Effects of planting dates and shading on carbohydrate content,yield,and fiber quality in cotton with respect to fruiting positions

Two cotton（Gossypium hirsutum L.） cultivars, Kemian 1（cool temperature-tolerant） and Sumian 15（cool temperaturesensitive） were used to study the effects of cool temperature on carbohydrates, yield, and fiber quality in cotton bolls located at different fruiting positions（FP）. Cool temperatures were created using late planting and low light. The experiment was conducted in 2010 and 2011 using two planting dates（OPD, the optimized planting date, 25 April; LPD, the late planting date, 10 June） and two shading levels of crop relative light rate（CRLR, 100 and 60%）. Compared with fruiting position 1（FP1）, cotton yield and yield components（fiber quality, leaf sucrose and starch content, and fiber cellulose） were all decreased on FP3 under all treatments. Compared with OPD-CRLR 100%, other treatments（OPD-CRLR 60%, LPD-CRLR 100%, and LPD-CRLR 60%） had significantly decreased lint yield at both FPs of both cultivars, but especially at FP3 and in Sumian 15; this decrease was mainly caused by a large decline in boll number. All fiber quality indices decreased under late planting and shading except fiber length at FP1 with OPD-CRLR 60%, and a greater reduction was observed at FP3 and in Sumian 15. Sucrose content of the subtending leaf and fiber increased under LPD compared to OPD, whereas it decreased under CRLR 60% compared to CRLR 100%, which led to decreased fiber cellulose content. Therefore, shading primarily decreased the ＂source＂ sucrose content in the subtending leaf whereas late planting diminished translocation of sucrose towards cotton fiber. Notably, as planting date was delayed and light was decreased, more carbohydrates were distributed to leaf and bolls at FP1 than those at FP3, resulting in higher yield and better fiber quality at FP1, and a higher proportion of bolls and carbohydrates allocated at FP3 of Kemian 1 compared to that of Sumian 15. In conclusion, cotton yield and fiber quality were reduced less at FP1 compared to those at FP3 under low temperature and low light conditions. Thus, reduced cotton yield and fiber quality loss can be minimized by selecting low temperature tolerant cultivars under both low temperature and light conditions.

Relationship Between Plant Type and Grain Quality of Japonica Hybrid Rice in Northern China

Plant type and grain quality are two major aspects in rice breeding. Using canonical correlation analysis and canonical redundancy analysis, the relationship between plant type traits and rice grain quality traits was studied with 100 crosses derived from 10 sterile lines × 10 restorer lines. There was a complex relationship between parts of the traits of the two aspects. The angle of the 2nd leaf from the top and single panicle weight played important roles in plant type system and amylose content and grain length in grain quality system. The angle of the 2nd leaf from the top, plant height and single panicle weight had a great effect on grain quality traits, and amylose content, brown rice rate and translucency were easily influenced by plant type traits. Selection index model indicated that japonica hybrid rice in Northern China with good quality was characterized by broad flag leaf and 2nd leaf from the top, narrow and short 3rd leaf from the top, low plant height, short culm, long and more panicles and low single panicle weight.

Bacteriological Quality of a Forage Grass (<i>Pennisetum purpureum Schumach</i>) Used in Constructed Wetland Removing Domestic Wastewater Pathogenic Microorganism

Constructed Wetlands (CWs) are an adequate wastewater treatment system with possibility to generate income, in particular by the use of plants of economic interest. However, very few studies deal with the bacteriological quality of plants after wastewater treatment. Thermotolerant coliforms and Sulfite-reducing bacteria were investigated on the above-ground biomass of a species of forage plant (Pennisetum purpureum) as well as their removal in an experimental pilot consisting of four beds, for three months. Two beds were planted and two unplanted beds were used as control. Germs in the wastewater were significantly reduced in both filtrates, with higher removal efficiency of 97.4% for Thermotolerant coliforms and 87.5% for Sulfite-reducing bacteria, in the planted bed. Wastewater treatment resulted in bacteriological contamination of the above-ground plant biomass with a significant decreases in number of germs from 660 to 28 CFU/g (Thermotolerant coliforms) and from 15 to 0 CFU/g (Sulfite-reducing bacteria), when the harvest height increased from the base to the upper end of the plants. However, averages of 305 CFU/g of Thermotolerant coliforms and 5 CFU/g of Sulfite-reducing bacteria were obtained in the above-ground plant biomass which would not present any potential risks for a possible use of the plant biomass as fodder. Thus, the use of forage plant suggests good prospects for upgrading said plants for animal feed.

Analysis of genetic relationships between grain milling quality traits and plant agronomic traits of rice

Since seed and maternal plant are in different generations,the grain milling traits and plant agronomic traits of rice are based on differentgenetic models.Using the genetic modelswhich could estimate covariance componentsbetween two traits with unequal design matri-ces,we analyzed the gentic relationships be-

Trial Demonstration of SupervisionDuring the Quality Guaranteed Period in Construction of Power Plant

The Supervision during construction of Thailand PTA Co-generation, Which was contracted by our country extended into the quality guaranteed period. The supervision during the quality guaranteed period includes the monitor of the operation and maintenance of power plant,organization of subcontractor to treat the problems and defects occurred in the field in time, technical consultancy and communication in time, delivery of spare parts, and assistance of clearing Contractor’s quality deposit. It is proved by the practice that it is necessary to early out the supervision during quality guaranteed period.

Rhizosphere microbial markers (micro-markers): A new physical examination indicator for traditional Chinese medicines

Rhizosphere microorganisms,as one of the most important components of the soil microbiota and plant holobiont,play a key role in the medicinal plant-soil ecosystem,which are closely related to the growth,adaptability,nutrient absorption,stress tolerance and pathogen resistance of host plants.In recent years,with the wide application of molecular biology and omics technologies,the outcomes of rhizosphere microorganisms on the health,biomass production and secondary metabolite biosynthesis of medicinal plants have received extensive attention.However,whether or to what extent rhizosphere microorganisms can contribute to the construction of the quality evaluation system of Chinese medicinal materials is still elusive.Based on the significant role of rhizosphere microbes in the survival and quality formation of medicinal plants,this paper proposed a new concept of rhizosphere microbial markers(micro-markers),expounded the relevant research methods and ideas of applying the new concept,highlighted the importance of micro-markers in the quality evaluation and control system of traditional Chinese medicines(TCMs),and introduced the potential value in soil environmental assessment,plant pest control and quality assessment of TCMs.It provides reference for developing ecological planting of TCMs and ensuring the production of high quality TCMs by regulating rhizosphere microbial communities.

Stress response to nanoplastics with different charges in Brassica napus L.during seed germination and seedling growth stages

Nanoplastic pollution has become a significant problem in farmland systems worldwide.However,research on the effects of nanoplastics(NPs)with different charges on field crops is still limited.In our study,NPs with different charges,including unmodified polystyrene nanoplastics(PS),positively charged polystyrene nanoplastics(PS-NH_(2)),and negatively charged polystyrene nanoplastics(PSSO3H),were investigated for their impacts on seed germination and seedling growth of rape.The results showed that seed water uptake(after 12 h),seed germination,seed vigour,and relative root elongation were all significantly reduced under exposure to NPs(200 mg/L).Similarly,remarkable decreases in plant biomass(root weight,shoot weight),growth(root length,plant height),photosynthesis ability(chlorophyll a,chlorophyll b,carotenoids),essential nutrient uptake(Fe,Mn,Zn,Cu),and plant quality(soluble protein,soluble sugar,crude fibre content)of rape seedlings were also observed after exposure to NPs.Among the three kinds of NPs,PS-NH_(2)showed stronger effects.Moreover,superoxide dismutase,peroxidase,and catalase activities of rape seedlings were changed,and the content of malondialdehyde was significantly increased under exposure to NPs.Furthermore,positively charged PS-NH_(2)showed stronger effects on the phenotype,physiology,biochemistry,nutrient uptake,and plant quality of rape.Notably,a comprehensive toxicity evaluation revealed that PS-NH_(2)had the strongest toxicity to rape.The present study provides important implications for the interaction and risk assessment of NPs and crops in soil-plant systems.

Effects of seed type and bruchid genotype on the performance and oviposition behavior of Zabrotes subfasciatus （Coleoptera： Bruchidae）

The effect of different bean varieties on the performance of the bruchid beetle Zabrotes subfasciatus Boheman （Coleoptera： Bruchidae）, was determined by using wild and cultivated seeds of the genus Phaseolus. Results showed that the quality of the host plant affected the performance and the oviposition behavior of female beetles. Overall, bruchid performance was higher on cultivated seeds than on wild seeds. It was also found that the oviposition behavior and the performance of their offspring differed between females that originated from wild versus cultivated seeds. We also demonstrated the importance of a genetic component in bruchid performance： longevity, fecundity, larval development, adult size, and the sex ratio of the progeny varied according to their matemal lineage （‘family＇ ）. For example, on the same host type, some females laid twice as many eggs as females from other‘families＇, and the sex ratio among the offspring correlated with that of their mother. Thus, the performance and behavior of Z. subfasciatus are not only affected by environmental factors such as the quality of the seeds on which they develop, but also have a genetic basis which can counterbalance a less suitable quality of the host plant. For a crop pest such as Z. subfasciatus, its ability to survive and adapt on host plants of differing quality may be an important attribute to consider for pest management.