Molecular and functional characterization of a c-type lysozyme from the Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis

Some lepidopteran lysozymes have been reported to display activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, in contrast to most lysozymes that are active only against Gram-positive bacteria. OstrinLysC, a c-type lysozyme, was purified from the As

Fast Discrimination of Commerical Corn Varieties Based on Near Infrared Spectra

The existing methods for the discrimination of varieties of commodity corn seed are unable to process batch data and speed up identification, and very time consuming and costly. The present paper developed a new approach to the fast discrimination of varieties of commodity corn by means of near infrared spectral data. Firstly, the experiment obtained spectral data of 37 varieties of commodity corn seed with the Fourier transform near infrared spectrometer in the wavenurnber range from 4 000 to 12 000 cm (1). Secondly, the original data were pretreated using statistics method of normalization in order to eliminate noise and improve the efficiency of models. Thirdly, a new way based on sample standard deviation was used to select the characteristic spectral regions, and it can search very different wavenumbers among all wavenumbers and reduce the amount of data in part. Fourthly, principal component analysis (PCA) was used to compress spectral data into several variables, and the cumulate reliabilities of the first ten components were more than 99.98%. Finally, according to the first ten components, recognition models were established based on BPR. For every 25 samples in each variety, 15 samples were randomly selected as the training set. The remaining 10 samples of the same variety were used as the first testing set, and all the 900 samples of the other varieties were used as the second testing set. Calculation results showed that the average correctness recognition rate of the 37 varieties of corn seed was 94.3%. Testing results indicate that the discrimination method had higher precision than the discrimination of various kinds of commodity corn seed. In short, it is feasible to discriminate various varieties of commodity corn seed based on near infrared spectroscopy and BPR.

Coal-burning roasted corn and chili as the cause of dental fluorosis for children in southwestern China

To find the pathologic cause of the children's dental fluorosis in southwestern China, diet structure before the age of 6 and prevalence rate of dental fluorosis (DF) of 405 children were investigated, and the fluorine and arsenic content of several materials were determined. The prevalence rate of DF of children living on roasted corn before the age of 6 is 100% with nearly 95% having the mild to severe DF; while that of children living on non-roasted corn or rice is less than 5% with all having very mild DF. The average fluorine and arsenic concentration are 20.26 mg/kg and 0.249 mg/kg in roasted corn, which are about 16 times and 35 times more than in non-roasted corn, respectively. The average fluorine concentration is 78 mg/kg in coal, 1116 mg/kg in binder clay and 313 mg/kg in briquette (coal mixed with clay). The average arsenic concentration of coal is 5.83 mg/kg, the binder clay is 20.94 mg/kg, with 8.52 mg/kg in the briquette. Living on roasted corn and chili is the main pathologic cause of endemic fluorosis in southwestern China. The main source of fluorine and arsenic pollution of roasted corn and chill is the briquette of coal and binder clay. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of acetylation on the properties of corn starch

Acetylated corn starches with different degrees of substitution (DS 0.85, DS 1.78, DS 2.89) were synthesized by the reaction of corn starch with acetic anhydride in the presence of acetic acid under varying reaction temperatures. The product was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, H-1 NMR, X-ray diffraction and contact angle measurement. Acid-base titration and H-1 NMR methods were employed to determine the degree of substitution of product. FTIR spectroscopic analysis showed that the characteristic absorption intensities of esterified starch increased with increase in the degree of substitution, and the characterized peak of hydroxyl group almost disappeared in the spectrum of DS 2.89 acetylated starch. The detailed chemical microstructure of native starch and acetylated starch was confirmed by H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR and C-13-(1) H-1 COSY spectra.

Preparation and characterization of cationic corn starch with a high degree of substitution in dioxane-THF-water media

Cationic corn starch derivatives with a high degree of substitution are prepared in alkaline solution or in mixed media of organic solvent and water with different levels of the cationic reagent, 2,3-epoxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride. The starch cationization yield is investigated, and the results indicate that the degree of substitution (DS) of the samples depends on the reaction conditions and reaction media. The maximum DS values are up to 1.37 in 1,4-dioxane alkali ne-aqueous solution. Meanwhile, the structures of the cationic starch derivatives are characterized by elemental analyses, FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and C-13 NMR spectroscopy, as well as by SEM techniques.

Synthesis of dodecenyl succinic anhydride (DDSA) corn starch

Dodecenly succinic anhydride (DDSA) starches were prepared commercially by the base catalyzed reaction of DDSA in pre-emulsion with starch granular in aqueous slurry. The results indicated that the degree of substitution and reaction efficiency were 0.0256% and 42.7%, respectively, at the parameters for the preparation of DDSA starches in starch slurry 30%, DDSA/starch radio 10% (wt/wt), pH 8.5-9.0, reaction temperature 313 K. After modification, product surface chemical composite had been changed which was prone to migrate into less polar solution. The chemical structural characteristics were investigated by methods of FTIR and H-1 NMR. The results of X-ray diffraction showed the native A-type crystalline pattern, indicating that reaction of corn starch with DDSA caused no change in the crystalline structure. Compared to native starch, the hydrophobic performance of esters was greatly increased. With the DS increasing, contact angles were gradually increased, however, the adhesion works were decreased. The maximum contact angle of DDSA starch could attend to 123 degrees, and the corresponding adhesion work was 33.2 mJ m(-2).

Structure analysis of the fulvic acids extracted from composted corn stalk residue

Chemical structure of fulvic acids extracted from composted corn stalk residue(CSR FA)was studied by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, H-1 and C-13 nuclear magnetic resonance(H-1-NMR, C-13-NMR) spectroscopy. The results show that CSR FA mainly consists of four types of carbon: carbonyl, aromatical, alkyl and carbohydrate, the carbohydrate is dominant. Its aromaticity is 15.42%, less than that of CSR HA. This indicates that the construction of CSR FA is simpler than that of CSR HA, FA can not be extracted from undecomposed corn stalk residue. CSR FA may be formed by cellulose or hemicellulosemorties combined with aromatic compound from decomposed lignin.

玉米高产优质生产中若干生理生态问题的研究

玉米（Zea mays L.）是我国十分重要粮食、饲料和工业原料作物，种植区域覆盖我国大部分农业区。随着玉米品种改良和新栽培技术的应用，我国玉米产量大幅度增加。自1950s以来，我国玉米产量递增幅度为126kg/hm2/yr。在玉米产量提高过程中，单叶光合作用与产量之间存在什么样的关系？当代玉米品种的品质和养分利用效率如何？高密度种植条件下是否存在“根系拥挤”及如何调控等。为探讨上述科学问题，本研究选择中国北方常见的大田玉米品种，在高肥力自然光照条件下，探讨玉米高产优质栽培过程中生理生态特征的变化趋势，以指导科学育种和栽培。主要研究结果如下： 　　1）光合与产量的演变我国 1950s、1970s、1990s等不同年代推广的玉米品种中，当代品种叶片光合速率高且高值持续期长，光合色素叶绿素a、叶绿素b、类胡萝卜素等的含量高且持续时间长，与光合有关的蒸腾速率（E.）、细胞间隙CO2浓度（Ci.）、气孔导度（gs）等也有较大改良，中下部叶片尤其明显;在生育后期，当代品种具有更高的光合优势。老品种饱和光合速率(Psat)在灌浆期下降，并非RuBPCase 和PEPCase的活性降低，而是由于叶绿素含量和可溶性蛋白含量的降低。在花后期间，由于PS2功能的下降，造成了光合能力下降，而现代品种的PS2 功能在衰老前一致保持旺盛状态。 　　老品种光合特征对缺氮的反应表现更敏感。花后缺氮光合作用下降是非气孔限制的，因为气孔导度和胞间CO2浓度没有发生明显的变化。其主要原因是缺素造成老品种叶片早衰，叶绿素含量、可溶性蛋白含量、PEP羧化酶活性下降。现代品种表现较强的抗衰老能力，其N素利用效用高于老品种。我国玉米产量的大幅度提高在很大程度上应归功于叶片光合性能的改良。 　　随玉米品种更替，群体光合速率增强，群体光合衰减率降低，呼吸消耗所占总光合的百分率下降。灌浆期当代品种中下部叶片的群体光合速率明显高于老品种。种植密度是影响玉米群体光合速率的主要因素，在高中低三种密度条件下，当代品种均有较高的群体光合速率，表现出耐密性强、适应性广、源足库大、产量高的特点。 　　2）高油玉米的产量受到叶源大小和叶源活力的双重限制在 1.5 株/m2密度下，与普通玉米相比较，高油玉米单株籽粒产量显著低于普通玉米，产量构成中穗粒数差异不显著，千粒重较低（P＜0.01）;两类型玉米的单株库容量相当，高油玉米籽粒灌浆速率小，籽粒充实度低，单粒重对叶源相对减少（剪叶）或相对增多（疏库）的反应比普通玉米更为敏感，其产量受到同化产物供应（叶源）相对不足的限制。高油玉米授粉后的叶面积、叶面积持续期小，叶片含氮量和光合速率较低，说明高油玉米的产量受到叶源活力（光合速率）小和叶源数量少的双重限制。 　　3）我国北方玉米品种的个体产量潜力、氮素利用效率及籽粒与秸秆粗蛋白质含量在充分发挥个体生产潜力的低密度条件下，我国北方1990s 以来大面积种植的50个玉米主栽品种中，个体产量潜力和氮素利用效率高度正相关(P=0.01)，而子粒千粒重与NUE 呈显著性负相关(P=0.002)。对玉米产量和氮素利用效率进行分层聚类，可将北方玉米品种划分为高产高NUE 型、低产低NUE 型和中间型，高产高NUE 型玉米品种相对较少，仅占24%。籽粒粗蛋白质含量（CPC）与秸秆CPC 相关性不显著（P＞0.05）。对籽粒和秸秆的CPC 进行分层聚类，将北方玉米品种划分为籽粒高秸秆低型、籽粒与秸秆双低型和籽粒与秸秆双高型，CPC 双高型品种相对较少，仅占20%。 　　4）玉米根系拥挤效应对产量影响的生理生态机制及其调控随玉米品种更替根系的空间分布呈“横向紧缩，纵向延伸”的特点。当代三类型玉米根系分布特性与株型、穗型相关。紧凑型品种根系分布深，下层根系所占比率大，适合密植，群体产量潜力大;平展大穗型品种根量多，分布较浅，在低密度下可获得较高的个体生产力，但不适合密植，群体产量潜力小。 　　“根系拥挤”显著影响玉米产量，减小根系横向伸展空间，下层土壤中的根系分配比率增多。在地上部充分生长条件下，紧凑型品种横向空间为30-50cm即可满足要求，平展型品种大于50cm;紧凑型品种对纵向空间受限制的反应更为敏感，平展型品种对横向空间受限制的反应更为敏感。“根系拥挤”影响根系活性、分布、氮素吸收利用和花后光合与14C同化物的分配。 　　在根系受限制条件下，增施肥料产量提高，根系总重增加，增加了根系在深层土壤（60-100cm）中的根系比率，显著增加了根系的TTC 还原量、SOD、CAT、POD活性。土壤加沙，根量减少，但根系TTC 还原量增加、产量提高，提高幅度以大穗型品种更为显著。 　　随种植密度增加耕层根系密度与群体产量同步增大，各类品种均在最高根系密度下获得最高产量。根系负荷的籽粒产量潜力三类型品种存在极大差异，在一定范围内增大种植密度，根系伸展空间减小，群体产量提高，紧凑大穗型品种产量最高，品种的耐密性是限制根系负荷籽粒产量潜力的主导因素。因此，培育株型紧凑、耐密性强、大穗玉米良种，采取有效的调控措施是玉米进一步高产的主攻方向。 　　5）我国夏玉米高产田的培创理论研究与实践相结合，2005 年在我国华北地区的山东莱州培创出籽粒实产21 042.9kg/hm2 （ 14% 含水量， 实收面积=45.7m×15.9m=726.63m2）的夏玉米高产纪录。主要采用以增加密度为保障的“群体结构性挖潜”和以提高整齐度为保障的“个体功能性挖潜”途径，生理生态指标包括：选用紧凑抗倒耐密植品种DH3719，种植密度102 030 株/hm2，收获密度98 610 株/hm2，花后具有较长的叶面积高值持续期，达60d以上，叶面积指数最大为6.53，收获2.59。上部叶片光合值对外界光强度变化敏感，其光合峰值出现时间提前，而后迅速衰减;中部叶片光合值的降低较慢，下部叶片变幅最小，可能是长期处于争光环境表现出的生态适应性。粒叶比0.32，经济系数0.542，单株产量216g，千粒重375.1g。

Nest site selection by Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis in the Ruoergai Wetland, China

From 5 May 2003 to early June 2005, nest site selection of Black-necked Cranes Grits nigricollis was studied at the Ruoergai Wetland Nature Reserve (RWNR), an important breeding area for the species in China. Results showed that the crane nests only in we

Effect of dietary linolenic acid/linoleic acid ratio on growth performance, hepatic fatty acid profiles and intermediary metabolism of juvenile yellow catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary linolenic acid (LNA)linoleic acid (LA) ratio on growth performance, hepatic fatty acid profile and intermediary metabolism of juvenile yellow catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco. Six isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were formulated to contain incremental levels of LNA from 0 to 5% at the expense of corn oil (rich in LA), resulting in six dietary treatments with LNA to LA ratios ranging from 0.35 to 14.64. The experiment continued for 7 weeks. Best growth and feed intake were obtained in the fish fed the diets containing the LNA/LA ratios of 1.17 and 2.12 (P<0.05). In contrast, feed conversion ratio was the lowest for fish fed the diets containing the LNA/LA ratios of 1.17 and 2.12 (P<0.05). Dietary LNA to LA ratios significantly influenced viscerosomatic index and hepatosomatic index (P<0.05), but not condition factor (P>0.05). Body composition was also significantly influenced by dietary LNA to LA ratios (P<0.05). Generally, liver FA compositions reflected dietary FA profiles. Declining LA and increasing LNA contents in liver were observed with the increasing dietary LNA/LA ratios (P<0.05). Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) increased with the increasing LNA to LA ratios, suggesting that yellow catfish could elongate and desaturate C18 polyunsaturated fatty acids into highly unsaturated fatty acids. As a consequence, the n-6 fatty acids (FA) declined, and total n-3 FA and n-3/n-6 ratios increased with the dietary ratios of LNA/LA (P<0.05). Dietary LNA to LA ratios significantly influenced several enzymatic activities involved in liver intermediary metabolism (P<0.05), such as lipoprotein lipase, hepatic lipase, pyruvate kinase, succinate dehydrogenase, malic dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase, suggesting that dietary LNA/LA ratios had significant effects on nutrient metabolism in the liver. To our knowledge this is the first demonstration of the effects of dietary LNA to LA ratios on the enzymatic activities of liver in fish, which provides information on diet quality and utilization, and can also be used as an indicator of the nutritional status of this fish. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of high dietary starch levels on the growth performance, blood chemistry and body composition of gibel carp (Carassius auratus var. gibelio)

An 8-week growth trial was carried out in a semi-recirculation system to investigate the effect of high dietary starch levels on the growth performance, blood chemistry, starch utilization and body composition of gibel carp (Carassius auratus var. gibelio). Five isonitrogenous and isocarloric experimental diets were formulated to contain different starch levels (24%, 28%, 32%, 36% and 40% respectively). Triplicate groups of fish (24 fish per tank with an average body weight, of 8.5 g) were assigned to each diet. The results showed that dietary carbohydrate levels significantly affected the growth performance, hepatopancreatic lipid content, pyruvate kinase (PK) activity and whole-body lipid content. Growth performance, body crude lipid and plasma glucose concentrations showed a decreasing trend with an increase in dietary starch from 24% to 40%. Pyruvate kinase activities and hepatopancreatic lipid content showed an increasing trend with the dietary starch increasing from 24% to 32%, and then a decreasing trend with the dietary starch increasing from 32% to 40%. No significant difference in the hepatopancreatic hexokinase (HK) activity, plasma triglyceride contents, body crude protein, ash and calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) contents was observed between different treatments. In conclusion, higher dietary starch levels (32-40%) significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the growth of gibel carp in the present study.

Scale study of direct synthesis of dimethyl ether from biomass synthesis gas

We investigated the synthesis of dimethyl ether (DME) from biomass synthesis gas using a kind of hybrid catalyst consisting of methanol and HZSM-5 zeolite in a fixed-bed reactor in a 100 ton/year pilot plant. The biomass synthesis gas was produced by oxygen-rich gasification of corn core in a two-stage fixed bed. The results showed that CO conversions reached 82.00% and 73.55%, the selectivities for DME were 73.95% and 69.73%, and the space-time yields were 124.28 kg m- 3 h- 1 and 203.80 kg m- 3 h- 1 when gas hourly space velocities were 650 h- 1 and 1200 h- 1, respectively. Deoxidation and tar removal from biomass synthesis gas was critical to the stable operation of the DME synthesis system. Using single-pass synthesis, the H2/CO ratio improved from 0.98-1.17 to 2.12-2.22. The yield of DME would be increased greatly if the exhaust was reused after removal of the CO2.

陕北黄土丘陵沟壑区水土保持耕作及施肥下农田土壤种子库特征

为了探明多年免耕下农田恶性杂草发生的机理,提高保护性耕作下作物对农田恶性杂草持久稳定的抑制效果,依据陕西安塞田间4a的定位试验,采用小区调查取样和室内实验相结合的方法,从物种组成、密度特征、多样性以及相似性特征等方面,研究了黄土丘陵旱作农区大豆(Glycine max)、玉米(Zea mays)、红小豆(Semen Phaseoli)、马铃薯(Solanum tuberosum)在翻耕化肥(CF)、翻耕有机肥(CM)、翻耕无肥(CN)、免耕化肥(NF)、免耕有机肥(NM)、免耕无肥(NN)等水平下的农田土壤种子库。结果表明:(1)4种作物24种土样中共萌发出12个物种1965株幼苗,隶属于7科12属。1年生杂草占94%,棒头草(fugax nees ex steud)、苋菜(Acalypha australis)、马唐(Digitaria sanguinalis)、早熟禾(Poasphondylodes)为优势种,占87%。(2)在0～20cm土层不同处理间,土壤种子库的密度变动于(282.9±63.4)～(7482.5±1078.3)粒.m-2,其中,红小豆小区>马铃薯小区>大豆小区>玉米小区;翻耕小区>免...

夏玉米低定额畦灌田间试验研究

为了合理利用水资源,探索实现低定额均匀灌溉的适宜方法和技术路线,设计作物高效用水的有限灌溉制度,在陕西省杨凌区中壤土玉米地开展了不同畦田规格和灌水定额对土壤水分及玉米产量影响的田间试验。结果表明:对于田面坡度一定的试验田块,入畦单宽流量在3～6lm/s范围内,畦田宽度在4m以内时,各处理小区的土壤平均含水量无显著性差异,但畦田内土壤水分分布却有不同差异,当畦宽2～3m,畦长50m时可达到较高灌水效率(Ea>80%)和灌水均匀度(DU>80%);玉米拔节-抽雄期的灌水定额处理对玉米的生长存在明显影响;不同灌水定额对作物产量、水分利用效率影响显著。