Melatonin reduces apoptotic cells,SOD2 and HSPB1 and improves the in vitro production and quality of bovine blastocysts

Effects of adding different concentrations of melatonin (10^?7, 10^?9 and 10^?11 M) to maturation (Experiment 1; Control, IVM  + 10^?7, IVM  + 10^?9, IVM  + 10^?11) and culture media (Experiment 2; Control, IVC  + 10^?7, IVC  + 10^?9, IVC  + 10^?11) were evaluated on in vitro bovine embryonic development. The optimal concentration of melatonin (10^?9 M) from Experiments 1–2 was tested in both maturation and/or culture media of Experiment 3 (Control, IVM  + 10^?9, IVC  + 10^?9, IVM /IVC  + 10^?9). In Experiment 1, maturated oocytes from Control and IVM  + 10^?9 treatments showed increased glutathione content, mitochondrial membrane potential and percentage of Grade I blastocysts (40.6% and 43%, respectively). In Experiment 2, an increase in the percentage of Grade I blastocysts was detected in IVC  + 10^?7 (43.5%; 56.7%) and IVC  + 10^?9 (47.4%; 57.4%). Moreover, a lower number and percentage of apoptotic cells in blastocysts were observed in the IVC  + 10^?9 group compared to Control (3.8 ± 0.6; 3.6% versus 6.1 ± 0.6; 5.3%). In Experiment 3, the IVC  + 10^?9 treatment increased percentage of Grade I blastocysts with a lower number of apoptotic cells compared to IVM /IVC  + 10^?9 group (52.6%; 3.0 ± 0.5 versus 46.0%; 5.4 ± 1.0). The IVC  + 10^?9 treatment also had a higher mRNA expression of antioxidant gene (SOD 2) compared to the Control, as well as the heat shock protein (HSPB 1) compared to the IVM  + 10^?9. Reactive oxygen species production was greater in the IVM /IVC  + 10^?9 treatment group. In conclusion, the 10^?9 M concentration of melatonin and the in vitro production phase in which it is used directly affected embryonic development and quality.     

The Situation for Quinoa and Its Production in Southern Bolivia: From Economic Success to Environmental Disaster

In Bolivia, one of the world’s most important centres of plant domestication, there is growing awareness of the value of native Andean crops, both for domestic consumption and for market sale – notably the virtually boom‐like consumer demand for quinoa around the world. The southern altiplano of Bolivia, south of Oruro, relies almost purely on the production of quinoa and breeding of llamas, which have also been selected as the two commodities of priority to the government to increase the income of the country. Presently, however, quinoa is facing increasing problems in production, owing to its increasing export market and price. The flat areas around the salt desert of the southern altiplano, previously characterized by natural vegetation fed by the llamas, are being increasingly sown with quinoa, hence transformed into deserts, because intensive cultivation methods make the soil loose its fertility. Possible solutions to these problems will require extensive efforts in the south, in addition to various strategies, which also include other parts of the Bolivian altiplano and a strengthened focus on other Andean crops.     

环境因子对太白山锐齿槲栎林林下草本植物组成和多样性的影响

【目的】探索太白山锐齿槲栎林林下草本植物组成和多样性与环境因子的关系,为该区域森林保护、经营管理提供理论指导。【方法】基于太白山锐齿槲栎林林下草本植物野外调查及室内试验数据,采用CCA和偏CCA排序法分析环境因子对太白山锐齿槲栎林林下草本植物组成的影响,采用相关分析和多元逐步回归分析探索环境因子对其草本植物多样性的影响。【结果】环境因子能显著解释太白山锐齿槲栎林林下草本植物组成变异,海拔、坡向、坡度、pH、枯落物厚度和有机质、碱解N、有效P、有效K含量及郁闭度、灌木盖度11个环境因子共解释了物种组成变异的39.05%。其中,郁闭度、土壤有效P含量、pH值和海拔是影响林下草本植物组成的主要环境因子。海拔、郁闭度、有效P和有效K含量能够显著影响太白山锐齿槲栎林林下草本植物的多样性,海拔较高、郁闭度较大、土壤有效P和有效K含量较高的生境具有较好的草本植物多样性。【结论】在太白山锐齿槲栎林经营管理中,可通过适量施用P肥和K肥来促进林下草本植物发育,提高物种多样性。     

内蒙古外来入侵物种及其对草原的影响

生物入侵严重威胁着内蒙古草原的生物多样性和生态安全。目前,内蒙古地区乃至于全国对外来物种只重引进、疏于管理,导致外来物种逃逸到自然环境中,造成潜在的环境灾害。本研究据文献查阅以及中国外来入侵物种数据库信息,整理分析内蒙古境内分布的外来入侵物种的种类、来源地、侵入途径及对草原的危害状况,并对内蒙古草原应对外来物种入侵提出了相应的防控措施。根据统计,外来入侵植物中的牛膝菊(Galinsoga parviflora)和光梗蒺藜草(Cenchrus calyculatus)已表现出蔓延趋势,其他物种有待进一步的调查。     

外来植物土荆芥入侵的化学基础探讨

土荆芥为藜科藜属一年生或多年生直立草本植物,1864年首次发现于中国台湾省台北淡水,2010年1月7日被列入中国《第二批外来入侵植物种名单》。目前对土荆芥的入侵学研究主要集中在生物学、生态学、化学成分、他感作用、逆境抗性等方面,因此其入侵机制主要是化学武器假说,如次生代谢旺盛,具化感潜力,抗逆性强等。但并未从分子学角度进行相关研究,如土荆芥的遗传进化特点、土荆芥入侵的分子标记、土荆芥的代谢组学等。尤其是土荆芥入侵之后,其与本土植物的种子萌发速度或生长速度比较(优先效应),目前尚未有报道。因此,未来在上述研究的基础上,必须对其分子生物学开展深入研究,尤其应重点研究土荆芥入侵的优先效应机制。     

5‐Aminolevulinic Acid Activates Antioxidative Defence System and Seedling Growth in Brassica napus L. under Water‐Deficit Stress

The present study assesses the effects of 5‐aminolevulinic acid (ALA, 0, 0.1, 1 and 10 mg l^?1) on the growth of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L. cv. ZS758) seedlings under water‐deficit stress induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000, 0 and ?0.3 MPa). Water‐deficit stress imposed negative effects on seedling growth by reducing shoot biomass, cotyledon water potential, chlorophyll content and non‐enzymatic antioxidants (glutathione and ascorbic acid) levels. On the other hand, water‐deficit stress enhanced the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, enzymatic antioxidants activities, reduced/oxidized glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG) and reduced/oxidized ascorbic acid (ASA/DHA) ratio in seedlings. Application of ALA at lower dosages (0.1 and 1 mg l^?1) improved shoot weight and chlorophyll contents, and decreased MDA in rape seedlings, whereas moderately higher dosage of ALA (10 mg l^?1) hampered the growth. The study also indicated that 1 mg l^?1 ALA improved chlorophyll content, but reduced MDA content and ROS production significantly under water‐deficit stress. Lower dosages of ALA (0.1 and 1 mg l^?1) also enhanced GSH/GSSG and ASA/DHA as compared to the seedlings under water‐deficit stress. The antioxidant enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase, peroxidase, catalase, glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase) enhanced their activities remarkably with 1 mg l^?1 ALA treatment under water‐deficit stress. It was also revealed that 1 mg l^?1 ALA treatment alone induced the expression of APX, CAT and GR substantially and under water‐deficit stress conditions ALA treatment could induce the expression of POD, CAT and GR to a certain degree. These results indicated that 0.1–1 mg l^?1 ALA could enhance the water‐deficit stress tolerance of oilseed seedlings through improving the biomass accumulation, maintaining a relative high ratio of GSH/GSSG and ASA/DHA, enhancing the activities of the specific antioxidant enzymes and inducing the expression of the specific antioxidant enzyme genes.     

海南省蔬菜根结线虫发生种类与分布

2014年-2018年, 对海南省蔬菜根结线虫病害进行了田间随机采样调查和病原种类分子鉴定?结果显示, 蔬菜根结线虫病在海南18市县均有发生, 且大部分旱田连作地块病株率达到80%以上?进一步对采集的295份根结线虫样本种类进行了分子鉴定, 共鉴定出象耳豆根结线虫?南方根结线虫和爪哇根结线虫3种病原种?其中, 象耳豆根结线虫单一检出率达到62.37%, 南方根结线虫单一检出率为23.39%, 爪哇根结线虫的检出率仅为5.76%, 象耳豆根结线虫和南方根结线虫复合侵染检出率为8.47%?除五指山市样本以外, 海南其余17市县样本均检测到象耳豆根结线虫侵染为害?本研究显示象耳豆根结线虫为海南省蔬菜上的优势病原根结线虫种类, 该结果对指导品种布局?制定根结线虫病害的防治策略具有重要意义?     

雌雄异株植物生长释放/抑制判定及其气候解释

利用树轮学方法,以长白山雌雄异株植物红豆杉、山杨和水曲柳为研究对象,通过判定雌雄异株树种生长释放/抑制事件及其与气候因子的关系,以期揭示物种属性和性别因素对树木生长释放/抑制事件的影响及其对气候响应机制的差异性。结果表明:3种雌雄植株的生长释放事件大多发生在幼龄阶段,生理特征差异也可能导致不同雌雄植株发生生长释放事件的时间和频率存在一定差异性。性别因素对山杨和红豆杉雌雄植株的生长释放存在显著影响,山杨雌株和红豆杉雄株对外界环境干扰更为敏感,水曲柳雌雄株对环境干扰的响应差异不明显;山杨更易受到外界环境干扰发生生长释放事件;水曲柳植株发生生长释放/抑制事件可能与林窗干扰有关。红豆杉和山杨的生长释放事件与气候因子具有显著相关关系,红豆杉雄株与温度、降水则存在显著正相关关系(P0.05),山杨雄株与温度、降水则存在显著负相关关系(P0.05),山杨雌株与降水呈显著负相关关系(P0.05),植株的生长释放/抑制事件对气候的响应与树木径向生长--逐月气候因子的关系有所不同。因此应当考虑生长--气候因子之间的非线性关系以及物种和性别因素对生长--气候关系的影响,以期完善植株生长对气候的响应机制。