Hormonal changes play important roles in the key period of superior and inferior earshoot differentiation in maize

The upper earshoots with higher superiority usually have higher yield potential and higher efficiency. To determine the key period for the asynchronous differentiation of superior and inferior earshoots and how hormones are involved in this process, a two-year experiment was designed using two maize hybrids: Suyu 41 (S41, single-ear hybrid) and AN 101 (A101, double-ear hybrid). The results showed that the lag of lower earshoot differentiation was not only caused by the delay of the differentiation starting time but also related to extension of the duration in spikelet differentiation (stage II) and sexual organ formation stage (stage IV). From 12 days before silking (DBS), the contents of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), zeatin riboside (ZR)+zeatin (ZT), and gibberellic acid (GA₃) in both upper and lower earshoots of the two hybrids increased dramatically and then decreased quickly. ABA slightly increased in the two hybrids and then decreased slowly in S41, while it was maintained at a high level in A101. At 8 DBS, i.e., the transition period from floret differentiation to sexual organ formation stage, not only the growth of upper-to-lower earshoot difference (ULED), but also the values for ULED of IAA, ZR+ZT and GA₃ were all significantly higher in S41 than in A101. Furthermore, the upper-to-lower hormone ratios IAA_U//AA_L and (ZR+ZT)_U/(ZR+ZT)_L were also much higher in the single-ear hybrid than in the double-ear hybrid, while the GA_3U/GA_3L and ABA_U/ABA_L had no significant differences. In addition, the time course of ULED_hormone/ULED_{earshoot growth rate} also suggested that the hormones work in different ways in earshoot superiority/inferiority formation. The delayed differentiation of lower ear shoots was conclusively related to the later initiation of differentiation and the longer durations of specific differentiation stages. Compared with the regulating roles of IAA and ZR+ZT in the key period (8 DBS) of superiority/inferiority differentiation, GA₃ seems to be affected earlier, while ABA contributes little to this process.     

小麦幼苗根系生理特性和解剖结构对根际pH的响应

为探讨根际pH 对冬小麦根系生长的影响，以半冬性小麦品种''矮抗58''（AK58）和''百农4199''（BN4199）为材料，采用水培试验，设置3个pH 水平（4.0、6.5、9.0，以6.5为对照），研究根际pH 对冬小麦根系抗氧化酶系统的影响及根系解剖结构对pH 的响应。结果表明：酸碱胁迫下，植株地上部及根系生物量、抗氧化酶活性较对照下降，且酸胁迫较碱胁迫下降幅度大。两品种根冠比表现为pH 4.0＜pH 6.5＜pH 9.0，丙二醛（MDA）含量表现为pH 6.5＜pH 9.0＜pH 4.0。与对照相比，两品种碱性条件下根系结构受损较小，而酸性条件下受损较大。相关分析表明地上部和根系干物质积累量与抗氧化酶活性呈显著正相关，与根系MDA含量呈极显著负相关。可见，酸碱胁迫下，保持较高的抗氧化酶活性有利于保持根系生长，从而提高小麦适应不良根际环境的能力。     

家蚕核糖体的提取及其Sarcin/Ricin结构域的初步鉴定

用超速离心结合密度梯度离心法从蚕蛹中提取家蚕80S核糖体,经尿素变性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳,结果表明家蚕核糖体的RNA同大鼠核糖体RNA在序列长度上有明显差异,家蚕5.8S rRNA高于大鼠5.8S rRNA,而家蚕5S rRNA的序列长度则略低于大鼠。用核糖体失活蛋白R ic in分析鉴定家蚕核糖体的Sarc in/R ic in结构域,结果是家蚕Sarc in/R ic in结构域比大鼠Sarc in/R ic in结构域离28S rRNA的3′末端更近。     

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.     

Salvinia plants in trade: what species are we actually talking about?

Incorrect labelling of plants in trade and misidentification are widespread. Likewise, in trade numerous names are being used for the ornamental aquatic plant known as ‘Kariba weed’, but rarely the correct scientific name Salvinia molesta Mitch. For inspection services of EPPO member countries, correct identification of S. molesta has become important since the species was added to the EPPO A2 List and the List of Union concern in accordance with EU regulation 1143/2014 based on an EPPO Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) for the species. Inspections and a targetted survey of Salvinia plants in trade in the Netherlands were performed and additional material was obtained from wild sources in South Africa, Hungary and the United States. Specimen identification was verified by comparison with the herbarium collection at Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden and with the sequences available in NCBI GenBank database. This paper provides the tools to correctly identity the relevant Salvinia species.     

Intramammary infusion of an Enterococcus faecium SF68 preparation promoted the involution of drying off Holstein cows partly related to neutrophil‐associated matrix metalloproteinase 9

A problem for dairy cows following milk stasis is to cope with a high risk of intramammary infection and there is a need to initiate an extensive renewal of secretory modules in mammary glands so that milk production in next lactation may be optimized. We recently reported that ultrasonicated Enterococcus faecium SF68 (SF68) is compatible with cow mammary glands and an enhancer of innate immunity during the immediate post‐milk stasis period. The current study further examines the concomitant effect of ultrasonicated SF68 on mammary tissue remodeling. Four Holstein cows each received intramammary infusions of regular antibiotic dry‐cow formula (positive control) and two different doses of SF68 in different quarters. Analyses of individual quarter secretion samples showed faster neutrophil infiltration, earlier modifications in protein composition, including caseins and lactoferrins, as well as more prompt elevation of the specific unit of 92‐kDa matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) in SF68‐infused quarters compared to the positive controls. Intramammary infusion of ultrasonicated SF68 seems able to accelerate the regression of mammary synthetic capacity and potentiate the breakdown of glandular extracellular matrix, indicating a more efficient mammary gland involution. Correlation analyses imply that the ability of ultrasonicated SF68 to induce faster neutrophil chemotaxis and the associated MMP9 release is partly responsible.     

Comparative analysis of MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathway activation and inhibition in human and canine melanoma

The lack of advanced animal models of human cancers is considered a barrier to developing effective therapeutics. Canine and human melanomas are histologically disparate but show similar disease progression and response to therapies. The purpose of these studies was to compare human and canine melanoma tumours and cell lines regarding MAPK and PI3K/AKT signalling dysregulation, and response to select molecularly targeted agents. Pathway activation was investigated via microarray and mutational analysis. Growth inhibition and cell cycle effects were assessed for pathway inhibitors AZD6244 (MAPK) and rapamycin (PI3K/AKT) in human and canine melanoma cells. Human and canine melanoma share similar differential gene expression patterns within the MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways. Constitutive pathway activation and similar sensitivity to AZD6244 and rapamycin was observed in human and canine cells. These results show that human and canine melanoma share activation and sensitivity to inhibition of cancer‐related signalling pathways despite differences in activating mutations.     

MDV Meq-clustered miRNAs基因缺失BAC克隆株的构建及其体外增殖特性

为构建缺失马立克氏病病毒(Mareks disease virus,MDV)Meq基因簇microRNAs(Meq-clustered miRNAs的突变株,本研究在vv MDV GX0101细菌人工染色体(bacterial artificial chromosome,BAC)克隆的基础上,采用Red/ET同源重组技术将Meq-clustered miRNAs的编码基因进行缺失突变,经PCR鉴定及序列分析证明Meq-cluster miRNAs序列成功缺失后,提取Δmeq-miRNAs BAC DNA,转染鸡胚成纤维细胞(CEF)进行病毒拯救,用SYBR GreenⅠqRT-PCR检测病毒体外增殖特性。结果表明成功拯救出缺失MDV Meq-clustered miRNAs基因的感染性BAC克隆株GX0101Δmeq-miRNAs,且该缺失株与亲本株GX0101BAC具有相似的增殖曲线,Meq-clustered miRNAs是MDV体外复制的非必需基因。MDV Meq-clustered miRNAs基因缺失感染性BAC克隆株的成功构建为进一步研究MDV Meq-clustered miRNAs在MDV致病和致肿瘤方面的作用奠定了基础。