Ascorbic acid level of Belgian apple genetic resources

With the help of the public, a wide collection of old apple cultivars (cvs) was established progressively at our Department from 1975 onwards. Currently, more than 1400 apple accessions are being maintained and three quarters of them are subjected to field evaluation for disease resistance and agronomic characters. This paper presents results of the ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) contents of old cvs combining interesting disease resistance and agronomic features in order to promote them as cvs adapted to production systems which are more environmentally friendly or to be used as parents in breeding programmes. First, a methodological study shows the importance of the variability of ascorbic acid content depending on fruit position in the trees, fruit size, fruit skin colour and maturity stage. Statistical analyses show that the sample size of six fruits per cv is sufficient to detect a difference of 20% between cvs. Old apple cvs such as Grenadier^RGF, Transparente de Croncels, Bramley’s Seedling, Reinette des Capucins, Reinette Libotte and Reinette de Waleffe contain three and seven times more ascorbic acid than the commercial cvs Gala and Elstar, respectively. The paper highlights the need to evaluate the rich potential in our genetic resources.     

Seasonal variation in pigmentation and anthocyanidin phenetics in commercial Eustoma flowers

The seasonal change in petal color and pigmentation of 29 commercial Eustoma cultivars was studied. The flowers are basically divided into four groups according to the major anthocyanidin phenotype in association with petal coloration, i.e., delphinidin (Dp)-based (purple flower), cyanidin (Cy)-based (reddish purple flower), pelargonidin (Pg)-based (pink flower), and none (white flower) groups. The constitution of petal anthocyanidins was not changed by forcing treatment in most of the flowers. Lightness (L^*) and chroma (C^*, color saturation) showed a change along with the increase/decrease of hue angle difference (ΔH^*), thus simultaneously the chromatic tonalities tended to move to redder and bluer, respectively. Floral pigment clustering described two flower groups in a dendrogram, based on anthocyanidin constitutions as phenetic markers, which are apparently the Dp- and Pg-based phenotypes of anthocyanidin syntheses. The Cy-based flowers made a subcluster with the Pg-based flowers, indicating a close relationship in the biosynthesis of the two anthocyanidins, and suggesting the Dp- and Pg-syntheses complement one another.     

Callus induction and plant regeneration from cotyledonary explants of ash gourd (Benincasa hispida L.)

A protocol for the production of complete plantlets through multiple shoots from the cotyledon-derived calli of ash gourd (Benincasa hispida L.) is described. The embryos were excised from mature seeds and cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurin (BAP, 1–5 μM). After 10 days the well-developed green cotyledons from the growing embryos were isolated and cultured on MS medium fortified with 2,4-D (1–6 μM). The cultured cotyledons gave rise to luxuriantly growing calli after 6 weeks. These calli were subcultured on MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of BAP (1–6 μM) alone or in combination with naphthalene acetic acid (NAA, 0.2 and 0.5 μM) for regeneration. The regenerated shoots were multiplied and rooted on quarter strength MS medium supplemented with indole-3-butyric acid or NAA (1–5 μM). The rooted shoots were transplanted to soil with 90% success.     

Changes of Ca2＋ activated potassium channels and cellular-proliferation in autogenous vein grafts

AIM: To investigate changes of Ca^2＋ activated potassium channels (K_Ca) in autogenous vein grafts. METHODS: The contraction of venous ring was measured by means of perfusion in vitro. The intimal proliferation and proliferation of cultured smooth muscle cells (vascular smooth muscle cells, VSMCs) were observed by the means of computerised image analysis and MTT method, respectively. Furthermore, whole cell mode of patch clamp was used to record K_Ca of VSMCs isolated from autogenous vein grafts. RESULTS: 1 week after transplantation there were no significant differences of contraction and intimal relative thickness between autogenous vein grafts and control. Contraction and intimal relative thickness of autogenous vein graft were significantly increased 2 weeks after transplantation (P＜0.05, n=8 vs control), and they were more enhanced 4 weeks after vein transplantation (P＜0.01, n=8 vs control). TEA (blocker of Ca^2＋ activated potassium channels) increased MTT A₄₉₀ value of VSMCs from femoral vein in a dose-dependent manner (P＜0.05, n=8). K_Ca current density was significantly attenuated in VSMCs from autogenous vein grafts 1-4 weeks after transplantation (P＜0.05, n=5). CONCLUSION: K_Ca was inhibited in autogenous vein graft, which accounted for vasospasm and intimal proliferation.     

中国美利奴多胎细毛羊及杂交后代多胎性状基因型分析

首次在国内采用了多胎性状基因型诊断法对多胎性状进行选择。试验采集中国美利奴多胎细毛羊及其与Romilly·Hills杂交后代、横交一代样品数分别为 47份、3 8份、2 6份 ,提取DNA确定多胎主效基因FecB 位点 ,酶切检测纯合基因BB、杂合基因B 和非多胎基因 。通过检测 ,三种基因型占样品数百分比分别为 :多胎细毛羊为 2 5 5 3 %、48 94%、2 5 5 3 % ,基因型与产羔符合率为 85 3 7% ;杂交一代为 0、76 3 2 %、2 3 68% ,基因型与产羔符合率为 76 19% ;横交一代为3 0 77%、5 7 69%、11 5 4%。在多胎性状的选择中 ,要坚决剔除非多胎基因个体 ,以缩短选育时间。     

几种牧草对河西走廊盐渍化土壤改土培肥的效应研究

在河西走廊盐渍化土地上种植老芒麦、扁穗冰草、碱茅和紫花苜蓿4种优质牧草,对盐渍化程度均有一定的改良效果.其中碱茅对盐渍化土壤的改土培肥效果最好,建植3年后的碱茅,与对照比较,0～20 cm土层中自然含水量增加125.99 g/kg,总孔度增加16.14%,容重降低0.27 g/cm3,pH值由8.43降到8.10,全盐含量降低52.90 g/kg,脱盐率达到76.12%,有机质增加3.67 g/kg,碱解氮含量增加18.63 mg/kg,速效磷和钾亦随之增加.     

NO介导的Ca2+信号对渗透胁迫下紫花苜蓿幼苗光合特征及抗性的影响

以紫花苜蓿幼苗为材料,用聚乙二醇(PEG-6000)作为渗透介质人工模拟干旱条件,外源喷施NO供体硝普钠(SNP)、钙信号试剂CaCl₂、NO抑制剂亚甲基蓝(MB)和Ca²⁺通道阻断剂LaCl₃,对紫花苜蓿幼苗光合特征、抗氧化酶活性及过氧化物酶(POD)同工酶图谱进行研究,探讨了渗透胁迫下NO介导的Ca²⁺信号对紫花苜蓿幼苗光合作用及抗氧化能力的影响。结果表明:在渗透胁迫条件下,施加SNP、CaCl₂均能够有效缓解叶片叶绿素a、类胡萝卜素及总叶绿素含量降低,提高叶片净光合速率(P_n)、气孔导度(G_s)及气孔限制值(L_s),而对胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)没有缓解作用。SNP、CaCl₂及SNP+CaCl₂处理提高了幼苗叶片中抗氧化酶活性和脯氨酸含量,降低了丙二醛(MDA)含量。其中共处理时效果最为显著,第4天 SOD、POD、CAT活性较PEG处理升高了39.29%、30.41%和56.24%,脯氨酸含量增加了45.59%,MDA含量降低了45.59%。POD同工酶图谱在第4天时酶谱带数最多,POD活性最强,且SNP+CaCl₂共处理下出现新酶带。而添加外源NO的同时添加Ca²⁺通道阻断剂LaCl₃,紫花苜蓿幼苗光合速率、抗氧化酶活性及脯氨酸含量均降低,丙二醛含量增加,添加Ca²⁺信号的同时施加NO抑制剂MB也具有相同的作用,说明Ca²⁺信号参与NO信号转导过程并相互作用共同调节渗透胁迫下紫花苜蓿幼苗的生理应答响应。     

Effects of concentrate‐to‐forage ratios and 2‐methylbutyrate supplementation on ruminal fermentation,bacteria abundance and urinary excretion of purine derivatives in Chinese Simmental steers

This study evaluated the effects of dietary concentrate levels and 2‐methylbutyrate (2MB ) supplementation on performance, ruminal fermentation, bacteria abundance, microbial enzyme activity and urinary excretion of purine derivatives (PD ) in steers. Eight ruminally cannulated Simmental steers (12 months of age; 389 ± 3.7 kg of body weight) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Moderate‐concentrate (400 g/kg diet [MC ]) or high‐concentrate (600 g/kg diet [HC ]) diets were fed with or without 2MB (0 g/day [2MB ?] or 15.0 g/day [2MB +]). Dry matter intake and average daily gain increased, but feed conversion ratio decreased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Ruminal pH decreased, but total volatile fatty acid increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Molar proportion of acetate and acetate‐to‐propionate ratio decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. Propionate molar proportion and ruminal NH ₃‐N content increased with the HC diet, but decreased with 2MB supplementation. Neutral detergent fibre degradability decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. Crude protein degradability increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Abundance of Ruminococcus albus , Ruminococcus flavefaciens , Fibrobacter succinogenes and Bufyrivibrio fibrisolvens as well as activities of carboxymethyl cellulase, cellobiase, xylanase and pectinase decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. However, abundance of Prevotella ruminicola and Ruminobacter amylophilus as well as activities of α‐amylase and protease increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Total PD excretion also increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. The results suggested that growth performance, ruminal fermentation, CP degradability and total PD excretion increased with increasing dietary concentrate level from 40% to 60% or 2MB supplementation. The observed diet × 2MB interaction indicated that supplementation of 2MB was more efficacious for improving growth performance, ruminal fermentation and total PD excretion with promoted ruminal bacteria abundance and enzyme activity in the MC diet than in the HC diet.     

Disaccharide combinations and the expression of enolase3 and plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase isoform in sturgeon sperm cryopreservation

Acipenser sinensis and Acipenser dabryanus are critically endangered species, so germplasm conservation via cryopreservation of sperm is necessary. Disaccharides can act as membrane‐impermeable cryoprotectants, and enolase3 (ENO3) and plasma membrane Ca²⁺ ATPase isoform (PMCA2) are proteins associated with sperm quality. We considered seven characteristics of sperm quality in cultured brood stock from A. sinensis and A. dabryanus. We tested use of sucrose or trehalose alone and in combination at different concentrations for cryopreservation of A. dabryanus sperm. A low concentration of sucrose plus trehalose (S₁₅T₁₅) was optimal. Mixing of the extender with sucrose, lactose, or trehalose alone or with pairwise mixtures revealed that a mixture of lactose and trehalose (L₁₅T₁₅) gave the best results for both A. sinensis and A. dabryanus. Enolase3 and PMCA2 expression levels were measured in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm via Western blotting. Relative ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels were examined, and the relationship between disaccharide composition, sperm quality and protein expression was explored in A. sinensis. The results showed that relative ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels were the highest at L₁₅T₁₅ in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm. There were significant positive correlations between ENO3 expression and percentage membrane integrity, and between PMCA2 expression and sperm motility parameters (percentage of motile sperm, curvilinear velocity, straight‐line velocity and average path velocity; p < .05) in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm. Our results indicate the optimal disaccharide combination and concentrations for cryopreservation of A. sinensis and A. dabryanus sperm and suggest that ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels could serve as a valuable indicator of sperm quality in A. sinensis.     

不同温度下圆叶决明降解过程红壤可溶性氮及氮水解酶动态变化研究

为了探明圆叶决明（Chamaecrista rotundifolia）降解过程果园红壤供氮水平的变化规律，本研究采用模拟培养试验，研究15℃和25℃培养果园红壤硝态氮、铵态氮、可溶性总氮、可溶性有机氮含量的变化及脲酶、蛋白酶、天冬酰胺酶活性的变化。结果表明，圆叶决明降解过程果园红壤4种可溶性氮含量均显著提高，且在培养140 d达到最大值，25℃培养的效果更佳。其中，可溶性总氮、可溶性有机氮和硝态氮含量随时间的动态变化可用三次曲线方程来拟合。圆叶决明降解过程还能显著提高脲酶、蛋白酶和天冬酰胺酶的活性，其中蛋白酶活性和脲酶活性的变化可用指数方程和三次曲线方程来拟合。本研究认为圆叶决明降解过程可提高果园红壤可溶性氮含量，因此可通过翻压圆叶决明提高土壤的供氮水平。