Shifts in microbial diversity through land use intensity as drivers of carbon mineralization in soil

Land use practices alter the biomass and structure of soil microbial communities. However, the impact of land management intensity on soil microbial diversity (i.e. richness and evenness) and consequences for functioning is still poorly understood. Here, we addressed this question by coupling molecular characterization of microbial diversity with measurements of carbon (C) mineralization in soils obtained from three locations across Europe, each representing a gradient of land management intensity under different soil and environmental conditions. Bacterial and fungal diversity were characterized by high throughput sequencing of ribosomal genes. Carbon cycling activities (i.e., mineralization of autochthonous soil organic matter, mineralization of allochthonous plant residues) were measured by quantifying ¹²C- and ¹³C-CO₂ release after soils had been amended, or not, with ¹³C-labelled wheat residues. Variation partitioning analysis was used to rank biological and physicochemical soil parameters according to their relative contribution to these activities. Across all three locations, microbial diversity was greatest at intermediate levels of land use intensity, indicating that optimal management of soil microbial diversity might not be achieved under the least intensive agriculture. Microbial richness was the best predictor of the C-cycling activities, with bacterial and fungal richness explaining 32.2 and 17% of the intensity of autochthonous soil organic matter mineralization; and fungal richness explaining 77% of the intensity of wheat residues mineralization. Altogether, our results provide evidence that there is scope for improvement in soil management to enhance microbial biodiversity and optimize C transformations mediated by microbial communities in soil.     

MeJA regulates enzymes involved in ascorbic acid and glutathione metabolism and improves chilling tolerance in loquat fruit

This study investigated the regulation of ascorbate acid (AsA) and glutathione metabolism and chilling tolerance by methyl jamonate (MeJA) in loquat fruit. The results showed that application of MeJA to loquat fruit inhibited the incidence of chilling injury manifested as internal browning (IB) and increased AsA and reduced glutathione (GSH) contents due to the inhibition of ascorbate oxidase activity and enhancement of monodehydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase and glutathione reductase activities. Meanwhile, MeJA also enhanced activities of ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase. Our results suggested that MeJA can regulate the ascorbate and glutathione metabolism and has important roles in alleviating oxidative damage and enhancing chilling tolerance in loquat fruit.     

冬枣果园土壤非交换态钾的释放动力学

为了研究长期施肥条件下冬枣果园土壤非交换态钾的释放特征,以Ca Cl2和柠檬酸溶液为浸提剂,采用连续提取的方法对枣园土壤的非交换态钾释放动力学进行研究。结果表明,枣园土壤非交换态钾在释放过程中表现出快速释放和缓慢释放2个连续的阶段。快速释放阶段(188 h)的累积释放量占到总释放量的53.6%~59.2%,而在缓慢释放阶段(188~1244 h)的释放量不及总量的一半。在相同时间内,使用柠檬酸溶液浸提时,非交换态钾的释放量明显高于使用Ca Cl2溶液时的释放量。相比之下,冬枣果园土壤非交换态钾的释放量明显高于对照土壤。在5种动力学方程中,幂函数方程是描述冬枣果园土壤非交换态钾释放的最优模型。     

铁皮石斛人工繁育技术

以铁皮石斛商品瓶苗和盆栽苗茎段为试材,添加不同浓度6-BA、NAA,诱导茎段腋芽、原球茎和不定根,建立再生体系,快速繁殖铁皮石斛组培苗,以期为秦岭淮河一线以北地区人工繁殖铁皮石斛提供参考依据。结果表明:外植体宜采用70%酒精浸泡20 s,0.1%升汞浸泡8 min消毒;MS+6-BA 3.0~5.0 mg·L^-1+NAA 0.1~1.0 mg·L^-1适合腋芽分化和增殖,分化率92%~100%;1/2MS+6-BA 2.0 mg·L^-1+NAA 0.5 mg·L^-1+土豆泥15%适合原球茎诱导增殖,增殖倍数7.7;1/2MS+NAA 0.3 mg·L^-1生根率为100%;以松针土移栽,成活率83%。     

Effects of 1,3-dichloropropene plus chloropicrin on weed seed germination

Telone C-35, a commercial formulation of 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) and chloropicrin (CP), is one of the potential replacements to methyl bromide (MB) for soil fumigation. A laboratory dose–response study and two field trials in tomato were conducted to evaluate their weed control efficacy and their effect on tomato yield. Laboratory studies found that the seeds of Digitaria chinensis were the most sensitive to soil fumigation with Telone C-35, followed by Eleusina indica, Portulaca oleracea and Stellaria media with the LC₅₀ values between 3.35 and 11.68 mg kg⁻¹ soil. Field trials revealed that Telone C-35 applied to the field at 327, 243 and 164 L ha⁻¹ could suppress the percentage of germination weed seeds while maintaining high tomato marketable yields, with no significant differences between MB + CP and the higher two Telone C-35 rates. The yield data from both seasons indicated that all Telone C-35 treatments had a positive effect on tomato yield; there was a 32%–62% increase the mean marketable tomato yield. Our results indicated that Telone C-35 was an excellent MB alternative and could provide acceptable weed control efficacy. Based on our results, Telone C-35, in combination with other alternatives to MB, is recommended to achieve integrated pest management.     

不同品种厚皮甜瓜果实成熟过程中挥发性物质成分分析

采用固相微萃取(SPME)与气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)联用的方法,对品质差异较大的山农黄金1号、Sweet delight(美国)和Takami(日本)厚皮甜瓜果实成熟过程中挥发性物质进行分析鉴定。结果表明,不同品种厚皮甜瓜果实成熟过程中挥发性物质组成和相对含量不同。山农黄金1号、Sweet delight和Takami果实成熟过程中共分离出156种挥发性物质,主要为酯类、醛类和醇类等化合物。山农黄金1号甜瓜果实未成熟时挥发性物质以醛类物质为主;随着果实的发育,近成熟时醇类、醛类物质含量急剧降低,酯类物质含量迅速升高;果实成熟时挥发性物质以酯类物质为主。Sweet delight果实未成熟时挥发性物质以醛类、醇类物质为主;随着果实的发育,醇类物质含量逐渐降低,醛类、酯类物质含量逐渐升高;果实成熟时挥发性物质以醛类物质为主。Takami果实未成熟时挥发性物质以醇类、醛类物质为主;果实成熟时挥发性物质以酯类、醛类物质为主。     

蜂胶的免疫增强作用及其在疫苗中的应用

蜂胶极其复杂的化学成分，决定了它具有广泛的生物学作用。其中，蜂胶具有抗菌、抗病毒及增强机体免疫功能等作用；蜂胶颗粒能与抗原相互交联成类免疫刺激复合物（ISCOM）结构，具有抗原“仓库”和免疫刺激复合物作用；蜂胶本身没有抗原性，但可起到免疫佐剂的作用，促进抗体的生成；这些作用及其间的协同作用决定了蜂胶是一种天然的免疫增强剂。自20世纪60年代以来，蜂胶的免疫增强作用及其在疫苗佐剂中的研究不断深入，并取得了满意效果,这为新型而有效疫苗的研制和开发提供一些理论指导。     

Alkaline sulfite–anthraquinone (AS/AQ) pulping of wheat straw and totally chlorine free (TCF) bleaching of pulps

Alkaline sulfite–anthraquinone (AS/AQ) pulping of wheat straw and totally chlorine free (TCF) bleaching of resulting pulps was investigated. Wheat straw was supplied by the Ferdosii University Experimental Station in Northeastern Iran, cleaned and chopped into about 3–5 cm long pieces. In the AS/AQ pulping experiments, the active alkali charge on oven dry wheat straw, heating time to maximum cooking temperature, AQ dose and liquor to straw ratio were kept constant at 16%, 60 min, 0.1% and 4/1, respectively. The alkali ratio, Na₂SO₃/NaOH, calculated as NaOH, was varied from 20/80 to 80/20. Cooking time at maximum temperature was varied from 30 to 90 min and maximum cooking temperature was adjusted between 152 and 160 °C. Reference soda and soda/AQ pulps were produced.AS/AQ and soda/AQ pulps with kappa numbers below 15 were produced easily. Cooking of corresponding soda pulps under comparable conditions stopped at a kappa number of 25. The characteristics of unbleached AS/AQ, soda/AQ and soda pulps were compared. AS/AQ and soda/AQ pulps had similar tensile strength but tear was in favor to AS/AQ. The latter had much higher yield and brightness.TCF bleaching of AS/AQ pulp was performed in O Q (OP) or O Q (OP) P sequences. Oxygen delignification (O) resulted in a delignification degree of approximately one third. Followed by a chelating treatment (Q) and a subsequent (OP) stage under drastic conditions a brightness of 82.7% ISO was achieved in an O Q (OP) sequence. The sequence O Q (OP) P, with 2% H₂O₂ in the final P stage, improved brightness from 77.2% ISO after the OP stage to 83.6% ISO. Bleaching led to only small losses in tensile and burst strength but enhanced tear strength. Short beating in a Jokro mill was sufficient to attain good pulp strength. The results of this study indicate that AS/AQ pulping and TCF bleaching is a convincing alternative to produce high-quality pulp from wheat straw for writing and printing paper.     

Towards flexible management of postharvest variation in fruit firmness of three apple cultivars

Stochastic modeling provides a useful tool in managing biological variation in the postharvest chain. In the current study, the fruit-to-fruit variability in the postharvest firmness of apples was modeled. Apples from three cultivars (‘Jonagold’, ‘Braeburn’, and ‘Kanzi’) were harvested at different levels of maturity, and stored at different temperatures and controlled atmosphere (CA) conditions. By using a kinetic model describing firmness breakdown as a function of time, temperature, controlled atmosphere conditions and endogenous ethylene concentration, the main stochastic variables were identified as the initial firmness and the rate constants for firmness breakdown and ethylene production. Treating these variables as random model parameters, the Monte Carlo method was used to simulate the propagation of the fruit-to-fruit variability in flesh firmness within a batch of apples during storage under different CA conditions and subsequent shelf-life exposure. The model was validated using independent data sets from apples picked in a different season. The model developed in this study can be used to predict the probability of having apples of certain firmness after long term storage for different scenarios of temperatures and CA conditions.