Single Cell Analysis Linking Ribosomal (r)DNA and rRNA Copy Numbers to Cell Size and Growth Rate Provides Insights into Molecular Protistan Ecology

Ribosomal (r)RNA and rDNA have been golden molecular markers in microbial ecology. However, it remains poorly understood how ribotype copy number (CN)‐based characteristics are linked with diversity, abundance, and activity of protist populations and communities observed at organismal levels. Here, we applied a single‐cell approach to quantify ribotype CNs in two ciliate species reared at different temperatures. We found that in actively growing cells, the per‐cell rDNA and rRNA CNs scaled with cell volume (CV) to 0.44 and 0.58 powers, respectively. The modeled rDNA and rRNA concentrations thus appear to be much higher in smaller than in larger cells. The observed rRNA:rDNA ratio scaled with CV^0.14. The maximum growth rate could be well predicted by a combination of per‐cell ribotype CN and temperature. Our empirical data and modeling on single‐cell ribotype scaling are in agreement with both the metabolic theory of ecology and the growth rate hypothesis, providing a quantitative framework for linking cellular rDNA and rRNA CNs with body size, growth (activity), and biomass stoichiometry. This study also demonstrates that the expression rate of rRNA genes is constrained by cell size, and favors biomass rather than abundance‐based interpretation of quantitative ribotype data in population and community ecology of protists.     

遥感反演植被含氮量研究进展

植被含氮量表征植被氮素状态。它作为植被生长状况的重要指标,在生态系统健康状况检测、生态系统生产估测、精准农业、生态系统干扰评估等方面均有重要意义。遥感监测植被含氮量主要基于高光谱和多光谱数据,采用的算法包括经验方法(波谱指数与回归分析)及物理方法(辐射传输模型法)。但受数据源和研究方法的局限,目前植被氮含量遥感监测局限于区域范围较小且内部植被类型与环境条件(气候、地形等)基本一致的情形,而对复杂生态系统的监测能力不足。未来的研究需针对氮沉降和人类活动的生态系统响应这一重大研究需求,发展和改进现有植被含氮量遥感反演方法。可考虑开展对不同环境条件下、不同类型植被光谱曲线进行标准化的研究,以形成普适的植被含氮量反演方法。并考虑综合运用多种数据(如微波遥感、无人机遥感),形成多尺度同步监测,以提高遥感对区域乃至全球范围内植被氮含量常规监测的能力。     

Does transpiration have an essential function in long-distance ion transport in plants?

Abstract. Long-term effects of transpiration on growth and on long-distance ion transport were investigated in maize over a whole growth cycle. Maize plants were grown with nutrients supplied at adequate levels in hydroculture or in soil at 50–60% and at >95% relative humidity. Although the amount of water lost by the plants under these conditions differed by a factor 2 to 3, there was neither a decrease in growth (fresh weight and dry weight) nor in ash content of the 'humid'plants. This was also found when the upper part of the shoot (70–150 cm) was tested separately. It is suggested that transpiration is not essential for long-distance transport of mineral elements in plants. Alternatives are discussed.     

Differential expression of six genes and correlation with fatness traits in a unique broiler population

Previous results from genome wide association studies (GWASs) in chickens divergently selected for abdominal fat content of Northeast Agricultural University (NEAUHLF) showed that many single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variants were associated with abdominal fat content. Of them, six top significant SNPs at the genome level were located within SRD5A3, SGCZ, DLC1, GBE1, GALNT9 and DNAJB6 genes. Here, expression levels of these six candidate genes were investigated in abdominal fat and liver tissue between fat and lean broilers from the 14th generation population of NEAUHLF. The results showed that expression levels of SRD5A3, SGCZ and DNAJB6 in the abdominal fat and SRD5A3, DLC1, GALNT9, DNAJB6 and GBE1 in the liver tissue differed significantly between the fat and lean birds, and were correlated with abdominal fat traits. The findings will provide important references for further function investigation of the six candidate genes involved in abdominal fat deposition in chickens.     

粳稻龙锦1号/香软米1578杂交组合F_5家系群糙米总花色苷含量变异及相关性分析

随着环境污染加剧和人们对自身健康关注度的提高,功能性食品在全球范围内蓬勃发展。彩色稻米作为稻米家族中的一员,由于富含微量元素、花色苷、生物碱等功能性成分,已成为当前功能性食品研究开发的热点之一。本研究利用粳稻品种龙锦1号/香软米1578杂交组合214个F_5家系,对水稻糙米总花色苷含量、粒色等级和千粒重的变异及其相关性进行了分析。糙米粒色等级变异范围为1~9,平均值为4.98,变异系数为57.87%;糙米总花色苷含量变异范围为0~5459.34 mg/kg,平均值为834.47 mg/kg,变异系数为191.96%;糙米千粒重变异范围为11.96~26.24 g,平均值为17.75 g,变异系数为12.89%。糙米总花色苷含量、粒色等级和千粒重在F5家系中不符合正态分布,表现为右偏态,其中糙米总花色苷含量的偏斜程度最大。糙米总花色苷含量和千粒重的峰度系数为正值,表明为尖顶峰;而糙米粒色等级的峰度系数为负值,表明为平顶峰。糙米总花色苷含量与粒色等级呈极显著正相关,相关系数为0.69;糙米总花色苷含量、粒色等级均与千粒重呈极显著负相关,相关系数分别为-0.20和-0.34。与高亲龙锦1号相比,27个家系的糙米总花色苷含量极显著提高,占214个F_5家系的12.62%,为高花色苷水稻种质创新奠定了基础。     

基于神经网络的马尾松叶绿素含量高光谱估算模型

分析不同生长期的马尾松冠层反射光谱特征与相应叶绿素含量的相关关系.利用36个红边参数逐一筛选,最终确定7个与叶绿素含量相关性较高的红边参数作为光谱特征参数,分别应用逐步分析法与BP神经网络构建叶绿素含量的高光谱估算模型;同样,筛选出4个植被指数作为光谱特征参数,同时,将对原始光谱进行主成分分析降维后的前4个主成分作为BP神经网络的输入变量,分别应用逐步分析法与BP神经网络构建叶绿素含量的高光谱估算模型.结果表明: 将红边参数作为输入变量建立的逐步回归模型和BP神经网络模型的决定系数(R²)分别为0.5205、0.7253,均方根误差(RMSE)分别为0.1004、0.0848,相对误差分别为6.3%、5.7%.将植被指数作为输入变量建立的逐步回归模型和BP神经网络模型的R²分别为0.5392、0.7064,RMSE分别为0.0978、0.0871,相对误差分别为6.2%、6.0%.基于主成分分析的BP神经网络模型的预测效果最好,R²为0.7475,RMSE为0.0540,相对误差为4.8%.     

早实核桃脂肪积累与酶活性动态及其相关性

以绿岭和绿早2个早实核桃品种为试材,对开花50 d后不同发育时期核仁的脂肪含量与3种相关的酶活性动态进行研究,分析不同发育时期影响核桃脂肪含量的关键酶.结果表明: 2个品种的核仁脂肪积累动态一致,核仁在开花后50 d开始固化,花后60～90 d核仁脂肪含量迅速增加,花后90～120 d增长幅度变缓,花后120～130 d脂肪含量停止增长.利用Logistic模型对核桃脂肪积累进程进行拟合(P<0.01),绿岭脂肪积累盛期为开花后57.8～85.8 d,绿早为开花后67.4～92.1 d.乙酰辅酶A羧化酶(ACCase)、6-磷酸葡萄糖脱氢酶(G6PDH)和丙酮酸激酶(PK)活性均在花后50～100 d呈上升趋势,随后酶活性呈下降趋势.核仁脂肪含量与ACCase活性呈显著正相关;脂肪积累速率与PK活性呈显著正相关;不同发育时期脂肪含量与酶活性的相关性不同.花后50～100 d是核桃核仁脂肪合成旺盛的时期,此时加强田间栽培管理可以提高脂肪含量.在核桃脂肪合成前期G6PDH是影响脂肪含量的主要酶,PK活性影响丙酮酸形成,从而间接影响脂肪的合成.ACCase活性影响了最终的脂肪含量,并在脂肪合成的各个时期均起到重要的调节作用,是影响核桃脂肪合成的关键酶.