Suitability of foliar N applied to rainfed maize in permanent beds after 12 crop seasons of granular N application

Abstract

Yield and kernel quality of rainfed maize as affected by N fertilizer has been generally evaluated through the application of granular N sources at high rates. The purpose of this work was to estimate the response of maize yield and quality (kernel hardness—floating index, weight and test weight -, P uptake and protein) to foliar N application and preceding granular N. Data for this report were collected in 2014 and 2015 in a long-term experiment established in 2002 under permanent beds in a split plot arrangement. Main plot treatments were three foliar N rates (0, 4.5 and 9?kg ha^?1) laid out on the top of four preceding granular N rates (0, 20, 40 and 60?kg ha^?1) applied from 2002 to 2013 as subplots. Weather conditions were relatively wetter in 2014 than 2015. In 2014, test weight and floating index improved over that in 2015. Foliar application of 9?kg N ha^?1 enhanced yield and protein. In 2014, yield response to preceding N rates showed an increasing trend whereas in 2015 response was null. Kernel P uptake response to preceding N rates showed a differential reaction among foliar N rates; 9?kg ha^?1 showed the greatest uptake. Kernel floating index was associated to kernel P uptake. Apparently, this relationship has not been previously reported. Results suggests that the application of 9?kg N ha^?1 to foliage of rainfed maize grown in permanent beds has the potential to substitute the traditional fertilization practice of granular N sources.     

Distribution and Dynamics of Phosphorus in an Agricultural Watershed with a Long-Term History of Poultry Waste Application

The objective of this research is to investigate the effects of long-term broiler litter application on soil phosphorus (P) and water quality and examine the spatial variations of soil P at a private poultry farm in Mississippi. Results indicated that the littered soil had 86 times more Mehlich III–extractable P in the surface horizon compared to the nonlittered soil. When compared to the runoff from nonlittered soil, mean soluble phosphate (PO₄)-P concentrations in the littered soil's runoff were 85 times greater throughout the study. Mass loss of P from the littered field was significantly greater than from the nonlittered field, and it decreased with each sequential runoff event. There were no linear relationships between the spatial variations of litter application rates and the P spatial variability in the littered soil; however, the variations in soil P levels could be a result of the cumulative effects of more than 20 years of litter application.     

ER-α36 and miR-143 involved in invasion of gastric cancer cells

AIM: To investigate the relationship between the expression of estrogen receptor α36 (ER-α36) and the invasion of gastric cancer cells. METHODS: SGC7901 cells were treated with 17β-estradiol at high or low concentration. The invasion of gastric cancer cells and the expression of ER-α36 were detected. The SGC7901 cells with the characteristics of stable low expression and high expression of ER-α36 were constructed. The invasion ability and microRNA sequences were determined in above-mentioned recombinant cells. RESULTS: The decreased invasion ability and ER-α36 expression were detected in SGC7901 cells treated with low concentration of 17β-estradiol. The situation was the opposite in the cells treated with high concentration of 17β-estradiol. The expression of miR-143 was significantly decreased in the SGC7901 cells with stable high expression of ER-α36 and was increased in the SGC7901 cells with stable low expression of ER-α36. CONCLUSION: The expression of ER-α36 is positively related to the invasion of gastric cancer cells. It is possible that miR-143 plays an important role in the regulation of gastric cancer invasion.     

Astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis Prevents Oxidative Stress on Human Endothelial Cells without Toxicity

Astaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant, is a good candidate for the prevention of intracellular oxidative stress. The aim of the study was to compare the antioxidant activity of astaxanthin present in two natural extracts from Haematococcus pluvialis, a microalgae strain, with that of synthetic astaxanthin. Natural extracts were obtained either by solvent or supercritical extraction methods. UV, HPLC-DAD and (HPLC-(atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI)+)/ion trap-MS) characterizations of both natural extracts showed similar compositions of carotenoids, but different percentages in free astaxanthin and its ester derivatives. The Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay showed that natural extracts containing esters displayed stronger antioxidant activities than free astaxanthin. Their antioxidant capacities to inhibit intracellular oxidative stress were then evaluated on HUVEC cells. The intracellular antioxidant activity in natural extracts was approximately 90-times higher than synthetic astaxanthin (5 µM). No modification, neither in the morphology nor in the viability, of vascular human cells was observed by in vitro biocompatibility study up to 10 µM astaxanthin concentrations. Therefore, these results revealed the therapeutic potential of the natural extracts in vascular human cell protection against oxidative stress without toxicity, which could be exploited in prevention and/or treatment of cardiovascular diseases.     

Atorvastatin inhibits IL-1β and IL-18 releases via lowering the expression of NLRP1 inflammasome

AIM: To explore the role of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 1 (NLRP1) inflammasome in atorvastatin-induced reduction of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) releases from the THP-1 macrophages. METHODS: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 μg/L) was used to trigger the secretion of IL-1β and IL-18 in the THP-1 macrophages. The cells were incubated with different concentrations of atorvastatin (1, 10 and 20 μmol/L) for 24 h, or treated with 10 μmol/L atorvastatin for different time (12 h, 24 h and 48 h). NLRP1 siRNA was transfected into the THP-1 cells. The mRNA expression of NLRP1 inflammasome was detected by RT-PCR. The protein expression of NLRP1 inflammasome was determined by Western blot. The secretion of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 was quantified by ELISA. RESULTS: Atorvastatin inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of NLRP1 inflammasome in the THP-1 macrophages in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Transfection of NLRP1 siRNA significantly decreased the protein expression of NLRP1 and promoted the suppressive effect of atorvastatin on IL-1β and IL-18 secretion in the THP-1 macrophages. CONCLUSION: Atorvastatin inhibits the production of IL-1β and IL-18 in the macrophages through decreasing NLRP1 inflammasome expression, possibly contributing to the anti-inflammatory effect of atorvastatin on atherosclerosis.     

CD147 monoclonal antibody-mediated nanoparticles for gene therapy to target lung cancer cells

AIM: In this study, CD147 antibody was used to carry out targeted modification of nanoparticles for protein kinase Cε (PKCε)-siRNA gene therapy to target lung cancer cells. The inhibitory effects of the nanoparticles on the proliferation and invasion of the lung cancer cells were observed. METHODS: The magnetic nanoparticles targeting CD147 protein were assembled as gene vector. The expression of CD147 in the lung cancer cells was observed under laser scanning confocal microscope. The cells were divided into CP group, CN group and LP group as the experimental groups. Targeted nanoparticles were used as CA group. Non-transfected cells were used as control group. The cell transfection was carried out with 250 ng plasmids/well in 6-well plate. The effect of nanocontrast agent on the cell endocytosis was observed under laser scanning confocal microscope. The mRNA expression of PKCε was detected by RT-qPCR. The protein expression of Ki67, MMP3, PKCε, Wnt1 and GAPDH was determined by Western blot. The cell proliferation ability was detected with colony formation assay. The cell invasion ability was detected by Transwell method. RESULTS: The expression of CD147 protein in the human lung cancer A549 cells was confirmed by immunofluorescence staining. The endocytosis of siRNA into the A549 cells in CP group was observed with the highest efficiency as compared with CN group and LP group. The relative mRNA expression of PKCε in the A549 cells of CP group, CN group, LP group and CA group were (9.76±0.18)%, (98.51±0.32)%, (99.17±0.16)% and (99.68±0.11)%, respectively. The difference between CP group and control group was statistically significant (P<0.05). No significant difference among CN group, LP group and control group was observed. The protein expression of PKCε, Ki-67, MMP3 and Wnt1 in CP group was significantly reduced, and the protein expression levels among CN group, LP group and control group had no significant difference. The colony number in CP group was significantly smaller than that in control group (P<0.05). The effective colony numbers in CN group, LP group and CA group had no significant difference as compared with control group. The number of the invading cells in CP group was significantly less than that in control group (P<0.05). The numbers of the invading cells in CN group, LP group and CA group had no significant difference as compared with control group. CONCLUSION: Nanogene vector targeting CD147 can carry PKCε-siRNA to conduct gene therapy efficiently on the lung cancer cells to achieve effective inhibitory effects on the proliferation and invasion of the lung cancer cells.     

板栗杂交新品种‘南垂5号’

‘南垂5号’是以‘垂枝’为母本,‘南沟1号’为父本杂交育成的板栗新品种。树姿开张。坚果单粒质量12.51 g,可溶性糖19.52%,淀粉50.12%,蛋白质5.56%,果肉口感细糯,风味香甜。结果早,丰产性强。适宜中国北方板栗栽培区缓坡丘陵及沙地种植。     

优质高产抗病中粳新品种泗稻15号的选育及应用

泗稻15号系江苏省农业科学院宿迁农科所最新选育的中熟中粳新品种,具有综合性状好、后期转色快、抗病性强、米质优等特点,于2016年5月通过江苏省审定。本文介绍了泗稻15号的选育过程、品种特征及高产栽培技术要点。     

加强农作物种子质量监督抽查 保证用种安全和规范经营行为

近年来,由于种子市场竞争激烈,种子质量纠纷案件有所上升,以次充好、假冒伪劣种子案件时有发生,扰乱了种子市场秩序,危害了农业生产安全,增加了社会的不稳定因素。因此,加强农作物种子的监督抽查,防止不合格种子流入市场,确保农业生产安全和社会稳定具有重要意义。     

辣椒新品种航椒18号的选育

航椒18号是以051-3-2-2-H-H-H为母本,以035-1-2-2-H-H为父本杂交育成的早中熟羊角型辣椒一代杂种。从定植至青熟果采收55d(天)左右,始花节位为第9~11节。果面皱、果肩宽、有光泽,味香辣;单株结果数20个左右,单果质量50.5g左右;果实粗长羊角形,纵径22.7cm,横径4.2cm,肉厚0.25cm。田间对辣椒病毒病、炭疽病和疫病的抗性强于对照陇椒3号。平均每667m~2产量4200kg,适宜在甘肃、内蒙古、新疆等地及生态环境相似区域保护地栽培。