Cultivation effects on soil texture and fertility in an arid desert region of northwestern China

In arid desert regions of northwestern China, reclamation and subsequent irrigated cultivation have become effective ways to prevent desertification, expand arable croplands, and develop sustainable agricultural production. Improvement in soil texture and fertility is crucial to high soil quality and stable crop yield. However, knowledge on the long-term effects of the conversion of desert lands into arable croplands is very limited. To address this problem, we conducted this study in an arid desert region of northwestern China to understand the changes in soil physical-chemical properties after 0, 2, 5, 10, 17, and 24 years of cultivation. Our results showed that silt and clay contents at the 17-year-old sites increased 17.5 and 152.3 folds, respectively, compared with that at the 0-year-old sites. The soil aggregate size fraction and its stability exhibited an exponential growth trend with increasing cultivation ages, but no significant change was found for the proportion of soil macroaggregates (>5.00 mm) during the 17 years of cultivation. The soil organic carbon (SOC) content at the 24-year-old sites was 6.86 g/kg and increased 8.8 folds compared with that at the 0-year-old sites. The total (or available) nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents showed significant increasing trends and reached higher values after 17 (or 24) years of cultivation. Changes in soil physical-chemical properties successively experienced slow, rapid, and stable development stages, but some key properties (such as soil aggregate stability and SOC) were still too low to meet the sustainable agricultural production. The results of this long-term study indicated that reasonable agricultural management, such as expanding no-tillage land area, returning straw to the fields, applying organic fertilizer, reducing chemical fertilizer application, and carrying out soil testing for formula fertilization, is urgently needed in arid desert regions.     

基于改进权重湿润指数的东北地区春玉米涝渍灾害评估方法

【目的】研究东北地区春玉米涝渍灾害评估方法,为气候变化背景下东北地区春玉米合理生产和管理提供科学依据。【方法】以权重湿润指数为基础,采用作物需水量代替参考作物蒸散量,构建改进权重湿润指数;运用1986—2015年东北地区春玉米生育期内涝渍灾害事件与改进权重湿润指数耦合方法、基于K-S检验的正态分布显著性检验方法和t-分布区间估计方法等,确定基于改进权重湿润指数的东北地区春玉米不同生育阶段涝渍强度分级阈值;从农田土壤相对湿度与改进权重湿润指数相关性和拟合关系检验,改进权重湿润指数、权重湿润指数评估结果与历史灾情结果一致性检验,以及典型年份涝渍灾变过程动态评估准确性检验3个方面,对改进权重湿润指数评估春玉米涝渍灾害的精度进行验证;分析东北地区春玉米不同生育阶段涝渍强度空间格局,揭示其规律特征。【结果】（1）改进权重湿润指数与不同深度的土壤相对湿度均达到极显著相关（P<0.001）,除玉米快速发育期外,其他生育期内二者相关系数最大值均出现在20 cm深度土壤相对湿度;将不同生育阶段改进权重湿润指数与20 cm深度土壤相对湿度间进行Slogistic曲线拟合,决定系数（R ²）最大值出现在生育中期（0.46）,其后依次是生育后期（0.34）、快速发育期（0.31）和初始生长期（0.21）,均方根误差（RMSE）最小值出现在生育后期（0.49）,其后依次是生育中期（0.51）、初始生长期（0.52）和快速发育期（0.56）,不同生育阶段拟合曲线中90%的20 cm土壤相对湿度所对应的改进权重湿润指数值最小值出现在初始生长期（0.77）,其后依次是快速发育期（1.12）、生育中期（1.21）和生育后期（1.25）。（2）与随机预留的春玉米涝渍灾害事件测试样本中灾情判定结果相比,权重湿润指数评估结果的完全准确率为26.7%,部分准确率为66.7%;改进权重湿润指数评估结果的完全准确率为66.7%,部分准确率为93.3%。（3）以嫩江、白城和沈阳3个代表站点1998年春玉米生育期内涝渍灾害为例,对比降水、权重湿润指数和改进权重湿润指数随时间变化的过程曲线,发现改进权重湿润指数所反映的当年涝渍发生时间和强度等级与灾情资料更为相符,而其大小还可直观表征涝渍强度动态变化。（4）春玉米不同生育阶段各强度等级的涝渍频率差别较大,黑龙江中部、吉林东南部、辽宁东南部为中度及以上涝渍频率的高发区,生育中期是中度及以上涝渍频率高发期。【结论】基于改进权重湿润指数的东北地区春玉米不同生育阶段涝渍强度分级阈值划分方法结果可靠,可表征农田涝渍实际发生状况;相对于权重湿润指数而言,改进权重湿润指数不仅对春玉米涝渍灾害评估准确率更高,而且更适于对涝渍灾变过程的跟踪和动态评估,对于揭示气候变化背景下东北地区春玉米涝渍灾变机制和时空演变规律具有重要意义。     

Effect of feeding different sources of selenium on growth performance and antioxidant status of broilers

ABSTRACT

1. This study was conducted to determine the effect of different sources of selenium (Se) on breast and liver tissue deposition, apparent metabolisable energy (AME), growth performance and antioxidant status of broilers, measured as Se content in liver and breast tissues and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in blood, when used in 0–35 d broiler chicken diets.

2. A total of 200 male Ross 308 broilers were used in the feeding trial, which comprised two dietary phases, a starter from 0 to 21 d and finisher from 21 to 35 d of age. Four treatments with 10 replications each were used. A control diet (C) was formulated that was sufficient in protein and energy (230 and 215 g/kg of crude protein and 12.67 and 13.11 MJ/kg of metabolisable energy, respectively), for both phases, but contained background Se only from the feed ingredients. Diet 2 (IS) was supplemented with 10.35 g/t inorganic, elemental source of Se. Diet 3 (SY) was supplemented with 136.36 g/t selenised yeast, an organic source derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Diet 4 (SS) was supplemented with 0.666 g/t sodium selenite, an inorganic source.

3. Birds fed the SY diet consumed less and weighed less than those fed IS or C (P < 0.05; 0–35 d of age), but there was no difference compared to birds fed SS diets. There were no differences in FCR or dietary AME between broilers fed different Se sources. All diets containing supplementary Se increased concentrations in the liver and breast muscle, and for GSH-Px levels in blood compared to birds fed the C diet (P < 0.001). Birds fed SY diets had greater Se levels in liver and breast tissues compared to birds fed any of the other diets (P < 0.001).

4. Diets supplemented with Se had variable effects on broiler growth performances and antioxidant status. Feeding Se from a yeast source has higher transfer into breast tissues. Feeding different sources and levels of Se to birds in a more challenging situation to induce oxidative stress may bring more conclusive results.     

Associations between postpartum diseases and milk yield and changes in body condition between drying off and parturition of dairy cows in Argentina

ABSTRACT

Aims: To assess the change in body condition score (BCS) during the early and late dry periods and its association with postpartum diseases and milk yield in grazing dairy cows from central Argentina.

Methods: BCS assessments during the dry period, and cow health and milk production records up to 90 days in milk (DIM), were collated for cows from 28 farms at monthly visits between 2007 and 2008. Cows were categorised into four groups; those in Group 1 (n=7,067) maintained or gained BCS during the early and late dry periods; Group 2 (n=2,615) maintained or gained BCS during the early dry period and lost BCS during the late dry period; Group 3 (n=1,989) lost BCS during the early dry period and maintained or gained BCS during the late dry period; and Group 4 (n=5,144) lost BCS during the early and late dry periods.

Results: Cows in Group 1 had reduced odds of having retained fetal membranes (RFM), metritis, and clinical mastitis up to 90 DIM than cows in Group 2 (p<0.001), but the odds of disease were similar to cows in Group 3. The odds of having RFM or clinical mastitis tended to be lower in cows in Group 1 than cows in Group 4 (p=0.08). The odds of cows being culled or dying during the first 90 DIM were lower for cows in Group 1 than for those in Groups 2, 3, and 4 (p≤0.05). Mean accumulated milk yield up to 90 DIM was higher in cows in Group 1 than Group 2 and Group 4 (p<0.001), but was similar to that of cows in Group 3 (p=0.28).

Conclusions and clinical relevance: Cows that lost BCS during the late dry period had increased odds of being diagnosed with several postpartum diseases and had decreased milk yield compared to cows that maintained or gained BCS during the entire dry period. Loss of BCS during any stage of the dry period was also associated with increased incidence of culling or death during the first 90 DIM. These results should raise awareness among dairy cattle producers of the importance of properly managing cow body condition during the dry period, especially during the late dry period.     

基于AHP-CRITIC复合加权法评价不同发育期苦水玫瑰品质

运用AHP-CRITIC复合加权法评价不同发育期苦水玫瑰的品质。以不同发育期的苦水玫瑰为研究对象,测定总多糖、总黄酮、总多酚含量及抗氧化活性,采用AHP-CRITIC复合加权法综合评价不同发育期苦水玫瑰的品质。结果发现抗氧化IC50、总黄酮、总多酚、总多糖4个指标成分的复合权重分别为0.294 1、0.152 3、0.158 8、0.394 8;幼蕾期、花蕾期、盛开期苦水玫瑰质量综合评分分别为54.362 0、38.451 9、33.801 9,即幼蕾期苦水玫瑰的质量最好,花蕾期次之,盛开期较差。说明通过化学成分和生物活性作用综合评价不同发育期苦水玫瑰的品质,幼蕾期苦水玫瑰品质最好。     

略阳乌鸡体重和产蛋数性状遗传参数估计

【目的】略阳乌鸡是陕西省特有的家禽品种,该品种具有体型大、肉质好、氨基酸含量丰富、对林地散养适应性强的优点,但也存在生长缓慢,产蛋性能差的不足。为此,在系统测定略阳乌鸡生产性能的基础上,开展对体重和产蛋性状遗传参数的估计,阐明遗传效应对上述性状的调控作用及性状间的遗传关系,期望为这些性状的选育奠定理论基础。【方法】对略阳乌鸡蛋用系一世代71个半同胞家系799只公鸡和804只母鸡6、10、14、20周龄和开产日龄体重进行测定,以个体为单位记录从开产到31、35和40周龄产蛋数,以四分位数±1.5倍四分位距为界删除异常值,更正性别记录错误。以性别为固定效应,育种值为随机效应用单变量动物模型估计各性状遗传力,用双变量动物模型估计性状间遗传相关,用逆伽玛分布指定育种值和残差项方差先验分布,用贝叶斯算法执行130 000次迭代,弃去前30 000次迭代结果,以100为间隔抽取1 000个估计值获得方差和协方差后验分布,计算各性状遗传力和性状间遗传相关。用R语言PerformanceAnalytics软件包chart.Correlation命令计算性状间表型相关。【结果】略阳乌鸡6、10、14、20周龄公鸡体重为（0.56±0.07）、（1.07±0.13）、（1.56±0.19）、（1.97±0.21）kg,母鸡体重为（0.47±0.06）、（0.86±0.12）、（1.18±0.16）、（1.48±0.19）kg,开产体重为（1.68±0.23）kg;31、35和40周产蛋数为（31.2±11.5）、（42.5±16.7）和（54.7±20.4）枚。体重遗传力随年龄逐渐减小,分别为0.74、0.76、0.63、0.54和0.52,置信区间在0.25—0.33之间。产蛋数遗传力为0.27、0.25和0.26,置信区间在0.35—0.42之间。10、14、20周龄体重间维持中等偏上（0.52—0.68）的遗传相关性,但6周龄体重（0.21—0.52）和开产体重（0.21—0.46）与各时间点体重遗传相关性较弱。体重间遗传相关系数置信区间在0.13—0.34之间。在3个时间点产蛋数间遗传相关系数趋近于1,置信区间在0.03—0.06之间。体重和产蛋数间遗传相关系数均不显著。在时间维度上,各体重性状间表型相关系数在0.43—0.90之间（P<0.001）,产蛋数性状间表型相关系数在0.79—0.94之间（P<0.001）。6—20周龄体重与产蛋数间维持了弱（0.023—0.15）正相关关系,但开产体重与产蛋数存在弱负相关关系（-0.17—-0.14）。【结论】首次估计了略阳乌鸡品种特异性的遗传参数,发现略阳乌鸡体重性状主要受遗传效应调控,而产蛋数性状受环境影响更大,阐明了早期与晚期性状间、体重与产蛋数间的遗传关系,为早期选种和多性状育种奠定了理论基础。这些结果建议在略阳乌鸡群体中对体重性状表型选择有望取得良好效果,但对产蛋数性状应建立纯系利用杂种优势;体重和产蛋数间不存在负遗传相关关系,可同时对两个性状选育提高。     

水稻粒宽突变体gw87的基因定位及候选基因分析

【目的】对水稻粒宽突变体gw87（grain width 87）进行表型鉴定、遗传分析、基因定位及候选基因分析,为探明该基因调控水稻籽粒大小的分子机制及应用潜力奠定基础。【方法】利用甲基磺酸乙酯诱变籼稻恢复系材料676R,获得一份籽粒宽度和千粒重显著增加的突变体gw87。对该突变体进行表型观察、农艺性状调查及外源油菜素内酯（BL）敏感性、叶绿素含量、光合参数测定,了解其表型特征及生理特性。调查gw87与676R杂交F₁的表型和F₂群体的分离情况,分析其遗传行为;选取该群体中的突变植株进行高通量测序,并利用gw87与粳稻品种日本晴杂交的F₂代作为定位群体,通过MutMap分析和分子标记定位,遴选候选基因并进行DNA和cDNA测序验证。利用qRT-PCR分析gw87和676R中BR合成途径基因OsDWARF4、D11和D2的表达差异。【结果】与野生型亲本676R相比,gw87突变体的株高降低,节间缩短,其中,倒一节间长度缩短最大,并呈现出扭曲的形态;叶片长度减少,宽度增加;单株有效穗数、主穗穗长和结实率显著降低,但籽粒宽度和千粒重显著增大。BL敏感性试验显示,gw87突变体幼苗对外源BL的敏感性降低。光合色素和光合参数测定表明,gw87光合色素含量增加,光合速率也有所增加。遗传分析表明gw87的突变性状是由1对隐性核基因控制。MutMap分析显示gw87突变基因位于第5染色体中部,在该染色体区域仅有1个碱基突变引起编码氨基酸变化;分子标记连锁分析表明该突变基因位于InDel标记X2和X3之间约101 kb的染色体区域;综合这两方面分析结果,最后遴选出gw87候选基因是编码一个含有AP2/EREBP DNA绑定结构域的转录因子基因LOC_Os05g32270。对该候选基因进行DNA和cDNA测序验证,发现gw87突变体中该基因DNA的第1 041位的碱基由G突变为A,导致与该位点相邻的76 bp内含子序列被剪接为外显子,引起阅读框移码,蛋白翻译提前终止。qRT-PCR分析显示gw87突变体中BR合成途径基因的表达量显著上调,表明gw87突变体中BR信号减弱。【结论】gw87是smos1、shb、rla1、ngr5的新等位突变体,但与这些突变体表型不同,gw87籽粒的宽度和千粒重显著增加,可能是LOC_Os05g32270的突变位点不同,导致其编码蛋白的功能活性不同所造成。     

鸡脚重性状的全基因组关联分析

鸡(Gallus gallus)脚重性状为鸡产业中的重要经济性状.为了揭示鸡脚重性状的遗传基础,寻找可用于鸡脚改良的分子标记,本研究以核心群京海黄鸡为实验动物,测定其脚重,利用简化基因组测序技术在整个基因组范围内检测与脚重相关的SNPs.共检测到16个与脚重相关的SNPs位点,其中13个集中分布在4号染色体上72.8～77.9 Mb区域;2个SNP位点rs475641139和rs475548810达到5％ Bonferroni全基因组显著水平(P＜5.5E-07),其余位点达到全基因组潜在显著水平(P＜1.1E-05).筛选每个SNP周围1 Mb区域内的基因,共找到9个可能的候选基因,并使用基因本体论(Gene Ontology,GO)数据库对9个候选基因的细胞组分、分子功能和参与的生物学进程进行了分析.结果表明二氢蝶啶还原酶(dihydropteridine deductase,QDPR)基因、LIM域结合蛋白2(LIM domain-binding protein 2,LDB2)基因、类184B家族(family with sequence similarity 184 memberB,FAM184B)基因、复合信号免疫球蛋白J结合蛋白(recombination signal binding protein for immunoglobulin kappa J region,RBPJ)基因、纤维母细胞生长因子结合蛋白2(fibroblast growth factor-binding protein 2,FGFBP2)基因、富亮氨酸重复蛋白5(F-box and leucine-rich repeat protein 5,FBXL5)基因、胆囊收缩素受体A(cholecystokinin receptor type A,CCK1R)基因、肌动蛋白互作蛋白1 (WD repeat containing protein 1,WDR1)基因和类桶状蛋白4(tubby like protein 4,TULP4)9个基因和4号染色体72.8～77.9 Mb区域可能为影响鸡脚重性状的重要候选基因和潜在功能区域.本研究为鸡脚重性状的标记辅助选择提供了理论依据.     

陇东紫花苜蓿地上生物量及水分利用率分析

分析紫花苜蓿Medicago sativa地上生物量的变化表明:鲜、干质量曲线的增长特点是返青(萌芽)至现蕾后增长快,进入开花期后增长缓慢;第1茬鲜质量和干质量占全年总鲜质量和干质量的比例最大,高度与鲜质量和干质量的增长成正相关;在不同茬的生长期内,气象要素对其贡献不同,水分利用率以第2茬最高。     

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF ADRENAL GLAND SIZE COMPARED TO BODY WEIGHT IN NORMAL DOGS

The accepted cut‐off value for adrenal gland maximum diameter of 0.74 cm to distinguish adrenal gland enlargement in dogs regardless of body weight may not be appropriate for small to medium breed dogs. The purpose of the current retrospective study was to examine adrenal gland dimensions as a function of body weight in healthy dogs in three weight categories (< 10 kg, 10–30 kg, and > 30 kg) representing small, medium, and large breeds, respectively, to establish greater confidence in determining if adrenal gland size is abnormal. The measurements of length (sagittal plane), cranial and caudal pole thickness (sagittal and transverse planes), and caudal pole width (transverse plane) of both adrenal glands were obtained ultrasonographically in clinically healthy dogs (n = 45) with 15 dogs in each weight group. Findings support our hypothesis that adrenal gland size correlates with body weight in normal dogs, and more precise reference intervals should be created for adrenal gland size by categorizing dogs as small, medium, or large breed. The caudal pole thickness of either adrenal gland in a sagittal plane was the best dimension for evaluating adrenal gland size based on low variability, ease, and reliability in measurement.