Effects of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Nano-Silica on Root Development, Leaf Photosynthesis, Active Oxygen and Nitrogen Metabolism in Maize.

Carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and nano-silica (nano-SiO) are widely used in the field of life science because of their special physical and chemical properties. In this study, the effects of different concentrations of MWCNTs (0 mg·L, 200 mg·L, 400 mg·L, 800 mg·L and 1200 mg·L) and nano-SiO (0 mg·L, 150 mg·L, 800 mg·L, 1500 mg·L and 2500 mg·L) on maize seedling growth and relative mechanisms were explored. The main results are as follows: MWCNTs and nano-SiO can promote the growth of maize seedlings, and promote plant height, root length, the dry and fresh weight of seedlings, root-shoot ratio and so on.

Characterizing corn-straw-degrading actinomycetes and evaluating application efficiency in straw-returning experiments.

Corn straw is an abundant lignocellulose resource and by-product of agricultural production. With the continuous increase in agricultural development, the output of corn straw is also increasing significantly. However, the inappropriate disposal of straw results in wasting of resources, and also causes a serious ecological crisis.

Microbispora cellulosiformans sp. nov., a novel actinomycete with cellulase activity isolated from soil in the cold region.

A novel cellulase-producing actinomycete strain Gxj-6, isolated from soil in the cold region (Heihe city, Heilongjiang province, the northernmost part of China), subjected to a taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach. In the neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain Gxj-6 fell within the clade comprising the type strains of species of the genus Microbispora. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity studies exhibited that species Gxj-6 was most closely related to Microbispora bryophytorum NEAU-TX2-2 (99.

Preparation and properties of water-in-oil shiitake mushroom polysaccharide nanoemulsion.

Shiitake mushroom (Lentinus edodes) polysaccharide (SMP), an important immunomodulatory substance, is usually hard to be absorbed by the intestinal tract, because of its macromolecule characteristics. The objective of this study was to develop the water-in-oil (W/O) nanoemulsion to improve its absorption efficiency and the biological activity. Based on the results of pseudoternary phase diagram, the formulation of nanoemulsion were optimized as IPM/polysaccharide/Tween80-Span85/anhydrous ethanol = 39/16/33.

Light-regulated phosphorylation of maize phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase plays a vital role in its activity.

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK)-the major decarboxylase in PEPCK-type C4 plants-is also present in appreciable amounts in the bundle sheath cells of NADP-malic enzyme-type C4 plants, such as maize (Zea mays), where it plays an apparent crucial role during photosynthesis (Wingler et al., in Plant Physiol 120(2):539-546, 1999; Furumoto et al., in Plant Mol Biol 41(3):301-311, 1999).

[Effects of applying selenium on selenium allocation, grain yield, and grain quality of two maize cultivars].

A pot experiment with conventional maize cultivar ZD958 and glutinous maize cultivar JN218 was conducted to study the effects of applying different concentrations (0, 10, 25 and 50 mg x kg(-1)) of selenium (Se) on the Se allocation in plant organs, grain yield, and its quality. At low concentrations (< or = 10 mg x kg(-1)), Se stimulated maize growth, and increased biomass accumulation and grain yield significantly. At high concentrations (> 25 mg x kg(-1)), Se inhibited maize growth, and decreased dry mass accumulation, grain yield, and its quality.

[Effects of arsenic on maize growth, antioxidant system, and ion distribution].

A greenhouse sand culture experiment was conducted to study the effects of arsenic (As) on the biomass accumulation, photosynthetic pigments, antioxidant system, and the absorption and distribution of As and mineral ions in maize Zhengdan 958. At lower concentrations (<2 mg As x L(-1)), As stimulated the growth of maize seedlings, and increased the plant height, taproot length, and biomass accumulation significantly; at higher concentrations (>4 mg As x L(-1)), As inhibited the seedlings growth severely. At 2 mg As x L(-1), the chlorophyll a, b, and a+b contents reached their peaks; but with increasing As concentration, the chlorophyll contents decreased gradually.