同时检测沙门氏菌和炭疽杆菌磁致伸缩生物传感器制备与应用

为探索2个磁弹性生物传感器进行串联是否会存在耦合干扰,继而影响各自的检测精度,该文以磁致伸缩带材(2 826 MB Metglas TM)为传感器膜片,不同种类噬菌体为生物识别元件,制备了可同时检测沙门氏菌和炭疽杆菌2种病菌的磁致伸缩生物传感器系统。采用物理吸附法在部分磁致伸缩传感器表面固定了对沙门氏菌具有检测专一性的E2噬菌体,用于检测沙门氏菌;部分磁致伸缩传感器表面固定了对炭疽杆菌具有检测专一性的JRB7噬菌体,用于检测炭疽杆菌。在磁致伸缩传感器表面固定噬菌体后,采用牛血清蛋白作为阻滞剂覆盖没有固定噬菌体的局部区域,防止检测中非专一性细菌吸附导致的检测误差。同时,制备了一种没有固定任何噬菌体只覆盖牛血清蛋白阻滞剂的参考传感器,目的是探索牛血清蛋对被检病菌吸附到传感器表面的阻滞效果。在检测过程中,传感器由磁场定位,将传感器浸入到病原体溶液中,吸附细菌后传感器质量增加,导致其共振频率降低。研究发现:所研制的生物传感器系统不存在相互耦合干扰,每种生物传感器能专一性地吸附与表面噬菌体对应的被测病菌。对浓度范围为5×10~5×108 CFU/m L菌液检测还发现,该系统具有良好的检测灵敏度,本研究所采用尺寸规格的传感器灵敏度同单个传感器检测灵敏度一样,为103 CFU/m L。同时,参考传感器浸入到病原体溶液中频率无变化证明了牛血清蛋白阻滞剂可有效消除没有固定噬菌体的局部表面对细菌的非专一性结合。扫描电镜对传感器样品表面进行观察,直观地证明了生物传感器与其目标被测物之间的吸附情况,观察结果为生物传感器对细菌的检测提供了可靠的参考证据。     

检测食品沙门氏菌的生物传感器持久性研究

为了研究温度对生物传感器检测的持久性的影响,制备了用于检测食品中沙门氏菌的磁致伸缩生物传感器,以磁致伸缩膜片作为物理传感器,多克隆抗体作为生物识别元件,采用Langmuir-Blodgett(LB)技术将多克隆抗体固定在磁致伸缩膜片表面。当食品中沙门氏菌吸附在生物传感器上时,将引起其共振频率漂移。通过测试与分析磁致伸缩生物传感器共振频率漂移值,并利用扫描电子显微镜(scanning electron microscope)观察吸附了沙门氏菌的生物传感器表面,对生物传感器在25(室温)、45及65℃的持久性进行研究。结果表明:多克隆抗体磁致伸缩生物传感器与沙门氏菌的结合能力随着时间的延长逐渐降低;且温度越高,传感器的持久性越差;在25、45及65℃时,多克隆抗体磁致伸缩生物传感器的持久期分别为30、8和5 d,由此获得了多克隆抗体生物传感器在常用温度下的持久性。并结合阿伦尼乌斯方程,计算得到该生物传感器的激活能为13.024 kJ/mol。进一步证实了磁致伸缩生物传感器可用于定量检测实际溶液中沙门氏菌的浓度,表明生物传感器可应用于食品中细菌的实时快速定量检测。     

生鲜乳中四环素类药物残留的超高效液相色谱-串联质谱检测方法研究

建立生鲜乳中四环素类药物(四环素、土霉素、金霉素、多西环素)残留的超高效液相色谱-串联质谱(ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, UPLC-MS/MS)的分析方法。样品用0.1 mol/L EDTA-Mcllvaine缓冲液进行提取,用HLB固相萃取柱进行净化,以0.1%甲酸和乙腈为流动相进行梯度洗脱,ZORBAX Eclipse Plus C18(2.1 mm×50 mm, 1.8μm)反相色谱柱进行分离,流速为0.4 m L/min,用UPLC-MS/MS进行分析,外标法定量。4种四环素类药物在1.0～500 ng/mL浓度范围内呈现良好的线性关系,相关系数R20.999,检出限为0.5μg/kg,定量限为1.0μg/kg,4种四环素类药物的平均加标回收率分别是四环素74.1%～106.8%,土霉素84.8%～99.0%,金霉素74.8%～105.5%,多西环素78.0%～104.0%, RSD≤3.3%(n=6)。该方法灵敏度高,重复性好,选择性强,适用于生鲜乳中四环素类药物残留的定量检测。     

反相—高效液相色谱分析有机液肥中腐胺、亚精胺、精胺含量

建立了一种高效液相色谱法分离测定3种生物胺(腐胺、精胺、亚精胺)的方法。采用Agilent色谱柱C18反相色谱柱(250 mm×4.6 mm,粒径5μm),以乙腈-水为流动相梯度洗脱,丹磺酰氯作为荧光衍生试剂柱前衍生化。最佳测定条件为:丹磺酰氯浓度为3 mg/L,衍生化反应温度为60℃,衍生化时间为15 min,缓冲溶液pH为9.78。并将该方法成功应用于畜禽粪便制作有机液肥过程中腐胺、精胺、亚精胺的定性、定量分析。     

超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定茶饮料中15种吡咯里西啶生物碱

利用超高效液相色谱-串联质谱(UHPLC-MS/MS)建立了茶饮料中15种吡咯里西啶生物碱(PAs/PANOs)的分析方法。茶饮料样品采用PCX SPE柱固相萃取净化,PCX SPE柱经5 m L甲醇与5 m L去离子水活化,分别采用5 m L去离子水(含1%甲酸)与5 m L甲醇淋洗,4 m L甲醇(含0.5%氨水)洗脱。UHPLC-MS/MS在电喷雾正离子模式(ESI+)下,采用可编程多反应监测(s MRM)模式监测。基质标准溶液外标法定量。15种PAs在0.1～200μg/L范围内线性关系良好(R20.99),方法的检出限为0.001～0.05μg/kg,定量限(LOQ)分别为0.1～0.8μg/kg。在1、 5和10μg/kg 3种加标水平下,15种目标物回收率范围为68.7%～96.4%,相对标准偏差(RSD)11.5%。该方法简便、快速、灵敏度高、重现性好,适用于茶饮料中15种PAs检测。采用该方法监测市售茶饮料中15种PAs污染水平,结果表明,茶饮料中PAs污染程度较低,不同茶饮料中PAs污染水平差异较大,推测原料及加工工艺与茶饮料中PAs污染水平密切相关。     

基于微流控阻抗传感器检测番茄环斑病毒

为实现番茄环斑病毒(Tomato Ringspot Virus,To RSV)高效、准确的快速检测,采用内嵌金叉指阵列微电极的微流控阻抗传感器对ToRSV进行特异性检测。通过将ToRSV抗体固定于金叉指阵列微电极表面免疫结合ToRSV以引起阻抗变化,得到电化学阻抗谱,并建立等效电路分析阻抗变化机理,建立ToRSV浓度和阻抗之间的定量线性关系。等效电路分析表示,ToRSV能造成溶液电阻Rs、电极表面电子转移电阻Ret的显著增加和双电层电容Cdl的减小,从而引起阻抗增加。结果显示在最佳检测频率10.7 Hz下,ToRSV浓度在0.001～10μg/m L范围内检测到的阻抗值范围为248.8～687.2 k?,ToRSV浓度与阻抗值具有良好线性关系,R2为0.98。测试该方法的检出限时,阻抗值显示为307.05 k?,得到检出限为0.003 4μg/m L。试验结果证明该传感器具有检测灵敏度高、特异性好、快速方便等优点,能够实现对ToRSV的特异性定性检测,对于其他植物病毒检测具有可推广性。     

高效液相色谱法同时测定5种食品中的12种添加剂

建立食品中两种甜味剂(乙酰磺胺酸钾、糖精钠)、 3种防腐剂(苯甲酸、山梨酸、脱氢乙酸)和7种着色剂(柠檬黄、新红、胭脂红、日落黄、诱惑红、亮蓝、赤藓红)在5种食品(碳酸饮料、葡萄酒、酱油、椰汁、酱腌菜)中的高效液相色谱测定方法。本实验优化了不同pH提取条件,采用Eclipse plus C18(250 mm×4.6 mm, 5μm)色谱柱分离,以乙酸铵水溶液-甲醇为流动相梯度洗脱,二极管阵检测器可变波长检测,外标法定量。结果表明, 12种化合物在0.38～50.0mg/L浓度范围内均有良好的线性关系,相关系数均在0.995 7以上, 5种基质在12种化合物3个添加水平下的加标回收率为77.3%～118.0%,相对标准偏差为0.07%～7.19%,检出限为0.38～1.10 mg/L,定量限为0.50～3.74 mg/L。该方法简便、快速、成本低、灵敏度高、重现性好,适用于食品中常见添加剂的定性与定量检测。     

一株乳酸片球菌P-24的高密度发酵

由单因素和正交实验优化得到了P-24菌株的高密度发酵培养基配方(g/L):蔗糖25,柠檬酸钠3,乙酸钠2,酵母粉8,蛋白胨5,玉米浆20,Mg SO_4*7H_2O 0.4,K_2HPO_4 1.0,p H值6.2~6.6。通过3 L发酵罐小试,发酵过程中进行pH的调节和补糖,使乳酸片球菌P-24的生物量提高了9倍,有效活菌数达9×1010 CFU/m L。     

碳纳米颗粒修饰丝网印刷电极测定百合镉含量

该文利用烛灰,设计开发一种基于碳纳米颗粒修饰的丝网印刷电极,并对该电极的性能进行了评估。扫描电子显微镜显示修饰后的工作电极表面碳纳米颗粒分布均匀,直径约几十纳米。电极表征时,修饰电极氧化峰高13.76 m A,还原峰高11.85 m A,峰电位差为267 m V。在使用方波阳极溶出法检测含75μg/L Cd2+缓冲液时,修饰电极峰高为3.123μA。使用修饰电极检测不同Cd2+浓度缓冲液时,将峰高与Cd2+浓度进行数量关系拟合,获得拟合方程,R2=0.998。该修饰电极Cd2+浓度检测限可达到0.91μg/L。将其用于百合样本检测,加标回收率为99.2%~100.8%。该文修饰碳纳米颗粒丝网印刷电极可为其他检测对象或其他检测环境下的检测提供参考。     

用于农药残留快速检测的压电免疫生物传感器的研究

该文建立了一种压电免疫生物传感器结合流动注射的方法检测样品中的农药残留.为了有效地捕获有机磷农药抗原,比较了三种在石英晶体金电极表面上固定有机磷单克隆抗体的方法.在0.005～10μg/mL范围内,有机磷浓度与晶体频率的变化之间呈较好的相关关系.回归方程:y=5.9111Ln(x) 51.979,决定系数为:0.93.该传感器的最低检测限为2.16×103μg/mL,选择性好,可以重复使用.     

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,     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Electron donor and pH relationships for biologically enhanced dissolution of chlorinated solvent DNAPL in groundwater

Biologically enhanced dissolution offers a method to speed removal of chlorinated solvent dense non-aqueous-phase liquid (DNAPL) sources such as tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichoroethene (TCE) from aquifers. Bioremediation is accomplished by adding an electron donor to the source zone where fermentation to intermediates leading to acetic acid and hydrogen results. The hydrogen and possibly acetic acid are used by dehalogenating bacteria to convert PCE and TCE to ethene and hydrochloric acid. Reductive dehalogenation is thus an acid forming process, and sufficient alkalinity must be present to maintain a near neutral pH. The bicarbonate alkalinity required to maintain pH above 6.5 is a function of the electron donor: 800 mg/L of bicarbonate alkalinity is sufficient to achieve about 1.2 mM TCE dechlorination with glucose, 1.7 mM with lactate, and a much higher 3.3 mM with formate. Laboratory studies indicate that in mixed culture, formate can be used as an electron donor for complete conversion to ethene, contrary to pure cultures studies indicating it cannot. Various strategies can be used to add electron donor to an aquifer for DNAPL dehalogenation while minimizing pH problems and excessive electron donor usage, including use of injection-extraction wells, dual recirculation wells, and nested injection-extraction wells.     

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.