山羊骨髓MSCs体外向成骨细胞诱导和分化

以关中奶山羊骨髓间充质干细胞（MSCs）为对象，研究了体外诱导山羊MSCs向成骨细胞的分化。结果表明，山羊MSCs在地塞米松、β-磷酸甘油和抗坏血酸的作用下，从诱导的第4~5天开始，即可见有些MSCs体积逐渐增大，由梭形或多角形转变为立方形或卵圆形；随着诱导时间延长，立方形或卵圆形细胞不断增多，到第15天时，有较多的立方形细胞，且这种变化经历了从立方形向卵圆形转变的过程；第25天，可见卵圆形和方形细胞堆积，诱导分化率为90.2% ± 2.97%。说明其被诱导分化为成骨细胞表型，该类细胞呈茜素红染色和碱性磷酸酶(ALP)染色阳性。从而证明了山羊骨髓MSCs具有体外分化为成骨细胞的潜能，从而为利用该类细胞作为实验模型研究骨骼缺损修复等提供了科学依据。     

过量表达热休克蛋白C端相互作用蛋白(CHIP)抑制小鼠前成骨细胞系的分化和矿化

以MC3T3-E1细胞系为材料,体外转染pEFNeu-HA-CHIP质粒,Western blot检测热休克蛋白Hs70(HSP70)C端相互作用蛋白(CHIP)表达,建立了稳定过量表达CHIP蛋白的MC3T3-E1/HA-CHIP细胞系.然后用含10 mol/L甘油磷酸钠和50靏/mL抗坏血酸的条件培养基诱导MC3T3-E1和MC3T3-E1/HA-CHIP细胞系向成骨细胞定向分化,结果表明,诱导期MC3T3-E1/HA-CHIP细胞系中碱性磷酸酶(ALP)的活性比MC3T3-E1细胞中的ALP活性低,ALP染色实验同时证实了这个结果;诱导培养18d后,Von Kossa染色和茜素红染色结果表明,MC3T3-E1/HA-CHIP细胞系中生成的磷酸钙比MC3T3-E1细胞系中生成的磷酸钙少.结果提示,过量表达CHIP蛋白抑制MC3T3-E1细胞的分化和矿化.     

不同化学激活方法和电激活参数对猪体外成熟卵母细胞早期孤雌发育的影响

本研究探讨了不同化学激活方法和不同电激活参数对猪体外成熟卵母细胞早期孤雌发育的影响。利用屠宰场猪卵巢卵母细胞,在体外成熟培养44~48 h后,将核成熟卵母细胞分别用:(1)不同化学激活方法[①1 0%乙醇 1 0μg/mL放线菌酮;②2.5 mm o l/L氯化锶 1 0μg/mL放线菌酮;③5μm o l/L离子霉素 2.5 mm o l/L 6二-甲氨基嘌呤(6-DMAP);④200μm o l/L硫柳汞 8 mm o l/L二硫苏糖醇进行激活处理;⑤对照组——不用任何激活剂(试验1)];(2)用不同电场强度和脉冲时程进行电激活(试验2),之后放入胚胎培养液中进行体外培养7 d。研究结果显示:(1)4种不同化学激活方法处理卵子的1原核形成率、2原核形成率和原核形成率都显著比对照组的高(P<0.05),其中离子霉素 6-DMAP组的2原核形成率和总原核形成率最高,分别为(23.1±3.5)%和(65.2±3.5)%,显著比其他处理组的都高(P<0.0 5);(2)4种不同化学激活方法处理组的囊胚率都比对照组的高(P<0.0 1),其中离子霉素 6-DMAP组的卵裂率及囊胚率最高,分别为(4 6.6±1 8.5)%和(5.6±4.2)%;(3)本研究所用的4种不同化学激活方法对猪4细-胞孤雌胚SDS-PAGE电泳的蛋白质表达图谱没有显著影响;(4)电场强度为1.7 kV/cm、脉冲时程为50和70μs时猪体外成熟卵母细胞激活效果最好,卵裂率、囊胚率、囊胚细胞数分别为:(77.4±9.7)%,(12.4±3.7)%,17.6±5.9和(75.1±10.6)%,(12.3±2.6)%,19.1±8.1。以上结果说明:(1)本研究所用的4种化学激活方法均能有效激活猪体外成熟卵母细胞,其中离子霉素 6-DMAP的激活效果最理想;(2)在本实验室条件下,采用1.7 kV/cm的电场强度、50~70μs的脉冲时程均能有效的激活猪体外成熟卵母细胞;(3)本研究所用的4种不同化学激活方法对猪4细-胞孤雌胚SDS-PAGE电泳的蛋白质表达图谱没有显著影响。     

脱羰秋水仙碱诱导牛卵母细胞显核

用脱羰秋水仙碱(deme colcme,Deme)诱导牛卵母细胞显核.比较不同显核时间、Deme浓度以及极体形成等因素对牛卵母细胞显核的影响.结果显示:①0.5μg/mL Deme处理卵母细胞,诱导1 h时获得最高显核率(76.00%),高于0.5 h(61.18%)、1.5 h(64.10%)和2 h(63.46%)组;②不同浓度Deme处理成熟卵母细胞1 h,0.4和0.5μg/mL Deme组显核率较高,分别为75.24%和77.31%,显著高于0.3 μg/mL组(46.54%)与0.6 μg/mL(60.66%)组;③0.4 μg/mL Deme处理卵母细胞1 h,有极体组显核率(83.24%)与无极体组(77.54%)无显著性差异.研究表明,0.4 μg/mL Deme处理卵母细胞1 h能更好地诱导牛卵母细胞显核.     

影响体外受精生产奶牛性控胚胎的因素

为了促进性控精液体外受精胚胎的产业化应用,本实验从卵母细胞体外成熟后卵丘细胞脱除程度(不脱除~完全脱除)、种公牛个体(A~C)、性控精液受精滴体积(30~100μL)和性控精子密度(0.3×106~1.0×106个/mL)4个方面,研究影响牛性控精液体外受精效率的因素。结果表明:(1)卵丘细胞部分脱除组的卵裂率(67±4.74)%显著高于不脱除组(41±2.23)%和完全脱除组(37.50±2.88)%(P<0.05);(2)种公牛B的性控精液进行体外受精,卵裂率(61.25±5.78)%和囊胚率(26.53±3.31)%显著高于A(42.5±3.45,17.65±3.65)%和C(30±2.62,16.67±2.36)%(P<0.05);(3)50~100μL受精滴卵裂率(60±3.54)%~(64.17±3.04)%和囊胚率(20.41±4.33)%~(23.38±4.47)%无显著性差异(P>0.05),但显著高于40、30μL的卵裂率[(48.33±2.89)%,(33±2.74)%]和囊胚率[(13.79±2.02)%,(12.12±3.73)%](P<0.05);(4)精子密度0.5×106~1....     

胰岛素和葡萄糖对水牛体外受精早期胚胎发育的影响

探讨了不同浓度的胰岛素和葡萄糖对水牛体外受精早期胚胎体外发育的影响。结果表明,添加胰岛素浓度为5μg/mL时,水牛早期胚胎的囊胚发育率、囊胚细胞数及冷冻-解冻后胚胎的孵化率都显著高于对照组及其他浓度组(P<0.05);加入葡萄糖的浓度大于6 mm o l/L时显著影响水牛早期胚胎发育到囊胚及孵化囊胚的阶段(P<0.05);联合添加胰岛素和葡萄糖时能显著提高水牛早期胚胎的孵化囊胚率、总囊胚率和囊胚细胞数(P<0.05)。实验证实,浓度为5μg/mL胰岛素能促进水牛体外受精早期胚胎的发育;在TCM-199中单独添加葡萄糖是不必要的,联合添加葡萄糖和胰岛素能促进水牛体外受精早期胚胎的发育。     

维甲酸X受体α(RXRα)对猪前体脂肪细胞凋亡的影响

采用semi-qRT-PCR、细胞转染、Hoechst 33342和吖啶橙(AO)荧光染色、流式细胞术等方法,检测体外培养的猪前体脂肪细胞经维甲酸X受体α(RXRα)的配体9顺式维甲酸(9-cis Retinoic acid,9-cisRA)处理、转染增强型绿色荧光蛋R(pEn-hanced green fluorescent proteins C2)-RXRα(pEGFPC2-RXRα)重组质粒和化学合成的RXRa-小分子干扰RNA (small interferingRNA)(RXRα-siRNA)后细胞凋亡的变化.结果表明.猪前体脂肪细胞发牛凋亡的形态学变化为细胞首先体积缩小.细胞浆凝缩,染色质逐渐凝集.细胞核固缩呈均一的致密物,进而断裂,胞膜仍完整,然后胞膜小断出芽、脱落.最后细胞变成数个大小不等的由膜包裹的凋亡小体;10nmol/L 9-cisRA组与对照组相比,凋亡率显著降低(P相似文献   

促性腺激素及卵泡液协同对牛腔前卵泡体外发育的影响

将100个φ100～150μm牛腔前卵泡,随机分成8组,每组12～13个卵泡,在McCoy's 5a无血清培养系统研究了促卵泡素(FSH)和促黄体素(LH)有、无两种情况下,添加0、10%、15%及20%牛卵泡液(BFF)对牛腔前卵泡的体外生长、发育、存活及雌二醇(E2)分泌的影响.结果显示,在无促性腺激素下,添加不同浓度BFF对牛腔前卵泡体外发育无明显促进作用(P>0.05),但可刺激体外培养腔前卵泡的E2分泌.当有10 ng/mL LH和50 ng/mL FSH存在下,培养不同时间腔前卵泡的发育率、存活率,各卵泡液组均高于对照组,其中10%BFF组腔前卵泡培养6 d时发育率为(78.52%)与对照组(49.28%)差异显著(P<0.05),培养12 d腔前卵泡φ增长值33.7±4.8μm,显著高于对照组及其它处理组(P<0.01),同时在培养9 d时,有一枚卵泡成腔;各添加卵泡液组的E2测定值更高,其中添加10%BFF组中φ>100μm腔前卵泡在培养6 d时其E2分泌量达最高值48.96±1 1.54 pg/mL.表明FSH、LH存在下,培养液中加入10%BFF可显著提高腔前卵泡在体外的生长、发育、存活和E2分泌及诱导卵泡腔的形成.     

过量表达CHIP蛋白抑制小鼠前成骨细胞分化和矿化

摘要 以MC3T3-E1细胞系为实验材料，体外转染pEFNeu-HA-CHIP质粒，Western blot检测CHIP蛋白表达，建成了稳定过表达CHIP 蛋白的MC3T3-E1/HA-CHIP细胞系。然后用含10mM/ml甘油磷酸钠和50ug/ml抗坏血酸的α-MEM条件培养基诱导MC3T3-E1和MC3T3-E1/HA-CHIP细胞系向成骨细胞定向分化，结果表明诱导期MC3T3-E1/HA-CHIP细胞系中的ALP活性比MC3T3-E1细胞中的ALP活性低，ALP染色实验同时证实了这个结果；诱导培养18天以后，Von Kossa染色和茜素红染色结果表明MC3T3-E1/HA-CHIP细胞系中生成的磷酸钙比MC3T3-E1细胞系中生成的磷酸钙少。以上结果表明过表达CHIP蛋白抑制MC3T3-E1细胞的分化和矿化。     

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.