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    Advances in research on the interactions among arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, rhizobia, and plants
    Hai-xia DUAN, Qian SHI, Sheng-ping KANG, Hai-qing GOU, Chong-liang LUO, You-cai XIONG
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (5): 166-182.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023225
    Abstract709)   HTML57)    PDF (1282KB)(784)       Save

    Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and rhizobia play crucial roles in plant productivity, microbial community structure, and soil quality. As such, they are key organisms for achieving sustainable ecosystem development. Over time, a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship develops between AMF and rhizobia, and this relationship is essential for effective biological nitrogen fixation and nutrient absorption. Such effective symbioses reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers, thereby facilitating sustainable agricultural practices. However, studies have shown that various environmental factors can hinder the formation of symbiotic relationships between AMF and rhizobia. Therefore, it is necessary to systematically explore the mechanism of the AMF-rhizobia interaction and the factors that affect it. On the basis of a literature review and qualitative comparative analysis, we described the process and mechanism by which plant roots released exudates to stimulate rhizobia and AMF to produce nodulation factors and mycorrhizal factors, thereby activating signaling pathways involved in the establishment of symbiotic relationships between rhizobia-AMF and plants. This review summarized the results of research on the synergism and interaction between AMF-rhizobia and plants, and the biological and abiotic factors affecting the AMF-rhizobia symbiosis and interactions. We highlighted the current gaps in knowledge related to the mechanisms of the symbiotic relationships among AMF, rhizobia, and plants, and discussed the reasons for the slow development of microbial fertilizers. Finally, we discussed future research directions at the theoretical, technical, and application levels. Further research will provide novel ideas and methods for using AMF and rhizobia to promote sustainable agricultural development.

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    The mechanism of PGPR regulating plant response to abiotic stress
    Guo-qiang WU, Zu-long YU, Ming WEI
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (6): 203-218.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023276
    Abstract557)   HTML32)    PDF (927KB)(869)       Save

    Salt alkali, drought and other abiotic stresses are important environmental factors that limit plant growth and yield. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), as beneficial microorganisms colonizing plant roots, have been shown to have a capacity for use as biological agents, thereby harnessing their functions for human benefit. This methodology has advantages compared to traditional agricultural chemicals, including low cost, high efficiency, and environmental protection. PGPR have been documented to not only promote plant growth and crop yield, but also to significantly improve the tolerance of plants to abiotic stress. In this study, the definition and types of PGPR, their biological functions and their role in plant response to abiotic stress such as salinity, drought, high and low temperature, and heavy metals were reviewed, and future research directions were also explored. The results from this study provide a foundation for further research on PGPR mediated plant stress resistance and the development and application of these biological agents.

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    Economic cost assessment of global invasive plants
    Guang-hua ZHAO, Ming-long GAO, Duo WANG, Shi-qi FAN, Jian TANG, Kuo SUN, Xuan-ye WEN
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (5): 16-24.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023220
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    Among invasive species, plants comprise the most diverse and numerous biological groups. Assessing the economic cost of invasive plants is an important part of risk management and is essential for the development of policies for control or eradication. In this study, based on the InvaCost database, we assessed the economic costs of global invasive plants from 1970 to 2017. The main results were as follows: 1) The conservative economic cost of invasive plants from 1970 to 2017 was 194.365 billion U.S. dollars (USD), 4.049 billion USD per year on average, of which the direct economic loss amounted to 100.468 billion USD, accounting for 51.69% of the total. 2) Among 64 countries and regions, the United States has borne the highest economic costs, followed by Australia, and China ranks third with costs of 20.831 billion USD (equivalent to 140.707 billion RMB). Notably, Eichhornia crassipes has been the most expensive invasive plant species globally, with the costs of its damage exceeding the combined costs of invasive plants ranking 5th to 10th. 3) Over the past five decades, the economic cost of invasive plants has shown an upward trend. Model estimates suggest that the possible cost of invasive plants in 2017 ranged from 3.438 billion to 10.452 billion USD, with the highest confidence value being 7.725 billion USD. The results of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of the severity of invasive plant threats and provide a scientific basis for more proactive invasive plant management in China.

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    Progress in research on breeding methods to produce new, high-quality forage varieties
    Wen-wen QI, Hong-yuan MA, Ya-xiao LI, Yan DU, Meng-dan SUN, Hai-tao WU
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (6): 187-202.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023259
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    Forage is the best natural feed for herbivorous livestock. Therefore, it the basis and guarantee for the development of the herbivorous animal husbandry industry, and an important food resource as part of an all-encompassing approach to food. The breeding of new forage varieties is essential for the sustainable development of grass and animal husbandry industries. Forage plays important roles in promoting the stable production and supply of animal products. With the increasing demand for new high-quality forage varieties and the improvement of breeding techniques, forage breeding technology has entered the molecular era, and great breakthroughs have been made in the cultivation of new high-quality forage varieties. In this review, we systematically summarize the forage breeding techniques used in China and abroad in the past 100 years, including conventional breeding techniques (domestication breeding, cross breeding, mutation breeding, and ploidy breeding) and genetic engineering breeding techniques (transgenic and molecular design breeding). We also discuss the gene editing methods developed in recent years. We describe the achievements made using various breeding techniques, as well as their problems. We also outline the following prospects for future research: 1) In-depth exploration of natural forage resources and strengthening of the collection and utilization of germplasm resources. 2) Advancing the objectives for the breeding of forage species to meet the demands of farmers and livestock producers, paying attention to the improvement of forage quality, the production of disease-resistant and stress-tolerant varieties, and the development of the “productional-living-ecological” function of forage. 3) Combining conventional and modern breeding methods to move past the bottleneck of forage breeding and strengthen the breeding of high-quality forage species, especially Leymus chinensis and Medicago sativa. The aims of this review are to promote the new era of biological breeding in China and to provide a basis for the innovation of forage germplasm resources and the selection of new, high-quality forage varieties. The overall aims in this field of research are to provide new technologies for the establishment of high-quality and high-productive cultivated grassland, and to meet the growing demand for forage to feed farmed animals in China.

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    Root distribution characteristics of typical herbaceous plants and their effects on soil physicochemical properties on the Loess Plateau
    Fang LIU, Pei-pei WANG, Yu-ying CAO, Jun-e LIU, Zheng-chao ZHOU
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (10): 1-13.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023446
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    Extensive vegetation restoration has been implemented to control serious soil erosion on the Loess Plateau, China, and the ecological environment has improved. Understanding the beneficial effects of plant roots on soil properties will be helpful for further systematic research aimed at optimizing vegetation restoration on the Loess Plateau, and will provide a scientific reference for subsequent ecological restoration in this area. In this study, we focused on Stipa bungeana and Artemisia gmelinii growing naturally on the Loess Plateau. Land that had been abandoned for 1 year served as the control. The root characteristics of the two plant species and soil physicochemical properties were determined, the distribution of roots in different size classes and its relationship with the soil physicochemical properties were analyzed. The results showed that: 1) There were significant differences in root characteristics between S. bungeana and A. gmelinii. Compared with A. gmeliniiS. bungeana had higher root length density (RLD) and root surface area density (RSAD). In addition, the proportion of very fine roots (diameter, D<0.5 mm) was higher in S. bungeana (94.73%) than in A. gmelinii (90.20%). Compared with S. bungeanaA. gmelinii had an obvious taproot advantage, with a higher root mass density, mean diameter, and root volume density. The proportions of coarse roots RLD (16.28%) and RSAD (32.85%) were significantly higher in A. gmelinii than in S. bungeana. 2) Compared with bare land, the plots with S. bungeana and A. gmelinii showed significantly better soil structure and stability. The roots of S. bungeana and A. gmelinii were concentrated in the 0-20 cm soil horizon, which had the greatest influence on the physicochemical properties of the topsoil. The soil aggregate stability and soil water retention were highest in the plots containing A. gmelinii, and the mean weight diameter (MWD) (2.04 mm), capillary water capacity (24.69%), and saturated water content (34.93%) of soil in those plots were 4.33-times, 1.36-times, and 1.31-times higher than their respective values in soil in bare land. The soil organic matter (SOM) content (7.23 g·kg-1) was highest in the plots containing S. bungeana. 3) The plant root characteristics significantly affected soil properties. The RLD and RSAD of fine roots had the most significant effect on soil physicochemical properties, and were significantly negatively correlated (P<0.05) with soil bulk density and positively correlated with soil porosity (P<0.05). The proportion of very fine roots (D<0.5 mm) was significantly positively correlated (P<0.01) with SOM content. The results of principal component analysis showed that the MWD, SOM content, and soil water content were the soil properties showing the largest differences between plots containing S. bungeana and those containing A. gmelinii.

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    Identification and expression pattern of the WRKY transcription factor family in Medicago sativa
    Xian-yang LI, Hao LIU, Fei HE, Xue WANG, Ming-na LI, Rui-cai LONG, Jun-mei KANG, Qing-chuan YANG, Lin CHEN
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (4): 154-170.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023214
    Abstract304)   HTML24)    PDF (14685KB)(219)       Save

    WRKY transcription factors are one of the largest gene families in plants and play important roles in plant growth and development as well as in abiotic stress processes. Currently, members of the WRKY gene family have been extensively studied and analyzed in a variety of plant species. However, the alfalfa (Medicago sativa) WRKY transcription factors have not been identified and analyzed at the genome-wide level. In this study, we systematically identified alfalfa WRKY gene family members and analyzed their expression patterns under different stress treatments. We showed that a total of 198 WRKY transcription factors were unevenly distributed across 32 chromosomes in alfalfa, with chromosome 7 having the largest number. The phylogenetic tree results show that the WRKY gene family members can be divided into three groups. Among these WRKY transcription factors, 42 responded to salt stress, 7 to alkali stress, 19 to cold stress and 37 to drought stress, and MsWRKY154 and MsWRKY166 were found to respond to both salt, drought, and cold as well as alkali stress. The results of this study provide a foundation for the intensive investigation of the biological function of WRKY transcription factors in alfalfa, and can also provide valuable information for molecular breeding in alfalfa.

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    Using the model MaxEnt to predict plant distribution patterns of different functional groups in the alpine meadow ecosystem on Sichuan-Yunnan Plateau
    Zhi-yuan YOU, Shu-juan MA, Chang-ting WANG, Lu-ming DING, Xiao-yan SONG, Gao-fei YIN, Jun MAO
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (3): 1-12.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023146
    Abstract302)   HTML52)    PDF (4755KB)(443)       Save

    This research explored the spatial distribution patterns of different main functional groups in the alpine meadow ecosystem on the Sichuan-Yunnan Plateau. Data used were from the second scientific research program on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau from 2019 to 2021. The aim was to identify suitable habitats for functional groups, the main climatic factors affecting functional group distribution, and the change trends under climate change. The model MaxEnt was used to predict the special distribution pattern and the main relating climatic factors of four major species from four functional groups (Cyperaceae: Kobresia humilis; Poaceae: Elymus nutans; Mixed grass: Potentilla anserina and Fabaceae: Gueldenstaedtia diversifolia). The results showed that the areas of suitable habitats for K. humilisE. nutansP. anserina and G. diversifolia under the current climate conditions were 110900, 92300, 171200 and 165300 km2 respectively, mainly located in the central and northern regions of the Sichuan-Yunnan Plateau. The contribution rate and response curve for environmental factors showed that the habitat suitability of the four species had similarities with their ecological environment requirements. The temperature-related factors such as annual temperature range, isothermality and annual mean temperature were the main environmental factors to affect species distribution. From the future perspective, the suitable habitat of the alpine herbage species will expand under global warming, and the suitable average altitude will increase 100-200 m, but the rate of change will tend to slow down. In conclusion, the species diversity, biomass and stability of alpine meadow ecosystems is predicted to increase with climate change.

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    Identification and transcript profiling of the CAMTA gene family under abiotic stress in alfalfa
    Hai-ming KONG, Jia-xing SONG, Jing YANG, Qian LI, Pei-zhi YANG, Yu-man CAO
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (5): 143-154.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023240
    Abstract281)   HTML17)    PDF (4900KB)(386)       Save

    Calmodulin-binding transcription activating factors (CAMTA) are calmodulin-binding proteins that play important roles in hormone signal transduction, developmental regulation, and environmental stress tolerance. In this study, bioinformatic methods were used to identify members of the CAMTA family in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) based on the reference genome of M. sativa “XinjiangDaye”. A phylogenetic analysis was conducted to evaluate relationships among the MsCAMTA genes. The physicochemical properties and conserved domains of the putative proteins were determined. The chromosomal positions of MsCAMTA genes were mapped, and cis-acting elements were identified in their promoter regions. The transcriptional profiles of MsCAMTA genes under various stress conditions were analyzed and validated. Seventeen MsCAMTA genes were identified, and the MsCAMTA family members grouped into three subfamilies in the phylogenetic analysis. Members of the same subfamily had relatively similar gene structures and positions of conserved motifs. The chromosomal localization results showed that members of the MsCAMTA family were unevenly distributed on seven chromosomes. A large number of cis-acting elements that respond to low temperature, salt stress, and plant hormone signals were identified in the promoter regions of these genes. We conducted RT-qPCR analyses to determine the transcript levels of MsCAMTA1MsCAMTA3MsCAMTA11, and MsCAMTA12 in alfalfa leaves under salt (300 mmol·L-1 NaCl), simulated drought (400 mmol·L-1 mannitol), low temperature (10 ℃), and abscisic acid (100 μmol·L-1) treatments. All four MsCAMTA candidate genes responded to various stressors to varying degrees. All four were up-regulated under salt stress. The results suggested that MsCAMTA may participate in the responses of alfalfa to various abiotic stresses by integrating multiple stress signals. The results of this study provide a reference for further studies on the functions of MsCAMTA genes in plant response to stress.

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    Evaluation of physiological characteristics and cold resistance of 10 alfalfa varieties under low temperature stress
    Min WANG, Li LI, Rong JIA, Ai-ke BAO
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (6): 76-88.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023353
    Abstract279)   HTML20)    PDF (4390KB)(440)       Save

    This research elucidated the physiological responses of 10 alfalfa (Medicago sativa) varieties from diverse regions to low temperature stress in order to identify highly cold-resistant varieties. Twelve physiological indexes of the alfalfa seedlings were measured under low temperature conditions of 4 °C, and the cold tolerance was assessed using correlation analysis, principal component analysis and membership function evaluation methods. Simultaneously, the cold resistance of the 10 alfalfa varieties was verified by a semi-lethal temperature (LT50). The key findings were: 1) Under a low temperature of 4 °C, the leaf transpiration rate of the 10 alfalfa varieties exhibited varying degrees of reduction compared to the control group. Decreased transpiration was accompanied by an increase in relative conductivity, as well as in the levels of proline (Pro), soluble sugar, soluble protein (SP), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activity. 2) The multivariate cold tolerance ranking of the 10 alfalfa varieties using the membership function method was as follows: Longmu 801 (highest)>Zhaodong>Bara 520 YQ>Gongnong 1>Baimu 401>Aohan>Challenger>Dongnong 1>Knights and finally, Xinmu 4. Further measurement of the LT50 for the leaves of each variety confirmed that Longmu 801 and Xinmu 4 were the varieties with the lowest and highest LT50 values respectively, thus corroborating the result of the membership function evaluation. 3) Regression analysis was used to establish an evaluation model for the cold resistance of alfalfa seedlings, and its multiple-parameter evaluation value (D) was: 0.138+0.178×SP+0.203×POD+0.170×Pro, highlighting SP, POD, and Pro as pivotal physiological indicators of cold resistance in alfalfa seedlings. Overall, this research provides fundamental insights into the mechanism of low-temperature adaptation in alfalfa seedlings and will facilitate the selection of cold-resistant alfalfa varieties.

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    Quantitative classification and ordination analysis of spontaneous vegetation communities in herb layer along the green belt of Nanjing Ming City Wall
    Qian LIU, Yan-fen DING, Shan-shan SONG, Wen-jie XU, Wei YANG
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (5): 1-15.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023217
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    The aims of this work were to explore the types and distribution of spontaneous vegetation communities in the herb layer along the green belt of the Nanjing Ming City Wall, and to determine the main environmental factors affecting them. The overall aim of our research was to provide a theoretical basis for building a green ecological corridor along the Nanjing Ming City Wall and to strengthen the protection of the ecosystem on this structure. Thirty sampling sites along the green belt of the Nanjing Ming City Wall were investigated in a field survey. Using the species importance value as an index, species diversity characteristics were analyzed on the basis of the alpha diversity index. The unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means and canonical correspondence analysis were used to analyze the composition and distribution of the communities, and to explore the relationships between environmental factors and the spontaneous vegetation communities in the studied herb layer. It was found that: 1) The species diversity index and evenness index of spontaneous vegetation in the herb layer were high, and the species distribution was uniform. 2) The main flora communities along the green belt of the Nanjing Ming City Wall were: Trachycarpus fortunei-Veronica hederifolia+Carex chinensis+Youngia japonicaStellaria media+Corydalis edulis+Orychophragmus violaceus+Veronica persicaV. hederifolia+Lamium barbatum+S. media+C. edulisElymus kamoji+L. barbatum+O. violaceus+C. edulisTrachelospermum jasminoides-E. kamoji+V. hederifolia+Solidago canadensisSemiaquilegia adoxoides+S. media+L. barbatum+Galium spuriumT. jasminoides-L. barbatum+O. violaceus+Thladiantha nudifloraRubus hirsutus+T. jasminoides-Cyclosorus acuminatus+E. kamojiL. barbatum+E. kamoji+Oplismenus undulatifolius+Carex breviculmisT. jasminoides-L. barbatum+V. hederifolia+O. violaceusRosa multiflora+T. jasminoides+Campsis radicans-Rubia cordifolia. 3) The results of the canonical correspondence analysis showed that canopy density, litter thickness, wall height, and wall orientation were the main environmental factors affecting the distribution of spontaneous vegetation communities in the herb layer along the green belt of the Nanjing Ming City Wall.

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    Initial effects of short-term warming on the productivity of alpine degraded grassland in northern Tibet during the restoration process
    Hao SHI, Cai-hong YANG, Fei XIA, Jun-qiang WANG, Wei WEI, Jing-long WANG, Yun-yin XUE, Shai-kun ZHENG, Hao-yang WU, Lin-ling RAN, Shuang YAN, Xiao-min JIANG
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (11): 30-45.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023484
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    Climate warming is expected to affect the productivity of alpine grassland in northern Tibet, and this may affect the grassland restoration process. The aim of this study, therefore, was to determine the effects of a short-term temperature increase on the productivity of alpine grassland during restoration. Natural restored grassland (NR), no-tillage replanted grassland (S), and tilled replanted grassland (TS), with native heavily degraded grassland as the control (CK), were subjected to a warming treatment using the open top chamber method. The changes in the plant community, biomass, and species diversity in response to this short-term temperature increase were determined. The results showed that: 1) Warming increased the surface soil temperature by an average of 1.34 ℃ and decreased the soil moisture content by an average of 4.18%. 2) After short-term warming, the plant community cover increased significantly (P<0.05) and the height of plant community decreased significantly (P<0.05); the biomass of vegetation in CK transferred to the underground plant parts, the biomass of vegetation in NR, S, and TS shifted to the aboveground plant parts; and the aboveground biomass decreased significantly in TS (P<0.05). 3) Short-term warming decreased the aboveground biomass and importance value of grasses (P<0.05) but increased the aboveground biomass and importance value of forbs (P<0.05). 4) In CK, warming significantly increased the species richness index, Shannon-Wiener index, and Simpson index by 17.65%, 18.54%, and 11.52%, respectively (P<0.05). In S, the warming treatment resulted in a significant decrease in the Pielou index (P<0.05). 5) After short-term warming, the above-ground biomass showed a highly significant negative correlation with the species diversity index (P<0.01); however, the below-ground biomass showed no significant correlation with the species diversity index or community characteristics. In conclusion, short-term warming had a certain positive effect on the recovery of the species diversity in native heavily degraded grassland in northern Tibet. Short-term warming restored the productivity of naturally restored grassland and no-tillage replanted grassland, but suppressed the growth and reduced the productivity of tilled replanted grassland.

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    Induced formation method and germination characteristics of chlamydospores by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. medicaginis
    Xiang-ling FANG, Shi-yang XU, Zhi-biao NAN
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (7): 130-141.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023316
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    Chlamydospores are the main survival structure of Fusarium oxysporum in soil, and the number and germination status of chlamydospores in soil directly affects the occurrence and severity of the disease. In this study, we established a system to induce chlamydospore production by F. oxysporum f. sp. medicaginis (Fom) by culturing the pathogen on synthetic low nutrient agar (SNA) medium, synthetic low nutrient agar with filter (SNAF) medium, or in two-salt solution (KH2PO4 and MgSO4·7H2O) with glucose or magnesium carbonate at a range of concentrations. The chlamydospore induction system was verified, and the effects of different carbon and nitrogen sources on chlamydospore germination were studied. The T6 and T9 strains of Fom produced many chlamydospores after static culture for 7 days in the two-salt solution with glucose at 2 mg·L–1, producing 4.2×105 and 5.1×105 chlamydospores per mL, respectively. Both T6 and T9 produced more chlamydospores under static culture than under shaking culture (4.2- and 2.8- times, respectively, at 7 days of culture). All Fom strains produced many chlamydospores after 7 days of culture in the two-salt solution, with a rapid increase of 2.3- times compared with 3 days, followed by slow increases at 14 and 21 days, with an average increase of only 1.2- times from 7 to 21 days of culture. Comparing all the carbon and nitrogen sources, glucose and ammonium chloride had the strongest promoting effects on the germination and germ tube growth of chlamydospores, whereas lactose and urea had the weakest effects. The results show that chlamydospore formation by Fom strains requires a trace amount of a carbon source and a low-oxygen environment, and the germination and growth of chlamydospores require suitable carbon and nitrogen sources. These findings provide new insights into effective management of soil-borne diseases in alfalfa through controlling the primary infection source, i.e., the chlamydospores of the pathogen.

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    Vegetation community characteristics and spatial differentiation in mountain grassland in Luoshan, Ningxia
    Xin GONG, Xin-ru HUO, Wen LI, Yan-dong YANG, Chao LIU, Wei-chun QIN, Yan SHEN, Guo-hui WANG, Hong-bin MA
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2025, 34 (2): 1-15.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2024148
    Abstract265)   HTML50)    PDF (2697KB)(297)       Save

    The Ningxia Luoshan National Nature Reserve is the only water conservation forest area and regional green ecological protection barrier in the arid zone of central Ningxia. This reserve plays an important role in the protection of biodiversity, the prevention of soil erosion, and in ecological security. However, few studies have focused on the characteristics of the grassland plant community in Luoshan, or on the relationship between the characteristics of the grassland vegetation community and environmental factors. In this study, we analyzed the grassland plant community in the Luoshan Nature Reserve. We analyzed the composition of the plant community and its spatial differentiation, and the diversity characteristics of different types of grasslands and those at different altitudes. We also explored the relationship between the characteristics of the vegetation community and environmental factors. The results showed that: 1) The grassland plant community in Luoshan Nature Reserve was composed of annual and biennial herbs, perennial herbs, shrubs, and semi-shrubs, and perennial herbs accounted for the largest proportion of the community. The plant communities of desert steppe and typical grassland were dominated by grasses and weeds, while meadow steppe plant communities were dominated by weeds. As the altitude increased, except for the above-ground biomass of the community, the quantitative characteristics of the surveyed vegetation conformed to the ‘intermediate height expansion’ theory, and showed maximum values in the altitude range of 1600-2100 m. 2) As the altitude increased, the Margarlef richness index and the Shannon-Wiener diversity index of grassland plants increased to a certain point, reaching the highest values in the grassland sample plots at 2000-2100 m. This trend was unimodal, with the initial increase followed by a decrease (P<0.05). Simpson’s dominance index and Pielou’s evenness index did not change significantly with increasing altitude (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in species diversity among the meadow steppe, the typical steppe, and the desert steppe. 3) Annual precipitation, altitude, total soil nitrogen content, total soil phosphorus content, and average daily air temperature were important environmental factors that affected grassland vegetation characteristics in the study area. Among the environmental factors, annual precipitation and altitude were the main environmental factors affecting grassland vegetation, whereas total soil nitrogen content, total soil phosphorus content, and average daily air temperature were secondary environmental factors. The results of this study provide a basis for a deeper understanding of the distribution characteristics of grassland vegetation in the Luoshan Nature Reserve.

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    Identification of the alfalfa SAUR gene family and its expression pattern under abiotic stress
    Hao LIU, Xian-yang LI, Fei HE, Xue WANG, Ming-na LI, Rui-cai LONG, Jun-mei KANG, Qing-chuan YANG, Lin CHEN
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (4): 135-153.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023235
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    SAUR (small auxin up-regulated RNA) is a category of auxin gene in plant early response, involved in a series of biological processes such as plant growth and development and abiotic stress response. The SAUR gene family has been systematically identified and analyzed in Arabidopsis thaliana, rice (Oryza sativa), cotton (Gossypium spp.) and other species, but the research on the SAUR gene family in alfalfa(Medicago sativa), the most important leguminous forage in the world, has not been carried out. In this study, a total of 433 MsSAUR gene family members were identified in the reference genome of alfalfa using bioinformatics methods, and their genome location, gene structure, promoter cis-acting elements and expression patterns in different tissues were analyzed. Meanwhile, using transcriptome data of alfalfa under different abiotic stresses, it was found that five MsSAUR gene family members responded to drought stress, 11 responded to salt, 19 responded to cold and 12 responded to alkali stress. MsSAUR14/94/254 could respond to drought and salt stress simultaneously, and MsSAUR297 could respond to drought, salt and alkali stress simultaneously. MsSAUR306 can respond to drought, salt and cold stress simultaneously. The results of this study can provide important candidate genes for the creation, using genetic engineering, of new germplasm with high yield and resistance.

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    Comparative analysis of growth performance, meat productivity, and meat quality in Hu sheep and its hybrids
    Rui ZHANG, Xue-jiao AN, Jian-ye LI, Zeng-kui LU, Chun-e NIU, Zhen-fei XU, Jin-xia ZHANG, Zhi-guang GENG, Yao-jing YUE, Bo-hui YANG
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (3): 186-197.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023157
    Abstract260)   HTML16)    PDF (3152KB)(426)       Save

    This study aimed to investigate the differences in the growth performance, meat productivity, and meat quality of Hu sheep and their hybrids with Southdown and Poll Dorset. Sixteen male lambs, about 3 months old, of Hu×Hu (HH), Southdown×Hu (NH) and Poll Dorset×Hu (TH) F1 generation sheep were selected and raised in individual pens under the same nutritional levels and management conditions. The feeding experiment lasted for 95 days (including a 15-day pre-test period). Feed intake was determined daily from the beginning of the experiment, and body weight and body size were measured every 20 days. Seven sheep close to the average weight of the group were slaughtered at the end of the feeding experiment to measure slaughter performance, carcass traits, and meat quality to further evaluate breeding benefits. The results showed that: 1) The body weights of the TH and NH F1 generation sheep were significantly higher than that of the HH sheep during the whole experimental period (P<0.05). Compared with the HH sheep, the TH F1 generation sheep showed a significantly higher average daily gain weight, with a lower feed conversion ratio (P<0.05). Compared with the HH sheep, the TH and NH F1 sheep showed a significantly lower body height and significantly higher heart girth and cannon circumference at the end of the experiment (P<0.05). 2) Compared with the HH sheep, the TH and NH F1 generation sheep showed significantly higher live weight, carcass weight, and net meat weight; the NH F1 generation sheep showed a significantly higher dressing percentage and significantly lower GR value; and the TH F1 generation sheep showed a significantly higher loin eye area (P<0.05). 3) The meat pressing loss was significantly lower for the NH F1 generation sheep than for the HH sheep, while the cooking percentage was significantly higher for NH F1 generation sheep than for HH and TH F1 generation sheep (P<0.05). The protein contents in meat were significantly higher in the NH and TH F1 generation sheep than in the HH sheep (P<0.05). 4) The value of the TH and NH F1 generation sheep (¥320.72 and ¥318.05, respectively) was higher than that of HH sheep (¥249.33), indicating a breeding benefit of ¥71.39 and ¥68.72 for the TH and NH hybrid sheep, respectively. In conclusion, compared with HH sheep, the hybrid sheep showed stronger growth (hybrid vigor), a lower feed conversion ratio, improved meat quality, and increased meat palatability and nutritional value. Thus, hybrid breeding benefits the competitiveness of the local sheep industry.

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    Research progress on the hydraulic structure characteristics of xerophytes
    Yan-xia PAN, Hao XU, Ya-feng ZHANG, Hong-xia ZHANG
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (8): 190-198.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023367
    Abstract257)   HTML24)    PDF (477KB)(279)       Save

    The survival of xerophytes is mainly dependent on water conditions. The responses and adaptation strategies of plants to drought stress and rehydration determine their growth and distribution characteristics. The hydraulic structure of plants is a complex hydraulic connection system that forms during plant growth. It reflects the water supply strategy formed in the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum (SPAC) circulation process of water uptake by roots, water transport via the xylem, and water lost by transpiration. It is the key internal factor determining the drought resistance of plants, and is also the focus of research on plant-water relationships. In this study, we reviewed recent research on the characteristics of plant hydraulic structure. The results of recent studies have revealed the coordination and trade-off mechanisms of plant hydraulic characteristics, and clarified the coupling relationship between hydraulic and economic traits. This review discusses the shortcomings in plant supply-demand hydraulics model simulations and the evaluation systems used to evaluate plant drought resistance and rehydration resilience. From the perspective of hydraulic structure, we discuss the existing problems in research on plant drought resistance and adaptation mechanisms, and propose key points for future research. Studies addressing these key problems will provide a theoretical basis and supporting data for vegetation restoration and reconstruction in arid conditions.

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    Screening and identification of two strains of nitrogen-fixing bacteria from the silage maize rhizosphere and their roles in plant growth promotion
    Chao-nan MENG, Yu-jie ZHAO, Jia-xin CHEN, Yi-lu ZHANG, Yan-jia WANG, Li-rong FENG, Yu-gang SUN, Chang-hong GUO
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (3): 174-185.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023151
    Abstract254)   HTML16)    PDF (2128KB)(469)       Save

    The aim of this study was to screen for high-quality nitrogen-fixing bacteria and evaluate their growth-promoting effects on silage maize (Zea mays). The dilution spread plate method with Ashby solid medium was used to screen and screen ten strains of nitrogen-fixing bacteria from the rhizosphere soil of silage maize. The nitrogen-fixation capabilities of the strains were analyzed. The results indicated that cultures of ZL-2 and ZL-13 exhibited strong nitrogen-fixing abilities (1.07 and 0.95 μg·mL-1, respectively). On the basis of their morphological characteristics, 16S rDNA sequence, and physiological and biochemical characteristics, ZL-2 was identified as Enterobacter cancerogenus, and ZL-13 was identified as Pantoea agglomerans. The growth-promoting characteristics of these two strains were analyzed, and both bacteria were found to secrete ammonium and siderophores, solubilize phosphate, and synthesize indole-3-acetic acid. In a pot experiment, compared with uninoculated silage maize plants, those inoculated with the nitrogen-fixing strains ZL-2 and ZL-13 showed significantly increased plant height, root length, aboveground and underground dry weights, and fresh weight (P<0.05). In a field experiment, compared with uninoculated silage maize plants, those inoculated with one or both of the nitrogen-fixing strains showed significantly increased plant height, stem diameter, yield, crude protein content, and total phosphorus content (P<0.05). Silage maize plants inoculated with these two nitrogen-fixing strains showed significantly increased expression levels of genes related to nitrogen metabolism and ammonia assimilation (ZmAMT-4ZmAMTBZmGOGAT2, and ZmGS1-3) (P<0.05). Therefore, these two nitrogen-fixing bacterial strains have favorable growth-promoting characteristics. Given their important role in enhancing the yield and quality of silage maize, they are valuable resources for the development of microbial agents.

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    Productivity and adaptability of ‘WL’ alfalfa varieties with different fall dormancy in the extremely arid region of Southern Xinjiang
    Yan LI, Fu-long MA, Lu HAN, Hai-zhen WANG
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (3): 139-149.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023165
    Abstract247)   HTML20)    PDF (665KB)(354)       Save

    To select alfalfa varieties that can grow well in southern Xinjiang, which is an extremely arid area, six ‘WL’ alfalfa varieties with different fall dormancy levels were screened in a 3-year field trial. Their growth characteristics, overwintering rate, regeneration time, leaf∶stem and hay∶fresh ratios, and fresh and hay yields of the early bloom stage were determined over 3 consecutive years. Then, a grey correlation analysis was conducted to determine which factors made the largest contributions to hay yield. The results showed that WL358 was the earliest and WL712 was the latest to regenerate each season. The growth rate was fastest in WL440 (2.30 cm·d-1) and slowest in WL168 (1.98 cm·d-1). The plant height increased during the 3 growing years and decreased with increased frequency of cutting. The growth period gradually shortened from the first cutting to fourth cutting (initial flowering stage), whereas the growth rate accelerated. The highest average plant height was in WL440 (90.73 cm) over the 3 years, but there was no significant difference in plant height among all the other varieties except for WL343. The leaf∶stem ratio from the first cutting to fourth cutting showed an increasing trend in each year; WL168 had the highest leaf∶stem ratio (0.69) and WL525 had the highest dry∶fresh ratio (0.23). The fresh and hay yields increased gradually over the 3 growing years, and did not differ significantly among the six varieties (P>0.05). The highest average fresh and hay yields over the 3 years were in WL358 (98.21 t·ha-1 and 21.26 t·ha-1, respectively). The lowest fresh yield was in WL168 (76.37 t·ha-1) and the lowest hay yield was in WL525 (16.37 t·ha-1). The results of the grey correlation analysis showed that the factors affecting hay yield were growth rate, fresh yield, dry∶fresh ratio, plant height, dry weight per plant and leaf∶stem ratio. The six varieties were ranked, from highest comprehensive evaluation score to lowest, as follows: WL358>WL440>WL168>WL343>WL712>WL525. Therefore, WL358 showed the best comprehensive performance and was identified as a cultivar suitable for cultivation in southern Xinjiang.

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    Genome-wide identification and bioinformatics analysis of CBF/DREB1 transcription factors in wild rice
    Chen-min HUO, Min YUAN, Bao-wen ZHANG, Rui-ju WANG
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (6): 126-144.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023251
    Abstract244)   HTML10)    PDF (10226KB)(328)       Save

    Low temperature and cold damage are important factors limiting the regional distribution and yield of cultivated rice, and this seriously affects food security in China. The C-repeat binding factor cold-regulated gene (CBF-COR) pathway with CBF/DREB1 transcription factors as the core component is an important signal transduction pathway involved in the cold acclimation of rice. A total of 71 members of the CBF/DREB1 gene subfamily were identified based on whole genome sequencing results and hidden markov model (HMM) searches of nine species in the rice (Oryza) genus. All genes were intron-free and consisted of a single exon. Most of them encoded weakly acidic proteins. All putative DREB1 proteins had a grand average of hydropathicity (GRAVY) of <0. A phylogenetic analysis divided into three groups: Group I (DREB1A/1B/1H), Group Ⅱ (DREB1C/1E/1F/1G), and Group Ⅲ (DREB1D/1I/1J). The motif composition differed among the groups, although all of the putative proteins contained the characteristic AP2 domain and flanking sequence. An adaptive evolutionary analysis of japonica subspecies and other rice orthologuous gene pairs showed that the nonsynonymous nucleotide substitution rate/synonymous nucleotide substitution rate (Ka/Ks) values for the gene pairs OsDREB1A/ObDREB1AOsDREB1D/OnDREB1D,OsDREB1I/OsIDREB1I, and OsDREB1J/OsIDREB1J were greater than 1, indicating that they were under positive selection pressure. The types and numbers of promoter elements were similar in orthologs, but differed between paralogs. Real-time quantitative PCR analyses were conducted for 7-day-old seedlings of Nipponbare, 93-11 and Dongxiang wild rice after 2 hours of cold treatment at 4 ℃. The results showed that, during the early cold response, some DREB genes were activated (DREB1A/1B/1C/1E/1F/1G/1H) and others were inhibited (DREB1D/1I/1J). Among the cold-activated genes in Nipponbare, 93-11, and Dongxiang wild rice, DREB1B/1G/1H were the first and the fastest to respond to cold. All of these three genes had at least one copy of the CAMTA transcription factor binding element CM2 (CCGCGT) in their promoter regions. The transcript levels of OrDREB1B/1C/1E/1F/1G/1H in Dongxiang wild rice were higher than those of their homologs in cultivated rice after 4 hours of cold treatment at 4℃. The results of this molecular evolutionary study on the CBF/DREB1 gene subfamily in nine species in the Oryza genus provide a preliminary basis for the mining and utilization of low-temperature resistance genes.

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    Effects of photovoltaic power station construction on plant community and soil characteristics
    Ping-an BAO, Bo JI, Guo SUN, Na ZHANG, Xu-dong WU, Jian-long HE, Zhan-jun WANG, Ying TIAN
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (12): 23-33.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2024117
    Abstract236)   HTML17)    PDF (2609KB)(185)       Save

    This research investigated the impact of photovoltaic (PV) power station construction on vegetation and soil in a desert steppe. Two PV power stations in Ningxia with a post-construction vegetation recovery time of one and two years were selected for study and data were collected for three categories of site: between PV panels (BJ), under PV panels (BX), and outside the PV power station (control, CK). Vegetation surveys were conducted and soil sampling carried out, and the plant community characteristics of soil physical and chemical properties were compared under the different treatments and their relationships analysed. The results revealed that the vegetation cover, aboveground biomass and diversity index were the highest in the CK plot after one year of vegetation restoration. The contents of soil organic matter (SOM), soil total phosphorus and potassium (TP and TK) and soil available phosphorus (AP) in the photovoltaic power station area were significantly higher than those in the control area outside the photovoltaic power station. After 2 years of vegetation restoration, plant community species diversity indices, TK, available nitrogen (AN) and AP were significantly higher for both BJ and BX sites than for CK site. Plant community cover and aboveground biomass were positively correlated with pH, and negatively correlated with electrical conductivity (EC), SOM and AN. Shannon-Wiener index was positively correlated with EC, SOM and AN. Soil pH and SOM content are the most important factors affecting the characteristics of plant communities in this study. The results show that the construction of a photovoltaic power station has a negative impact on the vegetation community and soil physical and chemical characteristics, but that subsequently there is at least partial recovery from the ecological damage resulting from power station construction.

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    Soil fertility in perennial vegetable fields in the latosolic red soil zone of the Pearl River Delta
    Jian-feng NING, Tong LI, Rui-kun ZENG, Jian-wu YAO, Yong CHEN, Zi-wei LIANG
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (5): 25-40.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023301
    Abstract230)   HTML14)    PDF (3800KB)(310)       Save

    Latosolic red soil is the predominant soil type in Guangdong province. In this study, we explored the current status of, and changes in, the soil fertility of vegetable fields located in the latosolic red soil zone. The ultimate aim was to provide a scientific basis for evaluating the management of cultivation and fertilization during vegetable production, with a goal to protect and improve farmland. We selected 89 perennial vegetable fields, i.e., fields cultivated with various vegetables annually, in the cities of Guangzhou, Jiangmen, and Zhaoqing, and the district of Huiyang of Huizhou city in the Pearl River Delta in Guangdong province, and collected surface soil samples for analyses of soil physicochemical parameters. The results were compared with the National Nutrient Classification Standard of The Second Soil Census and the Nemero index. It was found that loam soil, sandy loam soil, and silty loam soil were the dominant categories of soil texture, accounting for 46.1%, 23.6%, and 19.1%, respectively, of all the soil samples from perennial vegetable fields. The soil was characterized as slightly acidic (average pH, 5.83), the organic matter content was classified as medium (average, 23.83 g·kg-1), and the cation exchange capacity was classified as medium-low [average, 8.67 cmol(+)·kg–1]. The concentrations of soil total nitrogen (N), total phosphorus (P), and total potassium (K) were 1.19 g·kg-1, 1.47 g·kg-1, and 12.53 g·kg-1, respectively, corresponding to medium (total N, total P) and medium-low (total K) levels. The soil was rich in available N and available P (135.24 mg·kg-1 and 120.24 mg·kg-1, respectively) and extremely rich in available K (222.48 mg·kg-1). The Nemero index was 1.69, indicative of fine status of soil fertility. Compared with the data obtained for latosolic red soil in Guangdong province in The National Second Soil Census, the soil total K concentration had decreased, whereas the soil pH, organic matter content, total N, and available N had increased by 16.6%, 23.5%, 38.4%, and 62.5%, respectively, and the soil cation exchange capacity and total P, available P, and available K contents had markedly increased by 1.29-, 6.00-, 65.80-, and 3.07-times, respectively. Soil available P had accumulated substantially in most of the sampled vegetable fields. The annual accumulation rates of soil total N and total P were 8.46 mg·kg-1 and 32.31 mg·kg-1, respectively, and those of soil available N, available P, and available K were 1.20 mg·kg-1, 3.04 mg·kg-1, and 4.30 mg·kg-1, respectively. In general, soil fertility in vegetable fields of the Pearl River Delta in the latosolic red soil zone has improved under local tillage management over the last 40 years. The soil has shifted from acid to slightly acid, the cation exchange capacity and organic matter and total N contents have improved by one grade, the available N and available K contents have improved by two grades, and the soil total P and available P have improved by three and five grades, respectively. Thus, soil fertility in the research area has improved from inferior status (i.e. extremely insufficient to medium-low level) in 1980 to the current preferable status (medium-low level to extremely rich). To improve the fertility of vegetable fields and maintain the sustainable utilization of soil resources in the latosolic red soil zone of the Pearl River Delta, the combined application of organic manure and chemical fertilizers is recommended during local vegetable production. It will be important to use optimum inputs of N and K fertilizers and reduce inputs of P fertilizer.

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    Cloning and salt-tolerance functional analysis of alfalfa MsBBX20 gene
    Xin-yue ZHOU, Qing-xue JIANG, Hui-li JIA, Lin MA, Lu FAN, Xue-min WANG
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (10): 55-73.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023460
    Abstract220)   HTML23)    PDF (5897KB)(288)       Save

    The BBX family of transcription factors is involved in plant growth and development processes such as photomorphogenesis, flowering physiology, shade avoidance, seed development, hormone signaling, and responses to environmental stress. Medicago sativa, commonly known as alfalfa, is a forage crop with strong salt tolerance and high forage quality, and has been called the “queen of forages”. Uncovering and investigating the molecular mechanisms of the alfalfa MsBBX20 gene in response to abiotic stress can reveal the biological basis for alfalfa stress resistance and provide new genetic resources for molecular breeding for stress resistance. The MsBBX20 gene cDNA sequence was cloned using RT-PCR and 3′/5′ RACE PCR techniques, and bioinformatics analysis showed that its CDS is 834 bp long, encoding 278 amino acids, and the protein is a member of the zinc finger protein family. The expression pattern of MsBBX20 in different alfalfa tissues and under various abiotic stresses was analyzed using qRT-PCR technique. Subcellular localization was performed by transiently expressing MsBBX20 in Allium cepa epidermis via a gene gun. The MsBBX20 promoter sequence, with a length of 1737 base pairs, was cloned and its cis-acting elements were analyzed. This promoter can efficiently drive the expression of the GUS reporter gene in the leaves, stems, and roots of Nicotiana tabacum. The MsBBX20 promoter sequence was linked to the pCAMBIA-1301 vector containing the GUS gene, and then transiently transformed into N. tabacum and GUS activity in different tissues was analyzed by histochemical staining. A pCAMBIA3301-MsBBX20 plant overexpression vector was constructed and genetically transformed into wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana using the Agrobacterium-mediated method, A. thaliana lines overexpressing MsBBX20 were thus obtained. Transgenic lines of A. thaliana were treated with different concentrations of salt solution (150, 200, and 300 mmol·L-1 NaCl) and the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and antioxidant enzyme activity of different lines were analyzed. Evolutionary analysis indicated that the MsBBX20 protein of alfalfa is most closely related to the TpBBX20 of red clover (Trifolium pratense). The MsBBX20 protein is localized to the nucleus. The MsBBX20 gene is most highly expressed in flowers and can respond to various abiotic stresses such as drought, salt, cold, abscisic acid, gibberellin, and light. Transgenic A. thaliana lines overexpressing MsBBX20 were obtained, and three highly expressed positive lines were selected for functional validation. Under different concentrations of NaCl, the MDA content of A. thaliana lines overexpressing MsBBX20 was significantly lower than the control, while the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase were significantly higher than the control. The MsBBX20 gene, a zinc finger protein transcription factor from alfalfa, is highly expressed in flowers and can respond to a variety of abiotic stresses and exogenous hormone treatments, indicating that MsBBX20 may be involved in multiple stress response processes in alfalfa. Further research demonstrated that MsBBX20 may enhance the resistance of transgenic A. thaliana to salt stress by regulating the plant’s antioxidant enzyme system, mitigating oxidative damage to plant cells caused by stress, and thereby improving plant salt tolerance.

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    Niche and interspecific association of dominant plant species in artificial plant communities, the coal gangue dump of the Ningdong coal base, Middle East Ningxia
    Xiao-lei HOU, Chun-li WU, Ya-yuan DENG, Wen-zhang MA, Ting-ning ZHAO, Wen-jie ZENG, Zi-han GONG, Zhi-yuan LU, Guo-wei WU
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2025, 34 (1): 1-16.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2024078
    Abstract219)   HTML25)    PDF (5572KB)(161)       Save

    Ecological restoration is an important part of mining operations. The aim of this study was to analyze the plant community at the initial stage of ecological restoration in the gangue yard at the Ningdong coal base, with an overall goal to establish a stable artificial vegetation ecosystem on the coal gangue hills. The aboveground vegetation was sampled using a quadrat method, and the importance values of shrubs and grasses were calculated. The niche width, niche similarity, niche overlap, and variance ratio were calculated. Chi-squared and Spearman’s correlation analyses were used to explore the interspecific associations among, and correlations between, dominant species in the plant community in the mining area. The results showed that there were 44 species of shrubs and grasses in the study area, belonging to nine families and 36 genera. The main plant families were Poaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae, and Amaranthaceae. The niche width and importance value rankings of shrub species were not completely consistent, but the overall trend was consistent, with Oxytropis aciphylla and Caragana korshinskii being the dominant species. The niche width and importance value rankings of herbaceous species were consistent, with Grubovia dasyphylla and Medicago sativa being the dominant species. The variance ratio of the overall association between shrubs and herbaceous plants was greater than one. There was a significant positive association among shrub species, whereas the association among herbaceous species was not significant. In conclusion, the plant community in the ecological restoration area is in the early or middle stage of succession, with weak interspecific competition. When designing an ecological restoration strategy for the Ningdong coal base, plants positively associated with dominant species should be selected to form a stable plant community structure, thereby improving the efficiency of ecological restoration in this mining area.

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    Responses of spatial pattern and driving factors for soil water deficit of desert grassland-shrubland transition sites
    Ya-nan ZHAO, Hong-mei WANG, Zhi-li LI, Zhen-jie ZHANG, Yan-shuo CHEN, Rong-xia SU
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (4): 22-34.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023209
    Abstract216)   HTML17)    PDF (4470KB)(194)       Save

    Shrub encroachment has an important impact on ecosystem structure, function and services, and its adverse impact on soil water has been recognized, but there is still a lack of quantitative assessment and research into its driving mechanisms at a regional scale. In the Ningxia desert steppe, 43 paired sample sites of desert grassland and of shrubland were selected, and a ‘plot compared soil water deficit index’ (PCSWDI) was introduced to evaluate the spatial pattern of soil water deficit and its drivers after the transition from desert steppe to shrubland. Results showed that the soil water content of 0-100 cm and 100-200 cm strata decreased significantly by 27.80% and 57.92%, respectively, after the transition from desert grassland to shrubland. Also, the PCSWDI of shrubland from 0-100 cm was significantly lower than that of desert grassland, indicating that there is no soil water deficit in the 0-100 cm layer of shrubland. Geostatistical analysis showed that the structural variance ratios of the PCSWDI of desert grassland and shrubland were 94.73% and 95.29%, respectively, which indicate strong spatial autocorrelation and were mainly controlled by structural factors. Furthermore, the geographic detector method found that soil water storage, aspect and field capacity were the dominant factors affecting the PCSWDI of the shrubland; The interactive detection showed that the spatial differentiation of the PCSWDI of the 0-100 cm soil layer of shrubland was the result of the interaction of multiple factors. In conclusion, our results show that although there was no soil water deficit in the 0-100 cm soil layer of shrubland, a significant decrease in the 100-200 cm soil water content indicating the depletion of deep soil water was observed. Therefore, vegetation restoration in arid and semi-arid regions must take into account the carrying capacity and water threshold of vegetation, and a nature-based solution may be the main focus of vegetation restoration in the future.

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    Changes in vegetation and soil characteristics and their correlations in grasslands at different stages of degradation on the desert steppe in an arid wind-sandy area of Ningxia
    Ying CAO, Ming-he NIE, Yan SHEN, Yan HU, Deng-bao MA, Dong LI, Teng-si HOU, Peng FANG, Xue-qin WANG
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (8): 1-14.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023342
    Abstract214)   HTML69)    PDF (5373KB)(264)       Save

    The aim of this research was to gain a deeper understanding of the variations in vegetation and soil of desert grasslands at different stages of degradation, and to investigate the correlations between soil properties and vegetation characteristics within these stages. A field study was conducted in desert grasslands in the arid wind-sandy region in Ningxia, with an aim to compare the vegetation and soil characteristics across grasslands at four stages of degradation: Non-degraded, lightly degraded, moderately degraded, and heavily degraded. The relationship between vegetation and soil during the process of grassland degradation was analyzed. The results revealed that, as the degree of grassland degradation increased, there was a transition in the dominant species from perennial legumes and graminoids to annual miscellaneous grasses. The plant functional groups exhibited diverse responses in terms of vegetation coverage, height, and above-ground biomass (P<0.05). The Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Simpson’s dominance index, and Pielou’s evenness index showed consistent trends of decreasing as the degree of grassland degradation increased. Furthermore, with increasing severity of grassland degradation, there were significant decreases in soil organic matter content, total carbon and nitrogen levels, available nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, and silt content, and a significant increase in bulk density. The results of a redundancy analysis revealed a strong correlation between the characteristics of desert grassland vegetation and soil factors in general. However, the specific soil properties influencing these vegetation characteristics varied among grasslands at different stages of degradation. In non-degraded grasslands, the total carbon content significantly affected vegetation characteristics, while bulk density played a significant role in moderately degraded grasslands. Heavily degraded grasslands were considerably impacted by the available nitrogen content (P<0.01). Improvements in vegetation or the supplementation of soil nutrients can be considered as effective strategies for restoring grasslands.

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    Accounting and assessment of grassland ecological values
    Lin HUANG, Jia-hui LI, Hai-yan ZHANG, Yu-zhe LI, Sui-zi WANG, Jiang-wen FAN
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (6): 47-63.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023115
    Abstract214)   HTML14)    PDF (7106KB)(294)       Save

    There are two main objectives when accounting for and assessing grassland ecological values. The first objective is to provide a theoretical basis for appropriate pricing, effective compensation, scientific management, and sustainable development of grassland resources. This allows for ecological benefits to be integrated into economic and social development decisions. The second objective is to provide a scientific method for evaluating the effectiveness of grassland ecological conservation and restoration, which allows for planners to change and influence the behavior and decisions of ecological conservation and restoration through monetization. Based on the theories of ecological economics and ecosystem assessment, we defined the grassland ecological value as the sum of various services, products, and benefits that can be directly provided to humans as determined by the structure and function of the grassland ecosystem. We developed a grassland ecological value assessment index system and determined spatial measurement methods for estimating the quality and value of each indicator. This allowed us to assess grassland ecological value and its dynamic changes in space and time. To estimate and assess the volume and value of grassland, volume estimation and evaluation methods were applied to Hulun Buir in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The results show that the total ecological value of grasslands in the city region was about RMB 262.87 billion yuan·yr-1, which was 2.2 times the city’s gross domestic product in 2020. The value of grassland species conservation accounted for 43% of the total grassland ecological value. The ecological value of the grassland unit area was about 39,100 yuan·ha-1·yr-1. This showed a spatially divergent pattern of gradual decline from west to east. These results highlight the need to understand the function and status of grasslands from the perspective of their ecological value, and to strengthen the scientific protection and rational use of grassland areas.

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    Effects of alfalfa/sweet sorghum intercropping on rhizosphere soil characteristics and microbial community characteristics
    Sheng-ran HE, Xiao-jing LIU, Ya-jiao ZHAO, Xue WANG, Jing WANG
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (5): 92-105.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023219
    Abstract213)   HTML19)    PDF (5958KB)(308)       Save

    In this study, we explored the influence of an alfalfa (Medicago sativa)/sweet sorghum (Sorghum dochna) intercropping system on the microecological environment of soil in the rhizosphere. The overall aims of our research were to provide a scientific and theoretical basis for improving soil structure, maintaining a good soil microecological environment, and protecting the ecological value of agricultural land. A 3-year field study was conducted with alfalfa and sweet sorghum grown as monocrops and in an intercropping system. We evaluated nodulation and nitrogen fixation, rhizosphere soil nutrient contents, soil enzyme activities, and the soil microbial community characteristics and their interrelationships over 3 consecutive years. The results showed that Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Bacillus were the dominant bacteria in the alfalfa/sweet sorghum intercropping system. Intercropping effectively increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Gp6 in the rhizosphere soil, significantly increased soil organic matter and available phosphorus contents, and increased urease activity and invertase activity in the rhizosphere soil of sweet sorghum (P<0.05). Intercropping also significantly increased nitrogenase activity and the nitrogen-fixation capacity (P<0.05), and significantly reduced the rhizosphere soil pH of both alfalfa and sweet sorghum (P<0.05). The activities of alkaline phosphatase and invertase increased in the rhizosphere soil of intercropped alfalfa over the 3 years, and the pH of rhizosphere soil decreased significantly over the 3 years in both monocrops and in the intercropping system (P<0.05). The results of the correlation analysis indicated that four rhizosphere soil enzymes were positively correlated with available nitrogen, available potassium, and organic matter (P<0.01); Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were negatively correlated with pH and positively correlated with available nitrogen; and Acidobacteria and Verrucomicrobia were positively correlated with pH and negatively correlated with available nitrogen (P<0.01). Therefore, alfalfa/sweet sorghum intercropping was shown to improve the soil structure and increase the activity of soil microorganisms.

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    Effects of drought stress and rehydration on the growth and physiological characteristics of annual herbaceous plants from a desert-oasis ecotone
    Lu-jing ZENG, Guo-hua WANG
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (5): 41-57.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023302
    Abstract211)   HTML25)    PDF (9686KB)(224)       Save

    In desert-oasis ecotones, many annual herbaceous plant populations form permanent plant synusiae, which play important roles as windbreaks and in sand fixation, thereby protecting the stability of the oasis ecosystem. In this study, we selected Chloris virgataSetaria viridisHalogeton arachnoideusAgriophyllum squarrosum, and Bassia dasyphylla as five typical annual herbaceous plants under artificial forests in a typical desert-oasis ecotone in the Hexi Corridor, and conducted pot experiments with simulated drought and rehydration treatments. We measured the changes in root and leaf growth traits (i.e., plant height, root volume, average root diameter, total root surface area, total root length, and root dry weight) and physiological characteristics (i.e., root activity, contents of photosynthetic pigments, malondialdehyde, osmotic adjustment substances, and antioxidant enzyme activity) of seedlings of the five plants to analyze their adaptive strategies to drought stress. The results showed that light drought stress (i.e., soil moisture decreased by 2% compared with the control) had no significant negative effect on the growth of the five annual herbaceous plants, but promoted their growth to some extent. Plant growth was significantly inhibited under moderate (soil moisture decreased by 4%) and severe (soil moisture decreased by 6%) drought stress. The contents of malondialdehyde and osmoregulatory substances and the activity of peroxidase in the roots and leaves increased with increasing severity of drought stress; but the root activity decreased significantly. The activity of superoxide dismutase in the roots of the annual Gramineae C. virgata and S. viridis increased with increasing severity of drought stress; however, its activity in the roots of A. squarrosum and B. dasyphylla (Chenopodiaceae) initially increased and then decreased with increasing severity of drought stress. Upon rehydration treatments, the growth and physiology of all five plant species were compensated to different degrees. Roots recovered better than did leaves, and shallow-rooted plants were better able to recover than deep-rooted ones. The drought tolerance of the five annual herbs differed significantly, and they were ranked from most to least drought tolerant as follows: S. viridis>H. arachnoideus>B. dasyphylla>C. virgata>A. squarrosum.

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    Isolation and growth -promoting characteristics of rhizobacteria producing indole -3 -acetic acid from the rhizosphere soil of Kalidium foliatum
    Xin-yu CHENG, Ji-lian WANG, Mairiyangu·Yasheng, Ming-yuan LI
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (4): 110-121.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023205
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    Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria that are able to produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) are useful for the development of high-efficiency microbial fertilizers. In this study, IAA-producing rhizobacteria were isolated from the rhizosphere soil of Kalidium foliatum growing in the Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture of Xinjiang by culturing on selection media. The isolates were identified on the basis of 16S rDNA PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphisms and their 16S rDNA gene sequences. The effects of strains with a strong ability to produce IAA on the germination of maize and wheat seeds were determined. Furthermore, their effects on the growth of maize and wheat seedlings (plant height, stem diameter, aboveground dry weight) under saline-alkali stress were verified in pot experiments. A total of 67 isolates were screened, and their IAA production capacity ranged from 16.65 to 71.63 mg·L-1. Among all the strains, PM14 and PM18 showed the highest IAA production capacity. In addition, strains PM14 and PM18 were capable of phosphorus solubilization and nitrogen fixation. On the basis of 16S rDNA gene sequence and phylogenetic analyses, the isolates were divided into six genera, of which Enterobacter was the dominant genus. Both PM14 and PM18 promoted seed germination, but there were significant differences in the promoting effect on seed germination between low- and high-concentration groups (P<0.05). After inoculation with PM14 or PM18, the plant height, fresh weight, aboveground dry weight, stem diameter, and root dry weight of maize seedlings were increased by 4.7%-37.2%, 28.8%-94.5%, 15.8%-157.9%, 4.4%-35.5%, and 23.5%-82.4%, respectively, but there was no significant effect on chlorophyll content. The plant height, stem diameter, fresh weight and aboveground dry weight of wheat seedlings were increased by 9.5%-33.1%, 13.0%- 49.6%, 57.4%-112.8%, and 71.4%-114.3%, respectively, after inoculation with PM14 or PM18. Except for an inactivated culture of PM14, all other treatments had positive effects on root dry weight, with increases ranging from 52.8% to 69.0%. However, none of the treatments significantly affected chlorophyll content. In summary, IAA-producing plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria improved the resistance of wheat and maize plants to salt-alkali stress, which is of great significance for the development of microbial fertilizers suitable for cultivating crops in salt- and alkali-affected areas.

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    Effects of root application of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and melatonin on the growth, photosynthetic characteristics, and antioxidant system of Medicago sativa under salt stresss
    Ying TAN, Hao YIN
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (6): 64-75.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023366
    Abstract209)   HTML14)    PDF (4081KB)(227)       Save

    The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) and melatonin treatments on the photosynthetic parameters and antioxidant system of Medicago sativa (alfalfa) plants under salt stress. Melatonin was applied at a range of concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 μmol·L-1) to roots of M. sativa under salt stress (100 mmol·L-1 NaCl). A total of 10 treatments were inoculated with an AMF (Glomus versiforme), whereas the control plants were left uninoculated. It was found that this AMF formed a stable symbiotic relationship with alfalfa, with a maximum mycorrhizal infection rate of 65.2%. Compared with the control group, the group inoculated with AMF and treated with melatonin at 100 μmol·L-1 showed increased total biomass (by 5.4%) and chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b contents (by 7.3% and 45.3%, respectively), a decreased root to shoot ratio (by 39.5%), and increased net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, intercellular CO2 concentration, and stomatal conductance (by 23.3%, 28.3%, 17.6%, and 14.1%, respectively). Compared with the control group, the group inoculated with AMF and treated with melatonin at 100 μmol·L-1 showed increased maximum photochemical efficiency and PS Ⅱ potential activity (by 19.6% and 22.9%, respectively); increased nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents in the leaves (to 1.4-times, 1.1-times, and 1.2-times that in the control, respectively), and decreased sodium content (by 11.1%). Comparisons of gene transcript levels between the control group and the group inoculated with AMF and treated with melatonin at 100 μmol·L-1 revealed increased transcript levels of Cu/Zn-SOD (by 33.9%), POD (by 16.8%), and CAT (by 6.4%) in the latter group. The activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase were increased to different degrees in the group inoculated with AMF and treated with melatonin at 100 μmol·L-1. We concluded that AMF and melatonin can synergistically increase the chlorophyll a and b contents and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of alfalfa, improve photosynthesis, increase the absorption of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, reduce the absorption of sodium, and upregulate the expression of Cu/Zn-SOD, POD, and CAT, leading to increased activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase. Among the treatments tested here, AMF inoculation combined with root application of 100 μmol·L-1 melatonin had the strongest effect to promote plant growth under salt stress and improve salt resistance.

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    Vegetation classification of UAV remote sensing images in desert steppe based on object-oriented technology
    Jie SHE, Ai-hong SHEN, Yun SHI, Na ZHAO, Feng-hong ZHANG, Hong-yuan HE, Tao WU, Hong-xia LI, Yi-ting MA, Xiao-wen ZHU
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (7): 1-14.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023319
    Abstract209)   HTML53)    PDF (7049KB)(269)       Save

    Exploring suitable remote sensing classification methods for desert grassland vegetation and clarifying the types of plant species and their distribution in desert grassland areas can improve the ability of fine biodiversity monitoring in desert grassland, which is of great significance for the protection and management of desert grassland as well as for the sustainable development of ecosystems within the landscape. This research studied the typical vegetation of Stipa brevifloraConvolvulus tragacanthoidesSalsola laricifoliaEphedra rhytidosperma in the desert grassland of the floodplain fan at the eastern foothill of Helan Mountains. We used remote sensing images from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), processed by object-oriented classification and regression tree (CART), K-nearest neighbor (KNN), random forest (RF) and support vector machine (SVM) classification methods, combined with the feature selection algorithm to optimize the image features. We then selected the optimal features for the study of desert grassland vegetation classification, and its refinement. It was found that: 1) Feature selection can effectively improve the classification accuracy and should be fully utilized, and the highest classification accuracy is achieved when the selected feature combination has a contribution degree greater than 1.00%; 2) Based on the vegetation spectral and texture features mined from UAV remote sensing images, combining with the object-oriented classification method can effectively achieve the refined classification of the typical vegetation of the desert grassland at the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains. In this research the RF classification accuracy was the highest, and the overall classification accuracy reached 87.77% with a Kappa coefficient of 0.79. The results of this study provide a reference for the study of vegetation classification in desert grasslands. This research will be of great significance for the conservation and management of desert grassland biodiversity and ecological sustainable development.

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    Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the Hsp70 gene family in wheat and its ancestral species
    Yi WU, Ya-lan FENG, Tian-ning WANG, Ji-hao JU, Hui-shu XIAO, Chao MA, Jun ZHANG
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (7): 53-67.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023334
    Abstract205)   HTML16)    PDF (5694KB)(420)       Save

    Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) exerts a crucial influence on plant development and response to biotic and abiotic stresses. In order to explore the evolutionary relationships, functions and expression patterns of the Hsp70 gene family in wheat (Triticum aestivum), this study conducted a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of the Hsp70 gene family in Triticum urartuAegilops speltoidesTriticum turgidumAegilops tauschii and common wheat, and the expression patterns of some Hsp70 genes under different exogenous hormones and environmental stress were analyzed by RT-qPCR. The results showed that, respectively, from the five species, 30, 41, 60, 28 and 94 Hsp70 genes were identified. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the members of the Hsp70 family in the five species were divided into 5 subfamily groups, and the number of members in each group was not equal. Most of the members are distributed in Group I, and most of the Hsp70 members in the same subfamily have similar gene structures and conserved motifs. Further comprehensive analysis of chromosome localization and repetition events of the Hsp70 gene in the five species revealed that the Hsp70 gene was unevenly distributed on each of the chromosomes, and a total of 12 tandem repeat events and 110 fragment replication events were found from the five species, indicating that fragment replication events promoted the expansion of the Hsp70 gene family in wheat. The analysis of cis-acting elements showed that there were various light response elements, stress response elements, hormone response elements and growth as well as development regulatory elements in the promoter region of Hsp70 gene in the five wheat species. In addition, RT-qPCR results indicated that particular Hsp70 genes in the five wheat species had varying degrees of response under different hormone treatments and stress. The expression of eight Hsp70 genes was up-regulated under high temperature and drought stress. The identification of the Hsp70 gene in wheat and its ancestral species and elucidation of its evolution provides a theoretical basis for further research on the function of the Hsp70 gene in wheat growth and development, as well as its response mechanism under stress.

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    Evaluation and screening of the salt tolerance of triticale germplasm at the germination and seedling stages
    Meng WANG, Xue-li LU, Ju-ying WANG, Meng-chao ZHANG, Yi-ru SONG, Chen MENG, Li ZHANG, Zong-chang XU
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (5): 58-68.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023228
    Abstract203)   HTML16)    PDF (658KB)(269)       Save

    Salinized soil is an important standby cultivated land resource, but salt-tolerant crop varieties are required to use salinized land for agriculture. In this study, 14 triticale (Triticosecale wittmack) germplasm lines from America and six Chinese provinces were treated with 0.9% and 1.2% (w/v) NaCl during the germination and seedling stages, respectively. The salt tolerance of triticale germplasm lines at the germination and seedling stages was evaluated and screened by measuring the germination rate, germination energy, and germination index, as well as plant height, root length, dry/fresh weight of aboveground, dry/fresh weight of roots, proline and malonaldehyde contents, and superoxide dismutase activity. The results showed that there were was abundant variation in these indexes among the salt-treated triticale materials at the germination and seedling stages, with the coefficient of variation ranging from 6.53% to 99.65%. Compared with the agronomic indexes, the physiological indexes were more strongly affected by salt stress. The salt tolerance of triticale germplasm resources at the germination stage and seedling stage was evaluated using multivariate statistical methods such as the membership function method and principal component analysis. A correlation analysis between the membership function value ranking at the germination stage and the D-value ranking at the seedling stage showed that the salt tolerance at the seedling stage was significantly positively correlated with that at the germination stage. Overall, we identified eight salt-tolerant germplasm lines at the germination stage, and one very salt-tolerant line and eight salt-tolerant lines at the seedling stage. The two most salt-tolerant materials at the germination and seedling stages were Gannong No.4 and Jisi No.2. Thus, these two materials were identified as excellent triticale resources for cultivation in saline-alkali soils and for breeding new salt-tolerant cultivars.

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    Effects of grazing exclusion and fertilization on alpine meadow community characteristics and vegetation carbon and nitrogen pools
    Rui-min QIN, Si-jia CHENG, Li MA, Zhong-hua ZHANG, Jing-jing WEI, Hong-ye SU, Zheng-chen SHI, Tao CHANG, Xue HU, De-ha-ze A, Fang YUAN, Shan LI, Hua-kun ZHOU
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (4): 1-11.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023198
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    The objective of this study was to determine how two different restoration measures, i.e., grazing exclusion and fertilization, affect degraded alpine meadows. A field study was conducted to compare the effects of grazing exclusion for various periods (0, 4, 13 yrs) and long-term fertilization (with nitrogen, N, and phosphorus, P) on community characteristics and vegetation carbon (C) and N pools. The results showed that: 1) The species richness index and Shannon-Wiener index decreased significantly with increasing years of grazing exclusion, while Simpson’s index and the Pielou index increased and then decreased. The addition of N and P fertilizers significantly decreased the species richness index and Shannon-Wiener index. 2) Aboveground biomass and root biomass were significantly increased after both 4 and 13 years of grazing exclusion, reaching the maximum at 4 years, whereas litter biomass increased gradually with increasing years of grazing exclusion. The effect of long-term fertilization on biomass was not significant. 3) After grazing exclusion, vegetation C and N stocks increased significantly, with aboveground biomass and root C and N pools being highest at 4 years of grazing exclusion, and litter C and N pools being highest at 13 years of grazing exclusion. Long-term fertilization had no significant effect on vegetation C stocks, and only long-term N addition significantly increased the aboveground biomass N pools. 4) Partial least squares path modeling showed that grazing exclusion and fertilization led to changes in environmental factors that restrained community diversity and promoted the accumulation of plant biomass and vegetation C pools, while fertilization affected vegetation N pools. In summary, grazing exclusion generally restrained species diversity, but promoted community productivity and increased vegetation C and N pools, while long-term N addition had no significant positive effect on species diversity and vegetation C pools, but increased vegetation N pools.

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    Enzyme activity and microbial metabolic diversity in typical shrub rhizosphere soil in Ningxia desert steppe
    Jia-ni YAO, Shuang LIU, Jun-jie ZHANG, Ming-zhu HU, Jin-xia DAI
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (9): 1-14.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023380
    Abstract198)   HTML33)    PDF (3654KB)(269)       Save

    This research investigated the enzyme activity and microbial metabolic diversity of desert shrub rhizosphere soil for ecological restoration of desert soil. Four selected legume shrub species (Caragana spp., Ammopiptanthus mongolicusCaragana tibetica and Oxytropis aciphylla) within the Baijitan desert steppe in Ningxia were investigated using visible wavelength spectrophotometry and Biolog microplates, to determine if rhizosphere soil enzyme activity differed in different seasonal development periods (early season ‘nutritional’, flowering, and fruiting periods) and to determine the functional diversity of microbial metabolism. Significant differences in the enzyme activity of rhizosphere soil in the different seasonal phases of shrub growth were detected. In terms of different development periods, the rhizosphere soil urease activity of A. mongolicus was significantly higher than the other three shrubs, and the rhizosphere soil alkaline phosphatase activity of C. tibetica was significantly lower than the other shrubs. For the different development periods, during the nutritional period, rhizosphere soil urease and alkaline phosphatase activity of A. mongolicus were significantly higher than those of other periods, and rhizosphere soil urease and sucrase activity of the unidentified Caragana spp. were significantly lower than those of other periods. During the flowering period, rhizosphere soil urease and alkaline phosphatase activities of the Caragana spp., soil sucrase activity of A. mongolicus, and soil urease and dehydrogenase activities of O. aciphylla were significantly higher than at other periods. In the fruiting period, rhizosphere soil urease and alkaline phosphatase activities were highest in A. mongolicus and soil sucrase and dehydrogenase activities were highest in Caragana spp. Enzyme activities were generally low in the rhizosphere soils of C. tibetica during the flowering and fruiting periods. There were significant differences in the metabolic diversity of rhizosphere soil microbial communities in the different seasonal periods. Average well color development of the rhizosphere soil of the four shrub species increased gradually with the duration of incubation time, and the carbon sources utilization were mainly carbohydrates, amino acids and carboxylic acids. The microorganisms in the rhizosphere soil of the Caragana spp. had uniform distribution, strong metabolic activity and vigorous growth during the nutritional period. Principal component analysis showed that in the nutritional period, the carbon source utilization patterns of rhizosphere soil microorganisms were similar in A. mongolicusC. tibetica and O. aciphylla; in the flowering period the patterns were similar in the Caragana spp., A. mongolicus and O. aciphylla; in the fruiting period the patterns were similar in the Caragana spp. and A. mongolicus, and the patterns were similar in the C. tibetica and O. aciphylla. The soil microbial carbon source utilization pattern changed to different degrees through the three seasonal development periods. Redundancy analysis showed that enzyme activity and microbial metabolism were closely related to soil physicochemical properties. Urease was positively correlated with rhizosphere ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) level. Alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly positively correlated with soil water content. Sucrase was positively correlated with total nitrogen (TN), NH4+-N, soil organic matter and total phosphorus (TP) (TN were also significantly positively correlated). Also, TN, available phosphorus (AP), TP, available potassium, and nitrite nitrogen (NO2--N) significantly affected dehydrogenase activity. NH4+-N, NO2--N, TP, AP and nitrate nitrogen were the main physicochemical factors affecting microbial metabolic diversity. The results of this study provide insight to and understanding of the rhizosphere soil microenvironment and the rhizosphere microbial community response characteristics to the soil environment in Ningxia desert steppe.

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    The effect of microbial organic fertilizers application on vegetation-soil-microbe in desert steppe
    Jun-yao LI, Xing-chi JIANG, Jin-yu HU, Dong-guang WEI, Xue-yong ZHAO, Shao-kun WANG
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (3): 34-45.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023141
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    Microbial organic fertilizers (MOF) provide water retention, air permeability and fertility and are prepared from agriculture and animal husbandry waste through aerobic fermentation by high efficiency cellulose decomposer bacteria. An experimental 1 kg·m-2 application of MOF experiment in the Urat desert steppe showed that applying MOF quickly restored the vegetation-soil-microbial system in degraded desert steppe through promoting vegetation growth, improving soil physical and chemical properties, increasing quantities of microbes and other similar effects. In this experiment it vegetation cover was significantly increased by 33%, soil sticky clay content was significantly increased by 2%, soil total carbon content was significantly increased by 9%, soil total nitrogen content was significantly increased 0.9%; And 11 phyla of soil bacteria and 1 phyla of soil fungi had significant differences in occurrence. Analytically, 92% of the increase in vegetation cover was explained by the MOF application and soil moisture content; 84% of the increase in species richness was explained by the effects of MOF application, soil moisture content and soil electrical conductivity. Overall, these results provide evidence of efficacy, data support and technical support for the restoration of arid desert steppe through application of microbial organic fertilizers.

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    Climate responses of carbon fluxes in two adjacent alpine grasslands in northern Tibet
    Ling-ling XU, Ben NIU, Xian-zhou ZHANG, Yong-tao HE, Pei-li SHI, Ning ZONG, Jian-shuang WU, Xiang-tao WANG
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (6): 1-16.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023250
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    The sensitivity of ecosystem carbon cycle to climate change is an important issue in the context of future carbon neutrality across the globe. Because of the vast area, rich carbon storage, and vulnerability of the alpine grassland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, many site-specific studies have focused on the responses of carbon and water fluxes of alpine grassland to climate change in recent years. In such studies, various observation and simulation techniques, especially eddy correlation (EC) techniques, have been used. However, the sensitivity of different alpine grassland types to changes in climatic factors under the same climatic background remains unclear. Based on the estimates of carbon and water fluxes made using EC techniques from 2009 to 2011 under different water conditions, this study analyzed and compared the climate sensitivity of the carbon cycle between two adjacent (<5 km) alpine grassland ecosystems, alpine meadow and alpine wetland, in northern Tibet. The results showed that the carbon exchange capacity of alpine meadow was significantly lower than that of alpine wetland. The alpine meadow was carbon neutral with an annual net CO2 exchange (NEE) of 18.09±40.66 g C·m-2, while the alpine wetland was a stable carbon sink with an annual NEE of 155.09±32.85 g C·m-2. The moisture conditions weakly affected the maximum photosynthetic rate of the light response curves in both alpine meadow and alpine wetland, but was significantly positively correlated with gross primary productivity under saturated light intensity. The effect of moisture conditions to regulate the exponential response relationship between ecosystem respiration (Re) and temperature was mainly reflected by the basic respiration value (a). The mean a value of alpine wetland was 3.76-times larger than that of alpine meadow, but the effect of moisture conditions to regulate the temperature sensitivity of Re (Q10) in the two alpine grasslands was not significant. The mean value of annual Q10 (1.84) and the trend of Q10 to decrease with temperature were basically the same in the alpine meadow and alpine wetland. We concluded that the response of CO2 exchange in the alpine grassland ecosystem in northern Tibet to environmental factors depends on joint restricting effects of multiple factors. Therefore, a regional network and collaborative observations are helpful to better understand the mechanism of the carbon exchange response of the alpine ecosystem to climate change.

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    Meta-analysis of the effects of mycorrhizal fungi on plant leaf physiology
    Lu-ping MA, Zhao-yong SHI, Wen-jing WEI, Shuang YANG
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (4): 99-109.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023189
    Abstract192)   HTML14)    PDF (5535KB)(248)       Save

    Leaves are important plant organs, and their contents of nutrients, photosynthetic pigments, soluble sugars, and soluble proteins, as well as the activities of various enzymes, are important parameters that characterize their physiology. Photosynthesis and transpiration are important indicators of physiological activity in leaves. Mycorrhizal fungi are soil microorganisms that form symbioses with the vast majority of plants, and they can affect leaf physiology. For this study, we selected the most widely distributed arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and evaluated their effects on plant leaf physiology by conducting a Meta-analysis. Most previous studies have focused on investigating the physiological functions of a single plant inoculated with one AMF. To address this issue, we used a quantitative research method and a Meta-analysis to build and analyze a database of 152 relevant papers. These analyses allowed us to evaluate the impact of AMF on plant leaf physiology, and explore the effects of AMF at different classification levels. According to the results reported in the literature, AMF significantly increased the contents of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and zinc in leaves by 12.6% to 26.3%; Increased contents of chlorophyll, chlorophyll a, and chlorophyll b by 16.3%, 12.1%, and 11.1%, respectively; And increased the contents of soluble sugars and soluble proteins by 34.8% and 18.4%, respectively. Various AMF also increased the activities of enzymes in leaves, including peroxidase (by 31.3%), superoxide dismutase (by 17.8%), catalase (by 23.3%), polyphenol oxidase (by 59.1%), and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (by 65.3%). As a result, AMF increased the net photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate of leaves by 27.7% and 31.1%, respectively. The results of this Meta-analysis show that different taxa (family, genus, species) of AMF have different effects on leaf physiology. These findings represent a systematic evaluation of the impacts of AMF on leaf physiology, highlight the functional diversity of AMF, and provide a practical basis for screening efficient AMF to improve leaf physiology.

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    Effects of low-concentrate and high-concentrate diets on yak growth performance and rumen microbiota structure
    Di SHEN, Zi-ming ZENG, Kai-yue PANG, Sha-tuo CHAI, Hong-xin NIE, Yu-min LI, Yang LIAO, Xun WANG, Wei-hua HUANG, Shu-jie LIU, Ying-kui YANG, Shu-xiang WANG
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (5): 155-165.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023238
    Abstract191)   HTML2)    PDF (604KB)(188)       Save

    The objective of this study was to determine the effects of low- and high-concentrate diets on the rumen microbiota in yaks. Twelve 3-year-old yaks with similar body weight were selected and divided into two groups of six. One group was fed with a low-concentrate diet [30∶70 fine-to-rough ratio (C30 group)] and the other was fed with a high-concentrate diet [70∶30 (C70 group)] for 2 months. It was found that: 1) The average daily weight gain of the C70 group was significantly higher than that of the C30 group (P<0.01). 2) The Chao1 index, Shannon index, and phylogenetic diversity index were significantly higher for the C30 group than for the C70 group (P<0.01). 3) At the phylum level, the relative richness of Patescibacteria, Desulfobacterota, Verrucomicrobia, and Cyanobacteria in the rumen was significantly higher in the C30 group than in the C70 group (P<0.05). The relative richness of Firmicutes in the rumen was significantly higher in the C30 group than in the C70 group (P<0.01). The relative richness of Bacteroides in the rumen was significantly higher in the C70 group than in the C30 group (P<0.01), and that of Proteobacteria was significantly higher in the C70 group than in the C30 group (P<0.05). At the genus level, the relative richness of Christensenellaceae_R-7, unclassified_rumen_bacterium, NK4A214_group, uncultured bacteria, and unidentified bacteria in the rumen was significantly higher in the C30 group than in the C70 group (P<0.01). The Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group in the C30 group was significantly higher than that in the C70 group (P<0.05). The relative richness of Prevotella, Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group and Ruminococcus in the C70 group was significantly higher than that in the C30 group (P<0.05). 4) There were 31 gene families identified across all yak rumen samples. At KEGG level 2, pathways of transport and catabolism, cofactor and vitamin metabolism, and energy metabolism were significantly enriched in the C70 group compared with the C30 group (P<0.05). The carbohydrate metabolism pathway was highly significantly enriched in the C70 group compared with the C30 group (P<0.01). The immune disease pathway was enriched in the C30 group compared with the C70 group, and the biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites pathway was also very highly enriched in the C70 group compared with the C30 group (P<0.01). In summary, high concentrate was fed compared to the low concentrate group the diet reduced the diversity of rumen microbiota in yak and reduced the richness of microflora that was not conducive to rumen microbiota health, while increasing the abundance of dominant microflora Richness. In terms of metabolic function, the high-concentrate diet increased the metabolism of carbohydrates and other nutrients, and decreased the metabolism of immune diseases.

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    Cloning and tissue-specific expression patterns of a gene encoding an atypical odorant receptor co-receptor in the leaf beetle Diorhabda rybakowi (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
    Bo-xin XI, Xiao-ning CUI, Su-qin SHANG, Gui-xin HU, Yan WANG, Chang-ning LI, Bin PENG, Xue-qiang SHI
    Acta Prataculturae Sinica    2024, 33 (5): 204-215.   DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023265
    Abstract190)   HTML8)    PDF (1471KB)(146)       Save

    The leaf beetle Diorhabda rybakowi is one of the most important insect pests causing serious damage to the pioneer plant Nitraria spp., which has windbreak and sand-fixation functions in the desert grasslands of Northwest China. The development and utilization of a chemical method based on insect perception of sex pheromones or host volatiles is a promising pest control strategy. In this study, we obtained an atypical odorant receptor co-receptor (Orco) gene sequence from the antennae of D. rybakowi adults using a molecular cloning method. We predicted the tertiary structure of the DrybOrco protein using homology modeling, constructed a phylogenetic tree, and detected the transcript levels of the DrybOrco gene in different tissues of male and female adults by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. It was found that the DrybOrco full-length gene sequence was 1918 bp long, with an open reading frame of 1440 bp encoding 479 amino acids. The putative protein had a predicted molecular weight of 53.94 kD, contained seven transmembrane domains, and was a hydrophobic membrane protein. The phylogenetic analysis revealed high conservation of Orco genes among 68 species of insects in six different orders (similarity >68%). In the phylogenetic tree, these genes grouped into three branches, with genes from the same insect order clustered on the same branch. The DrybOrco gene was clustered on the branch with sequences from other coleoptera species, and showed the highest nucleotide sequence similarity (92.28%) to the gene from Diabrotica virgifera. The qRT-PCR results showed that there were high transcript levels of the DrybOrco gene in the adult antennae, and with significantly higher levels (2.27 times higher) in the antennae of males than in the antennae of females. Low levels of DrybOrco transcripts were also detected in the legs of male adults and the wings of female adults, but its transcripts were barely detectable or absent from the other sampled tissues. The results of this study reveal the sequence characteristics and transcript profiles of an Orco gene in D. rybakowi adults, and details of the structure and characteristics of the putative protein. These findings provide a theoretical basis for elucidating the physiological function of the DrybOrco protein in chemosensory processes, and for further detailed studies on the olfactory molecular mechanism of host specialization in D. rybakowi.

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