Nitrogen transfer between high- and low-quality leaves on a nutrient-poor Oxisol determined by N enrichment

It has been proposed that the C/N ratio, or quality, of litter or mulch mixtures affects N release. Although total N release from these mixtures and the effects on soil N are relatively well understood, a mechanistic understanding of the interactions between litter species with respect to their N release is still lacking. This study examines decomposition and N dynamics in mixtures of high-quality leguminous mulch, gliricidia [Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth. ex Walp.] with a C/N ratio of 13, and low-quality cupuaçu [Theobroma grandiflorum (Wild. ex Spring) Schumann] litter with a C/N ratio of 42, which occur in combination in agroforestry systems. Ratios of 100:0, 80:20, 50:50, 20:80, 0:100 of fresh ¹⁵N-enriched gliricidia leaves and senescent cupuaçu leaves, totaling the same dry weight of 6.64 t ha⁻¹, were applied to an Oxisol and sampled at 6, 14, 38, and 96 days after application. After more than 40% of the N in the gliricidia leaves had been released and the microbial biomass N reached its peak, a significant increase in available soil N occurred at day 14, which was more pronounced with greater amounts of gliricidia in the leaf mixture. However, relative to the N applied in the leaf mixture, there was no significant difference in available soil N with greater proportions of gliricidia. Total N release from the mixtures corresponded to the total N applied by gliricidia. Until day 38, cupuaçu C mineralization was significantly faster in the presence of the highest proportion of gliricidia compared to lower proportions. This faster C mineralization of more than 0.5% per day, however, did not increase total C loss or N release from cupuaçu leaves after 96 days. The use of ¹⁵N tracers identified an N transfer from gliricidia leaves and the soil to cupuaçu leaves and consequently, a lower N release from gliricidia to the soil in the presence of cupuaçu leaves. Though we expected that available N in the soil would also decrease with greater amounts of cupuaçu litter in the mixture, our results indicated an additive effect of the two species on N release and soil mineral N, with gross interactions between them canceling net interactive effects. Therefore, N release of leaf mixtures behaved as predicted from a calculated sum of individual release patterns, in spite of a transfer of N from the high- to the low-quality leaves.     

Implementing on-farm agroforestry research: lessons learned in Talamanca,Costa Rica

The rapid appraisal and farmer selection procedures, preceding the establishment of over fifty agroforestry research trials on farms in Talamanca, Costa Rica are described. The highest probability of success and impact of these long-term collaborative trials is obtained by selecting innovative, experienced, motivated and locally respected farmers. The methodological lessons learned from implementing three types of researcher managed trials (shade-cacao; black pepper on living support posts; timber production in boundary lines) are discussed. The importance of fitting farmer selection criteria to project objectives, experimental designs to on-farm limitations, and project goals to farmers' goals, are emphasized.     

可可FAT基因家族进化及表达模式分析

在植物中,酰基-ACP硫酯酶（fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase, FAT）是调控脂肪酸合成的关键酶。为解析可可FAT基因家族成员的特点与功能,本研究从可可基因组中筛选鉴定出FAT基因家族的6个成员,分别命名为TcFATA、TcFATB1、TcFATB2、TcFATB3、TcFATB4、TcFATB5。6个基因外显子数目为6~7个,编码区（CDS）长度介于1128~1263 bp,预测蛋白分子量介于42.72~46.47 kDa,等电点介于6.57~9.10。进化分析结果表明可可FAT基因家族分成FATA与FATB亚群,FATA亚群包含1个可可TcFATA成员,FATB亚群包含5个可可TcFATBs成员。不同可可种子发育时期表达分析结果表明:TcFATA和TcFATB1伴随果实发育成熟,表达量呈下降趋势,TcFATA和TcFATB1在不同种质中表达量与油酸（C18:1）和棕榈酸（C16:0）比例呈正相关,表明其与脂肪酸组分比例调控有紧密关联。     

可可体细胞胚胎发生及植株再生体系的构建

以可可（TheobromaCac0L.）的子叶为外植体,通过体胚发生途径,诱导再生可可植株。各培养阶段的优化培养基和培养条件为∶（1）愈伤组织诱导培养基（PCG）∶改良DKW+2,4-D3.0mgL+KT1.0mg几+TDZ 0.01mgL,在28+2）℃（以下培养温度均同）温度条件下,暗培养20d,诱导率为96.67%;（2）愈伤组织增殖培养基（SCG）∶改良DKW＋2,4-D 3.0mgA+KT1.0mg九,暗培养20d;（3）胚状体诱导培养基（ED）∶改良DKW+Sucrose30gL,暗培养60~150d,胚状体诱导产生并发育成熟,胚状体的诱导率为333%;（4）成熟胚诱导成苗∶①PEC培养基为∶改良DKW+Ghrose20gl+Sucrose10gL,光照为16h/d,培养60d;②采用RD培养基∶改良DKW+BA1.5mgl+AA0.5mgl,光照为16h/,培养3090d后,可得到完整的植株,再生植株的诱导率为 42%。     

可可蔗糖磷酸合成酶基因家族进化及组织表达分析

在高等植物中,蔗糖磷酸合成酶（Sucrose phosphate synthase,SPS）是蔗糖合成的限速酶。在多种植物中都发现了SPS基因,而可可中尚未见相关报道。通过分析可可基因组数据库,鉴定出4个SPS候选基因,依次命名为TcSPS1、TcSPS2、TcSPS3和TcSPS4。4个基因的编码区（CDS）长度在3 075~3 228 bp之间,外显子数目为12~14,预测蛋白的平均分子量为118.15 ku,等电点均小于7。进化分析结果表明SPS基因家族分成3个亚族;TcSPS1和TcSPS2属于ClassⅠ亚族,TcSPS3和TcSPS4分别属于ClassⅡ亚族和ClassⅢ亚族。实时荧光定量PCR分析结果表明,TcSPS1与TcSPS2在树皮和果实中高量表达,TcSPS3和TcSPS4主要在叶片中表达。伴随着叶片和花蕾生长发育,各TcSPS基因表达量均呈现出上升的趋势,表明其与主要光合产物--蔗糖的合成或再合成有密切联系,参与可可“源库”器官中光合产物分配。     

可可发酵过程中蛋白质降解与吡嗪类化合物变化分析

采用固相微萃取(SPME)对发酵干燥和焙炒的可可豆挥发性成分进行萃取,以气相色谱/质谱联用仪(GC/MS)对挥发性成分进行分析,并对发酵过程中蛋白质的含量和氨基酸进行测定.结果表明:发酵过程中,蛋白质发生了大幅度降解,减少了50％;氨基酸组成也发生了一些变化,特别是游离氨基酸大幅度增加,其中疏水性氨基酸增加较多,这些物质的生成对可可香气的形成具有重要贡献.发酵后干燥可可豆中含氮杂环化合物含量比较低,而烘烤可可豆中的含氮杂环化合物,如吡嗪的含量有了大幅度的增加,特别是发酵干燥后焙炒过程中2,5-二甲基吡嗪、2,3,5-三甲基吡嗪、2,3,5,6-四甲基吡嗪都有明显增加,这表明发酵中蛋白质水解促进了这类可可特征香气成分的形成.     

The Trichoderma koningii aggregate species

The morphological concept of Trichoderma koningii is found to include several species that differ from each other in details of phenotype (including conidium morphology, growth rate) and biogeography. Phylogenetic analysis utilizing partial sequences of the translation-elongation factor 1 alpha (tef1), as well as fragments of actin and calmodulin genes, indicate that phenotypic characters typical of T. koningii evolved independently in three well-separated main lineages. Combined molecular and phenotype data lead to the development of a taxonomy with the recognition of twelve taxonomic species and one variety within the three lineages. These lineages include: (1) T. koningii and T. ovalisporum and the new species T. caribbaeum var. caribbaeum, T. caribbaeum var. aequatoriale, T. dorotheae, T. dingleyae, T. intricatum, T. koningiopsis, T. petersenii and T. taiwanense; (2) the new species T. rogersonii and T. austrokoningii, and (3) the new anamorph T. stilbohypoxyli.Trichoderma koningii s. str. is an uncommon species restricted to Europe and eastern North America; T. caribbaeum var. aequatoriale, T. koningiopsis, and T. ovalisporum were isolated as endophytes of trunks of Theobroma species in tropical America, and T. ovalisporum from the woody liana Banisteropsis caapi in Ecuador; T. koningiopsis is common in tropical America but was isolated also from natural substrata in East Africa, Europe and Canada, and from ascospores in eastern North America, and as an endophyte in Theobroma species; T. stilbohypoxyli, originally described as a parasite of Stilbohypoxylon species in Puerto Rico, is found to be more common in the tropics, besides an endophytic isolate from Fagus in U.K. The additional new species are known almost exclusively from their teleomorphs. Isolates of T. ovalisporum and T. koningiopsis may have biological control potential. A morphophenetic key and a set of tools for molecular species identification were developed.Taxonomic novelties:Trichoderma austrokoningii/Hypocrea austrokoningii Samuels & Druzhinina sp.nov., T. caribbaeum var caribbaeum/H. caribbaea Samuels& Schroers sp.nov., T. caribbaeum var. aequatoriale Samuels & H.C. Evans var.nov., T. dingleyae/H. dingleyae Samuels & Dodd sp.nov., T. dorotheae/H. dorotheae Samuels & Dodd sp.nov., T. intricatum/H. intricata Samuels & Dodd sp.nov., T. koningiopsis/H. koningiopsis Samuels, C. Suarez& H.C. Evans sp.nov., T. petersenii/H. petersenii Samuels, Dodd & Schroers sp.nov., T. rogersonii/H. rogersonii Samuels sp.nov., T. stilbohypoxyli Samuels & Schroers sp.nov., T. taiwanense/H. taiwanensis Samuels & M.L. Wu sp.nov.     

Field evaluation of synthetic sex pheromone traps for the cocoa mirid Sahlbergella singularis (Hemiptera: Miridae)

BACKGROUND: Field trapping experiments were conducted to evaluate the attractiveness of five different pheromone blends as well as the impact of trap design on attractiveness towards cocoa mirids, Sahlbergella singularis Hagl. and Distantiella theobroma (Dist.), in Cameroon. RESULTS: A total of 361 adults of S. singularis (359 males and two females) were caught. The highest numbers of mirids were found in traps with pheromone blends that combined a monoester and a diester, compared with traps with the diester or the monoester individually and control traps with no pheromone. Rectangular traps caught significantly more mirids compared with delta traps. The mean number of 5.1 mirids trap^?1 year^?1 caught in rectangular traps was significantly higher compared with the 1.8 mirids trap^?1 year^?1 for the delta traps. CONCLUSION: The data revealed that rectangular traps containing pheromone blends combining both the monoester and the diester have a good potential to lure and trap adult males of S. singularis on cocoa farms. The pheromone blends used were specific for S. singularis, and the use of pheromone traps appears to be a promising strategy for incorporation into integrated pest management strategies for the monitoring or even the control of S. singularis in cocoa plantations. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

A comparison of the growth and yield during a 20 year period of Amelonado and upper amazon hybrid cocoa in Ghana

Summary Progeny trials were planted at Tafo in 1952 and 1954 to compare 3 selfed local-Trinitarios, 1 outcrossed and 3 sibbed Upper Amazon progenies and 13 hybrids between Amelonado or local-Trinitarios and Upper Amazons; 1 trial included West African Amelonado. The Amazon hybrids and the outcrossed Amazon were particularly vigorous and precocious and maintained a yield advantage for 20 years. The 13 hybrids were similar in yield potential, but varied in net yield following differential losses from pod diseases, mainly caused by Phytophthora palmivora. Disease losses were lowest on one of the sibbed Amazons and the outcrossed Amazon and lower on Amelonado than on any of the 7 hybrids tested with it; in both trials losses were lower on Amelonado hybrids than on Trinitario hybrids.There was wide variation in both size and growth rates of mature trees and no consistent relationship between continued growth and crop. It seemed that later yields were not prejudiced by the precocity of Amazon hybrids, the yields from all types fluctuated together. Because the differences in disease losses are likely to be accentuated under farmer's conditions. Amelonado hybrids are preferable to local-Trinitario hybrids. The results also suggest that commercially acceptable pure Upper Amazon varieties could be developed.On secondment on technical assistance from the United Kingdom Ministry of Overseas Development.