Characteristics of Nitrogen Loss through Surface-Subsurface Flow on Red Soil Slopes of Southeast China

Soil nitrogen (N) loss related to surface flow and subsurface flow (including interflow and groundwater flow) from slope lands is a global issue. A lysimetric experiment with three types of land cover (grass cover, GC; litter cover, LC; and bare land, BL) were carried out on a red soil slope land in southeast China. Total Nitrogen (TN) loss through surface flow, interflow and groundwater flow was observed under 28 natural precipitation events from 2015 to 2016. TN concentrations from subsurface flow on BL and LC plots were, on average, 2.7–8.2 and 1.5–4.4 times greater than TN concentrations from surface flow, respectively; the average concentration of TN from subsurface flow on GC was about 36–56% of that recorded from surface flow. Surface flow, interflow and groundwater flow contributed 0–15, 2–9 and 76–96%, respectively, of loss load of TN. Compared with BL, GC and LC intercepted 83–86% of TN loss through surface runoff; GC intercepted 95% of TN loss through subsurface flow while TN loss through subsurface flow on LC is 2.3 times larger than that on BL. In conclusion, subsurface flow especially groundwater flow is the dominant hydrological rout for N loss that is usually underestimated. Grass cover has the high retention of N runoff loss while litter mulch will increase N leaching loss. These findings provide scientific support to control N runoff loss from the red soil slope lands by using suitable vegetation cover and mulching techniques.     

Zirconium-Modified Activated Sludge as a Low-Cost Adsorbent for Phosphate Removal in Aqueous Solution

A highly effective zirconium-modified activated sludge (Zr(IV)-AS) adsorbent was prepared from activated sludge and applied to remove phosphate from aqueous solutions by batch and column experiments. Characterized results revealed that zirconium was successfully loaded onto the activated sludge (AS), and the specific surface area and pore volume were substantially improved after zirconium loading on the AS. Zr(IV)-AS exhibited a high adsorption affinity for phosphate and the maximum adsorption amount was 27.55 mg P·g^?1 at 25 °C. Adsorption isotherms of phosphate could be described by the Langmuir model, and the adsorption kinetics were well described by the pseudo-second-order model. Phosphate adsorption on Zr(IV)-AS increased monotonically with decreasing solution pH. The presence of SO₄^2? in water resulted in slightly decreased phosphate adsorption on the adsorbent even at a high concentration (25 mmol/L), and a greater influence of HCO₃^? on adsorption could be ascribed to the increased solution pH with the addition of the HCO₃^?. Column adsorption experimental results showed that the adsorbent has excellent phosphate adsorption properties and that the effluent can meet the requirement of phosphorus in the national wastewater discharge standard of China. Phosphate-saturated Zr(IV)-AS can be effectively desorbed in 0.1 mol L^?1 NaOH solution, and the regenerated adsorbent still possessed the high capacity. The adsorption between the adsorbent and the phosphate is due to the electrostatic interaction and anionic exchange at the surface of the Zr(IV)-AS. Furthermore, this approach provides a possibility of treating wastewater with waste and has the potential for industrial applications for the removal of phosphate from wastewater.     

Evaluation of palygorskite for remediation of Cd-polluted soil with different water conditions

Purpose

The study aimed at comparing the effects of different water managements on soil Cd immobilization using palygorskite, which was significant for the selection of reasonable water condition.

Materials and methods

Field experiment was taken to discuss the in situ remediation effects of palygorskite on Cd-polluted paddy soils, under different water managements, using a series of variables, including pH and extractable Cd in soils, plant Cd, enzyme activity, and microorganism number in soils.

Results and discussion

In control group, the pH in continuous flooding was the highest under three water conditions, and compared to conventional irrigation, continuous flooding reduced brown rice Cd by 37.9%, and brown rice Cd in wetting irrigation increased by 31.0%. In palygorskite treated soils, at concentrations of 5, 10, and 15 g kg^?1, brown rice Cd reduced by 16.7, 44.4, and 55.6%; 13.8, 34.5, and 44.8%; and 13.1, 36.8, and 47.3% under continuous flooding, conventional irrigation, and wetting irrigation (p < 0.05), respectively. The enzyme activity and microbial number increased after applying palygorskite to paddy soils.

Conclusions

Continuous flooding was a good candidate as water management for soil Cd stabilization using palygorskite. Rise in soil enzyme activity and microbial number proved that ecological function regained after palygorskite application.

     

播种期温度变化对玉米出苗速率的影响

为了应对气候变化,掌握玉米播种出苗期的温度特性,科学调整玉米播种期提供依据,采用分期播种方法,研究温度变化对玉米出苗速率的影响。结果表明,随着春季气温的升高,玉米出苗速率加快。玉米出苗速率与4月中旬—6月上旬平均气温存在对数函数关系,与≥12.0℃有效积温存在线性函数关系,出苗天数与活动积温存在指数函数关系。稳定通过12.0℃为玉米播种初始温度,14.0~18.0℃为较适宜温度,18.0℃以上为播种适宜温度。耕层温度与气温对出苗速率的影响相同。播种期初始温度应从稳定10.0℃调整至稳定12.0℃为宜。     

Capturing genetic variability and selection of traits for heat tolerance in a chickpea recombinant inbred line (RIL) population under field conditions

Chickpea is the most important pulse crop globally after dry beans. Climate change and increased cropping intensity are forcing chickpea cultivation to relatively higher temperature environments. To assess the genetic variability and identify heat responsive traits, a set of 296 F_8–9 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of the cross ICC 4567 (heat sensitive) × ICC 15614 (heat tolerant) was evaluated under field conditions at ICRISAT, Patancheru, India. The experiment was conducted in an alpha lattice design with three replications during the summer seasons of 2013 and 2014 (heat stress environments, average temperature 35 °C and above), and post-rainy season of 2013 (non-stress environment, max. temperature below 30 °C). A two-fold variation for number of filled pods (FPod), total number of seeds (TS), harvest index (HI), percent pod setting (%PodSet) and grain yield (GY) was observed in the RILs under stress environments compared to non-stress environment. A yield penalty ranging from 22.26% (summer 2013) to 33.30% (summer 2014) was recorded in stress environments. Seed mass measured as 100-seed weight (HSW) was the least affected (6 and 7% reduction) trait, while %PodSet was the most affected (45.86 and 44.31% reduction) trait by high temperatures. Mixed model analysis of variance revealed a high genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) (23.29–30.22%), phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) (25.69–32.44%) along with high heritability (80.89–86.89%) for FPod, TS, %PodSet and GY across the heat stress environments. Correlation studies (r = 0.61–0.97) and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed a strong positive association among the traits GY, FPod, VS and %PodSet under stress environments. Path analysis results showed that TS was the major direct and FPod was the major indirect contributors to GY under heat stress environments. Therefore, the traits that are good indicators of high grain yield under heat stress can be used in indirect selection for developing heat tolerant chickpea cultivars. Moreover, the presence of large genetic variation for heat tolerance in the population may provide an opportunity to use the RILs in future-heat tolerance breeding programme in chickpea.     

沙棘木蠹蛾蛹的发育起点温度和有效积温研究

通过室外变温和室内恒温 2种不同的方法对沙棘木蠹蛾蛹的有效积温和发育起点温度进行了测定 ,结果表明 :变温条件下蛹的发育起点温度为 15.4 81°C,有效积温为 2 0 2 .356± 13.0 57日度 ;恒温条件下蛹的发育起点温度为 12 .0 55°C,有效积温为 2 95.2 0 3± 4 .0 94日度。蛹发育的最适温度为 2 1°C     

利用RNA-seq筛选调控当归抽薹主要候选基因

当归提前抽薹严重影响产量,而当归抽薹分子遗传机理尚不清楚.本研究利用RNA-seq技术对连续五代抽薹当归的叶片、茎段、种子、根进行测序,对所有组装后的Unigenes进行功能注释,寻找调控当归抽薹主要候选基因.结果表明:在当归的叶片、根、种子、茎段转录本中分别得到7.1、7.63、7.23、6.59Gb数据,通过Nr、...     

Effects of inbreeding on nodal root system morphology and architecture of white clover (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Trifolium repens</Emphasis> L.)

Plants of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) cultivar Crau, a self-fertile Crau genotype, and nine generations of inbred progeny were raised in sand culture in a glasshouse experiment. Digital images of the root systems were made and root morphological characteristics were determined on all the plants. Root architectural parameters were measured on the Crau parent and the S₁, S₄, S₆, and S₉ inbred lines. The clover roots became shorter and thicker with inbreeding but the number of root tips per plant was unchanged. Root architecture (branching pattern) was largely unaffected by inbreeding. It is concluded that inbreeding white clover will lead to shorter, thicker roots, and reduced nutrient uptake efficiency compared with the parent clover. The degree to which these deleterious traits are overcome during the development of F₁ hybrids needs to be determined.     

冬小麦种质矮孟牛及其衍生后代1BL/1RS的分子和生化标记鉴定

本研究以小麦骨干亲本矮孟牛及其33个衍生品种(系)为材料,利用低分子量(LMW)麦谷蛋白Glu-B3位点的STS-PCR标记、醇溶蛋白Gli-B1位点的SSR标记和黑麦碱SEC-1b位点的STS-PCR标记进行复合PCR,检测1BL/IRS易位.结果表明,矮孟牛Ⅱ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ、Ⅵ和Ⅶ型含有1BL/1RS染色体,矮孟牛Ⅰ和Ⅲ型不含1BL/1RS;在矮孟牛的33个衍生后代中,25个含1BL/1RS,其余8个则不含1BL/1RS.利用A-PAGE技术对上述材料进行了黑麦碱蛋白的检测,结果与复合PCR一致,两种方法相结合能准确的检测1BL/1RS.     

The inheritance of chemical phenotype in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cannabis sativa</Emphasis> L. (III): variation in cannabichromene proportion

The mechanism that controls the proportion of cannabichromene (CBC), a potential pharmaceutical, in the cannabinoid fraction of Cannabis sativa L. is explored. As with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), CBC is an enzymatic conversion product of the precursor cannabigerol (CBG). CBC is reported to dominate the cannabinoid fraction of juveniles and to decline with maturation. This ontogeny was confirmed in inbred lines with different mature chemotypes. A consistent CBC presence was found in early leaves from a diverse clone collection, suggesting that CBC synthase is encoded by a fixed locus. Morphological variants possessing a ‘prolonged juvenile chemotype’ (PJC), a substantial proportion of CBC persisting up to maturity, are presented. PJC is associated with a reduced presence of floral bracts, bracteoles, and capitate-stalked trichomes. Genetic factors causing these features were independent of the allelic chemotype locus B that was previously postulated and regulates THC and CBD synthesis and CBG accumulation. In contrast to previously described Cannabis chemotypes, the cannabinoid composition of PJCs showed plasticity in that reduced light levels increased the CBC proportion. The ability of PJC plants to enable the production of pharmaceutical raw material with high CBC purity is demonstrated.