Water availability affects nectar sugar production and insect visitation of the cup plant Silphium perfoliatum L. (Asteraceae)

The perennial cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.) is considered as an alternative feedstock to maize for biogas plants. Due to its ecological advantages of an extensive management and function as food resource for pollinators, it can be grown in Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs) since 2018. However, studies at the Julius Kühn-Institute in Braunschweig (Germany) showed that the assumed advantage of the cup plant of a high drought tolerance could not be confirmed regarding aspects of crop production and yield. We complemented this experiment by assessing how different soil moisture conditions affect the production of floral resources and insect visitation. In 2014, we sampled three irrigated and three rainfed plots of the cup plant. We quantified the nectar volume and sugar mass per inflorescence, the number of inflorescences per plant and calculated the total nectar sugar production. We further counted insect visitation on the inflorescences. Due to reduced numbers of inflorescences per plant and an earlier harvest, the estimated nectar sugar production was 58 kg/ha regarding irrigated and 20 kg/ha regarding rainfed plots. Honeybee visitation per inflorescence was about twice as high in the irrigated plots. Furthermore, the early harvest is a disadvantage for wild pollinators with a late activity period.     

Comparing the behavioural thermoregulation response to heat stress by Atlantic salmon parr (Salmo salar) in two rivers

Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and magnitude of extreme thermal events in rivers. The Little Southwest Miramichi River (LSWM) and the Ouelle River (OR) are two Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) rivers located in eastern Canada, where in recent years, water temperatures have exceeded known thermal limits (~23°C). Once temperature surpasses this threshold, juvenile salmon exploit thermal heterogeneity to behaviourally thermoregulate, forming aggregations in coolwater refuges. This study aimed to determine whether the behavioural thermoregulation response is universal across rivers, arising from common thermal cues. We detailed the temperature and discharge patterns of two geographically distinct rivers from 2010 to 2012 and compared these with aggregation onset temperature. PIT telemetry and snorkelling were used to confirm the presence of aggregations. Mean daily maximum temperature in 2010 was significantly greater in the OR versus the LSWM (p = 0.005), but not in other years (p = 0.090–0.353). Aggregations occurred on 14 and 9 occasions in the OR and LSWM respectively. Temperature at onset of aggregation was significantly greater in the OR (T_onset = 28.3°C) than in the LSWM (T_onset = 27.3°C; p = 0.049). Logistic regression models varied by river and were able to predict the probability of aggregation based on the preceding number of hours >23°C (R² = 0.61 & 0.65; P₅₀ = 27.4°C & 28.9°C; in the OR and LSWM respectively). These results imply the preceding local thermal regime may influence behaviour and indicate a degree of phenotypic plasticity, illustrating a need for localised management strategies.     

水分胁迫对大豆生长与产量的影响及应对措施

在大豆生长发育过程中,非生物胁迫严重影响理化进程并降低产量,其中水分胁迫是所有其他非生物胁迫（高温、低温、土地瘠薄、盐碱等）损失的总和。为了提高大豆在水分胁迫中的抗逆性,通过归纳水分胁迫对大豆生长发育及产量的研究现状,总结干旱和淹水胁迫对大豆形态结构、生理指标及产量指标的影响,分析抵御水分胁迫的应对措施和有效方法。指出目前抗旱防涝存在的问题,并提出解决方案,以期降低水分胁迫对大豆生产造成的损失。     

Dietary β‐carotene improves growth performance and antioxidant status of juvenile Piaractus mesopotamicus

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary synthetic β‐carotene on growth performance, haematological and immunological parameters, energy reserves and antioxidant status of juvenile fish Piaractus mesopotamicus. Two hundred and ten fish (12.24 ± 2.98 g) were fed with a control extruded feed (CEF) and the same diet supplemented with β‐carotene (BEF) for 90 days. A higher weight gain and specific growth rate were found in fish fed BEF in comparison with those fed CEF. In addition, BEF‐fed fish showed lower liver somatic index and a higher percentage of eosinophils. No statistical differences were found in energy reserves, except for plasma triglycerides which decreased in fish fed with BEF. Regarding oxidative stress markers, decreased activities of antioxidant enzymes were found in intestine and gills of BEF‐fed fish (SOD and GST, respectively). In the liver, both LPO levels and CAT activity decreased in fish fed with BEF. Additionally, lower brain LPO levels without changes in the antioxidant enzymes were observed in BEF‐fed fish. The inclusion of dietary synthetic β‐carotene improved growth and antioxidant status, and had a plasma triglyceride‐lowering effect in juvenile P. mesopotamicus.     

Role of ghrelin in cell protection by up-regulating HSP70 through ERK1/2 signaling pathway in PC12 cells

AIM:To study the role of ghrelin in cell protection by up-regulating heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and inhibiting apoptosis induced by oxidative stress through extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling pathway in the PC12 cells. METHODS:Sodium nitoprusside (SNP) was used to induce oxidative stress injury in the PC12 cells. The cultured PC12 cells were divided into SNP-injured group (incubated with SNP at 0.5 mmol/L for 6, 12, 18 and 24 h), ghrelin pretreatment group (ghrelin at 100 nmol/L was given 30 min before adding SNP); HSP70 inhibitor group (quercetin at 10 μmol/L was added 60 min before ghrelin treatment), ERK inhibitor group (ERK 1/2 inhibitor PD98059 was added 60 min before ghrelin treatment) and control group (added same amount of culture medium only). The apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry. The protein expression was determined by Western blot and immunocytochemistry. RESULTS:Compared with control group, the apoptotic rate of PC12 cells in SNP-injured group was significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with SNP-injured group, ghrelin (100 nmol/L) pretreatment significantly inhibited SNP-induced apoptosis of PC12 cells (P<0.05), and significantly up-regulated the protein expression of HSP70 (P<0.05). Time-effect analysis showed that ghrelin had the most significant effect at 18 h after SNP injury. Quercetin, an inhibitor of HSP 70, significantly reduced the anti-apoptotic effect of ghrelin (P<0.05). Ghrelin pretreatment promoted the phosphorylation of ERK1/2. ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 significantly inhibited the effects of ghrelin on up-regulation of HSP70 expression (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:Ghrelin upregulates the expression of HSP70 and inhibits the apoptosis in the PC12 cells induced by oxidative stress by promoting the phosphorylation of ERK1/2.     

Orange peel fragment improves antioxidant capacity and haematological profile of Nile tilapia subjected to heat/dissolved oxygen‐induced stress

This study evaluated the ability of orange peel fragment (OPF) to act as a functional feedstuff, influencing growth, haematological profile, and antioxidant enzyme activity of Nile tilapia subjected heat/dissolved oxygen‐induced stress (HDOIS). A group of 440 male Nile tilapia (31.7 g ± 0.34) was randomly distributed in 40 250‐L aquaria (11 fish/tank) and fed five practical diets with graded levels of OPF at 0%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, and 0.8% for 70 days. The diets were formulated to contain 30% crude protein and 18 MJ/kg crude energy. After the feeding period, growth performance was evaluated and six fish per treatment were sampled for haematological profile and antioxidant enzyme activity, before and after HDOIS. Then, fish were subjected to HDOIS (32°C/2.3 mg/L dissolved oxygen) for three days and the same haematological profile and antioxidant enzyme activity were determined. There was no effect of OPF on the haematological profile, either before or after HDOIS. The polynomial regression model was used to express the relationship between antioxidant enzymes activity and OPF supplementation level. The maximum activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase was reached at 0.66%, 0.63%, and 0.68% of OPF respectively. Results of the present study suggest that a dietary supplementation level of 0.63%–0.68% of orange peel fragment was appropriate to maintain Nile tilapia haematological profile and improve its antioxidant capacity under HDOIS.     

2个与HSP70基因连锁的微卫星座位与牛运输应激性状的关联分析

试验探讨了2个与HSP70基因连锁的微卫星座位与牛运输应激性状的关联分析。选择120头12月龄、体重250 kg左右的健康西门塔尔杂种肉牛进行运输应激试验，并根据牛基因组遗传图谱，选择23号染色体上与HSP70基因连锁的微卫星座位BMS468和BM1258检测其在西门塔尔杂种肉牛样本群体中的多态性，采用最小二乘拟合一般线性模型分析微卫星座位与运输应激性状部分指标之间的关联效应。结果显示：微卫星座位BMS468共检测到5个等位基因（128、134、140、146、154 bp），优势等位基因为128和134 bp，有效等位基因数（Ne）、多态信息含量（PIC）和遗传杂合度（He）分别为3.66、0.68和0.73，遗传多态性较高，关联分析显示与运输后7 d平均日增重和发病率显著相关，其中128/128 bp基因型个体的运输后7 d平均日增重最大（P < 0.05），134/128 bp基因型个体的发病率最低（P < 0.05）；微卫星座位BM1258座位共检测到6个等位基因（99、101、103、113、117、119 bp），优势基因为101 bp，Ne、PIC和He分别为4.30、0.73和0.77，遗传多态性较丰富，关联分析显示，其与发病率显著相关，其中99/99 bp基因型个体的发病率最低（P < 0.05）。综上所述，2个微卫星座位可作为牛运输应激性状的潜在遗传标记，为开展牛抗运输应激性状的标记辅助选择提供科学依据。     

我国蔬菜作物耐低温性研究进展

低温胁迫是蔬菜生产过程中的主要逆境因子，对蔬菜作物的生长发育、商品产量形成影响极大。本文综述了蔬菜作物耐低温性的遗传模型、生理调节和分子机制，展望了蔬菜作物耐低温性的研究前景。     

盐碱交互胁迫对生姜产量和品质的影响及其数学模型的建立

采用二次饱和D- 最优设计，研究营养液pH 与盐交互胁迫对生姜产量和品质的影响，建立了以pH、盐水平为变量因子，生姜产量和品质为目标函数的二元二次数学模型。模型解析表明，pH 与盐水平对生姜的产量和品质存在显著的交互效应，盐水平为产量的主效应因子，pH 为品质的主效应因子。较低水平的pH 变化对生姜产量无显著影响，当pH 升至7.70时，生姜产量随pH 升高呈快速下降趋势；随盐含量的升高，生姜产量持续降低。随pH 的升高，生姜品质呈缓慢降低的趋势；盐含量在低于77.91 mmol · L^-1 时，生姜品质随盐含量的增加而升高，之后则随盐含量的增加而降低。