Soils In Spain Research Articles

Legislation on Free Soil in Nineteenth-Century Spain: The Case of the Slave Rufino and Its Consequences (1858–1879)

This article aims to deepen our knowledge of legislation and social practice relating to the establishment of the principle of free soil in Spain, as considered in the case of a black African slave from the West Indies called Rufino. The court's decision in this case became a fundamental pillar of abolitionist legislation. The immediate precedent had been set by the Royal Order of 29 March 1836, whereby slaves brought to the Peninsula were declared to be free. The authors have analysed the documents arising from the case of Rufino to explore the establishment of free soil in Spain, and the wider European context.

Two new species of Cladorrhinum

Two new species of Cladorrhinum, C. flexuosum and C. microsclerotigenum, are described and their sequences of the 5.8S and 28S ribosomal DNA and internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 of the ribosomal RNA gene cluster analyzed. Cladorrhinum flexuosum, isolated from soil in Spain, forms fast-growing, dull yellow colonies, flexuous conidiophores and globose to dacryoid conidia. Cladorrhinum microsclerotigenum, isolated from Musa sp. in Turkey, strongly resembles Cladorrhinum phialophoroides in the production of abundant terminal phialides, ellipsoid conidia and microsclerotia in culture. It differs from C. phialophoroides in its ability to grow at 36 C and high number of intercalary phialides, which only infrequently occur in C. phialophoroides.

A new species of Leptodiscella from Spanish soil

A new hyphomycete, Leptodiscella brevicatenata, is described based on morphology, growth profilings and DNA sequence comparisons. The new species, isolated from soil in Spain, is characterized by producing conidia with 3- to 9-μm-long appendages and chlamydospores borne singly or in short, simple chains of 2–4 cells. Analyses of sequences of the 5.8S and 28S ribosomal DNA and internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 of the ribosomal RNA gene cluster indicated that L. brevicatenata is close to L. chlamydospora. The latter species, however, grows faster than L. brevicatenata at 30°C and produces conidia with shorter appendages and chlamydospores which are often arranged in long, sometimes branched, chains. The phylogenetic study revealed that Leptodiscella spp. represent a new lineage of the Dothideomycetes, relatively close to the order Acrospermales. A key to the accepted Leptodiscella species is provided.

Field sampling of soil pore water to evaluate trace element mobility and associated environmental risk

Monitoring soil pollution is a key aspect in sustainable management of contaminated land but there is often debate over what should be monitored to assess ecological risk. Soil pore water, containing the most labile pollutant fraction in soils, can be easily collected in situ offering a routine way to monitor this risk. We present a compilation of data on concentration of trace elements (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in soil pore water collected in field conditions from a range of polluted and non-polluted soils in Spain and the UK during single and repeated monitoring, and propose a simple eco-toxicity test using this media. Sufficient pore water could be extracted for analysis both under semi-arid and temperate conditions, and eco-toxicity comparisons could be effectively made between polluted and non-polluted soils. We propose that in-situ pore water extraction could enhance the realism of risk assessment at some contaminated sites.

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF INVASIVE FUNGAL INFECTIONS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA

Although Candida species remain the relevant cause of IFI, other fungi (especially moulds) have become increasingly prevalent. In particular, Aspergillus species are the leading cause of mould infections but also Glomeromycota (formerly Zygomycetes) and Fusarium species are increasing in frequency, and are associated with high mortality rates. Many of these emerging infections occur as breakthrough infections in patients treated with new antifungal drugs. The causative pathogens, incidence rate and severity are dependent on the underlying condition, as well as on the geographic location of the patient population. France and Italy show the highest incident rates of Fusarium infections in Europe, following the US, where numbers are still increasing. Scedosporium prolificans, which primarily is found in soil in Spain and Australia, is most frequently isolated from blood cultures in a Spanish hospital. Geotrichum capitatum represents another species predominantly found in Europe with especially high rates in Mediterranean countries. The increasing resistance to antifungal drugs especially of these new emerging pathogens is a severe problem for managing these IFIs.

Phenotypic, genotypic, and symbiotic diversities in strains nodulating clover in different soils in Spain.

Trifolium species are the most common legumes present in wild Spanish soils; however, there are no studies to date on the diversity of rhizobia nodulating clover in Spain. Twenty strains from different Spanish soils with acidic, neutral, and basic pH were selected to study their genotypic, phenotypic, and symbiotic features. The results showed that the isolates were genotypically diverse, displaying 12 different DNA fingerprint patterns and also 14 different plasmid profiles. Although they have 16S rRNA gene sequences that are nearly identical to that of the type strain of Rhizobium leguminosarum, their recA and atpD gene sequences were phylogenetically divergent from those of R. leguminosarum reference strains, and phenotypic divergence as well as different host ranges were also found. Although most of them nodulated both Trifolium and Phaseolus, only 5 strains were also able to nodulate Pisum. The results of the effectiveness analysis showed a high variability in the symbiotic characteristics of our strains and suggested that Pisum is the more restrictive host of this group. Interestingly, some of the Trifolium isolates showed an ability to promote growth of Pisum in the absence of nodulation.

Amerosporium concinnum . [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria

Abstract A description is provided for Amerosporium concinnum , which is found on dead remains of various plants, but it has also been isolated from grassland soil in Spain. Some information on its dispersal and transmission and conservation status is given, along with details of its geographical distribution (Mexico, USA (Texas), China (Shaanxi), Iran, Turkey, Georgia, Greece, Portugal, Spain, and Ukraine) and hosts ( Ceratocladium purpureogriseum , Phomopsis brunaudiana , Torula herbarum f. quaternella , Acer oliverianum , Alhagi pseudalhagi , Arundo phragmitis , Bambusa sp., Cichorium intybus , Citrus sp., Echinops sp., Ephedra distachya , Foeniculum vulgare , Stenotaphrum secundatum , Vitis vinifera , and Ziziphora serpyllaceae ).

Evaluating and modelling the hydrological and erosive behaviour of an olive orchard microcatchment under no‐tillage with bare soil in Spain

AbstractDespite the high risk of erosion in olive orchards located in mountainous areas in Spain, little research has been carried out to account for the complexity and interaction of the natural processes of runoff and soil erosion on the catchment scale or small catchment scale. In this study, a microcatchment of 6·7 ha in a mountainous area under no‐tillage farming with bare soil was set up to record runoff and sediment. Soil erosion and runoff patterns were monitored over a two‐year period. Totally, 22 events were observed. The data were analysed, and then used to calibrate the AnnAGNPS model, which allowed us to complete the data period and describe the hydrological and erosive behaviour on a monthly and annual basis. A high variability in catchment responses was observed, due to differences in the storms and to the effect of the surface soil moisture content. Maximum intensities of 10 and 30 min determined the final runoff values while the total sediment loads were dependent on the rainfall depth. The impact of management on the reduction of porosity can explain the relationship between runoff and intensity in the microcatchment. However, the impact of the spatial scale meant that the transport of sediment required substantial rainfall depths to ensure a continuous flow from the hillslopes. The results of the calibration (E >0·60 and r >0·75) on the event and monthly scale confirmed the applicability of AnnAGNPS to predict runoff and erosion in the microcatchment. The predicted average runoff coefficient was 3·3% for the study period and the total average sediment loads, 1·3 Mg/ha/yr. Despite these low values, the model simulation showed that much larger runoff coefficients and soil losses can be expected for periods with several consecutive years in which the annual rainfall depth was over 500 mm. The use of cover is recommended to prevent the high levels of erosion associated with these conditions. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Four new species of Emericella from the Mediterranean region of Europe

Four new species of Emericella, E. discophora, E. filifera, E. olivicola and E. stella-maris, are proposed. Their new taxonomic status was determined applying a polyphasic taxonomic approach using phenotypic (morphology and extrolite profiles) and molecular (sequences of ITS, β-tubulin and calmodulin genes) characters. Ascospores of E. stella-maris and E. olivicola have star-shape equatorial crests, those of E. filifera form long appendages that emerge radially from narrow stellate crests and those of E. discophora produce wide and entire, nonstellate equatorial crests. E. stella-maris originated from leaf litter in Tunisia and E. filifera from raisins in Argentina, and both of them also were found in hypersaline water of a saltern in Slovenia. E. olivicola was isolated from olives in Italy and E. discophora from soil in Spain. All listed species possess distinct extrolite profiles: E. stella-maris produced arugosin E, shamixanthone and the yet unelucidated metabolites glia 1–3; E. filifera produced shamixanthone and varitriols; E. discophora produced sterigmatocystin and versicolorins; E. olivicola produced numerous extrolites such as arugosin E, siderin, shamixanthone, sterigmatocystin, terrein, varitriols and aflatoxin B1, of which the latter was detected only in one of the two strains.

Leaching and Efficiency of Six Organic Zinc Fertilizers Applied to Navy Bean Crop Grown in a Weakly Acidic Soil of Spain

Zinc contamination of groundwater from fertilizers applied to pulse crops is a potential problem, but the use of different types of organic chelates can minimize the contamination potential while still adequately feeding the crops. The objective of this study was to compare the leaching, distribution in fractions and availability, and relative effectiveness of Zn from six organic Zn fertilizers (zinc-ethylenediaminetetraacetate- N-2-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetate (Zn-EDTA-HEDTA), Zn-HEDTA, zinc- S, S'-ethylenediaminedisuccinate (Zn- S, S-EDDS), zinc-polyhydroxyphenylcarboxylate, Zn-EDTA, and zinc-ethylenediaminedi(2-hydroxy-5-sulfophenylacetate) (Zn-EDDHSA)) applied to a navy bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) crop cultivated by applying different Zn levels, in a weakly acidic soil under greenhouse conditions. Zinc soil behavior was evaluated by diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-triethanolamine (DTPA-TEA), DTPA-ammonium bicarbonate (DTPA-AB), Mehlich-3, and BaCl 2 extractions and sequential fractionation. In all the fertilizer treatments, the percentage of labile Zn that remained in the soil was high with respect to the quantity of Zn applied, with values respectively ranging from 42 to 80% for Zn-EDDHSA and Zn-EDTA sources. A positive correlation with a high level of significance existed between the micronutrient concentration in the navy bean crop (total and soluble) and labile Zn fractions, available Zn, and easily leachable Zn ( r ranged from 0.89 to 0.95, P < 0.0001). The relatively high quantity of total Zn leached by applying Zn-EDTA and Zn-S,S-EDDS sources (11.9 and 6.0%, respectively, for the rate 10 mg of Zn kg(-1) of soil) poses a potential pollution risk for neighboring waters. It would seem recommendable to apply Zn-HEDTA or Zn-EDDHSA sources, even applied at the low rate (5 mg of Zn kg(-1) of soil), because they produced available Zn concentrations in the soil that were above the critical concentration and also produced high Zn concentrations in plants (139 and 106 mg of Zn kg(-1) of dry matter, respectively).

Biodiversity of populations of phosphate solubilizing rhizobia that nodulates chickpea in different Spanish soils

Within rhizobia, two species nodulating chickpea, Mesorhizobium ciceri and Mesorhizobium mediterraneum, are known as good phosphate solubilizers. For this reason, we have analysed the ability to solubilize phosphate of a wide number of strains isolated from Cicer arietinum growing in several soils in Spain. The aim of this work was to analyse microbial populations nodulating chickpea, that are able to solubilize phosphates, using molecular techniques. In the present work we analyzed 19 strains isolated from effective nodules of C. arietinum growing in three soils from the North of Spain. Nineteen strains showed ability to solubilize phosphate in YED-P medium. These strains were separated into 4 groups according to the results obtained by 879F-RAPD fingerprinting. The 16S rDNA sequencing of a representative strain from each group allowed the identification of strains as belonging to the genus Mesorhizobium. Strains from groups I and II showed a 99.4% and 99.2% similarity with M. mediterraneum UPM-CA142T, respectively. The strains from group III were related to M. tianshanense USDA 3592T at a 99.4% similarity level. Finally, the strain from group IV was related to M. ciceri USDA 3383T with a 99.3% similarity. The LMW RNA profiles confirmed these results. Strains from groups I and II showed an identical LMW RNA profile to that of M. mediterraneum UPM-CA142T; the profile of strains from group III was identical to that of M. tianshanense USDA 3592T and the profile of strains from group IV was identical to that of M. ciceri USDA 3383T. Different 879F-RAPD patterns were obtained for strains of the group I, group II and the M. mediterraneum type strain (UPM-CA142T). The 879-RAPD patterns obtained for group III also differed from the pattern shown by M. tianshanense USDA 3592T. Finally, the patterns between group IV and M. ciceri USDA 3383T were also different. These results suggest that groups I and II may be subspecies of M. mediterraneum, group III a subspecies of M. tianshanense and group IV a subspecies of M. ciceri. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to establish the taxonomic status of strains isolated in this study.

スペインの土壌から分離されたSporothrix schenckii のITS-RFLPによる検討

スペインの土壌から分離されたSporothrix schenckii のITS-RFLPによる検討

Diversity of pathogenic Fusarium populations associated with asparagus roots in decline soils in Spain and the UK

Asparagus decline is a disease associated with several species of Fusarium. In order to assess the relative significance of causative species, single‐stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of the ITS2 (internal transcribed sequence) region of the ribosomal DNA was used to rapidly and objectively identify the fusarial populations associated with the roots of two intensively sampled asparagus crops, one in the UK and the other in Spain. Over 360 fusarial isolates were obtained from fields showing symptoms of asparagus decline, and most were easily differentiated by SSCP into four principal species, F. oxysporum f. sp. asparagi, F. proliferatum, F. redolens and F. solani. Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. asparagi (Foa) was most frequently isolated from the UK site (69%), whilst Foa and F. proliferatum were found in similar proportions overall (40 and 39%, respectively) from the Spanish site, although individual fields showed considerable intraregional variation. Other minor populations, such as F. culmorum, were also found. Most isolates were highly pathogenic to asparagus in vitro, although F. solani isolates comprised both pathogenic and nonpathogenic populations. Two populations of Foa were distinguished by a single ITS2 base transition, and the dominance of these two populations differed between Europe and the USA. Fusarium proliferatum was more abundant in Spain than in the UK. Phylogenetic analysis using EF1α sequences indicated that isolates of F. oxysporum pathogenic to asparagus are spread across a number of clades within the species complex, supporting the hypothesis that pathogenicity to asparagus in this species is a relatively unspecialized trait.

Terrabacter terrae sp. nov., a novel actinomycete isolated from soil in Spain

A Gram-positive, aerobic, long-rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterium (strain PPLB(T)) was isolated from soil mixed with Iberian pig hair. This actinomycete showed keratinase activity in vitro when chicken feathers were added to the culture medium. Strain PPLB(T) was oxidase-negative and catalase-positive and produced lipase and esterase lipase. This actinomycete grew at 40 degrees C on nutrient agar and in the same medium containing 5 % (w/v) NaCl. Growth was observed with many different carbohydrates as the sole carbon source. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain PPLB(T) was shown to belong to the genus Terrabacter of the family Intrasporangiaceae. Strain PPLB(T) showed 98.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Terrabacter tumescens. Chemotaxonomic data, such as the main ubiquinone (MK-8), the main polar lipids (phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol) and the main fatty acids (i-C(15 : 0), ai-C(15 : 0), i-C(16 : 0) and ai-C(17 : 0)) supported the affiliation of strain PPLB(T) to the genus Terrabacter. The G+C content of the DNA was 71 mol%. The results of DNA-DNA hybridization (36.6 % relatedness between Terrabacter tumescens and strain PPLB(T)) and physiological and biochemical tests suggested that strain PPLB(T) belongs to a novel species of the genus Terrabacter, for which the name Terrabacter terrae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is PPLB(T) (=CECT 3379T=LMG 22921T).

Effects of elevation, slope position and livestock exclusion on microfungi isolated from soils of Mediterranean grasslands

The fungal communities of grassland soils in Spain from four sites at different elevations were studied. Each site contained grazed and fenced ungrazed plots. These plots were situated in two slope positions (upper and lower zones). The ungrazed plots, fenced off 6 y before the sampling, were part of a study of global change that simulates conditions of rural abandonment, which is widespread in Iberian countries, since Spain joined the European Union. We analyzed the structure of the soil fungi communities and its relationship with herbaceous vegetation. The distribution of 207 taxa of fungi revealed that the elevation was the main factor of fungal variability; the effect of grazing and slope position were associated with less variability. Although a halt in grazing resulted in the accumulation of standing plants and plant litter in these ecosystems, it had relatively little effect on soil microfungi and appeared to be related mainly to growing conditions affected by that accumulation.

Effects of elevation, slope position and livestock exclusion on microfungi isolated from soils of Mediterranean grasslands

The fungal communities of grassland soils in Spain from four sites at different elevations were studied. Each site contained grazed and fenced ungrazed plots. These plots were situated in two slope positions (upper and lower zones). The ungrazed plots, fenced off 6 y before the sampling, were part of a study of global change that simulates conditions of rural abandonment, which is widespread in Iberian countries, since Spain joined the European Union. We analyzed the structure of the soil fungi communities and its relationship with herbaceous vegetation. The distribution of 207 taxa of fungi revealed that the elevation was the main factor of fungal variability; the effect of grazing and slope position were associated with less variability. Although a halt in grazing resulted in the accumulation of standing plants and plant litter in these ecosystems, it had relatively little effect on soil microfungi and appeared to be related mainly to growing conditions affected by that accumulation.

Regulation of Contaminated Soils in Spain - A New Legal Instrument (4 pp)

Background, Aims and Scope This paper presents the new Spanish regulation on contaminated soils and its scientific basis. The regulation offers a regulatory framework for establishing industrial activities which may result in soil contamination, and presents the methodology for setting the generic reference levels of organic pollutants.

Distribution of Heavy Metals in Calcareous and Non-Calcareous Soils in Spain

The distribution of chemical forms of Cd, Ni, Cr, Co, Ag, Pb, Cu, Mn and Zn in eight contaminated soils from Spain was studied using a sequential extraction procedure that fractionates the metal into soluble-exchangeable, specifically sorbed-carbonate bound, oxidizable, reducible and residual forms. SEM and EDXA analysis was used to analyse the soil matrix to determine the distribution of heavy metals. The residual, reducible and carbonate-sorbed forms were dominant. Metals were generally dispersed throughout the soil matrix and could not be located by SEM-EDXA.

Halomonas cerina sp. nov., a moderately halophilic, denitrifying, exopolysaccharide-producing bacterium

Three bacterial strains were isolated from different saline soils in Spain. The novel strains were moderately halophilic, exopolysaccharide-producing, Gram-negative, non-motile rods. The strains required NaCl and grew best with 7.5-10 % (w/v) NaCl in the medium. They formed wax-coloured colonies, were oxidase-positive and showed respiratory metabolism, using oxygen, nitrate and nitrite as terminal electron acceptors. The novel strains were able to denitrify and did not produce acid from sugars. The DNA G+C contents varied between 62.7 and 66.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and sequence signatures of this gene showed that all three novel isolates belonged to the genus Halomonas in the class Gammaproteobacteria and formed an independent phylogenetic line. The most phylogenetically related species were Halomonas alimentaria, Halomonas campaniensis, Halomonas gudaonensis and Halomonas ventosae, with which the novel strains showed 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of between 96.3 and 95.2 %. The principal fatty acids of the novel strains were 16 : 0, 18 : 1 omega 7c, 16 : 1 omega 7c and 19 : 0 cyclo omega 8c. The predominant respiratory lipoquinone was ubiquinone with nine isoprene units (Q-9). The name Halomonas cerina sp. nov. is proposed for these isolates. The type strain is SP4T (=CECT 7282T=LMG 24145T).

Isolation, geographical diversity and insecticidal activity of Bacillus thuringiensis from soils in Spain

Bacillus thuringiensis is a spore-forming bacterium showing the unusual ability to produce endogenous crystals during sporulation that are toxic for some pest insects. This work was performed to study the composition, ecological distribution and insecticidal activity of isolates of this entomopathogenic bacterium from the Spanish territory. Using a standard isolation method, B. thuringiensis was isolated from 115 out of 493 soil samples collected in the Iberian Peninsula and the Canary and Balearic Archipelagos. The percentages of samples with B. thuringiensis were 31.7, 27.6 and 18.5 and the B. thuringiensis index 0.065, 0.067 and 0.11 for the Iberian Peninsula, Canary and Balearic Archipelagos, respectively. The prairies were shown to be the worst source of B. thuringiensis while forests, urban and agricultural habitats showed similar percentages. Strain classification based on H-antigen agglutination showed a great diversity among the Spanish isolates, which were distributed among 24 subspecies, including three new ones andaluciensis, asturiensis and palmanyolensis. We differentiated 65 different protein profiles of spore–crystal mixtures by sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and we selected 109 isolates representative of these profiles to evaluate their insecticidal activity against insects from the Orders Orthoptera, Dictyoptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Diptera. We found variable percentages of isolates active against Coleoptera and Lepidoptera, one isolate highly active against mosquito larvae and for the first time, three isolates active against cockroaches and locusts.