Information Description of Vegetable Planting Metadata Model

[Objective] To study the information description of vegetable planting metadata model. [Method] On the basis of analyzing the data involved in every as- pect of vegetable planting, this paper put forward description schemes of vegetable planting metadata and constructed vegetable planting metadata model by the means of XML/XML schema. [Result] Metadata model of vegetable planting was established, and information description of vegetable planting metadata model was realized by the using of XML Schema. The whole metadata model consists of 7 first-class classifica- tions, including more than 800 information description points which could completely record vegetable planting-related information. [Conclusion] Standards for data collec- tion, management and sharing were provided for the agriculture applications in indus- tries like GAP management of vegetable planting, facility vegetable, food quality traceability, etc.

Influence of Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci （Gennadius）, Infestation on Micronutrients Content in Some Vegetable Plants in a Greenhouse

The whitefly is well-known as a serious pest on many economic vegetable crops. It feeds by absorbing plant sap which includes many important nutrients for plant,＇;. An experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of whitefly, B. tabaci （Gennadius）, infestation on the micronutrients; Manganese, Zinc, Copper and Molybdenum, in three plant varieties; cantaloupe （Cucumis melo L.）, cucumber （Cucumis sativus L.） and zucchini （Cucurbita pepo L.） that were planted in a greenhouse at the Agricultural Research Station in Hada AI Sham, north east of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. Results of this investigation showed that, in general whitefly infestation reduced micronutrients content in plants. Mean content of total micronutrients in each of infested cucumber and zucchini were less than control plants significantly, but the infestation did not vary total micronutrients content in cantaloupe significantly. Feeding of the whitefly reduced mean content of each Zinc and Molybdenum in infested plants significantly, but did not vary Manganese and Copper content significantly.

Numerical simulation of vegetated mine dump slope with reference to small plants

The present paper discusses the effects of small plants on the dump mass reinforcement and slope stability.The roots of smaller plants(such as grasses and shrubs)do not go deep.However,they stabilize the slope by binding the upper layer of dump slope.Shear strength of the dump mass with and without root reinforcement is determined by laboratory shear box instrument.The increased cohesion(apparent cohesion)of upper layer of the dump mass due to plants is determined by fabricated shear box.The kinetic behavior of the dump has been investigated using the FLAC software.The factor of safety has been calculated in order to determine the possible effect of small plants on the stability of the dump slope.It is observed that the small plants do not significantly improve the factor of safety(FOS)of slope.However,it could be useful for early stabilization.The grasses quickly bind the upper surface,whereas shrubs too immensely strengthen the stability of the dump in the initial stage.

Plant community composition and interspecific relationships among dominant species on a post-seismic landslide in Hongchun Gully, China

The 5.12 Earthquake in 2008 and 8.14 Debris Flow in 2010 resulted in large-scale landslides that disturbed vast areas of vegetation in the Hongchun Gully, Wenchuan County, China. To define the specific characteristics of vegetation restoration during natural recovery after catastrophic events,vegetation species composition and interspecific associations were investigated on this typical landslide. Field survey data selected from a total of 51 sample plots belonged to seven belt transects and were analysed by Schluter's variance ratio, pearson's chi-squared test, Spearman's correlation coefficients and ecological species groups. Plant communities on the landslide consisted of 78 species, 65 genera and52 families. Of the total of 78 species, 25 are identified as dominant species, among which Camptotheca acuminate, Toxicodendron vernicifluum, Coriaria nepalensis, Robinia pseudoacacia, Buddleja alternifolia, Anemone vitifolia and Nephrolepis auriculata play a constructive role during the natural afforestation. Moreover, according to environmental and ecological factors, these 25 dominant species could be divided into four ecological species groups.This study found that even though the landslide had frequently suffered from interference due to heavy rain, the vegetation succession processes are ongoing,and it is now at a shrub–herb community succession stage, which indicates that vegetation can naturally recover in the denuded sites. This study provides a useful insight into the ecological interactions and interdependence between plant species during the natural recovery of vegetation and provides valuable information on vegetation recovery modelling in the landslide area.

Genetic Manipulation of Non-Classic Oilseed Plants for Enhancement of Their Potential as a Biofactory for Triacylglycerol Production

Global demand for vegetable oil is anticipated to double by 2030. The current vegetable oil production platforms, including oil palm and temperate oilseeds, are unlikely to produce such an expansion. Therefore, the exploration of novel vegetable oil sources has become increasingly important in order to make up this future vegetable oil shortfall. Triacylglycerol （TAG）, as the dominant form of vegetable oil, has recently attracted immense interest in terms of being produced in plant vegetative tissues via genetic engineering technologies. Multidiscipline-based ＂-omics＂ studies are increasingly enhancing our understanding of plant lipid biochemistry and metabolism. As a result, the identification of biochemical pathways and the annotation of key genes contributing to fatty acid biosynthesis and to lipid assembly and turnover have been effectively updated. In recent years, there has been a rapid development in the genetic enhancement of TAG accumulation in high-biomass plant vegetative tissues and oilseeds through the genetic manipulation of the key genes and regulators involved in TAG biosynthesis. In this review, current genetic engineering strategies ranging from single-gene manipulation to multigene stacking aimed at increasing plant biomass TAG accumulation are summarized. New directions and suggestions for plant oil production that may help to further alleviate the potential shortage of edible oil and biodiesel are discussed.