玉米自交系生理成熟后子粒自然脱水速率分析

玉米生理成熟后子粒自然脱水速率是影响收获时子粒含水量的重要因素之一。以179份玉米自交系为试验材料,分别在生理成熟期和收获期测定子粒含水量,分析生理成熟后子粒脱水速率。通过聚类分析,179份玉米自交系按子粒脱水速率快慢可分为4类,属于子粒脱水速率快的自交系有13份,平均脱水速率为1.29%/d。利用2 824个SNP标记,将13份快速脱水的玉米自交系划分为5个杂种优势群,可为选育收获期子粒含水量低、适宜机收子粒的玉米品种提供参考。     

玉米自交系适机收相关性状配合力分析

以9个玉米自交系及配制的36个杂交组合为试验材料,对宜机收性状进行配合力分析。结果表明,综合性状表现较好的自交系有沈农60023、沈农60368和沈农60018;表现较好的杂交组合是沈农60023×沈农60197、沈农60023×沈农60368、沈农60023×沈农50005、沈农60197×沈农50005、沈农60197×沈农60368和沈农60368×沈农50005。与机收相关的性状如株高、穗位高、雄穗分枝和收获时含水量受基因加性效应控制,茎粗受基因加性和基因非加性效应共同控制,子粒深度受基因非加性效应控制。     

玉米自交系京2416×京92改良后代收获时子粒含水量配合力分析

利用玉米黄改群自交系京2416和京92及其213个改良后代为基础材料,以京464、京724、京MC01为测验种,采用NCII杂交设计方法,杂交组配得到645个组合,调查杂交组合收获时子粒含水量,分析213个改良后代收获时子粒含水量的配合力及遗传特性。结果表明,收获时子粒含水量一般配合力优于原始高值亲本的自交系有京2416J92-049等68个,特殊配合力优于原始高值亲本的杂交组合有京2416J92-192×京464、京2416J92-210×京724、京2416J92-009×京MC01等177个。结合一般配合力和特殊配合力筛选出京2416J92-192×京464、京2416J92-210×京724、京2416J92-200×京MC01等57个优良杂交组合。通过遗传参数分析表明,收获时子粒含水量的广义遗传率为73.70%,狭义遗传率为65.82%,可以进行早代选择。     

玉米种质资源子粒自然脱水速率的测定

以132份玉米自交系为试材,测定生理成熟期和收获期的子粒含水量,计算生理成熟后子粒脱水速率。结果表明,玉米自交系的起始鉴定时间是授粉后35 d,在生理成熟期和收获期,早熟自交系的子粒含水量变幅分别为21.15%～43.24%和7.27%～29.08%;晚熟自交系的子粒含水量变幅分别为23.67%～42.48%和14.72%～37.87%。玉米自交系间子粒自然脱水速率差异显著,早熟、晚熟自交系的脱水速率变幅分别为0.28%/d～2.82%/d和0.11%/d～3.00%/d。在132份自交系中,脱水快、中、慢的自交系分别有31、70和31份。玉米主推品种的部分亲本和一些老的骨干系,在育种中可作为脱水快的材料加以利用。     

玉米粒部性状对子粒脱水速率的影响

以8个自交系配制的56个玉米杂交组合为试验材料,对子粒脱水速率、子粒果皮厚度及子粒大小性状进行测定与分析。结果表明,子粒果皮厚度和子粒大小对子粒水分有一定影响,果皮厚度与子粒脱水速率呈负相关,与子粒含水量呈正相关;子粒的长、宽、厚均与子粒脱水速率呈正相关,且子粒长与子粒脱水速率的相关性显著。     

不同自然脱水类型玉米品种子粒含水率变化与灌浆动态的关系

采用不同自然脱水速率的玉米品种为材料,分析其花后子粒含水量、粒重、体积和子粒灌浆的动态变化以及灌浆参数,研究玉米子粒含水量变化与灌浆动态的关系。结果表明,不同自然脱水类型玉米品种子粒含水量变化,以花后29 d和46 d为时间点,可划分为3个阶段。两种类型玉米品种46 d后自然脱水速率与蜡熟期(29~46 d)子粒含水量的变化趋势都正好相反。子粒体积和粒重变化趋势基本一致,花后46 d品种间差异逐渐加大。不同类型玉米品种灌浆动态变化差异较大,自然脱水快的品种(先玉335和桥玉8号)和自然脱水慢的品种(蠡玉16和中科4号)最大灌浆速率分别出现在花后29 d和36 d,二者最大灌浆速率差异达到显著水平,自然脱水快的品种平均灌浆速率低于脱水慢的品种,且活跃灌浆期较脱水慢品种短。两种类型玉米品种子粒含水量变化和灌浆速率呈正相关关系,其中脱水快的类型品种达到显著水平,相关系数为0.805(R0.05=0.755)。     

玉米品质性状配合力研究

以分属四大杂种优势群的8个典型玉米自交系及其组配的28个双列杂交组合(不含反交)为试材,对玉米自交系及杂交一代产量与品质性状的遗传特性进行了研究,结果表明:脂肪含量、淀粉含量主要受基因加性效应影响;而蛋白质含量受基因加性效应和非加性效应共同影响.对于主要受加性效应影响的性状表现一般配合力高,则特殊配合力也高的趋势;对于既受加性效应影响又受一定非加性效应影响的性状,一般配合力影响特殊配合力,实际杂交组合的表现受二者共同影响.     

玉米穗部性状配合力的研究

以分属四大杂种优势群的8个典型玉米自交系及其组配的28个双列杂交组合(不含反交)为试材,对玉米植株穗部性状配合力进行了研究.结果表明:①穗粗、穗行数、百粒重等性状主要受基因加性效应影响;穗粒重主要受非加性效应影响;穗长、行粒数、秃尖等各性状受基因加性效应和非加性效应共同影响.对于主要受非加性效应影响的性状,亲本一般配合力与其在杂种中的特殊配合力间无必然联系;对于主要受加性效应影响的性状表现一般配合力高,则特殊配合力也高的趋势.对于既受加性效应影响又受一定非加性效应影响的性状,一般配合力影响特殊配合力,实际杂交组合的表现受二者共同影响.②要组配强优势杂交组合,对于穗部性状,大多数性状是与产量密切相关的,而且将带来较大的正效应,在自交系选育中,应以穗较粗且长,穗行数、行粒数较多,百粒重较大为主要选择指标。     

脱水速率和灌浆速率对玉米收获期子粒含水量的影响

以黑龙江省极早熟和早熟玉米种植区域两对收获期含水量差异显著的玉米主栽品种及其亲本自交系为试材,极早熟玉米种植区域品种为德美亚2号和克玉17,早熟玉米种植区域品种为德美亚3号和哲单37,对比调查子粒含水量动态变化、灌浆速率、生理成熟前后脱水速率等,分析与收获期子粒含水量的关系。结果表明,收获期含水量低的德美亚2号和德美亚3号,与同熟期含水量高的克玉17和哲单37相比,均提前3 d达到生理成熟期,此时期两对杂交种间子粒含水量均无显著差异,灌浆速率平均快0.12 g/d,灌浆时间缩短3 d,各自的母本自交系间呈现出同样的变化;生理成熟后德美亚2号和德美亚3号与克玉17和哲单37相比,随着子粒脱水速率的加快,子粒含水量差异逐渐增大,收获期差异达到极显著水平,父母本自交系间也具有同样的表现。玉米收获期子粒含水量与生理成熟后子粒脱水速率和子粒灌浆速率均呈极显著和显著负相关,相关系数分别为-0.767和-0.589。     

玉米自交系对灰斑病抗性配合力及遗传参数分析

以6个灰斑病抗性不同的玉米自交系为亲本,按Griffing双列杂交试验设计方法Ⅱ组配15个杂交组合,对叶片病斑覆盖度进行配合力分析,并估算遗传参数。结果表明,6个自交系一般配合力(GCA)效应差别较大,齐319表现高抗;其次是鲁9801、B84和8112;9046和掖478表现感病。结合杂交组合实际表现与特殊配合力效应进行分析,齐319所组配的各组合抗性表现均较好;掖478与8112、9046、B84组配的各组合抗性差;由9046所组配的组合特殊配合力效应好。进一步对遗传参数的分析表明,该性状广义遗传力为64.49%,性状的遗传以加性效应为主,同时存在一定的非加性效应,性状表现受环境影响较大。     

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.     

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.     

Evolutionary aspects of the trade-off between seed size and number in crops

Whereas the concept that availability of resources drives seed production is sound in principle, it is incomplete as there are many solutions to the allocation of resources that derive from the trade-off between number and size. This paper examines evolutionary aspects of this trade-off in annual grain crops. The analysis is centred on the working hypotheses that, for a given species and environment, allocation of resources to reproduction involves (H1) high plasticity in seed number, which allows for variable resource availability, and (H2) a relatively narrow range of seed size that results from evolutionary and agronomic selection. Comparisons between crops and fish are used to highlight common evolutionary elements in taxa where parents provide little or no care to their offspring, with the consequence that both number and early survival of offspring, hence fitness of parents, are partially related to embryo size and reserves.

The plasticity of seed number in relation to availability of resources is analysed against the established relationship between offspring number and parent growth rate during critical stages. The notion that seed size is under stabilising selection is analysed against three conditions: (1) mean seed size is conservative for a given species and environment, (2) seed size affects fitness, and (3) seed size is heritable. Databases from published papers were compiled to analyse the relative variability of seed size and number, and the heritability of seed size. Evidence for and against the link between seed size and parental fitness is revised using the Smith–Fretwell model as framework (Am. Nat., 108, 499–506).

The proposal of high plasticity of seed number and narrow variability of seed size resulting from stabilising natural selection is generally consistent with evolutionary and genetic considerations. Agronomic selection may have reinforced natural selection leading to relatively narrow seed size in species such as wheat and soybean, where cultivated types retained high plasticity for seed number. In contrast, selection for one or few inflorescences in crops like sunflower and maize may have morphologically reduced seed number plasticity and increased variability of seed size and its responsiveness to resource availability in relation to their wild ancestors.     

Citrus Flavonoids in Fruit and Traditional Chinese Medicinal Food Ingredients in China

Flavonoids-enriched tissues of citrus such as peel, immature fruit and flower are consumed as culinary seasonings, tea ingredients in China for centuries. This HPLC quantitative study on the five citrus flavonoids, naringin, hesperidin, neohesperidin, sinensetin and nobiletin on a wide range of Chinese citrus fruits and several Traditional Chinese Medicinal food ingredients in East China, revealed a great diversity in flavonoid composition. Huyou peel (C. paradisi cv. Changshanhuyou) was found to be the best naringin (3.25%) and neohesperidin (2.76%) source; C. aurantium, a major ingredient of several citrus-related TCM, is also a suitable source of naringin and neohesperidin, and a good juice source for flavanone glycosides; the peel of Wenzhoumiju (C. unshiu) is one of the richest local species in hesperidin (up to 6.25%); Zaoju (C. subcompressa) has the highest content of nobiletin (0.59%), a polymethoxylated flavone. LC-ES-MS analysis of Zanthoxylum genus for flavonoids revealed for the first time the presence of significant amounts (0.74%) of hesperidin in the root of Liangmianzhen (Z. nitidum (Roxb.) DC), a relative of Sichuan pepper, which is a spice widely used in China.     

Effect of a continuous hot water treatment of potato tubers on seed-borne fungal pathogens

Summary The viability of five pathogens was decreased by treatment with hot water when tested in vitro.Polyscytalum pustulans was most sensitive andRhizoctonia solani least sensitive. Potato tubers were exposed to 55°C for 5 min in a commercial continuous hot water treatment plant using naturally contaminated seed tubers and tubers which had been inoculated by dipping in comminuted cultures. The frequency of eyes colonised byP. pustulans, Helminthosporium solani, andR. solani was reduced to virtually zero and the effect persisted on tubers subsequently stored at 4°C and at 15°C for up to 16 wk. Results withColletotrichum coccodes were inconclusive. Treatment suppressedPenicillium spp. which, however, rapidly recolonised the eyes during storage, leading to higher contamination levels in the treated than in the untreated tubers. With tubers inoculated withPhoma foveata, good control was achieved when the incubation period before treatment was 10 d but not when the period was 42 d.     

Role of Benzoxazinones in Cereals

Summary

Heterocyclic 1,4-benzoxazin-3-ones and related benzox-azolinones are important natural products of the cereal crops maize, wheat and rye. Much research has focused on the role of these compounds as defensive agents against plant diseases and pests. Studies of a wide variety of biological effects on herbivores and nematodes, plant pathogenic fungi and bacteria are reviewed in this article. Phytotoxic activity of the compounds is also considered with respect to allelopathic interaction with higher plants. Recent investigations of molecular aspects of interactions of cyclic hydroxamic acids and related benzoxazo-linones with acceptor organisms have demonstrated different effective detoxification strategies and tolerance mechanisms. This research has greatly advanced our knowledge about the multiple roles that these allelochemicals play in ecological systems.     

Potential of dry fractionation of wheat bran for the development of food ingredients,part I: Influence of ultra-fine grinding

Wheat bran is an undervalued by-product of white flour and has great nutritional potential due to its high content in fibres and bioactive compounds. Micronized bran could be used as a food ingredient to improve the nutritional potential of cereal products, or be used as a starting material for other processes (bioactive compound extraction or bran fractionation). The aim of this work was to find a way to efficiently decrease the particle size of bran. The influence of the grinding temperature (ambient or cryogenic grinding) on the granulometric distribution of particles, their composition, and their microstructure was studied, at lab-scale and pilot-scale. It showed that the intrinsic characteristics of bran (glass transition within intermediate layers at −46 °C) had more influence on its grinding behaviour than the type of grinding device used: the particles size distributions obtained after grinding at lab-scale and pilot-scale were very similar. At both scales, the granulometric curves were narrow for cryogenic grinding, while for ambient grinding they were spread over the whole particle size range. Ultrafine particles were obtained in both ambient and cryogenic conditions. Negative temperatures, by increasing the material’s brittleness, favoured a fast fragmentation of bran: one step of cryogenic grinding allowed a median particle size of nearly 50 μm to be reached, whereas three successive steps of ambient grinding were needed for the same result. On the other hand, ambient temperature favoured the dissociation of the different constituent layers of wheat bran, and produced less composite particles than cryogenic grinding.     

Multiple use of plants: Studies on selenium incorporation in some agricultural species for the production of organic selenium compounds

The technique of spraying plants with inorganic forms of selenium can be employed for phytochemical production of organic selenium compounds. Fractionation of the plant material makes it possible to produce a highly concentrated and well defined selenium supplement with potential use in animal and human nutrition. The fractionation also gives opportunities to combine production of organic selenium compounds with other products, for example plant fibres. Multiple use of plants can contribute to a more efficient utilization of land area (in comparison to monocultures solely adapted to food production). It also gives the opportunity to develop systems suitable for long term fixation of carbon, as long as the plant material is not reoxidised to carbon dioxide. Plant fibres could provide raw material for the production of paper or building materials in combination with the production of organic selenium compounds preferentially accumulated in another fraction of the processed plant.     

Biological factors influencing the transmission of potato leafroll virus by different aphid species

Summary Macrosiphum euphorbiae, collected in the field from potato plants infected with potato leafroll virus (PLRV), transmitted the virus to fewer potato plants in a field trial than did laboratory-rearedMyzus persicae. In the laboratory,M. persicae was the only efficient vector of PLRV fromPhysalis floridana seedlings, potato sprouts or excised leaves toP. floridana. Two clones ofM. euphorbiae and one clone ofAulacorthum solani transmitted PLRV from infected potato plants toNicotiana clevelandii as effeciently asM. persicae but a clone ofAphis gossypii was an inefficient PLRV vector. An isolate of PLRV, whichM. persicae transmitted inefficiently from potato toN. clevelandii, was also transmitted inefficiently byM. euphorbiae andA. solani.