波兰小麦×普通小麦品系中13重组自交系(RIL)群体穗部性状的QTL分析

小麦穗部性状是与籽粒产量关系密切的重要农艺性状。本研究以一个由99个株系组成的来源于波兰小麦(Triticum polonicum L.)和普通小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)品系中13杂交后代的F8重组自交系(recombinant inbred lines,RIL)群体为实验材料,利用微卫星(simple sequence repeat,SSR)标记对穗长、穗粒数和有效小穗数进行数量性状基因座(quantitative trait locus,QTL)定位分析。所构建的A染色体组和B染色体组共14个连锁群的遗传连锁图谱由115个SSR标记位点组成,图谱全长822.9cM,标记间的平均遗传距离为7.16cM。采用复合区间作图法在两年的环境中检测到分布在2A、3A、3B、5B和7B染色体上的6个穗长QTL,5个穗粒数QTL和2个有效小穗数QTL,表型变异贡献率分别为9.21%～22.94%,9.18%～19.71%和11.48%～13.01%。两年中都在3A染色体上的Xbarc12～Xbarc310区间内检测到控制穗粒数的主效QTL,说明该QTL较少受环境条件的影响,是一个稳定可靠的穗粒数QTL。该QTL与最近标记的遗传距离为0.01cM,可用于小麦产量性状的分子标记辅助育种。     

波兰小麦品系XN555×普通小麦品系中13衍生重组自交系(RILs)群体中籽粒品质相关性状QTL定位

小麦籽粒品质相关性状属于数量性状,由多基因控制。为了探索小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)品质相关性状的遗传基础,以波兰小麦(Triticum polonicum L.)品系XN555×普通小麦品系中13产生的重组自交系(recombinant inbred lines,RILs)群体(包含99个F10株系)为研究材料,采用SSR(simple sequence repeat)分子标记技术构建遗传连锁图谱;根据2012年和2013年的表型数据,采用完备区间作图法(inclusive composite interval mapping,ICIM)定位籽粒硬度、籽粒蛋白质含量、面粉蛋白质含量和湿面筋含量等品质性状QTL。获得了由241个SSR标记位点组成的A、B染色体组的14个连锁群图谱,覆盖基因组1 338.92 cM,标记间的平均遗传距离为5.56 cM。共定位24个品质性状QTL,分布在1A、3A、4A、5A、6A、1B、2B、3B和5B等9条染色体上。其中,籽粒蛋白质含量和面粉蛋白质含量各7个QTL,湿面筋含量和籽粒硬度各5个QTL,4个性状的单个QTL可分别解释表型变异的8.30%～29.69%、6.90%～29.50%、10.10%～18.43%和7.93%～30.49%。两年都在6A染色体的Xbarc104～Xcfa2114标记区间内与Xbarc104相距1.2 cM处检测到湿面筋含量QTL,并于2012年和2013年分别检测出了面粉蛋白质含量和籽粒蛋白质含量的QTL。本研究为利用波兰小麦改良普通小麦以及在小麦品质改良中应用分子标记辅助选择提供依据。     

小麦光温敏核雄性不育系BS20育性的QTL分析

以小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)光温敏不育系BS20×Fu3 DH群体的289个系为材料,于2005-2006年度种植于北京海淀和安徽阜阳,进行了育性(结实率和结实小穗率)的调查.利用SSR标记和分离群体分组分析法(BSA)分析该群体中与育性相关的分子标记,用128对SSR引物,初步构建BS20×Fu3群体的分子标记遗传连锁框架图.BSA的结果表明,与育性连锁的3个标记是Xgwm294、Xgwm374和Xgwm44,分别位于染色体2AL、2BS和7DS;采用混合线性复合区间作图法对小麦育性进行QTL分析,检测到6个QTL,分布在1AS、2BS、2DL、6AL、6BL和7DS染色体,贡献率为1.1%～12.5%,其中7DS上的QTL与2BS、6AL和6BL上的QTL存在显著的互作效应.综合BSA和QTL分析结果,确定染色体7DS和2BS上的QTL重复性较好、贡献率和互作效应较大,为小麦光温敏核雄性不育性状的重要QTL,标记区间分别为Xgum44-Xcfd14和Xgwm148-Xgwm374,贡献率分别为7.2%～12.5%和2.1%～2.5%.     

小麦苗期耐盐相关性状的QTL分析

以小麦敏盐品种太空6号和耐盐品种德抗961杂交形成的F2和F2:3家系为试验材料,选取小麦8条染色体上的321对SSR引物进行亲本间多态性的筛选,在太空6号和德抗961之间表现多态性的SSR引物为52个,位点为54个,其中barc172和cfa2121两个引物分别有两个多态性位点。对这54个位点进行连锁分析,构建了包含42个SSR标记、覆盖小麦基因组8条染色体的遗传连锁图,共704.5cM,标记间平均间距为16.8 cM。采用复合区间法进行耐盐QTL分析。对于4个性状共定位到6个QTL,分别位于5A,5B,5D染色体。对于发芽率,检测到1个QTL,位于染色体5D上,在标记cfd40~gwm182之间,贡献率为7.68%,表现加性效应;对于苗高,检测到2个QTL,分别位于染色体5D和5A上,在标记gwm182~wmc215及barc141~wmc415之间,贡献率分别为9.3%和8.14%,分别表现为显性和部分显性;对于根长,检测到2个QTL,均位于染色体5B上,在标记gwm234与wmc326及barc140与barc142之间,贡献率分别为8.74%和8.40%,分别表现为部分显性和超显性;对于鲜重,检测到1个QTL,位于染色体5D上,在标记wmc215~cfd29之间,贡献率为12.60%,表现超显性。与所得的QTL位点距离较近的SSR标记,如barc141等,可望为耐盐小麦品种的分子标记辅助选择提供参考信息。     

控制水稻抽穗期和株高的QTL的定位及遗传分析

抽穗期（headingdata,HD）和株高（plantheight,PH）是水稻（Oryza sativaL.）非常重要的农艺性状。本研究利用金23B（Jin23B）和青谷矮1号（QGA-1）构建的BC3F1群体及其衍生的BC3F2群体通过分子标记定位水稻抽穗期和株高的QTL（quantitativetraitlocus）。构建的遗传连锁图包含105对SSR标记和8对InDel标记,图谱较好地覆盖了水稻12条染色体。两年来共定位到了9个抽穗期相关QTLs,6个株高相关的QTLs,其中抽穗期和株高最大效应都来源于第7染色体。抽穗期QTLqHD7-3在2011年LOD为37.07,可以解释的表型贡献率为41.05%,加性效应为11.68;株高QTLqPH7-2在2011年LOD为43.73,可以解释的表型贡献率为54.17%,加性效应为21.60;2012年LOD为42.66,可以解释的表型贡献率为54.39%,加性效应为19.95。qHD7-3和qPH7-2位于同一区域RM214-RM5543之间,Ghd7也位于这一区间,该QTL可能是Ghd7的等位基因。抽穗期QTLqHD2定位于第2染色体上标记ZH282和RM71之间,在两年内都能检测到,其LOD值分别为4.56和4.99,可解释的表型贡献率分别为4.31%和7.99%。株高QTLqPH4定位于第4染色体上标记RM241和RM317之间,其两年内的LOD分别为2.89和2.67,解释的表型贡献率为9.42%和8.78%。抽穗期QTL qHD2和株高QTL qPH4所定位的区间没有相关的基因或QTL报道,这两个QTL可能含有控制抽穗期和株高的新基因。本研究通过遗传定位证明了株高和抽穗期是由主效QTL和微效QTL共同控制的,并发掘了新的抽穗期和株高的QTL,为育种家利用分子标记辅助选择培育新品种提供更多的选择。     

草莓抗炭疽病遗传图谱及其QTL初分析

为获得与草莓炭疽病密切相关的分子标记,需构建高密度与抗病相关的遗传连锁图,本研究以易感草莓炭疽病品种宝交早生（Hokowase）与高抗草莓炭疽病品种甜查理（SweetCharlie）杂交的210个F2代群体材料为作图群体,构建了包含34个AFLP标记和109个SSR标记的分子遗传图谱,并对抗草莓炭疽病相关因素进行了QTL分析。该图谱共包括7个连锁群和133个遗传标记,平均每个连锁群有19个遗传标记。遗传图谱总覆盖长度为451．8cM,标记间平均距离为3．4cM。经复合区间作图法分析得到3个与草莓炭疽病抗性相关基因座（QTL）,其中2个与Colletotrichumacutatum抗性相关,分布在LG3和LG5连锁群上,可解释表型变异的31．6％;1个与Colletotrichumgloeosporioides抗性相关,分布在LG6连锁群上,可解释表型变异的68．4％。     

抗麦长管蚜小麦的遗传多样性及SSR标记与麦长管蚜抗性的关联分析

麦长管蚜(Sitobion avenae)是影响中国小麦(Triticum aestivum)生产的主要害虫之一。本研究选用99个简单重复序列(simple sequence repeat,SSR)标记对54份苗期和成株期麦长管蚜抗性一致的小麦品种进行聚类分析和麦长管蚜抗性关联分析。结果表明,99个SSR标记共鉴定出1 038个等位变异,平均每个位点的等位变异数为10.48个,变异数目在2~30个之间;SSR标记位点的多态性信息含量(PIC)的变异范围为0.178 6~0.973 8,平均为0.717 8。聚类分析表明,54份小麦品种聚成2大类群,大部分地理来源相近或麦长管蚜抗性相似的材料聚于同一亚类群。通过一般线性模型(general linear model,GLM)和混合线性模型(mixed linear model,MLM)两种关联分析模型,分别获得16个和4个麦长管蚜抗性相关联的标记,这些标记分别位于11条染色体的14个染色体臂上,GLM分析中各标记对表型变异解释率为0.221 9~0.556 7,MLM分析中各标记对表型变异解释率为0.029 5~0.063 3。研究结果为小麦抗麦长管蚜杂交育种及分子标记辅助育种提供理论依据。     

小麦T型细胞质雄性不育恢复基因Rf1和f4的SSR标记分析

为进一步探讨小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)T型细胞质雄性不育(T-CMS)育性恢复的遗传机理,并为利用T型不育系选育强优势杂交小麦分子辅助育种提供理论与技术支撑,本研究以小麦ms(S)矮抗58/R113的F2代分离群体中的极端可育株和极端不育株分别建立恢复池和不育池,采用分布于小麦第一染色体群(染色体1A、1B和1D)及第六染色体群(染色体6A、6B和6D)上的196对SSR引物进行扩增筛选.结果表明,(1)位于1AS染色体上的3个SSR标记和位于6BS染色体上的4个SSR标记均在亲本和基因池间扩增出了稳定的多态性差异条带;(2)定位群体验证结果表明,恢复基因Rf1与1AS染色体上Xgwm136、Xgpw7062和Xgdm33标记的遗传距离分别为4.8、9.6和13.7 cM,3个标记与Rf1之间的顺序依次为Xgdm33、Xgwm136、f1、Xgpw7062; (3)恢复基因Rf4与6BS染色体上的Xgpw1079、Xgwm193、Xgpw7011和Xgwm508标记的遗传距离分别为3.4、6.8、13.7和21.5 cM,4个标记与Rf4之间的顺序依次为Xgpw 011、Xgpw1079、Rf4、Xgwm19和Xgwm508.研究还表明,T-CMS恢复系R113的育性是由Rf1和f4两对主效恢复基因和多对微效基因共同控制的,筛选的上述7个SSR标记可直接用于T型或者类似T型,如S型杂交小麦分子标记辅助育种,可有效提高对应恢复系的选择效率.     

小麦T型细胞质雄性不育恢复基因Rf1和Rf4的SSR标记分析

为进一步探讨小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)T型细胞质雄性不育(T-CMS)育性恢复的遗传机理,并为利用T型不育系选育强优势杂交小麦分子辅助育种提供理论与技术支撑,本研究以小麦ms(S)矮抗58/R113的F2代分离群体中的极端可育株和极端不育株分别建立恢复池和不育池,采用分布于小麦第一染色体群(染色体1A、1B和1D)及第六染色体群(染色体6A、6B和6D)上的196对SSR引物进行扩增筛选。结果表明,(1)位于1AS染色体上的3个SSR标记和位于6BS染色体上的4个SSR标记均在亲本和基因池间扩增出了稳定的多态性差异条带;(2)定位群体验证结果表明,恢复基因Rf1与1AS染色体上Xgwm136、Xgpw7062和Xgdm33标记的遗传距离分别为4.8、9.6和13.7 cM,3个标记与Rf1之间的顺序依次为Xgdm33、Xgwm136、Rf1、Xgpw7062;(3)恢复基因Rf4与6BS染色体上的Xgpw1079、Xgwm193、Xgpw7011和Xgwm508标记的遗传距离分别为3.4、6.8、13.7和21.5 cM,4个标记与Rf4之间的顺序依次为Xgpw7011、Xgpw1079、Rf4、Xgwm193和Xgwm508。研究还表明,T-CMS恢复系R113的育性是由Rf1和Rf4两对主效恢复基因和多对微效基因共同控制的,筛选的上述7个SSR标记可直接用于T型或者类似T型,如S型杂交小麦分子标记辅助育种,可有效提高对应恢复系的选择效率。     

中国小麦地方品种籽粒强休眠特性的主效基因鉴定

前人研究表明,我国一些小麦地方品种籽粒休眠性强,穗发芽抗性好,可能受1～2对主效基因控制.本文利用小麦(Triticum aestivum)2个重组自交系群体(RILs,万县白麦子/京411,万县白麦子/中优9507)进行2点4年的田间试验,以期发掘控制我国小麦地方品种(万县白麦子)籽粒休眠的主效QTL位点.通过复合区间作图进行分析,分别在3AS和3BL染色体上鉴定出2个主效QTL,前者分布在Xbarc57和Xbarc294标记区间(在2个RILs群体中遗传距离分别为5.8和8.5 cM),在多年多点的实验中可解释25.6%～48.3%的表型变异;后者分布在Vp1和Xwmc446标记区间,在万县白麦子/中优9507群体中的遗传距离为8.1 cM,可解释23.5%～37.8%的表型变异.上述研究表明,我国小麦地方品种万县白麦子籽粒强休眠特性主要受Osd.ahau-3A、Qsd.ahau-3B这两个主效基因控制,在不同环境中表现出较好的遗传稳定性.可通过聚合育种的方法获得籽粒休眠性强、穗发芽抗性好的小麦新品种.     

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。     

Biodiversity and ecogeography of wild Lactuca spp. in some European countries

Staff members of the Department of Botany of Palacký University in Olomouc and Gene Bank Department – Workplace Olomouc, Research Institute of Crop Production in Prague, Czech Republic, conducted an expedition in seven European countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland) in August/September 1999 to collect wild Lactuca spp. germplasm and study its geographic distribution, ecology and biodiversity. During the mission, more than 600 locations were visited resulting in the collection of 602 seed samples (accessions) of wild Lactuca species and 13 seed samples of related genera (Chondrilla and Mycelis). Lactuca serriola f. serriola, L. serriola f. integrifolia, L. saligna and L. viminea subsp. chondrilliflora were prevalent in southern Europe (Italy, France), however, only L. serriola was common in central and western Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland). The greatest diversity of Lactuca species was found in France, where also the most seed samples (165) were collected. The most characteristic habitats with a high density of Lactuca spp. populations were observed along roads and highways, grassy ditches, ruderal communities, and dust-heaps. Natural infections by powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) and downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) on some wild Lactuca spp. were observed. Recent observations concerning the geographic distribution, population structure, habitats, and natural occurrence of diseases of Lactuca spp. are discussed. This assemblage of genetic resources of Lactuca spp. can serve as the basis of future studies of species diversification, spatial population structure, plant microevolution, domestication processes, and genetic variability of host-parasite interactions.     

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.     

Properties of anaerobically digested and composted municipal solid waste assessed by linking soil mesofauna dynamics and nitrogen modelling

We have studied the effect of anaerobically digested (ADMSW) and composted municipal solid waste (CMSW) on mineralization and foodweb dynamics to verify the hypothesis that ADMSW would immobilize N right after addition to soil in contrast to addition with CMSW. Another hypothesis was that the mesofauna (enchytraeids and microarthropods) would stimulate N release from the decomposer community. We measured excretion of -N and urea-N from the mesofauna and hypothesized that enchytraeids would release urea. ADMSW and CMSW were amended to pots with sandy loam and barley. The pots were divided into treatments with or without mesofauna. Mesofauna, plant N and biomass, soil N and ergosterol (fungal biomass) were measured over a 113-day period of four equidistant samplings. Soil respiration, N mineralization and N release by the mesofauna were modelled from concurrent studies. ADMSW- and CMSW-treated soils initially (<20 days) immobilized N. The amendments did not increase plant growth substantially, and this was probably due to N-limitation in the early stages of plant growth. Enchytraeid abundance was about three times higher in ADMSW- than CMSW-treated soils, indicating that ADMSW contained more labile compounds, bacteria, and microfauna. The mesofauna did not affect N-content, but the cumulated -N excreted by the mesofauna was estimated to be substantial and about one-fifth of total plant N in ADMSW. An explanation for this discrepancy might be that in the absence of the mesofauna, other members of the detrivore and microbivore community performed the mesofauna’s function. Neither enchytraeids nor microarthropods excreted urea.     

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,     

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,     

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.