Engineering Lignin Nanomicroparticles for the Antiphotolysis and Controlled Release of the Plant Growth Regulator Abscisic Acid.

Lignin is the most abundant aromatic biopolymer in nature and is a major byproduct from the paper industry. The unlocking of lignin's potential for high-value applications has gained increasing attention in recent years. In this study, alkali lignin (AL), with a rigid conjugated structure and amphiphilic property, was used as a sustainable and eco-friendly encapsulation material for the protection and controlled release of photosensitive abscisic acid (ABA), an important and widely used plant growth regulator.

Ensifer shofinae sp. nov., a novel rhizobial species isolated from root nodules of soybean (Glycine max).

Two bacterial strains isolated from root nodules of soybean were characterized phylogenetically as members of a distinct group in the genus Ensifer based on 16S rRNA gene comparisons. They were also verified as a separated group by the concatenated sequence analyses of recA, atpD and glnII (with similarities ≤93.9% to the type strains for defined species), and by the average nucleotide identities (ANI) between the whole genome sequence of the representative strain CCBAU 251167 and those of the closely related strains in Ensifer glycinis and Ensifer fredii (90.

Salisediminibacterium halotolerans gen. nov., sp. nov., a halophilic bacterium from soda lake sediment.

An orange-pigmented, Gram-reaction-positive, non-spore-forming, halophilic, alkali-tolerant rod, designated strain halo-2(T), was isolated from sediment of Xiarinaoer soda lake, in China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Strain halo-2(T) grew in a complex medium with 3-30 % (w/v) NaCl and at pH 5-10. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and the major respiratory isoprenoid quinone was MK-7.

Improved biological effects of uniconazole using porous hollow silica nanoparticles as carriers.

Background: The aim of this work is to prepare a controlled-release formulation of uniconazole using porous hollow silica nanoparticles (PHSNs) as carrier, and to investigate the biological effects on rice growth.

Results: PHSNs with a shell thickness of ~15 nm and a particle size of 80-100 nm were synthesised through a sol-gel route using nanosized calcium carbonate particles as templates. Simple immersing (SI) and supercritical fluid drug loading (SFDL) technologies were employed to load uniconazole into PHSNs with loading efficiencies of ~22 and ~26% respectively.

[Effects of mepiquat chloride on inorganic elements contents in seeds of transgenic insect-resistant cotton determined by ICP-MS].

To evaluate the effects of a worldwide used plant growth regulator mepiquat chloride on the nutrition value and safety of seeds of transgenic Bt cotton, inorganic element components and contents in seeds of Bt cotton (Gossypium hirsutum cv. Guoxin 6) under field condition were determined using ICP-MS. In Bt cotton seeds, 54 kinds of inorganic elements were identified by ICP-MS, and 5 kinds of major elements, K, P, Mg, Ca and Na, were in range from 138.

[Application of ICP-AES to detection of inorganic elements in roots bleeding sap from maize and soybean plants].

The constituents of the roots bleeding sap are an important index characteristic of roots activity and roots-shoots relationship. To compare the differences between the constituents of roots bleeding sap from maize and soybean plants, roots bleeding saps were collected from maize (Zea mays L. cultivar 3138) and soybean [Glycine max (L.

Development of a sensitive monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the antimalaria active ingredient artemisinin in the Chinese herb Artemisia annua L.

Artemisinin is an endoperoxide sesquiterpene lactone isolated from the Chinese medicinal plant Artemisia annua L. It has been widely used in South-East Asia and Africa as an effective drug against sensitive and multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria. A monoclonal antibody (mAb), designated as 3H2, was generated with artesunate-bovine serum albumin conjugate as the immunogen.

Effect of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate on the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings.

Although many studies describe ionic liquids (ILs) as potentially greener solvents, few studies address their relationship with the environment. Recent researches suggest that some ILs have toxicity. 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([C4mim][BF4]) was reported to have the lowest toxicity among ILs.

Comparison between conventional indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA) and simplified icELISA for small molecules.

A simplified indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA) for small molecules was established by modifying the procedure of conventional icELISA. The key change was that the analyte, antibody, and enzyme-labeled second antibody in the simplified icELISA were added in one step, whereas in conventional icELISA these reagents were added in two separate steps. Three small chemicals, namely zeatin riboside, glycyrrhetinic acid, and chlorimuron-ethyl, were used to verify the new assay format and compare the results obtained from conventional icELISA and simplified icELISA.

The functions of microRNAs in plants.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small regulatory RNAs, which repress gene expression at the posttranscriptional levels through binding to target mRNAs for directly cleaving mRNAs or inhibiting protein translation. Mature miRNAs are produced from miRNA genes by multiple biological processes, in which several important enzymes are involved in. To date, several hundreds of miRNAs have been identified in plants using a various computational and/or experimental approaches.

[Effect of HKL-4 on active oxygen metabolism and photochemical efficiency in licorice leaf].

Objective: To study the effects of HKL-4 on physiological changes during growth of leaves.

Method: Using licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) as material, the effects of HKL-4 on active oxygen metabolism and photochemical efficiency in licorice leaf were determined under field condition.

Result And Conclusion: The contents of chlorophyll, activity of SOD and CAT increased, while the MDA contents in leaves decreased.

Development of a monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the analysis of glycyrrhizic acid.

Glycyrrhizic acid (GL) is a major active compound of licorice. The specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) (designated as 8F8A8H42H7) against GL was produced with the immunogen GL-BSA conjugate. The dissociation constant (Kd) value of the MAb was approximately 9.

Development of a monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the herbicide chlorimuron-ethyl.

Hybridomas secreting a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against the herbicide chlorimuron-ethyl (CE) were produced by fusing the mouse myeloma cell line (SP2/0) with splenocytes from a mouse immunized against the conjugate of the sulfonamide moiety of CE and bovine serum albumin (BSA). The mAb, designated 1F5C5A10, had very weak affinity with metsulfuron, ethametsulfuron, pyrazosulfuron, bensulfuron, and chlorsulfuron. Two mAb-based indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (icELISA) were developed.