玉米转基因技术专利权人合作态势分析

转基因玉米是最重要的转基因主粮作物之一,其转基因技术具有一定的代表性。为了更好地了解和掌握玉米转基因技术领域研发主体合作情况,文章构建了基于专利权人合作网络的目标技术领域专利权人合作态势分析框架,并基于社会网络分析方法与技术,以世界范围内的转基因玉米领域的重要专利权人为分析对象,构建合作网络、分析整体合作特征、挖掘合作子网、探测领域内重要专利权人,从而从宏观、中观和微观三个层面客观展现玉米转基因技术领域专利权人合作态势,为科技战略规划提供一定的决策支撑。     

植酶Q9对大田遮阴夏玉米产量和衰老特性的调控作用

黄淮海夏季太阳辐射量降低以及种植密度增加引起了夏玉米冠层光照不足,产量大幅降低。本试验选用夏玉米品种‘登海605'(DH605)为试验材料,设置3个遮阴处理:花粒期遮阴(S₁)、穗期遮阴(S₂)和全生育期遮阴(S₃),以大田自然光照为对照(CK),并选用化控试剂植酶Q9(原液稀释100倍)对遮阴处理和CK进行外源调控,即花粒期遮阴-植酶Q9(S₁Q)、穗期遮阴-植酶Q9(S₂Q)、全生育期遮阴-植酶Q9(S₃Q)及大田自然光照-植酶Q9(CKQ),化控处理以同时期喷施清水为对照,探讨植酶Q9对大田遮阴夏玉米衰老特性的调控作用。结果表明: 遮阴显著降低了夏玉米的叶面积指数(LAI)、功能叶片叶绿素相对含量值(SPAD值)和净光合速率,进而显著降低了夏玉米产量。同时,遮阴夏玉米穗位叶的超氧物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性显著降低,丙二醛(MDA)、游离脯氨酸含量显著增加,可溶性蛋白含量显著降低。喷施植酶Q9后,S₃Q和S₂Q的LAI、功能叶片SPAD值和净光合速率显著提高;S₃Q、S₂Q、S₁Q的MDA和游离脯氨酸含量显著降低,可溶性蛋白含量和POD活性显著提高,S₂Q、S₃Q各时期的SOD和CAT活性显著提高;S₃Q、S₂Q、S₁Q的产量分别较S₃、S₂、S₁平均提高19%、8%、7%,CKQ与CK间无显著差异。因此,喷施植酶Q9通过提高弱光胁迫下夏玉米的光合能力,延缓叶片的衰老,增加产量,可有效缓解弱光胁迫导致的减产危害。     

耐除草剂玉米G1105E-823C定性检测方法

转基因耐除草剂玉米G1105E-823C是经过改造的转mG2-aroA基因耐草甘膦玉米新品系,具有更高的草甘膦耐受性,目前已完成生产性试验,具有重要的产业化应用前景。但目前尚无针对G1105E-823C的转化体特异性检测方法的相关报道,这十分不利于对该品系的检测及监管。基于此,以G1105E-823C转化体特异性序列为靶标,建立了转基因耐除草剂玉米G1105E-823C的普通PCR和实时荧光PCR定性检测方法。结果表明,2种方法均能检测出转基因耐除草剂玉米G1105E-823C转化体成分,且具有较高的特异性。普通PCR检测方法检出限达0.1%,实时荧光PCR检测方法检出限达0.05%。研究建立的2种定性检测方法为转基因耐除草剂玉米G1105E-823C的精准检测提供了新的技术手段,可为农业转基因监管提供技术支撑。     

转基因抗虫玉米发展现状与展望*

转基因抗虫玉米的商业化种植,成为大幅提高农业生产力的主要推进器之一。近年来,转基因抗虫玉米产业化规模不断扩大,有效控制了靶标害虫的发生危害,降低了化学杀虫剂的施用,为粮食安全与农民增收提供了重要保障。介绍了全球转基因抗虫玉米的发展现状,分析了与转基因抗虫玉米种植相关的生态问题,并提出了推进转基因抗虫玉米在我国产业化的相关建议。     

A nonsemen copulatory fluid influences the outcome of sperm competition in Japanese quail

Sperm competition is a powerful and widespread evolutionary force that drives the divergence of behavioural, physiological and morphological traits. Elucidating the mechanisms governing differential fertilization success is a fundamental question of sperm competition. Both sperm and nonsperm ejaculate components can influence sperm competition outcomes. Here, we investigate the role of a nonsemen copulatory fluid in sperm competition. Male Japanese quail possess a gland that makes meringue‐like foam. Males produce and store foam independent of sperm and seminal fluid, yet transfer foam to females during copulation. We tested whether foam influenced the outcome of sperm competition by varying foam state and mating order in competitive matings. We found that the presence of foam from one male decreased the relative fertilization success of a rival, and that foam from a given male increased the probability he obtained any fertilizations. Mating order also affected competitive success. Males mated first fertilized proportionally more eggs in a clutch and had more matings with any fertilizations than subsequent males. We conclude that the function of foam in sperm competition is mediated through the positive interaction of foam with a male's sperm, and we speculate whether the benefit is achieved through improving sperm storage, fertilizing efficiency or retention. Our results suggest males can evolve complex strategies to gain fertilizations at the expense of rivals as foam, a copulatory fluid not required for fertilization, nevertheless, has important effects on reproductive performance under competition.     

A computational study of the EN 1078 impact test for bicycle helmets using a realistic subject-specific finite element head model

Abstract

In the present study, the free fall impact test in accordance with the EN1078 standard for certification of bicycle helmets is replicated using numerical simulations. The impact scenario is simulated using an experimentally validated, patient-specific head model equipped with and without a bicycle helmet. Head accelerations and intracranial biomechanical injury metrics during the impacts are recorded. It is demonstrated that wearing the bicycle helmet during the impact reduces biomechanical injury metrics, with the biggest reduction seen in the metric for skull fracture.     

Changes in antioxidants and kinetics of glutathione-S-transferase of maize in response to isoproturon treatment

Abstract

Isoproturon at the recommended field dose (RFD) significantly reduced fresh and dry weights of shoots and roots as well as chlorophyll and carotenoid contents of 10-day-old maize seedlings during the following 20 days. The higher the herbicide dose, the greater the reduction. Meanwhile, ascorbate (AsA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) increased in leaves for only the first few days. Similar increases in activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were detected. Low doses caused general increases while high doses induced diminutions; however, CAT and APX activities were inhibited by all doses. Nevertheless, H₂O₂ was significantly accumulated throughout the experiment; the magnitude of accumulation increased with time and herbicide dose. On the contrary, there were significant inhibitions in activities of the glutathione S-transferase (GST) isoforms (GST_(CDNB), GST_(ALA), or GST_(MET)) with no variation in GST_(ATR); the inhibition was greater with increasing isoproturon doses. These findings suggest the occurrence of an oxidative stress induced by isoproturon, a state that prolonged with increasing herbicide dose and/or treatment time. Moreover, V _max of GST was lowered by isoproturon, whereas K _m was unchanged, indicating that the herbicide is a competitive inhibitor of GST.     

Constitutive expression of cell wall invertase genes increases grain yield and starch content in maize

Grain size, number and starch content are important determinants of grain yield and quality. One of the most important biological processes that determine these components is the carbon partitioning during the early grain filling, which requires the function of cell wall invertase. Here, we showed the constitutive expression of cell wall invertase–encoding gene from Arabidopsis, rice (Oryza sativa) or maize (Zea mays), driven by the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter, all increased cell wall invertase activities in different tissues and organs, including leaves and developing seeds, and substantially improved grain yield up to 145.3% in transgenic maize plants as compared to the wild‐type plants, an effect that was reproduced in our 2‐year field trials at different locations. The dramatically increased grain yield is due to the enlarged ears with both enhanced grain size and grain number. Constitutive expression of the invertase‐encoding gene also increased total starch content up to 20% in the transgenic kernels. Our results suggest that cell wall invertase gene can be genetically engineered to improve both grain yield and grain quality in crop plants.