RFLP analysis of a PCR amplified region of chloroplast DNA in eggplant and related Solanum species

RFLP analysis of a PCR amplified 3.2-kbp region of cpDNA bounded by the conserved sequences in rbc L and ORF 106 was performed in eggplant (Solanum melongena), its related Solanum species, S. incanum, S. virginianum (= S. surattense), S. torvum, S. aethiopicum (= S. gilo), S. aethiopicum (= S. integrifolium), S. violaceum (= S. indicum), S. violaceum (= S. sanitwongsei) and S. mammosum and the reciprocal hybrids between S. aethiopicum (= S. integrifolium) and S. melongena 'Uttara'. The target region of cpDNA was amplified correctly by PCR. The amplified products were digested with each of 10 restriction enzymes (Alu I, Ase I, BamH I, Hinf I, Msp I, Rsa I, ScrF I, Sty I, Taq I and Xba I). Variations of restriction patterns among the species were recognized after digesting the amplified products with each of the seven restriction enzymes, Taq I, Alu I, Rsa I, Sty I, Ase I, Hinf I and Xba I. The restriction patterns divided the examined nine species into the following five clusters, 1) S. melongena and S. incanum, 2) S. virginianum (= S. surattense), 3) S. torvum, 4) S. aethiopicum (= S. gilo), S. aethiopicum (= S. integrifolium), S. violaceum (= S. indicum) and S. violaceum (= S. sanitwongsei) and 5) S. mammosum. The restriction pattern with Alu I in each of the reciprocal hybrids between S. melongena 'Uttara' and S. aethiopicum (= S. integrifolium) was identical with that of seed parent. The present study demonstrated the availability of the PCR-RFLP analysis of cpDNA for assessing taxonomic relationships and identifying cytoplasmic parentage of interspecific hybrids in eggplant and related Solanum species. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Identification of quantitative trait loci for powdery mildew resistance in highly resistant cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) using ddRAD-seq analysis

Powdery mildew, caused by Podosphaera xanthii (syn. Sphaerotheca fuliginea ex Fr. Poll.), is one of the most economically important foliar diseases in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). Cucumber parental line ‘Kyuri Chukanbohon Nou 5 Go’, developed from weedy cucumber line CS-PMR1, is highly resistant to powdery mildew and is promising breeding material. We performed quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis using double-digest restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-Seq) in a population from a cross between ‘Kyuri Chukanbohon Nou 5 Go’ and the Japanese native cultivar ‘Kaga-aonaga-fushinari’, which is susceptible to powdery mildew. The resistance of the population and its parents was evaluated using leaf disc assays and image analysis. We detected one major QTL on Chr. 5 that was effective at both 20°C and 25°C and one minor QTL on Chr. 1 effective at 20°C. We detected two additional QTLs in subpopulation: one on Chr. 3 effective at 20°C and one on Chr. 5 effective at both 20°C and 25°C in a position different from the major QTL. The resistance alleles at all four QTLs were contributed by ‘Kyuri Chukanbohon Nou 5 Go’. The results of this study can be used to develop practical DNA markers tightly linked to genes for powdery mildew resistance.     

IgE reactivity to milk components in dogs with cutaneous adverse food reactions

We investigated the IgE reactivity to crude and purified milk antigens in the sera of 112 dogs with cutaneous adverse food reactions (CAFRs). Of the 112 dogs, 33 (29%) had specific IgE for crude milk antigens. In the dogs with milk-specific IgE, IgE reactivity to casein, bovine serum albumin (BSA), α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin, and bovine IgG were 81%, 85%, 39%, 27%, and 35%, respectively. Casein and BSA may be important allergens in dogs with CAFRs. Some canine vaccines contain casein hydrolysate as a stabilizer and the pooled serum with anti-casein IgE showed IgE reactivity to the vaccines containing it. Information about IgE reactivity to casein in dogs with CAFRs could be useful for predicting adverse reactions to the vaccines including casein hydrolysate.     

Exploration of factors determining milk production by Holstein cows raised on a dairy farm in a temperate climate area

In this study, we examined factors that affected milk production by cows raised in a temperate climate area. We conducted this study on a large dairy farm containing approximately 2000 Holstein cows, located in a temperate climate area. We collected 7803 calving records for 4069 cows from 2012 to 2016. We then assessed the effect of hot weather on milk yield by examining three climate factors: season, maximum temperature (MAX), and the temperature and humidity index (THI). We found that increases in heat stress caused linear decreases in milk yield (P?<?0.05). Additionally, the effects of the three climate factors on milk yield varied depending on cow parity and days open (P?<?0.05). Thus, management procedures should consider cow parity and lactating stage to minimize the negative effects of heat stress on milk production. We also found that the lowest Akaike information criterion value was obtained in our model when using THI for 305-day milk yield. This suggests that THI is a more accurate variable for evaluating heat stress than MAX or season.

     

Theoretical turnover rate of the rumen liquid fraction in dairy cows and its relationship to feed intake,rumen fermentation,and milk production

Ruminant animals are able to convert plant materials (grain and the human‐indigestible portion of carbohydrates) to milk and meat. In this conversion, most of the plant materials are digested by rumen fermentation and are changed to short‐chain fatty acids, microbial cells, and methane, which is released into the atmosphere. The relationships among feed, rumen fermentation, and milk production are poorly understood. Here we report a novel indicator of characteristics of rumen fermentation, theoretical turnover rate (TTOR) of the rumen liquid fraction. The TTOR was calculated from the presumed rumen volume (PRV) which is estimated by dividing the methane yield by the methane concentration of rumen fluid. The formula for the TTOR is: TTOR = PRV/body weight^0.75. Our present analyses confirm that the TTOR as an indicator is capable of connecting feed, rumen fermentation, and milk production, because dry matter intake/TTOR showed a strong correlation with milk yield/TTOR. In addition, the TTOR may be related to ruminal pH, as we observed that the ruminal pH decreased as the TTOR increased. We propose that the TTOR is a factor characterizing rumen fermentation and a good indicator of the productivity of ruminants and dysbiosis of the rumen microbiome.     

Degradation of a nonphenolic β-O-4 lignin model dimer by horseradish peroxidase with 1-hydroxybenzotriazole

Nonphenolic β-O-4 lignin substructure model dimer, 1,3-dihydroxy-2-(2,6-dimethoxyphenoxy)-1-(4-ethoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propane (I) was degraded by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and 1-hydroxybenztriazole (HBT). 4-Ethoxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid (II), 1-(4-ethoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-hydroxypropanone (III), 2,3-dihydroxy-1-(4-ethoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-formyloxypropane (IV), 2,3-dihydroxy-1-(4-ethoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propanone (V), 1-(4-ethoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,2,3-trihydroxypropane (VI), 1-(4-ethoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,2,3-trihydroxypropane-2,3-cyclic carbonate (VII), and 1-(4-ethoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,2,3-trihydroxypropane-1,2-cyclic carbonate (VIII) were identified as degradation products by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. These degradation products were qualitatively the same as those of substrate I in the laccase/HBT system, but the yield of the products was apparently different. The products catalyzed by the HRP/H₂O₂/HBT system contained large amounts of the aromatic ring cleavage products IV, VII, and VIII compared with those catalyzed by the laccase/HBT system, while the amount of Cα-Cβ cleavage product II is relatively low. These results suggest that the role of HBT is not in a simple one-electron transfer between the enzymes and substrates.     

Hybrid aspen with a transgene for fungal manganese peroxidase is a potential contributor to phytoremediation of the environment contaminated with bisphenol A

To assess the possible utility of a fungal gene for manganese-dependent peroxidase (MnP) produced by a transgenic plant in phytoremediation, we transformed hybrid aspen with a chimeric gene for MnP. Our gene construct allowed expression of the gene for MnP in plants and relatively high MnP activity was detected in the hydroponic medium in which roots of plants that expressed the transgene had been cultured. Some of our transgenic plants were able to remove bisphenol A from the medium more efficiently than wild-type plants. Our results demonstrate that, without any modification of the coding sequence, a chimeric gene for fungal MnP can be expressed in a woody plant, with secretion of active MnP from roots into the rhizosphere. Our strategy suggests new options using woody plants for phytoremediation.     

A herd management survey on culling guidelines and actual culling practices in three herd groups based on reproductive productivity in Japanese commercial swine herds

The objective of the present study was to investigate culling guidelines for gilts and sows in Japanese commercial herds and to compare differences between culling guidelines and actual culling practices in different herd productivity groups. A questionnaire survey was undertaken to obtain information on culling guidelines in 115 commercial swine herds that participated in the PigCHAMP data-share program. The questionnaire included questions on guideline values for culling intervals and the number of conception failure occurrences that would trigger a culling decision to be made. Ninety-two of the 115 herds (80.0%) returned appropriate data for the study and were included in the present study. In addition to questionnaire data, culling data regarding the actual culling intervals and number of reservices for gilts and sows culled during 2007 to 2008 were also obtained for the same herds from a PigCHAMP database. Culled gilts and sows were divided into 4 female groups on the basis of the stages of their reproductive life when they were culled: unmated gilts, mated gilts, unmated sows, and mated sows. Culling intervals in unmated gilts and sows were defined as the number of days from birth or weaning to culling, respectively, whereas in mated gilts and sows culling intervals were the number of days from last service to culling. Three herd productivity groups were formed on the basis of the upper and lower 25th percentiles of pigs weaned mated female(-1)·yr(-1):high-,intermediate- or low-performing herds. For unmated gilts and sows actual culling intervals were 15 d shorter than the guideline culling intervals in the surveyed data submitted by producers (P < 0.05). This shorter actual culling period for unmated gilts and sows did not vary significantly between herd productivity groups in any parity. However, for mated gilts and sows the actual culling intervals were at least 30 d longer than the guideline culling intervals (P < 0.05). Guideline and actual culling intervals for mated gilts and sows were at least 10 d shorter in high-performing herds than in low-performing herds (P < 0.05). High-performing herds had lower proportions of sows culled after the second reservice than intermediate- or low-performing herds in parity groups 0 to 5 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, culling guidelines for mated sows differed between herd productivity groups, and culling guidelines for mated gilts and sows were not strictly followed in any herd group in the commercial herds.