Effects of phosphorus amended low phosphorus soil on soybean (Glycine max L.) and wheat (Titicum aestivum L.) yield and phosphorus uptake

A major constraint for crop production on disturbed soils is phosphorus (P). A 2-year field study was conducted on a disturbed soil to evaluate broiler litter ash (BLA) as an inexpensive phosphorus fertilizer for soybean. BLA or super phosphate (SP) was applied at four rates and planted with soybean followed by wheat. At soybean growth stage R3, two plants from each plot were removed for tissue analysis. Soybean tissue P concentration distributions were in the order pods?>?leaves?>?stems?>?roots. At maturity, soybean grain and wheat tissue yields were not significantly affected by P source. Except for the high superphosphate rate for the second crop, P concentrations of soybean grain and wheat tissue were not significant between P source. In this study, BLA was as effective as SP for growth of soybean grain and wheat tissue, suggesting that BLA can be used as an inexpensive P fertilizer on low P disturbed soils.     

小麦/玉米/大豆间套作体系中小麦施磷后效对大豆产量、营养状况的影响

为评估磷肥的施用后效,在田间试验条件下研究了四川小麦/玉米/大豆周年间套作体系中小麦施磷对后作大豆产量及营养状况的影响。结果表明,在小麦5个磷（P2O5）处理（0、 45、 90、 135、 180 kg/hm2）后,大豆播前土壤有效磷分别为19、 22、 51、 57、 62 mg/kg（记为SP0、 SP1、 SP2、 SP3、 SP4）,大豆籽粒产量随土壤有效磷含量的增加呈先增加后减少的趋势,SP1的籽粒产量最高（1797 kg/hm2）,较SP0增加116%,而SP2SP4的大豆产量只比SP0增加了4.3%~4.7%,SP1~SP4间无显著差异;大豆茎产量随土壤有效磷含量的增加而增加,SP1、 SP2、 SP3、 SP4比SP0分别增加10.4%、 22.4%、 28.5%、 31.5%。随着土壤有效磷的增加,大豆总荚数和饱荚数有随之增大的趋势,总荚数在SP4处理最大,比SP0增加11.1%,饱荚数在SP1最大,比SP0增加13.9%,而瘪荚数是先显著减少后又逐渐增大（SP1最小为8.8荚/株,SP4最大为13.4荚/株）,饱瘪比是先显著增大后又逐渐减少（SP1最大为8.50,SP0最小为5.06）。大豆籽粒、 茎的氮、 磷含量随土壤有效磷含量的增加呈先增加后降低的趋势,都在SP2时达最大（籽粒氮、 磷含量7.718%、 0.764%; 茎氮、 磷含量0.659%、 0.065%）,而钾含量随土壤有效磷的增加而增加。大豆茎生物量,磷、 钾养分含量和氮、 磷、 钾养分积累量与土壤有效磷含量呈极显著正相关。SP2、 SP3、 SP4 3个处理大豆吸磷量分别是SP0的1.7、 1.6、 1.7倍,而其生物量仅为SP0的1.2、 1.3、 1.3倍。综上,适宜的土壤磷有利于大豆的生长,土壤磷过高反而可能造成大豆植株的徒长而影响结荚和鼓粒,在小麦/玉米/大豆体系中后作大豆可不施或少施磷,充分利用前作小麦施用的磷肥以提高磷肥的利用率。     

Resistance of soybean vegetative storage proteins (S-VSPs) to proteolysis by rumen microorganisms

Soybean vegetative storage proteins (S-VSPs) are lysine-rich and, hence, are potentially of high nutritive value for high productive ruminants. Using S-VSPs from wild-type soybean and from transgenic tobacco plants expressing either one of the two S-VSPs subunits (S-VSP alpha or S-VSP beta) or both, we tested their stability in cow rumen fluid under in situ conditions, using SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Proteolysis and degradation pattern of S-VSPs from transgenic tobacco leaves occurred relatively fast compared with that of wild-type (WT) soybean plants. Comparing the two S-VSPs subunits expressed in transgenic plants, we found that S-VSP alpha was degraded much faster than S-VSP beta. The degradation pattern of S-VSPs in transgenic tobacco plants expressing both subunits resembled that of WT soybean. In contrast, the degradation pattern of transgenic tobacco plants expressing a single subunit was different. These finding suggest that the quaternary structure of S-VSPs may be an important factor determining their resistance to rumen degradation. Our results also suggest that the stability to rumen proteolysis of a given protein, when expressed in a transgenic plant, may not always be predictable and has to be verified.     

Effect of rock phosphate and superphosphate on crop yield and soil phosphorus test in long‐term fertility plots

Abstract

A long‐term (1968–1987) field study using corn‐soybean in rotation was conducted to compare the effect of rock phosphate (RP) and superphosphate (SP) at two lime levels on crop yield, soil available phosphorus (P) as Bray P‐1 (0.025M HCl + 0.03M NH₄F) and Bray P‐2 (0.1M HCl + 0.03M NH₄F) tests, and on the relationship between crop yield and available P tests. Treatments included a control, application of RP and SP ranging from 12 to 96 kg P₂O₅ ha^‐1 yr^‐1, and combinations of RP with SP or sulphur at various rates. The RP was applied once in 1968 at 8 times the annual rate while SP was applied annually until 1985. Corn and soybean yields increased with P application, more with SP than with RP. Bray P‐l and Bray P‐2 increased linearly with the amount of P applied as SP or RP. A significant correlation (r > 0.64) was found between corn yield and Bray P‐2 at low lime level with both P sources. In contrast, a poor correlation (r < 0.50) was found between soybean yield and soil P tests. Both RP and SP were effective sources of P fertilizers for corn on soils treated with a small amount of lime compared with a large amount of lime. Under low lime the Bray P‐2 accounted for 41% and 66% variability in com yield with applied RP and SP, respectively. On the other hand, Bray P‐1 was only of value when SP was the source of P.     

A quick and sensitive method for the quantification of peroxidase activity of organic surface soil from forests

The purpose of the present study was to test the non-mutagenic compound 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) as a model substrate for peroxidase in forest topsoil, as an alternative to the conventional substrate l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA). TMB was highly sensitive; linear absorbance changes of 0.6 were achieved within 20 min for 1000-fold diluted soil. Brief heating (denaturation) of the soil suspension gave a 34-fold reduction of TMB oxidation, indicating that the reaction measured by TMB was indeed an enzymatic reaction. TMB oxidation showed a narrow peak at pH 4.4. A proportional decrease in peroxidase activity, when the soil suspension was diluted, demonstrated that TMB estimates of peroxidase activity are directly comparable when corrected for differences in sample size. Oxidation of TMB was slow in the absence of H₂O₂ suggesting that TMB is a poor substrate for phenol oxidases. TMB oxidation was tested in nine different forest topsoils. The peroxidase activity, when normalised to the amount of soil organic matter, ranged from 1.4±0.1 Δabs₄₅₀ h^?1 mg^?1 to 34.9±4.3 Δabs₄₅₀ h^?1 mg^?1. In comparison, l-DOPA oxidation by soil peroxidases and commercial peroxidases gave inconsistent results, suggesting that one should be cautious when using l-DOPA as a soil peroxidase substrate. The high sensitivity of TMB, compared to l-DOPA, and the low interference from phenol oxidase and humic substances suggest that TMB is a better substrate than l-DOPA for estimation of peroxidase activity of forest topsoil.     

Comparison of the incorporation of oleate and ricinoleate into phosphatidylcholines and acylglycerols in soybean microsomes

The incorporations of oleate (endogenous) and ricinoleate (nonendogenous) into phosphatidylcholine (PC) and acylglycerol (AG) in immature soybean microsomes were compared. [(14)C]Oleate and [(14)C]ricinoleate were incubated individually with soybean microsomal preparations for up to 4 h, and molecular species of PC and AG incorporated were identified and quantified by HPLC. The activities of acyl CoA:lysoPC acyltransferase and phospholipase A(2) are in general not affected by the fatty acid (FA) chain at the sn-1 position. However, comparison between oleate and ricinoleate revealed that different FA incorporated at sn-2 of PC showed some different selection of the molecular species of lysoPC. The incorporation of [(14)C]ricinoleate into triacylglycerols (TAG) was slightly better than that of [(14)C]oleate and indicated that soybean was capable of incorporating ricinoleate into TAG when ricinoleate can be produced endogenously in a transgenic soybean. The incorporation of FA into TAG in soybean microsomes was much slower than that in castor microsomes.     

Symbiotic efficiency and compatibility of native rhizobia in northern Thailand with different soybean cultivars

Symbiotic efficiency and compatibility of 81 isolates of native bradyrhizobia from irrigated areas in northern Thailand with four soybean cultivars and one cowpea cultivar were evaluated under laboratory conditions. Effectiveness and / or compatibility of the tested isolates were compared with those of a standard strain (Bradyrhizobium japonicum CB 1809) by using plants grown on plastic seed bags. Effectiveness of the isolates was also estimated using uninoculated control plants grown in a nitrogen-free solution. Nodulation of a wide range of host plants by the majority of the tested isolates was observed, which agreed well with the results of our previous field experiment (Shutsrirung et al. 2002: Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 48, 491–499). Up to 75% of the tested isolates induced a higher growth efficiency than that of the uninoculated control in association with one of the tested cultivars, Black soybean. Comparision with uninoculated control plants, enable to estimate the proportion of the tested isolates leading to effective growth promotion (E + e) of each cultivar, namely, Black soybean (local Thai cultivar), 75%; Cowpea, 82%; SJ5 (commercial Thai cultivar), 33%; Bragg (US cultivar), 33%; and Improved Pelican (US cultivar), 9%. These results indicated that although isolates with a high infectiveness with both “Asian-type” and “US-type” soybeans could be found, a high frequency of isolates leading to inefficient nodules was observed in the US cultivar, suggesting the presence of genetic differences in the soybean cultivars that express high-preference (efficient nodules) or low-preference (inefficient nodules) for a certain group of tested isolates. Based on the results of this laboratory experiment together with our previous field experiment, native rhizobial populations in the irrigated area of northern Thailand could be separated into three groups; Group 1: rhizobium strains showing a high effectiveness with only Asian cultivars, Group 2: strains showing a high effectiveness with only US origin cultivars, and Group 3: strains showing a high effectiveness with both Asian and US origin cultivars. The majority of the native rhizobial populations belonged to Group 1. The isolates in Group 3 may display a high potential for manipulating useful rhizobial inoculant.     

Effects on the flavor and oxidative stability of stripped soybean and sunflower oils with added pure tocopherols

Effects of tocopherols on the oxidative stability of stripped vegetable oils were studied by adding pure tocopherols--alpha, beta, gamma, and delta--in their naturally occurring proportions in soybean and sunflower oils to the triacylglycerols (TAG) of soybean and sunflower oils. Soybean and sunflower oils were purified by stripping all minor constituents, leaving the triacylglycerols. Pure tocopherols in the proportion typical of sunflower oil--high alpha, low gamma, and low delta--were added to purified sunflower oil and to purified soybean oil. Pure tocopherols in the proportion typical of soybean oil--low alpha, high gamma, and high delta--were added to the purified oils. Oils were subjected to accelerated autoxidation using oven storage at 60 degrees C in the dark and accelerated photooxidation at 7500 lx light intensity at 30 degrees C. Oxidation levels of aged oils were measured by the formation of both peroxides and volatile compounds and by flavor analysis. Results from substituting the tocopherol profile from one oil type to another varied on the basis of whether they were oxidized in the dark or in the light. For example, during autoxidation in the dark, soybean oil with the typical soybean tocopherol profile had the lowest levels of peroxides and total volatile compounds, whereas sunflower oil with the sunflower tocopherol profile had the highest levels. In flavor analyses of the same oils, sunflower oil with the soybean tocopherol profile was the most stable. Soybean oil with the profile of sunflower tocopherols was the least stable in dark oxidation. In contrast to the data from autoxidation in the dark, addition of tocopherols typical of sunflower oil significantly improved light stability of both oil types compared to the addition of soybean tocopherols to sunflower oil. The tocopherol profile typical of soybean oil was significantly more effective in inhibiting autoxidation in the dark; however, the tocopherol profile typical of sunflower oil inhibited light oxidation significantly more than the soybean tocopherol profile.     

限水灌溉下春季追氮方式对小麦旗叶光合和衰老特性的影响

限水条件下,等量氮不同施用方式对小麦旗叶光合和衰老特性的调控效应不同;不同抗旱性品种对施氮方式的响应也有所差异。与拔节初期1次施氮处理（SF）相比,拔节初期、挑旗期2次施氮处理（DF）增加了供试品种旗叶中后期的叶绿素含量（Chl）、可溶蛋白含量（SP）、RuBPCase活性、气孔导度（Gs）和光合速率（Pn）,延长了叶绿素含量缓降期（RSP）、光合速率高值持续期（PAD）,提高了叶源量（LSC）;使旗叶生长中后期的超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性和过氧化物酶（POD）活性增加,细胞的活性氧（O2-）含量和丙二醛（MDA）含量降低。与抗旱品种石麦12相比,DF处理对抗旱性中等的品种石新733的旗叶光合生理参数、光合功能高值持续期具有更大调控效应。DF处理使供试品种的千粒重、产量和水分利用效率增加,其中石麦12后两指标增幅达显著水平。表明在春季适宜施氮量范围内,在肥力中等偏下地力条件下,生育中后期（挑旗期）追施适量氮素,具有提高叶片的细胞保护酶活性、维持细胞的较强活性氧清除能力,改善限水条件下小麦旗叶光合碳同化能力、延缓旗叶衰老、促进子粒灌浆和提高水分利用效率的作用。     

EFFECTS OF METHYL JASMONATE TREATMENT ON ALLEVIATION OF CADMIUM DAMAGES IN SOYBEAN

In the present study, the interactive effects of methyl jasmonate (0, 0.01, and 0.1 mM) and cadmium chloride (0 and 500 μM) on growth, biochemical, and physiological parameters of soybean plants were investigated. The plants were first treated with methyl jasmonate and then exposed to cadmium stress. Cadmium reduced shoot dry weight and total chlorophyll contents and increased lipid peroxidation in leaves. Methyl jasmonate, especially at a lower level (0.01 mM), significantly alleviated the cadmium damage to shoot dry weight and total chlorophyll contents and also, reduced lipid peroxidation. The increase in catalase and polyphenol oxidase activities were also observed under cadmium stress. The activity of ascorbate peroxidase was enhanced by methyl jasmonate under no stress and cadmium stress. However, peroxidase activity increased under no stress conditions. Based on our results it could be concluded that the application of methyl jasmonate caused significant alleviation of cadmium damages to soybean plants.     

Differential Responses of Anti-Oxidative Enzymes to Aluminum Stress in Tolerant and Sensitive Soybean Genotypes

Seedlings of two soybean genotypes, BX10 [aluminum (Al)-tolerant] and BD2 (Al-sensitive), were treated with Al to evaluate the relative root growth (RRG), callose content, Al-sensitive zone, lipid peroxidation, and the anti-oxidative enzyme activities by histochemical and biochemical assays. Under Al toxicity, the RRG reduction of BD2 was more significant than that of BX10, while callose content displayed a contrary trend. The 2–5 mm zone of root apex was the main Al-sensitive zone for soybeans. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were found to be higher in the two genotypes under Al toxicity than that of the controls. The SOD, POD, and CAT activities of BX10; however, were significantly lower than those of BD2. These results implied that producing low quantity of ROS may be one aspect of the Al-tolerant mechanism for soybeans, which in turn helps them adapt to Al stress.     

空间坏境对大豆主要农艺性状及蛋白品质的诱变效应

以“实践八号”育种卫星搭载的3个大豆品种中黄28、中黄29、中黄31为材料,调查了空间诱变后代SP1、SP2代的主要农艺性状分析检测SP2、SP3种子的蛋白质组分（11S/7S球蛋白）、Kunitz胰蛋白酶抑制剂（SKTI）等品质性状分析检测,以为利用空间诱变技术改良大豆品质提供理论依据。结果表明,3个大豆品种对空间环境的反应敏感性不同,中黄28和中黄29的SP1代分别获得3株和12株变异株,变异率分别为0.417 %和1.667 %,而中黄31的SP1代没有发现变异植株,且中黄28的2株（01-SP2-1、01-SP2-2）和中黄29的5株（02-SP2-2、02-SP2-5、02-SP2-6、02-SP2-7、02-SP2-8）变异株在SP2代发生性状分离;空间环境使大豆11S 蛋白亚基发生变异,SKTI基因发生突变。空间诱变既可改良农艺性状,也可改良品质性状。     

氟磺胺草醚对大豆根际土壤微生物和酶活性的影响及其在根际的降解

【目的】 本研究旨在探讨不同浓度氟磺胺草醚在大豆根际土壤中的微生态效应,及其在根际土壤中的降解动态,为进一步研究除草剂的残留污染提供科学依据。 【方法】 以中黄13号大豆为材料,采用根箱进行了模拟栽培试验。设施用氟磺胺草醚3.75 mg/kg (低)、7.5 mg/kg (中)、18.75 mg/kg (高) 3个水平,以不添加氟磺胺草醚处理为对照,调查了大豆根际土壤细菌、真菌、放线菌数量,分析了根际土壤中过氧化氢酶、磷酸酶、脲酶、蔗糖酶4种酶活性,以及氟磺胺草醚在大豆根际土壤中的降解规律。 【结果】 低浓度氟磺胺草醚处理的大豆根际土壤细菌数量显著低于对照根际土壤 (P < 0.05),高浓度氟磺胺草醚处理在28 d时显著高于对照 ( P < 0.05);中浓度氟磺胺草醚处理与对照没有显著性差异。不同浓度氟磺胺草醚处理的大豆根际土壤真菌和放线菌数量与对照差异不显著。氟磺胺草醚处理的大豆根际土壤过氧化氢酶活性与对照没有显著差异;磷酸酶活性在取样初期略有降低;低浓度氟磺胺草醚处理的土壤脲酶活性显著降低,中浓度和高浓度处理对脲酶活性表现为先刺激后抑制;高浓度氟磺胺草醚处理的蔗糖酶活性在42 d和56 d时显著低于对照。高浓度氟磺胺草醚降解速率明显高于低浓度和中浓度,并且在试验初期降解迅速;3种浓度氟磺胺草醚在大豆根际土壤中的降解均符合一级动力学方程,降解半衰期由低浓度到高浓度逐渐变短。 【结论】 3种浓度氟磺胺草醚总体上降低大豆根际土壤中细菌的数量,而对大豆根际土壤真菌和放线菌的数量均没有显著影响。氟磺胺草醚对大豆根际土壤过氧化氢酶活性没有显著影响,在短期内对磷酸酶活性有一定程度的抑制作用,低浓度氟磺胺草醚可以显著降低大豆根际土壤脲酶活性,而高浓度氟磺胺草醚在试验后期可以显著抑制大豆根际土壤蔗糖酶活性。大豆根际土壤中氟磺胺草醚初始浓度越高,降解速率越快,半衰期越短。      

基于交流阻抗法的豆浆电特性检测

为实现豆浆品质快速检测和通电加热电源频率的优化,该文利用精密阻抗分析仪和DJS-10电导电极通过50 mV的激励电压在20 Hz～12 MHz频率范围内测量了不同温度（30～85℃）和不同固形物含量（1.01%～9.58%）的豆浆的交流阻抗。试验结果表明,豆浆阻抗模值与阻抗相位角随测量频率变化具有明显规律。豆浆的阻抗特性与温度以及固形物含量关系显著,且阻抗Nyquist 图存在明显差异。在全频段,豆浆阻抗模值随着温度和固形物含量的升高而减小;在低频段,豆浆阻抗相位角随温度以及固形物含量的升高而增大;在高频段,豆浆阻抗相位角随温度以及固形物含量的升高而减小。同时,研究提出了豆浆的电阻R、电容C、恒相位元件CPE（constant phase element）三元件等效电路模型,并用ZSimpWin软件进行拟合得到了试验条件下豆浆的等效电路元件参数。基于豆浆阻抗随频率变化规律及豆浆等效电路模型分析得出,豆浆通电加热电源的频率应在300 Hz～300 kHz范围内。豆浆的等效电阻R与温度以及固形物含量之间具有良好的负指数关系。CPE参数Q值随温度的升高而降低,当固形物含量超过3.5%后,Q值随固形物含量的升高迅速增加。CPE参数n值随温度的升高而升高,但在本研究中的固形物含量范围内n值并未随固形物含量的改变发生明显变化。本研究为豆浆通电加热电源的频率选择提供了参考依据,同时为基于豆浆电特性分析实现豆浆品质的快速检测奠定基础。     

Purification and characterization of windmill palm tree (Trachycarpus fortunei) peroxidase

High peroxidase activity was demonstrated to be present in the leaf of several species of cold-resistant palms. Histochemical studies of the leaf of windmill palm tree (Trachycarpus fortunei) showed the peroxidase activity to be localized in hypoderma, epidermis, cell walls, and conducting bundles. However, chlorophyll-containing mesophyll cells had no peroxidase at all. The leaf windmill palm tree peroxidase (WPTP) was purified to homogeneity and had a specific activity of 6230 units/mg, RZ = 3.0, a molecular mass of 50 kDa, and an isoelectric point of pI 3.5. The electronic spectrum of WPTP with a Soret band at 403 nm was typical of plant peroxidases. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of WPTP was determined. The substrate specificity of WPTP was distinct from that of other palm peroxidases, and the best substrate for WPTP was 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid). The palm peroxidase showed an unusually high stability at elevated temperatures and high concentrations of guanidine.     

3个玉米品种苗期耐寒性鉴定

为鉴定不同玉米品种的耐寒性,筛选抗寒性强的品种,以玉米品种青农8号、郑单958和农大108为材料,在10、4℃下进行苗期低温胁迫试验,研究低温处理对超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)活性以及丙二醛(MDA)和可溶性蛋白(SP)含量等耐寒性鉴定指标的影响。结果表明,SOD活性及其变化率、CAT活性变化率、POD活性及其变化率、MDA含量变化率和SP含量等7个指标的结果均表明青农8号耐寒性最强;CAT活性、MDA含量和SP含量变化率等3个指标的结果表明青农8号耐寒性居第2位。农大108和郑单958耐寒性强弱在不同生理指标下得到的结论不尽相同,SOD活性及其变化率、POD活性及其变化率、MDA含量和SP含量等6个指标的结果表明农大108耐寒性优于郑单958;CAT活性及其变化率、MDA含量变化率和SP含量变化率等指标的结果表明郑单958耐寒性优于农大108。本研究结果为玉米新品种青农8号的推广以及抗寒性品种的选育提供了一定的理论依据。     

Determination of antioxidant properties of aroma extracts from various beans

Aroma extracts from fresh soybeans, mung beans, kidney beans, and azuki beans were prepared using simultaneous steam distillation and solvent extraction (SDE) under mild conditions (55 degrees C and 95 mmHg). Extracts were examined for antioxidative activities in two different assays. The aroma extracts isolated from all beans inhibited the oxidation of hexanal for nearly one month at a level of 250 microL/mL. Mung bean and soybean extracts inhibited malonaldehyde (MA) formation from cod-liver oil by 86% and 88%, respectively, at the 250 microL/mL level. Azuki and kidney bean extracts inhibited MA formation from cod-liver oil by 76% and 53%, respectively, at the 250 microL/mL level. The antioxidative activities of mung bean and soybean extracts were comparable with that of the natural antioxidant, alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E).     

Extraction and characterization of oil bodies from soy beans: a natural source of pre-emulsified soybean oil

Soybeans contain oil bodies that are coated by a layer of oleosin proteins. In nature, this protein coating protects the oil bodies from environmental stresses and may be utilized by food manufacturers for the same purpose. In this study, oil bodies were extracted from soybean using an aqueous extraction method that involved blending, dispersion (pH 8.6), filtration, and centrifugation steps. The influence of NaCl (0-250 mM), thermal processing (30-90 degrees C, 20 min) and pH (2-8) on the properties and stability of the oil bodies was analyzed using zeta-potential, particle size, and creaming stability measurements. The extracted oil bodies were relatively small ( d 32 approximately 250 nm), and their zeta-potential went from around +12 mV to -20 mV as the pH was increased from 2 to 8, with an isoelectric point around pH 4. The oil bodies were stable to aggregation and creaming at low (pH = 2) and high (pH >/= 6) pH values but were unstable at intermediate values (3 相似文献   

Changes in Physical Properties of Soils with Land Use Time in the Brazilian Savanna Environment

Soils from central Brazil have been intensively used over the last decades because of the rapid conversion of savannas ( Cerrado ) into corn/soybean fields. The objective of this work is to study modifications in the physical properties of soils in the Rio Verde watershed, as a function of the land use time for agriculture, determined from classification of Landsat satellite images between 1980 and 2010. Soil samples were collected at surface (0–20 cm) and subsurface (20–40 cm) horizons for the different classes of land use time (<10, 10–20, 20–30, and >30 years). The following physical properties were measured: bulk density (BD), air permeability (K_a), penetration resistance (PR), microporosity (MI), macroporosity (MA), and total porosity (TP). Results showed a strong expansion with time of agriculture that occupied 35·3% (1980), 37·4% (1990), 51·3% (2000), and 60·9% (2010) of the watershed area. When properties were compared with those from the reference areas (preserved soils under native vegetation), significant differences were observed for all the physical attributes of soils for a land use time higher than 20 years. Overall, BD and PR increased with land use time, and the opposite was verified for K_a, MA, and TP. Some physical properties presented values (e.g., 1·54 g cm⁻³ for BD and 0.06 cm³ cm⁻³ for MA) close to the critical ones reported to affect crop development, but they were not still impacting on local soybean yield. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Isolation and thermal characterization of an acidic isoperoxidase from turnip roots

An acidic peroxidase (pI approximately 2.5) was purified from turnip roots (TAP), and its thermal properties were evaluated. TAP is a monomeric protein having a molecular weight (MW) of 49 kDa and a carbohydrate content accounting for 18% of the MW. The yield of pure TAP was relatively high ( approximately 2 mg/kg of fresh roots), with a specific activity of 1810 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) units/mg at pH 6. The activity increased 4-fold at the optimum pH (4.0) to 7250 ABTS units/mg, higher than that of most peroxidases. TAP was heat stable; heat treatment of 25 min at 60 degrees C resulted in 90% initial activity retention, whereas an activity of 20% was retained after 25 min of heating at 80 degrees C. TAP regained 85% of its original activity within 90 min of incubation at 25 degrees C, following heat treatment at 70 degrees C for 25 min. Thermal inactivation caused noticeable changes in the heme environment as evaluated by circular dichroism and visible spectrophotometry. TAP was rapidly denatured by heating in the presence of 1.0 mM ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether) N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid, but the Soret band and activity were fully recovered by adding an excess of Ca(2+). This is further evidence that Ca(2+) plays an important role in the stability of TAP. The high specific activity of TAP, together with its relatively high thermal stability, has high potential for applications in which a thermally stable enzyme is required.