三疣梭子蟹不同包装方式保鲜效果的比较

三疣梭子蟹属宁波名特优水产养殖品种,但三疣梭子蟹在保藏加工中容易发生褐变,哪种包装方式可抑制梭子蟹褐变并有效延长产品保鲜期,是一个值得探讨的问题。该文对三疣梭子蟹真空包装、气调包装和涂膜包装的保鲜效果进行比较。结果表明：气调包装气体配比为CO2 50%,N2 50%的保鲜效果较好;但真空包装与气调包装和涂膜包装的保鲜效果相比,0～4℃下,真空包装可有效抑制梭子蟹腮部和足部褐变并延长三疣梭子蟹保鲜期,保鲜效果好于气调包装和涂膜包装。     

适宜气调包装延缓冷藏鲳鱼品质变化延长货架期(英文)

该文主要研究了不同气体比例组分的气调包装处理对冷藏鲳鱼贮藏期间品质变化及货架期的影响,从中找出能使鲳鱼冷藏货架期延长的适宜气体比例。将新鲜鲳鱼以冰藏方式快速运至实验室,将样品经去头、去尾、去内脏处理后,分别置于3种气体组分条件(MAP1:20%CO2/80%N2,MAP2:50%CO2/50%N2,MAP3:80%CO2/20%N2)的气调包装袋内冷藏(4±1)℃保鲜,以空气包装样品作为冷藏对照组(AIR),其中包装袋内的气体与样品体积比为3∶1,在12 d内隔天测定各组样品的感官指标、微生物指标(菌落总数)与化学指标(挥发性盐基氮值、K值、三甲胺值与p H值)变化。冷藏后的第4天,对照组与气调处理组的感官分值、菌落总数、挥发性盐基氮值与三甲胺值差异显著(P0.05),冷藏对照组样品的各项指标首先达到新鲜限值,其冷藏货架期仅为4-5d。经过气调处理后的鲳鱼样品,其菌落总数达到二级鲜度的速度明显缓于冷藏对照组,其他各项指标的变化也证实了气调包装的潜在优点。其中,80%CO2+20%N2处理组能明显延缓样品p H值、挥发性盐基氮值、菌落总数、三甲胺值与K值的升高(P0.05),较冷藏对照组相比,其冷藏货架期能延长6~8 d。同时,气调处理组贮藏期间的p H值未呈现先降后升的变化规律,表明p H值不适用于评价气调包装鲳鱼贮藏期间的品质变化。气调包装样品的菌落总数在贮藏前期略有下降,表明CO2对样品菌落总数的升高有较好的抑制作用。在CO2≤80%条件下,各项微生物与理化指标的测定结果显示出不同气体比例的气调包装处理对冷藏鲳鱼的保鲜效果,CO2浓度越高,其保鲜效果越显著,气调处理能使鲳鱼样品的冷藏保鲜期由4 d延长至6-12 d,其中80%CO2+20%N2的气调处理组对鲳鱼样品的冷藏货架期延长效果较佳。     

气调包装技术用于虾皮保鲜的效果研究

为改进虾皮贮藏质量，延长货架期，研究了气调包装(Modified Atmosphere Packaging)对虾皮的保鲜效果。采用3种不同浓度配比的N₂和CO₂气体和真空包装等方法对虾皮进行包装，分别于5℃、室温和35℃下贮藏。检测虾皮感观、色差、菌落总数和脂肪含量。结果表明：低温有利于虾皮保鲜，高浓度CO₂气调贮藏能抑制虾皮中的微生物繁殖，减缓脂肪蚝蛤败速度，但CO₂浓度过高易使虾皮产生异味，影响感观品质。气调与低温结合可延长虾皮的保鲜期2个多月，推荐的气调气体比例为70%N₂/30%CO₂，低温冷藏。     

超高压技术结合气调包装保持冷藏带鱼品质

为探讨超高压结合气调包装对4℃冷藏带鱼品质的影响,该试验以超高压(290 MPa,6 min)前处理后4℃真空冷藏为对照,超高压(290 MPa,6 min)分别结合不同比例的气调包装体积分数为(60%CO2+40%N2、60%CO2+7%O2+33%N2、60%CO2+15%O2+25%N2、50%CO2+15%O2+35%N2)处理鲜带鱼并放置4℃冷藏。贮藏期间,以冷藏带鱼的感官评定(sensory evaluation,SE)、菌落总数(total plant count,TPC)、挥发性盐基氮(total volatile basic nitrogen,TVB-N)、硫代巴比妥酸(thiobarbituric acid,TBA)、肌动球蛋白溶出量(actomyosin content,AM)、肌动球蛋白的总巯基含量(total sulfhydryls content,TSH)为测定指标,研究不同气调包装对冷藏带鱼的保鲜效果。结果表明:通过菌落总数与TVB-N综合判定货架期可知,超高压处理鲜带鱼后真空贮藏仅延长冷藏带鱼货架期至11 d,超高压处理后气调贮藏各组:60%CO2+40%N2气调包装组可延长货架期至16d,60%CO2+7%O2+33%N2气调包装组可延长货架期至19d,60%CO2+15%O2+25%N2与50%CO2+15%O2+35%N2气调包装组可延长货架期至21d,是对照组货架期近2倍,说明超高压结合气调包装能有效抑制细菌总数增长和TVB-N产生。气调包装会加速超高压后带鱼肌动球蛋白和肌动球蛋白中总巯基含量的降低,且气调贮藏中高比例的O2对超高压处理后冷藏带鱼的脂肪氧化也有明显促进作用。因此综合考虑,超高压处理后结合60%CO2+7%O2+33%N2的气调包装在显著延长货架期的同时,仍可较好地保持冷藏带鱼原有鲜度。研究结果为冷藏带鱼的保鲜研究提供一定的理论参考。     

自发气调包装对核桃青果的保鲜效应

该文通过研究自发气调(MA)包装对核桃青果的冷藏效果,为生产上探寻简易、高效的新型核桃保鲜技术提供依据。以辽宁4号核桃青皮果实为材料,裸果为对照,进行了改良聚氯乙烯袋(mPVC)、改良聚乙烯袋(thn-PE、thk-PE)以及1-MCP处理后mPVC包装对青皮核桃0～1℃下的贮藏试验,测定了贮藏过程中袋内气体浓度、果实采后生理和保鲜效果。结果表明,几种包装中thk-PE袋自发气调能力最强,可使袋内O2和CO2体积分数分别达到10.1%～13.0%,4.3%～6.5%。贮期核桃青果呼吸强度和乙烯生成量同步出现双峰变化趋势,各MA包装不同程度地延缓了高峰的到来,极显著(P<0.01)降低了呼吸峰值和乙烯生成量,MA功能越强,作用越明显。各处理和对照果实的可溶性固形物含量均呈现先升高后下降的趋势,处理的下降期比对照较早出现。各包装极显著(P<0.01)降低了果实失重率,thk-PE的作用显著(P<0.05)大于其他处理。MA包装也不同程度降低了果实腐烂指数,冷藏66d和95d时thk-PE果实腐烂指数分别为30.0%,68.6%,均极显著(P<0.01)小于其他处理。因此,thk-PE袋被选为适合于核桃青果贮藏的自发气调方式,可使果实冷藏95d左右坚果保鲜率达到100%,核仁仍新鲜如初。     

生物保鲜剂结合气调包装对带鱼冷藏货架期的影响

为了延长带鱼冷藏货架期,以空气包装组为对照,在（4±1）℃冷藏条件下,采用复合生物保鲜剂涂膜及保鲜剂结合气调包装对带鱼进行保鲜试验。以感官评分、细菌总数、挥发性盐基氮值（total volatile base nitrogen,TVB-N）、pH值、硫代巴比妥酸值（the 2-thiobarbituric acid,TBA）和汁液流失率为指标,测定带鱼冷藏过程中的品质变化。结果表明：空气包装组带鱼冷藏货架期为4 d,复合生物保鲜剂（1.0%壳聚糖＋0.4%茶多酚）具有良好的抑菌保鲜作用,高浓度CO2气调包装带鱼汁液流失较为严重,生物保鲜剂结合60%CO2＋10%O2＋30%N2气调包装组保鲜效果最为显著,冷藏贮存20 d,带鱼的细菌总数为5.59 lg(cfu/g),TVB-N值为19.39 mg/100 g,仍处在带鱼二级鲜度之内,可将冷藏带鱼货架期延长至20d,是对照组的5倍,且能较好地维持新鲜带鱼感官品质,以期为带鱼的保鲜提供一定的参考。     

内层涂保鲜剂纸板包装盒对水蜜桃的保鲜效果

为了研究内涂保鲜剂纸板包装盒的保鲜效果,以宁波奉化水蜜桃为试验对象,开展了4组不同包装和贮藏温度组合的试验:普通纸板盒包装,贮藏于室温下(25℃);普通纸板盒包装,贮藏于4～6℃;保鲜纸板盒包装,贮藏于室温下(25℃);保鲜纸板盒包装,贮藏于4～6℃;未包装,贮藏于4～6℃,作为低温对照;未包装,常温对照;共6组保鲜效果试验。结果表明,纸板内层用乙烯吸收剂(白硅石粉)、0.8%的乳酸链球菌素和0.5%的纳他霉素溶液涂层可有效抑制桃果实的呼吸强度,保持果肉硬度以及桃的风味;低温贮藏可延缓果实衰老,抑制硬度变化的效果。     

不同气调包装对冷藏鱼糜制品品质的影响

为分析不同气调包装对鱼糜制品冷藏过程中品质的影响,研究以鱼糜制品中的鱼丸为对象,通过测定其在 （0±0.5）℃冷藏过程中的菌落总数、理化和感官等指标的变化,评价气调包装的保鲜效果。气调包装条件分别为空气包装（对照）、低氧气调包装（60%CO2+10%O2+30%N2,均为体积分数,下同）、无氧气调包装（60%CO2+40%N2）、含保鲜剂的无氧气调包装（60%CO2+40%N2+保鲜剂）。结果表明,0℃下鱼丸在空气包装下贮藏32 d和低氧气调包装下贮藏42 d后菌落总数分达到8.7×104 cfu/g和8.5×104 cfu/g,超过规定的卫生标准;而无氧气调包装可使鱼丸的货架期达到47 d（菌落总数4.3×104 cfu/g）以上,含保鲜剂的无氧气调包装可使鱼丸货架期延长至52 d（菌落总数0.98×104 cfu/g）以上,并且能降低脂肪氧化程度;两组无氧气调包装样品在冷藏期间其pH值、TBA（硫代巴比妥酸）值和感官等指标都优于低氧气调包装和空气包装。无氧气调包装或结合生物保鲜剂包装能更好地延长冷藏鱼丸的货架期。     

猕猴桃辐照保鲜效果的研究

本文研究了猕猴桃辐照保鲜效果 ,结果表明 ,辐照对果实硬度、Vc含量有显著影响 ,对可溶性固形物、总糖和总酸没明显影响。 0 3～ 1 5kGy的辐照剂量处理可使猕猴桃在室温条件下 ( 2 0± 2℃ )贮藏保鲜期比对照延长 1 3d。     

西洋梨气调贮藏不同时间后货架期品质变化

为研究西洋梨不同气调贮藏时间出库后货架期品质的变化,将西洋梨品种“阿巴特”在1.8%±0.2% O2,0.8%±0.2% CO2气体体积分数条件下进行不同时间贮藏。结果表明,与冷藏相比,贮藏期内气调贮藏可显著地抑制西洋梨果实硬度的下降和色泽的变化,降低果实出汁率、淀粉含量和乙烯释放量,并推迟乙烯高峰的出现时间,抑制淀粉酶活性的上升;货架期间,不同贮藏期出库果实自货架6 d起气调贮藏与对照相比果实硬度和淀粉含量的下降速率和色泽变化较快,果实的出汁率和淀粉酶活性明显上升,同时果实的乙烯释放明显加快。气调贮藏与对照相比可在一定程度上抑制贮藏期果实品质的下降,其中气调贮藏90 d、货架8 d的西洋梨果实能获得较好的后熟效果。     

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.