Diversity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trifolium ambiguum</Emphasis>—nodulating rhizobia from the lower Caucasus

Kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M.B.) is a perennial rhizomatous forage legume whose use is currently limited by difficulties in its establishment in part attributable to nodulation problems and very specific rhizobial requirements. A limited number of Kura clover-nodulating rhizobial strains are currently available and many have a limited effectiveness. In this study, 128 rhizobia were isolated from four sites in the center of origin of Kura clover (i.e., two in Azerbaijan, one in Armenia, and one in Northwest Iran) using the three ploidy levels of Kura clover (diploid, tetraploid, and hexaploid), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), and white clover (Trifolium repens L.) plants as trap hosts. Rhizobia were fingerprinted using repetitive extragenic palindromic polymerase chain reaction (BOXA1R primer) and their genetic diversity was measured using the Shannon-Weaver diversity index. The nodulation specificity and phenotypic diversity of a subset of 13 isolates was determined. Genetic diversity among the 128 isolates was large and similar for rhizobia grouped according to their geographic origin or original host plant. Phenotypic diversity was significant; percentage of similarity among 13 isolates ranging between 38 and 92%. Nodulation specificity of the Kura clover-nodulating rhizobial isolates studied was less complex and not as clearly delineated as previously reported. Some strains originally isolated from Kura clover could effectively nodulate more than one ploidy level of Kura clover and even one or both of two other Trifolium species (i.e., red clover and white clover). Three strains formed effective nodules on both Kura clover and white clover; however, none promoted plant growth of both species to levels currently obtained with commercial inoculants when evaluated in a growth chamber. Rhizobial isolates that are highly effective with both species have yet to be identified.     

不同白三叶品种在江西低丘红壤地上的适应性研究

本研究通过对６个白三叶品种的适应性观察，认为在江西低丘红壤地上以克利卡诺瓦白三叶表现最好，越夏抗旱力强，青草产量高。种子生产性能以拉丁鲁白三叶最好。海弗白王叶和新西兰白三叶适应性较差，表现不良。     

白三叶与不同禾草混播群落17年稳定性经较研究

在适度放牧条件下开展了白三叶与多年生黑麦草、紫羊茅、草地早熟禾和无芒雀麦的两两豆禾混播群落的种间相容性、群落生产力和稳定性的研究。17年的研究结果表明,白三叶 紫羊茅组合的年均干物质产量502g/m2,显著高于其他组合(P<0.05),但前期以白三叶 多年生黑麦草最高(P<0.05)。在时间序列混播比例的变化上,白三叶逐渐增加,然后维持在一定的范围;多年生黑麦草第1年最高,后逐渐下降;紫羊茅和草地早熟禾变化不大,而无芒雀麦减少最快,并最终消失;白三叶 紫羊茅组合的比例动态变化最小,组分稳定,而且群落抵抗力最强,年均杂草侵入量仅为2.4 g/m2,极显著地低于其他处理(P<0.01)。参试禾本科牧草与白三叶的种间相容性为紫羊茅>多年生黑麦草≥草地早熟禾>无芒雀麦。种间相容性是混播群落长期稳定性的重要决定因素。时间梯度上的群落生产力变化趋势,白三叶 紫羊茅和白三叶 草地早熟禾呈平稳略升,而白三叶 多年生黑麦草和白三叶 无芒雀麦呈前高后低模式。对混播群落稳定性的判断存在时间尺度和空间尺度。     

红三叶种质资源农艺性状的综合评价及聚类分析

通过变异系数、相关性分析和聚类分析对引进的20份红三叶种质资源进行农艺性状多样性分析。结果表明:各个性状在红三叶居群内具有较大程度的变异,其中,顶生小叶大小变异系数最大,为26.16%。各个性状间均有一定相关性,顶生小叶长度与宽度呈显著正相关,与大小呈极显著正相关,顶生小叶宽度与大小呈极显著正相关。聚类分析表明,20份材料分为3大类群,第1类包括6个居群,其特点是茎长度、顶生小叶长度、小叶宽度、小叶大小和花序直径均高于其他2个居群;第2类包括13个居群,其特点是叶形指数较高;第3类包括1个居群,其特点是植株高大、茎粗,理论牧草产量高。     

Herbage intake,milk production and sward utilization of dairy cows grazing grass/white clover swards at low,medium and high allowances

Abstract

Herbage intake (HI), milk production and sward utilization of Norwegian Red Cattle dairy cows in mid-lactation, rotationally grazing grass/white clover swards at low, medium and high allowances (HA), were examined in three experiments (I, II and III). The daily target allowances per cow were 18 and 36 kg DM in Experiment I and 12, 18, and 24 kg DM in Experiments II and III. The cows were grazing in groups of seven (Experiments II and III) to ten (I) individuals. The proportions of white clover in the swards averaged 12%, 40% and 46% in Experiments I, II and III, respectively. In addition to pasture, the cows were fed concentrate mixtures in varying amounts (0–6.8 kg) with the highest amounts offered to the highest yielding cows. HI was estimated using the n-alkane technique. No effect of HA on HI was obtained in Experiment I. In Experiment II, and for II and III combined, there was a significant positive effect of HA on HI. The average increase in HI was 0.24 kg DM per extra kg DM on offer. The utilization of the sward (measured at 3 cm above ground level) decreased from 72% at the lowest HA to 51% at the highest HA in Experiment II and III. HA did not affect milk yield or milk composition significantly (P>0.05).     

Variation in rate of phenological development and morphology between red clover varieties: Implications for clover proportion and feed quality in mixed swards

Red clover (Trifolium pratense) grown in mixtures with grasses often constitutes a lower proportion of total yield in spring than in summer growth. A more even red clover proportion between the harvests would benefit forage quality and management at feeding. We investigated whether inclusion of early versus late‐maturing red clover varieties could reduce this disproportionality. In a two‐year field trial harvested three times per season, each of six red clover varieties was grown in two grass mixtures. Rate of phenological development did not differ during spring growth, but did so in regrowth after first and second cuts. Here, the earliest varieties constituted the highest proportion. At all harvests, the early varieties had lower crude protein concentrations and a higher content of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and indigestible NDF than the late varieties. Clover proportion was higher in swards with a mixture of timothy and meadow fescue than in swards with perennial ryegrass during the first year and lower in the second year. It is concluded that developmental rate should be explored further as a key character for red clover competiveness in spring growth of rapidly elongating grasses.     

Assessment of microbial activity and bacterial community composition in the rhizosphere of a copper accumulator and a non-accumulator

Soil microorganisms may play an important role in the uptake of heavy metals from soils. However, assessments of bacterial activity and community composition in the rhizosphere of accumulators have been largely ignored. We studied potential effects of a copper (Cu)-accumulator, Elsholtzia splendens, and a non-Cu-accumulator plant, Trifolium repens, on soil microbial activity and community composition with increasing Cu addition. The results showed that concentrations of Cu in the shoots of E. splendens were 2.1, 2.2 and 2.4 times those of T. repens under the treatment of different Cu concentrations. Soil microbial biomass and phosphatase activity in the rhizosphere of E. splendens were higher than those of T.repens. PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) fingerprint analysis revealed that addition of Cu decreased the number of bands in bare soil and soil with T. repens. However, there was a significant increase in the number of bands in soil with E. splendens incorporated with either 200 or 500 mg kg⁻¹ Cu. The abundances of five phylogenetic groups related most closely to -, β-, γ-proteobacteria, Gram-positive bacteria and CFB group, respectively, were determined in the rhizosphere of plants. Some specific clone such as E13 (metal-contaminated soil clone K20-64) was found in the rhizosphere of E. splendens. Results indicated that E. splendens, as a Cu-accumulator, played an important role in governing soil microbial activity and bacterial community composition in the rhizosphere in response to Cu stress.     

Cutting regime determines allocation of fixed nitrogen in white clover

Leguminous leys are important sources of nitrogen (N), especially in forage-based animal production and organic cropping. Models for estimating total N₂ fixation of leys—including below-ground plant-derived N (BGN)—are based on grazed or harvested leys. However, green manure leys can have different proportions of above-ground plant-derived N (AGN) and BGN when subjected to different cutting regimes. To investigate the effects of cutting on N distribution in white clover, a pot experiment was carried out using ¹⁵N techniques to determine N₂ fixation, N rhizodeposition and root C and N content of cut and uncut white clover (Trifolium repens L. cv. Ramona) plants. Percentage N derived from air (%Ndfa) was lower in uncut (63%) than in cut (72%) plants, but total Ndfa was not significantly affected by cutting. The higher reliance on N₂ fixation in cut plants was thus counterbalanced by lower biomass and total N content. With BGN taken into account, total plant-derived N increased by approximately 50% compared with AGN only. Cutting did not affect the proportion of BGN to standing shoot biomass N after regrowth, but decreased the proportion of BGN to total shoot biomass production during the entire growth period. Thus, estimates of N fixation in green manure leys should consider management practices such as cutting regime, as this can result in differences in above- and below-ground proportions of plant-derived N.     

转胡杨PeDREB2b 基因白三叶表型变异及抗旱性评价

选取W1-2、W1-3、W4-2、W13-4、W17-1、W28-2、W33-3这7个转胡杨(Populus euphratica)PeDREB2b基因白三叶(Trifolium repens)株系为试材,以非转基因白三叶海发为对照,测定了植株的形态特征和永久萎蔫率,以及在不同时间、不同浓度PEG模拟干旱胁迫下的叶片相对含水量、相对电导率和丙二醛含量的变化,旨在评价转基因白三叶株系的抗旱能力。结果表明:1)部分转基因白三叶株系的叶形、叶色、叶片斑纹及叶片大小发生了较明显的变化;2)转基因株系W1-3、W28-2永久萎蔫率明显低于对照,且能维持较长时间的正常生长,表现出一定的抗旱性;3)随着模拟干旱胁迫程度的增加及时间的延长,参试材料的叶片相对含水量呈不同程度下降的趋势,叶片相对电导率、丙二醛含量均有不同程度升高。但转基因株系W1-3、W28-2的叶片相对含水量始终保持较高水平,未出现较大波动,且株系W1-3的相对电导率、丙二醛含量始终保持较低水平,变化较小。综合分析表明,7个转基因白三叶株系的抗旱性强弱依次为W1-3W33-3W28-2W1-2W13-4W17-1W4-2,均优于对照白三叶海发品种。     

Relationships between genetic distance measured by RAPD-PCR and heterosis in inbred lines of white clover (Trifolium repens L.)

The RAPD-PCR technique has been used to generate DNA amplification profiles from a set of advanced generation inbred lines of white clover ( Trifolium repens L.). The genetic distances between lines have been estimated and have been compared with the extent of positive heterosis for dry matter yield in hybrid crosses. The analysis clearly separated the four major groups (H, J, R and S), with little within group variation. Heterosis, previously shown to be positively correlated with the extent of phenotypic variation between parental lines, was greatest between lines from groups showing the least genetic distance. The lack of correlation between heterosis and genetic divergence is discussed in the context of results from other systems. Additionally, the data allow a comparison of the extent of phenotypic variation for a trait under selective pressure with the degree of variation at the DNA level detected with the RAPD technique. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.