Anaerobic soil disinfestation:A chemical-independent approach to pre-plant control of plant pathogens

Due to increasing regulations and restrictions, there is an urgent need to develop effective alternatives to chemical-dependent fumigation control of soilborne pests and pathogens. Anaerobic soil disinfestation （ASD） is one such alternative showing great promise for use in the control of soilborne pathogens and pests. This method involves the application of a carbon source, irrigation to field capacity, and covering the soil with a plastic tarp. While the mechanisms of ASD are not completely understood, they appear to be a combination of changes in the soil microbial community composition, production of volatile organic compounds, and the generation of lethal anaerobic conditions. The variety of materials and options for ASD application, including carbon sources, soil temperature, and plastic tarp type, influence the efficacy of pathogen sup- pression and disease control. Currently, both dry （e.g., rice bran） and liquid （e.g., ethanol） carbon sources are commonly used, but with different results depending on environmental conditions. While solarization is not an essential component of ASD, it can enhance efficacy. Understanding the mechanisms that mediate biological changes occurring in the soil during ASD will facilitate our ability to increase ASD efficacy while enhancing its commercial viability.

Evaluation of Rice Seedling Tolerance to Constant and Intermittent Low Temperature Stress

M202, IR50 and advanced backcross （BC4F6） lines carrying the cold tolerance QTLs qCTS4 and qCTS12 were evaluated using three low temperature stress assays （constant, intermittent and constant with recovery period）. Under constant stress, two BC4F6 lines （MIb 4853-9 and MIb 6885-2） exhibited differences in seedling growth and accumulation of stress-related compounds although both carry the two QTLs in the IRS0 background. Differences between these lines were also observed in the constant with recovery period assay, although both of them performed comparably under intermittent stress, MIb 6885-2 performed more similarly to M202 in the constant and constant with recovery period assays, suggesting that this line contains an introgressed region（s） not present in MIb 4853-9. The three assays were also applied to assess variations in cold tolerance in a set of diverse germplasms. Performance metrics and visual ratings were comparable for evaluating tolerance to constant stress. However, differences in response to intermittent stress were more evident from growth and total chlorophyll measurements than from visual ratings. With regard to the constant with recovery period assay, about 15% of the germplasm accessions did not recover. However, some lines which exhibited chilling injuries of comparable severity were able to overcome them. This recovery phenotype may improve rice performance in the field and warrant further investigation.

Co-located quantitative trait loci mediate resistance to Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Phytophthora cinnamomi,and P.pini in Juglans microcarpa×J.regia hybrids

Soil-borne plant pathogens represent a serious threat that undermines commercial walnut(Juglans regia)production worldwide.Crown gall,caused by Agrobacterium tumefaciens,and Phytophthora root and crown rots,caused by various Phytophthora spp.,are among the most devastating walnut soil-borne diseases.A recognized strategy to combat soil-borne diseases is adoption of resistant rootstocks.Here,resistance to A.tumefaciens,P.cinnamomi,and P.pini is mapped in the genome of Juglans microcarpa,a North American wild relative of cultivated walnut.Half-sib J.microcarpa mother trees DJUG 31.01 and DJUG 31.09 were crossed with J.regia cv.Serr,producing 353 and 400 hybrids,respectively.Clonally propagated hybrids were genotyped by sequencing to construct genetic maps for the two populations and challenged with the three pathogens.Resistance to each of the three pathogens was mapped as a major QTL on the long arm of J.microcarpa chromosome 4D and was associated with the same haplotype,designated as haplotype b,raising the possibility that the two mother trees were heterozygous for a single Mendelian gene conferring resistance to all three pathogens.The deployment of this haplotype in rootstock breeding will facilitate breeding of a walnut rootstock resistant to both crown gall and Phytophthora root and crown rots.

Effect of Long-Term Soil Management on the Mutual Interaction Among Soil Organic Matter, Microbial Activity and Aggregate Stability in a Vineyard

Vineyard management practices to enhance soil conservation principally focus on increasing carbon(C)input,whereas mitigating impacts of disturbance through reduced tillage has been rarely considered.Furthermore,information is lacking on the effects of soil management practices adopted in the under-vine zone on soil conservation.In this work,we evaluated the long-term effects(22 years)of alley with a sown cover crop and no-tillage(S+NT),alley with a sown cover crop and tillage(S+T),and under-vine zone with no vegetation and tillage(UV)on soil organic matter(SOM),microbial activity,aggregate stability,and their mutual interactions in a California vineyard in USA.Vegetation biomass,microbial biomass and activity,organic C and nitrogen(N)pools,and SOM size fractionation and aggregate stability were analysed.Soil characteristics only partially reflected the differences in vegetation biomass input.Organic C and N pools and microbial biomass/activity in S+NT were higher than those in S+T,while the values in UV were intermediate between the other two treatments.Furthermore,S+NT also exhibited higher particulate organic matter C in soil.No differences were found in POM C between S+T and UV,but the POM fraction in S+T was characterized by fresher material.Aggregate stability was decreased in the order:S+NT>UV>S+T.Tillage,even if shallow and performed infrequently,had a negative effect on organic C and N pools and aggregate stability.Consequently,the combination of a sown cover crop and reduced tillage still limited SOM accumulation and reduced aggregate stability in the surface soil layer of vineyards,suggesting relatively lower resistance of soils to erosion compared to no-till systems.