Effects of addition of varying levels of copper,as oxide or phosphate,on nitrogen mineralisation and nitrification during incubation of a slightly calcareous soil receiving dried blood

Summary The addition of 100, 1000 and 10,000 ppm copper, as oxide or hydrogen phosphate, stimulated nitrogen mineralisation and nitrification during incubation of a sandy loam (0.5% calcium carbonate) treated with 200 ppm N as dried blood. The maximum effects occurred with 1000 ppm added copper and were similar with both sources of added copper. EDTA-extractable copper was higher where copper hydrogen phosphate than where copper oxide had been added.     

Effects of elevated CO2 and temperature on the growth,elemental composition,and cell size of two marine diatoms: potential implications of global climate change

Two pennate diatoms, Amphora coffeaeformis and Nitzschia ovalis, were used to evaluate potential responses to the future CO₂ and temperature increases with respect to cell-specific growth rate, elemental composition, size, population growth rate, and carrying capacity. Diatoms were subjected to four different treatments over a 2 week period (approximately 4 generations): a control (28°C and present-day CO₂, ~400 ppm), high CO₂ (28°C with high CO₂, ~750 ppm), high temperature (31°C and present-day CO₂, ~400 ppm), and greenhouse-effect treatment (31°C with high CO₂, ~750 ppm). The results indicated that both the cell-specific growth rates and the carrying capacity of A. coffeaeformis decreased at the higher temperature treatment, whereas N. ovalis did not differ among all treatments. No significant difference was found in either species’ elemental cell composition, but higher C:N and C:P ratios were observed for A. coffeaeformis and N. ovalis, respectively, in high CO₂ and greenhouse-effect treatments. Smaller cell sizes were observed for both species under the greenhouse-effect treatment, a phenomenon that could alter benthic food webs in the future.     

Role of Bacillus licheniformis in Phytoremediation of Nickel Contaminated Soil Cultivated with Rice

Heavy metal contamination in soil is an important environmental problem and it has negative effect on agriculture. Bacteria play a major role in phytoremediation of heavy metals contaminated soil. In this study, the effect of Bacillus licheniformis NCCP-59, a halophilic bacterium isolated from salt mines near Karak, Pakistan, were determined on a three week old greenhouse grown seedling and germinating seeds of two rice varieties (Basmati-385 (B-385) and KSK-282) in soil contaminated with different concentrations (0, 100, 250, 500, and 1000 ppm) of Nickel. Nickel significantly reduced the germination rate and germination percentage mainly at 500 and 1000 ppm. Significant decrease in ion contents (Na, K, and Ca) was observed while Ni ion concentration in the plant tissues increases as the concentration of Ni applied increases. The photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a (chl a), chlorophyll b (chl b), and carotenoids) were also decreased by the application of different concentrations of Ni. Total protein and organic nitrogen were found to be reduced at higher concentrations of Nickel. Inoculation of Bacillus Licheniformis NCCP-59 improved seed germination and biochemical attribute of the plant under Ni stress. It is clear from the results that the Bacillus Licheniformis NCCP-59 strain has the ability to protect the plants from the toxic effects of nickel and can be used for the phytoremediation of Ni contaminated soil.     

Sensitivity of coliphage T1 to nickel in fresh and salt waters

Coliphage T1 was more sensitive than its host bacterium,Escherichia coli B, to nickel (Ni). A 5-h exposure to 100 ppm Ni in nutrient broth did not adversely affect T1, whereas 10 and 20 ppm Ni extended the lag phase of growth ofE. coli B, and no growth occurred with 40 or more ppm Ni. 5 ppm Ni enhanced the survival (after 4 wk) of T1 in sea or simulated estuarine water but was toxic (i.e., reduced viral infectivity) in lake water; 50 ppm Ni was not toxic to T1 in sea water, was moderately toxic in estuarine water, but was highly toxic in lake water; and 100 ppm Ni was toxic in all systems, with the sequence of loss in viral infectivity being lake > estuarine > sea water. 100 ppm Ni was not toxic to T1 in nutrient broth, even after 3 wk of exposure, probably because of the protective effect of the organic compounds in the broth.     

Soil organic matter dynamics after afforestation of mountain grasslands in both a Mediterranean and a temperate climate

We studied the effect of mountain grassland afforestation with conifer trees (Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies and Pinus cembra) on soil organic matter (SOM) cycling and carbon (C) isotopic composition in two contrasting climate areas using a regional approach. Seventeen paired sites (each containing at least 40 years prior afforested and grassland plots) were investigated in the mountains of Central Spain and Western Austria. Topsoil CO₂ effluxes were monitored under standardized conditions for six months as a proxy for soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralisation. The bulk C and nitrogen (N) concentrations and their isotopic composition in the soil and in the plants were assessed. The soil C:N ratio was consistently greater after afforestation in both regions, which in Spain was caused by a significant decrease in N concentration. No consistent effect was found on mineralisation rates due to vegetation change. Afforestation produced a more consistent soil ¹³C enrichment in the Spanish than in the Austrian sites. Our work strongly suggests that increasing altitude in Mediterranean mountain grasslands alleviates water limitation, favouring both plant growth and SOM decomposition, and ultimately accelerating C cycling. In contrast, temperate grassland areas at high altitudes were associated with severe temperature limitations, which constrained SOM transformation processes. In spite of the impact of afforestation on soil biogeochemical processes, C concentrations were marginally affected. We therefore conclude that grassland conversion to coniferous forests does not enhanced C sequestration in the mineral soil, for at least 40 years after land-use change.     

The effect of ocean acidification and temperature on the fertilization and embryonic development of the Sydney rock oyster Saccostrea glomerata (Gould 1850)

This study investigated the synergistic effects of ocean acidification (caused by elevations in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide pCO₂) and temperature on the fertilization and embryonic development of the economically and ecologically important Sydney rock oyster, Saccostrea glomerata (Gould 1850). As pCO₂ increased, fertilization significantly decreased. The temperature of 26 °C was the optimum temperature for fertilization, as temperature increased and decreased from this optimum, fertilization decreased. There was also an effect of pCO₂ and temperature on embryonic development. Generally as pCO₂ increased, the percentage and size of D‐veligers decreased and the percentage of D‐veligers that were abnormal increased. The optimum temperature was 26 °C and embryonic development decreased at temperatures that were above and below this temperature. Abnormality of D‐veligers was greatest at 1000 ppm and 18 and 30 °C (≥90%) and least at 375 ppm and 26 °C (≤4%). Finally prolonged exposure of elevated pCO₂ and temperature across early developmental stages led to fewer D‐veligers, more abnormality and smaller sizes in elevated CO₂ environments and may lead to lethal effects at suboptimal temperatures. Embryos that were exposed to the pCO₂ and temperature treatments for fertilization and embryonic development had fewer D‐veligers, greater percentage of abnormality and reduced size than embryos that were exposed to the treatments for embryonic development only. Further at the elevated temperature of 30 °C and 750–1000 ppm, there was no embryonic development. The results of this study suggest that predicted changes in ocean acidification and temperature over the next century may have severe implications for the distribution and abundance of S. glomerata as well as possible implications for the reproduction and development of other marine invertebrates.     

Effect of some chemical insecticides on the germination and replication of commercial Bacillus thuringiensis

Experiments designed to determine the compatibility of commercial Bacillus thuringiensis and chemical insecticides showed that fenitrothion (2 ppm active ingredient), SBP 1382, and Gardona^® (1 ppm active ingredient) inhibited bacterial replication after 2 hr growth time in liquid broth culture. Spore germination and the size of the parasporal crystals were greatly reduced by high concentrations (1000 ppm) of these insecticide formulations most likely due to the presence of toxic emulsifiers and other additives in the emulsifiable concentrates. The commonly used emulsifiers, Atlox and Triton X-100, at 1000 ppm totally inhibited germination and reduced crystal size. Bacillus thuringiensis apparently metabolized fenitrothion and SBP 1382 during 2 hr of exposure in the cultures containing 10 and 100 ppm, respectively, of these insecticides.Orthene^® at 10,000 ppm for 2 hr had no significant inhibiting effect on the bacteria replication. Spore germination and crystal size were not affected by this concentration. Orthene is considered a potentially effective chemical insecticide in the integrated control of susceptible insect pests if used in concentrations low enough to spare natural control agents of the target species.     

Effect of soil moisture content on the deformation behaviour of root-reinforced soils subjected to shear

The effects of plant species which frequently occur in set-aside arable land on rhizosphere soil properties were assessed and compared to rhizosphere soil of Secale cereale (Rye) grown on an intensively managed arable soil (sandy Cambisol, Saxony, NE-Germany). On a 6 year old set-aside arable land rhizosphere soil samples were taken under Agropyron repens, Cirsium arvense and Rumex acetosa, the most frequent plant species, and under the leguminous plant species Vicia villosa. Phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFA) has been used to characterise the structure of the soil microbial community. Carbon mineralisation rates as well as gross (¹⁵N isotope pool dilution method) and net nitrogen mineralisation rates were determined as indicator of microbial activity. In intensive managed plots a rhizosphere effect was obvious in higher nutrient contents, gross N mineralisation rates and higher relative abundances of fungi and protozoa in Rye rhizosphere compared to bulk soil. Plant species altered rhizosphere microbial activity. Lowest gross N mineralisation and gross NH₄ consumption rates were detected in Rye rhizosphere soil. Both rates revealed high positive correlations with dissolved organic carbon (extracted with KCl) and soil pH. The rhizosphere soil microbial communities of the three dominant plant species of the set-aside arable land (Agropyron, Cirsium, Rumex) were more similar to each other than to Vicia grown on the same set-aside plots and Rye grown on intensive managed plots. The highest number of non-identified PLFAs detected in Vicia rhizosphere soil suggests that microbial diversity was highest. Differences in quantity and quality of Vicia rhizodeposition, especially higher N contents, seem to induce the higher microbial activity and different microbial community structure. The rhizosphere soil of the dominant plant species on the set-aside and intensively managed arable land reflected the differences in bulk soil properties (obtained in a previous study) between the two management systems (e.g. pH, gross N mineralisation, metabolic quotient, PLFA marker characteristic of G? bacteria and fungi).     

Sex-related differences in physiological and ultrastructural responses of Populus cathayana to Ni toxicity

We used Populus cathayana, a native species with an extensive distribution in northern, central, and southwestern China, as a model species to detect the sex-specific differences in photosynthetic capacity, ultrastructure, nitrogen (N) metabolism, and nickel (Ni) accumulation and distribution in response to Ni stress. Exposure to 100 μM Ni²⁺ in a hydroponic system for 1 month significantly decreased the pigment content and the photosynthetic rate, caused visible impairment in cellular organelle structure, and induced obvious disturbance and imbalance in the N content of female plants, while male plants suffered a lower negative influence on all the above measured parameters. However, males accumulated a higher Ni concentration in both leaves and roots than females, while the transportation ratio of Ni from roots to shoots in males was slightly lower than that in females. Our results, therefore, suggest that males have a better tolerance capacity and a greater ability to remediate Ni-polluted soil than females. This greater tolerance capacity in males might be highly correlated with the better maintenance of N balance and more effective physiological detoxification responses (such as the response to proline) under Ni stress. The differences between the sexes in tolerance capacity to heavy metals should be verified after performing a field investigation using adult trees as materials in the future study.     

The effect of woodland soil translocation on carbon and nitrogen mineralisation processes

Two investigations into the translocation of temperate deciduous woodland soil were carried out in Kent, S. E. England, to study the effects on C and N mineralisation. In the field experiment, two translocation methods were compared: (i) placement, moving soil as an intact surface profile and (ii) loose-tipping in which the surface profile was mixed. These were implemented in winter both in situ (under the woodland canopy) and ex situ (soil moved to a receptor site outside woodland). In a second experiment, intact soil cores from the woodland site were subjected to different levels of disturbance in a polythene tunnel environment. Measurements of soil CO₂ evolution and N mineralisation in both experiments showed a clear seasonal pattern, strongly influenced by temperature. Over a 7-month period, cumulative net N mineralisation in the field was greater in the woodland controls and placement treatments than loose-tipping treatments. Soil CO₂ emissions were also greater in woodland control plots in the winter compared with ex situ treatments. Similarly, in the polythene tunnel environment, CO₂ emissions were highest in the undisturbed soil cores, while N mineralisation varied with soil depth but, across the whole profile, was also greater in the controls. We conclude that the mixing of organic rich topsoil with mineral subsoil in clayey soil may have protected the organic residues on the clay-silt surfaces, resulting in overall lower mineralisation rates in the disturbed soil. These results indicate that N mineralisation does not necessarily increase when soil translocation operations are carried out on clayey soils in winter. Placement methods appeared the most likely to conserve soil mineralisation processes close to those in undisturbed woodland soil, but depend greatly on the success of maintaining the soil profile intact. It appears that, on clayey soils, the development of vegetation at the receptor site is more likely to be determined by alterations in the light, soil temperature and moisture regime that will occur in open conditions after woodland translocation than from increased soil N supply.     

The return of an experimentally N-saturated boreal forest to an N-limited state: observations on the soil microbial community structure,biotic N retention capacity and gross N mineralisation

Background and aims

To find out how N-saturated forests can return to an N-limited state, we examined the recovery of biotic N sinks under decreasing N supply.

Methods

. We studied a 40-year-old experiment in Pinus sylvestris forest, with control plots, N0, three N treatments, N1-N3, of which N3 was stopped after 20 years, allowing observation of recovery.

Results

In N3, the N concentration in foliage was still slightly elevated, but the N uptake capacity of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) roots in N3 was no longer lower than in N0. Per area the amount of a biomarker for fungi, here mainly attributed ECM, was higher in N3 and N0 than in N1 and N2. Retention of labeled ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺ by the soil was greater in the control (99 %) and N3 (86 %), than in N1 (45 %) and N2 (29 %); we ascribe these differences to biotic retention because cation exchange capacity did not vary. Gross N mineralisation and retention of N correlated, negatively and positively, respectively, with abundance of ECM fungal biomarker.

Conclusions

. The results suggest a key role for ECM fungi in regulating the N cycle. We propose, in accordance with plant C allocation theory, that recovery is driven by increased tree below-ground C allocation to ECM roots and fungi.     

Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oil Components Against Potential Food Spoilage Microorganisms

The antimicrobial activity of six essential oil components against the potential food spoilage bacteria Aeromonas (A.) hydrophila, Escherichia (E.) coli, Brochothrix (B.) thermosphacta, and Pseudomonas (P.) fragi at single use and in combination with each other was investigated. At single use, the most effective oil components were thymol (bacteriostatic effect starting from 40 ppm, bactericidal effect with 100 ppm) and carvacrol (50 ppm/100 ppm), followed by linalool (180 ppm/720 ppm), α-pinene (400 ppm/no bactericidal effect), 1,8-cineol (1,400 ppm/2,800 ppm), and α-terpineol (600 ppm/no bactericidal effect). Antimicrobial effects occurred only at high, sensorial not acceptable concentrations. The most susceptible bacterium was A. hydrophila, followed by B. thermosphacta and E. coli. Most of the essential oil component combinations tested showed a higher antimicrobial effect than tested at single use. Antagonistic antimicrobial effects were observed particularly against B. thermosphacta, rarely against A. hydrophila. The results show that the concentration of at least one of the components necessary for an antibacterial effect is higher than sensorial acceptable. So the use of herbs with a high content of thymol, carvacrol, linalool, 1,8-cineol, α-pinene or α-terpineol alone or in combination must be weighted against sensorial quality.     

Effect of ammonia and urea treatments on digestibility and nitrogen content of dehydrated lucerne

Dehydrated lucerne of low (L: 0.53), normal (N: 0.55) and high (H: 0.73) in vivo dry matter (DM) digestibility were treated with ammonia or urea to study the effects on in situ and pepsin-cellulase DM digestibilities, water solubility and nitrogen content (Experiments 1, 2, 4) and on cell wall composition and degradability (Experiment 3). (1) N lucerne was treated with 30 g NH₃ kg⁻¹ DM for 1 to 12 weeks at 30°C and 2 to 6 days at 80°C; (2) L, N and H lucerne were treated with increasing ammonia levels: 15 to 100 g kg⁻¹ DM for 3 weeks at 30°C and 4 days at 80°C; (3) L, N and H lucerne were treated with 60 g NH₃ kg⁻¹ DM for 3 weeks at 30°C and 4 days at 80°C; (4) L, N and H lucerne were treated with 60 g urea kg⁻¹ DM without addition of urease for 3 and 6 weeks at 30°C. All treatments were carried out at 40% humidity.In situ and pepsin-cellulase DM digestibilities increased significantly (P < 0.05) with the duration of treatment (up to 3 weeks at 30°C and 4 days at 80°C) and with the level of ammonia (P < 0.01) (up to 30 g kg⁻¹ DM). The greatest improvements (similar at both temperatures) were for L, N and H of 7.3, 7.2 and 3.9 points for in situ and of 10.6, 11.3 and 6.3 points for cellulase digestibilities, respectively. Water solubility also increased with duration of treatment and level of ammonia (P < 0.01) and was greater at 80°C than at 30°C. Urea treatment significantly improved (P < 0.01) digestibilities and water solubility but the doubling of treatment duration had no influence. The degree of ureolysis was only 50 to 60%. Ammonia and urea treatments considerably increased (P < 0.01) nitrogen content.Treatment with 60 g NH₃ kg⁻¹ DM induced a decrease in ethanol insoluble residue content, which was significant (P < 0.01 for L and N, P < 0.05 for H) at 80°C but not at 30°C, and was greater for L and N than for H (about 12 and 5 points, respectively). This decrease was essentially due to solubilisation of hemicelluloses (− 15%) and uronic acids (− 26%). Thus, at 30°C, the chemical solubility of the cell wall was lower than at 80°C for the same total increase in microbial degradation. This result indicates that other phenomena are involved, such as an increase in cell wall porosity and consequently improved accessibility of cell wall polysaccharides to glycolytic enzymes.     

Elevated CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> influences host plant defense response in chickpea against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicoverpa armigera</Emphasis>

Global atmospheric concentration of CO₂ is likely to increase from 350 to 750 ppm over the next 100 years. The present studies were undertaken to understand the effects of elevated CO₂ on enzymatic activity and secondary metabolites in chickpea in relation to expression of resistance to pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera. Fifteen-day-old chickpea plants [ICCL 86111—resistant and JG 11—commercial cultivar] grown in the greenhouse were transferred to open-top chambers (OTC) and kept under 350, 550 and 750 ppm of CO₂. Twenty neonates of H. armigera were released on each plant at 7 days after shifting the pots to the OTCs. Un-infested plants were maintained as controls. After 7 days of infestation, the activities of defensive enzymes [peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and tyrosine ammonia lyase (TAL)] and amounts of total phenols and condensed tannins increased with an increase in CO₂ concentration in chickpea. The nitrogen balance index was greater in plants kept at 350 ppm CO₂ than in plants kept under ambient conditions. The H. armigera-infested plants had higher H₂O₂ content; amounts of oxalic and malic acids were greater at 750 ppm CO₂ than at 350 ppm CO₂. Plant damage was greater at 350 ppm than at 550 and 750 ppm CO₂. This information will be useful for understanding effects of increased levels of CO₂ on expression of resistance to insect pests to develop strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change.     

Effects of temperature on purification of eutrophic water by floating eco-island system

The effects of temperature on pollutant removal of two plant species (Oenanthe javanica D.C. and Nasturtium officinale) were evaluated using simulated microcosms of the floating eco-island system (FEIS). Both the planted FEIS (P-FEIS) and the non-planted FEIS (NP-FEIS) dramatically decreased NH₄–N concentration in the hypereutrophic water at low (10 °C), medium (22 °C), and high (35 °C) temperatures, and to a greater extent for the P-FEIS and at medium temperature. The NO₂–N concentration was effectively decreased from 0.23 to 0.01 mg/L after 4 d treatment with the P-FEIS at all the three temperatures, but was slightly increased in the NP-FEIS at low temperature. The P-FEIS could decrease NO₃–N concentration in the eutrophic water over 1–3 times depending on temperature, with greater decrease at high temperature. The remove of total P (TP) reached 78%, on average, with the FEIS treatment for 4 d at all temperatures, which was over three times greater than those with the NP-FEIS at low temperature. The removal rates of Chla, COD_Mn, and BOD₅ by the P-FEIS from the hypereutrophic water were, on average, 70%, 85%, 83% at 22 °C and 35 °C, respectively, while over 1–2 times smaller at 10 °C. More effective removals of Chla, COD_Mn, and BOD₅ (over 1–2 times) were noted with the P-FEIS than those with the NP-FEIS. N. officinale showed more efficiency in removing ammonium and TN at low temperature, and BOD₅ at medium and high temperatures, as compared to O. javanica. Whereas O. javanica could more effectively decrease Chla at 22 °C and 35 °C and COD_Mn at 10 °C than N. officinale after 4 d treatment. Higher dissolved oxygen concentration and pH was found in the FEIS with N. officinale than that with O. javanica D.C. The results imply that plant eco-island system had remarkable purification ability to remove pollutants from hypereutrophic water, and mixed planting of O. javanica D.C. with N. officinale on the FEIS may enhance nutrient removal and water quality improvement of eutrophic water bodies, especially at low temperature season.     

Interacting climate change environmental factors effects on Fusarium langsethiae growth,expression of Tri genes and T-2/HT-2 mycotoxin production on oat-based media and in stored oats

This study examined the effect of climate change (CC) abiotic factors of temperature (20, 25, 30 °C), water activity (a_w; 0.995, 0.98) and CO₂ exposure (400, 1000 ppm) may have on (a) growth, (b) gene expression of biosynthetic toxin genes (Tri5, Tri6, Tri16), and (c) T-2/HT-2 toxins and associated metabolites by Fusarium langsethiae on oat-based media and in stored oats. Lag phases and growth were optimum at 25 °C with freely available water. This was significantly reduced at 30 °C, at 0.98 a_w and 1000 ppm CO₂ exposure. In oat-based media and stored oats, Tri5 gene expression was reduced in all conditions except 30 °C, 0.98 a_w, elevated CO₂ where there was a significant (5.3-fold) increase. The Tri6 and Tri16 genes were upregulated, especially in elevated CO₂ conditions. Toxin production was higher at 25 °C than 30 °C. In stored oats, at 0.98 a_w, elevated CO₂ led to a significant increase (73-fold) increase in T2/HT-2 toxin, especially at 30 °C. Nine T-2 and HT-2 related metabolites were detected, including a new dehydro T-2 toxin (which correlated with T-2 production) and the conjugate, HT-2 toxin, glucuronide. This shows that CC factors may have a significant impact on growth and mycotoxin production by F. langsethiae.     

Effect of tissue phosphorus concentration on the mineralisation of nitrogen from stylo and cowpea residues

Laboratory studies were conducted to investigate the effect of phosphorus concentration in residues of cowpea (t Vigna unguiculata, L. Walp) and stylo (t Stylosanthes hamata, L., cv Verano) on their rate of nitrogen mineralisation when incubated in a soil whose P status was deficient for plant growth. Residues with a range of P concentrations were obtained by applying varying rates of P to soil in which the plants were grown in the field or the glasshouse. Variations in P concentration of field- or glasshouse-grown residues were not accompanied by variations in other chemical components (C:N ratio, lignin and polyphenol concentrations). Both lignin and polyphenol concentrations were higher in the field-grown than in the glasshouse-grown residues. Lignin concentration was greater in cowpea than in stylo, but polyphenols were higher in stylo. Cowpea residues mineralised N less rapidly than stylo. N mineralisation from residues with low P concentration was consistently less than from those of higher P concentration; reduced mineralisation was observed for P concentration in the residues below 1.6 g kg^–1. When inorganic P was added to the residue-soil systems, N mineralisation from the residues was increased, though no interaction between the effects of adding inorganic P and P concentration in the residues was observed.     

Influence of biochemical quality on C and N mineralisation from a broad variety of plant materials in soil

We studied C and N mineralisation patterns from a large number of plant materials (76 samples, covering 37 species and several plant parts), and quantified how these patterns related to biological origin and selected indicators of chemical composition. We determined C and N contents of whole plant material, in water soluble material and in fractions (neutral detergent soluble material, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) obtained by stepwise chemical digestion (modified van Soest method). Plant materials were incubated in a sandy soil under standardised conditions (15 °C, optimal water content, no N limitation) for 217days, and CO₂ evolution and soil mineral N contents were monitored regularly. The chemical composition of the plant materials was very diverse, as indicated by total N ranging from 2 to 59 mg N g^–1, (i.e. C/N-ratios between 7 and 227). Few materials were lignified (median lignin=4% of total C). A large proportion of plant N was found in the neutral detergent soluble (NDS) fraction (average 84%) but less of the plant C (average 46%). Over the entire incubation period, holocellulose C content was the single factor that best explained the variability of C mineralisation (r=–0.73 to –0.82). Overall, lignin C explained only a small proportion of the variability in C mineralisation (r=–0.44 to –0.51), but the higher the lignin content, the narrower the range of cumulative C mineralisation. Initial net N mineralisation rate was most closely correlated (r=0.76) to water soluble N content of the plant materials, but from Day 22, net N mineralisation was most closely correlated to total plant N and NDS-N contents (r varied between 0.90 and 0.94). The NDS-N content could thus be used to roughly categorise the net N mineralisation patterns into (i) sustained net N immobilisation for several months; (ii) initial net N immobilisation, followed by some re-mineralisation; and (iii) initially rapid and substantial net N mineralisation. Contrary to other studies, we did not find plant residue C/N or lignin/N-ratio to be closely correlated to decomposition and N mineralisation.     

Impact of elevated CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Casuarina equisetifolia</Emphasis> rooted stem cuttings inoculated with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Frankia</Emphasis>

Impact of different levels of elevated CO ₂ on the activity of Frankia (Nitrogen-fixing actinomycete) in Casuarina equisetifolia rooted stem cuttings has been studied to understand the relationship between C. equisetifolia, Frankia and CO₂. The stem cuttings of C. equietifolia were collected and treated with 2000 ppm of Indole Butyric Acid (IBA) for rooting. Thus vegetative propagated rooted stem cuttings of C. equisetifolia were inoculated with Frankia and placed in the Open top chambers (OTC) with elevated CO₂ facilities. These planting stocks were maintained in the OTC for 12 months under different levels of elevated CO₂ (ambient control, 600 ppm, 900 ppm). After 12 months, the nodule numbers, bio mass, growth, and photosynthesis of C. equisetifolia rooted stem cuttings inoculated with Frankia were improved under 600 ppm of CO₂. The rooted stem cuttings of C. equisetifolia inoculated with Frankia showed a higher number of nodules under 900 ppm of CO₂ and cuttings without Frankia inoculation exhibited poor growth. Tissue Nitrogen (N) content was also higher under 900 ppm of CO₂ than ambient control and 600 ppm levels. The photosynthetic rate was higher (17.8 μ mol CO₂ m^?2 s^?1) in 900 ppm of CO₂ than in 600 ppm (13.2 μ mol CO₂ m^?2 s^?1) and ambient control (8.3 μ mol CO₂ m^?2 s^?1). This study showed that Frankia can improve growth, N fixation and photosynthesis of C. equietifolia rooted stem cuttings under extreme elevated CO₂ level conditions (900 ppm).     

Influence of temperature and ethephon concentration on growth and composition of Cabernet Sauvignon grapevines

Potted Cabernet Sauvignon grapevines were acclimated to two different temperature regimes (25°C/15°C and 35°C/25°C day/night temperatures, respectively) until 100% bloom, when the vines were treated with either 0, 250, 500, or 750 ppm ethephon (Ethrel^®). Three days after ethephon application all vines were combined and held at 25°C/15°C in a phytotron room for 15 weeks. Growth was suppressed by a greater range of ethephon concentrations at the cool temperature, but effects were shorter-lived than at the high temperature. Generally, the 500 ppm treatment reduced vigor most effectively. The degree to which ethephon influences vine growth is mediated by temperature. Ethephon and temperature treatments caused significant differences in the concentrations of potassium, calcium, and magnesium in leaves.