Morphological and molecular characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oidium</Emphasis> subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Reticuloidium</Emphasis> (powdery mildew) newly occurred on cucumber in Japan

In 2002, a powdery mildew with catenate conidia lacking fibrosin bodies was found on cucumber in a greenhouse in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Morphological observation revealed that the fungus belongs to Oidium subgenus Reticuloidium, anamorph of the genus Golovinomyces. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of the nucleotide sequences of the rDNA ITS regions and D1/D2 domains of the 28S rDNA indicated that the fungus belongs to the clade of G. orontii with other Golovinomyces fungi from a wide range of host plants, suggesting that the fungus was newly transported from abroad. Because there has been no prior report of cucumber powdery mildew caused by Reticuloidium, further research on the physiology, epidemiology, control and resistant cucumber varieties is required.     

Genetic variation in height growth curves observed in three clonal tests of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) in Kyushu

Genetic variation in the height growth curves was investigated by analyzing data from three clonal trials of sugi (Crytomeria japonica D. Don) in Kyushu. Average height of twelve clones measured at each of five years until 30 years of age were fitted to the Chapman-Richards function with two parameters model. Clonal variation in the two parameters (an upper asymptote and a rate of growth parameter) was statistically significant across the tests, indicating that height growth pattern is under genetic control. The type of growth curve was clearly classified with the two parameters and agreed with the empirical classifications of the growth habit of local varieties. The rate of growth parameter was correlated with total height up to 20 years of age, while the upper asymptote was correlated only with the last ten years’ increment from 21 to 30 years where the clonal repeatability was decreasing. This indicates that a clonal selection for long rotation management system would not be reliable unless the height is measured accurately with more advanced devices or it is adjusted by the current increment of diameter.     

Realized genetic gain observed in second-generation seedling seed orchards of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia mangium</Emphasis> in South Kalimantan,Indonesia

Realized genetic gains brought by the first-generation tree improvement of Acacia mangium were evaluated by analyzing the 1-year growth performance of growth (height, dbh) and form (stem straightness, multi-stem) traits using data collected from three second-generation orchards: groups B, C, and D. Each orchard was composed of improved families derived from open-pollinated seed of plus trees selected from the first-generation seed orchards and newly added unimproved families collected from the same geographic region. The number of improved families and that of the unimproved in each orchard were 31 and 23 for group B, 28 and 39 for group C, and 24 and 30 for group D. Gains were calculated as percentage increase of improved families over unimproved ones. Improved families performed better than unimproved ones in 11 out of 12 comparison cases: four traits each in the three orchards. Averages of the realized genetic gain across the three seedling seed orchards were 3.1%, 5.2%, 4.3%, and 0.5% for height, dbh, stem straightness, and multi-stem, respectively. Except for multi-stem, the performances of improved families were significantly better than those of unimproved families in all the three orchards for dbh and in two out of three orchards for height and stem straightness.     

A stem taper equation compatible to volume equation for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paraserianthes falcataria </Emphasis>in Pare,East Java,Indonesia: its implications for the plantation management

A stem taper equation compatible to the volume equation was derived from the data of 172 trees sampled in the three plantations of Paraserianthes falcataria in Pare, East Java. The stem taper equation in this study was based on a conventional logarithmic volume equation, with the addition of one free parameter that minimized the standard errors of estimate to the observed diameter of stems at 1.0-m intervals. The derived equation was able to predict the stem taper of P. falcataria reasonably well, while it was not flexible enough to describe delicate changes of the taper in the upper portion of stem. The equation was able to predict bole length and the volume up to the top diameter 20 cm, the diameter size merchantable for sawn timber in Indonesia, with reasonable accuracy. An appropriate rotation age for sawn-timber production was found to be 8–9 years old, at which the mean annual increment of sawn timber would be maximized.     

Screening of heterozygous DNA markers in shiitake (Lentinula edodes) using de-dikaryotization via preparation of protoplasts and isolation of four meiotic monokaryons from one basidium

A suitable screening method for heterozygous DNA markers in shiitake,Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler, is reported. Monokaryons were derived from a dikaryon by de-dikaryotization via protoplast formation. Compatibility of the monokaryons was determined by pairwise culture on agar plates. We selected the primers to amplify polymorphic fragments among the original strain (Hokken600H600) and two monokaryons (H600PP-39 and H600PP-67) showing compatibility. A total of 135 fragments were selected as specific random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs) resulting from 56 primers of the 147 primers tested. Furthermore, we tested whether the polymorphic fragments segregated into 22 among four strains isolated from a basidium. Most of the polymorphic fragments (about 97.8%) showed 22 segregation among the four strains. We concluded that the polymorphic fragments were heterozygous if they were detected in either of the monokaryons (H600PP-39 and H600PP-67) and segregated to 22 among four meiotic strains (H600B-1,-2, -3, and -4). A total of 132 heterozygous DNA markers were therefore selected from a dikaryon of shiitake (Hokken600H600).Part of this report was presented at the 8th Annual Meeting of Mushroom Science and Biotechnology and the 47th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Kochi, 1997     

A case of glomus tumor in a dog

A subcutaneous mass at the digit of the left-hind limb of a 12-year-old, male mongrel dog was examined. A white firm mass, approximately 1 x 2 cm in diameter, was excided surgically. Histopathologically, the mass formed multiple nodules consisting of mixed proliferation of round epithelioid cells arranged in cord or sheet-like structures and small spindle cells forming loose irregular bundles. The epithelioid cells often showed proliferation around the blood vessels. A few giant cells scattering in the neoplastic foci were observed. The neoplastic cells were positive for alpha-smooth muscle actin and vimentin, and were negative for cytokeratin (AE1/AE3), desmin, factor-VIII related antigen, S-100 protein, and neuron specific enolase. On the basis of these findings, this tumor was diagnosed as glomus tumor. Since the present neoplasm had neither recurrence nor distal metastasis during the 12 month after surgical resection, the biological natures of the present neoplasm are supposed to be benign.     

Establishment and characterization of a cell line, MCO-Y4, derived from canine mammary gland osteosarcoma

A cell line, MCO-Y4, was established from a mammary gland osteosarcoma of a 16-year-old female mongrel dog. Histopathologically the tumor was composed of osteoblastic cells with an osteoid meshwork and chondroid matrix. The mean doubling time of the cells at the 93rd passage was 32.39+/-4.66 hr. Immunohistochemically, the osteoblastic and chondroblastic cells were positive for bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2/4 and BMP receptor (BMPR) II. The cultured cells were spindle in shape during the growth and the confluent phases. No tumor matrix was detected in the culture dish by alcian blue staining or von-Kossa silver impregnation. MCO-Y4 cells on the chamber slides showed intense immunoreactivity for BMP-2/4 and BMPR II. Noggin, an antagonist for BMP-2/4, showed the growth inhibition on MCO-Y4 cells. In addition, fibronectin might be potential for stimulating growth of MCO-Y4 cells. When transplanted into severe combined immunodeficiency mice, the cells formed tumors consisting of solid proliferation of osteoblastic and fibroblastic cells with woven-bone trabeculae. These tumor cells were intensely positive for BMP-2/4 and BMPR II. Our results suggested that the cell line might be useful for studying the role of BMPs in canine osteosarcoma and the mechanism of ossification.     

Auxiliary subunits assist AMPA-type glutamate receptors

Glutamate, the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, acts primarily on two types of ionotropic receptors: alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Work over the past decade indicates that regulated changes in the number of synaptic AMPA receptors may serve as a mechanism for information storage. Recent studies demonstrate that a family of small transmembrane AMPA receptor regulatory proteins (TARPs) controls both AMPA receptor trafficking and channel gating. TARPs provide the first example of auxiliary subunits of ionotropic receptors. Here we review the pivotal role that TARPs play in the life cycle of AMPA receptors.     

Protective Effect of Stachybotrys microspora Triprenyl Phenol-7on the Deposition of IgA to the Glomerular Mesangium in Nivalenol-induced IgA Nephropathy Using BALB/c Mice

Activators of tissue proteolysis including Stachybotrys microspora triprenyl phenol (SMTP)-7 are a new class of agents that are expected to be effective for amelioration of chronic tissue destructive diseases. The present study was performed to examine whether SMTP-7 is effective for the amelioration or protection of early-stage IgA nephropathy (IgAN) induced by nivalenol (NIV) in female BALB/c mice. In Experiment 1, mice were administered NIV at 24 ppm in diet for 8 weeks, and during the NIV treatment, they were intraperitoneally injected with SMTP-7 (10 mg/kg) three times a week. In Experiment 2, mice were injected similarly with SMTP-7 during the last 4 weeks of a 16-week NIV treatment. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed an inhibitory effect of SMTP-7 on the glomerular deposition of IgA in Experiment 1; however, it was ineffective in Experiment 2. On the other hand, SMTP-7 did not affect the serum concentration of IgA in both experiments. These results suggest that SMTP-7 has a potential to decrease the progression of IgAN induced by NIV through inhibition of local accumulation of IgA in the glomerular mesangium, while it was ineffective for suppression of IgA production. On the other hand, SMTP-7 was found to be ineffective for already deposited IgA, suggesting that SMTP-7 may not be effective for ameliorating advanced IgAN.