腐殖酸对NaCl胁迫下梭梭种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响

[目的] 探究腐殖酸对NaCl胁迫下梭梭种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响,为干旱矿区生态修复提供技术支持。[方法] 设置5个NaCl盐胁迫浓度,5个腐殖酸添加浓度,观测梭梭种子萌发以及幼苗生长指标,分析腐殖酸对梭梭种子萌发及其幼苗生长的耐盐性。[结果] 施用适量腐殖酸能显著提高种子萌发率,缓解梭梭种子萌发过程中的盐胁迫,促进初生根生长,降低盐胁迫对幼苗的伤害。在1.0 mol/L NaCl条件下,腐殖酸为700 mg/kg时缓解效果最好,与对照相比梭梭发芽率、发芽势、根长、幼根鲜质量和幼根干质量分别提高10%,11.12%,1.77 cm,4.84 mg和4.03 mg。[结论] 腐殖酸可作为干旱矿区生态修复中种子萌发和幼苗生长的一种盐渍土调节剂,具有较好的应用潜力。     

红豆和白扁豆种子萌发和生长对盐胁迫的响应及其生理机制

为探讨红豆和白扁豆种子萌发及幼苗生长对盐胁迫的响应及其生理机制,以红豆品种‘渝红豆2号’和传统白扁豆品种为材料,分别用不同浓度NaCl （0 mmol·L^-1、20 mmol·L^-1、40 mmol·L^-1、60 mmol·L^-1、80 mmol·L^-1、100 mmol·L^-1）溶液处理种子,测定不同NaCl浓度胁迫下红豆和白扁豆种子的发芽指标及幼苗生长指标、叶片丙二醛（MDA）含量、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和过氧化物酶（POD）活性,分析NaCl胁迫对红豆和白扁豆种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响。结果表明：1）随NaCl浓度增加,红豆和白扁豆种子发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数和活力指数均呈下降趋势。当NaCl浓度为80 mmol·L^-1时,白扁豆发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数降为0,红豆的发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数分别为20.00%、2.00、0.83;NaCl浓度为100 mmol·L^-1时,红豆的发芽率为16.67%,但白扁豆为0,这表明在盐胁迫下红豆较白扁豆具有更高的萌发能力。2）红豆与白扁豆相对盐害率随NaCl浓度的增加而增加,当NaCl浓度为80 mmol·L^-1和100 mmol·L^-1时,白扁豆相对盐害率为96.58%和96.67%,红豆相对盐害率为47.05%和83.18%,说明红豆受盐害程度较低。3）红豆与白扁豆幼苗胚根、胚芽及鲜重均随NaCl浓度增加而下降。NaCl浓度为100 mmol·L^-1时,白扁豆胚根长为0,红豆胚根长为0.23 cm。4）随NaCl浓度升高,红豆和白扁豆叶片的MDA含量均增加,造成细胞膜透性逐渐增大,但是红豆幼苗MDA积累量低于白扁豆,这表明红豆叶片细胞膜损伤较小。5） NaCl胁迫下,红豆与白扁豆SOD活性均显著升高,但红豆SOD活性显著高于白扁豆;NaCl胁迫下,POD活性显著升高,但白扁豆POD活性显著下降。研究发现红豆可通过提高SOD和POD活性以降低细胞膜氧化伤害,减少MDA积累量,进而提高种子萌发能力。在相同浓度NaCl胁迫下红豆较白扁豆有更高的耐盐性,能更好地适应盐胁迫环境。     

复合氨基酸肥料增效剂对NaCl胁迫下小白菜种子萌发和苗期生长的影响

【目的】作物种子萌发期和苗期是对盐胁迫最为敏感的时期,盐分过高会严重影响作物种子萌发和幼苗生长。本研究以谷氨酸尾液为主要材料开发了复合氨基酸肥料增效剂(简称增效剂),并研究其在盐(NaCl)胁迫条件下对种子萌发、苗期生长和生理指标的影响,旨在为谷氨酸尾液在盐碱土地区的推广应用提供科学依据和理论指导。【方法】以小白菜种子和幼苗为供试材料,分别进行种子萌发试验和水培试验。1)种子萌发试验:采用标准发芽试验法,种子分别经0、0.05、0.1、0.2、0.4、0.8 g/L增效剂浸种后,分别移至含0、25、50、75mmol/L NaCl溶液中萌发,测定发芽势、发芽率、胚根长和胚芽长。2)苗期水培试验:选取整齐一致的幼苗,缓苗后同时加入与萌发试验浓度一致的增效剂和NaCl溶液,在盐害明显后取样测定鲜重、SPAD值、根长、株高以及叶片过氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性、过氧化物酶(POD)活性、丙二醛(MDA)含量、超氧阴离子自由基(O_2~-)产生速率、脯氨酸(Pro)含量等盐胁迫评价指标。【结果】在0~75 mmol/L NaCl范围内,NaCl浓度越高对小白菜种子萌发和幼苗生长的抑制作用越强,一定浓度的增效剂可不同程度地缓解NaCl对种子萌发和幼苗的胁迫。1)在无盐胁迫下,低浓度增效剂对种子萌发具有轻微的抑制作用,而高浓度增效剂则会显著抑制种子萌发;在同一浓度NaCl胁迫下,随增效剂浓度的增加,小白菜种子发芽势、发芽率、胚根长和胚芽长均表现出先上升后下降的变化规律,增效剂浓度为0.2 g/L时效果最佳,而在0.4 g/L和0.8 g/L时则会抑制小白菜种子萌发。2)在无盐胁迫下,随增效剂浓度增加对小白菜生长表现出先促进后抑制的效果,以0.1 g/L用量效果最好;在同一浓度NaCl胁迫下,增效剂浓度为0.05 g/L时,提高了苗期小白菜鲜重、SPAD值,并促进了根伸长和茎伸展,同时提高叶片SOD、POD、CAT活性和Pro含量,并降低MDA含量和产生速率;之后随增效剂浓度的增加小白菜幼苗鲜重、SPAD值、根长和株高均表现出持续下降的趋势,而SOD、POD、CAT活性,Pro含量表现出先持平后下降的变化规律,产生速率和MDA含量则表现出先上升后平稳的趋势,增效剂浓度达到0.4 g/L和0.8 g/L时小白菜幼苗生长受到明显抑制。【结论】在无盐胁迫条件下,低浓度(≤0.2 g/L)复合氨基酸肥料增效剂可轻微抑制小白菜种子萌发,但在25~75 mmol/L NaCl胁迫条件下,则可明显促进种子萌发、提高种子发芽质量;而在相同盐胁迫条件下,低浓度复合氨基酸肥料增效剂可明显促进小白菜幼苗生长,提高叶片抗氧化酶活性、维持渗透调节物质Pro含量、增强光合作用等,以0.05 g/L效果最佳。     

紫花苜蓿种质资源萌发期耐盐性鉴定

为鉴定及评价紫花苜蓿种质资源萌发期耐盐性,以25份紫花苜蓿品种为试验材料,在种子萌发培养基中分别添加0(CK)、150、250和350 mmol·L-1NaCl进行持续胁迫处理,研究25个苜蓿品种的种子萌发期耐盐性相关指标。结果表明,苜蓿种子在第3、第7和第10天的相对发芽率和发芽势均随着NaCl胁迫浓度的增加呈降低趋势;盐害指数随着NaCl胁迫浓度的增加而升高;胚根长、胚芽长均随着NaCl胁迫浓度的增加而降低,且萌发时间相应延长;胚根、胚芽重均随着NaCl胁迫浓度的增加而逐渐减少,且生物量下降。25个苜蓿品种的种子萌发期耐盐性差异显著,其中苜蓿品种‘WL326GE’在350mmol·L-1NaCl胁迫处理下,发芽势为46.67%,相对发芽率为48.33%,生物量为最高,耐盐等级评价为高耐,萌发期耐盐性较强。本研究结果为适宜盐碱地种植的耐盐苜蓿品种的筛选提供了理论依据。     

赤霉素对盐害下碱茅的萌发和幼苗生长的影响

以碱茅为试材,在100 mmol/L的NaCl盐胁迫下,通过种子培养、室内盆栽试验,研究盐胁迫下不同浓度赤霉素（8,15,20,25,50 mg/L）对碱茅种子萌发、幼苗生长的影响。结果表明:（1）100 mmol/L的NaCl严重抑制碱茅的种子萌发和幼苗生长,碱茅种子的发芽率、发芽势和发芽指数、根茎长显著降低,根系活力、过氧化物酶活力受到严重抑制;（2）在外源赤霉素溶液为8～20 mg/L的范围内,随着浓度的升高,碱茅种子的发芽率、发芽势和发芽指数、根茎长逐渐升高,根系活力、过氧化物酶活力、耐盐指数明显提高;（3）高浓度（ > 20 mg/L）的外源赤霉素浸种处理,对种子的促进作用逐渐下降,当赤霉素浓度为50 mg/L时,碱茅的发芽率和根茎比低于对照,产生了抑制效应。结论:不同浓度赤霉素对提高碱茅种子耐盐性有不同程度的促进作用,以赤霉素浓度为20 mg/L时作用效果最佳。     

模拟干旱和盐碱胁迫对碱蓬、盐地碱蓬种子萌发的影响

为研究干旱和盐碱胁迫对碱蓬(Suaeda glauca)、盐地碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)种子萌发的影响,比较碱蓬和盐地碱蓬逆境生理特性的异同,本研究利用PEG6000、NaCl和Na_2CO_3分别模拟干旱、盐和碱胁迫,配制相同渗透势的PEG6000、NaCl、Na_2CO_3处理液,以蒸馏水处理为对照,对碱蓬、盐地碱蓬种子的萌发与胚的生长进行比较研究。结果表明:1)低渗处理(-0.46 MPa)对碱蓬、盐地碱蓬种子的萌发无显著影响;高渗处理(-1.38MPa、-1.84 MPa)抑制碱蓬、盐地碱蓬种子的萌发。2)当溶液渗透势相等时,NaCl处理下碱蓬种子的萌发率显著大于PEG、Na_2CO_3处理;而等渗PEG、NaCl、Na_2CO_3处理对盐地碱蓬种子萌发率的影响无显著差异。3)PEG、NaCl、Na_2CO_3处理组碱蓬、盐地碱蓬种子的最终萌发率与对照无显著差异。4)在幼苗形成阶段,PEG、Na_2CO_3处理对碱蓬、盐地碱蓬胚的抑制作用显著大于等渗NaCl处理。5)碱蓬、盐地碱蓬胚的生长对NaCl、Na_2CO_3胁迫的响应存在差异。-0.92 MPa NaCl处理抑制碱蓬胚的生长,却对盐地碱蓬产生促进作用;-0.46 MPa Na_2CO_3处理对碱蓬胚的抑制作用小于盐地碱蓬。综合分析表明:碱蓬、盐地碱蓬均具有很强的抗盐性。在种子萌发阶段,碱蓬种子的抗旱、抗碱能力低于盐地碱蓬;在幼苗形成阶段,碱蓬胚的抗盐性小于盐地碱蓬,但对轻度碱胁迫的抗性高于盐地碱蓬。     

脱盐味精尾液对Na2CO3胁迫下小白菜种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

【目的】外源氨基酸能够缓解氯化钠对作物的胁迫,但其能否缓解毒害作用更大的碱性盐(Na_2CO_3)胁迫尚无定论。本文研究了富含多种氨基酸的脱盐味精尾液制剂(以下简称尾液)对Na_2CO_3胁迫下小白菜种子萌发、幼苗生长和生理指标的影响,旨在为该类制剂在农业生产中,特别是盐碱土地区的推广应用提供科学依据和理论指导。【方法】供试脱盐味精尾液粗蛋白含量为47.62%,游离氨基酸以谷氨酸、丙氨酸、天门冬氨酸、脯氨酸、甘氨酸、亮氨酸、色氨酸等为主,总含量为15.4%,Na+含量1.2%,pH 3.9 (固水比为1∶250)。以小白菜(Brassica chinensis L.)种子和幼苗为供试材料,分别进行萌发试验和幼苗培养试验。种子萌发采用标准发芽试验方法,种子在0、0.05、0.1、0.2、0.4、0.8 g/L尾液中浸种12 h后,分别移至含5 mL 0、10、20、30mmol/L Na_2CO_3溶液的培养皿中萌发,测定其发芽势、发芽率、胚根长和胚芽长。幼苗培养试验选取整齐一致的幼苗,缓苗后,于营养液中分别加入0、0.05、0.1、0.2、0.4、0.8 g/L的尾液和0、2.5、5、10 mmol/L Na_2CO_3进行培养。在碱害明显后,取样测定生长量、SPAD值、根长、株高以及叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性、过氧化物酶(POD)活性、丙二醛(MDA)含量、超氧阴离子自由基■产生速率、脯氨酸(Pro)含量等生理指标。【结果】1)在同一浓度的Na_2CO_3胁迫下,随尾液浓度的增加,小白菜种子的发芽势、发芽率、胚根长和胚芽长均表现出先上升后下降的变化规律,以添加0.1 g/L尾液的缓解效果最佳。2)在同一浓度Na_2CO_3胁迫下,低浓度尾液(0.05～0.1 g/L)能够提高小白菜幼苗生长量、SPAD值,同时保持Pro含量,提高抗氧化酶活性,降低■产生速率和MDA含量;当尾液浓度增加到0.4 g/L和0.8 g/L时,叶片■产生速率和MDA含量明显上升,同时小白菜生长量、SPAD值、根长和株高均大幅下降,显著抑制了小白菜幼苗的生长。3)在2.5 mmol/L Na_2CO_3条件下,尾液浓度以0.05 g/L效果最好,而在5 mmol/L Na_2CO_3和10mmol/L Na_2CO_3条件下,尾液浓度以0.1 g/L效果最好。【结论】脱盐味精尾液可在一定浓度范围内缓解Na_2CO_3对小白菜种子萌发和幼苗生长的抑制作用。在外源Na_2CO_3浓度为10～30 mmol/L时,用0.1 g/L尾液浸种能够促进种子萌发,缓解Na_2CO_3对小白菜种子萌发的抑制作用;在Na_2CO_3 2.5～10 mmol/L条件下,在营养液中补充0.05～0.1 g/L的尾液能够提高小白菜幼苗叶片抗氧化酶活性,增强叶片光合作用,显著提高幼苗生长量,缓解Na_2CO_3对小白菜生长的抑制作用。     

盐碱复合胁迫对水稻种子发芽的影响

为研究盐胁迫与碱胁迫复合对水稻种子发芽的影响,采用模拟试验方法,将两种中性盐(NaCl、Na_2SO_4)和两种碱性盐(NaHCO_3、Na_2CO_3)按照不同比例[NaCl︰Na_2SO_4︰NaH∶CO_3︰Na_2CO_3分别为1︰1︰0︰0(A), 1︰2︰1︰0(B), 1︰9︰1︰0(C), 1︰1︰1︰1(D),9︰1︰1︰9(E)]混合,每个混合比例设不同总盐浓度(50 mmol·L~(-1)、100 mmol·L~(-1)、150 mmol·L~(-1)、200 mmol·L~(-1)),模拟20种盐碱胁迫环境,以去离子水作为对照(CK),研究不同盐碱混合胁迫对水稻种子发芽的影响。结果表明,水稻种子经两种中性盐混合胁迫溶液培养后,与CK相比,发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数的降幅分别为9.2%～74.4%、10.0%～48.9%、5.6%～55.6%,平均发芽时间延长3.2%～96.4%;随胁迫溶液中碱性盐比例的增加,与CK相比, B-E组发芽率分别降低8.9%～96.5%、15.0%～98.0%、7.5%～98.7%、18.9%～95.7%,发芽势分别降低20.0%～94.4%、13.2%～97.8%、3.3%～100%、36.7%～94.4%,发芽指数分别降低16.7%～94.4%、22.2%～100%、16.7%～100%、27.8%～94.4%,平均发芽时间较CK延长0.8～4.5倍,说明中性盐和碱性盐的混合胁迫溶液对水稻种子发芽的抑制作用更强。将在盐碱胁迫溶液中未萌发的水稻种子转移至蒸馏水中培养7d后,水稻种子的最终萌发率均达73.33%以上,表明胁迫溶液没有破坏水稻种子的活性,只是暂时性抑制了种子的萌发。试验结果表明:与单施中性盐比较,中性盐与碱性盐混合胁迫作用对水稻种子萌发的抑制作用更明显,且在中性盐与碱性盐混合溶液浓度达200mmol×L~(-1)时,种子发芽率接近0。     

混合盐碱胁迫对槭叶草种子萌发的影响

为获得槭叶草在吉林省西部盐碱地区栽培的理论和实践依据,研究其种子萌发期间对盐碱胁迫的耐受力和适应力。根据吉林省西部地区的土壤背景值,将NaCl、Na_2SO_4、NaHCO_3和Na_2CO_3按7种不同比例、4种不同浓度模拟出28种混合盐碱条件,对槭叶草种子进行胁迫处理。研究了混合盐碱胁迫对种子发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、根部形态和过氧化物酶活性的影响。结果表明,随着盐浓度和酸碱度的上升,槭叶草种子的发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、须根数量、胚根长度和过氧化物酶活性均呈下降趋势,并随着处理浓度的增大,各指标下降的趋势明显。盐碱胁迫对槭叶草种子萌发有抑制作用,种子在中轻度盐碱地区可以正常萌发,在盐浓度高于20 mmol·L~(-1)、pH高于10.20的地区可适当提高播种数量,以创造良好的景观绿化效果。     

镉胁迫对甜高粱种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响

为探讨镉对甜高粱种子萌发的影响,以辽甜1号为研究对象,研究不同浓度镉胁迫下的甜高粱种子萌发和幼苗生长特性。结果表明,甜高粱种子的发芽势、发芽率、发芽指数、活力指数均随镉胁迫浓度增加表现出先增加后减少的趋势,都在T2处理时表现为最大;镉会抑制甜高粱幼苗的根和芽生长,镉胁迫浓度增加,抑制作用显著增强,且对根长的抑制作用明显大于芽长;甜高粱种子根、芽的耐性指数均随镉胁迫浓度增加而显著降低,且根耐性指数均低于芽耐性指数。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Powdery Mildew Resistance in a Collection of Chinese Barley Varieties

One hundred and forty-seven Chinese barley varieties maintained at the Gene Bank of the National Barley Improvement Centre, Zhejiang, and 84 progenies from these varieties were tested at the seedling stage for their reaction to 32 selected pathotypes of Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei. Eighteen resistance spectra were identified comprising single or combined resistances from eight known (Ml(Bw), Ml(Ch), Mla7, Mla8, Mla9, Mla13, MlaRu4 and Mlg) and six unknown resistance genes. The most frequent gene was Ml(Bw), which was found in 69 varieties and previously detected in only a few European winter barley varieties. The genes Mla8 and Ml(Ch) were also often present, but other resistance genes were rare. After inoculation, considerably fewer pathogen colonies were observed in ‘Aiganqi’ and one line of ‘Tong5’. Twenty varieties were composed of lines with different resistance genes. China is likely to be a region of origin of the genes Ml(Bw), Mla7, as well as three unknown genes found in original landraces and perhaps another three unknown genes detected in cultivars bred in China. The resistances of varieties from the Zhejiang province and those originating from 11 other Chinese provinces were quite different. Unfortunately, none of the varieties are promising sources of resistance to powdery mildew and China does not seem to be a region suitable for identifying such sources.