Field effect of Cnaphalocrocis medinalis granulovirus (CnmeGV) on the pest of rice leaffolder

Rice leaffolder,Cnaphalocrocis medinalis(Guenée),has become a major pest throughout the rice cultivating areas of China and caused severe damage to rice production.Cnaphalocrocis medinalis granulovirus(CnmeGV),a naturally occurring baculovirus,is revealed as a potential microbial agent for the pest control.Field applications of CnmeGV were conducted against rice leaffolder larvae in rice paddies.CnmeGV infected the larvae not only in the current generation but also in the successive generation,resulting in a sustained infection in the larva population for at least 48 days.Under diferent concentrations of CnmeGV(7.5×1011 and 1.125×1012 occlusion body(OB)ha-1)at 30 days after spraying,larval population reduced up to 76.32%and rice leaf rolled rate kept in 15.42%.Simultaneously,CnmeGV had no impact on arthropod predators of C.medinalis,with abundances ranging from 2.39 to 3.79 per ten hills.These results revealed that CnmeGV is suitable as a bio-pesticide for rice leaffolder management in rice paddies.

Growth and Reproduction of Artificially Fed Cnaphalocrocis medinalis

The growth and reproduction of rice leaffolder,Cnaphalocrocis medinalis,fed on an artificial diet were studied.The results showed that the larvae were able to grow and pupate on the artificial diet.The durations of larvae and pupas of C.medinalis on the artificial diet were 28.1 d and 10.1 d,postponed 4.9 d and 1.7 d respectively,compared with those reared with rice leaves.The number of ovipositions was 41.6 per female,26.2% higher than that fed on rice leaves.Survival rate curve of larvae was a descent function of mortality-age,with no significant differences from the curve of larvae fed on rice leaves.The net reproductive rate （Ro）,intrinsic rate of increase （rm） and finite rate of increase （λ） of the population fed on diet were 17.6928,0.0884 and 1.0924,respectively,and the mean generation time （T） and double time （td） were prolonged 4.9 d and 1.3 d in comparison with the treatment of rice leaves.Population trend index （I） was 3.26,indicating a growing number of the population of C.medinalis fed on artificial diet.

Identification of a pleiotropic QTL cluster for Fusarium head blight resistance,spikelet compactness,grain number per spike and thousand-grain weight in common wheat

Simultaneously improving Fusarium head blight(FHB)resistance and grain yield is challenging in wheat breeding.The correlations between spikelet compactness(SC),grain number per spike(GNS),thousandgrain weight(TGW)and FHB resistance remains unclear in common wheat.Identification of major quantitative trait loci(QTL)conferring FHB resistance and yield components,and development of breeder-friendly markers for the QTL are prerequisites for marker-assisted selection(MAS).Here,a recombinant inbred line(RIL)population derived from a cross between a resistant cultivar Yangmai 12(YM12)and a susceptible cultivar Yanzhan 1(YZ1)was used to map QTL for FHB resistance and yield components.A total of 22 QTL were identified;among these,six are likely to be new for corresponding traits.A QTL cluster(Qclu.yas-2D)for FHB type II resistance,SC,GNS,and TGW was detected on chromosome 2D.Breeder-friendly kompetitive allele-specific PCR(KASP)markers flanking the interval of Qclu.yas-2D were developed and validated in a diverse panel of 166 wheat cultivars and advanced lines.The YM12 alleles of Qclu.yas-2D significantly increased FHB resistance,SC,and GNS but decreased TGW in the validation population.The KASP markers developed for Qclu.yas-2D have great potential for breeding high-yielding wheat cultivars with enhanced FHB resistance.

Influence of high-molecular-weight glutenin subunit deletions at the Glu-A1 and Glu-D1 loci on protein body development, protein components and dough properties of wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)

High-molecular-weight glutenin subunits(HMW-GSs) play a critical role in determining the viscoelastic properties of wheat. As the organelle where proteins are stored, the development of protein bodies(PBs) reflects the status of protein synthesis and also affects grain quality to a great extent. In this study, with special materials of four near-isogenic lines in a Yangmai 18 background we created, the effects of Glu-A1 and Glu-D1 loci deletions on the development and morphological properties of the protein body, protein components and dough properties were investigated. The results showed that the deletion of the HMW-GS subunit delayed the development process of the PBs, and slowed the increases of volume and area of PBs from 10 days after anthesis(DAA) onwards. In contrast, the areas of PBs at 25 DAA, the middle or late stage of endosperm development, showed no distinguishable differences among the four lines. Compared to the wild type and single null type in Glu-A1, the ratios of HMW-GSs to low-molecular-weight glutenin subunits(LMW-GSs), glutenin macropolymer(GMP) content, mixograph parameters as well as extension parameters decreased in the single null type in Glu-D1 and double null type in Glu-A1 and Glu-D1, while the ratios of gliadins(Gli)/glutenins(Glu) in those types increased. The absence of Glu-D1 subunits decreased both dough strength and extensibility significantly compared to the Glu-A1 deletion type. These results provide a detailed description of the effect of HMW-GS deletion on PBs, protein traits and dough properties, and contribute to the utilization of Glu-D1 deletion germplasm in weak gluten wheat improvement for use in cookies, cakes and southern steamed bread in China and liquor processing.

Morphological and Physicochemical Properties of Water Chestnut Starches: a Comparative Analysis of Three Varieties

Water chestnut(Eleocharis dulcis) is widely cultivated in many countries for its edible and starchy corms. In this study, starches were separated from Guangxi biqi, Hubei biqi and Anhui biqi, and the morphological and physicochemical characteristics of the starches were systematically investigated. There were significant differences in granule size, total starch and amylose contents among starches from the three water chestnuts which present similar X-ray diffraction patterns and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The starch of Guangxi biqi exhibited higher swelling power and solubility than that of Hubei biqi and Anhui biqi. Thermal and pasting properties of starch were different among the three water chestnuts. When hydrolyzed by porcine pancreatic α-amylase(PPA), starches from Hubei biqi and Anhui biqi had higher hydrolysis degree. The starches from the three water chestnut varieties differed significantly in morphological and physicochemical properties, and these studies may provide useful information for future exploitation and application of water chestnut starch in food and non-food industries.

Marker-assisted selection to pyramid Fusarium head blight resistance loci Fhb1 and Fhb2 in the high-quality soft wheat cultivar Yangmai 15

Fusarium head blight(FHB)is one of the most detrimental wheat diseases which greatly decreases the yield and grain quality,especially in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River of China.Fhb1 and Fhb2 are two major resistance loci against Fusarium graminearum.Yangmai 15(YM15)is one of the most popular varieties in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River,and it has good weak gluten characters but poor resistance to FHB.Here we used Fhb1 and Fhb2 to improve the FHB resistance of YM15 by a molecular marker-assisted selection(MAS)backcrossing strategy.The selection of agronomic traits was performed for each generation.We successfully selected seven introgressed lines which carry homozygous Fhb1 and Fhb2 with significantly higher FHB resistance than the recurrent parent YM15.Three of the introgressed lines had agronomic and quality characters that were similar to YM15.This study demonstrates that the pyramiding of Fhb1 and Fhb2 could significantly improve the FHB resistance in wheat using the MAS approach.

Effect of N-fertilizer Application on Yield,Grain Quality and N-fertilizer Use Efficiency of the Rapeseed Cultivars with Normal and High Oil Content

In this study,seed yield,quality and N-fertilizer use efficiency in rape(Brassica napus L.) were researched in normal oil content cultivar(Yangyou 6) and two high oil content cultivars(Zhongshuang 11 and Zheyou 50). Results showed that the average oil content of all treatments in Yangyou 6,Zhongshuang 11 and Zheyou 50 was 42. 87%,47. 37% and 48. 28%,respectively. The average protein content of all treatments in Yangyou 6,Zhongshuang 11 and Zheyou 50 was 24. 15%,22. 71% and 21. 84%,respectively. The increased ratio of total nitrogen accumulation amount in Yangyou 6 was higher than that in Zhongshuang 11 and Zheyou 50. Among three cultivars,the total protein accumulation amount in Yangyou 6 was highest,and the total oil accumulation amount was highest in Zheyou 50. With increasing nitrogen fertilization,the value of different parameters of N-fertilizer use efficiency decreased. The average N use efficiency in Yangyou 6 was 68. 70%,which was higher than that in Zhongshuang 11 and Zheyou 50(65. 06% and 60. 30%,respectively). The average N-fertilizer agronomic use efficiency in Yangyou 6 was also highest among three cultivars,which was 8. 97 kg seed / kg N. On the contrary,the average N-fertilizer physiological use efficiency in Zhongshuang 11 and Zheyou 50 was 13. 03 kg seed / kg N and 13. 84 kg seed / kg N,respectively,which was higher than that in Yangyou 6(12. 91 kg seed / kg N). Differences in partial factor productivity of N-fertilizer were slight among three cultivars.

Volatiles from Sophora japonica flowers attract Harmonia axyridis adults(Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

The multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis(Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), is a common generalist predator in China and is occasionally found gathering on the Chinese pagoda tree, Sophora japonica, in summer. In a field investigation, we found that H. axyridis adults preferred S. japonica during its flowering period even though their optimal prey(aphid) is absent at this time. In addition, male and female adults were attracted to S. japonica flowers to a similar extent in a Y-tube olfactometer assay. Using coupled gas chromatography-electroantennogram detection(GC-EAD), we identified a flower odor component(nonanal) that elicited a significant electrophysiological response in H. axyridis. Electroantennogram(EAG) dose-dependent responses revealed that the amplitude of the adult beetle's EAG response increased with increasing concentration of nonanal, peaking at 10 mg mL^(–1). In Y-tube olfactometer behavioral tests, H. axyridis adults preferred a 10 mg mL^(–1) nonanal source over a 100 mg mL^(–1) diluent. Under field conditions, the adults were significantly attracted to both concentrations(10 and 100 mg mL^(–1)), and high concentrations generally had greater attraction. All these results suggest that nonanal, a volatile compound of S. japonica flowers, greatly attracts H. axyridis adults. This study provides a basis for the development of synthetic attractants of H. axyridis, with the potential to promote biocontrol services of this generalist predator in the native area(e.g., China) and to suppress its population by mass trapping in its invasive areas.

A wheat chromosome 5AL region confers seedling resistance to both tan spot and Septoria nodorum blotch in two mapping populations

Tan spot(TS) and Septoria nodorum blotch(SNB), caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis and Parastagonospora nodorum, respectively, are important fungal leaf-spotting diseases of wheat that cause significant losses in grain yield. In this study, two recombinant inbred line populations, ‘Bartai’ × ‘Ciano T79’(referred to as B × C) and ‘Cascabel’ × ‘Ciano T79’(C × C) were tested for TS and SNB response in order to determine the genetic basis of seedling resistance. Genotyping was performed with the DAr Tseq genotypingby-sequencing(GBS) platform. A chromosome region on 5 AL conferred resistance to TS and SNB in both populations, but the effects were larger in B × C(R^2= 11.2%–16.8%) than in C × C(R^2= 2.5%–9.7%). Additionally, the chromosome region on 5BL(presumably Tsn1)was significant for both TS and SNB in B × C but not in C × C. Quantitative trait loci(QTL)with minor effects were identified on chromosomes 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4D, 5A, 5B, 5D, 6B,and 6D. The two CIMMYT breeding lines ‘Bartai’ and ‘Cascabel’ contributed resistance alleles at both 5AL and 5BL QTL mentioned above. The QTL on 5AL showed linkage with the Vrn-A1 locus, whereas the vrn-A1 allele conferring lateness was associated with resistance to TS and SNB.

The Cymbidium goeringii genome provides insight into organ development and adaptive evolution in orchids

Cymbidium goeringii is one of the important ornamental orchids,but its high-quality genome has not been previously published.Here,we report a chromosome-level genome of C.goeringii and report the gene family expansion,and contraction of the C.goeringii genome and the regulation mechanism of MADS-box genes in floral organ development.We constructed the pathways of carotenoids and anthocyanins that contribute to the different flower colors of C.goeringii and the metabolic pathways of the main components of flower fragrance.Moreover,we found the genes that regulate colourful leaves and analyzed the resistance genes involved in the adaptive evolution of C.goeringii.Our results provide valuable genomic resources for the improvement of orchids and other ornamental plants.

Breeding for the resistance to Fusarium head blight of wheat in China

With the changes of climate and cultivation systems, the Fusarium head blight(FHB) epidemic area in China has extended since 2000 from the reaches of the Yangtze River to the north and west winter wheat region.Breeding for FHB resistance in wheat is an effective way to control the disease.Chinese wheat breeders commenced research on FHB in the 1950 s.Sumai 3, Ning 7840,Yangmai 158, Ningmai 9 and other cultivars with improved FHB resistance were developed through standard breeding methods and widely applied in production or breeding programs.In addition to intervarietal crosses,alien germplasm was used to improve FHB resistance of wheat.Addition, substitution and translocation lines with alien chromosomes or chromosome fragments were created to enhance FHB resistance.Somaclonal variation was also used to develop a FHB resistant cv.Shengxuan 3 and other cultivars with moderate resistance to FHB were released by such methods.QTL(quantitative trait loci) for FHB resistance were characterized in cultivars originating from China.The major QTL, Fhb1, was identified on chromosome 3 BS in Sumai 3, Ning 894037, Wangshuibai and other Chinese resistant sources.Diagnostic molecular markers for Fhb1 have been applied in wheat breeding and breeding lines with improved FHB resistance and desirable agronomic traits have been obtained.However, breeding for FHB resistance is a long-term task, new technologies are likely to increase the efficiency of this process and better FHB resistance of new cultivars is expected to be achieved within the next decade.