Colonization of wheat roots by Gaeumannomyces graminis inhibited by specific soils,microorganisms and ammonium-nitrogen

Lineal extension of Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici hyphae along roots of intact wheat plants growing in soils was measured. Hyphal growth rates were lower in soils treated with NH₄⁺-N than with NO₃^?-N. In a soil that is suppressive to the take-all disease, the controlling influence of NH₄⁺-N was eliminated by soil fumigation (methyl bromide), and reintroduced to fumigated soil by additions of 1% nonsterile soil. Effects of fumigation on hyphal growth were absent in a nonsuppressive soil, and in NO₃^?-treatments of the suppressive soil. When inocula of selected groups of wheat rhizoplane microflora were reintroduced into a fumigated or a soil-reinoculated soil via a root-food base, the Pseudomonas spp. consistently appeared more suppressive in NH₄⁺-N treatments than the general bacterial flora, Bacillus spp. spores, streptomycetes, and fungi.     

Colonization of PAH-contaminated dredged sediment by earthworms

In freshly deposited dredged sediment contaminated with PAHs, we followed the colonization of earthworm species by monthly monitoring over two years. Already five months after deposition the first species, Lumbricus castaneus, appeared, although only temporarily. The first permanent colonizing species was L. rubellus, soon followed by Aporrectodea caliginosa and L. castaneus, and a few months later Eiseniella tetraeda. At the end of the two-year observation period some first few specimen of Allolobophora rosea were present. These earthworm species colonized the deposited sediment apparently in succession. The colonization of each individual species did not show a gradual influx from the bordering dikes at both sides of the deposit, but a fast colonization over the whole width, presumably by surface dispersal, although at low and variable numbers, followed by a gradual increase of population numbers. Modeling the dispersal showed that diffusion was the primary driving factor. Also juvenile earthworms were observed locally in high numbers, so reproduction did occur. Total earthworm numbers in the deposit reached a maximum of 80% of the numbers in the bordering dikes consisting of loamy and clayey soils. Numbers were highest in periods with warm and rainy weather. The appearance of earthworms improved the soil development, stimulated a faster desiccation and aeration of the sediment and may have contributed to the increased degradation of PAHs, especially three- and four-ring PAHs.     

Colonization of buried cotton stems by microarthropods

Initial colonization of cotton stems by microarthropods proceeded more rapidly while buried in soil under laboratory conditions (20–23°C) than while buried in the field during the winter months when soil temperatures ranged from 5–10°C in the study area in the San Joaquin Valley of California. While 15 species were found frequently in cotton stems held in the laboratory for 20 weeks, only seven species were found in field buried stems. Arthropods found under both conditions were a species of pyemotid mite; an astigmatid mite, Tyrophagus dimidiatus; two collembolans, Proisotoma minuta and Tullbergia sp.; and a sciarid fly larval stage, Bradysia impatiens. Even though the soils at teh field sites possessed a number of microarthropods in common, the stem colonization at each site was restricted to a single group which differed from each of the other sites. Microenvironments affect stem colonization patterns by microarthropods but microarthropods did not appear to have a significant influence on early cotton stem decomposition rates nor was there evidence that their activities reduced Verticillium microsclerotia populations.     

Decomposition of lignins by microorganisms

Soil microorganisms, inducing bacteria, fungi imperfecti, and basidiomycetes were investigated to determine their roles in lignin degradation. White-rot basidiomycete fungi and some bacteria demonstrated ability to degrade specifically-labeled synthetic lignins (DHPs). White-rot basidiomycetes degraded methoxyl groups and bacteria degraded side chains most rapidly. Fungi imperfecti, brown-rot basidiomycetes and some bacteria were unable to degrade DHPs. Interactions of white-rot basidiomycetes with imperfects usually resulted in decresed rates of DHP degradation. Attempts to correlate the ability to degrade DHPs with ability of the microorganisms to grow upon aromatic C sources, demethylate $\text{p-(}{}^{14}\text{CH}{}_3\text{O}\text{)}\text{phenyl}$ and produce monooxygenases, dioxygenases, and polyphenoloxidases were unsuccessful.     

Colonization of chemical factory wastes by soil nematodes

Soil nematodes were studied in 39- and 49-year-old “red” dumps mainly composed of Fe₂O₃ waste pyrite remnants from production of sulphuric and other acids, and in a 84-year-old “white” dump mainly composed of CaCO₃ material from soda production. The youngest stage of spontaneous biological succession contained moss–lichen patches which were mainly inhabited by bacterivorous nematodes (Acrobeloides nanus, Panagrolaimus rigidus, Rhabditis terricola, Bursilla monhystera) in very low abundance (about 50×10³ ind m⁻²). Invasion of grass resulted in increase of bacterivorous nematodes up to several millions  ind m⁻² but with considerable seasonal fluctuations. Nematode assemblages diversified in sites colonized by various deciduous trees and Paratylenchus straeleni was the dominant plant parasitic nematode. In site with stabilized grass carpet on the “white” dump dominant nematodes were Geocenamus quadrifer and Pungentus engadinensis. Eudorylaimus spp. first appeared in 49-year-old dump but their populations remained very low (1–9×10³ ind m⁻²). Some species found in control deciduous forests on natural soils (e.g. Xenocriconemella macrodora, Cephalenchus hexalineatus, Tylolaimophorus minor, Ogma menzeli, Hoplotylus femina) did not colonize deposits. Natural succession of nematodes on chemical waste materials was very slow and even after about 80 years their communities under deciduous trees showed many differences from those in nearby semi-natural mixed forests.     

Degradation of Sevin by soil microorganisms

Microorganisms capable of transforming the pesticide 1-naphthyl N-methyl-carbamate (Sevin) were isolated from soil. Three isolates were able to accelerate the hydrolysis of Sevin to 1-naphthol. Several unidentified intermediates were separated by thin-layer chromatography and also by following the decomposition of Sevin-methyl-¹⁴C. Since 1-naphthol is a biological as well as a chemical decomposition product of Sevin, its transformation by the isolated microbes was also studied. A fungus, identified as Fusarium solani, altered 1-naphthol rapidly. Whereas one strain of bacterium degraded the hydrolysis product gradually, another strain accumulated it under certain conditions. Mixed cultures of the investigated microbes were more effective in transforming Sevin than pure cultures, and this phenomenon was also observed with 1-naphthol as substrate with the exception of one bacterial strain.     

Metabolism of fluorodifen by soil microorganisms

The metabolism of fluorodifen (p-nitrophenyl α,α,α,-trifluoro-2-nitro-p-tolyl ether) by soil microorganisms in the presence or absence of other carbon and nitrogen sources was studied. The degradation of this herbicide continued for 5 days, when benzoate or acetate and ammonium sulphate were included in the cultures, and for more than 5 weeks when fluorodifen was used as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen.Under all conditions nitrite ions were produced at concentrations ranging between 5 and 80 per cent of the nitro-nitrogen of the fluorodifen present. The highest concentration of nitrite was obtained when added carbon sources were used with fluorodifen. The lowest nitrite concentration accumulated when the fluorodifen was used as sole source of carbon and nitrogen. The nitrite reached a maximum value after a few days of incubation, followed by rapid disappearance.p-Nitrophenol and quinol were identified in the acid-ether extract of cultures. It is suggested that the first step in the degradation of fluorodifen is the hydrolysis of the ether linkage followed by the direct elimination of the nitro-groups as nitrite ions.     

Kinetics of glucose uptake by soil microorganisms

The kinetics of glucose uptake by soil microorganisms was investigated. Soil amended with an inorganic nutrient solution containing C glucose at concentrations of 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 or 20.0 mmol 1⁻¹ was maintained at 4, 12 or 25°C for varying times. The soil was analyzed for glucose, soluble ^14C, total organic ¹⁴C and evolved ¹⁴CO₂ to develop a carbon balance for the system and to define Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters (K_m and V_max) for glucose uptake at each temperature.Glucose uptake rates, as measured by the depletion of glucose or soluble ¹⁴C from solution, were similar in soils maintained at 12 or 25°C. Based on the depletion of soluble ¹⁴C, values for K_m were 2.25 and 2.43 mmol I⁻¹ at 12 and 25°C, respectively, while V_max values were 0.25 and 1.61 h¹⁴', respectively. Glucose depletion at 4°C was faster than at 12C, while soluble ¹⁴C was removed at a significantly slower rate, suggesting soluble-C intermediates were produced in the 4°C system. Based on Chromatographie techniques and GC-MS, a soluble ¹⁴C-compound accumulating in the 4°C system was identified as maltose. The conversion of glucose to maltose resulted in K_m and V_max values of 17.29 mmol I⁻¹ and 0.12h⁻¹, respectively, for soluble ¹⁴C depletion and 4.96mmol1⁻¹ and 0.43 h⁻, respectively, for glucose depletion at 4δC. These results demonstrate the need to differentiate uptake rates for the parent compound as well as for transitory intermediates excreted into the growth medium. Evolution of CO₂ was shown to be a poor indicator of the rapid disappearance of glucose in soils.     

Colonization of sugarcane plantlets by mixed inoculations with diazotrophic bacteria

Micropropagated sugarcane plants have been used in Brazil for almost three decades. Besides the improvement in plant health, micropropagated sugarcane carries no endophytic plant growth-promoting bacteria. The Brazilian inoculation technology to reintroduce diazotrophic bacteria in micropropagated sugarcane plantlets revealed a synergistic-like effect in PGP-bacteria mixed inoculations. The infection model of single diazotrophic bacteria species in sugarcane was studied in detail, but still many questions remain open. In this study we used a combined fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and a cultivation based approach (MPN) to evaluate the colonization of sugarcane plantlets by mixed inocula. The highest colonization for three out of the five species studied was obtained with a mixed inoculum, when the Azospirillum amazonense showed an increase by almost 100 times in colonization and Herbaspirillum spp. and Burkholderia tropica was determined at 10⁷ cells per gram root fresh weight. All of the inoculated bacterial species could be detected using the FISH probes 12 h after bacterial inoculation. The FISH results confirmed the MPN counts and showed differences in the population numbers and colonization behavior of particular bacterial inoculum strains in the different mixed inocula. A putative antagonistic effect among the inoculated H. seropedicae and H. rubrisubalbicans strains was observed using FISH, as well as the better competitiveness of B. tropica as compared to the A. amazonense strain. The observed data probably reflect also specific interactions with the sugarcane variety used in this particular inoculation system, and may not be generalized as a rule. This is the first study about the competition for sugarcane colonization in a mixed bacterial inoculum.     

Model for decomposition of organic material by microorganisms

A theoretical model which gives the rate of microbial decomposition of organic material (plant or animal residues, or soil organic matter) is presented. Explicit equations for the rate of decomposition, mineralizations and immobilization are given. The main assumption of the model is that the rate of decomposition of any substrate is proportional to the growth rate of its decomposers. The main results of the model are: 1. Addition of extra nitrogen to materials poor in nitrogen increase their rate of decomposition; 2. Addition of extra nitrogen to a substrate whose initial carbon/nitrogen ratio is above a critical ratio (20–30) causes a decrease in the substrate's carbon/nitrogen ratio during its decomposition; 3. If the initial carbon/nitrogen ratio is below the critical one, no change in the substrate's ratio will occur with time; 4. Net mineralization of organic-nitrogen occurs when the substrate being decomposed has an initial carbon/nitrogen ratio which is below the critical one; 5. Addition of ammonium to such a substrate (point 4) will increase the rate of organic-nitrogen mineralization but not necessarily the rate of net mineralization. All the model results are analytical and independent of the values for the various parameters. Nevertheless the application of the model to real field conditions is discussed while presenting a numerical example.     

机械活化玉米淀粉的微生物降解性能

为了提高玉米淀粉的微生物降解反应活性,采用搅拌球磨机对玉米淀粉进行机械活化,以活化时间为60 min的玉米淀粉和原淀粉为原料,酒曲为降解试剂进行微生物降解反应,并以降解产物的葡萄糖值（Dextrose Equivalent,DE）为评价指标,分别研究了糊化温度、pH值、淀粉浓度、降解时间、降解温度、酒曲培养液用量等因素对降解产物中葡萄糖值的影响,并采用扫描电镜对淀粉降解过程中的颗粒进行形貌观察。结果表明,机械活化预处理能提高玉米淀粉微生物降解反应液中葡萄糖的含量,且活化淀粉未经糊化就能直接被微生物降解,降解60 min时的DE值为36.76%,与原淀粉相比,提高了27.80个百分点。说明机械活化作用破坏玉米淀粉紧密的颗粒表面和结晶结构,有效地提高了微生物降解反应活性。     

香蕉茎秆纤维化学脱胶工艺及脱胶纤维性能

为了将废弃的香蕉茎秆制备纤维的工艺运用到纺织领域,采用化学法脱胶工艺提取香蕉茎秆纤维。研究预酸,预氧及碱液煮炼工艺条件对香蕉茎秆纤维脱胶率和残余木质素率的影响,确定较佳的脱胶工艺。采用傅立叶红外光谱(fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy,FTIR)、X射线衍射(X-ray diffraction,XRD)和扫描电镜(scanning electron microscopy,SEM)分析较佳工艺制备的香蕉茎秆纤维的理化特性;并对其力学性能进行测试与分析。结果表明:预酸采用H2SO4质量浓度2 g/L,浴比1∶20,水浴温度55℃,时间2 h;预氧处理工艺采用H2O2质量浓度7 g/L;助剂Na2Si O3质量分数3%,多聚磷酸钠质量分数2%;温度95℃,p H值11,浴比1∶20,时间1.5 h,升温时间35~40 min;碱液煮炼Na OH溶液质量浓度9 g/L,常压0.1 MPa煮沸,温度100℃,时间3 h,浴比1∶20;酸洗用H2SO4体积分数0.1%,温度28℃,时间5 min。在此条件下,香蕉茎秆纤维的脱胶率为68%,残余木质素率为8.21%。FTIR结果表明对比香蕉茎秆粗纤维,化学法较佳工艺制备的香蕉茎秆纤维去除了大部分的半纤维素和木质素,相对结晶度为60%;断裂截面的SEM图表明化学法制备的香蕉茎秆纤维呈现脆性-塑形复合型断裂形式,直径范围在0.068 mm左右。力学性能测试结果表明较佳工艺制备的香蕉茎秆纤维拉伸强度,杨氏模量和断裂伸长率分别是353.09 MPa,18.34 GPa和1.70%。结果表明化学法较佳工艺制备的香蕉茎秆纤维在纺织工业具有一定的应用前景。     

Competition for inorganic and organic N by blue oak (Quercus douglasii) seedlings, an annual grass, and soil microorganisms in a pot study

Sources of competition for limited soil resources, such as nitrogen (N), include competitive interactions among different plant species and between plants and soil microorganisms (microbes). To study these competitive interactions, blue oak seedlings (Quercus douglasii) were grown alone or grown together with an annual grass, wild oats (Avena barbata) in pots containing field soil. We injected ¹⁵N-labeled ammonium, nitrate or glycine into the soil of each pot and harvested plants 5 days later. Plant shoots and roots, soil microbial N and soil KCl-extractable N were analyzed for ¹⁵N content. When oak and grass were grown together, ¹⁵N recovery from the inorganic N treatments (NH₄⁺, or NO₃⁻) was 34, 9 and 4% for the grass, microbes and oak seedlings, respectively, and only 1% remained as KCl-extractable N. ¹⁵N recovery from the glycine treatment was 18, 22, 5% for the grass, microbes and oak seedlings, respectively, and 4% remained as KCl-extractable N. When oaks were grown alone, ¹⁵N recovery by soil microbes was 21, 48 and 40% in the NO₃⁻, NH₄⁺ and glycine treatments, respectively. N forms had no effects on ¹⁵N recovery in oak seedlings (7%) and in KCl-extractable N pool (13%). In general, total N recovery by the grass was much greater than by oaks. However, on a fine root surface area or length basis, oaks exhibited higher N uptake than the grass. Our results suggest that the high rooting density and rapid growth rate of the annual grasses such as Avena barbata made them superior competitors for available soil N when compared to blue oak seedlings and to microbes. Soil microbes were better competitors for organic than inorganic N when annual grasses were present, but preferred NH₄⁺ when competing only with oak seedlings.     

Growth Responses of Micropropagated Cassava Clones as Affected by Glomus Intraradices Colonization

This study reports the effectiveness of an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Glomus intraradices on three clones (SOM-1, 05 and 50) of cassava (Manihot esculenta). Arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation increased plant resistance to transplant stress from “in vitro” to “ex vitro” conditions and plant biomass (shoot and root) production was greatly enhanced by AM-colonization. The magnitude of AM growth stimulation over control clones was: 861% (SOM-1), 1042% (05) and 854% (50). Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonized cassava plants increased cassava water uptake in terms of percentage, 62% in clone SOM-1, 24% in clone 05, and 157% in clone 50. The highest effect of AM-colonization on water content in root of clone 50 was correlated with the greatest increment in leaf tissue production (1218% over control) and with the maximum shoot/root ratio determined. The biomass distribution between shoot and root was changed by AM symbiosis and such effect varied for each clone that may be caused by mycorrhizal changes in macro/micro-nutrients translocation/compartimentation. Cassava dependence on AM symbiosis was greatest in clone SOM-1 since AM-colonization provided the highest stem (weight, length, and diameters), leaf (weight and number), bud number, and root weight. These results lead to practical applications because AM inoculation is crucial for improving cassava yield (shoot and root) and nutrition irrespective of the clone involved. Thus, importance of AM symbiosis in micropropagated cassava clones is of great practical interest in agriculture and allows the selection of the most suitable clone for dry environments due to the particular effect on root water content that improves drought adaptation.     

Colonization of nonmycorrhizal plants by mycorrhizal neighbours as influenced by the collembolan, Folsomia candida

 Soil microarthropods have been shown to stimulate or be detrimental to arbuscular mycorrhizal function by their grazing actions, but their role as dispersal agents has not been assessed. The ability of three species of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (Glomus etunicatum, Acaulospora denticulata, Scutellospora calospora) infecting Plantago lanceolata roots to further colonize neighbouring plants was measured in response to the distance between root systems and the presence of the collembolan, Folsomia candida. In the absence of collembola, all three fungal species infected neighbouring plants in two weeks or less (at short distances), but were not successful when neighbouring plants were placed 45 cm away or further. Colonization by G. etunicatum was the quickest at short distances, but S. calospora showed greatest ability to colonize at increasing distance,whereas A. denticulata was intermediate. In the presence of the collembolan, G. etunicatum took longer to colonize neighbouring plants, but was able to infect at least 30 cm further, illustrating the arthropod's ability to disperse the AM inoculum. A. denticulata increased its range by 10 cm in the presence of F. candida, but unlike G. etunicatum, there was no delay in the colonization. In contrast, colonization of neighbouring plants by S. calospora was negatively affected both in terms of overall distance and time. These data support the hypothesis that soil arthropods can act as dispersal agents for AM inoculum, but the extent of this is fungal species-specific. Received: 1 July 1998     

烘焙生物质与煤不同配比混合物的流动及下料特性

在BT-1000粉体综合特性测试仪和有机玻璃下料试验系统上,分别进行了烘焙生物质与煤粉二元混合物的流动及下料特性试验,重点探讨了烘焙生物质质量分数对烘焙生物质与煤粉二元混合物流动特性的影响规律,并对不同烘焙生物质与煤粉混合物流动特性的差异进行了比较;进而考察了烘焙生物质质量分数(0~100%)和下料口直径(15、17、21、24和27 mm)对烘焙生物质与煤粉二元混合物下料特性的影响规律,并提出了预测烘焙生物质与煤粉二元混合颗粒系统下料质量流率的经验公式。结果表明:随着烘焙生物质质量分数的增加,混合物的休止角和压缩度逐渐增大,Carr流动性指数(FI)逐渐减小,混合物的流动特性逐渐变差。与休止角法和压缩度法相比,采用Carr流动性指数法对于烘焙生物质与煤粉二元混合物流动特性的评价更加细致全面。该文所研究的4种原料的FI从大至小依次为:无烟煤1无烟煤2烘焙生物质1烘焙生物质2。对于4种不同烘焙生物质/煤粉混合物,其流动特性由一般(common)过渡至较差(poor)的转折点(即FI=60)所对应的烘焙生物质质量分数从小到大依次为:无烟煤2(平均粒径为120μm)/烘焙生物质2(平均粒径为115μm)(34%)无烟煤1(平均粒径为250μm)/烘焙生物质2(52%)无烟煤2/烘焙生物质1(平均粒径为230μm)(70%)无烟煤1/烘焙生物质1(85%)。随着烘焙生物质质量分数的增加,不同烘焙生物质与煤粉混合物的下料质量流率均逐渐减小。混合物的下料过程是否能够正常进行主要取决于混合物中烘焙生物质的添加量,即烘焙生物质的质量分数,其下料极限生物质添加量可以通过测定烘焙生物质/煤粉混合物的FI进行预测。当烘焙生物质的添加量使得烘焙生物质/煤粉混合物的FI55时,即流动特性处于较差(poor)且接近非常差(bad)的区域,甚至进入非常差(bad)范畴时,混合物的下料过程将无法进行。随着下料口直径的增大,不同配比的烘焙生物质与煤粉混合物的下料质量流率均逐渐增大。该文所获得的不同配比烘焙生物质与煤粉混合物下料质量流率经验公式可以在-15%到+25%的误差范围内对烘焙生物质与煤粉二元混合物的下料质量流率进行较好地预测。     

Transformations of chemically fixed liquid anhydrous ammonia by soil microorganisms

Summary The application of liquid anhydrous NH₃ to soil leads to chemical fixation of NH₃ by organic matter and of NH _inf4 ^sup+ by clay minerals. A laboratory study was conducted to ascertain the biological transformations of newly fixed liquid anhydrous ¹⁵NH₃ in a Drummer silty clay loam by incubation of the ¹⁵N-labelled soil with glucose for 0, 7, 30, and 90 days and by sequential extraction of organic-matter-fixed ¹⁵NH₃ with 0.15 M Na₄P₂O₇, 0.15 M KOH, 0.1 M NaOH, and acidified dimethyl sulfoxide. About 16% of the ¹⁵NH₃ injected was fixed, of which 52% was accounted for by clay fixation. The various humic fractions (fulvic acid, humic acid, and humin) were obtained, and the distribution patterns of the fixed ¹⁵NH₃-N in these fractions were compared. The potential availability of the fixed ¹⁵NH₃-N was also estimated. The percentage of the ¹⁵NH₃ recovered as organic-matter-fixed ¹⁵NH₃ decreased as the length of incubation increased (to 28% after 90 days); the decrease was attributed in part to an increase in the amount recovered as clay-fixed NH _inf4 ^sup+ (from 52 to 64%). Changes in the distribution of the organic-matter-fixed ¹⁵NH₃-N in the humic fractions included: (1) an increase in the relative amount of the fixed ¹⁵NH₃ as humic acid in both the Na₄P₂O₇ and KOH extracts, (2) an increase in the percentage of organic-matter-fixed ¹⁵NH₃-N in the fulvic acid fractions as high-molecular-weight components (determined by dialysis) or as generic fulvic acid (determined by sorption-desorption from XAD-8 resin), and (3) an increase in the percentage of the organic-matter-fixed ¹⁵NH₃ as humin. The potential availability of the organic-matter-fixed ¹⁵NH₃-N decreased as the length of the incubation increased, from 22 to 4% over the 90-day incubation period, and was correlated significantly (0.05 level) with Na₄P₂O₇-extractable N. These results suggest that organic-matter-fixed liquid anhydrous NH₃ is initially more labile than the native soil N but becomes less labile with time.     

Field assessment of composts produced by highly effective cellulolytic microorganisms

 In a newly cultivated sandy soil, sugar beet haulms composted by highly effective cellulose-decomposing microorganisms (Trichoderma viride NRC6 or Streptomyces aureofaciens NRC22) were evaluated as organic manure for tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum L. cv. Supermarmment). The treatments were as follows: (1) control with NPK, (2) farmyard manure (FYM), (3) uninoculated compost, (4) compost inoculated with Glomus sp. NRC212, (5) compost produced by T. viride NRC6, (6) compost produced by S. aureofaciens NRC22. The organic amendments differed in their effects on total microbial counts in the rhizosphere of tomato plants. However, the amendment of soil with compost produced by highly effective cellulose-decomposing microorganisms or compost inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi decreased the proliferation of the total bacteria in the rhizosphere of tomato plants compared with FYM or compost. The application of compost produced by T. viride NRC6 or S. aureofaciens NRC22 enriched the rhizosphere with fungi or Streptomyces more than the other manure treatments. FYM and compost enhanced both spore production and the percentage of mycorrhizal root infection of tomato plants as compared with the NPK treatment, while compost produced by T. viride NRC6 or S. aureofaciens NRC22 reduced both the mycorrhizal spore numbers and the percentage of mycorrhizal root infection as compared with the NPK treatment. However, the application of FYM or compost reduced the incidence of root rot by 8% and 32%, respectively, as compared with the NPK treatment. The use of T. viride NRC6 or S. aureofaciens NRC22 as cellulolytic microorganisms and AM fungi as inocula in the applied compost increased plant protection by 80%, 75%, and 73%, as compared with the NPK treatment, respectively. No significant differences in plant dry weight, N, P content and tomato yield were obtained between FYM and the mineral fertilizer treatment. However, different types of compost induced a significant increase in plant dry matter, N and P uptake and fruit yield relative to the FYM and mineral fertilizer treatments. Received: 17 February 1999