Exogenous application of melatonin improves plant resistance to virus infection

In this study, melatonin (MEL)-mediated plant resistance to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) was examined to study local infection in Nicotiana glutinosa and systemic infection in Solanum lycopersicum. Exogenous application of 100 µm MEL increased anti-virus infection activity to 37.4% in virus-infected N. glutinosa plants. The same treatment significantly reduced relative levels of virus RNA analysed by qRT-PCR and virus titres measured by dot-ELISA, and increased the relative expression levels of the PR1 and PR5 genes analysed by qRT-PCR, in virus-infected S. lycopersicum. MEL treatment induced considerable accumulations of salicylic acid (SA) and nitric oxide (NO) but did not significantly affect production of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in the virus-infected S. lycopersicum plants. Transgenic nahG N. tabacum was used to determine whether MEL-induced TMV resistance was dependent on the SA pathway. The results showed that the relative RNA level of the TMV analysed by qRT-PCR and virus titres analysed by dot-ELISA were not reduced by the MEL treatment in the nahG transgenic N. tabacum seedlings treated twice with 100 µm MEL. The increased relative expression levels of PR1 and PR5 were greatly reduced when cPTIO, an NO scavenger, was included in the MEL treatment. A working model of MEL-mediated plant resistance to TMV is proposed. MEL-mediated plant resistance to viruses provides a new avenue to control plant viral diseases.     

一氧化氮影响植物不定根发生的研究进展

近年来,一氧化氮(NO)作为一种气态信号小分子,在植物中的研究越来越多,尤其是植物NO的产生机理及其在植物不定根发生中的作用机制研究取得了很大突破。本文概括了NO在植物体内的产生途径,详细阐述了NO及其与其他信号分子互作对植物不定根发生的影响,总结了植物不定根发生过程中NO调控的相关基因表达;最后,展望了NO参与植物不定根发生的研究趋势,以期为NO在植物不定根发生的应用研究提供理论参考。     

不同植被措施下排土场边坡细沟发育时空特征

为明确不同恢复年限植被措施对煤矿排土场边坡水土流失的防治效应,采用样方调查法,以内蒙古准格尔旗永利煤矿矿区排土场边坡为研究对象,以裸露边坡(CK)为对照,研究不同恢复年限(1a、3a、5 a)的沙柳方格+沙棘+沙打旺(SHA)和沙柳方格+沙打旺(SA)2种措施对细沟发育的影响。结果表明:(1)1a时CK、SHA与SA措施细沟宽度均集中分布在4～8 cm,细沟深度均集中分布在2～4 cm;3 a时CK、SHA与SA措施细沟宽度则集中分布在4～8 cm、8～12 cm、4～8 cm,细沟深度均集中分布在4～6 cm;5 a时CK与SHA措施细沟宽度均集中分布在8～12 cm,而细沟深度则集中分布在4～6 cm和8～14 cm;(2)CK(1～5 a)、SHA措施(1～5 a)和SA措施(1～3 a)的细沟平均宽分别为7.57～11.35 cm、7.58～13.31 cm和5.57～6.14 cm,细沟平均深分别为3.38～6.23 cm、4.19～10.34 cm、2.59～4.24 cm,三者的细沟平均宽深比分别为2.39、2.12和2.05,平均细沟密度分别为1.52～5.25 m·m–2、1.42～1.68 m·m–2和1.88～2.25 m·m–2;(3)1 a时CK、SHA和SA措施的细沟宽深比随坡长变化幅度较大,随着恢复年限增加,宽深比则呈下降趋势,CK、SHA措施和SA措施的细沟密度和细沟侵蚀量均随坡长增加呈增大趋势;(4)与CK相比,1 a时SHA和SA措施边坡细沟侵蚀模数分别减小25.0%和25.86%,两种措施减蚀效果差别不大,而3 a时则分别减小了61.73%和35.31%,SHA措施减蚀效果显著增强。研究结果可以为矿区排土场边坡的植被合理布设提供科学依据与理论指导。     

高寒丘陵区不同退耕年限人工林形质评价

基于时空互代法研究不同退耕年限对青海东部人工林形质的影响，为高寒丘陵区人工林经营及多功能利用提供理论依据。在青海东部西宁市大通县设置青杨、祁连圆柏、青海云杉和华北落叶松典型人工林试验样地，开展退耕年限10、20 a和30 a样地调查。以生长情况、侧枝情况和土壤养分情况作为退耕还林林木形质评价指标，运用层次分析法构建林木形质的评价体系，对4种人工林林木形质进行综合评价。干形情况对林木形质的影响最大，贡献率占0.603；生长情况对其影响次之，贡献率占0.337；侧枝情况对其影响较小，贡献率仅占0.060；16个评价指标在林木形质评价中的权重大小依次为健康情况(0.674 9)＞自然整枝能力(0.598 8)＞土壤有机质(0.578 7)＞通直度(0.526 5)＞分杈情况(0.348 0)＞土壤K(0.232 5)＞侧枝平均基径(0.202 7)＞胸径年均生长量(0.176 9)＞枝粗指数(0.150 6)＞土壤N(0.139 2)＞树高平均生长量(0.107 6)＞高径比(0.071 5)＞尖削度(0.054 0)＞土壤P(0.049 6)＞侧枝数(0.047 9)＞冠径比(0.040 7)；综合评价得分依次为青杨(81.67)>华北落叶松(80)>青海云杉(75)>祁连圆柏(60)。森林生态系统通过自我调节,其发育呈正向演替。高寒丘陵区人工林形质随退耕恢复年限增加呈先增加后减少趋势。前期造林(10 a)可迅速提高林地盖度；发育至20 a时，林地林木形质最优；退耕30 a，林下光照减少，下层出现竞争缺光,影响林地涵养水分功能发挥，影响林木形质。以层次分析法建立的林木形质评价体系可为高寒丘陵区人工林经营及多功能利用提供依据，为其他树种形质评价提供借鉴。     

纳米TiO2改性丝素复合膜的研究

为了进一步改善丝素蛋白膜的结构性能,用溶胶凝胶法制备了不同比例纳米TiO_2改性的丝素蛋白复合膜。对生成的纳米粒子进行粒径分析表明,成膜前后纳米粒径约为80nm左右。对丝素膜的结构和热性能用X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电镜(SEM)、热重分析(TGA和DTG)进行表征：XRD测试结果表明,随着纳米TiO_2的加入,复合丝素膜的结晶结构从SilkⅠ向SilkⅡ转化;SEM测试结果表明,TiO_2能与丝素形成较好的键合;TGA和DTG测试表明,复合丝素膜的热转变温度较之于纯丝素膜有所提高。     

Antioxidant,anti-amylase and anti-glycation potential of brans of some Sri Lankan traditional and improved rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties

Brans of 23 traditional and 12 improved (both red and white) rice varieties in Sri Lanka were screened for anti-amylase and anti-glycation activities in vitro. Varieties which showed the highest inhibitory activities at screening were further investigated for anti-glucosidase and glycation reversing as anti-diabetic properties. The same varieties were studied for selected antioxidant properties. Significantly high anti-amylase and anti-glycation activities were observed for bran extracts of red varieties compared to white varieties at screening. Traditional red rice varieties, Masuran, Sudu Heeneti, Dik Wee and Goda Heeneti, exhibited significant and dose dependent anti-amylase, anti-glycation and glycation reversing activities. These varieties also showed marked antioxidant properties. It is concluded that brans of Sri Lankan traditional red rice varieties Masuran, Sudu Heeneti, Dik Wee and Goda Heeneti may be potential food supplements for diabetes.     

Mitigation of nitrous oxide (N2O) emission from swine wastewater treatment in an aerobic bioreactor packed with carbon fibers

Mitigation of nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission from swine wastewater treatment was demonstrated in an aerobic bioreactor packed with carbon fibers (CF reactor). The CF reactor had a demonstrated advantage in mitigating N₂O emission and avoiding NOx (NO₃ + NO₂) accumulation. The N₂O emission factor was 0.0003 g N₂O‐N/gTN‐load in the CF bioreactor compared to 0.03 gN₂O‐N/gTN‐load in an activated sludge reactor (AS reactor). N₂O and CH₄ emissions from the CF reactor were 42 g‐CO₂ eq/m³/day, while those from the AS reactor were 725 g‐CO₂ eq/m³/day. The dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) in the CF reactor removed an average of 156 mg/L of the NH₄‐N, and accumulated an average of 14 mg/L of the NO₃‐N. In contrast, the DIN in the AS reactor removed an average 144 mg/L of the NH₄‐N and accumulated an average 183 mg/L of the NO₃‐N. NO₂‐N was almost undetectable in both reactors.     

Local pulmonary immune responses in domestic cats naturally infected with Cytauxzoon felis

Cytauxzoonosis is a hemoprotozoal disease of cats and wild felids in the South and Southeastern United States caused by Cytauxzoon felis. Although the causative agent has been recognized since the seventies, no study has examined the local immune response in affected organs, such as the lung, and compared them to the lungs of uninfected domestic cats. Previous studies have suggested that the histopathologic findings in the lungs of C. felis-infected cats are caused by the release of pro-inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines and increased production of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), by the infected macrophages. Our laboratory had previously found an upregulation of the adhesion molecule CD18, which can stimulate the release of these pro-inflammatory mediators. The objective of this study was to characterize local pulmonary immune responses in cats naturally infected with C. felis. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, iNOS, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II in 19 lungs from affected cats that died between 2005 and 2013. Results showed increased expression of all of these molecules when compared to lungs from uninfected, healthy cats. Furthermore, MHC II is expressed in the endothelium of C. felis naturally infected cats. These results support that there is a marked, local, pro-inflammatory immune response that can contribute to the pathogenesis of cytauxzoonosis in the lungs.     

Characterization of an intravenous lipopolysaccharide inflammation model in calves with respect to the acute-phase response

Our objective was to develop a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inflammation model in calves to evaluate the acute-phase response with respect to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and acute-phase proteins, fever development and sickness behaviour. Fourteen 4-week-old male Holstein Friesian calves were included and randomly assigned to a negative control group (n = 3) and an LPS-challenged group (n = 11). The latter received an intravenous bolus injection of 0.5 μg of LPS/kg body weight. Blood collection and clinical scoring were performed at 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 18, 24, 28, 32, 48, 54 and 72 h post LPS administration (p.a.). In the LPS group, the following clinical signs were observed successively: tachypnoea (on average 18 min p.a.), decubitus (29 min p.a.), general depression (1.75 h p.a.), fever (5 h p.a.) and tachycardia (5 h p.a.). Subsequent to the recovery from respiratory distress, general depression was prominent, which deteriorated when fever increased. One animal did not survive LPS administration, whereas the other animals recovered on average within 6.1 h p.a. Moreover, the challenge significantly increased plasma concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin 6, serum amyloid A and haptoglobin, with peaking levels at 1, 3.5, 24 and 18 h p.a., respectively. The present LPS model was practical and reproducible, caused obvious clinical signs related to endotoxemia and a marked change in the studied inflammatory mediators, making it a suitable model to study the immunomodulatory properties of drugs in future research.