Breaching the black box: The role of ramps in Thai sustainable palm oil certification

Certification of sustainable palm oil as organised through the Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil is based on a simplified understanding of the global palm oil value chain – according to which instructions about production practices can be directly translated from the palm oil mill to the primary producer. The reality of palm oil provision is much more complex than this as is shown in the case of Thailand. On the basis of qualitative field study in Southern Thailand this paper clarifies that intermediary stages, such as the collection of oil palm fruit bunches at the ramp, play a key role in the organisation of the chain. The fluidity and complexity of the palm oil flow at the local level complicates the promotion of sustainability through certification. Global and national stakeholders, such as processing and trading firms, non‐governmental organisations and national governments, should therefore open this black box of local dynamics to more effectively contribute to sustainability in palm oil supply.     

Using genetic methods for analysis of fish meals and feeds employed in Greek mariculture

Large quantities of high protein fish meals are needed to sustain cultured species and thus the impact to marine ecosystem has been highly discussed. The aim of this study was to apply a PCR‐cloning methodology for a robust insight into the composition of commercial fish meals and feeds for farmed species of the Greek mariculture, assessing the risk posed by aquaculture to marine ecosystems but also the risk posed by commercial fish feeds to the increase in trophic level of species farmed in Greece. 89% of the sequences were identified to species level and only 11% to genus/family level. Overall, a total of 49 taxa were identified (44 fish species/taxon, five non‐fish species/taxon). Even though small pelagic fish like Engraulis sp. were the main portion, a wide range of species constituted the fish meals and feeds. Plant and animal species were also detected as an alternative protein source. Feed products employed in Greek mariculture still contain large portions of fish meals which increase the mean trophic level of farmed species causing a farming up trend. The results emphasize that such molecular methodologies are needed to certify aquafeeds allowing fish feed producers to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable aquaculture.     

First results of embryonic development,spawning and larval rearing of the Mediterranean spider crab Maja squinado (Herbst ) under laboratory conditions,a candidate species for a restocking program

The Mediterranean spider crab, Maja squinado, is depleted due to overfishing. The crab has virtually disappeared from areas where it was abundant, such as the Balearic Islands and the Catalan coast. Maja squinado, is economically and ecologically very valuable, and it is essential to obtain information on its biology and rearing conditions to attempt to repopulate the damaged stocks of the species in the Mediterranean basin. Herein, we describe the first successful rearing of M. squinado under laboratory conditions. Our results show that M. squinado is an excellent candidate for restocking using cultured juveniles. Two consecutive broods with a 1–4 day interbrood period were observed in the laboratory in wild‐caught females, the maximum observed duration of embryonic development of the egg mass being 32 days at 18.4 ± 0.9°C, and went through four different stages. The complete larval and first juvenile development was studied in laboratory cultures fed enriched Artemia metanauplius. At 19.6 ± 0.6°C, development from hatching to first crab moult took 17 days, and it comprised two zoeae stages and one megalopa stage. The survival rate at the different stages was monitored, and 7.13 ± 2.3% was achieved at the first crab instar.     

鰤鱼诺卡氏菌培养条件及培养基的优化

对鰤鱼诺卡氏菌（Nocardia seriolea）ZJ0503的增菌培养基和生长条件进行优化。研究了温度、盐度、初始pH对鰤鱼诺卡氏菌生长的影响,并通过单因素试验对培养基的碳源、氮源和无机盐成分进行了筛选,采用正交实验法对培养基各主要成分的添加量进行了优化。结果表明,鰤鱼诺卡氏菌最适宜生长条件为温度25 ℃、盐度5、pH 6.5±0.2;经筛选,鰤鱼诺卡氏菌培养基中最佳碳源是葡萄糖,最佳氮源是酵母粉,促生长作用最强的2种无机盐是磷酸氢二钾（K2HPO4）和氯化钙（CaCl2）;确立了培养基优化配方为葡萄糖20 g·L-1,酵母粉15 g·L-1,K2HPO4 0.75 g·L-1,CaCl 20.2 g·L-1（单独灭菌）,氯化钠（NaCl2）5 g·L-1,pH 6.5±0.2。     

关于森林采伐管理改革的思考——以四川省乐山市沐川县为例

结合林木采伐管理情况检查,总结了沐川县森林采伐管理改革的主要做法及取得的成效,并针对存在的问题提出了相应的意见和建议。     

Landscape,Soil, and Plant Analysis of Japanese Stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) Invasion in the Piedmont Region,SC

Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum), an exotic invasive plant, is native to Southeast Asia. This study was conducted to determine the chemical composition of Japanese stiltgrass as well as soil and landscape characteristics that correlate with invasion of Japanese stiltgrass around Lake Issaqueena in the upper Piedmont of South Carolina. Geographic Information Systems (GISs) and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) were used to determine the spatial pattern of invasion with respect to the aspect, slope, canopy cover, soils, and distance to roads and trails. Japanese stiltgrass was distributed on both sides of Lake Issaqueena in Pacolet and Madison soil map units (Fine, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludults) on the average slopes of 21%, but it was particularly common on the eastern shore of the lake in low-lying wet and shaded areas (mean canopy cover 51%). In addition, invasion by Japanese stiltgrass was correlated with the proximity to roads and trails. Plant tissue analysis revealed many differences in the distribution of macronutrients, macrominerals, and micronutrients in the leaves, stems, and roots of Japanese stiltgrass, although those differences were not always statistically significant. Concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and calcium (Ca) were the highest in leaves while zinc (Zn) concentrations were the highest in stems and concentrations of magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), and sodium (Na) tended to be higher in roots. Carbon (C), sulfur (S), and potassium (K) concentrations were generally higher in above-ground tissues versus roots. Soil chemical analysis revealed no statistical differences between control and invaded plots. Our findings suggest that watershed areas surrounding lakes may be particularly susceptible to the invasion of Japanese stiltgrass due to their microclimates, low-lying wet pathways for seed distribution and recreational uses.     

大豆耐盐基因的PCR标记

 以大豆耐盐品种和盐敏感品种及“耐盐品种×盐敏感品种”组合的F2群体为试验材料,筛选和鉴定与大豆耐盐性基因紧密连锁的PCR标记,旨在建立快速准确的大豆耐盐性鉴定方法。利用BSA法,对耐(敏)盐品种池和一个组合F2的耐(敏)盐池进行了鉴定,获得一个共显性标记。经F2分析,在盐敏感个体中仅扩增出约600bp的特异片段;在耐盐性个体中扩增出约700bp的特异片段或2个特异片段(700bp/600bp),经过连锁值测定,表明该标记与大豆耐盐基因位点紧密连锁。此外,该标记在其它2个组合F2群体及12个耐盐品种和13个盐敏感品种中得到验证,表明此标记可用于大豆耐盐种质鉴定及大豆耐盐遗传育种的分子标记辅助选择,使大豆耐盐性室内鉴定成为可能。为此,大豆耐盐性基因的分子标记及其获得方法和应用已申请了中华人民共和国发明专利。     

橡胶树胶孢炭疽菌效应蛋白基因CgE35对孢子产量的影响

橡胶树炭疽病是橡胶树的重要真菌病害之一,主要由胶孢炭疽菌引起。效应蛋白是病原菌侵染植物的重要致病因子,在寄主与病原菌的相互识别中发挥重要作用。为了进一步阐明橡胶树炭疽菌的致病机理,课题组前期对橡胶树胶孢炭疽菌的效应蛋白在基因组水平上进行了预测,其中一个编码候选效应蛋白的基因被命名为CgE35。本研究对CgE35基因进行了扩增,并对其所编码的效应蛋白CgE35进行了生物信息学的分析,分析结果表明,该基因编码一条由200个氨基酸组成的多肽,分子质量约为21.7 kD,其氨基段含有一段由24个氨基酸组成的典型信号肽序列,且该蛋白不含任何跨膜结构域和已知的保守结构域。为了进一步研究该基因的功能,我们根据同源重组原理,构建了 CgE35基因的敲除载体pCB1532-CgE35,通过PEG介导的原生质体转化法将其转入胶孢炭疽菌原生质体细胞中进行同源交换,经过对转化子进行抗性筛选和分子鉴定,获得CgE35基因的敲除突变体ACgE35,并对其孢子产量和菌落生长情况进行分析,发现胶孢炭疽菌CgE35基因的敲除突变体ACgE35的孢子产量明显低于野生型菌株,而二者的菌落生长情况没有差异。以上结果表明,橡胶树胶孢炭疽菌CgE35基因编码一个未知功能的分泌蛋白,该基因与胶孢炭疽菌的产孢能力有关,但与其菌丝的生长关系不大。本研究结果为阐明胶孢炭疽菌的致病机理,建立新型橡胶树炭疽病防控策略提供理论依据。     

Distribution and function of allantoin (5-ureidohydantoin) in rice grains

Despite increasing knowledge of allantoin as a phytochemical involved in rice, relatively little is known about its distribution and function in rice grains. In this study, allantoin was quantified in 15 Chinese rice grains, and its contents varied with grain fraction, cultivar, and genotype. Bran always had the highest allantoin level, followed by brown rice and milled rice. Hull contained the lowest allantoin content. Allantoin in japonica bran ranged from 70 to 171 μg/g but rarely exceeded 100 μg/g in indica bran. There was a positive relationship between allantoin level in grains and seedling survival in seedbeds under low temperature or water deficit. Exogenous allantoin stimulated plant growth, increased soluble sugar and free proline contents, and decreased malondialdehyde content in rice seedlings. However, allantoin did not show any antioxidant activity through free radical-scavenging capacity, reducing power, linoleic acid peroxidation inhibition, and chelating activity. The results suggest that allantoin in rice grains may play some roles in providing plant stress protection but not serving as a beneficial health antioxidant.     

间伐强度对油松人工林植被发育的影响

在北京市延庆县营盘村附近低山,对造林密度为3 130株/hm2的18年生油松人工林,设置40.1%、51.3%、65.7% 3个间伐强度及对照共4个处理. 3年后,通过比 较林下植被组成、外貌、多样性及生物量的变化,研究不同间伐强度对油松人工林群落稳定 性的影响. 结果表明:①间伐可提高物种在科、属分布上的均匀性;②间伐改变了林下植物 的生活型谱;③与对照相比,弱度间伐、中度间伐地面芽植物所占比重上升,强度间伐下降 ,而高位芽植物却呈相反的趋势;④间伐强度不同,油松林下植被的优势种各异;⑤间伐可提高林下植被的丰富度和多样性,这种效应以中度间伐最为明显;⑥林下植物生物量与间伐 强度呈正比.因此,及时对郁闭林分进行合适强度的间伐,促进林下植被发育,是实现油松 人工林可持续发展的有效途径.18年生初植密度3 130株/hm2的油松幼林选择51.3%左右的间伐强度林下植被发育最优.