A transdisciplinary research of coastal fisheries co-management: the case of the hairtail <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichiurus japonicus</Emphasis> trolling line fishery around the Bungo Channel,Japan

Under the coastal fisheries co-management regime in Japan, local fishers play important roles in deciding on and implementing local management measures. Therefore, using the case study of a hairtail trolling line fishery, we conducted a transdisciplinary research with fishers, processors, government officers, etc. Taking social and biological factors into account, we defined management criteria and targets (resource, economic, human community, and local food culture) in collaboration with local fishers. We chartered local fishing vessels to determine parameters that were easily understood by local fishers. We established a local consultative committee comprising fishers, processors, and distributors, and developed a fish distribution strategy to nurture the local hairtail food culture. The integrated effects of various management scenarios were evaluated by the operating model. We found that co-ordinated management by both the trolling line fishery and purse seiners in the neighbouring prefecture was required to achieve targets. Two realistic scenarios are recommended: a conservative scenario that could achieve targets even with few strong year classes, and an adaptive scenario that protects strong year classes, but relies on a higher frequency of these. We shared these results with the local fishers and government officers, which led to actual improvements in management measures.     

Novel plasmodesmata association of dehydrin-like proteins in cold- acclimated Red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea)

Dehydrins are proteins associated with conditions affecting the water status of plant cells, such as drought, salinity, freezing and seed maturation. Although the function of dehydrins remains unknown, it is hypothesized that they stabilize membranes and macromolecules during cellular dehydration. Red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea L.), an extremely freeze-tolerant woody plant, accumulates dehydrin-like proteins during cold acclimation and the presence of these proteins is correlated with increased freeze tolerance (Karlson 2001, Sarnighausen et al. 2002, Karlson et al. 2003). Our objective was to determine the location of dehydrins in cold-acclimated C. sericea stems in an effort to provide insight into their potential role in the freeze tolerance of this extremely cold hardy species. Abundant labeling was observed in the nucleus and cytoplasm of cold-acclimated C. sericea stem cells. In addition, labeling was observed in association with plasmodesmata of cold-acclimated vascular cambium cells. The unique association of dehydrin-like proteins with plasmodesmata has not been reported previously.     

Reactivity of secondary hydroxyl groups in methylβ-d-xylopyranoside toward aβ-o-4-type quinone methide

Methyl-d-xylopyranoside was allowed to react with-O-4-type quinone methide without a catalyst to elucidate the reactivities of secondary hydroxyl groups at the C2, C3, and C4 positions. Benzyl ether-type lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC) compounds linked at the C2 and C4 positions were predominant, at a ratio of 23. However, the reactivity of the hydroxyl group at the C3 position was quite low. These results strongly suggest that the reactivity of the C2 hydroxyl group in xylan toward quinone methide intermediate is higher than that of the C3 hydroxyl group during biosynthesis of LCCs.     

Wood identification of JapaneseCyclobalanopsis species (Fagaceae) based on DNA polymorphism of the intergenic spacer betweentrnT andtrnL 5′ exon

DNA was extracted from wood samples of six representativeCyclobalanopsis species (Fagaceae) growing in Japan that cannot be distinguished from one another by conventional microscopy. A part of the intergenic spacer region betweentrnT andtrnT 5 exon was amplified and sequenced. The sequences obtained from wood samples were grouped into three DNA types by a single nucleotide polymorphism as reported previously in leaf samples: I (Quercus acuta, Q. sessilifolia, Q. salicina), II (Q. myrsinaefolia, Q. glauca), and III (Q. gilva). Thus,Q. gilva can be distinguished from the otherQuercus species, and the others are separated in two subgroups based on DNA polymorphism. The present findings support the possibility of wood identification based on DNA polymorphism.     

Changes in carbohydrase activities during vegetative growth and development of fruit-bodies of Hypsizygus marmoreus grown in sawdust-based culture

Carbohydraseproduction of Hypsizygus marmoreus cultured on sawdust rice bran medium by bottle cultivation was investigated to elucidate the carbohydrase utilized as the growth substrate for the fruit-body formation of this fungus. Among the extracellular enzymes assayed, xylanase showed the highest activity. This activity greatly increased during the end of vegetative mycelial growth and fruit-body formation. Among the cellulases. CM-cellulase showed higher activity than avicelase. The activities of -1,3-glucanase, amylase, and chitinase were low. Among the intracellular enzymes, both xylanase and amylase showed higher activity levels than the other carbohydrases. In contrast, -1,3-glucanase, avicelase, and chitinase activities in mycelia were considerably lower. These results suggest that xylanase, CM-cellulase, and amylase play an important role in mycelial maturation and fruit-body growth of H. marmoreus.     

Absolute configuration of arylglycerol-β-aryl ethers obtained by asymmetric reduction of the correspondingα-ketonic compound with intactFusarium solani cells

When (±)--oxo-guaiacylglycerol--(vanillic acid) ether (1) is degraded byFusarium solani M-13-1, the-ketone is initially reduced to giveerythro andthreo guaiacylglycerol--(vanillic acid) ethers (2), arylglycerol--aryl ethers, both of which are enantiomerically pure. The absolute configuration in each2 was determined by Mosher's method; the products were converted to,-di-(R)--methoxy--trifluoromethylphenylacetates (MTPA esters) (3) oferythro (-)- andthreo (+)-veratrylglycerol--(methyl vanillate) ethers (3), whose¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra were examined and compared with those of four di-(R)-MTPA ester (3) diastereomers from chemically synthesizederythro (±)-3 andthreo (±)-3. To assign the- and-MTPA-OCH₃ peaks, the¹H NMR scans of several compounds that have substructures of 3 and their 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl analogues were examined. When a racemic alcohol reacts with (R)-MTPA to give a pair of (R)-MTPA ester diastereomers, the value was defined as the absolute value of the difference in the¹H chemical shifts of the peak between the diastereomers. It was found that the values of-MTPA-OCH₃ were larger than those of-MTPA-OCH₃ owing to a shielding effect of the veratryl ring located on the-MTPA-OCH₃, and that the-MTPA-OCH₃ peaks in the 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl compounds shifted downfield relative to those in the veratryl compounds. On the basis of the¹h NMR data of (R)-MTPA esters, the absolute configuration of the four chemically prepared diastereomers (3) were determined. The catabolicerythro 3 [fromerythro (-)-3] andthreo 3 [fromthreo (+)-3] were identical to (R, S, R)-erythro 3 and (R, S, S)- threo 3, respectively. An hydrogen species in the fungal reduction would attack the-ketone fromre-face of both (R)-1 and (S)-1, givingerythro (S, R)-2 andthreo (S, S)-2, respectively.Part of this paper was presented at the 33rd Lignin Symposium, Tsukuba, November 1988     

A broad spectrum,one-step RT-PCR to detect <Emphasis Type="Italic">Satsuma dwarf virus</Emphasis> variants using universal primers targeting both segmented RNAs 1 and 2

Universal primers to detect Satsuma dwarf virus (SDV), including distantly related strains Citrus mosaic virus (CiMV), Navel orange infectious mottling virus (NIMV), and Hyuganatsu virus (HV), were tested in a convenient one-step RT-PCR assay. SDV was the most broadly detected using uSDVup/uSDVdo primers that specifically targeted a nucleotide sequence in the 3′-noncoding region that is conserved in both segmented RNAs 1 and 2 of SDV among the tested primers. Nucleotide sequence analysis confirmed that the amplified RT-PCR products could be derived from RNAs 1 or 2 of SDV variants, some of which had interesting genetic diversity.     

Mangrove Habitat Formation and Response to Holocene Sea-level Changes on Kosrae Island,Micronesia

Mangrove habitats on Kosrae are divided into three types, i.e., an estuary or delta type, a backmarsh or lagoon type and a coral reef or tidal-flat type. Most of the mangrove forests of Kosrae have been developed during the last 2000 years by accumulating mangrove peat with the gradual sea-level rise of 1 to 2 mm/yr except the landward part of the estuary or delta type. On the other hand, during the period of rapid sea-level rise of about 10 mm/yr between 4100 and 3700 yr B.P., the mangrove forests ceased peat accumulation and retreated landward. Until 3500 yr B.P., mangrove forests were distributed only in narrow bands in the inlets. Therefore, the critical rate of mangrove peat accretion with sea-level rise is estimated at more than 2 mm/yr and less than 10 mm/yr. If the anticipated sea-level rise exceeds this critical rate, all of the mangrove forests of Kosrae will retreat landward and reduce rapidly.