Dynamics and genetic regulation of macronutrient concentrations during grain development in maize

Nitrogen(N), phosphorus(P), and potassium(K) are essential macronutrients that are crucial not only for maize growth and development, but also for crop yield and quality. The genetic basis of macronutrient dynamics and accumulation during grain filling in maize remains largely unknown. In this study, we evaluated grain N, P, and K concentrations in 206 recombinant inbred lines generated from a cross of DH1M and T877 at six time points after pollination. We then calculated conditional phenotypic values at different time intervals to explore the dynamic characteristics of the N, P, and K concentrations. Abundant phenotypic variations were observed in the concentrations and net changes of these nutrients. Unconditional quantitative trait locus(QTL) mapping revealed 41 non-redundant QTLs, including 17, 16, and 14 for the N, P, and K concentrations, respectively. Conditional QTL mapping uncovered 39 non-redundant QTLs related to net changes in the N, P, and K concentrations. By combining QTL, gene expression, co-expression analysis, and comparative genomic data, we identified 44, 36, and 44 candidate genes for the N, P, and K concentrations, respectively, including GRMZM2G371058 encoding a Doftype zinc finger DNA-binding family protein, which was associated with the N concentration, and GRMZM2G113967encoding a CBL-interacting protein kinase, which was related to the K concentration. The results deepen our understanding of the genetic factors controlling N, P, and K accumulation during maize grain development and provide valuable genes for the genetic improvement of nutrient concentrations in maize.

Combining QTL Mapping and Multi-Omics Identify Candidate Genes for Nutritional Quality Traits during Grain Filling Stage in Maize

The nutritional composition and overall quality of maize kernels are largely determined by the key chemical com-ponents:protein,oil,and starch.Nevertheless,the genetic basis underlying these nutritional quality traits during grainfilling remains poorly understood.In this study,the concentrations of protein,oil,and starch were studied in 204 recombinant inbred lines resulting from a cross between DH1M and T877 at four different stages post-pollination.All the traits exhibited considerable phenotypic variation.During the grain-filling stage,the levels of protein and starch content generally increased,whereas oil content decreased,with significant changes observed between 30 and 40 days after pollination.Quantitative trait locus(QTL)mapping was conducted and a total of 32 QTLs,comprising 14,12,and 6 QTLs for grain protein,oil,and starch content were detected,respectively.Few QTLs were consistently detectable across different time points.By integrating QTL analysis,glo-bal gene expression profiling,and comparative genomics,we identified 157,86,and 54 differentially expressed genes harboring nonsynonymous substitutions between the parental lines for grain protein,oil,and starch con-tent,respectively.Subsequent gene function annotation prioritized 15 candidate genes potentially involved in reg-ulating grain quality traits,including those encoding transcription factors(NAC,MADS-box,bZIP,and MYB),cell wall invertase,cellulose-synthase-like protein,cell division cycle protein,trehalase,auxin-responsive factor,and phloem protein 2-A13.Our study offers significant insights into the genetic architecture of maize kernel nutritional quality and identifies promising QTLs and candidate genes,which are crucial for the genetic enhance-ment of these traits in maize breeding programs.

Empirical prediction of hydraulic aperture of 2D rough fractures:a systematic numerical study

This study aims to propose an empirical prediction model of hydraulic aperture of 2D rough fractures through numerical simulations by considering the influences of fracture length,average mechanical aperture,minimum mechanical aperture,joint roughness coefficient(JRC)and hydraulic gradient.We generate 600 numerical models using successive random additions(SRA)algorithm and for each model,seven hydraulic gradients spanning from 2.5×10^(-7)to 1 are considered to fully cover both linear and nonlinear flow regimes.As a result,a total of 4200 fluid flow cases are simulated,which can provide sufficient data for the prediction of hydraulic aperture.The results show that as the ratio of average mechanical aperture to fracture length increases from 0.01 to 0.2,the hydraulic aperture increases following logarithm functions.As the hydraulic gradient increases from 2.5×10^(-7)to 1,the hydraulic aperture decreases following logarithm functions.When a relatively low hydraulic gradient(i.e.,5×10^(-7))is applied between the inlet and the outlet boundaries,the streamlines are of parallel distribution within the fractures.However,when a relatively large hydraulic gradient(i.e.,0.5)is applied between the inlet and the outlet boundaries,the streamlines are disturbed and a number of eddies are formed.The hydraulic aperture predicted using the proposed empirical functions agree well with the calculated results and is more reliable than those available in the preceding literature.In practice,the hydraulic aperture can be calculated as a first-order estimation using the proposed prediction model when the associated parameters are given.

超临界CO2竖直光管内向上流动摩擦压降特性

超临界流体被广泛应用于工程技术领域,包括核工程、电力工程或航空工程等,但是由于物性剧烈的非线性变化,传热与表面摩擦取决于多种影响因素,导致超临界流体的流动压降特性并未得到较好地揭示.本文研究了超临界二氧化碳(CO2)在光滑圆管内热流密度qw、质量流速G以及压力P对摩擦压降特性的影响,比较了超临界CO2和常物性流体摩擦压降特性,并提出了一个预测超临界流体摩擦因子的新方法.结果表明,超临界CO2的摩擦特性与常物性流体不同,物性的剧烈非线性变化导致其流动特性异常复杂;摩擦压降被多种边界条件共同影响,可以表达为ΔPf_exp/ΔPf_iso=f(P,qw,G,Tb/Tw)的函数形式,其中ΔPf_exp和ΔPf_iso分别为超临界流体摩擦压降和等温流体摩擦压降,Tb和Tw分别为主流温度和壁面温度.随着压力增大,摩擦压降迅速减小.给定入口温度,超临界沸腾数(supercritical boiling number,SBO)对传热恶化发生时的流动特性有很大的影响,简单的物性修正不是有效方法.已存在的预测方法均不能预测其摩擦因子,特别是较大的摩擦因子,而我们提出的新关联式可以较好地预测.除了物性对超临界压力下流动阻力特性的影响,还应关注边界条件对摩擦特性的影响,尤其是物性剧烈变化导致的拟沸腾过程,这对进一步揭示其流动换热机理具有重要意义.

Multi-scale crystal plasticity finite element simulations of the microstructural evolution and formation mechanism of adiabatic shear bands in dual-phase Ti20C alloy under complex dynamic loading

A dynamic compression test was performed on α+β dual-phase titanium alloy Ti20C using a split Hopkinson pressure bar.The formation of adiabatic shear bands generated during the compression process was studied by combining the proposed multi-scale crystal plasticity finite element method with experimental measurements.The complex local micro region load was progressively extracted from the simulation results of a macro model and applied to an established three-dimensional multi-grain microstructure model.Subsequently,the evolution histories of the grain shape,size,and orientation inside the adiabatic shear band were quantitatively simulated.The results corresponded closely to the experimental results obtained via transmission electron microscopy and precession electron diffraction.Furthermore,by calculating the grain rotation and temperature rise inside the adiabatic shear band,the microstructural softening and thermal softening effects of typical heavily-deformed α grains were successfully decoupled.The results revealed that the microstructural softening stress was triggered and then stabilized(in general)at a relatively high value.This indicated that the mechanical strength was lowered mainly by the grain orientation evolution or dynamic recrystallization occurring during early plastic deformation.Subsequently,thermal softening increased linearly and became the main softening mechanism.Noticeably,in the final stage,the thermal softening stress accounted for 78.4% of the total softening stress due to the sharp temperature increase,which inevitably leads to the stress collapse and potential failure of the alloy.

Texture evolution and slip mode of a Ti-5.5Mo-7.2Al-4.5Zr-2.6Sn-2.1Cr dual-phase alloy during cold rolling based on multiscale crystal plasticity finite element model

The complex micromechanical response among grains remains a persistent challenge to understand the deformation mechanism of titanium alloys during cold rolling.Therefore,in this work,a multiscale crystal plasticity finite element method of dual-phase alloy was proposed and secondarily developed based on LS-DYNA software.Afterward,the texture evolution and slip mode of a Ti-5.5Mo-7.2Al-4.5Zr-2.6Sn-2.1Cr alloy,based on the realistic 3D microstructure,during cold rolling(20%thickness reduction)were systematically investigated.The relative activity of the■slip system in theαphase gradually increased,and then served as the main slip mode at lower Schmid factor(<0.2).In contrast,the contribution of the■slip system to the overall plastic deformation was relatively limited.For theβphase,the relative activity of the<111>{110}slip system showed an upward tendency,indicating the important role of the critical resolved shear stress relationship in the relative activity evolutions.Furthermore,the abnormally high strain of very fewβgrains was found,which was attributed to their severe rotations compelled by the neighboring pre-deformedαgrains.The calculated pole figures,rotation axes,and compelled rotation behavior exhibited good agreement to the experimental results.

Influence of Temperature on Stacking Fault Energy and Creep Mechanism of a Single Crystal Nickel-based Superalloy

The influence of temperatures on the stacking fault energies and deformation mechanism of a Re- containing single crystal nickel-based superalloy during creep at elevated temperatures was investigated by means of calculating the stacking fault energy of alloy, measuring creep properties and performing contrast analysis of dislocation configuration. The results show that the alloy at 760 ℃ possesses lower stacking fault energy, and the stacking fault of alloy increases with increasing temperature. The defor- mation mechanism of alloy during creep at 760 ℃ is 7＇ phase sheared by 〈110〉 super-dislocations, which may be decomposed to form the configuration of Shockley partials plus super-lattice intrinsic stacking fault, while the deformation mechanism of alloy during creep at 1070 ℃ is the screw or edge super- dislocations shearing into the rafted 7＇ phase. But during creep at 7（50 and 980 ℃, some super- dislocations shearing into 7＇ phase may cross-slip from the {111} to {100} planes to form the K-W locks with non-plane core structure, which may restrain the dislocations slipping to enhance the creep resis- tance of alloy at high temperature. The interaction between the Re and other elements may decrease the diffusion rate of atoms to improve the microstructure stability, which is thought to be the main reason why the K-W locks are to be kept in the Re-containing superalloy during creep at 980 ℃.