磷供应对玉米根际微生物碳源利用和功能多样性的影响

磷有效性能够改变根分泌物的组成和数量,调节土壤微生物的群落结构和多样性,但磷添加如何影响土壤微生物碳源利用和功能多样性尚不清楚。本研究通过盆栽土培试验,设置2个磷处理[低磷5.7 mg(P)?kg?1和高磷200 mg(P)?kg?1],以生长35 d的玉米根际土壤为研究对象,采用Biolog微平板法,分别在培养后240 h内每隔24 h检测具有31种不同碳源的微孔溶液颜色变化,揭示磷供应对玉米根际微生物碳源利用模式和功能多样性的影响。结果表明:随着培养时间的延长,土壤微生物对土壤碳源的利用呈现增加的趋势,直至碳源消耗殆尽;高磷供应显著增加了玉米根际土壤微生物群落平均颜色变化率(average well color development,AWCD),提高了对糖类及其衍生物、氨基酸和代谢产物的利用,但没有显著提高对脂肪酸和脂类的利用;在培养前72 h内,高磷供应显著增加了玉米根际微生物多样性指数、优势度指数和均匀度指数,但培养72 h后,磷供应对其没有显著的影响。主成分分析结果表明,提取的前3个主成分解释了75.15%的碳源利用,高磷和低磷处理具有显著不同的土壤微生物碳源利用模式。总之,糖类及其衍生物、氨基酸和代谢产物是玉米根际土壤微生物利用的主要碳源,短期磷添加能够显著增加土壤微生物对碳源的利用,在一定程度上能够提高土壤微生物群落功能多样性。     

转Bt基因棉粉碎叶对土壤微生物群落功能多样性的影响

采用Biolog GN2微平板法,研究转Bt基因棉粉碎叶添加到土壤后,对土壤微生物群落功能多样性的影响。结果表明,在转Bt基因棉粉碎叶添加到土壤后,第10天和第40天的平均颜色变化率(AWCD)显著提高,表明微生物群落的代谢加快,活动强度加大;土壤微生物群落对糖类、胺类、氨基酸类和羧酸类4类碳源的优势利用顺序发生明显变化,表明土壤微生物群落结构及其功能多样性发生了一定改变;土壤微生物群落对聚合物类和其他类碳源的利用率无显著影响,但显著提高对糖类、胺类和氨基酸类碳源的利用率,并仅在第10天显著降低对羧酸类碳源的利用率,表明降解糖类、胺类和氨基酸类碳源的微生物可能是转Bt基因棉粉碎叶影响的主要土壤微生物类群。     

东北黑土区不同土地利用方式下农田土壤微生物多样性

为探究黑龙江省黑土区不同土地利用方式下土壤微生物多样性,该研究主要采用Biolog Eco微平板法,以荒地为对照,研究了黑龙江省中部和西南部黑土区玉米、水稻、大豆及土豆4种不同土地利用方式下土壤微生物多样性的变化。结果表明：1）可培养细菌的数量从大到小依次为土豆、水稻、大豆、玉米、荒地,但群落Shannon-Wiener多样性指数从高到低依次为：荒地（2.18）、玉米（2.11）、土豆（2.00）、水稻（1.73）、大豆（1.49）;2）不同利用方式下黑土区微生物碳源利用程度大致随培养时间的延长而升高,并且氨基酸、糖类以及聚合物类是黑土微生物代谢的最主要碳源;玉米地土壤微生物的Shannon-Wiener指数（3.18）、McIntosh指数（5.96）、丰富度指数（24.89）、及Simpson指数（0.95）比其他土地利用方式土壤微生物的多样性指数高,而水稻田土壤微生物的多样性指数最低,土豆、大豆与荒地土壤微生物的多样性指数间无显著差别;3）不同土地利用方式显著影响了土壤微生物群落碳源代谢多样性,并且对土壤微生物群落代谢特征起分异作用的主要碳源类型为糖类、氨基酸类和羧酸类,其中糖类尤为突出。该研究将有助于了解黑土区土壤微生物多样性与土地利用方式之间的关系,为黑土区农业的可持续发展提供一定的科学依据。     

沙漠微生物群落功能多样性分析

以宁夏回族自治区沙坡头地区的沙漠微生物群落为研究对象,采用Biolog方法研究了已固定沙丘结皮(J1)及结皮下层(J2),半流动沙丘上层(L1)和下层(L2)中微生物群落的功能多样性。结果表明,J1的微生物群落活性最高,J2的微生物群落次之,再次为L2的微生物群落,最后为L1的微生物群落;J1,J2,L1和L2的微生物群落对羧酸类、聚合物类和氨基酸类碳源的利用表现一致,对糖类、胺/氨类和双亲化合物类碳源的利用表现不同;利用ECO板上31种碳源进行主成分分析得出,PC1,PC2和PC3特征值的贡献率为分别为70.16%,19.23%,10.61%。研究结果表明:(1)经过固沙后的微生物群落活性明显高于半流动沙漠微生物群落的活性;(2)微生物群落结构上的差异致使其对6类碳源的利用方式不同;(3)主成分分析表明沙漠微生物群落对羧酸类、糖类和氨基酸类碳源的利用最高,主要利用碳源有22种。     

黄顶菊(Flaveria bidentis)入侵对土壤微生物功能多样性的影响

外来植物入侵对土壤生物多样性的影响已成为生态学领域的研究热点之一。运用Biolog技术和氯仿熏蒸浸提法研究了黄顶菊入侵对土壤微生物群落功能多样性及土壤微生物量的影响。结果表明,黄顶菊入侵后土壤微生物代谢活性显著升高;土壤微生物群落平均吸光值(AWCD)的变化趋势为:入侵地根际土(RPS)入侵地根围土(BS)未入侵地(CK),且差异显著;而CK的功能多样性指数(H)高于BS,RPS亦高于BS,差异均显著(P0.05)。主成分分析结果表明,黄顶菊入侵使土壤微生物群落的碳源利用方式和代谢功能发生改变。对不同碳源利用的分析结果表明,糖类、氨基酸类、羧酸类和聚合物为土壤微生物利用的主要碳源。入侵样地BS和RPS的微生物量碳分别比CK高27.05%、121.52%;BS和RPS的微生物量氮分别比CK高37.40%、79.80%。相关性分析表明,AWCD与微生物量碳和微生物量氮均呈极显著正相关(P0.01)。由此可知,黄顶菊入侵增强了入侵地土壤微生物代谢活性,降低了土壤微生物群落的功能多样性,增加了土壤微生物量碳、氮水平。     

滨海湿地土壤微生物群落多样性及其影响因素

连续3年(2015-2018年)研究了珠江三角洲滨海红树林湿地、芦苇湿地、碱蓬湿地和互花米草湿地土壤微生物群落多样性及其影响因素。结果表明:土壤pH基本表现为互花米草湿地碱蓬滩湿地芦苇湿地红树林湿地,其中不同湿地植物群落土壤pH值差异均不显著(p0.05);土壤有机碳、全氮、全钾基本表现为互花米草湿地碱蓬滩湿地芦苇湿地红树林湿地。滨海湿地不同植物群落土壤微生物碳源利用(AWCD)总体上呈逐渐增加的趋势,在培养24～72 h内AWCD快速增长,72 h后增长缓慢,192 h后急剧增长;相同时间土壤微生物碳源利用大致表现为互花米草湿地碱蓬滩湿地芦苇湿地红树林湿地,局部有所波动。碳水化合物和羧酸类碳源是滨海湿地不同植物群落土壤微生物的主要碳源,其次为氨基酸类、酚酸类和聚合物类,胺类碳源的利用率最小。土壤微生物群落的物种丰富度指数(H)、均匀度指数(E)、优势度指数(Ds)和碳源利用丰富度指数(S)基本表现为互花米草湿地碱蓬滩湿地芦苇湿地红树林湿地,其中优势度指数(Ds)差异均不显著(p0.05)。主成分分析结果表明,具有较高相关性的碳源有18种,其中羧酸类化合物有5种,多聚化合物有3种,碳水化合物有6种,芳香化合物1种,氨基酸2种,胺类化合物1种,在主成分分离中起主要贡献作用的是胺类和氨基酸类碳源。相关性分析显示,土壤养分和pH与微生物群落功能多样性密切相关,其中pH对土壤微生物群落功能多样性贡献为负,土壤养分对土壤微生物群落功能多样性贡献为正,是滨海湿地不同植物群落土壤微生物群落多样性差异的重要影响因素。     

转Bt基因棉叶对土壤微生物多样性的影响

应用Biolog方法研究了转Bt基因棉粉碎叶腐解对土壤微生物群落结构功能多样性的影响。取腐解10d、25d、40d、55d、70d土样分析土壤微生物群落多样性指数及土壤微生物对聚合物、胺类、氨基酸、糖、羧酸和其他类碳源利用情况。结果表明:在腐解过程中,转Bt基因棉粉碎叶土壤微生物群落丰富度下降,群落多样性显著降低,而群落优势集中性明显提高;转Bt基因棉粉碎叶影响了土壤微生物群落对碳源的利用程度,表现为可显著增加对糖类、胺类和氨基酸类碳源的利用,初期显著降低对羧酸类碳源的利用,对聚合物类和其他类碳源的利用率无显著影响;主成分分析表明转Bt基因棉粉碎叶对土壤微生物群落原有结构功能影响具有持续性。     

湿地土壤微生物碳源代谢活性对不同水分条件的动态响应 ——以鄱阳湖为例

为深入了解湿地土壤微生物群落代谢特征对不同水分条件的响应变化,本研究以鄱阳湖湿地表层土壤为研究材料,采用室内控制试验,运用Biolog技术探讨土壤微生物碳源代谢活性在不同水分条件(干燥、湿润、淹水)下连续处理132 d的变化特征。结果表明:湿润组土壤微生物代谢活性最高,其平均光密度值(AWCD)在处理的第72天分别是淹水组和干燥组的1.34倍和3.95倍;同时土壤微生物对不同碳源类型的利用能力也发生了显著的差异性变化,其中干燥组利用的主要碳源为多聚物类和碳水化合物类(占总碳源利用率的39.25%和36.53%),而淹水组对氨基酸类碳源有较高的利用能力(占总碳源利用率的36.33%)。土壤微生物碳源代谢特征在处理的第21天达到稳定状态,而土壤理化性质和土壤微生物群落结构在处理的第72天发生显著变化,同时研究发现淹水条件升高了土壤pH和铵态氮含量,降低了微生物群落多样性。由此可知,水分条件不仅会影响湿地土壤微生物总体碳源代谢活性强度,还会改变对不同碳源的相对利用能力,最终导致土壤环境发生改变。     

玉米秸秆覆盖还田量对黑土微生物碳代谢活性与多样性的影响

  目的  针对东北黑土区长期集约化耕作导致的土壤退化问题,开展不同秸秆覆盖还田量对土壤微生物碳代谢特征的影响及其驱动因素的研究。  方法  采用MicroRespTM方法结合土壤碳氮含量等理化性质,测定土壤微生物碳代谢能力及其影响因素,使用Past v2.16、Canoco 5.0等软件对微生物群落功能多样性、结构差异以及土壤理化性质和微生物群落碳代谢特征间的关系进行分析。  结果  秸秆连续覆盖还田14年后,土壤微生物对羧酸类与氨基酸类碳源的代谢活性显著降低,但对外源碳底物的代谢多样性显著增强。67%和100%秸秆还田显著改变了土壤微生物群落碳源代谢结构,100%秸秆还田下微生物对芳香酸类碳源的相对代谢活性提高。土壤微生物对碳源的代谢活性主要与土壤碳氮含量显著相关,土壤可溶性碳与碱解氮含量分别是影响土壤微生物碳源代谢多样性和结构的主要理化因子。  结论  长期秸秆还田可以通过降低土壤微生物对易利用碳源的代谢需求、提高对碳源的代谢多样性而改善免耕土壤微生物碳代谢功能。本研究可为优化东北黑土区保护性耕作管理模式、促进该地区农业可持续发展提供微生物学参考。     

不同品种小麦与蚕豆间作对蚕豆枯萎病发生、根系分泌物和根际微生物群落功能多样性的影响

通过田间小区试验和盆栽试验,研究了3个不同品种小麦［云麦42（YM42）,云麦47（YM47）和绵阳29（MY29）］与蚕豆间作对蚕豆枯萎病发生、 根系分泌物和根际微生物群落功能多样性的影响。结果表明,云麦42与蚕豆间作处理（YM42//B）和云麦47与蚕豆间作处理（YM47//B）使蚕豆枯萎病病情指数分别降低47.6%和33.3%,而绵阳29与蚕豆间作处理（MY29//B）对蚕豆枯萎病病情指数无显著影响。与蚕豆单作相比,YM42//B和YM47//B处理显著增加了根系分泌物中有机酸的含量,显著降低了根系分泌物中可溶性总糖和游离氨基酸含量; 显著提高了蚕豆根际微生物对碳源的利用强度,明显改变了蚕豆根际微生物群落结构,并且YM42//B处理的影响大于YM47//B; 而MY29//B处理对碳源利用强度、 根际微生物群落结构和根系分泌物中有机酸、 可溶性总糖和游离氨基酸含量均无显著影响。 YM42//B处理根际微生物利用碳源的种类比YM47//B处理多,同时YM42//B和YM47//B处理利用的糖类、 氨基酸类和羧酸类碳源种类完全不同。表明云麦42和云麦47与蚕豆间作通过增加有机酸含量,从而提高根际微生物活性和多样性,促进了根际微生物利用更多的碳源,同时云麦42和云麦47与蚕豆间作抑制了氨基酸和总糖的分泌,而最终控制了蚕豆枯萎病的发生。表明不同品种小麦与蚕豆间作系统根系分泌物-根际微生物的互作是影响蚕豆枯萎病抗性的重要原因。小麦与蚕豆间作控病效果受小麦品种的影响,以云麦42与蚕豆间作效果最好,其次为云麦47与蚕豆间作,而绵阳29与蚕豆间作无显著控病效果。     

不同基肥对黄瓜根际土壤微生物群落多样性的影响

分别以RAPD分子生物学方法和BIOLOG生理学方法,研究了不同基肥对黄瓜根际土壤微生物群落DNA序列多样性和群落功能多样性的影响。结果表明,在本试验条件下,基肥为75000 kg/hm2有机肥处理和75000 kg/hm2有机肥加300 kg/hm2复合肥处理最好;基肥为600 kg/hm2复合肥处理而使土壤微生物群落DNA序列丰富度指数和多样性指数显著下降,与对照的DNA序列相似系数最低;有机肥处理有利于土壤微生物群落DNA序列多样性、均匀度和黄瓜产量的提高。此外,不同基肥处理改变了土壤微生物对单一碳源的利用能力。     

Taxonomic and functional diversity of the soil microbiome recruited from alternative crops in a rotation system

Intensive cropping is considered to contribute to negative effects both on soil physiochemical properties and on long-term grain yield, which can be alleviated by appropriate crop rotations. The soil microbial community can vary with different crop rotations, which in turn affect soil quality and grain yield. Therefore, it is of great significance to elucidate the response of the soil microbial community to crop rotation. In this study, the structural and functional changes of microbial community in different crop rotations were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing and metagenomics analysis in a field experiment. The continuous winter wheat-summer maize cropping system was the control, and three crop rotations were established in October 2016 as follows: (1) spring peanut→winter wheat-summer maize, (2) winter wheat-summer peanut→winter wheat-summer maize and (3) spring sweet potato→winter wheat-summer maize. Soil samples were collected in September 2021 for soil microbial assessment. The results showed that the relative abundance of Actinobacteriota in the soil of spring sweet potato→winter wheat-summer maize was significantly higher (15.2%) than that in the control. The relative abundance of Ascomycota was significantly higher (19.8%–23.2%) in the soil following crop rotation compared with the control. Compared with the control, spring peanut→winter wheat-summer maize enriched energy metabolism genes, and spring sweet potato→winter wheat-summer maize reduced the genes related to plant–pathogen interaction. Compared with the control, crop rotation significantly decreased the relative abundance of the inorganic phosphorus solubilization gene (gcd) and the phosphorus transport gene (upgE) and increased the abundance of organic phosphorus mineralization genes (phoA and phyA). Based on these results, we concluded that the composition of the soil microbial community and functional genes can be altered by crop rotation, and spring peanut→winter wheat-summer maize and spring sweet potato→winter wheat-summer maize had more significant effects. This study provided a reference for the selection of crop rotations in the North China Plain based on the soil microbial community and its function.     

Effects of land utilization patterns on soil microbial communities in an acid red soil based on DNA and PLFA analyses

Purpose

Disturbances such as cultivation, logging, and plantation occurred widely in acid red soil area of China, yet little is known about their effects on soil microbial community which is closely related to soil function. In this study, microbial community compositions were investigated in a red soil with different long-term land utilization patterns to understand the potential effects of cultivation and vegetation successions on relevant soil functions.

Materials and methods

Land utilization patterns include restoration, degradation (logging), cropland, and pine plantation. Both DNA- and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA)-based methods were used to measure the abundance and community structure of microorganisms.

Results and discussion

In general, DNA- and PLFA-based methods showed similar results of microbial composition, but for some parameters, only one approach showed significant differences between different land utilization patterns. Land utilization patterns showed significant effects on abundance of total microbial community, bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes which were all lowest in the cropland plot either by PLFA or DNA analyses. 17:0 cyclo/16:1 ω7c and 19:0 cyclo/18:1 ω7c which are possibly associated with environmental stresses also varied among different land utilization patterns. Both PLFA and T-RFLP analyses showed that each land utilization pattern possessed a specific microbial community structure.

Conclusions

These results revealed significant effects of different land utilization patterns especially cultivation and logging on soil microbial communities and suggested that we should be cautious in utilizing red soils to sustain soil properties and functions. Combination of DNA- and PLFA-based methods is effective to provide precise results of microbial composition.     

盐碱胁迫对黄瓜嫁接苗根际土壤细菌和真菌群落结构及丰度的影响

为了解盐碱胁迫对黄瓜嫁接苗根际土壤细菌和真菌群落结构的影响,本研究以2种耐盐碱砧木‘华砧108’(T1)、‘神力铁木砧’(T2)和2种盐碱敏感砧木‘辉太郎’(S1)、‘京欣砧6号’(S2)为试材,自根苗作为对照,以混合盐(盐分摩尔比为NaHCO_3∶Na_2SO_4∶NaCl∶Na_2CO_3=4∶2∶2∶0.15)浓度为100 mmol·L~(-1)、pH 9.0的处理液处理20 d、30 d、40 d(定植30 d、40 d、50 d),利用PCR-DGGE技术,研究了盐碱胁迫对不同砧木嫁接的黄瓜幼苗根际土壤微生物群落结构和丰度的影响。结果表明,耐盐碱的砧木品种T1、T2根际土壤真菌DGGE图谱条带数显著高于盐碱敏感的S2和自根苗对照CK,并且耐盐碱的品种T2土壤细菌的Shannon-Wiener指数与均匀度指数均显著高于盐碱敏感的品种S1、S2和自根苗对照CK。耐盐碱品种T1的细菌16S rDNA基因拷贝数在定植50 d时显著高于盐碱敏感的品种及自根苗;在定植40 d时,耐盐碱的砧木T2真菌ITS基因拷贝数显著高于盐碱敏感的品种以及黄瓜自根苗;定植50 d时,耐盐碱的砧木真菌ITS基因拷贝数显著高于盐碱敏感的品种,但与自根苗差异不显著。不同耐盐碱性砧木嫁接黄瓜幼苗根际土壤微生物群落结构组成和丰度存在差异。以上研究表明,随着盐碱胁迫时间的增加,耐盐碱性不同的砧木嫁接苗根际土壤微生物群落丰度与结构多样性产生了较大差异,间接改变了土壤微生态环境,致使土壤微生物数量和丰富度也发生改变。耐盐碱的砧木品种可能通过改善土壤微环境来加强其自身的耐盐碱特性。     

外源物质浸种对黄瓜陈种子萌发效应的影响

为提高老化种子的生活力和利用率，有效利用黄瓜种子，给黄瓜陈种子在生产中的应用提供数据支撑。以贮存11 a的黄瓜品种甘丰11号种子为材料，采用培养皿发芽法，研究不同外源物质CaCl2、KH2PO4、KNO3、SA、ZnSO4浸种对黄瓜陈种子萌发的影响。结果表明，5种不同浓度的药剂均能不同程度提高黄瓜种子的发芽率，以0.175 mg/L的CaCl2溶液浸种对黄瓜陈种子萌发的促进作用最显著，其发芽率为(91.67±1.66)%、发芽势为(87.90±1.40)%、发芽指数为53.63±2.15，较对照只加入清水处理分别提高31.58%、56.96%、69.37%，各处理间差异达到显著水平(P ＜ 0.05)。生产中可以选用0.175 mg/L的CaCl2溶液浸泡处理黄瓜陈种子。     

NaCl胁迫下玉米种子萌发过程中超弱光子辐射的变化

为了揭示盐胁迫下萌发种子超弱光子辐射的生物学意义,研究了NaCl胁迫下萌发玉米种子超弱光子辐射的变化规律。结果表明,在对照组的玉米种子萌发过程中,种子鲜质量和自发光子辐射逐渐增长,种子鲜质量和自发光子辐射的变化呈现正相关(相关系数r为0.9614);在50、100和150mmol/L的NaCl胁迫下萌发的玉米种子鲜质量与自发光子辐射也呈现正相关(相关系数r分别为0.9582、0.9406和0.9389),NaCl胁迫对萌发过程中种子鲜质量和自发光子辐射的增长都有抑制作用,NaCl浓度越大,抑制作用越强。研究还发现,NaCl胁迫会导致萌发过程中玉米种子延迟光子辐射中的初始光子数、相干时间和积分强度变小,并且呈现出强度效应。研究结果为揭示盐胁迫下萌发种子超弱光子辐射的生物学意义,开发基于作物耐盐性评价和种质资源鉴定等方面的活体无损检测新技术提供参考。     

Effect of cinnamic acid on soil microbial characteristics in the cucumber rhizosphere

In order to elucidate the effect of allelochemicals on soil microbial characteristics in the cucumber rhizosphere, the soil microbial biomass and respiration, community functional diversity and RAPD marker diversity as affected by exogenous cinnamic acid were studied. Exogenous cinnamic acid increased soil microbial respiration and the metabolic quotient, but decreased soil microbial biomass-C. Soil microbial community functional diversity and genetic diversity (as indicated by RAPD markers) were also significantly altered by exogenous cinnamic acid. These results suggest that allelochemicals can change soil microbial genetic diversity, biological activity and microbial metabolic activity, which alter soil microbial ecology and accordingly affect the growth of cucumber with accumulation in the soil of allelochemicals.     

Soil Microbial Community Diversity and Its Relationships with Geochemical Elements under different Farmlands in Shouguang,China

The aims of this study were to investigate soil microbial community characteristics and their interrelationships with soil geochemistry under different farmlands in Shouguang, China. The traditional dilution plate counts, BIOLOG system, and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analyses were used to assess microbial populations, substrate utilization, and fatty acid profiles. The number of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria varied significantly among untilled land, maize, and mungbean fields. The amounts of actinomycetes, fungal fatty acids, and Gram-positive/Gram-negative bacteria ratios varied greatly among celery, tomato, and aubergine fields. In the tomato field, the soil microbial community characteristics were significantly different from other fields. Principal component analysis of BIOLOG and FAME data revealed differences in the catabolic capability and fatty acid profiles of soil microbial communities among different farmlands. Spearman correlation analyses showed that in these sand clay soils of Shouguang, microbial communities in different farmlands were closely correlated with soil geochemical elements, moisture, and organic matter.     

Effects of cover crops,compost, and manure amendments on soil microbial community structure in tomato production systems

Soil microbial community structure and crop yield was investigated in field tomato production systems that compared black polyethylene mulch to hairy vetch mulch and inorganic N to organic N. The following hypotheses were tested: (1) hairy vetch cover cropping increases crop yield and significantly affects soil microbial community structure when compared to the standard plastic mulch and synthetic fertilizer-based system; (2) within plastic mulch systems, organic amendments will increase crop yield and significantly affect soil microbial community structure when compared to synthetic fertilizer; (3) crop yields and microbial community structure will be similar in the hairy vetch cover cropping and the organic amended plasticulture systems. Treatments consisted of ammonium nitrate (control), hairy vetch cover crop, hairy vetch cover crop and poultry manure compost (10 Mg/ha), three levels of poultry manure compost (5, 10, and 20 Mg/ha), and two levels of poultry manure (2.5 and 5 Mg/ha). Black polyethylene mulch was used in all treatments without hairy vetch. Fatty acid analysis was used to characterize the total soil microbial community structure, while two substrate utilization assays were used to investigate the community structure of culturable bacteria and fungi. Crop yield was not significantly increased by hairy vetch cover cropping when compared to black polyethylene mulch, although microbial community structure was significantly affected by cover cropping. Under black polyethylene mulch, crop yields were significantly increased by the highest levels of compost and manure when compared to inorganic fertilizer, but there was no detectable effect on soil microbial community structure. When cover cropping was compared to organic amended plasticulture systems, crop yields were similar one year but dissimilar the next. However, hairy vetch cover cropping and organic amendments under black plastic mulch produced significantly different soil microbial community structure.     

Physiological and biochemical metabolism of germinating broccoli seeds and sprouts

Changes in physiological and biochemical metabolism as well as glucoraphanin and sulforaphane contents of germinating broccoli seeds and sprouts were investigated in this study. Sprout length, root length, and fresh weight increased with germination time. Dry weight varied from 2.5 to 3.0 mg per sprout. A rapid increase in respiratory rate of sprouts occurred between 24 and 36 h of germination and then stayed at a high level. HPLC analysis found that glucoraphanin content increased at the early stage (0-12 h) of germination, decreased to a low value of 3.02 mg/g at 48 h, and then reached the highest value of 6.30 mg/g at 72 h of germination. Sulforaphane content decreased dramatically during the first day of germination, then increased slowly, and reached a high value of 3.38 mg/g at 48 h before declining again.