Yield and Quality Responses of Selected Solanaceous Vegetable Crops to Potassium Fertilization

Over a period of two years, field experiments were conducted on two silty loam soils grown with four solanaceous vegetable crops of eggplant (var. serpentinum Bailey), tomato (var. commune Bailey), sweet pepper (var. grossum Bailey) and chilli (var. lengum Bailey), respectively. Each experiment included four treatments with from low to high doses, 0-450 kg ha-l for eggplant, tomato and sweet pepper, and 0-270 kg ha-1 for chilli, of K fertilizers in the form of sulfate of potash (SOP) applied together with N and P fertilizers. One CK treatment without K, N and P fertilizers applied and one treatment of K fertilizer in the form of muriate of potash (MOP) applied at the high level (450 kg ha-1) together with N and P fertilizers were included in the experiments of eggplant, in order to compare the effects of SOP and MOP. The fruit yields of the tested crops increased significantly with the increasing rate of K application. The crops supplied with K fertilizers yielded more stably as the CV% of their yields decreased with the rate of K application. The dry matter and vitamin C contents in fruits of tomato, sweet pepper and chilli, and the sugar content and the titratable acidity level of tomato fruits were increased, and the S/A ratio (ratio of sugar content to titratable acidity) of tomato fruits were decreased by K fertilization, indicating that K fertilization could improve the fruit quality of the solanaseous vegetable crops. However, the high rate of K fertilizer might lower the dry matter and vitamin C contents of tomato fruits and sweet pepper fruits. SOP was more effective than MOP in increasing the yield and quality of eggplant fruits at the high fertilization rate; therefore, the choice of applying SOP may be better for high levels of K fertilization.

Graft Compatibility of Scotch Bonnet （Capsicum chinense Jacq） with Selected Salt-Tolerant Solanaceous

In recent years, grafting to improve salt-tolerance of vegetables has been studied extensively. The rootstock species, Solanum melongena cv Black Beauty, Solanum lycopersicum cv Akash and Solanum nigrum （bitter gumma）, reportedly salt-tolerant, were evaluated for their graft compatibility with Capsicum chinense cv Scotch Bonnet. Grafted and non-grafted plants were grown for three weeks under greenhouse conditions. Graft compatibility was determined by the regeneration of vascular bundles across the graft interface and vegetative growth parameters. The results showed that the highest survival percentage （100%） was obtained in the Scotch Bonnet/Black Beauty heterografts and the lowest （16%） was obtained in the Scotch Bonnet/bitter gumma heterografts. Vascular regeneration across the graft interface was seen in Scotch Bonnet autografts and heterografts with Black Beauty. Graft incompatibility observed in heterografts on Akash and bitter gumma rootstocks could be attributed to the presence of a necrotic layer at the graft interface. In conclusion, progressive scion growth and development and the regeneration of vascular bundles across the graft interface are effective in determining graft compatibility between Scotch Bonnet and selected solanceous species. This suggests that Scotch Bonnet can be cultivated under saline growing condition.

Anatomical Studies on Compatibility and Incompatibility of Some Solanaceous Plant Species to Field Dodder (<i>Cuscuta campestris</i>Yuncker)

Four solanaceous plant species, namely hot pepper (Capsicum frutescensL.), potato (Solanum tuberosumL.), tobacco (Nicotiana tabacumL.) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentumMiller) were anatomically screened for compatibility/incompatibility to field dodder (Cuscuta campestrisYuncker, Cuscutaceae). The development of field dodder haustorium within stem tissues of the studied solanaceous plants was found to depend on the latter’s response to the former’s penetration. In hot pepper and tobacco, which showed a positive response, the haustorium was well developed and its searching hyphae established connections with their vascular tissues. However, potato and tomato showed a negative response and acquired different defense mechanisms against the parasitism of field dodder. In both of them, the field dodder haustorium and/or its searching hyphae exhibited distorted appearance and failed to establish connection with their vascular tissues. Thus, the tested solanaceous plant species could be classified as either compatible (hot pepper and tobacco) or incompatible (potato and tomato) hosts to field dodder.

Research on Characters of Leaf Epidermal Cells' Quantities of Solanaceous Vegetable Crops

Tomatoes, peppers and eggplants＇ seedings were used as experiment materials to study the leaf development mechanism of solanaceous vegetable crops by using blot observation method. Results showed that an increasing trend was presented at the density of cells and stomata in upper and lower epidermis, but a declined trend was presented at the cells＇ diameters and the size of stomata with the joint position rising. At the same joint position, no matter in adaxial side or abaxial side, there were some differences among cells diameters, size of stomata, density of cells and stomata.

Control Technology of Solanaceous Vegetable Diseases in Solar Greenhouse in Shandong Province

The occurrence of major diseases of protected solanaceous vegetables in Shandong Province,including tomato Pythium root rot,tomato Phytophthora root rot,tomato Pythium basal stem rot,tomato stem blight,sweet pepper root rot,pepper blight and eggplant stem rot,are studied,and corresponding comprehensive control measures are put forward.

Identification of micro RNAs in six solanaceous plants and their potential link with phosphate and mycorrhizal signalings

To date, only a limited number of solanaceous miRNAs have been deposited in the miRNA database. Here,Rgenome-wide bioinformatic identification of miRNAs was performed in six solanaceous plants（potato, tomato, tobacco,eggplant, pepper, and petunia）. A total of 2,239 miRNAs were identified following a range of criteria, of which 982 were from potato, 496 from tomato, 655 from tobacco, 46 from eggplant,45 were from pepper, and 15 from petunia. The sizes of miRNA families and miRNA precursor length differ in all the species.Accordingly, 620 targets were predicted, which could be functionally classified as transcription factors, metabolic enzymes, RNA and protein processing proteins, and other proteins for plant growth and development. We also showed evidence for miRNA clusters and sense and antisense miR NAs.Additionally, five Pi starvation- and one arbuscular mycorrhiza（AM）-related cis-elements were found widely distributed in the putative promoter regions of the miRNA genes. Selected miRNAs were classified into three groups based on the presence or absence of P1BS and MYCScis-elements, and their expression in response to Pi starvation and AM symbiosis was validated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction（qRT-PCR）. These results show that conserved miRNAs exist in solanaceous species and they might play pivotal roles in plant growth, development, and stress responses.

The effects of anisodamine and dobutamine on gut mucosal blood flow during gut ischemia/reperfusion

AIM: To determine if anisodamine is able to augment mucosal perfusion during gut I/R ischemia-reperfusion. METHODS: A jejunal sac was formed in Sprague Dawley rat. A Laser Doppler probe and a tonometer were inserted into the sac which was filled with saline. The superior mesenteric artery was occluded (SMAO)for 60 minutes followed by 90 minutes of reperfusion. At the end of 60 minutes of SMAO, either 0.2 mg/kg of anisodmine or dobutamine was injected into the jejunal sac. Laser Doppler mucosal blood flow and regional PCO2 (PrCO2)measurements were made. RESULTS: Mucosal blood flow was significantly increased at 30,60 and 90 minutes of reperfusion (R30, R60, R90) when intraluminal anisodamine or dobutamine was present compared to intraluminal saline only(44+/-3.3% or 48+/-4.1% vs 37+/-2.6% at R30, 57+/-5.0% or 56+/-4.7% vs 45+/-2.7% at R60, 64+/-3.3% or 56+/-4.2% vs 48+/-3.4% at R90,respectively P【0.05). Blood flow changes were also reflected by lowering of jejunal PrCO2 measurements after intraluminal anisodamine or dobutamine compared with that of the saline controls (41+/-3.1 mmHg or 44+/-3.0 mmHg vs 49+/-3.7 mmHg at R30,38+/-3.7 mmHg or 40+/-2.1 mmHg vs 47+/-3.8 mmHg at R60,34+/-2.1 mmHg or 39+/-3.0 mmHg vs 46+/-3.4 mmHg at R90, respectively, P【0.05). Most interesting finding was that there were significantly higher mucosal blood flow and lower jejunal PrCO2 in anisodamine group than those in dobutamine group at 90 minutes of reperfusion(64+/-3.3% vs 56+/-4.2% for blood flow or 34+/-2.1 mmHg vs 39+/-3.0 mmHg for PrCO2, respectively, P【0.05), suggesting that anisodamine had a more lasting effect on mucosal perfusion than dobutamine. CONCLUSION: Intraluminal anisodamine and dobutamine can augment mucosal blood flow during gut I/R and alleviate mucosal acidosis. The results provided beneficial effects on the treatment of splanchnic hypoperfusion following traumatic or burn shock.

Prevention of grafted liver from reperfusive injury

INTRODUCTIONThe incidence of primary non-function(PNF)of grafted liver in the early postoperative stage is 2%-23%[1-4],its main cause is the ischemic-rechemic injure[5,6].In this experiment,anisodamine was added into the preserving fluid and the grafted liver was rewarmed at different temperatures to protect the cell membranc and prevent ischemic-reperfusive injury.

Treatment of 104 Cases of Chemotherapy-Induced Leukopenia by Injection of Drugs into Zusanli

From April 1992 to April 1998, 104 cases of chemotherapy-induced leukopenia were treated by injection into Zusanli (ST 36) with a mixture consisting of dexamethasone, 654-2, ATP and inosine. The therapeutic results were satisfactory as reported in the following.Clinical Data In this series, all the 127 cases were definitely diagnosed by pathological examination. Of them, 93 were male and 34 female, ranging in age from 12 to 75 years. 38 cases were carcinoma of esophagus, 22 carcinoma of cardia of stomach, 21 cancer of lung, 11 hepatic carcinoma, 8 lymphoma, 8 mammary cancer, 7 carcinoma of colon, and 12 other kinds of the tumors. Leukocyte count was below 4.0×109/L in all the patients after being treated by chemotherapy.