云南会泽铅锌冶炼厂周边土壤重金属污染特征及健康风险评价

为进一步探讨云南会泽铅锌冶炼厂历史遗留的环境问题,掌握新址所在区域土壤环境质量状况,以会泽铅锌冶炼厂新、旧场址周边土壤作为研究对象,随机布设14个采样点,采集42个土壤样品,采用电感耦合等离子体发射光谱仪和原子荧光光谱仪测定土壤样品中的Cr、Cu、Mn、Ni、Pb、Zn、Cd、As、Hg。采用综合污染指数法、地积累指数法、潜在生态危害指数法和健康风险评价方法对土壤中重金属污染特征及其健康风险进行评价。结果表明,云南会泽铅锌冶炼厂周边土壤中Cr、Cu、Mn、Ni、Pb、Zn、Cd、As和Hg的平均含量水平分别为92.25、226.81、1 567.45、65.16、394.66、1 451.63、11.16、43.81、0.47 mg·kg-1,除Cr、Hg外,其他重金属含量均超过《国家土壤环境质量标准》二级标准值,其中Cd的最高超标倍数为274倍。地积累指数评价结果表明,该区域土壤中Cd污染最为严重,处于偏重-极重污染范畴;潜在生态危害综合指数评价结果显示:该区域重金属污染处于强-很强的生态风险程度;健康风险评价结果表明:旧场址周边土壤中Pb、Cd对儿童均具有显著的潜在健康风险。     

新乡市大棚菜田土壤重金属积累特征及污染评价

采用微波消解-ICP-AES技术,测定不同种植年限大棚菜田土壤样品中As、Pb、Zn、Cd、Cr、Mn、Ni、Cu等重金属的含量,研究不同种植年限与大棚菜田土壤重金属累积的相关性以及大棚菜田土壤重金属累积特征,并利用地积累指数法进行污染评价。结果表明:大棚菜田土壤重金属Zn、Pb、Ni、Mn和Cu的含量与种植年限具有极显著相关性;大棚菜田土壤中重金属Cd和Cr的含量与种植年限不相关。重金属元素间相关性分析表明,Zn与Pb、Cd、Ni、Mn、Cr、Cu,Pb与Cd、Ni、Mn、Cr、Cu,Cd与Ni、Mn、Cr,Ni与Mn、Cr、Cu,Mn与Cr、Cu具有污染同源性,Cu与Cd、Cr不具有污染同源性。地积累指数法污染评价结果显示Cd的污染等级达到了6级,已构成了极严重污染;Zn和Cu的污染等级达到2级,已构成了中度污染;Pb、Mn的污染等级达到1级,已经构成了轻~中度污染;As、Ni、Cr均未构成污染。     

大冶矿区周边农田土壤和油菜重金属污染特征研究

以大冶典型铜矿区为中心,辐射周边农田,探索农田土壤重金属污染特征及重金属在油菜中的积累变化规律。结果表明,以湖北省土壤背景值进行评价,土壤受到重金属不同程度的污染,其中Cd严重超标,Cu次之;采用国家二级标准进行评价,Zn、Cr和Pb未对土壤造成污染。进行内梅罗综合污染指数法评价发现,以土壤背景值为评价标准,各采样点均达到重金属严重污染水平;以国家二级标准评价时,只有2号采样点土壤属于中度污染水平,其他样点土壤都受到了较为严重的重金属污染。矿区农田油菜各部位重金属含量变化幅度较大,包括Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd和Co在内的5种重金属含量分布规律都是茎叶〉籽粒≈根,Mn则是籽粒〉茎叶〉根。油菜地上部植株中Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd含量均超出食品卫生标准最高限值,且Cd、Pb超标倍数远大于Cu、Zn。富集系数变化规律为Mn〉Zn〉Cd〉Ni〉Cu〉Pb垌Co。     

克鲁伦河流域岸边土壤重金属风险评价

为了解克鲁伦河岸边土壤的重金属污染状况,分别在河两岸各取10个采样点,测定土样中的重金属含量。结果表明,除Cr以外,各采样点的重金属含量均不同程度地高于国家土壤重金属含量背景值一级标准,As、Cd、Cu、Ni、Pb、Zn的超标率分别为45%、90%、85%、75%、5%和5%。地质累积指数法评价表明:7种元素的平均值为ICuINiICdIAsICrIPbIZn,除Cu和Ni属于无到中度污染外,其他重金属基本无污染;潜在生态风险指数法评价表明:7种重金属的潜在生态风险由强至弱依次为CdAsNiCuPbCrZn。     

煤矸石重金属释放活性及其污染土壤的生态风险评价

通过野外采样与室内实验分析煤矸石重金属的释放活性,并利用潜在生态风险评价法分析煤矸石山周边土壤污染及其潜在生态风险特征。结果表明,实验用煤矸石中重金属主要以残渣态存在,Cu、Zn、Pb、Cr和Cd的残渣态分别占其总量的56.86%,53.27%,72.01%,68.61%和75.93%,不易发生释放迁移,但少量酸溶态和氧化物结合态重金属易被淋溶后在矸石山周围土壤中累积并造成重金属污染。煤矸石山周边土壤重金属含量随着距离的增加呈现减少趋势,表明周边土壤受到煤矸石重金属污染,并且在土壤表层重金属含量最高,加大了重金属进入食物链危害人体健康的风险。通过潜在生态风险评价研究,采样区属于重金属Cd和Pb风险突出区,煤矸石距离5～10 m处潜在生态风险指数为272.34和164.34,属于中等潜在生态风险,其他各点潜在生态风险指数范围为94.62～141.79,属于轻微生态风险。     

松嫩平原产油区农田土壤重金属含量及污染风险评价

  目的  为探明松嫩平原石油开采及石化工业活动区周边农田土壤重金属污染分布及风险状况。  方法  在大庆市让胡路区选择代表性农田采集96份土壤样品,测定重金属（Cd、Hg、Ni、Pb、Cu、Zn、Cr、As）含量;在利用地统计学克里金插值法分析重金属含量空间分布特征的基础上,采用地积累指数法和潜在生态危害指数法对该地区农田土壤重金属污染状况及其生态风险进行评价。  结果  该区土壤中Cd和Ni的含量分别为土壤背景值的1.39倍和1.27倍。在对各样点Pb、Zn、Cu和Cr 4种元素含量分析中,均出现不同程度的高于土壤背景值的样点。重金属Cd的地积累指数平均值为0.11,达到轻度~中度污染水平。研究区土壤重金属潜在生态危害风险指数（RI）平均值为84.84,从大到小为Cd > Hg > Ni > As > Pb > Cu > Zn > Cr,其中Cd的RI值最大为190.23,达到中等生态危害范围。研究区农田土壤重金属含量在空间分布上表现为:Cd、Zn和Pb含量高值区出现在中部地区,其它重金属元素含量高值区分布比较零散。  结论  研究区域内,8种重金属含量的平均值均低于风险筛选值,Cd和Ni两种重金属平均含量超出了背景值,从地积累指数来看,Cd污染等级为1级,其它7种元素均处于无污染水平。从潜在生态风险分析可知,该区域污染程度属于轻度生态危害范围。     

豫东黄河故道湿地土壤重金属污染评价及生态风险评估

为探明豫东黄河故道湿地土壤重金属污染情况,采用原子吸收光谱法测定商丘黄河故道区内湿地(WL)及附近林地(FL)和耕地(CL)3种类型土壤中重金属Zn、Pb、Cr、Cd、Cu的含量,运用地质累积指数法和潜在生态风险指数法对重金属污染特征和潜在生态风险进行评价和分析。结果表明,黄河故道WL、FL和CL土壤中Cr和Cd的平均含量分别为289.46、308.17、378.58和2.03、2.47、2.62 mg·kg-1,是黄河故道区土壤环境背景值的10.51和37.69倍,均超过农用地土壤污染风险筛选值;而重金属Zn、Pb和Cu含量相当于甚至低于土壤环境背景值。5种重金属元素含量均表现为:WL < FL < CL。污染评价分析结果表明在这3种类型的样地中,重金属Cd达到弱极度污染水平,属于高度潜在生态风险;重金属Cr达到弱重度或重度污染水平,但属于轻度潜在生态风险;重金属Zn、Pb和Cu则处于无污染或轻度污染水平,属于轻度潜在生态风险。豫东黄河故道区WL、FL和CL综合潜在生态风险指数均超过480,存在高度潜在生态风险。工业“三废”、成土母质和农业活动等来源的重金属Cd是该区域最重要的污染因子,对综合潜在生态风险的贡献率达97.23%,需要及时进行综合整治;而土壤成土母质或人类农业活动来源的重金属Cr、Pb、Cu和Zn 是黄河故道区土壤重金属污染的潜在生态风险因子,也应及时加以防控。     

蚌埠市区土壤重金属积累特征及生态风险评价

为了解蚌埠市区土壤重金属污染状况,利用原子发射光谱法(ICP-AES)测定了其重金属含量,并依次采用了单因子污染指数法、内梅罗综合污染指数法和Hakanson潜在生态风险指数法对其污染程度和潜在风险性进行了评价。结果表明,蚌埠市区土壤中重金属Zn、Cu、Pb、Cd、Mn和Cr的平均含量依次为90.61 mg kg-1、24.69 mg kg-1、37.27 mg kg-1、0.37 mg kg-1、323.45mg kg-1、22.71 mg kg-1,在安徽省各城市中处于中等偏下水平。单因子污染指数法评价结果表明,Cd为重度污染;Zn、Pb、Cu为轻度污染;Mn和Cr为安全等级。综合污染指数法评价结果表明,工业区和交通区土壤重金属为重度污染,商业区、居民区和文教区为中度污染,公园绿地为轻微污染。潜在生态风险指数法评价结果表明,Cd元素为强生态风险程度;Pb、Cu、Zn、Cr和Mn均为轻微生态风险。工业区和交通区为中等生态风险;商业区、居民区、文教区和公园绿地为轻微生态风险。在去除Cd元素以后,各功能区均处于轻微生态风险水平。总的来说,蚌埠市区土壤除了存在Cd的强生态风险外,其它各重金属生态环境较好。     

采煤沉陷复垦区重金属分布特征及生态风险评价

以淮南新庄孜矿煤矸石充填复垦区为研究对象,通过现场调查取样、室内测试分析等手段,对煤矸石充填复垦区不同土地利用类型、不同充填深度土壤中Cd、Cr、Cu、Zn、Pb、Mn和Hg 7种重金属的分布特征进行研究,同时采用生态风险指数法,对研究区土壤重金属潜在生态风险危害进行评价。结果表明:表层土壤中Cu、Zn、Cd、Mn和Hg 5种重金属平均值均超过当地的土壤背景值,存在不同程度的污染,且Cd污染最严重。从垂直方向来看,除Hg外土壤重金属无明显分布规律,Hg的含量随土壤深度的增加而升高。复垦区土壤重金属潜在生态风险危害严重,不同重金属潜在生态风险危害程度不同,Cd和Hg的潜在生态风险危害最大。     

淮南煤矿复垦区土壤重金属含量分布及潜在生态风险评价

以淮南矿区煤矸石充填复垦地为研究对象,对该复垦区不同土地利用方式(小麦地、桃林、蔬菜大棚、油菜地)下土壤Cd,Zn,As,Ni,Cu,Pb,Cr,Mn共8种重金属含量进行了分析和评价。结果表明,相对土壤背景值,该复垦区土壤中Zn,Cr,Mn,As污染较为严重相对未复垦区,复垦区土壤中的Zn,Cd,As分别是未复垦区的4.38,2.57和2.20倍,具有明显的累积现象。不同土地利用方式土壤重金属含量差异较大,小麦地和桃林地的Zn,Cd,As含量远大于油菜地和蔬菜大棚,Cr含量则表现为桃林地、蔬菜地远大于小麦地和油菜地,Ni,Cu,Mn,Pb在4种土地利用类型下的差异不显著。土地利用方式、施肥以及受采矿活动的影响程度不同是导致土壤重金属含量差异的主要原因。淮南煤矿复垦土壤中各重金属的生态风险顺序为:Cd>Zn>As>Ni>Cu>Pb>Cr>Mn。Cd的潜在生态风险值最大(89.71),属于强生态风险,其余元素均为轻微风险。不同土地利用方式的风险顺序为:小麦地>桃林地>蔬菜大棚>油菜地。     

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.     

Responses of native legume desert trees used for reforestation in the Sonoran Desert to plant growth-promoting microorganisms in screen house

Three slow-growing legume trees used for desert reforestation and urban gardening in the Sonoran Desert of Northwestern Mexico and the Southwestern USA were evaluated whether their growth can be promoted by inoculation with plant growth-promoting bacteria (Azospirillum brasilense and Bacillus pumilus), unidentified arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (mainly Glomus sp.), and supplementation with common compost under regular screenhouse cultivation common to these trees in nurseries. Mesquite amargo (Prosopis articulata) and yellow palo verde (Parkinsonia microphylla) had different positive responses to several of the parameters tested while blue palo verde (Parkinsonia florida) did not respond. Survival of all tree species was over 80% and survival of mesquite was almost 100% after 10 months of cultivation. Inoculation with growth-promoting microorganisms induced significant effects on the leaf gas exchange of these trees, measured as transpiration and diffusive resistance, when these trees were cultivated without water restrictions.     

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.