A3 Treatments Research Articles

Improvement of growth and nutrient uptake of upland rice grown on degraded acid soil with the application of liquid organic fertilizer

This research aimed to determine the effectiveness of several types of liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) derived from plant waste and the dose of P fertilizer on the growth and yield of upland rice on degraded acid soil. The treatments consisted of two factors. The first factor (A) was several types of LOF consisting of A1 (control), A2 (LOF containing isolates of P-solubilizing bacteria), A3 (LOF-banana waste), and A4 (A2+A3). The second factor (B) was fertilizer doses consisting of B1 (50% of the recommended dose of P fertilizer), B2 (75% of the recommended dose of P fertilizer), and B3 (100% of the recommended dose of P fertilizer). The treatment combinations were arranged in a factorial randomized block design with three replications. The research results showed that applying either LOF-banana waste or the mixture of LOF-banana waste and LOF-containing isolates of P-solubilizing bacteria improved plant height, the number of tillers, and N and P uptake by the plant. The rice grain yields among the treatments were not significantly different, but the highest rice grain yield (139.8 g/pot) was obtained at the treatment of the mixture of LOF-P isolate + LOF-banana waste (A2+A3 treatments). The 75% of the recommended dose of P fertilizer was not significantly different from 100% P fertilizer with LOF on growth and yield upland rice and nutrient uptake by the plant.

Astragalus polysaccharides, cinnamaldehyde and their complexes affected growth, physicochemical parameters, histomorphology and flesh quality of Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

Previously, antibiotic was crucial for aquaculture development, but brought many negative effects. Cinnamaldehyde (Cia) and Astragalus polysaccharides (Asp), bioactive ingredients from Astragalus membranaceus and Cinnamomum cassia, have been confirmed their benefits to livestock. This is the first study to investigate the impacts of Cia, Asp and their joint-effect on Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) growth, digestion, histomorphology and flesh quality. Fish with average weight of 72.48 ± 6.81 g were divided into 5 groups, fed with basal feed (M0); supplemented with 1 g Cia/kg diet (C1); 1.2 g Asp/kg (A1); compatibility of 1 g Cia and 1.2 g Asp/kg (CA1); 1 g Cia and 2 g Asp/kg (CA2) for 65-day. The results showed that growth, condition factor (CF) and survival rate (SR) were significantly improved in adding-groups. Especially, the greatest CF, SR, higher feed intake and conversion rate, apparent dry matter digestibility were all measured in CA1 group. The CA1 M. salmoides also exhibited higher triglyceride, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol contents, while total-cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol resulting in fat deposition descended in CA1 group. The activity of digestive enzymes markedly strengthened in A1 and CA1 treatments (P < 0.05). It is consistent with stronger digestive ability, the thinner muscle layers, longer villus, thicker columnar epithelium and lamina propria were found in CA1 and A1 groups. In addition, supplemented Asp was helpful to enhance antioxidant capacity of M. salmoides muscle, whilst reducing the malondialdehyde and lipid-peroxide. The nutritional composition was best in the CA1 fillets, richer in protein, least ash and fat. The histological characteristics were improved in CA1 muscles, which is the most resilient. However, most of above indices inhibited in CA2 group, particularly, the intestinal and liver damages occurred. On balance, the supplement with best aquaculture effects is CA1: 1 g Cia+1.2 g Asp/kg diet.

The combination of fraction A3 of Cyrtostachys renda Blume with doxorubicin improved cytotoxicity against T47D cell line through cell cycle arrest and apoptotic induction

Currently, natural products of herb medicinal plants are widely reported as a supplement to cancer chemotherapy. The cytotoxic effect of a dichloromethane (DCM) extract of Cyrtostachys renda root and its flow cytometric profile against a human breast cancer cell line (T47D) were investigated in this study. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromid assay was used to assess the combined cytotoxic effects of fraction A3 C. renda root and doxorubicin. The combination index (CI) criteria was used to analyze the synergistic effect of fraction A3 and doxorubicin. The cell cycle and apoptosis profiles were completed using flow cytometric labeling with propidium iodide/RNase and Annexin V. Cell morphological changes were observed using an inverted microscope. Single cytotoxicity fraction A3 of DCM extract was effective against T47D cells with an IC50 value of 43.03 μg/ml. Fraction A3 and doxorubicin at half of IC50 combined had a strong synergistic effect on T47D cells with a CI of 0.2. The cell cycle analysis results showed that this combination caused cell cycle arrest in the G1 and S phases. This observation is consistent with the results of single fraction A3 and doxorubicin treatments, which resulted in cell cycle arrests in the G1 and S phases, respectively. The result of single fraction A3 treatment, combined with doxorubicin for 24 hours, can also induce apoptosis against T47D cells. When the control and treatment groups were compared, the test cell shape altered.

Production Potential and Shelf-Life of Shallot as Affected by Inorganic Fertilizers Complemented with Organic Fertilizer and Rice Husk Charcoal in Dryland

Shallot (Allium cepa L.) is one of the important horticultural commodities with high economic value in Indonesia. The extent of planting areas in marginal land requires technological innovation for the development of shallot such as improvement and location-specific technological innovation. This research aims to observe the effect of various doses of inorganic fertilizers complemented with organic fertilizer and rice husk charcoal on the production and shelf-life of shallot. The study was conducted from March to June 2019 in East Lombok using a completely randomized block design with 1 factor and 5 levels of treatment: A1 (farmer’s practices: 0 kg/ha organic fertilizer; 0 kg/ha rice husk charcoal; 300 kg/ha urea; 250 kg/ha NPK+Zn; and 100 kg/ha SP-36), A2 (10,000 kg/ha organic fertilizer; 10,000 kg/ha rice husk charcoal; 75 kg/ha urea; 62.5 kg/ha NPK+Zn; and 25 kg/ha SP-36), A3 (10,000 kg/ha organic fertilizer; 10,000 rice kg/ha husk charcoal; 150 kg/ha urea; 125 kg/ha NPK+Zn; and 50 kg/ha SP-36), A4 (10,000 kg/ha organic fertilizer; 10,000 kg/ha rice husk charcoal; 225 kg/ha urea; 187.5 kg/ha NPK+Zn; and 75 kg/ha SP-36) and A5 (10,000 kg/ha organic fertilizer; 10,000 kg/ha rice husk charcoal; 300 kg/ha urea; 250 kg/ha NPK+Zn; and 100 kg/ha SP-36). Results showed that plant height and leaf number were not significantly different in various treatments. The bulb number showed that at the age of 20 and 70 days after sowing, the highest value was shown in the A3, and the lowest value was shown in A1 and A2 treatments. Meanwhile, treatment of A5 can reduce weight loss of the prospective seeds.

Temporal effects of thinning on soil organic carbon and carbon cycling-related enzyme activities in oak-pine mixed forests

Thinning, a common practice in forest management, has complex effects on soil organic carbon dynamics. In this study, we examined the effects of precommercial thinning on soil organic carbon (SOC) and carbon cycling-related enzyme activities in a thinning chronosequence (4–12 year recovery period) of oak-pine mixed forests in the Qinling Mountains, China. Three treatments were selected, namely, the control (CK) with no thinning, the a4 treatment (thinning 4 years ago), and the a12 treatment (thinning 12 years ago). Soil physicochemical properties, such as SOC, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), easily oxidizable organic carbon (EOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and carbon cycling-related enzyme activities (hydrolase: β-glucosidase [BG], cellobiohydrolase [CBH], and invertase [INV]), were assessed. Our results indicated that thinning significantly reduced SOC by an average of 51.67% in a4 compared to CK, whereas SOC in a12 gradually returned to the unthinned level. The levels of EOC, MBC, BG, and CBH were significantly lower under the a4 and a12 treatments than under the CK treatment. Furthermore, the level of MBC was significantly higher in the a12 treatment than in the a4 treatment. There were no significant differences in DOC or INV among treatments. The structural equation model showed that thinning might regulate SOC by initially decreasing soil water content, MBC, and carbon cycling-related enzyme activities, followed by them gradually recovering to unthinned levels. These findings provide a scientific basis for understanding the response of SOC to forest thinning.

The Effect of Faba Growing Media and Cow Manure on the Growth and Yield of Mustard Greens (Brassica juncea L.)

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of FABA growing media and cow manure on the growth and yield of mustard greens (Brassica Juncea L.). This research was carried out on the land of the Bengkulu Muhammadiyah University. The design used was a factorial complete randomized design (CRD) with 1 factor, namely factor A1 = 4:1 (Faba 100 %), A2 = 3:1 (Faba 75 % + Manure 25%) A3 = 2:2 (Faba 50 % + Manure 50 %), A4 = 1:3 (Faba 25 % + Manure 75 %), A5 = 0:4 (Manure 100 %). Based on the tested level of one of these factors, 20 treatment combinations were obtained. Each experimental treatment contained 5 plants so that there were 100 plants to be observed in this study. The results of this study showed that there was an interaction between the treatment of Faba growing media and cow manure on plant height, leaf width, leaf length, number of leaves and dry weight of mustard plants. The best results were in the treatment interactions between A1, A2, A3, A4, and A5, the best growth was in the A3 and A4 treatments. Because, in the 100% and 75% Faba treatment, plant growth was not good and there were several plants with yellowing leaves. This indicates that the use of Faba planting media must be balanced with organic matter so that plant growth is maximized.

Effect of Soil Aeration and Root Morphology on Yield under Aerated Irrigation

Soil compaction easily causes root hypoxia stress, resulting in poor root growth and the absorption of soil water and nutrients. We hypothesized that aerated irrigation (AI) could enhance nutrient uptake and utilization, thus unlocking the high yield potential by increasing soil aeration and root morphology indicators compared with that in the non-aeration treatment. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of soil aeration and root morphology on the yield of greenhouse cucumbers. The dissolved oxygen (DO) in irrigation water at 10 mg L−1 (A1), 20 mg L−1 (A2), and non-aeration treatment (A0) were applied via a subsurface drip irrigation system. The soil respiration rates, DO in soil water, root morphology, and crop yield were measured. The results showed that AI could significantly improve the soil respiration rate, DO in soil water, and root morphology compared with non-aeration treatment. The A2 significantly increased soil respiration rate by 11.63% and 11.93%, respectively, compared with the A1 and A0 treatments. Under A1 and A2, the DO in soil water increased by 20.01% and 18.02%, respectively, compared with the A0. Moreover, during the flowering and fruit set, the mature, and the late stages, the root surface area, root volume, root tip number, root forks, and root dry weight in the A2 treatment significantly increased than that in the A0 treatment. The soil respiration rate, DO in soil water, root length, and root forks were the main indexes correlated to the yield, respectively. The DO in soil water and root forks number significantly influenced the yield. The cucumber yield and economic benefits in A2 peaked at 53.04 t ha−1 and 3.95 × 104 USD ha−1, increased by 7.86% and 7.30% compared with that in the A0 treatment, respectively (p &lt; 0.05). The results could provide technical support and scientific knowledge for regulating greenhouse cucumbers under AI.

Screening and Molecular Identification of Lactic Acid Bacteria Producing β-Glucan in Boza and Cider

The goal of this study was screening and molecular identification of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) producing β-glucan from different species isolated from boza and cider compared to a standard strain for Lactobacillus rhamnosus NRRL 1937 (LGG). From 48 unknown isolates, four LAB strains were selected. Based on the NCBI database, their nomenclature was A3, B6, and C9 for Limosilactobacillus fermentum SH1, SH2, and SH3 along with D6 for Leuconostoc mesenteroides SH4. Also, their similarity values were 100%, 99.8%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. The potential of Exopolysaccharide (EPS) (as β-glucan) production for selected LAB strains by gtf gene, conventional PCR and gene expression using both LGG as a control and LAB 16S rRNA gene as a house-keeping gene was investigated. In addition, EPS (mg/100 mL), cell mass (mg/100 mL), pH, total carbohydrate%, total protein% and β-glucan% by the HPLC for all selected LAB isolates were studied. All results of genetic and chemical tests proved the superiority of B6 treatment for L. fermentum SH2. The results showed the superiority of B6 treatment in gtf gene expression (14.7230 ± 0.070-fold) followed by C9 and A3 treatments, which were 10.1730 ± 0.231-fold and 8.6139 ± 0.320-fold, respectively. while D6 treatment recorded the lowest value of gene expression (0.8566 ± 0.040-fold) compared to the control LGG (one-fold). The results also demonstrated that B6 treatment was superior to the other treatments in terms of EPS formation, with a value of 481 ± 1.00 mg/100 mL, followed by the C9 treatment at 440 ± 2.00 mg/100 mL, compared to the LGG (control) reaching 199.7 ± 3.51 mg/100 mL. Also, the highest % of quantitative and qualitative β-glucan in EPS was observed in B6 followed by C9, D6 and A3 which were 5.56 ± 0.01%, 4.46 ± 0.01%, 0.25 ± 0.008% and 0.12 ± 0.008%, respectively compared to control (0.31 ± 0.01%). Finally, the presented results indicate the importance of screening the local LAB isolates to obtain a superior strain for β-glucan production which will be introduced in a subsequent study under optimum conditions.

Enhancing Calcareous and Saline-Sodic Soils Fertility by Increasing Organic Matter Decomposition and Enzyme Activities: An Incubation Study

ABSTRACT Soil carbon and microbial biomass were substantially depleted following long-term incubation for saline-sodic and calcareous soils. The objectives of the present study were to investigate changes in (i) soil CO2-emissions and (ii) soil fertility and SOM decomposition (iii) soil enzymes activities during the incubation period under various organic and biological soil treatments. Both soils were incubated for 150 days with 9 treatments included 2 levels of spent grain, which referred to as 10 g kg−1 soil (S1), and 20 g kg−1 soil (S2); two levels of compost were referred to as 10 g kg−1 soil (M1), and 20 gkg−1(M2); Azospirillum brasilense (A1) was inoculated 5% of weight of the soil; the mix of both sources M1 and S1 (M1S1); the combination of both sources A1 with M1 and S1 (A1M1) and (A1S1); all treatments were used and compared to the control. All treatments were mixed with 400 g soil samples and incubated at 28°C. Results showed that the average cumulative CO2 emission for both soils regarding to S2 and A1 treatments had the highest values, 548.3 and 364 (mg C100g−1 soil), respectively. While the lowest value was observed for the control treatment 89.12 and 40.13 (mg C100g−1 soil) for calcareous and saline soils, respectively. The dehydrogenase and urease enzymes were often decreased slightly and did not respond to adding labile substrate, and did not restrict soil breathing. The S2 treatment possessed the dehydrogenase and urease enzymes highest values in calcareous soil, 720 (μgTPFml−1) and 309 (mgNH3 −Hg−1h−1), respectively, after incubation periods. In conclusion, the findings support the idea that the soil organic matter amendments increased soil respiration over long-term incubation and compensate the absence of microbial biomass and enzymes in calcareous more than saline soils and enhance soil-plant nitration.

Influence of Mechanical Transplanting Methods and Planting Geometry on Grain Yield and Lodging Resistance of Indica Rice Taoyouxiangzhan under Rice–Crayfish Rotation System

Rice–crayfish rotation expanded rapidly in China, as it provides considerable profit and reduces pesticide application. This study investigated the impact of different mechanical transplanting methods and planting geometry on the yield and lodging resistance of an indica rice variety under a rice–crayfish rotation system in 2018 and 2019 in Hongze Lake district, using an excellent-quality variety Taoyouxiangzhan. Seedlings were mechanically transplanted using two mechanically transplanted carpet seedling (MTCS) with equal spacing (30 cm) at five spacings and mechanically transplanted pot seedling (MTPS) with wide and narrow rows (23 cm + 33 cm) at five spacings. The yield of MTPS was 8.3% higher across 2 years under the most optimum density than MTCS using the same density, mainly due to a significantly increased number of spikelets per panicle. Accompanied by the decrease in planting density, rice yield first increased and then decreased under each mechanically transplanting method, and reached the maximum in the A4 and B4 treatments (63.9 × 104 seedlings ha−1), respectively. Compared with MTCS, MTPS significantly increased the fresh weight of single stem, plant height, gravity center height, ear weight, length and area of the upper three leaves, so as to increase the bending moment at basal internodes by whole plant (WP), while it also increased the stem diameter, wall thickness and stem and leaf sheath dry weight per unit length of the second internode at the base, resulting in a significant increase in the force applied to break the base segment (F) and the bending moment of whole plant (M). The higher increase percentage in M than WP led to a decreased lodging index. The lodging index of both mechanically transplanting methods reduced with declined planting density in virtue of the improved breaking load of the basal internode, and it was primarily a result of increased stem diameter, wall thickness and plumpness of basal internode. The balance between the high yield and lodging resistance of Taoyouxiangzhan under a rice–crayfish rotation system can be realized at 63.9 × 104 seedlings ha−1, with MTCS at 15.7 cm plant spacing and MTPS at 16.8 cm. Generally, MTPS showed obvious advantages in yield and lodging resistance than MTCS.

Concentrations of metalloproteinase-1 in patients with morphea treated with phototherapy: a preliminary study.

Morphea (localized scleroderma) is a rare, chronic, inflammatory connective tissue disease, characterized by immune system dysfunction, vasculopathy and skin fibrosis. One of the most effective treatments is phototherapy. Phototherapy has been found to be effective in treating localized scleroderma by inducing the expression of metalloproteinase-1. To compare the concentrations of metalloproteinase (MMP-1) before psoralen and ultraviolet A (PUVA) and ultraviolet A1 (UVA1) treatments in the serum of patients with morphea. The observational study was conducted in one research centre and included patients with generalised morphea who were treated with PUVA and UVA1 phototherapies. The mean age of all morphea patients included in the study was 55.7 years. The levels of MMP-1 were examined by ELISA (The Biorbyt Human MMP-1 ELISA - Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay). The study showed that patients treated with PUVA and UVA1 had an improvement based on clinical measures, resulting in a reduction of clinical score. However, we did not observe statistically significant differences in MMP-1 concentrations before and after treatment. Limitations: The study sample was relatively small. Further studies on a larger group of patients would be beneficial. Our data suggest that there is a possible correlation between MMP-1 concentrations and phototherapy. MMP-1 levels were found to be increased following phototherapy treatment, which may suggest a correlation with better response to treatment in patients with morphea. However, further research is needed.

Evaluation of the Effects of New Environmental Additives Compared to Mineral Fertilizers on the Leaching Characteristics of Some Anions and Cations under Greenhouse Plant Growth of Saline-Sodic Soils

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine and monitor the influences of organic and biological additives compared to mineral fertilizers on leaching characteristics of anions and cations, also to know more about the ability of these additives to make complexes with dissolved and toxic salts to decrease soil salinity. Background: Salt-affected soils comprise of saline and sodic soils which differ in origin, physico-chemical properties and the constraints to plant growth. Due to the presence of excess soluble salts (e.g. sodium (Na+) and chlorides (Cl-)). Methods: Ten treatments were established, including two levels of spent grain (environmental organic wastes from the beer industry), S1(10 g of spent grain / kg soil) and S2 ( 20 g of spent grain / kg soil); two levels of compost M1(10 g of compost / kg soil) and M2 ( 20 g of compost / kg soil); mixed M1 with S1 (M1S1); inoculation of Azospirillum brasilense (A1); inoculation A1 with S2 (A1S1); inoculation A1 with M1 (A1M1); 20:20:20 of N, P, and K fertilizers (NPK), and control (CK, without any additives). All treatments were mixed with 30 kg soil pots under greenhouse conditions, corn (Zea mayz L.) seeds were sown in the soil pots. The most relevant nitrogen and salt in soil leachates were collected and analysed every 20 days for 100 days. The soil leachates were collected under plant growth from pots by closed system. Results: The result revealed that organic additives such as A1 and S2 treatments effectively decreased soil pH, soil EC, and reduced NaCl concentration in soil leachates. The Ca2+ and K+ cations in the soil leachates were not stable at high levels of organic additives. Soluble NO3- and NH4+ were significantly lower in A1, S2, and A1S1 treatments than in NPK, M2, and CK treatments. Soil treatment with A1 and S2 significantly improved the soil chemical environment by increasing the Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) and soluble and exchangeable-K+ and thus limited entry of Na+ into the exchange complex in soil and consists complex with soluble Na+ as sodium humate form. Conclusion: In the final, the highest nitrogen use efficiency with the least NO3- and NH4+ losses in saline-sodic soil was also found in S2 and A1 treatments. Moreover, under this bio-organic fertilization way, NO3- concentrations in soil leachates was outside of danger of damaging the environment. Thus, spent grain with Azospirillum were suggested to be the optimal fertilizer with the lowest nitrogen leaching losses, best yield, quality, and the least groundwater environmental risk under corn (Zea mays L.) organic and bio-organic cultivation comparing with chemical cultivation.

Effects of organic fertilizer on soil nutrient status, enzyme activity, and bacterial community diversity in Leymus chinensis steppe in Inner Mongolia, China.

The long-term impact of human exploitation and environmental changes has led to a decline in grassland productivity and soil fertility, which eventually results in grassland degradation. The application of organic fertilizer is an effective improvement measure; however, it is still not fully understood how the addition of organic fertilizer influences grassland soil fertility and plant composition. A set of experiments were conducted in Inner Mongolia in China to reveal the tradeoff between steppe plants and soil microorganisms and the eco-physiological mechanisms involved, and how the addition of vermicompost and mushroom residues affect microbial diversity, enzyme activities, and the chemical properties of soil in degraded Leymus chinensis grassland. Organic fertilizer improved the soil nutrient status and shaped distinct bacterial communities. Compared with the control the available phosphorus (AP) and available potassium (AK) contents were highest under treatments a3 and b3, and the aboveground biomass was highest under the b3 treatment. Soil sucrase activities increased by 7.88% under the b3 treatment. Moreover, the richness index significantly increased by 7.07% and 7.23% under the a1 and b2 treatments, respectively. The most abundant Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were detected in the organic fertilizer treatment. A linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) indicated that the bacterial community was significantly increased under the b3 treatment. A canonical correspondence analysis (RDA) and spearman correlation heatmap confirmed that total P (TP) and urease were the key driving factors for shaping bacterial communities in the soil. Our results indicated that the application of large amounts of vermicompost and mushroom residues increased the availability of nutrients and also enhanced the biodiversity of soil bacterial communities in L. chinensis grasslands, which will contribute to the sustainable development of agro-ecosystems.

Serendipity in the wrestle between Trichoderma and Metarhizium

The fungal species Trichoderma is frequently found in soil antagonizing plant-pathogenic fungi as well as parasitizing plant-pathogenic nematodes. Metarhizium species are insect-pathogenic fungi that are used throughout the world to control agricultural insect pests. Here, we determine whether the antagonism (A) of Trichoderma atroviride to Metarhizium robertsii during growth and spore formation can impact the stress biology of M. robertsii conidia. Cultures of M. robertsii were either produced without exposure to T. atroviride (control) or in the presence of T. atroviride. M. robertsii was grown in dual culture with T. atroviride on potato dextrose agar (PDA) using the following treatments: 1) Trichoderma inoculated at the same time with Metarhizium (A0); 2) Trichoderma inoculated two days after the inoculation of Metarhizium (A2); 3) Trichoderma inoculated four days after Metarhizium (A4); 4) Trichoderma inoculated 6 d after Metarhizium (A6); 5) M. robertsii grown alone on PDA medium (control); and 6) M. robertsii grown alone on minimal medium (Czapek–Dox medium without sucrose) (MM). Germination of M. robertsii conidia from all six treatments was then assessed under osmotic, oxidative, UV-B, and thermal stress. M. robertsii conidia produced on MM were the most tolerant to all stress conditions. For all stress conditions, conidia from treatments A0 and A2 were not viable. For osmotic stress, conidia produced in treatment A4 were the most tolerant, followed by conidia from treatment A6, which were both more tolerant than the control. For oxidative stress, conidia produced in both A4 and A6 treatments were similarly tolerant and more tolerant than conidia produced in the control. For thermal stress, conidia produced in treatments A4, A6, and control (PDA) were similarly heat-tolerant. For UV-B stress, conidia produced in treatments A4 and A6 were equally tolerant and more tolerant than conidia produced in the control. The germination speed of conidia produced in all treatments, A0, A2, A4, and A6 was also tested. Conidia produced on MM germinated faster than the other treatments. Conidia produced in the A4 treatment were the second fastest, followed by conidia produced in treatment A6. Both A4 and A6 conidia germinated faster than conidia produced in the control treatment. Conidia produced in the treatments A0 and A2 did not germinate in 24 h. In summary, moderate levels of biotic stress from a fungal competitor or low-nutrient conditions can enhance the stress tolerance of M. robertsii conidia.

Melatonin influences the expression and oligomerization of amylin in rat INS-1E cells.

The present study investigated whether melatonin influences the expression/oligomerization of amylin with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in rat insulinoma INS-1E cells. No change in cell survival after exposure to thapsigargin- and tunicamycin-combined melatonin treatment or melatonin-only treatment was observed when compared with the normal control cells. With thapsigargin-only or combined tunicamycin-melatonin treatments, phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was significantly increased compared with control and melatonin-only treatments. A significant increase was observed in the levels of ER stress markers, namely, phosphorylated inositol-requiring protein 1α (p-IRE1α), CCAAT enhancer binding proteins (C/EBP)-homologous protein, p-eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α and cleaved caspase-12, in the thapsigargin-combined melatonin-treated cells as compared with the tunicamycin-combined or only melatonin treatment. The melatonin-only treatment resulted in increased levels of amylin expression/oligomerization in 15-25 kDa and insulin proteins, compared with the thapsigargin- and tunicamycin-combined melatonin treatments. Treatment with ER stress inhibitor 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) did not suppress amylin expression/oligomerization or insulin production with thapsigargin or tunicamycin treatment. Levels of cleaved caspase-12 were significantly decreased in the thapsigargin- or tunicamycin-4-PBA combination treatments. Therefore, whether melatonin regulates the amylin expression/oligomerization in thapsigargin- or tunicamycin-combined with Bafilomycin A1 (autophagy inhibitor) or MG132 (proteasome inhibitor) treatments were investigated. Amylin expression/oligomerization with melatonin treatment was significantly decreased in the thapsigargin- or tunicamycin-combined Bafilomycin A1 or MG132 treatments. Since these outcomes are involved in cell viability, they indicate that increased cell death leads to decreased amylin expression/oligomerization, however, the effects of melatonin treatment on amylin expression/oligomerization induce proliferation of pancreatic β cells and improve the cellular functions of pancreatic β cells.

Effect of multi-periodic and chaotic magnetic fields on plants’ growth from germination to harvest: experiment on bean (phaseolus vulgaris)

In this work, we studied the impact of electromagnetic fields of various periods on the germination, growth and production of bean (phaseolus vulgaris). The magnetization of the seeds was carried out as soon as it was placed underground in field conditions. Plant growth until pod formation was monitored under field conditions on an experimental surface of 10.0 m 2 . The electrical circuits used for magnetization made it possible to obtain electromagnetic fields of period 1, 2 and 4 as well as a non-linear or chaotic electromagnetic field. Daily 24-hour exposure with these different signals has influenced some growth parameters. The height difference was significant (at P <0.05) for the comparison between A0 and A2. We found a production time saving of approximately ten (10) days for the A4 treatment compared to the control treatment A0. Experience has shown that plants subject to the chaotic field (A5) formed the largest number of pods. The comparison between the maximum number of pods formed and the number of pods that reached maturity for each treatment showed pod losses during the last growth phase. The loss rate was 29.25%, 28.31%, 35.78%, 64.38% and 62.72% respectively for A0, A1, A2, A4 and A5 treatments.

Visualizing Cellular Gibberellin Levels Using the nlsGPS1 Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) Biosensor.

The phytohormone gibberellin (GA) is a small, mobile signaling molecule that plays a key role in seed germination, cellular elongation, and developmental transitions in plants. Gibberellin Perception Sensor 1 (GPS1) is the first Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based biosensor that allows monitoring of cellular GA levels in vivo. By measuring a fluorescence emission ratio of nuclear localized-GPS1 (nlsGPS1), spatiotemporal mapping of endogenously and exogenously supplied GA gradients in different tissue types is feasible at a cellular scale. This protocol will describe how to image nlsGPS1 emission ratios in three example experiments: steady-state, before-and-after exogenous gibberellin A4 (GA4) treatments, and over a treatment time-course. We also provide methods to analyze nlsGPS1 emission ratios using both Fiji and a commercial three-dimensional (3-D) micrograph visualization and analysis software and explain the limitations and likely pitfalls of using nlsGPS1 to quantify gibberellin levels.

Transcriptome analysis of the genes regulating phytohormone and cellular patterning in Lagerstroemia plant architecture

Plant architecture is a popular research topic because plants with different growth habits that may generate economic or ornamental value are in great demand by orchards and nurseries. However, the molecular basis of the architecture of woody perennial plants is poorly understood due to the complexity of the phenotypic and regulatory relationships. Here, transcriptional profiling of dwarf and non-dwarf crapemyrtles was performed, and potential target genes were identified based on the phenotype, histology and phytohormone metabolite levels. An integrated analysis demonstrated that the internode length was explained mainly by cell number and secondarily by cell length and revealed important hormones in regulatory pathway of Lagerstroemia architecture. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in phytohormone pathways and cellular patterning regulation were analysed, and the regulatory relationships between these parameters were evaluated at the transcriptional level. Exogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellin A4 (GA4) treatments further indicated the pivotal role of auxin in cell division within the shoot apical meristem (SAM) and suggested an interaction between auxin and GA4 in regulating the internode length of Lagerstroemia. These results provide insights for further functional genomic studies on the regulatory mechanisms underlying Lagerstroemia plant architecture and may improve the efficiency of woody plant molecular breeding.

Effect of shading and light recovery on the growth, leaf structure, and photosynthetic performance of soybean in a maize-soybean relay-strip intercropping system.

Intercropping is an important agronomic practice adopted to increase crop production and resource efficiency in areas with intensive agricultural production. Two sequential field trials were conducted in 2015–2016 to investigate the effect of shading on the morphological features, leaf structure, and photosynthetic characteristics of soybean in a maize-soybean relay-strip intercropping system. Three treatments were designed on the basis of different row configurations A1 (“50 cm + 50 cm” one row of maize and one row of soybean with a 50 cm spacing between the rows), A2 (“160 cm + 40 cm” two rows of maize by wide-narrow row planting, where two rows of soybean were planted in the wide rows with a width of 40 cm, and with 60 cm row spacing was used between the maize and soybean rows), and CK (sole cropping of soybean, with 70 cm rows spacing). Results showed that the photosynthetically active radiation transmittances of soybean canopy at V5 stage under A2 treatment (31.1%) were considerably higher than those under A1 (8.7%) treatment, and the red-to-far-red ratio was reduced significantly under A1 (0.7) and A2 (1.0) treatments compared with those under CK (1.2). By contrast with CK, stem diameter, total aboveground biomass, chlorophyll content and net photosynthetic rate decreased significantly except plant height under A1 and A2. The thickness of palisade tissue and spongy tissue of soybean leaf under A1 and A2 were significantly reduced at V5 stage compared with CK. The leaf thicknesses under A1 and A2 were lower than those in CK by 39.5% and 18.2%, respectively. At the R1 stage of soybean (after maize harvest), the soybean plant height, stem biomass, leaf biomass and petiole biomass under A1 and A2 treatments were still significantly lower than those under CK, but no significant differences were observed in Chl a/b, Pn, epidermis thickness and spongy tissue thickness of soybean leaves in A2 compared with CK. In addition, the soybean yields (g plant-1) under A1 and A2 were 54.69% and 16.83% lower than those in CK, respectively. These findings suggested that soybean plants can regulate its morphological characteristics and leaf anatomical structures under different light environments.

Infusion of butyrate affects plasma glucose, butyrate, and β-hydroxybutyrate but not plasma insulin in lactating dairy cows

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects on plasma metabolites and rumen traits when butyrate was infused into the rumen or abomasum of lactating cows. Jugular catheters were inserted into 5 ruminally fistulated Holstein cows [94.2 ± 26.3 DIM; 717 ± 45 kg of body weight (BW); mean ± SD] in a 5 × 5 Latin square with 3-d periods. Cows were infused for 24 h with 1 of 5 treatments: water (CON), 1 g/kg of BW of butyrate infused into either the abomasum (A1) or rumen (R1), or 2 g/kg of BW of butyrate infused into either the abomasum or rumen. Sodium butyrate was the source of butyrate and NaCl was added to the CON, A1, and R1 treatments to provide the same amount of sodium as supplied by the sodium butyrate treatment in the 2-g treatments. Plastisol flanges were inserted into the abomasum to allow infusion to the abomasum and peristaltic pumps provided continuous infusion at 9.3 mL/min for all treatments. The concentration of NaCl and sodium butyrate was varied in the infusate to provide the correct infusion amount. Rumen fluid samples were collected at -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 18, 24, 28, and 32 h relative to start of infusion. Serial blood samples were collected at -2, -1, 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 18, 24, 26, 28, and 32 h relative to start of infusion. Compared with CON, infusing butyrate increased both plasma butyrate and plasma β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), whereas plasma glucose decreased. Increasing butyrate infusion from 1 to 2 g increased plasma butyrate, tended to decrease plasma glucose, and tended to increase plasma BHB. Compared with abomasal infusion, rumen infusion of butyrate increased rumen butyrate, did not affect plasma glucose, and tended to increase plasma BHB. Treatment had no effect on plasma insulin. Results demonstrated that site of infusion and amount of butyrate affected several plasma metabolites when butyrate was infused in lactating dairy cows over a period of 24 h.