Expression of Aldo-keto Reductase 1C23 in the Equine Corpus Luteum in Different Luteal Phases

Regression of the corpus luteum (CL) is characterized by a decay in progesterone (P₄) production (functional luteolysis) and disappearance of luteal tissues (structural luteolysis). In mares, structural luteolysis is thought to be caused by apoptosis of luteal cells, but functional luteolysis is poorly understood. 20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20α-HSD) catabolizes P₄ into its biologically inactive form, 20α-hydroxyprogesterone (20α-OHP). In mares, aldo-keto reductase (AKR) 1C23, which is a member of the AKR superfamily, has 20α-HSD activity. To clarify whether AKR1C23 is associated with functional luteolysis in mares, we investigated the expression of AKR1C23 in the CL in different luteal phases. The luteal P₄ concentration and levels of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) mRNA were higher in the mid luteal phase than in the late and regressed luteal phases (P<0.05), but the level of 3β-HSD protein was higher in the late luteal phase than in the regressed luteal phase (P<0.05). The luteal 20α-OHP concentration and the level of AKR1C23 mRNA were higher in the late luteal phase than in the early and mid luteal phases (P<0.05), and the level of AKR1C23 protein was also highest in the late luteal phase. Taken together, these findings suggest that metabolism of P₄ by AKR1C23 is one of the processes contributing to functional luteolysis in mares.     

Gene transposition as a cause of hybrid sterility in Drosophila

We describe reproductive isolation caused by a gene transposition. In certain Drosophila melanogaster-D. simulans hybrids, hybrid male sterility is caused by the lack of a single-copy gene essential for male fertility, JYAlpha. This gene is located on the fourth chromosome of D. melanogaster but on the third chromosome of D. simulans. Genomic and molecular analyses show that JYAlpha transposed to the third chromosome during the evolutionary history of the D. simulans lineage. Because of this transposition, a fraction of hybrids completely lack JYAlpha and are sterile, representing reproductive isolation without sequence evolution.     

Nonrandom processes maintain diversity in tropical forests

An ecological community's species diversity tends to erode through time as a result of stochastic extinction, competitive exclusion, and unstable host-enemy dynamics. This erosion of diversity can be prevented over the short term if recruits are highly diverse as a result of preferential recruitment of rare species or, alternatively, if rare species survive preferentially, which increases diversity as the ages of the individuals increase. Here, we present census data from seven New and Old World tropical forest dynamics plots that all show the latter pattern. Within local areas, the trees that survived were as a group more diverse than those that were recruited or those that died. The larger (and therefore on average older) survivors were more diverse within local areas than the smaller survivors. When species were rare in a local area, they had a higher survival rate than when they were common, resulting in enrichment for rare species and increasing diversity with age and size class in these complex ecosystems.     

Genetic characterization of the Aceh cattle using phenotypic, mitochondrial DNA of D-loop region and microsatellite DNA analyses

The present study reports the phenotypic variation of body weight and body size, the genetic variation of D-loop of mtDNA and microsatellite DNA allele in Aceh cattle in Indonesia within the frame of the design of a conservation programme for this indigenous species. Aceh cattle differ from Bali, Madura, Java-Ongole and Pesisir cattle, but its ancestry relates it closest to Pesisir, thus adding more information to its entry from the Indian sub-continent.     

Measurement of soil compaction tolerance of Lagestromia speciosa (L.) Pers. using chlorophyll fluorescence

Trees planted along roadsides and on public recreation areas are subjected to environmental stresses such as poor soil, air pollution and heat. However, very little information is available on the trees’ tolerance to the various stress factors faced in an urban environment in Malaysia, such as soil compaction. The effects of soil compaction on a range of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (F₀,F_m,F_v/F_m) in foliar tissue of Lagestromia speciosa, a widely planted Malaysian street tree, were examined. Results showed that soil compaction was between 170 and 315 MPa in the study areas. Soil compaction above 180 MPa affected tree form and reduced chlorophyll fluorescence. It is concluded that chlorophyll fluorescence offers a rapid screening technique for assessing soil compaction tolerance of L. speciosa.     

生姜套种大蒜技术推广应用

生姜是塔山镇主要经济作物 ,采用姜蒜套种栽培形式 ,提高了土地利用率 ,增加了经济效益 ,具有广泛的发展前景。1　大蒜栽培管理1 .1　整地施肥选择水源条件好、排灌方便的平肥地。 3月下旬至 4月初结合整地施腐熟优质农肥 70 0 0～750 0ｋｇ/667ｍ2 。1 .2　作垅整地施肥后作垅 ,行距 55ｃｍ。1 .3　播种4月 5日至 1 0日播种 ,株距 7～ 8ｃｍ ,双行栽培 ,小行距 1 5ｃｍ左右 ,保苗 350 0 0～ 40 0 0 0株 /667ｍ2 。1 .4　防虫大蒜主要虫害是地蛆 ,用地蛆净 1 0 0 0倍液或用 80 %敌百虫 80 0倍液进行灌根。1 .5　追肥4叶期结合灌水追施尿素 5…     

Quorum sensing is required for full virulence of Vibrio campbellii towards tiger grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) larvae

The link between quorum sensing in Vibrio campbellii and its virulence towards tiger grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) was investigated using V. campbellii wild type and quorum‐sensing mutants with inactive quorum sensing or constitutively maximal quorum‐sensing activity, and signal molecule synthase mutants. The results showed that wild‐type V. campbellii is pathogenic to grouper larvae, causing more than 50% mortality after 4 days of challenge. Furthermore, the mortality of larvae challenged with the mutant with maximally active quorum sensing was significantly higher than that of larvae challenged with the wild type, whereas a higher survival was observed in the larvae challenged to the mutant with a completely inactive quorum‐sensing system. Grouper larvae challenged with either the signal molecule synthase triple mutant, the harveyi autoinducer‐1 (HAI‐1) synthase mutant and the autoinducer‐2 (AI‐2) synthase mutant showed higher survival than larvae challenged with the wild type. In contrast, larvae challenged with the cholerae autoinducer‐1 (CAI‐1) synthase mutant showed high mortality. This indicates that HAI‐1 and AI‐2, but not CAI‐1, are required for full virulence of V. campbellii towards grouper larvae. Our data suggest that quorum‐sensing inhibition could be an effective strategy to control V. campbellii infections in tiger grouper.     

不同降水年型施氮量对冬小麦水氮资源利用效率的调控

【目的】研究不同降水年型氮肥用量引起的小麦生育期耗水量、植株氮素积累与运转、产量及效率的变化,为黄土高原旱地冬小麦精准施肥提供理论依据。【方法】于2017—2020年在山西农业大学闻喜试验示范基地开展大田试验,种植制度为冬小麦后夏休闲,一年一熟。3个试验年降水量分别属于正常、干旱和湿润年型。试验设施氮量0、120、150、180、210 kg/hm² 5个处理,分析了小麦耗水量、氮素吸收与利用、产量形成及不同降水年型间的差异。【结果】不同降水年型旱地小麦生育期总耗水量均以N 180 kg/hm²最高,且丰水年和欠水年耗水变化率以施N 150～180 kg/hm²最高,平水年则以施N 120～150 kg/hm²最高。与其他施氮处理相比,丰水年施N 180 kg/hm²提高了播种—拔节期植株氮素积累量,显著提高了花前叶片和穗轴+颖壳氮素运转量,平水年和欠水年施N 150 kg/hm²提高了播种—拔节期植株氮素积累量及花前叶片和茎秆+叶鞘氮素运转量。不同降水年...     

Genetic diversity and conservation of two threatened dipterocarps(Dipterocarpaceae) in southeast Vietnam

Two threatened dipterocarp species,Dipterocarpus costatus and Dipterocarpus alatus are well-known endangered species in lowland forests of southeastern Vietnam,primarily from habitat loss and over-exploitation of their wood.To develop conservation strategies for these species,we analyzed 242 samples using nine microsatellite markers to determine the genetic variability within and among five populations of D.alatus and three of D.costatus,representing the natural range of dipterocarps in Southeast Vietnam.Results indicated low levels of genetic variability within populations with an average gene diversity of 0.223 for D.alatus and 0.152 for D.costatus.Results of bottleneck tests indicated a reduction in population size of both species(P>0.05).Genetic differentiation among populations was high(FST=0.347 for D.costatus and 0.274 for D.alatus),indicating limited gene flow(Nm=0.662 for D.costatus and 0.47 for D.alatus)and isolated populations related to geographical distances.Analysis of molecular variance showed high genetic variation within populations(72.92%for D.alatus and 60.81%for D.costatus)compared to among populations.Bayesian analysis and UPGMA tree also indicated the two optimal genetic clusters related to geographical distances.These results will provide a platform for the conservation,management and restoration of these species.     

Alleviation of arsenic toxicity by phosphate is associated with its regulation of detoxification,defense, and transport gene expression in barley

Arsenic(As) contamination in soils has posed a severe threat to safe crop production. The previous studies showed the antagonism between phosphorus(P) and As in plant growth and As uptake, while the mechanisms of alleviating As toxicity by P is not completely clear. Due to the limiting P condition, it is imperative to understand how low P addition can be used to suppress arsenate As(V) uptake and the subsequent mechanisms involved. Thus in this study we investigated the effect of P addition on As uptake, anti-oxidative enzyme activity, and anti-oxidant content, and the relative expression of transport, defense, and detoxification genes using two barley genotypes differing in As toxicity tolerance. P addition significantly reduced As concentration in plant tissues, and caused the great changes in activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase, glutathione content, and the relative expression of examined genes when the plants of the two barley genotypes were exposed to 100 μmol L~(–1) As, with ZDB160(As-tolerant) being much more affected than ZDB475(As-sensitive). The current results show that P addition can alleviate As toxicity by regulating the expression of As transport, defense, and detoxification genes to a greater extent in As tolerance of barley, suggesting the possibility of controlling As uptake and toxicity by applying low amount of P fertilizers in the As-contaminated soils.