Color Measurement of Tea Leaves at Different Drying Periods Using Hyperspectral Imaging Technique

This study investigated the feasibility of using hyperspectral imaging technique for nondestructive measurement of color components (ΔL*, Δa* and Δb*) and classify tea leaves during different drying periods. Hyperspectral images of tea leaves at five drying periods were acquired in the spectral region of 380–1030 nm. The three color features were measured by the colorimeter. Different preprocessing algorithms were applied to select the best one in accordance with the prediction results of partial least squares regression (PLSR) models. Competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) and successive projections algorithm (SPA) were used to identify the effective wavelengths, respectively. Different models (least squares-support vector machine [LS-SVM], PLSR, principal components regression [PCR] and multiple linear regression [MLR]) were established to predict the three color components, respectively. SPA-LS-SVM model performed excellently with the correlation coefficient (r_p) of 0.929 for ΔL*, 0.849 for Δa*and 0.917 for Δb*, respectively. LS-SVM model was built for the classification of different tea leaves. The correct classification rates (CCRs) ranged from 89.29% to 100% in the calibration set and from 71.43% to 100% in the prediction set, respectively. The total classification results were 96.43% in the calibration set and 85.71% in the prediction set. The result showed that hyperspectral imaging technique could be used as an objective and nondestructive method to determine color features and classify tea leaves at different drying periods.     

Insight into the evolution and functional characteristics of the pan‐genome assembly from sesame landraces and modern cultivars

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is an important oil crop renowned for its high oil content and quality. Recently, genome assemblies for five sesame varieties including two landraces (S. indicum cv. Baizhima and Mishuozhima) and three modern cultivars (S. indicum var. Zhongzhi13, Yuzhi11 and Swetha), have become available providing a rich resource for comparative genomic analyses and gene discovery. Here, we employed a reference‐assisted assembly approach to improve the draft assemblies of four of the sesame varieties. We then constructed a sesame pan‐genome of 554.05 Mb. The pan‐genome contained 26 472 orthologous gene clusters; 15 409 (58.21%) of them were core (present across all five sesame genomes), whereas the remaining 41.79% (11 063) clusters and the 15 890 variety‐specific genes were dispensable. Comparisons between varieties suggest that modern cultivars from China and India display significant genomic variation. The gene families unique to the sesame modern cultivars contain genes mainly related to yield and quality, while those unique to the landraces contain genes involved in environmental adaptation. Comparative evolutionary analysis indicates that several genes involved in plant‐pathogen interaction and lipid metabolism are under positive selection, which may be associated with sesame environmental adaption and selection for high seed oil content. This study of the sesame pan‐genome provides insights into the evolution and genomic characteristics of this important oilseed and constitutes a resource for further sesame crop improvement.     

Seed-specific increased expression of 2S albumin promoter of sesame qualifies it as a useful genetic tool for fatty acid metabolic engineering and related transgenic intervention in sesame and other oil seed crops

The sesame 2S albumin (2Salb) promoter was evaluated for its capacity to express the reporter gusA gene encoding β-glucuronidase in transgenic tobacco seeds relative to the soybean fad3C gene promoter element. Results revealed increased expression of gusA gene in tobacco seed tissue when driven by sesame 2S albumin promoter. Prediction based deletion analysis of both the promoter elements confirmed the necessary cis-acting regulatory elements as well as the minimal promoter element for optimal expression in each case. The results also revealed that cis-regulatory elements might have been responsible for high level expression as well as spatio-temporal regulation of the sesame 2S albumin promoter. Transgenic over-expression of a fatty acid desaturase (fad3C) gene of soybean driven by 2S albumin promoter resulted in seed-specific enhanced level of α-linolenic acid in sesame. The present study, for the first time helped to identify that the sesame 2S albumin promoter is a promising endogenous genetic element in genetic engineering approaches requiring spatio-temporal regulation of gene(s) of interest in sesame and can also be useful as a heterologous genetic element in other important oil seed crop plants in general for which seed oil is the harvested product. The study also established the feasibility of fatty acid metabolic engineering strategy undertaken to improve quality of edible seed oil in sesame using the 2S albumin promoter as regulatory element.     

A new method of propagation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in field cropped sesame (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sesamum indicum</Emphasis> L.)

Though arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are indigenous to agricultural soils, their beneficial effects to host plants could be further improved by inoculation with efficient species. The method of AM propagation described in the present study uses oil cake as a supporting medium for the simultaneous delivery of sesame seeds and AM inoculum to the field. Experiment was conducted in a farmer’s field located at Avoor, Kerala, India where sesame was cultivated as a winter crop in rice fallows. Oil cake entrapped with sesame seeds (var. Tilatara) and AM fungus (Funneliformis dimorphicus) inoculum was prepared by thoroughly mixing sterilized coconut cake and neem cake (5:1 v/v), surface sterilized sesame seeds and sterilized spore sieving of F. dimorphicus from a pot culture in a 10% solution of a polysaccharide gum obtained from the seeds of Strychnos potatorum L. Entire mix was moulded into 2.5 cm cubes (ca. 5g) containing approximately 25–30 seeds and 200–300 spores cube^?1 and shade dried before application. The cubes were broadcast @ 600 kg ha^?1 in inoculated treatments. In uninoculated treatments, the oil cake cubes devoid of the fungal component was used. Harvested root samples from the inoculated treatments showed a high frequency (%F) and intensity (%M) of colonization by AM fungi as well as frequency of vesicles (%V) and arbuscules (%A) compared to uninoculated control. The growth (root length, shoot length and leaf area) and yield characters (pod number, seed number, seed weight and oil content) of sesame plants were significantly (p=0.05) improved under the present method of AM propagation indicating its viability under field condition.     

叶冠尺度野鸭湖湿地植物群落含水量的高光谱估算模型

利用高光谱遥感技术定量估测野鸭湖湿地植被含水量,对于监测和诊断野鸭湖湿地植被的生理状况及生长趋势具有重要意义,也能够为高光谱遥感影像在野鸭湖湿地植被含水量诊断中的实际应用提供理论依据和技术支持.采用Field Spec 3野外高光谱辐射仪,获取了野鸭湖典型湿地植被冠层和叶片的光谱,并测定了对应的含水量.以上述实测数据为基础,首先以芦苇为例初步探明了不同含水量水平下典型湿地植被冠层和叶片光谱反射率的响应模式,然后采用相关性及单变量线性与非线性拟合分析技术,从冠层和叶片两种层次,对不同尺度下的含水量与“三边”参数及高光谱植被指数进行了分析拟合,并采用交叉检验中的3K-CV方法对估算模型进行了测试和检验,确立了不同尺度下野鸭湖湿地植被含水量的定量监测模型.结果表明:(1)随着含水量水平的增加,芦苇冠层与叶片光谱在可见光波段(350-760 nm)和红外波段(760-2500 nm)的反射率均呈逐渐降低趋势.(2)不同尺度含水量与选取的光谱特征参数整体上相关性较强,与“三边”参数基本上都呈极显著相关,相关系数最大达到0.906;与高光谱指数全部呈极显著相关,相关系数最小为0.455,最大达到0.919,并通过选取不同尺度上相关性最佳的光谱特征参数,分别基于“三边”参数和高光谱植被指数构建了不同尺度下的含水量估算模型.其中,冠层尺度下,黄边面积(SDy)与SRWI( Simple Ratio Water Index)的估算效果最好,估算模型分别为y=-9.462x2 -2.671x+0.608和y=0.219e1.010x;叶片尺度下,红边面积(SDr)与WI( Water Index)的估算效果最好,估算模型分别为y=0.562x+0.376和y=2.028x2 -0.476x-1.009.通过3K-CV的交叉验证,不同尺度下的含水量估算模型均取得了较为理想的预测精度,预测精度的最小值为94.92％,最大值为97.06％,表明估测模型具有较高的可靠性与普适性.(3)高光谱植被指数与含水量拟合方程的拟合度相对高于“三边”参数与之建立方程的拟合度,说明多波段组合的光谱特征参数更适合含水量的判别.     

Association Mapping of Seed Oil and Protein Content in Sesamum indicum L. Using SSR Markers

Sesame is an important oil crop for the high oil content and quality. The seed oil and protein contents are two important traits in sesame. To identify the molecular markers associated with the seed oil and protein contents in sesame, we systematically performed the association mapping among 369 worldwide germplasm accessions under 5 environments using 112 polymorphic SSR markers. The general linear model (GLM) was applied with the criteria of logP≥3.0 and high stability under all 5 environments. Among the 369 sesame accessions, the oil content ranged from 27.89%–58.73% and the protein content ranged from 16.72%–27.79%. A significant negative correlation of the oil content with the protein content was found in the population. A total of 19 markers for oil content were detected with a R² value range from 4% to 29%; 24 markers for protein content were detected with a R² value range from 3% to 29%, of which 19 markers were associated with both traits. Moreover, partial markers were confirmed using mixed linear model (MLM) method, which suggested that the oil and protein contents are controlled mostly by major genes. Allele effect analysis showed that the allele associated with high oil content was always associated with low protein content, and vice versa. Of the 19 markers associated with oil content, 17 presented near the locations of the plant lipid pathway genes and 2 were located just next to a fatty acid elongation gene and a gene encoding Stearoyl-ACP Desaturase, respectively. The findings provided a valuable foundation for oil synthesis gene identification and molecular marker assistant selection (MAS) breeding in sesame.     

Daily sesame oil supplementation attenuates local renin-angiotensin system via inhibiting MAPK activation and oxidative stress in cardiac hypertrophy

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is involved in the development of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) by which increases cardiac morbidity and mortality. Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and oxidative stress are important in RAS-mediated cardiac hypertrophy. Sesame oil, a potent antioxidant, attenuates hypertension-dependent LVH. We examined the protective role of sesame oil on RAS-mediated MAPK activation and oxidative stress in rats. We induced LVH using a hypertensive model by subcutaneously injecting deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA; 15 mg/ml/kg in mineral oil; twice weekly for 5 weeks) and supplementing with 1% sodium chloride drinking water (DOCA/salt) to uninephrectomized rats. Sesame oil was gavaged (0.5 or 1 ml/kg/day for 7 days) after 4 weeks of DOCA/salt treatment. Cardiac histopathology, RAS parameters, expression of MAPKs, reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation were assessed 24 h after the last dose of sesame oil. Sesame oil significantly decreased the size of cardiomyocytes and the levels of cardiac renin, angiotensin-converting enzyme and angiotensin II. In addition, sesame oil down-regulated the expression of angiotensin type 1 receptor, JNK and p38 MAPK and apoptosis signal regulating kinase 1, c-Fos and c-Jun in rats receiving DOCA/salt. Furthermore, the induction of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical and lipid peroxidation by DOCA/salt were inhibited by sesame oil. Sesame oil modulates cardiac RAS to ameliorate LVH by inhibiting MAPK activation and lowering oxidative stress.     

High-throughput single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) identification and mapping in the sesame (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sesamum indicum</Emphasis> L.) genome with genotyping by sequencing (GBS) analysis

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L. syn. Sesamum orientale L.) is considered to be the first oil seed crop known to man. Despite its versatile use as an oil seed and a leafy vegetable, sesame is a neglected crop and has not been a subject of molecular genetic research until the last decade. There is thus limited knowledge regarding genome-specific molecular markers that are indispensible for germplasm enhancement, gene identification, and marker-assisted breeding in sesame. In this study, we employed a genotyping by sequencing (GBS) approach to a sesame recombinant inbred line (RIL) population for high-throughput single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) identification and genotyping. A total of 15,521 SNPs were identified with 14,786 SNPs (95.26 %) located along sesame genome assembly pseudomolecules. By incorporating sesame-specific simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers developed in our previous work, 230.73 megabases (99 %) of sequence from the genome assembly were saturated with markers. This large number of markers will be available for sesame geneticists as a resource for candidate polymorphisms located along the physical chromosomes of sesame. Defining SNP loci in genome assembly sequences provides the flexibility to utilize any genotyping strategy to survey any sesame population. SNPs selected through a high stringency filtering protocol (770 SNPs) for improved map accuracy were used in conjunction with SSR markers (50 SSRs) in linkage analysis, resulting in 13 linkage groups that encompass a total genetic distance of 914 cM with 432 markers (420 SNPs, 12 SSRs). The genetic linkage map constitutes the basis for future work that will involve quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses of metabolic and agronomic traits in the segregating RIL population.     

A comparison of electrophysiologically determined spectral responses in 35 species of Lepidoptera

Spectral responses from the compound eyes of 35 lepidopteran species representing 14 families were investigated electrophysiologically using ERG recordings. The light-stimuli used overed the range of 383–700 nm wavelengths. All species show three or four maxima in their spectral sensitivity curves. Two of these peaks were usually associated with ultraviolet and blue light (383 and 460 nm, respectively). The other maxima occurred in the 500–620 nm region. In Nymphalidae the highest peak was found in response to 560–580 nm stimuli. Of all wavelengths tested, these are the longest wavelengths to produce principal peak sensitivities.Pieridae and Lycaenidae have maxima in the UV region which represent significantly higher sensitivities than the secondary peaks to stimuli of longer wavelengths.Satyridae, Danaidae, Hesperiidae and diurnal moths except Epicopeia (Epicopeidae) generally have similar sensitivity curves with principal peaks between 500 and 520 nm.In Papilionid species except Graphium (max = 560 nm) high maxima occur in the UV and blue (460 nm) region.Noctural Sphingid moths possess the highest peak sensitivity at 540 nm. All other noctural moths tested have three or four maxima.     

Optical parameters of leaves of 30 plant species

Optical parameters (absorption coefficient k, infinite reflectance R∞, scattering coefficient 8) are tabulated for seven wavelengths and analyzed for statistical differences for 30 plant species. The wavelengths are: 550 nm (green reflectance peak), 650 nm (chlorophyll absorption band), 850 nm (infrared reflectance plateau), 1450 nm (water absorption band), 1650 nm (reflectance peak following water absorption band at 1450 nm), 1950 nm (water absorption band), and 2200 nm (reflectance peak following water absorption band at 1950 nm).     

Blue tits are ultraviolet tits

The blue tit (Parus caeruleus) has been classified as sexually monochromatic. This classification is based on human colour perception yet, unlike humans, most birds have four spectrally distinct classes of cone and are visually sensitive to wavelengths in the near-ultraviolet (300 to 400 nm). Reflectance spectrophotometry reveals that blue tit plumage shows considerable reflection of UV light. For example, the blue crest shows peak reflectance at wavelengths around 352 nm. Furthermore, the blue tit is sexually dichromatic for multiple regions of plumage, including the crest. Choice trials performed in the laboratory indicate that females prefer males with the brightest crests. This study has implications for both intra- and interspecific studies of sexual selection, as well as future classification of dichromatism, which should not ignore the possibility of variation in reflectance in the UV.     

Photoreduction and Oxidation of Cytochrome f in Bundle Sheath Cells of Maize

The photo-oxidation of cytochrome f (cytochrome c₅₅₄) in bundle sheath cells isolated from leaves of maize (Zea mays var. DS 606A) has been compared with that in intact maize leaf and in isolated pea leaf cells (Pisum sativum L.). In all cases, illumination with red light caused a negative absorbance change at 554 nm which was attributed to the oxidation of cytochrome f. The extent of this change was greater using monochromatic red light at wavelengths above 700 nm compared with wavelengths below 700 nm. 3-(3,4-Dichlorophenyl)-1, 1-dimethylurea abolished this difference in bundle sheath cells. After illumination for 1 minute or longer in bundle sheath cells, reduction of cytochrome f in the dark was rapid only if the wavelength of the illuminating light was below 700 nm. In the presence of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1, 1-dimethlyurea, reduction was slow after illumination at all wavelengths.     

Electroretinogram and the spectral sensitivity of the compound eyes in the firefly Photuris versicolor (Coleoptera-Lampyridae): A correspondence between green sensitivity and species bioluminescence emission

ERGs were recorded from the dorsal sector of dark- and chromatic-adapted compound eyes in the dark-active firefly Photuris versicolor ♀ and ♂ at different wavelengths across the spectrum ranging from 320 nm to 700 nm over 4.5 log units of change in the stimulus intensity. ERG elicited by white light stimulus was an on-negative monophasic wave typical of scotopic eyes. ERGs elicited by chromatic stimuli differed in their waveform characteristics in the short (near-u.v. and violet) and long (green-yellow) wavelengths. The slope of the intensity-response curves at different stimulus wavelengths were similar for phasic response and differed for the plateau component of the ERG. The spectral sensitivity curves obtained under dark- and chromatic-adapted conditions revealed peaks in the near-u.v. (λ_max, 380 nm) and in the green (λ_max 550 nm), suggesting the presence of at least two receptor types in the dorsal sector of the compound eyes of P. versicolor. The green (550 nm) peak corresponds with the species bioluminescence emission peak (552 nm).     

Epistatic models and pre-selection of markers improve prediction of performance in corn

In our previous papers, we demonstrated that the inclusion of epistatic interactions in marker models improved prediction for corn (Zea mays L.) grain quality traits. The utility of pre-selecting markers for epistatic models was not reported. In papers by other researchers, including epistatic effects in a model did not improve prediction efficacy for whole genome selection. The objectives of this study were therefore to evaluate the value of: (1) pre-selecting markers and interactions at different type 1 error levels to predict performance; (2) adding epistatic interactions to models including all markers, and (3) using marker-based models to predict performance of kernel weight (KWT), flowering date (FDT), and plant height (PHT). Data for KWT, FDT, PHT, and oil and protein concentrations were obtained for 500 S₂ lines and their testcrosses from the crosses of Illinois high oil × Illinois low oil and Illinois high protein × Illinois low protein corn strains. Pre-selection using an epistatic model including both single-locus and two-locus interaction effects significant at the P = 0.05 level significantly increased prediction efficacy over selection including all markers and epistatic interactions. Adding all epistatic interactions to a model including all markers did not improve prediction. For most traits, prediction based on the P = 0.05 epistatic pre-selection model was nearly as effective as prediction based on phenotype, suggesting subsequent marker-based selection would be effective.     

基于光谱指数的植物叶片叶绿素含量的估算模型

叶绿素是光合作用能力和植被发育阶段的指示器,是监测湿地植被生长健康状况的重要指标之一;高光谱遥感技术可以为植物叶绿素含量的定量化诊断提供简便有效、非破坏性的数据采集和处理方法。为保证被探测叶片面积相同,消除背景反射、叶片表面弯曲造成的光谱波动及叶片内部变异造成的影响,研究采用Field Spec 3光谱仪加载手持叶夹式叶片光谱探测器,测定野鸭湖湿地典型植物的叶片高光谱反射率数据,同时通过分光光度计室内测定相应叶片的叶绿素含量。采用相关性及单变量线性拟合分析技术,建立二者的关系模型,包括叶绿素含量与"三边"参数的相关模型以及比值光谱指数(SR)模型和归一化差值光谱指数(ND)模型,并采用交叉检验中的3K-CV方法对估算模型进行模型精度检验。结果表明:植物叶片叶绿素含量与"三边"参数大多都呈极显著相关,相关系数最大达到0.867;计算光谱反射率组成的比值(SR)和归一化(ND)光谱指数与叶绿素含量的决定系数,总体相关性比较高,较好的波段组合均为550—700nm与700—1400nm以及550—700nm与1600—1900nm,与叶绿素含量相关性最好的指数分别是SR(565nm,740nm)和ND(565nm,735nm)。并通过选取相关性最佳的光谱特征参数,分别基于"三边"参数和ND模型指数构建了植物叶片叶绿素含量的估算模型。其中,基于红边位置(WP_r)光谱特征参数和ND(565nm,735nm)光谱指数建立的叶绿素含量估算模型,取得了较好的测试效果,检验拟合方程的决定系数(R2)都达到0.8以上,估算模型分别为y=0.113x-78.74,y=5.5762x+4.4828。通过3K-CV方法进行测试和检验,植物叶绿素含量估算模型均取得了较为理想的预测精度,预测精度的分别为93.9%及90.7%。高光谱遥感技术对植被进行微弱光谱差异的定量分析,在植被遥感研究与应用中表现出强大优势,为植物叶绿素含量诊断中的实际应用提供了重要的理论依据和技术支持。     

Identification of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) chromosomes using the BAC‐FISH system

• Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.; Pedaliaceae) is a commercially valuable oilseed crop with high oil content. Its small genome size favours the genomic analysis of key biological processes, such as oil synthesis and metabolism. However, the 13 chromosome pairs of sesame have not been characterised because of technological limitations and their small size.
• We constructed a BAC library comprising 57,600 BAC clones for sesame. The estimated genome coverage of the sesame BAC library was 13.8×. The successive double colour fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) with bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) for sesame was established in this study.
• Subsequently, the 13 sesame chromosome pairs were individually differentiated using 17 specific BACs for the first time. The schematic of the sesame chromosome set was drawn according to the chromosome relative length and relative position of the BAC signal. The cytogenetic characteristics of sesame chromosomes were also explored.
• The results provide the technical background required for further cytogenetic map construction, genome assembly and localisation of the DNA sequence in sesame.