Genetic analysis of antixenosis resistance to the common cutworm (Spodoptera litura Fabricius) and its relationship with pubescence characteristics in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)

The common cutworm (CCW, Spodoptera litura Fabricius) is one of the most serious pests of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). Previously, two quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for antibiosis resistance to CCW, CCW-1 and CCW-2, were detected in the resistant cultivar Himeshirazu. In this study, we conducted an anti-xenosis bioassay using a recombinant inbred population derived from a cross between a susceptible cultivar Fukuyutaka and Himeshirazu to perform QTL analysis. Two QTLs for antixenosis resistance, qRslx1 and qRslx2, were identified on Chrs 7 and 12, and the resistant alleles of qRslx1 and qRslx2 were derived from Himeshirazu and Fukuyutaka, respectively. The position of qRslx1 is similar to that of CCW-1. We also analyzed pubescence characteristics because they have been reported to be associated with soybean insect resistance. Two QTLs for pubescence length (on Chrs 7 and 12) and two QTLs for pubescence density (on Chrs 1 and 12) were identified. The pubescence QTLs on Chrs 7 and 12 were located near qRslx1 and qRslx2, respectively. These results suggest that the antixenosis resistance could be controlled genetically by the identified QTLs and that the pubescence characteristics might contribute to the soybean antixenosis resistance to CCW.     

Analysis of 2-alkylcyclobutanones with accelerated solvent extraction to detect irradiated meat and fish

A new analytical procedure has been developed to analyze 2-alkylcyclobutanones to detect gamma-ray-irradiated fat-containing foodstuffs. Samples were extracted with an accelerated solvent extraction system via hot and pressurized ethyl acetate in cells. A large amount of fat in the extract was precipitated and removed with filtration by standing at -20 degrees C after the addition of acetonitrile. The extract was further cleaned with a 1 g silica gel mini column, and the radiolytic compounds of 2-docecylcyclobutanone (2-DCB) and 2-tetradecylcyclobutanone (2-TCB) were determined with gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Sample preparation time before GC/MS was 7-8 h. At first, the procedure was evaluated with a recovery test in eight samples spiked with 2-DCB and 2-TCB at 20 ng/g, resulting in 70-105% recoveries with mostly less than 10% relative standard deviations. The procedure was further evaluated with beef, pork, chicken, and salmon samples irradiated with gamma-rays from 0.7 to 7.0 kGy at -19 degrees C. Both 2-DCB and 2-TCB in most samples were detected with good dose-response relations at all doses, while salmon was detected more than 2 kGy irradiation. The amounts of 2-alkylcyclobutanones produced reflected precursor fatty acids levels in samples, especially for the combination of 2-TCB and stearic acid. The results indicated that the production rate of 2-TCB to stearic acid was more obvious than that of 2-DCB to palmitic acid in frozen samples with gamma-ray irradiation.     

Instability of glacial climate in a model of the ocean- atmosphere-cryosphere system

In contrast to the relatively stable climate of the past 10,000 years, during glacial times the North Atlantic region experienced large-amplitude transitions between cold (stadial) and warm (interstadial) states. In this modeling study, we demonstrate that hydrological interactions between the Atlantic thermohaline circulation (THC) and adjacent continental ice sheets can trigger abrupt warming events and also limit the lifetime of the interstadial circulation mode. These interactions have the potential to destabilize the THC, which is already more sensitive for glacial conditions than for the present-day climate, thus providing an explanation for the increased variability of glacial climate.     

Factors Affecting Microbial Biomass and Dehydrogenasc Activity in Apple Orchard Soils with Heavy Metal Accumulation

The size of the microbial biomass and dehydrogenase activity were measured in air-dried and rewetted apple orchard surface soils with accumulation of Cu, Pb, and As due to the application of Bordeaux mixtures and lead arsenate. The largest amounts of total Cu, Pb, and As found in the soils used were 1,108, 1,271, and 209 mg kg^-1 soil, respectively. The amounts of 0.1 M HCl-extractable heavy metals were strongly correlated with the total amounts, while those of 0.1 M CaCl₂-extractable heavy metals, except for As, increased significantly with decreasing soil pH. The amounts of microbial biomass C and N, expressed on a soil organic C and total N basis, respectively, were each negatively correlated with the amounts of total and 0.1 M HCl-extractable Cu. On the other hand, the dehydrogenase activity was not affected by the amounts of total and 0.1 M HCl-extractable heavy metals, and was negatively correlated with the amount of 0.1 M CaCl₂-extractable Cu and positively with the soil pH. Higher significant correlations were observed when the dehydrogenase activity was calculated per unit of soil organic C. Thus the microbial biomass was adversely affected by the slightly soluble fractions of Cu accumulated in apple orchard soils, whereas the dehydrogenase activity was affected by the water-soluble and exchangeable Cu of which amount depended on the soil pH. It is suggested that the microbial biomass and dehydrogenase activity expressed on a soil organic matter basis could become useful indicators for assessing the effects of heavy metals on the size and activity of the microbial biomass in soils differing in organic matter contents.     

Quantitative and qualitative changes of organic matter in an Ando soil induced by mineral fertilizer and cattle manure applications for 20 years

The effects of continuous application of cattle manure on the quantity and quality of soil organic matter (OM) were investigated in an Ando soil (Melanudand). Surface soil samples were periodically taken from NPK and NPK+ manure (80, 160, and 320 Mg ha^-1 y^-1) plots over a period of 20 y. Particulate (>53 µm) and mineral-associated <53 µm) OM fractions were separated from the soil samples by sieving after:mechanical dispersion. For the NPK treatment, both the organic C and total N concentrations of the whole soil continued to decrease, the reduction reaching about 10% after 20 y. Manure application at the rate of 80 Mg ha^-1 y^-1 did not lead to an increase in the amounts of organic C and total N in the whole soil. In contrast, both the organic C and total N concentrations increased by the application of 160 and 320 Mg ha^-1 y^-1 manure. Manure application at the rate of 320 Mg ha^-1 y^-1 increased the organic C concentration by 30% and total N concentration by 48% after 20 y. The decrease in the organic C and total N concentrations in soil with NPK fertilization was attributed to a decrease in the amount of mineralassociated OM. Manure application increased significantly the amount of particulate OM, while it did not affect the amount of mineral-associated OM. It also resulted in a decrease in the C/N ratio of soil OM, especially of the particulate OM. The analysis of humic acids showed that manure application induced a decrease in the degree of humification and an accumulation of high molecular weight components. The quantitative'and qualitative changes of OM in the Ando soil upon manure application were mainly due to the accumulation of manure-derived particulate OM.     

Reproductive cycle,age, and body size at maturity and fecundity of female willowy flounder <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tanakius kitaharai</Emphasis>

Annual reproductive cycle, age and body size at maturity, and potential and relative fecundity were examined in female willowy flounder in the North Pacific off Japan. Vitellogenesis became active from September, followed by the beginning of spawning in December. The spawning season continued until May with its peak in January. Estimated maturation rate was 50% at a standard length of 16 cm, 30% in 2-year-olds, and almost 100% in ≥3-year-old fish. Potential fecundity increased with age, while relative fecundity decreased in older fish. The results clarify some aspects of the detailed reproductive biology of female willowy flounder and emphasize the importance of age-composition data in estimating reproductive potential within a population.     

Morphological analysis on comparison of organic and chemical fertilizers on grain quality of rice at different planting densities

ABSTRACT

Effects of organic (Italian ryegrass and Bokashi) and chemical fertilizer on growth, yield, and grain quality of rice (Oryza sativa L.) were compared under different planting densities in 2013/2014 and 2014/2015. Italian ryegrass was incorporated into the soil as green manure. Bokashi (a mixture of organic materials) was applied as basal dressing. To measure yield and its components, 30 hills were chosen for each treatment. Rice grains were harvested from each treatment to assess the grain quality and to evaluate accumulation structures using a scanning electron microscope. Bokashi treatment increased panicle number per hill, ripened grain percentage, panicle number per m², and grain yield compared to no fertilizer treatment at normal planting density. Chemical fertilizer treatment increased plant length at high planting density. Italian ryegrass and Bokashi treatments promoted the taste point (taste score as reference) by reduction of amylose and protein contents at normal planting density in contrast to chemical fertilizer. 1000-grain weight, panicle number per m², and grain yield were higher at high planting density than at normal planting density. However, high planting density decreased panicle number per hill and spikelet number per panicle. It also enhanced the amylose content of rice grain. Scanning electron microscopic observation revealed that chemical fertilizer treatment marked up protein bodies and their traces on amyloplasts. However, Bokashi treatment produced large amyloplasts, which included many starch granules. These results show that Italian ryegrass and Bokashi can offset reductions of chemical fertilizer and can lead to sufficient starch accumulation structures in rice grains.     

Purification and functional characterization of complement C3 and a novel zymosan-binding protein in tilapia serum

Zymosan, a yeast cell wall preparation that binds activated forms of complement C3, is a useful model target to activate the complement system. In our trial to analyze C3 diversity in Nile tilapia at the protein level using zymosan, we found that a novel 240-kDa serum protein (ZBP-240) also bound to zymosan in addition to C3-derived fragments. In the present study, we aimed to characterize tilapia C3 and ZBP-240, focusing on their immune-related functions. Four distinct C3 isoforms were purified from tilapia serum and shown to possess an intrachain thioester bond. ZBP-240 was also isolated from tilapia serum and examined for its binding properties to various microbial targets. As a result, ZBP-240 showed a wide spectrum of binding to Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and yeasts. Amino acid sequence analysis of CNBr fragments of ZBP-240 suggested that this is a novel protein with no homologous sequence in protein databases. It was also suggested that the binding of ZBP-240 to microbes largely depends on hydrophobic interactions in a divalent-cation-independent manner, and that there may be a divalent-cation-dependent factor that enhances the binding of ZBP-240 in tilapia serum. Interestingly, ZBP-240 showed opsonic activity for tilapia kidney phagocytes at a level comparable to that of C3, implying that ZBP-240 is a novel teleost opsonic serum protein.     

拖拉机驾驶员作业强度对其生理负荷的影响（简报）

驾驶拖拉机作业时,驾驶员的作业强度与生理负荷随着拖拉机的转向机构的不同而有较大的差别。该研究基于拖拉机两种不同的转向机构,对被测试人员实际作业时的心率和氧气的消耗量等指标进行测试,获得了不同的转向机构下被测试人员的心理和生理的变化规律。结果表明,被测人员随着不同转向机构其作业的强度也发生了变化。试验结果为设计新型的拖拉机的各系统提供了驾驶人员自身的数据,同时为改进现有的拖拉机的各系统提供重要的理论参考。