Heterologous expression of the ThIPK2 gene enhances drought resistance of common wheat

Th IPK2 is an inositol polyphosphate kinase gene cloned from Thellungiella halophila that participates in diverse cellular processes. Drought is a major limiting factor in wheat(Triticum aestivum L.) production. The present study investigated whether the application of the Th IPK2 gene could increase the drought resistance of transgenic wheat. The codon-optimized Th IPK2 gene was transferred into common wheat through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation driven by either a constitutive maize ubiquitin promoter or a stress-inducible rd29 A promoter from Arabidopsis. Molecular characterization confirmed the presence of the foreign gene in the transformed plants. The transgenic expression of Th IPK2 in wheat led to significantly improve drought tolerance compared to that observed in control plants. Compared to the wild type(WT) plants, the transgenic plants showed higher seed germination rates, better developed root systems, a higher relative water content(RWC) and total soluble sugar content, and less cell membrane damage under drought stress conditions. The expression profiles showed different expression patterns with the use of different promoters. The codon-optimized Th IPK2 gene is a candidate gene to enhance wheat drought stress tolerance by genetic engineering.     

Screening of antagonistic Trichoderma strains and their application for controlling stalk rot in maize

Maize is one of the major crops in China, but maize stalk rot occurs nationwide and has become one of the major challenges in maize production in China. In order to find an environment-friendly and feasible technology to control this disease, a Trichoderma-based biocontrol agent was selected. Forty-eight strains with various inhibition activities to Fusarium graminearum, and Fusarium verticillioides were tested. A group of Trichoderma strains(DLY31, SG3403, DLY1303 and GDFS1009) were found to provide an inhibition rate to pathogen growth in vitro of over 70%. These strains also prevented pathogen infection over 65% and promoted the maize seedling growth for the main root in vivo by over 50%. Due to its advantage in antifungal activity against pathogens and promotion activity to maize, Trichoderma asperellum GDSF1009 was selected as the most promising strain of the biocontrol agent in the Trichoderma spectrum. Pot experiments showed that the Trichoderma agent at 2–3 g/pot could achieve the best control of seedling stalk rot and promotion of maize seedling growth. In the field experiments, 8–10 g/hole was able to achieve over 65% control to stalk rot, and yield increased by 2–11%. In the case of natural morbidity, the control efficiency ranged from 27.23 to 48.84%, and the rate of yield increase reached 11.70%, with a dosage of Trichoderma granules at 75 kg ha~(-1). Based on these results, we concluded that the Trichoderma agent is a promising biocontrol approach to stalk rot in maize.     

Impact of cash crop cultivation on household income and migration decisions: Evidence from low-income regions in China

This study examines the impact of cash crop cultivation on household income and migration decisions, using survey data collected from low-income regions in China. Given farmers decide themselves whether to cultivate cash crops, an endogenous treatment regression model that accounts for potential selection bias issue is used to analyze the data. The empirical results show that cash crop cultivation exerts a positive and statistically significant impact on household income, but it does not affect household migration decisions significantly. The disaggregated analyses reveal that cash crop cultivation significantly increases farm income but decreases off-farm income.     

Application of imidacloprid controlled-release granules to enhance the utilization rate and control wheat aphid on winter wheat

During winter wheat production, aphids need to be controlled with pesticides for the entire growth period. Controlled-release technology has been regarded as an alternative method for the improvement of pesticide efficiency. This study investigated two types of imidacloprid controlled-release granule (CR-GR): 2% imidacloprid CR-GR and 0.2% imidacloprid pesticide-fertilizer controlled-release granule (PF-CR-GR) when wheat was sown in winter. The release performance, utilization rate, terminal residues in edible parts, control effect on aphids, and achieved winter wheat yield were evaluated for both laboratory experiments and field application. Imidacloprid PF-CR-GR released more quickly in aqueous medium than CR-GR because of its good water solubility. After CR-GR treatments, the concentrations in wheat roots and soil were similar throughout the entire sampling period, and the concentrations in shoots were about 10–20% of those in roots. Imidacloprid was better absorbed when CR-GR was used as root treatment, compared with foliar treatment. Field application showed that imidacloprid CR-GR and PF-CR-GR controlled aphids throughout the entire growth period of winter wheat and improved the wheat yield. These findings identified application of imidacloprid CR-GR and PF-CR-GR on winter wheat as an effective way to enhance the pesticide utilization rate and ensure adequate yield. This paper provides a theoretical basis for the scientific use of pesticides and guides scientific pesticide application.     

不同施氮量下南方红壤花生农艺性状、产量及土壤养分的变化

为探讨南方红壤旱地不同施氮量下花生农艺性状、产量和土壤养分的变化,采用田间随机区组试验,以高含氮肥料为材料,设置8个处理:不施氮肥（N₀）、200%施氮量（N_200%）、150%施氮量（N_150%）、100%施氮量（N_100%,纯施氮180.48 kg/hm²）、80%施氮量（N_80%）、60%施氮量（N_60%）、40%施氮量（N_40%）和20%施氮量（N_20%）。结果表明:与N₀处理相比,施氮肥提高了花生荚果产量,增产幅度为12.94%~24.62%;荚果产量、单株果重和饱果率随施氮量的增加而增加;而分枝数和百仁重随施氮量变化不明显;株高和百果重以N_80%效果最佳。土壤碱解氮随施氮量的增加而增加。相关分析结果表明,花生荚果产量与饱果率、有机质和碱解氮呈显著正相关;碱解氮与饱果率和有机质呈显著正相关,而与pH呈显著负相关。由主成分分析结果可知,第1主成分性状,即产量因子,如荚果产量、单株果重和百果重对花生生长有重要的作用。通径分析结果表明,百果重和饱果率通径系数较大,所以在提高花生荚果产量中应重视这2个性状。综上所述,从花生产量、农艺性状和成本考虑,以N_80%处理（纯施氮144.38 kg/hm²）的荚果产量、株高、单株果重、百果重、百仁重表现最佳。     

海南甘薯主栽品种再生体系的优化

本研究以海南甘薯主栽品种‘心香’、‘广薯87’、‘川山紫’、‘宁紫薯1号’、‘薯绿一号’、‘高系14’和‘三角宁’为材料,从外植体的选择、不同消毒方案、培养基配方和防褐化剂筛选等方面进行研究,建立一套适合热带地区甘薯主栽品种的脱毒快繁优化再生体系。结果表明：侧芽增殖率与存活率最高;在不同的外植体消毒处理中,依次用75%酒精消毒60 s,2% NaClO消毒15 min,以及0.1% HgCl₂消毒15 min的污染率最低;最佳的生根培养基配方为：MS+0.05 mg/L NAA+0.1 mg/L GA₃;茎长生长最快的培养基配方为：MS+0.1 mg/L NAA+1 mg/L 6-BA+0.5 mg/L GA₃;干重增长最快的培养基配方为：MS+0.1 mg/L NAA+1.5 mg/L 6-BA+0.5 mg/L GA₃;在培养基中加入5~6 g/L硫代硫酸钠和1.25 g/L聚乙烯吡咯烷酮能有效地抑制外植体的褐变。     

辣木的染色体制片优化及核型分析

以辣木分生组织为材料,采用酶解去壁低渗法制片,探讨不同取材部位、预处理方式和酶解时间对辣木染色体制片的影响,并对其进行核型分析,以期为辣木的起源、演化及遗传育种提供一定理论依据。结果表明:以辣木新枝茎尖为最佳取材部位,用饱和对二氯苯预处理2 h,再用4%纤维素酶和5%果胶酶混合物酶解4 h,制片所得染色体效果最佳。核型分析表明,辣木染色体属于小染色体,有28条,核型公式为2n=2x=2n=28m,属于1B类型,核型不对称系数60.29%,核型对称程度较高,这表明辣木在进化中可能处于比较原始类型。