A major locus involved in the formation of the radial oxygen loss barrier in adventitious roots of teosinte Zea nicaraguensis is located on the short‐arm of chromosome 3

A radial oxygen loss (ROL) barrier in roots of waterlogging‐tolerant plants promotes oxygen movement via aerenchyma to the root tip, and impedes soil phytotoxin entry. The molecular mechanism and genetic regulation of ROL barrier formation are largely unknown. Zea nicaraguensis, a waterlogging‐tolerant wild relative of maize (Zea mays ssp. mays), forms a tight ROL barrier in its roots when waterlogged. We used Z. nicaraguensis chromosome segment introgression lines (ILs) in maize (inbred line Mi29) to elucidate the chromosomal region involved in regulating root ROL barrier formation. A segment of the short‐arm of chromosome 3 of Z. nicaraguensis conferred ROL barrier formation in the genetic background of maize. This chromosome segment also decreased apoplastic solute permeability across the hypodermis/exodermis. However, the IL and maize were similar for suberin staining in the hypodermis/exodermis at 40 mm and further behind the root tip. Z. nicaraguensis contained suberin in the hypodermis/exodermis at 20 mm and lignin at the epidermis. The IL with ROL barrier, however, did not contain lignin in the epidermis. Discovery of the Z. nicaraguensis chromosomal region responsible for root ROL barrier formation has improved knowledge of this trait and is an important step towards improvement of waterlogging tolerance in maize.     

Modeling interactions between a β‐O‐4 type lignin model compound and 1‐allyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid

Aiming at understanding the molecular mechanism of the lignin dissolution in imidazolium‐based ionic liquids (ILs), this work presents a combined quantum chemistry (QC) calculation and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation study on the interaction of the lignin model compound, veratrylglycerol‐β‐guaiacyl ether (VG) with 1‐allyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride ([Amim]Cl). The monomer of VG is shown to feature a strong intramolecular hydrogen bond, and its dimer is indicated to present important π‐π stacking and intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions. The interactions of both the cation and anion of [Amim]Cl with VG are shown to be stronger than that between the two monomers, indicating that [Amim]Cl is capable of dissolving lignin. While Cl^– anion forms a hydrogen‐bonded complex with VG, the imidazolium cation interacts with VG via both the π‐π stacking and intermolecular hydrogen bonding. The calculated interaction energies between VG and the IL or its components (the cation, anion, and ion pair) indicate the anion plays a more important role than the cation for the dissolution of lignin in the IL. Theoretical results provide help for understanding the molecular mechanism of lignin dissolution in imidazolium‐based IL. The theoretical calculations on the interaction between the lignin model compound and [Amim]Cl ionic liquid indicate that the anion of [Amim]Cl plays a more important role for lignin dissolution although the cation also makes a substantial contribution.     

Association of saponin concentration,molecular markers,and biochemical factors with enhancing resistance to alfalfa seedling damping-off

Fifteen alfalfa populations were tested for resistance to the seedling damping-off disease sourced by Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium solani, and Macrophomina phaseolina. In a laboratory experiment, saponin treatment significantly diminished the mycelial growth of the causal fungi of alfalfa damping-off disease. Roots of the fifteen alfalfa populations varied in saponin and lignin content. Selection for the considerably resistant plants leads to the best growth performance, desirable yield, and high nutritive values such as crude protein (CP), crude fier (CF), nitrogen free extract (NFE), ash, and ether extract (EE) contents. For the PCR reaction, 10 SSR pairs of the JESPR series primers and the cDNA-SCoT technique with seven primers were used. SSR and SCoT revealed some unique markers that could be linked to resistance to damping-off disease in alfalfa that appeared in the considerably resistant alfalfa population (the promised pop.). SSR and SCoT markers can be an excellent molecular method for judging genetic diversity and germplasm classification in tetraploid alfalfa. We recommend breeding for saponin concentration in the alfalfa plant may affect resistance to some diseases like root rot and damping-off because saponin might improve plant growth, yield, and nutritional values.     

川西高山林线交错带凋落叶分解速率与初始质量的关系

对我国川西高山林线交错带14种代表性植物凋落叶分解速率与初始质量的关系进行研究.结果表明: 高山林线交错带植物凋落叶分解速率（k）为0.16～1.70,乔木和苔藓凋落叶分解较慢,灌木凋落叶次之,草本凋落叶分解最快.凋落叶分解速率与N、木质素、酚类物质、C/N、C/P、木质素/N均具有显著的线性回归关系.通径分析得出,木质素/N和半纤维素含量可以解释k变异的78.4%,其中木质素/N可以解释k变异的69.5%,木质素/N对k的直接通径系数为-0.913.主成分分析表明,第1排序轴k、分解时间（t）的贡献率达99.2%,木质素/N、木质素含量、C/N、C/P与第1排序轴呈显著正相关,其中木质素/N与第1排序轴的相关关系最强(r=0.923).木质素/N是影响川西高山林线交错带植物凋落叶分解速率的关键质量指标,且凋落叶初始木质素/N越高,分解速率越低.     

Biochemical changes assessed by 13C-CPMAS NMR spectroscopy control fungal growth on water extracts of decaying plant litter

The mechanistic bases of saprotrophic fungal dynamics in soil are not fully clarified. By assessing hyphal density and radial expansion of Aspergillus niger on extracts 45 plant litter types (15 species at 3 decomposition stages), encompassing a broad range of organic quality, we investigated how changes in litter biochemistry affected fungal growth. Plant litter were characterized by classic proximate chemical analyses (total C and N, labile C, cellulose and lignin content, C/N and lignin/N ratios) and, at molecular level, by solid-state ¹³C-CPMAS NMR. The growth of A. niger decreased during the decomposition process over all organic matter types, consistently with the well-known disappearance of this species during the early successional stages. The litter suitability as a substrate to A. niger progressively decreased during decomposition, both considering proximate parameters and C types corresponding to spectral regions, with the latter being also invariably predictive of fungal growth over the 45 substrates. A. niger growth was positively associated with the content of labile C, and with di-O-alkyl C and O-alkyl C spectral regions, but negatively with lignin content and with methoxyl C region. Our results suggest that organic matter quality may control saprotrophic fungal dynamics, at least for the tested species.     

Carbohydrate derived‐pseudo‐lignin can retard cellulose biological conversion

Dilute acid as well as water only (hydrothermal) pretreatments often lead to a significant hemicellulose loss to soluble furans and insoluble degradation products, collectively termed as chars and/or pseudo‐lignin. In order to understand the factors contributing to reducing sugar yields from pretreated biomass and the possible influence of hemicellulose derived pseudo‐lignin on cellulose conversion at the moderate to low enzyme loadings necessary for favorable economics, dilute acid pretreatment of Avicel cellulose alone and mixed with beechwood xylan or xylose was performed at various severities. Following pretreatment, the solids were enzymatically hydrolyzed and characterized for chemical composition and physical properties by NMR, FT‐IR, and SEM imaging. It was found that hemicelluloses (xylan) derived‐pseudo‐lignin was formed at even moderate severities and that these insoluble degradation products can significantly retard cellulose hydrolysis. Furthermore, although low severity (CSF ～ 1.94) dilute acid pretreatment of a xylan–Avicel mixture hydrolyzed most of the xylan (98%) and produced negligible amounts of pseudo‐lignin, enzymatic conversion of cellulose dropped significantly (>25%) compared to cellulose pretreated alone at the same conditions. The drop in cellulose conversion was higher than realized for cellulase inhibition by xylooligomers reported previously. Plausible mechanisms are discussed to explain the observed reductions in cellulose conversions. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 737–753. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

汽爆秸秆漆酶协同作用提取木质素

组分分离是秸秆炼制的关键技术。本文建立了汽爆耦合漆酶协同作用工艺,研究其对秸秆物理形态、化学组成以及木质素碱提取过程的影响。研究结果表明汽爆破坏秸秆表面致密结构,提高比表面积,促进漆酶对秸秆木质素的氧化作用;红外分析表明,漆酶破坏了汽爆秸秆中半纤维素酯键,且愈创木基吸收峰减弱,漆酶削弱了木质素与纤维素间相互作用;汽爆漆酶协同作用后的秸秆木质素提取率提高约20%(70℃,120 min)。Nuclei Growth模型分析温和条件下秸秆木质素提取过程,动力学结果表明,汽爆漆酶协同预处理增加了汽爆秸秆木质素碱提过程中反应起始作用位点,并提高了该过程对温度的敏感性。汽爆-漆酶协同预处理是一种有效的分离木质素的方法,将在木质纤维素原料的生物炼制中发挥重要作用。     

预处理对木质纤维素生物质细胞壁超微结构的影响

预处理是提高木质纤维素生物质向生物燃料转化的有效途径,但生物质的天然抗降解屏障严重阻碍了这一转化的进行,因此全面了解预处理过程中植物细胞壁的微观结构及区域化学变化是实现农林生物质高效转化的基础。本文总结了多种预处理方法对植物细胞壁超微结构影响的研究进展,对生物质科学研究可能有一定的促进和指导作用。     

西瓜嫁接体发育中木质素合成及代谢相关酶活性的变化

研究了西瓜/葫芦嫁接体发育过程中砧木和接穗部分木质素含量及其代谢相关酶的活性变化.结果表明,嫁接体发育过程中木质素生物合成加快,砧木及接穗部分的过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、苯丙氨酸解胺酶(PAL)、肉桂醇脱氢酶(CAD)等的活性均明显高于对照,接穗和砧木中POD活性在15 d内持续升高,H2O2含量和CAT活性于嫁接后9~12 d出现高峰,砧木中PAL于9 d时有活性高峰而接穗一直保持较高活性而没有活性高峰,木质素含量和CAD活性持续增长,葫芦砧木木质素的代谢水平高于西瓜接穗.