Effect of Heat Stress on Grain Growth, Starch Synthesis and Protein Synthesis in Grains of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Varieties Differing in Grain Weight Stability

The effect of heat stress on the components of grain weight was analysed in wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) varieties differing in grain weight stability. The wheat varieties PBW154, Sonalika and Hindi62 were raised in the field (New Delhi, India; 77°12' E, 28°40' N, 228.6 m a.s.l.) at three dates of sowing: 19 November 1992 (DOS I), 14 December 1992 (DOS II) and 18 January 1993 (DOS III). The late-sown crop (DOS III) experienced 6–8 °C warmer temperatures during grain development than the crop sown at the normal time (DOS I). The heat susceptibility index (S) revealed that grain weight was less susceptible to heat in Sonalika and PBW154 than in Hindi62. Heat stress reduced both the grain growth duration (GGD) and the grain growth rate (GGR). The grain weight reduction in PBW154 and Sonalika was mainly due to a reduction in GGR, while that of Hindi62 was due to a reduction in GGD. In vivo studies on starch and protein synthesis in excised endosperm at 15, 25 and 35 °C revealed that both processes were more thermotolerant in Hindi62 than in PBW154. The grain starch content was stable in Hindi62 while that in PBW154 was significantly reduced under heat stress. The grain nitrogen content at maturity increased in both varieties under heat stress. It was concluded that the heat susceptibility of grain weight in Hindi62 was mainly due to a reduction in GGD, although GGR, starch and protein synthesis were more thermotolerant in developing grains of Hindi62 than in those of PBW154.     

Seasonal growth and diet of juvenile chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in demonstration channels and the main channel of the Waitaki River, New Zealand, 1982–1983

Abstract– Juvenile chinook salmon in the Waitaki River, New Zealand and demonstration channels, living at about 16°C, increased in length by 0.32 mm day⁻¹ between 4 November and 4 March. They gained weight quickly, accumulated large visceral fat deposits and had high conditions factors. At 1600 h, stomachs averaged half full. The number of prey tended to decline as the fish grew and consumed larger items. Initially the diet was based mainly on chironomid larvae, but by December it included a diversity of prey in more equal proportions. These included Deleatidium in the Waitaki; amphipods in the demonstration channels; various trichopterans, hemipterans, elmid beetles, zooplankton. terrestrial dipterans and a variety of other prey. There were significant differences between sites in numbers of prey consumed and these probably reflected differences in the benthos. Diets in the Waitaki differ from those in the Rakaia River and the food of juvenile salmon appears closely linked to the availability of a diverse range of possible prey.     

Reproductive roles predict sexual dimorphism in internal and external morphology of lake whitefish,Coregonus clupeaformis

Abstract – The different reproductive roles of the sexes can predict the direction and magnitude of sexual dimorphism of external and internal morphology. Males should have enlarged structures that enhance the acquisition of mating opportunities, whereas females are predicted to have enlarged organs that are associated with the production of eggs. We tested these predictions in male and female lake whitefish, a species in which both sexes have similar overall body size and shape. After controlling for body size, male lake whitefish had significantly longer jaws and pectoral and pelvic fins, larger hearts, and more muscle than females. Sexual dimorphism in relative muscle mass may be one of the most fundamental morphological differences between males and females. Females had relatively heavier livers than males. Because the liver is important for the breakdown of fats and vitellogenesis, selection should favour an enlarged liver in females for the processing of energy and the production of large numbers of eggs.     

Physiological Analysis of Yield Variation in Mungbean (Vigna radiata [Roxb.] Wilczek)

Two mungbean varieties, Guj-1 and PIMS-1 differing in their productivity potential, were examined to investigate their photosynthetic system at various stages of growth in relation to yield with two different dates of sowing. Vertical leaves were found to be beneficial. On the other hand, excessive leaf area during the later stages of growth may be detrimental to yield. Lower LAD at seedling stage and overall high NAR values may be reflected in higher grain yield. NAR declined as season progressed and this, in turn, may be related with increase in LAI. The grain yield was considerably more at the first date of sowing as compared to second date of sowing, the effect was being more pronounced in var. PIMS-1 . Various environmental factors recorded at two different dates of sowing and at various stages of growth indicated that these factors may have influenced the yield potential at two different dates of sowing.     

Analysis of Growth and Productivity of Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea) in Relation to FYM, Nitrogen and Source of Fertilizer

A field experiment was conducted during the winter seasons of 1992–93 and 1993–94 at Anand to study the effect of FYM, nitrogen and source of fertilizer on growth and yield of mustard [ Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj & Cosson]. The results showed significant variation in leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), dry matter production and seed yield. The direct effect of farmyard manure (FYM) was conspicuous in improving the growth of mustard. FYM application at 10 tonnes ha⁻¹ significantly increased the LAI, CGR and dry matter accumulation per plant at almost all the stages during first year study (1992–93) and in pooled analysis. Similarly, nitrogen application registered maximum LAI, CGR at 75 kg level and RGR and NAR at 50 kg level at almost all the during both years. Sulphur carrying source (Ammonium sulphate plus single super phosphate) increased all stages growth characters. Maximum dry matter accumulation per plant and seed yield were recorded with highest levels of FYM (20 tonnes ha⁻¹), N (75 kg ha⁻¹) and source having S. Seed yield was strongly associated with LAI and dry matter accumulation per plant at all the stages.     

Response of Mustard to Ethrel Spray and Basal and Foliar Application of Nitrogen

In a field trial conducted during 1992–93 and 1993–94, the effect of basal (B) nitrogen (N) (45 and 60 kg N ha⁻¹) and foliar application (F) of water (W) or 10 kg N ha⁻¹ and 400 or 600 ppm ethrel (E) (2-Chloro ethyl phosphonic acid) at 70 days after sowing was studied on leaf area index and dry mass at 90 days and pod number per plant, seeds per pod, 1000 seed weight, seed yield, oil content and oil vield at harvest of mustard ( Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss.) cv. T-59. Recommended basal (B) application of 90 kg N ha (BN₉₀) was used as control. On the basis of 2 year data it was found that basal application of 60 kg N and foliar spray of 10 kg N ha ⁻¹ and 600 ppm ethrel gave higher values for growth and yield characteristics and enhanced seed yield and oil yield by 12.5 and 14.8%, respectively over control BN_90.     

Prepenetration stages in infection of clematis by Phoma clematidina

A detailed study of conidial germination, germ-tube growth and the formation of infection structures in Phoma clematidina , the causal agent of clematis wilt, is described for two clematis varieties differing in disease resistance. On both the resistant and susceptible varieties, the fungus entered leaves and stems by direct penetration of the cuticle, often, but not always, following the formation of infection structures. More germ tubes per conidium were formed on the susceptible host, but these germ tubes were on average shorter than on the resistant host. Although germ tubes regularly entered the plant via trichomes, stomata were not found to be sites of entry. Following penetration of the cuticle of resistant plants, germ-tube growth was sometimes restricted to the subcuticular region, and halo formation occurred at the sites where penetration was attempted. Subcuticular growth and halo formation were not observed on susceptible plants. These observations may partly explain the resistance of small-flowered clematis varieties to P. clematidina .     

理化复合参数和神经网络结合的冬小麦长势遥感监测

准确、及时地监测区域作物长势状况对农业规划和政策的制定与调整具有重要的意义。遥感技术作为一种收集大面积作物长势信息的有效手段,正日益受到关注。为提高冬小麦长势遥感监测的准确性和全面性,该研究基于田间实测的冬小麦拔节期地上鲜生物量（aboveground fresh biomass,AFB）、叶面积指数（leaf area index,LAI）、叶片叶绿素相对含量（soil and plant analyzer development,SPAD）和叶片氮含量（leaf nitrogen content,LNC）4种生长相关理化参数,利用熵值法获取各参数权重构建冬小麦理化复合参数（physico-chemical composite parameter,PCCP）。利用显著性检验和籽粒产量数据分析复合参数在量化冬小麦长势方面的性能。然后,以Sentinel-2A作为数据源,分析不同遥感指数与LAI、SPAD、AFB、LNC和PCCP的相关性。选取相关性较高的遥感指数作为反向传播（back propagation,BP）人工神经网络（artificial neural networks,ANN）的输入,建立冬小麦长势遥感监测模型,对PCCP进行估计。评价模型精度并用于监测研究区冬小麦长势分布特征。赋权结果表明,作物物理参数的权重大于生化参数,其中LAI的权重最大,为0.387,AFB和SPAD次之,LNC的权重最小,为0.105;PCCP性能评估结果表明,与单一理化参数相比,PCCP值能更好地揭示作物长势状况的差异,其与最终籽粒产量的相关性更好, 决定系数提高0.035～0.468,均方根误差减少46.2～520.0 kg/hm²;在遥感监测过程中,PCCP比单一理化参数有更好的应用潜力,BP-ANN长势遥感监测模型模拟PCCP精度较高,在测试集中决定系数为0.830,均方根误差为0.080;研究区冬小麦总体长势稳定且分布集中,呈现"中部差,南北好"的空间分布特征。因此,构建作物理化复合参数用于量化作物长势是提高长势监测可靠性和准确性的一种有效方式,可为冬小麦田间管理提供科学依据,服务于发展智慧农业和建设农业强国的战略需求。     

基于转录组测序筛选乌苏里白鲑肌肉生长关键候选基因研究

为了挖掘调控乌苏里白鲑(Coregonus ussurinsis Berg)肌肉生长的关键候选基因,本研究对不同生长速度乌苏里白鲑的肌肉组织进行转录组测序,以期为乌苏里白鲑群体选育提供基础数据。首先,在同等条件下(从混合池中)随机选择乌苏里白鲑F2个体进行实验分组(快长组和慢长组)。接着分别从快长组[体重为(219.20±38.66) g]和慢长组[体重为(74.30±17.86) g]中随机选取10尾样本,取其背部肌肉进行转录组测序。以FDR (false discovery rate)<0.05且|log2(FC)|>1 (FC, fold change)为条件筛选差异表达基因并对其进行GO (gene ontology)和KEGG (Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes)富集分析,并通过qPCR验证转录组数据的准确性。转录组测序结果显示,共筛选出2 211个差异表达基因,与慢长组相比,快长组中583个差异基因表达上调及1 628个基因表达下调。GO功能注释结果显示,差异基因主要参与细胞过程和结合过程,差异基因显著富集到251条KEGG通路(P<0.05),其中,MAPK信号通路(MAPK signaling pathway)、PI3K-Akt信号通路(PI3K-Akt signaling pathway)、紧密连接(tight junction)、胰岛素信号通路(insulin signaling pathway)、糖酵解/糖异生(glycolysis/gluconeogenesis)和PPAR信号通路(PPAR signaling pathway)参与细胞生长。之后结合功能注释结果和KEGG,鉴定出肌浆/内质网钙ATP酶基因atp2a1和atp2a2、葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶基因g6pc、生长因子结合蛋白1基因igfbp1以及肌球蛋白重链基因myh1、myh4、myh6、myh7、myh9和myh13等可能与肌肉生长密切相关的基因。本研究共筛选出10个可能与乌苏里白鲑肌肉生长相关的关键候选基因,为今后乌苏里白鲑分子标记辅助育种提供了基础数据。     

牦牛MYL3基因的克隆及组织表达分析

【目的】研究牦牛MYL3基因的结构和表达特征,探究其生物学功能及影响牦牛肌肉生长发育的机制。【方法】以美仁牦牛cDNA为模板,PCR扩增MYL3基因编码区序列(CDS),利用MEGA11软件构建系统进化树,利用生物信息学软件对其编码蛋白进行分析。通过实时荧光定量PCR(RT-qPCR)检测MYL3基因在心脏、肝脏、脾脏、肺脏（参照）、睾丸、肌肉和脂肪组织中的相对表达量。【结果】牦牛MYL3基因CDS区长600 bp,共编码199个氨基酸,存在1个碱基突变位点,位于第165位(A>T)。系统进化分析结果显示,牦牛与普通牛的亲缘关系最近,与单峰驼的亲缘关系最远。生物信息学分析结果显示,牦牛MYL3蛋白为不稳定的亲水性蛋白,无信号肽,不存在跨膜结构,主要存在于细胞质内,有8个磷酸化位点和2个N 糖基化位点,蛋白的二级结构以α-螺旋为主,主要与调控肌肉生长发育的相关蛋白相互作用。RT-qPCR结果表明,MYL3基因在心脏中的表达量最高,极显著高于其他组织;肌肉中次之,与除心脏外的其他组织存在极显著差异。【结论】MYL3基因可能与牦牛心脏发育有关,对肌肉的生长发育和肉质有一定影响。