Effects of mutations in Drosophila nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits on sensitivity to insecticides targeting nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Several strains of Drosophila melanogaster possess mutant alleles in nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits, Dα1 and Dβ2 that confer resistance to neonicotinoids such as imidacloprid and nitenpyram, and Dα6, that confers resistance to spinosyns. These mutant strains were bioassayed with a selected set of nAChR active insecticides including neonicotinoids, spinosad, and sulfoxaflor, a new sulfoximine insecticide. All of the neonicotinoids examined, except dinotefuran showed reduced insecticidal efficacy on larvae of the Dα1 mutant, suggesting that this subunit may be important in the action of these insecticides. All of the neonicotinoids, including dinotefuran, showed reduced insecticidal efficacy on larvae possessing the Dβ2 mutation. A similar pattern of broad neonicotinoid resistance to that of Dβ2 alone was also observed for larvae with both the mutations (Dα1 + Dβ2). The Dβ2 mutation exhibited a lower level of cross-resistance to sulfoxaflor (<3-fold) than to any of the neonicotinoids (>13-fold). In contrast, there was no cross-resistance for any of the neonicotinoids or sulfoxaflor in adult flies with the Dα6 mutation, which confers high levels of resistance to spinosad. Thus in the D. melanogaster strains studied, target site resistance observed for the neonicotinoids and the spinosyns does not translate directly to resistance towards sulfoxaflor.     

分相萃取法纯化朝鲜蓟中洋蓟素的工艺研究

以朝鲜蓟提取物为原料、乙酸乙酯为萃取剂,考查萃取时间、分相时间、提取物质量浓度、相比、萃取温度、pH值等因素对萃取率的影响,并通过正交试验优化洋蓟素的最佳萃取参数。结果表明,朝鲜蓟中洋蓟素的最佳萃取参数为萃取时间30 min,分相时间80 min,提取物质量浓度10.0 g/L,相比1.25∶1,萃取温度35℃,pH值4.0,此时洋蓟素萃取率达到67.37%。     

Interactions between phosphorus availability and microbes in a wheat–maize double cropping system: A reduced fertilization scheme

Mechanisms controlling phosphorus(P) availability and the roles of microorganisms in the efficient utilization of soil P in the wheat–maize double cropping system are poorly understood. In the present study, we conducted a pot experiment for four consecutive wheat–maize seasons(2016–2018) using calcareous soils with high(30.36 mg kg^–1) and low(9.78 mg kg^–1) initial Olsen-P content to evaluate the effects of conventional P fertilizer application to both wheat and maize(Pwm) ...     

Interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and fungivorous nematodes on the growth and arsenic uptake of tobacco in arsenic-contaminated soils

The effects of inoculation with two AM fungi (M1, Glomus caledonium; M2, Glomus spp. and Acaulospora spp.) and a fungivorous nematode Aphelenchoides sp. on growth and arsenic (As) uptake of Nicotiana tabacum L. were investigated in soils contaminated with a range of As. The reproduction of Aphelenchoides sp. was triggered by the co-inoculation of AM fungi regardless of AM fungal isolates and As levels. Stimulative effects of Aphelenchoides sp. on the development of mycorrhiza, slightly different between two AM fungi, were found particularly at the lowest As level. Irrespective of mycorrhizal inoculi, increasing soil As level decreased plant growth, but increased plant As uptake. Co-inoculation of AM fungi and Aphelenchoides sp. led plants to achieving further growth and greater As accumulation at the lowest As level. Results showed that the interactions between AM fungi and fungivorous nematodes were important in plant As tolerance and phytoextraction at low level As-polluted soil.     

Plant–soil interactions in metal contaminated soils

The legacy of industrialization has left many soils contaminated. However, soil organisms and plant communities can thrive in spite of metal contamination and, in some cases, metabolize and help in remediation. The responses of plants and soil organisms to contamination are mutually dependent and dynamic. Plant–soil feedbacks are central to the development of any terrestrial community; they are ongoing in both contaminated and healthy soils. However, the theory that governs plant–soil feedbacks in healthy soils needs to be studied in contaminated soils. In healthy soils, negative feedbacks (i.e. pathogens) play a central role in shaping plant community structure. However to our knowledge, the nature of feedback relationships has never been addressed in contaminated soils. Here we review literature that supports a plant–soil feedback approach to understanding the ecology of metal-contaminated soil. Further, we discuss the idea that within these soils, the role of positive as opposed to negative plant–soil feedbacks may be more important. Testing this idea in a rigorous way in any ecosystem is challenging, and metal contamination imposes an additional abiotic constraint. We discuss research goals and experimental approaches to study plant–soil interactions applicable to metal-contaminated soils; these insights can be extended to other contaminated environments and restoration efforts.     

超高效液相色谱法测定饲料中斑蝥黄和β-阿朴-8’-胡萝卜素酸乙酯含量方法的研究

为有效快速测定饲料中斑蝥黄和β-阿朴-8’-胡萝卜素酸乙酯含量,饲料经甲醇、正己烷和乙酸乙酯混合液萃取后,在氮气保护下浓缩,用甲基叔丁基醚-乙腈溶液复溶,注入超高效液相色谱仪中进行测定。结果表明:斑蝥黄浓度为1.25~10.0μg/mL,β-阿朴-8’-胡萝卜素酸乙酯为2.50~20.0μg/mL线性关系良好;斑蝥黄和β-阿朴-8’-胡萝卜素酸乙酯的检测限为0.06 mg/kg,定量限为0.20 mg/kg。斑蝥黄5个添加水平的平均回收率为72.8%~82.8%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为0.41%~1.06%;β-阿朴-8’-胡萝卜素酸乙酯5个添加水平的平均回收率为72.0%~82.8%,RSD为0.46%~1.41%。说明该方法简便、快速、灵敏度高、准确度好,适用于测定饲料中斑蝥黄和β-阿朴-8’-胡萝卜素酸乙酯含量。     

Flowering phenology of a herbaceous species (Poa annua) is regulated by soil Collembola

The role of soil organisms as possible driver of flowering has never been investigated. We hypothesized that Collembola (microarthropods) will change plant allocation to reproductive modes by changing soil nutrient availability. Individual seedlings of Poa annua were planted in microcosms, in the presence or absence of Collembola. Collembola affected biotic (fungal biomass) and abiotic ($\text{N}-{{\text{NO}}_3}^{-}$, P₂O₅) soil properties and some morphological (number of leaves, root biomass) and chemical (C:N, K, Mg, N) traits of P. annua. As a result, flowering of P. annua was promoted by the presence of Collembola. This provides experimental evidence that soil microarthropods can affect the reproduction strategy and phenology of a plant.     

Calibration of Hargreaves–Samani equation for estimating reference evapotranspiration in semiarid and arid regions

The Penman–Monteith (FAO-56 PM) equation is suggested as the standard method for estimating evapotranspiration (ET₀) by the International Irrigation and Drainage Committee and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). On the other hand, the Hargreaves–Samani (HS) equation is an alternative method compared with the FAO-56 PM equation. In the present study, the original coefficient C of the HS equation is calibrated based on the FAO-56 PM equation for estimating the reference ET₀ from 15 meteorological stations in central Iran (about 170,000 km²) under semiarid and arid conditions. After calibration, the new values for C are ranged from 0.0018 to 0.0037. The mean bias error (MBE), the root mean square error (RMSE), and the ratio of average estimations of ET₀ (R) values for all stations are ranged from 0.12 to 5.38, ?5.35 to 1.15 mm d^?1 and 0.64 to 1.28 for the HS equation and from 0.12 to 2.48, ?2.2 to 0.60 mm d^?1, and 1.00 to 1.05 for the calibrated Hargreaves–Samani equation (CHS), respectively. Results indicate that the average RMSE and MBE values are decreased by 40% and 66%, respectively. Relationships for calibrating the C coefficient on the basis of annual average of daily temperature range (ΔT) and wind speed (V) are proposed, calibrated, and validated. Hence, the CHS equation can be used for ET₀ estimates with acceptable accuracy instead of the FAO-56 PM method.     

棉籽油制备生物柴油的生物降解性能

以棉籽油甲酯、乙酯生物柴油及其与石化柴油形成的调和油为研究对象,采用改进的Sturm试验方法,考察了生物柴油及其调和油的生物降解特点。研究表明：在有氧的水环境中生物降解28 d,棉籽乙酯生物柴油与甲酯生物柴油生物降解率分别达99.7%和99.1%;对甲酯生物柴油而言,生物柴油体积分数为50%和20%的调和油的28 d生物降解率分别为93.8%和80.8%,而乙酯生物柴油体积分数为50%和20%的调和油的28 d生物降解率分别95.7%和81.9%,但在相同条件下,0#柴油生物降解率仅49.9%;生物柴油在调和油中体积比越大,调和油的生物降解速度越快,生物柴油对石化柴油的生物降解具有促进作用。该文对认识棉籽油生物柴油在环境中的消解规律,控制环境污染具有一定的意义。