The nuclear membrane of mammalian cells was composed of inner nuclear membrane, outer nuclear membrane and perinuclear space. The lamina was localized under the nucleoplasm face of inner nuclear membrane. It has been known that the lamina was distributed in the nucleus of mammalian cells, insect cells and plant cells. Lamina plays important roles in the celluar life cycle,including DNA replication, transcription, chromatin organization as well as nuclear assembly. Moreover, lamina is an obstacle for the egress of some viruses, like herpes simplex virus (HSV). Sf9 cells were mostly used for the infection of Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV). However, there was no comprehensive study to observe whether Sf9 cells also have the lamina. So, it is difficult to know how AcMNPV pass through the lamina of Sf9 cells and then arrive at the inner nuclear membrane for nuclear egress of capsids. To determine the nucleotide sequence of lamin gene in Sf9 cells, we searched the Spodobase database with the known insect lamin genes. The identity of the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the homologous lamins was respectively analyzed. To analyze the molecular mass of Lamin of Sf9 cells, the monolayer cells were harvested and the whole-cell protein extracts were separated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis （SDS-PAGE) and the protein size of Lamin was detected using Drosophila Dm0 monoclonal antibody ADL67 by Western blotting. To observe the shape and distribution of lamina of Sf9 cells, the living cells were immunostained with ADL67 by immunofluorescence assay. From the Spodobase database, a Dm0-like lamin EST of Sf9 cells was obtained. The nucleotide and amino acid homology comparison indicated that this sequence showed some identities to the lamins of other species, especially Bombyx mori. Western blotting assay showed that the protein size of Dm0-like Lamin of Sf9 cells was approximately 70 ku. Immunofluorescence staining indicated that the observed lamina of Sf9 cells was localized evenly along with the nuclear membrane. These results indicate that the Dm0-like Lamin may exist in Sf9 cells. How the capsids of budded virus of AcMNPV pass through the lamina will depend on the structure and cellular distribution of lamina. If the distribution of lamina in the inner nuclear membrane is discontinuous, the viral capsids will cross the blind spots to arrive at the inner membrane directly. Also, We cannot exclude the possibility that the lattice of lamina of Sf9 cell is enough wide and the layers of lamina are thin, and the capsids will pass through the lattice without difficulties. On the contrary, if the distribution of lamina is compact and the layers of lamina are thick, the baculovirus may disrupt the lamina for capsids egress. This study may lay the foundation for the exploration of the mechanism of baculovirus capsids transport across the lamina.

Ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) is conservative and it is composed of numerous copies of tandemly repeated transcription units within the genome that has been recognized as an attractive marker for phylogenetic studies. It consists of the 18S, 5.8S, and 28S genes as well as internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and external transcribed spacer (ETS) region. As members of a sequence family, the multiple copies of the rDNA do not evolve independently. They tend to evolve in a concerted fashion, which means that in a species the repeats evolve together. Previous study shows that there are two major variants in the 18S rRNA gene of the single Rotylenchulus reniformis. The variation within ITS region of rRNA gene among R. reniformis populations from Zhejiang, Fujian and Chongqing of China was reported. Two bands of 18S-ITS sequence with lengths of 1 250 bp and 1 400 bp (include ≈480 bp 18S rDNA sequence, the whole ITS sequence and ≈50 bp 28S rDNA sequence) were amplified from each nematode of three populations of R. reniformis, which named as variant 1 (RN_VAR1) and variant 2 (RN_VAR2), respectively. The amount of variation was assessed by sequencing five clones from each variant from six female reniform nematodes of three populations, with a total of 60 sequences. These sequences were distinguished, based on multiple sequence alignment (MSN), the percent identity and guanine and cytosine content (GC) content of the ITS and clustering in phylogenetic trees. The length and GC content of ITS region were characterized by RN_VAR1 (705712 bp, 45.1%46.7%) and RN_VAR2 (854860 bp, 48.4%50.0%), respectively. The percent identity between RN_VAR1 and RN_VAR2 was relatively low which only ranged between 62.1% and 65.6%. The percent identity between all clones in RN_VAR1 was 89.9%100%, and that in RN_VAR2 was 91.4%99.8%. Phylogenetic tree analyses based on neighbor-joining method showed that both RN variants could be distinguished from other nematodes by ITS sequence alignment, while it was hard for differentiation of R. reniformis intrapopulation. The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) experiments showed that RN_VAR1 made up 56% of rDNA units with relatively well-conserves in 18S RNA gene, whereas RN_VAR2 was 40%. The two ITS variants, RN_VAR1 and RN_VAR2, were consistent to the reported two 18S RNA gene variants, respectively. The results confirm that there are two rDNA variant types in reniform nematode. This variation may be as a result of ancestral interspecific hybridization or gene recombination between sister chromatids, leading to the coevolution of the rDNA sequences on these chromosomes.

Low cellulose mutant in rice is a common type of crop culm mutants as reported in Arabidopsis, maize and barley previously. These mutants have obvious traits of fragility in stem and leaf, low mechanical strength and weaker breaking-resistance. A low cellulose mutant 527-1 (LCM527-1) obtained from the offspring of a rice variety 527 by 400 Gy60Co γ irradiation was applied to study it’s biological phenotype, genetic traits and mutant gene, attempting to find reasons for low cellulose mutation and rice lodging. It exhibited fragility with continuity and integrity during the whole period of rice growth. In the process of experiment, some main investigations were made to identify the variation in biological expression, genetic analysis and gene mapping, concerning phenotype observation, agronomic traits, rice quality, chemical mineral elements, inheritance pattern and location of mutation gene. Four crosses were made to inspect the inheritance pattern and genetic stability between the low cellulose mutant527-1 (female parent) and the wild-type 527, Zhe7954, 9311, Minghui63 (male parents). After then, 505 pairs of SSR molecular markers were chosen to map the mutant gene on chromosome, and three markers: RM3774, RM1092 and RM530 presented polymorphism difference. These mapping populations were derived from a cross between LCM527-1 and Zhe7954. The mutant LCM527-1 showed dramatically decreased content of cellulose, high lodging index, big changes in some agronomic traits and mineral elements content. Genetic analysis indicated the character of mutant LCM527-1 was controlled by a single recessive gene. And gene lcm527-1 was roughly located between SSR marker RM3774 and RM1092 on chromosome 2 with genetic distances of 10.6 cM and 5.1 cM, respectively. Above all, it was concluded that mutant LCM527-1 was of great importance for research of mechanical strength, especially the ability of lodging resistance. The mutant traits appeared single locus mutation and inheritable stably, suggesting some specific traits of LCM527-1 might be controlled by this mutant gene lcm527-1 and resulted in some related changes in agronomic traits and mineral elements content. These results are helpful to make a fine mapping and its gene cloning in the fragile mutant; meanwhile, they could also lay a theoretical basis on molecular biology mechanism of rice lodging resistance.

The pine shoot beetle, Tomicus yunnanensis, is one of the most damaging pests of Yunnan pine (Pinus yunnanensis) in southwestern China. In this study, the laboratory behavioral bioassays and field investigations were employed to examine the effects of three most abundant green leaf volatiles (GLVs) \[(E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-hexen-1-ol, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol\] from non-host trees on host location behavior of this forest pest. Y-tube olfactometer bioassays showed that adult T. yunnanensis were significantly repelled by single GLVs compound or their blends. Field experiments showed that, the increase rates of infested twigs (fed by T. yunnanensis) in all the Yunnan pine groups treated with GLVs compound were lower than control group, and had significant differences from control group. The GLVs and their blends played a negative role in the feeding behavior of T. yunnanensis in field, and decreased the damage to Yunnan pine. The above results show that, as the interrupting factors, GLVs from non-host plants have the potential to be used in field integrated managements of T. yunnanensis in the future.

Juglans sigllata Dode, is widely planted in Liangshan Prefecture of southwest China for its nuts and wood. Liangshan Prefecture is a major traditional growing area of J. sigllata and has unique advantages for walnut industrial development because of its good soil, climate, and availability of water. Currently there are 2.7 million hectares of walnut, contributing important incomes for farmers. In April 2013, numerous J. sigllata were found to be infected with root rot in the Muli County of Liangshan Prefecture. Symptoms included dried leaves, dead branches, and even death. According to the cultural characteristics, the fungus was primarily identified as Fusarium solani and it could cause the root rot on many industrial crops. Fusarium solani could be significantly antagonized by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Trametes versicolor. In order to control the plant diseases caused by F. solani, B. amyloliquefaciens and T. versicolor were chosen for testing the efficiency of the colonization in rhizosphere soil of J. sigllata. With the development of real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology, more attention was paid on this issue. It was highly efficient, sensitive and specific technology and had been widely used in various fields of scientific research. For the research of the root rot of J. sigllata, the dynamic changes of two kinds of biocontrol strains and the pathogen in rhizosphere soil were studied through the method of real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. The results showed that biocontrol strains multiplied rapidly after inoculation, and the relative content of B. amyloliquefaciens reached the peak at the 20th day. Then, the relative content of B. amyloliquefaciens was declined, and kept stable after the 40th day. But the time when the relative content of T. versicolor showed the growth peak and stabilization at each stage was delayed for 10 d as compared with B. amyloliquefaciens. After 60 days, the relative contents of F. solani in rhizosphere soil inoculated with B. amyloliquefaciens and T. versicolor were reduced significantly when the relative content of biocontrol strains reached the peak. The difference in the content of B. amyloliquefaciens was significant between the treatment with or without inoculating B. amyloliquefaciens, while more distinctions of the content of T. versicolor between the treatment with or without inoculating T. versicolor. When the colonization was stabilized, the content of B. amyloliquefaciens had no significant difference compared with the control, while the content of T. versicolor was significant between the two treatments. All above indicate that the biocontrol efficiency and the colonization ability of B. amyloliquefaciens are superior than T. versicolor. This study can provide real-time monitoring of diseases caused by F. solani and support the detection of the colonization of B. amyloliquefaciens and T. versicolor in rhizosphere soil.

Approximately 30% of the global arable land in the world is acidic soils (pH＜5) and China’s acidic soil accounts for more than 21% of the area. Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a major limiting factor which limited crop production in acid soils. Al firstly inhibits the growth and development of plant roots. Consequently, it decreased the absorption of water and nutrients, which results in poor growth and production of plants. Therefore, in recent years, many researchers dedicated to study Al tolerance mechanisms and bred high Al-tolerant and acid soil-resistant crops by genetic engineering. 14-3-3 proteins are a group of highly conserved regulatory proteins found in eukaryotic cells, and have roles in regulating plant development and stress responses. A lot of 14-3-3 gene family members are isolated in different plants. 14-3-3 proteins regulate various physiological activities and functions by interacting with phosphorylated or non-phosphorylated target proteins in plants. The expression levels of certain 14-3-3 gene isoforms can be adjusted directly by environmental stimuli. Our previous study showed that Al stress induced the expression of 14-3-3a (SGF14a) in the Al resistant soybean (Glycine max) root tips. In order to further validate the role of SGF14a in response to Al stress in plants, plant expression vectors of SGF14a were constructed. Now, the 35S constitutive promoter was used to overexpress SGF14a. We constructed pK-35S-SGF14a plant expression vectors using gateway technology, then introduced the SGF14a expression vectors into Agrobacterium pMP105, which was transformed into tobacco plants via transformation method. The plants were selected by genomic polymerase chain reaction (PCR), reverse transcriptase-PCR and Western blot analysis. Finally we got three transgenic lines (S11, S19, and S23). The wild type (WT) and transgenic tobacco plants (S11, S19, S23) were treated with 50 μmol/L Al to analyze the effect of SGF14a overexpression on the Al-resistance of tobacco. Changes of the relative root growth, H2O2, malondialdehyde (MDA), soluble protein contents as well as antioxidant enzyme activities in transgenic plants were compared. The results showed that the relative root growth of the transgenic plants increased approximately 1.5-fold as compared with the WT. Moreover, the soluble protein contents in the transgenic tobacco roots increased significantly compared with the WT plants, and antioxidant enzyme activities (peroxidase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase) in roots of transgenic tobacco plants also increased when exposed to 50 μmol/L Al. Moreover, the H2O2 accumulation and oxidative stress level in transgenic tobacco roots were reduced under the Al stress. The growth status of the transgenic tobacco was better than that of WT when grown in acidic soil. In summary, the evidences suggest that overexpression of SGF14a an enhance the Al-tolerance of transgenic tobacco and its ability to adapt to acidic soil.

Geranium (Pelargonium sp. Frensham) is an ornamental plant cultivated in the worldwide. In this study, wild type (WT) geranium leaves were first treated with H13CHO solutions in time and concentration-gradient manner to clarify the detailed H13CHO-metabolic pathways in WT geranium leaves and to quantitatively analyze the roles of the major HCHO-metabolic pathways in HCHO-absorption by WT geranium leaves, and then understand the metabolic mechanism of geranium response to liquid HCHO stress. Geranium was used as the experimental material. In the H13CHO treatment, 2 g geranium fresh leaves were soaked in different concentrations of H13CHO (including 0.1% 2-(N-morpholino) ethanesulfonic acid,MES) solution (100 mL), and then incubated under constant light \[100 μmol/(m2·s)\] at 25 ℃ for different time with shaking (100 r/min). After incubation, the leaves were washed and used to grind. The extract was transferred into a 5 mm NMR tube and subjected to 13C-NMR analysis. Resonance peaks were assigned by comparison with authentic compound’s chemical shifts and confirmed by spiking the kalium phosphate buffer (KPB) extracts with authentic reference standards. For comparison of the relative contents of the metabolites, the target peaks were integrated relatively to the reference.
Geranium leaves were treated in H13CHO solution to analyze the detailed HCHO metabolic pathways and the contribution of the major metabolic pathway to HCHO-uptake by geranium leaves. In the time gradient, the content of citric acid (Cit) was on an upward trend, after treatment 48 h, its relative signal integral reached 4.54-fold of the unprocessed geranium leaves (control, CK).
The signal integration of 13C-carbohydrate \[U-13C\]glucose (Gluc) and \[U-13C\]fructose (Fruc) decreased in the first 4 h treatment and then increased, and finally achieved 1.72 and 1.94-fold of CK. In the concentration gradient, the content of citric acid increased obviously with the increase of HCHO concentration, and finally reached 7.58-fold of CK. The signal integration of 13C-carbohydrate \[U-13C\]Gluc and \[U-13C\]Fruc slightly increased after decreased dramatically with the increase of HCHO concentration, and finally achieved 0.15 and 0.2-fold of CK. Results suggested that the HCHO-absorption by geranium leaves was a power function in relation with the treatment time. In 2 mmol/L HCHO treatment,during the early stage (024 h), the primary functioned metabolic pathway was the Cit produced pathway in geranium leaves. In this period, the geranium leaves absorbed 25% HCHO of total absorption. At the late stage (2448 h) of HCHO treatment, two major metabolic pathways, the Cit produced pathway and 13C-labelled glucide (\[U-13C\]Gluc and \[U-13C\]Fruc) generation pathway, functioned simultaneously in geranium leaves. Some 13C-labelled glucide might also enter the glycolysis pathway or the tricarboxylate (TCA) cycle, which thereby allowed an enhancement in many organic acid peaks. In this time, the geranium leaves absorbed 50% HCHO of all uptake. It is concluded that HCHO is eventually converted into glyoxylate which enters into the glyoxylate cycle to produce \[3-13C\] Cit, and carbohydrates are synthesized via gluconeogenesis pathway, then isocitrate enters into the TCA cycle to produce amino acids, and these metabolic pathways produce various organic acids. Apparently, geranium leaves metabolize liquid formaldehyde mainly through Cit and glucide (\[U-13C\] Gluc and \[U-13C\] Fruc) synthesis pathway.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a disease caused by carbohydrate metabolism disturbance, insulin resistance and reduction of insulin. Many studies confirmed that the disequilibrium of Th1/Th2 cells concerned with T2DM. IL-2 and IFN-γ mediate the growth of Th1 cells which induce cellular immunity. IL-4 and IL-10 are key mediators of Th2 cells which play an important role in humoral immunity. The principal goal of the present research is to detect the changes of Th1/Th2 cytokines in the pathogenesis of T2DM. Five male healthy rhesus monkeys and five male T2DM rhesus monkeys induced by high-fat diets were used in the study. All rhesus monkeys had been checked without any infections such as bacteria and parasite before trials. After induced for 24 months, the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) mean value of all T2DM rhesus monkeys was higher than 7.0 mmol/L, and that of the control rhesus monkeys was below 6.11 mmol/L. Typical symptoms of type 2 diabetes mellitus were also observed in T2DM rhesus monkeys. The FPG met the WHO and ADA standards for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Animals were scarified after ketamine anesthesia. Target organs (liver, kidney, heart and pancreas) were fixed in paraformaldehyde, embedded in paraffin and sliced. The pathological changes were studied by hematoxylin-eosin staining, and the expressions of IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10 were observed by immunohistochemistry. Mean density was measured by IPP 6.0 (Image-pro plus 6.0) to evaluate their variation. Neutrophil cell infiltration which means chronic inflammation was observed in hepatic sinusoid of T2DM rhesus monkeys, and hepatic sinusoid of T2DM was wider than healthy rhesus monkeys. Different degrees of cellular swell and atrophy as well as necrosis were found in kidney, heart and pancreas.
All the tested organs in the study were damaged in the process of T2DM. IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-γ were only expressed in kidney and pancreas, and IL-10 was expressed in all the four organs. IL-2 was only expressed in langerhans islet and kidney tubules, but IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10 were expressed in endocrine and exocrine pancreas, kidney tubules. IL-10 was also expressed in hepatic and myocardial cell. The expression of IFN-γ and IL-10 were significantly increased (P<0.01), but IL-4 was decreased oppositely (P<0.01). The expression of IL-2 in pancreas and kidney had no difference between T2DM and health rhesus monkeys (P>0.05). In conclusion, IL-2, Th1 cytokines, has no significant change, but IFN-γ of Th1 cell is expressed higher in T2DM. Simultaneously, IL-4 and IL-10, Th2 cytokines, change oppositely. Inflammation exists in the process of T2DM. Difference distribution and level of Th1/Th2 cytokines between T2DM and health rhesus monkeys show that Th1/Th2 cell disequilibrium is key mediators in T2DM. According to the complex changes of cytokines of Th1/Th2 cells, it needs further researches to define the relationship of Th1/Th2 balance with T2DM.

Citrus quality grading can raise the observability degree and grade degree of citrus, improving the product level and increasing market competitiveness. It can also make huge economic and social benefits and increase farmers income and agricultural productivity so as to promote the sustained and healthy development of the citrus industry. For the purpose of precise measurement of citrus quality grading, the complexity measurement of Bingtang orange defective fruit damaged by diseases and insect pest patterns were studied by machine recognition, along with the navel orange fruit perimeter-area fractal dimension and the shape, color grading and sugar acid nondestructive detection of section tone unit coordinates multifractal spectrum height and width. Physiological boron deficiency, Eriophyes oleivorus and rind oil spotting disease were very common in Bingtang orange fruits. The 0°—50° main tone region of these diseases and insect pests damage pattern were augmented into the length of 1°, and pixel distribution probability of each segment tone, complexity measurement C(Y) and Shannon entropy H(Y) were calculated. C(Y) and H(Y) were set as the features to identify fruit diseases and insect pests by machine recognition. The background and extracting boundary contour from the two projection images formed by navel orange fruits stalk surface and side perpendicular were removed, and then perimeter-area fractal dimension was calculated. The result was used as index to retrieve fruit information and navel orange shape grading. The two side images where navel oranges were relative were set as the research object, and then the background was extracted, and the main tone region 30°—120°of two images were segmented into 30°—50°, 50°—70°, 70°—90° and 90°—120°, and four tone images were created. Its multifractal spectrum barycentric coordinate, height and width were calculated. The height and width were transformed into the unit barycentric coordinate. On one hand, multifractal spectrum height and width of the unit barycentric coordinate were set as the index and were retrieved in fruit information dictionary to grade navel oranges by color； on the other hand, multifractal spectrum height and width of the unit barycentric coordinate were set as parameters and reflected the degree of fruit sugar and acidity by sugar and acidity partial least square mode. The average correct recognition rate of Bingtang orange disease and insect pest defect fruit was 93.33%. The correct rate of navel orange fruit shape grading was 100%. The correct rate of navel orange color grading was 98%. The standard deviations of sugar and acidity in navel orange were within 0.77 and 0.36, separately. And the correlation coefficients with the true value were above 0.8 and 0.7. The above results show that calculating complexity measurement, perimeter-area fractal dimension, unit barycentric coordinate multifractal spectrum height and width can better reflect the characteristics of Bingtang orange fruits with disease and insect pest defects which need to grade citrus fruit quality, and can also reflect navel oranges fruit shape, color characteristics and internal sugar and acidity level which are nondestructive detection mapping parameter features.

Based on specimen examination adopting classical classification method,Syntrichia laevipila Brid. was found and reported for the first time in Zhejiang Province. It distributed both in Xixi Wetland National Park of Hangzhou City and Pingyang County of Wenzhou. The characteristics of distribution and habitat were discussed. In the present paper S. laevipila. was accepted as a species of the genus Syntrichia Brid. rather than the genus Tortula Hedw. of family Pottiaceae. Syntrichia laevipila Brid. was morphologically close to S. sinensis (C. Müll.) Ochyra, a widely-distributed species in Zhejiang Province. Both species were similar in their leaf shape, leaf cell shape and papillosity. However, from S. sinensis (C. Müll.) Ochyra, S. laevipila Brid. could be especially identified by its small size (23 mm), colorless spindly leaf apex and 12 circle left-handed dentiums. The discovery of the new record of S. laevipila Brid. enriched the bryophyte flora of Zhejiang Province, and also provided fundamental materials to further study geographical distribution of genus Syntrichia Brid. in China.

roma of tea is an important factor determining the quality. There were many studies on the analysis of different kinds of tea’s aroma, but most of them didn’t discuss the difference between different teas. The aroma of floral type black tea and black tea with higher amino acid was very special, and neither of them has been studied before. The aroma compositions of five kinds of traditional black tea, three kinds of floral type black tea and four kinds of black tea with higher amino acid, were analyzed using solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME/GC-MS) in different black tea samples comparatively. Results showed that 75 kinds of aromatic components were detected, and 26, 19, 34, 30, 17, 29, 34, 23, 20, 16, 20 and 24 kinds of aroma substances from Yunnan congou black tea, Qimen congou black tea, Yichang black tea, Yinde black tea, Shuangfeng black tea, Panyong congou black tea, Jinguanyin black tea, Huangguanyin black tea, Zhuhai Golden tea, Jinyuxian black tea, Huangjinya black tea, Hengsheng black tea. The ingredients for the characteristic aroma of black tea were mainly ascertained to be alcohols, esters and hydrocarbons. The linalool, linalool oxide, geraniol, benzyl alcohol, phenethyl and methyl salicylate were the characteristic aroma substances of black tea. In conclusion, the results and related literature provide the specificity of different regions and special varieties of black tea, with the preliminary discussion on the causes of the aroma. The nerolidol, α-farnesene and indole are higher in floral type black tea, which are the characteristic aroma in oolong tea. The nitrogenous compounds are higher in the aroma of high amino acid black tea, such as 2-acetylpyrrole and quinoline.

In order to investigate the effect of different mulching materials on soil properties and growth of maize in the early stage, a pot experiment was conducted in dry-farming areas of Ningxia to determine the effects of different mulching materials on soil temperature, soil water, nutrient status and growth of maize in the early stage. Different mulching material treatments of our pot experiment were introduced, which included white plastic film, black plastic film, bast fiber film, and maize straw. A flat plot without mulch was used as a control. Our study results showed that, from seedling stage to the large bell stage of maize, the average temperature in 10 cm depth soil layer of white film and black film treatments was 1.3 ℃ and 2.2 ℃ significantly higher than that of control, respectively. In contrast, the temperature of soil mulched with maize straw or bast fiber film slightly dropped compared with the control. In the early growth stage of maize, the maize straw and bast fiber film treatments have the best effect on water conservation: The soil water storage (020 cm) were 38.1% and 34.4% significantly higher than that of the control, respectively, followed by the white and black plastic film treatments. The bast fiber film and straw treatments significantly increased the soil organic matter content, available nitrogen content, and available phosphorus content at 020 cm compared with the control. However, the available potassium content of the bast fiber film and maize straw treatments was slightly lower than the control. Under the treatments of fiber film and straw, the large bell stage of maize was 7 and 8 days earlier than that of control, respectively. The bast fiber film and straw treatments promoted the growth in the early stage of maize, and the biomass and plant height of maize under the two treatments were significantly higher than that of the control. Taken together, the bast fiber film and maize straw treatments not only significantly decreased the soil temperature, but also increased soil water and nutrient contents, thereby promoting the early stage growth of maize.

Caragana intermedia is a bush-like plant, and its branching architectures are more complex. Fractal theory provides a new tool for the study of trees and their properties. The crown characteristics of trees can be quantified by fractal dimensions, and the architectures can be described accurately. The relationships between branching architectures and growth of C. intermedia were studied from the viewpoint of fractal theory, in order to study the branching architectures and adaptation strategies to the environment of C. intermedia in desert steppe areas. Based on the theory of fractal dimension in forestry application, the changes of branching architectures and strategies of ecological adaptation of C. intermedia at different ages (growth for 16 a, 25 a, 37 a of intact plants and growth for 1 a, 5 a after stumping) were studied in desert steppe areas. The indexes of crown size, height and basal diameter of C. intermedia increased firstly and then decreased with the increasing ages. Aboveground biomass of intact C. intermedia at different ages decreased gradually with the increasing ages. Older shrubs (37 a) resisted the situation of senescence by self renewing. The ratio of branch diameter (RBD) of C. intermedia shrubs which grew for one year after stumping was higher than those without stumping. The bearing capacity of shrub branches increased after stumping. The overall bifurcation ratio (OBR) and the lower-level stepwise bifurcation ratio (SBR1∶2 ) decreased with the increasing ages. The OBR and SBR1∶2 of shrubs which grew for one year after stumping were higher than the shrubs without stumping, but OBR and SBR1∶2 of shrubs which grew for 5 years after stumping decreased dramatically. The crown fractal dimensions (CFD) of shrubs without stumping were lower than 1, and CFD decreased with the increasing ages. The CFD of shrubs after stumping were higher than 1, especially the shrubs which grew for five years after stumping were the highest. The bifurcation fractal dimensions (BFD) of shrubs without stumping decreased with the increasing ages. The BFD of shrubs which grew for one year after stumping were higher than those without stumping, and the BFD of shrubs which grew for five years after stumping were the lowest. At the module level, C. intermedia at the ages of 16 a, 25 a, 37 a presented a tendency of declining development. The branching pattern of 16 a shrubs was the most complex, and the ability to occupy the space and the potential of using spatial resources were higher. But the branching architecture of C. intermedia became simplified and the utilization potential of spatial resources and ecological adaptability declined with the increasing ages. Stumping was beneficial to stimulating the development of shrubs’ spatial patterns, and made branching architectures more complicated. The architectures development of shrubs which grew for 5 years after stumping mainly depended on branch length of different branch orders, and the branch number contributed little to it.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) has been identified as a key element in the global carbon balance. The studies on spatial distribution and variation of SOC are very helpful for soil monitoring and soil mapping. There are few reports on spatial variability of SOC concentration under different crops in plough layers in coastal reclamation areas. This study is intended to determine spatial distribution of SOC storage and its impact factors in the coastal reclamation area on south of Hangzhou Bay. A total of 2 353 soil profiles in plough layer were collected from 2007 to 2009 in coastal reclamation area of Hangzhou Bay. SOC concentrations of soil samples were determined according to the dichromate oxidation method with a factor of 0.58. Geo-statistical methods were used for interpolation and spatial grids of crop fields, and random forest method was employed to estimate explanation capability and eliminate inter-correlations among impact factors. The average contents of SOC in plough layer is 9.78 g/kg, varied from 1.04 g/kg to 38.22 g/kg, indicating a moderate degree of variability (variable coefficient=65.24%). For three different cropping patterns, including Vegetables, Rice-Rice and Orchards, the soil points were 1 858, 327 and 168, respectively. Specifically, Rice-Rice has the highest SOC content (18.13 g/kg), followed by Vegetables (8.44 g/kg) and Orchards (8.30 g/kg). Under different soil types, significant differences were observed among paddy soil, coastal saline and fluvio-aquic soil (P<0.05), SOC content in coastal saline soil was close to those in fluvio-aquic soil, and the highest SOC concentration was observed under paddy soil (21.42 g/kg). Besides, for different reclaimed ages, SOC content ranged from 7.14 g/kg to 10.96 g/kg. Except the reclaimed age of 1724—1918, no significant difference was found among other reclaimed ages (P>0.05). Additionally, under each reclaimed age, the significant differences were observed between Rice-Rice and Orchards (P<0.05), Vegetables and Rice-Rice (P<0.05), and significant differences were also detected among different soil types (P<0.05). Moreover, there were highly significant inter-correlations between soil types and reclaimed ages (r=0.64, P<0.001), and the highest individual explanation capability of cropping patterns on SOC variability was 22.84% after eliminating the inter-correlations, followed by soil types (8.68%) and reclaimed ages (4.12%) in this region. Finally, geo-statistical interpolation analysis revealed that high SOC concentration was mainly located at southeast and northwest of study area, whereas low SOC content was observed in central north. This high and low distribution of SOC concentration in this study region is consistent with the cropping patterns of Rice-Rice and Vegetables, respectively.
In conclusion, a spatial distribution of SOC concentration was achieved in the study region, and SOC content is much higher in the rice planted region and/or paddy soil than those of vegetables, orchards, coastal saline soil and fluvio-aquic soil. The cropping pattern is a more important factor on variation of SOC content than soil type and reclaimed ages in this coastal region, and this could be helpful to adopt appropriate cropping strategies to improve the soil carbon storage in the coastal reclaimed region.

Sapindoside is a type of triterpenoid saponins and is extracted from Sapindus mukorossi pericarp by anhydrous ethanol. Previous studies reported that Sapindoside can regulate rumen fermentation in vitro, but whether it is effective in vivo is still unknown. Thus, the objective of the study is to investigate the effects of Sapindoside-containing concentrate on productive performance, nutrient digestion, rumen fermentation and plasma biochemical indexes in 2528 month-old heifers. Sixteen Chinese Holstein heifers, 144 days left to give birth, were used in a 95 d trial (7 d for adaptation). The animals were assigned to two treatments: basal diet with or without 0.15% Sapindoside (powder of 80% triterpenoid saponins) in concentrate. The adding level was based on our previous experiment in vitro. At the last week of the trial, a total of 12 heifers, six from each treatment, were randomly selected, and subjected to a digestion trial by index method with acid insoluble ash as index. The samples of blood and rumen fluids were collected on the day before the last day of the trial. Body size indexes were measured every month and body mass was calculated by formula. Results showed that body height, body length, heart girth and estimated body mass had an increase trend (P>0.05) in Sapindoside-containing group, and the estimated average daily gain of the whole period was increased by 31% compared with the control (P=0.05). Apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter (DM, P0.05), neutral detergent fiber (NDF, P0.05). However, butyrate concentration, acetate to propionate ratio and estimated methane production decreased in Sapindoside-containing group (P0.05). In summary, feeding Sapindoside-containing concentrate presents a trend to improve the productive performance of 2528 month-old heifers. Meanwhile, further studies are required to explore the Sapindosides adding level and the long-term effects of Sapindoside on heifers.

As excellent germplasm resources in China, Shaoxing duck is famous for its high egg production all over the world. Laying traits, rather than the growth and development traits, are the main breeding criteria in the duck breeding at present. We usually use egg laying traits as the main breeding goal, but ignore the growth and development traits, especially in drake breeding. Defective growth and development may lead to the loss of duck breeding value and the low fertilization rate, which will finally reduce the economic benefit of drakes. Thus, drakes’ growth traits must be emphasized in breeding of laying ducks. We must pay more attention to the selection of the drakes’ growth traits. This study analyzed the correlation between the polymorphism of growth hormone (GH) gene with the growth performance and slaughter in Shaoxing ducks, which provided some reference material for monitoring the growth and development of Shaoxing ducks breeding.
As the candidate genes, GH gene is closely related to the growth and development. The SNP loci of GH were scanned by direct sequencing method.
The body size was measured at the age of 12 weeks, and the slaughter indexes were measured at the age of 53 weeks. All ducks were sampled randomly according to the group, and the relevance of Shaoxing duck growth performance and slaughter performance were analyzed.
The genomic DNA was extracted by phenol chloroform method from blood. All data were sampled randomly according to the group.
According to the published GH gene sequence in GenBank, the primers were designed to amplify the sequences of intron 2, exon 4 and exon 5. The SNP loci of GH were scanned by direct sequencing method, and the sequences were compared by using DNAStar to look for the polymorphic loci. The genotype and allele frequencies were calculated and tested by Hardy-Weinberg balance. The correlation between the genotypes and traits was calculated by using statistical software JMP 4.0 (SAS Institute, 2002) to estimate the least square means of traits. The results showed two loci: GH 2 514 A>G, GH 2 691 C>T. The χ2 test revealed that all loci were in the balance of Hardy-Weinberg (P>0.05 ). For GH (2 514 A>G & 2 691 C>T), 6-week body mass, 8-week body mass, 12-week keel bone length, 53-week chest width of the individuals with genotype TT were higher than the genotype CT. The breast muscle mass, abdominal fat mass and abdominal fat percentage of individuals with genotype TT were significantly higher than those with genotype CT and CC (P<0.05). It is suggested that GH gene may be the major gene which directly control the abdominal fat and breast muscle related traits, or may be tightly linked with the major genes indirectly.