Identification of favorable alleles in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">non</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">yellow coloring 1</Emphasis> gene by association mapping in maize

Association mapping was conducted to explore favorable alleles of the chlorophyll-related non-yellow coloring 1 (NYC1) gene under light and dark using an association panel of 146 maize inbred lines. A total of 14 polymorphic sites were identified to be significantly associated with at least one of the chlorophyll-related traits at the seedling stage. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (S320, S2951, S3901, and S3355) from the NYC1 gene were respectively strongly associated with chlorophyll b (chlb), the ratio of chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b (chl_ratio), chlorophyll a degradation (chla_deg), and total chlorophyll degradation (total_chl_deg). SNPs S320 (C/A) in exon 1, and S2951 (A/G) in intron 8 was related to chlb, with 6.01 and 8.89% of phenotypic variation under light treatment, respectively. Under dark treatment, SNP S3901 (C/T), located in 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR), was associated with chl_ratio, explaining 7.01% of the observed phenotypic variation, whereas SNP S3355 (C/G) in intron 9 explained 6.48 and 5.18% of phenotypic variations in chla_deg and total_chl_deg, respectively. Taken together, these results indicated that the NYC1 gene plays an important role in chlorophyll content and other related traits, and different sites act on chlorophyll metabolism under different light intensities in maize seedlings. Furthermore, these findings improve our understanding of the genetic basis of chlorophyll metabolism under different light conditions.     

A multi-method approach to delineate and validate migratory corridors

Context

Managers are faced with numerous methods for delineating wildlife movement corridors, and often must make decisions with limited data. Delineated corridors should be robust to different data and models.

Objectives

We present a multi-method approach for delineating and validating wildlife corridors using multiple data sources, which can be used conserve landscape connectivity. We used this approach to delineate and validate migration corridors for wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) in the Tarangire Ecosystem of northern Tanzania.

Methods

We used two types of locational data (distance sampling detections and GPS collar locations), and three modeling methods (negative binomial regression, logistic regression, and Maxent), to generate resource selection functions (RSFs) and define resistance surfaces. We compared two corridor detection algorithms (cost-distance and circuit theory), to delineate corridors. We validated corridors by comparing random and wildebeest locations that fell within corridors, and cross-validated by data type.

Results

Both data types produced similar RSFs. Wildebeest consistently selected migration habitat in flatter terrain farther from human settlements. Validation indicated three of the combinations of data type, modeling, and corridor detection algorithms (detection data with Maxent modeling, GPS collar data with logistic regression modeling, and GPS collar data with Maxent modeling, all using cost-distance) far outperformed the other seven. We merged the predictive corridors from these three data-method combinations to reveal habitat with highest probability of use.

Conclusions

The use of multiple methods ensures that planning is able to prioritize conservation of migration corridors based on all available information.

     

INTEGRATED CROP-LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS: LESSONS FROM NEW YORK,BRITISH COLUMBIA,AND THE SOUTH-EASTERN UNITED STATES

• Livestock production in North America has moved to fewer farms with greater inventories • Land application of livestock manures is a preferred nutrient recycling strategy • Confined animal feeding operations have challenges to utilize livestock manure sustainably • Integration of livestock and cropping systems is possible on a farm or among farms • Nutrient balance is needed for environmental sustainability Livestock production in the United States (US) and Canada is diverse, but shows a common trend in most livestock sectors toward fewer farms producing the majority of animal products despite a large number of farms still small in production scale. The migration to larger and more concentrated animal feeding operations in beef finishing and poultry, swine, and dairy production allows processors to streamline supplies to meet market demand for abundant, low-cost livestock products, whether that be for packaged meat, dairy products, or eggs. With concentration of livestock operations comes the challenge of managing manures. When sufficient land is available and nutrients are needed, livestock manure is an excellent nutrient source and land application is the preferred method of recycling this resource. However, when livestock production is constrained in a geographical area and animal densities are high, manure may become an environmental liability with potentially greater risk for runoff and leaching of nutrients, emission of odors, ammonia, and greenhouse gases, and release to the environment of pathogens and chemicals of emerging concern. Addressing these challenges now and into the future requires learning from mistakes and adopting successful approaches. We describe different levels of integration between livestock and crop producers in New York, British Columbia, and the south-eastern US as learning opportunities to improve economic and environmental sustainability. Examples show that effective solutions should recognize (1) manure has value and is not just a cost, (2) farmers, farm advisors, extension educators, nutrient management planners, crop advisors, nutritionists, state agency personnel, regulators, and university researchers need to be active participants in development of solutions, and (3) change to a sustainable future requires a combination of government regulation and outcome-based incentives.     

温室大棚钢骨架自动弯折和自动焊接技术及装备

介绍了钢骨架自动弯折和自动焊接技术及装备的必要性和重要性,以及国内外发展现状和趋势。针对目前骨架制作难、安全性差、现有设备移动不便及消耗大量人力物力等一系列问题,在国内外现有钢骨架制作技术及装备的基础上,自主开发研制一种新型的并适合我国国情的钢骨架自动弯折和自动焊接技术及装备。重点介绍钢骨架自动弯折和自动焊接技术及装备的主要结构组成、工作原理、工作过程和关键技术特点,并对其开发应用前景进行展望。      

A typology of agricultural production systems: Capability building trajectories of three Asian economies

Analysing the agricultural sectors of Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore, this paper examines the capability‐building process that encourages productivity and innovation. It describes and explains the origins and subsequent evolution of three forms of agricultural production system, each generating different farming capabilities and distinct forms of competitive advantages. The paper argues that Taiwan's rice‐oriented agricultural production system stimulates both productivity and innovation, helping Taiwanese farmers raise their income level and living standards. The active deployment of state institutions and a malleable labour force, evidenced in the Malaysian palm oil industry, is effective in raising farming productivity but not the ability to innovate. Singapore's aquaculture‐oriented agricultural production system is somewhat useful in stimulating productivity and innovation. Yet the city‐state's inherent lack of space and open international trade regime have circumscribed the potential of its aquaculture industry. It now relies on the regional ethnic Chinese business networks to expand the aquaculture industry's knowledge base and its industrial commons. The principles discussed in this paper provide policy lessons, or at least some initial guidance, for other developing economies aspiring to modernise their agricultural sector.     

表型组学及多组学联合分析在植物种质资源精准鉴定中的应用

种质资源是指具有实际或潜在利用价值的、携带生物遗传信息的载体。表型组学是近年来新兴的高通量、高分辨率的表型分析技术和平台。随着各种先进的表型组学研究工具和平台的研发,表型组学在种质资源筛选和评价中起着越来越重要的作用:在植物优异农艺性状鉴定、抗逆性研究、突变体研究和分子标记辅助育种研究中,高能量、高分辨率的鉴定技术对基因与环境互作的表型鉴定,为种质资源的规模化、批量化鉴定评价提供了基础和条件,为发掘优异种质和优良等位基因奠定了基础。     

磺酰脲除草剂对不同作物的敏感度测定

经室内药剂对种子胚根长度抑制测定，结果表明：玉主胚根是甲磺隆、绿磺隆、苯磺隆的敏感试材。１４个小麦品种对甲磺隆、烟嘧磺隆的敏感程度不同，经方差分析差异显著。烟农１５对甲磺隆最敏感，其ＩＣ５０值为０．１１７１ｍｇ／ｋｇ；河农１号对甲磺隆最不敏感，其ＩＣ５０值为５．３１４０ｍｇ／ｋｇ。河农３２６对烟嘧磺隆最敏感，其ＩＣ５０值为０．０４５３ｍｇ／ｋｇ；河北２００对烟嘧磺隆最不敏感，其ＩＣ５０值为６．９２     

筇竹与黄皮树人工混交林中筇竹地上部分生物量模型构建

本研究以筇竹与黄皮树人工混交林中筇竹地上部分为研究对象,测定分析了1~4年生分株地上部分各构件生物量及含水率,建立人工筇竹分株地上部分各构件的生物量及总生物量模型,以期为人工筇竹林的经营管理及其碳汇项目的开发提供科学依据。结果表明：随着筇竹分株年龄的增加,各构件含水率和生物量均逐渐减少,筇竹1~4年生分株地上部分平均含水率分别为57.62%、53.40%、50.01%、42.66%,平均生物量分别为133.99、123.31、109.76、85.39 g/m²;各年龄分株地上部分生物量的分配均呈现出秆＞枝＞叶的变化规律。不同年龄分株的胸径与秆、枝、叶生物量及地上部分总生物量均有极显著相关性(P＜0.01)。以胸径为自变量建立的各年龄筇竹分株地上部分总生物量模型的决定系数(R²)均在0.93以上,具有较高的可信度,也有着较强的适用性,可用于类似立地条件下的筇竹分株生物量估测。     

水牛RNA聚合酶Ⅲ启动子的克隆与鉴定

[目的]获得有效的水牛RNA聚合酶Ⅲ启动子序列,为开展水牛源细胞的基因特异沉默研究奠定基础.[方法]通过启动子上、下游保守序列对水牛源启动子7SK、U6进行克隆和启动子关键顺式作用元件识别,利用一段针对EGFP的shRNA片段（shEGFP）对水牛7SK、U6启动子进行功能性分析,然后分别在水牛源及鼠源细胞中与pEGFP-N1共转染,转染48h后用荧光显微镜检测EGFP的表达情况,并用流式细胞仪和荧光实时定量PCR检测EGFP沉默表达情况.[结果]克隆获得水牛7SK、U6启动子序列分别为430和357 bp,其OCT-1（或CACCC盒）及TATA盒高度保守.连接shEGFP后与pEGFP-N1共转染细胞,通过荧光显微镜可观察到细胞发生了明显的荧光表达沉默现象;通过流式细胞分析,发现水牛7SK和U6启动子引导的shEGFP在水牛源细胞中沉默效率高达93.82％和87.45％;荧光实时定量PCR检测结果显示,在转染bu7SK-shEGFP和buU6-shEGFP的水牛源BFF细胞中,EGFP表达水平均显著低于其他物种启动子的细胞转染组（P＜0.05）,而在鼠源PT67细胞中,水牛启动子的启动效率与其他物种启动子差异不显著（P＞0.05）.[结论]水牛7SK和U6启动子可高效启动shRNA表达,且具有一定的物种特异性.