Effects of crude oil spillage on growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) in soils of midwestern Nigeria

The effect of crude oil spillage on growth, productivity and nutrient uptake of maize (Zea mays L.) was assessed in a pot experiment using an Evwreni manifold sample of a petroleum development company, which had aspecific gravity of 0.8778. The Suwan 1 variety of maize was used in the experiment. In crude oil polluted soils, germination was delayed and the germination percentage was significantly affected by oil pollution. Growth was poor in polluted soils using parameters such as plant height, stem girth,ear height, leaf area at four weeks after planting, leaf area at maturity and average length of primary roots as growth indicators. Grain yield was significantly reduced at 95% level of probability with yield (when compared with the control) reduced by as much as 98.6%, 96.5% and 58.3% for preplant,five weeks after planting (5 WAP) and seven weeks after planting (7 WAP) treatments, respectively. Leaf analysis of the maize plants grown in soilscontaminated with crude oil a week before planting (preplant treatment) revealed mean levels of heavy metals (6.18 ppm Zn²⁺, 0.62 ppm Cu²⁺,26.24 ppm Fe²⁺, 10.84 ppm Mn²⁺, 2.96 ppm Pb²⁺ and 3.88 ppm Co²⁺) which are higher than the maximum permissible levels (MPL) for maize in tropical soils. Maize plants that were polluted at other time intervals showed no significant (p>0.05) variation in heavy metal concentrations when compared with the control, and were considered potentiallysafe for human consumption.     

西藏绒山羊羊绒细度候选基因筛选及其chi-miR-105a靶基因的验证

为研究西藏绒山羊羊绒细度，以及了解相关候选基因对绒山羊产绒性能的影响，本研究对筛选chi-miR-105a靶基因进行验证，以西藏绒山羊为研究对象，联合RNA测序数据和蛋白质组学数据，筛选与羊绒细度相关的关键候选基因，并通过实时荧光定量和双荧光素酶报告基因试验对候选基因进行调控作用验证。结果表明:1)通过转录组和蛋白组数据整理得到384个DE mRNAs，12个DE miRNAs和29个DEPs。通过多组学联合分析发现CXCL10、SRC、CXCL9、FOS、ETV6、GMPS和PIP5K1B基因与羊毛细度相关。2)通过DEG-DE miRNA互作网络图发现chi-miR-105a与靶基因ETV6和PIP5K1B均在网络当中出现。因此对该调控因子进行验证和分析，根据靶基因表达水平试验发现转染chi-miR-105a mimics后引起毛乳头细胞中ETV6基因的mRNA表达显著降低(P<0.001)，而PIP5K1B基因的表达量均无显著变化。3)通过双荧光素酶报告基因试验表明，过表达chi-miR-105a后，ETV6酶活性显著降低，即chi-miR-105a可与ETV6的3′UTR区结合。综上，通过多组学联合分析筛选出与羊毛细度相关基因CXCL10、SRC、CXCL9、FOS、ETV6、GMPS和PIP5K1B。通过双荧光素酶报告基因进行chi-miR-105a与其预测靶基因ETV6和PIP5K1B的靶标验证，确定chi-miR-105a是ETV6潜在的调控因子，本研究为加快优质绒山羊新品种(系)的培养提供理论依据。