The Use of a Metabolic Disorder Index as a Predictor for Metabolic Eliminations in Endurance Horses

The equine endurance race involves both aerobic and anaerobic metabolisms of the horse. The intense physical activity over an extended period often causes susceptible horses to develop metabolic signs or problems resulting in elimination from races. Thus, the objective of this study was to develop a method for prediction and validation of a metabolic disorder index (MDI) to be used before endurance races. Three hundred seventy-five Arabian (n = 152) and Arabian cross (n = 223) endurance horses aged from 6 to 15 years and weighing between 350 and 450 kg were selected for the study in Malaysia. Blood samples were collected at pre- and post-race periods. The significant (P < .05) findings in horses with metabolic disorder were packed cell volume (0.50 ± 0.06 LL−1), creatine kinase (1,275.89 ± 121.45 UL−1), interleukin-6 (2.01 ± 0.89 ng/mL), decreased glutathione reductase (26.57 ± 3.95 ng/mL), and chloride (94.98 ± 8.12 mmol/L). A new method called MDI was developed as a predictor for horses with the potential to develop metabolic disorders in endurance races. The MDI indicated a higher value greater than 5.5 for those eliminated and lower value below 5.5 for those that completed the race successfully, this proved to be accurate in the prediction of metabolic disorder in endurance horses. The MDI is an innovative and simple method used as a prediction method that will assist the equine endurance society to reduce the rate of elimination and to safeguard against serious medical problems during endurance races in the tropics.     

不同降雨状况下渭北旱地春玉米临界氮稀释曲线与氮素营养诊断

过量施氮、降雨变率大和水氮耦合差是渭北旱地春玉米生产中氮肥高效利用的主要难题。构建渭北旱地不同降雨状况下春玉米临界氮稀释曲线,分析采用氮营养指数NNI诊断和评价旱地玉米氮素营养状况的可行性,为实现旱地玉米因雨合理施氮提供理论依据。以郑单958和陕单8806为试验材料,设置5个施氮量处理, 2016—2017年5个施氮量处理分别为0、75、150、270和360 kg hm-2, 2018—2019年施氮量调整为0、90、180、270和360 kg hm–2,文中依次用N0、N1、N2、N3、N4表示。其中2016年和2018年降水状况表现为穗期多雨,花粒期干旱; 2017年和2019年降水状况表现为穗期干旱,花粒期多雨,利用4年田间定位施氮试验数据构建并验证2种降雨状况下旱地春玉米临界氮稀释曲线模型。结果表明:(1)增施氮肥显著提高了旱地春玉米地上部生物量和植株含氮量,不同施氮量处理间差异显著。2种降雨状况下春玉米临界氮浓度和地上部生物量均符合幂指数关系,但模型参数之间存在差异(a.穗期多雨:Nc=35.98DM–0.35;b.穗期干旱:Nc=35.04DM–0.23)。模型拟合的植株氮浓度和实际氮浓度线性相关,穗期多雨年RMSE和n–RMSE分别为1.03、5.75%,穗期干旱年分别为1.53、6.78%,模型均具有较好稳定性。(2)在试验施氮量范围内,不同生育时期NNI随氮肥用量增加而增大,不同降雨状况下最佳施氮量存在差异。渭北旱地玉米最适施氮方案为基施氮肥150～180kghm–2,穗期多雨年追施氮肥45～75kghm–2。(3)氮营养指数NNI与相对吸氮量(RNupt)、相对地上部生物量(RDW)和相对产量(RY)均极显著相关,穗期多雨年NNI为1.02时, RY获得最大值,为0.95;穗期干旱年NNI为1.08时, RY获得最大值,为0.92。本研究建立的旱地玉米临界氮稀释曲线和氮营养指数,能够精准预测2种降雨状况下旱地春玉米拔节期至完熟期的氮素营养状况,对玉米生育季氮诊断及指导精确施氮具有重要意义。     

不同基因型燕麦苗期耐盐碱性分析 及其鉴定指标的筛选

为探讨不同基因型燕麦苗期的耐盐碱性，筛选适宜松嫩平原种植的燕麦品种，本研究采用Hoagland营养液水培法，以250 mmol·L^-1高浓度NaHCO₃胁迫模拟松嫩平原盐碱环境，对49份来自国内外不同地区的主栽燕麦品种进行研究。试验测定了250 mmol·L^-1 NaHCO₃胁迫下燕麦的株高（X₁）、根长（X₂）、地上部鲜重（X₃）、地下部鲜重（X₄）、地上部干重（X₅）、地下部干重（X₆）、地上部含水量（X₇）、地下部含水量（X₈）、根冠比（X₉）9个指标，以各单项指标的耐盐碱系数(SATC) 作为衡量耐盐碱性的依据，利用多元分析方法对不同燕麦品种耐盐碱能力进行了综合评价。结果表明：通过对各指标的耐盐碱系数进行主成分分析，得到X₄、X₇、X₈ 3个综合指标，涵盖了全部数据86.155%的信息量；通过隶属函数分析和聚类分析将49份燕麦品种分为3类，其中草莜1号、张燕7、T7等3个品种为耐盐碱品种，HLJ 1、白燕2号等41个品种为中度耐盐碱品种，三分三、坝莜13号等5个品种为盐碱敏感品种。     

Determination of critical nitrogen dilution curve based on leaf area index for winter wheat in the Guanzhong Plain,Northwest China

Excessive use of nitrogen(N) fertilizers in agricultural systems increases the cost of production and risk of environmental pollution. Therefore, determination of optimum N requirements for plant growth is necessary. Previous studies mostly established critical N dilution curves based on aboveground dry matter(DM) or leaf dry matter(LDM) and stem dry matter(SDM), to diagnose the N nutrition status of the whole plant. As these methods are time consuming, we investigated the more rapidly determined leaf area index(LAI) method to establish the critical nitrogen(N_c) dilution curve, and the curve was used to diagnose plant N status for winter wheat in Guanzhong Plain in Northwest China. Field experiments were conducted using four N fertilization levels(0, 105, 210 and 315 kg ha-1) applied to six wheat cultivars in the 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 growing seasons. LAI, DM, plant N concentration(PNC) and grain yield were determined. Data points from four cultivars were used for establishing the N_c curve and data points from the remaining two cultivars were used for validating the curve. The N_c dilution curve was validated for N-limiting and non-N-limiting growth conditions and there was good agreement between estimated and observed values. The N nutrition index(NNI) ranged from 0.41 to 1.25 and the accumulated plant N deficit(N_(and)) ranged from 60.38 to –17.92 kg ha~(-1) during the growing season. The relative grain yield was significantly affected by NNI and was adequately described with a parabolic function. The N_c curve based on LAI can be adopted as an alternative and more rapid approach to diagnose plant N status to support N fertilization decisions during the vegetative growth of winter wheat in Guanzhong Plain in Northwest China.     

The microbial diversity and structure in peatland forest in Indonesia

The microbial community structure and function under forest in tropical peatlands are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the microbial community structure and diversity in natural peat swamp forest soil, disturbed peat soil and mineral soil in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, using 454 pyrosequencing. The results showed that the natural peat soil had the greatest fungal species richness (Chao1), which was significantly (p < .05) larger than that in the other two soils. Community structure of both fungi and bacteria in natural peat soil differed significantly from that in the disturbed peat soil (p = .039 and p = .045, respectively). Ascomycota (40.5%) was the most abundant phylum across the three soils followed by Basidiomycota (18.8%), Zygomycota (<0.1%) and Glomeromycota (<0.1%). The linear discriminant analysis with effect size (LEfSe) showed that Ascomycota (p < .05) and genus Gliocephalotrichum (p < .05) dominated in natural peat soil. Functionally, pathotrophs were more abundant in disturbed peat soil (p < .05). Proteobacteria (43.8%) were the most abundant phylum followed by Acidobacteria (32.6%), Actinobacteria (9.8%), Planctomycetes (1.7%). Methylocystis, Telmatospirillum, Syntrophobacter, Sorangium and Opitutus were the more abundant genera in disturbed peat soil, whereas Nevskia and Schlesneria were more abundant in mineral soil and natural peat soil, respectively. The natural peat forest soil supported a more diverse microbiology; however, the land use of such a soil can change its microbial community structure. The results provide evidence that the disturbance of tropical peat land could lead to the introduction and spread of a large number of fungal diseases     

Effects of oral administration of Spirulina platensis and probiotics on serum immunity indexes,colonic immune factors,fecal odor,and fecal flora in mice

To evaluate the effects of Spirulina platensis and probiotics on growth, immunity indexes, fecal flora, and fecal odor in mice, 40 mice were randomly allotted to four groups, and each was administrated with nothing, S. platensis, probiotics, or both for 28 days, respectively. Then, many indexes were measured. The results showed that S. platensis was more effective (P < 0.001) than probiotics in improving mice's feed conversion ration (FCR). In immunity, probiotics administration increased (P < 0.042) serum IgE, IgM, IFN-γ, colonic AHR, TLR4, and NF-κB protein expression and decreased (P < 0.039) serum IL-1α, IL-21, IL-22, and colonic ARNT gene expression. However, the S. platensis showed weaker effect, which increased (P < 0.025) the serum IgE, IgM, TNF-α, and the colonic AHR and NF-κB protein expression, and decreased (P < 0.01) serum IL-21. Probiotics consumption decreased the fecal odor by decreasing (P < 0.02) fecal Escherichia coli, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and skatole contents, and the S. platensis decreased (P = 0.04) the IAA. These results indicated that oral administration of probiotics, S. platensis, or both of them in mice probably benefited body's immunity and reduced fecal odor. However, their mechanisms were still unclear and need further study.     

Development of a core set of KASP markers for assaying genetic diversity in Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis Makino

Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are rapid, economical and reliable genotyping tools. Non‐heading Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. subsp. chinensis Makino) is now an economically important vegetable crop worldwide. In this study, 1,167 SNPs were evaluated for 7polymorphism among 70 representative non‐heading Chinese cabbage inbred lines using a Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) genotyping assay. On the basis of identified polymorphisms and the results of a principal component analysis, we selected 50 core SNPs that were balanced sufficiently to provide adequate information for genetic identification. The core SNPs were used for construction of a neighbour‐joining dendrogram that separated the 70 inbred lines into four main groups and several subgroups corresponding to Caixin, Heiyebaicai, Huangxinwu, Naibaicai, Taitsai, Pak‐choi, and Wutatsai. This categorization was superior to that achieved using a dataset of 479 polymorphic SNPs. To confirm the utility of the core SNP markers in genetic identification, we tested their stability and resolution using 162 commercial hybrid cultivars. The SNPs, which represent a cost‐effective, accurate marker set for germplasm analysis and cultivar identification, are suitable for molecular marker‐assisted breeding in non‐heading Chinese cabbage.     

东北地区水稻纹枯病菌致病性及遗传多样性分析

为明确东北地区水稻纹枯病菌致病性及其群体遗传多样性,将2018年采自东北三省13个水稻主产区的病样分离纯化,共获得176个立枯丝核菌菌株。采用离体叶片接种法测定菌株致病力,利用SRAP分子标记技术分析其遗传多样性。致病力测定结果表明,东北三省各地区菌株致病力存在分化现象,供试的176个菌株中,强致病力菌株占全部菌株23.3%;中等致病力菌株占61.9%;弱致病力菌株占14.8%。地理来源与致病力无明显相关性。根据UPGMA聚类分析,当相似系数为0.63时,176个菌株被划分为6个类群。聚类结果与地理来源具有相关性,但与致病力无明显相关性。利用16对SRAP引物分析176个立枯丝核菌菌株遗传多样性,共得到2 237个扩增条带,多态性频率为82.16%;基因多样度(h)、Shannon信息指数(I)分别为0.2827、0.4150。东北各地区立枯丝核菌群体间遗传距离与地理距离呈一定正相关。群体遗传分化系数Gst=0.3319,基因流Nm=1.0063,说明东北地区立枯丝核菌群体遗传分化度较高且群体间存在基因交流。AMOVA分析结果表明,群体内遗传分化为67.84%,遗传变异主要发生在群体内部。     

基于USLE模型的长株潭城市群生态绿心区水土流失研究

[目的]研究2018年长株潭(长沙市—株州市—湘潭市)城市群生态绿心区最佳植被覆盖和水土流失状况,为区域综合治理提供理论依据。[方法]运用GIS和RS技术,以长株潭区域降雨、土壤、地形、土地利用等数据为基础,采用归一化植被指数(NDVI)模型和USLE国际通用土壤流失方程为优选模型。[结果]长株潭绿心区总面积为52 287 hm~2,整体植被状况较好,高覆盖度(75%～100%)面积最大,占绿心区总面积一半以上,为26 598.40 hm~2;中低覆盖度(30%～40%)面积最小,占区域总面积的8.61%,为4 501.91 hm~2。长株潭城市群生态绿心区总侵蚀(不含微度)面积为3 654.24 hm~2,占总面积的6.99%。湘潭市侵蚀比重最高,为8.51%,长沙市次之,为6.67%,株洲市侵蚀总比例最小,为5.68%。工程建设用地在禁止开发区、限制开发区和控制建设区的侵蚀面积分别为963.92,310.74,735.11 hm~2。[结论]受人为因素、城市建设、产业分布等影响,长株潭城市群生态绿心区覆盖度空间呈现西部低,中东部高的格局,工程建设是造成绿心区土壤侵蚀的主要原因。     

Effect of organic amendment amount on soil nematode community structure and metabolic footprints in soybean phase of a soybean-maize rotation on Mollisols

It has been well documented that organic amendment affects soil nematode community structure. However, little is known about the effect of organic amendment amount on soil nematodes. To assess the effect of the amount of organic amendments on soil nematode community structure and metabolic activity, the community composition, abundance, and metabolic footprints of soil nematodes were determined in a long-term field experiment with various amounts of organic amendment in Northeast China. Fertilization treatments included an unfertilized control (CK), chemical fertilizer without manure amendment (OM₀), manure applied at 7.5 Mg ha^-1 plus chemical fertilizer (OM₁), and manure applied at 22.5 Mg ha^-1 plus chemical fertilizer (OM₂). A total of 46 nematode genera were found. Treatments with the largest amount of organic amendment had the smallest number of plant parasite genera (5), but a largest number of dominant genera (7). Soil nematodes, bacterivores, and fungivores were the most abundant in OM₂, followed by OM₁, and the lowest in OM₀ and CK. Organic amendment increased the enrichment index (EI), and the large amount of organic amendment increased the metabolic footprints of bacterivore (Baf) and fungivore (Fuf) and enrichment footprint (Ef). The relationships between Baf (or Fuf) and the increases in soil organic carbon (ΔSOC) and total nitrogen (ΔTN) were stronger than those of bacterivore (or fungivore) abundance with ΔSOC and ΔTN, except for the relationship between bacterivore abundance and ΔSOC. The EI and Ef were positively correlated with ΔSOC and ΔTN. These findings suggest that the amount of organic amendment affects soil nematode activity and function at entry levels in soil food web, and that metabolic footprints of soil nematodes may be better indicators than their abundances in assessing their relationships with soil nutrients.