土地利用方式对酸性红壤丛枝菌根真菌群落的影响

为了研究土地利用方式对酸性红壤丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, AMF)群落的影响,调查了酸性红壤4种土地利用方式(草地、玉米、花生和大豆)下非根际和根际土壤AMF群落多样性和组成结构。结果表明：土地利用方式显著影响了AMF群落优势属球囊霉属(Glomus)和巨孢囊霉属(Paraglomus)的相对丰度,但是根际作用影响不明显。土地利用方式而非根际作用显著影响了AMF群落香农指数和物种丰富度,其中大豆地表现出最低的香农指数和物种丰富度。土地利用方式和根际作用都显著影响AMF群落组成结构,但是土地利用方式的作用强度明显高于根际作用。球囊霉属主要解释了不同土地利用方式之间的AMF群落组成差异。土壤p H是影响土壤AMF群落结构的最关键因子。因此,土地利用方式比根际作用表现出对酸性红壤AMF群落更大的影响,展现了土地利用变化在影响土壤AMF群落方面的重要作用。     

磷肥对酸性红壤上玉米不同部位丛枝菌根真菌群落的影响

为了研究不同磷肥水平下酸性红壤上玉米不同部位丛枝菌根真菌(Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, AMF)群落多样性和组成结构,明确玉米不同部位AMF群落的分布特征及对磷肥的响应差别,为提高酸性红壤磷素利用提供理论依据。本实验设置三个磷肥水平：不施磷、低磷(25 mg P /kg)和高磷(100 mg P /kg),玉米培养4周后,测定玉米生物量和土壤理化性质,利用高通量测序技术检测玉米根部、根际和非根际土壤AMF群落结构和多样性。结果显示,随着磷肥水平增加,玉米生物量显著提高,高磷处理下玉米地上部磷含量显著高于不施磷和低磷处理。取样部位(根部、根际和非根际)显著影响了AMF群落优势属球囊霉属(Glomus)、巨孢囊霉属(Paraglomus)和近明球囊霉属(Claroideoglomus)相对丰度,但是磷肥影响不显著。类似的,取样部位而不是磷肥显著影响了AMF群落香农指数和物种丰富度。非度量多维标度(NMDS)结果显示,根部样品与非根际和根际土壤样品群落距离更远,而相同取样部位中不同磷肥水平间群落组成更为相似；置换多元方差分析(PERMANOVA)进一步表明,取样部位而不是磷肥显著影响了AMF群落组成结构,主要表现在根部样品与根际和非根际土壤不同。因此,酸性红壤上玉米不同部位对AMF群落的影响明显高于磷肥作用,表明AMF应用于酸性红壤时应重点考虑作物部位的特性。     

不同秸秆还田方式对旱地红壤细菌多样性及群落结构的影响

为明确不同秸秆还田方式下土壤细菌群落结构变化特征，以南方典型旱地红壤为研究对象，基于中国科学院鹰潭红壤生态实验站玉米单作系统不同秸秆还田方式的长期试验，利用高通量测序明确了不同秸秆还田方式对土壤细菌多样性及群落结构的影响。结果表明：1）秸秆还田对土壤肥力提升显著，以秸秆猪粪配施（NPKSM）提升效果最佳；2）常规化肥处理（NPK）对细菌多样性无显著影响，但秸秆还田（NPKS）、秸秆猪粪配施（NPKSM）以及生物质炭（NPKB）处理均显著提升土壤细菌多样性；3）速效磷（AP）和土壤有机碳（SOC）变化是影响细菌多样性指数的主要因素，而速效钾（AK）、pH、总磷（TP）以及总氮（TN）均显著驱动细菌群落结构变异。研究结果从培育红壤肥力与微生物多样性的角度，为农业生态系统生物功能和土壤健康的协同提升提供了科学依据。     

我国南方红壤酸化问题及改良修复技术研究进展

  目的  研究间作对作物根际土壤理化性质、球囊霉素相关土壤蛋白含量和AMF群落的影响,为我国南方红壤坡耕地种植模式的选择提供理论依据。  方法  以红壤坡耕地为研究对象,设置玉米单作、马铃薯单作、玉米与马铃薯间作3个处理,分析各作物在不同种植模式下其根际土壤理化性质、球囊霉素相关土壤蛋白含量、AMF群落的组成和多样性的变化,以及各指标之间的相互关系。  结果  玉米、马铃薯间作与单作相比均显著增加了两种作物根际土壤总球囊霉素和易提取球囊霉素含量,增加幅度为10.5% ~ 30.1%。玉米间作与玉米单作相比根际土壤有机质含量显著降低了10.6%,马铃薯间作与马铃薯单作相比根际土壤有机质和速效磷含量分别显著增加了13.5%和46.5%。玉米间作相比于玉米单作其根际土壤AMF群落特有的操作分类单元数量有增加趋势,而马铃薯间作相比马铃薯单作有降低趋势。非度量多维尺度法分析结果表明,种植模式较明显的改变了玉米根际土壤中AMF的群落组成,但没有明显改变马铃薯根际土壤中AMF的群落组成。玉米间作与玉米单作相比根际土壤AMF群落的Chao1指数显著增加了9.3%,香农指数有增加趋势,其值为1.3%,辛普森指数有降低趋势,其值为7.6%。马铃薯间作与马铃薯单作相比根际土壤AMF群落的辛普森指数有增加趋势,其值为53.3%,Chao1指数显著降低了10.8%,香农指数有降低趋势,其值为10.6%。在玉米、马铃薯的各处理中,根际土壤AMF群落优势属为巨孢囊霉属、无梗囊霉属和根孢霉属。冗余分析得出,pH是影响作物根际土壤AMF群落丰度、α多样性指数和球囊霉素相关土壤蛋白含量的主要因素。  结论  玉米与马铃薯间作可显著增加作物根际土壤的球囊霉素相关土壤蛋白含量,提高玉米根际土壤AMF群落组成的多样性,这一研究结果可为云南省红壤坡耕地种植模式的选择提供理论依据。     

多样化培肥模式调控丛枝菌根真菌促进玉米磷素吸收

利用丛枝菌根真菌（Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi，AMF）从农田生态系统获取养分，是红壤作物吸收土壤磷（P）素的有效途径。针对我国南方红壤生物功能退化、P素生物有效性低、作物产量低等问题，如何调控作物根际AMF群落，优化其与宿主的互惠共生关系，是打破红壤区作物P摄取瓶颈的关键。本研究结合红壤旱地生态间作与有机（秸秆、猪粪、生物肥）无机肥料配施的4种多样化培肥措施，基于作物产量和红壤磷素活化水平，筛选最优培肥模式。进一步利用扩增子高通量测序和显微观察等技术，解析红壤旱地最优培肥措施调控AMF群落组成，揭示优化的AMF群落激发宿主玉米P素摄取机理。结果表明，花生/玉米间作结合秸秆/生物肥的有机无机配施（In+NPKSB）相较于其他培肥方式使红壤旱地全磷（TP）提高29.07%、有效磷（AP）提升1.35倍，且增强了玉米根内AMF群落科水平间的联系。该措施AMF定殖率是传统培肥措施的2.24倍，提高玉米根际酸/碱性磷酸酶（ACP/ALP）活性32.18%和41.66%，玉米生物量提高34.98%，产量提高67.27%。本研究证实红壤旱地花生/玉米生态间作结合秸秆/生物肥有机无机配施的培肥措施可通过优化玉米根内AMF群落组成，促进土壤P素活化，为在红壤旱地因地制宜推广可持续农业发展的集成应用提供理论依据。     

沙坡头地区地衣和藓类结皮丛枝菌根真菌多样性研究

丛枝菌根真菌(Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)是自然界分布最广的一类植物共生真菌,可与生物土壤结皮(Biological soil crust,BSC)的隐花植物形成共生体,对荒漠植被的恢复和演替具有重要意义。目前针对不同类型BSC的AMF群落结构及其多样性研究较少,限制了AMF群落对BSC发育的作用和对荒漠生态系统贡献的理解。利用高通量测序技术,对腾格里沙漠东南缘沙坡头固沙植被区地衣和藓类结皮及其下层土壤AMF群落组成与多样性进行研究,分析不同结皮类型AMF群落结构的差异。结果发现,AMF群落丰富度和多样性表现为:藓类结皮下层土壤地衣结皮下层土壤藓类结皮地衣结皮。地衣和藓类结皮及其下层土壤AMF均属于球囊菌门、球囊菌纲,以球囊霉属、类球囊霉属、盾巨孢囊霉属、巨孢囊霉属和一种未分类属为优势,且地衣和藓类结皮AMF群落在属水平差异显著。主成分分析结果显示,藓类结皮下层土壤中AMF群落物种组成与其他各组有显著差异,表明随着结皮的发育,AMF群落多样性增加,结皮演替与AMF群落多样性之间具有相互促进的作用。     

长期秸秆掩埋配施氮肥对土壤细菌群落特征的影响

为揭示典型潮土微生物群落及其生态网络对秸秆还田的响应机制,选择长期小麦-玉米轮作下不同秸秆还田处理的试验地为对象,应用高通量测序和生态网络等方法,阐明秸秆掩埋配施不同氮肥后土壤细菌群落组成、细菌网络共存关系以及与土壤养分的关联。结果表明：（1）与秸秆移除且不施氮肥处理相比,秸秆还田配合常规施肥处理显著降低土壤pH,提高了土壤全氮、有机碳、有效磷、速效钾和硝态氮含量（P < 0.05）。秸秆掩埋配施氮肥有利于增加土壤养分含量。（2）不同秸秆还田方式和氮肥施用量处理的细菌Alpha多样性无显著差异,而细菌群落结构差异显著。pH、SOC和TN等因子驱动了细菌群落结构变异。酸杆菌门、变形菌门、拟杆菌门和绿弯菌门是潮土细菌群落的主要优势菌门。（3）共现网络分析得到4个主要的生态集群,均与土壤养分有显著相关性。模块1中物种丰度与SOC、TN、TP、NO3- -N、AP和AK呈极显著负相关（P < 0.001）,与pH呈极显著正相关（P < 0.001）;模块2和模块3中物种丰度与大部分养分含量呈正相关,与pH呈负相关。因此秸秆还田配施氮肥可以通过调节细菌互作关系,从而调控土壤肥力。研究结果可为秸秆的资源化利用和土壤施肥管理提供科学依据。     

木薯根域AMF群落结构特征及多样性研究

土壤微生物是土壤—作物系统养分循环的重要驱动力,其中丛枝菌根真菌(Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)能够促进作物对养分的吸收。木薯是我国南方重要的经济作物,是多种行业的重要原材料。为揭示不同土壤质地木薯根域土壤AMF群落结构特征,解析土壤因子对AMF类群的影响。以木薯品种华南205 (SC205)为材料,通过田间根袋培养,利用高通量测序平台进行真菌扩增子测序,分析不同处理木薯根域AMF类群组成和多样性差异。结果表明,木薯根域土壤AMF主要为球囊霉属(Glomus)、无梗囊霉属(Acaulospora)、盾巨孢囊霉属(Scutellospora)、类球囊霉属(Paraglomus)和双型囊霉属(Ambispora)。优势属为球囊霉属和无梗囊霉属。两种土质各处理AMF属水平上无显著差异,种水平分布受土壤质地及根袋的影响,粘土AMF多样性(Simpson指数)高于砂质壤土。两种土质中都发现独有种,土壤质地对木薯根域AMF群落分布有一定的影响。RDA分析表明Glomus与速效磷、速效氮、铵态氮正相关;Acaulospora与速效磷,速效氮弱负相关;Scutellospora与所有速效养分负相关;Paraglomus与所有速效养分表现出正相关;Ambispora与大部分速效养分表现出负相关。木薯根域AMF资源丰富,不同土壤质地条件下的AMF群落组成和丰度存在差异,土壤速效养分与AMF群落结构差异密切相关。该研究为进一步探索AMF在木薯上的应用提供理论参考。     

秸秆还田方式对根际固氮菌群落及花生产量的影响

  【目的】  固氮微生物是土壤中重要的功能微生物,其多样性和群落组成变化能够影响土壤氮素固定与氮循环过程,探究不同秸秆还田方式对根际土壤固氮菌多样性和群落组成的影响机制具有重要意义。  【方法】  基于中国科学院鹰潭红壤生态实验站花生单作系统不同秸秆还田长期定位试验,设置不施肥对照(CK)、单施化肥(NPK)、NPK肥+秸秆还田(NPKS)、NPK肥+秸秆猪粪配施(NPKSM)和NPK肥+秸秆生物炭(NPKB) 5个处理,利用高通量测序技术,分析不同秸秆还田方式下根际固氮菌多样性和群落组成的变化特征。  【结果】  秸秆还田处理下土壤有机碳(SOC)、速效钾、全磷、有效磷、全氮含量提升,其中以NPK肥+秸秆猪粪配施(NPKSM)处理效果最佳。秸秆还田增加了固氮微生物多样性,并显著改变其群落组成,在纲水平上固氮菌以α-变形菌纲(Alphaproteobacteria,82.5%)为优势类群;在属水平上以慢生根瘤菌属(Bradyrhizobium,51.9%)为优势类群。土壤有效磷是影响固氮菌多样性指数的主要因素,而土壤pH、SOC、速效钾、全磷、有效磷、全氮和铵态氮是影响固氮菌群落组成的主要因素。结构等式方程研究结果表明土壤有效磷和全氮通过改变δ-变形菌纲(Deltaproteobacteria)的相对丰度和固氮菌群落组成间接影响花生产量。  【结论】  秸秆还田显著提升了土壤肥力,土壤有效磷是根际固氮菌多样性和群落组成改变、花生产量提高的重要驱动因素,通过提高Deltaproteobacteria的相对丰度促进了花生增产。本研究为建立合理的秸秆还田措施,增强生物固氮潜力以及提升红壤肥力与健康提供科学依据。     

丛枝菌根真菌群落对白三叶草植株生物量磷吸收和土壤磷酸单酯酶活性的影响

丛枝菌根真菌（AMF）在土壤与植物的磷素循环中发挥着关键的作用。采用盆栽实验研究了丛枝菌根真菌群落对白三叶草植株生物量、磷吸收和土壤磷酸单酯酶活性的影响。结果表明,接种不同AMF群落均能显著地促进白三叶草植株的生长及其对磷素的吸收,提高根际土壤磷酸单酯酶的活性。Mnp处理中,白三叶草生物量最大,白三叶草总生物量、茎叶生物量和根系生物量分别比对照处理（-M）提高64.48%、61.48%和84.91%。不同菌根处理中,Mck处理显著地提高白三叶草磷吸收和土壤磷酸单酯酶活性,白三叶草磷吸收总量和茎叶磷吸收量分别比对照（-M）提高107.18%和91.91%,土壤碱性磷酸单酯酶和酸性磷酸单酯酶活性相对对照（-M）分别提高54.33%和138.43%。碱性磷酸单酯酶活性与AMF群落中的Acaullospora属孢子数呈显著的正相关关系,而酸性磷酸单酯酶活性则主要受Paraglomus属孢子数的影响。说明接种AMF群落可显著地影响土壤的磷酸单酯酶活性,从而影响白三叶草的生长及其对磷素的吸收。     

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.     

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.