Recent developments in our knowledge of potato transgenic biology

Summary Transgenic potato plants are being generated world-wide to assess the impact of transgene expression (sense and/or antisense) on parameters as diverse as yield, quality, stress physiology and pest/disease resistance. Strategies for alternative uses of the potato crops by diverting metabolism into high value products or by expressing recombinant proteins are also being explored. Results obtained are often surprising although the science of plant molecular biology is relatively young. Whilst the outcome of any transgenic approach is by no means certain, this review provides sufficient examples to illustrate the versatility and applicability of transgenic biology in potato improvement.     

Seasonal distribution of herbage mass and nutritive value of Prairiegrass (Bromus catharticus Vahl)

A reliable supply of herbage is a crucial feature of forage‐based livestock systems. Forage resources with winter‐active growth habits can help extend the growing season in early spring and late autumn in regions with mild‐winter conditions while drought‐ and heat‐tolerant plants help meet herbage needs during summer in humid temperate regions. The prairiegrass (Bromus catharticus, Vahl) cultivars, Grassland Dixon and Grasslands Lakota, provide resistance to foliar disease and cold in addition to sustained productivity when soil moisture is low, and could be useful over a wide range of growing conditions. The cultivars were sown in spring or summer to determine seasonal distribution of productivity and nutritive value of herbage grown in a cool‐temperate region. Stands established rapidly regardless of sowing time or cultivar and were virtually pure prairiegrass once plants were well‐established. Stand composition of broadcast sowings tended to be stable in subsequent growing seasons, whereas the amount of prairiegrass varied in no‐till stands. In the growing seasons after establishment, cumulative dry matter (DM) yield of Lakota was similar regardless of when it was sown, whereas DM yield of Dixon differed with sowing time and was less in spring‐ than summer‐planted stands. Rapid stand establishment, significant late‐season yield, consistent concentrations of crude protein, non‐structural carbohydrate and total digestible nutrients in herbage, and dominance of sward composition, suggest that prairiegrass cultivars, Dixon and Lakota, are excellent resources for forage‐based livestock production systems in humid temperate conditions.     

Unavailable carbohydrates in common bean cotyledon (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Canario group

Unavailable carbohydrates in cotyledon flour were quantified from four varieties of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) belonging to the Canario group. The pectin content, as percentage of anhydrogalacturonic acid, ranged between 1.57% and 2.3%. Percentages of hemicellulose A and B were similar, with average values of 2.81% and 2.61%, respectively. The polysaccharide extracted with 10% trichloroacetic acid was determined; its yield was 3.17%. This value dropped to 2.35% when the cotyledon flour was previously hydrolyzed with polygalacturonase. The average value of cellulose was 1.36%.     

Nitrogen,Phosphorus and Potassium Fertilization Interactions on the Photosynthesis of Containerized Citrus Nursery Trees

The objective of this research was to evaluate the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) fertilizer effect on the development of ‘Valencia’ sweet orange nursery trees budded on Rangpur lime rootstocks in a greenhouse using containers. The experiment was a complete (1/5) 5³ factorial randomized blocks design. Treatments comprised five concentrations (g per plant) of N (1.25; 6.25; 11.25; 16.25; 21.25); K (0.42; 3.75; 6.22; 9.34; 12.45); and P (0.19; 0.89; 1.59; 2.29; 2.99). Carbon dioxide assimilation rate (A), transpiration rate (E), stomata conductance (g_s), and internal carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration (Ci) and water use efficiency (WUE). Reducing sugar, sucrose and starch were evaluated. Response functions were adjusted and nutrient rates for maximum yield were presented. The results indicated that the high levels of N (>16.25 g per plant) interferes negatively on photosynthesis. Potassium at intermediate fertilization levels (from 3.75 to 6.22 g per plant) had positive effects on photosynthesis. But P had little interference on photosynthesis. Carbohydrates levels were not related to nutrients fertilized.     

Response of Two Olive Cultivars to Salt Stress and Potassium Supplement

ABSTRACT

The effects of saline water containing 0, 50, 100, and 150 mM sodium chloride (NaCl), and 100 mM NaCl + 100 mM potassium (K) on photosynthesis, water relations, and ion and carbohydrate content of olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivars ‘Koroneiki’ and ‘Mastoidis’ were studied on five-year-old trees. Salinity increased sodium (Na⁺) and chloride (Cl^?) in tissues of both cultivars, but more so in ‘Koroneiki’ than in ‘Mastoidis.’ Salt-toxicity symptoms were observed at 100 and 150 mM, but not in plants receiving extra K. In salt-stressed plants, leaf water potential declined, whereas turgor potential remained positive due to a rapid decrease in osmotic potential. Salinity increased mannitol content up to 41.3% in ‘Mastoidis’ and 15.8% in ‘Koroneiki’, but reduced starch content in leaves. Photosynthetic rates fell significantly with increasing salinity in both cultivars, but more so in ‘Koroneiki’ than in ‘Mastoidis’. Potassium supplements reduced the concentration of Na⁺ and increased the concentrations of K⁺ in leaves, but decreased photosynthesis.     

Response of mango tree nutritional status and biochemical constituents to boron and nitrogen fertilization

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Al Malak Valley Farm, El-Sharkeya Governorate-Egypt (30°–51° N; 32°–53° E) using 15 years old productive mango (Mangifera indica L.) trees cv. Zebda. The experiment was repeated for two successive seasons (2014/2015) and (2015/2016). The trees were planted 8×8 meters apart in sandy soil under drip irrigation system using the Nile water. Treatments included three concentrations of boron (0.0, 250, 500?mg L^?1) and three concentrations of nitrogen (1000, 1250, 1500?g nitrogen/tree/year). Boron was applied as foliar spray of boric acid and nitrogen was applied to the soil as ammonium sulfate. Treatments were arranged in a factorial Completely Randomized Block Design with three replicates for each treatment. Results show that boron application has improved mango tree nutritional status. Leaf nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and boron concentrations significantly increased as the boron application rate increased. In addition, boron application resulted in significant increase in leaf total chlorophyll, total carbohydrates, total sugars, carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio and decrease in total phenol content. Boron showed higher impact than nitrogen on all tested parameters. The interaction treatment of 250?mg L^?1 boron and 1500?g/tree nitrogen proved to be the best treatment.     

Diurnal variations in uptake,transport and assimilation of NO3 ‐and efflux of OH‐ in maize plants

Maize plants, grown for 7 and 21 days on a nutrient solution with NO₃ ^‐ as the sole nitrogen source showed a clear diurnal pattern with respect to the in vivo NRA. Especially in roots dark/light fluctuations of the enzyme activity were high. Also in NO₃ ^‐ uptake, OH^‐ efflux and endogenous content of water soluble carbohydrates a diurnal variation was found. The plant age did not significantly affect the daily rhythm.

Because day/night changes of the in vivo root NRA and nitrate uptake were proportional, the relative content of reduced N in the xylem sap of the plants was constant during a day/night interval. At both day 7 and day 21 about 40–50% of the N was transported via the xylem as amino N. As a result of non‐synchronous variation of the specific root and shoot NRA, root reduction capacity showed a great within‐day variation. It varied between 20 and 40% of the whole plant reduction capacity. Since the ratio N‐organic to N‐total in the xylem sap was about 0.5, cycling of organic nitrogen was very likely in these maize plants.     

PRRSV 的病毒蛋白研究进展

猪繁殖与呼吸综合征是由猪繁殖和呼吸障碍综合征病毒引起的一种以妊娠母猪严重繁殖障碍及仔猪的呼吸道症状和高死亡率为特征的病毒性疾病,给世界养猪业造成了极大的威胁.从猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒的基因组、非结构蛋白和结构蛋白3个方面对PRRSV的病毒蛋白研究进展进行综述.     

不同耐低氮性玉米品种的花后碳氮积累与转运特征

为了探明不同耐低氮性玉米品种生育后期碳、氮物质积累与转运特性及其对氮肥响应的差异,以期为品种高效施氮技术的制定提供理论依据。以耐低氮品种‘正红311’(Zhenghong311,ZH311)和低氮敏感品种‘先玉508’(Xianyu 508, XY508)为材料,设置4个氮肥用量(0、150、300和450 kg hm–2),于2017—2019年研究氮肥水平对不同耐低氮性玉米品种生育后期物质,包括干物质、全氮和非结构性碳水化合物(non-structural carbohydrate, NSC)积累和转运的影响。结果表明,供氮不足时,玉米通过增加花前贮存碳、氮物质对籽粒的转运以保证产量。增施氮肥能够提高玉米花后干物质和碳水化合物生产及其对籽粒质量的贡献率。与低氮敏感品种先玉508相比,在低氮条件下,耐低氮品种正红311在花前、花后均保持较高的植株干物质、NSC和氮素量,花后物质积累量及其对籽粒质量的贡献率更高,从而拥有更高的籽粒产量;品种间花前物质转运率及其对籽粒质量的贡献率差异不大。面对低氮胁迫,正红311既保证了花前贮存物质充分向籽粒运输,同时维持着较高的同化物积累能力来影响其产量形成。     

日粮可降解蛋白与非纤维性碳水化合物对人工瘤胃发酵、 微生物合成以及纤维分解菌菌群的影响

【目的】探讨瘤胃降解蛋白（rumen degradable protein,RDP）水平和非纤维性碳水化合物（non-fibre carbohydrates,NFC）类型对人工瘤胃发酵、微生物合成和纤维分解菌菌群的影响。【方法】采用2×4双因素试验设计,即2种RDP水平和4种NFC类型（玉米淀粉、蔗糖、柑橘果胶和菊粉）。RDP水平通过向4种日粮中分别添加0（低RDP）或1.56 g（高RDP）酪蛋白酸钠调节。【结果】①主效应上,蔗糖和果胶组的干物质和有机物质表观消失率显著高于其它两组（P＜0.01）;日粮RDP水平和NFC来源在影响中性洗涤纤维的表观消失率上存在交互作用（P＜0.01）,低RDP水平的蔗糖（P=0.10）和果胶组（P=0.09）趋向于低于淀粉组,但高RDP水平的处理组间差异不显著;②主效应上,果胶组中白色瘤胃球菌（Ruminococcus albus）的16S rDNA拷贝数高于淀粉组;日粮RDP水平和NFC种类在影响黄色瘤胃球菌（Ruminococcus flavefaciens）和液相产琥珀酸丝状杆菌（Fibrobacter succinogenes）的16S rDNA拷贝数方面存在交互作用,蔗糖组固相R. flavefacien在低RDP下的拷贝数和菊粉组液相F. succinogenes在高RDP下的拷贝数分别趋向于低于（P=0.06）和低于（P＜0.01）淀粉组;③增加日粮RDP水平可以提高所有处理组的总挥发性脂肪酸产量（P＜0.01）和总微生物氮（microbial nitrogen,MN）流量（P＜0.01）;主效应上,果胶组的乙酸摩尔比例（P＜0.05）和乙丙比最高（P＜0.01）;不论RDP水平,蔗糖和菊粉组的丁酸摩尔比例均高于其它处理组（P＜0.01）;低RDP下各处理组的总MN流量差异不显著,但提高RDP使蔗糖和果胶组的总MN流量分别高于（P＜0.01）和趋向（P=0.10）高于淀粉组;主效应上,淀粉组的N利用效率低于蔗糖（P=0.04）和果胶组（P=0.05）。【结论】日粮RDP水平和NFC类型在影响瘤胃发酵、微生物合成和纤维分解菌菌群方面存在交互作用,当日粮中含有足够的瘤胃可利用氮时,蔗糖和果胶较淀粉在促进微生物蛋白合成方面具有优势。