烟株生长过程中土壤微生物的变化特征

为有效防治烟草青枯病等土传病害,探究了烟株生长过程中土壤微生物的变化特征。分别在烟株不同生长期采集根部土壤进行可培养微生物数量测定和16S/18S rDNA基因测序,以分析烟株生长过程中微生物数量、多样性以及群落结构的变化。结果表明,可培养细菌、放线菌数量随烟株生长先增多后减少,其中旺长期数量最多;真菌数量先减少后增多,以旺长期数量最少。细菌群落多样性无明显变化,真菌群落多样性在旺长期最低。微生物群落结构在旺长期变化较大,细菌优势菌群Acidobacteria(酸杆菌门)丰度较团棵期减少30%±12%,Actinobacteria(放线菌门)丰度增加116%±19%,真菌优势菌群Ascomycota(子囊菌门)丰度增加57%±36%,norankk-Fungi丰度减少83%±17%。烟株生长发育改变了土壤微生物的数量和群落结构,旺长期微生物群落结构的改变与青枯病发生存在一定联系,特别是真菌优势菌的变化可能会影响青枯病的发生。     

基于宏基因组测序揭示不同施肥方式对茶园土壤微生物群落的季节性影响

为揭示不同施肥方式对茶园土壤微生物群落的季节性影响,采用宏基因组测序,比较分析了同一茶园习惯施肥(CF)、微生物有机肥配施控释复合肥(MC),在冬季至夏季3个时间点[11月14日(CF1、MC1)、3月1日(CF2、MC2)、5月15日(CF3、MC3)]的土壤微生物群落组成和结构。结果表明,共获得311211956条高质量测序数据和1763759个Unigenes。主成分和相关性分析表明,MC1和CF1的土壤微生物基因丰度聚为一类,其他独聚一类。不同季节,CF和MC的细菌、古菌、真菌分别占微生物总数的88%～89%、0.8%～2.0%、0.02%～0.10%;古菌数量逐渐增加,真菌数量先增加后降低。CF2、CF3的古菌数量分别高于MC2、MC3,而真菌数量相反;CF2、CF3的细菌、真菌丰度分别显著低于MC2、MC3,古菌丰度相反。MC1、MC2、MC3之间的细菌、古菌、真菌丰度存在显著差异,而CF1与CF3的真菌丰度接近。相较于CF,MC提高了土壤细菌中的变形菌门、放线菌门、芽单胞菌门、绿弯菌门、拟杆菌门、硝化螺旋菌门、装甲菌门相对丰度,降低了酸杆菌门、疣微菌门、浮霉菌门相对丰度;提高了古菌中的奇古菌门相对丰度,降低了广古菌门、泉古菌门、深古菌门相对丰度;提高了真菌中的毛霉门、捕虫霉门、隐真菌门相对丰度,降低了担子菌门相对丰度。总体上,CF和MC优势细菌门、优势古菌门、优势真菌门相对丰度的季节性变化趋势存在一定差异。茶园土壤微生物群落组成和结构呈现一定的季节性、施肥方式性变化规律;微生物有机肥配施控释复合肥可以提高土壤细菌丰度、真菌数量和丰度,降低古菌数量和丰度,改变土壤优势菌群的组成,为充分利用微生物资源、提高茶树养分利用率等提供了理论依据。     

长期无机有机肥配施对红壤性水稻土微生物群落多样性及酶活性的影响

【目的】长期有机与无机肥配合施用是促进农田生产力和土壤有机碳固定的重要技术途径。本文以江西省红壤研究所长期不同施肥试验田的表土(0—15 cm)为对象,探讨不同施肥措施对土壤微生物群落多样性和酶活性的影响。【方法】在水稻收获后,采集表土壤样品,提取土壤总DNA。采用聚合酶链反应结合变性梯度凝胶电泳(PCR-DGGE)的方法研究土壤微生物的群落结构多样性,并结合克隆测序研究土壤微生物的群落组成;用实时荧光定量PCR(q PCR)的方法研究土壤微生物的丰度。土壤细菌定量和群落结构分析的分子标靶基因分别为16S rRNA基因V3区和V6区片段,土壤真菌定量和群落结构分析的标靶基因均为18S rRNA基因。DGGE分析采用8%的聚丙烯酰胺凝胶分离细菌和真菌,所用变性梯度分别为35%65%和20%40%。同时采用荧光微孔板检测技术测定土壤几丁质酶、α-葡萄糖苷酶、β-葡萄糖苷酶、纤维素酶、酸性磷酸单脂酶和木聚糖酶活性;用紫外分光光度计法测定土壤过氧化物酶活性。【结果】PCR-DGGE分析表明,与不施肥对照(CK)相比,有机无机肥配施(NPKM),土壤细菌的香农指数和丰富度指数显著增大,而土壤真菌的香农指数和丰富度指数在不同施肥处理间无显著差异。DGGE图谱聚类分析显示,NPKM处理的土壤细菌和真菌的群落结构显著区别于其他3个处理。后续的切胶测序得出,土壤细菌分属于Chloroflexi(绿弯菌门),Proteobacteria(变形菌门)和Firmicutes(厚壁菌门);NPKM处理下隶属于Clostridum(梭菌属)和Anaerolineaceae(厌氧绳菌科)的两类细菌显著增加。土壤真菌主要分属于Basidiomycota(担子菌门)和Ascomycota(子囊菌门),这些真菌条带在DGGE图谱上的分布不同处理间均无明显的规律性,因而不同处理间真菌的群落分布未出现较清晰的变化。q PCR的结果显示,土壤细菌和真菌拷贝数在不同处理间无显著差异。土壤酶的检测结果表明,与CK相比,单施氮肥(N)处理的土壤几丁质酶活性显著提高,常规氮磷钾处理(NPK)处理的几丁质酶和α-葡萄糖苷酶活性显著增强,NPKM处理提高了土壤几丁质酶、纤维素酶和过氧化物酶活性;酸性磷酸单酯酶和木聚糖酶活性在各处理间无显著差异。归一化酶活性值,NPKM处理显著高于CK和其他施肥处理。【结论】长期有机无机肥配施可显著提高土壤细菌多样性,并改变土壤细菌和真菌的群落结构,提高土壤酶活性,因而提高了农田生态系统的生产力并对生态系统健康有改善作用。     

缙云山不同森林植被下土壤微生物群落结构特征研究

为了解缙云山国家自然保护区不同森林植被对表层土中微生物群落结构和丰度的影响,以缙云山4种森林植被(针叶林、常绿阔叶林、针-阔混交林和竹林)土壤为研究对象,采用克隆文库、末端限制性片段多态性分析(Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis,T-RFLP)和荧光定量PCR(qPCR)等分子技术,研究不同森林植被对细菌、真菌和古菌群落结构和丰度的影响。结果表明:1)在4种植被类型中,针叶林土壤中微生物的拷贝数均低于其他植被。细菌16S rDNA拷贝数在3种微生物中最高且受植被影响最为明显(P0.05)。微生物拷贝数与土壤理化性质的皮尔逊相关分析显示:细菌和古菌拷贝数分别与pH(r=0.607,P0.05)和含水量(r=-0.919,P0.01)显著相关。2)根据T-RFLP图谱,群落结构的α-多样性指数显示:真菌的群落结构多样性最高,而古菌最低且受植被变化影响最显著(P0.05)。非度量多维尺度分析(Non-metric multidimensional scaling,NMDS)和热图分析(Heatmapanalysis)均显示:在不同植被间,土壤微生物群落组成表现出显著差异(P0.05),其中针叶林土壤中细菌和真菌群落结构最独特;3)不同植被中土壤微生物均存在不同的优势种群。其中,竹林土壤中微生物优势种群最突出。4)冗余分析(Redundancy analysis,RDA)显示3种微生物的群落结构显著受pH、钾和磷元素的影响(P0.05)。在缙云山地区,植被类型的变化对土壤表层微生物的群落结构和丰度均有显著影响。以上研究有助于了解土壤微生物与森林生产力及其发展演替的关系,为天然林的保护和可持续经营提供科学依据。     

基于高通量测序研究草莓根际微生物群落结构和多样性

研究草莓根际土壤微生物群落组成和结构,对健康草莓土壤生态系统的构建和保持具有重要意义。以不同地区草莓根际土壤为研究样本,利用MiSeq平台Illumina第二代高通量测序技术并结合相关生物信息学分析土壤细菌16S rRNA基因V4+V5区域和真菌ITS1+ITS2区域的丰富度和多样性指数以及群落结构。结果表明:从15个草莓根际土壤样本中获得4554个细菌分类操作单元OTU和1298个真菌OTU,草莓根际土壤的优势细菌门为变形菌门、厚壁菌门、放线菌门、酸杆菌门和绿弯菌门,主要的优势细菌属有16种;优势真菌门为子囊菌门、接合菌门和担子菌门,主要的优势真菌属有8种。冗余分析(RDA)显示,全氮和pH对土壤微生物群落结构的影响最大,共解释了61%的群落变化,各因子的贡献率大小依次为土壤全氮pH有效磷全钾全磷有机质速效钾碱解氮;相关性分析也表明,土壤理化指标均与不同优势菌门存在密切的相关关系。本研究结果加深了对草莓根际微生物群落结构和多样性的认识,为深入研究草莓根际微生物多样性及功能与环境因子之间的关系提供了借鉴。     

落干对表层水稻土氮素转化及关键功能微生物丰度的影响

落干过程中稻田土壤氮素转化发生显著变化,但表层土壤不同层次的氮素转化特征及相关机制尚不清楚。通过室内土壤培养试验,探讨了落干过程中(9 d)上表层(0～5 cm)和下表层(5～10 cm)水稻土氧化还原电位(Eh)、土体氧化亚氮(N2O)浓度和排放通量等的动态变化特征,并利用实时荧光定量PCR测定氨氧化基因(古菌amoA和细菌amoA)和硝酸盐还原酶基因(narG和napA)的丰度变化。结果表明,经9 d落干上表层水稻土Eh由-200 mV上升至500 mV左右,而下表层在-200～0 mV之间波动。上表层水稻土NH4+-N含量下降速率和NO^3--N含量上升速率分别是下表层的2.8和1.8倍。落干过程中,上表层水稻土氨氧化作用可能是由氨氧化细菌(AOB)主导的,而驱动硝酸盐还原作用可能以含napA基因反硝化微生物为主。     

不同土壤玉米根际挥发性有机物组成和微生物群落特征

【目的】土壤理化性质和微生物群落的差异显著影响玉米根际挥发性有机物 (volatile organic compounds,VOCs) 的产生和释放。对根际VOCs的深入研究有望为充分挖掘根际生物学潜力和根际调控做出积极贡献。【方法】采集山东德州、河北涞水、河北保定、江西南昌、河南孟津、河南商丘等6个地区的旱地耕层土壤进行为期两个月的玉米盆栽试验,利用顶空固相微萃取联合气相色谱–质谱联用检测技术对根际土壤挥发性有机物进行了分析鉴定,利用实时荧光定量PCR技术对根际细菌和真菌进行了定量分析,利用高通量测序技术对根际细菌16S和真菌ITS进行了测序。【结果】从6个旱地土壤中共检测出44种VOCs,主要是烷烃、烯烃、酯类、胺类、有机酸和芳香类化合物,其中多种化合物与植物或微生物的生长代谢密切相关。胺类化合物N-Benzyl-N-ethyl-p-isopropylbenzamide和D-2-Bromolysergic acid diethylamide在6个土壤中均被检出,占总量的54.2%;其次检出最多的是烷烃和烯烃,占总量的31.1%和7.6%。江西南昌土壤释放的VOCs在数量和丰富度上均显著高于其他土壤,且大部分为烷烃和烯烃类化合物;从河北保定土壤中检出了6种特有的有机酸和酯类化合物。供试6种土壤中,河南商丘和河北保定的细菌数量显著高于其他四个地方。南昌土壤真菌数量显著较高,但其细菌数量、丰富度和多样性均显著低于其他土壤。6种土壤中的主要细菌依次为Thaumarchaeota(奇古菌门)、Actinobacteria(放线菌门)、Proteobacteria(变形菌门)、Chloroflexi(绿弯菌门)、Acidobacteria(酸杆菌门)、Firmicutes(厚壁菌门) 和 Unclassified(未分类门),占总细菌群落的92.1%;主要真菌依次为Ascomycota(子囊菌门)、Basidiomycota(担子菌门) 和 Chytridiomycota(壶菌门),占总真菌群落的98.3%。绿弯菌门仅在南昌土壤中占绝对优势,而南昌土壤中奇古菌门和变形菌门的相对丰度显著比其他地区少;子囊菌门在6种土壤中均为绝对优势真菌门。玉米根际释放的VOCs数量和丰富度与pH、硝态氮、细菌多样性和真菌多样性呈显著负相关 (P < 0.05),与铵态氮和真菌数量呈极显著正相关 (P < 0.01);与主要细菌门中的奇古菌门、变形菌门和酸杆菌门呈显著负相关 (P < 0.05),与绿弯菌门呈极显著正相关 (P < 0.01),但是与主要真菌门相关性不显著。【结论】理化性质不同的玉米根际土壤中,微生物群落结构与组成存在显著差异。pH是影响微生物生长的重要因素,酸性土壤中的真菌数量显著高于中性土壤,但是其细菌数量、微生物群落丰富度和多样性均显著小于中性土壤。VOCs的产生和释放受土壤、微生物和植物等众多因素的影响,土壤有机质含量越高、透气性越好、微生物数量越多时,释放的VOCs越丰富。     

典型红壤水稻土剖面细菌和真菌分子生态网络特征研究

土壤表层及深层的微生物互作对土壤养分循环和物质转化等具有重要意义。为揭示典型红壤水稻土剖面微生物分子生态网络特征,通过16S rRNA和18S rRNA高通量测序技术,运用CoNet分析方法,构建上层(0～20 cm)、中层(20～60cm)和下层(60～100cm)土壤细菌、真菌分子生态网络。结果表明,土壤全碳和全氮含量、细菌和真菌的丰富度沿土壤剖面显著降低(P0.05)。微生物网络拓扑参数,如连通度、群聚系数和网络密度等均明显增加,表明微生物互作随深度增加而增强。与细菌和真菌界内网络互作特征相反,界间的网络互作随深度减弱。进一步利用随机森林模型和方差分解分析,表明土壤碳氮是影响微生物分子生态网络的关键因素;沿土壤剖面碳对微生物互作的贡献逐渐增加,由上层的3.58%增加到下层的32.67%。     

水钠锰矿提高红壤性水稻土N2O释放速率和氨氧化细菌amoA基因丰度

  【目的】  土壤中的氧化亚氮 (N₂O) 来源于硝化与反硝化作用,锰可与硝化或反硝化作用产物反应产生N₂O或氮气,已有研究表明土壤中锰含量高会影响硝化作用。因此,本试验以水钠锰矿 (KMnO₂·H₂O) 与土壤硝化作用与反硝化作用的生物化学耦合反应为切入点,研究水钠锰矿的添加对土壤N₂O释放速率及微生物的影响,进一步认识N₂O释放与土壤环境因子的相互关系。  【方法】  以红壤性水稻土为供试土壤,通过微宇宙培养试验,在土壤中添加不同质量百分比的水钠锰矿 (0%、0.1%、0.3%、0.7%、1.5%),预培养7 天后,加入硫酸铵N 100 mg/kg继续培养14天。在培养第1、3、7、14天,采用气密性注射器抽取10 mL气体样品,气相色谱仪测定N₂O含量;同时取土壤样品,比色法测定铵态氮与硝态氮含量。培养结束时,测定土壤pH,采用实时荧光定量PCR测定土壤16S rDNA与氨氧化细菌 (AOB) amoA基因拷贝数,高通量测序技术分析微生物群落组成及多样性。  【结果】  水钠锰矿提高了土壤N₂O释放速率,增加了土壤N₂O累积释放量,以添加0.1%水钠锰矿的N₂O累积释放量最高,添加1.5%的最低。土壤铵态氮含量随培养时间的延长而迅速降低,硝态氮含量则迅速增加。水钠锰矿显著提高了土壤pH与表观N₂O产量 (N₂O-N/NO₃?-N),pH随着水钠锰矿添加量的增加整体提高,N₂O-N/NO₃?-N则随着水钠锰矿添加量的增加呈降低趋势。适量水钠锰矿显著增加了土壤细菌16S rDNA与氨氧化细菌 (AOB) amoA基因拷贝数,并显著提高了土壤16S rDNA与AOB amoA基因拷贝数的比值,但随着水钠锰矿添加量的增加,细菌16S rDNA和AOB amoA基因拷贝数的增加量整体降低;放线菌、变形菌与拟杆菌是所有处理中的优势菌门,通过非度量多维尺度分析发现不同处理间的微生物群落结构差异显著,未添加水钠锰矿处理与添加水钠锰矿1.5%处理的微生物群落结构差异最大,其他处理的微生物群落结构介于两者之间。  【结论】  土壤中添加0.1%质量比的水钠锰矿,可以通过增加AOB的数量促进红壤性水稻土N₂O的释放,显著影响微生物物种丰度与群落结构。但水钠锰矿高添加量处理对AOB的刺激作用减弱,因此,应将土壤锰含量作为影响土壤N₂O释放的因素加以考虑。     

三种城市景观竹土壤微生物群落结构特征

为探究城市景观竹林对土壤微生物群落的影响,选取上海辰山植物园种植的3种景观竹,利用Illumina MiSeq高通量测序结合土壤理化指标分析研究了不同景观竹林对土壤理化性质和微生物群落结构特征的影响。结果表明：不同竹林土壤全磷、有效磷、有机质、全氮、全钾含量和电导率存在显著差异(P<0.05);土壤细菌丰富度和多样性指数在毛竹林土壤中最高,在淡竹林土壤中最低;土壤细菌优势门为放线菌门(Actinobacteriota)、变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、酸杆菌门(Acidobacteriota)和绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi),真菌优势门为子囊菌门(Ascomycota),其中放线菌门和绿弯菌门在淡竹林土壤中的相对丰度最高,且显著高于其他竹林,而变形菌门、粘球菌门(Myxococcota)的相对丰度在毛竹林土壤中最高,土壤真菌优势门在不同竹林间的差异不显著。此外,土壤细菌群落结构和丰度受土壤p H、硝态氮、电导率、全磷、铵态氮、含水率、速效钾和微生物生物量碳影响显著,而真菌群落变化受全磷、电导率和全钾影响显著。     

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.