Identification of qRL7, a major quantitative trait locus associated with rice root length in hydroponic conditions

Root system development is an important target for improving yield in rice. Active roots that can take up nutrients more efficiently are essential for improving grain yield. In this study, we performed quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses using 215 recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between Xieqingzao B (XB), a maintainer line with short roots and R9308, a restorer line with long roots. Only a QTLs associated with root length were mapped on chromosomes 7. The QTL, named qRL7, was located between markers RM3859 and RM214 on chromosome 7 and explained 18.14–18.36% of the total phenotypic variance evaluated across two years. Fine mapping of qRL7 using eight BC₃F₃ recombinant lines mapped the QTL to between markers InDel11 and InDel17, which delimit a 657.35 kb interval in the reference cultivar Nipponbare. To determine the genotype classes for the target QTL in these BC₃F₃ recombinants, the root lengths of their BC₃F₄ progeny were investigated, and the result showed that qRL7 plays a crucial role in root length. The results of this study will increase our understanding of the genetic factors controlling root architecture, which will help rice breeders to breed varieties with deep, strong and vigorous root systems.     

低温驯化对木薯耐寒性形态、生理特性的影响

用相对耐寒的2个木薯品种华南124和Arg7为材料,设置14℃弱低温驯化后4℃伤害处理、非驯化直接4℃处理和25℃对照,观察和测定了木薯在低温驯化处理下的形态与生理变化。结果表明,该2个品种经低温驯化处理后比非驯化处理,植株形态损伤减轻,恢复正常温度后形态恢复力增强;叶片中的叶绿素含量下降延缓、脯氨酸含量增幅高而丙二醛含量指示的细胞膜破损变小;而在温度恢复过程中叶绿素含量、叶片脯氨酸含量增加均较快。形态与生理指数一致表明,弱低温驯化能够有效提高木薯对低温的适应能力及恢复能力。     

Pre-stocking acclimatisation of brown trout Salmo trutta: effects on growth and capture in a fast-flowing river

Abstract  A field experiment was carried out over two consecutive years in a fast-flowing river to evaluate the effects of a 5-day acclimation period on the subsequent growth and capture of stocked juvenile brown trout, Salmo trutta L. Post-stocking growth of both acclimated and non-acclimated fish remained very poor for at least 44 to 50 days. After this slow start, all fish grew significantly but acclimated trout performed 40.1% better than non-acclimated individuals. However, the better growth did not lead to higher capture rates. Capture success post-stocking was low, regardless of acclimation. Flooding, combined with low fitness of the stocked fish in the first weeks was considered the main reason for the unsatisfactory stocking success. It was concluded that in-stream acclimation aids rapid adaptation of stocked trout and thus imparts some growth advantages, although this does not necessarily result in higher yields.     

The nature of hematological response in fish

Hematological status was examined in rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss, held for 3–4 weeks under temperature, photoperiod and P_{O 2} conditions approximating those of their winter, spring and summer habitats. The most striking change observed was in red cell population composition. In winter fish mature cells were predominant; juvenile and developing erythrocytes characterized spring and summer animals. Hemoglobin, hematocrit and both mean erythrocytic volume and hemoglobin were modestly lower in spring and summer than in winter fish. Red cell numbers were not significantly affected. These observations suggest that avoidance of viscosity-based increases in circulatory work cost is more advantageous than elevation of blood O₂-carrying capacity. Although hemoglobin isomorph profiles were significantly altered, there is little evidence that such changes are of critical adaptive importance. Given presumed age-based reduction in gas transport effectiveness, the replacement of mature and senescent cells by more metabolically-competent juvenile cells appears to be the pivotal event in hematological response. Leucocyte counts were significantly elevated in spring and summer as compared to winter fish. Lymphocyte/heterophil ratios declined from 8.27 in winter fish to 3.13 in summer trout. Thrombocyte, monocyte, eosinophil and basophil abundances were little changed.     

Role of molecular species catabolism in the temperature-induced restructuring of phosphatidylcholines in liver microsomes of thermally-acclimated rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Most previous studies of the temperature-induced restructuring of phospholipid molecular species composition have examined steps in the biosynthesis of phospholipids to explain the accumulation of unsaturated fatty acids in membranes of cold-acclimated poikilotherms. In contrast, the present study explores the role of phospholipases in this restructuring process by determining the rates of degradation of specific molecular species of phosphatidylcholine, using enzymes (microsomes) freshly isolated from the liver of rainbow trout. (Oncorhynchus mykiss) acclimated to either 5° or 20°C. The substrate preparation employed to assay phospholipase activity possessed a range of molecular species, all radiolabeled with 1-¹⁴C-palmitic acid at thesn-1 position, similar to that present in native trout liver microsomes. After defined periods of incubation (120 and 240 min at 5°C; 60 and 120 min at 20°C), phospholipids were extracted from the reaction mixture and the distribution of radioactivity among the molecular species of phosphatidylcholine was determined by HPLC/liquid scintillation counting. In general, molecular species catabolism was not significantly influenced by either assay or acclimation temperature. Only in 20°C-acclimated fish did a reduction in assay temperature (from to 20 to 5°C) result in significantly increased proportions of radioactivity being recovered in one polyunsaturated fatty acid-containing species (16:0/22:6-PC). It is concluded: 1) that phospholipase specificity, assayed under conditions approximating thosein situ, is not significantly influenced by temperature; and 2), that the increased proportions of unsaturated fatty acid-containing molecular species of phosphatidylcholine observed at low temperatures must reflect the specificity of biosynthetic rather than degradative processes.     

Variable versus constant temperature acclimation regimes: Effects on hemoglobin isomorph profile in goldfish,Carassius auratus

Goldfish,Carassius auratus, were acclimated for 2 to 3.5 weeks to three temperature regimes: [1] temporally-constant (10, 20 and 30°C), [2] diurnally-cycling (20 ± 10°C) and [3] randomly-fluctuating (± 2°C at approximately 2h intervals between extremes of 10 and 30°C). No significant differences in hematocrit were evident. Hemoglobin levels in fish at constant 30°C and under randomly fluctuating temperature were significantly elevated. Of the three hemoglobin isomorphs observed, the two minor components (G₁, G₃) tended to decrease in relative abundance with increase in constant temperature, but increased under varying temperature regimes. The converse was true of the principal hemoglobin, G₂. Extent of isomorph variation was correlated with extent of temperature variability. These observations confirm that temperature variability significantly effects thermoacclimatory response. The functional significance of changes in isomorph abundances during the acclimatory process is considered.     

两个抗寒酿酒葡萄品种在石河子引种适应性研究

为了确定抗寒酿酒葡萄品种在石河子地区引种的适应性,从而为新疆产区筛选冬季免埋土酿酒葡萄品种,以北玫和北红两个抗寒酿酒葡萄品种为试材,研究在冬季不埋土越冬后的萌芽率、果枝率、果实生长状况以及一年生休眠枝条的电解质渗出率和伤害率。结果表明:北玫和北红在石河子地区依靠降雪覆盖可实现不埋土越冬,北红抗寒性优于北玫。     

一种管道水培叶菜变方位包络定心抓取方式

将不同位姿的水培叶菜包络定心夹持到种植孔中心取出,是实现茎秆精准根切,避免根部残留在管道内的关键。针对定方位抓取方式在一些方位上对叶菜向心包络扶起作用小,抓取成功率低的问题,提出一种在夹持过程中使夹手相对种植孔中心转动的变方位抓取方式。以水培绿宝芥蓝为抓取对象,建立夹手张开伸入、绕种植孔中心转动及闭合夹紧时的尺寸参数关系模型;构建包络定心夹持多刚体动力学仿真模型,对初始倾角为50°、65°和80°,相对种植孔边缘均布的8个方位P₁～P₈上的芥蓝进行包络夹持过程仿真分析;搭建抓取试验平台,对初始倾角为45°～60°、>60°～75°和 >75°～90°,方位为P₁～P₈的芥蓝进行抓取试验。分析确定两手指初始张开角为15°,闭合夹角为30°,夹手变方位转动角为45°,夹手转动速度为两手指转动速度的2倍。仿真获得的变方位夹持倾角为82.18°～88.96°,优于定方位夹持倾角80.32°～88.57°;抓取试验获得的变方位抓持倾角为82.83°～89.65°,优于定方位抓持倾角70.70°～89.27°,仿真与试验结果具有较好一致性,表明变方位夹持不同位姿芥蓝的向心包络扶起作用效果更好。3种初始倾角的变方位抓取试验获得的成功率均值分别为91.67%、95.83%和100.00%,定方位抓取成功率均值分别为87.50%、91.67%和100.00%,表明初始倾角越大抓取机构可获得的抓取成功率越高,变方位抓取初始倾角小的芥蓝可获得更高的成功率;不计P₂方位双层手指伸入碰倒芥蓝样本,变方位抓取获得的最小抓取成功率均值为91.70%,相比定方位在P₁～P₈方位上均具有更好的包络定心抓取效果。研究可为管道水培叶菜采收装备的研制提供依据。     

Cold acclimation of winter and spring peas: carbon partitioning as affected by light intensity

Like most plants, pea (Pisum sativum L.) becomes tolerant to frost if it is first exposed to low non-freezing temperatures, a process known as cold acclimation. Cold acclimation is a complex process involving many physiological and metabolic changes. Two spring dry peas, two winter dry peas and one winter forage line were exposed to cold temperature in a controlled environment in two experiments, one using low light intensity and the other regular light intensity. Plants were harvested throughout the experiment and dry matter accumulation, water content, soluble and insoluble sugar concentrations were determined from shoot and root samples. Cold acclimation did not occur when temperatures were low if light intensity was low, even in winter peas. In contrast, with regular light intensity, the winter peas acquired more freezing tolerance than spring peas and a close relationship was found between the soluble sugar concentration of leaves just before the frost and the degree of freezing tolerance obtained by the different genotypes. Relationships between freezing tolerance and carbon partitioning between shoot and roots are discussed.     

Effects of nitrogen forms and calcium amounts on growth and elemental concentration in Rosa hybrida cv. ‘Vendentta’

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of calcium and nitrogen on quality and quantity of Rosa hybrida in hydroponic culture, using factorial complete randomized design with different levels of ammonium-N (0, 2.5, and 5 mM) and calcium (1.6 and 4.8 mM). The results indicated that ammonium-N concentration of 2 mM increased the number of flowers, length of pedicles, and fresh weight of flower stem per plant. 5 mM of ammonium-N caused a significant decrease in most of the measured characteristics. Increase in calcium concentration enhanced nitrogen, calcium, manganese, and boron; while, potassium, zinc, and copper decreased in the leaf. Flower diameter and fresh weight of flower stems per plant increased significantly. With application of ammonium in the nutrient solution, calcium and potassium concentration in the leaf decreased, whereas phosphorus, zinc, manganese, iron, and boron significantly increased. Therefore, application of 2.5 mM ammonium-N and 4.8 mM calcium are recommended.