Zinc biofortification of maize (Zea mays L.): Status and challenges

Zn deficiency is one of the leading health problems in children and women of developing countries. Different interventions could be used to overcome malnutrition, but biofortification is most impactful, convenient, sustainable and acceptable intervention. Maize is one of the major crops grown and consumed in the regions with prevalent Zn malnutrition; therefore, this is suitable target for Zn biofortification. Zn biofortification of maize could be achieved through agronomic and genetic approaches. Discussion of agronomic approaches with genetic approaches is prerequisite because soils in developing countries are deficit of Zn and availability of Zn in soils is mandatory for estimating the genetic responses of maize genotypes through genetic approaches. Seed priming, foliar and soil applications are agronomic tools for biofortification, but solo and combined applications of these treatments have different effects on Zn enrichment. Genetic approaches include the increase of Zn bioavailability or increase of kernel Zn concentration. Zn bioavailability could be increased by reducing the anti‐nutritional factors or by increasing the bioavailability enhancers. Kernel Zn concentration could be improved through hybridization and selections, whereas genetically engineered attempts for improving Zn uptake from soil, loading in xylem, remobilization in grains and sequestration in endosperm can further improve the kernel Zn concentration. Key challenges associated with dissemination of Zn biofortified maize are also under discussion in this draft. Current review emphasized all of above‐mentioned contents to provide roadmap for the development of Zn biofortified maize genotypes to curb the global Zn malnutrition.     

四川冬春季参考作物蒸散量时空变化及其成因

为深入认识四川冬春季参考作物蒸散量(ET₀)的变化特征,利用1980—2016年四川35个气象站的逐日气象观测资料,采用泰森多边形、气候倾向率和克里金空间插值等方法对其冬春季ET₀的时空变化特征进行分析,并通过敏感性和贡献率分析了ET₀的变化成因。结果表明:ET₀的年代际变化呈先降后增的趋势,空间上呈明显的西南高东部低的分布特征,且高值区范围持续扩大,低值区范围波动缩小。ET₀的年际变化呈上升趋势,春季ET₀气候倾向率和空间差异明显大于冬季,且ET₀高值区与低值区空间分布受海拔高度影响明显。ET₀的同一日多年平均值自初冬至初春逐渐上升,1月22日—5月2日仅有8 d的ET₀值低于多年日平均值,具有明显连续的高值时段。ET₀对日照时数的变化最敏感,其次是对相对湿度与平均气温,对三者均呈高敏感性。平均气温的正贡献率是引起ET₀变化的主导因子,其次是相对湿度。研究时段内平均气温的升高对ET₀的正效应和相对湿度的降低对ET₀的负效应,超过了日照时数减少对ET₀的减少效应,导致四川地区冬春季ET₀呈上升趋势。     

施用草甘膦对转基因抗除草剂大豆田杂草防除、大豆安全性及杂草发生的影响

【目的】转GAT 和EPSPS 双价基因抗草甘膦大豆‘GE-J16’是我国具有自主知识产权的抗除草剂材料,喷施草甘膦后,评价草甘膦对杂草防除、大豆安全和杂草发生的影响,为其将来商业化种植后的安全监测与杂草治理提供数据支持。【方法】除草效果：每小区以对角线5点取样法取5个0.25 m ²样点并标记,施药后28 d调查禾本科和阔叶杂草株数,并剪取地上部分称取鲜重, 计算株防效和鲜重防效。对大豆安全性：每小区以对角线5点取样法,每点随机取4株大豆并标记,在喷药当天、药后7、14、21及28 d调查大豆株高和复叶数,观察药害,收获前每小区取50株大豆调查结荚数及产量。杂草发生情况：每小区以对角线5点取样法取5个0.25 m ²样点并标记（避开除草效果取样点）,调查并记录每种杂草种类、株数,计算每种杂草相对多度。【结果】转基因大豆喷施900、1 800和3 600 g a.i./hm ²草甘膦对禾本科杂草株防效2016年分别为84.30%、95.22%和83.62%,阔叶杂草株防效分别为49.80%、64.52%和61.93%,禾本科和阔叶杂草鲜重防效分别在95.36%和82.05%以上,2017年对禾本科和阔叶草株防效分别达94.93%和85.09%以上,对禾本科和阔叶杂草鲜重防效分别达98.00%和96.57%以上。转基因大豆喷施草甘膦对大豆生长没有不良影响,产量高于人工除草处理。两年研究结果表明转基因抗除草剂大豆喷施草甘膦后杂草群落发生改变,转基因抗除草剂大豆田不除草处理小区主要优势阔叶杂草为反枝苋（Amaranthus retroflexus）、打碗花（Calystegia hederacea）、马齿苋（Portulaca oleracea）,禾本科杂草为狗尾草（Setaria viridis）、马唐（Digitaria sanguinalis）和牛筋草（Eleusine indica）,共6种,喷施草甘膦900—3 600 g a.i./hm ²后转基因大豆田5种主要优势杂草为打碗花、夏至草（Lagopsis supina）、马齿苋、牛筋草和狗尾草。【结论】转基因抗草甘膦大豆‘GE-J16’喷施草甘膦900—3 600 g a.i./hm ²对杂草有很好的防除效果, 对大豆安全。因此,转基因抗草甘膦大豆‘GE-J16’将在我国有很好的商业化应用前景,喷施草甘膦影响杂草种群的发生,如今后商业化种植需长期密切监测种群变化。     

土壤有机碳作用及转化机制研究进展

对土壤有机碳作用的综述研究显示：直至20世纪末,对于土壤有机碳的研究主要集中于阐明具不同化学结构有机物质在土壤中的功能,如胡敏酸、富里酸、黄腐酸的化学结构特征及在土壤肥力中的作用。中欧近年的研究则更关注按照有机碳在土壤中的转化特征进行分组,尝试建立这一分组与土壤有机碳功能的关联。按照转化特征,土壤有机碳可分为稳定性有机碳和营养性有机碳两大类型。前者主要指封存于土壤黏粒中的有机碳,很难被土壤微生物分解和矿化。后者主要指通过作物收获后地表及根系残留物、还田秸秆、有机肥施肥进入土壤的有机碳,是土壤有机碳中易于转化的、活跃的组分,也是形成土壤腐殖质和团聚体的主要前体物质。对土壤肥力具有重要意义。多点长期定位试验研究结果显示：土壤有机碳含量实际上表达了土壤中有机碳输入与分解两个过程的动态平衡。当输入量小于矿化量,将导致土壤有机碳含量和土壤肥力下降。当每年输入的有机碳量大于矿化量,土壤有机碳含量会持续上升;直至每年输入量与矿化量相等,土壤有机碳含量不再增加,此时,土壤有机碳含量达到平衡点。在一般农业生产条件下,达到平衡点的时间周期为20—30年。在营养性有机碳投入量过高情况下,这一动态平衡系统也会导致入多出多,达到新的平衡点后,每年会有高量土壤有机物质的矿化,从而引起农田土壤中矿质养分,特别是矿质氮的流失,进入水体及大气环境中。为实现土壤培肥和环境保护双重目标,农田土壤营养性有机碳的投入量应以有机碳的矿化流失不致产生环境风险为宜。新的研究还证实：营养性有机碳进入农田后,在土壤生物作用下分解为一系列短链化合物,再通过生物构建作用与土壤矿物颗粒形成土壤团聚体,并以此对多项土壤肥力性状发挥积极作用。受土壤中腐殖化、有机碳分解等不同过程影响,土壤团聚体持续发生着聚合和崩解,只有持续而丰富的营养性有机碳输入,才能维持土壤中总有机-无机团聚体的稳定度。多点长期定位试验结果揭示：土壤有机碳含量主要取决于气候条件、土壤质地与土地利用类型。在人为因素中,土地利用方式的变化对土壤有机碳含量的影响最大,而施肥、秸秆还田、耕作等农作措施对土壤有机碳含量的影响比较小。耕地土壤上,作物类型不同,其典型的耕作和收获方式不同,收获后存留地表和土壤中的根系残留物数量和质量不同,有机质生成能力不同。在种植有机质消耗性作物时,需要注意在轮作制度中引入有机质增加型作物或施用有机肥料,以保持土壤肥力。     

基于公共天气预报的三江平原ET0预报模型比较及敏感性分析

为了提出适合我国三江平原的高精度ET0预报方法,基于该区6个气象站点的天气预报数据和实测气象数据,以FAO56-Penman-Monteith(FAO56-PM)公式计算值为基准,比较Hargreaves-Samani(HS)、Thornthwaite(TH)和Blaney-Criddle(BC)3个ET₀预报模型的效果,对最优模型进行敏感性分析。结果表明:3个模型1~7 d预见期平均绝对误差均值分别为0.66、0.65、0.65 mm/d,均方根误差分别为0.93、0.96、0.95 mm/d,相关系数分别为0.857、0.828、0.840。1~5 d预见期最优预报模型为HS模型,6~7 d为TH模型。总体上预报精度由高到低为HS、TH、BC模型,建议采用HS模型在三江平原开展ET₀预报,HS模型预报对最高温预报的敏感性大于最低温。其预报值在夏季受温度预报误差影响最大,冬季最小,4季整体误差较小。研究可为灌溉预报提供较准确的数据基础。     

提高小麦单产的田间排水暗管规格模拟

改进内蒙古河套灌区田间排水系统的规格对灌区提升作物产量和保障粮食生产有重要现实意义,因此,在河套灌区对所构建的分布式SWAP-WOFOST模型进行了参数率定和验证,然后,对2000—2010年灌区春小麦种植条件下适宜的田间排水暗管规格进行探讨,并模拟评价了该条件下作物产量和水分生产力(WP)的时空分布特征。结果表明,所构建的分布式模型在河套灌区具有较高的适应性。春小麦种植条件下,灌区大部分耕地面积推荐采用田间排水暗管的规格为间距100.0m或75.0m,埋深为2.5m。相比现有排水系统,采用推荐的排水暗管规格,春小麦多年平均作物产量提高了18.5%,多年平均WP提高5.2%。研究结果为进一步改进灌区田间排水系统的效果提供了一定的参考。     

Application and mechanisms of metal-based nanoparticles in the control of bacterial and fungal crop diseases

Nanotechnology is a young branch of the discipline generated by nanomaterials. Its development has greatly contributed to technological progress and product innovation in the field of agriculture. The antimicrobial properties of nanoparticles (NPs) can be used to develop nanopesticides for plant protection. Plant diseases caused by bacterial and fungal infestations are the main types of crop diseases. Once infected, they will seriously threaten crop growth, reduce yield and quality, and affect food safety, posing a health risk to humans. We reviewed the application of metal-based nanoparticles in inhibiting plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi, and discuss the antibacterial mechanisms of metal-based nanoparticles from two aspects: the direct interaction between nanoparticles and pathogens, and the indirect effects of inducing plant resilience to disease. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.     

Challenges and opportunities of unmanned aerial vehicles as a new tool for crop pest control

The application of pesticides is not simply delivering chemicals to the target area. It also involves considering the negative aspects and developing strategies to deal with them during the application process, to ensure the maximization of pesticides use efficiency and the maintenance of the ecosystem. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sprayers demonstrate unique advantages compared to traditional ground sprayers, particularly in terms of maneuverability and labor intensity reduction, showed great potential for chemical application in pest control. It is undeniable that there exist challenges in the practice of UAV spraying, such as higher potential risks of pesticide drift or pathogen transmission, uncertainty canopy deposition for different crops, and unexpected leaf breakage induced by downwash flow. Maximizing the utilization of downwash flow while avoiding lateral air movement outside the intended target crop area is a major issue for chemical application with UAV sprayers, particularly in light of the increasingly apparent consensus on the need for enhanced environmental protection during the chemical application process. It must be considered that the operation strategy in different scenarios and for different crop targets is not the same, unique requirements should be given on nozzle atomization, flight parameters, adjuvants and aircraft types in specific working situations. In future, the implementation of spray drift prediction, technical procedures development, and other solutions aimed at reducing pesticide drift and improving deposition quality, is expected to promote the adoption of UAV sprayers by more farmers. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.