Responses of glutamine synthetase activity and gene expression to nitrogen levels in winter wheat cultivars with different grain protein content

Glutamine synthetase (GS) plays a central role in plant nitrogen (N) metabolism, which improves crops grain protein content. A pot experiment in field condition was carried out to evaluate GS expression and activity, and grain protein content in high (Wanmai16) and low grain protein (Loumai24) wheat cultivars under two N levels (0.05 and 0.15 g N kg⁻¹ soil). High nitrogen (HN) resulted in significant increases in GS1 and GS2 expression at 10 days after anthesis (DAA), and higher GS activity during the entire grain filling stage. HN also significantly increased yield, grain protein content and protein fraction (except for glutenin of Luomai24) in two wheat cultivars, which indicated that it increased grain yield and protein content by improving nitrogen metabolism. Wanmai16 showed higher grain protein content, gliadin and glutenin content, and had higher expression level of GS2 both in flag leaves and grains at early grain filling stage. However, Luomai24 had greater yield and higher expression level of GS1. The difference expression of GS2 and GS1 genes indicates they had various contributions to the accumulation of protein and starch in wheat grains, respectively. The results suggest that GS2 would be serving as a potential breeding target for improving wheat quality.     

Photosynthesis of field-grown Arracacha (Arracacia xanthorriza Bancroft) cultivars in relation to root-yield

There has been limited research on measuring potential differences in leaf gas exchange of Arracacha (Peruvian parsnip, Arracacia xanthorriza Bancroft) cultivars, as affected by different environments, as well as its relation to storage root-yield. The present paper reports field measurements of leaf CO₂ assimilation rates (A) for five contrasting cultivars grown at two different high-altitude locations. Using a design of plots chosen at random with three repetitions, commercial root production was determined in the two locations at different altitude (1580 and 1930 m). Daily leaf gas exchange was repeatedly monitored with a portable open-mode infrared gas analyzer at different times in both locations during the growth cycle. Root-yield, leaf area and dry weight were measured. Significant differences in leaf photosynthetic rate and in specific leaf area (SLA) were observed among cultivars. Cultivars with high SLA, had high CO₂ assimilation. Mean (A_n) and total (A_tot) of CO₂ assimilation and SLA were significantly correlated with storage root-yield across cultivars and locations. The three cultivars with the greatest commercial root production also had the highest maximum values for A and the highest specific leaf area, indicating that these two parameters can be used to select for highly productive cultivars of A. xanthorriza.     

Hull to caryopsis adhesion and grain skinning in malting barley: Identification of key growth stages in the adhesion process

Strong adhesion between the hull and the caryopsis is essential for barley to be of good malting quality. Poor hull adhesion, a condition known as grain skinning, is undesirable for malting and downstream processes. At present, the processes mediating hull adhesion during grain development are poorly understood. The barley cultivar Chariot was grown in greenhouse conditions and grain development was recorded at defined growth stages to examine the timing of hull adhesion. Initiation of adhesion was first observed when caryopsis fresh weight and volume were approaching their maximum at 19 days after anthesis, during early dough. Hull adhesion was complete by 27 days after anthesis, or soft dough. Sections of developing grains were observed using light and transmission electron microscopy to examine a lipid-rich cementing layer believed to be responsible for adhesion between the hull and the pericarp. Evidence for a lipid-rich cementing material was supported by the observation that neither pectinase nor cellulase effected hull loosening. Grain growth, the presence of globular material originating from the pericarp and an electron dense material in the cementing layer are discussed in relation to hull adhesion. Grain skinning could be caused by poor adherence of cuticular material or inadequate fusion between cuticles.     

Metabolite profiling of the response to high-nitrogen fertilizer during grain development of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Wheat yield and quality are dependent largely on nitrogen (N) availability. In this study, we performed the first metabolomic analysis of the response to high-N fertilizer during wheat grain development using non-targeted gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Quality parameter analyses demonstrated that high-N fertilizer application led to a significant increase in grain protein content and improvement in starch and bread-making quality. Comparative metabolomic profiling of six grain developmental stages resulted in identification of 74 metabolites, including amino acids, carbohydrates, organic acids and lipids/alcohol, which are primarily involved in carbon and N metabolism. Under high-N fertilizer treatment, numerous metabolites accumulated significantly during grain development. Principal component analysis revealed two principal components as being responsible for the variances resulting from N-fertilizer treatments. Metabolite–metabolite correlation analysis demonstrated that the high-N treatment group had a greater number of positive correlations among metabolites, suggesting that high-N fertilizer treatment induced a concerted metabolic change that resulted in improved grain development. Particularly, the high-N treatment-mediated significant accumulation of metabolites involved in the TCA cycle, starch and storage protein synthesis could be responsible for the improvement of grain yield and quality. Our results provide new insight into the molecular mechanisms of wheat grain development and yield and quality.     

日光温室连阴天危害游程模拟分析

应用游程理论分析了日光温室连阴天危害发生的规律。对游程理论的模拟方法应用于日照时数序列表示的连阴天游程特征模拟的可行性进行了检验,发现：①冬季连阴天发生次数和连阴天长度期望值理论模拟结果与实际结果拟合良好,连阴天期间内日照时数缺乏量期望值须在理论模拟上加以修正;②连阴天长度的概率分布符合Ｄ．Ｍ．Ｈｅｒｓｈｆｉｔｌｄ的几何分布。以河南省为例给出了连阴天长度的概率分布和各游程特征量的地域分布规律;确定     

霪雨天幼兔批量死亡原因的调查分析

１９９８年５月份,洛阳市一些地区幼兔大量不明原因死亡。通过调查分析,确认引起幼免批量死亡的原因是恶劣气候条件下,幼兔疲于应激低抗力下降,导致条件性致病因子－－巴氏杆菌和球虫混合感染所致。同时,还发现了这种混合感染引发幼兔死亡的三个规律。     

奶牛后躯主要体尺与其产奶性能的相关性

采用整群抽样法抽得生产奶牛294头,用测杖和骨盆卡尺测量．并计算后躯形态的11种指标,结果如下：臀端宽与第1,第3胎奶量有中等程度的表型相关（0．3908,P＜o．01;0．3117,P＜0.05）。坐骨结节高比值、欧结节高比值、坐骨宽比值都与产奶量呈中等正相关（0.3101,P＜0、01;0．2937,P＜0．05;0．3715,P＜0．01）髋给节高、尻斜长与第1胎奶量,坐骨结节宽、尻宽指数与第1胎乳胀率的遗传相关分别为0.8679,0．8529,0.7429,0．3655。     

Reforming the European Common Fisheries Policy: a case for capacity and effort controls

I summarize the total allowable catch (TAC) fishery management system, which forms part of the European Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) as complicated, inaccurate and ineffective. Total allowable effort (TAE), i.e. limits on fishing capacity and days‐at‐sea, provides a simpler, readily enforceable control to protect all species affected by a fishery. Fishing capacity of vessels in each region‐gear fleet could be capped through limits on engine power, gear, crew, and fittings, and/or reducing allowances of days‐at‐sea for large, powerful vessels. Two basic, fishery‐dependent indicators are put forward to assess sustainability of a fishery dependably even in the absence of fishery‐independent data. One is socio‐economic, the other is ecological. Fishery working groups within each marine region would recommend a TAE to sustain their fishery while also protecting the most critically affected species or processes. Regional working groups would supervise a consistent approach across the different fisheries in their region. A pan‐European group would set policy, implement external agreements, set rules for trading TAE if necessary and harmonize fishing opportunities across regions. To ease negotiations on TAEs with the fishing industry when an ecosystem needs to recover, I propose compensation payments funded by re‐direction of existing CFP subsidies that promote fishing.     

1971-2017年羌塘国家级自然保护区持续干旱日数的时空变化特征

为全面分析羌塘国家级自然保护区的干旱变化特征,有效应对干旱风险和生态环境保护。本文采用利用5个气象站点1971－2016 年逐日降水量资料,以持续干旱日数(CDD)为干旱评价指标,采用线性回归、Mann-Kendall非参数检验和R/S分析等方法,分析了自然保护区CDD的时空变化特征。结果表明：多年平均下,自然保护区各站CDD为78～162 d,总体呈自西向东递减分布;CDD偏多概率为51.1%。近47年保护区CDD呈减少趋势,平均每10年减少3.4 d;20世纪90年代以来,CDD趋于增加。70年代CDD明显偏多,为近40年最多的10年;80年代至21世纪前10年基本正常。CDD异常特多年份出现过2次,均发生20世纪90年代;未出现异常特少年份。在时间转折上,保护区CDD的突变点出现在1980年, 从一个相对偏多期跃变为一个相对偏少期。根据R/S分析,保护区CDD的Hurst指数大于0.5,说明未来仍将趋于减少。     

基于极值概率分布函数的中国早稻高温热害时空分布统计特征

揭示水稻高温热害风险特征对农业适应气候变化具有重要意义。本研究以中国早稻种植区为研究区域,基于早稻种植区214个气象站1971—2015年的数据,利用Mann-Kendall非参数趋势检验方法和极值概率分布理论,探究中国早稻高温热害的时空变化趋势和极值概率分布规律。研究发现:1)反映早稻高温热害的两个指标即高温热害累计天数(ADHS,accumulateddaysofheatstress)和热害有害积温(HDD,heatstressdegree days)的均值在湖南中南部、江西中部、浙江和福建中部较大,表明这些区域的早稻遭受高温热害的风险较大;从Mann-Kenall趋势检验看,两个指标在超过1/3的站点都呈显著增加的趋势,说明高温热害风险在这些站点显著增加,尤其20世纪90年代以后超过1/2的站点两个指标都呈显著增加的趋势。2)超过1/2以上的站点的高温热害累计天数和高温有害积温都满足极值概率函数分布。对于高温热害累计天数,56个站点满足耿贝尔分布(Gumbel),82个站点满足广义极值分布(GEV);对于热害有害积温,61个站点满足耿贝尔分布,58个站点满足广义极值分布。3)两个高温热害指标的10年、50年、100年重现期的空间分布规律和2个指标的均值空间分布类似,即均值较大的区域,其10年、50年、100年重现期对应的重现期水平(return level)也较大;重现期水平与经度、纬度和海拔无明显相关关系。研究结果有助提升对早稻高温热害时空趋势和概率分布规律的认识,可为农业适应气候变化和农业天气指数保险设计等方面提供理论参考。