A new lean no time test baking method with improved discriminating power

In response to customer concerns related to gluten strength in commercial baking, the Canadian Grain Commission assessed whether the Canadian Short Process (CSP) test bake method was generating useful data related to intrinsic strength of wheat varieties. Assessment of CSP loaf volume data for Canadian variety trials spanning 2003 to 2013 showed very little correlation with dough strength parameters as measured by farinograph and extensigraph. A lean no time (LNT) test baking method was developed that can better discriminate genotypes and provide objective indicators of the effect of intrinsic dough strength on baking quality. From early method development, through method validation and verification using diverse sets of samples targeting different Canadian wheat classes and grown in three different crop years, results showed the LNT method to be more discriminating and easily adopted by other laboratories. In 2015, the LNT method was adopted as the method of choice in future Canadian variety registration trials. The LNT method is fast, simple and well-suited to high throughput test baking conditions encountered in the evaluation of large numbers of breeder lines. A new objective parameter, loaf top ratio, was also introduced and found to correlate well with dough strength and dough handling properties.     

基于正交设计的糙条消能工评价方法

在新疆635溢洪道整治工程研究的基础上,基于正交设计原理,对溢洪道布置糙条消能工进行6因素3水平的正交试验,试验测得18种组合典型断面的瞬时流速和水深;通过对弯道微元化处理的方法,建立了质量离散系数C_m模型,并结合消能率η对试验结果进行了极差分析;考虑到建立导流效果评价方法的普适性,定义量纲一因子R_d和R_s,对布置参数与工程参数之间的相关性做了进一步分析.结果表明:质量离散系数C_m能够客观地反映糙条消能工的导流效果;就C_m指标影响程度而言,工程参数较布置参数的影响程度占主导地位,在实际工程中,工程参数的确定应充分考虑水流形态;由于R_d和R_s均是量纲一参数,因此在一般整流工程导流效果的评价方法上具有普适性.     

不同水分胁迫下的小麦/玉米间作群体响应机理研究

为探明不同水分胁迫下小麦/玉米间作群体响应机理,试验设置了1个充分灌水、3个不同水分胁迫程度间作处理及2个充分灌水单作对照处理。结果表明:共生期内,各间作处理间普遍存在小麦条带水分捕获当量比高于玉米条带的现象,随水分胁迫的加剧,此趋势愈加明显;随着生育期的推进,此趋势渐弱甚至出现反转,而带间的水分相对竞争能力则呈现逐渐下降的规律。在根系分布特征方面,充分灌溉下间作群体平均根系分布深度为17. 15～17. 24 cm,其根质量密度的90. 42%～90. 77%分布于耕层内,其中小麦为87. 49%～88. 70%,玉米为92. 63%～92. 81%,而水分胁迫会显著影响间作群体根系的空间分布。在间作优势方面,要保持间作优势,每次灌水最少需满足80%左右的田间持水率,随水分胁迫程度的增加,间作群体土地当量比呈现先微升、后下降的规律,且间作玉米的偏土地当量比下降速率快于间作小麦。在种间相对竞争能力方面,表现出随水分胁迫的加剧,小麦相对于玉米先微升、后快速下降,并逐渐近于消失的趋势。间作群体的特殊性造成了两作物条带存在时间与空间上的土壤水分差异,进而导致灌溉水入渗速度及入渗总量的不同,而水分胁迫增大了这种趋势,这在一定程度上满足了灌溉水的最佳去处,从而提高了间作群体的水分利用效率,进而揭示了间作群体的节水增产机理。     

云岭水果笋高产栽培技术研究

试验研究了不同地区、不同栽培措施对高氏甜龙竹发笋及笋产量的影响。结果表明：在云南勐海县、普洱市海拔1 300~1 700 m，重庆市武隆区、四川宜宾市等地海拔600 m以下的地区适合栽种笋用高氏甜龙竹；高氏甜龙竹栽植适宜的株行距为2 m×4 m，栽种时，以每丛留3~4株母竹、米径控制在4~8 cm为宜；在母竹高2.5 m处封顶可促进枝叶生长和笋芽萌发，增加笋产量；施肥、浇水、竹丛覆盖和剥土晒蔸等措施均能提高笋产量。     

Comparison of the microbial communities of alpacas and sheep fed diets with three different ratios of corn stalk to concentrate

The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of ruminal microbial communities of alpacas (Lama pacos) and sheep (Ovis aries) fed three diets with varying ratios of roughage (corn stalk) to concentrate, 3:7 (LS), 5:5 (MS) and 7:3 (HS). Six alpacas (one-year-old and weighing 29.5 ± 7.1 kg) and six sheep (one-year-old and weighing 27.9 ± 2.7 kg) were used in this study, in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square experiment. Total protozoa concentration was determined under the microscope; total fungi and methanogens were assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and expressed as a percentage of total bacterial 16S rRNA gene copies; bacterial communities were investigated by targeted 16S rRNA gene (V3–V4 region) sequencing. The percentage of fungi was significantly higher in alpacas than in sheep under the LS diet, while the concentration of protozoa was significantly lower in alpacas under HS, MS and LS diets. The alpha diversity including Shannon, Chao l and ACE indices of bacterial communities was higher in alpacas than in sheep, under the LS diet. A total of 299 genera belonging to 22 phyla were observed in the forestomach of alpaca and sheep, with Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes dominating both animal species. Phyla Armatimonadetes and Fusobacteria, as well as 64 genera, were detected only in alpacas, whereas phyla Acidobacteria and Nitrospira, as well as 44 genera, were found only in sheep. The abundance of cellulolytic bacteria, including Butyrivibrio and Pseudobutyrivibrio, was higher in alpacas than in sheep under all three diets. These differences in the forestomach microbial communities partly explained why alpacas displayed a higher poor-quality roughage digestibility, and a lower methane production. Results also revealed that the adverse effects of high-concentrate diets (70%) were lesser in alpacas than in sheep.     

切根与不同形态氮素对板栗苗木根系构型及生长的影响

为探明不同调控技术对板栗根系构型的影响和对板栗生长发育的作用效果,以期为培育高质量板栗苗木提供科学依据,采用大田板栗苗木为对象进行切根(切根深度分别为12、8、4 cm、CK)及不同形态氮素(尿素、硝酸钠、CK)追肥试验。结果表明:苗高生长量最大的处理为X2N2,地径生长量最大的处理为X4N1,不同处理苗木地径生长量差异性不显著;在同样切根深度的处理下,施用尿素的苗木在根系总根长、总表面积、总体积上均大于施用硝酸钠的苗木,也即NH^+4较NO^-3对板栗苗木根系生长发育具有更好的促进效果;X1N1、X2N1、X2N3处理在不同径级侧根的根长、根表面积、根体积上分别达到最高,差异性显著(P<0.05)。综合考虑苗木根系指标和形态指标,X2N1即切根深度8 cm结合施用尿素为板栗苗木根系的最佳调控处理。     

茉莉酸合成抑制剂对棉花脱分化及茎尖培养的影响

以棉花幼苗下胚轴和茎尖作为试验材料,通过添加不同浓度的外源茉莉酸合成抑制剂,观察棉花下胚轴生根及愈伤组织的形成率以及对茎尖分化的影响,探究茉莉酸合成抑制剂对棉花脱分化及茎尖培养的影响。结果表明,茉莉酸合成抑制剂可以显著地促进愈伤组织的生成,加快生根,但是会在一定程度上抑制愈伤组织POD及SOD的活性。当茉莉酸合成抑制剂浓度为0.075 mg·L~(-1)时,对生根及愈伤组织形成方面作用效果最显著。而在茎尖培养过程中,2.0 mg·L~(-1)的茉莉酸合成抑制剂在棉花茎尖培养初期对分生组织分化起显著促进作用,棉花生长量最大,植株SOD酶和POD酶活性最大。     

An additional life-history tactic of masu salmon: Migration of parr to coastal habitats

Alternative life-history tactics of masu salmon Oncorhynchus masou are well documented. Subsequent to the freshwater parr stage (age ≥ 1 + years), an anadromous form migrates to the sea after smolting, while a resident form matures without seaward migration. In addition to this typical migratory dimorphism, anecdotal reports based on field observations have indicated that some underyearling masu salmon use estuarine waters. However, no empirical evidence indicates saltwater utilisation and subsequent survival in the early parr stage. Here, we used otolith microchemistry to examine whether a portion of masu salmon parr in northern Japan enters coastal habitats. The otolith Sr:Ca ratios of most juveniles collected from six rivers had consistently low values, indicating that masu salmon parr inhabiting these rivers stay only in freshwater. In contrast, in individuals from a steep-gradient river the Sr:Ca ratios increased at about a 200-µm distance from the otolith core. These results suggest that some masu salmon parr might use brackish water or sea water temporarily. In addition, three masu salmon parr were found in another steep river where a culvert located only ten metres from the river mouth completely blocked upstream migration for spawning. The Sr:Ca ratios in these fish increased at about >200 µm from the otolith core, indicating the parr had immigrated to the non-natal river from the sea. Such flexible behaviour at an early life stage may contribute to the spatial expansion of masu salmon, and the movement could moreover help to stabilise its population dynamics.     

Sorghum extrusion process combined with biofortified sweet potato contributed for high iron bioavailability in Wistar rats

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sorghum and sweet potato on the bioavailability of iron, gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism and the plasma antioxidant capacity in animals fed with whole sorghum grains processed by dry heat or extrusion, combined or not with sweet potato flour with high content of carotenoids. Five experimental groups were tested (n = 7): dry heat sorghum flour (DS); extruded sorghum flour (ES); whole sorghum flour + sweet potato flour (DS + SP); extruded sorghum flour + sweet potato flour (ES + SP) and positive control (FS). The evaluations included: hemoglobin gain, hemoglobin regeneration efficiency, gene expression of divalente metal transporter 1 (DMT-1), duodenal citochroma B (DcytB), ferroportin, hephaestin, transferrin and ferritin and total plasma antioxidant capacity (TAC). The ES + SP group showed higher (p < 0.05) expression of DcytB, ferroportin and hephaestin when compared to the control group. The DS group showed high (p < 0.05) expression of DMT-1 and the ES showed high mRNA expression of transferrin and ferritin. The changes in the sorghum physicochemical properties from extrusion process reduced the iron and phytate content, and increased the gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism, improving iron bioavailability. The combination of sweet potato and sorghum flour (dry or extruded) improved the iron capture and total antioxidant capacity, probably due to the presence of β-carotene and antioxidant compounds.