Gama-aminobutyric acid accumulation in Elsholtzia splendens in response to copper toxicity

A solution with different Cu supply levels was cultured to investigate gama-aminobutyric acid (GABA) accumulation in Elsholtzia splendens, a native Chinese Cu-tolerant and accumulating plant species. Increasing Cu from 0.25 to 500 μmol/L significantly enhanced levels of GABA and histidine (His), but considerably decreased levels of aspartate (Asp) and glutamate (Glu) in the leaves. The leaf Asp level negatively correlated with leaf Cu level, while leaf GABA level positively correlated with leaf Cu level. The leaf Glu level negatively correlated with leaf GABA level in Elsholtzia splendens. The depletion of leaf Glu may be related to the enhanced synthesis of leaf GABA under Cu stress.     

Dissipation of pencycuron in rice plant

INTRODUCTION Pencycuron [1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-1-cyclopentyl- 3-phenylurea], a relatively new non-systemic protec-tive fungicide for controlling sheath blight (Rhizoc-tonia solani) of rice (Sylvanie and Cornis, 1989; Tomlin, 1997), is expected to be used widely in ag-ricultural production particularly in Asia. However, information on the dissipation pattern of pencycuron in rice plant is lacking. Little information on the en-vironmental fate of pencycuron has been published although there …     

Availability and toxicity of Fe(II) and Fe(III) in Caco-2 cells

The objective of the present study was to compare the toxicity and availability of Fe(II) and Fe(III) to Caco-2 cells. Cellular damage was studied by measuring cell proliferation and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. The activities of two major antioxidative enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)] and differentiation marker (alkaline phosphatase) were determined after the cells were exposed to different levels of iron salts. The cellular iron concentration was investigated to evaluate iron bioavailability. The results show that iron uptake of the cells treated with Fe(II) is significantly higher than that of the cells treated with Fe(III) (P<0.05). Fe(II) at a concentration >1.5 mmol/L was found to be more effective in reducing cellular viability than Fe(III). LDH release investigation suggests that Fe(II) can reduce stability of the cell membrane. The activities of SOD and GPx of the cells treated with Fe(II) were higher than those of the cells treated with Fe(III), although both of them increased with raising iron supply levels. The results indicate that both Fe(II) and Fe(III) could reduce the cellular antioxidase gene expression at high levels. Project supported by the International Cooperative Project from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (No. 2006DFA31030), the Bureau of Science and Technology of Zhejiang Province (No. 2006C32019) and HarvestPlus-China (No. 8022), and the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University of China (No. IRT0536)     

Studies on nutrient uptake of rice and characteristics of soil microorganisms in a long-term fertilization experiments for irrigated rice

The ecosystem characteristics of soil microorganism and the nutrient uptake of irrigated rice were investigated in a split-block experiment with different fertilization treatments, including control (no fertilizer application), PK, NK, NP, NPK fertilization, in the main block, and conventional rice and hybrid rice comparison, in the sub block. Average data of five treatments in five years indicated that the indigenous N supply (INS) capacity     

Science Letters:Gama-aminobiityric acid accumulation in Elsholtzia splendens in response to copper toxicity

A solution with different Cu supply levels was cultured to investigate gama-aminobutyric acid (GABA) accumulation in Elsholtzia splendens, a native Chinese Cu-tolerant and accumulating plant species. Increasing Cu from 0.25 to 500 μmol/L significantly enhanced levels of GABA and histidine (His), but     

Differential response of root morphology to potassium deficient stress among rice genotypes varying in potassium efficiency

Disparity in the root morphology of six rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes varying in potassium (K) efficiency was studied with three K levels: 5 mg/L (low),10 mg/L (moderate) and 40 mg/L (adequate) in hydroponic culture.Morphological parameters included root length,surface area,volume and count of lateral roots,as well as fine (diameter<0.2 mm) and thick (diameter>0.2 mm) roots.The results indicate that the root growth of all genotypes was reduced under low K,but moderate K deficiency increased the root length of the efficient genotypes.At deficient and moderate K levels,all the efficient rice genotypes developed more fine roots (diameter<0.2 mm) than the inefficient ones.Both fine root count and root surface area were found to be the best parameters to portray K stress in rice.In accordance with the root morphology,higher K concentrations were noted in shoots of the efficient genotypes when grown at moderate and deficient K levels,indicating that root morphology parameters are involved in root uptake for K and in the translocation of K up to shoots.K deficiency affected not only the root morphology,but also the root ultra-structure.The roots of high-efficient genotypes had stronger tolerance to K deficient stress for root membrane damage,and could maintain the developed root architecture to adapt to the low K growth medium.     

Growth and yield of rice as affected by transplanting dates and seedlings per hill under high temperature of Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan

Studies were initiated for two consecutive years to find out the effect of time of transplanting and seedlings hill^-l on the productivity of rice in Dera Ismail Khan district of North West Frontier Province （NWFP）, Pakistan. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with split plot arrangements. Main plots consisted of four transplanting dates viz. 20th and 27th of June and 4th and 1 lth of July while sub-plots contained 1, 2, 3 or 4 seedlings hill^-1. Among transplanting dates, June 20th planted crop gave highest paddy yield and net return with I seedling hill^-1. It explains that the use of more seedlings hill^-1 not only adds to cost but is also a mere wastage of natural resources. Based on research findings, we conclude that the use of I seedling hill^-1 is most appropriate for timely sowing otherwise 4 seedlings hill^-1 should be used to compensate for the yield gap in late transplanted rice.     

乐果和三唑磷对黑眶蟾蜍蝌蚪的急性毒性研究

采用标准水生生物毒性检测法测定了不同浓度下有机磷农药乐果和三唑磷对黑眶蟾蜍蝌蚪的急性毒性．结果表明,黑眶蟾蜍蝌蚪的死亡率随着乐果和三唑磷浓度的升高而增加,并呈显著的相关关系;在水温21～25℃条件下,乐果对黑眶蟾蜍蝌蚪48h、72h和96h的半致死浓度（LC50）分别为65．5mg／L、61．0mg／L和56．9mg／L,三唑磷对黑眶蟾蜍蝌蚪48h、72h和96h的半致死浓度（LC50）分别为3．07mg／L、2．34mg／L和1．70mg／L．显示了乐果和三唑磷对黑眶蟾蜍蝌蚪具有一定的危害作用．     

两种常见农药对大弹涂鱼幼鱼的急性毒性研究

采用静态换水法检测了不同浓度下杀虫剂敌百虫和除草剂草甘膦对大弹涂鱼幼鱼的急性毒性．结果表明,大弹涂鱼幼鱼的死亡率随着农药浓度的升高而增加,并呈显著的相关关系;在水温24-28℃条件下,敌百虫对大弹涂鱼幼鱼48h和96h的半致死浓度（LC50）分别为1．25me4,和1．17mg/L,革甘膦对大弹涂鱼幼鱼48h和96h—LC50分别为335．47mg／L和308．55mg／L．显示了敌百虫和草甘膦对大弹涂鱼幼鱼具有一定潜在危害性．     

Isolation and physiological characteristics of a premature senescence mutant in rice （Oryza sativa L.）

A rice pse(t) (premature senescence, tentatively) mutant line, was isolated from 4500 independent T-DNA inserted transgenic lines. The symptoms of premature senescence appeared more severely than those of the control plants (Zhonghua 11,japonica) at the last development stage. To characterize the mutant and provide basic information on the candidate genes by mapping to a physical region of 220-kb, experiments were carried out in two phytotrons under controlled temperature of 24 ℃ and28 ℃, respectively. The content of chlorophyll, soluble protein and MDA (malondialdehyde), net photosynthesis, the antioxidant enzyme activities of SOD (superoxide dismuase) (EC 1.15.1.1) and POD (peroxidase) (EC 1.11.1.7) and the peptidase activities of leaves were measured from top to bottom according to the leaf positions at the flowering stage. Compared with the control plant,the mutant showed the following characteristics: (1) Higher net photosynthesis rate (Pn) appeared in the 1 st and 2nd leaves, contents of chlorophyll and soluble protein were also higher in the 1 st leaf; (2) The activities of SOD, POD and peptidase were higher according to the leaf position from top to bottom; (3) The symptom of premature senescence was accelerated in the mutant at 28℃treatment. The MDA content and the SOD and POD activities between the 24 ℃ and 28 ℃ treatment mutants were not significantly different. Content of chlorophyll and soluble protein of leaves mutant decreased rapidly at 28 ℃ treatment. The results show that pse(t) is sensitive to high temperature. The probable function of PSE(T) is discussed.     

Isolation and physiological characteristics of a premature senescence mutant in rice(Oryza sativa L.)

INTRODUCTION Leaf senescence is a kind of programmed cell death (PCD) in plants that is highly controlled by a genetically programmed process involving degrada-tion of cellular structures, decline of photosynthesis massive generation of active oxygen species (AOS) and mobilization of nutrients (Nam, 1997; Lim et al.,2003). Many environmental factors have been shown to play a role in causing the photosynthetic decline to lead to premature senescence. Leaves exposed to ultraviolet radia…     

Genetic basis of heterosis and inbreeding depression in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The genetic basis of heterosis was studied through mid-parent, standard variety and better parent for 11 quantitative traits in 17 parental lines and their 10 selected hybrids in rice (Oryza sativa L.). The characters were plant height, days to flag leaf initiation, days to first panicle initiation, days to 100% flowering, panicle length, flag leaf length, days to maturity, number of fertile spikelet/panicle, number of effective tillers/hill, grain yield/10-hill, and 1000-grain weight. In general the hybrids performed significantly better than the respective parents. Significant heterosis was observed for most of the studied characters. Among the 10 hybrids, four hybrids viz., 17A×45R, 25A×37R, 27A×39R, 31A×47R, and 35A×47R showed highest heterosis in 10-hill grain yield/10-hill. Inbreeding depression of F2 progeny was also studied for 11 characters of 10 hybrids. Both positive and negative inbreeding depression were found in many crosses for the studied characters, but none was found significant. Selection of good parents was found to be the most important for developing high yielding hybrid rice varieties.     

Genetic basis of heterosis and inbreeding depression in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

INTRODUCTIONAlthoughriceisanaturallyself-pollinatedcrop,strongheterosisisobservedintheirF1hybrids.HeterosisorhybridvigorismanifestedasimprovedperformanceforF1hybridsgeneratedbycrossingtwoinbredparents.Heterosiscanbedefinedquan-titativelyasanupwarddeviationofthemid-parent,basedonthemeanvaluesofthetwoparents(JohnsonandHutchinson,1993).Heterosismaybepositiveornegative.Dependinguponbreedingob-jectives,bothpositiveandnegativeheterosisareusefulforcropimprovement.Ingeneral,positiveheterosisisd…     

Characterization of high-yield performance as affected by genotype and environment in rice

We characterized yield-relevant characters and their variations over genotypes and environments (locations and years) by examining two rice varieties (9746 and Jinfeng) with high yield potential.9746 and Jinfeng were planted in two locations of Shanghai,China,during 2005 and 2006.The results show that there was a large variation in grain yield between locations and years.The realization of high yield potential for the two types of rice was closely related to the improved sink size,such as more panicles per square meter or grains per panicle.Stem and leaf biomasses were mainly accumulated from tillering stage to heading stage,and showed slow decline during grain filling.Meanwhile,some photosynthetic characters including net photosynthesis rate (Pn),leaf area index (LAI),specific leaf area (SLA),fluorescence parameter (maximum quantum yield of PSII,Fv/Fm),chlorophyll content (expressed as SPAD value),as well as nutrient (N,P,K) uptake were also measured to determine their variations over genotypes and environments and their relationships with grain yield.Although there were significant differences between years or locations for most measurements,SLA at tillering and heading stages,Fv/Fm and LAI at heading stage,stem biomass at heading and maturity stages,and leaf nitrogen concentration at tillering and heading stages remained little changed,indicating their pos-sible applications as selectable characters in breeding programs.It was also found that stem nitrogen accumulation at tillering stage is one of the most important and stable traits for high yield formation.     

Seminal, adventitious and lateral root growth and physiological responses in rice to upland conditions

INTRODUCTIONOryzasativaL .riceisasemi aquaticspe ciesadaptedtoavarietyofclimates.Uplandricedependsmainlyonrainfall,isoftenexposedtodrought,andhasdevelopeddroughtresistanttraits.Aprincipalmechanismbywhichriceadaptstowaterdeficiencyisthroughtheposses sionof…     

Seminal,adventitious and lateral root growth and physiological responses in rice to upland conditions

Understanding the growth and physiological responses of rice to upland conditions would be helpful for designing treatments to improve the tolerance of rice under a rainfed system. The objective of this study was to investigate the initiation, elongation and membrane stability of seminal, lateral and adventitious roots of upland rice after 9-d upland condition treatment. Compared with control roots under waterlogged conditions, upland water deficiency conditions favor seminal and lateral root growth over adventitious root growth by accelerating seminal root elongation, promoting lateral root initiation and elongation, and reducing the elongation and number of adventitious roots. Enhanced total root number and length resulted in increase of total root dry weight and thereby increasing the root-to-shoot ratio. Organic compound leakage from seminal root tips and adventitious roots increased progressively to some extent with upland culture duration, while significant increases in semial root tips were the consequence of loss of membrane integrity caused by the upland-condition enhanced growth. Project (No. G1999011700) supported by National Key Basic Research Special (863) Foundation of China     

水稻穗内不同粒位间的矿质营养变化差异及其与籽粒植酸含量的关系

研究目的：阐明水稻穗内不同粒位间的主要矿质营养元素和植酸含量差异、粒位分布特点及其与品种穗型间的联系。 创新要点：将水稻品种的穗型变化与稻米营养品质结合起来,从水稻穗粒结构角度,对同一稻穗内不同籽粒间的主要矿质营养元素与植酸含量差异、粒位分布特点及其与水稻品种穗型间的相互关系进行了较系统的探讨分析。 研究方法：以典型的直立穗型和弯穗型粳稻品种为材料,通过对两类水稻品种在相同栽培条件下籽粒矿质营养元素和植酸含量的测定分析,并依据水稻籽粒在稻穗上的着生部位,将同一稻穗内的不同籽粒划分为六个粒位,比较分析了两类品种同一稻穗内不同部位间矿质营养元素和植酸含量的差异变化及其粒位分布特点。 重要结论：水稻穗型虽然与品种问的籽粒矿质营养元素和植酸含量高低没有直接关系,但对其穗内不同籽粒间的主要矿质营养元素和植酸含量存在着较大影响;与稻穗中下部的弱势粒相比,同一稻穗内着生在稻穗上中部的强势粒通常具有相对较高的锌、铁矿质元素含量,而籽粒植酸含量和植酸,锌（铁）摩尔比则有所降低,稻米营养品质也相对较好;不同矿质营养元素相比,粒位效应对铁矿质营养的影响作用要略大于对钙和锌营养元素含量。     

Assessing potential dietary toxicity of heavy metals in selected vegetables and food crops

Heavy metals, such as cadmium, copper, lead, chromium and mercury, are important environmental pollutants, particularly in areas with high anthropogenic pressure. Their presence in the atmosphere, soil and water, even in traces can cause serious problems to all organisms, and heavy metal bioaccumulation in the food chain especially can be highly dangerous to human health. Heavy metals enter the human body mainly through two routes namely： inhalation and ingestion, ingestion being the main route of exposure to these elements in human population. Heavy metals intake by human populations through food chain has been reported in many countries. Soil threshold for heavy metal toxicity is an important factor affecting soil environmental capacity of heavy metal and determines heavy metal cumulative loading limits. For soil-plant system, heavy metal toxicity threshold is the highest permissible content in the soil （total or bioavailable concentration） that does not pose any phytotoxic effects or heavy metals in the edible parts of the crops does not exceed food hygiene standards. Factors affecting the thresholds of dietary toxicity of heavy metal in soil-crop system include： soil type which includes soil pH, organic matter content, clay mineral and other soil chemical and biochemical properties; and crop species or cultivars regulated by genetic basis for heavy metal transport and accumulation in plants. In addition, the interactions of soil-plant root-microbes play important roles in regulating heavy metal movement from soil to the edible parts of crops. Agronomic practices such as fertilizer and water managements as well as crop rotation system can affect bioavailability and crop accumulation of heavy metals, thus influencing the thresholds for assessing dietary toxicity of heavy metals in the food chain. This paper reviews the phytotoxic effects and bioaccumulation of heavy metals in vegetables and food crops and assesses soil heavy metal thresholds for potential dietary toxicity.