黄河三角洲海水灌溉对土壤盐碱化和导水率的影响

为研究海水灌溉对土壤盐碱化和导水率的影响，该文在黄河三角洲滨海盐渍土上采用75%的海水于田间小区进行3年灌溉试验，分析了海水灌溉前后土壤含盐量、土壤盐碱化的各项指标、土壤中各种离子和饱和导水率的变化，结果表明：采用75%的海水灌溉后土壤剖面中盐分含量明显升高，在土层80 cm以下有盐分积累的现象；而饱和导水率减小；土壤的pH值在海水灌溉前后变化不大；残余碳酸钠(RSC)的变化也较小；土壤的钠吸附比(SAR)和碱化度(ESP)在3年海水灌溉后上升较大，已经超过了碱化土壤的临界值，并均与土壤中的盐分含量呈对数曲线变化。在黄河三角洲地区运用海水灌溉可能会对土壤资源安全产生影响，海水灌溉必须防治次生盐渍化和土壤碱化的发生。     

半干旱区海水灌溉农田土壤盐分运移规律的研究

对在海侵灾害最严重的莱州湾地区,在油葵生育期内利用不同浓度的海水直接灌溉两次,研究0～40cm土层土壤盐分及Na^ 、CI^-、Ca^2 、Mg^2 、K^ 含量的分布、迁移规律,为确定合适的灌溉定额和灌溉次数提供最基础的技术参数。结果表明：①60％以上浓度海水灌溉,5～40cm土层土壤盐分呈积累趋势,次生盐渍化明显;40％海水灌溉后轻微积盐．若无充沛的雨水淋洗,则须结合一定的农业措施以防造成次生盐害;20％海水浓度在灌溉定额为800m^3／hm^2时能保持土壤盐分的盈亏平衡。②Na^ 和CI^-主要分布在5～20cm土层,而Ca^2 和Mg^2 主要在20∽40cm土层,K^ 则极易被淋洗而迁移到40cm以下土层。③0～5cm土层盐分变化剧烈,在油葵整个生育期降雨量为171．7mm的情况下,至收获期时,各处理均能降至灌海水前的水平。     

磁化水灌溉条件下黄河三角洲刺槐林地土壤盐分时空分布特征及变化规律

[目的]探明磁化水灌溉条件下土壤盐分含量时空分布特征及变化规律,为滨海盐碱地磁化水灌溉技术提供理论依据。[方法]以黄河三角洲东营市河口区新营造刺槐人工林地为研究对象,分析了淡水灌溉(FW)、磁化淡水灌溉(MFW)、地下浅表层微咸水灌溉(GW)和磁化地下浅表层微咸水灌溉(MGW)4种措施下土壤盐分含量的时空分布特征及变化规律。[结果] 2种磁化处理灌溉方式均能降低滨海盐碱地土壤盐分含量;不同灌溉处理的土壤盐分含量均值皆表现出:GWCKFWMGWMFW,土壤盐分含量随土层深度增加而降低。[结论]①磁化水灌溉能够降低土壤盐分表聚,尤其在春、秋季适时采用磁化水灌溉,能够抑制土壤返盐,在20—40 cm土层效果更明显一些。②通过磁化地下浅表层微咸水进行适度灌溉,可以为该地区节约用水资源,有效地促进盐碱地土壤脱盐。     

海水倒灌农田土壤盐分空间变异特征

以海南省海口市三江农场为研究区域,采集并化验海水倒灌后土壤样品191份,利用地统计学方法和空间插值法对区域土壤盐分空间变异特征进行了研究。结果表明:14个土层中土壤盐分的均值最大的为0~5 cm土层,土壤盐分平均含量达到9.63 g/kg,最小的是20~40 cm土层,盐分平均含量仅为4.36 g/kg;24个土层中第一层(0~5 cm)土壤盐分含量属弱相关性,第四层(20~40 cm)土层属于剧烈空间自相关性;3各土层土壤盐分分布格局差异明显,含盐量1 g/kg的各土层均没有分布;含盐量1~3和3~5 g/kg两个级别随着土层深度的增加面积逐渐增大,9 g/kg的级别则面积逐渐减少。不同深度土壤层土壤盐分含量差异明显,空间变异特征各不相同,总体呈现土壤盐分表聚特征。     

不同气候带海水灌溉下滨海盐土水盐运动特征

自2001年开始,采用田间试验与室内模拟相互验证的方法,对山东莱州(暖温半干旱带)、江苏大丰(暖温湿润带)、海南乐东(热带湿润带)进行了海水灌溉下滨海盐土水盐运动特征研究,结果表明：(1)各气候带适宜的灌溉定额下,未作任何人为调控措施,半干旱的莱州虽呈自然积盐的趋势．但即使用50％的海淡水混灌,2年0～60cm土层盐分仍未超过3‰,江苏大丰用60％的海淡水灌溉,海水灌溉携入的总盐量与1m土体淋失的盐量持平,而海南乐东盐分收支平衡的海淡水比例为75％;(2)在半干旱的山东莱州,0～60cm各土层含盐量变幅起伏较大,表明蒸发为盐分运动的控制因子,而在湿润的江苏大丰,30cm以下土层含盐量平稳,ST水控制盐分运动的作用增强。两个气候带,在整个夏季,各海水灌溉处理表层土壤含盐量明显低于下层土壤;(3)海水灌溉明显降低土壤水吸力,表明海水灌溉可以缓解土壤水的蒸发,越是干旱,这种作用越明显。     

滴灌沙枣防护林土壤盐分分布特征

利用3年(2008-2011年)的野外对比试验与长期实地监测数据,分析喀拉米吉绿洲滴灌沙枣(Elaeagnus angustifolia)防护林地的土壤盐分及动态情况。结果表明:(1)林地在滴灌与不滴灌条件下,土壤盐分含量差异显著(p<0.05)。在不同灌水量条件(单株单次灌水18,30,48L)下的林地土壤盐分含量与分布特征不相同,其中单株单次灌水48L处理与对照相比,土壤盐分含量差异达极显著水平(p<0.01);3种不同灌水量处理(18,30,48L)分别使30cm以上土层、50cm以上土层、整个根系土层的盐度值低于1.4mS/cm;(2)在沙枣生育期内,土壤盐分呈现逐渐上升的趋势,且通过了显著性水平;不同深度(20,40,60cm)的土壤盐分上升趋势有差异,其中40cm深处土壤盐分上升趋势最显著,20cm与60cm深处趋势水平差异不大;(3)在1个灌溉周期内(20d),林地土壤盐分动态表现为集中-均匀-集中的过程。停水后第2天,上层土壤盐分含量明显下降,滴灌将盐分压于30cm以下,并集中于40-60cm土层;停水后第4～8天,整个观测范围内的剖面土壤盐分明显下降,原聚集于中土层的盐分基本消失,从而使停水后第4～8天土壤盐分淋洗效果最显著;停水后第12天,剖面高盐分土层又重新出现,然后随着时间的延续高盐分土层愈加明显。因此,随着1个灌溉周期的结束,高含盐量土层的位置逐渐上移,其范围逐步扩大;(4)本试验中,在种植的第2～3年,水分供给不足是沙枣成活率低、生长量低的主要原因,而影响沙枣第1年成活率的是土壤次生盐渍化(盐分高达5～9mS/cm)。滴灌洗盐只是局部,建议滴灌防护林1年采取1次大水漫灌。     

咸水结冰融水入渗对土壤水盐运移和玉米苗期生长的影响

依据咸水冰盐水融离原理,利用土柱模拟试验,设置4个灌溉方式,分别为对照处理(淡水)、咸水灌溉、咸水结冰灌溉和咸水结冰灌溉+秸秆覆盖,研究咸水结冰灌溉条件下土壤水盐的独特运移机制。结果表明,与淡水灌溉相比,咸水灌溉处理表层0~40 cm土壤水分含量偏低,而深层土含水量则较高;咸水结冰灌溉下这一规律更为明显。但配合秸秆覆盖措施能在一定程度提高咸水结冰灌溉后各土层土壤含水量。咸水直接浇灌使各土层土壤盐度EC1:5偏高,盐分累积量增大,且盐分具有明显表层聚集特性,表层0~40 cm盐分累积量占0~80 cm土体的62.2%;而咸水结冰后灌溉则显著降低表层0~40 cm土层的盐分累积,仅占18.6%;咸水结冰后灌溉配合秸秆覆盖则进一步促进表层的脱盐率提高,特别在0~10 cm土层,土壤盐度仅为0.15 dS·m -1,盐分累积67.8 g·m-2,与淡水处理间差异未达显著水平(P>0.05)。咸水结冰灌溉配合秸秆覆盖可促进表层土壤的脱盐,使土壤根系分布密集层保持较低盐分水平,缓解或消除盐分对作物生长的危害,使玉米的生长状况达到淡水灌溉处理的效果。     

不同矿化度咸水结冰灌溉对重度盐碱地土壤水分入渗和盐分运移的影响

为探究不同矿化度咸水结冰灌溉对重度盐碱地土壤水分入渗和盐分运移的影响。采用室内有机玻璃土柱模拟试验,设置3个梯度灌水水质(蒸馏水、3 g/L微咸水、10 g/L咸水)和2种灌溉方式(结冰灌溉、直接灌溉)的6种不同处理,对土壤的水分入渗特性及脱盐效果进行对比分析研究。结果表明:(1)3个梯度灌水水质下,结冰灌溉方式的土壤初始入渗速率分别是直接灌溉方式的8.2,4.6,5.8倍。结冰灌溉方式下,灌溉水矿化度越高,土壤入渗速率越快;(2)Kostiakov模型适合拟合不同矿化度咸水结冰灌溉方式下的土壤水分入渗过程,Horton模型适合拟合不同矿化度咸水直接灌溉方式下的土壤水分入渗过程;(3)3个梯度灌水水质下,直接灌溉方式0—60 cm土层土壤含水率较结冰灌溉方式分别提高1.4%～6.3%,1.6%～3.6%,0.9%～7.6%;(4)各处理下0—30 cm土层土壤脱盐效果较为显著,盐分不断向土层60 cm处迁移,各处理土壤脱盐率逐渐降低。0—30 cm土层处,淡水直接灌溉方式下土壤脱盐率最大(93%～97%),3 g/L微咸水结冰灌溉的脱盐率次之(87%～91%)。50—60 cm土层处,淡水结冰灌溉方式下土壤脱盐率最高(13.3%),其次为3 g/L微咸水结冰灌溉方式(9.1%)。综合考虑,3 g/L微咸水结冰灌溉能够提高土壤水分入渗速率,有效降低0—60 cm土层的土壤盐分含量。     

磁化水灌溉对盐渍化土壤生化性质的影响

为了探究磁化水灌溉对盐渍化土壤生化性质的影响,以黄河三角洲冬枣园的盐渍化土壤为研究对象,对土壤的盐分含量、交换性盐基、养分含量和土壤酶活性进行了研究。结果表明,在3个不同土层深度下,与淡水相比,磁化淡水灌溉的土壤含盐量分别显著降低了17.3%、19.8%和10.5%(P0.05);在0~20和20~40 cm土层中,与地下浅表层微咸水相比,磁化地下浅表层微咸水灌溉的土壤含盐量分别显著降低5.7%和8.8%(P0.05)。在3个不同土层深度中,磁化地下浅表层微咸水灌溉与未磁化灌溉相比分别显著降低了土壤中全Na的含量(P0.05)。磁化水灌溉显著增加了交换性K和Ca的含量,而交换性Na含量显著降低(P0.05)。不同的土壤深度下,磁化水灌溉可显著提高土壤中P、Ca和Mg的含量(P0.05)。与未磁化相比,磁化水灌溉的土壤蔗糖酶活性提高11.5%~15.2%,且差异显著(P0.05)。与未磁化相比,磁化淡水灌溉的脲酶活性提高了10.6%,磁化地下浅表层微咸水的磷酸酶和过氧化氢酶活性提高了10.0%和7.0%,且差异显著(P0.05)。由此可知,磁化水灌溉能有效促进沾化冬枣园盐渍化土壤脱盐、维持土壤离子平衡、促进土壤养分有效性及提高土壤酶活性。本研究结果为磁化水灌溉技术在冬枣产业区的广泛应用提供了依据。     

灌水处理对漫灌改滴灌红枣土壤盐分时空分布的影响

为确定南疆沙区成龄红枣漫灌改滴灌适宜的滴灌模式,采用双因素组合试验设计,研究了不同灌溉定额(900,1 050,1 200mm)和灌水次数(10,14,18次)对红枣漫灌改滴灌后整个生育期0—200cm土层盐分时空分布及产量的影响。结果表明:水平方向上各处理均表现为距树干越远土壤盐分质量比越高,增大灌溉定额使距树干60cm处0—20cm土层土壤盐分质量比明显增大;增加灌水次数可以显著降低距树干60cm处0—80cm土层土壤盐分质量比。垂直方向上土壤盐分质量比呈"S"形分布,表层土壤有明显积盐现象;不同灌溉定额处理垂直方向上均出现一个低盐带(2g/kg),低盐带深度范围随灌溉定额的增加而增大。漫灌相比改滴灌水平方向上土壤盐分质量比变化不大,且表层土壤也无明显积盐现象。整个生育期内,各处理土壤盐分质量比峰值出现在6月新稍期或7月花期;在0—200cm土层,10次、1 200mm灌水处理和14次、900mm灌水处理的盐分淋洗效果与漫灌CK处理相近,漫灌处理只在0—100cm土层盐分淋洗效果明显优于改滴灌处理。灌水次数对0—200cm土层各时间阶段土壤盐分质量比的影响弱于灌溉定额。漫灌改滴灌不同于连续滴灌,漫灌改滴灌后,过低或过高的灌溉定额均不利于提高红枣的产量,与其他处理相比,18次、1 050mm灌溉定额处理不但具有合理的盐分时空分布,且产量(7 549kg/hm2)和水分利用效率最高,比漫灌增产12.87%,节水30%,可以作为当地节水、高产和高效的红枣漫灌改滴灌灌溉制度。     

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.