Coupling Effect of Water and Phosphate on Economic Traits of Sugarcane

[Objective] The aim was to study the coupling effect of water and phosphate on economic traits of sugarcane. [Method] Taking sugarcane variety ROC22 as tested material,coupling effects of different levels of water supply quantity and different levels of phosphorus fertilizer on the yield and quality of sugarcane were studied. Among them,water supply quantity had 3 levels,that was,the water supply quantity per 10 days from the early tillering stage of sugarcane to the end of elongation was 199.5 m3/hm2 (A1),400.5 m3/hm2 (A2) and 600.0 m3/hm2 (A3),respectively; Phosphorus fertilizer as basic fertilizer had 4 levels:P2O5 0 kg/hm2 (B1),120 kg/hm2 (B2),240 kg/hm2 (B3) and 360 kg/hm2 (B4). [Result] Treatment A3B2 in water-fertilizer coupling was more suitable to improve economic traits of sugarcane. [Conclusion] The research results provide theoretical basis for the efficient utilization of water and phosphorus fertilizer in production of Guangxi sugarcane and the cultivation of high-yield and high-glucose sugarcane.

miR‑423 sponged by lncRNA NORHA inhibits granulosa cell apoptosis

Background Atresia and degeneration,a follicular developmental fate that reduces female fertility and is triggered by granulosa cell(GC)apoptosis,have been induced by dozens of miRNAs.Here,we report a miRNA,miR-423,that inhibits the initiation of follicular atresia(FA),and early apoptosis of GCs.Results We showed that miR-423 was down-regulated during sow FA,and its levels in follicles were negatively correlated with the GC density and the P4/E2 ratio in the follicular fluid in vivo.The in vitro gain-of-function experiments revealed that miR-423 suppresses cell apoptosis,especially early apoptosis in GCs.Mechanically speaking,the miR-423 targets and interacts with the 3’-UTR of the porcine SMAD7 gene,which encodes an apoptosis-inducing factor in GCs,and represses its expression and pro-apoptotic function.Interestingly,FA and the GC apoptosis-related lncRNA NORHA was demonstrated as a ceRNA of miR-423.Additionally,we showed that a single base deletion/insertion in the miR-423 promoter is significantly associated with the number of stillbirths(NSB)trait of sows.Conclusion These results demonstrate that miR-423 is a small molecule for inhibiting FA initiation and GC early apoptosis,suggesting that treating with miR-423 may be a novel approach for inhibiting FA initiation and improving female fertility.

Crossbreeding parameters for fertility traits in a rotational crossbreeding between Landrace and Piétrain pigs

The reproduction characteristics of 343 sows in six different breeding groups were analyzed to estimate the crossbreeding parameters. The results indicated that the ovulation rate and the weights of uterus and ovary are mainly determined by the additive genetic effects while the nonadditive genetic effects play an important role in embryonal traits and litter performance. The heterosis effects in the first litter are larger than those in the second litter because of heterosis x environment interaction. The results also showed the existence of a highly significant maternal heterosis effect on the fertility traits of sows.