Structural properties of residual carbon in coal gasification fine slag and their influence on flotation separation and resource utilization:A review

Coal gasification fine slag(FS)is a typical solid waste generated in coal gasification.Its current disposal methods of stockpil-ing and landfilling have caused serious soil and ecological hazards.Separation recovery and the high-value utilization of residual carbon(RC)in FS are the keys to realizing the win-win situation of the coal chemical industry in terms of economic and environmental benefits.The structural properties,such as pore,surface functional group,and microcrystalline structures,of RC in FS(FS-RC)not only affect the flotation recovery efficiency of FS-RC but also form the basis for the high-value utilization of FS-RC.In this paper,the characteristics of FS-RC in terms of pore structure,surface functional groups,and microcrystalline structure are sorted out in accordance with gasification type and FS particle size.The reasons for the formation of the special structural properties of FS-RC are analyzed,and their influence on the flotation separation and high-value utilization of FS-RC is summarized.Separation methods based on the pore structural characterist-ics of FS-RC,such as ultrasonic pretreatment-pore-blocking flotation and pore breaking-flocculation flotation,are proposed to be the key development technologies for improving FS-RC recovery in the future.The design of low-cost,low-dose collectors containing polar bonds based on the surface and microcrystalline structures of FS-RC is proposed to be an important breakthrough point for strengthening the flotation efficiency of FS-RC in the future.The high-value utilization of FS should be based on the physicochemical structural proper-ties of FS-RC and should focus on the environmental impact of hazardous elements and the recyclability of chemical waste liquid to es-tablish an environmentally friendly utilization method.This review is of great theoretical importance for the comprehensive understand-ing of the unique structural properties of FS-RC,the breakthrough of the technological bottleneck in the efficient flotation separation of FS,and the expansion of the field of the high value-added utilization of FS-RC.

Multiscale analysis of fine slag from pulverized coal gasification in entrained-flow bed

Fine slag(FS)is an unavoidable by-product of coal gasification.FS,which is a simple heap of solid waste left in the open air,easily causes environmental pollution and has a low resource utilization rate,thereby restricting the development of energy-saving coal gasification technologies.The multiscale analysis of FS performed in this study indicates typical grain size distribution,composition,crystalline structure,and chemical bonding characteristics.The FS primarily contained inorganic and carbon components(dry bases)and exhibited a"three-peak distribution"of the grain size and regular spheroidal as well as irregular shapes.The irregular particles were mainly adsorbed onto the structure and had a dense distribution and multiple pores and folds.The carbon constituents were primarily amorphous in structure,with a certain degree of order and active sites.C 1s XPS spectrum indicated the presence of C–C and C–H bonds and numerous aromatic structures.The inorganic components,constituting 90%of the total sample,were primarily silicon,aluminum,iron,and calcium.The inorganic components contained Si–O-Si,Si–O–Al,Si–O,SO_(4)^(2−),and Fe–O bonds.Fe 2p XPS spectrum could be deconvoluted into Fe 2p_(1/2) and Fe 2p_(3/2) peaks and satellite peaks,while Fe existed mainly in the form of Fe(III).The findings of this study will be beneficial in resource utilization and formation mechanism of fine slag in future.

Fine mapping of two recessive genes TaFLA1 and TaSPL8 controlling flag leaf angle in bread wheat

Flag leaf angle is one of the key target traits in high yield wheat breeding.A smaller flag leaf angle reduces shading and enables plants to grow at a higher density,which increases yield.Here we identified a mutant,je0407,with an 84.34%-89.35%smaller flag leaf angle compared with the wild type.The mutant also had an abnormal lamina joint and no ligule or auricle.Genetic analysis indicated that the ligule was controlled by two recessive genes,which were mapped to chromosomes 2AS and 2DL.The mutant allele on chromosome 2AS was named Tafla1b,and it was fine mapped to a 1 Mb physical interval.The mutant allele on chr.2DL was identified as Taspl8b,a novel allele of TaSPL8 with a missense mutation in the second exon,which was used to develop a cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence marker.F3 and F4 lines derived from crosses between Jing411 and je0407 were genotyped to investigate interactions between the Tafla1b and Taspl8b alleles.Plants with the Tafla1b/Taspl8a genotype had 58.41%-82.76%smaller flag leaf angles,6.4%-24.9%shorter spikes,and a greater spikelet density(0.382 more spikelets per cm)compared with the wild type.Plants with the Tafla1a/Taspl8b genotype had 52.62%-82.24%smaller flag leaf angles and no differences in plant height or spikelet density compared with the wild type.Tafla1b/Taspl8b plants produced erect leaves with an abnormal lamina joint.The two alleles had dosage effects on ligule formation and flag leaf angle,but no significant effect on thousand-grain weight.The mutant alleles provide novel resources for improvement of wheat plant architecture.

Changes on Stroke Burden Attributable to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter in China

Objective In recent decades,China has implemented a series of policies to address air pollution.We aimed to assess the health effects of these policies on stroke burden attributable to ambient fine particulate matter(PM_(2.5)).Methods Joinpoint regression was applied to explore the temporal tendency of stroke burden based on data from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study.Results The age-standardized rates of disability-adjusted life year(DALY)for stroke attributable to ambient PM2.5 in China,increased dramatically during 1990-2012,subsequently decreased at an annual percentage change(APC)of-1.98[95% confidence interval(CI):-2.26,-1.71]during 2012-2019.For ischemic stroke(IS),the age-standardized DALY rates doubled from 1990 to 2014,and decreased at an APC of-0.83(95%CI:-1.33,-0.33)during 2014-2019.Intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH)showed a substantial increase in age-standardized DALY rates from 1990 to 2003,followed by declining trends,with APCs of-1.46(95%CI:-2.74,-0.16)during 2003-2007 and-3.33(95%CI:-3.61,-3.06)during 2011-2019,respectively.Conversely,the age-standardized DALY rates for subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH)generally declined during 1990-2019.Conclusion Our results clarified the dynamic changes of the ambient PM_(2.5)-attributable stroke burden in China during 1990-2019,highlighting the health effects of air quality improvement policies.

Fine mapping of the powdery mildew resistance gene PmXQ-0508 in bread wheat

In a wheat breeding line XQ-0508 showing consistent resistance to powdery mildew disease,a recessive gene,designated PmXQ-0508,was identified and mapped to a distal region on chromosome arm 2BS.Of three resistance-associated genes in this region,one encoding a protein kinase was selected as the primary candidate for PmXQ-0508.Ten closely linked DNA markers developed in the study could be used for marker-assisted selection for powdery-mildew resistance in breeding programs.

Effective separation of coal gasification fine slag: Role of classification and ultrasonication in enhancing flotation

Effective separation of residual carbon and ash is the basis for the resource utilization of coal gasification fine slag(CGFS).The conventional flotation process of CGFS has the bottlenecks of low carbon recovery and high collector dosage.In order to address these issues,CGFS sample taken from Shaanxi,China was used as the study object in this paper.A new process of size classification-fine grain ultrasonic pretreatment flotation(SC-FGUF)was proposed and its separation effect was compared with that of wholegrain flotation(WGF)as well as size classification-fine grain flotation(SC-FGF).The mechanism of its enhanced separation effect was revealed through flotation kinetic fitting,flotation flow foam layer stability,particle size composition,surface morphology,pore structure,and surface chemical property analysis.The results showed that compared with WGF,pre-classification could reduce the collector dosage by 84.09%and the combination of pre-classification and ultrasonic pretreatment could increase the combustible recovery by 17.29%and up to 93.46%.The SC-FGUF process allows the ineffective adsorption of coarse residual carbon to collector during flotation stage to be reduced by pre-classification,and the tightly embedded state of fine CGFS particles is disrupted and surface oxidizing functional group occupancy was reduced by ultrasonic pretreatment,thus carbon and ash is easier to be separated in the flotation process.In addition,some of the residual carbon particles were broken down to smaller sizes in the ultrasonic pretreatment,which led to an increase in the stability of flotation flow foam layer and a decrease in the probability of detachment of residual carbon particles from the bubbles.Therefore,SCFGUF could increase the residual carbon recovery and reduce the flotation collector dosage,which is an innovative method for carbon-ash separation of CGFS with good application prospect.

Fine mapping and cloning of the sterility gene Bra2Ms in nonheading Chinese cabbage(Brassica rapa ssp.chinensis)

The application of a male-sterile line is an ideal approach for hybrid seed production in non-heading Chinese cabbage(Brassica rapa ssp.chinensis).However,the molecular mechanisms underlying male sterility in B.rapa are still largely unclear.We previously obtained the natural male sterile line WS24-3 of non-heading Chinese cabbage and located the male sterile locus,Bra2Ms,on the A2 chromosome.Cytological observations revealed that the male sterility of WS24-3 resulted from disruption of the meiosis process during pollen formation.Fine mapping of Bra2Ms delimited the locus within a physical distance of about 129 kb on the A2 chromosome of B.rapa.The Bra039753 gene encodes a plant homeodomain(PHD)-finger protein and is considered a potential candidate gene for Bra2Ms.Bra039753 was significantly downregulated in sterile line WS24-3 compared to the fertile line at the meiotic anther stage.Sequence analysis of Bra039753 identified a 369 bp fragment insertion in the first exon in male sterile plants,which led to an amino acid insertion in the Bra039753 protein.In addition,the 369 bp fragment insertion was found to cosegregate with the male sterility trait.This study identified a novel locus related to male sterility in non-heading Chinese cabbage,and the molecular marker obtained in this study will be beneficial for the marker-assisted selection of excellent sterile lines in non-heading Chinese cabbage and other Brassica crops.

Quick-scanning X-ray absorption fine structure beamline at SSRF

The layout and characteristics of the hard X-ray spectroscopy beamline(BL11B)at the Shanghai synchrotron radiation facility are described herein.BL11B is a bending-magnet beamline dedicated to conventional and millisecond-scale quick-scanning X-ray absorption fine structures.It is equipped with a cylindrical collimating mirror,a double-crystal monochromator comprising Si(111)and Si(311),a channel-cut quick-scanning Si(111)monochromator,a toroidal focusing mirror,and a high harmonics rejection mirror.It can provide 5-30 keV of X-rays with a photon flux of~5×10^(11)photons/s and an energy resolution of~1.31×10^(-4)at 10 keV.The performance of the beamline can satisfy the demands of users in the fields of catalysis,materials,and environmental science.This paper presents an overview of the beamline design and a detailed description of its performance and capabilities.

Influence of Recycled Concrete Fine Powder on Durability of Cement Mortar

In this paper,the durability of cement mortar prepared with a recycled-concrete fine powder(RFP)was examined;including the analysis of a variety of aspects,such as the carbonization,sulfate attack and chloride ion erosion resistance.The results indicate that the influence of RFP on these three aspects is different.The carbonization depth after 30 days and the chloride diffusion coefficient of mortar containing 10%RFP decreased by 13.3%and 28.19%.With a further increase in the RFP content,interconnected pores formed between the RFP particles,leading to an acceleration of the penetration rate of CO_(2)and Cl^(−).When the RFP content was less than 50%,the corrosion resistance coefficient of the compressive strength of the mortar was 0.84-1.05 after 90 days of sulfate attack.But the expansion and cracking of the mortar was effectively alleviated due to decrease of the gypsum production.Scanning electron microscope(SEM)analysis has confirmed that 10%RFP contributes to the formation of a dense microstructure in the cement mortar.

Cortical activity in patients with high-functioning ischemic stroke during the Purdue Pegboard Test:insights into bimanual coordinated fine motor skills with functional near-infrared spectroscopy

After stroke,even high-functioning individuals may experience compromised bimanual coordination and fine motor dexterity,leading to reduced functional independence.Bilateral arm training has been proposed as a promising intervention to address these deficits.However,the neural basis of the impairment of functional fine motor skills and their relationship to bimanual coordination performance in stroke patients remains unclear,limiting the development of more targeted interventions.To address this gap,our study employed functional near-infrared spectroscopy to investigate cortical responses in patients after stroke as they perform functional tasks that engage fine motor control and coordination.Twenty-four high-functioning patients with ischemic stroke(7 women,17 men;mean age 64.75±10.84 years)participated in this cross-sectional observational study and completed four subtasks from the Purdue Pegboard Test,which measures unimanual and bimanual finger and hand dexterity.We found significant bilateral activation of the sensorimotor cortices during all Purdue Pegboard Test subtasks,with bimanual tasks inducing higher cortical activation than the assembly subtask.Importantly,patients with better bimanual coordination exhibited lower cortical activation during the other three Purdue Pegboard Test subtasks.Notably,the observed neural response patterns varied depending on the specific subtask.In the unaffected hand task,the differences were primarily observed in the ipsilesional hemisphere.In contrast,the bilateral sensorimotor cortices and the contralesional hemisphere played a more prominent role in the bimanual task and assembly task,respectively.While significant correlations were found between cortical activation and unimanual tasks,no significant correlations were observed with bimanual tasks.This study provides insights into the neural basis of bimanual coordination and fine motor skills in high-functioning patients after stroke,highlighting task-dependent neural responses.The findings also suggest that patients who exhibit better bimanual performance demonstrate more efficient cortical activation.Therefore,incorporating bilateral arm training in post-stroke rehabilitation is important for better outcomes.The combination of functional near-infrared spectroscopy with functional motor paradigms is valuable for assessing skills and developing targeted interventions in stroke rehabilitation.

Repair of Second-Generation Recycled Fine Aggregate of Waste Concrete from Freeze-Thaw Environment by Carbonation Treatment

The reuse of waste recycled concrete from harsh environments has become a research hotspot in the field of construction.This study investigated the repair effect of carbonation treatment on second-generation recycled fine aggregate(SRFA)obtained from recycled fine aggregate concrete(RFAC)subjected to freeze-thaw(FT)cycles.Before and after carbonation,the properties of SRFA were evaluated.Carbonated second-generation recycled fine aggregate(CSRFA)at five substitution rates(0%,25%,50%,75%,100%)to replace SRFA was used to prepare carbonated second-generation recycled fine aggregate concrete(CSRFAC).The water absorption,porosity and mechanical properties of CSRFAC were tested,and its frost-resisting durability was evaluated.The results showed after carbonation treatment,the physical properties of SRFA was improved and met the requirements of II aggregate.The micro-hardness of the interfacial transition zone and attached mortar in CSRFA was 50.5%and 31.2%higher than that in SRFA,respectively.With the increase of CSRFA replacement rate,the water absorption and porosity of CSRFAC gradually decreased,and the mechanical properties and frost resistance of CSRFAC were gradually improved.Carbonation treatment effectively repairs the damage of SRFA caused by FT cycles and improves its application potential.

Micro-Locational Fine Dust Prediction Utilizing Machine Learning and Deep Learning Models

Given the increasing number of countries reporting degraded air quality,effective air quality monitoring has become a critical issue in today’s world.However,the current air quality observatory systems are often prohibitively expensive,resulting in a lack of observatories in many regions within a country.Consequently,a significant problem arises where not every region receives the same level of air quality information.This disparity occurs because some locations have to rely on information from observatories located far away from their regions,even if they may be the closest available options.To address this challenge,a novel approach that leverages machine learning and deep learning techniques to forecast fine dust concentrations was proposed.Specifically,continuous location features in the form of latitude and longitude values were incorporated into our models.By utilizing a comprehensive dataset comprising weather conditions,air quality measurements,and location properties,various machine learning models,including Random Forest Regression,XGBoost Regression,AdaBoost Regression,and a deep learning model known as Long Short-Term Memory(LSTM)were trained.Our experimental results demonstrated that the LSTM model outperforms the other models,achieving the best score with a root mean squared error of 23.48 in predicting fine dust(PM10)concentrations on an hourly basis.Furthermore,the fact that incorporating location properties,such as longitude and latitude values,enhances the overall quality of the regression models was discovered.Additionally,the implications and contributions of our research were discussed.By implementing our approach,the cost associated with relying solely on existing observatories can be substantially reduced.This reduction in costs can pave the way for economically efficient fine dust observation systems,ensuring more widespread and accurate air quality monitoring across different regions.

Influence of topography on the fine structures of stratospheric gravity waves:An analysis using COSMIC-2 temperature data

We derive the potential energy of gravity waves(GWs)in the upper troposphere and stratosphere at 45°S-45°N from December 2019 to November 2022 by using temperature profiles retrieved from the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology,Ionosphere,and Climate-2(COSMIC-2)satellite.Owing to the dense sampling of COSMIC-2,in addition to the strong peaks of gravity wave potential energy(GWPE)above the Andes and Tibetan Plateau,we found weak peaks above the Rocky,Atlas,Caucasus,and Tianshan Mountains.The land-sea contrast is responsible for the longitudinal variations of the GWPE in the lower and upper stratosphere.At 40°N/S,the peaks were mainly above the topographic regions during the winter.At 20°N/S,the peaks were a slight distance away from the topographic regions and might be the combined effect of nontopographic GWs and mountain waves.Near the Equator,the peaks were mainly above the regions with the lowest sea level altitude and may have resulted from convection.Our results indicate that even above the local regions with lower sea level altitudes compared with the Andes and Tibetan Plateau,the GWPE also exhibits fine structures in geographic distributions.We found that dissipation layers above the tropopause jet provide the body force to generate secondary waves in the upper stratosphere,especially during the winter months of each hemisphere and at latitudes of greater than 20°N/S.

When Design Defines a City

Both Spain and China’s practices in urban design show how urban governance,local social development,and people’s needs shape a city’s landscape.IN the 20th century,China and Spain faced the common challenge of urban transition.In China,it began with the urbanization and revitalization process with the inception of the reform and opening-up in 1978,and in Spain.

Optimizing Enterprise Conversational AI: Accelerating Response Accuracy with Custom Dataset Fine-Tuning

As the realm of enterprise-level conversational AI continues to evolve, it becomes evident that while generalized Large Language Models (LLMs) like GPT-3.5 bring remarkable capabilities, they also bring forth formidable challenges. These models, honed on vast and diverse datasets, have undoubtedly pushed the boundaries of natural language understanding and generation. However, they often stumble when faced with the intricate demands of nuanced enterprise applications. This research advocates for a strategic paradigm shift, urging enterprises to embrace a fine-tuning approach as a means to optimize conversational AI. While generalized LLMs are linguistic marvels, their inability to cater to the specific needs of businesses across various industries poses a critical challenge. This strategic shift involves empowering enterprises to seamlessly integrate their own datasets into LLMs, a process that extends beyond linguistic enhancement. The core concept of this approach centers on customization, enabling businesses to fine-tune the AI’s functionality to fit precisely within their unique business landscapes. By immersing the LLM in industry-specific documents, customer interaction records, internal reports, and regulatory guidelines, the AI transcends its generic capabilities to become a sophisticated conversational partner aligned with the intricacies of the enterprise’s domain. The transformative potential of this fine-tuning approach cannot be overstated. It enables a transition from a universal AI solution to a highly customizable tool. The AI evolves from being a linguistic powerhouse to a contextually aware, industry-savvy assistant. As a result, it not only responds with linguistic accuracy but also with depth, relevance, and resonance, significantly elevating user experiences and operational efficiency. In the subsequent sections, this paper delves into the intricacies of fine-tuning, exploring the multifaceted challenges and abundant opportunities it presents. It addresses the technical intricacies of data integration, ethical considerations surrounding data usage, and the broader implications for the future of enterprise AI. The journey embarked upon in this research holds the potential to redefine the role of conversational AI in enterprises, ushering in an era where AI becomes a dynamic, deeply relevant, and highly effective tool, empowering businesses to excel in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

The Effect of Mineral Composition and Quantity of Fines on the Atterberg Limits and Compaction Characteristics of Soils

Because of the various elements that come into play in natural soil formation, the impact of varied proportions of mineral composition and fines amount on Atterberg limits and compaction characteristics of soils is not well known. Three distinct soil samples were used in this investigation. The findings indicated the effect of varied mineral composition proportions and fines amount on the liquid limit, plastic limit, and plasticity index as assessed by the Casagrande test and hand-rolling method. The fluctuation of maximum dry density and optimal moisture content with these three soils has also been studied. Furthermore, correlations were established to indicate the compaction parameters and the amount of minerals and particles in the soil. The data show that the mineral content of the soil has a direct impact on the Atterberg limits and compaction characteristics. Soils containing larger percentages of expansive minerals, such as montmorillonite, have more flexibility and volume change capability. Mineral composition influences compaction parameters such as maximum dry density, ideal water content, axial strain, and axial stress. Soils with a larger proportion of fines, such as Soil 2 and Soil 3, have stronger flexibility and lower compaction qualities, with higher ideal water content and lower maximum dry density. Soil 1 has moderate flexibility and intermediate compaction qualities due to its low fines percentage. The effect of different mineral compositions and fines on the Atterberg limits and compaction characteristics of soils can be used to predict the behavior of compacted soils encountered in engineering practices, reducing the time and effort required to assess soil suitability for engineering use.

A Study on the Effect of Low Calcium Ultra-fine Fly Ash as a Partial Sustainable Supplementary Material to Cement in Self-compacting Concrete

The aim and scope of the present study were to determine the efficacy of UFFA in evaluating the workability,static and dynamic stabilization properties,retention period,and slump loss of SCC systems in their fresh state,as well as their compressive strength at various ages.Microstructure(SEM and XRD)of blended SCC systems were studied.Also,the thermogravimetry behavior of blended SCC specimens were researched.According to the evaluated results,incorporating up to 20%UFFA into fresh concrete improved its performance due to its engineered fine particle size and spherical geometry,both of which contribute to the enhancement of characteristics.Blends of 25%and 30%of UFFA show effect on the water-binder ratio and chemical enhancer dosage,resulting in a loss of homogeneity in fresh SCC systems.The reduced particle size,increased amorphous content,and increased surface area all contribute to the pozzolanic reactivity of the early and later ages,resulting in denser packing and thus an increase in compressive strength.The experimental results indicate that UFFA enhances the properties of SCC in both its fresh and hardened states,which can be attributed to the particles’fineness and their relative effect on SCC.

Latest advances and progress in the microbubble flotation of fine minerals:Microbubble preparation,equipment,and applications

In the past few decades,microbubble flotation has been widely studied in the separation and beneficiation of fine minerals.Compared with conventional flotation,microbubble flotation has obvious advantages,such as high grade and recovery and low consumption of flotation reagents.This work systematically reviews the latest advances and research progress in the flotation of fine mineral particles by microbubbles.In general,microbubbles have small bubble size,large specific surface area,high surface energy,and good selectivity and can also easily be attached to the surface of hydrophobic particles or large bubbles,greatly reducing the detaching probability of particles from bubbles.Microbubbles can be prepared by pressurized aeration and dissolved air,electrolysis,ultrasonic cavitation,photocatalysis,solvent exchange,temperature difference method(TDM),and Venturi tube and membrane method.Correspondingly,equipment for fine-particle flotation is categorized as microbubble release flotation machine,centrifugal flotation column,packed flotation column,and magnetic flotation machine.In practice,microbubble flotation has been widely studied in the beneficiation of ultrafine coals,metallic minerals,and nonmetallic minerals and exhibited superiority over conventional flotation machines.Mechanisms underpinning the promotion of fine-particle flotation by nanobubbles include the agglomeration of fine particles,high stability of nanobubbles in aqueous solutions,and enhancement of particle hydrophobicity and flotation dynamics.

Intraspecific variations in fine root N and P and factors affecting their concentrations in Masson pine plantations across subtropical China

Fine roots(<2 mm)play vital roles in water and nutrient uptake.However,intraspecific variations in their chemical traits and their controlling mechanisms remain poorly understood at a regional scale.This study examined these intraspecific variations in fine roots in Masson pine(Pinus massoniana Lamb.)plantations across subtropical China and their responses to environmental factors.Root nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P)concentrations and their mass ratios(N:P)ranged from 3.5 to 11.7 g kg^(-1),0.2 to0.9 g kg^(-1),and 7.8 to 51.6 g kg^(-1),respectively.These three chemical traits were significantly different between sites and in longitudinal patterns across subtropical China.Mean annual temperature was positively related to root N concentration but negatively related to root P concentration.There were significant,negative relationships between clay content and root P concentration and between pH and root N concentration.Available N had no significant relationship with root N concentration,while available P was a significantly positive relationship with root P concentration.The combined effects of altitude,climate(temperature and precipitation)and soil properties(pH,clay content,available N and P)explained 26%and 36%of the root N and P concentrations variations,respectively.These environmental variables had direct and indirect effects and exhibited disproportionate levels of total effects on root N and P concentrations.Root N and P concentrations explained 35%and 65%variations in their mass ratios,respectively.The results highlight different spatial patterns of chemical traits and various environmental controls on root N and P concentrations in these ecosystems.More cause-effect relationships of root chemical traits with abiotic and biotic factors are needed to understand nutrient uptake strategies and the mechanisms controlling intraspecific variations in plant traits.

Fine mapping and validation of a stable QTL for thousand-kernel weight in wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)

Thousand-kernel weight(TKW)is a measure of grain weight,a target of wheat breeding.The object of this study was to fine-map a stable quantitative trait loci(QTL)for TKW and identify its candidate gene in a recombinant inbred line(RIL)population derived from the cross of Kenong 9204(KN9204)and Jing411(J411).On a high-density genetic linkage map,24,26 and 25 QTL were associated with TKW,kernel length(KL),and kernel width(KW),respectively.A major and stable QTL,QTkw-2D,was mapped to an8.3 cM interval on chromosome arm 2DL.By saturation of polymorphic markers in its target region,QTkw-2D was confined to a 9.13 Mb physical interval using a secondary mapping population derived from a residually heterozygous line(F6:7).This interval was further narrowed to 2.52 Mb using QTkw-2D near-isogenic lines(NILs).NILs~(KN9204)had higher fresh and dry weights than NILsJ411at various grain-filling stages.The TKW and KW of NILs~(KN9204)were much higher than those of NILsJ411in field trials.By comparison of both DNA sequence and expression between KN9204 and J411,TraesCS2D02G460300.1(TraesKN2D01HG49350)was assigned as a candidate gene for QTkw-2D.This was confirmed by RNA sequencing(RNA-seq)of QTkw-2D NILs.These results provide the basis of map-based cloning of QTkw-2D,and DNA markers linked to the candidate gene may be used in marker-assisted selection.