水稻两用核不育系N111S的选育与应用

N111S是用培矮64S作母本,安农S-1作父本进行有性杂交,通过加压筛选,定向培育而成的不育起点温度低、综合性状好、配合力强、外观米质好的水稻两用核不育系,2006年通过湖南省农作物品种审定委员会审定,2014年通过安徽省农作物品种审定委员会鉴定。所配组合N两优1号(N111S/9311)先后通过湖南省和安徽省农作物品种审定委员会审定。     

温敏核不育基因置于不同遗传背景下育性表现变异的遗传初探

采用低温敏核不育系90336S、中温敏核不育系90341S和安农S-1,高温敏核不育系90341S作材料,在自然变温条件下,观察F₂代、回交一代的育性表现,发现90336S和90332S的不育起点温度差异由相互独立的两个显性基因（L1,L2）控制,L1,L2 有降低不育起点温度的作用;安农S-1和90341S的不育起点温度差异是由单个不完全显性基因H造成的,H有提高不育起点温度的作用。     

温度对安农S-1和W6154S的综合效应初步研究

通过人工低温处理,发现在长日高温条件下,诱导安农S-1和W6154S可育需要三天以上的低温,其对低温的敏感期是在叶枕距-0.5cm至-1cm之间。在可育期和育性转换期,安农S-1和W6154S的开花习性与正常品种相似,而在不育期,则开花分散,开花高峰推迟。当温度由高降低,不育系由不育逐步转向可育时,花粉数量,花药颜色及花药形态也随之发生变化。     

水稻光温敏核不育系红176S的选育与应用

红176S是以安农S-1/培C311 F7为母本,028S为父本杂交,经多年系谱选择育成的水稻光温敏核不育系。红176S穗大粒多,开花习性好,异交结实率高,配合力高,2012年3月通过江西省农作物品种审定委员会组织的鉴定,所配组合红两优333(红176S/GR333)于2012年3月通过江西省品种审定。     

优质籼型水稻温敏核不育系228S的选育与利用

228S是广东华茂高科种业有限公司用安农S为母本,与高州镇江野生稻杂交,F2代筛选不育株再与培矮64S杂交选育而成的籼型水稻温敏核不育系,2005年10月通过广东省科技厅组织的技术鉴定。228S在茂名的稳定不育期比培矮64S长5~6 d,不育期不育性稳定,株叶形态好,稻米品质达国标优质稻谷2级标准,开花习性好,对"九二○"敏感,繁殖制种产量高。所配组合茂杂29(228S/茂恢29)2006年12月通过广东省品种审定。     

水稻两系不育系营S的选育与应用

营S是用C815S与含马来西亚野生稻亲缘的中间材料SB89杂交,F1代作母本再与C815S回交,后代利用海南自然低温和人工低温冷灌处理对育性进行筛选,经过5 a 9代的定向培育成的不育起点温度低、异交率高的两系不育系。2019年3月通过江西省农作物品种审定委员会审定。     

水稻光温敏核不育系28S的选育与应用

28S是用Y58S作母本、蔡S和安农S的杂交后代作父本进行杂交,后代经多代筛选育成的光温敏核不育系。该不育系农艺性状优良、育性稳定、育性转换临界温度低、繁殖制种产量高、杂种优势强,2016年通过海南省农作物品种审定委员会审定,所配组合两优2877于2017年通过国家农作物品种审定委员会审定。     

优质抗病水稻光温敏核不育系龙S的选育

选用育性转换临界温度低、株叶形态好和具有多个稻瘟病抗源背景(HA79317-7、02428和科辐红2号)的徐S(安湘S/株173)作母本,以配合力好但不育起点温度高的133S作父本进行杂交改良,对杂交后代不育株(系)采取湖南和海南两地穿梭育种、自然低温和人控低温相结合筛选育性转换临界温度,同时通过接种诱发和稻瘟病区增压选择相结合的方法筛选抗病性,于2005年育成了不育起点温度低、株型理想、稻米品质优良、异交率高、配合力好和抗病性较强的水稻光温敏核不育系龙S,2009年通过湖南省农作物品种审定委员会审定。     

籼型温敏核不育水稻GD-5S的选育与初步利用

籼型水稻温敏核不育系GD-5S是利用安农S-1与东B杂交的中间材料作为核不育基因源,与早籼品种浙9248杂交选育而成,于2006年6月通过广东省科技厅组织的技术鉴定。GD-5S株型较紧凑,早生快发性好,育性转换特性稳定,抗稻瘟病,开花习性和稻米品质性状较好,配合力强,容易繁殖制种。利用该不育系育成了粤杂510、粤杂583等两系杂交稻新组合,其中粤杂510已于2007年3月通过广东省品种审定。     

水稻光温敏核不育系云峰S的选育与应用

云峰S是湖南奥谱隆科技股份有限公司以奥龙1S/Y58S的F4代优良不育株系535-6-18S为母本,与广占63-4S杂交,通过湖南怀化和海南三亚连续5 a 10代的南北穿梭加代种植,利用自然生态低温和人工低温育性筛选,加强米质筛选、抗性鉴定和配合力测定,于2011年育成的光温敏核不育系。云峰S育性稳定,育性转换临界温度低,繁殖、制种产量高,稻米品质较优,抗逆性较强,配合力强,所配组合耐肥抗倒、产量优势明显、米质较优。2016年3月通过湖南省农作物品种审定委员会审定。     

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.     

Mineral composition of some traditional Mexican teas

Teas of plant origin traditionally consumed by the Mountain Pima of Chihuahua, Mexico, were analyzed for mineral nutritional content. Fe, Cu, Zn, Ca, and Mg composition was determined for native teas made from shoots ofTagetes lucida, T. filifolia, Elytraria imbricata, andHolodiscus dumosus, and from root xylem ofCeanothus depressus andPhaseolus ritensis. Native uses of these teas are also described.     

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.