Effect of Water Control before Transplanting and Rooting Powder Treatment on Tobacco Seedling Quality and Physiological Properties at Green Stage

Cultivating strong seedlings is an important guarantee for the production of high-quality flue-cured tobacco, while there are many disadvantages in tobacco floating system that is commonly adopted in China. To improve the tobacco floating system, with Xiangyan No.3 as experimental material, the effects of water control before transplanting and rooting powder treatment on tobacco seedling quality and physiological properties at green stage were investigated. The results showed that： （1） water control showed small influence on tobacco seedling quality, while rooting powder treatment and water control ＋ rooting powder treatment showed great influence on tobacco seedling quality, mainly represented by reduced plant height, thickened stem and increased dry matter accumulative amount; （2） water control before transplanting and rooting powder treatment all improved leaf chlorophyll content and root vigor of tobacco seedlings, and the effect of water control ＋ rooting powder treatment was best, followed by rooting powder treatment and water control; （3） all treatments increased the nitrate reductase and invertase activity, and reduced the MDA content of tobacco seedlings, and the effect of water control ＋ rooting powder treatment was best, followed by rooting powder treatment and water control. Mean- while, the treatment effect 10 d before the transplanting was better than that 5 d before the transplanting. In overall, the improvement effects of water control 10 d before transplanting ＋ rooting powder treatment on tobacco seedling quality and physiological properties at green stage were the best.

Effect of Different Levels of Chicory and Satureja Hortensis Root Powders on Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Broilers

Inulin and oligofructose that are used in animal nutrition originate from chicory roots. Chicory fructans were shown to be prebiotic （selectively interacting with intestinal bacterial ecosystem） in humans and in animals, including livestock and pets. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of chicory and satureja hortensis root powders, which are commonly used as alternative to antibiotics, on performance and carcass characteristic of broilers. The study included 280 Ross 308 male broiler chicks （1-day old at the beginning of the study）. There were 7 treatment groups, each consisting of 4 replicates （10 chicks in each replicate）. Chicory root powder （CRP） were added in 2%, 4% and 6% doses and satureja hortensis root powder （SHRP） were added in 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.6% doses to starter and grower diets. The experiment lasted 42 days. Results showed that adding 2% of chicory root powder to the diet rather than control group, had significant effect on body weight gain （BWG）, feed intake （FI） and feed conversion rate （FCR）. All treatments of SHRP rather than control group significantly decreased FCR and feed intake. Treating with 6% CRP in days 1 to 21 in contrast to control group significantly decreased feed intake, but hadn＇t significant effect on FCR. Consequently we concluded that, using 2% CRP and different levels of SHRP had significant effect on performance and carcass characteristics of broilers.

Preparation and Performance of Pueraria lobata Root Powder/Polylactic Acid Composite Films

Petroleum-based materials,such as plastic,are characterized by adverse environmental pollution;as a result,researchers have sought alternative degradable plastics that are environmentally friendly,such as polylactic acid(PLA).PLA has shown great potential to replace petroleum-based plastics.In this study,seven different samples of unmodified Pueraria lobata root powder(PRP)with different contents(i.e.,0,5,10,15,20,25,and 30 wt%)and three different modified PRPs(i.e.,treated with NaOH,NaOH-KH-550,and Formic)were used to reinforce polylactic acid(PLA)via solution casting process.These prepared PRP/PLA composite films were characterized using SEM,FTIR,UV-visible spectra analysis,TG,DSC,weight loss measurement(wt%),and mechanical measurements.The results showed that the PRP modified with KH-550(PRPK)intensified the interaction in the interface region between the PRP and the PLA matrix,thus increasing the tensile strength(54.5 MPa),elongation at break(2.8%),and Young’s modulus(3310 MPa)of the PRPK/PLA biofilms.Contact angle measurement showed that the PRP treatments contributed to the hydrophobicity of films.The transparency of PRP-10/PLA film atλ_(800)was 11.09%,and its UVA and UVB transmittance were 3.28 and 1.16,respectively.After blending PLA with PRP,the PRP/PLA composite films exhibited excellent biodegradability.In summary,PRPK improved the mechanical properties of PLA and prevented the films from ultraviolet light,suggesting that PRPK-5/PLA film could be used as packaging materials.

Effects of 1-aminobenzotriazole on the growth and physiological characteristics of Tamarix chinensis cuttings under salt stress

vegetation restoration is a main ecological remediation technology for greening saline and alkaline soils.The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of1-aminobenzotriazole(ABT-1) on the growth and physiology of Tamarix chinensis under salt stress and to determine a suitable ABT-1 concentration and soil salinity(Sc) for propagating T.chihehsis-cuttings.Cuttings were soaked in water and ABT-1 solutions at three concentrations(50,100,and 200 mg L^(-1)) and propagated in pots containing four soil salinity levels,mild(0.3%),moderate(0.6%),and severe(0.9% and 1.2%),and compared with a control.The cuttings were measured to determine growth indices and physiological and biochemical indices(e.g.,chlorophyll content,superoxide dismutase activity,peroxidase activity,and malondialdehyde content).ABT-1 was effective in improving survival,growth,and physiological processes of cuttings under salt stress.However,there was a threshold effect when using ABT-1 to facilitate propagation under salt stress.ABT-1 effects were insignificant when applied at low concentrations(<100 mg L^(-1)).At a high concentration(> 100 mg L^(-1)),ABT-1 limited growth and physiological activities.Under a salt stress level(Sc ≤0.9%),ABT applied at a 100 mg L^(-1)concentration increased chlorophyll content and superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities in the leaves and reduced malondialdehyde accumulation and membrane lipid peroxidation effects.As a result,ABT-1 enhanced the resistance of T.chinensis to salt stress.However,under high salt stress(>0.9%) and ABT-1 concentration(> 100 mg L^(-1)),the physiological regulatory ability of T.chinensis seedlings weakened.T.chinensis grew well at a salt stress ≤0.9% and ABT ≤100 mg L^(-1) and exhibited relatively high physiological regulatory ability and high salt adaptability.