Application of Pyroligneous Acid in the Prevention and Control of Brown Blotch Disease in Pleurotus ostreatus

In the present study,agar diffusion test and field trials were carried out using a mushroom(Pleurotus ostreatus)cultivar Shouyanping as the experimental material to determine the antibacterial activity of refined pyroligneous acid prepared from almond shell against Pseudomonas tolaasii and its effects on mycelial growth of mushroom.The results revealed that 1.25%,2.50%and 5.00%of refined pyroligneous acid obviously inhibited the occurrence of brown blotch disease in mushroom,but also greatly promoted mushroom mycelial growth.Therefore,1.25%and 2.50%of refined pyroligneous acid can be used in fields to prevent brown blotch disease,and 5.00%refined pyroligneous acid can be used to control the incidence of brown blotch disease when it widely occurs in fields.

Non-invasive genetic analysis indicates low population connectivity in vulnerable Chinese gorals:concerns for segregated population management

Detailed information on the size and genetic structure of wildlife populations is critical for developing effective conservation strategies, especially for those species that have suffered population decline and fragmentation due to anthropogenic activities. In the present study, we used a non-invasive approach combining fecal pellet sampling with mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA microsatellite marker analysis to monitor and compare the population structure of the Chinese goral (Naemorhedus griseus) in Beijing and northeast Inner Mongolia in China. Of the 307 fecal samples confirmed to be from N. griseus, 15 individuals (nine females and six males) were found in the Beijing population and 61 individuals (37 females and 24 males) were found in the Inner Mongolian population. Among these 76 individuals, we identified eight haplotypes and 13 nucleotide polymorphic sites from mtDNA and 45 alleles from 10 microsatellite loci. Spatially structured genetic variation and a significant level of genetic differentiation were observed between the two populations. In both populations, the sex ratios were skewed toward females, indicating high reproductive potential, which is crucial for population recovery and conservation of this patchily distributed vulnerable species. We suggest that managing the two populations as evolutionarily significant units with diverse genetic backgrounds could be an effective solution for present population recovery, with the possible relocation of individuals among different groups to help ensure future goral species prosperity.

Effects of Irradiance and Temperature on the Photosynthesis and Vegetative Propagation of Caulerpa serrulata

The photosynthetic oxygen evolution of Caulerpa serrulata was determined with oxygen electrodes. The effects of light and temperature on the growth and regeneration of fragmented C. serrulata thalli were analyzed. The regenerating rate and establishment of different sizes and portions of C. serrulata were studied. The results showed that the light saturation point of C. serrulata was 200 μmol photons/m^2 per s and the optimum growth temperature was 25-30 ℃. Under these conditions, the maximum photosynthetic oxygen evolution rate was 15.1 ± 0.29 mg O2/mg Chl alh, the growth rate and elongation rate reached the highest values, 4.67 ±0.09 mg FW/d and 0.78± 0.01 mm/d, respectively. The fragmented C. serrulata thalli was regenerated at 20-35℃ and survived at 15℃ and 200 μmol photons/m^2 per s. A different survival rate was detected according to fragment size. All of these results indicated that C. serrulata was a candidate to become an invasive species if introduced into a new place. Therefore, we should pay more attention to C. serrulata for its potential threat to marine ecosystem when it is sold for aquarium use.