Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) play a regulatory role in various physiological processes in mammals and act as endogenous ligands for the G protein-coupled receptors (GPR) 41 and 43. The role of GPR41 and GPR43 in mediating SCFA signaling in the rabbit remains unclear. The present study was to investigate the sequence of the GPR41 and GPR43 messenger RNA (mRNA) and their expression pattern in different tissues and developmental stages in New Zealand rabbit. Comparison of genomic sequences in GenBank using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool program suggested that the New Zealand rabbit GPR41 mRNA has high similarities with the human (84%), bovine (84%) and Capra hircus (84%) genes. Similarly, GPR43 mRNA has high similarity with the rat (84%) and mouse (84%) genes. Real-time PCR results indicated that GPR41 and GPR43 mRNA were expressed throughout rabbit's whole development and were expressed in several tissues. G protein-coupled receptor 41 and GPR43 mRNA were most highly expressed in pancreas (P<0.05) and s.c. adipose tissue (P<0.05), respectively. The expression levels of GPR41 mRNA was down-regulated in duodenum, cecum (P<0.05) and pancreas and up-regulated in jejunum, ileum, adipose tissue and spleen during growth. G protein-coupled receptor 43GPR43 mRNA was highly expressed in the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon, cecum and lung at 15th day (P<0.05), whereas the expression levels in the pancreas and spleen increased later after birth, with the highest expression at 60th day (P<0.05).

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Branched spike wheat is a hexaploid germplasm with branched rachis on its main rachises, and the crucial period for branched rachises occurrence and development is just after the two ridges stage of shoot apex. Natural [indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole-3butyric acid (IBA)] and synthetic [(1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)] auxins were applied at this period to investigate the spike traits, seedling growth and photosynthesis related characters and expression of a putative homologue of the LEAFY in branched spike wheat. The four types of experienced auxins induced similar effects on these foresaid characters, although the impact extents were different among the auxins treatments. More branched rachis, spikelets, fertile florets and longer branched rachis were obtained in plants with IAA and IBA at 0.1 mM or NAA and 2,4-D at 1.0mM than those plants with no auxin treated. Auxin treatments also increased fresh and dry mass, photosynthetic pigment and parameters. TFL, a LEAFY-like gene was cloned in branched spike wheat and TFL mRNA expression was quantified using real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR. Application of the auxins accelerated the rise in TFL expression during the periods of branched rachises occurrence and extension. The data supports the hypothesis that auxins play a central role in the regulation branched spike development and TFL might correlate with the development of branched rachises in branched spike wheat.

The transgenic pollen spread is the main pathway of transgenic plant gene flow. The maximum distance of pollen dispersal (horizontal), the spatial dynamics of pollen movement (vertical), and the patterns of pollen dispersal are important considerations in biosafety assessments of genetically modified crops. To evaluate wheat (Triticum aestivum) pollen dispersal, we measured the pollen suspension velocity and analyzed pollen dispersal patterns under natural conditions in the Huanghuai River wheat-growing region in 2009. The pollen suspension velocity was 0.3-0.4 m/s. The highest pollen densities were detected in the north, northwest, and south of the pollen source. Pollen was dispersed over distances greater than 245 m in the northwest and northeast directions. At the pollen source center, pollen density decreased with increasing vertical height. In the north of the pollen source, the pollen density from 65 m to 225 m showed a wave-mode decrease with increasing height. The horizontal transport of pollen over longer distances fitted polynomial equations. In the north, the pollen density was highest at 45 m from the pollen source, and decreased with increasing distance. In the northwest, the pollen density showed a double-peak trend. In the northeast, pollen density was highest from 45 m to 125 m from the source. Wind speeds greater than the pollen suspension velocity and the duration of continuous gusts were the main factors affecting pollen dispersal. This information will be useful for determining the spatial isolation distances for hybrid seed production and for the commercial production of transgenic wheat.

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