黑土有机质含量高光谱模型研究

通过对黑龙江省典型黑土区土壤样品高光谱反射率的室内测定,研究了典型黑土可见光/近红外波段光谱反射特性;利用多元统计分析方法,以土壤光谱反射数据及其数学变换数据作为自变量,以黑土有机质含量对数变换数据作为因变量,建立黑土有机质含量高光谱预测模型,并对模型的稳定性和预测能力进行检验。结果表明:(1)620~810nm波段范围是黑土有机质的主要光谱响应区域,最大响应值在710nm附近;(2)对光谱数据进行归一化处理可以部分消除不同土样测试过程中存在的噪声;(3)模型及其检验的决定系数R2都在0.9以上,模型的总均方根差RMSE均小于2.1,模型具有很好的稳定性和预测能力,可以用于黑土有机质含量的快速测定;(4)归一化一阶微分模型为最优预测模型。     

黑土土壤中全氮含量的高光谱预测分析

为实现快速、准确估测土壤氮素含量水平,推动土壤信息化管理进程,该研究利用ASD2500高光谱仪在室内条件下测定了风干土壤样品的可见—近红外光谱。结果表明,通过不同的变换,光谱反射率对数的一阶导数与土壤全氮含量相关性得到增强,以400～600 nm波段范围内相关性最好。该文确定了以反射率对数的一阶导数光谱预测黑土全氮（TN）含量的最佳回归模型,模型所用的波段为可见光波段的556 nm、近红外的1 642和2 491 nm。同时,也确定了利用由可见光波段550和450 nm组成的归一化光谱指数预测黑土TN含量的最佳预测模型。模型通过验证达到较好的效果：利用反射率对数的一阶导数、归一化光谱指数对土壤TN的预测R2分别为0.863、0.829,均方根误差RMSE分别为0.122、0.152。     

基于不同光谱变换的土壤盐含量光谱特征分析

跟踪初生盐渍土壤的微生物修复实验,采用同步实测得土壤盐含量和光谱数据,详细分析了基于34种光谱变换,修复过程中盐渍土的光谱特征。对于选取的6种光谱变换,采用全波段(400~1650 nm)和分析获得的最佳敏感波段分别建立了土壤盐含量的光谱反演PLSR(partial least squares regression)模型。研究表明,光谱变换处理使土壤盐含量与平滑后的光谱反射数据的相关性明显增强,且最佳敏感波段范围进一步聚焦。本研究得到最佳光谱变换为导数变换,基于全波段的土壤盐含量预测模型以SGSD变换效果最好,与原始光谱相比,模型的r、RMSEP分别从0.537和1.928改善到0.823和1.256。而SGSD(Log R)是基于最佳波段所建立的盐含量预测模型的有效光谱变换方法,该研究为进一步实现盐渍土中盐含量快速定量分析提供了方法和数据参考。     

基于偏最小二乘回归的土壤有机质含量高光谱估算

为实现基于光谱分析土壤有机质含量的快速测定,该文以江汉平原公安县的土壤为研究对象,进行室内理化分析、光谱测量与处理等一系列工作,在土壤原始光谱反射率(raw spectral reflectance,R)的基础上,提取了其倒数之对数(inverse-log reflectance,LR)、一阶微分(first order differential reflectance,FDR)和连续统去除(continuum removal,CR)3种光谱指标,分析4种不同形式的光谱指标与有机质含量的相关性,对相关系数进行P=0.01水平上的显著性检验来确定显著性波段的范围,并基于全波段(400~2 400 nm)和显著性波段运用偏最小二乘回归(partial least squares regression,PLSR)建立了该区域土壤有机质高光谱的预测模型,通过模型精度的比较确定最优模型。结果表明,进行CR变换后,光谱曲线的特征吸收带更加明显,相关系数在可见光波段范围内有所提高;基于全波段的PLSR建模效果要优于显著性波段,其中以CR的预测精度最为突出,其模型的决定系数R2和相对分析误差RPD分别为0.84、2.58;显著性波段的PLSR模型与全波段对比在模型精度方面虽有一定差距,但从模型的复杂程度来比较,具有模型简单、运算量小、变量更少的特点;最后,综合比较了全波段和显著性波段4种光谱指标的反演精度,发现CR-PLSR模型的建模和预测的效果比R-PLSR、LR-PLSR、FDR-PLSR模型都要显著。该研究可为将CR-PLSR高光谱反演模型用于该区域土肥信息的遥感监测提供参考。     

基于高光谱特征指数的土壤有机质含量建模

以江苏中部的水稻土和潮土为研究对象,采集178个表层土壤(0~20 cm)样品,并测定了土壤有机质含量(Soil Organic Matter,SOM)。运用ASD FieldSpec 3光谱仪测量了土壤的高光谱曲线,首先对原始光谱进行倒数对数和去包络线变换,分析了不同SOM含量梯度和土壤类型的高光谱特征。其次,基于原始光谱、倒数对数变换和去包络线变换等三种光谱数据,分别计算弓曲差、差值指数、比值指数和归一化指数等光谱特征指数,并分析其与SOM含量的相关性。最后,筛选光谱特征指数建立SOM的回归预测模型,并比较模型精度。结果表明:(1)SOM含量与原始光谱呈极显著负相关,与倒数对数光谱呈极显著正相关,且在400~900 nm波段相关性最强,相关系数绝对值在0.6以上。去除包络线处理后,土壤光谱曲线特征差异明显,在420 nm、480 nm、660 nm和900 nm附近出现了明显吸收谷。(2)原始光谱、倒数对数变换和去包络线变换光谱在600 nm处的弓曲差与SOM含量极显著相关(P<0.01),相关系数分别为–0.66,0.61和–0.33。(3)利用3种光谱数据的差值指数、比值指数和归一化指数分别结合弓曲差,建立的SOM预测模型效果较好,建模的R2和RMSE分别介于0.56~0.64和4.98~5.50 g·kg^–1,验证的R2和RMSE介于0.67~0.73和3.21~3.51 g·kg^-1。为快速有效测定苏中平原SOM含量提供技术支持。     

可见/近红外光谱结合遗传算法无损检测牛肉pH值

为了实现牛肉在整个货架期内(4℃环境)pH值的无损快速检测,该文采用可见/近红外光谱技术并结合遗传算法(GA,genetic algorithm),搭建了可见/近红外光谱检测系统,采集储藏在4℃下1～18d的120个牛肉样品400～1700nm范围的光谱,用不同预处理方法处理,并分别建立全波段光谱和经过遗传算法提取有效光谱的预测牛肉pH值的多元线性回归(MLR,multiple linear regression)模型、偏最小二乘回归(PLSR,partial least-squares regression)模型和最小二乘支持向量机(LS-SVM,least square-support vector machine)模型。结果表明,多元散射校正(MSC,multiplicatives catter correction)结合Savitzky-Golay(SG)平滑为最佳预处理方法,遗传算法提取光谱后所建模型的预测精度均高于全波段光谱所建模型,其中LS-SVM为最佳预测模型,其预测相关系数和标准差分别为0.935和0.111,相比全波段LS-SVM模型预测,精度得到了提高。研究表明可见/近红外光谱技术结合遗传算法所建LS-SVM预测模型能够实现4℃下牛肉整个货架期内pH值的无损快速检测。该研究为进一步开发实用的牛肉pH值无损快速检测设备提供依据。     

土壤含水量对反射光谱法预测红壤土壤有机质的影响研究

研究土壤含水量对有机质预测的影响,可为野外红壤有机质快速测定提供理论依据。本文在实验室条件下测量了不同含水量红壤的可见光-近红外光谱反射率,运用偏最小二乘回归(PLSR)建立不同含水量的土壤有机质预测模型。结果显示,随土壤含水量的增加,有机质与一阶微分光谱的相关性先增加后下降,含水量为100～150 g/kg时相关系数最大。分380～2 400、380～1 300、1 300～2 400 nm三个波段建立不同含水量的有机质预测模型,模型预测精度均随土壤含水量增加而呈现先增加后下降的趋势。利用1 300～2 400 nm建立有机质预测模型可以有效避开氧化铁影响,建立的模型预测精度最高。本研究认为,当土壤含水量小于200 g/kg时,可以利用在室内控制条件下测定的土壤反射率,建立1 300～2 400 nm波段的PLSR模型,进行红壤土壤有机质含量预测。     

苏北沿海滩涂地区土壤有机质含量的高光谱预测

基于反射高光谱快速、无损的检测优势,以苏北沿海滩涂地区不同成陆年代土壤作为光谱信息源,应用偏最小二乘回归（PLSR）方法,研究了原始反射光谱（REF）、微分光谱（FDR）、反射率倒数的对数（lg(1/R)）和波段深度（BD）对不同成陆年代土壤有机质含量的预测精度。结果表明,不同成陆年代土壤有机质含量预测的最佳光谱指标存在差异。REF是构建总体样本有机质含量PLSR预测模型的最佳光谱指标,均方根误差（RMSE）和相关系数（r）分别为2.7231和0.8701;FDR是预测成陆千年土壤样本有机质含量的最佳光谱指标,RMSE和r分别为2.0110和0.9436;BD所构建的成陆百年土壤有机质含量的PLSR预测模型为最优,RMSE和r分别为2.7051和0.8770。相关分析表明,可见光波段、以1 400 nm为中心及1 900～2 450 nm的红外波段是估算土壤有机质含量的最佳波段。     

红壤区土壤有机质光谱特征与定量估算——以江西省吉安县为例

通过对江西省吉安县不同有机质含量土壤的光谱曲线吸收特征进行分析,得到不同有机质含量土壤的光谱曲线特征响应波段,建立了县级尺度基于有机质响应波段的定量估算模型。结果表明,红壤和水稻土土壤光谱曲线特征具有明显差异,560~710 nm为吉安县土壤有机质含量的特征吸收波段;基于特征吸收波段范围的吸收面积(s)的对数和有机质含量的相关性为0.86,拟合方程为y=-20.91 ln(s)-27.26,决定系数为0.74,经不同类型土壤的有机质数据检验,预测的决定系数(R2)、均方根误差(RMSE)和预测相对分析误差(RPD)分别为0.75、0.61和1.88;包络线去除和反射率的倒数的对数处理建立的偏最小二乘回归(PLSR)模型预测效果最佳,预测决定系数均达0.83以上,相对偏差均为2.4以上,基于特征吸收波段560~710 nm建立的模型能定量估算红壤地区有机质含量,为土壤有机质估测提供参考。     

基于相似光谱匹配预测土壤有机质和阳离子交换量

土壤可见光-近红外波段光谱(350~2 500 nm)包含了大量的土壤属性信息,相同类型的土壤具有相似的光谱曲线特征,但相似光谱曲线是否具有相似的属性含量?探讨此问题可为土壤光谱库的应用提供依据,从而最终服务于快速获取土壤信息技术体系的构建。该研究以安徽宣城为研究区,根据母质、地形特征和土地利用等信息,采集91个典型土壤剖面,共含400个土壤发生层样品,测定了有机质(soil organic matter,SOM)和阳离子交换量(cation exchange capacity,CEC)含量,同时采用VARIAN公司的Cary 5000分光光度计测定了土壤光谱,并将光谱数据变换为反射率(R)、反射率一阶导数(FDR)和吸收度(Log(1/R))3种形式。该文采用光谱角(spectral angle mapper,SAM)、偏最小二乘回归(partial least square regression,PLSR)和SAM-PLSR(spectral angle mapper-partial least square regression,SAM-PLSR)3种方法预测土壤SOM和CEC。SAM方法是通过对测试集104个光谱曲线与参考集的296个光谱曲线进行相似性计算,并以此实现土壤SOM和CEC含量的预测。SAM-PLSR方法以SAM算法下的匹配结果作为建模样本建立PLSR模型和进行预测分析。结果表明,具有相似光谱曲线的土壤具有相似的SOM和CEC含量,SAM算法下相似光谱匹配可直接预测SOM(R2=0.78,RPD=2.17)和CEC(R2=0.82,RPD=2.41)。PLSR方法可很好地预测SOM(R2=0.87,RPD=2.77)和CEC(R2=0.87,RPD=2.59);相较之下,SAM-PLSR方法不仅可以更加准确预测SOM(R2=0.89,RPD=3.00)和CEC(R2=0.91,RPD=3.06),而且大大减少了建模样本的数量。该研究使可见光-近红外光谱可更加高效地用于土壤属性分析,并为土壤光谱数据库的建设及应用提供技术参考。     

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.