Soil fungal community changes in response to long-term fire cessation and N fertilization in tallgrass prairie

In grasslands, fire management and fertilization are established drivers of plant community change, but associated soil fungal responses are less well defined. We predicted that soil fungal communities would change seasonally, that decades of fire cessation and nitrogen (N) fertilization would alter fungal distributions, and that plant and fungal community change would be correlated. Surface soils were sampled monthly for 1 y from a 30-y fire by fertilization experiment to evaluate fungal community dynamics and assess correlation with plant community heterogeneity. ITS gene community composition was seasonally stable, excepting increased arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal summer abundance in the burned, fertilized treatment. Long-term treatments affected soil fungal and plant communities, with correlated heterogeneity patterns. Despite woody encroachment in the fire cessation treatment, soil fungal communities did not resemble those of forests. This study provides evidence supporting the strength of feedbacks between fungal and plant community change in response to long-term grassland fire and N management changes.     

Survival and behavioral characteristics of amphidromous goby larvae of Sicyopterus japonicus (Tanaka, 1909) during their downstream migration

To understand the ecology and environmental tolerances of newly hatched larvae of the amphidromous fish Sicyopterus japonicus during their downstream migration, the salinity tolerance of eggs, 0-15 day old larvae, and adults, and the temperature tolerance, specific gravity and phototaxis of hatched larvae were examined. Tolerances of adults were measured as survival after a 24 h challenge in freshwater (FW), brackish water (1/3 SW) and seawater (SW). The survival rate of adult S. japonicus was 100% in FW and 1/3 SW, while none survived in SW. Hatching success of eggs (30 eggs each) was significantly higher in FW (mean: 73%) and 1/3 SW (73%) than in SW (19%). Tolerance of newly hatched larvae to salinity and temperature was investigated in different combinations of salinities (FW, 1/3 SW and SW) and temperatures (18, 23 and 28 °C). Larval survival was significantly different in each salinity and temperature. Survival rate was significantly higher in 1/3 SW than in FW and higher in SW than in FW at 23 °C and 28 °C. At the latter part of the experiment, there was no survival in FW and at 28 °C. Survival was higher in lower temperatures, but larval development did not occur in FW. Specific gravity of newly hatched larvae was 1.036 at 28 °C and 1.034 at 23 °C. When exposed to a light source on one side of an aquarium, larval distribution was not affected. Our results indicated larval S. japonicus are more adapted to brackish water and seawater than freshwater, while the adults and eggs are more adapted to freshwater and brackish water than seawater. This is consistent with their amphidromous life history with growth and spawning occurring in freshwater and the larval stage utilizing marine habitats.     

异丙甲草胺及其高效体对潮土微生物的影响Ⅱ.土壤呼吸

研究了0、5、20和100 mg·kg^-1浓度的异丙甲草胺及其高效体金都尔对土壤微生物呼吸的影响.结果表明,5 mg·kg^-1异丙甲草胺对土壤呼吸的激活程度大于同浓度的金都尔,后期异丙甲草胺起抑制作用,而金都尔则一直处于激发和恢复状态;20 mg·kg^-1金都尔对土壤呼吸的影响不大,而异丙甲草胺具有激发作用;100 mg·kg^-1异丙甲草胺对土壤呼吸的激活程度大于同浓度的金都尔,后期二者的抑制程度大致相同;异丙甲草胺或金都尔的浓度越大,对土壤呼吸强度的激活越显著.DMRT法检验表明,在初期各处理与对照间的呼吸强度都存在显著差异,后期则差异不显著.20和100 mg·kg^-1异丙甲草胺对土壤微生物的危害大于同浓度的金都尔.异丙甲草胺和金都尔为低毒或无实际危害的农药,对土壤微生物的危害较小.     

Field Studies of the Wheat Stomata Resistance Influenced by Soil Water Content

Concurrent observations of soil water potential and leaf stomata diffusion resistance were made on two, plots of wheat grown at Datun Agro-ecological Experimental Station in Beijing under two different soil water conditions. These data were further complemented by weather and physiological observation. In this paper, we mainly analysed the influence of soil water potential on the status of wheat leaf stomatal resistance. The results indicate that: (1) there is a obvious influence of soil water potential on the status of wheat leaf stomata under normal conditions and (2) there is a different upper and lower epidermis stomata of wheat leaf respond to the soil water potential. The lower epidermis stomata are more sensitive to soil water potential than upper epidermis one. (3) There is a linear relationship between the ratio of lower and upper epidermis stomata resistance and soil water potential in root layer, according to this we can diagnose the degree of wheat water deficit.     

Association between tree-ring and needle δ<Superscript>13</Superscript>C and leaf gas exchange in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus halepensis</Emphasis> under semi-arid conditions

Associations between δ¹³C values and leaf gas exchanges and tree-ring or needle growth, used in ecophysiological compositions, can be complex depending on the relative timing of CO₂ uptake and subsequent redistribution and allocation of carbon to needle and stem components. For palaeoenvironmental and dendroecological studies it is often interpreted in terms of a simple model of δ¹³C fractionation in C₃ plants. However, in spite of potential complicating factors, few studies have actually examined these relationships in mature trees over inter- and intra-annual time-scales. Here, we present results from a 4 years study that investigated the links between variations in leaf gas-exchange properties, growth, and dated δ¹³C values along the needles and across tree rings of Aleppo pine trees growing in a semi-arid region under natural conditions or with supplemental summer irrigation. Sub-sections of tissue across annual rings and along needles, for which time of formation was resolved from growth rate analyses, showed rapid growth and δ¹³C responses to changing environmental conditions. Seasonal cycles of growth and δ¹³C (up to ~4‰) significantly correlated (P<0.01) with photosynthetically active radiation, vapour pressure deficit, air temperature, and soil water content. The irrigation significantly increased leaf net assimilation, stomatal conductance and needle and tree-ring growth rate, and markedly decreased needle and tree-ring δ¹³C values and its sensitivity to environmental parameters. The δ¹³C estimates derived from gas-exchange parameters, and weighted by assimilation, compared closely with seasonal and inter-annual δ¹³C values of needle- and tree-ring tissue. Higher stomatal conductances of the irrigated trees (0.22 vs. 0.08 mol m⁻² s⁻¹ on average) corresponded with ~2.0‰ lower average δ¹³C values, both measured and derived. Derived and measured δ¹³C values also indicated that needle growth, which occurs throughout the stressful summer was supported by carbon from concurrent, low rate assimilation. For Aleppo pine under semi-arid and irrigated conditions, the δ¹³C of tree-ring and needle material proved, in general, to be a reasonable indicator of integrated leaf gas-exchange properties.     

一株沙门氏菌拮抗菌的筛选及其在污染土壤原位修复中的应用

利用无菌滤纸片平板法从沙门氏菌(Salmonella)污染土壤中筛选到一株有效拮抗沙门氏菌的细菌A45,通过形态学、革兰氏染色和16SrDNA序列同源性分析鉴定为产碱杆菌(Alcaligenes sp.)。温室土培试验和田间原位试验结果都发现,利用该菌株制备的沙门氏菌拮抗菌剂能显著降低土壤中沙门氏菌数量(P0.05),与对照相比土壤中沙门氏菌数量下降2-3个数量级,表明该拮抗细菌可应用于沙门氏菌污染土壤的修复。     

盐胁迫对四季竹细胞膜透性和矿质离子吸收、运输和分配的影响

采用盆栽控制试验,研究了土壤不同NaCl浓度(0(CK)、1‰、2‰、3‰、4‰、5‰和6‰)处理45 d对四季竹叶片脱落率和细胞膜透性以及立竹器官K+、Na+、Ca2+和Cl-等矿质离子的吸收、运输和分配的影响.结果表明,1‰～2‰NaCl处理对四季竹叶片脱落率和离子渗漏率无显著影响,3‰～6‰ NaCl处理显著提高了叶片脱落率和离子渗漏率,四季竹的盐胁迫伤害随土壤盐浓度的增大而加剧.随着Na+、Cl-在四季竹立竹各器官中的显著增加,竹根、竹秆、竹枝K+含量逐渐下降,Ca2+含量变化较小,并且K+、Ca2+在竹根、竹秆中的向上选择性运输能力逐渐减弱.由于竹叶在低浓度(1‰～2‰)和高浓度(3‰～6‰)盐胁迫下分别对Ca2+和K+具有较高的选择性吸收能力,随盐浓度的增大,竹叶K+含量迅速升高,Ca2+含量先升高后下降,这对维持竹叶的营养平衡和正常生长具有重要意义.3‰～6‰NaCl处理时,Na+、Cl-在竹叶中的浓度显著高于立竹其他器官,不仅降低了竹叶的渗透势,有利于水分的向上运输,而且四季竹还可以通过叶片脱落的方式降低体内的盐分含量,减轻盐离子毒害.     

Potassium in agriculture – Status and perspectives

In this review we summarize factors determining the plant availability of soil potassium (K), the role of K in crop yield formation and product quality, and the dependence of crop stress resistance on K nutrition. Average soil reserves of K are generally large, but most of it is not plant-available. Therefore, crops need to be supplied with soluble K fertilizers, the demand of which is expected to increase significantly, particularly in developing regions of the world. Recent investigations have shown that organic exudates of some bacteria and plant roots play a key role in releasing otherwise unavailable K from K-bearing minerals. Thus, breeding for genotypes that have improved mechanisms to gain access to this fixed K will contribute toward more sustainable agriculture, particularly in cropping systems that do not have access to fertilizer K. In K-deficient crops, the supply of sink organs with photosynthates is impaired, and sugars accumulate in source leaves. This not only affects yield formation, but also quality parameters, for example in wheat, potato and grape. As K has beneficial effects on human health, its concentration in the harvest product is a quality parameter in itself. Owing to its fundamental roles in turgor generation, primary metabolism, and long-distance transport, K plays a prominent role in crop resistance to drought, salinity, high light, or cold as well as resistance to pests and pathogens. Despite the abundance of vital roles of K in crop production, an improvement of K uptake and use efficiency has not been a major focus of conventional or transgenic breeding in the past. In addition, current soil analysis methods for K are insufficient for some common soils, posing the risk of imbalanced fertilization. A stronger prioritization of these areas of research is needed to counter declines in soil fertility and to improve food security.     

Two new species of Aspergillus section Fumigati isolated from caatinga soil in the State of Pernambuco,Brazil

Aspergillus caatingaensis and A. pernambucoensis, isolated from semi-desert soil in caatinga area, the State of Pernambuco, Brazil, are described and illustrated. Aspergillus caatingaensis is characterized by its white cleistothecia, broadly lenticular ascospores with four equatorial crests and irregularly ribbed to slightly reticulate with aculeate convex surfaces, and ellipsoidal to broadly ellipsoidal conidia with a smooth wall. Aspergillus pernambucoensis is characterized by its, white cleistothecia, lenticular ascospores with two equatorial crests and irregularly ribbed with tuberculate to verrucate convex surfaces, and ovoid to broadly ellipsoidal conidia with a smooth wall. The validation of these new species is supported further by analyses of the β-tubulin, calmodulin and actin gene sequences.     

The role of below-ground competition during early stages of secondary succession: the case of 3-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings in an abandoned grassland

In abandoned or extensively managed grasslands, the mechanisms involved in pioneer tree species success are not fully explained. Resource competition among plants and microclimate modifications have been emphasised as possible mechanisms to explain variation of survivorship and growth. In this study, we evaluated a number of mechanisms that may lead to successful survival and growth of seedlings of a pioneer tree species (Pinus sylvestris) in a grass-dominated grassland. Three-year-old Scots pines were planted in an extensively managed grassland of the French Massif Central and for 2 years were either maintained in bare soil or subjected to aerial and below-ground interactions induced by grass vegetation. Soil temperatures were slightly higher in bare soil than under the grass vegetation, but not to an extent explaining pine growth differences. The tall grass canopy reduced light transmission by 77% at ground level and by 20% in the upper part of Scots pine seedlings. Grass vegetation presence also significantly decreased soil volumetric water content (Hv) and soil nitrate in spring and in summer. In these conditions, the average tree height was reduced by 5% compared to trees grown in bare soil, and plant biomass was reduced by 85%. Scots pine intrinsic water-use efficiency (A/g), measured by leaf gas-exchange, increased when Hv decreased owing to a rapid decline of stomatal conductance (g). This result was also confirmed by δ ¹³C analyses of needles. A summer ¹⁵N labelling of seedlings and grass vegetation confirmed the higher NO₃ capture capacity of grass vegetation in comparison with Scots pine seedlings. Our results provide evidence that the seedlings' success was linked to tolerance of below-ground resource depletion (particularly water) induced by grass vegetation based on morphological and physiological plasticity as well as to resource conservation.