早熟、优质、高产、抗病油菜新品种中双六号的选育

中双六号具早熟、优质、高产、抗病性强、适应性广、含油量高等特点。在湖北省区试中平均产量2613．75kg／hm^2,比对照中油821增产6．75％;在全国区域试验中平均产量1894．95kg／hm^2,比对照中油821增产17．33％。熟期比对照中油821早3d;含油量42．5％。2000年通过湖北省品种审定委员会审定。     

低芥酸杂交油菜渝杂18的选育

低芥酸杂交油菜渝杂18由西南农业大学采用化学杀雄方法育成，品比试验产量1950－2715kg/hm^2；重庆市区域试验平均产量1946kg/hm^2，比对照品种中油821增产2．21％，生产试验平均产量2139kg/hm^2；比对照中油821增产22．3％。渝杂18商品种子含油量39．97％，芥酸含量0．62％。1998年通过重庆市农作物品种审定委员会审定。     

甘蓝型双低春油菜三系杂交种互丰010的选育

互丰010是利用波里马细胞质雄性不育材料育成的甘蓝型春油菜三系杂交种，具有优质，高产，中早熟、抗逆性强，适应性广等特点，青海省油菜区试平均产量3766．50kg/hm^2，比对照品种青油331增产11．50％，生产试验最高产量在4026．00kg/hm^2，比对照青油331增产14．80％，比对照垦油1号增产16．10％，芥酸含量1．07％，硫甙含量25．93μmol/g，含油量45．55％，1999年通过青海省农作物品种审定委员会审定。     

双低三系杂交油菜蜀杂9号选育研究

蜀杂9号为四川大学生命科学学院育成的甘蓝型油菜细胞雄性不育三系中熟杂交种,参加四川省区试产量为1917．0－2256．0kg/hm^2,比对照种中油821增产33．82％,生产示范最高产量2541．0kg/hm^2。品质优良,芥酸含量0．02％,硫甙（含吲哚硫代葡萄糖甙）含量23．03μmol/g,含油量（干基）41．47％,2001年通过四川省农作物品种审定委员会审定。     

甘蓝型油菜隐性上位互作核不育双低杂交种皖油14的选育

皖油14（原C022）是利用隐性上位互作核不育育成的甘蓝型油菜杂交种，具有丰产，稳产，优质（高含油、低芥酸、低硫甙），抗（耐）病等特性，安徽省区试平均产量2661kg/hm^2，比对照秦油2号增产7．2％，比对照中汪821增产22．9％，全国（长江下游区）区试平均产量2149kg/hm^2，比对照中油821增产12．6％，抗（耐）病性优于秦油2号和中油821，芥酸含量为0．36％，硫甙含量为31．2umol/g，含油量达44．3％。     

花生新品种中花12通过湖北省审定

中花12系中国农业科学院油料作物研究所用“唐92918”作母本，“ICGV86699”作父本杂交，经系谱法选择育成的花生品种。2006年通过湖北省农作物品种审定委员会审定，审定编号为鄂审油2006001。2003～2004年参加湖北省花生品种区域试验，两年区试平均荚果产量4180kg／hm^2，比对照中花4号增产2．20％。其中：2003年荚果产量3820kg／hm^2，比中花4号增产5．71％，极显著；2004年荚果产量4340kg／hm^2，比中花4号减产0．58％，不显著。该品种适于湖北省花生非青枯病区种植。     

甘蓝型杂交油菜新品种万油杂1号的选育

万油杂1号是重庆市三峡农科所选育的甘蓝型三系杂交油菜新品种,具有生长势强、高产、抗(耐)菌核病和病毒病、熟期适中等特性。在重庆市区域试验和生产试验中,万油杂1号平均产量分别为2065．13kg／hm^2和1907．25kg／hm^2,比对照种中油821分别增产17．83％和25．02％。2002年通过重庆市农作物品种审定委员会审定。     

抗寒、抗病优质油菜杂交种豫油5号的选育

豫油5号是河南省农科院棉花油料作物研究所育成的高产优质油菜三系杂交种,具有优质、高产、抗寒、抗病等特点。不育系的不育率稳定在98％以上,恢复系恢复力强,配合力高。河南省油菜区试平均产量2508.0kg/hm^2,比优质对照种豫油2号增产22.1%,达极显著水平,比非优质杂交种秦油2号增产5.1%。全国（黄淮区）区试平均产量2702.2kg/hm^2,最后产量4053.4kg/hm^2。高抗病毒病,抗（耐）菌核病,抗寒性强。品质优良,芥酸含量0.14%,硫甙含量24.90μmol/g,含油量43.01%。1998年通过河南省农作物品种审定委员会审定。     

高产双低杂交没菜淮杂油1号的选育

淮杂油1号系江苏淮阴农科所选育的甘蓝型双低油菜杂交种，在江苏省油菜区域试验，生产试验，多年多点示范种植中均表现出生长优势强，产量高，品质优，抗（耐）菌核病，熟期适中等特性，江苏省区试平均产量3157．75kg/hm^2，比对照宁杂1号增产4．50％，生产试验平均产量2843．40kg/hm^2，比对照宁杂1号增产10．79％，2001年通过江苏省农作物品种审定员会审定。     

抗菌核病双低油菜新品种中双9号的选育

中双9号是采用复合杂交和小孢子培养技术相结合选育的双低甘蓝型油菜新品种,具有高抗菌核病,高抗倒伏,丰产性突出,稳产性好,品质优良,适应性广等优点。2000-2002年湖北省区域试验中,菌核病抗性强,菌核病平均发病率为13.31%,比对照中油821降低了28%;病情指数为6.47,比对照中油821降低了36%,平均产量2482.2kg/hm^2,比对照中油821增产15.33%。种子芥酸含量0.23%,商品籽硫甙含量22.69μmol/g,含油量42.0%。2002年通过湖北省农作物品种审定委员会审定,是一个极具推广应用前景的优良品种,是油菜抗菌核病和抗倒性育种的优良资源。     

Studies on natural repellents against potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella Zeller) in country stores

Summary The effects of the leaves of five plant species, one from each of the generaAmbrosia, Anemone, Eupatorium, Eucalyptus andLantana, on potato tuber moth were investigated under indigenous storage conditions at the Central Potato Research Station, Shillong (1800 m above sea level). Their action was compared with that of a biological insecticide (spores ofBacillus thuringiensis), a chemical insecticide (carbaryl), and an untreated control. The data collected after six months storage on tuber damage, sprout damage and the rotting indicated that the leaves ofLantana aculeata provided most protection to the tubers, reducing damage from over 70% in the check to below 5%, and sprout damage from over 45% to below 3%. Next best wasEucalyptus globulus followed byB. thuringiensis. They may be used on tubers stored for table use or for seed as they had no adverse effect on germination or on the yield of a subsequent crop.     

Comparative Assessment of the Efficacy of Various Nitrogen Fertilizers

Summary

The efficiency of N fertilizers is usually poor; often less than 50% of the applied N is taken up by the crop. This review focuses on various N fertilizers with respect to the significance of different N loss pathways, namely (i) ammonia volatilization, (ii) dinitrogen and nitrogen oxide emissions, and (iii) nitrate leaching. Further, the significance of biological N immobilization, ammonium fixation and, finally, the impact of nitrate vs. ammonium uptake on crop yield are also discussed. The reviewed literature shows that N fertilizers may differ markedly in their susceptibility to losses. There is, however, considerable scope to improve N efficiency of each N source by proper N management practices.     

In vitro antimicrobial activity of different accessions ofSolanum commersonii Dun. from Uruguay

Summary The in vitro antimicrobial activity of extracts from accessions ofSolanum commersonii Dun. collected in the south of Uruguay was investigated against five microorganisms including the pathogenRalstonia solanacearum. A total of 30 extracts corresponding to organic and aqueous extracts were studied. Interestingly, most of the positive results for growth inhibition were againstR. solanacearum. The extracts were also analyzed for the presence of glycoalkaloids and lectins. Six of the ten aqueous extracts showed lectin presence and a wide variation in the type and amounts of glycoalkaloids, was found. Results indicate that there is no clear relationship between the antimicrobial activity against the five microorganisms screened and the presence or amounts of lectins and glycoalkaloids, traditionally regarded as possible antimicrobial metabolites in theSolanum genus, which indicates the presence of as yet unidentified antimicrobial compounds.     

Novel food and non-food uses for sorghum and millets

Sorghum and millets have considerable potential in foods and beverages. As they are gluten-free they are suitable for coeliacs. Sorghum is also a potentially important source of nutraceuticals such antioxidant phenolics and cholesterol-lowering waxes. Cakes, cookies, pasta, a parboiled rice-like product and snack foods have been successfully produced from sorghum and, in some cases, millets. Wheat-free sorghum or millet bread remains the main challenge. Additives such as native and pre-gelatinised starches, hydrocolloids, fat, egg and rye pentosans improve bread quality. However, specific volumes are lower than those for wheat bread or gluten-free breads based on pure starches, and in many cases, breads tend to stale faster. Lager and stout beers with sorghum are brewed commercially. Sorghum's high-starch gelatinisation temperature and low beta-amylase activity remain problems with regard to complete substitution of barley malt with sorghum malt . The role of the sorghum endosperm matrix protein and cell wall components in limiting extract is a research focus. Brewing with millets is still at an experimental stage. Sorghum could be important for bioethanol and other bio-industrial products. Bioethanol research has focused on improving the economics of the process through cultivar selection, method development for low-quality grain and pre-processing to recover valuable by-products. Potential by-products such as the kafirin prolamin proteins and the pericarp wax have potential as bioplastic films and coatings for foods, primarily due to their hydrophobicity.     

Extreme resistance to infection by potato virus X in genotypes of wild tuber-bearingSolanum species

Summary Clones derived from thirty-one different accessions (nineteen of Argentine origin) belonging to eightSolanum species were screened for resistance to infection by potato virus X strain cp (PVX cp) by mechanical inoculation of plantlets that had been micropropagated in vitro. Estimates of PVX multiplication obtained by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and slot blot nucleic acid hybridization allowed the identification of resistant clones derived from five accessions belonging toS. commersonii S. oplocense, S. sparsipilum andS. tuberosum andigena. Resistant genotypes supported PVX concentrations 5 to 15 times smaller than did the susceptible control cultivar Spunta. Graft inoculation test confirmed the presence of extreme resistance similar to that conferred by the ‘immunity’ gene X¹ (also called RX_act).     

Marine Pharmacology in 2009–2011: Marine Compounds with Antibacterial,Antidiabetic, Antifungal,Anti-Inflammatory,Antiprotozoal, Antituberculosis,and Antiviral Activities; Affecting the Immune and Nervous Systems,and other Miscellaneous Mechanisms of Action ?

The peer-reviewed marine pharmacology literature from 2009 to 2011 is presented in this review, following the format used in the 1998–2008 reviews of this series. The pharmacology of structurally-characterized compounds isolated from marine animals, algae, fungi and bacteria is discussed in a comprehensive manner. Antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antituberculosis, and antiviral pharmacological activities were reported for 102 marine natural products. Additionally, 60 marine compounds were observed to affect the immune and nervous system as well as possess antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory effects. Finally, 68 marine metabolites were shown to interact with a variety of receptors and molecular targets, and thus will probably contribute to multiple pharmacological classes upon further mechanism of action studies. Marine pharmacology during 2009–2011 remained a global enterprise, with researchers from 35 countries, and the United States, contributing to the preclinical pharmacology of 262 marine compounds which are part of the preclinical pharmaceutical pipeline. Continued pharmacological research with marine natural products will contribute to enhance the marine pharmaceutical clinical pipeline, which in 2013 consisted of 17 marine natural products, analogs or derivatives targeting a limited number of disease categories.     

Recent Modifications of Chitosan for Adsorption Applications: A Critical and Systematic Review

Chitosan is considered to be one of the most promising and applicable materials in adsorption applications. The existence of amino and hydroxyl groups in its molecules contributes to many possible adsorption interactions between chitosan and pollutants (dyes, metals, ions, phenols, pharmaceuticals/drugs, pesticides, herbicides, etc.). These functional groups can help in establishing positions for modification. Based on the learning from previously published works in literature, researchers have achieved a modification of chitosan with a number of different functional groups. This work summarizes the published works of the last three years (2012–2014) regarding the modification reactions of chitosans (grafting, cross-linking, etc.) and their application to adsorption of different environmental pollutants (in liquid-phase).     

Pharmacokinetics of Marine-Derived Drugs

Marine organisms represent an excellent source of innovative compounds that have the potential for the development of new drugs. The pharmacokinetics of marine drugs has attracted increasing interest in recent decades due to its effective and potential contribution to the selection of rational dosage recommendations and the optimal use of the therapeutic arsenal. In general, pharmacokinetics studies how drugs change after administration via the processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME). This review provides a summary of the pharmacokinetics studies of marine-derived active compounds, with a particular focus on their ADME. The pharmacokinetics of compounds derived from algae, crustaceans, sea cucumber, fungus, sea urchins, sponges, mollusks, tunicate, and bryozoan is discussed, and the pharmacokinetics data in human experiments are analyzed. In-depth characterization using pharmacokinetics is useful for obtaining information for understanding the molecular basis of pharmacological activity, for correct doses and treatment schemes selection, and for more effective drug application. Thus, an increase in pharmacokinetic research on marine-derived compounds is expected in the near future.