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.     

Growth and development of Cirsium arvense in relation to herbicide dose,timing of herbicide application and crop presence

The aim of this study is to assess control effects of 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) dosage, application timing and crop presence on the weed Cirsium arvense. Swedish farmers are recommended to control C. arvense chemically when most shoots are 10-20 cm tall, and mechanically at the compensation point (CP). Recent studies have shown that the CP occurs before shoots reach the three-leaf stage. We hypothesised that (i) herbicide application near the three-leaf stage gives the strongest control, (ii) crop presence increases herbicide effects, and (iii) a 50% herbicide dose gives the same effect as 100%. Treatments of the pot experiment consisted of MCPA 750; 0%, 50% and 100% of the recommended dose applied at leaf stages 3-8, with and without barley. The strongest control was obtained at four leaves and a maximum shoot height of 13 cm, using the recommended dose and with spring barley. In a field population, a maximum shoot height of 13 cm corresponded to a medium height of 6 cm. The 50% dose gave poorer control. Spraying with the recommended dose at the four-leaf stage reduced the development of C. arvense most effectively. Based on this, we recommend that herbicide spraying should be performed at earlier leaf stages/median heights than previously recommended.     

青稞类钙调素蛋白基因CML19的克隆、序列分析及原核表达

根据鉴定得到青稞类钙调素蛋白基因CML19的序列设计引物,以青稞叶片的cDNA为模板,扩增得到目的片段,对目的基因序列进行鉴定和分析,进一步构建该基因的原核表达载体pET28a-CML19,转入大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),利用IPTG诱导外源蛋白质表达并检测。结果表明,扩增得到CML19的CDS序列全长为447bp,编码的蛋白质含有148个氨基酸,分子质量为16.46ku,理论等电点(pI)为4.40,总平均亲水性(GRAVY)为-0.176,不稳定系数为49.59,存在典型的EF手结构域;系统进化分析表明,青稞CML19与山羊草具有较近的亲缘关系;原核表达蛋白结果显示,重组蛋白主要以包涵体形式存在于沉淀中。初步阐明青稞CML19基因的序列特征,为进一步制备抗体、探讨CML19基因的功能奠定基础。     

土壤外源钴对大麦根伸长的毒害及其预测模型

选取我国11种不同性质的农田土壤，通过外源添加重金属钴（Co），研究其对大麦（Hordeum vulgare L.）根伸长的毒性阈值及土壤性质对Co毒性的影响。结果发现，Co对大麦根伸长10%抑制效应（EC₁₀）在11种土壤中的变化范围为37.1~3 914 mg·kg^-1土（105.5倍），50%抑制效应（EC₅₀）的变化范围为166.1~6 030 mg·kg^-1土（36.3倍）。建立土壤性质与毒性阈值的回归方程，结果表明土壤pH是影响土壤Co毒性阈值最重要的因子，作为单因子时分别可以解释77.6%、72%的EC₁₀和EC₅₀的变异（P≤0.001）。当在EC₁₀预测模型中引入土壤pH和土壤黏粒（Clay）双因子时，可以解释83.9%的EC₁₀的变异（P<0.001），EC₅₀预测模型中引入土壤pH和总碳（TC）双因子时，可以解释86.1%的EC₅₀的变异（P<0.001）。将我国土壤中得到的Co毒性阈值预测模型和欧洲北美10种土壤的预测模型进行比较验证，结果发现基于我国土壤得到的预测模型可以较为准确地预测欧洲北美土壤中Co的大麦根伸长毒性阈值，但基于欧洲北美土壤的预测模型不能准确预测我国土壤中Co的毒性阈值。研究表明，我国土壤性质对Co毒性有显著的影响，基于土壤性质建立的预测模型可为土壤中Co生态风险评价提供参考依据。     

Rhynchosporium leaf scald disease incidence: seed source and spatial pattern

A programme of field trials for the study of the winter barley–Rhynchosporium commune pathosystem is reported. The associated seedborne disease rhynchosporium leaf scald is regarded as having an important impact on barley yields. The analysis in this study relates to the impact of the seed source (commercial or farm-saved seed) on disease incidence and to the spatial pattern of rhynchosporium leaf scald disease incidence. Disease incidence data were calculated from field data recorded as disease severity. Mean disease incidence was higher in the crops grown from farm-saved seed than in those grown from commercial seed, although great agronomic significance cannot be attached to this result. The spatial pattern of rhynchosporium leaf scald disease incidence was characterized in terms of the binary power law (BPL) and was indicative of an aggregated pattern. Programme-wide BPL results were described using a novel phytopathological application of a random coefficients model. These results have application in field sampling for rhynchosporium leaf scald disease.     

The Tolerance Index and Translocation Factor were Used to Identify the Barley Genotypes with High Arsenic Stress Tolerance

Ninety-four barley genotypes were used to investigate the genotypic differences in arsenic (As) uptake and translocation and their relationships with As tolerance index (TI) and translocation factor (TF). Two As treatments (300 µM and 500 µM) were applied in the initial screening and the confirmatory experiments, respectively. The results showed significant (p < 0.05) differences in tissue biomass, shoot height, root length, As TI and TF among genotypes. Based on As TI, 11 barley genotypes were selected and divided into 3 groups, i.e. tolerant, mildly tolerant and sensitive. There was more As uptake in the roots of the As tolerant genotypes, while the As sensitive genotypes contained more As in shoots, which was further proved by the greater TF. Significantly negative correlation was observed between shoot and root As concentration. The results showed that As tolerant genotypes are able to restrict the upward movement of As, thus developing their tolerance.     

Phenotypic and allelic variation for wort protein Z in Australian and Canadian barleys

Protein Z is a major component in beer foam. Two-dimensional electrophoresis was used to analyze wort proteins of two Australian (Buloke and Commander) and two Canadian (CDC Meredith and Bentley) varieties. The Canadian barley contained more abundant proteins from MW 40–45 kDa (pI 5 to 7). These proteins were identified as either protein Z4 or protein Z7 using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Full-length gene of protein Z4 and Z7 were sequenced from Canadian and Australian barleys. Sequence differences were identified in the coding region and upstream regions of the two genes, resulting in protein sequence and expression variations. Molecular markers were designed according to the indels in the upstream regions of protein Z4 and Z7 genes. These markers were highly correlated to wort protein Z content in Canadian and Australian varieties. The Canadian barleys contained ‘high level’ genotypes for protein Z4 and Z7 while most Australian barleys had ‘low level’ genotypes for protein Z4, Z7 or both. The markers identified in this study provide a valuable tool for the selection of protein Z alleles in marker-assisted breeding. Total protein Z content was assessed using different steeping conditions, and increasing air-rest time increased protein Z content in 15 varieties.     

氮肥运筹对江淮麦区饲料大麦籽粒产量与品质的影响

为给江淮麦区饲料大麦生产氮肥合理施用提供参考，于2012－2014年连续2年以盐丰1号和扬饲麦1号2个饲料大麦品种为试验材料，研究了不同氮肥用量与运筹比例对大麦籽粒产量与品质的影响。结果表明，氮肥用量增加使2个品种的产量随之增加，施氮量从A1（90 kg／hm2）增至A2（210 kg／hm2）时，盐丰1号、扬饲麦1号平均产量分别增加16．4％，31．6％，施氮量从A2增至A3（330 kg／hm2）时，处理间产量差异不显著；相同施氮量不同运筹比例对2个品种产量影响不明显；对于籽粒品质，施氮量从A1增至A2时，盐丰1号与扬饲麦1号籽粒蛋白质含量增幅分别为8．6％～10．2％和8．8％～10．8％，施氮量从A2增至A3时，籽粒蛋白质含量也有增加，但未达显著水平；施氮量的增加使2个品种籽粒淀粉含量略有下降，但降幅不明显；相同施氮量不同运筹比例对2个品种籽粒品质影响不显著。氮肥处理下产量与农艺性状相关分析表明，用氮肥来调控大麦产量可能主要是通过调控穗粒数与穗数来实现增产。综合考虑，建议在江淮麦区生产上大麦氮肥施用方案为，总施氮量为210 kg／hm2，氮肥运筹比例为基肥∶拔节肥∶穗肥以5∶2∶3或6∶2∶2为宜。     

种植密度对2个青稞品种抗倒伏及秸秆饲用特性的影响

种植密度是影响青稞抗倒伏和秸秆饲用特性的重要因子。以抗倒伏品种昆仑14号和倒伏品种门源亮蓝为试验材料,比较研究种植密度对这2个品种生长发育、抗倒伏特性和秸秆饲用特性的影响。结果表明,种植密度对2个品种的抗倒伏和秸秆饲用特性的影响存在差异。随着种植密度的增加,昆仑14号根长、根体积、根数和根干重先增后降,茎粗和壁厚依次下降;门源亮蓝根系和茎秆相关指标则随种植密度增大而下降。昆仑14号抗倒伏相关指标先增后降,但整个生育期未发生倒伏;门源亮蓝各指标均显著降低,诱发倒伏现象提前发生,致使倒伏率增大、倒伏程度加剧。昆仑14号茎秆中性洗涤纤维、酸性洗涤纤维、半纤维素、纤维素和木质素等化学成分含量随密度增加先增后降,门源亮蓝各成分含量呈下降趋势,相对饲喂价值随密度增加呈现增高的趋势。综合抗倒伏特性与秸秆饲用特性,昆仑14号最佳种植密度为375×104株hm~(-2),门源亮蓝粮饲兼用时适宜密度为300×104～375×104株hm~(-2)。     

The effect of cobalt stress on growth and physiological traits and its association with cobalt accumulation in barley genotypes differing in cobalt tolerance

Cobalt (Co) is beneficial for legume plants and not an essential element for most plants. There is no sufficient information about the effect of Co stress on barley growth. The current experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of different Co levels (25, 50, 75, and 100 µM) on growth and physiological traits of three barley genotypes (B325, J36, and B340) differing in Co tolerance. The results showed that Co stress inhibited plant growth, decreased chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate, and enhanced oxidative stress. However, the effects differed among genotypes, with B325 and B340 being the most and the least affected, respectively. Co stress caused decrease and increase of manganese (Mn) and phosphorus (P) concentrations in both roots and shoots, respectively; iron (Fe) concentration had little change in shoots and a significant decrease in roots. The current results showed a close association of Co tolerance and its accumulation in plant tissues.