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.     

Acclimation abilities of three tropical rainforest seedlings to an increase in light intensity

Current practices in many nurseries involve the germination of tropical rainforest seedlings in shaded conditions and transferral, at a later date, to environments with greater light intensities. Determination of the ability of these seedlings to acclimate to increased light intensities will allow seedling stock to be processed with maximum efficiency within the nursery. The acclimation abilities of three species, Agyrodendron actinophyllum, Cardwellia sublimis, and Flindersia brayleyana, commonly found in north Queensland's rainforests were investigated in this study. These particular species are highly valued for their cabinet timber qualities and are being reared in nurseries for use in reforestation trials and programs in north Queensland. Seedlings were initially raised in greenhouse conditions under two layers of shade cloth (16% of full sunlight) and then transferred into full sunlight at three different ages (3 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks). Upon transfer, organ ratios and the direction of dry matter distribution was determined for each species and age group. Approximately 3 months after the seedlings were transferred, the acclimation ability of each species and age group was then determined. Dry matter distribution was found to change with age, irrespective of light environment. Individuals within a species with larger root systems and thicker or more dense leaves had a greater acclimation ability than those with smaller root systems and thinner or less dense leaves. Furthermore, individuals within a species whose dry matter distribution upon transfer was directed towards developing a large root system, and a small photosynthetic area and mass, had a greater acclimation ability than those whose dry matter distribution was directed away from such morphologies. Awareness of these relationships allows a better understanding of seedling response to gap formation in natural forests, and also allows plant nursery operators to make a more informed decision about when to move seedlings to environments with a higher light intensity.     

Correlated Responses in Two Traits when Selection is Practised on their Ratio

In many fields of application in plant breeding and crop science, ratios of two component traits X and Y are of interest (harvest index in cereals, leaf-to-stem ratio in forage legumes, height-to-diameter ratio in forest trees etc.). When selection is practised on the ratio X/Y of two traits X and Y, the experimenter may be interested in the resulting changes of both trait means. Based on improved approximations for the covariances between X and X/Y and between Y and X/Y and for the variance of X/Y the changes in the means of X and Y can be predicted by applying the regression approach from conventional selection theory. Explicit expressions for these correlated responses in X and Y when selection is practised on their ratio X/Y are derived and discussed. The different outcomes (decrease, zero change or increase) for the selection pressures on X and Y are characterized by phenotypic coefficients of variation of X and Y, phenotypic and genotypic correlations between X and Y and heritabilities of X and Y.     

赖氨酸占蛋白质及饲粮的比例对杜洛克猪生长肥育性能及胴体品质的影响

杜洛克猪48头,体重27kg左右,分6组。试验前期(27～60kg)日粮的消化能均为13.67MJ)/kg,后期(60～90kg)均为13.44MJ/kg。粗蛋白1、2、3组前期均为18％,后期均为16％;4、5、6组前期均为16％,后期均为14％。同时配合3种赖蛋比水平6.6～6.9％,6.1～6.25％及5％。试验结果表明:4、5、6组平均日增重、饲料利用率及胴体瘦肉率都略高于1、2、3组,但差异不显著(P>0.05)。在前期,以第5组平均日增重最高(达782克),极显著高于其他各组(P<0.01);饲料利用率2.41,极显著好于其他各组(P<0.01)。后期以第5组平均日增重最高(875克)。试验前期,第5组获得最佳的日增重(822克),极显著高于其他各组(P<0.01),饲料利用率2.98,胴体瘦肉率65.79％,与其他各组差异不显著(P>0.05)。在两种粗蛋白水平组内,均以赖蛋比6.1～6.25％的第5组和第2组生长速度最快(822克和778克)。说明在相同的能量水平下,赖蛋比是影响生长速度的主要因素。     

HUDACAPP— 一种工艺规程自动设计系统

本文介绍浦沅工程机械总厂准柔性制造系统(P-FMS)中加工箱体零件所用的一个工艺规程自动设计系统—HUDACAPP,阐述了系统的原理、结构和实现.给出了实例.本系统能按零件输入信息自动生成工艺过程,选择机床、夹具、刀具、量具、切削参数以及计算工时,并能与P-FMS的实时管理调度软件联接,提供所需的资料.     

乳酸菌与中药合生元对肉鸡生长性能及饲料利用率的影响

本试验分别向肉仔鸡日粮中添加等量的抗生素和乳酸菌与中药合生元制剂,通过测定肉仔鸡的各项生长指标和饲料利用率指标,探讨乳酸菌与中药合生元在肉鸡生长和饲料利用率方面替代抗生素的优势.结果表明,试验组与对照组在生长性能和饲料利用率上各指标均差异不显著（P〉0.05）,说明乳酸菌与中药合生元可以替代抗生素饲喂给肉仔鸡.     

Patterns of silver eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) sex ratio in a catchment

Abstract –  Changes in the numbers and size-class structure of European silver eels, Anguilla anguilla , in the River Frémur (France) were examined over a 9-year period after installation of downstream eel passes. The number of silver eels migrating downstream peaked in 1999, then decreased strongly and steadily after 2000, reaching relatively low levels. At the same time, a gradual shift in the silver eel sex ratio from a dominance of males (size from 270 to 442 mm, age from 3 to 6 years) to females (size from 366 to 1112 mm, age from 4 to 9 years) was recorded. Possible explanations for the escapement patterns observed are environmental sex determination and the installation of eel passes on the main hydraulic engineering structures in 1992 and 1996.