Effect of some granular insecticides currently used for the treatment of maize crops (Zea mays) on the survival of inoculated Azospirillum lipoferum

Four insecticides, carbofuran, chlormephos, terbufos and benfuracarb, currently used on maize (Zea mays) at sowing, were tested for their compatibility with Azospirillum lipoferum strain CRT₁ used as an inoculant to improve maize growth and yield. The growth or survival of A lipoferum was studied in the presence of the insecticides: (1) in liquid and solid cultures of the bacteria, (2) when a commercial inoculant (Azogreen‐m?, Liphatech, Meyzieu, France) was inoculated directly on insecticide granules, (3) when inoculated Azogreen‐m granules were mixed with insecticide granules and (4) when inoculated Azogreen‐m granules were delivered separately to the seed bed. Of the four insecticides tested, only terbufos had a slight effect on growth of A lipoferum in solid cultures. All the insecticides decreased the survival of A lipoferum when the bacteria were inoculated directly on to the granules, or when inoculated Azogreen‐m granules were mixed with an insecticide. We hypothesize that the discrepancies between bacterial culture tests and survival studies might be explained by the conditions of desiccation encountered during inoculation of the granules. Desiccation stress could increase the toxic effect of the insecticides. We therefore suggest including desiccation stress in the biotest used to assess inoculant‐pesticide compatibility. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Cinosulfuron: chemical and biological degradability, adsorption and dissipation in flooded paddy field sediment

Cinosulfuron is a sulfonylurea herbicide largely used in the extensive cultures of flooded rice in North Italy. The degradation of cinosulfuron has been investigated in sterile aqueous solutions at 30 degrees C at different pH values. It was rapidly degraded at acidic pH (half-lives 3, 9 and 43 days at pH 4, 5 and 6, respectively) while the half-life was > 1 year at pH 7 and 9. Two degradation products formed by cleavage of the sulfonylurea bridge were identified by LC-MS. Degradation by selected mixed microbial cultures tested in aerobic and anaerobic conditions was very slow and attributable to chemical hydrolysis due to the acidic pH of the cultural broths. Degradation took place in freshly collected rice field water treated for two years with cinosulfuron but, in this case also, chemical hydrolysis prevailed over microbial degradation. In contrast, in flooded sediment simulating the paddy field environment, the dissipation rate of cinosulfuron was higher than expected from chemical hydrolysis according to the pH of the system, indicating the involvement of soil microflora. Although the herbicide exhibited a reduced affinity for the sediment surfaces demonstrated by the low value of the K(f) Freundlich coefficient (0.87 on a micromolar basis), the rapid dissipation observed in the simulated paddy field should prevent its leaching to ground water.     

A simulation model for fate and transport of methyl bromide during fumigation in plastic‐mulched vegetable soil beds

A coupled water‐heat and chemical transport model was used to describe the fate and transport of methyl bromide fumigant in low‐density polyethylene plastic‐mulched soil beds used for vegetable production. Methyl bromide transport was described by convective‐dispersive processes including transformations through hydrolysis. Effects of non‐isothermal conditions on chemical transport were considered through inclusion of temperature effects on transport parameters. An energy‐balance approach was used to describe the plastic‐mulched boundary condition that controls the thermal regime within the soil bed. Simulations were made for variable water‐saturation regimes within the bed and for different depths of fumigant injection. Simulations for various scenarios revealed that large amounts (20–44% over a 7‐day period) of applied methyl bromide are lost from the un‐mulched furrows between the beds. Plastic mulching of the bed was found to be only partially effective (11–29% emission losses over a 7‐day period) in reducing atmospheric emissions. Deep injection of fumigant and saturating the soil with water both led to increased retention of methyl bromide within the soil and less emission to the atmosphere. However, deep injection was unfavorable for effective sterilization of the crop root zone. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Cropping systems modify soil biota effects on wheat (Triticum aestivum) growth and competitive ability

Plants alter soil biota which subsequently modifies plant growth, plant–plant interactions and plant community dynamics. While much research has been conducted on the magnitude and importance of soil biota effects (SBEs) in natural systems, little is known in agro‐ecosystems. We investigated whether agricultural management systems could affect SBEs impacts on crop growth and crop–weed competition. Utilising soil collected from eight paired farms, we evaluated the extent to which SBEs differed between conventional and organic farming systems. Soils were conditioned by growing two common annual weeds: Amaranthus retroflexus (redroot pigweed) or Avena fatua (wild oat). Soil biota effects were measured in wheat (Triticum aestivum) growth and crop–weed competition, with SBEs calculated as the natural log of plant biomass in pots inoculated with living soil divided by the plant biomass in pots inoculated with sterilised soil. SBEs were generally more positive when soil inoculum was collected from organic farms compared with conventional farms, suggesting that cropping systems modify the relative abundance of mutualistic and pathogenic organisms responsible for the observed SBEs. Also, as feedbacks became more positive, crop–weed competition decreased and facilitation increased. In annual cropping systems, SBEs can alter plant growth and crop–weed competition. By identifying the management practices that promote positive SBEs, producers can minimise the impacts of crop–weed competition and decrease their reliance on off‐farm chemical and mechanical inputs to control weeds, enhancing agroecosystem sustainability.     

Effect of native and allochthonous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on Casuarina equisetifolia growth and its root bacterial community

Exotic trees are often planted to recover degraded lands. Inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi can improve their survival. Plant growth is partly dependent on the strain used, but little attention has been paid to the selection of mycorrhizal fungi. The aim of this study was to determine whether the growth of Casuarina equisetifolia L. (Johnson) is affected by two different mycorrhizal inocula generated using fungal spores retrieved from an Australian site (allochthonous soil) and a Senegalese site (native soil) under C. equisetifolia trees. Comparative experiments were conducted with plants in a Senegalese soil, previously sterilized or not, and grown in a greenhouse. At harvest, parameters related to plant growth and mycorrhization were evaluated and soil bacterial communities were compared. Tree growth was significantly influenced by both types of inoculants. In unsterilized soil, plants inoculated with the native inoculant were taller than plants inoculated with the allochthonous inoculant and control plants. The frequency of mycorrhization with both inoculants was higher in unsterilized soil. The strongest effects of the mycorhizosphere on the soil microbiome were obtained with the allochthonous inoculum, and analysis of the taxonomic composition revealed mycorrhizal communities specific to each inoculum. These results suggest that the development of C. equisetifolia and its root bacterial community are dependent on the composition of the mycorrhizal inoculum. The functional consequences of this rhizosphere effect in terms of soil fertility should be further studied to better guide reforestation operations.     

Survival of Phoma koolunga,a causal agent of ascochyta blight,on field pea stubble or as pseudosclerotia in soil

Phoma koolunga is a recently recognized pathogen in the ascochyta blight complex of field pea (Pisum sativum). Unlike the other three ascochyta blight pathogens, survival of P. koolunga is poorly understood. Survival of this fungus was examined on field pea stubble and as pseudosclerotia on the surface of, and buried in, field soil. Pseudosclerotia were formed in plates containing potato dextrose agar (PDA) mixed with sand or amended with fluorocytocin. After 1 month, P. koolunga was recovered on amended PDA from 93% of stubble sections retrieved from the soil surface, 36% of buried stubble sections and 100% of pseudosclerotia buried in field soil, pasteurized or not. The frequency of recovery of P. koolunga decreased over time and the fungus was not recovered from stubble on the soil surface at 15 months, nor was it recovered from stubble buried in soil at 11 months or later, or from pseudosclerotia buried for 18 months. In a pot bioassay, most ascochyta blight lesions developed on plants inoculated with stubble retrieved from the soil surface after 1 month. Infectivity of the inoculum decreased over time. Disease on plants inoculated with stubble that had been buried or left on the soil surface for up to 6 and 5 months, respectively, and pseudosclerotia retrieved at 14 months and later from field soil did not differ from the non‐inoculated control. These results suggest that field pea stubble may play a role in survival of P. koolunga, especially if it remains on the soil surface. In addition, pseudosclerotia were able to persist in soil and infect field pea plants into the next season.     

Chemical hydrolysis of 2-chloro-4,6-bis(alkylamino)-1,3,5-triazine herbicides and their breakdown in soil under the influence of adsorption

The determination of rate constants and the calculation of the activation parameters [activation energy (E_a), free energy of activation(ΔG^≠)and entropy of activation (ΔS^≠)] demonstrated the identity of the reaction kinetics of chemical hydrolysis of the chlorinated triazine herbicides simazine, atrazine, propazine and terbuthylazine. Persistence in soil could be estimated, from the hydrolytic half-life time, only in pH regions where these compounds were also sensitive to chemical hydrolysis. In general, the rate of hydrolysis increased in the presence of soil as the result of a catalysing effect of the soil in their breakdown. When half-lives in soil of these triazine herbicides were compared with adsorption constants, a functional relationship was observed in both soil types; as adsorption increased the half-life in soil also increased.     

An oligonucleotide array for the identification and differentiation of bacteria pathogenic on potato

ABSTRACT Oligonucleotides, 16 to 24 bases long, were selected from the 3' end of the 16S gene and the 16S-23S intergenic spacer regions of bacteria pathogenic on potato, including Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus, Ralstonia solanacearum, and the pectolytic erwinias, including Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica and carotovora and E. chrysanthemi. Oligonucleotides were designed and formatted into an array by pin spotting on nylon membranes. Genomic DNA from bacterial cultures was amplified by polymerase chain reaction using conserved ribosomal primers and labeled simultaneously with digoxigenin-dUTP. Hybridization of amplicons to the array and subsequent serological detection of digoxigenin label revealed different hybridization patterns that were distinct for each species and subspecies tested. Hybridization of amplicons generally was restricted to appropriate homologous oligonucleotides and cross-hybridization with heterologous oligonucleotides was rare. Hybridization patterns were recorded as separate gray values for each hybridized spot and revealed a consistent pattern for multiple strains of each species or subspecies isolated from diverse geographical regions. In preliminary tests, bacteria could be correctly identified and detected by hybridizing to the array amplicons from mixed cultures and inoculated potato tissue.     

油松刺槐混交林土壤生物学特性研究

通过对油松(Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.)、刺槐(Robinia pseudoacacia L．)混交林、油松纯林及刺槐纯林多种土壤微生物种群数量、酶活性及其季节变化的对比分析。结果表明,油松刺槐混交显著改善了林地土壤生物学特性,土壤细菌、真菌和放线菌以及固氮菌、磷细菌、钾细菌的种群数量较纯林均明显增多,土壤质量明显改善。油松刺槐混交提高了土壤过氧化氢酶、脲酶和磷酸酶活性。此外,研究还显示,混交林土壤生物学特性的改变与生长季土壤含水量密切相关。     

An improved enrichment broth for the sensitive detection of Ralstonia solanacearum (biovars 1 and 2A) in soil using DAS–ELISA

A reliable, sensitive, low-cost and easy-to-use technique is described for the detection of Ralstonia solanacearum (the causal organism of bacterial wilt, BW) in soil. A total of 273 potato isolates belonging to five different biovars (Bv), originating from 33 countries worldwide, were tested and successfully detected by antibodies produced at the International Potato Center (CIP). Isolates of R. solanacearum belonging to Bv1 and Bv2A were successfully detected by double antibody sandwich–enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS–ELISA) at low population levels after incubation of soil suspensions for 48 h at 30°C in a new semiselective broth containing a potato tuber infusion. Detection thresholds of 20 and 200 CFU g⁻¹ inoculated soil were obtained for Bv1 and Bv2A, respectively. Sensitivity of detection of Bv2A was similar or even higher in five different inoculated soil types. No cross-reactions were obtained in DAS–ELISA after enrichment of soil suspensions (i) prepared from 23 different soils sampled in BW-free areas in six departments of Peru; and (ii) inoculated with 10 identified bacteria and 136 unknown isolates of soil microbiota isolated from eight different locations. Only the blood disease bacterium gave a low-level reaction after enrichment. In naturally infested soils, average sensitivities of 97·6 (SE 14·8) and 100·9 (SE 22·6) CFU g⁻¹ were obtained for biovars 1 and 2A, respectively. By making serial dilutions of the soil suspension before enrichment, densities of R. solanacearum could be determined in a semiquantitative way. Results also showed that composite samples of five soils could be analysed to assess field soil populations without reducing detection sensitivity.     

基于HYDRUS软件的植物混掺土壤水分特征曲线分析

为探求植物混掺对土壤持水性产生的影响,以甘肃景泰地区土壤为试验材料,设置1％玉米芯、1％玉米叶、3％玉米芯、3％玉米叶等不同比例、不同秸秆混掺物4种处理,采用离心机法测定土壤水分特性曲线,同时利用HYDRUS软件进行模拟计算。结果表明,在相同吸力下,相同混掺物处理,混掺比为3％的土壤体积含水率高于混掺比为1％的土壤;相同混掺比处理,混掺玉米叶的土壤体积含水率高于混掺玉米芯的土壤,且混掺处理后土壤体积含水率均高于纯土;不同土壤水分特征曲线的模型拟合分析表明,不同处理的最优拟合模型均为Van Genucht-en模型。研究结果可为探索该地区植物混掺条件下土壤水盐运移规律提供一定参考。     

Oospores associated with tomato seed may lead to seedborne transmission of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora infestans</Emphasis>

Tomato fruits at the green mature stage were inoculated with a mixed sporangial suspension of A₁ and A₂ isolates ofPhytophthora infestans. Other fruits were inoculated with either A₁ or A₂ sporangia. Seeds were extracted from the blighted fruits and sown in soil or on agar media to test for the transmission of late blight to the emerging seedlings. Only 23 (0.09%) of approximately 25,000 seedlings developed symptoms. All blighted seedlings originated from fruits inoculated with mixed A₁ + A₂ sporangia. Isolates ofP. infestans recovered from the emerging blighted seedlings were seemingly of oosporic origin, as they differed phenotypically (mating type, virulence, sensitivity to metalaxyl) from the parent isolates used to inoculate the fruits. The results suggest that transmission ofP. infestans might occur by seeds extracted from fruits carrying oospores and less probably by seeds extracted from fruits having no oospores. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting April 30, 2004.     

吴起县退耕还林后主要植被类型土壤质量评价

为明确吴起县退耕还林后形成的主要植被类型土壤质量状况,文中以吴起县王洼子典型退耕植被作为研究对象,对比分析不同植被类型土壤理化性质差异,并综合主成分分析法、敏感性以及相关性分析法,建立了研究区土壤质量评价指标最小数据集.结果表明:1)不同植被类型间土壤物理、化学性质差异显著(P＜ 0.05);山桃×沙棘混交林在土壤孔隙...     

Contribution of the seed microbiome to weed management

Seed‐attacking microorganisms have an undefined potential for management of the weed seedbank, either directly through inundative inoculation of soils with effective pathogenic strains, or indirectly by managing soils in a manner that promotes native seed‐decaying microorganisms. However, research in this area is still limited and not consistently successful because of technological limitations in identifying the pathogens involved and their efficacy. We suggest that these limitations can now be overcome through application of new molecular techniques to identify the microorganisms interacting with weed seeds and to decipher their functionality. However, an interdisciplinary weed management approach that includes weed scientists, microbiologists, soil ecologists and molecular biologists is required to provide new insights into physical and chemical interactions between different seed species and microorganisms. Such insight is a prerequisite to identify the best candidate organisms to consider for seedbank management and to find ways to increase weed seed suppressive soil communities.     

Highly specific assays to detect isolates of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae biovar 3 and Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidifoliorum directly from plant material

Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) is responsible for bacterial canker of kiwifruit. Biovar 3 of Psa (Psa3) has been causing widespread damage to yellow‐ and green‐fleshed kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.) cultivars in all the major kiwifruit‐producing countries in the world. In some areas, including New Zealand, P. syringae pv. actinidifoliorum (Pfm), another bacterial pathogen of kiwifruit, was initially classified as a low virulence biovar of Psa. Ability to rapidly distinguish between these pathovars is vital to the management of bacterial canker. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) data were used to develop PCR assays to specifically detect Psa3 and Pfm from field‐collected material without the need to culture bacteria. Genomic data from 36 strains of Psa, Pfm or related isolates enabled identification of areas of genomic variation suitable for primer design. The developed assays were tested on 147 non‐target bacterial species including strains likely to be found in kiwifruit orchards. A number of assays did not proceed because although they were able to discriminate between the different Psa biovars and Pfm, they also produced amplicons from other unrelated bacteria. This could have resulted in false positives from environmental samples, and demonstrates the care that is required when applying assays devised for pure cultures to field‐collected samples. The strategy described here for developing assays for distinguishing strains of closely related pathogens could be applied to other diseases with characteristics similar to Psa.     

Hydrolysis of triasulfuron,metsulfuron‐methyl and chlorsulfuron in alkaline soil and aqueous solutions

The hydrolysis of triasulfuron, metsulfuron‐methyl and chlorsulfuron in aqueous buffer solutions and in soil suspensions at pH values ranging from 5.2 to 11.2 was investigated. Hydrolysis of all three compounds in both aqueous buffer and soil suspensions was highly pH‐sensitive. The rate of hydrolysis was much faster in the acidic pH range (5.2–6.2) than under neutral and moderately alkaline conditions (8.2–9.4), but it increased rapidly as the pH exceeded 10.2. All three compounds degraded faster at pH 5.2 than at pH 11.2. Hydrolysis rates of all three compounds could be described well with pseudo‐first‐order kinetics. There were no significant differences (P = 0.05) in the rate constants (k, day⁻¹) of the three compounds in soil suspensions from those in buffer solutions within the pH ranges studied. A functional relationship based on the propensity of nonionic and anionic species of the herbicides to hydrolyse was used to describe the dependence of the ‘rate constant’ on pH. The hydrolysis involving attack by neutral water was at least 100‐fold faster when the sulfonylurea herbicides were undissociated (acidic conditions) than when they were present as the anion at near neutral pH. In aqueous buffer solution at pH > 11, a prominent degradation pathway involved O‐demethylation of metsulfuron‐methyl to yield a highly polar degradate, and hydrolytic opening of the triazine ring. It is concluded that these herbicides are not likely to degrade substantially through hydrolysis in most agricultural alkaline soils. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

紫外线诱导小麦条锈菌毒性突变的研究

 以紫外线照射小麦条锈菌条中29号小种夏孢子诱发突变,用抗病小麦品种筛选毒性突变体,建立了7个毒性突变菌株,毒性突变率为10^-6~10^-4,各突变菌株都能正常感染其筛选品种,其毒性谱不同于任何已知小种。抗源品种群体对突变菌株有明显的抗性分化。研究证实毒性突变是该菌毒性变异的重要途径。     

The unique role of halogen substituents in the design of modern agrochemicals

The past 30 years have witnessed a period of significant expansion in the use of halogenated compounds in the field of agrochemical research and development. The introduction of halogens into active ingredients has become an important concept in the quest for a modern agrochemical with optimal efficacy, environmental safety, user friendliness and economic viability. Outstanding progress has been made, especially in synthetic methods for particular halogen‐substituted key intermediates that were previously prohibitively expensive. Interestingly, there has been a rise in the number of commercial products containing ‘mixed’ halogens, e.g. one or more fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine atoms in addition to one or more further halogen atoms. Extrapolation of the current trend indicates that a definite growth is to be expected in fluorine‐substituted agrochemicals throughout the twenty‐first century. A number of these recently developed agrochemical candidates containing halogen substituents represent novel classes of chemical compounds with new modes of action. However, the complex structure–activity relationships associated with biologically active molecules mean that the introduction of halogens can lead to either an increase or a decrease in the efficacy of a compound, depending on its changed mode of action, physicochemical properties, target interaction or metabolic susceptibility and transformation. In spite of modern design concepts, it is still difficult to predict the sites in a molecule at which halogen substitution will result in optimal desired effects. This review describes comprehensively the successful utilisation of halogens and their unique role in the design of modern agrochemicals, exemplified by various commercial products from Bayer CropScience coming from different agrochemical areas. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

不同矿化度的微咸水滴灌对红枣根区土壤碱解氮的影响

采用高矿化度的咸水与淡水按一定比例进行混合灌溉,分析不同矿化度的微咸水滴灌对枣树根区土壤碱解氮的影响模型。结果表明：当枣树根区土壤碱解氮的运移转化时间相同时,随着灌溉水矿化度的增加,土壤碱解氮的含量也随之增加,变化量越低,转化率越小。当矿化度相同时,土壤碱解氮平均值随运移转化时间先增大后减小,碱解氮的变化量呈递增趋势,而碱解氮变化率却呈现递减趋势。在分析不同矿化度的微咸水对土壤碱解氮影响的基础上,建立了微咸水的矿化度、碱解氮的运移转化时间与土壤碱解氮平均含量、变化量以及变化率之间的相互定量关系,并得到了相应的回归方程。