MeJA regulates enzymes involved in ascorbic acid and glutathione metabolism and improves chilling tolerance in loquat fruit

This study investigated the regulation of ascorbate acid (AsA) and glutathione metabolism and chilling tolerance by methyl jamonate (MeJA) in loquat fruit. The results showed that application of MeJA to loquat fruit inhibited the incidence of chilling injury manifested as internal browning (IB) and increased AsA and reduced glutathione (GSH) contents due to the inhibition of ascorbate oxidase activity and enhancement of monodehydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase and glutathione reductase activities. Meanwhile, MeJA also enhanced activities of ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase. Our results suggested that MeJA can regulate the ascorbate and glutathione metabolism and has important roles in alleviating oxidative damage and enhancing chilling tolerance in loquat fruit.     

农业科研单位青年科技人员思想政治工作初探

思想政治工作是党的建设工作的重要法宝，充分体现了党组织的统领全局作用和凝聚作用。随着农业体制机制改革的日益深入，农业科研单位正经历着复杂而又深刻的改革，同时，青年科技人员的思想也在悄然变化。农业科技创新归根到底取决于青年科技人员，面对青年科技工作者新的思想动态、精神状态的变化，必须开展有效的思想政治工作，以帮助青年科技人员树立正确的思想信念，克服错误的思想倾向，为深入推进农业科研单位健康、协调发展提供强大的精神正能量。     

科研院所科技成果转化存在的问题及对策

科研院所科技成果转化情况是科研院所科研水平的重要标志。分析目前科研院所在科技成果转化过程中存在的科研评价体系、收益分配制度、服务体系、政策环境等现状，提出改革科技成果评价和激励机制、建立合理的收益分配制度、加强科技成果转化研发平台建设、大力发展科技服务业、改变政府引导和支持模式、加强财政金融对产学研合作项目的支持等对策。     

Effect of incorporation of Brassica napus L. residues in soils on mycorrhizal fungus colonisation of roots and phosphorus uptake by maize (Zea mays L.)

Plants in the Brassicaceae family are known to contain thioglucoside compounds that produce isothiocyanates when tissues are disrupted. These chemicals have a negative effect on soil-borne fungal pathogens, and possibly on vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. We investigated the effect of incorporation of Brassica napus L. residues in a soil on mycorrhizal colonisation of roots, P uptake and growth of following maize (Zea mays L.) crop. A pot experiment was carried out in a glasshouse with pre-inoculation with Glomus intraradices (+I and −I), incorporation of B. napus L. residues (+R and −R) and mineral P fertilization (+P and −P) as studied factors. The soil used was a neutral loamy soil with low P availability. The pots were planted with maize (Z. mays L.). Phosphorus uptake, plant biomass, total leaf area per plant and area of individual leaves (rank 4–7) were significantly larger in +P treatments than without P addition, thus confirming that the soil used for the experiment was P deficient. Incorporation of B. napus L. residues had also a positive effect on P uptake, plant biomass, total leaf area per plant and area of individual leaves (rank 5–7). These effects were more pronounced in −P treatments than in +P treatments. There was no effect of pre-inoculation with G. intraradices on P uptake and P dependant variables. The percentage of the root length that was colonised by mycorrhizae was lower in +P treatments but it was not significantly affected by other studied factors. Altogether the results showed that B. napus L. residues have mainly acted as a source of P. There was no evidence of a negative effect of the incorporation of B. napus L. residues on the colonisation of maize roots by mycorrhizae.     

Measuring consumer response to ‘Gala’ apples treated with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP)

Post-harvest apple treatment with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) was previously found to inhibit fruit ripening but also to inhibit the production of volatile compounds that contribute to apple flavor. The first objective of this study was to determine if consumers could distinguish 1-MCP treated and untreated Gala apples [Malus sylvestris L. (Mill.) var. domestica Borkh. Mansf.] following long-term storage. Chemical analysis showed 1-MCP treated fruit had reduced flavor volatiles compared to untreated fruit. Consumer difference tests showed they could distinguish between 1-MCP treated and untreated fruit. A second objective was to compare consumers’ acceptance for 1-MCP treated to untreated apples. Both 1-MCP treated and untreated apples received high overall liking scores that were not significantly different. Equal numbers of consumers indicated preference for 1-MCP treated and untreated fruit and there was no difference in purchase intent. However, subsets of consumers who eat Gala, Fuji or Red Delicious apples showed preference for untreated over 1-MCP treated fruit compared to consumers who do not eat these varieties.     

Effects of mechanical and chemical methods on weed control,weed seed rain and crop yield in maize,sunflower and soyabean

Eight field experiments with maize (Zea mays L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and soyabean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) were carried out in central Italy in order to evaluate the effects of mechanical and chemical methods (spring-tine harrowing, hoeing, hoeing-ridging, split-hoeing, finger-weeding, herbicides in the row + inter-row hoeing, herbicides broadcast) on weed control, weed seed rain and crop yield. The choice of chemical and mechanical treatments in maize and soyabean compared to sunflower, required to be managed more carefully in order to maximize the weed control reducing yield losses. A global rating of weed control methods, based on their weed control efficacy, was obtained as useful means to assist farmers and technicians to choose the more appropriate weed control method. The combination of herbicides intra-row and hoeing inter-row gave best efficacy (on average 99% of weed control), with a 50% reduction in the chemical load in the environment. Hoeing-ridging gave good results, both inter- and intra-row (on average 93% of weed control); this method was also effective in reducing competitive ability and seed production of uncontrolled weeds. Split-hoeing or finger-weeding showed some limitations giving satisfactory results only when combined. Harrowing gave lowest weed control, although when combined to other mechanical methods, can help achieve a better efficacy.     

基于EST和GSS序列的巨桉miRNA研究

应用miRtour在线分析工具对巨桉的EST序列和GSS序列进行分析,预测巨桉的miRNA序列,应用psrobot预测miRNA的靶基因。结果发现205条miRNA前体序列和属于62个不同家族的170条成熟的miRNA序列,最大的miRNA家族为miR399家族,有17个成员;miRNA 5′段碱基存在明显的碱基偏倚,尿嘧啶出现频率高达40.6%;147个miRNA预测到了靶基因,共计预测到巨桉蛋白基因中有967个受到miRNA的调节,同时发现1个miRNA可以调控多个靶基因,同一蛋白质受多个miRNA调控的现象。     

豆天蛾2个种群生命表参数比较

豆天蛾是大豆生产上的暴发性害虫,但其本身也是一种极具开发潜力的蛋白资源。通过对比在不同温度影响下豆天蛾2个地理种群的发育历期和生命参数,并应用Jackknife技术统计分析。结果表明:海南种群蛹的发育历期为18.60~32.67 d,江苏种群蛹的发育历期为126.46~318.33 d,造成2个种群全世代的发育历期相差数倍;豆天蛾2个种群的存活率都在25℃时达到最高值,海南种群为71.42%,江苏种群为90.00%;在28℃条件下饲养豆天蛾海南种群具有最高的rm值为1.083 5。本研究找出适合人工饲养的最佳种群及人工饲养的最佳温度,这将对解决供不应求的市场难题提供理论支持。     

基于EST和GSS序列的木豆miRNA生物信息学分析

应用miRtour在线分析工具对木豆EST和GSS序列进行miRNA生物信息学预测,应用psRNATarget进行靶基因预测。结果发现,43条不同的木豆miRNA成熟序列,隶属于33个不同的miRNA家族。靶基因预测发现有36条编码序列受miRNA调控,其中17条序列编码酶,2条编码转录因子,7条编码参与细胞信号转导的蛋白,5条编码参与蛋白质降解通路的蛋白。     

Phenotypic variation in Azospirillum brasilense Sp7 does not influence plant growth promotion effects

The Azospirillum genus comprises free-living, plant growth-promoting, nitrogen-fixing bacteria found in the rhizosphere of plant roots. Azospirilla are able to promote plant growth mainly through improvement of root development. Bacterial surface components, such as extracellular polysaccharides and proteins, are involved in root colonization. Phase variation – or phenotypic variation – is one of the mechanisms by which microorganisms adapt to environmental changes. This phenomenon is characterized by the presence of a sub-population of the bacteria presenting a different phenotype relative to the major population. In this study we characterized phenotypic variation of Azospirillum brasilense Sp7. When plated on solid media, some A. brasilense colonies were shown to possess a much more mucoid morphology, producing 7.5–8 times more exopolysaccharide with different monosaccharide composition than the parental strain Sp7. The rate of appearance of this kind of variant colonies was 1 in 5000, in agreement with the accepted rate for the phase/phenotypic variation phenomenon. The variants were significantly more resistant to heat and UV-exposure than the parental strain and displayed genomic changes as seen by the different band patterns following ERIC-PCR, BOX-PCR and RAPD analyses. In plant inoculation experiments under greenhouse conditions, with maize, wheat, soybean and peanuts, the EPS overproducing variants performed as similar as the parental strain. Therefore, EPS overproduction did not confer an apparent advantage to A. brasilense in terms of induction of plant growth promotion.