The genetic diversities of 4 species of subg. Lithocerasus (Prunus, Rosaceae) revealed by RAPD analysis

RAPD analysis was applied to reveal the genetic diversities of 4 speciesof subg. Lithocerasus within the genus Prunus using 40accessions representing the subgenera Prunophora, Amygdalus,Lithocerasus and Cerasus. The accession of subg. Lithocerasus are phenotypically similar to members of subgenus Cerasus but different with them in interspecific crossing tests and isozymeprofiles. Two major clusters, `Prunophora and Amygdalus group' and `Cerasus group' were constructed in the phenogram. We revealthat the examined 4 species of subg. Lithocerasus species; P.tomentosa Thunb., P. japonica Thunb., P. glandulosa Thunb.and P. besseyi Bailey, were genetically closer to the members ofsubgenera Prunophora and Amygdalus than to subg. Cerasus.     

HPLC fluorometric determination of natural phytoplankton phycocyanin and its usefulness as cyanobacterial biomass in highly eutrophic shallow lake

A method for HPLC determination of phycocyanin in phytoplankton samples using gelchromatography with a fluorescence detector was developed to examine the use of phycocyanin as an index of the appearance and progress of cyanobacterial blooms in highly eutrophic lake. At least two types of phycocyanin with different molecular weights, each spectroscopically different from phycoerythrin and allophycocyanin, were found in natural phytoplankton samples. Changes in phycocyanin concentrations were clearly coupled to changes in chlorophyll-a concentrations during June to October while cyanobacterial blooms were occurring. The chlorophyll-a to phycocyanin relationship was linear at chlorophyll-a concentrations of less than 250 μg L^?1. The relationship between cyanobacterial carbon and phycocyanin concentration was also linear, suggesting that phycocyanin content may be a useful index of cyanobacterial biomass in highly eutrophic lakes where large cyanobacterial blooms occur.     

Cell-Associated Adsorption of Thorium or Uranium from Aqueous System Using Various Microorganisms

The cell-associated adsorption of thorium or uranium from the solution containing each metal only at pH 3.50 using various microorganisms was examined. Among the species tested, high thorium adsorption abilities were exhibited by strains of the gram-positive bacteria Arthrobacter nicotianae IAM12342, Bacillus megaterium IAM1166, B. Subtilis IAM1026, Micrococcus luteus IAM1056, Rhodococcus erythropolis IAM1399, and Streptomyces levoris HUT6156. And high uranium adsorption abilities were found in some gram-positive bacterial strains S. albus HUT6047, S. levoris HUT6156, and A. nicotianae IAM12342. Among these highly efficient thorium and uranium adsorbing microorganisms, S. levoris, which could adsorb the largest amount of uranium from the aqueous solution at pH 3.50, could adsorb about 383 mol thorium and 390 mol uranium per gram dry weight of microbial cells from the solution containing thorium or uranium at pH 3.50. The amount and time course of thorium adsorbed were almost unaffected by co-existing uranium; however, the adsorption of thorium was faster when carried out after the adsorption of uranium. Thorium adsorption also became faster when uranium was added after thorium adsorption. The effect of pH on thorium adsorption was also discussed.     

Risk assessment of nitrate pollution in groundwater based on the environmental nitrogen-assimilation capacity of agricultural lands in Hokkaido

(pp. 17–24)
A trial calculation was performed of the environmental nitrogen-assimilation capacity and the amount of nitrogen input based on various statistical data, which were compiled from each city, town and village in Hokkaido prefecture. The relationship between the excess quantity of nitrogen, after nitrogen input, and the environmental nitrogen-assimilation capacity and the nitrate-nitrogen concentration of the groundwater was considered.
Environmental nitrogen-assimilation capacity = nitrogen output by the crops + acceptable level of residual nitrate in the soil profile.*
^*It is calculated by the amount of nitrate precipitation evapotranspiration ×10 mg L⁻¹.

• 1) 

  The average value of the environmental nitrogen-assimilation capacity in Hokkaido Prefecture was observed to be 183 kg ha⁻¹. The maximum and minimum values of the environmental nitrogen-assimilation capacity were 308 kg ha⁻¹ and 94 kg ha⁻¹, respectively. When the average value of the environmental nitrogen-assimilation capacity with respect to main agricultural land use was compared across municipalities, it was largely in the following order · grassland (218 kg ha⁻¹), upland (169 kg ha⁻¹), and paddy land (157 kg ha⁻¹).

       

X-ray fluorescence spectrometry of asteroid Itokawa by Hayabusa

X-ray fluorescence spectrometry of asteroid 25143 Itokawa was performed by the x-ray spectrometer onboard Hayabusa during the first touchdown on 19 November 2005. We selected those data observed during relatively enhanced solar activity and determined average elemental mass ratios of Mg/Si = 0.78 +/- 0.09 and Al/Si = 0.07 +/- 0.03. Our preliminary results suggest that Itokawa has a composition consistent with that of ordinary chondrites, but primitive achondrites cannot be ruled out. Among ordinary chondrites, LL- or L-chondrites appear to be more likely than H-chondrites. No substantial regional difference was found on the asteroid surface, indicating its homogeneity in composition.     

Chlorantraniliprole application differentially affects adult emergence of Sympetrum dragonflies in rice paddy fields

Paddy and Water Environment - Rice paddy fields are important habitat for many dragonfly species. In Japan, populations of dragonflies inhabiting rice paddies, in particular Sympetrum (Odonata:...     

Movements of dams milked for fermented horse milk production in Mongolia

Airag, (Fermented horse milk) is a traditional milk product in Mongolia. Herders separate foals from their dams and tie them at a milking site during the daytime to produce airag. To evaluate the effects of horse management on the movement of dams, we tracked three dams in a herd in camp 1 during summer and camp 2 during autumn of 2013 and analyzed their movements during the milking (daytime) and non‐milking (nighttime) periods in an area famous for its high‐quality airag. Dams were gathered every 1.7 ± 0.0 h between 07.46 and 15.47 hours at the milking sites and milked 4.6 ± 0.2 times/day during the study period (86 days). Daily cumulative and maximum linear distances from the milking sites were longer (P < 0.01) during the non‐milking period than during the milking period. Daily home ranges were 91 and 26 times greater during the non‐milking period (P < 0.001) in camps 1 and 2, respectively. The greater range during the non‐milking period would reflect the spatial distributions of water, salt and forage. The dams initially used similar areas and gradually shifted their daily home ranges after several days. This shift suggests that the dams grazed farther afield as forage availability declined around the milking site. For better airag production and sustainable pasture use, our results provide insights useful for evaluating the effects of milking management on vegetation and soil in those pastures, for selecting the appropriate milking times and frequency, and for choosing the right timing to shift milking sites.     

耐热优质黄瓜新品种夏盛的选育

利用耐热、抗病的雌性系ＧＥ作母本，优质的绿宝选１作父本配制而成的一代杂种——夏盛，夏季栽培从播种到始收３３天，一般６６７ｍ２产２５００ｋｇ，高产的可达３５００ｋｇ，耐热性强，抗病毒病（ＣＭＶ）和中抗疫病。果实圆筒形，长２１．５ｃｍ，横径４．７ｃｍ，肉厚２．８ｃｍ，质脆，皮色深绿有光泽，适于华南地区夏秋露地栽培