Identification and fine mapping of a candidate gene for oil yellow leaf 2 conferring yellow leaf phenotype in maize

Leaf colour is an important agronomic trait for studying molecular mechanisms in chlorophyll biosynthesis and chloroplast development. Here, a novel mutant oil yellow leaf 2 (Oy2) with a typical yellow leaf phenotype at the seedling stage was identified from the mutant population derived from the maize inbred line RP125. Compared with wild type, Oy2 mutant displays decreased chlorophyll content, reduced photosynthetic capacity and impaired chloroplast structure, which is likely controlled by a single recessive gene. The Oy2 locus was then delimited into a 117 kb region on chromosome 5 harbouring four genes, amongst which the gene Zm00001d013013, encoding a magnesium chelatase subunit D, was identified as the only candidate gene associated with Oy2 mutant phenotype. Moreover, the expression levels of candidate gene Oy2 and genes associated with chlorophyll biosynthesis and photosynthesis were tested by RNA‐seq and qRT‐PCR, implying that the causal gene Oy2 playing a critical role in chlorophyll synthesis. Taken together, we propose that the causal gene Oy2 highly associated with the yellow leaf phenotype may be helpful in elucidating photosynthetic pigments biosynthesis and chloroplast development in maize.     

人民币汇率变动对中国小麦进口贸易的影响研究

随着世界经济的一体化,汇率在世界资源配置中的作用越发突出。人民币升值有其积极的一面,而其消极影响也不容忽视。在中国农产品国际贸易中,小麦占据着举足轻重的地位,人民币汇率变动将对中国小麦的进口贸易产生怎样的影响？针对不同的影响应提出怎样的措施成为本研究的目的。文章在汇率变动对进口贸易影响一般原理的基础上,从实证角度构建C-D函数形式的计量经济模型,运用回归分析、单位根检验、协整关系检验、Granger因果检验以及脉冲响应函数等计量经济学方法,探讨人民币汇率变动对中国小麦进口贸易的影响。通过实证研究发现,人民币名义有效汇率变动对中国小麦进口贸易的影响存在时滞效应,加入滞后一期（1个月）的汇率,人民币升值对中国小麦进口存在着促进作用。在人民币名义有效汇率升值的情况下,中国小麦进口贸易也存在反J曲线效应。最后,从政府、企业、农户3个角度给出相应的建议。     

Seismic Response Analysis of Transmission Tower-line System under Multi-component Ground Motion Excitations

Seismic responses of power transmission tower-line system under multi-component excitations were analyzed by numerical simulation. A three-dimensional finite element model of transmission tower-line coupled system considering the geometric nonlinearity of transmission line was established. Twelve seismic records of different soil types were selected based on Code for Design of Seismic of Electrical Installations. Seismic responses of power transmission tower-line system under single component, two horizontal component and multi-component excitations were investigated using nonlinear time history analysis method, respectively. The results show that the responses of transmission tower-line system under multi-component excitations are significantly larger than those under single component excitation only, especially for considering vertical ground motion excitation only, and neglecting multiple nature of ground motion in analysis will underestimate the responses of the structure. To obtain an accurate seismic response and a better seismic design of transmission tower-line system, multi-component ground motion inputs need to be considered. The results provide reference for seismic design of transmission line practical engineering.     

Estimation of Soil Evaporation During Fallow Seasons to Assess Water Balances for No‐Tillage Crop Rotations

Abstract Estimates of soil evaporation and available soil water of no‐tillage fields under farm conditions are important to assess soil water status at sowing of rainfed grain crops. The objective of this study was to predict stored soil water of no‐tillage fields during the fallow periods following soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) and maize (Zea mays L.) crops by accounting for decreased soil evaporation as a result of the residues left on the soil surface. Three simple phenomenological models were used to simulate stored soil water under field conditions at seven locations in Argentina. Two models calculated decreased soil evaporation based on crop residue mass, and the third assumed a constant fractional decrease in bare soil evaporation. All models gave good estimates of soil water content during the fallow periods following a soybean crop. In cases with large quantities of maize residue, however, the models resulted in more water retention in the soil than observed as a consequence of underprediction of soil evaporation. These results indicate that full benefit of crop residue was not being achieved in these fields, probably due to a failure to finely chop and uniformly distribute the crop material on the soil surface.     

Single and Interactive Effects of Temperature and Light Quality on Four Canola Cultivars

Combined effects of temperature and light quality on plants have received little attention. We investigated the single and interactive effects of temperature and light quality on growth and physiological characteristics of four canola (Brassica napus) cultivars – Clearfield 46A76 (cv₁), Clearfield 45H72 (cv₂), Roundup Ready 45H24 (cv₃) and Roundup Ready 45H21 (cv₄). Plants were grown under lower (24°/20 °C) and higher (30°/26 °C) temperature regimes at low red/far‐red (R/FR), normal R/FR and high R/FR light ratios in environment‐controlled growth chambers (16 h light/8 h dark). Higher temperature reduced stem height and diameter; leaf number and area; dry matter of all plant parts; and specific leaf weight, but increased leaf area ratio; and chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence (Y). Low R/FR increased stem height; Y; and ethylene, but decreased stem diameter; F_v/F_m; Chl a; Chl b; and carotenoids. Among cultivars, plants from cv₄ were tallest with thickest stems and greatest dry matter. None of the main factors affected gas exchange. Higher temperature at high R/FR caused cv₃ to be shortest, whereas lower temperature at low R/FR caused cv₄ to be tallest. We conclude that heat and other stress factors will adversely affect sensitive crops, but tolerant genotypes should perform well under future climate.     

Independent target region amplification polymorphism and single‐nucleotide polymorphism marker utility in genetic evaluation of sugarcane genotypes

The independent target region amplification polymorphism (TRAP) and single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker s were used for genetic evaluation of different selected 47 sugarcane genotypes. A total of 23 pairs of TRAP markers generated 925 alleles, of which 74% alleles were polymorphic. Polymorphism was generally high (>50%), ranging from 54 to 98%. The polymorphism information content (PIC) values 0.20 varied among the primer combination ranging from 0.17 in SAI + Arbi 2 to 0.31 in GL 2+ Arbi 1 with an average of 0.24. However, the Pearson correlation between PIC and power of discrimination (PD) was found to be less significant. Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms were used first time for the assessment of genetic diversity among different species of Saccharum and cultivated sugarcane varieties. The SNPs were detected from 454 sequencing. A total of 245 SNP markers were assayed across the 47 genotypes, and 167 SNPs were found to be polymorphic. The PIC values ranged from 0.04 to 0.38 with an average of 0.21, and their respective PD varied from 0.58 to 0.04 with an average value of 0.31. The obtained results relatively significant were compared with the other marker systems through genetic similarity and the clusters formed in different unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean clustering dendrogram. The clustering analysis established genetic relationship in the order of Erianthus > Sclerostachya > Narenga > Saccharum spontaneum > S. robustum > S. barberi > S. officinarum/cultivars. These results ratify TRAP and SNP marker systems for assessing genetic diversity studies, and more diversified Erianthus spp. can contribute substantially towards sugarcane varietal improvement through breeding with Saccharum spp. or hybrid cultivars.     

Fast algorithm for apparent resistivity calculation based on back propagation neural networks

To avoid the complex numerical calculation for the electromagnetic field and determine underground abnormality, a neural network based method is proposed. In consideration of turn off transmitter current, the effect of a linear ramp turn off current on transmitter is corrected. The characteristics of transient expression and the traditional calculation algorithm for apparent resistivity are analyzed, and a predigest structure of network is obtained based on the kernel expression. The three layer back propagation(BP) neural network is trained by using sample data in homogeneous half space, and its number in hidden layer was determined. The method proposed is compared with two traditional calculation methods with simulation experiments. The result demonstrates that BP neural network has a high speed of processing data and is useful in explanation of the transient electromagnetic method.     

Evaluation of the waxy endosperm trait in proso millet (Panicum miliaceum)*

The entire USDA‐ARS maintained collection of 650 accessions of proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) was evaluated for the presence of accessions with waxy (amylose‐free) endosperm starch. Six accessions, five of which derived from mainland China, were identified. Segregation ratios for waxy endosperm were evaluated in F₂ and F₃ populations derived from crosses between two waxy accessions, PI 436625 (Lung Shu 16) and PI 436626 (Lung Shu 18), and several wild‐type accessions. The waxy trait was found to be under the control of duplicate recessive alleles at two loci, herein designated wx‐1 and wx‐2. Wild‐type alleles at these loci were designated Wx‐1 and Wx‐2. Iodine‐binding revealed a mean grain‐starch amylose concentration of 3.5% in waxy lines and 25.3% in wild‐type proso. Expression of the granule‐bound starch synthase (waxy protein) in waxy lines was reduced to approximately one‐tenth that of wild‐type accessions. The waxy accessions identified now are available for the introgression of this trait into breeding lines adapted to the Great Plains of North America.