Diversity in the carotenoid profiles and the expression of genes related to carotenoid accumulation among citrus genotypes

Carotenoids are not only important to the plants themselves but also are beneficial to human health. Since citrus fruit is a good source of carotenoids for the human diet, it is important to study carotenoid profiles and the accumulation mechanism in citrus fruit. Thus, in the present paper, we describe the diversity in the carotenoid profiles of fruit among citrus genotypes. In regard to carotenoids, such as β-cryptoxanthin, violaxanthin, lycopene, and β-citraurin, the relationship between the carotenoid profile and the expression of carotenoid-biosynthetic genes is discussed. Finally, recent results of quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses of carotenoid contents and expression levels of carotenoid-biosynthetic genes in citrus fruit are shown.     

6种钝化剂对糙米镉含量及镉在水稻中的转移和富集的影响

旨在为合理使用钝化剂及水稻糙米镉(Cd)含量与Cd在水稻体内富集和转移的关系提供一定的理论依据。从6种钝化剂中筛选出能够抑制糙米Cd积累的材料,通过对不同超标程度水稻组的产量、糙米Cd含量、各个器官对Cd的富集系数和转移系数进行统计分析,探讨不同钝化剂对Cd在水稻体内转移和富集的影响。结果表明:与对照相比,低、中浓度C材料和FA材料能够降低糙米中Cd浓度;FB材料和中、高浓度FD材料会促使糙米中Cd的积累。水稻各器官对Cd富集能力,无超标水稻为根茎米叶糠,超标水稻为根茎米糠叶;Cd向糙米的转移途径中,在不超标水稻组中糠—米的转移能力最强,在超标水稻组中叶—米的转移能力最强。     

In-field management of corn cob and residue mix: Effect on soil greenhouse gas emissions

In-field management practices of corn cob and residue mix (CRM) as a feedstock source for ethanol production can have potential effects on soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of CRM piles, storage in-field, and subsequent removal on soil CO₂ and N₂O emissions. The study was conducted in 2010–2012 at the Iowa State University, Agronomy Research Farm located near Ames, Iowa (42.0°′N; 93.8°′W). The soil type at the site is Canisteo silty clay loam (fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, calcareous, mesic Typic Endoaquolls). The treatments for CRM consisted of control (no CRM applied and no residue removed after harvest), early spring complete removal (CR) of CRM after application of 7.5 cm depth of CRM in the fall, 2.5 cm, and 7.5 cm depth of CRM over two tillage systems of no-till (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) and three N rates (0, 180, and 270 kg N ha⁻¹) of 32% liquid UAN (NH₄NO₃) in a randomized complete block design with split–split arrangements. The findings of the study suggest that soil CO₂ and N₂O emissions were affected by tillage, CRM treatments, and N rates. Most N₂O and CO₂ emissions peaks occurred as soil moisture or temperature increased with increase precipitation or air temperature. However, soil CO₂ emissions were increased as the CRM amount increased. On the other hand, soil N₂O emissions increased with high level of CRM as N rate increased. Also, it was observed that NT with 7.5 cm CRM produced higher CO₂ emissions in drought condition as compared to CT. Additionally, no differences in N₂O emissions were observed due to tillage system. In general, dry soil conditions caused a reduction in both CO₂ and N₂O emissions across all tillage, CRM treatments, and N rates.     

浅谈大田县政策性水稻种植保险现状及对策

大田县开展政策性水稻保险工作取得显著的成效。该文总结了大田县推进政策性水稻种植保险的意义、现状、存在问题,并提出今后完善政策性水稻种植保险的对策。     

低碳节约型园林的探索

随着社会经济和城市建设的迅速发展，自然资源和生态环境等面临着巨大压力，矛盾日益突出，本文主要结合目前非常流行的低碳经济讨论了建设节约型的园林。     

Salt Effect on the Antioxidant Activity of Red Microalgal Sulfated Polysaccharides in Soy-Bean Formula

Sulfated polysaccharides produced by microalgae, which are known to exhibit various biological activities, may potentially serve as natural antioxidant sources. To date, only a few studies have examined the antioxidant bioactivity of red microalgal polysaccharides. In this research, the effect of different salts on the antioxidant activities of two red microalgal sulfated polysaccharides derived from Porphyridium sp. and Porphyridium aerugineum were studied in a soy bean-based infant milk formula. Salt composition and concentration were both shown to affect the polysaccharides’ antioxidant activity. It can be postulated that the salt ions intefer with the polysaccharide chains’ interactions and alter their structure, leading to a new three-dimensional structure that better exposes antiooxidant sites in comparison to the polysaccharide without salt supplement. Among the cations that were studied, Ca²⁺ had the strongest enhancement effect on antioxidant activities of both polysaccharides. Understanding the effect of salts on polysaccharides’ stucture, in addition to furthering knowledge on polysaccharide bioactivities, may also shed light on the position of the antioxidant active sites.     

Changes in the properties of rice varieties with different amylose content on dry heat parboiling

Dry heat parboiling is a unique paddy processing technique that has been scarcely exploited. Dry heat parboiling at high temperature for short time and low temperature for long time on physical and physicochemical properties of three rice varieties differing in amylose content were studied. Hardness of the kernels increased from 66.4 N, 68.8 N and 59.8 N in raw samples to 89.1 N, 86.9 N and 59.8 N in parboiled high amylose, low amylose and waxy rice samples respectively. Rapid migration and evaporation of water from severely heated kernels caused cavity formation at the centre. Irreversible damage of amylopectin structures to leachable fractions caused continuous rise of the pasting curve. Crystallinity was thereby reduced. Parboiled high amylose samples gave X-ray diffraction patterns with peaks characteristic of A, B and V-type starch crystallinity. Crystalline starch-lipid complexes were observed in low amylose and waxy rices. The significant increase in the amount of rapidly digestible starch from 56.7%, 61.7% and 66.6% in raw samples to 92.1%, 90.8% and 94.8% respectively in severely processed rice samples and subsequent reduction in resistant starch from 24.5%, 21.2% and 18.4% to 0.4%, 1.9% and 0.1% indicated possibilities for targeted food use of the dry heat parboiled samples.     

Reconstructing mole tunnels using frequency-domain ground penetrating radar

The European mole (Talpa europaea L.) inhabits an underground tunnel system whereby the density, extent and condition of the subsurface tunnels are indicative of its activity. Currently, no survey method was able to reveal the spatial extent and condition of the mole's tunnel network. Frequency-domain ground penetrating radar (GPR) was evaluated on its potential to image these shallow tunnel systems. This technique allows for a non-invasive, high-resolution mapping of the subsurface. We examined the effectiveness of this GPR system for delineating the mole's tunnel network. The integration of different depth slices allowed a detailed overview of the tunnel system. Automatic feature recognition on these GPR images was proven valuable for the detection and representation of the mole tunnels. The GPR survey proved successful in mapping the mole's tunnel network, which facilitates the interpretation and characterization of the mole's living environment. This can be linked to the occurrence of earthworms, as the principle food source of the moles, which regulate important ecosystem processes within the soil. This offers new perspectives for the understanding of the mole's habitat.     

调环酸钙25%悬浮剂对直播稻抗倒伏和产量性状的影响

为了研究新型植物生长调节剂调环酸钙在直播稻上的应用效果,本研究设计了调环酸钙25%悬浮剂在直播稻武运粳8号上的田间试验,用来了解其对直播稻的抗倒伏性状和产量性状的影响。试验结果表明:在直播稻武运粳8号的分蘖期使用调环酸钙25%悬浮剂12~15g/667m2均能够显著降低水稻的株高,缩短茎基部节间长度,提高水稻的抗倒伏能力,同时也能显著提高水稻产量。