Effects of genes increasing the number of spikelets per panicle,TAW1 and APO1, on yield and yield-related traits in rice

The genes TAWAWA1 (TAW1) and ABERRANT PANICLE ORGANIZATION1 (APO1) increase the number of spikelets per panicle (SN). In the present study, we examined the effects of these genes on morphological traits, yield, and yield-related traits including yield components using the near-isogenic lines (NILs) in the genetic background of a japonica rice variety, Koshihikari – NIL-taw1, NIL-apo1-D3, and NIL-apo1-D4 – in a field experiment. The SN and total number of spikelets per area of the three NILs were larger than those of Koshihikari. However, the yield of the three NILs did not exceed that of Koshihikari due to their low filling ability. Interestingly, our field experiments indicated that TAW1 did not affect the diameter of internodes and the PN, whereas APO1 decreased the PN and increased the diameter of internodes. These results suggest that TAW1 and APO1 differently affect yield-related traits.     

Natural bixin as a potential carotenoid for enhancing pigmentation and colour in goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Discovering natural carotenoids for colour enhancement and health benefits of fish is important to develop new feed formulations. We have purified natural bixin from achiote seeds and evaluated the effect of colour enhancing and pigmentation in goldfish. Varying levels of bixin‐based diets were prepared with 420 g kg^?1 of crude protein and 120 g kg^?1 of lipid content. Our results clearly showed that bixin (0.05, 0.10, 0.20 and 0.60 g kg^?1) based diets significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced the skin and fin colour at 30 and 60 days compared to diet without bixin. Interestingly, diet which contains 0.20 g kg^?1 bixin and commercial feed (with astaxanthin) had similar effect on carotenoid deposition in skin. Moreover, total carotenoid deposition in fin was higher than in skin of all bixin‐containing diets. However, 0.60 g kg^?1 bixin‐containing diet had lower specific growth rate (1.01 ± 0.01) and higher feed conversion ratio (2.05 ± 0.19) compared to the control group. The present results demonstrate that achiote bixin can be successfully used as an alternative natural carotenoid source against synthetic astaxanthin in fish feed. Our data indicate that 0.20 g kg^?1 is a suitable dietary level of bixin to ensure strong pigmentation, acceptable growth and feed utilization in goldfish.     

Revisiting rice breeding methods – evaluating the use of rapid generation advance (RGA) for routine rice breeding

Rice production needs to increase in the future in order to meet increasing demands. The development of new improved and higher yielding varieties more quickly will be needed to meet this demand. However, most rice breeding programmes in the world have not changed in several decades. In this article, we revisit the evidence in favour of using rapid generation advance (RGA) as a routine breeding method. We describe preliminary activities at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to re-establish RGA on a large scale as the main breeding method for irrigated rice breeding. We also describe experiences from the early adoption at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute. Evaluation of RGA breeding lines at IRRI for yield, flowering time and plant height indicated transgressive segregation for all traits. Some RGA lines were also higher yielding than the check varieties. The cost advantages of using RGA compared to the pedigree method were also empirically determined by performing an economic analysis. This indicated that RGA is several times more cost effective and advantages will be realized after 1 year even if facilities need to be built. Based on our experience, and previous independent research empirically testing the RGA method in rice, we recommend that this method should be implemented for routine rice breeding in order to improve breeding efficiency.     

Effect of dietary chitosan oligosaccharide complex with Ce (IV) on growth,immunity and disease resistance against Vibrio splendidus of sea cucumber,Apostichopus japonicas

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary chitosan oligosaccharide complex with cerium (Ce IV) (COS‐Ce) on growth performance, nonspecific immunity and disease resistance of sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicas. Five isonitrogenous (18.6%) and isolipidic (1.1%) practical diets were formulated with graded level of COS‐Ce (0, 150, 300, 600 and 1200 mg kg^?1 dry feed), which were named as COS‐Ce/0, COS‐Ce/150, COS‐Ce/300, COS‐Ce/600, COS‐Ce/1200 respectively. Each diet was allocated to four replicates of sea cucumbers (Initial weight: 6.72 ± 0.02 g). Sea cucumbers were fed to apparent satiation once daily (19:00 hours) for 56 days. During the experiment, water temperature was kept at 16 ± 0.5°C, pH 7.8–8.2, dissolved oxygen beyond 5 mg L^?1, ammonia nitrogen below 0.5 mg L^?1 and salinity from 30‰ to 31‰. Results showed that the specific growth rate of sea cucumbers was significantly higher in COS‐Ce/600 than that in other four treatments. Activities of phagocytosis, respiratory burst, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase in COS‐Ce/600 were significantly higher than that in COS‐Ce/0 (P < 0.05) respectively. On the contrary, cumulative mortality was the lowest in COS‐Ce/600 following 14 days exposure to Vibrio splendidus (P < 0.05). In conclusion, these results confirmed that dietary COS‐Ce had beneficial effects on growth performance, nonspecific immunity and disease resistance of sea cucumber.     

大豆对大豆胞囊线虫侵染的应答机制研究

大豆胞囊线虫病(Heterodera glycines,soybean cyst nematode,SCN)是大豆生产上的重要病害,其特点为危害重、分布广、难防治,每年对大豆生产造成极大的损失。种植大豆抗性新品种是防治SCN目前最为有效的措施,研究大豆对SCN侵染的应答机制,是培育大豆持久抗病品种的前提,对加快抗线虫品种选育及SCN的防控具有重要的意义。本文综述了大豆对SCN侵染的组织细胞学应答机制;介绍了大豆在SCN侵染后酶系变化及酚类代谢的生理生化应答机制;从分子水平阐明了SCN侵染后大豆的基因转录变化,差异蛋白及DNA甲基化的应答机制,以期为大豆胞囊线虫病害的进一步研究与防治提供参考。     

水稻育性调控相关基因RNAi载体的构建及其表型鉴定

利用RNAi干扰技术研究不同基因对花粉发育、卵细胞发育和合子胚发育的影响是一种重要的手段。本研究通过筛选水稻在生殖发育过程中的9个重要调控基因,构建基因的RNAi表达载体,分析转基因植株育性及相关性状表型,以期探明RNAi表达载体对靶标性状的干扰效应。其中,AT61~AT63、AT64~AT66、AT67~AT69表达载体分别靶标花粉育性、卵细胞发育以及合子胚发育的调控。结果表明,除RNAi表达载体AT64没有获得转基因植株外,其余8个RNAi表达载体均获得了转基因植株;对T0代转基因植株的花粉育性、结实率以及潮霉素筛选(40 mg/L)发芽率检测的统计结果显示,RNAi表达载体AT62(花粉发育调控)、AT65(卵细胞发育调控)和AT67(合子胚发育调控)的干扰效应较强。本研究结果将为创制新型水稻基因工程不育系提供策略和选择。     

一种基于RPA的番茄褪绿病毒检测方法

番茄褪绿病毒Tomato chlorosis virus(ToCV)引起番茄褪绿病毒病,给番茄生产造成严重危害。开发快速准确的检测方法对该病害的防控具有重要意义。利用番茄褪绿病毒外壳蛋白(CP)基因序列,设计特异性引物,建立了ToCV的重组酶聚合酶等温扩增(recombinase polymerase amplification, RPA)检测方法,同时分析了该方法的灵敏度和特异性。结果表明,建立的ToCV-RPA方法在38℃恒温下40 min可从ToCV阳性的番茄样品中扩增出246 bp的特异性条带。扩增时间短,对设备要求低,且与番茄其他病毒无交叉反应,特异性好,灵敏度可达到PCR方法的10倍,适用于ToCV的快速检测。     

1-MCP处理对“丽格”海棠果实采后生理及品质的影响

以"丽格"海棠果实为试材,研究经1.0μL/L的1-MCP处理后,室温(20±1)℃条件下贮藏的海棠果实品质和生理变化,并利用主成分对采后测定的各项生理指标进行分析。结果表明,与不加1-MCP的对照组相比,1-MCP处理可保持海棠果实硬度,抑制可溶性固形物(TSS)含量的升高,减缓VC含量的降低、果皮叶绿素的分解和过氧化物酶(POD)活性的下降,降低呼吸强度和乙烯生成速率,有效地延缓果实衰老,使海棠果更耐贮藏。主成分分析在特征值大于1时将经1-MCP处理后的海棠果实8个生理指标综合为2个因子,累积方差贡献率达到84.44%,其中第1主成分主要代表果肉硬度和叶绿素信息,第2主成分主要代表乙烯释放量信息。     

乌苏里瓦韦(Lepisorus ussuriensis(Regel et Maack)Ching)孢子诱导再生植株的研究

乌苏里瓦韦是一种民间常用的药用蕨类植物,本研究首次建立一种以乌苏里瓦韦孢子为外植体形成完整植株的体系,得到了乌苏里瓦韦体外扩增的方法。为了探究最佳的孢子萌发条件,设计使用6种NAA和6-BA激素组合探究孢子的最佳萌发条件,然后取孢子萌发得到的乌苏里瓦韦叶片,分别接种到不同浓度的NAA和活性炭的组合培养基中,探究乌苏里瓦韦生根的最佳条件。结果表明,乌苏里瓦韦孢子的最佳萌发条件是:1/2MS培养基为基本培养基,附加NAA 0.2 mg/L,6-BA 0.5 mg/L蔗糖30 g/L,琼脂7 g/L;生根的最佳条件为:1/2MS培养基为基本培养基,附加NAA 0.4 mg/L,蔗糖30 g/L,琼脂7 g/L,活性炭1.5 g/L。本研究首次报道了乌苏里瓦韦的体外繁殖形成完整再生植株的方法,为乌苏里瓦韦的人工繁殖,同时为乌苏里瓦韦的可持续开发利用打下坚实基础。     

2018年中国部分地区猪瘟病毒2.1d亚型新流行株的基因组特征分析

为了解中国猪瘟病毒（classical swine fever virus，CSFV）的分子流行病学及遗传变异情况，本研究应用RT-PCR方法对2018年采集自河南、河北、山东、黑龙江和辽宁5个省份的350份疑似CSFV感染的病料进行E2和NS5B基因扩增，并对PCR产物进行测序和序列分析。结果显示，350份样品中21份为CSFV阳性，共获得14株CSFV的E2基因序列和7株CSFV的部分NS5B基因序列。E2全基因、NS5B部分基因序列分析表明，21份阳性样品均属于近年来在中国流行的CSFV 2.1d亚型，且新发现的2.1d亚型CSFV与中国较早2.1d亚型CSFV毒株间同源性差异不大，新发现的2.1d亚型CSFV分离株在E2基因的6个氨基酸（R³¹、S³⁴、W¹⁸²、K²⁰⁵、K³⁰³、A³³¹）上具有相同的分子特征，E2蛋白中15个位点上的半胱氨酸均未发生变异。韩国2.1d亚型CSFV在E2蛋白上具有3个独特的氨基酸（N⁹⁷、K¹⁵⁹、R²⁰⁵）特征，并且发现了韩国毒株YC11WB可能作为2.1b和2.1d亚型CSFV过渡毒株的证据，流行于中国和韩国的2.1d亚型CSFV可能分别来自于本国早期2.1b亚型CSFV的衍化。本研究证实，2018年中国及周边国家CSFV较为活跃，且流行毒株依然以2.1d亚型为主，为中国科学防控CSFV提供了依据。