水分和CO2对玉米光合性能及水分利用率的影响

利用环境生长室探讨不同CO₂浓度和土壤水分亏缺处理下玉米植株生物量、气孔形态与分布特征、叶片气体交换参数、叶绿素荧光参数等生长及生理指标的变化规律。以‘郑单958’ 玉米品种为试材,利用环境生长室设置2个CO₂浓度和4个土壤水分梯度对玉米进行CO₂浓度和水分处理。结果表明：1）不同程度土壤水分亏缺均显著降低玉米地上生物量（P<0.05）,但CO₂浓度升高增加了轻度水分亏缺条件下玉米地上生物量（P<0.01）和总生物量（P<0.01）。2）大气CO₂浓度升高导致轻度和中度水分亏缺条件下玉米的净光合速率（P_n）分别提高15.8%（P<0.05）和25.7%（P=0.001）,而CO₂浓度升高却降低了玉米叶片蒸腾速率（P<0.001）和气孔导度（P<0.001）,最终导致玉米瞬时水分利用效率均显著提高（P<0.001）。3）不同水分处理对玉米叶片气孔密度和单个气孔形态特征均造成显著影响（P<0.01）。因此,大气CO₂浓度升高可以增加轻度水分亏缺条件下玉米叶片氮含量、叶片非结构性碳水化合物含量和光合电子传递速率,从而提高玉米植株的生物量累积以及叶片碳同化能力和水分利用效率。研究结果将为深入理解气候变化背景下玉米对大气CO₂浓度升高和土壤水分亏缺的生理生态响应机制提供科学依据。     

猪肉油炒过程传质参数测定及其对烹饪过程控制的影响

为提升油炒数值模拟的可靠性及准确度,揭示可控操作对烹饪过程参数的影响及关键过程参数对烹饪的影响。通过无量纲水分含量分析解法,测定了中式油炒猪里脊肉过程中的表面传质系数（surface mass transfer coefficient, h_m）和有效水分扩散系数（effective moisture diffusion coefficient, D_eff）,分析了预热油温及样品比表面积Ω对h_m及D_eff的影响;基于已构建的油炒热质传递数学模型、成熟值理论,对比了h_m和流体-颗粒表面传热系数（fluid-to-particle surface heat transfer coefficient, h_fp）对烹饪成熟控制的影响。结果表明：与油炸过程类似研究的文献数据相比,该研究中h_m值偏大在5.927×10^?6～2.481×10^?5 m/s之间,D_eff在6.281×10^?9～4.148×10^?8 m²/s之间,D_eff活化能（E_a）在24.2～30.6 kJ/mol范围内;预热油温、比表面积Ω对h_m及D_eff有显著影响（P<0.05）,预热油温越高h_m和D_eff越大,比表面积Ω越大h_m越大,D_eff越小;h_m对烹饪成熟控制影响较小,而h_fp是烹饪成熟控制的关键过程参数。研究结果为油炒过程模拟提供了重要参数,为烹饪过程控制提供依据。     

等高反坡阶对玉米生长及光合特性的影响

[目的] 探讨坡耕地等高反坡台阶措施对玉米生长及光合特性的影响,为云南省坡耕地作物种植提供科学依据。[方法] 以玉米（云瑞668）为供试材料,采用田间试验,试验设置2个布设有反坡台阶的坡耕地样地（2^#和3^#,CR）及1个未扰动的对照样地（1^#,CK）,通过野外定位监测方法,测定玉米生长相关指标,净光合速率、蒸腾速率、水分利用效率以及作物产量,研究等高反坡阶对玉米生长特征、光合特性的影响。[结果] 等高反坡阶措施对玉米茎粗、穗位高影响不显著。反坡阶坡中地块对玉米株高促进作用最为显著,增幅为27.9%;反坡阶样地玉米叶面积指数显著高于原状坡耕地,LAI最高达5.01~5.78,灌浆期后可维持相对较高的LAI,而CK组LAI范围为3.78~4.79,且下降较快;反坡阶处理下玉米叶片净光合速率（P_n）、气孔导度（G_s）、叶片瞬时水分利用效率（WUE_L）、作物水分利用效率（WUE）均高于坡耕地;玉米产量分别较坡耕地提高了9.6%,13.8%。[结论] 在云南省坡耕地作物种植地区,通过布设等高反坡阶减少水土流失,提高土壤水分,增加土壤贮水量,进而使叶片维持较高的光合作用以及生理状态,为玉米干物质生产奠定了生理基础,提高了作物产量。自然降雨情况下,坡耕地坡度为15°时布设高反坡阶对玉米光合特性、WUE及产量促进作用最佳。     

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。     

开花灌浆期小麦叶片奢侈蒸腾发生的土壤水分阈值试验研究

奢侈蒸腾耗水对作物光合及产量形成贡献较低,而开花灌浆期是冬小麦产量形成的关键期,精准调控作物蒸腾耗水、明确影响奢侈蒸腾的土壤水分阈值,对提高冬小麦的水分利用效率至关重要。本研究以冬小麦品种‘石新828’为材料,在人工气候生长箱进行盆栽试验,定量研究土壤水分对作物气孔导度、光合速率和蒸腾速率的影响,明确开花灌浆期奢侈蒸腾产生的土壤水分阈值。结果表明：气孔导度与土壤水吸力关系密切,在土壤水吸力较低时,气孔导度随土壤水吸力增加而迅速降低,而土壤水吸力较高时,气孔导度降低速度变缓。光合速率随土壤水吸力增加以抛物线的形式递减,当土壤水吸力低于1.2 MPa时,光合速率接近最大值,随后土壤水吸力继续增加,光合速率逐渐降低。蒸腾速率随着土壤水吸力增加呈线性递减,降低速率为2.3 mmol·m^-2·s^-1·MPa^-1。光合速率与蒸腾速率的关系符合米氏方程,蒸腾速率低于2.179 mmol·m^-2·s^-1时,光合速率随蒸腾速率线性增加,当蒸腾速率高于此值时,单位光合速率的增加变缓,奢侈蒸腾开始产生,此值所对应的土壤水吸力为1.76 MPa,此时叶片光合速率处于较高（16 μmol·m^-2·s^-1左右）水平,叶片水平水分利用效率（WUE_L）达到最高7.3 μmol（CO₂）·mmol^-1（H₂O）。综上所述,小麦叶片奢侈蒸腾的发生始于水分利用效率从最高转向降低、光合速率处于较高水平而非最大。通过光合随蒸腾变化的米氏方程关系及蒸腾与土壤水吸力的线性关系,可以确定土壤水吸力1.76 MPa为小麦开花灌浆期叶片奢侈蒸腾发生的土壤水分阈值。     

腐殖酸和植物促生芽孢杆菌对黑麦草抗逆性及砒砂岩土壤性状的影响

[目的] 探究微生物在砒砂岩土壤修复工程中的作用,为微生物强化植物改良砒砂岩土壤的科学设想提供新思路。[方法] 以黑麦草作为供试作物,通过室内盆栽模拟试验的方法,研究接种植物促生芽孢杆菌Bacillus halotolerans P75,施用腐殖酸肥料以及不同的菌肥搭配对水土流失严重的砒砂岩土壤理化性质及黑麦草生长和抗逆性指标的影响。[结果] 与对照相比,Bacillus hallotolerans P75发酵液与腐殖酸协同处理显著提高了黑麦草叶片中SOD活性（229.7%）、POD活性（83.6%）和脯氨酸含量（119.3%）,显著增加砒砂岩土壤中多糖、有机质、速效磷和速效钾含量,且土壤渗水率明显降低。[结论] 植物促生芽孢杆菌Bacillus hallotolerans P75发酵液与腐殖酸肥料协同作用能够显著改善砒砂岩土壤的水分、养分流失问题,提高黑麦草的抗逆性,强化植物对砒砂岩土壤的改良和修复。     

砒砂岩区沙棘液流及细根变化对土壤水分变化的响应

[目的] 研究砒砂岩区土壤含水量对沙棘液流速率及细根变化的响应,为沙棘在砒砂岩等干旱缺水地区的合理栽培和经营提供参考。[方法] 利用Granier茎干液流测定系统,对砒砂岩地区鄂尔多斯市准格尔旗暖水乡沙棘（Hippophae rhamnoides）人工林的茎干液流进行长期监测,并同时对植物的细根及细根周围的土壤水分进行测定,运用相关性分析法分析沙棘人工林在生长季（6—10月）的茎干液流日变化规律及植物细根对土壤水分变化的响应。[结果] ①土壤含水量与沙棘液流速率呈现出在前期（6—7月）较低,中后期（7—9月）不断升高,后期（9—10月）有迅速下降的变化趋势。而沙棘细根的生长速率也呈现出中后期较高,前期和后期较低的变化趋势。②比较生长季各月份土壤含水量和沙棘液流速率的变化趋势趋于一致,从大到小排列依次为：8月>7月>9月>6月>10月。③土壤含水量变化与沙棘液流速率变化呈极显著正相关关系（p<0.01）,随着土壤含水量增大,沙棘液流速率逐渐升高;沙棘细根生长速率与沙棘液流速率呈显著正相关关系（p<0.05）,沙棘细根生长速度越快,沙棘液流速率越大;反之,沙棘细根生长速度越慢,沙棘液流速率越低。土壤含水量变化与细根生长速率呈极显著正相关关系（p<0.01）,随着土壤含水量升高,沙棘细根生长速率逐渐增大。[结论] 砒砂岩地区沙棘液流变化是影响土壤水分变化的主要因素,而沙棘细根变化同样影响土壤水分的变化,相对而言,沙棘液流变化比沙棘细根变化影响土壤水分变化大。说明植物蒸腾是砒砂岩区影响土壤水分变化的主要因素。     

CO2浓度升高对不同水分条件下冬小麦生长和水分利用的影响

以CO₂浓度升高为主要特征的气候变化对作物生长发育及产量形成的影响日益受到重视。冬小麦是我国主要粮食作物之一, 主要分布在干旱及半干旱地区, 且生长期内多干旱少雨。研究不同水分条件下冬小麦的生长变化及水分利用对CO₂浓度升高的响应具有重要的科学和实践意义。本研究在封顶式生长室中对2个土壤水分水平[适宜水分: 70%~80%田间持水量; 干旱胁迫: 50%~60%田间持水量]的盆栽冬小麦进行了CO₂熏蒸试验[背景大气浓度: (396.1±29.2) μmol·mol^-1; 升高的浓度: (760.1±36.1)μmol·mol^-1]。对小麦植株生理指标、生物量、产量、耗水量和水分利用效率(WUE)等的研究结果表明, 与背景大气CO₂浓度相比, CO₂浓度升高可促进冬小麦生长, 其地上生物量显著增加, 适宜水分和干旱胁迫条件下分别增加了28.6%和18.6%; 籽粒产量显著增加, 适宜水分和干旱胁迫条件下分别增加了32.6%和22.6%; CO₂浓度升高主要通过增加穗粒数提高籽粒产量, 穗粒数在适宜水分条件下提高24.3%, 干旱胁迫条件下提高15.5%, 对千粒重没有显著影响。CO₂浓度升高使群体和产量WUE显著提高, 在适宜水分条件下提高幅度较大, 分别提高17.7%和24.8%。CO₂浓度升高显著提高了叶片光合速率(P_n)、降低了气孔导度(G_s)和蒸腾速率(T_r); 在适宜水分和干旱胁迫下P_n分别提高15.6%与12.9%, G_s分别降低22.7%与18.2%, T_r分别降低8.9%与7.5%。CO₂浓度升高提高了叶片水势及叶绿素含量; 在适宜水分条件下叶片水势提高幅度较大, 为7.7%; 叶片叶绿素含量在2种水分条件分别提高7.5%与3.8%。由以上试验结果可得出: CO₂浓度升高对冬小麦的生长、产量及水分利用效率均具有促进作用, 而且在土壤水分状况较好时, 这种作用效果更明显; CO₂浓度升高主要通过增加穗粒数来促进产量提高。     

大气CO2增加对水稻光合、蒸腾及水分利用率的影响

本研究采用开顶式培养室对两个水稻品种矮香糯(O.sativa var.aixiangnuo)和安农S(O.satica var. anong-S) 在模拟大气CO₂浓度升高环境中叶片光合速率、蒸腾速率及水分利用率的变化作了初步研究。结果表明 ，生长在650±30mg.kg^-1CO₂浓度下的水稻其光合速率、水分利用率提高，蒸腾速率降低 ，气孔阻力增加，且品种间差异极显著。     

被动荧光探测水分胁迫对玉米叶片影响的初步研究

利用叶绿素荧光被动探测方法初步探讨了水分胁迫对玉米叶片生理机能的影响。水分胁迫梯度通过将离体叶片放在干燥器时间不同而获得。室内采用积分球耦合ASD光谱仪，结合加/不加滤光片照明的方法得到反射率差值光谱，即代表叶绿素荧光光谱。结果表明随着叶片含水率的降低，叶绿素荧光发射峰的位置几乎没有变化，峰高在686 nm处有先上升后逐渐降低的趋势，在740 nm处则缓慢下降。双峰比值Dif₆₈₆/Dif₇₄₀与叶片含水率呈负相关关系(R²=0.3850，n=21)，不同水分胁迫程度下利用调制式荧光仪测定的荧光参数Fv/Fm与740 nm荧光光谱峰值线性正相关，与双峰比值有负相关趋势。表明该被动方法可以探测水分胁迫引起的叶片光系统受胁状况，为田间被动遥感探测植物叶绿素荧光和生理状态提供参考。     

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.     

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.     

Genetic similarities among Spanisch populations of Agropyron, Elymus and Thinopyrum, using PCR-based markers

Arbitrary oligonucleotides were used as primers to amplifygenomic DNA of 48 wild Spanish populations of Agropyroncristatum, Elymus hispanicus,E. caninus,E. repens,Thinopyrum curvifolium, Th.junceum and Th.intermedium. Genetic diversity was analysedusing nineteen primers. The number of amplified products ranged from8 to 18 per primer and a total of 240 markers were scored. Differentlevels of intraspecific genetic diversity were found, the allogamousspecies E. repens andTh. intermedium being themost variable. Jaccard's similarity coefficients for internalmeasure within and between populations were used to produce a clusterdiagram. The results demonstrate differences in the degree ofsimilarity between taxonomic units. Interpopulational variability andinterspecific genomic relationships of these species arediscussed.     

Mycorrhizae,biocides, and biocontrol. 4. Response of a mixed culture of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and host plant to three fungicides

The effects of three commonly used fungicides on the colonization and sporulation by a mixture of three arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi consisting of Glomus etunicatum (Becker & Gerd.), Glomus mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.) Gerd. & Trappe, and Gigaspora rosea (Nicol. & Schenck) in symbiosis with pea plants and the resulting response of the host-plant were examined. Benomyl, PCNB, and captan were applied as soil drenches at a rate of 20 mg active ingredient kg^-1 soil 2 weeks after transplanting pea seedlings in a silty clay-loam soil containing the mixed inocula of AM fungi (AM plants). Effects of fungicides were compared to untreated plants that were inoculated with fungi (AM control). The effect of mycorrhizal inoculation on plant growth was also examined by including nonmycorrhizal, non-fungicide-treated plants (non-AM control). Fungicides or inoculation with AM fungi had only a small effect on the final shoot weights of pea plants, but had greater effects on root length and seed yield. AM control plants had higher seed yields and lower root lengths than the corresponding non-AM plants, and the fungicide-treated AM plants had intermediate yields and root lengths. Seed N and P contents were likewise highest in AM control plants, lowest in non-AM plants, and intermediate in fungicide-treated AM plants. All three fungicides depressed the proportion (%) of root length colonized by AM fungi, but these differences did not translate to reductions in the total root length that was colonized, since roots were longer in the fungicide-treated AM plants. Pea plants apparently compensated for the reduction in AM-fungal metabolism due to fungicides by increasing root growth. Fungicides affected the population of the three fungi as determined by sporulation at the final harvest. Captan significantly reduced the number, relative abundance, and relative volume of G. rosea spores in the final population relative to the controls. The relative volume of G. etunicatum spores was greater in all the fungicide-treated soils, while G. mosseae relative volumes were only greater in the captan-treated soil. These findings show that fungicides can alter the species composition of an AM-fungal community. The results also show that AM fungi can increase seed yield without enhancing the vegetative shoot growth of host plants.