融入基层 永葆先进——访南京市委副书记、市委先进性教育活动办公室主任杨植

今年3月，市委保持共产党员先进性教育活动办公室、市委组织部、市委市级机关工委联合在市级机关开展了“融入基层、永葆先进”主题实践活动，参加这项活动的共有市级机关84个部门（单位）的438个党支部、1．3万多名党员。半年多过去了，这项活动取得的实际成效如何？当前和今后一个时期应该注意哪些问题？怎样把这项活动深入持久地开展下去？近日，我们就此走访了市委副书记、市委先进性教育活动办公室主任杨植。

Pesticidal character of phytoecdysteroids from Ajuga multiflora Bunge (Labiatae) on larvae of Cryptorrhynchus lapathi L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Eight kinds of phytoecdysteroids extracted from different parts of Ajuga multiflora Bunge (Labiatae) that were collected from different places at different time were tested for killing effects on the 2-instar larvae of Cryptorrhynchus lapathi L by adding them to the artificial diet of larvae. The experimental results indicated that adding 1-3-mL phytoecdysteroids to the artificial diet could lead 58%-100% of 2-instar larvae of C. lapathi to death within 24 days. The phytoecdysteroids extracted from the whole plant of A. multiflora which was collected before flowering time were much more effective than those extracted from the plants collected at flowering and after flowering periods, and the modified mortality rate of larvae reached 65.22%, 85.07%, and 98.11% at the dosage level of 1-mL, 2-mL, and 3-mL extracts, respectively. The extract made from root of A. multiflora plant was more effective in killing efficiency than those from stem and leaves, and the average death rates of larvae were up to 100%, 98.20% and 98.32% at dosage levels of 1-mL, 2-mL, and 3-mL extracts, respectively. The killing speed of the extracted phytoecdysteroids was slower than that of triflumuron, hexaflumuron or deltamethrin emulsifiable concentrate. The mortality rate of larvae is closely related to the feeding duration on the diets containing phytoecdysteroids. Feeding on the diets with addition of phytoecdysteroids for 16 days, more than 80% of treated 2-instar larvae of C. lapathi were led to death. The killing effect of the extracts was little affected by the growth areas of A. multiflora plant and the adding way to artificial diet.

Comparison of the Effects of H_2O_2 and Salicylic Acid on Alternative Respiratory Pathway in Aged Potato Tuber Slices

The influences of exogenous H 2O 2 and salicylic acid (SA) treatments on the alternative respiratory pathway (ARP) in aged potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber slices were compared. The results showed that both H 2O 2(5.0 mmol/L) and SA (0.1 mmol/L) treatments had a significant inducing effect on ARP capacity (V alt ) and its ratio to total respiration (V alt /V t) in potato slices aged for 24 h. With a monoclonal antibody against the alternative oxidase (AOX), Western blotting results showed that both H 2O 2 and SA treatments increased the AOX expression levels in aged potato tuber slices. However, the results of oxygen isotope discrimination experiments showed that H 2O 2 had no influence on the in vivo ARP activity (ρV alt ) and its contribution to V t(expressed as ρV alt /V t) in potato slices aged for 24 h, but SA had a significant influence on the ρV alt and ρV alt /V t values of the aged potato tuber slices. These results indicate that there are differences between the effects of H 2O 2 and SA on ARP in plant tissues. Both of them possess the ability to induce ARP capacity through inducing AOX expression. However, SA can simultaneously stimulate the operation of ARP, but H 2O 2 can not.

Transformation of Poplar (Populus)with tPA Gene

In this study, tPA gene(human tissuetype plasminogen activator gene) was remolded with the leader sequence removed and an artificially synthesized sequence containing the initiator (ATG) added. Using the binary vector strategy,we first inserted the remolded tPA gene into the Ti-derived plasmid, PGA643 and then transferred,in a triparental mating system,the plasmid into a strain of Agrobacterium tumefaciens,A281, that contained vir-DNA.Finally poplar cells were transformed with A. tumefaciens using leaf discus method. The transformed cells were selected in culture containing kanamycin and in siyu hybridization.Successful generation of transgenic poplar was demonstrated by molecular hybridization in the cultivated plants and detection of tPA gene product.

Effects of Salicylic Acid on the Growth and Some Physiological Characters in Salt Stressed Tomato Plants （ Solanum L ycopersicum）

Excessive soil salinity is an important constraint limiting the distribution of plants in natural habitats, and is an increasingly severe agricultural problem in arid and semi-arid regions. Higher salinity levels caused significant reduction in growth parameters like leaf area, leaf length and root and shoot dry weight. Salicylic acid （SA）, a plant phenolic is now considered as a hormone-like endogenous regulator, and its role in the defence mechanisms against biotic stressors has been well documented. In recent years its role has been widely investigated in abiotic stress （salinity, drought, water deficit and so on）. The aim of the present work was to study the effects of salicylic acid on growth and some physiological characters of salt stressed tomato plants. The presence of salicylic acid at low concentration （0.01 mM） in culture medium riched with NaCl 100 mM （6 g·L^-1） improves the tolerance of tomato cv. Golden Sunrise to salinity. This amelioration results in stimulation of growth and development of plants. The applied of SA in saline medium induce： （i） an increase in chlorophyll content; （ii） a better supply of essential elements in plant growth, such as K＋; （iii） a decrease in toxic ions such Na＋ and CI in aerial organs; and （iv） an additional synthesis of organic solutes and osmoprotectors like proline and proteins. All these results suggest that salicylic acid could be successfully used in alleviating depressive effects of salt on the productivity of the cultivated tomato.

Poplar Plantation as an Agroforestry Approach:Economic Benefits and Its Role in Carbon Sequestration in North India

Poplar has gained popularity among farmers of Punjab,Haryana,Western Uttar Pradesh,and the foothills of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh due to their fast growth rate and suitability for industrial uses such as pulp and timber production.Integrating poplar trees into agroforestry systems optimizes land resources and economic gains,as successful techniques have been developed to coordinate crop timing and arrangements effectively.Integrating poplar trees with agricultural crops provides additional income streams for farmers and contributes to soil conservation,biodiversity enhancement,and other environmental benefits.Farmers in these regions typically employ effective spacing of 5 m×4 m for block plantation and 1 m×3 m for row plantation.In the present study,a systematic literature review encompassing 137 English-language journal articles was conducted to assess the economic benefits of Poplar using discounted cash flow(DCF)analysis,considering short-rotation poplar(SRC)and very short-rotation poplar(vSRC)plantations alongside annual crops.The findings revealed that increasing canopy density led to a decline in crop yields by 37%,70%,and 99% at canopy densities of 30%,60%,and 90%,respectively,from early spring to harvest.Cost-benefit analysis in Saharanpur district,India,indicated average annual net returns of USD 346.36 for Poplar-based agrisilviculture,while monoculture yielded USD 140.73 per annum.Furthermore,economic analysis in Yamunanagar and Haridwar districts showed benefit-cost ratios ranging from 2.35 to 3.7.Additionally,Poplar block and boundary plantations were found to sequester significantly more carbon in long-lived biomass,serving as substitutes for fossil fuels(5.45 and 1.84 t ha-1 yr-1)in poplar-based systems with block and boundary plantations.The study suggested expanding spacing between tree rows may mitigate resource competition between plantations and crops.The study inferred that Poplar-based agroforestry may play a crucial role in climate mitigation programs by effectively sequestering atmospheric carbon and offering fuel,fodder,timber,and wood products,thereby alleviating pressure on existing natural forests.

NPR1-dependent salicylic acid signaling inhibits Agrobacteriummediated transient expression in Arabidopsis

Dear Editor,Arabidopsis thaliana,as a model plant,is the most well-studied plant species.One of the advantages of using Arabidopsis is that obtaining stably transformed plants using flower-dipping method is easy.However,generating transgenic plants is still time-consuming.Therefore,transient expression is frequently used to characterize protein functions.Several transient expression assays have been developed,including protoplast transfection,biolistic bombardment,and Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression.Among these assays,