Improvements of TKC Technology Accelerate Isolation of Transgene-Free CRISPR/Cas9-Edited Rice Plants

Elimination of the CRISPR/Cas9 constructs in edited plants is a prerequisite for assessing genetic stability, conducting phenotypic characterization, and applying for commercialization of the plants. However, removal of the CRISPR/Cas9 transgenes by genetic segregation and by backcross is laborious and time consuming. We previously reported the development of the transgene killer CRISPR (TKC) technology that uses a pair of suicide genes to trigger self-elimination of the transgenes without compromising gene editing efficiency. The TKC technology enables isolation of transgene-free CRISPR-edited plants within a single generation, greatly accelerating crop improvements. Here, we presented two new TKC vectors that show great efficiency in both editing the target gene and in undergoing self-elimination of the transgenes. The new vectors replaced the CaMV35S promoter used in our previous TKC vector with two rice promoters to drive one of the suicide genes, providing advantages over our previous TKC vector under certain conditions. The vectors reported here offered more options and flexibility to conduct gene editing experiments in rice.     

Identification of Differentially Expressed Genes and Lipid Metabolism Signaling Pathways between Muscle and Fat Tissues in Broiler Chickens

In this study, signaling pathways and key differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in lipid metabolism in muscle and fat tissues were investigated. Muscle and abdominal fat tissues were obtained from 35-day-old female broilers for RNA sequencing. DEGs between muscle and fat tissues were identified. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses of DEGs were performed. A total of 6130 DEGs were identified to be significantly enriched in 365 GO terms, most of which were involved in biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions in muscle and fat tissues. Three important lipid signaling pathways (pyruvate metabolism, the insulin signaling pathway, and the adipocytokine signaling pathway) were identified among the fat and muscle tissues of broilers. The key common DEGs in these pathways included phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 2 (PCK2), acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 alpha and beta (ACACA and ACACB), and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (AMPK) gene family. Hence, our findings revealed the pathways and key genes and gene families involved in the regulation of fat deposition in the muscle and fat tissues of broilers.     

7株根瘤菌菌株与热研2号柱花草共生最适磷浓度研究

采用水培的方法,设3个磷水平,7个菌株,通过对株高、茎叶鲜重、茎叶干重、固氮酶活性、茎叶氮含量、茎叶磷含量的测定及综合分析,确定使热研2号柱花草接种不同根瘤菌菌株达到最佳促生性能的磷浓度。结果表明:7个菌株在中磷时鲜重和含氮量最大,低磷不利于鲜重和含氮量的增加;经主因子综合分析,菌株YM11-1、RJS9-2、PN13-3在高磷时对热研2号柱花草有最好的固氮促生效果,菌株LZ3-2、BS1-1、PN13-3在中等磷条件下有最好的固氮促生效果,菌株FS3-1-1在高磷和中磷都有最好的固氮促生效果。     

京郊边际土地纤维素类能源草规模化种植与管理技术

为探索能源植物在北京及周边地区的发展潜力,在京郊挖沙废弃地、荒滩地、撂荒地、污染农田4种边际土地上开展了柳枝稷、荻、芦竹和杂交狼尾草4种纤维素类能源草的规模化种植。在此基础上,总结提出了京郊边际土地纤维素类能源草规模化种植与管理技术,为基于边际土地发展京郊生物质原料生产与生物质能源产业奠定了良好的技术基础。     

巴西橡胶树乳管细胞HbWRKY1基因克隆及表达分析

采用PCR和RACE技术,从巴西橡胶树无性系热研7-33-97的乳管细胞中克隆了WRKY转录因子家族的一个成员HbWRKY1。该基因全长为1755 bp,含有1个1440 bp阅读框,编码479个氨基酸。生物信息学分析表明,HbWRKY1含有2个WRKY结构域和C2H2锌指结构基序,与蓖麻、杨树、葡萄、黄瓜、拟南芥的WRKY成员的氨基酸序列同源性分别为64.14%、60.04%、42.54%、40.61%和35.4%,属于Ⅰ类WRKY家族成员。实时荧光定量PCR分析表明,割胶和乙烯显著上调HbWRKY1基因的表达,但茉莉酸和机械伤害对HbWRKY1的表达没有明显影响,表明HbWRKY1可能在乙烯信号途径对防卫蛋白的调节中起重要作用。     

松墨天牛对焉尾松树的危害与综合防治技术

指出了松墨天牛是危害焉尾松树正常生长的主要害虫,又是松材线虫病的主要传媒昆虫,对我国松林资源构成严重威胁,针对其生物特性及危害特点进行了长期观察研究,结合实践中的防治措施,探讨了相应的综合防治办法,使防治区天牛的种群数量得到了有效控制.     

The mechanical roles of the clasping leaf sheath in cereals: Two case studies from oat and wheat plants

Stem lodging is a common problem in cereal crop production and a main constraint for grain yield improvement. The leaf sheath that surrounds and protects the hollow internodes of stem could provide the plants with a great physical support. However, this biomechanical function has been ignored for several decades in cereal crops. This study aimed to examine the biomechanical properties of basal stem internodes and lodging susceptibility of the whole plants with or without the clasping leaf sheath in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and oat (Avena sativa L.) among different genotypes and agronomic practices (including planting densities and nitrogen application rates). The main objective was to quantify the mechanical role of the leaf sheath in oat and wheat crops by a “safety factor” method. On average, the leaf sheath contributed 40%, 68% and 38% of the overall stem bending strength, flexural rigidity and safety factor, in oat, while it accounted for 11%, 24% and 10%, respectively, in wheat plants. The significant contribution of the leaf sheath is due to its vital role in enlarging the peripheral position (i.e., second moment of area) and stiffness (i.e., Young's modulus). The contribution ratios (%) were found to be higher in oat than in wheat plants, due to the greater mass density of leaf sheath and more proficient/prevailing stay-green capability in oat genotypes. This study emphasizes the important mechanical role of clasping leaf sheath on stem internodes of cereals and indicates that the stay-green trait of the leaf sheath can be exploited to design appropriate varieties with improved lodging resistance and great yield potential.