Modelling and mapping natural hazard regulating ecosystem services in Sapa,Lao Cai province,Vietnam

Land use change due to the development of agriculture and community-based tourism has resulted in an increase in natural hazards (e.g. erosion and landslides) that affect sustainability in the Sapa mountainous area in northern Vietnam. Natural hazard regulating ecosystem services have protected the local people from the destruction of their villages, goods and natural resources, especially in the rainy season. However, it is difficult to identify which kinds of anthropogenic constructions support a co-production of regulating services in human-influenced social–ecological systems and in which specific types of land use and land cover the supply of such services takes place, especially in heterogeneous mountainous areas. Therefore, this research attempts to (1) distinguish between the potential and actual use (flow) of natural hazard regulating ecosystem services and (2) understand how soil erosion and landslide regulating ecosystem services can contribute to a sustainable management of different ecosystems, especially in rice fields and forest areas. Two models (InVEST for soil erosion, Analytic Hierarchy Process for landslide analysis) were used to analyze and map the contributions of natural versus anthropogenic components for regulating natural hazards in Sapa. The results show the incoherent distribution of erosion regulating services and low capacities of landslide regulating services in areas that have seriously been affected by human activities, especially forestry and agricultural development. The contribution of rice ecosystems to soil erosion mitigation is higher than in the case of landslides. Nevertheless, one-third of the area of paddy fields in the case study area have “no” capacity to supply natural hazard regulating ecosystem services and should therefore be re-forested.     

热杀菌条件对NFC冬枣汁成分及抗氧化活性的影响研究

为了研究不同热杀菌条件对NFC冬枣汁理化性质、活性成分及抗氧化活性的影响,本文以冬枣为研究对象,设置了低温长时杀菌(75℃,5、10、15、20、25 min)和高温短时杀菌(90℃,0.25、0.50、0.75、1.00、1.50 min)两个处理,考察了NFC冬枣汁的可溶性固形物含量、pH值、总酸含量、VC含量、DPPH清除率、亚铁离子还原率等指标。研究结果表明,两种杀菌方式对NFC冬枣汁基本理化性质影响不显著(P>0.05)。相比于低温长时杀菌,高温短时杀菌的△E值更低,更能保持冬枣汁原有的色泽。两种杀菌处理后多酚、VC含量均显著降低(P<0.05),低温长时杀菌25 min后VC含量未检出,抗氧化活性也显著低于高温短时杀菌(P<0.05)。因此,通过对NFC冬枣汁品质变化的分析,发现高温短时杀菌能更好地保持原有的色泽和营养成分。     

vvi-miR160s介导VvARF18应答赤霉素调控葡萄种子的发育

【目的】研究vvi-miR160家族（vvi-miR160s）及其靶基因在‘魏可’葡萄种子发育过程中的作用,探究其应答赤霉素（GA）调控葡萄果实无核的潜在机理。【方法】采用miR-RACE、生物信息学分析、RT-qPCR、RLM-RACE等方法,鉴定vvi-miR160家族成员及其靶基因,分析vvi-miR160s及其靶基因应答GA的时空表达模式及其潜在功能。【结果】花前GA处理强烈抑制‘魏可’葡萄胚珠及种子发育,高效诱导其无核,且无核率达99.8%。克隆鉴定了VvMIR160s前体基因序列（501 bp）及成熟体序列,且它们在不同物种间具有较高的保守性;基于vvi-miR160s序列,预测到靶基因VvARF18,利用RLM-RACE技术检测到vvi-miR160s对VvARF18的裂解位点在第10和第11位之间,裂解频度9/17,证明VvARF18是vvi-miR160s的真实靶基因。该靶基因编码683个氨基酸,在398—411位存在核定位信号,且该蛋白亚细胞定位于细胞核上。VvARF18与其他物种间序列的同源保守性较高,基因结构相似,其中VvARF18蛋白与茶、烟草、梅花等物种亲缘关系较近。VvARF18启动子中包含4种作用元件,且含有较多激素相关元件。RT-qPCR结果显示,随着葡萄果实的发育,vvi-miR160c/d/e呈现‘V’形表达趋势,在硬核种子发育期表达较低,而VvARF18表现出与前者相反的表达趋势,在硬核种子发育期呈现高表达,表明vvi-miR160c/d/e对VvARF18负调控,但vvi-miR160a/b与VvARF18表达水平却不存在明显负相关。GA处理极显著地上调了vvi-miR160a/b在葡萄硬核种子发育期的表达,同时也显著抑制了VvARF18在同时期的表达,且它们的表达水平呈负相关,表明GA处理促进了vvi-miR160a/b对VvARF18的负调控作用;相反,GA减弱了vvi-miR160c/d/e对VvARF18的负调控作用。【结论】在vvi-miR160家族中,vvi-miR160c/d/e可能介导VvARF18在葡萄种子发育的特定阶段调控种子的发育形成,而vvi-miR160a/b可能主要介导VvARF18参与调控GA诱导葡萄种子败育的过程。     

High vegetative compatibility diversity of Cryphonectria parasitica infecting sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) in Britain indicates multiple pathogen introductions

Chestnut blight, caused by Cryphonectria parasitica, was identified in Devon, UK, in December 2016. Intensive surveys detected the disease at further sites in Devon (seven), Berkshire (one), Dorset (one), Derbyshire (four) and a cluster of eight sites in southeast London. Over 570 survey samples were tested, and 227 were positive for C. parasitica by isolation and real-time PCR. A total of 227 isolates were tested for mating type, and 197 screened for vegetative compatibility group (VCG) and compared with VCGs known from mainland Europe. The same isolates were also screened for the presence of Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 (CHV-1). Eleven VCGs were identified within the UK population. Five corresponded to already known European VCGs but six were unique. The European VCGs mainly came from the Devon, Dorset, Berkshire and Derbyshire disease outbreaks, whilst unique VCGs were almost exclusively from the southeast London cluster. Both mating types were detected, but only one mating type was present at each site, with the exception of a single Devon site. Perithecia of C. parasitica were never observed at any site. CHV-1 was found in seven isolates from three different locations and was always subtype-I, which has limited hypovirulence. Therefore, although CHV-1 is associated with C. parasitica at some outbreaks, it probably has limited impact on virulence. The diversity of VCGs and their distribution at outbreak sites, together with findings of CHV-1, suggests C. parasitica has been introduced to the UK multiple times over at least two decades through international plant trade.     

寄主植物中抑制十字花科黑腐病菌Ⅲ型分泌系统小分子化合物的鉴定

 寻找抑制植物病原菌III型分泌系统的植物源活性小分子化合物,是研发生物安全农药的重要途径之一。本研究采用水煮提取法从十字花科黑腐病菌寄主植物满身红萝卜中提取分离活性小分子化合物,利用高效液相-质谱联用解析出活性物质的单体结构。然后用荧光素酶基因luxAB构建融合报告系统以及定量PCR检测活性物质对十字花科黑腐病菌III型分泌系统的抑制效果,最后采用剪叶接种和压渗接种的方法研究活性小分子物质对十字花科黑腐病菌的生防作用。研究表明,植物鞘氨醇和二氢鞘氨醇对十字花科黑腐病菌III型分泌系统基因的转录表达有一定程度的抑制作用,但是对I、II、IV型分泌系统基因的表达没有明显的抑制作用。植物鞘氨醇在XCM1上影响菌的生长,而二氢鞘氨醇不影响菌的生长。同时,还发现这两种物质能显著降低Xcc在寄主植株满身红萝卜上的病害症状以及能够使Xcc在非寄主植物辣椒上引起过敏反应的能力丧失。该研究结果为深入研究小分子化合物对十字花科黑腐病菌III型分泌系统的作用机制及后续开发植物源抑制剂提供了一定的理论依据。     

Genetic variation in root development responses to salt stresses of quinoa

Soil salinity has become a serious environmental abiotic stress limiting crop productivity and quality. The root system is the first organ sensing the changes in salinity. Root development under elevated salinity is therefore an important indicator for saline tolerance in plants. Previous studies focused on varietal differences in morphological traits of quinoa under saline stresses; however, variation in root development responses to salinity remains largely unknown. To understand the genetic variation in root development responses to salt stress of quinoa, we conducted a preliminary screening for salinity response at two salinity levels of a diverse set of 52 quinoa genotypes and microsatellite markers were used to link molecular variation to that in root development responses to salt stresses of represented genotypes. The frequency distribution of saline tolerance index showed continuous variation in the quinoa collection. Cluster analysis of salinity responses divided the 52 quinoa genotypes into six major groups. Based on these results, six genotypes representative of groups I to VI including Black quinoa, 2-Want, Atlas, Riobamba, NL-6 and Sayaña, respectively, were selected to evaluate root development under four saline stress levels: 0, 100, 200 and 300 mM NaCl. Contrasts in root development responses to saline stress levels were observed in the six genotypes. At 100 mM NaCl, significant differences were not observed in root length development (RLD) and root surface development (RSAD) of most genotypes except Black quinoa; a significant reduction was observed in this genotype as compared to controls. At 200 mM NaCl, significant reduction was detected in RLD and RSAD in all genotypes showing this as the best concentration to discriminate among genotypes. The strongest inhibition of root development was found for all genotypes at 300 mM NaCl as compared to lower saline levels. Among genotypes, Atlas of group III shows as a saline-tolerant genotype confirming previous reports. Variation in root responses to salinity stresses is also discussed in relation to climate conditions of origins of the genotypes and reveal interesting guidelines for further studies exploring the mechanisms behind this aspect of saline adaptation.     

Comparative energy and economic analyses of conventional and System of Rice Intensification (SRI) methods of rice production in Thai Nguyen Province,Vietnam

The consumption of energy inputs in agricultural production has been increasing rapidly during the past decades. However, given the limitations and costs of non-renewable energy, increasing production while using the least energy possible has become a major concern of most nations. Prompted by this concern, we conducted a face-to-face survey of 90 farming households in Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam, to find out how energy is being used in agriculture and, specifically, in their rice production. Through analysis of energy input–output balances, combined with economic efficiency analysis, a comparison was made of conventional and SRI methods of rice production. The study found that applying the SRI method can save around 23% of energy inputs, while increasing energy outputs by 11%. Economic benefits per hectare also rise by more than 8 million dong (USD 364) compared to those under the conventional cultivation system. The study also showed conflicts between the energy and economic balances for manual compared with machine ploughing operations. This study contributes to providing an overview of energy consumption in rice cultivation at the household level. Its findings can help stakeholders to assess current policies and make better decisions on the uses of energy in agricultural production. In addition, the comprehensive approach taken here to analysing energy use and efficiency could expand the analysis and comparison of energy uses at sectoral or activity level—still a new field in Vietnam and many other countries.     

Movement behaviour of large female yellow European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) in a freshwater polder area

Due to a recruitment decline of more than 90% in 30 years, the European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) has been classified by IUCN as critically endangered. Although the species has been studied intensively to obtain knowledge to improve management, studies about the resident yellow stage are relatively scarce. In this study, 52 large female yellow eels were tagged with acoustic transmitters in a Belgian polder system and tracked by a network of 23 automatic listening stations. We studied both circadian and seasonal movement patterns and the effect of environmental variables on these patterns. Large female yellow eels were most active at night in late summer and early autumn. A generalised linear mixed model showed that their movement is only slightly influenced by environmental variables. Moreover, as yellow eels show high site fidelity (i.e., the majority was detected only in the habitat type of their catch‐release location), they do not encounter many human‐induced connectivity problems in polder systems, which makes these systems highly suitable as eel growth habitat. These results can contribute to an effective eel management regarding habitat protection and restoration.