Development and characterization of 33 polymorphic microsatellite markers in Trachurus japonicus by SLAF-seq technology

Trachurus japonicus is an economically important fish in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. However, its resources have declined seriously and there is an urgent need for a wide-range of investigations of the existing genetic resources. This requires a large number of diverse molecular markers with high discriminating power. In this study, we identified 43,264 perfect SSRs in T. japonicus genome using SLAF-seq technology. Of these, we randomly selected 106 SSRs (tri-nucleotide to hexa-nucleotide) to test for polymorphism. Eventually, we successfully developed a total of 33 loci including 8 tri-nucleotide and 25 long repeat motifs (tetra-nucleotide to hexa-nucleotide). The number of alleles (Na) of these loci ranged from 4 to 24 (mean 12.6). The observed heterozygosity (Ho) and expected heterozygosity (He) varied from 0.258 to 0.969 (mean 0.723) and from 0.452 to 0.962 (mean 0.827), respectively. All loci except TJ6-7 were highly informative (PIC > 0.5). These results showed that the shortlisted 33 loci exhibited moderate to relatively high genetic diversity, of which 18 were regarded as highly polymorphic and well-resolved. In summary, these diverse and potential microsatellites detected in our study provide substantial genetic basis for the screening of polymorphic SSR markers of T. japonicus and also provide a powerful tool to perform further studies on the genetic resource assessment and conservation of T. japonicus.     

MicroRNA profiles in Sorghum exposed to individual drought or heat or their combination

Sorghum is largely grown for food, fodder and for biofuel production in semi-arid regions where the drought or high temperature or their combination co-occur. Plant microRNAs (miRNAs) are integral to the gene regulatory networks that control almost all biological processes including adaptation to stress conditions. Thus far, plant miRNA profiles under separate drought or heat stresses have been reported but not under combined drought and heat. In this study, we report miRNA profiles in leaves of sorghum exposed to individual drought or heat or their combination. Approximately 29 conserved miRNA families represented by 80 individual miRNAs, 26 families represented by 47 members of less conserved or sorghum-specific miRNA families as well as 8 novel miRNA families have been identified. Of these, 25 miRNAs were found to be differentially regulated in response to stress treatments. The comparative profiling revealed that the miRNA regulation was stronger under heat or combination of heat and drought compared to the drought alone. Furthermore, using degradome sequencing, 48 genes were confirmed as targets for the miRNAs in sorghum. Overall, this study provides a framework for understanding of the miRNA-guided gene regulations under combined stresses.

     

新工科背景下生物反应工程课程的多元化教学模式 改革与探索

生物反应工程作为一门理论性与应用性都很强的专业课程,在生物工程等相关专业的课程设置中处于桥梁和纽带地位,对新型应用型工科人才的培养发挥着重要的作用。但由于该课程中公式等抽象理论知识过多,导致学生学习效率十分低下。因此,为了适应新工科教育背景下对创新型人才培养的需求,提高学生的学习兴趣和积极性,并培养学生的自主学习等创新能力,教学团队在课程教学中通过引入虚拟仿真技术、开展微课教学、采用案例式教学模式、利用科研平台等多元化方式,对该课程的教学模式、方法和手段尝试改革和探索,取得了一定的教学效果,并就此进行了一些探讨,以期能为相关课程的教学改革提供一些思路和启示。     

四川盆地北部山区中华蜜蜂活动气象指数构建及应用

基于四川盆地北部山区(简称四川盆北山区)2个地面气象观测站的气象资料和1个中华蜜蜂核心保护区的产量资料以及中华蜜蜂的生态特征和活动规律,分析了区内中华蜜蜂的气候生态适宜性;并以气温、水分、光照、风力和天气状况为影响指标,参考生活气象指数,构建四川盆北山区中华蜜蜂活动气象指数和年景评价分级计算方法。结果表明: 影响研究区中华蜜蜂活动的主要气象因子有气温、空气相对湿度、日照时数、风力和白天降水累计时长,其中,气温和白天降水累计时长是影响中华蜜蜂活动的主要限制性气象因子。通过这5个指标因子的不同取值组合,构建中华蜜蜂活动气象指数并进行分级评价:当指数＞12时,天气条件好,适宜中华蜜蜂活动;当指数为7～12时,天气条件一般,较适宜中华蜜蜂活动;当指数为1～7时,天气条件较差,中华蜜蜂活动明显减少;当指数≤1时,天气条件差,不适宜中华蜜蜂活动或处于越冬期。运用该指数对中山蜂场进行气候评价,多年(4—10月)平均综合气象指数为129.3(评分60.4),总体气象条件良好,“土蜂蜜”单产与年度综合气象指数显著相关,气象年景评价准确率90%。