In crop plants, various environmental stresses affect the balance of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus(C:N:P), leading to biochemical and physiological alterations and reductions in yield. Silicon(Si) is a beneficial e...In crop plants, various environmental stresses affect the balance of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus(C:N:P), leading to biochemical and physiological alterations and reductions in yield. Silicon(Si) is a beneficial element that alleviates plant stress. Most studies involving silicon have focused on physiological responses, such as improvements in photosynthetic processes, water use efficiency, and antioxidant defense systems. But recent research suggests that stressed plants facing either limited or excessive resources(water, light, nutrients, and toxic elements), strategically employ Si to maintain C:N:P homeostasis, thereby minimizing biomass losses. Understanding the role of Si in mitigating the impact of abiotic stresses on plants by regulating C:N:P homeostasis holds great potential for advancing sustainable agricultural practices in crop production. This review presents recent advances in characterizing the influence of environmental stresses on C:N:P homeostasis, as well as the role of Si in preserving C:N:P equilibrium and attenuating biological damage associated with abiotic stress. It underscores the beneficial effects of Si in sustaining C:N:P homeostasis and increasing yield via improved nutritional efficiency and stress mitigation.展开更多
Osteoporosis is the most common bone disorder,characterized by low bone mineral density and microarchitectural deterioration of the bone tissue,which increases the susceptibility to fracture.In the past decade,emergin...Osteoporosis is the most common bone disorder,characterized by low bone mineral density and microarchitectural deterioration of the bone tissue,which increases the susceptibility to fracture.In the past decade,emerging research findings reported the implication of gut microbiota on bone health and osteoporosis pathology.Osteoporotic patients or individuals with a lower bone mineral density exhibit an alteration of the gut microbiota at several taxonomic levels.Additional reports demonstrate that gut microbiota regulates bone metabolism through the modulation of the gut function(mineral availability and absorption,gut integrity),the immune system,and the endocrine system.Thus,based on the vital role of gut microbiota on bone health,it has emerged as a novel therapeutic target for the prevention of bone loss and the treatment of osteoporosis.Microbial-based functional food ingredients,such as probiotics,prebiotics,synbiotics,and fermented foods,have been developed to alter the gut microbiota composition and function and thus,to provide benefits to the host bone health.Despite promising initial results,microbial-based therapies are still under investigation.Moreover,additional animal studies and clinical trials are needed to understand the interactions between gut microbiota and bone metabolism before further applications.展开更多
Agriculture plays a crucial role in the economy,and there is an increasing global emphasis on automating agri-cultural processes.With the tremendous increase in population,the demand for food and employment has also i...Agriculture plays a crucial role in the economy,and there is an increasing global emphasis on automating agri-cultural processes.With the tremendous increase in population,the demand for food and employment has also increased significantly.Agricultural methods traditionally used to meet these requirements are no longer ade-quate,requiring solutions to issues such as excessive herbicide use and the use of chemical fertilizers.Integration of technologies such as the Internet of Things,wireless communication,machine learning,artificial intelligence(AI),and deep learning shows promise in addressing these challenges.However,there is a lack of comprehensive documentation on the application and potential of AI in improving agricultural input efficiency.To address this gap,a desk research approach was used by utilizing peer-reviewed electronic databases like PubMed,Scopus,Goo-gle Scholar,Web of Science,and Science Direct for relevant articles.Out of 327 initially identified articles,180 were deemed pertinent,focusing primarily on AI’s potential in enhancing yield through better management of nutrients,water,and weeds.Taking into account researchfindings worldwide,we found that AI technologies could assist farmers by providing recommendations on the optimal nutrients to enhance soil quality and deter-mine the best time for irrigation or herbicide application.The present status of AI-driven automation in agricul-ture holds significant promise for optimizing agricultural input utilization and reducing resource waste,particularly in the context of three pillars of crop management,i.e.,nutrient,irrigation,and weed management.展开更多
There is considerable concern about the potential impact of climate change on agriculture, such as the accumulation of chilling hours needed to break the dormancy of many perennial plants, like fruit trees. Therefore,...There is considerable concern about the potential impact of climate change on agriculture, such as the accumulation of chilling hours needed to break the dormancy of many perennial plants, like fruit trees. Therefore, this study aimed to determine if there had been a significant change in air temperatures and chill hours, chill units, and chill portion accumulation in South Carolina over the last two decades. Two decades of daily maximum (T<sub>max</sub>) and minimum (T<sub>min</sub>) air temperature records were obtained from weather stations in thirty-one counties in South Carolina. Hourly temperature data, reconstructed from the daily data, were used to calculate the daily and annual chill hours, chill units, and chill portions accumulation using four different chill models for each location and year. The chill models included the T(t) °C model, the 0°C °C model, the Utah model, and the Dynamic model. For each county, regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the historical trends. Despite year-to-year variability, the tendency was a statistically significant (α = 0.05) increase in air temperature, averaging 0.089°C per year for 20 out of 31 counties in South Carolina. The other 11 counties had no significant change in temperature. The average temperature increase in the 31 counties was 0.072°C per year. The temperature increase resulted in a decrease in annual chill accumulation during the fall to spring, averaging 17.7 chill hours, 8.6 chill hours, 17.0 chill units, and 0.40 chill portions per year calculated with the T(t) °C, 0°C °C, Utah, and Dynamic models, respectively. However, whether this decrease in chill values was statistically significant or not depended on the chill model used. This study did not investigate the cause of the observed historical trends in temperature and chill accumulation. Still, if the trends continue, they could significantly impact the future of the temperate fruit tree industry in the state.展开更多
Zeyheria tuberculosa(Vell.)Bureau ex Verl.is among the Brazilian flora threatened with extinction.It has high-quality wood and can be used to recover herbicidecontaminated areas.However,abiotic stresses can harm seed ...Zeyheria tuberculosa(Vell.)Bureau ex Verl.is among the Brazilian flora threatened with extinction.It has high-quality wood and can be used to recover herbicidecontaminated areas.However,abiotic stresses can harm seed germination and seedling development under adverse conditions and need to be understood to improve autochthonous or indigenous biodiversity conservation and strengthen reforestation projects.This study evaluated the effects of temperature,water and saline stress on Z.tuberculosa seed germination and water stress on seedling growth.Three laboratory experiments evaluated germination under:(1)different temperatures(20,25,30,35 and 40℃);(2)different water potentials simulated with polyethylene glycol(PEG6000)at 25 and 30℃;and,(3)different osmotic potentials simulated with NaCl at 25 and 30℃.In addition,a greenhouse experiment subjected seedlings to five water regimes(20%,35%,50%,65%and 80%of maximum substrate water holding capacity).In the laboratory,seedling biometry and germination were evaluated,while physiological and morphological parameters were assessed in the greenhouse.Physiological potential of seeds increased at 25 and 30℃.Germination and vigor decreased as water and saline stresses increased.Germination tolerance thresholds for water and salt stresses were-0.6 and-0.4 MPa,respectively.In the greenhouse,the most restrictive water regimes reduced seedling physiological and morphological parameters.Seedling development was compromised at moisture levels below50%field capacity.展开更多
The study was designed to investigate into the level of cassava commercialization, extent of gender effects and other factors on household commercialization index （HCI） of cassava in both rural and peri-urban areas ...The study was designed to investigate into the level of cassava commercialization, extent of gender effects and other factors on household commercialization index （HCI） of cassava in both rural and peri-urban areas of Rivers State, Nigeria. The study used a stratified random sampling technique to select 50 cassava farmers each from Etche and Ekwerre LGAs of the state （i.e. 100 farmers in all）. A set of structured questionnaire and interview schedule was used to retrieve information from the farmers. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, Chow test and truncated regression analysis model based on Maximum Likelihood derived from Censored Normal or TOBIT approach. It was found that significant difference exist in the HC1 of rural farmers （49%） and peri-urban （40%）. The drivers of HCI varied across the areas but on the whole it was noted that gender, farm size, distance to market, labour, farming experience, price of cassava and access to market information signiftcantly influenced the probability of expanding the scale of commercialization of cassava in the area. It was recommended that government and interested bodies should give priority to women in designing and implementing cassava commercialization programmes policies that will improve farmers access to land and also help build on capacities of the farmers to commercialize such as access to extension service, establishment of market information service （MIS）, development of market and transport infrastructure were recommended too.展开更多
Farmers are eager to know the various types of weeds in paddy fields.This will help in choosing the best weed management practice for effective weed control as well as reducing rice yield losses.The objectives of the ...Farmers are eager to know the various types of weeds in paddy fields.This will help in choosing the best weed management practice for effective weed control as well as reducing rice yield losses.The objectives of the study are to identify the weeds species affecting the rice field,to assess the composition of weeds species,to classify the weed species into different families,genera,species,common names,Hausa names,lifecycles,life forms,native/exotic species,propagation and uses,and to determine the dominant weed species.Random vegetation surveys were conducted.Weeds observed were photographed,and prepared as herbarium specimens.Standard key manuals and checklists were utilized for weed identification and later organized using the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group(APG)classification system.A total number of 72 plants species distributed within 16 families and 50 genera were inventoried.The annuals(66.67%)were the dominant weed followed by perennials(33.33%)while biennials were the least.The broad leaves were the dominant weed(44.61%)identified followed by Poaceae(27.7%)and Sedges(11.11%).Results obtained from this study could be useful in choosing the best management practice and in making a decision on the choice of herbicides and directing research towards improved weed control measures.展开更多
Arbuscular mycorrhizae(AM)fungi form symbiotic associations with plant roots,providing nutritional benefits and promoting plant growth and defenses against various stresses.Metabolic changes in the roots during AM fun...Arbuscular mycorrhizae(AM)fungi form symbiotic associations with plant roots,providing nutritional benefits and promoting plant growth and defenses against various stresses.Metabolic changes in the roots during AM fungal colonization are key to understanding the development and maintenance of these symbioses.Here,we investigated metabolic changes in the roots of peanut(Arachis hypogaea L.)plants during the colonization and development of AM symbiosis,and compared them to uncolonized roots.The primary changes during the initial stage of AM colonization were in the contents and compositions of phenylpropanoid and flavonoid compounds.These compounds function in signaling pathways that regulate recognition,interactions,and pre-colonization between roots and AM fungi.Flavonoid compounds decreased by 25%when the symbiosis was fully established compared to the initial colonization stage.After AM symbiosis was established,general metabolism strongly shifted toward the formation of lipids,amino acids,carboxylic acids,and carbohydrates.Lipid compounds increased by 8.5%from the pre-symbiotic stage to well-established symbiosis.Lyso-phosphatidylcholines,which are signaling compounds,were only present in AM roots,and decreased in content after the symbiosis was established.In the initial stage of AM establishment,the content of salicylic acid increased two-fold,whereas jasmonic acid and abscisic acid decreased compared to uncolonized roots.The jasmonic acid content decreased in roots after the symbiosis was well established.AM symbiosis was associated with high levels of calcium,magnesium,and D-(+)-mannose,which stimulated seedling growth.Overall,specific metabolites that favor the establishment of AM symbiosis were common in the roots,primarily during early colonization,whereas general metabolism was strongly altered when AM symbiosis was well-established.In conclusion,specialized metabolites function as signaling compounds to establish AM symbiosis.These compounds are no longer produced after the symbiosis between the roots and AM becomes fully established.展开更多
Crop production in semiarid regions is always challenging because of the high variability of amount and distribution of precipitation.These regions become more important each year, however, because the rapidly increas...Crop production in semiarid regions is always challenging because of the high variability of amount and distribution of precipitation.These regions become more important each year, however, because the rapidly increasing and more prosperous world population seeks greater consumption of animal products（meat, milk and eggs） that requires additional grain to that consumed directly.The dry areas of the developing world where approximately 40% of the world population lives comprise about 40% of the earth＇s land area.Crop production, particularly cereal grains, must increase in these areas to meet these growing demands.Grain yield of cereal crops is a function of the amount of water used for evapotranspiration（ET）, the portion of ET used for transpiration（T）, the units of water as T to produce 1 unit of biomass, and the harvest index（HI）.The most important factor is the amount of evapotranspiration not only because it is closely proportional to grain yield, but because it tends to also make the other factors more favorable.Therefore, even small increases in ET can be significant.Strategies for manipulating soil and plant conditions for increasing ET, and how additional ET affects the other factors, are discussed for water deficient areas.The use of crop residues as mulch is highly beneficial but often insufficient in dryland regions or is required for animal feed and fuel.Plastic mulch, mainly restricted to China, has significantly increased grain yields in dryland areas by decreasing evaporation from the soil surface.展开更多
A study was conducted in the forest-steppe region of the Loess Plateau to provide insight into the factors affecting the process of vegetation establishment,and to provide recommendations for the selection of indigeno...A study was conducted in the forest-steppe region of the Loess Plateau to provide insight into the factors affecting the process of vegetation establishment,and to provide recommendations for the selection of indigenous species in order to speed up the succession process and to allow the establishment of vegetation more resistant to soil erosion.Four distinctive vegetation types were identified,and their distribution was affected not only by the time since abandonment but also by other environmental factors,mainly soil water and total P in the upper soil layers.One of the vegetation types,dominated by Artemisia scoparia,formed the early successional stage after abandonment while the other three types formed later successional stages with their distribution determined by the soil water content and total P.It can be concluded that the selection of appropriate species for introduction to accelerate succession should be determined by the local conditions and especially the total P concentration and soil water content.展开更多
A tremendous amount of imported fresh fruits has been delivered to Shanghai markets, increasing the risk of invasion by harmful plant pathogens. Therefore, it is important to establish an effective detection and super...A tremendous amount of imported fresh fruits has been delivered to Shanghai markets, increasing the risk of invasion by harmful plant pathogens. Therefore, it is important to establish an effective detection and supervision system to survey the outbreak of the market diseases of the imported fruits during marketing. The samples were regularly surveyed in different markets to examine varieties, prices, localities, selling conditions, and diseases of the imported fruits from 2004 to 2008. The survey showed that 58 species of 30 different fruits were imported to Shanghai from 16 countries with more expensive price. The larger products were bananas, grapes, apples, and oranges. During the investigation, we found that the imported fruits frequently brought about the relatively serious market diseases. On the basis of morphology and the nuclear internal transcribed spacer （ITS） of ribosomal DNA （rDNA） analysis, 151 isolates of 15 fungi genera, which shown to be pathogenic after the inoculation assay, were finally identified. Among the identified fungi, Alternaria was the most frequent one with the highest detection rate （47.68%）, followed by Penicillium （14.57%） and Fusarium （11.92%）, respectively. Additionally, Pestalotiopsis microspora （detected in grapes Red-Globe coming from the USA） and Botrytis sp. （detected in black-plums coming from the USA） were first reported in China market. The present study summarized the selling situation of the imported fruits in Shanghai markets and constructed a library of the pathogens detected in the imported fruits during the selling period. The results obtained are useful to offer technical parameters for Chinese quarantine in order to prevent an invasion of the foreign harmful micro-organisms.展开更多
The floral-dip transformation, the simplest technique, is no requirement of tissue culture procedure, and can directly transfer the interest gene into plant reproductive cells. It has been successfully applied to vari...The floral-dip transformation, the simplest technique, is no requirement of tissue culture procedure, and can directly transfer the interest gene into plant reproductive cells. It has been successfully applied to various plant species. In this study, the optimal conditions of a floral-dip method for production of transgenic rice variety RD41 were explored. The simple and effective inoculation medium was composed of Murashige and Skoog(MS) medium, 5% sucrose, 44 nmol/L benzylaminopurine, and 0.075% surfactant Tween-20 with pH 5.7. The transformation efficiencies of Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains AGL1 and EHA105 were compared with the Agrobacterium density at OD_(600) = 0.8–1.0 and the co-cultivation at 25 ℃ for 48 h. A. tumefaciens strain EHA105 gave slightly higher transformation efficiency than AGL1, with statistically non-significant difference. The floral-drop transformation using the optimal floral-dip conditions showed higher transformation efficiency than the floral-dip method, but the dropped flowers turned brown and died within 2 d. Production of transgenic rice variety RD41 by the floral-dip method was achieved using A. tumefaciens strain EHA105 with the optimal conditions. Screening for the gus A gene by PCR using the gus A specific primers in the T_0 lines, there were 4 transgenic lines from 286 T_0 lines(1.4% transformation efficiency). However, histochemical glucuronidase(GUS) assay demonstrated that only three of four transgenic lines exhibited gus A expression. These results indicated that floral-dip transformation is a potential tool for production of the transgenic rice, which can be used for molecular breeding via genetic engineering in the future.展开更多
This study examined the ability of the white lupin to remove mercury （Hg） from a hydroponic system （Hg concentrations 0, 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 μmol/L） and from soil in pots and lysimeters （total Hg concentration ...This study examined the ability of the white lupin to remove mercury （Hg） from a hydroponic system （Hg concentrations 0, 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 μmol/L） and from soil in pots and lysimeters （total Hg concentration （19.2 ± 1.9） mg/kg availability 0.07%, and （28.9 ± 0.4） mg/kg availability 0.09%, respectively）, and investigated the accumulation and distribution of Hg in different parts of the plant. White lupin roots efficiently took up Hg, but its translocation to the harvestable parts of the plant was low. The Hg concentration in the seeds posed no risk to human health according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, but the shoots should not be used as fodder for livestock, at least when unmixed with other fodder crops. The accumulation of Hg in the hydroponically-grown plants was linear over the concentration range tested. The amount of Hg retained in the roots, relative to the shoots, was almost constant irrespective of Hg dose （90%）. In the soil experiments, Hg accumulation increased with exposure time and was the greater in the lysimeter than in the pot experiments. Although Hg removal was the greater in the hydroponic system, revealing the potential of the white lupin to extract Hg, bioaccumulation was the greatest in the lysimeter-grown plants; the latter system more likely reflects the true behaviour of white lupin in the field when Hg availability is a factor that limits Hg removal. The present results suggest that the white lupin could be used in long-term soil reclamation strategies that include the goal of profitable land use in Hg-polluted areas.展开更多
Soil moisture monitoring is one of the methods that farmers can use for irrigation scheduling. Many sensor types and data logging systems have been developed for this purpose over the years, but their widespread adopt...Soil moisture monitoring is one of the methods that farmers can use for irrigation scheduling. Many sensor types and data logging systems have been developed for this purpose over the years, but their widespread adoption in practical irrigation scheduling is still limited due to a variety of factors. Important factors limiting adoption of soil moisture sensing technology by farmers include high cost and difficulties in timely data collection and interpretation. Recent developments in open source microcontrollers (such as Arduino), wireless communication, and Internet-of-Things (IoT) technologies offer opportunities for reducing cost and facilitating timely data collection, visualization, and interpretation for farmers. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop and test a low-cost IoT system for soil moisture monitoring using Watermark 200SS sensors. The system uses Arduino-based microcontrollers and data from the field sensors (End Nodes) are communicated wirelessly using LoRa radios to a receiver (Coordinator), which connects to the Internet via WiFi and sends the data to an open-source website (ThingSpeak.com) where the data can be visualized and further analyzed using Matlab. The system was successfully tested under field conditions by installing Watermark sensors at four depths in a wheat field. The system described here could contribute to widespread adoption of easy-to-use and affordable moisture sensing technologies among farmers.展开更多
Soil salinization is one of the most predominant environmental hazards responsible for agricultural land degradation,especially in the arid and semi-arid regions.An accurate spatial prediction and modeling of soil sal...Soil salinization is one of the most predominant environmental hazards responsible for agricultural land degradation,especially in the arid and semi-arid regions.An accurate spatial prediction and modeling of soil salinity in agricultural land are so important for farmers and decision-makers to develop the appropriate mechanisms to prevent the loss of fertile soil and increase crop production.El Outaya plain is marked by soil salinity increases due to the excessive use of poor groundwater quality for irrigation.This study aims to compare the performance of simple kriging,cokriging(SCOK),multilayer perceptron neural networks(MLP-NN),and support vector machines(SVM)in the prediction of topsoil and subsoil salinity.The field covariates including geochemical properties of irrigation groundwater and physical properties of soil and environmental covariates including digital elevation model and remote sensing derivatives were used as input candidates to SCOK,MLP-NN,and SVM.The optimal input combination was determined using multiple linear stepwise regression(MLSR).The results revealed that the SCOK using field covariates including water electrical conductivity(ECw)and sand percentage(sand%),and environmental covariates including land surface temperature(LST),topographic wetness index(TWI),and elevation could significantly increase the accuracy of soil salinity spatial prediction.The comparison of the prediction accuracy of the different modeling techniques using the Taylor diagram indicated that MLP-NN using LST,TWI,and elevation as inputs were more accurate in predicting the topsoil salinity[ECs(TS)]with a mean absolute error(MAE)of 0.43,root mean square error(RMSE)of 0.6 and correlation coefficient of 0.946.MLP-NN using ECw and sand%as inputs were more accurate in predicting the subsoil salinity[ECs(SS)]with MAE of 0.38,RMSE of0.6,and R of 0.968.展开更多
Inflorescences in the Asteraceae plant family,flower heads,or capitula,mimic single flowers but are highly compressed structures composed of multiple flowers.This transference of a flower-like appearance into an inflo...Inflorescences in the Asteraceae plant family,flower heads,or capitula,mimic single flowers but are highly compressed structures composed of multiple flowers.This transference of a flower-like appearance into an inflorescence level is considered as the key innovation for the rapid tribal radiation of Asteraceae.Recent molecular data indicate that Asteraceae flower heads resemble single flowers not only morphologically but also at molecular level.We summarize this data giving examples of how rewiring of conserved floral regulators have led to evolution of morphological innovations in Asteraceae.Functional diversification of the highly conserved flower meristem identity regulator LEAFY has shown a major role in the evolution of the capitulum architecture.Furthermore,gene duplication and subsequent sub-and neofunctionalization of SEPALLATA-and CYCLOIDEA-like genes in Asteraceae have been shown to contribute to meristem determinacy,as well as flower type differentiation—key traits that specify this large family.Future challenge is to integrate genomic,as well as evolutionary developmental studies in a wider selection of Asteraceae species to understand the detailed gene regulatory networks behind the elaborate inflorescence architecture,and to promote our understanding of how changes in regulatory mechanisms shape development.展开更多
Background: Soil and vegetation have a direct impact on the process and direction of plant community succession, and determine the structure, function, and productivity of ecosystems. However, little is known about th...Background: Soil and vegetation have a direct impact on the process and direction of plant community succession, and determine the structure, function, and productivity of ecosystems. However, little is known about the synergistic influence of soil physicochemical properties and vegetation features on vegetation restoration. The aim of this study was to investigate the co-evolution of soil physicochemical properties and vegetation features in the process of vegetation restoration, and to distinguish the primary and secondary relationships between soil and vegetation in their collaborative effects on promoting vegetation restoration in a subtropical area of China.Methods: Soil samples were collected to 40 cm in four distinct plant communities along a restoration gradient from herb(4–5 years), to shrub(11–12 years), to Pinus massoniana coniferous and broadleaved mixed forest(45–46 years), and to evergreen broadleaved forest(old growth forest). Measurements were taken of the soil physicochemical properties and Shannon–Wiener index(SD), diameter at breast height(DBH), height(H), and biomass. Principal component analysis, linear function analysis, and variation partitioning analysis were then performed to prioritize the relative importance of the leading factors affecting vegetation restoration.Results: Soil physicochemical properties and vegetation features showed a significant trend of improvement across the vegetation restoration gradient, reflected mainly in the high response rates of soil organic carbon(SOC)(140.76%), total nitrogen(TN)(222.48%), total phosphorus(TP)(59.54%), alkaline hydrolysis nitrogen(AN)(544.65%),available phosphorus(AP)(53.28%), species diversity(86.3%), biomass(2906.52%), DBH(128.11%), and H(596.97%).The soil properties(pH, SOC, TN, AN, and TP) and vegetation features(biomass, DBH, and H) had a clear coevolutionary relationship over the course of restoration. The synergistic interaction between soil properties and vegetation features had the greatest effect on biomass(55.55%–72.37%), and the soil properties contributed secondarily(3.30%–31.44%). The main impact factors of biomass varied with the restoration periods.Conclusions: In the process of vegetation restoration, soil and vegetation promoted each other. Vegetation restoration was the cumulative result of changes in soil fertility and vegetation features.展开更多
Leguminous crops play a vital role in enhancing crop yield and improving soil fertility. Therefore, it can be used as an organic N source for improving soil fertility. The purpose of this study was to(i) quantify the ...Leguminous crops play a vital role in enhancing crop yield and improving soil fertility. Therefore, it can be used as an organic N source for improving soil fertility. The purpose of this study was to(i) quantify the amounts of N derived from rhizodeposition, root and above-ground biomass of peanut residue in comparison with wheat and(ii) estimate the effect of the residual N on the wheat-growing season in the subsequent year. The plants of peanut and wheat were stem fed with 15 N urea using the cotton-wick method at the Wuqiao Station of China Agricultural University in 2014. The experiment consisted of four residue-returning strategies in a randomized complete-block design:(i) no return of crop residue(CR0);(ii) return of above-ground biomass of peanut crop(CR1);(iii) return of peanut root biomass(CR2); and(iv) return of all residue of the whole peanut plant(CR3). The 31.5 and 21% of the labeled 15 N isotope were accumulated in the above-ground tissues(leaves and stems) of peanuts and wheat, respectively. N rhizodeposition of peanuts and wheat accounted for 14.91 and 3.61% of the BG15 N, respectively. The 15 N from the below-ground 15 N-labeled of peanuts were supplied 11.3, 5.9, 13.5, and 6.1% of in the CR0, CR1, CR2, and CR3 treatments, respectively. Peanut straw contributes a significant proportion of N to the soil through the decomposition of plant residues and N rhizodeposition. With the current production level on the NCP, it is estimated that peanut straw can potentially replace 104 500 tons of synthetic N fertilizer per year. The inclusion of peanut in rotation with cereal can significantly reduce the use of N fertilizer and enhance the system sustainability.展开更多
A collection of 167 Thai and exotic rice accessions was subjected for evaluation of genetic diversity and assessment of relationship by simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Among a total of 49 SSR markers, 13 markers...A collection of 167 Thai and exotic rice accessions was subjected for evaluation of genetic diversity and assessment of relationship by simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Among a total of 49 SSR markers, 13 markers distributing over 12 rice chromosomes showed clear polymorphic band patterns, and they were selected for genetic assessment. A total of 110 alleles were detected with an average of 8.46 alleles per locus. The averages of gene diversity, heterozygosity and polymorphic information content were 0.59, 0.02 and 0.56, respectively. The unweighted-pair group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) clustering analysis was performed for genetic distance, and phylogenetic tree was constructed. The result showed that this rice collection was divided into two major groups, classified as japonica and indica subspecies. Within the japonica group, temperate japonica and tropical japonica subgroups can be clearly separated. Three-dimensional principal component analysis projection and model-based population structure analysis showed consistent clustering results with two major groups of UPGMA analysis, supporting the classification of japonica and indica subspecies. The indica allelic frequency was also investigated to provide an indicative guide for breeders to overcome the practical problems on sterility of inter-subspecies hybrid offspring. This rice collection and information obtained in this study will be useful for rice breeding programs.展开更多
Background:This study was conducted to evaluate the feed nutritional value of brewers’spent grain(BSG)residue resulting from protease aided protein removal.The nutritional value was measured as nutrient content,gas p...Background:This study was conducted to evaluate the feed nutritional value of brewers’spent grain(BSG)residue resulting from protease aided protein removal.The nutritional value was measured as nutrient content,gas production,nutrient digestibility and fermentation characteristics in batch culture.Results:Protein extraction process decreased content of crude protein but concentrated the neutral detergent fibre(NDF)and ferulic acid in BSG residue.The changes in the chemical composition of BSG residue varied with enzyme and enzyme dosage.Digestibility of dry matter(DMD)and NDF of residue differed among proteases.Increasing alcalase dosage linearly decreased DMD,whereas,the DMD linearly increased as everlase or flavourzyme dosage increased.Compared with BSG,the DMD,gas production and fermentation acid concentration of BSG residues were lower,whereas NDF digestibility was higher.Conclusions:The substantially increased NDF content and improved in vitro NDF digestibility due to protease hydrolysis suggest that BSG residue can be potentially exploited as a viable fibre source for ruminant feeding.展开更多
基金The support of the S?o Paulo State University (UNESP)。
文摘In crop plants, various environmental stresses affect the balance of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus(C:N:P), leading to biochemical and physiological alterations and reductions in yield. Silicon(Si) is a beneficial element that alleviates plant stress. Most studies involving silicon have focused on physiological responses, such as improvements in photosynthetic processes, water use efficiency, and antioxidant defense systems. But recent research suggests that stressed plants facing either limited or excessive resources(water, light, nutrients, and toxic elements), strategically employ Si to maintain C:N:P homeostasis, thereby minimizing biomass losses. Understanding the role of Si in mitigating the impact of abiotic stresses on plants by regulating C:N:P homeostasis holds great potential for advancing sustainable agricultural practices in crop production. This review presents recent advances in characterizing the influence of environmental stresses on C:N:P homeostasis, as well as the role of Si in preserving C:N:P equilibrium and attenuating biological damage associated with abiotic stress. It underscores the beneficial effects of Si in sustaining C:N:P homeostasis and increasing yield via improved nutritional efficiency and stress mitigation.
文摘Osteoporosis is the most common bone disorder,characterized by low bone mineral density and microarchitectural deterioration of the bone tissue,which increases the susceptibility to fracture.In the past decade,emerging research findings reported the implication of gut microbiota on bone health and osteoporosis pathology.Osteoporotic patients or individuals with a lower bone mineral density exhibit an alteration of the gut microbiota at several taxonomic levels.Additional reports demonstrate that gut microbiota regulates bone metabolism through the modulation of the gut function(mineral availability and absorption,gut integrity),the immune system,and the endocrine system.Thus,based on the vital role of gut microbiota on bone health,it has emerged as a novel therapeutic target for the prevention of bone loss and the treatment of osteoporosis.Microbial-based functional food ingredients,such as probiotics,prebiotics,synbiotics,and fermented foods,have been developed to alter the gut microbiota composition and function and thus,to provide benefits to the host bone health.Despite promising initial results,microbial-based therapies are still under investigation.Moreover,additional animal studies and clinical trials are needed to understand the interactions between gut microbiota and bone metabolism before further applications.
文摘Agriculture plays a crucial role in the economy,and there is an increasing global emphasis on automating agri-cultural processes.With the tremendous increase in population,the demand for food and employment has also increased significantly.Agricultural methods traditionally used to meet these requirements are no longer ade-quate,requiring solutions to issues such as excessive herbicide use and the use of chemical fertilizers.Integration of technologies such as the Internet of Things,wireless communication,machine learning,artificial intelligence(AI),and deep learning shows promise in addressing these challenges.However,there is a lack of comprehensive documentation on the application and potential of AI in improving agricultural input efficiency.To address this gap,a desk research approach was used by utilizing peer-reviewed electronic databases like PubMed,Scopus,Goo-gle Scholar,Web of Science,and Science Direct for relevant articles.Out of 327 initially identified articles,180 were deemed pertinent,focusing primarily on AI’s potential in enhancing yield through better management of nutrients,water,and weeds.Taking into account researchfindings worldwide,we found that AI technologies could assist farmers by providing recommendations on the optimal nutrients to enhance soil quality and deter-mine the best time for irrigation or herbicide application.The present status of AI-driven automation in agricul-ture holds significant promise for optimizing agricultural input utilization and reducing resource waste,particularly in the context of three pillars of crop management,i.e.,nutrient,irrigation,and weed management.
文摘There is considerable concern about the potential impact of climate change on agriculture, such as the accumulation of chilling hours needed to break the dormancy of many perennial plants, like fruit trees. Therefore, this study aimed to determine if there had been a significant change in air temperatures and chill hours, chill units, and chill portion accumulation in South Carolina over the last two decades. Two decades of daily maximum (T<sub>max</sub>) and minimum (T<sub>min</sub>) air temperature records were obtained from weather stations in thirty-one counties in South Carolina. Hourly temperature data, reconstructed from the daily data, were used to calculate the daily and annual chill hours, chill units, and chill portions accumulation using four different chill models for each location and year. The chill models included the T(t) °C model, the 0°C °C model, the Utah model, and the Dynamic model. For each county, regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the historical trends. Despite year-to-year variability, the tendency was a statistically significant (α = 0.05) increase in air temperature, averaging 0.089°C per year for 20 out of 31 counties in South Carolina. The other 11 counties had no significant change in temperature. The average temperature increase in the 31 counties was 0.072°C per year. The temperature increase resulted in a decrease in annual chill accumulation during the fall to spring, averaging 17.7 chill hours, 8.6 chill hours, 17.0 chill units, and 0.40 chill portions per year calculated with the T(t) °C, 0°C °C, Utah, and Dynamic models, respectively. However, whether this decrease in chill values was statistically significant or not depended on the chill model used. This study did not investigate the cause of the observed historical trends in temperature and chill accumulation. Still, if the trends continue, they could significantly impact the future of the temperate fruit tree industry in the state.
基金supported by the National Council for Scientific and Technological and Development (CNPq) (Process number141302/2018-6)。
文摘Zeyheria tuberculosa(Vell.)Bureau ex Verl.is among the Brazilian flora threatened with extinction.It has high-quality wood and can be used to recover herbicidecontaminated areas.However,abiotic stresses can harm seed germination and seedling development under adverse conditions and need to be understood to improve autochthonous or indigenous biodiversity conservation and strengthen reforestation projects.This study evaluated the effects of temperature,water and saline stress on Z.tuberculosa seed germination and water stress on seedling growth.Three laboratory experiments evaluated germination under:(1)different temperatures(20,25,30,35 and 40℃);(2)different water potentials simulated with polyethylene glycol(PEG6000)at 25 and 30℃;and,(3)different osmotic potentials simulated with NaCl at 25 and 30℃.In addition,a greenhouse experiment subjected seedlings to five water regimes(20%,35%,50%,65%and 80%of maximum substrate water holding capacity).In the laboratory,seedling biometry and germination were evaluated,while physiological and morphological parameters were assessed in the greenhouse.Physiological potential of seeds increased at 25 and 30℃.Germination and vigor decreased as water and saline stresses increased.Germination tolerance thresholds for water and salt stresses were-0.6 and-0.4 MPa,respectively.In the greenhouse,the most restrictive water regimes reduced seedling physiological and morphological parameters.Seedling development was compromised at moisture levels below50%field capacity.
文摘The study was designed to investigate into the level of cassava commercialization, extent of gender effects and other factors on household commercialization index （HCI） of cassava in both rural and peri-urban areas of Rivers State, Nigeria. The study used a stratified random sampling technique to select 50 cassava farmers each from Etche and Ekwerre LGAs of the state （i.e. 100 farmers in all）. A set of structured questionnaire and interview schedule was used to retrieve information from the farmers. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, Chow test and truncated regression analysis model based on Maximum Likelihood derived from Censored Normal or TOBIT approach. It was found that significant difference exist in the HC1 of rural farmers （49%） and peri-urban （40%）. The drivers of HCI varied across the areas but on the whole it was noted that gender, farm size, distance to market, labour, farming experience, price of cassava and access to market information signiftcantly influenced the probability of expanding the scale of commercialization of cassava in the area. It was recommended that government and interested bodies should give priority to women in designing and implementing cassava commercialization programmes policies that will improve farmers access to land and also help build on capacities of the farmers to commercialize such as access to extension service, establishment of market information service （MIS）, development of market and transport infrastructure were recommended too.
文摘Farmers are eager to know the various types of weeds in paddy fields.This will help in choosing the best weed management practice for effective weed control as well as reducing rice yield losses.The objectives of the study are to identify the weeds species affecting the rice field,to assess the composition of weeds species,to classify the weed species into different families,genera,species,common names,Hausa names,lifecycles,life forms,native/exotic species,propagation and uses,and to determine the dominant weed species.Random vegetation surveys were conducted.Weeds observed were photographed,and prepared as herbarium specimens.Standard key manuals and checklists were utilized for weed identification and later organized using the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group(APG)classification system.A total number of 72 plants species distributed within 16 families and 50 genera were inventoried.The annuals(66.67%)were the dominant weed followed by perennials(33.33%)while biennials were the least.The broad leaves were the dominant weed(44.61%)identified followed by Poaceae(27.7%)and Sedges(11.11%).Results obtained from this study could be useful in choosing the best management practice and in making a decision on the choice of herbicides and directing research towards improved weed control measures.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2022YFD1000105)the Key R&D Program of Shandong Province,China(2021CXGC010804)+5 种基金the Taishan Scholars Project,China(202211275)the Youth Found of Shandong Natural Science Foundation,China(ZR2021QC163)the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province,China(ZR2020MC094)the Strategic Academic Leadership Program“Priority 2030”of the Kazan Federal University,Russiathe RUDN University Strategic Academic Leadership Program,Chinathe 2022 High-level Talent Innovation and Entrepreneurship(Platform)Project of Linyi,China。
文摘Arbuscular mycorrhizae(AM)fungi form symbiotic associations with plant roots,providing nutritional benefits and promoting plant growth and defenses against various stresses.Metabolic changes in the roots during AM fungal colonization are key to understanding the development and maintenance of these symbioses.Here,we investigated metabolic changes in the roots of peanut(Arachis hypogaea L.)plants during the colonization and development of AM symbiosis,and compared them to uncolonized roots.The primary changes during the initial stage of AM colonization were in the contents and compositions of phenylpropanoid and flavonoid compounds.These compounds function in signaling pathways that regulate recognition,interactions,and pre-colonization between roots and AM fungi.Flavonoid compounds decreased by 25%when the symbiosis was fully established compared to the initial colonization stage.After AM symbiosis was established,general metabolism strongly shifted toward the formation of lipids,amino acids,carboxylic acids,and carbohydrates.Lipid compounds increased by 8.5%from the pre-symbiotic stage to well-established symbiosis.Lyso-phosphatidylcholines,which are signaling compounds,were only present in AM roots,and decreased in content after the symbiosis was established.In the initial stage of AM establishment,the content of salicylic acid increased two-fold,whereas jasmonic acid and abscisic acid decreased compared to uncolonized roots.The jasmonic acid content decreased in roots after the symbiosis was well established.AM symbiosis was associated with high levels of calcium,magnesium,and D-(+)-mannose,which stimulated seedling growth.Overall,specific metabolites that favor the establishment of AM symbiosis were common in the roots,primarily during early colonization,whereas general metabolism was strongly altered when AM symbiosis was well-established.In conclusion,specialized metabolites function as signaling compounds to establish AM symbiosis.These compounds are no longer produced after the symbiosis between the roots and AM becomes fully established.
文摘Crop production in semiarid regions is always challenging because of the high variability of amount and distribution of precipitation.These regions become more important each year, however, because the rapidly increasing and more prosperous world population seeks greater consumption of animal products（meat, milk and eggs） that requires additional grain to that consumed directly.The dry areas of the developing world where approximately 40% of the world population lives comprise about 40% of the earth＇s land area.Crop production, particularly cereal grains, must increase in these areas to meet these growing demands.Grain yield of cereal crops is a function of the amount of water used for evapotranspiration（ET）, the portion of ET used for transpiration（T）, the units of water as T to produce 1 unit of biomass, and the harvest index（HI）.The most important factor is the amount of evapotranspiration not only because it is closely proportional to grain yield, but because it tends to also make the other factors more favorable.Therefore, even small increases in ET can be significant.Strategies for manipulating soil and plant conditions for increasing ET, and how additional ET affects the other factors, are discussed for water deficient areas.The use of crop residues as mulch is highly beneficial but often insufficient in dryland regions or is required for animal feed and fuel.Plastic mulch, mainly restricted to China, has significantly increased grain yields in dryland areas by decreasing evaporation from the soil surface.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.40571094 and 40271074)the Northwest Sci-Technology University of Agriculture and Forestry (No.01140301).
文摘A study was conducted in the forest-steppe region of the Loess Plateau to provide insight into the factors affecting the process of vegetation establishment,and to provide recommendations for the selection of indigenous species in order to speed up the succession process and to allow the establishment of vegetation more resistant to soil erosion.Four distinctive vegetation types were identified,and their distribution was affected not only by the time since abandonment but also by other environmental factors,mainly soil water and total P in the upper soil layers.One of the vegetation types,dominated by Artemisia scoparia,formed the early successional stage after abandonment while the other three types formed later successional stages with their distribution determined by the soil water content and total P.It can be concluded that the selection of appropriate species for introduction to accelerate succession should be determined by the local conditions and especially the total P concentration and soil water content.
基金supported by the National Natural Sci-ence Foundation of China (30771505)the projects of Shanghai Science and Technology Commission,China (07DZ12043)
文摘A tremendous amount of imported fresh fruits has been delivered to Shanghai markets, increasing the risk of invasion by harmful plant pathogens. Therefore, it is important to establish an effective detection and supervision system to survey the outbreak of the market diseases of the imported fruits during marketing. The samples were regularly surveyed in different markets to examine varieties, prices, localities, selling conditions, and diseases of the imported fruits from 2004 to 2008. The survey showed that 58 species of 30 different fruits were imported to Shanghai from 16 countries with more expensive price. The larger products were bananas, grapes, apples, and oranges. During the investigation, we found that the imported fruits frequently brought about the relatively serious market diseases. On the basis of morphology and the nuclear internal transcribed spacer （ITS） of ribosomal DNA （rDNA） analysis, 151 isolates of 15 fungi genera, which shown to be pathogenic after the inoculation assay, were finally identified. Among the identified fungi, Alternaria was the most frequent one with the highest detection rate （47.68%）, followed by Penicillium （14.57%） and Fusarium （11.92%）, respectively. Additionally, Pestalotiopsis microspora （detected in grapes Red-Globe coming from the USA） and Botrytis sp. （detected in black-plums coming from the USA） were first reported in China market. The present study summarized the selling situation of the imported fruits in Shanghai markets and constructed a library of the pathogens detected in the imported fruits during the selling period. The results obtained are useful to offer technical parameters for Chinese quarantine in order to prevent an invasion of the foreign harmful micro-organisms.
基金supported by the research grant (Grant No.R2556B036) from Naresuan University, Thailand
文摘The floral-dip transformation, the simplest technique, is no requirement of tissue culture procedure, and can directly transfer the interest gene into plant reproductive cells. It has been successfully applied to various plant species. In this study, the optimal conditions of a floral-dip method for production of transgenic rice variety RD41 were explored. The simple and effective inoculation medium was composed of Murashige and Skoog(MS) medium, 5% sucrose, 44 nmol/L benzylaminopurine, and 0.075% surfactant Tween-20 with pH 5.7. The transformation efficiencies of Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains AGL1 and EHA105 were compared with the Agrobacterium density at OD_(600) = 0.8–1.0 and the co-cultivation at 25 ℃ for 48 h. A. tumefaciens strain EHA105 gave slightly higher transformation efficiency than AGL1, with statistically non-significant difference. The floral-drop transformation using the optimal floral-dip conditions showed higher transformation efficiency than the floral-dip method, but the dropped flowers turned brown and died within 2 d. Production of transgenic rice variety RD41 by the floral-dip method was achieved using A. tumefaciens strain EHA105 with the optimal conditions. Screening for the gus A gene by PCR using the gus A specific primers in the T_0 lines, there were 4 transgenic lines from 286 T_0 lines(1.4% transformation efficiency). However, histochemical glucuronidase(GUS) assay demonstrated that only three of four transgenic lines exhibited gus A expression. These results indicated that floral-dip transformation is a potential tool for production of the transgenic rice, which can be used for molecular breeding via genetic engineering in the future.
基金The Spanish Ministry of Education and Science, Project CTM2005-04809/TECNO, financially supported this research
文摘This study examined the ability of the white lupin to remove mercury （Hg） from a hydroponic system （Hg concentrations 0, 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 μmol/L） and from soil in pots and lysimeters （total Hg concentration （19.2 ± 1.9） mg/kg availability 0.07%, and （28.9 ± 0.4） mg/kg availability 0.09%, respectively）, and investigated the accumulation and distribution of Hg in different parts of the plant. White lupin roots efficiently took up Hg, but its translocation to the harvestable parts of the plant was low. The Hg concentration in the seeds posed no risk to human health according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, but the shoots should not be used as fodder for livestock, at least when unmixed with other fodder crops. The accumulation of Hg in the hydroponically-grown plants was linear over the concentration range tested. The amount of Hg retained in the roots, relative to the shoots, was almost constant irrespective of Hg dose （90%）. In the soil experiments, Hg accumulation increased with exposure time and was the greater in the lysimeter than in the pot experiments. Although Hg removal was the greater in the hydroponic system, revealing the potential of the white lupin to extract Hg, bioaccumulation was the greatest in the lysimeter-grown plants; the latter system more likely reflects the true behaviour of white lupin in the field when Hg availability is a factor that limits Hg removal. The present results suggest that the white lupin could be used in long-term soil reclamation strategies that include the goal of profitable land use in Hg-polluted areas.
文摘Soil moisture monitoring is one of the methods that farmers can use for irrigation scheduling. Many sensor types and data logging systems have been developed for this purpose over the years, but their widespread adoption in practical irrigation scheduling is still limited due to a variety of factors. Important factors limiting adoption of soil moisture sensing technology by farmers include high cost and difficulties in timely data collection and interpretation. Recent developments in open source microcontrollers (such as Arduino), wireless communication, and Internet-of-Things (IoT) technologies offer opportunities for reducing cost and facilitating timely data collection, visualization, and interpretation for farmers. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop and test a low-cost IoT system for soil moisture monitoring using Watermark 200SS sensors. The system uses Arduino-based microcontrollers and data from the field sensors (End Nodes) are communicated wirelessly using LoRa radios to a receiver (Coordinator), which connects to the Internet via WiFi and sends the data to an open-source website (ThingSpeak.com) where the data can be visualized and further analyzed using Matlab. The system was successfully tested under field conditions by installing Watermark sensors at four depths in a wheat field. The system described here could contribute to widespread adoption of easy-to-use and affordable moisture sensing technologies among farmers.
文摘Soil salinization is one of the most predominant environmental hazards responsible for agricultural land degradation,especially in the arid and semi-arid regions.An accurate spatial prediction and modeling of soil salinity in agricultural land are so important for farmers and decision-makers to develop the appropriate mechanisms to prevent the loss of fertile soil and increase crop production.El Outaya plain is marked by soil salinity increases due to the excessive use of poor groundwater quality for irrigation.This study aims to compare the performance of simple kriging,cokriging(SCOK),multilayer perceptron neural networks(MLP-NN),and support vector machines(SVM)in the prediction of topsoil and subsoil salinity.The field covariates including geochemical properties of irrigation groundwater and physical properties of soil and environmental covariates including digital elevation model and remote sensing derivatives were used as input candidates to SCOK,MLP-NN,and SVM.The optimal input combination was determined using multiple linear stepwise regression(MLSR).The results revealed that the SCOK using field covariates including water electrical conductivity(ECw)and sand percentage(sand%),and environmental covariates including land surface temperature(LST),topographic wetness index(TWI),and elevation could significantly increase the accuracy of soil salinity spatial prediction.The comparison of the prediction accuracy of the different modeling techniques using the Taylor diagram indicated that MLP-NN using LST,TWI,and elevation as inputs were more accurate in predicting the topsoil salinity[ECs(TS)]with a mean absolute error(MAE)of 0.43,root mean square error(RMSE)of 0.6 and correlation coefficient of 0.946.MLP-NN using ECw and sand%as inputs were more accurate in predicting the subsoil salinity[ECs(SS)]with MAE of 0.38,RMSE of0.6,and R of 0.968.
基金This work has been funded by the Academy of Finland grants for P.E.(11390921310318)Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation for Y.Z.and Doctoral Programme in Plant Sciences for Y.Z.and T.Z.
文摘Inflorescences in the Asteraceae plant family,flower heads,or capitula,mimic single flowers but are highly compressed structures composed of multiple flowers.This transference of a flower-like appearance into an inflorescence level is considered as the key innovation for the rapid tribal radiation of Asteraceae.Recent molecular data indicate that Asteraceae flower heads resemble single flowers not only morphologically but also at molecular level.We summarize this data giving examples of how rewiring of conserved floral regulators have led to evolution of morphological innovations in Asteraceae.Functional diversification of the highly conserved flower meristem identity regulator LEAFY has shown a major role in the evolution of the capitulum architecture.Furthermore,gene duplication and subsequent sub-and neofunctionalization of SEPALLATA-and CYCLOIDEA-like genes in Asteraceae have been shown to contribute to meristem determinacy,as well as flower type differentiation—key traits that specify this large family.Future challenge is to integrate genomic,as well as evolutionary developmental studies in a wider selection of Asteraceae species to understand the detailed gene regulatory networks behind the elaborate inflorescence architecture,and to promote our understanding of how changes in regulatory mechanisms shape development.
基金supported by the National Forestry Public Welfare Industry Research Project (grant no. 201504411)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant nos. 31570447 and 31300524)。
文摘Background: Soil and vegetation have a direct impact on the process and direction of plant community succession, and determine the structure, function, and productivity of ecosystems. However, little is known about the synergistic influence of soil physicochemical properties and vegetation features on vegetation restoration. The aim of this study was to investigate the co-evolution of soil physicochemical properties and vegetation features in the process of vegetation restoration, and to distinguish the primary and secondary relationships between soil and vegetation in their collaborative effects on promoting vegetation restoration in a subtropical area of China.Methods: Soil samples were collected to 40 cm in four distinct plant communities along a restoration gradient from herb(4–5 years), to shrub(11–12 years), to Pinus massoniana coniferous and broadleaved mixed forest(45–46 years), and to evergreen broadleaved forest(old growth forest). Measurements were taken of the soil physicochemical properties and Shannon–Wiener index(SD), diameter at breast height(DBH), height(H), and biomass. Principal component analysis, linear function analysis, and variation partitioning analysis were then performed to prioritize the relative importance of the leading factors affecting vegetation restoration.Results: Soil physicochemical properties and vegetation features showed a significant trend of improvement across the vegetation restoration gradient, reflected mainly in the high response rates of soil organic carbon(SOC)(140.76%), total nitrogen(TN)(222.48%), total phosphorus(TP)(59.54%), alkaline hydrolysis nitrogen(AN)(544.65%),available phosphorus(AP)(53.28%), species diversity(86.3%), biomass(2906.52%), DBH(128.11%), and H(596.97%).The soil properties(pH, SOC, TN, AN, and TP) and vegetation features(biomass, DBH, and H) had a clear coevolutionary relationship over the course of restoration. The synergistic interaction between soil properties and vegetation features had the greatest effect on biomass(55.55%–72.37%), and the soil properties contributed secondarily(3.30%–31.44%). The main impact factors of biomass varied with the restoration periods.Conclusions: In the process of vegetation restoration, soil and vegetation promoted each other. Vegetation restoration was the cumulative result of changes in soil fertility and vegetation features.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31671640)the Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest,China(201503121-11)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2016YFD0300205-01)
文摘Leguminous crops play a vital role in enhancing crop yield and improving soil fertility. Therefore, it can be used as an organic N source for improving soil fertility. The purpose of this study was to(i) quantify the amounts of N derived from rhizodeposition, root and above-ground biomass of peanut residue in comparison with wheat and(ii) estimate the effect of the residual N on the wheat-growing season in the subsequent year. The plants of peanut and wheat were stem fed with 15 N urea using the cotton-wick method at the Wuqiao Station of China Agricultural University in 2014. The experiment consisted of four residue-returning strategies in a randomized complete-block design:(i) no return of crop residue(CR0);(ii) return of above-ground biomass of peanut crop(CR1);(iii) return of peanut root biomass(CR2); and(iv) return of all residue of the whole peanut plant(CR3). The 31.5 and 21% of the labeled 15 N isotope were accumulated in the above-ground tissues(leaves and stems) of peanuts and wheat, respectively. N rhizodeposition of peanuts and wheat accounted for 14.91 and 3.61% of the BG15 N, respectively. The 15 N from the below-ground 15 N-labeled of peanuts were supplied 11.3, 5.9, 13.5, and 6.1% of in the CR0, CR1, CR2, and CR3 treatments, respectively. Peanut straw contributes a significant proportion of N to the soil through the decomposition of plant residues and N rhizodeposition. With the current production level on the NCP, it is estimated that peanut straw can potentially replace 104 500 tons of synthetic N fertilizer per year. The inclusion of peanut in rotation with cereal can significantly reduce the use of N fertilizer and enhance the system sustainability.
基金supported by the Center of Excellence on Agricultural Biotechnology,Science and Technology Postgraduate Education and Research Development Office,Office of Higher Education Commission,Ministry of Education(AG-BIO/PERDO-CHE)Agricultural Research Development Agency(ARDA)National Science and Technology Development Agency in Thailand
文摘A collection of 167 Thai and exotic rice accessions was subjected for evaluation of genetic diversity and assessment of relationship by simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Among a total of 49 SSR markers, 13 markers distributing over 12 rice chromosomes showed clear polymorphic band patterns, and they were selected for genetic assessment. A total of 110 alleles were detected with an average of 8.46 alleles per locus. The averages of gene diversity, heterozygosity and polymorphic information content were 0.59, 0.02 and 0.56, respectively. The unweighted-pair group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) clustering analysis was performed for genetic distance, and phylogenetic tree was constructed. The result showed that this rice collection was divided into two major groups, classified as japonica and indica subspecies. Within the japonica group, temperate japonica and tropical japonica subgroups can be clearly separated. Three-dimensional principal component analysis projection and model-based population structure analysis showed consistent clustering results with two major groups of UPGMA analysis, supporting the classification of japonica and indica subspecies. The indica allelic frequency was also investigated to provide an indicative guide for breeders to overcome the practical problems on sterility of inter-subspecies hybrid offspring. This rice collection and information obtained in this study will be useful for rice breeding programs.
基金funded by AAFC Growing forward program(GF2#1542).
文摘Background:This study was conducted to evaluate the feed nutritional value of brewers’spent grain(BSG)residue resulting from protease aided protein removal.The nutritional value was measured as nutrient content,gas production,nutrient digestibility and fermentation characteristics in batch culture.Results:Protein extraction process decreased content of crude protein but concentrated the neutral detergent fibre(NDF)and ferulic acid in BSG residue.The changes in the chemical composition of BSG residue varied with enzyme and enzyme dosage.Digestibility of dry matter(DMD)and NDF of residue differed among proteases.Increasing alcalase dosage linearly decreased DMD,whereas,the DMD linearly increased as everlase or flavourzyme dosage increased.Compared with BSG,the DMD,gas production and fermentation acid concentration of BSG residues were lower,whereas NDF digestibility was higher.Conclusions:The substantially increased NDF content and improved in vitro NDF digestibility due to protease hydrolysis suggest that BSG residue can be potentially exploited as a viable fibre source for ruminant feeding.
