地膜对植椒土壤生物学特性和细菌多样性的影响

以我国南方植椒土壤为研究对象,基于传统和高通量测序技术,研究覆盖不同地膜对土壤微生物生物量、酶活性和细菌多样性的影响。结果发现,覆盖地膜(尤其是以聚乙烯为原料的无色透明地膜、黑色地膜和银色地膜)不仅有助于提高耕作层土壤温度与含水量,而且对减缓土壤pH下降以及促进土壤微生物生物量与酶活性的提高均具有显著效果。从土壤细菌群落组成来看,供试土壤中黄杆菌属(Flavobacterium)、溶杆菌属(Lysobacter)、产碱杆菌属(Alcaligenes)、鞘氨醇单胞菌属(Sphingomonas)和芽胞杆菌属(Bacillus)等为优势属,且覆盖地膜有助于提高土壤细菌丰度、多样性和均匀度指数,促进溶杆菌属和芽胞杆菌属等具有生态防控和促生功能有益细菌的积聚。结果表明,当前南方地区辣椒生产中利用地膜不仅没有导致植椒土壤质量劣化,而且有助于提高土壤肥力和保持土壤健康。     

寡糖对土壤微生物多样性及群落结构的调节作用

土壤微生物种群类型,对土壤质量和作物生长具有重要影响,研究寡糖对土壤微生物种群的影响特征,有助于正确、高效及安全使用寡糖。本研究利用人工气候室进行土壤培养,土壤施加50mg·L−1的壳寡糖（CSOS）和纤维寡糖（COS）溶液,以清水（CK）为对照处理,培养6d后取样,利用高通量测序技术,分析土壤微生物群落结构组成及多样性分布特征。结果表明：壳寡糖（CSOS）和纤维寡糖（COS）处理均显著改变细菌、真菌的群落结构,提高细菌的物种观测数。变形菌门（Proteobacteria）、酸杆菌门（Acidobacteria）、放线菌门（Actinobacteria）、绿弯菌门（Chloroflexi）、芽单胞菌门（Gemmatimonadetes）和拟杆菌门（Bacteroidetes）为优势细菌门,子囊菌门（Ascomycota）、担子菌门（Basidiomycota）和被孢霉门（Mortierellomycota）为优势真菌门。通过组间群落组成比较分析可知,壳寡糖（CSOS）和纤维寡糖（COS）处理均不同程度降低酸杆菌门（Acidobacteria）的相对丰度,增加变形菌门（Proteobacteria）、放线菌门（Actinobacteria）、芽单胞菌门（Gemmatimonadetes）、壶菌门（Chytridiomycota）以及有益菌属溶杆菌属（Lysobacter）、硝化螺旋菌属（Nitrospira）、Haliangium、芽球菌属（Blastococcus）和链霉菌属（Streptomyces）的相对丰度,但与纤维寡糖（COS）相比,壳寡糖（CSOS）处理微生物群落组成的变化幅度更大。此外,壳寡糖（CSOS）和纤维寡糖（COS）处理在调节土壤微生物群落结构上存在一定差异。其中,壳寡糖（CSOS）处理有益菌属Talaromyces的相对丰度增加195%,纤维寡糖（COS）处理有益菌属假单胞菌属（Pseudomonas）的相对丰度增加215%。综上,壳寡糖和纤维寡糖处理均能优化土壤微生物群落的结构组成,其调控差异性有助于理解不同寡糖的调控机制,推动寡糖的应用与推广。     

黄河三角洲刺槐根际与非根际细菌结构及多样性

为精确分析黄河三角洲刺槐根际与非根际土壤细菌群落定殖情况,本研究采用高通量测序方法对刺槐根际与非根际土壤细菌结构及多样性进行了研究。研究表明,根际土壤细菌共有36门214属,非根际土壤细菌共有33门153属。变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)细菌丰度超过15%,是根际与非根际土壤中的优势菌落。根际与非根际土壤中酸杆菌门、硝化螺旋菌门(Nitrospirae)丰度差异显著。根际土壤中红游动菌属(Rhodoplanes)、溶杆菌属(Lysobacter)、热单胞菌属(Thermomonas)、链霉菌属(Streptomyces)及非根际土壤中红游动菌属、溶杆菌属、链霉菌属、Kaistobacter细菌丰度超过4%。根际土壤中固氮菌丰度显著高于非根际土壤,解磷、解钾细菌丰度差异不显著。根际与非根际土壤细菌Chao丰富度分别为2 054、2 376,差异显著。根际与非根际土壤细菌之间的权重(Weighted Unifrac)距离在0.12~0.25之间。综上所述,黄河三角洲刺槐根际与非根际土壤细菌结构具有一定差异,多样性差异显著。     

施用改良剂对苏打盐化草甸土土壤性状及水稻产量的影响

为改良苏打盐碱土定向开发了土壤改良剂,探讨土壤改良剂的改良机制。本文用水稻栽培田间试验的方法,研究改良剂改良苏打盐化草甸土的效果及机制,并用16S rRNA基因Illumina MiSeq高通量测序技术探讨了改良剂对土壤细菌群落组成及功能多样性的影响。田间试验设常规施肥（CK）和常规施肥加改良剂（T）两个处理。与CK相比,T处理水稻产量提高124.4%（P < 0.01）,土壤不同粒级水稳性团聚体数量增加、代换性钠离子含量下降,但土壤电导率上升;测序共获得286528条有效序列读数,T处理土壤OTUs6343个,较CK的7539个显著降低;T处理Chao和ACE指数显著低于CK处理,而Shannon指数高于CK对照;T处理的变形菌门（Proteobacteria）、放线菌门（Actinobacteria）、绿弯菌门（Chloroflexi）、酸杆菌门（Acidobacteria）、不动杆菌属（Acinetobacter）、沙壤土杆菌（Ramlibacter）、新鞘脂菌属（Novosphingobium）、假单胞菌属（Pseudomonas）、粉色科工委属（Cesiribacter）、贪铜菌属（Cupriavidus）和慢生根瘤菌属（Bradyrhizobium）相对丰度增加,芽单胞菌门（Gemmatimonadetes）、芽单胞菌属（Gemmatimonas）、藤黄单胞菌（Luteimonas）和溶杆菌属（Lysobacter）相对丰度降低;冗余分析结果为施用改良剂后盐化草甸土的物理性状改善,Pseudomonas、Cupriavidus、Bradyrhizobium 3个属水平显著提高。挖掘和利用微生物资源有助于改良苏打盐化草甸土。     

有机无机肥料配施对植烟土壤养分及细菌群落结构的影响

为研究有机无机肥料配施对植烟土壤细菌群落结构的影响,采用Illumina MiSeq高通量测序技术,分析了连续3年施用化肥(CF)、烟草秸秆生物有机肥配施化肥(TBF)和高碳基土壤修复肥配施化肥(HCF)对土壤细菌多样性和群落结构的影响,同时结合土壤理化性质探究不同施肥条件下细菌群落变化的重要影响因素。与CF处理相比,HCF处理土壤碱解氮含量显著降低了34.09%。多样性指数分析显示有机无机肥料配施有提高土壤细菌多样性的趋势,HCF处理土壤细菌多样性最高。有机无机肥料配施提高了土壤放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)、芽单胞菌门(Gemmatimonadetes)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)和浮霉菌门(Planctomycetes)细菌丰度,降低了土壤绿湾菌门(Chloroflexi)、Saccharibacteria、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、WD272和蓝细菌门(Cyanobacteria)细菌丰度。有机无机肥料配施显著增加了土壤Patulibacter、短芽孢杆菌属(Brevibacillus)、农研丝杆菌属(Niastella)等有益细菌属丰度。Spearman相关性分析和典范对应分析(CCA)表明土壤pH值、碱解氮和速效钾是影响土壤细菌群落结构的重要因子。有机无机肥料配施对植烟土壤细菌多样性和群落结构产生了深刻影响,土壤pH值、碱解氮和速效钾是调控细菌群落结构的重要影响因素,在土壤培肥中应引起充分的重视。     

微生物菌剂对连作地块草莓生长、土壤养分及微生物群落的影响

为了研究微生物菌剂对连作地块草莓（Fragaria×ananassa Duch.）生长和土壤性状的影响，设置3个处理：不施用微生物菌剂（CK）、施用单一微生物菌剂（T1）和施用复合微生物菌剂（T2），统计草莓存活率和产量，并测定土壤样品的理化性状和微生物群落结构变化。结果表明，微生物菌剂处理有助于草莓的生长和增产。与CK相比，T1、T2的草莓存活率分别提高17.99和25.19个百分点，草莓产量分别增加30.16%和41.79%。微生物菌剂处理有效改善了土壤养分。与CK相比，T2土壤有效磷和速效钾含量显著提高18.31%和55.27%。然而，微生物菌剂处理提高了土壤电导率并降低了土壤pH值，长期施用微生物菌剂存在土壤盐渍化和酸化的风险。微生物群落结构分析结果表明，草莓土壤中细菌和真菌的优势菌门分别为厚壁菌门和子囊菌门，优势菌属分别为芽孢杆菌属和曲霉属。微生物菌剂施用提高了土壤真菌群落的丰富度和多样性，但对土壤细菌群落影响较小。与CK相比，微生物菌剂处理增加了芽孢杆菌属、根霉属和假霉样真菌属的相对丰度，其中根霉属和假霉样真菌属相对丰度在T2达到显著水平；降低了鞘氨醇单胞菌属、曲霉属和青霉...     

当归不同生长时期根际土壤酶活性及微生物群落结构变化

  目的  研究当归（Angelica sinensis）不同生长时期根际土壤酶活性和微生物群落结构的动态变化及其关联性,为当归的健康种植和土壤改良提供科学依据。  方法  以甘肃产当归的根际土壤为研究对象,研究5个生长时期当归根际土壤5种初级代谢酶活性,并运用高通量测序对细菌和真菌群落门、属水平的变化进行研究。  结果  当归根际土壤细菌群落丰富度和均匀度不随生长时期变化,而真菌群落变化显著;生长后期细菌和真菌群落结构与前中期明显分离,这种分离主要由部分菌门和菌属丰度显著变化造成;细菌属间多以互利共生关系存在,细菌与真菌间更倾向于以此消彼长的关系存在;抽薹期根际土壤蔗糖酶活性最低,脲酶活性最高,相关性分析表明,细菌对酶活性的影响高于真菌,其中蔗糖酶与黄杆菌属（Flavobacterium）显著正相关,脲酶与拟杆菌属（Bacteroides）、毛壳菌属（Chaetomium）显著正相关,与马赛菌属（Massilia）、鞘脂菌属（Sphingobium）、Allorhizobium-Neorhizobium-Pararhizobium-Rhizobium属、新鞘脂菌属（Novosphingobium）显著负相关;酸性磷酸酶、淀粉酶、过氧化氢酶在不同时期维持稳定,而鞘氨醇单胞菌属（Sphingomonas）、拟杆菌属（Bacteroides）、MND1属、芽单胞菌属（Gemmatimonas）和溶杆菌属（Lysobacter）在维持其活性上发挥着一定的作用。  结论  该研究反映出当归根际土壤细菌-真菌群落在其生长发育过程中的动态平衡,酶和菌属的生长周期波动及其关联性反映出与当归抽薹可能相关的酶和菌属,以及维持酶稳定的有关菌群。该研究为下一步当归促生菌的筛选及功能验证提供了科学参考。     

马铃薯与玉米复合种植对土壤化感物质及土壤细菌群落结构的影响

为探究马铃薯与玉米复合种植对化感物质积累与细菌群落结构的影响,分析轮作、间作缓解连作障碍的机制,本研究以马铃薯连作、玉米连作、马铃薯||玉米间作、马铃薯-玉米轮作第8年的土壤为对象,利用GC-MS测定土壤中化感物质含量,并采用Illumina Miseq高通量测序技术对土壤细菌16Sr DNA V4-V5区域进行测序,分析土壤中细菌多样性和群落结构的变化,并对化感物质和优势菌属进行相关性分析。结果表明:玉米连作和马铃薯连作会导致化感物质的积累,玉米连作土壤积累了更多的油酸、亚油酸、花生酸、木焦油酸等脂肪酸,马铃薯连作土壤积累了更多的硬脂醇、二十烷醇等脂肪醇类物质。轮作降低了大部分化感物质的积累,间作降低的化感物质种类相对轮作较少。不同种植方式下土壤细菌群落结构发生了显著变化,相对于连作,间作和轮作Ace指数和Chao指数显著升高。在门水平上,轮作土壤放线菌丰度显著高于马铃薯连作土壤,间作土壤拟杆菌门丰度显著低于玉米连作土壤,两种连作土壤中酸杆菌门丰度都较轮作显著升高。在属水平上,一些有益细菌如节杆菌属、溶杆菌属等在复合种植土壤中相对丰度更高。通过相关性分析发现土微菌属、小梨形菌属与脂肪醇类物质呈显著正相关,黄杆菌属、溶杆菌属、微杆菌属等与脂肪酸类物质呈显著负相关。马铃薯与玉米复合种植降低了化感物质在土壤中的积累,从而抑制了土壤细菌丰度的降低,提高了有益菌属丰度,消减了连作障碍。     

PGPR菌剂对辣椒的促生效应及根际土壤细菌的响应研究

研究田间条件下PGPR菌剂灌根对辣椒根际土壤细菌数量及群落结构的影响,为深入探究PGPR菌剂的田间促生机制提供理论依据。以4株PGPR菌株制成PGPR菌剂,对辣椒进行灌根,并采用Illumina-MiSeq平台对辣椒根际土壤细菌V3-V4区进行Paired-end测序,结合细菌及功能菌群数量、辣椒产量指标,比较分析菌剂灌根配施全量化肥(PGPR-CF1)、菌剂灌根配施80%化肥(PGPR-CF2)和全量化肥(CK)处理后对辣椒根际土壤细菌数量及群落结构特征的影响。结果表明:PGPR菌剂灌根后辣椒根际土壤细菌及包含固氮、解磷及解钾等功能菌群的数量显著提高,且物种丰度和多样性均高于对照,细菌优势度则表现为PGPR-CF1和CK组高于PGPR-CF2。所有土样共得到有效序列573 896条,在相似水平为97%下聚类分析得到OTUs数分别为2 153个(CK)、2 337个(PGPR-CF1)、2 358个(PGPR-CF2);各处理辣椒根际土壤中的优势门为酸杆菌门、放线菌门、拟杆菌门、绿弯菌门、浮霉菌门和变形菌门,相对丰度总占比分别为83.7%(PGPR-CF1)、79.55%(PGPR-CF2)和79.77%(CK)。PGPR菌剂灌根后增加了伯克霍尔德氏菌目、芽孢杆菌目、鞘脂单胞菌目等的相对丰度,降低了芽单胞菌目、酸杆菌目的相对丰度。Pearson指数表明,辣椒产量和单果重与根际土壤细菌多样性和丰度正相关。研究显示,PGPR菌剂处理,可以提高根际土壤细菌和功能菌群的数量,同时影响了物种多样性和群落结构,并促进了辣椒增产。     

多粘类芽孢杆菌LRS-1对辣椒疫霉病害根际土壤细菌多样性的影响

【目的】研究多粘类芽孢杆菌LRS-1生防菌对患疫霉病的辣椒根际土壤细菌多样性的影响。【方法】通过对无病阴性对照(CK)、辣椒疫霉菌阳性处理(PC)和生防菌+辣椒疫霉菌处理(LRS1) 3个处理的盆栽根际土壤样品16S r RNA基因的V3-V4区进行高通量测序,并对下机数据予以相关生物信息学分析,获得了不同处理根际土壤细菌的OTU丰度、Alpha多样性、OTUs分布、群落组成差异以及PCA聚类分析等数据结果。【结果】各处理间的根际土壤细菌群落变化明显,疫霉菌处理明显降低了根际土壤细菌群落的丰富度和多样性,而接种多粘类芽孢杆菌LRS-1则可明显改善根际土壤细菌群落丰富度与多样性;接种LRS-1明显提高了辣椒根际土壤细菌种类组成的相似性,并改善疫霉菌胁迫下的细菌种类组成;各处理的优势物种类群均分布于变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria),但疫霉胁迫条件下Sphingomonadaceae、Clostridiales物种丰度显著降低,而Burkholderiales、Micrococcales等物种丰度显著增加,接种LRS-1可改善此态势,且明显提高该生防菌所在的Paenibacillus物种比例。【结论】上述结果既证实了LRS-1在"疫霉-辣椒-LRS-1-根际土壤"复合体系下较好的定殖适应性,更体现了LRS-1对疫霉病态土壤根际细菌多样性具有明显的维持与修复作用。     

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,     

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.