Getting cosy in freshwater: Assumed to be brackish pike are not so brackish after all

Pike (Esox lucius) occupy coastal streams and rivers of the Baltic Sea, where they attain large sizes (>5 kg). These large sizes are perhaps due to the fact that they can tolerate relatively high salinities and can thus forage in the nearby more productive brackish environments. In an attempt to quantify the extent to which pike utilise brackish environments, and to provide some insight into the underlying causes for brackish water migrations, we tagged 30 pike from a western Baltic river with acoustic transmitters and were able to track 21 individuals for 1 year. Based on experienced from local anglers, this population was assumed to be brackish in nature, where individuals underwent freshwater migrations to spawn. Our findings however suggest that the smallest and most active individuals make short exits into brackish waters and do so on rare occasions. Our results further indicate that neither sex nor size is related to activity level. We suggest that these patterns reflect two distinct behaviours—active and passive—and that large pike can be supported by the food availability in the river, without the need to venture into coastal zones, thus defying the conventional view that Baltic pike are all brackish in nature.     

一个潜在催化莱鲍迪D苷合成的新型糖基转移酶

尿苷二磷酸糖基转移酶(uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferases,UGTs)催化糖基转移反应,与植物次生代谢密切相关。本研究根据甜叶菊(Stevia rebaudiana)转录组数据库,克隆到一个催化莱鲍迪D苷(rebaudioside D,RD)合成的新型糖基转移酶候选基因,对其开展生物信息学分析。结果表明,该基因开放阅读框长1380 bp,编码459个氨基酸,等电点(pI)预测为5.54,理论分子量约49.66 kD,系统发育分析表明该基因与向日葵中的UGT89A2同源,故将其命名为SrUGT89A2。构建pET28a-SrUGT89A2原核表达载体,并在大肠杆菌(BL21(DE3))中诱导表达得到重组蛋白,HPLC检测表明粗酶液能催化甜叶菊提取液形成一个新的色谱峰,该峰保留时间与莱鲍迪D苷一致。经进一步纯化UGT89A2蛋白,添加不同甜菊糖苷标准品为催化底物,但未鉴定出该蛋白催化的具体糖苷。该潜在催化甜菊糖RD苷合成的新型糖基转移酶基因SrUGT89A2的发现,为RD苷的生物合成和甜菊糖苷的生物途径研究提供新的理论依据。     

A genetic linkage map in southern‐by‐spring oat identifies multiple quantitative trait loci for adaptation and rust resistance

We developed 178 recombinant inbred lines from a southern‐by‐spring oat population designated as “TxH.” These lines were genotyped to generate a high‐quality linkage map that resolved 6,902 markers into 21 linkage groups that matched closely with the latest hexaploid oat consensus map. Three major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) affecting heading date were found in locations that are consistent with known QTLs and candidate genes, and two other QTLs affecting heading date were found in novel locations. Five QTLs affecting plant height were found. Both sets of QTLs are responsible for transgressive segregation observed for these two traits. Four QTLs affecting resistance to crown rust, caused by the pathogen Puccinia coronata f. sp. avenae, were identified. Two of these QTLs are consistent with known clusters of rust resistance genes, while two may represent new locations of novel rust resistance genes. A complete set of SNP sequences suitable for generating markers for molecular selection is provided.     

Whitened kernel surface: A fast and reliable method for assessing Fusarium severity on cereal grains by digital picture analysis

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a cereal disease of major importance responsible for yield losses and mycotoxin contaminations in grains. Here, we introduce a new measurement approach to quantify FHB severity on grains based on the evaluation of the whitened kernel surface (WKS) using digital image analysis. The applicability of WKS was assessed on two bread wheat and one triticale grain sample sets (265 samples). Pearson correlation coefficients between Fusarium‐damaged kernels (FDK) and WKS range from r = 0.77 to r = 0.81 and from r = 0.61 to r = 0.86 for the correlation between deoxynivalenol (DON) content and WKS. This new scoring method facilitates fast and reliable assessment of the resistance to kernel infection and shows significant correlation with mycotoxin content. WKS can be automated and does not suffer from the “human factor” inherent to visual scorings. As a low‐cost and fast approach, this method appears particularly attractive for breeding and genetic analysis of FHB resistance where typically large numbers of experimental lines need to be evaluated, and for which WKS is suggested as an alternative to visual FDK scorings.     

浅谈陆地棉杂种二代利用

棉花杂种优势利用是提高棉花产量主要途径之一。研究表明，一些陆地棉F₂仍具有明显的产量杂种优势，种子成本低廉的F2具有潜在的应用前景。本文综述了陆地棉F₂杂种优势遗传基础、优势表现以及目前生产上出现的问题，并从育种层面提出了有针对性的解决对策。     

基于UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS的不同产地普洱生茶化学成分差异研究

为了更加全面地了解产地对普洱生茶品质与化学成分的影响,本研究选取来自临沧市、普洱市、西双版纳州三大产区12个茶山(自然村)的普洱生茶样品,采用超高效液相色谱-四级杆-飞行时间质谱(UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS)对不同产地普洱生茶的非挥发性代谢物表型进行了研究。结果表明:不同产地普洱生茶的化学成分在含量上具有较大差异,且具有明显的产地特征。采用主成分分析,可以对来自西双版纳自治州(包括勐腊县、勐海县、景洪市)、普洱市、临沧市3个地级行政区的普洱生茶进行有效区分,也可以对来自普洱茶产区的东南、西南、西北3个区域的普洱生茶进行有效区分。进一步鉴定了普洱生茶中79种主要成分,并对其在12个茶山(自然村)的普洱生茶中的含量分布,以及与不同产地普洱生茶滋味品质的关系进行了分析。本研究表明,基于UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS的茶叶非挥发性化学成分轮廓可以作为普洱生茶产地判别的依据。     

欣试71143的特征特性及栽培技术

欣试71143是河北省河间市国欣农村技术服务总会选育的转基因抗虫棉品种，于2014年通过国家农作物品种审定委员会审定。本文主要介绍该品种的选育过程、特征特性及主要栽培技术。     

Improvement of ink-jet printing performances using β-cyclodextrin forming inclusion complex on cotton fabric

Cotton fabric was modified with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) forming inclusion complex to yield color strength, pattern sharpness, and color fastness for ink-jet printing. The modified cotton fabric was confirmed with the presence of new strong absorption peaks around 1713 cm^-1 and 1243 cm^-1 in FT-IR. β-CD had been covalently grafted on cotton fabric via the esterification reaction of citric acid (CTR) with cellulose and β-CD. The results indicated that printing performances of the ink-jet printed fabric were enhanced through β-CD modification. The K/S value was enhanced from 4.21 to 6.72, the width of printed line was decreased from 1.48 mm to 1.25 mm, and the color fastness was improved to 3-4 level. These improvements were due to the truncated cone structure of β-CD, which can form inclusions with water-based pigment. Meanwhile, the crease recovery performance was also improved with the aid of CTR. A comparison between the unmodified and modified cotton fabric suggested that the crease recovery angle of β-CD modified cotton fabric was increased by 25.0 % in the warp direction. Therefore, printing performance and crease recovery performance of β-CD modified and water-based pigment printed cotton fabric were enhanced remarkably.