不同含油量甘蓝型油菜品种（系）的遗传差异分析

用SSR、SRAP和EST标记对40份含油量在43%以上和6份含油量在40%以下的甘蓝型油菜品种（系）进行含油量的遗传多样性分析。81对引物共扩增出192条多态性带,引物扩增位点多态性信息（PIC）值的变化范围为0.122～0.943,平均值为0.512。供试材料的平均遗传距离为0.409,变化范围为0.016～0.662,国外材料比国内材料显示出更远的亲缘关系,其中Hektor与7份材料间的遗传距离超过0.6,Sollux与15份材料间的遗传距离超过0.5。聚类分析显示：在相似系数为0.66处,供试材料被划分为5类;在相似系数为0.70处,供试材料被划分为9类;在相似系数为0.73处,46份材料被划分为18类。研究结果表明,高含油量供试品种间存在着较大的遗传差异,暗示它们可能含有不同的增加含油量的位点;通过聚合这些可能的非等位高含油量位点,有望获得高含油量的油菜品种。     

基于SRAP分子标记的特早熟荔枝种质资源遗传多样性分析

以22份特早熟、6份早熟及2份中熟荔枝种质资源为材料,利用SRAP分子标记进行遗传多样性分析,探索特早熟荔枝种质资源的亲缘关系。结果表明：对182对SRAP引物组合进行筛选,获得16对多态性高、条带清晰的SRAP引物组合,共计产生扩增条带182条,其中多态性条带140条,占76.9%。材料间遗传相似系数为0.47~0.99,根据UPGMA聚类分析,在遗传相似系数0.73处可将30份荔枝样本分成4类,其中第Ⅰ类20份,占66.7%,包括绝大多数特早熟荔枝资源;第Ⅱ类4份,占13.3%,包括‘妃子笑’与部分杂交早熟资源;第Ⅲ类和第Ⅳ类各3份,分别占10%。以上研究结果为特早熟荔枝种质资源发掘、评价及新品种培育提供理论参考。     

文心兰种质遗传多样性的SRAP分析

利用SRAP标记分析文心兰部分种质资源的遗传多样性，采用30对引物组合对33份文心兰种质进行扩增，从中筛选出19个多态性较高的引物组合，共产生277条多态性条带，平均每个引物组合产生14.6个多态性条带，相似系数在0.280～0.927。通过聚类分析发现，在值为0.37时，可将33份文心兰种质划分为4大类群。第Ⅰ类厚叶大花品种，第Ⅱ类为厚叶小花品种，第Ⅲ、第Ⅳ类均为类薄叶品种。 结果表明，文心兰种质的聚类与其遗传背景有很大的关系。     

中国龙血树属SRAP遗传多样性分析

利用SRAP标记技术对来自我国龙血树属（Dracaena）的24份材料进行遗传多样性和亲缘关系分析。结果显示,从80对SRAP引物组合中筛选出的15对引物组合共扩出155条条带,其中多态性条带为135条,占87.1％,平均每对10条,最好的引物组合为F18Em6。利用NTSYS软件分析数据得出24份材料间的Jaccard相似系数变化范围为0.27～0.97,平均值为0.56,UPGMA聚类显示,在相似系数为0.34处将一未定名种与其它材料分开,其他23份材料在相似系数0.46处又可分成2类,其中勐腊龙血树     

基于SRAP标记的国兰种质资源遗传多样性分析

采用SRAP（sequence related amplified polymorphism）技术对154份国兰（杂交兰）种质资源的亲缘关系进行分析。从168对SRAP引物中筛选出16对条带多、带型清晰、多态性强的引物组合对所有样品进行扩增,共获得874条带,其中多态性条带857条,多态性比率为98.1%,平均每对引物每个样品产生5.74条带。UPGMA聚类分析表明:Me6-Em3引物能较好地揭示154份国兰种质间的遗传多样性与亲缘关系,在遗传相似系数0.818处将它们分为8个类群,遗传相似系数变化范围为0.772~1.000。此外,发现引物Me8-Em4、Me11-Em2和Me12-Em11可以较可靠地联合鉴定建兰。该研究结果可为国兰种质资源利用及杂种后代鉴定提供参考。     

柱花草种质遗传多样性的SSR和SRAP分析

应用SSR和SRAP标记,对20份柱花草种质的遗传多样性进行研究。从113对SSR引物中筛选出41对多态性较好的引物,共扩增出229个位点,多态性比率达76.86%,平均每个引物扩增多态性位点4.29个。从224对SRAP引物中筛选出25对多态性较好的引物,共扩增出359个位点,平均每个引物扩增多态性10.72个,多态性比率达74.65%。综合SSR和SRAP两种标记对20份材料计算出的遗传相似系数(GS)为0.65~0.90,表明柱花草种质遗传多样性比较丰富;通过UPGMA聚类分析,把这20份材料聚为3个类群,其中类群Ⅰ又分为4个亚类。     

利用SRAP分子标记技术分析茄子遗传多样性

利用SRAP技术对36份茄子栽培种进行遗传多样性分析。结果表明：22对引物对36份茄子DNA进行PCR扩增，经过染色后共获得292条多态性条带，平均每个引物组合扩增出13.27条多态性条带。36份茄子品种间遗传相似系数在0.568～0.870，平均遗传相似系数为0.757，这表明该群体的遗传背景相对狭窄。利用UPGMA法对36份茄子资源进行聚类分析，结果显示，在相似系数为0.690处，可将36份茄子资源划分为5个组。     

新型特早熟春性甘蓝型油菜的遗传多样性及其杂种优势

利用SSR和SRAP两种分子标记技术研究了通过甘蓝型油菜与白菜型油菜种间杂交培育出的新型特早熟春性甘蓝型油菜品系的遗传多样性,利用其中10个恢复系和3个保持系转育而来的不育系进行NCⅡ双列杂交,测定其杂种优势,并分析遗传距离与杂种优势的关系.研究结果表明:(1) 30对SRAP引物扩增出250条多态性条带,多态性比率为61.9%.39对SSR标记共扩增出145条多态性条带,多态性比率为97.3%.(2)两种标记混合聚类结果表明,在相似系数0.588处可将全部材料划分为A、B两大类群,其中A类包含一个来自039×浩油11号的甘白种间杂交后代和白菜型亲本浩油11号,B类包含039、E144和其余的甘白种间杂交后代.在相似系数0.714处B类又可以分为6个不同的亚类,两个甘蓝型亲本材料单独聚在一个亚类中,其余的64份甘白种间杂交后代分别聚在5个不同的亚类中,说明新型特早熟春性甘蓝型油菜品系具有丰富的遗传多样性.(3)配制的30个杂交组合中,产量超亲优势在20%以上的有22个,占组合数的73.3%,产量杂种优势非常明显,而含油量杂种优势不明显.(4)SRAP标记遗传距离与产量杂种优势达到极显著正相关;而SSR标记遗传距离与产量杂种优势相关不显著.因此,利用分子标记技术预测油菜的杂种优势,SRAP标记效果更好.     

芥蓝种质资源遗传多样性的SRAP分析

调查56份芥蓝种质的植物学性状,并利用SRAP标记分析其遗传多样性。结果表明,从312对引物中筛选出24对引物,共扩增出稳定清晰的条带747条,其中多态性条带147条,多态性位点比例为19.6%。基于SRAP扩增结果 ,应用NTSYSpc2.1构建聚类树状图谱,供试材料间的遗传相似系数的变化范围是0.524～0.884,在相似系数为0.66的水平上,可将56份芥蓝分为6大类。由于芥蓝原产华南地区,其遗传多样性要小于芸薹属其它蔬菜。     

22份余甘子核心种质资源遗传多样性的SRAP分析

利用SRAP标记检测资源圃中保存的代表南方湿润分布区(福建、广东、广西)的22份余甘子种质材料遗传多样性。结果表明:8对SRAP引物组合共产生167条扩增带,其中135条为多态性条带。多态性条带比率为68.8%~90.0%,平均为80.8%。分析计算余甘子种质间的遗传相似度(GS),22份材料GS的范围为0.641~0.964。UPGMA法聚类分析结果表明,22份种质可分为两大类,其中福建地区15份余甘子间的遗传相似系数为0.641~0.964,广东地区5份余甘子的遗传相似系数为0.707~0.952。此研究结果表明,余甘子基因型具有丰富的遗传多样性,SRAP技术可有效运用于余甘子资源的遗传多样性分析。     

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.     

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.     

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.