Improved micropropagation protocol and enhancement in biomass and chlorophyll content in Stevia rebaudiana (Bert.) Bertoni by using high copper levels in the culture medium

Incorporation of a range of higher concentrations of CuSO₄·5H₂O in MS medium [Murashige, T., Skoog, F., 1962. A revised medium for rapid growth and bioassay with 240 tobacco tissue cultures. Physiol. Plant 15, 473–497] significantly enhanced direct shoot bud induction and proliferation from cultured leaf and nodal explants taken from mature plants of Stevia rebaudiana. Shoot bud induction medium was supplemented with BAP (2.2 μM) and IAA (2.8 μM). When the concentration of CuSO₄·5H₂O in the induction medium was raised to 0.5 μM (five times the MS level, i.e. 0.1 μM) there was significant increase in percentage response along with increase in shoot bud number per explant. The shoots were healthy, well developed with dark green broader leaves. There was remarkable increase in total biomass and chlorophyll content at increased (0.5 μM) copper level in the medium. During proliferation stage also presence of high copper levels in the medium favoured increase in shoot bud number per explant.     

Relationship between apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism and sporadic Alzheimer's disease

AIM: To evaluate the association between apolipoprotein E(apoE) gene polymorphism and sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHOD: A case-control study was undertaken detecting the polymorphism of apoE by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).RESULTS:(1)The frequencies of 3/4 genotype and 4 al ele in AD were significant ly higher than that in age-matched controls(P<0.05).(2)The frequency of G/G genotype for apoE IE1 in AD was significantly higher than that in age-mat ched control(P<0.05).(3)The apoE 4 al ele was associated with a tripling of the risk for AD compared with no 4 allele(odd ratio 2.932, 95%CI 1.379~6.226);Homozygosity of the G allele in IE1 was associated with adoubling of the risk for AD compared with the G/C and C/C genotypes(odd rat io 2.223, 95%CI 1.075~4.599).However, the IE1 G al ele is also closely associated with apoE 4.When the sample was split on the basis of apo Egenotype, the associat ion between IE1 G/G genotype and AD was no longer statistically significant.CONCLUSION: ApoE ε4 was a risk factor of AD, and the apparent association between IE1 G/G and AD is a consequence of the association between the ε4 and IE1 G/G genotype.     

Study on the variation of trace elements and oxidative stress in diaphragm of the diabetic rats

AIM:To investigate the relationship between trace elements and oxidative stress in diabetic diaphragm. METHODS: Contents of copper(Cu), manganese(Mn), zinc(Zn), iron(Fe),cadmium(Cd),chromium(Cr),cobalt(Co),molybdenum(Mo) and lithium(Li) in the alloxan-induced diabetic rat diaphragm muscles were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer, andtheir superoxide dismutase(SOD) activities and malondiadehyde(MDA) contents were detected. RESULTS: The contents of Cu, Zn, Cr and Li were lower and the Fe and Cd were higher in diabetic rat diaphragm muscles than that of the control group, but there were no significant differences in Mn, Co and Mo, between control and diabetic group. SOD activities decreased significantly and MDA contents increased significantly in diaphragm of diabetic rats as compared with the control group.In addition,in diabetic rats diaphragm, there was a positive correlation between Zn and SOD, and negative correlation between Zn and MDA, and Cd and SOD. CONCLUSION: Changes of the contents of Cu, Zn, Fe, Cd, Cr, Li and the increase of oxidative stress in diaphragm were found in the early diabetes, and Zn, Cd play an importment role in oxidative stress of diabetic diaphragm.     

Effects of wind turbines and other physical elements on field utilization by pink-footed geese (Anser brachyrhynchus): A landscape perspective

The effects of wind turbines and other physical landscape elements on field utilization by wintering pink-footed geese (Anser brachyrhynchus) were studied in a Danish farmland landscape. Within the study area geese were feeding on pastures, which together with cereals were the main crop types. Apart from wind turbines a variety of potentially disturbing landscape elements was present, e.g., high-power lines, windbreaks, roads and settlements. Patterns of field use were assessed by measuring goose dropping densities along transects perpendicular to wind farms (with turbines in clusters and in lines) and other landscape elements. Local effects were expressed in terms of `avoidance distance', i.e., the distance from a given landscape element to the point at which 50% of maximal dropping density was reached. The spatial distribution of landscape elements within an eight km radius from the goose roost was determined from aerial photographs. The area occupied by various elements, together with the adjacent zones which were not available to geese due to their associated avoidance distances, were quantified using Geographic Information System (GIS).The avoidance distance of wind farms with turbines in lines and in clusters were ca 100 m and ca 200 m, respectively. Geese did not enter the area between turbines within the cluster. At the landscape level, the combined effect of physical elements other than wind turbines caused an effective loss of 68% of the total field area (40 km²). Wind turbines caused an additional loss of 4% of the field area. However, of the remaining area available to geese (13 km²), wind turbines caused a loss of 13% of the total area. The habitat loss per turbine was higher for the wind farm with turbines arranged in a large cluster than for wind farms with turbines in small clusters or lines. This difference was mainly due to the fact that wind farms in small clusters or with a linear layout were generally placed close to roads or other elements with existing associated avoidance zones, whereas the large cluster was placed in the open farmland area. The avoidance zones associated with physical elements in the landscape do not take into account possible synergistic effects and, hence, actual field areas affected are likely to be minimum estimates. Implications of these findings for planning of wind farms in areas of conservation interest to geese are discussed.     

海南岛甘什岭热带低地雨林植物组成与地理成分

为揭示海南岛甘什岭热带低地雨林区域植物群落特征、性质和规律,以期为进一步分析生物多样性保育与恢复策略及生态服务功能评估等提供科学依据,在海南岛南部甘什岭自然保护区选择典型低地雨林建立1 hm~2固定样地,进行立地因子和植被调查,并研究其物种组成与地理成分。结果表明:维管植物隶属于65科150属213种,种子植物63科148属211种,分别占海南岛和全国种子植物总科、属、种的32.66%、19.29%,13.56%、4.69%和7.65%、0.78%~0.81%;优势科明显,单种科36个,寡种科24个,共占总科数的92.31%;属内种的变化范围为1~6,单种属最多,占总数的76.00%;科和属的分布区类型均以泛热带分布为主,热带性质占绝对优势,这不同于尖峰岭山地雨林热带-亚热带过度性明显的特点;根据种-面积曲线研究表明,甘什岭热带低地雨林最小取样面积为范围在3 600~6 400 m~2之间,其上限高于海南岛霸王岭热带山地雨林的4 000 m~2最小面积;相较于山地雨林,其植物种类较丰富,地理成分更复杂。     

鲜食枣树体根部矿质元素含量的年动态变化

为了研究枣树根系年生长周期内矿质元素含量变化的情况,提高枣园的栽培管理技术,为科学合理的施肥提供一定的科学依据。对‘大白铃枣’、‘大瓜枣’、‘梨枣’、‘苹果枣’、‘晋矮3号’果实生长发育时期根系氮、磷、钾、钙、镁含量的变化规律进行研究。结果表明:植株生长初期,根系开始活动,活力不高,植株主要依靠体内贮藏营养物质来提供生长发育所需矿质元素,各枣品种大多数矿质元素的含量有不同程度地减少;植株生长中期通过根系从土壤中吸收大量矿质元素供新器官发育,根系中矿质元素变化较为复杂;在植株生长后期,大多数矿质元素均出现不同程度地增加并趋于稳定,开始为冬季休眠进行营养物质的贮藏。     

大气环流指数和地面气象要素对海南省橡胶树白粉病的影响

为探讨大气环流指数和地面气象要素对海南省橡胶树白粉病病情指数的影响,利用1962—2009年逐月大气环流指数和逐日地面气象要素资料,根据橡胶树白粉病病情指数等级,结合因子膨化、相关分析和多元回归等方法,筛选影响橡胶树白粉病病情指数的大气环流指数和地面气象要素,构建等级指标,建立预测模型,并对模型进行检验。结果显示:影响橡胶树白粉病病情指数的大气环流指数依次为北半球副高面积指数、北半球副高强度指数、西太平洋副高西伸脊点、北美区极涡面积指数、亚洲区极涡强度指数和印缅槽,显著影响时段为上年7月至当年4月;地面气象要素有平均最高气温、相对湿度、平均气温≥20℃的日数、小雨日数和平均风速,显著影响时段为上年10月至当年1月;基于大气环流指数、地面气象要素、大气环流与地面气象综合因子的橡胶树白粉病病情指数预测模型准确率分别为74.3%～78.8%、74.7%、94.6%～98.3%,表明基于大气环流和地面气象综合因子的模型准确率较高,可作为海南省橡胶树白粉病的中长期预测模型。     

典型黑土pH值变化对营养元素有效态含量的影响研究

采用室内培养实验的方法,控制典型黑土样品的酸碱度值,探讨典型黑土中Cu、Zn、Mn、P和Fe等营养元素有效态含量与pH值的关系。结果表明:pH值变化0.5个单位左右,有效态铜含量变化约0.5～1倍;有效态锰含量变化约3～5倍;有效态锌含量变化9～15倍之多;有效态磷含量变化约1.5～2倍;有效态铁含量变化约3～4倍。说明精确掌握土壤的酸碱度值对于土壤诊断、合理施肥、提高作物产量和实现土地的可持续利用都具有重要的理论与实践意义。     

豫产栝楼子的矿质营养元素分析

测定分析了河南省不同产地栝楼(Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim)子的矿质营养元素.结果表明,栝楼子中的N、P、K平均含量分别为20.66、3.54、4.66 g·kg-1;矿质元素种类齐全,人体必须的Ca、Na含量丰富,平均含量分别为4.99和0.35 g·kg-1,人体必需的Fe、Cu、Zn等微量元素的含量分别为54.11、5.51、35.22mg·kg-1,栝楼子中重金属如Pb、Cd污染较少,其含量平均为2.43、0.048 mg·kg-1,符合栝楼GAP生产要求.