Graphene-Based Flexible Strain Sensor Based on PDMS for Strain Detection of Steel Wire Core Conveyor Belt Joints.

Because of their superior performance, flexible strain sensors are used in a wide range of applications, including medicine and health, human-computer interaction, and precision manufacturing. Flexible strain sensors outperform conventional silicon-based sensors in high-strain environments. However, most current studies report complex flexible sensor preparation processes, and research focuses on enhancing and improving one parameter or property of the sensors, ignoring the feasibility of flexible strain sensors for applications in various fields. Since the mechanical properties of flexible sensors can be well combined with rubber conveyor belts, in this work polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was used as a flexible substrate by a simple way of multiple drop coating. Graphene-based flexible strain sensor films that can be used for strain detection at the joints of steel cord core conveyor belts were successfully fabricated. The results of the tests show that the sensor has a high sensitivity and can achieve a fast response (response time: 43 ms). Furthermore, the sensor can still capture the conveyor belt strain after withstanding high pressure (1.2-1.4 MPa) and high temperature (150 °C) during the belt vulcanization process. This validates the feasibility of using flexible strain sensors in steel wire core conveyor belts and has some potential for detecting abnormal strains in steel wire core conveyor belt, broadening the application field of flexible sensors.

Screening biomarkers for predicting the efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with PD-L1 overexpression.

PURPOSE: Immunotherapy plays an important role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); in particular, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy has good therapeutic effects in PD-L1-positive patients. This study aims to screen NSCLC patients with PD-L1-positive expression and select effective biomarkers for ICI immunotherapy. METHODS: Collected tumor samples from the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University and 117 patients with stage III-IV NSCLC were included in the study. All patients were on first- or second-line therapy and not on targeted therapy. Based on the molecular profiles and clinical features, we screened biomarkers for predicting the efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with PD-L1 overexpression. RESULTS: 117 NSCLC patients receiving ICIs immunotherapy were enrolled. First, we found that immunotherapy was more effective in patients with positive PD-L1 expression. Second, we found that ROS1 gene mutations, KRAS gene mutations, tumor stage, and the endocrine system diseases history are independent prognostic factors for PD-L1 positive patients. Then we combined independent risk factors and constructed a new Nomogram to predict the therapeutic efficacy of ICIs immunotherapy in PD-L1 positive patients. The Nomogram integrates these factors into a prediction model, and the predicted C-statistic of 3 months, 6 months and 12 months are 0.85, 0.84 and 0.85, which represents the high predictive accuracy of the model. CONCLUSIONS: We have established a model that can predict the efficacy of ICIs immunotherapy in PD-L1 positive patients. The model consists of ROS1 gene mutations, KRAS gene mutations, tumor staging, and endocrine system disease history, and has good predictive ability.

The Effect of Rainfall on Aquatic Nitrogen and Phosphorus in a Semi-Humid Area Catchment, Northern China.

The impact of rainfall on water quality may be more important in semi-arid regions, where rainfall is concentrated over a couple of months. To explore the impact of rainfall changes on water quality, e.g., nitrogen (TN) and phosphorous (TP), the diversion from Luan River to Tianjin Watershed in the northern semi-humid area was selected as the study area. TN and TP concentrations in rivers and the Yuqiao Reservoir during the three-year high-flow season (2019-2021) were analyzed. The response relationship and influencing factors among the watershed's biogeochemical process, rainfall, and water quality were clarified. The results showed that rainfall in the high flow season mainly controlled the river flow. The concentration of TN and TP in the inflow rivers is regulated by rainfall/flow, while the concentration of TN and TP in the water diversion river has different variation characteristics in the water diversion period and other periods. The lowest annual concentrations of TN and TP were observed in the normal year, while the highest annual concentration was observed in the wet year, indicating that the hydrological process drove the nutrient transport in the watershed. For the tributaries, the Li River catchment contributed a large amount of N and P to the aquatic environment. For the reservoir, the extreme TN concentrations were the same as the tributaries, while the extremes of TP concentrations decreased from the dry year to wet year, which was in contrast to the tributaries. The spatial variation of TN and TP concentrations in the reservoir showed that the concentration decreased following the flow direction from the river estuary to the reservoir outlet. Considering climate change, with the increase of rainfall in North China in the future, the TN and TP transport fluxes in the watershed may continue to increase, leading to the nitrogen and phosphorus load of the downstream reservoir. To ensure the impact of the increase of potential N and P output fluxes in the watershed on the water quality of the reservoir area, it is necessary to strengthen the effective prevention and control of non-point source pollution in the watershed.

H3K27me3 shapes DNA methylome by inhibiting UHRF1-mediated H3 ubiquitination.

DNA methylation and histone lysine tri-methylation at H3K27 (H3K27me3) are two chromatin modifications for transcriptional gene silencing, which play important roles in diverse biological processes, including cell fate determination and cell lineage commitment. These two marks are largely mutually exclusive and target distinct sets of genes in the mammalian genome. However, how H3K27me3 shapes the DNA methylome remains elusive. Here, we report that the loss of H3K27me3 modification leads to increased DNA methylation at previously marked H3K27me3 sites, indicating that H3K27me3 negatively regulates DNA methylation. Genome-wide analysis of H3 ubiquitination, essential for recruitment and activation of DNA methyltransferase DNMT1, reveals the absence of H3 ubiquitination at H3K27me3 marked nucleosomes. Moreover, loss of H3K27me3 modification induces an increase in H3K18 ubiquitination at the corresponding hyper-methylated loci. Importantly, we show that H3K27me3 directly inhibits UHRF1-mediated H3 ubiquitination toward nucleosomes in a defined biochemical assay. Taken together, our findings reveal a general mechanism for H3K27me3-mediated shaping of the mammalian DNA methylome via modulation of H3 ubiquitination.

Successive biochar amendment affected crop yield by regulating soil nitrogen functional microbes in wheat-maize rotation farmland.

Biochar has attracted increased attention because of its potential benefits for carbon sequestration, soil fertility, and contaminant immobilization. However, mechanism of long-term successive biochar amendment affected crop yield by regulating soil properties and nitrogen (N) functional microbes is still unclear by now. A field fixed experiment was carried out from 2011 to 2018 that aimed to study the effects of successive biochar on soil properties, soil nitrogen functional microbial genes, and grain yield in wheat and maize rotation farmland in Northern China. Four straw biochar treatments were tested in this study: 0 (BC0, CK), 2.25 (BC2.25), 6.75 (BC6.75), and 11.25 (BC11.25) Mg ha-1. The results showed that, after seven wheat-maize rotations, the total organic carbon (TOC), total N (TN), NO3-, available potassium (AK), and the C/N ratio in 0-20 cm topsoil were increased significantly following biochar application; however, there were no obvious differences in available phosphorus (AP) and NH4+ among biochar treatments. Biochar also resulted in a significant increase in crop yield and NO3- accumulation in 0-200 cm soil layer, with the highest yield in BC6.75. Furthermore, a marked increase was found in the amoA gene abundance in topsoil; however, it decreased significantly with excessive biochar application (BC11.25). At wheat maturity, the nirS gene abundance consistently decreased following biochar application, whereas the nosZ gene abundance initially increased and then decreased (peaking in BC6.75); however, no obvious changes in the nirK gene were observed. At maize maturity, biochar significantly increased the nirS and nosZ gene abundance in topsoil, especially in BC6.75. In addition, redundancy analysis indicated that the soil moisture content, AP, AK, TN, TOC, NO3-, NH4+, pH, and C/N ratio had markedly effects on the abundance of the amoA, nirK, nirS, and nosZ genes. In general, biochar-induced alterations of soil properties resulted in changes of gene abundance of soil nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria, and eventually affecting crop yields.

Root and nitrate-N distribution and optimization of N input in winter wheat.

Scientific management of nitrogen (N) fertilizer has a significant effect on yield while also reducing the environmental risks. In this study, we conducted field experiments over three years at two different sites (Zhengzhou and Shangshui) in Henan Province, China, using different N application rates (0, 90,180, 270, and 360 kg ha-1) to determine the relationships between soil N supply and N demand in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Optimal N input was then determined. Both sites showed the same trend. Namely, aboveground N uptake and soil nitrate N (NO3--N) increased with increasing N, while NO3--N decreased with increasing soil depth, gradually moving downwards with growth. A significant correlation (p < 0.001) between increasing aboveground N uptake and increasing NO3--N was also observed under N application, with the best relationships occurring in the 20-60 cm layer during jointing-anthesis (R2 = 0.402-0.431) and the 20-80 cm layer at maturity (R2 = 0.474). Root weight density showed the same spatial-temporal characteristics as NO3--N, following a unimodal trend with increasing N, and peaking at 90 kg ha-1. The root weight density was mainly distributed in the 0-60 cm layer (above 80%), with the 20-60 cm layer accounting for 30% of the total root system. In this layer, the root weight density was also significantly positively correlated with aboveground N uptake. Wheat yield reached saturation under high N (>270 kg ha-1), with a sharp decrease in N use efficiency (NUE) and linear increase in residual NO3--N. To balance yield and the risk of environmental pollution in the experimental area, an N application rate of 180-270 kg ha-1 is recommended under sufficient irrigation, thereby supporting a well-developed root system while ensuring balance between N supply and demand.

Optimizing nitrogen management to achieve high yield, high nitrogen efficiency and low nitrogen emission in winter wheat.

Achieving both high yield and high nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE) simultaneously is a current research hotspot in crop production. To investigate approaches for achieving high yield and NUE, field experiments using N fertilizer rates of 0, 120, 180, 240, 300 and 360 kg N ha-1 were conducted to study relationships between yield, N uptake and N efficiency during three wheat growing seasons from 2013 to 2016 in three experimental sites (Shangshui, Kaifeng and Wenxian) in the Huang-Huai Plain. Yield, biomass and N concentrations of plants and soil were determined. The results indicated that increased N application would affect soil N residue and increase N2O emission, suitable N application rate (N240-N268) contributed to maintaining soil fertility and reducing N2O emission for achieving high yield, high NUE and low N2O emission. High plant N accumulation (PNA) during jointing to anthesis had the best correlation coefficient with yield and NUE compared to other growth stages, which contributed to achieving high yield and NUE simultaneously. The dry matter produced by a unit of N was defined as N productivity, such as plant N net phase productivity (PNPn) and leaf N productivity (LNP). High PNPn during jointing to anthesis was significantly related to both yield and NUE. The LNP indicator (i.e. photosynthetic N use efficiency, PNUE) in the flag showed significant correlation with both yield and NUE after booting under high PNA levels. These results suggest that PNPn and PNUE could combine high yield and high NUE under high PNA conditions. Besides, to match soil N supply to plant N demand, optimum soil nitrate N accumulation and alkali-hydrolysable N (AHN) content ranges were determined. This study provides a theoretical basis to achieve high yield, high NUE and low N2O emission for N management in wheat field production.

Approach to Higher Wheat Yield in the Huang-Huai Plain: Improving Post-anthesis Productivity to Increase Harvest Index.

Both increased harvest index (HI) and increased dry matter (DM) are beneficial to yield; however, little is known about the priority of each under different yield levels. This paper aims to determine whether HI or DM is more important and identify the physiological attributes that act as indicators of increased yield. Two field experiments involving different cultivation patterns and water-nitrogen modes, respectively, were carried out from 2013 to 2016 in Huang-Huai Plain, China. Plant DM, leaf area index (LAI), and radiation interception (RI) were measured. Increased yield under low yield levels <7500 kg ha-1 was attributed to an increase in both total DM and HI, while increases under higher yield levels >7500 kg ha-1 were largely dependent on an increase in HI. Under high yield levels, HI showed a significant negative correlation with total DM and a parabolic relationship with net accumulation of DM during filling. Higher net accumulation of DM during filling helped slow down the decrease in HI, thereby maintaining a high value. Moreover, net DM accumulation during filling was positively correlated with yield, while post-anthesis accumulation showed a significant linear relationship with leaf area potential (LAP, R 2 = 0.404-0.526) and radiation interception potential (RIP, R 2 = 0.452-0.576) during grain filling. These findings suggest that the increase in LAP and RIP caused an increase in net DM accumulation after anthesis. Under DM levels >13,000 kg ha-1 at anthesis, maintaining higher LAI and RI in lower layers during grain formation contributed to higher yield. Furthermore, the ratio of upper- to lower-layer RI showed a second-order curve with yield during filling, with an increase in the optimal range with grain development. Pre-anthesis translocation amount, translocation ratios and contribution ratios also showed second-order curves under high yield levels, with optimal values of 3000-4500 kg ha-1, 25-35, and 30-50%, respectively. These results confirm the importance of HI in improving the yield, thereby providing a theoretical basis for wheat production in the Huang-Huai Plain.

Remotely Estimating Aerial N Uptake in Winter Wheat Using Red-Edge Area Index From Multi-Angular Hyperspectral Data.

Remote sensing techniques can be efficient for non-destructive, rapid detection of wheat nitrogen (N) nutrient status. In the paper, we examined the relationships of canopy multi-angular data with aerial N uptake of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) across different growing seasons, locations, years, wheat varieties, and N application rates. Seventeen vegetation indices (VIs) selected from the literature were measured for the stability in estimating aerial N uptake of wheat under 13 view zenith angles (VZAs) in the solar principal plane (SPP). In total, the back-scatter angles showed better VI behavior than the forward-scatter angles. The correlation coefficient of VIs with aerial N uptake increased with decreasing VZAs. The best linear relationship was integrated with the optimized common indices DIDA and DDn to examine dynamic changes in aerial N uptake; this led to coefficients of determination (R2) of 0.769 and 0.760 at the -10° viewing angle. Our novel area index, designed the modified right-side peak area index (mRPA), was developed in accordance with exploration of the spectral area calculation and red-edge feature using the equation: mRPA = (R760/R600)1/2 × (R760-R718). Investigating the predictive accuracy of mRPA for aerial N uptake across VZAs demonstrated that the best performance was at -10° [R2 = 0.804, p < 0.001, root mean square error (RMSE) = 3.615] and that the effect was relatively similar between -20° to +10° (R2 = 0.782, p < 0.001, RMSE = 3.805). This leads us to construct a simple model under wide-angle combinations so as to improve the field operation simplicity and applicability. Fitting independent datasets to the models resulted in relative error (RE, %) values of 12.6, 14.1, and 14.9% between estimated and measured aerial N uptake for mRPA, DIDA, and DDn across the range of -20° to +10°, respectively, further confirming the superior test performance of the mRPA index. These results illustrate that the novel index mRPA represents a more accurate assessment of plant N status, which is beneficial for guiding N management in winter wheat.

Grain number responses to pre-anthesis dry matter and nitrogen in improving wheat yield in the Huang-Huai Plain.

Wheat yield components vary between different ecological regions and yield levels. Grain number responses to pre-anthesis dry matter (DM) and nitrogen (N) in increasing yield were always investigated in spike organs, neglecting the effect of non-spike organ nutrition or overall distribution. This paper determined the relationships between grain number and pre-anthesis DM and N in spike and non-spike organs under different yield levels, with using two sorts of field experiments (different water-nitrogen modes and cultivation management patterns) from 2012-2015 in Huang-Huai plain. The results indicated that improving yield under yield of <7500 kg ha-1 depends on increasing grain number per spike (GNs) or spike number (SN) or both, increased yield under higher yield of >7500 kg ha-1 mainly depends on GNs. GNs showed significant positive relationships with above-ground DM accumulation from jointing to anthesis under high or low yield levels. Rapid DM growth in spring achieves higher GNs. Spike and non-spike DM and N contents both demonstrated strong positive relationships with GNs, spike DM distribution also shows a positive correlation, but spike N distribution ratio show negatively correlation with GNs. Improved N distribution in non-spike organs and DM partition in spike organs conduce to increasing GNs.

Effect of irrigation and nitrogen application on grain amino acid composition and protein quality in winter wheat.

Water management and nitrogen application are critical factors in wheat grain yield and protein quality. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of irrigation and nitrogen application on the grain yield, protein content and amino acid composition of winter wheat. Field experiments were conducted in a split-plot design with three replications in high-yielding land on the North China Plain in 2012/2013, 2013/2014 and 2014/2015. Three irrigation treatments were examined in main plots: no irrigation, irrigation at jointing, and irrigation at jointing plus anthesis, while subplots were assigned to nitrogen treatment at four different rates: 0, 180, 240, 300 kg N ha-1, respectively. The results indicated that irrigation at jointing and at jointing plus anthesis improved grain yield by an average of 12.79 and 18.65% across three cropping seasons, respectively, compared with no irrigation. However, different irrigation treatments had no significant effect on grain protein content in any cropping season. Compared with no N treatment, 180, 240, and 300 kg N ha-1 N application significantly increased grain yield, by 58.66, 61.26 and 63.42% respectively, averaged over three cropping seasons. Grain protein and the total, essential and non-essential amino acid content significantly increased with increasing nitrogen application. Irrigation significantly improved the essential amino acid index (EAAI) and protein-digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) compared with no irrigation; however, N application decreased them by an average of 7.68 and 11.18% across three cropping seasons, respectively. EAAI and PDCAAS were positively correlated, however, they were highly negatively correlated with yield and grain protein content.

Wheat Grain Yield Increase in Response to Pre-Anthesis Foliar Application of 6-Benzylaminopurine Is Dependent on Floret Development.

Wheat yield is largely determined during the period prior to flowering, when the final numbers of fertile florets and grains per spike are established. The aim of this study was to assess the dynamics of floret primordia development in winter wheat in response to pre-anthesis application of a synthetic cytokinin, 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA). We conducted an experiment in which two foliar spray treatments were applied (water or 6-BA) to Chinese winter wheat at 25 days after jointing during two growing seasons (2012-2013 and 2013-2014). Both the final grain number per spike and grain yield at maturity exhibited remarkable increases in response to the 6-BA treatment. Application of 6-BA increased the number of fertile florets in basal spikelets and, to a greater extent, in central spikelets. The mechanism by which 6-BA application affected the final number of fertile florets primarily involved suppression of the floret abortion rates. Application of 6-BA considerably reduced the abortion rates of basal, central and apical spikelet florets (by as much as 77% compared with the control), as well as the degeneration rates of basal and central spikelet florets, albeit to a lesser degree. The effect of 6-BA application on the likelihood of proximal florets being set was limited to the distal florets in the whole spike, whereas obvious increases in the likelihood of grain set under 6-BA treatment were observed in distal florets, primarily in central spikelet positions. The results of this study provide important evidence that 6-BA application to florets (final fertile floret production) results in an increased grain yield.

Nitrous Oxide Emission and Denitrifier Abundance in Two Agricultural Soils Amended with Crop Residues and Urea in the North China Plain.

The application of crop residues combined with Nitrogen (N) fertilizer has been broadly adopted in China. Crop residue amendments can provide readily available C and N, as well as other nutrients to agricultural soils, but also intensify the N fixation, further affecting N2O emissions. N2O pulses are obviously driven by rainfall, irrigation and fertilization. Fertilization before rainfall or followed by flooding irrigation is a general management practice for a wheat-maize rotation in the North China Plain. Yet, little is known on the impacts of crop residues combined with N fertilizer application on N2O emission under high soil moisture content. A laboratory incubation experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of two crop residue amendments (maize and wheat), individually or in combination with N fertilizer, on N2O emissions and denitrifier abundance in two main agricultural soils (one is an alluvial soil, pH 8.55, belongs to Ochri-Aquic Cambosols, OAC, the other is a lime concretion black soil, pH 6.61, belongs to Hapli-Aquic Vertosols, HAV) under 80% WFPS (the water filled pore space) in the North China Plain. Each type soil contains seven treatments: a control with no N fertilizer application (CK, N0), 200 kg N ha(-1) (N200), 250 kg N ha(-1) (N250), maize residue plus N200 (MN200), maize residue plus N250 (MN250), wheat residue plus N200 (WN200) and wheat residue plus N250 (WN250). Results showed that, in the HAV soil, MN250 and WN250 increased the cumulative N2O emissions by 60% and 30% compared with N250 treatment, respectively, but MN200 and WN200 decreased the cumulative N2O emissions by 20% and 50% compared with N200. In the OAC soil, compared with N200 or N250, WN200 and WN250 increased the cumulative N2O emission by 40%-50%, but MN200 and MN250 decreased the cumulative N2O emission by 10%-20%. Compared with CK, addition of crop residue or N fertilizer resulted in significant increases in N2O emissions in both soils. The cumulative N2O emissions from the treatments of 250 kg N ha(-1) were 1.1-3.3 times higher than those of treatments with 200 kg N ha(-1) in both soils with adding equal amounts of the same type of crop residue. Abundance of the 16S rRNA gene did not significantly change in all treatments in two soils, but the nosZ and nirS genes were more abundant in soils amended with crop residues compared with CK or N-only treatments. N2O emission, however, were not related to the abundance of denitrifier containing nirS or nosZ. The research provided some information regarding the effect of crop residues with N fertilizer on N2O emissions and denitrifier abundances in two soils. Our results imply the property of crop residue and rate of N fertilizer are important influencing factors of N2O emission when crop residues combined with N fertilizer are applied to different agricultural soils.

Ultrastructural observation of mesophyll cells and temporal expression profiles of the genes involved in transitory starch metabolism in flag leaves of wheat after anthesis.

Transitory starch in cereal plant leaves is synthesized during the day and remobilized at night to provide a carbon source for growth and grain filling, but its mechanistic basis is still poorly understood. The objective of this study is to explore the regulatory mechanism for starch biosynthesis and degradation in plant source organs. Using transmission electron microscopy, we observed that during the day after anthesis, starch granules in mesophyll cells of wheat flag leaves accumulated in chloroplasts and the number of starch granules gradually decreased with wheat leaf growth. During the night, starch granules synthesized in chloroplasts during the day were completely or partially degraded. The transcript levels of 26 starch synthesis-related genes and 16 starch breakdown-related genes were further measured using quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Expression profile analysis revealed that starch metabolism genes were clustered into two groups based on their temporal expression patterns. The genes in the first group were highly expressed and presumed to play crucial roles in starch metabolism. The genes in the other group were not highly expressed in flag leaves and may have minor functions in starch metabolism in leaf tissue. The functions of most of these genes in leaves were further discussed. The starch metabolism-related genes that are predominantly expressed in wheat flag leaves differ from those expressed in wheat grain, indicating that two different pathways for starch metabolism operate in these tissues. This provides specific information on the molecular mechanisms of transitory starch metabolism in higher plants.

[Influence of sulfur on the bioavailability of arsenic uptake by rice (Oryza. sativa L. ) and its speciation in soil ].

Pot experiments using exogenous arsenic-polluted paddy soils were carried out to investigate the influence of different forms of sulfur fertilizers (sulfur and gypsum) on As uptake by rice and its chemical speciation. Soil solution pH value ranged 7. 38-7. 45 in different growth period of rice, and the pH value of AsS0 and AsS1 treatments was higher than that of AsS2 treatment. Variation of Eh value in soil solution was about 200 mV and the Eh of AsS0 was higher than those of AsS1 and AsS2 treatments. From dry matter weight of root and stem and grain of rice, S-fertilizer applied by sulfur and gypsum could improve the amounts of dry matter in rice, while the effects of sulfur treatments and gypsum treatments were not significant. Concentrations of Fe and Mn in iron-manganese plaque on rice roots were 10-30 g.kg-1 and 0.1-1.3 g.kg-1, respectively. Contents of Fe-Mn plaque were mainly different in the tiller stage. Elemental S treatment could more greatly promote the formation of Fe-Mn plaque of rice root than gypsum treatment. Concentrations of As adsorbed by rice roots surface plaque were 583-719 mg.kg-' in tiller stage, 466-621 mg.kg-1 in boot stage, and 310-384 mg kg-1 in flower and matur stage. And it was consistent with the thickness of Fe-Mn plaque on rice root surface. Concentrations of As uptake in roots and stem and leaf and grain were significantly reduced by the application of S fertilizer, and it may be related to the amount of As adsorbed by Fe-Mn plaque at boot stage. According to chemical speciation of soil arsenic, As of non-specific and specific adsorption was most active, and their amounts of As adsorbed in AsS, treatment were significantly lower by 2.85 mg kg-~' than that in AsS2 treatment in tiller stage, and was 0.77 mg.kg- higher than that in AsS2 treatment in the flower stage. Perhaps soil arsenic was easily dissolved in the soil solution and the bioavailability of AsS, treatment was better than that of AsS, treatment.

Producing more grain with lower environmental costs.

Agriculture faces great challenges to ensure global food security by increasing yields while reducing environmental costs. Here we address this challenge by conducting a total of 153 site-year field experiments covering the main agro-ecological areas for rice, wheat and maize production in China. A set of integrated soil-crop system management practices based on a modern understanding of crop ecophysiology and soil biogeochemistry increases average yields for rice, wheat and maize from 7.2 million grams per hectare (Mg ha(-1)), 7.2 Mg ha(-1) and 10.5 Mg ha(-1) to 8.5 Mg ha(-1), 8.9 Mg ha(-1) and 14.2 Mg ha(-1), respectively, without any increase in nitrogen fertilizer. Model simulation and life-cycle assessment show that reactive nitrogen losses and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced substantially by integrated soil-crop system management. If farmers in China could achieve average grain yields equivalent to 80% of this treatment by 2030, over the same planting area as in 2012, total production of rice, wheat and maize in China would be more than enough to meet the demand for direct human consumption and a substantially increased demand for animal feed, while decreasing the environmental costs of intensive agriculture.

[Effect of sulfur on the species of Fe and As under redox condition in paddy soil].

Redox conditions of the polluted paddy soil with exogenous As were simulated by redox reaction apparatus after flowing N2 and O2 applied with different forms of inorganic sulfur(CK-S0, elemental sulfur-S1 and sulfate-S2). Results showed that redox potential (Eh) was about -100 - -200 mV and the pH 7.0-8.0 and the pe + pH 4-7 in soil solution when flowed N2, and Eh about 200 mV and the pH 6.5-7.5 and pe + pH 9-12 when continuously flowed O2. Concentrations of the dissolved Fe in soil solution were in 1.2-1.6 mg x L(-1) either flowed N2 or O2, and the order of Fe concentrations was AsS0 treatment > AsS1 treatment > AsS2 treatment. Amounts of soil Fe oxide by HCl extraction from different treatments were 5 g · kg(-1) lower than the original soil [(21.4 ± 0.3) g · kg(-1)] when flowed N2, and it was in favor of the transformation of crystal Fe into amorphous iron and Fe2+. Activity of Fe oxides from different treatments increased comparing to that of the original soil (46. 8%), and the order of activity of Fe oxides was AsS2 treatment (49.4%) < AsS1 treatment (60%). Fe2+ in solution and FeS were oxidized into Fe3+, and hydrolysis of Fe3+ was produced into Fe(OH)3 precipitation when flowed O2. It increased the contents of acid-soluble and crystal Fe oxide, and the order of activity of Fe oxides was AsS1 (41.2%) treatment > AsS2 (36.1%) treatment. Concentrations of As in soil solution were in the order of AsS0 [(1.13 ± 0.04) mg · L(-1)] > AsS1 [(0.89 ± 0.01) mg L(- 1)] > AsS2 [ (0.77 ± 0.04 )mg · L(-1)] when flowed N2 and was AsS1 [(0.77 ± 0.01) mg · L(-1)] > AsS0 [(0.20 ± 0.09 ) mg · L(-1)] > AsS2 [(0.09 ± 0.01) mg · L(-1)] when flowed O2. The proportions of arsenic fractions followed the order of the residual phases (34.9%-41.4%) ≈ specifically-sorbed (37.4%-39.5%) > well-crystallized hydrous oxides of Fe/Mn (23.3%-25.6%) > non-specifically sorbed (2.4%-3.3%) > amorphous hydrous oxides of Fe/Mn (0.5%-0.8%) when flowed N2, and was the residual phases (30.8%-39.3%) specifically-sorbed (30.3%-34.7%) > well-crystallized hydrous oxides of Fe/Mn (26.0%-28.7%) > amorphous hydrous oxides of Fe/Mn (9.3%-10.7%) > non-specifically sorbed (0.5%-1.6%) when flowed O2. Arsenic from amorphous hydrous oxides of Fe/Mn raised about 9% by flowing O2 than by flowing N2. This could be the effect of the aging amorphous Fe/Mn on the transformation of As, and the increased activity of iron oxide under reducing conditions and enhanced mobility of Arsenic. Elemental surfer system could increase mobility of arsenic more than sulfate system which may decrease degree of activity of iron oxide.

Increasing the starch content and grain weight of common wheat by overexpression of the cytosolic AGPase large subunit gene.

ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) catalyzes the first committed step of starch synthesis. AGPase is a heterotetramer composed of two large subunits and two small subunits, has cytosolic and plastidial isoforms, and is detected mainly in the cytosol of endosperm in cereal crops. To investigate the effects of AGPase cytosolic large subunit gene (LSU I) on starch biosynthesis in higher plant, in this study, a TaLSU I gene from wheat was overexpressed under the control of an endosperm-specific promoter in a wheat cultivar (Yumai 34). PCR, Southern blot, and real-time RT-PCR analyses indicated that the transgene was integrated into the genome of transgenic plants and was overexpressed in their progeny. The overexpression of the TaLSU I gene remarkably enhanced AGPase activity, endosperm starch weight, grain number per spike, and single grain weight. Therefore, we conclude that overexpression of the TaLSU I gene enhances the starch biosynthesis in endosperm of wheat grains, having potential applications in wheat breeding to develop a high-yield wheat cultivar with high starch weight and kernel weight.

Molecular cloning and expression analysis of the starch-branching enzyme III gene from common wheat (Triticum aestivum ).

The starch-branching enzyme (SBE) catalyzes the formation of branch points by cleaving the α-1,4 linkage in polyglucans and reattaching the chain via an α-1,6 linkage. Three types of SBE isoforms (SBEI, SBEII, and SBEIII) exist in higher plants, with the number of SBE isoforms being species-specific. This study isolated the SBEIII cDNA sequence (3,780 bp), designated TaSBEIII (accession no. JQ346193), from common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using the RACE method, revealing that the SBEIII gene exists in common wheat. The open reading frame of TaSBEIII was 2,748 bp. The predicted protein of 916 amino acids contained the specific characteristics of the SBEIII protein: four highly conserved regions and a central (α/ß)(8) barrel domain. The SBE activity of the protein expressed in Escherichia coli (BL21) was also measured and verified. During the wheat grain filling period, TaSBEIII was constitutively expressed. The role of the TaSBEIII gene in starch synthesis is discussed.

Proteomics reveals the effects of salicylic acid on growth and tolerance to subsequent drought stress in wheat.

Pretreatment with 0.5 mM salicylic acid (SA) for 3 days significantly enhanced the growth and tolerance to subsequent drought stress (PEG-6000, 15%) in wheat seedlings, manifesting as increased shoot and root dry weights, and decreased lipid peroxidation. Total proteins from wheat leaves exposed to (i) 0.5 mM SA pretreatment, (ii) drought stress, and (iii) 0.5 mM SA treatment plus drought-stress treatments were analyzed using a proteomics method. Eighty-two stress-responsive protein spots showed significant changes, of which 76 were successfully identified by MALDI-TOF-TOF. Analysis of protein expression patterns revealed that proteins associated with signal transduction, stress defense, photosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, protein metabolism, and energy production could by involved in SA-induced growth and drought tolerance in wheat seedlings. Furthermore, the SA-responsive protein interaction network revealed 35 key proteins, suggesting that these proteins are critical for SA-induced tolerance.