Polymerisation of gluten proteins in developing wheat grain as affected by desiccation

The breadmaking quality of wheat is affected by the composition of gluten proteins and the polymerisation of subunits that are synthesised and accumulated in developing wheat grain. The biological mechanisms and time course of these events during grain development are documented, but not widely confirmed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to monitor the accumulation of gluten protein subunits and the size distribution of protein aggregates during grain development. The effect of desiccation on the polymerisation of gluten proteins and the functional properties of gluten were also studied. The results showed that the size of glutenin polymers remained consistently low until yellow ripeness (YR), while it increased during grain desiccation after YR. Hence, this polymerisation process was presumed to be initiated by desiccation. A similar polymerisation event was also observed when premature grains were dried artificially. The composition of gluten proteins, the ratios of glutenin to gliadin and high molecular weight-glutenin subunits to low molecular weight-glutenin subunits, in premature grain after artificial desiccation showed close association with the size of glutenin polymers in artificially dried grain. Functional properties of gluten in these samples were also associated with polymer size after artificial desiccation.     

Disulphide structure of high-molecular-weight (HMW-) gliadins as affected by terminators

This study aimed at elucidating SS-bonds of HMW-gliadins (HGL) from wheat with the focus on terminators of glutenin polymerisation. HGL from wheat flour extracts non-treated or treated with the S-alkylation reagent N-ethylmaleinimide (NEMI) were compared. HGL from wheat flour Akteur were isolated, hydrolysed with thermolysin and the resulting peptides pre-separated by gel permeation chromatography and analysed by liquid chromatography/mass-spectrometry using alternating electron transfer dissociation/collision-induced dissociation. Altogether, 22 and 28 SS-peptides from samples without and with NEMI treatment, respectively, were identified. Twenty-six peptides included standard SS-bonds of α- and γ-gliadins, high-molecular-weight and low-molecular-weight glutenin subunits. Eleven SS-bonds were identified for the first time. Fifteen peptides unique to HGL contained cysteine residues from gliadins with an odd number of cysteines (ω5-, α- and γ-gliadins). Thus, gliadins with an odd number of cysteines, glutathione and cysteine had acted as terminators of glutenin polymerisation. Decisive differences between samples without and with NEMI treatment were not obvious showing that the termination of polymerisation was already completed in the flour. The two HGL samples, however, were different in the majority of ten peptides that included disulphide-linked low-molecular-weight (LMW) thiols such as glutathione and cysteine with the former being enriched in the non-treated HGL-sample.     

A behavioural sensor for fish stress

Due to water turbidity, fish stress might be difficult to observe. Evaluation of fish stress by blood sampling requires removing a fish from the water, which is in itself a stressful event. Therefore, we designed and built a sensor to detect fish behaviour that reflects stress. The electronic sensor detected early signs of fish stress by scoring the fish's inactivity. LEDs and detectors are embedded on a steel wand that is held underwater by an operator. In this preliminary (feasibility) study, the new sensor was validated for Tilapia (Cichlidae) and Hybrid Striped Bass (Morone). We induced stressful situations in the fish tanks by manipulating oxygen and temperature levels.ResultsLowering the temperature and oxygen levels both significantly increased the average number of signals identified by the sensor, which indicate stress. The effect of reducing water temperature from 24 °C to 15 °C was three times stronger than was the effect of lowering the oxygen saturation level from 85% to 50%. The difference in the number of signals between the good and stressful conditions was statistically significant, amounting to approximately eight sensor signals, 10.57 compared to 2.49 respectively. Lowering the temperature increased the mean number of signals by 5.85 and 6.06 at 85% and 50% oxygen saturation respectively, whereas lowering oxygen levels increased the mean number of signals by 2.02 and 2.23 at 24 °C and 15 °C, respectively. The results indicate that the stress status of cultured fish can be evaluated using the proposed behavioural sensor. The new sensor may provide an earlier indication of a problem in a fish tank or pond than was heretofore possible. This early warning can enable the fish farmer to take action before many fish are harmed.     

土培条件下不同盐分梯度对水稻产量及其生理特性的影响

以南粳9108和甬优2640为材料,设置6个土壤含盐量(0%、0.07%、0.14%、0.21%、0.28%、0.35%),研究不同盐分梯度对水稻产量和生理特性的影响。结果表明:(1)盐胁迫影响水稻的生长和发育进程。株高、叶面积、干物质量等形态指标均随盐浓度的上升而下降;稻谷产量亦随盐浓度增加而下降,在0.14%、0.21%、0.28%、0.35%盐浓度处理时产量显著下降,南粳9108分别减产14.14%、43.65%、58.91%、65.68%,甬优2640分别减产20.25%、31.97%、40.41%、49.82%。(2)随着盐浓度的增加,2个参试品种抽穗期叶片抗氧化酶活性均呈先升后降趋势,在0.07%处理下达最高值。(3)抽穗期叶片中游离脯氨酸含量随盐浓度的上升而增加,盐浓度大于0.14%,游离脯氨酸含量较对照显著增加。(4)盐胁迫下,水稻植株吸收Na~+并置换出K~+,除叶片中K~+变化无规律之外,随着盐浓度上升,各部位K~+含量均下降,Na~+含量均上升,K~+/Na~+均呈下降趋势。茎鞘与叶运输的SK、Na随盐浓度的上升而上升,茎选择性运输K~+而抑制Na~+进入叶片;根与茎的SK、Na随盐浓度的上升而下降,茎吸收Na~+并输出K~+到根系。总体而言,低盐浓度对高产水稻品种产量和生理特性无显著影响,盐浓度大于0.07%时影响显著。     

奶牛人工授精的优缺点和技术要点

奶牛人工授精技术加速了奶牛品种改良进程,实现了将优秀种公牛精液跨区域、超时限的利用共享,极大地促进了养牛业的发展。以奶牛人工授精应用现状为出发点,介绍了人工授精技术的优点和不足,最后结合自身工作经验,从发情鉴定、适时配种、精液解冻、精液检测、输精、精液保存和妊娠检测等技术要点进行概述,以期更好地促进奶牛人工授精技术的应用。     

干旱胁迫对不同种源云南松幼苗生物量与根系形态的影响

通过盆栽控水，采用双因素随机区组设计研究了9个不同地理种源云南松幼苗生物量分配和根系形态对干旱胁迫的响应，比较了干旱胁迫下幼苗生物量及其分配以及根系形态在种源间的差异，并通过隶属函数法对不同种源幼苗干旱适应性进行了初步评价。结果表明:1）干旱胁迫下，各种源云南松幼苗地径下降明显，苗高未发生显著变化，各器官生物量和总生物量多呈下降趋势，干旱胁迫并没有导致幼苗根生物量分配比和根冠比的增加，但根系长、比根长、根表面积和比根面积在干旱胁迫下增加显著。2）不同种源云南松幼苗地径、苗高、生物量及其分配比和根系形态在干旱处理下均存在显著差异，其中地径和苗高分别以西昌和双柏种源最大，各器官生物量和总生物量以双柏、西昌和册亨种源较高，察隅种源各器官和总生物量较低，但该种源具有最大的根生物量分配比和根冠比；会泽种源根长、根表面积、比根长和比根面积均最大。研究发现，在土壤水分限制条件下，云南松幼苗以根系形态变化代替根系生物量增加的策略来适应干旱，各种源云南松幼苗生长对干旱胁迫响应的差异可能是由种源地理气候因子长期影响所形成的不同适应性策略所导致。经平均隶属函数值法初步评价了不同种源云南松幼苗对干旱适应性的强弱，结果显示，西藏察隅、云南会泽和四川西昌种源对土壤干旱的适应性较强，云南双柏、贵州册亨、云南云龙种源居中，而云南新平、永仁和禄丰种源适应性较弱。     

Seedling and adult plant resistance to leaf rust in 46 Chinese bread wheat landraces and 39 wheat lines with known Lr genes

Wheat leaf rust,caused by Puccinia triticina(Pt),is an important foliar disease that has an important influence on wheat yield.The most economic,safe and effective way to control the disease is growing resistant cultivars.In the present study,a total of 46 wheat landraces and 34 wheat lines with known Lr(leaf rust resistance)genes were inoculated with 16Pt pathotypes for postulating seedling resistance gene(s)in the greenhouse.These cultivars and five wheat differential lines with adult plant resistance(APR)genes(Lr12,Lr22b,Lr34,Lr35 and Lr37)were also evaluated for identification of slow rusting resistance in the field trials in Baoding,Hebei Province of China in the 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 cropping seasons.Furthermore,10 functional molecular markers closely linked to 10 known Lr genes were used to detect all the wheat genotypes.Results showed that most of the landraces were susceptible to most of the Pt pathotypes at seedling stage.Nonetheless,Lr1 was detected only in Hongtangliangmai.The field experimental test of the two environments showed that 38 landraces showed slow rusting resistance.Seven cultivars possessed Lr34 but none of the landraces contained Lr37 and Lr46.Lr genes namely,Lr9,Lr19,Lr24,Lr28,Lr29,Lr47,Lr51 and Lr53 were effective at the whole plant stage.Lr18,Lr36 and Lr45 had lost resistance to part of pathotypes at the seedling stage but showed high resistance at the adult plant stage.Lr34 as a slowing rusting gene showed good resistance in the field.Four race-specific APR genes Lr12,Lr13,Lr35 and Lr37 conferred good resistance in the field experiments.Seven race-specific genes,Lr2b,Lr2c,Lr11,Lr16,Lr26,Lr33 and LrB had lost resistance.The 38 landraces showed slow rusting resistance to wheat leaf rust can be used as resistance resources for wheat resistance breeding in China.     

水分优化对温室葡萄产量及土壤生物学特性的影响

为揭示滴灌不同水分调控下设施栽培葡萄产量与土壤学特性等相关指标的响应关系,在甘肃省永登县设施葡萄试验基地开展葡萄滴灌不同生育期水分调控田间灌溉试验,分析水分调控对设施栽培葡萄土壤积温、蔗糖酶和淀粉酶活性、有机碳(TOC)、微生物量碳(MBC)和微生物熵(qMB)等土壤学特性的影响,基于隶属函数综合分析明确影响葡萄产量及各项土壤生物学特性指标的最佳水分优化处理。结果表明:新梢期水分胁迫的土壤积温、土壤酶、TOC、MBC、qMB均显著(P <0. 05)高于对照;新梢期水分胁迫较对照可增产44. 6%;果实膨大期作为葡萄生长的关键阶段,此时水分胁迫对土壤淀粉酶影响不显著,但对其他土壤学特性指标具有一定的抑制作用,并且可减产9.7%;隶属函数综合分析表明,土壤生物学特性指标及产量综合隶属排名为:PS﹥FS﹥CS﹥CK﹥ES。     

高效氯氟氰菊酯对东亚小花蝽捕食功能反应的影响

为了研究高效氯氟氰菊酯对东亚小花蝽雌成虫捕食功能反应的影响，比较分析了LC₂₅、LC₅₀、LC₇₅高效氯氟氰菊酯胁迫3日龄东亚小花蝽雌成虫后，对大豆蚜捕食量、寻找效应、猎物密度效应、种内分摊竞争效应和功能反应等的影响。研究表明，对照组与LC₂₅、LC₅₀高效氯氟氰菊酯胁迫的东亚小花蝽成虫受猎物密度效应影响明显，而LC₇₅高效氯氟氰菊酯胁迫的东亚小花蝽成虫受猎物密度效应影响不明显；在药剂浓度为0 mg/L和140 mg/L时，捕食量达到的最大值和最小值分别为12.33和0.83头，寻找效应达到的最大值和最小值分别为0.96和0.10；受不同浓度药剂胁迫的东亚小花蝽成虫对大豆蚜的捕食能力和寻找效应均随着药剂浓度的增加而下降；捕食量随大豆蚜虫口密度增加而增多，种内竞争分摊强度随小花蝽数量增加而增强，平均捕食量降低；在LC₅₀高效氯氟氰菊酯胁迫下，东亚小花蝽成虫捕食作用率方程为E=0.1255P^-0.2956，分摊竞争强度方程为I=0.5401logP^-0.0033。     

外源褪黑素和脱落酸对干旱胁迫下葡萄生理特性的影响

为了探讨褪黑素(MT)和脱落酸(ABA)两者混合施用对植物响应干旱胁迫的综合效应,以盆栽‘阳光玫瑰’葡萄为材料,通过根灌100μmol·L~(-1)的MT溶液和叶面喷施50μmol·L~(-1)的ABA溶液及二者组合处理,研究MT和ABA对干旱胁迫下葡萄生理特性的影响。结果表明,与干旱对照组(D_(ck))相比,MT处理导致葡萄叶片MDA、H_2O_2含量和相对电导率分别降低了14.42%、44.11%和21.26%,叶片相对含水量提高了1.12%,同时SOD和POD酶活性分别提高了14.00%和3.01%。这些均表明MT处理有效缓解了干旱胁迫对植株造成的损伤。50μmol·L~(-1 )的ABA处理组叶片MDA含量和相对电导率较干旱对照组提高了9.43%和17.25%,表明ABA处理没有缓解植株的胁迫状态。MT和ABA组合处理具有和MT处理类似的效果。结果表明,褪黑素可以通过减轻膜脂过氧化程度,增强抗氧化系统能力,从而缓解干旱胁迫对葡萄的氧化损伤,提高抗旱性;同时削弱ABA带来的负面效应。