Effects of Elevated Carbon Dioxide on the Growth and Foliar Chemistry of Transgenic Bt Cotton

A field study was carried out to quantify plant growth and the foliar chemistry of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt)cotton(cv.GK-12)exposed to ambient CO_2 and elevated(double-ambient)CO_2 for different lengths of time(1,2 and3 months)in 2004 and 2005.The results indicated that CO_2 levels significantly affected plant height,leaf area per plantand leaf chemistry of transgenic Bt cotton.Significantly,higher plant height and leaf area per plant were observed aftercotton plants that were grown in elevated CO_2 were compared with plants grown in ambient CO_2 for 1,2 and 3 months inthe investigation.Simultaneously,significant interaction between CO_2 level×investigating year was observed in leaf areaper plant.Moreover,foliar total amino acids were increased by 14%,13%,11% and 12%,14%,10% in transgenic Bt cottonafter exposed to elevated CO_2 for 1,2 or 3 months compared with ambient CO_2 in 2004 and 2005,respectively.Condensedtannin occurrence increased by 17%,11%,9% in 2004 and 12%,11%,9% in 2005 in transgenic Bt cotton after being exposedto elevated CO_2 for 1,2 or 3 months compared with ambient CO_2 for the same time.However,Bt toxin decreased by 3.0%,2.9%,3.1% and 2.4%,2.5%,2.9% in transgenic Bt cotton after exposed to elevated CO_2 for 1,2 or 3 months comparedwith ambient CO_2 for same time in 2004 and 2005,respectively.Furthermore,there was prominent interaction on the foliartotal amino acids between the CO_2 level and the time of cotton plant being exposed to elevated CO_2.It is presumed thatelevated CO_2 can alter the plant growth and hence ultimately the phenotype allocation to foliar chemistical components oftransgenic Bt cotton,which may in turn,affect the plant-herbivore interactions.     

Accumulation characteristics of biomass and nitrogen and critical nitrogen concentration dilution model of cotton reproductive organ

Several nitrogen (N) field experiments were carried out in Nanjing and Anyang, China, to study the dynamic characteristics of biomass accumulation and N uptake, and to define the dilution curve for critical N concentration in cotton reproductive organ over the growth period. The results show that the total biomass and N accumulation were affected significantly by the rate of N application, exhibiting a sigmoid curve over time. The beginning time of fast N accumulation was 1–5 d earlier than that of biomass accumulation. The cotton lint yield was correlated with N concentration in the reproductive organ and fluctuated with varying N concentration, indicating the existence of luxurious N consumption in the cotton reproductive organ. The N concentration increased with increasing N application rates, and decreased gradually during the growth period. The relationship between biomass and N concentration can be described with a power equation. The patterns of the N concentration dilution model were consistent at both experimental sites, but the model parameter values of a differed. The results presented in this paper indicate that a critical N concentration dilution curve for cotton reproductive organ is independent of ecological region and can be described with a power equation.     

Impacts of small hydropower plants on macroinvertebrate communities

Several nitrogen (N) field experiments were carried out in Nanjing and Anyang, China, to study the dynamic characteristics of biomass accumulation and N uptake, and to define the dilution curve for critical N concentration in cotton reproductive organ over the growth period. The results show that the total biomass and N accumulation were affected significantly by the rate of N application, exhibiting a sigmoid curve over time. The beginning time of fast N accumulation was 1–5 d earlier than that of biomass accumulation. The cotton lint yield was correlated with N concentration in the reproductive organ and fluctuated with varying N concentration, indicating the existence of luxurious N consumption in the cotton reproductive organ. The N concentration increased with increasing N application rates, and decreased gradually during the growth period. The relationship between biomass and N concentration can be described with a power equation. The patterns of the N concentration dilution model were consistent at both experimental sites, but the model parameter values of a differed. The results presented in this paper indicate that a critical N concentration dilution curve for cotton reproductive organ is independent of ecological region and can be described with a power equation.     

Accumulation characteristics of biomass and nitrogen and critical nitrogen concentration dilution model of cotton reproductive organ

Several nitrogen (N) field experiments were carried out in Nanjing and Anyang, China, to study the dynamic characteristics of biomass accumulation and N uptake, and to define the dilution curve for critical N concentration in cotton reproductive organ over the growth period. The results show that the total biomass and N accumulation were affected significantly by the rate of N application, exhibiting a sigmoid curve over time. The beginning time of fast N accumulation was 1–5 d earlier than that of biomass accumulation. The cotton lint yield was correlated with N concentration in the reproductive organ and fluctuated with varying N concentration, indicating the existence of luxurious N consumption in the cotton reproductive organ. The N concentration increased with increasing N application rates, and decreased gradually during the growth period. The relationship between biomass and N concentration can be described with a power equation. The patterns of the N concentration dilution model were consistent at both experimental sites, but the model parameter values of a differed. The results presented in this paper indicate that a critical N concentration dilution curve for cotton reproductive organ is independent of ecological region and can be described with a power equation.     

不同NH4^＋／NO3^-比例的氮素营养对棉花氮素代谢的影响

The influence of different NH4^+／NO3^- ratios on nitrogen metabolism of cotton was studied under controlled hydroponics, The results showed that compared with single nitrate nutrition, solutions with 25/75, 50/50, 75/25 and 100/0 of NH4^+／NO3^- significantly increased the soluble protein accumulation in leaves and roots of cotton, and the maximum content of soluble protein in leaves and roots appeared respectively in the solution with 50/50 and 75/25 of NH4^+／NO3^- The soluble protein content in roots was increased with the increase of NH4+ percentage, but was slightly less in the solution of 100/0 than 75/25, which was probably related to the excess NH4^+ limiting boot metabolism. With the increase of NH4+ percentage, the nitrate content in petiole and the nitrate reductase activity in functional blade declined, but ammoniac nitrogen content increased in every organ of cotton. These results showed that foreign nitrogen affected the nitrogen metabolism of cotton in a different way, and the nitrogen absorption by cotton was probably related to different forms of foreign nitrogen.     

Respective and interactive effects of doubled CO2 and O3 concentration on membrane lipid peroxidation and antioxidative ability of soybean

Effects of doubled CO2 and O3 concentration on Soybean were studied in open-top chambers (OTC). Under doubled CO2 concentration, grain yield and biomass increased, the SOD activity, vitamin C (Vc) and carotenoid (Car) content also increased; Superoxide (O2-) generating rate decreased, relative conductivity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content significantly declined. But under doubled O3 concentration, the SOD activity, Vc and Car contents declined, resulting in imbalance of activated-oxygen production, enhanced O2- generating rate and accelerated process of lipid peroxidation and increase in MDA content and ion leakage of leaves. The final result was decreased grain yield and plant biomass. Interactive effects of doubled CO2 and O3 concentrations on soybean were mostly counteractive. However, the beneficial effects of concentration-doubled CO2 are more than compensate the negative effects imposed by doubled O3, and the latter in its turn partly counteracted the positive effects of the former.     

Impact of cotton planting date and nitrogen fertilization on Bemisia argentifolii populations

The silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring) is a widely distributed pest of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and the population levels may be affected by rates of nitrogen fertilization and planting date. Field experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of cotton planting date and nitrogen fertilization on silverleaf whitefly population dynamics. Cotton was planted on 26 April and 8 June, for the early and late plantings, respectively. Nitrogen treatments consisted of soil applications of 0, 112, 168 and 224 kg of nitrogen per hectare. The population levels of adult whiteflies were much higher on early-planted cotton than on late planting. Also, increased numbers of adult whiteflies on both early and late plantings occurred with increasing amounts of applied nitrogen.Applied nitrogen increased seed cotton yields of early plantings but had no effect on the yields of late plantings.     

Species-specific response of photosynthesis to burning and nitrogen fertilization

The present study was conducted to examine photosynthetic characteristics of three dominant grass species (Agropyron cristatum, Leymus chinensis, and Cleistogenes squarrosa) and their responses to burning and nitrogen fertilization in a semiarid grassland in northern China. Photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs), and water use efficiency (WUE) showed strong temporal variability over the growing season. C. squarrosa showed a significantly higher Pn and WUE than A. cristatum and L. chinensis. Burning stimulated Pn of A. cristatum and L. chinensis by 24-59% (P＜0.05) in the early growing season, but not during other time periods. Light-saturated photosynthetic rate (φmax) in A. cristatum C. squarrosa. The burning-induced changes in soil moisture could explain 51% (P=0.01) of the burning-induced changes The stimulation of Pn under N fertilization was mainly observed in the early growing season when the soil extractable N content was significantly higher in the fertilized plots. The N fertilization-induced changes in soil extractable N content could explain 66% (P=0.001) of the changes in Pn, under N fertilization. The photosynthetic responses of the three species indicate that burning and N fertilization will potentially change the community structure and ecosystem productivity in the semiarid grasslands of northern China.     

Effects of Elevated Carbon Dioxide on the Growth and Foliar Chemistry of Transgenic Bt Cotton

A field study was carried out to quantify plant growth and the foliar chemistry of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis （Bt） cotton （cv. GK-12） exposed to ambient CO2 and elevated （double-ambient） CO2 for different lengths of time （1, 2 and 3 months） in 2004 and 2005. The results indicated that CO2 levels significantly affected plant height, leaf area per plant and leaf chemistry of transgenic Bt cotton. Significantly, higher plant height and leaf area per plant were observed after cotton plants that were grown in elevated CO2 were compared with plants grown in ambient CO2 for 1, 2 and 3 months in the investigation. Simultaneously, significant interaction between CO2 level x investigating year was observed in leaf area per plant. Moreover, foliar total amino acids were increased by 14%, 13%, 11% and 12%, 14%, 10% in transgenic Bt cotton after exposed to elevated CO2 for 1, 2 or 3 months compared with ambient CO2 in 2004 and 2005, respectively. Condensed tannin occurrence increased by 17%, 11%, 9% in 2004 and 12%, 11%, 9% in 2005 in transgenic Bt cotton after being exposed to elevated CO2 for 1, 2 or 3 months compared with ambient CO2 for the same time. However, Bt toxin decreased by 3.0%, 2.9%, 3.1% and 2.4%, 2.5%, 2.9% in transgenic Bt cotton after exposed to elevated CO2 for 1, 2 or 3months compared with ambient CO2 for same time in 2004 and 2005, respectively. Furthermore, there was prominent interaction on the foliar total amino acids between the CO2 level and the time of cotton plant being exposed to elevated CO2. It is presumed that elevated CO2 can alter the plant growth and hence ultimately the phenotype allocation to foliar chemistical components of transgenic Bt cotton, which may in turn, affect the plant-herbivore interactions.     

Effect of elevated CO2 concentration on photosynthetic characteristics of hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii under cadmium stress

The combined effects of elevated CO_2 and cadmium(Cd) on photosynthetic rate,chlorophyll fluorescence and Cd accumulation in hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii Hance were investigated to predict plant growth under Cd stress with rising atmospheric CO_2 concentration.Both pot and hydroponic experiments were conducted and the plants were grown under ambient(350 μL L~(-1)) or elevated(800 μL L~(-1))CO_2.Elevated CO_2 significantly(P 0.05) increased Pn(105%-149%),Pn_(max)(38.8%-63.0%) and AQY(20.0%-34.8%) of S.alfredii in all the Cd treatments,but reduced chlorophyll concentration,dark respiration and photorespiration.After 10 days growth in medium with 50μM Cd under elevated CO_2,PSII activities were significantly enhanced(P 0.05) with Pm,Fv/Fm,Φ(Ⅱ) and qP increased by 66.1%,7.5%,19.5%and 16.4%,respectively,as compared with ambient-grown plants.Total Cd uptake in shoot of S.alfredii grown under elevated CO_2 was increased by 44.1%-48.5%,which was positively correlated with the increase in Pn.These results indicate that elevated CO_2 promoted the growth of 5.alfredii due to increased photosynthetic carbon uptake rate and photosynthetic lightuse efficiency,and showed great potential to improve the phytoextraction of Cd by S.alfredii.     

转Bt基因棉花及其受体品种主要挥发性物质的测定

应用顶空进样气质联机系统（Headspace-GC-MS)测定了转Bt基因棉花及其对照亲本主要挥发性物质。结果表明棉花营养器官和繁殖器官的主要挥发性物质的差异,棉花植株现蕾期前,叶片中挥发性物质以α-蒎烯为主,而现蕾后,蕾、花和铃中主要以β-月桂烯为主。研究初步发现,外源Bt杀虫蛋白表达对棉花自身主要挥发性物质的合成不会造成不利影响。     

水分亏缺和施氮对冬小麦生长及氮素吸收的影响

利用管栽试验研究了不同生育期,水分亏缺和施氮对冬小麦生长及氮素吸收的影响.结果表明：任何生育期水分亏缺都会影响冬小麦的株高、叶面积、干物质累积及对氮素的吸收.冬小麦对水分亏缺的敏感期为拔节期,其次为开花期、灌浆期和苗期.苗期干旱后复水对后期生长有显著的补偿效应,开花期适度干旱后复水对生物量形成和氮素吸收有一定的补偿作用,拔节期干旱对小麦的生长影响明显.相同氮肥处理下, 与不亏水处理比较, 苗期水分亏缺、拔节期水分亏缺、开花期水分亏缺、灌浆期水分亏缺的根系氮素积累量分别平均降低25.82%、55.68%、46.14%和16.34%,地上部氮素积累量分别平均降低33.37%、51.71%、27.01%和2.60%.在相同水分处理下冬小麦含氮量、累积吸收氮量都表现为高氮处理（0.3 g N·kg^-1FM）>中氮处理（0.2 g N·kg^-1FM）>低氮处理（0.1 g N·kg^-1FM）.水分逆境条件下施用氮肥对冬小麦植株生长和干物质累积及氮吸收具有明显的调节效应.     

干旱胁迫对不同施氮水平麻疯树幼苗光合特性及生长的影响

采用盆栽控水的方法,研究了干旱胁迫（连续干旱0 d,5 d,10 d,…,45 d）对不同施氮水平(对照 0 kg N·hm^-2、低氮 96 kg N·hm^-2、中氮 288 kg N·hm^-2、高氮 480 kg N·hm^-2)麻疯树幼苗光合特性及其生长的影响.结果表明: 随干旱胁迫强度的增加,各施氮水平麻疯树幼苗叶片相对含水量、苗高生长量、地径生长量、叶面积、净光合速率、蒸腾速率和气孔导度均降低,且各水分处理间差异极显著(P<0.01);随干旱时间的延长,叶绿素含量和水分利用效率表现出先升高后降低的趋势,而胞间CO₂浓度呈先降低后升高的趋势.正常供水时,施氮处理均不同程度提高了麻疯树幼苗的光合能力,促进了麻疯树幼苗的生长,且施氮量越高效果越好;干旱条件下,氮素营养对植株光合能力和生长的影响与干旱程度和施氮水平有关.轻度干旱时,提高施氮水平对植株光合能力和生长具有明显的促进作用;中度干旱时,中氮的促进作用明显高于其他施氮水平;严重干旱时,低氮的促进效果最好,高氮的促进作用减弱并逐渐转向抑制.     

Influences of elevated CO2 and pest damage on the allocation of plant defense compounds in Bt‐transgenic cotton and enzymatic activity of cotton aphid

Abstract Plant allocation to defensive compounds by elevated CO₂‐grown non‐transgenic and transgenic Bt cotton in response to infestation by cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii (Glover) in open‐top chambers under elevated CO₂ were studied. The results showed that significantly lower foliar nitrogen concentration and Bt toxin protein occurred in transgenic Bt cotton with and without cotton aphid infestation under elevated CO_2. However, significantly higher carbon/nitrogen ratio, condensed tannin and gossypol were observed in transgenic Bt cotton “GK‐12” and non‐transgenic Bt cotton ‘Simian‐3’ under elevated CO_2. The CO₂ level and cotton variety significantly influenced the foliar nitrogen, condensed tannin and gossypol concentrations in the plant leaves after feeding by A. gossypii. The interaction between CO₂ level × infestation time (24 h, 48 h and 72 h) showed a significant increase in cotton condensed tannin concentrations, while the interaction between CO₂ level × cotton variety significantly decreased the true choline esterase (TChE) concentration in the body of A. gossypi. This study exemplified the complexities of predicting how transgenic and non‐transgenic plants will allocate defensive compounds in response to herbivorous insects under differing climatic conditions. Plant defensive compound allocation patterns and aphid enzyme changes observed in this study appear to be broadly applicable across a range of plant and herbivorous insect interactions as CO₂ atmosphere rises.     

Efficacy of transgenic cotton containing a cry1Ac gene from Bacillus thuringiensis against Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in northern China

NuCOTN 33B, a Bt transgenic variety of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) expressing the insecticidal protein Cry1Ac from Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner sp. kurstaki, was evaluated for resistance to Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) during 1998-2000 in northern China. The results indicated that there was no significant difference in egg densities between NuCOTN 33B and three nontransgenic varieties (DP5415, Zhongmian12, and Shiyuan321) during the season, although the survival of larvae on NuCOTN 33B seemed significantly reduced. High larval densities observed on non-Bt cotton appeared in great contrast to the low larval populations observed on NuCOTN 33B plants during the seasons. In an environment without insecticide sprays, the annual ginned cotton yields in NuCOTN 33B plots, ranging from 1391.17 to 1511.35 kg/ha, were significantly higher than those in non-Bt cotton (340.34-359.58 kg/ha). These high levels of field efficacy for NuCOTN 33B against H. armigera in northern China may pave the way for reduced pesticide applications and an expansion of alternative pest-control strategies.     

土壤盐分对Bt棉铃壳中Bt蛋白含量和氮代谢生理的影响

为探讨土壤盐分对转Bt基因抗虫棉棉铃抗虫性的影响,以2个Bt棉品种‘新棉33B’(盐敏感)和‘中07’(耐盐)为试验材料,设置5个土壤盐分水平(0、0.15%、0.30%、0.45%和0.60%),采用盆栽法研究了不同土壤盐分下Bt棉盛铃期铃壳Bt蛋白含量变化及氮代谢生理特征.结果表明: 铃壳中Bt蛋白含量随土壤盐分的升高而降低,与对照相比(0%),盐敏感型品种在土壤盐分0.15%、耐盐型品种在0.30%以上时,铃壳中Bt蛋白含量显著下降.相同土壤盐分水平下,花后30 d(DPA)铃壳Bt蛋白含量下降幅度明显大于10 DPA.在铃壳Bt杀虫蛋白含量下降显著时,其可溶性蛋白含量明显下降,硝酸还原酶(NR)和谷氨酸丙酮酸转氨酶(GPT)活性显著下降;游离氨基酸含量、蛋白酶和肽酶活性在土壤盐分0.30%以上时显著增加.以上结果说明,土壤盐分影响铃壳的氮代谢,从而引起Bt蛋白合成减弱,中度以上土壤盐分水平会引起Bt蛋白分解加强,从而导致杀虫蛋白表达水平进一步下降.     

Cotton boll abscission and yield losses associated with first-instar bollworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) injury to nontransgenic and transgenic Bt cotton

Field tests were conducted in northeastern Louisiana to determine the effects of infestations by Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) on cotton bolls of varying ages. First instars were caged on bolls of nontransgenic ('Deltapine 5415') or transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner variety kurstaki (Bt) ('NuCOTN 33B') cotton from 29 June to 11 August during 1997 and 1998. Deltapine 5415 bolls that accumulated 179 (7.2 d), 281 (11.2 d), and 253 (10.1 d) heat units beyond anthesis were safe from bollworm-induced abscission at 72 h after infestation, 7 d after infestation, and at the time of harvest, respectively. NuCOTN 33B bolls that accumulated 157 (6.3 d), 185 (7.4 d), and 180 (7.2 d) heat units beyond anthesis were safe from bollworm-induced abscission at 72 h after infestation, 7 d after infestation, and at the time of harvest, respectively. Bollworm larvae reduced seedcotton weights of Deltapine 5415 bolls that accumulated between 58.5 (2.3 d) and 350.5 (14.0 d) heat units beyond anthesis. Seedcotton weights of NuCOTN 33B bolls that accumulated between 0 and 281 (11.2 d) heat units beyond anthesis were reduced by bollworm injury. Deltapine 5415 and NuCOTN 33B bolls that accumulated 426.5 (17.1 d) and 299.5 (12.0 d) heat units beyond anthesis, respectively, before infestation were not injured by first-instar bollworm larvae. These data provide information about late-season insecticide termination strategies for bollworms on nontransgenic and transgenic Bt-cotton. This, in turn, will help pest managers determine when insecticides are no longer economical during the late season.     

施氮方式对转基因棉花Bt蛋白含量及产量的影响

为研究氮肥运筹对棉花叶片、棉蕾和棉铃不同器官中Bt蛋白含量的影响,2009—2010年,以抗虫杂交棉中棉所72为试验材料,在大田条件下进行了不同基肥：花铃肥：盖顶肥施氮比例（分别为0:0.4:0.6、0.2:0.4:0.4、0.4:0.4:0.2、0.6:0.4:0）的试验。结果表明,施氮方式对棉花不同器官中Bt蛋白含量有明显影响。总体表现为随着氮肥前移,棉花幼嫩器官中Bt蛋白含量呈明显增加的趋势,而老熟器官中Bt蛋白含量呈明显降低的趋势。施氮方式对棉花幼嫩器官中Bt蛋白含量的影响比老熟器官明显,尤其是对幼嫩叶片Bt蛋白含量的影响大于幼小的棉蕾和棉铃器官。抗虫棉采用基肥：花铃肥：盖顶肥为0.4:0.4:0.2的施氮方式,总体能提高前中期棉花器官Bt蛋白的含量,有利于提高其抗虫性能;减少后期棉花器官Bt蛋白的含量,减轻对环境的压力;而且比其余3种施氮方式的籽棉产量和皮棉产量分别增加4.15%—11.24％、3.73%—12.01%。     

沙坡头地区草本植物层片对施加氮素的响应

以沙坡头人工固沙区草本层片植物为研究对象,分析不同氮肥处理下,物种丰富度、多度、盖度、高生长以及地上部生物量等群落学特征对不同氮肥水平的响应。人工施加氮肥1年的试验结果表明:除50g·m-2的施肥水平外,其他各施肥水平下群落物种丰富度均高于对照;多度随施肥梯度的增加整体上呈下降趋势,施肥梯度越高,下降越明显,其中在50g·m-2的施肥水平下,多度相比于对照下降了86.7%;盖度随施肥水平梯度的增大呈先上升后下降的趋势,在20g·m-2的施肥水平下盖度达到最大值,其与对照间的差异达到了显著性水平(P<0.05);植物高生长对氮肥水平的响应存在种间差异;地上部生物量则在低肥水平下高于对照,而高肥水平下低于对照。总体而言,氮肥水平对荒漠生态系统群落物种多样性和生产力的影响呈低肥促进、高肥抑制的效应。     

Mineral element distribution in organs of dual-toxin transgenic (Bt+CpTI) cotton seedling

Abstract

Being a new cultivar, the physiology of transgenic cotton, especially dual-toxin transgenic (Bt+CpTI) cotton, is not yet completely understood. Twelve elements in three organs of dual-toxin transgenic cotton seedlings were analyzed by ICP-MS. The distributions of the 12 elements were substantially different from those of non-transgenic cotton. In particular, the contents of B, Mg, P, K and Ca were the highest in leaves, while those of Si, Fe, Rb and Cu were the highest in roots; other elements had similar contents in the two organs, which were higher than those in the stem. Compared with non-transgenic cotton, the 12 elements could be classified into four groups according to their contents and distributions in the three organs: (a) P, K and Cu: their contents in transgenic cotton were remarkably lower, especially contents of P and K in leaves that were one times lower than those in leaves of non-transgenic cotton; (b) B, Mg and Mo: their contents in leaves and roots of transgenic cotton were higher, but lower in stems, compared with non-transgenic cotton; (c) Si, Mn, Fe, Rb and Zn: compared with non-transgenic cotton, these were lower in leaves and stems, but higher in roots of transgenic cotton; and (d) Ca: compared with non-transgenic cotton, its content was higher in all three organs of the transgenic counterpart. The decrease in soluble proteins and the expression of Bt and CpTI genes could be responsible for these changes. Further studies are needed to verify this hypothesis.