Mitochondrial DNA variation and population structure of the Japanese mitten crab Eriocheir japonica

ABSTRACT:   The Japanese mitten crab Eriocheir japonica is a common grapsid species found throughout freshwater and estuarine regions in Japan. In order to obtain information on the genetic variation and population structure of this species, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis was conducted on the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) of mitochondrial DNA, on 666 individuals from 19 sample sites covering the three main geographic regions of Japan (Main Islands, Okinawa, and Ogasawara). Genetic analysis using seven restriction enzymes produced an array of 61 composite haplotypes. Three regional groups corresponding to the three geographic regions were clearly identified by cluster and molecular variance model ( amova ) analyses. Each of the three groups showed dominant haplotypes that were almost completely absent in populations from the other geographic areas. Comparison with published information for other species indicates that the degree of genetic divergence between these three main groups is equivalent to the genetic distance between congeneric species. Thus, the population structure of the Japanese mitten crab, as inferred from mtDNA analysis, is formed by genetically distinct groups that closely reflect their geographic distribution in the Japanese archipelago as well as restricted gene flow.     

Improvement of ovulation induction by additive injection of 17,20β‐Dihydroxy‐4‐pregnen‐3‐one after human chorionic gonadotropin administration in a pelagic egg spawning marine teleost,nibe croaker Nibea mitsukurii (Jordan & Snyder)

This study aimed to develop the consistent ovulation induction method in a pelagic egg spawning marine teleost, nibe croaker Nibea mitsukurii. Attempts to induce oocyte maturation and ovulation in nibe croaker using human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; 0.5 IU g^?1) resulted in the normal progression of oocyte maturation and hydration, but a failure to induce ovulation in many individuals. This ovulation disorder was similarly observed even when the dose of hCG was increased 10 times (5 IU g^?1) or decreased to one tenth (0.05 IU g^?1), indicating that it cannot be completely overcome solely by hCG administration. However, this ovulation disorder could be completely overcome by subsequent administration of 17,20β‐dihydroxy‐4‐pregnen‐3‐one (DHP) at the appropriate dose (0.5 μg g^?1) and time (20 h after hCG administration). An increase in the number of individuals that ovulated due to DHP administration led to an increase in individuals producing larvae, resulting in an approximately threefold increase in the estimated number of larvae produced compared with the group of fish administered hCG alone. Thus, this ovulation induction method using DHP administration after hCG was demonstrated to overcome the ovulation disorder in nibe croaker and could be applicable to commercially important species with similar ovulation problems.     

Effect of mineral nutrition on contents of organic constituents in sweet potato plants during growth

Although chinese yam plants are an important crop in Japan, relatively little is known about their content of the organic constituents. IZAWA and NATAKE (1,2,3) showed some aspects of the effect of the fertilizer treatment on the organic composition of chinese yam plants at various phase of their vegetation. Many reports on chinese yam plants have appeared; nevertheless, the nature of carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism has remained unknown. However, there are a number of excellent reports (4, 5, 6) which directly or indirectly have a bearing on these biochemical phase in sweet Potato plants. Therefore, the objectives of the Present study were twofold : a) to determine the contents of sugars, starch, alcohol-insoluble solids, and various nitrogen constituents in sweet potato plants during growth as affected by mineral nutrition, and b) to compare the effect of mineral nutrition on sweet potato plants with its effect on chinese yam plants.     

Effect Of Mineral Nutrition on Metabolic Change Induced in Crop Plant Roots (I)

Attempts have long been made to study the effect of mineral nutrition on the metabolic substances in excised roots from a numcer of plant species, but very little attention has teen given to an approach to the problem by using the bleeding sap from crop plants. Recently, however, an increasing number of reports about the occurrence of organic substances in bleeding sap from crop plants has completely revised an old view that xylem sap was essentially a rather dilute aqueous solution of inorganic salts. Evidence has already been obtained which suggests a significant role for the root system as a centre of metabolism and an upward transport of metabolites from the root via the xylem to the leaf. Although analyses of the nitrogenous compounds present in bleeding sap from herbaceous plants have shown glutamine and asparagine to be the most important constituents, in some species of plants nitrate nitrogen may be a predominant nitrogenous compound. Besides ami des and nitrate, the presence of amino acids in bleeding sap has ceen shown by Kulayeva, Silina, and Kursanov ¹⁾ for pumpkins, Wieringa and Bakhuis ²¹ for Lupins, and DIE³⁾ for cucumbers and tomatoes.     

Close linkage of a blast resistance gene,Pias(t), with a bacterial leaf blight resistance gene,Xa1-as(t), in a rice cultivar ‘Asominori’

It has long been known that a bacterial leaf blight-resistant line in rice obtained from a crossing using ‘Asominori’ as a resistant parent also has resistance to blast, but a blast resistance gene in ‘Asominori’ has not been investigated in detail. In the present study, a blast resistance gene in ‘Asominori’, tentatively named Pias(t), was revealed to be located within 162-kb region between DNA markers YX4-3 and NX4-1 on chromosome 4 and to be linked with an ‘Asominori’ allele of the bacterial leaf blight resistance gene Xa1, tentatively named Xa1-as(t). An ‘Asominori’ allele of Pias(t) was found to be dominant and difference of disease severity between lines having the ‘Asominori’ allele of Pias(t) and those without it was 1.2 in disease index from 0 to 10. Pias(t) was also closely linked with the Ph gene controlling phenol reaction, suggesting the possibility of successful selection of blast resistance using the phenol reaction. Since blast-resistant commercial cultivars have been developed using ‘Asominori’ as a parent, Pias(t) is considered to be a useful gene in rice breeding for blast resistance.     

Establishment of a tracing technique for transplanted bluefin tuna germ cells in recipient’s gonads using monoclonal antibodies specifically recognizing bluefin tuna spermatogenic cells

Fisheries Science - Our ultimate aim is to establish a small-bodied surrogate broodstock (e.g., mackerel) that produces functional gametes of the Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis using...     

Element Budgets in a Forested Watershed in Southern China: Estimation of a Proton Budget

We evaluated the element budgets in a forested watershed in Jiulianshan, southern China. The element input in bulk precipitation was characterized by high depositions of H⁺, NH₄ ⁺, Ca²⁺, and SO₄ ^2?, i.e., 400, 351, 299, and 876 eq/ha/yr, respectively. The outputs of H⁺, NH₄ ⁺, and SO₄ ^2? from the watershed were very low, while those of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ were high, 712 and 960 eq/ha/yr, respectively. The element budgets suggested that i) the net retentions of H⁺, NH₄ ⁺, and SO₄ ^2? in this watershed were high, and ii) the net release of Mg²⁺ from this watershed was high mainly due to weathering. The net release of Ca²⁺ was not so high because of the high atmospheric deposition, while atmospheric deposition of Mg²⁺ was not so high (130 eq/ha/yr). Decrease of acid neutralizing capacity in the soil, i.e., net soil acidification, was caused mainly by the net release of Mg²⁺. Moreover, the net retention of SO₄ ^2? also contributed to soil acidification.