Availability of Cadmium in some Phosphorus Fertilizers to Field-Grown Lettuce

Although evaluations of the availability of cadmium (Cd) contaminants in phosphate fertilizers have been made, few have examined the transfer efficiency of Cd from fertilizers to plants, especially under field conditions. This 2-year field study determined the transfer of added Cd to lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) (Royal Green) from a western phosphate rock (PR) and a triple superphosphate (TSP) as affected by liming and rate of fertilizer (or Cd) input. A readily soluble Cd salt, CdCl₂, was included in the study for comparison. The cumulative amounts of Cd added from the fertilizers and CdCl₂ over the 2-year period ranged from 0 to 1440 g ha^–1. Lettuce yield increased with increasing TSP rates, but was unaffected by PR. Significant (P < 0.01) effects of Cd source and rate, lime, and year were found on Cd accumulation by lettuce. The transfer of the added Cd was consistently higher for CdCl₂ than for the fertilizers regardless of lime rate. A contrasting year effect was also found between the two P fertilizers. In the second year of application, the Cd transfer efficiency increased in the soil treated with the PR, but decreased in the soil treated with the TSP. The Cd transfer efficiency for the plant was better measured with DTPA–Cd (r ²= 0.78 – 0.80) or CaCl₂–Cd (r ²= 0.57 – 0.76) than with soil total Cd (r ²= 0.39 to 0.54) across all Cd sources and lime rates. This is because DTPA–Cd or CaCl₂–Cd reflected the influences of the amount of Cd added, Cd source, and lime rate on Cd accumulation by the plant better than did the soil total Cd. Of the amount of Cd added from the fertilizers an average of 1.0% or less was accumulated in the harvested lettuce tissue. Applications of the fertilizers at high rates could result in increased Cd accumulation in the soil over time.     

Resources and bioactive substances from Taiwania (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Taiwania cryptomerioides</Emphasis>)

 Taiwania (Taiwania cryptomerioides Hayata), native to Taiwan, is one of the most economically important tree species grown there. In this article we summarize the current results of phytochemistry and bioactivity of Taiwania extracts, including antifungal, antitermite, antibacterial, and antimite activities as well as cytotoxicity against three tumor cells. The resources of Taiwania are also addressed. Received: January 23, 2002 / Accepted: March 8, 2002 Acknowledgment The authors thank the National Science Council of R.O.C. for financial support (NSC-90-2313-B-002-344). Correspondence to:S.-T. Chang     

3个单倍体诱导系的初步评价

为了评价3个诱导系,将诱导系与6个玉米组合杂交,分析了初步诱导率。结果表明：诱导系间的初步诱导率存在显著差异;美诱系的初步诱导率（6．52％）显著高于日诱系（3．89％）和高诱1号（3．21％）;基础组合间的初步诱导率差异不显著。     

Effects of CpG-B ODN on the protein expression profile of swine PBMC

The CpG motif within bacterial DNA is a potent immuno-stimulatory moiety. Here, using a 2-D electrophoretic approach, we investigated the effect of synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide containing a B type CpG motif (CpG-B ODN) on the protein expression profile of swine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). We found that several proteins including spondin 1, N-acetolactate alpha linked acidic dipeptidase; V kappa light chain, T cell receptor variable alpha chain, heat shock protein (Hsp) 60, Hsp70, KIAA0857 protein, and PNAS-146 were up-regulated in PBMC by CpG-B ODN stimulation. Further studies showed that CpG-B ODN-mediated Hsp60, Hsp70 and Hsp90 expressions were closely associated with the TLR9 signalling pathway. Pretreatment with inhibitors of Hsp70, Hsp90 and TLR9 all blocked the CpG-B ODN-mediated anti-apoptotic effect in swine PBMC. These results suggest that CpG-B ODN treatment of swine PBMC may enhance the expression of biologically active proteins, notably spondin 1, V kappa light chain, T cell receptor variable alpha chain and Hsps, which may play an important role in CpG-B ODN-mediated activation of immune responses and enhancement of swine PBMC survival.     

Surveillance for highly pathogenic avian influenza in migratory shorebirds at the terminus of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway

AIM: To determine if migratory birds arriving in New Zealand in the Southern Hemisphere spring of 2004 were infected with the highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) virus, H5N1.

METHODS: Cloacal and faecal samples were collected from migratory red knots following their arrival in New Zealand in October 2004. Two species of resident sympatric birds, wrybill and mallard duck, were sampled prior to, and following, the arrival of migratory birds.

RESULTS: No AI viruses were isolated from migratory or resident shorebirds. Non-pathogenic AI viruses were isolated from six resident mallard ducks, comprising the endemic subtypes H4 (n=2), H7 (non-pathogenic), H10, and H11 (n=2).

CONCLUSIONS: Highly pathogenic AI H5N1 virus was not detected in migratory shorebirds or sympatric water birds in the Firth of Thames, New Zealand, in 2004-2005, despite the possible proximity of migratory birds to outbreaks of the disease in East Asia in 2004.     

鲈鱼与养生

在广泛文献检索基础上,对鲈鱼的种属、营养成分、养生价值、代表性膳食及食用注意事项进行了概述,以期为全民养生保健提供科学资料。     

双酶法水解罗非鱼下脚料制备降血糖肽的工艺研究

以水解度和α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制率为评价指标,确定双酶复合水解罗非鱼下脚料的方案,并通过单因素试验和正交试验进行优化,最后得到最适酶解工艺参数为先在碱性蛋白酶在温度50℃,加酶量10000 U/g,pH值9.5,底物质量分数6%条件下水解;再在胰蛋白酶在温度37℃,加酶量10000 U/g,pH值8条件下水解100 min。此工艺条件下罗非鱼下脚料水解度、水解产物的α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制率分别为48.26%和41.46%。     

Multiplex PCR genotyping for five bacterial blight resistance genes applied to marker‐assisted selection in rice (Oryza sativa)

Bacterial blight (BB) is the most economically damaging disease of rice in Asia and other parts of the world. In this study, a multiplex PCR genotyping method was developed to simultaneously identify genotypes of five BB resistance genes, Xa4, xa5, Xa7, xa13 and Xa21. The resistance R alleles were amplified using five functional markers (FMs) to generate amplicons of 217, 103, 179, 381 and 595 bp in IRBB66. Amplicons of 198, 107, 87, 391 and 467 bp corresponded to susceptible alleles in Taiwanese japonica rice cultivars. In backcross breeding programmes, the multiplex PCR assay was integrated into selection from a population using BB resistance donor IRBB66 crossed to rice cultivar ‘Tainung82’. Two plants with homozygosity for Xa4, xa5, Xa7, xa13 and Xa21 were selected from 1100 BC₂F₂ plants. In addition, the five BB resistance genes were also accurately identified in F₂ populations. This multiplex PCR method provides a rapid and efficient method for detecting various BB resistance genes, which will assist in pyramiding genes to improve durability of BB resistance in Taiwanese elite rice cultivars.