^(60)Co γ辐射兰花春剑隆昌素根状茎分化苗的ISSR分析北大核心CSCD

以兰花春剑隆昌素品种为材料,用不同剂量60Co γ射线辐照处理其根状茎,研究辐照诱变技术对兰花根状茎组织培养成活率及分化率的影响,并用ISSR分子标记技术检测春剑隆昌素组培苗辐射诱变前后引起的DNA变异情况。结果表明:10 Gy辐射处理后的根状茎分化苗率为93.2%,20Gy辐射处理后根状茎分化苗率为54.4%,而40Gy和60Gy剂量处理后的根状茎几乎全部死亡。主要变异性状是叶色失绿变淡。通过对春剑隆昌素辐射后代形态变异株的ISSR基因检测,发现经过30多年继代培养的春剑隆昌素组培苗的变异率为6%,而辐射诱变后代的变异率为18%。说明经过60Co γ辐射诱变的根状茎所获得的变异比组织培养所获得变异高。可疑突变株和对照组在15个ISSR引物扩增结果中并未出现明显的差异,ISSR分子标记结果与植株表现出的形态变化之间可能并不存在一一对应关系。     

~(60)Co-γ射线辐射对木薯组培苗的诱变效应

为探究~(60)Co-γ射线辐射对不同木薯品种组培苗的诱变效应,以2个木薯品种新选048和SC205离体单芽茎段为试验材料,以不同~(60)Co-γ射线辐射剂量(0、5、10、20、40 Gy)进行处理,观察比较不同辐射处理条件下组培苗的生长情况以及移栽后植株的生长状况。结果表明,随着~(60)Co-γ辐射剂量的增加,2个品种组培苗的生根率和萌发率均显著降低;新选048和SC205的半致死剂量分别为15. 3 Gy和17. 2 Gy。随着辐射剂量的增加,对继代组培苗及其生根苗的生长伤害程度逐渐加强,株高、生根率、移栽成活率等指标均显著降低。不同品种对~(60)Co-γ射线辐射的敏感程度存在差异,新选048的辐射敏感性更强。经~(60)Co-γ射线辐射后,2个木薯品种组培苗均出现叶柄颜色变异、叶形变异、黄化苗、矮化苗等不同程度的形态变异。经大田移栽后统计,新选048变异率为3. 3%,SC205变异率为6. 6%。对突变材料进行SSR分子标记检测发现,其中有3条引物可检测SC205对照与突变体材料在分子水平上的差异; 5条引物可检测新选048对照与突变体材料在分子水平上的差异。本研究结果为利用~(60)Co-γ射线辐射诱变创造木薯新种质以及木薯诱变育种奠定了一定的理论基础。     

60Co-γ射线辐射对木薯组培苗的诱变效应

为探究⁶⁰Co-γ射线辐射对不同木薯品种组培苗的诱变效应,以2个木薯品种新选048和SC205离体单芽茎段为试验材料,以不同⁶⁰Co-γ射线辐射剂量(0、5、10、20、40 Gy)进行处理,观察比较不同辐射处理条件下组培苗的生长情况以及移栽后植株的生长状况。结果表明,随着⁶⁰Co-γ辐射剂量的增加,2个品种组培苗的生根率和萌发率均显著降低;新选048和SC205的半致死剂量分别为15.3 Gy和17.2 Gy。随着辐射剂量的增加,对继代组培苗及其生根苗的生长伤害程度逐渐加强,株高、生根率、移栽成活率等指标均显著降低。不同品种对⁶⁰Co-γ射线辐射的敏感程度存在差异,新选048的辐射敏感性更强。经⁶⁰Co-γ射线辐射后,2个木薯品种组培苗均出现叶柄颜色变异、叶形变异、黄化苗、矮化苗等不同程度的形态变异。经大田移栽后统计,新选048变异率为3.3%,SC205变异率为6.6%。对突变材料进行SSR分子标记检测发现,其中有3条引物可检测SC205对照与突变体材料在分子水平上的差异;5条引物可检测新选048对照与突变体材料在分子水平上的差异。本研究结果为利用⁶⁰Co-γ射线辐射诱变创造木薯新种质以及木薯诱变育种奠定了一定的理论基础。     

白刺花辐射诱变M_2代突变群体的形态特征比较和ISSR分析

辐射诱变育种具有变异频率高、变异幅度大、育种周期短等特点,是当前育种的主要方法之一。为加快白刺花(Sophora davidii)的良种培育工作,本课题组利用60Co-γ射线对筛选到的生产性能最佳的白刺花种质进行了辐射诱变育种,通过2年的田间观测,从60Co-γ辐射诱变的白刺花M_2代中筛选获得12个突变群体。为确定该突变群体间的变异情况,本研究采用表型性状结合简单重复间序列(inter-simple sequence repeat, ISSR)分子标记技术进行检测。结果表明:(1)诱变后代表型性状发生变异。与未经辐射处理的白刺花相比,诱变M_2代植株的变异主要表现在植株高度和冠幅直径增大或减小,茎粗、叶片长度、宽度和叶面积显著提高,分枝位点高度降低等方面。8个表型性状的变异系数在19.72%~55.46%之间,各指标变异程度依次为分枝位点高度(55.46%)株高(53.24%)冠幅直径(47.91%)叶面积(38.30%)分枝数(36.84%)茎粗(36.10%)叶片宽度(23.60%)叶片长度(19.72%)。(2) 20条多态性较好的ISSR引物扩增产生141条清晰谱带,多态性条带有75条,多态性比例(polymorphic rate, PPR)为53.2%。Nei's基因多样性指数(Nei's gene diversity, He)和Shannon信息指数(Shannon's information index, I)分别为0.248 3和0.377 9。与对照相比,诱变M2代在多个位点发生了DNA水平上的改变。(3)基于ISSR计算出供试群体间的遗传相似系数介于0.627 7~0.839 4之间,平均为0.733 6。(4)基于表型性状和ISSR分子标记对供试群体进行聚类分析,所有供试群体均被分为4类,但两种水平的聚类分析结果不完全一致。本研究结果为白刺花辐射诱变育种的进一步研究提供理论依据和基本材料。     

60Co-γ辐射诱变李新品种福红的差异性状及果实品质分析

为缓解冬季低温不足对南方李(Prunus salicina Lindl.)生产的影响,选育低需冷量、优质李新品种,本研究以早熟、低需冷量的品种三月李为材料,选取其成熟1年生的枝条进行⁶⁰Co-γ辐射(50 Gy),再取单芽嫁接到3年生毛桃上,在嫁接植株中发现一株果实色泽、成熟期均发生明显变异的突变体,命名为福红。为探究福红与三月李在形态特征、生物学特性、品质特性、抗病性和产量等方面的差异,评价福红的品质和优势,通过表型观察、品质分析、分子进行了鉴定。发现福红保留了三月李低需冷量的特性,但果皮、果肉色泽均突变为紫红色,成熟期推迟约40 d。单果质量增大2.67倍,极显著高于三月李(P<0.01);可溶性固形物含量、糖酸比均极显著高于三月李(P<0.01)。在福建3个生态区的试种结果表明,福红丰产性好,结果性能稳定,产量高于三月李。综上,李新品种福红虽成熟期推迟,但保留了三月李需冷量低的特性,且果实红皮红肉、果个大、可溶性固形物含量高,品质更优,具有较好的市场推广前景。     

三月李及其红肉突变体Aux/IAA家族基因鉴定及分析

为了解Aux/IAA家族基因在李果实成熟过程中的生物学功能,通过生物信息学鉴定三月李及其红肉突变体果实转录组中的Aux/IAA家族基因,并分析其在果实成熟过程中的表达模式。结果表明,三月李及其红肉突变体果实转录组中共有26个Aux/IAA家族成员,大部分为位于细胞核的不稳定亲水蛋白质。系统进化树分析表明,Aux/IAA家族成员可分为A、B 两组,共9个亚组。大部分Aux/IAA蛋白质含有4个高度保守的结构域。16个Aux/IAA家族基因在三月李及其红肉突变体果实成熟过程中差异表达。PsIAA11、PsIAA13、PsIAA14、PsIAA18、PsIAA19和PsIAA25在三月李及其红肉突变体果实成熟过程中的表达模式存在显著差异。上述结果表明,Aux/IAA家族基因与李果实成熟密切相关,这为深入研究Aux/IAA家族基因在李果实成熟过程中的功能奠定了基础。     

大豆空间诱变突变体的RAPD分析

本研究应用RAPD技术在分子水平进行大豆空间诱变突变体的差异性分析,为大豆空间诱变育种提供理论基础。首次应用RAPD标记对大豆空间诱变的12个品系及4个原始对照种进行多态性分析。随机选用的70个RAPD引物对原始对照种及12个空间诱变品系进行扩增,共获得247条DNA谱带,其中多态性谱带39条,总多态性位点比率为15.8%,品系间多态性位比率在1.43%~10%之间,扩增片段长度在250-2100bp之间。因此,通过空间诱变能够在DNA水平上导致大豆遗传物质变异,并且RAPD是一种研究植物空间诱变材料的较有效的分子生物学方法。     

~7Li离子束注入对大麦粒型、品质及遗传变异的影响

为探讨~7Li离子束对大麦M_5籽粒的粒型、品质以及叶片的基因组结构的诱变效应,利用5种不同剂量(10、20、30、40、50 Gy)的~7Li离子束处理大麦种子,测定4 184份M_5突变体籽粒的近红外品质及粒型,并利用14对ISSR引物对挑选的突变体单株进行遗传差异分析。结果表明,~7Li离子束处理能引起大麦粒型和品质的变异,粒型最大变异系数主要出现在30 Gy处理组,品质最大变异系数主要出现在50 Gy处理组。籽粒周长最大变异增加29.15%,达到36.68 mm,最大变异系数为3.59%。粒长最大变异增加33.39%,达到15.74 mm,最大变异系数为3.88%。粒宽最大变异增加21.29%,为5.07 mm,最大变异系数为6.34%。突变体籽粒蛋白含量最高达到25.40%,提高90.55%;最低为8.51%,下降36.16%。突变体淀粉含量最高为57.04%,提高13.63%;最低为39.62%,下降21.08%。ISSR分析突变体基因组结构变异率为1.92%,在30 Gy处理组检测到1个新增带型,在50 Gy处理组检测到1个缺失条带。本研究结果为~7Li离子束在大麦诱变育种上的利用提供了参考,为大麦粒型和品质遗传研究与品种改良提供了新的种质资源材料。     

植物辐射诱变的分子机理研究进展

辐射诱变育种在植物品种改良中取得了很大成就,但对辐射诱变分子机理的研究还在初步阶段。本文对γ射线辐射和离子束注入引发植物DNA变异的研究,以及基于突变体开展的基因定位、基因克隆和基因功能研究进行了综述。     

水稻空间诱变的遗传变异及突变体的AFLP分子标记

搭载“神舟三号”航天飞船的水稻纯合种子在返回地面后SP3代种子出现颖壳、茎杆和叶片的主脉变异为金黄色的突变体,其他性状无明显变异,经遗传分析,颜色变异属一对隐性基因控制的性状变异。同时利用AFLP分子标记的方法,对航天诱变的水稻突变体进行基因组对比分析,通过聚丙烯酰胺电泳寻找突变体(黄金1号)多态性DNA片段,经过一系列引物筛选,找到了5条多态性DNA条带,对开展突变体基因功能研究和杂交水稻聚合育种有十分重要的意义。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

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.     

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.     

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 from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.     

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.     

Variation in quality parameters between and within 14 Nordic tree fruit and berry species

Abstract

A 3-year study was carried out to investigate quality parameters in 14 tree fruit and berry species grown in southern Norway. The species were blueberry, apple, aronia, sour cherry, sweet cherry, red raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, gooseberry, red currant and elderberry, harvested along with wild bilberry, cloudberry and lingonberry. Significant differences between species were identified for all quality parameters. The coefficient of variation between species was lowest for pH (12.5%), dry matter (18.9%) and soluble solids (25.3%), followed by titratable acids (59.3%), total phenolics (83.8%), antioxidant capacity FRAP (85.7%) and antiradical power by the DPPH-assay (97.8%), total monomeric anthocyanins (132%) and ascorbic acid (137%). Average coefficient of variation within species were lower and ranged from 4 (pH) to 62% (ascorbic acid). Only the FRAP values were significantly affected by harvesting year with lower levels in 2004 than in 2005 and 2006. There were significant interactions between species and harvesting year for dry matter, soluble solids, pH, ascorbic acid and FRAP. The results indicate generic ranges in composition within species independent upon growing location and climate, and the composition of the tree fruits and berries is not likely to deviate from these ranges. It is concluded that desirable composition of tree fruits and berries and their products should primarily be achieved by selection among species rather than searching fors broadened variation within individual species.     

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.