适度放牧增加内蒙古典型草原甲烷氧化菌丰度和甲烷吸收

微生物氧化是大气甲烷唯一的生物汇.认识草原甲烷(CH₄)通量对不同利用方式的响应是制定低碳高效草原管理体系的基础.本研究通过测定内蒙古中部典型草原在放牧、割草和围封管理下生态系统的CH₄通量和土壤甲烷氧化菌丰度,旨在确定不同利用方式对内蒙古典型草原生态系统CH₄吸收的影响,验证甲烷氧化菌功能基因(pmoA)丰度调控CH₄通量.测定草原是连续5年实施4种不同利用处理的试验草原,4个处理为全植物生长季(5—9月)放牧(T₁)、春夏5月和7月放牧(T₂)、秋季割草(T₃)和围封禁牧(T₀).在测定植物生物量和土壤理化特征的基础上,采用静态箱置法测定草原植物生长季CH₄通量,采用分子技术测定草原表层土壤甲烷氧化菌pmoA功能基因的丰度.结果表明: 放牧显著促进CH₄吸收,增加甲烷氧化菌丰度(即每克干土pmoA功能基因拷贝数),其在生长季的变化范围是6.9×10⁴~3.9×10⁵.T₁处理下植物生长季的CH₄平均吸收量为(68.21±3.01) μg·m^-2·h^-1,显著高于T₂、T₃和T₀处理22.1%、37.5%和30.9%.草原CH₄吸收与甲烷氧化菌丰度呈极显著正相关,与土壤砂粒占比呈显著正相关,而与土壤粉粒占比、土壤水分含量、土壤铵态氮和硝态氮含量,以及植物地上生物量呈显著负相关.表明不同利用方式下内蒙古典型草原都是CH₄的汇,而适度放牧可增加草原土壤砂粒占比,降低土壤无机氮含量和植被生物量,提高土壤甲烷氧化菌丰度和CH₄吸收.本结果对制定低排放草原管理体系具有重要意义.     

不同放牧强度下土壤氨氧化和反硝化微生物的变化特征

土壤硝化及反硝化功能微生物在氮素可利用性、硝酸盐淋溶和氧化亚氮温室气体排放等方面起着关键作用,在指示不同放牧强度对生态系统的影响及预测草地生态系统退化状况等方面具有重要意义。以内蒙古干旱半干旱草原不同放牧强度(轻度、中度和重度)的长期试验样地为对象,应用定量PCR和限制性末端片段长度多态性(Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism,T-RFLP)的方法,研究土壤氨氧化古菌(ammonia-oxidizing archaea,AOA)、氨氧化细菌(ammonia-oxidizing bacteria,AOB)和反硝化细菌的丰度、群落结构和多样性对不同放牧强度的响应。结果表明,土壤p H和铵态氮含量分别在7.90—8.18和6.37—35.92 mg/kg之间,中度放牧处理显著增高了土壤pH(P=0.03),而铵态氮含量在重度放牧处理中最高(P=0.02)。不同放牧强度下土壤异养呼吸相比未放牧处理均显著降低(P=0.02)。土壤AOA-amoA和AOB-amoA基因丰度范围分别为每克干土(4.94—7.60)×10~9个拷贝数和(0.68—3.75)×10~6个拷贝数,放牧处理对AOA-amoA基因丰度无显著影响,中度放牧处理显著降低了AOB-amoA基因丰度(P=0.04);反硝化微生物nosZ基因丰度随在轻度放牧处理中最低(P=0.03)。土壤铵态氮含量是影响AOA-amoA和AOB-amoA基因丰度的主要因子,而nosZ基因丰度主要受反硝化底物含量及土壤通气状况的影响。冗余分析表明由放牧所引起的可利用性氮含量的变化是导致氨氧化和反硝化微生物群落结构显著变化的主要因素。     

亚热带森林土壤氨氧化微生物和反硝化微生物功能基因丰度对氮磷输入的响应

为探究亚热带森林土壤氨氧化微生物和反硝化微生物对氮、磷输入的响应，2015年开始在钱江源国家森林公园设置氮磷模拟添加试验，包括对照(CK)、氮(N)添加、磷(P)添加和氮磷(NP)添加4种处理，于2021年4月(湿季)和11月(干季)采集土样，采用定量PCR的方法分析亚热带森林土壤氨氧化微生物(氨氧化古菌AOA、氨氧化细菌AOB和全程氨氧化菌comammox)amoA基因和反硝化微生物功能基因(nirS、nirK和nosZ基因)的丰度变化特征。结果表明：长期N输入显著降低土壤pH,但显著提高了土壤铵态氮和硝态氮含量，而长期P输入显著提高了土壤有效磷和总磷含量。氮的输入(N和NP处理)显著提高了干湿季土壤AOB-amoA基因丰度，且在N处理中最高，达8.30×10⁷ copies·g^-1。NP处理土壤AOA-amoA基因丰度显著高于CK,达1.17×10⁹ copies·g^-1。comammox-amoA基因丰度在不同季节间差异显著，其他基因丰度在不同季节间差异均不显著。双因素方差分析表明，N输入显著...     

闽江河口湿地土壤CH4产生与氧化速率对外源氮、硫添加的响应

通过室内培养实验,研究了外源氮、硫添加对闽江河口湿地土壤CH_4产生/氧化速率以及土壤理化性质的短期影响。NH_4Cl(N1)和NH_4NO_3(N3)处理在各培养阶段均显著促进土壤CH_4产生速率(P0.05),较对照分别提高136.70%和136.55%;NH_4Cl+K_2SO_4(NS1)和NH_4NO_3+K_2SO_4(NS3)处理在培养第3、6、12、15和18天均显著促进了CH_4产生速率(P0.05)。KNO_3(N2)、K_2SO_4(S)处理在不同培养时间对CH_4产生速率影响均不显著(P0.05);KNO_3+K_2SO_4(NS2)处理除在第21天外(P0.05),其他时间影响均不显著(P0.05)。N2、N3、NS2和NS3处理均显著促进了土壤CH_4氧化速率(P0.05),平均CH4氧化速率较CK分别提高了145.30%、142.93%、139.48%和112.68%。整体而言,不同添加处理并没有显著改变湿地土壤CH_4产生/氧化速率的时间变化规律,各处理均表现为随培养时间先增加而后逐渐降低。短期培养结束后,土壤可溶性有机碳(DOC)、电导率、p H值在不同处理间均不存在显著差异(P0.05);土壤NH+4-N含量在N1、N3、NS1和NS3处理下,NO_3~--N含量在N2、N3、NS2和NS3处理下,SO_4~(2-)含量在S、NS1、NS2和NS3处理下均显著高于对照处理(P0.05)。相关分析显示,DOC、铵态氮(NH+4-N)和硝态氮(NO_3~--N)是氮、硫添加处理下影响闽江河口湿地土壤CH_4产生/氧化速率短期变化的主要控制因素。     

模拟大气氮沉降对温带森林土壤微生物群落结构的影响

本研究以温带森林土壤为研究对象,设置野外模拟氮沉降实验,分析不同施氮形态和施氮水平对微生物群落结构的影响。试验设置对照(Control,0 kg N·hm~(-2)·a~(-1))、混合态低氮(NH_4NO_3,50 kg N·hm~(-2)·a~(-1))、混合态高氮(NH_4NO_3,150 kg N·hm~(-2)·a~(-1))、铵态氮低氮((NH_4)_2SO_4,50 kg N·hm~(-2)·a~(-1))、铵态氮高氮((NH_4)_2SO_4,150 kg N·hm~(-2)·a~(-1))、硝态氮低氮(NaNO_3,50 kg N·hm~(-2)·a~(-1))、硝态氮高氮(NaNO_3,150 kg N·hm~(-2)·a~(-1))7种氮处理,持续施氮3年后,运用磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)法对土壤微生物群落结构进行测定。结果表明:在不同水平的氮添加下,土壤微生物总量、细菌、土壤革兰阳性细菌(G+细菌)、土壤革兰阴性细菌(G-细菌)和真菌的PLFA含量均随施氮水平的增加而升高;在不同形态的氮添加下,混合态氮添加提高了微生物总量、细菌、真菌和放线菌的PLFA含量。主成分分析(PCA)表明,除铵态氮低氮添加样地外,其他氮添加处理样地中的土壤微生物结构都发生了改变。这些结果表明,模拟大气氮沉降初期,氮添加会增加温带森林土壤微生物生物量,达到一定水平后会改变土壤微生物群落结构。     

施氮肥对华北平原土壤氨氧化细菌和古菌数量及群落结构的影响

利用荧光定量PCR、末端限制性片段长度多样性(T-RFLP)和基因克隆文库技术,比较了4种施氮水平(不施氮肥,0 kg N/hm~2,CK;施低水平氮肥,75 kg N/hm~2,N1;施中水平氮肥,150 kg N/hm~2,N2;施高水平氮肥,225 kg N/hm~2,N3)下华北平原地区小麦季表层(0—20 cm)土壤总细菌、氨氧化细菌(AOB)和氨氧化古菌(AOA)的丰度和群落结构。结果表明,土壤总细菌、AOB和AOA数量分别在每克干土5.74×10~9—7.50×10~9、8.89×10~6—2.66×10~7和3.83×10~8—7.78×10~8之间。不同施氮量土壤AOA数量均高于AOB数量,AOA/AOB值在81.72—14.38之间。增施氮肥显著显著提高AOB数量(P0.05),对总细菌和AOA数量的影响不显著(P0.05)。与CK相比,处理N1、N2和N3中AOB数量分别提高了0.64、1.50和1.99倍。增施氮肥显著改变了AOB和AOA的群落结构,且不同施氮量处理中AOB群落结构差异更大。系统进化分析显示,施氮肥小麦土壤AOB主要为Nitrosospira属类群,分布在Cluster 3的两个分支中;AOA分布在Cluster S的4个分支中。相关性分析显示,AOB数量与全氮和铵态氮含量呈显著正相关关系,与土壤pH和碳氮比呈显著负相关关系(P0.05);AOA数量与硝态氮含量和土壤pH呈显著正相关关系,与铵态氮含量呈显著负相关关系(P0.05)。研究结果表明:增施氮肥可显著改变华北平原地区碱性土壤AOB数量与群落结构,该地区小麦土壤中AOB比AOA对氮肥响应更敏感。     

施肥模式对设施菜地根际土壤微生物群落结构和丰度的影响

以甘肃武威长期定位设施菜地为研究对象,设定CK(对照)、MNPK(有机肥和无机肥配施)、1/2MNPK(1/2有机肥和无机肥)、M(单有机肥)、NPK(单化肥)等5种施肥处理,采用末端限制性片段多态性分析(T-RFLP)和实时荧光定量PCR技术,研究了根际土壤中细菌、氨氧化细菌和nir K型反硝化细菌群落结构和丰度的变化。结果表明:施肥和根际效应均对设施菜地土壤中的细菌、氨氧化细菌和nir K型反硝化细菌群落结构和丰度产生影响。施肥模式影响根际细菌、氨氧化细菌和nir K型反硝化细菌的主要种群,但对不同功能微生物的影响有差异。细菌16S rRNA基因、amo A基因和nir K基因的最大丰度分别出现在M、MNPK和M处理,为每克干土6.60×109、1.85×108和3.49×107个拷贝数,是CK处理的2.74、2.81和3.46倍。土壤p H值、有机质和全磷含量是影响设施菜地根际细菌、氨氧化细菌和nir K型反硝化细菌丰度的关键因素。     

典型草地土壤好氧甲烷氧化的微生物生态过程

【目的】针对我国甘肃三个典型生态区草地土壤(玛曲MQ、临泽LZ和环县HX),研究其甲烷氧化潜力、甲烷氧化菌(methane-oxidizingbacteria,MOB)丰度及可能存在的群落分异规律。【方法】通过原位分析、室内高浓度甲烷模拟培养三种典型土壤及实时荧光定量、高通量测序的方法研究甲烷氧化菌标靶基因pmoA序列的组成及其丰度变化规律。【结果】三种典型草地土壤的原位甲烷氧化菌的丰度存在显著差异,表现为MQ>HX>LZ,其数量范围为为0.18–6.86×10^7g/d.w.s.;甲烷氧化潜力也表现出类似规律,其通量为109–169mg/(m^2·h);甲烷氧化潜力与原位土壤中甲烷氧化菌丰度有正相关。三种草地土壤甲烷氧化菌存在明显的空间异质性,采用高通量测序的方法,发现三种草地原位土壤中的优势类群为USCγ(Upland Soil Cluster gamma,USCγ);然而,室内高浓度甲烷氧化过程中,传统的甲烷氧化菌均发生明显增加,MQ土壤中TypeⅡ的Methylocystis为优势类群,而LZ和HX土壤的优势类群均为TypeⅠ型Methylosarcina。【结论】这些研究结果表明,我国甘肃典型草地土壤中也存在难培养的大气甲烷氧化菌和经典的可培养甲烷氧化菌,这些微生物极可能氧化极低浓度的大气甲烷,也可能利用闭蓄于土壤中的高浓度甲烷生长。未来应采用先进技术原位观测大气甲烷氧化过程并分离相应微生物类群,研究草地土壤甲烷氧化菌地理分异规律及其环境驱动机制。     

长期施肥对稻田土壤细菌、古菌多样性和群落结构的影响

稻田土壤是“迷失碳”的重要吸纳场所之一,也是温室气体(CH4和N2O等)的重要排放源.大气温室气体的动态变化与土壤碳氮转化的微生物过程紧密相关.以湖南桃江国家级稻田肥力变化长期定位试验点为平台,采用PCR-克隆测序和实时荧光定量PCR技术,研究不施肥(CK)、施氮磷钾肥(NPK)和氮磷钾肥+秸秆还田(NPKS)3种长期施肥制度(＞25 a)对稻田土壤细菌和古菌群落结构及数量的影响.细菌和古菌16S rRNA基因文库分析结果表明:稻田土壤细菌主要类群为变形菌、酸杆菌、绿弯菌,而古菌主要为泉古菌和广古菌.长期施肥导致土壤细菌和古菌种群结构产生明显差异,与CK相比,NPK和NPKS处理稻田土壤的变形菌、酸杆菌和泉古菌相对丰度增加.LIBSHUFF软件分析结果也表明,16S rRNA基因文库在CK、NPK及NPKS处理间存在显著差异.3种施肥处理的稻田土壤细菌16S rRNA基因拷贝数为每克干土0.58× 1010～1.06×1010个,古菌为每克干土1.16×106 ～ 1.72×106个.施肥(NPK和NPKS)后,细菌和古菌的多样性和数量增加,且NPKS＞NPK.说明长期施肥显著影响土壤细菌和古菌群落结构、多样性及数量.     

模拟氮沉降对温带森林土壤酶活性的影响

森林土壤酶作为土壤中最活跃组分,能影响生态系统的物质循环过程,其活性能快速反映氮沉降对土壤环境的变化。以北京地带性植被辽东栎林为研究对象,利用模拟氮沉降方法,原位设计低氮(50 kg N hm~(-2)a~(-1),N50)、高氮(150 kg N hm~(-2)a~(-1),N150)两个施氮水平,每个施氮水平设置Na NO_3、(NH_4)_2SO_4、NH4NO_33个不同的施氮类型,另设置空白对照(0 kg N hm~(-2)a~(-1),N0)。从时间格局上研究不同氮素化学形态和剂量对温带森林土壤6种酶(脲酶、酸性磷酸酶、碱性磷酸酶、β-葡萄糖苷酶、多酚氧化酶和过氧化氢酶)活性的影响。结果表明:在氮形态和水平的交互作用下,NH4NO3-N处理的脲酶活性显著高出NO~-_3-N处理的24.20%(N50),NH~+_4-N处理对酸性磷酸酶活性的影响显著高出NO~-_3-N处理的13.82%(N150);在NH~+_4-N和NH_4NO_3-N处理中,N50水平下的脲酶活性分别高出N0处理的38.90%和24.20%,差异显著。对无氮形态和水平交互作用的酶活性分析得出,不同的施氮水平,对碱性磷酸酶和多酚氧化酶的酶活性有显著促进作用,碱性磷酸酶活性在N50和N150处理下分别比N0高20.2%和11.5%,N50和N150处理对多酚氧化酶活性的促进作用分别比N0处理高64.3%和41.8%,差异显著(P0.05);NH~+_4-N处理对β-葡萄糖苷酶活性具有显著促进作用(P0.05),不同的施氮形态,对碱性磷酸酶、多酚氧化酶和过氧化氢酶的酶活性无显著影响。6种酶活性均呈现了显著的时间变化,氮添加对森林土壤酶活性的时间分异规律没有显著影响。此外,土壤微生物量碳、硝态氮和铵态氮含量与酶活性具有显著相关性(P0.05)。以上结果表明,氮添加通过改变森林土壤的环境因子,影响了土壤中的水解酶和氧化酶活性,进而改变了土壤有机碳库和养分循环。     

Impact of different pH control agents on biopesticidal activity of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Bacillus thuringiensis</Emphasis> during the fermentation of starch industry wastewater

Different pH control agents (NaOH/H₂SO₄—SodSulp, NaOH/CH₃COOH—SodAcet, NH₄OH/CH₃COOH—AmmoAcet and NH₄OH/H₂SO₄—AmmoSulp) were used to investigate their effects on growth, enzyme production (alkaline protease and amylase), and entomotoxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki HD-1 (Btk) against eastern spruce budworm larvae (Choristoneura fumiferana) using starch industry wastewater (SIW) as a raw material in a 15-l fermentor. AmmoSulp and SodSulp were found to be the best pH control agents for alkaline protease and amylase production, respectively; whereas, the fermented broth obtained by using SodAcet as pH control agents recorded the highest delta-endotoxin production of 1043.0 mg/l and entomotoxicity value 18.4 × 10⁹ SBU/l. Entomotoxicity of re-suspended centrifuged pellet in one-tenth of original volume in case of SodAcet as pH control agents was 26.7 × 10⁹ SBU/l and was the highest value compared to three other pH control agents.     

Methanotrophic community structure and activity under warming and grazing of alpine meadow on the Tibetan Plateau

Knowledge about methanotrophs and their activities is important to understand the microbial mediation of the greenhouse gas CH₄ under climate change and human activities in terrestrial ecosystems. The effects of simulated warming and sheep grazing on methanotrophic abundance, community composition, and activity were studied in an alpine meadow soil on the Tibetan Plateau. There was high abundance of methanotrophs (1.2–3.4 × 10⁸ pmoA gene copies per gram of dry weight soil) assessed by real-time PCR, and warming significantly increased the abundance regardless of grazing. A total of 64 methanotrophic operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were obtained from 1,439 clone sequences, of these OTUs; 63 OTUs (98.4%) belonged to type I methanotrophs, and only one OTU was Methylocystis of type II methanotrophs. The methanotroph community composition and diversity were not apparently affected by the treatments. Warming and grazing significantly enhanced the potential CH₄ oxidation activity. There were significantly negative correlations between methanotrophic abundance and soil moisture and between methanotrophic abundance and NH₄–N content. The study suggests that type I methanotrophs, as the dominance, may play a key role in CH₄ oxidation, and the alpine meadow has great potential to consume more CH₄ under future warmer and grazing conditions on the Tibetan Plateau.     

Soil water, nutrient availability and sapling survival under organic and polyethylene mulch in a seasonally dry tropical forest

We examine the effect of mulches on the soil volumetric water content (SVWC), pH, carbon (C), total and mineral (NH₄ and NO₃) nitrogen (N), total and bicarbonate phosphorus (P), and on the survival and relative growth rate of three species, Ipomea wolcottiana Rose, Lonchocarpus eriocarinalis Micheli and Caesalpinia eriostachys Benth, in a degraded seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) area. Our study year was unusually dry, with only half of the mean annual rainfall. Sixteen plots (5 × 6 m) for each of our four treatments, mulches with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) straw, forest litter (SDTF litter), polyethylene and bare soil (control), were used. In each plot, 20 tree saplings were planted of each species. The SVWC was higher in plots mulched with polyethylene than in bare soil plots. The soil pH did not change with mulching, and there were no differences between treatments in the concentrations of soil organic C, total N, NO₃ and total P. However, soil concentrations of NH₄ were highest in plots with alfalfa straw and of bicarbonate P in plots with polyethylene. Sapling survival was higher in polyethylene mulch plots than in other mulching treatments, in the order I.␣wolcottiana > C. eriostachys > L. eriocarinalis. Sapling survival under organic mulches, alfalfa straw and forest litter were similar, and lowest in bare soil. The relative growth rate followed the order L. eriocarinalis < C. eriostachys < I. wolcotiana, and the growth rate of all species was greatest under polyethylene mulch. We conclude that a combination of polyethylene mulch with species of high growth rate is best for restoring seasonally dry tropical areas.     

The effects of dissolved organic carbon,acidity and seasonality on metal geochemistry within a forested catchment on the Precambrian Shield,central Ontario,Canada

Metal pollution, in combination with other environmental stressors such as acid deposition and climate change, may disturb metal biogeochemical cycles. To investigate the influence of dissolved organic carbon, acidity and seasonality on metal geochemistry, this study has described concentrations of 19 metals as they pass through an acidified forested catchment on the Precambrian Shield in south-central Ontario, Canada. Metal, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and sulphate (SO₄ ²⁻) concentrations fluctuate throughout the catchment compartments as the water passes through and interacts with vegetation, soils and bedrock. Relationships among metals, DOC and SO₄ ²⁻ are most pronounced in compartments where DOC and SO₄ ²⁻ exhibit high variability, namely in the throughfall, organic horizon soil water, and wetland-draining stream. Metal, DOC and SO₄ ²⁻ concentrations varied seasonally in the streams, and temporal coherence occurred among metal, DOC and SO₄ ²⁻ concentrations in the organic horizon soil water and the wetland-draining stream (PC1). In the wetland-draining stream, the highest DOC, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, and V concentrations occur in the summer, whereas concentrations of SO₄ ²⁻ and most other metals peak in the fall after a period of drought. Despite the rural location, provincial water quality objectives for surface water were exceeded for many metals when the peak fall values occurred.     

模拟SO42-沉降对闽江口淡水感潮野慈姑湿地甲烷排放通量的影响

2015年12月—2016年10月,每月小潮日原位定期向闽江口塔礁洲淡水感潮野慈姑(Sagittaria trifolia L.)湿地施加剂量为60、120 kg S hm~(-2)a~(-1)的K_2SO_4溶液(分别记做S-60和S-120),探讨模拟硫酸根(SO_4~(2-))沉降对河口淡水感潮湿地甲烷(CH4)排放通量及间隙水SO_4~(2-)浓度的影响。对照、S-60和S-120处理组CH_4排放通量年均值分别为(7.88±1.00)mg h~(-1)m~(-2)、(6.55±0.97)mg h~(-1)m~(-2)和(6.66±1.49)mg h~(-1)m~(-2)。在年尺度上,两个高强度模拟SO_4~(2-)沉降处理组均未显著降低闽江口淡水感潮野慈姑湿地CH_4排放通量(P0.05),即高强度SO_4~(2-)沉降不会对河口淡水感潮湿地CH_4排放通量产生类似于其对泥炭湿地和水稻田的显著抑制效应。在年尺度以及秋、冬季,两个施加K_2SO_4溶液处理显著增加了野慈姑湿地10 cm深度土壤间隙水SO_4~(2-)浓度。对于各个处理组,温度较高的夏、秋季CH_4排放通量均显著高于温度相对较低的冬、春季(P0.05)。不同处理组CH_4排放通量均与土壤温度呈显著正相关关系,温度仍然是影响亚热带河口淡水感潮湿地CH_4排放通量的重要环境因子。     

Application of statistically-based experimental designs in medium optimization for spore production of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus subtilis</Emphasis> from distillery effluent

Spore production of Bacillus subtilis from distillery effluent was optimized using statistically-based experimental designs. The two-level Plackett–Burman design was applied to choose the nutrient supplements significantly influencing spore production. Among the seven variables we tested, the most significant variables influencing spore production were statistically elucidated for optimization, and included (NH₄)₂SO₄, corn flour and MgSO₄. The optimum concentration of each significant variable was then predicted using Box–Behnken design. A second-order polynomial was determined by the multiple regression analysis of this experimental data. The optimum values for the critical nutrient supplements for the maximum were obtained as followed: (NH₄)₂SO₄, 4.54%; corn flour, 1.2%; MgSO₄, 0.56% with the corresponding value of maximum spore production of 7.24 × 10⁸ spores/ml. A verification experiment performed under the optimum conditions resulted in 6.95 × 10⁸ spores/ml. The determination coefficient (R ²) was 0.98, which ensure an adequate credibility of the model.     

Effect of nitrogen form and phosphorus source on the growth,nutrient uptake and rhizosphere soil property of Camellia sinensis L.

The effects of nitrogen form and phosphorus source on the growth, nutrient uptake and rhizosphere soil property of tea (Camellia sinensis L.) were investigated in a pot experiment. The experiment was performed with a compartmental cropping device, which enables the collection of rhizosphere soil at defined distances from the root of tea plant. Nitrogen was supplied as nitrate or ammonium in combination with soluble phosphorus as Ca(H₂PO₄)₂ or insoluble P as rock phosphate. The leaf dry matter production of tea was significantly greater in the treatments with NH₄ ⁺ than NO₃ ^-, whereas dry matter production of root and stem was not significantly affected. Addition of phosphorus as either source did not influence the dry matter production. The concentrations of K in root, Mg and Ca in both the shoot and root supplied with NO₃ ^- were significantly higher than in NH₄ ⁺ and influence of P sources was minor. On the contrary, Al and Mn concentrations were significantly larger in NH₄ ^--fed plants which could be attributed to remarkably increased availability of Al and Mn caused by acidification of the rhizosphere soil (the first 1-mm soil section from the root surface) with NH₄–N nutrition. The concentration of N in shoot was also significantly higher in NH₄- than in NO₃-fed plants, indicating higher use efficiency of NH₄–N. Whatever the phosphate source, rhizosphere pH declined in ammonium compared to in nitrate treatment. The pH decrease was much larger when no P or soluble P were applied and reached 0.85–1.30 units which extended to 3–5 mm away from the root surface. Exchangeable acidity, content of exchangeable Al and Mn were also considerably higher in the rhizosphere soils of NH₄ ⁺ fed tea plants. Significant amounts of P dissolved from rock phosphate accumulated in rhizosphere of NH₄ ⁺, not NO₃ ^-, suggesting that the dissolution of rock phosphate was induced by the proton excreted by tea root fed with ammonium. With soluble P addition, shoot and root P concentrations were greater in NH₄ ⁺ than in NO₃ ^- treatment and it appeared that this difference could not be sufficiently explained by the available P content in soil which was only slightly higher in NH₄ ⁺ treatment. With rock phosphate addition, the shoot and root P concentrations were hardly affected by nitrogen form, although the available P content was much higher and accumulated in the rhizosphere soil supplied with ammonium. The reason for this was discussed with regard to the inter-relationship of Al with P uptake. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

RNA polymerase activity in isolated nuclei ofNicotiana sanderae callus: Characteristics and modulation during differentiation

Isolated nuclei from differentiating cultures ofNicotiana sanderae showed increased levels of RNA polymerase activity as compared to the nuclei from callus cultures. The RNA synthetic activity was dependent on nucleotide triphosphates and Mg²⁺ and was destroyed by RNase. Maximum activity was obtained in the presence of 50 mM (NH₄)₂ SO₄ and α-amanitin inhibited 40% and 55% of the activity in the nuclei from callus and differentiating tissue respectively. The nuclei from differentiating tissue elicited a 3-fold increase in RNA polymerase I and a 4-fold augmentation in RNA polymerase II activities.     

Ammonium nutrition increases photosynthesis rate under water stress at early development stage of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

An hydroponic experiment with a simulated water stress induced by PEG (6000) was conducted in a greenhouse to study the effects of nitrate (NO₃ ⁻), ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) and the mixture of NO₃ ⁻ and NH₄ ⁺, on water stress tolerance of rice seedlings. Rice (Shanyou 63) was grown under non- or simulated water stress condition (10% (w/v) PEG, MW6000) with the 3 different N forms during 4 weeks. Under non-stressed condition no difference was observed among the N treatments. Under simulated water stress, seedlings grown on N-NO₃ ⁻ were stunted. Addition of PEG did not affect rice seedling growth in the treatment of only NH₄ ⁺ supply but slightly inhibited the rice seedling growth in the treatment of mixed supply of NO₃ ⁻ and NH₄ ⁺. Simulated water stress, when only N-NH₄ ⁺ was present, did not affect leaf area and photosynthesis rate, however, both parameters decreased significantly in the NO₃ ⁻ containing solutions. Under water stress, Rubisco content in newly expanded leaves significantly increased in the sole NH₄ ⁺ supplied plants as compared to that in plants of the other two N treatments. Under water stress, the ratio of carboxylation efficiency to Rubisco content was, respectively, decreased by 13 and 23% in NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ⁻ treatments, respectively. It is concluded that, water stress influenced the Rubisco activity than stomatal limitation, and this effects could be regulated by N forms. Responsible Editor: Herbert Johannes Kronzucker. Shiwei Guo and Gui Chen contributed equally to this paper.