草坪植物对生活垃圾堆肥基质的生理生态响应

以生活垃圾堆肥和土壤(对照)为基质,采用不同播种方式进行草坪建植,研究了堆肥基质对草坪植物光合特性和保护酶系统的影响.结果表明:堆肥能明显地提高草坪植物的净光合速率,第一峰值出现在9:00,在单播方式下,堆肥基质黑麦草、高羊茅分别比各自对照高出12.7%、11.4%;黑麦草与早熟禾混播、高羊茅与早熟禾混播分别比对照高出33.0%、29.6%.堆肥基质黑麦草单播、黑麦草与早熟禾混播表现出比对照较低的日平均蒸腾速率和较高的水分利用效率;而高羊茅单播、高羊茅与早熟禾混播,则呈现比对照较高的日平均蒸腾速率和相似的水分利用效率.以垃圾堆肥为草坪基质,黑麦草表现出高光合、低蒸腾的节水对策;而高羊茅则表现出高光合、高蒸腾的代谢特点.另外,堆肥基质也显著地提高了草坪植物叶片叶绿素含量,单播黑麦草和高羊茅叶片的叶绿素含量显著高于对照(P<0.05).堆肥基质还能显著增强草坪植物叶片POD、SOD和CAT活性,与对照相比差异均达到显著(P<0.05)或极显著水平(P<0.01),表明堆肥基质中草坪植物的抗逆境能力显著增强.     

好氧高温猪粪堆肥中重金属砷、铜、锌的形态变化及钝化剂的影响

采用连续提取法研究了猪粪好氧堆肥处理中重金属浓度和形态的变化以及添加不同比例的重金属钝化剂对其浓度和形态的影响.结果表明：经过堆肥处理后,猪粪中重金属As、Cu和Zn的总浓度均有所增加.从重金属结合形态的变化来看,可交换态As和Zn含量降低,残渣态As和Zn含量升高,表明As和Zn存在着向有效性相对较低的形态转化的趋势;重金属Cu则表现出不同的变化趋势,即可交换态与残渣态Cu含量下降,而碳酸盐结合态、铁锰结合态及有机结合态Cu含量有所增加,在今后的堆肥利用中应注意其可能带来的环境风险;3种重金属钝化剂及不同添加比例的处理中,5.0%的海泡石和2.5%的膨润土分别对重金属As、Zn表现出较好的钝化效果,堆肥后残渣态As和Zn的增幅分别达到79.8%和158.6%,均高于不加钝化剂处理.与对照相比,堆肥后7.5%的海泡石对残渣态Cu的降低幅度最小,为39.3%.猪粪堆肥中添加适量的重金属钝化剂,可以在一定程度上降低重金属的有效性以及猪粪堆肥利用中重金属污染的风险.     

氧化石墨烯对黑麦草根系抗逆生理特性的影响

该研究通过向土壤中添加不同含量(1%、2%、3%、4%和5%)的氧化石墨烯(graphene oxide,GO),分析其对黑麦草根系生长及抗逆生理特性的影响。结果表明：(1)低剂量(1%和2%)的GO对黑麦草根系生长没有显著影响,高剂量(3%～5%)的GO处理显著抑制了黑麦草根系生长。(2)1% GO处理对根体积和根生物量没有影响,随着GO添加量的增加,黑麦草根体积和根生物量逐渐减小,在5% GO处理下,降至最低,根干重较对照降低了22.64%。(3)1% GO处理对黑麦草根保护酶活性与丙二醛(MDA)含量影响不显著,随着GO添加量的增加,过氧化物酶(POD)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性显著高于对照组,且MDA含量也显著增加,说明GO对黑麦草根系生长产生了氧化胁迫。(4)GO处理超过1%时黑麦草根系活力显著下降,并于5% GO处理下根系活力降至最小,较对照下降了35.07%。研究认为,低剂量(1%~2%)的GO对黑麦草的生长没有影响,而高剂量GO则会对根系产生明显的氧化胁迫,从而造成根系损伤。     

土壤压实胁迫下丛枝菌根真菌对高羊茅生理生态的影响

该试验设计4种土壤压实处理[土壤容重分别为1.2(CK_1)、1.3、1.4和1.5 g·cm~(-3)],并与压实处理前分别接种2种丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)——摩西斗管囊霉(Funneliformis mosseae,Fm)和根内根孢囊霉(Rhizophagus intraradices,Ri)组成的4个接种处理[Fm、Ri、Fm+Ri和不接种(CK_2)],共组成16个处理,分析不同处理对高羊茅(Festuca elata)品种‘艾瑞3号’的生理生态指标的影响,为AMF在压实土壤中的应用提供理论基础。结果表明:(1)高羊茅根系的菌根侵染率和菌丝密度均随土壤容重的增加而逐渐降低;与CK_1相比,在土壤容重1.5 g·cm~(-3)处理下接种Fm、Ri、Fm+Ri的高羊茅根系菌根侵染率分别显著降低了27.8%、39.8%和30.0%,菌丝密度分别显著降低43.8%、42.1%和43.8%,且在1.5 g·cm~(-3)土壤容重下,接种Fm+Ri处理的菌根侵染率和菌丝密度比单接种Fm分别提高17.3%和25.2%,比单接种Ri处理分别提高53.0%和36.3%。(2)接种AMF能有效增加土壤压实胁迫下高羊茅植株的株高、分蘖数和干物质质量,显著提高高羊茅耐受力,接种Fm+Ri处理的株高、分蘖数及干物质质量在1.5 g·cm~(-3)土壤容重下分别比未接种(CK_2)显著增加36.1%、39.5%和144.0%。(3)接种AMF能显著提高土壤压实胁迫下高羊茅根系活力以及过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性,接种Fm+Ri处理的根系活力以及CAT活性在1.5 g·cm~(-3)土壤容重下分别是对照(CK_2)的1.4和1.5倍。(4)接种AMF能显著提高土壤压实胁迫下高羊茅叶绿素a、b以及总叶绿素含量,接种Fm+Ri处理在1.5 g·cm~(-3)土壤容重下比对照(CK_2)的上升幅度分别提高43.1%、100.0%和59.3%。(5)接种AMF能显著提高土壤压实胁迫下高羊茅叶片净光合速率(P_n)、蒸腾速率(T_r)以及气孔导度(G_s),显著降低其叶片胞间CO_2浓度(C_i),接种Fm+Ri处理在1.5 g·cm~(-3)土壤容重下比对照(CK_2)的升降幅度分别为52.5%、33.3%、181.1%和-32.9%。综上所述,土壤压实胁迫显著抑制AMF的侵染,而共同接种Fm+Ri能显著促进AMF对根系的侵染,且共同接种处理的效果明显优于单一接种;AMF可通过增强高羊茅根系活力、降低氧化胁迫造成的伤害、提高植物叶绿素含量与光合作用来增强自身的抗土壤压实能力。     

城市垃圾堆肥对高羊茅生长及土壤性质的影响

采用盆栽实验方法,比较了在每盆施用130 g垃圾堆肥(T1)或1.5 g化肥(T2)以及130 g垃圾堆肥与1.5 g 化肥混合施用(T3)条件下高羊茅(Festuca arundinacea L)生长及土壤性质的变化.结果表明:T1和T3处理组的土壤容重显著低于对照(不施肥)和T2处理组,土壤中的阳离子代换量及有机质、碱解氮、速效磷和速效钾含量显著高于对照及T2处理组,且T3处理组的增加幅度更大;T1和T3处理组土壤中Pb、As、Cu、Cr和Cd含量均高于对照和T2处理组,且T1处理组土壤中Pb、As、Cu和Cd含量均显著高于仍处理组,但均小于土壤环境质量一级标准,不会造成土壤环境污染.T1和T3处理组高羊茅种子萌发率均明显低于T2处理组和对照,但随萌发时间的延长逐渐提高,表明垃圾堆肥对高羊茅种子萌发的抑制作用是暂时性的.施肥处理对高羊茅生长均有明显的促进作用;T1、T2和T3处理组高羊茅的株高、地上部分和根于质量、叶片N含量和叶绿素含量总体上均显著高于对照;其中T1处理组在栽培前期高羊茅的株高、地上部分干质量和叶片N含量低于T2处理组,但在后期显著高于T2处理组;而T3处理组高羊茅的各项指标总体上均最高.结果显示:使用垃圾堆肥能明显改善土壤性质、增加土壤肥力;垃圾堆肥具有缓释效应,能改善高羊茅的生长状况、提高草坪质量,与化肥混合施用效果更佳.     

污泥堆肥对草坪草生长及光合特征的影响

研究不同污泥堆肥施用量(0、0.8%、2%、6%和10%)对高羊茅、黑麦草和早熟禾3种草坪草生长及光合特征的影响.结果表明: 污泥堆肥施用量为6%时效果最好.随污泥堆肥施用量的增加,高羊茅、黑麦草和早熟禾的株高、单叶面积和单株生物量均显著增加,根冠比显著降低,其中,株高增幅分别为64.9%～180.8%、97.3%～200.9%和39.1%～156.5%,单叶面积增幅分别为91.3%～417.4%、186.4%～394.9%和164.6%～508.3%,单株生物量增幅分别为333.4%～867.6%、138.4%～445.1%和316.3%～669.2%.随污泥堆肥施用量的增加,高羊茅净光合速率(P_n)、胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)、蒸腾速率(T_r)和水分利用效率(WUE)呈先增加后降低的趋势;早熟禾P_n、T_r和WUE逐渐增加,C_i呈先增加后降低的趋势;黑麦草P_n和WUE逐渐增加,但其C_i和T_r呈先增加后降低的趋势.污泥堆肥施用使3种草叶绿素a、b和(a+b)含量增加,施用量>6%后叶绿素a、b和(a+b)含量下降,但叶绿素a/b变化不明显.
     

城市污泥与园林废弃物堆肥的混合施用对高羊茅萌发与生长的影响

以北京市城市污泥与园林废弃物为研究对象,采用盆栽方法,将污泥产品与园林废弃物堆肥按不同体积配比(1∶0、1∶3、1∶1和0∶1)混合,设置不同混合物施加量(0%、25%、50%、75%和100%混合物),比较其对高羊茅(Festuca arundinacea L.)的发芽以及生长的影响。结果表明:混合物添加对早期发芽率有负面影响,发芽率最高值出现在污泥与堆肥1∶1的25%混合物施加处理中;在整个观测周期内,加入混合物后株高均显著(P0.05)高于对照,且在后期表现更加明显;单株地上部生物量随着时间的延长各处理均呈现显著增加的趋势,而除了纯污泥处理外,随着施用量的增加,单株地上生物量均呈现降低的趋势;累积地上生物量和地下生物量在各处理下均显著高于对照,最大值出现在污泥与堆肥1∶1的25%混合物施加处理中;污泥与园林废弃物堆肥以不同比例混合后,比对照和仅园林废弃物堆肥对高羊茅的生长影响更明显,但混合物施用量较低时起促进作用,较高时会产生一定的抑制作用,且当两者的配比为1∶1的低施用量条件下高羊茅的生长指标最高。     

Cu2+与Zn2+递进胁迫下高羊茅的初期生长效应及生态阈限研究

通过重金属 Cu2 +、Zn2 +递进胁迫高羊茅初期生长效应及生态阈限的研究 ,结果表明 :在 Cu2 +与 Zn2 +递进胁迫作用下 ,高羊茅生长在各处理浓度均不同程度上受到抑制作用 ,其抑制效应随重金属浓度的增加而增强 ,各项测定指标与胁迫浓度呈极显著负线性关系 ,并各相关系数均达到极显著水平 ( r>-0 .90 0 0 * * ) ;生长综合效应分析比较 ,Cu2 +比 Zn2 +的负向效应为明显。根与茎叶对 Cu2 +与 Zn2 +的富集状况分析采用 ICP-AES法 ,分析结果表明 ,随着重金属 Cu2 +与 Zn2 +胁迫浓度的增加 ,高羊茅根系和茎叶的重金属含量均随之增加 ,根系对 Cu2 +与 Zn2 +的富集系数均明显大于茎叶。从绿度分析看 ,本实验条件下的 Cu2 +与 Zn2 +胁迫 ,均未出现草坪草绿度的明显变化。     

淋洗后生活垃圾堆肥建植高羊茅草坪生理生态响应

以不同淋洗方式处理后的生活垃圾堆肥为基质进行草坪植物培植,研究了高羊茅的生理生态响应。结果表明,淋洗处理堆肥中高羊茅的发芽率及株高等生长指标均优于未淋洗的原堆肥对照组,其中水肥淋洗比例为1∶1的处理中,高羊茅的最大发芽率比对照提高89.6%。通过对超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化物酶（POD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）3种保护酶的活性及脯氨酸和丙二醛（MDA）含量等指标的测定可以看出,经淋洗处理后的堆肥基质对草坪植物的胁迫程度均小于原堆肥,更有利于草坪植物的正常生长。综合高羊茅生长指标及生理指标来考虑,堆肥处理的最佳淋洗比例为水∶堆肥的质量比为2∶1。     

云杉碳氮化学计量比对土壤水分和氮有效性的响应

以西南亚高山针叶林优势种——粗枝云杉(Picea asperata)为研究对象,探究不同土壤水分状况和氮添加下云杉碳氮化学计量比的变化及其响应过程。采用两因素(水分×氮素)随机区组实验,设置5个土壤水分梯度和3个氮添加浓度,其中土壤水分梯度分别是土壤田间持水量的40%(W1)、50%(W2)、60%(W3)、80%(W4)和100%(W5),氮添加浓度分别为0(N0)、20(N1)、40(N2)gNm~(-2) a~(-1)。结果表明:(1)土壤水分和氮添加显著影响了云杉碳氮化学计量比(P0.05),具体为:云杉植株和器官碳氮比在N0W4处理下最大值,随土壤水分有效性的降低而减小,随氮添加浓度的增加而降低。(2)随土壤水分有效性的降低,根和叶的碳含量显著升高(P0.05),茎和叶的碳含量随着氮添加浓度的增加而降低。此外,土壤水分有效性的降低显著提高了根和茎的氮含量(P0.05),各器官的氮含量随着氮添加浓度的增加而增加。在相同水分和氮添加浓度处理下表现为碳含量:叶茎根,氮含量:叶根茎。(3)云杉净光合速率随土壤水分有效性的降低先升高后降低,随氮添加浓度增加而增加,在N2W4达到最大。(4)根对NH~+_4和NO~-_3的净吸收速率随土壤水分有效性的降低而减小,随氮添加浓度的增加而显著增加(P0.05)。此外,根对NH~+_4的净吸收速率与土壤有效氮含量呈显著负相关关系(P0.05)。本研究表明,土壤水分和氮添加影响了云杉的碳同化和氮吸收过程,改变植物的碳、氮分配策略和养分利用效率,从而导致碳氮比的变化。     

微生物菌剂对草坪植物高羊茅生长与土壤酶活性的影响

从生活垃圾堆肥中分离出放线菌、枯草芽孢杆菌和苏云金芽孢杆菌,通过形态学和染色鉴定,分别以微生物单菌剂施入到草坪土壤基质中,研究了几种微生物菌剂对高羊茅生长与土壤酶活性的影响。结果表明:3种微生物菌剂处理可以显著提高高羊茅株高、生物量和叶绿素含量(P0.01或P0.05),促进了高羊茅的生长。同时,施加不同的微生物菌剂对于土壤蔗糖酶、脲酶、过氧化氢酶、多酚氧化酶和过氧化物酶活性均有显著的增强作用,其中放线菌处理土壤脲酶和多酚氧化酶分别是对照的8.38倍和20.6倍。因此,从堆肥中得到的3种微生物菌剂均可有效提高土壤酶活性,改善植物根际微生态环境,提高了土壤肥力和养分的利用率,促进了草坪植物生长,改善草坪质量。该研究可为微生物菌剂在草坪建植体系中的应用提供依据。     

Effects of Municipal Waste Leachate on Seed Germination in Soil-Compost Mixtures

The goal of revegetation projects on degraded or polluted lands is to create a near-natural, stable, and quick-response ecosystem that does not require particular management after establishment and that is compatible with the surrounding landscape. Municipal waste compost (MWC) is commonly used in revegetation projects as a source of organic matter. The aim of this study was to investigate the germination percentage and average time of germination of 23 species (12 cultivated grasses and legumes and 11 native herbs) as affected by the leachates from soil, three different mixtures of soil-compost, and pure compost. The treatments influenced the average time of germination (ATG); legumes were the most affected species, followed by grasses and wild herbs. The percentage of germination of Festuca arundinacea was not affected by the presence of compost leachate, while Lolium multiflorum was the most sensitive species. A higher content of compost in the mixture caused a delay in germination of all the grasses. Most of the legumes were able to germinate in the leachate of the soil-compost mixtures, but their germination was delayed; Trifolium pratense had the highest sensitivity in terms of average time of germination. The native herbs Lepidium sativum, Matricaria chamomilla, and Sanguisorba officinalis germinated without any adverse effect when treated with leachate from high levels of MWC; the germination of Amaranthus cruentus was influenced by all levels of MWC in substrates, suggesting a high specific sensitivity for toxic components of leachate from MWC-soil mixtures.     

Effect of light on seed germination in Phalaris arundinacea L. (reed canary grass)

Phalaris arundinacea is an invasive species in someregions of North America. The literature on how the light environment affectsseed germination in Phalaris arundinacea is contradictory,and clarification is necessary for understanding its mechanisms of invasion. Inour trials, germination was photoperiod insensitive in the range of 12 to 16hours. Highest germination percentages (up to 80) were obtained under whitelight and red light (11.0 ) and up to 40 with high red: far-red ratios.Virtually no germination occurred in the dark. Our results are not consistentwith early reports that P. arundinacea germinationoccurredin the dark and was light insensitive, but they are consistent with a recentreport that it does not germinate in the dark and our own field and greenhouseobservations.     

Effect of plant growth promoting bacterium; Pseudomonas putida UW4 inoculation on phytoremediation efficacy of monoculture and mixed culture of selected plant species for PAH and lead spiked soils

Plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) enhanced phytoremediation (PEP) is an attractive remedial strategy for the remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and heavy metal (HM) contaminated sites. The effect of PGPB; Pseudomonas putida UW4 inoculation on the phytoremediation efficiency of Medicago sativa, Festuca arundinacea, Lolium perenne, and mixed plants (L. perenne and F. arundinacea) was assessed. This involved two contaminant treatments; “PAH” (phenanthrene; 300?mg·kg^?1, fluoranthene; 200?mg·kg^?1, and benzo[a]pyrene; 5?mg·kg^?1) and “PAH?+?HM” (‘PAH’ treatments +100?mg of Pb/kg). PGPB inoculation significantly enhanced root biomass yield of F. arundinacea in PAH treatment, and the mixed plant shoot biomass and L. perenne root biomass yields of the PAH?+?HM treatment. PGPB significantly enhanced dissipation of phenanthrene and fluoranthene for M. sativa-PAH?+?PGPB treatment and fluoranthene for F. arundinacea-PAH?+?HM?+?PGPB treatment. In others, PGPB inoculation either had no impact or inhibited PAH dissipation. PAH dissipation for the single and mixed plant treatments with PGPB inoculation were not different. The efficiency of PEP is dependent on different factors such as PGPB inoculum biomass, plant species, plant–microbe specificity and type of contaminants. Exploiting PEP technology would require proper understanding of plant tolerance and growth promoting mechanisms, and rhizosphere activities.     

Selective inhibitors of germination of legume seeds in activated sludge compost

Water extracts of the compost produced from activated sludge and coffee residue were found to be selectively inhibitory to seed germination of some legumes. Germination rate of white clover (Trifolium repens L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) seeds were reduced to 2, 29 and 73% of the control, respectively, by water extracts of the compost (20 g l^–1). However, the extracts did not show any inhibition to seed germination of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor Moench), African millet (Eleusine coracana Gaertn.), and Komatsuna (Brassica rapa L.) at the same concentration. The inhibitors in the compost extracts were separated by ion-exchange chromatography and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the inhibitory activities of seed germination were tested with white clover seeds. Five inhibitors were isolated and identified as 3,4-dichlorophenylacetic acid (3,4-DCP), 3,4-dichlorobenzoic acid (3,4-DCB), 3,4,5-trichlorophenylacetic acid, 3,4,5-trichlorobenzoic acid and mono-2-ethylhexylphthalate by ¹H-, ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The inhibitory activities of some authentic chemicals of the inhibitors and the related compounds were compared. The results indicated that the main inhibitor in the compost could be 3,4-DCB, which was contained at the concentration of 6.58 mg kg^–1 compost and showed the strongest inhibitory effect on seed germination of white clover among the tested compounds.     

Accelerating the Restoration of Vegetation in a Southern California Salt Marsh

Re-establishing plant cover is essential for restoring ecosystem functions, but revegetation can be difficult in severe sites, such as salt marshes that experience hypersalinity and sedimentation. We tested three treatments (adding tidal creeks, planting seedlings in tight clusters, and rototilling kelp compost into the soil) in a site that was excavated to reinstate tidal flows and restore salt marsh. The magnitude of responses was the reverse of expectations, with tidal creeks having the least effect and kelp compost the most. On the marsh plain, kelp compost significantly increased soil organic matter (by 17% at 0–5 cm; p = 0.026 and 11.5% at 5–20 cm; p = 0.083), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (45% at 5–8 cm; p < 0.001) and inorganic nitrogen (35% at 5–8 cm; p < 0.006), and decreased bulk density (16% at 0–5 cm; p < 0.001 and 21% at 5–8 cm depth; p < 0.001) compared to control plots. Survivorship of kelp compost treated plantings increased, along with growth (> 50% increase in a growth index at 20 months after planting; p < 0.0001). In Spartina foliosa plots, kelp compost did not affect soil organic matter, but plants were taller (by ~11 cm; p = 0.003) and denser (47% more stems; p = 0.003). Planting seedlings 10-cm apart in tight clusters on the marsh plain increased survivorship by 18% (compared to 90-cm apart in loose clusters; p = 0.053), but not growth. Tidal creek networks increased survivorship of Batis maritima and Jaumea carnosa by ≥20% (p = 0.060 and 0.077, respectively). Kelp compost had a strong, positive influence on vegetation establishment by ameliorating some of the abiotic stress.     

Growth substrates made from duck excreta enriched wood shavings and source-separated municipal solid waste compost and separates: physical and chemical characteristics

Production and use of compost is an effective means to reduce wastes, and offers a large potential as growth substrates and source of nutrients. The objective of this study was to determine the physical and chemical characteristics of duck excreta enriched wood shavings (DMC) and source-separated municipal solid waste (MSW) composts and separates, and to assess the physical characteristics of growth substrates made from these two composts and selected substrates. MSW compost separates were the following sizes: F1 > 4 mm diameter, 2 mm < F2 < 4 mm, 1 mm < F3 < 2 mm and F4 < 1 mm. Growth substrates were prepared by mixing DMC and F2 and F3 MSW separates (M/M ratios). Growth substrates A-E consisted exclusively of 10-60% DMC and 20-60% of MSW separates F2 and F3. Growth substrates F-J, and K-O were the same as substrates A E, with 15% M/M brick fragments or shredded plastic added as porosity agents, respectively. Growth substrates (BE/S) made of black earth (BE) and sandy loam soil (Ls) in a 1:4 (M/M) ratio, commercially available peat substrate (Pr) and an in-house sphagnum peat-based substrate (Gs) were used for comparison. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that DMC was a better material than MSW with respect to porosity and water field capacity. MSW compost and separates differed by their relatively high levels of water-soluble and HCl-hydrolyzable N and increased advantageous water retention capacity. PCA also showed that substrates A-E exhibited porosity and water field capacity similar to those of Pr. Substrates F-J had porosity and water field capacity similar to those of BE/S, whereas substrates K O were more similar to Pr and to substrates A and B. The presented data indicate that DMC and MSW separates were complementary in providing good physical and chemical characteristics to the growth substrates.     

Molecular and cytogenetic characterization of repetitive DNA sequences from Lolium and Festuca: applications in the analysis of Festulolium hybrids

Summary A set of species-specific repetitive DNA sequences was isolated from Lolium multiflorum and Festuca arundinacea. The degree of their species specificity as well as possible homologies among them were determined by dot-blot hybridization analysis. In order to understand the genomic organization of representative Lolium and Festuca-specific repetitive DNA sequences, we performed Southern blot hybridization and in situ hybridization to metaphase chromosomes.Southern blot hybridization analysis of eight different repetitive DNA sequences of L. multiflorum and one of F. arundinacea indicated either tandem and clustered arrangements of partially dispersed localization in their respective genomes. Some of these sequences, e.g. LMB3, showed a similar genomic organization in F. arundinacea and F. pratensis, but a slightly different organization and degree of redundancy in L. multiflorum. Clones sequences varied in size between 100 bp and 1.2 kb. Estimated copy number in the corresponding haploid genomes varied between 300 and 2×10⁴. Sequence analysis of the highly species-specific sequences from plasmids pLMH2 and pLMB4 (L. multiflorum specific) and from pFAH1 (F. arundinacea specific) revealed some internal repeats without higher order. No homologies between the sequences or to other repetitive sequences were observed. In situ hybridization with these latter sequences to metaphase chromosomes from L. multiflorum, F. arundinacea and from symmetric sexual Festulolium hybrid revealed their relatively even distribution in the corresponding genomes. The in situ hybridization thus also allowed a clearcut simple identification of parental chromosomes in the Festulolium hybrid.The potential use of these species-specific clones as hybridization probes in quantitative dot-blot analysis of the genomic make-up of Festulolium (sexual and somatic) hybrids is also demonstrated.Abbreviations bp Base pair (s) - CMA chromomycin A₃ - DAPI 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole - IPTG isopropyl -D-thio-galactopyranoside - kb kilobase pair(s) - NBT nitroblue tetrazolium chloride - X-gal 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-inonyl -D-galactopyranoside     

Disturbance, Herbivory, and Propagule Dispersal Control Dominance of an Invasive Grass

Despite the dramatic changes invasive plants cause to ecosystems and communities, factors that control dominance of invasive species after establishment in a community are poorly understood. Most active management relies on catastrophic disturbances of invasive-dominated communities to increase richness and diversity of plant communities. This study examines the importance of propagule dispersal and deer herbivory on continued dominance of Phalaris arundinacea after a non-catastrophic, short-term disturbance to monotypic stands of this invasive grass. The disturbance caused no change in P. arundinacea cover among treatments during any year of the study and, thus, simulates disturbance intensity more likely to be encountered in unmanaged settings. Despite the small disturbance, the combinations of disturbance + seeding and disturbance + seeding + deer exclusion caused greater species richness than controls even three years after disturbance. Increased invasion of P. arundinacea stands caused few effects on the dominant, as P. arundinacea biomass was unaffected after the first year. Selective herbivory by deer of species other than P. arundinacea increased the effects of disturbance and seeding, and aided in continued dominance of the grass. The tolerance of P. arundinacea for direct anthropogenic effects, including poor water quality and hydroperiod fluctuations, and indirect effects, such as increased herbivory by historically high deer populations, indicates the complexity of determining persistence of invasive species.