棉隆熏蒸处理对平邑甜茶幼苗生长和生物学特性及土壤环境的影响

本试验以苹果砧木平邑甜茶幼苗为试材,通过温室与露地盆栽两种方式,研究不同浓度(0、0.1、0.2、0.4 g·kg^-1)棉隆熏蒸对连作土壤微生物环境和平邑甜茶幼苗生长的影响。结果表明:不同浓度的棉隆熏蒸均能促进连作土壤中平邑甜茶幼苗的生长,其中以0.2 g·kg^-1处理的效果最显著。0.2 g·kg^-1棉隆熏蒸下,平邑甜茶幼苗在温室和露地条件下的株高、地径、地上部干质量、地下部干质量分别比连作对照提高了192.9%和91.8%、72.8%和60.1%、196.8%和195.0%、138.5%和130.7%;幼苗根系相关指标(根长、根面积、根体积、根系呼吸速率)也明显优于其他处理;幼苗根系的超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶、过氧化氢酶活性分别比连作对照提高了114.6%和118.5%、123.5%和107.6%、164.6%和175.6%;幼苗根系的丙二醛含量也显著低于其他处理。随着棉隆施用浓度的增加,土壤细菌含量、真菌含量、尖孢镰孢菌基因拷贝数、土壤酶活性均显著降低,连作土壤真菌群落结构也发生了不同程度的改变。综上,0.2 g·kg^-1棉隆熏蒸可以提高连作平邑甜茶幼苗生物量,改善土壤环境,有效缓解平邑甜茶的连作障碍。在苹果老果园重茬建园时,可以优先考虑0.2 g·kg^-1的棉隆熏蒸处理。     

棉隆对苹果连作土壤微生物及平邑甜茶幼苗生长的影响

以生产上常用苹果砧木——平邑甜茶为试材,盆栽条件下研究了棉隆微粒剂对苹果连作土壤微生物及平邑甜茶幼苗生长的影响。结果表明:与重茬(对照CK)相比,棉隆处理极显著(P0.01)降低了连作土壤中真菌数量,降幅达58.8%,细菌和放线菌数量分别显著(P0.05)降低15.3%、8.5%,细菌/真菌增加108.8%,放线菌/真菌增加124.2%;棉隆使连作条件下平邑甜茶单株幼苗根系长度、根表面积、根体积和根系活力分别提高421.4%、426.5%、171.7%、48.8%。平邑甜茶植株叶面积以及叶片中叶绿素a、b含量、净光合速率均极显著提高,分别增加162.6%、14.9%、15.0%、24.0%,叶片同化能力增强;植株长势增强,株高和地径均极显著提高,植株地上干鲜重和地下干鲜重也得到了极显著性增加,最高增加幅度达2.2倍。综上,棉隆处理后苹果连作土壤中微生物数量降低,而细菌与真菌比值、放线菌与真菌比值增加,平邑甜茶幼苗植株长势增强,棉隆可有效减轻苹果连作障碍发生。     

苹果连作生防细菌B6对平邑甜茶幼苗生物量及连作土壤环境的影响

以苹果连作障碍病原真菌层出镰刀菌、串珠镰刀菌、尖孢镰刀菌和腐皮镰刀菌为靶标菌,通过平板对峙法对分离自苹果根际土壤的细菌进行反复筛选比较,对筛选出的拮抗效果最优的菌株进行形态学、生理生化特征和16S rDNA序列分析鉴定,并于盆栽条件下探讨其菌肥对平邑甜茶幼苗生长及连作土壤环境的影响.结果表明: 菌株B6对上述4种病原真菌的抑菌率最高,分别达到71.8%、70.1%、72.6%、91.5%.经鉴定,菌株B6为甲基营养型芽孢杆菌.盆栽试验表明,与连作处理(CK₁)相比,B6菌肥处理(T)可以不同程度地促进平邑甜茶幼苗生物量的增加,其中地径、鲜质量和干质量分别显著增加18.3%、51.2%;显著提高连作土壤中可培养细菌和放线菌数量,使真菌数量下降为连作土壤的37.7%,促使土壤类型向细菌型转化;显著提高连作土壤中的蔗糖酶、磷酸酶、脲酶和过氧化氢酶的活性,增长率分别为37.3%、24.0%、42.9%、49.4%.表明B6菌肥可以优化苹果连作障碍土壤中可培养微生物群落结构,提高土壤酶活性,增加平邑甜茶幼苗生物量.     

残次苹果发酵产物对连作土壤环境及‘平邑甜茶’幼苗生长的影响

在盆栽条件下,研究残次苹果发酵产物对连作土壤环境及平邑甜茶幼苗生长的影响,为减轻苹果连作障碍提供理论依据。试验以连作土壤为对照(CK),设置溴甲烷灭菌连作土壤(T₁)、连作土壤施加苹果发酵产物(T₂)、连作土壤施加灭菌苹果发酵产物(T₃)处理,测定了土壤和平邑甜茶幼苗的相关指标。结果表明: T₁、T₂、T₃能显著促进平邑甜茶幼苗的生长,其中以T₁和T₂的效果较好,其根系呼吸速率、株高、地径、鲜质量、干质量分别比CK提高了107.3%、50.6%、42.4%、171.7%、225.3%和104.4%、50.6%、42.3%、171.8%、225.5%。T₂和T₃提高了连作土壤中养分转化相关酶的活性,过氧化氢酶、脲酶、中性磷酸酶和蔗糖酶活性分别比CK提高了44.5%、169.5%、23.4%、169.3%和23.7%、72.6%、1.5%、121.5%;T₁处理的过氧化氢酶和蔗糖酶活性与CK无显著差异,脲酶和中性磷酸酶活性分别降低了40.8%和41.6%。T₂土壤铵态氮、硝态氮、速效磷和速效钾含量分别较CK提高了18.6%、50.6%、14.0%和36.7%;T₃只提高了速效氮的含量,铵态氮和硝态氮含量分别提高了7.0%和23.6%;T₁与CK相比速效养分含量有所降低。T₁和T₂显著降低了土壤放线菌和真菌数量,增加了细菌数量;T₃处理的细菌、放线菌和真菌数量均较CK显著降低。实时荧光定量PCR分析发现,T₁、T₂和T₃处理的层出镰孢菌、串珠镰孢菌、腐皮镰孢菌和尖孢镰孢菌基因拷贝数均较CK有不同程度的降低。表明苹果发酵产物处理能抑制连作土壤病原菌,改善土壤环境,促进平邑甜茶幼苗生长,可作为一种减轻苹果连作障碍的方法。     

连作苹果土壤酚酸对平邑甜茶幼苗的影响

为探讨连作(重茬)苹果土壤中酚酸类物质的积累与苹果连作障碍的关系,在砂培条件下,取连作果园土壤中实际浓度的酚酸类物质处理平邑甜茶幼苗,探讨了连作2a的果园土壤中实测浓度的根皮苷、间苯三酚、根皮素、对羟基苯甲酸和肉桂酸对平邑甜茶幼苗根系线粒体指标、抗氧化酶活性、膜过氧化程度及活性氧(ROS)含量的影响。结果表明:连作土壤中实际浓度的5种酚酸类物质均使平邑甜茶幼苗生长受到抑制,根系受影响程度高于地上部分,表现为根冠比降低;线粒体膜通透性转换孔(MPTP)开放程度增大,线粒体膜电位降低,细胞色素Cyt c/a比值下降;降低了幼苗根系中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性,增加了过氧化氢(H2O2)、超氧阴离子自由基(O·-2)以及丙二醛(MDA)的含量。土壤浓度的5种酚酸类物质中,以根皮苷处理抑制效果最显著,间苯三酚处理抑制力最小。因此,根皮苷是引起苹果连作障碍的主要酚酸,实践中应重点考虑对根皮苷的降解以缓解苹果连作障碍。     

有机物料发酵流体和堆肥对苹果连作土壤环境及平邑甜茶幼苗生物量的影响

为探讨不同有机物料的发酵流体(厌氧发酵产物)和堆肥(有氧发酵产物)对苹果连作土壤环境的影响,以盆栽平邑甜茶幼苗为试验材料,分别设置猪粪+秸秆、鸡粪+秸秆、羊粪+秸秆、猪粪+鸡粪+羊粪+秸秆4个不同有机物料组合并进行厌氧发酵和有氧发酵,并将发酵产物分别施入连作土中,研究其对平邑甜茶幼苗生物量、连作土壤中微生物、土壤酶活性、土壤酚酸等的影响。结果表明:与有机物料堆肥相比,各有机物料发酵流体处理的平邑甜茶幼苗干重、鲜重较高,其中猪粪发酵流体处理显著提高了幼苗干、鲜重,7月份为对照的1.57、1.26倍,9月份为CK的1.55、1.86倍;两类发酵产物均增加了土壤微生物的数量,且发酵流体处理显著增加了土壤中细菌和放线菌的数量,其中羊粪发酵流体效果最明显,分别为CK的2.95倍和2.37倍,在堆肥处理中,真菌数量显著增高;两类发酵产物也影响了土壤中酚酸总量,表现为猪粪、鸡粪发酵流体和猪粪堆肥处理含量下降,至9月份分别下降到CK的0.45、0.39倍和0.36倍。     

硫素对不同大豆品种成熟期AM真菌群落多样性的影响

研究硫素对不同大豆品种成熟期丛枝菌根（arbuscular mycorrhizal,AM）真菌群落多样性的影响,探索有利于提高3个特定大豆品种根围土壤和根系AM真菌多样性的最佳施硫量,为提高大豆产量和改善大豆品质提供理论依据。试验采用盆栽,选用黑农44（HN44）、黑农48（HN48）、黑农37（HN37）3个大豆品种作为试验材料,设4个硫素处理S1（对照）,S2（0.02g/kg）,S3（0.04g/kg）和S4（0.06g/kg）。采用PCR-DGGE技术分析3个大豆品种根围土壤和根系中AM真菌群落多样性。结果表明：在S2处理下HN37和HN44根围土壤和根系AM真菌多样性最高,而在S3处理下HN48根围土壤和根系AM真菌多样性最高;DGGE图谱中各样品优势种群变化显著,球囊霉属Glomus和柄囊霉属Funneliformis真菌为3个大豆品种根围土壤和根系中AM真菌的优势菌群。由此可见,硫素对不同大豆品种根围土壤和根系AM真菌群落多样性有显著影响,适量施硫能够提高大豆根围土壤和根系中AM真菌的多样性,不施或过高施硫反而抑制AM真菌的多样性。     

土壤碳氮比对平邑甜茶幼苗生长和碳氮分配的影响

为探讨土壤碳氮比(C:N)对苹果(Malus pumila)植株生长和碳氮分配特性的影响, 采用碳氮双标记示踪技术, 以二年生平邑甜茶(Malus hupehensis)幼苗为试验材料, 研究了6个不同土壤C:N处理(T1-T6分别为4.70、9.78、14.70、19.96、25.60和28.83)下平邑甜茶的生长状况和氮素吸收、利用分配以及碳水化合物的运转特性。结果表明, 随着土壤C:N的逐渐增大, 平邑甜茶幼苗根系干重逐渐增加, 而株高、茎粗、地上部干重和植株总干重呈先增加后降低的趋势, 以T4处理最大。土壤C:N显著影响了平邑甜茶幼苗的 ¹⁵N利用率, 从T1到T4处理, 植株的 ¹⁵N利用率逐渐升高, T4处理(18.46%)是T1处理(10.65%)的1.73倍; 随着土壤C:N的进一步增加, 植株的 ¹⁵N利用率逐渐降低, T5和T6处理分别比T4处理降低了1.59%和2.58%。土壤C:N较低的T1和T2处理, 平邑甜茶幼苗各器官从肥料中吸收分配到的 ¹⁵N量对该器官全氮量的贡献率(Ndff)大小顺序为根>叶>茎, 随着土壤C:N的进一步增大, 叶片的Ndff均为最大, 其次是根, 茎最少。随着土壤C:N的增大, 叶片 ¹⁵N分配率逐渐升高, ¹³C分配率逐渐降低; 而根系 ¹⁵N分配率逐渐降低, ¹³C分配率逐渐升高。综合考虑植株生长和氮素利用状况, 本试验条件下适宜平邑甜茶生长的土壤C:N为21-23。     

秸秆集中深还田对设施连作土壤微生物区系和甜瓜根系生长的影响

为解决设施土壤的连作障碍,以开沟起垄的方式,研究不同秸秆深还田对连作土壤微生物、土壤酶活性及甜瓜根系生长的影响。结果表明:秸秆深还田2年后可以改善连作土壤的酸碱度,显著提高土壤有机质含量,其中玉米秸秆还田有机质含量可达17.08 g·kg·~(-1),比对照处理提高12.8%;同时还明显提高了土壤中脲酶、蔗糖酶、过氧化氢酶等活性,加快了设施土壤中矿质元素的释放,土壤中速效钾、速效磷含量也有所增加,而碱解氮含量则有所降低。与对照相比,秸秆还田丰富了连作土壤中微生物数量,尤其是玉米秸秆还田处理的连作土壤微生物数量最多,比对照增加了30.1%,连作土壤中细菌和放线菌数量增加,但连作土壤中的真菌数量降低。秸秆深还田显著提高了甜瓜根系鲜重和根系活力,其中玉米秸秆还田的根系鲜重和根系活力分别为8.3 g·plant~(-1)和70.4μg·g~(-1)FW;总之,设施连作土壤秸秆开沟起垄深还田显著改良了设施土壤,促进甜瓜根系生长,其中玉米秸秆还田效果较好,其次是花生秸秆。     

不同种植方式对绿洲农田土壤酶活性与微生物多样性的影响

研究了玉米连作10年、小麦连作8年 棉花连作10年、棉花连作15年和棉花6年 6年小麦/油葵轮作4种种植方式对土壤过氧化氢酶、蔗糖酶、芳基硫酸酯酶、脱氢酶和蛋白酶活性的影响,并分析了土壤细菌、真菌、氨氧化古菌与氨氧化细菌对北疆绿洲农田不同种植方式的响应.结果表明： 不同种植方式对土壤过氧化氢酶、芳基硫酸酯酶、脱氢酶和蛋白酶活性影响明显,但对蔗糖酶无显著影响;对氨氧化古菌多样性指数有显著影响,对土壤细菌、真菌和氨氧化细菌多样性指数无明显影响.土壤真菌和氨氧化细菌群落结构对不同种植方式的响应较细菌和氨氧化古菌敏感.长期棉花连作使绿洲农田土壤酶活性下降,微生物群落多样性降低,而轮作可提高土壤酶活性和微生物群落结构多样性.
     

Apple Replant Disorder of Pingyitiancha Rootstock is Closely Associated with Rhizosphere Fungal Community Development

The aim of this study was to examine rhizosphere fungal community development in apple replant soil and a new planting soil in Beijing through a potted experiment with the apomictic triploid Pingyitiancha rootstock using the Illumina Miseq method. Steam sterilization significantly enhanced seedling growth in replant soil, while root segment addition did not enhance replant disease symptoms. The bulk soil of the replant site (ReSoil) and the new soil of the planting site (NewSoil) were sampled prior to nursery planting, and rhizosphere soils were r Qinping esampled after one growing season as RePlant and NewPlant, respectively. Approximately 48.3, 47.9, 59.8 and 68.8% of the operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were classified as Ascomycota and Basidiomycota in the community of ReSoil, New Soil, RePlant and NewPlant, respectively. Shannon indices suggested that planting apple nurseries increased the fungal diversity of rhizosphere soil in both soils. Apple replant disorder (ARD) was highly associated with an unbalanced microbial ecosystem with more saprophytic and pathogenic fungi, but less species known to produce antimicrobial metabolites, while Rhizopus, Pyrenochaeta and Eurotium were identified as the key factors in ARD.     

Evaluation of Bacillus subtilis for Potential Control of Apple Replant Disease

Apple seedlings (ev. Melntosh were stunted when grown in pasteurized field soil to which four fungi, previously isolated from apple replant disease (ARD) soil, were added. Twenty-one isolates of Bacillus sulnths produced inhibition zones in vitro against 20 ARD fungi. Isolate BACT-1 ol B. subtilis showed significant antagonism against 17 fungi isolated from ARD soil on potato dexirose agar and apple plant height was increased in its presence in pesteurized and fertilized soil in glasshouse pot tests. Plant height also increased in the presence of isolate F.BW-4 of B.subtilis.in pasteurized and fertilized soil in glasshouse pot tests but EBW-4 liid not show antagonism against most of the ARD tungi in vitro. The growth of apple seedlings was stunted in the presence of 12 isolates of B. subtilis. However, fertilization of non pasteurized soil with NPK 1l-55-0 reversed the stunting effect. Under field conditions, BACT-1 and EBW-4 isolates. led to increased shoot growth in unfertilized and unppasteurized ARD soil.     

Replant problems in South Tyrol: role of fungal pathogens and microbial population in conventional and organic apple orchards

The South Tyrol, the main apple-growing area in Italy, is characterised by intensive soil cultivation. Previous investigations have revealed the existence of replant disorders although the main causes of these have not been evaluated. A survey was carried out in this area with two main aims: to evaluate the role of soil-borne pathogens in apple replant disease and to compare the impact of organic and conventional management on replant diseases caused by soil-borne pathogens. The experimental sites were chosen to obtain three pairs of contiguous conventional and organic apple orchards. There was a high level of organic matter in both the organic and the conventional apple orchards with no appreciable differences in humic fractions. The soil sickness test with apple seedlings revealed a significant reduction in growth for all soil samples as compared to the peat control. The growth score on soil samples from organic orchards was significantly higher than that obtained on conventional soil. Total fungal population in soil samples was positively correlated to the apple seedlings growth score and negatively correlated to the frequency of root colonisation. Most of the root-colonising pathogens belonged to the well-known root rot complex, Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium spp. being the most pathogenic on apple seedlings.     

黄腐酸和甜菜碱预处理对干旱胁迫下平邑甜茶生理特性及光合的影响

该研究以平邑甜茶[Malus hupehensis(Pamp.)Rehd.]2年生实生苗为材料,通过盆栽试验于干旱处理前3d分别连续喷施黄腐酸(FA)、甜菜碱(GB)和复配(FA+GB),并以清水为对照(CK)进行预处理,比较分析不同预处理对干旱胁迫下平邑甜茶的生理及光合特性变化,探讨FA和GB对平邑甜茶的抗旱生理机制。结果显示:(1)与对照相比,FA、GB和FA+GB预处理均能够显著提高平邑甜茶叶片相对含水量,且FA的保水性效果最佳。(2)3种预处理均可显著促进干旱胁迫下叶片可溶性蛋白、可溶性糖和脯氨酸含量增加,且FA+GB预处理后在干旱胁迫下叶片可溶性糖和脯氨酸累积量显著高于单施FA或GB。(3)3种预处理均可显著提高干旱胁迫下平邑甜茶幼苗的SOD、POD、CAT活性,并显著降低MDA的积累速度及其累积量,且以FA+GB预处理的MDA含量最低、抗氧化酶活性最高。(4)GB和FA+GB预处理下平邑甜茶的净光合速率、瞬时水分利用率显著高于CK和FA,且FA+GB处理下改善光合特性的效果最佳,GB次之。研究表明,单独喷施黄腐酸和甜菜碱及两者配施预处理均能够增加干旱胁迫下平邑甜茶的渗透调节物质和相对含水量,提高叶片的保水性,调节抗氧化物酶活性,降低丙二醛含量,增加细胞膜稳定性,改善光合性能,进而提高平邑甜茶的抗旱能力,且以复配喷施(FA+GB)预处理的效果最好。     

Cloning,characterization and functional analysis of the role MhNCED3, a gene encoding 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase in Malus hupehensis Rehd., plays in plant tolerance to osmotic and Cd2+ stresses

Aims

Abscisic acid (ABA) plays an important role in the stress tolerance of seedlings and 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) is considered to be the rate-limiting enzyme involved in ABA biosynthesis. However, the genes encoding NCED in M. hupehensis Rehd. have not been reported.

Methods

In this study, a gene encoding NCED, MhNCED3, was isolated from the roots of M. hupehensis Rehd. Its functions were investigated in M. hupehensis Rehd. seedlings and transgenic Arabidopsis lines under various abiotic stresses.

Results

The expression of MhNCED3 in M. hupehensis Rehd. roots was differentially induced by dehydration, chilling, salt and cadmium stresses and ABA biosynthesis was highly correlated with MhNCED3 expression. Ectopic expression of MhNCED3 successfully complemented the phenotypic defects of the 129B08/nced3 mutant. Furthermore, overexpression of MhNCED3, when it was transformed into the wild type (WT) seedling resulted in enhanced tolerance to osmotic and cadmium stresses compared to the normal WT seedling. The transgenic lines displayed higher rates of seed germination, improved growth and developmental status, reduced water loss/oxidative damage, lowered apoptosis rates and increased ABA accumulation. Furthermore, the higher antioxidant enzyme activities detected in the transgenic lines were probably responsible for the decrease in oxidative damage and apoptosis rates.

Conclusions

Overall, MhNCED3 played a significant role in enhancing plant tolerance to abiotic stresses through the regulation of endogenous ABA biosynthesis.     

连作苹果园土壤真菌的T-RFLP分析

为探讨连作苹果园不同土壤空间真菌群落结构,应用T-RFLP(Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism)技术,比较了3个连作园不同取样位置(行间、原穴、株间)和不同土层(0—30 cm、30—60 cm)的土壤真菌多样性,并结合不同样品TRFLP图谱的差异,采用多样性指数分析、聚类分析和主成分分析(PCA),分析了3个连作园土壤真菌群落结构特征。结果表明,磁窑、道朗和金城连作园的土壤真菌多样性存在差异,各采样地区的Shannon多样性指数在0.43—2.47之间,Pielou均匀度指数在0.17—0.85之间,Simpson优势度指数在0.12—0.81之间,Margalef丰富度指数最高的是金城树穴0—30 cm土层(R=4.55),最低的是磁窑行间30—60 cm土层(R=0.77)。在调查的不同取样位置、不同土层中,原树穴具有最高的多样性指数、均匀度指数、丰富度指数和最低的优势度指数;0—30 cm土层的土壤真菌多样性指数、均匀度指数、丰富度指数均高于30—60cm土层,而优势度指数的趋势正好相反;PCA和聚类分析结果显示磁窑、道朗和金城连作园的土壤真菌群落结构均有明显差异,3个连作园的土壤真菌各自构成一个独立的群落结构,这些群落能够适应各自的土壤环境并成为环境的优势群落。     

Long-term orchard groundcover management systems affect soil microbial communities and apple replant disease severity

Apple replant disease (ARD) is a soil-disease syndrome of complex etiology that affects apple tree roots in replanted orchards, resulting in stunted tree growth and reduced yields. To investigate whether different groundcover management systems (GMSs) influence subsequent ARD severity, we grew apple seedlings in an outdoor nursery in pots containing orchard soil from field plots where four GMSs had been maintained for 14 years in an orchard near Ithaca, NY, USA. The GMS treatments were: (1) pre-emergence herbicide (Pre-H), bare soil strips maintained by applying tank-mixed glyphosate, norflurazon and diuron herbicides annually; (2) post-emergence herbicide (Post-H), sparse weed cover maintained by applying glyphosate in May and July each year; (3) mowed sod grass (Mowed Sod); and (4) bark mulch (Mulch). Soils were also sampled from the grass drive lane maintained between the trees in the orchard (Grass Lane). Sampled soils (Orchard soil) were either pasteurized or left untreated, placed into 4-L pots, and planted with one apple seedling per pot. After 3 months of growth, soil (Bioassay soil) and apple tree roots (Bioassay roots) were sampled from each pot and microbial populations colonizing samples were characterized. Seedling growth was reduced in soils sampled from all four GMS treatments compared to the Grass Lane soils. Among the GMS treatments, seedling biomass was greater in Pre-H than in the Post-H soil. Soil microbial communities and nutrient availability differed among all four GMS treatments and the Grass Lane. Root-lesion (Pratylenchus sp.) nematode populations were higher in the Mowed Sod than in the other GMS treatments. Soil bacterial and fungal community composition was assessed in Orchard and Bioassay soils and Bioassay roots with a DNA fingerprinting method (T-RFLP). Redundancy analysis indicated that soils sampled from the different GMS treatments differentially influenced seedling biomass. A clone library of 267 soil bacteria was developed from sampled Orchard soils and Bioassay roots. These communities were dominated by Acidobacteria (25% of sequences), Actinobacteria (19%), δ-Proteobacteria (12%), β-Proteobacteria (10%), and these ratios differed among the GMS soils. Members of the family Comamonadaceae were detected only in tree-row soil, not in the Grass Lanes. The dominant sequences among 145 cloned fungi associated with apple seedling roots were Fusarium oxysporum (16% of sequences), an uncultured soil fungus submitted under DQ420986 (12%), and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (9%). In a redundancy analysis, factors including fungal and oomycete community compositions, soil respiration rates, population sizes of culturable bacteria and fungi, soil organic matter content, and nutrient availability, were not significant predictors of apple seedling biomass in these soils. Different GMS treatments used by apple growers may influence subsequent ARD severity in replanted trees, but edaphic factors commonly associated with soil fertility may not reliably predict tree-root health and successful establishment of replanted orchards.     

Rootstock genotype succession influences apple replant disease and root-zone microbial community composition in an orchard soil

Apple replant disease (ARD) is a soil-borne disease complex that affects young apple trees in replanted orchards, resulting in stunted growth and reduced yields. Newly developed rootstock genotypes with tolerance to ARD may help to control this disease. We determined the effects of rootstock genotype rotations during orchard renovation, by investigating root-zone soil microbial consortia and the relative severity of ARD on seven rootstock genotypes (M.9, M.26, G.30, G.41, G.65, G.935, and CG.6210) planted in soil where trees on four of those same rootstocks (M.9, M.26, G.30 and CG.6210) had grown for the previous 15 years. Rootstock genotyping indicated that genetic distances among rootstocks were loosely correlated with their differential responses to ARD. Root-zone fungal and bacterial community composition, assessed by DNA fingerprinting (T-RFLP), differed between M.26 and CG.6210. Soil bacterial communities were influenced most by which rootstock had grown in the soil previously, while fungal communities were influenced more by the current replanted rootstock. In a clone library of bacteria from M.26 and CG.6210 root-zone soil, β-Proteobacteria was the most abundant phylum (25% of sequences). Sequences representing the Burkholderia cepacia complex were obtained only from CG.6210 soil. Rootstock genotypes that were grown in the orchard soil previously affected subsequent ARD severity, but replanting with the same or closely related rootstocks did not necessarily exacerbate this disease problem. Our results suggest that genotype-specific interactions with soil microbial consortia are linked with apple rootstock tolerance or susceptibility to ARD.     

Potential role of allelopathy in the soil and the decomposing root of Chinese-fir replant woodland

The role of allelopathy in the Chinese-fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) replant problem was studied. The failure of Chinese-fir seedlings to grow normally in Chinese-fir replant woodland was not only caused by the depletion of nutrients and the deterioration of the structure of replant woodland soil, but also by biotic factors and allelopathy. Extracts of soils collected from replant woodlands significantly reduced the growth of Chinese-fir seedlings. Extracts and decomposing root residues also significantly inhibited the growth of Chinese-fir seedlings. Extracts of the replant soil and of the decomposing roots from Chinese-fir replant woodland were both toxic to other plants. The combination of the decomposing root residues and the pathogenic fungi reduced the growth of Chinese-fir seedlings the most when compared to the decomposing root residue alone and the control. It appears that allelopathy is at least partly involved in the Chinese-fir replant problem. ei]Section editor: R Rodriguez-Kabana