水平等的改变很可能对稻田甲烷氧化过程产生了重要影响。综合本研究发现,稻田甲烷氧化过程对大气CO₂     

水稻根系内生细菌对未来大气CO2浓度升高的响应

针对中国FACE（Free Air CO2 Enrichment）平台的镇籼96、扬稻8号、II优084和扬两优6号四种水稻品种,采用新一代高通量测序技术,研究了水稻根系内生菌的整体微生物群落对未来大气CO2浓度升高的响应。结果表明,水稻内生菌群落中γ-变形菌纲的肠杆菌科相对丰度最高,占整体微生物群落的30.8%~59.8%。对于镇籼96、扬稻8号和II优084三种水稻品种,大气CO2浓度升高可能抑制了数量上占优势的微生物菌群（优势菌群）生长,而促进了数量上不占优势的微生物菌群（稀少菌群）繁殖。例如,对于II优084品种,相对丰度高于14.6%的4种水稻内生菌为肠杆菌科、假单胞菌科、黄单胞菌科和气单胞菌科,大气CO2浓度升高,这些优势菌群的相对丰度由74.8%降为67.2%;相反,稀少菌群主要由鞘脂杆菌科、丛毛单胞菌科、黄杆菌科及草酸杆菌科组成,其相对丰度则由4.13%增至16.9%,其中,与对照处理相比,鞘脂杆菌科相对丰度增加比例高达344倍,是大气CO2浓度升高的最敏感微生物类群。但对于水稻品种扬两优6号,根系内生菌对大气CO2浓度升高的响应模式与其他它三种品种不完全一致。这些研究结果表明,微生物的相对丰度可能是影响水稻根系内生菌对大气CO2浓度升高响应的重要因素,为研究全球变化下整体微生物结构与功能的演变规律提供了一定的依据。     

稻田亚硝酸盐型甲烷厌氧氧化对大气CO2浓度缓增的响应

亚硝酸盐型甲烷厌氧氧化（nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation, n-damo）是控制稻田甲烷排放的一种新途径，但有关其在稻田甲烷氧化中的贡献及其对大气CO2升高的响应尚不清楚。本文依托开顶式气室组成的CO2浓度自动调控平台，在环境 CO2浓度（CK）基础上，设置了CO2缓增处理（EC：每年增加 40 μL·L-1, 至采样时CO2浓度为CK+160 μL·L-1）。采用稳定性同位素示踪、定量PCR和高通量测序等手段，分析了不同CO2处理下水稻关键生育期（分蘖期、拔节期和开花期）稻田n-damo活性及其功能微生物Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera (M. oxyfera)-like细菌的丰度、多样性和群落组成。结果发现，EC处理在一定程度上刺激了土壤中n-damo活性以及M. oxyfera-like细菌丰度，且在拔节期达到了显著性水平。EC处理还使M. oxyfera-like细菌的群落组成发生了显著改变，并影响了其多样性。EC处理下土壤可溶性有机碳含量和无机氮含量的改变很可能是导致n-damo活性及M. oxyfera-like细菌群落结构发生变化的重要原因。综上，稻田n-damo过程对大气CO2浓度缓增具有正响应，表明了其在未来气候变化背景下对稻田甲烷减排的积极作用。     

放牧对黄土高原典型草原冬季牧场甲烷氧化菌类群及活性的影响

土壤甲烷氧化菌是大气甲烷（CH4）氧化的唯一生物汇。放牧能通过影响甲烷氧化菌的丰度和多样性来调控草地土壤的甲烷氧化活性。采集黄土高原典型草地冬季牧场中不同强度连续放牧的土壤样本,通过室内培养和高通量测序的方法测定不同放牧强度下土壤甲烷氧化活性以及土壤甲烷氧化菌的组成和丰度变化规律。结果表明,该草地是CH4汇,中放牧强度（MG）和高放牧强度（HG）增加了甲烷氧化速率。同时,与未放牧（CK）相比, MG和HG的甲烷氧化菌的平均丰度也显著增加。高通量测序结果显示,放牧对甲烷氧化菌的多样性有显著影响,不同放牧强度下均以USCγ为优势类群,同时存在少量的甲基暖菌属（Methylocaldum）和甲基孢囊菌属（Methylocystis）。皮尔森（Pearson）相关性分析表明,甲烷氧化速率（MOR）与土壤的水分含量和硝态氮的含量存在显著正相关（P < 0.05）,与USCγ的绝对数量存在极显著的正相关关系（P < 0.01）,这说明USCγ在该草地甲烷吸收过程中起主要作用。本研究证明了放牧可提升黄土高原典型草地的甲烷汇功能。     

基于核酸DNA/RNA同位素示踪技术的水稻土甲烷氧化微生物研究

稳定性同位素示踪复杂土壤中微生物DNA/RNA的技术难点是13C-DNA/RNA的鉴定。本研究针对我国六种典型水稻土,利用稳定性同位素13CH4示踪活性的甲烷氧化菌,超高速密度梯度离心获得不同浮力密度DNA/RNA后,以甲烷氧化菌独有的pmo A功能基因和16S r RNA特异基因作为分子标靶,通过半定量凝胶电泳技术评价了特异基因作为分子标靶判定13C-DNA/RNA的可行性,进一步利用克隆文库技术研究水稻土中的活性甲烷氧化菌群落结构。结果表明:甲烷氧化菌功能基因pmo A作为分子标靶,能够准确鉴别13C-DNA,而甲烷氧化菌特异的16S r RNA基因则能较好地区分12C和13C标记的RNA,但13C-RNA中的非目标微生物污染高于13C-DNA示踪技术。进一步以13C-DNA和13C-RNA为模板,分别构建了pmo A和16S r RNA基因的克隆文库,系统发育分析表明I型菌主导了土壤甲烷氧化过程,其中江西鹰潭和黑龙江五常土壤中活性甲烷氧化菌全部属于Ia型,而四川资阳、浙江嘉兴、江苏常熟和江都土壤中Ia型和Ib型甲烷氧化菌均有发现,并且后者比例较低。这些结果表明分子标靶基因能够有效判定复杂土壤中的甲烷氧化菌13C-DNA/RNA,在DNA和RNA水平的结果基本一致,我国典型水稻土中活性甲烷氧化菌可能存在一定的地理分异规律。     

土壤CH4氧化与土壤甲烷营养菌及主要研究方法

甲烷营养菌(methanotrophs)是一类以CH4为唯一碳源和能源的细菌,广泛分布在水稻土、森林土、苔原土、泥炭地、海洋与湖泊底泥、堆肥、垃圾填埋场及地下水等环境中,并作为大气甲烷(CH4)唯一的生物汇(库),在全球温室效应研究中备受关注。目前,关于土壤甲烷营养菌的研究主要包括菌株的多样性、生态分布以及环境因素对微生物氧化CH4过程的影响。本文从甲烷营养菌的分类入手,概述稻田土壤CH4的氧化与释放、旱地土壤CH4的氧化以及影响土壤CH4氧化的因素等方面的研究进展,同时介绍了土壤甲烷营养菌研究领域的几种主要的分子研究技术,以期为甲烷营养菌相关的研究提供参考。     

不同水分条件下格陵兰岛冻土活性甲烷氧化菌群落分异规律

揭全球气候变化导致丹麦格陵兰岛形成了旱地和间歇淹水的土壤景观,采用稳定性同位素核酸探针技术和高通量测序16S r RNA及pmoA基因的分析方法,开展了格陵兰岛旱地和间歇淹水土壤微宇宙培养试验,探究不同水分条件下冻土的甲烷氧化潜力及活性好氧甲烷氧化菌群落演替规律。结果表明:与旱地土壤相比,淹水土壤氧化高浓度甲烷的速率呈现降低趋势,分别为12.38和12.17μg/(g·d),但后者对甲烷碳同化利用效率显著高于前者,土壤~(13)C-有机碳原子百分比从自然丰度1.08%,分别增加至1.64%和1.99%。超高速密度梯度离心分析~(13)C-DNA发现甲烷氧化菌群落发生演替,旱地土壤中Crenothrix甲烷氧化菌16S rRNA基因丰度仅为0.04%,而在间歇淹水土壤中为23.78%,增幅高达557倍;类型Ⅱ甲烷氧化菌Methylosinus则从33.76%增至44.38%。然而,类型Ⅰ甲烷氧化菌Methylocaldum的丰度明显降低,从旱地土壤10.15%显著降低为间歇淹水0.14%;进一步通过pmo A基因高通量测序分析,也得到了类似的结果,特别是类型Ⅰ甲烷氧化菌RPCs从旱地土壤15.61%显著降低至间歇淹水土壤的0.13%。这些结果表明:尽管格陵兰冻土中经典的类型Ⅱ甲烷氧化菌主导了旱地土壤和间歇性淹水土壤好氧甲烷氧化过程,但水分可能是甲烷氧化菌群落演替的重要环境驱动力,水分增加导致活性的类型Ⅰ种群丰度降低,同时显著刺激了新型甲烷氧化菌Crenothrix的大量生长并可能在间歇淹水土壤中发挥了重要作用。     

基于整合高通量绝对定量法的土壤微生物多样性分析

目前,常用的高通量测序技术只能得到微生物群落结构的物种种类和相对丰度,而整合高通量绝对定量法（iHAAQ）结合了高通量测序技术和qPCR技术,可以进一步计算得到微生物群落结构的绝对含量。相对丰度和绝对含量均是描述微生物群落结构的必备指标,其中相对丰度适合描述和评价微生物群落结构在单个样本内微生物之间的关系,而绝对含量更适于描述和评价微生物群落结构真实的数量变化以及在样本间微生物之间的关系。本研究基于发表的香蕉土传病害、再造沙地农业生态系统和微生物抑制剂作用3篇文献的高通量测序和qPCR数据,通过整合高通量绝对定量法获得3篇文献中古菌域、细菌域和真核生物域的真菌三类微生物群落结构的绝对含量数据,并进一步计算出这三类微生物整体（简称三域微生物）的绝对含量和相对丰度,从而对土壤微生物群落结构不同物种的相对丰度和绝对含量进行分析,旨在更加深入、准确地揭示土壤微生物群落及其生态功能。结果表明：（1）土壤中细菌的物种丰度和绝对含量高于古菌和真菌,在三域微生物中占据主导地位,缺乏绝对含量指标可能造成对微生物群落结构变化理解的偏差;（2）基于相对丰度和绝对含量数据分析,微生物群落结构α多样性指数结果相同,但β多样性指数结果不同;（3）在香蕉土传病害和再造沙地农业生态系统研究中,三域微生物的PCoA结果与细菌的结果较为相似,表明这两项研究中三域微生物群落结构主要受细菌的影响,但在微生物抑制剂的研究中未发现类似结果。整合高通量绝对定量法可以应用于所有同时进行高通量测序和qPCR测序的研究,在未来的土壤微生物群落结构研究中,采用高通量绝对定量法开展三域微生物群落的物种种类、相对丰度和绝对含量的整体评价,具有重要的生态学意义。     

Na+和K+共存对A2/O工艺脱氮除磷效果及污泥性质的影响

为了揭示多种金属离子共存的含盐废水生物处理系统污染物的去除机制和污泥特性,考察Na~+、K~+共存对A~2/O工艺污染物去除率、污泥性质和微生物群落的影响,采用高通量测序技术分析了厌氧区、缺氧区和好氧区的微生物群落结构,结合脱氮除磷效果和污泥性质的变化,探讨不同Na~+/K~+摩尔比下A~2/O工艺优势种群的演替规律,以期从微生物角度明确Na~+、K~+共存对含盐废水污染物去除率的影响。结果表明:当进水Na~+/K~+摩尔比分别为2、1和0.5时,A~2/O工艺的COD去除率分别为80%、84%和86%,TN去除率分别为73%、77%和80%,K~+浓度的提高缓解了Na~+对COD和TN去除率的抑制作用;厌氧区释磷率分别为70%、73%和74%,缺氧区吸磷率分别为53%、55%和58%,好氧区吸磷率分别为70%、72%和75%。随着进水Na~+/K~+摩尔比的降低,厌氧区、缺氧区和好氧区微生物群落的丰富度和多样性降低,微生物群落差异显著,变形菌门的相对丰度均升高约30%,拟杆菌门和绿弯菌门相对丰度逐渐降低。陶氏菌属和固氮弧菌属作为优势菌属,其相对丰度逐渐增大,有利于氮磷污染物的去除。通过增加K~+的浓度有利于提高氮、磷去除率,增强污泥的生物絮凝性和反硝化聚磷菌的活性。     

“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.