Constitutive and Secretory Expression of the AiiA in Pichia pastoris Inhibits Amorphophallus konjac Soft Rot Disease

Amorphophallus konjac is an important economic crop widely cultivated in Southeast Asia and Africa. However, A. konjac is seriously infected by soft rot pathogen. The endocellular acyl homoserine lactonase (AiiA) which is generated by Bacillus species has inhibitory effect on soft rot pathogen through disrupting the signal molecules (N-acylhomoserine lactones, AHL) of their Quorum Sensing system. The aim of our study is to obtain recombinant yeast which produces AiiA protein. The recombinant yeast Pichia pastoris GS115 was constructed to constitutive expression of the AiiA gene. The results of reverse transcript PCR analysis showed that the AiiA gene was expressed successfully in the yeast. Proteins extracted from YPDS showed the highest inhibition efficacy to E. carotovora compared with the other two mediums (YPD and LB) under tested conditions.

First Report of Marginal Scorch Infecting Indigowoad Root in China

During 2015, marginal scorch symptoms were detected in the production base of indigowoad rootin Hubei, China. On the basis of morphological features and 18S rDNA sequences, the pathogen was identified as Cladosporium sp. Koch’s postulates were fulfilled by pathogenicity tests on potted indigowoad root seedlings. To our knowledge, this report is the first of marginal scorch on indigowoad root caused by Cladosporium sp. We propose the name “marginal scorch” for the new disease.

Genetic Relationships of Soft Rot Bacteria Isolated from Konjac in China by Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) and 16S rDNA Gene Sequences

Twenty-three isolates of soft rot bacteria from konjac corms were examined for their diversity using 16S rDNAs and AFLP technology. Both methods clustered two groups, dependent on their biotype characterization of Pectobacterium carotovora subsp. carotovora (P.c.c) and Pectobacterium chrysanthemi (P.ch), respectively. Of all isolates, 17 (73.9%) belonged to P. ch, indicated as the main pathogenic bacteria of konjac producing areas in China. The genetic variation among isolates from the same biotype was also rich, not consistent with the distances of the geographic sources.

Effects of Intercropping on Rhizosphere Soil Bacterial Communities in Amorphophallus konjac

Soft rot disease causes heavy loss in konjac production every year, which caused by the genus Pectobacterium has been recognized as a major reason why konjac industry has not boomed in worldwide. However, intercropping with economically important trees can effectively control affect soft rot disease epidemics. Consequently, we conducted a rhizosphere bacterial diversity study to assess how intercropping affects soft rot disease using next-generation DNA sequencing. The results demonstrate the Shannon diversity index and Chao 1 index for soil bacteria were relatively steady under intercropping conditions, but changed greatly for the konjac monocrop with the increase in the number of cropping years. Of the 44 bacterial genera with relative abundance ratios of >0.3%, 11 were significantly affected by the duration of continuous cropping and the cultivation mode. Luteolibacter and Bacteroides showed highly significant differences between the monocrop and the intercrop for three continuous years. Pseudomonas was significantly affected by the different cultivation modes, while Myroides was significantly affected by planting age. Intercropping altered the structure and composition of the soil bacterial community, which led to a relative balance of beneficial bacteria, and the relative balance of beneficial bacteria is helpful to reduce the incidence of soft rot.

Highly-efficient Stereo-cultivation Model in Kiwifruit Orchards Interplanting Konjak

The kiwifruit orchards with plants growing for over two years were chosen for interplanting of konjak, which takes advantages of complementation of the two plants in terms of habits, reducing water and soil erosions effectively, and decreasing water evaporation, and konjak diseases. Furthermore, the interplanting doubles planting benefits and constitutes a highly-efficient planting model.

Isolation and Identification of Main Fungal Pathogens in Muskmelon in Open Field of Hubei Province in Summer

Fungal diseases often occur seriously in muskmelon in open field of Hubei Province in summer, especially in continuous cropping pattern, resulting in great economic losses. In this study, the pathogens of main fungal diseases in muskmelon in open field of Hubei Province were isolated, and they were identified by morphological and molecular techniques. The results showed that muskmelon fusarium wilt is a major disease in muskmelon in open field of Hubei Province in summer, and its pathogen was confirmed to be Fusarium oxysporum. In future studies, one pair of specific primers would be designed to detect different pathogenic races of Fusarium oxysporum so as to accelerate the detection and to shorten the detection time,thereby proving guidance for actual production.

Analysis on Nutritional and Functional Components of Different Pueraria lobata Roots

This paper made analysis and evaluation of nutritional components and functional components of different Pueraria lobata roots. Nutritional components mainly include water,ash content,fat,reducing sugar,starch and cellulose; functional components mainly include flavone and polyphenol. Pueraria lobata root No. 1 has highest ash content,flavone,and polyphenol but lowest fat,so it is suitable for using as medical Pueraria lobata root resource. Pueraria lobata root No. 5 has starch content as high as 64. 43%,and is recommended using as vegetable and processing into Pueraria lobata powder. Pueraria lobata root No. 5 has cellulose content as high as 17. 79% and is recommended processing into Pueraria lobata tablets. Through comparison of nutritional and functional components of different Pueraria lobata roots,it is intended to provide reference for variety selection,breeding,production and processing of Pueraria lobata roots.

The Earth's inner core deviation to plate movement

Under the premise of the Earth’s layer structure and mass distribution, the solid inner core cannot be stable in the center of the sphere. Thus, the deviation of the inner core is towards the sphere’s center and the liquid outer core must have asymmetrical thermal convection. Based on the two suggestions, a concise and self-consistent global motion model can be built. The model consists of the following cycle: an asymmetrical thermal convection structure in the outer core led by the dislocation of the inner core→the plume is in special upwell position because of differential activation→the formation and split of lithosphere→the split plates drift and assemble in a new location, the mass of which causes the inner core to deviate towards this direction again→the new asymmetry is formed. As this circulation continues, a definite and periodical motion emerges/forms. Its nonlinear features result in the Earth’s motion with simple mechanisms but complex behavior. Ultraterrestrial events may disturb or