Chloroplast genome sequence of a yellow colored rice (Oryza sativa L.): insight into the genome structure and phylogeny.

Colored rice is gaining popularity due to its use in creative agriculture and the value of healthy consumption. However, the quality and yield characteristics of most rice varieties still need to be improved. Revealing the genetic background of colored rice is of great significance to promote crop improvement. Here, the completed chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of yellow colored Oryza sativa voucher HSAGSDYD1802 was sequenced and reported. It was a 134,502 bp circular DNA with a typical quadripartite structure, consisting of two reverse repeat regions (IRa and IRb, 20,804 bp) separated by a large single-copy region (LSC, 80,547 bp) and a small single-copy region (SSC, 12,347 bp). The total GC content was 39%. The cp genome encoded 146 genes, containing 100 protein-coding genes, 8 rRNAs, and 38 tRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that O. sativa voucher HSAGSDYD1802 was closely related to O. sativa L. TN1, RP Bio-226 and IR8. This study enriches the genetic information of colored rice and is helpful for future molecular breeding.

[Sustainability of crop yields in China under long-term fertilization and different ecological conditions].

By using sustainable yield index (SYI), this paper analyzed the sustainability of maize, rice, and wheat yields at 20 long-term fertilization experiment sites in China under different fertilization system and ecological conditions. The SYI value of test crops varied significantly with fertilization system, crop kind, effective accumulated temperature, and sunshine hour. Irrespective of fertilization, the SYI value of rice was generally higher than that of maize and wheat. Under long-term no fertilization, the SYI values of rice, wheat, and maize were lower, being 0.55, 0.44, and 0.43, respectively. Fertilization, especially a combined application of NPK and manure, promoted the sustainability of crop yields, with the SYI values of rice, wheat, and maize being 0.66, 0.58, and 0.57, respectively. Under the application of N and NK, the SYI values ranged in 0. 36-0. 47. SYI value > 0.55 represented the better sustainability of crop yields, while SYI < 0.45 represented a worse one. Longitude, altitude, and weather factors also affected the SYI values, especially that of maize. Under no fertilization, maize had the largest variation of SYI value, followed by wheat, and rice. Our results indicated that a combined application of chemical fertilizers with manure benefited high and stable yielding, being the optimal fertilization mode for maintaining the sustainability of grain yield.

Effects of emodin and baicalein on rats with severe acute pancreatitis.

AIM: To investigate the therapeutic effects of emodin in combination with baicalein on severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) rats and to explore the mechanism of SAP. METHODS: A total of 112 SAP rats induced by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate into the biliary-pancreatic duct, randomly assigned to a untreated group and three treated groups emodin group, combined emodin and baicalein group, and sandostatin group. Meanwhile, another 28 other rats were selected as sham operation (SO) group. There were 28 rats in each group, 8 rats were in 3 and 6 h groups respectively, and 12 rats in 12 h group. At each time-points, survival rates, ascites volumes, pathological lesion scores of pancreas tissues, serum amylase, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and IL-6 levels were determined as the indexes of therapeutic effects. RESULTS: The survival rate at 12 h was significantly higher in three treated groups than in untreated group. The ascites volume at 12 h was remarkably less in combined and sandostatin groups than in emodin group, but there was no difference between combined group and sandostatin group (P>0.05). Serum amylase levels at all time-points were significantly lower in three treated groups than in untreated group. However, they had no difference among treated groups (P>0.05). Serum TNF-alpha were lower in three treated groups than in untreated group at all time points. Among the three treated groups, at 6 h, the TNF-alpha levels of combination and sandostatin groups were lower than those of emodin group. These was no difference between combined and sandostantin. Serum IL-6 concentration at 3 h were lower in combined and sandostatin groups than in untreated group, but at 6 and 12 h they were lower in all treated groups than in untreated group and the combined and sandostatin groups and in emodin group, no difference was found between combined and sandostatin groups at all time-points (P>0.05). The pathological scores of pancreas at all time points were significantly lower in three treated groups than in the untreated group, and at 6, 12 h, the scores of combined and sandostatin groups were lower than in emodin group. There was no difference between combined and sandostatin groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Combination of emodin with baicalein has significant therapeutic effects on SAP rats.