Seasonal dynamics of mineral N pools and N-mineralization in soils under homegarden trees in South Andaman,India

Agroforestry trees are now well known to play a central role in the build up of nutrients pools and their transformations similar to that of forest ecosystem, however, information on the potential of homegarden trees accumulating and releasing nitrogen (mineralization) is lacking. The present study reports seasonal variations in pool sizes of mineral N (NH₄⁺-N and NO₃⁻-N), and net N-mineralization rate in relation to rainfall and temperature under coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), clove (Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb) and nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt. Nees) trees in a coconut-spice trees plantation for two annual cycles in the equatorial humid climate of South Andaman Island of India. Concentration of NH₄⁺-N was the highest during wet season (May–October) and the lowest during post-wet season (November–January) under all the tree species. On the contrary, concentration of NO₃⁻-N was the lowest in the wet season and the highest during the post-wet season. However, concentrations of the mineral N were the highest under the nutmeg and the lowest under the coconut trees. Like the pool sizes, mean annual mineralization was the highest under the nutmeg (561 mg kg⁻¹ yr⁻¹) and the lowest under the coconut trees (393 mg kg⁻¹ yr⁻¹). Rate of mineralization was the highest during the post-wet season and the lowest during the dry season (February–April) under all the tree species. High rainfall during the wet season, however, reduced the rate of nitrification under all the tree species. The mean annual mineralization was logarithmically related with rainfall amount and mean monthly temperature.     

林地覆盖经营对雷竹林土壤氮素形态及硝化-反硝化作用的影响

为探讨林地覆盖经营对雷竹林土壤氮素形态和硝化作用、反硝化作用的影响,选择了覆盖11、3、5 a和不覆盖(CK)4种处理的雷竹林,测定0 20 cm土层土壤全氮、铵态氮和硝态氮含量,并采用气压过程分离系统(BaPS)测定土壤总硝化速率和反硝化速率。结果表明:随着覆盖年限的增加,试验雷竹林0 20 cm土层土壤全氮含量总体呈增加趋势,覆盖雷竹林全氮含量显著高于CK;土壤铵态氮和硝态氮含量均呈倒"N"型变化,覆盖3 a雷竹林的铵态氮和硝态氮含量最高;土壤铵硝比递增,覆盖3 a后显著提高,覆盖5 a后铵态氮是雷竹林土壤无机氮库的主要存在形式;土壤总硝化速率呈下降趋势,总体上与不同形态氮素含量、铵硝比相关性不显著,且相关性强度随覆盖经营年限的增加而减弱。土壤反硝化速率在覆盖3 a及以下年限时基本为0,覆盖5 a时显著提高,达69.53 μg·kg^-1·h^-1。研究表明,林地覆盖经营对雷竹林土壤氮素形态及组分比例的影响较明显,削弱了土壤硝化作用,土壤氮素不是限制硝化作用进行的主要因子,长期覆盖经营会显著提高土壤反硝化作用,增大土壤氮素的损失。在实际生产中建议采用休闲式覆盖方式,连续覆盖时间不超过3 a。     

Evaluation of the drug sensitivity and expression of 16 drug resistance-related genes in canine histiocytic sarcoma cell lines

Canine histiocytic sarcoma (HS) is an aggressive tumor type originating from histiocytic cell lineages. This disease is characterized by poor response to chemotherapy and short survival time. Therefore, it is of critical importance to identify and develop effective antitumor drugs against HS. The objectives of this study were to examine the drug sensitivities of 10 antitumor drugs. Using a real-time RT-PCR system, the mRNA expression levels of 16 genes related to drug resistance in 4 canine HS cell lines established from dogs with disseminated HS were determined and compared to 2 canine lymphoma cell lines (B-cell and T-cell). These 4 canine HS cell lines showed sensitivities toward microtubule inhibitors (vincristine, vinblastine and paclitaxel), comparable to those in the canine B-cell lymphoma cell line. Moreover, it was shown that P-gp in the HS cell lines used in this study did not have enough function to efflux its substrate. Sensitivities to melphalan, nimustine, methotrexate, cytarabine, doxorubicin and etoposide were lower in the 4 HS cell lines than in the 2 canine lymphoma cell lines. The data obtained in this study using cultured cell lines could prove helpful in the developing of advanced and effective chemotherapies for treating dogs that are suffering from HS.     

Nitrogen turnover and N2O production in the forest floor of beech stands as influenced by forest management

Effects of forest management (thinning) on gross ammonification, net ammonification, net nitrification, microbial biomass, and N₂O production were studied in the forest floor of adjacent untreated control (“C”) and thinned (“T”) plots in three beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stands in the Swabian Jura (Southern Germany) during three intensive field campaigns in the year 2004. The investigated sites are located less than 1 km apart on the slopes of a narrow valley. Due to different exposure (southwest, northeast, northwest), the three sites are characterized by warm‐dry microclimate (southwest site, SW) and cool‐moist microclimate (northeast site, NE; and northwest site, NW). Measurements at the NW site covered the second year (13 to 20 months) after thinning, and measurements at the SW and NE sites covered the sixth year (61 to 68 months) after thinning. Mean gross ammonification varied insignificantly across the six plots (range: 37.5 ? 31.2 to 51.0 ? 10.5 mg N (kg dry soil)^–1 d^–1). The SW site was characterized by very low net nitrification and nitrate (NO ) concentrations that were not significantly different between control and thinned plot. In contrast, for the thinned plot at the NE site (NET), significantly increased mean net nitrification (2.3 ? 1.2 mg N (kg dry soil)^–1 d^–1 at the NET plot vs. 0.4 ? 0.2 mg N (kg dry soil)^–1 d^–1 at the NEC plot) and mean extractable NO concentrations (43.9 ? 22.8 mg N (kg dry soil)^–1 at the NET plot vs. 4.1 ? 0.8 mg N (kg dry soil)^–1 at the NEC plot) were observed. The differences in net nitrification and NO concentrations across the research plots were related to differences in the forest‐floor C : N ratios: net nitrification increased exponentially below a threshold C : N value of about 25. The results of this study indicate that the forest floor of the warm‐dry SW site is very resistant to N loss triggered by thinning due to high C : N ratios around 30. Under the cool‐moist microclimate of the NE site, a significantly lower C : N ratio of 22.1 at the thinned plot (control plot: 26.7) coincided with significantly increased net nitrification. Thus, different responses of net nitrification to thinning under different microclimate appear to be triggered by different C : N ratios. Nitrous oxide production was mainly governed by forest‐floor water content, and since differences in water content at adjacent control and thinned plots were low, N₂O production was not significantly different between adjacent control and thinned plots.     

Heterotrophic and autotrophic nitrification in two acid pasture soils

Laboratory incubation experiments, using ¹⁵N-labeling techniques and simple analytical models, were conducted to measure heterotrophic and autotrophic nitrification rates in two acid soils (pH 4.8-5.3; 1/5 in H₂O) with high organic carbon contents (6.2-6.8% in top 5 cm soil). The soils were from pastures located near Maindample and Ruffy in the Northeast Victoria, Australia. Gross rates of N mineralization, nitrification and immobilization were measured. The gross rates of autotrophic nitrification were 0.157 and 0.119 μg N g⁻¹ h⁻¹ and heterotrophic nitrification rates were 0.036 and 0.009 μg N g⁻¹ h⁻¹ for the Maindample and Ruffy soils, respectively. Heterotrophic nitrification accounted for 19% and 7% of the total nitrification in the Maindample and Ruffy soils, respectively. The heterotrophic nitrifiers used organic N compounds and no as the substrate for nitrification.     

氮素调控对玉米氮素同化过程及产量的影响

氮素调控措施与作物氮素吸收利用和产量密切相关,但目前关于不同氮素调控措施对玉米主要生育期氮素同化过程的影响仍不清楚。以郑单958为试验材料,设置不施氮肥（CK）、传统施肥（CN）、氮肥+生物炭（SN）和氮肥+硝化抑制剂DMPP（DN）4个处理,分析不同氮素调控对玉米氮素同化过程中铵态氮和硝态氮含量、硝酸还原酶（NR）和谷氨酰胺合成酶（GS）活性、游离氨基酸和可溶性蛋白含量以及氮素利用率和产量的影响。结果表明：DN和SN处理较传统施肥处理均可以提高玉米植株体内硝态氮和铵态氮含量、NR和GS活性;DN和SN处理显著提高灌浆期谷氨酸、游离氨基酸和可溶性蛋白含量;DN处理成熟期籽粒的氮素积累量显著高于SN和CN处理,分别显著增加18.4%和30.0%;DN处理产量最高,SN次之,二者并无显著差异,但相较CN处理分别显著增产1 483.0和1 154.2 kg·hm^-2。两种氮素调控均促进了玉米对氮素的吸收,显著提高氮肥吸收利用率,其中硝化抑制剂处理氮肥吸收利用率最高且显著高于其他处理。综上,生物炭或硝化抑制剂配施氮肥,可以促进玉米氮素同化和转运过程,显著提高玉米产量和氮肥利用效率,综合产量、籽粒氮素积累量和氮肥吸收利用率,硝化抑制剂配施氮肥可作为淮河流域玉米高产高效的栽培措施。     

Effects of aromatase inhibitors on reproduction in male three-spined sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus, exposed to long and short photoperiods

Three-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus, males were implanted with Silastic capsules filled with different aromatase inhibitors; 1,4,6-androstatriene-3,17-dione or the non-steroidal CGS16949 A, 4-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrimidazol [1,5-a]pyridin-5-yl) benzonitrile monohydrochloride or empty capsules. The fish were then exposed to long or short photoperiod. Under the long photoperiod most fish in all treatments displayed a hypertrophied kidney (a secondary sexual character in sticklebacks) and completed, quiescent spermatogenesis, similar as in the natural spawning period. Under the short photoperiod the controls had unstimulated kidneys and an active spermatogenesis, whereas the males implanted with both aromatase inhibitors had stimulated kidneys, though not to the extent as in the long photoperiod, and completed, quiescent spermatogenesis. These findings suggest that aromatization is of importance for the inhibitory effects of short photoperiod on reproduction in the stickleback. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Breaking seasonal limitation: year-round sporogenesis in the brown alga Laminaria saccharina by blocking the transport of putative sporulation inhibitors

Year-round induction of sporogenesis of Laminaria saccharina was performed by mechanically blocking the transport of the putative sporulation inhibitors produced by the blade meristem and culturing the plants in constant short days. Sporogenesis was successfully induced by removal of the blade meristem, either by cultivating distal blade fragments or by performing a transverse cut in the frond. The earliest sorus formation after artificial induction was 10 days. The age of the sporophytes used for induction was 6–11 months or 2 years in tank-grown or field-collected sporophytes, respectively. Zoospores were successfully released in all cases. Thus, by year-round artificial induction of sporogenesis, (1) sporeling production of L. saccharina and thereafter sporophyte cultivation could be achieved without seasonal limitation, and (2) the life cycle of L. saccharina (from spore to spore) could be completed within 8 months under controlled conditions.     

Effect of indaziflam on microbial activity and nitrogen cycling processes in an orchard soil

Indaziflam is a preemergent herbicide widely used for the control of weeds in pecan (Carya illinoinensis) orchards in the southwestern region of the United States. Given the paucity of data regarding the effect of indaziflam on the biochemical properties of soils supporting pecan production, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different application rates of indaziflam on soil microbial activity, diversity, and biochemical processes related to nitrogen (N) cycling. During two consecutive growing seasons (2015 and 2016), soil samples were obtained from experimental mesocosms consisting of soil-filled pots where pecan saplings were grown and treated with indaziflam applied at two different rates (25 and 50 g active ingredient (ai) ha^-1, with the higher rate being slightly lower than the recommended field application rate of 73.1 g ai ha^-1). Soil samples were collected approximately one week before and one week after herbicide application for determination of soil microbial biomass and diversity, N mineralization, and β-glucosaminidase activity. Soil samples collected from the control mesocosms without herbicide application were treated in the laboratory with two rates of indaziflam (75 and 150 g ai ha^-1) to determine the immediate effect on microbial activity. No significant effect of herbicide treatment on soil respiration and microbial biomass was detected. The results showed a slight to moderate decrease in microbial diversity (7% in 2015 and 44% in 2016). However, decreased β-glucosaminidase activity with herbicide treatment was observed in soils from the mesocosms (33%) and soils treated with indaziflam in the laboratory (45%). The mineral N pool was generally dominated by ammonium after indaziflam application, which was consistent with the drastic decrease (75%) in nitrification activity measured in the laboratory experiment. The results of this study indicate that indaziflam, even when applied at higher than recommended rates, has limited effects on soil microbial activity, but may affect N cycling processes.     

四种填料滤器处理养鱼废水的硝化性能

为了研究不同填料对海水养殖废水处理的硝化效能,并为生物滤器硝化动力学模型的构建、生物滤器的设计与管理提供基础数据支持,本文在5个化学耗氧量/总氨氮比0、0.8、2、6、12条件下,研究了竹制空心生化球、麦饭石、陶粒和生物滤球等4种填料的生物滤器去除模拟海水养殖废水中化学需氧量和总氨氮,以及生物膜微生物种群结构和数量的变化。结果表明：在低化学需氧量/总氨氮（＜6）条件下麦饭石填料的生物滤器具有最高的化学需氧量和总氨氮去除效能,最高分别可达850和21 g/(m3·d)（化学需氧量/总氨氮=0.8）;竹制空心