Impact of successive drought and re-watering cycles on growth and specific leaf area of two Populus x canadensis (Moench) clones, 'Dorskamp' and 'Luisa_Avanzo'

Responses to successive drought and re-watering cycles (1-3 cycles) were compared in greenhouse-grown cuttings of Populus x canadensis (Moench) clones, 'Luisa_ Avanzo' and 'Dorskamp.' Total leaf number increment rate, duration of leaf expansion, total and individual leaf area expansion rates and stomatal conductance were recorded periodically during the experiment. Soil water content (SWC) and predawn leaf water potential (Psi(WP)) were measured four times during each drought cycle. In parallel, relative leaf water content (RWC) and specific leaf area (SLA) were estimated on leaves collected from the top to bottom of each cutting. Under well-watered conditions, 'Luisa_Avanzo' and 'Dorskamp' differed in their patterns of leaf area expansion. Although duration of leaf expansion was similar between clones, 'Luisa_ Avanzo' exhibited higher total leaf number increment rates and individual leaf area increases than 'Dorskamp.' As a result, 'Luisa_Avanzo' cuttings reached larger individual and total leaf areas than 'Dorskamp.' 'Dorskamp' leaves had lower SLA than 'Luisa_Avanzo' leaves. In response to successive drought cycles, both clones underwent decreases in total leaf number increment rates and in total leaf area expansion rates, but both whole-plant and individual leaf areas were drastically reduced only in 'Luisa_Avanzo.' 'Dorskamp' maintained a constant leaf area as a result of an increase in the duration of leaf expansion during drought and a significant stimulation of individual leaf area expansion rate and total leaf number increment rate in response to re-watering. Drought caused a greater decrease in SLA in 'Luisa_Avanzo' than in 'Dorskamp.' Expanded leaves of 'Dorskamp' were constitutively dense or thick, or both, whereas leaves of 'Luisa_Avanzo' became dense or thick, or both, only in response to drought. In both clones, re-watering caused partial recovery of SLA to control values. Our data confirm previous field and greenhouse observations that 'Dorskamp' is more tolerant to successive drought and re-watering cycles than 'Luisa_Avanzo.' We conclude that this difference is mainly attributable to the plasticity of 'Dorskamp' after re-watering, rather than to clonal differences in drought responses.     

Oestrogenicity and effect on hepatic metabolism of the aqueous extract of the leaf mixture of Aloe buettneri,Dicliptera verticillata,Hibiscus macranthus and Justicia insularis

The aqueous extract of the leaf mixtures of Aloe buettneri, Dicliptera verticillata, Hibiscus macranthus and Justicia insularis given by oral route to immature female rats, at doses of 13, 49 and 94 mg/kg per day for 15 days induced a significant increase in ovarian and uteri weight as well as serum and ovarian oestradiol. Moreover, a significant decrease in liver of aminopyrine N-demethylase activity was noticed in treated animals.     

Clonal variation in morphology, growth, physiology, anatomy and ultrastructure of container-grown white spruce somatic plants

We assessed clonal variation in morphological variables, mineral nutrition, root growth capacity, net photosynthesis, tannin distribution, and cuticle and epicuticular wax features within four families of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss). Seeds were collected from four families obtained through controlled crosses among selected genotypes. For each family, plants were produced either from seeds (zygotic) or by somatic embryogenesis (clones). Each family was therefore represented by its zygotic seedlings and three clones. Within a family and under similar growth conditions, several clones differed significantly from the zygotic seedlings in height, root-collar diameter, needle dry mass, branch density, shoot dry mass, root dry mass, and length of needles. Branch density (number of first-order branches per cm height) of zygotic seedlings and clones varied from 0.8 to 1.4 branches cm(-1) and from 0.6 to 1.3 branches cm(-1), respectively. Mean needle length of zygotic seedlings and clones ranged from 11 to 14 mm and from 11 to 17 mm, respectively. For many variables (height, dry mass of new roots, needle dry mass and branch density), differences among clones were significantly greater than differences among zygotic seedlings within a family. Tannins were more abundant in needles of clones than in needles of zygotic seedlings. In some clones, tannins occurred as a ribbon along the central vacuole, whereas in others they appeared as aggregates dispersed in the vacuole. Within a family, N, P and K showed considerable variations in their use efficiency. Interclonal variations were observed in root growth potential and net photosynthesis. Variations in growth and physiology reflect genetically determined differences among clones within a family.     

Effect of storage temperature and water activity on the content and profile of isoflavones, antioxidant activity, and in vitro protein digestibility of soy protein isolates and defatted soy flours

The aim of this work was to study the effect of 1 year of storage at different temperatures and 1 month of storage at different water activities on the content and profile of isoflavones, antioxidant activity, and in vitro protein digestibility of defatted soy flours (DSF) and soy protein isolates (SPI). The storage for up to 1 year, at temperatures from -18 to 42 degrees C, had no effect on the total content of isoflavones, but the profile changed drastically at 42 degrees C, with a significant decrease of the percentage of malonylglucosides with a proportional increase of beta-glucosides. A similar effect was observed for SPI stored at a(w) = 0.87 for 1 month. For DSF, however, there was observed a great increase in aglycons (from 10 to 79%), probably due to the action of endogenous beta-glucosidases. The antioxidant activity decreased after storage at 42 degrees C, but the in vitro protein digestibility did not change.     

Chemical composition and glycemic index of Brazilian pine (Araucaria angustifolia) seeds

The seeds of Parana pine (Araucaria brasiliensis syn. Araucaria angustifolia), named pinh?o, are consumed after cooking and posterior dehulling, or they are used to prepare a flour employed in regional dishes. Native people that live in the South of Brazil usually consume baked pinh?o. As a result of cooking, the white seeds become brown on the surface due to the migration of some tinted compounds present in the seed coat. In this work, the proximate composition, minerals, flavonoids, and glycemic index (GI) of cooked and raw pinh?o seeds were compared. No differences in moisture, lipids, soluble fiber, and total starch after boiling were found. However, the soluble sugars and P, Cu, and Mg contents decreased, probably as a consequence of leaching in the cooking water. Also, the boiling process modified the profile of the phenolic compounds in the seeds. No flavonols were detected in raw pinh?o seeds. The internal seed coat had a quercetin content five times higher than that of the external seed coat; also, quercetin migrated into the seed during cooking. The internal seed coat had a high content of total phenolics, and seeds cooked in normal conditions (with the seed coat) showed a total phenolics content five times higher than that of seeds cooked without the seed coat. Cooking was then extremely favorable to pinh?o seeds bioactive compounds content. The carbohydrate availability was evaluated in a short-term assay in humans by the GI. The GI of pinh?o seeds cooked with the coat (67%) was similar to that of the seeds cooked without a coat (62%) and lower than bread, showing that cooking does not interfere with starch availability. The low glycemic response can be partly due to its high content of resistant starch (9% of the total starch).     

白缘䱀的年龄结构与生长特征及生活史类型

为丰富白缘?(Liobagrus marginatus)的基础生物学资料,在金沙江支流黑水河采集白缘?244尾,分析其年龄结构、生长特性和生活史类型,并通过脊椎骨进行其年龄鉴定。结果显示,黑水河白缘?由5个年龄组构成,其中以2龄个体为主,占50.4%。全长与体重的关系式为W=3×10-5L2.78 （R2=0.947）,全长与体重的Von Bertalanffy生长方程分别为Lt =133. 13 [1 - e-0.24 (t+1.92)]和Wt = 24.02 [1- e-0.24 (t+1.92)]2.78。体重生长速度和加速度均具有拐点,拐点年龄为2.34龄,拐点体长85.19 mm,拐点体重6.30 g。通过模糊聚类法分析,确认白缘?属于r-选择鱼类。研究表明,白缘?的种群结构呈现低龄化,水电开发和过度捕捞是影响其种群结构的主要因素;白缘?的捕捞规格应该高于其拐点年龄,即体长大于85.19 mm,体重大于6.30 g。     

功果桥（苗尾）水电站鱼类增殖站设计中的若干关键技术初探

Artificial - based fish multiplication and liberation is one of the most efficient ways for sustaining fish population, and is carrying out in the much more hydropower stations in China. In this paper, we took the Gongguoqiao ＆ Miaowei hydropower station as an example, and aimed to briefly introduce the design process of fish hatchery. The key techniques including the multiplication and liberation size, the parent fish amounts, and the all kinds of breed facilities, were discussed, and the expected research direction was put forward.     

Urinary recovery of penicillin after oral administration with antacids and buffers

Combinations of sodium bicarbonate, colloidal kaolin, magnesium trisilicate, and bismuth subcarbonate with penicillin produce a higher penicillin titer in the urine than the various antacids and buffers recommended for oral penicillin therapy.     

以PCR为基础的特殊种鉴定在小麦镰刀菌穗枯病分析中的应用

将酶联聚合反应法在检测各种镰刀菌种类和Ｍｉｃｒｏｄｏｃｂｉｕｍｎｉｖａｌｅ小种与用于田间小区（中间副区为Ｆ．ｃｕｌｍｏｒｕｍ接种区）小麦传统的病害观察评价进行比较。在ＧＳ８０时１５个副区中分别采集一定样品进行病害观察评价。收获时，将每个样品分成籽粒颖片和穗轴三个部分，再用ＰＣＲ分析检测Ｆ．ｃｕｌｍｏｒｕｍ、Ｆ．ｐｏａｅ、Ｆ．ｇｒａｍｉｎｅａｒｕｍ、Ｍ．ｎｉｖａｌｅｖａｒ．ｍａｊｕｓ和Ｍ．ｎｉｖａｌ