AMF和间作对作物产量和坡耕地土壤径流氮磷流失的影响

坡耕地氮、磷流失是导致河湖污染的主要因子。该文在坡耕地开展田间小区试验,定量研究了丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)与玉米大豆间作系统对径流氮、磷流失的协同削减贡献,可为滇池流域农业面源污染控制提供科学理论依据。结果表明,与单作玉米-抑菌处理相比,间作玉米-未抑菌处理显著提高了玉米的生物量;与单作-抑菌处理相比,玉米大豆间作-未抑菌处理均显著增加了植株茎叶、籽粒磷吸收量及茎叶、根系氮吸收量。与单作玉米-抑菌处理相比,间作玉米-未抑菌处理的土壤全磷、全氮的削减量分别为0.25、0.11 g/kg,径流总磷、总氮浓度的削减量分别为0.13、12.94 mg/L;与单作大豆-抑菌处理相比,间作大豆-未抑菌处理的土壤全磷、全氮的削减量分别为0.07、0.11g/kg,径流总磷、总氮浓度的削减量分别为0.27、24.80mg/L。与单作大豆-抑菌处理相比,玉米大豆间作-未抑菌处理的总磷、总氮流失量分别减少了0.51、19.93 kg/hm~2。经相关分析可知,径流颗粒态磷浓度与植株各部分磷吸收量均呈负相关,且与土壤全磷、速效磷含量也呈负相关性;径流各形态氮浓度与植株各部分氮吸收量、菌丝密度和球囊霉素均呈负相关。可见,丛枝菌根真菌协同玉米大豆间作模式能够通过促进植株对氮、磷养分的吸收而减少土壤氮、磷的残留,进而阻控了氮磷随径流迁移的损失。     

间作作物菌根菌丝对红壤磷形态的影响

丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)在植物与土壤系统中扮演着重要的角色,能促进寄主植物对养分尤其是磷(P)的吸收。间作在提高土壤P素利用及增产增收等方面具有重要作用。本研究通过三室隔网分室盆栽模拟试验,在玉米/大豆间作种植体系下,对菌丝室进行不同形态P处理[不施P(P0)、施用无机磷(IOP50)、施用有机磷(OP50)],同时在根室进行不同AMF处理[不接种(NM)、接种Funneliformis mosseae(FM)],研究了不同外源形态P添加和AMF处理下,菌根作物对菌丝室红壤中不同形态P吸收利用的影响。结果表明:与单作-FM-IOP50处理相比,间作-FM-IOP50处理下的玉米P吸收量显著增加150.2%,大豆P吸收量增加24.5%;除大豆单作-P0处理外,接种FM均明显降低菌丝室土壤有效磷含量。除大豆单作-FM处理外,施用IOP50使土壤有效磷含量在单作条件下最高,而在间作条件下则最低。对红壤P形态的分级结果表明,接种AMF均一定程度增加了Ca_2-P、Al-P、Org-P、O-Al-P、Ca_(10)-P的含量,而间作则显著提高了作物对土壤Ca_2-P、Fe-P的吸收;相比其他处理,土壤Ca_2-P、Org-P、O-Al-P含量在间作-FM-IOP50组合处理下较高(P0.05)。相关分析显示,Ca_2-P与玉米植株P吸收量呈显著负相关,而O-Al-P与大豆植株P吸收量呈显著负相关。总之,接种FM、磷肥施用与间作均在一定程度上促进了宿主作物对P的吸收累积。其中间作-FM-IOP50组合是促进间作玉米生长、P素吸收及Ca_2-P、Org-P、O-Al-P增加的最佳组合,通过促进无机磷的活化而改善作物对P素的吸收利用,有效削减土壤P素的残留,若将其应用于滇池流域,可望减少P素的流失。     

接种丛枝菌根真菌的种植紫花苜蓿土壤中球囊霉素含量与PAHs去除的关系

以菲和芘为多环芳烃(PAHs)代表物,以紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa L.)为宿主植物,选用幼套球囊霉(Glomus etunicatum,Ge)、摩西球囊霉(Glomus mosseae,Gm)和层状球囊霉(Glomus lamellosum,Gla)3种丛枝菌根真菌(AMF),研究了接种AMF下土壤中AMF菌丝密度、球囊霉素含量与PAHs去除率的关系。35~75 d,接种Ge、Gm、Gla处理的土壤中菌丝密度、总球囊霉素含量、易提取球囊霉素含量均随时间延长而显著增大,与不接种对照相比,75 d时接种Ge、Gm、Gla处理的土壤中易提取球囊霉素含量提高了48.58%、55.99%和50.23%,总球囊霉素含量则提高了38.75%、50.95%和46.12%。接种AMF促进了土壤中菲和芘的去除,随着时间(35~75 d)延长,接种Ge、Gm、Gla处理的土壤中菲去除率分别高达83.4%~92.7%、82.1%~93.8%、86.9%~93.4%,芘去除率达42.2%~63.5%、43.7%~69.2%、44.6%~66.4%。接种Ge、Gm和Gla处理土壤中AMF菌丝密度、总球囊霉素含量均与土壤中菲和芘的去除率之间存在极显著正相关关系,表明接种AMF提高了土壤中AMF菌丝密度和总球囊霉素含量,并促进了土壤中PAHs的去除。研究结果为阐明丛枝菌根修复PAHs污染土壤的规律及机理提供了依据。     

接种丛枝菌根真菌配合氮肥减施对辣椒–大豆间作体系氮素吸收的影响

【目的】叶菜及经济效益较高的茄果类如辣椒、番茄等占云南省设施蔬菜栽培面积的62.19%,蔬菜连作以及氮肥的大量施用制约了设施蔬菜高产优质,降低了土壤质量。研究接种丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)和氮水平对作物生长、土壤氮残留及生物相关特性的影响,为提高设施蔬菜产量,减少氮肥施用量,降低土壤氮残留提供理论依据。【方法】以大豆和辣椒间作为种植模式进行盆栽试验。设计了接种AMF、氮肥用量、种植模式三因素试验。在大豆、辣椒单作、大豆辣椒间作3个种植模式下,分别设3个施氮(N)水平：0、100、200 mg/kg土(N0、N1、N2);每个氮水平下,再设土壤不接种、接种AMF菌剂处理(NM、AMF),共组成18个处理。在蔬菜收获期,取样测定蔬菜生物量、根系长度、AMF侵染率,测定根际土壤硝态氮、铵态氮含量、氮代谢酶活性以及菌丝密度。【结果】接种AMF、施氮量、种植模式及三者的交互作用对辣椒和大豆根系AMF侵染率、植株生物量和根长的影响都达到显著水平(P<0.01)。N1处理显著增加了辣椒、大豆根系的菌根侵染率,且在间作条件下的增幅最高;N1处理下,接种AMF和间作均显著增加了辣椒、大豆植株生物量和氮...     

丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)对玉米/蚕豆和玉米/稗草互作体系植物生长的反馈调节

【目的】丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,简称AMF)对农田生态系统中作物的生长起着重要作用。不同宿主植物和作物种植方式对土壤中菌根真菌具有一定的选择性,从而影响菌根真菌对后茬植物生长的反馈效应。间作体系是农业生产中增产增效的一种重要的种植模式,明确AMF在间作体系中对植物生长的反馈作用,对理解间作体系地上-地下相互作用具有重要的意义。【方法】本试验采用三种常见的AMF(Funneliformis mosseae、Rhizophagus intraradices和Claroideoglomus claroideum)混合接种剂,在单作(玉米,蚕豆,稗草)和间作(玉米/蚕豆和玉米/稗草)条件下,通过两个阶段(AMF驯化及反馈)的反馈试验,模拟研究了三种植物在单作和间作中的反馈强度及AMF的调节作用。【结果】在驯化阶段,玉米/稗草间作体系中,与单作相比,间作玉米地上部生物量减少了64.0%,间作稗草地上部生物量增加了47.8%。玉米/蚕豆间作体系中,与单作相比,两者作物地上部生物量增量分别达21.7%和38.3%。反馈阶段中,单作时,与灭菌处理相比接种AMF后玉米、稗草和蚕豆的地上部生物量分别增加602.3%、 80.6%和21.1%; 间作时,与灭菌处理相比接种AMF后玉米地上部生物量平均增加613.1%,稗草增加80.7%, 蚕豆增加21.4%。单作玉米存在负到零反馈作用,与灭菌处理相比,接种AMF后玉米负反馈作用减弱至零反馈作用。从单作到间作,玉米的反馈作用由负变为零到正反馈作用。【结论】玉米和稗草之间是竞争关系,玉米处于竞争弱势稗草处于竞争优势。玉米对AMF的响应最为强烈,其次是稗草,最后是蚕豆。接种AMF或与其它植物间作后均减弱玉米的负反馈作用,表明丛枝菌根真菌可通过减弱单作玉米的负反馈实现间作增产。     

丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)对玉米/蚕豆和玉米/稗草互作体系植物生长的反馈调节

【目的】丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,简称AMF)对农田生态系统中作物的生长起着重要作用。不同宿主植物和作物种植方式对土壤中菌根真菌具有一定的选择性,从而影响菌根真菌对后茬植物生长的反馈效应。间作体系是农业生产中增产增效的一种重要的种植模式,明确AMF在间作体系中对植物生长的反馈作用,对理解间作体系地上-地下相互作用具有重要的意义。【方法】本试验采用三种常见的AMF(Funneliformis mosseae、Rhizophagus intraradices和Claroideoglomus claroideum)混合接种剂,在单作(玉米,蚕豆,稗草)和间作(玉米/蚕豆和玉米/稗草)条件下,通过两个阶段(AMF驯化及反馈)的反馈试验,模拟研究了三种植物在单作和间作中的反馈强度及AMF的调节作用。【结果】在驯化阶段,玉米/稗草间作体系中,与单作相比,间作玉米地上部生物量减少了64.0%,间作稗草地上部生物量增加了47.8%。玉米/蚕豆间作体系中,与单作相比,两者作物地上部生物量增量分别达21.7%和38.3%。反馈阶段中,单作时,与灭菌处理相比接种AMF后玉米、稗草和蚕豆的地上部生物量分别增加602.3%、80.6%和21.1%;间作时,与灭菌处理相比接种AMF后玉米地上部生物量平均增加613.1%,稗草增加80.7%,蚕豆增加21.4%。单作玉米存在负到零反馈作用,与灭菌处理相比,接种AMF后玉米负反馈作用减弱至零反馈作用。从单作到间作,玉米的反馈作用由负变为零到正反馈作用。【结论】玉米和稗草之间是竞争关系,玉米处于竞争弱势稗草处于竞争优势。玉米对AMF的响应最为强烈,其次是稗草,最后是蚕豆。接种AMF或与其它植物间作后均减弱玉米的负反馈作用,表明丛枝菌根真菌可通过减弱单作玉米的负反馈实现间作增产。     

接种丛枝菌根真菌的种植紫花苜蓿土壤中球囊霉素含量与去除的关系

以菲和芘为多环芳烃（PAHs）代表物,以紫花苜蓿（Medicago sativa L.）为宿主植物,选用幼套球囊霉（Glomus etunicatum, Ge）、摩西球囊霉（Glomus mosseae,Gm）和层状球囊霉（Glomus lamellosum,Gla）3种丛枝菌根真菌（AMF）,研究了接种AMF下土壤中AMF菌丝密度、球囊霉素含量与PAHs去除率的关系。35~75 d,接种Ge、Gm、Gla处理的土壤中菌丝密度、总球囊霉素含量、易提取球囊霉素含量均随时间延长而显著增大,与不接种对照相比,75 d时接种Ge、Gm、Gla处理的土壤中易提取球囊霉素含量提高了48.58%、55.99%和50.23%,总球囊霉素含量则提高了38.75%、50.95%和46.12%。接种AMF促进了土壤中菲和芘的去除,随着时间（35~75 d）延长,接种Ge、Gm、Gla处理的土壤中菲去除率分别高达83.4%~92.7%、82.1%~93.8%、86.9%~93.4%,芘去除率达42.2%~63.5%、43.7%~69.2%、44.6%~66.4%。接种Ge、Gm和Gla处理土壤中AMF菌丝密度、总球囊霉素含量均与土壤中菲和芘的去除率之间存在极显著正相关关系,表明接种AMF提高了土壤中AMF菌丝密度和总球囊霉素含量,并促进了土壤中PAHs的去除。研究结果为阐明丛枝菌根修复PAHs污染土壤的规律及机理提供了依据。     

玉米间作马铃薯对根际土壤酶活性及团聚体稳定性的影响

[目的]阐明影响水稳性团聚体稳定性的主要因素,为云南省红壤坡耕地综合治理提供科技支撑。[方法]设置玉米单作、马铃薯单作、玉米与马铃薯间作3个处理,分析了间作对作物根际土壤养分含量、酶活性、球囊霉素相关土壤蛋白(GRSP)含量、团聚体组成和稳定性的影响,以及对作物的农艺性状及产量的影响。[结果](1)相比于单作,玉米与马铃薯间作不仅能使马铃薯根际土壤中的有机质、速效磷含量分别显著增加了13.53%,46.53%(p<0.05),而且能使两种作物根际土壤的总球囊霉素相关土壤蛋白(T-GRSP)和易提取球囊霉素相关土壤蛋白(EE-GRSP)含量均有增加趋势,其中玉米的差异性达显著水平(p<0.05)。(2)相比于单作,玉米与马铃薯间作可以显著增加两种作物根际土壤的脲酶、酸性磷酸酶和过氧化氢酶活性,以及>0.25 mm水稳性团聚体含量(R_0.25)和平均质量直径(MWD)值(p<0.05),玉米的增幅为17.63%～41.29%,马铃薯的增幅为10.81%～34.79%。(3)相比于单作,玉米与马铃薯间作均可显著增加两种作物的地上部和根系的干重(p...     

土著AMF与玉米/大豆间作对红壤径流氮形态变化的响应

为了研究土著丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, AMF)与间作模式对坡耕地红壤径流氮形态变化的响应,通过自然降雨条件下的径流小区模拟试验,设置不同种植模式(单作玉米、玉米/大豆间作、单作大豆)和不同菌根处理(抑菌(喷施苯菌灵)、未抑菌)进行研究。根据2017年6—9月采集的6次径流水样,分析比较菌根与间作复合处理下径流氮形态变化迁移特征。结果表明:在6次取样时间内,地表径流总氮浓度呈先上升后下降的趋势,硝态氮浓度呈先上升后下降再上升的趋势,而铵态氮浓度则表现出整体下降的趋势,并趋于平缓。所有复合处理中,间作-未抑菌处理的径流总氮浓度最低,较单作玉米-抑菌与单作大豆-抑菌处理显著降低35.0%和42.1%。无论何种种植模式,未抑菌处理的径流硝态氮浓度均明显低于抑菌处理,其中间作-未抑菌处理的径流硝态氮浓度较抑菌处理下的单作玉米与单作大豆处理显著降低,降幅分别为26.2%和33.9%。无论是否抑菌,间作处理的径流铵态氮浓度均低于单作玉米与单作大豆处理,间作-未抑菌处理下其浓度最低,较单作玉米-抑菌与单作大豆-抑菌处理明显降低34.8%和28.2%。由此可见,土著AMF与玉米/大豆间作对径流氮流失具有一定的协同削减潜力。     

外源钙与丛枝菌根真菌协同对玉米生长的影响与土壤改良效应

为了缓解煤炭开采对神东矿区农业生产和地表环境造成的破坏,试验模拟神东矿区干旱缺水特点,以煤炭开采塌陷区退化土壤为供试基质,玉米为供试植物,研究丛枝菌根真菌(每克干土中含63个孢子)和不同浓度的外源钙(5,10,20,40,80mmol/L)协同效应对中度干旱胁迫下苗期玉米生长的影响。结果表明,干旱胁迫下,20mmol/L外源钙与丛枝菌根真菌协同效应最优,玉米质量平均每株可达4.03g,组织含水率和叶色值分别达到91.68%和43.67,玉米植株内氮磷钾累积量显著高于其他处理;同时,玉米根际土壤球囊霉素相关蛋白增加最为明显,总球囊霉素和易提取球囊霉素分别达到4.3和1.6mg/g,根际土壤中有机质含量增加明显。丛枝菌根真菌与外源钙联合作用有利于玉米的生长,缓解了干旱胁迫对苗期玉米生长的影响,接种丛枝菌根真菌对矿区退化土壤具有显著改良效应。     

“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.