Long-term fertilization effects on active ammonia oxidizers in an acidic upland soil in China

The effects of long-term fertilization of acidic soils on ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB) communities and its ecological implications remain poorly understood. We chose an acidic upland soil site under long-term (27-year) fertilization to investigate ammonia oxidizer communities under four different regimes: mineral N fertilizer (N), mineral NPK fertilizer (NPK), organic manure (OM) and an unfertilized control (CK). Soil net nitrification rates were significantly higher in OM soils than in CK, N or NPK soils. Quantitative analysis of the distribution of amoA genes by DNA-based stable isotope probing revealed that AOA dominate in CK, N and NPK soils, while AOB dominate in OM soils. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and clone library analyses of amoA genes revealed that Group 1.1a-associated AOA (also referred to as Nitrosotalea) were the most dominant active AOA population (>92%), while Nitrosospira Cluster 3 and Cluster 9 were predominant among active AOB communities. The functional diversity of active ammonia oxidizers in acidic soils is affected by long-term fertilization practices, and the responses of active ammonia oxidizers to mineral fertilizer and organic manure are clearly different. Our results provide strong evidence that AOA are more highly adapted to growth at low pH and low substrate availability than AOB, and they suggest that the niche differentiation and metabolic diversity of ammonia oxidizers in acidic soils are more complex than previously thought.     

Contributions of ammonia-oxidizing archaea and bacteria to nitrification in Oregon forest soils

Ammonia oxidation, the first step of nitrification, is mediated by both ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB); however, the relative contributions of AOA and AOB to soil nitrification are not well understood. In this study we used 1-octyne to discriminate between AOA- and AOB-supported nitrification determined both in soil-water slurries and in unsaturated whole soil at field moisture. Soils were collected from stands of red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii Mirb. Franco) at three sites (Cascade Head, the H.J. Andrews, and McDonald Forest) on acidic soils (pH 3.9–5.7) in Oregon, USA. The abundances of AOA and AOB were measured using quantitative PCR by targeting the amoA gene, which encodes subunit A of ammonia monooxygenase. Total and AOA-specific (octyne-resistant) nitrification activities in soil slurries were significantly higher at Cascade Head (the most acidic soils, pH < 5) than at either the H.J. Andrews or McDonald Forest, and greater in red alder compared with Douglas-fir soils. The fraction of octyne-resistant nitrification varied among sites (21–74%) and was highest at Cascade Head than at the other two locations. Net nitrification rates of whole soil without NH₄⁺ amendment ranged from 0.4 to 3.3 mg N kg⁻¹ soil d⁻¹. Overall, net nitrification rates of whole soil were stimulated 2- to 8-fold by addition of 140 mg NH₄⁺-N kg⁻¹ soil; this was significant for red alder at Cascade Head and the H.J. Andrews. Red alder at Cascade Head was unique in that the majority of NH₄⁺-stimulated nitrifying activity was octyne-resistant (73%). At all other sites, NH₄⁺-stimulated nitrification was octyne-sensitive (68–90%). The octyne-sensitive activity—presumably AOB—was affected more by soil pH whereas the octyne-resistant (AOA) activity was more strongly related to N availability.     

Earthworms increase soil microbial biomass carrying capacity and nitrogen retention in northern hardwood forests

Earthworms have been shown to produce contrasting effects on soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools and dynamics. We measured soil C and N pools and processes and traced the flow of ¹³C and ¹⁵N from sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) litter into soil microbial biomass and respirable C and mineralizable and inorganic N pools in mature northern hardwood forest plots with variable earthworm communities. Previous studies have shown that plots dominated by either Lumbricus rubellus or Lumbricus terrestris have markedly lower total soil C than uncolonized plots. Here we show that total soil N pools in earthworm colonized plots were reduced much less than C, but significantly so in plots dominated by contain L. rubellus. Pools of microbial biomass C and N were higher in earthworm-colonized (especially those dominated by L. rubellus) plots and more ¹³C and ¹⁵N were recovered in microbial biomass and less was recovered in mineralizable and inorganic N pools in these plots. These plots also had lower rates of potential net N mineralization and nitrification than uncolonized reference plots. These results suggest that earthworm stimulation of microbial biomass and activity underlie depletion of soil C and retention and maintenance of soil N pools, at least in northern hardwood forests. Earthworms increase the carrying capacity of soil for microbial biomass and facilitate the flow of N from litter into stable soil organic matter. However, declines in soil C and C:N ratio may increase the potential for hydrologic and gaseous losses in earthworm-colonized sites under changing environmental conditions.     

Effect of the particle size on the ammonia removal rate and the bacterial community composition of bioflocs

The total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) removal efficiency and bacterial community composition of bioflocs with <50-μm particle size, > 50-μm particle size and un-sieved bioflocs were investigated in the current study. The initial ratio of dissolved organic carbon to TAN (DOC/TAN) in the three groups were about 14:1. No significant difference was found in the removal rate of TAN, average concentrations of TAN and nitrite nitrogen among the three groups (P > 0.05). The C/N (w/w) ratio of the > 50-μm bioflocs was significantly higher than those of the other groups. No significant differences were found in the crude protein content in the bioflocs among the three groups. The development of the bacterial community compositions of the bioflocs was analyzed by Illumina MiSeq sequencing analyses. Most OTUs were shared among the three groups at all the sampled time points. With the increase in the relative abundance of phylum Firmicutes, that of phylum Proteobacteria, Chorolexi, and Bacteroidetes decreased in all the three groups. The phylum Firmicutes and genus Bacillus were predominant in all the sampled time points. At the end of the experiment, genus Bacillus accounted for 81% in the < 50-μm group, 82% in the > 50-μm group, and 75% in the un-sieved group.     

An improved method for extraction of sorghum polymeric protein complexes

A method for fractionating sorghum proteins using extraction solvents and techniques designed to obtain polymeric protein structures (especially disulfide linked) was developed. Extraction and separation conditions were optimized in terms of completeness of protein extraction, sample stability, and analytical resolution. After pre-extraction of albumins and globulins, a 3-step sequential procedure involving no reducing agents was applied to ground whole sorghum flour. The three fractions obtained represented proportionally different protein polymer contents and molecular weight distribution as evidenced by comparative size exclusion chromatography. Protein composition also varied among the extracts with differences in kafirin composition and non-kafirin proteins detected in the fractions by RP-HPLC and SDS-PAGE analysis. The ability to quantify and further characterize sorghum polymeric protein complexes will be useful for additional studies linking protein structures with functionality and digestibility and variations for these properties within diverse sorghum germplasm.     

柳蛎盾蚧危害与丁香防御蛋白活力的关系

在柳蛎盾蚧的未危害期(5月末)、危害盛期(6月末)、危害弱期(7月末)、危害末期(8月末),测定高抗类[什锦丁香等7种(品种)]、中抗类[西南丁香等3种(品种)]、易感类[紫丁香等2种]、高感类(红丁香)13种(品种)丁香叶中的POD,SOD,CAT,PPO,PAL,TI和CI 7种防御蛋白的活性.结果表明:危害时期,丁香种(品种)对丁香防御蛋白活力有极显著影响(P＜0.01).POD活性,在危害盛期,在高抗、中抗类丁香中均显著升高(P＜0.05),而在易感、高感类中应激滞后,即分别在危害弱期和危害末期升高.CAT在易感类和高感类丁香防御上起主导作用,其活性在危害盛期显著升高,而中抗和高抗类未见明显变化.SOD活性,在危害盛期高抗类丁香中无显著变化,而其余3类则显著降低.PPO活性在未危害期的高低与抗性相关,在虫害盛期诱导表达的强弱也与抗性相关;PAL活性未能反映抗性品种间的差异.TI和CI活性,在未危害期的高低与其抗虫性无明显相关性,在危害盛期的升高幅度与抗虫性呈正相关.综上所述,PPO在未危害期的活力可作为筛选丁香抗虫种(品种)的指标,危害盛期POD,PPO,TI和CI活性升高的幅度与丁香抗虫性呈正相关.     

Increased abundance of patatins,lipoxygenase and miraculins in a thaxtomin A-habituated potato Russet Burbank somaclone with enhanced resistance to common scab

Potato common scab caused by the actinobacterium Streptomyces scabiei is characterized by the formation of corky lesions on tubers that reduce their marketability. Management of common scab is very complex and often ineffective under various environmental conditions. Using potato varieties that are more resistant to common scab remains one of the most efficient strategies to control this disease. However, very little is known about the factors associated with resistance to common scab. Somaclone RB9 regenerated from thaxtomin A-habituated potato Russet Burbank calli produced tubers more resistant to common scab than the original variety. Comparison of the RB9 tuber proteome with that of Russet Burbank using label-free quantitative proteomic analysis revealed changes in the accumulation of defence-related proteins from the patatin and lipoxygenase (LOX) families, which are involved in the metabolism of lipids, and of two miraculins of the Kunitz-type protease inhibitors family. The implication of LOX during common scab infection was studied using synchronized minitubers developed from leaf-bud cuttings. S. scabiei infection stimulated the accumulation of LOX in both Russet Burbank and RB9 minitubers, but this accumulation was intensified in RB9 minitubers. Infection also increased LOX activity in Russet Burbank and RB9 minitubers. However, LOX activity measured in noninfected RB9 minitubers was similar to that of infected Russet Burbank minitubers, indicating endogenous activation of LOX activity in RB9 minitubers. We discuss how increased LOX abundance and activity in the somaclone RB9 may contribute to improving tuber defence against common scab.     

氮肥配施生物炭和脲酶抑制剂对夏玉米-冬小麦产量及氮素利用的影响

于2019—2021年采用再裂区设计,设置氮肥、生物炭和脲酶抑制剂3个因素,主处理设5个氮水平：0、75、150、225 kg·hm^-2和300 kg·hm^-2,副处理设2个生物炭水平：0 t·hm^-2和7.5 t·hm^-2,副副处理设2个脲酶抑制剂水平：0%和2%,共20个处理,研究氮肥配施生物炭和脲酶抑制剂对夏玉米-冬小麦轮作体系作物产量和氮肥吸收利用的影响。结果表明,施用生物炭显著提高夏玉米和冬小麦产量、植株氮素吸收量、氮肥表观利用率、氮素收获指数以及夏玉米地上部生物量,较不施生物炭处理分别增加4.4%和2.9%、2.3%和3.0%、25.8%和13.5%、4.9%和6.1%、4.5%;氮肥单独配施生物炭可显著提高夏玉米和冬小麦产量、植株氮素吸收量和氮肥表观利用率,且氮肥和生物炭具有显著的交互效应。施用脲酶抑制剂显著增加夏玉米植株氮素吸收量和氮肥表观利用率,较不施脲酶抑制剂处理分别提高1.5%和3.0%;氮肥单独配施脲酶抑制剂可提高夏玉米植株氮素吸收量和氮肥表观利用率,但氮肥与脲酶抑制剂无显著...     

广东省稻菜轮作区中牛筋草对十种除草剂的抗性水平及靶基因序列分析

为明确广东省稻菜轮作区中牛筋草对10种常用除草剂的抗性水平及抗性分子机制,采用整株生物测定法测定广东省稻菜轮作区内8个牛筋草种群P1～P8对草甘膦、草铵膦和乙酰辅酶A羧化酶(acetyl-CoA carboxylase,ACCase)抑制剂类等10种除草剂的抗性水平,并进一步分析P1和P8种群相关靶标酶基因5-烯醇丙酮酰莽草酸-3-磷酸合酶(5-enolpyruvyl-shikimate-3-phosphate synthase,EPSPS)、谷氨酰胺合成酶(glutamine synthetase,GS)和ACCase的部分功能区序列特征。结果显示,牛筋草P1～P8种群对草甘膦抗性指数为敏感种群的5.9倍～17.7倍,其中P8种群对草甘膦的抗性水平最高;8个种群对草铵膦也产生了不同程度的抗性,抗性指数为敏感种群的2.3倍～14.2倍,其中P1种群抗性最高。牛筋草P1和P8种群均对ACCase抑制剂类除草剂精喹禾灵、氰氟草酯和噁唑酰草胺产生了交互抗性;P1种群ACCase基因在第2 041位氨基酸处发生突变,该突变在牛筋草种群中首次发现;而P8种群ACCase基因则在第2 027位氨基...     

Encasement of Erysiphe graminis haustoria after treatment with bromuconazole

Preventive application of bromuconazole caused reduction in size and increased encasement rate of haustoria of Erysiphe graminis DC. For example, seven days after inoculation, 60 and 70% of haustoria had been encased in leaves treated with 8 mg litre⁻¹ and 16 mg litre⁻¹ respectively; the average length of the digitations was 8–10 μm in treated cells compared to 24 μm in untreated cells. The encasement process extended from the neck region to the whole haustorium. Haustorial bodies from treated plants had electron-dense cytoplasm and their organelles were more difficult to identify than in control plants. Extrahaustorial matrix was reduced to an unusually thin, osmiophilic pellicle, surrounded by abundant heterogeneous encasement material. Curative treatment induced similar changes, especially in the margin of the colonies. In the centre of the colony, haustoria were less affected by the fungicide; deposition of collar-like material, modification of extrahaustorial matrix and membrane and accumulation of plant cytoplasm around the digitations resulted in an intermediate, ‘swollen’ state of digitate haustoria. The possible pathway of encasement events is discussed.