Flowering behaviors of the inflorescences of an alien plant (Plantago asiatica), an alpine plant (Plantago hakusanensis), and their hybrids on Mt. Hakusan,Japan

In the subalpine zone on Mt. Hakusan, Japan, Plantago asiatica, an alien plant, and Plantago hakusanensis, a native alpine species, grow sympatrically along with their putative hybrids. Here, their flowering behavior, which affects the frequency of hybridization and the colonizing ability of P. asiatica and its hybrids, is described. The flowering behavior of each species and of two F₁ hybrids from different seed parents was determined based on the position of the flower in the inflorescence by using a generalized linear mixed model. The percentage fruit set of individually bagged inflorescences was calculated to corroborate the assumptions of the opportunities for self‐pollination. All the flowers were protogynous; however, many P. asiatica anthers dehisced before browning of the stigma in the flower and the sex presentations in the inflorescence were asynchronous. The percentage of fruit set was high. Consequently, P. asiatica has the opportunity for self‐pollination within the flower and in the inflorescence. In contrast, the P. hakusanensis anthers dehisced after browning of the stigma in the flower; their sex presentation was synchronous in the inflorescence, showing negligible opportunities for self‐pollination, and the fruit set was low. Accordingly, in the field, P. hakusanensis might require pollination among the inflorescences for seed production and be actively outcrossed, while P. asiatica is able to outcross in the early flowering phase. Therefore, P. asiatica and P. hakusanensis have opportunities for hybridization. The F₁ hybrids exhibited intermediate flowering behavior and produced fruits, demonstrating the potential to reproduce by selfing.     

Antiangiogenic activity of brown algae fucoxanthin and its deacetylated product, fucoxanthinol

The antiangiogenic effects of fucoxanthin and a deacetylated product, fucoxanthinol, were examined. Fucoxanthin significantly suppressed HUVEC proliferation and tube formation at more than 10 microM, but it had no significant effect on HUVEC chemotaxis. The formation of blood vessel-like structures from CD31-positive cells was evaluated using embryonic stem cell-derived embryoid bodies. Fucoxanthin effectively suppressed the development of these structures at 10-20 microM, suggesting that it could suppress differentiation of endothelial progenitor cells into endothelial cells involving new blood vessel formation. Fucoxanthin and fucoxanthinol suppressed microvessel outgrowth in an ex vivo angiogenesis assay using a rat aortic ring, in a dose-dependent manner. These results imply that fucoxanthin having antiangiogenic activity might be useful in preventing angiogenesis-related diseases.     

柚木黑色条纹心材的颜色和化学特性

印尼岛的柚木心材在年轮周围显示了不规则的黑色条纹变化。本研究调查柚木黑色条纹心材的颜色和化学特性。利用色坐标（CIELAB）测定颜色特性（pH值、无机物含量、抽出物含量和特性）。结果表明：黑色条纹的颜色较对照少12-15个亮度单位。因此,黑色条纹的颜色与对照比较,有较多的红色,较少的黄色、色彩和色度。黑色条纹心材部分的pH值灰度含量和钙含量都比对照的高。黑色条纹的心材抽出物含量较对照的高。推测当生物活性物质（杀虫剂）明显增加时,心材显示发黑的过程可能是一种防御机制。     

Synthesis and herbicidal activity of 3-substituted toxoflavin analogs

We investigated the synthesis and herbicidal activity of 23 toxoflavin analogs, 1a–w, in which aromatic rings (R) were introduced into the C-3 position. In paddy field conditions, 1k (R=2-CF₃–C₆H₄) and 1w (R=2-thienyl) showed excellent herbicidal activity. Under upland field conditions, we found that toxoflavin analogs 1a (R=C₆H₅), 1n (R=2-CH₃O–C₆H₄), and 1p (R=4-CH₃O–C₆H₄) exhibited wide herbicidal spectrum against Echinochloa crus-galli (L) var. crus-galli (ECHCG), Chenopodium album, and Amaranthus viridis (AMAVI). The analog with the 2-fluoro group on benzene ring 1b also showed high herbicidal activity against both ECHCG and AMAVI.     

Lipophilic extractives of the inner and outer barks from six different Pinus species grown in Indonesia

The chemical compositions of the dichloromethane extracts of inner and outer barks from six Pinus species(P.elliotii,P.oocarpa,P.caribeae,P.merkusii,P.montezumae,and P.insularis) grown in Indonesia were investigated by GC and GC–MS.Generally,the amounts of extractive contents were higher in the inner bark than in the outer bark except for P.merksuii.Fatty acids,monoterpenes,sesquiterpenes,resin acids,triterpenoids,and steroids were detected and quantified.Inner and outer barks differed not only in content of these compounds but also in their composition.Fatty acids and alcohols were the major classes of lipophilic compounds in the outer bark of P.caribeae, P.insularis,and P.montezumae.Steroids and triterpenoids were the dominant compounds identified in the inner bark of P.elliotii,P.insularis,and P.merkusii.Resin acids were the most abundant group in the inner bark of P.oocarpa whereas monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes were recorded in minor quantities in both bark layers of all species.     

Analysis of the triple gene block sequence in an important melon pathogen,Melon yellowing-associated virus

A novel viral disease of melon, caused by Melon yellowing-associated virus (MYaV), has become one of the most serious problems for melon production in Brazil. Despite its importance, little is known about the genome sequence of the virus. In this study, the triple gene block genomic region including the 3′-end region of an isolate of MYaV was elucidated (ca. 3.1 kb). Sweet potato chlorotic fleck virus, a newly suggested carlavirus species, was the most closely related virus with 62% nucleotide identity. The presence of two heptanucleotide-motifs for subgenomic RNA synthesis was confirmed in this sequence.     

CMA staining analysis of chromosomes in several species of Aurantioideae

Fluorochrome staining with chromomycin A₃ (CMA) was used to characterize and compare the CMA banding patterns of chromosomes of 17 species from 13 genera of Aurantioideae, which is one of the seven subfamilies of Rutaceae. All species used in this study had 2n = 18 chromosomes. These chromosomes were classified into five types based on the number and position of CMA-positive bands; B: one telomeric and one proximal band, C: two telomeric bands, D: one telomeric band, E: without bands and Dst: type D with a satellite chromosome. Each species possessed two or four types of chromosomes and unique CMA banding patterns. The CMA banding patterns were 6D + 12E in Clausena anisata (Willd.) Hook. f.,1C + 3D + 14E in Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng., 1C + 11D + 6E in Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack, 1B + 1C + 10D + 6E in Merrillia caloxylon (Ridl.) Swing., 1C + 9D + 7E + 1Dst in Paramignya lobata Burkill, 2C + 5D + 11E in Severinia buxifolia (Poir.) Tenore, 5D + 13E in Hesperethusa crenulata (Roxb.) Roem., 16D + 2E in Citropsis gabunensis (Engl.) Swing. et M. Kell, 14D + 4E in Citropsis schweinfurthii (Engl.) Swing. et M. Kell, 8D + 10E in Atalantia monophylla DC., 1C + 3D + 14E in Atalantia ceylanica (Arn.) Oliv., 2D + 16E in Atalantia roxburghiana Hook. f., 18E in Swinglea glutinosa (Blanco) Merr., 2D + 16E in Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr., 4D + 14E in Afraegle paniculata (Schum.) Engl., 2B + 2D + 13E + 2Dst in Feronia limonia (L.) Swing. and 3B + 9D + 6E in Feroniella oblata Swing. The advanced genera in each tribe and subtribe such as Merrillia and Feroniella showed heterochromatin (CMA-positive bands) rich chromosome configuration in general. Swinglea glutinosa without heterochromatin rich chromosome, which is considered to be the most primitive chromosome configuration, seems to be the key genus for clarifying the evolution of the tribe Citreae.     

Evaluation of site-specific management zones on a farm with 124 contiguous small paddy fields in a multiple-cropping system

The identification of homogeneous management zones (MZs) within a field is a basis for site-specific management (SSM). We assessed the method of defining MZs based on the spatio-temporal homogeneity of six soil properties and above-ground biomass data from paddy rice, winter wheat and soybean over 3 years on a farm with 124 contiguous small paddy fields. The soil data were recorded at 372 soil sampling sites on a rectangular grid over the farm. A non-hierarchical cluster analysis was applied to the soil data and the algorithm grouped the sites into three clusters with similar soil properties. These clusters represent soil fertility and soil drainage. The three clusters were not randomly distributed across the fields, but formed contiguous areas associated with landscape position. This was due to the spatial variation of the soil in the study area. We delineated five MZs based on the spatial structure of the soil heterogeneity of the study area. The validity of the MZs was evaluated using the biomass data from paddy rice, winter wheat and soybean in each MZ; this depended mainly on soil fertility when conditions were dry. When the growing season precipitation was greater than the 10-year average, the biomass of winter wheat and soybean depended on soil drainage. This suggested that the delineation of MZs for site-specific management in fields under a paddy-upland crop rotation system should be based on several soil properties. The biomass data from the three crops over 3 years was not effective for delimiting MZs.     

Compositions of extractive components in the testes and ovaries of various sea urchins: comparisons among species,sexes, and maturational status

Fisheries Science - We investigated the compositions of free amino acids (FAAs), organic acids (OAs), and nucleotides and their related compounds (NAs) in the gonads of edible sea urchins in Japan....