Quantitative trait loci mapping for yield-related traits under low and high planting densities in maize (Zea mays)

Average maize yield per hectare has increased significantly because of the improvement in high-density tolerance, but little attention has been paid to the genetic mechanism of grain yield response to high planting density. Here, we used a population of 301 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the cross YE478 × 08–641 to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for 16 yield-related traits under two planting densities (57,000 and 114,000 plants per ha) across four environments. These yield-related traits responded differently to high-density stress. A total of 110 QTLs were observed for these traits: 33 QTLs only under low planting density, 50 QTLs under high planting density and 27 QTLs across both densities. Only two major QTLs, qCD6 and qWKEL2-2, were identified across low- and high-density treatments. Seven environmentally stable QTLs were also observed containing qED6, qWKEL3, qRN3-3, qRN7-2, qRN9-2 and qRN10 across both densities, as well as qRN9-1 under low density. In addition, 16 and eight pairs of loci with epistasis interaction (EPI) were detected under low and high planting densities, respectively. Additionally, nine and 17 loci showed QTL × environment interaction (QEI) under low- and high-density conditions, respectively. These interactions are of lesser importance than the main QTL effects. We also observed 26 pleiotropic QTL clusters, and the hotspot region 3.08 concentrated nine QTLs, suggesting its great importance for maize yield. These findings suggested that multiple minor QTLs, loci with EPI and QEI, pleiotropy and the complex network of “crosstalk” among them for yield-related traits were greatly influenced by plant density, which increases our understanding of the genetic mechanism of yield-related traits for high-density tolerance.     

抗条锈病小麦-滨麦Lm#3Ns二体异附加系的分子细胞遗传学鉴定

滨麦(Leymus mollis)是小麦的三级基因源,具有改良小麦所需的许多优良性状。为了将滨麦中的优异基因导入到普通小麦中,通过远缘杂交获得小麦-滨麦异附加系、异代换系、易位系,以选自普通小麦7182与滨麦衍生后代M42(2n=54)F_6代的株系M11005-1-2-7-10-1-1(M11005A)为供试材料,对其进行了形态学、细胞学、原位杂交、分子标记、抗病性等综合鉴定。细胞学观察结果显示,M11005A有44条染色体且配对良好,可以稳定遗传。原位杂交及分子标记结果表明,M11005A含有42条普通小麦染色体和1对来自滨麦Lm#3Ns的染色体,并且用Oligo-pTa535探针得到了Lm#3Ns的FISH核型;筛选出6个EST及8个PLUG特异分子标记可以用来鉴定Lm#3Ns染色体,其中只有1个EST和4个PLUG标记可以同时在M11005A中扩增出滨麦和华山新麦草的条带,说明滨麦的Lm#3Ns染色体与华山新麦草的3Ns基因组之间存在差异。M11005A的穗长、穗型、小穗数、千粒重与亲本7182无显著差异,但分蘖数较7182显著增加,株高显著降低。抗条锈病鉴定结果显示,苗期M11005A对条锈菌生理小种CYR29和CYR34表现高抗,对CYR32表现高感,成株期对CYR32和CYR33混合小种表现高抗,推测滨麦的Lm#3Ns染色体携带对CYR29和CYR34小种的抗性基因,又携带了成株期对CYR32和CYR33的抗性基因。因此,M11005A可以作为抗源应用于小麦的条锈病抗性改良中。     

Combined mutations in five wheat STARCH BRANCHING ENZYME II genes improve resistant starch but affect grain yield and bread-making quality

Increases in the proportion of amylose in the starch of wheat grains result in higher levels of resistant starch, a fermentable dietary fiber associated with human health benefits. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of combined mutations in five STARCH BRANCHING ENZYME II (SBEII) genes on starch composition, grain yield and bread-making quality in two hexaploid wheat varieties. Significantly higher amylose (∼60%) and resistant starch content (10-fold) was detected in the SBEII mutants than in the wild-type controls. Mutant lines showed a significant decrease in total starch (6%), kernel weight (3%) and total grain yield (6%). Effects of the mutations in bread-making quality included increases in grain hardness, starch damage, water absorption and flour protein content; and reductions in flour extraction, farinograph development and stability times, starch viscosity, and loaf volume. Several traits showed significant interactions between genotypes, varieties, and environments, suggesting that some of the negative impacts of the combined SBEII mutations can be ameliorated by adequate selection of genetic background and growing location. The deployment of wheat varieties with increased resistant starch will likely require economic incentives to compensate growers and millers for the significant reductions detected in grain and flour yields.     

Effects of Dietary Protein and Lipid Levels with Different Protein‐to‐Energy Ratios on Growth,Feed Utilization,and Plasma Biochemical Parameters of Dianchi Golden‐line Barbell,Sinocyclocheilus grahami

An 8‐wk feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of varying dietary protein and lipid levels with different protein‐to‐energy (P/E) ratios on growth, feed utilization, and plasma biochemical parameters of Sinocyclocheilus graham. Nine experimental diets were formulated to contain three protein levels (35, 40, and 45%), and each with three lipid levels (4, 8, and 12%), to produce a range of P/E ratios from 71.31 to 98.64 mg protein/kcal. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 25 fish. Fish grew best when fed the diet containing 45% protein and 12% lipid. However, fish fed the diet with 40% protein and 8% lipid had similar weight gain and specific growth rate as those fed the above diet but showed relatively better feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, and protein and energy retentions. Additionally, plasma total amino acids and blood urea nitrogen contents and γ‐glutamyltransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase activities in fish fed the diet containing 40% protein and 8% lipid were relatively low among the dietary treatments. These results may indicate that a diet containing 40% protein and 8% lipid with P/E ratio of 84.05 mg protein/kcal would be suitable for the optimal growth, feed utilization, and health of S. graham.     

秦巴山区一次致灾冰雹过程分析

利用常规资料、多普勒雷达及自动站等资料,对秦巴山区一次致灾冰雹过程综合分析。结果表明,此次强对流天气是在高空前倾槽东移过程中产生的,中低层切变线为对流的发生提供了动力条件,地面辐合线是此次强冰雹天气的触发机制;适宜的0℃和-20℃层高度、地面暖低压和特殊的“喇叭口”地形等有利于强冰雹天气的发生;冰雹发生在低空急流左前方、高空急流出口区的左侧和地面辐合线附近。较强不稳定层结和垂直风切变是导致对流快速发展并维持的原因之一;多普勒雷达反射率因子图上对流单体中心强度大于68 dBZ且维持5个体扫,有超级单体生成;反射率因子剖面图上有有界弱回波、回波悬垂等出现;速度图上具有低层辐合和中气旋等特征;在反射率因子和速度图上均可看到三体散射;VIL跃增和骤降的时间与冰雹发生的时间相对应。     

不同产地西洋参氨基酸种类及含量分析

为研究不同种植区西洋参氨基酸的含量和品质，按食品安全国家标准GB/T5009.124-2016，对加拿大多伦多市、陕西省留坝县、吉林省抚松县、山东省文登市来源的4 a生西洋参进行氨基酸种类和含量测定及对比分析。各产地西洋参均检测出17种氨基酸，其中含有人体必需的赖氨酸、蛋氨酸、异亮氨酸、苯丙氨酸、亮氨酸、苏氨酸、缬氨酸和半必需氨基酸精氨酸；含有蛋氨酸、亮氨酸、异亮氨酸、苯丙氨酸、赖氨酸、天冬氨酸、甘氨酸、谷氨酸和精氨酸等8种药用氨基酸。人体必需氨基酸及药用氨基酸含量对比分析结果表明，加拿大多伦多市来源西洋参的这两类氨基酸含量最高，分别为46.20 mg/g 和61.93 mg/g，占总氨基酸含量的 54.0%和72.3%，其次是陕西省留坝县来源的西洋参，分别为45.70 mg/g和61.63 mg/g，占总氨基酸含量的51.9%和70.0%。主成分分析及综合评价结果表明，从氨基酸含量及营养均衡性角度来看，陕西省留坝县西洋参是最接近原产地加拿大的西洋参。     

Bilateral apex pubis distance：a novel index for follicular development and egg laying status in domestic hens (Gallus gallus domesticus)

ABSTRACT

1. Measures of the bilateral apex pubis (BAP) in White Leghorn (WLH) hens aged from 16 to 64 weeks (from the time ovaries were completely undeveloped to senility) were ranked into various groups so the relationship between external traits (BAP distance, comb length, comb height, wattle length, wattle height, body weight) and internal traits (largest ovarian follicle diameter (LFD) and oviduct weight and length) could be determined.

2. Using correlation and regression analysis with data from 16 weeks of age to the onset of lay, measurements of the apex pubis showed a strong correlation with LFD (r = 0.80, P < 0.01) and oviduct weight (r = 0.80, P < 0.01).

3. Multiple comparisons among WLH hens from 16 to 43 weeks of age showed that the BAP distance increased in all groups ranked by LFD or by laying period.

4. In the late laying period (>60 weeks of age), BAP distance showed a significant decrease (P < 0.01) in long-term non-laying hens compared to laying hens.

5. These findings suggest BAP distance can serve as an index for evaluating the onset and probable stages of follicular development during sexual maturation and/or aid in the identification and selection of non-laying hens during reproduction.     

4个企鹅珍珠贝F3选育系的生长存活差异及其生长规律

为比较企鹅珍珠贝[（Röding，1798）]海南金唇选育系（GLHH）、海南白唇选育系（WLHH）、广西金唇选育系（GLGG）和广西白唇选育系（WLGG）的生长存活差异，及了解4个选育系的生长规律，自2018年1月底至2018年12月底连续监测养殖于海南陵水黎族自治县新村港的4个企鹅珍珠贝选育系F₃的存活率及其壳长、壳高、壳宽、铰合线长和体重的生长情况。使用单因素方差分析和生长模型拟合等方法对数据进行分析。结果显示，4个企鹅珍珠贝选育系的生长及存活率存在显著差异（<0.05），海南金唇选育系的生长及存活率最优，广西白唇选育系的生长及存活率最差，表明企鹅珍珠贝的生长存活可能与环境、贝龄、壳色和地理种群有关。SGompertz生长模型为企鹅珍珠贝5个生长性状的通用生长模型。研究表明，4个企鹅珍珠贝选育系的生长规律存在差异，且企鹅珍珠贝5个生长性状的生长规律存在差异，其中壳长和铰合线长的生长拐点出现得最早，分别出现在7.9（GLHH）~8.5（WLHH）月龄和7.9（GLHH）~9.1（WLGG）月龄；其次是壳高和壳宽，生长拐点分别出现在11.6（GLHH）~15.9（WLGG）月龄和11.8（GLHH）~14.3（WLGG）月龄时；体重的生长拐点出现得最晚，在15.8（GLHH）~18.7（WLGG）月龄。该研究结果表明海南金唇选育系早期生长阶段具有高存活率和优良的生长性能，广西白唇选育系可能具有最大的生长潜力（生长性状的生长极限最大），本研究可为企鹅珍珠贝的良种选育、健康养殖及优质珍珠的生产提供借鉴。     

鳜视觉和侧线感觉调控捕食行为的动态观察

鳜（Siniperca chuatsi）具有独特的捕食习性。为研究鳜捕食行为相关主要感觉——视觉和侧线感觉调控的捕食行为特征，利用高速摄像与感官抑制技术对鳜的独特捕食行为进行了分析，将实验鳜分为4组：G_C（对照组，视觉与侧线感觉均具备），G_V（只有视觉），G_L（只有侧线感觉）和G_DS（视觉、侧线感觉均不具备）4组。对各组鳜投喂饵料鱼，并利用高速摄像技术对单位时间内鳜的捕食行为进行动态观察与分析。结果表明，鳜在捕食行为中表现出5种捕食模式：直接攻击型、跟踪-弹射型、跟踪-偏移型、弹射型、偏移型，其中，直接攻击型、跟踪-弹射型、弹射型捕食模式主要由视觉控制，跟踪-偏移型、偏移型主要由侧线感觉控制。在视觉、侧线感觉均具备时优先利用视觉捕食，捕食行为趋于简化，相反，鳜仅利用侧线感觉捕食时，捕食行为变得复杂而多样；鳜在捕食时所表现出的各种捕食行为模式是其具有独特摄食习性的重要原因。上述研究为解读鳜特殊捕食行为的形成机制提供了重要资料。