Microbial dynamics and natural remediation patterns of Fusarium‐infested watermelon soil under 3‐yr of continuous fallow condition

Long‐term monoculture of watermelon results in inhibited growth and decreased crop yields, possibly because of imbalance in microbial ecology caused by accumulation of the pathogen in soil. This results in serious problems in the economics of watermelon production. We investigated the build‐up of Fusarium in soil under watermelon cultivation and changes over 3 yr of fallow in a microcosm. We focused on changes in the microbial community of Fusarium‐infected soil, including the diversity of the microfloral species composition, and species abundance. Long‐term monoculture of watermelon leads to changes in microbial diversity and community structure. The microbes most readily cultured from infested soil were suppressed by watermelon wilt pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (FON). Of 52 isolated and identified culturable microbes, 83.3% of bacteria, 85.7% of actinomycetes, 31.6% of fungi and 20.0% of Fusarium sp. were inhibited by FON on bioassay plates. Prior to fallowing, infested soil was a transformed ‘fungus‐type’ soil. After 3 yr of fallow, the infested soil had remediated naturally, and soil microbial diversity recovered considerably. Abundance of dominant bacterial populations was increased by 118–177%, actinomycetes, fungi and FON were decreased by 23–32, 33–37 and 50%, respectively. The ratio of bacteria: actnomycetes: fungus: Fusarium sp. in infested soil changed from 24 000:100:4:1 prior to fallow to 57 000:100:3.5:1 after fallowing, nearer to the 560 000:400:8:1 ratio of healthy soil not used for watermelon cultivation. This suggests the ‘fungus‐type’ soil was converting to ‘bacteria‐type’ soil and that disrupted microbial communities in infested soil were restored during fallow.     

Genotypic Differences in Root Hair Deformation and Subsequent Nodulation for Red Clover under Different Additions of Starter N Fertilization

Red clover cultivars, including diploid and tetraploid, are commonly used in legume‐based pasture mixtures. However, information on nodulation under different starter N regimens is limited. We hypothesized that there is genetic variability among different red clover cultivars for nodulation. A root hair deformation assay was conducted using three diploid (AC Christie, Tapani and CRS15) and three tetraploid (Tempus, CRS18 and CRS39) red clover cultivars by inoculating them with Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii. Nodulation and morphological characteristics of two selected red clover cultivars, AC Christie and Tempus, were determined under five starter N concentrations (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 mg per plant). Inoculation with rhizobia increased root hair deformation with significant interaction across cultivars. Nodulation was delayed under high starter N concentrations, and genotypic differences were evident for days‐to‐nodule initiation. There was a positive quadratic response to starter N for AC Christie and a negative quadratic response for Tempus for nodulation. Tempus had more active nodules (92 %) than AC Christie (73 %). The genetic variability of red clover cultivars should be considered in N fixation studies and their response to availability of initial N.     

Excessive application of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers induces soil acidification and phosphorus enrichment during vegetable production in Yangtze River Delta,China

Intensive vegetable cultivation has developed very rapidly in China, and investigation of current soil nutrient problems in vegetable fields and their potential environmental risk is important for local soil nutrient management strategies. Three hundred and sixty‐six soil samples were collected from greenhouse vegetable fields, open vegetable fields and rice/wheat rotation fields in southern Jiangsu Province, the most intensive vegetable‐producing areas in Yangtze River Delta, China, for the analysis of their soil fertility status. Soil acidification and P enrichment were the main problems identified in this area of vegetable production, with about 20 and 17% of the open and greenhouse vegetable field soils, respectively, being extremely acid with soil pH values below 5.0. In contrast, no soils under rice/wheat rotation fields were as acidic. Percentages of sites with Olsen‐P concentrations < 90 mg/kg were 61, 85 and 0% for soils growing greenhouse vegetable, field vegetable and rice/wheat, respectively. The nitrogen (N) surplus for vegetable fields exceeded 170 kg/ha/crop, and the phosphorus (P) surplus exceeded 40 kg/ha/crop. Thus, current vegetable production leads to potential environmental risks of N and P pollution of nearby aquatic bodies. Insufficient supplementation with potassium fertilizers was found in some vegetable fields. Several ameliorative measures are proposed.     

Role of oxytocin and/or PGF2 alpha on breeding efficiency in buffaloes

A study was conducted on 40 buffalo-cows, assigned randomly, immediately after calving into three groups: group I (n = 10) injected with saline and taken as control; group II (n = 15) received 25 mg PGF2 alpha/animal (Lutalyse); group III (n = 15) received 25 mg PGF2 alpha + 25 i.u. oxytocin/animal (Syntocinon), single i.m. dose. Oxytocin and/or PGF2 alpha significantly (P less than 0.01) shortened the interval from calving to first service (38.33 and 31.53 days for groups II and III respectively, versus 91.60 days for controls). The treatment reduced the service period (38.29 and 35.87 days for groups II and III respectively, versus 45.40 days for controls). Concomitantly a significant (P less than 0.01) decrease in the open-days post partum was achieved (76.62 and 67.40 days for groups II and III respectively, versus 137.00 days for controls). In addition, the treated buffaloes needed significantly (P less than 0.01) fewer services per conception (1.67 and 1.20 S/C for groups II and III respectively) than the untreated ones (2.70 S/C), besides a substantial improvement (P less than 0.01) in their conception rate either at 60 or 85 days post partum. Significantly improved (P less than 0.05) results were obtained in the oxytocin and PGF2 alpha treated animals, than in those receiving PGF2 alpha alone for all the previous parameters, except for the service period. Buffaloes therefore seemed to respond better to such treatment than dairy cows.