Temporal and spatial variability in root reinforcement of streambanks: Accounting for soil shear strength and moisture

Riparian vegetation exerts a number of mechanical and hydrologic controls on bank stability, which can affect the delivery of sediment to channels. Estimates of root reinforcement of soils have commonly been attained using perpendicular root models that simply sum root tensile strengths and consider these as an add-on factor to soil strength. A major limitation of such perpendicular models is that tensile strength and resistance is wrongly considered to be independent of soil type and moisture, and therefore variations according to these bank properties are omitted in conventional models. In reality, during mass failure of a streambank, some roots break, and some roots are pulled out of the soil intact; the relative proportions of roots that break or pull out are determined by a combination of soil moisture and shear strength. In this paper an equation to predict the frictional resistance of root–soil bonds was tested against field data collected at Long Creek, MS, under two soil moisture conditions. The root pullout equations were then included in the root-reinforcement model, RipRoot, and bank stability model runs for Goodwin Creek, MS, were carried out in order to examine the effects of spatial and temporal variations in soil shear strength and rooting density, on streambank factor of safety. Model results showed that at smaller root diameters breaking forces exceeded pullout forces, but at larger root diameters pullout forces exceed breaking forces. The threshold diameter between root pullout and root breaking varied with soil shear strength, with increasing soil shear strength leading to a greater proportion of roots failing by breaking instead of pullout. Root-reinforcement estimates were shown to reflect changes in soil shear strength, for example, brought about by variations in soil matric suction. Resulting Factor of safety (F_S) values for the bank during the period modeled ranged from 1.36 to 1.74 with 1000 grass roots/m², compared to a range of 0.97 to 1.37 for the non-vegetated bank. Root reinforcement was shown to increase bank stability under the entire range of soil moisture conditions modeled. However, the magnitude of root reinforcement varied in both space and time as determined by soil shear strength and soil moisture.     

中国南北方植物对土壤加固机制的差异性

为深入分析植物对土壤加固的影响效益和机制,该研究选取重庆缙云山地区和陕西延安黄土丘陵区种植一年的乔木（火炬树、榆树）和灌木（荆条、酸枣）,该测定其根系形态、力学参数和土壤的抗剪强度,通过RBM_w模型计算根系固土效益,综合评估不同植物种的固土效能和贡献度。结果表明：2地种植的物种平均根直径的差异不显著（P > 0.05）,重庆种植的乔木(火炬树、榆树)的根长、分叉数和根尖数显著高于延安,灌木未出现显著差异（P < 0.05）。根系的抗拉强度与直径都符合负幂函数关系,其中平均抗拉强度最大的为荆条。除荆条外,同种植物根系的抗拉强度并未因不同地区的种植产生显著差异。4个植物种根系的固土效率为0.65～4.12 kPa,各物种间存在显著差异（P < 0.05）。重庆2种乔木种植下的根土复合体有效黏聚力高于裸地（约10%）,灌木种植下则普遍略低于裸地。除酸枣外,种植于重庆的4种植物的根系固土作用和效率都显著的高于延安（P < 0.05）。研究结果可为不同地区固土护坡的树种选择提供理论依据。     

寒旱环境灌木根系增强边坡土体抗剪强度特征

为深入研究根系与剪切面呈不同夹角α条件下,边坡土体中根系对土体抗剪强度的影响,以及定量分析评价植物根系对边坡土体抗剪强度的增强作用,该项研究以生长期为150 d的柠条锦鸡儿、霸王根系及其组成的柠条锦鸡儿根-土复合体、霸王根-土复合体为研究对象分别进行室内单根拉伸试验和复合体剪切试验。通过对2灌木根系进行单根拉伸试验,得到2种灌木根系单根的抗拉强度,并对根系与剪切面夹角α分别为45°、60°、75°、90°等4种条件下的根-土复合体进行剪切试验,得到4种α角度条件下的根-土复合体试样抗剪强度;在此基础上,分析探讨了单根抗拉强度与根-土复合体试样粘聚力值之间的关系。结果表明:柠条锦鸡儿根系的单根抗拉强度较霸王根系的单根抗拉强度略高;柠条锦鸡儿根-土复合体、霸王根-土复合体试样,在4种不同α角度条件下的黏聚力均显著大于素土黏聚力;当α角由45°增大至90°时,2种灌木根-土复合体的黏聚力值呈逐渐增大的趋势,且黏聚力的增长率亦表现出一致性变化规律,即2种灌木根-土复合体试样的黏聚力的增长率均随着α角的增大而呈增大趋势;根-土复合体黏聚力值与单根抗拉强度存在正相关关系。由上述复合体黏聚力值的变化规律反映出,试验区2种灌木根系对边坡土体抗剪强度具有显著增强作用,同时亦反映出随根系的单根抗拉强度的增大,根系对土体粘聚力值的增强效果相对愈加显著,且随根系与剪切面间夹角不同,根系增强边坡土体抗剪强度贡献具有不同的变化规律,即表现在根系与剪切面之间的夹角趋于垂直时,根系具有相对最大限度地增强土体抗剪强度的作用。该研究结果为定量评价植物根系增强边坡土体抗剪强度的贡献,提供了试验方面的数据支撑,这为进一步深入探讨植物根系增强边坡土体抗剪强机理提供参考。     

黄土区不同龄期灌木柠条锦鸡儿根系的分布特征及其固土护坡效果

为定量评价西宁盆地黄土区优势灌木柠条锦鸡儿根系固土护坡效果,该研究以区内生长期为幼龄期（<6 a）、中龄期（6～14 a）和老龄期（>14 a）3个龄期的柠条锦鸡儿为研究对象,通过原位挖掘法与原位拉拔试验相结合的方式,调查不同龄期柠条锦鸡儿根系形态学指标和根系分布特征,并通过单根拉伸试验获得单根抗拉强度。以此为基础,利用WWM模型对不同龄期柠条锦鸡儿根系附加黏聚力进行计算,评价不同龄期柠条锦鸡儿根系对土体抗剪强度的增强效果。结合有限元数值模拟分析,定量评价不同龄期柠条锦鸡儿根系加筋和锚固作用对黄土边坡稳定性的贡献。结果表明：随着龄期的增加,柠条锦鸡儿根系埋深、根系总根长、主根根径和主根根长均逐渐增加;各龄期柠条锦鸡儿根系主要分布在0～0.6 m土层深度范围内,随着土层深度增加,幼龄期和老龄期根系根长和根数呈逐渐减少趋势;中龄期根系则呈先增大后减小趋势,根长和根数的最大值出现在0.3～0.6 m的土层深度内。幼龄期和老龄期柠条锦鸡儿根面积比和根系附加黏聚力均随着土层深度增加而逐渐减少,中龄期柠条锦鸡儿则呈先增大后减小变化趋势,且该龄期根系增强土体抗剪强度的效果相对最为显著。不...     

Evaluating soil reinforcement by plant roots using artificial neural networks

Soil reinforcement by plant roots and its response to influencing factors are very important for bank stability evaluation and control. Models with improved accuracy are urgently needed for evaluating soil reinforcement. Using a back‐propagation (BP) learning algorithm, an artificial neural network (ANN) model with five input variables, including the number of roots, root area ratio, root tensile strength, soil shear strength, and soil moisture content, was developed to simulate the response of soil reinforcement to these factors. A connection weight approach was used to understand the relative importance of each factor. Using a data set published in 2003 and collected in Australia, soil reinforcement of four trees, Casuarina glauca, Eucalyptus amplifolia, Eucalyptus elata and Acacia floribunda, was simulated using three models: BP‐ANN, one described by Wu et al. in 1979 and the 2005 fibre bundle model (FBM) of Pollen and Simon. Comparisons of results from these models showed that the BP‐ANN model most accurately estimated the soil reinforcement. The simulated results indicated that only the effect of soil moisture content on soil reinforcement was negative. The influence of the other four factors was positive, and the relative importance was in the order: root area ratio > root tensile strength > the number of roots > soil shear strength. This study provides a new approach to soil reinforcement estimation and improves our understanding of soil resistance and bank stability.     

黄土区3种优势灌木根土复合体的抗剪强度研究

黄土区水土流失严重,生态护坡是比较推崇的防护手段,特别是灌木具有发达的根系,对含根土体有较为明显的抗剪增强作用,因此,比较自然条件下区域适生优势灌木的根土复合体抗剪强度,对于合理选择固土护坡植物具有重要意义。以黄土区常见的优势乡土灌木达乌里胡枝子(Lespedeza davurica)、中国沙棘(Hippophae rhamnoides)和狼牙刺(Sophora viciifolia)为研究对象,野外采用三维土柱挖取灌木的根系,进行不同直径单根抗拉试验和根土复合体的剪切试验。结果表明:(1)达乌里胡枝子、沙棘和狼牙刺的根系集中分布于0—40 cm土层中,它们的根长密度、根表面积密度和生物量密度随着土层深度的增加表现出整体递减的趋势。(2)达乌里胡枝子、沙棘和狼牙刺根系的抗拉力(Tensile Resistance,TR)与抗拉强度(Tensile Strength,TS)都表现为关于直径(D)的幂函数(aD^b),其中抗拉力与根径呈正相关(b>1),而抗拉强度与根径呈负相关(b<1)。(3)不同灌木根土复合体的抗剪强度在地下分布是不同的,在根际范围内随土层加深,达乌里胡枝子根土复合体的抗剪强度表现出先增加后减少而后增加又减少的趋势,最大抗剪强度的土层是20—30 cm和50—70 cm,沙棘和狼牙刺根土复合体的抗剪强度表现出先增加后减少的趋势,最大抗剪强度的土层分别是30—50 cm,0—20 cm。说明灌木的细根可以更好地起到固土护坡的作用,建议在黄土区优先选择达乌里胡枝子和沙棘作为护坡植物,从而为生态护坡提供一些参考。     

油松根系的固土力学机制

为深入了解林木根系固土力学机制,探讨不同条件下的根系固土作用,对油松根系进行了拉伸、拔出和根土复合体三轴试验。结果表明,油松根系的抗拉力随根系直径的增大成幂函数关系增加,而抗拉强度随直径的增大无明显变化规律;根系受拉的应力—应变曲线特征参数不同,以二次多项式模型拟合效果最好,均为单峰曲线,具有弹塑性材料的特征,极限应力和极限延伸率的大小与根系直径无明显的关系;根土界面最大摩擦力随着根径的增加呈现出近似线性的增长趋势。根径越大,根系越深,根土界面摩擦力就越大,进而对土壤的摩擦锚固作用就越强。相同根径时,根土复合体的抗剪强度随围压的增加而增大。相同围压下,根土复合体的抗剪强度随着根径的增加而增大。相同的根径和围压下,垂直埋根方式的根土复合体抗剪效果好于水平埋根方式。     

Seasonal dynamics of amoebae in the root canopy of Zygophyllum dumosum in the Negev Desert, Israel

Water availability and nutrient limitation are the most important driving forces in hot desert ecosystems, determining vegetation cover and biological activity. In this study the amoeba population was determined in the upper soil layer (0-10 and 10-20 cm) under and between 4 individual Zygophyllum dumosum shrubs. The soil samples were taken from the different layer beneath the shrub and between the shrubs (control) along four seasons. Total number of amoeba was significantly higher in the Z. dumosum root canopy (2935 individual/g soil) in comparison to control samples (625 individual/g soil). Amoebal density was highest at 10-20 cm during the winter, spring and summer. In autumn, during heavy dewfall amoebal density was greatest in the top 10 cm of soil.     

基于两种计算模型的油松与元宝枫根系固土效能分析

[目的]定量分析北方常见植物(油松、元宝枫)根系对提高土壤抗剪能力的作用,为更好地评价植物根系固土效能提供理论基础。[方法]选取不同根系面积比(RAR)的油松(Pinus tabulaeformis)根土复合体、元宝枫(Acer truncatum)根土复合体及素土分别进行了不同垂直压力下的直剪试验,得出了油松根土复合体、元宝枫根土复合体及素土的抗剪强度增量。并通过根系的拉伸试验测定了植物根系的抗拉强度,同时使用Wu的根土复合体模型和Pollen的纤维束模型对抗剪强度增量进行模拟并与实际测定的抗剪强度增量进行对比分析。[结果](1)根系主要通过增强土壤的黏聚力来增强土壤的抗剪切强度;(2)植物根系抗拉强度、拔出强度与根系直径都符合幂函数关系,抗拉强度和拔出强度大小存在阈值,根系大于2mm时,根系拔出强度小于根系抗拉强度,小于2mm时则反之;(3)Wu的根土复合体模型高估植物根系固土效果值平均为26.81%,而纤维束模型对根系提高土壤抗剪强度则平均高估9.82%。[结论]相对于Wu模型,纤维束模型对土壤的固土效果的计算更为准确。     

尖萼金丝桃根系对边坡土体抗剪强度的影响

[目的]探讨根系单根抗拉拔强度对边坡土体抗剪强度的影响,定量分析根系对边坡土体抗剪强度的增强作用,为评价植物根系增强边坡土体抗剪切性能提供依据。[方法]以2 a生尖萼金丝桃根系及其组成的根土复合体为研究对象,分别进行室内单根拉拔试验和根土复合体剪切试验,获得根系的抗拉强度及根土复合体试样黏聚力值;在此基础上分析根系抗拉强度与根土复合体黏聚力值之间的关系。[结果]尖萼金丝桃根系抗拉强度与根系直径存在负向幂函数关系,相关性系数均大于0.92;根系拉拔位移、抗拉拔力均与根系直径呈正相关关系,拉拔位移与抗拉拔力之间也表现为显著正相关关系;抗拉强度与根系直径、拉拔位移、抗拉拔力两两之间均呈负相关关系;根土复合体的黏聚力相较于无根素土均有不同程度的增长,增幅达17.25%～94.76%,黏聚力、黏聚力增长率均与根土面积比、根土体积比呈正相关关系。[结论]尖萼金丝桃根系拉拔特征对边坡土体抗剪强度产生显著的影响,边坡土体抗剪切性能评价指标与根系拉拔特征变化密切相关。     

护坡植物根系力学特性与其解剖结构关系

为研究植物单根力学特性与其解剖结构的关系,以西宁盆地为例,对青藏高原东北部黄土区5种灌木单根抗拉特性、抗剪特性、根系解剖结构进行了一系列试验研究.结果表明:根系解剖结构中韧皮纤维、木纤维的百分含量、周皮的木质化程度及根系的木质化速度等因素影响根系力学强度,根系拉伸延长率与根系韧皮纤维含量成正比,与木纤维含量成反比;5种灌木植物中,柠条锦鸡儿单根横切面上次生韧皮部平均面积比最大,达到45%,表现为单根具有较大延伸率;四翅滨藜单根横切面上次生木质部平均面积比最大,达到50%,表现为单根具有较强的抗拉和抗剪强度.根据5种供试灌木根系力学特性及其解剖结构特征,四翅滨藜和柠条锦鸡儿根系固土护坡作用较大.     

针叶与阔叶树根系对土壤抗剪强度及坡体稳定性的影响

重庆缙云山地处三峡库区,是国家重点自然保护区。由于地势特点,坡面极易发生土壤侵蚀及浅层滑坡,因此,在不破坏原有生态环境的前提下,有效防止灾害发生是该地区的重点防治工作。选取了同种根构型的针叶树种(马尾松Pinus massoniana Lamb)和阔叶树种(四川大头茶Gordonia acuminate),比较其提高土壤抗剪强度的作用强弱,并分析根面积比率、剪切带根系径级比、根系位置范围,以及根系角度等因素对土壤抗剪强度的影响。结果表明,针叶树种对土壤抗剪强度增强效果强于阔叶树种;针叶树种根系平均抗拉强度较大,其对土壤抗剪强度的增量更大;针叶树种根系分布范围较广且存在更多与剪切方向成60°的根系,表现出更好的固坡作用;根面积比率对土壤抗剪强度影响不明显。     

Soil reinforcement by the roots of six dominant species on eroded mountainous marly slopes (Southern Alps,France)

In marly catchments of the French Southern Alps, the development of plant root systems is essential to increase slope stability and mitigate soil erosion, prevalent in this area. In a context of land restoration, it is important to be able to evaluate plant efficiency for soil reinforcement. This paper presents the results of investigations carried out on six dominant species from marly gullies. It aims to compare the additional soil cohesion they provide at the early stages of their development. The six following species were collected: two tree species, Pinus nigra and Quercus pubescens, two shrubby species, Genista cinerea and Thymus serpyllum, and two herbaceous species, Achnatherum calamagrostis and Aphyllantes monspeliensis. For each of them, we measured root tensile strength and root area ratio in order to calculate the potential root reinforcement and to compare species suitability to prevent shallow mass movements. Results showed significant differences between species. The herbaceous species A. monspeliensis and the shrubby species G. cinerea provided the highest increase in soil shear strength while the tree species, P. nigra and Q. pubescens were the least efficient. These results, along with the knowledge on vegetation dynamics and species response to erosive constraint, allow us to better evaluate land vulnerability to erosion and the efficiency of restoration actions in eroded marly lands.     

不同根系含量对山原红壤抗剪强度的影响

[目的]探讨云南省昆明市呈贡区段家营一植被覆盖的斜坡区不同含量植被根系对山原土壤抗剪强度的增强效应,为相关研究提供理论依据。[方法]制备0(无根系空白样),0.467,0.93,1.4 mg/cm~3这4种根系含量以及20%,25%,30%,35%,40%这5种含水量的根—土复合体试验样品进行抗剪强度试验。[结果]根—土复合体中,植被根系能提供给土壤额外的抗剪能力和抵抗土体变形来增强土体的抗剪强度,植被根系对土体抗剪强度有明显的增强效应,但这种增强效应是有限的。根系含量在0.93 mg/cm~3时,根系对土体的抗剪强度增强效果最好。随着根系含量的增加,黏聚力和内摩擦角总是呈现负相关性的关系,在低含水量情况下,黏聚力随根系含量增加而先降低后增加,内摩擦角随根系含量变化则相反。当含水量低且根系含量相对较少时(当含水量≤35%,根系含量≤0.93 mg/cm~3时),土壤参与剪切整个过程且为被剪主体,得到的黏聚力和内摩擦角均为正值,符合库仑定律;当含水量较高且根系含量较多时(当含水量=35%,根系含量=1.4 mg/cm~3时以及当含水量=45%,根系含量≥0.467 mg/cm~3时),被剪主体为根系,得到的黏聚力为负值,不符合库仑定律。[结论]库仑定律不适用于高含水量和高含量植被根系的根—土复合体抗剪强度的研究。在采用植被护坡时可用试验确定边坡土壤抗剪强度最高时的最佳含根量和含水量。     

沙地柏根系径级对根土复合体抗剪强度的影响

采用应变控制式直剪仪,通过对含不同沙地柏根系径级的扰动土进行室内直剪试验,分析研究根土复合体的抗剪性能。结果表明沙地柏根系的加入,增强了土体的抗剪强度,且根土复合体的抗剪强度符合库伦定律;当所含根系径级小于某个极限值时,根土复合体的抗剪强度随着径级的增大而增大,当超过这一极限值,则随着所含根系径级的增大,其抗剪强度逐渐减小,随着根系径级的逐步增大,由于根自身抵抗土体剪切变形能力增强,使得根土复合体的抗剪强度值开始回升;一定竖向荷载下,根土截面比△过小,对复合体抗剪性能影响微弱;根土截面比过大,根系与土壤胶结力降低,对抗剪强度产生负影响,因此,存在一个最佳根土截面比,在此比值附近,根土复合体的抗剪强度达到最大。本研究可为沙地柏在作为水土保持树种栽植方面提供理论依据。     

基于土-水特征曲线的植物边坡抗剪强度研究

土-水特征曲线通常用于估计非饱和土壤的抗剪强度,但是由于植物根系的吸水作用和加筋效应,使得植物边坡的抗剪强度不能直接利用基于基质吸力的非饱和土抗剪强度计算公式进行计算。以裸露边坡和植被边坡为研究对象,采用张力计现场测试和室内剪切试验相结合的方法,拟合水土特征曲线关系。结果表明:(1)植物根系的植入有效地提高了边坡土体的进气值,较素土进气吸力值增幅41.10%。在同等含水率条件下,植物边坡基质吸力明显大于素土边坡,提高了边坡土体的持水能力。(2)边坡红黏土基质吸力与含水率的关系符合V-G模型,利用最小二乘法得到模型参数。(3)随着体积含水率的增大,带根土与素土的抗剪强度参数值变化趋势大致相同,均呈现先增大后减小的趋势,但带根土的变化参数大,当含水率21.29%时,带根土黏聚力相较于素土增加了4.86 kPa,增幅18.55%,而内摩擦角对根系存在的敏感程度不如黏聚力。(4)随着土壤基质吸力不断增大,植被边坡与素土边坡的抗剪强度力学参数变化趋势大体相同,当土基质吸力为60～90 kPa土体的黏聚力提高最为明显,但植被边坡由于植物根系的存在,土体内基质吸力对边坡土体的抗剪强度提高幅度更大,黏聚力与内摩擦角最大增长幅度分别为37.34%和40.30%。通过建立土-水特征曲线参数与植物边坡抗剪强度的关系,可计算不同含水率或基质吸力条件下植物边坡的抗剪强度,为进一步分析工程实际中植物边坡的稳定性提供理论依据。     

黄土丘陵沟壑区刺槐动态固坡效应

植被能够有效提升浅层坡体的稳定性和抗蚀性。为了初步定量评估浅层滑坡易发的黄土丘陵沟壑区植被固坡作用在自然条件下的动态变化结果,以黄土丘陵沟壑区主要造林树种刺槐为例,考虑植被固坡的根系机械作用和水文作用在2017年全年自然条件下的动态变化。通过挖掘根系剖面对根系截面积分布进行调查,单根抗拉试验测试根系抗拉强度,以利用Wu模型对刺槐根系的附加黏聚力进行计算;通过现场调查确定研究样地与植被水文作用相关的参数,室内入渗试验和土壤离心试验获取土壤的水力学参数,利用生态水文领域水分运移软件Hydrus-1D对刺槐植被坡体水分的运移进行瞬态分析;最终基于变饱和条件下的无限斜坡模型对坡体的稳定性进行分析,并分别计算刺槐根系机械作用和水文作用对坡体稳定性的动态贡献率。结果表明:(1)刺槐根系机械作用对20,40,60 cm深度处浅层坡体的稳定性提升196.56%±28.08%,106.74%±13.19%,20.61%±2.43%,同时机械作用的贡献率还具有一定波动性;(2)刺槐在生长期内,通过林冠截留拦截70.2 mm的降雨量,蒸腾耗水作用改变坡体土壤含水量和吸应力,有效地提升坡体稳定性;(3)根系机械作用的贡献全年均存在,且波动性较水文作用贡献率的波动性小,但水文作用的贡献主要发生在刺槐的生长期,且水文贡献率的部分峰值较机械作用的贡献率大。研究结果进一步揭示了黄土高原丘陵沟壑区刺槐植被坡体在自然条件下的动态变化过程。     

反复施加拉剪组合力对小叶锦鸡儿直根材料力学特性的影响

以1～5 mm小叶锦鸡儿(Caragana microphylla)直根为研究对象,采用TY 8000伺服式强力机研究50次加载(荷载为试验根极限抗拉剪组合力的70%)对其材料力学特性的影响。结果表明:承受50次加载后,试验根极限力—径向位移曲线斜率大于对照根;试验根极限抗拉剪组合力及其强度显著高于对照根(p0.05)。反复加载后试验根抗拉剪组合力—根径的函数关系、抗拉剪组合强度—根径的函数关系均与对照根相似,仍分别呈幂函数正相关、幂函数负相关。随着根径由1～2 mm增至4～5 mm,试验根极限抗拉剪组合力由对照根的1.26倍增至1.34倍。随着加载次数的增加,试验根径向位移增量减小。     

芒萁根系对崩岗红土层土壤抗剪强度的影响

为探究植物根系对崩岗红土层土壤抗剪强度的作用机制，采取室内直剪试验，研究不同含水率条件下芒萁（Dicranopteris dichotoma）根系对红土层抗剪强度的影响。结果表明：（1）不同根重密度土体的抗剪强度总体随含水率增加而下降，含根土体的抗剪强度大于素土。（2）黏聚力随着含水率的增加均呈先增大后减小的趋势，而随根重密度的增加呈增大的趋势，且增量逐渐减小。（3）内摩擦角与土壤含水率之间呈线性负相关，但与根重密度之间无明显关系。（4）含水率对抗剪强度的影响大于根重密度，可用含水率和根重密度模拟根土复合体的抗剪强度（NSE=0.84）。综上，根系的作用可增加崩壁红土层土壤的抗剪强度，但高含水率条件下根系的增强效应降低，可通过减少水分注入以增加崩壁根土复合体的稳定性。     

The invasion of pea roots, pisum sativum l., by soil microorganisms, Acanthamoeba palestinensis (reich) and pseudomonas SP

Pea roots (Pisum sativum L. cultivar Tall Sugar White) were inoculated with Pseudomonas sp., isolated from the roots of Timothy grass (Phleum pratensis L.). Microscopic examination showed that the bacterium had invaded many epidermal and outer cortical cells of the root. The presence of the soil amoeba, Acanthamoeba palestinensis (Reich), which readily ingests Pseudomonas sp., did not alter the root damage. The amoebae were also found in the epidermis and outer cortex of pea roots. No amoebae were found inside pea roots when Pseudomonas sp. was absent. Bacterial invasion also occurred in pea roots grown in garden soil previously sterilized by γ-irradiation and inoculated with Pseudomonas sp., but not in the same soil inoculated and unsterilized. Timothy grass roots were similarly uninfected in inoculated unsterilized garden soil.