干旱胁迫对两种油桐幼苗生长、气体交换及叶绿素荧光参数的影响

为了探究干旱胁迫对两种油桐(三年桐和千年桐)幼苗光合生理特性的变化及响应,采用盆栽试验,研究不同水分处理(正常供水、轻度干旱、中度干旱、重度干旱)对油桐幼苗生长、叶片气体交换及叶绿素荧光参数的影响。结果表明:与对照相比,轻度干旱胁迫对两种油桐生长、气体交换及叶绿素荧光参数无明显影响(P0.05);中度干旱及重度干旱使两种油桐的叶绿素SPAD值、生长量、净光合速率(P_n)、气孔导度(G_s)、蒸腾速率(T_r)、气孔限制值(L_s)、最大净光合速率(P_(nmax))、光饱和点(LSP)、表观量子效率(AQY)、暗呼吸速率(R_d)、最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m)、实际光化学量子效率(Φ_(PSⅡ))、电子传递速率(ETR)及光化学猝灭系数(q_P)显著下降(P0.05),且在重度干旱胁迫下迅速下降,胞间CO_2浓度(C_i)、水分利用效率(WUE)、光补偿点(LCP)、初始荧光(F_o)、非光化学猝灭系数(NPQ)显著升高(P0.05);中度干旱胁迫下油桐幼苗P_n的降低是由气孔因素及光合机构活性降低的非气孔因素共同引起的,而重度干旱胁迫下光合作用的下降主要是由光合机构活性降低的非气孔因素引起的。三年桐的光合机构活性及光合效率高于千年桐,对干旱胁迫的适应性较千年桐强。     

NaCl胁迫对祁连山野生黄瑞香叶片光合叶绿素荧光特性的影响

以4片真叶黄瑞香幼苗为材料,设置不同浓度(0、50、100、150、200mmol·L~(-1))NaCl胁迫处理,采用温室砂培实验系统考察了其幼苗叶绿素含量、叶绿素荧光参数及气体交换参数等光合生理指标的变化。结果表明:(1)在正常环境条件下(对照),黄瑞香叶片净光合速率(P_n)、气孔导度(G_s)的日变化曲线呈双峰型,蒸腾速率(T_r)日变化曲线呈单峰型;较高浓度(100mmol·L~(-1))NaCl胁迫改变了黄瑞香叶片光合特性日变化曲线,导致其P_n、T_r、G_s日变化曲线整体下降,而胞间CO_2浓度(Ci)日变化曲线整体上升。(2)低浓度(50mmol·L~(-1))NaCl胁迫对黄瑞香叶片叶绿素含量及其比值无显著影响,但较高浓度(100mmol·L~(-1))NaCl胁迫则使叶绿素含量显著下降,其比值下降则较平缓。(3)较高浓度(100mmol·L~(-1))NaCl胁迫使得黄瑞香叶片最大荧光(F_m)、PSⅡ最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m)、PSⅡ光下最大捕光效率(F_v′/F_m′)、光化学荧光猝灭系数(qP)、PSⅡ实际光化学效率(Φ_(PSⅡ))均显著下降,却使其初始荧光(F_0)和非光化学猝灭(NPQ)显著上升。研究发现,随着盐胁迫浓度的增加,引起黄瑞香光合速率下降的主要原因是非气孔因素;在轻度NaCl胁迫下黄瑞香有较强的忍耐性,而重度NaCl胁迫则显著降低了叶片的光合机构活性,加剧了光抑制程度,从而严重限制了其叶片的光合作用效率。     

褪黑素对盐胁迫下香椿幼苗生长及离子吸收和光合作用的影响

以香椿幼苗为材料,采用水培法研究不同浓度褪黑素(0、50、100、200和400μmol/L)对盐(150 mmol/L NaCl)胁迫下香椿幼苗生长指标、矿质元素离子(Na~+、K~+、Ca~(2+)和Mg~(2+))含量、净光合速率(P_n)、蒸腾速率(T_r)、气孔导度(G_s)和胞间CO_2浓度(C_i)等光合作用指标的影响,以探究外源物质褪黑素对盐胁迫下香椿幼苗生长和生理的调控作用。结果表明:(1)在盐胁迫条件下,香椿幼苗的生长受到显著抑制,叶绿素含量和P_n显著降低,叶片和根系中Na~+含量比对照(CK)显著增加,而K~+、Mg~(2+)和Ca~(2+)含量以及离子含量的比值(K~+/Na~+、Mg~(2+)/Na~+和Ca~(2+)/Na~+)则明显下降,且丙二醛含量显著增加。(2)施加适宜浓度褪黑素能显著促进盐胁迫下香椿植株生长,降低其叶片和根系中Na~+含量,提高其K~+、Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)含量和离子含量比值以及叶片P_n、T_r、水分利用效率(WUE)和G_s和C_i,但却降低了气孔限制值(L_s)。(3)适宜浓度褪黑素使盐胁迫下香椿植株叶片的丙二醛积累明显下降,叶绿素含量显著上升。研究发现,外施适宜浓度的褪黑素能降低盐胁迫下香椿幼苗叶片和根系内Na~+浓度,增加K~+、Mg~(2+)和Ca~(2+)浓度,调控植物体内细胞的离子平衡状态,增强对营养元素的吸收,提高光合作用效率,从而提高香椿幼苗对盐胁迫的抗性,并以100μmol/L褪黑素处理的效果最佳。     

葎草幼苗的生理生化特征对盐胁迫的响应

采用盆栽法研究葎草(Humulus scandens)幼苗的生物量、气体交换参数、叶水势、叶绿素含量、叶绿素荧光参数、抗氧化酶活性及丙二醛(MDA)含量对不同浓度盐(NaCl)(分别为0、100、200、300、400mmol/L)胁迫的响应,以探讨葎草幼苗对盐胁迫的适应机制及耐性机理。结果表明:(1)随着NaCl胁迫浓度的增加,葎草幼苗生长受到严重抑制,显著降低了根、茎、叶的干重、单叶面积、比叶面积(SLA)和根冠比(R/S)。(2)NaCl胁迫后,葎草幼苗的净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、胞间CO_2浓度(Ci)、蒸腾速率(Tr)和叶水势(Ψw)均随盐浓度增加呈显著下降趋势,气孔限制值(Ls)和瞬时水分利用效率(WUEi)却显著增加。(3)NaCl胁迫下,叶绿素a(Chl a)和叶绿素b(Chl b)等光合色素含量以及过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性均显著降低,但超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、过氧化物酶(POD)活性和丙二醛(MDA)含量显著升高,说明植株的抗氧化酶系统对NaCl胁迫具有积极的响应策略。(4)NaCl胁迫显著提高了幼苗最小荧光(F_o)、可变荧光(F_v)、最大荧光(F_m)、表观光合电子传递速率(ETR)和光化学淬灭系数(qP),有效降低了PSⅡ有效光化学量子产量(F_m′/F_o′)、非光化学淬灭系数(q N),并在不同盐浓度梯度下存在着显著的效果差异。研究表明,低浓度(100mmol/L)NaCl胁迫对葎草幼苗生长没有显著影响,但随着浓度的增加,葎草幼苗的气体交换、叶绿素含量、PSⅡ反应能力、抗氧化酶系统均受到抑制,植株的生长发育受到严重影响。     

根施SA对番茄幼苗盐害损伤的修复效应

探讨根施水杨酸(SA)缓解番茄幼苗盐胁迫伤害的调节作用,为合理利用SA解决番茄栽培中的盐害问题和培育抗盐番茄品种提供科学依据。以"秦丰保冠"番茄品种幼苗为试材,在营养液栽培条件下,研究50-800μmol/L SA对100 mmol/L NaCl胁迫下番茄幼苗生长、叶绿素含量、气体交换参数、叶绿素荧光参数、膜脂过氧化及抗氧化酶活性的影响。结果显示,盐胁迫下,不同浓度SA处理的番茄幼苗生长抑制均能得到有效缓解,同时叶片叶绿素含量、光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、最大荧光(Fm)、PSⅡ最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)和光化学淬灭系数(qP)不同程度升高,细胞间隙CO2浓度(Ci)、最小荧光(Fo)和非光化学淬灭系数(NPQ)显著降低,其中SA浓度为200μmol/L时,各指标变幅均达到最大;在盐胁迫下,番茄幼苗叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)活性、丙二醛含量和电解质渗出率显著升高,过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性变化不显著,施加各浓度外源SA处理促进了上述3种酶活性的升高,同时使叶片丙二醛含量和电解质渗出率显著降低,并以200μmol/L SA处理时变化最显著。外源SA主要通过增强幼苗叶片的光合能力来缓解盐胁迫造成的氧化伤害,进而提高番茄植株的耐盐性。本试验条件下,以200μmol/L SA处理效果最好。     

外源亚精胺对盐胁迫下黄瓜幼苗光合作用的影响

采用营养液栽培,研究了外源亚精胺对50mmol·L-1NaCl胁迫下黄瓜幼苗植株生长、叶片叶绿素含量、光合气体交换参数和叶绿素荧光参数(PSⅡ光化学效率)的影响。结果表明:NaCl胁迫显著降低了黄瓜植株生长量、净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、胞间CO2浓度(Ci)(P<0.05),但对PSⅡ实际光化学效率(ФPSⅡ)、光化学淬灭(qP)、有效光化学效率(Fv′/Fm′)、非光化学淬灭(qN)和PSⅡ最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)无显著影响(P>0.05);外源亚精胺显著提高了盐胁迫下黄瓜植株生长量、叶绿素含量、净光合速率、气孔导度、胞间CO2浓度,增加了ФPSⅡ、qP、Fv′/Fm′,降低了qN(P<0.05);外源亚精胺对Fv/Fm影响不显著(P>0.05)。外源施加亚精胺可增强盐胁迫下黄瓜植株的光合能力,主要是由于减弱了盐胁迫对植株的气孔限制,但对PSⅡ实际光化学效率影响较小,且叶面喷施比根施处理对改善盐胁迫下植株的生长和光合作用更有效。     

NaCl胁迫对盐桦幼苗生理特性的影响

利用不同NaCl浓度的土壤处理1年生盐桦幼苗,在不同时间分别测定叶片气体交换参数、叶绿素含量及主要渗透物质含量,以探讨盐桦的耐盐机理.结果显示:(1)随着NaCl浓度的增加,净光合速率(P_n)呈下降趋势,当NaCl浓度小于1.6%时,P_n下降以非气孔因素为主,当NaCl浓度大于1.6%时,P_n下降以气孔因素为主;叶片中叶绿素(Chl)含量呈现在1%时有所增加尔后下降的趋势,Chl a/b值则直接降低;相对电导率(Rc)、脯氨酸(Pro)含量、丙二醛(MDA)含量、可溶性糖(Ss)含量均在1.0%～1.8% NaCl呈上升趋势,而在1.8%～2.2% NaCl呈下降趋势;(2)不同盐胁迫时间对气孔导度、胞间CO_2浓度、蒸腾速率、Rc、Ss影响显著,对于P_n、Chl、Pro、MDA影响不显著;(3)盐桦幼苗在1.8% NaCl时能够正常生长,而在2.2% NaCl时全部死亡.     

接种AMF对弱光环境及盐胁迫下甜瓜光合特性的影响

以甜瓜(Cucumis melo L.)品种"中蜜3号"为试材,摩西球囊霉菌(Glmous mosseae,GM)为供试菌种,采用温室盆栽试验研究了丛枝菌根真菌(Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi,AMF)对弱光及盐胁迫下甜瓜幼苗叶绿素含量、光合气体交换参数、叶绿素荧光参数和光响应曲线的影响。结果表明:弱光及盐胁迫下接种AMF可显著增强甜瓜幼苗叶绿素含量、净光合速率(P_n)、光合电子传递速率(ETR)、水分利用率(WUE)和气孔限制因子(L_s);气孔导度(G_s)、蒸腾速率(T_r)、胞间CO_2浓度(C_i)则随胁迫时间延长不断增强;光化学猝灭系数(qP)与实际光化学效率(Φ_(PSⅡ))变化趋势基本一致且均显著高于未接菌处理;接种AMF显著增强了最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m),但处理之间差异不显著;并进一步提高了宿主的最大羧化速率(A_(max))、光饱和点(LSP)和表观量子效率(AQE),降低了光补偿点(LCP)和暗呼吸速率(R_d)。研究发现,AMF可通过改善叶绿素荧光、气体交换参数和光响应参数来减轻弱光及盐胁迫对植株造成的伤害,从而提高甜瓜对弱光及盐胁迫的耐性。     

外源褪黑素对盐胁迫下紫花苜蓿幼苗抗氧化能力以及光合作用效率的影响

紫花苜蓿为多年生豆科优良牧草,土壤盐碱化是其产量的重要限制因素。该研究以‘中苜1号’紫花苜蓿为材料,在盐胁迫浓度和褪黑素浓度筛选试验基础上,设置盐(150 mmol/L NaCl)和褪黑素(30、50、80μmol/L)单独及复合处理,采用水培根灌褪黑素的方法,探究外源褪黑素对盐胁迫下紫花苜蓿幼苗生长特性、膜透性、渗透调节、抗氧化物酶以及光合作用指标的影响。结果表明:(1)紫花苜蓿幼苗生长受到盐胁迫的显著抑制,而在单独褪黑素处理下无显著变化;各浓度褪黑素处理均可有效缓解盐胁迫对紫花苜蓿生长造成的伤害,并以150 mmol/L NaCl+80μmol/L褪黑素处理(NaCl+MT2)效果最佳,其幼苗根长、根鲜重和根干重分别比盐胁迫处理显著增加了34.52%、41.93%和19.61%。(2)盐胁迫显著增加了紫花苜蓿幼苗细胞膜系统的透性和膜脂过氧化程度,NaCl+MT2处理幼苗叶片的相对电导率和MDA含量分别比盐胁迫处理显著降低了27.18%和30.24%,同时使幼苗叶片的相对含水量显著提高,脯氨酸含量却显著降低,表明外源褪黑素有效缓解了盐胁迫下细胞失水危害和细胞膜损伤的程度。(3)NaCl+MT2处理幼苗叶片的POD和SOD活性分别比盐胁迫处理显著提高31.45%和41.41%,其CAT活性却无显著变化,表明外源褪黑素可显著增强紫花苜蓿幼苗叶片POD、SOD活性,提高其活性氧的清除能力,减轻盐胁迫诱导的过氧化伤害。(4)盐胁迫显著抑制了紫花苜蓿幼苗光合作用效率,而NaCl+MT2处理幼苗叶片的净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率较盐胁迫处理分别显著增加了30.27%、45.1%、42.15%。研究发现,盐胁迫致使紫花苜蓿幼苗叶片的活性氧积累显著增加,抗氧化物酶活性显著降低,显著降低了其光合作用效率,外源褪黑素通过提高紫花苜蓿的抗氧化能力和光合作用效率来促进幼苗生长,从而增强了紫花苜蓿的耐盐性。     

SA浸种对盐胁迫下小麦种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

以小麦盐敏感品种鲁麦15为材料,研究了外源水杨酸(salicylic acid,SA)浸种对100 mmol/L NaCl胁迫下小麦种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响。研究结果表明:盐胁迫下,无论经SA浸种还是未经SA浸种,小麦幼苗的生长均受到明显抑制,干、鲜重显著下降;0.1 mmol/L、0.2 mmol/L和0.3 mmol/L SA溶液浸种均能显著缓解NaCl胁迫对小麦幼苗生长的抑制,其中以0.2 mmol/L SA溶液浸种预处理效果最好。实验中,0.2 mmol/L SA浸种可显著提高盐胁迫下小麦种子β-淀粉酶的活性和吸胀速率。此外,与未经SA浸种的盐胁迫小麦幼苗相比,0.2 mmol/L SA浸种的盐胁迫小麦幼苗整株的干、鲜重显著增加,幼苗体内Na~+含量降低,K~+含量和K~+/Na~+比值显著提高;同时,小麦幼苗叶片中超氧化物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase,SOD)、过氧化氢酶(catalase,CAT)、过氧化物酶(peroxidase,POD)活性升高,而丙二醛(MDA)含量则显著降低。由此可以得出,SA浸种能有效提高盐胁迫下小麦幼苗体内K~+/Na~+比值,提高SOD、CAT和POD的活性,减轻膜脂过氧化程度,以缓解盐胁迫对小麦幼苗生长的抑制作用,从而提高耐盐性。     

Systematic significance of mature embryo of bamboos

The mature embryo of seven species belonging to five genera of Indian bamboos is described. In all these the basic pattern of embryo organisation is same: the scutellar and coleoptilar bundles are not separated by an internode, the epiblast is absent, the lower portion of the scutellum and the coleorhiza are separated by a cleft and the margins of embryonic leaves overlap. The features unique to fleshy fruited bamboos are: presence of a massive scutellum, the juxtaposition of plumule and radicle and the occurrence of a bud in the axil of the coleoptile. The fleshy fruit bearing bamboos should be classified into one group, the tribeMelocanneae. Evidence is provided to recognise additional groups in the subfamilyBambusoideae.     

Taxonomic status of the species of the green algal genusNeochloris

Komárek has recently reviewed the various species assigned to the green algal genusNeochloris Starr (Chlorococcales, Chlorococcaceae) and removed those with uninucleate vegetative cells to a new genus,Ettlia. Watanabe & Floyd, unaware ofKomárek's work, also reviewed the species ofNeochloris and distributed them among three genera—Neochloris, Chlorococcopsis gen. nov., andParietochloris gen. nov.—on the basis of details of the covering of the zoospore and the arrangement of the basal bodies of the flagellar apparatus. This paper reconciles these two treatments and makes additional recommendations at the ranks of genus, family, order, and class.     

Analysis of twin of eyeless regulation during early embryogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster

The Drosophila Pax6 homolog twin of eyeless (toy) is so far the first zygotically expressed gene involved in eye morphogenesis in Drosophila. The study of its expression during embryogenesis is therefore informative of the initial events of eye development in Drosophila. We have analyzed how the initial expression domain of toy at cellular blastoderm is regulated. We show that the three maternal patterning systems active in the cephalic region (the anterior, terminal and dorsal-ventral systems) cooperate with zygotically activated gap genes to shape the initial expression domain of toy. Whereas Bicoid, Dorsal and Torso signaling synergistically act as activators, Hunchback, Knirps and Decapentaplegic act as repressors.     

Phylogeny of cardinalfishes (Teleostei: Gobiiformes: Apogonidae) and the evolution of visceral bioluminescence

The cardinalfishes (Apogonidae) are a diverse clade of small, mostly reef-dwelling fishes, for which a variety of morphological data have not yielded a consistent phylogeny. We use DNA sequence to hypothesize phylogenetic relationships within Apogonidae and among apogonids and other acanthomorph families, to examine patterns of evolution including the distribution of a visceral bioluminescence system. In conformance with previous studies, Apogonidae is placed in a clade with Pempheridae, Kurtidae, Leiognathidae, and Gobioidei. The apogonid genus Pseudamia is recovered outside the remainder of the family, not as sister to the superficially similar genus Gymnapogon. Species sampled from the Caribbean and Western Atlantic (Phaeoptyx, Astrapogon, and some Apogon species) form a clade, as do the larger-bodied Glossamia and Cheilodipterus. Incidence of visceral bioluminescence is found scattered throughout the phylogeny, independently for each group in which it is present. Examination of the fine structure of the visceral bioluminescence system through histology shows that light organs exhibit a range of morphologies, with some composed of complex masses of tubules (Siphamia, Pempheris, Parapriacanthus) and others lacking tubules but containing chambers formed by folds of the visceral epithelium (Acropoma, Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia). Light organs in Siphamia, Acropoma, Pempheris and Parapriacanthus are distinct from but connected to the gut; those in Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia are simply portions of the intestinal tract, and are little differentiated from the surrounding tissues. The presence or absence of symbiotic luminescent bacteria does not correlate with light organ structure; the tubular light organs of Siphamia and chambered tubes of Acropoma house bacteria, those in Pempheridae and the other Apogonidae do not.     

广西青藓科分类学修订

通过对采自广西24个县(市)的1 147份青藓科植物标本的逐一鉴定及相关文献的查阅,确认有广西青藓科植物11属、44种,其中包括广西青藓科植物新记录属1属,即拟异叶藓属(Pseudokindbergia),新记录种7种,分别为匐枝青藓(Brachythecium procumbens)、阔叶尖喙藓(Oxyrrhynchium latifolium)、泛生尖喙藓(O. vagans)、拟异叶藓(Pseudokindbergia dumosa)、华东细喙藓(Rhynchostegiella sinensis)、长肋拟青藓(Sciurohypnum populeum)和弯叶拟青藓(S. reflexum)。该文提供了修订后的广西青藓科植物名录,并对其中的新记录属、种的主要形态学识别特征、生境和地理分布等进行了详细描述。     

Host plants of someRhinanthoideae (Scrophulariaceae) of eastern North America

Twenty three species in 11 genera were examined in the field to determine hosts. OnlyStriga asiatica andSeymeria cassioides have a narrow host range being restricted to grasses and pines, respectively. These are the only species which cause pronounced and sometimes serious host damage. The other species attach to a great diversity of hosts.     

Evaluation of antiprotozoal and antimycobacterial activities of the resin glycosides and the other metabolites of Scrophularia cryptophila

Resin glycosides are secondary metabolites exclusive to the convolvulaceous plants. In this study, crypthophilic acids A–C (1–3), the first resin glycosides occurring in another family (Scrophulariaceae), and the other constituents of Scrophularia cryptophila were examined for in vitro antiprotozoal and antimycobacterial potentials. Except for crypthophilic acid B (2), all tested compounds exhibited growth-inhibitory effect against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, with l-tryptophan (6) and buddlejasaponin III (7) being the most potent ones (IC₅₀'s 4.1 and 9.7 μg/ml). In contrast, the activity towards Trypanosoma cruzi was poor, and only crypthophilic acid C (3), 6 and 7 were trypanocidal at concentrations above 40 μg/ml. With the exception of 2 and 6, all compounds were active against Leishmania donovani. Harpagide (4) and 3 emerged as the best leishmanicidal agents (IC₅₀'s 2.0 and 5.8 μg/ml). Only compounds 3, 6 and 7 showed antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum with IC₅₀ values of 4.2, 16.6 and 22.4 μg/ml. Overall the best and broadest spectrum activity was presented by compounds 3 and 7, as they inhibited all four parasitic protozoa. None of the isolates had significant activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MICs >100 μg/ml) or were toxic towards mammalian (L6) cells. This is the first report of antiprotozoal activity for natural resin glycosides, as well as for harpagide (4), acetylharpagide (5), tryptophan (6) and buddlejasaponin III (7).     

Apoptotic Regulation of Caspase Activity

Intracellular cysteine aspartate-specific proteases (caspases) play both signaling and effector roles in realizing the program of cell death. Caspases function as proteolytic cascades unique for each cell type and signal triggering apoptosis. All parts of the proteolytic cascades are duplicated and controlled by feedback signals. Amplification cycles between pairs of caspases (the third and the sixth, the ninth and the third, the twelfth and the sixth, and others) help multiply the initial apoptotic signal. The presence of physiological inhibitors of apoptosis that directly interact with caspases creates a multilevel regulatory network of apoptosis in cell. The caspase proteolytic cascades are also regulated by sphingolipid secondary messengers, among them ceramide, sphingosine, and their phosphates. Moreover, an association of the caspase signaling with ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis is shown in cells. In particular, the use of extracellular activators and inhibitors of caspases allows irreversible activation of apoptosis in tumor cells or the prevention of apoptosis in cortical neurons under neurodegenerative diseases.     

The effect of cyanobacteria and azolla on the performance of rice under different levels of fertilizer nitrogen

Cyanobacteria and/or azolla were inoculated, with urea at 0, 72 or 144 kg N/ha, in plots in which azolla-free Indica rice var. IR 28 was grown. Productive tillers, yield and nitrogen contents of grain and straw positively responded to inoculation with cyanobacteria or azolla, even with fertilizer-N up to 144 kg N/ha. Inoculation improved colonization by cyanobacteria. Azolla were superior to the asymbiotic cyanobacteria in enhancing rice performance. Urea at a rate of 72 kg N/ha was found to support the best colonizations when applied with cyanobacteria or azolla or, to give maximum rice yields, both inoculants.