Genetic Control Diversity Drives Differences Between Cadmium Distribution and Tolerance in Rice.

Rice, a staple crop for nearly half the planet's population, tends to absorb and accumulate excessive cadmium (Cd) when grown in Cd-contaminated fields. Low levels of Cd can degrade the quality of rice grains, while high levels can inhibit the growth of rice plants. There is genotypic diversity in Cd distribution and Cd tolerance in different rice varieties, but their underlying genetic mechanisms are far from elucidated, which hinders genetic improvements. In this study, a joint study of phenotypic investigation with quantitative trait loci (QTLs) analyses of genetic patterns of Cd distribution and Cd tolerance was performed using a biparent population derived from japonica and indica rice varieties. We identified multiple QTLs for each trait and revealed that additive effects from various loci drive the inheritance of Cd distribution, while epistatic effects between various loci contribute to differences in Cd tolerance. One pleiotropic locus, qCddis8, was found to affect the Cd distribution from both roots to shoots and from leaf sheaths to leaf blades. The results expand our understanding of the diversity of genetic control over Cd distribution and Cd tolerance in rice. The findings provide information on potential QTLs for genetic improvement of Cd distribution in rice varieties.

[Dynamics of Rice Photosynthesized Carbon Input and Its Response to Nitrogen Fertilization at the Jointing Stage:13 C-CO2 Pulse-labeling].

Photosynthesized carbon (C) is an important source of soil organic C in paddy fields, and its input and distribution are affected by rice growth and soil fertility. Fertilizer application plays an important role in rice growth. The 13C pulse-labeling method was used to quantify the dynamics and distribution of input photosynthesized C in the rice-(rhizosphere-and bulk-) soil system and its response to nitrogen fertilizer (N) application. The results suggested that N fertilization significantly increased the rice aboveground and the root biomass and decreased the rice biomass root/shoot ratio. The amount of assimilated 13C gradually decreased in the rice plants but gradually decreased over 0-6 days and increased over 6-26 days in the rhizosphere and bulk soil during rice growth. N fertilization significantly increased the amount of assimilated 13C in the rhizosphere soil by 9.5%-32.6% compared with the control. In comparison to the unfertilized treatment, the application of N fertilization resulted in higher photosynthetic13C in rice aboveground and in the root by 24.5%-134.7% and 9.1%-106%, respectively. With the N fertilized and unfertilized treatments, 85.5%-93.2% and 91.3%-95.7%, respectively, of input photosynthetic 13C was distributed in the rice plants. The results suggested that N fertilization significantly affected the distribution of photosynthesized C in the rice-soil system (P<0.01). After 26 days of pulse labeling, the distribution of photosynthetic 13C into rice aboveground was increased by 13.4%, while the distribution into the rhizosphere and bulk soil were decreased by 21.9% and 52.2%, respectively, in the N fertilized treatments compared with the unfertilized treatments. Therefore, the N application increased the distribution of photosynthesized carbon in the soil-rice system but decreased the accumulation in the rhizosphere and bulk soil. The findings of this study provided a theoretical basis for our understanding of the dynamic of photosynthetic C in the plant-soil system and the assimilation of the soil organic matter pool in the paddy soil ecosystem.

[Effects of Long-term Fertilization on Enzyme Activities in Profile of Paddy Soil Profiles].

The enzyme activity, which is closely related to soil material cycling (mineralization, transformation, etc.), can reflect soil quality and nutrient status. In order to explore the effect of long-term fertilization on the enzyme activity in paddy soil profile (0-40 cm), soils with organic fertilizer and inorganic fertilizer, and non-fertilized soils were selected, and the carbon and nitrogen contents, and the activities of ß-1,4-glucosidase (BG), and ß-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) in 10cm depths of soil were analyzed. The results showed that the activities of BG and NAG in the soils treated with inorganic fertilizer and organic fertilizer increased by 0.73-47.87 nmol·(g·h)-1 and 1.33-128.81 nmol·(g·h)-1, and 0.19-9.72 nmol·(g·h)-1 and 0.92-57.66 nmol·(g·h)-1, respectively, compared to those for non-fertilized soil. Soil enzyme activity decreased with increasing soil depth. Soil enzyme activity in soil from 0-20 cm was significantly higher than that of soil from 20-40 cm. Soil enzyme activities were significantly affected by long term fertilization at different soil depths. RDA analysis showed that soil carbon and nitrogen contents had significant positive relationships with the activities of BG and NAG in the 0-20 cm soil profiles, however, negative relationships were observed in the 20-40 cm soil profiles. The long-term application of organic fertilizer significantly increased soil biomass and enzyme activity, both of which decreased with the increase in soil depth. Long-term fertilization could increase soil nutrient contents, microbial biomass, and extracellular enzyme activities, which has important theoretical significance for optimizing farmland fertilizer management and improving soil productivity.

[Characteristic of Abundances and Diversity of Carbon Dioxide Fixation Microbes in Paddy Soils].

To get a better understanding of the microbial autotrophic carbon sequestration potential of paddy fields and its mechanisms, soil incubation experiment was conducted for four representative paddy soils. The molecular biological methods[quantitative PCR (qPCR), clone library and terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) technique] based on cbbL and cbbM genes encoding the key enzymes[ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO)] of Calvin cycle were used to determine the abundance and diversity of autotrophic microbes. The results showed that, after 45 days of incubation, carbon dioxide fixation autotrophic microbial abundances were generally increased compared with those before incubation, and cbbL gene abundances were approximately three magnitudes higher than those of cbbM. Dominant microbial populations varied among the four paddy soils, and most of these OTUs were distantly related to known sequences, only part of them could be grouped into Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. RDA analysis results showed that soil organic carbon (SOC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), pH, clay, silk and sand content had significant effects on the CO2 fixation microbial community. Consequently, the results of this study provide significant reference to understand the role of microorganisms in carbon cycle process. The results are helpful for providing a scientific basis for scientific management of paddy soil fertility and low carbon agriculture construction.

[Responses of Extracellular Enzymes to Nitrogen Application in Rice of Various Ages with Rhizosphere and Bulk Soil].

Ecological enzyme activities are closely relevant to the carbon and nitrogen decomposition and mineralization of paddy soils, which can reflect the growth and metabolism of microorganisms. In order to clarify the response to nitrogen application by different enzymes in the rhizosphere and bulk soil of rice, the rhizosphere and bulk soil were identified using a rhizosphere bag. In addition, the ß-1,4-glucosidase (BG) enzyme; ß-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) enzyme; and the effects of the rhizosphere, nitrogen application, and growth period on soil enzyme activities were analyzed. The results showed that the activity of the BG enzyme decreased by 7.4-13.5 nmol·(g·h)-1 in the jointing stage and increased by 7.0-31.4 nmol·(g·h)-1 in the maturity stage, and the activity of the BG enzyme in the rhizosphere and bulk soil also changed with the growth period of rice.compared with no nitrogen fertilizer, nitrogen application increased NAG enzyme activity by 1.1 times and rhizosphere soil by 0.3 times in the bulk soil in the maturity stage. Nitrogen application and growth period had significant effects on soil BG enzyme activity, whereas the interaction within rice growth stage, nitrogen application, and rhizosphere effect had significant effects on NAG enzyme activity. The result of RDA showed that the soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) contents mainly affected the activity of extracellular enzymes in the rice rhizosphere soil, whereas the activities of enzymes in the rhizosphere soil were mainly affected by microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) and NH4+-N. The relationships between soil enzyme activity and various factors are complex, and the effects of nitrogen addition on microbial community composition needs to be considered after accounting for plant physiological characteristics, soil enzyme activity, and soil characteristics.

[Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Biologically-based Phosphorus Fractions in the Farmland Soil].

A suitable fractionation method of phosphorus (P) is a key to effective assessment of soil P componential features. Here a new biologically-based P (BBP) method was used to evaluate the P fractions in the upland and paddy soils across large-scale area in China. The soil P was divided into four components:① soluble or rhizosphere-intercepted (CaCl2-P), ② organic acid activated and inorganic weakly bound (Citrate-P), ③ enzyme mineralization of organic P (Enzyme-P), ④ potential activation of inorganic P (HCl-P). Then, the relationships between biologically-based P fractions and standard Olsen-P were investigated, and driving factors of P fractions were identified. The results showed that P content was in order of HCl-P>Citrate-P>Enzyme-P>CaCl2-P. All P components of upland soil displayed higher levels than those of paddy soil. Moreover, the P components were highly positively correlated with the Olsen-P, suggesting that each P component contributed to soil P availability. However, it was found that Olsen-P was most highly correlated with CaCl2-P and Enzyme-P (R2=0.359; R2=0.386) in upland soil, while Olsen-P was most highly with Citrate-P (R2=0.788) in paddy soil. This result indicated that available P of upland soil was mainly from organic P mineralization and soluble P, and available P in paddy soil was mainly from inorganic P activation. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that the P components were mainly affected by soil pH and silt content, which suggested that it could enhance the P availability via regulating soil pH in the agricultural activities.

[Effects of long-term fertilization on bacterial and archaeal diversity and community structure within subtropical red paddy soils].

Paddy soils not only function as an important sink for "missing carbon" but also play an important role in the production of greenhouse gases such as N2O and CH4. Dynamic changes in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are closely related to microbially mediated carbon and nitrogen transformation processes occurring in soil. Using soil samples collected from a long-term fertilization experimental site in Taojiang County, subtropical China (established in 1986), we determined the effects of long-term (>25 years) non-fertilization (CK), chemical fertilization (NPK), and NPK combined with rice straw residues (NPKS) on soil bacterial and archaeal community structures. The 16S rRNA genotypes from the three differently treated soils were divided into 9 bacterial phylotypes, mainly including Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, and archaea of Crenarchaeota and Euryarchaeota. The relative abundance of Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria and Crenarchaeota increased in the soils under NPK and NPKS treatments, with the increase being greater in the latter treatment. LUBSHUFF statistical analyses also demonstrated that there was significant difference among the microbial community compositions in CK-, NPK- and NPKS-treated soils. The abundance of bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA genes ranged from 0.58 x 10(10) to 1.06 x 10(10) copies · g(-1) dry soil and from 1.16 x 10(6) to 1.72 x 10(6) copies · g(-1) dry soil, respectively. Application of fertilizers increased the bacterial and archaeal abundance and diversity in the treated soils, with NPKS > NPK. Long-term chemical and organic applications significantly affected the abundance, diversity and composition of bacterial and archaeal communities in paddy ecosystems.

[Effects of Different Plantation Type on the Abundance and Diversity of Soil Microbes in Subtropical Red Soils].

Soil microbe plays an important role in carbon cycling, however, the effect of land use on soil microbe remain unclear. In present study, soil samples were collected from a long-term field experiment (Pantang Agroecosystem) in subtropical China (established in 1989), including paddy-rice (PR), upland-crop (UC), and paddy rice-upland crop rotation (PU) on soil bacterial (bacteria and Archaea) community structures. The effects of long-term different land uses were determined using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) of the 16S rRNA gene. The abundance of soil microbial 16S rRNA genes ranged from 2.5 x 10(9)-1.5 x 10(10) copies x g(-1) dry soil. Compared with the PR, UP and UC led to a significant reduction in 16S rRNA genes abundance (P < 0.05). The soil microbial communities were dominated by bacteria such as Proteobacteria (76 and 90 and 327 bp; relative abundance of 47% - 53%) and Chloroflexi (65 bp; relative abundance of 10% - 12%). RDA statistical analyses demonstrated that there were significant differences in the microbial community composition in PR, UC, and PU treated soils. Soil organic carbon and total nitrogen content were the most highly statistically significant factors which positively influenced the soil microbial population. Taken together, our findings prove the long-term different land uses significantly influence the microbial diversity and community structure. The rice planting is an effective way of sustainable utilization of subtropical red soil, and it is more advantageous to the accumulation of soil organic matter, soil fertility and microbial diversity.

[Characteristics of the mineralization and transformation of autotrophic microbes-assimilated carbon in upland and paddy soils].

In this study, the mineralization and decomposition of autotrophic microbe assimilated carbon (new carbon) and native organic carbon in three upland and three paddy soils in subtropical China were measured using the 14C-labelled tracer technique. The results showed that, during the 100-d incubation, the mineralization of the 'new carbon' displayed three stages: a rise in the first 10 days, a slowdown from 11-d to 50-d, and a stabilization stage after 50 d. The mineralization ratio of the 'new carbon' ranged between 8.0% and 26.9% and the mineralization rate ranged from 0.01 to 0.22 microg 14C x g(-1) x d(-1) (0.01-0.22 microg 14C x g(-1) x d(-1) in paddy soils and 0.01-0.08 microg 14C x g(-1) x d(-1) in upland soils). However, the mineralization ratio and rate for native SOC were 1.55%-5.74% and 1.3-25.66 microg C x g(-1) x d(-1), respectively. In the soil active C pools, the 14C-dissolved organic carbon (DOC) first rose by as much as 0.3 mg x kg(-1) in the early stages of incubation (0-10 d), decreased rapidly by 0.42 mg x kg(-1) from 10-30 d, and then declined gradually. The fluctuation of the 14C-microbial biomass carbon (MBC) differed from that of the 14C DOC. At the beginning stage of the incubation (0-10 d), the 14C-MBC decreased rapidly, and then rapidly increased from 10 to 30 d, and the rate of increase reduced and was gradually stabilized after 40 d. The 14C-DOC/DOC renewal rate in the paddy soil was significantly higher than in the upland soil while the 14C-MBC/MBC renewal rate in the upland soil was significantly greater than in the paddy soil.

[Input and distribution of rice photosynthesized carbon in the tillering stage under different nitrogen application following continuous 13C labeling].

The input of rice-photosynthesized carbon (C) into soil plays an important role in soil C cycling. A 13C-labelled microcosm experiment was carried out to quantify the input of photosynthesized C into soil C pools in a rice-soil system during the tillering stage. Growing rice (Oryza sativa L. ) was continuously fed with 13C-labeled CO, ( C-CO, ) in a closed chamber without nitrogen (NO), or at different rates of N supply (N10,N20, N30, N40 or N60). The results showed that there were significant differences in rice shoot (1.58 g plot-1 to 4.35 g plot-1) and root (1.05 g plot-1 to 2.44 g plot-1 ) biomass among the N treatments after labeling for 18 days. The amounts of 13C in shoots and roots ranged from 44.0 g plot-1 to 157.6 g.plot-1 and 8.3 g.plot-1 to 49.4 g.plot-1, respectively, and generally followed the order of N60 > N40 > N20 > N10 > NO. The contents of rice-planted 13C-SOC, 13C-DOC and 13C-MBC in soil carbon pool were much higher than those of CK (without rice and N supply). The amount of 13C-SOC ranged from 11.1 g plot - to 23.7 gplot-1 , depending on the rate of N addition, accounting for 10.2% -18. 1% of the net assimilation. The amounts of 13C-DOC and 13C-MBC ranged from 4. 82-14.51 microg kg-1 and 526. 1-1 478.8 microg kg-1 , both depending on the N application rate. In addition, at 18-day of labeling, the 13C-SOC, 13C-DOC and 13C-MBC concentration was positively correlated with the rice biomass. Therefore, our results suggest that paddy soils can probably sequester more C from the atmosphere if more photosynthesized C enters the soils and N application can stimulate C rhizodeposition during the tillering stage.

[Application of magnetic materials in analysis on Chinese herb medicines].

China is the cradle of Chinese herb medicines,with rich plant resources. However, traditional processing methods have many disadvantages, such as high comsumption of organic solvent, long extraction time and high loss of effective constituents. For the purpose of rational use of Chinese herb medicines and accurate analysis on their constituents,the sample pre-treatment method with magnetic nanoparticles as the carrier brought new opportunities in recent years. after consulting literatures,the essay summarizes traditional extraction methods of Chinese herb medicines, characteristics of magnetic materials and their application in the analysis on Chinese herb medicines.