氮沉降对亚热带常绿阔叶天然林不同季节土壤微生物群落结构的影响

以亚热带地区细柄阿丁枫(Altingia gracilipes)天然林为研究对象,开展2年(2010—2011年)的原位模拟大气氮沉降试验,设置3个氮水平(以氮(N)含量计算):对照(CK,0 kg·hm-2·a-1)、低氮(LN,50 kg·hm-2·a-1)、高氮(HN,100 kg·hm-2·a-1)。采用磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)技术探讨常绿阔叶天然林土壤微生物群落结构对氮沉降的响应。结果表明,天然林土壤微生物以细菌为优势类群,占微生物总PLFA含量的78.3%。夏季土壤微生物群落结构与其他季节发生显著差异;LN仅显著改变夏季土壤微生物群落结构;HN导致春季和冬季土壤微生物群落结构发生显著分异,且在不同季节对土壤微生物变化类群的影响不同。此外,氮沉降未使真菌与细菌比(F:B)和革兰氏阳性菌与革兰氏阴性菌比(G+:G-)发生显著改变,而使不同结构的环丙烷脂肪酸或异构脂肪酸等特殊脂肪酸比值发生改变,这表明短期氮沉降虽然改变了土壤微生物的群落结构,但并未影响微生物对环境变化的响应力,微生物可能通过改变特殊脂肪酸含量应对短期氮沉降,不同季节的应对策略有一定差异。因此,在探讨氮沉降对亚热带地区森林生态系统土壤微生物群落结构的影响时有必要考虑季节因素。     

模拟氮沉降下施石灰对休耕红壤优势植物根际土壤微生物群落的影响

氮沉降引起红壤酸化加剧和土壤生态系统功能退化。采用休耕植物自然演替恢复土壤生物多样性和生态系统功能;同时,针对氮沉降造成的土壤酸化,通过施石灰来调控土壤pH,以期加速土壤生态恢复进程。土壤微生物群落结构的改变能够指示土壤恢复措施的影响。为探究氮沉降背景下,石灰施用措施对休耕红壤生态功能的恢复效果,以高强度农作休耕地上最初出现的优势植物狗尾草(Setaria viridis(L.)Beauv)根际为研究对象,研究模拟氮沉降(0kg·hm~(–2)、45kg·hm~(–2)和90kg·hm~(–2))下施石灰(0 kg·hm~(–2)和110 kg·hm~(–2))对根际土壤微生物群落的影响。结果表明,模拟氮沉降降低了各类群微生物磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)量、革兰氏阴/阳性细菌比及香农多样性指数。在没有额外施氮的处理中,施石灰降低了各类群微生物PLFA量。而氮和石灰交互作用下,各类群微生物PLFA量均随氮沉降量增加而增加。结构方程模型显示,石灰对微生物群落的影响最为强烈;模拟氮沉降和施石灰通过综合影响土壤pH、养分有效性及植物—微生物养分竞争而改变微生物群落结构和多样性。总之,模拟氮沉降下施用石灰措施能够改善休耕红壤生境,降低因氮沉降造成的酸化对根际微生物群落的危害,加速土壤生态系统恢复。     

温带针阔叶林土壤有机碳动态和微生物群落结构对有机氮添加的响应特征

森林生态系统土壤有机碳(soil organic carbon,SOC)转化和碳储量动态对大气氮沉降增加的响应是具有特异性的,取决于土壤初始氮状态、施氮类型、剂量与持续时间。过去相关研究主要集中在无机氮沉降效应方面,对有机氮沉降如何影响温带针阔混交林SOC及其组分含量尚不清楚,鲜有研究关注氮素富集条件下SOC变化的微生物学机制。以长白山温带针阔混交林为研究对象,设置4个尿素添加水平(0、40、80、120 kg·hm~(–2)·a~(–1),以N计,下同)的原位控制试验。施肥三年后,采集0～10 cm矿质层土壤样品,测定土壤不同形态氮含量、土壤团聚体比例和不同粒径SOC含量;利用磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)技术测定土壤微生物不同种群相对丰度与群落结构,探讨SOC含量变化与微生物群落变化之间的相关关系。结果表明,施氮三年显著增加了土壤NO_3~--N、DON和TN含量,土壤酸化明显。施氮虽然未显著增加表层土壤总SOC含量,但是显著增加活性SOC组分(颗粒态有机碳和团聚体结合态有机碳)含量,增幅介于27.5%～96.3%,导致SOC组分发生累积的大气氮沉降临界负荷为80kg·hm~(–2)·a~(–1)以N计下同。SOC含量的变化(ΔSOC)与团聚体结合态有机碳、颗粒态有机碳含量的变化正相关。除好氧细菌丰度外,施氮总体上未改变微生物种群丰度,但是显著改变了微生物的群落结构,革兰氏阳性细菌/革兰氏阴性细菌(G+/G–)丰度比例增加而好氧/厌氧细菌(A/AN)丰度比例下降。有机氮富集倾向于促进温带针阔混交林土壤团聚体的形成,局域产生厌氧微环境,好氧/厌氧细菌(A/AN)丰度比例下降。活性SOC组分含量、土壤团聚体百分比和微生物PLFA丰度之间显著相关,暗示微生物群落结构与SOC积累和稳定之间关系密切。上述研究结果表明,氮素富集会改变温带针阔混交林土壤微生物群落结构,进而导致土壤碳积累。     

增温、施氮对中亚热带杉木林土壤可溶性有机质的影响

受人类活动的影响,1880—2012年,全球地表平均温度约提高0.85℃;同时,1980—2010年间我国大气氮沉降以0.41 kg·hm~(–2)的速率逐年增加。全球变暖和大气氮沉降将通过影响环境因子变化进而影响土壤可溶性有机质(DOM,Dissolved organicmatter)。为探究增温和施氮对DOM数量及其结构的影响,选取我国中亚热带杉木人工林土壤进行增温以及施氮试验,试验设对照(CT,0 kg·hm~(–2)·a~(–1))、增温(W,+5℃,0 kg·hm~(–2)·a~(–1))、高氮(HN,80 kg·hm~(–2)·a~(–1))、低氮(LN,40 kg·hm~(–2)·a~(–1))、增温×高氮(WHN,+5℃,80 kg·hm~(–2)·a~(–1))、增温×低氮(WLN,+5℃,40 kg·hm~(–2)·a~(–1))6种处理。结果表明,与CT相比,W处理的土壤可溶性有机碳(DOC,Dissolved organic carbon)和可溶性有机氮(DON,Dissolved organic nitrogen)增加,但其芳香性指数和腐殖化程度低,这很可能是由于增温促进了土壤有机质(SOM,Soil organic matter)向DOM的转化。季节通过影响土壤环境,对施氮后的土壤DOM结构有不同影响:干季(2015年1月)时,施氮使DOM含量增加,其芳香性指数显著升高;雨季(2015年4月)时,施氮处理的土壤DOM含量升高,但其芳香性指数和腐殖化程度呈下降趋势。在增温和施氮的交互作用下DOM含量达到最高,其结构相对简单。除了温度和氮含量的直接影响外,RDA(冗余分析)表明,土壤含水量和pH也是决定土壤DOM变化的重要因子。增温和施氮均可以降低土壤pH,使得SOM更容易向DOM转化。增温会加速植物残体和SOM向DOM的溶解过程;施氮会通过促进植物生长,增加土壤DOM的含量。     

氮添加对马尾松人工林凋落物分解及其微生物活性的影响

对马尾松人工林凋落物进行了12个月的模拟氮沉降试验[对照CK,0 kg N/(hm~2·a)]、低氮[(LN,50 kg N/(hm~2·a)]、中氮[MN,100 kg N/(hm~2·a)]和高氮[HN,150 kg N/(hm~2·a)],研究了凋落物分解特征、土壤微生物活性及其对模拟氮沉降的响应。结果表明:(1)随着氮浓度的增加,马尾松凋落物的分解系数呈先增加后降低趋势,MN处理下马尾松凋落物的分解系数达到最高,之后有所下降;与对照相比,LN,MN,HN凋落物分解系数分别增加了15.36%,56.89%和12.97%;(2)模拟氮沉降促进了微生物量碳、氮、磷,相同月份微生物量碳、氮、磷均随着氮浓度的增加呈先增加后降低趋势,在MN处理下微生物量碳、氮、磷达到最大,HN处理下微生物量碳、氮、磷有所降低;(3)模拟氮沉降增加了大部分土壤酶的活性,HN处理下有所抑制,土壤中与碳(纤维素酶、纤维二糖水解酶、β-葡萄糖苷酶和β-木糖苷酶)、氮(硝酸还原酶)、磷(酸性磷酸酶和碱性磷酸酶)元素循环相关的酶均随着时间的增加呈增加趋势,相同月份在MN处理下达到最大,HN处理下有所降低。(4)不同氮处理下土壤微生物活度、微生物代谢熵、自养呼吸、异养呼吸、总呼吸变化趋势基本保持一致,随着时间的增加呈增加趋势,相同月份在MN处理下达到最大,HN处理下有所降低;(5)相关性分析表明纤维素酶、β-葡萄糖苷酶、β-木糖苷酶、硝酸还原酶与凋落物分解系数呈显著正相关(p0.05),土壤微生物量碳、氮、微生物活度、微生物代谢熵和微生物总呼吸与凋落物分解系数呈显著正相关;PCA排序表明:土壤微生物呼吸和土壤微生物代谢熵很大程度上反映了其微生物特性,其中土壤碳循环酶、微生物活度、土壤微生物代谢熵对凋落物分解贡献最大。     

氮肥对盐渍化枸杞园土壤微生物群落和氨氧化微生物丰度的影响

研究主要分析氮元素对宁夏平罗盐渍化枸杞园土壤中氨氧化微生物(氨氧化细菌和氨氧化古菌)的影响。实验共设八个处理:(1)C(不施氮肥,不施脱硫废弃物,原始荒地);(2)不施氮肥(N0);(3)施氮肥25 kg hm~(-2)(N25);(4)施氮肥50 kg hm~(-2)(N50);(5)施氮肥100kg hm~(-2)(N100);(6)施氮肥200 kg hm~(-2)(N200);(7)施氮肥400 kg hm~(-2)(N400);(8)施氮肥800 kg hm~(-2)(N800),在N0-N800处理施用脱硫废弃物3.72×104kg hm~(-2)。2011年8月采集0~20 cm土样。结果显示:脱硫废弃物和氮肥配合施加对土壤理化性质产生了显著影响;NO_3~--N和NH_4~+-N含量在施氮处理中相对于原始样地和不施氮处理组都有显著的升高,微生物生物量和细菌和氨氧化细菌多样性指数在施氮400 kg hm~(-2)达到最大值,施氮肥400 kg hm~(-2)是促进微生物量和群落多样性增加的最佳施用量。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示:氨氧化细菌(AOB)丰度在施氮肥400 kg hm~(-2)和800 kg hm~(-2)显著高于其它处理,脱硫废弃物和氮肥配合施用对AOB的丰度具有叠加效应。相关性分析表明:NH_4~+-N与总磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)、细菌PLFA、革兰氏阳性菌(G+)、革兰氏阴性菌(G-)、真菌/细菌(F/B)、微生物碳(MBC)、微生物氮(MBN)及16S r RNA基因拷贝数、AOB的基因拷贝数都显著相关。因此,铵态氮是该地区微生物群落可利用的有效氮素。     

模拟氮沉降对森林土壤酚类物质和可溶性糖含量的影响

采用野外原位试验模拟氮沉降,研究其对福建建瓯万木林自然保护区杉木林(CUL)、浙江桂(CIC)和罗浮栲林(CAF)3种林分土壤多酚、单宁和可溶性糖含量的影响。每个林分设置对照(CK,0 kg/(hm2·a))、低氮(LN,30 kg/(hm2·a))和高氮(HN,100 kg/(hm2·a))3个处理。结果表明:针叶杉木林土壤多酚含量最高,单宁和可溶性糖含量最低,且均与另两个阔叶树种林分差异显著。杉木和罗浮栲林土壤多酚含量随着氮添加量的增加而显著降低,浙江桂多酚受HN处理影响不大,仅LN处理显著降低49.4%。氮沉降主要表现为降低土壤单宁含量,LN处理分别显著降低杉木林、浙江桂和罗浮栲林单宁含量43.5%、70.0%和79.5%;而HN处理仅降低阔叶林土壤单宁含量。然而,氮沉降增加土壤可溶性糖含量,与对照处理相比,LN处理分别显著增加杉木、浙江桂和罗浮栲林土壤可溶性糖48.8%、19.2%和19.8%。各林分凋落物中多酚、单宁和可溶性糖含量受氮沉降的影响不显著。     

模拟氮沉降对小兴安岭地区人工红松林土壤氮转化的影响

以我国小兴安岭地区凉水国家级自然保护区30年林龄的人工红松林为研究对象,建立对照(0 kg hm~(-2)a~(-1))、低氮(20 kg hm~(-2)a~(-1))、中氮(40 kg hm~(-2)a~(-1))和高氮(80 kg hm~(-2)a~(-1))四种模拟氮沉降水平的样地;采用室内培养试验,研究了短期模拟氮沉降对人工红松林土壤氮净矿化、净硝化速率和氧化亚氮排放的影响。结果表明,与对照处理相比,经过2年的模拟氮沉降处理,土壤的净矿化、净硝化速率都有降低趋势。与对照相比,低氮、中氮、高氮土壤净矿化速率分别降低了16.9%、20.6%和25.2%,土壤净硝化速率分别降低了16.7%、20.9%和25.5%,但是处理间差异没有达到显著水平。净硝化速率与净矿化速率呈显著正相关关系(P0.05),表明净矿化速率降低减少铵态氮供应量可能是氮沉降处理降低净硝化速率重要原因。另外,模拟氮沉降处理导致土壤p H降低也不利于硝化作用。中氮和高氮处理土壤氧化亚氮累积排放量分别比对照高84%和40%,但是差异不显著。高的氮沉降量使硝化过程中氧化亚氮的排放比例增加,可能是中氮和高氮处理下净硝化速率下降而土壤氧化亚氮排放量却增加主要原因。研究结果表明,氮沉降会影响我国小兴安岭地区森林土壤氮矿化和硝化过程,但是由于实验开展观测时间较短,其影响规律还需长期实验验证。     

放牧与围栏内蒙古针茅草原土壤微生物生物量碳、氮变化及微生物群落结构PLFA分析

以内蒙古贝加尔针茅草原、大针茅草原和克氏针茅草原为研究对象,采用氯仿熏蒸法和磷脂脂肪酸（PLFA）分析方法研究了放牧与围栏条件下内蒙古针茅草原土壤微生物生物量和群落结构特征的变化情况。研究表明放牧与围栏草地土壤微生物生物量和群落结构差异显著。氯仿熏蒸法分析结果表明内蒙古针茅草原土壤微生物生物量碳的含量介于166.6-703.5mg·kg^-1之间,微生物生物量氮含量介于30.34-92.15mg·kg^-1之间,其中贝加尔针茅草原土壤微生物生物量碳、氮最高,大针茅草原次之,克氏针茅草原则最低。放牧条件下,贝加尔针茅草原、大针茅草原土壤微生物生物量碳、氮显著低于围栏草地,克氏针茅草原则无显著变化。PLFA分析结果显示,内蒙古针茅草原土壤微生物群落PLFAs种类、含量丰富,共检测出28种PLFA生物标记磷脂脂肪酸,并且以直链饱和脂肪酸和支链饱和脂肪酸为主,相对含量占总量的2/3左右,其中贝加尔针茅草原土壤微生物含量最丰富,其围栏样地土壤的PLFA含量达到27.3nmol·g-1,大针茅草原和克氏针茅草原依次降低。围栏条件下,各类型草原土壤细菌脂肪酸与总PLFA含量均显著高于放牧草地,真菌脂肪酸含量则因草原类型不同各有差异;放牧导致各类型草原革兰氏阳性细菌PLFAs/革兰氏阴性细菌PLFAs（GPPLFAs/GNPLFAs）比值显著降低,而除了克氏针茅草原,细菌PLFAs/真菌PLFAs比值则显著升高。PLFAs主成分分析表明,放牧和围栏处理对内蒙古针茅草原土壤微生物群落结构产生影响,且围栏处理的影响程度大于放牧处理。经相关分析表明,氯仿熏蒸法和PLFA分析方法之间有很好的一致性,且土壤微生物PLFAs与土壤有机质、全磷、硝态氮显著相关。     

覆盖作物不同利用方式对猕猴桃园土壤微生物群落结构的影响

为探讨覆盖作物不同利用方式对猕猴桃园土壤微生物群落结构的影响,通过磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)方法,研究覆盖作物处理对猕猴桃园土壤微生物群落结构的影响。试验设置3个处理,分别为种植覆盖作物+覆盖作物刈割后留在土壤表面自然腐解(T1)、种植覆盖作物+覆盖作物刈割后从园中清除(T2)和清耕对照(CK)。结果表明,T1、T2处理土壤微生物PLFAs总量和微生物量碳、氮均显著高于CK(P0.05);土壤pH和碳氮比是影响猕猴桃园土壤微生物群落的主要环境因子,pH与土壤微生物PLFAs总量呈极显著正相关(P0.01),与细菌PLFAs量、革兰氏阴性菌PLFAs量呈显著正相关(P0.05),碳氮比与革兰氏阳性菌PLFAs量/革兰氏阴性菌PLFAs量呈极显著正相关(P0.01)。研究表明,猕猴桃园种植覆盖作物改变了土壤环境因子,影响土壤微生物群落结构组成。研究可为丹江口水源涵养区果园生态管理模式的探索提供理论依据。     

Agricultural potential of Mediterranean grain and forage legumes: Key differences between and within Vicia species in terms of phenology, yield, and agronomy give insight into plant adaptation to semi-arid environments

In order to identify key adaptive traits which affect productivity in Mediterranean grain and forage legumes and simultaneously determine the agricultural potential of a wide range of Vicia species, germplasm collected from the wild throughout the eastern Mediterranean was grown under semi-arid conditions in Tel Hadya, Syria (313 mm growing season rainfall). These included species currently in use in Mediterranean agriculture, such as V. sativa L., as well as those more widely used in the past-such as V. ervilia L., but also a broad selection from Section Narbonensis (B. Fedtsch. ex Radzhi) Maxted, including V. narbonensis L, V. johannis Tamamsch., V. hyaeniscyamus Mout., V. serratifolia Jacq., and V. kalakhensis Khattab et al. V. faba, a near relative of the taxa in Section Narbonensis, was included as a domesticated control. Where applicable, a representative range of subspecies was used. Accessions were chosen from a wide range of habitats in terms of latitude (31.02–40.72 decimal^o), longitude (27.1–43.17 decimal^o), altitude (20–1510 m), rainfall (180–1700 mm/yr) and soil depth (5–50 cm) in order to maximise diversity within species. Agricultural potential was determined by measuring seed, hay and biological yield, as well as agronomic traits such as harvest index, standing crop height, and seed size. The comparative influence of phenology and key agronomic traits such as plant habit and seed size on productivity varied tremendously between species, depending on their reproductive strategies. In V. sativa and V. ervilia, the smaller seed species which rely on long vegetative phases and growing seasons to accumulate sufficient biomass to set seed, and in which there was comparatively little agronomic variation, phenology had a large impact on yield. In early emerging taxa such as V. ervilia and V. s. subsp. sativa, with built-in long vegetative phases and growing seasons, seed yield was negatively correlated with flower ing (r = –0.86 to –0.88), whereas the opposite was the case for later emerging taxa such as V. s. subsp. nigra (L.) Ehrh. (r = 0.95). Within V. narbonensis and relatives, the larger seeded Vicia species which rely on more conservative reproductive strategies where high seedling vigour associated with large seeds enables the species to enter reproductive phases relatively early, phenology had a much smaller impact on yield than did variation of key traits such as seed weight, plant habit and pod shattering. Among the undomesticated germplasm harvest indices ranged from 0.09–0.31, hay yields from 0.1–3.4 t/ha, seed yield from 0–2.0 t/ha, and dry matter at maturity from 1.6–6.5 t/ha. Sub-specific taxonomy was crucial in determining agronomic potential. V. narbonensis var. aegyptiaca Kornhuber ex Asch. et Schweinf. showed the most potential, combining an upright habit, large seeds (212 mg) and tendency to retain intact pods after maturity, with the highest yield, harvest index and crop height of all the wild Vicia species. V. sativa subsp. sativa, V. ervilia and V. narbonensis var. narbonensis were less productive, but still showed agricultural potential. The smaller seeded V. narbonensis, var. affinis, var. jordanica H. Schäf. and var. salmonea (Mout.) H. Schäf., and their close relatives V. johannis, V. hyaeniscyamus, V. serratifolia and V. kalakhensis have little to offer Mediterranean agriculture on the basis of poor agronomy.     

Changes in trace element speciation in kola north surface waters during snow melt

The powerful mass-flow of melt water during the brief period of spring thaw provides a surge of pollutants and causes extremely toxic short term conditions. Together with the increase in total metal concentrations during this period, a redistribution in metal speciation occurs that increases the proportion of more toxic forms. Concentrations of ion-exchangeable fractions of nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), aluminium (Al), and manganese (Mn) show strong negative correlations with pH. The sum of complex metal species shows a strong positive correlation with total organic carbon (TOC). A data analysis model based on relationships observed between key parameters and metal behaviour together with gidrological data allowed an assessmrnt of the metal impact on waterbodies from accumulated airborne pollution (Ni, Cu) as well as from accelerated leaching from watersheds (Al, Mn).     

On the Taxonomy of the Members of ‘Saccharum Complex’

The difficulty and problems encountered in the study of cultivated plants, in general and sugarcane, in particular has been indicated. In order to understand these problems, a brief review on the taxonomy of Saccharum and closely related taxa, namely, Erianthus, Sclerostachya, Narenga and Miscanthus (generally known as ‘Saccharum complex’) has been given. A short account on the important morphological features that are specific to sugarcane has also been stated as classification is commonly based on such morphological characters. A note has been added on the chromosome number, origin, and distribution of the species of ‘Saccharum complex’ members. Taxonomic keys have been devised for identification of the genera of Saccharinae and for the species of Saccharum and Erianthus occurring in India. A new combination, Sclerostachya fallax (Balansa) Amalraj et Balasundaram, has also been proposed.     

Polymorphism of high molecular weight glutenin subunits in three species of Aegilops

A collection of 136 accessions of Aegilops umbellulata (39), Ae. comosa (75) and Ae. markgrafii (22) was analysed for high-molecular-weight (HMW) glutenin subunits composition. The homogeneity of the accessions was studied and 55.1% of the collection was homogeneous for HMW glutenin subunits (29 Ae. umbellulata, 33 Ae. comosa and 14 Ae. markgrafii). The HMW glutenin subunits of Ae. umbellulata are encoded by the Glu-U1 locus; in Ae. comosa results showed that this proteins are encoded at the 1M chromosome, and the locus was named Glu-M1. In Ae. markgrafii it was assumed that HMW glutenin subunits were encoded by an homoeologous locus and it was named Glu-C1. All the accessions of Ae. umbellulata and Ae. markgrafii expressed both, x-type and y-type subunits. Among the Ae. comosa accessions, only one expressed an x-type subunit alone. All the accessions of Ae. umbellulata and some of Ae. comosa had x-type glutenins of higher molecular weights than those commonly present in bread wheat. A total of 8 alleles were detected at the Glu-U1 locus, 11 at the Glu-M1 and 4 at the Glu-C1. The new HMW glutenin variation found in this work suggests their possible utilisation in breeding for wheat quality.     

Genetic diversity of rhizobia associated with indigenous legumes in different regions of Flanders (Belgium)

We investigated the diversity of rhizobia isolated from different indigenous legumes in Flanders (Belgium). A total of 3810 bacterial strains were analysed originating from 43 plant species. Based on rep-PCR clustering, 16S rRNA gene and recA gene sequence analysis, these isolates belonged to Bradyrhizobium, Ensifer (Sinorhizobium), Mesorhizobium and Rhizobium. Of the genera encountered, Rhizobium was the most abundant (62%) and especially the species Rhizobiumleguminosarum, followed by Ensifer (19%), Bradyrhizobium (14%) and finally Mesorhizobium (5%). For two rep-clusters only low similarity values with other genera were found for both the 16S rRNA and recA genes, suggesting that these may represent a new genus with close relationship to Rhodopseudomonas and Bradyrhizobium. Primers for the symbiotic genes nodC and nifH were optimized and a phylogenetic sequence analysis revealed the presence of different symbiovars including genistearum, glycinearum, loti, meliloti, officinalis, trifolii and viciae. Moreover, three new nodC types were assigned to strains originating from Ononis, Robinia and Wisteria, respectively. Discriminant and MANOVA analysis confirmed the correlation of symbiosis genes with certain bacterial genera and less with the host plant. Multiple symbiovars can be present within the same host plant, suggesting the promiscuity of these plants. Moreover, the ecoregion did not contribute to the separation of the bacterial endosymbionts. Our results reveal a large diversity of rhizobia associated with indigenous legumes in Flanders. Most of the legumes harboured more than one rhizobial endosymbiont in their root nodules indicating the importance of including sufficient isolates per plant in diversity studies.     

The major features of an infestation by the invasive weed legume gorse (Ulex europaeus) on volcanic soils in Hawaii

Gorse (Ulex europaeus) infestation occupies over 4,000 ha of agriculture and conservation lands on the southeastern slope of Mauna Kea on the Island of Hawaii. The aim of this investigation is to identify ecological features associated with this weed invasion by comparing the gorse-infested areas to the surrounding uninfested areas of this landscape. The soils within the gorse infestation are more acidic, resulting in higher levels of KCl-extractable Al and lower levels of Mehlich III-extractable Ca, Mg, Mn, and Zn. Yet, gorse accumulates higher concentrations of Ca, Zn and, Cu than the kikuyu grass (Pennesitum clandestinum), which is ubiquitous throughout the site. The Ca:Al and Mg:Al molar charge ratios of the soils are lowest within the epicenter of the gorse infestation, while the molar ratios are highest in the gorse apical stem tissues. All gorse plants are nodulated and have higher nitrogen contents than the surrounding kikuyu grass. Furthermore, the δ¹⁵N of the gorse stem tissues approaches 0‰, suggesting that nitrogen is being symbiotically fixed from the atmosphere. Characterization of the Bradyrhizobium isolated from gorse nodules shows similarities and distinctions to Bradyrhizobium isolated from the endemic legume koa (Acacia koa) within the same location. Population densities of the indigenous Bradyrhizobium are higher within the gorse rhizosphere than the kikuyu grass. Soil acidification, nutrient depletion, and symbiotic nitrogen fixation distinguish gorse-infested areas from the surrounding uninfested areas. These observations suggest that gorse has a competitive advantage over kikuyu grass under conditions of soil nutrient deficiency.     

Phylogenetic relationships of Actinidia and related genera based on micromorphological characters of foliar trichomes

The phylogenetic relationships within the genus Actinidia and among 3 allied genera Clematoclethra, Saurauia, and Sladenia have been very controversial. In order to understand the systematic implication of foliar trichomes in those genera, the micromorphological characteristics of foliar trichomes from 34 taxa were examined by means of light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The observed micromorphological characteristics were classified into eight main types. A phylogenetic analysis of Actinidia and related genera based on 15 micromorphological characters of foliar trichomes was conducted using Wagner parsimony method and Sladenia celastrifolia, Rhododendron hybridum and R. simsii as a complex outgroup. In the resulting phylogenetic tree, Actinidia is shown to be a monophyletic group, and Clematoclethra and Saurauia form another monophyletic group. This study also presents the phylogenetic relationships among 4 sections within the genus Actinidia: the monophyly of sect. Leiocarpae and of sect. Strigosae, and polyphyly of sect. Maculatae and of sect. Stellatae.     

Nematofauna associated with exotic and native leguminous plant species in West Africa: effect of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Glomus intraradices</Emphasis> arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis

Ten leguminous trees, four exotic species (Australian Acacia) and six indigenous species (three Sahelian Acacia spp. and three Sesbania spp.), were grown for 4 months in a natural Sahelian soil inoculated with or without the endomycorrhizal fungus, Glomus intraradices. In control trials, the determinant factor structuring the soil nematode fauna was the plant species, related plants having a similar influence on the nematode community in the soil. Soil nematode abundance increased from exotic acacias (3.3 g^-1 dry soil) to native acacias (11.5 g^-1 dry soil) and Sesbania species (17.6 g^-1 dry soil). Plant feeding nematodes (mainly Scutellonema and Tylenchorhynchus) were significantly less abundant under exotic acacias (1.4 g^-1 dry soil) than under native acacias (7.2 g^-1 dry soil) or Sesbania species (7.3 g^-1 dry soil). Bacterial feeding nematode density increased from exotic acacias (1.2 g^-1 dry soil) to native acacias (3.0 g^-1 dry soil) and Sesbania species (7.7 g^-1 dry soil) as total densities. However, the differences in the structure of the nematode communities between plant groups were suppressed in the presence of the mycorrhizal fungus. In fact, no difference in nematode densities remained between plant groups when G. intraradices developed in several dominant taxa belonging to different trophic groups, particularly: Tylenchorhynchus, Apelenchina, Cephalobus and Dorylaimoidea. This study clearly indicated that inoculation with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus G. intraradices diminished the plant-specific effect on the structure of the soil nematode community.