Evaluation of Fusarium oxysporum cellulolytic system for an efficient hydrolysis of hydrothermally treated wheat straw

The crude multienzyme extract produced by Fusarium oxysporum cultivated under submerged conditions in 20 L bioreactor using brewers spent grain and corn cobs in a ratio 2:1 as the carbon source was evaluated with regard to an efficient saccharification of hydrothermally treated wheat straw. Several factors concerning the obtained hydrolysis yield and reaction rate were investigated. The takeout of product sugars (in situ) was effective at reducing end-product inhibition and lead to a bioconversion about 80% of the theoretical. A kinetic model incorporating dynamic adsorption, enzymatic hydrolysis, and product inhibition was developed. The model predicted very satisfactorily the experimental data.     

Molecular Genetic Analysis of QTLs for Ferulic Acid Content in Dried Straw of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Phenolic acids are secondary metabolic organic compounds produced by plants and often are mentioned as allelochemicals. This study was conducted to determine the genetic basis controlling the ferulic acid content of rice straw in a recombinant inbred (RI) population derived from a cross between a japonica variety, Asominori, with a higher content of ferulic acid, and an indica variety, IR24, with a lower content, using 289 RFLP markers. Continuous distributions and transgressive segregations of ferulic acid content were observed in the RI population, which showed that ferulic acid content in rice straw was quantitatively inherited. Single marker analysis and composite interval mapping identified three quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for ferulic acid content with LOD values of 2.03 (chromosome 3), 3.16 (chromosome 6), and 3.06 (chromosome 7); all three had increased additive effects (13.5, 18.3, and 18.1 g g ^–1) from the Asominori parent and accounted for 5.5, 16.9, and 12.8% of total phenotypic variation, respectively. This is the first report on the identification of QTLs associated with ferulic acid and their chromosomal localization on the molecular map of rice. The tightly linked molecular markers that flank the QTLs might be useful in breeding and selection of varieties with higher phenolic acid content.     

Short‐term CO2‐C emissions from soil prior to sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) replanting in southern Brazil

New management strategies should be identified to increase the potential of bioenergy crops to minimize climate change. This study quantified the impact of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) harvest systems, straw and soil management on carbon dioxide (CO₂) fluxes prior to crop replanting carried out on February 2010 in southern Brazil. The soil studied was classified as Haplustult (USDA Soil Taxonomy). Three sugarcane harvest systems were considered: burned (BH) and green harvest with straw maintained on (GH SM) or removed from (GH SR) the soil surface. Our hypothesis is that intensive tillage and the management of sugarcane crop straw could lead to higher CO₂ emissions from soil. We measured CO₂ emissions in no‐till (NT) conditions and after conventional tillage (CT), and with or without dolomite and agricultural gypsum applications. Soil CO₂ emissions were measured with a Li Cor chamber (Model Li‐8100). Water content of soil and soil temperature readings were first taken 24 h after tillage, over the next 25 days after tillage with 18 measurement days. The removal of sugarcane straw from the soil surface resulted in the rapid reduction of water content of soil (6% in volume) followed by a 64% increase in soil CO₂‐C emissions, supporting our hypothesis. Additional soil CO₂‐C emissions caused by removal of crop straw were 253 kg CO₂‐C ha^?1, which is as high as CO₂‐C losses induced by tillage. Dolomite and agricultural gypsum applications did not always increase CO₂ emissions, especially when applied on soil surface with crop straw and tilled. The conversion from burned to green harvest systems can improve the soil C sequestration rate in sugarcane crops when combined with reduced tillage and straw maintenance on soil surface. The effect of straw removal and related CO₂ emission for electricity generation should be considered in further studies from sugarcane areas.     

旱地小麦休闲期覆盖保水与产量构成因素的关系

为探索旱地小麦休闲期覆盖保水、增产技术途径,于2011—2012年在山西省闻喜县进行了前茬小麦收获后30 d或60 d深翻后进行地面全覆盖、半覆盖、不覆盖的大田试验,研究休闲期覆盖时间和覆盖方式对土壤水分和小麦产量形成的影响。结果表明:休闲期覆盖后,播种-孕穗期土壤蓄水量显著提高,尤其播种期140~200 cm,越冬期和返青期160~300 cm,拔节期80~160 cm,孕穗期0~120 cm、200~300 cm土层效果明显,且以前茬小麦收获后30 d采用全覆盖效果较好;覆盖后,越冬-孕穗期群体分蘖数增加,成熟期植株干物质量显著提高,穗数显著提高(3%~14%),产量显著提高(171~815 kg·hm-2);全覆盖处理成穗率、经济系数、产量及其构成因素均高于半覆盖,且以麦收后30 d覆盖效果较好;播种期土壤水分与穗数、穗粒数和产量关系密切,尤其是深层土壤水分,且直至孕穗期200~300 cm土壤水分与干物质量、穗数和产量关系仍密切;休闲期提早覆盖有利于蓄保休闲期降水于深层,且至孕穗期300 cm深处土壤水分仍有提高;有利于构建合理群体,主要通过提高穗数实现增产,且以全覆盖效果最好。     

Yield and size of oyster mushroom grown on rice/wheat straw basal substrate supplemented with cotton seed hull

Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) was cultivated on rice straw basal substrate, wheat straw basal substrate, cotton seed hull basal substrate, and wheat straw or rice straw supplemented with different proportions (15%, 30%, and 45% in rice straw substrate, 20%, 30%, and 40% in wheat straw substrate) of cotton seed hull to find a cost effective substrate. The effect of autoclaved sterilized and non-sterilized substrate on growth and yield of oyster mushroom was also examined. Results indicated that for both sterilized substrate and non-sterilized substrate, oyster mushroom on rice straw and wheat basal substrate have faster mycelial growth rate, comparatively poor surface mycelial density, shorter total colonization period and days from bag opening to primordia formation, lower yield and biological efficiency, lower mushroom weight, longer stipe length and smaller cap diameter than that on cotton seed hull basal substrate. The addition of cotton seed hull to rice straw and wheat straw substrate slowed spawn running, primordial development and fruit body formation. However, increasing the amount of cotton seed hull can increase the uniformity and white of mycelium, yield and biological efficiency, and increase mushroom weight, enlarge cap diameter and shorten stipe length. Compared to the sterilized substrate, the non-sterilized substrate had comparatively higher mycelial growth rate, shorter total colonization period and days from bag opening to primordia formation. However, the non-sterilized substrate did not gave significantly higher mushroom yield and biological efficiency than the sterilized substrate, but some undesirable characteristics, i.e. smaller mushroom cap diameter and relatively long stipe length.     

ENHANCEMENT OF ETHANOL PRODUCTION BY SIMULTANEOUS SACCHARIFICATION AND FERMENTATION (SSF) OF RICE STRAW USING ETHOXYLATED SPAN 20

In this work, four nonionic surfactants based on sorbitan monolaurate (Span 20) were synthesized by introducing ethylene oxide gas (n = 20, 40, 60, 80 ethylene oxide units) into Span 20 to give four new surfactants with different hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB), namely, E(20), E(40), E(60), and E(80). The structures of the prepared nonionic surfactants were elucidated using Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) and ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The surface-tension measurements were recorded. The effects of the prepared nonionic surfactants on the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of microwave/alkali-pretreated rice straw to produce ethanol were investigated. From the obtained data, it was found that the addition of the nonionic surfactants at 2.5 g/L had a positive effect on SSF. The maximum ethanol yield (76 and 55%) was obtained after 72 hr for rice straw using Kluyveromyces marxianus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, respectively. Also, it was found that the ethanol yield increases with increasing HLB of the prepared nonionic surfactants by increasing ethylene oxide units. The adsorption of nonionic surfactants on lignocelluloses is proposed to be due to hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding interactions between nonionic surfactants and the lignin part in the lignocelulose. It can be concluded that additions of surface-active compounds, such as nonionic surfactants, increase enzymatic conversion of rice straw for bioethanol purposes.     

Soil Fungal Community Structure Changes in Response to Different Long-Term Fertilization Treatments in a Greenhouse Tomato Monocropping System

Greenhouse vegetable cultivation (GVC) is an example of intensive agriculture aiming to increase crop yields by extending cultivation seasons and intensifying agricultural input. Compared with cropland, studies on the effects of farming management regimes on soil microorganisms of the GVC system are rare, and our knowledge is limited. In the present study, we assessed the impacts of different long-term fertilization regimes on soil fungal community structure changes in a greenhouse that has been applied in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cultivation for 11 consecutive years. Results showed that, when taking the non-fertilizer treatment of CK as a benchmark, both treatments of Conventional chemical N (CN) and Organic amendment only (MNS) significantly decreased the fungal richness by 16%–17%, while the Conventional chemical N and straw management (CNS) restored soil biodiversity at the same level. Saprotroph and pathotroph were the major trophic modes, and the abundance of the pathotroph fungi in treatment of CNS was significantly lower than those in CK and CN soils. The CNS treatment has significantly altered the fungal composition of the consecutive cropping soils by reducing the pathogens, e.g., Trichothecium and Lecanicillium, and enriching the plant-beneficial, e.g., Schizothecium. The CNS treatment is of crucial importance for sustainable development of the GVC system.     

黄土高原长期覆膜苹果园土壤物理退化与细根生长响应

甘肃陇东黄土高原为中国苹果主产区之一, 生产中多采取覆膜方式节水保墒, 但长期覆膜易导致土壤物理性状退化及苹果根系生长障碍。为探明长期覆膜对苹果园表层土壤(0-20 cm)、亚表层土壤(20-40 cm)物理特性、土壤结构稳定性及苹果细根数量、形态、构型、解剖性状的影响, 以18年生苹果树为试验材料, 于苹果树发根高峰(果实采后至落叶期), 以清耕(CK)为对照, 采用土壤剖面法系统调查覆膜2年(2Y)、覆膜4年(4Y)、覆膜6年(6Y)的表层土壤、亚表层土壤物理性状变化趋势, 苹果根系根长、表面积、比根长、导管直径、导管密度等指标的空间分布特征。并借助主成分分析, 抽取覆膜条件下根系与土壤变化主要因子, 分析应对根际土壤物理退化的苹果树细根生长适应策略调整。结果表明: 短期覆膜(2Y)可有效改善亚表层土壤含水量、总孔隙度, 分别比CK提高了18.04%、4.53%, 土壤密度降低了2.36%, 促进细根在亚表层土壤中的生长, 比表面积为CK的151%; 覆膜促使黏粒向亚表层土壤移动, 产生明显的淀积黏化作用。土壤物理性黏粒在亚表层土壤中高于表层土壤, 2Y、4Y和6Y处理亚表层土壤物理性黏粒为表层土壤的115.64%、115.58%和114.21%, 呈现土壤紧实化。土壤质地、团聚体特征、有机质含量为主导亚表层土壤退化进程的主要载荷因子, 使根系数量、构型特征受到抑制, 导致长期(4Y、6Y)覆膜苹果的细根集中分布于表层土壤中。亚表层土壤中细根变粗、抑制延伸生长、增大导管直径, 以弥补细根数量、形态性状弱化带来的吸收功能减弱, 促使根系采取“密集型”根系构建策略。综上所述, 长期覆膜果园亚表层土壤出现物理“隐形”退化, 影响果树根系健康生长和土壤可持续利用。2年为适宜陇东旱塬的连续覆膜年限, 生产中应适时揭膜, 促进根系生长和土壤结构优化。     

表达广谱抗真菌蛋白转基因水稻秸秆的化学成分与纤维素结构

为了给表达广谱抗真菌蛋白转基因水稻的安全性评估提供基础数据,本文以表达广谱抗真菌蛋白转基因水稻转品1和转品8及非转基因七丝软粘（对照）为试材,对其秸秆化学成分进行分析,同时,采用傅立叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）和X 射线衍射（XRD）方法观察秸秆中不同部位纤维素结构的变化情况。研究结果显示：（1）转基因水稻转品1和转品8与对照在秸秆相同部位的化学成分含量不存在显著差异;（2）转基因水稻转品1和转品8及对照在秸秆相同部位纤维素的红外吸收峰形状基本一致,且品种间的吸收峰强度和结晶指数(O′KI和N〖KG-*2〗·〖KG-*4〗O′KI)也无显著差异;（3）转品1和转品8秸秆的X 射线衍射图与对照相似,且结晶度(CrI)与对照无显著差异。综上所述,广谱抗真菌基因的导入不会对水稻的化学成分、纤维素结构及晶体结构产生明显影响。     

秸秆还田量对培肥农田黑土氮素初级转化速率的影响

秸秆还田是土壤培肥的重要措施之一,但培肥后土壤对氮素循环的调控功能是否具有可持续性以及与后续秸秆还田数量的关系尚不清楚。本研究对黑土旱地农田进行9年培肥处理后,设置了连续3年秸秆还田处理,秸秆还田量分别为年均秸秆产量(7500 kg·hm^-2)的100%、67%、33%和0,探讨不同秸秆还田量对培肥土壤(0～10 cm)氮素转化过程的影响。结果表明: 秸秆还田通过影响氮素初级转化速率,控制培肥土壤NH₄⁺-N和NO₃^--N的产生与消耗过程。当秸秆还田量低于67%时,NH₄⁺-N生成速率显著降低,而其消耗速率显著提高,土壤保留NH₄⁺-N的能力下降,而NO₃^--N生成速率增加,土壤NO₃^--N固持能力下降,增加NO₃^--N的积累及淋溶损失风险。对于东北旱地农田,利用秸秆归还进行黑土培肥,需要不低于67%收获量的秸秆持续还田才能维持土壤对氮素的保持功能。