生态恢复对川西北沙化草地土壤活性有机碳的影响

为了解生态恢复对沙化草地土壤活性有机碳的影响,通过野外实地调查,选取了生态恢复分别为0,2,4,6,8a的区域作为研究对象,并结合土壤样品的采集和室内分析,研究了川西北沙化草地不同生态恢复年限土壤有机碳和活性有机碳组分含量及其变化特征。结果表明:生态恢复过程中沙化草地各土层土壤有机碳、溶解性有机碳、易氧化有机碳、微生物量碳含量均有不同程度增加,其中0-20cm土层变化最为明显,不同生态恢复年限土壤有机碳、溶解性有机碳、易氧化有机碳、微生物量碳含量均达到了极显著差异水平(P0.01)。生态恢复8a后沙化草地土壤有机碳、溶解性有机碳、易氧化有机碳、微生物量碳含量分别为6.14g/kg,55.43mg/kg,0.86g/kg,128.94mg/kg,均高于未生态恢复的沙化草地,且呈极显著差异(P0.01);20-40cm和40-60cm土层土壤有机碳、溶解性有机碳、易氧化有机碳、微生物量碳含量也呈现出逐步增加的特征,但其增加幅度及差异显著性均不及0-20cm土层。沙化草地植被盖度对土壤0-20cm土层响应更为明显,活性有机碳组分之间呈显著正相关关系(P0.05)。     

缙云山5种植被下土壤活性有机碳及碳库变化特征

为揭示重庆市缙云山不同植被下土壤活性有机碳及碳库分配特征，以该地区5种植被类型：阔叶林、针叶林、混交林、竹林和荒草地为研究对象，分析不同植被类型下各土壤层次中有机碳（Soil organic carbon, SOC）、微生物量碳(Microbial biomass carbon，MBC)、可溶性有机碳(Dissolved organic carbon，DOC)、易氧化有机碳(Readily oxidized organic carbon，ROC)含量及其土壤碳库的变化特征。结果表明：土壤有机碳和各活性有机碳组分含量及分配比例受到植被类型和土层深度的明显影响。土壤有机碳的平均含量在0~100 cm土层表现为竹林（16.74 g/kg）>阔叶林（12.62 g/kg）>草地(11.14 g/kg)>混交林（8.16 g/kg）>针叶林（5.98 g/kg），并随土层深度的增加而减小。竹林和阔叶林的微生物量碳和易氧化有机碳含量均明显高于混交林和针叶林，各植被在剖面上均表现出垂直递减规律，表现出明显的表聚效应。除草地，4种植被的土壤碳库管理指数随土层深度的加深而减小，均表现为表层(0~20 cm土层)最高。不同植被类型间，竹林的可溶性有机碳分配比例在各土壤层次均最小，整个土壤剖面均值仅为0.1%。由相关性分析可知，微生物量碳、易氧化有机碳、土壤总有机碳含量和土壤有机碳储量有着极其显著的相关性。因此，土壤微生物量碳和易氧化有机碳可以作为衡量亚缙云山森林不同植被土壤有机碳库变化的敏感性指标。     

若尔盖高寒草地沙化对土壤活性有机碳组分的影响

为了解若尔盖高寒草地沙化对土壤活性有机碳组分的影响,采用空间代替时间的方法,通过野外土壤采集,并结合室内化验分析,研究了若尔盖高寒草原不同沙化阶段土壤有机碳及其活性组分的含量和变化特征。结果表明:沙化对高寒草地0—60cm土层土壤有机碳含量具有显著影响,随沙化程度加剧,土壤总有机碳、溶解性有机碳、易氧化有机碳和微生物量碳含量均呈现显著下降的特征,极重度沙化阶段较潜在沙化阶段分别减少了74.76%,80.24%,76.02%和83.24%;活性有机碳组分的损失较土壤总有机碳明显,其中微生物量碳含量的下降幅度最大;随土层深度的增加,沙化草地土壤有机碳含量及其变化量均呈下降趋势,其中,0—20cm土层土壤有机碳含量变化最为显著;土壤总有机碳、溶解性有机碳、易氧化有机碳和微生物量碳含量均呈极显著正相关关系(P0.01)。     

黄土丘陵区不同植被群落土壤团聚体有机碳及其组分的分布

有机碳是形成土壤团聚体的重要物质,植被群落通过有机残体的输入增加土壤有机碳含量,从而通过影响团聚体的形成而影响土壤结构。为探究不同植被群落对土壤结构改良的意义,对黄土丘陵区森林带和草原带的不同植被群落土壤团聚体中有机碳组分进行了研究。结果表明:(1)研究区域森林带土壤有机碳含量大于草原带,森林带植被群落土壤总有机碳含量大小顺序为:辽东栎群落>人工刺槐群落>狼牙刺群落,草原带植被群落土壤总有机碳含量大小顺序为:人工沙棘群落>达乌里胡枝子+茭蒿群落>铁杆蒿+达乌里胡枝子群落;(2)土壤活性有机碳和腐殖质碳占土壤总有机碳的比例在两种植被带之间基本相同,相同植被群落土壤活性有机碳占土壤总有机碳的比例高于腐殖质碳占总有机碳的比例;(3)森林带土壤>0.25 mm团聚体含量显著高于草原带土壤>0.25 mm团聚体含量,各种形态的有机碳随着土壤团聚体粒级的增大有机碳含量呈先增加后减少或者随着团聚体粒级的增大而增大的趋势,2~0.25 mm和<0.25 mm团聚体中有机碳含量最高;(4)草原带每种植被群落土壤活性有机碳含量空间差异性较大,辽东栎群落各种形态土壤有机碳含量的空间差异性都较大,<0.25 mm团聚体腐殖质碳含量大于其他粒径;(5)草原带人工沙棘群落土壤各种形态有机碳在土壤剖面上的含量差异很小,其他各植被群落0~10 cm土层土壤有机碳含量均大于10~20 cm土层。     

西藏色季拉山典型植被类型土壤活性有机碳分布特征

研究土壤活性有机碳含量及分配比例是揭示土壤有机碳库周转及调控机理的重要途径。为探讨不同森林植被类型对土壤活性有机碳库的影响,以西藏色季拉山(西坡)的高山灌丛(AS)、杜鹃林(RF)、急尖长苞冷杉林(AGSF)和林芝云杉林(PLLF)为试验对象,研究了林地土壤总有机碳、总氮含量、各活性有机碳组分及其分配比例。结果表明：高海拔植被类型具有较高的土壤活性有机碳含量和分配比例。在不同植被类型的生态系统中,土壤总有机碳含量、土壤颗粒有机碳和土壤易氧化碳含量均呈现出随土层深度增加而递减的变化趋势。土壤颗粒有机碳含量占土壤总有机碳含量和土壤易氧化有机碳含量占土壤总有机碳含量的比率范围不同,且随土层深度增加比率减小,且颗粒有机碳分配比例表现的更为明显。土壤颗粒有机碳含量和土壤易氧化有机碳含量与土壤总有机碳含量和总氮之间的相关性均达到了极显著水平(p＜0.05),土壤颗粒有机碳含量和土壤易氧化有机碳含量的相关性在在不同土层表现出显著性。     

不同放牧强度对呼伦贝尔羊草草甸草原土壤活性有机碳的影响

土壤活性有机碳是土壤中较为活跃的化学组分,能反映土壤有机碳(SOC)的有效性,可作为土壤质量和肥力的指示性指标。研究探讨放牧干扰对羊草草甸草原土壤活性有机碳的影响,从而了解放牧对草地生态系统中碳循环的影响机制,旨在为退化草地生态恢复过程提供理论支撑。依托于呼伦贝尔草原生态系统国家野外科学观测研究站的长期肉牛放牧平台,分析6种不同放牧强度[不放牧(G0.00)、较轻度放牧(G0.23)、轻度放牧(G0.34)、中度放牧(G0.46)、重度放牧(G0.69)、极重度放牧(G0.92)]下羊草草甸草原土壤活性有机碳的变化,并探讨其相关性。结果表明:(1)土壤有机碳和活性碳组分的含量在不同土层间差异显著,随着土层深度的增加,SOC和活性有机碳[颗粒有机碳(POC)、可溶性有机碳(DOC)、微生物生物量碳(MBC)、易氧化有机碳(EOC)]含量均显著降低。(2)不同土层活性有机碳占比与放牧强度呈线性正相关,随着放牧强度的增加土壤活性有机碳占比也随之增加,不同放牧强度不同土层下土壤各形态活性有机碳占比呈POC>EOC>MBC>DOC的趋势,且EOC、MBC和POC占比随土壤深度增加而降低。(3)随着放牧强度的增加,植被群落地上生物量、地下生物量和土壤水分均呈下降趋势。(4)放牧强度与SOC和DOC呈显著负相关;植被群落地上生物量与土壤碳组分间呈显著正相关;地下生物量与DOC之间呈极显著正相关;土壤温度与POC呈显著负相关;土壤水分与POC呈极显著正相关,与SOC之间呈显著正相关。研究表明:放牧会降低地上生物量、地下生物量和土壤水分,适度放牧不仅能增加土壤有机碳和活性碳组分,而且能增加土壤活性碳占比,且符合中度干扰     

西藏色季拉山土壤微生物量碳和易氧化态碳沿海拔梯度的变化

为探讨不同海拔梯度对土壤活性有机碳库的影响,以西藏色季拉山(西坡)的高山灌丛(AS)、杜鹃林(RF)、急尖长苞冷杉林(AGSF1～6)和林芝云杉林(PLLF)为试验对象,研究林地土壤有机碳、微生物量碳和易氧化态碳的变化特征。结果表明:高海拔植被类型具有较高的土壤活性有机碳含量和分配比例。土壤有机碳含量与土壤pH值和容重呈显著负相关(p<0.05)。在土壤剖面垂直分布上,随着土壤深度增加,土壤总有机碳、微生物量碳和易氧化态碳含量均呈现随土层深度增加而逐渐减小的变化规律。土壤总有机碳、微生物量碳和易氧化态碳含量沿海拔梯度具有明显的变化规律,即随海拔的升高,土壤总有机碳、微生物量碳和易氧化态碳含量逐渐变大。土壤微生物量碳和总有机碳量有较好的正相关性,有机碳含量越高,土壤微生物量碳越大。     

黄土高原撂荒草地土壤碳库对两年增温增雨的响应

阐明暖湿的气候趋势下黄土高原土壤有机碳库不同活性组分和碳库稳定性的变化特征,对脆弱生态区碳库的可持续发展以及评估区域生态效益具有重要意义。以黄土丘陵区自然撂荒草地为研究对象,人工模拟增温和增雨,分析了在增温（W）、增雨（P50%）及其交互作用（WP50%）下植被群落变化特征、土壤有机碳库组分含量、碳库组分的分配比例以及碳库稳定性的变化特征。结果发现：（1）增雨显著增加了植被丰富度指数,而增温和增温增雨显著降低了植被丰富度指数。（2）增雨处理下土壤有机碳、酸解有机碳、易氧化有机碳、溶解性有机碳含量及分配比例在两个取样年均显著高于对照;增温增雨处理则进一步增加了土壤易氧化有机碳和微生物生物量碳含量以及分配比例。相关性分析表明,土壤有机碳与各个活性碳组分之间存在显著相关性。（3）增温增雨处理下土壤碳库活度、碳库活度指数以及碳库管理指数均高于其他处理。酸解有机碳和微生物生物量碳的敏感指数在气候变化处理下相对较高。综上所述,暖湿化的气候背景下黄土丘陵区撂荒草地土壤有机碳、有机碳活性组分含量和分配比例以及碳库稳定性显著提高,有助于碳库良性发展,酸解有机碳和微生物生物量碳可作为未来土壤有机碳变化的重...     

尕海湿地植被退化过程中土壤轻重组有机碳动态变化特征

以甘肃省甘南尕海湿地内的沼泽化草甸为研究对象,采用野外取样和室内测试相结合的方法,研究植被退化过程中土壤轻重组有机碳含量及动态变化。结果表明:不同植被退化阶段0—20cm土壤轻组有机碳含量差异显著(P0.05),表现为未退化轻度退化重度退化中度退化;20—100cm土壤轻组有机碳受植被影响较小。整个土壤剖面重组有机碳含量表现为中度和重度退化显著高于未退化和轻度退化(P0.05)。土壤轻重组有机碳含量均随土壤剖面下降显著降低(P0.05)。各退化阶段沼泽化草甸土壤轻重组有机碳均呈现出明显的时间变化,在0—20cm土层,未退化阶段轻组有机碳表现为"降—升—降"的变化趋势,即5月最高,7月和9月最低,其他各退化阶段则在6月降低并趋于稳定;20—100cm土层轻组有机碳变化幅度较小。各退化阶段土壤重组有机碳动态变化较为一致,均随时间延长呈线性下降,不同月份之间差异显著(P0.05)。说明植被退化导致轻组有机碳含量下降,重组有机碳增加,而在植被生长过程中主要消耗轻组有机碳,重组有机碳相对稳定。相关分析表明,地下生物量与土壤含水量的变化对土壤轻重组有机碳影响显著。     

黄土丘陵区植被恢复中不同粒级土壤团聚体有机碳分布特征

对黄土丘陵区土壤有机碳在不同粒级团聚体中的分布特征及其对植被恢复的响应进行了研究。结果表明:(1)黄土丘陵区不同植被覆盖条件下,土壤有机碳的分布具有一定的表聚性,0~20 cm土层中有机碳的含量均高于20~40 cm中有机碳的含量,不同植被群落下有机碳的含量大小为:大针茅群落>长芒草群落>铁杆蒿群落>百里香群落;(2)同一深度土壤各粒级团聚体中有机碳的分布特征是:0.5~0.25 mm与1~0.5 mm两个粒级中有机碳的含量最高,>1 mm的团聚体中有机碳的含量有随粒级增大而减小的趋势;(3)恢复年限对不同粒级土壤团聚体中有机碳的含量影响很大,有机碳的含量随恢复年限的增加总体呈上升趋势。黄土高原沟壑区土壤有机碳的积累与土壤团聚体的粒级和植被恢复的类型、年限等有明显的关系。     

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.     

“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。     

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     

Collection and preliminary evaluation of native turfgrass accessions in Italy

Despite a raising interest on turfs in Italy, all theavailable varieties of this kind in the Country are of foreign origin, and areoften poorly adapted to the prevailing climatic conditions. This prompted tobegin a collection activity of indigenous turfgrass species, with the ultimategoal of identifying promising materials for future breeding based on localgenetic resources. The collection was carried out in three areas of Italy, viz.the northern Po Plain, the coastal region of Liguria, and the island of Sardiniathat are characterised, respectively, by subcontinental, warm temperate, andtypical Mediterranean climate. Altogether, 141 sites were visited, yielding 226accessions belonging to eight species of potential interest for turfs:Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis,Festuca rubra, Festuca arundinacea,Lolium perenne, Agrostis stolonifera,Agrostis tenuis, and Cynodon dactylon,this last being a warm-season grass. Poa pratensis andCynodon dactylon were mostly collected in northern Italyand Sardinia, respectively, whereas Festuca arundinacea andLolium perenne were rather ubiquitous. The collection sitesranged from 0 to 1040 m asl, but sites over 750 m wereonly visited in the inner part of Sardinia. All the accessions, collected aswhole plants, were transplanted at Lodi, northern Italy, where they are beingevaluated. Their preliminary evaluation for traits of importance for turf use,such as sward colour and overall quality, highlighted the great variation andthe occurrence of interesting accessions in all species. Other characters wererecorded, bearing specific importance in individual species, and in all casespromising accessions were identified. The germplasm of Festucarubra, Festuca arundinacea, and Loliumperenne proved highly infected by endophytic (symbiotic) fungi of thegenus Neotyphodium.     

Leaf position and genotype differences for mineral element concentrations in sorghum grown on tropical acid soil 1

Mineral element deficiencies and toxicities are common problems associated with sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] production on acid soils. To better understand some of the mineral element problems and the analysis of plant tissue of sorghum plants grown on acid soils, four sorghum genotypes were grown on an acid Oxisol at Carimagua, Colombia limed with dolomite at 2 and 6 Mg ha^‐1.

Samples for mineral element analyses were obtained from leaves at different positions on the four genotypes. Concentrations of P and Mg were highest in the flag leaf (Leaf No. 1) and decreased as the position on the plant declined from the top of the plant for plants grown at 2 Mg lime ha^‐1. Similar decreases in P, Mg, K, and Zn concentrations occurred in plants grown with 6 Mg lime ha^‐1. Concentrations of Ca, S, Si, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Al increased as leaf position declined from the flag leaf for plants grown at 2 and 6 Mg lime ha^‐1. The higher lime supply enhanced Ca and reduced Mn and Fe concentrations in leaves. Differences in mineral element concentrations for the four genotypes used were fairly extensive. The elements to show the greatest range among genotypes were Al and Si and the elements to show the least range among genotypes were P, K, and S. Care should be used in collecting leaf samples for plant analysis and genotypic differences for accumulation of mineral elements should be considered in interpretation of results.     

Short-term variation in the concentration of selected ions within individual tropical rainstorms

Rainwater was collected at the campus of the University of Brunei Darussalam in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, using a funnel-in-bottle sampler. Polypropylene bottles were changed at intervals during rainstorm events. The pH and conductivity were determined immediately after collection on aliquots of the sample. Samples were refrigerated at 5°C for subsequent chemical analysis. Analyses for Na, Mg, Ca, Zn and Fe were carried out by means of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES); Cu and Mn were analysed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS); K was analysed using flame atomic emission spectroscopy (FAES); and Cl^–, NO₃ ^– and SO₄ ^2– were analysed by ion chromatography (IC). Concentration versus time profiles are reported for three rainstorm events. All ions exhibited a decrease in concentration during the rainstorm. The first sample contained the highest concentration of ions, consistent with a first-flush effect. The contribution of the initial stages of the shower to the total quantity of ion deposited during the entire rainstorm is quite overwhelming; in many cases 20 to 30% of the mass was deposited in less than 5% of rainstorm duration. On the other hand, the pH and conductivity variation during rainstorms did not exhibit a consistent pattern.     

Leaf litter selection by detritivore and geophagous earthworms

Summary Litterbag experiments with 10 different kinds of leaf litter showed that detritivore (Lumbricus species) and geophagous (Aporrectodea species) earthworms prefer certain litter types over others, since different numbers of worms were found below the litter after 50–52 days of exposure in a pasture. The detritivores preferred Fraxinus, Tilia, and predecomposed Ulmus and Fagus litter to Fagus litter and paper, while geophages preferred Tilia litter to Alnus and Ulmus litter, so that the two groups of earthworms showed different preferences. The detritivores seemed to be more selective than the geophages. The palatability of the litter was examined in relation to the C: N ratio, the lignin concentration and the initial and final polyphenol concentration. The numbers of detritivores were significantly correlated with the C: N ratio and the final polyphenol concentration, so that selection of litter seems to be related to palatability. The numbers of geophages were not significantly correlated with any of the parameters for palatability. The disappearance of litter after 50–52 days appeared to be due to detritivore activity, since the numbers found below the litter were positively and significantly correlated with the litter disappearance. There was no significant correlation with geophage activity. This indicates that detritivores use litter as food, and therefore influence the composition of the litter layer.     

The 5S rRNA gene diversity in the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Secale</Emphasis> and determination of its closest haplomes

We analyzed 127 rDNA sequences (5S DNA units) obtained from 23 seed accession samples from more or less 10 taxa in wild and cultivated rye, genus Secale L. The sequences fell into two known groups, here assigned to two unit classes, viz. long R1 and short R1 (designations to reflect on R haplome of rye). The different taxa could not be fully differentiated based on the 5S DNA units. We searched for 5S DNA sequences from known unit classes most closely similar to the long R1 and the short R1. One set with the long R1 unit class contained sequences of the long P1 unit class from Agropyron (P haplome) and from Kengyilia (StYP haplome), long J1 from Thinopyrum (J haplome), whereas the set with the short R1 included the long S1 from Pseudoroegneria (St haplome) and Kengyilia (StYP haplome), the short J1 from Thinopyrum (J haplome) and the short V1 from Dasypyrum (V haplome). Each of the two sets was analyzed separately by maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analysis from which we were able to infer that the 5S DNA units of Secale differentiated in a non-clock fashion and followed the HKY substitution model in the gene tree with the long R1 unit class and the HKY + G in the gene tree with the short R1 unit class. A complementary Bayesian analysis yielded identical tree topologies to the ML ones for each of the two sequence sets. In the tree with the long R1 units the long P1 and long J1 unit classes were closest to the long R1 unit class, whereas in the tree with the short R1 units the long S1 and short J1 unit classes were closest to the short R1 unit class, indicating possibly a close relationship between the St, J and R haplomes.     

Nematode succession and microfauna-microorganism interactions during root residue decomposition

The quality of plant material affects the vigor of the decomposition process and composition of the decomposer biota. Root residues from hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), rye (Secale cereale L.) and vetch+rye, packed in litterbags were placed in pots of soil at 15 C and the content of the bags was analyzed after 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Bacterial biomass did not differ between residues with contrasting composition. Among bacterivores groups of nematodes that require high bacterial production dominated in fast decomposing resources whereas flagellates with smaller requirements prevail in slower decomposing resources. Biomass of bacterial feeding nematodes correlated positively with early phase (0-2 wk) decomposition that increased in the order: rye< vetch+rye<vetch. Bacterial biomass therefore seems to be under top-down (predation) control during early decomposition. In contrast, the fungal biomass differed between resources with highest values for rye. Moreover, this increase in fungal biomass occurred later during succession and was correlated with decomposition activity for rye in that period. Fungal biomass therefore seems to be under bottom-up (resource) control. The composition of the nematode assemblages (composed of 25 taxa) showed a clear relationship to initial plant resource quality as well as decomposition phase. Early successional microbivorous nematodes vary according to resource quality with demanding bacterivores+predators (Neodiplogasteridae) dominating in vetch and less demanding bacterivores (Rhabditidae) and fungivores (Aphelenchus) being equally common in vetch and rye. Later in the succession (2-4 wk) bacterivorous Cephalobidae and fungivorous Aphelenchoides prevailed similarly on the different root materials whereas bacterivorous protozoa and the amoebal fraction thereof dominated in rye. At week 12 no species dominated the nematode assemblages that were similar between the resources. The differences between nematode assemblages among plant resources at 2 week were similar to the results of a field study sampled after 6 weeks with the same soil and plant resources. This lends support to the relevance of the successional patterns observed in this incubation study.     

Cycling of extracellular DNA in the soil environment

Upon entering the soil environment, extracellular DNA is subjected to dynamic biological, physical, and chemical factors that determine its fate. This review concerns the fate of both recombinant and non-recombinant sources of DNA. A schematic of DNA cycling coupled with genetic transformation is presented to understand its behavior in soil. Extracellular DNA may persist through cation bridging onto soil minerals and humic substances, be enzymatically degraded and restricted by DNases of microbial origin, and/or enter the microbial DNA cycle through natural transformation of competent bacteria. Lateral gene transfer may disseminate DNA through the microbial community. An understanding of DNA cycling is fundamental to elucidating the fate of extracellular DNA in the soil environment.