太阳能低功耗滴灌控制装置的设计与实现

针对山地果园的自动滴灌需求,研制太阳能供电的滴灌控制装置,该装置由STM8S105S6微控制器、实时时钟模块、脉冲式电磁阀及驱动模块、传感器接口、太阳能充电子系统组成,并提供LCD可定制用户界面。测试太阳能电池、锂电池、磷酸铁锂电池的输出特性与供电电压2.8～4.3V下静态功耗,试验表明,太阳能电池最大输出功率为169mW,系统供电电压在3V以上正常工作。平均静态电流最低为70μA。以容量为800mA·h的3.7V锂电池供电,系统在无太阳能补给下的待机时间达150d。太阳能电池每天以42.25mW的输出功率对系统充电30min可维持系统不间断运行。控制装置功耗低,太阳能充电,防雷击防水,适合于野外果园的滴灌系统自动控制。     

基于无线传感网的荔枝园智能节水灌溉双向通信和控制系统

为提高水资源利用率和灌溉智能化管理的需要,设计了以无线传感器网络技术为核心的荔枝园节水灌溉控制系统,该系统的无线通信模块选择CC2530模块,传感器模块包括空气温湿度传感器DHT22,光照强度传感器GY-30,土壤水分含量传感器TDR-3以及一些外围电路,精确采集荔枝园温度、湿度、光照度和土壤含水率等多项环境信息,通过无线传感器网络、通用分组无线服务技术(General Packet Radio Service,GPRS)和互联网进行数据的传输,保证了传输的实时性和远程性,实现了对荔枝园环境的实时监控;同时,远程服务器和网站上都对荔枝园的土壤含水率的阈值进行了设定,当土壤含水率的值超过了阈值,服务器或者网站就会自动发送相关命令对相应的电磁阀进行控制,实现双向控制。分析、测试了系统的功耗和通信距离,在空旷地带,节点的双向有效通信距离达1 205 m,在荔枝园中双向有效通信距离达81.5 m。在传感器节点系统工作周期为30 min情况下,根据试验结果估算出,两节额定容量为3 000 m A·h的3.7 V锂电池串联可使传感器节点持续工作时间最大为500 d,可使电磁阀控制节点工作5 a以上。试验结果表明,该系统运行稳定,网络平均丢包率为3.87%,能够准确监测荔枝园信息采集和控制电磁阀工作,实现和控制荔枝园智能节水灌溉双向通信。     

柑橘园水肥一体化滴灌自动控制装置的研制

为实现建设有独立水池和独立液肥池的柑橘园的水肥滴灌的自动控制,研制了一个干电池供电的水肥一体化滴灌定时控制装置。该装置通过2个电磁阀的开关操作分别控制2个池中的清水和液肥进入滴灌管网的顺序和时间,实现水肥一体化滴灌的自动控制。充分利用了休眠机制和电源管理技术,其静态电流小于11.2A。经连续6个月的实际应用试验表明,装置运行稳定可靠,其电池电压仅从初始值9.35V下降为8.50V。该装置操作简单,既可以进行水肥一体化滴灌,又可以进行清水滴灌,还可以将多套装置进行组合实现轮灌以控制更大的灌溉面积,具有推广应用前景。     

基于zigbee无线网络的土壤墒情监控系统

为了提高农业灌溉用水利用率,针对传统有线网络采集布线复杂和成本高的缺点,该文设计了一套基于Zigbee无线网络和CC2430 MCU的土壤墒情监测系统。该系统综合了Zigbee无线网络自行组网、自行愈合和超低功耗的优点,采用太阳能电池供电,能实时监测和记录土壤墒情信息,为进一步制定节水灌溉策略提供有力的数据支持。初步试验结果表明,该系统运行稳定,丢包率低,能及时准确的监控土壤墒情信息,并将土壤含水率维持在适合植物生长的最佳含水量的范围之内。研究结果可为进一步开发更精准的自动灌溉系统提供数据支持。     

基于发射功率自适应的稻田无线传感器网络节点设计

针对水稻生长过程环境因素变化较大以及传感器节点的能量大部分被无线射频阶段所消耗,设计了发射功率自适应的无线传感器节点,建立了长时间、稳定、高可靠性的稻田无线传感器网络。试验测试了水稻的株高、叶面积与生长天数的关系以及对无线信道的影响,结果表明水稻株高和叶面积的增加会降低无线信号强度和通信成功率;通过增大发射功率可以提高通信质量克服由于水稻生长因数对无线信道的影响。在软件设计方面,传感器节点采用睡眠、苏醒工作机制来降低功耗。同时为了延长工作时间、提高通信质量,提出了根据水稻生长周期、通信距离、接收信号强度、平均丢包率等因素自动调整节点发射功率的能量自适应功耗调整机制。田间试验结果表明,水稻田节点发射功率越大,有效通信距离越远,且水稻的密度和高度等对通信有重要的影响;节点发射功率在5 dBm以下时,发射功率的改变对节点工作电流影响较小,节点工作电流均小于40 mA;采用该机制对发射功率进行调整,增大节点发射功率可使通信成功率有大幅的提升;降低节点发射功率仍然保持良好的通信效果。水稻分蘖和抽穗2个生长时期的田间试验结果表明,采用发射功率自适应策略,提高了通信质量,平均丢包率在5%以下,通信成功率大于97%,达到了预期设计目的。     

大棚种植川贝母分区变量灌溉系统研制

名贵中药材川贝母喜湿、怕高湿特性成为人工灌溉的难点,智能化精准灌溉系统可实现川贝母按需节水灌溉。该研究开发了基于无线传感器网络的川贝母分区变量灌溉系统。在人工种植试验过程中,采用电容法和土壤水分测定仪获得了川贝母生长需水及灌溉用水数据,建立了川贝母生长含水率模型和灌溉含水率模型。为了实现川贝母分区变量灌溉,建立了灌溉模糊控制决策模型,该模糊控制器为双输入单输出结构,利用遗传算法优化模糊控制量化因子、比例因子、模糊控制规则和隶属函数,实现遗传算法优化的模糊控制对川贝母灌用水进行精确决策和川贝母分区变量灌溉。在川贝母种植大棚内应用了该分区变量灌溉技术和系统,结果表明,模糊控制决策的灌溉有一定节水效果,遗传算法优化后的模糊控制每次灌溉用水主要分布在5%～7%,灌溉用水有明显下降。特定种植密度下灌溉用水结果表明,优化后川贝母变量灌溉误差能控制在±5%附近,满足川贝母按需灌溉需求,分区变量灌溉效果明显;随川贝母种植密度增加,所需灌溉用水也增大,基本呈线性关系（R2=0.975）;川贝母分区变量灌溉节水率与种植密度比之间呈抛物线关系,最佳节水在标准种植密度附近,年节水率大于27.6%。该研究可为川贝母种植密度和灌溉节水提供参考和技术支持。     

根系分区不同灌水上下限对茄子生长与产量的影响

为了探明根系分区交替灌溉不同灌水上、下限对作物生长状况、气体交换与产量的影响,以指导节水灌溉,通过玻璃土箱试验,选取常规滴灌（conventional drip irrigation,CDI）和根系分区交替滴灌（alternate partial rootzone drip irrigation,APRDI）2种灌水方式,研究其在3种灌水上、下限水平下（CDI处理：植株两侧根区土壤含水率控制在田间持水率(Fc)的85%～100%;APRDI85-50处理：植株一侧根区土壤含水率维持在Fc的85%～100%,另一侧维持在Fc的50%～85%,当任意一侧根区土壤含水率＜50%Fc时即进行交替灌水;APRDI70-30处理：根区一侧含水率保持在Fc的70%～100%,另一侧控制在Fc的30%～70%,当其中一侧根区土壤含水率＜Fc的30%时即进行交替灌水）作物生长、产量及水分利用效率的差异。结果表明:与CDI相比,2种APRDI处理叶水势降低了19.0%和26.4%,气孔导度和蒸腾速率也显著下降,但APRDI85-50的光合速率增加了14.7%而APRDI70-30与CDI差异不明显,蒸腾效率比CDI分别提高了26.1%（APRDI85-50）和5.1%（APRDI70-30）。APRDI处理刺激了根系生长,显著增加了根干质量和根密度,有效控制了植株营养生长,使APRDI85-50的灌水利用效率比CDI提高了43.4%,产量增加10.8%,而CDI的灌水量比APRDI85-50处理增加了29.4%,说明交替滴灌下的APRDI85-50处理是一种经济可行的灌溉方式。     

基于物联网的荔枝园信息获取与智能灌溉专家决策系统

为实现荔枝园环境的实时远程监控和精准管理,设计基于农业物联网的荔枝园信息获取与智能灌溉专家决策系统,该系统通过信息采集终端模块实时采集荔枝园的土壤含水率、空气温湿度、光照强度、风速和降雨量等环境信息,通过无线传感网将数据包发送到网关上,网关通过通用无线分组网(general packet radio service,GPRS)将处理后的数据包传输到云服务器,专家系统根据采集到的环境数据,结合专家知识,建立多个决策数学模型,实现计算作物需水量、预报灌溉时间、灌溉最佳定量决策、根据灌溉制度决策等决策功能,将决策结果反馈到控制终端模块进行智能监控。经试验,对比系统多参数决策和一般的单参数决策得出的结论,多参数决策的准确性更高;灌溉区域的土壤含水率平均值为17.4%,满足荔枝树生长所需的土壤含水率条件,说明系统的灌溉决策具有比较强的实时性。且系统预测能达到75%的准确率,说明系统的预测实时性比较好。该系统实现了荔枝园的环境信息获取与智能灌溉,能指导用户更好地管理荔枝园。     

基于无线传感器网络的橘小实蝇成虫监测系统设计与试验

为实现在橘园区域内及时、准确地监测橘小实蝇成虫数量及环境、气象变化,该文提出将无线传感器网络技术作为其信息感知和传输的载体,设计和开发了橘小实蝇成虫动态监测系统并部署于华南农业大学国家柑橘产业技术体系柑橘机械研究室试验橘园,包括10台橘小实蝇成虫监测节点、1台环境气象监测节点及1台WSN+GPRS型边际路由器。系统中各监测节点采用TinyOS操作系统,节点间通信遵循ZigBee协议,节点在待机和全功能模式消耗的电流分别为39.52～42.72 mA和92.21～95.32 mA,边际路由器在待机和数据收发工作状态消耗的平均电流分别为190和250 mA,与之相配置的太阳能供电模块的供电能力均能满足其能耗需求;开展了近5个月的数据包传输率试验,各节点丢包率控制在11.9%～20.8%,数据通信的稳定性与植被和气候条件等因素密切相关,合理部署节点天线高度可解决该问题。试验结果表明,系统可实现数据稳定传输,适合橘园橘小实蝇成虫的动态监测。     

基于太阳能的微灌系统恒压供水自动控制装置研制

微灌系统入口水压的稳定性影响着微灌的均匀性以及自动混肥装置的混肥精度。为采用自流滴灌的中小规模灌溉管网提供恒定的入口水压,采用太阳能供电驱动隔膜泵DP-60提水的方式,研制了一个恒压供水自动控制装置。该装置利用液位传感器YZ-YO-LAG1在线检测建设于高处的蓄水池的水位,根据水位信息控制DP-60提水至蓄水中,并使其水位在滴灌过程中维持于某一固定高度来实现恒压供水。蓄水池的水位检测信息及DP-60的启停通过无线通信模块CC1100进行无线传输和控制。通过光伏容量设计,确定了太阳能电池板的功率为60W、蓄电池的容量为60A·h。为最大程度利用太阳能,通过试验标定了太阳能板输出功率与太阳辐射传感器TSL230输出频率的关系,并根据太阳能板实际输出功率和蓄电池荷电状态,自动选择直接以太阳能板或蓄电池为DP-60供电。在测试DP-60性能以及无线通信可靠性的基础上,对装置进行了6个多月的实际应用试验,装置运行稳定,且在整个滴灌过程中蓄水池的水位误差小于1cm。     

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.     

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     

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.