The effect of season on VA mycorrhiza of the almond tree and of phosphate fertilization and species of endophyte on its mycorrhizal dependency

Summary Prunus dulcis (Miller), a tree which is able to develop in low fertility soils, forms VA mycorrhiza. Under glasshouse conditions the growth and P concentration in the leaf tissue of non-mycorrhizal plants, given a customary agronomic dose of P-fertilizer, were lower than those of mycorrhizal plants. The relative mycorrhizal dependency¹⁴ values of the almond tree were higher when a mixture of locally isolated (mainlyGlomus fasciculatus) was used as inoculum. These indigenous endophytes were more tolerant of added fertilizers thanGlomus mosseae taken from the pot-culture collection.The amount of VA infection and the number of Endogonaceae spores in the rhizosphere of almond trees growing in the field steadily increase from winter (the flowering season of this crop) until summer or early autumn.     

Effect of combined inoculation ofAzospirillum brasilense and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza on pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum)

Summary Growth and phosphorus uptake of pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum) on an unsterile, phosphorus-deficient soil was improved by the seed inoculation withAzospirillum brasilense or soil inoculation with the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Acaulospora,Gigaspora margarita, Glomus fasciculatum). These microorganisms acted synergistically when added simultaneously and the response was significant withAzospirillum brasilense + Gigaspora margarita andAzospirillum brasilense + Glomus fasciculatum combinations over uninoculated control as far as the dry matter content of shoots, root biomass and phosphorus uptake of the millet was concerned.     

刺槐根瘤菌与纤维素分解菌对上海青和高粱的促生效应

通过盆栽试验,用刺槐根瘤菌(Rhizobium of Robinia pseudoacacia)与纤维素分解菌(Cellulose-decomposing Bacteria)对高粱和上海青进行单独接种和混合接种,采用针刺、浸种和涂叶3种接种方法,测量其各种生长指标。初步探究刺槐根瘤菌与纤维素分解菌联合对禾本科作物高粱和双子叶作物上海青两种非豆科植物的促生效应。结果表明,在非针刺条件下,两种菌混接组(B组)比单独接种根瘤菌组(D组)的促生效应更显著,上海青B组在灭菌条件下的根长促生率比D组高出48.97%,高粱B组在非灭菌条件下干重的促生率比D组高出30.76%;而且除了高粱的B组干重以外,盆栽试验条件下,B、D两组的其他生长指标在灭菌情况下的促生率比非灭菌条件下的促生率高,差别最大的为上海青B组鲜重,灭菌条件下比非灭菌条件下高出47.13%。根瘤菌与纤维素分解菌混合接种非针刺组,对高粱和上海青的各项生长指标促生效应明显,可为今后进一步开发非豆科作物菌肥提供试验依据。     

Interaction of heparin with antithrombin III and platelet factor 4: pH dependence demonstrated with a new rocket precipitin electrophoretic procedure

Only 30% of commercial heparin reacts with antithrombin III (ATIII). This study shows that the interaction is pH dependent: 100% of the heparin binds to ATIII at pH 3.0, 30% at physiological pH. Binding of ATIII, platelet factor 4, and protamine to heparin was studied using a new rocket precipitin electrophoresis procedure, adapted from the Laurell rocket immunoelectrophoresis procedure. Protamine is incorporated into agarose gel, and heparin mixtures with protamine, ATIII, or platelet factor 4 electrophoresed into the gel from a series of wells. The residual free heparin is precipitated by the protamine in a rocket-shaped arc, the height of which is proportional to the amount of free heparin. No antibody is employed. This procedure is useful for quantitation of heparin and for studying the binding of heparin to proteins.     

Retinoids synergized with insulin to induce Srebp-1c expression and activated its promoter via the two liver X receptor binding sites that mediate insulin action

We have reported that the rat liver lipophilic extract (LE) synergized with insulin to induce Gck and Srebp-1c in primary rat hepatocytes. After identification of retinol and retinal in LE, only their effects in the absence or presence of insulin on Gck, but not that on Srebp-1c, were investigated subsequently. The retinoid effects on the Srebp-1c expression and the activation of its promoter were examined with real-time PCR and reporter gene assays, respectively. In primary hepatocytes, retinal and retinoic acid (RA) synergized with insulin to induce Srebp-1c expression. This induction was followed by the elevation of its target gene, fatty acid synthase. Activation of retinoid X receptor, but not retinoic acid receptor, was responsible for the induction of Srebp-1c expression. RA, but not retinal, also induced Srebp-1c expression in a dose dependent manner in INS-1 cells. The RA responsive elements in Srebp-1c promoter were determined as previously identified two liver X receptor elements responsible for mediating insulin action. We conclude that retinoids regulate hepatic Srebp-1c expression through activation of retinoid X receptor. The RA- and insulin-induced Srebp-1c expression converged at the same sites in its promoter, indicating the roles of vitamin A in regulation of hepatic gene expression.     

Effect of soil volume and plant density on mycorrhizal infection and growth response

Summary The effect of soil volume and plant density on mycorrhizal infection and growth response was studied with onion. There was a significant negative correlation between percentage vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal infection and root density. The growth response due to mycorrhiza decreased when less soil was available for the plant. The root: shoot ratio decreased with increasing plant density in both mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants. Pot size did not affect the root: shoot ratio.     

VA真菌对构树(Broussonetia papyrifera)幼苗物质代谢的影响

石灰岩地区因其干旱瘠薄的生境特征,植被难以恢复,然而仍有一些适生植物如构树生长良好,原因可能与根际微生物有关。就石灰岩适生植物构树(Broussonetia papyrifera)进行菌根真菌摩西球囊霉(Glomus mosseea)、地表球囊霉(Glomus versiforme)、透光球囊霉(Glomus diaphanum)的单独接种、混合接种和不接种处理,幼苗生长3个月后测定其生理指标,以期从代谢水平上了解植物对VA真菌的生理响应。结果表明：构树幼苗叶片可溶性糖、蛋白质,脯氨酸和叶绿素均较非接种处理有不同程度的显著提高,丙二醛含量则较对照降低。各代谢物质存在一定相关性。在物质代谢水平上,构树幼苗对不同VA真菌处理有不同的生理响应。宿主植物和VA真菌之间存在一定的相互选择。接种VA真菌提高了石灰岩适生植物构树的抗逆性。     

Selection of efficient vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for wetland rice — a preliminary screen

Eighteen different VA mycorrhizal fungi were screened for their symbiotic responses with wet land rice cultivar Prakash (IET 2254) under pot culture. Of the 18 fungi, Acaulospora sp. (ICRISAT), Glomus fasciculatum (Riverside) and G. mosseae (Invermay) were found to be the best in improving plant height, tiller number, total biomass, panicle number, grain weight and plant P and Zn concentrations. Increases in grain yield caused by inoculation with Acaulospora sp. (ICRISAT), G. fasciculatum (Riverside) and G. mosseae (Invermay) were 62%, 59% and 35%, respectively.     

The response of mycorrhizal colonization to elevated CO2 and climate change in Pascopyrum smithii and Bouteloua gracilis

Large intact soil cores of nearly pure stands of Pascopyrum smithii (western wheatgrass, C₃) and Bouteloua gracilis (blue grama, C₄) were extracted from the Central Plains Experimental Range in northeastern Colorado, USA and transferred to controlled environment chambers. Cores were exposed to a variety of water, temperature and CO₂ regimes for a total of four annual growth cycles. Root subsamples were harvested after the completion of the second and fourth growth cycles at a time corresponding to late winter, and were examined microscopically for the presence of mycorrhizae. After two growth cycles in the growth chambers, 54% of the root length was colonized in P. smithii, compared to 35% in blue grama. Field control plants had significantly lower colonization. Elevation of CO₂ increased mycorrhizal colonization in B. gracilis by 46% but had no effect in P. smithii. Temperatures 4° C higher than normal decreased colonization in P. smithii by 15%. Increased annual precipitation decreased colonization in both species. Simulated climate change conditions of elevated CO₂, elevated temperature and lowered precipitation decreased colonization in P. smithii but had less effect on B. gracilis. After four growth cycles in P. smithii, trends of treatments remained similar, but overall colonization rate decreased.