Nitrogen use efficiency of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) as influenced by wheat–cotton cropping systems

Wheat–cotton rotations largely increase crop yield and improve resources use efficiency, such as the radiation use efficiency. However, little information is available on the nitrogen (N) utilization and requirement of cotton under wheat–cotton rotations. This study was to determine the N uptake and use efficiency by evaluating the cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) N use and the soil N balances, which will help to improve N resource management in wheat–cotton rotations. Field experiments were conducted during 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 growing seasons in the Yangtze River region in China. Two cotton cultivars (Siza 3, mid-late maturity with 130 days growth duration; CCRI 50, early maturity with 110 days growth duration) were planted under four cropping systems including monoculture cotton (MC), wheat/intercropped cotton (W/IC), wheat/transplanted cotton (W/TC) and wheat/direct-seeded cotton (W/DC). The N uptake and use efficiency of cotton were quantified under different cropping systems. The results showed that wheat–cotton rotations decreased the cotton N uptake through reducing the N accumulation rate and shortening the duration of fast N accumulation phase as compared to the monoculture cotton. Compared with MC, the N uptake of IC, TC and DC were decreased by 12.0%, 20.5% and 23.4% for Siza 3, respectively, and 7.3%, 10.7% and 17.6% for CCRI 50, respectively. Wheat–cotton rotations had a lower N harvest index as a consequence of the weaker sink capacity in the cotton plant caused by the delayed fruiting and boll formation. Wheat–cotton rotations used N inefficiently relative to the monoculture cotton, showing consistently lower level of the N agronomic use efficiency (NAE), N apparent recovery efficiency (NRE), N physiological efficiency (NPE) and N partial factor productivity (NPFP), particularly for DC. Relative to the mid–late maturity cultivar of Siza 3, the early maturity cultivar of CCRI 50 had higher N use efficiency in wheat–cotton rotations. An analysis of the crop N balance suggested that the high N excess in preceding wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in wheat–cotton rotations led to significantly higher N surpluses than the monoculture cotton. The N management for the cotton in wheat–cotton rotations should be improved by means of reducing the base fertilizer input and increasing the bloom application.     

灌溉方式对大豆光合性状及土壤水分利用率的影响

设置均匀灌溉、固定隔沟灌溉、交替隔沟灌溉3种灌溉方式,分别在大豆开花期、结荚期和鼓粒期进行灌溉,每次单沟灌水量分为60、45和30 mm 3个水平,以不灌溉为对照,研究了灌溉方式对大豆光合特性的影响.结果表明:灌溉可极显著提高大豆叶片的光合速率和大豆产量,交替隔沟灌45 mm的R4期光合速率、产量与交替隔沟灌60 mm差异不显著,而且土壤水分利用效率最高,从节水增产增效角度分析,交替隔沟灌溉45 mm的灌溉方式最佳.     

改良背主动脉注射法对鸡胚发育与转基因表达效率的影响

背主动脉注射是生产转基因鸡的经典方法,该方法不需换壳培养,但壳内注射技术难度大,并且无法实时观察后期胚胎发育情况。本实验对背主动脉注射法进行了改进,将增强型绿色荧光蛋白(EGFP)腺相关病毒(Adeno-associated Virus,AAV)壳外注射至150枚HH 14~16期(Hamburger-Hamilton Stage 14~16)鸡胚背主动脉中,再进行换壳培养,继续孵化至出壳,观察和分析改良背主动脉注射法与传统背主动脉注射法和胚盘下腔注射法对发育8、14、18、21 d鸡胚存活率、孵化率以及EGFP阳性检出率的影响。结果表明:改良背主动脉注射组鸡胚存活率均高于传统背主动脉注射组与胚盘下腔注射组(P<0.05或P<0.01);改良背主动脉注射组的鸡胚孵化率(37%)高于传统背主动脉注射组(16%)与胚盘下腔注射组(28%)(P<0.01);荧光蛋白手电筒检测显示,改良背主动脉注射组鸡胚EGFP阳性率(17%)明显高于传统背主动脉注射组(13%)与胚盘下腔注射组(12%)(P<0.01)。综上,背主动脉壳外注射结合换壳培养提高了转基因鸡胚胎孵化率和EGFP阳性检出率,对提高转基因鸡效率具有重要价值。     

戴瑞奶绵羊产奶性状的全基因组关联分析

旨在通过对奶绵羊产奶性状的全基因组关联分析（GWAS）,寻找和定位与奶绵羊产奶性状相关的遗传标记和功能基因。本研究以135只戴瑞奶绵羊为试验材料,基于全基因组重测序技术,通过SAMTOOLS进行单核苷酸多态性（SNP）检测,使用PLINK v1.90进行质控,利用GEMMA v 0.98.1的混合线性模型对质控结果进行奶绵羊产奶性状相关的全基因组关联分析。结果表明,有1个SNP与泌乳后90天日均产奶量在全基因组范围内显著相关,8个SNPs达到潜在显著关联,相关的候选基因包括TRNAQ-CUG-2、LOC114117240、ACADL、MYL1、CHD6、SLCO3A1;有2个SNPs与150天日均产奶量达潜在显著关联,相关的候选基因包括PRMT6、RNF180;有2个SNPs与泌乳周期达潜在显著关联,相关的候选基因包括PRMT6、TRNAW-CCA-68、TRNAS-GGA-61。进一步基因功能分析推测,ACADL、SLCO3A1可能是影响奶绵羊产奶性状的候选基因。本研究为奶绵羊产奶性状的分子机制解析提供了一定的基础,为我国奶绵羊新品种培育提供了一定的理论参考。     

Treatment of contaminated radial fracture in Sprague-Dawley rats by application of a degradable polymer releasing gentamicin

Fracture-related infections remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. We aimed to establish a simple contaminated radial osteotomy model to assess the efficacy of a biodegradable polymer poly(sebacic-co-ricinoleic acid) [p(SA-RA)] containing 20% w/w gentamicin. A unilateral transverse osteotomy was induced in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, followed by application of Staphylococcus aureus suspension over the fracture. After successfully establishing the contaminated open fracture model, we treated the rats either systemically (intraperitoneal cefuroxime), locally with p(SA-RA) containing gentamicin, or both. Control groups included non-contaminated group and contaminated groups that were either untreated or treated with the polymer alone. After 4 weeks, the bones were subjected to micro-CT scanning and microbiological and histopathology evaluations. Micro-CT analysis revealed similar changes in the group subjected to both local and systemic treatment as in the non-contaminated control group. Lack of detectable bacterial growth was noted in most animals of the group subjected to both local and systemic treatment, and all samples were negative for S. aureus. Histopathological evaluation revealed that all treatment modalities containing antibiotics were highly effective in reducing infection and promoting callus repair, resulting in early bone healing. While p(SA-RA) containing gentamicin treatment showed better results than cefuroxime, the combination of local and systemic treatment displayed the highest therapeutic potential in this model.     

Carrier rate of the c.235G>C mutation in the bovine isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase (IARS) gene of Japanese Black cows at Kagoshima prefecture, Japan,and analysis of the metabolic profiling and reproductive performance of heterozygous cows

Bovine isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase (IARS) disorder, a major cause of weak calf syndrome, is caused by a homozygous missense (c.235G>C) mutation in the bovine IARS gene of Japanese Black (JB) cattle, which was identified in 2013. However, the extent to which the carrier rate has changed at Kagoshima prefecture, Japan, and whether the carrier status is associated with any clinical or reproductive problems, have yet to be ascertained. In this study, using a real-time polymerase chain reaction-based genotyping assay, we determined the carrier rate in a regional JB cow population at Kagoshima prefecture. Comparative analyses were performed on the metabolic profile test (MPT) results and reproductive performance data obtained for heterozygous carrier and homozygous wild-type cows. In 2009 and 2018, DNA samples were collected from 130 and 462 clinically healthy JB cows, respectively, in Kagoshima prefecture. MPT results and reproductive performance data were evaluated for 62 cows, comprising four heterozygous carriers and 58 wild-type cows. Genotyping revealed that the carrier rate was 6.9% in 2009 and 1.5% in 2018, the difference of which was statistically significant (P<0.005). There were no statistically significant differences between the carrier and wild-type cows with respect to either MPT results or reproductive performance, indicating that the carrier cows have necessary IARS activity to maintain minimal health and reproductive potential.     

Molecular characterization of Ascaridia galli from Bangladesh and development of a PCR method for distinguishing A. galli from Heterakis spp.

We analyzed the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 and ITS2 sequences for Bangladesh isolates of Ascaridia galli, and we determined that the sequences were unreliable as molecular markers for distinguishing A. galli from other Ascaridia species, because the sequences showed high identity with that of A. columbae. However, the ITS1 sequences were available for designing PCR primers distinguishable between Ascaridia galli and Heterakis spp. Bangladesh isolates of A. galli constituted a monophyletic clade along with other geographical isolates in the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) phylogenetic tree, however, we could not clarify the phylogenetic relationships between A. galli and other Ascaridia spp., because their available sequences in GenBank were very few. The developed PCR method using DNA from A. galli and Heterakis spp. eggs would enable differential diagnosis of the individual infections in the future.