不同LED光源对番茄果实转色期品质的影响

采用新型半导体光源发光二极管（LED）精量调制光质（红光、蓝光和红蓝组合光）,以普通日光灯（白光）为对照,研究不同光质对番茄果实转色期品质的影响。结果表明,红光处理下番茄果实番茄红素含量最高,显著高于对照和其他处理,但Vc含量最低。蓝光处理下番茄果实维生素C（Vc）含量、可溶性蛋白含量均显著提高。红蓝组合光处理番茄果实Vc含量与对照差异不明显,但可溶性蛋白的含量显著提高。红光和红蓝组合光处理能够显著提高番茄果实糖、酸含量;各处理糖酸比均显著高于对照,且红蓝组合光处理番茄果实的糖/酸值最高。红光和蓝光是影响番茄果实转色期品质变化的主要光质。     

不同肥料用量和配比对西瓜产量、品质及养分吸收的影响

为探索西瓜的适宜施肥量和养分配比, 通过田间试验, 研究了不同肥料用量和配比对西瓜产量、品质及养分吸收的影响。结果显示: 与习惯施肥处理相比, 减氮磷钾处理的西瓜产量、Vc含量分别增加0.77%、17.18%, 还原糖含量、硝酸盐含量分别减少12.56%、27.94%; N、P₂O₅、K₂O养分总量相同、比例不同的3个处理间相比, 减氮磷增钾处理的西瓜产量、Vc含量、还原糖含量均最高, 硝酸盐含量最低; 习惯施肥、减氮 磷钾、减氮磷、减氮磷增钾4个处理的西瓜秧中N、P₂O₅、K_{2O含量比例分别为: 1︰0.18︰2.26、1︰0.22︰2.66、1︰0.26︰2.75、1︰0.19︰2.46; 西瓜皮中N、P2O5、K2O含量比例分别为: 1︰0.34︰2.78、1︰0.34︰2.60、 1︰0.30︰2.37、1︰0.29︰2.14。综合考虑各项指标, 在本试验条件下, 施肥总量比习惯施肥量减少36%、N︰P2O5︰K2O为1︰0.41︰1.28是西瓜最优施肥处理。}     

留茬高度对小叶锦鸡儿光合生理和生长特征的影响

[目的] 研究不同留茬高度小叶锦鸡儿生长和光合生理的变化规律,揭示不同留茬高度下小叶锦鸡儿生长和光合能力的强弱,探索其平茬时的最适留茬高度,为寻求合理抚育管理措施、指导小叶锦鸡儿生产实践提供理论依据。[方法] 选择2003年人工种植小叶锦鸡儿为研究材料,设置未平茬（CK）、留茬高度5 cm （T₁）,10 cm （T₂）,15 cm （T₃）,20 cm （T₄）,25 cm （T₅）共6个处理于2018年秋季进行平茬,分别测定次年生长季小叶锦鸡儿生长和光合生理指标。[结果] 平茬能显著提高小叶锦鸡儿株高、冠幅、新稍长的增长;不同留茬高度处理净增长量均不同,留茬高度15 cm处理株高、冠幅长和宽度、新稍长净增长量值最高,分别较未平茬处理增加了203.44%,278.10%,292.59%,385.43%;留茬高度5,10和20 cm处理的净增长量次之,留茬高度25 cm的值最低,较未平茬处理分别增加了25.15%,26.38%,25.93%,88.48%;一定留茬高度平茬能显著提高小叶锦鸡儿净光合速率（P_n）、蒸腾速率（T_r）和水分利用效率（WUE）;不同处理小叶锦鸡儿日变化均有不同程度的光合、蒸腾“午休”现象;留茬高度15 cm处理叶片P_n,T_r,WUE日均值均最高,分别比未平茬处理增加了2.52,0.37和1.52倍;留茬高度5,10和20 cm处理次之,留茬高度25 cm处理值最低,其P_n和WUE值分别比未平茬处理增加了0.45和0.32倍,而T_r值比未平茬处理降低了0.02倍。[结论] 平茬后次年生长季内,留茬高度15 cm的平茬小叶锦鸡儿具有较强的生长补偿和光合能力,留茬5,10和20 cm植株的生长补偿和光合能力次之,留茬25 cm植株的生长补偿和光合能力最弱。     

红蓝光质对香椿芽苗菜营养品质的影响

以发光二极管（LED）精量调制光质（红光、蓝光和红蓝混合光）,以白光（普通日光灯）为对照,研究红蓝光质对香椿芽苗菜营养品质（氨基酸、维生素C、硝酸盐、粗纤维、总黄酮、单宁）的影响。结果表明：与白光相比,蓝光和红蓝光处理显著提高了香椿芽苗菜氨基酸含量,而红光处理降低了香椿芽苗菜氨基酸含量;3种光质均有利于香椿芽苗菜维生素C 的形成和累积,其促进作用大小依次为蓝光＞红光＞红蓝混合光;各处理均抑制香椿芽苗菜硝酸盐的累积,其中红光的抑制作用最强;红光处理可提高香椿芽苗菜的粗纤维含量,而蓝光处理则降低香椿芽苗菜粗纤维含量;与对照相比,蓝光和红蓝混合光处理提高了香椿芽苗菜总黄酮的含量,同时降低了香椿芽苗菜单宁的含量。总之,蓝光和红蓝混合光处理可提高氨基酸、维生素C、总黄酮含量,同时可降低硝酸盐、粗纤维和单宁含量。因此,蓝光和红蓝混合光处理更有利于提高香椿芽苗菜品质。     

四川地区玉米/大豆带状套作对大豆形态、叶绿素荧光特征及系统产量的影响

玉米/大豆带状套作可以充分利用光环境,提高单位土地面积物质产出。为探明玉米/大豆带状复合种植模式下不同空间配置对大豆冠层光环境、形态、产量及系统效益的影响,进而为大豆高产优质栽培提供依据,本研究选用半紧凑型（‘川单418’）和紧凑型（‘荣玉1210’）玉米品种与大豆带状套作,固定带宽为200 cm,玉米采用宽窄行种植,玉米窄行距设置3个处理：20 cm、40 cm、60 cm;并以单作大豆（SS）作为对照。分析透光率、形态、光合色素、荧光参数、生物量和系统产量的变化规律。结果表明：套作大豆冠层透光率、红光/远红光（R/FR）比值随玉米窄行距的增大而逐渐降低;套作下大豆茎粗、节数、茎干重和全叶干重均随玉米窄行距增大呈降低趋势,最大值出现在玉米窄行距20 cm处理下;与单作大豆相比,两个玉米品种下大豆茎粗、节数、茎干重和全叶干重均显著降低,而第2节间长和主茎长显著升高。套作下大豆叶片光合色素含量随玉米窄行距的增大而逐渐降低,各行距处理及不同玉米品种下套作的叶片光合色素含量均低于单作大豆。大豆叶片荧光参数F_v/F_m、NPQ、F_q''F_m''和F_q''/F_v''随玉米窄行距的增大均呈先增大后减小的趋势,而F_o变化趋势与之相反。玉米收获后,大豆光环境得到改善并迅速恢复生长,套作大豆形态生理指标与单作差异减小,但由于前期玉米的遮荫,各套作处理间大豆产量差异仍显著。通过系统效益分析,在玉米窄行距40 cm处理下,套作系统综合产量最高,两玉米品种下玉米、大豆产量平均分别为8 559.52 kg·hm^-2、1 717.60 kg·hm^-2,土地当量比平均达1.57。本试验中大豆与两个株型玉米套作,大豆形态生理指标差异影响不显著。因此,选择紧凑或半紧凑玉米品种,适度缩小玉米窄行距可以显著改善带状套作大豆的生长环境,提高其生物量和产量。     

蚕豆生长及土壤酶活性对低分子量聚乙烯的响应

研究与推广环保型可降解地膜, 是解决当前农田白色污染的重要途径。与普通地膜比较, 可降解地膜降解时间短, 残留物以分子量较低的线性低密度聚乙烯(LLDPE)为主。研究低分子量聚乙烯对作物生长及土壤性质的影响, 对可降解地膜的推广具有重要意义。本研究模拟自然条件, 以添加低分子量聚乙烯(LMWPE)的壤土盆栽种植蚕豆, 并设定不同的LMWPE添加量, 研究全生育期蚕豆的株高、复叶数、结荚数及土壤中脲酶、过氧化物酶、蔗糖酶活性对LMWPE的响应。结果显示: 与不添加LMWPE且种植蚕豆的处理(CK₁)比较, 全生育期中添加LMWPE(分别按覆盖地膜1年、10年、50年、100年折算的添加量)且种植蚕豆处理的蚕豆株高、复叶数及土壤脲酶活性、过氧化物酶活性显著高于CK₁, 且随着LMWPE添加量增加, 土壤酶活性及蚕豆株高和复叶数增幅越显著, 但各处理土壤蔗糖酶活性及蚕豆结荚数差异不显著。蚕豆根系的形成和生长对3种土壤酶活性具有显著影响。3种土壤酶活性与株高、复叶数显著相关, 但与结荚数无显著的相关性。本研究结果表明, 土壤中添加LMWPE对蚕豆生长及3种土壤酶活性有激活作用, 以添加量为2.80 g·kg^-1处理的影响最为明显。     

磁化水处理对镉胁迫下欧美杨幼苗光合及生长特性的影响

为探讨磁化水灌溉处理在促进植物生长、提高植株重金属耐受性方面的作用机制,本研究采用随机区组试验设计,研究了镉胁迫（0 μmol·L^-1、50 μmol·L^-1、100 μmol·L^-1）下磁化水灌溉处理对1 a生欧美杨''I-107''光合特性、叶绿素荧光动力学参数及生长特性的影响。结果表明：1）镉胁迫会显著降低植株高生长和根茎叶干物质量;低浓度（50 μmol·L^-1）镉处理促进根系直径及体积增大（P<0.05）,高浓度（100 μmol·L^-1）则会抑制根系各形态参数;镉胁迫下欧美杨叶绿素b和类胡萝卜素含量分别降低12.50%、43.24%和19.27%、46.37%（P<0.05）,净光合速率（P_n）、蒸腾速率（T_r）、胞间二氧化碳（C_i）分别降低13.68%和33.68%、8.07%和27.81%、5.00%和14.99%（P<0.05）,同时,PSⅡ潜在活性（F_v/F_m）、最大光化学速率（F_v/F_o）、光合性能指数（PIabs）和量子产额（φ_Eo）均有不同程度降低。2）磁化水灌溉提高镉胁迫植株高生长及根茎叶干物质量,增加植株根系长度及表面积;同时,叶绿素a、叶绿素b和类胡萝卜素含量在0 μmol·L^-1和100 μmol·L^-1镉胁迫下分别提高16.99%、40.20%,8.67%、39.10%和17.32%、50.52%（P<0.05）;G_s、C_i及WUE显著升高,T_r则降低24.20%、23.33%、12.06%（P<0.05）;另外,F_v/F_m、F_v/F_o、PIabs显著升高（P<0.05）。综上所述,磁化水灌溉处理有助于提高镉胁迫下欧美杨幼苗光合色素含量,维持光合机构功能,增强光合碳同化速率,减轻镉胁迫对植株生长发育的抑制。     

淹水梯度对红树林湿地土壤微生物生物量与酶活性的影响

[目的] 研究红树林土壤微生物生物量与酶活性对不同淹水梯度的响应，揭示随淹水时间延长红树林下土壤质量的变化特征及影响因素，为该区域红树林保护与管理提供理论依据。 [方法] 以广东省雷州半岛附城镇红树林为研究对象，依据潮间带分布情况及红树林群落类型，采集低潮位、中低潮位、中潮位、中高潮位、高潮位表层0-20 cm沉积物样品，测定与分析红树林湿地不同潮位表层土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)、氮(MBN)、磷(MBP)与酶活性。 [结果] 随淹水频率的增加，MBC，MBN分别减少96.7%和98.4%，在高潮位为最大值；MBP呈波浪式下降，在中高潮位为最大值；微生物熵碳(q_MBC)、氮(q_MBN)先增后降，微生物熵磷(q_MBP)呈波浪式下降，q_MBC，q_MBN，q_MBP均在中高潮位为最大值；土壤β-葡萄糖苷酶、酸性磷酸酶活性先增后降，在中高潮位为最大值，脲酶活性显著减少20.2%，在高潮位为最大值。冗余分析结果表明，q_MBN，MBN，MBC是研究区红树林表层土壤酶活性变异的关键环境因素，可解释其变异的50.9%。 [结论] 淹水梯度的变化对湛江红树林湿地表层土壤微生物生物量和酶活性变化产生了显著影响。随淹水频率增加土壤质量总体呈衰退态势，建议适当增加研究区湿地土壤氮素供给以改善土壤质量，促进红树植树造林及其生长。     

光照对香菇菌丝后熟转色过程中活性氧代谢及自噬的影响

为研究光照对香菇菌丝后熟转色过程中活性氧代谢的影响,通过设置自然光照条件与黑暗条件下香菇菌丝后熟转色对比试验,分析其活性氧含量、丙二醛(MDA)含量、还原型烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸磷酸(NADPH)氧化酶活性、抗氧化酶活性及自噬的差异。结果表明,自然光照条件下香菇菌丝正常后熟转色,黑暗条件下香菇菌丝不转色。自然光照条件下香菇菌丝活性氧含量、MDA含量、NADPH氧化酶活性、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性、过氧化物酶(POD)活性均显著高于黑暗条件,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性变化则与之相反。同时,香菇菌丝细胞自噬的透射电镜分析及实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)对自噬基因Atg8的表达水平分析结果表明,在自然光照条件下香菇菌丝细胞的自噬特征明显。本研究结果为优化香菇栽培的环境条件提供了一定的理论依据,也为后续对光照环境下香菇体内氧化平衡的作用机理研究提供了有效参考。     

磷肥在旱地红壤上的后期效应及其作用机制

红壤地区施入的磷肥很容易被吸附固定而留存于土壤中,降低磷肥利用效率,留存于土壤中的磷对土壤生态功能和作物养分供应的后续效应值得关注。基于旱地红壤长期施肥定位试验,探讨常规施肥处理（CK）以及短期施入不同磷肥量（P₂O₅,0、50、100、150和1 000 kg·hm^–2）多年后土壤养分、土壤氮循环过程和作物产量的变化特征。通过多元统计分析方法探讨不同磷肥处理下,土壤全碳、全氮和微生物生物量碳和氮转化过程的潜在速率以及产量等因子间的相互关系及其与磷的后期效应的关系。结果表明,在短期投入高剂量磷肥（1 000 kg·hm^–2,P1000）27年后,土壤全碳、全氮和微生物生物量碳与常规施肥处理相比无明显差异,但显著提高了土壤pH和氮循环相关过程速率,包括氮矿化速率（Nitrogen mineralization rate,N_min）、固氮酶活性（Soil nitrogenase activity,SNA）、潜在硝化速率（Potential nitrification rate,PNR）（P <0.05）,同时降低了净N₂O排放潜能（Net N₂O production rate,N_N2O）（P<0.05）。与不施磷（P0）和短期投入低剂量磷肥处理（50,100,150 kg·hm^–2）相比,P1000处理中,土壤有效磷（AP）、氮矿化速率、固氮酶活性、潜在硝化速率和潜在N₂O产生速率（P_N2O）分别增加了33.3%～76.4%、88.2%～388.1%、111.4%～4 826.3%、22.6%～152.4%和13.8%～78.9%（P <0.05）,同时净N₂O排放潜能也降低了64.6%～78.9%（P<0.05）,表现出明显的磷后效,且在作物生长季更为明显。相关分析和冗余分析表明AP和pH是影响以上土壤生物化学活性最主要的因子。近三年作物平均产量在所有处理中无显著差异,但与土壤TP、AP和pH呈显著正相关;但在长期尺度上（1992—2019年）,P1000处理相对于其他低磷处理累积增产效应达3%～23%。以上结果表明,酸性红壤中短期大量施用磷肥多年后,由于大量磷肥投入导致的土壤pH提升和磷的缓释效应,使得磷肥在促进土壤肥力、微生物活性和土壤氮循环转化活性方面表现出较明显的后期效应。     

On the Taxonomy of the Members of ‘Saccharum Complex’

The difficulty and problems encountered in the study of cultivated plants, in general and sugarcane, in particular has been indicated. In order to understand these problems, a brief review on the taxonomy of Saccharum and closely related taxa, namely, Erianthus, Sclerostachya, Narenga and Miscanthus (generally known as ‘Saccharum complex’) has been given. A short account on the important morphological features that are specific to sugarcane has also been stated as classification is commonly based on such morphological characters. A note has been added on the chromosome number, origin, and distribution of the species of ‘Saccharum complex’ members. Taxonomic keys have been devised for identification of the genera of Saccharinae and for the species of Saccharum and Erianthus occurring in India. A new combination, Sclerostachya fallax (Balansa) Amalraj et Balasundaram, has also been proposed.     

Agricultural potential of Mediterranean grain and forage legumes: Key differences between and within Vicia species in terms of phenology, yield, and agronomy give insight into plant adaptation to semi-arid environments

In order to identify key adaptive traits which affect productivity in Mediterranean grain and forage legumes and simultaneously determine the agricultural potential of a wide range of Vicia species, germplasm collected from the wild throughout the eastern Mediterranean was grown under semi-arid conditions in Tel Hadya, Syria (313 mm growing season rainfall). These included species currently in use in Mediterranean agriculture, such as V. sativa L., as well as those more widely used in the past-such as V. ervilia L., but also a broad selection from Section Narbonensis (B. Fedtsch. ex Radzhi) Maxted, including V. narbonensis L, V. johannis Tamamsch., V. hyaeniscyamus Mout., V. serratifolia Jacq., and V. kalakhensis Khattab et al. V. faba, a near relative of the taxa in Section Narbonensis, was included as a domesticated control. Where applicable, a representative range of subspecies was used. Accessions were chosen from a wide range of habitats in terms of latitude (31.02–40.72 decimal^o), longitude (27.1–43.17 decimal^o), altitude (20–1510 m), rainfall (180–1700 mm/yr) and soil depth (5–50 cm) in order to maximise diversity within species. Agricultural potential was determined by measuring seed, hay and biological yield, as well as agronomic traits such as harvest index, standing crop height, and seed size. The comparative influence of phenology and key agronomic traits such as plant habit and seed size on productivity varied tremendously between species, depending on their reproductive strategies. In V. sativa and V. ervilia, the smaller seed species which rely on long vegetative phases and growing seasons to accumulate sufficient biomass to set seed, and in which there was comparatively little agronomic variation, phenology had a large impact on yield. In early emerging taxa such as V. ervilia and V. s. subsp. sativa, with built-in long vegetative phases and growing seasons, seed yield was negatively correlated with flower ing (r = –0.86 to –0.88), whereas the opposite was the case for later emerging taxa such as V. s. subsp. nigra (L.) Ehrh. (r = 0.95). Within V. narbonensis and relatives, the larger seeded Vicia species which rely on more conservative reproductive strategies where high seedling vigour associated with large seeds enables the species to enter reproductive phases relatively early, phenology had a much smaller impact on yield than did variation of key traits such as seed weight, plant habit and pod shattering. Among the undomesticated germplasm harvest indices ranged from 0.09–0.31, hay yields from 0.1–3.4 t/ha, seed yield from 0–2.0 t/ha, and dry matter at maturity from 1.6–6.5 t/ha. Sub-specific taxonomy was crucial in determining agronomic potential. V. narbonensis var. aegyptiaca Kornhuber ex Asch. et Schweinf. showed the most potential, combining an upright habit, large seeds (212 mg) and tendency to retain intact pods after maturity, with the highest yield, harvest index and crop height of all the wild Vicia species. V. sativa subsp. sativa, V. ervilia and V. narbonensis var. narbonensis were less productive, but still showed agricultural potential. The smaller seeded V. narbonensis, var. affinis, var. jordanica H. Schäf. and var. salmonea (Mout.) H. Schäf., and their close relatives V. johannis, V. hyaeniscyamus, V. serratifolia and V. kalakhensis have little to offer Mediterranean agriculture on the basis of poor agronomy.     

Polymorphism of high molecular weight glutenin subunits in three species of Aegilops

A collection of 136 accessions of Aegilops umbellulata (39), Ae. comosa (75) and Ae. markgrafii (22) was analysed for high-molecular-weight (HMW) glutenin subunits composition. The homogeneity of the accessions was studied and 55.1% of the collection was homogeneous for HMW glutenin subunits (29 Ae. umbellulata, 33 Ae. comosa and 14 Ae. markgrafii). The HMW glutenin subunits of Ae. umbellulata are encoded by the Glu-U1 locus; in Ae. comosa results showed that this proteins are encoded at the 1M chromosome, and the locus was named Glu-M1. In Ae. markgrafii it was assumed that HMW glutenin subunits were encoded by an homoeologous locus and it was named Glu-C1. All the accessions of Ae. umbellulata and Ae. markgrafii expressed both, x-type and y-type subunits. Among the Ae. comosa accessions, only one expressed an x-type subunit alone. All the accessions of Ae. umbellulata and some of Ae. comosa had x-type glutenins of higher molecular weights than those commonly present in bread wheat. A total of 8 alleles were detected at the Glu-U1 locus, 11 at the Glu-M1 and 4 at the Glu-C1. The new HMW glutenin variation found in this work suggests their possible utilisation in breeding for wheat quality.     

Phylogenetic relationships of Actinidia and related genera based on micromorphological characters of foliar trichomes

The phylogenetic relationships within the genus Actinidia and among 3 allied genera Clematoclethra, Saurauia, and Sladenia have been very controversial. In order to understand the systematic implication of foliar trichomes in those genera, the micromorphological characteristics of foliar trichomes from 34 taxa were examined by means of light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The observed micromorphological characteristics were classified into eight main types. A phylogenetic analysis of Actinidia and related genera based on 15 micromorphological characters of foliar trichomes was conducted using Wagner parsimony method and Sladenia celastrifolia, Rhododendron hybridum and R. simsii as a complex outgroup. In the resulting phylogenetic tree, Actinidia is shown to be a monophyletic group, and Clematoclethra and Saurauia form another monophyletic group. This study also presents the phylogenetic relationships among 4 sections within the genus Actinidia: the monophyly of sect. Leiocarpae and of sect. Strigosae, and polyphyly of sect. Maculatae and of sect. Stellatae.     

Effect of agroforestry woody species on earthworm activity and physicochemical properties of worm casts

The effects of five agroforestry woody species (Dactyladenia barteri, Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala, Senna siamea andTreculia africana) on the surface aasting activity ofHyperiodrilus africanus were studied in an Alfisol (Oxic Paleustalf) in southwestern Nigeria. Casting activity under the woody species decreased in the following order:Dactyladenia sp. (26.4 Mg ha^-1 year^-1)>Gliricidia sp. (24.4 Mg ha^-1 year^-1)>Treculia sp. (22.9 Mg ha^-1 year^-1)>Leucaena sp. (18.6 Mg ha^-1 year^-1)>Senna sp. (18.3 Mg ha^-1 year^-1). These differences in casting activity were partly explained by microclimatic effects. Irrespective of the woody species, the worm casts were higher in clay and silt contents, bulk density, water-stable aggregates, pH, organic C, exchangeable cations, effective cation exchange capacity, and extractable P levels than the corresponding surface soils. The woody species did affect the physicochemical properties and P sorption of the worm casts. The content of water-stable aggregates of worm casts decreased in the following order:Dactyladenia sp.>Treculia sp.>Senna sp.>Leucaena sp.>Gliricidia sp. Large differences in extractable P levels were observed.Senna sp. was associated with the highest extractable P level (11.5 mg kg^-1) andTreculia sp. the lowest (4.9 mg kg^-1). P sorption was highest on worm casts underDactyladenia sp. and lowest on those underTreculia sp. Without fertilizer application, there were no significant differences in the dry weight of maize grown in the different worm casts. With NPK applications, the dry weight of maize grown in worm casts associated withTreculia sp. was significantly lower than that of maize grown in the other worm casts, mainly due to the low extractable P level. Despite a high organic C and exchangeable K status, maize grown in the worm casts still responded significantly to N and K applications. The N uptake by maize grown in worm casts associated withTreculia sp. was lower than that in the other treatments.     

Genetic diversity of rhizobia associated with indigenous legumes in different regions of Flanders (Belgium)

We investigated the diversity of rhizobia isolated from different indigenous legumes in Flanders (Belgium). A total of 3810 bacterial strains were analysed originating from 43 plant species. Based on rep-PCR clustering, 16S rRNA gene and recA gene sequence analysis, these isolates belonged to Bradyrhizobium, Ensifer (Sinorhizobium), Mesorhizobium and Rhizobium. Of the genera encountered, Rhizobium was the most abundant (62%) and especially the species Rhizobiumleguminosarum, followed by Ensifer (19%), Bradyrhizobium (14%) and finally Mesorhizobium (5%). For two rep-clusters only low similarity values with other genera were found for both the 16S rRNA and recA genes, suggesting that these may represent a new genus with close relationship to Rhodopseudomonas and Bradyrhizobium. Primers for the symbiotic genes nodC and nifH were optimized and a phylogenetic sequence analysis revealed the presence of different symbiovars including genistearum, glycinearum, loti, meliloti, officinalis, trifolii and viciae. Moreover, three new nodC types were assigned to strains originating from Ononis, Robinia and Wisteria, respectively. Discriminant and MANOVA analysis confirmed the correlation of symbiosis genes with certain bacterial genera and less with the host plant. Multiple symbiovars can be present within the same host plant, suggesting the promiscuity of these plants. Moreover, the ecoregion did not contribute to the separation of the bacterial endosymbionts. Our results reveal a large diversity of rhizobia associated with indigenous legumes in Flanders. Most of the legumes harboured more than one rhizobial endosymbiont in their root nodules indicating the importance of including sufficient isolates per plant in diversity studies.     

Diversity of native rice (Oryza Poaceae:) species of Costa Rica

We found several populations of wild Oryza species in the lowlands of Costa Rica. The plants showed extensive morphological variation, suggesting the presence of several species. In the morphologic study, 33 traits were scored for plants of all the species. A principal component analysis revealed the significant morphological separation of the different species. The analyses indicated that there are three species, O. grandi­glumis, O. latifolia and O. glumaepatula. Two putative hybrid types were found, both significantly differing in their morphology from the known species and intermediate at several traits. O. grandi­glumis is a new record for Costa Rican flora. Its main population is located in Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, Los Chiles, Alajuela. O. latifolia is distributed throughout the lowlands of the country and the plants of the Atlantic slope are significantly bigger in general habit than those of the Guanacaste area. During this study a population of O. glumaepatula of hundreds of thousands of plants was discovered in the Medio Queso River wetland, Los Chiles, Alajuela. This population is the most important source of genes for cultivar's improvement from the primary gene pool of rice in Costa Rica. The small ligule and the wide flag leaf characteristic of the two CCDD species separated them from the AA diploid O. glumaepatula. Seed size, ligule size, number of branches in the panicle, plant height and sterile lemma length are all bigger in O. grandi­glumis, and influenced the second factor that separated the CCDD species in two discrete clusters. The species found offer great possibilities for the improvement of rice cultivars and they should be thoroughly studied and appropriately protected.     

Effect of passage through the intestinal tract of detritivore earthworms (Lumbricus spp.) on the number of selected Gram-negative and total bacteria

Laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate the fate of bacteria during and after passage through the intestinal tract of detritivore earthworms. Earthworms (Lumbricus spp.) were fed with cattle dung inoculated 7 days previously with one of five different Gram-negative bacteria. Bacterial concentrations were determined 2 days later in dung and soil, and in gut material from different parts of the earthworm intestinal tract. A high percentage (28–82%) of the total bacteria (epifluorescence direct counts) in the earthworm gut content was culturable. The concentration of total heterotrophic aerobic bacteria did not vary significantly among the five different bacterial additions and the non-inoculated control. In earthworm casts the number of total heterotrophs per gram dry matter (2.1×10⁹) was higher than in soil (1.7×10⁸), but lower than in the dung (1.5×10¹⁰). The test-bacteria, however, showed different survival patterns along the earthworm intestinal tract. The concentrations of Escherichia coli BJ 18 and Pseudomonas putida MM 1 and MM 11 in earthworm casts were lower than in the ingested dung, while concentrations of Enterobacter cloacae A 107 and Aeromonas hydrophila DMU 115 in dung and casts were similar. Ent. cloacae, and to aminor extent E. coli, were reduced in numbers by several orders of magnitude in the pharynx and/or crop. In the hind gut, however, the concentration of Ent. cloacae had increased to the same level as in the ingested dung, while the concentration of E. coli remained low. Our observations indicate that the bacterial flora of ingested food materials changes qualitatively and quantitatively during gut transit.