微波杀灭虾源地衣芽孢杆菌孢子特性及效果

为探讨微波和水浴对地衣芽孢杆菌孢子的杀菌效果和细胞壁结构的破坏作用,对不同温度和处理时间下水浴杀菌和微波杀菌处理前后孢子数量、核酸和蛋白质释放量及孢子萌发生长曲线的变化进行研究。结果显示,相同杀菌温度,微波对地衣芽孢杆菌孢子杀灭效果强于水浴,尤其是温度低于90 ℃;与Weibull拟合杀菌效果相比,线性拟合（R2＞0.56）比Weibull拟合（R2＞0.89）效果较差,但线性拟合结果更加直观;孢子悬液OD260 nm和OD280 nm先升高后下降,微波处理后孢子悬液OD260 nm和OD280 nm开始发生增长的时间均早于水浴,且微波处理在10 min内,OD260 nm和OD280 nm达到最大值,水浴处理在40 min内,OD260 nm和OD280 nm达到最大,说明微波处理导致的蛋白质和核酸泄露的时间均早于水浴;与水浴相比,微波处理后的芽孢萌发曲线延滞期均较长,水浴95 ℃处理100 min,延滞期即可延长8 min,而微波95 ℃处理10 min,芽孢不再萌发。结论：微波杀菌对地衣芽孢杆菌孢子的杀菌效果显著性强于水浴杀菌。通过对微波对枯草芽孢杆菌孢子杀菌效果的研究,可为靶向杀菌和微波杀菌在食品加工的应用提供理论基础。     

纳米二氧化钛闪照强光光催化杀菌与保鲜技术初探

利用纳米二氧化钛光催化活性高的特性，对纳米二氧化钛闪照强光光催化杀菌与保鲜技术进行了初步研究；采用L₁₆(4⁵)正交试验探讨了纳米二氧化钛浓度、强光的闪照次数、闪照距离和菌液浓度等因素对枯草芽孢杆菌、大肠杆菌杀灭效果的影响；并对龙眼进行保鲜试验。结果表明，纳米二氧化钛在闪照强光作用下对枯草芽孢杆菌、大肠杆菌具有杀灭作用，也能延长龙眼保质期。当TiO₂浓度为4.0×10^-4 g/mL，闪照次数30次时，杀菌效果最好；当保鲜薄膜含纳米二氧化钛1.3×10^-4～1.5×10^-4 g/cm²，闪照距离为8 cm，闪照次数为10次，龙眼保鲜效果最好。     

微塑料输入与秸秆添加对潮土和黄棕壤氮淋溶的影响

为探究微塑料输入与秸秆添加对农田土壤氮淋溶的影响，以潮土和黄棕壤为研究对象，每种土壤各设置8个处理，包括对照（CK）、低量微塑料（PE1）、中量微塑料（PE2）、高量微塑料（PE3）、秸秆（S）、秸秆+低量微塑料（S+PE1）、秸秆+中量微塑料（S+PE2）、秸秆+高量微塑料（S+PE3），研究了添加秸秆与不添加秸秆条件下，不同微塑料输入量对土壤氮淋溶的影响。结果表明，仅添加微塑料条件下，与对照（CK）相比，潮土PE1、PE2、PE3处理总氮（TN）淋溶量均无显著差异，黄棕壤仅PE1处理显著增加了TN淋溶量。在添加秸秆（S）处理中，与对照（CK）相比，潮土添加秸秆后显著降低了硝态氮（NO₃^--N）、铵态氮（NH₄⁺-N）、TN淋溶量，分别降低了31.15%、13.45%、15.26%，黄棕壤添加秸秆后显著增加了TN淋溶量，增加了22.56%。添加秸秆处理相较于不添加秸秆处理，潮土各浓度微塑料输入下NO₃^--N、NH₄⁺-N、TN的累计淋溶量呈降低趋势，而黄棕壤低量微塑料输入降低了TN淋溶量，高量微塑料输入增加了TN淋溶量。偏最小二乘路径模型（PLS-PM）分析表明，在潮土中添加秸秆主要通过影响淋溶液pH和NO₃^--N淋溶量影响氮素淋溶，微塑料添加量对氮淋溶无显著影响；在黄棕壤中添加秸秆主要通过影响淋溶液NO₃^--N、NH₄⁺-N淋溶量影响氮淋溶，微塑料添加量主要通过影响淋溶液NH₄⁺-N淋溶量影响氮淋溶。研究结果可为农田土壤微塑料污染风险的管控及减少土壤氮素的淋失提供依据。     

去除有机质对城市浅水湖泊氮磷释放特征的影响

[目的] 分析南昌市浅水湖泊象湖表层沉积物的释放特征及有机质对氮、磷释放的影响,为城市内浅水湖泊治理中富营养化控制提供理论依据。[方法] 通过释放动力学试验以及释放潜能试验研究了城市浅水湖泊氨氮（NH₄⁺-N）和溶解性活性磷（SRP）的释放特征,以及与通过H₂O₂去除有机质后的释放特征进行了对比。[结果] 去除前后的氮磷的释放速率都是先由一个较快的过程逐渐变慢最后趋于稳定达到最大释放量（Q_max）。去除有机质后NH₄⁺-N的释放平衡时间缩短,SRP则几乎不变。去除有机质后,NH₄⁺-N的最大释放量（Q_max）与有机质含量呈显著正相关,而SRP与有机质无显著相关性。[结论] 影响沉积物氮磷释放的因素多样,其中高等水生植物丰富的区域对磷的释放有明显的抑制作用。沉积物有机质的含量越高沉积物氮的最大释放量（Q_max）也越高,磷的的最大释放量（Q_max）则受有机质含量、活性、组成成分、吸附与结合的铁铝磷含量等因素共同影响。     

氮负载生物炭对干湿交替稻田水土生态环境的调控效应

农田面源污染已成为引起水体富营养化的主要原因之一。为了减少稻田氮素流失、改善稻田局部水体养分负载过重的问题,采用盆栽试验,通过生物炭吸附富营养水中的养分后再利用于盆栽水稻,设置主区为持续淹水灌溉（I_F）与干湿交替灌溉（I_A）,副区为1个对照（常规施氮,N1C0）与4种不同用量的氮肥与氮负载生物炭处理（N3/4C1、N3/4C2、N1/2C1、N1/2C2）,其中N3/4、N1/2表示氮肥施入量为当地传统施氮量（N1）的3/4,1/2倍;C1、C2分别为10 t/hm²和20 t/hm²氮负载生物炭。结果表明：（1）减少氮肥施入配施氮负载生物炭显著提高了常规施氮处理田面水的pH;（2）常规施氮肥处理下,干湿交替灌溉（I_A）田面水NH₄⁺—N平均浓度较持续淹水灌溉（I_F）高8.0%,但是添加20 t/hm²氮负载生物炭后,干湿交替灌溉田面水NH₄⁺—N平均浓度低于持续淹水灌溉处理;（3）水稻生育后期,氮负载生物炭对NH₄⁺—N具有明显的缓释作用,而在干湿交替灌溉中,减施氮肥配合添加氮负载生物炭处理较N1C0处理降低了田面水NO₃^-—N浓度;（4）减施氮肥配合添加氮负载生物炭可提高水稻分蘖率,而添加20 t/hm²氮负载生物炭在氮肥施用量较少时,有利于提高水稻的有效分蘖率。综上,氮负载生物炭不仅可以降低富营养水中30.8%含氮量,还能显著降低施肥初期水稻田面水中NH₄⁺—N浓度,降低流失风险,延长NH₄⁺—N的释放时间而减少1/4的施氮量和保证水稻生育末期的氮素需求,从而有利于水稻生长。     

水培条件下CO2与NH+4/NO-3配比对番茄幼苗生育的影响

升高CO₂浓度能够促进作物的光合作用，提高作物的生物量和产量，但关于CO₂与NH⁺₄/NO^-₃比及其交互作用对作物影响的研究较少，为探索番茄幼苗生长发育对CO₂浓度升高的响应是否对NH⁺₄/NO^-₃配比有较强的依赖关系，本试验在营养液栽培条件下，以番茄(Lycopersicun esculentum Mill)为试材，研究正常大气CO₂浓度(360 μL/L)和倍增CO₂浓度(720 μL/L)与不同NH⁺₄/NO^-₃配比的交互作用对番茄幼苗生长的影响。结果表明：CO₂浓度升高提高了低NH⁺₄/NO^-₃比例处理中番茄叶片的光合速率和水分利用率，提高幅度随NH⁺₄/NO^-₃比例的降低而增强，光合速率增强最大达55%。在同一CO₂浓度处理下净光合速率与水分利用率均随NH⁺₄/NO^-₃比例的增加而显著降低。这说明CO₂浓度升高对番茄幼苗生长发育的促进作用随NH⁺₄/NO^-₃比例的降低而提高，但并没有减弱全NH⁺₄-N处理中番茄幼苗的受毒害作用。综上所述，CO₂浓度升高能提高植物生产的节水能力和水分生产力；水培条件下，NO^-₃-N是最适合番茄幼苗生长发育的氮源，其它NH⁺₄/NO^-₃比例对番茄幼苗的生长发育有一定的抑制作用，仅以NH⁺₄-N作氮源则番茄幼苗很难生长。     

NO-3胁迫下K+、Ca2+对黄瓜幼苗膜质过氧化及活性氧清除酶系统的影响

通过水培试验探讨了NO^-₃胁迫下K⁺、Ca²⁺对黄瓜幼苗膜质过氧化及活性氧清除酶系统的影响。结果表明，在相同NO^-₃浓度胁迫7d后， Ca²⁺浓度越大，膜脂过氧化产物丙二醛(MDA)含量越高，而K⁺浓度越大，电解质相对渗透率越高，由此说明K⁺、Ca²⁺对细胞膜造成伤害的机理不同。黄瓜幼苗活性氧清除酶系统对K⁺、Ca²⁺的响应亦不同，在一定程度上，K⁺和Ca²⁺ 可提高SOD、POD和CAT活性，保护植物免受自由基伤害，继而可增强植物对逆境的适应能力。     

竹生物质炭和竹凋落物对毛竹林土壤营养元素和酶活性的影响

以广西壮族自治区桂林市华江乡内广泛分布的毛竹林土壤为研究对象,以竹生物质炭和竹凋落物作为外源碳,设置对照（CK）、低添加量生物质炭（1% BC）、高添加量生物质炭（2% BC）、低添加量凋落物（1% L）、高添加量凋落物（2% L）5个处理,进行为期两个月的室内培养试验,研究不同外源碳添加对毛竹林土壤营养元素和酶活性的影响。结果表明：与对照相比,竹生物质炭和竹凋落物添加均显著提高了土壤pH;竹生物质炭添加显著降低了而竹凋落物添加显著提高了土壤铵态氮（NH₄⁺-N）含量（P<0.05）,且高添加量（2% BC和2% L）的降低或提高作用更明显;不同外源碳添加均显著提高了土壤硝态氮（NO₃^–-N）含量,且凋落物添加的提高作用更明显;不同外源碳添加均显著提高了土壤有效磷（AP）含量,且高添加量的提高作用更明显;竹生物质炭添加对土壤可溶性有机碳（DOC）含量没有显著影响,但降低了土壤可溶性氮（DN）含量,而竹凋落物添加显著提高了土壤DOC和DN含量;不同外源碳添加对土壤微生物生物量碳（MBC）和氮含量（MBN）均没有显著影响,但降低了土壤蔗糖酶和脲酶活性。相关性分析表明,土壤pH、NH₄⁺-N、NO₃^–-N、DOC和DN是影响竹林土壤酶活性的关键性因子。     

模拟潜流人工湿地处理猪场废水的实验研究

采用盆栽试验模拟潜流型人工湿地，研究了土壤、蛭石、煤渣和碎石四种人工湿地基质不同组合净化养猪场污水的能力。结果表明：以上层蛭石土混合物、下层煤渣和碎石的组合处理效果最佳，14d内COD_Cr、NH₄⁺-N、T-P的去除率分别达到了95.3%、90%、91.6%。试验前期，四种不同组合基质的COD_Cr、NH₄⁺-N、T-P去处率有明显差异，但试验后期除T-P的去除率仍有明显差异外，COD_Cr和NH₄⁺-N去除率已无明显差异。     

半干旱黄土地区幼龄侧柏叶蒸腾的数学模型

 通过人工控制水分,形成单株幼龄侧柏的不同土壤水分梯度环境。在自然环境下对侧柏叶片定时、定位进行蒸腾速率及林冠层的光照、空气温度、空气湿度、叶水势和土壤水分等因子的同步观测。蒸腾速率与各个因子的相关分析表明:黄土半干旱地区侧柏蒸腾速率η_t/(μg·cm^-2·s^-1)与光照强度E/(μmol·m^-2·s^-1)、空气饱和差p_v/kPa、叶水势Ψ/kPa、气温t/℃的关系可以分别表示为:η_t=>αE_b,η_t=αp_vb,η_t=αψ^b,η_t=αt²+bt+c;侧柏的蒸腾速率η_t与气孔阻力R_s/(s·cm^-1)和土壤含水量W/％有密切关系,可以分别表示为:η_t=α+bW+cW₂+dW₃,R_s=α+bW+cW₂+dW₃。用气温、空气饱和差、叶水势3个因素建立了半干旱黄土地区幼龄单株侧柏蒸腾速率的非线性指数预测模型:η_t=0.6950_exp（0.03158t-14.2492/p_v+0.7606/Ψ）,经检验获得了满意的数值模拟结果。     

Agricultural potential of Mediterranean grain and forage legumes: Key differences between and within Vicia species in terms of phenology, yield, and agronomy give insight into plant adaptation to semi-arid environments

In order to identify key adaptive traits which affect productivity in Mediterranean grain and forage legumes and simultaneously determine the agricultural potential of a wide range of Vicia species, germplasm collected from the wild throughout the eastern Mediterranean was grown under semi-arid conditions in Tel Hadya, Syria (313 mm growing season rainfall). These included species currently in use in Mediterranean agriculture, such as V. sativa L., as well as those more widely used in the past-such as V. ervilia L., but also a broad selection from Section Narbonensis (B. Fedtsch. ex Radzhi) Maxted, including V. narbonensis L, V. johannis Tamamsch., V. hyaeniscyamus Mout., V. serratifolia Jacq., and V. kalakhensis Khattab et al. V. faba, a near relative of the taxa in Section Narbonensis, was included as a domesticated control. Where applicable, a representative range of subspecies was used. Accessions were chosen from a wide range of habitats in terms of latitude (31.02–40.72 decimal^o), longitude (27.1–43.17 decimal^o), altitude (20–1510 m), rainfall (180–1700 mm/yr) and soil depth (5–50 cm) in order to maximise diversity within species. Agricultural potential was determined by measuring seed, hay and biological yield, as well as agronomic traits such as harvest index, standing crop height, and seed size. The comparative influence of phenology and key agronomic traits such as plant habit and seed size on productivity varied tremendously between species, depending on their reproductive strategies. In V. sativa and V. ervilia, the smaller seed species which rely on long vegetative phases and growing seasons to accumulate sufficient biomass to set seed, and in which there was comparatively little agronomic variation, phenology had a large impact on yield. In early emerging taxa such as V. ervilia and V. s. subsp. sativa, with built-in long vegetative phases and growing seasons, seed yield was negatively correlated with flower ing (r = –0.86 to –0.88), whereas the opposite was the case for later emerging taxa such as V. s. subsp. nigra (L.) Ehrh. (r = 0.95). Within V. narbonensis and relatives, the larger seeded Vicia species which rely on more conservative reproductive strategies where high seedling vigour associated with large seeds enables the species to enter reproductive phases relatively early, phenology had a much smaller impact on yield than did variation of key traits such as seed weight, plant habit and pod shattering. Among the undomesticated germplasm harvest indices ranged from 0.09–0.31, hay yields from 0.1–3.4 t/ha, seed yield from 0–2.0 t/ha, and dry matter at maturity from 1.6–6.5 t/ha. Sub-specific taxonomy was crucial in determining agronomic potential. V. narbonensis var. aegyptiaca Kornhuber ex Asch. et Schweinf. showed the most potential, combining an upright habit, large seeds (212 mg) and tendency to retain intact pods after maturity, with the highest yield, harvest index and crop height of all the wild Vicia species. V. sativa subsp. sativa, V. ervilia and V. narbonensis var. narbonensis were less productive, but still showed agricultural potential. The smaller seeded V. narbonensis, var. affinis, var. jordanica H. Schäf. and var. salmonea (Mout.) H. Schäf., and their close relatives V. johannis, V. hyaeniscyamus, V. serratifolia and V. kalakhensis have little to offer Mediterranean agriculture on the basis of poor agronomy.     

On the Taxonomy of the Members of ‘Saccharum Complex’

The difficulty and problems encountered in the study of cultivated plants, in general and sugarcane, in particular has been indicated. In order to understand these problems, a brief review on the taxonomy of Saccharum and closely related taxa, namely, Erianthus, Sclerostachya, Narenga and Miscanthus (generally known as ‘Saccharum complex’) has been given. A short account on the important morphological features that are specific to sugarcane has also been stated as classification is commonly based on such morphological characters. A note has been added on the chromosome number, origin, and distribution of the species of ‘Saccharum complex’ members. Taxonomic keys have been devised for identification of the genera of Saccharinae and for the species of Saccharum and Erianthus occurring in India. A new combination, Sclerostachya fallax (Balansa) Amalraj et Balasundaram, has also been proposed.     

Polymorphism of high molecular weight glutenin subunits in three species of Aegilops

A collection of 136 accessions of Aegilops umbellulata (39), Ae. comosa (75) and Ae. markgrafii (22) was analysed for high-molecular-weight (HMW) glutenin subunits composition. The homogeneity of the accessions was studied and 55.1% of the collection was homogeneous for HMW glutenin subunits (29 Ae. umbellulata, 33 Ae. comosa and 14 Ae. markgrafii). The HMW glutenin subunits of Ae. umbellulata are encoded by the Glu-U1 locus; in Ae. comosa results showed that this proteins are encoded at the 1M chromosome, and the locus was named Glu-M1. In Ae. markgrafii it was assumed that HMW glutenin subunits were encoded by an homoeologous locus and it was named Glu-C1. All the accessions of Ae. umbellulata and Ae. markgrafii expressed both, x-type and y-type subunits. Among the Ae. comosa accessions, only one expressed an x-type subunit alone. All the accessions of Ae. umbellulata and some of Ae. comosa had x-type glutenins of higher molecular weights than those commonly present in bread wheat. A total of 8 alleles were detected at the Glu-U1 locus, 11 at the Glu-M1 and 4 at the Glu-C1. The new HMW glutenin variation found in this work suggests their possible utilisation in breeding for wheat quality.     

Effect of agroforestry woody species on earthworm activity and physicochemical properties of worm casts

The effects of five agroforestry woody species (Dactyladenia barteri, Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala, Senna siamea andTreculia africana) on the surface aasting activity ofHyperiodrilus africanus were studied in an Alfisol (Oxic Paleustalf) in southwestern Nigeria. Casting activity under the woody species decreased in the following order:Dactyladenia sp. (26.4 Mg ha^-1 year^-1)>Gliricidia sp. (24.4 Mg ha^-1 year^-1)>Treculia sp. (22.9 Mg ha^-1 year^-1)>Leucaena sp. (18.6 Mg ha^-1 year^-1)>Senna sp. (18.3 Mg ha^-1 year^-1). These differences in casting activity were partly explained by microclimatic effects. Irrespective of the woody species, the worm casts were higher in clay and silt contents, bulk density, water-stable aggregates, pH, organic C, exchangeable cations, effective cation exchange capacity, and extractable P levels than the corresponding surface soils. The woody species did affect the physicochemical properties and P sorption of the worm casts. The content of water-stable aggregates of worm casts decreased in the following order:Dactyladenia sp.>Treculia sp.>Senna sp.>Leucaena sp.>Gliricidia sp. Large differences in extractable P levels were observed.Senna sp. was associated with the highest extractable P level (11.5 mg kg^-1) andTreculia sp. the lowest (4.9 mg kg^-1). P sorption was highest on worm casts underDactyladenia sp. and lowest on those underTreculia sp. Without fertilizer application, there were no significant differences in the dry weight of maize grown in the different worm casts. With NPK applications, the dry weight of maize grown in worm casts associated withTreculia sp. was significantly lower than that of maize grown in the other worm casts, mainly due to the low extractable P level. Despite a high organic C and exchangeable K status, maize grown in the worm casts still responded significantly to N and K applications. The N uptake by maize grown in worm casts associated withTreculia sp. was lower than that in the other treatments.     

Genetic diversity of rhizobia associated with indigenous legumes in different regions of Flanders (Belgium)

We investigated the diversity of rhizobia isolated from different indigenous legumes in Flanders (Belgium). A total of 3810 bacterial strains were analysed originating from 43 plant species. Based on rep-PCR clustering, 16S rRNA gene and recA gene sequence analysis, these isolates belonged to Bradyrhizobium, Ensifer (Sinorhizobium), Mesorhizobium and Rhizobium. Of the genera encountered, Rhizobium was the most abundant (62%) and especially the species Rhizobiumleguminosarum, followed by Ensifer (19%), Bradyrhizobium (14%) and finally Mesorhizobium (5%). For two rep-clusters only low similarity values with other genera were found for both the 16S rRNA and recA genes, suggesting that these may represent a new genus with close relationship to Rhodopseudomonas and Bradyrhizobium. Primers for the symbiotic genes nodC and nifH were optimized and a phylogenetic sequence analysis revealed the presence of different symbiovars including genistearum, glycinearum, loti, meliloti, officinalis, trifolii and viciae. Moreover, three new nodC types were assigned to strains originating from Ononis, Robinia and Wisteria, respectively. Discriminant and MANOVA analysis confirmed the correlation of symbiosis genes with certain bacterial genera and less with the host plant. Multiple symbiovars can be present within the same host plant, suggesting the promiscuity of these plants. Moreover, the ecoregion did not contribute to the separation of the bacterial endosymbionts. Our results reveal a large diversity of rhizobia associated with indigenous legumes in Flanders. Most of the legumes harboured more than one rhizobial endosymbiont in their root nodules indicating the importance of including sufficient isolates per plant in diversity studies.     

Diversity of native rice (Oryza Poaceae:) species of Costa Rica

We found several populations of wild Oryza species in the lowlands of Costa Rica. The plants showed extensive morphological variation, suggesting the presence of several species. In the morphologic study, 33 traits were scored for plants of all the species. A principal component analysis revealed the significant morphological separation of the different species. The analyses indicated that there are three species, O. grandi­glumis, O. latifolia and O. glumaepatula. Two putative hybrid types were found, both significantly differing in their morphology from the known species and intermediate at several traits. O. grandi­glumis is a new record for Costa Rican flora. Its main population is located in Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, Los Chiles, Alajuela. O. latifolia is distributed throughout the lowlands of the country and the plants of the Atlantic slope are significantly bigger in general habit than those of the Guanacaste area. During this study a population of O. glumaepatula of hundreds of thousands of plants was discovered in the Medio Queso River wetland, Los Chiles, Alajuela. This population is the most important source of genes for cultivar's improvement from the primary gene pool of rice in Costa Rica. The small ligule and the wide flag leaf characteristic of the two CCDD species separated them from the AA diploid O. glumaepatula. Seed size, ligule size, number of branches in the panicle, plant height and sterile lemma length are all bigger in O. grandi­glumis, and influenced the second factor that separated the CCDD species in two discrete clusters. The species found offer great possibilities for the improvement of rice cultivars and they should be thoroughly studied and appropriately protected.     

Phylogenetic relationships of Actinidia and related genera based on micromorphological characters of foliar trichomes

The phylogenetic relationships within the genus Actinidia and among 3 allied genera Clematoclethra, Saurauia, and Sladenia have been very controversial. In order to understand the systematic implication of foliar trichomes in those genera, the micromorphological characteristics of foliar trichomes from 34 taxa were examined by means of light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The observed micromorphological characteristics were classified into eight main types. A phylogenetic analysis of Actinidia and related genera based on 15 micromorphological characters of foliar trichomes was conducted using Wagner parsimony method and Sladenia celastrifolia, Rhododendron hybridum and R. simsii as a complex outgroup. In the resulting phylogenetic tree, Actinidia is shown to be a monophyletic group, and Clematoclethra and Saurauia form another monophyletic group. This study also presents the phylogenetic relationships among 4 sections within the genus Actinidia: the monophyly of sect. Leiocarpae and of sect. Strigosae, and polyphyly of sect. Maculatae and of sect. Stellatae.     

Effect of passage through the intestinal tract of detritivore earthworms (Lumbricus spp.) on the number of selected Gram-negative and total bacteria

Laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate the fate of bacteria during and after passage through the intestinal tract of detritivore earthworms. Earthworms (Lumbricus spp.) were fed with cattle dung inoculated 7 days previously with one of five different Gram-negative bacteria. Bacterial concentrations were determined 2 days later in dung and soil, and in gut material from different parts of the earthworm intestinal tract. A high percentage (28–82%) of the total bacteria (epifluorescence direct counts) in the earthworm gut content was culturable. The concentration of total heterotrophic aerobic bacteria did not vary significantly among the five different bacterial additions and the non-inoculated control. In earthworm casts the number of total heterotrophs per gram dry matter (2.1×10⁹) was higher than in soil (1.7×10⁸), but lower than in the dung (1.5×10¹⁰). The test-bacteria, however, showed different survival patterns along the earthworm intestinal tract. The concentrations of Escherichia coli BJ 18 and Pseudomonas putida MM 1 and MM 11 in earthworm casts were lower than in the ingested dung, while concentrations of Enterobacter cloacae A 107 and Aeromonas hydrophila DMU 115 in dung and casts were similar. Ent. cloacae, and to aminor extent E. coli, were reduced in numbers by several orders of magnitude in the pharynx and/or crop. In the hind gut, however, the concentration of Ent. cloacae had increased to the same level as in the ingested dung, while the concentration of E. coli remained low. Our observations indicate that the bacterial flora of ingested food materials changes qualitatively and quantitatively during gut transit.