SCoT分子标记在茶树育种中的应用研究进展

目标起始密码子多态性(Start Codon Targeted Polymorphism,SCoT)是一种可以与目标功能基因紧密连锁的目的基因标记,具有开发简单,成本低廉,稳定性和重复性好,多态性丰富,引物可在物种间通用等特点,已在多种植物中广泛应用。综述SCoT分子标记的原理及特点、引物设计、在茶树上的应用进展等方面,展望其在茶树指纹图谱构建和种质鉴定、差异基因表达分析、遗传连锁图谱构建方面的应用前景,以期为该标记在茶树中的深入应用提供更多参考。     

药用菊花SCoT-PCR反应体系的正交优化

为进一步开发利用药用菊花种质资源,为药用菊花的遗传多样性及分子鉴定研究提供技术支持,建立并优化药用菊花的目标起始密码子多态性-聚合酶链式反应(SCoT-PCR)体系,在方差分析基础上,运用L25(56)正交设计在5个水平上对影响药用菊花SCoT-PCR反应的模板DNA、Mg2+、dNTPs、Taq酶、引物5个因素进行优化试验,并对PCR结果进行分析。建立了药用菊花SCoT-PCR最佳反应体系(20μL):模板DNA 10 ng,引物0.8μmol·L-1,dNTPs 0.2 mmol·L-1,Mg2+2.0 mmol·L-1,Taq酶1.5 U,SCoT反应的影响因素依次为:Taq酶引物dNTPsMg2+模板DNA。优化的SCoT-PCR反应体系在多个药用菊花品种遗传多样性研究中得到了验证,结果表现出良好的稳定性、重复性和多态性丰富等特点,该体系的建立为药用菊花品种遗传多样性分析、系统发育研究、遗传图谱构建、基因定位和分子标记辅助育种研究奠定了基础。     

龙眼SCoT-PCR反应体系的优化

目标起始密码子多态（start condon tardeted polymorphism,SCoT）分子标记结合了ISSR标记和RAPD标记的优点,具有操作简单﹑成本低廉﹑多态性丰富﹑重复性好﹑引物设计简单且通用性良好等诸多优点。本实验以石硖龙眼的新鲜叶片为试材,采用单因素试验的方法分别研究模版、引物、rTaqDNA聚合酶、dNTPs、缓冲液（Mg2＋）及退火温度共6因素各8个水平对龙眼SCoT-PCR扩增结果的影响。结果表明：龙眼SCoT标记的20μL优化反应体系为：10×BufferⅡ（含Mg2＋）2.0μL、DNA模板30ng、引物浓度为30μmol/L、rTaqD-NA聚合酶用量为0.45U、dNTP浓度为4.0mmol/L。适宜的扩增程序为：94℃预变性4min;95℃变性50s,49.5℃退火40s,72℃复性2min,36个循环;最后72℃延伸10min。利用24个龙眼品种验证该反应体系,1.5%琼脂糖电泳检测结果显示,扩增产物在400-2200bp之间,不同品种间DNA谱带具有多态性,反应体系具有良好的稳定性和可重复性。     

SCoT分子标记在猕猴桃遗传多样性分析与变异鉴定上的应用

我国猕猴桃(Actinidia)种质资源极其丰富,可为猕猴桃遗传改良和资源利用提供广泛的背景材料,而从实生苗群中筛选变种是猕猴桃新品种培育途径之一。本研究以17份猕猴桃品种(系)(其中2份红阳变异系、1份金桃变异系)为材料,采用目标起始密码子多态性(start codon targeted polymorphism,SCoT)对其遗传多样性和变异进行分析。结果表明,基于优化后的适宜于猕猴桃SCoT-PCR反应体系,从64条引物中筛选出42条引物对17份猕猴桃材料扩增出487条清晰的条带,其中多态性条带为470条带,平均多态性比率为95.1%。17份猕猴桃材料之间的遗传距离范围在0.153~0.693,平均值为0.492。变异株桂乐1号、桂乐2号与对照红阳的遗传距离分别为0.276和0.299,金桃变异与金桃的遗传距离为0.539,3个变异株系均与对照有一定的亲缘关系与遗传距离。聚类分析表明,在遗传距离为0.460的水平上,可以将17份猕猴桃材料分为4组。桂乐1号、桂乐2号与对照红阳归为第Ⅲ组,金桃变异与对照金桃则未能聚为同一组。SCoT分子标记可以对猕猴桃性状变异进行初步鉴定,为进一步开展变异新品种的早期鉴定和保护提供技术参考,以及为猕猴桃种质资源遗传多样性分析及其分类提供理论支持。     

广西地方葛根种质资源遗传多样性的SCoT分析

为了解广西地方葛根种质资源之间的亲缘关系,本研究以SCoT分子标记对44份广西葛根种质资源的基因组DNA进行PCR扩增,并进行遗传多样性分析。结果表明,25条SCoT引物共扩增出223个条带,其中具有多态性的条带有194条,平均每条引物获得7.76个多态性条带,多态性比例为86.99%。聚类分析表明,44份葛根种质资源的遗传相似系数在0.587~0.982之间。在系数0.65处,44份葛根分为两大类,37号材料单独成为一类;在系数为0.74处,可聚为六类。综上所述,SCoT分子标记适用于葛根种质资源遗传多样性分析,本研究结果为广西葛根种质资源鉴定评价和新品种选育奠定了一定的理论基础。     

小麦3-磷酸-甘油醛脱氢酶基因(GAPDH)上游序列的克隆及功能验证

3-磷酸-甘油醛脱氢酶(glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase,GAPDH)广泛地存在于各种生物体内,是生物体内糖异生和糖酵解过程中的关键酶。为了获取长武134小麦(TriticumaestivumL.)GAPDH上游序列并分析其启动子活性,本研究根据小麦GAPDH基因(GenBank登录号:EF592180.1)5'端序列设计特异引物,利用基因组步移法获得了该基因上游1071bp的序列;对该序列进行结构分析表明,转录起始位点可能位于起始密码子上游约700bp处;PlantCARE预测瞬时作用元件表明,在翻译起始密码子ATG的上游含有启动子基本结构元件TATA-box、CAAT框,以及能够应答脱落酸(abscisic acid,ABA)、干旱、低温等非生物胁迫逆境因子的多种顺式作用元件(如MYB、MYC、WRKY、ABRE、HSE和GT-1等);然后用GAPDH基因启动子序列替换植物表达载体pBI121GUS基因前的CaMV35S启动子,并构建启动子融合表达载体,并通过农杆菌(Agrobacteriumtumefaciens)EHA105介导转化烟草(Nicotianatabacum)叶盘进行了瞬时表达分析,以GUS作为报告基因研究在ABA、干旱、低温3种非生物胁迫下启动子的活性。结果显示,ABA、低温和干旱对启动子有较明显的诱导效应,其中以干旱诱导最为显著。本研究通过基因组步移克隆得到GAPDH基因的启动子,分析表明此启动子为有着强启动活性的诱导型启动子。     

甘蔗蔗糖磷酸合成酶基因(SofSPSA)的克隆及正反义植物表达载体的构建

蔗糖磷酸合成酶(sPs)是植物体内控制蔗糖合成的关键酶.本研究通过搜索NCBI数据库获得迄今植物中所有的蔗糖磷酸合成酶基因序列共77条,其中全长序列43条;对全长序列进行进化分析表明,植物SPS基因分为A、B、C和D四个家族,同一植物体内有多个分别属于不同家族的SPS基因;比对A家族中进化关系很近的甘蔗(Saccharum officinarum )SofS PSl、水稻(Oryza sativa)OsSPS4、黑麦草(Lolium perenne )LpSPS和竹子(Bambusa oldhamii)BoSPS基因序列,并在保守区设计一对引物扩增获得甘蔗A家族SPS基因(SofSPSA)2 553 bp序列,结合5’-RACE和3’-RACE技术获得甘蔗SofSPSA基因全长cDNA序列3 906 bp;该序列包含一个3 183bp的开放阅读框(ORE),编码1 060个氨基酸残基的蛋白,其理论分子量和等电点分别为l18.4kD和6.09.该序列的起始密码子(ATG)位于转录起始位点后359bp处,终止密码子(TAA)后还有一段365bp的非编码序列,并带有真核生物典型的polyA尾巴(GenBank登录号:HM854011); SofSPSA与SofSPSⅡ、OsSPS4、LpSPS、BoSPS的氨基酸相似性分别为99.3％、91.8％、91.6％和91.9％,一致性分别为99.2％、87.9％、87.5％和87.8％;设计引物分别扩增正、反向SofSPSA基因ORF并分别连到pBI121上获得由组成型表达启动子35S驱动的正、反义植物表达载体pBI-SofSPSA和pBI-anti- SofSPSA,为进一步研究甘蔗SPS基因的生物学功能及利用甘蔗SPS基因改良作物品种提供科学依据.     

产肠毒素大肠杆菌987P菌毛fasG亚单位的优化表达

本试验选用两种翻译起始区不同的表达载体pET28a(+)、pGEX-KG和两种对稀有密码子效应不同的表达宿主菌BL21(DE3)、Rossetta(DE3),构建出四种重组表达菌（pET-fasG BL21(DE3), pET-fasG Rossetta(DE3), pKG-fasG BL21(DE3)和pKG-fasG Rossetta(DE3)）来考查翻译起始区的二级结构和稀有密码子对fasG基因表达的影响。对重组表达菌进行诱导表达的结果表明,翻译起始区的二级结构和稀有密码子的存在都能影响到目的基因的表达,通过优化翻译起始区的二级结构或优化稀有密码子都能提高目的蛋白的表达量。由于pKG-fasG优化了mRNA翻译起始区的二级结构,同时Rossetta(DE3)缓解了稀有密码子对目的蛋白表达的影响,pKG-fasG Rossetta(DE3)目的蛋白的表达量达到16%,较pET-fasG BL21(DE3)的表达量（8%）提高了100%。试验结果表明,对外源基因的表达,选择合适的表达载体和宿主菌,对获得较高的表达量是非常重要的。     

利用目标起始密码子多态性(SCoT)分子标记分析梨遗传多样性

目标起始密码子多态性(start codon targeted polymorphism,SCo T)是一种新型的遗传分子标记技术。本研究采用单因素水平设计方法,优化并建立梨的适宜SCo T分子标记体系,通过SCo T标记技术,分析了安徽省砀山县的43份梨(Pyrus spp.)的遗传多样性和亲缘关系。结果表明,优化后梨SCo T-PCR反应体系:10×Easy Taq Buffer(含2 mmol/L Mg2+)2.5μL,模板DNA终浓度30 mg/L,上下游引物终浓度1.0μmol/L,d NTPs终浓度0.2 mmol/L,Taq DNA聚合酶1.0 U,总体积为25μL。随机选取2个DNA模板进行引物筛选,最终从67条引物中筛选出16条扩增条带清晰且有差异性的引物,共扩增出145条带,其中多态性条带有126条,多态性比率为86.1%,每条引物平均扩增出9.1条带。SCo T标记的43个梨材料遗传相似性系数为0.517~0.931,平均值为0.685。聚类分析表明,在遗传相似系数为0.610的水平上,43份梨材料分为A和B两组;在遗传相似系数为0.746的水平上,A组又分为6个亚组(Ⅰ~Ⅵ)。所研究的43份梨材料具有丰富的遗传多样性,且能够被SCo T分子标记有效地检验,为进一步研究利用安徽省砀山县梨种质资源提供了依据。     

猪源抗菌肽Protegrin-1基因在大肠杆菌中的融合表达

为了使猪源抗菌肽Protegrin-1(PG-1)在原核表达载体中获得高效表达,在不改变PG-1氨基酸的基础上,根据大肠杆菌偏好密码子表,替换PG-1部分密码子,设计两段互补的引物,利用搭桥PCR技术扩增完整的PG-1成熟肽基因,重组至融合表达载体pGEX-4T-1中,构建成抗菌肽PG-1基因融合表达载体pGEX4T-PG-1,转化至大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)BL21(DE3)plyS中,筛选得到阳性克隆,并用1.0 mmol/L的IPTG进行诱导表达.SDS-PAGE电泳图谱显示在28 kD处有特异性的蛋白条带出现,经Western blot检测表明重组子已经成功地在大肠杆菌中表达了融合蛋白.纯化得到的GST-PG-1用凝血酶切割后,经用亲合层析得到分子量约为2 kD抗菌肽PG-1蛋白1.38 mg/L.对大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)抑菌试验结果表明,重组抗菌肽PG-1具有明显的抑菌效果.     

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.