High dietary energy level stimulates growth hormone receptor and feed utilization in large Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) under hypoxic conditions

This study examines how appetite and growth regulation of Atlantic salmon are affected by low dissolved oxygen (LO) and dietary digestible energy levels (DE: high [HE] vs. low [LE]). Long‐term exposure to LO resulted in a reduced feed intake, growth, digestible protein and fat retention efficiencies and increased feed conversation ratio and plasma ghrelin concentrations (p < .05) compared to high dissolved oxygen (HO). Pair‐feeding of rations based on the feed intake of the LO groups, but fed at HO, resulted in a 50% growth improvement in HE diet groups. This suggests that the poor growth under LO was not entirely caused by the reduced feed intake. Salmon adapted to LO by increased haemoglobin concentrations, while osmoregulation was affected by increased plasma chloride concentrations (p < .05). Plasma ghrelin concentration was unaffected by DE (p > .05). Growth regulation was affected by the HE diet, with increased liver and muscle growth hormone receptor ghr1 mRNA (p < .05), regardless of oxygen level. The growth depression due to low oxygen appears to be related to higher metabolic costs, while higher DE upregulates the GH‐IGF system at the ghr1 level and found to be beneficial for growth, feed intake, oxyregulation and osmoregulation under hypoxia.     

Polymerisation of gluten proteins in developing wheat grain as affected by desiccation

The breadmaking quality of wheat is affected by the composition of gluten proteins and the polymerisation of subunits that are synthesised and accumulated in developing wheat grain. The biological mechanisms and time course of these events during grain development are documented, but not widely confirmed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to monitor the accumulation of gluten protein subunits and the size distribution of protein aggregates during grain development. The effect of desiccation on the polymerisation of gluten proteins and the functional properties of gluten were also studied. The results showed that the size of glutenin polymers remained consistently low until yellow ripeness (YR), while it increased during grain desiccation after YR. Hence, this polymerisation process was presumed to be initiated by desiccation. A similar polymerisation event was also observed when premature grains were dried artificially. The composition of gluten proteins, the ratios of glutenin to gliadin and high molecular weight-glutenin subunits to low molecular weight-glutenin subunits, in premature grain after artificial desiccation showed close association with the size of glutenin polymers in artificially dried grain. Functional properties of gluten in these samples were also associated with polymer size after artificial desiccation.     

Disulphide structure of high-molecular-weight (HMW-) gliadins as affected by terminators

This study aimed at elucidating SS-bonds of HMW-gliadins (HGL) from wheat with the focus on terminators of glutenin polymerisation. HGL from wheat flour extracts non-treated or treated with the S-alkylation reagent N-ethylmaleinimide (NEMI) were compared. HGL from wheat flour Akteur were isolated, hydrolysed with thermolysin and the resulting peptides pre-separated by gel permeation chromatography and analysed by liquid chromatography/mass-spectrometry using alternating electron transfer dissociation/collision-induced dissociation. Altogether, 22 and 28 SS-peptides from samples without and with NEMI treatment, respectively, were identified. Twenty-six peptides included standard SS-bonds of α- and γ-gliadins, high-molecular-weight and low-molecular-weight glutenin subunits. Eleven SS-bonds were identified for the first time. Fifteen peptides unique to HGL contained cysteine residues from gliadins with an odd number of cysteines (ω5-, α- and γ-gliadins). Thus, gliadins with an odd number of cysteines, glutathione and cysteine had acted as terminators of glutenin polymerisation. Decisive differences between samples without and with NEMI treatment were not obvious showing that the termination of polymerisation was already completed in the flour. The two HGL samples, however, were different in the majority of ten peptides that included disulphide-linked low-molecular-weight (LMW) thiols such as glutathione and cysteine with the former being enriched in the non-treated HGL-sample.     

圆口铜鱼精浆的理化性质分析

对圆口铜鱼(Coreius guichenoti)精浆离子和氨基酸成分及精液生理特性进行了检测分析。结果显示,圆口铜鱼精液pH值为7.3,呈弱碱性;精液浓度为39.7%,精子密度为5.3×10~9个/mL;精浆离子以Na~+含量88.7 mmol/L最高,其次是K~+,之后为Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)、Zn~(2+)、Cu~(2+);精浆水解氨基酸总量为2 872.69μmol/100mL,其中以脯氨酸含量最高,蛋氨酸、酪氨酸和组氨酸含量最低。该结果填补了圆口铜鱼繁殖生物学的相关数据,为圆口铜鱼规模化人工繁育提供了基础资料。     

Potential application of baited remote underwater video to survey abundance of west coast rock lobster Jasus lalandii

The first assessment of the baited remote underwater video system (BRUVs) for monitoring rock lobster Jasus lalandii (Milne‐Edwards) in South Africa was compared to annual ring net and trap survey data. Count data from 58 BRUVs, 36 ring net and 95 trap samples were fitted with generalised additive models using depth, habitat, time and spatial gradient as independent variables. A power analysis was used to determine the number of samples needed per annum to detect a 5 and 10% increase and decrease in population size. The BRUVs outperformed the nets and traps in terms of sampling effort and were better at detecting changes in abundance of lobster than abundance of three fish species. Considering factors such as cost, analysis time, additional data and environmental impact, traps are the most feasible method in deeper waters but BRUVs could replace nets and traps in depths less than 60 m, low‐density areas and marine reserves.     

水稻苗期根系铵钾离子吸收的交互作用研究

【目的】为探讨水稻幼苗根系NH_4~+、K~+吸收的交互作用,深化水稻养分吸收理论,【方法】采用溶液培养的方法,对低钾及高钾浓度下水稻在有铵和无铵时的K~+吸收动力学特征进行了研究,对不同钾浓度下水稻根系NH_4~+的吸收速率进行了比较。【结果】1)当K~+0.2 mmol/L时,水稻根系通过高亲和转运系统吸收K~+服从Michaelich-Menten动力学方程;NH_4~+的存在显著降低K~+的最大吸收速率(Vmax),且降幅随着NH_4~+浓度的增加而增大;NH_4~+对水稻根表载体与K~+的亲和力(Km)影响较小,在1.62 mmol/L NH_4~+浓度下,水稻品种齐粒丝苗和沪科3号的Km分别下降了12.33%和16.46%,远低于Vmax 47.30%和39.21%的降幅。2)当K~+0.5 mmol/L时,水稻根系K~+低亲和转运系统发挥作用,K~+吸收速率随浓度的增加而不断增加,呈不饱和特征;但在相同K~+浓度下,水稻根系的K~+吸收速率随NH_4~+浓度的增加而下降。3)水稻根系对NH_4~+的吸收速率随着NH_4~+浓度的增加而增加;在相同NH_4~+浓度下,水稻根系对NH_4~+的吸收速率受K~+浓度的影响很小。【结论】NH_4~+抑制水稻苗期根系K~+的高亲和转运和低亲和转运,NH_4~+对K~+高亲和吸收的影响主要是由于铵竞争细胞膜上的钾载体所致;外界K~+浓度的变化对水稻幼苗的NH_4~+吸收速率影响很小。水稻铵钾的交互作用主要表现在NH_4~+对K~+吸收的抑制作用。     

外源溶磷菌对不同土壤条件下大豆生长特性的影响

为了明确溶磷菌在多种土壤中的应用效果,探讨了两株溶磷菌对黑土及盐碱土种植大豆的促生效应。采用盆栽试验分析了不同处理对大豆光合作用、渗透调节物质含量、生物量、氮磷吸收及产量的影响。结果表明:加菌处理可增加植株Pn,显著降低R6、R8两时期叶片可溶性蛋白、可溶性糖及游离氨基酸含量,增加R2~R8时期大豆株高和根干重,混合土壤中加菌处理也可提高植株地上部分氮、磷及植株全磷、全氮含量。添加wj1和混合菌处理的植株干重优于添加wj3的处理。黑土加混合菌可显著提高大豆R2期叶片WUE,增加V3、R2和R8这3个时期大豆地上、地下部分氮、磷及植株全氮、全磷的含量。黑土加wj1与混合土壤加菌处理的大豆株荚数、总粒数、单株粒重及百粒重均高于未加菌处理。添加外源溶磷菌,对黑土及盐碱土栽培大豆均有不同程度的促生效果,能明显增强大豆在混合盐碱土壤中的适应性,增加植株生物量、氮磷吸收量和产量,且混合菌处理对大豆的促生效应优于wj1及wj3单一菌株处理。     

Design and performance of a recirculating aquaculture system for oyster larval culture

The major objective of this study was to introduce a newly designed recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) for oyster (Crassostrea angulata) larval culture. The system includes a culture tank, a suspended circular inlet‐pipe, an upwelling aeration pipe, combined “banjo” sieves and a bioreactor chamber containing microalgae life keeping installation. The system was designed to resolve three problems: (i) stranding of larvae caused by water level changes and aeration, (ii) physical clogging of the screens and also (iii) deterioration of diet microalgae. The culture tank, “banjo” sieve size, water flow rate and light intensity for maintaining microalgae activity were all designed according to the pattern of larval movement and feeding behaviour. Results of this study showed the best average SGR for larval length was 6.36%/d (9.5 μm/d) and survival rate was 80%, with initial rearing density of 50 larvae/ml, indicating the problems above were fully resolved. Consequently, the system is fit for larval culture in mass production of oysters.     

茶树GGPS基因家族的克隆、生物信息学和表达分析

牻牛儿基牻牛儿基焦磷酸合酶(Geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase,GGPS)是萜类合成途径的结构酶,对植物生长发育具有重要意义。本研究通过RACE和RT-PCR方法克隆得到5条潜在的茶树GGPS序列,分别命名为CsGGPS1-4和CsGGPS9,其中CsGGPS9存在3条等位基因,分别是CsGGPS9-1、CsGGPS9-2和CsGGPS9-3,在系统进化树上与其他基因分成两支。蛋白质序列分析表明,茶树GGPS家族成员都具有polyprenyl_synt结构域,不存在信号肽序列。亚细胞定位预测结果显示,CsGGPS1、CsGGPS2和CsGGPS4定位在叶绿体上,CsGGPS3和CsGGPS9定位在线粒体上。通过Swiss Model进行三维建模,结合"three-floor"模型对茶树GGPS家族成员的功能进行预测,预测结果显示,CsGGPS1、CsGGPS2和CsGGPS4是GGPS;CsGGPS3是异源二聚体形式的牻牛儿基焦磷酸合酶的小亚基;CsGGPS9的催化主产物是碳链数大于30的异戊烯基焦磷酸。q RT-PCR分析表明,CsGGPS1整体表达丰度较低,仅在一芽二叶中表达量稍高;CsGGPS2在茶树各个组织中均有表达,在花中表达量最高,且花发育过程中表达量先上升后下降;CsGGPS3在叶和幼根中的表达量高于花,花发育过程中表达平稳;CsGGPS4在茶树各个组织中表达量数值相近,在花发育过程中表达量变化趋势与CsGGPS2相同;CsGGPS9的表达量在成熟叶中显著低于幼嫩叶片。     

Identification,characterization and full-length sequence analysis of a novel endornavirus in common sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

To identify the possible quarantine viruses in seven common sunflower varieties imported from the United States of America and the Netherlands, we tested total RNAs extracted from the leaf tissues using next-generation sequencing of small RNAs. After analysis of small RNA sequencing data, no any quarantine virus was found, but a double-stranded RNA(dsRNA) molecule showing typical genomic features of endornavirus was detected in two varieties, X3939 and SH1108. Full-length sequence and phylogenetic analysis showed that it is a novel endornavirus, temporarily named as Helianthus annuus alphaendornavirus(HaEV). Its full genome corresponds to a 14 662-bp dsRNA segment, including a 21-nt 5′ untranslated region(UTR), 3' UTR ending with the unique sequence CCCCCCCC and lacking a poly(A) tail. An open reading frame(ORF) that encodes a deduced 4 867 amino acids(aa) polyprotein with three domains: RdRP, Hel and UGT(UDP-glycosyltransferase). HaEV mainly distributed in the cytoplasm but less in the nucleus of leaf cells by fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH) experiment. This virus has a high seed infection rate in the five varieties, X3907, X3939, A231, SH1108 and SR1320. To our knowledge, this is the first report about the virus of the family Endornaviridae in the common sunflower.