Seasonal variation in pigmentation and anthocyanidin phenetics in commercial Eustoma flowers

The seasonal change in petal color and pigmentation of 29 commercial Eustoma cultivars was studied. The flowers are basically divided into four groups according to the major anthocyanidin phenotype in association with petal coloration, i.e., delphinidin (Dp)-based (purple flower), cyanidin (Cy)-based (reddish purple flower), pelargonidin (Pg)-based (pink flower), and none (white flower) groups. The constitution of petal anthocyanidins was not changed by forcing treatment in most of the flowers. Lightness (L^*) and chroma (C^*, color saturation) showed a change along with the increase/decrease of hue angle difference (ΔH^*), thus simultaneously the chromatic tonalities tended to move to redder and bluer, respectively. Floral pigment clustering described two flower groups in a dendrogram, based on anthocyanidin constitutions as phenetic markers, which are apparently the Dp- and Pg-based phenotypes of anthocyanidin syntheses. The Cy-based flowers made a subcluster with the Pg-based flowers, indicating a close relationship in the biosynthesis of the two anthocyanidins, and suggesting the Dp- and Pg-syntheses complement one another.     

Repression of deoxynivalenol accumulation and expression of Tri genes in Fusarium culmorum by fungicides in vitro

A defined medium was developed in which to monitor deoxynivalenol (DON) accumulation, fungal growth and expression of genes involved in trichothecene biosynthesis (designated Tri genes). In liquid culture, DON accumulated shortly after maximum expression of Tri6 and coincident with expression of Tri5. This was generally 96 h after inoculation. The effects of sublethal concentrations of the fungicides azoxystrobin, trifloxystrobin, kresoxim-methyl and tebuconazole on biosynthesis of the trichothecene DON by Fusarium culmorum were studied using this medium. The strobilurin fungicides trifloxystrobin and azoxystrobin significantly reduced the accumulation of DON in culture medium at a range of concentrations. Kresoxim-methyl, also a strobilurin, and tebuconazole, a triazole, did not significantly reduce the accumulation of DON, although levels were lower than those in nonamended cultures. Trifloxystrobin significantly reduced the accumulation of DON when added to cultures before initiation of trichothecene biosynthesis. RT-PCR assays of the expression of Tri6 and Tri5 genes indicated that trifloxystrobin acted by inhibiting the initiation of trichothecene biosynthesis.     

Sources of resistance to septoria tritici blotch and implications for wheat breeding

Twenty-four wheat cultivars and breeding lines were screened for isolate-specific resistance to septoria tritici blotch (STB) caused by 12 isolates of Mycosphaerella graminicola. New isolate-specific resistances that could be used in wheat breeding were identified. Major sources of resistance to STB used in world breeding programmes for decades, such as Kavkaz-K4500, Veranopolis, Catbird and TE9111, have several isolate-specific resistances. This suggests that 'pyramiding' several resistance genes in one cultivar may be an effective and durable strategy for breeding for resistance to STB in wheat. Several cultivars, including Arina, Milan and Senat, had high levels of partial resistance to most isolates tested as well as isolate-specific resistances. Resistance to isolate IPO323 was common, present in all but one of the major sources of resistance tested. This suggests that resistance to IPO323 may be an indicator of varietal resistance to STB in the field.     

Inclusion levels and modes of whole grain incorporation into wheat-based rations differentially influence the performance of broiler chickens

1. The objective was to compare three whole grain (WG) inclusion levels (7.5, 15 and 30%) offered to broiler chickens by three modes of WG incorporation: (i) pre-pellet WG inclusion, (ii) post-pellet WG inclusion as a blend of WG and pelleted concentrate and (iii) post-pellet WG inclusion where WG and pelleted concentrate were provided in separate feed trays against a ground-grain, wheat-based control diet.

2. Ten dietary treatments were offered to 6 replicate cages (6 birds per cage) of male Ross 308 chickens from 7 to 28 d post-hatch. The effects of treatment on relative gizzard weights, gizzard contents, pancreatic weights and pH of gizzard digesta were monitored. Parameters of growth performance, nutrient utilisation (apparent metabolisable energy [AME], metabolisable to gross energy [ME:GE] ratios, nitrogen [N] retention and N-corrected AME [AMEn]), apparent starch and protein (N) digestibility coefficients and disappearance rates in for small intestinal segments and concentrations of free amino acids in plasma taken from the anterior mesenteric vein were determined.

3. Whole grain feeding (WGF) did not influence weight gain, but 30% post-pellet blended and 15 and 30% post-pellet separated treatments significantly depressed (P < 0.05) feed intakes while the 30% post-pellet separated treatment improved (P < 0.01) feed conversion ratios (FCR). WGF regimes significantly increased relative gizzard weights.

4. Overall, WGF generated profound responses in AME, ME:GE ratios, N retention and AMEn that were highly correlated with relative gizzard weights. In general, WGF improved starch and protein (N) digestibilities and again there were some correlations with these outcomes and relative gizzard weights.

5. Post-pellet WG inclusions where WG and pelleted concentrate were offered separately provided chickens with the opportunity to choice feed. Birds showed a preference for the relatively high-protein pelleted concentrate and at 30% WG, this resulted in an improvement in FCR of 7.69% (1.260 versus 1.365; P < 0.001) relative to the ground-grain control diet.     

Effect of gut stress induced by oxidized wheat gluten on the growth performance,gut morphology and oxidative states of broilers

This study was to investigate the effect of oxidized wheat gluten (OG) on growth performance, gut morphology and its oxidative states of broilers. One hundred and eighty‐day‐old male broilers (10 chicks/pen) were randomly allocated into three dietary treatments: control diet (CON), diet with 8% wheat gluten (WG) and diet with 8% OG with six pens/treatment. Body weight (BW) (21 and 35 days) and average daily gain (ADG) (1–21 days and 22–35 days) decreased (p < .05) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (1–21 days and 22–35 days) increased (p < .05) in OG treatment. Feed intake (FI) decreased (p < .05) in WG and OG treatments during 22–35 days. However, FI was not influenced by dietary treatments during 1–21 days (p > .05). The OG‐fed broilers had a lower faecal pH value (p < .05) and higher faecal moisture content (p < 05) at 14, 21, 28 and 35 days. Villus height, crypt depth and V/C value were not different (p > .05) among treatments at 21 and 35 days. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) (21 and 35 days) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (35 days) content in crop of OG treatment increased (p < .05). Oxidized glutathione (GSSG) (21 days), LPO (21 and 35 days) and MDA (21 and 35 days) content in ileum of OG treatment increased (p < .05). The reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) (21 days) and (GSH) (35 days) in ileum of OG treatment decreased (p < .05). The present findings indicate that OG might be a stressor for broiler gut, which could induce oxidative stress both in crop and in ileum, and the diarrhoea as well. The growth performance of broiler was consequently depressed.     

Maize kernel color depends on the interaction between hardness and carotenoid concentration

Maize kernel color and carotenoid concentration are traits valued by the food industry to ensure the quality of their products. Correlations between color and carotenoid concentration have been extensively reported. Based on the concept that chromaticity is modified differently by opaque and translucent materials, we tested the hypothesis that maize kernel color is not only the result of total carotenoid concentration but also a consequence of kernel hardness. Kernel hardness (test weight, vitreousness, and floaters percentage), carotenoid concentration, and color (HunterLab) were measured in thirteen commercial hybrids. Genotypes showed significant differences in all analyzed kernel hardness traits, carotenoid concentration (24.7–39.4 mg kg⁻¹), and HunterLab color dimensions. Kernel color values and kernel hardness were correlated. Genotype differences in b (yellowness) were observed in kernels with similar total carotenoid concentration but contrasting hardness. For a similar carotenoid concentration harder genotypes always showed lower b values. When whole kernels were milled and color was measured on the resulting flour, genotype differences in yellowness disappeared, further supporting that the kernel vitreous structure affects kernel color. Our results sustain the notion that the genotype capacity to form larger proportions of vitreous endosperm impacts color regardless of total carotenoid concentration.     

公共图书馆开展专题文献服务的新阵地——从朝阳市图书馆建立朝阳地方文化专题文献谈起

论述了朝阳市图书馆依托于本地区博大精深的历史文化,借助本身具有的资源优势,将本馆的地方文献进行优化整合,开辟了地方文化专题文献,积极为朝阳的地方文化建设服务,从而提升了图书馆的社会地位和影响。     

优化施肥对春小麦产量、氮素利用及氮平衡的影响

2009 ～ 2010年,在宁夏引黄灌区分别以宁春11号和宁春16号小麦为供试作物,利用田间试验研究了优化施肥(OPT)和习惯施肥(CON)对春小麦产量、氮素吸收利用和土壤硝态氮累积的影响,表观评估了土壤—小麦体系氮素平衡.结果表明,相对于CK处理,OPT和CON都显著提高春小麦籽粒产量地上部生物量,并促进籽粒N和地上...     

拔节期氮肥运筹对不同滴灌量下冬小麦光合特性及产量的影响

为探明拔节期氮肥运筹对不同滴灌量下冬小麦光合特性及产量的影响,在大田滴灌技术条件下,以‘新冬41号’为试验材料,研究4种拔节期氮肥运筹处理[N0(0 kg/hm²)、N1(90 kg/hm²)、N2(180 kg/hm²)、N3(270 kg/hm²)]对3种不同滴灌量[W1(1500 m³/hm²)、W2(3000 m³/hm²)、W3(3450 m³/hm²)]下冬小麦叶绿素含量（SPAD值）、叶面积指数(LAI)、叶片光合特性及产量的影响。结果表明,在3种滴灌量下各氮肥处理冬小麦拔节至乳熟期叶片SPAD值均呈“先增后降”的变化规律,最大值均在灌浆期;LAI呈现“先增后降”的变化规律,在孕穗期达最大。在同一施氮水平下,滴灌量增加,叶片的净光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、气孔导度(Gs)均增加,而胞间CO₂浓度(Ci)则降低。滴灌量较低时（W1处理）,增加拔节期施氮量能有效提高滴灌冬小麦的有效穗数、穗粒数、千粒重、产量和收获系数;水分充足时（W2、W3处理）,增加拔节期施氮量反而不利于产量的提高。综合考虑各项产量指标及氮肥利用效率得出,在滴灌量3000 m³/hm²条件下,拔节期施氮量180 kg/hm²时,滴灌冬小麦籽粒产量较高,氮肥利用率最大,可供生产参考。