脱氮副球菌的好氧反硝化特性及对养殖水体中氮素的控制

以一株脱氮副球菌（Paracoccus denitrificans）为试验菌株,研究了其在好氧环境下的最适生长条件以及在不同溶氧条件下对NO2--N、NO3--N的转化去除情况。结果表明,脱氮副球菌好氧下的最适生长温度为30℃,最适生长pH值为7.0。在溶解氧比较充足的情况下（6.6～7.3mg.L-1）,脱氮副球菌对NO2--N、NO3--N的去除以同化吸收为主,少部分是经由反硝化作用去除,最大去除率可达100%和97.58%。随着溶氧的降低,脱氮副球菌的反硝化能力增强,NO2--N、NO3--N通过反硝化作用去除的比例增加。将活菌数≥109个.mL-1的脱氮副球菌按1.0、2.5mg.L-1的浓度加入养殖水体,在10d内可使养殖水体中的NH4＋-N下降41.89%～49.23%,NO2--N下降33.33%～42.86%,NO3--N下降48.28%～67.74%,对养殖水体中的氮素污染具有较好的控制效果。研究显示,脱氮副球菌的好氧反硝化作用可以为养殖水体有氧条件下的脱氮提供一条新的思路。     

硝态氮浓度对亚热带土壤反硝化潜力和产物组成的影响

在实验室条件下,采用密闭、淹水、充 N2 的严格厌氧培养方法研究了NO3--N?浓度对亚热带土壤反硝化潜力和产物组成的影响。研究表明,在NO3-?-N?浓度为 10 ~ 200 mg /kg 范围内,该土壤的反硝化势变化于 0.024 ~ 0.224 mg/(kg×h) 之间,随着NO3--N?浓度的增加而呈显著线性增加(R2 = 0.94,P<0.01)。N2O 始终是反硝化的主要产物,占反硝化产物的 56% ~ 92%;NO 是次要产物,占 6% ~ 40%。在野外原位状态下,土壤的还原条件难以达到供试实验室条件,由此估计,亚热带森林土壤反硝化的主要产物并非 N2,而是 N2O 和 NO,这可能是该类土壤虽反硝化作用弱,但 N2O 排放量大的主要原因。     

人工湿地高效好氧反硝化菌的分离鉴定及反硝化特性研究

从增氧型复合垂直流人工湿地中采集样品,利用间歇曝气法富集好氧反硝化菌,并进行分离纯化,共得到10株好氧反硝化菌。其中编号为B13的菌株在初始硝态氮含量为277.23mg·L-1、碳氮比为5的条件下,24h的硝态氮去除率达92.80%,亚硝态氮积累只有12.57mg·L-1,脱氮速率达到20.58mg·L-·1h-1。16S rDNA序列分析表明,该菌与Pseudomonas stutzeri同源性达100%。选用四因素三水平L（934）正交试验表设计实验,通过测定对硝态氮去除能力和亚硝态氮的积累量,研究碳源、碳氮比（C/N）、pH以及溶解氧含量（DO）4种不同因素对B13号菌株好氧反硝化性能的影响。结果表明,该菌株对硝态氮的去除率最大可达99.88%,几乎没有亚硝态氮积累。对硝态氮去除率影响最大的因素为碳氮比,其次为pH,溶解氧含量和碳源。对应的最优条件是碳源为葡萄糖,碳氮比为10,pH为9,溶解氧含量为1.84～3.57mg·L-1。     

养殖固体废弃物作碳源的海水养殖废水反硝化净化效果

由于养殖废水C/N低且溶解氧（DO）含量高,需要补充碳源并有效脱氧,才能保证高效反硝化。该文开展了以养殖固体废弃物作碳源,海水养殖废水水解、反硝化净化工艺的试验研究。结果表明,养殖废水（水解种污泥与养殖固体废弃物体积比为1︰1、水温20℃）经过10 h水解,水解液DO质量浓度降至0.2 mg/L,NH4+-N、NO3--N、总有机物（TCOD）和总固体（TS）的去除率分别为62.8%、43.5%、24.0%和13.6%。当水解种污泥与养殖固体废弃物体积比为1︰1.5～1︰2.5时,养殖废水在20℃条件下水解6 h,水解液中挥发性脂肪酸（VFA）质量浓度和溶解性有机物/总有机物（SCOD/TCOD） 分别增加32.0%～49.3%和3.5%～9.1%。利用厌氧活性污泥对养殖废水的水解液（体积比为1︰4、水温20℃）进行反硝化净化,NO3--N和TCOD的3 h去除率分别达99.6%和88.3%,而养殖废水直接反硝化10 h, NO3--N和TCOD的去除速率分别为36.5%和75.9%。这表明,在海水循环水养殖系统中,利用养殖固体废弃物作碳源,养殖废水水解、反硝化工艺,能有效脱氧和补充有机碳源,养殖废水反硝化净化效果显著。     

好氧反硝化菌的分离及其在土壤氮素转化过程中的作用

在土壤厌氧条件下发生的生物反硝化作用是影响作物对土壤氮素利用率和影响环境质量的重要氮素转化过程.本研究从土壤中分离到在好氧条件下也能进行反硝化的3株细菌.其中1株为严格好氧的异养菌,编号为AD26.另外2株为兼性菌,分别为AD7和AD60.根据其形态和生理生化特征初步鉴定为假单胞菌属（Pseudomonas sp.）.在好氧培养的液体培养基中AD26和AD7在24h内能通过反硝化作用使硝态氮表观损失率分别达到21%和18%.而在好氧的土壤培养中,二个菌株在3 d内能使土壤中硝态氮表观损失率达到56%,同时少有反硝化中间产物的积累.因此,在农业生产中不应忽视在好氧条件下的生物反硝化作用.     

生物反应器电子受体反硝化聚磷PAOs-GAOs竞争及N2O释放特性

利用厌氧-缺氧-好氧序批式生物反应器（Anaerobic/Anoxic/Oxic-Sequencing Batch Reactor, An/A/O-SBR），以乙酸钠为电子供体，NO3-/NO2-为电子受体，控制反硝化电子受体电子需求为90 mmol/L，经长时间驯化，考察了不同电子受体驯化SBR反硝化除磷及N2O释放特性，并利用化学计量法确定了聚磷菌（Phosphorus Accumulating Organisms, PAOs）和聚糖菌（Glycogen Accumulating Organisms, GAOs）间竞争关系。结果表明，NO3-还原过程中，SBR系统总氮（Total Nitrogen, TN）和总磷（Total Phosphorus, TP）去除率均达95%以上，平均N2O产率为2.4%，PAOs转化碳源（CODin）和反硝化脱氮比例分别为62.0%和76.2%。NO2-增加，厌氧段糖原（Gly）酵解性能增强，Gly消耗与碳源转化比例（ΔGly/CODin）由0.67增至0.80，PAOs活性受抑制，聚磷（Poly-P）合成减少，GAOs竞争优势增强。NO2--N为30 mg/L，SBR内TP去除率降至50.5%，平均N2O产率达9.9%，PAOs转化碳源和脱氮比例分别降至36.0%和50.6%。PAOs-GAOs共生体系内，GAOs反硝化脱氮过程，削弱了高NO2-对PAOs反硝化除磷的抑制，缺氧阶段NO2-/HNO2积累耦合GAOs反硝化脱氮比例增加，导致高NO2-下TP去除率下降和N2O产率增加。     

高效除氨氮异养硝化细菌的分离鉴定及其脱氮条件优化

为去除畜禽粪便好养堆肥过程中产生的氨气,筛选具有高效除氮功能的微生物,该文通过摇瓶连续富集驯化,从垃圾渗滤液处理厂的活性污泥中筛选到1株高效除氨氮菌株Z53,通过形态特征及16Sr RNA基因序列鉴定,确定其为脱氮副球菌(Paracoccus denitrificans),并通过正交试验对其脱氮条件进行优化。试验表明该菌株最适碳源为丁二酸钠,最佳C/N为15;最佳氨氮去除条件为摇床转速160 r/min、250 mL三角瓶装液量为40 mL、温度30℃、pH值为7.0。在此条件下接种1%的菌液,该菌株在11h内将(191.4±0.7)mg/L的氨氮完全去除,平均去除速率为17.4mg/(L·h)。通过氮素形态测定显示该菌株不仅具有异养硝化作用,可将氨态氮氧化为硝态氮,且无亚硝态氮积累;还具有反硝化作用,在好氧条件下消耗硝态氮生成亚硝态氮,硝氮平均去除率为16.8mg/(L·h),在厌氧条件下反硝化作用产生N2,硝氮平均去除率为9.8 mg/(L·h)。该研究体现了菌株Z53有望用于堆肥厂中的生物滴滤装置并高效去除氨氮,从而达到降低氨气污染的目的,具有良好的开发应用前景。     

基于碳酸氢钠为碳源的氢自养反硝化去除地下水中硝酸盐研究

氢自养反硝化修复地下水中的硝酸盐污染以其清洁、环保又经济而受到广泛重视。利用全自动恒温振荡仪,以NaHCO3为碳源驯化氢自养反硝化细菌,并对影响氢自养反硝化速率的因素进行了研究。结果表明,以NaHCO3作为唯一的无机碳源,不仅可以高效驯化氢自养反硝化细菌,而且可以控制体系的pH值,效果优于单独以CO2或以CO2和NaHCO3共同为碳源的系统;当单独以NaHCO3为碳源时,其浓度为2g·L-1时可以满足氢自养反硝化细菌的生长,并使体系pH保持在8.5±0.2;当初始NO3--N浓度〈135.6mg·L-1时,反硝化速率随着NO3--N浓度的升高而增大,当NO3--N浓度过高时（〉135.6mg·L-1）,会抑制氢自养反硝化的进行;当pH在6.0～9.0时,氢自养反硝化可以进行,但其最适pH为7.0～8.0,而当pH〈6.0或pH〉9.0时,反硝化基本停滞;温度为35℃时反硝化速率最大,为2.83mg·L-·1h-1,当温度为15℃时,有明显的亚硝酸盐积累。     

设施菜田土壤剖面中的反硝化特征

利用田间原位硅胶管法和自动连续在线培养监测体系（Robot 系统）,分别监测了设施菜田不同施肥处理土壤剖面N2O浓度以及不同土层土壤反硝化潜势、NO和N2O产生潜势。结果表明:灌溉施肥后,传统施肥处理（CN）土壤剖面50 cm和90 cm处的N2O浓度都会出现峰值,50 cm处的N2O浓度峰值都高于90 cm处; 50 cm处的N2O变幅在2.15～50.77 l/L 之间,90cm处的变幅在2.57～14.05 l/L 之间;空白处理（CK）剖面N2O浓度几乎不受灌水的影响,50 cm和90 cm处的N2O浓度变幅较小,在1.43～2.75 l/L 之间。反硝化潜势、NO和N2O产生潜势的监测结果显示,040 cm土层反硝化较为强烈;40100 cm土层中由于受碳源限制,反硝化发生及强度明显滞后,添加碳源,经过48 h培养后,能够达到与表层反硝化潜势相当的程度;厌氧条件下,上层040 cm土壤的N2O和NO产生量远高于底层40100 cm的。由此推测,原位监测的高N2O浓度,可能来源自上层的扩散,因而田间表层通量观测数据可能会低估N2O产生量。底层土壤有一定反硝化潜势,当施用有机肥后,底层土壤氮素反硝化损失不容忽视。     

垃圾填埋场覆土中的甲烷氧化与反硝化特性

垃圾填埋场的CH4和渗滤液氮是两大污染因子。填埋覆土中因能进行CH4氧化而具有削减填埋场CH4排放的功能。同时,CH4可作为碳源促进反硝化。为此,该文研究了填埋场覆土中的CH4好氧氧化-反硝化耦合（AME-D）特性,以期为填埋场同步强化控制CH4排放和氮污染提供依据。结果表明：CH4、O2和NO3--N均显著影响填埋覆土中的CH4去除（p<0.05）,三者影响的大小顺序为CH4>O2>NO3--N,且CH4和O2具有交互作用（p<0.05）;CH4去除量随着初始CH4、O2体积分数的增大而增加,且与O2体积分数呈正相关关系（n=144,r=0.786,p<0.01）。CH4、O2和NO3--N明显影响CO2产生（p<0.01）,且CH4和O2、O2和NO3--N均对CO2产生有交互作用（p<0.01）。CH4和O2对N2 产生有明显影响（p<0.01）,且两者有交互作用（p<0.01）,NO3--N质量分数对N2 产生影响不明显,但NO3--N和O2对N2 产生有交互作用。低O2体积分数下（<5%）,添加NO3--N能促进N2产生,高O2体积分数下（≥10%）,NO3--N对N2产生影响不明显。C/O比对AME-D的影响与CH4和O2体积分数有关,比较合适的C/O比为0.5～1。该试验条件下,当CH4和、O2的体积分数分别为20%,NO3--N质量分数为100 mg/kg时,耦合效果最佳。该文可为垃圾填埋场CH4排放生物控制提供参考。     

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.     

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.     

“绿色革命”以来大气CO2浓度升高对C3作物营养品质的影响

自20世纪60年代"绿色革命"以来,育种技术和农耕技术的发展促进了农作物产量的大幅提升,然而作物的营养品质出现下降趋势。在相似的遗传背景下,大气CO_2浓度升高会使单位体积农作物产品的营养元素含量下降,因此"绿色革命"至今,农作物产品的营养元素下降可能受大气CO_2浓度升高影响。通过植物生长箱模拟"绿色革命"初期和目前的大气CO_2浓度水平(310μmol/mol和400μmol/mol),针对主要C_3作物水稻、小麦和大豆,研究"绿色革命"以来大气CO_2浓度升高对其籽粒的C、N、Fe、Zn元素含量的影响,结果表明:CO_2浓度升高对3种作物籽粒的C元素含量几乎没有影响,变化幅度在±1.5%之间;籽粒的N、Fe、Zn元素含量普遍呈现下降趋势,但均未达到显著水平。     

Potential of wild species for genetic enhancement of some semi-arid food crops

Discovery and incorporation of genes from wild species provide means to sustain crop improvement, particularly when levels of resistance in the cultigens are low and virulent strains of pests and pathogens overcome the host plant resistance. The extent of utilization and the potential of the wild genepool for genetic enhancement were reviewed in five important food crops viz. sorghum, pearl millet, chickpea, pigeonpea and groundnut grown in the semi-arid tropics. Introgression from compatible wild germplasm in the primary gene pool resulted in transfer of new cytoplasmic male sterility systems in pearl millet and pigeonpea, development of high protein, cleistogamous flower and dwarf pigeonpea lines and foliar disease resistant groundnut cultivars. Utilization of wild species in secondary and tertiary gene pools has been generally limited due to sterility, restricted recombination or cross incompatibility. Nevertheless, these species are extremely important as they contain high levels of resistance to several important biotic and abiotic stresses. Several of them, like those belonging to the Parasorghum section and the rhizomatous Arachis species are sources of multiple resistances and hold great promise to sustain crop productivity.     

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.     

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     

Effect of some fungicide seed treatments on the survival of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and on the nodulation and yield of soybean [Glycine max. (L) Merr.]

Several commercial fungicide seed treatments were evaluated for their possible effect on the survival of Bradyrhizobium japonicum on seeds and on the nodulation and yield of soybeans in a greenhouse and a field experiment. quinolate Pro (carbendazim and oxine copper), Vitavax 200FF (carboxin and thiram), and Monceren (pencycuron) had a small effect or no effect on the survival of B. japonicum and on the nodulation and yield of soybeans. They can thus be considered compatible with soybean seed inoculation. Germipro UFB (carbendazim and iprodione), Apron 35J (metalaxyl), and Tachigaren (hymexazol) decreased B. japonicum survival and the nodulation and yield of soybeans and thus cannot be considered compatible with soybean seed inoculation.     

Einfluss der düngungsmethoden auf die entwicklung von zuckerrübenkrankheiten

Während neunjähriger (1994-2002) Untersuchungen in der Versuchsanstalt Ba?cyny (Fahlerde, Fall-Gleyboden, ausgebildet aus leichtem Lehmboden) wurde der Befall mit Krankheiten an der Zuckerrübe in Abhängigkeit von der Düngungsmethode bewertet. Folgende Methoden wurden angewendet: A - Mineraldünger, B - Stalldung und Mineraldünger, C - Stroh-, Gründung und Mineraldünger, D - Kompostdünger und Biopräparate (ökologische Düngung). Auf den Objekten A, B, C wurden bei konstanter Phosphor-Kalium-Düngung die Stickstoffgaben von 0 bis 180 kg.ha^?1 differenziert. Auf dem ökologischen Objekt D ohne Mineraldünger wurden statt Stickstoff die Biopräparate P₅₀₀ und P₅₀₁ verabreicht. Der geringste Befall von Krankheiten wurde an der Zuckerrübe auf jenem Objekt festgestellt, das mit Kompost und den Biopräparaten gedüngt worden war. Im Rahmen der konventionellen Düngungsmethoden wurde allgemein die höchste Intensität der Krankheiten an der mit Stroh, Gründung und Mineraldünger gedüngten Zuckerrübe beobachtet. Ausnahmen von dieser Regel bildete das Vorkommen von echtem Mehltau und Keimlingsfäule. Auf den Objekten A, B, C nahm die Intensität der Krankheiten mit der Steigerung der Stickstoffgabe zu. Auch die auf Objekt D verabreichten Biopräparate stimulierten die Entwicklung der Krankheiten. The effect of various fertilization methods on the diseases of sugar beet was estimated on the basis of nine-year studies (1994-2002) conducted in the Experimental Production Farm in Ba?cyny on loess-based, sedimentary-gley, light-clay soil. The following fertilization methods were applied: A - mineral fertilization, B - mineral and manure fertilization, C - straw, green manure and mineral fertilization, D - ecological compost and biodynamic preparations fertilization. In the objects A, B and C fertilized with phosphorus and potassium, various doses of nitrogen ranging from 0 to 180 kg/ha^?1 were used. In the ecological object D, where mineral fertilization was not used, biodynamic preparations P₅₀₀ and P₅₀₁ were applied instead of nitrogen. The lowest ratio of the diseases of sugar beet was observed in the object fertilized with the compost and biodynamic preparations. In view of the conventional fertilization methods, generally the highest incidence of diseases was noted in the sugar beet fertilized with straw, green manure and mineral fertilizers. The exception was the occurrence of powdery mildew and the black leg. In objects A, B and C the incidence of the diseases increased with the increase in nitrogen doses. The applied biodynamical preparations in the object D stimulated the development of diseases too.     

Prospects for control of Pythium damping-off of lettuce with Trichoderma,Gliocladium and Enterobacter spp.

Summary Damping-off of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) caused by Pythium ultimum was studied in pots containing a non-sterile potting mix in the glasshouse. Fifty P. ultimum sporangia g^-1 compost reduced the plant stand to 15% and shoot dry weight to 18%, but this reduction was totally prevented by applying Trichoderma harzianum at 2×10⁵ viable propagules g^-1 potting mix. Gliocladium virens and Enterobacter cloacae also alleviated the damping-off. E. cloacae did not adversely affect the action of the fungal antagonists. The co-existence of the bacterial and fungal antagonists was revealed on the root surface and inner surface of the testa by scanning electron microscopy, indicating the compatibility of the biocontrol agents.