Effects of elevated CO2 concentration on bulbil germination and early seedling growth in Chinese yam under different air temperatures

The present study investigated the effects of elevated carbon dioxide concentration ([CO₂]) and air temperature on the germination of seed bulbils and the seedling vigour of two Chinese yam lines. Plants were grown under two [CO₂] levels, ambient and elevated (ambient + 200 μmol mol^?1), and two mean air temperature regimes, 22.2 °C (ambient + 1.4 °C) and 25.6 °C (ambient + 5.2 °C). Elevated [CO₂] did not affect bulbil germination under both air temperature regimes. During the early growth stage, the dry weight (DW) of leaves, vines, shoots, roots, belowground parts (roots + tubers) and whole plants were higher under elevated [CO₂] than ambient [CO₂] for both lines under the low- and high-temperature regimes. The values of vigour indexes (index I = germination % × seedling length and index II = germination % × seedling DW) were also higher under elevated [CO₂] than ambient [CO₂] for both lines. These results indicated that Chinese yam seedlings respond positively to elevated [CO₂] during the early growth stage. The above:belowground DW ratios were lower under elevated [CO₂] than ambient [CO₂] in seedlings with very small new tubers for both yam lines, indicating that elevated [CO₂] strongly affected the root growth in the early growth stage. The DWs of post-treatment seed bulbils were higher in the elevated [CO₂] under both air temperature regimes. The results showed that Chinese yam used a smaller amount of the reserves in seed bulbils under elevated [CO₂] than under ambient [CO₂].     

基于SRTM_DEM的泾河流域特征信息提取研究

流域特征信息的提取对于水文地理信息分析、模拟技术和水文模型建立具有重要意义。基于STRM_DEM数据,在ArcGIS9．3环境下,提取泾河流域坡度、坡向等地形特征,以及河网、流域边界和面积等水文要素,并划分子流域。分析表明,当闽值取5000（40．5km^2）时,生成的流域河网能够较好地反映该地区水系。根据河网分级、低级集水区域生成结果和流域地形特征,可划分为32个子流域,为流域分布式水文模型的构建提供了基础地理信息。SRTM_DEM提取泾河和部分支流流域面积误差均较小,说明提取结果与实际非常接近。结果表明,SRTM_DEM数据和ArcGIS9．3提取流域特征信息方便快捷,具有较高的精度和准确性,应用前景广阔。     

Phosphorus Retention and Release Characteristics of Sewage-Impacted Wetland Sediments

Sediment deposited in traps positioned along a sewage-impacted wetland receiving phosphorus (P)-retaining reactants from natural wetland water was fractionated into different particle sizes, and the amount of P retained in these particle sizes was investigated. Subsamples of the sediments collected from different sites along the wetland system were also equilibrated with water at different water:sediment ratios and equilibration periods to investigate the extent of P released from these sediments under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Results obtained showed that most of P deposited in sediments is in fine fractions (<16 µm), particularly in sediments collected from confluence sites where water inflow from the natural wetland provides P-retaining reactants and from sites immediately below these confluence sites (postconfluence sites). The extent of P release from sediments depended on the aerobic-anaerobic conditions of the sediments, equilibration period, water:sediment ratio and the position of sites within the wetland. The rate of P released from sediments associated with an increase in equilibration period tended to be higher under aerobic than anaerobic conditions. Water:sediment ratio was found to be a more important factor in controlling the release of P from sediments under anaerobic than aerobic conditions. The amount of P released from the confluence and postconfluence sites was higher than that from other sites over a range of equilibration periods and water:sediment ratios under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.     

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the CrDAT gene and selection of transgenic periwinkle lines with a high vincristine accumulation

Catharanthus roseus contains vincristine and vinblastine, which are outstanding drugs for cancer. In the biosynthetic pathways of terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs) in C. roseus, deacetylvindoline 4-O-acetyltransferase (DAT) is a key enzyme that catalyses the last reaction of vindoline biosynthesis to form vinblastine and vincristine. In this study, the CrDAT transgene was transferred into the periwinkle by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and generated transgenic periwinkle lines with an increase in vincristine accumulation. The C. roseus DAT gene was introduced into C. roseus plants and it was confirmed that CrDAT was successfully transferred into the genome of periwinkle plants and efficiently translated to synthesise recombinant DAT protein. Four transgenic periwinkle lines in T1 generation, T1-1, T1-3, T1-6, and T1-7, expressed recombinant DAT protein with the total protein content in the range of 2.86 μg.mg^?1 to 5.12 μg.mg^?1. Moreover, the vincristine contents of four transgenic lines increased by 1.63?2.48-fold compared to non-transgenic plants, ranging from 6.91 µg.g^?1 (fresh weight) to 10.53 µg.g^?1 (fresh weight). The T1-1 line had the highest vincristine content. Hence, the overexpression of the recombinant DAT protein can improve the vincristine accumulation of transgenic C. roseus plants.

Abbreviation: CrDAT - Catharanthus roseus Deacetylvindoline-4-O-Acetyl Transferase; D4H - Deacetoxyvindoline 4-hydroxylase; ELISA - Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Monoterpene indole alkaloid; T0, T1 - Generations of transgenic plants; TIAs - Terpenoid indole alkaloids; WT- The wild-type tobacco plants (non transgenic plant); 35S - Cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter     

中国彭州市和越南东安地区蔬菜生产的肥料使用和评价

本文详细阐述了中国和越南4个村蔬菜生产中的肥料施用情况,概述了施用肥料的种类、施用时间和施用数量。评价了影响肥料施用的因素,比较了施肥量和蔬菜从土壤中带出的养分量。在研究区域,农户施用了50多种肥料,施氮量间于0～700kg／hm^2。肥料施用时间因蔬菜种类和地区不同而不同。氮的施用量主要受作物种类影响。大部分中国蔬菜的氮、磷施用量过大,而钾肥施用量不足;相对而言,越南蔬菜的局部养分平衡比中国的情况好一些。因此,局部的养分平衡显示了不同蔬菜种类、不同季节和不周村社的养分投入量和养分输出量有很大区别。     

辐射花粉授粉技术诱导黄瓜单倍体

辐射花粉授粉是获得单倍体的有效途径。本研究旨在探讨该途径中影响单倍体再生率的关键因素。本试验利用60Coγ对不同黄瓜材料进行不同剂量的辐射处理,系统研究了辐射剂量、花粉供体基因型、母本基因型对诱导黄瓜单倍体植株再生率的影响。结果表明:3个花粉供体基因型(5211、CC3、南抗一号)花粉经150 Gy辐射处理后,花粉供体基因型5211诱导的植株再生率、单倍体再生率均高于花粉供体基因型CC3和南抗一号。花粉供体在辐射剂量150 Gy辐射处理下较250 Gy及350 Gy更有利于诱导植株再生,再生率最高可达3.92%,单倍体再生率为1.96%。10个母本基因型中6个母本基因型没有诱导出再生植株,占母本基因型总量的60%;4个母本基因型诱导出再生植株,占母本基因型总量的40%,单倍体诱导率为0.26~0.54。     

Histological and immunohistochemical features of cutaneous mast cell tumor in six captive four-toed hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris)

This report described the histopathological and immunohistochemical features of cutaneous mast cell tumor (MCT) in six hedgehogs. The hedgehogs presented single cutaneous mass with ulcer and crusting. Histologically, the neoplastic lesions were characterized by the proliferation of well-differentiated mast cells (3 cases), and atypical mast cells (3 cases) with one atypical histiocytic morphology. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells were positive for KIT and mast cell tryptase, and were negative for Iba-1. In well-differentiated MCT, all patients were clinically improved and survived more than 365 days after surgical excision, whereas an atypical histiocytic MCT showed aggressive behavior with re-recurrence, and the animal died 115 days after surgery. These findings suggest that, compatible with other animals, well-differentiated MCT has a better prognosis in hedgehogs.     

Responses in residual feed intake in lines of Large White pigs selected for growth rate on restricted feeding (measured on ad libitum individual feeding)

Residual feed intake (RFI) represents the deviation of the actual ad libitum food consumption of each animal from that predicted from combination of growth rate, backfat and metabolic body weight measurements. After 4 years of divergent selection of pigs in lines for either high or low postweaning growth rate on restricted feeding, the high line exhibited a significant reduction in RFI relative to the low line. This indicated, to some extents, a lower energy requirement for maintenance in the high than in the low line, possibly because of reduced physical activity of the animals. Estimates of genetical parameters showed that RFI was moderately heritable and those genetic correlations of RFI with carcass backfat and food conversion ratio were moderate to highly positive.     

The epidemiology of nematode and fluke infections in cattle in the Red River Delta in Vietnam

Over a period of 13 months, faecal samples were collected monthly from approximately 45 cattle over 3 months of age. Additionally, 74 calves of 1-2 months were sampled to determine the presence of Toxocara vitulorum eggs. Individual egg counts and infective strongyle larvae from pooled faecal samples were examined. Post-mortem worm counts were carried out on six groups of tracer calves (n=12) that had been kept for 4 weeks on pasture in and around the village studied. The following helminths were identified: T. vitulorum, Cooperia punctata, C. pectinata, C. oncophora, Oesophagostomum radiatum, Trichostrongylus axei, T. colubriformis, Haemonchus spp., Fasciola spp. and Paramphistomum spp. In 8% of the samples collected from young calves, individual egg counts for T. vitulorum were found indicative for pathogenic worm burdens. Strongyle egg counts and worm counts indicated that transmission is low without a distinct seasonality. In animals of 3-9 months old, a strongyle egg count peak can be demonstrated which at a higher age steadily and significantly decreased. In faecal cultures Cooperia spp. were most prominent in all age groups throughout the year with the exception of the period September-November when Haemonchus spp. and Oesophagostomum spp. were most prevalent. Fasciola spp. eggs were found in 22% of the collected faecal samples and the egg counts were low indicating that the intensity of Fasciola spp. infection is mild. Based on the present data, regular anthelmintic treatments seem not to be justified, except for a single treatment at the age of 2 weeks against toxocariosis.     

Passive protection of dogs against clinical disease due to Canine parvovirus-2 by specific antibody from chicken egg yolk

The protective effect of immunoglobulins derived from chicken egg yolk (IgY) against infection by Canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2) was evaluated in 10 beagle dogs orally challenged with a strain of the virus. The 2-mo-old dogs were divided into 3 groups and treated with powders containing CPV-2 IgY or normal egg yolk for 7 d after the challenge. The 4 dogs receiving normal egg yolk (control group) demonstrated mild symptoms typical of CPV-2 infection, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss. No symptoms were observed by 16 d after challenge in the 3 dogs receiving 2 g of IgY powder. Of the 3 dogs receiving 0.5 g of IgY powder, 2 had clinical CPV-2 disease; however, the manifestations were less severe than in the control group. Furthermore, the IgY-treated groups had significantly greater weight gain and shorter duration of virus shedding than the control group. These results indicate that IgY is useful in protecting dogs from CPV-2-induced clinical disease.