紫苏叶片响应镉胁迫的蛋白质差异表达分析

为阐明紫苏[Perilla frutescens(L.)Britt.]响应镉胁迫的分子机制,应用营养液加镉法,采用蛋白质组学技术分析了紫苏叶片响应镉胁迫3周的蛋白质表达差异。结果表明,镉胁迫下紫苏叶片有25个蛋白发生差异表达,其中20个蛋白质得到LC-MS/MS鉴定:光合作用相关蛋白3个,能量代谢相关蛋白11个,胁迫相关蛋白1个,蛋白质代谢相关蛋白2个,基因表达相关蛋白1个,结构蛋白1个,生物合成与解毒相关蛋白1个。在浓度为2.0 mg·kg-1、5.0 mg·kg-1、10.0mg·kg-1镉胁迫下,紫苏叶片中ATP合成酶、丝氨酸羧肽酶、植物细胞色素P450均上调表达,Rubisco大亚基、核糖体蛋白S3和肌动蛋白表达均下调。光合系统Ⅱ稳定/装配因子HCF136及胁迫反应蛋白乙酰辅酶A硫酯酶在低浓度镉(2 mg·kg-1)处理下表达上调,在高浓度镉(5 mg·kg-1,10 mg·kg-1)处理下表达下调;磷酸核酮糖激酶/尿苷激酶家族蛋白在2 mg·kg-1和5 mg·kg-1镉处理时表达上调,10 mg·kg-1镉处理时不变;逆转录转座子蛋白在10 mg·kg-1镉处理时表达下调。可见,紫苏叶片通过增强能量代谢、降低光合作用、改变蛋白代谢与基因表达和提高解毒能力,增强了镉耐性。     

基于iTRAQ技术的不同耐热性水稻花药差异蛋白分析

为从蛋白质水平揭示耐热与热敏感水稻花药响应高温胁迫的分子机制,本研究以耐热水稻品系996和热敏感水稻品系4628为材料,采用iTRAQ技术对高温和适温条件下水稻花药进行差异蛋白质组学分析。结果表明,在996高温-996适温、4628高温-4628适温、996高温-4628高温和996适温-4628适温4个比较组中,共筛选到957个差异表达蛋白,其中上调表达蛋白398个,覆盖率达20%以上的蛋白占鉴定总蛋白的50.96%。GO分析显示,抽穗开花期花药差异蛋白主要集中于代谢过程和细胞过程,在细胞组成方面主要分布于胞内部分、细胞器和细胞,分子功能主要涉及催化活性、绑定等。花药差异蛋白通路分析显示,来源于bZIP和DOF家族的2个转录因子差异表达,DOF家族基因上调,bZIP家族基因下调;18个HSPs基因中大部分表达上调;与植物激素和信号传导相关基因大部分表达下调;10个活性氧(ROS)相关基因中5个表现为上调;与次生代谢相关基因大部分下调。本研究结果为揭示水稻花药高温胁迫的应答分子调控机制提供了一定的理论基础。     

南方型紫花苜蓿苗期叶片盐胁迫差异蛋白分析

以南方型紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa ‘Millennium’)30 d苗龄的实生苗为实验材料,分析正常培养和250 mmol/L NaC1处理72 h后叶片中的蛋白表达变化,以期从蛋白质水平上揭示南方型紫花苜蓿适应盐胁迫的分子机制.采用同位素相对标记与绝对定量技术(isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation,iTRAQ)结合双向液相色谱与串联质谱(2-dimensional liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry,2D-LC-MS/MS)定量蛋白质组技术鉴定南方型紫花苜蓿叶片响应盐胁迫的差异表达蛋白,对所获得差异蛋白进行生物信息学分析,筛选出可能的耐盐潜在靶标蛋白.结果表明,共鉴定3 712个定量蛋白,417个表达量有显著差异的蛋白质(变化倍数≥1.2,P≤0.05),其中包含291个表达上调的蛋白,126个表达下调的蛋白.按照基因本体(Gene Ontology,GO)分类体系,对差异蛋白归类分析,揭示其亚细胞定位和分子功能.京都基因与基因组百科全书(Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes,KEGG)通路显著性富集于代谢途径、次生代谢产物生物合成、吞噬体、脂肪酸代谢和光合作用等(P＜0.05,错误发现率(false discovery rate,FDR)＜0.05).成功鉴定的差异蛋白分别涉及到光合作用(7％)、信号传递(3％)、防御(2％)、碳水化合物代谢(11％)、氨基酸代谢(7％)、脂类代谢(5％)、其它代谢(7％)、蛋白质合成、加工与降解(18％)、细胞结构、分裂和细胞骨架(3％)、抗氧化物(6％)、能量产生与转运(7％)、膜和胞内运输(7％)及未知功能蛋白类(16％).差异表达蛋白中与抗氧化物、能量产生与转运、防御和信号传递及代谢等相关的蛋白表达量总体上调,而与蛋白质合成、加工与降解和光合途径相关蛋白表达量总体下调.研究发现,细胞色素P450、PSⅡ放氧增强蛋白、磷脂酰肌醇特异性磷脂酶C、果糖-1,6-二磷酸醛缩酶、甘露糖-6-磷酸还原酶、海藻糖-6-磷酸合酶、天冬氨酸转氨酶、E3泛素连接酶和H+-ATP酶C亚基蛋白等可能是紫花苜蓿耐盐潜在靶标蛋白.采用iTRAQ结合2D-LC-MS/MS技术,能有效地筛选出南方型紫花苜蓿叶片响应盐胁迫差异表达蛋白,这些差异表达蛋白可能在紫花苜蓿耐盐调控过程中发挥重要作用,该研究为深入认识紫花苜蓿盐胁迫的应答分子调控机制提供理论依据.     

硅介导番茄青枯病抗性的土壤定量蛋白质组学研究

番茄(Solanum lycopersicum)是一种重要的经济作物。由青枯菌(Ralstonia solanacearum)侵染所产生的青枯病是一种严重影响茄科类作物的细菌性土传病害。传统的防治方法,如培育抗性品种、轮作、药剂防治等均存在一定的局限。而硅作为一种作物生长的有益元素,在提高植物适应生物胁迫和非生物胁迫中均起重要作用。本研究以易感青枯病的番茄品种"台湾红圣女"作为试验材料,利用i TRAQ(isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation)定量蛋白质组学技术,研究硅和/或青枯菌接种对番茄青枯病抗性及土壤蛋白质组的影响。结果表明,2.0 mmol L-1硅处理能显著降低番茄青枯病的病情指数,增强抗病性。基于i TRAQ定量蛋白质组学技术,硅和/或青枯菌处理对土壤蛋白质组的研究表明,在鉴定的30个土壤蛋白质中,有29个蛋白差异表达显著(上调≥1.2倍,下调≤0.8倍差异)。青枯菌侵染诱发22个土壤蛋白下调表达,5个上调表达。在不接菌的条件下,硅处理有5个土壤蛋白上调,19个蛋白下调;而接菌条件下则有8个蛋白上调,14个蛋白下调。将这29个差异蛋白进行GO基因功能分类结果显示,硅和/或青枯菌处理主要影响生理代谢过程以及核酸结合蛋白。硅对番茄青枯病的作用机理主要体现在:改变微生物的代谢能力,调控与抗性代谢、蛋白质的合成与翻译、信号转导以及免疫系统过程和胁迫响应有关蛋白的表达,影响钙离子信号转导等。     

乙酸胁迫下东方伊萨酵母的蛋白组学分析

为了探究果酒酵母菌混合发酵下东方伊萨酵母(Issatchenkio orientalis 166,Io 166) 耐受乙酸的分子机制,采用串联质谱标签(TMT)技术分析差异表达蛋白,进行乙酸胁迫条件下蛋白质组学的研究。结果表明,在对数生长期中期乙酸胁迫下Io 166生长会受到抑制,但Io 166会逐渐适应乙酸胁迫并产生抗性,胁迫4 h后共有461个蛋白差异表达,其中327个上调,134个下调。这些蛋白经注释和统计分析表明,在乙酸胁迫下,谷胱甘肽的合成增加,几种具有抗氧化特性的蛋白质(如PXP9、HYR1、CCP1)上调,对细胞耐受乙酸起到关键作用。此外,与氨基酸(如精氨酸)生物合成和代谢过程相关的蛋白差异表达,热激蛋白(HSP)高度表达以降解聚集和错误折叠的蛋白。本研究结果为Ⅰ. orientalis耐受乙酸提供了理论依据,并对提高果酒耐受乙酸发酵具有潜在的应用价值。     

南方型紫花苜蓿叶片响应盐胁迫蛋白质组和转录组关联分析

为了从基因和蛋白质水平上揭示南方型紫花苜蓿适应盐胁迫环境的分子机制,以南方型紫花苜蓿Millennium为材料,对正常培养和盐胁迫条件下的2个样品叶片进行转录组和蛋白质组关联分析。结果表明,定量蛋白和基因关联系数为0.2485;变化趋势相反差异蛋白和基因表达的关联系数为-0.2440;变化趋势相同差异蛋白质和基因表达的关联系数为0.8122。鉴定出109个与差异基因表达趋势相同的差异蛋白,其中77个上调,32个下调,这些差异蛋白功能涉及光合作用、抗氧化物、信号传递、翻译后修饰、翻译和分子伴侣、胁迫防御、能量产生与转运、代谢和其它未知功能蛋白等。下调表达的蛋白主要与光合作用相关,而上调表达的蛋白主要参与了抗氧化物、信号传递和胁迫防御等。此外,关联发现了与紫花苜蓿盐胁迫响应相关的III类过氧化物酶、铁蛋白、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶、磷脂酰肌醇特异性磷脂酶C、LRR类受体激酶、ABA反应蛋白、钙联接蛋白2、液泡H+-ATP酶C亚基和NADP-苹果酸酶等差异蛋白。本研究通过高通量多组学数据的关联分析,发现一些可能作为紫花苜蓿耐盐潜在靶标蛋白(基因),这为深入认识紫花苜蓿盐胁迫的应答分子调控机制奠定了坚实的基础。     

基于iTRAQ技术的不同耐旱性甘薯苗期根系差异蛋白分析

为从蛋白水平揭示不同甘薯品种的苗期耐旱性差异,明确甘薯耐旱性生理机制,以耐旱性强的济薯21(JS)和耐旱性弱的济紫薯1(JH)为材料,采用PEG-6000模拟田间梯度干旱胁迫过程,采用i TRAQ技术开展甘薯苗期根系全蛋白组差异蛋白分析。结果表明,在4个比较组中,共筛选到567个差异表达蛋白,其中上调表达蛋白302个,覆盖率达20%以上的蛋白占鉴定总蛋白数的58.6%。GO分析发现,JS苗期根系差异蛋白主要集中在胁迫响应、非生物刺激响应等生物过程,而JH苗期根系差异蛋白主要集中在糖基复合物代谢和辅酶代谢等生物过程,干旱均主要影响2个品种的细胞质、细胞溶质等细胞组分,2个品种的差异蛋白分子功能均涉及催化活性、氧化还原酶活性等方面。KEGG分析发现,正常条件下,耐旱性强的较耐旱性弱的甘薯品种苗期根系中的过氧化物酶(POD)和肉桂醇脱氢酶(CAD)表达上调;在干旱条件下,次生代谢合成过程中的苯丙烷合成通路中上调表达的差异蛋白最多,耐旱性强的JS苗期根系中主要是胁迫响应相关蛋白,而耐旱性弱的JH苗期根系中主要是能量代谢相关蛋白。总之,干旱对甘薯苗期根系细胞质中次生物质合成和能量代谢影响较大,耐旱性强的甘薯苗期根系氧化还原酶类蛋白表达上调,不同耐旱性甘薯苗期根系在蛋白组学水平上响应干旱的生理调控途径存在明显差异。本研究为甘薯耐旱性品种生理鉴定和耐旱基因发掘提供了线索。     

基于iTRAQ质谱分析技术筛选南方型紫花苜蓿根部响应盐胁迫差异表达蛋白

为了从蛋白质水平上揭示南方型紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa ‘Millennium’)适应盐胁迫的分子机制,本研究以30 d苗龄的南方型紫花苜蓿实生苗为材料,分析正常培养和250 mmol/L NaCl处理72 h后根中的蛋白表达变化,采用同位素相对标记与绝对定量技术(isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation,iTRAQ)结合双向液相色谱与串联质谱(2-dimensional liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry,2D-LC-MS/MS)定量蛋白质组技术鉴定南方型紫花苜蓿根部响应盐胁迫差异表达蛋白,对所获得差异蛋白进行生物信息学分析,筛选出可能耐盐潜在靶标蛋白.同时,选择5个差异表达蛋白进行实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)验证.结果表明,共鉴定3 857种定量蛋白,534种差异蛋白(变化倍数≥1.2,P＜0.05),其中表达上调的281种,表达下调的253种.基因本体(Gene Ontology,GO)分子功能提示这些差异性蛋白主要参与转运活性、催化活性和酶调控活性.京都基因与基因组百科全书(Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes,KEGG)通路显著性富集于代谢途径、次生代谢产物生物合成、苯丙氨酸代谢和核糖体等(P＜ 0.05,错误发现率(false discovery rate,FDR)＜ 0.05).成功鉴定的差异蛋白分别涉及到信号传递(8.99％)、抗氧化物(7.68％)、防御(5.61％)、蛋白质合成、加工和降解(14.79％)、能量产生与转运(5.81％)、代谢(26.97％)、膜与胞内运输(5.62％)和细胞结构、分裂和细胞骨架(2.06％)等.差异表达蛋白中与信号传递、抗氧化物和防御等相关的蛋白表达量总体上调,而与代谢和能量产生与转运相关蛋白表达量总体下调.qRT-PCR实验发现,mRNA与蛋白质表达水平并不一致.研究发现组氨酸磷酸转移蛋白、丝裂原活化蛋白激酶、h类硫氧还蛋白、蛋氨酸亚砜还原酶基因、鸟苷二磷酸(guanosine diphosphate, GDP)解离抑制因子、脂质转移蛋白、β-1,2-木糖基转移酶和H2A/H2B/H3/H4核心组蛋白等可能是紫花苜蓿耐盐潜在靶标蛋白.本研究采用iTRAQ结合2D-LC-MS/MS技术,有效地筛选出南方型紫花苜蓿根部响应盐胁迫差异表达蛋白,为深入认识紫花苜蓿盐胁迫的应答分子调控机制奠定了坚实的基础.     

龙茭2号耐冷相关差异表达蛋白鉴定及分析

茭白(Zizania latifolia)是我国南方重要的水生蔬菜,温度对其田间生产具有较大的影响。以浙江省主栽双季茭白品种浙茭911为对照,采用双向电泳技术(two-dimensional electrophoresis,2-DE)对茭白耐冷栽培品种龙茭2号叶片的差异表达蛋白进行比较鉴定分析,获得蛋白点数分布在822~955,差异蛋白点筛选表明,低温及恢复处理中,龙茭2号差异表达蛋白上调数量均高于浙茭911,差异表达蛋白下调数量均低于浙茭911;质谱成功鉴定了6个耐冷相关差异表达蛋白:IAA(indole acetic acid)生长素水解酶(IAA auxin amido hydrolase,IAA-AH)、甲酸四氢叶酸连接酶(putative formate-tetra-hydrofolate ligase,FSH)、苹果酸脱氢酶malate dehydrogenase,MDH)、6-磷酸甘露糖还原酶(mannose-6-phosphate reductase,M6PR)、ATP合成酶(ATP synthase CF1 alpha chain,ATPase)和分子伴侣cpn60-1(chaperonin cpn60-1,cpn60-1),分别与植物激素代谢、核酸合成、能量代谢、光合作用及蛋白折叠等功能相关。IAA-AH、MDH和分子伴侣cpn60-1在两个茭白品种中均表现出低温处理后表达量上调,恢复处理后表达量下调,其他3个蛋白在两个品种间表达变化存在差异;5℃低温处理时,龙茭2号中差异蛋白表达较为稳定,并能较好地恢复至对照水平。基于茭白转录组测序信息查询,克隆获得6个差异蛋白点相关基因的编码区序列并进行了荧光定量PCR验证分析。本研究从蛋白和分子水平阐明了双季茭白龙茭2号耐冷相关的部分蛋白及其表达变化,有助于揭示龙茭2号孕茭特性及其耐冷机制,为田间选育不同采收期的茭白耐冷新品种提供理论依据。     

铜胁迫下小白菜叶片基因表达谱的cDNA-AFLP分析

本研究以小白菜品种‘上海青’为试验材料,利用Cu2+质量浓度为10 mg·L-1的营养液水培小白菜幼苗,通过cDNA-AFLP技术分析小白菜响应铜胁迫相关基因及其表达情况。试验中利用多态性较好的135对引物进行扩增,共获得5 800多条转录衍生片段(TDFs),平均每个引物组合扩增出30~60条,片段大小主要集中在100~1 000 bp,根据条带强弱和有无的变化,其表达模式可以分为持续表达、瞬时表达、上调表达和下调表达4种情况。通过筛选获得180条差异表达TDFs,其中上调表达77条(42.8%),下调表达61条(33.9%),瞬时表达42条(23.3%)。选取其中152条差异表达TDFs进行回收测序,最终得到151个有效序列,其中上调表达68条(45%),下调表达50条(33.1%),瞬时表达33条(21.9%)。Blastx比对结果显示,112条TDFs序列与已知基因具有较高的相似度,涉及能量代谢、物质合成与运输、逆境响应、信号转导等多种途径,16条TDFs序列与功能未知或假定基因的同源性较高,其余23条TDFs序列与已知功能基因的同源性较低或零匹配,可能是一些新的铜胁迫应答基因。从151条TDFs选取4条TDFs,以小白菜actin基因为内参照,对其在不同胁迫处理时间的表达情况进行荧光定量RT-PCR验证,分析结果与cDNA-AFLP结果基本吻合,表明cDNA-AFLP技术是研究小白菜铜胁迫相关基因差异表达的有效方法。小白菜铜胁迫相关基因表达情况较为复杂,涉及多种代谢途径。本研究结果可为探讨小白菜铜胁迫的分子机理和相关基因的克隆提供理论依据。     

“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.