Overexpression of SSBXoc, a Single-Stranded DNA-Binding Protein From Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola, Enhances Plant Growth and Disease and Salt Stress Tolerance in Transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana

We previously reported that SSBXoc, a highly conserved single-stranded DNA-binding protein from Xanthomonas spp., was secreted through the type III secretion system (T3SS) and functioned as a harpin-like protein to elicit the hypersensitive response (HR) in the non-host plant, tobacco. In this study, we cloned SsbXoc gene from X. oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc), the causal agent of bacterial leaf streak in rice, and transferred it into Nicotiana benthamiana via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The expression of SsbXoc in transgenic N. benthamiana enhanced growth of both seedling and adult plants. When inoculated with the harpin Hpa1 or the pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (Pst DC3000), the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was increased more in SsbXoc transgenic lines than that in wild-type (WT) plants. The expression of pathogenesis-related protein genes (PR1a and SGT1), HR marker genes (HIN1 and HSR203J) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway gene, MPK3, was significantly higher in transgenic lines than in WT after inoculation with Pst DC3000. In addition, SsbXoc transgenic lines showed the enhanced resistance to the pathogenic bacteria P. s. tabaci and the improved tolerance to salt stress, accompanied by the elevated transcription levels of the defense- and stress-related genes. Taken together, these results indicate that overexpression of the SsbXoc gene in N. benthamiana significantly enhanced plant growth and increased tolerance to disease and salt stress via modulating the expression of the related genes, thus providing an alternative approach for development of plants with improved tolerance against biotic and abiotic stresses

Identifying the orbital angular momentum of light based on atomic ensembles

We propose a scheme to distinguish the orbital angular momentum state of the Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) beam based on the electromagnetically induced transparency modulated by a microwave field in atomic ensembles. We show that the transverse phase variation of a probe beam with the LG mode can be mapped into the spatial intensity distribution due to the change of atomic coherence caused by the microwave. The proposal may provide a useful tool for studying higher-dimensional quantum information based on atomic ensembles.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Spin polarization separation of reflected light at Brewster angle

A novel spin polarization separation of reflected light is observed, when a linearly polarized Gaussian beam impinges on an air-glass interface at Brewster angle. In the far-field zone, spins of photons are oppositely polarized in two regions along the direction perpendicular to incident plane. Spatial scale of this polarization is related to optical properties of dielectric and can be controlled by experimental configuration. We believe that this study benefits the manipulation of spins of photons and the development of methods for investigating optical properties of materials.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

The multiplexed light storage of Orbital Angular Momentum based on atomic ensembles

The improvement of the multi-mode capability of quantum memory can further improve the utilization efficiency of the quantum memory and reduce the requirement of quantum communication for storage units. In this letter, we experimentally investigate the multi-mode light multiplexing storage of orbital angular momentum (OAM) mode based on rubidium vapor, and demultiplexing by a photonic OAM mode splitter which combines a Sagnac loop with two dove prisms. Our results show a mode extinction ratio higher than 80$\%$ at 1 $\mu$s of storage time. Meanwhile, two OAM modes have been multiplexing stored and demultiplexed in our experimental configuration. We believe the experimental scheme may provide a possibility for high channel capacity and multi-mode quantum multiplexed quantum storage based on atomic ensembles

Phase gradient protection of stored spatially multimode perfect optical vortex beams in a diffused rubidium vapor

We experimentally investigate the optical storage of perfect optical vortex (POV) and spatially multimode perfect optical vortex (MPOV) beams via electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in a hot vapor cell. In particular, we study the role that phase gradients and phase singularities play in reducing the blurring of the retrieved images due to atomic diffusion. Three kinds of manifestations are enumerated to demonstrate such effect. Firstly, the suppression of the ring width broadening is more prominent for POVs with larger orbital angular momentum (OAM). Secondly, the retrieved double-ring MPOV beams’ profiles present regular dark singularity distributions that are related to their vortex charge difference. Thirdly, the storage fidelities of the triple-ring MPOVs are substantially improved by designing line phase singularities between multi-ring MPOVs with the same OAM number but π offset phases between adjacent rings. Our experimental demonstration of MPOV storage opens new opportunities for increasing data capacity in quantum memories by spatial multiplexing, as well as the generation and manipulation of complex optical vortex arrays

CHES: a space-borne astrometric mission for the detection of habitable planets of the nearby solar-type stars

The Closeby Habitable Exoplanet Survey (CHES) mission is proposed to discover habitable-zone Earth-like planets of the nearby solar-type stars ($\sim 10~\mathrm{pc}$ away from our solar system) via micro-arcsecond relative astrometry. The major scientific objectives of CHES are: to search for Earth Twins or terrestrial planets in habitable zones orbiting 100 FGK nearby stars; further to conduct a comprehensive survey and extensively characterize the nearby planetary systems. The primary payload is a high-quality, low-distortion, high-stability telescope. The optical subsystem is a coaxial three-mirror anastigmat (TMA) with a $1.2 \mathrm{~m}$-aperture, $0.44^{\circ} \times 0.44^{\circ}$ field of view and $500 \mathrm{~nm}-900 \mathrm{~nm}$ working waveband. The camera focal plane is composed of 81 MOSAIC scientific CMOS detectors each with $4 \mathrm{~K} \times 4 \mathrm{~K}$ pixels. The heterodyne laser interferometric calibration technology is employed to ensure micro-arcsecond level (1 $\mu$as) relative astrometry precision to meet the requirements for detection of Earth-like planets. CHES satellite operates at the Sun-Earth L2 point and observes the entire target stars for 5 years. CHES will offer the first direct measurements of true masses and inclinations of Earth Twins and super-Earths orbiting our neighbor stars based on micro-arcsecond astrometry from space. This will definitely enhance our understanding of the formation of diverse nearby planetary systems and the emergence of other worlds for solar-type stars, and finally to reflect the evolution of our own solar system.Comment: 39 pages, 37 figures, Invited Review, accepted to Research in Astronomy and Astrophysic