Rapid in vitro propagation of medicinally important Aquilaria agallocha

Aquilaria agallocha can produce fragrant agarwood used for incense, traditional medicine and other products. An efficient plant regeneration system was established via organogenesis from shoots developed from seedlings ofAquilaria agallocha. Shoots generated many buds on MS medium supplemented with 1.3 μmol/L BA (6-benzylaminopurine) in the first 7 weeks, and the buds elongated on MS medium with 1.3 μmol/L BA+0.5 μmol/L NAA (naphthaleneacetic acid) in another 7 weeks, 2.3 shoots 2 cm in length per explant were obtained within 14 weeks. Plantlets were rooted on 1/2 MS medium after being immersed in 5 μmol/L NAA for 48 h, 96.7% of the roots grew up two weeks later. All plantlets that survived acclimatization grew well in the pots. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30070066) and the Science and Technology Project of Guangzhou City (No. 2003J1-C0241), China     

Role of jasmonic acid in improving tolerance of rapeseed (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis> L.) to Cd toxicity

The well-known detrimental effects of cadmium (Cd) on plants are chloroplast destruction, photosynthetic pigment inhibition, imbalance of essential plant nutrients, and membrane damage. Jasmonic acid (JA) is an alleviator against different stresses such as salinity and drought. However, the functional attributes of JA in plants such as the interactive effects of JA application and Cd on rapeseed in response to heavy metal stress remain unclear. JA at 50 μmol/L was observed in literature to have senescence effects in plants. In the present study, 25 μmol/L JA is observed to be a “stress ameliorating molecule” by improving the tolerance of rapeseed plants to Cd toxicity. JA reduces the Cd uptake in the leaves, thereby reducing membrane damage and malondialdehyde content and increasing the essential nutrient uptake. Furthermore, JA shields the chloroplast against the damaging effects of Cd, thereby increasing gas exchange and photosynthetic pigments. Moreover, JA modulates the antioxidant enzyme activity to strengthen the internal defense system. Our results demonstrate the function of JA in alleviating Cd toxicity and its underlying mechanism. Moreover, JA attenuates the damage of Cd to plants. This study enriches our knowledge regarding the use of and protection provided by JA in Cd stress.     

Accumulation of chromium by Commelina communis L. grown in solution with different concentrations of Cr and L-histidine

Hydroponic experiments conducted to examine the chromiun uptake by C. communis in the presence of different Cr concentrations (Cr6+ 100 and 200 mg/L, respectively) and free histidine supplementation (0.5 and 1.0 mol/L) showed that shoot and root growth of C. communis decreased greatly with increasing Cr concentrations in the medium; and that the species was a typical excluder since it accumulated high concentrations of Cr in roots but comparatively low concentrations in shoots. Chromium in shoots and roots of Cr24 -supplied plants ranged from 329-1880 and 3788-4240 mg/kg DW, respectively, while those of Cr24 -histidine-supplied plants ranged from 478 to 629 mg/kg and 4157-4303 mg/kg DW, respectively. With Cr present in the hydroponic solution, C. communis accumulated more Cr in its tissues. Increasing histidine application to the solution significantly increased chromium accumulation in the plant tissues but could not alter the accumulation pattern of plants although it induced a higher concentration of Cr in its shoots and roots. These features suggested that C. communis may serve as an alternative species in a constructed wetland for phytoextraction treatment of Cr-containing wastewater and for phytostabilization of Cr mining spoils.     

Synergistic interaction of NaCl and Cd on growth and photosynthetic parameters in soybean genotypes differing in salinity tolerance

The effects of salinity(50 mmol/L NaCl) and Cd(1 μmol/L CdCl2) as sole and combined on growth and photosyn-thetic parameters were studied using two soybean genotypes,Huachun 18 and NGB.The concentrations of Cd2 ,Zn2 ,Ca2 ,Mg2 ,K and Na were also determined in seeds and pods.Huachun 18 suffered a more serious decrease than NGB in net photosynthetic rate(Pn) in the treatments of salinity stress alone and combined stress(NaCl Cd),showing that it is relatively sensitive to salinity.The decrease in Pn caused by salt stress in Huachun 18 was mainly due to the reduced total chlorophyll content and photosynthetic efficiency(the ratio of variable fluorescence to maximal fluorescence,Fv/Fm),whereas the decease in NGB was mainly related to reduced stomatal conductance(Gs).The combined stress of both Na and Cd did not induce further decrease in photosynthesis and fluorescence in the two genotypes relative to salt or Cd stress alone.Greater change in the pod concentrations of Zn2 ,Ca2 ,Mg2 ,K and Na was detected under salt stress for Huachun 18 than for NGB.The results suggested that the interactive effect of NaCl-Cd on growth and nutrient uptake differs between the two soybean genotypes.     

Interaction of salinity and cadmium stresses on mineral nutrients,sodium, and cadmium accumulation in four barley genotypes

Interaction of salinity （NaCI） and cadmium （Cd） on growth, mineral nutrients, Na and Cd accumulation in four barley genotypes differing in salt tolerance was studied in a hydroponic experiment. Cd, NaCI and their combined stresses reduced Ca and Mg concentrations in roots and shoots, K concentration in shoots, increased K and Cu concentrations in roots relative to control, but had non-significant effect on micronutrients Cu, Fe and Mn concentrations in shoot. The three stresses reduced accumulation of most tested nutrients in both roots and shoots, except NaCI and NaCl＋Cd stresses for root K and shoot Cu accumulation in salt tolerant genotypes. The salt tolerant genotypes did not have higher nutrient concentration and accumulation than the sensitive ones when exposed to Cd and NaCI stresses. In conclusion, the affecting mechanism of Cd stress on nutrients was to some extent different from salinity stress, and the NaCl＋Cd stress was not equal to additional Cd and NaCI stresses, probably due to the different valence and competitive site of Na^＋ and Cd^2＋. NaCI addition in the Cd-containing medium caused remarkable reductions in both Cd concentration and accumulation, with the extent of reduction being also dependent on genotypes. The salt-tolerant genotypes had lower Na concentration than sensitive ones.     

Investigation on apoptosis of neuronal cells induced by Amyloid beta-Protein

Objective: To construct a PC12 cell strain with neuronal differentiation, and observe the apoptosis and pro-liferation activity effects induced these cells by Amyloid beta-Protein (Aβ-43). Methods: 1) PC12 cells in logarithmicgrowth phase were subcultured for 24 h. After the culture fluid was changed, the cells were treated with Rat-β-NGF andcultured for 9 days. 2) Neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells in logarithmic growth phase were divided into four groups:control group (0), experimental group (1), experimental group (2) and experimental group (3). The concentrations of Aβ inthe four groups were 0 μmol/L, 1.25 μ mol/L, 2.5 μ mol/L and 5 μmol/L, respectively. The cells were harvested at 24, 48 and72 h later and stained with AnnexinV-FITC/PI after centrifugation and washing. Then flow cytometry was conducted toexamine the apoptosis percentage. 3) NGF-induced PC12 cells were selected and Aβ with different concentrations wasadded. The final concentrations of Aβ were 0 μmol/L, 1.25 μmol/L, 2.5 μmol/L and 5 μ mol/L, respectively. After the cellswere incubated in an atmosphere of 5% CO2 at 37 ℃ in an incubator for 72 h, the OD values were examined. Results: 1)Neuronal differentiated PC 12 cell lines were successfully established. 2) Flow cytometric examination indicated that Aβ(1.25, 2.5, and 5.0 μmol/L) could effectively induce apoptosis of neuronal-differented cells at the 24 h, 48 h and 72 h timepoints. 3) Aβ (0-5.00 μ mol/L) had no obvious effect on proliferation or restraining of the neuronal differentiation of thePC 12 cells after a 72 h interacting process. Conclusion: This investigation revealed successful neuronal differentiation of thePC12 cell strain. The induction of apoptosis of the neurocytes by various concentrations of Aβ was observed and the in-fluence of Aβ on induced proliferation of PC 12 cells by Rat-β-NGF was revealed. This study -05 provide basis for futureresearch on the molecular cure of AD and interdiction of AD evolution.     

Influence of nitrogen and sulfur fertilization on quality of canola (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis> L.) under rainfed conditions

Field experiments were conducted at Cereal Crops Research Institute, Pirsabak, Nowshera, Pakistan, during winter 2003~2004 and 2004~2005 to evaluate the effect of nitrogen and sulfur levels and methods of nitrogen application on canola (Brassica napus L. cv. Bulbul-98) under rainfed conditions. Four levels of S (0, 10, 20, and 30 kg/ha) and three levels of N (40, 60, and 80 kg/ha) and a control treatment with both nutrients at zero level were included in the experiments. Sulfur levels were applied at sowing while N levels were applied by three methods (100% soil application, 90% soil 10% foliar application, and 80% soil 20% foliar application). The experiments were laid out in randomized complete block (RCB) design having four replications. Oil content increased significantly up to 20 kg S/ha but further increase in S level did not enhance oil content. Glucosinolate content increased from 13.6 to 24.6 μmol/g as S rate was increased from 0 to 30 kg/ha. Protein content increased from 22.4% to 23.2% as S rate was increased from 0 to 20 kg/ha. Oil content responded negatively to the increasing N levels. The highest N level resulted in the highest values for protein (23.5%) and glucosinolate (19.9 μmol/g) contents. Methods of N application had no significant impact on any parameters under study.     

Fiber optic biosensor of immobilized firefly luciferase

Luciferase from firefly lantern extract was immobilized on CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B. The kinetic properties of immobilized luciferase were extensively studied. TheK _m′ for D-luciferin is 11.9 μmol/L, the optimum pH and temperature for Sepharose-bound enzyme were 7.8 and 25°C respectively. A luminescence fiber optic biosensor, making use of immobilized crude luciferase, was developed for assay of ATP. The peak light intensity was linear with respect to ATP concentration in range of 10⁻⁹–10⁻⁵ mol/L. A biological application was also demonstrated with the determination of serum ATP from rats bred in low versus normal oxygen environments.     

Purification and some properties of a β-glucanase from a strain,Trichoderma reesei GXC

β-glucanase was purified from a solid-state culture ofTrichoderma reesei on wheat bran in three steps which comprised ammonium sulfate precipitation, Sephadex G-100 chromatography, and DEAE-Sephadex A-50 chromatography. The molecular mass was determined to be 35.21 kilodaltons by sodium dodecyl sulfate-12.5% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The β-glucanase at low pHs was more stable than that at high pHs, and optimum pH was 5.0. The optimum temperature was 60°C, and β-glucanase was relatively stable at below 40°C for 60 min. TheK _m of the enzyme on β-glucan was 10.86 mg/ml, and theV _max on β-glucan was 14286 μmol of glucose equivalents per mg of the pure enzyme per min. The β-glucanase activity was significantly inhibited by Fe³⁺ ions, and was reduced in the presence of Cu²⁺ ions, Mn²⁺ ions and Mg²⁺ ions at 5 mmol/L and 10 mmol/L, respectively. The β-glucanase activity was stimulated by Co²⁺ ions, Ca²⁺ ions, Zn²⁺ ions, and Fe²⁺ ions at 1 mmol/L and 5 mmol/L, respectively. Project supported by Foundation for University Key Teacher of the State Ministry of Education, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30000118) and Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 399409).     

Effects of elevated CO(2) levels on root morphological traits and Cd uptakes of two Lolium species under Cd stress

This study was conducted to investigate the combined effects of elevated CO₂ levels and cadmium (Cd) on the root morphological traits and Cd accumulation in Lolium multiflorum Lam. and Lolium perenne L. exposed to two CO₂ levels (360 and 1 000 μl/L) and three Cd levels (0, 4, and 16 mg/L) under hydroponic conditions. The results show that elevated levels of CO₂ increased shoot biomass more, compared to root biomass, but decreased Cd concentrations in all plant tissues. Cd exposure caused toxicity to both Lolium species, as shown by the restrictions of the root morphological parameters including root length, surface area, volume, and tip numbers. These parameters were significantly higher under elevated levels of CO₂ than under ambient CO₂, especially for the number of fine roots. The increases in magnitudes of those parameters triggered by elevated levels of CO₂ under Cd stress were more than those under non-Cd stress, suggesting an ameliorated Cd stress under elevated levels of CO₂. The total Cd uptake per pot, calculated on the basis of biomass, was significantly greater under elevated levels of CO₂ than under ambient CO₂. Ameliorated Cd toxicity, decreased Cd concentration, and altered root morphological traits in both Lolium species under elevated levels of CO₂ may have implications in food safety and phytoremediation.     

Study on NO2 absorption by ascorbic acid and various chemicals

INTRODUCTION Nitrogen oxide (NOx) is one of the main air pol- lutants found in the flue gases from chemical and power plants belching acid rain and photochemical smog. Over 90 percent of all man-made nitrogen ox- ides that enter our atmosphere are produced by the combustion of various fuels. Compared with the ad- vanced stage of SO2 gas removal technologies devel- opment, the removal of NOx gases is still in the initial stages of development as roughly 90 to 95 percent of NOx emitted i…     

Accumulation of chromium by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Commelina communis</Emphasis> L. grown in solution with different concentrations of Cr and L-histidine

Hydroponic experiments conducted to examine the chromiun uptake by C. communis in the presence of different Cr concentrations (Cr⁶⁺ 100 and 200 mg/L, respectively) and free histidine supplementation (0.5 and 1.0 mol/L) showed that shoot and root growth of C. communis decreased greatly with increasing Cr concentrations in the medium; and that the species was a typical excluder since it accumulated high concentrations of Cr in roots but comparatively low concentrations in shoots. Chromium in shoots and roots of Cr₄^2?-supplied plants ranged from 329–1880 and 3788–4240 mg/kg DW, respectively, while those of Cr₄^2?-histidine-supplied plants ranged from 478 to 629 mg/kg and 4157–4303 mg/kg DW, respectively. With Cr present in the hydroponic solution, C. communis accumulated more Cr in its tissues. Increasing histidine application to the solution significantly increased chromium accumulation in the plant tissues but could not alter the accumulation pattern of plants although it induced a higher concentration of Cr in its shoots and roots. These features suggested that C. communis may serve as an alternative species in a constructed wetland for phytoextraction treatment of Cr-containing wastewater and for phytostabilization of Cr mining spoils.     

Effects of zinc on cadmium uptake by spring wheat （Triticum aestivum, L.）： long-time hydroponic study and short-time ^109Cd tracing study

To investigate effects of Zn on Cd uptake by spring wheat (Triticum aestivum, L.) in solution culture, long-time hydroponic experiment (1 month) (Experiment 1) and short-time Cd isotope (109Cd) tracing experiment (24 h) (Experiment 2) were conducted. In Experiment 1, spring wheat (cv. Brookton) was grown in nutrient solution at uniform cadmium concentration of 20μ mol/L and 10 zinc concentrations (0, 1, 5, 10, 20, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 μ mol/L). In Experiment 2, spring wheat seedlings,pre-cultivated in complete nutrient solution, were treated with 109Cd of uniform activity and the same series of Zn concentrations as those in Experiment 1 for 24 h. Cd concentrations in shoots and roots in Experiment 1 increased marginally but not consistently with Zn increasing at Zn rates of 1～200 μmol/L, and then decreased significantly at high rates (＞200 μ mol/L). In Experiment 2, the response of 109Cd activities in shoots and roots to increasing Zn was greatly similar to the response of Cd concentrations to Zn increasing in Experiment 1. The results of the two experiments indicated that the short-time and long-time exposure of spring wheat to Zn had similar effects on Cd accumulation.     

珙桐快速繁殖技术研究

以野外珙桐抽出的嫩梢为培养材料进行快速繁殖研究,结果表明:茎段直接诱导丛生芽的适宜培养基为WPM+NAA0.05 mg/L+6-BA2.0 mg/L+GA31.0 mg/L+AC 1.0 g/L;生根最佳培养基为White+IBA2.0 mg/L+6-BA1.0 mg/L+AC 0.5 g/L,在此条件下,根发育良好,植株健壮。     

ER-GO-MCFE/毛细管电泳法测定饮料中的抗坏血酸

制备了电化学还原氧化石墨烯修饰碳纤维微盘电极（ER-GO-MCFE）,将此电极与毛细管电泳联用,对氧化石墨烯的电化学还原时间和电位、缓冲溶液的浓度和pH值、分离电压和检测电位等条件进行了优化。在最佳条件下,抗坏血酸的线性范围为1.0×10^-6～1.0×10^-5mol/L和1.0×10^-5～0.8×10^-3 mol/L,线性相关系数分别为0.9985和0.9998;当信噪比为3时,检测下限为6.5×10^-7 mol/L。将此电极用做毛细管电泳电化学检测的工作电极,实现了对饮料样品中的抗坏血酸的定性和定量检测。     

Effects of split applications of nitrogen fertilizers on the Cd level and nutritional quality of Chinese cabbage

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in soil is an increasingly serious problem. Management of plant nutrients has been proposed as a potentially promising strategy for minimizing Cd accumulation in crops grown in contaminated soil. This study investigated the effects of split applications of nitrogen (N) fertilizers on the Cd concentration in Chinese cabbage (Brassica chinensis L.) plants grown in Cd-contaminated soil. Compared with single applications, split applications of ammonium or urea resulted in significantly lower Cd concentrations, and higher biomass production and antioxidant-associated nutritional quality in the edible plant parts. However, when nitrate was used as the N fertilizer, there were no significant differences between the split and single applications for the same parameters. We conclude that a split application could be more beneficial than a single application method when ammonium or urea is used as the N fertilizer for vegetable cultivation in Cd-contaminated soil.     

Alternaria toxin-induced resistance against rose aphids and olfactory response of aphids to toxin-induced volatiles of rose plants

The search for active toxins for managing weeds or plant diseases is believed to be a promising avenue of investigation. However, the effects of Alternaria toxins on insects have just begun to be investigated. Bioactivities of toxins from four strains of Alternaria alternata on Rosa chinensis and rose aphid Macrosiphum rosivorum were tested in the present study. At a concentration of 50.0 μg/ml, the crude extract (toxin) of strain 7484 was found not to be harmful to rose plants with excised leaf-puncture method (P≥0.079), and rose plants showed enhanced resistance to rose aphids when this Alternaria toxin was sprayed on the plants (P≤0.001). However, this toxin caused no detrimental effects on aphids in insecticidal bioassay at a concentration of 10.0 to 160.0 μg/ml (P≥0.096). Therefore, the Alternaria toxin had significantly induced the resistance of rose plants against rose aphids, demonstrating that the resistance mechanism triggered by the Alternaria toxin in the rose plant may also be used by the plant to defend itself against insects. Further bioassays aimed to discover the olfactory responses of aphids to the toxin-induced volatiles of host plants. The aphids were significantly more attracted to both volatiles emitted and collected from control rose plants than to both volatiles emitted and collected from the toxin-treated rose plants (P≤0.014). This result showed that the toxin-induced resistance related to the volatile changes of host plants.     

Effect of cadmium on growth and photosynthesis of tomato seedlings

A hydroponic experiment carried out to study the effect of five Cd levels on growth and photosynthesis of two tomato cultivars showed that the addition of 0.1 μmol/L Cd induced a slight increase in plant height of Hezuo 903 and the SPAD (the Soil-Plant Analyses Development) value of the 2 cultivars. However, at higher Cd levels, i.e., 1 and 10 μmol/L, root length and volume, plant height, and SPAD value were all significantly reduced. On an average of the 2 cultivars, exposure to 1 and 10μmol/L Cd for 33 d reduced plant height by 18.9% and 46.4% and SPAD value by 11.2% and 31.6%, compared with control,respectively. Similarly, root length was reduced by 41.1% and 25.8% and root volume by 45.2% and 63.7%, respectively. The addition of Cd in the growth medium also had significant deleterious effect on net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and intracellular CO2concentration (Ci), with Pn being reduced by 27.2% and 62.1% at 1 μmol/L and 10 μmol/L Cd treatments compared to the control,respectively, while Ci increased correspondingly by 28.4% and 39.3%.     

丁二酮肟修饰碳糊电极的制备及对Cu（Ⅱ）的测定

提出用丁二酮肟修饰碳糊电极的制备及对Cu（Ⅱ）的测定.以铂丝电极为对电极,Ag/AgCl电极为参比电极,在pH=3.2的邻苯二甲酸氢钾—盐酸缓冲溶液中通过在-1.0V电位下富集后,在-1.0V～＋0.6V电位范围内作线性扫描溶出伏安法测定,峰电流与Cu（Ⅱ）浓度在4.0×10^-6～5.0×10^-5mol/L范围内呈良好线性关系,当富集300s时检测限为1.0×10^-9mol/L,且大多数阳离子不干扰测试结果.     

Determination of boron trifluoride in boron trifluoride complex by fluoride ion selective electrode

A method was proposed to determine boron trifluoride in boron trifluoride complex using fluoride ion selective electrode(ISE). Hydroxide was chosen to mask aluminum for the determination of 0.01—0.1 mol/L of fluoride. The simulation indicated that the permissible aluminum masked at a certain p H value was limited and hardly related to F-concentration and boric acid. It is better to control p H value below 11.5 and the aluminum concentration within 0.025 mol/L to minimize the interference of hydroxide to the fluoride ISE. The decomposition conditions of boron trifluoride by aluminum chloride were investigated. It is found that the F-detection ratio will approach 1.0 if the Al/F molar ratio is 0.3—0.7 and aluminum concentration is no more than 0.02 mol/L when heated at 80 ℃ for 10 min. In one word, hydroxide is quite fit to mask aluminum for samples which contain high content of fluoride and aluminum and the BF3 content can be successfully determined by this method.