‘Niigata S3’ is a new strawberry cultivar suitable for forcing culture under low temperature and insolation conditions

‘Niigata S3’ is a new strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cultivar that is early flowering and possesses high soluble solid content and good coloration. It was selected from a cross between Kei812 (seed parent) and ‘Asuka-Ruby’ (pollen parent). The first harvest date of ‘Niigata S3’ was December 27, 34 days earlier than ‘Echigohime’ and 9 days earlier than ‘Asuka-Ruby’ (means of 2007 and 2008). The marketable yield of ‘Niigata S3’ was 85% of ‘Echigohime’, 107% of ‘Asuka-Ruby’, while the early yield was 145% of ‘Echigohime’, 85% of ‘Asuka-Ruby’ (based on 2007 and 2008 means). The shape of the fruit is long conical, and its skin color medium-red. The fruit skin hardness of ‘Niigata S3’ was 31.5 g/mm², which was harder than ‘Echigohime’, and its average soluble solid content was 11.4%, which was higher than the values for ‘Echigohime’ and ‘Asuka-Ruby’ (2008). Furthermore, ‘Niigata S3’ did not bear apical overripe fruit. This new cultivar is adaptable to the climatic conditions of Niigata, as well as other regions that experience low winter temperatures and insolation.     

Temperature characteristics in seed germination and growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zostera japonica</Emphasis> Ascherson &; Graebner from Ago Bay,Mie Prefecture,central Japan

The optimal water temperature in seed germination and the upper critical water temperature in seedling growth were determined for Zostera japonica collected from Ago Bay, Japan. The relationship between the seed germination rates and seed storage period (0, 30, and 60 days) at 0°C was also examined. The optimal water temperature in seed germination was in the range 15–20°C regardless of the storage period, in which germination rates were up to 14%. Seedlings, grown from seeds up to 10 cm in total length, were cultured for 1 week at various water temperatures to measure their relative growth rates. The optimal water temperature in early growth was in the range 20–25°C; relative growth rates ranged from 3.8 to 4.2%. Seedlings could survive up to a water temperature of 29°C, but most seedlings withered at 30 or 35°C. The optimal water temperatures for seed germination and seedling growth were related to the seasonal changes of water temperature in the sampling site. Although seedlings were hardly observed in Ago Bay in summer, Z. japonica might extend its distribution as far as where the summer water temperature is lower than 29°C.     

Exterminating Sunamphitoe namhaensis using carbon dioxide in seawater for culturing brown algae Sargassum horneri seedlings

The amphipod Sunamphitoe namhaensis grazes on seedlings of Sargassum horneri in culture. To exterminate S. namhaensis, we immersed them in seawater with dissolved carbon dioxide—a treatment used previously to remove copepods in cultures of abalone and sea cucumber. Experiments were conducted under different CO₂ (aq) concentrations and for different lengths of time. Amphipod mortality was 100% following immersion in CO₂ seawater with a CO₂ (aq) concentration of 26,262 µmol/kg (pH 5.0) for 60 min. When algal seedlings were immersed in CO₂ seawater under these same conditions, their survival rate and growth were not affected.

     

Fruit and vegetable consumption and risk of colorectal cancer in Japan: The Miyagi Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE: Adequate fruit and vegetable intake has been suggested to protect against colorectal cancer. However, several recent prospective studies have reported no association. We therefore examined the association between fruit and vegetable intakes and the risk of colorectal cancer in a prospective cohort study in Japan. DESIGN: Between June and August 1990, 47 605 Japanese men and women completed a self-administered questionnaire, including a food-frequency questionnaire. We divided the subjects into quartiles based on their self-reported fruit and vegetable consumption. There were 165 colon cancer and 110 rectal cancer incidences identified during 7 years of follow-up, to the end of December 1997. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate the relative risk (RR) of developing colorectal cancer according to the level of fruit and vegetable consumption, applying adjustments for potential confounders. RESULTS: No statistically significant association was observed between fruit and vegetable consumption and the risk of colorectal cancer. The multivariate RR of colon cancer in the highest quartile of fruit and vegetable intake compared with the lowest was 1.13 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.73-1.75), the RR for vegetables alone was 1.24 (95% CI 0.79-1.95) and that for fruit alone was 1.45 (95% CI 0.85-2.47). The corresponding multivariate RRs for rectal cancer were 1.12 (95% CI 0.67-1.89), 1.14 (95% CI 0.67-1.93) and 1.41 (95% CI 0.73-2.73). CONCLUSIONS: We found no association between the consumption of fruit and vegetables and the risk of colorectal cancer among the Japanese population.     

Prevalence and Species Identity of Trypanorhyncha in Cultured and Wild Amberjack,Seriola spp. in Hawaii – Implications for Aquaculture

The advent of molecular technologies allow for identification of organisms that were previously challenging or not possible. Conventional polymerase chain reaction analyses of a segment of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene from trypanorhynch plerocerci obtained from cultured and wild caught amberjacks, Seriola dumerili, and Seriola rivoliana of the family Carangidae from Hawai‘i and Japan were found to be 100% identical, indicating that the cestodes from Japan and Hawai‘i are the same species, Protogrillotia zerbiae. The prevalence of the trypanorhynch plerocerci found in the musculature of Hawai‘i wild‐caught S. dumerili and S. rivoliana was 86.9 and 72.7%, respectively. In stark contrast, no trypanorhynch plerocerci have been detected in S. rivoliana cultured in Hawai‘i and they are only rarely seen in S. dumerili cultured in Japan. Trypanorhynch plerocerci are part of a complex life cycle that involves the transmission in at least two intermediate hosts before finally residing in a host shark species. The results of this study indicate that artificial propagation of the amberjacks using manipulated diets has most likely disrupted the life cycle of this tapeworm, thus reducing the prevalence of this parasite in farmed amberjacks and enhancing the marketability of cultured amberjack.     

Relationship between distribution patterns of shoots and light conditions on population floor in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zostera marina</Emphasis> population

ABSTRACT:   This study was designed to identify a sustainable Zostera marina population based on the relationships between the distributional patterns of shoots and light conditions in the population. Population structures and light conditions on 22 April 2003 (season of reducing shoot density), 27 September 2003 (season of the annual minimum density and biomass) and 9 April 2004 (season of the annual maximum density and biomass) were examined. On 22 April 2003, the frequency distribution in shoot length was almost even. The spatial pattern is characterized by small clumps within 2–5 cm radius. On 27 September 2003, the lengths of all shoots were less than 40 cm, and the distributional patterns were similar to 22 April. On 9 April 2004, the spatial pattern is characterized by larger clumps within 25 cm radius. The reproductive shoots had a regular distribution. The relative light intensities on the population floor of the sea surface on 27 September and 9 April were 53.3 and 10.2%, respectively. The light intensity on 9 April 2004 was not sufficient for growth. The results suggest that the competition for harvesting solar radiation is caused by the shoot length and the spatial pattern among shoots in the population.     

Present situation and cause analysis of diversion dam failures in Japan

Diversion dams are settled in river channels to dam water. They obstruct flood flow and also affect sediment movement on riverbeds. Dam structures break due to local scouring of the riverbed caused by local flow around them. The causes of such failures should be studied by investigating how flow meanders over alternate bars during floods. Diversion dam failures are classified into three types according to cause. The first type of problem is caused by the difference between the riverbed height and the sill height. If the present riverbed is higher than the sill, the mobile gates do not close easily due to sand deposition on the sill. If the riverbed is lower than the sill, the riverbed in the downstream area of the weir is scoured, and the weir may be damaged. The second type is caused by the relation of the weir position to the alternate channel bars. The bar area is usually higher than the sill, and sand deposition on the sill causes problems for mobile gate operation. The riverbed below the weir at the pool section is scoured because the bed height is lower than the sill height. The third type is caused by the migration of alternate bars. A low water course changes due to migration of alternate bars after a flood. The sand deposition area from the upstream reach blocks the intake entrance. Before a diversion dam structure is designed, the situation and the probable changes in riverbed form should be investigated.     

Ultrafast viscous permeation of organic solvents through diamond-like carbon nanosheets

Chemical, petrochemical, energy, and environment-related industries strongly require high-performance nanofiltration membranes applicable to organic solvents. To achieve high solvent permeability, filtration membranes must be as thin as possible, while retaining mechanical strength and solvent resistance. Here, we report on the preparation of ultrathin free-standing amorphous carbon membranes with Young's moduli of 90 to 170 gigapascals. The membranes can separate organic dyes at a rate three orders of magnitude greater than that of commercially available membranes. Permeation experiments revealed that the hard carbon layer has hydrophobic pores of ~1 nanometer, which allow the ultrafast viscous permeation of organic solvents through the membrane.     

High water-temperature tolerance in photosynthetic activity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zostera marina</Emphasis> seedlings from Ise Bay,Mie Prefecture,central Japan

Photosynthetic activities of seedlings of Zostera marina were successively measured using a gas volumeter for 6 days at seven light (0–400 μmol photons/m² per s) and 11 water temperature conditions (5–35°C). The seedlings were collected from mature plants (Ise Bay, central Japan), and stored and cultured in incubators accurately controlled at each test temperature. The maximum gross photosynthesis (P _maxg) was recorded at an optimal water temperature of 29°C after 0 days. After 6 days, P _maxg appeared at 25°C and most plants cultured at 29–30°C bleached and withered after the drastic increase of light compensation point (I _c). On the contrary, at 5–28°C, the photosynthetic activities either changed little (5–25°C) or recovered after a temporal reduction (26–28°C); seedlings survived and looked healthy after being cultured for 6 days. The recovery was thought to be an acclimation to tolerate higher water temperature. As a result, the critical upper water temperature for Z. marina seedlings was proposed as 28°C. The temperature was consistent with the previously reported maximum water temperature in habitats around the southern boundary of Z. marina in the northern hemisphere.     

Temperature requirements for seed germination and seedling growth of Zostera marina from central Japan

ABSTRACT:   The optimal water temperature in seed germination and the upper critical water temperature in seedling growth were determined for Zostera marina collected from Ise Bay, Japan. The relationship between the seed germination rates and seed storage period (0, 30 and 60 days at 0°C) was also examined. The optimal water temperature for seed germination was in the range from 10 to 15°C regardless of the storage periods, in which germination rates ranged from 35 to 57%. Seedlings grown from seed up to 10 cm in total length were cultured for 1 week under various water temperatures to measure their relative growth rates. The optimal water temperature in growth was in the range from 20 to 25°C; relative growth rates ranged from 2.0 to 2.6%. Seedlings could survive up to a water temperature of 28°C, but most seedlings withered at 29 or 30°C. The optimal water temperatures for seed germination and seedling growth were related to the seasonal changes of water temperature at the sampling site. Although seedlings were rarely observed in the field in summer, they can grow at temperatures as high as 28°C. Therefore, Z. marina may extend its distribution as far as where the summer water temperature is lower than 28°C.