Identification of an H1N1 subtype of swine influenza virus and serological analysis

To investigate the epizootic of swine influenza virus(SIV), 60 nasal swabs were collected from a clinical cases of pig farm in Tai'an City, Shandong Province of China in April 2017. SIV was isolated by inoculating into 10-day-old Special Pathogen Free embryonated eggs and the whole genome was sequenced. An H1N1 subtype SIV was isolated and designated as A/swine/Shandong/TA04/2017(H1N1). Phylogenetic analysis showed that apart from the polymerase A(PA) fragment belonging to the 2009 pandemic H1N1 branch, seven genome segments belonged to avian-like H1N1 influenza virus lineage. The cleavage site sequence of the hemagglutinin(HA) protein was PSIQSR↓G, which is a typical molecular biological characteristic. Five potential N-glycosylation sites(N14, N26, N277, N484 and N543) were found in the HA gene. To further investigate the epidemiology of SIV in this farm, the 995 serum samples were assessed with EAH1N1 2009 pandemic H1N1 and H3 N2 antigens. The results showed that the total positive rate was 65.43%. The positive rates of single virus infection detected by EAH1N1, 2009 pdmH1N1 and H3 N2 for serum HI(Hemagglutination inhibition) were 48.35, 30.85 and 7.47%, respectively. The results showed that SIV in Shandong Province has been reassorted in some segments and the SIV-positive rate was high on the SIV outbreak farm. These data provide evidence of an epizootic of SIV.     

中华稻蝗Knickkopf(Knk)基因分子特性和生物学功能

基于中华稻蝗转录组数据库,采用生物信息学方法搜索获得1条OcKnk基因全长cDNA序列,采用qRT-PCR检测其组织部位表达特性和其在表皮发育过程中表达情况,明确其分子特性,采用RNAi技术结合表型观察,研究其对中华稻蝗蜕皮和生长发育的影响,以明确其生物学功能。组织部位表达结果显示其在中华稻蝗体壁、前肠和脂肪体表达最高,发育表达结果显示其在表皮不同发育日龄均有表达,且在蜕皮前期和后期表达显著高于其他日龄。生物学功能研究表明,注射dsRNA后,多数虫体难以成功蜕去旧表皮,导致死亡,少部分可蜕至下一龄期,但活动力较低,行动缓慢,最终死亡。研究结果表明OcKnk参与昆虫生长发育和蜕皮过程,可作为重要靶标基因,为下一步害虫防治提供理论基础。     

Soil Organic Carbon and Soil Physical Characteristics as Affected by Land Uses under Semiarid Irrigated Conditions

ABSTRACT

Rice-Wheat rotation is the dominant land use in the state of Punjab, resulting in over exploitation of ground water resources. Thus, it is necessary to evaluate other land uses that requires less water and are sustainable. The present investigation was planned with four land uses viz., fallow (FLU), rice-wheat (ALU), grasses (GLU) and pear (PLU) with respect to their effect on soil organic carbon and soil physical characteristics in surface and subsurface depth in district Ludhiana, Punjab. The soil organic carbon (SOC) content was higher by 10, 30.9 and 24.9% under rice-wheat, grasses, and pear than that under fallow. The grasses showed higher soil moisture characteristics curve (SMCC) and lower bulk density (Db) than that under rice-wheat. The larger mean weight diameter (MWD) were observed under pear, grasses and fallow than that under rice-wheat by 0.21, 0.51 and 0.41 mm, respectively. The saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_s) was higher in magnitude by 56.1, 55.4 and 28%, respectively under PLU, GLU and FLU over ALU. Of the evaluated land uses, pear and grasses proved to be more sustainable by retaining more moisture, maintaining better soil physical characteristics and SOC under semiarid irrigated conditions in the state on long term gradual response.     

Development of a core set of KASP markers for assaying genetic diversity in Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis Makino

Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are rapid, economical and reliable genotyping tools. Non‐heading Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. subsp. chinensis Makino) is now an economically important vegetable crop worldwide. In this study, 1,167 SNPs were evaluated for 7polymorphism among 70 representative non‐heading Chinese cabbage inbred lines using a Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) genotyping assay. On the basis of identified polymorphisms and the results of a principal component analysis, we selected 50 core SNPs that were balanced sufficiently to provide adequate information for genetic identification. The core SNPs were used for construction of a neighbour‐joining dendrogram that separated the 70 inbred lines into four main groups and several subgroups corresponding to Caixin, Heiyebaicai, Huangxinwu, Naibaicai, Taitsai, Pak‐choi, and Wutatsai. This categorization was superior to that achieved using a dataset of 479 polymorphic SNPs. To confirm the utility of the core SNP markers in genetic identification, we tested their stability and resolution using 162 commercial hybrid cultivars. The SNPs, which represent a cost‐effective, accurate marker set for germplasm analysis and cultivar identification, are suitable for molecular marker‐assisted breeding in non‐heading Chinese cabbage.     

Revisiting rice breeding methods – evaluating the use of rapid generation advance (RGA) for routine rice breeding

Rice production needs to increase in the future in order to meet increasing demands. The development of new improved and higher yielding varieties more quickly will be needed to meet this demand. However, most rice breeding programmes in the world have not changed in several decades. In this article, we revisit the evidence in favour of using rapid generation advance (RGA) as a routine breeding method. We describe preliminary activities at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to re-establish RGA on a large scale as the main breeding method for irrigated rice breeding. We also describe experiences from the early adoption at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute. Evaluation of RGA breeding lines at IRRI for yield, flowering time and plant height indicated transgressive segregation for all traits. Some RGA lines were also higher yielding than the check varieties. The cost advantages of using RGA compared to the pedigree method were also empirically determined by performing an economic analysis. This indicated that RGA is several times more cost effective and advantages will be realized after 1 year even if facilities need to be built. Based on our experience, and previous independent research empirically testing the RGA method in rice, we recommend that this method should be implemented for routine rice breeding in order to improve breeding efficiency.     

临汾市主要气象灾害变化特征分析

利用临汾市气象观测站1954—2018年气象观测资料,采用线性趋势估计、MannKendall检验等统计方法,对临汾市6种主要气象灾害的变化特征进行了研究。结果表明:暴雨、高温、雷暴主要发生在夏季,高发期均为7月,年平均发生日数分别为1.9、19.6、26.8 d;干旱、大风、雾在全年时段都有发生,干旱的高发期为秋冬季,春季为大风多发期,4月最多,雾多发生在秋冬季,11月为高发期,年平均日数分别为137.7、5.5、17.5 d。从气象灾害发生的年平均日数来看,依次为干旱>雷暴>高温>雾>大风>暴雨。近65年来,临汾市暴雨、干旱、雷暴、大风这4种气象灾害有减少趋势,其中雷暴、大风减少趋势明显,而高温、雾则明显增加。     

黄土丘陵区坡面薄层水流动力学特性及其对土壤侵蚀的影响

为奠定基于运动力学参数构建土壤侵蚀模型的理论基础,通过不同降雨强度(25、50和75 mm/h)、不同坡长(1、5、10、15和20 m)下径流小区内人工模拟降雨试验,对不同处理下坡面薄层水动力学特性进行分析,并对水动力学参数与土壤侵蚀之间的关系进行初步探讨。结果表明:当坡度一定时,坡面平均流速主要受坡长及单宽流量影响,降雨强度通过影响单宽流量的大小间接影响坡面平均流速;在试验设计范围内,当坡长1 m时,整体上呈"层流-急流态",当坡长为1 m时,整体上呈"层流-缓流态";当降雨强度一定时,雷诺数随着坡长的增加线性增加,佛汝德数随着坡长的增加以幂函数形式增加;降雨强度对坡面流有明显的"增阻"效应;坡面阻力系数随着坡长的增加呈幂函数减小趋势;坡面平均土壤侵蚀率与单宽流量间呈一元线性趋势增加,与水流平均流速间呈指数函数增加,与雷诺数间呈二次函数增加。     

草地贪夜蛾形态特征及与3种玉米田为害特征和形态相近鳞翅目昆虫的比较

草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda(J.E.Smith)是一种重要的世界性害虫,目前已经侵入我国云南省。田间调查发现,草地贪夜蛾与甜菜夜蛾S.exigua、斜纹夜蛾S.litura和黏虫Mythimna separata在玉米上往往混合发生,且形态相近,容易混淆。本文详细描述了草地贪夜蛾卵、幼虫、蛹和成虫的外部形态特征,并比较了其与甜菜夜蛾、斜纹夜蛾和黏虫的幼虫和成虫的形态差异。本文为草地贪夜蛾的准确鉴别和田间调查提供依据,并为草地贪夜蛾的精准测报奠定基础。     

Zinc biofortification of maize (Zea mays L.): Status and challenges

Zn deficiency is one of the leading health problems in children and women of developing countries. Different interventions could be used to overcome malnutrition, but biofortification is most impactful, convenient, sustainable and acceptable intervention. Maize is one of the major crops grown and consumed in the regions with prevalent Zn malnutrition; therefore, this is suitable target for Zn biofortification. Zn biofortification of maize could be achieved through agronomic and genetic approaches. Discussion of agronomic approaches with genetic approaches is prerequisite because soils in developing countries are deficit of Zn and availability of Zn in soils is mandatory for estimating the genetic responses of maize genotypes through genetic approaches. Seed priming, foliar and soil applications are agronomic tools for biofortification, but solo and combined applications of these treatments have different effects on Zn enrichment. Genetic approaches include the increase of Zn bioavailability or increase of kernel Zn concentration. Zn bioavailability could be increased by reducing the anti‐nutritional factors or by increasing the bioavailability enhancers. Kernel Zn concentration could be improved through hybridization and selections, whereas genetically engineered attempts for improving Zn uptake from soil, loading in xylem, remobilization in grains and sequestration in endosperm can further improve the kernel Zn concentration. Key challenges associated with dissemination of Zn biofortified maize are also under discussion in this draft. Current review emphasized all of above‐mentioned contents to provide roadmap for the development of Zn biofortified maize genotypes to curb the global Zn malnutrition.     

北方设施条件下辣木及改良品种生长差异性分析

北方地区利用温室栽培辣木(Moringa oleifera Lam.)及其2个改良品种‘PKM1’和‘PKM2’,通过分析表观生长量、养分含量以及光合特性等指标的差异性,筛选适宜北方温室种植的辣木品种。结果表明:PKM1的高生长和增粗生长均显著快于辣木和PKM2(p0.05),在定干前(71 d)三者平均株高依次为115.7、80.2、81.0 cm,地径依次达17.47、13.27、15.08 mm。植株养分季节变化,PKM1养分状况要优于辣木和PKM2,在5月份,PKM1叶片中全氮(44.32 mg/g)、全钾(12.73 mg/g)含量显著高于其它2个品种(p0.05),全磷和可溶性糖含量品种间无显著性差异;7月份,PKM1可溶性糖显著高于其它2个品种;光合特性分析,3个品种在弱光条件下的光量子利用效率及光补偿能力差异不显著(p0.05),随着光强增加,光量子的转化能力出现显著性差异,PKM1的最大净光合速率(A_(max))显著高于辣木和PKM2(p0.05),最高达23.84μmol CO_2/(m~2·s)。可见,北方设施条件下,PKM1的生长速度、养分状况、光合能力均表现最好,较适宜北方温室栽培。