温度对红色型豌豆蚜生长发育和繁殖的世代累积效应

为了探明温度对红色型豌豆蚜的世代累积效应,为利用生态措施防治豌豆蚜提供理论依据,本研究在人工设置的5个温度条件下(12℃、17℃、22℃、25℃和28℃)调查了红色型豌豆蚜连续3代的生长发育、繁殖力及生命表等。研究结果表明:红色型豌豆蚜在12℃时F_2代的若虫期较F_0和F_1代分别缩短16.0%和6.8%,而22℃和25℃下若虫期在3代间无显著差异;12℃时世代历期在F_2代较F_0和F_1代分别缩短10.5%和12.4%,17℃、22℃和25℃条件下世代历期在3代间差异不显著。在12℃下红色型豌豆蚜F_2代平均产蚜量较F_0和F_1代降低;而在持续高温25℃条件下后代繁殖力下降幅度最大,F_1和F_2代平均产蚜量较F_0代分别下降49.3%和50.9%,22℃下F_1和F_2代产蚜量与F_0代无显著差异。连续饲养红色型豌豆蚜,其成蚜体重在12℃和25℃下受影响最小,体重在3代间无显著差异;22℃下F_1代成蚜体重显著高于F_0和F_2代,12℃时体质量增长率有随代数增加逐代增长的趋势。随世代数增加红色型豌豆蚜在12℃和25℃条件下净增殖力(R0)降低、平均世代周期(T)缩短;25℃时F_1和F_2代的内禀增长率(rm)和周限增长率(λ)都较F_0代显著增长。表明在连续较低温或较高温胁迫下,红色型豌豆蚜后代繁殖力下降,体重无明显变化,但发育历期缩短,内禀增长率和周限增长率增长,表现出极强的环境适应能力,这可能是其种群数量上升的原因之一。     

亚致死浓度毒死蜱和异丙威对禾谷缢管蚜试验种群的影响

禾谷缢管蚜[Rhopalosiphum padi(Linnaeus)]是重要的小麦害虫,毒死蜱和异丙威作为有效防治禾谷缢管蚜的杀虫剂,可以在致死浓度下直接杀死禾谷缢管蚜,其亚致死浓度也可能会引起禾谷缢管蚜生理和行为的改变。为明确亚致死浓度的毒死蜱和异丙威对禾谷缢管蚜试验种群的影响,本研究采用浸叶法分别测定了毒死蜱和异丙威对禾谷缢管蚜成蚜的毒力;并以含0.1%吐温-80的蒸馏水为对照,利用生命表技术分别研究了毒死蜱亚致死浓度(C-LC20和C-LC30)和异丙威亚致死浓度(I-LC20和I-LC30)对禾谷缢管蚜F0代和F1代种群生长发育和繁殖的影响。结果表明,C-LC20、C-LC30、I-LC20和I-LC30处理后,禾谷缢管蚜F0代成蚜寿命分别缩短14.03%、36.04%、12.01%和26.86%,产蚜量分别下降20.55%、42.27%、17.13%和26.00%,均显著低于对照种群;与对照相比,C-LC20、C-LC30、I-LC20和I-LC30处理后,禾谷缢管蚜F1代种群的若虫期分别延长1.51 d、1.92 d、0.9 d和1.19 d,成蚜寿命分别缩短21.62%、33.68%、15.51%和23.14%,产蚜量分别降低21.81%、37.4%、14.51%和29.29%,且F1代种群的内禀增长率rm、净生殖率R0、周限增长率λ以及总生殖率GRR都比对照降低,而F1代种群加倍时间Dt和平均世代周期T均延长。本研究结果显示,亚致死浓度的毒死蜱和异丙威能够降低禾谷缢管蚜种群的发育和繁殖速率,对禾谷缢管蚜种群具有明显的抑制作用。     

不同抗生素对豌豆蚜生物学特性的影响

为明确不同抗生素及其处理方式对绿色型豌豆蚜生物学特性的影响,将盐酸金霉素(chlortetracycline HCl)、氯霉素(chloraomycetin)、盐酸土霉素(oxytetracycline HCl)、青霉素G钾盐(penicillin-G K salt)和硫酸链霉素(streptomycin sulfate)5种抗生素分别按同时喷洒蚕豆植株和蚜虫虫体、只喷洒蚜虫虫体和只喷洒蚕豆植株3种方式处理,了解不同处理下豌豆蚜的发育历期、平均体重、体质量差、相对日均体质量增长率和平均产蚜量等生物学参数变化特征。结果表明:3种处理方式对绿色型豌豆蚜的生物学参数影响大小顺序为:同时喷洒植株和虫体处理喷洒植株处理喷洒虫体处理。5种抗生素对绿色型豌豆蚜的生物学参数影响大小顺序为:盐酸土霉素盐酸金霉素硫酸链霉素氯霉素青霉素G钾盐。经过喷洒蚜虫虫体和植株表面联合作用处理,土霉素对绿色型豌豆蚜的生长发育影响最大,若虫期延长2.25 d,整个世代周期延长3.70 d,体重减轻52.37%,体质量差减小55.84%,相对日均体质量增长率减小53.85%,产蚜量下降79.07%;金霉素处理表现为延长发育历期,青霉素、氯霉素和链霉素为缩短发育历期;经5种抗生素处理后的绿色型豌豆蚜体重均减轻,产蚜量下降。土霉素处理对绿色型豌豆蚜的若虫期、世代历期和相对日均体质量增长率的影响与其他4种抗生素差异显著(P0.05),土霉素和金霉素对平均体重和体重差的影响与其他3种抗生素差异显著(P0.05),但相互间差异不显著(P0.05)。经过喷洒植株表面的间接作用处理,土霉素对绿色型豌豆蚜的生长发育影响最大,若虫期龄期延长1.63 d,世代历期延长3.38 d,体重减轻50.28%,体质量差减小51.49%,相对日均体质量增长率减小41.67%,产蚜量下降75.45%;金霉素的影响作用次之,表现为延长发育历期;青霉素、氯霉素和链霉素为缩短发育历期。5种抗生素处理后绿色型豌豆蚜均体重减轻,产蚜量下降。土霉素处理对绿色型豌豆蚜的若虫期、平均体重和产蚜量的影响与其他4种抗生素差异显著(P0.05),土霉素和金霉素对世代历期和相对日均体质量增长率影响差异显著(P0.05),但相互间差异不显著(P0.05)。经过直接喷洒蚜虫虫体间接作用方式处理,土霉素对绿色型豌豆蚜的生长发育影响最大,若虫期延长0.34 d,体重减轻24.32%,相对日均体质量增长率减小26.32%,产蚜量下降44.23%,其他4种抗生素对绿色型豌豆蚜的生物学参数影响较小。土霉素处理对相对日均体质量增长率的影响与其他4种抗生素差异显著(P0.05),土霉素和金霉素对若虫期和产蚜量的影响与其他3种抗生素差异显著(P0.05),但相互间差异不显著(P0.05)。由不同抗生素的不同处理方式进行多重比较得知,对绿色型豌豆蚜生长发育影响较大的3种处理组合为:土霉素同时喷洒植株和虫体处理组合土霉素喷洒植株处理组合金霉素同时喷洒植株和虫体处理组合,3种作用处理间对绿色型豌豆蚜生物学特性影响差异不显著(P0.05),土霉素同时喷洒植株和虫体处理组合对生物学特性的影响与除土霉素喷洒植株处理组合和金霉素同时喷洒植株和虫体组合之外的其他组合处理差异显著(P0.05)。     

紫外线(UV-B)辐射对不同色型豌豆蚜生物学特性的影响

为了明确紫外线(UV-B)辐射对红色型和绿色型豌豆蚜生物学特性的影响,本研究将2种不同色型豌豆蚜的初生若蚜经过40 W UV-B波段紫外线每日照射30 min,在3种温度梯度(16℃、20℃、24℃)和2种苜蓿品种"甘农3号"和"甘农5号"条件下,在人工气候箱中单头饲养,测定各个处理豌豆蚜的发育历期、体质量差和相对日均体质量增长率等生物学参数。结果显示:在"甘农3号"上,16℃时,在UV-B辐射对2种色型豌豆蚜的发育历期、体质量差和日均体质量增长率均无显著影响(P>0.05);在20℃时,UV-B辐射下红色型豌豆蚜的发育历期显著延长(P<0.05),相对日均体质量增长率也显著减少(P<0.05),体质量差无显著变化(P>0.05);而在24℃时,UV-B辐射下绿色型豌豆蚜的发育历期显著延长(P<0.05),体质量差和相对日均体质量增长率也显著减少(P<0.05)。在"甘农5号"上,在16℃时,UV-B辐射下红色型豌豆蚜的发育历期显著延长(P<0.05),体质量差和相对日均体质量增长率也显著减少(P<0.05);在20℃和24℃时,UV-B辐射绿色型豌豆蚜的发育历期显著延长(P<0.05),体质量差和相对日均体质量增长率也显著减少(P<0.05)。由此可知,UV-B辐射对豌豆蚜的影响与温度和苜蓿品种均密切相关。     

光周期对两种色型豌豆蚜生长发育的影响

为探讨光周期对两种色型豌豆蚜生长发育的影响,本研究设定了低(103μmol-m-2-s-1)、中(212μmol-m-2-s-1)和高(313μmol-m-2-s-1)3个光照强度,3个光周期(10L∶14D、16L∶8D和22L∶2D),测定了两种色型豌豆蚜的龄期、发育历期、体重差、相对日均体重增长率等生物学参数的变化特征。结果表明:在低光照强度下,光周期10L∶14D时,绿色型比红色型豌豆蚜4龄期延长0.21 d(P0.05),发育历期延长,其他各项指标无显著差异(P0.05);光周期16L∶8D时,红色型比绿色型豌豆蚜3龄期延长0.52 d(P0.05),发育历期延长;光周期22L∶2D时,绿色型比红色型豌豆蚜2龄期、4龄期延长0.12 d、0.22 d,差异显著(P0.05),其他指标无显著差异(P0.05)。中光照强度下,光周期10L∶14D时,绿色型比红色型豌豆蚜体重差减轻6.76%,相对日均体重增长率减小14.63%,均为差异显著(P0.05),发育历期无显著差异(P0.05);光周期16L∶8D时,绿色型比红色型豌豆蚜1龄期、2龄期、4龄期延长0.23 d、0.60 d、0.33 d,发育历期延长,体重差减轻28.84%,相对日均体重增长率减小37.21%,均为差异显著(P0.05);光周期22L∶2D时,红色型比绿色型豌豆蚜相对日均体重增长率增高12%(P0.05)。高光照强度下,光周期10L∶14D时,绿色型比红色型豌豆蚜4龄期延长0.58 d(P0.05);光周期16L∶8D时,绿色型比红色型豌豆蚜1龄期延长1.63 d(P0.05);光周期22L∶2D时,红色型豌豆蚜发育历期延长,体重差和相对日均体重增长率无显著差异(P0.05)。综上,在不同光照强度下,光照时间越长,两种色型豌豆蚜生长发育越好;光照强度越强,光周期越短,两种色型豌豆蚜生长发育显著迟缓。由此可见,光周期对两种色型豌豆蚜生长发育的影响与光照强度相关,且红色和绿色型豌豆蚜对光周期的反应均不相同。     

西花蓟马孤雌产雄生殖繁育的后代种群生命表的建立

孤雌生殖是西花蓟马(Frankliniella occidentalis)繁殖的一种重要方式。前期研究发现,西花蓟马在高温下,雌性的存活率远大于雄性。为探究高温处理后仅有雌性西花蓟马孤雌产雄的情况下其后代建立种群的可能性,试验设定:高温(45℃,2 h)处理西花蓟马单个雌性个体,分别进行孤雌产雄生殖后,雄性子代(F1代)与其母系回交产生F2代;高温(45℃,2 h)处理西花蓟马多个雌性个体,进行孤雌产雄生殖后,雄性子代(F1代)与亲代多个雌性个体共存情况下进行交配产生F2代。两组处理模式下建立F2代实验种群生命表。结果表明,上述两种处理模式,母代雌性个体与子代雄性个体交配后均可产生后代,雄性F1代与其母系回交产生的F2代的雌雄性比为1.05∶1;与亲代多个雌性个体共存下交配产生的F2代性比为1.55∶1。雄性F1代与其母系回交产生的F2代的平均单雌产卵量(F)和内禀增长率(rm)显著小于与亲代多个雌性个体共存下交配产生的F2代(P0.05);各龄期的平均发育历期、平均产卵前期和平均总产卵前期2个繁殖力参数以及净生殖率(R0)、平均世代周期(T)2个种群参数,前者则比后者长(P0.05);另周限增长率(λ)两者之间无显著差异。研究表明西花蓟马在孤雌产雄状态下仍然可以在短期建立种群,具有较强的抗高温能力和繁殖能力,为其成功入侵奠定了生态学基础。     

不同光周期条件下绿色型豌豆蚜性蚜分化规律研究

为了明确豌豆蚜随光周期变化时的种群繁殖策略以及性蚜分化规律,在4个光周期(8L∶16D、10L∶14D、12L∶12D和14L∶10D)条件下,研究了绿色型豌豆蚜经光周期连续诱导2代后(G_1和G_2),后代(G3)中的性蚜分化情况。结果表明:兰州地区豌豆蚜性雌蚜均为无翅型,而雄蚜均为有翅型。光周期对豌豆蚜性蚜分化有显著影响(P0.05)。在14L∶10D光周期条件下,豌豆蚜后代中无性蚜分化;在12L∶12D、10L∶14D和8L∶16D 3个光周期条件下均有性蚜分化,而且随着光照时间的变短,豌豆蚜G_3中雄蚜所占百分比逐渐减小,性雌蚜所占百分比逐渐升高。在12L∶12D光周期条件下,雄蚜比例最高(30.39%),而性雌蚜比例最低(55.67%);在10L∶14D光周期条件下,G_3中胎生蚜比例最高,而性蚜比例最低;在8L∶16D光周期条件下,无雄蚜分化,而性雌蚜比例最高(90.76%)。在同一短光照条件下,G_1产仔日龄对G_3中性蚜分化具有显著影响(P0.05),同时性蚜分化具有一定的时间顺序,即先产性雌蚜,后产雄蚜,由性雌蚜向雄蚜过渡过程中伴随产生胎生蚜。表明绿色型豌豆蚜性蚜产生的临界光照时长介于12~14 h,相对较长的光照条件下有利于雄蚜产生,而光照时间越短性雌蚜比例越高。说明光周期变化是豌豆蚜生殖模式转变和性蚜分化的重要因子,而且豌豆蚜亲代经历光周期处理时间的长短影响后代中性蚜的分化。     

豌豆品种对绿色型豌豆蚜种群参数的影响

在(23±1)℃、光照时间16 h、相对湿度70%~80%人工气候箱条件下,研究了"草豌豆"、"定豌1号"、"定豌2号"、"G1997"4个豌豆品种对绿色型豌豆蚜种群变化的影响,旨在为种植豌豆时品种的选择提供理论依据。结果表明,在不同豌豆品种上绿色型豌豆蚜的各虫态发育历期和单雌一生最高产仔量均有显著差异,其在"G1997"上完成一生所需时间最长(17.92 d),在"草豌豆"上最短(12.69 d);其最高产仔量在"G1997"上最多,为117头.头1,在"草豌豆"上最少,为60头.头1。存活曲线均为Ⅰ型,存活率高低依次为"G1997"、"定豌2号"、"定豌1号"和"草豌豆";净增值率"定豌2号"、"定豌1号"、"G1997"、"草豌豆"相应分别为40.569 2、37.952 4、31.607 8、25.000 0;内禀增长率在"定豌1号"上最大,为0.275 8,而在"G1997"上最小,为0.188 6;种群加倍时间依次为"G1997"(3.675 0 d)、"定豌2号"(2.867 6 d)、"草豌豆"(2.729 8 d)和"定豌1号"(2.513 1 d);"定豌1号"是其最喜食的品种,其次为"定豌2号"、"草豌豆",最后是"G1997"。     

高毒效杀蚜球孢白僵菌菌株筛选

试验研究球孢白僵菌Beauveria bassiana4菌株“Bb7001”、“Bb7004”、“Bb8001”、“Bb4014”在21℃下对桃蚜Myzus persicae(Sulzer)的侵染致病力及对桃蚜生殖力和种群参数的影响,结果表明:在21℃下,球孢白僵菌对桃蚜的侵染致病力和对其生殖力及种群参数的影响在总体上基本一致,但三者在4菌株间也有一定差异,强弱依次为“Bb7001”>“Bb7004”>“Bb4014”>“Bb8001”;桃蚜接种不同浓度4菌株后在第3~5d达到死亡高峰期,lgLC50分别为3.67、4.34,4.52和4.48;接种球孢白僵菌4菌株106(孢子)/mL后,桃蚜成蚜的生殖力在第3d均与对照组桃蚜生殖力有显著差异,10d内日均产仔与对照蚜相比下降30.06%~50.00%;球孢白僵菌4菌株对桃蚜净生殖力有极显著降低作用,对内禀增长力也有一定的降低作用,接种4菌株后桃蚜净生殖力下降61.90%~72.73%,内禀增长力降低13.04%~41.58%,但对世代历期几乎没有影响。菌株“Bb7001”显示了较高的杀蚜毒效,可考虑作为防治桃蚜的首选菌株进行开发。     

UV-B对人工气候室内黄瓜苗期生长、生理及抗氧化系统的影响

紫外线(UV-B)是植物生长发育的关键信号因子.过量或缺少UV-B都会影响作物的抗性、产量和品质.然而,目前植物工厂中适宜黄瓜生长的UV-B强度尚不明确.以黄瓜(Cucumis sativus L.)苗期植株为材料,研究不同强度UV-B对人工气候室内黄瓜苗期植株生长、生理和抗氧化系统的影响.结果表明:与对照相比,UV-B处理黄瓜植株高度降低4.2%~32.0%,叶片中可溶性蛋白含量降低14.2%~28.2%.3.33μmol/(m2·s)UV-B处理植株茎粗增加13.6%~22.3%,叶片中可溶性糖的含量增加22.7%~56.7%,同时激活抗氧化系统,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性分别提高16.9%~23.2%,23.8%~25.9%,34.1%~50.4%,抗坏血酸含量增加27.4%~36.4%.由此可知,3.33μmol/(m2·s)UV-B有利于人工气候室中黄瓜苗期植株的生长发育、抗氧化酶活性提高及抗氧化物质生成.     

Agricultural potential of Mediterranean grain and forage legumes: Key differences between and within Vicia species in terms of phenology, yield, and agronomy give insight into plant adaptation to semi-arid environments

In order to identify key adaptive traits which affect productivity in Mediterranean grain and forage legumes and simultaneously determine the agricultural potential of a wide range of Vicia species, germplasm collected from the wild throughout the eastern Mediterranean was grown under semi-arid conditions in Tel Hadya, Syria (313 mm growing season rainfall). These included species currently in use in Mediterranean agriculture, such as V. sativa L., as well as those more widely used in the past-such as V. ervilia L., but also a broad selection from Section Narbonensis (B. Fedtsch. ex Radzhi) Maxted, including V. narbonensis L, V. johannis Tamamsch., V. hyaeniscyamus Mout., V. serratifolia Jacq., and V. kalakhensis Khattab et al. V. faba, a near relative of the taxa in Section Narbonensis, was included as a domesticated control. Where applicable, a representative range of subspecies was used. Accessions were chosen from a wide range of habitats in terms of latitude (31.02–40.72 decimal^o), longitude (27.1–43.17 decimal^o), altitude (20–1510 m), rainfall (180–1700 mm/yr) and soil depth (5–50 cm) in order to maximise diversity within species. Agricultural potential was determined by measuring seed, hay and biological yield, as well as agronomic traits such as harvest index, standing crop height, and seed size. The comparative influence of phenology and key agronomic traits such as plant habit and seed size on productivity varied tremendously between species, depending on their reproductive strategies. In V. sativa and V. ervilia, the smaller seed species which rely on long vegetative phases and growing seasons to accumulate sufficient biomass to set seed, and in which there was comparatively little agronomic variation, phenology had a large impact on yield. In early emerging taxa such as V. ervilia and V. s. subsp. sativa, with built-in long vegetative phases and growing seasons, seed yield was negatively correlated with flower ing (r = –0.86 to –0.88), whereas the opposite was the case for later emerging taxa such as V. s. subsp. nigra (L.) Ehrh. (r = 0.95). Within V. narbonensis and relatives, the larger seeded Vicia species which rely on more conservative reproductive strategies where high seedling vigour associated with large seeds enables the species to enter reproductive phases relatively early, phenology had a much smaller impact on yield than did variation of key traits such as seed weight, plant habit and pod shattering. Among the undomesticated germplasm harvest indices ranged from 0.09–0.31, hay yields from 0.1–3.4 t/ha, seed yield from 0–2.0 t/ha, and dry matter at maturity from 1.6–6.5 t/ha. Sub-specific taxonomy was crucial in determining agronomic potential. V. narbonensis var. aegyptiaca Kornhuber ex Asch. et Schweinf. showed the most potential, combining an upright habit, large seeds (212 mg) and tendency to retain intact pods after maturity, with the highest yield, harvest index and crop height of all the wild Vicia species. V. sativa subsp. sativa, V. ervilia and V. narbonensis var. narbonensis were less productive, but still showed agricultural potential. The smaller seeded V. narbonensis, var. affinis, var. jordanica H. Schäf. and var. salmonea (Mout.) H. Schäf., and their close relatives V. johannis, V. hyaeniscyamus, V. serratifolia and V. kalakhensis have little to offer Mediterranean agriculture on the basis of poor agronomy.     

On the Taxonomy of the Members of ‘Saccharum Complex’

The difficulty and problems encountered in the study of cultivated plants, in general and sugarcane, in particular has been indicated. In order to understand these problems, a brief review on the taxonomy of Saccharum and closely related taxa, namely, Erianthus, Sclerostachya, Narenga and Miscanthus (generally known as ‘Saccharum complex’) has been given. A short account on the important morphological features that are specific to sugarcane has also been stated as classification is commonly based on such morphological characters. A note has been added on the chromosome number, origin, and distribution of the species of ‘Saccharum complex’ members. Taxonomic keys have been devised for identification of the genera of Saccharinae and for the species of Saccharum and Erianthus occurring in India. A new combination, Sclerostachya fallax (Balansa) Amalraj et Balasundaram, has also been proposed.     

Polymorphism of high molecular weight glutenin subunits in three species of Aegilops

A collection of 136 accessions of Aegilops umbellulata (39), Ae. comosa (75) and Ae. markgrafii (22) was analysed for high-molecular-weight (HMW) glutenin subunits composition. The homogeneity of the accessions was studied and 55.1% of the collection was homogeneous for HMW glutenin subunits (29 Ae. umbellulata, 33 Ae. comosa and 14 Ae. markgrafii). The HMW glutenin subunits of Ae. umbellulata are encoded by the Glu-U1 locus; in Ae. comosa results showed that this proteins are encoded at the 1M chromosome, and the locus was named Glu-M1. In Ae. markgrafii it was assumed that HMW glutenin subunits were encoded by an homoeologous locus and it was named Glu-C1. All the accessions of Ae. umbellulata and Ae. markgrafii expressed both, x-type and y-type subunits. Among the Ae. comosa accessions, only one expressed an x-type subunit alone. All the accessions of Ae. umbellulata and some of Ae. comosa had x-type glutenins of higher molecular weights than those commonly present in bread wheat. A total of 8 alleles were detected at the Glu-U1 locus, 11 at the Glu-M1 and 4 at the Glu-C1. The new HMW glutenin variation found in this work suggests their possible utilisation in breeding for wheat quality.     

Genetic diversity of rhizobia associated with indigenous legumes in different regions of Flanders (Belgium)

We investigated the diversity of rhizobia isolated from different indigenous legumes in Flanders (Belgium). A total of 3810 bacterial strains were analysed originating from 43 plant species. Based on rep-PCR clustering, 16S rRNA gene and recA gene sequence analysis, these isolates belonged to Bradyrhizobium, Ensifer (Sinorhizobium), Mesorhizobium and Rhizobium. Of the genera encountered, Rhizobium was the most abundant (62%) and especially the species Rhizobiumleguminosarum, followed by Ensifer (19%), Bradyrhizobium (14%) and finally Mesorhizobium (5%). For two rep-clusters only low similarity values with other genera were found for both the 16S rRNA and recA genes, suggesting that these may represent a new genus with close relationship to Rhodopseudomonas and Bradyrhizobium. Primers for the symbiotic genes nodC and nifH were optimized and a phylogenetic sequence analysis revealed the presence of different symbiovars including genistearum, glycinearum, loti, meliloti, officinalis, trifolii and viciae. Moreover, three new nodC types were assigned to strains originating from Ononis, Robinia and Wisteria, respectively. Discriminant and MANOVA analysis confirmed the correlation of symbiosis genes with certain bacterial genera and less with the host plant. Multiple symbiovars can be present within the same host plant, suggesting the promiscuity of these plants. Moreover, the ecoregion did not contribute to the separation of the bacterial endosymbionts. Our results reveal a large diversity of rhizobia associated with indigenous legumes in Flanders. Most of the legumes harboured more than one rhizobial endosymbiont in their root nodules indicating the importance of including sufficient isolates per plant in diversity studies.     

Phylogenetic relationships of Actinidia and related genera based on micromorphological characters of foliar trichomes

The phylogenetic relationships within the genus Actinidia and among 3 allied genera Clematoclethra, Saurauia, and Sladenia have been very controversial. In order to understand the systematic implication of foliar trichomes in those genera, the micromorphological characteristics of foliar trichomes from 34 taxa were examined by means of light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The observed micromorphological characteristics were classified into eight main types. A phylogenetic analysis of Actinidia and related genera based on 15 micromorphological characters of foliar trichomes was conducted using Wagner parsimony method and Sladenia celastrifolia, Rhododendron hybridum and R. simsii as a complex outgroup. In the resulting phylogenetic tree, Actinidia is shown to be a monophyletic group, and Clematoclethra and Saurauia form another monophyletic group. This study also presents the phylogenetic relationships among 4 sections within the genus Actinidia: the monophyly of sect. Leiocarpae and of sect. Strigosae, and polyphyly of sect. Maculatae and of sect. Stellatae.     

Effect of agroforestry woody species on earthworm activity and physicochemical properties of worm casts

The effects of five agroforestry woody species (Dactyladenia barteri, Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala, Senna siamea andTreculia africana) on the surface aasting activity ofHyperiodrilus africanus were studied in an Alfisol (Oxic Paleustalf) in southwestern Nigeria. Casting activity under the woody species decreased in the following order:Dactyladenia sp. (26.4 Mg ha^-1 year^-1)>Gliricidia sp. (24.4 Mg ha^-1 year^-1)>Treculia sp. (22.9 Mg ha^-1 year^-1)>Leucaena sp. (18.6 Mg ha^-1 year^-1)>Senna sp. (18.3 Mg ha^-1 year^-1). These differences in casting activity were partly explained by microclimatic effects. Irrespective of the woody species, the worm casts were higher in clay and silt contents, bulk density, water-stable aggregates, pH, organic C, exchangeable cations, effective cation exchange capacity, and extractable P levels than the corresponding surface soils. The woody species did affect the physicochemical properties and P sorption of the worm casts. The content of water-stable aggregates of worm casts decreased in the following order:Dactyladenia sp.>Treculia sp.>Senna sp.>Leucaena sp.>Gliricidia sp. Large differences in extractable P levels were observed.Senna sp. was associated with the highest extractable P level (11.5 mg kg^-1) andTreculia sp. the lowest (4.9 mg kg^-1). P sorption was highest on worm casts underDactyladenia sp. and lowest on those underTreculia sp. Without fertilizer application, there were no significant differences in the dry weight of maize grown in the different worm casts. With NPK applications, the dry weight of maize grown in worm casts associated withTreculia sp. was significantly lower than that of maize grown in the other worm casts, mainly due to the low extractable P level. Despite a high organic C and exchangeable K status, maize grown in the worm casts still responded significantly to N and K applications. The N uptake by maize grown in worm casts associated withTreculia sp. was lower than that in the other treatments.     

Diversity of native rice (Oryza Poaceae:) species of Costa Rica

We found several populations of wild Oryza species in the lowlands of Costa Rica. The plants showed extensive morphological variation, suggesting the presence of several species. In the morphologic study, 33 traits were scored for plants of all the species. A principal component analysis revealed the significant morphological separation of the different species. The analyses indicated that there are three species, O. grandi­glumis, O. latifolia and O. glumaepatula. Two putative hybrid types were found, both significantly differing in their morphology from the known species and intermediate at several traits. O. grandi­glumis is a new record for Costa Rican flora. Its main population is located in Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, Los Chiles, Alajuela. O. latifolia is distributed throughout the lowlands of the country and the plants of the Atlantic slope are significantly bigger in general habit than those of the Guanacaste area. During this study a population of O. glumaepatula of hundreds of thousands of plants was discovered in the Medio Queso River wetland, Los Chiles, Alajuela. This population is the most important source of genes for cultivar's improvement from the primary gene pool of rice in Costa Rica. The small ligule and the wide flag leaf characteristic of the two CCDD species separated them from the AA diploid O. glumaepatula. Seed size, ligule size, number of branches in the panicle, plant height and sterile lemma length are all bigger in O. grandi­glumis, and influenced the second factor that separated the CCDD species in two discrete clusters. The species found offer great possibilities for the improvement of rice cultivars and they should be thoroughly studied and appropriately protected.     

Effect of passage through the intestinal tract of detritivore earthworms (Lumbricus spp.) on the number of selected Gram-negative and total bacteria

Laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate the fate of bacteria during and after passage through the intestinal tract of detritivore earthworms. Earthworms (Lumbricus spp.) were fed with cattle dung inoculated 7 days previously with one of five different Gram-negative bacteria. Bacterial concentrations were determined 2 days later in dung and soil, and in gut material from different parts of the earthworm intestinal tract. A high percentage (28–82%) of the total bacteria (epifluorescence direct counts) in the earthworm gut content was culturable. The concentration of total heterotrophic aerobic bacteria did not vary significantly among the five different bacterial additions and the non-inoculated control. In earthworm casts the number of total heterotrophs per gram dry matter (2.1×10⁹) was higher than in soil (1.7×10⁸), but lower than in the dung (1.5×10¹⁰). The test-bacteria, however, showed different survival patterns along the earthworm intestinal tract. The concentrations of Escherichia coli BJ 18 and Pseudomonas putida MM 1 and MM 11 in earthworm casts were lower than in the ingested dung, while concentrations of Enterobacter cloacae A 107 and Aeromonas hydrophila DMU 115 in dung and casts were similar. Ent. cloacae, and to aminor extent E. coli, were reduced in numbers by several orders of magnitude in the pharynx and/or crop. In the hind gut, however, the concentration of Ent. cloacae had increased to the same level as in the ingested dung, while the concentration of E. coli remained low. Our observations indicate that the bacterial flora of ingested food materials changes qualitatively and quantitatively during gut transit.