硫自养反硝化对含盐水体脱氮及其动力学模型

以闭合循环养殖系统去除硝酸盐为目的,研究了填料床硫自养反硝化反应器对含盐水体的NO₃^--N去除效果及动力学特性。结果表明,反应器对NO₃^--N浓度为22.5～368 mg/L的含盐水体具有良好的反硝化性能。（29±1）℃条件下,进水NO₃^--N负荷0.052～1.088 kg/(m³·d)为最适进水负荷范围,NO₃^--N去除率大于95%,出水NO2--N浓度小于1 mg/L。进水NO₃^--N负荷2.171 kg/(m³·d)时,达到最大NO₃^--N体积负荷去除率,为1.65 kg/(m³·d)。动力学研究结果表明反应器填料表面生物膜对污染物NO₃^--N的去除呈半级反应速率关系,反应器单位体积半级动力学常数K^1/2v为7.84～ 8.5 mg^1/2/(L^1/2·h)。建立的动力学模型采用该值的计算结果可以预测出水NO₃^--N的浓度,预测值与实际值采用统计软件SAS 8.0做方差分析表明,Pr＞F值分别为0.9732和 0.8845,模型预测值与实际值无显著性差异。     

固体碳源填充床反应器反硝化性能的研究

为了优化固体碳源填充床反应器的运行条件,以PLA/PHBV颗粒为碳源和生物膜载体,研究了水力负荷与硝态氮负荷对反应器反硝化性能的影响,并用扫描电镜观察碳源表面生物膜的形态。结果表明,在进水硝态氮浓度为100 mg·L-1,水力负荷为1.71~8.39 m3·m-2·d-1时,反硝化速率呈现先增加后降低的趋势,最大值为40.53 mg·L-1·h-1;随着水力负荷的提高,出水硝态氮浓度逐渐增加,而COD浓度逐渐降低;维持水力负荷在3.54 m3·m-2·d-1以下,可保证反应器的出水满足我国饮用水标准对硝态氮与亚硝态氮浓度的要求;维持水力负荷为5.30 m3·m-2·d-1,反应器的反硝化速率与进水硝态氮负荷线性相关（R2=0.937）,而硝态氮负荷对出水的COD浓度未发生明显影响;维持进水硝态氮负荷不高于0.16 kg·m-2·d-1,可保证反应器出水的硝态氮与亚硝态氮浓度满足国家标准。通过扫描电镜照片可以看出,PLA/PHBV颗粒表面的生物膜以球菌和杆菌为主,成簇定植在碳源颗粒表面。     

固定床厌氧反应器处理高浓度糖蜜废水

为开发高效处理高浓度有机废水的厌氧沼气发酵技术,以活性炭纤维作为生物膜载体,在实验室规模上对固定床厌氧反应器处理高浓度糖蜜废水的运行性能进行了研究。初始进水COD为5 000 mg/L,水力停留时间（HRT）保持在2 d左右。在进水COD为47 000 mg/L以内时,相应的有机容积负荷（OLR,COD含量）达到21.38 kg/(m3×d),COD去除率保持在86%以上,沼气容积产气率为9.51 L /(L×d),甲烷容积产气率为6.46 L /(L×d);当OLR进一步从21.38 kg/(m3×d) 逐步升高到35.13、39.06、44.88 kg/(m3×d) 时,COD去除率从86.48%分别降低到74.40%,67.02% 和63.50%,相应的沼气容积产气率为13.71,13.98和11.44 L/(L×d),甲烷容积产气率为8.84,8.67和5.89 L/(L×d)。进水的pH值通常在3.5～5.6之间,OLR低于35.13 kg/(m3×d) 时,无需对pH值进行中和调节,出水的pH值自然维持在6.8～7.6的良好状态,超出此范围,则需加碱对进水的pH值作适当调节。最终进水COD高达78 600 mg/L,相应的OLR为44.88 kg/(m3×d)。在165 d的运行过程中污泥形成量小,没有发生堵塞现象,固定床厌氧反应器表现出高效的处理酸性高浓度有机废水和较强的抗负荷冲击的能力。     

曝气生物滤池对玉米青贮渗出液处理效果

为了考察曝气生物滤池(biological aerated filter,BAF)处理玉米青贮渗出液的效果及其影响因素,重点考察了水力负荷、气水比、有机负荷和滤床高度。结果表明:水力负荷从0.5m3/(m2.h)升高到3.0m3/(m2.h)过程中,化学需氧量(COD)和NH3-N的去除率先升高后降低,当水力负荷1.5m3/(m2.h)时COD和NH3-N的去除率分别达到最大为83.5%、74.9%;增加气水比使得系统中溶解氧充足,可明显提高COD和NH3-N去除率,当气水比为3.5:1时COD和NH3-N的去除率分别达到最大为87.5%、75.2%;低有机负荷不利于COD和NH3-N的去除,当有机负荷为COD2.4kg/(m3.d)时,COD和NH3-N去除率最低分别仅为49.6%、58.5%,有机负荷为COD4.8kg/(m3.d)时去除率最高分别可达80.9%和75.9%,但过高的有机负荷反而对NH3-N去除不利,当有机负荷为COD7.2kg/(m3.d)时,NH3-N去除率降低为61.7%;滤床高度对硝化反应去除NH3-N影响较大,NH3-N生物硝化反应去除行为主要发生在0.6～1.0m区域。试验表明采用BAF系统处理玉米青贮渗出液是可行的,也为类似性质废水处理和改善农村水环境质量提供有益的参考。     

增设回流提高厌氧氨氧化反应器脱氮效能

采用2套上流式反应器接种厌氧氨氧化污泥,研究了高基质浓度下增设回流对厌氧氨氧化反应器脱氮性能影响.研究结果表明,增设出水回流的反应器1经过116 d的运行,进水NH4+-N和NO2--N质量浓度由初始100、130 mg/L达到602、782 mg/L时,出水质量浓度仅增加到44、60 mg/L,氮容积去除负荷最高达到7.87 kg/(m3·d).NO2--N与NH4+-N的转化比维持在1.303,NO3--N生成量与NH4+-N转化量之比维持在0.24.无回流的反应器2经过67 d运行,进水NH4+-N和NO2--N质量浓度由最初100、130 mg/L分别增加到456和600 mg/L,相应出水质量浓度达到174和253 mg/L,氮容积去除负荷最高达到4.31 kg/(m3·d).NO2--N与NH4+-N的转化比维持在1.298左右, NO3--N生成量与NH4+-N转化量之比维持在0.21.说明回流对进入反应器的基质具有较强稀释作用,有助于避免高基质浓度对厌氧氨氧化活性的影响,同时对厌氧氨氧化反应过程中氮素转化比不产生影响.增设出水回流后的反应器1污泥粒径主要分布在1.25~2 mm之间,而反应器2污泥粒径主要分布在0.9~1.6 mm.说明在反应器运行过程中增设回流有助于反应器内液体上升流速的增加,颗粒污泥具有良好的流态,能够更好地与底物接触,有利于微生物增长.     

双污泥反硝化除磷系统中氨氮容积负荷的优化

农村生活污水具有处理量小,分散,日变化系数大等特点,分散处理成为农村污水处理的首要选择。该研究采用AAO工艺与BAF组成的双污泥反硝化除磷系统（anaerobic anoxic oxic-biological aerated filter,AAO-BAF）处理农村生活污水,探讨了氨氮容积负荷对该系统BAF单元硝化性能及出水悬浮物（SS）的影响。通过改变水力负荷和有效滤料容积（即方式1和方式）2种方式,氨氮容积负荷在0.43～1.21 kg/(m3·d)之间变化。试验结果表明,随着氨氮容积负荷的增加,氨氮去除率呈现先缓慢降低后急剧减小的趋势,不同的是,出水SS对方式1（即水力负荷的变化）更敏感。当氨氮容积负荷在0.43～1.12 kg/(m3·d)时,氨氮去除率大于81%;当氨氮容积负荷大于1.12 kg/(m3·d),氨氮去除率急剧降低,氨氮容积负荷为1.21 kg/(m3·d),2种运行方式的氨氮去除率分别为65%和68%。当氨氮容积负荷小于0.74 kg/(m3·d)时,出水SS小于10 mg/L;当氨氮容积负荷大于0.74 kg/(m3·d)时,出水SS急剧增加,但方式1增加得更快,氨氮容积负荷增加到1.21 kg/(m3·d)时,方式1和方式2的出水SS分别为21.8和14.2 mg/L。所以,为保证BAF出水水质达到国家一级A排放标准,其氨氮容积负荷应小于0.74 kg/(m3·d)。     

养殖固体废弃物作碳源的海水养殖废水反硝化净化效果

由于养殖废水C/N低且溶解氧（DO）含量高,需要补充碳源并有效脱氧,才能保证高效反硝化。该文开展了以养殖固体废弃物作碳源,海水养殖废水水解、反硝化净化工艺的试验研究。结果表明,养殖废水（水解种污泥与养殖固体废弃物体积比为1︰1、水温20℃）经过10 h水解,水解液DO质量浓度降至0.2 mg/L,NH4+-N、NO3--N、总有机物（TCOD）和总固体（TS）的去除率分别为62.8%、43.5%、24.0%和13.6%。当水解种污泥与养殖固体废弃物体积比为1︰1.5～1︰2.5时,养殖废水在20℃条件下水解6 h,水解液中挥发性脂肪酸（VFA）质量浓度和溶解性有机物/总有机物（SCOD/TCOD） 分别增加32.0%～49.3%和3.5%～9.1%。利用厌氧活性污泥对养殖废水的水解液（体积比为1︰4、水温20℃）进行反硝化净化,NO3--N和TCOD的3 h去除率分别达99.6%和88.3%,而养殖废水直接反硝化10 h, NO3--N和TCOD的去除速率分别为36.5%和75.9%。这表明,在海水循环水养殖系统中,利用养殖固体废弃物作碳源,养殖废水水解、反硝化工艺,能有效脱氧和补充有机碳源,养殖废水反硝化净化效果显著。     

垃圾填埋场覆土中的甲烷氧化与反硝化特性

垃圾填埋场的CH4和渗滤液氮是两大污染因子。填埋覆土中因能进行CH4氧化而具有削减填埋场CH4排放的功能。同时,CH4可作为碳源促进反硝化。为此,该文研究了填埋场覆土中的CH4好氧氧化-反硝化耦合（AME-D）特性,以期为填埋场同步强化控制CH4排放和氮污染提供依据。结果表明：CH4、O2和NO3--N均显著影响填埋覆土中的CH4去除（p<0.05）,三者影响的大小顺序为CH4>O2>NO3--N,且CH4和O2具有交互作用（p<0.05）;CH4去除量随着初始CH4、O2体积分数的增大而增加,且与O2体积分数呈正相关关系（n=144,r=0.786,p<0.01）。CH4、O2和NO3--N明显影响CO2产生（p<0.01）,且CH4和O2、O2和NO3--N均对CO2产生有交互作用（p<0.01）。CH4和O2对N2 产生有明显影响（p<0.01）,且两者有交互作用（p<0.01）,NO3--N质量分数对N2 产生影响不明显,但NO3--N和O2对N2 产生有交互作用。低O2体积分数下（<5%）,添加NO3--N能促进N2产生,高O2体积分数下（≥10%）,NO3--N对N2产生影响不明显。C/O比对AME-D的影响与CH4和O2体积分数有关,比较合适的C/O比为0.5～1。该试验条件下,当CH4和、O2的体积分数分别为20%,NO3--N质量分数为100 mg/kg时,耦合效果最佳。该文可为垃圾填埋场CH4排放生物控制提供参考。     

基于碳酸氢钠为碳源的氢自养反硝化去除地下水中硝酸盐研究

氢自养反硝化修复地下水中的硝酸盐污染以其清洁、环保又经济而受到广泛重视。利用全自动恒温振荡仪,以NaHCO3为碳源驯化氢自养反硝化细菌,并对影响氢自养反硝化速率的因素进行了研究。结果表明,以NaHCO3作为唯一的无机碳源,不仅可以高效驯化氢自养反硝化细菌,而且可以控制体系的pH值,效果优于单独以CO2或以CO2和NaHCO3共同为碳源的系统;当单独以NaHCO3为碳源时,其浓度为2g·L-1时可以满足氢自养反硝化细菌的生长,并使体系pH保持在8.5±0.2;当初始NO3--N浓度〈135.6mg·L-1时,反硝化速率随着NO3--N浓度的升高而增大,当NO3--N浓度过高时（〉135.6mg·L-1）,会抑制氢自养反硝化的进行;当pH在6.0～9.0时,氢自养反硝化可以进行,但其最适pH为7.0～8.0,而当pH〈6.0或pH〉9.0时,反硝化基本停滞;温度为35℃时反硝化速率最大,为2.83mg·L-·1h-1,当温度为15℃时,有明显的亚硝酸盐积累。     

硝态氮浓度对亚热带土壤反硝化潜力和产物组成的影响

在实验室条件下,采用密闭、淹水、充 N2 的严格厌氧培养方法研究了NO3--N?浓度对亚热带土壤反硝化潜力和产物组成的影响。研究表明,在NO3-?-N?浓度为 10 ~ 200 mg /kg 范围内,该土壤的反硝化势变化于 0.024 ~ 0.224 mg/(kg×h) 之间,随着NO3--N?浓度的增加而呈显著线性增加(R2 = 0.94,P<0.01)。N2O 始终是反硝化的主要产物,占反硝化产物的 56% ~ 92%;NO 是次要产物,占 6% ~ 40%。在野外原位状态下,土壤的还原条件难以达到供试实验室条件,由此估计,亚热带森林土壤反硝化的主要产物并非 N2,而是 N2O 和 NO,这可能是该类土壤虽反硝化作用弱,但 N2O 排放量大的主要原因。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

Faculty positions:Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.     

Variation in quality parameters between and within 14 Nordic tree fruit and berry species

Abstract

A 3-year study was carried out to investigate quality parameters in 14 tree fruit and berry species grown in southern Norway. The species were blueberry, apple, aronia, sour cherry, sweet cherry, red raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, gooseberry, red currant and elderberry, harvested along with wild bilberry, cloudberry and lingonberry. Significant differences between species were identified for all quality parameters. The coefficient of variation between species was lowest for pH (12.5%), dry matter (18.9%) and soluble solids (25.3%), followed by titratable acids (59.3%), total phenolics (83.8%), antioxidant capacity FRAP (85.7%) and antiradical power by the DPPH-assay (97.8%), total monomeric anthocyanins (132%) and ascorbic acid (137%). Average coefficient of variation within species were lower and ranged from 4 (pH) to 62% (ascorbic acid). Only the FRAP values were significantly affected by harvesting year with lower levels in 2004 than in 2005 and 2006. There were significant interactions between species and harvesting year for dry matter, soluble solids, pH, ascorbic acid and FRAP. The results indicate generic ranges in composition within species independent upon growing location and climate, and the composition of the tree fruits and berries is not likely to deviate from these ranges. It is concluded that desirable composition of tree fruits and berries and their products should primarily be achieved by selection among species rather than searching fors broadened variation within individual species.     

Potassium Fixation and Release Characteristics in Rhizosphere and Nonrhizosphere Soils for a Rapeseed–Rice Cropping Sequence

Potassium (K) fixation and release in soil are important factors in the long-term sustainability of a cropping system. Changes in K concentration and characteristics of K fixation and release in rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils in the rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)–rice (Oryza sativa L.) rotation were investigated using a rhizobox system. The concentrations of different forms of K in both rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils decreased with plants compared to without plants, regardless of K fertilizer application. Potassium uptake by crops mainly came from the rhizosphere soil. In the treatment without K fertilizer (–K), the main form of K supplied by the soil to the crops was 1.0 mol L^?1 nitric acid (HNO₃) nonextractable K, followed by nonexchangeable K, and then exchangeable K. In the treatment with K fertilizer (+K), the main K forms supplied by the soil to the crops were exchangeable K and nonexchangeable K. The amount and rate of K fixation after one cycle of the rapeseed–rice rotation was greater in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The amount and rate of K fixation of soil in the +K treatment were significantly less than in the –K treatment. The cumulative amounts of K released with 1.0 mol L^?1 ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) and 1.0 mol L^?1 HNO₃ extraction increased with the increasing numbers of extractions, but the K-releasing power of soil by successive extraction decreased gradually and finally became almost constant. The release of K was less in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The release of K in the +K treatment was similar to that in the –K treatment in rhizosphere soil, but the K release in nonrhizosphere soil was greater with the +K than the –K treatment. Overall, the information obtained in this study will be helpful in formulating more precise K fertilizer recommendations for certain soils.     

Increase in auxiliary photoprotective photosynthetic pigments in wheat seedlings induced by Azospirillum brasilense

Inoculation of wheat seedlings with the plant growth-promoting bacterium Azospirillum brasilense Cd was immobilized in alginate microbeads and, without applying any stress, significantly increased the quantity of several photosynthetic pigments, such as chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and the auxiliary photoprotective pigments violaxanthin, zeaxanthin, antheroxanthin, lutein, neoxanthin, and β-carotene. This resulted in greener plants with no apparent visible stress. After monitoring the quantity of photosynthetic pigments for 4 weeks, we observed that inoculated plants had higher quantities of pigments in shoot and stem. The greatest difference in the quantity of all pigments between inoculated and noninoculated plants occurred in the first week of growth. Regardless of treatment, the quantity of pigments in stems was three to four times less than the quantity of these pigments in shoots. Application of Azospirillum, either as liquid inoculant or as alginate microbeads, did not alter the positive effect of the bacteria on pigment production or the positive response of the plants towards A. brasilense Cd inoculation.     

In-situ enrichment and analysis of atrazine-degrading microbial communities using atrazine-containing porous beads

We examined the community composition of microbes that colonized atrazine-containing beads buried in agricultural soils that differed in atrazine treatment history. Bacterial abundance was 5-40-fold greater in atrazine-fortified beads. In beads containing 20 mg atrazine kg⁻¹ buried in soil with a history of atrazine application (conditioned soil), the abundance of Actinobacteria increased approximately 80-fold whereas in control soil, Actinobacteria were enriched only 10-fold and the gamma-Proteobacteria and Planctomycetes increased by 60- and 25-fold, respectively. The gamma-Proteobacteria were enriched by 120- and 230-fold in beads containing 200 mg atrazine kg⁻¹ in conditioned and control soil, respectively. The results demonstrate that BioSep^® beads are a suitable matrix for recruiting a diverse subset of the bacterial community involved in atrazine degradation.     

Genetic similarities among Spanisch populations of Agropyron, Elymus and Thinopyrum, using PCR-based markers

Arbitrary oligonucleotides were used as primers to amplifygenomic DNA of 48 wild Spanish populations of Agropyroncristatum, Elymus hispanicus,E. caninus,E. repens,Thinopyrum curvifolium, Th.junceum and Th.intermedium. Genetic diversity was analysedusing nineteen primers. The number of amplified products ranged from8 to 18 per primer and a total of 240 markers were scored. Differentlevels of intraspecific genetic diversity were found, the allogamousspecies E. repens andTh. intermedium being themost variable. Jaccard's similarity coefficients for internalmeasure within and between populations were used to produce a clusterdiagram. The results demonstrate differences in the degree ofsimilarity between taxonomic units. Interpopulational variability andinterspecific genomic relationships of these species arediscussed.     

Mycorrhizae,biocides, and biocontrol. 4. Response of a mixed culture of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and host plant to three fungicides

The effects of three commonly used fungicides on the colonization and sporulation by a mixture of three arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi consisting of Glomus etunicatum (Becker & Gerd.), Glomus mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.) Gerd. & Trappe, and Gigaspora rosea (Nicol. & Schenck) in symbiosis with pea plants and the resulting response of the host-plant were examined. Benomyl, PCNB, and captan were applied as soil drenches at a rate of 20 mg active ingredient kg^-1 soil 2 weeks after transplanting pea seedlings in a silty clay-loam soil containing the mixed inocula of AM fungi (AM plants). Effects of fungicides were compared to untreated plants that were inoculated with fungi (AM control). The effect of mycorrhizal inoculation on plant growth was also examined by including nonmycorrhizal, non-fungicide-treated plants (non-AM control). Fungicides or inoculation with AM fungi had only a small effect on the final shoot weights of pea plants, but had greater effects on root length and seed yield. AM control plants had higher seed yields and lower root lengths than the corresponding non-AM plants, and the fungicide-treated AM plants had intermediate yields and root lengths. Seed N and P contents were likewise highest in AM control plants, lowest in non-AM plants, and intermediate in fungicide-treated AM plants. All three fungicides depressed the proportion (%) of root length colonized by AM fungi, but these differences did not translate to reductions in the total root length that was colonized, since roots were longer in the fungicide-treated AM plants. Pea plants apparently compensated for the reduction in AM-fungal metabolism due to fungicides by increasing root growth. Fungicides affected the population of the three fungi as determined by sporulation at the final harvest. Captan significantly reduced the number, relative abundance, and relative volume of G. rosea spores in the final population relative to the controls. The relative volume of G. etunicatum spores was greater in all the fungicide-treated soils, while G. mosseae relative volumes were only greater in the captan-treated soil. These findings show that fungicides can alter the species composition of an AM-fungal community. The results also show that AM fungi can increase seed yield without enhancing the vegetative shoot growth of host plants.