Effect of farm management on topsoil organic carbon and aggregate stability in water: A case study from Southwest England,UK

There are few reliable data sets to inspire confidence in policymakers that soil organic carbon (SOC) can be measured on farms. We worked with farmers in the Tamar Valley region of southwest England to select sampling sites under similar conditions (soil type, aspect and slope) and management types. Topsoils (2–15 cm) were sampled in autumn 2015, and percentage soil organic matter (%SOM) was determined by loss on ignition and used to calculate %SOC. We also used the stability of macroaggregates in cold water (WSA) (‘soil slaking’) as a measure of ‘soil health’ and investigated its relationship with SOC in the clay‐rich soils. %SOM was significantly different between management types in the order woodland (11.1%) = permanent pasture (9.5%) > ley‐arable rotation (7.7%) = arable (7.3%). This related directly to SOC stocks that were larger in fields under permanent pasture and woodland compared with those under arable or ley‐arable rotation whether corrected for clay content (F = 8.500, p < .0001) or not (F = 8.516, p < .0001). WSA scores were strongly correlated with SOC content whether corrected for clay content (SOC_adj R² = .571, p < .0001) or not (SOC_unadj R² = 0.490, p = .002). Time since tillage controlled SOC stocks and WSA scores, accounting for 75.5% and 51.3% of the total variation, respectively. We conclude that (1) SOC can be reliably measured in farmed soils using accepted protocols and related to land management and (2) WSA scores can be rapidly measured in clay soils and related to SOC stocks and soil management.     

The Identification of QTL Associated with Cotton Fruit Branch Length Suitable for Mechanized Harvest Utilizing BSA-seq

[Objective] This study aims to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with cotton fruit branch length by using the combination of bulked-segregant analysis (BSA) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) method. [Method] In this study, the cotton F₂ segregating population was developed with the short branch line Sujimian 125 and long-branch variety Sikang 1 as cross parents. According to the average internode length of fruit branches in middle, extreme individuals in F₂ population were divided into two groups to generate the bulked DNA samples. The whole-genome resequencing of two DNA bulks was applied to analyze the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and insertion-deletion (InDel) between two groups, and the fruit branch internode length related QTLs were detected using Euclidean distance (ED). [Result] With SNP data obtained from sequencing, a 0.8 Mbp range associated region on chromosome A3 was identified; with InDel data obtained from sequencing, a 1.09 Mbp range associated region on chromosome A3 was identified. Two regions overlapped, and the overlapped range was 0.77 Mbp. [Conclusion] This result suggested that the difference between I-type fruit branch and zero-type was due to different genetic locus and pattern rather than dosage effect of the same gene.     

Substrate composition determines emergence success and development of European nase larvae (Chondrostoma nasus L.)

European nase (Chondrostoma nasus) is a specialist riverine fish, characterised by a complex life cycle making it vulnerable to habitat degradation. Recent findings indicate that, analogously to salmonids, the interstitial zone quality may pose a serious bottleneck for successful recruitment of this species. In this study, nase eggs were exposed to different substrate qualities. First, standardised substrate mixtures with differing fine sediment additions were used. Second, we tested different homogenous gravel fractions for their influence on egg development and emergence success. In both setups, substrate composition significantly affected emergence success, timing of emergence and larvae size at emergence. In the substrate mixtures, emergence was most successful in substratum with no fine sediment addition (98%) and decreased to 55% in substratum with 20% fine sediment addition. Emergence was most successful in the coarsest fraction (93%) and decreased to 47% in the finest fraction. Over all treatments, the time between hatching and emergence from substrate differed by up to 156 degree days, thereby indicating that free embryos of nase use the shelter of the interstitial zone for early ontogeny. These results suggest that a loose and porous stream bed can positively contribute to the development success of eggs and larvae and thereby potentially improve the recruitment of nase populations. It is thus important to consider the substrate and interstitial conditions in the conservation and restoration management of this rheophilic cyprinid.     

Evidence of sedimentation inequality along riparian areas colonised by Impatiens glandulifera (Himalayan balsam)

Soil loss from riparian areas supporting the annual invasive weed, Impatiens glandulifera (Himalayan balsam), was measured and compared with equivalent values recorded at nearby, topographically similar areas supporting perennial vegetation over a cumulative seven-year period, along sections of two separate river systems; one in Switzerland, and one in the UK. Soil loss from colonised locations was significantly greater than from reference locations in four of the seven measurement periods. Despite contrasting results, standard deviations, based on soil losses and gains, were predominantly higher for colonised areas at both rivers over most monitoring periods. These findings indicated that areas colonised by Himalayan balsam experience higher sediment flux in comparison with areas free of invasion. Here, we test those original interpretations by reinterrogating the datasets using a more robust analysis of inequality. Nine datasets were tested, five of which (i.e. 56%) showed that sediment flux was significantly greater at Himalayan balsam-invaded areas than at reference areas. Three datasets showed no difference in sediment flux between invaded and reference areas (33%), and one (11%) showed higher sediment flux at reference areas. Most results uphold our original interpretations and support our hypothesis that hydrochory probably dictates where colonisation initially occurs, by depositing Himalayan balsam seeds in slack or depressional areas along river margins. Once Himalayan balsam becomes established and sufficient perennial vegetation is displaced, seasonal die-off and depleted vegetation cover may increase the risk that some areas will experience significantly higher sediment flux.     

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。     

水果番茄新品种“晶杏”的选育

"晶杏"是由XS12为母本、CM14为父本杂交而成,为无限生长型,生长势旺盛,中熟,果实淡黄色,高圆形,单果质量约50 g。色泽亮丽,坐果率高,坐果整齐一致,果实大小均匀。丰产性好,口味佳,抗裂果,高抗叶枯病和枯萎病。产量约达97.5 t·hm^-2,是目前栽培的理想樱桃番茄品种,适合于内蒙古中部地区早秋、早春日光温室和大棚越夏栽培。     

Delayed-type hypersensitivity skin test against Neospora caninum in heifers with undetectable specific antibodies

Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) has been used in human and veterinary medicine as a skin testing for evaluating in vivo cell-mediated immune responses (CMIR). Whereas CMIR is a key process to control intracellular pathogens, its value at identifying cattle exposed to the abortigenic intracellular coccidian parasite Neospora caninum is unknown. In this work, we have evaluated a DTH skin testing in cattle exposed to N. caninum and still seronegative. Female calves were experimentally sensitized by subcutaneous (SC) inoculation with live tachyzoites of N. caninum (NC-Argentina LP1) in sterile phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (group A; n: 8) whereas other calveswere mock-sensitized with PBS (group B; n: 6). Two DTH skin tests were performed by intradermal inoculation with a soluble lysate of N. caninum tachyzoites (NC-Argentina LP1) in the neck region at 60d and 960 d after sensitization. Skinfold thickness at the intradermal inoculation site was measured at 0, 24, 48 h post each DTH skin test and skin biopsies taken for microscopic evaluation. Specific N. caninum antibodies kinetics was evaluated all throughthe experiment. We found that whereas N. caninum specific antibodies remained below the ELISA cut-off, a distinctive skinfold thickness increase was detected in sensitized animals (group A) at the DTH skin test site, showing induration, swelling and inflammatory infiltration. Mock sensitized animals (group B) showed no skinfold thickness growth and lacked specific antibody response. Thus, N. caninum DTH skin testing could be a useful diagnostic tool for the detection of CMIR during N. caninum infection in non-humoral responders.     

不同氮素水平下双季稻株型与冠层内光截获特征研究

本文旨在阐明双季稻株型与冠层内光合有效辐射截获的时空分布特征。选用4个不同株型早、晚稻品种,设置4个不同施氮水平,系统观测其植株形态和冠层内光合有效辐射截获率(IPAR)的时空分布状况。结果表明,施氮水平对早、晚稻株高、穗长、叶长和叶基角均有显著影响,均表现为随施氮水平的增加而增大;早、晚稻孕穗期的分层叶面积指数(LAI)和向上累积LAI大于抽穗后12 d,分层LAI呈冠层中部大于上部和下部的分布特征,最大分层LAI出现在0.58相对高度处;冠层上中部分层LAI和向上累积LAI随施氮水平的增加而增大;向上累积LAI随相对高度呈S型曲线分布,可用Logistic方程定量描述(R~2 0.99);早、晚稻孕穗期的冠层IPAR大于抽穗后12 d,且随施氮水平的增加而增大,其日变化表现为正午较小,早晚较大;株型紧凑的早、晚稻品种,冠层IPAR低;冠层IPAR与向下累积LAI之间的关系可用方程IPAR=a (1-e~(-b×LAI))定量描述(R~2 0.88);冠层内IPAR的三维空间分布表现为冠层上中部水平面上IPAR较低,光斑变化大,冠层下部水平面上IPAR较高,光斑变化较平缓,同一冠层高度水平面上的IPAR呈不均匀分布。研究结果可为双季稻高产栽培及理想株型的优化设计提供支撑。     

中国竹类多样性及其重要价值

竹类属于禾本科Gramineae（Poaceae）、竹亚科Bambusoideae植物，全世界约1 500多种。中国竹类的自然分布广阔，横跨热带、亚热带和温带地区，涵盖包括台湾、香港在内的21个有竹子分布的省、自治区、直辖市和特区。中国是世界上竹类多样性最丰富的国家，也是世界上栽培竹类最丰富的国家，共有竹类植物753种（含22种引进种），约占世界总数的50%以上。同时，中国竹类在起源、遗传进化、内部构造、生态及林型等方面均具有十分丰富的多样性。中国竹类从宏观到微观所展现出的多样性特质，是大自然留给人类的宝贵遗产，对于人类认识自然、保护自然、从而更好的利用竹类资源服务于人类的长远利益，具有重要价值。文章从起源、生态、林型、物种、形态、遗传等方面概述了中国竹类的多样性，为进一步探讨竹类多样性提供基础信息。