Mapping the QTLs underlying drought stress at developmental stage of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) by association analysis

This study was conducted to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for drought tolerance in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) by association mapping using a simple sequence repeat (SSR)-marker-based diversity research set. Genotypic data for 98 SSR marker loci on ten chromosomes were used for the association analysis. The experiment was conducted under control (well-watered) and drought stress conditions, and the phenotypic values of 23 morphological traits were recorded. Drought tolerance was assessed by using a leaf drying score as a parameter of the tolerance/susceptibility: scores were assigned on a scale from 1 (most tolerant) to 9 (most susceptible). Under the control conditions, 17 QTLs associated with 12 traits were identified on chromosomes 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, and 10, with ?Log₁₀ (P) ranging from 2.5 to 7.6 and explaining 9.5–57.5 % of the total phenotypic variance for the traits. Under the drought stress conditions, nine QTLs associated with 8 traits were identified on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, and 10 that explained 9–61.2 % of the total phenotypic variance for the traits, with ?Log₁₀ (P) ranging from 2.5 to 3.5. QTLs for some traits were detected only under the drought stress condition, suggesting that these traits are important in drought tolerance. These QTLs could be used to further dissect the genetic and physiological basis of drought tolerance in sorghum.     

Identification of bacterial agents causing mortality in postlarvae of giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) in south‐west coastal districts of Bangladesh

Following an incidence of freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii postlarvae (PL) mortality in hatcheries in summer 2012, samples from dead PL, rearing water and prawn feed from two south‐west coastal districts of Bangladesh were collected to isolate, identify and characterize the agents causing PL mortality. Antibiogram profile of sixteen randomly selected bacteria, isolated from dead PL, that grew on TCBS, to 20 different antibiotics belonging to 12 major groups revealed that the drug resistance pattern varied from moderate (56% to the drugs: ciprofloxacin, cefotaxime, nitrofurantoin, kanamycin) to complete (to penicillin, ceftazidime and oxacillin) level. To identify the isolates, amplified rDNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) classified them in to four groups, and RAPD (randomly amplified polymorphic DNA) typing yielded nine different types of isolates within these four ARDRA groups. The 16S rDNA gene sequences identified that the groups were genotypically diverse belonging to the bacterial species: Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Exiguobacterium profundum and Enterococcus casseliflavus, respectively, that all demonstrated their killing potential to PLs in a simulated environment. The study therefore identified four different bacterial pathogens, one of which, Exiguobacterium profundum is reported for the first here in Bangladesh, that demand special consideration for disease management strategy.     

Water Absorption Capacity of Flax and Pine Horse Beddings and Gaseous Concentrations in Bedded Stalls

It can be a challenge to find suitable horse bedding materials that provide higher moisture absorption, better animal comfort, greater fertilizer values, and improved indoor environment. Our first objective was to determine the water absorption capacity (WAC) of two bedding materials, flax shive (FS) and pine wood shavings (PWS), commonly used by equine facilities. The second objective was to measure ammonia (NH₃), hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), and greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations emitted from these bedded stall surfaces. In this study, the WAC of bedding materials were measured at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours in the laboratory. A total of eight horses were used for a 14-day study period. Of these, four horses (group-1) were bedded with FS and the other four (group-2) were bedded with PWS for week-1. In week-2, bedding materials were switched between the two groups. Ammonia and H₂S were measured in situ. For GHG measurement, air samples (methane [CH₄], carbon dioxide [CO₂], and nitrous oxide [N₂O]) were collected 152 mm above the bedded stall surface in Tedlar bags using a vacuum chamber and analyzed for GHG using a gas chromatograph. The WAC of FS was 56% greater than the PWS. There were no significant differences in NH₃, H₂S, CH₄, CO₂, and N₂O concentrations between the two bedding materials (P > .05). Nutrient contents between fresh and soiled bedded samples for each bedding type were different (P < .05). Measured nutrient contents between fresh FS and PWS and bedded FS and PWS bedding materials were similar (P > .05).     

Effects of shade on morphology,chlorophyll concentration,and chlorophyll fluorescence of four Pacific Northwest conifer species

Four species of Pacific Northwestconifer seedlings (ponderosa pine [Pinusponderosa Dougl. ex Laws.], Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco], westernredcedar [Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Donn], andwestern hemlock [Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.)Sarg.]) were planted in individual pots and grownunder shade-cloth shelters that provided four levelsof shade (0% [full sunlight], 35%, 55%, and 75%)for approximately 30 weeks. Height growth wasrecorded every 2 weeks. Initial and final seedlingmorphology and chlorophyll concentrations weremeasured. Chlorophyll fluorescence was measuredmonthly. All species responded similarly to shade. Although height growth was greatest under 75% shadeand least in 0% shade, total biomass production wassignificantly lower and shoot:root ratio significantlyhigher in 75% shade than in 0% shade. As thetreatment shade level increased from 0% to 75%,F_v/F_m was significantly lower whilechlorophyll concentrations were significantly higher. These results indicate that photochemical efficiencyof all four species was lower under higher shade. Morphological and physiological responses differedgreatly among species and corresponded with theirdegree of shade tolerance.     

Soil water stress: Its effects on phenology, physiology, and morphology of containerized Douglas-fir seedlings

Containerized Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) seedlings were subjected to six moisture-stress treatments (ranging from 7 to 65% soil water content by volume) for 12 weeks. At the end of this period, there were significant differences in phenological, physiological, and morphological responses among the seedlings in the various moisture-stress treatments. In general, seedlings grown under very high or very low soil moisture conditions were adversely affected, while those grown under moderate conditions (29 to 53% soil water content) exhibited optimum growth, bud development, and nutrient and starch reserves. The use of vector analysis was found to be helpful in data interpretation. The results indicate the importance of closely monitoring nursery moisture regimes in order to achieve the best seedling quality.     

渭干河-库车河绿洲土壤重金属分布特征与生态风险评价

随着工业发展和城市化进程的加剧,农用化学物质种类和数量不断增加,导致土壤受到不同程度的重金属污染,农田土壤重金属污染尤为严重。该文以新疆最典型的荒漠绿洲渭库绿洲为研究区,采集土壤样本57个,测定出土壤样本中砷(As)、汞(Hg)、铅(Pb)、铬(Cr)、锌(Zn)和铜(Cu)6种元素的含量,分别采用地统计空间分析法、地积累指数法(I_(geo))和潜在生态风险指数(RI)等方法,对研究区土壤重金属污染和潜在生态风险程度做出科学评价,并采用多因子分析方法对重金属的来源进行了讨论。1)研究区Hg、As、Cu、Cr、Pb和Zn 6种土壤重金属平均质量分数分别为2.41、0、37.64、25.25、39.78、15.01 mg/kg,平均含量均未超过国家二级标准,其中Pb的平均含量超过了新疆土壤重金属背景值,存在一定程度的重金属积累;2)由地积累指数法(I_(geo))和潜在生态风险指数(RI)分析得出,研究区土壤重金属的I_(geo)均值As(-4.59)Hg(-3.62)Cu(-1.92)Cr(-1.44)Zn(0.59)Pb(0.73),RI均值为22.26,整体上属于无污染水平,说明研究区域土壤重金属环境质量总体优良;3)通过综合相关性分析、主成分分析和聚类分析,研究区重金属的来源可以分为两类,Cu、Zn、Cr和Pb来源于成土母质等自然背景和人类农业生产活动;As和Hg来源于研究区域地形地貌、水文环境等自然背景。4)分析研究区域综合生态风险指数RI可知,研究区整体处于无污染水平,但各分区RI指数存在差异,其中西北部(NW)和东北部(NE)分区RI值相对较高,最高值出现在东北部(NE)分区上。该研究提出的分析方法能快速、客观反映绿洲土壤重金属污染特征以及来源,可为绿洲土壤环境质量评价和管理提供依科学依据。