喀斯特地区长期草地利用制度对群落稳定性的影响

草地利用方式和混播组合对群落特性的长期影响不同。利用方式对白三叶（Trifolium repens）盖度没有显著影响,而混播组合与利用方式的交互作用影响显著。白三叶在宿营处理和刈割为主利用下的与鸭茅（Dactylis glomerata）混播中的比例最低,而在刈割利用和宿营处理的多年生黑麦草（Lolium perenne）组合中的盖度最高。混播组合对禾本科组分盖度影响不显著,但利用方式和交互作用有显著的作用,长期放牧绵羊的混播草地多年生黑麦草很少。混播组合对杂草密度、盖度和多样性指数的影响不明显,而利用方式和交互作用显著地影响杂草盖度和多样性指数。放牧草地中的杂草密度高于刈割草地的,其中放牧利用的白三叶/多年生黑麦草草地最高。放牧牛的草地杂草密度较少,而放牧绵羊的草地杂草较多。白三叶、禾本科牧草以及杂草的密度都显著地受混播组合、利用方式及其交互作用的影响,说明密度是一个敏感的指标。     

喀斯特地区红三叶混播草地群落对长期适度放牧的响应

群落稳定性的生态学研究一直缺乏动物利用条件下的长时间梯度田间试验,而混播草地的放牧利用年限是生态脆弱的南方喀斯特山区生态环境建设和资源可持续利用的关键问题之一。用考力代绵羊轮牧,在牧前和牧后草地现存量(干物质,DM,drymatter)分别为1800~2500(草层高15~18cm)和900~1200kg·hm-2(草层高3~5cm)的适度放牧利用条件下,对亚热带最常见的豆科牧草红三叶(Trifolium pratense)与禾本科牧草的两两混播草地的群落生产力和持久性开展长期研究。20年的结果表明:适度放牧利用下,群落地上总生物量长期稳定,各组合间差异不显著,总盖度20a后仍高达97%以上;适度放牧有利于牧草的生产力持久性,红三叶、鸭茅(Dactylisglomerata)、多年生黑麦草(Loliumperenne)和黑穗画眉草(Eragrostisnigra)都在群落中长期存在;群落净产量和持久性是尺度依赖的,群落长期净生产力以红三叶 鸭茅的最高(DM产量353.3g·m-2·a-1)(P<0.05),对杂草侵入的抵抗力最强,而前10a红三叶 多年生黑麦草有很高的净生产力(DM产量449.8g·m-2·a-1);物种的生产力受伴生种的影响,前10a红三叶在与无芒雀麦(Bromus inermis leyss)和黑穗画眉草组合中的产量高于其它组合(P<0.05);不同的物种侵占力不同,栽培种侵占力最强的是黑穗画眉和鸭茅,非栽培种侵占力最强的是白三叶。     

豆禾混播草地群落稳定性的比较

连续13年测定了由白三叶(Trifolium repens)、多年生黑麦草(Lolium perenne)等5种牧草混播形成的群落的地七生物量,以比较各群落的稳定性.结果表明,地上生物量与物种数成正比,复杂组合的地上生物量高于简单组合.V4组合[红三叶(Trifolium pratense)+白三叶(T.repens)+多年生黑麦草(L.perenne)+无芒雀麦(Bromus inermis Leyss)+紫羊茅(Festucarubra)]地上生物量最高.与其它群落比较差异极显著p<0.01);V1组合[(红三叶(T.pratense)+多年生黑麦草(L.perenne)]对杂草的抗性和竞争力最差,群落最不稳定;V3组合(白三叶+紫羊茅)对杂草具有很强的抗性和竞争力,群落稳定性最好.     

模拟放牧强度与施肥对青藏高原高寒草甸群落特征和物种多样性的影响

通过为期6年的野外人工控制实验,研究了刈割和施肥对青藏高原高寒草甸群落特征、生产力水平和多样性水平的影响,以期为天然草场的合理利用提供科学依据。结果显示,(1)刈割后群落的物种组成发生了变化,与对照相比,中度和重度刈割区矮嵩草的重要值分别增加了13.28%和27.89%,同时一些适口性差的毒杂草的重要值也相对增加。(2)中度和重度刈割后,禾本科重要值由48.65%分别降至36.63%和40.15%,豆科重要值由2.78%分别增至7.49%和7.53%,杂草重要值由38.78%分别增至46.61%和44.34%;而施肥后,禾本科重要值由35.85%增至47.78%,豆科和杂草的重要值分别由8.18%和46.32%降至3.68%和40.17%。(3)中度和重度刈割后群落高度由19.62 cm分别降至7.58 cm和5.88 cm,而盖度由62.78%分别增至77.96%和75.04%,密度由644 ind·0.25 m~(-2)分别增至876 ind·0.25 m~(-2)和924 ind·0.25 m~(-2),生产力由104.63 g·0.25 m~(-2)分别增至117.62 g·0.25 m~(-2)和123.72 g·0.25 m~(-2);施肥使群落的高度、盖度以及生产力分别由8.47 cm、65.56%和88.86 g·0.25 m~(-2)增至13.58 cm、78.29%和141.79 g·0.25 m~(-2)。(4)群落物种多样性在施肥后均显著降低,而在刈割后均显著增加,且丰富度指数和Simpson指数均在中度刈割后达最大值。(5)刈割使群落生产力与物种多样性表现出微弱正相关或不相关,而施肥使生产力与物种多样性表现出显著负相关或微弱负相关。刈割导致一些优良牧草的优势地位大大降低,同时也导致适口性差的杂草的优势地位升高;而施肥则有利于优势物种的生长,且在一定程度上抑制了杂草的生长。该结果支持中度干扰假说,并暗示物种多样性与生产力的关系可能是多变的,且这种关系取决于群落所受扰动因素的类型和强度。总之,在高寒草甸的管理过程中,放牧强度和营养添加应控制在合适的范围,以达到保护物种多样性和合理利用的双重目的。     

增温、刈割对高寒草甸地上植被生长的影响

近些年由于气候变化和土地利用方式变化的双重影响,高寒草甸植被逐渐表现出退化现象。探讨高寒草甸植被生长特征在气候变化和人类活动中的动态变化规律,对高海拔地区植被的保护和合理利用,防止草地退化和沙漠化发生具有重要意义。以青藏高原高寒草甸为研究区,利用增温实验模拟气候变暖、刈割实验模拟人类放牧,采用随机区组设计,设置对照、增温、刈割、增温+刈割交互作用四种实验处理,于2012─2013年植被生长季调查高度、盖度和地上生物量,研究高寒草甸地上植被生长特征对增温、刈割的响应,以此探讨青藏高原高寒草甸地上植被在气候变化和人类活动中的变化趋势。结果表明:(1)夏季是高寒草甸植被生长的最佳季节,其中7月是其生长的最佳月份;高寒草甸地上植被生长特征年内生长季和年际间的变化趋势差异较大,表现为植被高度在生长季中期高于初期和末期(P0.05),植被盖度和地上生物量在生长季中期和末期高于初期(P0.05);2012年的植被高度和地上生物量略高于2013年(P0.05),但植被盖度略低于2013年(P0.05)。(2)植被高度、盖度和地上生物量在增温第2年(2012年)的各实验处理间均未出现显著差异(P0.05),而在第3年(2013年)开始出现显著差异(P0.05),其中2年刈割显著降低植被高度和地上生物量(P0.05),3年增温和2年刈割的交互作用显著降低植被盖度和地上生物量(P0.05)。以上结果表明,增温、刈割对高寒草甸地上植被生长的影响在短期和长期尺度上存有差异,初期并不显著,但随着时间推移,影响开始加强。     

刈割时间对典型草原建群植物大针茅种群特征的影响

通过测定不同刈割时间处理(不刈割、8月1日刈割、8月16日刈割、8月31日刈割)下锡林郭勒盟典型草原大针茅(Stipa grandis)种群地上生物量和高度、密度、盖度、分枝数、每枝叶片数等5种个体性状以及大针茅种群粗蛋白含量、中性洗涤纤维、酸性洗涤纤维等营养物质含量之间的差异性及各项指标之间的相关性,为探究不同的刈割时间对锡林郭勒盟典型草原建群植物大针茅种群特征的影响提供理论依据,也为草地生态系统的合理利用提供技术支持。结果表明:不同时间刈割对典型草原大针茅种群特征有显著的影响。与不刈割对照相比,8月16日刈割处理大针茅种群的密度和盖度均达到最大值,分别为45.28%和16.64%;8月1日刈割处理大针茅种群的株高、分枝数、每枝叶片数等个体性状,生物量及营养物质含量均达到最大值;大针茅种群的生物量与植株高度、分枝数之间存在极显著的正相关关系(r~2=0.5130、P0.0001;r~2=0.9075、P0.0001),与盖度之间存在显著的正相关关系(r~2=0.3498、P0.05);大针茅的高度、分枝数、密度、盖度之间具有相互影响的内在关联性(P0.05)。     

不同光环境下刈割对黑麦草补偿性生长及叶片氮含量的影响

补偿性生长(Compensatory growth)是植物对外界干扰的积极响应,其补偿能力与外界光环境密切相关,而刈割后造成草地冠层下光环境变化会对刈后植物的补偿性生长产生影响.为深入了解补偿性生长机制,通过设置自然光(Natural light,NL)、红光(Red light,RL)和遮荫(Shading,SH)3种光环境,模拟刈割后草地群落光环境变化,研究黑麦草(Lolium perenne)刈割两次后生物量累积、分配及叶片氮含量的变化,探讨其补偿性生长对光质和光强变化的响应.结果显示:(1)NL和RL下,刈割后黑麦草的累积地上生物量与未刈割处理相比分别增加了24.44%和14.06%,表现为超补偿生长,SH下刈割与未刈割处理并无显著差异,表现为等补偿生长;(2)刈割后黑麦草地下相对生长速率(RGR)仅RL表现为增加,而NL和SH均为降低,且SH在未刈割下已为负增长,说明RL下刈割后黑麦草地上部分的超补偿生长并未影响地下部分的生长,而NL和SH下地上部分发生补偿生长后均抑制了地下部分的生长;(3)光环境变化和刈割明显影响了黑麦草叶片中的氮含量,3种光环境中,刈割与不刈割下黑麦草叶片氮含量均为SH>NL>RL,而刈割处理显著增加了叶片氮含量,与未刈割相比分别增加了43.86%、21.58%和13.16%;(4)3种光环境下,刈割和不刈割黑麦草生物量分配与其叶片氮含量之间的相关性均达到了极显著水平(R2=0.84,P<0.001).本研究表明,黑麦草的补偿性生长与外部光环境密切相关,其补偿能力取决于刈后剩余叶片的光合效率;光质对刈后黑麦草生物量分配模式有重要影响,因此红光下地上部分的超补偿生长不以牺牲地下生长为代偿;叶片氮含量是影响植物补偿性生长的关键因素,黑麦草补偿性生长主要通过增加叶片氮含量来实现,而生物量分配则与叶片中氮含量的多少有关.     

刈割对香港草地干物质生产的影响

研究了刈割频率对香港草地于物质生产的影响。结果表明，刈割使干物质生产量下降，刈割频率越高生产量下降越大。禾本科植物受刈割影响比木本和非禾本科草本植物大，且停止刚割一年后生物量仍低于对照点。认为常年刈割是华南草地生产力下降的重要原因之一。     

围封和放牧对科尔沁沙地群落物种多样性与地上生物量的影响

以科尔沁沙地自由放牧和围封10年的沙质草地为研究对象,采用野外调查与室内分析的方法,分析了围封和放牧对科尔沁沙地群落物种多样性与地上生物量的影响,旨在为退化沙地恢复与重建提供科学依据。试验选择围封和自由放牧草地的典型地段,分别设置50个面积1m~2的草本样方,调查每个样方的种类组成及其特征值(盖度、高度和密度),采用针刺法测定样方总盖度和每种植物的分盖度;每种植物随机选5株,用直尺测量其伸长高度;对样方中出现的植物进行分类,记录同一种植物出现的个数;采用齐地面刈割法调查其地上生物量。主要结论如下,(1)经过围栏封育后,群落物种数提高了67%。方差分析表明,围封群落的盖度(F=90.536,n=50,P0.001)、高度(F=63.964,n=50,P0.001)、密度(F=10.274,n=50,P=0.001 8)以及地上生物量(F=83.64,n=50,P0.001)显著大于放牧群落,分别提高了178%、100%、67%和201%。围封和放牧群落均以一年生草本占绝对优势,分别为66%和73%,围封使群落多年生草本的优势度增加了52%。(2)围封群落物种丰富度显著高于放牧群落,但多样性指数没有显著性差异,均匀度指数显著低于放牧群落。(3)回归分析表明,放牧群落的物种多样性与地上生物量呈现显著负二次函数关系(P0.05),而围封围封群落物种多样性和地上生物量的关系不显著。     

刈割对南方草地植物补偿性生长的影响——以渝东北部岐山草场为例

在全球气候变暖的背景下,碳排放权成为制约我国经济发展的基础.我国草地是个巨大的碳库,但大部分草地并未得到合理利用,未能充分发挥其固碳潜力.因此,探讨合理的草地利用管理方式以提高其碳汇功能,是为我国争取更多碳排放权的有效途径.以重庆云阳岐山草场为研究对象,进行野外刈割梯度试验(留茬高度6 cm、9 cm、12cm),探讨刈割对草地补偿生长的影响.基于一个生长季的研究发现:(1)在轻度和重度刈割处理下,群落地上部分实现了超补偿(P0.01),而在中度刈割处理下实现了等补偿(P0.05).(2)不同功能群物种对刈割的响应差异很大.轻度、中度和重度刈割处理下,禾草类的地上生物量(AB)分别提高了20%、18%和27%,地上部分碳储量(AC)分别提高了21%、19%和25%,普遍实现了超补偿(P0.01),这主要与其优势物种鸭茅和黑麦草的超补偿有关;杂类草的AB分别提高了72%、45%和22%,AC分别提高了71%、46%和22%,也普遍实现了超补偿(P0.01);而菊科的AB分别降低了61%、69%和51%,AC分别降低了61%、70%和51%,普遍实现了不足补偿(P0.01);轻度和中度刈割使豆科AB分别提高了22%和22%,AC分别提高了20%和23%,都实现了超补偿(P0.01).(3)轻度、中度和重度刈割导致群落根系生物量(RB)下降了9%、10%和19%,根系碳储量(RC)下降了13%、11%和20%,发生不足补偿(P0.01),这主要与在刈割处理下鸭茅和牛尾蒿RB和RC的减少有关.(4)刈割对群落地上部分和根系的总碳储量影响不显著(P0.05),但对优势物种总生物量(TB)和总碳储量(TC)的影响差异很大.在轻度、中度和重度刈割下,黑麦草的TB分别增加了24%、28%和82%,TC分别增加了22%、32%和93%,实现了超补偿(P0.01),而菊科优势物种牛尾蒿的TB却分别减少了83%、83%和78%,TC分别减少了83%、84%和78%,普遍了不足补偿(P0.01).(5)刈割对生态系统碳交换过程(NEE,GEP,ER)的影响较小,表明短期内刈割对草地的固碳无影响.本文研究结果表明,短期内轻度刈割能促进草地产量的提高,但对草地的固碳能力无影响;而在刈割管理下,适当补播黑麦草有利于提高我国南方草地的固碳潜力.     

Comparison of growth performance of Lolium perenne L., Dactylis glomerata L. and Agropyron elongatum (Host.) P. Beauv. for erosion control in Turkey

This study was carried out in plastic containers to compare growth performances of perennial ryegrass, orchardgrass and tall wheatgrass to be given priority in revegetation studies in Turkey. Three pre-germinated seeds of each grass species were planted separately into the soil in the black plastic containers. Seedlings were harvested 2, 4 and 6 months after planting pre-germinated seeds and measured for percentage of seedling emergence, rooting depth, height growth, leaf and tiller development and shoot and root weights. Germination percentage was 97.8% for perennial ryegrass, 64.1% for orchardgrass and 11.6% for tall wheatgrass and perennial ryegrass had the greatest whereas tall wheatgrass had the lowest seedling emergence. Two months old rooting depth was 25.66 cm for perennial ryegrass, 20.56 cm for orchardgrass and 30.10 cm for tall wheatgrass. At the end of the study, perennial ryegrass developed about 104 tillers per plant while they were 21.4 and 36.6 tillers per plant for orchardgrass and tall wheatgrass, respectively. Orchardgrass produced greater shoot and root biomasses than tall wheatgrass and similar to perennial ryegrass. All these meant that perennial ryegrass had a better growth performance than orchardgrass and tall wheatgrass to be used for erosion control.     

Effects of two different intercropping systems on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal colonization and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) dissipation北大核心CSCD

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are typical organic contaminants in the environment. It is indicated that plants and soil microorganisms have a positive synergistic effect on the remediation of PCB-contaminated soil. To investigate the effect of intercropping on arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal colonization and PCB remediation, a pot-cultivation experiment with two intercropping treatments, corn (Zea mays L.) / ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and corn/alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), and a corn monoculture was conducted in a greenhouse. All treatments were inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae M47V. Plant biomass, root mycorrhizal colonization rate, concentration of PCBs and their homologs in soil, 16S rDNA gene abundance, and community composition measured by Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP) were determined after harvesting the plants. Intercropping significantly increased the root mycorrhizal colonization rate and plant biomass of corn (P < 0.05), as well as the available N content of the soil. A significant difference of the bacterial community composition was found among different treatments (P < 0.05). Compared with corn monoculture, corn/alfalfa intercropping significantly increased soil bacteria abundance (P < 0.05). The dissipation rates of total PCBs, as well as that of penta-chloro biphenyls were significantly increased in the intercropping treatments, when compared to the corn monoculture treatment. Moreover, corn/ryegrass intercropping has a significantly positive effect on the dissipation of tri-chloro biphenyls. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis indicated that the PCBs homologues composition were significantly correlated with the relative abundance of 128 bp and 148 bp T-RFs. Corn intercropping with ryegrass or alfalfa has a positive effect on root mycorrhizal colonization rate and plant biomass of corn. Inoculation of AM fungi in intercropping treatments significantly improved the efficiency of PCB remediation by promoting bacterial abundance and shifting the bacterial community composition. In conclusion, intercropping combined with AM fungi have positive synergistic effects on the remediation of PCB-contaminated soils. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

铅-苯并[a]芘复合污染在土壤-植物体系的归宿规律研究

通过室内盆栽试验研究了中、低浓度铅（Pb）和苯并[a]芘（B[a]p）复合污染在土壤-植物系统中的归宿规律和相互影响,以考查Pb-B[a]p复合污染的相互作用.采用4因素6水平均匀设计试验方案,w（Pb）范围为0～1 120 mg·kg^-1,w（B[a]p）范围为0～6.4 mg·kg^-1.结果表明,在非根际环境中,Pb的不同结合态未受到B[a]p的影响,而土壤中B[a]p的自然降解过程也未受到Pb的影响;在黑麦草根际环境中,Pb的可交换态和碳酸盐结合态以及Fe/Mn氧化物结合态含量与非根际土壤相比明显降低,有机物和硫化物结合态含量明显升高,这与黑麦草根际分泌物和植物根际的吸收作用有关;玉米和黑麦草地上部和根部Pb含量均与土壤中Pb总量之间呈显著正相关关系,与B[a]p含量间不存在显著相关性;在玉米和黑麦草根际环境中,B[a]p的降解速率比非根际土壤有明显提高,其中黑麦草的促降解作用强于玉米;Pb对玉米和黑麦草根际土壤中B[a]p的降解过程具有一定的抑制作用,这与根际环境对Pb的活化作用进而增加Pb对微生物有效性有关;Pb对植物根部吸附B[a]p的过程也有一定影响.总体而言,在根际和非根际条件下B[a]p与Pb的共存均未影响Pb的归宿,在非根际环境中Pb也未影响B[a]p的归宿,但在根际环境中Pb抑制了B[a]p在土壤中的降解及植物根部对B[a]p的吸收.     

蚯蚓在植物修复铜、镉污染土壤中的作用

以红壤和高砂土为供试土壤,分别加入3个浓度的重金属铜离子Cu2 (100,200,400 mg kg-1)或镉离子Cd2 (5,10,20 mg kg-1),每钵接种6条蚯蚓(Pheretimasp.),种植黑麦草(Lolium multiflorum),以不加蚯蚓为对照(CK),研究蚯蚓活动对Cu、Cd污染土壤中黑麦草生长及铜、镉生物有效性的影响.结果表明,添加蚯蚓显著提高了Cu2 、Cd2 污染的高砂土中黑麦草地上部分的生物量,增幅为33%~96%;仅增加了Cu2 污染浓度低于200 mg kg-1的红壤中黑麦草地上部分的生物量;添加蚯蚓显著增加了两种土壤中速效N的含量,促进了黑麦草地上部分对N的吸收,对速效P、K的含量以及黑麦草中P、K含量无显著影响;添加蚯蚓显著提高了红壤中铜(Cu)、镉(Cd)DTPA提取态的含量,对高砂土中DTPA提取态Cu、Cd的含量无显著影响;增加了高砂土中和添加Cu污染浓度低于200 mg kg-1的红壤中黑麦草地上部分吸收Cu的总量,而对黑麦草吸收Cd的量无显著影响.加入蚯蚓可以不同程度地改善植物修复技术应用中受制的两个主要因素.表4参30     

Modelling the abundance of three key plant species in New Zealand hill-pasture using a decision tree approach

Decision tree models were developed to investigate and predict the relative abundance of three key pasture plants [ryegrass (Lolium perenne), browntop (Agrostis capillaris), and white clover (Trifolium repens)] with integration of a geographical information system (GIS) in a naturalised hill-pasture in the North Island, New Zealand, and were compared with regression models with respect to model fit and predictive accuracy. The results indicated that the decision tree models had a better model fit in terms of average squared error (ASE) and a higher percentage of adequately predicted cases in model validation than the corresponding regression models. These decision tree models clearly revealed the relative importance of environmental and management variables in influencing the abundance of these three species. Hill slope was the most significant environmental factor influencing the abundance of ryegrass while soil Olsen P and annual P fertilizer input were the most significant factors influencing the abundance of browntop, and white clover, respectively. Soil Olsen P of approximately 10 μg/g, or a slope of about 10.5° was critical points where the competition between ryegrass and browntop tended to come to an equilibrium. Integrating the decision tree models with a GIS in this study not only facilitated the model development and analyses, but also provided a useful decision support tool in pasture management such as in assisting precision fertilizer placement. The insights obtained from the decision tree models also have important implications for pasture management, for example, it is important to maintain a soil Olsen P higher than 10 μg/g in order to keep the dominance of ryegrass in the hill-pasture.     

四种改良剂对Cu、Cd复合污染土壤中Cu、Cd形态和土壤酶活性的影响

以黑麦草（Lolium perenne L.）作为修复植物进行田间试验,研究了石灰、磷灰石、蒙脱石、凹凸棒石4种改良剂对铜镉复合污染土壤中Cu、Cd形态和土壤酶活性的影响。结果表明,改良剂提高了污染土壤pH,降低了土壤可交换态（EX）Cu、Cd含量;改良剂提高了土壤脲酶、酸性磷酸酶和过氧化氢酶活性,每种改良剂对土壤酶活性增加幅度随其添加剂量增加而增大;土壤酶活性与土壤EX态Cu、Cd含量呈显著或极显著负相关关系,与土壤pH呈显著或极显著正相关关系;高剂量石灰（石灰占污染土壤耕作层质量的0.4%）和高剂量磷灰石（磷灰石占污染土壤耕作层质量的2.32%）处理钝化污染土壤中Cu、Cd及提高土壤酶活性效果最好。     

污染土壤添加有机物质对黑麦草吸收铜的影响

研究了泥炭和堆肥对铜污染土壤盆栽黑麦草吸收铜状况的影响。结果表明 ,黑麦草地上、地下部含铜量皆随土壤污染水平提高而增加 ,地下部的增幅远大于地上部 ;添加有机物质明显降低了黑麦草地上、地下部的含铜量 ,平均降幅近 3 0 %。泥炭降低黑麦草地上、地下部含铜量的作用随土壤污染水平的提高而逐渐变小 ,而堆肥的作用至重度污染水平仍较明显 ;在近 4 0 0mg/kg铜污染水平上 ,有机物质表现出最佳降低植株铜吸收量的效果。有机物质的控制作用与土壤pH有关 ,并在 3茬黑麦草的试验期间内得以维持     

Biologically active secondary metabolites in white clover (Trifolium repens L.) – a review focusing on contents in the plant, plant–pest interactions and transformation

Summary.  To exploit biologically active compounds from white clover (Trifolium repens L.) for suppressing weeds and soil-borne diseases, either as isolated products (biopesticides) or through cultivars with enhanced production of these compounds, the biologically active compounds must be identified, plant content measured, and their fate in soil known. The present review summarizes the published knowledge needed for such exploitation; providing essential information on structure and concentration of flavonols, flavones, condensed tannins, isoflavones, isoflavanones, pterocarpans, coumestans, cyanogenic glucosides, and saponins in healthy and stressed white clover plants. Various stresses and particular cultivars affect the concentrations of several of the compounds. Information on biological effects and the degradation/transformation of these compounds in plants or by microorganisms is available. There is no information on the degradation pathway in soil, the mechanisms of exudation and leaching of compounds from plants, and soil sorption properties of the compounds. The clover soil fatigue problem is increasing in grasslands and causes problems especially in organic farming. Research efforts focused on biological elements of clover soil fatigue have not explained it, and the influence of secondary metabolites has not been investigated. There are few investigations into the interaction between beneficial fungi/fungal-diseases and the occurrence of biologically active secondary metabolites in white clover plants. Such studies are critical to better understand beneficial fungi and pathogens.     

Phytotoxicity in seven higher plant species exposed to di-n-butyl phthalate or bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

We investigated phytotoxicity in seven plant species exposed to a range of concentrations (0– 500 mg·kg⁻¹ soil) of di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) or bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), two representative phthalate esters (PAEs) nominated by USEPA as priority pollutants and known environmental estrogens. We studied seed germination, root elongation, seedling growth, biomass (fresh weight, FW) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content of shoots and roots of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), radish (Raphanus sativus L.), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), oat (Avena sativa) and onion (Allium cepa L.), together with monitoring of plant pigment content (chlorophyll a, b and carotinoids) in alfalfa, radish and onion shoots. Root elongation, seedling growth and biomass of the test species were generally inhibited by DnBP but not by DEHP, indicating a lower level of phytotoxicity of DEHP than of DnBP. MDA contents of four species were promoted by PAE exposure, but not in alfalfa, ryegrass or onion shoots, indicating lower sensitivity of these three species to PAE pollutants. Plant pigment contents were clearly affected under the stress of both pollutants, implying the potential damage to the photosynthetic system of test plants, mainly by decreasing the content of chlorophyll a and b. Results of DnBP and DEHP phytotoxicity to the primary growth of test plants has provided information for the assessment of their environmental risk in the soil and also forms a basis for the further analysis of their toxic effects over the whole growth period of different plant species.