不同处理对芹菜种子萌发过程中抗氧化系统及激素水平的影响

为研究芹菜种子的萌发机制,采用不同试剂组合（5 g/L NaOH+10% PEG、10% PEG+500 mg/L壳聚糖、5 g/L NaOH+500 mg/L壳聚糖）和不同温度(18、24、30℃)对芹菜种子进行处理,观察芹菜种子的萌发指标,并探究种子萌发过程中的抗氧化系统及内源激素水平的变化。结果表明,30℃对种子发芽率、发芽势及发芽指数提高具有促进作用,加快种子萌发进程。与蒸馏水对照组相比,试剂组合处理在18、24℃时种子发芽率、发芽势和发芽指数升高,促进种子萌发,18℃时5 g/L NaOH+500 mg/L壳聚糖处理下的发芽势最高,24℃时5 g/L NaOH+10% PEG处理下发芽势达到最大值;30℃时不同试剂组合处理间发芽率、发芽势和发芽指数无明显差异。18、30℃对种子具有一定程度的胁迫作用,种子SOD和CAT活性较24℃条件下有所增加;18℃时MDA含量和脯氨酸含量显著增加;5 g/L NaOH+10% PEG处理能显著降低MDA含量。萌发过程中,芹菜种子内部ABA含量下降,GA₃、ZA含量增加。试剂组合及适当高温有利于提高芹菜种子的发芽率、发芽势和发芽指数,促进种子萌发,提高种子萌发整齐度;芹菜种子萌发过程中抗氧化系统和激素水平会积极响应不同的处理条件。     

外源ABA对苹果砧木叶片解剖结构 及内源激素含量的影响

通过光镜和透射电镜分别观察外源脱落酸（ABA）处理下楸子（Malus prunifolia）、平邑甜茶（M. hupehensis）和新疆野苹果（M. sieversii）叶片解剖结构及叶绿体超微结构的变化，利用扫描电镜和酶联免疫法分别研究ABA处理对叶片气孔特征及其内源激素含量的影响。结果表明：与对照相比，ABA处理下楸子、平邑甜茶和新疆野苹果的叶厚分别减少了7.93%、0.25%和0.81%，栅栏组织厚度分别减少了31.43%、8.53%和4.99%（P＜0.05），海绵组织厚度分别增加了10.34%、6.14%和5.63%（P＜0.05），叶肉组织结构疏松度（SR）分别增加了19.59%、6.55%和6.50%。ABA处理下楸子和平邑甜茶的栅栏组织/海绵组织厚度比值（P/S）及叶肉组织结构紧密度（CTR）较对照显著减少（P＜0.05），其中，P/S值分别下降37.86%和13.82%，CTR分别下降25.46%和8.29%，而新疆野苹果的P/S值和CTR下降但不显著。此外，ABA处理下楸子和平邑甜茶的上表皮细胞厚度较对照分别增加了5.82%和6.43%，新疆野苹果的较对照减少了26.23%（P＜0.05）；楸子和新疆野苹果的下表皮细胞厚度较对照增加了12.09%和14.21%（P＜0.05），平邑甜茶的较对照减少了12.56%。平邑甜茶和新疆野苹果叶片上下角质层厚度较对照显著增加（P＜0.05），而楸子的变化不显著。在ABA诱导下，3种砧木的气孔密度、气孔大小（长度×宽度）及其开口度和开张比均不同程度地下降，其中，楸子的较对照分别下降了3.62%、7.12%×19.59%、67.60%和86.66%，平邑甜茶的分别下降了3.50%、4.99%×20.65%、32.42%和58.24%，新疆野苹果的分别下降了8.54%、0.92%×12.06%、20.37%和16.35%。ABA处理下3种砧木叶片细胞中叶绿体的数量变少，类囊体结构排列疏松，叶绿体上的淀粉粒趋于变小。外施ABA使3种砧木叶片内源ABA和玉米素核苷（ZR）的含量极显著增加（P＜0.01），其中楸子ABA和ZR含量比对照分别增加30.83%和13.31%，平邑甜茶的分别增加62.40%和45.28%，而新疆野苹果的分别增加了37.07%和17.06%。楸子和新疆野苹果叶片的吲哚乙酸（IAA）和赤霉素（GA）含量无显著变化，而平邑甜茶叶片的IAA及GA含量比对照分别增加了62.62%和20.62%（P＜0.01）。总之，在ABA处理下，3种苹果砧木的叶片组织解剖结构和气孔特征都发生旱生性结构变化，叶肉细胞中淀粉粒趋于变小，叶片内源ABA和ZR水平增加显著，而IAA和GA水平变化因基因型不同而存在差异。     

渭北地区富士苹果不同砧穗组合幼树内源激素含量与早花性和易成形性关系的研究

以3~4年生5个不同砧穗组合富士苹果幼树为材料,研究植物内源激素含量与早花性和易成形性间的关系。结果表明:乔化砧组合树体高大、生长旺盛,短枝比例和花序数量均显著低于矮化砧组合。矮化砧木组合中,M26组合虽然短枝比例很高,但单株成花量低,树体长势弱;SH16组合次之;T337组合长势中庸、单株成花量大。一年中,春、秋梢开始生长期,幼叶IAA、ZR含量出现高峰,根系第2次生长高峰期,细根IAA、ZR、GA_3含量出现高峰。幼叶ZR和细根IAA含量呈负相关,IAA、GA_3分别在地上部和地下部之间存在正相关。5月5日,幼叶IAA和ZR含量分别与当年生枝量呈正相关;5月20日,ZR、ZR/GA_3分别与短枝比例呈正相关,GA_3与花序数量呈负相关;根系第2次生长高峰期,苹果幼树开花相关指标分别与细根中的IAA、ZR、GA_3、IAA/ZR呈正相关,说明内源激素在地上部成花与地下部根系生长过程中具有重要调节作用。渭北地区,T337自根砧木富士苹果组合体现了早花性和树体易成形性的统一。     

Gene cloning of ZmMYB59 transcription factor in maize and its expression during seed germination in response to deep‐sowing and exogenous hormones

Discovering the key genes responsible for deep‐sowing germination is very meaningful to cultivate maize varieties with strong germination ability in soil. In this study, ZmMYB59 gene whose functions remain unknown was successfully cloned. Subcellular localization showed that ZmMYB59 was localized in the nucleus. By analysing cis‐acting elements of its promoter sequence, many elements of MYB binding domain responsive to hormones (particularly gibberellin, GA) were found. On this basis, ZmMYB59 expression in different sowing depths, germination stages, tissues and treatments was analysed by real‐time PCR. ZmMYB59 expression levels in embryos or seedlings were significantly decreased with the increase in sowing depth at 2 days or 4 days after sowing (DAS). Further analysis showed that its expression in mesocotyls was also significantly downregulated with the increase in sowing depth at both 6 DAS and 8 DAS. Similarly, seed soaking with 10^‐5 M GA₃ inhibited ZmMYB59 expression in mesocotyls at 3 DAS. These results suggest that ZmMYB59 may play a negative regulatory role in seed germination in deep soil and the regulation is involved in GA signalling pathway.     

杨木低聚木糖对肉鸡生长性能、肠道消化酶活性和短链脂肪酸含量及血清激素水平的影响

本试验以肉鸡为研究对象,对以杨木屑为原料、采用醋酸催化法制取的低聚木糖进行评价,研究低聚木糖对肉鸡生长性能、肠道消化酶活性和短链脂肪酸含量及血清激素水平的影响,探讨低聚木糖的促生长机制,为醋酸催化法生产低聚木糖的应用提供理论依据。选用120只1日龄爱拔益加肉公鸡,随机分为2个组,即对照组和低聚木糖组,每组6个重复,每个重复10只鸡。对照组饲喂基础饲粮,低聚木糖组以0.02%低聚木糖等量替代基础饲粮中的沸石,试验期为42 d。结果表明:1)与对照组相比,饲粮添加低聚木糖显著提高了肉鸡42日龄时的体重以及22~42日龄和1~42日龄的平均日增重(P<0.05),显著降低了料重比(P<0.05),对平均日采食量无显著影响(P>0.05);2)与对照组相比,饲粮添加低聚木糖显著提高了肉鸡十二指肠脂肪酶活性(P<0.05),有提高十二指肠蛋白酶活性的趋势(P=0.056),但对空肠、回肠和盲肠脂肪酶和蛋白酶活性无显著影响(P>0.05);3)与对照组相比,饲粮添加低聚木糖对盲肠短链脂肪酸含量无显著影响(P>0.05);4)与对照组相比,饲粮添加低聚木糖显著增加了肉鸡血清生长激素和三碘甲腺原氨酸(T 3)含量(P<0.05),显著降低了血清甲状腺素(T 4)含量(P<0.05),显著降低了T 4/T 3值(P<0.05)。综上所述,低聚木糖通过提高肠道消化酶活性,促进与生长相关的激素分泌,提高营养物质利用率,从而改善肉鸡的生长性能。     

马早期流产相关功能基因挖掘的研究

旨在探究与马早期流产相关的功能基因。在同一舍饲马群体中筛选配种后45 d能够检查到胚胎,但2~4个月后发生流产的母马10匹（流产组）,以及能正常分娩的母马10匹（分娩组）。采集马匹血液样本,提取基因组DNA。全基因组平均测序深度为10×,基因组覆盖度97%以上,每个样本大约测得4×10⁶个SNP。对流产组和分娩组的全基因组重测序数据进行比较。结果表明：通过Fst分析获得1 381个SNP位点,π分析获得1 614个SNP位点,联合分析得到203个SNP位点;过滤掉突变基因间区域、非编码区域、内含子和同义SNV后得到82个SNP位点,定位于69个基因上;通过GO term、信号通路富集分析以及文献查阅,筛选出其中的12个基因为马早期流产和胚胎着床的重要候选基因,这些候选基因通过参与激素调节、胚胎侵入、维生素合成代谢等影响胚胎着床。研究结果为揭示引起马匹早期流产的原因提供了生物信息学方面的参考。     

Stress steroid levels and the short-term impact of routine dehorning in female southern white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum simum)

Rhinoceros populations in Africa are under severe threat as a result of surging poaching rates and risk-mitigation strategies are continuously adapted in an attempt to ensure the survival of the species. This study compared faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) levels of two age classes of limited free-ranging female white rhinos with fGCM levels of adult free-ranging female white rhinos. Subsequently, fGCM alterations in the limited free-ranging animals were monitored following routine dehorning as a measure of the animals’ short-term physiological stress response. Baseline fGCM levels differed significantly between tested groups, with both free-ranging and limited free-ranging adult animals showing significantly higher fGCM levels compared with limited free-ranging juvenile females. In contrast, baseline fGCM levels did not differ significantly between limited free-ranging and free-ranging adult individuals. Routine dehorning procedures resulted in a short-term stress response expressed by a significant increase in fGCM levels 48 h post-dehorning, with stress steroid levels returning to pre-dehorning concentrations 72 h after the procedure.     

Polymorphism in promoter region of growth hormone receptor is associated with potential production capacity of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 in pre‐pubertal Holstein heifers

Insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) is one of the important factors for growth, milk production and reproductive functions and mainly released from the liver in response to growth hormone (GH) via GH receptor (GHR) in cattle. Recently, some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in the bovine GHR gene. Some GHR‐SNPs were shown to be related to plasma IGF‐1 concentration in cattle. Hence, the capacity to IGF‐1 production in the liver might be affected by GHR‐SNP and associated with performance in the future. This study examined whether GHR‐SNP is associated with IGF‐1 production in the liver of pre‐pubertal heifers. In 71 Holstein calves, blood samples for genomic DNA extraction were obtained immediately after birth. To genotype the GHR‐SNPs in the promoter region, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products were digested with restriction enzyme NsiI (cutting sites: AA, AG and GG). All heifers at 4 months of age were intramuscularly injected with 0.4 mg oestradiol benzoate. Blood samples were obtained from the jugular vein just before (0 h) and 24 h after injection. The number of AA, AG and GG at the NsiI site was 0, 17 and 54 respectively. In AG and GG, plasma GH concentrations were higher pre‐injection than 24 h post‐injection (p < 0.01). Moreover, plasma GH concentrations in AG post‐injection were higher than in GG (p < 0.05). In contrast, the GG genotype exhibited higher plasma IGF‐1 concentrations in pre‐injection than post‐injection (p < 0.01), although oestradiol did not change IGF‐1 concentration in the AG genotype. We conclude that the GG polymorphism in the promoter region of GHR is associated with a higher potential capacity of IGF‐1 production in the liver of cattle.     

Suppression of behavioural and physiological oestrus in the mare by vaccination against GnRH

OBJECTIVE: To examine the immunogenicity of an equine immunocontraceptive vaccine and its efficacy in controlling hormone-related behaviour. DESIGN: A total of 24 mares at two sites in Australia were vaccinated with an immunocontraceptive vaccine comprising gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) conjugated to a carrier protein in immunostimulating complex as an adjuvant. Twelve animals at each site received a placebo of adjuvant alone and served as controls for seasonal oestrus, hormonal and behaviour patterns. Animals were observed for injection site reactions, ovarian and follicular activity, and serum levels of antibody, 17beta-oestradiol and progesterone in the weeks following vaccination. Mares were also examined for oestrous behaviour by teasing with a stallion. RESULTS: All mares responded to vaccination. Two weeks following the second vaccination there was a peak in antibody response to GnRH that declined gradually over the following weeks. Commensurate with the elevated anti-GnRH antibody there was a marked effect on ovarian activity with a reduction in 17beta-oestradiol and progesterone levels in the 24 vaccinated mares. There was also a reduction of oestrus-related behaviour as determined by a teaser stallion. This effect lasted a minimum of 3 months and correlated with the initial level of antibody response. CONCLUSION: Following a conventional two-dose immunisation regime this commercially available equine immunocontraceptive vaccine was effective at inhibiting oestrous behaviour for at least 3 months. This vaccine has a high level of safety since there were no significant local reactions nor were there any adverse systemic responses to vaccination.