Thresholds,sensitive stages and genetic variability of finger millet to high temperature stress

Finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.] is an important coarse cereal crop grown in the arid and semi‐arid regions and often experiences high temperature (HT) stress. The objectives of this research were (i) to quantify effects of season‐long HT stress on physiological and yield traits, (ii) to identify the developmental stages most sensitive to HT stress and (iii) to quantify the genetic variability for HT stress tolerance in finger millet. Research was conducted in controlled environment conditions. HT stress decreased the chlorophyll index, photosystem II activity, grain yield and harvest index. Maximum decrease in number of seeds per panicle and grain yield per plant was observed when stress was imposed during booting, panicle emergence or flowering stages. Maximum genotypic variation was explained by panicle width and number of seeds per panicle at optimum temperature (OT) and grain yield per plant at HT and number of seeds at HT. Based on the stress response and grain yield, tolerant or susceptible genotypes were identified. Finger millet is sensitive to HT stress during reproductive stages, and there was genotypic variability among the finger millet genotypes for number of seeds per panicle and grain yield under HT, which can be exploited to enhance stress tolerance.     

Effect of endothelin-1 on inflammation and oxidative stress in COPD

AIM:To investigate the effect of endothelin-1 on inflammation and oxidative stress in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS:Healthy non-smokers (30 cases), healthy smokers (30 cases) and COPD patients (29 cases) were collected and induced to produce sputum. The concentration of endothelin-1 in the induced sputum was detected. The model of emphysema was established by cigarette smoke extract to stimulate SD rats. Endothelin A receptor antagonist BQ123 and non-selective endothelin receptor antagonist bosentan were used to intervene with the model rats. The experiment was divided into control group, cigarette-treated group, selective antagonist group and non-selective antagonist group. The protein levels of cleaved caspase-3 in the lung tissue were determined by Western blot. Gelatin zymography was used to analyze the activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 in the lung tissue. The levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured by ELISA. The bioantioxidant power (BAP) was detected by BAP assay kit. RESULTS:The concentrations of endothelin-1 in induced sputum of healthy smokers and COPD patients were significantly higher than that of healthy non-smokers (P<0.05), and the level of endothelin-1 in COPD patients was significantly higher than that in healthy smokers (P<0.05). The levels of cleaved caspase-3, MMP-2, MMP-9, TNF-α and IL-1β in the lung tissues from cigarette-treated group were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.05). The endothelin A receptor antagonist significantly inhibited the levels of cleaved caspase-3, MMP-2, MMP-9, TNF-α and IL-1β (P<0.05). The serum BAP in cigarette-treated group was significantly lower than that in control group (P<0.05). However, endothelin A receptor antagonist significantly increased serum BAP (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:Endothelin-1 may play an important role in the development and progression of COPD through regulating apoptosis, matrix metalloproteinase activity, inflammation and oxidative stress.     

Impact of sublethal di‐n‐butyl phthalate on the aquaculture fish species Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): histopathology and oxidative stress assessment

Phthalates such as di‐n‐butyl phthalate (DBP) and their esters are widely used plasticizers, their ubiquitous presence in daily life, inevitably leads to their restricted use due to important environmental pollution and health impacts and endocrine disruption potential. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a sublethal concentration of 10 mg L^?1 DBP on haematocrit (HCT) values, gills and liver histology, malondialdehyde (MDA, 2‐thiobarbituric acid‐TBA reactivity) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in gills and liver tissue as oxidative stress biomarkers in the aquaculture fish species Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) after 24 (DBP‐24) and 96 (DBP‐96) h exposure. No differences were found between per cent HCT values in the 24 h exposure groups (P > 0.05). Response of antioxidant defence systems in liver and gill tissues of the fish were dependent on exposure duration and changed to a higher extent during 96 h. MDA levels in liver tissue increased in DBP treated fish in comparison to the control fish. However, the differences between the exposure and control groups were not significant (P > 0.05). A statistically significant decrease (P > 0.05) was recorded in gill MDA levels in the DBP‐96 group when compared to the control and DBP‐24 groups. The liver GSH levels were unchanged in the DBP treated fish. However, GSH levels were significantly lower in the gill tissue of the DBP‐96 group. Exposure to DBP caused several degenerative changes in the histology of gill and liver tissue. Gills displayed hyperaemia, epithelial lifting, oedema, talengiectasia, epithelial hyperplasia and fusion of secondary lamellae, whereas in liver several circulatory anomalies (hyperaemia, blood congestion and sinosoid dilatation) and vacuolization of hepatocytes were observed. Histopathological results demonstrated that the gills were more affected than the liver perhaps due to their direct contact with DBP.     

A behavioural sensor for fish stress

Due to water turbidity, fish stress might be difficult to observe. Evaluation of fish stress by blood sampling requires removing a fish from the water, which is in itself a stressful event. Therefore, we designed and built a sensor to detect fish behaviour that reflects stress. The electronic sensor detected early signs of fish stress by scoring the fish's inactivity. LEDs and detectors are embedded on a steel wand that is held underwater by an operator. In this preliminary (feasibility) study, the new sensor was validated for Tilapia (Cichlidae) and Hybrid Striped Bass (Morone). We induced stressful situations in the fish tanks by manipulating oxygen and temperature levels.ResultsLowering the temperature and oxygen levels both significantly increased the average number of signals identified by the sensor, which indicate stress. The effect of reducing water temperature from 24 °C to 15 °C was three times stronger than was the effect of lowering the oxygen saturation level from 85% to 50%. The difference in the number of signals between the good and stressful conditions was statistically significant, amounting to approximately eight sensor signals, 10.57 compared to 2.49 respectively. Lowering the temperature increased the mean number of signals by 5.85 and 6.06 at 85% and 50% oxygen saturation respectively, whereas lowering oxygen levels increased the mean number of signals by 2.02 and 2.23 at 24 °C and 15 °C, respectively. The results indicate that the stress status of cultured fish can be evaluated using the proposed behavioural sensor. The new sensor may provide an earlier indication of a problem in a fish tank or pond than was heretofore possible. This early warning can enable the fish farmer to take action before many fish are harmed.     

土培条件下不同盐分梯度对水稻产量及其生理特性的影响

以南粳9108和甬优2640为材料,设置6个土壤含盐量(0%、0.07%、0.14%、0.21%、0.28%、0.35%),研究不同盐分梯度对水稻产量和生理特性的影响。结果表明:(1)盐胁迫影响水稻的生长和发育进程。株高、叶面积、干物质量等形态指标均随盐浓度的上升而下降;稻谷产量亦随盐浓度增加而下降,在0.14%、0.21%、0.28%、0.35%盐浓度处理时产量显著下降,南粳9108分别减产14.14%、43.65%、58.91%、65.68%,甬优2640分别减产20.25%、31.97%、40.41%、49.82%。(2)随着盐浓度的增加,2个参试品种抽穗期叶片抗氧化酶活性均呈先升后降趋势,在0.07%处理下达最高值。(3)抽穗期叶片中游离脯氨酸含量随盐浓度的上升而增加,盐浓度大于0.14%,游离脯氨酸含量较对照显著增加。(4)盐胁迫下,水稻植株吸收Na~+并置换出K~+,除叶片中K~+变化无规律之外,随着盐浓度上升,各部位K~+含量均下降,Na~+含量均上升,K~+/Na~+均呈下降趋势。茎鞘与叶运输的SK、Na随盐浓度的上升而上升,茎选择性运输K~+而抑制Na~+进入叶片;根与茎的SK、Na随盐浓度的上升而下降,茎吸收Na~+并输出K~+到根系。总体而言,低盐浓度对高产水稻品种产量和生理特性无显著影响,盐浓度大于0.07%时影响显著。     

干旱胁迫对不同种源云南松幼苗生物量与根系形态的影响

通过盆栽控水，采用双因素随机区组设计研究了9个不同地理种源云南松幼苗生物量分配和根系形态对干旱胁迫的响应，比较了干旱胁迫下幼苗生物量及其分配以及根系形态在种源间的差异，并通过隶属函数法对不同种源幼苗干旱适应性进行了初步评价。结果表明:1）干旱胁迫下，各种源云南松幼苗地径下降明显，苗高未发生显著变化，各器官生物量和总生物量多呈下降趋势，干旱胁迫并没有导致幼苗根生物量分配比和根冠比的增加，但根系长、比根长、根表面积和比根面积在干旱胁迫下增加显著。2）不同种源云南松幼苗地径、苗高、生物量及其分配比和根系形态在干旱处理下均存在显著差异，其中地径和苗高分别以西昌和双柏种源最大，各器官生物量和总生物量以双柏、西昌和册亨种源较高，察隅种源各器官和总生物量较低，但该种源具有最大的根生物量分配比和根冠比；会泽种源根长、根表面积、比根长和比根面积均最大。研究发现，在土壤水分限制条件下，云南松幼苗以根系形态变化代替根系生物量增加的策略来适应干旱，各种源云南松幼苗生长对干旱胁迫响应的差异可能是由种源地理气候因子长期影响所形成的不同适应性策略所导致。经平均隶属函数值法初步评价了不同种源云南松幼苗对干旱适应性的强弱，结果显示，西藏察隅、云南会泽和四川西昌种源对土壤干旱的适应性较强，云南双柏、贵州册亨、云南云龙种源居中，而云南新平、永仁和禄丰种源适应性较弱。     

水分优化对温室葡萄产量及土壤生物学特性的影响

为揭示滴灌不同水分调控下设施栽培葡萄产量与土壤学特性等相关指标的响应关系,在甘肃省永登县设施葡萄试验基地开展葡萄滴灌不同生育期水分调控田间灌溉试验,分析水分调控对设施栽培葡萄土壤积温、蔗糖酶和淀粉酶活性、有机碳(TOC)、微生物量碳(MBC)和微生物熵(qMB)等土壤学特性的影响,基于隶属函数综合分析明确影响葡萄产量及各项土壤生物学特性指标的最佳水分优化处理。结果表明:新梢期水分胁迫的土壤积温、土壤酶、TOC、MBC、qMB均显著(P <0. 05)高于对照;新梢期水分胁迫较对照可增产44. 6%;果实膨大期作为葡萄生长的关键阶段,此时水分胁迫对土壤淀粉酶影响不显著,但对其他土壤学特性指标具有一定的抑制作用,并且可减产9.7%;隶属函数综合分析表明,土壤生物学特性指标及产量综合隶属排名为:PS﹥FS﹥CS﹥CK﹥ES。     

高效氯氟氰菊酯对东亚小花蝽捕食功能反应的影响

为了研究高效氯氟氰菊酯对东亚小花蝽雌成虫捕食功能反应的影响，比较分析了LC₂₅、LC₅₀、LC₇₅高效氯氟氰菊酯胁迫3日龄东亚小花蝽雌成虫后，对大豆蚜捕食量、寻找效应、猎物密度效应、种内分摊竞争效应和功能反应等的影响。研究表明，对照组与LC₂₅、LC₅₀高效氯氟氰菊酯胁迫的东亚小花蝽成虫受猎物密度效应影响明显，而LC₇₅高效氯氟氰菊酯胁迫的东亚小花蝽成虫受猎物密度效应影响不明显；在药剂浓度为0 mg/L和140 mg/L时，捕食量达到的最大值和最小值分别为12.33和0.83头，寻找效应达到的最大值和最小值分别为0.96和0.10；受不同浓度药剂胁迫的东亚小花蝽成虫对大豆蚜的捕食能力和寻找效应均随着药剂浓度的增加而下降；捕食量随大豆蚜虫口密度增加而增多，种内竞争分摊强度随小花蝽数量增加而增强，平均捕食量降低；在LC₅₀高效氯氟氰菊酯胁迫下，东亚小花蝽成虫捕食作用率方程为E=0.1255P^-0.2956，分摊竞争强度方程为I=0.5401logP^-0.0033。     

外源褪黑素和脱落酸对干旱胁迫下葡萄生理特性的影响

为了探讨褪黑素(MT)和脱落酸(ABA)两者混合施用对植物响应干旱胁迫的综合效应,以盆栽‘阳光玫瑰’葡萄为材料,通过根灌100μmol·L~(-1)的MT溶液和叶面喷施50μmol·L~(-1)的ABA溶液及二者组合处理,研究MT和ABA对干旱胁迫下葡萄生理特性的影响。结果表明,与干旱对照组(D_(ck))相比,MT处理导致葡萄叶片MDA、H_2O_2含量和相对电导率分别降低了14.42%、44.11%和21.26%,叶片相对含水量提高了1.12%,同时SOD和POD酶活性分别提高了14.00%和3.01%。这些均表明MT处理有效缓解了干旱胁迫对植株造成的损伤。50μmol·L~(-1 )的ABA处理组叶片MDA含量和相对电导率较干旱对照组提高了9.43%和17.25%,表明ABA处理没有缓解植株的胁迫状态。MT和ABA组合处理具有和MT处理类似的效果。结果表明,褪黑素可以通过减轻膜脂过氧化程度,增强抗氧化系统能力,从而缓解干旱胁迫对葡萄的氧化损伤,提高抗旱性;同时削弱ABA带来的负面效应。     

干旱胁迫对药用绿化植物千里光和密蒙花生长的影响研究

为筛选利用抗旱性较高的乡土植物用于边坡生态修复,通过盆栽试验研究滇中地区常见的密蒙花和千里光在干旱胁迫条件下的抗旱性,对干旱胁迫下植株的生长状况及各种酶活性、丙二醛和脯氨酸含量等有关生理指标进行研究。结果表明,在断水干旱胁迫下,千里光幼苗忍耐干旱环境的能力强;密蒙花幼苗在断水干旱胁迫前期调节能力较好,在后期抗旱能力减弱,植株生长受到严重抑制。