Influence of soil properties on the vertical movement of genetically-marked Pseudomonas fluorescens through large soil microcosms

Summary Vertical translocation of the introduced transposon Tn5-tagged Pseudomonas fluorescens cells was studies after irrigation of 50-cm long soil columns of loamy sand. The soil in the columns was slowly brought to saturation using groundwater, and enough water was then slowly added to permit collection of the percolated water. Introduced bacteria were transported to lower soil layers to a significantly higher degree in undisturbed soil cores than in repacked cores; water transport was hampered in both core types due to high soil bulk densities. Soil bulk density affected the degree of transport of the introduced cells; progressively more cells were translocated to deeper soil layers and into the percolation water at decreasing soil bulk densities. Repeated percolation of soil at a bulk density of 1.25 caused an increase in Tn5-tagged cell numbers in the lower soil layers and in the percolated water. Further, cells initially introduced into a dry (5.3% moisture) soil were translocated to a lesser extent than cells introduced into a wetter (13% moisture) soil. Finally, wheat roots enhanced the water-induced transport of introduced cells to the 40- and 50-cm deep soil layers and into the effluent, but not to the remaining soil layers. Large soil columns such as those used in the present study are useful in assessing the transport and survival of introduced bacterial cells in soils under a variety of simulated environmental conditions.     

Characterization of brushite as a re-crystallization product formed during bacterial solubilization of hydroxyapatite in batch cultures

Two strains of bacteria (Burkholderia sp., strain FeGL01, and Burkholderia caribiensis, strain FeGL03) were isolated from a Brazilian high phosphorus iron ore. The capacity of both strains to solubilize hydroxyapatite, Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH), was assessed in plate and batch cultures. In batch cultures, the concentration of solution-P showed two kinetics: an initial one, characterized by a continuously increasing kinetics and a second one, characterized by oscillatory kinetics. To understand the nature of these oscillations, phosphatic residues in the spent broth were collected before, during and after the oscillations, and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray chemical microanalyses (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). From these studies, it was found that drops in P concentration were related to the formation of an intermediate phosphate in the residues, identified as brushite, CaHPO₄·2H₂O. Later increase of available P in the solution was found to be a consequence of re-dissolution of brushite crystals previously formed. Re-crystallization of brushite was also detected in plate cultures after 12-14 days of incubation     

Evolution of humic substances from unripe compost during incubation with lignolytic or cellulolytic microorganisms and effects on the lettuce growth promotion mediated byAzotobacter chroococcum

Some recalcitrant organic wastes, which contain a large proportion of lignin or cellulose, are not changed much by composting, and thus the effectiveness of the compost as fertilizer is usua.lly low. In this study, incubation of unripe compost with ligno-cellulolytic microorganisms —Trichoderma viride orBacillus spp. — was investigated to increase the degree of humification of the organic matter present, and improve ils quality as a soil amendment. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses together with humification indices and electrofocusing patterns were used to monitor the evolution of the humic substances during the incubation process. Plant growth effects exerted by Azotobacter chroococcum on lettuce plants growing on the previously incubated compost were affected by the length of incubation and by changes in the composition of humic substances. Higher organic matter content and better humification seem to be important factors for predictingA. chroococcum hebaviour in the rhizosphere.     

Methods for the investigation of metabolic activities and shifts in the microbial community in a soil treated with a fungicide

Samples from a sandy agricultural soil were treated with increasing amounts of a fungicide (Sportak). The effects on the soil microflora were investigated over several weeks by monitoring basal and substrate-induced respiration and basal and substrate-induced heat output. The microbial biomass, metabolic quotient (qCO₂), relative heat output (rqheat), lag phase of substrate use, and calorimetric: respirometric ratio were used as ecophysiological parametèrs. As structural and community-specific parameters, we recorded tryptophan contents and auxin metabolism, and calculated the ratios of fungal to bacterial respiration by antibiotic inhibition of substrate-induced respiration. Sportak either inhibited or stimulated the microbiota, depending on the length of exposure to the fungicide and the amount applied. Mineralization of dead biomass was reflected in increased soil tryptophan contents after the Sportak application. A shortened lag phase demonstrated inhibition and a prolonged lag phase stimulation of substrate use. This changed with the experimental phase. The rqheat and the calorimetric: respirometric ratio proved to be suitable parameters for the detection of stress metabolism (repair processes) in soil microbiota, because thermodynamic processes and catabolic and anabolic metabolism are taken into account at the same time. Following the application of Sportak, indole 3-acetic acid biosynthesis decreased while indole-3-ethanol biosynthesis increased, probably as a result of a transitional community shift from K-strategists towards r-strategists. It was not the fungicide but the formulation (mainly xylol) that damaged the organisms. A shift in the ratio of fungi to bacteria was also observed, suggesting that the bacteria were probably more sensitive to xylol than the fungi.     

Microbial and enzyme activity in soils amended with a natural source of easily available carbon

The addition of sugar beet to soils as a source of C led to an increase in the availability of easily utilizable C (glucose), which in turn markedly increased numbers of soil bacteria and of the yeast Williopsis californica. Nitrification, P solubilization, urea hydrolysis (and the subsequent nitrification of liberated NH _inf4 ^sup+ ) were stimulated by this amendment. The stimulation of nitrification may have been a result of increased heterotrophic nitrification. In contrast, the concentration of sulphate in S^o-amended soils declined following amendment, presumably as the result of enhanced S immobilization. Activity of the enzymes amylase, aryl sulphatase, invertase, phosphatase, dehydrogenase, and urease were all stimulated by the sugar beet amendment. These results suggest that sugar beet amendment could be used to increase the rate of release of plant-available ions from fertilizers such as insoluble phosphates. Problems may arise, however, from a subsequent increase in nitrification and reduced sulphate availability.     

新型生物制剂“易丰收”对大豆产量促生效应及根际微生物影响研究

通过大豆‘辽豆20’盆栽试验,研究新型生物制剂“易丰收”对大豆的促生效应以及对根际微生物的影响,并结合芸薹素内酯、复合肥料与其进行对比。此文调查了大豆株高、茎粗、根瘤数等生长指标以及产量构成因素,另外还有根际细菌、放线菌和真菌数量。通过SPSS 13.0统计软件分析数据,可以得出结论。“易丰收”较之芸薹素内酯,更能明显促进大豆的生长发育和产量,显著提高大豆根瘤数量,增加根际细菌数量,尤其配合肥料效果更好。     

氟磺胺草醚降解菌的分离鉴定及生长特性研究

氟磺胺草醚广泛应用于大豆田防除阔叶杂草,其长残留问题十分严重,微生物降解是解决氟磺胺草醚残留问题的有效途径。利用高压富集的方法,从长期施用氟磺胺草醚的田间土壤中,分离筛选出6株能够以氟磺胺草醚为唯一碳源生长的降解菌,其中一个菌株在查氏液体培养基中培养5d,对40mg a.i./L氟磺胺草醚的降解率为92.13%。通过形态特征鉴定并对该菌株18S rRNA的部分序列进行基因测序,对其在系统发育分类学上的地位加以分析,同时研究环境条件对其生长的影响。结果表明,该菌株为真菌,初步鉴定为黄曲霉(Aspergillus flavus),实验室命名为TZ1985。菌株TZ1985最适生长温度为25℃,最适培养基pH值为7.0,生长最适葡萄糖含量为0.6%,生长最适氟磺胺草醚的浓度是10mg a.i./L。     

南水北调中线水源区富营养化研究

为了给建立南水北调中线水源区长期生态研究数据信息库及生态工程规划提供科学依据,在丹江口水库建立陶岔(渠首)自动监测点,丹江库心、大石桥(入库上游)和汉江库区丹江口坝前监测点,于2004-03—2006-05对南水北调中线水源区微生物菌群、浮游生物与理化指标进行监测。按水样采集标准方法采样,采用污水生物系统法、营养状态指数法和单因子评价法对中线水源区进行富营养化程度评价。在4个监测点共采集到浮游生物94属202种(含变种),未发现水体重污染指示种。浮游植物8门67属161种(含变种),占浮游生物种的80%,浮游植物污染指示种21属24种(含变种),β-中营养型占浮游植物污染指示种38%;浮游动物27属41种(含变种),占浮游生物种的20%,包括3种浮游动物污染指示种;水源区叶绿素a质量浓度为4.25μg/m3,营养状态指数0.0001;理化检测指标中除总氮(Ⅲ类)外,其他指标均符合Ⅰ类水质标准。中线水源区为寡污型水体,处于中营养状态,符合南水北调调水水质的要求。     

退化高寒草原土壤微生物变化特性研究

对藏北退化高寒草原土壤微生物群落数量的研究结果表明：①相对于正常草地，轻度退化草地土壤细菌、放线菌、真菌数量均呈不同程度的提高；中度退化和严重退化草地土壤细菌和真菌数量则呈显著下降趋势，而土壤放线菌数量显著升高。②土壤真菌与土壤细菌表现为极显著正相关（P≤o．01）；而与放线菌则为负相关；土壤放线菌和土壤细菌间则为显著负相关（P≤0．05）。③土壤细菌、放线菌和真菌与土壤有机质均呈显著相关，r值分别为0．7256、-0．7533、0．7215。④不同退化程度高寒草地土壤微生物数量以细菌占绝对优势，放线菌和真菌较少，并有不同的变动规律。⑤西藏高原高寒、干旱条件下，轻度退化草地一定程度的沙化所导致的土壤通透性能的改善对土壤微生物的繁殖与活动具有重要的促进作用。     

矿质肥料对杉木苗根区土壤生化性的影响

矿质肥料地施用显著地增加了杉木苗根区土壤的微生物数量，微生物总数３个处理氮，磷钾氮磷钾分别是对照２．２９倍，１．１４倍和２．８９倍，其中细菌增加幅度最大，其次是真菌。矿质矿料对非根区土的微生物数量无明显影响，矿质肥料对杉木苗根区土壤酶活性影响较复杂。脲酶和蔗糖酶的活性不受矿质肥料影响，磷钾和氮磷钾处理均能显著提高蛋白酶活性，单施氮肥能很激活磷酸酶，而氮磷钾混施特别是磷钾混施不仅不能增强其活性，反而