Abscisic acid alleviates the deleterious effects of cold stress on ‘Sultana’ grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) plants by improving the anti-oxidant activity and photosynthetic capacity of leaves

The effects of exogenous application of abscisic acid (ABA) on anti-oxidant enzyme activities and photosynthetic capacity in ‘Sultana’ grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) were investigated under cold stress. When vines had an average of 15 leaves, 0 (control), 50, 100, or 200 µM ABA was sprayed to run-off on all leaves of each plant. Twenty-four hours after foliar spraying with ABA, half (n = 5) of the water-only control vines and half (n = 5) of each group of ABA-treated plants were subjected to 4°C for 12 h, followed by a recovery period of 3 d under greenhouse conditions (25°/18°C day/night). The remaining plants in each treatment group were kept at 24°C. Cold stress increased H₂O₂ and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in vine leaves, whereas all foliar ABA treatments significantly reduced their levels. Chilled plants showed marked increases in their total soluble protein contents in response to each ABA treatment. ABA significantly increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase in cold-stressed grapevine leaves. In contrast, cold stress markedly decreased the rates of leaf photosynthesis (A) and evaporation (E), stomatal conductance (g_s), and chlorophyll concentrations in leaves, but increased intercellular CO₂ concentrations (C_i) in leaves. Treatment with all concentrations of ABA resulted in lower leaf A, E, and g_s values, but higher C_i values at 24°C. However, following cold stress, ABA-treated vines showed higher leaf A, E, and g_s values, but lower C_i values compared to control vines without ABA treatment. The application of 50–200 µM ABA allowed chilled vines to recover more quickly when re-exposed to normal temperatures, enabling the vines to resume their photosynthetic capacity more efficiently following cold stress. These results showed that, by stimulating anti-oxidant enzyme systems and alleviating cold-induced stomatal limitations, ABA reduced the inhibitory effect of cold stress on the rate of CO₂ fixation in ‘Sultana’ grapevine plants.     

Simultaneous Dynamics and Kinetics of Soil Phosphorus Under Different Fertilizer Systems During Two-Growth Seasons of Maize

This study investigated phosphorus (P) dynamics and kinetics in calcareous soil under inorganic, organic, and integrated (inorganic+organic) fertilizer systems during two growing seasons of maize in two soil depths (0–0.15 and 0.15–0.30 m). A field experiment was conducted with 150, 300, and 400 kg ha^?1 triple superphosphate (TSP), 7.5 and 15.0 ton ha^?1 (on dry matter basis) farmyard manure (FYM), and integrated systems. In order to analyze Olsen P, soil samples were collected in 30-day-intervals after planting. The results showed that at the end of the two growing seasons of maize, the lowest magnitudes of Olsen P_0–0.15 m were 6.0, 6.8, 7.4, and 7.6 mg kg^?1 for the control, 7.5 FYM, 15 FYM, and 150 TSP, respectively. The highest magnitudes of Olsen P_0–0.15 m were 12.4, 11.5, 11.4, and 11.1 mg kg^?1 for 300 TSP+15 FYM, 400 TSP+7.5 FYM, 400 TSP+15 FYM, and 300 TSP+7.5 FYM, respectively. The same trends were observed for Olsen P_{0.15–0.30 m}. Heterogeneous diffusion model demonstrated that Elovich equation could best describe the experimental data (mean; R² = 0.98, SE = 0.29). The highest P supply rates (PSR) were 4.73, 3.91, and 3.86 mg kg^?1day^?1 (days after application) for 400 TSP, 400 TSP+15 FYM, and 300 TSP, respectively. The models of P supply capacity of soil could estimate P supply of soil under different fertilizer systems (R² = 0.84–0.95). The present study improved the understanding of the capacity and rate of P supply by considering P uptake by grain maize. Fertilizer recommendations depend on the accessibility of fertilizer types suggested to help choose the best fertilizer systems.     

Effect of three vesicular‐arbuscular mycorrhizae species and phosphorus on reproductive and vegetative growth of three strawberry cultivars 1

A study was undertaken to evaluate the yield, fruit size, and vegetative growth of three strawberry cultivars inoculated with three vesicular‐arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) species at three phosphorus (P) fertility levels. Vesicular‐arbuscular mycorrhiza inoculation and P fertility had no effect on inflorescence or flower number, total yield, fruit weight, or crown number. Higher levels of P did not increased total dry shoot weight, total fresh shoot, weight leaf area, total dry root weight, and leaf number in the present of VAM. However, the cultivars responded differently to VAM inoculation. Vesicular‐ arbuscular mycorrhiza inoculation in combination with P at all levels increased total dry and fresh shoot weight, leaf area, and leaf number compared to application of P alone. The results indicated that it may be possible to increase strawberry stolon production by inoculating the strawberry plants with VAM, a technique which might be useful in nurseries to produce certified strawberry plants.     

‘砀山酥梨’果实CCoAOMT基因的克隆与表达分析

[目的]通过克隆‘砀山酥梨’(Pyrus bretschneideri ‘Dangshansuli’)果实中咖啡酰-辅酶AO-甲基转移酶(CCoAOMT)基因的全长序列,并对其进行生物信息学及基因表达差异分析,阐释了其在梨果实木质素合成途径的作用,以期为今后利用基因调控技术来改变果实中石细胞含量从而改善梨果实品质提供一定的理论依据。[方法]以15年生‘砀山酥梨’果实为试材,根据从NCBI数据库中搜索得到关于植物木质化的CCoAOMT基因序列与梨基因组数据库调取的序列比对,利用RT-PCR技术克隆得到了木质素生物合成途径中的一种关键酶基因PbCCoAOMT,GenBank登录号为KJ577544。[结果]该基因全长1133bp,具有1个744bp的完整开放阅读框(ORF),编码247个氨基酸。序列比对及系统进化树分析表明:CCoAOMT酶是氧甲基转移酶类,与其他植物CCoAOMT编码的蛋白序列有较高的相似性,尤其与枇杷的相似度最高,达到98.79%,且亲缘关系最近。利用荧光定量PCR技术对其在果实不同发育时期表达模式的分析发现,基因表达量呈先上升后下降的趋势,与梨果实中石细胞含量的变化趋势相似。[结论]初步认为从‘砀山酥梨’中克隆得到的PbCCoAOMT基因可能参与了梨果实中木质素的代谢。     

长货架期树莓高代品系鉴定研究

树莓的货架期很短,因此选育货架期长的品种是扩大树莓鲜食市场经济而有效的方法。试验通过测定不同品系树莓果实产量,并对与货架期相关的果实品质进行分析,对不同树莓品系进行了综合评价。结果表明,树莓果实坚硬度是鲜食品种的最重要性状之一,供试品系的果实坚硬度、果实可溶物含量、果实渗漏性、汁液损失、果实抗腐性以及在果实适销性等方面都优于对照品种的相应指标。特别是在4℃条件下,SJR944—2,SJR942—7和SJR941—5有较长的货架期品质。     

梨果实中肉桂醇脱氢酶基因的克隆与序列分析

肉桂醇脱氢酶(CAD)是木质素生物合成过程中的一个关键酶。本研究分别提取了"砀山酥梨"及"幸水"梨果肉总RNA,并通过RT-PCR、克隆和测序,成功获得了2个CAD的大小为689bp的cDNA片段,并分别命名为PB-CAD(登录号:FJ478151)和PP-CAD(登录号:FJ478152)。在核苷酸水平上,这两个基因片段只有4个碱基的差异,编码相似性达99.6%的两个氨基酸序列,该序列由229个残基组成。通过蛋白质序列比较,发现梨果实CAD与许多植物中CAD氨基酸序列极为相似,与苹果Malus domestica(AAC06319)、梅Prunus mume(BAE48658)、枇杷Eriobotryajaponica(ABV44810)和葡萄Vitis vinifera(CAO21890)的相似性分别达到97.8%、95%、92.6%和83.4%。     

Assessment of the protein quality of 15 new northern adapted cultivars of quality protein maize using amino acid analysis

Amino acid determinations were carried out on 15 new northern adapted cultivars of quality protein maize (QPM) containing opaque-2 modifier genes to ascertain whether their amino acid scoring patterns could be used to select high-lysine QPM genotypes and to assess their protein quality. Total protein in these cultivars ranged from 8.0 to 10.2% compared to two commercial maize varieties, Dekalb DK435 (7.9%) and Pioneer 3925 (10.3%). Four of these QPM genotypes, QPM-C26, QPM-C21, QPM-C79, and QPM-C59, contained high levels of lysine (4.43-4.58 g of lysine/100 g of protein), whereas the remaining varied from 3.43 to 4.21 g of lysine/100 g of protein, compared to Dekalb DK435 and Pioneer 3925, which contained 2.9 and 3. 1 g of lysine/100 g of protein, respectively. Although lysine is the first limiting amino acid in QPM inbreds, the high-lysine QPM genotypes may supply approximately 70.2-72.6% of human protein requirements, compared to 46.2% for Dekalb DK435 and 50.1% for Pioneer 3925, 55-63% for oats, and 59-60.3% for barley. Northern adapted QPM genotypes may have the potential to increase their lysine content even further, either by an increase in specific high-lysine-containing nonzein proteins, such as the synthesis of factor EF-1a, or by a further reduction in the 19 and 22 kDa alpha-zein in the endosperm or both. This knowledge could assist maize breeders in the selection of new high-performance QPM genotypes with improved protein quality and quantity.     

Seasonal variation of hydrophilic,hydrophobic, and charged amino acids in developing apple flower buds 1

An increase in polar amino acids especially in hydrophilic and charged amino acids and a decrease in hydrophobic amino acids were observed in developing apple flower buds from July to November (beginning of dormancy). This suggests that polar amino acids may play a role in dormancy of apple flower buds similar to that of other polar substances. A 2nd‐degree polynomial was observed for hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and charged amino acid content, during growth and development.     

长货架期树莓高代品系特性及主要性状相关性

试验测定了树莓不同品系果实产量,并对与货架期相关的果实品质及主要性状进行了相关性分析。结果表明,SJR941-18,SJR941-1和SJR944-2是果实较大的品种。Boyne,Festival,Killarney和SJR941-5茎的耐寒性显著优于其他品种,使这些品种有较高的产量。树莓果实产量与茎的活力和健康花芽数呈显著正相关,与死亡茎长度呈显著负相关。茎的活力与健康花芽数、健康茎长度呈显著正相关。果实硬度和可溶物含量、果实表面绒毛多少与解冻后果汁百分比亦有显著相关性。     

Effect of crop load on hardiness,protein and amino acids content of apple flower buds at the wintering stage and the begining of the growth∗

The cold tolerance of flower buds of apple Malus domestica Borkh. ('Mclntosh'/M.7) declined during spring growth. The absence of fruit in the previous year increased the ability of the buds to withstand lower temperatures. All flower buds retained the capacity to tolerate freezing injury until first pink stage. The median lethal temperature (MLT) of the flower buds increased relatively throughout the sampling period. The flower buds of cropped trees were more susceptible to low temperature injury during spring at all stages of development. The flower buds of non‐cropped trees contained higher levels of hydrophilic and acidic amino acids from October until April, which may be related to their greater cold tolerance. A new nitrogen:protein conversion factor (5.51) was calculated based on total amino acid analysis which could be substituted for 6.25 as a means of estimating total protein content of apple flower bud tissue using the Kjeldahl method.