Rice Resistance to Brown Spot Mediated by Silicon and its Interaction with Manganese

Brown spot is one of the most devasting and prevalent disease of rice and its control is mainly dependent on fungicide application. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of Si and Mn on the development of brown spot on rice plants grown in hydroponic culture. Rice plants (cv. ‘Metica‐1’) were grown in plastic pots containing 0 or 2 mm Si (?Si and +Si treatments, respectively) with three Mn rates (0.5, 2.5 and 10 μm ). Plants were inoculated with B. oryzae 39 days after emergence. The following components of resistance were evaluated: incubation period (IP), number of lesions (NL) per cm² of leaf area, real disease severity (RDS) and area under brown spot progress curve (AUBSPC). The content of Si and Mn in the plant tissues was also determined. Si content was significantly higher in rice tissue of plants of the +Si treatment than of the ?Si treatment regardless of the Mn rates used. The Mn rates did not affect the Si content of the rice plants. The Mn content of the rice tissues was significantly higher in the ?Si treatment than on +Si treatment, regardless of the Mn rate used. The Mn content was significantly lower at 0.5 μm Mn in comparison to the other rates for both ?Si and +Si treatments. The IP of brown spot on rice leaves significantly increased in the +Si treatment; but the Mn rates in the presence of Si had no effect on IP. In the ?Si treatment, the IP was significantly higher only at the rate of 2.5 μm . The NL, RDS and AUBSPC were significantly reduced in the +Si treatment regardless of the Mn rates. The Mn rates in the presence of Si had no effect on these components of resistance. Overall, Si dramatically impacted the development of brown spot regardless of the presence of Mn at either low or high rates. This may be useful in regions where the soil has either toxic or deficient levels of Mn and cultivars with brown spot resistance are not commercially available.     

Effect of Zinc on the Development of Brown Spot in Rice

Brown spot, caused by the fungus Bipolaris oryzae, is one of the most destructive diseases of rice. This study investigated the effect of zinc rates on the development of brown spot in rice. Rice plants (cv. ‘Metica‐1′) were grown in hydroponic culture amended with Zn rates (applied as ZnSO₄^.7H₂O) of 0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 μm and inoculated with B. oryzae. The foliar concentration of Zn was determined. Leaf samples were assessed for disease severity, and then, area under brown spot progress curve (AUBSPC) was calculated. The relationship between Zn concentrations on leaf tissues and the rates of this micronutrient was best described by a positive linear regression model, while the relationship between the Zn rates and the AUBSPC was best described with a positive quadratic regression model. The correlation between Zn concentrations on leaf tissues and AUBSPC was positive and significant (r = 0.68, P < 0.05). The results from this study showed that high foliar concentration of Zn was associated with increasing rice susceptibility to brown spot.     

不同钾水平对钾饥饿墨兰生长发育和生理的影响

墨兰钾饥饿两个月后,培养在低于１０ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ的不同钾水平的营养液中．以比较各处理植株的生长发育、抗病和生理反应．结果表明：在正常生长状态下,墨兰体内钾含量高于氮和磷．Ｎ、Ｐ、Ｋ三者比例为６：１：９,因此栽培墨兰要重视钾肥．墨兰在缺钾（０ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ）或低钾（０．１ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ）条件下生长不良、花数少,叶片褐斑病较多;当供给较高钾含量（１、５或１０ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ）时,植株生长良好,光合速率和呼吸速率亦高,根系活力较强,叶片生长快,花数多．褐斑病发病率低．作者认为,５ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ钾水平的营养液较适合于墨兰生长发育．     

Light-Dependent Induction of Sekiguchi Lesion Formation by Bipolaris oryzae in Rice cv. Sekiguchi-asahi

The effect of light irradiation on Sekiguchi lesion formation induced by infection with Bipolaris oryzae on rice sl mutants was investigated. Although the Sekiguchi lesions formed exclusively under daylight fluorescent lamps, brown spots and necrotic spot lesions formed in the dark. The Sekiguchi lesions were larger than the brown spot lesions. When leaf blades inoculated with B. oryzae were irradiated through band-pass filters of BPB-45, BPB-50, BPB-55, and BPB-60, Sekiguchi lesions were formed regardless of the BPB filters' wavelengths. Under black-light lamps, near-infrared fluorescent lamps, or in the dark, however, brown spot lesions were induced by B. oryzae . The effective wavelength region for light-dependent Sekiguchi lesion formation was 400–700 nm. Furthermore, there was a direct correlation between the length of the radiation wavelengths and the size of the Sekiguchi lesions.     

构树(Broussonetia papyrifera)幼苗氮、磷吸收对接种AM真菌的响应

对石灰岩适生植物构树(Broussonetia papyrifera)进行菌根真菌摩西球囊霉(Glomus mosseea)、地表球囊霉(G.versiforme)、透光球囊霉(G.diaphanum)的单独接种、混合接种和不接种处理,幼苗生长3个月后测定其根茎叶N、P含量和土壤酶活性,结果表明：接种AM真菌后构树幼苗生物量显著增加,植株根茎叶N含量较对照组显著提高,其含量为根<茎<叶。各处理中除了透光球囊霉处理的茎含量与对照差异不显著外,其余各处理含量均呈显著或极显著差异。AM真菌对构树苗P的促进效应主要体现在根、茎的利用上,而叶片P含量除混合接种外则有所降低,但M+(接种处理)与M-(非接种处理)间无显著差异。构树苗根茎叶等量干物质P含量依次为叶>根>茎。进一步研究表明,接种AM真菌显著提高了土壤酶活性,这种显著性主要体现在蛋白酶和碱性磷酸酶上, 植株N含量与土壤蛋白酶和碱性磷酸酶活性有显著相关性,而P含量只是根部吸收与多酚氧化酶活性显著相关。结果表明,接种AM真菌促进了宿主植物构树生物量的积累,提高了根际土壤酶活性,增加了植株对N、P的吸收。     

Use of plant extracts and biocontrol agents for the management of brown spot disease in rice

Fifty plant extracts, four oil cakes and eight antagonistic organisms were tested against Bipolaris oryzae (Cochliobolus miyabeanus), the causal agent of brown spot disease of rice. In vitro studies indicated that two leaf extracts, Nerium oleander and Pithecolobium dulce exerted the higher percent inhibition to mycelial growth (77.4, 75.1%) and spore germination (80.3, 80.0%) of B. oryzae. Among the four oil cake extracts tested in vitro against B. oryzae, neem cake extract showed the maximum inhibition percent to mycelial growth (80.18%) and spore germination (81.13%) of the pathogen followed by mahua cake extract, castor and gingelly cake extract. Trichoderma viride (Tv2) was significantly effective in inhibiting the mycelial growth (62.92%) and spore germination (77.03%) of the pathogen followed by Trichoderma harzianum (Th5) and Trichoderma reesei (Tr3). The promising leaf extracts, oil cake extracts and antagonistic microorganisms were further evaluated for their efficacies in disease management under glasshouse and field conditions. In glasshouse studies, post-infectional spraying of rice plants with neem cake extract, N. oleander leaf extract and T. viride (Tv2) was significantly effective in reducing the incidence of brown spot of rice by 66, 52 and 45 percent respectively. Two rounds of spraying of rice plants with neem cake extract, N. oleander leaf extract and T. viride (Tv2) in the field at initial appearance of disease and 15 days later reduced the incidence of brown spot (70, 53 and 48% disease reduction respectively) and increased the yield by 23, 18 and 15 percent respectively.     

Effects of Slag-Based Silicon Fertilizer on Rice Growth and Brown-Spot Resistance

It is well documented that slag-based silicon fertilizers have beneficial effects on the growth and disease resistance of rice. However, their effects vary greatly with sources of slag and are closely related to availability of silicon (Si) in these materials. To date, few researches have been done to compare the differences in plant performance and disease resistance between different slag-based silicon fertilizers applied at the same rate of plant-available Si. In the present study both steel and iron slags were chosen to investigate their effects on rice growth and disease resistance under greenhouse conditions. Both scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to examine the effects of slags on ultrastructural changes in leaves of rice naturally infected by Bipolaris oryaze, the causal agent of brown spot. The results showed that both slag-based Si fertilizers tested significantly increased rice growth and yield, but decreased brown spot incidence, with steel slag showing a stronger effect than iron slag. The results of SEM analysis showed that application of slags led to more pronounced cell silicification in rice leaves, more silica cells, and more pronounced and larger papilla as well. The results of TEM analysis showed that mesophyll cells of slag-untreated rice leaf were disorganized, with colonization of the fungus (Bipolaris oryzae), including chloroplast degradation and cell wall alterations. The application of slag maintained mesophyll cells relatively intact and increased the thickness of silicon layer. It can be concluded that applying slag-based fertilizer to Si-deficient paddy soil is necessary for improving both rice productivity and brown spot resistance. The immobile silicon deposited in host cell walls and papillae sites is the first physical barrier for fungal penetration, while the soluble Si in the cytoplasm enhances physiological or induced resistance to fungal colonization.     

Cloning and overexpression of antifungal barley chitinase gene in Escherichia coli

Plant chitinases are pathogenesis-related proteins, which are believed to be involved in plant defense responses to pathogen infection. In this study, chitinase gene from barley was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. Chitinase (35 kDa) was isolated and purified. Since the protein was produced as insoluble inclusion bodies, the protein was solubilized and refolded. Purified chitinase exerted broad-spectrum antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea (blight of tobacco), Pestalotia theae (leaf spot of tea), Bipolaris oryzae (brown spot of rice), Alternaria sp. (grain discoloration of rice), Curvularia lunata (leaf spot of clover) and Rhizoctonia solani (sheath blight of rice). Due to the potential of broad-spectrum antifungal activity barley chitinase gene can be used to enhance fungal-resistance in crop plants such as rice, tobacco, tea and clover.     

Chronopathological Aspects of Disease Incidence in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Rice seedlings maintained under uncontrolled glasshouse conditions were inoculated with conidial suspensions of a fungal pathogen, Helminthosporium oryzae, at various times during the 24 h. Significant increase in the percent germination and germ tube length of conidia were observed in the rice samples inoculated at 02:00 and 06:00h. The 24 h temporal variation in leaf temperature was positively correlated with variation in stomatal movements. The results indicate a 24 h rhythm in the behavior of the fungal pathogen on the host in relation to the conditions of the growing environment. In all the inoculated seedlings, the appearance of a large number of brown leaf spots was confined to the light span. Among the plants inoculated, earlier initiation of brown leaf spot appearance, maximum number of leaf spots, and highest disease severity were observed when plants were inoculated at 02:00h. There was a positive correlation between disease severity of the host and in vivo values of percent germination of conidia and germ tube length of the pathogen in plants inoculated between 02:00 and 06:00h. The findings of this study implicate that light intensity and temperature could play a predominant role in controlling disease susceptibility rhythms in plants.     

Interference Between Two Strains of Bean Common Mosaic Virus is Accompanied by Suppression of Symptoms Without Affecting Replication of the Challenging Virus

An unusual type of interference between two strains of bean common mosaic virus, viz. NY15 and NL3, infecting bean plants, was investigatred. Wdhen a primary leaf was inoculated with NY15 as inducer and 1–8 days later, the opposite leaf with NL3 as challenger, the plant did not develop symptoms characteristic of NL3, i.e. systemic necrosis in the top, stem and wilting and withering of the youngest trifoloclate leaves. A7-h interval between the inoculations with inducer and challenger already sufficed to reduce the number of plants showing NL3 symptoms. Surprisingly, the amount of NL3 in the challenge-inoculated leaf was always than that in the singly infected control, Furthermore, NY15 could not be detected in the opposite leaf until 8 days post-inoculation and appered enen later in that leaf when challenge-inoculated. Histological studies showed that NL3 appered later in the xylem of bothe the petiole and stem between primary leaves and first trifoliolate leaf, as compared with the singly inoculated control.
The results suggest that suppression of Nl3 symptoms by Ny15 is not caused by impeding its multiplication, but by delaying the transport of NL3 to the xylem of petiole and stem.     

Chronopathological aspects of disease incidence in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Rice seedlings maintained under uncontrolled glasshouse conditions were inoculated with conidial suspensions of a fungal pathogen, Helminthosporium oryzae, at various times during the 24 h. Significant increase in the percent germination and germ tube length of conidia were observed in the rice samples inoculated at 02:00 and 06:00h. The 24 h temporal variation in leaf temperature was positively correlated with variation in stomatal movements. The results indicate a 24 h rhythm in the behavior of the fungal pathogen on the host in relation to the conditions of the growing environment. In all the inoculated seedlings, the appearance of a large number of brown leaf spots was confined to the light span. Among the plants inoculated, earlier initiation of brown leaf spot appearance, maximum number of leaf spots, and highest disease severity were observed when plants were inoculated at 02:00h. There was a positive correlation between disease severity of the host and in vivo values of percent germination of conidia and germ tube length of the pathogen in plants inoculated between 02:00 and 06:00h. The findings of this study implicate that light intensity and temperature could play a predominant role in controlling disease susceptibility rhythms in plants.     

干旱胁迫下覆膜和接种微生物对玉米生长与水分利用效率的影响

针对西北干旱半干旱地区土壤贫瘠与水分缺乏的问题,利用微生物与作物形成互惠互利的共生关系,本研究设置两个水分梯度:干旱胁迫(供试土壤最大持水量的35%)和正常水分(供试土壤最大持水量的75%),两个覆膜方式:无覆膜(NM)和覆膜(FM),4个接种微生物水平:单接AM真菌(AM)、单接解磷细菌(PSB)、联合接种AM真菌与解磷细菌(AM+PSB)以及对照(CK),研究不同水分和覆膜条件下4个接种微生物对玉米生长特性、地上养分吸收与水分利用效率的影响.结果表明: 与正常水分处理相比,干旱胁迫能够显著提高接种AM真菌处理的侵染率,但正常水分处理下土壤根外菌丝密度、总球囊霉素(T-GRSP)与易提取球囊霉素(EE-GRSP)含量明显提高.干旱胁迫下,单接AM真菌处理的促生作用和菌根效应表现最好,能够提高玉米生物量、水分利用效率和土壤有机碳含量,促进土壤N、P、K的吸收与运输,从而增加玉米地上部分N、P、K吸收量;而正常水分下,联合接种AM+PSB处理表现要好于单接AM和PSB处理,且其与覆膜的互作效果最好.相关分析结果表明,玉米生物量、叶片SPAD值和地上部分N、P、K吸收量均与土壤根外菌丝密度呈显著正相关,玉米水分利用效率与其呈显著负相关.     

Effect of inoculation and leaf litter amendment on establishment of nodule-forming Frankia populations in soil

High-N(2)-fixing activities of Frankia populations in root nodules on Alnus glutinosa improve growth performance of the host plant. Therefore, the establishment of active, nodule-forming populations of Frankia in soil is desirable. In this study, we inoculated Frankia strains of Alnus host infection groups I, IIIa, and IV into soil already harboring indigenous populations of infection groups (IIIa, IIIb, and IV). Then we amended parts of the inoculated soil with leaf litter of A. glutinosa and kept these parts of soil without host plants for several weeks until they were spiked with [(15)N]NO(3) and planted with seedlings of A. glutinosa. After 4 months of growth, we analyzed plants for growth performance, nodule formation, specific Frankia populations in root nodules, and N(2) fixation rates. The results revealed that introduced Frankia strains incubated in soil for several weeks in the absence of plants remained infective and competitive for nodulation with the indigenous Frankia populations of the soil. Inoculation into and incubation in soil without host plants generally supported subsequent plant growth performance and increased the percentage of nitrogen acquired by the host plants through N(2) fixation from 33% on noninoculated, nonamended soils to 78% on inoculated, amended soils. Introduced Frankia strains representing Alnus host infection groups IIIa and IV competed with indigenous Frankia populations, whereas frankiae of group I were not found in any nodules. When grown in noninoculated, nonamended soil, A. glutinosa plants harbored Frankia populations of only group IIIa in root nodules. This group was reduced to 32% +/- 23% (standard deviation) of the Frankia nodule populations when plants were grown in inoculated, nonamended soil. Under these conditions, the introduced Frankia strain of group IV was established in 51% +/- 20% of the nodules. Leaf litter amendment during the initial incubation in soil without plants promoted nodulation by frankiae of group IV in both inoculated and noninoculated treatments. Grown in inoculated, amended soils, plants had significantly lower numbers of nodules infected by group IIIa (8% +/- 6%) than by group IV (81% +/- 11%). On plants grown in noninoculated, amended soil, the original Frankia root nodule population represented by group IIIa of the noninoculated, nonamended soil was entirely exchanged by a Frankia population belonging to group IV. The quantification of N(2) fixation rates by (15)N dilution revealed that both the indigenous and the inoculated Frankia populations of group IV had a higher specific N(2)-fixing capacity than populations belonging to group IIIa under the conditions applied. These results show that through inoculation or leaf litter amendment, Frankia populations with high specific N(2)-fixing capacities can be established in soils. These populations remain infective on their host plants, successfully compete for nodule formation with other indigenous or inoculated Frankia populations, and thereby increase plant growth performance.     

A Strobilurin Fungicide Relieves Bipolaris oryzae‐Induced Oxidative Stress in Rice

Although strobilurins are one of the most effective and broad spectrum classes of systemic fungicides, they may also increase plant stress tolerance by modulating the activity of antioxidant enzymes. To address this issue, the effect of azoxystrobin (Az) on the activity of antioxidant enzymes and on the concentrations of antioxidant metabolites and oxidative stress‐related compounds was studied in rice plants (cv. Metica‐1) either inoculated or not with Bipolaris oryzae, the causal agent of brown spot (BS). The Az minimally affected the enzyme activities, but consistently increased the glutathione reduced (GSH) concentrations in the noninoculated plants. The activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione‐S‐transferase were increased upon B. oryzae infection, but such increases were greatly limited in the Az‐sprayed plants. Catalase activity decreased in the inoculated plants compared to the noninoculated plants regardless of fungicide treatment. The GSH concentration increased in response to the B. oryzae infection, and the Az‐sprayed plants sustained higher levels of GSH at advanced stages of fungal infection than did the nonsprayed plants. The inoculated plants exhibited an extensive oxidative stress as evidenced by higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde compared to the noninoculated plants, but lower and later increases were recorded in the Az‐sprayed plants than in the nonsprayed plants. Therefore, Az greatly reduces B. oryzae‐induced oxidative stress by limiting BS development rather than by activating antioxidant enzymes. The GSH, however, seems to be Az‐modulated, and this may partially explain the constrained oxidative stress observed in the Az‐sprayed plants.     

Brown Spot of Rice is Affected by Photon Irradiance and Temperature

Brown spot, caused by Bipolaris oryzae, is one of the most destructive diseases in rice. In this study, the effect of photon irradiance and temperature on brown spot development was evaluated. The concentration of total soluble sugars (fructose, glucose and sucrose) in rice leaves was also evaluated. Rice plants of cv. ‘Oochikara’ were inoculated with B. oryzae and kept in a greenhouse [20 ± 2°C (night time) and 35 ± 2°C (day time), ≈ 1000 μmol photons/m²/s] or two different mist chambers (25 or 32 ± 2°C, ≈ 15 μmol photons/m²/s at the top canopy). Plants kept in a mist chamber at 32 ± 2°C, under low photon irradiance, showed reduced incubation period (IP) and increase in the rate of lesion expansion. Brown spot severity in rice leaves was 67.8% at 32 ± 2°C, 27.8% at 25 ± 2°C and 11.4% under greenhouse conditions. The highest brown spot severity was found on plants grown under low photon irradiance, in which soluble sugar concentrations were lowest, suggesting that disease development was boosted under these particular growing conditions. Based on the results of this study, a continuous high temperature and low photon irradiance, in the presence of high relative humidity, and low soluble sugars contribute to an increase in brown spot development.     

滇中高原云南松林枯落物输入对土壤碳氮储量及其分布格局的影响

为了更好地理解土壤碳氮对枯落物输入变化的响应,通过枯落物添加与去除实验（DIRT）对滇中高原云南松林枯落物输入变化对土壤碳氮储量及其分布格局的影响进行了研究。2018年3月至2019年2月分别设置6种枯落物输处理,分别为对照（CO）、去除枯落物（NL）、双倍枯落物（DL）、去除根系（NR）、无输入（NI）以及去除有机层与A层（O/A-Less）,研究了不同处理条件下土壤剖面上碳氮储量的分布规律。研究结果表明：（1）不同处理全碳储量为134.49-170.92 t/hm²,全碳储量在不同处理间表现为：S_C（NL）=170.92 t/hm² > S_C（CO）=168.10 t/hm² > S_C（NR）=153.26 t/hm² > S_C（NI）=147.20 t/hm² > S_{C（O/A-Less）}=143.54 t/hm² > S_C（DL）=134.49 t/hm²,不同处理0-20 cm土层全碳储量占0-60 cm土层全碳储量的40.86%-53.56%;不同处理全氮储量表现为：S_N（CO）=11.83 t/hm² > S_N（NL）=9.70 t/hm² > S_N（DL）=8.70 t/hm² > S_N（NR）=8.35 t/hm² > S_{N（O/A-Less）}=8.21 t/hm² > S_N（NI）=8.09 t/hm²。不同处理0-20 cm土层的全氮储量占0-60 cm土层全氮储量的39.28%-46.04%。云南松林地枯落物添加去除实验发现去除枯落物短期内可以增加土壤碳储量,其他处理均在一定程度上减少了土壤碳氮储量。（2）地上枯落物输入对表层（0-20 cm）土壤碳氮影响显著,根系输入对深层（20-40 cm）土壤碳氮影响显著;（3）土壤C、N存在耦合关系,不同处理土壤全碳含量与全氮含量极显著正相关,并且土壤全碳含量与土壤各化学计量比均呈极显著正相关关系;土壤容重与土壤碳氮含量具有极显著负相关关系。     

水分胁迫下AM真菌对沙打旺生长和抗旱性的影响

利用盆栽试验研究了水分胁迫条件下接种AM真菌对优良牧草和固沙植物沙打旺(Astragalus adsurgens Pall.)生长和抗旱性的影响。在土壤相对含水量为70%、50%和30%条件下,分别接种摩西球囊霉(Glomus mosseae)和沙打旺根际土著菌,不接种处理作为对照。结果表明,水分胁迫显著降低了沙打旺植株(无论接种AM真菌与否)的株高、分枝数、地上部干重和地下部干重,并显著提高了土著AM真菌的侵染率,对摩西球囊霉的侵染率无显著影响。接种AM真菌可以促进沙打旺生长和提高植株抗旱性,但促进效应因土壤含水量和菌种不同而存在差异。不同水分条件下,接种AM真菌显著提高了植株菌根侵染率、根系活力、地下部全N含量和叶片CAT活性。土壤相对含水量为30%和50%时,接种株地上部全N、叶片叶绿素、可溶性蛋白、脯氨酸含量和POD活性显著高于未接种株;接种AM真菌显著降低了叶片MDA含量;接种土著AM真菌的植株株高、分枝数、地上部和地下部干重显著高于未接种株。土壤相对含水量为30%时,接种AM真菌显著增加了地上部全P含量和叶片相对含水量;接种摩西球囊霉的植株株高、分枝数、地上部和地下部干重显著高于未接种株。水分胁迫40d,接种AM真菌显著提高了叶片可溶性糖含量。水分胁迫80d,接种株叶片SOD活性显著增加。菌根依赖性随水分胁迫程度增加而提高。沙打旺根际土著菌接种效果优于摩西球囊霉。水分胁迫和AM真菌的交互作用对分枝数、菌根侵染率、叶片SOD、CAT和POD活性、叶绿素、脯氨酸、可溶性蛋白、地上部全N和全P、地下部全N和根系活力有极显著影响,对叶片丙二醛和地下部全P有显著影响。AM真菌促进根系对土壤水分和矿质营养的吸收,改善植物生理代谢活动,从而提高沙打旺抗旱性,促进其生长。试验结果为筛选优良抗旱菌种,充分利用AM真菌资源促进荒漠植物生长和植被恢复提供了依据。     

高原鼠兔有效洞穴密度对高寒草甸优势植物叶片和土壤氮磷化学计量特征的影响

采用有效洞穴密度代替高原鼠兔(Ochotona curzoniae)活动强度的方法,研究了高原鼠兔有效洞穴密度(10、15、21和31个/625 m~2)对高寒草甸优势植物高山嵩草(Kobresiapygmaea)、垂穗披碱草(Elymus nutans)、小花草玉梅(Anemone rivularis)叶片和土壤氮(N)磷(P)化学计量特征的影响。结果表明,3种优势植物叶片N含量随有效洞穴密度增加而显著增加(P0.05),但叶片P含量却出现分异,表现为高山嵩草和垂穗披碱草叶片P含量随有效洞穴密度增加而先增加后降低(P0.05),小花草玉梅叶片P含量逐渐增加(P0.05);高山嵩草叶片N:P随有效洞穴密度增加先降低后增加(P0.05),垂穗披碱草叶片N:P逐渐增加,小花草玉梅叶片N:P则先增加后降低。土壤0-10 cm和10-20 cm土层N含量随有效洞穴密度增加无明显变化;0—10cm土层P含量随有效洞穴密度增加先降低后增加,10—20 cm土层P含量逐渐降低;0—10 cm土层N:P随有效洞穴密度增加元明显变化,而10-20 cm土层N:P则逐渐增加。优势植物叶片N、P、N:P与土壤N、P、N:P的相关性受植物根系分布特征和生存微环境的约束。     

Tomato Growth in Soil Amended with Sugar Mill By-Products Compost

Sugar mill by-products compost may be a good soil amendment to promote tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) growth. In addition, the compost may further promote plant growth by inoculation with N₂-fixing bacteria. Compost from sugar-mill waste was prepared with and without the N₂-fixing bacteria, Azotobacter vinelandii, Beijerinckia derxii and Azospirillum sp. and incubated for 50 days. Each compost type was added to 10 kg of soil in pots at rates of 0, 15, and 45 g with and without fertilizer N at rates of 0, 0.75, and 1.54 g. A blanket application of P and K was applied to all pots. Shoot and root dry weights and N content of the whole plant was measured at 55 days. Dry weight of tomato shoots was increased by 40% by addition of fertilizer N and root weight was increased by 66%. Without fertilizer N the high rate of inoculated compost increased shoot growth 180% and uninoculated compost increased shoot growth 112%. For most treatments with and without fertilizer N, inoculated compost enhanced shoot growth and nitrogen content more than uninoculated compost. Root weights were nearly doubled by addition of either compost in comparison to the 0 N treatment. At the low rate of compost addition without fertilizer N, root weight was the same for uninoculated and inoculated compost but at the high rate of compost addition root weight was 32% higher for inoculated compost. The N₂-fixing bacteria colonized roots when inoculated compost was used. Sugar mill by-products compost proved to be an effective soil amendment for promoting the growth of tomato plants.     

Hydroponic sand culture systems for mycorrhizal research

Summary Tomato plants were inoculated withGlomus fasciculatus mycorrhizal fungi while growing in sand through which recycled nutrient solution was automatically passed several times daily. Concentration of P and N in the solution were maintained at relatively low levels. Roots of inoculated plants became highly infected with mycorrhizal fungi, and yield parameters were significantly increased with inoculation over uninoculated control plants.