Response of rice (Oryza sativa) with root surface iron plaque under aluminium stress

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Rice (Oryza sativa) is an aquatic plant with a characteristic of forming iron plaque on its root surfaces. It is considered to be the most Al-tolerant species among the cereal crops. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of root surface iron plaque on Al translocation, accumulation and the change of physiological responses under Al stress in rice in the presence of iron plaque. METHODS: The japonica variety rice, Koshihikari, was used in this study and was grown hydroponically in a growth chamber. Iron plaque was induced by exposing the rice roots to 30 mg L(-1) ferrous iron either as Fe(II)-EDTA in nutrient solution (6 d, Method I) or as FeSO(4) in water solution (12 h, Method II). Organic acid in root exudates was retained in the anion-exchange resin and eluted with 2 m HCl, then analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after proper pre-treatment. Fe and Al in iron plaque were extracted with DCB (dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate) solution. KEY RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Both methods (I and II) could induce the formation of iron plaque on rice root surfaces. The amounts of DCB-extractable Fe and Al on root surfaces were much higher in the presence of iron plaque than in the absence of iron plaque. Al contents in root tips were significantly decreased with iron plaque; translocation of Al from roots to shoots was significantly reduced with iron plaque. Al-induced secretion of citrate was observed and iron plaque could greatly depress this citrate secretion. These results suggested that iron plaque on rice root surfaces can be a sink to sequester Al onto the root surfaces and Fe ions can pre-saturate Al-binding sites in root tips, which protects the rice root tips from suffering Al stress to a certain extent.     

Effects of Revegetation on Soil Microbial Biomass,Enzyme Activities,and Nutrient Cycling on the Loess Plateau in China

Revegetation is a traditional practice widely used for soil and water conservation on the Loess Plateau in China. However, there has been a lack of reports on soil microbial–biochemical indices required for a comprehensive evaluation of the success of revegetation systems. In this study, we examined the effects of revegetation on major soil nutrients and microbial–biochemical properties in an artificial alfalfa grassland, an enclosed natural grassland, and an artificial shrubland (Caragana korshinskii), with an abandoned cropland as control. Results showed that at 0–5, 5–20, and 20–40 cm depths, soil organic carbon, alkaline extractable nitrogen and available potassium were higher in natural grassland and artificial shrubland compared with artificial grassland and abandoned cropland. Soil microbial biomass C (Cmic) and phosphorous (Pmic) substantially decreased with depth at all sites, and in abandoned cropland was significantly lower than those of natural grassland, artificial grassland, and artificial shrubland at the depth of 0–5 cm. Soil microbial biomass N (Nmic) was higher in artificial shrubland and abandoned cropland compared with that in natural and artificial grasslands. Both Cmic and Pmic were significantly different between the 23‐year‐old and the 13‐year‐old artificial shrublands at the 0–5 cm depth. The activities of soil invertase, urease, and alkaline phosphatase in natural grassland and artificial shrubland were higher than those in artificial grassland and abandoned cropland. This study demonstrated that the regeneration of both natural grassland and artificial shrubland effectively preserved and enhanced soil microbial biomass and major nutrient cycling, thus is an ecologically beneficial practice for recovery of degraded soils on the Loess Plateau.     

Rapid determination of gatifloxacin in biological samples and pharmaceutical products using europium‐sensitized fluorescence spectrophotometry

A europium‐sensitized fluorescence spectrophotometry method using an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl benzene sulphonate (SDBS), was developed for the determination of gatifloxacin (GFLX). The GFLX–Eu³⁺–SDBS system was studied and it was found that SDBS significantly enhanced the fluorescence intensity of the GFLX–Eu³⁺ complex (about 25‐fold). The optimal experimental conditions were determined as follows: excitation and emission wavelengths of 338 and 617 nm, pH 7.5, 3.0 × 10^–6 mol/L europium(III), and 5.0 × 10^–5 mol/L SDBS. The enhanced fluorescence intensity of the system (ΔI_f) showed a good linear relationship with the concentration of GFLX over the range 1.0 × 10^–8–8.0 × 10^–7 mol/L with a correlation coefficient of 0.9990. The detection limit (S:N = 3) was determined as 1.0 × 10^–9 mol/L. This method has been successfully applied for the determination of GFLX in pharmaceuticals and human urine/serum samples. Compared with most other methods reported, the rapid and simple procedure proposed here offered higher sensitivity, wider linear range and good stability. The luminescence mechanism of the system is also discussed in detail. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

马铃薯卷叶病毒基因间隔区的克隆及序列分析

根据已报道的马铃薯卷叶病毒基因组序列．设计合成一对特异性引物,以马铃薯卷叶病毒中国分离株（ＰＬＲＶ－Ｃｈ）的ＲＮＡ为模板,反转录合成ｃＤＮＡ第一条链,经ＰＣＲ扩增后克隆于ｐＵＣ１９质粒中,进一步用ＰＣＲ鉴定、限制酶切分析和序列分析,结果表明：ＰＬＲＶ－Ｃｈ基因间隔区由１９７个核苷酸组成,与国外报道的荷兰ＰＬＲＶ－Ｎ加拿大ＰＬＲＶ－Ｃ,澳大利亚ＰＬＲＶ－Ａ,苏格兰ＰＬＲＶ－Ｓ各株系核苷酸序列具有很高的同源性,同源率依次为９９％、９８％、９３％、９８％。     

淋巴细胞存在有δ阿片肽受体的分子证据

以小鼠的成神经细胞瘤和大鼠神经胶质瘤的杂交细胞δ阿片肽受体的基因外显子Ⅲ序列为依据合成引物,应用ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ方法扩增人外周血淋巴细胞ｍＲＮＡ的一片段ｃＤＮＡ,扩增产物经纯化后进行核苷酸序列测定．测序结果表明该片段与杂交瘤细胞的δ阿片肽受体基因序列相比有５个同源区,其中碱基的同源性达６３％．实验结果从分子水平表明了人淋巴细胞表面存在有阿片肽受体的可能性．     

异育银鲫幼鱼对饲料中缬氨酸需求量的研究

通过65d的生长实验, 探讨饲料中不同缬氨酸水平对异育银鲫(Carassius auratus gibelio)幼鱼平均体重(3.17±0.01)g/尾生长性能、饲料利用和蛋白利用的影响, 确定异育银鲫对饲料中缬氨酸的需要量。实验设计由酪蛋白、明胶和晶体氨基酸为蛋白源的8种等氮(蛋白含量:38%)等能(总能:17.0 kJ/g)的半精制饲料, 其缬氨酸水平等梯度逐步升高(0.54、0.79、1.04、1.29、1.54、1.79、2.04、2.29%饲料干物质)。各实验饲料中缬氨酸的实测值分别为:0.66、0.85、1.07、1.22、1.46、1.70、1.86和2.12%饲料干物质。饲料中其他必需氨基酸含量参照异育银鲫肌肉氨基酸模式。每种饲料饲喂3个重复,每个重复30尾鱼,养殖于塑料方箱中(70 cm×55 cm×50 cm;水体容积:150 L), 养殖系统为室内流水系统(500 mL/min流速), 每天两次饱食连续投喂(9:00和16:00)。实验结果表明,饲料中适量的缬氨酸显著提高了异育银鲫的特定生长率、饲料转化效率和蛋白沉积率(P0.05), 但显著影响了血清谷氨酰胺的浓度(P0.05), 但不同的缬氨酸水平显著影响了鱼体灰分含量(P<0.05)。对各处理组异育银鲫特定生长率的结果进行二次回归分析, 结果表明满足异育银鲫最大生长的缬氨酸需求量为饲料干物质的1.72%, 即占饲料蛋白的4.53%。