Na?ve-like conversion enhances the difference in innate in vitro differentiation capacity between rabbit ES cells and iPS cells

Quality evaluation of pluripotent stem cells using appropriate animal models needs to be improved for human regenerative medicine. Previously, we demonstrated that although the in vitro neural differentiating capacity of rabbit induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be mitigated by improving their baseline level of pluripotency, i.e., by converting them into the so-called “naïve-like” state, the effect after such conversion of rabbit embryonic stem cells (ESCs) remains to be elucidated. Here we found that naïve-like conversion enhanced the differences in innate in vitro differentiation capacity between ESCs and iPSCs. Naïve-like rabbit ESCs exhibited several features indicating pluripotency, including the capacity for teratoma formation. They differentiated into mature oligodendrocytes much more effectively (3.3–7.2 times) than naïve-like iPSCs. This suggests an inherent variation in differentiation potential in vitro among PSC lines. When naïve-like ESCs were injected into preimplantation rabbit embryos, although they contributed efficiently to forming the inner cell mass of blastocysts, no chimeric pups were obtained. Thus, in vitro neural differentiation following naïve-like conversion is a promising option for determining the quality of PSCs without the need to demonstrate chimeric contribution. These results provide an opportunity to evaluate which pluripotent stem cells or treatments are best suited for therapeutic use.     

Cell-free extract from porcine induced pluripotent stem cells can affect porcine somatic cell nuclear reprogramming

Pretreatment of somatic cells with undifferentiated cell extracts, such as embryonic stem cells and mammalian oocytes, is an attractive alternative method for reprogramming control. The properties of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are similar to those of embryonic stem cells; however, no studies have reported somatic cell nuclear reprogramming using iPSC extracts. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of porcine iPSC extracts treatment on porcine ear fibroblasts and early development of porcine cloned embryos produced from porcine ear skin fibroblasts pretreated with the porcine iPSC extracts. The Chariot^TM reagent system was used to deliver the iPSC extracts into cultured porcine ear skin fibroblasts. The iPSC extracts-treated cells (iPSC-treated cells) were cultured for 3 days and used for analyzing histone modification and somatic cell nuclear transfer. Compared to the results for nontreated cells, the trimethylation status of histone H3 lysine residue 9 (H3K9) in the iPSC-treated cells significantly decreased. The expression of Jmjd2b, the H3K9 trimethylation-specific demethylase gene, significantly increased in the iPSC-treated cells; conversely, the expression of the proapoptotic genes, Bax and p53, significantly decreased. When the iPSC-treated cells were transferred into enucleated porcine oocytes, no differences were observed in blastocyst development and total cell number in blastocysts compared with the results for control cells. However, H3K9 trimethylation of pronuclear-stage-cloned embryos significantly decreased in the iPSC-treated cells. Additionally, Bax and p53 gene expression in the blastocysts was significantly lower in iPSC-treated cells than in control cells. To our knowledge, this study is the first to show that an extracts of porcine iPSCs can affect histone modification and gene expression in porcine ear skin fibroblasts and cloned embryos.     

The Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cell in Prion Research

Scrapie and bovine spongiform encephalopathy are fatal neurodegenerative diseases caused by the accumulation of a misfolded protein (PrP^res), the pathological form of the cellular prion protein (PrP^C). For the last decades, prion research has greatly progressed, but many questions need to be solved about prion replication mechanisms, cell toxicity, differences in genetic susceptibility, species barrier or the nature of prion strains. These studies can be developed in murine models of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, although development of cell models for prion replication and sample titration could reduce economic and timing costs and also serve for basic research and treatment testing. Some murine cell lines can replicate scrapie strains previously adapted in mice and very few show the toxic effects of prion accumulation. Brain cell primary cultures can be more accurate models but are difficult to develop in naturally susceptible species like humans or domestic ruminants. Stem cells can be differentiated into neuron‐like cells and be infected by prions. However, the use of embryo stem cells causes ethical problems in humans. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be isolated from many adult tissues, including bone marrow, adipose tissue or even peripheral blood. These cells differentiate into neuronal cells, express PrP^C and can be infected by prions in vitro. In addition, in the last years, these cells are being used to develop therapies for many diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases. We review here the use of cell models in prion research with a special interest in the potential use of MSCs.     

液压传动技术在烟草打顶机上的应用

针对烟草中后期田间管理阶段的打顶及喷施抑芽剂时,作业人员劳动强度大、生产效率低,严重影响烟草产量和质量的现状,研制出高地隙三轮自走式全液压烟草打顶机。该机采用T型车架及高架式机体,液压驱动行走、转向、制动系统,以及液压操纵烟草打顶、喷施药剂系统。该打顶机液压系统传递功率大、结构紧凑、布置灵活,且易于实现无级调速及过载保护,便于控制、操作简便,可高效地完成烟草打顶及喷施药剂作业。     

开沟起垄措施对植烟土壤和烟叶产值的影响

为探明烟稻轮作制度下,烟田起垄开沟对植烟土壤化学性质及烟株生长、产质量等影响,以稻茬烟田为试验平台,设置2个开沟深度[A1：浅沟（垄间开沟15cm）;A2：深沟（垄间开沟25cm）]和2个起垄时间[B1：移栽前10d起垄（常规起垄）;B2：翻耕后起垄],于2018年取样,系统分析不同处理对土壤pH、主要养分含量和烟株农艺性状、干物质积累及经济性状的影响。研究结果表明,烟株各个主要生育时期深沟+翻耕后起垄处理（A2B2）的有效叶片数、烟叶最大叶长、叶宽和株高均优于其他处理;且该处理能有效改善土壤速效养分含量,土壤pH处于优质烤烟生产要求范围;同时烟株物质生产能力强,干物质积累多,在各器官间分配合理;烤烟经济性状也表现为该处理的烟叶产量、产值及上等烟比例较高,表现较优。总之,翻耕后起垄+深开沟处理（A2B2）有利于烟株生长,提高烟株的品质,为烟叶优质适产奠定了生物学基础。     

烟草米根霉对6种杀菌剂的敏感性及菌株保存条件筛选

采用孢子萌发法测定了烟草上米根霉Rhizopus oryzae对6种杀菌剂 (代森锰锌、多菌灵、嘧霉胺、嘧菌酯、啶酰菌胺及氟啶胺) 的敏感性，并就其适宜的保存条件进行了筛选，同时采用离体叶片法测定了上述6种杀菌剂对烟叶霉烂病的防治效果。结果表明:6种杀菌剂对米根霉孢子萌发和烟叶霉烂病均表现出了不同的抑制活性。其中，抑制孢子萌发活性最为明显的是氟啶胺和啶酰菌胺，其EC₉₀值分别为0.67 和1.53 mg/L；其次为代森锰锌和嘧菌酯，15.16和17.66 mg/L；最弱为嘧霉胺和多菌灵，71.87和81.96 mg/L。对烟叶霉烂病防效最好的为嘧菌酯，50 mg/L处理的防效为85%；其次为啶酰菌胺，200 mg/L处理时防效为83%；氟啶胺的防效较差，1 000 mg/L处理时仅为48%；而代森锰锌、多菌灵和嘧霉胺在最高使用剂量 (分别为4 000、800和800 mg/L) 时防效均低于20%。病原菌保存方法筛选结果表明，保存后米根霉的孢子萌发率均发生了不同程度降低。其中，4 ℃保存于20%甘油组的孢子悬浮液萌发率为60%；4 ℃保存的孢子干样萌发率为36%；4 ℃保存的孢子悬浮液和 –20 ℃保存于20%甘油的孢子悬浮液萌发率均低于20%；20 ℃保存的孢子干样萌发率为11%；–20 ℃保存的孢子悬浮液萌发率为6%。研究结果可为烘烤期烟叶霉烂病防治和米根霉孢子的保存提供参考依据。     

甘蓝型油菜DH群体抗倒伏相关性状遗传分析

为明确油菜抗倒伏性的遗传规律，本文利用抗倒伏性差异显著的2个甘蓝型油菜品系配制杂交组合，构建含280个株系的DH群体，采用作物茎秆强度抗倒测量仪等考种工具对该群体进行连续两年的抗倒伏性鉴定，并利用植物数量性状的主基因 + 多基因混合遗传模型及偏度和峰度分析对抗倒伏性进行遗传分析。结果表明，茎秆抗折力和茎秆抗折强度都受到0对主基因 + 9对微效多基因控制，茎秆抗折力和单株生物量的基因间无互作，茎秆抗折强度的基因间有互补作用，茎秆抗折力和茎秆抗折强度两年的平均遗传率在50%左右，而茎秆直径两年的平均遗传率为69.338 %，单株生物量两年的遗传率分别为52.198%和69.284%，遗传率都较低，性状受环境影响都较大，因此对于茎秆抗折力、茎秆抗折强度、茎秆直径和单株生物量，在育种选择的早期阶段都不宜太严格。同时茎秆抗折强度相比茎秆抗折力更能说明作物的抗倒伏能力，因而在抗倒伏选择育种时应更加关注。     

Evaluating diverse systems of tobacco genetic resistance to Phytophthora nicotianae in Yunnan,China

Black shank, caused by the soilborne pathogen Phytophthora nicotianae, is one of the most devastating diseases affecting tobacco production in China. The most effective strategy for reducing economic loss from this pathogen is development and use of resistant tobacco varieties. Multiple sources and systems of resistance have been developed in the Western Hemisphere; however, populations of P. nicotianae are variable around the world, including the predominance of different races. Different P. nicotianae isolates may react differently on tobacco plants with different systems of resistance, a possibility that could complicate the breeding of cultivars with resistance that is effective in different tobacco production regions worldwide. The objective of this research was to evaluate an array of tobacco germplasm possessing different systems of genetic resistance to black shank disease in tobacco-growing regions of Yunnan, China. Resistance types included simply inherited resistance mechanisms introgressed from wild Nicotiana relatives and polygenic partial resistance systems of N. tabacum origin. The loci of Wz exhibited high level resistance to black shank in the five diverse disease environments in Yunnan, China. K326 Php/−Wz/− genotype and Beinhart 1000 exhibited the greatest levels of resistance in both 2015 and 2016. Field observed results for 13 tobacco genotypes were highly correlated with those tested in growth chamber evaluation. These findings suggest that both Wz− and Beinhart 1000-mediated resistance have important commercial value in flue-cured tobacco breeding programmes in China. Cultivars developed for black shank resistance in China may also have utility in other tobacco-growing areas.     

草地贪夜蛾对玉米和烟草的偏好性研究

自2019年初首先在云南省发现草地贪夜蛾入侵中国以来,该虫已对国家粮食安全构成严重威胁。草地贪夜蛾寄主范围广,主要喜食禾本科植物,同时也能为害多种双子叶植物。本研究以玉米和烟草为测试对象,比较研究了草地贪夜蛾在两种寄主上的产卵量及两种寄主植物对草地贪夜蛾生长发育的影响。结果表明,每个养虫笼中放入2对雌雄成虫,玉米植株上的卵块数量(17±2.65)块/笼显著多于烟草叶片上的卵块数量(3±1.73)块/笼,玉米上的幼虫数量(834.67±275.16)头/笼显著多于烟草上的幼虫数量(92±55.83)头/笼,表明草地贪夜蛾更喜欢选择玉米进行产卵和取食。烟草上草地贪夜蛾幼虫死亡率达92.53%±1.46%,但其能在烟草上产卵和存活。取食玉米籽粒的草地贪夜蛾幼虫发育历期、死亡率、体重、蛹重分别为(17.22±1.90)d、24.35%±8.13%、(0.261±0.112)g/头、(0.187±0.030)g/头,取食烟草叶片的草地贪夜蛾对应的参数分别为(26.80±1.89)d、85.49%±4.16%、(0.034±0.028)g/头、(0.131±0.028)g/头,表明取食烟草叶片的草地贪夜蛾幼虫发育历期显著延长,幼虫死亡率显著升高,幼虫体重和蛹重显著下降。与取食玉米籽粒的草地贪夜蛾相比,取食烟草叶片的个体适合度显著降低,但成虫配对后能够产卵并孵化出幼虫。与非嗜好寄主烟草相比,草地贪夜蛾取食嗜好寄主玉米表现出更高的适合度,其偏好选择玉米进行产卵和取食,但在烟草上也能完成生活史,种群密度大时存在为害烟草的潜在风险。     

不同生育期水稻干物质量与产量的关系研究

为明确不同生育期的干物重对粤晶丝苗2号、粤农丝苗、合美占3个水稻(Oryza sativa L.)品种的产量及产量构成因素的影响,设置了早造和晚造两次不同氮肥梯度随机区组栽培试验。结果表明,叶片干物质的分配比例在拔节孕穗期时最高,且其随着生育进程逐渐降低,在乳熟期达到最低值;茎干物质的分配比例在乳熟期降至最低;齐穗期的穗干物质分配比例不到20%,而乳熟期的穗干物质量将近占总干物质量的43%;早造和晚造水稻的结实率差异极显著,总干重差异显著,而穗数、每穗粒数、千粒重、产量差异不显著;齐穗期以后,结实率和千粒重均与干物重呈负相关,而叶干重与穗数呈显著正相关,且相关性较大,茎干重与各产量性状密切相关,总干重与产量呈正相关。水稻干物重是决定高产的重要因素。