The M43 domain-containing metalloprotease RcMEP1 in Rhizoctonia cerealis is a pathogenicity factor during the fungus infection to wheat

Wheat(Triticum aestivum L.) is an important staple crop for global human. The necrotrophic fungus Rhizoctonia cerealis is the causal pathogen of sharp eyespot, a devastating disease of wheat. Herein, we identified RcMEP1, a zinc metalloproteaseencoding gene from R. cerealis genomic sequences, and characterized its pathogenesis function. RcMEP1 expressed at markedly-high levels during R. cerealis infection process to wheat. The predicted protein RcMEP1 comprises of 287 amino acid residues and contains a signal peptide and a M43 metalloprotease domain harboring the active site motif(HEVGHWLGLYH). The assays of Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves indicated that RcMEP1 is an apoplastic elicitor of cell death, and that the predicted signal peptide functions and is required for secretion and cell death-induction. The purified RcMEP1 protein and its M43 domain peptide were individually able to induce plant cell death and H2 O2 accumulation, and to inhibit expression of host chitinases when infiltrated into wheat and N. benthamiana leaves, while the M43 domain-deleting peptide and negative control lacked the capacity. Moreover, compared with the control pretreatment, the purified RcMEP1 protein or its M43-domain peptide resulted in enhanced pathogenesis in the inoculated wheat, whereas the M43 domain-deleting peptide failed. These results suggest that RcMEP1 acted as an important pathogenicity factor during R. cerealis infection to wheat and that its signal peptide and M43 domain are required for the secretion and pathogenesis of RcMEP1. This study provides insights into pathogenesis role of M43 domain-containing metalloproteases during R. cerealis infection to wheat.     

QTL Mapping of Isoflavone,Oil and Protein Contents in Soybean （Glycine max L. Merr.）

Soybean （Glycine max L. Merr.） is the world＇s foremost source of edible plant oil and proteins, meantime, the biologically active secondary metabolites such as saponins and isoflavones are benefit to human health. The objective of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci （QTL） and epistatic interactions associated with isoflavone, protein, and oil contents in soybean seeds. An F13 recombinant inbred line （RIL） comprising 474 lines was derived from a cross between Jindou 23 and Huibuzhi cultivars. SSR technique was employed for mapping of the QTLs. The QTLs for isoflavone, protein, and oil contents were analyzed and 23 QTLs were detected based on the constructed linkage map. Six QTLs for isoflavone content were localized in linkage groups J, N, D2, and G, eleven QTLs for oil content were localized in the linkage groups A1, A2, B2, C2, and D2, and six QTLs for protein content were localized in linkage groups B2, C2, G, and H1. The correlative analysis demonstrated that the isoflavone content had significant correlation with protein content, while significantly negative correlations was existed between oil and protein content, and significantly positive correlations was existed between protein and oil content. All these findings have laid an important basis for the marker assisted breeding in soybean. The phenotypic correlations of quantitative traits may be resulted from the correlation of the QTL controlling those traits.     

The water-saving potential of using micro-sprinkling irrigation for winter wheat production on the North China Plain

The shortage of groundwater resources is a considerable challenge for winter wheat production on the North China Plain. Water-saving technologies and procedures are thus urgently required. To determine the water-saving potential of using micro-sprinkling irrigation(MSI) for winter wheat production, field experiments were conducted from 2012 to 2015. Compared to traditional flooding irrigation(TFI), micro-sprinkling thrice with 90 mm water(MSI1) and micro-sprinkling four times with 120 mm water(MSI2) increased the water use efficiency by 22.5 and 16.2%, respectively, while reducing evapotranspiration by 17.6 and 10.8%. Regardless of the rainfall pattern, MSI(i.e., MSI1 or MSI2) either stabilized or significantly increased the grain yield, while reducing irrigation water volumes by 20–40%, compared to TFI. Applying the same volumes of irrigation water, MSI(i.e., MSI3, micro-sprinkling five times with 150 mm water) increased the grain yield and water use efficiency of winter wheat by 4.6 and 11.7%, respectively, compared to TFI. Because MSI could supply irrigation water more frequently in smaller amounts each time, it reduced soil layer compaction, and may have also resulted in a soil water deficit that promoted the spread of roots into the deep soil layer, which is beneficial to photosynthetic production in the critical period. In conclusion, MSI1 or MSI2 either stabilized or significantly increased grain yield while reducing irrigation water volumes by 20–40% compared to TFI, and should provide water-saving technological support in winter wheat production for smallholders on the North China Plain.     

不同灌溉模式下夏玉米产量形成特点

为了筛选限水灌溉条件下较优的灌溉集成模式, 挖掘夏玉米高产潜力, 明确其高产的生理特性, 2015—2016年在河北藁城采用灌溉施肥方式（微喷灌和管灌）×密度（6.3×10⁴、7.8×10⁴株·hm^-2）×收获期（9月25日和10月3日）再裂区试验, 研究了微喷灌和管灌为主的两种集成模式对夏玉米郑单958产量形成的影响。结果表明:微喷灌水肥一体化三次灌水施肥技术，改善了浅层土壤水分状况，土壤水分含量较管灌模式高5.9%～20.2%；其拔节期叶面积指数(LAI)较管灌高30.2%~44.2%, 生育后期SPAD值降低缓慢，较管灌高4.9%～5.9%，且作物生长速率（CGR）高9.0%～26.3%,这是其提高玉米千粒重和产量的主要原因, 并且收获越晚玉米微喷灌模式的增产效应越大，早收和晚收分别增产5.1%～6.0%和7.2%～10.8%。微喷灌模式高密度处理基部茎节抗倒伏指数、叶片SPAD值和CGR大多优于管灌低密度处理或与之相当，三者分别较管灌高4.0%～27.3%、-1.0%～3.7%和24.3%～37.7%。说明微喷灌模式优于管灌模式，且在此模式下增加种植密度是可行的。研究结果表明，微喷灌+增密+推迟收获时间3种技术综合应用可充分发挥玉米的增产潜力, 实现增产23.3%。     

Effects of deep vertical rotary tillage on the grain yield and resource use efficiency of winter wheat in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of China

Tillage represents an important practice that is used to dynamically regulate soil properties,and affects the grain production process and resource use efficiency of crops.The objectives of this 3-year field study carried out in the Huang-Huai-Hai(HHH) Plain of China were to compare the effects of a new deep vertical rotary tillage (DVRT) with the conventional shallow rotary tillage (CT) on soil properties,winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain yield and water and nitrogen use efficiency at different productivity levels,and to identify a comprehensive management that optimizes both grain yield and resource use efficiency in the HHH Plain.A split-plot design was adopted in field experiments in the winter wheat growing seasons of 2016–2017 (S1),2017–2018 (S2) and 2018–2019 (S3),with DVRT (conducted once in June 2016) and CT performed in the main plots.Subplots were treated with one of four targeted productivity level treatments (SH,the super high productivity level;HH,the high productivity and high efficiency productivity level;FP,the farmer productivity level;ISP,the inherent soil productivity level).The results showed that the soil bulk density was reduced and the soil water content at the anthesis stage was increased in all three years,which were due to the significant effects of DVRT.Compared with CT,grain yields,partial factor productivity of nitrogen (PFP_N),and water use efficiency (WUE) under DVRT were increased by 22.0,14.5 and 19.0%.Path analysis and direct correlation decomposition uncovered that grain yield variation of winter wheat was mostly contributed by the spike numbers per area under different tillage modes.General line model analysis revealed that tillage mode played a significant role on grain yield,PFP_N and WUE not only as a single factor,but also along with other factors(year and productivity level) in interaction manners.In addition,PFP_N and WUE were the highest in HH under DVRT in all three growth seasons.These results provided a theoretical basis and technical support for coordinating the high yield with high resource use efficiency of winter wheat in the resource-restricted region in the HHH Plain of China.     

Soil application of Trichoderma asperellum GDFS1009 granules promotes growth and resistance to Fusarium graminearum in maize

Of diseases affecting maize (Zea mays), Fusarium graminearum is one of the most common pathogenic fungi that cause stalk rot. In the present study, the Trichoderma asperellum GDFS1009 strain was shown to be an effective biocontrol agent against stalk rot. In a confrontation culture test, Trichoderma strain displayed an approximately 60% inhibition rate on the mycelial growth of F. graminearum. In pot trials, the application of 2 g/pot of T. asperellum GDFS1009 granules had the best control effect on stalk rot at the seedling stage (up to 53.7%), while the average plant height and fresh weight were also significantly improved. Additionally when fertilizer was added at 8 g/pot, the application of 3 g/pot of Trichoderma granules had the best control effect on maize stalk rot (40.95%). In field trials, when inoculating F. graminearum alone, the disease index for inoculating was 62.45, but only 31.43 after treatment with T. asperellum GDFS1009 granules, suggesting a control efficiency of 49.67%. Furthermore, in a naturally F. graminearum-infected field, Trichoderma granules, when applied for 3 consecutive years, showed significant control of stalk rot and increased yields.     

Identification of SSR Marker Linked to a Major Dwarfing Gene in Common Wheat

A segregating population with 410 F 2 individuals from the cross MERCIA(Rht-B1a) ×Dwarf 123 was made to identify a new major dwarfing gene carrying by novel wheat germplasm Dwarf 123.Combination of bulk segerant analysis method was used.A total of 145 SSR markers were tested for polymorphisms among parental lines and DNA bulks of F 2 population.Out of 145 primer pairs only three markers revealed corresponding polymorphism among parental lines and F 2 DNA bulks.The marker Barc20 was close to the dwarfing gene with a genetic distance of 1.8 cM,and markers Gwm513 and Gwm495 were linked to the gene with genetic distance of 6.7 and 13 cM,respectively.Linkage analysis mapped the dwarfing gene to the long arm of chromosome 4B with the order of Barc20-dwarfing gene-Gwm513-Gwm495.The Comparision between the new gene and the known Rht-B1 alleles showed that dwarfing gene Rht-Ai123 was different from the others.The identification of the new dwarfing gene and its linked markers will greatly facilitate its utilization in wheat high yield breeding for reducing plant height.     

Identification and Functional Analysis on Abiotic Stress Response of SoybeanCl-Channel Gene GmCLCnt

The Cl^- homeostasis was known as the major mechanism of soybean to achieve NaCl tolerance, but studies on the role of chloride channel under abiotic stress were relatively few. We cloned a putative CLC-type chloride channel gene GmCLCnt from soybean via RACE and it was predicted to encode a protein of 783 amino acids with 9 possible transmembrane domains and 2 tandem CBS domains. Real-time RT-PCR analysis showed that the GmCLCnt gene was expressed in all tissues of soybean but enriched in leaves and its expression was induced by NaCl, polyethylene glycol （PEG）, coldness and ABA treatments. The Arabidopsis seedlings overexpressing GmCLCnt were more tolerant to higher concentration of NaCl than those of wild type. The results suggested that the GmCLCnt may be a CLC-type chloride channel and play an important role in salt tolerance.