欧文氏杆菌木聚糖酶的纯化与酶学性质研究

从实验室现有菌种资源中筛选出木聚糖酶高产菌株,发酵液酶活达到408 U;仅采用超滤和凝胶层析2个步骤即从发酵液中提取到电泳纯木聚糖酶,回收率高达69.17 %,比活达到28453.6 U/mg;用ESI-MS/MS法测得该酶氨基酸序列,与该研究室登陆GenBank的木聚糖酶基因表达的氨基酸序列一致;其酶学性质为：采用SDS-PAGE和凝胶层析测得分子量为22.54 kD、21.89 kD;IEF-PAGE测得等电点为9.63;以桦木木聚糖为底物时,Km值和Vmax分别为1.0mg/ml和33.3μmol/（min.ml）,燕麦木聚糖的Km值和Vmax分别为0.5mg/ml和33.3μmol/（min.ml）;最适作用温度60℃,稳定温度0℃~60℃;最适pH5.8,稳定pH3.4~6.4;Fe2+、Co2+有激活作用,Cu2+有强烈抑制作用。     

欧文氏杆菌变异菌株木聚糖酶纯化及其酶学性质

从现有309份菌种资源中筛选出木聚糖酶高产菌株(Erwinia),发酵液酶活达到408 U.采用超滤和凝胶层析法从发酵液中分离纯化出电泳纯木聚糖酶,回收率高达69.17%,比活达到28453.6U/mg.酶学性质研究结果显示,采用SDS-PAGE和凝胶层析测得分子量分别为22.54和21.89 kD;IEF-PAGE测得等电点为9.63;以燕麦木聚精为底物时,K_m和V_(max)分别为0.5mg/mL和533 U;最适作用pH 5.8,稳定pH 3.4～6.4;最适作用温度60℃,在pH 5.8条件下稳定温度0～65℃;Fe~(2+)和Co~(2+)有激活作用,Cu~(2+)有强烈抑制作用.用ESI-MS/MS法分析,该菌株分泌的木聚糖酶氨基酸序列与GenBank上登录的木聚糖酶基因表达的氨基酸序列一致.     

小麦种子过氧化物酶的纯化及其部分酶学性质研究

小麦全面粉水抽提液经醋酸酸沉淀,上清再经硫酸铵35%-75%分组沉淀,沉淀溶于pH5.5的乙酸-乙酸钠缓冲液,经FPLC-SOURCE 30S 阳离子交换层析,FPLC-Superdex G-75凝胶过滤层析,纯化了小麦种子过氧化物酶（Wheat Seed Peroxidase）,纯化酶的比活力为3912U／mg。在SDS-PAGE上显示出一条蛋白带,其分子量约为37 KD。光谱分析显示,在399nm处有一典型的Soret带,在495nm和636nm处有特征吸收,酶反应的最适pH在5.0左右,最适双氧水浓度为13mM/L,最适温度在40℃左右,有较好的耐热能力。     

重组多功能木聚糖酶酶解条件的优化

重组多功能木聚糖酶(recombinant multi-functional xylanase,RMFXase)是以草菇为表达载体,具有多种酶活力的新型酶。为揭示该酶与底物的作用规律,同时为转基因酶的应用提供基础数据,该文利用重组多功能木聚糖酶水解南方特色的甘蔗加工废弃物生产低聚木糖,通过响应面法建立以重组多功能木聚糖酶质量浓度、底物质量浓度和酶解时间为控制因素的反应动力学方程组,从而推导得到酶解最佳工艺参数。试验并通过高效液相色谱法法,监测反应过程中产物的动态变化,分析产物的生成规律。结果表明,通过响应面法推导出符合连续式酶解反应器的最佳酶解工艺参数为:加酶量900 U/mL、底物质量浓度110 mg/mL、反应时间80 min。该条件下酶解木聚糖含量为54.7%的蔗渣半纤维素,得到的低聚木糖DP值达到3,酶解率达到23.94%。酶解过程中重组多功能木聚糖酶表现出高内切-β-1,4-木聚糖活力,优先降解大分子木聚糖,后期产物主要以木二糖和木三糖为主,且底物纯度越高,底物利用率越高。     

双孢蘑菇培养料理化指标及酶活与其产量相关的多重分析

为探究双孢蘑菇二次发酵培养料各项理化参数和酶活与产量的关系以及各参数对产量形成所起的作用,为制作和评价高产的二次发酵培养料提供科学依据,该研究以10批不同原料做堆肥,采用二次发酵技术进行隧道式发酵,按照工厂化栽培工艺进行出菇管理。取每批二次发酵结束后的培养料,测定含水率、pH值、EC值、碳质量分数、氮质量分数、碳氮比等理化性质和纤维素、半纤维素质量分数以及木聚糖酶、羧甲基纤维素酶(CMC)、α-纤维二糖水解酶、木糖苷酶、α-阿拉伯呋喃糖苷酶酶活等13个指标并进行主成分分析、聚类分析。统计每批双孢蘑菇产量并利用多元回归分析各指标与产量的关系。结果表明半纤维素酶、纤维素酶、pH值、EC值、氮质量分数、碳水化合物相关指标是二次发酵培养料指标的主成分因子。主成分分析在二次发酵培养料的13个指标中提取出4个主成分,分为碳水化合物因子,主要的纤维素降解酶类,EC值和氮质量分数,主要的半纤维素降解酶类,贡献率分别为31.176%、18.45%、18.34%、16.08%,前4个主成分累积贡献率达84.04%,代表原始因子的大部分信息,结果客观可信。聚类分析将13个指标聚为4类,分别为碳水化合物变化因子,EC值和氮质量分数,半纤维素降解酶类,pH值。多元回归分析建立的CMC酶活、木聚糖酶酶活和纤维素质量分数与单位面积产量的关系公式拟合度较好,显著性较高。木聚糖酶、CMC酶活与双孢蘑菇产量存在正线性关系,纤维素含量与双孢蘑菇产量存在负线性关系,此方程可以预测发酵培养料种植双孢蘑菇可能的产量。3种方法综合分析表明,双孢蘑菇产量受培养物料中各理化指标及酶活共同影响,其中木聚糖酶、CMC酶活性与双孢蘑菇产量关系更为密切,呈正相关。     

中国传统细菌型豆豉溶栓酶的提取纯化技术研究(简报)

为深入开发利用中国传统发酵细菌型豆豉溶栓酶,对豆豉溶栓酶分离纯化工艺进行了研究探讨,确认了最佳的纯化条件:首先用饱和度75%的硫酸铵沉淀豆豉溶栓酶;然后利用DEAE-Sepharose FF (Diethylaminoethyl Sepharose Fast Flow,二乙基氨基琼脂糖快速凝胶)阴离子交换柱进行层析,优化的层析条件为用10 mmol/L Tris(Trishydroxymethylaminomen,三羟甲基氨基甲烷)-HCI (pH 8.7)作为上样缓冲液,采用线性梯度洗脱,洗脱液为10mmol/L Tris-HCI(pH 8.7)和0.6mol/LNaCl,洗脱流速为1 mL/min;最后经过Sephadex G-75(葡聚糖凝胶G-75)凝胶过滤,得到纯化倍数为11.29倍的豆豉溶栓酶.利用SDS-PAGE (Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polylamide gel electroresis,十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳) 显示经纯化后的酶无杂蛋白,初步鉴定其分子量接近31 ku.     

Achaetomium sp.Xz8甘露聚糖酶在毕赤酵母中的表达及其酶学性质分析

甘露聚糖酶作为最主要的半纤维素酶类现已被广泛地应用在饲料、造纸、洗涤剂、食品及石油开采等领域。本研究从高温真菌Achaetomium sp.Xz8菌株中利用兼并引物和Thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR(Tail-PCR)的方法克隆获得一个新的糖苷水解酶5家族的甘露聚糖酶基因(man5Xz8)。基因全长1 239bp,序列分析发现其编码412个氨基酸和1个终止密码子,预测的信号肽序列为N端的20个氨基酸。将成熟蛋白序列克隆到毕赤酵母分泌型表达载体p PIC9中,利用甲醇诱导重组酵母菌表达目的蛋白,经SDS-PAGE电泳分析,表达蛋白分子量约55.0 k Da。对其酶学性质进行测定,Man5Xz8的最适p H值为5.0,在p H值9.0可以保持40%以上的酶活性,在p H值5.0~9.0具有良好的p H稳定性。最适作用温度为50℃,并对SDS具有较高的耐受性。以角豆胶为底物,Man5Xz8的比活、Km及Vmax值分别为101.6 U·mg-1、4.4 mg·m L-1、128.2μmol·min-1·mg-1。因此,Man5Xz8为后期研究甘露聚糖酶的工业应用和酸碱催化机制提供了良好的材料。     

疏绵状嗜热丝孢菌糖化酶基因（gla）的克隆及在毕赤酵母中的表达

本研究以疏绵状嗜热丝孢菌(Thermomyces laltltginosus)cDNA为模板,克隆了糖化酶基因(gla),序列分析表明gla的开放阅读框由1854个核苷酸组成,编码617个氨基酸.根据氨基酸序列推算该酶的分子量为64 kD,属于糖苷水解酶第15家族,具有该家族催化保守区的典型特征.PCR扩增gla的成熟蛋白编码基因,构建表达载体,经线性化后电击转化导入巴斯德毕赤酵母(Pichia pastoris GS115),并成功进行了表达.重组酶经摇瓶发酵后酶活可达11.6 U/mL,经硫酸铵沉淀、DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow阴离子交换等步骤纯化了该重组蛋白,SDS-PAGE显示该重组蛋白大小约为67kD,比推测的蛋白分子量稍大,可能与该蛋白的糖基化有关.该重组酶的最适反应温度和最适pH值分别为60℃和5.0,该酶具有较高的热稳定性,70℃保温20 min后剩余酶活为54%.     

一株产常温葡甘聚糖酶的芽孢杆菌的分离、鉴定及产酶发酵条件的研究

以魔芋生粉为唯一碳源的筛选培养基,从魔芋废渣中分离筛选出一株可以降解魔芋生粉的细菌菌株,编号为LS-6。根据16SrDNA序列和生理生化特性,将该菌株鉴定为枯草芽孢杆菌Bacillus subtilis。胞内外葡甘露聚糖酶酶活分析结果表明,LS-6产生的葡甘聚糖酶为胞外酶。LS-6产生葡甘聚糖酶的最佳培养基组分和条件是：1%魔芋生粉,0.5%酵母粉,0.5%NaCl,培养基初始pH为6.0,最佳发酵条件是25℃,摇床转速200r/min,培养48h。酶解产物的高效液相色谱分析结果表明,LS-6粗酶液的酶解产物主要为葡萄糖和甘露糖。LS-6的分离为进一步克隆常温葡甘聚糖酶基因和产酶工程菌的构建奠定了基础。     

亚硫酸盐预处理促进棉秆酶水解研究

为了提高棉秆的酶水解效率,论文研究 了棉秆亚硫酸盐预处理过程中亚硫酸氢钠用量、浓硫酸用量、预处理温度与时间对预处理效果的影响,同时比较了棉秆不同部位的亚硫酸盐预处理效果。结果表明：预处理时添加亚硫酸氢钠可提高棉杆酶水解效率,随着用量的增加,底物酶水解转化率升高,用量超过8%后基本不变;预处理液pH值可影响棉秆亚硫酸盐预处理效果,存在一个最佳pH值,本研究中预处理液pH值为2.65时,底物的酶水解转化率最高;当预处理温度由100℃升高至170℃时,底物酶水解转化率升高较少,但当预处理温度继续升高时,底物酶水解转化率明显升高,在预处理温度180℃并保温20min时底物酶水解转化率达到最高为70.10%,继续延长保温时间底物酶水解转化率无明显变化。亚硫酸盐预处理过程中,木素和戊聚糖不断从原料中溶出,有利于后续的酶水解,研究发现木素的溶出比戊聚糖的溶出对棉秆酶水解的影响更大。棉秆不同部位的亚硫酸盐预处理效果不同,酶水解从易到难的顺序是：棉秆皮>细枝>全棉秆>主干>棉秆芯。     

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.     

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.     

Einfluss der düngungsmethoden auf die entwicklung von zuckerrübenkrankheiten

Während neunjähriger (1994-2002) Untersuchungen in der Versuchsanstalt Ba?cyny (Fahlerde, Fall-Gleyboden, ausgebildet aus leichtem Lehmboden) wurde der Befall mit Krankheiten an der Zuckerrübe in Abhängigkeit von der Düngungsmethode bewertet. Folgende Methoden wurden angewendet: A - Mineraldünger, B - Stalldung und Mineraldünger, C - Stroh-, Gründung und Mineraldünger, D - Kompostdünger und Biopräparate (ökologische Düngung). Auf den Objekten A, B, C wurden bei konstanter Phosphor-Kalium-Düngung die Stickstoffgaben von 0 bis 180 kg.ha^?1 differenziert. Auf dem ökologischen Objekt D ohne Mineraldünger wurden statt Stickstoff die Biopräparate P₅₀₀ und P₅₀₁ verabreicht. Der geringste Befall von Krankheiten wurde an der Zuckerrübe auf jenem Objekt festgestellt, das mit Kompost und den Biopräparaten gedüngt worden war. Im Rahmen der konventionellen Düngungsmethoden wurde allgemein die höchste Intensität der Krankheiten an der mit Stroh, Gründung und Mineraldünger gedüngten Zuckerrübe beobachtet. Ausnahmen von dieser Regel bildete das Vorkommen von echtem Mehltau und Keimlingsfäule. Auf den Objekten A, B, C nahm die Intensität der Krankheiten mit der Steigerung der Stickstoffgabe zu. Auch die auf Objekt D verabreichten Biopräparate stimulierten die Entwicklung der Krankheiten. The effect of various fertilization methods on the diseases of sugar beet was estimated on the basis of nine-year studies (1994-2002) conducted in the Experimental Production Farm in Ba?cyny on loess-based, sedimentary-gley, light-clay soil. The following fertilization methods were applied: A - mineral fertilization, B - mineral and manure fertilization, C - straw, green manure and mineral fertilization, D - ecological compost and biodynamic preparations fertilization. In the objects A, B and C fertilized with phosphorus and potassium, various doses of nitrogen ranging from 0 to 180 kg/ha^?1 were used. In the ecological object D, where mineral fertilization was not used, biodynamic preparations P₅₀₀ and P₅₀₁ were applied instead of nitrogen. The lowest ratio of the diseases of sugar beet was observed in the object fertilized with the compost and biodynamic preparations. In view of the conventional fertilization methods, generally the highest incidence of diseases was noted in the sugar beet fertilized with straw, green manure and mineral fertilizers. The exception was the occurrence of powdery mildew and the black leg. In objects A, B and C the incidence of the diseases increased with the increase in nitrogen doses. The applied biodynamical preparations in the object D stimulated the development of diseases too.     

Prospects for control of Pythium damping-off of lettuce with Trichoderma,Gliocladium and Enterobacter spp.

Summary Damping-off of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) caused by Pythium ultimum was studied in pots containing a non-sterile potting mix in the glasshouse. Fifty P. ultimum sporangia g^-1 compost reduced the plant stand to 15% and shoot dry weight to 18%, but this reduction was totally prevented by applying Trichoderma harzianum at 2×10⁵ viable propagules g^-1 potting mix. Gliocladium virens and Enterobacter cloacae also alleviated the damping-off. E. cloacae did not adversely affect the action of the fungal antagonists. The co-existence of the bacterial and fungal antagonists was revealed on the root surface and inner surface of the testa by scanning electron microscopy, indicating the compatibility of the biocontrol agents.     

细菌、真菌及植物氮营养信号研究进展

氮素吸收代谢是所有生物生命活动的核心部分,因此,各种生物对氮的吸收与同化过程都有精细的调节。这种调节依赖于生物对体内氮素状况信号及体外（生长介质中）氮素信号的感受。过去几十年中,在细菌、真菌中已经对氮素营养信号有了较好的研究,而植物中则相对缓慢,但也有了一定的认识。本文重点比较细菌、真菌及植物中氮信号系统的组成,以期为进一步认识植物中的氮信号接受与转导系统提供启示。     

Aircraft operations near concentrations of birds in Antarctica: The development of practical guidelines

Aircraft operations have the potential to disturb and to impact negatively on bird life. A gradient of increasing behavioural response is evident in birds when exposed to increasing aircraft stimulus. The most major disturbance is likely to lead to impacts on the health, breeding performance and survival of individual birds, and perhaps bird colonies. A process of revision to policies on aircraft operations contained in management plans for a number of specially protected areas in Antarctica by the United Kingdom, accompanied by consultations made within the scientific community through the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and with operational interests through the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programmes (COMNAP) resulted in new guidelines being adopted by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties in June 2004. The principal recommendations of the guidelines are that bird colonies should not be overflown below 2000 ft (∼610 m) above ground level and landings within 1/2 nautical mile (∼930 m) of bird colonies should be avoided wherever possible. These guidelines are less stringent and less specific than those that were recommended by the SCAR specialist group on birds, and represent a compromise to accommodate operational needs. While the adoption of clear and consistent guidelines for the operation of aircraft in Antarctica is welcome in that this provides practical advice that is likely to reduce incidences of close aircraft/bird encounters, there remains insufficient knowledge of the interactions between aircraft and birds in Antarctica, and the consequent impacts on individual birds and on bird populations. It is important, therefore, that the guidelines adopted are considered interim, and should be kept under scrutiny with revisions made as new and improved research results appear.     

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.