China's alfalfa market and imports: Development,trends, and potential impacts of the U.S.–China trade dispute and retaliations

This study examines the development and trends of China's alfalfa market and imports, identifies key factors for the rapid increase in China's alfalfa imports, and discusses potential impacts of the U.S.–China trade dispute and retaliations on the alfalfa markets and trade in both nations. China's rapid transition toward larger-scale commercial dairy production, with enhanced feed and cost management as well as quality and safety control, and its limited resources for high-quality alfalfa production are key factors for the dramatic increase in its alfalfa imports, from 19 601 metric tons in 2008 to 1.38 million metric tons (mmt) in 2018. While the United States dominated China's alfalfa imports with an average share of 97.01% from 2007 to 2017, the share dropped to 83.76% in 2018 and 63.28% in January 2019 due to the trade dispute and retaliations started in 2018. China will likely remain a large importer of alfalfa because of both its growing demand and the comparative advantages of imported alfalfa in quality and price, but the imports from the United States will be highly affected by the ongoing trade dispute and negotiations. China is also expected to make more efforts to reduce its dependence on U.S. alfalfa through increased investment in domestic alfalfa production and identification of alternative sources of alfalfa and other hay imports.     

山葡萄VaCIPK18原核表达与多克隆抗体制备

类钙调磷酸酶B亚基蛋白(CBLs)互作蛋白(CIPKs) 作为类丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶,在植物响应非生物胁迫信号转导中起着重要作用。基于前期山葡萄响应低温胁迫转录组测序结果,发现低温胁迫引发的早期伤害及感知阶段的激酶基因中涉及CBL-CIPK 信号通路的VaCIPK18表达显著上调。为进一步研究山葡萄(Vitis amurensis)VaCIPK18激酶参与低温胁迫的功能,采用同源克隆获得了VaCIPK18基因,其开放阅读框为1 320 bp,编码439个氨基酸。基于对VaCIPK18蛋白生物信息学分析,获取胞外结构域中抗原表位丰富的肽段,并将其C端调控结构域(230~439 aa)构建到原核表达载体pET28a-SUMO。将重组表达载体转化至大肠杆菌(E. coli Rosetta)中,经0.8 mmol·L^-1 IPTG、37℃诱导4 h表达出大小为42 kDa的包涵体蛋白。将重组蛋白作为抗原免疫日本大耳白兔,获得anti-VaCIPK18多克隆抗体,经检测具有高效价及特异性。Western Blot结果表明,该抗体可以与葡萄内源CIPK18特异性结合,且在50 kDa位置出现与预期一致的条带。同时,CIPK18在低温胁迫后葡萄叶片中蛋白表达水平与室温下相一致,但两种状态下均存在可能的磷酸化与泛素化修饰现象。本研究结果为进一步探究VaCIPK18的蛋白定位、表达及其功能奠定了基础。     

谷子MDH基因非生物逆境响应特性研究

为揭示谷子MDH基因对逆境胁迫的响应,本研究通过序列比对得到2个谷子苹果酸脱氢酶(malate dehydrogenase, MDH)基因SiMDH1、SiMDH2,并对SiMDH1和SiMDH2的编码蛋白特征、基因结构、功能、进化等性状进行了系统的分析和预测,用荧光实时定量PCR(qPCR)检测了SiMDH1和SiMDH2在苗期不同逆境及关键生育期干旱胁迫和不同光照强度下的表达。蛋白特征参数和序列分析表明,SiMDH1和SiMDH2蛋白特征参数相似度很高,序列非常保守,都含有MDH基因的特征功能域苹果酸酶NAD结合域和苹果酸酶C端功能域。亚细胞定位预测显示,SiMDH1和SiMDH2主要定位于叶绿体、细胞质和线粒体。启动子区域顺式元件分析发现,在SiMDH1和SiMDH2启动子区域含有大量光应答、激素类和其他类应答元件。苗期逆境qPCR表达谱分析发现,SiMDH1和SiMDH2受脱落酸(ABA)、聚乙二醇(PEG)、高盐和低温不同程度诱导,揭示SiMDH1和SiMDH2参与了谷子苗期非生物逆境胁迫应答。进一步分析发现,SiMDH1和SiMDH2参与了谷子在拔节、抽穗、灌浆期的干旱应答,而光照强度会显著影响SiMDH1和SiMDH2基因在不同生育期的表达。本研究为进一步分析MDH逆境应答机制以及利用基因工程方法改善作物抗逆性提供了试验和理论支持。     

Bacterial communities associated with natural and commercially grown rooibos (Aspalathus linearis)

Aspalathus linearis is a commercially important plant species endemic to the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa and is used to produce a herbal tea known as rooibos tea. Symbiotic interactions between A. linearis and soil bacteria play an important role in the survival of Aspalathus plants in the highly nutrient-poor, acidic fynbos soil. The aim of this study was to characterize and compare rhizosphere and bulk soil bacterial communities associated with natural and commercially grown A. linearis, as well as the effect of seasonal changes on these communities. Bacterial communities were characterized using high throughput amplicon sequencing, and their correlations with soil chemical properties were investigated. The N-fixing bacterial community was characterized using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism and real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Acidobacteria were the most dominant bacterial phyla detected in this study. Highly similar bacterial communities were associated with natural and commercially grown plants. Significant differences in the bacterial community were observed between rhizosphere and bulk soils collected in the dry season, while no significant differences were detected in the wet season. This study provides insights into bacterial community structure and potential factors shaping bacterial community structure with commercially important A. linearis.     

Lipid metabolism in juveniles of Yellowtail,Seriola dorsalis,fed different levels of dietary methionine containing a low level of cholesterol: Implication in feed formulation

The involvement of dietary methionine in the lipid metabolism of Seriola dorsalis, at different levels of dietary methionine (Met), and low content of cholesterol was investigated. Four diets containing different Met levels and a low amount of cholesterol (0.23 g/kg diet) were prepared. One hundred and eighty juveniles (16.2 ± 1.5 g) were randomly distributed into each 12 500‐L ponds. After 60 days, the growth in weight (%) significantly increased following the Met supplementation, whereas SGR of all the experimental treatments was higher than the Basal Diet. The expression of the insulin‐like growth factor (IGF‐1) increased significantly (0.2‐fold) and was complemented by significant changes in Mat, BHMT and HMG‐CoA, for fish that were in the low and higher Met levels. The cholesterol content in the whole body and liver increased following methionine supplementation, similarly to that observed for crude lipids, in particular in the whole body and liver tissues. However, the relative amount of most fatty acids remained unchanged. Only the oleic acid increased at a higher amount of Met. Therefore, once the dietary requirement of methionine is met, the methionine is used to synthesize cholesterol. It is recommended to supply a higher amount of methionine to spare energy for growth.     

GDFs基因家族候选基因对崇仁麻鸡生长性状的影响

利用崇仁麻鸡差异性状的重测序结果,将生长分化因子(GDFs)基因家族作为候选基因,筛选与崇仁麻鸡生长性状相关的多态位点。结果发现,GDF-2、GDF-8和GDF-10基因的多态位点对崇仁麻鸡的生长性状有着显著或极显著的影响。单倍型分析结果显示,GDF-2和GDF-10基因的单倍型H3H3为劣势单倍型组合可以选择淘汰。研究结果表明,GDFs基因家族候选基因对崇仁麻鸡的生长性状有一定的影响。     

菠萝酸性转化酶基因家族初步生物信息学及表达分析

酸性转化酶（acid invertase, AIN）在菠萝采后蔗糖降解过程中起着重要作用,基于菠萝全基因组数据库,预测菠萝AIN家族基因并进行生物信息学分析,解析其在采后菠萝不同贮藏温度下的表达变化情况,为阐明AIN基因在采后菠萝果实贮藏特性中的作用奠定基础。以水稻AIN家族基因为探针,在菠萝全基因组中鉴定到2个菠萝细胞壁酸性转化酶基因（cell wall acid invertase, CWIN）和2个液泡酸性转化酶基因（vacuolar acid invertase, VIN）,分别命名为AcCWIN1、AcCWIN2、AcVIN1、AcVIN2,设计编码区引物进行测序验证,并进行生物信息学分析。进化分析结果表明,AcCWIN1、AcCWIN2和AcVIN1、AcVIN2蛋白分别归于细胞壁酸性转化酶和液泡酸性转化酶2个进化支上,且均属于糖基水解酶家族GH32,基因结构、保守域和保守基序均一致。荧光定量分析结果表明,菠萝果肉中AcVIN1和AcVIN2在果实采后贮藏过程中表达量升高,且AcVIN1在发生黑心病的部位大量表达,而AcCWIN1和AcCWIN2在采后贮藏过程中表达量逐渐降低,且随着贮藏温度的升高其表达量降低,预示AcVIN1、AcVIN2较AcCWIN1、AcCWIN2在菠萝采后蔗糖降解和黑心病的发生方面发挥着更为重要的作用。