Solar UV-B influences microfaunal community composition in a Tierra del Fuego peatland

The peatlands of Tierra del Fuego are subject to increased solar ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) due to the influence of the Antarctic ‘ozone hole’. Research into the effects of climate change and ozone depletion on peatlands has predominantly focused on the higher plant community and neglected other organisms. In the second 3-year portion of a 6-year experiment, we intensified our investigations of the response of the peatland surface microfaunal community to current and attenuated solar UV-B, and assessed possible links to changes in the microenvironment. Near-ambient UV-B and reduced UV-B treatments were realised by stretching plastic film filters that differentially attenuate UV-B over peatland sample plots. We extracted the microfauna and analysed the dissolved nutrients held within Sphagnum capitula removed from the top 1-cm of the peatland. In line with previous findings in this system, testate amoebae were more abundant under near-ambient UV-B than under reduced UV-B. Populations of the most common genus, Assulina, and other less prominent amoebae species of Heleopera and Euglypha, were consistently increased under near-ambient UV-B. Overall diversity of testate amoebae was also higher under near-ambient UV-B than under reduced UV-B, whereas rotifers, nematodes and mites were less abundant under near-ambient UV-B. Concentrations of DOC and P were generally higher under near-ambient UV-B than under reduced UV-B. These changes, combined with the changes previously reported in the plant and fungal communities, have the potential to influence peatland C storage, and surface nutrient availability. The peatland microfaunal community under near-ambient solar UV-B may be regulated by the plant community through the leaching of nutrients from leaf cells, and changes in Sphagnum morphology that affect the capitulum microenvironment.     

Tolerance of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) lines to root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne javanica (Treub) Chitwood

The root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne javanica (Treub) Chitwood is an important parasite of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Four chickpea genotypes were evaluated for tolerance to M. javanica in naturally infested fields at three locations. Each genotype was evaluated for number of galls, gall size, root area covered with galls and number of egg masses produced. All the cultivars were susceptible or highly susceptible. Seed yield, weight of 100 undamaged seeds, total dry matter and plant height were compared with checks. Chickpea cultivar Annigeri and a local check were used as nematode susceptible checks in all locations. The four promising nematode tolerant genotypes produced significantly greater yield and total dry matter than the checks in fields naturally infested with M. javanica at three locations. These M. javanica tolerant lines represent new germplasm and they are available in the chickpea genebank at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) bearing the identification numbers ICC 8932, ICC 11152, ICCV 90043 and ICCC 42.     

Nematode assemblages in the rhizosphere of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) depended on fertilisation and plant growth phase

Nematodes from rhizosphere soil of barley grown at three fertiliser treatments (control (0), NK and NPK) were studied in a field experiment. Sampling was done twice, during vegetative growth and flowering, respectively, to determine how fertiliser effects on nematode assemblages depended on plant growth phase. At the growth stage the proportion of fungal feeding nematodes (dominated by Aphelenchoides spp. and Aphelenchus sp.) was highest in NK. During flowering, the abundance and proportion of fungal feeders in the 0 and NPK plots had increased and reached a level similar to the NK plot. Overall densities of bacterial feeders (mainly Cephalobidae and Rhabditidae) were similar, but opportunistic bacterial feeders constituted a higher proportion in the fertilised plots compared to the unfertilised. Ectoparasitic plant feeders (Tylenchorhynchus sp.) were more numerous in NK and NPK than in the control at both sampling dates. Endoparasite (Pratylenchus spp.) numbers were lower in the NPK plot at the growth stage. Numbers of Tylenchidae increased between samplings. The classification of Tylenchidae as epidermal cell and root hair feeders as opposed to hyphal feeders is discussed. Results thus indicate that: (i) bacterial and especially fungal feeding nematodes are stimulated by unbalanced fertilisation; (ii) ectoparasitic plant feeders are stimulated by N-fertilisation, while migratory endoparasites are inhibited at high and balanced fertilisation; (iii) nutrient effects diminish after plants reach the flowering stage.     

家畜粪便中捕食线虫性真菌分布情况的研究

分剐采集马属动物(马、骡)、反刍动物(牛、羊)的新鲜粪便，进行捕食线虫性真菌的分离培养，调查了捕食线虫性真菌在家畜粪便中的分布情况；并对分离到的捕食线虫性真菌做了详细的形态学观察，进行种属鉴定。结果表明：从上述家畜新鲜粪便中均分离出捕食线虫性真菌——梨形指环菌(Dactylaria pyriformis)，但该菌株在不同家畜粪便中的分布情况不同，马属动物粪便的分出率为10．0％(骡粪：13．3％。马粪：6．7％)；反刍动物粪便的分出率为26．7％(牛粪：23．3％，羊粪：30．0％)；总分出率为18．3％。     

Efficacy of aluminium phosphide as a soil fumigant against nematode and weed in tomato crop

Aluminium phosphide (AlP) is a widely used fumigant due to its ability to kill a broad spectrum of stored-grain insect pests and its easy penetration into the commodity while leaving minimal residues. Field trials were conducted to ascertain the efficacy of AlP as a methyl bromide (MeBr) alternative in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Six treatments were replicated five times in a randomized complete block design: fumigation with MeBr (400 kg ha⁻¹), three AlP doses (18.75, 37.50 and 56.25 kg ha⁻¹), an avermectin dose (7.5 L ha⁻¹), and a non-treated control. Results consistently indicated that MeBr was generally superior to the treatments involving all AlP and avermectin, which in turn were superior to the control, for improving tomato yield, inhibiting nematode and weed. In two successive seasons, AlP at the dose of 56.25 kg ha⁻¹ was as effective as MeBr in increasing plant height and vigor as well as maintaining excellent tomato yield, but it providing relatively medium control over nematode and weeds. The present data support the conclusion that AlP is a promising alternative to MeBr for managing nematodes and weeds in tomato crop and can be used effectively in integrated pest management programs.     

Effects of vegetation removal on soil properties and decomposer organisms

The removal of understory vegetation has been a common forest management practice, especially in plantations, but the effects of understory removal on soil physico-chemical properties and decomposer organisms is poorly known. In the present study, the effects of understory vegetation removal and removal of all-plants (i.e. removal of understory vegetation and trees) on soil properties and soil biota were measured in a plantation of mixed native tree species in southern China. During the wet season, understory vegetation removal did not cause significant changes on soil microbial community and major soil faunal groups except for a marked reduction in the density of herbivorous nematodes. However, all-plants removal significantly decreased the fungal biomass, the fungal:bacterial ratio, the density of herbivorous nematodes, the structure of the nematode community, and the density of mites, collembola and total microarthropods. In the dry season, understory vegetation removal resulted in a marked reduction in the density of total and herbivorous nematodes. The effects of plant removal on soil biota were similar to that in dry season. For both seasons, understory removal had no significant effects on soil physico-chemical properties (soil water content, pH, total nitrogen and soil organic carbon) but removal of all-plants significantly decreased soil pH. In general, the effects of understory vegetation removal on soil biota and other soil properties were much less severe than those of all-plants removal. The soil biota did not show significant response to understory removal, suggesting that this part of the vegetation may not be a major governing factor on such biota.     

Contributions of soil biota to C sequestration varied with aggregate fractions under different tillage systems

It is increasingly believed that substantial soil organic carbon (SOC) can be sequestered in conservation tillage system by manipulating the functional groups of soil biota. Soil aggregates of different size provide diverse microhabitats for soil biota and consequently influence C sequestration. Our objective was to evaluate the contributions of soil biota induced by tillage systems to C sequestration among different aggregate size fractions. Soil microbial and nematode communities were examined within four aggregate fractions: large macroaggregates (>2 mm), macroaggregates (2–1 mm), small macroaggregates (1–0.25 mm) and microaggregates (<0.25 mm) isolated from three tillage systems: no tillage (NT), ridge tillage (RT) and conventional tillage (CT) in Northeast China. Soil microbial and nematode communities varied across both tillage systems and aggregate fractions. The activity and abundance of microbes and nematodes were generally higher under NT and RT than under CT. Among the four aggregate fractions, soil microbial biomass and diversity were higher in microaggregates, while soil nematode abundance and diversity were higher in large macroaggregates. Structural equation modelling (SEM) revealed that the linkage between microbial and nematode communities and their contributions to soil C accumulation in >1 mm aggregate fractions were different from those in <1 mm aggregate fractions. Higher abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) could enhance C retention within >1 mm aggregates, while more gram-positive bacteria and plant-parasitic nematodes might increase C accumulation within <1 mm aggregates. Our findings suggested that the increase in microbial biomass and nematode abundance and the alteration in their community composition at the micro-niche within aggregates could contribute to the higher C sequestration in conservation tillage systems (NT and RT).     

奥氏奥斯特他线虫巨噬细胞转移抑制因子克隆表达与酶功能鉴定

通过原核表达系统表达奥氏奥斯特他线虫（Ostertagiaostertagi）巨噬细胞转移抑制因子（OoMIF）,并对该蛋白的酶功能进行鉴定。通过GenBank和NematodeV3．0数据库发表的序列,利用分子生物学软件设计了1对特异的引物,通过RT—PCR扩增OoMIF全基因,经测序分析后,将OoMIF亚克隆到pET28a（＋）,然后将鉴定为阳性的重组质粒转化到BL21中用IPTG进行诱导表达。利用HPLC对可溶性表达的重组OoMIF蛋白进行纯化,同时通过免疫印迹对线虫自身的MIF及纯化后的OoMIF进行鉴定,最后对OoMIF的互变异构酶和氧化还原酶活性进行鉴定。结果表明OoMIF具有互变异构酶活性,但没有氧化还原酶活性。为进一步探究OoMIF生物学功能及其MIF在宿主免疫调节中的作用提供依据。     

抗松材线虫病马尾松无性系夏季光合作用日变化研究

利用LI6400光合仪测定抗松材线虫病马尾松针叶的净光合速率,研究其夏季变化与生理生态因子的关系。结果表明：（1）抗性马尾松净光合速率日变化趋势呈现“双峰”曲线,峰值出现在10时和15时,有明显的“午休”现象。这种现象不是由于气孔阻力的增大而引起叶肉细胞间CO2亏缺造成的,而是非气孔限制起着主要作用。（2）净光合速率（Pn）与胞间CO2浓度（Ci）、蒸腾速率（Tr）、空气温度（Tair）、叶片温度（Tleaf）、光合有效辐射（PAR）都有极显著的相关关系．但经过通径分析发现,对Pn起作用的最主要因子是PAR。     

谷子线虫病品种抗性鉴定及拌种药剂筛选

谷子线虫病是谷子生产中的重要病害,严重发生时可导致绝产。对当前主要谷子生产品种的抗病性进行了鉴定,并对防治谷子线虫病的拌种药剂乙酰甲胺磷乳油和辛硫磷乳油进行了比较试验。结果表明：用种子量0.3%的辛硫磷拌种对谷子线虫病的防效可达到99.2%,辛硫磷可以作为甲基1605的替代药剂用于谷子线虫病的防治。