腌制剂对脉动压腌制咸鸡蛋的影响

为丰富咸蛋品种,改善咸蛋风味,提高咸蛋的腌制速率,应用脉动压技术,以鸡蛋为原料,选取白酒、香辛料、柠檬酸为影响因素,通过单因素及正交试验,考察咸蛋腌制中蛋质量增加率、蛋清含盐率和蛋黄含盐率的变化,对腌制禽蛋工艺进行优化。结果表明：白酒和柠檬酸对盐分渗入有促进作用,而香辛料则阻碍了盐分的渗入,影响咸蛋综合评分的因素从高到低依次为香辛料、白酒、柠檬酸,且香辛料对咸蛋综合评分的影响显著,柠檬酸对蛋清含盐率的影响显著。在高压幅值140 kPa、脉动比2.5 min/5min饱和食盐溶液中腌制96 h,风味咸蛋腌制     

咸蛋黄快速腌制过程中理化性质变化规律

该研究以新鲜蛋黄为原料,利用快速腌制模具,探究在咸蛋黄的上表面添加食盐单侧腌制过程中,食盐添加量和腌制时间对咸鸡蛋黄快速腌制过程中形貌特征和理化性质变化规律的影响。借助多种仪器分析手段对蛋黄腌制过程中形貌与物性的变化、水分及盐分的迁移规律进行了表征。低场核磁及成像结果表明：在腌制过程中,蛋黄中的水分不断向外迁移,含水率显著降低,当增加食盐的添加量和延长腌制时间,会加快水分的迁移速率;原子吸收结果表明：增加食盐添加盐量越多和腌制时间越长盐分迁移速率越快,质构、色差结果共同表明咸蛋黄腌制过程中,由于水分的向外迁移和盐分的向内渗入,使得蛋黄的蛋白质发生聚集使颜色加深;同时与市售整个腌制后分离的鸡蛋黄产品相比,当腌制时间为7d,添加盐量为3%;腌制时间为3d,添加盐量为5%时,所得的样品与市面的成品咸鸡蛋黄的感官品质及量化指标差异不显著（P<0.05）,为咸蛋黄单侧腌制技术提供理论的可行性。     

超声波-脉动压联用快速腌制咸鸭蛋的工艺参数优化

咸鸭蛋的腌制周期很长,一般夏季20～30 d、春秋季40～50 d。为了提高咸蛋的腌制效率,采用超声波-脉动压联用技术,选取高压幅值、高压脉动比和超声波作用时间为影响因素,通过单因素和正交试验,测定咸蛋腌制过程中蛋清含盐量和蛋黄含盐量的变化,对超声波-脉动压联用技术在咸蛋快速腌制中的工艺参数进行优化。结果表明：采用质量分数为24%食盐溶液,在恒温30℃条件下腌制3 d,综合咸蛋品质和食盐传质速率得出最佳工艺参数：高压幅值为140 kPa,高压脉动比为4 min：16 min,超声波作用时机应在第1天,超声波脉动比为2 min：10 min,超声波作用时长为132 min,可以腌制出效果较好的咸蛋,蛋白食盐含量为4.61%,蛋黄食盐含量为2.12%,而含盐量差值只有2.49%。感官评定此组咸蛋具有蛋白细嫩、咸味适中;蛋黄松沙、含油、咸味可口的特点。同时生产周期比传统腌制方法缩短了90%,可为咸蛋的工业化生产提供技术参考。     

咸蛋盐水腌制动力学研究

以鲜鸡蛋为原料,采用盐水腌制法,研究腌制温度、时间和盐水浓度对咸蛋成熟度的影响。试验结果表明：随着腌制温度、时间的延长和盐水浓度的增加,含盐量及蛋黄指数迅速升高,蛋清的含盐量明显高于蛋黄,且含盐量由内到外呈梯度分布,蛋黄外层含盐量明显高于中心点。建立的腌制条件对蛋品含盐量及蛋黄指数的拟合方程,能较好地描述腌制温度、时间和盐水浓度对咸蛋成熟的影响。     

脉动压力腌制禽蛋的试验研究

为了缩短咸蛋加工时间,改善咸蛋品质,提出了脉动压力技术加工咸蛋。该技术是将鸡蛋置于盛有盐溶液的压力容器中,通过电磁阀的通断控制压力容器的加压与卸压,实现压力脉动。其腌制机理是利用高压状态渗透压增大,加快盐分渗入到蛋壳与蛋内;低压状态,蛋内压力小于外界压力,加速渗出蛋内气体和水分．达到缩短咸蛋加工时间的目的。一般用比方法加工,2～3d即可腌制出合格的咸蛋,加工效率提高10倍左右。试验结果显示,盐溶液浓度与压力对咸蛋含盐量影响最为显著,高低压保持时间分配对咸蛋含盐量有一定影响。     

脉动压力腌制禽蛋的试验研究

为了缩短咸蛋加工时间，改善咸蛋品质，提出了脉动压力技术加工咸蛋。该技术是将鸡蛋置于盛有盐溶液的压力容器中，通过电磁阀的通断控制压力容器的加压与卸压，实现压力脉动。其腌制机理是利用高压状态渗透压增大，加快盐分渗入到蛋壳与蛋内；低压状态，蛋内压力小于外界压力，加速渗出蛋内气体和水分，达到缩短咸蛋加工时间的目的。一般用比方法加工，2～3d即可腌制出合格的咸蛋，加工效率提高10倍左右。试验结果显示，盐溶液浓度与压力对咸蛋含盐量影响最为显著，高低压保持时间分配对咸蛋含盐量有一定影响。     

热处理对皮蛋生产周期和品质的影响

为了缩短皮蛋制作周期,保持品质,研究了热处理对锌铜混合盐腌制皮蛋品质的影响。对腌制15、20和25 d的皮蛋进行不同温度（35、42、49℃）,不同时长（14、22、30 h）的热处理,对其进行L9（34）正交试验。以皮蛋的含水率,蛋黄硬化率,游离碱度,色度来探讨热处理条件（热处理温度、热处理时长和热处理时机）对皮蛋品质的影响。结果表明,不同的热处理均可降低皮蛋的含水率,加快蛋黄的凝固,提高蛋黄硬化率,降低皮蛋内容物的游离碱度,促进蛋清蛋黄的转色,提高皮蛋的口感和风味。对蛋黄硬化率和皮蛋内容物游离碱度加权得到综合评分并进行方差分析,表明对于热效果的影响程度大小依次是热处理时机、热处理温度、热处理时长,最佳热处理工艺条件是腌制20 d后在42℃的温度下热处理22 h,不仅品质好,并且将生产天数减少至21 d,比传统生产周期缩短了40%～50%。     

基于透射图像的高压脉动腌制咸鸭蛋含盐量检测

含盐量是衡量咸鸭蛋品质的重要指标。为了利用机器视觉技术实现高压脉动腌制咸鸭蛋含盐量的无损检测。该研究采用工业相机和透射光源搭建咸鸭蛋的透射图像采集装置。采用图像整体特征和长轴截面光强度特征两种特征提取方法,利用多元线性回归、支持向量机回归两种算法,建立对蛋清、蛋黄及全蛋含盐量以及蛋黄指数的定量预测模型。结果表明,随着咸鸭蛋腌制时间的增加,其透光性显著提高。同时,透射图像蛋黄的所在视野区域会随着含盐量的增加而呈现规律性的变化。基于图像整体特征建立的蛋清、蛋黄、全蛋含盐量模型较优,在蛋黄指数预测下基于长轴截面光强度特征所建模型较优。其中,基于图像整体特征所建立的蛋黄含盐量支持向量机回归（support vector regression, SVR）模型最优,测试集相关系数（test set correlation coefficient, R_p）、测试集均方根误差(root mean square error of prediction, RMSE_p)、相对分析误差（residual predictive deviation, RPD）分别达到0.8460、0.3416、1.898;基于长轴截面光强度特征建立的蛋黄指数多元线性回归（multiple linear regression, MLR）模型最优,测试集相关系数R_p、均方根误差RMSE_p、相对分析误差RPD分别为0.8318、0.0743、1.916。该研究结果为咸鸭蛋含盐量的快速检测提供理论依据和技术支持。     

冀中南种植黄瓜设施土壤盐分、酸碱性和养分状况分析

  目的  明确冀中南种植黄瓜设施土壤盐分、酸碱性和养分状况,为提高土壤质量及农业绿色发展提供依据。  方法  于2015年在冀中南地区6个黄瓜设施栽培主产区以20 cm土层厚度、分5层采集1 m土层的设施内及其相邻或附近露地粮田土壤样品（分别称为设施土壤和粮田土壤）,测定盐分、酸碱性及养分含量,分析该区域设施土壤理化性质及养分变化状况。  结果  （1）与粮田土壤相比,冀中南设施表层（0 ~ 20 cm）土壤盐分、有机质、硝态氮、速效磷、速效钾均显著增加,其平均含量分别为粮田土壤的1.78倍、1.43倍、2.56倍、7.59倍、2.56倍;土壤pH显著降低,平均降幅为0.54个单位。（2）不同采样点间设施土壤（0 ~ 20 cm）盐分、酸碱性、养分状况存在较大的差异,土壤电导率变化范围为271.6 ~ 631.6 μS cm?1 ,土壤pH变化范围为7.20 ~ 7.93,土壤有机质、硝态氮、速效磷、速效钾变化范围分别为16.2 ~ 36.4 g kg?1 、52.9 ~ 205.9 mg kg?1、107.5 ~ 315.6 mg kg?1、188.9 ~ 757.9 mg kg?1。（3）设施土壤0 ~ 100 cm土层硝态氮和速效磷含量均高于同层粮田土壤,每层增幅分别为77.9%、69.2%、38.6%、25.1%、73.6%和161.3%、261.85%、224.7%、135.3%、120.4%,除40 ~ 60 cm与60 ~ 80 cm土层土壤硝态氮差异不显著外,其余均显著高于粮田土壤。  结论  与粮田土壤相比,冀中南种植黄瓜的设施土壤盐分积累严重、pH显著下降,养分含量显著提高、但不同养分间比例不平衡;需提高土壤有机质含量、总量控制养分投入量和不同养分间比例,以防治土壤次生盐渍化和pH下降趋势,进而提高土壤质量,为蔬菜高产稳产和设施农业绿色发展提供技术支撑。     

北方滨海盐碱地冬季咸水结冰灌溉对菊芋生长及离子分布的影响

为探讨冬季咸水结冰灌溉对河北省滨海平原区盐碱土的土壤盐分变化以及对菊芋生长的影响,在冬季利用地下苦咸水对河北海兴盐碱地进行咸水结冰灌溉试验,设冬灌覆膜处理,其中包括膜上挖孔直接播种处理（T1）和揭膜播种再覆膜处理（T2）,以无冬灌＋覆膜处理作为第一对照（CK1）,不冰灌和不覆膜的小区作为第二对照（CK2）。结果表明,冬季灌溉咸水结冰、春季咸水冰融化入渗后土壤各层次脱盐效果明显,播种期T1和T2处理的0～5cm、5～20cm表层土壤含盐量较CK1和CK2分别降低了41.9%、65.0%、46.5%、67.7%、29.9%、47.1%,40.8%和55.3%,在菊芋播种期耕层土壤含盐量降低到0.6%左右,T1和T2单位产量分别较CK1和CK2高54%、115%、97%和175%,T1和T2处理下Na＋和Cl-含量较CK1和CK2显著降低,而K＋含量和K＋/Na＋较CK1和CK2显著增高。通过冬季咸水结冰灌溉和覆膜措施可以确保土壤盐分下降,从而降低了盐分对菊芋生长的毒害作用,使菊芋产量得到显著提高。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

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 from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.     

Variation in quality parameters between and within 14 Nordic tree fruit and berry species

Abstract

A 3-year study was carried out to investigate quality parameters in 14 tree fruit and berry species grown in southern Norway. The species were blueberry, apple, aronia, sour cherry, sweet cherry, red raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, gooseberry, red currant and elderberry, harvested along with wild bilberry, cloudberry and lingonberry. Significant differences between species were identified for all quality parameters. The coefficient of variation between species was lowest for pH (12.5%), dry matter (18.9%) and soluble solids (25.3%), followed by titratable acids (59.3%), total phenolics (83.8%), antioxidant capacity FRAP (85.7%) and antiradical power by the DPPH-assay (97.8%), total monomeric anthocyanins (132%) and ascorbic acid (137%). Average coefficient of variation within species were lower and ranged from 4 (pH) to 62% (ascorbic acid). Only the FRAP values were significantly affected by harvesting year with lower levels in 2004 than in 2005 and 2006. There were significant interactions between species and harvesting year for dry matter, soluble solids, pH, ascorbic acid and FRAP. The results indicate generic ranges in composition within species independent upon growing location and climate, and the composition of the tree fruits and berries is not likely to deviate from these ranges. It is concluded that desirable composition of tree fruits and berries and their products should primarily be achieved by selection among species rather than searching fors broadened variation within individual species.     

Potassium Fixation and Release Characteristics in Rhizosphere and Nonrhizosphere Soils for a Rapeseed–Rice Cropping Sequence

Potassium (K) fixation and release in soil are important factors in the long-term sustainability of a cropping system. Changes in K concentration and characteristics of K fixation and release in rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils in the rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)–rice (Oryza sativa L.) rotation were investigated using a rhizobox system. The concentrations of different forms of K in both rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils decreased with plants compared to without plants, regardless of K fertilizer application. Potassium uptake by crops mainly came from the rhizosphere soil. In the treatment without K fertilizer (–K), the main form of K supplied by the soil to the crops was 1.0 mol L^?1 nitric acid (HNO₃) nonextractable K, followed by nonexchangeable K, and then exchangeable K. In the treatment with K fertilizer (+K), the main K forms supplied by the soil to the crops were exchangeable K and nonexchangeable K. The amount and rate of K fixation after one cycle of the rapeseed–rice rotation was greater in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The amount and rate of K fixation of soil in the +K treatment were significantly less than in the –K treatment. The cumulative amounts of K released with 1.0 mol L^?1 ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) and 1.0 mol L^?1 HNO₃ extraction increased with the increasing numbers of extractions, but the K-releasing power of soil by successive extraction decreased gradually and finally became almost constant. The release of K was less in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The release of K in the +K treatment was similar to that in the –K treatment in rhizosphere soil, but the K release in nonrhizosphere soil was greater with the +K than the –K treatment. Overall, the information obtained in this study will be helpful in formulating more precise K fertilizer recommendations for certain soils.     

Electron donor and pH relationships for biologically enhanced dissolution of chlorinated solvent DNAPL in groundwater

Biologically enhanced dissolution offers a method to speed removal of chlorinated solvent dense non-aqueous-phase liquid (DNAPL) sources such as tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichoroethene (TCE) from aquifers. Bioremediation is accomplished by adding an electron donor to the source zone where fermentation to intermediates leading to acetic acid and hydrogen results. The hydrogen and possibly acetic acid are used by dehalogenating bacteria to convert PCE and TCE to ethene and hydrochloric acid. Reductive dehalogenation is thus an acid forming process, and sufficient alkalinity must be present to maintain a near neutral pH. The bicarbonate alkalinity required to maintain pH above 6.5 is a function of the electron donor: 800 mg/L of bicarbonate alkalinity is sufficient to achieve about 1.2 mM TCE dechlorination with glucose, 1.7 mM with lactate, and a much higher 3.3 mM with formate. Laboratory studies indicate that in mixed culture, formate can be used as an electron donor for complete conversion to ethene, contrary to pure cultures studies indicating it cannot. Various strategies can be used to add electron donor to an aquifer for DNAPL dehalogenation while minimizing pH problems and excessive electron donor usage, including use of injection-extraction wells, dual recirculation wells, and nested injection-extraction wells.     

Biodiversity and ecogeography of wild Lactuca spp. in some European countries

Staff members of the Department of Botany of Palacký University in Olomouc and Gene Bank Department – Workplace Olomouc, Research Institute of Crop Production in Prague, Czech Republic, conducted an expedition in seven European countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland) in August/September 1999 to collect wild Lactuca spp. germplasm and study its geographic distribution, ecology and biodiversity. During the mission, more than 600 locations were visited resulting in the collection of 602 seed samples (accessions) of wild Lactuca species and 13 seed samples of related genera (Chondrilla and Mycelis). Lactuca serriola f. serriola, L. serriola f. integrifolia, L. saligna and L. viminea subsp. chondrilliflora were prevalent in southern Europe (Italy, France), however, only L. serriola was common in central and western Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland). The greatest diversity of Lactuca species was found in France, where also the most seed samples (165) were collected. The most characteristic habitats with a high density of Lactuca spp. populations were observed along roads and highways, grassy ditches, ruderal communities, and dust-heaps. Natural infections by powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) and downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) on some wild Lactuca spp. were observed. Recent observations concerning the geographic distribution, population structure, habitats, and natural occurrence of diseases of Lactuca spp. are discussed. This assemblage of genetic resources of Lactuca spp. can serve as the basis of future studies of species diversification, spatial population structure, plant microevolution, domestication processes, and genetic variability of host-parasite interactions.     

Increase in auxiliary photoprotective photosynthetic pigments in wheat seedlings induced by Azospirillum brasilense

Inoculation of wheat seedlings with the plant growth-promoting bacterium Azospirillum brasilense Cd was immobilized in alginate microbeads and, without applying any stress, significantly increased the quantity of several photosynthetic pigments, such as chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and the auxiliary photoprotective pigments violaxanthin, zeaxanthin, antheroxanthin, lutein, neoxanthin, and β-carotene. This resulted in greener plants with no apparent visible stress. After monitoring the quantity of photosynthetic pigments for 4 weeks, we observed that inoculated plants had higher quantities of pigments in shoot and stem. The greatest difference in the quantity of all pigments between inoculated and noninoculated plants occurred in the first week of growth. Regardless of treatment, the quantity of pigments in stems was three to four times less than the quantity of these pigments in shoots. Application of Azospirillum, either as liquid inoculant or as alginate microbeads, did not alter the positive effect of the bacteria on pigment production or the positive response of the plants towards A. brasilense Cd inoculation.     

In-situ enrichment and analysis of atrazine-degrading microbial communities using atrazine-containing porous beads

We examined the community composition of microbes that colonized atrazine-containing beads buried in agricultural soils that differed in atrazine treatment history. Bacterial abundance was 5-40-fold greater in atrazine-fortified beads. In beads containing 20 mg atrazine kg⁻¹ buried in soil with a history of atrazine application (conditioned soil), the abundance of Actinobacteria increased approximately 80-fold whereas in control soil, Actinobacteria were enriched only 10-fold and the gamma-Proteobacteria and Planctomycetes increased by 60- and 25-fold, respectively. The gamma-Proteobacteria were enriched by 120- and 230-fold in beads containing 200 mg atrazine kg⁻¹ in conditioned and control soil, respectively. The results demonstrate that BioSep^® beads are a suitable matrix for recruiting a diverse subset of the bacterial community involved in atrazine degradation.