不同施肥处理对农田土壤微生物区系和功能的影响

本研究采用DGGE和Biolog两种方法, 研究了五种不同施肥处理对土壤微生物区系组成和功能的影响。采用UPGMA对DGGE试验结果进行聚类分析得出,小麦季中不施肥对照（T1）和常规氮磷钾肥（T2）聚为一类,相似性为41%,常规氮磷钾肥+秸秆还田（T4）和常规氮磷钾肥+秸秆还田+秸秆腐熟剂（T5）聚为一类,相似性为52%,而70%常规氮磷钾肥+有机肥（T3）单独聚为一类;玉米季也得到类似的结果,只是T1和T2的相似性为68%,T4和T5相似性达78%,而T3依然归为一类,这说明不同施肥处理间土壤微生物区系存在相似性。经过切胶测序及BLAST比对,发现大多为不可培养细菌,可培养细菌中多为芽孢杆菌属和类芽孢杆菌属。Biolog试验采用主成份分析得出,T1和T2土壤微生物功能类似,T4和T5土壤微生物也具有相似的功能,而T3则单独分为一类。其中,T5和T4的土壤细菌群落对底物碳源的代谢活性最强,T3处理次之,T2和T1最低。通过这两种不同试验方法的分析可以看出,不同施肥处理对土壤微生物区系和功能的影响存在关联性。     

不同施肥处理对玉米产量及土壤酶活性的影响

分析了不同施肥处理对玉米产量和土壤养分的影响,以及不同生育期内土壤纤维素酶、脲酶和过氧化氢酶的动态变化。结果表明,5个不同施肥处理产量均高于CK;秸秆配施无机肥加秸秆腐熟剂(FS)处理和有机肥配施70% NPK(OF)处理的效果最佳,有机无机复合肥(OI2)、有机无机复合肥(OI1)和常规无机肥(CF)处理次之,不施肥处理(CK)最低。FS处理较常规施肥处理提高了4.87%,有机肥配施70%常规无机肥(OF)处理较常规施肥处理的产量提高了3.39%。施肥处理均能提高3种酶的活性,并且表现出较强规律性:土壤过氧化氢酶在玉米拔节期出现活性高峰,土壤纤维素酶和土壤脲酶在玉米大喇叭口期出现活性高峰;FS处理在各个时期的酶活性较高。综上所述,秸秆还田配施化肥加秸秆腐熟剂有利于增加土壤酶活性与土壤养分含量,提高作物产量。     

激发式秸秆还田对麦季潮土团聚体中酶活性的影响

秸秆还田是提升潮土有机质、改良土壤结构的重要措施。添加有机肥和微生物菌剂可激发土壤微生物活性,促进秸秆腐解、提高土壤酶活性。本研究通过潮土区田间小区试验,研究激发式秸秆还田及微生物菌剂对土壤团聚体中酶活性的影响,结果表明:在小麦整个生育期:(1)施加有机肥(8%氮来自有机肥)的处理,不同级别团聚体中的酶活性(脲酶、蔗糖酶、纤维素酶、碱性磷酸酶)比一次性施肥及常规施肥处理高8.15%~66.93%,且差异显著(P0.05);施加有机肥对0.25~0.053 mm团聚体中纤维素酶和碱性磷酸酶活性的增加效果明显;(2)添加微生物菌剂可提高不同级别团聚体中脲酶、纤维素酶、蔗糖酶和碱性磷酸酶的活性,不同酶活性的增幅存在差异;(3)团聚体中脲酶、纤维素酶活性在苗期较低而后逐渐升高;蔗糖酶、碱性磷酸酶的活性在苗期较低,至拔节期大幅升高而后逐渐降低;(4)氮肥不同基肥与追肥比例对土壤团聚体中酶活性也有一定影响:试验表明,基追比为5︰5的处理不同级别团聚体中脲酶、纤维素酶、蔗糖酶和碱性磷酸酶的活性高于基追比6︰4的处理。     

猪粪有机肥与硫酸钙配施对潮土区大蒜产量、品质及土壤性状的影响

在秸秆还田的基础上,以常规施肥为前提,探讨了硫酸钙与猪粪有机肥配施对大蒜产量、品质与土壤性质的影响,旨在为探索河南蒜区大蒜生产和潮土改良提供理论依据。试验设常规施肥+秸秆还田(CK)、常规施肥+秸秆还田+猪粪有机肥(T1)、常规施肥+秸秆还田+硫酸钙(T2)、常规施肥+秸秆还田+猪粪有机肥+硫酸钙(T3)4个处理。结果表明,T1、T2、T3均可提高大蒜产量,其中T3增产最显著,比CK增产24.9%;与CK、T1、T2相比,T3大蒜可溶性糖含量分别增加6.65%、6.03%、3.94%,可溶性蛋白质含量分别增加20.68%、14.05%、3.54%,钙含量分别增加8.08%、3.42%、0.56%;T1、T2、T3可增加土壤养分的有效性,促进大蒜对养分的吸收,改善土壤的化学性质,同时,T2和T3增加了土壤交换性钙和有效硫,对提高大蒜产量具有重要作用;T3处理0.25 mm水稳性团聚体含量达到55.25%,分别比CK、T1和T2提高22.49%、17.21%和11.59%。硫酸钙与猪粪有机肥配施不但可以提高大蒜产量和品质,还可以改善土壤养分供应状况和土壤结构,可作为河南蒜区大蒜生产及土壤改良的一种方法。     

不同土壤改良剂对土壤生化性质与烤烟产量的影响

通过田间试验,探讨以石灰、粉煤灰、白云石、废菌棒和化肥构成的不同组合改良剂对土壤微生物数量、酶活性和烤烟产量的影响。结果表明施用不同组合改良剂后,耕层土壤细菌、放线菌、磷细菌、钾细菌和纤维素分解菌的数量、土壤过氧化氢酶、脲酶、磷酸酶和纤维素酶的活性及烤烟产量均比对照有不同程度提高,其中添加废菌棒处理的微生物数量、酶活性和烤烟产量变化明显高于无添加废菌棒处理,且均以“石灰+菌棒+常规化肥”改良剂组合变化最明显,差异显著性检验表明该组合处理的5种微生物数量、4种酶活性及烤烟生物和经济产量与对照相比差异均达极显著水平。相关分析表明耕层土壤5种微生物数量和4种酶活性与烤烟生物及经济产量均呈极显著的正相关。表明施用不同组合改良剂能促进土壤细菌、放线菌、磷细菌、钾细菌及纤维素分解菌的繁殖,增强过氧化氢酶、脲酶、磷酸酶及纤维素酶的活性,促进烤烟产量的提高,其中以“石灰+菌棒+常规化肥”组合改良剂的效果最好。     

不同微生物菌剂对旱砂田西瓜生长和微生物区系的影响

为解决连作旱砂田西瓜植株生长性能、产量品质、根际微生物数量下降的问题,以陇科12号为指示品种,设置常规施肥、常规施肥+西瓜专用菌剂、常规施肥+激活土壤专用菌剂、常规施肥+胶质芽孢杆菌、常规施肥+枯草芽孢杆菌、常规施肥+地衣芽孢杆菌、常规施肥+金宝贝微生物菌剂共7个处理,研究了不同微生物菌剂对旱砂田西瓜出苗与成活率、干物质积累、产量品质和根际微生物区系的影响。结果表明,与对照常规施肥相比,尽管施用微生物菌剂对西瓜果实的含糖量无显著影响,但除常规施肥+激活土壤专用菌剂外,其他微生物菌剂的施用均可以提高西瓜成活率和产量,促进干物质积累,增加西瓜根区微生物数量。其中以常规施肥+地衣芽孢杆菌处理的西瓜出苗率、成活率和产量最高,与对照常规施肥比较,出苗率显著提高7百分点;成活率显著提高了14%;产量显著提高了35.98%。团棵期和开花坐果期的干物质积累量也较对照分别显著增加了28.30%和24.01%,干物质转运量和转运率分别显著增加了3.98倍和3.01倍,根区细菌、真菌和放线菌数量分别显著增加61.07%、84.84%、85.31%。因此,生产上可以常规施肥+地衣芽孢杆菌作为最佳施肥方案,有助于改善旱砂田西瓜根际微生物环境,提高作物产量。     

施用沼渣肥料对水稻产量及土壤环境的影响

将秸秆废弃物生物发酵产生的沼渣作为原料,添加不同辅助材料,制成4种肥料(以下简称“沼渣肥料”),以水稻为研究对象,设置不施肥(CK)、常规施肥(FP)、沼渣有机肥(T1)、沼渣生物有机肥(T2)、沼渣有机无机复混肥料(T3)和沼渣复合微生物肥料(T4)共6个处理,研究其肥效价值及其对水稻产量、土壤理化性质、酶活性及微生物等多项指标的影响,为秸秆的资源化利用提供理论支持。结果表明,与FP处理相比,施用沼渣肥料水稻产量均有所提高,其中T4处理水稻产量最高,达到9571 kg/hm²;沼渣肥料处理较FP处理可有效降低施氮量18.59%～19.70%,提高氮肥利用率1.37%～11.04%。沼渣肥料处理较FP处理降低了土壤有效态Cd和稻米Cd含量,并降低稻米的Cd富集系数;另外,还可以提高土壤脲酶、过氧化氢酶、多酚氧化酶活性及土壤呼吸强度。在土壤团聚体含量(WR0.25)方面,各施肥处理均显著高于CK,沼渣肥料处理仅T1、T4处理WR0.25高于FP处理,其余处理差异不显著;微生物数量方面,T3、T4处理土壤细菌和放线菌数量均有显著增加。沼渣肥料在多项指标中均优于常规施肥,其中T4处理水稻增产效果最好,对土壤环境的改善效果也     

微生物发酵有机肥对温室番茄产量、品质和土壤肥力的影响

研究了施用微生物发酵有机肥对番茄产量、品质和土壤养分、微生物群落的影响。结果表明,微生物发酵有机肥+50%化肥比对照(不施肥)增产95.58%,比常规施肥增产47.56%;单施微生物发酵有机肥比对照增产68.70%,比常规施肥增产27.28%。微生物发酵有机肥可以显著降低番茄的硝酸盐含量,增加Vc、还原性糖、番茄红素、可溶性固形物含量,从而提高了番茄品质。能明显提高土壤有机质、碱解氮、速效钾、速效磷含量,降低土壤硝态氮含量,增强土壤酶的活性,可显著增加三大微生物类群的数量,从而提高土壤综合肥力。也可显著提高经济效益。可作为一种生产无公害蔬菜的施肥技术推广应用。     

不同剂量外源纤维素酶对设施土壤生物活性与番茄生长的影响

【目的】土壤纤维素酶活性在一定程度上反映土壤生物化学过程的强度及土壤肥力水平。本研究主要探讨了添加外源纤维素酶对设施土壤环境及栽培作物的积极影响，以期为设施土壤改良和质量提升提供参考。 【方法】以番茄‘芬达’为试材进行了盆栽试验。在设施土壤上设置添加外源纤维素酶:0、3、6、9、12、15 kg/hm2，分别用CK、T1、T2、T3、T4和T5表示，共6个处理。结果初期测定了番茄叶片光合指标，结果初期、结果盛期、采收盛期分别取土样测定了土壤脲酶、蔗糖酶、SOD、碱性磷酸酶活性，以及土壤细菌、真菌、放线菌数量，果实成熟期分批测产。 【结果】同一生育期，随酶制剂用量的增加，土壤微生物数量及酶活性均先增加后降低。与CK相比，细菌、真菌、放线菌最高分别增加了996.8% (结果盛期的T4)、801.4% (采收盛期的T3) 和314.6% (坐果初期的T3)；坐果初期T3的土壤脲酶、蔗糖酶、SOD及采收初期T3的碱性磷酸酶活性提高较多，分别较CK增加了214.3%、424.3%、254.0%和44.0%；同时添加外源纤维素酶对番茄株高、茎粗以及Pn、Tr、Gs、Ci等光合指标的提高有促进作用，增加了番茄产量，T3的番茄产量最高，达到55188 kg/hm2。 【结论】适当添加外源纤维素酶，在提高土壤本身纤维素酶活性的同时也增强了其他土壤酶活性，促进了土壤中微生物的积累和繁殖，从而改善了土壤环境，并促进蔬菜作物健康生长，提高了作物产量。9 kg/hm2为本试验推荐的应用于设施土壤的纤维素酶最佳使用量。     

长期不同施肥下紫色土综合肥力演变及作物产量响应

为了综合评价长期不同施肥处理下紫色土肥力的变化趋势,寻求既能提高土壤肥力又能获得高产的紫色土科学施肥模式,该文以国家紫色土肥力与肥料效益监测基地长期定位试验数据为基础,运用内梅罗指数法对土壤综合肥力进行评价。结果表明,20 a间不同施肥处理土壤肥力发生了不同的变化趋势,长期不施肥(对照)与偏施化肥氮肥、氮钾肥土壤综合肥力指数(integrated fertility index,IFI)随着时间的推移逐渐下降,平衡施肥的氮磷钾、氮磷钾+牛粪、1.5倍氮磷钾+秸秆还田、氮磷钾+秸秆还田处理的IFI指数随着时间的变化有一定的波动,但相对于试验前都有不同程度的提高。各平衡施肥处理年均IFI值比对照分别提高34.5%,36.8%,52.3%,50.1%;通过IFI指数与各养分指标之间相关分析发现,土壤有机质、全磷、速效磷含量对紫色土土壤肥力的贡献较大;20 a产量变化趋势表明,平衡施肥产量明显高于偏施肥处理,其中长期秸秆还田配施NPK肥,增产效果最佳;相对产量与IFI指数呈S型曲线关系,紫色土IFI指数维持在1.63~2.01之间,可以实现相对最高产量;作物产量与土壤综合肥力指数二者之间呈显著的线性正相关关系,应用改良的内梅罗指数法计算的综合肥力指数能较好地反映土壤肥力状况。长期平衡施肥可以提高作物产量和土壤肥力,其中氮磷钾化肥配合秸秆还田是维持土壤肥力、实现作物高产的最佳培肥方式。     

“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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.