两种酶制剂对非发酵面团冻融循环后品质的影响

为了探究酶制剂对非发酵面团在冻融循环后的品质的影响,该文比较了2种酶制剂转谷氨酰胺酶(TGase)与木聚糖酶(xylanase)对非发酵面团冻融品质的改良效果。结果表明,与对照组相比,添加转谷氨酰胺酶和木聚糖酶均能改变冻融后面团蛋白各组分的含量。添加转谷氨酰胺酶使醇溶蛋白以及谷蛋白含量显著下降(P0.05)、谷蛋白大聚合体含量有所上升。添加木聚糖酶则使醇溶蛋白含量上升,使谷蛋白含量显著降低(P0.05)。转谷氨酰胺酶对面团中戊聚糖含量影响不显著(P0.05),而添加木聚糖酶使面团中可溶性戊聚糖含量显著上升(P0.05)。转谷氨酰胺酶的添加加速了冻融循环后非发酵面团的失水,木聚糖酶则显著降低了其失水率(P0.05)。除在10 g/kg转谷氨酰胺酶显著降至1.32 ms外,弛豫时间T2(1)基本维持在1.75 ms,而弛豫时间T2(2)均有所减小;添加转谷氨酰胺酶后,深层结合水相对含量呈逐渐上升趋势;而木聚糖酶则反之。木聚糖酶使冻融面团强韧性与对照组相比显著增强(P0.05),剪切力小幅下降,硬度显著下降(P0.05);与转谷氨酰胺酶相比,木聚糖酶更能缓解冻融面团的质构劣变;转谷氨酰胺酶改善冻融熟面坯的黏性、弹性与内聚性,木聚糖酶则改善"硬度上升,弹性下降"的劣变现象。在改善冻融面团流变特性方面,转谷氨酰胺酶效果更为显著(P0.05)。因此,添加转谷氨酰胺酶与木聚糖酶均能在一定程度上改善冷冻非发酵面团在冻融条件下的品质劣变,但它们的作用方面有所差异。研究结果为两者能够在冷冻非发酵面制品中被广泛地应用提供理论基础。     

胡萝卜抗冻蛋白对亚冻结下冻融面团品质的影响

为了探究胡萝卜抗冻蛋白（Carrot antifreeze proteins,CaAFPs）对不同冻融循环下面团性质的影响,该研究将CaAFPs按照0.5%的比例添加到面团中,并以未加入CaAFPs的面团作为对照。通过比较4℃冷藏、亚冻结冻藏-12℃以及-18℃冻藏下3种储藏温度下,以冻融处理为辅助手段,测定不同条件下面团的含水率、失水率、可冻结水含量、质构特性以及pH值等指标的变化趋势,以此来研究CaAFPs对冻融下亚冻结面团性质的影响及机理。结果表明：经过5次冻融循环后,对照组面团的失水率呈现不同程度的上升趋势（P<0.05）,加入CaAFPs后,有助于延缓面团水分的散失,各组失水率均有所下降。对照组含水率呈现不同程度下降趋势（P<0.05）,加入CaAFPs后,含水率较对照组高（P<0.05）。对照组面团的可冻结水含量呈现不同程度的上升趋势（P<0.05）,对面团的网络结构有一定的保护作用,可冻结水含量均有所下降。对照组硬度、胶着性呈现上升趋势（P<0.05）,弹性、黏聚性和咀嚼性呈现下降趋势（P<0.05）,加入CaAFPs后,在一定程度上可以改善面团的质构特性,使得质构变化缓慢些。对照组面团的pH值呈现不同程度下降趋势（P<0.05）,可以延缓面团酸化现象,面团的pH变化趋势变小。以上说明添加CaAFPs对冻融面团品质具有一定的保护作用。研究结果为CaAFPs在冷冻面团中的应用以及优化冷冻储藏温度等提供了一定的参考,面团在亚冻结冻藏-12℃下能够保持较好的性质,故可考虑将面团储藏在-12℃下以节约能源消耗并能保持其较佳的状态,同时也扩宽了在亚冻结状态下研究抗冻蛋白的性质提供研究思路。     

酵母对冷冻面团发酵特性及馒头品质的影响

为了找出使冷冻面团和馒头综合品质较稳定的酵母产品,采用动态流变仪和F3发酵仪对低糖型国光高活性干酵母(1#)、英联马利苹果即发高活性干酵母(2#)、品一高活性干酵母(3#)、高糖型马利即发高活性干酵母(4#)、高糖型丹宝利即发高活性干酵母(5#)和耐高糖安琪高活性干酵母(6#)冷冻面团冻藏35 d过程中的流变学特性和发酵特性进行研究,并对由此面团制作馒头的质构、色泽、比容和感官品质进行分析。结果表明:不同市售酵母冷冻面团在不同冻藏时间下的流变学特性和发酵特性不同。不同酵母冷冻面团制作馒头后硬度、弹性、回复性、咀嚼性、亮度、红度、黄度、比容和感官品质分别差异显著,不同冻藏时间下同种酵母冷冻面团馒头的质构、色泽、比容和感官品质也分别差异显著。6种酵母在冻藏35 d内,1#和2#酵母冷冻面团的发酵活力始终较大,6#酵母冷冻面团的发酵特性参数始终最稳定;1#、5#和6#酵母冷冻面团的弹性模量与黏性模量较大,其中面团流变学特性最稳定的是5#;1#和6#酵母冷冻面团制作馒头的感官品质较好的同时,比容较高,色泽品质较好,质构品质也较好。因此整个冻藏期间,使冷冻面团和馒头综合品质较好较稳定的是1#,其次是6#。研究结果为冷冻面团馒头工业化生产中酵母的选择提供参考。     

水氮耦合对强筋冬小麦子粒蛋白质和淀粉品质的影响

在高肥力条件下,研究水氮耦合对小麦子粒产量、蛋白质含量及组成、蛋白质质量、淀粉含量及组成和淀粉品质的影响。结果表明,无论施氮与否,灌水均显著提高小麦子粒产量,同时显著降低子粒粗蛋白、单体蛋白及湿面筋含量;但不同灌水量间(W1、W2、W3)差异不显著。在低灌水频次(W0、W1)条件下,施氮具有明显的增产效应;而高灌水频次(W2、W3),施氮的增产效应不显著。随着灌水次数增加,谷蛋白总量保持稳定,而谷蛋白组分产生了显著的变化,其中可溶性谷蛋白含量呈上升趋势,不溶性谷蛋白含量和谷蛋白聚合指数呈下降趋势,粉质仪参数(形成时间和稳定时间)也呈下降趋势。小麦子粒蛋白质含量及组分和子粒品质均因施氮(N.168.kg/hm2)而有不同程度的提高,其中非面筋蛋白(清蛋白和球蛋白)的增加幅度高于面筋蛋白(醇溶蛋白和谷蛋白),可溶性谷蛋白增加幅度高于不溶性谷蛋白,即降低了谷蛋白聚合指数。水氮对子粒的淀粉含量及其组成的影响存在明显的交互效应。在不施氮肥条件下,随灌水次数增加,支链淀粉和总淀粉含量呈上升趋势;施氮条件下,各灌水处理(W1、W2、W3)的总淀粉和支链淀粉含量均显著高于不灌水处理(W0),但各灌水处理间差异不显著。随灌水次数增加,直链淀粉含量和直/支比均呈下降趋势,黏度仪指标(峰值黏度、稀值、最终黏度和反弹值)均呈上升趋势。施氮在低灌水频次(W0、W1)条件下促进支链淀粉的合成,同时降低直链淀粉含量和直/支比;高灌水频次(W2、W3)条件下则相反。     

施氮量对不同品质类型小麦子粒蛋白质组分含量及加工品质的影响

选用强筋小麦济麦20、中筋小麦泰山23和弱筋小麦宁麦9号,利用反相高效液湘色谱（RP-HPLC）方法测定了施氮量对不同品质类型小麦子粒蛋白质组分含量和高分子量谷蛋白亚基（HMW-GS）、低分子量谷蛋白亚基（LMW-GS）含量的影响,并分析其与子粒加工品质的关系。结果表明,随施氮量增加,强筋小麦济麦20和中筋小麦泰山23的子粒蛋白质含量及各组分含量均呈先增加后降低的趋势,施氮量为N 240 kg/hm2时,蛋白质各组分含量较高,加工品质较好; 过量施氮抑制了HMW-GS合成,这是过量施氮导致强筋和中筋小麦子粒蛋白质品质变劣的原因之一。随施氮量增加,弱筋小麦宁麦9号子粒的蛋白质各组分含量显著增加,加工品质变劣。增施氮肥,3个品种的谷蛋白和醇溶蛋白含量的增加幅度显著高于清蛋白+球蛋白含量,这是施氮改善强筋和中筋小麦子粒加工品质的主要原因。济麦20和泰山23两品种的总蛋白质含量及醇溶蛋白含量无显著差异,但强筋小麦济麦20的谷蛋白含量、贮藏蛋白、HMW-GS、LMW-GS、谷蛋白大聚合体（GMP）含量及谷蛋白与醇溶蛋白含量的比值（Glu/Gli）和HMW-GS与LMW-GS含量的比值（HMW/LMW）高于中筋小麦泰山23,这是强筋小麦济麦20加工品质形成及其面团形成时间和稳定时间显著高于泰山23的重要原因。     

麦麸酚基木聚糖对发酵面团特性和馒头品质的影响

为了提高麦麸的附加值、馒头的品质以及增强馒头的营养价值,该试验以小麦粉为原料,采用2个分子量的麦麸酚基木聚糖（820、581 kD）,研究不同添加量（0.25%、0.5%、1.0%、2.0%）对发酵面团特性以及馒头品质的影响。结果表明：随着麦麸酚基木聚糖添加量的增加,发酵面团的弹性模量、质子密度A22先增加后下降,黏性模量、质子密度A23增加,弛豫时间T22下降;馒头的亮度下降,红度和黄度增加,比容、黏聚性、回复性先增加后下降,硬度、咀嚼性先下降后上升,黏附性下降,馒头的感官得分先上升后下降。高分子量的麦麸酚基木聚糖,其发酵面团的弹性模量和黏性模量变幅较大,弛豫时间T22、T23较大、质子密度A21较小,低分子量的麦麸酚基木聚糖,其馒头比容和弹性较大,但馒头硬度和咀嚼性相对也较大。麦麸酚基木聚糖添加量在0.5%时,对发酵面团以及馒头品质改善效果最好。添加量在1.0%内,发酵面团特性以及馒头品质均可接受。高分子量的酚基木聚糖对发酵面团以及馒头品质改善效果高于低分子量的酚基木聚糖。研究结果为麦麸酚基木聚糖广泛应用于馒头中,提高馒头品质及营养价值提供理论依据。     

广西金秀红茶加工过程中主要生化成分变化研究

本文研究了广西金秀红茶加工过程中主要生化成分的变化。结果表明:金秀茶鲜叶内含物质丰富,为金秀红茶的优良品质奠定了良好的物质基础。金秀红茶在加工过程中水分含量、水浸出物含量、茶多酚含量均呈下降趋势;游离氨基酸总量在萎凋过程呈增加趋势,在揉捻、发酵和烘干过程呈减少趋势;咖啡碱含量在萎凋、发酵和烘干过程呈上升趋势,在揉捻过程呈下降趋势。     

麸皮面粉面团的粉质和拉伸特性

为了探讨麸皮对小麦面粉品质的影响,将微粉碎后的燕麦麸细粉、小麦麸细粉与小麦粉按混料配方均匀设计制备麸皮面粉,用粉质仪和拉伸仪测定了麸皮面粉的面团流变学特性,并对麸皮面粉各组分含量与流变学参数间的相关性进行分析。结果表明,随着麸皮含量的增加,麸皮面粉面团的吸水率增大,形成时间变化不大,稳定时间不断减少;弱化度和粉质指数在不同样品变化较大,以样品3粉质特性(即小麦粉88.5%,燕麦麸细粉10.20%,小麦麸1.39%)最优;相同醒发时间下,随着麸皮总含量的增加,面团的拉伸曲线面积、延伸度、拉伸阻力及最大拉伸阻力均呈下降趋势;拉伸参数均随醒发时间而呈上升趋势。与面团粉质特性相关性最显著的是小麦粉含量,其次是小麦麸和燕麦麸细粉含量;小麦粉含量与拉伸特性呈显著正相关,与燕麦麸含量呈显著负相关,与小麦麸含量的相关性不显著。这些研究表明麸皮添加比例能够显著影响面团的流变学特性。     

冷冻面团品质劣变及改良研究进展

冷冻面团技术实现了面团制作与烘焙的分离,具有标准化、方便化等优势,因此在世界范围得到快速发展。然而,受冰晶形成和冻藏作用的影响,冷冻面团仍然存在品质容易劣变和缺乏高效改良方法等问题。该研究主要从冷冻面团的发酵特性、面团主要组分如面筋蛋白和淀粉的特性、面团结构、冷冻面团的流变学特性等方面对冷冻面团的劣变现象与机理进行综述,以及改进冷冻工艺,筛选抗冻酵母,添加酶制剂、抗冻剂、乳化剂等改良方法进行总结。通过对冷冻面团发酵特性、面筋蛋白结构、面团水合状态等劣变关键因素的分析,为冷冻面团的抗冻研究提供参考,该研究旨在为冷冻面团品质劣变的抑制与高效改良技术的开发提供理论基础与实践参考。     

复合改良剂对后发酵馒头冷冻面团冻藏品质的影响

冷冻面团加工技术作为一种面食生产新工艺,是目前较先进的面制品保鲜技术。冷冻处理会对酵母活力、面团品质、面团面筋结构等产生不良影响。为了提高冷冻面团品质,明确不同食品改良剂对后发酵冷冻面团馒头品质的影响,该研究优化了复配增稠剂(卡拉胶、瓜尔豆胶、海藻酸钠)、复配乳化剂(双乙酰酒石酸单双甘油酯、羧甲基纤维素)、复配酶制剂(谷氨酰胺转氨酶、葡萄糖氧化酶)和海藻糖对后发酵冷冻面团馒头品质的作用,通过单因素和响应面试验设计,考察了不同复合改良剂对冷冻面团馒头比容、质构和感官品质的影响。研究表明:海藻糖、酶制剂对冷冻面团馒头比容的影响极其显著(p0.01)。在添加量为0.4%乳化剂、0.8%增稠剂、45 mg/kg酶制剂、2%海藻糖的复配工艺下,冷冻面团馒头的比容达到最佳水3.15 mL/g,其硬度和弹性也达到较优值,分别为926.832 g、0.912 8。同时对未添加和添加复合改良剂冻藏0～2.5个月的冷冻面团进行扫描电镜观察,发现未添加复配改良剂的冷冻面团中大多数小淀粉颗粒裸露在外,颗粒分明,内部组织结构不均匀,而添加复合改良剂的冷冻面团淀粉颗粒镶嵌在面筋网络之间,蛋白网络结构清晰完整,冷冻面团内部组织结构均匀紧密,面团的抗冻性较强。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Potassium Fixation and Release Characteristics in Rhizosphere and Nonrhizosphere Soils for a Rapeseed–Rice Cropping Sequence

Potassium (K) fixation and release in soil are important factors in the long-term sustainability of a cropping system. Changes in K concentration and characteristics of K fixation and release in rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils in the rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)–rice (Oryza sativa L.) rotation were investigated using a rhizobox system. The concentrations of different forms of K in both rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils decreased with plants compared to without plants, regardless of K fertilizer application. Potassium uptake by crops mainly came from the rhizosphere soil. In the treatment without K fertilizer (–K), the main form of K supplied by the soil to the crops was 1.0 mol L^?1 nitric acid (HNO₃) nonextractable K, followed by nonexchangeable K, and then exchangeable K. In the treatment with K fertilizer (+K), the main K forms supplied by the soil to the crops were exchangeable K and nonexchangeable K. The amount and rate of K fixation after one cycle of the rapeseed–rice rotation was greater in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The amount and rate of K fixation of soil in the +K treatment were significantly less than in the –K treatment. The cumulative amounts of K released with 1.0 mol L^?1 ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) and 1.0 mol L^?1 HNO₃ extraction increased with the increasing numbers of extractions, but the K-releasing power of soil by successive extraction decreased gradually and finally became almost constant. The release of K was less in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The release of K in the +K treatment was similar to that in the –K treatment in rhizosphere soil, but the K release in nonrhizosphere soil was greater with the +K than the –K treatment. Overall, the information obtained in this study will be helpful in formulating more precise K fertilizer recommendations for certain soils.