灌浆结实期高温对水稻剑叶生理特性和稻米品质的影响

以水稻耐热品系996和热敏感品系4628为材料,在灌浆结实期利用人工气候室进行高温处理（9：00-17：00,37℃,17：00-翌日9：00,30℃）和适温处理（CK,9：00-17：00,30℃,17：00-翌日9：00,25℃）22d,研究高温胁迫对水稻剑叶光合特性、膜透性、抗氧化酶活性及稻米品质的影响,并进行对比分析.结果表明：（1）灌浆结实期高温胁迫下水稻剑叶叶绿素含量、叶绿素a/b和净光合速率均降低,超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化物酶（POD）活性表现出胁迫初期升高,高温处理5d后,随胁迫时间延长呈降低趋势,热敏感品系4628剑叶中叶绿素含量、净光合速率和抗氧化酶活性下降幅度大于耐热品系996;（2）高温下剑叶丙二醛（MDA）含量上升,相对电导率增加,热敏感品系4628增加幅度大于耐热品系996;（3）高温胁迫下垩白粒率和垩白度显著增加,精米率和整精米率显著降低,直链淀粉含量降低,蛋白质含量增加.灌浆结实期高温胁迫下,水稻功能叶抗氧化酶活性降低,膜透性增加,光合能力及光合产物的运输与卸载能力下降,可能是稻米品质降低的重要原因.     

水分条件对豌豆保护酶活性及膜脂过氧化的影响

为探讨不同水分条件对豌豆保护酶系统和膜脂过氧化的影响,采用盆栽人工控水试验方法,模拟干旱胁迫及复水条件,研究了不同水分处理对花荚期豌豆叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)活性以及过氧化产物丙二醛(MDA)含量和脂膜相对透性(RC)的影响,并对花荚期豌豆抗氧化能力进行了综合评价.结果表明:不同程度干旱胁迫历时5 d时并未影响豌豆叶片SOD、CAT活性,但有明显的滞后效应.重度干旱胁迫历时10 d可显著降低豌豆叶片SOD、CAT活性,显著提高MDA含量.不同程度的干旱胁迫均导致豌豆叶片POD活性提高,膜脂相对透性加大.复水可对干旱胁迫所造成的CAT、POD活性变化产生显著补偿作用,对SOD活性变化产生超补偿作用.同时,可显著降低MDA含量和脂膜相对透性;干旱胁迫历时10 d内和复水历时10 d内,豌豆有较强的抗氧化能力,仅在重度胁迫10 d后复水历时达到10 d时抗氧化能力趋弱.     

水稻品种耐热性与相关生化指标的关联分析

研究高温胁迫下水稻生化特性变化及其与品种耐热性的关系,可为水稻耐热性育种、耐热品种的鉴定和热害后补偿栽培技术研究提供依据。采用人工智能温室对水稻幼穗分化期到抽穗开花期进行高温处理,研究了高温胁迫对水稻叶片叶绿素、可溶性糖、脯氨酸、可溶性蛋白等6项生化指标含量变化的影响,对各品种生化指标变化与热敏感指数进行多元回归分析筛选水稻耐热性鉴定指标。结果表明,高温胁迫后,水稻叶片叶绿素、可溶性糖以及内源多胺含量在3个处理阶段均呈下降趋势,但耐热品种下降幅度明显小于热敏感品种;脯氨酸和丙二醛含量变化趋势与之相反,耐热品种脯氨酸含量上升幅度明显大于热敏感品种,而丙二醛含量上升幅度则明显小于热敏感品种;高温处理7 d后,叶片可溶性蛋白含量上升,处理14 d和21 d后呈逐渐下降趋势。高温胁迫后,叶绿素、可溶性糖、脯胺酸、可溶性蛋白、丙二醛以及内源多胺等含量变化与水稻耐热相关性存在较大差异。叶绿素、可溶性糖、脯氨酸、可溶性蛋白、丙二醛以及内源多胺含量可以作为水稻幼穗分化期到抽穗开花期耐热性鉴定的生化指标。     

镁对大豆叶片细胞膜透性和保护酶活性的影响

采用溶液培养方法研究不同的镁水平对两个大豆品种在五叶期和盛花期叶片细胞膜透性和保护酶活性的变化。结果表明,在缺镁胁迫下,大豆叶片的质膜透性(MP)和丙二醛(MDA)含量显著增加,产生的活性氧物质诱导超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性升高,而过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性下降;而施镁则能明显降低大豆叶片MP和MDA含量,提高CAT活性,有利于大豆抗膜脂过氧化胁迫。在施镁1～10.mg/L浓度下,大豆叶片的质膜透性和MDA以及SOD和POD活性均达最低值,而CAT活性则达最高值。说明在低镁胁迫下,大豆叶片的CAT活性受到抑制,而适量施镁则大大增强了CAT活性,有利于大豆体内活性氧的清除和抗逆境胁迫能力的提高。各处理下,大豆盛花期SOD和CAT活性明显降低,说明随着时间的延长,大豆叶片细胞内产生过多的活性氧超出了酶的防御能力,造成了酶活性伤害,而POD活性则变化不大;说明POD对活性氧具有较强的耐受性,是盛花期时起主要清除活性氧的作用的保护酶。本试验表明,大豆体内保护系统所存在的酶类在抵御逆境胁迫中相互协调,协同抗氧化。     

盐胁迫条件下硒对小白菜抗氧化活性及膜脂过氧化作用的影响

采用土培试验的方法研究了盐胁迫条件下硒对小白菜抗氧化活性及膜脂过氧化作用的影响。结果表明,盐胁迫条件下,硒对小白菜的生物量没有显著影响。硒能显著提高小白菜叶片的谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶、过氧化氢酶、过氧化物酶、超氧化物歧化酶的活性以及还原型谷胱甘肽的含量和硒含量,抗氧化活性显著增强。硒显著降低小白菜体内氧自由基和丙二醛的含量;降低了膜脂过氧化作用,抑制小白菜质膜透性的升高。土壤施硒0.9 mg/kg,可提高小白菜对盐分胁迫的适应能力。     

高温干旱共胁迫下外源甜菜碱和CaCl2对烟草生理响应的影响

以烤烟品种云烟85为材料,采用盆栽试验研究了对高温干旱共胁迫的反应,以及外源甜菜碱（GB）和CaCl2对烟草抗高温干旱共胁迫方面的作用。结果表明,叶面喷施GB和CaCl2能显著提高烟草植株生物量。在高温干旱共胁迫下,叶面喷施GB较蒸馏水处理能极显著提高烟草叶片叶绿素含量、SOD和POD活性,维持较高的脯氨酸含量及较低的丙二醛（MDA）含量和质膜相对透性;叶面喷施CaCl2较蒸馏水处理能极显著提高烟草叶片叶绿素含量、SOD和POD活性,极显著降低质膜相对透性,显著降低丙二醛（MDA）含量,维持较高的脯氨酸含量。高温干旱共胁迫恢复生长后,GB、CaCl2和蒸馏水处理的烟草其叶绿素含量、SOD和POD活性均有不同程度回升,丙二醛含量、脯氨酸含量、细胞质膜透性都有所下降。因此,GB和CaCl2对有效减轻双逆境胁迫引起的伤害,提高烟草的抗高温干旱胁迫能力具有积极的作用。     

不同早稻品种灌浆期高温胁迫后根系生理差异研究

试验研究不同早稻品种灌浆期高温胁迫后根系生理差异结果表明,高温对不同水稻品种根系超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶、过氧化氢酶活性均有影响,但对耐热型品种的影响显著小于热敏感品种,耐热型品种在高温胁迫后保护酶活性能较快恢复并接近对照水平;高温胁迫对耐热型水稻品种根系α-萘胺氧化力无影响,但热敏感品种根系氧化力明显下降,故根系α-萘胺氧化力可作为根系耐热指标之一。     

小白菜耐热性鉴定及其耐热性分析

以68份小白菜为试材,通过田间表型鉴定,筛选出耐热性不同的材料,并对不同耐热性材料的丙二醛含量、叶片质膜透性和脯氨酸含量进行测定。结果表明,通过田间表型鉴定,筛选出5份耐热材料和5份不耐热材料,高温胁迫下,随着时间的延长,耐热材料和不耐热材料的丙二醛含量、叶片质膜透性和脯氨酸含量呈升高的趋势,且两者间差异达显著水平。因此,丙二醛含量、叶片质膜透性和脯氨酸含量可以作为小白菜耐热性鉴定的间接指标。     

小麦籽粒生长期热效应研究

试验研究小麦籽粒生长期热效应结果表明,小麦开花后热胁迫降低同化源供应,影响库性能,进而影响产量和品质。不同热胁迫形式和不同热胁迫时期对籽粒生长的影响不同。中等高温(25~32℃)下籽粒灌浆持续期缩短,籽粒重下降;极端高温(33~40℃)下籽粒灌浆速率的降低和籽粒灌浆持续期的缩短相伴发生,最终籽粒重明显降低。非叶器官具有较高的磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧化酶(PEPC)等C4途径酶活性,其光合耐热性高于叶片。籽粒可溶性淀粉合成酶(SSS)对高温胁迫极为敏感,该酶活性的降低是热胁迫下粒重下降的重要机制。发挥非叶器官C4光合活性,增强籽粒SSS耐热性是热胁迫下稳定粒重的重要途径。     

蓼科、禾本科植物细胞膜对铝胁迫反应的比较研究

以4种蓼科植物(荞麦、金荞麦、虎杖、无辣蓼)和2种禾本科植物(水稻、小麦)为材料,比较研究不同科属植物的细胞膜对铝胁迫反应的差异。结果表明:(1)6种植物叶片的游离脯氨酸含量、MDA含量和根系质膜透性均随着Al3 胁迫浓度增加而增大,禾本科植物的游离脯氨酸含量高于4种蓼科植物,荞麦、金荞麦的质膜透性、MDA含量高于虎杖、无辣蓼、水稻、小麦。(2)荞麦、小麦叶片的SOD和POD活性随Al3 胁迫浓度持续增长,虎杖和水稻持续下降,金荞麦和无辣蓼在25 mg/L Al3 处理时最高,100 mg/L Al3 胁迫明显降低。综合细胞膜对铝胁迫反应的各种特征,可以说明蓼科植物细胞膜透性变化是Al3 引发氧化胁迫的一种受损表现,而禾本科植物细胞膜透性变化是对A3 胁迫的一种适应性反应。     

调控山羊乳腺脂肪酸代谢miRNAs筛选及相关pri-miRNAs克隆验证

microRNA(miRNA)是调控脂类代谢的重要分子。本研究采用数据库预测和自由能分析法,筛选与山羊(Capra hirus)乳腺脂肪酸代谢相关的miRNA,并对预测得到的miRNA进行克隆验证。预测结果表明,通过MicroCosm、TargertScan和PicTar3个在线数据库预测与山羊脂肪酸代谢相关的30个基因相对应的miRNA,预测得到50条miRNA,其中3个数据库预测一致的miRNA为13条,2个数据库预测一致的为37条。结果显示,脂肪酸合酶基因(FASN)对应4个不同的miRNA,嗜乳脂蛋白基因(BTN1A1)对应2个,而磷酸甘油酰基转移酶6基因(AGPAT6)没有预测到miRNA靶位点;FASN与BTN1A1的3’UTR上miR-103的结合位点分别有3个和2个。通过MFOLD软件对预测所得的50条miRNA靶位点两侧序列的自由能(ΔG>-20kcal/mol)进行分析,9种miRNA与调控脂肪酸代谢基因相关度较高,分别为miR-103/BTN1A1、miR-15/FASN、miR-23/LPL(脂蛋白酯酶)、miR-27/PPARγ(过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体)、miR-29/GPR41(短链脂肪酸受体)、miR-146/BTN1A1、miR-195/FASN、miR-200/SCD(硬脂酰辅酶A去饱和酶)和miR-497/GPR41,其中miR-103/27/195分别位于BTN1A1、PPARγ和FASN的靶位点与已知物种间同源性较高,增加了这些miRNA/mRNA结合的可能性。此外,靶位点单侧和双侧ΔG小于阈值的miRNA/mRNA分别为14对和9对,其中miR-27/mRNA预测的靶基因为4个,依次为FASN、ACOX1(乙酰辅酶氧化酶基因1)、LPL和PPARγ,miR-103和miR-15的靶基因同为FASN、BTN1A1和ACOX1。以西农萨能奶山羊(Capra hirus)基因组DNA为模板,可扩增出与5条miRNA(miR-103-1/23a/27a/146b/200a)分别相对应的初级miRNA(pri-miRNA);通过序列分析和二级结构分析表明,5条pri-miRNA均包含完整的pre-miRNA序列,同时具有典型的茎环结构,能够产生相应的miRNA。与牛的同源性分析表明,除pre-miR-27a同源性为98%外(山羊pre-miR-27a3’端第11个碱基为G,而牛为A),其余4条pre-miRNA同源性均为100%。因此,本研究筛选的9种miRNA可能调控山羊乳腺脂肪酸代谢,克隆的5条pri-miRNA为其功能研究提供基础。     

摘除卵巢对母山羊肾周脂肪中脂肪酸组成及相关基因mRNA表达量的影响

公羊去势(摘除睾丸)作为一项十分成熟的生产技术,在畜牧生产上得到了非常广泛的应用,但是有关母山羊(Capra hircus)去势的研究还不多。本研究旨在探讨去势对母山羊血清中血糖、甘油三酯、总胆固醇水平,肾周脂肪组织中脂肪酸的组成以及对乙酰Co A羧化酶(acetly-Co A carboxylase,ACC)、脂肪酸合成酶(fatty acid synthase,FAS)、脂蛋白酯酶(lipoprotein lipase,LPL)和激素敏感酯酶(hormone sensitive lipase,HSL)基因表达的影响。将体重相近的5月龄母山羊摘除卵巢后测定其血糖、甘油三酯、胆固醇水平;采用Agilent-6890N气相色谱仪测定其肾周脂肪组织中脂肪酸的组成;利用实时荧光定量PCR(q RT-PCR)相对定量方法检测FAS、ACC、LPL和HSL m RNA的相对表达量。结果表明,摘除卵巢后,母山羊血清中血糖、甘油三酯和总胆固醇水平较对照组均无显著性差异(P0.05),而且在整个实验过程中保持稳定;肾周脂肪组织中总饱和脂肪酸和4种饱和脂肪酸(SFA)(癸酸(C10∶0)、十五碳酸(C15∶0)、棕榈酸(C16∶0)和木质素酸(C24∶0))的比例(P0.05或P0.01)显著降低;肾周脂肪中总单不饱和脂肪酸(MUFA)和总多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)的比例与对照组差异不显著(P0.05),但是表现出了一种上升的趋势,油酸(C18∶1)比例显著上升(P0.05);脂肪酸代谢相关基因中LPL m RNA表达量显著提高(P0.05),ACC和FAS基因的表达量极显著提高(P0.01),HSL基因的表达量显著降低(P0.05)。摘除卵巢不会打破母山羊血清中血糖、甘油三酯、总胆固醇的平衡,可能通过影响肾周脂肪组织中脂肪酸代谢相关基因(FAS,ACC,LPL和SHL)m RNA的表达,降低肾周脂肪中饱和脂肪酸的比例,有利于改善羊肉的风味。本研究结果为揭示摘除母山羊卵巢改善肾周脂肪中脂肪酸的构成提供基础资料。     

Comparison of phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) and total soil fatty acid methyl esters (TSFAME) for characterizing soil microbial communities

Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) and total soil fatty acid methyl esters (TSFAME), both lipid-based approaches used to characterize microbial communities, were compared with respect to their reliable detection limits, extraction precision, and ability to differentiate agricultural soils. Two sets of soil samples, representing seven crop types from California's Central Valley, were extracted using PLFA and TSFAME procedures. PLFA analysis required 10 times more soil than TSFAME analysis to obtain a reliable microbial community fingerprint and total fatty acid content measurement. Although less soil initially was extracted with TSFAME, total fatty acid (FA) content g⁻¹ soil (DW) was more than 7-fold higher in TSFAME- versus PLFA-extracted samples. Sample extraction precision was much lower with TSFAME analysis than PLFA analysis, with the coefficient of variation between replicates being as much as 4-fold higher with TSFAME extraction. There were significant differences between PLFA- and TSFAME-extracted samples when biomarker pool sizes (mol% values) for bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi were compared. Correspondence analysis (CA) of PLFA and TSFAME samples indicated that extraction method had the greatest influence on sample FA composition. Soil type also influenced FA composition, with samples grouping by soil type with both extraction methods. However, separate CAs of PLFA- and TSFAME extracted samples depicted strong differences in underlying sample groupings. Recommendations for the selection of extraction method are presented and discussed.     

稻米脂肪酸与食味的关系及土壤水分的调控效应

为探明不同品种稻米脂肪酸与食味的关系及土壤水分的调控效应,进行了不同水稻品种及土壤水势为-30～-35 kPa和-60～-65 kPa的控水处理对糙米优势、中位、劣势粒成分及食味的影响研究.结果表明,"垦鉴稻5号"、"富士光"、"东农V10"的籽粒脂肪酸含量极显著高于"垦稻8号"和"空育131";"空育131"食味值极显著高于"东农V10"、"垦鉴稻5号"、"垦稻8号","富士光"、"东农V10"、"垦鉴稻5号"极显著高于"垦稻8号","富士光"显著高于"东农V10"和"垦鉴稻5号".食味值与脂肪酸、蛋白质含量呈极显著负相关(2002年r为-0.577**、-0.910**,2003年r为-0.845**、-0.980**)、蛋白质与脂肪酸含量呈极显著正相关(2002年,r为0.582**,2003年,r为0.866**):各品种籽粒成分的变异系数均表现脂肪酸>蛋白质>直链淀粉.抽穗前控水除"绥梗3号"分蘖期控水处理外,两品种("上育397"和"绥粳3号")各粒位籽粒的脂肪酸含量均极显著高于CK;同一生育时期两品种的脂肪酸含量多以控水强度大的处理高,但差异多不显著;长穗期控水对两品种各粒位籽粒的食味影响最大,均极显著低于CK;两品种各粒位籽粒成分的变异均以脂肪酸最大,但对食味的通径系数均以蛋白质最大.建议今后在稻米的食味及营养评价中列入脂肪酸指标.     

Quality,yield and nitrogen fixation of faba bean seeds as affected by sulphur fertilization

Abstract

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is an important source of plant protein for humans and animals; however, nutritional value of seeds is notoriously deficient in sulphur (S)-containing amino acids. In this article, the effect of S fertilization on faba bean's capability of N₂ fixation, grain yield and chemical characteristics in terms of protein fractions, fatty acids and minerals composition is reported. A randomized, complete block design with three replicates was used, and three S applications (0, 30 and 60 kg ha^?1, respectively) for faba bean were performed. The S fertilization was split into two applications: 50% before sowing and 50% in the beginning of March as K₂SO₄. At the same time, both the legume and oat crops were fertilized uniformly with 10 kg N ha^?1 as ¹⁵N NH₄ ¹⁵NO₃ (10% ¹⁵N atomic excess) in solution form. In a Mediterranean climate under optimal spring rainfall situations, faba bean produced high yield of grain and protein. Sulphur application resulted in an increase in overall plant yield and N₂ fixation. In addition, S fertilization enhanced the protein quality, increasing its degradable fraction. Fertilizing faba bean with 30 kg ha^?1 of S resulted in a more appropriate dose in order to obtain a quantitative and qualitative crop improvement. From our findings, it can be concluded that S fertilization to faba bean should be recommended to soils with suboptimal S levels to obtain maximum seed and protein yields.     

Late season deficit irrigation for water-saving: selection of rapeseed (Brassica napus) genotypes based on quantitative and qualitative features

ABSTRACT

To select and introduce the best rapeseed genotypes under withholding irrigation, two field experiments were carried out in seasons 2015–2016 and 2016–2017 in Iran. Factorial arrangement of treatments was set up as RCBD with three replications. The experiment factors were two irrigation treatments (normal irrigation during the growing season and withholding irrigation from silique setting stage until the end of the growing season) and 17 genotypes of rapeseed. Grain yield, oil content and fatty acid contents were measured. The results revealed that oleic acid (62.15%) was the highest followed by linoleic (19.28%), linolenic (5.65%), palmitic (5.24%) and stearic acids (2.44%). ODR (oleic desaturation ratio) and LDR (linoleic desaturation ratio) were significantly affected by genotypes and irrigation treatments. The biosynthetic pathway of fatty acids affected by drought stress. This means that linoleic acid increases under withholding irrigation condition, while linolenic acid decreases in such a water deficit stress condition. The highest performance of qualitative and quantitative was detected in HL3721 genotype due to high values of grain yield (3892.45 kg ha^?1), oil content (437.05 g kg^?1), unsaturated fatty acids (87.63%) and low values of saturated fatty acids (7.98%), and it could be used under withholding irrigation in arid and semi-arid climates.     

Enzyme activities and microbial community structure in semiarid agricultural soils

This study investigated the effect of management on -glucosidase, -glucosaminidase, alkaline phosphatase, and arylsulfatase activities and the microbial community structure in semiarid soils from West Texas, USA. Surface samples (0–5 cm) were taken from a fine sandy loam, sandy clay loam, and loam that were under continuous cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) or in cotton rotated with peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.), sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor L.), rye ( Secale cereale) or wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), and had different water management (irrigated or dryland), and tillage (conservation or conventional). The enzyme activities were higher in the loam and sandy clay loam than in the fine sandy loam. Soil pH was not affected by management, but the soil organic C and total N contents were generally affected by the different crop rotations and tillage practices studied. The trends of the enzyme activities as affected by management depended on the soil, but in general crop rotations and conservation tillage increased the enzyme activities in comparison to continuous cotton and conventional tillage. The soil enzyme activities were significantly correlated with the soil organic C ( r -values up to 0.90, P< 0.001), and were correlated among each other ( r -values up to 0.90, P <0.001). There were differences in the fatty acid methyl ester profiles between the fine sandy loam and the sandy clay loam and loam, and they reflected the differences in the enzyme activities found among the soils. For example, a 15:0 ranged from 1.61±0.25% in cotton-peanut/irrigated/no-till in the fine sandy loam to 3.86±0.48% in cotton-sorghum/dryland/conservation tillage in the sandy clay loam. There were no differences due to management within the same soil.Trade names and company names are included for the benefit of the reader and do not infer any endorsement or preferential treatment of the product by USDA-ARS     

尿素包接法预浓缩鱼油生理活性组分的研究

为了提高鱼油中生理活性组分ＥＰＡ和ＤＨＡ的含量，以鱼油乙酯为原料，将其与饱和的尿素－乙醇溶液进行包合作用，而使鱼油中的饱和脂肪酸成结晶析出，以达到预浓缩的目的。随着尿素与鱼油乙酯摩尔比的增加，或结晶温度的降低，容易获得ＥＰＡ和ＤＨＡ含量在７０％以上的制品。     

Response of the soil bacterial community to the addition of toluene and toluene-degrading bacteria

Changes in soil bacterial communities after toluene and/or toluene degrading bacteria were added were monitored by growth on various media, and by the culture-independent method of Reverse Sample Genome Probing (RSGP). A total of 397 isolates that were cultured from toluene-amended and non-amended soil were identified using fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis. In 75% of the soil samples, gram-positive bacteria dominated, primarily Bacillus sp. and Cellulomonas sp. In contrast, RSGP revealed Proteobacteria (α, β, and γ subgroups) to be the dominant species, with Bacillus sp. dominant in only one soil sample.In toluene-treated soil, FAME and RSGP analyses indicated that by day 5 the major bacterial populations were gram-negative bacteria, in particular, Pseudomonas sp., Acinetobacter sp., and Alcaligenes sp. When toluene and Pseudomonas putida D8 were coincidentally introduced, the proportion of Pseudomonas sp. in the bacterial population recovered using non-selective medium increased from 16 to 62% and then rapidly decreased to about 9%. When we used selective medium to monitor the population of P. putida D8, a rapid initial increase followed by a gradual decline was also observed. In samples analyzed by RSGP, D8 was one of the major species of the bacterial community at day 2, but its signal intensity dropped to 9.5% by day 5.The influence of D8 addition on the bacterial profile was monitored in growth-based examinations. Bacillus sp. and Pseudomonas sp. were initially dominant. By day 5, Bacillus sp. decreased while the Proteobacteria, (including Acinetobacter sp., Agrobacterium sp., Alcaligenes sp., Burkholderia sp., Erwinia sp., and Pseudomonas sp.) increased. At the same time, D8 decreased to a level indistinguishable from background. Conversely, RSGP analysis revealed the population dominance of P. putida (including D8) and Rhizobium fredii at day 2. Populations shifted toward Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Bacillus subtilis, R. fredii, and D8 by day 5.P. putida D8 levels could be monitored using RSGP when cultivation failed. However, cultivation of Bacillus sp. was always successful, while the organism was only occasionally detected by RSGP. While cultivation and RSGP methods comparably detected the same major bacterial populations, the overall bacterial diversity was greater with RSGP than with growth-based testing.     

Fatty acid patterns as biomarker for trophic interactions: Changes after dietary switch and starvation

Fatty acid (FA) analysis is becoming increasingly important for investigating trophic interactions in soil food webs. FA profiles of neutral lipids are affected by diet, and the occurrence and amount of certain FAs can reflect feeding strategies. However, to draw conclusions on feeding strategies in the field it is necessary to know physiological parameters of fatty acid metabolism such as the detection time and storage period of FAs. In this study we investigated the chronological change of FA biomarkers in the Collembola Heteromurus nitidus when switched between different food sources: leaves (Tilia europaea), a fungus (Chaetomium globosum) and two bacteria (Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens). Additionally, we followed the change of bacterial FA biomarkers during starvation. After 14 days of food deprivation bacterial FAs were still detectable in a sufficient amount to use them as dietary markers. Switching diet experiments demonstrated that FAs typical for a specific diet are already present after one day and are still detectable after 14 days of feeding on a different food source, suggesting that FA analysis can integrate the food choice of Collembola over a longer period of time, in contrast to snapshot methods such as gut content analysis.