Chalcone suppresses lignin biosynthesis in illuminated soybean cells

Lignin and its related metabolites play critical roles in plant growth and development. Thus, lignin biosynthesis has attracted interest as a novel target site of plant growth inhibitors. Chalcone has been shown to not only inhibit lignin biosynthesis in plants, but also to suppress the growth of many annual plant species. In order to know the direct effect of chalcone on plant metabolism, the effects of chalcone on the activities of key enzymes in lignin biosynthesis and on the related metabolites were clarified with a time‐course study by using light‐induced suspension cultures of soybean cells. The fresh weight and packed cell volume of the soybean cells were inhibited after 8 h of chalcone treatment. The activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (EC 4.3.1.24) and 4‐coumarate: coenzyme A ligase (4CL; EC 6.2.1.12) were largely inhibited 4 h after the treatment with 0.15 mmol L^?1 chalcone. Unlike these two enzymes, the activity of cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.195) was not inhibited until 16 h after the chalcone treatment. The content of the 4CL substrates and lignin in the soybean cells became relatively lower than the control under the light condition within 4 h and 8 h after the chalcone treatment, respectively. These results suggest that the growth suppression of soybean cells is positively associated with the inhibition of lignin biosynthesis by exogenous chalcone.     

Selective growth suppression of five annual plant species by chalcone and naringenin correlates with the total amount of 4-coumarate: coenzyme A ligase

The 4-coumarate: coenzyme A ligase (4CL) is one of the key enzymes in the biosynthesis of lignin monomers. It has been demonstrated that the 4CL is a new potential target site for developing effective plant growth inhibitors. Although previous studies demonstrate that chalcone and naringenin differentially suppress the growth of several annual plant species, we show here that the compounds can inhibit the 4CL enzyme activity in the plants. The enzyme was extracted and partially purified from the leaf tissues of two tolerant plants (wheat and soybean) and three susceptible plants (tomato, barnyard grass, and common chickweed). A maximal 29-fold purification of the enzyme, with a yield of 32% (tomato), was achieved by a six-step procedure, including anion-exchange column chromatography. Naringenin strongly inhibited the 4CL specific activity in wheat, soybean and barnyard grass, whereas chalcone showed the highest inhibitory effect in common chickweed. A good correlation was observed between the level of growth suppression by the compounds and the total 4CL amount in the plants. These results suggest that the inhibitor treatment at the same concentration could not inactivate the entire 4CL enzyme produced in the tolerant plants. Taken together, these results highlight the possibility of the 4CL as a new action site of growth suppression.     

Propanil and swep inhibit 4-coumarate:CoA ligase activity in vitro

4-Coumarate:CoA ligase (4CL, EC 6.2.1.12) in the phenylpropanoid pathway in plants has attracted interest as a novel target for developing effective plant growth inhibitors (PGIs). In a previous study in which the 4CL inhibitory activity of 28 existing herbicides was investigated using an optimized in vitro screening assay, 4CL activity was found to be strongly inhibited by propanil and swep at 100 microM. Here, further experimental evidence is provided to substantiate the previous result. Using 4-coumaric acid as substrate, tobacco 4CL activity was inhibited by propanil or swep in a concentration-dependent manner, with 50% inhibition concentrations (I(50)) of 39.6 and 6 microM respectively. These herbicides also exhibited uncompetitive inhibition towards 4-coumaric acid. Furthermore, 4CLs from several plant species were inhibited by the herbicides within a range from 1 to 50 microM. It is proposed that these herbicides have another site of action as a result of the inhibition of 4CL in the phenylpropanoid pathway, and this enzyme represents a new target site for the development of PGI.     

An in vitro screening assay to discover novel inhibitors of 4-coumarate:CoA ligase

4-Coumarate:CoA ligase (4CL, EC 6.2.1.12) exists only in plants and plays an important role in the phenylpropanoid pathway. Identification of inhibitors targeting 4CL provides a novel approach for developing effective plant growth inhibitors (PGIs). The full-length gene of tobacco 4CL (Nt4CL1) was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli Cast & Chalm. The recombinant 4CL protein was extracted and purified by several purification steps including gel-filtration and anion-exchange chromatography. 4CL activity assay was miniaturized and optimized using a 96-well microplate and a reader. Among 28 existing herbicides, propanil and swep strongly inhibited in vitro 4CL enzyme activity, and they were selected for further studies. The process of this assay can be developed into a high-throughput screening system of PGI targeting 4CL in the phenylpropanoid pathway.     

The rates of maize growth and lignin biosynthesis change after root-applied chalcone

The effects of root-applied chalcone at 0.15 mmol L⁻¹ on the growth and lignin biosynthesis in maize were investigated. The contents of 4-coumarate: CoA ligase (4CL, EC 6.2.1.12) substrates in maize shoots were increased more rapidly in the samples with chalcone application than in the control and the increase occurred at ≤ 3 h after the application (HAA). The lignin content was reduced by chalcone at ≤ 6 HAA. The shoot growth was suppressed by chalcone at ≤ 9 HAA. Consequently, the results suggest that chalcone suppressed maize growth by inhibiting monolignol biosynthesis.     

接种高效根瘤菌对紫花苜蓿—禾本科混播组合生产性能的影响

利用筛选的高效根瘤菌接种紫花苜蓿,分别与高羊茅、无芒雀麦及1年生黑麦草混播。与对照相比,接种高效根瘤菌后,紫花苜蓿-高羊茅混播组合中苜蓿干草增产17.0%,高羊茅增产15.1%,总计增产16.3%;紫花苜蓿-无芒雀麦混播组合中紫花苜蓿增产14.0%,无芒雀麦增产51%,总生物量增产20.5%;紫花苜蓿-1年生黑麦草混播组合中,紫花苜蓿增产7.6%,1年生黑麦草干草产量比对照增产4.8%,总生物量增产6.8%。从LER(Land equivalent ratio)和CR(Competitive ratio)变化看,接种高效根瘤菌有利于提高LER值和禾本科作物的CR值。     

8%精噁唑甘草胺可分散油悬浮剂对直播水稻田禾本科杂草的防效及后茬作物的影响

为明确新型水直播稻田除草剂精噁唑甘草胺以及对照药剂对于直播稻田禾本科杂草的防除效果以及对于水稻及后茬作物的安全性, 于2019年在江西宜春市上高县水稻田进行了大田杂草防效试验以及后茬作物安全性研究。结果表明:8%精噁唑甘草胺OD对于直播水稻田的禾本科杂草具有良好的防除效果, 120 g/hm2 以及200 g/hm2 剂量处理对于禾本科杂草的防效均在88%以上。而且所有处理对于水稻均无药害产生, 实现增产, 并对后茬作物生长安全。综上所述, 新型直播稻田除草剂精噁唑甘草胺对直播水稻田禾本科杂草有良好防除效果, 可以在市场上推广应用。     

Characterization of Fusarium asiaticum and F. graminearum isolates from gramineous weeds in the proximity of rice fields in Korea

Fusarium graminearum species complexes (FGSCs), such as Fusarium asiaticum and F. graminearum, are important pathogens that cause Fusarium head blight (FHB) in several cereal crops worldwide. In this study, we collected 342 gramineous weed samples in the proximity of rice fields from May to June 2018 in Korea. Among the 500 Fusarium isolates from the weed samples, 13 species of Fusarium were identified, and F. asiaticum (41.2%), F. avenaceum (18.0%), F. acuminatum (16.4%) and F. graminearum (14.8%) were the most frequently isolated. The trichothecene genotype analysis showed that 206 F. asiaticum strains consisted of the nivalenol (NIV) genotype (n = 195, 94.7%) and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3ADON) genotype (n = 11, 5.3%), whereas 74 F. graminearum strains consisted of the 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15ADON) genotype (n = 58, 78.4%) and 3ADON genotype (n = 16, 21.6%). Geographical differences were observed in the FGSC and trichothecene genotype compositions, which appeared host-dependent between the southern provinces and mid-eastern provinces. The aggressiveness assessment of FHB showed that the 3ADON chemotype was most aggressive followed by the 15ADON and NIV chemotypes in wheat, while the NIV chemotype was most aggressive followed by the 3ADON and 15ADON chemotypes in rice. The F. asiaticum strains grew slowly and produced fewer conidia and perithecia than the F. graminearum strains, regardless of their chemotypes. The results of this study suggest that F. asiaticum with the NIV chemotype has a host preference for rice, and FHB-causing pathogens can be harboured in gramineous weeds, which play a role in the dispersal of FHB pathogens to rice and other cereal crops.     

转Bt基因植物对不同抗性棉铃虫的生长抑制作用

采用转Bt基因的烟草和棉花 ,对经转Bt单基因、转Bt与CpTI双基因烟草汰选 1 8代和常规烟草处理的棉铃虫种群进行生长抑制作用的比较测定。结果表明 ,转Bt烟草对以汰选后的抗Bt单基因汰选棉铃虫种群的体重抑制作用显著低于转双基因烟草汰选种群和对照种群 ;转Bt棉花对单基因种群的杀虫活性、体重、龄期发育以及化蛹率的抑制作用亦显著低于双基因种群和对照种群     

猕猴桃品种中糖分及木质素含量 与抗溃疡病的关系

以安徽省猕猴桃主栽品种金魁、早鲜、魁蜜和金丰为研究对象，于展叶孕蕾期分别取发病的枝条、叶片，以未发病的健株相应组织为对照，采用生理生化的方法，分析枝条、叶片中木质素和可溶性糖的含量变化以及与抗溃疡病的关系。结果表明：抗病品种金魁健株枝条、叶片中可溶性糖及木质素含量显著高于感病品种金丰。自然发病后，抗感病品种枝条、叶片中可溶性糖含量都降低，感病品种降低更多，金魁叶片可溶性糖含量下降4．20％，金丰叶片可溶性糖含量下降55.35％；木质素含量都升高，且抗病品种金魁叶片中的木质素含量比感病品种金丰高得多，其变化率分别为7．17％、3．01％，枝条中的木质素含量变化率分别为110．39％、68．98％，其差异达到显著水平。相关分析表明，枝条中木质素、可溶性糖含量与品种发病率也呈负相关，γ分别为-0．9583和-0．9282；叶片中木质素、可溶性糖含量与品种发病率呈负相关，γ分别为-0．8099和-0、8266。从而说明枝条、叶片中可溶性糖及木质素含量与品种抗性呈正相关。抗感品种淀粉含量无明显规律性变化，与品种抗性关系不大。     

不同寄主植物对豌豆蚜生长发育和繁殖的影响

[目的]掌握不同寄主植物对豌豆蚜生长发育及繁殖的影响规律。[方法]在(23±1)℃、光照时间16h、相对湿度80%的人工气候箱条件下,组建了豌豆蚜在4种寄主植物上的生命表,统计出种群内禀增长率(rm)、净增殖率(R0)、平均世代周期(T)、种群加倍时间(t)和周限增长率(λ)等种群动态参数。[结果]在蚕豆、豌豆、苜蓿、红豆草4种寄主植物上,豌豆蚜的发育历期存在显著差异,内禀增长率rm分别为0.263 2、0.261 9、0.224 3、0.217 1。[结论]豌豆蚜在蚕豆上的适应度和嗜食性最好,并且繁殖速度最快。     

不同寄主植物对异迟眼蕈蚊生长发育和繁殖的影响

异迟眼蕈蚊为害植物地下部分,造成韭菜、大葱、百合、蒜等作物的严重减产。研究异迟眼蕈蚊在不同寄主植物间的生长发育及繁殖规律,可为其预测预报及防治提供科学佐证。本研究在(25±1)℃、弱光照射(251.2lx)、相对湿度80%±5%的人工气候箱内,分别选用寄主植物韭菜、大葱、百合、蒜(蒜瓣和蒜茎),组建了异迟眼蕈蚊取食不同寄主植物的生命表,统计出了种群内禀增长率(rm)、净增殖率(R0)、平均世代周期(T)、种群加倍时间(t)和周限增长率(λ)等种群动态参数。结果表明,卵的发育历期在韭菜上最短(3.49d),在蒜瓣上最长(4.91d)。取食韭菜和大葱的幼虫发育历期最短,而取食百合的幼虫发育历期最长。蛹的发育历期在韭菜上最短(2.95d),在百合上最长(4.05d)。寄主植物对异迟眼蕈蚊卵的孵化率和蛹的存活率影响不显著,但显著影响幼虫的存活率。幼虫的存活率在韭菜上最高(76.7%),蒜瓣上最低(30%)。在韭菜、百合、大葱、蒜瓣和蒜茎上的单雌平均产卵量分别为91.98、52.14、85.48、73.91、72.96粒。异迟眼蕈蚊在韭菜上的种群净增殖率(R0)、内禀增长率(rm)和周限增长率(λ)最高,平均世代周期(T)、种群加倍时间(t)最短。异迟眼蕈蚊在韭菜上的适应度和嗜食性最好,繁殖速度最快。     

Effect of propiconazole on growth and sterol biosynthesis by Sclerotium rolfsii

Germination of sclerotia ofSclerotium rolfsii on agar nutrient medium was delayed or slightly inhibited by concentrations of propiconazole between 0.4 and 4.0 μg ml^?1, but was strongly inhibited by 8 μg ml^?1 and completely inhibited by 16 μg ml^?1. On the other hand, growth of hyphae from the germinated sclerotia was strongly inhibited by propiconazole at 1 μg ml^?1 or greater. Hyphal growth from agar discs on agar medium was about 8 times less sensitive than hyphal growth from the sclerotia or from hyphal inoculum in liquid media. Propiconazole at 0.25 and 1.0 μg ml^?1 strongly inhibited ergosterol biosynthesis, but this was not associated with large accumulations of C-14 methyl sterols. The ratio of eburicol to ergosterol in hyphae grown in the presence of 0.25 μg ml^?1 propiconazole for 16, 30 or 45 h was 0.11, 0.13 and 0.04, respectively, for the three intervals while for hyphae grown in the presence of 1 μg ml^?1, the ratios were 0.29, 0.36 and 0.30, respectively, for the same intervals. In view of a ratio of 23.5 for¹⁴C-acetate incorporation into the two sterols during the initial 6 h growth period in the presence of propiconazole, it is believed that the lack of large accumulation of C-14 methyl sterols is due to the feedback inhibition by eburicol or to cell lysis when the content of ergosterol becomes too low in the actively growing cells.     

植物生长调节剂对烟草生长发育及钾素吸收与分配影响研究

通过盆栽试验,采用不同钾素水平,在烟草植株打顶后夹吸不同的植物生长调节剂对烟草生长发育进行研究。研究表明,不同钾水平对烟草植株的株高、最大叶面积、根体积、倒二叶叶面积均没有显著的促进作用,但是能够显著增加根鲜重,而烟株打顶后夹吸生长调节剂能显著地促进烟草植株的株高、最大叶面积、根体积、根鲜重、倒二叶叶面积的增长。同时,植物生长调节剂能明显提高不同部位烟叶中的钾含量和各部位钾素的积累量,促进钾素从根、茎部向叶部的转移,显著提高烟草的品质,其中表油菜素内酯(BR)与赤霉素(GA3)处理效果最为明显。     

发酵肥料对沙地水分与植物生长的影响

向沙地加入由牛粪分别与棉秆、玉米秆和麦糠发酵而成的肥料,然后种植梭梭与白梭梭,研究发酵肥料对土壤水分和植物生长的影响。结果表明:仅施加1.6%的发酵肥料,不能明显提高土壤含水率;发酵肥料提高了植物的存活率,梭梭的存活率平均比对照高28.1%,白梭梭平均比对照高3.6%;发酵肥料能提高梭梭、白梭梭株高生长量,梭梭、白梭梭肥料处理的累积株高生长量平均比对照高20.3 cm、18.8 cm,两种植物的月生长量与对照差异达显著或极显著水平(P<0.05,P<0.01);发酵肥料能够明显提高两种植物的单枝生长量,肥料处理的月生长量与对照的差异达显著或极显著水平(P<0.05,P<0.01),两种植物肥料处理的累积单枝生长量平均比对照高30.4 cm、25.0 cm。     

土壤水分对向日葵生长状况的影响

为了研究土壤水分对向日葵生长状况的影响,2012年在巴彦淖尔市农业气象试验站,通过灌溉试验,对供试向日葵采取不同的水量处理,测定了土壤含水量和向日葵生长指标。结果表明：苗期水分亏缺和过湿灌溉都将导致向日葵生长高度、叶面积、干物质积累在该时期较其它处理低,亏水处理即使后期复水,作物生长补偿虽然明显,但最终在所有处理中各个观测指标最低。苗期的过湿灌溉在后期的适宜灌溉下,可以逐渐恢复正常。水分对向日葵叶面积的影响可以看出：生育前期干旱,推迟叶面积最大值的出现日期,前期不缺水,中期水分影响叶面积的高低,后期水分影响到叶面积的衰减速率。地上干物重的积累与土壤水分的含量成正相关。向日葵整个生育期间适宜水分为：二对真叶到花序形成期土壤水分应以55%～70%为宜,花序形成到开花后一周是向日葵的需水关键期,土壤水分保持在70%～90%为宜,开花后一周到成熟期土壤水分以55%～70%为宜。     

两种沉水植物在不同水深和生长时期对入侵植物的响应

为研究沉水植物在不同水深和生长时期对不同种类入侵植物的响应,选取2种湿地入侵植物凤眼莲Eichhornia crassipes、水盾草Cabomba caroliniana和2种常见本地沉水植物黑藻Hydrillaverticillata、菹草Potamogeton crispus为研究对象,通过模拟试验探究在不同水深（0.2、0.4 m）和生长时期（生长初期和生长旺期）的本地沉水植物对2种入侵植物的响应。结果显示,当水深为0.4 m时更有利于黑藻的生长,并可削弱入侵植物对黑藻生长的消极作用,而水深对菹草的生长无显著影响;入侵植物种类对本地沉水植物的生长无显著影响,但影响方式却存在差异,其中水盾草倾向于直接抑制本地沉水植物的生长,而凤眼莲可以通过降低水体透明度以及总磷含量进而间接抑制本地沉水植物的生长。此外,外来植物在本地沉水植物生长初期入侵对本地沉水植物产生的消极影响较生长旺期入侵时更显著。表明凤眼莲及水盾草入侵对本地沉水植物生长的影响机制存在差异,本地沉水植物在适宜水深和生长旺期对2种入侵植物具有更强的抵抗能力。     

Insecticide-tolerant and plant-growth-promoting Rhizobium improves the growth of lentil (Lens esculentus) in insecticide-stressed soils

BACKGROUND: Application of insecticides in modern agriculture in order to enhance legume production has led to their accumulation in soils to levels that adversely affect soil microflora such as rhizobia and exert a negative impact on the physiological activities associated with them. This study was therefore designed to identify rhizobial strains expressing higher tolerance to insecticides fipronil and pyriproxyfen and synthesising plant growth regulators even amid insecticide stress. RESULTS: The fipronil‐ and pyriproxyfen‐tolerant Rhizobium sp. strain MRL3 produced plant‐growth‐promoting substances in substantial amounts, both in the presence and in the absence of the insecticides. In general, both insecticides at recommended and higher rates reduced plant dry biomass, symbiotic properties, nutrient uptake and seed yield of lentil plants. Interestingly, when applied with any concentration of the two insecticides, Rhizobium sp. strain MRL3 significantly increased the measured parameters compared with plants grown in soils treated solely with the same concentration of each insecticide but without inoculant. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that Rhizobium strain MRL3 may be exploited as a bioinoculant to augment the efficiency of lentil exposed to insecticide‐stressed soils. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of loosing Aigamo ducks on the growth of rice plants, weeds, and the number of arthropods in paddy fields

Aigamo duck farming has been noticed as one of the techniques of environmental conservation agriculture. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of loosing Aigamo ducks on the growth and production of rice plants, the quantity of weeds and arthropods, and the balance of nitrogen (N) in paddy fields by changing the density of the Aigamo ducks. A paddy field was divided into three test plots: a 10-Aigamo-duck plot, a five-Aigamo-duck plot, and a weeding plot. The results show that the height, number of culms, and yield crops of the rice plants increased more in the 10-Aigamo-duck plot and the five-Aigamo-duck plot than that of the weeding plot. Millet ( Echinochloa oryzicola ) remained in both the Aigamo duck plots. The weeding plot was covered with monochoria ( Monochoria vaginalis ). In both the Aigamo duck plots, the outbreak of total arthropods was lower than that of the weeding plot, but the number of rice plants damaged by grass leaf rollers ( Cnaphalocrocis medinalis ) was increased. The number of spiders, regarded as useful insects, did not differ that much between the experimental plots. The N content of the soil did not differ as an effect of loosing the Aigamo ducks. The rice plants in the 10-Aigamo-duck plot absorbed more N than the rice plants in the other plots.