Screening techniques and sources of resistance to root diseases in cool season food legumes

Summary Soil-borne fungal diseases are among the most important factors, limiting the yield of grain legumes in many countries worldwide. Root rot, caused by Aphanomyces euteiches, Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium solani and wilt, caused by several formae speciales of Fusarium oxysporum are the most destructive soil-borne diseases of pea, chickpea, lentil, fababean and lupin. The most effective control of these diseases is achieved through the use of resistant varieties. In this paper, recent advances in conventional and innovative screening methods for disease resistance are presented. Many grain legume accessions, which are maintained in national and international germplasm collections, have been evaluated for disease resistance and numerous resistant varieties have been released following incorporation of identified resistance genes from these sources. Recent identification of molecular markers tightly linked to resistance genes has greatly enhanced breeding programs by making marker assisted selection (MAS) possible and allowing the development of varieties with multiple disease resistance. Progress in the understanding of the biology of soil-borne fungal pathogens of grain legumes is also reviewed with particular reference to the genetic structure of their populations, diagnosis and host–pathogen interaction.     

Reselection of a Pearl Millet Cultivar Utilizing Residual Variability for Downy Mildew Reaction*

‘BJ 104’ was the most widely grown pearl millet hybrid in India until it became susceptible to downy mildew (DM) in 1984—85. Residual variability for resistance was found in both parental lines, 5141 B (maintainer of 5141 A) and J 104, and through four generations of pedigree selection under intense disease pressure in the DM nursery, two lines, IC-MA841 (from 5141 B) and ICMP 84814 (from J 104), were selected resulting in a reconstituted DM resistant hybrid (‘ICMH 84814’) which was equal in yield to the original ‘BJ 104’. The reconstituted hybrid, though phenotypically similar, can be distinguished from “BJ 104” being slightly taller, flowers later, has heavier heads, and 1000-seed weight, but tillers less. A similar exercise was attempted on Tifton 23 B, the female parent of the first widely grown hybrid (‘HB 3’— the male parent was also J 104), but no variability for resistance to DM was found.     

Genetic variability for resistance to sorghum downy mildew (Peronosclerospora sorghi) and Rajasthan downy mildew (P. heteropogoni) in the tropical/sub-tropical Asian maize germplasm

Downy mildews cause considerable damage to maize (Zea mays L.) worldwide, particularly in the tropical Asia. We have evaluated a set of 42 tropical/sub-tropical maize inbred lines developed in different countries in Asia (India, Thailand and Philippines), and Mexico, for analysing the genetic variability for resistance to sorghum downy mildew [Peronosclerospora sorghi; SDM] and Rajasthan downy mildew [P. heteropogoni; RDM]. Experiments were carried out in replicated trials under artificial infection in field conditions against SDM and RDM at Mandya in Karnataka, India, and Udaipur in Rajasthan, India, respectively, during 1999 and 2000. The study resulted in identification of five inbred lines offering consistent and strong resistance to both SDM and RDM, while several inbred lines revealed resistance only to RDM. It was also revealed that the SDM-resistant inbreds are invariably resistant to RDM, while the RDM-resistant inbreds might show differential responses to the SDM. The maize inbred lines identified in this study with broad-spectrum resistance to downy mildews could be potentially useful for basic and applied research work on downy mildews in tropical Asia. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

基于GIS与GPS的中国农村精准施肥的方法研究

在利用GIS和GPS研究土壤养分空间变异的基础上,以农户作为精准施肥的单元,探讨在中国农村进行精准施肥的途径。结果表明,不同农户地块养分存在一定空间变异性,由此导致相邻农户施肥量存在差异性,而采用农户为单元的施肥推荐既可以避免土壤养分空间变异造成的推荐施肥偏差,又可考虑中国农村分散经营的实际的状况,从而使土壤养分管理更加精细化。     

林地土壤性质空间变异性与土壤入渗过程的研究

运用经典统计学和地统计学理论,研究了缙云山马尾松林地土壤水分、电导率和pH值的空间变异性。结果表明,各变量符合正态分布,电导率与pH值呈正相关关系(α=0.01)。行内变异性分析表明,各变量沿坡向各行变异系数的均值都大于垂直于坡向的均值。不同坡向对行间的差异分析表明,含水量在沿坡向和垂直于坡向上均无显著差异,在垂直于坡向上各行电导率和pH值存在显著差异(α=0.01)。地统计学分析结果显示,含水量在沿坡向和垂直于坡向上的变异具有漂移特征,电导率在垂直于坡向方向上具有空间结构性,在沿坡向上随机变异过大,不能体现出空间自相关的特点;pH值在垂直于坡向上具有漂移特征,沿坡向上为纯块金效应。典型植被下土壤水分入渗研究表明,农耕地和阔叶林稳渗率为4.81mm/min和3.15 mm/min,分别是针叶林的14倍和9倍;1 h入渗总量分别为1365.58 mm和518.46 mm,是针叶林的37倍和14倍。     

土壤养分空间变异及合理取样数研究

土壤养分存在明显的空间差异，田间土壤养分合理取样数取决于养分要素自身空间变异程度和人们对数据精度的要求。若空间变异大、精度要求高则需要较多采样数，反之需较少样点数。计算结果表明，极大多数养分要素的合理取样数较实际取样数有较大幅度减少，意味着可大幅降低采样及分析成本。据统计学空间自相关和半方差函数方法研究结果，养分要素存在一定的空间自相关性，但不同方向上的自相关性有明显差异，独立间距也因养分要素而异。研究结果可为精准农业土壤养分样点密度设定、养分要素等值线绘制及精准施肥提供支持。     

土壤微生物多样性研究方法综述

Soil microorganisms play a central role in decomposing organic matter, in determining the release of mineral nutrients, and in nutrient cycling. Recently, extensive studies have focused on soil microbial diversity. However, understanding the diversity of this complex microbial community in the soil environment is a challenging task. Thus, it is important to master and comprehend appropriate methods for studying soil microbial diversity. Concepts of soil microbial diversity and major methods of study are briefly introduced in this paper. Then, the application of biochemical-based and molecular-based techniques in this area, and their advantages and disadvantages are evaluated. Based on recent related research, perspectives for studying microbial diversity in soils are presented.     

典型生态系统定位观测样地的土壤性状空间变异性评价

用经典统计分析和地统计学的方法，对中国生态系统研究网络（CERN）临泽站新设置的农田生态系统综合观测场土壤性状的空间分布特性进行研究。结果表明，除pH外，土壤有机碳、全N、速效养分和电导率的变异性均超过20％，有机碳和全N的空间相关距离为13．8m和12．6m，表现出较高的空间异质性。克里格插值结果同样显示土壤各性状在研究的尺度上有明显的空间变异格局。相对误差为10％时采集124个土样才可达到95％的置信水平。作为生态网络长期监测样地，必须按空间异质性对观测场地进行采样分区、匀地过渡，结合克里格插值得出的土壤性状空间分布图，确定更为理想的取样方案。     

基于DPSIR模型的黄土高原生态敏感性演变格局及驱动力分析

摸清生态系统敏感性时空演变格局，对其驱动因素及未来发展趋势进行探测是修复和提高生态系统稳定性的重要内容。黄土高原是世界上水土流失最严重和生态环境最脆弱的地区之一，探究该地区生态敏感性时空演变特征及驱动因素，科学划分生态敏感性治理分区对于促进国家生态文明建设具有重要意义。基于“驱动-压力-状态-影响-响应”（driving-pressure-state-impact-response，DPSIR）框架，耦合空间距离指数和全排列多边形图示指标法构建生态敏感性指标体系，使用地理信息演变图谱和地理探测器研究黄土高原2000—2020年5个时间点生态敏感性时空格局和驱动力，最终划分生态敏感性治理分区。结果表明：1）研究期内黄土高原生态敏感性表现为西北高、东南低的分布特征，时间上先增加后下降。2）研究期内黄土高原生态敏感性转移类型以波动稳定型为主，生态改善区面积占比最大（35.17%），变化0次和1次的面积占比62.06%，生态环境演变稳定向好。3）生态敏感性的各驱动因素中，NDVI和降水量以及两者与其他因子的交互作用对于黄土高原生态敏感性具有明显的驱动作用。4）2030年低度敏感将成为黄土高原的主要敏感类型；沙地和农灌区以及黄土高塬沟壑区的中西部是生态敏感性治理的重点地区。整体来看，黄土高原生态环境有所好转，生态治理措施取得了积极成效，该研究可为黄土高原生态治理及高质量发展提供参考。