Variation and heritability of morphological and physiological traits among Leymus chinensis genotypes under different environmental conditions

Intraspecific trait variation and heritability in different environmental conditions not only suggest a potential for an evolutionary response but also have important ecological consequences at the population, community, and ecosystem levels. However, the contribution of quantitative trait variation within a grassland species to evolutionary responses or ecological consequences is seldom documented. Leymus chinensis is an important dominant species in semi-arid grasslands of China, which has seriously suffered from drought and high temperature stresses in recent decades. In the present study, we measured variation and heritability of 10 quantitative traits, namely the number of tillers, maximum shoot height, number of rhizomes, maximum rhizome length, rhizome mass, aboveground mass, root mass, maximum net photosynthetic rate(Pmax), specific leaf area(SLA), and leaf length to leaf width ratio(LL/LW), for 10 genotypes of L. chinensis under one non-stress(Ck) condition and three environmental stress conditions(i.e., drought(Dr), high temperature(Ht), and both drought and high temperature(DrHt)). Result indicated that(1) the interaction of genotype and environmental condition(G×E) was significant for 6 traits but not significant for the other 4 traits as shown by two-way analysis of variance(ANOVA), suggesting that different selection forces were placed for different traits on the factors dominating phenotypic responses to different environmental conditions. Moreover, these significant G×E effects on traits indicated significantly different phenotypic adaptive responses among L. chinensis genotypes to different environmental conditions. Additionally, individuals could be grouped according to environmental condition rather than genotype as shown by canonical discriminant analysis, indicating that environmental condition played a more important role in affecting phenotypic variation than genotype;(2) by one-way ANOVA, significant differences among L. chinensis genotypes were found in all 10 traits under Ck and Dr conditions, in 8 traits under Dr Ht condition and only in 4 traits under Ht condition; and(3) all 10 traits showed relatively low or non-measurable broad-sense heritability(H_2) under stress conditions. However, the lowest H_2 value for most traits did not occur under DrHt condition, which supported the hypothesis of 'unfavorable conditions have unpredictable effects' rather than 'unfavorable conditions decrease heritability'. Results from our experiment might aid to improve predictions on the potential impacts of climate changes on L. chinensis and eventually species conservation and ecosystem restoration.     

植保机在线混药系统的设计及混药性能试验

为提高植保机喷雾作业中的农药利用率,设计了一种在线混药系统。混药系统主要包括取水单元、取药单元、混合器和控制单元。系统工作时,控制单元控制取水单元和取药单元抽取水溶液和农药,注入混合器混合,混合液经隔膜泵加压后经过喷头喷施。基于计算流体力学理论,建立内置7块扰流板且注药口和注水口沿边壁垂直分布并正对第1块扰流板的圆柱形静态混合器模型,运用Fluent软件对模型进行数值分析,结果常压(0.1MPa)时,混合器出口处药水混合均匀性变异系数为2.2%,药水混合效果最佳,但注药口有药剂回流现象,故提出药剂加压的模拟方案。药剂加压1MPa时,注药口无药剂回流现象,药水混合均匀性变异系数为2.0%,药水混合效果优于常压。用胭脂红溶液替代农药进行试验,加压状态下,混药系统喷头处混药稳定性最大相对误差为4.301%,药水混合变异系数最大,为3.989%,混药性能优于常压,与仿真结果基本吻合;对在线混药系统进行隔膜泵变工况试验,结果水流量在35～140 L/min时,药水配比为(1∶300)～(1∶3 000)时,在线混药系统混合均匀性系数最大,为4.670%。     

田园综合体建设初期土地利用效益综合评价——以鲁家村为例

以鲁家村田园综合体项目为例,构建田园综合体土地利用效益评价指标体系,综合运用层次分析法和变异系数法组合确定指标权重,并从社会效益、经济效益、生态效益3方面对其土地利用效益进行综合分析,以期为田园综合体建设提供借鉴。结果显示:鲁家村田园综合体建设初期土地利用效益评价中,社会效益、经济效益、生态效益所占比重依次减小。鲁家村土地利用效益在田园综合体规划实施后有较大提升,社会效益、经济效益于2016—2017年增幅较大,2017—2018年增幅较小;生态效益在2016—2018年总体呈现稳定小幅增长。总的来看,鲁家村田园综合体建设对当地社会发展、经济提升、生态保护等均有正向影响,且在短期内社会效益、经济效益显著,而生态效应提升不明显。     

基质栽培黄瓜叶片水分状况、光合与荧光参数对不同灌水下限的响应

为探明基质栽培黄瓜适宜的灌水下限,实现农艺节水,以黄瓜品种博特209为试材,采用基质盆栽,共设置4个灌水下限处理,即田间持水量的50%、60%、70%、80%,用A、B、C、D表示,灌水上限统一设定为田间持水量的90%,采用TDR350水分速测仪控制基质的水分含量,研究不同灌水下限对基质栽培黄瓜叶片水分状况、光合日变化及荧光参数的影响。结果表明:随着灌水下限的提高,叶片的相对含水量、自由水含量及自由水/束缚水的比值呈逐渐上升的趋势,水分饱和亏、叶片细胞汁液浓度及束缚水含量则呈下降趋势,处理C、D的相对含水量、自由水含量均显著(P<0.05)高于处理A、B,处理A细胞汁液浓度显著高于处理C、D,处理A、B束缚水含量显著(P<0.05)高于处理C、D。叶绿素a、叶绿素b和叶绿素a+b的含量均随灌水下限的升高呈现为先上升后下降的趋势,而类胡萝卜素含量则表现为先下降后上升的趋势,处理C叶绿素a、叶绿素a+b含量显著(P<0.05)高于处理A、B;处理C、D黄瓜叶片的胞间二氧化碳浓度(C_i)的变化趋势基本呈“V”型,而处理A、B的Ci的变化趋势基本呈“W”型;处理A、B、C、D的蒸腾速率(T_r)日变化均呈先上升后下降的趋势,处理B、C、D的Tr在14:00后呈现逐渐下降的趋势,而处理A在12:00后就呈快速下降的趋势;处理B、C、D的气孔导度(G_s)日变化大致呈“M”型的双峰曲线,处理A则呈单峰曲线;处理A、B、C、D叶片净光合速率(P_n)与G_s日变化趋势基本一致,在整个日变化过程中,处理C、D的P_n始终高于处理A、B。F_v/F_m、Φ_PSⅡ、qP随灌水下限的提高呈逐渐上升的趋势,而NPQ呈逐渐下降的趋势。研究结果表明,灌水下限为田间持水量的70%~80%,基质栽培黄瓜叶片的水分状况良好、光合色素含量高、净光合速率大,有利于黄瓜的光合作用,促进黄瓜的生长发育。     

Reducing crude protein variability and maximizing savings when formulating corn-soybean meal-based feeds

Crude protein in corn and soybean meal have been documented to vary, and such inherent variability can result in under- or over-feeding of CP when feeds are formulated, leading to reduced bird growth, added input costs, and increased environmental pollution. The purpose of this study was to compare 2 grain-handling techniques and 2 feed formulation methods (linear vs. stochastic programming) to reduce CP variability in finished feeds and determine resulting costs or savings. The 2 grain-handling techniques were placing all the random batches of each delivered ingredient in to (1) a single bin (1-bin method) or (2) segregating above- and below-average samples into 2 bins (2-bin method). A fast way of estimating the composition of the ingredients is now available (near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy). Microsoft Excel workbooks were constructed to solve broiler starter feed formulation problems. Formulating feeds by linear and stochastic models based on the 2-bin method reduced CP variability by at least 50% compared with the 1-bin method. Formula cost was reduced by ˜20 cents per ton (averages of August 2012 United States ingredient prices) when the 2-bin method was used with the linear model. Formulating feed with a margin of safety increased formula cost by $3.40 per ton. Stochastic feed formulation increased formula cost to meet the specified CP level in feed at any probability of success, and formula cost was reduced substantially with the 2-bin method (up to $6.47 per ton). The magnitude of savings and reduced feed variability suggested that, regardless of the costs associated with building extra bins, the 2-bin method can be economically efficient in the long run. Therefore, it could be possible to split the batches of feed ingredients at a feed mill into above- or below-average bins before feed formulation to reduce CP variability and to maximize savings.     

Cultivation Influences on Soil Organic Carbon Associated with Texture in Seasonally Frozen Zones

[Objective] This study aimed to examine indicative roles of texture representing soil organic carbon presence and variability subsequent to cultivation under cold temperate climates with seasonal freeze-thaw events.[Method] Three chronosequences were selected for paired comparisons.Soil samples were collected at six depths with a 10 cm increment.Analysis of variance with general linear model and regression was performed for statistical analysis.[Result] In seasonally frozen soils where fragmentation of macroaggregates was stimulated,soil organic carbon level was positively associated with clay ＋ silt proportion due to a wider textural range,better than sole clay content.Exponential function better fitted the experimental data to present progressively increased effectiveness of clay ＋ silt content in maintaining carbon.Clay content explained 12％-41％ and 14％-43％ of variation via linear and exponential functions,respectively.Accordingly,clay ＋ silt content explained 47％-65％ and 46％-70％.[Conclusion] Texture reflected soil organic carbon occurrence as consequences of reclamation.For seasonally frozen soils with wider textural ranges,it is robust to adapt clay ＋ silt content as dependent variable and exponential function.The generated algorithms provided an available pathway to estimate soil organic carbon losses following cultivation and to evaluate soil fertility.     

闽北地区枫香优树子代生长性状变异分析及选择

在福建省三明市郊国有林场对来自安徽省南部黄山地区的53个枫香家系进行子代测定试验,开展优良家系选择。结果表明,14年生时,试验林树高、胸径、地径、材积、圆满度的平均值分别为9.87 m、7.87 cm、11.18 cm、0.0267 m3、0.72,变幅分别为0.90~16.7 m、2.30~15.60 cm、3.20~22.50 cm、0.00072~0.15060 m3、0.21~0.97,树高、胸径、地径、材积、圆满度的家系遗传力分别为0.476、0.550、0.531、0.520和0.414,单株遗传力分别为0.188、0.211、0.207、0.221和0.107。通过综合比较,从参试的53个家系中选择出9个速生优良家系,树高、胸径和材积的平均值分别为10.70 m、8.98 cm和0.0415m3,平均遗传增益分别为2.50%、5.00%和19.37%,这些优良家系适宜福建省三明地区推广应用。     

Characterization of an intravenous lipopolysaccharide inflammation model in calves with respect to the acute-phase response

Our objective was to develop a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inflammation model in calves to evaluate the acute-phase response with respect to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and acute-phase proteins, fever development and sickness behaviour. Fourteen 4-week-old male Holstein Friesian calves were included and randomly assigned to a negative control group (n = 3) and an LPS-challenged group (n = 11). The latter received an intravenous bolus injection of 0.5 μg of LPS/kg body weight. Blood collection and clinical scoring were performed at 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 18, 24, 28, 32, 48, 54 and 72 h post LPS administration (p.a.). In the LPS group, the following clinical signs were observed successively: tachypnoea (on average 18 min p.a.), decubitus (29 min p.a.), general depression (1.75 h p.a.), fever (5 h p.a.) and tachycardia (5 h p.a.). Subsequent to the recovery from respiratory distress, general depression was prominent, which deteriorated when fever increased. One animal did not survive LPS administration, whereas the other animals recovered on average within 6.1 h p.a. Moreover, the challenge significantly increased plasma concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin 6, serum amyloid A and haptoglobin, with peaking levels at 1, 3.5, 24 and 18 h p.a., respectively. The present LPS model was practical and reproducible, caused obvious clinical signs related to endotoxemia and a marked change in the studied inflammatory mediators, making it a suitable model to study the immunomodulatory properties of drugs in future research.