Carbon Isotope Discrimination is not Correlated with Transpiration Efficiency in Three Cool-Season Grain Legumes （Pulses）

The carbon isotope discrimination （δ^13C） of leaves has been shown to be correlated with the transpiration efficiency of leaves in a wide range of species. This has led to δ^13C being used in breeding programs to select for improved transpiration efficiency. The correlation between δ^13C and transpiration efficiency was determined under well-watered conditions during the vegetative phase in six genotypes of lentil （Lens culinaris Medikus）, six genotypes of chickpea （Cicerarietinum L.） and 10 cultivars of narrow-leafed lupin （Lupinus angustifolius L.）. Biomass （dry matter） accumulation and water use （transpiration） varied among the genotypes in all three species and transpiration efficiency was 40% to 75% higher in the most efficient compared with the least efficient genotypes. However, δ^13C and transpiration efficiency were not significantly correlated in any of the species. This suggests that the δ^13C technique cannot be used in selection for transpiration efficiency in the three grain legumes （pulses） studied.     

Association of polymorphisms of Nrampl gene with immune function and production performance of large white pig

The present research was designed to study the association of polymorphism of natural resistance-associated macrophage proteinl （Nrampl） with some immune function and the production performance in Large White pig. The PCR-RFLP technique was applied to analyze the correlation between the polymorphisms of Nrampl gene and immune function [value of Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes （PMN） obtained by Nitroblue Tetrazolium （NBT） Reduction and effect of Cytotoxin in Monocyte] and production performance in 165 Large White pigs. The results showed that there was one Nde I restriction locus in Large White pig, and both values of PMN by NBT Reduction and effect of Cytotoxin in Monocyte in genotype BB were higher than those in genotype AB （P〈0.05）. Simultaneously, the weight of 180-day-old pigs with genotype BB was higher than that with genotype AB （P〈0.05）. The results indicated that there was a significant correlation between different genotypes of Nrampl gene and Immune function and production performance, and it can be regarded as a candidate gene of disease resistance. All these results provide valuable reference to further studies of pig disease resistance.     

Screening landraces for additional sources of field resistance to cassava mosaic disease and green mite for integration into the cassava improvement program

Twelve cassava landraces were evaluated for sources of resistance genes to diseases and pests of major economic importance in Africa. The objective was to assess their levels of field resistance to mosaic disease （ACMD）, bacterial blight （CBB）, anthracnose （CAD）, and green mite （CGM）, compared to TMS30572, an elite cultivar widely adopted in Africa. Considerable genotypic variation was observed among cultivars for resistance to ACMD and CGM but not for CBB and CAD. The lowest mean incidence of 12% and severity of 1.8 on a scale of 1-5 for ACMD was recorded for Atu, a landrace with farmer acceptable qualities. In comparison, the improved cultivar, TMS 30572, had a mean disease incidence of 72% and a severity score of 2.8. Another landrace, MS-20 had the lowest CGM damage score （2.1） while TMS 30572 emerged as one of the susceptible cultivars with a damage score of 3. Additional sources of resistance to ACMD and CGM that may possibly be better than the popular improved cultivar, TMS 30572, were identified in this study. These could serve as novel sources of additional genes to complement existing resources for elite cassava breeding in Africa.     

Screening for Drought Resistance of Rice Recombinant Inbred Populations in the Field

In a 2-year experiment, 187 genotypes were grown under well-watered and drought stress conditions, imposed at panicle initiation stage. The relationship of genotypic variation in yield under drought conditions to potential yield, heading date and flowering delay, reduction in plant height, and to a drought response index （DRI） was detected. Grain yield under drought stress conditions was associated with yield under well-watered conditions （r= 0.47^＊＊, and r= 0.61^＊＊ during 2 years of tests）. The delay of heading date ranged from -1 （no delay） to 24days, and was negatively associated with grain yield （r =-0.40^＊）, spikelet fertility percentage （r =-0.40^＊＊）, harvest index （r =-0.58^＊＊）, but positively associated with yield reduction percentage （r = 0.60^＊＊）. The reduction in plant height was negatively associated with grain yield （r =-0.24^＊＊, and r=-0.29^＊＊）, spikelet fertility percentage （r = -0.23^＊＊, and r= -0.21^＊）, harvest index （r = -0.37^＊＊, and r= -0.54^＊＊）, and positively associated with yield reduction percentage （r = 0.58^＊＊, and r= 0.58^＊＊） in 2003 and 2004, respectively. The DRI of genotypes was strongly associated with grain yield （r = 0.87^＊＊, and r= 0.77^＊＊）, fertility percentage （r = 0.66^＊＊ and r= 0.54^＊＊）, harvest index （r= 0.67^＊＊ and r= 0.61^＊＊）, and negatively associated with grain reduction percentage （r=-0.70^＊＊, and r=-0.73^＊＊） under drought stress. The results indicate that genotypes with drought resistance can be identified by measuring yield potential, delay in flowering, reduction in plant height, or DRI under test environments of well-watered and drought stress.     

Association of polymorphisms of Nramp1 gene with immune function and production performance of large white pig

The present research was designed to study the association of polymorphism of natural resistance-associated macrophage protein1 (Nramp1) with some immune function and the production performance in Large White pig. The PCR-RFLP technique was applied to analyze the correlation between the polymorphisms of Nramp1 gene and immune function [value of Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes (PMN) obtained by Nitroblue Tetrazolium (NBT) Reduction and effect of Cytotoxin in Monocyte] and production performance in 165 Large White pigs. The results showed that there was one Nde I restriction locus in Large White pig, and both values of PMN by NBT Reduction and effect of Cytotoxin in Monocyte in genotype BB were higher than those in genotype AB (P<0.05). Simultaneously, the weight of 180-day-old pigs with genotype BB was higher than that with genotype AB (P<0.05). The results indicated that there was a significant correlation between different genotypes of Nramp1 gene and Immune function and production performance, and it can be regarded as a candidate gene of disease resistance. All these results provide valuable reference to further studies of pig disease resistance.     

An active supercomplex of NADPH dehydrogenase mediated cyclic electron flow around Photosystem I from the panicle chloroplast of Oryza sativa

Chloroplast NAD（P）H dehydrogenase-like complex （NDH） plays a crucial role in the protection of plants against oxida- tive stress. In higher plants, NDH interacts with Photosystem I （PSI） to form an NDH-PSI supercomplex. However, the chloroplast supercomplex with NADPH oxidation activity remains to be identified. Here, we reported the identification of a supercomplex of NDH with NADPH-nitroblue tetrazo- fium oxidoreductase activity in the chloroplast of rice panicle. The active supercomplex from the panicle chloro- plast contained higher amounts of the NDH subunits （NdhH, NdhK, and NdhA） than that from the flag leaf chloroplast. The highly active supercomplex might underlie the high ac- tivity of the NADPH-dependent NDH pathway and the larger proton gradient across thylakoid membranes via cyclic electron flow around PSI, as well as the higher maximal photochemical efficiency of Photosystem II at the flowering to grain-filfing stage. The supercomplex is sug- gested to be essential for the high efficiency of photosynthesis and play a protective role in the grain formation in rice plant.     

Early osmotic adjustment responses in drought- resistant and drought-sensitive oilseed rape

The impact of osmotic stress on growth, physiolo- gy, and metabolism of winter oilseed rape （Brassica napus L.） was investigated by detailed analysis of biomass traits, hormone metabolites and osmolytes in two genetically unrelated drought-tolerant genotypes and two unrelated drought-sensitive genotypes. Seedlings were grown in vitro under controlled conditions and osmotic stress was simulated by applying a gradual treatment with polyethylene glycol （PEG 6ooo）, followed by hypo-osmotic treatment of variants used for metabolite determination. The results provide a basis for the identification of reliable selection criteria for drought resistance in oilseed rape. The in vitro cultivation system established during this study enabled effective discrimination of early osmotic stress responses between drought-resistant and -susceptible oilseed rape genotypes that also show large differences in relative seed yield under drought conditions in the field. Clear physiological and metabolic differences wereobserved between the drought-resistant and drought-sensitive genotypes, suggesting that osmotic adjustment is a key component of drought response in oilseed rape. Unexpected- ly, however, the drought-resistant genotypes did not show typical hormonal adjustment and osmolyte accumulation, suggesting that they possess alternative physiological mech- anisms enabling avoidance of stress symptoms.     

Genetic Analysis and Fine Mapping of Two Genes for Grain Shape and Weight in Rice

To identify genetic loci controlling grain weight, an elite indica rice variety, Baodali, with large grains was identified and used in this study. Its derived F2, F3 and BC2 F2 with another japonica rice variety Zhonghua 11 were used as mapping populations. Linkage analyses demonstrated that two genes controlling grain weight, designated as GW3 and GW6, were mapped to chromosome 3 and chromosome 6, respectively. Fine mapping delimited GW3 to a 122 kb physical distance between two sequence tagged site markers （WGWt6 and WGW19） containing 16 open reading frames annotated by The Institute for Genomic Research （http：//www.tigr.org）. GW6 was further mapped between two simple sequence repeat markers （RM7179 and RM3187）. These results are useful for both marker assisted selection of grain weight, and for further cloning of GW genes, which will contribute to the dissection of the molecular mechanism underlying grain weight in rice.     

Evaluation of Seven Function-Known Candidate Genes for their Effects on Improving Drought Resistance of Transgenic Rice under Field Conditions

Many stress responsive genes have been reported with an effect on improving stress resistance in model plants under greenhouse conditions. Towards identification of genes for drought resistance breeding, seven well documented genes （CBF3, SOS2, NCED2, NPK1, LOSS, ZAT10, and NHX1） in stress resistance were selected in this study and transformed into rice cultivar Zhonghua 11 under the control of constitutive promoter Actinl and stress-inducible pro- moter of a rice HVA22 homolog, and transgenic rice were tested for drought resistance under field conditions. A total of 1598 independent transgenic To plants were generated. The percentages of single copy and expression of the transgenes were 36.7% and 57.6%, respectively. For each gene construct, 30 T1 families with expression of transgene were selected for drought resistance testing at the reproductive stage in field, and 10 of them were tested in PVC pipes with a defined stress protocol at the same stage. Relative yield and relative spikelet fertility were used as two major criteria to evaluate drought resistance performance because significantly decreased yield was observed in the T1 generation, Trans- genic families of eight constructs （HVA22P：CBF3, HVA22P：NPK1, Actin 1：LOS5, HVA22P：L OS5, Actin 1：ZA T10, HVA22P：ZA T10, Actinl：NHX1, and HVA22P：NHX1） showed significantly higher RY than wild-type （WT） under both drought stress field and PVC tube conditions. Transgenic families of 9 constructs （HVA22P.SOS2 and CBF3, LOS5, ZAT10, and NHX1 by both promoters） showed significantly higher relative spikelet fertility than WT in the field or PVC pipes. In the field drought resistance testing of T2 families derived from the T1 families with relatively lower yield decrease, transgenic families of seven constructs （HVA22P：CBF3, Actinl：NPK1, HVA22P：NPK1, Actinl：LOS5, HVA22P：LOS5, Actin1：ZAT10, and HVA22P：ZAT10） showed significantly higher yield per plant than WT, and families of nine constructs （Actinl：CBF3, HVA22P：CBF3,     

The OsDHODH1 Gene is Involved in Salt and Drought Tolerance in Rice

In the present paper, we identified and cloned OsDHODH1 encoding a putative cytosolic dihydroorotate dehydrogenase （DHODH） in rice. Expression analysis indicated that OsDHODH1 is upregulated by salt, drought and exogenous abscisic acid （ABA）, but not by cold. By prokaryotic expression, we determined the enzymatic activity of OsDHODH1 and found that overproduction of OsDHODH1 significantly improved the tolerance of Escherichia coil cells to salt and osmotic stresses. Overexpression of the OsDHODH1 gene in rice increased the DHODH activity and enhanced plant tolerance to salt and drought stresses as compared with wild type and OsDHODHl-antisense transgenic plants. Our findings reveal, for the first time, that cytosolic dihydroorotate dehydrogenase is involved in plant stress response and that OsDHODH1 could be used in engineering crop plants with enhanced tolerance to salt and drought.     

Drought-Stimulated Activity of Plasma Membrane Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate Oxidase and Its Catalytic Properties in Rice

The activity of plasma membrane （PM） nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate （NADPH） oxidase and its catalytic properties in rice was investigated under drought stress conditions. Drought stress led to decreased leaf relative water content （RWC） and, as a result of drought-induced oxidative stress, the activities of antioxidant enzymes increased significantly. More interestingly, the intensity of applied water stress was correlated with increased production of H2O2 and O2^- and elevated activity of PM NADPH oxidase, a key enzyme of reactive oxygen species generation in plants. Histochemical analyses also revealed increased H2O2 and O2^- production in drought-stressed leaves. Application of diphenylene iodonium （DPI）, an inhibitor of PM NADPH oxidase, did not alleviate drought-induced production of H2O2 and O2^-. Catalysis experiments indicated that the rice PM NADPH oxidase was partially fiavin-dependent. The pH and temperature optima for this enzyme were 9.8 and 40 ℃, respectively. In addition, drought stress enhanced the activity under alkaline pH and high temperature conditions. These results suggest that a complex regulatory mechanism, associated with the NADPH oxidase-H2O2 system, is involved in the response of rice to drought stress.     

Assessing the Suitability of Various Physiological Traits to Screen Wheat Genotypes for Salt Tolerance

Success of improving the salt tolerance of genotypes requires effective and reliable screening traits in breeding programs. The objective was to assess the suitability of various physiological traits to screen wheat genotypes for salt tolerance. Thirteen wheat genotypes from Egypt, Germany, Australia and India were grown in soil with two salinity levels （control and 150 mmol/L NaCI） in a greenhouse. The physiological traits （ion contents in leaves and stems, i.e. Na^＋, Cl^-, K^＋, Ca^2＋）, the ratios of K^＋/Na^＋ and Ca^＋/Na^＋ in the leaves and stems, net photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, chlorophyll content （SPAD value）, and leaf water relations, were measured at different growth stages. The physiological traits except for Na^＋ and Cl^- in stems and the leaf transpiration rate at 150 mmol/L NaCI showed a significant genotypic variation, indicating that the traits that have a significant genotypic variation may be possibly used as screening criteria. According to the analysis of linear regression of the scores of the physiological traits against those of grain yield, however, the physiological traits of Ca^2＋ and Ca2^＋/Na^＋ at 45 d and final harvest with the greatest genotypic variation were ranked at the top. From a practical and economic point of view, SPAD value should be considered to be used as screening criteria and/or there is a need to develop a quick and practical approach to determine Ca^2＋ in plant tissues.     

Hypoglycemic mechanism of polysaccharide from Cyclocarya paliurus leaves in type 2 diabetic rats by gut microbiota and host metabolism alteration

Diabetes mellitus is a serious threat to human health. Cyclocarya paliurus(Batal.) Iljinskaja(C. paliurus) is one of the traditional herbal medicine and food in China for treating type 2 diabetes, and the C. paliurus polysaccharides(CP) were found to be one of its major functional constituents. This research aimed at investigating the hypoglycemic mechanism for CP. It was found that CP markedly attenuated the symptoms of diabetes, and inhibited the protein expression of Bax, improved the expression of Bcl-2 in pancreas of diabetic rats, normalized hormones secretion and controlled the inflammation which contributed to the regeneration of pancreatic β-cell and insulin resistance. CP treatment increased the beneficial bacteria genus Ruminococcaceae UCG-005 which was reported to be a key genus for protecting against diabetes, and the fecal short-chain fatty acids levels were elevated.Uric metabolites analysis showed that CP treatment helped to protect with the diabetes by seven significantly improved pathways closely with the nutrition metabolism(amino acids and purine) and energy metabolism(TCA cycle), which could help to build up the intestinal epithelial cell defense for the inflammation associated with the diabetes. Our study highlights the specific mechanism of prebiotics to attenuate diabetes through multi-path of gut microbiota and host metabolism.     

Using iron fertilizer to control Cd accumulation in rice plants: A new promising technology

Effects of two kinds of iron fertilizer, FeSO4 and EDTA·Na2Fe were studied on cadmium accumulation in rice plants with two rice genotypes, Zhongzao 22 and Zhongjiazao 02, with soil culture systems. The results showed that application of iron fertilizers could hardly make adverse effects on plant growth and rice grain yield. Soil application of EDTA·Na2Fe significantly reduced the Cd accumulation in rice roots, shoots and rice grain. Cd concentration in white rice of both rice genotypes in the treatment of soil application of EDTA·Na2Fe was much lower than 0.2 mg/kg, the maximal Cd permission concentra- tion in cereal crop foods in State standard. However, soil application of FeSO4 or foliar application of FeSO4 or EDTA·Na2Fe resulted in the significant increase of Cd accumulation in rice plants including rice grain compared with the control. The results also showed iron fertilizers increased the concentra- tion of iron, copper and manganese element in rice grain and also affected zinc concentration in plants. It may be a new promising way to regulate Cd accumulation in rice grain in rice production through soil application of EDTA·Na2Fe fertilizers to maintain higher content of available iron and ferrous iron in soils.     

Identification of FANCA as a protein interacting with centromere-associated protein E

This study sought to isolate and identify proteins that interact with centromere-associated protein E （CENP- E）, provide new clues for exploring the function of CENP-E in cell cycle control and the pathogenesis of tumor. Yeast two-hybrid screen and regular molecular biologic techniques were undertaken to screen human HeLa cDNA library with the kinetochore binding domain of CENP-E. The bait from the C-terminus of CENP-E was created by subcloning methods to find out optimal candidate proteins that interact with the kinetochore binding domain of CENP-E. Eight novel CENP-E interacting proteins including Homo sapiens Fanconi anemia complementation group A （FANCA） were obtained. In yeast two-hybrid assay, the N-terminal 260 amino acids of FANCA were found to be necessary and sufficient for the interaction with the C-terminus of CENP-E. The interaction was confirmed by in vitro glutathione S-transferase pull-down assay and in vivo coimmunoprecipitation assay. Our finding of the interaction of CENP-E with FANCA demonstrates that CENP-E and FANCA may play important roles in the functional regulation of the mitotic checkpoint signal pathway.     

Control of Rhyzopertha dominica in stored rough rice through a combination of diatomaceous earth and varietal resistance

Adults ofRhyzopertha dominica （F.）, the lesser grain borer, were exposed on four varieties of rough rice with Dobie indices of susceptibility of 1.1 to 1.1 （low）, and four varieties with Dobie indices of susceptibility of 3.4 to 3.8 （high）. The varieties with low and high Dobie indices were classified as resistant and susceptible, respectively, to R. dominica. The purpose of the study was to evaluate control of R. dominica through the use of diatomaceous earth （DE） in combination with rice varieties that were either susceptible or resistant to R. dominica. The rice was treated with varying rates of the commercial DE Insecto, up to a maximum of 1 000 mg DE/kg of rice. Adult mortality at each application rate of DE was generally greater on three of four resistant varieties compared to three of four susceptible varieties. Progeny production from the parental generation exposed on the rice was also greater in 3 of the 4 resistant varieties compared to 3 of the 4 susceptible varieties at DE rates of 500 mg/kg or more. Progeny production in rice treated with a maximum rate of 1 000 mg/kg DE ranged from 7-44 adults on the resistant varieties compared to 75-155 adults on the susceptible varieties. At DE rates of 500, 750, and 1 000 mg/kg, the percentage of insect-damaged kernels （IDK） was also greater in 3/4 resistant varieties than in the susceptible varieties. Results show combining the use of DE with varietal resistance of rough rice to R. dominica could be used to limit populations of this insect in stored rice and help prevent economic damage.     

Protective mechanism of desiccation tolerance in Reaumuria soongorica: Leaf abscission and sucrose accumulation in the stem

Reaumuria soongorica (Pall.) Maxim., a perennial semi-shrub, is widely found in semi-arid areas in northwestern China and can survive severe desiccation of its vegetative organs. In order to study the protective mechanism of desiccation tolerance in R. soongorica, diurnal patterns of net photosynthetic rate (Pn), water use efficiency (WUE) and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of Photosystem II (PSII), and sugar content in the source leaf and stem were investigated in 6-year-old plants during progressive soil drought imposed by the cessation of watering. The results showed that R. soongorica was char-acterized by very low leaf water potential, high WUE, photosynthesis and high accumulation of sucrose in the stem and leaf abscission under desiccation. The maximum Pn increased at first and then de-clined during drought, but intrinsic WUE increased remarkably in the morning with increasing drought stress. The maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) and the quantum efficiency of noncyclic electric transport of PSII(ΦPSII) decreased significantly under water stress and exhibited an obvious phenomenon of photoinhibition at noon. Drought stressed plants maintained a higher capacity of dis-sipation of the excitation energy (measured as NPQ) with the increasing intensity of stress. Conditions of progressive drought promoted sucrose and starch accumulation in the stems but not in the leaves. However, when leaf water potential was less than –21.3 MPa, the plant leaves died and then abscised. But the stem photosynthesis remained and, afterward the plants entered the dormant state. Upon re-watering, the shoots reactivated and the plants developed new leaves. Therefore, R. soongorica has the ability to reduce water loss through leaf abscission and maintain the vigor of the stem cells to survive desiccation.     

Induction of Volatile Organic Compounds of Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. and Its Resistance to Botrytis cinerea Pers. by Burdock Oligosaccharide

In the present study, we investigated the induction of volatile organic compounds （VOCs） of Lycoperslcon esculentum Mill. and its resistance to Botrytis cinerea Pers. by burdock oligosaccharlde. The disease severity of L. esculentum was evaluated 48 h after treatment with 0.6% burdock oligosaccharlde, followed by inoculation with a spore suspension of B. cinerea. The formation of O2＇, the activity of lipoxygenases （LOX）, peroxidase （POD）, cataiase （CAT）, and superoxide dismutase （SOD）, and the quantity and quallty of changes In VOCs were determined a period of time after treatment with 0.6% burdock ollgosaccharide. The results demonstrated that the disease index in treated plants was decreased by 42.5% compared with control 96 h after Inoculation. The production of O2＇ reached a maximum 6 h after treatment （1.36-fold compared with control）. There was an increase in LOX, POD, CAT and SOD activity in response to burdock oligosaccharide treatment and the enzymes showed different trends in the time-course of induction. At 120 h after treatment, （E）-2-hexenal was increased by 92% compared with control, whereas methyl salicylate showed a gradual Increase with induction period. Previous results had demonstrated that chitosan elicitor enhanced the production VOCs of L. esculentum and decreased plant susceptibility towards B. clnerea. Together, these findings suggest that increasing the production of VOCs in response to burrdock oligosaccharide may be an important mechanism for L. esculentumin its defense against pathogens, in addition, burrdock oligosaccharlde may act as a potent elicitor of resistance to disease in L. esculentum.