不同土壤改良剂处理对连作西洋参根际微生物数量、土壤酶活性及产量的影响

以北京地区连作西洋参为研究对象, 通过3种土壤改良剂(熟石灰、EM菌剂、沼液)随机区组试验对其土壤理化性状、酶活性、根际微生物区系及产量进行了系统研究。结果表明: 低浓度熟石灰、中浓度EM菌剂及高浓度沼液处理最有利于提高西洋参产量; 施加熟石灰处理后, 土壤微生物主要类群数量显著减少, 土壤pH显著升高, 并对土壤脲酶活性有明显抑制作用; 施加沼液和EM菌剂处理后, 土壤有效微生物菌群显著增加(P<0.05), 土壤有机质和营养物质含量也显著增加(P<0.05), 并对土壤脲酶和多酚氧化酶活性有一定的促进作用。相关性分析发现, 土壤微生物主要类群的数量与蔗糖酶、脲酶、多酚氧化酶活性均有一定的相关性, 其中, 土壤细菌数量与蔗糖酶、多酚氧化酶活性呈极显著正相关(r分别为0.895^**和0.808^**), 土壤真菌和放线菌数量与蔗糖酶、脲酶、多酚氧化酶活性呈极显著正相关(r分别为0.932^**、0.769^**、0.840^**和0.837^**、0.891^**、0.797^**)。另外, 土壤细菌数量与有机质含量呈极显著正相关(r=0.863^**)。表明连作西洋参根际微生物区系及土壤酶活性与土壤理化性状之间紧密联系, 通过施加不同土壤改良剂, 可以为耐连作种植西洋参提供适宜的土壤环境。     

盐胁迫下海水稻抗逆生理响应分析

以海水稻品种‘FL478’‘JX99’‘Pokkali’和盐敏感品种‘IR29’为材料,设置6个土壤含盐量（0 g·kg^-1、1 g·kg^-1、2 g·kg^-1、3 g·kg^-1、4 g·kg^-1、5 g·kg^-1）,在防雨大棚下进行盆栽试验,孕穗期测定水稻叶片的丙二醛含量、细胞膜透性、可溶性糖含量、脯氨酸含量,以及Δ¹-吡咯啉-5-羧酸合成酶（P5CS）、鸟氨酸-δ-氨基转移酶（δ-OAT）和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性,旨在探讨盐胁迫下海水稻渗透调节物质、抗逆酶与海水稻耐盐性的关系,为海水稻耐盐基因的发掘和耐盐品种的选育提供理论依据。结果表明：1）盐胁迫抑制了海水稻叶绿素的合成与积累,表现为水稻叶片的叶绿素含量随盐胁迫梯度的增加而减少,但其叶绿素含量显著高于盐敏感水稻品种。2）海水稻和盐敏感水稻的可溶性糖对盐胁迫的响应差异显著,其中土壤含盐量0~3 g·kg^-1胁迫下,盐敏感水稻叶片的可溶性糖含量的增加显著高于海水稻,但是在土壤含盐量4~5 g·kg^-1下,海水稻叶片的可溶性糖积累量显著高于盐敏感水稻品种。3）随盐胁迫加剧海水稻和盐敏感水稻叶片的丙二醛积累,造成细胞膜透性逐渐增大,但是海水稻品种丙二醛的积累量显著低于盐敏感对照,这表明海水稻叶片细胞膜损伤较小。4）盐胁迫下,4个水稻叶片的脯氨酸含量和P5CS、δ-OAT、SOD活性随盐胁迫浓度增加均表现出先升高后降的趋势,海水稻和盐敏感水稻分别在3 g·kg^-1、2 g·kg^-1盐浓度达到峰值,而海水稻植株的游离脯氨酸积累量、P5CS、δ-OAT和SOD活性显著高于盐敏感水稻。5）盐胁迫下海水稻可溶性糖、脯氨酸和P5CS之间呈极显著正的简单相关和偏相关性。因此,海水稻的抗盐性为生理性耐盐：在盐胁迫下,植株脯氨酸合成酶P5CS和δ-OAT均被激活,脯氨酸合成的两个途径（谷氨酸→脯氨酸和鸟氨酸→脯氨酸）同时增强,促使植株游离脯氨酸的快速积累。同时,由于植株游离脯氨酸快速积累,也助于植株SOD活性的激活,有效降低活性氧的积累,并通过合成可溶性糖与脯氨酸协同缓解渗透胁迫,而表现为较强的耐盐性。     

仿生膜对轻度加工葡萄自由基和保护酶的影响

以红地球葡萄为试验材料,研究壳聚糖仿生膜对轻度加工葡萄品质和超氧阴离子自由基(O₂^-·)、丙二醛(MDA)含量、电解质渗漏以及超氧化歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)等保护酶活性动态变化的影响,探讨轻度加工果实组织衰老和与保护酶的关系,以及仿生膜在果实成熟衰老进程的作用。结果表明：与对照相比,1.5%的壳聚糖仿生膜能抑制SOD、POD、CAT活性下降,减低O₂^-·生成速率,进而抑制MDA的积累,维持细胞膜的稳定性,延缓果实成熟衰老进程。相关性分析表明,O₂^-·生成速率与SOD、CAT呈极显著负相关(r=－0.975^**,－0.546^**),与POD呈显著正相关(r=0.442^*),说明保护酶对抑制O₂^-·产生具有重要作用。1.5%壳聚糖仿生膜可有效抑制保护酶活性降低和自由基的产生,1.2%和1.8%壳聚糖仿生膜没有明显的效果。     

减磷对华南早晚兼用型水稻产量的影响

为了筛选出适宜华南水稻减量化栽培的品种, 明确其在减磷栽培条件下产量构成特点。本试验以常规优质稻“粤晶丝苗2号”、“桂香占”和杂交稻“华优8305”及超级杂交稻“天优998”为材料, 研究了常规施磷肥(P2, 过磷酸钙450.0 kg·hm^-2)、减量施磷肥(P1, 过磷酸钙315.0 kg·hm^-2)和不施磷肥(P0, 过磷酸钙0 kg·hm^-2)3个处理下水稻生育后期群体LAI、剑叶SPAD值、叶片老化指数、产量及其构成。结果表明: 3个磷肥水平中, P0处理下“华优8305”因总粒数显著最高的优势而获得超高产; P1处理下“天优998”因有效穗数、穗粒数和结实率的优势而高产; P0、P1、P2对“桂香占”产量无显著影响,而 P2处理下“粤晶丝苗2号 ”有效穗数和穗粒数表现出协同提高的优势而获得高产。可见, 华南早晚兼用型常规稻“桂香占”和杂交稻“华优8305”适宜实施磷肥减量化栽培。此外, 对不同磷处理下各水稻品种LAI、SPAD值及叶片老化指数的研究表明, 水稻高产归功于齐穗后绝对值适宜的群体LAI、剑叶高且持久的SPAD值及较大的叶片老化指数等所塑造的后期功能型强“源”.     

水稻草甘膦耐性浓度的筛选及其生理指标测定

为培育耐草甘膦水稻新品种,本研究以5份辐射和化学诱变育成的耐草甘膦水稻种质为试验材料,进行草甘膦耐性浓度筛选和抗性生理指标测定。结果表明,通过对5份耐草甘膦水稻种质喷施不同浓度(1、2、3和4 g·L-1)的草甘膦,发现喷施4 g·L-1草甘膦可使敏感材料P1003全部死亡,能较好地区分草甘膦耐性和敏感材料;CA21是其中草甘膦耐性最强的水稻种质;随着草甘膦浓度的增加,CA21的莽草酸含量呈下降趋势,丙二醛(MDA)和叶绿素含量则无显著变化,但谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶(GSTs)活性显著增加;随着3 g·L-1草甘膦处理时间的延长,CA21的莽草酸含量无明显变化,MDA和叶绿素含量均呈下降趋势,GSTs活性显著增加。而敏感材料P1003,无论是随着草甘膦浓度的增加,或是随着3g·L-1草甘膦处理时间的延长,其莽草酸和MDA含量均明显增加,叶绿素含量明显下降,GSTs活性则无明显变化。综上,CA21具有耐草甘膦的生理特性,可用于草甘膦耐性分子机制或育种方面的研究。本研究为进一步解析水稻耐草甘膦的分子机理及耐草甘膦水稻育种提供了理论依据。     

浙中三个桔园土壤的水分性质及结构改良剂的应用效果

在实验室条件下研究了浙中金衢盆地三个桔园土壤的持水特性、饱和导水率、蒸发强度及三种土壤结构改良剂对土壤团聚作用和蒸发强度的影响.结果表明,持水量与<0.01mm物理性粘粒含量呈正相关(r=0.933^*);饱和导水率与团聚体平均重量直径呈正相关(r=0.956^**),而与结构破坏率呈负相关(r=-0.996^**).当土壤吸力在50-100kPa时,桔园就需灌溉.加入三种土壤结构改良剂后能明显改善土壤水稳性团聚体,其效果为聚乙烯醇>聚丙烯酰胺>水解聚丙烯腈;使土壤的日平均蒸发强度减少,其减少的顺序为黄筋泥>紫砂土>红砂土.土壤饱和导水率K₁₀值紫砂土>黄筋泥>红砂土,主要取决于土壤水稳性团聚体的平均重量直径,二者呈正相关(r=0.956^**).     

紫色土施用磷酸盐肥料对玉米铜毒害的缓解

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of phosphorus fertilizer in inhibiting the copper toxicity to maize(Zea mays L.) in neutral purple soil. Results indicated that the growth of the shoot and roots of maize plant was obviously reduced by copper and the height and biomass were significantly negatively correlated to the application levels of copper (r = -0.899^**~-0.994^**) at no P and low P (100 mg kg^-1). However, the maize biomass was relatively increased and the high Cu (100 and 200 mg kg^-1) induced toxicity of maize was greatly alleviated in all treatments with medium P (300 mg kg^-1 ) and high P (500 mg kg^-1). To maintain the normal growth of maize plant (≥3.68 g pot^-1), the critical application rates of phosphorus fertilizer should be 160, 210, 300 and 500 mg P kg^-1 at 10, 50, 100 and 200 mg Cu kg^-1 levels of the soil, respectively. The increases in polyphenol oxidase and catalase activities in maize leaf and dehydrogenase activity in roots by phosphorus fertilizer were in the order of medium P>high P>low P>no P. Activities of polyphenol oxidase and catalase were significantly positively correlated to the application levels of copper (r =0.892^**~0.924^**), whereas that of dehydrogenase was just reverse (r = -0.966^**) at no P. Medium and high P repressed the influence of copper on activities of three enzymes. Phosphorus fertilizer reduced the copper concentrations of maize roots and leaf and the change ranges of the P/Cu ratio of maize roots and the P/Cu, N/Cu and K/Cu ratios of maize leaf. The three ratios of maize leaf were 256^**71.5, 2643^**839 and 1133^**440 at normal growth of maize plant, respectively. Soil available Cu could be markedly cut down by application of phosphorus fertilizer, especiallly at high phosphorus level.     

旱涝急转对玉米叶片衰老特性和产量的影响

为研究旱涝急转对玉米叶片衰老特性和产量的影响,以春玉米“宜丹629”为供试材料,2021年在测坑条件下,设置拔节期旱（drought,D）、涝（waterlogging,W）、旱急转轻涝（drought-light waterlogging,D-LW）、旱急转中涝（drought-moderate waterlogging,D-MW）、旱急转重涝（drought-heave waterlogging,D-HW）、和正常供水（control,CK）6个处理。测定不同处理组合下玉米大喇叭口期、抽雄期和灌浆期叶片叶绿素仪（soil and plant analyzer development,SPAD）值、过氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase,SOD）、过氧化物酶（peroxidase,POD）、过氧化氢酶（catalase,CAT）活性、丙二醛（malondialdehyde,MDA）、可溶性蛋白含量和净光合速率（net photosynthetic rate,P_n）,成熟期籽粒产量及其构成。结果表明,与CK相比,D-LW处理抽雄期和灌浆期玉米叶片的SPAD值、SOD、POD、CAT活性、可溶性蛋白含量、P_n及成熟期穗数、穗粒数和千粒质量差异不显著,使其籽粒产量维持在较高水平（7810.3 kg/hm²）。说明旱急转轻涝不会加速玉米叶片的衰老,从而稳定籽粒产量。而其他水分胁迫处理显著降低各监测时期玉米叶片SPAD值、SOD、POD、CAT活性、可溶性蛋白含量和P_n,明显提高MDA含量,使穗数、穗粒数和千粒质量减少,最终显著降低产量（较CK的值下降13.3%~72.7%）。整体上,D-MW和D-HW处理明显加速玉米叶片衰老,严重抑制最终产量。综上,拔节期旱后急转轻涝对玉米叶片SPAD值、抗氧化酶活性、可溶性蛋白含量和P_n有补偿作用,从而获得较高的籽粒产量。该研究结果为玉米应对旱涝急转灾害和灌排管理提供一定理论依据。     

生物肥对氯嘧磺隆残留的降解及对水稻生长的影响

为筛选具有降解氯嘧磺隆残留和作物增产效果的优质生物肥, 采用田间小区模拟试验, 研究了不同浓度氯嘧磺隆施用下, 3种生物肥对氯嘧磺隆残留的降解及对水稻生长的影响。结果表明, 供试的农大生物菌剂、世绿环保生物肥和农大生物肥对施用量分别为3 μg·kg^-1和6 μg·kg^-1的氯嘧磺隆残留均有降解作用, 对施用量为6 μg·kg^-1的氯嘧磺隆残留的降解率分别为61.5%、58.3%和62.7%, 比自然降解率分别高17.8%、14.6%和19.0%。土壤中氯嘧磺隆施用量为0.03 μg·kg^-1时即对水稻株高、穗长、结实率和产量性状产生明显影响, 氯嘧磺隆施用量越大药害影响越显著。3种供试生物肥均可解除0.03 μg·kg^-1氯嘧磺隆的残留对水稻产量的影响, 但随氯嘧磺隆施用量的增加, 供试生物肥虽可减轻药害影响, 但不能完全解除残留药害。农大生物菌剂和农大生物肥解除氯嘧磺隆残留药害能力高于世绿环保生物肥。田间氯嘧磺隆的施用量小于0.03 μg·kg^-1时, 施用供试的3种生物肥均可保证水稻生产安全。     

被动荧光探测水分胁迫对玉米叶片影响的初步研究

利用叶绿素荧光被动探测方法初步探讨了水分胁迫对玉米叶片生理机能的影响。水分胁迫梯度通过将离体叶片放在干燥器时间不同而获得。室内采用积分球耦合ASD光谱仪，结合加/不加滤光片照明的方法得到反射率差值光谱，即代表叶绿素荧光光谱。结果表明随着叶片含水率的降低，叶绿素荧光发射峰的位置几乎没有变化，峰高在686 nm处有先上升后逐渐降低的趋势，在740 nm处则缓慢下降。双峰比值Dif₆₈₆/Dif₇₄₀与叶片含水率呈负相关关系(R²=0.3850，n=21)，不同水分胁迫程度下利用调制式荧光仪测定的荧光参数Fv/Fm与740 nm荧光光谱峰值线性正相关，与双峰比值有负相关趋势。表明该被动方法可以探测水分胁迫引起的叶片光系统受胁状况，为田间被动遥感探测植物叶绿素荧光和生理状态提供参考。     

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.     

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.