Distinct feeding behavior between sexes of shape Frankliniella occidentalis results in higher scar production and lower tospovirus transmission by females

Feeding behavior and scar production of male and female F. occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) were studied in relation to transmission of tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (TSWV). Electrical penetration graph (EPG) analysis showed that females feed more frequently and intensively than males. The feeding intensity, reflected by silvery scar production and studied by an image analysis system, demonstrated that females induced more numerous scars than males. At the same time, males transmitted TSWV with a higher efficiency than females, indicating that TSWV transmission and scar production are not positively correlated. Furthermore, males produced significantly more local lesions of TSWV than females. These quantitative differences in scar production and transmission of TSWV can be explained by the lower mobility and higher consumption rate of females. The influence of the sex-ratio on crop damage and virus transmission, and thus to the spread of TSWV, is emphasized.     

不同杂种优势群玉米籽粒脱水速率分析

研究不同杂种优势群玉米自交系籽粒脱水速率的特性,筛选脱水速率快的自交系,为选育适应机械化作业的玉米杂交种提供借鉴。本试验采用烘干测定173份玉米自交系的籽粒的脱水速率及其相关性状,利用覆盖玉米全基因组的210对SSR标记对实验材料进行全基因组扫描,通过Structure V2.3.4 软件揭示其群体结构。对不同杂种优势群平均籽粒脱水速率进行方差分析,并筛选出各个群中籽粒灌浆速率快的自交系。研究结果如下：籽粒脱水速率在不同自交系间存在显著差异,与苞叶、穗轴及籽粒的含水率等性状间存在显著相关性。试验共筛选到脱水速率大于1%的自交系20个;授粉后40天时籽粒的含水率低于21%的自交系10个。参试自交系分成P、旅大红骨、瑞德、兰卡斯特和塘四平头5个杂种优势群;授粉后40天脱水速率依次是Reid群0.92%、Lancaster群0.85%、旅大红骨群0.82%、混合群0.80%、P群0.76%、塘四平头群0.56%。     

Implementation of hypocalcaemia prevention programmes in commercial dairy herds: From theory to practice

Hypocalcaemia prevention programmes have been widely studied in experimental settings, but their feasibility has not been assessed under field conditions. The main objective of this study was to evaluate, in the context of small dairy farms in western France, whether and how dairy farmers implement prevention programmes and manage the feeding of dry cows to prevent hypocalcaemia. Seventy-nine commercial Holstein dairy farms in Brittany (France) were enrolled in a qualitative study in 2019. We conducted in-person interviews with the farmers to 1) understand the rationale behind the type and seasonality of prevention programmes they implemented and 2) assess how closely they followed common recommendations when implementing them. Most farmers (80 %) used at least one prevention programme, especially supplying a mineral mix formulated to meet the needs of dry cows in late gestation (53 %), acidifying the diet in late gestation (37 %), and supplying calcium at calving (oral or injectable form, 37 %). The use of programmes depended on whether the diet composition varied throughout the year. Among farmers who provided an acidified diet, 25 % did not supply a specific mineral mix to dry cows to ensure an adequate amount of P, Ca, and Mg, which could decrease the effectiveness of the acidification programme. A lack of reliability in feeding practices, such as not weighing feed or not delivering feed frequently enough, was identified for 61 % of contributing farms. Management practices could result in supplying an unsuitable amount of P, Ca, or Mg immediately before calving; for example, inappropriate batching practices around calving were identified for 22 % (cows) to 32 % (heifers) of farms. In addition, nearly all contributing farmers had no processes in place to monitor the effectiveness of the programmes implemented. Reasons for this overall lack of compliance should be explored.     

中国菌物分类学和多样性研究的历史与现状概况

我国菌物分类学研究始于20世纪初,经过百余年的不断探索和发展,取得了丰硕的成果,并逐渐走进世界前列。本研究通过对世界菌物名称信息库Fungal Names进行数据统计,对发现自中国的菌物新物种和中国学者发表菌物新分类单元等数据开展分析,从中揭示中国菌物分类学的历史和发展趋势。过去,一共有2 214位中国学者参与发表了15 626个菌物新分类单元,包括 3个新纲、27个新目及亚目、117个新科及亚科、769个新属及亚属、11 100个新种、322个新种下单元和3 288个新组合。在全球已知的菌物物种中,自中国发现的新物种有10 233种,隶属于 3界13门44纲174目572科2 379属,占全球已知物种多样性的6.84%,居世界第二位。地理分布上,我国西南地区(云南、四川、贵州、西藏)和低纬度的热带、亚热带地区(中国台湾、广东)发现的新物种最多。根据每年发现的新分类单元数量趋势和命名作者的构成,可将中国菌物分类学的发展历史分为五个阶段：外人在华采菌及研究(1750s-1929)、中国菌物分类学起步(1930-1949)、新中国菌物分类学早期发展(1950-1977)、全国性菌物标本采集与研究(1978-2010)、走进世界前列(2011至今)。本研究对每个发展时期的分类学概况和重要历史事件进行了总结和回顾,通过上述综述性研究,有助于系统地了解中国菌物分类学不同阶段的发展趋势和研究概况,为学科当下和未来的发展提供参考。     

Goose parents lead migration V

Many migratory animals travel in large social groups. Large, avian migrants that fly in V-formations were proposed do so for energy saving by the use of up-wash by following individuals and regularly change leadership. As groups have been rather homogeneous in previous work, we aimed to explore leadership and its flight mechanics consequences in an extremely heterogeneous case of social migration, namely in spring migration of goose families. In families the experience of group members differs strongly and inclusive fitness may be important. We successfully collected overlapping spring migration tracking data of a complete family of greater white-fronted geese Anser a. albifrons and extracted leadership, flapping frequency and wind conditions in flight. Our data revealed V-formations where one parent was flying in front at all times. Although the father led the family group most of the time, he did not flap at higher frequency while doing so. In contrast, the mother flapped faster when leading, possibly because she experienced less supportive wind conditions than when the father led. We argue that in heterogeneous, social groups leadership might be fixed and not costly if supportive environmental conditions like wind can be used.     

鄂西南国家级自然保护区群——苔藓植物多样性保护的重要场所

鄂西南地区密集分布有后河、木林子、七姊妹山和星斗山四大国家级自然保护区,共同形成了一个珍稀动植物大体相近、互相补充的保护区群,为摸清鄂西南保护区群的苔藓植物组成,该文采用野外调查和文献资料整理相结合的方法,对鄂西南国家级自然保护区群内的苔藓植物丰富度和组成特征进行了分析,并与渝东南、湘西北的苔藓植物多样性进行了比较.结...     

2′-Functional group of adenosine in 10–23 DNAzyme promotes catalytic activity

10–23 DNAzyme is an artificially selected catalytic DNA molecule. Its great potential as genetic therapeutics promoted chemical modifications for more efficient DNAzymes. Here, 10–23 DNAzyme was modified on its six deoxyadenosine residues (A5, A9, A11, A12, A15 in the catalytic domain and A0 of the recognition arm next to the cleavage site) with compound 1, an adenosine analogue with 2′-O-[N-(aminoethyl)carbamoyl]methyl group. A positive effect of compound 1 at A15 was observed (HJDS-05, k_obs = 0.0111 min⁻¹). Compared to the effect of 2′-H and 2′-OMe at A15, this result provided an approach for more efficient DNAzyme by combining 2′-substituted amino group of adenosine with A15 as the lead structure.     

野生大熊猫的年龄鉴定

本文根据大熊猫门齿齿骨质年轮线数目鉴定了大熊猫的实际年龄,并按其头骨各骨缝的生长愈合情况及臼齿磨损程度将大熊猫划分为6个年龄组。     

Computational characterization of substrate and product specificities,and functionality of S‐adenosylmethionine binding pocket in histone lysine methyltransferases from Arabidopsis,rice and maize

Histone lysine methylation by histone lysine methyltransferases (HKMTs) has been implicated in regulation of gene expression. While significant progress has been made to understand the roles and mechanisms of animal HKMT functions, only a few plant HKMTs are functionally characterized. To unravel histone substrate specificity, degree of methylation and catalytic activity, we analyzed Arabidopsis Trithorax‐like protein (ATX), Su (var)3‐9 h omologs protein (SUVH), Su(var)3‐9 related protein (SUVR), ATXR5, ATXR6, and E(Z) HKMTs of Arabidopsis, maize and rice through sequence and structure comparison. We show that ATXs may exhibit methyltransferase specificity toward histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4) and might catalyse the trimethylation. Our analyses also indicate that most SUVH proteins of Arabidopsis may bind histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9). We also predict that SUVH7, SUVH8, SUVR1, SUVR3, ZmSET20 and ZmSET22 catalyse monomethylation or dimethylation of H3K9. Except for SDG728, which may trimethylate H3K9, all SUVH paralogs in rice may catalyse monomethylation or dimethylation. ZmSET11, ZmSET31, SDG713, SDG715, and SDG726 proteins are predicted to be catalytically inactive because of an incomplete S‐adenosylmethionine (SAM) binding pocket and a post‐SET domain. E(Z) homologs can trimethylate H3K27 substrate, which is similar to the Enhancer of Zeste homolog 2 of humans. Our comparative sequence analyses reveal that ATXR5 and ATXR6 lack motifs/domains required for protein‐protein interaction and polycomb repressive complex 2 complex formation. We propose that subtle variations of key residues at substrate or SAM binding pocket, around the catalytic pocket, or presence of pre‐SET and post‐SET domains in HKMTs of the aforementioned plant species lead to variations in class‐specific HKMT functions and further determine their substrate specificity, the degree of methylation and catalytic activity.