Identification of novel drought-responsive miRNA regulatory network of drought stress response in common vetch (Vicia sativa).

Drought is among the most important natural disasters with severe effects on animals and plants. MicroRNAs are a class of noncoding RNAs that play a crucial role in plant growth, development, and response to stress factors, including drought. However, the microRNAs in drought responses in common vetch (Vicia sativa), an annual herbaceous leguminous plant commonly used for forage by including it in mixed seeding during winter and spring, have not been characterized. To explore the microRNAs' response to drought in common vetch, we sequenced 10 small RNA (sRNA) libraries by the next-generation sequencing technology. We obtained 379 known miRNAs belonging to 38 families and 47 novel miRNAs. The two groups had varying numbers of differentially expressed miRNAs: 85 in the comparison group D5 vs C5 and 38 in the comparison group D3 vs C3. Combined analysis of mRNA and miRNA in the same samples under drought treatment identified 318 different target genes of 123 miRNAs. Functional annotation of the target genes revealed that the miRNAs regulate drought-responsive genes, such as leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase-encoding genes (LRR-RLKs), ABC transporter G family member 1 (ABCG1), and MAG2-interacting protein 2 (MIP2). The genes were involved in various pathways, including cell wall biosynthesis, reactive oxygen removal, and protein transport. The findings in this study provide new insights into the miRNA-mediated regulatory networks of drought stress response in common vetch.

Movement Behavior of the Pine Needle Gall Midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae).

The movement behavior of the pine needle gall midge (Thecodiplosis japonensis Uchida Et Inouye (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)), an invasive species in China, was determined by using a tethered flight technique and digital videography in the laboratory. The flight distance, duration, and speed of females were compared at different ages (2-10 h) and ambient temperatures (17, 21, 26, and 30°C). Female flight distance and duration at 26°C were significantly greater than those at 17°C and 21°C. The age of T. japonensis did not significantly affect the three flight characteristics. For females at 2-10 h of age at 26°C and 70% RH, the maximum flight distance was 667.59 m; the longest flight time was 6,222.34 s; and the fastest flight speed was 0.44 m·s-1. For larvae wetted with water, the highest jump was 5.7 cm; the longest jump was 9.6 cm; and the greatest distance moved in 5 min was 27.13 cm, which showed that the active dispersal potential of larvae was very low.

Growth dynamics of galls and chemical defence response of Pinus thunbergii Parl. to the pine needle gall midge, Thecodiplosis japonensis Uchida & Inouye (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae).

The pine needle gall midge, Thecodiplosis japonensis Uchida et Inouye, is a newly invasive pest in China that mainly harms Pinus thunbergii and P. densiflora. The occurrence and damage caused by T. japonensis in pure stands of P. thunbergii were investigated, and the needle growth and needle compound content were measured. Based on the above steps, the growth dynamics of galls and chemical defense response of P. thunbergii to attack by the gall midge were revealed. The results showed that the adults of T. japonensis in Qingdao city, China, emerged from the end of May to late July, with a peak in mid-June. Needles of P. thunbergii began to differentiate in late June and stopped growing in mid-September. The length of infested needles was 60.17% less than that of healthy needles. On average, there were 9 ± 4 larvae in each gall, 22 at most and 1 at least. The number of larvae within a gall had no significant effect on the size of the gall or larvae. Compared with that in the ungalled tissues, the content of amino acids in the galled pine needle tissues increased by 40.83%, while the content of total polyphenols, tannins, carotenoids, total triterpenes, total alkaloids and other secondary substances decreased to varying degrees, which was favourable for the growth and development of the T. japonensis larvae.

A new species of genus Endasys Förster (Ichneumonidae, Cryptinae) parasitizing Pristiphora (Tenthredinidae) and a key to species from China.

A new species of Cryptinae, Endasys pristiphorae Sheng, sp.n. reared from cocoons of the tenthredinid sawflies Pristiphora erichsonii (Hartig), P. xibei Wei Xia and P. (Stauronematus) compresicornis (Hartig) in Ningxia, Shandong and Shan'xi, China, is described and illustrated. A key to species of Endasys known from China is provided.

[Nitrate nitrogen leaching and residue of humic acid fertilizer in field soil].

To elucidate the potential influence of humic acidfertilizer on groundwater and soil quality in clay soil (CS) and sandy soil (SS), nitrate nitrogen leaching and residue of different fertilizers in field soil were studied using a self-made leaching field device. Nitrate nitrogen concentration in leaching water of fertilizer treatments was 28.1%-222.2% higher than that of non-nitrogen treatment in different times, but humic acid fertilizer could prevent nitrate nitrogen leaching both in CS and SS, especially in CS. Nitrate nitrogen concentration of leaching water in CS was 41.2%-59.1% less than that in SS and the inhibiting effect in CS was greater than that in SS. Nitrate nitrogen could be accumulated in soil profile by fertilizer application. The residue of nitrate nitrogen retained in 0-40 cm soil layer of humic acid fertilizer treatment was 59.8% and 54.4% respectively, higher than that of urea and compound fertilizer treatments. Nitrate nitrogen amount of humic acid, urea and compound fertilizer treatments in SS was significantly less than that in CS, being 81.7%, 81.1% and 47.6% respectively. Compared with the conventional fertilizer, humic acid fertilizer treatment improved the contents of organic matter, available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium of upper layer soil as well as cation exchange capacity. Besides, total amount of water-soluble salts in humic acid fertilizer treatment was decreased by 24.8% and 22.5% in comparison to urea and compound fertilizer treatments in CS, respectively. In summary, the application of humic acid fertilizer could improve physical and chemical properties of upper layer soil and reduce the risk of potential pollution to groundwater.