Development of IP and SCAR markers linked to the yellow seed color gene in Brassica juncea L.

Previous studies showed that the yellow seed color gene of a yellow mustard was located on the A09 chromosome. In this study, the sequences of the molecular markers linked to the yellow seed color gene were analyzed, the gene was primarily mapped to an interval of 23.304 to 29.402M. Twenty genes and eight markers’ sequences in this region were selected to design the IP and SCAR primers. These primers were used to screen a BC₈S₁ population consisting of 1256 individuals. As a result, five IP and five SCAR markers were successfully developed. IP4 and Y1 were located on either side of the yellow seed color gene at a distance of 0.1 and 0.3 cM, respectively. IP1, IP2 and IP3 derived from Bra036827, Bra036828, Bra036829 separately, co-segregated with the target gene. BLAST analysis indicated that the sequences of newly developed markers showed good collinearity with those of the A09 chromosome, and that the target gene might exist between 27.079 and 27.616M. In light of annotations of the genes in this region, only Bra036828 is associated with flavonoid biosynthesis. This gene has high similarity with the TRANSPARENT TESTA6 gene, Bra036828 was hence identified as being the gene possibly responsible for yellow seed color, in our research.     

Diversity in the carotenoid profiles and the expression of genes related to carotenoid accumulation among citrus genotypes

Carotenoids are not only important to the plants themselves but also are beneficial to human health. Since citrus fruit is a good source of carotenoids for the human diet, it is important to study carotenoid profiles and the accumulation mechanism in citrus fruit. Thus, in the present paper, we describe the diversity in the carotenoid profiles of fruit among citrus genotypes. In regard to carotenoids, such as β-cryptoxanthin, violaxanthin, lycopene, and β-citraurin, the relationship between the carotenoid profile and the expression of carotenoid-biosynthetic genes is discussed. Finally, recent results of quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses of carotenoid contents and expression levels of carotenoid-biosynthetic genes in citrus fruit are shown.     

Salt Effect on the Antioxidant Activity of Red Microalgal Sulfated Polysaccharides in Soy-Bean Formula

Sulfated polysaccharides produced by microalgae, which are known to exhibit various biological activities, may potentially serve as natural antioxidant sources. To date, only a few studies have examined the antioxidant bioactivity of red microalgal polysaccharides. In this research, the effect of different salts on the antioxidant activities of two red microalgal sulfated polysaccharides derived from Porphyridium sp. and Porphyridium aerugineum were studied in a soy bean-based infant milk formula. Salt composition and concentration were both shown to affect the polysaccharides’ antioxidant activity. It can be postulated that the salt ions intefer with the polysaccharide chains’ interactions and alter their structure, leading to a new three-dimensional structure that better exposes antiooxidant sites in comparison to the polysaccharide without salt supplement. Among the cations that were studied, Ca²⁺ had the strongest enhancement effect on antioxidant activities of both polysaccharides. Understanding the effect of salts on polysaccharides’ stucture, in addition to furthering knowledge on polysaccharide bioactivities, may also shed light on the position of the antioxidant active sites.     

水果萝卜新品种京脆1 号的选育

京脆1 号是由两个自交不亲和系05132 和05177 配制而成的鲜食水果型萝卜一代杂种。生长期75～80 d（天），叶
片近板叶型，深绿色，半直立株型。肉质根椭圆形，尾根细，茎盘小。根长13 cm，横径12 cm，平均单根质量1.2 kg，每
667 m² 产量5 000～6 000 kg。肉质根3/4 露出地面，出土部分浅绿色，入土部分白色，肉色浅绿，肉质甜脆，VC 含量 380
mg·kg^-1（FW），硫苷含量318.8 μmol·kg^-1（FW），适合生食。田间对病毒病和软腐病的抗性强于对照满堂红。适合北京、
天津、河北、山东等地种植。     

“虚拟仿真”背景下畜牧兽医研究生实践教学改革探索研究

研究生教育位于国民教育体系的顶端，是国家高等教育发展水平的重要标志。为培养 既具有责任担当精神，又具有宽厚的专业知识和创新能力，还具有较高的英语水平和较强的计算机网络应用能力的高层次畜牧兽医人才，本研究对我校畜牧兽医专业研究生的培养现状进行了分析总结，提出了基于“虚拟仿真”背景下人才培养的新模式，总结了虚拟仿真研究生科研平台建设的优势和使用效果，为其它专业研究生的培养提出参考。     

Association analysis for detecting significant single nucleotide polymorphisms for phosphorus-deficiency tolerance at the seedling stage in soybean [Glycine max (L) Merr.]

Tolerance to low-phosphorus soil is a desirable trait in soybean cultivars. Previous quantitative trait locus (QTL) studies for phosphorus-deficiency tolerance were mainly derived from bi-parental segregating populations and few reports from natural population. The objective of this study was to detect QTLs that regulate phosphorus-deficiency tolerance in soybean using association mapping approach. Phosphorus-deficiency tolerance was evaluated according to five traits (plant shoot height, shoot dry weight, phosphorus concentration, phosphorus acquisition efficiency and use efficiency) comprising a conditional phenotype at the seedling stage. Association mapping of the conditional phenotype detected 19 SNPs including 13 SNPs that were significantly associated with the five traits across two years. A novel cluster of SNPs, including three SNPs that consistently showed significant effects over two years, that associated with more than one trait was detected on chromosome 3. All favorable alleles, which were determined based on the mean of conditional phenotypic values of each trait over the two years, could be pyramided into one cultivar through parental cross combination. The best three cross combinations were predicted with the aim of simultaneously improving phosphorus acquisition efficiency and use efficiency. These results will provide a thorough understanding of the genetic basis of phosphorus deficiency tolerance in soybean.     

酸奶营养品质提升的加工工艺研究

牛奶中含有丰富的活性营养物质,包括乳铁蛋白、免疫球蛋白、乳过氧化物酶、α-乳白蛋白、β-乳球蛋白等。传统工艺生产的酸奶经过高温杀菌,活性营养物质几乎完全损失。为了避免这一情况,本文推出一种新的酸奶生产工艺,生产出的酸奶可保留大部分活性营养物质。首先将牛奶的乳脂进行分离,乳脂部分进行125 ℃、5 s杀菌,脱脂牛奶部分进行75 ℃、15 s杀菌,将两部分料液混合后加入菌种发酵至酸度75~85°T,破乳后冷却后熟8 h以上。经测定,新工艺酸奶中α-乳白蛋白、β-乳球蛋白、乳铁蛋白、免疫球蛋白、乳过氧化物酶含量分别为966 mg/L、1 963 mg/L、23.4 mg/L、102 mg/L、1 025 U/L,远高于传统工艺酸奶的68 mg/L、200 mg/L、0.7 mg/L、14 mg/L、0 U/L。通过对比新工艺与传统工艺酸奶保质期内的活菌数、黏度、酸度和口感,并无显著差异。     

Effects of baicalin on glial fibrillary acidic protein and nuclear factor-κB expression in juvenile rat hippocampus after status convulsion

AIM: To study the effects of baicalin (BC) on glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) expression and neuronal apoptosis in juvenile rat hippocampus after status convulsion (SC). METHODS: One hundred and ninety five juvenile male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: normal saline pretreatment group (NS group), SC group and SC with BC pretreatment group (BC group). Each of these 3 groups would be subdivided into 5 subgroups sacrificed at 4 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after SC. The rat SC model was prepared by lithium-pilocarpine chemical method. The protein expression of GFAP and NF-κB was detected by the method of immunohistochemistry. The mRNA expression of GFAP was detected by RT-PCR. The neuronal apoptosis was observed by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). RESULTS: Compared with NS group, the GFAP positive cells was increased in SC group (P<0.05). Compared with SC group, the expression of GFAP was significantly reduced in BC group (P<0.05). Compared with NS group, the NF-κB positive cells was increased in SC group (P<0.05). Compared with SC group, the expression of NF-κB was significantly reduced in BC group. RT-PCR showed that the expression trend of GFAP mRNA was similar to that of the protein. Compared with NS group, the TUNEL positive cells in the hippocampus CA1 area in SC group increased significantly 12 h after SC (P<0.01), and reached a peak at 48 h. After the intervention with BC, the TUNEL positive cells decreased significantly between 12~48 h after SC (P<0.05 or P<0.01), but the number of TUNEL positive cells remained significantly greater than that in NS group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The expression of GFAP and NF-κB in the hippocampus increased after SC in rats. Baicalin decreases the expression of GFAP and NF-κB in hippocampus of rats with pilocarpine-induced seizures, and reduces the number of neuronal apoptosis, suggesting that baicalin may protect against the brain damage caused by status convulsion.     

Effect of eleutheroside B/E on proliferation and expression of PPARγ and TGF-β1 in HBZY-1 cells cultured with high glucose

AIM: To explore the effects and mechanism of eleutheroside (ETS) B or E on the proliferation of HBZY-1 cells treated with high glucose. METHODS: The HBZY-1 cells were cultured under high glucose condition. The 4th generation of HBZY-1 cells was used for determining the optimal cell density, which was consistent with the growth regulation curve of the cells. The cells were divided into 6 groups: low glucose (LG) group, high glucose (HG) group, high glucose plus ETS-B/E (low dose, medium dose and high dose) groups, and high glucose plus losartan (LTG) group. After all cells were treated with the corresponding drugs at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, the inhibitory rate of the proliferation was measured, and the expression of TGF-β1 and PPARγ was detected by immunocytochemistry and Western blotting. RESULTS: The best cell density was 2 000 cells/well, which was complied with the basic rules of the cell growth, and high glucose significantly promoted the HBZY-1 cell proliferation. At each time point, the inhibitory effects of ETS-B/E were significantly different between HG group and LTG group on the proliferation of the HBZY-1 cells (P<0.05). The expression of TGF-β1 was significantly inhibited, and the expression of PPARγ was significantly promoted by ETS-B/E (P<0.05). ETS-E showed stronger effect than ETS-B (P<0.05) in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: ETS-B/E significantly inhibits the proliferation of HBZY-1 cells under high glucose condition by decreasing TGF-β1 expression and promoting PPARγ expression.