Nitrification controls N2O production rates in a frozen boreal forest soil

The winter season has been identified as a significant contributor to N₂O emissions from boreal soils, but our understanding of the processes regulating these emissions is fragmentary. We investigated potential N-sources and pathways involved in N₂O formation in a frozen boreal forest soil by labeling soil samples with ¹⁵N-containing substrates, and measured rates of ¹⁵N₂O/¹⁵N₂ formation under both oxic and anoxic conditions. Our results showed that all N₂O produced in the frozen samples originate from denitrification, but the rate-limiting factor is NO₃⁻ availability, which is largely governed by nitrification. This suggests that N₂O formation in frozen boreal soils may be sustained for a prolonged period of time, but is governed by a delicate balance of the O₂ regime.     

Impact of cultivar, harvesting time, and seasonal variation on the content of biophenols in olive mill waste

Olive mill waste (OMW) contains substantial amounts of valuable antioxidant biophenols that can be recovered for possible applications in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. However, the impact of cultivar, harvesting time, and seasonal variation on the phenolic composition of OMW has not yet been assessed. Total phenols, antioxidant activity, and phenol profiles of OMW extracts from five different Australian-grown cultivars (Barnea, Correggiola, Manzanillo, Mission, and Paragon) were studied at four different harvesting times in the 2004 season. The impact of seasonal variation was assessed by comparing total phenol content, antioxidant activity, and phenol profile of two cultivars (Correggiola and Mission) harvested in the 2004 and 2005 seasons. The phenol content and antioxidant activity at different harvesting times were mainly a function of the olive cultivar. Harvesting time had a quantitative effect rather than a qualitative effect on the phenol profile. Intercultivar and harvesting time variation accounted for a 2-5-fold change in the total phenol and antioxidant capacity, while levels of individual biophenols experienced up to 50-fold change. The phenol content and antioxidant capacity of OMW significantly changed between seasons with different variation patterns for different cultivars.     

不同提取方法山苍子油的化学成分与抗氧化活性分析

【目的】比较不同提取方法对山苍子油提取效率与抗氧化活性的影响,通过 GC-MS分析,研究山苍子油成分构成与抗氧化活性的内在关联,分析山苍子油抗氧化活性的主要物质基础。【方法】采用液液萃取(分别加以超声波与磁化辅助处理)、二氧化碳超临界萃取以及水蒸气蒸馏法提取山苍子油,DPPH 法比较不同提取方式对山苍子油抗氧化活力的影响,GC-MS分析山苍子油的主要成分,并以1,4－二溴苯为内标,采用面积归化法解析主要成分的相对含量。【结果】山苍子油具有显著的抗氧化活性。液液萃取法的提取效率与山苍子油抗氧化活性最高,超声波辅助处理油得率最高,为26.3%,磁化辅助处理抗氧化活性最优,达到31.22 mg·mL －1( IC50),二氧化碳超临界萃取法次之,抗氧化活性为56.95 mg·mL －1( IC50),水蒸气蒸馏法抗氧化活性最弱,为64.95 mg·mL －1( IC50); GC-MS分析检测出122种以上的化合物,包括12种脂肪酸,16种萜烯,18种含氧萜烯以及其他微量化合物包括烯烃、醇、酮类与烷烃等。GC-MS分析结果表明：山苍子干果主要成分为饱和脂肪酸(月桂酸等)、不饱和脂肪酸(9,12－十八碳二烯酸、9－十八碳烯酸等)以及α蒎烯、β蒎烯、柠檬烯等萜烯、氧化萜烯类物质。液液萃取法得到的山苍子油脂肪酸含量(53.51%～66.61%)明显高于二氧化碳超临界萃取(17.64%)与水蒸气蒸馏法(8.1%),而二氧化碳超临界萃取与水蒸气蒸馏法得到的萜烯、氧化萜烯类含量分别达到29.37%和17.69%,明显高于液液萃取法(6.49%～9.75%)。【结论】磁化辅助处理有利于抗氧化活性物质的提取,且不饱和脂肪酸的含量最高;超声波辅助处理可以提升油的得率;水蒸气蒸馏法和超临界流体萃取法更有利于萜烯类化合物的获取;联系到水蒸气蒸馏法得到的山苍子油富含萜烯化合物却显示较低的抗氧化活性(64.95 mg·mL －1 ),色谱级的柠檬醛抗氧化活性最低(74.33 mg·mL －1),因此推测脂肪酸成分(特别是不饱和脂肪酸)是山苍子油抗氧化活性的主要物质基础。     

Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Practices to Reduce N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O Emissions from Irrigated Processing Potato in Manitoba

Nitrogen fertilizer practices affect nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from agricultural soils. The “4R” nutrient stewardship framework of using N fertilizer at the right rate, right source, right placement and right time can reduce N₂O emissions while maintaining or improving yield of field crops, but understanding of how the various factors affect N₂O emissions from irrigated processing potato is lacking. We examined the effects of selected 4R practices on emissions, using results from two irrigated processing potato studies each conducted in 2011 and 2012 in Manitoba, Canada. Experiment 1 examined combinations of source (urea, ESN), placement (pre-plant incorporation [PPI], banding), and rate (100 and 200 kg N ha^-1) on a clay loam soil. Experiment 2 examined timing and source treatment combinations (urea PPI, ESN PPI, urea split, urea split/fertigation) on a loamy fine sandy soil. For Experiment 1, use of ESN at 200 kg ha^-1 did not reduce area-, yield- and applied fertilizer N- based N₂O emissions compared to urea at 200 kg ha^-1, irrespective of placement. Emissions from pre-plant banding ESN at 200 kg ha^?1, however, were 32% lower than from PPI ESN. For Experiment 2, compared to single pre-plant urea application, fertigation simulated by in-season application of urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) gave lower area-, yield- and applied fertilizer N- based emissions. Split urea ( \( \raisebox{1ex}{$2$}\!\left/ \!\raisebox{-1ex}{$3$}\right. \) pre-plant, \( \raisebox{1ex}{$1$}\!\left/ \!\raisebox{-1ex}{$3$}\right. \) hilling) also reduced area- and yield- based N₂O emissions compared to single pre-plant urea application. Emissions were generally lower at the site with loamy fine sandy soil than the site with clay loam soil. These results demonstrate that combinations of “4R” practices rather than source alone are best to achieve reductions in N₂O emissions from irrigated potato production.     

Improved genetic parameter estimations in zoysiagrass by implementing post hoc blocking

Randomized complete block (RCB) design is the most widely used experimental design in biological sciences. As number of treatments increases, the block size become larger and it looses the capacity to control the variance within block, which is its original purpose. A method known as post hoc blocking could be used in these cases to improve the genetic parameter estimation and thus obtain an unbiased assessment of the performance of a given treatment. In trufgrass breeding, as other breeding program, this is a common challenge. The goal of this study was to test the capacity of different post hoc blocking designs to improve the genetic parameter estimation of zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.). We evaluated two post hoc blocking designs; row–column (R–C) and incomplete block (IB) designs on five genotype trials located in Florida. The results showed that post hoc R–C design had superior model fitting than both the original RCB and the post hoc IB designs when studied at the single measurement level and at the site level. The narrow-sense heritability (0.24–0.40) and the genotype-by-measurement correlation (0.57–0.99) did not change significantly when R–C was compared to the original RCB design. The ranking of the top performing genotypes changed considerably when comparing RCB to R–C design, but the degree depended on the location analyzed. We conclude that the change in the ranking of the top (potentially select individuals) is coming from the better control of intra-block environmental variation, and this could potentially have a significant impact on the breeding selection process.     

Genotype by environment interactions (GEIs) for barley grain yield under salt stress condition

Changes in the relative genetic performance of genotypes across environments are referred to as genotype × environment interactions (GEIs). GEIs can affect barley breeding improvement for salt tolerance because it often complicates the evaluation and selection of superior genotypes. The present study evaluated the GEIs over 60 barley genotypes for yield components and grain yield in six salinity environments in North Delta, Egypt. Data were analyzed using the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) and Tai’s stability parameters. GEIs effects on yield explained 20.3, 20.1, 14.6, and 33.0% of the total variation besides, the first two principal components account for 67.3, 56.3, 64.3, and 83.7% of the explained variance in the four sets, respectively. Six genotypes namely G-4, G-7, G-20, G-34, G-36, and G-39 were found to be most stable and high yielding across environments (GY >2.00 t ha^-1), and located close to zero projection onto the AEC ordinate. Tai’s stability parameters demonstrated that these genotypes were more responsive to the environmental changes. The genotypes G-50 and G-53 showed perfect/static stability (α = -0.95, -0.91, respectively). In contrast, the genotype; G-36 had α = 0 and λ = 1.10, indicating parallel with the environmental effects followed by G-44. Overall, we found that GEIs for grain yield are highly significant in all sets, suggesting that responded differently across environments. This interaction may be a result of changes in genotypes’ relative performance across environments, due to their differential responses to various abiotic factors.     

Microtubule stabilization reduces scarring and causes axon regeneration after spinal cord injury

Hypertrophic scarring and poor intrinsic axon growth capacity constitute major obstacles for spinal cord repair. These processes are tightly regulated by microtubule dynamics. Here, moderate microtubule stabilization decreased scar formation after spinal cord injury in rodents through various cellular mechanisms, including dampening of transforming growth factor-β signaling. It prevented accumulation of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans and rendered the lesion site permissive for axon regeneration of growth-competent sensory neurons. Microtubule stabilization also promoted growth of central nervous system axons of the Raphe-spinal tract and led to functional improvement. Thus, microtubule stabilization reduces fibrotic scarring and enhances the capacity of axons to grow.     

A rapid method for the determination of liquid fumigant residues in food commodities using automated headspace analysis

An automated gas chromatographic headspace method capable of detecting halogenated compounds in cereals, nuts and seeds at levels down to μg kg^?1 or less has been developed and evaluated. Commodities were analysed directly without extraction or clean-up and a simple calibration technique offers a rapid screening quantitative analytical method. Comparison of results obtained using an established solvent extraction method with those obtained using the method described showed good quantitative agreement. Minimum detectable quantities were lower using the headspace method for every fumigant residue/commodity studied. The recommended analytical conditions are suitable for examination of further commodities for the fumigant residues examined and for other volatile halocarbons.