压力及孔径对管道喷雾空心圆锥雾喷头雾滴参数的影响

雾滴参数是衡量喷雾效果的重要指标。为研究管道喷雾设施中喷雾压力与喷头孔径的改变对果园用空心圆锥雾喷头雾滴参数的影响,通过喷雾性能综合试验平台和激光粒度仪,测量3种孔径的空心圆锥雾喷头在8种压力下的雾滴颗粒群的散射谱,获得了雾滴参数随压力和孔径的变化规律,给出了各工况下的雾滴谱曲线,分析了雾滴粒径的大小、分布和均匀性,建立了基于压力和孔径的雾滴参数模型。结果表明:压力越大,孔径越小,雾滴越细小越均匀;数据拟合误差均小于0.012;雾滴均较细小且较均匀,主要以气溶胶的形式存在;主要是粒径小于40μm的雾滴(79.659%~93.374%);雾滴谱峰值均在30μm附近出现;压力大于0.80 MPa后喷雾效果更好,其中体积中值粒径(volume median diameter,VMD)为30.610~31.632μm,雾滴很细小,扩散比(diffusion ratio,DR)为0.901~0.916,雾滴很均匀,VMD和DR均随压力呈二次多项式变化规律(R~2均大于0.968),VMD和DR与孔径和压力均有良好的二元线性关系(R~2分别为0.928和0.937)。研究结果验证了研发管道恒压喷雾装置的重要性,为喷头选型,管道恒压喷雾装置的优化、喷雾压力的设定和喷雾效果的优化提供了参考。     

助剂类型及浓度对不同喷头雾滴飘移的影响

为探究助剂类型及浓度对不同喷头飘移的影响,该研究利用风速、温度、湿度可调风洞及荧光分析仪spectrofluorophotometor RF-1501比较分析了不同浓度抗蒸发助剂Agrospred 730(又名AS-2)、防飘移助剂Break—thru Vibrant、Silwet DRS-60、Greenwet 360对离心喷头、平面扇形雾喷头Lechler ST 110-015、空心圆锥雾喷头TR 80-015以及德国联邦农作物研究中心施药技术研究所(Julius-Kühn-Institut,JKI)规范中的对比参考喷头Lumark F110-03的飘移潜在指数(drift potential index,DIX)的影响,并利用spraytec雾滴粒径仪测试其雾滴体积中径(volume median diameter,VMD)。结果表明:AS-2的体积分数为0.05%时,与水相比可将离心喷头DIX增加81.8%,VMD增加16.7%;Silwet DRS-60、Break—thru Vibrant、Greenwet 360体积分数分别为0.8%、0.4%、0.3%时防飘效果最好,对TR80-015防飘效果最为显著,可将其DIX(相比于水)依次减小98.7%、58.2%和80.1%,3种助剂分别在上述体积分数下对3种液力式喷头的防飘效果均依次为TR80-015ST110-015Lumark F110-03;对于助剂Silwet DRS-60和Greenwet 360,VMD75μm的雾滴所占体积百分比越大,喷头DIX越大,二者之间呈现正相关性(相关系数R0.5);VMD越大,喷头DIX越小,即VMD变化与DIX变化呈现负相关性,VMD及VMD75μm的雾滴所占体积百分比均为影响喷头DIX的重要因素。该研究可为田间实际生产中助剂的添加与选择提供依据,为进一步研究新型农药助剂、新型喷头及喷雾设备的生产提供理论基础。     

航空植保作业用喷头在风洞和飞行条件下的雾滴粒径分布

为了获得GP-81A系列航空喷头的雾滴粒径分布情况,该文针对GP-81A系列航空喷头进行了风洞条件和飞行条件下的雾滴粒径及分布测试,通过高速风洞测试系统模拟飞行时产生的高速气流开展了气流大小对雾滴粒径及分布的影响研究;基于农用航空常用的Y5B飞机开展了不同型号喷嘴航空喷雾时的雾滴粒径及分布研究;同时,比较了相近喷雾压力条件下,相同喷嘴在风洞条件和飞行条件下的雾滴粒径及分布差距。试验结果表明,风洞条件测试时,当风速小于33.8 m/s时,雾滴粒径随气流的增加而增大;而当风速大于33.8 m/s时,雾滴粒径随气流的增加而减小,足够大的气流可以使雾滴进一步雾化。当气流在33.8 m/s时,7#喷嘴雾滴粒径最大,为491.1μm;当气流在84.87 m/s时,2#喷嘴雾滴粒径最小,为202.1μm。该系列喷头的6种不同喷孔的喷头的雾滴粒径均大于150μm,说明该喷头航空喷雾时的飘移损失较小。在喷雾压力基本相同的条件下,风洞条件下的雾滴粒径测试结果略高于飞行试验结果,主要原因是距离喷头出口的测试位置不同。风洞条件和飞行条件下的雾滴谱相对宽度S值均较小,表明雾滴分布较均匀,而飞行条件下的雾滴分布更均匀些。该研究为进一步优化航空喷头的作业参数,开展减少雾滴飘移研究提供参考。     

喷雾助剂类型及浓度对喷头雾化效果影响

为达到农药减施增效的目的,助剂逐渐成为农药喷洒过程中必不可少的部分,其效果及浓度直接影响着施药过程中农药利用率。为探索不同助剂及浓度对喷头雾化效果的影响,该文利用激光粒度仪比较分析了IDK120-025型和LU120-015型喷头喷施不同浓度典型增效剂意欧、减量增产助剂激健、尿素时,其雾滴体积中径及雾滴分布相对跨度差异。两款喷头应用广泛,喷雾角度相同、喷腔雾化结构相异。结果表明：3种助剂溶液对IDK120-025型喷头的影响效果相比于LU120-015型喷头更为显著,但是LU120-015喷头喷雾雾滴均匀性较优于IDK120-025。激健溶液配比为1:3 000时,在0.4 MPa喷雾压力条件下,与水相比可将IDK喷头雾滴体积中径增加20.43%,粒径分布相对跨度减小1.74%;意欧溶液配比为1:2 000时,在0.4 MPa喷雾压力条件下,与水相比可将IDK喷头雾滴体积中径增加11.10%,粒径分布相对跨度减小8.86%;意欧溶液配比1:3 000时,在0.2 MPa喷雾压力条件下,与水相比可将LU喷头雾滴体积中径减小5.99%,粒径分布相对跨度增大1.56%;尿素溶液在配比1:2 000时,在0.4 MPa喷雾压力条件下,与水相比可将IDK喷头雾滴体积中径增加16.92%,粒径分布相对跨度减小6.92%。该试验可为田间农药施用中助剂及喷头的选择提供依据,为进一步研究喷头及助剂提供数据基础。     

脉宽调制变量控制喷头雾化性能及风洞环境雾滴沉积特性

脉宽调制(pulse width modulation, PWM)技术是实现变量喷雾的重要手段,其工作参数与环境条件决定着施药的精准性。为探究PWM变量喷头雾化及风洞环境沉积特性,该文研制了脉宽调制变量喷雾系统,以农业施药常用空心圆锥雾化喷头喷雾的雾化、沉积特性为研究对象,在IEA-II型常规风速风洞内,通过点阵式放置电容式雾滴沉积传感器测定计算雾滴沉积与沉积评价指数(deposition evaluation index,DEIX),并利用Spraytec雾滴粒径仪测试其雾滴体积中径(volume median diameter,VMD)和雾滴相对分布跨度(relative span,RS)。试验结果表明:占空比在10%～40%间,随占空比增大,雾滴体积中径呈减小趋势,与占空比10%时相比,占空比40%时的雾滴体积中径下降了7.9%;PWM占空比60%时分布跨度最小,较占空比20%时雾滴分布跨度下降9.52%,雾滴谱最窄,获得的雾滴粒径分布最集中。雾滴沉积方面,风速1 m/s条件下,雾滴主要沉积在距喷头3.3 m内,此范围内沉积量占总沉积量的95.7%,当风速超过3 m/s时,在气流作用下,雾滴沉降距离增大,导致雾滴运动偏离施药靶标区域。PWM占空比增加,雾滴沉积评价指数DEIX值降低,雾滴的飘移率增大;相同工况下,风速及喷头高度越大,DEIX越小,施药雾滴越易飘移。该研究可为农业田间实际生产中脉宽调制变量施药技术应用及其工况参数的选择提供依据,为PWM变量调节装置的进一步优化提供研究基础。     

基于高频电磁阀的脉宽调制变量喷头喷雾特性

为探究基于高频电磁阀的变量喷雾特性,该研究采用高频、对信号快速响应的电磁阀设计了高于20 Hz的脉宽调制(pulse width moderation,PWM)变量喷雾系统;针对农业施药作业上常用ST标准扇形和IDK防飘喷头,测试了不同频率和占空比对流量、雾滴粒径、雾化过程、纵向沉积分布均匀性的影响。结果表明,在高频下,流量与占空比呈线性关系,随着频率的增大,流量线性区间减小,增大压力和频率,可以有效增大流量调节倍数,30 Hz时最大可达10倍;PWM喷雾时,瞬间雾滴粒径发生周期性变化,增大频率,雾滴体积中值中径(volume medium diameter,VMD)平均值受占空比的影响变小,占空比增大,VMD有减小的趋势,对于ST110-02号喷头各频率下VMD从占空比20%~100%下降了100μm;沉积试验中,频率和占空比都会影响沉积均匀性,对于IDK120-04号喷头,占空比为40%时,30 Hz下的C.V(coefficient of variation)值较15Hz减小了6.07%;15 Hz时,IDK120-02和04号喷头在占空比40%到100%变异系数分别下降了11.75%和18.31%;30 Hz时,两喷头在占空比40%到100%变异系数分别下降8.72%和12.24%,并且,ST喷头沉积均匀性优于IDK喷头。该研究为高频电磁阀在PWM变量施药系统中的应用及参数选择提供理论基础。     

助剂S240对水分散性粒剂及乳油药液雾化的影响

为探究药液性质对喷头雾化的影响,该文应用粒子图像分析系统、高速摄影仪及粒径分析仪对ST110-03喷头与IDK120-03喷头进行试验研究,分析了水分散性粒剂Don-q、乳油Score及2种药剂条件下助剂Breakthru S240浓度对雾化区及雾滴谱的影响。未添加助剂时,农药剂型不同,2类喷头的雾化区及雾滴体积中径(volume medium diameter,VMD)均发生显著变化,水分散性粒剂溶液与自来水的雾化区结构、液膜长度和VMD相差不大;乳油溶液可以使2类喷头的雾化区结构发生显著变化,液膜长度分别减小35.2%和40.5%,VMD分别增大13.5%和28.9%;不同剂型农药条件下,随助剂浓度增大,2类喷头液膜区及破碎区结构均发生不同程度的变化,液膜长度均先减小后增大,VMD先增加后减小,即液膜长度变化与VMD变化呈现负相关性。结合药液理化性质研究发现表面张力是影响雾化的重要因素之一。该研究可为田间助剂浓度的添加范围及喷头雾化特性的模拟与模型建立提供参考。     

微型指数振子低频超声雾化喷头的研制及喷雾试验

针对现有低频超声雾化喷头存在驱动电压高、工作效率低、电路和喷头发热严重以及体积较大等缺点,该文研制了一种工作频率为60kHz的微型指数振子超声雾化喷头及喷头的驱动电路。根据频率方程确定了喷头的基本尺寸,建立了喷头的有限单元模型,根据该模型进行了喷头的模态分析和谐响应分析,该喷头的谐振频率计算值为61550Hz,驱动电压为36V时雾化面振幅计算值为8μm;应用阻抗分析仪Pvc70A和激光微位移传感器CD5-L25对该喷头样机的谐振频率和雾化面的振幅进行了测试,喷头谐振频率的测试值为59699 Hz,与设计频率的相差0.5%,与有限元模态计算的频率相差3.0%,驱动电压为36V时振幅的测试值为8.63μm,与有限元谐响应分析结果相差7.8%;应用Winner318B工业喷雾激光粒度分析仪对驱动电压分别为36和30 V喷头所产生的雾滴尺寸进行了测量,测量结果表明,电压对雾滴粒径分布没有显著影响,但是对最大雾化量影响较大;与28 kHz的超声雾化喷头相比,喷头的最大雾化量基本一致,体积和质量分别仅为28kHz超声雾化锥状喷头的5.54%和9.81%,并且其产生的雾滴更细。     

电动背负式风送喷雾器设计与作业性能试验

针对作物冠层高大、枝叶茂密的情况,现有的施药机具存在雾滴穿透性能差、药液沉积不均匀、不适合作业条件等问题研制了电动背负式风送喷雾器。利用水敏纸、激光粒径分析仪、高速摄影仪测试了其射程、雾滴粒径、液膜雾化形态。利用液质联用仪测试了使用该喷雾器时农药在作物上的沉积分布,并测试了生物防治效果。结果表明:该喷雾器在有风送的条件下雾滴粒径变大、喷雾角减小、液膜变短,在最大风速下射程提高2倍以上。该喷雾器可以改善农药在作物叶片正背两面分布均匀性,使用TR80-01和TR80-02号喷头时农药利用率较手动喷雾器分别提高了1.38倍和1.14倍,在分别使用TR80-01和TR80-02喷头时用药量比手动喷雾器减少1/2和1/3的情况下药效没有明显的差异且增加了农药的持效期。该喷雾器可以提高农药的沉积分布均匀性和利用率,实现减量施药。     

用大喷头脉宽调制间歇喷雾提高沉积率的试验研究

为了得到合适的雾滴细度,提高雾滴运动速度,从而提高农药喷施沉积率,该文提出一种基于脉冲宽度调制 （pulse width modulation, PWM）间歇喷雾的沉积率提高方法。试验设置3种流量控制方法（改变液压控制流量;PWM间歇喷雾控制流量以及结合脉宽调制、喷头尺寸和液压调节共同控制流量）,采用4组试验对雾滴粒径和速度的影响规律进行研究。研究结果表明,使大喷头在提高工作压力的情况下间歇喷雾,通过系统调节喷雾占空比、压力和喷头大小,可在流量得到控制的同时,产生合适的粒径谱,雾滴速度得到提高,从而改善雾滴沉积率。     

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.     

Electron donor and pH relationships for biologically enhanced dissolution of chlorinated solvent DNAPL in groundwater

Biologically enhanced dissolution offers a method to speed removal of chlorinated solvent dense non-aqueous-phase liquid (DNAPL) sources such as tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichoroethene (TCE) from aquifers. Bioremediation is accomplished by adding an electron donor to the source zone where fermentation to intermediates leading to acetic acid and hydrogen results. The hydrogen and possibly acetic acid are used by dehalogenating bacteria to convert PCE and TCE to ethene and hydrochloric acid. Reductive dehalogenation is thus an acid forming process, and sufficient alkalinity must be present to maintain a near neutral pH. The bicarbonate alkalinity required to maintain pH above 6.5 is a function of the electron donor: 800 mg/L of bicarbonate alkalinity is sufficient to achieve about 1.2 mM TCE dechlorination with glucose, 1.7 mM with lactate, and a much higher 3.3 mM with formate. Laboratory studies indicate that in mixed culture, formate can be used as an electron donor for complete conversion to ethene, contrary to pure cultures studies indicating it cannot. Various strategies can be used to add electron donor to an aquifer for DNAPL dehalogenation while minimizing pH problems and excessive electron donor usage, including use of injection-extraction wells, dual recirculation wells, and nested injection-extraction wells.     

Biodiversity and ecogeography of wild Lactuca spp. in some European countries

Staff members of the Department of Botany of Palacký University in Olomouc and Gene Bank Department – Workplace Olomouc, Research Institute of Crop Production in Prague, Czech Republic, conducted an expedition in seven European countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland) in August/September 1999 to collect wild Lactuca spp. germplasm and study its geographic distribution, ecology and biodiversity. During the mission, more than 600 locations were visited resulting in the collection of 602 seed samples (accessions) of wild Lactuca species and 13 seed samples of related genera (Chondrilla and Mycelis). Lactuca serriola f. serriola, L. serriola f. integrifolia, L. saligna and L. viminea subsp. chondrilliflora were prevalent in southern Europe (Italy, France), however, only L. serriola was common in central and western Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland). The greatest diversity of Lactuca species was found in France, where also the most seed samples (165) were collected. The most characteristic habitats with a high density of Lactuca spp. populations were observed along roads and highways, grassy ditches, ruderal communities, and dust-heaps. Natural infections by powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) and downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) on some wild Lactuca spp. were observed. Recent observations concerning the geographic distribution, population structure, habitats, and natural occurrence of diseases of Lactuca spp. are discussed. This assemblage of genetic resources of Lactuca spp. can serve as the basis of future studies of species diversification, spatial population structure, plant microevolution, domestication processes, and genetic variability of host-parasite interactions.     

Responses of native legume desert trees used for reforestation in the Sonoran Desert to plant growth-promoting microorganisms in screen house

Three slow-growing legume trees used for desert reforestation and urban gardening in the Sonoran Desert of Northwestern Mexico and the Southwestern USA were evaluated whether their growth can be promoted by inoculation with plant growth-promoting bacteria (Azospirillum brasilense and Bacillus pumilus), unidentified arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (mainly Glomus sp.), and supplementation with common compost under regular screenhouse cultivation common to these trees in nurseries. Mesquite amargo (Prosopis articulata) and yellow palo verde (Parkinsonia microphylla) had different positive responses to several of the parameters tested while blue palo verde (Parkinsonia florida) did not respond. Survival of all tree species was over 80% and survival of mesquite was almost 100% after 10 months of cultivation. Inoculation with growth-promoting microorganisms induced significant effects on the leaf gas exchange of these trees, measured as transpiration and diffusive resistance, when these trees were cultivated without water restrictions.     

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.