Oxidative stress induced expression of monodehydroascorbate reductase gene in Eleusine coracana

Abiotic stresses constitute a serious threats to the world food security as they cause significant economic losses in terms of reduction in crop productivity and also greatly limit the geographical locations where crops can be grown. Exposure to abiotic stress causes over-production of reactive oxygen species, leading to oxidative stress in plants. Induction of oxidative stress is primarily responsible for a variety of detrimental changes in the cellular physiology. However, plants have evolved intricate anti-oxidative defence machinery, for their survival under stress. Plant defence strategies for stress tolerance rely on the expression of anti-oxidative genes required for scavenging the toxic reactive oxygen species. Monodehydroascorbate reductase is one of the key anti-oxidant enzyme responsible for scavenging reactive oxygen species. In the present study, efforts have been made to understand the role of monodehydroascorbate reductase in finger millet under different abiotic stresses (drought, salt and UV radiation). The study establishes a differential link between mdar gene expression and enzyme activity under oxidative stress that is validated under different types of imposed stresses. Alteration in correlation between gene expression and enzyme activities under varying magnitude of oxidative stress is elucidated.     

糜子品质研究进展与展望

糜子(Panicum miliaceum)生育期短、水分利用率高、耐盐碱、耐虫害, 是种植业结构调整中的重要作物。糜子富含淀粉、蛋白质、必需氨基酸、不饱和脂肪酸、维生素(烟酸、B族维生素和叶酸等)、矿物质(磷、钙、锌和铁)、膳食纤维和酚类物质等, 是麸质过敏人群的理想食物(无谷蛋白食物)。此外, 糜子还具有降血糖、消炎及预防心脑血管疾病等功效。因此, 作为环境友好型和营养保健型谷物, 糜子可成为未来我国应对隐性饥饿的智慧食物。该文从糜子外观、营养和加工品质的角度, 总结糜子品质研究进展, 旨在为糜子品质研究及加工利用提供参考。     

The effect of soil tillage and fertilizer use on pearl millet yields in Niger

Farmers in Niger generally do not plow their fields and are therefore unable to incorporate phosphate. Experiments were conducted in Niger to assess the effect of soil tillage, P source, and fertilizer placement on yields of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.). Treatments included single superphosphate (SSP) or ground Tahoua phosphate rock (PRT) incorporated into the soil during tillage or SSP surface applied after tillage. In plots which were not tilled, P sources (SSP, PRT, and PAPR-partially acidulated rock) were broadcast on the soil surface with no incorporation. In order to improve P efficiency under zero tillage, P was point placed in the soil near the plant with either broadcast or point-placed urea. Treatments in which tillage was used showed a slight though nonsignificant yield increase over untilled plots. The yield increase did not appear to be due to phosphate incorporation but rather to direct tillage effects on early plant growth. In a comparison of SSP with PRT or PAPR broadcast on soils not receiving tillage, PRT performed poorly relative to the other P sources. SSP outyielded PAPR and PRT in 1986, but in subsequent years, no significant difference was found between PAPR and SSP. Point placement of P or N near the plant did not significantly increase yields over broadcast treatments even though the millet was planted with wide 1×1 m spacing.     

Reproduction of Pratylenchus penetrans on 24 Common Weeds in Potato Fields in Qu��bec

Twenty-four weeds commonly found in commercial potato fields in Quebec were evaluated for their host suitability to the root-lesion nematode, Pratylenchus penetrans, under greenhouse conditions. Brown mustard (Brassica juncea) and rye (Secale cereale) were included as susceptible controls and forage pearl millet hyb. CFPM 101 (Pennisetum glaucum) as a poor host. Pratylenchus penetrans multiplied well on 22 of the 24 weed species tested (Pf/Pi ≥ rye or brown mustard). Cirsium arvense, Leucanthemum vulgare and Matricaria discoida were classified as very good hosts with a Pf/Pi ranging from 1.60 to 2.54, while Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Cyperus esculentus were classified as poor hosts with a Pf/Pi from 0.01 to 0.15. Amaranthus powellii, A. retrqflexus, Raphanus raphanistrum, Rorippa palustris, Cerastium fontanum, Spergula arvensis, Stellaria media, Chenopodium album, Vicia cracca, Elytrigia repens, Digitaria ischaemum, Echinochloa crusgalli, Panicum capillare, Setaria faberii, S. pumila, S. viridis, Polygonum convolvulus, P. scabrum and P. persicaria were intermediate hosts with Pf/Pi values ranging from 0.33 to 2.01. The plant species and the botanical family had a significant impact on nematode reproduction. The Brassicaceae family resulted in the greatest reproduction of P. penetrans, and the Cyperaceae resulted in the least. The plant life-cycle (annual vs. perennial) had no impact on nematode population.     

Production of improved infant porridges from pearl millet using a lactic acid fermentation step and addition of sorghum malt to reduce viscosity of porridges with high protein,energy and solids (30%) content

With the aim of improving the safety and nutritional quality of traditional African weaning porridge, the reduction of the viscosity of a high solids fermented pearl millet porridge by addition of sorghum malt (amylase rich flour, ARF) was investigated. The effect of fermentation, cooking, malt addition and recooking on the microflora of, and the survival of an inoculated pathogen were determined. Addition of 5% (w/v) sorghum ARF to the gelatinized millet porridge gave an acceptable viscosity of 2500–3000 cP at a high solid content of 30%. Fermentation inhibited the growth of microorganisms in the porridge and recooking the fermented porridge after sorghum ARF addition further eliminated (<10² c.f.u./g) the moulds and coliforms that were introduced with the sorghum ARF. The recooked, fermented millet plus sorghum ARF porridge prevented the proliferation of the inoculated Escherichia coli and reduced it to <10² c.f.u./g within 18 h. The porridge could supply children under 3 years with the daily required protein using 1.4 feedings per day and required energy with 4 feedings a day.     

谷子β-胡萝卜素异构酶家族基因的表达与变异分析

株型是影响谷类作物产量的重要性状, 株型改良对提高作物产量具有重要意义。独脚金内酯(strigolactones, SLs)作为一种最新被鉴定的植物激素, 其通过抑制腋芽的伸长调控分枝/分蘖的形成。β-胡萝卜素异构酶(D27s)是SLs合成途径的关键酶, 通过对谷子(Setaria italica) β-胡萝卜素异构酶典型结构域Pfam:DUF4033进行分析, 鉴定到3个谷子D27s基因家族成员(Seita.8G168400、Seita.6G088800和Seita.3G050900)。蛋白质特性分析显示, 谷子D27s蛋白由271-277个氨基酸残基组成, 分子量为30.1-30.4 kDa, 等电点为5.85-9.31, 不稳定系数介于38.48-74.47之间, 且均定位于叶绿体; 系统进化分析发现, 谷子D27s家族成员位于3个不同进化分支; 顺式作用元件预测显示, SiD27-1 (Seita.8G168400)可能参与调控生物节律、生长素介导的生长发育以及干旱和低温等胁迫应答过程。基因表达分析显示, SiD27-1在谷子多分蘖材料中表达下调, 在低磷胁迫处理下, D27s基因均能产生不同程度的响应, 并且SiD27-1的响应较其它成员更快速。单倍型分析结果表明, SiD27-1的H001单倍型为优异单倍型, 对谷子的株高、抽穗期和产量改良具有重要应用价值。综上, 推测SiD27-1极可能在SLs合成中发挥关键作用并对谷子株型产生影响。研究结果为深入揭示D27s对谷子分蘖形成的调控机制奠定了基础, 也为谷子株型分子设计育种提供了优异的等位变异位点。     

Influence of whey permeate and millet as substrates on thermotolerance of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae conidia during storage

Conidia from Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, produced in quarter-strength Sabouraud dextrose agar amended with yeast extract, whey permeate, and millet agar, were exposed to 45°C for 90 min prior to and at 30 d post-storage at 25°C. B. bassiana produced in whey permeate or millet had better thermotolerance than the other treatments after the storage.