Allelopathic activity of leaching from dry leaves and exudate from roots of ground cover plants assayed on agar

The effects of leaches from dry leaves of 71 ground cover plant species on lettuce were tested at the first screening. The inhibitory effects on radicle and hypocotyl elongations of lettuce varied with the different species of cover plants that were used. Eight species of Oxalis showed strong inhibitions (4–27% of untreated control on radicle elongation). Inhibitory activities of seven species of cover plants on three weed species, live amaranth ( Amaranthus lividus ), southern crabgrass ( Digitaria ciliaris ) and common lambsquarters ( Chenopodium album ), were tested at the second screening. Moss pink ( Phlox subulata ), trefoil ( Oxalis brasiliensis ), red spiderlily ( Lycoris radiata ), creeping thyme ( Thymus serpyllum ), European pennyroyal ( Mentha pulegium ), roman chamomile ( Chamaemelum nobile ) and star-of-Bethlehem ( Ornithogalum umbellatum ) were selected as donor plants because of their high inhibitory effects on lettuce growth and their usefulness as ornamental ground cover plants. Effects of leaches from dry leaves and exudates from the roots of these species were assayed on agar. Radicle elongations of all tested weed species were inhibited by leaches from trefoil and red spiderlily (8–31% and 14–24% of untreated control, respectively) and exudates from moss pink, trefoil and creeping thyme (11–43%, 31–74% and 22–67% of untreated control, respectively).     

Studies on herbicidal carbamoyltetrazolinone derivatives: Selection of fentrazamide

1-Phenyl-5(4 H )-4-dialkylcarbamoyltetrazolinones represent a new class of herbicides that are active against barnyardgrass ( Echinochloa spp.) in paddy fields. To select the most favorable compound as a paddy herbicide, herbicidal activity and selectivity of the carbamoyltetrazolinone compounds to transplanted rice were determined in greenhouse tests. Higher herbicidal activities were associated with the compounds having a 2-Cl- or 2-Cl-6-Me-substituted or an unsubstituted phenyl ring, and a combination of C_2–3 linear alkyl group and a C₄ branched-chain alkyl or a C_5–6 cycloalkyl group on the nitrogen atom in the carbamoyl structure. In addition, the compounds carrying a total of seven to nine carbon atoms in the substituents on the carbamoyl nitrogen exhibited a good selectivity between barnyardgrass and transplanted rice plants. From the results of soil thick-layer chromatography, the good crop compatibility of carbamoyltetrazolinones was correlated to the mobility of the compounds in paddy soil. The investigation resulted in the selection of an excellent compound, 4-(2-chlorophenyl)- N -cyclohexyl- N -ethyl-4,5-dihydro-5-oxo-1 H -tetrazole-1-carboxamide (common name: fentrazamide), as a rice paddy herbicide for controlling barnyardgrass.     

Evaluation of the allelopathic activity of five Oxalidaceae cover plants and the demonstration of potent weed suppression by Oxalis species

Laboratory and field experiments were conducted to evaluate the usefulness of Oxalis spp. as allelopathic ground-cover plants for weed management. Some Oxalis spp. have previously been reported to possess strong allelopathic activities but few studies have been conducted on their activities in fields. This study aimed to investigate allelopathic activities and the possibility of weed suppression in five species of common Oxalis : shamrock oxalis ( Oxalis articulata Savigny), Bowie's woodsorrel ( Oxalis bowiei Lindl.), trefoil ( Oxalis brasiliensis Lodd. ex Knowl. et West.), lucky clover ( Oxalis deppei Lodd. ex Sweet) and Oxalis hirta L. The effects of the leachates from dry leaves and the exudates from living roots of these plant species were tested in laboratory experiments. The leachates from O. articulata , O. bowiei , O. deppei and O. hirta and the exudates from O. deppei caused > 84% inhibition of the radicle elongation of lettuce seedlings, but no effect was observed on the seed germination of lettuce. In the field experiment, O. deppei significantly reduced the weed population in July. A significant relationship was observed between the weed population and the percentage ground coverage of Oxalis spp. In contrast to the weed population, a significant relationship was observed between the weed above-ground biomass and the allelopathic activity of exudates from Oxalis spp.     

Effects of slaughter age on the levels of free amino acids and dipeptides in fattening cattle

The effects of slaughter age, breed type and postmortem period were studied on the concentrations of free amino acids (FAA) and dipeptides (carnosine and anserine) in Longissimus dorsi muscle of beef. Slaughter age affected the levels of most FAA and dipeptides, and the concentrations of these compounds were significantly lower at 35 months of age than either 15 or 25 months of age. Slight increases were observed at 25 months compared with 15 months, but the differences were not significant except for a few FAA. These tendencies still remained when the concentrations were recalculated on the basis of protein. A significant breed effect was observed for taurine, carnosine and anserine. Almost all FAA were significantly increased during postmortem conditioning, but the level of each FAA fluctuated, and the fluctuations could not be explained statistically by slaughter age or breed differences.     

Effects of fat coated rumen bypass lysine and methionine on performance of dairy cows fed a diet deficient in lysine and methionine

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of fat coated rumen bypass lysine (RPLys) and methionine (RPMet) on the lactation performance of dairy cows. In Experiment 1, three lactating cows were supplied with RPLys and fat coated DL‐Met which was highly protected (H‐RPMet) as an indigestible marker, and total fecal emission was collected for 72 h following administration. Measuring the proportional difference in fecal excretion of lysine derived from RPLys relative to methionine derived from H‐RPMet, the intestinal availability of RPLys was estimated to be 66.2%. In Experiment 2, 20 multiparous Holstein cows producing approximately 40 kg/day of milk were assigned to two treatments; fed RPLys (16 g/day as lysine) and RPMet (6.5 g/day as methionine) or none (control) from 5 to 21 weeks postpartum. The consumption of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber were significantly more in the control cows throughout the experimental period. Their milk protein yield, the contents of their milk protein and milk fat were higher by 0.03 kg (P = 0.03), 0.06% (P < 0.001) and 0.11% (P = 0.07), respectively, in the treatment group compared to the control. These results suggest that the RPLys and RPMet used in this study improved the lactation performance of dairy cows.     

Molecular basis of diverse responses to acetolactate synthase-inhibiting herbicides in sulfonylurea-resistant biotypes of Schoenoplectus juncoides

Sulfonylurea-resistant biotypes of Schoenoplectus juncoides were collected from Nakafurano, Shiwa, Matsuyama, and Yurihonjyo in Japan. All of the four biotypes showed resistance to bensulfuron-methyl and thifensulfuron-methyl in whole-plant experiments. The growth of the Nakafurano, Shiwa, and Matsuyama biotypes was inhibited by imazaquin-ammonium and bispyribac-sodium, whereas the Yurihonjyo biotype grew normally after treatment with these herbicides. The herbicide concentration required to inhibit the acetolactate synthase (ALS) enzyme by 50% (I₅₀), obtained using in vivo ALS assays, indicated that the four biotypes were > 10-fold more resistant to thifensulfuron-methyl than a susceptible biotype. The Nakafurano, Shiwa, and Matsuyama biotypes exhibited no or little resistance to imazaquin-ammonium, whereas the Yurihonjyo biotype exhibited 6700-fold resistance to the herbicide. The Nakafurano and Shiwa biotypes exhibited no resistance to bispyribac-sodium, but the Matsuyama biotype exhibited 21-fold resistance and the Yurihonjyo biotype exhibited 260-fold resistance to the herbicide. Two S. juncoides ALS genes (ALS1 and ALS2) were isolated and each was found to contain one intron and to encode an ALS protein of 645 amino acids. Sequencing of the ALS genes revealed an amino acid substitution at Pro₁₉₇ in either encoded protein (ALS1 or ALS2) in the biotypes from Nakafurano (Pro₁₉₇ → Ser₁₉₇), Shiwa (Pro₁₉₇ → His₁₉₇), and Matsuyama (Pro₁₉₇ → Leu₁₉₇). The ALS2 of the biotype from Yurihonjyo was found to contain a Trp₅₇₄ → Leu₅₇₄ substitution. The relationships between the responses to ALS-inhibiting herbicides and the amino acid substitutions, which are consistent with previous reports in other plants, indicate that the substitutions at Pro₁₉₇ and Trp₅₇₄ are the basis of the resistance to sulfonylureas in these S. juncoides biotypes.     

A comparative epidemiological study of hantavirus infection in Japan and Far East Russia

Hantaviruses are causative agents of some severe human illnesses, including hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). The viruses are maintained by rodent hosts, and humans acquire infection by inhaling virus-contaminated excreta from infected animals. To examine the epidemiology of hantavirus infections in Japan and Far East Russia, we conducted epidemiological surveys in these regions. In Japan, anti-hantavirus antibodies were found in four rodent species, Clethrionomys rufocanus, Rattus norvegicus, R. rattus, and Apodemus speciosus. Although no new HFRS cases have been officially reported over the past 20 years in Japan, one member of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force did test positive for hantavirus antibody. Repeated surveys in Far East Russia have revealed that two distinct hantavirus types cause severe HFRS in this region. Hantavirus sequences identified from A. peninsulae, fetal HFRS cases in Vladivostok, and Amur virus are highly similar to each other (> 92% identity), but they are less similar (approximately 84% identity) to the prototypical Hantaan virus, which is carried by A. agrarius. Phylogenetic analysis also indicates that Amur and A. peninsulae-associated viruses are distinct from Hantaan virus, suggesting that A. peninsulae is the reservoir animal for Amur virus, which causes severe HFRS. From HFRS patients in the Khabarovsk region, we identified viruses with nucleotide sequences that are more similar to Far East virus (> 96%identity) than to the Hantaan (88-89% identity) or Amur (81-83% identity) viruses. Phylogenetic analysis also indicates that the viruses from Khabarovsk HFRS patients are closely related to the Far East virus, and distinct from Amur virus.     

Production of transgenic cloned pigs expressing the far-red fluorescent protein monomeric Plum

Monomeric Plum (Plum), a far-red fluorescent protein with photostability and photopermeability, is potentially suitable for in vivo imaging and detection of fluorescence in body tissues. The aim of this study was to generate transgenic cloned pigs exhibiting systemic expression of Plum using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technology. Nuclear donor cells for SCNT were obtained by introducing a Plum-expression vector driven by a combination of the cytomegalovirus early enhancer and chicken beta-actin promoter into porcine fetal fibroblasts (PFFs). The cleavage and blastocyst formation rates of reconstructed SCNT embryos were 81.0% (34/42) and 78.6% (33/42), respectively. At 36–37 days of gestation, three fetuses systemically expressing Plum were obtained from one recipient to which 103 SCNT embryos were transferred (3/103, 2.9%). For generation of offspring expressing Plum, rejuvenated PFFs were established from one cloned fetus and used as nuclear donor cells. Four cloned offspring and one stillborn cloned offspring were produced from one recipient to which 117 SCNT embryos were transferred (5/117, 4.3%). All offspring exhibited high levels of Plum fluorescence in blood cells, such as lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes. In addition, the skin, heart, kidney, pancreas, liver and spleen also exhibited Plum expression. These observations demonstrated that transfer of the Plum gene did not interfere with the development of porcine SCNT embryos and resulted in the successful generation of transgenic cloned pigs that systemically expressed Plum. This is the first report of the generation and characterization of transgenic cloned pigs expressing the far-red fluorescent protein Plum.