Cytological, genetic, and proteomic analysis of a sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) mutant Siyl-1 with yellow-green leaf color.

BACKGROUND: Both photosynthetic pigments and chloroplasts in plant leaf cells play an important role in deciding on the photosynthetic capacity and efficiency in plants. Systematical investigating the regulatory mechanism of chloroplast development and chlorophyll (Chl) content variation is necessary for clarifying the photosynthesis mechanism for crops. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the critical regulatory mechanism of leaf color mutation in a yellow-green leaf sesame mutant Siyl-1. METHODS: We performed the genetic analysis of the yellow-green leaf color mutation using the F2 population of the mutant Siyl-1. We compared the morphological structure of the chloroplasts, chlorophyll content of the three genotypes of the mutant F2 progeny. We performed the two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and compared the protein expression variation between the mutant progeny and the wild type. RESULTS: Genetic analysis indicated that there were 3 phenotypes of the F2 population of the mutant Siyl-1, i.e., YY type with light-yellow leaf color (lethal); Yy type with yellow-green leaf color, and yy type with normal green leaf color. The yellow-green mutation was controlled by an incompletely dominant nuclear gene, Siyl-1. Compared with the wild genotype, the chloroplast number and the morphological structure in YY and Yy mutant lines varied evidently. The chlorophyll content also significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The 2-DE comparison showed that there were 98 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) among YY, Yy, and yy lines. All the 98 DEPs were classified into 5 functional groups. Of which 82.7% DEPs proteins belonged to the photosynthesis and energy metabolism group. CONCLUSION: The results revealed the genetic character of yellow-green leaf color mutant Siyl-1. 98 DEPs were found in YY and Yy mutant compared with the wild genotype. The regulation pathway related with the yellow leaf trait mutation in sesame was analyzed for the first time. The findings supplied the basic theoretical and gene basis for leaf color and chloroplast development mechanism in sesame.

[Nitrate leaching characteristics of wheat-corn rotation farmland in Guanzhong area of Shaanxi].

By using in situ leaching device, a field experiment was conducted to study the effects of nitrogen fertilization rate and straw mulching on the nitrate leaching at 90 cm soil depth, nitrate accumulation in soil profile (0-100 cm), crop yield, and nitrogen balance of wheat-corn rotation farmland in Guanzhong area of Shaanxi. Six treatments were installed, i. e., no fertilization (N1, 0 kg x hm(-2) x a(-1)), conventional fertilization (N2, 471 kg x hm(-2) x a(-1)), recommended fertilization (N3, 330 kg x hm(-2) x a(-1)), reduced N application (N4, 165 kg x hm(-2) x a(-1)), increased N application (N5, 495 kg x hm(-2) x a(-1)), and recommended fertilization plus straw mulching (N3 + S). The nitrate leaching loss was increased with increasing N fertilization rate. Excessive N fertilization and straw mulching could easily cause nitrate leaching. In treatment N3 + S, the annual NO3(-) -N loss at 90 cm soil depth was the greatest (22.32 kg N x hm(-2)), and the NO3(-) -N loss from N fertilization was 16.44 kg N x hm(-2) x a(-1), being 158.9% higher than that in treatment N3. Nitrate mainly accumulated in 20-60 cm soil layer. When the N application rate was 330 kg N x hm(-2) x a(-1), straw mulching had less effect on the NO3(-) -N distribution in soil profile. No significant difference was observed in the crop yield among the treatments, but reduced N application (N4) tended to decrease the yield. Under our experimental condition, a fertilization rate of 150 kg N x hm(-2) x a(-1) for wheat and 180 kg N x hm(-2) x a(-1) for maize could ensure the crop production and reduce the soil nitrate leaching and accumulation.