中压电场预处理对苹果组织损伤程度及微观结构的影响

为了探究中压电场预处理(100 V/cm)对苹果组织结构损伤程度的影响,从宏观层面上分析了电场强度(15~90 V/cm)、温度(30~70℃)、频率(50~1000 Hz)等处理参数对苹果组织结构损伤率的影响规律,解析了温度对苹果组织损伤过程的影响;从微观层面上对不同温度和电场强度下苹果组织微观结构进行了电镜扫描观察。结果表明,同样温度下,中压电场预处理时的苹果组织结构损伤率远高于水浴加热处理(P0.05);场强较高(45 V/cm)时苹果组织结构损伤率随温度的升高而线性增大;场强较低(30 V/cm)处理时与水浴处理均呈现先缓慢上升再急剧增大的变化趋势,但中压电场预处理增速更快。温度低于70℃时,苹果组织结构损伤率随电场强度升高而增加,随频率的增大而减小。苹果组织结构损伤率随时间的变化符合一级反应动力学模型;中压电场强度30 V/cm时,通过组织损伤速率常数、特征损伤时间计算所得活化能分别为122.88和157.01 k J/mol;水浴处理时组织损伤速率常数所得活化能为143.82 k J/mol。苹果组织细胞微观结构观察显示,中压电场电、热协同作用更易损伤苹果组织。研究结果可为改进苹果深加工预处理工艺提供参考。     

酸性条件下H+Ca2+在红壤表面反应的能量特征

用自行设计的动力学装置研究了酸性条件下H -Ca2 在红壤表面的反应动力学能量特征。结果表明 ,酸性条件下Ca2 吸附分为快反应和慢反应。用一级动力学方程拟合的Ca2 最大吸附量随酸度增加显著下降 ,随温度升高提前达到平衡。用双常数方程描述Ca2 在吸附点位能量分布的不均匀性 ,用扩散速率常数计算的活化能 (Eb )随酸度的增加而增加 ,Ca2 扩散需克服的能障加大 ;ΔH 值为正 ,温度升高可促进Ca2 的扩散 ;ΔS 值均为负 ,说明吸附反应使体系有序度增加。原液pH为 4 .5和 5 .6时 ,流出液的pH急剧下降 ,H 表观释放量用一级动力学和双常数方程拟合为最佳模型 ,其次是Elovich方程、扩散方程和零级方程 ;pH5 .6处理时H 、Al3 扩散进入溶液克服的能障比pH 4 .5处理的小 ,后者质子扩散需热能较大而不易进行 ;H 扩散活化焓变为正 ,其扩散是吸热过程。pH 3.5时流入液比流出液的pH高 ,是由于土壤的缓冲作用、土壤表面质子化和硫酸根专性吸附释放羟基 ;当溶液中H 超过一定数量后 ,向颗粒表面扩散的H 量比向外释放的多 ,反应初期的H 消耗是快反应过程。H 消耗的活化能及热焓比其释放的低 ,更有利于H 的吸附 ,因H 对矿物的溶蚀成为速率控制步骤 ,H 对矿物的溶解可用扩散方程和Elovich方程描述     

生物质成型颗粒燃料燃烧特性的试验研究

该文利用热重分析仪对玉米秸秆、木屑、混合木屑三种生物质成型颗粒燃料进行了理论分析,分段比较了三种颗粒燃料的燃烧特点及各段表观活化能和频率因子的热化学动力学参数,分析了成型处理工序对生物质燃烧特性的影响。结合颗粒燃料在燃烧炉中的实际燃烧特点,明确了影响颗粒燃料燃烧适应性的主导因素是挥发分的析出和燃烧速率,由此为改良低质颗粒燃料、提高燃烧炉适应性提出了指导性建议。     

CeO2纳米颗粒催化柴油燃烧氧化特性分析

为了深入了解柴油中添加Ce O2纳米催化剂后生成颗粒的氧化特性,该文配制了Ce O2质量分数分别为0、50、100 mg/kg的纳米催化燃油,利用微粒分级采样装置采集柴油机燃用3种燃料生成的颗粒样品,采用扫描电镜研究了Ce O2质量分数对颗粒形貌特征的影响,通过热重分析方法研究了升温速率、Ce O2质量分数对颗粒氧化特性的影响并采用Coast-Redfern方法计算了颗粒的活化能。结果表明:颗粒群为团簇状结构,粒径范围在20~70 nm之间;随着Ce O2质量分数增加,颗粒平均粒径减小,粒径向小粒径方向移动,计盒维数增大。随着升温速率的增加,颗粒氧化过程出现滞后现象,氧化反应区域变宽,初始氧化温度、峰值失重温度和氧化终止温度增高,失重率峰值变小。升温速率对颗粒反应活化能影响较小。升温速率相同时,随着Ce O2质量分数的增加,颗粒的反应活化能、初始氧化温度、峰值失重温度和氧化终止温度均降低,Ce O2质量分数越高,降幅越大。Ce O2纳米催化剂添加到柴油后,使颗粒粒径变小,并能促进颗粒的氧化,降低颗粒起燃温度,可有效降低柴油机微粒捕集器(diesel particulate filter,DPF)再生温度和延长再生周期,对柴油机排气净化具有重要的意义。     

用温度变换日数法预测包膜尿素氮素的溶出率

通过不同温度培养试验方法,根据反应速度理论法求得了包膜尿素(LP30)氮素的溶出特性值,并采用基于反应速度理论的温度变换日数法预测了包膜尿素(LP30)在自然土壤温度条件下氮素的溶出率。研究表明:包膜尿素(LP30)氮素溶出符合一级化学反应(Nt=N0[1-exp(-kt)]);溶出速率常数(k)具有温度依存性:在10℃～25℃范围内,速率常数(k)在0.0081～0.0425之间,反应活化能(Ea)为75733J mol-1;基于反应速率理论的温度变换日数法能够应用并预测自然温度条件下包膜尿素氮素的溶出率。     

传统与微波辅助工艺提取苹果果胶品质比较

该研究比较了传统工艺（CSE）与微波辅助工艺（MAE）所提取苹果果胶的品质差异,微波工艺[pH=1.0,提取时间20.8 min,功率499 W,料液比=1︰14.5（m/V）]提取的苹果果胶其得率、纯度和总离子含量均显著高于传统工艺[pH=2.0,提取时间1.5 h,温度85℃,料液比=1︰13],动态模式下对果胶溶液凝胶性能分析发现,传统工艺提取的苹果果胶凝胶温度为94℃,微波工艺提取的温度为82℃,但其酯化度和黏均分子质量显著小于传统工艺;传统工艺提取的苹果果胶溶液褐变指数、屈服应力、表观黏度、活化能显著高于微波工艺,总酚含量显著低于微波工艺;传统工艺提取苹果果胶溶液的亮度值和色调角均高于微波工艺,彩度值低于微波工艺提取的苹果果胶;频率扫描发现,传统工艺提取的果胶溶液具有更加稳定的三维结构,分子间相互结合得更加紧密,具有更好的凝胶特性。     

亚临界丙烷萃取米糠油及其微量活性组分动力学模型

为了揭示亚临界流体萃取米糠油及其微量活性组分的动力学规律,该文以亚临界丙烷为萃取介质,研究了米糠油、γ-谷维素及α-生育酚等活性组分在不同萃取温度和时间的萃取率,并基于 Baümler 模型对目标物的萃取率进行模型拟合,建立相应的动力学模型并验证。结果表明,亚临界萃取过程中目标物的相对萃取率随时间增长递增,且在初始阶段（洗涤过程）的增长速率快于第二阶段（扩散过程）的增长速率;同时,升高萃取温度可同时提高目标产物的扩散系数和相对萃取率;基于Baümler模型可较好拟合亚临界丙烷萃取米糠油、γ-谷维素和α-生育酚的动力学过程（R2>0.95）,所得动力学模型具有较好的预测准确性。由Arrhenius方程可计算出米糠油、α-生育酚和γ-谷维素的亚临界萃取反应活化能,其中米糠油的活化能最低（5.23 kJ/mol）,α-生育酚次之（7.05 kJ/mol）,γ-谷维素最高（9.11 kJ/mol）,表明γ-谷维素最难萃取且对温度依赖程度最高;根据拟合所得动力学模型,对米糠油提取率进行预测,结果表明,该模型对米糠油萃取率的预测准确率达95.8%,而对γ-谷维素和α-生育酚萃取率的预测准确度稍低,分别达94.7%和94.4%,对三者均具有很好的预测准确性。总之,基于 Baümler 模型可以较好地建立米糠油及其有益伴随物的亚临界萃取动力学模型,从而较为准确的预测米糠油及其微量活性组分的萃取率,对米糠油的亚临界萃取工艺具有一定的理论指导意义。     

钯炭催化木质素模型化合物愈创木酚加氢脱氧制备烷烃

针对木质素催化加氢脱氧制备烃类燃料,以木质素模型化合物愈创木酚催化加氢脱氧制备烷烃为模型反应,研究了活性炭负载Pd、Pt、Ru、Rh金属催化剂,在磷酸溶液中催化愈创木酚加氢脱氧制备烷烃的反应性能。结果表明,Pd/C催化剂显示了较高的催化活性,在催化剂用量0.02g,反应温度225℃,磷酸质量分数0.5%,氢气压力5MPa的条件下反应1h,烃类产物(环己烷和甲基环戊烷)收率可达78%。建立了催化愈创木酚加氢脱氧制备烷烃反应的动力学模型,并得到Pd/C催化愈创木酚转化反应各步的反应速率常数和表观活化能。其中,愈创木酚部分加氢脱氧反应活化能为60.1kJ/mol,含氧产物深度加氢脱氧反应活化能为73.6kJ/mol。研究结果为进一步研究木质素制备烃类燃料提供了参考。     

K+浓度对潮土和褐土钾吸附动力学的影响

研究了潮土、褐土在五种Ｋ十浓度下吸附Ｋ＋的动力学，结果表明：不同浓度下的表观吸附过程均可用一级反应动力学方程描述；表观吸附速率常数ｋａ及其与表观平衡吸附量ｑ∞的乘积与淋洗液Ｋ＋浓度之间均表现为极显著的直线正相关；表观平衡吸附量与浓度之间的关系符合Ｌａｎｇｍｕｉｒ或Ｆｒｅｕｎｄｌｉｃｈ等温吸附公式。依据试验结果对土壤钾吸附动力学进行了讨论与推导，找到四个动力学参数ｎ、ｋ１、Ｋ２、ｑｍａｘ，通过这些动力学参数可以计算表观吸附动力学参数Ｋａ、ｑ∞和平衡常数Ｋ及吸附过程中的自由能变△Ｇ，在一定条件下，还可以用来判断等温吸附的类型、估算等温吸附参数。     

蒙脱石-氧化铁复合体的表征及其对不同形态磷的吸附特性

制备了蒙脱石-针铁矿复合体(Mt-Goe)和蒙脱石-非/弱晶质氧化铁复合体(Mt-HFO),研究了它们的结构、表面性质及其对无机磷酸盐(Pi)和植酸(IHP)的吸附特性。结果显示,Mt-Goe中少量羟基铁离子进入了蒙脱石晶层间导致其层间距增大,针铁矿颗粒较好地包被在蒙脱石外表面;Mt-HFO中蒙脱石层间则发生了Fe~(3+)水解,生成了(羟基)铁氧化物,并在蒙脱石表面形成非晶质氧化铁颗粒。蒙脱石、Mt-Goe和Mt-HFO的比表面积分别为258.7、185.4和226.4 m~2·g~(–1),其表面分形度、等电点和表面羟基含量均依次升高,pH5.5时的表面Zeta电位分别为–46.1、–13.6和–19.4 mV。3种样品对Pi和IHP的吸附模式以匀质性表面单层吸附为主,Langmuir饱和吸附量(qmax)和吸附亲和力均表现为由大到小依次为Mt-HFO、Mt-Goe、蒙脱石。3种样品对Pi和IHP的动力学吸附过程适合用准二级动力学模型描述,其速率常数由小到大依次为Mt-HFO、Mt-Goe、蒙脱石。与吸附Pi相比,3种样品吸附IHP的动力学速率常数明显减小,吸附量明显增大;Mt-HFO对IHP的吸附速率尤其缓慢,而吸附量远大于对Pi的吸附量。     

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.