Relationship between parameters of electrical impedance spectroscopy and frost hardiness in stems and needles of Pinus bungeana

We studied the frost hardiness (FH) in stems and needles of different Pinus bungeana provenances during frost hardening by means of electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and conventional electrolytic leakage (EL) and compared the regression equations of the two methods in order to optimize the EIS method for studying FH on plants. During frost hardening, EIS and EL were applied to one-year old stems and needles of P. bungeana in an 8-year provenance field trial at the Thirteen Tombs Nursery in Beijing within the provenances of Mangshan of Beijing, Liangdang of Gansu and Xiaoyi of Shanxi provinces, China. A double-DCE model and Model-A were used, respectively, for the EIS analysis of stems and needles that were not exposed to a controlled freezing treatment. After controlled freezing tests, the FH of stems and needles were assessed by EIS and EL. Without controlled freezing tests, the relaxation time (τ ₁) of stems and the specific intracellular resistance (r _i) of stems and needles displayed a statistically significant correlation with FH (R ² = 0.79–0.86); after controlled freezing tests, specific extracellular resistance (r _e) of the stems and needles, the cell membrane time constant (τ _m) of needles displayed an even higher correlation with FH (R ² = 0.92–0.94). There were significant relationship between EIS and EL in assessing the FH of stems and needles of P. bungeana, but EIS underestimated FH more than EL did. EIS is one of the more promising methods for assessing FH, especially without employing a controlled freezing test. __________ Translated from Scientia Silvae Sinicae, 2008, 44(4): 28–34 [译自:林业 科学]     

Design of subretinal artificial chip based on standard CMOS technology

A chip with smaller size and higher pixel density was designed to increase the chip’s pixel density in subretinal prosthesis. This chip was designed on 0.35 μm standard CMOS(complementary metal oxide semiconductor) technology of CHRT company, while the double inverter relaxation oscillator was chosen as the basic pixel circuit. By creating layout on Cadence software, the circuit was debugged and simulated. The experiment results show that the pixel circuit provide effective pulse signals whose values and frequencies can vary with photocurrent to stimulate retinal nerve cells. For the simulated layout, the pulse width was 0.26 ms, the frequency was 18～503 Hz, the pixel size was 65 μm×65 μm, and the chip size was 1.1 mm×1.1 mm. All of the parameters can satisfy the requirement to stimulate retinal nerve cells in physiology. The experiment results provide a good foundation for the following research.     

Developmental stages, larval and post-larval growth of angelwing clam Pholas orientalis

Angelwing clam were induced to spawn by thermal stimulation. Mature eggs measured 50 μm in diameter. Cell division occurred within 36 min after fertilization. Mobile trochophore larvae were seen after 12 h and larvae developed within 18 h. Reared on a diet of Isochrysis galbana the larvae reached the umbo stage in 6–7 days. On day 10 the foot could be seen and settlement occurred if a suitable substrate was present. The larvae completed metamorphosis into juveniles within 20 days after settling.     

Influence of Electronarcosis on Behavioral Responses,Blood Markers,and Fillet Properties of Silver Catfish (Rhamdia quelen)

Behavioral responses, blood markers, and fillet properties were investigated after silver catfish exposure to different electric field strengths, frequency, and duration of electric current in the preslaughter stunning. All combinations of electric fields and frequencies were able to stun fish. Longer apparent stun was obtained at the intermediate electrical frequencies. High electric field strength detracted the texture of fillets. At least 5 s was required to stun fish, and longer exposure to electrical current did not prolong the apparent stun or damage fillet properties. Results indicate that silver catfish are relatively resistant to electronarcosis.     

不同种源香椿抗寒性试验

以河南西峡等10个种源1年生香椿为材料,研究了不同低温处理条件下离体茎段的相对电导率,并与活体茎段及自然降温过程中各种源的表现进行了分析比较.用Logistic方程拟合曲线,求出拐点温度即低温半致死温度(LT_50),作为评价各种源香椿抗寒能力的参考指标.结果表明:各种源离体茎段相对电导率随处理温度的降低而呈"S"形曲线上升,其LT_50最低者为山东济南种源为-7.94℃,最高者为福建霞浦种源为-3.88℃;10个种源香椿抗寒性由大到小依次为山东济南、山东荷泽、河南西峡、陕西安康、江苏南京、四川广元、湖南洞口、湖北随州、贵州黔西南、福建霞浦,与大田自然越冬条件下各种源的表现基本一致.     

Chemical stress can increase crop yield

Low dose chemical stress has been shown to increase plant vegetative growth, though not all chemicals induce the response. Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide by volume and treated area. At low doses, it can increase growth in a variety of species. Here we show that a glyphosate-induced growth increase can be transformed into an increase in crop yield, if applied at the right time. Glyphosate, in the dose range of 2.5–20 g a.e. ha⁻¹, corresponding to less than 1% of the rate normally used for weed control in the field, increased grain yield of barley by 12–15% when applied at the time of grain filling. Straw yield and the quality of the grains in terms of nitrogen and starch content were not affected by the treatment. The physiological mechanism behind this counter intuitive increase in growth is still unknown, as are possible adverse effects. It is, however, evident that understanding the physiological processes behind chemically induced growth increases in plants holds the promise of improving food yield.     

高压脉冲电场预处理对果蔬脱水特性的影响

针对高压脉冲电场预处理物料细胞膜渗透性改变的原理,综合了国内外关于高压脉冲电场预处理果蔬干燥效果的研究成果,阐述了高压脉冲电场在果蔬脱水研究中的应用的可行性,主要就预处理机理、对果蔬形态影响与作用效果、影响因素等方面做了介绍,并对应用前景进行了展望。     

不同入渗条件下土壤脱盐效果的试验研究

通过室内试验,采用控制土壤水流速和入渗水量的方法,研究了不同土壤水流速和入渗水量对土壤脱盐效果的影响。试验结果表明:入渗流速与入渗水量都是影响土壤脱盐效果的显著因素。入渗过程中,水分在土壤中的渗透流速越慢,脱盐效果越好;渗透水量和与之对应的单位水量排盐率呈极显著的幂函数递减关系。     

The potential of high spatial resolution information to define within-vineyard zones related to vine water status

The goal of this study was to test the usefulness of high-spatial resolution information provided by airborne imagery and soil electrical properties to define plant water restriction zones within-vineyards. The main contribution of this is to propose a study on a large area representing the regions’ vineyard diversity (different age, different varieties and different soils) located in southern France (Languedoc-Roussillon region, France). Nine non-irrigated plots were selected for this work in 2006 and 2007. In each plot, different zones were defined using the high-spatial resolution (1 m²) information provided by airborne imagery (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index, NDVI). Within each zone, measurements were conducted to assess: (i) vine water status (Pre-dawn Leaf Water Potential, PLWP), (ii) vine vegetative expression (vine trunk circumference and canopy area), (iii) soil electrical resistivity and, (iv) harvest quantity and quality. Large differences were observed for vegetative expression, yield and plant water status between the individual NDVI-defined zones. Significant differences were also observed for soil resistivity and vine trunk circumference, suggesting the temporal stability of the zoning and its relevance to defining vine water status zones. The NDVI zoning could not be related to the observed differences in quality, thus showing the limitations in using this approach to assess grape quality under non-irrigated conditions. The paper concludes with the approach that is currently being considered: using NDVI zones (corresponding to plant water restriction zones) in association with soil electrical resistivity and plant water status measurements to provide an assessment of the spatial variability of grape production at harvest.     

NaCl和PEG引发对甘蓝种子发芽及其质膜透性的影响

以晚丰一代、中甘11号甘蓝品种为材料,用100 mmol.L-1NaCl和25%PEG-6000在20℃下进行种子引发处理,研究了引发处理对种子发芽和相对电导率的影响。结果表明:用25%PEG-6000对两个甘蓝品种进行引发处理24 h,可促进种子迅速发芽、出苗,提高种子发芽势、发芽率、发芽指数和活力指数。用100 mmol.L-1NaCl对中甘11号种子进行引发24 h,在一定程度上也可以促进种子发芽,但对两个品种种子的伤害也较明显。供试的两个甘蓝品种耐逆性存在差异,中甘11号耐盐性要强于晚丰一代。用100 mmol.L-1NaCl引发两个甘蓝品种的种子24 h、25%PEG-6000引发48 h,都显著地降低了种子的相对电导率。