Assessment of nematicidal properties and phytochemical screening of neem seed formulations using Radopholus similis, parasitic nematode of plantain in Cameroon

Phytoparasitic nematodes of banana and plantain make one of the major constraints to sustainable banana and plantain production. The burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis, common in Cameroon is of particular importance where most smallholder farmers are unaware of this “hidden enemy”. In intensive plantain plantations, nematicides are often used as a primary means of control. Despite their efficacy, chemical pesticides are harmful to the environment and human health. The objective of this study was to assess the nematicidal properties of four neem seed formulations (raw neem seed powder (NSP); organic, watery and essential oil extracts) and to determine the phytochemical properties of these extracts. Alkaloids, saponins, triterpens and steroids were found in all three extracts, tannins in the organic and essential oils extracts and phenols only in the essential oils extract. Using five different concentrations of each of the three extracts as well as NSP, the nematicidal properties of all four formulations was confirmed. The NSP killed 100% of all nematodes at the lowest concentration tested, 10 μg ml⁻¹, after 48 h. The in vivo test using two plantain varieties, Essong and Big Ebanga showed that all neem seed formulations increased plant growth and reduced nematode populations significantly when compared with the control. Since NSP seems to perform as well or even better than the extracts, it could provide farmers with a simple, low cost alternative for the control of banana and plantain nematodes.     

Tissue composition,blood biochemistry and histology of digestive organs in Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) juveniles fed diets containing different plant protein ingredients

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of diets with different plant protein ingredients on proximate composition, tissue metabolites and tissue fatty acid composition, as well as hepatic and intestinal histological modifications in Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis). Fish (21.5 ± 2.8 g body weight) were fed six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets during 11 weeks. A control diet containing fish meal as the main protein source was compared with five experimental diets replacing 30% fish meal protein by different plant protein sources: soybean meal (SBM), soybean protein concentrate (SPC), soybean protein isolate (SPI), wheat gluten meal (WGM) or pea protein concentrate (PPC). The inclusion of different plant protein did not significantly affect growth and proximate composition of fish. The hepatosomatic index was not significantly different to the control group; however, utilization of WGM significantly increased hepatocyte size. Plasma protein values and muscle triglycerides were influenced by the inclusion of SBM and WGM in the diets respectively. Feeding fish on SBM, WGM and PPC diets significantly enhanced n‐6 fatty acid levels in muscle, particularly linoleic acid. None of the plant protein ingredient used in the diets decreased arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic as well as docosahexaenoic acid values in liver and muscle. Overall, histological studies did not reveal the existence of any intestinal alterations induced by the inclusion of different plant proteins. Despite moderate changes produced by SBM, SPC and WGM, inclusion of dietary plant protein ingredients has no major impact on growth, tissue and blood biochemistry, fatty acid profile and gut integrity of Senegalese sole juveniles.     

山东省设施菜地土壤次生盐渍化特征及影响因素

调查和分析了山东省设施菜地土壤次生盐渍化特征和影响因素。2014年全省设施菜地(含瓜类)总面积(日光温室、大拱棚含棚间面积)为64.98×10~(4 )hm~2,占全省菜地面积的35.45%,其中,日光温室25.06×10~(4 )hm~2,大拱棚20.94×10~(4 )hm~2,中小拱棚18.98×10~(4 )hm~2。山东省设施菜地土壤盐分离子组成中阴离子以SO_4~(2-)离子为主,阳离子以Ca~(2+)为主。全省设施菜地约39.73%出现不同程度的盐渍化现象,其中,轻度盐渍化为28.64%,中度盐渍化为8.37%,重度盐渍化为2.29%,盐土为0.43%。在不同设施类型中,盐渍化发生程度为:日光温室大拱棚中小拱棚;全省17个市设施菜地次生盐渍化发生程度表现出聊城、莱芜、东营相对较高。全省化肥平均施用量(折纯)为1 624 kg hm~(-2),氮肥(N)、磷肥(P_2O_5)、钾肥(K_2O)施用量(折纯)分别为559.5、465.2、599.3 kg hm~(-2)。通过分析设施菜地土壤次生盐渍化影响因素发现,化肥的高投入是可溶性盐分增加的一个重要原因,但在实际生产中受各种因素影响,未表现出完全线性相关关系;可溶性盐分增加与种植年限密切相关。典型对应分析发现,施肥数量、种植年限均会影响盐渍化程度,但影响各不相同。氮肥、磷肥和钾肥对K~+和Na~+的影响较大;Ca~(2+)和SO_4~(2-)含量受种植年限影响较大,K~+、Na~+、HCO_3~-和Cl~-受种植年限的影响较小;Mg~(2+)受氮磷钾肥和种植年限的影响均较大。     

单宁酸对红、绿色型豌豆蚜生长发育及繁殖的影响

为明确单宁酸对两种色型豌豆蚜生长发育及繁殖的影响,本研究采用豌豆蚜全纯人工饲料薄膜饲养技术,设置5组不同浓度的单宁酸,在适宜条件下分别饲养绿色型、红色型豌豆蚜,测定了豌豆蚜的存活率、产蚜量、相对日均体重增长率等指标。结果表明:单宁酸对两种生物型豌豆蚜的生长发育及繁殖有明显抑制作用,且对绿豌豆蚜的抑制作用明显大于红豌豆蚜。随着单宁酸浓度升高,两种色型豌豆蚜存活率、相对日均体重增长率均下降,5mg·L-1处理12天时绿色型豌豆蚜存活率、相对日均体重增长率分别为13.3±3.3%和0.20±0.01%,红色型分别为20.0±5.8%和0.19±0.00%,与CK间差异显著(P0.05);5mg·L-1时绿豌豆蚜产蚜量和产蚜率最低,分别为2.0±0.0头/单雌和6.7±3.3%,与CK间差异显著(P0.05)。研究结果可为次生代谢物质抗豌豆蚜的生化机理研究提供理论依据和技术支持。     

埃勒斯致病杆菌SN22发酵液中Xenorhabic acid的分离

从土壤中分离得到一株抗菌活性菌株,通过16SrDNA基因序列相似性和系统发育分析,发现该菌株为埃勒斯致病杆菌,并将其命名为埃勒斯致病杆菌SN22（Xenorhabdus ehlersii SN22）。利用硅胶柱层析结合凝胶柱层析技术,从埃勒斯致病杆菌SN22（X.ehlersii SN22）发酵液中分离得到化合物 1 ,通过核磁共振波谱、质谱及X-光单晶衍射技术分析,鉴定其为3-（环己-2-烯）丙烯酸。文献调研发现,该化合物为新的天然产物,命名为Xenorhabic acid。采用菌丝生长速率法测定了该化合物对植物病原真菌的抑菌活性;采用微量稀释法测定了其对病原细菌的最小抑制浓度。结果表明:其对向日葵菌核病菌Sclerotinia sclerotiorum和瓜果腐霉病菌Pythium aphanidermatum菌丝生长具有明显抑制作用,其EC₅₀值分别为27.99和29.55 μg/mL;对大肠埃希杆菌Escherichia coli的最小抑制浓度（MIC）为62.5 μg/mL。     

日粮添加亮氨酸和苯丙氨酸对荷斯坦公犊生长性能及血清代谢物的影响

【目的】研究日粮添加亮氨酸和苯丙氨酸对犊牛生长性能和血清代谢物的影响,为亮氨酸和苯丙氨酸在奶牛高效生产中的应用提供理论参考。【方法】试验选取20头1日龄体重为(38±3)kg的荷斯坦公犊,随机分为4组,分别为对照组、亮氨酸组(1.435 g·L~(-1))、苯丙氨酸组(0.725 g·L~(-1))、混合氨基酸组(1.435 g·L~(-1)亮氨酸和0.725 g·L~(-1)苯丙氨酸),每组5头牛,各组以丙氨酸调节为等氮日粮。犊牛单独饲喂,试验共8周,预试期1周,正试期7周。试验犊牛单圈饲养,试验日粮由原奶和开食料组成。犊牛出生后,1 h内饲喂4.0 L初乳。此后1周为过渡期,日喂原奶2次,每次3.0 L。过渡期内以氨基酸添加量的20%为梯度逐天增加,至出生第6天达到添加量的100%。2—8周为正试期,日饲喂添加氨基酸的原奶2次。第2—3周每次3.5 L,4—8周每次4.0 L。第3周开始定量供给开食料,自由饮水。在犊牛1、3、5、7、8周龄测定体重、体高、体斜长和胸围,计算体躯指数和体长指数;采集10 mL血液用于获得血清,并检测其氨基酸组成、葡萄糖、尿素氮、胰岛素和胆囊收缩素。采用IBM SPSS Statistics V22.0统计软件GLM过程进行统计分析,采用LSD法进行多重比较。【结果】混合氨基酸组平均日增重显著低于其余3组(P0.05)。相对于对照组,各处理组显著提高最终体斜长(P0.05)。亮氨酸和苯丙氨酸具有降低最终体高的趋势(P0.10),而苯丙氨酸显著降低最终胸围(P0.05)。与对照组相比,亮氨酸组和混合氨基酸组显著提高犊牛8周龄体躯指数(P0.05)。但各组犊牛初始体重、体斜长、体高、胸围、体躯指数、体长指数和最终体重及体躯指数无显著差异(P0.05)。添加亮氨酸显著提高血清组氨酸、亮氨酸、苏氨酸、甘氨酸和总必需氨基酸的浓度(P0.05),趋于增加天冬氨酸和总氨酸浓度(P0.10),但显著降低丙氨酸和甘氨酸浓度(P0.05)。苯丙氨酸显著提高血清苯丙氨酸、谷氨酸和甘氨酸浓度(P0.05),对照组因添加丙氨酸调节为等氮日粮,其血清丙氨酸浓度显著高于亮氨酸组与混合氨基酸组(P0.05)。苯丙氨酸和亮氨酸对血清各种氨基酸浓度无交互效应(P0.05)。亮氨酸显著提高血清葡萄糖浓度(P0.05),苯丙氨酸降低血清葡萄糖浓度(P0.05),且与亮氨酸存在负交互效应(P0.05)。此外,苯丙氨酸显著提高血清尿素氮含量(P0.05),但亮氨酸和苯丙氨酸添加对血清中胰岛素及胆囊收缩素浓度无显著影响(P0.05)。【结论】日粮中添加亮氨酸可提高犊牛血清部分必需氨基酸、葡萄糖浓度、8周龄体躯指数和平均日增重。从以上指标可见,亮氨酸添加效果优于苯丙氨酸,但二者在影响血清葡萄糖浓度方面存在负交互效应。     

杜仲叶影响绵羊血清代谢组学的研究

为探索杜仲叶（Eucommia ulmoides leaves,EUL）对绵羊营养代谢和生理功能的影响,本研究选取25~30 kg、70~80日龄的湖羊30只,随机分为3组,每组10只,分别为对照组（无杜仲叶日粮组,CTL）、低剂量添加组（10%杜仲叶日粮组,EUL1）、高剂量添加组（20%杜仲叶日粮组,EUL2）。预试期15 d,正试期90 d。试验结束时,通过静脉采血,离心后分别取血浆和血清,血浆用于生化分析,血清用于代谢组学分析。结果显示,饲喂杜仲叶后,EUL1和EUL2组绵羊血浆中葡萄糖、非酯化脂肪酸、高密度脂蛋白和极低密度脂蛋白均升高,EUL2组与CTL组差异显著或极显著（P<0.05;P<0.01）,EUL1组与CTL组差异不显著（P>0.05）;EUL1和EUL2组尿素较CTL组极显著降低（P<0.01）,总胆固醇水平显著降低（P<0.05）,EUL1和EUL2组间差异不显著（P>0.05）。血清样品采用液相色谱-质谱联用仪（LC-MS）进行检测,在正模式下得到593个代谢物,在负模式下得到1 570个代谢物。通过主成分分析（PCA）、偏最小二乘判别分析（PLS-DA）及正交偏最小二乘判别分析（OPLS-DA）发现,各试验组间的差异代谢物较多,能将其得分图明显区分。进一步对变量重要性因子大于1.0（VIP>1.0）的代谢物进行t检验后发现,各组之间有24种特征代谢物差异显著（P<0.05）。这些差异代谢物涉及体内葡萄糖、脂肪酸和氨基酸等的代谢,有的代谢物还与动物的免疫机能相关。杜仲叶饲料对绵羊的营养代谢、生理状态和免疫状况可产生明显的影响,代谢组学可有针对性地分析代谢物发生的步骤及生理作用,为阐明杜仲叶影响营养代谢的机制提供参考。     

CO_2浓度升高对万寿菊生长发育与光合生理的影响

为探究经济花卉万寿菊响应CO_2浓度升高的生理机制,以万寿菊金币品种为试材,利用OTC(open top chamber)系统进行CO_2浓度控制试验,测定了万寿菊形态特征、叶片组织结构、光合色素含量、光合作用及糖类代谢物的变化。结果表明,本试验种植的万寿菊维管束中无"花环状"结构,是菊科中的C_3植物。CO_2浓度升高后,万寿菊叶片栅栏组织增多,栅栏组织内的叶绿体数量增加,光合色素含量增加,净光合速率增强,气孔导度和蒸腾速率在现蕾期和初花期下降,而在盛花期增加,水分利用率在各生育时期均增加。此外,CO_2浓度升高后,万寿菊叶片中还原糖含量、可溶性总糖含量、淀粉含量、纤维素含量均增加。植株的株高、茎粗、单株茎秆重、单株总生物量均有增加,花朵总产量增加27.46%。综上可知,CO_2浓度升高促进了万寿菊叶片光合作用和碳代谢,有利于万寿菊的生长发育。本研究结果有助于揭示万寿菊响应CO_2浓度升高的生理机制,为未来的万寿菊生产开发提供了依据。     

Root zone selenium reduces cadmium toxicity by modulating tissue-specific growth and metabolism in maize (Zea mays L.)

The effects of selenium (Se) cadmium (Cd) interactions on plant growth and metabolism are not fully clear. In the present study, we assessed whether Se could alleviate the toxic effects of Cd on growth and metabolism of maize. Seeds of maize variety FH-985 were sown in pots filled with sand treated with CdCl₂ (0, 50 and 100 µM) and Se (0, 2 and 4 mg L^?1) through Hoagland’s nutrient solution. Low Se (2 mg L^?1) increased germination percentage and rate, while high Se (4 mg L^?1) increased fresh and dry biomass under Cd stress. Interestingly, all Se concentrations were effective in alleviating the toxic effects of Cd on photosynthetic pigments, whereas higher Se mitigated the Cd-induced oxidative stress and increased flavonoids both in the shoots and roots while phenolics in the roots. The results demonstrated that root zone Se altered tissue-specific primary metabolism in maize. Furthermore, low Se mitigated the Cd-induced decrease in total proteins in the root. Overall, Se-mediated decrease in the oxidative stress in the shoots while increase of secondary metabolites in the roots helped the plants to grow faster at early growth stage and caused increase in the biomass under different Cd regimes.     

Antioxidant activity and soluble sugars of African ginger (Siphonochilus aethiopicus) in response to irrigation regimen and nitrogen levels

African ginger (Siphonochilus aethiopicus), as a medicinal plant, is known for its medicinal properties, containing various antioxidant compounds and carbohydrates. Rhizome yield is improved by water regimens and fertilizers applied at plant phenological stages. However, the rhizomatous herb, which is traditionally used for the treatment of asthma, inflammation and malaria has limited information on water and nitrogen requirements for its production. This study assessed the effect of irrigation regimens (30%, 50% and 70% allowable depletion level (ADL) and nitrogen (N) levels (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200?kg?ha^?1) on antioxidant activity and carbohydrates on plant leaf, root and rhizome. The interaction treatment effect of severely stressed (70% ADL) with the N application of 100?kg?ha^?1 had significant effect on leaf phenolic concentration (87.02?±?2.51?mg?g^?1 gallic acid equivalent). Interaction effect of moderately stressed (50% ADL) and severely stressed (70% ADL) treatment with N application rate of 0?kg?ha^?1 had significant effect on plant flavonoids and phenolics in all plant parts. In plant carbohydrates, root had high sucrose content (47.68?±?9.0?mg?g^?1 dry weight) with the application of low N (0?kg?ha^?1) grown under severely stressed treatment. In conclusion, this implies that different S. aethiopicus parts can produce substantial amount of antioxidants and carbohydrates, as exhibited under low N and reduced water supply applied during the phenological cycle.