Effect of yellow rust on yield components of barley cultivars with race-specific and slow rusting resistance to yellow rust

Yellow rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei is an important disease of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in some parts of the world. We compared the effectiveness of different types of resistance in field plots at Ardabil Agricultural Research Station (Iran) during 2010–2011. Yield components along with slow rusting parameters including final rust severity (FRS), apparent infection rate (r), relative area under disease progress curve (rAUDPC) and coefficient of infection (CI) were evaluated for 25 barley cultivars. In all, two barley cultivars with race-specific resistance, 19 cultivars with different levels of slow rusting resistance and four susceptible cultivars were included in two experiments with and without fungicide protection under high disease pressure. Barley cultivars with slow rusting resistance displayed a range of severity responses indicating phenotypic diversity. Mean thousand kernels weight (TKW) losses for susceptible, race-specific and slow rusting genotypes were 31, 3 and 12%, respectively, and mean kernels per spike (KPS) losses for susceptible, race-specific and slow rusting genotypes were 19, 0.2 and 8%, respectively. Correlation coefficient of mean TKW and KPS losses with epidemiological parameters; rAUDPC, r, CI and FRS were highly significant. Slow rusting cultivars with low values of different parameters as well as genotypes with low yield component losses despite moderate disease levels were identified. Such genotypes can be used for breeding barely genotypes with high levels of resistance and negligible yield losses.     

播栽期对水稻产量和产量构成因素及生育期的影响

研究了不同播栽期对水稻产量和产量构成因素及生育期的影响。结果表明 ,随播栽期推迟 ,水稻产量有所降低。每穗成粒数减少是推迟播栽期引起水稻减产的主要原因 ,其次是千粒重的下降和成穗数的降低。针对目前的生产实际 ,提出了一些应对播栽期推迟的技术措施。     

Effects of defoliation at different growth stages and in different grain-filling environments on the growth and yield of spring barley

The yield of spring barley grown outside was little affected by the removal of all fully expanded leaves during late tillering or early stem extension but was decreased by defoliation either earlier or later. Removal of all except the top two leaves when 50% of the ears were fully emerged also had relatively little effect on yield but damage was increased if only the flag leaf was retained, especially if the leaves apart from the flag leaf were removed 10 days earlier when the first awns were visible. Defoliation treatments, including those which had little effect on barley grown outside, generally had proportionately greater effects if the plants were moved to a warm glasshouse at the start of grain filling.     

Effects of foliar applications of fungicides during plant growth on grain development and grain germinability in spring barley

In 1990 and 1991 grain samples of spring barley were obtained from plots in which fungal diseases were controlled until ear emergence using fungicide sprays, and from comparable plots which had received no fungicide applications. The grain was stored at 10^oC, and tested for germination at intervals during storage. Grain from plots treated with fungicide consistently exhibited more dormancy than grain from untreated plots. In 1992, grain development was monitored from anthesis to harvest-ripeness in treated and untreated plots of cvs Blenheim, Camargue and Tyne. In cvs Blenheim and Camargue, grains in fungicide-treated plots had a greater dry weight at harvest-ripeness, and dehydrated later in development than grains in untreated plots. Neither of these differences was observed in cv. Tyne. Possible interpretations of the effects of fungicide treatment of the parent plant on the physiology of the grain are discussed.     

Blocking amino acid transporter OsAAP3 improves grain yield by promoting outgrowth buds and increasing tiller number in rice

Amino acid transporters (AATs) play indispensable roles in nutrient allocation during plant development. In this study, we demonstrated that inhibiting expression of the rice amino acid transporter OsAAP3 increased grain yield due to a formation of larger numbers of tillers as a result of increased bud outgrowth. Elevated expression of OsAAP3 in transgenic plants resulted in significantly higher amino acid concentrations of Lys, Arg, His, Asp, Ala, Gln, Gly, Thr and Tyr, and inhibited bud outgrowth and rice tillering. However, RNAi of OsAAP3 decreased significantly Arg, Lys, Asp and Thr concentrations to a small extent, and thus promoted bud outgrowth, increased significantly tiller numbers and effective panicle numbers per plant, and further enhanced significantly grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). The promoter sequences of OsAAP3 showed some divergence between Japonica and Indica rice, and expression of the gene was higher in Japonica, which produced fewer tillers than Indica. We generated knockout lines of OsAAP3 on Japonica ZH11 and KY131 using CRISPR technology and found that grain yield could be increased significantly. These results suggest that manipulation of OsAAP3 expression could be used to increase grain yield in rice.     

不同氮水平下不同种稗草对水稻产量形成的影响

以‘南粳9108’(粳稻)为材料,自移栽至成熟期分别与无芒稗、西来稗和光头稗共培养,以无稗草共培为对照,观察不同种类共培稗草在不同施氮水平下(0、120、240、360 kg N·hm^-2)对水稻产量形成的影响.结果表明:相同氮肥水平下,不同种稗草株高表现为西来稗>无芒稗>光头稗,生育期由长到短为无芒稗>西来稗>光头稗.随着氮肥施用量的增加,不同种稗草的生物量在240 kg N·hm^-2下达到最大值,然后降低,无芒稗和西来稗的生物量均显著高于光头稗.在0 kg N·hm^-2下,不同种稗草对水稻产量无显著影响;在120 kg N·hm^-2下,无芒稗和光头稗处理水稻产量与无稗草处理差异不显著,但西来稗处理产量较无稗草处理显著降低;在240 kg N·hm^-2下,无芒稗、西来稗和光头稗处理显著减产;在360 kg N·hm^-2下,无芒稗和西来稗处理产量较无稗草处理显著降低,光头稗处理与无稗草处理差异不显著.稗草和氮肥对水稻产量形成具有明显的互作效应.120 kg N·hm^-2下,西来稗处理显著降低了水稻灌浆期剑叶硝酸还原酶活性、光合速率和根系氧化力以及成熟期氮积累量和干物质量,其他稗草处理与对照差异不显著;在240和360 kg N·hm^-2下,无芒稗和西来稗处理降低了水稻上述指标;在0 kg N·hm^-2下,各处理的上述指标差异不显著.回归分析表明,稗草表型对水稻产量的影响由大到小的顺序为生物量、株高、生育期和分蘖数,推测稗草较大的生物量造成水稻剑叶光合速率、硝酸还原酶活性、根系氧化力、氮积累量和干物质积累量降低,影响了水稻的生长发育,造成水稻减产.     

Mapping QTL controlling yield and yield components in a spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cross using marker regression

An RFLP map constructed from 99 doubled haploid lines of a cross between two spring barley varieties (Blenheim × Kym) was used to localize quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling grain yield and yield components by marker regression and single-marker analysis. Trials were conducted over three years. Genotype-by-year interaction was detected for plant grain weight and ear grain weight so they were analysed separately for each year. None was detected for thousand-grain weight and ear grain number so data were pooled over years. A total of eleven QTL were detected for plant grain weight over two years and fourteen for ear grain weight over three years. Seven QTL were detected for plot yield. The locus with the largest effect was on chromosome 2(2H)L and accounted for 19% of the variation in the progeny. Eight QTL were detected for thousand-grain weight and five for ear grain number. Many of the QTL detected were in comparable positions in each year. Yield and yield components were only partly correlated. Comparisons based on common RFLP markers showed that some QTL were found in positions similar to those identified in other studies. For a number of QTL the identification of linked markers provided suitable opportunities for marker-assisted selection and improvement of barley and reference markers with which to analyse the homoeologous chromosome regions of wheat and other cereals.     

Effects of foliar applied benzyladenine on grain yield and grain protein in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The effects of foliar applications of nitrogen and benzyladenine (BA) on grain yield and grain protein of wheat grown under field conditions were studied over 2 years with 5 cultivars at 2 locations. Nitrogen (N) at 20 kg.ha^–1, and BA at 100 or 800 mg.l^–1 were applied alone or combined at pre and post-anthesis; applications of BA at 8 mg.l^–1 were also made on individual ears in order to study the effect on cell number. Weekly determinations of the chlorophyll content of the flag leaf were conducted after anthesis to study leaf senescence. At harvest, yield, yield components and grain protein percentage were determined. N and BA applications delayed chlorophyll loss in the flag leaf, but modified neither yield nor yield components. Foliarly applied BA increased grain protein in four of the five cultivars tested. It is concluded that delay of the senescence induced by BA might allow more energy to be available for N uptake by the crop leading to an increase in grain protein.Research supported by a CAFPTA grant 1656/86 and by CONICET, PID 30017700/85.CONICETComisión de Investigaciones Cientificas de la Provincia de Buenos AiresInstituto de Fisiologia Vegetal     

Abscisic acid in developing grains of wheat and barley genotypes differing in grain weight

Two genetically related wheat lines growing in cabinets were given different temperatures during grain filling, and abscisic acid (ABA) was measured in whole grains by gas chromatography with an electron-capture detector. Three genetically related barley lines grown in the field were assayed for ABA content in endosperm and embryo fractions separately by radiommunoassay.Maximum grain growth rate and final weight per grain of the two wheat lines differed by 50–60% at low temperature and 30–40% at high temperature. During grain development two peaks in ABA level were observed at low temperature but only one at high temperature. At times when differences in grain growth rate between genotypes and between temperature treatments were large, the corresponding differences in ABA concentration were small. In barley, one line (Iabo 14) had 30% heavier grains than the other two (Onice and Opale). Endosperm ABA concentrations showed no clear differences between genotypes until grain filling was nearly complete. Embryo ABA levels were up to 10-times greater than those in the endosperm, with Opale having significantly less ABA in the embryo than the other two cultivars.Our experiments did not provide evidence for a causal relationship between ABA levels during grain filling and grain growth rate or final weight.Abbreviations ABA Abscisic acid - DAA days after anthesis - DW dry weight - FW fresh weight     

阿魏酸、对羟基苯甲酸及其混合液对土壤氮及相关微生物的影响

通过室内培养法,研究了不同浓度的阿魏酸、对羟基苯甲酸及其混合液对土壤氮素、与氮素转化相关的微生物和酶的影响。结果表明,10^-4mol/L阿魏酸和对羟基苯甲酸使土壤铵态氮降低了11.18%和10.87%,硝态氮降低了6.33%和3.95%;10^-3mol/L阿魏酸、对羟基苯甲酸及其混合液分别使可溶性有机氮降低了6.59%、10.16%和10.39%。阿魏酸、对羟基苯甲酸及其混合液抑制了氨化细菌、硝化细菌和反硝化细菌的生长,削弱了土壤脲酶与蛋白酶的活性。与对照相比,10^-4mol/L混合液降低了26.04%的氨化细菌、30.79%的硝化细菌和16.74%的反硝化细菌。10^-3mol/L阿魏酸减少了3.33%的土壤脲酶和20.87%的蛋白酶活性;10^-3mol/L对羟基苯甲酸降低了土壤脲酶6.63%,蛋白酶22.94%;10^-3mol/L混合液减少了土壤脲酶7.47%和蛋白酶23.79%。混合液对土壤氮素转化的抑制作用最强,表明阿魏酸和对羟基苯甲酸存在协同作用。阿魏酸和对羟基苯甲酸等酚酸类化合物通过抑制土壤氮素转化微生物及其酶活性,从而影响土壤氮素转化。     

水氮互作对固定道垄作栽培春小麦根系生长及产量的影响

为探讨固定道小麦栽培方式下适宜的水氮组合,以低水1200 (W₁)、中水2400 (W₂)、高水3600 m³·hm^-2 (W₃)为主处理,0 (N₀)、低氮90(N₁)、中氮180 (N₂)、高氮270 kg·hm^-2 (N₃)为副处理,采用裂区设计,对固定道垄作栽培方式下水氮互作对春小麦根系生长及产量的影响进行了研究.结果表明:水氮互作能显著影响春小麦根干质量密度(RWD),RWD随着小麦生育期的进程表现为先增大后减小的趋势,在灌浆期达最大;RWD对施氮量的响应取决于灌溉量,在W₁下,RWD在N₁处理下最大,在W₂下,RWD随着施氮量的增加在N₂处理下最大,在W₃下,RWD随着施氮量的增加在N₃ 处理下最大;不同灌溉处理下RWD表现为W₂>W₃>W₁;施氮与灌水显著影响RWD,表现为灌水>氮肥>水氮互作,在W₂N₂处理下最大.根冠比随着灌水量与施氮量的增加逐渐减小,在W₁N₀处理下根冠比最大;85%以上的小麦根系分布于0～40 cm土层,产量与0～40 cm土层RWD呈显著抛物线回归关系,与40～60 cm土层RWD呈显著线性正回归关系.W₂灌溉条件可以促进小麦根系向中下层(40～60 cm)分布;灌水施氮能显著影响春小麦籽粒产量与生物产量,生物产量随着施氮量和灌水量的增加而增加,籽粒产量在W₂N₂最大;灌水生产力随灌水量的增加逐渐降低,氮肥农学利用率随施氮量的增加而减小.因此,在固定道垄作栽培方式下,施肥量与灌水量控制在N₂ (180 kg·hm^-2)与W₂(2400 m³·hm^-2)条件下有利于促进根系生长,进而提高春小麦籽粒产量及水氮利用效率,是河西灌区固定道小麦栽培方式下适宜的水氮组合.     

底墒与磷肥互作对春小麦产量形成的影响

研究了浇底墒水和施磷肥对春小麦产量形成的影响.实验设4个处理对照(CK);耕作层施磷(P);浇30 nm底墒水(W);施磷加浇30mm底墒水(PW).测定土壤含水量、根系生物量、地上生物量和测产等.结果表明,WP处理根重和中下层分配比例均较高.与W处理相比,WP处理利用底墒并没有增加,但水分利用效率和产量均增加.决定产量的主要因素是小麦早期小穗和小花形成的数量和质量.W和WP两个浇底墒水的处理,其土壤水分利用量平均为34.6 mm,略高于所浇的底墒水的量(30 mm).CK、P、W、WP等4个处理的籽粒产量分别为91 7.7,1191.1,2516.5,2734.1 kg/hrm2,水分利用效率分别为0.186,0.192,0.172,0.207 g/(mm.m2).     

Effects of foliar applied gibberellic acid and benzyladenine upon yield components in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Sunflower yield is determined by seed number/m^–2 and by achene weight. Frequently, a high percentage of empty achenes in the inner portion of the capitulum, probably due to a reduced vascularization of that section of the flower head, decreases final yield. The objective of the present research is to determine if foliarly applied gibberellic acid (GA) and benzyladenine (BA) can enhance the vascularization in the inner portion of the capitulum, improving photoassimilate translocation. Field experiments were conducted during 1989/90 with hybrid SPS 894 and during 1990/91 with hybrid ACA 882. GA (150 mg/l^–1), BA (150 and 250 mg/l^–1) and GA 150+BA 150 mg/l^–1 each were foliarly applied 20, 40, or 60 days after emergence. For both seasons and hybrids plant growth regulator (PGRs) applications significantly reduced the percentage of empty achenes, increased achene weight, achene weight (× 1000) and achene number in the inner portion of the capitulum and in the middle and outer portion during 1990/91. A 25% increase in seed yield was achieved due to PGR application and the capitulum partition index (achene weight/receptacle weight^–1, CPI) was significantly increased due to an improvement in photoassimilate distribution. A distribution model was derived showing that preferential allocation of photoassimilates in the outer portion of the capitulum can be modified by PGR application, demonstrating that photoassimilate distribution is under hormonal control.Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET)     

模拟酸雨对小麦产量及籽粒蛋白质和淀粉含量及组分的影响

以宁麦13和徐麦31两种小麦(Triticum aestivum)品种为材料,通过盆栽试验研究了不同pH值酸雨对小麦产量和籽粒品质的影响。结果表明:模拟酸雨抑制了小麦的生长,减少了生物量的积累。pH值2.0酸雨处理后宁麦13的单穗粒数和单茎产量分别较对照下降了48.6%和56.7%,徐麦31则分别下降了31.2%和39.7%,差异显著。小麦籽粒主要营养成分对酸雨胁迫响应不同,酸雨处理提高了籽粒氨基酸、蛋白质含量,pH值2.0酸雨处理后,宁麦13和徐麦31小麦籽粒中氨基酸含量分别比对照高36.6%和30.9%,总蛋白含量分别比对照高20.6%和15.1%,均与对照差异显著。而小麦可溶性糖、淀粉和脂肪含量较对照降低,且总体表现为酸度增强变化幅度增大。不同蛋白组分也对酸雨胁迫反应不同,酸雨处理提高了籽粒中清蛋白和球蛋白含量,而降低了谷蛋白含量和谷/醇。pH值2.0的酸雨处理后,宁麦13和徐麦31的清蛋白含量较对照分别增加了13.1%和23.9%,但与对照差异不显著。酸雨胁迫降低了总淀粉和支链淀粉含量,宁麦13和徐麦31的pH值2.0酸雨处理总淀粉含量分别较对照下降了11.8%和20.2%,与对照差异显著,但对直链淀粉含量影响不明显。可见酸雨不仅影响小麦的产量,而且对品质也有明显影响。酸雨处理尽管提高了籽粒总蛋白含量,但降低了谷蛋白和谷/醇,降低了其加工品质。     

不同颜色遮阳网遮光对丘陵茶园夏秋茶和春茶产量及主要生化成分的影响

为研究不同颜色遮阳网遮光对夏秋茶与春茶产量和品质的影响,在中国科学院桃源农业生态试验站以“碧香早”茶树为试验材料,选用不遮光和中度遮光（遮光率(50?4)%）的黑色、绿色、银灰色遮阳网开展遮光试验。结果表明：不同季节使用黑色遮阳网能显著增加氨基酸和咖啡碱含量,降低茶多酚含量和酚氨比,与对照茶园比较,夏季、秋季、春季茶叶氨基酸含量分别增加了14.22%、17.07%、6.23%,茶多酚含量分别降低了4.40%、6.43%、27.66%,咖啡碱含量分别增加了9.48%、8.10%、7.28%。夏秋季银灰色遮阳网效果最差,绿色遮阳网效果介于黑色和对照之间,春季三种颜色遮阳网效果均优于对照;茶树遮光后品质明显优于对照,夏秋茶经遮光可达到制高档茶的要求,春茶遮光可达到制名优茶的要求。     

密度、施肥对旱地春小麦产量、水分利用效率和籽粒养分含量的补偿效应

为了探明旱作条件下无机营养对作物产量和水分利用效率的补偿效应,我们在宁南黄土高原半干旱地区开展了为期两年的春小麦密度与肥料试验。通过4种播种密度和5种肥力水平的综合研究结果表明,在不同处理的籽粒产量和水分利用效率排序中,播种密度为500粒／m^2时,以施肥量90kg／hm^2N和135kg／hm^2P2O5处理的产量和水分利用效率为最大。与不施肥的对照相比,增施肥料与籽粒产量和水分利用效率的提高成显著的正相关关系,相关系数分别达到0．959和0．894,而播种密度则与产量和水分利用效率的相关性不显著。增施肥料虽然能够提高可育小花数,但随着播种密度的增大,穗粒数和千粒重反而呈下降趋势,表明可育小花数对肥料水平反应敏感,而穗粒数和千粒重主要受播种密度的影响。施肥能够促进春小麦根系的生长发育,特别是促进浅层根量的增加,增强了作物的水分养分吸收。另外,不同种类肥料配施的结果表明,单施P肥或者N、P、K配合施用,可使春小麦产量分别提高44．6％和55．4％。N、P、K配合施肥还能够提高品质,使籽粒中的P、N、K含量分别提高18．5％、18．4％和8．1％。上述研究结果说明,控制播种密度、改善土壤肥力对于促进旱地春小麦高效利用有限水分具有明显的补偿效应。     

Effects of ferulic acid on L-malate oxidation in isolated soybean mitochondria

The effects of ferulic acid on L-malate oxidation in mitochondria isolated from soybean (Glycine max L.) seedlings were investigated. Oxygen uptake and the products of L-malate oxidation were measured under two conditions: pH 6.8 and 7.8. At acidic pH, the activity of the NAD+-linked malic enzyme (L-malate:NAD+oxidoreductase [decarboxylating] EC 1.1.1.39) was favoured, whereas at alkaline pH a predominance of the L-malate dehydrogenase activity (L-malate:NAD+oxidoreductase EC 1.1.1.37) was apparent. Ferulic acid inhibited basal and coupled respiration during L-malate oxidation either at acidic or alkaline pH, reducing also the amounts of pyruvate or oxaloacetate produced. The results suggest that the site of ferulic acid action is situated at some step that precedes the respiratory chain. An interference with the L-malate entry into the mitochondria could be an explanation for the effects of ferulic acid, but the possibility of a direct inhibition of both enzymes involved in L-malate oxidation cannot be ruled out. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

播期对春小麦生长发育及产量的影响

为了给陇中半干旱区春小麦高产栽培提供依据,2010年在甘肃定西进行了春小麦分期播种试验,并对不同播期条件下春小麦生长发育及产量形成进行了分析。结果表明:随着播期的推迟,春小麦播种-抽穗期日数减少、全生育期明显缩短;5月下旬之前,越早播种的春小麦LAI越大,5月下旬之后,播种愈晚春小麦LAI越大。早播春小麦LAI峰值靠前,晚播峰值滞后;6月下旬之前,播期早的春小麦叶绿素含量高于播期晚的,6月下旬之后播期愈早叶绿素含量下降愈快;不同播期春小麦群体生长率和净同化率在孕穗-抽穗期后差异显著,表现为3月18日播期最大,4月7日播期最小。各播期干物质累积在拔节期后表现为快速递增趋势。在拔节期前,早播处理的干物质积累速率较慢。随着播期的推迟,单株干物质最大积累速率出现时间提前,籽粒最大灌浆速率出现时间推迟,千粒重表现为先升后降;灌浆3个阶段各参数受播期影响比较显著;早播春小麦产量最高。     

Effects of nitrogen rates on grain yield and nitrogen agronomic efficiency of durum wheat genotypes under different environments

Durum wheat is an important staple food crop in Tunisia and other Mediterranean countries and is grown in various climatic conditions. Production and yield are however severely limited not only by drought events but also by reduced levels of nitrogen fertilisation. A study was carried out at two locations in the sub‐humid area of Tunisia: Mateur in 2009–10 and 2010–11 and Beja in 2011–12 and 2012–13 under rainfed conditions. Four durum wheat genotypes (landraces: Bidi, Azizi; improved: Om Rabia, Khiar) were evaluated for nitrogen agronomic efficiency and related agronomic traits under various nitrogen rates: 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 kg N ha^?1, with three replications. There was a significant interaction effect (P ≤ 0.001) environments × genotypes × N treatments for grain yield (GY), biomass yield (BY), harvest index (HI), partial factor productivity of applied nitrogen (PFP_N) and nitrogen agronomic use efficiencies (NAE). GY was the most affected trait by nitrogen applied showing an increase of 94% under high N treatment (250 kg N ha^?1) compared to control plots without N treatments. A significant linear regression exists between GY (0 N) and GY for the different N rates (r = 0.70; P < 0.001). This effect was more pronounced for improved genotypes than landraces for all parameters excepting BY and NAE_BY. BY showed +11% increase in landraces than improved genotypes. PFP_N showed an average decrease of 65% under high‐N fertilisation with 10% prevalence for improved genotypes. Landraces tend to promote vegetative growth while grain filling efficiency was higher for improved genotypes.     

Influence of zoysiagrass rhizosphere fungal isolates on growth and yield of soybean plants

Among 21 rhizosphere fungi tested, eight sterile fungi and oneTrichoderma isolate (GT2-1) from zoysiagrass rhizosphere promoted the overall growth of soybean varieties when grown in the greenhouse. Out of nine effective isolates, GS7-4, GS8-2, GS8-3, GU23-3 (all sterile fungi) and GT2-1 (Trichoderma sp.) promoted plant growth and increased yield of Toyosuzu (variety 1) significantly, while GS8-3, GS10-1, GS10-2 (sterile fungi), and GT2-1 significantly caused plant growth promotion and yield increase of Kitamusume (variety 2). Among these efficient isolates, GS8-3 and GS10-2 induced considerable and consistent increases in length, biomass and yield of plants of varieties 1 and 2, respectively. In the field, however, only GS8-3 and GU23-3 among seven selected isolates, induced consistent and significant increases in plant growth and yield of varieties 1 and 2, while the ability of other isolates decreased. The plant growth promotion by these isolates in the field followed a similar trend to that in the greenhouse, but the effect was less marked. Some isolates which were effective in the greenhouse were less effective in the field. The degree of growth promotion by different isolates depended on the variety of soybean. The nutrient condition of soils used in experiments also seemed to play a vital role, since notable growth promotion by these isolates was observed in nutrient-depleted soil.The author is grateful to Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan, for financial assistance.