High Risk of the Formation of Milky White Rice Kernels in Cultivars with Higher Potential Grain Growth Rate under Elevated Temperatures

Abstract

Our objective was to clarify whether rice cultivars with a higher grain dry-matter increase rate (GIR) under elevated temperature condition show a higher percentage of milky white rice kernels (MWK). The rate of MWK judged using a rice-quality selector significantly varied with the cultivar and experimental year. The spikes of the cultivars detached 5–7 days after heading were solution-cultured with an adequate nutrient supply for one week at 25, 28 and 33ºC. GIR was overall the highest at 28ºC, and GIR at this temperature was considered to reflect the potential GIR in all the grains tested. There was a close correlation between the rate of MWK and the GIR at 28ºC under field conditions when temperatures during the grain-filling period were approximately over 25ºC. It was suggested that cultivars with a higher potential GIR under elevated temperature conditions have a higher risk of the formation of MWK.     

盐胁迫对野生稻种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响

以3个野生稻品种(系)和常规稻品种吉粳301(CK)为试验材料,研究了不同NaCl浓度对野生稻种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响。结果表明,盐胁迫对野生稻和常规粳稻种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响不同,NaCl浓度≤0.3%时,盐胁迫对3个野生稻种子发芽及幼苗生长没有影响,但促进吉粳301种子发芽及幼苗生长;NaCl浓度≥0.5%时,随着NaCl浓度的增大,3个野生稻种子发芽率逐渐降低,幼苗的根长、苗长、根冠比逐渐变小;NaCl浓度与3个野生稻种子发芽率有一定的负相关性;NaCl对野生稻幼苗根的抑制作用强于对苗的作用;不同野生稻品种对NaCl溶液的耐受能力不同,从大到小依次为MY-3、延引红、HY-1。     

不同秧龄对沿江地区双季晚稻秧苗素质及产量的影响

以早熟高产品种上农粳2号和镇稻18为材料,采用常规毯苗机械栽插,分别设置20 d、24 d、28 d、32 d等4个秧龄处理,研究不同秧龄对沿江地区双季晚稻秧苗素质、生育进程、茎蘖动态及产量构成的影响。结果表明,随秧龄天数增加,参试品种的绿叶数、茎基宽和根系盘结力均逐渐升高;与20 d、24 d和28 d秧龄的处理相比,32 d秧龄处理的成熟期提前4~5 d,茎蘖高峰期提早15 d左右,结实率显著升高;与24 d秧龄处理相比,上农粳2号和镇稻18在32 d秧龄处理下的产量分别提高10.26%和20.82%。在秧苗强化化控和苗床管理的条件下,安徽沿江地区常规毯苗机插的栽插秧龄可延长至32 d。     

环洞庭湖双季稻区玉米品种比较试验

为筛选出能应对湖南双季稻区突发性农业气象灾害、适宜灾后补救的玉米新品种,以湖南省近年种植面积较大或新审定的25个杂交玉米新品种为试验材料,采用间比法分析各品种的丰产性、适应性、生育期和抗逆性。结果表明,参试品种的平均产量为7.25 t/hm2,产量超过对照（临奥1号）10%以上的品种有13个,其中,科玉2号、东315、湘康玉2号、三北2号、湘康玉1号、科玉6号、洛玉1号、丰玉8号等8个品种,产量高,品质好,综合性状优良,可进入下一年的灾后补救玉米品种筛选试验。     

Mapping of QTLs for Germination Characteristics under Non-stress and Drought Stress in Rice

Identification of genetic factors controlling traits associated with seed germination under drought stress conditions, leads to identification and development of drought tolerant varieties. Present study by using a population of F2：, derived from a cross between a drought tolerant variety, Gharib （indica） and a drought sensitive variety, Sepidroud （indica）, is to identify and compare QTLs associated with germination traits under drought stress and non-stress conditions. Through QTL analysis, using composite interval mapping, regarding traits such as germination rate （GR）, germination percentage （GP）, radicle length （RL）, plumule length （PL）, coleorhiza length （COL） and coleoptile length （CL）, totally 13 QTLs were detected under pole drought stress （-8 MPa poly ethylene glycol 6000） and 9 QTLs under non-stress conditions. Of the QTLs identified under non-stress conditions, QTLs associated with COL （qCOL-5） and GR （qGR-1） explained 21.28% and 19.73% of the total phenotypic variations, respectively Under drought stress conditions, QTLs associated with COL （qCOL-3） and PL （qPL-5） explained 18.34% and 18.22% of the total phenotypic variations, respectively. A few drought-tolerance-related QTLs identified in previous studies are near the QTLs detected in this study, and several QTLs in this study are novel alleles. The major QTLs like qGR-1, qGP-4, qRL-12 and qCL-4 identified in both conditions for traits GR, GP, RL and CL, respectively, should be considered as the important and stable trait-controlling QTLs in rice seed germination. Those major or minor QTLs could be used to significantly improve drought tolerance by marker-assisted selection in rice.     

Anti-Inflammatory Components of the Starfish Astropecten polyacanthus

Inflammation is important in biomedical research, because it plays a key role in inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and other forms of arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, allergies, asthma, and even cancer. In the present study, we describe the inhibitory effect of crude extracts and steroids isolated from the starfish Astropecten polyacanthus on pro-inflammatory cytokine (Interleukin-12 (IL-12) p40, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). Among those tested, compounds 5 and 7 showed potent inhibitory effects on the production of all three pro-inflammatory cytokines with IC₅₀ values ranging from 1.82 ± 0.11 to 7.00 ± 0.16 μM. Potent inhibitory activities were also observed for compound 1 on the production of IL-12 p40 and IL-6 with values of 3.96 ± 0.12 and 4.07 ± 0.13 μM, respectively, and for compounds 3 and 4 on the production of IL-12 p40 with values of 6.55 ± 0.18 and 5.06 ± 0.16 μM, respectively. Moreover, compounds 2 (IC₅₀ = 34.86 ± 0.31 μM) and 6 (IC₅₀ = 79.05 ± 2.05 μM) exhibited moderate inhibitory effects on the production of IL-12 p40, whereas compounds 3 (IC₅₀ = 22.80 ± 0.21 μM) and 4 (IC₅₀ = 16.73 ± 0.25 μM) moderately inhibited the production of TNF-α and IL-6, respectively.     

Anti HSV-1 Activity of Halistanol Sulfate and Halistanol Sulfate C Isolated from Brazilian Marine Sponge Petromica citrina (Demospongiae)

The n-butanol fraction (BF) obtained from the crude extract of the marine sponge Petromica citrina, the halistanol-enriched fraction (TSH fraction), and the isolated compounds halistanol sulfate (1) and halistanol sulfate C (2), were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on the replication of the Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1, KOS strain) by the viral plaque number reduction assay. The TSH fraction was the most effective against HSV-1 replication (SI = 15.33), whereas compounds 1 (SI = 2.46) and 2 (SI = 1.95) were less active. The most active fraction and these compounds were also assayed to determine the viral multiplication step(s) upon which they act as well as their potential synergistic effects. The anti-HSV-1 activity detected was mediated by the inhibition of virus attachment and by the penetration into Vero cells, the virucidal effect on virus particles, and by the impairment in levels of ICP27 and gD proteins of HSV-1. In summary, these results suggest that the anti-HSV-1 activity of TSH fraction detected is possibly related to the synergic effects of compounds 1 and 2.     

扬麦16“灌浆快”与颖果显微结构和内源生长素的关系

扬麦16是长江中下游麦区种植面积最大的品种,具有灌浆速度快、粒重高等特点。为探明扬麦16"灌浆快"与颖果结构和内源生长素的关系,以宁麦13为对照,显微观察了扬麦16颖果维管束、胚乳细胞和传递细胞发育的变化特征,测定了千粒重和生长素含量。结果表明,扬麦16胚乳中淀粉体和蛋白体发育好,胚乳充实饱满,最终粒重高;灌浆过程中扬麦16颖果内源生长素水平高,促进了同化物向籽粒的调运和胚乳细胞的分裂;扬麦16颖果维管束发达,筛管面积大,韧皮部卸载能力强;扬麦16颖果传递细胞分化早,细胞壁内突结构发达,养分转运能力强。