Quantitative trait loci responsible for the difference in γ-oryzanol content in brown rice between japonica-type and indica-type rice cultivars

γ-Oryzanol is a main oleophilic component in rice bran oil and has been well recognized as a good dietary supplement for human health, as well as having uses in industrial materials. japonica-type rice cultivars generally showed significantly higher contents of total γ-oryzanol in brown rice compared with indica-type cultivars, although within-group variation was significant. The objective of this study was to explore quantitative trait loci (QTLs) responsible for the difference in the γ-oryzanol content between japonica-type and indica-type rice cultivars, using recombinant inbred lines (RILs), backcross inbred lines (BILs), and corresponding chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) derived from crosses between japonica-type and indica-type. Results from RILs and BILs showed that eight QTLs were detected with R² from .09 to .16. Nine candidate regions for QTL were also suggested from corresponding CSSLs. These QTLs from RILs and BILs and the candidate regions from CSSLs were not overlapped, although one QTLs was mapped near the boundaries of the respective candidate region. At four QTLs and three candidate regions, alleles or segments from japonica-type caused higher contents than those from indica-type. On the other hand, at the other four QTLs and six candidate regions, alleles or segments from indica-type caused higher contents than those from japonica-type, which is a reverse result to the parental differences. This result strongly suggested that alleles with increasing effects on γ-oryzanol content could be accumulated not only from japonica-type but also from indica-type, leading to a potential for increase in γ-oryzanol content in future breeding programs.     

茶树越冬芽在休眠与萌发时期的物质交流变化及其分子调控

为揭示不同萌发物候型茶树的休眠机制,以特早生茶树品种龙井43和中生茶树品种碧云为材料,利用钙黄素处理茶树茎段,检测越冬芽在休眠与萌发时期与其他器官的物质交流情况。利用同源比对鉴定胼胝质水解相关基因,并分析其序列特征及在冬季不同时期的表达模式。结果表明,越冬芽在茶树生长阶段和休眠阶段都存在着与着生茎段和母叶间的物质交流;从茶树越冬芽休眠形成到解除的不同时期,其物质交流存在"强-弱-强"的变化规律,但龙井43的与碧云相比存在较短的物质交流减弱时期;两种茶树的物质交流变化模式与鉴定到的茶树胼胝质水解正向调控相关基因CsGLU1的表达模式密切相关;启动子序列分析进一步证实CsGLU1启动子区有多个与激素信号以及低温和休眠响应相关转录因子结合的保守序列。茶树越冬芽在休眠和非休眠状态下都存在与茎和母叶之间的物质交流,且物质交流强弱与茶树越冬芽休眠状态改变密切相关。CsGLU1可能是参与胼胝质水解调控,改变茶树越冬芽物质交流水平,进而影响茶树休眠状态的关键基因。这对明确茶树越冬芽休眠状态变化和深入揭示不同萌发物候型茶树休眠机理有重要意义。     

番茄绿果与橙果间果实颜色及主要色素含量的遗传研究

对番茄组合绿樱(绿果)×金珠1号(橙果)的6个世代遗传群体(P1、P2、F1、BC1、BC2和F2)进行果色性状、番茄红素含量、叶绿素含量和胡萝卜素含量等的遗传规律分析。结果表明:正反交F1的果色性状无明显差异,而色素含量存在显著差异;说明番茄果色性状受核基因控制,而色素含量遗传除受核基因控制外还可能存在胞质效应。采用多世代联合分析法的分析结果表明,番茄绿果与橙果间的果色性状符合2对加性主基因+加性-显性多基因(MX2-A-AD)遗传模型,其BC1、BC2和F2主基因遗传率分别为73.42%、78.25%和61.41%,多基因遗传率分别为22.87%、15.35%和34.94%,即果色性状遗传的主基因遗传力较强;叶绿素含量符合1对负向显性主基因+加性-显性多基因(MX1-AEND-AD)遗传模型,其BC1、BC2和F2主基因遗传率分别为0、1.73%和0.65%,多基因遗传率分别为45.47%、0和37.82%,即主基因遗传力在BC2群体中最高,多基因遗传力在BC1群体中最高;番茄红素含量与胡萝卜素含量均符合2对加性-显性-上位性主基因+加性-显性多基因(MX2-ADI-AD)遗传模型,其BC1、BC2和F2主基因遗传率分别为75.74%、1.79%、84.26%和61.53%、87.21%、81.05%,多基因遗传率分别为20.32%、74.12%、12.68%和0.68%、0、0,表明番茄红素含量和胡萝卜素含量的主基因遗传力较强。     

Effects of Pre-Stratification Storage Conditions on Black Walnut Seed Post-Stratification Germination Capacity

The objective of this work was to quantify changes in the germination capacity of Juglans nigra seeds following storage and then artificial stratification. Seeds were stored at 5 and –20 °C under 5% and 14% internal moisture content (IMC) for 0, 8, 10, and 12 months under conditions with oxygen or under vacuum. Germination percentage (GP) was affected by storage temperature, IMC, and storage period. Seeds stored with 5% IMC succeeded in germinating regardless of the temperature. Seeds stored with 14% IMC did not germinate (–20 °C) or germinated during storage (5 °C). The GP was reduced with the time of storage in seeds at –20 °C and 5% IMC and this effect was avoided in storage under vacuum. In conclusion, the germination capacity of black walnut seeds did not change for up to 12 months at low above-zero temperature and low IMC (5 °C, 5% IMC), being the most cost-effective alternative for long-term storage of black walnut seeds in commercial nurseries. Vacuum storage avoided the decrease of around 50% in average germination capacity of seeds stored for a year at –20 °C.     

Breeding for increased grain protein and micronutrient content in wheat: Ten years of the GPC-B1 gene

To provide food and nutrition security for a growing world population, continued improvements in the yield and nutritional quality of agricultural crops will be required. Wheat is an important source of calories, protein and micronutrients and is thus a priority to breed for improvements in these traits. The GRAIN PROTEIN CONTENT-B1 (GPC-B1) gene is a positive regulator of nutrient translocation which increases protein, iron and zinc concentration in the wheat grain. In the ten years since it was cloned, the impacts of GPC-B1 allelic variation on quality and yield traits have been extensively analyzed in diverse genetic backgrounds in field studies spanning forty environments and seven countries. In this review, we compile data from twenty-five studies to summarize the impact of GPC-B1 allelic variation on fifty different traits. Taken together, the results demonstrate that the functional copy of the GPC-B1 gene is associated with consistent positive effects on grain protein, Fe and Zn content with only marginally negative impacts on yield. We conclude that the GPC-B1 gene has the potential to increase nutritional and end use quality in a wide range of modern cultivars and environments and discuss the possibilities for its application in wheat breeding.     

Characterizing the pigmented traditional rice cultivars grown in temperate regions of Kashmir (India) for free and bound phenolics compounds and in vitro antioxidant properties

The purpose of the research was to identify the phenolic and flavonoid compounds of seven different traditional pigmented whole rice cultivars grown in the temperate regions of Kashmir so as to study their relationship with in vitro antioxidant capacities. The completely pigmented rice cultivars were found to have higher phenolic, flavonoid, anthocyanin contents and exhibited higher antioxidant capacities than the light colored and sparely colored rice cultivars. A total of 40 compounds had been identified in the analyzed rice cultivars that were found to be distributed in 6 major categories with 6-phenolics, 6-flavonoids, 11-hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, 7-hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives, 3-anthocyanins and 7-flavonoid glucosides of different flavonoid compounds. Among the free and bound fractions for each cultivars the light and sparsely colored depicted higher content of phenolics and in vitro antioxidant properties in bound faction, while the completely pigmented cultivars showed higher antioxidant properties in free fractions. The anthocyanins quercetin-3-O-galactoside, cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside and pelargonidin-3-O-diglucoside had been identified by LC-MS existing in the free fractions of the analyzed rice cultivars whereas, the free fraction of acetone + H₂O possessed higher percentage of phenolic compounds as compared to methanolic extracts and bound fractions. The black colored cultivars possessed higher DPPH scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation inhibition.     

Responses of glutamine synthetase activity and gene expression to nitrogen levels in winter wheat cultivars with different grain protein content

Glutamine synthetase (GS) plays a central role in plant nitrogen (N) metabolism, which improves crops grain protein content. A pot experiment in field condition was carried out to evaluate GS expression and activity, and grain protein content in high (Wanmai16) and low grain protein (Loumai24) wheat cultivars under two N levels (0.05 and 0.15 g N kg⁻¹ soil). High nitrogen (HN) resulted in significant increases in GS1 and GS2 expression at 10 days after anthesis (DAA), and higher GS activity during the entire grain filling stage. HN also significantly increased yield, grain protein content and protein fraction (except for glutenin of Luomai24) in two wheat cultivars, which indicated that it increased grain yield and protein content by improving nitrogen metabolism. Wanmai16 showed higher grain protein content, gliadin and glutenin content, and had higher expression level of GS2 both in flag leaves and grains at early grain filling stage. However, Luomai24 had greater yield and higher expression level of GS1. The difference expression of GS2 and GS1 genes indicates they had various contributions to the accumulation of protein and starch in wheat grains, respectively. The results suggest that GS2 would be serving as a potential breeding target for improving wheat quality.     

不同柱花草绿肥种质磷含量差异研究

柱花草是世界热区重要的绿肥与牧草兼用的豆科作物。作为豆科绿肥,磷含量是影响绿肥品质的重要指标。本文对134份柱花草绿肥种质的磷含量进行了分析评价,结果表明,供试的134份柱花草绿肥种质有133份种质磷含量在0.3%以下,这些柱花草的磷含量达到四级有机肥磷含量标准,仅有1份柱花草种质的磷含量高于0.3%,其磷含量达到三级有机肥磷含量标准。     

Kernel vitreousness and protein content: Relationship,interaction and synergistic effects on durum wheat quality

Four sets of durum samples were used in this study to further understand the interrelationships among hard vitreous kernels (HVK), protein content, and pigment concentration, with a focus on the interaction and synergistic effects of protein content and vitreousness on durum quality. HVK level increases with higher protein content in the range of 9.5–12.5%, but this relationship is less evident in durum samples with high protein content (12.5–14.5%). Both protein content and kernel vitreousness can significantly affect durum milling quality. White starchy kernels (WSK) in low protein durum have a very detrimental impact on milling and pasta processing quality, but high protein content can mitigate the adverse impact of WSK on durum quality. Although protein content plays a dominant role, higher HVK might contribute positively to pasta firmness. There was no significant difference in yellow pigment content between HVK and WSK. However, pigment loss from semolina to dough was higher for WSK than HVK. Despite the difference in protein content, HVK and WSK have little difference in gluten strength. The monomeric protein was preferentially accumulated in HVK. The glutenin proteins of HVK and WSK were similar in the ratios of 1Bx/1By and HMW/LMW-GS.     

含水率和颗粒级配对稍密碎石土抗剪性能及地基承载力的影响

碎石土因特殊的工程特性而被科研人员关注,但对大粒径、粉质粘土填充、稍密状态下碎石土的力学性能涉足较少。根据该类型碎石土特点及大量勘察结果配置出两种比较典型级配的稍密碎石土,通过大型直剪试验仪测定了不同含水率状态下碎石土试样的抗剪强度,绘制剪应力与水平位移的关系图,通过一元回归得出稍密碎石的抗剪强度指标c、φ值,分析了不同含水率、不同级配对稍密碎石土抗剪性能的影响。结果表明：随着含水率的增大,碎石土粘聚力总体呈减小趋势,但变化趋势具有显著的阶段性且和粉质粘土的含量有关,含水率变化对碎石土内摩擦角的影响较小。用规范推荐方法计算了该类型碎石土地基承载力,并与地方规范经验取值和勘察工程实践取值进行了对比,结果表明：含水率对地基承载力影响较大,且与碎石土填充物的粉质粘土含量有关,粉质粘土含量越高,承载力影响越大。