苗期外源脱落酸和茉莉酸缓减小麦花后干旱胁迫的效应及其生理机制

为探究生育前期喷施脱落酸（ABA）和茉莉酸（JA）对小麦花后干旱胁迫的缓减效应,在盆栽试验条件下,测定和分析了苗期喷施ABA和JA后花后干旱胁迫下小麦籽粒产量及部分生理指标的变化。结果表明,花后干旱胁迫显著降低小麦穗粒数、千粒重和产量。干旱胁迫下,喷施ABA和JA可显著提高植株内源ABA和JA含量、旗叶光合速率和PSⅡ的最大光化学效率、渗透调节物质（可溶性糖、游离氨基酸和脯氨酸）含量以及抗氧化酶（SOD、CAT、APX和GR）活性,降低丙二醛含量,增加穗粒数、千粒重和产量。说明生育前期喷施外源ABA和JA可缓解花后干旱胁迫对小麦光合的抑制作用,增强干旱胁迫下植株的渗透调节和抗氧能力,促进产量形成。     

甘蓝型油菜光合机构对干旱的生理响应

为探讨油菜光合机构对干旱胁迫的响应,研究了2个抗旱性不同的油菜(Brassica napus L.)品种在干旱胁迫下农艺性状、气体交换参数、叶绿素荧光参数、叶绿体超微结构及Rubisco活性等指标的变化。结果表明,干旱胁迫下,相对增长率、总干重、叶面积和叶片相对含水量降低,而根冠比增加;净光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔导度和胞间CO2浓度降低,而气孔限制值增加;PSⅡ最大光能转换效率、PSⅡ实际光能转换效率、光化学淬灭和电子传递效率降低,而非光化学淬灭系数增加;两品种的叶绿体超微结构遭到不同程度破坏;且叶绿素含量和Rubisco活性降低,脯氨酸和可溶性糖的含量增加。敏感型品种秦优8号光合机构遭受干旱的破坏程度明显大于抗旱型品种Q2。     

干旱胁迫下外源脱落酸对大豆花期生理特性的影响

以大豆品种绥农14为材料,采用盆栽试验研究了大豆花期干旱胁迫条件下喷施不同浓度外源脱落酸(ABA)对大豆生理特性的影响,并对不同浓度脱落酸的作用效果进行比较。结果表明:与正常供水相比,干旱条件下的大豆叶片过氧化物酶活性、丙二醛含量、可溶性糖含量、游离脯氨酸含量均增加,超氧化物歧化酶活性和叶绿素含量降低,喷施一定浓度外源ABA明显缓解了干旱胁迫下大豆各项生理指标的变化幅度。喷施ABA后1～13 d,4.0 mg.L-1的ABA明显提高了过氧化物酶的活性、1.0 mg.L-1ABA能明显促进超氧化物歧化酶活性升高和可溶性糖含量增加,并能缓解叶绿素含量的降低;3.0 mg.L-1的ABA明显使脯氨酸含量增加;2.0 mg.L-1的ABA对缓解丙二醛积累作用明显。综合分析表明,干旱胁迫下,叶面喷施一定浓度的脱落酸维持了大豆花期叶片的正常生理代谢功能,有效的提高了叶片抗氧化能力和控制了叶片的衰老进程。     

脱落酸对香蕉幼苗抗寒性的影响

分别用不同浓度的脱落酸(ABA)溶液喷洒香蕉幼苗后,模拟自然降温过程进行冷胁迫处理,发现不同浓度的ABA均不同程度地提高香蕉幼苗冷胁迫期间叶片SOD活性及MDA、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量,降低细胞质泄漏,减缓叶绿素降解,减少叶片萎蔫面积和死亡率,从而缓解了低温对香蕉幼苗的冷伤害程度,其中以浓度为20mg/L的ABA保护效应最明显。     

DA-6对高温胁迫下黄灯笼辣椒幼苗的影响

以海南黄灯笼辣椒"热辣2号"为试验材料,分别对幼苗喷施10、20、30、40、50 mg/L的DA-6,再进行高温胁迫处理,研究不同浓度的DA-6对缓解黄灯笼辣椒幼苗高温胁迫的作用。结果表明:喷施DA-6的辣椒幼苗各项生理指标较对照存在显著差异;喷施30 mg/L的DA-6时,幼苗的叶色值、根系活力、MDA含量、SOD活性和脯氨酸含量等指标综合反应较好,与其他处理差异显著。高温胁迫下,DA-6可有效增强黄灯笼辣椒幼苗的光合能力,喷施30 mg/L DA-6的辣椒幼苗净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)和蒸腾速率(Tr)与对照相比均有所提高,分别提高了0.46、1.69、1.37倍;其PSⅡ最大荧光效率(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ量子产量(Yield)、非光化学淬灭(qN)与光化学淬灭(qP)均显著高于对照。因此,DA-6能够缓解高温胁迫对黄灯笼辣椒幼苗的影响,其最适宜浓度为30 mg/L。     

盐胁迫对野生大豆幼苗生长的影响

将野生大豆幼苗在不同浓度盐溶液中进行水培,在第5天测定其电导率、MDA含量、SOD、CAT和POD活性,第14天测定其株高、鲜重的变化,并记录根系和整个植株的生长情况.结果表明,随着盐浓度的增大,野生大豆的电导率、MDA含量、SOD、CAT、POD活性均先上升后下降,而株高、鲜重、根长、侧根数及存活率均呈下降趋势.在较低浓度(0 ～0.4％ NaCl)盐胁迫时,相关指标变化不显著;在0.8％和1.0％ NaCl胁迫下,野生大豆幼苗的存活率几乎为零.结果证明桐柏县野生大豆幼苗具有一定的耐盐性.     

独脚金内酯缓解油菜渍水胁迫的生理机制

为了缓解渍水危害,维持并促进油菜生长,探究独脚金内酯对渍水处理后油菜生长的影响,以中双11号为材料进行盆栽试验,五叶期渍水处理7d后,分别用0、0.1、1和5μmol/L独脚金内酯(SL)对渍水胁迫组(W)和正常水分组(C)进行灌根处理。在灌根后第3d和7d测定油菜干鲜重、光合气体交换参数、荧光参数、叶绿素含量以及抗氧化酶活性的变化。结果表明,1μmol/独脚金内酯显著提高了渍水处理7d后油菜的地上部和地下部的生物量;显著提高了净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)和蒸腾速率(Tr),降低了胞间CO_2浓度(Ci);增加了相对电子传递效率(rETR)、PSⅡ最大光能转换效率(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ潜在活性(Fv/Fo)、PSⅡ有效光化学量子产量(Fv'/Fm')和PSⅡ实际光能转换效率(Ф_(PSⅡ));降低了非光化学淬灭系数(q N);提高了叶片的叶绿素含量、POD以及CAT酶活性,而降低了SOD酶活性。可见采用1μmol/L独脚金内酯灌根能够有效缓解渍水胁迫,通过提高生物量的积累、光合作用效率、光合色素含量、部分叶绿体荧光参数,降低非光化学猝灭和SOD酶活性等以促进受渍油菜幼苗恢复生长。     

水杨酸、脱落酸对盐胁迫下玉米种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

利用不同浓度的水杨酸(SA)、脱落酸(ABA)及其复合溶液对玉米进行浸种和浇灌,通过测定盐胁迫下种子的发芽率、发芽势以及幼苗叶片叶绿素、可溶性糖和脯氨酸含量等生理指标,研究外施SA及ABA对盐胁迫下玉米种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响。结果表明,盐胁迫下,低浓度SA和ABA单独使用或复合使用均能显著提高玉米多项生理指标,且二者以0.25 mmol/L SA+8.0 mg/L ABA的配比复合使用时缓解盐胁迫对玉米伤害的效果最大。     

硅对干旱胁迫下野生大豆幼苗生长和生理特性的影响

为探讨外源硅对干旱胁迫下野生大豆生长的影响,以野生大豆为试验材料,研究不同浓度外源硅对干旱胁迫下大豆幼苗的生长及生理特性的影响。结果表明:干旱胁迫会使野生大豆鲜重、干重、叶绿素含量、根系活力及SOD、CAT、POD活性降低,细胞膜透性、MDA、游离脯氨酸及可溶性糖含量增加。随着硅处理浓度的不断升高,野生大豆鲜重、干重、叶绿素含量、根系活力逐渐增加;低浓度硅胁迫提高了SOD、CAT、POD活性,降低了细胞膜透性、MDA、游离脯氨酸及可溶性糖含量,随着硅胁迫浓度的不断提高,SOD、CAT、POD活性逐渐下降,细胞膜透性、MDA、游离脯氨酸及可溶性糖含量先下降再升高。说明一定浓度的外源硅能有效促进干旱胁迫下野生大豆幼苗的生长,提高抗氧化酶活性,降低细胞膜透性、MDA、游离脯氨酸及可溶性糖含量,能够缓解干旱胁迫对野生大豆幼苗的危害,提高野生大豆抗旱能力。     

脱落酸对PEG胁迫下小麦幼苗渗透调节物质和抗氧化性的影响

为了明确脱落酸对PEG(聚乙二醇)胁迫下小麦幼苗渗透调节物质和抗氧化性的影响,筛选其有效增强小麦幼苗抗旱性的最适施用浓度,选用小麦品种洛旱6号为试验材料,采用室内水培法研究了在20%PEG胁迫下小麦幼苗经不同浓度脱落酸(ABA)处理后的形态及生理指标。结果表明:PEG胁迫下,外源ABA能够提高小麦幼苗可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白质和氨基酸含量,增强超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性,降低超氧阴离子自由基■、过氧化氢(H_2O_2)含量,减少丙二醛(MDA)积累,促进小麦幼苗地上部生长。试验表明,外施ABA可通过提高小麦幼苗渗透调节能力和抗氧化酶活性来降低活性氧产生速率,减轻膜脂过氧化程度,维持细胞膜的稳定性,缓解PEG胁迫对小麦幼苗生长的抑制作用。本试验条件下以8 mg/L ABA效果最好。     

Comparative Assessment of the Efficacy of Various Nitrogen Fertilizers

Summary

The efficiency of N fertilizers is usually poor; often less than 50% of the applied N is taken up by the crop. This review focuses on various N fertilizers with respect to the significance of different N loss pathways, namely (i) ammonia volatilization, (ii) dinitrogen and nitrogen oxide emissions, and (iii) nitrate leaching. Further, the significance of biological N immobilization, ammonium fixation and, finally, the impact of nitrate vs. ammonium uptake on crop yield are also discussed. The reviewed literature shows that N fertilizers may differ markedly in their susceptibility to losses. There is, however, considerable scope to improve N efficiency of each N source by proper N management practices.     

Studies on natural repellents against potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella Zeller) in country stores

Summary The effects of the leaves of five plant species, one from each of the generaAmbrosia, Anemone, Eupatorium, Eucalyptus andLantana, on potato tuber moth were investigated under indigenous storage conditions at the Central Potato Research Station, Shillong (1800 m above sea level). Their action was compared with that of a biological insecticide (spores ofBacillus thuringiensis), a chemical insecticide (carbaryl), and an untreated control. The data collected after six months storage on tuber damage, sprout damage and the rotting indicated that the leaves ofLantana aculeata provided most protection to the tubers, reducing damage from over 70% in the check to below 5%, and sprout damage from over 45% to below 3%. Next best wasEucalyptus globulus followed byB. thuringiensis. They may be used on tubers stored for table use or for seed as they had no adverse effect on germination or on the yield of a subsequent crop.     

Mineral composition of some traditional Mexican teas

Teas of plant origin traditionally consumed by the Mountain Pima of Chihuahua, Mexico, were analyzed for mineral nutritional content. Fe, Cu, Zn, Ca, and Mg composition was determined for native teas made from shoots ofTagetes lucida, T. filifolia, Elytraria imbricata, andHolodiscus dumosus, and from root xylem ofCeanothus depressus andPhaseolus ritensis. Native uses of these teas are also described.     

Novel food and non-food uses for sorghum and millets

Sorghum and millets have considerable potential in foods and beverages. As they are gluten-free they are suitable for coeliacs. Sorghum is also a potentially important source of nutraceuticals such antioxidant phenolics and cholesterol-lowering waxes. Cakes, cookies, pasta, a parboiled rice-like product and snack foods have been successfully produced from sorghum and, in some cases, millets. Wheat-free sorghum or millet bread remains the main challenge. Additives such as native and pre-gelatinised starches, hydrocolloids, fat, egg and rye pentosans improve bread quality. However, specific volumes are lower than those for wheat bread or gluten-free breads based on pure starches, and in many cases, breads tend to stale faster. Lager and stout beers with sorghum are brewed commercially. Sorghum's high-starch gelatinisation temperature and low beta-amylase activity remain problems with regard to complete substitution of barley malt with sorghum malt . The role of the sorghum endosperm matrix protein and cell wall components in limiting extract is a research focus. Brewing with millets is still at an experimental stage. Sorghum could be important for bioethanol and other bio-industrial products. Bioethanol research has focused on improving the economics of the process through cultivar selection, method development for low-quality grain and pre-processing to recover valuable by-products. Potential by-products such as the kafirin prolamin proteins and the pericarp wax have potential as bioplastic films and coatings for foods, primarily due to their hydrophobicity.     

In vitro antimicrobial activity of different accessions ofSolanum commersonii Dun. from Uruguay

Summary The in vitro antimicrobial activity of extracts from accessions ofSolanum commersonii Dun. collected in the south of Uruguay was investigated against five microorganisms including the pathogenRalstonia solanacearum. A total of 30 extracts corresponding to organic and aqueous extracts were studied. Interestingly, most of the positive results for growth inhibition were againstR. solanacearum. The extracts were also analyzed for the presence of glycoalkaloids and lectins. Six of the ten aqueous extracts showed lectin presence and a wide variation in the type and amounts of glycoalkaloids, was found. Results indicate that there is no clear relationship between the antimicrobial activity against the five microorganisms screened and the presence or amounts of lectins and glycoalkaloids, traditionally regarded as possible antimicrobial metabolites in theSolanum genus, which indicates the presence of as yet unidentified antimicrobial compounds.     

Extreme resistance to infection by potato virus X in genotypes of wild tuber-bearingSolanum species

Summary Clones derived from thirty-one different accessions (nineteen of Argentine origin) belonging to eightSolanum species were screened for resistance to infection by potato virus X strain cp (PVX cp) by mechanical inoculation of plantlets that had been micropropagated in vitro. Estimates of PVX multiplication obtained by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and slot blot nucleic acid hybridization allowed the identification of resistant clones derived from five accessions belonging toS. commersonii S. oplocense, S. sparsipilum andS. tuberosum andigena. Resistant genotypes supported PVX concentrations 5 to 15 times smaller than did the susceptible control cultivar Spunta. Graft inoculation test confirmed the presence of extreme resistance similar to that conferred by the ‘immunity’ gene X¹ (also called RX_act).     

Cyanobacteria Secondary Metabolites as Biotechnological Ingredients in Natural Anti-Aging Cosmetics: Potential to Overcome Hyperpigmentation,Loss of Skin Density and UV Radiation-Deleterious Effects

The loss of density and elasticity, the appearance of wrinkles and hyperpigmentation are among the first noticeable signs of skin aging. Beyond UV radiation and oxidative stress, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) assume a preponderant role in the process, since their deregulation results in the degradation of most extracellular matrix components. In this survey, four cyanobacteria strains were explored for their capacity to produce secondary metabolites with biotechnological potential for use in anti-aging formulations. Leptolyngbya boryana LEGE 15486 and Cephalothrix lacustris LEGE 15493 from freshwater ecosystems, and Leptolyngbya cf. ectocarpi LEGE 11479 and Nodosilinea nodulosa LEGE 06104 from marine habitats were sequentially extracted with acetone and water, and extracts were analyzed for their toxicity in cell lines with key roles in the skin context (HaCAT, 3T3L1, and hCMEC). The non-toxic extracts were chemically characterized in terms of proteins, carotenoids, phenols, and chlorophyll a, and their anti-aging potential was explored through their ability to scavenge the physiological free radical superoxide anion radical (O₂^•−), to reduce the activity of the MMPs elastase and hyaluronidase, to inhibit tyrosinase and thus avoid melanin production, and to block UV-B radiation (sun protection factor, SPF). Leptolyngbya species stood out for anti-aging purposes: L. boryana LEGE 15486 presented a remarkable SPF of 19 (at 200 µg/mL), being among the best species regarding O₂^•− scavenging, (IC₅₀ = 99.50 µg/mL) and also being able to inhibit tyrosinase (IC₂₅ = 784 µg/mL), proving to be promising against UV-induced skin-aging; L. ectocarpi LEGE 11479 was more efficient in inhibiting MMPs (hyaluronidase, IC₅₀ = 863 µg/mL; elastase, IC₅₀ = 391 µg/mL), thus being the choice to retard dermal density loss. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the data allowed the grouping of extracts into three groups, according to their chemical composition; the correlation of carotenoids and chlorophyll a with MMPs activity (p < 0.01), O₂^•− scavenging with phenolic compounds (p < 0.01), and phycocyanin and allophycocyanin with SPF, pointing to these compounds in particular as responsible for UV-B blockage. This original survey explores, for the first time, the biotechnological potential of these cyanobacteria strains in the field of skin aging, demonstrating the promising, innovative, and multifactorial nature of these microorganisms.     

Marine Pharmacology in 2009–2011: Marine Compounds with Antibacterial,Antidiabetic, Antifungal,Anti-Inflammatory,Antiprotozoal, Antituberculosis,and Antiviral Activities; Affecting the Immune and Nervous Systems,and other Miscellaneous Mechanisms of Action ?

The peer-reviewed marine pharmacology literature from 2009 to 2011 is presented in this review, following the format used in the 1998–2008 reviews of this series. The pharmacology of structurally-characterized compounds isolated from marine animals, algae, fungi and bacteria is discussed in a comprehensive manner. Antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antituberculosis, and antiviral pharmacological activities were reported for 102 marine natural products. Additionally, 60 marine compounds were observed to affect the immune and nervous system as well as possess antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory effects. Finally, 68 marine metabolites were shown to interact with a variety of receptors and molecular targets, and thus will probably contribute to multiple pharmacological classes upon further mechanism of action studies. Marine pharmacology during 2009–2011 remained a global enterprise, with researchers from 35 countries, and the United States, contributing to the preclinical pharmacology of 262 marine compounds which are part of the preclinical pharmaceutical pipeline. Continued pharmacological research with marine natural products will contribute to enhance the marine pharmaceutical clinical pipeline, which in 2013 consisted of 17 marine natural products, analogs or derivatives targeting a limited number of disease categories.