Pigeonpea improvement: An amalgam of breeding and genomic research

In the past five decades, constant research has been directed towards yield improvement in pigeonpea resulting in the deployment of several commercially acceptable cultivars in India. Though, the genesis of hybrid technology, the biggest breakthrough, enigma of stagnant productivity still remains unsolved. To sort this productivity disparity, genomic research along with conventional breeding was successfully initiated at ICRISAT. It endowed ample genomic resource providing insight in the pigeonpea genome combating production constraints in a precise and speedy manner. The availability of the draft genome sequence with a large‐scale marker resource, oriented the research towards trait mapping for flowering time, determinacy, fertility restoration, yield attributing traits and photo‐insensitivity. Defined core and mini‐core collection, still eased the pigeonpea breeding being accessible for existing genetic diversity and developing stress resistance. Modern genomic tools like next‐generation sequencing, genome‐wide selection helping in the appraisal of selection efficiency is leading towards next‐generation breeding, an awaited milestone in pigeonpea genetic enhancement. This paper emphasizes the ongoing genetic improvement in pigeonpea with an amalgam of conventional breeding as well as genomic research.     

The effect of feeding a novel multistrain yeast fraction on European seabass (Dicentrachus labrax) intestinal health and growth performance

Fish were fed a single‐strain yeast fraction (SsYF; 2 g/kg) or a multistrain yeast fraction (MsYF; 0.8 g/kg) for 10 weeks. The results demonstrated significant (p ≤ 0.03) elevations in weight gain, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, and feed conversion ratio in fish fed the yeast fraction‐supplemented diets. In the distal intestine, a significant elevation in microvilli density was observed after 5 and 10 weeks of dietary supplementation with MsYF and SsYF, respectively, compared to control fed fish (p < 0.001). A significant elevation (p = 0.02) in the perimeter ratio was observed in fish fed diets supplemented with the yeast fractions. After 10 weeks of feeding on the experimental diets, Rt‐qPCR demonstrated a significant downregulation (p < 0.05) in the stress response genes, heat‐shock protein 70 (hsp70) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (pcna), in fish fed diets supplemented with the yeast fractions. Significant (p < 0.05) elevations in interleukin 1‐beta (il1β) and interleukin‐10 (il10) gene expression were observed in fish fed diets supplemented with the MsYF compared to the other dietary groups. These findings suggest that feeding an MsYF specifically at a lower incorporation rate < 1 g/kg, compared to a commercial SsYF at 2 g/kg, is effective in improving the intestinal health status and growth performance of European seabass.     

中国林产工业产业关联与波及效应分析——基于投入产出模型的国际比较

文中基于中国、美国、俄罗斯、印度、巴西、印度尼西亚6国2000—2014年投入产出数据，通过测算中间需求率、中间投入率、感应度系数和影响力系数，对林产工业产业关联与波及效应进行动态比较分析。研究结果表明:相较于其他国家，中国木材加工业、造纸业的中间产品型产业特征明显，对国民经济贡献程度较高，但同时也面临成为“瓶颈产业”的风险；中国家具制造业的最终需求型产业性质显著，受整体经济发展的拉动作用明显弱于其他国家。总体而言，中国林产工业对国民经济的推动作用整体上高于国民经济发展对其的拉动作用。需要重点提升木材加工业、家具制造业整体产业链竞争力，加大科研创新投入力度以提升产出效率，并进一步提高家具制造业整体产品的附加值。     

Assessing seed desiccation responses of native trees in the Caribbean

New Forests - Native trees from the Caribbean were tested for seed desiccation responses, by adapting the “100-seed test” protocol. Ninety-seven seed lots of 91 species were collected...     

不同光质下外源锌对水培生菜生长和品质的影响

以'意大利耐抽薹'生菜(Lactuca sativa L.)为试材,采用水培法,设置不同光质(红蓝光比例为4∶1、1∶2和全红光、全蓝光)和外源锌浓度(0、0.5、1.0 mg·L-1 ZnSO4·7H2O),研究不同光质下外源锌对水培生菜生长和品质特性的调控效应,以期为植物工厂在不同光质下施加外源锌提高蔬菜产量和品质提供参考依据.结果 表明:高比例红光会促进生菜生物量、可溶性糖和还原糖的积累,并降低硝酸盐的含量,其中以红蓝光比例为4∶1的光质处理效果最好;高比例蓝光会促进光合色素和可溶性蛋白质含量的增加,其中以全蓝光处理效果最好,但全蓝光处理会对植株的生长产生抑制作用.从光质与Zn的互作效果看,光质对生菜生长和品质的影响起主导作用,外源Zn起调节作用.综合考虑,红蓝光比例为4∶1光质下根施0.5 mg·L-1 ZnSO4·7H2O处理对生菜的生长发育、产量提高以及品质改善的促进作用最佳.     

Changes in wettability of wood surface using electron beam irradiation

ABSTRACT

This study deals with the influence of electron beam irradiation (EBI) on the wettability of Norway spruce surface samples. To evaluate this possible effect in detail, the changes in chemistry and wood structure were analysed using the methods of IR spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The surface wettability was determined by the contact angle measurement method. The results of infrared spectra show decreased relative numbers of available hydrophilic groups (e.g. hydroxyl and carbonyl groups) in the wood surfaces due to the electron beam irradiation. This behaviour is consistent with the values from the surface wettability measurements. Structural differences of the wood surfaces after electron beam irradiation were not detectable. Based on these findings pre-treatment of wood surfaces for industrial usages can be a potential field of application of this technology.     

花生壳黄酮的提取纯化工艺

本文采用酶法预处理结合超声波辅助提取的方式，最大程度地提高了花生壳总黄酮的得率，并优化大孔树脂纯化工艺，提高了有效成分的纯度。花生壳黄酮的最佳提取工艺为：花生壳粉与水混合，半纤维素酶与木聚糖酶按1:1（m/m）复配，用量0.25‰，50℃酶解30 min后，按料液比1:20（m/V）加入乙醇至终浓度60%，于功率1000 W，55℃超声波辅助提取60 min，花生壳总黄酮的得率约为2.5%。选用D101型大孔树脂，上样缓冲液为pH 5.0的60%乙醇溶液，洗脱液为pH 10.0的70% 乙醇溶液，上样与洗脱流速为0.75 BV/h和1.5 BV/h。纯化后的花生壳总黄酮和木犀草素的纯度分别为10.54%和5.85%，提高了90%和120%。     

异源表达玉米ZmC3H54基因增强水稻的耐旱性

CCCH锌指蛋白是一类重要的转录调控因子。从玉米中分离得到一个受干旱和ABA诱导表达的CCCH型锌指蛋白基因ZmC3H54，通过构建过量表达载体并转化水稻来进一步研究其功能。 与对照组相比，转基因植株在干旱胁迫处理下具有更高的相对含水量与存活率以及较低的相对电导率，表明过量表达ZmC3H54基因可以提高转基因水稻的耐旱性。此外，转基因水稻幼苗对外源ABA敏感性更高。以上结果表明玉米ZmC3H54基因可能是通过ABA信号通路调控植物对干旱的耐受性。     

Comparison of outcomes following treatment of septic calcaneal bursitis by needle or bursoscopic lavage: A retrospective study of 29 horses

Sepsis of the calcaneal bursae (CB) presents significant treatment challenges with limited clinical data available in the literature. The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to assess the clinical outcomes associated with CB lavage using either a through-and-through needle or bursoscopic technique. Clinical records of 29 horses treated for septic calcaneal bursitis using either technique between 2005 and 2019 were reviewed. Fisher’s exact test was used to assess statistical significance between first surgical technique and success at first surgery (i.e. not requiring >1 lavage), survival to discharge and return to work (RTW). Bursoscopy was performed in 13/29 (44.8%) cases, and needle lavage in 16/29 (55.2%). In the needle group, 12 (75%) horses were discharged following the first surgery. Four had repeat interventions; two (12.5%) had needle lavage and two (12.5%) had bursoscopy. Of the two horses to have repeat needle lavage, one was subjected to euthanasia and one discharged, and of the two that underwent bursoscopy, one was discharged and one received a third bursoscopy prior to discharge. In the bursoscopy group, seven (53.8%) were discharged and three (23.1%) were subjected to euthanasia following the first surgery. Three (23.1%) received a second bursoscopic lavage with one discharged, one subjected to euthanasia and one having a third bursoscopic lavage prior to discharge. Overall, 18/24 (75%) followed up cases RTW, 10 (55.5%) from the needle group, eight (44.4%) the bursoscopy group. No statistically significant differences between first surgical technique used and success at first surgery (no subsequent lavage(s) required), survival to discharge or return to work were detected. The main limitations of this study are that it is a retrospective study, has a small population with limited statistical power and potential selection bias. No statistically significant differences existed between the outcomes of the two techniques, contrary to the belief that bursoscopic lavage is superior. Larger, multicentred studies, with greater statistical power are required to further assess this relationship.     

利用SSR技术鉴定西瓜甜瓜种子纯度

利用SSR分子标记技术对西瓜‘W1806’与甜瓜‘M1805’各3个批次及其亲本间的多态性进行引物筛选和种子的纯度鉴定。结果表明,在28对西瓜的SSR引物中,有5对引物在西瓜‘W1806’的F1代与亲本之间有很好的多态性。其中BVWS00839引物特异性好,条带清晰,父母本条带间隔明显,即作为3个批次的西瓜纯度鉴定的引物,其鉴定纯度分别为99.47%、98.96%和97.92%;在18对甜瓜的SSR引物中,只有1对CMBR052引物在F1代扩出的条带为典型的双亲互补型条带,故用该引物对甜瓜进行纯度鉴定,其纯度分别为97.90%、96.80%和97.40%。与田间鉴定结果的吻合率都在98%以上。这2个材料的吻合率说明SSR分子标记技术对西瓜和甜瓜纯度鉴定结果都是可靠的。