Copper uptake and phytotoxicity as assessed in situ for durum wheat (Triticum turgidum durum L.) cultivated in Cu-contaminated, former vineyard soils

This work assessed in situ, copper (Cu) uptake and phytotoxicity for durum wheat (Triticum turgidum durum L.) cropped in a range of Cu-contaminated, former vineyard soils (pH 4.2–7.8 and total Cu concentration 32–1,030 mg Cu kg⁻¹) and identified the underlying soil chemical properties and related root-induced chemical changes in the rhizosphere. Copper concentrations in plants were significantly and positively correlated to soil Cu concentration (total and EDTA). In addition, Cu concentration in roots which was positively correlated to soil pH tended to be larger in calcareous soils than in non-calcareous soils. Symptoms of Cu phytotoxicity (interveinal chlorosis) were observed in some calcareous soils. Iron (Fe)–Cu antagonism was found in calcareous soils. Rhizosphere alkalisation in the most acidic soils was related to decreased CaCl₂-extractable Cu. Conversely, water-extractable Cu increased in the rhizosphere of both non-calcareous and calcareous soils. This work suggests that plant Cu uptake and risks of Cu phytotoxicity in situ might be greater in calcareous soils due to interaction with Fe nutrition. Larger water extractability of Cu in the rhizosphere might relate to greater Cu uptake in plants exhibiting Cu phytotoxic symptoms.     

Effect of potassium nutrition of rice on rhizosphere redox status

With four soils differing in K supplying power and with four rice cultivars (Oryza sativa L.) differing in K uptake kinetic parameters, the relationship between K fertilizer application and soil redox status in rhizosphere and; the distribution of ferrous iron and other toxic substances on the root surface and in the rhizosphere; and the effect of K supply on uptake of reduced iron by rice plants have been studied.The results show that K application on K-deficient soils reduced the content of active reducing substances and ferrous iron in the soil, raised the soil redox potential in the rhizosphere, increased the Eh value of rice roots and lowered the content of iron in the rice plants. These effects of K varied with different rice cultivars. When no K fertilizer was applied, active reducing substances and ferrous iron in rhizosphere soils were decreased more by the rice cultivars absorbing K strongly (e.g. Shanyou 64) than by cultivars absorbing K weakly (e.g. Zhongguo 91). Therefore, the diminution of the toxic substances by K application in the weakly K-absorbing cultivars was more significant.The observation of a rhizobox separated by a nylon screen showed that appreciably more iron oxides, compared with the control, were deposited at or adjacent to the root surfaces of the rice plant supplied with K fertilizer, fully demonstrating the relationship between K nutrition and the total oxidizing power of rice plants. According to the distribution of active reducing substances and ferrous iron, the oxidizing range of the rice root extended in K application treatment a few centimeters away from the root plane. K application to rice affected the soil redox status in rhizosphere in many ways. The main effect was an increase of the oxidizing power of the rice root. As a result, the value of soil Eh was increased, the contents of active reducing substances and ferrous iron were lowered, as well as the number of oxygen consuming microorganisms.     

Glasshouse evaluation of the growth ofAlnus rubra andAlnus glutinosa on peat and acid brown earth soils when inoculated with four sources ofFrankia

The effects of soil type (an acid peat and 2 acid brown earths) andFrankia source (3 spore-positive crushed nodule inocula and spore-negative crushed nodules containing the singleFrankia ArI5) on nodulation, N content and growth ofAlnus glutinosa andA. rubra were determined in a glasshouse pot experiment of two years duration. Plants on all soils required additional P for growth. Growth of both species was very poor on peat withA. glutinosa superior toA. rubra. The former species was also superior toA. rubra on an acid brown earth with low pH and low P content. Some plant-inoculum combinations were of notable effectivity on particular soils but soil type was the major source of variation in plant weight. Inoculation with crushed nodules containingFrankia ArI5 only gave poor infection of the host plant, suggesting that inoculation with locally-collected crushed nodules can be a preferred alternative to inoculation withFrankia isolates of untested effectivity. Evidence of adaptation ofFrankia to particular soils was obtained. Thus, while the growth of all strains was stimulated by mineral soil extracts, inhibitory effects of peat extracts were more apparent with isolates from nodules from mineral soils than from peat, suggesting that survival ofFrankia on peat may be improved by strain selection.     

Effects of antibiotics in soil on the population dynamics of transposon Tn5 carrying Pseudomonas fluorescens

The effects of kanamycin and streptomycin added to soil on the survival of transposon Tn5 modified Pseudomonas fluorescens strain R2f were investigated. Kanamycin in high (180 g g^-1 dry soil) or low (18 g g^-1) concentration or streptomycin in low concentration in Ede loamy sand soil had no noticeable effect on inoculant population dynamics in soil and wheat rhizosphere, whereas streptomycin in high concentration had a consistent significant stimulatory effect, in particular in the wheat rhizosphere. Streptomycin exerted its effect by selecting P. fluorescens with Tn5 insertion whilst suppressing the unmodified sensitive parent strain, as evidenced by comparing the behaviour of these two strains in separate and mixed inoculation studies.Soil textural type influenced the effect of streptomycin on the Tn5 carrying inoculant; the effect was consistently detected in rhizosphere and rhizoplane samples of wheat grown in Ede loamy sand after 7 and 14 days incubation, whereas it was only apparent after 7 days in rhizoplane or rhizosphere (and bulk soil) samples of wheat grown in two silt loam soils. Modification of soil pH by the addition of CaCO₃ or bentonite clay resulted in an enhancement of the selective effect of streptomycin by CaCO₃ and its abolishment by bentonite clay.The addition to soil of malic acid or wheat root exudate, but not of glucose, enhanced the streptomycin selective effect on the Tn5-modified P. fluorescens strain. Neither the streptomycin producer Streptomyces griseus nor two non-inhibiting mutants obtained following UV irradiation affected the dynamics of P. fluorescens (chr::Tn5) in soil and wheat rhizosphere.The effect of streptomycin in soil on inoculant Tn5 carrying bacteria depends on conditions such as soil type, the presence of (wheat) root exudates and the type of available substrate.     

Effects of liming and mycorrhizal colonization on soil phosphate depletion and phosphate uptake by maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) grown in two tropical acid soils

The effects of liming and inoculation with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus intraradices Schenck and Smith on the uptake of phosphate (P) by maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) and on depletion of inorganic phosphate fractions in rhizosphere soil (Al-P, Fe-P, and Ca-P) were studied in flat plastic containers using two acid soils, an Oxisol and an Ultisol, from Indonesia. The bulk soil pH was adjusted in both soils to 4.7, 5.6, and 6.4 by liming with different amounts of CaCO₃.In both soils, liming increased shoot dry weight, total root length, and mycorrhizal colonization of roots in the two plant species. Mycorrhizal inoculation significantly increased root dry weight in some cases, but much more markedly increased shoot dry weight and P concentration in shoot and roots, and also the calculated P uptake per unit root length. In the rhizosphere soil of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants, the depletion of Al-P, Fe-P, and Ca-P depended in some cases on the soil pH. At all pH levels, the extent of P depletion in the rhizosphere soil was greater in mycorrhizal than in non-mycorrhizal plants. Despite these quantitative differences in exploitation of soil P, mycorrhizal roots used the same inorganic P sources as non-mycorrhizal roots. These results do not suggest that mycorrhizal roots have specific properties for P solubilization. Rather, the efficient P uptake from soil solution by the roots determines the effectiveness of the use of the different soil P sources. The results indicate also that both liming and mycorrhizal colonization are important for enhancing P uptake and plant growth in tropical acid soils.     

Nitrification and seasonal changes in bacterial populations in the rhizosphere ofSuaeda andArthrocnemum species growing in saline soils

Summary The nitrification rate in the rhizosphere of Suaeda and Arthrocnemum plants growing in saline soils, as affected by microbial populations, temperature, pH, and organic matter, was examined in the field throughout the year. The genera Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter were most common in the rhizosphere soil. The bacterial counts in the rhizosphere of both plants fluctuated during the study period, reaching peak values during February–March and in August. The nitrate concentration in the rhizosphere soil could be related with the observed increase in the numbers of ammonium-oxidizers and nitrite-oxidizers in the latter part of the study period. The pH of the rhizosphere soils did not have any influence on the nitrification rate at the values measured. The rhizosphere organic content varied between 1.8 and 4% (w/w), showing the continuous availability of organic matter in the soil. The seasonal changes in bacterial populations in the rhizospheres of both plants was described as the result of the combination of several factors.     

15N2 incorporation by rhizosphere soil influence of rice variety,organic matter and combined nitrogen

Summary Heterotrophic nitrogen fixation by rhizosphere soil samples from 20 rice cultivars grown under uniform field conditions was estimated employing¹⁵N-tracer technique. Rhizosphere soil samples from different rice cultivars showed striking differences with regard to their ability to incorporate¹⁵N₂. Rhizosphere samples from rice straw-amended (3 and 6 tons/ha) soil exhibited more pronounced nitrogen-fixing activity than the samples from unamended soil; while the activity of the rhizosphere samples from soils receiving combined nitrogen (40 and 80 kg N/ha) was relatively low. However, the inhibitory effect of combined nitrogen was not expressed in the presence of rice straw at 6 tons/ha. Results suggest that plant variety, application of combined nitrogen and organic matter influence the rhizosphere nitrogen fixation.     

米槁-绿壳砂林药间作系统可行性

为了充分利用米槁林下空间,从化感效应的角度研究人工米槁林下土壤水浸提液对绿壳砂生长状况的影响,探索米槁与绿壳砂建立间作经营系统的可能性。以绿壳砂为受体,米槁根际土壤与林间土壤水浸提液为供试液,设置6个浓度0、0.5、1、5、10、50 mg/mL的水浸提液处理绿壳砂,对绿壳砂种子萌发和幼苗生理生化指标进行测定,以此探讨米槁根际土壤与林间土壤水浸提液对绿壳砂生长的影响。结果表明:米槁两种土壤水浸提液对绿壳砂种子的萌发大体上呈现低浓度促进高浓度抑制的浓度效应,但随着浓度的变化,差异不显著;米槁林间土壤水浸提液对绿壳砂幼苗的总生物量及苗高都表现出显著的促进作用,呈先增加后缓慢减小的趋势,根际土壤水浸提液则在高浓度时表现出抑制作用。从化感效应综合指数看出,2种水浸提液对可溶性蛋白质含量、游离脯氨酸(Pro)含量、土壤脲酶(S-UE)活性表现为抑制作用,其余都为促进作用,且林间土壤的促进效果强于根际土壤。应用GC-MS从米槁根际土壤与林间土壤中分别鉴定出18种化合物,虽含有酚酸和烷烃类等化感物质,但在一定浓度范围内,对绿壳砂种子萌发、幼苗生长没有明显的抑制作用,且在米槁林土水浸提液处理下表现出更强的适应性。因此,在米槁林下套种绿壳砂时采取幼苗移栽法,构建米槁-绿壳砂林药间作经营体系具有一定可行性。     

Allantoin involved in species interactions with rice and other organisms in paddy soil

Allantoin (5-ureidohydantoin) plays an essential role in the assimilation, metabolism, transport, and storage of nitrogen in numerous higher plants, but its ecological implications are largely unknown. In this study allantoin was found in tissues of 11 rice (Oryza sativa) varieties tested, and its structure was characterised by X-ray diffraction analysis to confirm the fact that allantoin was actually obtained from the rice plants. Furthermore, the endogenous allantoin was exuded from the rice roots into the rhizosphere soils and had a great diversity of biological effects on associated weeds and microbes by soil interactions once released. However, allantoin levels in tissues or soils could not be distinguished between the allelopathic and non-allelopathic rice varieties. Field experiments showed that levels of allantoin released from rice varieties varied with their growth stages and reached the maximal levels at the stem elongation or panicle initiation to booting stages and then decreased dramatically. Allantoin could significantly stimulate the germination and growth of Echinochloa crus-galli and populations of soil bacteria and actinomycetes at selected test concentrations (30–500 μg/g), but had no effect on soil fungi. The half-life (t _1/2 ) of allantoin in autoclaved soil (20.2 ± 2.5 h, r ² = 0.95) was almost three-times longer than in non-autoclaved soil (7.3 ± 1.9 h, r ² = 0.92), indicating that rapid biodegradation or transformation of allantoin occurs in paddy soil. The results suggest that not only may allantoin play a role in the transport and storage of nitrogen in rice tissues but it may also participate in species interactions between rice and other organisms in paddy soil.     

Gnotobiotic cultures of rice plants up to ear stage in the absence of combined nitrogen source but in the presence of free living nitrogen fixing bacteriaAzotobacter vinelandii andRhodopseudomonas capsulata

Summary An all glass tight growth chamber, entirely sterilizable, has been constructed to carry out axenic and gnotobiotic cultures of rice plants (Oryza sativa L.). When grown in liquid medium and in the absence of combined nitrogen but in the presence of the diazotrophsAzotobacter vinelandii andRhodopseudomonas capsulata, rice plants exhibited a complete biological cycle from germination up to ear stage, during a period of time similar to the one encountered in french paddy soil of Camargue. In one experiment, mannitol was given to rice culture medium together withAzotobacter vinelandii andRhodopseudomonas capsulata. In another experiment, mannitol was not given together with Rhodopseudomonas, and still positive nitrogen gain was obtained, although it was less than culture with mannitol. When¹⁵N labeled cells of Rhodopseudomonas were added in rice culture medium,¹⁵N was partly transferred to rice plant. Among the nitrogen substances excreted from the bacteria in the rhizosphere medium, large organic molecules were shown to be the most abundant in our experimental conditions. Moreover, the concentration of free ammonia or aminoacids present in the rice rhizosphere were always compatible with a bacterial nitrogenase activity.     

Selenium uptake by plants as a function of soil type,organic matter content and pH

In pots containing sandy soils at two levels (pH 5 and 7) to which 0.5 mg Se L^-1 soil had been added, an increase in the proportion of clay soil or peat soil led to a decrease in the uptake of Se by spring wheat grain (Triticum aestivum L., var. Drabant) and winter rape plants (Brassica napus L., var. Emil). The effect was most pronounced for the smallest additions of clay and peat soils. Differences in Se uptake between the two pH levels were greatest in treatments where the additions of clay and peat soils were small. At the high pH, an increase in clay content from 7% to 39% resulted in a decrease in Se uptake of 79% for wheat and 70% for rape. At the low pH, the uptake decreased by 72% and 77%, respectively. At the higher pH, an increase in the content of organic matter from 1.4% to 39% resulted in decreases in Se uptake of 88% for wheat grain and 69% for rape. At the low pH, Se uptake decreased by 63% and 48%, respectively. Adding peat soil to clay soil had little effect on Se uptake. Among the limed, unmixed clay, sand and peat soils to which Se had not been added, uptake was highest from the sandy soil, i.e. 8.3 ng Se/g wheat grain and 42 ng Se/g rape. The lowest uptake rates were obtained in the clay soil, i.e. 3.0 ng Se/g for wheat grain and 9.0 ng Se/g for rape.     

Plant genotype, micronutrient fertilization and take-all infection influence bacterial populations in the rhizosphere of wheat

The relationship between micronutrient efficiency of four wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes, tolerance to take-all disease (caused by Gaeumannomyces graminis (Sacc.) Arx and Olivier var. tritici Walker), and bacterial populations in the rhizosphere was tested in soil fertilized differentially with Zn and Mn. Plant growth was reduced by Mn or Zn deficiency and also by take-all. There was an inverse relationship between micronutrient efficiency of wheat genotypes when grown in deficient soils and the length of take-all lesions on roots (efficient genotypes had shorter lesions than inefficient ones). In comparison to the rhizosphere of control plants of genotypes Aroona and C8MM receiving sufficient Mn and Zn, the total numbers of bacterial cfu (colony forming units) were greater in the rhizosphere of Zn-efficient genotype Aroona under Zn deficiency and in Mn-efficient genotype C8MM under Mn deficiency. These effects were not observed in other genotypes. Take-all decreased the number of bacterial cfu in the rhizosphere of fully-fertilized plants but not of those subjected to either Mn or Zn deficiency. In contrast, the Zn deficiency treatment acted synergistically with take-all to increase the number of fluorescent pseudomonads in the rhizosphere. Although numbers of Mn-oxidising and Mn-reducing bacteria were generally low, take-all disease increased the number of Mn reducers in the rhizosphere of Mn-efficient genotypes Aroona and C8MM. Under Mn-deficiency conditions, the number of Mn reducers in the rhizosphere increased in Aroona but not in C8MM wheat. The results suggest that bacterial microflora may play a role in the expression of Mn and Zn efficiency and tolerance to take-all in some wheat genotypes.     

施硒对水稻土壤硒有效性的影响

硒在华南稻区酸性土壤中极易被固定使其有效性较低.本研究旨在通过盆栽试验,探明施用硒肥对水稻根际和非根际土壤硒有效性的影响.结果表明: 施硒能提高水稻产量,增加籽粒硒含量;水稻根际土壤中水溶态硒、交换态硒、铁锰氧化物结合态硒、有机物-硫化物结合态硒和残渣态硒含量均低于非根际土壤.各施硒处理之间,根际和非根际土壤中硒的迁移系数没有显著差异;施硒对根和叶片之间硒的迁移系数也没有显著影响,但是施硒提高了叶片和籽粒之间硒的迁移系数.施用0.5 mg·kg^-1硒增加了水稻根系有机酸的分泌,而施用1.0、5.0 mg·kg^-1硒则降低了有机酸的分泌.根系有机酸的分泌对根际土壤pH值影响不大,根际土壤pH值反而高于非根际土壤,但施硒显著降低了根际土壤pH值.随着施硒水平的提高,根际土壤黏土矿物(高岭石)的红外吸收光谱不断增强.施入土壤中的硒多转化为水稻难以吸收利用的形态,且不易向根际移动.根系分泌的有机酸也并不是通过影响土壤pH值来提高土壤硒的有效性.     

Autointoxication in residues ofAsparagus officinalis L.

Summary In a greenhouse experiment the growth of asparagus seedlings was retarded by the residue treatments in both vermiculite and sand cultures. In general, the retardation of asparagus root by residues was slightly greater than the retardation of shoot in both cultures. The retardation of the growth of asparagus seedlings by root and stem treatments was usually higher than that by old root litter. Root and stem extracts strongly inhibited the development of asparagus seedlings in the seed bioassay. The inhibition of extracts to the growth of shoot was greater than that to the growth of root. The quantities in the total phenolics and catachol type phenolics from root, stem and old root litter extracts corresponded to the autotoxicity in the seed bioassay. The soil extracts obtained from using acetone, methanol, and XAD-4 extractions strongly inhibited the shoot and root development of asparagus seedlings in the bioassay. The efficiency of phenolics extraction by the XAD-4 method was significantly higher than that by acetone and methanol extractions. The results obtained in the greenhouse experiment and bioassay revealed that phytotoxic substances present in the residues and the soil of asparagus and may be partially responsible for the asparagus replanting problems.     

The allelopathic potential of alfalfa root medicagenic acid glycosides and their fate in soil environments

Summary The allelopathic effect of alfalfa (Medicago media Pers.) and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) root saponins on winter wheat seedling growth and the fate of these chemicals in soil environments were studied. Seed germination, seedling and test fungus growth were suppressed by water and by alcohol extracts of alfalfa roots, and by crude saponins of alfalfa roots, indicating that medicagenic acid glycosides are the inhibitor. Powdered alfalfa roots inhibited wheat seedling growth when added to sand. At concentrations as low as 0.25% (w/w) the root system was completely destroyed whereas seedling shoots suffered little damage. Red clover roots caused some wheat growth inhibition when incorporated to sand, but their effect was much lower than in the alfalfa root treatment. Soil textures had a significant influence on the inhibitory effect of alfalfa roots. The inhibition of seedling growth was more pronounced on light than on heavy soils. This was attribted to the higher sorption of inhibitors by heavy soils. Incubation of alfalfa roots mixed into loose sand, coarse sand, loamy sand and clay loam for a period of 0–8 days resulted in decreased toxicity to bothT. viride and wheat seedlings. This decrease occurred more quickly in heavier soils than in loose sand, due to the hydrolysis of glycosides by soil microorganisms. Soil microbes were capable of detoxifying medicagenic acid glycosides by partial hydrolysis of sugar chain to aglycone. These findings illustrate the importance of medicagenic acid glycosides as an inhibitor of wheat seedling growth, and of their fate in different soil environments.     

Ethylene and carbon dioxide concentrations of soils as influenced by rhizosphere of crops under field and pot conditions

A method for collecting low volumes of soil gas from a small region, and a technique for determining small concentrations of ethylene using an enrichment process are described. Using these methods, it was found that ethylene and carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations of soils varied considerably depending on the presence or absence of a rhizosphere. Ethylene was much higher (31–375 nL L^–1; mean: 207) in non-cropped areas (i.e., soils without rhizosphere) than in the rhizosphere region (8–136 nL L^–1; mean: 38) of a field in which maize or soybean were grown. On the other hand, CO₂ concentrations were higher in rhizosphere than in non-rhizosphere soil, especially in pot experiments. The rate of ethylene decomposition was, however, much greater in rhizosphere soil (55 nL g^–1 day^–1) than in non-rhizosphere soil (34 nL g^–1 day^–1). Higher microbial activity was presumed to result in the decrease of ethylene concentration and the increase in CO₂ in rhizosphere regions. The implications of these results in relation to the influence of ethylene in rhizosphere on plant growth, and the role of soil microbes on decomposition of ethylene is discussed.     

不同氮效率水稻生育后期根表和根际土壤硝化特征

通过田间试验研究了不同氮效率粳稻品种4007(氮高效)和Elio(氮低效)生育后期在N0(0 kgN hm-2)、N180(180 kgN hm-2)和N300(300 kgN hm-2)水平下根表、根际和土体土壤pH值、铵态氮(NH+4-N)和硝态氮(NO-3-N)含量、硝化强度和氨氧化细菌(AOB)数量.结果表明无论是齐穗期、灌浆期还是成熟期,根表土壤pH值均显著低于根际和土体土壤.土壤pH值范围在5.95至6.84之间变化.土壤NH+4-N含量随水稻生长显著下降,且随施氮量增加而显著增加.根表土壤NH+4-N有明显亏缺区,且随距水稻根表距离增加,NH+4-N含量逐渐升高.土壤NO-3-N含量随水稻生长显著增加,施氮处理均显著高于不施氮处理,但N180和N300处理差异不显著.NO-3-N含量表现为根际>土体>根表.水稻根表和根际土壤硝化强度随水稻生长显著下降,而土体土壤硝化强度随时间延长小幅增加.施氮显著提高4007水稻根表土壤在齐穗和收获期硝化强度以及Elio在齐穗期根际硝化强度,但在施氮处理N180和N300中无显著差异.在整个采样期间,土壤硝化强度均表现为根际>根表>土体.水稻根表和根际AOB数量随水稻生长而显著降低,而土体土壤AOB数量无显著变化.例如,根表土壤AOB数量在齐穗期、灌浆期和收获期分别为16.7×105、8.77×105个g-1 dry soil和8.01×105个g-1 dry soil.根表和根际土壤AOB数量无显著差异,但二者显著高于土体土壤AOB数量.就两个氮效率水稻品种而言,土壤pH值基本无差异.4007土壤NH+4-N含量均显著高于Elio.在齐穗期水稻根表、根际和土体土壤NO-3-N含量在N180水平下均表现为Elio显著高于4007.而在灌浆期和收获期,水稻根表、根际和土体土壤则表现为4007显著高于Elio.在所有采样期,两个水稻品种土体土壤硝化强度和AOB数量在3个施氮量下均无显著差异.Elio根表和根际土壤硝化强度和AOB数量在水稻灌浆期之前一直显著高于4007,而在灌浆期之后则显著低于4007,且最终产量和氮素利用率(NUE)显著低于4007,这可能是由于4007灌浆期后硝化作用强,根际产生的NO-3-N含量高,从而4007根吸收NO-3-N的量也高造成的.因此水稻灌浆期和收获期根表和根际硝化作用以及AOB与水稻高产及氮素高效利用密切相关.     

An overview of rhizosphere processes related with plant nutrition in major cropping systems in China

Rhizosphere processes of individual plants have been widely investigated since 1904 when the term “rhizosphere” was first put forward. However, little attention has been paid to rhizosphere effects at an agro-ecosystem level. This paper presents recent research on the rhizosphere processes in relation to plant nutrition in main cropping systems in China. In the peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)/maize (Zea mays L.) intercropping system, maize was found to improve the Fe nutrition of peanut through influencing its rhizosphere processes, suggesting an important role of phytosiderophores released from Fe-deficient maize. Intercropping between maize and faba bean (Vicia faba L.) was found to improve nitrogen and phosphorus uptake in the two crops compared with corresponding sole crop. There was a higher land equivalent ratio (LER) in the intercropping system of maize and faba bean than the treatment of no root interactions between the two crops. The increased yield of maize intercropped with faba bean resulted from an interspecific facilitation in nutrient uptake, depending on interspecific root interactions of the two crops. In the rotation system of rice (Oryza sativa L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crops, Mn deficiency in wheat was caused by excessive Mn uptake by rice and Mn leaching from topsoil to subsoil due to periodic cycles of flooding and drying. However, wheat genotypes tolerant to Mn deficiency tended to distribute more roots to deeper soil layer and thus expand their rhizosphere zones in the Mn-deficient soils and utilize Mn from the subsoil. Deep ploughing also helped root penetration into subsoil and was propitious to correcting Mn deficiency in wheat rotated with rice. In comparison, oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) took up more Mn than wheat through mobilizing sparingly soluble soil Mn due to acidification and reduction processes in the rhizosphere. Thus, oilseed rape was tolerant to the Mn-deficient conditions in the rice-oilseed rape rotation. Oxidation reactions on root surface of rice also resulted in the formation of Fe plaque in the rice rhizosphere. Large amounts of Zn were accumulated on the Fe plaque. Zinc uptake by rice plants increased as Fe plaque formed, but decreased at high amounts of Fe plaque. It is suggested that to fine-tune cropping patterns and optimize nutrient management based on a better understanding of rhizosphere processes at an agro-ecosystem level is crucial for increasing nutrient use efficiency and developing sustainable agriculture in China.     

Adsorption and anchoring of Azospirillumstrains to roots of wheat seedlings

Recent microscopic evidence acquired using strain-specific monoclonal antibodies and specific gene probes confirms earlier claims that some strains of Azospirillum lipoferum and A. brasilense, but not others, are capable of infecting the interior of wheat roots. The present study was performed to determine whether this strain specificity in the infection of the interior of wheat roots was apparent in the first 24 h of adsorption (`anchoring') of Azospirillum cells to the root surface. Strains of A. brasilense, originally isolated from surface-sterilised wheat roots (Sp 245, Sp 107) or with a proven ability to infect the interior of wheat roots (Sp 245), showed no greater ability to anchor to the roots than other Azospirillum strains isolated from the wheat rhizosphere (Sp 246) or from the rhizosphere or rhizosphere soil of other gramineae (Sp 7, Cd, S 82). The SEM images showed that at the root tip the Azospirillum cells were principally located in cracks between epidermal cells. In the root hair zone the bacteria were more numerous but again principally located in the depressions between epidermal cells. In all zones of the roots mucilage was present, and near the tip this appeared to have been partially digested, forming `halos' around the bacteria and revealing fibril-like strands attached to the bacteria. Subsequent studies were conducted using a technique originally developed for investigating competition of rhizobia for adsorption sites on legume roots. In the adaptation of this technique it was found that the presence of any significant concentration of Ca⁺⁺ in the incubation medium reduced bacterial adsorption, as did concentrations of (PO₄)^3- above 50 mM. The influence of the pH of the incubation medium on the adsorption of ten different strains of Azospirillum showed, that with one exception, strains isolated from the roots or rhizosphere of wheat showed optimum adsorption at pH 6.0, and all other strains pH 7.0. Apart from this effect of pH no differences in adsorption were detected between strains with a proven capacity to infect wheat roots and those unable to do so. However, strains varied in their capability to compete for adsorption sites, there being a tendency for strains with a proven capacity to invade the internal tissues of wheat roots to be more competitive for adsorption sites.     

Aluminum tolerance of wheat does not induce changes in dominant bacterial community composition or abundance in an acidic soil

Aims

Aluminum-tolerant wheat plants often produce more root exudates such as malate and phosphate than aluminum-sensitive ones under aluminum (Al) stress, which provides environmental differences for microorganism growth in their rhizosphere soils. This study investigated whether soil bacterial community composition and abundance can be affected by wheat plants with different Al tolerance.

Methods

Two wheat varieties, Atlas 66 (Al-tolerant) and Scout 66 (Al-sensitive), were grown for 60 days in acidic soils amended with or without CaCO₃. Plant growth, soil pH, exchangeable Al content, bacterial community composition and abundance were investigated.

Results

Atlas 66 showed better growth and lower rhizosphere soil pH than Scout 66 irrespective of CaCO₃ amendment or not, while there was no significant difference in the exchangeable Al content of rhizosphere soil between the two wheat lines. The dominant bacterial community composition and abundance in rhizosphere soils did not differ between Atlas 66 and Scout 66, although the bacterial abundance in rhizosphere soil of both wheat lines was significantly higher than that in bulk soil. Sphingobacteriales, Clostridiales, Burkholderiales and Acidobacteriales were the dominant bacteria phylotypes.

Conclusions

The difference in wheat Al tolerance does not induce the changes in the dominant bacterial community composition or abundance in the rhizosphere soils.