Transport of cadmium from soil to grain in cereal crops: A review

Due to rapid urbanization and industrialization, many soils for crop production are contaminated by cadmium(Cd), a heavy metal highly toxic to many organisms. Cereal crops such as rice, wheat, maize, and barley are the primary dietary source of Cd for humans, and reducing Cd transfer from soil to their grains is therefore an important issue for food safety. During the last decade, great progress has been made in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of Cd transport, particularly in rice. Inter-and intraspecific variations in Cd accumulation have been observed in cereal crops. Transporters for Cd have been identified in rice and other cereal crops using genotypic differences in Cd accumulation and mutant approaches. These transporters belong to different transporter families and are involved in the uptake, vacuolar sequestration, root-to-shoot translocation, and distribution of Cd. Attempts have been made to reduce Cd accumulation in grains by manipulating these transporters through overexpression or knockout of the transporter genes, as well as through marker-assisted selection breeding based on genotypic differences in Cd accumulation in the grains. In this review, we describe recent progress on molecular mechanisms of Cd accumulation in cereal crops and compare different molecular strategies for minimizing Cd accumulation in grains.     

北方土石山区典型坡面优先流特征研究

以太行山区崇陵流域的典型坡面为研究对象,通过亮蓝(Blue-FCF)与KI染色示踪试验,利用图像处理软件技术,计算优先流形态特征参数,分析5个不同坡位的优先流形态特征变化规律。结果表明:(1)随着坡位升高,坡面土壤厚度、容重逐渐减小,而总孔隙度、渗透系数、饱和含水量逐渐增大,凋萎系数与田间持水量则呈现波动变化趋势;(2)随着坡位的升高,染色剂运移深度不断增加,基质流区域占比减小而优先流区域占比增大;各坡位染色面积比随深度缓慢下降,在40cm以下深度范围高坡位点的土壤水分与周围土体交互作用较低坡位点较弱;染色剂入渗体积随坡位升高而逐渐增大;(3)随着坡位的升高,优先流对实际水分运移的贡献增大,高坡位坡面水分以优先流为主要方式向下入渗;(4)土壤质地与容重是影响土石山区坡面不同坡位优先流差异的主要因素。     

山地拖拉机调平系统的研究现状及发展趋势

采用理论分析和文献综述相结合的方法,对国内外拖拉机车身调平系统的现状进行研究;从拖拉机后悬挂技术、机具调平坡地自适应技术2个方面对文献知识进行梳理和归纳。结果表明:1)利用拖拉机调平系统能使拖拉机在车身遇到颠簸或倾斜时调整至水平状态,能确保驾驶员的安全和舒适;在山地复杂多变和高低起伏环境下,拖拉机在山地作业的稳定性和通过性与车身自动调平程度密切相关;2)悬挂机构对拖拉机车身调平及后悬挂机具调平起着至关重要的连接作用,悬挂机构的技术结构直接影响了拖拉机车身调平及后悬挂技术研究的发展程度;3)对悬挂机具在坡地等高作业及耕作自适应等关键技术的研究,是整个山地拖拉机调平系统研究的关键问题。针对山地复杂地形和作业质量要求,提出如下发展策略:在搭建山地拖拉机车身调平系统和优化悬挂机构的基础之上,全面研究山地拖拉机后悬挂技术和机具调平坡地自适应技术;在保障山地作业质量和作业效率的前提下,进一步深入研究山地拖拉机车身与悬挂机具协调自适应技术,实现山地拖拉机悬挂机具对坡地的仿形作业,是山地拖拉机自动调平系统的主要发展方向。     

Effect of miRNA-33 on ABCA1/ABCG1 expression in RAW264.7 macrophage-derived foam cells after Hcy treatment

AIM:To study whether homocysteine (Hcy) inhibits the expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 (ABCG1) by microRNA-33 (miRNA-33) signaling, and reduces the efficiency of reverse cholesterol transport (RCT).METHODS:RAW264.7 macrophages were induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) to establish foam cell model. Oil red O staining was used to determine whether the model was established successfully. miRNA-33 mimics and miRNA-33 inhibitor were transfected into the cells by Lipofectamine 2000, and the cells were exposed to Hcy at concentration of 5 mmol/L for 24 h. The intracellular lipid droplets were observed by Oil red O staining. The expression of ABCA1 and ABCG1 at mRNA and protein levels was determined by real-time PCR and Western blot. The cellular cholesterol content was analyzed by HPLC, and effluent rate of cholesterol was detected by the method of liquid scintillation counting.RESULTS:Compared with blank control group, the lipid content in miRNA-33 mimics group was increased, and the expression of ABCA1 and ABCG1 at mRNA and protein levels was decreased (P<0.05). The intracellular cholesterol content was increased gradually (P<0.05), and the cellular cholesterol efflux rate was gradually decreased (P<0.05) in miRNA-33 mimics group. Compared with blank control group, the testing results in miRNA-33 inhibitor group were the opposition of those in miRNA-33 mimics group (P<0.05). No diffe-rence of the above indexes among blank control group, miRNA-33 mimics-NC group and miRNA-33 inhibitor-NC group was observed.CONCLUSION:Hcy inhibits the mRNA and protein expression of ABCA1 and ABCG1 through miRNA-33 signaling, and reduces the efficiency of RCT in RAW264.7 macrophage-derived foam cells.     

苹果园不同覆盖材料对土壤与近地微域环境及树体生长发育的影响

干旱是影响陇东雨养区苹果生产的主要限制因素之一,覆盖保墒是保证该区苹果稳产丰产的重要措施。为了探寻适宜于陇东地区苹果园的覆盖保墒措施,于19年生‘长富2号’苹果园,采用覆盖麦草(WM)、覆盖细河沙(SM)、覆盖黑色地膜(FM)的地表连续3年(2010年11月—2013年11月)覆盖处理,以清耕(CK)为对照,研究不同覆盖材料对果园环境及树体生长发育的影响。结果表明:4—6月干旱期,3年各覆盖处理0~100 cm土层的平均含水量均显著(P0.01)高于对照,且WM处理SM处理FM处理CK;覆盖第3年,从花芽膨大到果实采收,叶幕形成(幼果期)前0~500 cm土层WM处理和SM处理的耗水量显著(P0.01)低于CK,叶幕形成后则显著(P0.05)高于CK,但耗水总量略低于CK;FM处理在叶幕形成前后均显著(P0.01)高于CK。WM处理降低3—8月份5~25 cm各层土壤温度,而升高了9—11月份土温,但5~25 cm平均地温日变幅始终显著(P0.05)低于CK,同时近地表气温降低相对湿度升高;SM处理对地温的影响较小,但明显提高近地表气温而降低相对湿度;FM处理的地温及日变幅始终高于CK,近地表气温和相对湿度与CK接近。各种覆盖处理对苹果物候期均无明显影响。总体0~60 cm土层各种养分含量顺序为WM处理CKFM处理SM处理,且WM处理随年份增幅较大;FM处理0~20 cm土层与SM处理0~60 cm各土层的有机质、全氮和碱解氮等养分随年份降低最明显,相应的全盐量(包括WM处理0~20 cm土层)均显著(P0.01)低于CK。各种覆盖处理增加了苹果树体枝条生长量,但对枝类组成影响都不大。各种覆盖处理增加了果实单果重及产量,均以WM处理显著(P0.05)高于CK。水分利用效率WM处理显著(P0.01)高于其他处理。综上所述,陇东雨养区苹果园覆盖麦草效果较佳,长期覆沙和覆膜土壤须补充有机肥及其他养分,单一覆膜还需完善。     

Spatiotemporal patterns of mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) in response to a restoration of longitudinal connectivity

To examine the role of longitudinal connectivity on the spatial and temporal dynamics of mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni), we quantified movement and population dynamics following installation of the Landsburg Dam fishway, Cedar River, WA, USA. Mountain whitefish is widely distributed, poorly studied and not the focus of restoration. Before the fishway, mountain whitefish were not observed above the dam. Here, we focus on snorkel counts collected at reach and mesohabitat (e.g. pools) scales over 11 summers on the 20‐km above‐dam segment following restoration. A camera within the ladder provided number, size and movement timing, thereby informing on behaviour and recolonisation. Segment‐scale abundance increased following fish passage reaching an asymptote in 7 years, and mountain whitefish were detected throughout the main stem in 10 years. Annual movement through the ladder increased over time and was positively correlated with instream abundance and discharge, but negatively correlated with water temperature. About 60% of fish movements occurred in spring and early summer, potentially for foraging opportunities. Reach‐scale abundance peaked between 7 and 10 km from the dam; deep, cool (~10.6 to 11.6°C) conditions characterised these reaches. At the mesohabitat scale, mountain whitefish detection increased with depth and velocity after accounting for distance from the dam. Our results show how restoring longitudinal connectivity allowed this nontarget species to colonise newly available habitat. Their response supports the critical roles of longitudinal connectivity and environmental conditions, that manifest at different spatial scales, in dictating how freshwater fish respond to habitat disturbance.     

Modulation of plant root traits by nitrogen and phosphate: transporters,long-distance signaling proteins and peptides,and potential artificial traps

As sessile organisms, plants rely on their roots for anchorage and uptake of water and nutrients. Plant root is an organ showing extensive morphological and metabolic plasticity in response to diverse environmental stimuli including nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) nutrition/stresses. N and P are two essential macronutrients serving as not only cell structural components but also local and systemic signals triggering root acclimatory responses. Here, we mainly focused on the current advances on root responses to N and P nutrition/stresses regarding transporters as well as long-distance mobile proteins and peptides, which largely represent local and systemic regulators, respectively. Moreover, we exemplified some of the potential pitfalls in experimental design, which has been routinely adopted for decades. These commonly accepted methods may help researchers gain fundamental mechanistic insights into plant intrinsic responses, yet the output might lack strong relevance to the real situation in the context of natural and agricultural ecosystems. On this basis, we further discuss the established—and yet to be validated—improvements in experimental design, aiming at interpreting the data obtained under laboratory conditions in a more practical view.     

瘤胃上皮内的乳酸吸收及其转运载体蛋白研究进展

乳酸作为瘤胃内的中间代谢产物,其合理的清除与有效的利用在由高精料诱导的瘤胃酸中毒的研究中十分重要。现有研究表明,瘤胃上皮在乳酸吸收方面发挥着一定的作用,因此,本文从瘤胃上皮的乳酸吸收以及吸收过程中涉及的转运载体蛋白进行综述,为进一步了解乳酸在瘤胃内的转运过程提供理论依据。     

丘陵山区果园机械化技术与装备研究进展

中国果园种植面积大，主要集中在丘陵山区，受地形条件和种植模式影响，丘陵果园机械化程度普遍偏低，随着产业结构的调整，果园机械化的发展程度将直接影响其经济效益。本文分析了中国果园分布情况与丘陵果园种植特点，概述了丘陵果园的机械化发展程度，并分析了制约其发展的原因，阐述了机械动力底盘、多功能作业平台、果树修剪机械、植保机械以及采摘收获机械等果园主要装备和技术的研究现状和进展，并对部分果园机械的生产与推广应用情况进行调研分析。在此基础上指出丘陵果园机械化发展面临的问题，认为缺乏对复杂环境的适应能力是制约丘陵果园机械化发展的关键，对果园改建和机械装备研究等提出了发展建议。