免耕覆膜增加中度盐碱土团聚体有机碳和微生物多样性

不同粒级泥沙流失特征研究可揭示坡面侵蚀机理,表征土壤养分流失状况;而现有研究缺少对不同粒级泥沙流失速率及流失比例的过程性研究。为此,该研究基于连续汇流冲刷试验,研究汇流冲刷次数和坡度对黑土坡面不同粒级泥沙流失特征的影响。试验处理包括6次连续汇流冲刷（1 L/min,每次历时60 min）和2个黑土区典型坡度（5°和10°）。结果表明,汇流冲刷次数对不同粒级泥沙流失速率及比例的影响较坡度的影响明显。试验条件下,<0.25 mm泥沙流失比例最大,其次为1～2、2～5、0.5～1、0.25～0.5、>5 mm泥沙流失比例。随着汇流冲刷次数的增加,<0.25 mm泥沙的平均流失速率由1 965.7～6 698.4 g/(m2·h)显著减小为59.5～80.0 g/(m2·h),该粒级泥沙流失比例亦总体呈现减小的趋势,而1～2 mm泥沙流失比例总体呈现增加的趋势,二者作为侵蚀泥沙的主体,其变化具有明显规律性。因此,<0.25 mm和1～2 mm泥沙流失特征应作为黑土区土壤侵蚀研究的重要部分,进而指导防治措施的布设;同时,建议采用适宜的覆盖措施防治黑土坡面细小颗粒泥沙的流失。     

东北典型黑土区农耕土壤团聚体流失特征

通过野外原位模拟降雨试验,研究了东北典型黑土区3种降雨强度(30、60和90 mm h-1)下农耕地坡面侵蚀过程的土壤团聚体流失特征,分析了流失团聚体特征指标(平均重量直径(MWD)、几何平均直径(GMD)、分形维数(D)、平均重量比表面积(MWSSA)、≥1 mm粒级团聚体比例(PA1)、≥2 mm粒级团聚体比例(PA2)、≥0.25 mm粒级团聚体比例(PA0.25))的变化规律。结果表明:降雨强度对典型黑土区农耕地坡面侵蚀有显著影响;次降雨初期侵蚀量占整个降雨过程总侵蚀量的比例随着降雨强度的增加而增大。在30 mm h-1降雨强度下,团聚体流失以0.25 mm粒级团聚体为主,其占团聚体流失总量的90.0%;在60 mm h-1降雨强度下,团聚体流失以0.25和0.5~1 mm粒级团聚体为主,二者占团聚体流失总量的63.7%;而90 mm h-1降雨强度下,团聚体流失以0.25和2~5 mm粒级团聚体为主,二者分别占团聚体流失总量的31.7%和31.2%。PA0.25、PA1、PA2、MWD和GMD与降雨强度和含沙量之间均呈现极显著正相关关系;MWSSA和D与降雨强度和含沙量之间呈现极显著负相关关系。研究结果还表明,PA1、MWD和GMD皆能较好地表征典型黑土区农耕土壤的团聚体流失特征。     

放水冲刷条件下工程边坡产流产沙及氮磷输出特征

为揭示工程堆积体平台汇流造成的水沙及氮磷养分流失特征,以矿区堆土场为研究对象,采用室内放水冲刷试验,研究不同上方来水流量(1.7,2.3,2.9 L/min)和坡度(25°,30°,35°)下地表径流、壤中流及侵蚀泥沙产生过程,分别测定氮磷养分浓度并计算流失量及贡献占比。结果表明:蒙东地区覆土排土场边坡产流方式主要为地表径流,随坡度和冲刷流量的增大,地表径流量增大,壤中流量减小。产沙量随坡度的增大先增大后减小,侵蚀产沙的临界坡度在30°附近。地表径流中铵态氮及磷酸盐流失浓度均大于壤中流,硝态氮浓度在冲刷流量较大(2.9 L/min)时低于壤中流。径流中磷酸盐及侵蚀泥沙中氮磷损失均随坡度的增大先增大后减小。冲刷流量越大,地表径流及侵蚀泥沙中的氮、磷流失量越多。径流中养分流失量表现为硝态氮＞铵态氮＞磷酸盐。侵蚀泥沙是磷酸盐的主要输出途径,占流失总量的59.69%以上;氮素流失量仅在坡度30°时表现为侵蚀泥沙中最大,在25°,35°坡面,地表径流为氮素的主要流失途径,小流量(1.7,2.3 L/min)时壤中流输出的氮素次之。     

不同侵蚀程度花岗岩红壤坡面侵蚀泥沙颗粒特征研究

研究花岗岩红壤坡面侵蚀泥沙颗粒分选特征有助于揭示粗颗粒土壤坡面侵蚀机理。通过室内人工模拟降雨-径流试验,在15°坡度和2种试验条件下(90 mm?h-1+2.00 L?min-1、120 mm?h-1+2.66 L?min-1),研究了不同侵蚀程度(轻度侵蚀E1、中度侵蚀E2、强烈侵蚀E3)花岗岩红壤侵蚀过程及泥沙颗粒组成的变化规律。结果表明：产流率和土壤侵蚀速率随降雨强度和上方来水量的增加而增大;不同侵蚀程度土壤其侵蚀特征存在差异,产流率表现为E2>E3>E1,土壤侵蚀速率表现为E3>E2>E1;通过多元回归逐步分析得出,土体容重越高产流率越小(R2=0.800,P<0.01),更高的黏粒含量和更低的粉粒含量会使得土壤侵蚀速率减少(R2=0.715,P<0.01)。随着降雨-冲刷强度增加泥沙中砾石和黏粒含量增加,砂粒和粉粒含量减少,泥沙分形维数增大。分形维数与黏粒(R2=0.910)和砂粒( R2=-0.390)质量分数为极显著线性关系,可以作为花岗岩红壤坡面侵蚀产沙中泥沙粒级分布的评价指标。     

黄土陡坡径流侵蚀产沙特性室内实验研究

通过室内土槽放水冲刷实验,研究了黄土区陡坡侵蚀产沙特性。结果表明径流输沙率随径流流量的增加而增加,径流输沙率随坡度呈抛物线形式变化,当坡度在21°～24°之间时输沙率最大;径流剪切力也具有类似变化。泥沙输移率与径流剪切力之间存在线性关系,径流临界剪切力为1.701 N/(m²·min),发生细沟侵蚀的临界径流水深与坡度正弦值成反比。在实验条件下,坡面中上部土壤的侵蚀量占总侵蚀量的很大比重,表明土壤侵蚀主要发生在坡面中上部。坡面下部侵蚀微弱,以搬运上部来沙为主。     

降雨、汇流和坡度对黑土浅沟坡面侵蚀影响的试验研究

[目的]为研究降雨、汇流和坡度对浅沟侵蚀的影响,实施精确的水土保持措施。[方法]通过室内模拟降雨和汇流试验,设计2个降雨强度(50,100 mm/h)和2个坡度(3°,7°),并在4种降雨强度和坡度组合下设置5个依次增加的汇流强度(15,30,45,60,75 L/min),分析降雨、汇流和坡度及其交互作用对浅沟坡面侵蚀的影响,明确浅沟侵蚀对坡面侵蚀的贡献。[结果](1)坡度和汇流强度对浅沟坡面侵蚀的影响均大于降雨强度。当降雨强度由50 mm/h增加到100 mm/h时,3°和7°对应的坡面侵蚀量分别增加52.3%～81.8%和29.4%～88.4%;而当坡度从3°增大到7°,50,100 mm/h降雨强度对应的坡面侵蚀量分别增加114.3%～395.5%和130.0%～320.9%;当汇流强度由15 L/min增加至75 L/min,坡面侵蚀量增加4.6～13.5倍。同时,汇流强度的增加加剧坡度对坡面侵蚀的作用,而减弱降雨强度对坡面侵蚀的影响。(2)降雨、汇流、坡度双因子和三因子交互作用对浅沟坡面侵蚀的影响以汇流强度—坡度交互作用和降雨强度—汇流强度—坡度三者的交互作用的影响最大,其...     

汇流强度、坡度及侵蚀泥沙颗粒分形对工程堆积体坡面侵蚀的影响

为了探讨汇流强度、坡度和侵蚀泥沙颗粒分形对堆积体坡面土壤侵蚀的影响,选用3种土壤(风沙土、红土、塿土),4个汇流强度(8,12,16,20 L/min),在3个坡度(28°,32°,36°)堆积体坡面上进行野外径流冲刷模拟试验。结果表明:(1)汇流强度和坡度的交互作用对坡面平均流速的影响最大。3种土壤坡面流流速均随汇流强度的增加递增1.00～1.49倍,均随坡度增加递增0.99～1.29倍。(2)汇流强度、坡度、土壤颗粒分形维数三者之间的交互作用对坡面平均产流率影响最大,而汇流强度对径流量影响最大。3种土壤下垫面坡面产流率、径流量均随汇流强度的增加而增加,分别递增1.09～6.10,1.05～5.74倍,均随坡度增加而增加,分别递增0.80～2.59,0.82～2.59倍。(3)汇流强度和坡度的交互作用对产沙率和产沙量影响最大。3种土壤坡面产沙率、产沙量均随汇流强度的增加而增加,分别递增1.17～5.67,1.17～5.20倍,均随坡度增加而增加,分别递增0.96～3.32,0.94～7.54倍。研究结果可为不同土质的工程堆积体坡面土壤侵蚀预测及流失防控提供理论参考。     

基于RS和GIS的黄土丘陵沟壑区浅沟侵蚀地形特征研究

为了解黄土高原浅沟侵蚀地形特征,基于Qucickbird高分辨率遥感影像和数字高程模型,提取了坡面浅沟及其地形参数,并对浅沟侵蚀的地形特征参数和分布规律进行了统计分析,结果表明：黄土丘陵沟壑区,坡面坡度、长度、坡向以及上坡长度是影响坡面浅沟数量的主要地形要素,而浅沟侵蚀地形特征主要由坡面坡度、坡面长度、上坡长度和汇流面积共同决定;坡面长度与浅沟平均长度呈显著线性关系,坡面坡度与浅沟频度、浅沟坡度与其上坡长度间则均满足二次曲线;发生浅沟侵蚀的上限与下限临界坡度分别介于26～27°和15～20°,临界坡长介于50～80 m;由浅沟坡度的正弦值与汇流面积确定出浅沟分布的临界曲线;阳向坡面的平均浅沟长度小于阴向坡面。基于RS和GIS技术能有效确定浅沟侵蚀地形特征,为黄土区坡面水土流失治理提供了技术支撑。     

模拟降雨条件下第四纪红黏土坡面侵蚀过程

通过室内模拟降雨试验,分析雨强和坡度对第四纪红黏土坡面侵蚀过程的影响,揭示南方红壤低山丘陵区第四纪红黏土坡面侵蚀机理。根据研究区地形和降雨特点,设计坡度10°,15°,20°,雨强1.0,1.5,2.0mm/min,研究两者对坡面侵蚀过程的影响。结果表明:(1)坡面初始产流时间随着坡度和雨强的增大而逐渐减小;同一雨强下,径流系数大小为20°15°10°。(2)不同试验处理条件下,坡度由10°增加到20°,坡面累积产沙量增加0.46~1.98倍;降雨强度由1.0mm/min增加到2.0mm/min,坡面累积产沙量增加1.37~3.85倍。(3)1.0,1.5mm/min雨强条件下,坡面侵蚀泥沙以0.25mm水稳性团聚体占优,2.0mm/min雨强条件下,坡面侵蚀泥沙0.25mm水稳性团聚体为主。(4)坡度与雨强对坡面径流系数、侵蚀率和累积产沙量影响极显著(P0.01),坡面累积径流量和累积产沙量构成幂函数模型。研究结果为揭示坡度与雨强对第四纪红黏土坡面侵蚀过程的作用机理提供参考。     

华北土石山区坡面溅蚀和片蚀泥沙颗粒特征研究

基于野外人工模拟降雨试验,研究3种降雨强度(35,65,100mm/h)、2种坡度(5°,15°)和3种植被盖度(0%,30%,80%)条件下,溅蚀和片蚀泥沙颗粒的粒径动态分布特征,及其与降雨强度、坡度和植被覆盖度的关系,揭示表层土壤团聚体在侵蚀过程中的破碎机制。结果表明,2种侵蚀方式下的泥沙颗粒主要集中在0.1~0.002mm粒级范围内,显著高于其它粒级颗粒含量。在溅蚀泥沙颗粒中0.1~0.05mm粒级颗粒含量较高,而片蚀泥沙颗粒中0.02mm粒级颗粒含量较高,溅蚀泥沙颗粒的平均重量直径均大于片蚀泥沙颗粒。对比泥沙颗粒粒径的变化特征,溅蚀泥沙颗粒中粗砂粒(2~0.25mm)和细砂粒(0.25~0.05mm)含量逐渐减少,粉粒(0.05~0.02mm)和粘粒(0.002mm)含量逐渐增加,而片蚀泥沙颗粒中砂粒(2~0.05mm)含量呈增加趋势,粘粒(0.002mm)含量呈减小趋势。2种侵蚀方式下不同粒径泥沙颗粒与坡面径流深和径流量的相关性分析表明,泥沙颗粒粒径分布与地表产流过程密切相关。同时,雨滴击溅侵蚀泥沙颗粒的分形特征与侵蚀土壤的相对机械破碎指数有关,能够有效预测侵蚀过程中降雨和径流对坡面土壤团聚体的分选特征。     

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.