Deciphering higher order non-allelic interactions for quantitative characters through twelve generation mean analysis in castor (Ricinus communis L.)

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - The genetic architecture of oil content, seed yield and its related biometric traits in castor was investigated through generation mean analysis in four...     

Gambusia holbrooki,the ‘tadpolefish’: The impact of its predatory behaviour on four protected species of European amphibians

相似文献   

Characteristics of phosphorus fractions in the soils derived from sedimentary and serpentinite rocks in lowland tropical rain forests,Borneo

ABSTRACT

Soil organic phosphorus (P) is an important P source for biota especially in P-limited forests. Organic P has various chemical formations which differ in bioavailability and these organic P can be degraded by phosphatase enzymes. Here, we report soil P fractions inferred from solution ³¹P-NMR spectroscopy and soil phosphatase activities of two tropical rain forests on contrasting parent materials; sedimentary and ultramafic igneous (serpentinite) rocks. Compared to the sedimentary soils　and previous studies, P fractions of the serpentinite soils have distinctly high proportions of pyrophosphate and scyllo-inositol hexakisphosphate (scyllo-IP₆). The accumulation of pyrophosphate and scyllo-IP₆ may be related to strong sorptive capacity of iron oxides present in the serpentinite soils, which implies a consequent low P availability in the serpentinite soils. Mean value of soil phosphatase activities was higher in the serpentinite soils than in the sedimentary soils, suggesting that biota in these serpentinite forests depend more on soil organic P as a P source.     

Characterization of Japanese <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizoctonia solani</Emphasis> AG-2-1 isolates using rDNA-ITS sequences,culture morphology,and growth temperature

Rhizoctonia solani AG-2-1 is classified into three subsets (Subsets 1–3) based on the rDNA-ITS sequence. Few Japanese isolates, however, have been phylogenetically analyzed. To understand the distribution and diversification of AG-2-1 isolates in Japan, we examined 23 Japanese AG-2-1 isolates (15 from Hokkaido, the northernmost island, and eight from NARO Genebank) in terms of rDNA-ITS sequences, culture morphology, and temperature-dependent growth characteristics. Of these, 15 isolates were found to belong to Subset 1. One isolate, which formed a light brown colony with concentric rings and grew slowly at 25 °C, was classified into Subset 2. Six isolates had varied culture morphology and relatively faster growth than Subset 1 isolates at 30 °C. They formed a clade on the phylogenetic tree, designated clade HK, with cauliflower isolates from Belgium and the Netherlands, with a bootstrap value of 47%, and were separate from the three known subsets. Sequence similarity in the rDNA-ITS region for this clade ranged from 98.2 to 100%, whereas clade HK isolates had 96.7–98.6% similarity with the isolates in each subset. This result suggests that clade HK is likely an independent intragroup within AG-2-1, although the rDNA-ITS sequences in this clade were variable. One isolate was not assignable to any clade because it was intermediate between isolates in clade HK and Subset 2. This is the first report describing variation among rDNA-ITS sequences of Japanese AG-2-1 isolates.     

Lignification in developing culms of bamboo <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sinobambusa tootsik</Emphasis>

Bamboos are among the largest woody grasses and grow very rapidly. Although lignin is a crucial factor for the utilization of bamboo biomass, the lignification mechanism of bamboo shoots is poorly understood. We studied lignification in the bamboo Sinobambusa tootsik during culm development. Elongation growth began in May and ended in late-June, when the lignin content was approximately half that in mature culms. Thioacidolysis analysis indicated that p-hydroxyphenyl units in lignin formed even at late stages of lignification. The syringyl/guaiacyl ratio varied during culm development. Various lignin precursors were detected in developing culms by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. The ferulic acid content decreased from May to June, indicating that ferulic acid was utilized in early stages of cell wall formation. Monolignol glucosides were detected at early stages of lignification, whereas the contents of monolignols, coniferaldehyde, sinapaldehyde, p-coumaric acid, and ferulic acid peaked at later stages of lignification. Therefore, lignin precursors may be supplied differentially during the lignification process. In August, the rate of lignification decreased, although the contents of various lignin precursors peaked, implying that the rate-limiting step in the cessation of lignification in bamboo is transport or polymerization of lignin precursors, rather than their biosynthesis.     

Elevated serum haptoglobin in pigs infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus.

We examined the two acute phase proteins, alpha (alpha)-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) and haptoglobin (HP), in serum of pigs following experimental porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus infection. Increased levels of serum HP, but not AGP, were observed from 7 to 21 days post-inoculation in the infected pigs. Furthermore, serum IL-6 increased in the infected pigs, but TNF-alpha did not. The increase of serum IL-6 in pigs following PRRS virus infection may induce production of HP. Also, in the field investigation, serum HP in pigs was dramatically increased after exposure to the PRRS virus.     

Lactococcus garvieae outbreaks in Brazilian farms Lactococcosis in Pseudoplatystoma sp. – development of an autogenous vaccine as a control strategy

This study evaluated the control of streptococcosis outbreaks in Brazil, isolated from diseased sorubim and identified as Lactococcus garvieae by genetic sequencing. This report determined the potential for lactococcosis control in sorubim Pseudoplatystoma sp. with two vaccines: an aqueous‐based, whole‐cell inactivated vaccine (bacterin) and an oil‐adjuvanted bacterin. Their efficacy was evaluated at 30 days post‐vaccination (d.p.v.) by challenge with L. garvieae, and the antibody production response at 15, 30 and 60 d.p.v. and the non‐specific immune response were compared amongst treatments. High protection levels (P < 0.05) were achieved with the oil‐adjuvanted vaccine with a relative percentage survival value of 81.7% at 30 d.p.v. Additionally, the oil‐adjuvanted vaccine increased the immunogenicity of the bacterin as indicated by greater agglutination antibody titres from 15 until 60 d.p.v. This is the first report of a positive effect of vaccine administration on the specific immunity of sorubim, and the study showed that a specific antibody plays an important role in sorubim defence against lactococcosis because the innate immune responses were similar in all of the studied animals. These results demonstrated that oil‐adjuvanted vaccine can be an effective alternative for the protection of sorubim from L. garvieae disease.