Interactions among lignin, cellulose, and nitrogen drive litter chemistry-decay relationships

Litter decay rates often correlate with the initial ratios of lignin:nitrogen (N) or lignin:cellulose in litter. However, the chemical and microbial mechanisms that give rise to these patterns are still unclear. To identify these mechanisms, we studied the decomposition of a model plant system, Arabidopsis thaliana, in which plants were manipulated to have low levels of lignin, cellulose, or litter N. Nitrogen fertilizer often increases the loss of cellulose, but it suppresses the breakdown of lignin in plant litter. To understand the mechanisms driving these patterns, we decomposed plants in litterbags for one year in control and N-fertilized plots in an Alaskan boreal forest. We found that litter N had a positive effect on total mass loss because it increased the loss of lignin, N, and soluble C. Lignin had a negative effect on rates of total litter mass loss due to decreases in the loss of cellulose and hemicellulose. Cellulose had a positive effect on lignin loss, supporting the concept of a "priming effect" for lignin breakdown. However, the low-cellulose plants also lost more of their original cellulose compared to the other plant types, indicating that decomposers mined the litter for cellulose despite the presence of lignin. Low-lignin litter had higher fungal biomass and N-acetyl glucosaminidase (NAG, a chitinase) activity, suggesting that lignin restricted fungal growth and may have influenced competitive interactions between decomposers. Nitrogen fertilization increased NAG activity in the early stages of decay. In the later stages, N fertilization led to increased cellulase activity on the litters and tended to reduce lignin losses. The transition over time from competition among decomposers to high cellulase activity and suppressed lignin loss under N fertilization suggests that, in N-limited systems, N fertilization may alter decomposer community structure by favoring a shift toward cellulose- and mineral-N users.     

Nitrogen effects on decomposition: a five-year experiment in eight temperate sites

The influence of inorganic nitrogen (N) inputs on decomposition is poorly understood. Some prior studies suggest that N may reduce the decomposition of substrates with high concentrations of lignin via inhibitory effects on the activity of lignin-degrading enzymes, although such inhibition has not always been demonstrated. I studied the effects of N addition on decomposition of seven substrates ranging in initial lignin concentrations (from 7.4% to 25.6%) over five years in eight different grassland and forest sites in central Minnesota, USA. I predicted that N would stimulate the decomposition of lignin-poor substrates but retard the decomposition of lignin-rich substrates. Across these sites, N had neutral or negative effects on decomposition rates. However, in contrast to my hypothesis, effects of N on decomposition were independent of substrate initial lignin concentrations, and decomposition of the lignin fraction was unaffected by N fertilization. Rather, substrate-site combinations that exhibited more rapid decomposition rates in the control treatment were affected more negatively by addition of N fertilization. Taken together, these results suggest that decreased decomposition with added N did not result from inhibition of lignin-degrading enzyme activity, but may have resulted from abiotic interactions between N fertilizer and products of microbial degradation or synthesis or from N effects on the decomposer community. Low initial substrate N concentrations and N fertilization both stimulated N immobilization, but the differences among substrates were generally much larger than the effects of fertilization. This study suggests that atmospheric N addition could stimulate ecosystem carbon sequestration in some ecosystems as a result of reduced rates of forest floor decomposition.     

Substrate concentration and enzyme allocation can affect rates of microbial decomposition

A large proportion of the world's carbon is stored as soil organic matter (SOM). However, the mechanisms regulating the stability of this SOM remain unclear. Recent work suggests that SOM may be stabilized by mechanisms other than chemical recalcitrance. Here, we show that the mineralization rate of starch, a plant polymer commonly found in litter and soil, is concentration dependent, such that its decomposition rate can be reduced by as much as 50% when composing less than approximately 10% of SOM. This pattern is largely driven by low activities of starch-degrading enzymes and low inducibility of enzyme production by microbial decomposers. The same pattern was not observed for cellulose and hemicellulose degradation, possibly because the enzymes targeting these substrates are expressed at constitutively high levels. Nevertheless, given the heterogeneous distribution of SOM constituents, our results suggest a novel low-concentration constraint on SOM decomposition that is independent of chemical recalcitrance. These results may help explain the stability of at least some SOM constituents, especially those that naturally exist in relatively low concentrations in the soil environment.     

Enzyme activities of marine bacteria involved in Laminaria-thallus decomposition and the resulting sugar release

The extracellular decomposing enzyme activities of marine bacteria, including 60 and 16 strains of Laminaria-thallus decomposing bacteria (LDB) and non-LDB, respectively, were determined against several algal polysaccharides. A number of LDB decomposed alginate, fucoidan, and cellulose, but not laminarin. Clear decomposing activity was not observed in the culture supernatant from nutrient broth, but was detected in that from a Laminaria-thallus medium, suggesting that decomposing enzymes were induced. During the incubation of LDB in Laminaria-thallus medium, depolymerized sugar materials with a wide range of molecular size were released into the culture fluid. Total sugars released into the culture fluid after 4 d of incubation amounted to a maximum of 95% of the initial content in the thallus tissues. These findings suggest that microbial decomposition of Laminaria thallus in sea water could be a good source of carbohydrates which may support the heterotrophic growth of marine organisms.     

磺胺嘧啶在水中的微生物降解研究

为了探明磺胺嘧啶在水中的环境行为,通过室内模拟降解实验分别研究了磺胺嘧啶在湖水和猪场废水中的好氧和厌氧微生物降解,考察了供氧方式和有机质含量对磺胺嘧啶微生物降解的影响。结果表明:磺胺嘧啶在猪场废水中厌氧微生物降解速率高于其好氧组,而磺胺嘧啶在湖水中厌氧微生物降解速率低于其好氧组。磺胺嘧啶在湖水和猪场废水中的好氧或厌氧微生物降解均较缓慢,这可能与其较强的抑菌性和微生物的营养状况有关。通过微生物培养还研究了好氧降解时磺胺嘧啶对湖水中微生物种群生长的影响,数据显示:磺胺嘧啶对湖水和猪场废水中细菌的生长具有一定的刺激作用,而对真菌和放线菌的生长影响不明显。     

Microbial community composition and function across an arctic tundra landscape

Arctic landscapes are characterized by a diversity of ecosystems, which differ in plant species composition, litter biochemistry, and biogeochemical cycling rates. Tundra ecosystems differing in plant composition should contain compositionally and functionally distinct microbial communities that differentially transform dissolved organic matter as it moves downslope from dry, upland to wet, lowland tundra. To test this idea, we studied soil microbial communities in upland tussock, stream-side birch-willow, and lakeside wet sedge tundra in arctic Alaska, USA. These are a series of ecosystems that differ in topographic position, plant composition, and soil drainage. Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analyses, coupled with compound-specific 13C isotope tracing, were used to quantify microbial community composition and function; we also assayed the activity of extracellular enzymes involved in cellulose, chitin, and lignin degradation. Surface soil from each tundra ecosystem was labeled with 13C-cellobiose,13C-N-acetylglucosamine, or 13C-vanillin. After a five-day incubation, we followed the movement of 13C into bacterial and fungal PLFAs, microbial respiration, dissolved organic carbon, and soil organic matter. Microbial community composition and function were distinct among tundra ecosystems, with tussock tundra containing a significantly greater abundance and activity of soil fungi. Although the majority of 13C-labeled substrates rapidly moved into soil organic matter in all tundra soils (i.e., 50-90% of applied 13C), microbial respiration of labeled substrates in wet sedge tundra soil was lower than in tussock and birch-willow tundra; approximately 8% of 13C-cellobiose and approximately 5% of 13C-vanillin was respired in wet sedge soil vs. 26-38% of 13C-cellobiose and 18-21% of 13C-vanillin in the other tundra ecosystems. Despite these differences, wet sedge tundra exhibited the greatest extracellular enzyme activity. Topographic variation in plant litter biochemistry and soil drainage shape the metabolic capability of soil microbial communities, which, in turn, influence the chemical composition of dissolved organic matter across the arctic tundra landscape.     

西藏当雄拉屋矿区污染土壤微生物及其活性研究

通过现场采样及室内培养分析,研究了西藏当雄拉屋矿区污染土壤微生物区系组成、主要生理类群及其活性。结果表明：矿区土壤受重金属Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd不同程度污染,矿区污染土壤几种重金属质量分数比非矿区土壤有明显的增加。矿区土壤微生物区系组成和各生理类群发生了明显变化,土壤细菌、真菌、放线菌以及各生理类群数量均显著降低,且3大微生物以及各生理类群对矿区污染的敏感性大小分别表现为放线菌〉细菌〉真菌,硝化细菌〉氨化细菌〉纤维分解菌。矿区土壤酶活性较低,对照土壤的各种酶活性最高,而矿区土壤基础呼吸和代谢商则受到刺激明显提高,其中土壤脱氢酶的活性变化最大,作为矿区重金属污染的指标更灵敏。可见,土壤中微生物区系组成及参与物质转化的生理类群种类、数量及土壤酶活和微生物活性在一定程度上可反映该矿区污染生境的重金属污染特征及其生态功能的演变规律。     

Effects of visible light radiation on macrophyte litter degradation and nutrient release in water samples from a eutrophic shallow lake

Visible light is a major fraction of the solar spectrum; however, information on visible light radiation of macrophyte detritus is lacking. In this study, we conducted a microcosm experiment to assess the effects of visible light radiation on degradation of two litter species: Potamogeton malaianus (P. malaianus) and Phragmites australis (Ph. australis). This research represents an investigation of mass loss, microbial activity and nutrients released over a period of 168 days. Overall, we found that visible light radiation had significant effects on litter decomposition, but it did not affect the microbial activities which degrade cellulose and lignin. The decomposition rate order of the three components in P. malaianus and Ph. australis in treatments was: cellulose?>?hemicellulose?>?lignin. The visible light radiation mainly affected the degradation of lignin, which is the primary compound in litter susceptible to photodegradation. The exposure to visible light radiation up to 17.6?Wm^?2 stimulated the dissolved organic carbon release and reduced the molecular weight to less reactive. Meanwhile, no obvious difference in nutrient contents (TP, TN, NO₃–N, NO₂–N, and NH₃–N) was observed among different visible light intensities. The results of this study contribute to better understanding of the photochemical behaviour of macrophyte litter in shallow lakes.     

A new conceptual model for the fate of lignin in decomposing plant litter

Lignin is a main component of plant litter. Its degradation is thought to be critical for litter decomposition rates and the build-up of soil organic matter. We studied the relationships between lignin degradation and the production of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and of CO2 during litter decomposition. Needle or leaf litter of five species (Norway spruce, Scots pine, mountain ash, European beech, sycamore maple) and of different decomposition stage (freshly fallen and up to 27 months of field exposure) was incubated in the laboratory for two years. Lignin degradation was followed with the CuO method. Strong lignin degradation occurred during the first 200 incubation days, as revealed by decreasing yields of lignin-derived phenols. Thereafter lignin degradation leveled off. This pattern was similar for fresh and decomposed litter, and it stands in contrast to the common view of limited lignin degradation in fresh litter. Dissolved organic carbon and CO2 also peaked in the first period of the incubation but were not interrelated. In the later phase of incubation, CO2 production was positively correlated with DOC amounts, suggesting that bioavailable, soluble compounds became a limiting factor for CO2 production. Lignin degradation occurred only when CO2 production was high, and not limited by bioavailable carbon. Thus carbon availability was the most important control on lignin degradation. In turn, lignin degradation could not explain differences in DOC and CO2 production over the study period. Our results challenge the traditional view regarding the fate and role of lignin during litter decomposition. Lignin degradation is controlled by the availability of easily decomposable carbon sources. Consequently, it occurs particularly in the initial phase of litter decomposition and is hampered at later stages if easily decomposable resources decline.     

黑胸散白蚁纤维素酶的体外酶学特性

采用DNS法研究了我国广泛分布的一种低等木食性白蚁——黑胸散白蚁纤维素酶的体外酶活特性以了解其纤维素降解机制.结果表明,内切β-1,4-葡聚糖酶(EG)、纤维二糖水解酶(CBH)和β-葡萄糖苷酶(BG)这3种酶的最佳反应时间均为15 min,最佳底物浓度为1%,最适反应pH为5.6,最适反应温度为35℃.在最适反应条件下,EG、CBH和BG的活性分别达到71.3(±13.9)U/mg、5.8(±0.8)U/mg和4.1(±0.7)U/mg.EG在体外的热稳定性较差,在50℃及更高温度酶活很低或完全失活,但该酶对pH稳定性较好,在pH 3.2～8.0范围内酶活力变化不大.Native-PAGE电泳检测到该白蚁体内至少有8种不同的EG活性条带,肠道不同部位纤维素酶活性条带种类不同.这些研究表明,木食性白蚁降解纤维素是一个复杂的过程,需要多种纤维素酶的共同作用.     

UV-Fenton法促进白腐菌处理草浆造纸蒸煮黑液

UV—Fenton法能够产生羟基自由基氧化草浆造纸蒸煮黑液中的有机质，白腐菌能够降解草浆造纸蒸煮黑液中的木质素，降低黑液COD，但是分别采用两种方法处理草浆造纸蒸煮黑液，效果都不明显．本研究初步探索了UV—Fenton法作为预处理对白腐菌处理草浆造纸蒸煮黑液体系的影响．与仅采用白腐菌处理黑液的效应相比，UV—Fenton法氧化黑液体系中易氧化的物质，改变了体系中难降解物的特性，降低了可溶性糖的含量，结果能提高白腐菌木质素降解酶系的分泌及酶的活性，增强白腐菌降解木质素及去除黑液COD的能力．图5表1参10     

生物泥浆反应器中微生物数量变化与PAHs降解

分别以浓度、温度、接种量、通气量和表面活性剂为降解调控因子,采用平板记数法进行了生物泥浆反应器中微生物数量变化与ＰＡＨｓ降解的关系研究。结果表明：土壤中细菌数量与ＰＨＥ、ＰＹ投加浓度呈显著正相关。ＰＨＥ、ＰＹ初始浓度越高,细菌数量越大。此外,反应器的温度对微生物生长速度和数量有重要影响。反应器温度为３０℃时对细菌迅速繁殖有利,反应器温度为２０℃时对真菌生长繁殖有利。接种量为５％即可明显提高ＰＨＥ和     

典型四环素类抗生素对土壤微生物及植物生长的影响

四环素类抗生素(TCs)在畜禽养殖中的大量使用甚至滥用,导致其在动物粪便中高浓度残留。随着畜禽粪便有机肥的农田施用,TCs持续进入土壤并且不断累积,由此带来的土壤生态危害和健康风险值得关注。以四环素(TC)、土霉素(OTC)为研究对象,采用室内培养试验法,考察2种典型TCs对土壤微生物、酶活性的影响及对植物生长的毒性作用。结果表明,低浓度TC和OTC作用下,土壤细菌和真菌数量即显著降低,土壤细菌较真菌对TCs的污染更为敏感。除TC对土壤酸性磷酸酶和OTC对土壤过氧化氢酶活性主要表现为激活作用外,总体上TC、OTC作用后土壤酶活性呈低浓度促进、高浓度抑制的变化趋势。80 mg·L~(-1)的TC、OTC暴露下,绿豆芽芽伸长被显著抑制,并且随着抗生素浓度的增大,绿豆芽伸长抑制率大幅升高。相同浓度、相同暴露时间条件下的TC对绿豆芽伸长的毒性大于OTC。     

Feasibility of weeds-based compost-cultivated Agaricus bisporus北大核心CSCD

Making full use of local weed resources to produce Agaricus bisporus is of great importance in reducing production costs and protecting the environment. In this paper, three trial experiments were conducted on the basis of weed diversity investigation around the Miyun Reservoir and the adjustment of formulation and technology in the industrial production of A. bisporus. Compost samples from different phases of the composting process and at various cultivation stages were collected for the determination of their physical-chemical properties, lignocellulose content, lignocellulolytic enzyme activities, and bacterial communities enrichment by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The yield of mushrooms in each different trial was also calculated. The results showed several types of reservoir weeds with high, thick and hard stems. The saturated moisture of weeds was 76.78% after baling. The water content, carbon content, and C/N ratio of the samples decreased gradually during composting, but had little change during cultivation. The nitrogen content decreased at the end of phase I and increased at the end of phase II. During composting, the loss rates of hemicellulose and cellulose were both between 40% and 60%, and the loss rate of lignin was between 20% and 30%. During cultivation, instead, the loss rate of lignin was between 16% and 21%. The changes in the content of cellulose and hemicellulose of compost were consistent with that of the activity of the related degradation enzymes. A total of 432 595 valid sequences were obtained by Illumina sequencing for the samples derived from the three composting trials, and the average length of the sequences was 441 bp. Taxonomic analysis showed that the dominant bacteria were Prevotella (phylum Bacteroidetes), Bacillus (phylum Firmicutes), Thermus, Truepera, and Caldicoprobacter (phylum Deinococcus-Thermus), Thermopolyspora (phylum Actinobacteria), and Pseudoxanthomonas (phylum Proteobacteria). The yield of the three trials was in the range of 17.1-19.7 kg/m2. It is thus feasible to use reservoir weeds compost instead of wheat straw compost for the cultivation of A. bisporus. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

大气CO2升高对土壤碳循环影响的研究进展

土壤有机碳是陆地碳库的重要组成部分,其积累和分解的变化直接影响全球的碳平衡。据估计,全球土壤（表层1m）有机碳积累总量相当于大气中碳总量的2～3倍。土壤是温室气体的源或汇,土壤碳库的变化将影响大气C02的浓度,因此,土壤碳库对人类活动的响应也是全球碳循环和全球变化研究的热点。在全球变化的大背景下,大气CO2升高导致植被生态系统碳平衡的改变进而对土壤碳循环产生影响。总结了陆地生态系统碳循环对大气C02浓度升高响应的主要生物学机制及过程,简述了大气C02浓度升高对影响土壤碳输入和输出的各因素的研究进展,并指出未来研究的主要方向。在大气C02浓度升高条件下,陆地生态系统碳循环的变化主要反映在以下几个方面：1）不同类型植物群落的净初级生产力（NPP）显著增加,但湿地植物的净初级生产力也有可能降低;2）光合产物向根系分配的数量增加,地上／地下生物量降低,根系形态发生变化,根系周转速率和根系分泌等过程的碳流量提高;3）植物含氮量降低,C／N提高,次生代谢产物增加,微生物生长受到抑制,植物残体分解速率降低;4）土壤呼吸速率显著增加,提高幅度受植物类型与土壤状况的影响;5）进入土壤的植物残体及分泌物的数量和性质影响土壤酶的活性,脱氢酶和转化酶活性增加,酚氧化酶和纤维素酶受植物类型与环境条件的影响;6）土壤中真菌的数量的增加幅度要高于细菌;7）CH4释放量增加,在植物的生长期表现更为明显。由于陆地生态系统碳循环的复杂性,研究结果仍有很大的不确定性。大气C02浓度升高与全球变化的其它表现间的交互作用将是今后研究的重点,同时由于土壤碳循环是一个由微生物介导的生物地球化学循环过程,因此,加强陆地生态系统碳循环的微生物机制研究也将为全面理解碳循环的过程提供更加准确的研究理论基础。     

嗜碱细菌降解木质素的复合碳源共代谢研究Ⅰ——复合碳源组合方式及氮源的选择

研究在碱性液体培养条件 (pH =1 0 .5)下 ,不同碳源组合方式对嗜碱木质素降解菌产酶及降解麦草木质素的降解率的影响。研究结果表明 ,在蔗糖 (第一碳源 ) +麦草木质素 (第二碳源 )的组合方式下 ,并将硝酸铵作为氮源且碳氮比为 1 :1 .2时 ,该菌株的产酶及降解能力效果理想。     

微生物修复土壤多环芳烃污染的研究进展

多环芳烃是一类具有致癌、致畸、致突变性质的持久性有机污染物,主要来源于煤、石油等燃料的不完全燃烧,易吸附于固体颗粒表面和有机腐殖质,化学结构稳定,能长期存在于自然环境,给人类健康和生态环境带来很大的危害。中国土壤多环芳烃污染严重,因此急需寻求有效的修复方法进行治理。在众多的多环芳烃污染修复方法中,微生物修复因其低成本、高效、污染少等优点成为研究热点。科学家们从自然界中分离出了多种细菌、真菌等具有降解多环芳烃能力的微生物,并对多环芳烃的降解机理进行了探索,结果表明,微生物在代谢活动过程中能够产生酶来实现对土壤中多环芳烃的降解。细菌主要通过产生双加氧酶来催化多环芳烃的加氧反应,而真菌可以通过分泌木质素降解酶系或单加氧酶来氧化多环芳烃。两种途径均是首先通过降低多环芳烃的稳定性,使之容易被进一步降解。目前,微生物修复技术正逐步应用于PAHs污染土壤的实地修复,且已取得一定成效。文章简要介绍了降解多环芳烃的微生物,对多环芳烃的微生物降解机制进行了综述,讨论了影响微生物修复过程的因素,列举了常见的微生物修复相关技术,展望了今后的研究趋势。     

嗜碱细菌降解木质素的复合碳源共代谢研究Ⅱ—营养条件调控机制的研究

文章研究了在蔗糖（第一碳源）＋麦草木质素（第二碳源）的复合碳源组合方式培养条件下,嗜碱木质素降解菌降解木质素的降解率及营养条件调控机制对其的影响。结果表明,蔗糖初始浓度为1g/L,添加0．3％的T－80和0.5mmol/L的ABTS并静置培养对菌株的产酶及降解能力有较大的促进作用。     

Biosynthesis and effects of copper nanoparticles on plants

Copper nanoparticles have improved properties compared to the bulk copper material. Copper nanoparticles indeed find applications in gas sensors, heat transfer fluids, catalysis, solar energy and batteries. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of copper nanoparticles find applications in the agriculture and healthcare sectors. Nonetheless, careless use of copper nanoparticles may cause environmental pollution and health effects. Here we review the biosynthesis of copper nanoparticles using plant materials, named phytosynthesis, and micro-organisms. We also discuss the effect of copper nanoparticles on crops and pathogenic micro-organisms. Copper nanoparticles varying in sizes from 5 to 295 nm have been synthesized using leaf extracts and latex from plants, and using bacteria and fungi. Biosynthesized copper nanoparticles show good antimicrobial activity inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria and pathogenic fungi. Copper nanoparticles enhance the germination and growth of some plants at lower concentrations, whereas high concentrations result in retarded growth.     

Cellulose degradation by Lulworthia floridana and other lignicolous marine fungi

Gravimetric analyses of cellulose (Solka Floc) utilization by representative marine Ascomycetes, including Lulworthia floridana, Lindra sp., Torpedospora sp. and Halosphaeria mediosetigera, have shown noteworthy activity based on loss of weight of cellulose by the various fungi. Particularly striking activity is evidenced by L. floridana and Torpedospora sp., with >50% cellulose degradation after 3 weeks of fungal growth. Comparable studies with the deuteromycete, Dendryphiella salina, showed >50% loss within 6 days. Dissimilar responses by various L. floridana isolates are noted. Intensive degradative activity at pH's of 6 to 8 is common along with negligible amounts of cellulase (Cx units). Adsorption of the enzyme to the mycelia or to the cellulose particles in the medium is suggested. Earlier laboratory analyses of fungal degradation of Manila cordage compare favorably with present gravimetric studies and support field observations on the significance of fungal infestation of wood, particularly that incited by the Lulworthia floridana group.This work was supported by Grant GM 12482 from the National Institute of Health and Office of Naval Research Contract No. 137-792 to the Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Miami. Contribution No. 950 from the Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Miami.