High frequency embryogenic callus induction and plant regeneration from mature caryposis of big bluestem and little bluestem

Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) and little bluestem [Schizachyrium scoparium (Michaux) Nash.] are native to the North America and are important forage grasses and ornamental grasses. Both grasses are proposed as ideal biomass producers for cellulosic ethanol production. To apply genetic transformation, which is an important tool for incorporating desirable agronomic traits into plants to both species, however requires an efficient and reproducible regeneration protocol. We used mature caryopses from big and little bluestem as explants and tested the effect of various combinations of 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) (1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 mg l⁻¹) and kinetin (KT) (0, 0.1 or 0.2 mg l⁻¹) on embryogenic callus induction with LS as the basal medium. The highest percentage of embryogenic calli induction occurred on medium containing 2, 4-D alone at 2 mg l⁻¹ for ‘Bison’ and on medium containing 4 mg l⁻¹ 2, 4-D alone for ‘Bonilla’ big bluestem. For little bluestem, the highest percentage of embryogenic callus induction occurred on medium containing 3 mg l⁻¹ 2, 4-D plus 0.1 mg l⁻¹ kinetin, suggesting that addition of KT is beneficial. Shoot regeneration took place on LS basal medium without any plant growth regulator for both species, although the addition of KT increased both regeneration frequency and the number of shoots produced per callus. Rooting of shoots reaching about 2 cm long occurred readily with or without α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Rooted plantlets were all successfully established in the soil.     

萘乙酸对大白菜钙素吸收运转及防治干烧心病的研究

本研究从补钙入手,探索防治干烧心病的方法。用0.7％CaCl_2·2H_2O对和50ppmNAA混合液在大白菜结球期叶面喷洒5次,经8年试验,对大白菜干烧心病的相对防治效果达80％以上。 在此基础上,采用~(45)Ca示踪试验的方法对防病机理做了进一步研究。结果表明,无论从根部还是从叶部加萘乙酸对根部和叶部~(45)Ca的吸收和运转均具有促进作用,并且改变了其在大白菜植株内的分配规律。对照株单位干叶重dpm值自外向内呈下降趋势(130×10~3─60×10~3);用NAA处理株则相反,自外向内呈增加趋势(120×10~3─250×10~3),说明萘乙酸具有促进钙素向叶球中内部运转的功效。这种效果在贮藏期间仍能保持。另外,~(45)Ca向直接受到NAA处理部位的运转量有明显增高的趋势。这一结果为补钙防治干烧心病提供了理论依据。     

钙、萘乙酸对亚精胺在猕猴桃贮藏期间作用效果的影响

以5年生中华猕猴桃品系(湘源81-2)为试材,进行了果实采收后Spd(亚精胺)、Spd+Ca2+、Spd+NAA浸果处理,研究钙、萘乙酸对多胺作用效果的影响。结果表明:不同处理均不同程度地抑制了果实的呼吸强度、果肉PG活性和细胞膜透性的增加,其中Spd+NAA浸果处理的作用效果最为显著,贮藏68d时,果肉硬度最高(0.259MPa),软果率较低(79%),好果率达100%;其次为Spd处理。     

Effects of p.o. administered xylitol in cats

Xylitol is commonly used as sugar substitute in households. While it has numerous beneficial effects on human health, it is highly toxic to dogs. The goal of this study was to examine whether xylitol has similar deleterious effects, such as hypoglycaemia and acute hepatic failure, on cats. Our research included six healthy middle‐aged cats. Xylitol was dissolved in deionized water and administered p.o. at three doses (100, 500 and 1,000 mg/kg body weight). These dosages have been considered toxic and can cause liver failure or even death in dogs. After every xylitol administration, the basic health status and the blood glucose of cats were observed regularly. Additionally, prior to and 6, 24 and 72 hr after xylitol administration, blood samples were taken to check complete blood count, clinical biochemical parameters and enzymes such as ALT, ALKP, GGT, GLDH, bile acids, BUN, creatinine, phosphate, total protein, albumin, sodium and potassium. There were no significant changes (p > .05) in any of the haematological or biochemical parameters. Blood glucose concentrations did not show any significant alterations, except at 1,000 mg/kg dose, where a mild but significant increase was observed, but it was in physiological range. Based on our results, xylitol did not induce toxic effects on cats.     

不同激素对金花茶圈枝繁殖生根的影响

分析NAA、IBA及2种激素等体积混合溶液对金花茶圈枝繁殖生根成活率的影响。结果表明:采用萘乙酸和吲哚丁酸的等体积混合激素溶液1 000~1 500 mg/L能明显提高金花茶圈枝繁殖苗的生根率,达到95%以上。该技术简化了操作程序,可节省人力,在基质方面也节约了生产成本,可直接应用于金花茶苗木大规模生产。     

NAA和IBA对福建茶扦插生根的影响

用300 mg/L NAA和300 mg/L IBA处理福建茶1 h、2 h、3 h、4 h,用600 mg/L NAA和600 mg/L IBA处理福建茶1 min、5 min、10 min、20 min,60 d起苗观察生根情况。结果表明,300 mg/LNAA和300 mg/L IBA处理福建茶,NAA处理3 h和IBA处理4 h效果最好,生根率83%和87%;600 mg/L NAA和600 mg/L IBA处理福建茶,NAA处理5 min和IBA处理10 min效果最好,生根率83%和90%。     

Variability in concentrations of zinc in serum and feed when using zinc oxide as a supplement for the prevention of facial eczema

AIMS: To determine the variability of concentrations of Zn in feed, when used as a supplement to prevent facial eczema, and to determine the variability in concentrations of Zn in serum between cows and herds that are being supplemented with ZnO in feed, using in-shed feeders or on a feed pad.

METHODS: Sixteen commercial dairy farms in the Waikato region of New Zealand were enrolled, that were supplementing cows with ZnO in the feed using either an automatic in-shed feeder (ASF) or a feed pad (FP) using a feed-out or mixer wagon. On each farm 10 cows were selected by the farmer, that were assumed to be representative of the age and liveweight of the herd. Four hours after supplement feeding, each cow was weighed and a blood sample collected for measurement of concentrations of Zn in serum. Three samples of feed were collected from each farm for Zn analysis, from the beginning, middle and end of the feed being distributed. Levene’s test for homoscedasticity was used to analyse whether there were differences in variation of individual concentrations of Zn in serum, and in the feed, between the two feeding systems. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine associations between age, feeding method or liveweight and concentrations of Zn in serum, after accounting for the variability between farms.

RESULTS: Of the 163 cows sampled, concentrations of Zn in serum were between 20–35?µmol/L in 75/163 (46 (95% CI=38–54)%) cows; were <20?µmol/L in 71/163 (44 (95% CI=36–52)%) cows, and >35?µmol/L in 17/163 (10 (95% CI=6–16)%) cows. The variation in concentrations of Zn in serum in individual cows differed between farms (p<0.001), and the variability was greater for cows fed using a FP than ASF (p<0.001). There was no difference in the variation of concentrations of Zn in feed between the two feeding methods (p=0.54), but concentrations of Zn in serum were associated with the amount of Zn offered in feed (p=0.008).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICIAL RELEVENCE: There was significant variability between farms in the concentrations of Zn in the serum of cows being supplemented with ZnO in feed. Only 46% of cows sampled had concentrations of Zn between 20–35?µmol/L. Effective management of facial eczema should include monitoring Zn in the feed and in serum to ensure cows are receiving the correct dose they require.     

Boron toxicity of strawberry

Abstract

Radlands Crimson strawberries were grown in a glasshouse with 7 rates of applied boron. Wood shavings mulches with different boron concentrations were also applied as separate treatments. Boron toxicity symptoms were produced in leaves by boron rates of 0.32 kg ha^‐1 and greater on a soil containing 1.6 ug B g^‐1 of hot water extractable boron. Concentrations greater than 123 μg B g^‐1 in old leaves were associated with boron toxicity symptoms.

In the B rate experiment, soil boron concentrations greater than 1.9 μg B g^‐1 soil were associated with leaf toxicity symptoms which increased in severity with increasing soil boron concentrations up to 4.1 μg B g^‐1 soil. Wood shavings mulch containing 17 μg B g^‐1 caused boron toxicity symptoms in older leaves whereas mulches containing less than 6 μg B g^‐1 did not produce toxicity symptoms.     

Changes in Hormonal Balance: A Possible Mechanism of Pre‐Sowing Chilling‐Induced Salt Tolerance in Spring Wheat

There is a lack of knowledge about factors contributing to the chilling‐induced alleviatory effects on growth of plants under salt stress. Thus, the primary objective of the study was to determine whether chilling‐induced changes in endogenous hormones, ionic partitioning within shoots and roots and/or gaseous exchange characteristics is involved in salt tolerance of two genetically diverses of wheat crops. For this purpose, the seeds of two spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivars, MH‐97 (salt intolerant) and Inqlab‐91 (salt tolerant) were chilled at 3°C for 2 weeks. The chilled, hydroprimed and non‐primed (control) seeds of the two wheat cultivars were sown in both Petri dishes in a growth room and in the field after treatment with 15 dS m^?1 NaCl salinity. Chilling was very effective in increasing germination rate and subsequent growth when compared with hydropriming and control under salt stress. Results from field experiments clearly indicated the efficacy of chilling over hydropriming in improving shoot dry biomass and grain yield in either cultivar, particularly under salt stress. This increase in growth and yield was related to increased net photosynthetic rate, greater potential to uptake and accumulate the beneficial mineral elements (K⁺ and Ca²⁺) in the roots and reduced uptake and accumulation of toxic mineral element (Na⁺) in the shoots of both wheat cultivars when grown under salt stress. Salt‐stressed plants of both wheat cultivars raised from chilled seed had greater concentrations of indoleacetic acid, abscisic acid, salicylic acid and spermine when compared with hydropriming and control. Therefore, induction of salt tolerance by pre‐sowing chilling treatment in wheat could be attributed to its beneficial effects on ionic homeostasis and hormonal balance. The results presented are also helpful to understand the chilling‐induced cross adaptation of plants in natural environments. Moreover, efficacy of pre‐sowing chilling treatment over hydropriming suggested its commercial utilization as a low risk priming treatment for better wheat crop production under stressful environments.     

Effects of bark mulch and npk fertilizer on yield,leaf nutrient status and soil mineral nitrogen during three years of strawberry production

The effects of bark mulch and NPK fertilizers on yield and leaf and soil nutrient status of ‘Korona’ strawberry plants (Fragaria×ananassa Duch.), were studied over a period of three years. A significant effect of mulching was found in the first harvest year, but additional fertilizer did not affect total yield. Bark mulch slightly decreased the level of leaf nitrogen, but increased the level of leaf phosphorus and potassium in all years. Bark had a significant, negative effect on soil nitrate and ammonium content in the two first seasons. Mulching increased the soil moisture content in all years.