Enhanced kernel set promoted by synchronous pollination determines a tradeoff between kernel number and kernel weight in temperate maize hybrids

Maize (Zea mays L.) grain yield is strongly related to the number of harvested kernels, where kernel number can be increased by synchronously pollinating silks rather than allowing them to be progressively pollinated as they naturally appear from the husks. However, there is scarce evidence on how this practice affects kernel weight (KW) and plant grain yield (PGY), and no report exists on its effects when combined with treatments aimed to reduce apical dominance, like male sterility and detasseling. Field experiments were conducted in two growing seasons (Exp₁ and Exp₂) using two hybrids, cropped at contrasting stand densities (3 and 9 plants per m²) and including (i) male-fertile and male-sterile versions, (ii) tasseled and detasseled plants, and (iii) natural (NP) and synchronous pollination (SP; pollen added manually to ears bagged 5 days after initial silking) systems. Tassel growth of sterile and fertile versions was also evaluated in a separate experiment (Exp₃). Detasseling increased the number of ears per plant reaching silking (P < 0.001) of NP plants, but this beneficial effect of reduced apical dominance did not improve kernel number per plant (KNP) or PGY. Similarly, the early arrest of anther growth in male-sterile plants had no clear benefit on KNP. In contrast, KNP was enhanced by synchronous pollination (range between −13% and +71%; average of +15.4% in Exp₁ and +3.9% in Exp₂). However, this pollination system promoted a decreased in KW (range between −30% and +4%; average of −11.8% in Exp₁ and −7.8 in Exp₂) such that the treatment had no effect on PGY (range between −19% and +37%; average of +1% in Exp₁ and −4% in Exp₂). Because plant growth rate around flowering was not different between pollination treatments, assimilate availability per kernel was reduced from ovary fertilization onwards in synchronously pollinated plants when compared to open pollinated plants. This explains the reduced KW when increasing KNP by synchronous pollination. In summary, none of the imposed treatments allowed grain yield to be increased at the plant level.     

基于ESI的药学、毒理学研究影响力分析

通过分析美国基本科学指标数据库(ESI)所收录的药学、毒理学领域相关研究论文,了解目前该学科领域研究的动态发展趋势、走向。     

枯草芽孢杆菌菌株BAB-1表面活性素的分离纯化及性质分析

 枯草芽孢杆菌菌株BAB-1对番茄灰霉病菌有较强的抑制作用,为了明确其抑菌活性相关成分,通过盐酸沉淀、甲醇抽提法,从该菌株发酵上清液中分离得到了一种脂肽类化合物。经HPLC分析纯化后,发现其保留时间与表面活性素标准品基本一致。TLC层析结果表明该菌株能够产生与表面活性素标准品Rf值一致的成分。进一步通过电喷雾质谱分析,得到其[M+H]+值分别为m/z 1 009.3、1 023.4、1 037.4的成分,与已知的表面活性素3种同系物的[M+H]+值一致。最后采用PCR扩增特异性片段sfp的方法证实该菌株有产生表面活性素的同源基因。综合分析表明,枯草芽孢杆菌菌株BAB-1能够产生表面活性素,且提纯后的表面活性素具有明显的溶血和排油活性,并通过显微观察确定了其十字晶体状结构。     

ESI体系下学科排名提升的投稿策略探索——以青岛科技大学环境生态学学科为例

在对高校学科发展现状进行分析的基础上,对学科的投稿提出相关建议,以期为国内高校ESI学科的提升提供参考。以青岛科技大学环境生态学学科为例,利用ESI和InCites数据库进行文献计量分析,从发文趋势、期刊分布、院系贡献度、合作情况等数据进行统计对比。同时,在明确学科发文现状的基础上,对环境生态学学科期刊进行梳理。研究表明,环境生态学学科需优选投稿期刊,加强与国际一流高校及科研机构合作,规范机构署名,充分利用机构知识库推动学术交流和影响。     

Pigment Cell Differentiation in Sea Urchin Blastula-Derived Primary Cell Cultures

The quinone pigments of sea urchins, specifically echinochrome and spinochromes, are known for their effective antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and antitumor activities. We developed in vitro technology for inducing pigment differentiation in cell culture. The intensification of the pigment differentiation was accompanied by a simultaneous decrease in cell proliferation. The number of pigment cells was two-fold higher in the cells cultivated in the coelomic fluids of injured sea urchins than in those intact. The possible roles of the specific components of the coelomic fluids in the pigment differentiation process and the quantitative measurement of the production of naphthoquinone pigments during cultivation were examined by MALDI and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Echinochrome A and spinochrome E were produced by the cultivated cells of the sand dollar Scaphechinus mirabilis in all tested media, while only spinochromes were found in the cultivated cells of another sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus intermedius. The expression of genes associated with the induction of pigment differentiation was increased in cells cultivated in the presence of shikimic acid, a precursor of naphthoquinone pigments. Our results should contribute to the development of new techniques in marine biotechnology, including the generation of cell cultures producing complex bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential.     

Variation in avenanthramide content in spring oat over multiple environments

Avenanthramides (AVNs), a group of phytochemicals which are unique to oats, provide health benefits through antioxidant activity and other bioactivities. In this study, we explored genotype-by-environment interactions and heritability for AVN concentrations in oats. Avenanthramide concentrations were quantified for 100 breeding lines and cultivars at three locations over two years. While year and environment had an influence on AVN concentrations, with the influence of year being more apparent than that of environment within a year, genotype had the largest impact on AVN concentration. All three major AVNs were found to be heritable. Two methods of calculating heritability on a line mean basis were used. The statistical method yielded heritability estimates of 0.34, 0.39, and 0.41 for AVN 2c, AVN 2p, and AVN 2f, respectively. By comparison the traditional plant breeding method yielded heritability estimates of 0.82, 0.88, and 0.89 for AVN 2c, AVN 2p, and AVN 2f, respectively, indicating that expected gains will be dependent on the scale of the breeding program, the number of target environments, and climate variability. The estimated heritabilities and the 11-fold range in AVN concentrations in the 100 genotypes studied provided evidence that variability for AVN concentration should allow breeding progress for higher AVN concentration.     

高效液相色谱-电喷雾质谱联用法分析罗汉果皂甙

 【目的】建立罗汉果皂甙的HPLC/ESI/MS2定性分析方法。【方法】采用高效液相色谱-电喷雾质谱联用法对罗汉果皂甙提取物进行分离分析。【结果】根据主要色谱峰的质谱特征，初步鉴定出罗汉果皂甙提取物中主要的皂甙成分为11-氧-罗汉果皂甙V（11-oxo-mogroside-V）、罗汉果皂甙V（mogroside-V）、罗汉果皂甙IV（mogroside-IV）、罗汉果皂甙VI（mogroside-VI）和赛门甙I（siamenoside-I）。【结论】对于罗汉果皂甙的分离及定性分析，高效液相色谱-电喷雾质谱(HPLC／ESI/MS2)联用分析法是一种方便快捷有效的方法。     

胡椒油树脂乳液的制备

胡椒油树脂具有粘度大、色泽深、易结晶、不溶于水等缺点,限制了其工业化生产及应用。为解决胡椒油树脂的应用问题,本文选择单甘酯与蔗糖酯为乳化剂、阿拉伯胶为增稠剂,研究单甘酯与蔗糖酯的比例、乳化剂添加量、阿拉伯胶添加量、胡椒油树脂与去离子水的比例对胡椒油树脂乳化性及乳液稳定性的影响,并通过正交实验优化胡椒油树脂的乳化条件。得到的最优乳化条件为：单甘酯与蔗糖酯比例3∶7、乳化剂添加量2%、阿拉伯胶添加量4%、油水比例1∶8。在此条件下,乳液不分层且流动性较好,乳液稳定性达95%。本研究对胡椒油树脂进行乳化,有利于提高胡椒油树脂的稳定性,扩大其应用范围,促进胡椒产品由初级加工向高附加值精深加工转变。     

基于能值分析的山西省生态经济系统可持续发展评价

运用能值理论与方法,对山西省1980—2008年的净能值产出率、能值投入率、人均能值用量、能值货币比率、能值使用强度、环境负荷率、可持续发展能值指数（ESI）和人口承载量等8个指标29 a来的变化趋势进行了分析,并对各项能值指标2012年的数值进行了预测。结果表明,（1）29 a来山西省的能值投入率、人均能值用量、能值使用强度不断上升,能值货币比率则持续下降,表明山西省经济得到了巨大的发展;（2）29 a来山西省净能值产出率、可持续发展能值指数不断下降,环境负荷率不断升高,说明山西省经济的发展是以大量消耗资源和破坏环境而取得的;（3）按各项能值指标的变化趋势曲线对2012年山西省能值指标预测的结果表明,若按以往发展模式,山西省产品竞争力将下降,资源环境和生态经济系统的功能将逐步退化或散失。     

从ESI看高校科研产出及学科发展潜力——以西南大学为例

依据基本科学指标数据库(ESI)所提供的数据,以西南大学为例,基于计量分析研究视角从学术期刊论文的发表数量、论文被引频次、高被引论文和热点论文的分布等几方面入手,分析该校居于ESI前1%学科的科研产出状况,总结近年来学校的科研论文发展态势,预测部分潜力学科的学术竞争力和前景,得出了该校整体科研水平不断进步的结论,并提出改进建议,以期为西南大学及其他高校的学科发展提供数据支撑和理论依据.