Radiation interception and radiation use efficiency of potato affected by different N fertigation and irrigation regimes

Three years of field experiments were carried out to explore the response of potato dry matter production, accumulated intercepted photosynthetic active radiation (Aipar) and radiation use efficiency (RUE) to five N levels providing 0, 60, 100, 140 and 180 kg N ha⁻¹ and three drip irrigation strategies, which were full, deficit and none irrigation. Results showed that, irrespective of years, dry matter production and Aipar were increased by prolonged N fertigation, even though N fertigation was carried out from middle to late growing season. The highest total and tuber dry matter and accumulated radiation interception in all three years were obtained when potatoes were provided with 180 kg N ha⁻¹. RUE on the other hand was not affected by N regime. Thus, increases in total dry matter production with increasing N levels were essentially caused by higher Aipar. The strongest response to N fertilization occurred when most N was applied early in the growing season and the latest N fertilization should be applied no later than 41–50 days after emergence. Deficit irrigation, which received ca.70% of irrigation applied to full irrigation, did not reduce radiation interception and radiation use efficiency.     

Contribution of green manure legumes to nitrogen dynamics in traditional winter wheat cropping system in the Loess Plateau of China

Excessive application of N fertilizer in pursuit of higher yields is common due to poor soil fertility and low crop productivity. However, this practice causes serious soil depletion and N loss in the traditional wheat cropping system in the Loess Plateau of China. Growing summer legumes as the green manure (GM) crop is a viable solution because of its unique ability to fix atmospheric N₂. Actually, little is known about the contribution of GM N to grain and N utilization in the subsequent crop. Therefore, we conducted a four-year field experiment with four winter wheat-based rotations (summer fallow-wheat, Huai bean–wheat, soybean–wheat, and mung bean–wheat) and four nitrogen fertilizer rates applied to wheat (0, 108, 135, and 162 kg N/ha) to investigate the fate of GM nitrogen via decomposition, utilization by wheat, and contribution to grain production and nitrogen economy through GM legumes. Here we showed that GM legumes accumulated 53–76 kg N/ha per year. After decomposing for approximately one year, more than 32 kg N/ha was released from GM legumes. The amount of nitrogen released via GM decomposition that was subsequently utilized by wheat was 7–27 kg N/ha. Incorporation of GM legumes effectively replaced 13–48% (average 31%) of the applied mineral nitrogen fertilizer. Additionally, the GM approach during the fallow period reduced the risk of nitrate-N leaching to depths of 0–100 cm and 100–200 cm by 4.8 and 19.6 kg N/ha, respectively. The soil nitrogen pool was effectively improved by incorporation of GM legumes at the times of wheat sowing. Cultivation of leguminous GM during summer is a better option than bare fallow to maintain the soil nitrogen pool, and decrease the rates required for N fertilization not only in the Loess Plateau of China but also in other similar dryland regions worldwide.     

Diversity in the carotenoid profiles and the expression of genes related to carotenoid accumulation among citrus genotypes

Carotenoids are not only important to the plants themselves but also are beneficial to human health. Since citrus fruit is a good source of carotenoids for the human diet, it is important to study carotenoid profiles and the accumulation mechanism in citrus fruit. Thus, in the present paper, we describe the diversity in the carotenoid profiles of fruit among citrus genotypes. In regard to carotenoids, such as β-cryptoxanthin, violaxanthin, lycopene, and β-citraurin, the relationship between the carotenoid profile and the expression of carotenoid-biosynthetic genes is discussed. Finally, recent results of quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses of carotenoid contents and expression levels of carotenoid-biosynthetic genes in citrus fruit are shown.     

In-field management of corn cob and residue mix: Effect on soil greenhouse gas emissions

In-field management practices of corn cob and residue mix (CRM) as a feedstock source for ethanol production can have potential effects on soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of CRM piles, storage in-field, and subsequent removal on soil CO₂ and N₂O emissions. The study was conducted in 2010–2012 at the Iowa State University, Agronomy Research Farm located near Ames, Iowa (42.0°′N; 93.8°′W). The soil type at the site is Canisteo silty clay loam (fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, calcareous, mesic Typic Endoaquolls). The treatments for CRM consisted of control (no CRM applied and no residue removed after harvest), early spring complete removal (CR) of CRM after application of 7.5 cm depth of CRM in the fall, 2.5 cm, and 7.5 cm depth of CRM over two tillage systems of no-till (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) and three N rates (0, 180, and 270 kg N ha⁻¹) of 32% liquid UAN (NH₄NO₃) in a randomized complete block design with split–split arrangements. The findings of the study suggest that soil CO₂ and N₂O emissions were affected by tillage, CRM treatments, and N rates. Most N₂O and CO₂ emissions peaks occurred as soil moisture or temperature increased with increase precipitation or air temperature. However, soil CO₂ emissions were increased as the CRM amount increased. On the other hand, soil N₂O emissions increased with high level of CRM as N rate increased. Also, it was observed that NT with 7.5 cm CRM produced higher CO₂ emissions in drought condition as compared to CT. Additionally, no differences in N₂O emissions were observed due to tillage system. In general, dry soil conditions caused a reduction in both CO₂ and N₂O emissions across all tillage, CRM treatments, and N rates.     

miR-122靶向调控鸡BZW2基因的表达

miR-122(MicroRNA-122)是在肝脏中高表达的miRNA,在肝脏的生长发育和脂类代谢等过程发挥重要作用,BZW2 (basic leucine zipper and W2 domains 2)主要参与蛋白质合成代谢,本研究目的是确定BZW2是否为miR-122调控的靶基因.通过生物信息学预测miR-122的靶基因,并分析BZW2的3-UTR区域与miR-122种子区的配对情况,再用双荧光素酶报告系统和突变实验证明miR-122作用于BZW2的3'UTR.用荧光定量PCR检测转染miRNA-122mimic的鸡(Gallus gallus)肝癌细胞系(leghorn hepatocellar,LMH)细胞和转染LNA-antimiR-122的鸡原代肝细胞中BZW2的表达.鸡BZW2的3'-UTR区域与miR-122种子区互补配对,荧光素酶报告基因和突变实验分析表明,miR-122能够通过与BZW23'-UTR区结合抑制基因的表达;将miR-122在LMH细胞中过表达后,发现BZW2 mRNA表达水平显著下降;利用LNA-antimiR-122抑制鸡肝脏原代细胞中的miR-122后,BZW2 mRNA表达水平呈显著性上升.结果证明BZW2是miR-122的靶基因,其在mRNA水平上受到miR-122的负性调控,本研究为揭示miR-122在鸡肝脏中的广泛的功能提供了理论依据.     

砂藓(Racomitrium canescens)抗旱相关基因RcAOS2的克隆及表达分析

丙二烯氧化物合酶(allene oxide synthase, AOS)是茉莉酸合成途径中关键酶,在茉莉酸合成中具有重要的作用。本研究在砂藓(Racomitrium canescens)干旱胁迫转录组数据中发现一个干旱胁迫下表达量上调的AOS基因,将其命名为RcAOS2,我们对RcAOS2的开放阅读框进行了克隆及相关的生物信息学预测分析,并对RcAOS2在砂藓快速脱水和复水过程中的表达量变化进行了检测。结果显示,该基因cDNA全长1 474 bp,开放阅读框长516 bp。RcAOS2编码蛋白质的相对分子质量为4.36 kD,等电点为5.11,不稳定系数为55.02,为不稳定蛋白质;脂肪系数为19.19;RcAOS2蛋白质疏水性较强,属于疏水性蛋白质,存在信号肽,不属于跨膜蛋白质。系统进化分析表明,RcAOS2蛋白质与其他物种AOS蛋白质亲缘关系较远,是具有AOS序列特征的新类型。实时荧光定量PCR分析结果表明RcAOS2基因在砂藓干旱和复水过程中呈现差异性表达,推测RcAOS2可能参与砂藓的干旱胁迫响应和复水回复过程。本研究成果为进一步研究砂藓抗旱基因功能提供理论基础和备选基因资源。     

湖南省粮食产量波动的影响因素分析及预测

旨在维护国家稳定,为预判粮食生产前景、提高粮食生产效率、保障粮食安全提供理论依据。利用湖南省统计数据,运用灰色关联分析法筛选关联性较强的影响因素,并建立GM(1,N)预测模型预测粮食产量。2008—2017年与湖南省粮食产量关联度最大的影响因素是粮食作物播种面积和农业机械总动力;科技因素是影响2008—2017年湖南省粮食产量的主要因素,其次是自然因素,社会因素;2018—2027年湖南省粮食产量有较小波动,且农业机械总动力和财政农业支出影响较大;农业机械总动力在前后十年对粮食产量都有较重要的影响,越来越占据主导地位。粮食产量受国家政策的影响,受农业机械总动力影响最大,维持产量水平需高度重视农业机械化水平,稳步提高粮食作物播种面积。     

菊花ClERF1基因的克隆与表达分析

以甘菊叶片为试验材料,采用RT-PCR和Tail-PCR以及生物信息学的方法,研究了甘菊ClERF1及其启动子序列特征、表达模式,以及甘菊ClERF1在低温胁迫下的响应。以期为进一步研究甘菊ClERF1功能提供参考依据。结果表明:ClERF1基因序列全长1 242 bp,最大开放阅读框(ORF)618 bp,可编码206个氨基酸。经理化性质分析,ClERF1分子量23 631.35 Da,理论等电点5.19,不稳定系数53.84,脂肪指数62.04,平均亲水性-0.786,亚细胞定位在细胞核内。系统进化树表明,ClERF1与拟南芥At3g23240亲缘关系最近,属于ERF亚家族。qRT-PCR分析表明ClERF1在叶片中表达最高,其次在茎段中。该研究克隆了ClERF1启动子序列1 534 bp,主要包括低温反应和乙烯响应元件、生长素和茉莉酸甲酯反应元件等。甘菊低温处理幼苗ClERF1表达量显著高于未低温处理的幼苗,其中5℃时ClERF1相对表达量最高。     

酸奶营养品质提升的加工工艺研究

牛奶中含有丰富的活性营养物质,包括乳铁蛋白、免疫球蛋白、乳过氧化物酶、α-乳白蛋白、β-乳球蛋白等。传统工艺生产的酸奶经过高温杀菌,活性营养物质几乎完全损失。为了避免这一情况,本文推出一种新的酸奶生产工艺,生产出的酸奶可保留大部分活性营养物质。首先将牛奶的乳脂进行分离,乳脂部分进行125 ℃、5 s杀菌,脱脂牛奶部分进行75 ℃、15 s杀菌,将两部分料液混合后加入菌种发酵至酸度75~85°T,破乳后冷却后熟8 h以上。经测定,新工艺酸奶中α-乳白蛋白、β-乳球蛋白、乳铁蛋白、免疫球蛋白、乳过氧化物酶含量分别为966 mg/L、1 963 mg/L、23.4 mg/L、102 mg/L、1 025 U/L,远高于传统工艺酸奶的68 mg/L、200 mg/L、0.7 mg/L、14 mg/L、0 U/L。通过对比新工艺与传统工艺酸奶保质期内的活菌数、黏度、酸度和口感,并无显著差异。