Germination ecology of Leptochloa chinensis: a new weed in the Italian rice agro-environment

Leptochloa chinensis is a new weed that has been found with increasing frequency in Italian rice paddies. The germination ecology of L. chinensis seeds was studied in order to investigate the development mechanisms and survival strategy of this weed in rice paddies of northern Italy. Leptochloa chinensis seeds showed no dormancy and exhibited germination even in anoxic conditions. Germination was strongly influenced by temperature (minimum around 15°C; optimal 25–35°C) and light (phytochrome dependent). Temperature fluctuation caused an increase of seed germination in the dark. Seed burial also strongly inhibited germination and emergence of this species. At 5 cm seed burial only 5% of seedlings emerged in flooded conditions, while at the same depth, but with no flooding, no seedling emergence was observed. This phenomenon was not due to oxygen depletion, as germination was not inhibited by complete anoxia, as demonstrated by the fact that some seedlings did emerge in flooding conditions when water was no deeper than 6 cm. Seed burial and concomitant flooding induced an unusual germination: first coleoptile emergence and subsequently emergence of the radicle was observed. The possible exploitation of this knowledge for weed management is discussed.     

Comparison of kinetic properties of a hydrophilic form of acetylcholinesterase purified from strains susceptible and resistant to carbamate and organophosphorus insecticides of green rice leafhopper (Nephotettix cincticeps Uhler)

A hydrophilic form of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was purified from N-methyl carbamate susceptible (SA) and highly N-methyl carbamate-resistant (N3D) strains of the green rice leafhopper (GRLH), Nephotettix cincticeps Uhler. Both of purified AChE from SA and N3D strains displayed the highest activities toward acetylthiocholine (ATCh) at pH 8.5. In the SA strain, the optimum concentrations for ATCh, propionylthiocholine (PTCh), and butyrylthiocholine (BTCh) were about 1 × 10⁻³, 2.5 × 10⁻³, and 1 × 10⁻³ M, respectively. However, in the N3D strain, substrate inhibition was not identified for ATCh, PTCh, and BTCh to 1 × 10⁻² M. The K_m value in the SA strain was 51.1, 39.1, and 41.6 μM and that in the N3D strain was 91.8, 88.1, and 85.2 μM for ATCh, PTCh, and BTCh, respectively. The K_m value in the N3D strain indicated about 1.80-, 2.25-, and 2.05-fold lower affinity than that of the SA strain for ATCh, PTCh, and BTCh, respectively. The V_max value in the SA strain was 70.2, 30.5, and 4.6 U/mg protein and that in the N3D strain was 123.0, 27.0, and 14.5 U/mg protein for ATCh, PTCh, and BTCh, respectively. The V_max value in the N3D strain was 1.75- and 3.15-fold higher for ATCh and BTCh than that in the N3D strain. However, it was 1.13-fold lower for PTCh. The increased activity of AChE in the N3D strain is due to the qualitatively modified enzyme with a higher catalytic efficiency. The bimolecular rate constant (k_i) for propoxur was 27.1 × 10⁴ and 0.51 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ min⁻¹ in the SA and N3D strain and that for monocrotophos was 0.031 × 10⁴ and 2.0 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ min⁻¹ in the SA and N3D strain. AChE from the N3D strain was 53-fold less sensitive than SA strain to inhibition by propoxur. In contrast, AChE from the N3D strain was 65-fold more sensitive to inhibition by monocrotophos than AChE from the SA strain. This indicated negatively correlated cross-insensitivity of AChE to propoxur and monocrotophos.     

猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒缺失变异株的基因组特征

对猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)分离株HB2(sh)／2002的全基因组序列进行了测定与分析。该毒株基因组全长为15373nt(不包括PolyA尾)，与国内外美洲型PRRSV分离株全序列相似性介于88．7％～95．1％之间。序列分析表明，该毒株是1个天然存在缺失的变异毒株，其ORFla的Nsp2存在编码12个氨基酸的连续36个核苷酸的缺失，ORF、3存在编码1个氨基酸的3个核苷酸的缺失。这是国内外首次发现PRRSV存在缺失变异现象，研究结果补充和丰富了PRRSV毒株的基因组信息数据，为深入研究该毒株的遗传与变异及其与生物学特性的关系奠定了基础。     

广西猪瘟流行毒株全基因组的克隆与序列分析

参考已发表的猪瘟病毒(CSFV)Shimen株、HCLV株、Paderborn株的核苷酸序列，设计并合成11对引物。应用RT—PcR技术，成功地分11个片段扩增了CSFV广西流行毒株GXWZ02的全基因组，将这11个基因片段克隆，并测定了其核苷酸序列。应用计算机生物软件Vector NT1将11个基因片段进行拼接。确认CSFV GXWZ02株全基因组序列的长度为12296个核苷酸(GenBank收录号AY367767)。将GXXZ02株与国内外已发表的Slhimen、HCLV、39、Brescia、Eystrup、Glentorf、Alfort187、Pader190rn、CS、ALD、GPE、P97、LPC毒株进行全基因组核苷酸序列和推定的氨基酸序列比较，核苷酸同源性分别为85．4％、84．6％、88．7％、85．7％、85．7％、85．3％、85．6％、95．3％、85．7％、85．7％85．4％、83．4％、84．3％，推定的氨基酸同源性分别为92．6％、91．7％、94．2％、93．1％、92．9％、92．3％、93．0％、97．7％、92．6％、93．0％、92．6％、90．5％、90．6％。GXWZ02与Shimen、HCLV的全基因组序列及推定的氨基酸序列有明显差异，表明GXWZ02株在遗传性和抗原性上发生了较明显的变化。系统发育树分析，所比较的14株CSFV被分为2个群：GXWZ02、Paderborn和39这3个毒株被归为群Ⅰ，其余的11个毒株被归为群Ⅱ，GXWZ02与Paderborn的亲缘关系最接近。将GXXZ02与Shimen、HCLV基因组中单个基因分别进行核苷酸及推定的氨基酸序列同源性比较，结果显示，基因E^ms、E2、P7、NS2、NS5A的遗传变异程度大。而NS3、NS4A、NS4B的遗传性则相对保守。     

猪瘟病毒及其全长cDNA在猪肾细胞中增殖表达特性的比较研究

以猪瘟C-株弱毒疫苗株、经典强毒石门株和C-株全长cDNA为试验材料，以免疫荧光技术为主；结合ELISA和RT-PCR检测技术，对其在培养细胞中的增殖特性和表达规律进行了比较研究。同时筛选猪瘟病毒及其全长cDNA的敏感细胞，探索其增殖表达规律，以便为猪瘟病毒反向遗传操作提供技术方法和可操作的条件。     

猪伪狂犬病基因缺失疫苗的制备、安全性、免疫原性、保存期测定及区域试验

为了提供有效的伪狂犬病疫苗，用鸡胚成纤维细胞扩大培养了PrV HB-98突变株（TK^-/gG^-/LacZ^＋），研制了伪狂犬病基因缺失疫苗，并对该疫苗经肌肉接种、经口等免疫途径的最小免疫剂量进行了测定，同时也对4批疫苗的安全性、效力、免疫期和保存期进行了检测；同时将4批疫苗用于免疫23个猪场的母猪、新生仔猪和育肥猪进行区域试验。测定结果表明，疫苗经上述两种途径接种对不同阶段猪的最小免疫剂量均为10^5.0 TCID50；10倍免疫剂量的疫苗对初生仔猪、15日龄仔猪和妊娠母猪是安全的，免疫猪能抵抗强毒的攻击；疫苗在4℃和-20℃下分别可保存6个月和12个月。对伪狂犬病毒抗体阴性的70日龄商品猪和种猪的免疫期为6个月。田间试验表明，4批猪伪狂犬病基因缺失疫苗安全有效，并可用于仔猪发病时的紧急接种。为猪伪狂犬病基因工程疫苗的制备与应用提供了有力的依据。     

草地群落类型对乳白香青种群特征和雌雄株形态及抗性的影响

为探究亚高山雌雄异株草本植物乳白香青对生境的适应方式,通过测定5个草地群落(A-老芒麦改良草地,B-虉草改良草地,C-天然草地,D-天然草甸,E-沙化草地)中乳白香青种群数、种群密度和面积、分布系数、性比组成,以及雌雄株构件性状、生物量配比、水分分配及抗性物质含量等参数,研究群落组成对乳白香青种群特征、雌雄株形态可塑性及抗性的影响。结果表明,5个草地群落的优势种、群落密度、基盖度、物种密度和优势种高度及土壤理化性状的显著差异(P<0.05),使不同群落中乳白香青种群特征显著不同,群落类型对种群特征参数影响顺序为种群面积>种群密度>性比>年龄结构>种群数>分布系数;D群落中乳白香青种群数和分布系数最高,C中乳白香青种群面积和密度最大,E中乳白香青种群数仅分别为D和C中的30.21%和35.11%,分布系数仅为C中的36.04%;群落类型对乳白香青种群年龄结构和性比有显著影响(P<0.05),雌株数为雄株的2.22~7.03倍;叶数和叶面积、株高和茎径、根长、小花数和苞片层数有显著的性别差异(P<0.05),群落类型对雌雄株的叶数和叶面积、株高、根数、花序数和小花数有显著影响,对雄株茎径和苞片层数有显著影响;雄株总生物量和花分配比显著高于雌株,而根分配比显著低于雌株(P<0.05),群落类型对乳白香青生物量配比有显著影响,雌株生物量配比受影响顺序为花>总生物量>叶>根>茎,雄株受影响顺序为花>茎>叶>总生物量>根;雄株茎、叶、花含水量显著高于雌株(P<0.05),根含水量在性别间和群落间差异较小,雌株构件含水量受群落类型影响顺序为花>茎>叶>根,雄株为叶>茎>花>根。雄株中MDA含量高于雌株,雌株中H₂O₂含量及T-AOC活性大于雄株(P<0.05),群落组成对雌、雄株中H₂O₂和MDA含量及T-AOC活性有极显著影响(P<0.01)。A和B中H₂O₂和MDA含量最低,E中H₂O₂和MDA达最大值,而T-AOC活性最低。雌、雄个体均能依据群落生境调整生长策略,通过构件性状、生物量配比、水分分配和抗性生理等适应性变化,使种群具有与生境匹配的种群特征,利于提高种群适合度和生活史完成。     

X射线荧光光谱法快速测定稻谷中的镉

探索了一种对稻谷中重金属镉的快速、直接的测定方法,以适用稻谷集中收购、存储和流通过程中快速检测的的需要。样品无需前处理,直接磨成粉状即可上机测定。该方法采用X射线荧光光谱分析的原理,样品中的待测元素受激产生特征X射线,并由高性能探测器接收,得到镉元素的信号强度,然后根据信号强度与浓度的比例关系,经过软件处理自动计算样品中镉的含量,20min内完成精确定量。检出限可达到0.034mg/kg,实物标样标准偏差为0.016。此方法简单快速,并且准确性高,重现性好,可广泛应用于稻谷中镉的快速检测。     

Evaluation of Cold Tolerance in NERICAs Compared with Japanese Standard Rice Varieties at the Reproductive Stage

New Rice for Africa (NERICA) is a general name for interspecific rice varieties derived from a cross between the high‐yielding Asian rice (Oryza sativa L.) between locally adapted African rice (Oryza glaberrima Steud.). Eight NERICAs were evaluated for cold tolerance (CT) at the reproductive stage and compared with their O. sativa parents and three Japanese standard rice varieties over 3 years. Cold tolerance was evaluated based on the filled grain ratio (FGR) after cold water irrigation. The FGR was greatly reduced by cold water irrigation. NERICA 1, 2 and 7 had higher FGR (51.9–57.9 %), while NERICA 6, 15 and 16 had lower FGR (6.2–14.5 %). NERICA 1, 2 and 7 were less affected by cold stress, with a 31 % mean reduction in FGR, while NERICA 6, 15 and 16 were greatly affected, with their FGRs being reduced by more than 80 %. NERICA 3 and 4 were moderately affected by cold stress, with about 45 % reduction rate in FGR. FGR significantly influenced the grain weights of the varieties with strong positive correlations (r = 0.83–0.91; P < 0.001), and thus, similar trends in grain weights were observed. Grain weights were reduced by 61.7–96.4 % under cold stress. NERICA 1, 2 and 7 showed significantly better performance than NERICA 3 and 4, while NERICA 6, 15 and 16 performed poorly under cold water irrigation. The Japanese varieties Koshihikari (very tolerant) and Ozora (moderately tolerant) were more affected by cold water irrigation than NERICA 1, 2 and 7. On the basis of the mean reduction rate (%) in FGR under cold stress, the varieties were classified as follows: NERICA 1, 2 and 7 as tolerant; NERICA 3 and 4 as moderately tolerant; and NERICA 6, 15 and 16 as susceptible to cold stress. However, NERICA 7 grain yields were lower under cold stress due to both greatly reduced number of panicles per plant and number of spikelets per panicle. Therefore, NERICA 1 and 2 are suitable candidates for production in the highland regions of East Africa and should be promoted for production.