覆盖模式及小麦根系对土壤微生物区系的影响

采用平皿分离培养法研究了5种栽培模式和小麦根系对土壤细菌、真菌及放线菌数量的影响。连续2年的定位测定结果表明:覆膜有利于土壤微生物数量增加。5种栽培模式中,小麦根区、根外土壤细菌数量均以覆膜模式下最高,分别为116.8×106cfu·g-1和86.7×106cfu·g-1;土壤真菌和放线菌数量均以垄沟覆膜(垄上覆膜、垄沟播种)模式下最高,分别为3.0×103cfu·g-1、1.4×103cfu·g-1和18.9×105cfu·g-1、19.7×105cfu·g-1。不同模式下小麦根系对土壤细菌和真菌数量影响较大,表现为根区高于根外;而根系对放线菌影响较小,只有补灌和覆膜2种模式为根区高于根外。多重比较结果显示,覆膜与其他模式之间细菌数量差异极显著,根区土壤细菌和真菌数量与根外存在显著差异。覆盖和根系能大幅度增加根区细菌、真菌和放线菌的数量,强化小麦根区根外细菌和真菌的数量差异。     

生防链霉菌配施棉秆炭对连作棉田土壤微生物区系的影响

棉花是重要的经济作物,长期连作能引起棉花土壤微生态的失衡、土传病害加重、进而导致产量和品质的下降,影响棉花产业的健康发展。本文以连作棉田土壤为研究对象,进行室内培养试验,在施用生防放线菌黄三素链霉菌(Streptomyces flavotricini)的基础上添加不同量的棉秆炭[0 g·kg~(-1)(CK)、25.0 g·kg~(-1)、50.0 g·kg~(-1)、100.0 g·kg~(-1)],采用微生物计数和16S rDNA基因序列分析的方法,研究两者配施对连作棉田土壤中生防菌数量、微生物数量和种类的影响,为棉花黄萎病的生物防治提供新的思路。研究结果表明:(1)生防放线菌配施棉秆炭对连作棉田土壤中微生物区系有显著的影响。与单施生防放线菌菌剂的处理相比,两者配施显著增加了土壤中细菌、放线菌和真菌数量,其中配施25.0 g·kg-1棉秆炭处理使土壤中细菌/真菌数量比(B/F)、放线菌/真菌数量比(A/F)分别增加了5 271.2%和30.8%(P0.05)。(2)土壤中生防放线菌数量随着棉秆炭施用量增加而显著增加,配施100.0 g·kg~(-1)棉秆炭处理显著增加了2 672.8%(P0.05)。棉秆炭具有作为生防放线菌良好载体的潜力。(3)生防放线菌配施棉秆炭也改变了土壤中优势微生物的数量和比例,尤其提高了细菌中芽孢杆菌的数量和所占的比例;100.0 g·kg~(-1)棉秆炭与菌剂配施使土壤中链霉菌的数量及比例显著高于对照,但降低了小单孢菌数量;增加了真菌中米曲梅、黑曲霉和木霉的数量,但使其所占比例降低。由此可以看出,生防放线菌配施棉秆炭能提高连作棉田土壤中生防放线菌的数量,增强生防菌制剂的防病促生作用,改善连作棉田土壤微生物群落结构,在防控棉花连作障碍上具有较大的应用潜力。     

Glyphosate and the response of the soil microbiota

Limited information on the effect of glyphosate (N-phosphonomethylglycine) on soil microorganisms justified an inquiry into the response of soil actinomycetes, bacteria and fungi in terms of their respiration, and sensitivity of isolates. Low concentrations of glyphosate had little effect on total populations of these organisms during the 214-day experiment, while high concentrations initially increased actinomycete and bacterial numbers by 2 and 1$\text{case1}\text{2}$ logs, respectively. The stimulation was followed by a decline and fluctuation showing a gradual increase in numbers. The respiration rates of the soil microbiota in soil suspensions, showed some irregular stimulation and retardation with up to 10 μg glyphosate ml^?1. In contrast high doses suppressed O₂ uptake by the microbiota. Fungi were the least affected. Pronounced inhibition of actinomycete and bacterial respiration was in agreement with the results from isolate replication. The results indicated both stimulation and inhibition of O₂ uptake by some organisms within these groups. In contrast to some reports of limited, short-term inquiries these results showed considerable effects of glyphosate on soil microorganisms.     

Aflatoxin B1 effects on soil microorganisms

Corn contaminated with aflatoxin is unfit for consumption by animals and is most often disposed of by plowing it into the soil. The effect of aflatoxin B₁ on the population and activity of soil microorganisms was determined at concentrations of 1, 100 and 10,000 ng ml^?1 of agar media or g^?1 of soil. Aflatoxin B₁ at 10,000 ng ml^?1 of medium reduced the number of viable fungi by 38% and the number of bacteria and actinomycetes by 34%. Soil amended to 10,000 ng aflatoxin B₁ demonstrated a slight, yet significant reduction in the population of fungi and bacteria plus actinomycetes. At this rate the antagonistic effect on soil microorganisms began at 14 days after aflatoxin B₁ was added and lasted nearly 6 weeks. Subsequently no significant differences were observed among any of the treatments.When the soil was amended with alfalfa to provide a substrate for microbial growth, the population showed a more significant reduction due to aflatoxin B₁, but the duration of the effect was reduced. The evolution of CO₂ from soil amended with aflatoxin B₁ showed little if any diminution. Similarly, aflatoxin B₁ failed to demonstrate a significant effect on nitrifying bacteria. Aflatoxin B₁ was found to be slightly deleterious to Rhizobium japonicum, resulting in a 30% reduction in numbers at the highest treatment rate. Using auxotrophic cultures of R. japonicum, aflatoxin B₁ was also shown to induce the formation of mutants.     

Effect of land use on the abundance and diversity of autotrophic bacteria as measured by ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) large subunit gene abundance in soils

Elucidating the biodiversity of CO₂-assimilating bacterial communities under different land uses is critical for establishing an integrated view of the carbon sequestration in agricultural systems. We therefore determined the abundance and diversity of CO₂ assimilating bacteria using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism and quantitative PCR of the cbbL gene (which encodes ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase). These analyses used agricultural soils collected from a long-term experiment (Pantang Agroecosystem) in subtropical China. Soils under three typical land uses, i.e., rice–rice (RR), upland crop (UC), and paddy rice–upland crop rotation (PU), were selected. The abundance of bacterial cbbL (0.04 to 1.25?×?10⁸ copies g^?1 soil) and 16S rDNA genes (0.05–3.00?×?10¹⁰ copies g^?1 soil) were determined in these soils. They generally followed the trend RR?>?PU?>?UC. The cbbL-containing bacterial communities were dominated by facultative autotrophic bacteria such as Mycobacterium sp., Rhodopseudomonas palustris, Bradyrhizobium japonicum, Ralstonia eutropha, and Alcaligenes eutrophus. Additionally, the cbbL-containing bacterial community composition in RR soil differed from that in upland crop and paddy rice–upland crop rotations soils. Soil organic matter was the most highly statistically significant factor which positively influenced the size of the cbbL-containing population. The RR management produced the greatest abundance and diversity of cbbL-containing bacteria. These results offer new insights into the importance of microbial autotrophic CO₂ fixation in soil C cycling.     

Amino sugars and muramic acid—biomarkers for soil microbial community structure analysis

Characterizing functional and phylogenetic microbial community structure in soil is important for understanding the fate of microbially-derived compounds during the decomposition and turn-over of soil organic matter. This study was conducted to test whether amino sugars and muramic acid are suitable biomarkers to trace bacterial, fungal, and actinomycetal residues in soil. For this aim, we investigated the pattern, amounts, and dynamics of three amino sugars (glucosamine, mannosamine and galactosamine) and muramic acid in the total microbial biomass and selectively cultivated bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes of five different soils amended with and without glucose. Our results revealed that total amino sugar and muramic acid concentrations in microbial biomass, extracted from soil after chloroform fumigation varied between 1 and 27 mg kg⁻¹ soil. In all soils investigated, glucose addition resulted in a 50-360% increase of these values. In reference to soil microbial biomass-C, the total amino sugar- and muramic acid-C concentrations ranged from 1-71 g C kg⁻¹ biomass-C. After an initial lag phase, the cultivated microbes revealed similar amino sugar concentrations of about 35, 27 and 17 g glucosamine-C kg⁻¹ TOC in bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes, respectively. Mannosamine and galactosamine concentrations were lower than those for glucosamine. Mannosamine was not found in actinomycete cultures. The highest muramic acid concentrations were found in bacteria, but small amounts were also found in actinomycete cultures. The concentrations of the three amino sugars studied and muramic acid differed significantly between bacteria and the other phylogenetic microbial groups under investigation (fungi and actinomycetes). Comparison between the amino sugar and muramic acid concentrations in soil microbial biomass, extracted after chloroform fumigation, and total concentrations in the soil showed that living microbial biomass contributed negligible amounts to total amino sugar contents in the soil, being at least two orders of magnitude greater in the soils than in the soil inherent microbial biomass. Thus, amino sugars are significantly stabilized in soil.     

"秸秆降解生防菌强化技术"对黄瓜连作土壤微生物区系的影响

"秸秆降解生防菌强化技术"(BS)近年在我国北方冬季温室栽培中广泛使用, 具改良土壤、减轻病害、改善品质、提高产量等多方面的效果。为探讨应用该技术后对黄瓜连作土壤中微生物区系的影响, 本研究采用平板培养计数与末端标记限制性片段长度多态性(T-RFLP)分析相结合的方法, 检测了黄瓜连作土壤中真菌、细菌、放线菌以及生防菌和病原菌的数量动态。结果表明, BS处理土壤后, 在连作第2茬时, 土壤中真菌群体总量比第1茬显著减少; 细菌总量比第1茬显著增加。细菌与真菌数量比值(B/F值)在连作两茬时明显升高, 土壤表现为"细菌型"; 连茬土壤中两种生防菌的含量保持相对稳定; 枯萎病原菌数量在连作两茬时与其他处理和对照相比有所降低, 但不显著; 处理后土壤细菌多样性在第2茬时显著升高, 并能促进TRF139等有益菌群增殖, 抑制TRF341和TRF501等有害菌群增殖。BS处理土壤能明显提高连作黄瓜的产量并降低根结线虫的病情指数, 在第3茬时产量比对照增加25.9%, 病情指数比对照减少71.4%。生防菌与秸秆配合使用对黄瓜连作土壤微生物的数量和群落结构影响显著, 在一定的连作茬数内能够保证生防菌有效定殖, 抑制病原菌数量增长, 提高土壤微生物多样性, 使土壤微环境达到相对健康的状态。     

Origin and properties of β-glucosidase activity of tomato-field soil

The distribution of β-glucosidase activity in a tomato-field soil was examined. Of the total activity found, > 50% was in the < 2mm soil fraction, 20% in the organic debris and a significant proportion in roots. In an attempt to determine the origin of β-glucosidase in this soil, the properties of β-glucosidase of various fungal and bacterial isolates from the soil, and of plant materials, were studied.Selective inhibition of bacterial or fungal growth in re-moistened, over-dried, inoculated soil indicated that fungi were a more important source of β-glucosidase in this soil. Monierella, Actinomucor, Coniochaeta and Penicillium were the principal fungi isolated from the soil by the dilution-plate technique, comprising over 60% of the total isolates. Remoistened oven-dried soil, inoculated with Mortierella and Actinomucor spp exhibited higher β-glucosidase activity after incubation than did soil inoculated with other strains.The β-glucosidase activity of extracts from cultured fungal strains had similar pH optima and Q₁₀ values to those of soil extracts. The β-glucosidase of extracts from isolates of bacteria and actinomycetes had similar Q₁₀ values, but higher pH optima, than did that of soil extracts.These results indicate that fungi, mainly some of the mucoraceous fungi, may be the primary source of β-glucosidase in tomato-field soil.     

Determination of bacterial DNA in soil

Two methods for the determination of DNA have been adapted for use on the bacterial fraction of an organic soil, obtained by fractionated centrifugation. The. soil contained about 1.1 × 10¹⁰ bacteria g^?1 dry weight when counted by fluorescence microscopy. One method was based on the reaction with 3,5-diaminobenzoic acid 2HCl, and the other on the specific reaction of the antibiotic mithramycin with double-stranded DNA. For the first method, about 8 × 10⁸ cells were required and for the second, about 4 × 10⁹. The analytical results with the two methods agreed well. As an average of several determinations, an amount of 8.4 fg (10^?15g) DNA per bacterial cell was found when the cells were counted by fluorescence microscopy. This is in the upper size range of bacterial genomes. showing that virtually all microscopically counted bacteria in this soil contain DNA. The total amount of DNA was about 90μg g^?1 soil dry weight.     

Distribution of nitrifying and heterotrophic microorganisms in cutover peats

The distribution of chemoautotrophic nitrifiers, heterotrophic bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi was studied in raised peats and compared with a mineral garden soil. Nitrosomonas was not detectable but a few Nitrobacter were counted 350 cm below the surface of undrained peat, in the surface areas of drained non-cutover peat and in an area cutover before sampling. After only 3 y cultivation and cropping the average numbers, over 12 monthly samplings, of Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter had risen to 1.25 × 10⁶ and 32.7 × 10⁶, respectively.The possible reasons for the anomalously high proportion of Nitrobacter are discussed, including the effect of media composition. A NaHCO₃ medium gave lower numbers of Nitrosomonas and higher numbers of Nitrobacter than a CaCO₃ medium.The proportional increase in the heterotrophs was lower than that of the autotrophs. This suggested that low availability of organic substrate and not the physical environment was the limiting factor. Only fungi showed a definite seasonal variation.     

Studies on soil fumigation—II: Effects on bacteria

In a South Australian wheat-field soil the viable counts of “total” aerobic bacteria and of fluorescent pseudomonads were initially greatly depressed by fumigation with 220 kg·ha^?1 chloropicrin (CP) or with a combined application of 220 kg·ha^?1 of chloropicrin and 220 kg·ha^?1 methyl bromide (F). Bacterial numbers rose sharply within 10 days of the completion of fumigation. For a further 14 days the fluorescent pseudomonads formed the major part of the aerobic bacterial population counted and over 5 months later their numbers in F-treated soil remained about 10 times higher than in untreated soil. Numbers of aerobic spore-formers rose more slowly after CP or F treatment. but then remained significantly higher over the 159 days of the trial. Fumigation with 220 kg·ha^?1 of methyl bromide alone (MB) had little effect on soil bacterial numbers.A check of random isolates revealed a predominance of Gram-negative organisms in soil treated with CP, this dominance decreasing with time, whereas MB treatment did not result in any detectable change.Fluorescent pseudomonads from rhizospheres of wheat plants in soil fumigated with CP contained smaller proportions of strains antagonistic in vitro to Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici than isolates from MB-treated soil or from untreated soil.     

Forest soil community responses to plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and spruce seedlings

The influence of plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and spruce seedlings on the composition and activity of forest soil microbial communities was studied in a microcosm experiment in which sterile, sand-filled 25mm×150mm glass tubes were treated with a forest soil suspension containing Bacillus or Pseudomonas PGPR and 2-week-old spruce seedlings. Eighteen weeks after treatments were established, bacterial, actinomycete and fungal population sizes were determined by dilution plating, as were seedling dry weights and soil carbon substrate utilization profiles using Biolog plates. PGPR inoculation had little influence on the population sizes of actinomycetes or fungi. However, significant effects were detected on the total bacterial population size, primarily in microcosms without seedlings. Euclidean distances between treatments plotted on two dimensions by multidimensional scaling showed that the introduction of PGPR strains changed the type of microbial community, particularly when inoculated into soil without seedlings. Significant changes were also detected in one soil type in the presence of seedlings. Our results suggest that the type of soil community and the presence of seedlings are significant factors influencing the responses of soil communities to bacterial inoculation, and that for some soil communities, the presence of seedlings may mitigate perturbations caused by the introduction of PGPR. Received: 24 February 1997     

Responses of soil microorganisms and enzymes to repeated applications of chlorothalonil

Introduction of anthropogenic chemicals into soil may have lasting effects on soil microbial activities and thus soil health. This study was conducted with chlorothalonil to evaluate its effects on soil bacterial, fungal, and actinomycete populations and soil enzymes (acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, urease, catalase, and invertase) after repeated applications. After the first addition of chlorothalonil, the soil bacterial and actinomycete populations were significantly reduced, whereas the population of soil fungi was unchanged. The most marked inhibition on soil microorganisms was observed after the second pesticide addition. However, after initial variations, soil bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes adapted gradually to chlorothalonil, and the negative effects became transient and weaker following the third and fourth treatments. The inhibitory effect of repeated chlorothalonil applications on soil enzymes followed a similar trend to that on soil microorganisms. Repeated chlorothalonil applications did not result in significant changes in its persistence. Three bacterial strains capable of utilizing chlorothalonil as a sole source of carbon and energy for growth were isolated 21 days after the fourth treatment with chlorothalonil, which indicated that the capability of soil microorganisms for degrading chlorothalonil was formed during the experiment.     

A novel method for the identification and enumeration of microorganisms with potential for suppressing fungal plant pathogens

This paper describes a method that allowed counting of both the total culturable and antagonistic microorganisms in a given source such as compost. Fusarium solani, used as the test fungus, was spread-plated on quarter-strength (1/4) potato dextrose agar (PDA), its surface was exposed in a laminar flow for 4 h and then another layer (2–3 mm thick) of 1/4 PDA was poured over it, on which an appropriate dilution of a compost sample was spread-plated. Microorganisms in the compost samples appeared first, and were counted as total culturable organisms. Plates were further incubated until F. solani grew through the upper layer of PDA (generally in 4–8 days) and covered the whole plate including most of the microbial colonies, except for a few which had a halo around them. These were counted as antagonistic, and they were isolated and purified for further studies. The population of bacteria in the six specific compost samples (called Biodynamic or BD preparations by organic farmers) ranged from 3.45 log₁₀ (in BD502) to 8.59 log₁₀ (in BD504) per gram of materials. The population of antagonistic bacteria was counted for three of the six compost samples, and ranged from 3.24 log₁₀ (in BD502) to 6.90 log₁₀ (in BD500). Of the 67 bacterial isolates showing a halo that were assembled from different sources, 17 suppressed at least 1 of the 4 plant pathogenic fungi against which these were evaluated using the dual culture method.     

Use of soil solarization to control root rots in gerberas (Gerbera jamesonii)

Summary An investigation was conducted during the summer months of 1986–1987 and 1987–1988 in Western Australia to evaluate the effect of soil solarization on the control of root rot of gerbera an also on the microbial and nutrient status of the soil. Infested soil cores were sampled from a site where root-rot was a severe problem and were removed to a non-infested site where they were subjected to soil solarization or fumigation. Soil solarization resulted in reduced root rot (root disease index 28.6%) in comparison to the untreated control (52.0%) 8 months after planting. Plants in the fumigated plots had 15.8% less disease than those in solarized plots. Solarization increased the total numbers of bacteria and actinomycetes, and the proportion of bacteria and fungi antogonistic to Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani and Rhizoctonia solani. The proportion of actinomycetes antagonistic to these fungi, however, did not differ between solarized and control soil treatments. There was a significant reduction in disease in plants grown in infested fumigated soil to which a 10% concentration of solarized soil had been added, suggesting the development of microbial suppression in solarized soil. Phytophthora cryptogea was eradicated to 30 cm by solarization as well as by fumigation. Solarization eliminated R. solani but not F. oxysporum to a soil depth of 10 cm. Solarization increased the levels of NO _n3 ^– -N and NH₄ ⁺-N in soil, but did not affect the concentrations of PO₄ ^3–, K⁺, Fe²⁺, organic C and pH. Yield (as number of flowers per plant) was increased by soil solarization and by fumigation.Increased yields and decreased disease severity in the solarized plots could have been caused by (1) a reduction in the infectivity of the infested soils, (2) an increase in the suppressiveness of the soil, and (3) an increased available of plant nutrients.     

Selective influence on populations of rhizosphere or rhizoplane bacteria and actinomycetes by mycorrhizas formed by Glomus fasciculatum

The influence of infection by the vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizal fungus Glomus fasciculatum on populations of general taxonomic and functional groups of naturally-occurring rhizosphere and rhizoplane bacteria and actinomycetes associated with roots of sweet corn (Zea mays var. rugosa) and subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) was assayed on selective media. Total numbers of bacteria, but not actinomycetes, on the rhizoplane increased on plants with VA mycorrhizas (VAM) compared to plants without VAM. Bacteria and actinomycete populations were not affected quantitatively in the rhizosphere soil of VAM plants. However, VAM affected specific groups of bacteria and actinomycetes in both the rhizosphere soil and rhizosplane. Rhizosphere soil of mycorrhizal plants contained more facultative anaerobic bacteria, had fewer fluorescent pseudomonads, but had the same number of Gram-negative bacteria as non-mycorrhizal plants. Of the actinomycetes assayed, populations of both Streptomyces spp and chitinase-producing actinomycetes decreased in the rhizosphere, but not in the rhizoplane of mycorrhizal plants.Leachates of VAM and non-VAM rhizosphere soil were also compared for the presence or activity of bacteria that could influence sporulation by the root pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands. Fewer sporangia and zoospores were produced by P. cinnamomi in leachates of rhizosphere soil from VAM plants than from non-VAM plants, suggesting that sporangium-inducing microorganisms had declined or sporangium-inhibitors had increased.Since assays for specific functional groups of microorganisms revealed changes even when total numbers seemed the same, we conclude that the microbial equilibrium had been altered by formation of VA mycorrhizas.     

Rhizosphere microbial communities and organic acids secreted by aluminum-tolerant and aluminum-sensitive soybean in acid soil

This study aimed to investigate the correlation between organic acids secreted by two soybeans genotypes, BX10 [aluminum (Al) tolerant] and BD2 (Al sensitive) and rhizosphere microbial communities in acid soil. The organic acids secreted by BX10 and BD2 were significantly different at each growth stage. Both fungi/bacteria and gram-negative bacteria/gram-positive bacteria ratio values were affected by the two soybean genotypes at different growth periods. Compared with BD2, phospholipid fatty acid of BX10 showed higher Shannon diversity at the seedling and flowering stages, but had lower Shannon diversity at the pod-setting stage. Redundancy analysis and canonical correspondence analysis revealed that the organic acids including tartaric acid, lactic acid, and citric acid significantly affected rhizosphere bacterial communities. Sequence analysis indicated that uncultured Acidobacterium, Chloroflexi, and actinomycete enriched in BD2, whereas some uncultured bacteria enriched in BX10. The two soybean genotypes exhibit distinct rhizosphere microbial communities; root organic acid exudates may affect composition of microbial communities of rhizosphere soil: tartaric acid may negatively affect rhizosphere bacteria at the seedling stage, lactic acid may positively affect rhizosphere actinomycetes at the flowering stage, and succinic acid may stimulate fungi at the pod-setting stage.     

Effect of successive cauliflower plantings and Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-1 inoculations on disease suppressiveness of a suppressive and a conducive soil

Disease suppressiveness against Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-1 in cauliflower was studied in two marine clay soils with a sandy loam texture. The soils had a different cropping history. One soil had a long-term (40 years) cauliflower history and was suppressive, the other soil was conducive and came from a pear orchard not having a cauliflower crop for at least 40 years. These two soils were subjected to five successive cropping cycles with cauliflower or remaining fallow in a greenhouse experiment. Soils were inoculated with R. solani AG 2-1 only once or before every crop. Disease decline occurred in all treatments cropped with cauliflower, either because of a decreased pathogen population or increased suppressiveness of the soil. Disease suppressiveness tests indicated that the conducive soil became suppressive after five subsequent cauliflower crops inoculated each cycle with R. solani AG 2-1. Suppressiveness of all treatments was measured in a seed germination test (pre-emergence damping-off) as well as by measuring the spread of R. solani symptoms in young plants (post-emergence damping-off). Results showed that suppressiveness was significantly stimulated by the successive R. solani inoculations; presence of the cauliflower crop had less effect. Suppressiveness was of biological origin, since it disappeared after sterilization of the soil. Moreover, suppressiveness could be translocated by adding 10% suppressive soil into sterilized soil. The suppressive soil contained higher numbers of culturable filamentous actinomycetes than the conducive soil, but treatments enhancing suppressiveness did not show an increased actinomycetes population. The suppressiveness of the soil samples did also not correlate with the number of pseudomonads. Moreover, no correlation was found with the presence of different mycoparasitic fungi, i.e. Volutella spp., Gliocladium roseum, Verticillium biguttatum and Trichoderma spp. The suppressive soil contained a high percentage of bacteria with a strong in vitro inhibition of R. solani. These bacteria were identified as Lysobacter (56%), Streptomyces (23%) and Pseudomonas (21%) spp. A potential role of Lysobacter in soil suppressiveness was confirmed by quantitative PCR detection (TaqMan), since a larger Lysobacter population was present in suppressive cauliflower soil than in conducive pear orchard soil. Our experiments showed that successive cauliflower plantings can cause a decline of the damage caused by R. solani AG 2-1, and that natural disease suppressiveness was most pronounced after subsequent inoculations with the pathogen. The mode of action of the decline is not yet understood, but antagonistic Lysobacter spp. are potential key organisms.     

Oxalate-metabolizing microorganisms in sagebrush steppe soil

Oxalate metabolization by soil microorganisms was assessed using a calcium oxalate clearing medium and¹⁴CO₂ release from [¹⁴C]-oxalate. Three saprophytic fungi, two bacteria, and one actinomycete tested produced¹⁴CO₂ when grown in culture with [¹⁴C]-oxalate, yet failed to test positive for oxalate degradation using a calcium-clearing medium. A field plot was then established to determine the effects of oxalate inputs on oxalate metabolism. The amount of [¹⁴C]-oxalate metabolized by soil microorganisms and the number of bacteria metabolizing oxalate increased within 24 h after the addition of oxalic acid at a concentration of 11.1 mol g^-1 soil. Oxalate metabolism and bacterial numbers returned to the baseline within 84 days. Soil phosphate concentrations increased significantly above baseline 7 days after the addition of oxalate and did not return to prespike levels. Fungi, bacteria, and actinomycetes were able to metabolize oxalate. Therefore, while oxalate can influence P cycles by increasing the amount of available phosphates, that increase is mediated by microbes that metabolize the oxalates.