外源赤霉素对富集植物繁缕生长及镉积累的影响

为了强化镉富集植物繁缕对镉污染土壤的修复效率,采用盆栽试验,研究了喷施不同浓度赤霉素(GA_3)对繁缕生长及镉积累的影响。结果表明,繁缕的生物量随GA_3浓度的增加而增加,但光合色素含量、抗氧化酶(SOD、POD和CAT)活性、可溶性蛋白含量、可溶性糖含量、镉含量及镉积累量均呈先增后降的趋势。在GA_3浓度为10 mg L~(-1)时,繁缕地上部分及整株镉积累量均达到最大值,分别为244.86、348.97μg plant~(-1),较各自对照分别增加了31.20%(P0.05)和25.51%(P0.05)。因此,采用繁缕修复镉污染土壤时,以10 mg L~(-1)的GA_3提高繁缕的修复效率最佳,可作为植物修复的强化措施。     

喷施脱落酸对树番茄幼苗生理特性及镉吸收的影响

采用盆栽试验,研究了在镉条件下对树番茄幼苗地上部分喷施不同浓度(0、1、5、10、20μmol L-1)脱落酸后对其生理特性及镉吸收的影响。结果表明,树番茄幼苗各部位的生物量及叶片的光合色素含量均随喷施脱落酸浓度的升高出现先下降后上升的趋势。与对照相比,喷施脱落酸在提高树番茄幼苗叶片POD及CAT活性的同时降低了其SOD活性。随着喷施脱落酸浓度的升高,树番茄幼苗根际土壤的pH及有效态镉含量分别表现出上升和下降的趋势。另外,喷施脱落酸后,树番茄幼苗各部位的镉含量均显著低于对照,并随喷施脱落酸浓度的升高呈下降趋势,其根系及地上部分的镉含量在喷施20μmol L-1脱落酸后分别较对照降低了26.44%及41.60%。喷施20μmol L-1脱落酸不仅使树番茄幼苗的生物量达到最大,还使其根、茎、叶的镉含量及转运系数均低于其他处理。综上,在镉条件下喷施适宜浓度的脱落酸可以在促进树番茄幼苗生长的同时抑制其对镉的吸收。     

花卉植物硫华菊的镉积累特性研究

为从花卉中筛选镉超富集植物用于镉污染土壤的修复,采用土壤高浓度镉污染法从5种花卉植物中筛选出具有镉富集植物基本特征的花卉植物硫华菊,并通过盆栽试验和小区试验,进一步研究硫华菊的镉积累特性。结果表明:随土壤镉浓度的增加,硫华菊的生物量、光合色素含量及可溶性蛋白含量均呈先增后降的趋势,SOD活性、POD活性呈增加的趋势,但CAT活性则呈降低的趋势。镉在硫华菊各个器官中的分布大小顺序为:根系茎秆地上部分叶片。硫华菊根系、茎秆、叶片及地上部镉含量随土壤镉浓度的增加呈增加的趋势,且在土壤镉浓度大于10mg/kg时,硫华菊地上部分镉含量均超过镉超富集植物临界值(100mg/kg)。不同浓度镉处理的硫华菊地上部分镉富集系数(BCF)均大于1,但转运系数(TF)均小于1。硫华菊根系、茎秆、叶片及地上部分镉积累量随土壤镉浓度的增加均呈先增后降的趋势,地上部分镉积累量最大值为479.34μg/株(土壤镉浓度为100mg/kg)。小区试验研究表明,在土壤镉浓度为2.04~2.89mg/kg时,硫华菊地上部分镉积累量为4.54~5.60mg/m~2。因此,硫华菊是一种镉富集植物,且修复能力较强,可有效地修复镉污染土壤。     

褪黑素浸种对豌豆幼苗生长及镉积累的影响

通过盆栽试验,研究了不同浓度褪黑素浸种对豌豆幼苗生长及镉积累的影响。结果表明:用50、100、150、200μmol/L的褪黑素浸种处理后,豌豆幼苗的生物量、含水量、光合色素含量、抗氧化酶活性均高于对照,且豌豆幼苗植株的镉含量明显降低。当褪黑素浓度为200μmol/L时,豌豆幼苗的生物量、光合色素含量均达到最大值;而根系及地上部分的镉含量最低,分别为6.72 mg/kg和0.104 mg/kg,较对照分别降低了20.28%和46.39%。因此,褪黑素浸种能够促进豌豆幼苗生长,降低其对镉的吸收,其中200μmol/L褪黑素效果最好。     

人参菜对镉胁迫的生理响应

采用盆栽试验,研究不同浓度镉胁迫对人参菜的生长、光合色素含量、叶绿素荧光参数、抗氧化物酶活性、根系活力、渗透调节物质、镉积累的影响。结果表明:(1)人参菜对镉有一定的积累能力,且人参菜中镉的分布是根>叶>茎。(2)低镉浓度(0～10 mg kg-1)对人参菜株高、根长、干重、光合色素含量、抗氧化物酶含量有促进作用,中、高镉浓度(10～20 mg kg-1)会抑制其生长。(3)随着镉浓度的增加,人参菜叶片的Fo、ΦPSⅡ呈降低趋势,Fm、Fv/Fm、q P呈先升高后降低的变化趋势。(4)随着镉浓度升高,人参菜叶片的相对电导率呈先升高后降低的变化趋势,可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白含量增加。综上所述,镉胁迫下人参菜的生长表现出"低促高抑"的现象,这为揭示镉胁迫下人参菜的生理响应奠定了基础。     

牛繁缕对镉的积累特性研究

以牛繁缕为试材,采用盆栽试验研究其在不同镉浓度条件下的镉积累特性。结果表明:牛繁缕根系生物量、地上土壤部分生物量和总生物量均随土壤镉浓度的升高而降低。在土壤镉浓度小于100 mg kg-1时,牛繁缕的抗性系数均大于0.5;当土壤镉浓度为25 mg kg-1时,抗性系数最大,为0.931。在不同镉浓度条件下,牛繁缕光合色素的合成会受到一定程度的抑制,叶绿素b、类胡萝卜素和叶绿素总量均随镉污染浓度的增加而逐渐降低,但叶绿素a和a/b值则表现为波动变化的趋势。随土壤镉浓度的增加,牛繁缕根系及地上部分镉含量呈增加的趋势;当土壤镉浓度为100 mg kg-1时,牛繁缕地上部分镉含量为118.94 mg kg-1,大于镉超富集植物临界值(100 mg kg-1)。牛繁缕根系和地上部分富集系数均大于1,但转运系数小于1。牛繁缕根系、地上部分和整株的镉积累量最大分别能达到449.05、126.07、532.83μg plant-1,生物富集量系数及转运量系数均随土壤镉浓度的增加而降低。在土壤镉浓度不高于75 mg kg-1时,牛繁缕生物富集量系数大于1 g plant-1,但各个镉处理下的转运量系数均小于1。由此可见,牛繁缕是一种镉富集植物,具有较强的镉富集能力,可用于镉污染农田的修复。     

表油菜素内酯对镉胁迫下番茄幼苗生长及镉累积的影响

采用盆栽试验研究不同浓度(0、0.02、0.1、0.5、2.5 mg/L)的表油菜素内酯(EBR)对镉胁迫下番茄幼苗生长及镉累积的影响。结果表明,镉处理后番茄幼苗的生物量、叶绿素含量、抗氧化酶(POD和CAT)活性均下降,丙二醛(MDA)含量、相对电导率和渗透调节物质含量均升高;喷施一定浓度的EBR(0.5 mg/L)后,番茄幼苗的生物量、叶绿素含量、抗氧化酶(POD和CAT)活性及脯氨酸含量均显著增加,可溶性蛋白、MDA含量和相对电导率有所下降,番茄幼苗根系和地上部分的镉含量分别上升了50.0%和93.4%,镉转运系数最低,为0.45。综上,喷施EBR能够增强番茄幼苗对镉胁迫的耐受性,促进幼苗生长,降低镉的转运系数,其中,EBR浓度为0.5 mg/L时效果最好。     

镉胁迫对荻生长、镉富集和土壤酶活性的影响

采用盆栽土培法,从播种开始培育132d后,研究0,3,6,9mg/kg镉胁迫对荻的生长、镉富集与分布和土壤酶活性的影响。结果表明:荻耐性指数随处理浓度的增加先上升后下降,镉浓度≤6mg/kg时,促进荻生长,镉浓度为9mg/kg时,抑制荻生长。叶绿素、丙二醛和可溶性糖含量均随处理浓度的增加先升高后降低,在镉浓度为6mg/kg时达到最大值;类胡萝卜素含量为先降低后升高,在6mg/kg时达最小值。荻根部铜、锌和铁含量均随处理浓度的增加而升高,地上部铜和铁含量先降低后升高,而锌含量持续降低。根部和地上部镉含量随镉处理浓度增加呈线性增加趋势,且根部镉含量均高于地上部;不同浓度镉处理荻根部富集系数均大于1,但地上部富集系数和转运系数均小于1;根部镉积累量随处理浓度的增加先升高后降低,在镉浓度为6mg/kg时达到最大值,地上部镉积累量持续升高,荻体内镉主要分布在根部。镉处理组的土壤脲酶和过氧化氢酶活性与对照相比总体无显著差异(P0.05),镉浓度为6mg/kg和9mg/kg对土壤脲酶活性有一定促进作用,但会抑制过氧化氢酶活性,根际土壤酶活性总体高于非根际土壤酶。研究表明,荻对镉有较强的耐性,且根部对镉有较强的富集能力,因此,荻在土壤镉污染稳定化修复方面具有一定的应用潜力。     

镉胁迫对黄麻光合作用及镉积累的影响

为揭示镉(Cd)胁迫下黄麻的光合耐性及其对Cd的富集特征,通过土壤盆栽试验分析了Cd胁迫下黄麻的生长、光合色素、气体交换参数及对Cd富集能力的变化。结果表明,当Cd浓度≤10 mg·kg~(-1)时,黄麻根长、株高和各器官生物量降幅较小;而当Cd浓度≥20 mg·kg~(-1)时,根长、株高和各器官生物量降幅进一步增大。随着Cd浓度的升高,黄麻叶片光合色素含量显著降低,但却能维持较高的Chla/b值,这可能有助于黄麻对Cd的耐性。Cd胁迫使净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)和蒸腾速率(Tr)显著降低,但胞间二氧化碳浓度(Ci)随Cd浓度的升高而逐渐增大,表明黄麻光合速率的下降是由非气孔限制因素引起的。随着Cd浓度的升高,黄麻各器官Cd含量和累积量逐渐增大,在浓为100 mg·kg~(-1)Cd处理下,地上部和地下部Cd含量均达到最大值,分别为232.46 mg·kg~(-1)和186.98 mg·kg~(-1)。Cd胁迫下,黄麻地上部和地下部富集系数均大于1,各处理迁移系数在0.85~1.65之间,表明黄麻对Cd有较强的富集和转运能力。Cd浓度为5~10 mg·kg~(-1)时,Cd提取率超过1.9%。因此,黄麻是一种潜在的修复轻、中度土壤Cd污染的植物材料。本研究结果为挖掘新的植物修复材料提供了理论依据。     

相互嫁接对两种生态型牛膝菊后代生长及镉积累的影响

为研究砧穗互作对超富集植物嫁接后代重金属积累的影响，通过盆栽试验，研究了相互嫁接对 2种生态型(矿山生态型和农田生态型)牛膝菊后代在镉胁迫下生长及镉积累的影响。结果表明，与未嫁接相比，相互嫁接的牛膝菊后代生物量、光合色素含量及可溶性蛋白含量的差异不显著或略有降低。矿山生态型的砧木及接穗后代抗氧化酶活性显著提高，而农田生态型的砧木及接穗后代抗氧化酶活性的变化不显著或略有降低。与农田生态型未嫁接相比，农田生态型的砧木及接穗后代的植株镉含量均显著降低，其中地上部分镉含量分别降低了 5.96%和 9.23%；与矿山生态型未嫁接相比，矿山生态型砧木后代植株的镉含量显著降低，但其接穗后代的植株镉含量显著升高。因此，砧穗互作能够影响牛膝菊嫁接后代的镉积累，且不同生态型相互嫁接能在一定程度上降低或提高牛膝菊后代的镉含量。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

细菌、真菌及植物氮营养信号研究进展

氮素吸收代谢是所有生物生命活动的核心部分,因此,各种生物对氮的吸收与同化过程都有精细的调节。这种调节依赖于生物对体内氮素状况信号及体外（生长介质中）氮素信号的感受。过去几十年中,在细菌、真菌中已经对氮素营养信号有了较好的研究,而植物中则相对缓慢,但也有了一定的认识。本文重点比较细菌、真菌及植物中氮信号系统的组成,以期为进一步认识植物中的氮信号接受与转导系统提供启示。     

Aircraft operations near concentrations of birds in Antarctica: The development of practical guidelines

Aircraft operations have the potential to disturb and to impact negatively on bird life. A gradient of increasing behavioural response is evident in birds when exposed to increasing aircraft stimulus. The most major disturbance is likely to lead to impacts on the health, breeding performance and survival of individual birds, and perhaps bird colonies. A process of revision to policies on aircraft operations contained in management plans for a number of specially protected areas in Antarctica by the United Kingdom, accompanied by consultations made within the scientific community through the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and with operational interests through the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programmes (COMNAP) resulted in new guidelines being adopted by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties in June 2004. The principal recommendations of the guidelines are that bird colonies should not be overflown below 2000 ft (∼610 m) above ground level and landings within 1/2 nautical mile (∼930 m) of bird colonies should be avoided wherever possible. These guidelines are less stringent and less specific than those that were recommended by the SCAR specialist group on birds, and represent a compromise to accommodate operational needs. While the adoption of clear and consistent guidelines for the operation of aircraft in Antarctica is welcome in that this provides practical advice that is likely to reduce incidences of close aircraft/bird encounters, there remains insufficient knowledge of the interactions between aircraft and birds in Antarctica, and the consequent impacts on individual birds and on bird populations. It is important, therefore, that the guidelines adopted are considered interim, and should be kept under scrutiny with revisions made as new and improved research results appear.     

The abundance of heterocystous blue-green algae in rice soils and inocula used for application in rice fields

Summary Algal populations were quantified (as colony-forming units [CFU] per square centimetre) in 102 samples of rice soils from the Philippines, India, Malaysia and Portugal, and in 22 samples of soil-based inocula from four countries. Heterocystous blue-green algae (BGA) were present in all samples. Nostoc was the dominant genus in most samples, followed by Anabaena and Calothrix. In soils, heterocystous BGA occurred at densities ranging from 1.0 × 10² to 8.0 × 10⁶ CFU/cm² (median 6.4 × 10⁴) and comprised, on average, 9% of the total CFU of algae. Their abundance was positively correlated with the pH and the available P content of the soils. In soil-based inocula, heterocystous BGA occurred at densities ranging from 4.6 × 10⁴ to 2.8 × 10⁷ CFU/g dw (dry weight), comprising only a moderate fraction (average 13%) of the total algae. In most soils, the density of indigenous N₂-fixing BGA was usually higher than that attained by applying recommended rates of soil-based inoculum. Whereas research on the practical utilization of BGA has been mostly directed towards inoculation with foreign strains, our results suggest that attention should also be given to agricultural practices that enhance the growth of indigenous strains already adapted to local environmental conditions.Maître de Recherches ORSTOM (France), Visiting Scientist at IRRI