Seasonal pattern of shoot emergence and its endogenous control in horsenettle (Solanum carolinense L.)

Controlling established horsenettle plants is achieved by suppressing shoot emergence from root systems. The seasonal pattern of shoot emergence and its possible endogenous control in horsenettle ( Solanum carolinense L.) were investigated. The shoot emergence period in an undisturbed population was limited to a seven-week period from mid-April, and a little longer in tilled conditions. Detached roots showed very high shoot-sprouting ability under 15–30°C throughout the year. In shoot clipping experiments, new shoots sprouted only from the stem and not from the root when attached to shoots, whether above-ground or underground. On the contrary, new shoots sprouted from the roots when all parts of the shoots were clipped off. From these results, the limited shoot emergence period in horsenettle is thought to be initiated by temperatures necessary for sprouting and is ended by a growth correlation effect between early emerged and matured shoots.     

Single oral β-cryptoxanthin administration increases its serum concentration and enhances peripheral blood neutrophil function in Holstein cattle

We investigated the effect of oral administration of β-cryptoxanthin (β-CRX) on its serum concentration and peripheral neutrophil functions by the chemiluminescence (CL) response in Holstein cattle. A single oral administration of β-CRX was performed for serum β-CRX concentration (0, 0.05, 0.1, or 0.2 mg/kg body weight [BW]) and for peak CL response of peripheral neutrophils (0.2 mg/kg BW). The serum β-CRX concentration was peaked on 2 days after, similar to peak CL response on 3 days after β-CRX administration. Therefore, a single oral administration of β-CRX (0.2 mg/kg BW) induces higher serum concentration and concurrently enhances bactericidal ability of peripheral neutrophils in Holstein cattle.     

Genetic relationships between the dominant genotypes of Phytophthora infestans in Hokkaido, Japan

The genetic characteristics of the dominant genotypes of Phytophthora infestans in Japan (US-1, JP-1, Japanese A1-A, A1-B) were compared. Differences were evident in the peptidase genotype, amplified fragment length polymorphism, and RG57 DNA fingerprints. Almost all of the fingerprint bands for the Japanese genotype A1-B were also present in JP-1 and Japanese A1-A, and few bands were unique to Japanese A1-B. These results suggest that the Japanese A1-B genotype was generated from sexual reproduction involving Japanese A1-A and JP-1 or related genotypes.     

Mitotic disruption by a novel pyrimidine herbicide, NS-245852, in oat (Avena sativa L.) roots

The effects of a novel pyrimidine herbicide, NS-245852 [2-chloro-6-fluorophenyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2-yl-ketone], on mitosis in oat ( Avena sativa L. cv. Zenshin) root tips were investigated by using light and immunofluorescence microscopy. The root growth was strongly inhibited at 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ of NS-245852, and swollen root tips were induced at 5 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹. As observed by the use of light microscopy, the herbicide produced disrupted mitosis and large polynucleate cells in the meristematic root tissue. These symptoms were similar to those of mitotic disrupter herbicides. The immunofluorescence microscopy studies of the root tip cells treated for 30 min revealed that spindle fibers and the preprophase band were reduced, although kinetochore fibers and the phragmoplast were not affected. Kinetochore fibers remained as small fluorescence spots, and the phragmoplast disappeared after a 3 h treatment. No microtubule arrays were observed by a longer treatment (longer than 3 h). Among the microtubule arrays, spindle fibers and the preprophase band were found to be the most sensitive to the herbicide, whereas kinetochore fibers were the most resistant. The phragmoplast was intermediate. Thus, the primary action of NS-245852 is the inhibition of polymerization of tubulin into microtubules.     

Identification of endotrypanum species from a sloth,a squirrel and Lutzomyia sandflies in ecuador by PCR amplification and sequencing of the mini-exon gene

PCR amplification and nucleotide sequencing of the mini-exon gene revealed that four strains isolated from a sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni), a squirrel (Sciurus granatensis) and two sandflies (Lutzomyia hartmanni) in Ecuador were indistinguishable from Endotrypanum monterogeii. Another strain isolated from Lu. hartmanni showed the high sequence similarity to E. schaudinni. Since three of these strains have been previously identified as Leishmania (Viannia) equatorensis, the results demonstrate that L. (V.) equatorensis is genetically closely related to the genus Endotrypanum. The present study also indicates that Endotrypanum species are distributed in arboreal animals and sandflies in Ecuador, and that mini-exon gene amplification is useful for epidemiological studies of Leishmania and Endotrypanum in the New World.     

土壤氮素有效性与克隆整合性对结缕草分枝行为的影响效应

在一个生长季内,对生长于4种生境类型(其中土壤氮素含量呈4种水平)中的克隆植物结缕草的主匍匐茎采取了2种对照处理:保持连接状态和实施节间切断,并检验对其分枝行为产生的生态影响。随着生境内土壤氮素水平的降低,保持连接状态的结缕草植株的分枝强度(按照分枝数量、长度和生物量计测)趋于降低,而实施切断处理的结缕草植株的分枝强度趋于增加。复合节在产生分枝时的根系生物量通常高于未产生分枝时的根系生物量。着生于贫瘠土壤中的根系生物量与着生于肥沃土壤中的根系生物量相比趋于增加。从肥沃土壤斑块中生长出的分枝比从贫瘠土壤斑块中生长出的分枝在数量上占优势。以多个形态学指标衡量,结缕草克隆的A分枝比B分枝具有明显的生长优势。方差分析结果揭示出结缕草克隆的分枝行为对于生境土壤氮素水平以及连接和切断两种处理的响应方式不同。分枝对于结缕草克隆总生物量具有较高的贡献率,而其中A分枝占有较大比例。     

断奶后多系统衰竭综合征病猪中存在沙门氏菌和猪繁殖与呼吸系统综合征病毒共感染

调查了曾经暴发沙门氏菌病的四个猪场的14头病猪,发现在这些猪的肿胀淋巴结中出现带有淋巴细胞排空的肉芽肿性炎症。应用免疫标记和PCR方法在病变部位检测到猪圆环病毒2(PCV2)抗原和PCV2DNA。此外,在这些病猪的肺脏中检测出猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV),分离到猪霍乱沙门氏菌。在9头沙门氏菌感染猪中,有5头为沙门氏菌、PMWS与PRRSV并发感染,其数量(55.6%)远远高于沙门氏菌与PMWS感染猪(22.2%)或沙门氏菌与PRRSV感染猪(22.2%)。