Functional polymorphism among members of abscisic acid receptor family(ZmPYL) in maize

Pyrabactin resistance 1-like proteins(PYLs) are direct receptors of abscisic acid(ABA). For the redundant and polymorphic functions, some members of the PYL family interact with components of other signaling pathways. Here, 253 positive colonies from a maize cDNA library were screened as interacting proteins with the members of ZmPYL family. After sequencing and function annotation, 17 of 28 interaction combinations were verified by yeast two-hybrid(Y2 H). The germination potential, taproot length and proline content of a quartet mutant of Arabidopsis PYL genes were significantly deceased comparing to the wild type(WT) under alkaline stress(pH 8.5) and 100 μmol L–1 methyl jasmonate(MeJA) induction. The malondialdehyde(MDA) content was significantly increased. After germinating in darkness, the characteristics of dark morphogenesis of the quartet mutant seedlings were more obvious than those of the WT. The differential expression of the related genes of photomorphogenesis in the mutant was much more than that in the WT. Three light and two JA responsive cis-affecting elements were identified during the promoter sequences of the AtPYL1 and AtPYL2 genes. These results suggested that functional polymorphism has evolved among the members of ZmPYL family. In response to developmental and environmental stimuli, they not only function as direct ABA receptors but also interact with components of other signaling pathways mediated JA, brassinosteroid(BR), auxin, etc., and even directly regulate downstream stress-related proteins. These signaling pathways can interact at various crosstalk points and different levels of gene expression within a sophisticated network.     

Characteristics of grain quality and starch fine structure of japonica rice kernels following preharvest sprouting

Preharvest sprouting (PHS) is one of the most serious defects that impacts rice production and grain quality. Knowledge about the effects of PHS on the eating and cooking quality (ECQ) of milled rice is limited. Here, we selected four japonica rice varieties to study the influences of PHS on grain quality. The results showed that PHS strongly led to poor grain appearance and the development of small starch granules whose surfaces were eroded. Analysis of starch fine structure revealed that PHS resulted in amylose (AM) degradation; in particular, PHS caused a decrease in the content of long AM chains. Moreover, PHS led to a decrease in the content of short amylopectin (AP) chains in the varieties Yandao 815 (YD815), Wuyugeng 27 (WY27) and Yangeng 13 (YG13), while the variety Sidao 785 (SD785) displayed the opposite trend. We propose that the main reasons for the decrease in starch crystallinity and the pasting profiles of the germinated rice were due to both the tendency of the AM content to decrease and the degree of this decrease in the content of the different AM chains along with changes in AP and other major components. All these changes caused by PHS led to a decrease in both ECQ and palatability of milled rice.     

Evaluation of Intestinal Absorption of Dietary Halocynthiaxanthin,a Carotenoid from the Sea Squirt Halocynthia roretzi

Halocynthiaxanthin is an acetylenic carotenoid mainly found in Halocynthia roretzi. To date, several bioactivities of halocynthiaxanthin have been reported, but its mechanism of digestion and absorption in mammals has not been studied yet. In this study, we evaluated the intestinal absorption of halocynthiaxanthin in mice. The halocynthiaxanthin-rich fraction was prepared from the tunicate Halocynthia roretzi. Mice were orally administered the fraction at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight. The halocynthiaxanthin levels in the plasma, liver, and small intestine, were quantified using HPLC-PDA, 1, 3, 6, and 9 h after ingestion. The halocynthiaxanthin-rich fraction mainly consisted of the all-trans form and a small amount of cis forms. These three isomers were detected in the plasma of mice 3 h after ingestion. Time-course changes after the ingestion of this fraction were found, with cis isomers being more abundant than the all-trans isomer in the mouse plasma and liver. In the small intestine, however, the all-trans isomer was primarily detected. The possibility that cis isomers might be absorbed rapidly from the small intestine cannot be denied, but our results suggest that dietary all-trans-halocynthiaxanthin might be isomerized to the cis isomer after intestinal absorption.     

种植年限对设施蔬菜土壤养分和环境的影响

为了给设施蔬菜地合理施肥提供依据,研究了不同种植年限设施蔬菜地土壤理化性质、微生物数量及酶活性变化,以露地土壤为对照(CK),采集种植1 a(年)、3 a、5 a、7 a、9 a、11 a、13 a、15 a、17 a、20 a以及20 a以上的0~20 cm设施蔬菜土壤样品,采用常规土壤理化性质检测方法测定了土壤理化性质和酶活性,采用平板计数法,分析土壤微生物数量。结果表明,设施菜地种植年限与土壤容重呈正相关,与土壤孔隙度呈负相关;设施菜地土壤pH值随种植年限的增加逐年降低,两者呈显著的负相关性;土壤EC值、土壤有机质和速效磷含量都随种植年限的增加而逐年增高,并与种植年限呈显著的正相关性;与CK相比,种植13 a的蔬菜样地土壤全氮和速效钾含量均显著地增加;连续种植20 a以上,设施蔬菜土壤含盐量比对照土壤显著地增加了486.49%。土壤细菌和放线菌数量、过氧化氢酶和碱性磷酸酶活性呈现出先增加后减少的趋势,且都在种植年限为11~13 a时达到最大;真菌数量随着种植年限的增加而增加,而土壤脲酶活性则随种植年限的增加呈下降趋势;转化酶活性随着种植年限的增加保持不变。土壤微生物数量与酶活性之间存在一定程度的相关关系,其中土壤真菌数量与土壤酶活性之间的相关性最为显著。综上所述,种植年限不同的设施菜地,土壤养分失衡,呈现酸化趋势,盐分含量逐年增加,土传真菌病害潜在发生,对设施蔬菜生产不利。     

大红犀猎蝽对草地贪夜蛾3龄幼虫捕食功能反应

为探明天敌昆虫大红犀猎蝽Sycanus falleni对草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda幼虫的捕食潜力,在室内条件下测定大红犀猎蝽3龄若虫和成虫对草地贪夜蛾3龄幼虫的捕食功能反应、搜寻效应,以及不同自身密度对捕食草地贪夜蛾的干扰反应。结果表明:大红犀猎蝽3龄若虫和成虫对草地贪夜蛾3龄幼虫的捕食功能反应符合Holling II模型;其中大红犀猎蝽3龄若虫对草地贪夜蛾3龄幼虫的日最大捕食量、瞬时攻击率和处理时间分别为4.049头、1.198和0.247 d;大红犀猎蝽雌成虫对草地贪夜蛾3龄幼虫的日最大捕食量、瞬时攻击率和处理时间分别为47.619头、0.717和0.021 d;大红犀猎蝽雄成虫对草地贪夜蛾3龄幼虫的日最大捕食量、瞬时攻击率和处理时间分别为43.478头、0.650和0.023 d;大红犀猎蝽的捕食量与害虫密度正相关,搜寻效应与害虫密度负相关。大红犀猎蝽自身密度对捕食作用的干扰效应符合Hassell模型,对草地贪夜蛾3龄幼虫的捕食作用率随自身密度的增加而降低。表明大红犀猎蝽3龄若虫和成虫对草地贪夜蛾3龄幼虫均有一定的捕食能力,大红犀猎蝽成虫的捕食作用大于3龄若虫。     

The management type used in plum orchards alters the functional community structure of arthropod predators

Abstract

The management practices in agroecosystems can alter the community structure of pests’ natural enemies, which can consequently disturb their biocontrol function. Here, we investigated how organic or conventional farming influence the community structure of arthropod predators (spiders, coccinelids, anthocorids, ants) in orchards. The three conventional orchards studied were plum tree monocultures where mainly fungicides were applied. The three organic orchards studied were dominated by plum trees with admixture of apple trees and no agrochemical was applied. We found that management significantly affected only spiders that were less abundant in the conventional orchards than in the organic orchards. In addition, the conventional management resulted in reduced species density and altered the community composition of spiders. The conventional management reduced the functional dispersion of spider body size, which may narrow the size-spectrum of pests that could be reduced by spiders. The conventional management also reduced abundances of foliage hunters and space-web spiders. Since these spiders are effective against various insect pests, the conventional management of applying fungicides might result in increased crop damage via increased insect pests.     

Cultivation effects on soil texture and fertility in an arid desert region of northwestern China

In arid desert regions of northwestern China, reclamation and subsequent irrigated cultivation have become effective ways to prevent desertification, expand arable croplands, and develop sustainable agricultural production. Improvement in soil texture and fertility is crucial to high soil quality and stable crop yield. However, knowledge on the long-term effects of the conversion of desert lands into arable croplands is very limited. To address this problem, we conducted this study in an arid desert region of northwestern China to understand the changes in soil physical-chemical properties after 0, 2, 5, 10, 17, and 24 years of cultivation. Our results showed that silt and clay contents at the 17-year-old sites increased 17.5 and 152.3 folds, respectively, compared with that at the 0-year-old sites. The soil aggregate size fraction and its stability exhibited an exponential growth trend with increasing cultivation ages, but no significant change was found for the proportion of soil macroaggregates (>5.00 mm) during the 17 years of cultivation. The soil organic carbon (SOC) content at the 24-year-old sites was 6.86 g/kg and increased 8.8 folds compared with that at the 0-year-old sites. The total (or available) nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents showed significant increasing trends and reached higher values after 17 (or 24) years of cultivation. Changes in soil physical-chemical properties successively experienced slow, rapid, and stable development stages, but some key properties (such as soil aggregate stability and SOC) were still too low to meet the sustainable agricultural production. The results of this long-term study indicated that reasonable agricultural management, such as expanding no-tillage land area, returning straw to the fields, applying organic fertilizer, reducing chemical fertilizer application, and carrying out soil testing for formula fertilization, is urgently needed in arid desert regions.     

番茄/茄子嫁接对其根际土壤生物学性状及细菌群落结构的影响

以茄子作为砧木,番茄为接穗进行嫁接,并以番茄自根植株和茄子自根植株作为对照,基于传统及现代高通量测序技术分析根际土壤的生物学性状及细菌群落结构特征,旨在揭示嫁接植株抗性增强的机制。结果表明：番茄/茄子嫁接植株根际土壤中可培养细菌、放线菌数量,微生物生物量、酶活性和细菌丰富度、多样性指数均显著高于茄子和番茄自根植株;另一方面,norank_c_Acidobacteria、硝化螺菌属（Nitrospira）、芽孢杆菌属（Bacillus）、norank_f_Gemmatimonadaceae、norank_o_Gaiellales、norank_f_Xanthobacteraceae、norank_o_SC-I-84、norank_f_Anaerolineaceae、norank_f_Nitrosomonadaceae、鞘脂单胞菌属（Sphingomonas）细菌是嫁接植株与茄子、番茄自根植株根际土壤中的共有优势细菌属;g_unclassified_o_Ignavibacteriales 、 醋酸杆菌属（ g_Acetobacter ）、g_norank_f_Longimicrobiaceae 、g_unclassified_f_Verrucomicrobiaceae、g_norank_p_FBP、g_norank_p_Aminicenantes 属细菌是嫁接植株根际土壤的特有优势细菌属。与自根植株相比,番茄/茄子嫁接植株根际土壤存在更高可培养微生物数量,微生物生物量和相关酶活性,具有更高的土壤养分有效性,同时拥有不同占比的共有优势细菌门属,尤其拥有更为丰富的微生物可操作分类单元（operational taxonomic units,OTU）和特有 OTU 数量,这是嫁接植株抗性增强的主要原因。     

小麦秸秆复合基质对番茄幼苗生长发育的影响

为了充分利用农业废弃物小麦秸秆,进行草炭替代性育苗基质原料的研发,实现农业资源循环化利用和生态可持续发展。以番茄‘毛粉802’为材料,通过小麦秸秆腐熟物、草炭、蛭石和珍珠岩4种基质原料及1种生物菌肥进行不同体积配比处理,研究不同配比的小麦秸秆复合基质对番茄幼苗生长指标、叶片色素及荧光指标、幼苗叶片理化性质指标、基质生物指标和理化性质的影响,探究适合番茄幼苗生长的小麦秸秆复合育苗基质配方。利用灰色关联法对19项指标进行综合分析。结果表明,V腐熟小麦秸秆∶V蛭石∶V珍珠岩∶V生物菌肥=6∶2.5∶1∶0.5番茄幼苗表现最好,而番茄幼苗在纯小麦秸秆腐熟物上的生长量远远低于其他处理,番茄幼苗的表现最差。