Sunflower mutant containing high levels of palmitic acid in high oleic background

A new sunflower mutant, CAS-12, was obtained, which has both high palmitic (≈30%) and high oleic acid contents, and also a substantial amount of palmitoleic acid (≈7%). The mutant was selected after X-ray irradiation of dry seeds of the inbred line BSD-2-423, which had normal palmitic (≈3%) and high oleic (≈88%) acid levels. The increase of palmitic and palmitoleic acids occurred at the expense of the oleic acid content, which decreased to around 55% in respect to the original line. Linoleic acid content is always under 5%. Palmitic and palmitoleic acid levels were similar to those of the high palmitic mutant CAS-5 obtained in a previous programme from a low oleic line isogenic to BSD-2-423 using a similar mutagenic treatment. In that previous programme we also selected three high stearic acid mutants using chemical mutagenic treatment on the same sunflower line (RDF-1-532). We attempted to obtain mutants in other lines but were unsuccessful. The isolation of similar mutants in isogenic parental lines illustrates the importance of the genetic background in the development of specific mutants with an altered seed oil fatty acid composition. The oil of this mutant will increase the range of potential uses of sunflower oil. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Molecular biology of male gametogenesis

Pollen development has been studied at a molecular level in several systems that are amenable to genetic or transgenic analysis. We have characterized several tomato genes that are expressed late in pollen development. Our goals in this research were 1) to determine the cis- and tran-acting factors that mediate pollen expression, and 2) to determine the functions of the proteins encoded by these genes. We currently favor the hypothesis that pollen-specific gene expression is mediated in a combinatorial manner. Antisense experiments have indicated an important role for the LAT52 protein during pollen hydration.     

Analysis on the Disposal of the Industrial Solid Waste in the Three Gorges Region

The second step of water storage for Three Gorges Reservoir will be executed in Jue,2003. Because there is still a large quantity of industrial solid waste(ISW) dumped on the reservoir bottom where should be cleaned before water storage and wastes should be disposed. After a full investigation and analyze, the total amount of ISW in the Chongqing reservoir area is about 1.66 million tons. According the principles of safe, economical and reliable, this paper describes the ISW's treatment. The ordinary ISW which is harmless and non toxic after identification should be treated on-site, the ISW that exceeds the national standards should be removed and be disposed in the landfill, and the hazardous waste should be removed for disposition or storage.     

Responses to water withdrawal of tobacco plants genetically engineered with the AtTPS1 gene: a special reference to photosynthetic parameters

We have previously obtained several lines of tobacco transformed with a trehalose-6-phosphate synthase gene of plant origin (Arabidopsis thaliana), involved in the first step of the biosynthesis of trehalose, a known osmoprotectant. Two showed distinct intensity of expression: high (B5H) and low (B1F). Such lines were analyzed for trehalose-6-phosphate content and the obtained results demonstrated to be in accordance with the expression results. In order to study the responses of photosynthesis to water deficit of transgenic lines in comparison to wild type (WT), three experiments were performed under different conditions: (1) Relative water (2) Leaf gas exchange (3) Modulated Chlorophyll a Fluorescence. Different responses in RWC of plant lines to water withdrawal were detected, with transgenic line B5H indicating less water loss after the water withdrawal period. Similar responses to water deficit regarding the leaf gas exchanges were recorded for the three lines. When subjected to water deficit stress situations, higher F _v/F _m, Φ_PSII and qP were detected for the transgenic lines. Under a SWC of 20% where higher values for such parameters were detected with special relevance for the B5H line, indicating a possible higher ability to withstand severe drought stress and to resist to prolonged periods without water than the B1F and WT lines.     

基于SNP和InDel标记的巴西木薯遗传多样性与群体遗传结构分析

As a typical tropical crop, cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) has the characteristics of drought resistance, barren resistance, high biomass and so on. In addition to being used for food and forage, it can also be used for production, processing and starch extraction. Due to highly heterozygous cassava genome, breeding is more difficult. Enriching the genetic diversity of cassava germplasm, comprehensively evaluating its genetic background and traits, and discovering superior alleles that control excellent traits are of great significance for cassava breeding in the future. In order to analyze the genetic diversity, genetic relationship and population structure of cassava germplasm in Brazil, 7946 SNPs and 1997 InDels molecular markers were used. Population structure analysis was performed by ADMIXTURE software, and principal component analysis was performed by GCTA software. Brazilian cassava was divided into nine subgroups, and was roughly consistent with the results of cluster analysis using PHYLIP. Among them, subgroup 1, subgroup 2, subgroup 4, subgroup 6, and subgroup 8 could be clustered together respectively, while the samples of other subgroups could be roughly clustered, and there was a certain cross between the samples. The genetic diversity of cassava germplasm in Brazil (0.274) was higher than the genetic diversity level of cassava germplasm in China and Nigeria. Subgroup 5 of Brazil cassava had a relatively high genetic diversity (0.29). The genetic differentiation of subgroups was low (the genetic differentiation vary from 0.03 to 0.15), but higher than domestic cassava germplasm. The genetic distance between cassava accessions varied from 0.084 to 0.297, with the average of 0.228. The results of this study can provide a basis for subsequent association analysis to identify great alleles and introduction.     

Analyses of Interlayer Stresses and Strain Transfer in Smart Laminated Structures

A new model is proposed to analyze the strain/stress transfer relation between host materials and piezoceramic sensors/actuators under bending and axial stress loading. The finite thickness of the adhesive is taken into account. The physical layers of the piezoceramic, adhesive and structure material are further subdivided into thinner layers as fine as necessary in order to improve the accuracy of stress analysis. In each thin layer the in-plane stresses are assumed to vary linearly across the thickness. By satisfying equilibrium equations, constitutive equations and displacement-strain relations, all components of stress, strain and displacement can be expressed as functions of the in-plane forces and the moments of the thin layers. The differential equations governing the in-plane forces and the moments are obtained. Then, this analytical model is used to predict strain transfer from the structure material to the sensor. It is found, both experimentally and theoretically, that the axial strain of the host material is considerably larger than the strain of the sensor, which is directly related to the output voltage. By introducing the so-called strain transfer factor, a relationship between the output voltage of the sensor and the strain of the measured material is derived. The model is used to predict interlayer stress distributions and strain transfer, which are induced by actuator strain. The result was compared with existing experiments and FEM. There is stress concentration between the actuator and adhesive around the edge of the smart structures, which may cause debonding under high stress loading.     

In vitro culture variation of wheat and rye caused by genes affecting plant growth habit in vivo

Summary The influence of genes affecting the plant growth habit in wheat (Rht8 and Ppd1) and rye (ct1 and ct2) on tissue culture response was studied using immature embryos. Whereas the semi-dwarfing gene Rht8 seems to promote only a minor effect, the day-length sensitive allele ppd1 determined a major increase in callus growth and regeneration ability. With regards to their tissue culture efficiency, the four alleles studied could be ranked as follows: ppd1>Rht8>rht8>Ppd1.In contrast to wheat, the GA insensitive semi-dwarfing genes of rye (ct1 and ct2) appear not to influence in vitro response.     

转玉米C4光合酶基因水稻株系中的光合C4微循环

用转PEPC、PPDK、NADP-ME、PEPC PPDK等酶基因的水稻株系及原种野生型(WT)为材料, 研究了不同基因型水稻叶片中的C4光合微循环及其功能.用外源OAA或MA饲喂叶切片或离体叶绿体后,光合放氧速率在野生型水稻中增加了50%,在NADP-ME-和PPDK-转基因水稻中增加了50%～54%,在PEPC-和 PEPC PPDK-转基因水稻中增加了100%～150%.证明原种水稻Kitaake叶片中具有一个原初的和有限的C4光合微循环,除PPDK基因、NADP-ME基因外,外源PEPC基因或PEPC PPDK双基因导入原种水稻Kitaake后,可大幅度提高C4光合微循环的运行.水稻中C4光合微循环的增强有降低光呼吸速率(Pr)、增加净光合速率(Pn)的作用,在光能利用上,可增加PSⅡ光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、光化学猝灭(qp)、降低非光化学猝灭(qN)的作用;这些结果为转C4光合酶基因水稻中建立C4微循环系统来提高光合作用效率的可能性提供了依据.     

Suitability of Wastes from Olive-Oil Industry for Initial Reclamation of a Pb/Zn Mine Tailing

An incubation experiment was conducted to evaluate the ameliorating role of two organic amendments—olive-mill solid wastes and compost from olive-mill solid wastes- in the ecological reclamation of a lead/Zn-mine tailing collected in southern Spain. Four enzymatic activities (dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, urease and phosphatase) and soluble and AB-DTPA extractable Pb and Zn and were periodically determined. High concentrations of Pb (5394 mg kg^?1) and Zn (9607 mg kg^?1), mainly in insoluble forms, were recorded in the lead/zinc-mine tailing, as well as very low biochemical activity. Application of the compost from olive-mill solid waste stimulated microbial activity and the biogeochemical cycles into the mine tailing because of the initially increased dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase and urease activities, which tended to decline or remained constant during the incubation period. By contrast, these enzyme activities were scarcely affected by the incorporation of the olive-mill solid wastes because this olive-organic amendment contains extractable polyphenols (36 g kg^?1), which inhibit these enzyme activities. Phosphatase activity was enhanced by the application of both olive-organic amendments, especially when the olive-mill solid waste was added to the mine tailing. Amounts of soluble and AB-DTPA-extractable Pb and Zn in the mine tailing were increased by the application of the olive-mill solid waste, and to a lesser degree, by the compost from this olive waste. This fact could restrict the use of these olive-organic amendements as useful materials in reclamation of lead/zinc-mine tailings. Nevertheless, the increases of available lead and zinc would represent an advantage where Pb/Zn-mine tailings are reclaimed by phytoextraction, effectively reducing the metal pollution in these mining wastes.     

Arsenic(V) Adsorption onto Biogenic Hydroxyapatite: Solution Composition Effects

This study qualifies and quantifies the effects of pH, hardness, alkalinity, salinity and bone calcination temperature related with the adsorption of As(V) onto biogenic hydroxyapatite (HAPb) obtained from cow-charred bones. Arsenic contamination of surface and subsurface waters is widely extended in Argentina. It is a problem of major concern, particularly in rural and suburban areas where there are not water treatment plants for supplying of drinking water. HAPb is a natural material, whose absorbent properties can be used for the design of low-cost technologies for As(V) abatement in water. In this work HAPb has been characterized by physical and chemical analysis (XRD, SEM, EDAX, BET, and electrophoretic mobility). A Plackett–Burman screening experimental design allowed us to determine the main variables affecting the efficiency of As(V) sorption onto HAPb. Based on these variables and with a design of higher order we developed a model of the system to study its behaviour. Data collection was planned through a Doehlert experimental design and a back propagation artificial neural network was used to work it out. Results showed that salinity is the major variable affecting the efficiency of the As(V) immobilization process but pH and hardness should be taken into account because of associations among them.