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Creation of purple leaf peanut germplasm through metabolic engineering of the betalain biosynthesis pathway

Dongxin Huai, Jie Wu, Xiaomeng Xue, Hao Liu, Nian Liu, Li Huang, Liying Yan, Yuning Chen, Xin Wang, Qianqian Wang, Yanping Kang, Zhihui Wang, Yanbin Hong, Huifang Jiang, Boshou Liao, Yong Lei

2025, 24 (4): 1606-1609. DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.09.034

Abstract （106） PDF in ScienceDirect

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Fine control of growth and thermotolerance in the plant response to heat stress

Yulong Zhao, Song Liu, Kaifeng Yang, Xiuli Hu, Haifang Jiang

2025, 24 (2): 409-428. DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.03.028

Abstract （100） PDF in ScienceDirect

Global warming impacts plant growth and development, which in turn threatens food security. Plants can clearly respond to warm-temperature (such as by thermomorphogenesis) and high-temperature stresses. At the molecular level, many small molecules play crucial roles in balancing growth and defense, and stable high yields can be achieved by fine-tuning the responses to external stimuli. Therefore, it is essential to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying plant growth in response to heat stress and how plants can adjust their biological processes to survive heat stress conditions. In this review, we summarize the heat-responsive genetic networks in plants and crop plants based on recent studies. We focus on how plants sense the elevated temperatures and initiate the cellular and metabolic responses that allow them to adapt to the adverse growing conditions. We also describe the trade-off between plant growth and responses to heat stress. Specifically, we address the regulatory network of plant responses to heat stress, which will facilitate the discovery of novel thermotolerance genes and provide new opportunities for agricultural applications.

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A unique role of the pyrimidine de novo synthesis enzyme ODCase in Lysobacter enzymogenes

Mingming Yang, Yunxiao Tan, Jiabing Ma, Yingjia Zhao, Xia Yan, Nana Wang, Pingping Wang, Jiaqi Tan, Suilong Ai, Xiaofei Liang, Bangshuai Chang, Obadah E. A. Yousif, Chao Zhao, Bo Wang, Guoliang Qian, Lili Huang

2024, 23 (9): 3066-3077. DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2023.11.047

Abstract （98） PDF in ScienceDirect

Bacterial species of the genus Lysobacter are environmentally ubiquitous with strong antifungal biocontrol potential. Heat-stable antifungal factor (HSAF) secreted by the biocontrol bacterium Lysobacter enzymogenes OH11 has broad-spectrum and highly efficient antifungal activity. Studying the biosynthetic regulations of HSAF would lay an important foundation for strain engineering toward improved HSAF production. In this work, we demonstrate that Le0752, an orotidine-5´-phosphate decarboxylase enzyme (ODCase) catalyzing a pivotal step of the UMP de novo biosynthesis pathway, is vital for HSAF-mediated antimicrobial activities and growth of L. enzymogenes OH11, but not for twitching motility. This gene regulates the production of HSAF by affecting the expression of lafB, a key gene in the HSAF biosynthesis operon, through the transcription factor Clp. Interestingly, bioinformatics analysis revealed that Le0752 belongs to the Group III ODCases, whereas its homologs in the closely related genera Xanthomonas and Stenotrophomonas belong to Group I, which contains most ODCases from Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and cyanobacteria. Moreover, the Group I ODCase PXO_3614 from the Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae PXO99^Astrain complemented the Le0752 mutant in regulating HSAF-mediated antagonistic activity. Together, these results highlight the important requirement of de novo pyrimidine biosynthetic enzymes for antibiotic HSAF production in L. enzymogenes, which lays an important foundation for improving HSAF production via metabolic flow design and for dissecting the regulatory functions of bacterial ODCases.

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Identification of candidate genes for early-maturity traits by combining BSA-seq and QTL mapping in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Liang Ma, Tingli Hu, Meng Kang, Xiaokang Fu, Pengyun Chen, Fei Wei, Hongliang Jian, Xiaoyan Lü, Meng Zhang, Yonglin Yang

2024, 23 (10): 3472-3486. DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.04.024

Abstract （97） PDF in ScienceDirect

Cotton breeding for the development of early-maturing varieties is an effective way to improve multiple cropping indexes and alleviate the conflict between grains and cotton in the cultivated fields in China. In the present study, we aimed to identify upland cotton quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and candidate genes related to early-maturity traits, including whole growth period (WGP), flowering timing (FT), node of the first fruiting branch (NFFB), height of the node of the first fruiting branch (HNFFB), and plant height (PH). An early-maturing variety, CCRI50, and a late-maturing variety, Guoxinmian 11, were crossed to obtain biparental populations. These populations were used to map QTLs for the early-maturity traits for two years (2020 and 2021). With BSA-seq analysis based on the data of population 2020, the candidate regions related to early maturity were found to be located on chromosome D03. We then developed 22 polymorphic insertions or deletions (InDel) markers to further narrow down the candidate regions, resulting in the detection of five and four QTLs in the 2020 and 2021 populations, respectively. According to the results of QTL mapping, two candidate regions (InDel_G286-InDel_G144 and InDel_G24-InDel_G43) were detected. In these regions, three genes (GH_D03G0451, GH_D03G0649, and GH_D03G1180) have non-synonymous mutations in their exons and one gene (GH_D03G0450) has SNP variations in the upstream sequence between CCRI50 and Guoxinmian 11. These four genes also showed dominant expression in the floral organs. The expression levels of GH_D03G0451, GH_D03G0649 and GH_D03G1180 were significantly higher in CCRI50 than in Guoxinmian 11 during the bud differentiation stages, while GH_D03G0450 showed the opposite trend. Further functional verification of GH_D03G0451 indicated that the GH_D03G0451-silenced plants showed a delay in the flowering time. The results suggest that these are the candidate genes for cotton early maturity, and they may be used for breeding early-maturity cotton varieties.

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Diagnosis and characterization of the ribosomal DNA-ITS of potato rot nematode (Ditylenchus destructor) populations from Chinese medicinal herbs

NI Chun-hui, HAN Bian, LIU Yong-gang, Maria MUNAWAR, LIU Shi-ming, LI Wen-hao, SHI Ming-ming, LI Hui-xia, PENG De-liang

2023, 22 (6): 1763-1781. DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2022.08.126

Abstract （181） PDF in ScienceDirect

The potato rot nematode (Ditylenchus destructor) is a very economically important nematode in agronomic and horticultural plants worldwide. In this study, 43 populations of D. destructor were collected from different hosts across China, including 37 populations from Chinese herbal medicine plants. Obtained sequences of ITS-rDNA and D2–D3 of 28S-rDNA genes of D. destructor were compared and analyzed. Nine types of significant length variations in ITS sequences were observed among all populations. The differences in ITS1 length were mainly caused by the presence of repetitive elements with substantial base substitutions. Reconstructions of ITS1 secondary structures showed that the minisatellites formed a stem structure. Ten haplotypes were observed in all populations based on mutations and variations of helix H9. Among them, 3 known haplotypes (A–C) were found in 7 populations isolated from potato, sweet potato, and Codonopsis pilosula, and 7 unique haplotypes were found in other 36 populations collected from C. pilosula and Angelica sinensis compared with 7 haplotypes (A–G) according to Subbotin’ system. These unique haplotypes were different from haplotypes A–G, and we named them as haplotypes H–N. The present results showed that a total of 14 haplotypes (A–N) of ITS-rDNA have been found in D. destructor. Phylogenetic analyses of ITS-rDNA and D2–D3 showed that all populations of D. destructor were clustered into two major clades: one clade only containing haplotype A from sweet potato and the other containing haplotypes B–N from other plants. For further verification, PCR-ITS-RFLP profiles were conducted on 7 new haplotypes. Collectively, our study suggests that D. destructor populations on Chinese medicinal materials are very different from those on other hosts and this work provides a paradigm for relevant researches.

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Transcriptome-based analysis of key genes and pathways affecting the linoleic acid content in chickens

ZHAO Wen-juan, YUAN Xiao-ya, XIANG Hai, MA Zheng, CUI Huan-xian, LI Hua, ZHAO Gui-ping

2023, 22 (12): 3744-3754. DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2023.02.019

Abstract （226） PDF in ScienceDirect

Linoleic acid is an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid that cannot be synthesized by humans or animals themselves and can only be obtained externally. The amount of linoleic acid present has an impact on the quality and flavour of meat and indirectly affects consumer preference. However, the molecular mechanisms influencing the deposition of linoleic acid in organisms are not clear. As the molecular mechanisms of linoleic acid deposition are not well understood, to investigate the main effector genes affecting the linoleic acid content, this study aimed to screen for hub genes in slow-type yellow-feathered chickens by transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) and weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA). We screened for candidate genes associated with the linoleic acid content in slow-type yellow-feathered broilers. A total of 399 Tiannong partridge chickens were slaughtered at 126 days of age, fatty acid levels were measured in pectoral muscle, and pectoral muscle tissue was collected for transcriptome sequencing. Transcriptome sequencing results were combined with phenotypes for WGCNA to screen for candidate genes. KEGG enrichment analysis was also performed on the genes that were significantly enriched in the modules with the highest correlation. A total of 13 310 genes were identified after quality control of transcriptomic data from 399 pectoral muscle tissues. WGCNA was performed, and a total of 26 modules were obtained, eight of which were highly correlated with the linoleic acid content. Four key genes, namely, MDH2, ATP5B, RPL7A and PDGFRA, were screened according to the criteria |GS|>0.2 and |MM|>0.8. The functional enrichment results showed that the genes within the target modules were mainly enriched in metabolic pathways. In this study, a large-sample-size transcriptome analysis revealed that metabolic pathways play an important role in the regulation of the linoleic acid content in Tiannong partridge chickens, and MDH2, ATP5B, RPL7A and PDGFRA were screened as important candidate genes affecting the linoleic acid content. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for selecting molecular markers and comprehensively understanding the molecular mechanism affecting the linoleic acid content in muscle, providing an important reference for the breeding of slow-type yellow-feathered broiler chickens.

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PPAR gamma2: The main isoform of PPARγ that positively regulates the expression of the chicken Plin1 gene

SUN Yu-hang, ZHAI Gui-ying, PANG Yong-jia, LI Rui, LI Yu-mao, CAO Zhi-ping, WANG Ning, LI Hui, WANG Yu-xiang

2022, 21 (8): 2357-2371. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(21)63896-0

Abstract （152） PDF in ScienceDirect

Perilipin1 (PLIN1) is a major phosphorylated protein that specifically coats the surface of neutral lipid droplets (LDs) in adipocytes and plays a crucial role in regulating the accumulation and hydrolysis of triacylglycerol (TG). Mammalian studies have shown that Plin1 gene transcription is mainly regulated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ), the master regulator of adipogenesis. However, the regulatory mechanism of the chicken Plin1 (cPlin1) gene is poorly understood. The present study aimed to investigate whether Plin1 is regulated by PPARγ in chickens and identify its exact molecular mechanism. Reporter gene and expression assays showed that PPARγ2, but not PPARγ1, activated (P<0.01) the cPlin1 gene promoter. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay and mutational analysis revealed that PPARγ2 bound to a special site in the cPlin1 gene promoter to enhance its expression. In summary, our results show that PPARγ promotes the expression of the cPlin1 gene and that PPARγ2 is the main regulatory isoform.

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The effects of soil properties, cropping systems and geographic location on soil prokaryotic communities in four maize production regions across China

TIAN Xue-liang, LIU Jia-jia, LIU Quan-cheng, XIA Xin-yao, PENG Yong, Alejandra I. HUERTA, YAN Jian-bing, LI Hui, LIU Wen-de

2022, 21 (7): 2145-2157. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(21)63772-3

Abstract （225） PDF in ScienceDirect

The diversity of prokaryotic communities in soil is shaped by both biotic and abiotic factors. However, little is known about the major factors shaping soil prokaryotic communities at a large scale in agroecosystems. To this end, we undertook a study to investigate the impact of maize production cropping systems, soil properties and geographic location (latitude and longitude) on soil prokaryotic communities using metagenomic techniques, across four distinct maize production regions in China. Across all study sites, the dominant prokaryotes in soil were Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria. Non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed that prokaryotic communities clustered into the respective maize cropping systems in which they resided. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that soil properties especially pH, geographic location and cropping system jointly determined the diversity of the prokaryotic communities. The functional genes of soil prokaryotes from these samples were chiefly influenced by latitude, soil pH and cropping system, as revealed by RDA analysis. The abundance of genes in some metabolic pathways, such as genes involved in microbe–microbe interactions, degradation of aromatic compounds, carbon fixation pathways in prokaryotes and microbial metabolism were markedly different across the four maize production regions. Our study indicated that the combination of soil pH, cropping system and geographic location significantly influenced the prokaryotic community and the functional genes of these microbes. This work contributes to a deeper understanding of the composition and function of the soil prokaryotic community across large-scale production systems such as maize.

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Integration of genome-wide association study and selection signatures reveals genetic determinants for skeletal muscle production traits in an F₂ chicken population

LI Yu-dong, BAI Xue, LIU Xin , WANG Wei-jia, LI Zi-wei, WANG Ning, XIAO Fan, GAO Hai-he, GUO Huai-shun, LI Hui, WANG Shou-zhi

2022, 21 (7): 2065-2075. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(21)63805-4

Abstract （318） PDF in ScienceDirect

Improving the production of broiler chicken meat has been a goal of broiler breeding programs worldwide for many years. However, the genetic architectures of skeletal muscle production traits in chickens have not yet been fully elucidated. In the present study, a total of 519 F₂ birds, derived from a cross of Arbor Acres broiler and Baier layer, were re-sequenced (26 F₀ individuals were re-sequenced at a 10-fold depth; 519 F₂ individuals were re-sequenced at a 3-fold depth) and the coupling of genome-wide association study (GWAS) and selection signatures (F_ST (fixation index) and θ_π (nucleotide diversity)) was carried out to pinpoint the associated loci and genes that contribute to pectoral muscle weight (PMW) and thigh muscle weight (TMW). A total of 7 890 258 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) remained to be analyzed after quality control and imputation. The integration of GWAS and selection signature analyses revealed that genetic determinants responsible for skeletal muscle production traits were mainly localized on chromosomes 1 (168.95–172.43 Mb) and 4 (74.37–75.23 Mb). A total of 17 positional candidate genes (PCGs) (LRCH1, CDADC1, CAB39L, LOC112531568, LOC112531569, FAM124A, FOXO1, NBEA, GPALPP1, RUBCNL, ARL11, KPNA3, LHFP, GBA3, LOC112532426, KCNIP4, and SLIT2) were identified in these regions. In particular, KPNA3 and FOXO1 were the most promising candidates for meat production in chickens. These findings will help enhance our understanding of the genetic architecture of chicken muscle production traits, and the significant SNPs identified could be promising candidates for integration into practical breeding programs such as genome-wide selection (GS) to improve the meat yield of chickens.

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HBP1 inhibits chicken preadipocyte differentiation by activating the STAT3 signaling via directly enhancing JAK2 expression

CHEN Hong-yan, CHENG Bo-han, MA Yan-yan, ZHANG Qi, LENG Li, WANG Shou-zhi, LI Hui

2022, 21 (6): 1740-1754. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(21)63895-9

Abstract （320） PDF in ScienceDirect

Obesity presents a serious threat to human health and broiler performance. The expansion of adipose tissue is mainly regulated by the differentiation of preadipocytes. The differentiation of preadipocytes is a complex biological process regulated by a variety of transcription factors and signaling pathways. Previous studies have shown that the transcription factor HMG-box protein 1 (HBP1) can regulate the differentiation of mouse 3T3-L1 preadipocytes by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. However, it is unclear whether HBP1 involved in chicken preadipocyte differentiation and which signaling pathways it regulates. The aim of the current study was to explore the biological function and molecular regulatory mechanism of HBP1 in the differentiation of chicken preadipocytes. The expression patterns of chicken HBP1 in abdominal adipose tissue and during preadipocyte differentiation were analyzed by RT-qPCR and Western blot. The preadipocyte stably overexpressing HBP1 or knockout HBP1 and their control cell line were used to analyze the effect of HBP1 on preadipocyte differentiation by oil red O staining, RT-qPCR and Western blot. Cignal 45-Pathway Reporter Array was used to screen the signal pathways that HBP1 regulates in the differentiation of chicken preadipocytes. Chemical inhibitor and siRNA for signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) were used to analyze the effect of STAT3 on preadipocyte differentiation. The preadipocyte stably overexpressing HBP1 was transfected by the siRNA of STAT3 or treated with a chemical inhibitor of STAT3 for the rescue experiment. The results of gene expression analysis showed that the expression of HBP1 was related to abdominal fat deposition and preadipocyte differentiation in chickens. The results of function gain and loss experiments indicated that overexpression/knockout of HBP1 in chicken preadipocytes could inhibit/promote (P<0.05) lipid droplet deposition and the expression of adipogenesis-related genes. Mechanismlly, HBP1 activates (P<0.05) the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway by targeting janus kinase 2 (JAK2) transcription. The results of functional rescue experiments indicated that STAT3 signaling mediated the regulation of HBP1 on chicken preadipocyte differentiation. In conclusion, HBP1 inhibits chicken preadipocyte differentiation by activating the STAT3 signaling pathway via directly enhancing JAK2 expression. Our findings provided new insights for further analysis of the molecular genetic basis of chicken adipose tissue growth and development.

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Resistance of barley varieties to Heterodera avenae in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China

Yan Jia-hui, Jia Jian-ping, JIANG Li-ling, Peng De-liang, Liu Shi-ming, Hou Sheng-ying, YU Jing-wen, Li Hui-xia, Huang Wen-kun

2022, 21 (5): 1401-1413. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(21)63769-3

Abstract （149） PDF in ScienceDirect

The cereal cyst nematode, Heterodera avenae, is one of the most economically important pathogens impacting the worldwide production of cereals and is widely distributed in more than 16 regions in China. The present study used the numbers of nematodes inside the plant roots to evaluate the resistance/susceptibility of different subpopulations of barley Hordeum vulgare (QH2R, QH6R and TB2R) to H. avenae under field and pot conditions. Nematode development in two highly resistant varieties was also evaluated by in vivo experiment and microscopic observation. Analyses of 186 selected varieties showed the numbers of susceptible varieties identified with the number of females/cysts per plant (NFP) method were significantly higher than those identified with the Pf/Pi ratio (PPR) method, which indicated that the NFP method rather than the PPR method is more reliable to evaluate the resistance of barley. The field and pot experiment results indicated that the QH2R subpopulation had lower females/cysts numbers than QH6R and TB2R subpopulations, and eight HR varieties (Sunong 7617, Sunong 7635, Dongyuan 87-14, Rudong 14-46, Rudong 87-57, Rudong 87-8-45, Rudong 88-14-2, and Rudong 88-67-1) were identified in QH2R, with the NFP numbers below 4.2. Further microscopic observation of nematode development suggested that H. avenae often penetrated less into highly resistant varieties (Sunong 7635 and Dongyuan 87-14) and more frequently failed to develop into females than the susceptible barleys. The promising resistant varieties identified in the present research might be helpful for breeders to develop CCN-resistant cultivars and control H. avenae populations effectively at low costs.

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African swine fever and meat prices fluctuation: An empirical study in China based on TVP-VAR model

LI Hui-shang, HU Chen-pei, LÜ Zheng, LI Mei-qi, GUO Xin-zhu

2021, 20 (8): 2289-2301. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(20)63307-X

Abstract （267） PDF in ScienceDirect

frican swine fever (ASF), a fatal disease outbroken in China in August 2018, has widely attracted social concern especially in the information era. The occurrence of ASF led to an imbalance between supply and demand in pork and other meat markets. As a result, meat prices fluctuated greatly during the past year in 2019. To measure ASF quantitatively, the internet public concern index about ASF was created using web crawler methods. The relationships between ASF and meat prices were analyzed based on time-varying parameter vector auto-regressive (TVP-VAR) model. The results showed that there were some differences in the impact size, direction and duration of ASF on the prices of pork, chicken, beef and mutton, and the characteristics of time variability and heterogeneity were obvious. At the same time, the impact of ASF on meat prices is not consistent with the trend and degree of ASF. The impulse intensity is strongly correlated with the strength and duration of ASF, and it is generally weak in the early stage and much stronger in the middle and late periods. The results indicate that macro regulations, monitoring and early-warning system, standardizing production and circulation, and the public opinion monitoring and guidance about ASF should be given more attention in future to stabilize the market expectations and to promote a smooth functioning of the livestock markets.

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Heredity and gene mapping of a novel white stripe leaf mutant in wheat

LI Hui-juan, JIAO Zhi-xin, NI Yong-jing, JIANG Yu-mei, LI Jun-chang, PAN Chao, ZHANG Jing, SUN Yu-long, AN Jun-hang, LIU Hong-jie, LI Qiao-yun, NIU Ji-shan

2021, 20 (7): 1743-1752. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(20)63345-7

Abstract （133） PDF in ScienceDirect

Spotted leaf (spl) mutant is a type of leaf lesion mimic mutants in plants. We obtained some lesion mimic mutants from ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS)-mutagenized wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar Guomai 301 (wild type, WT), and one of them was named as white stripe leaf (wsl) mutant because of the white stripes on its leaves. Here we report the heredity and gene mapping of this novel wheat mutant wsl. There are many small scattered white stripes on the leaves of wsl throughout its whole growth period. As the plants grew, the white stripes became more severe and the necrotic area expanded. The mutant wsl grew only weakly before the jointing stage and gradually recovered after jointing. The length and width of the flag leaf, spike number per plant and thousand-grain weight of wsl were significantly lower than those of the WT. Genetic analysis indicated that the trait of white stripe leaf was controlled by a recessive gene locus, named as wsl, which was mapped on the short arm of chromosome 6B by SSR marker assay. Four SSR markers in the F₂population of wsl×CS were linked to wsl in the order of Xgpw1079–Xwmc104–Xgwm508-wsl–Xgpw7651 at 7.1, 5.2, 8.7, and 4.4 cM, respectively and three SSR markers in the F₂ population of wsl×Jimai 22 were linked to wsl in the order of Xgwm508–Xwmc494–Xgwm518-wsl at 3.5, 1.6 and 8.2 cM, respectively. In comparison to the reference genome sequence of Chinese Spring (CS), wsl is located in a 91-Mb region from 88 Mb (Xgwm518) to 179 Mb (Xgpw7651) on chromosome 6BS. Mutant wsl is a novel germplasm for studying the molecular mechanism of wheat leaf development.

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Two-way predation between immature stages of the hoverfly Eupeodes corollae and the invasive fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith)

LI Hui, JIANG Shan-shan, ZHANG Hao-wen, GENG Ting, Kris A. G. WYCKHUYS, WU Kong-ming

2021, 20 (3): 829-839. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(20)63291-9

Abstract （117） PDF in ScienceDirect

Since its 2018 invasion of eastern Asia, the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) has become a key pest in local maize production. Though pesticides have been widely used to mitigate the initial S. frugiperda attack, biological control is receiving ample attention as a desirable, environmentally-sound alternative to chemical control. Hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) are abundant natural enemies in Chinese maize fields and have been observed to consume S. frugiperda larvae. In this study, we use laboratory assays to study the two-way interaction between immature stages of S. frugiperda and the endemic syrphid Eupeodes corollae. To mimic natural conditions, assays were performed in the presence of fresh maize leaves. Those 2nd or 3rd instar larvae of E. corollae preyed on 1st and 2nd instar S. frugiperda larvae with a Holling type III response, consuming a respective theoretical maximum of 43.48 and 83.33 larvae over a 24-h period. Conversely, once S. frugiperda larvae reached 3rd instar, they exhibited aggressive behavior and equally preyed on syrphid larvae with a Holling type III response. Those 5th and 6th instar larvae of S. frugiperda consumed a respective 16.39–19.23, 6.02–19.61 and 6.76–8.26 of 1st, 2nd and 3rd instar E. corollae larvae per day. Though our results await field-level validation, S. frugiperda agonistic (i.e., defensive) and consumptive behavior towards resident natural enemies such as E. corollae possibly degrades biotic resistance and raises its invasion potential. Our findings shine new light on the interaction between lepidopteran herbivores and their natural enemies, and can help advance the development of conservation biological control and other integrated pest management (IPM) strategies against S. frugiperda in China and abroad.

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Modification of total and phosphorus mineralizing bacterial communities associated with Zea mays L. through plant development and fertilization regimes

XIN Yuan-yuan, Anisur RAHMAN, LI Hui-xiu, XU Ting, DING Guo-chun, LI Ji

2021, 20 (11): 3026-3038. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(20)63413-X

Abstract （121） PDF in ScienceDirect

Harnessing the rhizospheric microbiome, including phosphorus mineralizing bacteria (PMB), is a promising technique for maintaining sustainability and productivity in intensive agricultural systems. However, it is unclear as to which beneficial taxonomic group populations in the rhizosphere are potentially associated with the changes in soil microbiomes shifted by fertilization regimes. Herein, we analyzed the diversity and community structure of total bacteria and PMB in the rhizosphere of maize (Zea mays L.) grown in soils under 25 years of four fertilization regimes (compost, biocompost, chemical, or non-fertilized) via selective culture and Illumina sequencing of the 16S rRNA genes. Plant development explained more variations (29 and 13%, respectively) in the composition of total bacteria and PMB in the rhizosphere of maize than the different fertilization regimes. Among those genera enriched in the rhizosphere of maize, the relative abundances of Oceanobacillus, Bacillus, Achromobacter, Ensifer, Paracoccus, Ramlibacter, and Luteimonas were positively correlated with those in the bulk soil. The relative abundance of Paracoccus was significantly higher in soils fertilized by compost or biocompost than the other soils. Similar results were also observed for PMB affiliated with Ensifer, Bacillus, and Streptomyces. Although plant development was the major factor in shaping the rhizospheric microbiome of maize, fertilization regimes might have modified beneficial rhizospheric microbial taxa such as Bacillus and Ensifer.

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Integration of association and computational methods reveals functional variants of LEPR gene for abdominal fat content in chickens

LI Yu-dong, WANG Wei-jia, LI Zi-wei, WANG Ning, XIAO Fan, GAO Hai-he, GUO Huai-shun, LI Hui, WANG Shou-zhi

2021, 20 (10): 2734-2748. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(20)63575-4

Abstract （149） PDF in ScienceDirect

Leptin receptor (LEPR) plays a vital role in obesity in humans and animals. The objective of this study is to assess LEPR functional variants for chicken adipose deposition by integration of association and in-silico analysis using a unique chicken population, the Northeast Agricultural University broiler lines divergently selected for abdominal fat content (NEAUHLF). Five online bioinformatics tools were used to predict the functionality of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in coding region. Further, the possible structure–function relationship of high confidence SNPs was determined by bioinformatics analyses, including the conservation and stability analysis based on amino acid residues, prediction of protein ligand-binding sites, and the superposition of protein tertiary structure. Meanwhile, we analyzed the association between abdominal fat traits and 20 polymorphisms of chicken LEPR gene. The integrated results showed that rs731962924 (N867I) and rs13684622 (C1002R) could lead to striking changes in the structure and function of proteins, of which rs13684622 (C1002R) was significantly associated with abdominal fat weight (AFW, P=0.0413) and abdominal fat percentage (AFP, P=0.0260) in chickens. Therefore, we are of the opinion that rs13684622 (C1002R) may be an essential functional SNP affecting chicken abdominal fat deposition, and potentially applied to improvement of broiler abdominal fat in molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) program. Additionally, the coupling of association with computer electronic predictive analysis provides a new avenue to identify important molecular markers for breeders.

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Evaluation of drought tolerance in ZmVPP1-overexpressing transgenic inbred maize lines and their hybrids

JIA Teng-jiao, LI Jing-jing, WANG Li-feng, CAO Yan-yong, MA Juan, WANG Hao, ZHANG Deng-feng, LI Hui-yong

2020, 19 (9): 2177-2187. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(19)62828-5

Abstract （140） PDF in ScienceDirect

The vacuolar proton-pumping pyrophosphatase gene (VPP) is often used to enhance plant drought tolerance via genetic engineering. In this study, the drought tolerance of four transgenic inbred maize lines overexpressing ZmVPP1 (PH4CV-T, PH6WC-T, Chang7-2-T, and Zheng58-T) and their transgenic hybrids was evaluated at various stages. Under normal and drought conditions, the height and fresh weight were greater for the four transgenic inbred maize lines than for the wild-type (WT) controls at the germination and seedling stages. Additionally, the transgenic plants exhibited enhanced photosynthetic efficiency at the seedling stage. In irrigated and non-irrigated fields, the four transgenic lines grew normally, but with increased ear weight and yield compared with the WT plants. Moreover, the ear weight and yield of the transgenic hybrids resulting from the PH4CV-T×PH6WC-W and Chang7-2-T×Zheng58-W crosses increased in the non-irrigated field. Our results demonstrated that the growth and drought tolerance of four transgenic inbred maize lines with improved photosynthesis were enhanced by the overexpression of ZmVPP1. Moreover, the Chang7-2 and PH4CV transgenic lines may be useful for future genetic improvements of maize hybrids to increase drought tolerance.

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Heat stability of winter wheat depends on cultivars, timing and protective methods

LI Qiang, CHANG Xu-hong, MENG Xiang-hai, LI Ding, ZHAO Ming-hui, SUN Shu-luan, LI Hui-min, QIAO Wen-chen

2020, 19 (8): 1984-1997. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(19)62760-7

Abstract （146） PDF in ScienceDirect

Heat stress negatively affects wheat production in many regions of the world. At present, sensitivity to heat stress remains one of the least understood aspects of wheat genetics and breeding, and measures for preventing heat stress are understudied. In this study, we used three cultivars of winter wheat (GY2018, SL02-1 and SY20) to evaluate the effect of heat stress at different days after anthesis (DAA) on yield and quality. Heat stability of the cultivars were analyzed and evaluated for the effects of two kinds of regulators on wheat under heat stress conditions. Heat treatment at 7 DAA led to the most substantial reduction in yield while GY2018 had the best heat stability with respect to yield, and demonstrated the most positive effects on several quality traits including protein content, sedimentation volume and glutenin and gliadin contents. Heat treatment at 14 DAA had the least reduction in yield, while SY20 had the best heat stability with respect to yield and heat treatment had minimal effects on quality. Heat treatment at 21 DAA had only a limited effect on yield, while SL02-1 had the best heat stability with respect to yield, but it showed the most negative effects on quality. Stable time at 14 DAA and protein content at 21 DAA can be used as indicators for detecting the stability of quality under heat stress. Among the three studied cultivars, SY20 was the most sensitive to heat stress with the stable time decreasing from 26.4 to 9.1 min, a higher sedimentation volume at 7 DAA, and a lower γ-gliadin content which increased 2.4-fold under high-temperature treatment. The addition of various regulators had different effects: potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) was more protective of yield with heat stress at 7 DAA, while Duntianbao (DTB) had better effects on quality with heat stress at 21 DAA.

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Optimizing agronomic practices for closing rapeseed yield gaps under intensive cropping systems in China

ZHANG Zhi, CONG Ri-huan, REN Tao, LI Hui, ZHU Yun, LU Jian-wei

2020, 19 (5): 1241-1249. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(19)62748-6

Abstract （125） PDF in ScienceDirect

A yield gap analysis for rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is critical to meeting the oil demand by identifying yield potential and yield constraints. In this study, potential yield (Y_p), attainable yield (Y_att), and actual yield (Y_act) for winter rapeseed were determined in five different zones of China. A boundary line approach was adopted to calculate Yp, based on a large-scale field experimental database. A meta-analysis was conducted on the data obtained from 118 published studies to evaluate the effects of agronomic factors on rapeseed yield. The main results indicated that farmers only achieved 37–56% of the yield potential across the zones. The low altitude areas (L-URY) and lower reaches (LRY) of the Yangtze River Basin (YRB), China had high yield levels. The total yield gap was 1 893 kg ha^–1, due to the agronomic management factors, environmental factors, and socioeconomic factors. The meta-analysis showed that weed control and drainage were the best management practices to improve yields (45.6 and 35.3%, respectively), and other practices improved yields by 17.1–21.6%. Consequently, to narrow the yield gap over the short term, the study could focus on techniques that are easily implemented to farmers.

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Translocation and recovery of ¹⁵N-labeled N derived from the foliar uptake of ¹⁵NH₃ by the greenhouse tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

HUANG Hui-ying, LI Huan, XIANG Dan, LIU Qing, LI Fei, LIANG Bin

2020, 19 (3): 859-865. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(19)62670-5

Abstract （107） PDF in ScienceDirect

In order to completely evaluate ammonia emission from greenhouse vegetable fields, crop canopy absorption should not be neglected. The foliar uptake of NH₃ applied at two growth stages and the subsequent ¹⁵N-labeled N translocation to other plant components were investigated under greenhouse conditions using chambers covered with the soil of a tomato field. Treatments comprised three NH₃-N application rates (70, 140, and 210 mg/plot) using 15N-labeled ammonium sulfate. Plants were harvested immediately after exposure for 24 h, and the total N concentrations and 15N/14N ratios were determined. With increased NH₃ concentration, total ¹⁵NH₃-N absorption increased considerably, whereas the applied ¹⁵NH₃-N uptake decreased gradually. The tomato plants absorbed 33–38% and 24–31% of the ¹⁵NH₃-N generated at the anthesis and fruit growth stages, respectively. A total of 71–80% of the recovered NH₃ was observed in the leaves and 20–30% of the recovered NH₃ was remobilized to other components. Among them, an average of 10% of the absorbed ¹⁵NH₃-N was transferred into the tomato fruits. All these results indicated the potential of the tested tomatoes for the foliar uptake of atmospheric ¹⁵NH₃ and the distribution of 15N-labeled vegetative N among different plant components. The results are of great importance for the complete evaluation of nitrogen use efficiency in the greenhouse tomato fields.

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Genetic progress in stem lodging resistance of the dominant wheat cultivars adapted to Yellow-Huai River Valleys Winter Wheat Zone in China since 1964

ZHANG Hong-jun, LI Teng, LIU Hong-wei, MAI Chun-yan, YU Guang-jun, LI Hui-li, YU Li-qiang, MENG Ling-zhi, JIAN Da-wei, YANG Li, LI Hong-jie, ZHOU Yang

2020, 19 (2): 438-448. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(19)62627-4

Abstract （144）

Analysis of genetic progress for lodging-related traits provides important information for further improvement of lodging resistance. Forty winter wheat cultivars widely grown in the Yellow-Huai River Valleys Winter Wheat Zone (YHWZ) of China during the period of 1964–2015 were evaluated for several lodging-related traits in three cropping seasons. Plant height, height at center of gravity, length of the basal second internode, and lodging index decreased significantly in this period, and the average annual genetic gains for these traits were –0.50 cm or –0.62%, –0.27 cm or –0.60%, –0.06 cm or –0.63%, and –0.01 or –0.94%, respectively. Different from other traits, stem strength showed a significant increasing trend with the breeding period, and the annual genetic gains were 0.03 N or 0.05%. Correlation analysis showed that lodging index was positively correlated with plant height, height at center of gravity, and length of the basal second internode, but negatively correlated with stem strength. Meanwhile, significantly positive correlations were observed between plant height, height at center of gravity, and length of the basal first and second internodes. By comparison with the wild types, dwarfing genes had significant effects on all lodging-related traits studied except for length of the basal first internode and stem strength. Principle component analysis demonstrated that plant height and stem strength were the most important factors influencing lodging resistance. Clustering analysis based on the first two principle components further indicated the targets of wheat lodging-resistant breeding have changed from reducing plant height to strengthening stem strength over the breeding periods. This study indicates that the increase of stem strength is vital to improve lodging resistance in this region under the high-yielding condition when plant height is in an optimal range.

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A major pathway for carbon and nitrogen losses- Gas emissions during storage of solid pig manure in China

SHAN Nan, LI Hu, LI Jian-zheng, Ee Ling Ng, MA Yan, WANG Li-gang, CHEN Qing

2019, 18 (1): 190-200. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(17)61902-6

Abstract （341） PDF （1246KB）（334）

This study investigated the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) gas emissions (N₂O, NH₃, CO₂ and CH₄) from solid pig manure management in China. Gas emissions were quantified from static piles over 60 days during summer in China’s Yangtze River Basin, using Drager-Tube and static chamber-gas chromatography techniques. High emissions of NH₃ and N₂O were observed at the early stage of storage, but high emission of CH₄occured later during storage. Overall, 62% of the total C in the original pile was lost; CO₂ and CH₄emissions accounted for 57 and 0.2% of C lost respectively. Over the same time, 41% of the total N in the original pile was lost; NH₃ and N₂O emissions accounted for 15 and 0.3% of N lost respectively. The volatilization of NH₃ during storage in summer was 4.56 g NH₃ per kg dry weight. The total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during storage accounted for 67.93 g CO₂ equivalent per kg dry weight; N₂O and CH₄ contributed to 46 and 55% of total GHG emissions respectively. Given China’s major role in pig production, further attention should given to pig manure management to mitigate its contribution to atmospheric pollution.

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High potassium to magnesium ratio affected the growth and magnesium uptake of three tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cultivars

LI Hui-xia, CHEN Zhu-jun, ZHOU Ting, LIU Yan, ZHOU Jian-bin

2018, 17 (12): 2813-2821. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(18)61949-5

Abstract （362） PDF in ScienceDirect

Potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) levels and their balances are two factors affecting the growth of plant. However, the responses of different crop cultivars to K/Mg ratios are less clear. This study was aimed at assessing the different responses of tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum L.) cultivars to the different K/Mg supply ratios. Three tomato cultivars (Zhongza 9 (ZZ), Gailiangmaofen (MF), and Jinpengchaoguan (JP)) were grown in pots with three different K⁺/Mg²⁺ ratios (4:0, 4:1 and 8:1, represented by K/Mg_4:0, K/Mg_4:1, and K/Mg_8:1, respectively). Compared with K/Mg_4:1 treatment, the leaf chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, and total biomass of tomato seedlings under K/Mg_4:0 treatments were decreased by 69.7, 89.1, and 53.1%, respectively. The Mg deficiency symptoms were observed when the Mg content in shoot became lower than 4 mg g^–1 DW. Compared with K/Mg_4:1 treatment, total biomass of tomato seedlings of K/Mg_8:1 treatment was decreased by 21.6%; the shoot and root Mg contents were decreased by 10.4 and 21.8%, respectively; and Mg uptake of tomato was reduced by 34.1%. There were significant differences in biomass and Mg uptake for the three cultivars between the different K⁺/Mg²⁺ treatments. The Mg uptake of the three different cultivars ranked as ZZ>JP>MF under Mg deficiency and high K condition. In conclusion, the growth and Mg uptake and allocation of tomato were influenced significantly by imbalance K and Mg supply. JP and ZZ were the cultivars with the highest efficiency in Mg uptake.

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Beneficial effects of silicon on photosynthesis of tomato seedlings under water stress

ZHANG Yi, SHI Yu, GONG Hai-jun, ZHAO Hai-liang, LI Huan-li, HU Yan-hong, WANG Yi-chao

2018, 17 (10): 2151-2159. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(18)62038-6

Abstract （694） PDF （930KB）（1005）

Silicon can improve drought tolerance of plants, but the mechanism still remains unclear. Previous studies have mainly concentrated on silicon-accumulating plants, whereas less work has been conducted in silicon-excluding plants, such as tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). In this study, we investigated the effects of exogenous silicon (2.5 mmol L^–1) on the chlorophyll fluorescence and expression of photosynthesis-related genes in tomato seedlings (Zhongza 9) under water stress induced by 10% (w/v) polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000). The results showed that under water stress, the growth of shoot and root was inhibited, and the chlorophyll and carotenoid concentrations were decreased, while silicon addition improved the plant growth and increased the concentrations of chlorophyll and carotenoid. Under water sterss, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters such as PSII maximum photochemical efficiency (F_v/F_m), effective quantum efficiency, actual photochemical quantum efficiency (Ф_PSII), photosynthetic electron transport rate (ETR), and photochemical quenching coefficient (q_P) were decreased; while these changes were reversed in the presence of added silicon. The expressions of some photosynthesis-related genes including PetE, PetF, PsbP, PsbQ, PsbW, and Psb28 were down-regulated under water stress, and exogenous Si could partially up-regulate their expressions. These results suggest that silicon plays a role in the alleviation of water stress by modulating some photosynthesis-related genes and regulating the photochemical process, and thus promoting photosynthesis.

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Molecular mechanisms controlling seed set in cereal crop species under stress and non-stress conditions

LI Hui-yong, Thomas Lübberstedt

2018, 17 (05): 965-974. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(17)61719-2

Abstract （576） PDF （826KB）（386）

Maximizing seed yield is the ultimate breeding goal in important cereal crop species. Seed set is a key developmental stage in the process of seed formation, which determines grain number, seed mass, and realized yield potential, and can be severely affected by abiotic and biotic stresses. However, seed set can also be substantially reduced by genetic factors even under optimal fertilization conditions. The underlying molecular genetic mechanisms are still obscure. In this review, we elucidate the process of seed set of cereal crop species in detail, including development of floral structures, formation of viable gametes, double fertilization, seed development, and abortion. We discuss how genetic and non-genetic factors affect seed set in different development stages. Finally, we will propose novel strategies to study genetic mechanisms controlling seed set and exploit genetic resources to improve seed set in cereal crop species.

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Response of yield increase for dryland winter wheat to tillage practice during summer fallow and sowing method in the Loess Plateau of China

LI Hui, XUE Jian-fu, GAO Zhi-qiang, XUE Nai-wen, YANG Zhen-ping

2018, 17 (04): 817-825. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(17)61806-9

Abstract （614） PDF in ScienceDirect

Soil moisture is the most critical limiting factor impacting yields of dryland winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and it is strongly affected by tillage practice and sowing methods. This study was to assess the link between sowing method and tillage practice during summer fallow and their subsequent effect on soil moisture and grain yield. Furthermore, we sought to identify a more appropriate farming management practice for winter wheat production in Loess Plateau region of China. The experiment was conducted from 2011 to 2013, using a two-factor split plot design, including subsoiling (SS) or no tillage (NT) during summer fallow for main plots, and conventional drill sowing (DS) or plastic film drill sowing (FM) for sub-plots. Results showed that the maximum soil water storage (SWS) was under SS×FM treatment with values of 649.1 mm (2011–2012) and 499.4 mm (2012–2013). The SWS during the 2011–2012 growing season were 149.7 mm higher than that in the 2012–2013 growing season. And adoption of SS×FM significantly increased precipitation use efficiency (PUE) and water use efficiency (WUE) compared to other treatments for both seasons. Moreover, adoption of SS×FM significantly increased yield by 13.1, 14.4, 47.3% and 25.9, 39.1, 35.7% than other three treatments during the two growing seasons, respectively. In summary, combining subsoiling during summer fallow with plastic film drill sowing (SS×FM) increased SWS at sowing and effectively improved WUE, thus representing a feasible technology to improve grain yield of dryland winter wheat in the Loess Plateau of China.

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Evaluation of a new method for quantification of heat tolerance in different wheat cultivars

LI Qiang, WANG Zheng-rui, LI Ding, WEI Jian-wei, QIAO Wen-chen, MENG Xiang-hai, SUN Shu-luan, LI Hui-min, ZHAO Ming-hui, CHEN Xiu-min, ZHAO Feng-wu

2018, 17 (04): 786-795. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(17)61716-7

Abstract （643） PDF in ScienceDirect

Heat stress seriously affects wheat production in many regions of the world. At present, heat tolerance research remains one of the least understood fields in wheat genetics and breeding and there is a lack of effective methods to quantify heat stress and heat tolerance in different wheat cultivars. The objective of this study was to use various wheat cultivars to evaluate stress intensity (δ) and a new method for quantification of heat tolerance and compare this technique with three other currently utilized methods. This new parameter for heat tolerance quantification is referred to as the heat tolerance index (HTI) and is an indicator of both yield potential and yield stability. Heat treatments were applied in a controlled setting when anthesis had been reached for 80% of the wheat. The stress intensity evaluation indicated heat shock was the main factor associated with kernel weight reduction while grain yield reduction was mainly associated with chronic high temperature. The methods evaluation showed that a temperature difference of 5°C from natural temperatures was a suitable heat treatment to compare to the untreated controls. HTI was positively correlated with yield under heat stress (r=0.8657, δ₂₀₁₀=0.15, in 2009–2010; r=0.8418, δ₂₀₁₁=0.20, in 2010–2011; P<0.01), and negatively correlated with yield reduction rate (r=–0.8344, in 2009–2010; r=–0.7158, in 2010–2011; P<0.01). The results of this study validated the use of HTI and temperature difference control for quantifying wheat heat tolerance that included the yield potential and the stability of different wheat cultivars under heat stress. Additionally, 10 wheat cultivars showed high HTI and should be further tested for their heat confirming characteristics for use in wheat heat tolerance breeding.

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Genetic characteristics of a wheat founder parent and a widely planted cultivar derived from the same cross

CHANG Li-fang, LI Hui-hui, WU Xiao-yang, LU Yu-qing, ZHANG Jin-peng, YANG Xin-ming, LI Xiu-quan, LIU Wei-hua, LI Li-hui

2018, 17 (04): 775-785. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(17)61710-6

Abstract （771） PDF in ScienceDirect

Founder parents have contributed significantly to the improvement of wheat breeding and production. In order to investigate the genetic characteristics of founder parents and widely planted cultivars, Mazhamai (M), Biyumai (B) and six sibling lines (BM1–6) derived from the cross M×B were phenotyped for eight yield-related traits over multiple years and locations and genotyped using the the wheat 90K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) assay. BM4 has been used as a founder parent, and BM1 has been widely planted, whereas BM2, 3, 5, and 6 have not been used extensively for breeding or planting in China. Phenotypic comparisons revealed that BM4 and BM1 displayed a better overall performance than the other sibling lines. BM1 showed higher thousand-grain weight than BM4, whereas BM4 exhibited lower coefficient of variation for most of the yield-related traits across different years and locations, indicating that BM4 was widely adaptable and more stable in different environments. SNP analysis revealed that BM4 and BM1 inherited similar proportions of the M genome but are dissimilar to BM2, 3, 5, and 6. Both BM1 and BM4 have specific alleles that differ from the other BM lines, and most of these alleles are concentrated in specific chromosomal regions that are found to associate with favorable QTLs, these SNPs and their surrounding regions may carry the genetic determinants important for the superior performance of the two lines. But BM4 has more genetic diversity than BM1 with more specific alleles and pleiotropic regions, indicating that the genome of BM4 may be more complex than the other sibling lines and has more favorable gene resources. Our results provide valuable information that can be used to select elite parents for wheat and self-pollinating crop breeding.

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SSR fingerprinting of 203 sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) varieties

MENG Yu-sha, ZHAO Ning, LI Hui, ZHAI Hong, HE Shao-zhen, LIU Qing-chang

2018, 17 (01): 86-93. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(17)61687-3

Abstract （646） PDF in ScienceDirect

Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers have been shown to be a powerful tool for varieties identification in plants. However, SSR fingerprinting of sweetpotato varieties has been a little reported. In this study, a total of 1 294 SSR primer pairs, including 1 215 genomic-SSR and 79 expressed sequence tag (EST)-SSR primer pairs, were screened with sweetpotato varieties Zhengshu 20 and Luoxushu 8 and their 2 F₁ individuals randomly sampled, and 273 and 38 of them generated polymorphic bands, respectively. Four genomic-SSR and 3 EST-SSR primer pairs, which showed good polymorphism, were selected to amplify 203 sweetpotato varieties and gave a total of 172 bands, 85 (49.42%) of which were polymorphic. All of the 203 sweetpotato varieties showed unique fingerprint patterns, indicating the utility of SSR markers in variety identification of this crop. Polymorphism information content (PIC) ranged from 0.5824 to 0.9322 with an average of 0.8176. SSR-based genetic distances varied from 0.0118 to 0.6353 with an average of 0.3100 among these varieties. Thus, these sweetpotato varieties exhibited high levels of genetic similarity and had distinct fingerprint profiles. The SSR fingerprints of the 203 sweetpotato varieties have been successfully constructed. The highly polymorphic SSR primer pairs developed in this study have the potential to be used as core primer pairs for variety identification, genetic diversity assessment and linkage map construction in sweetpotato and other plants.

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Chemical fertilizers could be completely replaced by manure to maintain high maize yield and soil organic carbon (SOC) when SOC reaches a threshold in the Northeast China Plain

LI Hui, FENG Wen-ting, HE Xin-hua, ZHU Ping, GAO Hong-jun, SUN Nan, XU Ming-gang

2017, 16 (04): 937-946. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(16)61559-9

Abstract （871） PDF in ScienceDirect

The combined use of chemical and organic fertilizers is considered a good method to sustain high crop yield and enhance soil organic carbon (SOC), but it is still unclear when and to what extent chemical fertilizers could be replaced by organic fertilizers. We selected a long-term soil fertility experiment in Gongzhuling, Northeast China Plain to examine the temporal dynamics of crop yield and SOC in response to chemical nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) fertilizers and manure, applied both individually and in combination, over the course of three decades (1980–2010). We aimed to test 1) which fertilizer application is the best for increasing both maize yield and SOC in this region, and 2) whether chemical fertilizers can be replaced by manure to maintain high maize yield and enhance SOC, and if so, when this replacement should be implemented. We observed that NPK fertilizers induced a considerable increase in maize yield in the first 12 years after the initiation of the experiment, but manure addition did not. In the following years, the addition of both NPK fertilizers and manure led to an increase in maize yield. SOC increased considerably in treatments with manure but remained the same or even declined with NPK treatments. The increase in maize yield induced by NPK fertilizers alone declined greatly with increasing SOC, whereas the combination of NPK and manure resulted in high maize yield and a remarkable improvement in SOC stock. Based on these results we suggested that NPK fertilizers could be at least partially replaced by manure to sustain high maize yield after SOC stock has reached 41.96 Mg C ha^–1 in the Northeast China Plain and highly recommend the combined application of chemical fertilizers and manure (i.e., 60 Mg ha^–1).

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