Genetic analysis of morphological index and its related taxonomic traits for classification of indica/japonica rice

A doubled haploid population derived from anther culture of ZYQ8/JX17 F1, a typical indica and japonica hybrid, was used in this study. Morphological index and its related taxonomic traits were investigated in 121 DH lines. The quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for morphological index and its related taxonomic traits were analyzed. Two major QTLs for leaf hairiness, three QTLs for length/width of grain, one QTL for color of hull when heading, one QTL for hairiness of hull, two QTLs for length of the first and second panicle internode, and one major QTL and two QTLs for phenol reaction were detected. Four QTLs for morphological index were also identified on chromosomes 1, 3, 4 and 6, respectively, three of which on chromosomes 1, 3 and 6, respectively, were found to be located in the same chromosome regions where some QTLs for the related taxonomic traits were located.     

Phenolsulfonphthalein (phenol red) metabolism in primary monolayer cultures of adult rat hepatocytes

Summary The sulfonic acid dye, phenolsulfonphthalein (PSP or phenol red), has been incorporated as a pH indicator in many tissue culture media formulations since the emergence of tissue culture methodologies. The present study was designed to examine the pathway, time course, and degree of metabolism of this anionic dye in monolayer cultures of adult rat hepatocytes. Thin layer chromatographic studies coupled with β-glucuronidase studies show that glucuronidation is the major metabolic pathway for PSP in vitro. About 20% of the dye is metabolized in the first 24 h, but this functional activity is decreased by approximately half at 48 h, and even further at 72 h of culture. This metabolic activity was not affected by continuous exposure to the dye. The effect of PSP concentration on its rate of metabolism by the adult rat hepatocyte in culture seemed to be biphasic, and at concentrations of less than 100μM there was indication of a saturable process. Although PSP seemed not to be toxic to hepatocyte cultures, it is partially metabolized by these cells (as opposed to no observed metabolism in human fibroblasts or HeLa cells). Therefore, its incorporation into tissue culture media formulations for use in hepatocyte cultures should be avoided, especially when studying the mechanism(s) of glucuronidation or metabolic pathways thought to be affected by this anionic dye. This study was supported in part by NIH Grants HL-11945-11 and 1 R01 AM 26520-01A1.     

Computational investigation of small RNAs in the establishment of root nodules and arbuscular mycorrhiza in leguminous plants

Many small RNAs have been confirmed to play important roles in the development of root nodules and arbuscular mycorrhiza. In this study, we carried out the identification of certain small RNAs in leguminous plants(Medicago truncatula, soybean, peanut and common bean), such as miRNAs, tRFs and srRNAs, as well as the computational investigation of their regulations. Thirty miRNAs were predicted to be involved in establishing root nodules and mycorrhiza, and 12 of them were novel in common bean and peanut. The generation of tRFs in M. truncatula was not associated with tRNA gene frequencies and codon usage. Six tRFs exhibited different expressions in mycorrhiza and root nodules. Moreover, srRNA~(5.8S) in M. truncatula was generated from the regions with relatively low conservation at the rRNA 3′ terminal. The protein-protein interactions between the proteins encoded by the target genes of miRNAs, tRFs and srRNAs were computed. The regulation of these three types of sRNAs in the symbiosis between leguminous plants and microorganisms is not a single regulation of certain signaling or metabolic pathways but a global regulation for the plants to own growth or specific events in symbiosis.     

Comparison of Classical Models for Evaluating the Heat Requirements of Olive （Olea europeae L.） in Portugal

The aim of the present study was to compare the accuracy and reproducibility of six statistical models for the calculation of olive （Olea europeae L.） heat requirements to trigger the onset of flowering in three Portuguese regions： Reguengos de Monsaraz, Valenga do Douro, and Braga. Other alms were to ascertain the date on which the heat-accumulation period started and the threshold temperatures above which the development of reproductive structures starts in olives. The starting and peak dates for the regional O. europeae flowering season were estimated by monitoring airborne pollen from 1998 to 2004 using ＂Cour＂- type samplers. The threshold temperature values calculated for the three regions were very similar （9.0 ℃ for Valenca do Douro, 9.2 ℃ for Reguengos de Monsaraz, and 9.7 ℃ for Braga）. The accumulated daily mean temperature model had less interannual and inter-regional variation, showing best predictive results for 2004, with absolute differences between the observed and predicted dates of 4 d in Reguengos de Monsaraz and 2 d In Valenca do Douro and Braga for the onset of flowering date and of 2 d In Reguengos de Monsaraz, 7 d in Valenca do Douro, and 4 d in Braga for peak flowering dates. This model was the most accurate, reproducible, and operational to calculate heat requirements for olives to flower, with an average mean temperature accumulation of 1 446 ℃ In Reguengos, 1 642 ℃ in Valenga do Douro, and 1 703℃ In Braga to reach the onset of flowering. The best initial date for this accumulation was 1 January.     

Realized heritability and genetic gains of three generation for superior growth in the pearl oyster Pinctada martensii

The pearl oyster Pinctada martensii is an important economic shellfish species and mainly cultured in the southern provinces of China. The species is cultured for marine pearl production. However, pearl quality has recently decreased because the cultured stocks had slow growth and mass mortalities caused by inbreeding depression. We have initiated a selective breeding program to improve the cultivated stocks since 2002. In 2004, a base population was developed by collecting the breeders from Beibuwan and Liushagang stocks. During the period of 2005–2007, a two successive generation selection for shell length in the base population was carried out to produce the second generation selected and unselected lines. In May of 2008, three types of lines were produced by selecting the breeders from the second generation selected and unselected lines. The three types of lines were designated as SS (Selected for three generations), SC (selected for the two generations) and CC (unselected for three generations). Realized heritability for the third generation, cumulative (over three generation) and current (for the third generation) genetic gains were evaluated by comparing the growth performance of three types of lines at days 8, 16, 45, 75, 180 and 360. It was found that the SS lines had significant larger mean shell length and shell height than the SC and CC lines at all sampling ages (P < 0.05). The realized heritability estimate for adult shell length for the third generation was 0.41, similar with those detected for the first and second generation. The cumulative and current genetic gains for adult shell length were 20.94% and 13.27%, respectively. The present results indicate that there exists a high genetic variation in the population and mass selection is potential to improve pearl oyster stocks.     

Realized heritability and genetic gains of three generation for superior growth in the pearl oyster Pinctada martensii

The pearl oyster Pinctada martensii is an important economic shellfish species and mainly cultured in the southern provinces of China. The species is cultured for marine pearl production. However, pearl quality has recently decreased because the cultured stocks had slow growth and mass mortalities caused by inbreeding depression. We have initiated a selective breeding program to improve the cultivated stocks since 2002. In 2004, a base population was developed by collecting the breeders from Beibuwan and Liushagang stocks. During the period of 2005–2007, a two successive generation selection for shell length in the base population was carried out to produce the second generation selected and unselected lines. In May of 2008, three types of lines were produced by selecting the breeders from the second generation selected and unselected lines. The three types of lines were designated as SS (Selected for three generations), SC (selected for the two generations) and CC (unselected for three generations). Realized heritability for the third generation, cumulative (over three generation) and current (for the third generation) genetic gains were evaluated by comparing the growth performance of three types of lines at days 8, 16, 45, 75, 180 and 360. It was found that the SS lines had significant larger mean shell length and shell height than the SC and CC lines at all sampling ages (P < 0.05). The realized heritability estimate for adult shell length for the third generation was 0.41, similar with those detected for the first and second generation. The cumulative and current genetic gains for adult shell length were 20.94% and 13.27%, respectively. The present results indicate that there exists a high genetic variation in the population and mass selection is potential to improve pearl oyster stocks.     

Developmental competence and ultrastructural changes of heat-stressed mouse early blastocysts produced in vitro

Mouse early blastocysts were exposed to temporatures of 39℃ and 41℃ for 2 h,respectively,to determine their developmental competence and uhrastructural changes. The results showed that heat stress at 41 ℃ for 2 h,significantly reduced the percentages of expanded and hatched blastocysts,but not at 39℃ for 2 h. The average cell numbers in expanded blastocysts,which developed from early blastocysts heat-stressed at temperatures of 39℃ and 41 ℃,were significantly reduced. The average cell numbers in hatched blastocysts subjected to heat stress were no different from those in the control group cultured at 37℃ . The mitochondria of the early blastocysts heat-stressed at 39T℃ for 2 h,were slightly swollen,but they had recovered after culturing at 37℃ for 2 h. However,the mitochondria in the blastocysts heat stressed at 41 ℃ for 2 h were severely swollen,and their number increased. The ribosomes shed from the rough endoplasmic reticulum,and the number of secondary lysosomes in the plasma increased. The integrity of desmosomes was disrupted. The space between the nuclear envelope and the perivitelline membrane enlarged. The fibre fraction and the particulate fraction of nucleoli were separated. The heterochromatin in nucleoli was also increased in its quantity. There were some lamellar-shape structures and heterogeneous dense materials exhibiting in the cytoplasm. The ultrastructural changes induced by heat shock at 41 ℃ for 2 h were not reversible. In conclusion,the damage of heat stress to mitochondria,lysosomes,ribosomes and cell nucleus,may be one of the most important factors that inhibit the normal development of mouse early blastocysts.     

Developmental competence and ultrastructural changes of heat- stressed mouse early blastocysts produced in vitro

Mouse early blastocysts were exposed to temperatures of 39℃ and 41℃ for 2 h, respectively, to determine their developmental competence and ultrastructural changes. The results showed that heat stress at 41 ℃ for 2 h, significantly reduced the percentages of expanded and hatched blastocysts, but not at 39℃ for 2 h. The average cell numbers in expanded blastocysts, which developed from early blastoeysts heat-stressed at temperatures of 39℃ and 41 ℃, were significantly reduced. The average cell numbers in hatched blastocysts subjected to heat stress were no different from those in the control group cultured at 37 ℃ . The mitochondria of the early blastocysts heat-stressed at 39℃ for 2 h, were slightly swollen, but they had recovered after culturing at 37 ℃ for 2 h. However, the mitochondria in the blastocysts heat stressed at 41 ℃ for 2 h were severely swollen, and their number increased. The ribosomes shed from the rough endoplasmic reticulum, and the number of secondary lysosomes in the plasma increased. The integrity of desmosomes was disrupted. The space between the nuclear envelope and the perivitelline membrane enlarged. The fibre fraction and the particulate fraction of nueleoli were separated. The heterochromatin in nueleoli was also increased in its quantity. There were some lamellar-shape structures and heterogeneous dense materials exhibiting in the cytoplasm. The ultrastructural changes induced by heat shock at 41 ℃ for 2 h were not reversible. In conclusion, the damage of heat stress to mitoehondria, lysosomes, ribosomes and cell nucleus, may be one of the most important factors that inhibit the normal development of mouse early blastoeysts .     

Uptake of cationic dyes from aqueous solution by biosorption onto granular kohlrabi peel

A new, low cost, locally available biomaterial was tested for its ability to remove cationic dyes from aqueous solution. Granules prepared from kohlrabi peel had been utilized as a sorbent for uptake of three cationic dyes, methylene blue (MB), neutral red (NR) and acridine orange (AO). The effects of various experimental parameters (e.g., dye concentration, particle size, initial pH, contact time and other factors) were investigated and optimal experimental conditions were ascertained. Above the value of initial pH 4, three dyes studied could be removed effectively. The isothermal data fitted the Langmuir model in the case of NR sorption and the Freundlich model for all three dyes sorption. The biosorption processes followed the pseudo-first-order rate kinetics. The results in this study indicated that kohlrabi peel was an attractive candidate for removing cationic dyes from the dye wastewater.     

Removal of basic and reactive dyes using ethylenediamine modified rice hull

Wastewaters from textile industries may contain a variety of dyes that have to be removed before their discharge into waterways. Rice hull, an agricultural by-product, was modified using ethylenediamine to introduce active sites on its surface to enable it to function as a sorbent for both basic and reactive dyes. The sorption characteristics of Basic Blue 3 (BB3) and Reactive Orange 16 (RO16) by ethylenediamine modified rice hull (MRH) were studied under various experimental conditions. Sorption was pH and concentration dependent. Simultaneous removal of BB3 and RO16 occurred at pH greater than 4. The kinetics of dye sorption fitted a pseudo-second order rate expression. Increase in agitation rate had no effect on the sorption of BB3 but increased uptake of RO16 on MRH. Decreasing particle size increased the uptake of dyes in binary dye solutions. Equilibrium data could be fitted into both the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Maximum sorption capacities calculated from the Langmuir model are 14.68 and 60.24 mg/g for BB3 and RO16, respectively in binary dye solutions. This corresponds to an enhancement of 4.5 and 2.4 fold, respectively, compared to single dye solutions. MRH therefore has the potential of being used as an efficient sorbent for the removal of both dyes in textile wastewaters.     

Decolorization and biosorption for Congo red by system rice hull- Schizophyllum sp. F17 under solid-state condition in a continuous flow packed-bed bioreactor

Synthetic dyes are important chemical pollutants from various industries. This work developed an efficient and relatively simple continuous decolorization system rice hull-Schizophyllum sp. F17 under solid-state condition in a packed-bed bioreactor, for decolorizing Congo red. In the decolorization system, two decolorization mechanisms exist, one is decolorization by Schizophyllum sp. F17, the other is biosorption by rice hull. The decolorization efficiency was greatly affected by dye concentration and hydraulic retention time (HRT), which were quantificationally analyzed and optimized through response surface methodology (RSM). A 2(2) full factorial central composite design (CCD) was performed, and three second order polynomial models were generated to describe the effects of dye concentration and HRT on total decolorization (R2=0.902), decolorization by Schizophyllum sp. F17 (R2=0.866) and biosorption by rice hull (R2=0.890). Response surface contour plots were constructed to show the individual and cumulative effects of dye concentration and HRT, and the optimum values. A maximum total decolorization 89.71% and maximum decolorization by Schizophyllum sp. F17 60.44% was achieved at dye concentration 142.63mg/L, HRT 41h, and dye concentration 110.7mg/L, HRT 29.4h, respectively. Meanwhile, the role of manganese peroxidase (MnP) in the decolorizaion process was investigated. This study proved the feasibility of continuous mode for decolorizing synthetic dyes by white-rot fungi in solid-state fermentation bioreactors.     

Kinetics of biosorption of cadmium on Baker's yeast

In the present study the kinetics of biosorption of cadmium(II) ions by deactivated protonated yeast converted to sodium form was investigated for different initial concentrations of the metal ion (10-100 ppm) and different sorbent dosages (0.1-2.0 g) at a pH of 6.5. The adsorption process occurred in four distinct steps and the rates for these steps decreased sequentially. The rate of cadmium uptake in each case was pseudo-second-order with respect to metal ion concentration. The amount sorbed at equilibrium was found to be directly proportional to the initial metal ion concentration divided by the sorbent mass.     

Use of Spirulina platensis micro and nanoparticles for the removal synthetic dyes from aqueous solutions by biosorption

In this research, micro and nanoparticles of Spirulina platensis dead biomass were obtained, characterized and employed to removal FD&C red no. 40 and acid blue 9 synthetic dyes from aqueous solutions. The effects of particle size (micro and nano) and biosorbent dosage (from 50 to 750 mg) were studied. Pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and Elovich models were used to evaluate the biosorption kinetics. The biosorption nature was verified using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The best results for both dyes were found using 250 mg of nanoparticles, in these conditions, the biosorption capacities were 295 mg g^?1 and 1450 mg g^?1, and the percentages of dye removal were 15.0 and 72.5% for the FD&C red no. 40 and acid blue 9, respectively. Pseudo-first order model was the more adequate to represent the biosorption of both dyes onto microparticles, and Elovich model was more appropriate to the biosorption onto nanoparticles. The EDS results suggested that the dyes biosorption onto microparticles occurred mainly by physical interactions, and for the nanoparticles, chemisorption was dominant.     

Biosorption of simulated dyed effluents by inactivated fungal biomasses

Treatment of dyed effluents presents several problems mainly due to the toxicity and recalcitrance of dyestuffs. Innovative technologies, such as biosorption, are needed as alternatives to conventional methods to find inexpensive ways of removing dyes from large volumes of effluents. Inactivated biomasses do not require a continuous supply of nutrients and are not sensitive to the toxicity of dyes or toxic wastes. They can also be regenerated and reused in many cycles and are both safe and environment-friendly. The sorption capacities (SC) of autoclaved biomasses of three Mucorales fungi (Cunninghamella elegans, Rhizomucor pusillus and Rhizopus stolonifer), cultured on two different media, were evaluated against simulated effluents containing concentrations of 1000 and 5000 ppm of a single dye and a mix of 10 industrial textile dyes in batch experiments. SC values of up to 532.8 mg of dye g(-1) dry weight of biomass were coupled with high effluent decolourisation percentages (up to 100%). These biomasses may thus prove to be extremely powerful candidates for dye biosorption from industrial wastewaters. Even better results were obtained when a column system with the immobilised and inactivated biomass of one fungus was employed.     

Sorptive removal of Methylene blue from aqueous solution using palm kernel fibre: Effect of fibre dose

The use of palm kernel fibre, a readily available agricultural waste product for the sorption of Methylene blue from aqueous solution and the possible mechanism of sorption has been investigated at various fibre doses. The extent of dye removal and the rate of sorption were analyzed using two kinetic rate models (pseudo-first and pseudo-second-order kinetic models) and two diffusion models (intraparticle and external mass transfer models).

Analysis of the kinetic data at different sorbent dose revealed that the pseudo-first order kinetics fitted to the kinetic data only in the first 5 min of sorption and then deviated from the experimental data. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model was found to better fit the experimental data with high correlation coefficients at the various fibre dose used. The dye sorption was confirmed to follow the pseudo-second-order model by investigating the relationship between the amount of dye sorbed and the change in hydrogen ion concentration of the dye solution and also the dependence of dye uptake with solution temperature. It was found that the change in hydrogen ion concentration and increase in sorption temperature were directly related to the amount of dye sorbed, and activation energy was calculated to be −39.57 kJ/mol, indicating that the dye uptake is chemisorption, involving valence forces through sharing or exchange of electrons between sorbent and sorbate as covalent forces.

The intraparticle diffusion plots showed three sections indicating that intraparticle diffusion is not solely rate controlling. The intraparticle diffusion and mass transfer rate constants where observed to be well correlated with sorbent dose in the first 5 min of sorption, indicating sorption process is complex. It was found that at low sorbent dose the mass transfer is the main rate controlling parameter. However at high sorbent dose, intraparticle diffusion becomes rate controlling.     

禾本红酵母Y－5对结晶紫、孔雀石绿的吸附

研究了培养时间、初始pH、温度对禾本红酵母Y-5吸附结晶紫、孔雀石绿的影响,并对吸附剂的解吸和循环利用等进行考察.结果表明： 在染料浓度为50 mg·L^-1、pH 7.0、摇床转速150 r·min^-1、30 ℃、吸附10 h时,红酵母对结晶紫、孔雀石绿的吸附率分别达峰值,为93.8%和87.7%;解吸后的菌体对结晶紫、孔雀石绿的吸附率分别为85.5%和78.5%,说明菌体对染料的吸附是可逆的,循环利用效果良好,菌体可再生和循环利用;禾本红酵母Y-5对结晶紫、孔雀石绿的脱色机理为吸附作用,染料多被吸附在红酵母表面的羟基（-OH）上,其吸附染料快速、高效、可逆,在染料废水处理上具有潜在的应用价值.     

Radiation synthesis, characterization and dye adsorption of alginate-organophilic montmorillonite nanocomposite

In this paper, the preparation, characterization and dye adsorption properties of nanocomposite (calcium alginate/organophilic montmorillonite) (CA/OMMT) were investigated. A new nanocomposite consisting of alginate and OMMT was prepared by polymerization using γ-rays irradiation as initiator. Physical characteristics of CA/OMMT were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectrophotometery (IR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the corresponding selected area electron diffraction (SAED). Two textile dyes, acid green B and direct pink 3B, were used as model anionic dye. Factors affecting dye sorption, such as pH, sorbent concentration and temperature of each dye solution were extensively investigated. It was found from the study that the sorption of dyes by the nanocomposite is pH-dependent and maximum sorption was obtained at pH 2. The thermodynamic data showed that dye adsorption onto alginate was spontaneous, exothermic, and a physisorption reaction. On the basis of the data of the present investigation, one could conclude that the as-prepared adsorbents exhibited excellent affinity for the dye, and can be applied to treat wastewater containing anionic dyes.