Cropping systems modify soil biota effects on wheat (Triticum aestivum) growth and competitive ability

Plants alter soil biota which subsequently modifies plant growth, plant–plant interactions and plant community dynamics. While much research has been conducted on the magnitude and importance of soil biota effects (SBEs) in natural systems, little is known in agro‐ecosystems. We investigated whether agricultural management systems could affect SBEs impacts on crop growth and crop–weed competition. Utilising soil collected from eight paired farms, we evaluated the extent to which SBEs differed between conventional and organic farming systems. Soils were conditioned by growing two common annual weeds: Amaranthus retroflexus (redroot pigweed) or Avena fatua (wild oat). Soil biota effects were measured in wheat (Triticum aestivum) growth and crop–weed competition, with SBEs calculated as the natural log of plant biomass in pots inoculated with living soil divided by the plant biomass in pots inoculated with sterilised soil. SBEs were generally more positive when soil inoculum was collected from organic farms compared with conventional farms, suggesting that cropping systems modify the relative abundance of mutualistic and pathogenic organisms responsible for the observed SBEs. Also, as feedbacks became more positive, crop–weed competition decreased and facilitation increased. In annual cropping systems, SBEs can alter plant growth and crop–weed competition. By identifying the management practices that promote positive SBEs, producers can minimise the impacts of crop–weed competition and decrease their reliance on off‐farm chemical and mechanical inputs to control weeds, enhancing agroecosystem sustainability.     

The establishment of Taraxacum officinale plants in grassland

Factors involved in the establishment of Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) seedlings in grasslands and plant mortality in the first growing season were studied during 2008–2011. The study was conducted at 11 grassland sites that differed in the quantity of seed rain and the intensity of seedling predation by slugs. In April, of each study year, 10 plots open to the sedimentation of naturally dispersed seeds were established at each site, five plots of which were also sown with 250 T. officinale seeds each. The amount of natural seed rain, slug feeding activity and number of plants in each plot were then recorded at monthly intervals. Seed rain and seedling predation accounted for c. 50% of the variation in seedling establishment. Populations of established seedlings then declined through October, at which point they were at 25% of the original abundance on average. The percentage of plants that survived varied among sites and years. The temporal and spatial variation in T. officinale establishment and survival of young plants was enormous, even within a small area. Predation of seedlings by slugs can effectively prevent the establishment of T. officinale in grassland. This only occurred, however, at slug abundances not acceptable under conditions of public access.     

营养水平对妊娠早期母猪胚胎存活和瘦素、孕酮分泌及基因表达影响

本试验选用63头长白-大白杂交初产母猪,研究营养水平对初产母猪妊娠早期胚胎存活和瘦素(leptin)、孕酮分泌及胚胎瘦素、瘦素受体(Ob-R)、信号传导和转录活化因子-3(STAT-3)、孕酮受体(PGR)、DNA甲基化转移酶-1(DNMT-1)基因表达的影响.将配种后的母猪随机分到高、中、低3个营养水平组按2倍、1.2倍和0.6倍维持需要(分别记为2.0M、1.2M和0.6M)供给饲粮,妊娠12、25和35 d屠宰母猪收集血清和胚胎,用ELISA方法测定血清中瘦素、孕酮水平,用RT-PCR方法研究目的基因在胚胎中的表达差异.结果表明:①胚胎存活率,妊娠12、25和35 d时,1.2M组均显著高于2.0M组(P<0.05);1.2M组妊娠12 d时与0.6M组间差异不显著(P>0.05),而妊娠25、35 d高于0.6M组(P<0.05);②血清瘦素水平,妊娠12 d时,2.0M组显著高于1.2M组(P<0.05),极显著高于0.6M组(P<0.01);妊娠25和35 d时,2.0M组极显著高于1.2M和0.6M组(P<0.01);1.2M组极显著高于0.6M组(P<0.01).血清孕酮水平,妊娠12、25和35 d时,2.0M组极显著低于1.2M组和0.6M组(P<0.01),1.2M组和0.6M组之间差异不显著(P>0.05);③营养水平对胚胎存活重要基因表达的影响,leptin和ob-R基因mRNA的相对表达量在妊娠12、25和35 d时,2.0M组显著高于1.2M和0.6M组(P<0.05),而1.2M与0.6M组差异不显著(P>0.05).妊娠12和25 d时,2.0M组胚胎STAT-3基因的相对表达极显著高于0.6M组(P<0.01);妊娠35 d时,2.0M和1.2M组极显著高于0.6M组(P<0.01).妊娠12、25和35 d时,2.0M组胚胎DNMT-1的相对表达显著高于0.6M组(P<0.05).妊娠12 d时,各水平组胚胎PGR表达差异不显著(P>0.05),妊娠25 d时,0.6M组极显著高于2.0M组(P<0.01),显著高于1.2M组(P<0.05),妊娠35 d时,1.2M组极显著高于2.0M和0.6M组(P<0.01),0.6M组显著高于2.0M组(P<0.05).以上结果表明在妊娠35 d以内以中营养水平饲喂初产母猪具有较高的胚胎存活率.营养水平显著影响瘦素、孕酮的分泌及lep-tin等基因的表达,瘦素、孕酮分泌过高、过低均对胚胎发育不利,高水平饲喂及严重限饲引起胚胎中leptin、Ob-R、STAT-3、PGR、DNMT-1基因表达变化,降低胚胎存活率.     

斑马鱼血管紧张素转换酶(ACE)的生物信息学分析

采用生物信息学方法对模式生物斑马鱼中的血管紧张素转换酶进行了系列预测分析.结果表明,斑马鱼中有两个ACE基因,它们所编码的蛋白分别由1 324和785个氨基酸组成,其中1个是酸性蛋白,在水中不稳定,没有信号肽,属线粒体跨膜蛋白;另一个为酸性水溶性稳定蛋白,有信号肽.它们均含保守的Pfam Peptidase_M2结构域,属于M2家族蛋白.通过ESTs搜索发现这两个基因在斑马鱼不同组织和不同发育期的表达情况存在较大的差异.同源性比对和系统发育分析表明,斑马鱼ACE蛋白与低等脊椎动物(红原鸡、热带爪蟾等)、高等脊椎动物(人、鼠等)的同源性较高,达60%以上,说明ACE蛋白在系统演化上比较保守.     

1株咪草烟高效降解菌的筛选及鉴定

[目的]筛选对咪草烟具有降解作用的高效乡土菌株。[方法]对采自黑龙江省哈尔滨市郊区的对咪草烟具有降解作用的多种菌株进行了分离、筛选及鉴定。[结果]筛选得到3株菌:CX白、CX红和CX黄,其降解率分别为58.98%、38.82%和13.19%,其中降解效果最好的CX白属于革兰氏阳性的芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus sp.)。[结论]为咪草烟高效降解菌的田间实际应用和产业化生产提供了参考。     

Effects of some phenylurea herbicides on photosynthesis of two wheat varieties

Photosynthesis in the shoots of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was inhibited by certain phenylurea herbicides applied via the nutrient solution. Recovery from this inhibition after short treatments was used as a measure of the rate of inactivation of these herbicides in the leaf tissue of a variety tolerant to metoxuron (Caribo) and of a less tolerant variety (Manella). The introduction of chlorine atoms into fenuron greatly reduced the rate of inactivation in both varieties, whereas that of a methyl or butoxy group had little or no effect. Metoxuron was inactivated more readily than chlortoluron and both compounds were inactivated more rapidly in Caribo than in Manella.     

Copper‐Induced Oxidative Stress and Responses of the Antioxidant System in Roots of Medicago sativa

The effects of various copper (Cu) concentrations on the antioxidative system in the roots of Medicago sativa were explored. The results indicated that the Cu content of the roots reached a value of 854 μg g^?1 DW at 10 μm Cu and a value of 4415 μg g^?1 DW at 100 μm Cu, suggesting that M. sativa has better ability to tolerate and accumulate Cu than other Cu‐bioaccumulators, and is a potential plant for phytoremediation. Treatment with Cu resulted in a significant increment in the levels of H₂O₂, O₂˙^? and OH˙. The reduced form of ascorbate and glutathione reached a peak at 30 μm Cu, and was followed by a sharp depletion to a lower level than that of the control. In contrast, the levels of the oxidised forms of ascorbate and glutathione showed a progressive increment with increasing Cu concentrations, suggesting that the antioxidant system was unable to cope with Cu stress at higher Cu levels. Under the Cu concentrations tested, the activity of catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11) and glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2) increased at lower Cu concentrations, and then decreased, reaching a maximum at 30 μm of Cu for APX and GR, at 10 μm for CAT, whereas the activities of guaiacol peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7) were gradually increased with increasing Cu concentrations. PAGE analysis of superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.1.5.1.1) revealed that one band is a Mn‐SOD and five bands are identified as Cu, Zn‐SOD, whereas Fe‐SOD isoforms were not found in the roots of alfalfa. Cu at 10–100 μm increased the intensity of constitutive isozymes of CAT, APX and POD, whereas it decreased the intensity of isozymes of glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH, EC 1.1.1.49) significantly. The activities of lipoxygenases (LOX, EC 1.13.11.12) were gradually augmented with increasing Cu concentrations, demonstrating that LOXs are probably involved in production of lipid hydroperoxides and superoxide anion. There was a continuous and pronounced enhancement in the activity of esterase (EST, EC 3.1.1.1) in roots treated with 10–30 Cu μm , whereas EST activity in roots exposed to above 30 μm Cu declined, suggesting that EST plays a protective role under lower Cu concentrations stress.     

5‐Aminolevulinic Acid Activates Antioxidative Defence System and Seedling Growth in Brassica napus L. under Water‐Deficit Stress

The present study assesses the effects of 5‐aminolevulinic acid (ALA, 0, 0.1, 1 and 10 mg l^?1) on the growth of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L. cv. ZS758) seedlings under water‐deficit stress induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000, 0 and ?0.3 MPa). Water‐deficit stress imposed negative effects on seedling growth by reducing shoot biomass, cotyledon water potential, chlorophyll content and non‐enzymatic antioxidants (glutathione and ascorbic acid) levels. On the other hand, water‐deficit stress enhanced the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, enzymatic antioxidants activities, reduced/oxidized glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG) and reduced/oxidized ascorbic acid (ASA/DHA) ratio in seedlings. Application of ALA at lower dosages (0.1 and 1 mg l^?1) improved shoot weight and chlorophyll contents, and decreased MDA in rape seedlings, whereas moderately higher dosage of ALA (10 mg l^?1) hampered the growth. The study also indicated that 1 mg l^?1 ALA improved chlorophyll content, but reduced MDA content and ROS production significantly under water‐deficit stress. Lower dosages of ALA (0.1 and 1 mg l^?1) also enhanced GSH/GSSG and ASA/DHA as compared to the seedlings under water‐deficit stress. The antioxidant enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase, peroxidase, catalase, glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase) enhanced their activities remarkably with 1 mg l^?1 ALA treatment under water‐deficit stress. It was also revealed that 1 mg l^?1 ALA treatment alone induced the expression of APX, CAT and GR substantially and under water‐deficit stress conditions ALA treatment could induce the expression of POD, CAT and GR to a certain degree. These results indicated that 0.1–1 mg l^?1 ALA could enhance the water‐deficit stress tolerance of oilseed seedlings through improving the biomass accumulation, maintaining a relative high ratio of GSH/GSSG and ASA/DHA, enhancing the activities of the specific antioxidant enzymes and inducing the expression of the specific antioxidant enzyme genes.     

饲粮代谢能水平对14～17周龄不同性别北京油鸡育肥期生长性能、屠宰性能、肉品质及血清生化指标的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮代谢能水平对14～17周龄不同性别北京油鸡育肥期生长性能、屠宰性能、肉品质及血清生化指标的影响，为确定北京油鸡适宜饲粮代谢能水平提供依据。本试验严格按照完全随机区组试验设计进行。选取13周龄北京油鸡600只，公母各占1/2，根据体重一致原则随机分为6组，其中3个组均为公鸡，另外3个组均为母鸡，每组5个重复，每个重复20只。3个组分别为低代谢能组（饲粮代谢能水平为12.20 MJ/kg）、中代谢能组（饲粮代谢能水平为12.64 MJ/kg）、高代谢能组（饲粮代谢能水平为13.08 MJ/kg）。预试期1周，正试期4周（14～17周龄）。结果显示：1）高代谢能组公鸡和母鸡的平均日增重显著高于其他2组（P <0.05），且高代谢能组母鸡的料重比显著低于其他2组（P <0.05），饲粮代谢能水平为13.08 MJ/kg时公鸡和母鸡有较好的生长性能。2）公鸡方面，低代谢能组的腿肌率显著高于其他2组（P<0.05）；母鸡方面，低代谢能组的全净膛率显著高于高代谢能组（P<0.05），翅膀率显著低于高代谢能组（P <0.05）。低代谢能组公鸡和母鸡的皮脂...     

银杏-杜仲叶发酵物对脂多糖应激肉仔鸡的肠道功能和免疫反应的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮中添加银杏-杜仲叶发酵物（FGEL）对脂多糖（LPS）应激肉仔鸡的生长性能、肠道结构、消化吸收功能和免疫反应的影响，并与未发酵银杏-杜仲叶（GEL）进行比较。采用2×3双因子试验设计，即2种免疫应激处理（腹腔注射LPS或注射等量生理盐水）和3种饲粮处理（基础饲粮及在基础饲粮中添加0.40%GEL或0.40%FGEL的试验饲粮）。选取1日龄健康爱拔益加（AA）肉仔鸡360只，随机分为6个处理，每个处理均设6个重复，每个重复10只鸡。试验期为21 d。在试验第13、15、17、19和21天，3个应激处理的试鸡腹腔注射500μg/kg BW的LPS，其他3个处理注射等量的生理盐水。在试验第21天最后1次注射后2～4 h进行屠宰取样。结果表明：1）与对照饲粮相比，饲粮添加FGEL的肉仔鸡料重比（F/G）有显著改善（P=0.024），饲粮添加FGEL显著缓解了LPS应激肉仔鸡平均日增重（ADG）(P=0.023)和血清D-木糖的含量（P=0.011）的降低。2）与对照饲粮相比，饲粮添加FGEL显著缓解了LPS应激肉仔鸡十二指肠（P=0.011）和空肠（P=0.030）的相对重量...