吴旗柴沟流域植被物种多样性研究

为了解吴旗县植被自然恢复的基本过程及其物种多样性变化,对该县柴沟流域封禁多年的植物群落进行了研究,结果表明:柴沟流域植物种主要以猪毛蒿、达乌里胡枝子、赖草、铁杆蒿为主,阳坡的植被演替规律为猪毛蒿+狗尾草+华虫实→赖草+猪毛蒿(达乌里胡枝子、铁杆蒿、隐子草)→达乌里胡枝子+赖草(百里香、冷蒿、角蒿、铁杆蒿),阴坡植被恢复的演替规律为猪毛蒿(达乌里胡枝子、赖草)→铁杆蒿(冷蒿)。柴沟流域阴坡群落的物种丰富度、多样性、均匀度都较高,阳坡较低,混交林地的丰富度最大、均匀度最小。     

黄土丘陵区撂荒群落地上生物量和物种多样性关系

研究黄土丘陵区撂荒群落生物量与物种多样性的关系及其影响机制,有助于明确群落演变的机理,可对该区植被恢复重建、群落演替、生物多样性保护和维持具有重要意义。为此,选取该区5个典型撂荒群落,在群落尺度上,分析地上生物量的月动态,重点研究了地上生物量与物种多样性的关系。结果表明:(1)5个撂荒群落地上生物量总体呈上升趋势,月份之间差异极显著,群落生物量由大到小为白羊草(Bothriochloa ischaemum)群落茭蒿(Artemisia giraldii)群落铁杆蒿(Artemisia sacrorum)群落猪毛蒿(Artemisia scoparia)群落达乌里胡枝子(Lespedeza dahurica)群落;(2)群落地上生物量与物种多样性关系表现为线性增加和线性减少两种形式。猪毛蒿群落中二者呈线性增加。铁杆蒿和白羊草群落地上生物量随丰富度的增加线性增加。白羊草和达乌里胡枝子群落地上生物量随均匀度的增加线性减少。空白生态位的占有和利用、生态位互补效应、种间相互作用是解释二者关系的内在机制,冗余种假说效应可能会导致不显著关系。     

黄土丘陵沟壑区退耕地植物群落优势种对显著影响因子的响应

根据在黄土高原丘陵沟壑区具有代表性的安塞县退耕地植被样方的调查资料,利用TWINSPAN对退耕地植物群落的类型及其优势种进行了确定,即退耕地植物群落主要有猪毛蒿(Artemisia scoparia)为优势种的群落、达乌里胡枝子(Lespedeza davurica)和长芒草(Stipa bungeana)为优势种的群落、铁杆蒿(Artemisia gmelinii)为优势种的群落和白羊草(Bothriochloa ischaemum)为优势种的群落。典范对应分析(Canonical Correspondence Analysis)得出:显著影响黄土高原丘陵沟壑区退耕地物种变化的主要因子为退耕年限、全磷、速效磷和土壤水分。结合物种生活型特征,认为白羊草和达乌里胡枝子在黄土高原丘陵沟壑区具有较强的适应性,可作为退耕地的适宜引种物种,以调控和加速植物群落演替,控制土壤侵蚀。     

黄土丘陵区典型植被类型草本层生态学特性与环境解释

在野外调查的基础上研究黄土丘陵区4种典型植被类型（达乌里胡枝子群落、白羊草群落、人工刺槐林、人工柠条林）草本层生态学特性,通过室内土壤养分和水分含量测定分析群落间环境因子的差异,并对群生态学指标和环境因子进行相关分析。研究结果表明:（1）豆科、禾本科、菊科植物重要值在4种群落中均很高,群落间各科物种重要值差异显著。（2）群落物种多样性表现为:人工刺槐林 > 人工柠条林 > 达乌里胡枝子群落 > 白羊草群落;群落盖度表现为人工刺槐林 > 白羊草群落 > 达乌里胡枝子群落 > 人工柠条林;草本群落地上生物量表现为:白羊草群落 > 人工刺槐林 > 达乌里胡枝子群落 > 人工柠条林。（3）土壤有机质、全氮、速效氮和速效钾含量表现为:工刺槐林 > 白羊草群落 > 达乌里胡枝子群落 > 人工刺槐林,达乌里胡枝子群落和白羊草群落土壤全磷、速效磷含量较高。（4）土壤水分含量表现为:白羊草群落（8.43%） > 达乌里胡枝子群落（7.60%） > 人工柠条林（6.43%） > 人工刺槐林（5.85%）。（5）群落盖度、草本群落地上生物量与土壤养分指标正相关,物种多样性与土壤养分的关系相对复杂;群落盖度及物种多样性均与土壤水分含量负相关,草本群落地上生物量与土壤水分含量相关性不显著。     

黄土丘陵沟壑区退耕地自然恢复植被主要物种生态位特征

为了探究加速黄土丘陵沟壑区退耕地植被恢复过程的人工物种干扰措施如物种选择与搭配的科学依据，利用TWINSPAN分类方法对33个自然恢复的退耕地样方进行分类，得出退耕地在40a内主要经历了5个群落演替阶段，分别为猪毛蒿群落、赖草群落、达乌里胡枝子＋长芒草群落、铁杆蒿群落和白羊草群落。以各个群落的综合资源环境梯度为依据，对各群落主要物种生态位特征进行了分析。通过物种的生态位宽度和生态位重叠特征分析，提出了不同演替阶段的合理物种组合。     

黄土丘陵沟壑区主要物种根茎力学特性

植物根茎力学特性影响着植被固定土壤和拦截的能力,是植被抗侵蚀特性研究不可缺少的一部分。在延河流域选取的6个典型小流域内,对铁杆蒿(Artemisia gmelinii)、茭蒿(Artemisia giralii)、达乌里胡枝子(Lespedeza davurica)、阿尔泰狗哇花(Heteropappus altaicus)、猪毛蒿(Artemisia scoparia)、蒙古蒿(Artemisia mongolica)的根茎进行广泛采样,在测量其根直径、抗拉力、抗拉强度、茎直径、抗弯强度和刚度、木质素和纤维素含量等指标的基础上,探讨了植物根茎力学特性。结果表明:根系直径与抗拉力呈显著的正相关关系,与抗拉强度呈显著的负相关关系,且均可用幂函数进行拟合;随着茎的直径增长抗弯刚度不断加强、抗弯强度趋于稳定;猪毛蒿茎平均直径、最大抗压力和抗弯刚度较其他物种大;达乌里胡枝子的茎抗弯刚度较小,根系抗拉强度和茎抗弯强度却最大;抗弯强度与木质素含量、纤维素含量和纤维素/木质素均具有显著的相关关系。     

旱季雨季对黄土丘陵退耕区植被根系分布及水分利用的影响

黄土丘陵区属于季节性干旱的区域,研究退耕生态系统植被根系分布及其水分利用特征对植被恢复具有重要意义。该研究利用稳定同位素技术,采集黄土区5种典型退耕植被群落的根系、土壤样品,分析根系形态结构和稳定同位素特征,探讨根系在不同季节的吸水策略。结果显示:旱季茵陈蒿、铁杆蒿、白羊草、达乌里胡枝子群落和油松的根长密度(16.3、21.7、17.3、17.3、6.0 mm/cm3)分别是雨季(1.7、2.1、3.2、5.9、4.2 mm/cm3)的9.4、10.2、5.3、2.9、1.4倍,茵陈蒿、铁杆蒿、白羊草根系对土壤水分季节变化的响应较为敏感。茵陈蒿群落仅可利用0~10 cm土壤水,旱季铁杆蒿、白羊草群落主要利用30~40 cm土壤深度的水分,雨季吸水深度上移至0~20 cm。旱季达乌里胡枝子和油松主要利用60 cm以下的土壤水分,雨季则吸收20~40 cm土壤水分。表明退耕植被群落根系在不同季节的吸水策略不同,旱季吸收较深的土壤水而雨季则吸收近地表的土壤水,吸水深度范围的季节变化与土壤水和根系分布变化相一致。该研究为黄土丘陵区退耕植被对流域生态水文过程影响的研究提供科学依据。     

白羊草与达乌里胡枝子混播草地不同降雨年份土壤水分利用状况

为合理利用黄土丘陵区优良乡土草种,探索人工草地建设中乡土草种的最佳混播比例,选取白羊草(Bothriochloa ischaemum)和达乌里胡枝子(Lespedeza davurica)为研究材料,采用生态替代法,按照白羊草与达乌里胡枝子行比设置了7种组合比例(即0∶10,2∶8,4∶6,5∶5,6∶4,8∶2和10∶0),比较研究了丰水年(2011年,降雨量663.4mm)与偏旱年(2012年,降雨量458.2mm)混播草地土壤水分季节变化特征、年度生物量和水分利用效率。结果表明,白羊草与达乌里胡枝子混播草地土壤水分消耗和补充与混播比例密切相关,但主要受年度降雨量及其季节分配的影响。在2011年,充沛的降雨可补充20—260cm土层土壤水分,并弱化了不同混播比例和土层间土壤水分的时空差异。不同降雨量年份里,白羊草和达乌里胡枝子在6∶4与8∶2两混播比例下的地上生物量和水分利用效率均显著较高。     

黄土丘陵沟壑区退耕地植被自然恢复过程——以吴起县双树沟流域为例

采用TWINSPAN分类法对黄土丘陵沟壑区吴起县双树沟流域30个自然恢复草地植被进行分类,并对分类后各植被群落特征和地上生物量进行统计分析。结果表明：在自然恢复条件下,随着退耕年限的不断增加,退耕地植被自然恢复依次经历了猪毛蒿群落-赖草＋长芒草群落-赖草＋铁杆蒿群落-铁杆蒿群落-铁杆蒿＋茭蒿群落5个发展阶段,地带性植被类型铁杆蒿＋茭蒿群落在研究区内开始出现,并且已经占有一定优势;随着退耕地植被自然恢复的不断进行,Margalef等丰富度指数以及Shannon-wiener等多样性指数、Pielou等物种均匀度指数和地上生物量都呈现出先减小后增大的发展趋势;在植被自然恢复的稳定阶段,虽然物种丰富度指数和物种多样性指数有一定的增加,但是相对恢复初期来讲还是有所下降,并且有达到与初期相当水平的趋势;物种丰富度指数均在第1恢复阶段最大,而均匀度指数Jsw以及Shannon-wiener指数在第5恢复阶段最高。随着退耕地植被自然恢复的不断进行,植被群落总盖度随着退耕年限的延长而不断增大。     

黄土丘陵沟壑区退耕地自然恢复植被特征及其与土壤环境的关系

 为给黄土高原退耕地的植被恢复和重建提供科学依据,以黄土高原丘陵沟壑区的安塞县为例,用系统聚类和逐步多元回归的分析方法,对退耕地自然恢复植被的演替阶段进行划分,并定量分析群落演替过程中的植被特征及其与土壤环境的关系。结果表明:黄土丘陵沟壑区退耕地自然恢复草地的演替,依次经历猪毛蒿群落→赖草群落→长芒草群落、铁杆蒿群落、达乌里胡枝子群落→白羊草群落。随着退耕地植被恢复的不断进行,Gleason指数、Margalef指数等丰富度指数以及群落Pielou指数,都呈现出先减小后增大的趋势,Simpson指数在演替初期及平衡阶段较大,群落生态优势度与物种丰富度的变化趋势相反。在群落的演替过程中,土壤有机质、全N、有效N和速效K的含量不断增加,土壤pH值和速效P含量不断减小,土壤表层密度变小,孔隙度变大。A层土壤全N、有效N含量、土壤pH值和C层土壤全N含量与物种丰富度呈显著正相关,A、C层土壤有机质含量和B层土壤速效K含量与其关系相反;B层土壤速效P的含量与群落生态优势度呈显著正相关;A、B层土壤速效K含量与植被群落盖度呈正相关关系,B层土壤速效P含量与其关系相反。     

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.