Garlic is used as a medicinal seasoning worldwide. The aim of this work was to compare four varieties of garlic: ‘Taicangbaipi’, ‘Ershuizao’, ‘Hongqixing’, and ‘Single-clove’; among them, ‘Ershuizao’ and ‘Hongqixing’ are unique to the Sichuan Province of China. Firstly, soluble sugar, starch, and the protein content of the garlic were analysed. There was more soluble sugar in ‘Single-clove’, total starch in ‘Hongqixing’, and protein content in ‘Ershuizao’ relative to the other three varieties, respectively. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis showed that ‘Ershuizao’ and ‘Hongqixing’ contained high levels of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, which has antitumor, antioxidant, and cytoprotective effects. Indeed, the extracts from these two types of garlic were more effective at inhibiting tumour growth than that from the others. Moreover, the sulphide content and antimicrobial effects of ‘Ershuizao’ and ‘Hongqixing’ garlic were also higher than those of the other two types of garlic. In addition, changes observed in the membrane permeability and protein leakage suggest that the antimicrobial activity of the ‘Ershuizao’ and ‘Hongqixing’ extracts may be due to the destruction of the structural integrity of the cell membranes, leading to cell death.
Xinjiang is the largest arid and saline agricultural region in China. The common irrigation methods in this area are traditional flood irrigation and drip irrigation. In this study, we investigated the effects of these two irrigation methods on the fungal diversity, community structures, and functions in alfalfa rhizosphere soil as well as the associated environmental factors in northern Tianshan Mountain (Xinjiang, China). Soil enzyme activities (urease and neutral phosphatase) were significantly higher in the drip-irrigated alfalfa rhizosphere soil than in the flood-irrigated alfalfa rhizosphere soil, whereas the fungal alpha diversity in the drip-irrigated alfalfa rhizosphere soil was significantly lower than that in the flood-irrigated alfalfa rhizosphere soil. Six dominant fungal phyla were identified (>0.1%), with Ascomycota being the most abundant in all soils, followed by Basidiomycota (5.47%), Mortierellomycota (1.07%), Glomeromycota (0.55%), Rozellomycota (0.27%), and Chytridiomycota (0.14%). Ascomycota and Glomeromycota species were significantly less abundant in drip-irrigated alfalfa rhizosphere soil than in flood-irrigated alfalfa rhizosphere soil. A LEFSe analysis identified Cladosporiaceae (20.8%) species as the most abundant marker fungi in drip-irrigated alfalfa rhizosphere soil. Of the 13 fungal functional groups identified on the basis of the functional annotation using the FUNGuild database, Ectomycorrhizal (22.29%) was the primary functional group. Compared with flood irrigation, drip irrigation significantly decreased the relative abundance of Ectomycorrhizal and Arbuscular_Mycorrhizal, while increasing the relative abundance of Plant_Pathogen, although not significantly (P = 0.19). Available potassium was revealed to be the main environmental factor influencing soil enzyme activities, fungal alpha diversity, fungal community structures, and fungal functions in response to the different irrigation methods. In conclusion, drip irrigation may be more appropriate than flood irrigation in the Tianshan dryland agricultural area for enhancing soil enzyme activities, but it may also increase the abundance of plant pathogenic fungi in the soil.
Soil pollution in coal mining areas is a serious environmental problem in China and elsewhere. In this study, surface and vertical profile soil samples were collected from a coal mine area in Dazhu, Southwestern China. Microscopic observation, concentrations, chemical speciation, statistical analysis, spatial distribution, and risk assessment were used to assess heavy metal pollution. The results show that the weathering of coal-bearing sandstone and mining activities substantially contributed to soil pollution. The concentrations of Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mn, Cd, Hg, and Pb exceeded their background values. Cd caused the most intense pollution and was associated with heavily–extremely contaminated soils. The residual fraction was dominant for most metals, except Cd and Mn, for which the reducible fraction was dominant (Cd: 55.17%; Mn: 81.16%). Zn, Ni, Cd, and Cu presented similar distribution patterns, and Hg and As also shared similar distribution characteristics. Factor 1 represented anthropogenic and lithologic sources, which were affected by mining activities; Factor 2 represented anthropogenic sources, e.g., fertilizers and traffic pollution; and Factor 3 represented the contribution of metals from soil-forming parent material. More than half of the study area had high pollution risk and was not suitable for vegetable cultivation.
Presently concepts and methods related to water resources conservation of mountain rivers are seriously insufficient, and its level is far from being adaptable to the development of a harmonious society. As mountain ecosystems play a key role in water resources conservation of mountain rivers, and the characteristics of mountain ecosystems and hydrologic features of mountain river follow strong temporal and spatial distribution, partition theory can be applied to the water resources conservation of mountain river. This theory observes the following partition principles: regional relativity, spatial continuity, integralcounty, meeting management needs, hierarchical principle, and comparability principle. And it lays equal emphasis on both water resources conservation and environmental protection, on both water quality conservation and water quantity protection, on the combination of water features, water cycle and water pollution. In the partition methods, index method and map superposition method will be applied in region partition. The example of region partition of water resources conservation in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River shows that the partition theory is practicable in water resources conservation of mountain rivers, and it provides a platform for future study in water resources conservation.
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