Determination of antioxidant activity and characterization of antioxidant phenolics in the plum vinegar extract of cherry blossom (Prunus lannesiana)

Sakura-cha (salted cherry blossom tea) is a Japanese tea that is traditionally served at celebrations such as wedding ceremonies. The production of Sakura-cha includes the immersion of cherry blossom flowers in Japanese plum vinegar, and through this process, the byproduct (plum vinegar extract of cherry blossom) is obtained. In this study, the antioxidant activity of the plum vinegar extract of cherry blossom was examined. The plum vinegar extract of cherry blossom had a greater superoxide anion scavenging activity compared with red wine, which is a well-known strong antioxidant. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed that cyanidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-rutinoside, and caffeic acid were the major components in the phenolic extract prepared from plum vinegar extract of cherry blossom, and they possessed superoxide anion scavenging activity. Caffeic acid is mainly responsible for the scavenging activity of phenolic extract; the contributions of cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside were minor.     

An additional life-history tactic of masu salmon: Migration of parr to coastal habitats

Alternative life-history tactics of masu salmon Oncorhynchus masou are well documented. Subsequent to the freshwater parr stage (age ≥ 1 + years), an anadromous form migrates to the sea after smolting, while a resident form matures without seaward migration. In addition to this typical migratory dimorphism, anecdotal reports based on field observations have indicated that some underyearling masu salmon use estuarine waters. However, no empirical evidence indicates saltwater utilisation and subsequent survival in the early parr stage. Here, we used otolith microchemistry to examine whether a portion of masu salmon parr in northern Japan enters coastal habitats. The otolith Sr:Ca ratios of most juveniles collected from six rivers had consistently low values, indicating that masu salmon parr inhabiting these rivers stay only in freshwater. In contrast, in individuals from a steep-gradient river the Sr:Ca ratios increased at about a 200-µm distance from the otolith core. These results suggest that some masu salmon parr might use brackish water or sea water temporarily. In addition, three masu salmon parr were found in another steep river where a culvert located only ten metres from the river mouth completely blocked upstream migration for spawning. The Sr:Ca ratios in these fish increased at about >200 µm from the otolith core, indicating the parr had immigrated to the non-natal river from the sea. Such flexible behaviour at an early life stage may contribute to the spatial expansion of masu salmon, and the movement could moreover help to stabilise its population dynamics.     

Relationships among age, body weight, scrotal circumference, semen quality and peripheral testosterone and estradiol concentrations in pubertal and postpubertal Holstein bulls

In the present study, the correlations among age, body weight, scrotal circumference (SC), semen quality and peripheral testosterone and estradiol-17beta (E(2)) concentrations were investigated in pubertal (n=5) and postpubertal (n=7) groups of Holstein bulls over a 6 week period. There were significant positive correlations (P<0.01) among age, body weight and SC in both groups, and similar significant correlations between sperm motility and SC in pubertal bulls (P<0.01) and between sperm concentration and SC in postpubertal bulls (P<0.05). The sperm motility after collection (P<0.05) and after freezing and thawing (P<0.01) of the postpubertal bulls correlated positively with the E(2) concentration. Estrogen may be important for the function of postpubertal bull testes, in which it may regulate spermatozoa motility in vivo.     

Testicular blood flow and plasma concentrations of testosterone and total estrogen in the stallion after the administration of human chorionic gonadotropin

The goal of this study was to investigate for the first time a possible association between plasma concentrations of testosterone and total estrogen and testicular blood flow in the stallion. Correlations between these variables were calculated before and after administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Eight mature warmblood stallions received 5,000 IU hCG intravenously, and four stallions received solvent only. Testicular blood flow in the left and right testicular arteries was assessed using colour Doppler sonography by measuring blood flow volume (BFV) and pulsatility index (PI) immediately before (time 0) and 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 72, 120 and 168 h after hCG administration. EDTA blood samples were collected after each examination from a jugular vein to measure plasma testosterone and total estrogen concentrations. After treatment, the BFV increased and was elevated at 1 h and between 12 and 24 h. The profile of the PI was contrary to that of the BFV throughout the study period. Following hCG, there was a biphasic increase in testosterone concentration with maxima between 1 and 3 h and between 24 and 72 h, and there was a monophasic increase in the total estrogen concentration with a maximum between 6 and 24 h. At time 0, the total estrogen concentration correlated significantly with BFV (r=0.90; P<0.05) but the testosterone concentration did not (P>0.05). The testosterone and total estrogen concentrations did not correlate with PI (P>0.05). The total estrogen concentration, but not testosterone, correlated well with BFV after injection of hCG (P<0.05). The results of this study indicated that the testicular blood flow volume of the stallion may be regulated by estrogens, but additional studies are necessary to investigate whether there is a causal relationship.     

Hair cortisol levels of lactating dairy cows in cold‐ and warm‐temperate regions in Japan

We compared the hair cortisol levels of lactating dairy cows in a cold‐ and a warm‐temperate region out of four climatic zones in Japan. We simultaneously investigated the effects of calving number, lactation period and month of hair sampling. Hair of nine Holstein lactating cows chosen from each region (i.e. 18 cows per sampling) was sampled in March, June, September and December. Number of calvings (1, 2, ≥3) and lactation duration (early: <100, middle: 101–200, and late: >201 days) were balanced between regions. Cortisol was extracted from hair by methanol, and its level was determined with a cortisol immunoassay kit. A multi‐way analysis of variance revealed that the effects of month of hair sampling (P < 0.001) and its combination with region (P < 0.05) were significant. In a multiple comparison test, significant differences (P < 0.01) in hair cortisol level (pg/mg of hair) were found between June (13.0 ± 1.0) and the other 3 months, and between September (1.6 ± 0.2) and December (4.5 ± 0.3). The rise in cortisol level from March to June was more intense in the cold‐temperate region. These results demonstrate the necessity of considering seasonal variations in each climatic region when we use hair cortisol level as an indicator of stress.     

Relationships among the chalkiness,kernel size and endosperm cell morphology of rice kernels at different spikelet positions within a panicle

The occurrence of chalky kernels in rice is causally related to kernel size and endosperm morphology. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of chalky kernels by analyzing kernel size, and the number and area of endosperm cells. Spikelets were sampled from upper and middle primary branches and lower secondary branches in a panicle, and divided into four categories: upper, middle, and lower perfect (PF) kernels and lower milky-white (MW) kernels. On the lower secondary branches, there was a higher percentage of chalky kernels, with smaller kernel lengths, widths and thicknesses, than the kernels on the upper and middle primary branches. MW kernels were smaller in size than PF kernels even on the same lower secondary branches. Regardless of grain appearance quality traits, the total areas of endosperm cross sections in lower kernels were significantly smaller than in upper kernels owing to the decreased cell area, and there was a significant negative correlation between the number of cells and average cell area. When the numbers and the areas of cells were analyzed using angular 30° intervals from the line connecting the center point and the dorsal vascular bundle, the MW kernels had significantly less cells than PF kernels near the ventral side at 120–180°. Thus, the decrease in the number of cells near the ventral side was a main causal factor in the decrease in MW kernel widths compared with PF kernel widths, and this suggested that cell division in MW kernels was inhibited at the early grain-filling stage.     

First report of ‘<Emphasis Type="Italic">Candidatus</Emphasis> Phytoplasma malaysianum’ associated with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Elaeocarpus</Emphasis> yellows of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Elaeocarpus zollingeri</Emphasis>

“Elaeocarpus yellows” (ELY) is a widely reported phytoplasma disease of Elaeocarpus zollingeri trees in Japan. The phytoplasma associated with ELY (ELY phytoplasma) had not been identified at the species level because its 16S rRNA sequence had yet to be reported. Here, we report the results of a sequence analysis based on 16S rRNA and secA gene sequences, which showed that the ELY phytoplasma is related to ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma malaysianum’. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing the occurrence of ‘Ca. P. malaysianum’ outside Malaysia and the infection of E. zollingeri by the phytoplasma.