Exogenous SA Affects Rice Seed Germination under Salt Stress by Regulating Na+/K+ Balance and Endogenous GAs and ABA Homeostasis

Salinity reduces agricultural productivity majorly by inhibiting seed germination. Exogenous salicylic acid (SA) can prevent the harm caused to rice by salinity, but the mechanisms by which it promotes rice seed germination under salt stress are unclear. In this study, the inhibition of germination in salt-sensitive Nipponbare under salt stress was greater than that in salt-tolerant Huaidao 5. Treatment with exogenous SA significantly improved germination of Nipponbare, but had little effect on Huaidao 5. The effects of exogenous SA on ion balance, metabolism of reactive oxygen species (ROS), hormone homeostasis, starch hydrolysis, and other physiological processes involved in seed germination of rice under salt stress were investigated. Under salt stress, Na⁺ content and the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio in rice seeds increased sharply. Seeds were subjected to ion pressure, which led to massive accumulation of H₂O₂, O₂⁻, and malonaldehyde (MDA); imbalanced endogenous hormone homeostasis; decreased gibberellic acid (GA1 and GA4) content; increased abscisic acid (ABA) content; inhibition of α-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) activity; and slowed starch hydrolysis rate, all which eventually led to the inhibition of the germination of rice seeds. Exogenous SA could effectively enhance the expression of OsHKT1;1, OsHKT1;5, OsHKT2;1 and OsSOS1 to reduce the absorption of Na+ by seeds; reduce the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio; improve the activities of SOD, POD, and CAT; reduce the accumulation of H₂O₂, O₂⁻, and MDA; enhance the expression of the GA biosynthetic genes OsGA20ox1 and OsGA3ox2; inhibit the expression of the ABA biosynthetic gene OsNCED5; increase GA1 and GA4 content; reduce ABA content; improve α-amylase activity, and increase the content of soluble sugars. In summary, exogenous SA can alleviate ion toxicity by reducing Na⁺ content, thereby helping to maintain ROS and hormone homeostasis, promote starch hydrolysis, and provide sufficient energy for seed germination, all of which ultimately improves rice seed germination under salt stress. This study presents a feasible means for improving the germination of direct-seeded rice in saline soil.     

铜及铜合金作为免疫和抗菌元素的综述（英文）

讨论铜与人、细菌之间的关系。铜在人体免疫中发挥重要作用。在推荐摄入量下,铜可以增强人体的免疫防御反应。本文主要讨论铜的抗菌活性和抗菌机制。结论表明,铜的抗菌活性受细菌中铜稳态机制、粘附、湿度、菌株特异性以及抗菌剂制备方法的影响。对于颗粒抗菌和表面抗菌材料,讨论几种制备方法,如溶胶-凝胶法、冷喷涂法和生物合成法,分别属于化学合成、物理合成和生物合成法。溶胶-凝胶法有助于颗粒抗菌和表面抗菌材料的制备;冷喷涂技术可以应用于表面抗菌铜的合成;生物合成是一种可应用于纳米颗粒抗菌剂制备的新技术。     

Pellicle formation,microbial succession and lactic acid utilisation during the aerobic deteriorating process of Sichuan pickle

The pellicles formation, microbial changes and lactic acid utilisation during the aerobic deterioration of Sichuan pickle were discussed in this study. By plate counting, chemical detection and HPLC analysis, the aerobic deterioration of Sichuan pickle was featured by microbial growth, pellicle formation, lactic acid decrease and pH elevation. Bacteria dominated in pellicles and the pellicles present morphological change from smooth to wrinkly along with the aerobic deteriorating process. Nine species of bacteria were identified and responsible for the pellicle formation. Combined with Lactobacillus plantarum, eight pellicle‐forming bacteria were the dominant lactic acid consuming organisms in deteriorating Sichuan pickle. Especially under the harsh acid condition of the early deteriorating period, Lb. plantarum, pellicle‐forming bacteria Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, B. subtilis and Citrobacter freundii participated in the pellicles, utilised lactic acid and increased the brine pH effectively. Sequence analysis of 16S rDNA libraries suggested that the resulting pH of 4.8–5.0 initiated the growth of more undesirable organisms, and the pellicle bacterial diversity changed greatly compared with that in the early deteriorating period. The study indicated the important role of pellicles in the initiation of Sichuan pickle's aerobic deterioration and enhanced our ability to understand and potentially control the aerobic deterioration.     

四川古宋铜锣坝晚二叠世早期植物群

本文叙述的四川古宋铜锣坝筠连组植物群,与我国南方广大地区晚二叠世早期植物群性质基本一致。繁盛于中生代的苏铁纲和银杏纲植物,在本植物群中也较为丰富。此外对苏铁纲中的二个新种,进行了描述。     

安徽歙县连香树群落的植物区系特征分析

安徽歙县连香树群落中有种子植物52科、106属、128种(含种下分类单位).其中,裸子植物2科2属4种,分别占种子植物的3.8%、1.9%、3.1%;被子植物50科104属124种,分别占种子植物的96.2%、98.1%、96.9%.在各类属的地理成分中,以温带地理成分占较大优势.属的地理成分反映了群落区系的温带性质,并与其它各地的植物区系如热带植物区系有着广泛联系.     

The antimicrobial activity of donkey milk and its microflora changes during storage

The antimicrobial activity of donkey milk was initially scanned against nine microorganisms using agar diffusion assay, and was further investigated via in situ inhibition by monitoring the growth of Salmonella choleraesuis (CGMCC 1.1859) and Shigella dysenteriae (CGMCC 1.1869) in it. The changes of microflora of donkey milk during prolonged storage at 4 and 20 °C were also studied. The results of the agar diffusion showed that S. choleraesuis and S. dysenteriae were the most sensitive strains towards the antimicrobial activity of donkey milk. In situ test revealed that the donkey milk exerted a definite bactericidal activity against S. dysenteriae and the viable counts decreased to below detectable level in a 1-ml sample at 20 °C. In the microbiological flora analysis, initial raw donkey milk contained a low microbial content. At 20 °C, lactic acid bacteria, coliforms and fungi grew well in donkey milk to give a total number of 6.66 log cfu/ml, 5.88 and 2.95, respectively, after 24 h storage. At 4 °C, no significant changes of microflora were observed after 96 h except coliforms which gave an 1 log increase.     

Changes to herbaceous plant communities on a regulated desert river

Riparian plant communities are shaped by gradients of disturbance intensity and frequency and resource availability. Reservoir operation can alter the composition and abundance of riparian vegetation by changing the flood regime and by trapping fine sediments and associated nutrients within the reservoir system. We examined differences in herbaceous species richness, abundance and composition in Populus‐Salix stands along an unregulated and regulated reach of a river in semi‐arid Arizona, contrasted flood inundation frequency and edaphic conditions (soil moisture, nutrients and texture) between the reaches, and interpreted the vegetation differences in light of observed differences in environmental conditions. Flooding frequency was similar between reaches, but the proportion of fine textured soils in the unregulated reach was nearly double that of the regulated reach and soil nutrient levels were up to three times higher in the unregulated reach. Herbaceous cover and richness were consistently lower in the regulated reach, with between‐reach differences greatest during dry seasons. These patterns suggest that an edaphic‐based change in resource availability is the principal pathway by which river damming is altering herbaceous vegetation in this system. Our results demonstrate that sediment transport within riparian corridors is important for maintenance of herbaceous communities and that restoration of flow regimes alone may be insufficient to restore herbaceous flora on some regulated reaches. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of spoilage microbiota in beef stored in nisin activated packaging

The aim of this study was to assess the microbial populations causing the spoilage of chilled beef during storage and to evaluate the effect of the use of an antimicrobial packaging for the meat storage. A nisin activated antimicrobial packaging was developed by using a nisin, HCL and EDTA solution and used for the storage of beef cuts at 1 °C. The common spoilage related microbial groups were monitored during the storage of beef in activated and non activated plastic bags by using selective media. The use of the antimicrobial packaging caused an overall significant reduction of viable counts of Gram positive bacteria such as carnobacteria, lactic acid bacteria and Brochotrix thermosphacta whose development was inhibited for at least 11 days of storage compared to the control. Moreover, a 1–3 log cycles reduction of enterobacteria was also registered between 22 and 32 days of storage. The microbiota was assessed at species level by using Polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) analysis of 16S rRNA gene of DNA extracted directly from meat and from bulk cells from selective media plates and showed that the species occurring within the targeted microbial groups did not change according to storage conditions. In conclusion, the use of the nisin activated packaging reduced the number of spoilage populations but did not affect the species diversity. Improved antimicrobial packaging is needed, possibly coupled with vacuum storage, to possibly achieve a simultaneous inhibition of more spoilage microbial groups and to preserve the microbiological quality of beef during chilled storage.     

Pores in the epidermis: aquaporins and tight junctions

Water homeostasis of the epidermis is important for the appearance and physical properties of the skin, as well as for water balance in the body. It depends on several factors, e.g. barrier quality, uptake of water into the epidermis, concentration of water-retaining humectants, and external humidity. Aquaporins (AQPs) are pores in the plasmamembranes of cells. Monomeric AQPs form barrel-like structures that are primarily water selective, some AQPs also transport glycerol and possibly other small solutes. In the epidermis, AQP3 is the predominant AQP. It is localized mainly in basal but also in suprabasal layers of the epidermis and is permeable for water as well as for glycerol, a humectant. Mice deficient in AQP3 exhibit reduced stratum corneum (SC) hydration and impaired SC barrier recovery after SC removal. In skin diseases associated with elevated transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced SC hydration, altered expression of AQP3 was shown. Tight junctions (TJ) are cell-cell junctions, which play a central role in sealing the intercellular space of cell sheets and thereby establishing a paracellular barrier. Within the TJ, pores are postulated to exist, which allow the controlled diffusion of water and solutes via the paracellular pathway. In the epidermis, TJ structures were demonstrated in the stratum granulosum whereas TJ proteins were found in all viable layers. Mice which overexpress or are deficient of key-proteins of TJ die soon after birth because of a tremendous TEWL. In various skin diseases that are accompanied by elevated TEWL and reduced skin hydration, staining patterns of TJ proteins are altered. This review will summarize our current knowledge of the involvement of AQPs and TJ in the water homeostasis of the epidermis.