Unintended Changes in Genetically Modified Rice Expressing the Lysine-Rich Fusion Protein Gene Revealed by a Proteomics Approach

Development of new technologies for evaluating genetically modified(GM) crops has revealed that there are unintended insertions and expression changes in GM crops.Profiling techniques are non-targeted approaches and are capable of detecting more unintended changes in GM crops.Here,we report the application of a comparative proteomic approach to investigate the protein profile differences between a GM rice line,which has a lysine-rich protein gene,and its non-transgenic parental line.Proteome analysis by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis(2-DE)and mass spectrum analysis of the seeds identified 22differentially expressed protein spots.Apart from a number of glutelins that were detected as targeted proteins in the GM line,the majority of the other changed proteins were involved in carbohydrate metabolism,protein synthesis and stress responses.These results indicated that the altered proteins were not associated with plant allergens or toxicity.     

Accumulation of Carbohydrate and Regulation of 14-3-3 Protein on Sucrose Phosphate Synthase(SPS) Activity in Two Tomato Species

To explore the differences of carbohydrate metabolism in two tomato species and discuss the possible regulation of 14-3-3proteins on the sucrose phosphate synthase(SPS)activity,we determined the contents of soluble sugar and starch through high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC).The activities of sugar-metabolizing enzymes were assayed in desalted extract,and the relative expression levels of related genes in sugar metabolism were determined though real-time RT-PCR.The results indicated that glucose and fructose were mainly accumulated during the maturation of the fruit because of the high acid invertase(AI)and neutral invertase(NI)in Micro-Tom(Solanum lycopersicum)fruit,while in Solanum chmielewskii fruit,SPS which went along with the change of sucrose content led to the rapid sucrose increase during the fruit ripening.TFT1and TFT10,belonging to 14-3-3 protein in tomato,were likely to down-regulated SPS activity during young and intumescence period.     

Accumulation of Carbohydrate and Regulation of 14-3-3 Protein on Sucrose Phosphate Synthase （SPS）Activity in Two Tomato Species

To explore the differences of carbohydrate metabolism in two tomato species and discuss the possible regulation of 14-3-3 proteins on the sucrose phosphate synthase （SPS） activity, we determined the contents of soluble sugar and starch through high performance liquid chromatography （HPLC）. The activities of sugar-metabolizing enzymes were assayed in desalted extract, and the relative expression levels of related genes in sugar metabolism were determined though real-time RT-PCR. The results indicated that glucose and fructose were mainly accumulated during the maturation of the fruit because of the high acid invertase （AI） and neutral invertase （NI） in Micro-Tom （Solanum lycopersicum） fruit, while in Solanum chmielewskii fruit, SPS which went along with the change of sucrose content led to the rapid sucrose increase during the fruit ripening. TFT1 and TFT10, belonging to 14-3-3 protein in tomato, were likely to down-regulated SPS activity during young and intumescence period.     

Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Spike-Development Inhibited and Normal Tillers of Wheat 3558

Spike number is one of three yield-related factors and is closely related to wheat yield. In the present study, we found that the inhibited and normal tillers of the 3558 line presented phenotypic differences at the elongation stage by morphological and anatomical analysis. We then initiated a proteomic study using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and nanoscale liquid chromatography-high-definition tandem mass spectroscopy, to isolate and identify the key proteins and metabolic pathways related to spike-development inhibition. A total of 31 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), which were mainly involved in cell cycle regulation, photosynthesis, glycolysis, stress response, and oxidation-reduction reactions, were isolated and identified. 14-3-3-like proteins and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), involved in cell-cycle regulation, were dramatically down-regulated in inhibited tillers compared to normal tillers. Six spots corresponding to degraded Rubisco large subunits, involved in photosynthesis, were detected in different locations of the 2-DE gels and were up-regulated in inhibited tillers. In addition, the relative levels of DEPs involved in glycolysis and oxidation-reduction reactions changed dramatically. Development was blocked or delayed at the elongation stage in the inhibited tillers of 3558. Weakened energy metabolism might be one reason that the inhibited tillers could not joint and develop into spikes. These DEPs and related metabolic pathways are significant for understanding the mechanism of spike-development inhibition and studying the spike-development process in wheat.     

Proteomics Identification of Differentially Expressed Leaf Proteins in Response to Setosphaeria turcica Infection in Resistant Maize

Northern corn leaf blight （NCLB）, caused by the heterothallic ascomycete fungus Setosphaeria turcica, is a destructive foliar disease of maize and represents a serious threat to maize production worldwide. A comparative proteomic study was conducted to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the defense responses of the maize resistant line A619 Ht2 to S. turcica race 13. Leaf proteins were extracted from mock and S. turcica-infected leaves after inoculated for 72 h and analyzed for differentially expressed proteins using two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry identification. 137 proteins showed reproducible differences in abundance by more than 2-fold at least, including 50 up-regulated proteins and 87 down-regulated proteins. 48 protein spots were successfully identified by MS analysis, which included 10 unique, 6 up-regulated, 20 down-regulated and 12 disappeared protein spots. These identified proteins were classified into 9 functional groups and involved in multiple functions, particularly in energy metabolism （46%）, protein destination and storage （12%）, and disease defense （18%）. Some defense-related proteins were upregulated such as 13-glucosidase, SOD, polyamines oxidase, HSC 70 and PPIases; while the expressions of photosynthesis- and metabolism-related proteins were down-regulated, by inoculation with S. turcica. The results indicated that a complex regulatory network was functioned in interaction between the resistant line A619 Ht2 and S. turcica. The resistance processes of A619 Ht2 mainly resided on directly releasing defense proteins, modulation of primary metabolism, affecting photosyntesis and carbohydrate metabolism.     

Application of Neutron Activation Analysis Technique for the Analysis of Soil Samples from Farmlands of Yebrage Hawariat,East Gojjam,Ethiopia

Farmers may not be conscious for their farmland＇s nutrients, soil organic matter, water and air because they simply concerned only for their labor availability and soil fertility losses. The composition and proportion of these components greatly influence soil physical properties, including texture, structure and porosity, the fraction of pore space in a soil. The soil of this farmland must be able to supply adequate amount of plant nutrients, in forms which can be absorbed by the crop, within its lifespan. Deficiencies or imbalances in the supply of any of essential elements can compromise growth, affecting root development, cell division, crop quality, crop yield and resistance to disease and drought. This study was conducted to fill this knowledge gap in order to develop economically vital and environmentally accepted nutrient management strategies for the use of soils in agricultural lands. The objective of this study is to assess the elemental contents and concentration of soil samples collected from farmlands of ＂Yebrage＂ using neutron activation analysis （NAA） techniques regardless of oxidation state, chemical form or physical locations. NAA is used to determine the elemental composition and concentrations present in a soil. The macro/micronutrient and organic matter deficiencies have been verified in agricultural soils through increased use of soil testing and plant analysis. The challenge for agriculture over the coming decades will meet the world＇s increasing demands for food in a sustainable way. Current issues and future challenges point out that as long as agriculture remains a soil based industry, major decreases in productivity likely to be attained ensuring that plants do not have adequate and balanced supply of nutrients.     

Distribution and Identification of Ixodid Tick Species on Livestock in Northern Pakistan

Identification of lxodid tick species on livestock in two districts, viz., D.I. Khan and Lakki Marwat of Northern Pakistan were made during the period from March to November 2009 through animals＇ survey and questionnaire. The main tick species were Amblyomma （14.3%）, Boophilus microplus （l 8.5%） and Hyalomma anatolicum and H. dromedarii （67.2%）. Out of 3009 collected ticks, the highest number of female （88.7%） and the lowest of males （ l 1.3%） belong to Boophilus; the lowest number of female （92.4%） and the highest of males （77.5%） belong to Amblyomma. However, cows were more susceptible than buffaloes and camels ranked third to ticks infestation. Moreover, cows, buffalos, goats and sheep harbored mixed infestation （had more than one type of ticks）, however, camels and donkey harbored single infestation （had only one type of tick）. An emerging ethno-veterinary or traditional remedy is poultry keeping for ticks＇ elimination in Lakki Marwat. The results of this research will be helped in taking appropriate measures to reduce tick infestation and to improve management practices. Hence, it will help to increase farm productivity and farmers income.     

Impacts of Climate Change on Rice Yield in China From 1961 to 2010 Based on Provincial Data

The impacts of climate change on rice yield in China from 1961 to 2010 were studied in this paper, based on the provincial data, in order to develop scientiifc countermeasures. The results indicated that increase of average temperature improved single cropping rice production on national level by up to 11%relative to the average over the study period, however, it resulted in an overall loss of double cropping rice by up to 1.9%. The decrease of diurnal temperature range （DTR） in the major producing regions caused the decrease by up to 3.0%for single cropping rice production and 2.0%for double cropping rice production. Moreover, the contribution of precipitation change reached about 6.2%for single cropping rice production, but no signiifcant effect for double cropping rice production in recent 50 years.     

Effects of Elemental Sulphur and Farmyard Manure on pH and Salinity of Calcareous Sandy Loam Soil and Some Nutrient Elements in Tomato Plant

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of elemental sulphur （S） and farmyard manure on soil pH, EC and N, S, P concentrations of tomato grown in a calcareous sandy loam soil. For this purpose, a pot experiment was conducted in greenhouse conditions. Sulphur was applied at 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 400 mg kg~ and farmyard manure at 0, 3 ton da^-1 to the soil. Three weeks after applications, tomato seedlings were planted and 8 weeks later, the plants were harvested to determine N, S, P concentrations and dry matter yield. Soil pH and EC were determined in the soil samples taken at 3 different periods. Effects of sulphur and farmyard manure applications were not significant on N, P concentrations and dry matter yield of tomato plant. S concentration of tomato plant was increased by sulphur alone. Soil pH was decreased and soil EC was increased in both 2^nd and 3^rd soil sampling period by the sulphur applications. As a result of farmyard manure application, soil pH decreased in the 2^nd soil sampling period but increased in the 3^rd soil sampling period. Also, soil EC was significantly increased in 1^st and 3^rd soil sampling period. Farmyard manure had no significant effect on S supply to tomato plant. The N：S ratio of tomato plant was decreased by sulphur alone. However, the sulphur with farmyard manure applications decreased N：S ratio in lesser extend compared to the S applications.     

Interactive Effects of Elevated CO2 and Temperature on Rice Planthopper,Nilaparvata lugens

It is predicted that the current atmospheric CO2 concentration will be doubled and global mean temperature will increase by 1.5-6＆#176;C by the end of this century. Although a number of studies have addressed the separate effects of CO2 and temperature on plant-insect interactions, few have concerned with their combined impacts. In the current study, a factorial experiment was carried out to examine the effect of a doubling CO2 concentration and a 3℃ temperature increase on a complete generation of the brown planthopper （Nilaparvata lugens） on rice （Oryza sativa）. Both elevated CO2 and temperature increased rice stem height and biomass of stem parts. Leaf chlorophyll content increased under elevated CO2, but only in ambient temperature treatment. Water content of stem parts was reduced under elevated temperature, but only when coupled with elevated CO2. Elevated CO2 alone increased biomass of root and elevated temperature alone enhanced leaf area and reduced ratio of root to stem parts. Brown planthopper （BPH） nymphal development was accelerated, and weight of and honeydew excretion by the F1 adults was reduced under elevated temperature only. Longevity of brachypterous females was affected by a signiifcant interaction between CO2 and temperature. At elevated temperature, CO2 had no effect on female longevity, but at ambient temperature, the females lived shorter under elevated CO2. Female fecundity was higher at elevated than at ambient temperature and higher at elevated CO2 than at ambient CO2. These results indicate that the combined effects of elevated temperature and CO2 may enhance the brown planthopper population size.     

Cooking Quality Parameters of Rice Cultivars Grown in Spain

The quality office is complex and made up of many components such as nutritional quality, appearance, cooking quality and eating quality. The cultivar is one of the main factors that could affect to the grain quality office. The aim of this work was to analyze and compare the cooking quality parameters of six different japonica varieties of rice grown in Spain （Senia, Gleva, Bahia, Maratelli, Guadiamar and Bomba）. This work focused on the study of the cooking quality of rice, because it is one of the most important factors related to grain quality in Spain. It was evaluated using five characteristics： amylose content, gel consistency, degree of spreading, gelatinization temperature and pasting parameters. The amylose content ranged from 11.60% to 21.46%, with the Gleva cultivar having the lowest amylose content and with Bomba having the highest. The gel consistency varied between 5.44 cm and 9.81 cm. Regarding the alkali test, the Maratelli cultivar had the highest dispersion and transparency. Maratelli had the lowest gelatinization temperature （61.67±0.08 ℃）, and Senia had the highest gelatinization temperature （67.05±0.02 ℃）. Finally, the pasting parameters showed significant differences among cultivars with different viscosities.     

Under-Winter Sowings of Red Beetroot in Uzbekistan

The results of the three-year researches which had the purpose to establish an optimum depth of seeding at sowing and rational norm of seeding of red beetroot seeds at under-winter sowing in conditions of mid-loamy typical grey soils of the central climatic zone of Uzbekistan are stated in article. The researches were spent at statement of field experiences in quadruple frequency with the area of a registration allotment 10 M^-1. Crops were carried out in the first decade of December against mulching surfaces of ridges by humus and without mulching. Crops were carried out on ridges in width of 70 sm tape-two-lined with distance between tapes of 50 sm, between lines-20 sm and distance between plants in a line of 12-13 sm, at density of standing of 228-230 thousand plants/hectares. Experiences were spent with zoned in Uzbekistan multi-seedling grade of a red beetroot ＂Bordo 237＂. Experiences were accompanied by phenological supervision, biometric accounts, the account of field germination of seeds, density of standing of plants and definition of size and quality of a crop. Results of researches were exposed to the statistical analysis by a dispersive method. It has been revealed that at under-winter sowing of a red beetroot the effective way providing acceleration of shoots occurrence, formations of high-grade density of standing and increase of productivity of root crops is mulching the surfaces of ridges by humus. It is defined that optimum depth of seeding at sowing both at application of mulching and without it is the depth of seeding 4 sm. It is established that the most rational norm of seeding of the seeds, providing high-grade density of standing, is at cultivation with application of mulching 8 kg/ha, and at cultivation without mulching 8-10 kg/ha. Application of mulching the surfaces of ridges by humus, depths of seeding of 4 sm and norms of seeding of seeds of 8-10 kg/ha in conditions of under-winter sowing in comparison with cultivation without mulching and depth of seeding 2 sm and norms of seeding of 6 kg/ha provides an acceleration of receipt of fresh production of a red beetroot for 12-14 days and considerably raises root crops productivity. Application of agro receptions improved by us is the important reserve of acceleration of receipt of red beetroot early production and increase of its manufacture.     

Absorption of Food in African Pike Hepsetus odoe （Bloch, 1974） in Ado Ekiti Reservoir,Ekiti State,Southwestern Nigeria

The protein, carbohydrate and lipid contents of the food ingested and their absorption in the intestine ofHepsetus odoe in Ado-Ekiti Reservoir, Ekiti State, Nigeria were investigated. Samples were analysed chemically for protein, fat and carbohydrate using the official methods of analysis described by the Association of Official Analytical Chemist. The ingested food had mean total protein, mean total carbohydrate and mean total lipid of 60.2% - 8.55%, 15.4% ± 1.9% and 15.6% ±1.1% of the organic content respectively. Calculated mean total percentages absorbed were 72.4% protein, 52% carbohydrate and 51.5% lipid. The foregut had the highest percentage absorption while the hindgut had the lowest for all the nutrients. Different sizes of fish showed different dietary protein, carbohydrate and lipid contents. Absorptive capacity for these components of the food also varied with fish size.     

Evaluation of Essential Oils from Rosemary, Orange, Lavandula and False Yellowhead on Hatching and Motility of Root-Knot Nematode

Essential oils （EOs） from Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis （Lamiaceae）, Orange, Citrus sinensis （Rutaceae）, Lavandula, Lavandula angustifolia （Lamiaceae）, False Yellowhead, Dittrichia viscosa （Asteraceae） and their major components were evaluated against root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita and Meloidogynejavanica. Second stage juveniles＇ （J2） paralysis and egg hatch inhibition were studied, while pulverized plant parts were tested for nematodes biological cycle arrest. All EOs paralyzed J2 and M. incognita were found more sensitive than M javanica with the EC50/4 days calculated at 250, 3,650 and 4,260 12g/mL for 1）. viscosa, L. angustifolia and R. officinalis, respectively. Similarly, all EOs inhibited nematodes egg hatch and D. viscosa exhibited the highest inhibition on egg hatch （100% inhibition at 5 μg/mL）. A significant influence of constituent terpenes （limonene, 1,8-cineole, linalool, camphor, L-borneol, caryophyllene oxide, β-eudesmol） dose and exposure time was indicated on egg hatch inhibition （56% to 100% at 500 μg/mL and 1,000 μg/mL）, while only β-eudesmol achieved paralysis of J2 and specifically against M. incognita （EC50/1d = 50μg/mL）. Interestingly, the most active botanical species arresting Meloidogyne spp. biological cycle in soil was C. sinensis （EC50 = 2 mg/g） and the most sensitive nematode species was M. javanica. The larvicidal and egg hatch inhibition activity holds promise towards the optimization of artificial terpene mixtures as novel and effective natural nematicides. Complex interactions of primary compounds and subsequent decomposition derivates compose efficacy profile of soil amendments.     

Probabilistic Model of the Brown Rat Control

We represent assessment of the rats control operator＇s actions, starting from the placement of rat control means （chemical, mechanical and others） in the object territory until the full its elimination and followed by assessment of the probability of rat population recovery. The probability of success is evaluated when using a combination of rat control means. We took into account changes in rat population occurring in different calendar periods of the year. The proposed calculation method can be used in training programs, as well as for the local forecast of releasing objects from rats and rats＇ re-settling.