Distribution and accumulation of zinc and nitrogen in wheat grain pearling fractions in response to foliar zinc and soil nitrogen applications

Increasing zinc(Zn)concentration in wheat grain is important to minimize human dietary Zn deficiency.This study aimed to investigate the effect of foliar Zn and soil nitrogen(N)applications on the accumulation and distribution of N and Zn in grain pearling fractions,N remobilization,and the relationships between nutrient concentration in the vegetative tissues and grain or its fractions in two cropping years in the North China Plain.The results showed a progressive decrease in N and Zn concentrations from the outer to the inner parts of grain,with most of the accumulation in the core endosperm.Foliar Zn application significantly increased N concentration in the pericarp,and soil N application increased N concentration in each grain fraction.Both treatments significantly increased core endosperm Zn concentration.Foliar Zn had no effect on grain N and Zn distribution.Soil N application made N concentrated in the aleurone,promoted Zn translocation to the core endosperm and also increased N remobilization and its efficiency from the shoot to the grain,but no improved contribution to grain was found.N concentration in grain and its fractions were positively correlated with N in vegetative organs at anthesis and maturity,while positive correlations were obtained between N concentration in the pericarp and progressive central area of the endosperm and Zn concentration in the core endosperm.Thus,foliar Zn and soil N applications effectively increased yield and N and Zn concentrations in the wheat grain,particularly in the endosperm,and could be promising strategies to address Zn deficiency.

Protein Phosphorylation and Phosphoproteome:An Overview of Rice

Protein phosphorylation,one of the major post-translational modifications,plays a crucial role in cell signaling,DNA replication,gene expression and differentiation;and alters enzyme activity and other biological activities;and regulates cell proliferation and enlargement,phytohormone biosynthesis and signaling,plant disease resistance,and grain filling and quality during rice seed development.Research work on protein phosphorylation started in the 1950 s with the discovery of phosphorylase a and phosphorylase b which are phospho and dephospho forms of the same enzyme.Over the last decade,rice proteomics has accomplished tremendous progress in setting up techniques to proteome nearly all tissues,organs and organelles.The progress made in this field is evident in number of research works.However,research on rice protein phosphorylation is still at its infancy and there are still many unanswered questions.In this review,the general description of protein phosphorylation,including history,structure,frequency of occurrence and function,are discussed.This work also elucidates the different methods for identification,qualification and finally,the progress in rice phosphoproteome research and perspectives.

Evaluation and Identification of Resistance to Diseases and Pests for Rice Varieties in Hainan

[Objectives]This study was conducted to select multi-resistant rice varieties in Hainan.[Methods]Seven new rice germplasms were identified by naturally induced disease nursery,field spraying and artificial inoculation.[Results]The restorer line Haihui 1558 was resistant to the dominant races ZB and ZC of rice blast and Tryporyza incertulas,and moderately resistant to pathotype IV of bacterial blight.The restorer line Haihui 227 was resistant to pathotype IV of bacterial blight and T.incertulas.Red rice Hainonghong 1 was resistant to pathotype IV of bacterial blight,and moderately resistant to the dominant races ZB and ZC of rice blast.Black glutinous rice Haifengheinuo 2 was moderately resistant to pathotypes IV of bacterial blight and T.incertulas.[Conclusions]The study provides reference for utilization of rice breeding on resistance to diseases and pests.

Integrated management of African rice gall midge (AfRGM) (<i>Orseolia oryzivora,</i>Harris and gagné), weeds and diseases of lowland rice

Studies were conducted during the 2001 and 2002 cropping years at Edozhigi and Sachi in the Southern Guinea Savannah of Nigeria to study the effect of following rice with another crop on the next rice crop. There were twelve treatments consisting of poor, good and excellent weed management and pesticidal applications against (AfRGM and diseases set up in a randomized complete block design, in twelve plots in 3 replicates. Results showed that rice treated with gramular isazofos at 0.75 kg a.i. ha–1 and benomyl at 1.0 kg/ha at 20 and 40 days after transplanting (DAT), with good weed management and a follow up crop after rice reduced AfRGM occurrence and disease incidence with a consequent increase in yield of the next rice crop. In 2001 infestation of rice by ARGM was more at Sachi than Edozhigi, while in 2002 there was low ARGM occurrence at the two locations. Brown leaf spot was high at the two locations in the two years of the trial while leaf blast was checked by the integrated control methods used in the study. Higher yields were (1.7 - 11.9 t·ha) from treated-well weeded plots that were cropped to cowpea after the 2001 rice harvest Ludwigia decurens, Sphanoclea geylanica Cyperus difformis and Lepllocidia chinensis were the widely occurring weed species at Edozhigi site while Cyperus difformis, Ipomea mvolucrata, F. awuata and Firnbristylis litoralis were weed species prevalent at Sachi site. The rice nematode, hirschmanniella sp. was recorded at the Sachi site along with other nematodes but was absent at the Edozhigi site. The net benefit farmers would derive for following this rice-dry-season crop sequence vary from US$ 172 - 427 and US$ 175 - 265 ha–1 at Sachi and Edozhigi respectively.

Sequence Mutation of Exon 7 of Badh2 Gene and Aroma Identification of Fragrant Rice Varieties

In this study,we performed amplificaion and sequence analysis of exon7 of gene Badh2 of 12 fragrant rice materials,and identified the aroma of fragrant rice materials by the method of seed chewing and KOH soaking,so as to analyze the sequence mutation of exon 7 in the Badh2 gene of rice material and its corresponding relation with the flavor character.The results showed that an 8 bp deletion(aaaa--t---ggc)and a mutation of SNP(g→t)in exon 7 of Badh2 gene were found in 10 materials,including Xiangnuo,Lvjinxiang,Meixiangzhan 2,Huaxiang,Yuexiangxuan 1,Hongyuxiang,Meixiangxuan 1,Baxiangxuan 1,Taixiangxuan 1,Taixiangxuan 2.This mutation was consistent with the mutation of EU155083 sequence in GenBank and was reported for the first time in Chinese rice materials.In these 10 fragrant rice materials with mutation,Huaxiang and Meixiangxuan 1 were identified as the heterozygote genotype,and Hongyuxiang was identified as non-fragrant rice,so the sequence mutation in exon 7 of Badh2 gene in fragrant rice materials did not correspond to aroma traits one by one;and 7 materials were identified as fragrant rice,and the brown rice of Meixiangzhan 2 and Yuexiangyuan 1 had sweet taste.The results could provide a reference for the research on the genetic mechanism of rice aroma character and the promotion of fragrant rice varieties.

Isolation and Analysis of Drought-Induced Genes in Maize Roots

Maize roots are important component for plant adaptation to soil water deficits because they are supposed to take up water and necessary solutes from the soil. In the present study, the drought-induced genes were isolated in maize roots. A suppression subtractive hybridization protocol was applied to construct a forward subtractive cDNA library from CN165 for drought-stressed maize roots and a number of drought-induced genes were isolated. Totally, 126 uniESTs （containing 82 singlets and 44 contigs） were obtained from 503 available ESTs sequences after macroarray hybridization. UniESTs were analyzed using BLASTN and BLASTX and the results showed that 92% of the uniESTs had homolgous sequences in maize nr database by BLASTN. About 89% of uniESTs appeared the homlogous amino acid sequences in rice protein database but not in maize protein database by BLASTX, implying that those genes are likely new functional genes in maize. Function analysis showed that those genes were involved in a broad spectrum of biological pathways, mainly in signaling and regulatory pathways related to stress tolerance.

Composite Flours-Characteristics of Wheat/Hemp and Wheat/Teff Models

Wheat/hemp and wheat/teff model composites were prepared as 90:10 and 80:20 w/w blends, using two different Czech commercial wheat flour samples (standards M, M1) and bright/dark forms of these non-traditional crops flour. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of alternative flour samples on the blend compositional profiles including dietary fibre content, on the technological quality described by modern Solvent Retention Capacity method and on laboratory baking test results. According to seeds composition, nutritional flour enrichment reached higher levels of protein (from approx. 13.0% about 30% vs. 6%) and fibre contents (from approx. 3.3% about 50% vs. 30%) in the case of hemp and teff samples. In terms of the SRC profile, the qualitatively better sample M was weakened by hemp flour additions, while somewhat worse sample M1 was improved by teff flour additions. Results from the baking test showed that the hemp composites were partly dependent on hemp flour form. Volumes of bread with bright hemp were diminished from 257 mL/100g up to 196 mL/100g, the products containing dark hemp increased up to 328 mL/100g. Teff-fortified bun volumes were evaluated in close range of 325 - 369 mL/100g against 381 mL/100g for standard M1. Sensorial score of wheat/hemp breads were worse owing to spicy taste and fatty aftertaste, while hay-like by-taste in wheat/teff bread could be tolerable of 10% in recipe.

Valuation of Rice Postharvest Losses in Sub-Saharan Africa and Its Mitigation Strategies

Data on rice harvest and postharvest loss in Sub-Sahara Africa(SSA)is scanty making it difficult for stakeholders to appreciate the loss and set priority areas for loss reduction along the value chain.To address this problem,a protocol was developed and validated for postharvest loss(PHL)quantification in SSA.Quantitative losses at each segment were determined by field measurements.Interactive effect of origin of rice(domestic versus imported)and type of processing(white versus parboiled milled)on rice price in 33 markets in Africa was used to estimate qualitative loss for both white and parboiled milled rice.Total PHL for rice in SSA in 2018 is estimated at about US$10.24 billion,representing 47.63%of the expected total production.The highest loss recorded was quantitative loss before and during harvesting,followed by qualitative loss along the entire value chain,quantitative loss during milling,parboiling,threshing in that order,with the lowest being quantitative loss during drying.Priority areas to be targeted for PHL reduction in SSA and some loss mitigation tools and technologies piloted or suitable for SSA are proposed.

The receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase OsRLCK118 regulates plant development and basal immunity in rice(Oryza sativa L.)

Receptor-like cytoplasmic kinases(RLCKs),which belong to a large subgroup of receptor-like kinases in plants,play crucial roles in plant development and immunity.However,their functions and regulatory mechanisms in plants remain unclear.Here,we report functional characterization of OsRLCK118 from the OsRLCK34 subgroup in rice(Oryza sativa L.).Expression of OsRLCK118 could be induced by infections with Xanthomonas oryzae pv.oryzae(Xoo)strains PXO68 and PXO99.Silencing of OsRLCK118 altered plant height,flag-leaf angle and second-topleaf angle.Silencing of OsRLCK118 also resulted in increasing susceptibility to Xoo and Magnaporthe oryzae(M.oryzae)in rice plants.OsRLCK118 knock-out plants were more sensitive to bacterial blight whereas OsRLCK118 overexpressor plants exhibited increased disease resistance.Expression levels of pathogenesis-related genes of OsPAL1,OsNH1,OsICS1,OsPR1a,OsPR5 and OsPR10 were reduced in the rlck118 mutant compared to wild-type rice(Dongjin)and knock-out of OsRLCK118 compromised the production of reactive oxygen species.These results suggest that OsRLCK118 may modulate basal resistance to Xoo and M.oryzae,possibly through regulation of ROS burst and hormone mediated defense signaling pathway.

水稻泛素缀合酶基因OsUbc13的分子特征和蛋白互作研究(英文)

研究目的:通过研究水稻泛素缀合酶基因OsUbc13的序列特征、表达模式、亚细胞定位模式及其互作分子,为深入研究该基因的生物学功能和分子作用机理奠定基础。创新要点:首次对植物Ubc13进行了亚细胞定位研究及蛋白互作研究。研究方法:通过序列比对及聚类分析进行OsUbc13的序列特征研究;通过实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(PCR)进行OsUbc13的表达模式分析;通过聚乙二醇(PEG)介导转化烟草BY-2原生质体进行OsUbc13亚细胞定位研究(见图4);通过酵母双杂交进行OsUbc13的蛋白质互作分析(见图5和表1)。重要结论:OsUbc13编码具有153个氨基酸的蛋白质,其推断的氨基酸序列与其它同源序列具有很高的相似性;该基因在水稻各组织中均有表达,其中内稃、雌蕊、雄蕊和叶片中的表达量较高,而根、茎和外稃中的表达量较低;低温、甲基磺酸甲酯(MMS)和过氧化氢(H2O2)胁迫处理使胚性愈伤中OsUbc13的表达量显著上调,甘露醇、脱落酸(ABA)和氯化钠(NaCl)胁迫则使愈伤组织中该基因的表达量降低;OsUbc13与绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)的融合蛋白表达于质膜和核膜处;酵母双杂交结果表明约有20个蛋白可能与OsUbc13存在相互作用,其中OsVDAC(与细胞凋亡有关)、OsMADS1(与花器官发育有关)、OsB22EL8(与活性氧清除及DNA保护有关)和OsCROC-1(为Lys63聚合泛素链形成及运行无误性DNA损伤耐受机制所必需)四个蛋白经验证确与OsUbc13互作。