HOME      AG LIBRARY







Academy of Sciences of the USSR
Institute of Microbiology


N. A. Krasil'nikov

SOIL
MICROORGANISMS
AND
HIGHER PLANTS


Published by the Academy of Sciences of the USSR

Moscow 1958

Published
for
THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, WASHINGTON, D.C.
and
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, USA by
THE ISRAEL PROGRAM FOR SCIENTIFIC TRANSLATIONS
1961







Title of Russian Original: Mikroorganizmy pochvy i vysshie rasteniva

Translated by: Dr. Y. Halperin

Printed in Jerusalem by: S. Monson

   


Table of Contents

Introduction

Part 1. FUNDAMENTALS OF THE STRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT 0F MICROORGANISMS AND THEIR CLASSIFICATION

   Structure of bacterial cells
      Cell wall
      Flagella
      Protoplast
      Nucleus and nucleoli
      Gram-staining of bacteria

   Growth and multiplication of microorganisms
      Growth of cells and development of cultures
         Proliferation of bacteria
         Sporogenesis

      The sexual process in bacteria

   Variability of microorganisms
      Individual variability or polymorphism of cells
      Species variability of microorganisms
      Adaptive and directed variability

      "Induced' variation in microorganisms
      Variability of soil microorganisms
      Bacterial variability under the influence of plants

   The principles of classification of microorganisms
      The species concept in microorganisms
   Subdivision of microorganisms into main groups
      Actinomycetes
      Bacteria
      Phages


Part II. THE SOIL AS AN ENVIRONMENT FOR MICROORGANISMS
   Soil structure
   Soil porosity
      The liquid phase of soils
      The soil solution

      The gaseous phase of soil
   Soil respiration
   Thermal regime of the soil
   Soil insolation
   Organic matter of the soil
   Radioactive substances of the soil

   The adsorption capacity of soils
      Adsorption of bacteria by soil
      Adsorption of products of microbial metabolism by soil
   The microflora of the soil

   Distribution of microorganisms in soil
      The morphology of microbes in soil
      Ecological and geographical distribution of microoorginisms in soils


Part III. BIOLOGICAL FACTORS OF SOIL FERTILITY
   Plant nutrition
   Heterotrophism of plants

      The effect of humus on the growth of plants
      The effect of humus on the vitamin content of plants

   Biotic substances of the soil
      The origin of the biotic substances of soil

      Microorganisms synthesizing biotic substances
      The effect of biotic substances of plants

      The assimilation of biotic and other substances by plants
         Assimilation of vitamins
         Assimilation of amino acids
         Assimilation of antibiotics
   Effect of bacteria on the assimilation of nutrients by plants


Part IV. INTERACTION BETWEEN SOIL MICROORGANISMS AND PLANTS

   Effect of plants on the soil microflora
      Root mass of plants
      Root excretions
      Root residues
      Rhizosphere

      The microflora of the rhizosphere

      The specificity of the microflora of the root zone

      Microflora of decomposing roots
   Effect of soil microorganisms on plants
      Microbial activators

      Microbial inhibitors and their action on plants

   Toxicosis of soils and biological factors causing it
      Formation of toxic substances by plants

   Microbial antagonists
      The protective role of microbial antagonists

      Significance of antagonists in plant immunity
      Formation and accumulation of antibiotics in soil

      Entry of antibiotics into plants

      Entry of antibiotics into plants, continued
      Antibiotic substances as a therapeutic means in plant cultivation

   Concerning the epiphytic microflora

Bibliography

   This book is devoted to the problem of the interaction between soil microorganisms and higher plants. The material presented includes basic information on the structure, development, variability and classification of bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi in the light of recent scientific achievements, as well as information on the importance of microorganisms in plant nutrition, the role of micro-activities in the complementary nutrition of plants, the effect of microbes on the vitamin content of plants, their importance in plant development and their influence on soil fertility. In addition, data are given on the importance of antibiotics as a means of therapy and prevention of diseases in agricultural practice.

   The book is designed for the use of microbiologists. plant physiologists, soil specialists, phytopathologists, mycologists, agrobilologists, and agronomists. It may also serve as a textbook for students In biological faculties of universities or agricultural and forestry institutes.