New citriculture system suppresses native and augmented entomopathogenic nematodes

Since its first detection in 2005, the bacterial disease huanglongbing (HLB or citrus greening) has emerged as a critical threat to the citrus industry in Florida. An “Advanced Production System” (APS) could mitigate the impact of HLB by bringing citrus trees into production more quickly and economically than conventional citriculture methods. However, unlike conventional practices, APS fertigates plants daily, thereby changing the soil properties in ways that might impact soil biota. We tested the hypothesis that changes to soil properties caused by APS would affect the abundance of native entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) and/or the survival of augmented EPNs. The densities of organisms at different trophic levels were measured by real-time qPCR in three experiments conducted in an ongoing field experiment. Target organisms included 6 entompathogenic nematodes, 5 nematophagous fungi (NF) and a phoretic bacterium, Paenibacillus sp. Soil properties, free-living nematodes and citrus fibrous roots were also measured. Compared to soil under conventional citriculture (CC), APS increased soil pH and Mg content, while reducing the electrical conductivity, and content of K, Mn and Fe. The naturally occurring EPN Steinernema diaprepesi was 5 times less abundant in APS plots where these nematodes were more heavily encumbered by the phoretic bacterium Paenibacillus sp., which limits the foraging success of EPNs. In general, when EPNs were augmented in either treatment, fewer Steinernema riobrave than Heterorhabditis indica were recovered and recovery of both species declined rapidly over time. As seen with native S. diaprepesi, fewer augmented S. riobrave were recovered from APS plots in two of the three experiments, whereas the management system did not affect the recovery of H. indica. More of some endoparasitic and trapping NF were recovered from soil augmented with S. riobrave than with H. indica. However, variation in the responses of NF to the management systems suggests that these NF species were not primarily responsible for the steinernematid responses to APS. Although APS has the potential to reduce EPN populations and exacerbate herbivory by subterranean pests such as the root weevil Diaprepes abbreviatus, additional study of the physical causes of this effect may reveal ways to avoid the problem.     

In vitro study on the effect of cytokines and auxins addition to growth medium on the micropropagation and rooting of Paulownia species (Paulownia hybrid and Paulownia tomentosa)

This study represents an efficient preliminary protocol for in vitro mass production of two Paulownia species (Paulownia hybrid and Paulownia tomentosa) seedlings by using seed explant. Different concentrations of benzyladenine (BA) or Kinetin (Kin) (0.0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0 and 10.0 mg/L) were tested during multiplication stage. The number of shoots/explants was significantly increased with increasing either BA or Kin concentration; however, the shoot length significantly decreased. Data show that media fortified by BA (10 mg/L) combined with indole butyric acid (IBA) at 1.0 or 1.5 mg/L recorded the highest number of shoots/explant (9.13 and 9.25, respectively). After six weeks during the multiplication stage, data cleared that media fortified by benzyladenine (10 mg/L) combined with IBA at 0.5 mg/L recorded the highest shoot length (3.23 cm). The inclusion of indole butyric acid (IBA) or naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) at 1.0–1.5 mg/L to the medium significantly increased the number of roots/plantlets and the highest root length. The results indicated that IBA supplementation was more effective than NAA for in vitro rooting of both Paulownia species. The best treatment for multiplication was 10 mg/L and 8.0–10 mg/L BA for P. hybrid and P. tomentosa, respectively. Peat moss and sand (1:1, v/v) or peat moss and sand (1:2, v/v) were investigated as soil mixture during the adaptation stage. The results referred that Paulownia species plantlets were successfully survived (100 %) in soil mixture contained peat moss: sand (1:2, v/v). This mixture recorded the highest values of plantlet height and number of leaves/plantlets.     

Wetland drying indirectly influences plant community and seed bank diversity through soil pH

High altitude wetlands on the Tibetan Plateau have been shrinking due to anthropogenic disturbances and global climate change. However, the few studies that have been conducted on wetlands are inconclusive about the effect of soil moisture on seed banks and potential of seed banks in wetlands with different levels of soil moisture for regeneration of dried wetlands. We investigated seed banks and plant communities along a soil moisture gradient. A structural equation model was used to analyze the direct and indirect effects of soil moisture on seed banks, as well as the relationship between plant communities and seed banks. Although soil moisture had no direct effects on seed bank richness and density and indirect effects on seed banks through plant community, it had indirect effects on the seed bank through soil pH. Soil moisture also did not have direct effects on plant community richness, but it had indirect effects through soil pH. Plant community composition changed with soil moisture, but aboveground plant abundance and seed banks composition did not change. Low similarity exists between plant community and seed banks for all wetlands, and similarity decreased along the moisture gradient. The key factor determining plant community diversity was soil pH, while seed bank diversity was mainly affected by soil pH and plant community diversity with wetland drying. Although potential for regenerating the plant community from the seed bank decreased with an increase in soil moisture, drained wetlands still have enough residual seeds for successful restoration of species-rich alpine meadows.     

Direct and indirect effects of rats: does rat eradication restore ecosystem functioning of New Zealand seabird islands?

Introduced rats (Rattus spp.) can affect island vegetation structure and ecosystem functioning, both directly and indirectly (through the reduction of seabird populations). The extent to which structure and function of islands where rats have been eradicated will converge on uninvaded islands remains unclear. We compared three groups of islands in New Zealand: islands never invaded by rats, islands with rats, and islands on which rats have been controlled. Differences between island groups in soil and leaf chemistry and leaf production were largely explained by burrow densities. Community structure of woody seedlings differed by rat history and burrow density. Plots on islands with high seabird densities had the most non-native plant species. Since most impacts of rats were mediated through seabird density, the removal of rats without seabird recolonization is unlikely to result in a reversal of these processes. Even if seabirds return, a novel plant community may emerge.     

A comparison of arsenic mobility in Phaseolus vulgaris, Mentha aquatica, and Pteris cretica rhizosphere

The ability of Phaseolus vulgaris, Mentha aquatica, and Pteris cretica to release arsenic (As) species from contaminated soil was tested in rhizobox experiments in three soils differing in their physicochemical parameters and total and mobile As concentration. Relatively low uptake of arsenic by P. vulgaris and M. aquatica resulted in very low and ambiguous changes in rhizosphere soil compared to bulk soil. However, there were observed differences in the distribution of the mobile As portion in soil to individual As species as affected by plant species and/or plantation conditions of these plants. Higher percentage of mobile arsenite in mint rhizosphere seems to be related to more reducing conditions during cultivation of these wetland plants. P. cretica planted in the soils containing between 36 and 1436 mg As kg⁻¹ was able to accumulate between 80 and 500 mg As kg⁻¹ in aboveground biomass. The extractable concentrations of As compounds in rhizosphere soil of P. cretica showed a clear depletion of arsenate (representing more than 90% of extractable arsenic) with the distance from plant roots. However, the As uptake mechanisms, as well as As transformation within hyperaccumulating fern plants, differ substantially from those in higher plants. Therefore the finding of suitable higher plant tolerant to the As soil contamination with good ability to accumulate As in aboveground biomass remains for the further research.     

添加玉米残体对土壤-植物系统中氮素转化的影响

采用盆栽试验和^15N示踪技术对黑土添加玉米残体(秸秆和根茬)土壤-植物系统中氮素转化进行了研究,结果表明,玉米残体还田能够增加土壤氮素含量,减轻因其作为燃烧材料而造成的氮素损失和对大气的污染,玉米残体施入土壤,增加了土壤微生物氮含量,提高土壤氮活性,有利于土壤氮素养分的协调供应,玉米残体配施氮肥与氮肥单施相比,玉米植株氮素累积量相近,但氮素在玉米植株不同器官中的分配比例不同;添加玉米残体能够促进氮素从营养器官向籽粒中转移,提高氮素养分的利用效率,同时,添加玉米残体还可以降低土壤NO^-3-N的累积,减少肥料氮的损失4．7％～5．6％。     

亚热带山区红壤地碳平衡研究进展

碳平衡研究日益成为全球变化与地球科学研究领域的热点问题.亚热带红壤区是我国发展粮食作物和各种热带、亚热带经济作物与林木的重要基地,因该区特殊的生态地理位置,在我国碳平衡研究中占有重要地位.本文论述了亚热带山区红壤地碳平衡研究的重要性,对碳平衡研究中植被、凋落物、土壤碳库和土壤呼吸的研究现状和主要结论等进行阐述,总结了碳平衡的综合研究方法,并对亚热带山区红壤地碳平衡研究中存在的问题和今后的发展方向进行探讨.     

CO2浓度升高对红松和长白松土壤呼吸作用的影响

以开顶箱法研究了CO₂浓度升高对红松和长白松土壤呼吸作用的影响.结果表明,500 μmol CO₂·mol^-1使红松和长白松土壤呼吸速率明显降低,土壤表面CO₂浓度升高导致CO₂扩散受阻可能是土壤呼吸受到抑制的主要原因.500 μmol CO₂·mol^-1下两树种土壤表面CO₂浓度明显高于对照箱和裸地条件下的CO₂浓度,增加幅度在40～150 μmol·mol^-1之间;对照箱内长白松土壤表面CO₂浓度略高于裸地,差异不显著,红松差异显著500 μmol CO₂·mol^-1下的长白松土壤全氮及总有机碳含量略高于对照组,差异不显著,红松裸地的碳氮含量明显低于500 μmol CO₂·mol^-1 及对照箱内土壤碳氮含量;500 μmol CO₂·mol^-1 及开顶箱的微环境对地下3 cm处土壤温度没有明显影响.     

蔬菜温室土壤某些化学性质的演变特征

1引言温室蔬菜生产具有许多露地栽培无可比拟的优点,如通过人工调节水、肥、气、热条件,充分利用光能进行高效生产,使土地生产力和光能利用率成倍提高.然而,由于温室土壤常处于半封闭状态下,气温高,湿度大,水分蒸发量大,缺少雨水淋洗,化肥及有机肥投入量大,土壤利用频度高,与露地土壤环境条件存在明显差别[2,9,10,16].蔬菜栽培几年后,温室土壤的基本性状会发生明显变化,从而导致土壤化学性质发生明显变化,并进一步影响蔬菜的生长发育及产量、品质等[2~5,7,13].本文对辽宁省新民市大民屯蔬菜基地不同使用年限蔬菜温室的不同深度土壤化学性质…     

Changes of the forest-savanna boundary in Brazilian Amazonia during the Holocene revealed by stable isotope ratios of soil organic carbon

The possibility of ecosystem boundary changes in northern Brazilian Amazonia during the Holocene period was investigated using soil organic carbon isotope ratios. Determination of past and present fluctuations of the forest-savanna boundary involved the measurement of natural ¹³C isotope abundance, expressed as ¹³C, in soil organic matter (SOM). SOM ¹³C analyses and radiocarbon dating of charcoal fragments were carried out on samples derived from soil profiles taken along transects perpendicular to the ecotonal boundary. SOM ¹³C values in the upper soil horizons appeared to be in equilibrium with the overlying vegetation types and did not point to a movement of the boundary during the last decades. However, ¹³C values obtained from deeper savanna and forest soil layers indicated that the vegetation type has changed in the past. In current savanna soil profiles, we observed the presence of mid-Holocene charcoals derived from forest species: fire frequency at that time was probably greater, and more extensive savanna may have resulted. Isotope data and the presence of these charcoals thus suggest that the forest-savanna boundary has shifted significantly in the recent Holocene period, forest being more extensive during the early Holocene than today. During the middle Holocene, the forest could have strongly regressed, and fires appeared, with a maximum development of the savanna vegetation. At the beginning of the late Holocene, the forest may have invaded a part of this savanna, and fires occurred again.