Transverse shape analysis of xylem ground tissues by Fourier transform image analysis I: trial for statistical expression of cell arrangements with fluctuation

Periodic cell arrangements of tracheids in Cryptomeria japonica and Agathis sp., and that of wood fibers in Magnolia obovata were examined by Fourier transform image analysis (FTIA). The angular distribution functions on power spectral patterns (PSPs) transformed from the dot maps were traced. As well as this conventional method, we developed the line convolution method and domain transformation for more correct analysis of radial and tangential arrangements. Cell arrangements became clear in Cryptomeria and Agathis. Fluctuations were expressed by the standard deviation (σ) or the relative standard deviation (σ_r) so that we could compare the characteristics of both woods. In Cryptomeria, the most provable distance between tracheids along radial files was 36.7 µm with 17% fluctuation, whereas the tangential interval was 28.3 µm with σ_r of 24%. In Agathis, the radial diameter was 35.1 µm with σ_r of 23% and the tangential interval was 41.5 µm with σ_r of 23%. In Magnolia, the maximal periodicity of wood fibers was 15.8 µm and 20.5 µm along and between radial files, respectively, although the fluctuations could not be estimated because of the remarkable interruptions by numerous vessels.     

Predicting the humidity control capacity of material based on a linear excitation-response relationship

The Cb value is a useful parameter for estimating the humidity control capacity of materials. It is defined as the ratio of the range of variation of relative humidity in a steel box lined with the material of interest to that in an empty steel box, when sinusoidal temperature variation is applied. However, because it takes a long time to obtain the Cb values for materials at each temperature variation period, we developed an easier method based on a linear excitation-response theory to obtain the Cb values without measuring at each period. Japanese cedar was the material used in this study. The temperature excitation, a jump from a constant temperature to another constant temperature, was used to obtain the absolute humidity response. Under the assumption that the temperature excitation-humidity response relationship is linear, we were able to predict humidity variation to sinusoidal temperature variation at any period, and we obtained the Cb value for each temperature variation period. Predicted values agreed well with the experimental values. From this, it was found that the Cb value could be predicted without measuring the Cb value at each period over a long time. In addition, the peak time difference, which is closely related to the Cb value, could also be predicted in a similar manner.     

Comparison of beetle samples captured by traps with those of flowers in a broad-leaved forest

Beetle samples were compared between catches by traps and those on flowers in a Japanese beech (Fagus crenata Blume) forest, in Minakami, Gunma Prefecture, Japan. White plastic traps (Sankei Chemical Co., Ltd.) equipped with benzyl acetate were set out for a month from July 23 to August 23, 1993, and all beetles captured were collected every six days. During six days from August 10 to August 16, beetles were captured with traps and on wild flowers (Aruncus sylvester Kostel andAngelica polyclada Franch) at three hour intervals. Over the month, the traps captured 1,677 individuals of 73 species of 20 families, which included 16 (89%) species captured on flowers in the six-day period. Over the six days, the traps captured 327 individuals of 21 species of 12 families, compared with 685 individuals of 18 species of 5 families on the flowers; all of the families and nine (50%) species of beetles taken on the flowers were also captured by the traps; all of the species with more than five individuals captured on the flowers were also trapped. This suggests that capture by traps might sufficiently cover the beetle fauna on flowers. The number of species and individuals, as well as their changing patterns, however, varied more irregularly during the six-day period with the traps than with those on the flowers. A part of this paper were presented at the 46th meeting of the Kanto Branch of the Japanese Forestry Society (1994) These English titles are tentative translation by the authors from the originals     

Influences of genetic and environmental factors on the concentration of the allergen Cry j 1 in sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen

Pollen from sugi (Japanese cedar, Cryptomeria japonica D. Don), a forest tree species that is widely grown in Japan, causes serious allergic disease. The major allergens from sugi pollen, Cry j 1 and Cry j 2, have been isolated and characterized. It has been reported that Cry j 1 concentration in pollen varies considerably among trees. If Cry j 1 concentration is genetically controlled, the planting of trees with low Cry j 1 concentrations would reduce pollinosis. We investigated genetic and environmental effects on Cry j 1 concentration in eight clones growing at four sites. Concentrations of Cry j 1 in pollen were measured with a monoclonal antibody-based Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The Cry j 1 concentrations differed significantly among clones and sites, but the site x clone interaction was not significant, suggesting that the Cry j 1 concentration is controlled primarily by genetic factors. We examined correlations between Cry j 1 concentration and temperature and precipitation from July through February. Temperature was not significantly related to Cry j 1 concentration, whereas cumulative precipitation during the 8 months and mean daily precipitation in September showed significant negative correlations with Cry j 1 concentration.     

Improvement of fiberboard made from acetylated fibers by ozonation I: effect of ozonation on mechanical properties

Acetylated fibers with a 24.8% weight gain by acetylation were ozonated with 0%–2.0% ozone on fibers. Fiberboards were then made from these treated fibers. The internal bond and bending strength of the acetylated fiberboards increased drastically with increasing ozone charge up to 0.5%–1.0%, whereas the thickness swelling of the fiberboards decreased. Ozone selectively cleaves the aromatic rings of hydrophobic lignin and introduces a hydrophilic carboxyl group into lignin. Thus, the wettability and thermoplasticity of acetylated fibers increased, and this structural modification improved the interfiber contact. Internal bond and bending strength increased as a result. In addition, steep density profiles were formed by the ozonation, resulting in high bending strength. The high compaction ratio accelerated the effect of ozonation. The optimum ozone charges for improving mechanical properties were 0.5%–1.0%.Part of this report was presented at the 49th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Tokyo, April 1999     

Development of a monoclonal antibody-based sandwich ELISA for detection of guinea pig interleukin-2

Interleukin 2 (IL-2) is a T cell proliferation factor released by Th0- and Th1-type helper T cells and is an essential cytokine for immune responses. In the present study, recombinant glutathione S-transferase (GST)-guinea pig IL-2 (GPIL-2) fusion protein was prepared by Escherichia coli (E. coli) and by using this protein as an immunogen, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against GPIL-2 were produced to establish a basis for a research on immune responses in guinea pigs. Three stable hybridoma cell lines were established, and specific binding of each mAb to recombinant GPIL-2 produced by E. coli and insect cells infected with recombinant baculovirus was shown by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and/or immunoblot analysis. Isotype analyses of these mAbs revealed that all three mAbs were IgG1 and had kappa chain. Furthermore, assessment of their epitopes by competition binding assay indicated that the mAbs obtained in this study bound to three different epitopes. Thus, a sandwich ELISA based on the two mAbs specific to different GPIL-2 epitopes was developed for detection of GPIL-2, which had a sensitivity threshold of about 0.3 ng/ml of GPIL-2.     

Carbon dioxide exchange of larch (Larix gmelinii) cones during development

Larch (Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr.) cone scales are green, but little is known of their photosynthetic role in cone development or about how they differ in gas exchange characteristics from needle leaves. In contrast to leaf photosynthesis (Pleaf), we found that stomatal regulation of cone photosynthetic rate (Pcone) was marginal because the photosynthetic carbon came from internal recycling of respiratory carbon dioxide (CO2). Photosynthetic recycling of respired CO2 was confirmed by the finding that the intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) in cone scales was much higher than ambient [CO2]; also, there was a positive correlation between Pcone and Ci, whereas Pleaf was almost constant as Ci varied. Low chlorophyll (Chl) concentration was a limiting factor for Pcone, but not for Pleaf, as indicated by the correlation between Pcone and chlorophyll concentration. Moreover, chlorophyll utilization efficiency (Psat/Chl a+b) for cone scales was lower than that for leaves. In both cones and leaves, nitrogen (N) was positively correlated with photosynthetic capacity (P), but the P/N value was much lower for cones than for leaves. For both organs, the ratio of respiration to N was broadly similar. Although mature cones have no photosynthetic capacity, Pcone of young cones was as high as 5.3 micromol m(-2) s(-1), about 1.26 times the value of Pleaf, and accounted for the refixation of 30-40% of the respiratory CO2 produced by cones, equivalent to the photosynthetic capacity of a bundle of short shoots near each cone. Thus, Pcone may be an important additional source of photosynthate for cones, given the weak assimilating capacity of leaves that are not fully expanded during cone development.     

Inheritance of male flower production in Cryptomeria japonica (sugi) estimated from analysis of a diallel mating test

Context

Clonal variation of flower production has been investigated thoroughly in coniferous tree species because of the importance of flowering in seed production from seed orchards. However, the inheritance of flower production by progeny test has not been previously studied well, so the heritability of male flower production of Cryptomeria japonica, the most important species for forestry and the main cause of pollinosis in Japan, was estimated to provide fundamental data for pollen control in seed orchards and plantation forests.

Methods

Male flower production in C. japonica was investigated for three years using 20 full-sib families created by a diallel mating design with six parents using gibberellin treatment to promote flowering.

Results

The narrow-sense individual tree heritability of male flower production in each year was estimated as ranging from 0.777?±?0.339 to 1.050?±?0.346 by sib analyses. The contribution of general combining ability to the total variance varied from 24.1 to 35.6?%. The highest contribution of specific combining ability was 1.42?%. By selecting the top 50?% of parental clones for reduced male flower production, the genetic gain in lowering male flower productivity was predicted as 46.1?C53.0?%.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that male flower production in C. japonica is under strong genetic control and that control of male flowering by breeding is possible with a well-designed program.     

Characterization of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae strains isolated from recent swine erysipelas outbreaks in Japan

The objective of the present study was to characterize Erysipelothrix sp. strains from recent erysipelas outbreaks in Japan. Eighty-three (100%) strains were identified as E. rhusiopathiae, based on serotyping and spaA PCR. Fifty (60.3%), 5 (6.0%), and 28 (33.7%) strains were isolated from animals with acute, subacute and chronic outbreaks, respectively, of which 79 (95.2%), 1 (1.2%), and 3 (3.6%) belonged to serotypes 1a, 2a, and untypeable, respectively. Fifteen strains (including 3, 2, and 10 from acute, subacute, and chronic cases, respectively) were sensitive to acriflavine, and showed high levels of virulence in mice; of which strains from acute cases, and from subacute and chronic cases killed 100%, and 80 to 100% mice, respectively at challenge doses of 10(2) CFU per mouse. Based on sequence analysis of a 432-bp hypervariable region in spaA gene, 83 strains could be divided into 3 groups: (i) group 1 (3 strains of serotype 1a) had Ala-195 and Ile-203; (ii) group 2 (76 strains of serotype 1a and 3 of untypeable) had Asp-195 and Met-203; and (iii) group 3 (one strain of serotype 2a) had Asn-195 and Ile-203. The results of the present study suggest that the serotype 1a strains belonging to the group 2 might be widespread in pig populations in Japan.