Larviculture of the painted river prawn Macrobrachium carcinus in different culture systems

The objective of this study was to evaluate different hatchery systems used for the larviculture of the Macrobrachium carcinus based on survival, larval development and production of post-larvae. The experimental culture was carried out in three phases designated as Phase I (Zoea VI to VIII – Z_{VI – VIII}), Phase II (Zoea VIII to X – Z_{VIII – X}), and Phase III (Zoea X to PL – Z_{X – PL}), with densities of 30, 27.5 and 25 larvae / L, respectively. The M. carcinus larvae (Z_VI) were reared in four culture systems, two being open (Greenwater – GW and Clearwater – CW) and two being closed (Biofloc – BFT and Bio-filter – RAS), distributed in twelve 10 L plastic containers, filled with 20 ppt brackish water, equipped with constant aeration, and water circulated by air lift and heated with thermostat (∼30 °C). The GW treatment was maintained with Chlorophyceae algae in the density of 3–5 × 10⁵ cells/mL. In the CW, the water was previously filtered through a 5 μm mesh screen, sterilized with 10 ppm active chlorine and, dechlorinated with vitamin C and subjected to aeration for 24 h. The BFT received water rich in bioflocs that was matured prior to the experiment and used molasses as a source of organic carbon. In the RAS, the culture water circulated through an external “Dry-Wet” biological filter. The feeding was carried out ad libitum four times daily, alternating a wet diet formula with a commercial diet, which was supplemented with newly hatched Artemia nauplii at a rate of 40–50 per larvae/day. Temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH were monitored daily and the salinity two times per week. Total ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, orthophosphate, alkalinity, total suspended solids, chlorophyll-a, COD and BOD were also analyzed. The best water quality (P < 0.05) was obtained in the RAS, with 0.49 (±0.38), 0.23 (±0.22), and 9.0 (±1.5) mg/L of TAN, NO₂-N and NO₃-N, respectively. In the GW, the nitrogen species showed high fluctuations and higher concentrations at 2.32 (±1.68), 3.53 (±3.53) and 18.2 (±12.9) mg / L of TAN, NO₂-N and NO₃-N, respectively. Considering the three phases (Z_{VI – PL}), the overall survival was 0.03, 1.97, 2.23 and 17.32 % for the BFT, CW, GW and RAS, respectively. When considering the phases separately, the survival in Phase I (Z_{VI – VIII}) was highest in the GW system at 58.7 % while the RAS was the highest in Phases II (Z_{VIII – X}) and III (Z_{X – PL}) at 70.6 % and 60.3 %, respectively. The BFT showed 8.4 (±3.5) PL/L, which was higher (P < 0.05) than that obtained in the RAS (2.8 ± 1.2 PL/L) and the GW (1.3 ± 1.1 PL/L) and similar to that obtained in the CW (5.6 ± 2.0 PL/L). Thus, the larviculture for the M. carcinus may be optimized by adopting a multiphase management strategy, which the intermediate larval stages (Z_{VI – IX}) are reared in the GW system and the final stages (Z_{X – PL}) are reared in the BFT system.     

甘蔗热带种金属硫蛋白家族基因的克隆及响应重金属胁迫的表达分析

金属硫蛋白是一类富含巯基的低分子量蛋白,在植物的重金属解毒及细胞氧化还原调控等方面起重要的作用。本研究以甘蔗热带种Badila组培苗为材料,分别测定了其在CdCl2、ZnSO4和CuCl2水溶液培养条件下地上部和地下部的重金属含量,结果显示其对上述3种重金属有较强的耐受与富集能力。继而克隆了ScMT1(登录号为KJ504373)、ScMT2-1-5(登录号为MH191346)和ScMT3(登录号为KJ5043704)3个金属硫蛋白家族基因,它们分别属于植物MT亚家族中的MT1、MT2和MT3型基因。ScMT1含有1个内含子和2个外显子,开放阅读框(Open Reading Frame,ORF)长228 bp,编码75个氨基酸;ScMT2-1-5含有2个内含子和3个外显子,ORF长246 bp,编码81个氨基酸;ScMT3含有1个内含子和2个外显子,ORF长198 bp,编码65个氨基酸。RT-qPCR显示,Cd2+胁迫下,在甘蔗地上部和地下部,ScMT2-1-5均连续显著上调表达,而ScMT1的上调应答出现延迟。ScMT3在地上部的上调应答出现延迟,在地下部呈“扬-抑”趋势,提示甘蔗响应Cd^2+胁迫过程中ScMT2-1-5起更积极的作用,ScMT1参与胁迫后期的分子响应,而ScMT3不起主导作用。Cu^2+胁迫下,地上部ScMT1连续显著上调表达,ScMT2-1-5和ScMT3呈总体上调的表达趋势;地下部,ScMT1和ScMT2-1-5的上调表答均出现延迟,仅在胁迫后期显著上调表达,而ScMT3仅在胁迫前期显著上调表达。该结果提示了ScMT1、ScMT2-1-5和ScMT3在Cu2+胁迫响应过程中的协作关系,三者共同参与了地上部的胁迫响应,其中ScMT1起更积极的作用;此外三者还先后参与了地下部对Cu^2+胁迫的分子响应。Zn^2+胁迫下,ScMT1和ScMT3分别仅在地上部和地下部显著上调表达;ScMT2-1-5在地上部和地下部均呈“扬-抑”的应答趋势;提示了在甘蔗响应Cd^2+胁迫应答过程中ScMT1和ScMT3分别在地上部和地下部起主要作用,ScMT2-1-5参与了胁迫前期的分子响应。ScMT1、ScMT2-1-5和ScMT3在甘蔗不同组织中及在重金属(Cd^2+、Zn^2+或Cu^2+)不同累积水平下呈现出相似或互补的应答特性,提示上述甘蔗MT家族不同成员在重金属解毒及细胞氧化还原调控等方面产生了功能分化,且三者在应对过量Cd^2+、Zn^2+或Cu^2+对甘蔗组织造成伤害的过程中存在时空上的协同作用。该研究为深入理解多倍体植物甘蔗中MT家族各成员基因在重金属耐受过程中的协同作用机制奠定了基础。     

光照对箭筈豌豆及其子代生长和繁殖特性的影响

光照不仅会影响植物自身的生长,也可能会对其子代的生长具有潜在作用。以箭筈豌豆品种兰箭1号和兰箭3号为材料,分析遮荫和自然光照下箭筈豌豆及其子代的生长特性。结果表明:光照对箭筈豌豆生长和繁殖特性的影响因基因型而异。与光照条件相比,遮荫显著降低兰箭1号生物量及茎叶比,但对繁殖分配的比例影响不显著。与此相反,遮荫对兰箭3号的生长与繁殖无显著影响;母本光照环境对箭筈豌豆子代生长特性具有一定程度的影响,且这种影响因子代植株生长的光照环境而异。当子代在遮荫环境下,母本环境显著影响兰箭1号分枝数、地上生物量、总生物量、地上/地下生物量以及兰箭3号的分枝数。但当子代在光照环境下生长时,除兰箭3号分枝数外,其他生长特性均不受母本环境影响。     

茶树花青素形成分子机理的研究进展

花青素是由类黄酮合成途径产生的次生代谢产物,含量高时会使茶树新梢呈现红色或紫色。同时,花青素相比儿茶素等具有更明显的抗氧化、预防肿瘤等药理保健作用。文章就茶树花青素合成途径、转录及转录后调控等方面进行综述,以期更好地为高花青素茶树的育种研究提供理论依据。     

Exogenous application of allelopathic water extracts helps improving tolerance against terminal heat and drought stresses in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L. Em. Thell.)

The allelopathic water extracts (AWEs) may help improve the tolerance of crop plants against abiotic stresses owing to the presence of the secondary metabolites (i.e., allelochemicals). We conducted four independent experiments to evaluate the influence of exogenous application of AWEs (applied through seed priming or foliage spray) in improving the terminal heat and drought tolerance in bread wheat. In all the experiments, two wheat cultivars, viz. Mairaj‐2008 (drought and heat tolerant) and Faisalabad‐2008 (drought and heat sensitive), were raised in pots. Both wheat cultivars were raised under ambient conditions in the wire house till leaf boot stage (booting) by maintaining the pots at 75% water‐holding capacity (WHC). Then, managed drought and heat stresses were imposed by maintaining the pots at 35% WHC, or shifting the pots inside the glass canopies (at 75% WHC), at booting, anthesis and the grain filling stages. Drought stress reduced the grain yield of wheat by 39%–49%. Foliar application of AWEs improved the grain yield of wheat by 26%–31%, while seed priming with AWEs improved the grain yield by 18%–26%, respectively, than drought stress. Terminal heat stress reduced the grain yield of wheat by 38%. Seed priming with AWEs improved the grain yield by 21%–27%; while foliar application of AWEs improved the grain yield by 25%–29% than the heat stress treatment. In conclusion, the exogenous application of AWEs improved the stay green, accumulation of proline, soluble phenolics and glycine betaine, which helped to stabilize the biological membranes and improved the tolerance against terminal drought and heat stresses.     

Mapping the spatial distribution of shade provision of street trees in Boston using Google Street View panoramas

Street trees provide shade and increase human thermal comfort during hot summer. In this study, we investigated the spatial distribution of shade provision of street trees in Boston, Massachusetts. The sky view factor (SVF), which influences the solar radiation to the ground and affects human thermal comfort, was used to indicate the contribution of street trees on shade provision. Google Street View (GSV) panoramas were used to calculate the photographic method based SVF (SVF_P), with the consideration of all kinds of obstructions within street canyons. A building height model was used to calculate the simulation based SVF (SVFs), with consideration of obstruction of building blocks only. Considering the fact that street trees and building blocks are the two major obstructions of radiation within street canyons, therefore, the difference between the two SVF estimation results can be considered as the shade provision of street trees. The results show that street trees help to decrease the SVF by 24.61% in Boston, Massachusetts. The shading level varies spatially in the study area. Generally, the southwestern area has much higher shading level than the north and the east. We further explored the shading variation among different socioeconomic groups in the study area. Result shows that Hispanics tend to live in neighborhoods with lower shading level. This study can help to provide a reference for future urban greening projects for global climate change adaption.     

Protective efficacy of an H5/H7 trivalent inactivated vaccine produced from Re-11, Re-12, and H7-Re2 strains against challenge with different H5 and H7 viruses in chickens

We developed an H5/H7 trivalent inactivated vaccine by using Re-11, Re-12, and H7-Re2 vaccine seed viruses, which were generated by reverse genetics and derived their HA genes from A/duck/Guizhou/S4184/2017(H5 N6)(DK/GZ/S4184/17)(a clade 2.3.4.4 d virus), A/chicken/Liaoning/SD007/2017(H5 N1)(CK/LN/SD007/17)(a clade 2.3.2.1 d virus), and A/chicken/Guangxi/SD098/2017(H7 N9)(CK/GX/SD098/17), respectively. The protective efficacy of this novel vaccine and that of the recently used H5/H7 bivalent inactivated vaccine against different H5 and H7 N9 viruses was evaluated in chickens. We found that the H5/H7 bivalent vaccine provided solid protection against the H7 N9 virus CK/GX/SD098/17, but only 50–60% protection against different H5 viruses. In contrast, the novel H5/H7 trivalent vaccine provided complete protection against the H5 and H7 viruses tested. Our study underscores the importance of timely updating of vaccines for avian influenza control.     

Zerumbone attenuates MPP+-induced cytotoxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells by inhibition of oxidative stress

AIM: To investigate the role of zerumbone (ZER) in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺)-induced cytotoxicity of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. METHODS: Human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were cultured in vitro and the protective effect of ZER against MPP⁺-induced cytotoxicity was measured by CCK-8 assay. Flow cytometry was used to determine the apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The expression of Parkinson disease protein 7 (PARK7) was knocked-down by using PARK7-specific short hairpin RNA (shRNA). The protein levels of PARK7, nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: MMP⁺ remarkably reduced the cell viability in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. The SH-SY5Y cell injury model was established by treatment with MPP⁺ at 600 μmol/L for 24 h. ZER up-regulated the protein levels of PARK7 and Nrf2 (P<0.05), alleviated apoptosis (P<0.05), and reduced ROS production (P<0.05) in the SH-SY5Y cell injury model. Meanwhile, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) had the similar functions. Moreover, significant reductions in the protein levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 (P<0.05), and obvious increases in apoptosis (P<0.05) and ROS level (P<0.05) were demonstrated in PARK7-knockdown cells. CONCLUSION: ZER protects SH-SY5Y cells against MPP⁺-induced cytotoxi-city, which may be related to activation of PARK7/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, and subsequent attenuation of oxidative stress and apoptosis.