芒果ISSR反应体系的建立与优化

运用L16(45)正交设计对芒果ISSR反应的5个因素,即DNA模板浓度、Mg2+浓度、dNTPs浓度、引物浓度、Taq DNA聚合酶浓度在4个水平上进行优化试验,通过不同反应体系扩增效果比较,建立优化的芒果ISSR反应体系,即25μL的PCR体系中含有DNA模板25 ng、Mg2+浓度为1.5 mmol/L、dNTPs 0.3 mmol/L、引物0.32μmol/L、Taq DNA聚合酶1.25 U。这为进一步运用ISSR标记在DNA分子水平上对芒果种质资源进行分析奠定基础。     

胡椒ISSR反应体系的建立与优化

通过单因子、双因子实验研究了胡椒ISSR-PCR反应体系中热参数和5个主要成分,即退火温度、循环数、变性时间、退火时间、延伸时间以及Mg2+、dNTPS、引物、模板DNA、Taq DNA聚合酶对扩增结果的影响,建立了适合胡椒ISSR分析的反应体系和扩增程序,即在25 μL反应体系中,内含2 mmol/L Mg2+、200 μmol/L dNTPS、1×PCR Buffer、2 μmol/L引物、100 ng模板、1 U Taq DNA聚合酶。扩增程序为94℃预变性3 min, 94℃变性120 s,复性60 s,72℃延伸 3 min,循环35个,结束后72℃延伸7 min。这一优化体系的建立为今后利用ISSR标记技术进行胡椒种质鉴定、遗传多样性分析奠定了基础。     

柱花草AFLP反应体系的建立与引物筛选

以柱花草奥克雷品种为材料，采用改良的CTAB法提取基因组DNA，对影响AFLP反应体系的主要因素进行了优化，建立了柱花草的AFLP反应体系。结果表明：20 μL为最佳反应体系，酶切体系中DNA模板量为1 000 ng，用5 U EcoR I 37℃酶切2 h、5 U Mse I 65℃酶切2 h效果最佳；分别取5 μL酶切液、1 μL T4连接酶(5 μL/L)、1 μL EcoR I接头、1 μL Mse I接头、2 μL缓冲液(T4DNA酶自带)，于22℃下连接10 min效果最佳；预扩增体系中模板稀释15倍、Mg2+浓度为0.75 mmol/L、Taq酶用量为1 U、dNTPs浓度为0.2 mmol/L、引物浓度为2 ng/μL效果最佳；选择扩增体系中模板稀释20倍、Mg2+浓度为1.25 mmol/L、Taq酶为1 U、dNTPs浓度为0.225 mmol/L、引物浓度为0.4 ng/μL效果最佳。利用热研5号、奥克雷2个品种对8对引物组合进行筛选，筛选出46对引物组合，为利用AFLP标记对柱花草进行分子生物学研究及分子育种奠定基础。     

咖啡ISSR与RAPD-PCR反应体系优化

以中粒种咖啡部分种质为试材,采用U25（55）均匀设计表,对影响ISSR和RAPD标记的模板DNA、Mg2+、dNTPs、TaqDNA聚合酶和引物浓度5个因素进行优化,分别建立适合于中粒种咖啡ISSR-PCR和RAPD-PCR标记的反应体系。结果表明：2种标记的反应体系相似,20 μL的反应体系中含DNA模板20 ng,Mg2+ 1.5 mmol/L,dNTPs 0.3 mmol/L,Taq酶1.25 U,引物0.6 μmol/L。利用所确立的体系对13份中粒种咖啡种质进行扩增,结果条带清晰明亮,多态性好     

大豆ISSR-PCR反应体系的优化

以黑龙江省大豆为材料,利用正交试验设计,对大豆ISSR-PCR反应体系中的5种主要因素(Mg2+、引物、dNTPs、模板DNA量、Taq酶量)在4个水平上进行体系优化.结果确定了大豆ISSR-PCR反应的最佳体系(25 μL)为:Mg2+浓度1.85 mmol·L-1、dNTPs浓度1.2 mmol·L-1、引物浓度1.2 μmol·L-1、模板DNA60 ng、Taq酶量0.7 U.利用该最佳体系,选取引物855对25份材料进行扩增,以验证该体系的稳定性.建立了适于大豆的ISSR-PCR反应体系,为利用ISSR标记技术开展黑龙江省大豆遗传多样性分析提供了依据.     

狗牙根ISSR-PCR反应体系的优化

利用正交设计试验,对影响ISSR-PCR的Mg~(2+)、dNTPs、引物、Taq DNA聚合酶和模板DNA 5个因素进行优化试验.结果表明:25μL ISSR-PCR反应体系中各因素的最佳条件为Mg~(2+)2.5 mmol/L、dNTPs 0.25 mmol/L、引物0.2μmol/L、Taq DNA聚合酶1.0 U,模板DNA 40 ng.通过对狗牙根ISSR-PCR最佳反应体系进行梯度退火试验,得到引物UBC881的最佳退火温度为50.5℃.该体系在24个狗牙根种质中获得较好的扩增结果,该优化体系为今后利用ISSR技术进行狗牙根属种质资源的遗传多样性分析奠定了技术基础.     

基于B/S结构的农产品质量安全追溯系统研究

以蝴蝶兰嫩叶提取的DNA为材料,蝴蝶兰SRAP反应体系中的重要参数Mg2+、Taq酶、模板DNA及随机引物,建立了一套适合蝴蝶兰基因扩增的SRAP反应体系：25 μL的反应体系中Mg2+浓度为2.0 mmol/L,Taq酶1.0 U,DNA模板40 ng,上下游引物0.8 mmol/L。该体系扩增条带清晰,重复性好,有望在蝴蝶兰属植物的遗传育种研究中运用。     

胡椒ISSR反应体系的建立与优化

旨在构建胡椒(Piper nigrum L.)基因组DNA的ISSR-PCR反应体系，以便为海南胡椒属植物的遗传多样性分析研究打下基础。利用单因素随机试验设计，对胡椒ISSR-PCR反应体系中各组分(TaqDNA聚合酶、dNTPs、模板DNA、引物和Mg2+)的浓度进行优化，同时筛选ISSR-PCR反应的循环数和最适退火温度。确定了最优的ISSR-PCR反应体系为：总体积20 μL，其中Taq DNA聚合酶1.0 U，dNTPs 0.8 mmol/L，引物0.2 mmol/L，Mg2 + 1.8 mmol     

国兰杂交品种(系)SRAP-PCR反应体系优化及引物快速筛选

以国兰杂交品种(系)为材料,采用L16(45)正交试验设计对Taq DNA聚合酶、Mg2+、dNTPs、模板及引物等5个重要影响因素进行优化,确定国兰杂交品种(系)SRAP-PCR反应的最优反应体系为(25μL体系):Taq DNA聚合酶,1 U;Mg2+,1.8 mmol/L;dNTPs,0.08 mmol/L;模板DNA,100 ng;引物,上下游各0.3 mmol/L;10×PCR Buffer,2.5μL。此外,本试验采用DNA混合池技术(DNA pooling)快速筛选SRAP引物,从180对SRAP引物组合中筛选出39对扩增产物丰富、多态性高的引物组合。与常规方法相比,该技术明显缩短试验周期、节约了模板用量,为快速高效筛选SRAP引物提供了新思路。     

芒果SSR-PCR反应体系的优化

通过正交实验,以芒果品种金煌芒为材料,对影响芒果SSR-PCR反应体系中的Mg2+、dNTPs、Taq酶、模板DNA、引物这5个因素进行了优化。结果表明,各因素水平变化对PCR反应影响的显著性依次为:模板DNAdNTPs引物Mg2+Taq酶。最终确立SSR反应体系的最优条件为:20μL体系中,10×buffer2μL,模板DNA80ng,dNTPs0.4mmol/L,引物0.2μmol/L,Mg2+1.8mmol/L,Taq酶0.75U。     

Mineral composition of some traditional Mexican teas

Teas of plant origin traditionally consumed by the Mountain Pima of Chihuahua, Mexico, were analyzed for mineral nutritional content. Fe, Cu, Zn, Ca, and Mg composition was determined for native teas made from shoots ofTagetes lucida, T. filifolia, Elytraria imbricata, andHolodiscus dumosus, and from root xylem ofCeanothus depressus andPhaseolus ritensis. Native uses of these teas are also described.     

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.     

Redox Status and Neuro Inflammation Indexes in Cerebellum and Motor Cortex of Wistar Rats Supplemented with Natural Sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Astaxanthin: Fish Oil,Krill Oil,and Algal Biomass

Health authorities worldwide have consistently recommended the regular consumption of marine fishes and seafood to preserve memory, sustain cognitive functions, and prevent neurodegenerative processes in humans. Shrimp, crabs, lobster, and salmon are of particular interest in the human diet due to their substantial provision of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3/PUFAs) and the antioxidant carotenoid astaxanthin (ASTA). However, the optimal ratio between these nutraceuticals in natural sources is apparently the key factor for maximum protection against most neuro-motor disorders. Therefore, we aimed here to investigate the effects of a long-term supplementation with (n-3)/PUFAs-rich fish oil, ASTA-rich algal biomass, the combination of them, or krill oil (a natural combination of both nutrients) on baseline redox balance and neuro-inflammation indexes in cerebellum and motor cortex of Wistar rats. Significant changes in redox metabolism were only observed upon ASTA supplementation, which reinforce its antioxidant properties with a putative mitochondrial-centered action in rat brain. Krill oil imposed mild astrocyte activation in motor cortex of Wistar rats, although no redox or inflammatory index was concomitantly altered. In summary, there is no experimental evidence that krill oil, fish oil, oralgal biomass (minor variation), drastically change the baseline oxidative conditions or the neuro-inflammatory scenario in neuromotor-associated rat brain regions.     

Potential of dry fractionation of wheat bran for the development of food ingredients,part II: Electrostatic separation of particles

Wheat bran is a composite material made of several layers, such as pericarp, testa and aleurone. It could be fractionated into purified fractions, which might either be used as food ingredients, or serve as a starting material for extraction of bioactive compounds. The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential of using electrostatic separation as a way to obtain purified fractions from wheat bran. Ultrafine-ground bran obtained either by cryogenic grinding or by grinding at ambient temperature was used as starting material. The ultrafine bran was then charged by tribo-electrification and introduced in a chamber containing two high voltage electrodes, where bran particles were separated depending on their acquired charge, allowing positively and negatively charged fractions to be collected separately. The particle size distribution, microstructure and biochemical composition of the obtained fractions were studied. The charge of the particles was influenced by their biochemical composition: particles rich in highly branched and cross-linked arabinoxylans (pericarp) were separated from particles rich in β-glucan, ferulic acid and para-coumaric acid (aleurone cell walls). The testa and the intracellular compounds from aleurone were not highly charged, neither positively nor negatively. The most positively charged fraction represented 34% of the initial bran, and contained 62% of the ferulic acid present in the initial bran. The yield of the separation process was good (5.4% loss), and could be further increased.     

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.     

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.     

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.