Forty Years’ Development of Hybrid Rice: China’s Experience

China is the first country where heterosis of hybrid rice was successfully exploited commercially on a large scale in the world. Hybrid rice has been developed for 40 years since Prof. Yuan initiated it in China. It had been planted about 330 million hectares with an increase of nearly 400 million tons of rice during 1976–2002. China’s experience on hybrid rice could be attributed to utilization of various cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) resources, high outcrossing rate CMS lines and stable environmentally induced genetic male sterile (EGMS) lines, improvement of diseases resistance and grain quality, and combination of ideal plant type with heterosis in hybrid rice breeding program. Innovative breeding techniques, e.g. improvement in root system, molecular marker-assisted selection and wild hybridization should be considered in further development of hybrid rice in China.     

The Origin and Spread of Early-Ripening Champa Rice: It’s Impact on Song Dynasty China

Often overlooked is the importance of early-maturing rice varieties with their ability to escape droughts, avoid floods, and in some localities, open up the opportunity for double cropping. Most varieties grown in the tropics until the last half century matured in 150 to 180 days or longer and were photoperiod sensitive. However, non-photoperiod sensitive one-hundred-day varieties were grown in the Champa Kingdom in what is now Central Vietnam centuries ago. How these varieties moved into Song Dynasty China and the impact of the early-ripening rice on population growth in South China is well documented. However, the origin of the Champa varieties is less clear. According to a recent DNA test (see below), the Champa varieties belong to the aus sub-population. The aus have the characteristics of both indica and japonica and originated in the hill areas of what are now Eastern India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. Because the Champa Kingdom adopted the Indian language and religion, at least in the higher courts, it seems logical that the Champa rice must have been disseminated from the hilly areas in the Indian sub-continent to Central Vietnam and eventually to China—first Fujian and later to the Yangtze region during the Song Dynasty in the eleventh century.     

Comparison of Cheng’s Index-and SSR Marker-based Classification of Asian Cultivated Rice

A total of 100 cultivated rice accessions,with a clear isozyme-based classification,were analyzed based on Cheng’s index and simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker.The results showed that the isozyme-based classification was in high accordance with that based on Cheng’s index and SSR markers.Mantel-test revealed that the Euclidean distance of Cheng’s index was significantly correlated with Nei’s unbiased genetic distance of SSR markers (r=0.466,P ≤ 0.01).According to the model-based group and cluster analysis,the Cheng’s index-and SSR-based classification coincided with each other,with the goodness of fit of 82.1% and 84.7% in indica,97.4% and 95.1% in japonica,respectively,showing higher accordance than that within subspecies.Therefore,Cheng’s index could be used to classify subspecies,while SSR marker could be more efficient to analyze the subgroups within subspecies.     

New Drugs from Marine Organisms in Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder. Current approved drugs may only ameliorate symptoms in a restricted number of patients and for a restricted period of time. Currently, there is a translational research challenge into identifying the new effective drugs and their respective new therapeutic targets in AD and other neurodegenerative disorders. In this review, selected examples of marine-derived compounds in neurodegeneration, specifically in AD field are reported. The emphasis has been done on compounds and their possible relevant biological activities. The proposed drug development paradigm and current hypotheses should be accurately investigated in the future of AD therapy directions although taking into account successful examples of such approach represented by Cytarabine, Trabectedin, Eribulin and Ziconotide. We review a complexity of the translational research for such a development of new therapies for AD. Bryostatin is a prominent candidate for the therapy of AD and other types of dementia in humans.     

Donors for Resistance to Brown Planthopper Nilaparvata lugens(St?l) from Wild Rice Species

Out of 1 989 wild accessions sown in seed boxes for screening, only 1 003 wild accessions with good germination were screened against brown planthopper(BPH), Nilaparvata lugens(St?l) under greenhouse conditions. The collection comprised of accessions from 11 wild species and African cultivated rice. The germplasm was screened for BPH following standard seed box screening technique in the greenhouse. As many as 159 accessions were identified as resistant during the year 2012 based on one year screening. A selected set of BPH resistant accessions were screened again during 2013. Based on the two years screening, seven accessions of O. nivara(AA), one accession of O. officinalis(CC), seven accessions of O. australiensis(EE), five accessions of O. punctata(BB and BBCC) and nine accessions of O. latifolia(CCDD) were confirmed to be resistant to BPH. So far no BPH resistance genes have been identified and designated from O. nivara and O. punctata, hence these may act as new sources of resistance.     

Proteins and Carbohydrates in Developing Rice Panicles with Different Numbers of Spikelets: —Cultivar difference and the effect of nitrogen topdressing—

Abstract

Proteins and carbohydrates in developing rice panicles were analyzed to see whether these parameters control spikelet number in rice. Two rice cultivars and 2 levels of nitrogen topdressing were used to obtain panicles with different numbers of spikelets. A japonica rice cultivar, Nipponbare, with topdressing (H) had 1.8 times more spikelets per panicle than that without topdressing (L). Moreover, the number of spikelets per panicle in an indica rice cultivar, Takanari, without topdressing was 2.7 times larger than that in Nipponbare-L. Panicles with more spikelets (LP) in Nipponbare-H and Takanari-L showed slower growth than those with few spikelets (SP) in Nippanbare-L in an early stage. LP, however, increased markedly in size thereafter, eventually exceeding SP, in length and fresh weight. Soluble protein content was higher in LP than SP in an early stage, but this difference was hardly detected in a late stage. No clear difference was observed in sugars or starch between LP and SP. Analysis of soluble and insoluble proteins by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that bands corresponding to insoluble proteins with a molecular weight about 42 kDa were present at higher intensities in LP than in SP. These results suggest that the spikelet number in rice is controlled by the soluble protein content in an early stage and insoluble proteins with a molecular weight of 42 kDa during panicle development, but not by the carbohydrates in developing panicles.     

Description of Aphelenchoides besseyi from Abnormal Rice with ‘Small Grains and Erect Panicles’ Symptom in China

In recent ten years, the symptom 'small grains and erect panicles' in rice was widespread in most rice growing areas of China, which generally caused yield loss ranging from 10% to 30%, even as high as 50% in heavily infected regions . It is a serious problem in the middle of Jiangsu Province and some regions of southern Jiangsu Province. The occurrence of the phenomenon 'small grains and erect panicles' in rice totaled 3.3 ×105 ha during 2001-2003 in Jiangsu Province, resulting in at least…     

Climate variability and yield risk in South Asia’s rice–wheat systems: emerging evidence from Pakistan

Rice and wheat are the principal calorie sources for over a billion people in South Asia, although each crop is particularly sensitive to the climatic and agronomic management conditions under which they are grown. Season-long heat stress can reduce photosynthesis and accelerate senescence; if extreme heat stress is experienced during flowering, both rice and wheat may also experience decreased pollen viability and stigma deposition, leading to increased grain sterility. Where farmers are unable to implement within-season management adaptations, significant deviations from expected climatic conditions would affect crop growth, yield, and therefore have important implications for food security. The influence of climatic conditions on crop growth have been widely studied in growth chamber, greenhouse, and research station trials, although empirical evidence of the link between climatic variability and yield risk in farmers’ fields is comparatively scarce. Using data from 240 farm households, this paper responds to this gap and isolates the effects of agronomic management from climatic variability on rice and wheat yield risks in eight of Pakistan’s twelve agroecological zones. Using Just and Pope production functions, we tested for the effects of crop management practices and climatic conditions on yield and yield variability for each crop. Our results highlight important risks to farmers’ ability to obtain reliable yield levels for both crops. Despite variability in input use and crop management, we found evidence for the negative effect of both season-long and terminal heat stress, measured as the cumulative number of days during which crop growth occurred above critical thresholds, though wheat was considerably more sensitive than rice. Comparing variation in observed climatic parameters in the year of study to medium-term patterns, rice, and wheat yields were both negatively affected, indicative of production risk and of farmers’ limited capacity for within-season adaptation. Our findings suggest the importance of reviewing existing climate change adaptation policies that aim to increase cereal farmers’ resilience in Pakistan, and more broadly in South Asia. Potential agronomic and extension strategies are proposed for further investigation.     

Changes in a knitted fabric’s surface properties due to enzyme treatments

Enzyme treatment technologies in textile processing have become commonly-applied techniques for the modification of fabric-handle appearance, and other surface and mechanical characteristics of fabrics. Most studies have focused on understanding the impact of enzyme treatments on the fabric preparation, dyeing, and finishing processes of woven fabrics, whilst only limited research has been reported regarding any enzymatic effects on the surface and handproperties of knitted fabrics. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of two different enzymes Trichoderma reesei whole cellulase, and enriched (EGIII) endoglucanase cellulase, at three different enzyme dosages on 100 % cotton interlock knitted fabric. This was in order to evaluate certain surface properties such as pilling, friction. and geometrical roughness. Furthermore, the compression and tactile properties of knitted fabric were also analyzed. The results show that treatment conditions with enzyme Trichoderma reesei whole cellulase had the more pronounced effect on the surface properties compared to the enriched EGIII enzymes. In general, it can be concluded that both types of enzymes improved the surface properties and hand when compared with the silicone softener-treated reference sample of interlock knitted fabric, as is statistically confirmed by one-way analysis of variance.     

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction for the Recovery of Carotenoids from Guava’s Pulp and Waste Powders

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - In this work, lycopene- and β-carotene-rich extracts were obtained from guava’s pulp and waste powders using maceration (ME), ultrasonic bath (BUAE,...     

Response to High Temperature in Flag Leaves of Super High-Yielding Rice Pei’ai 64S/E32 and Liangyoupeijiu

Rice, grown in the field, is always experienced changes in light and temperature. The photosynthetic capacity of rice is directly inhibited by high and low temperature [1]. Extremely high temperature is one of the main disasters existe in the rice growing areas all over the world [2]. The natural environment in South China always has negative effects on the rice production, and high temperature in summer may result in the abnormal seed setting, such as, large quantities of shrunken grains and…     

Susceptibility to Insecticides and Ecological Fitness in Resistant Rice Varieties of Field Nilaparvata lugens Stl Population Free from Insecticides in Laboratory

A population of rice brown planthopper(BPH) Nilaparvata lugens collected from a paddy field in Hangzhou was successively reared on susceptible rice Taichung Native 1(TN1) in a laboratory free from insecticides for more than 14 generations. The changes in susceptibility to insecticides and ecological fitness on different resistant rice varieties were monitored in each generation. The resistance ratio to imidacloprid sharply declined with the succession of rearing generations without insecticides from 359.94-fold at F1 to 6.50-fold at F14 compared with the susceptible strain, and the resistance ratio to chlorpyrifos was from 9.90-fold at F1 to 5.94-fold at F14. Nymphal duration and weights of newly hatched female adults were significantly affected by rice variety, generation and their interactions, but nymphal survival was significantly affected by the generation only. The ratio of brachypterous adults in males was affected by the generation and generation × variety interaction, whereas no difference was found in females. Nymphal duration extended with increasing generations, and the female nymphal duration was shorter in the susceptible variety TN1 than those in the resistant varieties IR26 and IR36. In addition, the female adult weight in TN1 was higher than those in IR26 and IR36. These results indicated that the resistance of field BPH population to insecticides was reversed after several generations of no-exposure to insecticides, and the ecological fitness in TN1 was higher than those in IR26 and IR36. These findings suggested the rational and reduced use of insecticides in combination with the manipulation of resistant rice varieties would be effective for BPH management.     

Evaluation of the structural properties of plain fabrics woven from various fibers using Peirce’s model

Peirce’s fabric model has been widely used to predict the structural behavior of various plain woven fabrics. The structure of plain woven fabric can be defined in terms of the warp yarn number, weft yarn number, warp fabric density, weft fabric density, warp crimp, and weft crimp. The warp and weft yarn diameters are calculated from the warp and weft yarn numbers, and the effective coefficient of the yarn diameter is defined by using this model. We have investigated structural properties, such as the effective coefficient of the yarn diameter, yarn crimp, and fabric thickness for two different fabrics in which the constituent yarns are assumed to be either incompressible or compressible. This model is also applied to various plain fabrics woven from cotton, rayon, wool, linen, nylon, acetate, polyester, and silk yarns.     

St. John’s Wort Herbal Teas – Biological Potential and Chemometric Approach to Quality Control

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - St. John’s wort has been used for centuries in traditional medicine of many cultures, and nowadays it is well-known as a clinically important antidepressant...     

Design of new α-conotoxins: from computer modeling to synthesis of potent cholinergic compounds

A series of 14 new analogs of α-conotoxin PnIA Conus pennaceus was synthesized and tested for binding to the human α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) and acetylcholine-binding proteins (AChBP) Lymnaea stagnalis and Aplysia californica. Based on computer modeling and the X-ray structure of the A. californica AChBP complex with the PnIA[A10L, D14K] analog, single and multiple amino acid substitutions were introduced in α-conotoxin PnIA aimed at compounds of higher affinity and selectivity. Three analogs, PnIA[L5H], PnIA[A10L, D14K] and PnIA[L5R, A10L, D14R], have high affinities for AChBPs or α7 nAChR, as found in competition with radioiodinated α-bungarotoxin. That is why we prepared radioiodinated derivatives of these α-conotoxins, demonstrated their specific binding and found that among the tested synthetic analogs, most had almost 10-fold higher affinity in competition with radioactive α-conotoxins as compared to competition with radioactive α-bungarotoxin. Thus, radioiodinated α-conotoxins are a more sensitive tool for checking the activity of novel α-conotoxins and other compounds quickly dissociating from the receptor complexes.