Effect of the long-term application of organic matter on soil carbon accumulation and GHG emissions from a rice paddy field in a cool-temperate region,Japan-II. Effect of different compost applications-

ABSTRACT

The influence of long-term application of different types of compost on rice grain yield, CH₄ and N₂O emissions, and soil carbon storage (0 ? 30 cm) in rice paddy fields was clarified. Two sets of paddy fields applied with rice straw compost or livestock manure compost mainly derived from cattle were used in this study. Each set comprised long-term application (LT) and corresponding control (CT) plots. The application rates for rice straw compost (42 years) and livestock manure compost (41 years in total with different application rates) were 20 Mg fresh weight ha^–1. Soil carbon storage increased by 33% and 37% with long-term application of rice straw compost and livestock manure compost, respectively. The soil carbon sequestration rate by the organic matter application was 23% higher with the livestock manure compost than with the rice straw compost. The rice grain yield in the LT plot was significantly higher than that in the corresponding CT plot with both types of compost. Although the difference was not significant in the rice straw compost, cumulative CH₄ emissions increased with long-term application of both composts. Increase rate of CH₄ emission with long-term application was higher in the livestock manure compost (99%) than that in the rice straw compost (26%). In both composts, the long-term application did not increase N₂O emission significantly. As with the rice straw compost, the increase in CH₄ emission with the long-term application of livestock manure compost exceeded the soil carbon sequestration rate, and the change in the net greenhouse gas (GHG) balance calculated by the difference between them was positive, indicating a net increase in the GHG emissions. The increase in CH₄ and net GHG emissions owing to the long-term application of the livestock manure compost could be higher than that of the rice straw compost owing to the amount of applied carbon, the quality of compost and the soil carbon accumulation. The possibility that carbon sequestration in the subsoil differs depending on the type of composts suggests the importance of including subsoil in the evaluation of soil carbon sequestration by long-term application of organic matter.     

Antioxidative functions of natto,a kind of fermented soybeans: effect on LDL oxidation and lipid metabolism in cholesterol-fed rats

Natto water-soluble fractions, low-molecular-weight viscous substance, and soybean water extract, which had an inhibitory effect on the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) in vitro, were fed to rats for 3 weeks. These fractions had no influence on the growth of rats, which were fed a basal diet containing 1% cholesterol, but lowered plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol. Inhibition of copper-oxidation of plasma and LDL ex vivo, and a reduction in lipid peroxidation in liver and aorta in vivo, were also observed. The antioxidant enzymes were not induced in rats fed natto fraction diets. These results demonstrate that ingestion of the natto fractions led to inhibition of LDL oxidation, and that the fractions perform direct antioxidant action in the body. It is suggested that natto fractions might help to prevent arteriosclerosis, as they appear to reduce lipid peroxidation and improve lipid metabolism.     

Study on Sampling Method of Rainfall, Throughfall, and Stemflow to Monitor the Effect of Acid Deposition on Forest Ecosystem

The use of samplers for rainfall, throughfall, and stemflow was studied in Chamaecyparis obtusa forest in Kobe to develop a suitable simplified collection method for long-term monitoring of the effect of acid deposition on the forest ecosystem. A filtrating bulk sampler, widely used in Japan due to its convenience, was modified for rainfall- and throughfall-sampling. The pH value, NH₄ ⁺- and NO₃ ^?- concns. did not change within a two-week sampling period, and the collection efficiency of the modified type relative to the wet/dry sampler was 97% (mean). The three samplers (shampoo-hat, vinyl chloride tube, and gauze type) were used for stemflow sampling. Collection efficiency of the samplers was in the order of shampoo-hat> vinyl chloride tube> gauze and that of the gauze type varied significantly with rainfall condition.     

Effect of light intensity on diurnal differences in the supply of cell wall components to the innermost surface of developing S<Subscript>2</Subscript> layers of tracheids in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptomeria japonica</Emphasis>

We investigated the effect of light intensity on diurnal differences in secondary wall formation of tracheids. Saplings of Cryptomeria japonica were grown in growth chambers with light intensity cycles set for 12-h high light: 12-h low light by combining two of four light intensity levels: 1.5, 2.8, 4.3, and 10.0 klx. Volumetric changes of differentiating cells were monitored by measuring the tangential strain on the inner bark surface, and the innermost surface of developing secondary walls of differentiating tracheids during the high-light and low-light periods was observed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Changes in the aspects of the innermost surface of developing secondary walls and the tangential strain corresponded to changes in the light intensity level. Cellulose microfibrils were clearly observed when the light intensity was high (10.0 or 4.3 klx) and the volume of differentiating cells was low, while abundant amorphous material was observed when the light intensity was lowest (1.5 klx) and the cells were turgid, regardless of the light intensity cycle. These results suggest that the diurnal periodicity in the supply of cell wall components to developing secondary walls is associated with changes in light intensity during the photoperiodic cycle.     

Specific degradation ofβ-aryl ether linkage in synthetic lignin (dehydrogenative polymerizate) by bacterial enzymes ofSphingomonas paucimobilis SYK-6 produced in recombinantEscherichia coli

Sphingomonas paucimobilis SYK-6 produces unique and specific enzymes, such as-etherases,O-demethylases, and ring fission dioxygenases, for lignin degradation. Cleavage of arylglycerol--aryl ether linkage is the most important process in the lignin metabolic pathway ofS. paucimobilis SYK-6. We reported the genes (ligD, ligE, ligF) for enzymes that cleaved-aryl ether linkage of dimeric compounds in previous studies. In this study we synthesized the fluorescent high-molecular-weight lignin (UBE-DHP) by dehydrogenative polymerization. We investigated the-aryl ether cleavage ability of these enzymes produced in recombinantEscherichia coli. When UBE-DHP was incubated with LigF, 4-methylumbeliferone was released as a result of-aryl ether cleavage of O-methylumbelliferyl--hydroxypropiovanillone (compound III) incorporated in UBE-DHP. Here, we report that-etherase ofS. paucimobilis SYK-6 can be expressed inE. coli and is able to cleave the-aryl ether linkage in synthetic high-molecular-weight lignin.     

Foot rot disease of sweet potato in Japan caused by Diaporthe destruens: first report,pathogenicity and taxonomy

Journal of General Plant Pathology - Foot rot, also known as stem rot or tuber-root rot syndrome, on sweet potato occurs in sweet potato fields in Okinawa, Japan. Isolates of one fungal species...     

Yield and growth characteristics of erect panicle type rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivar,Shennong265 under various crop management practices in Western Japan

Erect panicle rice cultivars utilize solar energy effectively and have improved ecological growing conditions. Among such cultivars, Shennong265 has been grown successfully throughout Northern China. Nevertheless, no studies have yet examined the relationships between crop dry matter productivity, weather conditions, and nitrogen uptake of the erect panicle type rice cultivar in Japan. The objective of our study was to evaluate the productivity of erect panicle rice Shennong265 in Western Japan under varied conditions. Three rice cultivars, Shennong265, Nipponbare, and Takanari were grown in the field under different fertilizer and plant density conditions in Western Japan; using this information, we compared yield and growth characteristics of Shennong265 with those of Nipponbare and Takanari. Although Shennong265 had radiation use efficiency similar to that of the high yielding cultivar (Takanari) and much higher leaf nitrogen content than Takanari and Nipponbare, the average grain yield of Shennong265 grown under normal fertilizer and plant density conditions was approximately 6.9 t ha^?1 as against 6.2 t ha^?1 for Nipponbare and 9.6 t ha^?1 for Takanari. These results suggest that, while Shennong265 has a high yield potential, the environmental conditions including climate, fertilizer, and planting period provided in this study were not suitable for achieving its maximum yield. The reduced performance of Shennong265 may be caused by insufficient fertilizer after heading and by shorter growth periods, as well as by the climate of Western Japan. Additional fertilizer application during the heading stage and earlier transplanting may be needed to obtain higher Shennong265 yields in Western Japan.     

pH- and temperature-dependent denaturation profiles of tuna myoglobin

Attempts have been made to elucidate the denaturation profiles of tuna myoglobin (Mb) in comparison with horse Mb. Intensive absorbance characterization was carried out for derivatives (deoxy, oxy, met forms) of Mb. The wavelength of the maximum absorbance of tuna Mb was shorter only by 1 nm for deoxy and metMb, while it was 4 nm shorter for the second peak of metMb. Percentage Mb denaturation (PMD) was measured under a combination of pH (5.6, 6.5, 7.4) and temperature (70, 75, 80 °C). Tuna Mb was almost completely denatured even during the initial incubation at 75 and 80 °C at all pHs examined. During the incubation at 70 °C, the PMD values for tuna Mb were 88.5, 52.1, and 67.7% at pH 5.6, 6.5, and 7.4, respectively. The denaturation of tuna Mb proceeded even at 55 °C, but denaturation rates were very slow at pH 6.5. On the other hand, horse Mb was found to be very stable at pH 6.5 and 7.4 at all temperatures examined, except at pH 6.5 and 80 °C. At pH 5.6, the PMD values of horse Mb gradually increased, especially at 75 and 80 °C. These different Mbs showed quite different denaturation profiles.     

Trichomes: interaction sites of tomato leaves with biotrophic powdery mildew pathogens

The present study aimed to explore the possibility of using the type I trichomes of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) to monitor the infection processes of powdery mildews by microscopy. Individual trichome cells of two tomato genotypes were inoculated with pathogenic and non-pathogenic powdery mildew species, Pseudoidium neolycopersici, Erysiphe trifoliorum and Podosphaera xanthii. On the trichome cells of the tomato cultivar Moneymaker, hyphae of the pathogenic Pseudoidium neolycopersici (isolates KTP-03 and KTP-04) grew vigorously; whereas hyphal growth of the non-pathogenic Erysiphe trifoliorum and Podosphaera xanthii ceased after appressorium formation, which was associated with papilla formation and hypersensitive cell death, respectively. Similar infection processes of the tested powdery mildews were seen in Moneymaker epidermal cells. Therefore, tomato trichomes are suitable for analysing, at individual cell level, the infection processes of different pathotypes of powdery mildews and for observing the cytological responses of plants by non-pathogenic powdery mildews. On the other hand, it was observed that both isolates KTP-03 and KTP-04 failed to produce conidiophores on the hyphae elongating on Moneymaker trichomes. Similarly, no conidiophores were produced on the hyphae elongating on trichomes of Solanum peruvianum LA2172, which is resistant to KTP-03 and susceptible to KTP-04. Interestingly, delayed cell death occurred in LA2172 epidermal cells, which were attacked by KTP-03 hyphae elongating from trichomes and conidiophores were formed on new hyphae growing from the leaf epidermal cells. Thus, leaf trichomes and epidermal cells of the wild tomato species LA2172 reacted differently to the avirulent isolate KTP-03.     

小麦根际Cr(Ⅵ)的还原

Reduction of Cr(Ⅵ) to Cr(Ⅲ) was studied in a fresh wheat rhizosphere soil (kuroboku, high humic Andosol) pretreated with a basal fertilizer consisting of (NH₄)₂SO₄, P₂O₅ and KH₂PO₄ and with K₂Cr₂O₇ by using a rhizobox system. The rhizosphere exerted a positive effect on Cr(Ⅵ) reduction. Part of the reason was the decrease of pH in the rhizosphere due to application of (NH₄)₂SO₄, implying that application of physiologically acid fertilizers would reduce Cr(Ⅵ) toxicity to plants.