Detoxifying bacterial genes for deoxynivalenol epimerization confer durable resistance to Fusarium head blight in wheat.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) and the presence of mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) pose serious threats to wheat production and food safety worldwide. DON, as a virulence factor, is crucial for the spread of FHB pathogens on plants. However, germplasm resources that are naturally resistant to DON and DON-producing FHB pathogens are inadequate in plants.

[Parameters modification and evaluation of two evapotranspiration models based on Penman-Monteith model for summer maize].

The dynamic variations of evapotranspiration (ET) and weather data during summer maize growing season in 2013-2015 were monitored with eddy covariance system, and the applicability of two operational models (FAO-PM model and KP-PM model) based on the Penman-Monteith model were analyzed. Firstly, the key parameters in the two models were calibrated with the measured data in 2013 and 2014; secondly, the daily ET in 2015 calculated by the FAO-PM model and KP-PM model was compared to the observed ET, respectively. Finally, the coefficients in the KP-PM model were further revised with the coefficients calculated according to the different growth stages, and the performance of the revised KP-PM model was also evaluated.

[Effects of root cutting under different seedling conditions on root system distribution and senescence character of peanut].

The effects of root cutting on root system distribution and senescence character of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) under different seedling conditions were investigated by using the box culture method. The results showed that, with three types of peanut seedlings, including overgrowing, strong and week seedlings, root cutting all first restricted and then promoted the root system growth, especially promoted the root growth to deep soil. This effect was stronger on the overgrowing and strong seedlings, while relatively weaker on the weak seedlings.

[Effects of light quality on photosynthetic pigment contents and photosynthetic characteristics of peanut seedling leaves].

This study explored the effects of different light quality on photosynthetic pigment contents and photosynthetic characteristics of peanut (Qinhua 6) seedling leaves. The results showed that, compared with natural light, blue light (445-470 nm) could significantly improve the specific leaf area (SLA), chlorophyll a/b value and carotenoid content of peanut seedlings. Meanwhile, the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate were higher, the intercellular CO2 content was lower, and the photosynthetic efficiency was improved significantly under blue light.

[Effects of different cultivation modes on the leaf photosynthetic characteristics and yield of summer-sowing peanut].

Taking the Arachis hypogaea cv. 'Qinghua 7' as test material, a field experiment was conducted to study the effects of different cultivation modes on the leaf photosynthetic characteristics and yield of summer-sowing peanut after wheat harvest. As compared with conventional cultivation mode, high-yield protective cultivation mode promoted the leaf growth, significantly improved the leaf area index (LAI), and maintained a longer time of high LAI and chlorophyll content.

Effects of different water availability at post-anthesis stage on grain nutrition and quality in strong-gluten winter wheat.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important agricultural crops worldwide. However, water is the most important limiting factor for wheat production.

Effect of physical desiccation on plant regeneration efficiency in rice (Oryza sativa L.) variety super basmati.

This experiment assessed the effect of partial physical desiccation on plant regeneration efficiency in scutellum-derived embryogenic calluses of rice (Oryza sativa L.) variety Super basmati. A number of callusing cultures were developed, and efficient callus induction was observed on MS (Murashige and Skoog) basal medium supplemented with 2.

Study of nitrate leaching and nitrogen fate under intensive vegetable production pattern in northern China.

Because of intensive vegetable production in plastic greenhouses in northern China, the potential risk of nitrate leaching to groundwater is increasingly apparent, threatening ecosystem services and the sustainability of food production. In the present work, nine drainable lysimeters were installed into vegetable fields, with in-situ loamy soils, in Shouguang City of the north China vegetable base. The experiments were conducted to quantify the magnitude and variability of nitrate leaching to groundwater and to access the fate of total fertilizer-N inputs in the area.

[Effects of nitrogen application rate and post-anthesis soil moisture content on the flag leaf senescence and kernel weight of wheat].

A rain-proof pool culture experiment was conducted to study the effects of nitrogen (N) application rate and post-anthesis soil moisture content on the flag leaf senescence and kernel weight of wheat. The results indicated that in all N fertilization treatments, the flag leaf SPAD value, soluble protein content, SOD and CAT activities, and photosynthetic rate decreased in the order of 60% -70% > 80%-90% >40%-50% post-anthesis soil moisture content, while the MDA content decreased in reverse order, suggesting that over high or low post-anthesis soil moisture content could cause the early senescence of flag leaves, impact grain filling, and decrease kernel weight. Under the same post-anthesis soil moisture content, the SPAD value, soluble protein content, SOD and CAT activity, and photosynthetic rate increased, while the MDA content decreased with increasing N application rate, indicating that increased N fertilization could postpone the senescence of wheat flag leaves.

Endogenous hormonal and enzymatic responses of Catharanthus roseus with triadimefon application under water deficits.

The effect of triadimefon was investigated in a medicinal plant, Catharanthus roseus subjected to water deficit stress. The abscisic acid (ABA) level, DNA and RNA contents and activities of ATPase and protease were found varying in different parts of the plants under treatment. Drought treatment increased the ABA level more than twofold in all parts of the plants.

Prospectives for applying molecular and genetic methodology to improve wheat cultivars in drought environments.

With the advent of molecular biotechnologies, new opportunities are available for plant physiologists to study the relationships between wheat traits and their genetic control. The functional determinations of all genes that participate in drought adaptation or tolerance reactions are expected to provide an integrated understanding of the biochemical and physiological basis of stress responses in wheat. However, despite all the recent technological breakthroughs, the overall contribution of genomics-assisted breeding to the release of drought-resilient wheat cultivars has so far been marginal.

Advances in functional regulation mechanisms of plant aquaporins: their diversity, gene expression, localization, structure and roles in plant soil-water relations (Review).

Aquaporins are important molecules that control the moisture level of cells and water flow in plants. Plant aquaporins are present in various tissues, and play roles in water transport, cell differentiation and cell enlargement involved in plant growth and water relations. The insights into aquaporins' diversity, structure, expression, post-translational modification, permeability properties, subcellular location, etc.

Water-deficit stress-induced anatomical changes in higher plants.

Water is vital for plant growth and development. Water-deficit stress, permanent or temporary, limits the growth and the distribution of natural vegetation and the performance of cultivated plants more than any other environmental factors do. Although research and practices aimed at improving water-stress resistance and water-use efficiency have been carried out for many years, the mechanism involved is still not clear.

Aquaporin structure-function relationships: water flow through plant living cells.

Plant aquaporins play an important role in water uptake and movement-an aquaporin that opens and closes a gate that regulates water movement in and out of cells. Some plant aquaporins also play an important role in response to water stress. Since their discovery, advancing knowledge of their structures and properties led to an understanding of the basic features of the water transport mechanism and increased illumination to water relations.

Investigation on the relationship of proline with wheat anti-drought under soil water deficits.

Proline (content) is closely with plant anti-drought, especially under soil water deficits. Many reports from crops and other plants have proved this. Wheat is the second important crop on the globe, whose research in this aspect of importance for food quality, safety, and yield in field.

Some advances in plant stress physiology and their implications in the systems biology era.

The study for biointerfaces at different scales in the past years has pricked up the march of biological sciences, in which biomembrane concept and its characteristics, receptor proteins, ion channel proteins, LEA proteins, calcium and newly recognized second messengers, ROS, MAPKs and their related sensors and new genes in osmoregulation, signal transduction, and other aspects have been understood fully, widening area of understanding the extensive interactions from biosystem and biointerfaces. The related discipline, plant stress physiology, especially, crop stress physiology has gained much attention world widely, the important reason of which is from the reducing quality of global ecoenvironment and decreasing food supply. This short review will place a stress on the recent progresses in plant stress physiology, combined with the new results from our State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau.