RESPONSE OF FRIJOLILLO RHYNCHOSIA MINIMA (L) DC. TO SUPPLEMENTARY PHOSPHORUS WITH THREE SOIL MOISTURE CONDITIONS: II. SOLUTE ACCUMULATION

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of induced drought conditions and phosphorous (P) application on osmotic adjustment as reflected in the accumulation of organic solutes in the leaves of frijolillo. The experiment took place under greenhouse conditions without climate control. Plastic containers were used measuring 20 cm high × 15 cm in diameter. In each container, five plants were evaluated from emergence to vegetative growth phase. Three soil moisture regimes were evaluated (25%, 50%, and 100% of field capacity) combined with four concentrations of phosphorous (0, 50,100 and 150 mg kg^?1 of soil). A completely randomized block design with a factorial arrangement of 3×4 with four replications was used. The cellular osmotic adjustment as a response to drought stress in frijolillo was associated with the accumulation of sugars, amino acids and proline in that higher concentrations than the control were measured with moisture at 25%. Concentrations of chlorophyll and carotene increased as soil moisture levels decreased.     

Fate of humic acids isolated from natural humic substances

Composition of humic acids (HA) is a function of plant-derived inputs, degradation processes regulated by microorganisms, organo-mineral interactions and age. Characterization of different origin humic substances is important for evaluation of their contribution to stabile and labile carbon pool in the environment. The relative abundance of chemical components in HA isolated from soils, compost, commercial lignohumates, alginite, acadiane and lignite was studied with aim to quantify content of important biomarkers such as amino acid, lipids and polyphenols. HA were considered as a heterogeneous complex and high concentration of peptides, polyphenols and lipids was determined in acadian-HA to compare with soil-HA. Compost-HA contained much more amino acids to compare with soil-HA samples. Alginite-HA and lignite-HA were similar in biomarkers content to soil-HA. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed that chemical composition and functional groups content differs with the origin, humification degree and the age of studied samples. Soil-HA are typically composed of a variety of ?OH, COOH?, C–O, C–H₂, (aliphatic and aromatic) groups, quinines, lignin fragments, polysaccharide, monosaccharide and proteins fragments, which are linked together by ?O?, ?NH?, ?H=, >C=O, metal ions and –S? groups. ¹³C NMR spectroscopy showed that aromatic carbon content was the highest in lignite-HA and soil-HA.     

基于Meta分析的猪后腿性状QTL整合定位

【目的】通过Meta分析,利用数学模型整合与优化猪后腿腿臀质量、腿臀肉质量和腿臀比性状的QTL,提高QTL定位的准确度和有效性,为猪后腿性状QTL的精细定位和分子辅助育种奠定基础。【方法】收集猪后腿腿臀质量,腿臀肉质量和腿臀比性状的QTL及其相关信息,利用BioMercator2.1,将原始QTL映射到美国肉畜研究中心（USDA-MARC 2.0）公布的猪遗传连锁图谱,构建新的整合图谱,分析得到QTL簇。进一步对各QTL簇进行Meta分析,定位“真实”QTL（MQTL）,缩短95%置信区间,减少定位误差。【结果】收集了93个猪后腿性状的QTL及其相关信息,经比对、映射,构建了新的整合图谱,发现19个QTL簇。通过Meta分析,得到19个MQTL,其图距比原平均图距缩短16.19%～78.96%,其中,MQTL1、MQTL5、MQTL6、MQTL8、MQTL9、MQTL10、MQTL11、MQTL12和MQTL17等9个MQTL图距的缩短比例均超过50%。【结论】Meta分析得到的MQTL图距均有不同程度缩短,最小的仅1.75 cM,缩短比例最大可达78.96%,提高了QTL定位的准确度和有效性。     

Chromoplast morphology and beta-carotene accumulation during postharvest ripening of Mango Cv. 'Tommy Atkins'

Accumulation of beta-carotene and trans-cis isomerization of ripening mango mesocarp were investigated as to concomitant ultrastructural changes. Proceeding postharvest ripening was shown by relevant starch degradation, tissue softening, and a rising sugar/acid ratio, resulting in a linear decrease (R (2) = 0.89) of a ripening index (RPI(KS)) with increasing ripening time. A modest accumulation of all-trans-beta-carotene and its cis isomers resulted in a slight pigmentation of the mango chromoplasts, because ambient temperatures of 18.2-19.5 degrees C provided suboptimal ripening conditions, affecting color development and beta-carotene biosynthesis. The ultrastructures of chromoplasts from mango mesocarp and carrot roots were comparatively studied by means of light and transmission electron microscopy. Irrespective of the ripening stage, mango chromoplasts showed numerous plastoglobuli varying in size and electron density. They comprised the main part of carotenoids, thus supporting the partial solubilization of the pigments in lipid droplets. However, because different pigment-carrying tubular membrane structures were also observed, mango chromoplasts were assigned to the globular and reticulotubular types, whereas the crystalline type was confirmed for carrot chromoplasts. The large portions of naturally occurring cis-beta-carotene in mango fruits contrasted with the predominance of the all-trans isomer characteristic of carrots, indicating that the nature of the structure where carotenoids are deposited and the physical state of the pigments are crucial for the stability of the all-trans configuration.     

Precision phenotyping of imidazolinone-induced chlorosis in sunflower

Chlorosis level is a useful parameter to assess imidazolinone resistance in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). The aim of this study was to quantify chlorosis through two different methods in sunflower plantlets treated with imazapyr. The genotypes used in this study were two inbred lines reported to be different in their resistance to imidazolinones. Chlorosis was evaluated by spectrophotometrical quantification of photosynthetic leaf pigments and by a bioinformatics-based color analysis. A protocol for pigment extraction was presented which improved pigment stability. Chlorophyll amount decreased significantly when both genotypes were treated with 10 μM of imazapyr. Leaf color was characterized using Tomato Analyzer^® color test software. A significant positive correlation between color reduction and chlorophyll concentration was found. It suggests that leaf color measurement could be an accurate method to estimate chlorosis and infer chlorophyll levels in sunflower plants. These results highlight a strong relationship between imidazolinone-induced chlorosis and variations in leaf color and in chlorophyll concentration. Both methods are quantitative, rapid, simple, and reproducible. Thus, they could be useful tools for phenotyping and screening large number of plants when breeding for imidazolinone resistance in this species.     

Modulation of porcine biotransformation enzymes by anthelmintic therapy with fenbendazole and flubendazole

Fenbendazole (FEN) and flubendazole (FLU) are benzimidazole anthelmintics often used in pig management for the control of nematodoses. The in vivo study presented here was designed to test the influence of FLU and FEN on cytochrome P4501A and other cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms, UDP-glucuronosyl transferase and several carbonyl reducing enzymes. The results indicated that FEN (in a single therapeutic dose as well as in repeated therapeutic doses) caused significant induction of pig CYP1A, while FLU did not show an inductive effect towards this isoform. Some of the other hepatic and intestinal biotransformation enzymes that were assayed were moderately influenced by FEN or FLU. Strong CYP1A induction following FEN therapy in pigs may negatively affect the efficacy and pharmacokinetics of FEN itself or other simultaneously or consecutively administered drugs. From the perspective of biotransformation enzyme modulation, FLU would appear to be a more convenient anthelmintic therapy of pigs than FEN.     

Optimising the management of even-aged Pinus sylvestris L. stands in Galicia, north-western Spain

The study developed management instructions for even-aged Pinus sylvestris stands in Galicia (north-western Spain). Although these stands are highly productive, no silvicultural management schedules have been proposed so far for them on the basis of systematic analyses. This study used data from 2160 optimisation runs to develop the management instructions. Land expectation value was used as the objective function. Different prices of timber assortments were considered and the discounting rate was varied from 0.5 to 5%. The method employed to find the optimal management schedules of stands was the combination of a stand simulator and an optimisation algorithm. The simulator uses an earlier growth and yield model for Pinus sylvestris in Galicia to predict the future development of the stand with a given management schedule while the optimisation algorithm seeks the best management schedule among all the possible alternatives. The results show that optimal rotation lengths vary widely between 42 and 170 years, high discounting rates and good site quality resulting in the shortest rotations. Four thinnings were found to be suitable for all sites and discounting rates. With discounting rates higher than 1% the commercial thinnings should gradually decrease the stand basal area towards the end of the rotation.