籼型优质水稻不育系绵2A的特征特性及繁殖技术

绵2A是四川省绵阳市农科所育成的籼型水稻不育系,具有不育性稳定、花粉败育彻底、开花习性好、柱头外露率高、米质较优、配合力高等特点,所配组合在各级试验中表现突出。总结了其特征特性及高产繁殖技术。     

水稻三系不育系绵7A的选育与应用

绵7A是绵阳市农业科学研究院以不育系绵5A为母本,Ⅱ-32B/绵2B的杂交后代为父本,经测交和连续回交选育而成的新不育系。该不育系花粉败育彻底,农艺性状优良,柱头外露率高,配合力好,杂种优势强,2008年8月通过四川省技术鉴定。所配组合绵优281于2009年通过云南省品种审定,绵优616、绵优725分别于2010年通过贵州省、云南省品种审定。     

籼稻新不育系农丰A的选育与应用

通过选用米质较优、柱头外露率高、农艺性状较好的金23B与米质较优、千粒重大的新露B杂交,F3代与适应性广、耐不良环境能力较强的珍汕97B复交,复交F5代再与珍汕97A多代回交,育成野败型籼稻不育系农丰A。农丰A不育株率100%,花粉败育以典败为主,花粉不育度达99.98%,不育性稳定,异交习性好,配合力强,米质较优,株叶形态好。2004年通过安徽省农作物品种审定委员会组织的专家技术鉴定。所配组合丰优293(农丰A/YR293)、农丰优909(农丰A/YR909)、农丰优188、农丰优256已先后通过省级或国家级品种审定。     

优质早籼不育系803A的选育与利用

803A系用L301B与地谷B的杂交后代与L301A回交转育而成的优质早籼不育系。其育性稳定，败育彻底，不育度和不育株率均为100％，米质优良，抗稻瘟病能力较强，农艺性状优良，遗传性状稳定，开花习性好，配合力强，杂交一代米质好，产量高，利用前景广阔。所配组合B优840生B优838已通过四川省品种审定。     

籼稻不育系科丰A特征特性及其利用与高产繁殖技术

科丰A属感温型水稻三系不育系,其花粉败育彻底,不育株率和花粉不育度均达到100%,具有抗性好,配合力强,易于繁殖,适应性强等特性,以科丰A配组育成的三系杂交稻科优769、科优16等品种分别通过广东省梅州市和国家品种审定。介绍了科丰A的特征特性及其利用与高产繁殖技术。     

优质籼型水稻不育系京福4A的选育

京福4A是用京福4B(冈46B/枝B)与枝A测交并逐代回交转育而成的籼型水稻三系不育系.该不育系熟期较早、米质较优、穗大秆粗、株型良好、配合力强,不育性稳定,不育株率100％,花粉败育率99.99％,于2004年6月通过福建省技术鉴定.用京福4A配组育成的杂交稻新组合京福4优13于2010年通过江西省品种审定.     

优质软米不育系乐软101A的选育

乐软101A是国内首次育成的优良软质米三系不育系，具有育性稳定，败育彻底，柱头外露率高，异交习性好，农艺性状优良，配合力强等特点。杂种一代表现米质软而优、丰产性好，且易于繁殖制种。于2001年8月通过四川省科技厅主持的技术鉴定。     

籼型水稻雄性不育系京福8A的选育与应用

京福8A是福建省农业科学院水稻研究所以不育系D297A为母本,D297B/福伊B的杂交后代为父本,经测交和逐代回交转育而成的籼型水稻雄性不育系。该不育系不育性稳定,花粉败育彻底,不育株率100%,不育度99.99%,熟期较早,米质较优,农艺性状优良,柱头外露率高,配合力好,杂种优势强,于2005年9月通过福建省技术鉴定。以京福8A配组育成的杂交稻新组合京福8优77于2014年通过福建省品种审定。     

优质籼型不育系金科1A的选育与利用

金科1A是以冈46B金/23B的F3代选系与金23A测交并连续回交转育而成的野败型籼型三系不育系。金科1A花粉败育彻底,不育性稳定,柱头外露率高(90%),异交结实率高,易于繁殖制种,株型紧凑,叶片窄直上挺,可恢复性好,米质优,于2005年9月通过湖北省技术鉴定。所配组合科优8377(金科1A/R8377),产量高,米质优,2006年9月通过国家农作物品种审定委员会审定。     

高异交率优质籼型不育系健645A的选育

湖南金健种业有限责任公司与常德市农科所合作用[珍汕97B×(菲改B×V20B)F10]F4×[(菲改B×V20B)F10×金23B]F4的F7代与优质稻黑宝的无色变异株杂交,经3 a 6代的定向选择得到优质人工制保材料(代号645),再与金23A测交并连续回交转育成优质野败型迟熟籼稻不育系健645A。该不育系不育性稳定,不育株率100%,花粉不育度100%,自交结实率为0,开花习性好,花时早,自然条件下柱头外露率高达82.39%,异交结实率高,繁殖制种产量高;米质优良,12项米质指标均达部颁优质米2级以上标准;生育期较长,配合力好,所配组合产量优势强,且米质优良。健645A于2006年2月通过湖南省农作物品种审定。     

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.     

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.     

Recent Modifications of Chitosan for Adsorption Applications: A Critical and Systematic Review

Chitosan is considered to be one of the most promising and applicable materials in adsorption applications. The existence of amino and hydroxyl groups in its molecules contributes to many possible adsorption interactions between chitosan and pollutants (dyes, metals, ions, phenols, pharmaceuticals/drugs, pesticides, herbicides, etc.). These functional groups can help in establishing positions for modification. Based on the learning from previously published works in literature, researchers have achieved a modification of chitosan with a number of different functional groups. This work summarizes the published works of the last three years (2012–2014) regarding the modification reactions of chitosans (grafting, cross-linking, etc.) and their application to adsorption of different environmental pollutants (in liquid-phase).