Identification of sorghum genotypes suitable for specific end uses: Semolina recovery and popping

There has always been an interest in devising breeding programs for designer foods that would benefit both the producer and consumer. The challenge today is transformation of agriculture from “subsistence farming” to “market and income generation oriented” production system for which sorghum with its diverse end uses can assume significant role. Breeding for end-use identity-specific genotypes is needed for increased profitability to the farmers. In the present study, 60 sorghum genotypes were evaluated over two years to identify genotypes suitable for semolina recovery and popping properties, i.e. popping efficiency and pop volume expansion. Semolina recovery ranged from 20.7% to 48.3%, while popping efficiency ranged from 0 to 77.5%. Semolina recovery had positive and significant association with endosperm texture (r = 0.62), grain density (r = 0.49) and grain hardness (r = 0.55) indicating that genotypes with corneous endosperm yield high semolina. Also, semolina recovery had significant positive correlation with popping efficiency (r = 0.49) indicating that genotypes suitable for semolina can also be used for popping. Genetic divergence studies indicated that out of three clusters formed, cluster II having guinea race germplasm lines are suitable for semolina and popping. The information generated and the genotypes identified will help in enhancing the demand for sorghum as an industrial crop.     

饲料中添加复方中草药制剂对宠物犬生长性能及免疫指标的影响

为探究复方中草药制剂对宠物犬生长性能及免疫指标的影响,试验挑选27只3月龄贵宾犬,随机分为3组,每组9只,对照组(P0组)饲喂基础日粮,P1组和P2组在基础日粮中分别添加1%、2%复方中草药制剂,饲喂42d后测定生长性能和免疫指标。结果表明:P1组和P2组日增重较对照组分别提高59%、52.1%(P<0.05),日采食量分别提高56.1%、27.9%(P<0.05),P1、P2组与P0组相比腹泻率和料重比显著降低(P<0.05),超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性和免疫球蛋白水平显著提高(P<0.05)。综上,日粮中添加适量的复方中草药制剂,可有效改善宠物犬生长性能,提高抗病能力,促进幼龄贵宾犬的生长发育。     

The effects of hydrostatic pressure on signal transduction in brain membranes of deep-sea fishes of the genus Coryphaenoides

To investigate the effects of increased hydrostatic pressure on transmembrane signaling in deep-living marine species, the A₁ adenosine receptor – inhibitory G protein (G_i) – adenylyl cyclase signaling complex was examined in brain membrane preparations from four teleost fish species of the deep-sea family Macrouridae. The combined depth ranges of the adults of these species, Coryphaenoides armatus, C. cinereus, C. filifer, C. pectoralis, span several hundred meters to 5400 m. Basal adenylyl cyclase activity, determined at 5 °C, was inhibited by increased hydrostatic pressure in all four species. At the highest pressure tested, 476 atm, adenylyl cyclase activity was inhibited 60 to 70% relative to the atmospheric pressure values. Pressure inhibition did not result from denaturation or loss of protein components from the membrane due to pressure-induced shedding. Despite the pressure-inhibition of basal adenylyl cyclase activity, the responsiveness of adenylyl cyclase activity to modulation by N⁶-cyclopentyladenosine, an A₁ adenosine receptor agonist, was retained at elevated pressures. Because the accumulation of the second messenger cAMP depends on the summation of modulatory inputs, these results indicate that the transmembrane signaling in these deep-living species is insensitive to hydrostatic pressure changes.     

Modifying Myxococcus xanthus protoporphyrinogen oxidase to plant codon usage and high level of oxyfluorfen resistance in transgenic rice

Protoporphyrinogen oxidase (Protox) of Myxococcus xanthus (Mx Protox) is a 49-kDa membrane protein that catalyzes conversion of protoporphyrinogen IX (Protogen IX) into protoporphyrin IX (Proto IX). Upon heterologous expression in transgenic rice plants, Mx Protox is dually targeted into plastids and mitochondria, increasing resistance against the herbicidal Protox inhibitor oxyfluorfen. Here, we describe the chemical synthesis of the Mx Protox gene by assembling several small synthetic DNA fragments derived by ligation-PCR. Codon usage in the resulting 1416-bp gene was modified to correspond to that of the Arabidopsis Protox gene, a change that resulted in a decrease in G+C content from 71 to 49%. The modified Mx Protox gene was used to generate transgenic rice plants via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Integration, expression, and inheritance of the transgenes were demonstrated by Southern, Northern, and Western blot analyses. In plants transformed with the modified, low G+C-content Mx Protox gene, levels of Protox expression and enzyme activity were low compared to the levels observed for plants transformed with the native Mx Protox gene. Nonetheless, like the native gene, the modified gene conferred a high level of resistance to the herbicide oxyfluorfen in a seedling growth test.     

应用AMMI模型分析云南保山烤烟物理性状的基因与环境互作

目的:研究云南保山烤烟不同品种物理性状在不同环境条件下的适应性和稳定性。方法:将云南保山3个烤烟常栽品种种植在3个海拔高度的2种土壤上,采用完全随机设计,每个品种设3次重复,每小区50~60株,应用AMMI模型对烤烟物理性状的进行基因、环境和基因与环境(G×E)互作分析。结果:各因素对各物理性状指标都有极显著的影响,环境效应>基因效应>G×E互作效应。填充值、叶面密度主要受基因影响,叶长、叶宽、含梗率主要受环境效应影响。G×E互作对梗重、含梗率、综合得分的影响显著,其主成分因子IPCA1的F值均达极显著水平,分别解释了相应G×E互作变异总平方和的98.71%、95.72%、99.99%;叶面密度与海拔呈极显著的正相关,开片度、含梗率、填充值与海拔呈极显著的负相关。K326的烟叶物理可用性最高但稳定性最差,Y87可用性最低稳定性居中,Y99可用性居中但稳定性最好;箐桥对烟叶各品种物理性状的影响力最大,双河最小,公平居中。结论:在本试验范围区域内,烟叶物理性状受G×E互作效应影响极显著。从物理性状看,K326对环境条件最为敏感,适合在中等海拔区种植,Y87、Y99对环境条件的敏感性较弱,在高、低海拔区域均能种植并能获得物理可用性较高的烟叶。     

非洲菊的离体培养研究

以非洲菊的侧芽为试材,在MS培养基中添加不同种类与不同浓度的生长调节剂进行离体培养。研究结果表明,以MS＋2.0 mg/L 6-BA＋0.3 mg/L IBA＋30 g/L蔗糖＋7 g/L琼脂的固体培养基为诱导不定芽的最佳培养基;以MS＋1.5 mg/L IAA和1/2MS＋0.03 mg/L NAA＋30 g/L蔗糖＋7 g/L琼脂的固体培养基诱导生根效果好;幼苗移栽的基质以白砂土（已灭菌）＋20%已发酵的棉籽壳（体积比）为最佳,成活率可达95%。该项研究对非洲菊的快速繁殖有一定的指导作用。     

小麦属G组染色体编码的高分子量谷蛋白亚基多态性

用SDS－PAGE和PCR扩增方法对提莫菲维小麦和阿拉拉特小麦G组染色体编码的高分子量谷蛋白亚基（HMW－GS）的多态性进行了研究。无论从蛋白质水平还是从DNA水平来看，G组染色体编码的HMW－GS都存在遗传多样性，15个供试材料表现出8种表型，并与普通小麦和硬粒小麦的HMW－GS不同，为了研究G组染色体编码的HMW－GS与小麦品质的关系；利用普通小麦的Glu-1Y位点中部重复结构区的保守序列设计的2个特异性引物对G组染色体进行PCR扩增可以鉴别Glu-1G位点的等位基因变异，且与SDS－PAGE的结果一致。     

长绒棉抗病材料的选择

提出了长绒棉抗病材料选育的技术路线,并在长绒棉抗病材料选育的实践中,取得了良好效果。研究发现:利用枯萎病病圃,对海陆杂交后代进行回交和复合杂交,在病圃中连续选择,经过几年的选育能够出现稳定的、抗病的长绒棉单株。然后通过病圃、重病田进行株行鉴定及品比试验筛选一批性状基本稳定的抗病材料。     

梨、苹果锈病转主寄主的研究

梨、苹果锈病的转主寄主是桧柏的两个不同类型。梨锈病的转主寄主树冠较稀疏,分枝角度较大,具针叶和鳞叶,在转主寄主上形成纺锤形瘿瘤,苹果锈病的转主寄主树冠较紧凑,分枝角度小,只具针叶,在转主寄主上形成球形或半球形的瘿瘤。