[Determination of the content of mineral elements in Cistanche tubulosa from different areas].

The contents of mineral elements in Cistanche tubulosa from different areas and in the soil in which they grew were determined by ICP-AES The results showed that: (1) the contents of K, P, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn and B were rich among different samples collected in five locations. (2) the concentrations of 5 macroelements were high values, in which the content of K was the highest in different aeras. the content of Fe was higher than other microelements and specilally, the Fe content from Xinjiang sample reached to 433.56 microg x g(-1). (3) the mineral elements absorption rate of Cistanche tubulosa is different in different areas and the absorption ability of K, Na and P was higher than other elements in Cistanche tubulosa. (4) the concentrations and utilization rate of mineral elements in Cistanche tubulosa from Xinjiang was higher than other areas. The results maybe provided scientific data and suggestion for the quality control of Cistanche tubulosa.

[Analysis of the content of mineral elements in Scutellaria baicalensis, skullcap tea and its solution].

The content of nine mineral elements in the root, stem and leaf of 1-3 years old Scutellaria baicalensis, skullcap tea, and its solution was determined by the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The results show that the main mineral elements in the root, stem and leaf are similar. The main mineral elements include K, Ca, Mg, P, Al and Fe. The content ratio of Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, Al, P, Mg, Ca and K in the leaf of Scutellaria haicalensis is 1 : 3 : 6 : 15 : 18 19 : 41 : 333 : 423. The contents of Fe, Mn, P, Mg and Ca in the stems and leaves of Scutellaria baicalensis increase with the increase of cultivation period. There were K, Ca, Mg and other mineral elements in the skullcap tea, and Fe, Zn and Mg were easy to be dissolved, the dissolution rates were 61.8%, 55.4% and 61.4% respectively. This study can provide scientific basis for rational utilization of the above ground resources of Scutellaria baicalensis.

[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 138.3 to 13,835.1 microg x g(-1). The contents of 14 kinds of microelements were determined as in descending order of Si, B, Mn, Sr, Zn, Ni, Cu, Mo, Fe, Co, Se, V, I and Sn, in the range from 14.2 ng x g(-1) to 81.7 microg x g(-1). Five kinds of heavy metals were detected with the contents from 0.14 to 55.3 ng x g(-1), and their order from high to low is Pb, Cd, Cr, As and Hg. Other 30 kinds of elements were also detected in Bt cotton seeds by ICP-MS, including Rb, Be, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Ge, Rh, Ag, Sb, W, U and Y. Foliar application of mepiquat chloride significantly reduced the contents of Ca, Fe, Si, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu and I, and remarkably decreased heavy metals Pb, Cd and Cr in the cotton seeds, by 68%, 67% and 54% respectively. While mepiquat chloride did not change the contents of most major and micro elements, it heightened 8 kinds, but lowered 7 kinds of the other 30 trace elements. This research indicated that mepiquat chloride application strengthened the security regarding the cotton seed as the material of cooking oil.

[Studied of dry matter accumulation and echinacoside content of Cistanche tubulosa in Huabei plain].

OBJECTIVE: To give some theory support of Cistanche tubulosa cultivation by searching dry matter accumulation and echinacoside content of C. tubulosa. METHOD: Dry matter accumulation content of C. tubulosa culturing in Huabei plain was analysed in different growth season of C. tubulosa. Echinacoside content was determined by HPLC. RESULT: Dry matter accumulation of C. tubulosa showed "S" variation. Dry matter accumulation increased fastest in September among growing seasons. Dry matter amount was 138.58 g after C. tubulosa grew a year. Dry matter amount decreased significantly along with inoculation time retarded. Echinacoside content was 30.59% when C. tubulosa grew in 5 months, decreased guadully after that, and 9.76% in annual. CONCLUSION: Variation rule of dry matter accumulation and echinacoside content was found in C. tubulosa that grew one year in Huabei plain.

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 9.96x10(-10) M. The cross reactivity of the MAb with glycyrrhetic acid was approximately 2.6%. The conventional indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA) and simplified icELISA adapted with a modified procedure were established using the MAb. The IC50 value and the detect range by the conventional icELISA were 1.1 ng mL-1 and 0.2-5.1 ng mL-1, respectively. The IC50 value and the detect range by the simplified icELISA were 5.3 ng mL-1 and 1.2-23.8 ng mL-1, respectively. The two icELISA formats were used to analyze GL contents in the roots of wild licorice and different parts of cultivated licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch). The results obtained with the two icELISAs agreed well with those of the HPLC analysis. The correlation coefficient was more than 0.98 between HPLC and the two icELISAs. The two icELISAs were shown to be appropriate, simple, and effective for the quality control of raw licorice root materials.

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. A conventional icELISA (icELISA-I) showed a concentration of half-maximum inhibition (IC(50)) of 11.6 ng/mL with a dynamic range of 1.6-84 ng/mL. A simplified icELISA (icELISA-II) had an IC(50) of 28.7 ng/mL and a dynamic range of 2.2-372 ng/mL. The two assays were tested on spiked water and soil samples. CE (1-500 ng/mL) fortified in water samples could be analyzed directly without any sample preparation by both immunoassays with an average recovery between 74 and 114%. icELISA-II, but not icELISA-I, was able to accurately analyze the herbicide residues in the crude soil extracts with recoveries between 99 and 129% without obvious matrix effects due to its lesser amount of sample used. In contrast to icELISA-I, icELISA-II is more convenient, whereas it consumes more reagents of coating antigen and goat anti-mouse IgG-peroxidase.

[Studies on cultivation measures of Angelica dahurica].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of seedingtime, density of crop and fertilization on the yield of Angelica dahurica. METHOD: Use weighing method to measure the output of A. dahurica. RESULT: The highest yield of seeding-time is 8373 kg/hm' on April 20, which is considerably different compared with April 5 and May 5; the highest yield of the density is 9300 kg/hm2 on 330,000 plants/hm2; the yield of fertilization tests all are considerable higher than that of the contrast. CONCLUSION: The appropriate seeingtime of A. dahurica is the first or second ten days of April, the appropriate density is 330,000 plants/hm2, and the appropriate amount of fertilization is N24P20, i.e pure N 360 kg and P20, 300 kg per hectare.

[Effects of cultivation technique on yield and favonoid content of Chrysanthemum flower (Qiju) grown in Hebei].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of cultivation techniques on the flower yield flavonoid content in Chrysanthemum flower grown in Hebei. METHOD: Studied on flowers yield and three factors (transplanting date and plant density and fertilizer quantity) were examined in field experiment at 4 treatments levels. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: The best results were obtained at following conditions: diammonium phosphate 300 kg x hm(-2) and potassium sulfate 150 kg x hm(-2) fertilized before transplanting, transplanting at the first ten days of May and the spacing 40 cm x 40 cm.

[Study on inoculation technology of Cistanche tubulosa in the field].

OBJECTIVE: To increase inoculation rate of Cistanche tubulosa in the field by studying inoculation technologies. METHOD: Root-tube inoculation methed was used on field experiments. Inoculation rate of C. tubulosa was compared to different size seeds and inoculation mediums and inoculation time. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: May is suitable inoculation time. The inoculation rate of C. tubulosa is 92.5% while the seed width is more than 0.7 mm and coarse sand is selected during inoculation period.

[Morphology of seed germination and parasitism in Cistanche tubulosa].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the process of Cistanche tubulosa. METHOD: The process of seed germination and parasitism was observed using stereomicroscope. RESULT: Seedling of C. tubulosa sprouted after forty day without host root's contact in fields, a tube-like-organ formed and grew auger-type from host root, the tuber apex where touches host root swelled and formed haustorium. Haustorium intruded host root epidermis and vascular bundles, and released brown substances. Then, embryo bud with six or more young leaves formed, finally the swelled tuber-like-organ broken and seed coat shed. Due to the parasitism of C. tubulosa, the host root near stem site swelled, but the other part, shrunk and disappered gradually. CONCLUSION: Seed of C. tubulosa could germinate indepently in fields. Tuber-like-organ formatin, haustorium formation and bud formation are key steps of C. tubulosa seedling development.