Z-Directional distribution of fiber orientation of Japanese and western papers determined by confocal laser scanning microscopy

Confocal laser scanning microscopy was applied to visualize inside fibers stained with a fluorescent dye, and the fiber orientation distribution in the thickness direction was determined by image analysis from optically sliced images. Fiber orientation angle and anisotropy were determined by the fast Fourier transform method, which holds advantages over the conventionally applied Hough transform with regard to evaluation of fiber width-weighted contribution and intrafiber segmental contribution. An orthogonally layered Japanese paper handmade by the flow-sheet forming method resulted in a clear change of fiber orientation angle from 0° to 90°. Machine-made wood-containing printing paper showed the highest anisotropy, while copier paper showed a low anisotropy. Thick papers like the wood-free paperboard and recycled packaging board showed that the maximum measured thickness was about 150 μm. The depth limit to detect fluorescence was considered to depend on the apparent density of the paper and the light absorption character of the fibers. Part of this study was presented at the 54th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Sapporo, Japan, August 2004     

Pacific Ocean and Japan Sea ecotypes of Japanese beech (Fagus crenata) differ in photosystem responses to continuous high light

Two ecotypes of Japanese beech (Fagus crenata Blume), the Pacific Ocean type (PAO) and the Japan Sea type (JAS), show different responses to high solar irradiance. When PAO and JAS saplings were grown in continuous high-light (H), leaves of JAS became pale green. To elucidate this phenomenon, we investigated in vivo photochemistry based on pigment concentrations of Photosystem (PS) I and PS II and Western blot analysis. In JAS-H leaves, the amount of D1-protein decreased, resulting in decreases in the maximal quantum yield of PS II (F(v)/F(m)) and electron transport rate, whereas PAO-H leaves maintained high activities. The PS I photochemistry determined by measurement of P-700 photo-oxidation showed that the intersystem electron pool size was 1.4 times greater in JAS-H leaves than in PAO-H leaves. Furthermore, the re-reduction kinetics of P-700(+) showed that cyclic electron transport around PS I was 1.2 times faster in PAO-H leaves than in JAS-H leaves. Analysis of the area over the fluorescence induction kinetics indicated that the relative abundance of the PS IIalpha center increased in PAO-H leaves, whereas JAS leaves were observed to have low acclimation capacity to high light. These results demonstrate that PAO leaves possess acclimation mechanisms to continuous high light, whereas JAS leaves are more vulnerable to continuous high light, resulting in reduced leaf longevity owing to photoinhibition caused by increases in the intersystem electron pool size and suppression of photochemistry at the level of PS I and PS II.     

Factors influencing retention behavior of aluminum compounds on handsheets

Handsheets were prepared with aluminum sulfate under various conditions of pulp suspension, and factors influencing retention behavior of aluminum components on the handsheets were studied on the basis of their aluminum contents. When deionized water was used in the handsheet-making process, aluminum contents in the handsheets had a plateau level of 0.7mg/g in the range of 1%–8% Al₂(SO₄)₃ addition levels on dry weight of pulp. On the other hand, when tap water was used aluminum contents increased up to 5.6 mg/g, increasing the Al₂(SO₄)₃ addition levels to 8%. The high aluminum contents in the handsheets are explained in terms of pH and the presence of calcium ions from the tap water used. Cationic aluminum species, which are formed from aluminum sulfate added to pulp suspensions, are primarily adsorbed on pulp fibers by electrostatic interactions with carboxyl groups in the pulp, competing with OH^– ions in water. These aluminum components, once adsorbed on pulp fibers by ionic interactions, are not removed from the fibers by extending the stirring time of the pulp suspensions.This research was presented in part at the 48th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society in Shizuoka, April 1998     

Institute of Animal Experimentation,Sapporo Medical University,Minami 1 Nishi 17, Sapporo 060, Japan

Asaccharolytic pigmented Porphyromonas species, including P. endodontalis, P. gingivalis, P. circumdentaria and unclassified species, were isolated from the plaque of adult dogs, but not from any oral sites of puppies and adolescent dogs. With age-dependency, the proportion of Porphyromonas species in the flora of plaque increased. Isolation of the genus Porphyromonas was clearly associated with the progress of periodontol disease. We suggested that Porphyromonas is the exogenous organism and obligate pathogen for canine periodontal diseases.     

WIPPER: an accurate and efficient field phenotyping platform for large-scale applications

More accurate, rapid, and easy phenotyping tools are required to match the recent advances in high-throughput genotyping for accelerating breeding and genetic analysis. The conventional data recording in field notebooks and then inputting data to computers for further analysis is inefficient, time-consuming, laborious, and prone to human error. Here, we report WIPPER (for Wireless Plant Phenotyper), a new phenotyping platform that combines field phenotyping and data recording with the aid of Bluetooth communication, thus saving time and labor not only for field data recoding but also for inputting data to computers. Additionally, it eliminates the risk of human error associated with phenotyping and inputting data. We applied WIPPER to 100 individuals of a rice recombinant inbred line (RIL) for measuring leaf width and relative chlorophyll content (SPAD value), and were able to record an accurate data in a significantly reduced time compared with the conventional method of data collection. We are currently using WIPPER for routine management of rice germplasm including recording and documenting information on phenotypic data, seeds, and DNA for their accelerated utilization in crop breeding.     

Complete nucleotide sequence and latency of a novel blueberry-infecting closterovirus

A novel latent closterovirus was detected from highbush blueberry in Japan and provisionally named blueberry virus A (BVA). The BVA genome (17,798 nucleotides) contains 10 open reading frames, but no minor coat protein could be identified in the virus genome. The BVA RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), heat shock protein 70 homolog (HSP70h), and major coat protein (CP) shared the highest amino acid sequence identities with those of viruses in the genus Closterovirus (61.2, 27.6, and 20.9 %, respectively). In a phylogenetic analysis of the RdRp, HSP70h, and CP, BVA did not cluster with any genus in the family Closteroviridae.     

Peptidal Sex Hormones Inducing Conjugation Tube Formation in Compatible Mating-Type Cells of Tremella mesenterica

The pair of peptidal sex hormones (tremerogen A-10 and tremerogen a-13) that induce conjugation tube formation in compatible type cells (A and a types) of Tremella mesenterica were isolated. Tremerogen A-10 is a dodecapeptide and tremerogen a-13, a tridecapeptide. In both peptides, the sulfiydryl group of the cysteines at the carboxyl terminus was blocked by farnesyl moieties.     

Effects of hairy vetch foliage application on nodulation and nitrogen fixation in soybean cultivated in three soil types

We investigated the effects of applying hairy vetch foliage on nodulation and atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) fixation in soybean cultivated in three soil types in pot experiments. Soybean plants were grown in Gley Lowland soil (GLS), Non-allophanic Andosol (NAS), and Sand-dune Regosol (SDR) with hairy vetch foliage application in a greenhouse for 45 days. In GLS, the nodule number was not influenced by the application, however, nodule dry weight and N₂ fixation activity tended to increase. In NAS and SDR, nodule formation was depressed by foliage application. Soybean plant growth was promoted in GLS and SDR but not in NAS. These promotive effects of hairy vetch foliage application on soybean plant growth in GLS were considered to be mainly caused by the increase in N₂ fixation activity of the nodules, whereas it was considered to be mainly caused by the increase in nitrogen uptake activity of the roots in SDR. The varying effects of hairy vetch foliage application on soybean nodulation may be due to soil chemical properties such as pH and cation exchange capacity, which are related to soil texture. Therefore, we conclude that it is important to use hairy vetch for soybean cultivation based on the different effects of hairy vetch on soybean plant growth in different soil types.