Effects of ferrous iron (Fe) on the germination and root elongation of paddy rice and weeds

Laboratory experiments were conducted to analyze the iron (Fe) tolerance of paddy weeds and rice varieties (Oryza sativa) for germination and root elongation. Under a waterlogged soil condition, the Fe(II) content in a soil solution increased with an increase in the ratio of rice straw to the soil. In the presence of 0.9% (w/w) straw to soil, which corresponds approximately to 8 t of straw applied to an area of 1 ha × 10 cm depth in the field, ～80 mg L^?1 of Fe(II) was produced in the soil solution. Based on this result, the seeds of rice and the weeds were incubated in a solution with <100 mg L^?1 of Fe(II). The presence of 100 mg L^?1 of Fe(II) suppressed the germination of Echinochloa crus‐galli var. crus‐galli, Cyperus serotinus, Cyperus difformis, and Monochoria korsakowii. However, it had no effect on the germination of Echinochloa oryzicola, Schoenoplectus juncoides (= Scirpus juncoides var. ohwianus), and Monochoria vaginalis. This level of Fe tolerance was the same as that of rice. These findings suggest that E. oryzicola, S. juncoides, and M. vaginalis can grow under more severe conditions than E. crus‐galli, C. serotinus, C. difformis, and M. korsakowii. In relation to seminal root elongation, the order of tolerance of Fe toxicity was O. sativa cv. Dunghan Shali > O. sativa cv. Hoshinoyume > E. oryzicola > M. vaginalis > S. juncoides. Thus, the results show that the tolerance of rice is greater than that of E. oryzicola, which had a comparatively strong tolerance among the weeds examined, and also that there are differences in tolerance among the rice varieties. These findings suggest that the difference in Fe tolerance is involved in weed control systems when organic materials are applied. If this difference is an important factor in the weed control system, Fe‐tolerant rice varieties, like cv. D. Shali, could facilitate weed control systems due to their higher Fe tolerance ability.     

Histocytological specificities of adrenal cortex in the New World Monkeys, Aotus lemurinus and Saimiri boliviensis

The New World monkey Aotus spp. (night monkeys) are expected for use of valuable experimental animal with the close species of Saimiri spp. (squirrel monkeys). Saimiri is known to show spontaneous hypercortisolemia, although few reports in Aotus. We compared basic states of blood steroid hormones and histological structure of the adrenal glands in two monkeys. Serum cortisol and ACTH levels were statistically lower in Aotus than Saimiri. Conversely, Aotus adrenocortical area showed significant enlargement, especially at the zona fasciculata. Electron microscopic observation at Aotus fasciculata cells revealed notable accumulation of large lipid droplets and irregular shapes of the mitochondrial cristae. These results suggest potential differences in cellular activities for steroidogenesis between Aotus and Saimiri and experimental usefulness in adrenocortical physiology and pathological models.     

Oral administration of β-alanine modifies carnosine concentrations in the muscles and brains of chickens

Carnosine, and its derivative anserine, are known to function as anti‐oxidants and putative neurotransmitters. They are especially rich in the breast muscle (Musculus pectoralis superficialis, MPS) of chickens. To clarify whether the concentrations of carnosine and anserine are altered by dietary management, the effect of oral administration of their constituent, β‐alanine (β‐Ala), was determined in the MPS and brains of chickens. Birds were orally administered β‐Ala (22 mmol/kg) twice a day for five consecutive days (from 2 to 6 days old). In the MPS, carnosine was increased by β‐Ala, whereas anserine and taurine were decreased. The concentrations of other free amino acids in the MPS were also modified by β‐Ala. In the brain, the oral administration of β‐Ala increased anserine and carnosine and decreased taurine, but caused no changes to other free amino acid concentrations. These results suggest that orally administered β‐Ala increases carnosine concentrations in both the MPS and brains of chickens. However, the effects of β‐Ala on other concentrations differ depending on the tissues.     

利用食盐替代物柠檬酸钠制作日本方头鱼盐干品的品质

近年来,随着全球减盐行动的推进,人们对低盐饮食的健康需求日益增长,具备良好风味和外观的低钠盐食品已成为当前的研究热点之一。为适应消费者对健康饮食的需求,本研究利用柠檬酸钠作为食盐替代物制作盐干品,对其品质进行了调查研究。本研究以日本方头鱼为原料,用9%(W/V,质量浓度)食盐(对照组)和柠檬酸钠(实验组)浸渍后风干,制作了高水分半干制品,对表皮颜色和pH值,鱼肉中的Na+浓度、质地、鲜味特征物质IMP、新鲜度指标K值,以及烤制后的感官评价开展了品质研究。结果显示,实验组盐干品表皮红色色度值a*、彩度值C*和pH值显著高于对照组;其肌肉组织中Na+浓度为对照组的39%,且具有较高的持水力,较低的断裂荷重和断裂应力,断裂变形显著高于对照组;同时,IMP和K值等品质指标没有显著差异。烤制后的感官评价结果验证了以上结果,实验组的咸味评分显著低于对照组,在外观评分略高的基础上,咀嚼性、鲜味和总体可接受性等方面没有显著差异。研究表明,用柠檬酸钠代替食盐制作日本方头鱼盐干品,在保证品质的同时,可有效提升表皮色彩,降低Na+含量,是理想的钠盐替代物之一,可为水产品干制加工的工艺改善、口味调节、减少钠盐用量等提供新的思路。     

Mode of reproduction of Barbarea vulgaris in two different habitats in Tohoku, Japan

This study was conducted to determine the reproductive characteristics of Barbarea vulgaris under different disturbance regimes (mowing and tilling) in two different habitats: a levee and a wheat field. On the levee, 77 of the 114 individuals that had had their floral stalks removed by the first mowing produced new rosettes at the basal part of the stem during the same growing season. The plants that were mowed four times per year had a significantly greater survival rate than the plants that were mowed twice per year. The levee population that was mowed without tillage was largely maintained by vegetative reproduction. These results suggest that mowing the levees promotes the vegetative reproduction of B. vulgaris and helps it to compete with tall-growing plants, thus facilitating its survival as a perennial. In spite of the high sprouting ability of the plant's root fragments, most of the root fragments did not regenerate when buried or when exposed to high soil moisture conditions in tilled wheat fields. The population of B. vulgaris in tilled wheat fields was maintained almost entirely by sexual reproduction. Barbarea vulgaris can survive under two different management regimes by altering its mode of reproduction.     

Influence of interposition of pink muscle fiber into dorsal ordinary muscle on temporal change of K-value in cultured carp

To clarify the influence of the interposition of pink muscle fiber into dorsal ordinary muscle on temporal change of K-value, using cultured carp, the dorsal muscle was divided into five muscle parts towards depth with the naked eye as follows: the dark muscle part (P-1), the intermediate muscle part (P-2) and three ordinary muscle parts (P-3, P-4, P-5). These were organized from the muscle fiber types as follows: P-1 was only red muscle fiber type. P-2 was only pink muscle fiber type in a thin layer and two muscle fiber types of not only pink muscle fiber but also white muscle fiber of the IIa or IIb subtype in a mosaic pattern. All of P-3, P-4 and P-5 were two muscle fiber types, white muscle fiber (IIa or IIb subtype) and pink muscle fiber. The temporal changes of K-values were remarkably faster in the order of P-1, P-2, and three parts of P-3, P-4 and P-5. The changes did not exhibit a remarkable difference among the three ordinary muscle parts. From these results, it was considered that the interposition of pink muscle fiber into the dorsal ordinary muscle might accelerate the temporal change of K-value.     

Total lipid and triacylglycerol contents in the liver of broiler and layer chickens at embryonic stages and hatching

To compare the hepatic function of broiler and layer chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) at various embryonic stages and hatching, the total lipid and triacylglycerol (TG) content were determined. The chicken embryos accumulated a large amount of lipids in the liver and the total lipid content gradually increased toward hatching, though no significant difference was observed between broilers and layers. The TG contents in the liver increased considerably with developmental stage. At embryonic day 14 the TG content in the liver was similar between broilers and layers; thereafter, it was 1.3 and 2.2 times higher in broilers than in layers at embryonic day 18 and for newly hatched chicks, respectively. Chick embryos accumulate an excessive amount of cholesterol ester in the liver, but cholesterol ester is replaced by TG after hatching. The results of hepatic TG contents in the present study suggest that the development of the hepatic function between broilers and layers may already differ at embryonic stages.