关中冬小麦叶片氮素含量高光谱遥感监测模型

为给黄土高原大范围的冬小麦氮素营养遥感监测提供理论依据,通过田间试验,研究了冬小麦叶片氮素含量遥感监测的最佳生育时期、最敏感波段及其他最优光谱参量。结果表明,灌浆期是利用高光谱遥感监测冬小麦叶片氮素营养状况的最佳生育时期;在拔节、抽穗和灌浆期680nm波段光谱反射率R680均能较好地反映冬小麦叶片氮素含量,基于光谱位置以及叶面积指数的光谱参量也能较好地反映冬小麦叶片氮素含量。拔节期、抽穗期和灌浆期分别以680nm波段光谱反射率R680、绿峰反射率Rg和植被指数(SDr-SDb)/(SDr+SDb)对小麦叶片氮素含量的拟合效果最佳,其回归方程分别为Y=27.54-280.247 X+1456.245 X2、Y=8.632 X-0.24和Y=25.83 X1.012。     

Sugar-Starch Metabolism and Antioxidant Potential in Potato Tubers in Response to Different Antisprouting Agents During Storage

Single applications of different antisprouting agents like hot water treatment, spearmint oil and clove oil were carried out on potato cultivar “Lady Rosetta” to compare their efficacy with that of synthetic chloro isopropyl N-phenyl carbamate (CIPC). The tubers were stored at ambient storage conditions (25?±?2 °C) for 81 days to assess changes in their sugar-starch concentrations and antioxidant potential. Antioxidant potential in the tubers was assessed as their total phenolic concentrations and radical scavenging activities. In addition, the enzymatic activities were also determined in order to evaluate the possible depletion of these antioxidants as substrate during storage. Results revealed significant response of stored potatoes to all antisprouting agents compared with the control (P?≤?0.05). CIPC and clove oil applications maintained tuber dormancy almost twice as long (81 days) as observed in the control (45 days). Application of spearmint oil and hot water treatment maintained tuber dormancy for almost 2 months. However, it was associated with an increased percentage sprouting during the last weeks of storage. At the end of storage, the highest starch (16.83%) and lowest sugar (0.99%) concentrations were estimated after CIPC application and maximum total phenolic concentration (143.57 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g), and highest antioxidant activity (39.73%) were found after clove oil application. Enzymatic activities were not statistically different between CIPC and clove oil application during most of the storage period. Results showed that efficient replacement of CIPC with clove oil in the premium potato cultivar might be useful; this may avert related food safety and environmental issues and would also ensure organic potato storage.     

Prevalence of Class 1 Integrons and Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamases among Multi-Drug Resistant Escherichia coli Isolates from North of Iran

Background:

Extended spectrum beta lactamases (ESBLs) are an important cause of transferable multidrug resistance (MDR) in gram-negative bacteria. The most described ESBL genes are generally found within integron-like structures as mobile genetic elements. The aim of this study was to identify the accompanying of class 1 integrons and ESBLs in the MDR E. coli isolates.

Methods:

Susceptibility to antimicrobial agents was determined for 33 E. coli strains by the disk diffusion method. Double-disk synergy test was applied for screening ESBL. To identify the strains carrying integrons, the conserved regions of integron-encoded integrase gene intI1 were amplified. For detection of gene cassettes, 5′CS and 3′CS primers were used.

Results:

All E. coli isolates were identified as multi-drug resistant. More than 50% of the isolates were resistant to tetracycline, cephalothin, cefuroxime, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, and third generation cephalosporines. Nearly all of the isolates displayed sensitivity to piperacillin. There was a significant correlation between production of ESBL and resistance to all antibiotics except for ciprofloxacin and piperacillin (P < 0.01). Thirty two MDR strains (97%) included class 1 integron, and some isolates that included integrons were similar in the size of gene cassettes. The isolates were different in the resistance profiles; however, some others had similar resistance profiles. Of eight ESBL positive isolates, seven (87.5%) carried class 1 integrons.

Conclusion:

Class 1 integrons were frequent in MDR and also ESBL-producing E. coli isolates. High prevalence of class 1 integrons confirms that integron-mediated antimicrobial gene cassettes are important in E. coli resistance profile. Key Words: Antibiotic, Integrons, Escherichia coli     

Identification of QTL for oil content,seed yield,and flowering time in oilseed rape (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis>)

A genetic map was constructed with 353 sequence-related amplified polymorphism and 34 simple sequence repeat markers in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). The map consists of 19 linkage groups and covers 1,868 cM of the rapeseed genome. A recombinant doubled haploid (DH) population consisting of 150 lines segregating for oil content and other agronomic traits was produced using standard microspore culture techniques. The DH lines were phenotyped for days to flowering, oil content in the seed, and seed yield at three locations for 3 years, generating nine environments. Data from each of the environments were analyzed separately to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) for these three phenotypic traits. For oil content, 27 QTL were identified on 14 linkage groups; individual QTL for oil content explained 4.20–30.20% of the total phenotypic variance. For seed yield, 18 QTL on 11 linkage groups were identified, and the phenotypic variance for seed yield, as explained by a single locus, ranged from 4.61 to 24.44%. Twenty-two QTL were also detected for days to flowering, and individual loci explained 4.41–48.28% of the total phenotypic variance.     

Effect of surface treatment of jute fibers on the interfacial adhesion in poly(lactic acid)/jute fiber biocomposites

Jute fibers have immense potential to be used as natural fillers in polymeric matrices to prepare biocomposites. In the present study jute fibers were surface treated using two methods: i) alkali (NaOH) and ii) alkali followed by silane (NaOH+Silane) separately. Effects of surface treatments on jute fibers surface were characterized using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. Further, the effects of surface treatments on jute fibers properties such as crystallinity index, thermal stability, and tensile properties were analyzed by X-ray diffraction method (XRD), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), and single fiber tensile test respectively. The effects of surface treatment of jute fibers on interphase adhesion between of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and jute fibers were analyzed by performing single fiber pull-out test and was examined in terms of interfacial shear strength (IFSS) and critical fiber length.     

Investigation formaize inbred lines resistance to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Maize Rough Dwarf Virus</Emphasis>(MRDV)

Maize rough dwarf virus (MRDV) is the most important disease affecting maize growth in Iran. In the present study, the putative resistance capacity of 35 maize inbred lines against the causal agents of MRDVwas studied under natural field infection in 2010 and 2011. The viral transmitter was a plant hopper known as Laodelphax steriatellus. Early sowing provided suitable temperatures for vector propagation and transmission and therefore natural infection under field conditions. Sowing single rows of SC704 as vector spreader between every five rows of inbred lines caused adequate vector propagation and viral transmission. This shows that viral infection was sufficient and possible resistance was linked to viral resistance, not failure, in vector transmission. In principal component biplot, plant height vector had wide angles with the vectors for disease severity index and MRDV incidence that showed the negative association of plant height with MRDV disease. The percentage of natural infection to MRDV in susceptible control(SC704) was about 64%. The genotypes A679, K3547/3, K3545/6, K3653/2, and B84 were more susceptible to MRDV. Only the line K3640/3 had low disease incidence and severity and it can be considered as resistant for possible use in genetic studies. Results showed that an early sowing of maize in temperate regions increases the chance of transmitting viruses via their vector.     

Influence of calcium carbide formulations on growth,yield and nitrogen uptake of wheat under field conditions

Field experiments were conducted in 2006–2007 and 2007–2008 to evaluate the effects of three calcium carbide (CaC₂) based formulations (slow release sources of acetylene and ethylene) - matrix-1 [(M-1)(21% CaC₂, 58% polyethylene and 21% plaster of paris)], matrix-2 [(M-2)(42% CaC₂, 48% polyethylene and 10% plaster of paris)] and paint coated [(PC)(35% CaC₂, 44% paint and 21% plaster of paris)] - on nitrification inhibition; growth, yield and nitrogen (N)-uptake of wheat. All the three CaC₂ formulations (CCF,s) inhibited nitrification, reduced plant height, and improved N-uptake, spike bearing tillers, 1000-grains weight and yield of Inqulab-91 and Bhakhar-02 wheat cultivars. Increase in grain yield was found maximum (22% over the control) with M-1 applied at 30 kg CaC₂ ha^?1; followed by M-2 and PC. Furthermore, CaC₂ significantly reduced lodging in Bhakhar-02 plots. It is concluded that grain yield of wheat can be enhanced by the application of CaC₂ formulations particularly M-1 along with NPK fertilizers.     

Pathological effects of formalin (37% formaldehyde) mixed in feed or administered into the crops of White Leghorn cockerels

This study compared the adverse effects of formalin administered by two different methods. Formalin mixed with the feed (2.5, 5.0 and 10 ml/kg) was given to 10-week-old White Leghorn cockerels for a period of 8 weeks. Simultaneously in other groups, a 3% solution of formalin was administered into the crops (5, 10, 15 and 20 ml/bird/day). Total amount of formalin utilized during the experiment in the feed of individual bird of groups given 2.5, 5 and 10 ml/kg was 6.25, 3.9 and 1.6% higher than those administered 5, 10 and 20 ml of 3% formalin into crop, respectively. Body mass and feed intake in all feed-mixed groups and those given 5 and 10 ml formalin (3%) into the crop were not significantly different from control. Administration of 15 and 20 ml formalin (3%) into crop resulted in depression, delayed onset of crowing, significantly decreased feed intake, lower body mass, decreased mass and volume of testes, ulceration in crops, sloughing of mucosa and petechial haemorrhages in proventriculus. All the groups given formalin had significantly smaller diameters of seminiferous tubules. Kidneys of the birds administered formalin into crop exhibited pyknotic nuclei of epithelial cells in proximal tubules. Non-significant differences in different parameters and lesser degree of pathological changes in birds given formalin-mixed feed than their corresponding crop-administered groups suggested that formalin present in the feed had partially evaporated. Therefore, birds ingested less amount of formalin than that originally mixed in the feed.     

Technical and economic criteria in agricultural production: A case for a systems approach to farm decision-making in the Pakistan Punjab

This paper defines the criteria of ‘technical’ and ‘economic’ efficiencies. The relationship between these criteria is identified, and its implications are discussed. These two sets of criteria do diverge, with ramifications both at the farm and the national levels. An illustration of their relationship at the farm level is provided by examining the nature of water allocation to crops in the Punjab of Pakistan. The divergences that exist between ‘technical’ and ‘economic’ efficiencies at both farm and national levels are highlighted by considering the process of mechanisation in the Punjab in some detail. Finally, it is pointed out how a ‘systems approach’ can accomodate both the technical and economic criteria and their interaction.