棉花早期光诱导蛋白基因GhELIP1序列及表达分析

植物早期光诱导蛋白(ELIP)参与到植物逆境胁迫响应和果实成熟过程中。对棉花Gh ELIP1基因进行了研究分析,发现该基因全长582 bp,编码193个氨基酸,属于叶绿素a/b结合蛋白超家族。系统发育关系分析表明,Gh ELIP1蛋白与棉花中的其他4个ELIP蛋白亲缘关系最近,其次是可可。表达分析表明,Gh ELIP1基因在衰老叶片中的表达量最高,表明Gh ELIP1基因参与棉花叶片的衰老调控。该研究结果可为在棉花中进一步阐明Gh ELIP1基因的功能奠定基础,为棉花生物技术和分子育种提供优异的基因资源。     

白菜WRKY转录因子cDNA全长的克隆及分析

参照拟南芥WRKY转录因子基因保守序列设计引物，利用RT-PCR及RACE技术克隆了白菜WRKY转录因子基因cDNA全长，命名为BcWRKY1 (GenBank登录号为AY836002)。序列分析发现，白菜BcWRKY1基因核苷酸序列长980bp，推导的氨基酸序列编码285个氨基酸残基，与拟南芥AtWRKY18 氨基酸序列的同源性为74%，与拟南芥AtWRKY60同源性为59%；与其它植物WRKY基因的同源性则较低。Southern杂交显示该基因在白菜基因组中为单拷贝。半定量RT-PCR分析表明，用2mmol/L的水杨酸处理后2h~8h，以及用霜霉病菌接种后6h~12h，白菜BcWRKY1基因的表达量最高。     

小麦耐热相关转录因子基因TabZIP28的分离及功能分析

碱性亮氨酸拉链(basic leucine zipper,bZIP)是植物中广泛存在的一类转录因子,参与多种胁迫响应与生长发育过程.本研究从小麦(Triticum aestivum)中克隆到一个热胁迫诱导的bZIP家族转录因子基因TabZIP28 (GenBank登录号:KT753298.1),ORF长度为1 713 bp,编码570个氨基酸.生物信息学分析结果表明,TabZIP28与拟南芥bZIP家族转录因子中B亚组的3个基因Atb ZIP17、AtbZIP28和AtbZIP49归为一类.氨基酸序列比对结果表明,该蛋白具有bZIP和跨膜结构域(transmembrane domain,TMD)两个保守结构域以及规范的位点1蛋白酶(site 1 protease,S1P)剪切位点.对该基因起始密码子ATG上游1 699bp的序列进行顺式作用元件分析,发现该基因的启动子区域包含众多激素和逆境胁迫响应元件.通过qRT-PCR对该基因在逆境胁迫下的表达模式进行分析,结果表明,TabZIP28在热胁迫处理1h即上调表达且达到最大值;用20％PEG 6000模拟干旱环境处理小麦幼苗后,TabZIP28在处理6h达到最大值,并在12h时急剧下降;对5mmol/L H2O2处理响应比较缓慢,在处理12h才上调表达;该基因不受到二硫苏糖醇(dithiothreitol,DTT)处理的诱导表达.在拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)中过量表达TabZIP28基因,转基因株系在高温胁迫后的成活率和种子发芽率较野生型明显提高,说明该基因可能对植物的耐热性有贡献,可以作为耐热性育种的候选基因.     

外源NO对棉胚珠离体培养色素积累和纤维发育的影响

为探究外源NO对棉花色素合成和纤维发育的影响,以棕色棉和白色棉花后2 d的胚珠为材料,利用NO供体硝普钠(SNP)处理棉纤维,测定纤维发育中的相关生理生化指标及与色素合成相关基因的表达量。结果表明,100μmol·L-1SNP处理促进了棕色棉胚珠鲜质量的增加和白色棉纤维的伸长;DMACA染色显示,原花青素(PAs)分布在棕色棉胚珠种皮和纤维中,而白色棉则仅在种皮中存在;外源NO促进了白色棉和棕色棉胚珠纤维中总黄酮和PAs的合成,但抑制了棕色棉纤维素的合成;色素合成关键酶基因(Gh CHS、Gh F3H、Gh DFR、Gh ANS、Gh ANR)在离体过程中整体呈下降趋势,但SNP处理上调了棕色棉中各基因的表达;外源NO促进了棕色棉胚珠纤维中Gh TT12的表达;外源NO在纤维发育早期(10 DAC、15 DAC)抑制了棕色棉胚珠纤维中Gh Exp1的表达,促进了白色棉胚珠纤维中Gh Exp1的表达。本研究结果为进一步揭示外源NO对棉花色素合成和纤维发育提供了参考。     

中间锦鸡儿CiDREB1C基因增强转基因拟南芥抵抗非生物胁迫的能力

中间锦鸡儿(Caragana intermedia)是广泛分布于我国西北干旱、半干旱荒漠区的防风固沙先锋树种,具有极强的抗逆性和饲用价值。本课题组从前期建立的干旱处理的中间锦鸡儿转录组数据库中分离到1个脱水响应元件结合蛋白(dehydration responsive element binding protein, DREB)转录因子编码基因片段,为了检测CiDREB1C基因的抗旱和抗冷能力,本研究首先利用qRT-PCR技术检测中间锦鸡儿中CiDREB1C基因在冷和干旱胁迫下的表达水平,发现均有上升(P0.01)。为了验证该基因的功能,本研究利用PCR技术获得了CiDREB1C基因全长(GenBank No. MG748598),并将其构建入植物过表达载体pCanG-HA,通过农杆菌介导法转化野生型拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana),获得了超表达CiDREB1C的转基因拟南芥纯合体。不同胁迫处理结果显示:甘露醇处理下,转基因拟南芥丙二醛的含量显著低于野生型(P0.01),叶绿素含量明显高于野生型(P0.01),表现出明显的抗旱表型;冷胁迫处理后,过表达株系叶绿素含量明显高于野生型(P0.01);黑暗处理下,过表达株系叶片衰老延迟,细胞死亡较野生型少,叶绿素含量显著高于野生型(P0.01)。上述结果说明,CiDREB1C基因提高了转基因拟南芥对多种胁迫的耐受性。本研究结果为进一步研究CiDREB1C基因在抗逆中的功能及中间锦鸡儿的抗逆分子作用机理提供依据。     

Ghppo1基因在棉花防御中的表达及功能分析

诱导型抗性在植物防御植食性昆虫过程中起到重要作用,植物可通过基因和信号通路调控植物与害虫之间的互作。本研究以转Bt+Cp TI(苏云金芽胞杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis)+豇豆胰蛋白酶抑制剂(cowpea trypsin inhibitor))基因的抗虫棉品种中棉所41为材料,使用定量PCR分别测定棉铃虫(Helicoverpa armigera)危害、喷施茉莉酸甲酯(methyl jasmonate,Me-JA)和水杨酸甲酯(methyl salicylate,Me-SA)等处理0、6、12、18和24h后,棉花Ghppo1(Gossypium hirsutum polyphenol oxidases 1)基因、茉莉酸途径关键基因Gh AOS(Gossypium hirsutum allene oxide synthase)、Gh COI1(Gossypium hirsutum coronatine insensitive1)表达量变化。交互取食试验测定1龄棉铃虫诱导及茉莉酸甲酯诱导18 h后棉花饲喂3龄棉铃虫与甜菜夜蛾(Spodoptera exigua)虫重变化。以了解棉花Ghppo1基因在棉花诱导型抗性及棉花-棉铃虫互作关系中的作用。结果表明,1龄棉铃虫取食以及喷施Me-JA能够诱导棉花Ghppo1基因表达量显著升高,而3龄棉铃虫取食及喷施Me-SA不能诱导棉花Ghppo1基因表达量升高。此外棉花多酚氧化酶(polyphenol oxidases,PPOs)同样受1龄棉铃虫取食和茉莉酸甲酯诱导,而不受3龄棉铃虫和水杨酸甲酯诱导。1龄棉铃虫取食能够诱导茉莉酸途径关键基因Gh AOS和Gh COI1表达量显著上升。交互取食试验结果表明1龄棉铃虫诱导后的棉花植株能够抑制3龄棉铃虫及甜菜夜蛾的生长发育。棉花Ghppo1基因受茉莉酸途径而不受水杨酸途径调控,棉花Ghppo1基因参与棉花对棉铃虫的诱导型抗性反应。本实验结果表明,1龄棉铃虫可明显提高棉花对棉铃虫及甜菜夜蛾的抗性,棉花Ghppo1基因在棉花对棉铃虫与甜菜夜蛾抗性中发挥重要作用。     

高精料日粮饲喂诱导泌乳奶牛发生乳脂抑制的机制

高精料饲喂导致奶牛乳脂率降低的相关机制目前还不清楚.本研究通过探究高精料饲喂对肝脏内乳脂前体代谢的影响,揭示奶牛(Bos taurus)发生乳脂抑制的相关机制,将10头泌乳期(25+5)d荷斯坦奶牛随机分为2组,分别饲喂精粗比4∶6(对照组)和6∶4(实验组)日粮.饲喂20周后实施肝脏血管瘘手术,护理4周,进行如下实验:1)统计奶牛产奶量,每周测定乳成分;2)采集空腹进出肝脏血液,检测甘油三酯(triglyceride,TAG)和游离脂肪酸(free fatty acid,FFA)的含量;3)活体穿刺取肝脏组织,qRT-PCR检测肝脏中脂代谢相关基因的表达.结果表明,高精料饲喂6～l8周可提高产奶量,18周后乳脂率显著降低(P＜0.05).高精料组奶牛肝脏TAG和FFA的净输出含量显著(P＜0.05)或极显著降低(P＜0.01);肝脏中参与脂肪酸合成代谢的固醇调节元件结合蛋白-lc基因(sterol regulating element binding protein-1 c,SREBP-1c)、乙酰辅酶A羧化酶基因(acetyl-coa carboxylase,ACC)和脂肪酸合成酶基因(fatty acid synthetase,FAS)表达显著(P＜0.05)或极显著(P＜0.01)下调;参与脂肪酸分解代谢的过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体α基因(peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor α,PPARα)和肉毒碱棕榈酰转移酶-1基因(carnitine palmitoyltransterase-1,CPT-1)表达显著上调(P＜0.05).高精料饲喂导致奶牛肝脏脂肪酸合成代谢减弱而分解代谢增强,肝脏内乳脂前体物发生重分配,乳脂前体物输出减少,影响了乳脂合成.本研究揭示了高精料饲喂导致奶牛乳脂率降低的机制,为改善奶牛乳脂率提供了理论基础.     

葡萄WRKY54基因克隆及表达特性分析

为了探究葡萄WRKY54基因的功能,以抗盐葡萄品种Vidal Blanc为材料,采用同源克隆法克隆得到Vv WRKY54基因,并对其进行生物信息学和表达特性分析。结果表明,Vv WRKY54基因c DNA序列为942 bp,编码313个氨基酸。生物信息学分析结果表明,Vv WRKY54蛋白分子量约为35.3091 k Da,等电点为5.45,不稳定系数为55.03,推测其为不稳定蛋白,与已知毛果杨及拟南芥WRKY54蛋白高度同源;亚细胞定位预测结果显示其主要存在于细胞核中。实时荧光定量PCR分析表明,Vv WRKY54在葡萄不同组织中均有表达,其中在梢尖中表达量最高;盐和低温等逆境胁迫因子均能诱导Vv WRKY54上调表达;此外,Vv WRKY54受水杨酸和一氧化氮诱导上调表达,其中水杨酸诱导Vv WRKY54相对表达量在12 h达到最大值,约为对照的50倍。推测Vv WRKY54在植物发育和抵御逆境胁迫中起着重要作用,这为进一步阐明Vv WRKY54的功能及作用机制奠定了分子基础。     

棉花转录因子基因(GhMYB11)的克隆与表达分析

MYB基因家族在植物应对外界生物和非生物胁迫的过程中有重要的调控作用.本研究利用二倍体雷蒙德氏棉(Gossypium raimondii)基因组数据库,从陆地棉(G.hirsutum)品种鲁棉研32号中克隆到一个新的MYB转录因子GhMYB111(GenBank登录号:HQ234875.1),Cdna全长1 001 bp,开放阅读框828bp.通过与模式植物拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)和主要作物小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)、玉米(Zea mays L.)、水稻(Oryza sativa L.) MYB蛋白的氨基酸序列比对发现,GhMYB 11蛋白与拟南芥中脱落酸(abscisic acid,ABA)合成和信号传导的重要基因AtMYB13/14编码的蛋白高度相似(E值分别为7e-83和1e-90),含两个高度保守的MYB结构域R2R3及一个转录激活结构域.实时定量PCR分析发现,GhMYB 11基因在黄萎病菌(Verticillium dahliae)侵染、干旱、盐和氧化胁迫处理后的棉花幼苗叶片中表达显著上调.GhMYB11基因可能在棉花生物和非生物胁迫反应中起重要调控作用,是陆地棉品种抗逆性遗传改良的重要候选基因.本研究为利用基因工程手段提高棉花抗逆性提供了基础材料     

盐生杜氏藻β-胡萝卜素羟化酶基因(chyb)的克隆及表达分析

玉米黄质(3,3'-二羟基-β-胡萝卜素)是自然界中常见的一种β-胡萝卜素衍生物,是黄斑和视网膜中最关键的部分.玉米黄质是通过一系列酶作用合成,其中β-胡萝卜素羟化酶(chyb)是关键限速酶,为了研究盐生杜氏藻(Dunaliella salina)中不同胁迫下β-胡萝卜素羟化酶基因的表达及玉米黄质含量的变化.本研究采用RACE方法首次从盐生杜氏藻中扩增出β-胡萝卜素羟化酶基因(Dschyb),并分析强光、葡萄糖等因素对DSchyb表达及玉米黄质含量的影响.结果表明,该基因全长1 433 bp(GenBank登录号:JN118489),包含一个969bp的开放阅读框,编码322个氨基酸,氨基酸的分子量为35.51kD,等电点(PI)为9.01.DsCHYB包含有4个保守的组氨酸基序,与团藻及莱茵衣藻的同源性分别是64％和58％.DsCHYB具有4个跨膜结构及叶绿体导肽,进一步证明该酶定位于叶绿体类囊膜上.系统进化树分析标明,DsCHYB与其他绿藻如团藻(Volvox carteri f.Nagariensis)、莱茵衣藻(Chlamydomonas reinhardtii)的CHYB共处一个进化支,亲缘关系很近.Dschyb基因的表达调控研究显示,在经强光刺激24 h后,Dschyb 基因表达显著上调(P＜0.01),在48 h表达最高(P＜0.01).在经乙酸钠、硫酸亚铁和强光共同处理6h时,Dschyb表达急剧上升(P＜0.01),处理12h后下降;在葡萄糖处理1.5h后,其表达达到最高,6h后表达与对照组无显著性差异;添加放线菌素D后,Dschyb的表达相对对照降低,表明放线菌素D可能对葡萄糖诱导Dschyb表达具有抑制作用.高效液相色谱测定其玉米黄质含量,钠铁、强光及葡萄糖处理均能提高盐生杜氏藻的玉米黄质的含量,其玉米黄质含量比对照组分别增长16％(P＜0.05),28％(P＜0.05)和53％(P＜0.01).本研究结果为玉米黄质合成调控及其在藻类中功能研究提供理论指导.     

“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.