Analysis of the water balance and the nitrogen and phosphorus runoff pollution of a paddy field in situ in the Taihu Lake basin

Paddy and Water Environment - Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) runoff loads of paddy fields in situ under conventional water and fertilizer management measures caused severe water pollution in the...     

Genetic bases of source-,sink-,and yield-related traits revealed by genome-wide association study in Xian rice

The source-sink relationship determines the ultimate grain yield.We investigated the genetic basis of the relationship between source and sink and yield potential in rice.In two environments,we identified quantitative trait loci(QTL)associated with sink capacity(total spikelet number per panicle and thousand-grain weight),source leaf(flag leaf length,flag leaf width and flag leaf area),source-sink relationship(total spikelet number to flag leaf area ratio)and yield-related traits(filled grain number per panicle,panicle number per plant,grain yield per plant,biomass per plant,and harvest index)by genome-wide association analysis using 272 Xian(indica)accessions.The panel showed substantial variation for all traits in the two environments and revealed complex phenotypic correlations.A total of 70 QTL influencing the 11 traits were identified using 469,377 high-quality SNP markers.Five QTL were detected consistently in four chromosomal regions in both environments.Five QTL clusters simultaneously affected source,sink,source–sink relationship,and grain yield traits,probably explaining the genetic basis of significant correlations of grain yield with source and sink traits.We selected 24 candidate genes in the four consistent QTL regions by identifying linkage disequilibrium(LD)blocks associated with significant SNPs and performing haplotype analysis.The genes included one cloned gene(NOG1)and three newly identified QTL(qHI6,qTGW7,and qFLA8).These results provide a theoretical basis for high-yield rice breeding by increasing and balancing source–sink relationships using marker-assisted selection.     

Panax notoginseng saponins suppress oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation-induced pyroptosis of SH-SY5Y cells

AIM To investigate the effect of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on pyroptosis of SH-SY5Y cells induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R). METHODS The OGD/R was conducted to induce ischemia/reperfusion injury in SH-SY5Y cells. The effects of PNS on the viability (detected by CCK-8 assay) and membrane permeability [indicated by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage and propidium iodide (PI) staining positive cell proportion] of OGD/R-induced SH-SY5Y cells were observed. The protein levels of gasdermin D (GSDMD), GSDMD N-terminal fragment (GSDMD-N), caspase-1 and caspase-4, and the release of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18 in the cells were also determined. RESULTS After exposure to OGD/R, the viability of SH-SY5Y cells dramatically decreased (P<0.01), while the LDH leakage, the PI staining positive cell proportion, the protein levels of GSDMD, GSDMD-N, caspase-1 and caspase-4, and the release of IL-1β and IL-18 were significantly increased (P<0.01). However, PNS treatment enhanced the viability of SH-SY5Y cells inhibited by OGD/R (P<0.01), but reduced the leakage of LDH and the percentage of PI staining positive cells (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Moreover, PNS reversed the increases in the protein levels of GSDMD, GSDMD-N, caspase-1 and caspase-4 and the release of IL-1β and IL-18 in OGD/R-induced SH-SY5Y cells (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION Treatment with PNS alleviates OGD/R-induced injury in SH-SY5Y cells. Its mechanism may be related to inhibition of SH-SY5Y cell pyroptosis induced by OGD/R.     

mTOR kinase inhibitor CC-223 suppresses human breast cancer cell viability

AIM: To investigate the inhibitory effect of CC-223, an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase, on the viability of human breast cancer cells and its mechanism. METHODS: The inhibitory effect of CC-223 on the viability of MCF-7 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells was measured by CCK-8 assay. The cell cycle distribution of breast cancer cells was examined by flow cytometry. The expression of cell cycle-related proteins and oncoproteins c-Myc and survivin was analyzed by Western blot. RESULTS: CC-223 significantly inhibited the viability of both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells (P<0.05). CC-223 induced cell cycle arrest in both G₁ phase and G₂/M phase in the MCF-7 cells (P<0.05). However, low concentration of CC-223 treatment resulted in the accumulation of MDA-MB-231 cell cycle in the G₂/M phase, and the cell number in G₁ phase was unaffected. Treatment with CC-223 for 24 h clearly inhibited the protein levels of cyclin B1, cyclin D1 and phosphorylated cell division cycle protein 2 in the breast cancer cells (P<0.05). CC-223 suppressed the expression of c-Myc and survivin in both MCF-7 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: CC-223 inhibits cell viability by blocking cell cycle progression and down-regulating expression of c-Myc and survivin in both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells.     

High-throughput screening reveals small molecule modulators inhibitory to Acidovorax citrulli

Acidovorax citrulli is a seed-transmitted gram-negative bacterium that can cause substantial economic yield loss in watermelon and melon production worldwide. Four small-molecule libraries containing 4,952 compounds were selected for high-throughput screening against A. citrulli wild-type strain Xu3-14 by evaluation of growth inhibition. One hundred and twenty-seven molecules (2.5% hit rate) were identified as bactericidal or bacteriostatic against A. citrulli at 100 μM. Secondary screens indicated that 27 candidate compounds were more effective against A. citrulli Group II strains than Group I strains (classified using repetitive element PCR). Several compounds were inhibitory to other pathogenic bacteria, including Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis and Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, but did not affect the growth of plant beneficial bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis. More than half of the compounds did not inhibit germination of Arabidopsis or watermelon seeds. The effect of small molecules on A. citrulli seed-to-seedling transmission was evaluated by applying each compound to inoculated watermelon seeds and assessing seedling infection. Nine compounds were chosen for further investigation based on their reduction of percentage seedling infection and compiling scores on their specificity, sensitivity, and phytotoxicity obtained in the secondary screens. The five best compounds were selected (thiamphenicol, nadifloxacin, pipemidic acid, ciclopirox, and zinc pyrithione) for greenhouse tests and were found to effectively reduce the seed-to-seedling transmission of A. citrulli in both artificially and naturally infested seeds. These top five compounds provide a basis for future development of an A. citrulli-specific bactericide.     

夜蛾黑卵蜂雌雄蜂鉴别方法及雌蜂寄生草地贪夜蛾卵的行为特征

夜蛾黑卵蜂Telenomus remus被认为是草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda卵期的高效寄生蜂。明确夜蛾黑卵蜂基本生物学特征将为其繁育及应用提供重要参考。本研究对雌、雄蜂外部形态及雌蜂寄生行为进行了观察。结果显示,1、除雌蜂产卵器和雄蜂外生殖器等第一性征外,夜蛾黑卵蜂雌、雄蜂个体还具备一些典型的第二性征,可通过触角环节数量、触角棒节和柄节形态以及足和触角的颜色进行区分。2、在同一卵块上,雄蜂先于雌蜂羽化,并撕咬寄主卵壳协助雌蜂羽化;雌蜂羽化后雄蜂会立即求偶并与其交配。3、夜蛾黑卵蜂雌蜂通过利用寄主卵表鳞毛空隙、主动清理鳞毛和移动表层卵粒3种行为策略实现对大部分草地贪夜蛾卵的寄生。本研究建立了夜蛾黑卵蜂雌、雄蜂的鉴别方法,并明确了雌蜂应对夜蛾黑卵蜂卵表结构防御的行为策略。     

基于DNA条形码的红翅大小蠹和黄杉大小蠹分子鉴定

外来有害生物的快速准确鉴定有助于提高口岸检疫效率。红翅大小蠹(Dendroctonus rufipennis)和黄杉大小蠹(D. pseudotsugae)作为大小蠹属的非中国种是我国口岸原木检疫中频繁截获的检疫性有害昆虫。本研究以mtDNA COI基因5′端和3′端序列为标记对红翅大小蠹与黄杉大小蠹的11个样本开展分子鉴定有效性评价。结果显示,当以COI基因5′端和3′端为靶标时,两种大小蠹间的平均遗传距离分别为0.181和0.144,是种内遗传距离的60.3和48倍,且种内、种间遗传距离间无重叠现象,在系统发育树上都能聚为独立的分支,表明mtDNA COI基因5′端和3′端序列均可有效区分红翅大小蠹与黄杉大小蠹。     

杂交水稻新组合Ⅱ优936特征特性及栽培技术

Ⅱ优936是福建省农科院水稻所用Ⅱ-32A与福恢936配组而成的三系籼型杂交水稻新组合,2a来在德化县作中稻示范种植表现,具有产量高、丰产性好、生育期适中、适应性广等优点.2005年通过福建省品种审定委员会审定.     

转Xa21基因杂交水稻选育和评价

通过基因枪转基因方法和双质粒共转化体系将Xa21基因转入优良恢复系明恢63,得到转基因系M12和M22,并进一步做田间试验、新品种选育和食用安全性评价。结果显示:M12和M22对中国的所有白叶枯病小种都表现出高度抗性,但与原受体品种明恢63相比,农艺性状上有许多变异,主要表现在:结实率、千粒重等农艺性状变差,与珍汕97A的配合力显著降低;但与温敏不育系(X07S、056S)配组的F1有较好的田间表现。通过多代回交和分子标记辅助选择,成功地将Xa21基因从M12株系转到保持系80-4B和不育系80-4A中,得到抗白叶枯病的皖21B和皖21A。并利用皖21A不育系选育出优良杂交组合抗优97(皖21A×R-18),该组合在两年区域试验和一年生产试验中产量表现突出,米质优良。对不同世代和不同遗传背景的转基因品系进行白叶枯病鉴定和Southern分析表明:Xa21基因都能稳定遗传和正常表达,连续16代的种植并没使其白叶枯病的抗性减弱或丧失,而且不论Xa21基因是纯合的还是杂合的都有相同的抗性表现。对大鼠和小鼠的饲喂试验表明:转基因大米实质上等同于非转基因大米,是安全无害的。