Carbon balance in a cool–temperate deciduous forest in northern Japan: seasonal and interannual variations, and environmental controls of its annual balance

We monitored variation in seasonal and annual net ecosystem production (NEP), gross primary production (GPP), and ecosystem respiration (R _E) based on 7-year eddy covariance measurements above a cool?Ctemperate deciduous broad-leaved forest (Japanese beech forest). The 7-year means (±SD) of annual NEP, GPP, and R _E were 312?±?64, 1250?±?62, and 938?±?36?g?C?m^?2?year^?1, respectively. Variation in NEP was much larger than variation in GPP and R _E. During the growing season, the main factor controlling carbon balance was air temperature; variation in seasonal integrated NEP was regulated by accumulated air temperature (degree-day) with a significant negative correlation, whereas the seasonal ratio of R _E to GPP was correlated positively with accumulated air temperature. Because the deviation of seasonal NEP was also significantly correlated with seasonal R _E/GPP, NEP was controlled by R _E/GPP, depending on air temperature during the growing season. Seasonal R _E in the defoliation and snow seasons was also important for evaluating the annual carbon balance, because the total number of days in the two seasons was quite large owing to a long snowy winter. In the defoliation and snow seasons, we found defoliation season length was a major factor determining seasonal integrated R _E, illustrating the positive correlation between R _E and defoliation season length. The major factors controlling interannual variations in forest carbon balance are discussed.     

纳米水雾环境对新鲜农产品采后贮藏过程中失重的调控

质量损失与冷害症状在新鲜农产品冷藏过程中经常发生,并会导致园艺产业巨大的经济损失。本试验分别研究了三种园艺产品,茄子(Solanum melongena)、日本芜青(Brassica rapa)和无花果(Ficus carica)在用两种类型加湿器制造的相对湿度为95%、温度分别为5.5℃和7℃的环境下贮藏10、6和8 d的贮藏品质。由纳米加湿器生成的水雾粒子平均直径小于100 nm,而由超声波加湿器生成的水雾粒子平均直径为216 nm。结果表明,纳米加湿器处理的日本芜菁、茄子和无花果样品的失重率分别为3.7%、5.3%和8.8%,超声波加湿器处理三种样品的失重率分别为7.3%、8.5%和14.7%。在纳米水雾贮藏室内放置的茄子果实的冷害指数要低于在超声波加湿环境中贮藏的果实。纳米水雾中的日本芜菁和无花果的气孔相比其初始状态下分别关闭了34.7μm2和51.5μm2,而在超声波水雾中则分别关闭了15.8μm2和25.5μm2。在纳米水雾中贮藏的日本芜菁的颜色要比在超声波水雾中贮藏的芫菁更绿。     

Analysis of RAPD and AFLP markers linked to resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae race 2 in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)

Root rot of lettuce, which is caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae (FOL), is a critical problem in the production of lettuce. FOL-resistant lettuce genetic resources have been identified and used in breeding programs to produce FOL-resistant cultivars. However, the genetic characteristics of resistance genes have not been studied in depth and, therefore, no DNA markers are presently available for these genes. In this study, we analyzed the RRD2 (resistance for root rot disease race 2) locus, which confers resistance to FOL race 2. Resistance loci were analyzed using two cultivars of crisphead lettuce: VP1013 (resistant) and Patriot (susceptible). The segregation patterns of resistant phenotypes in F₂ indicated a single major locus. To define the positions of resistance loci, a linkage map was constructed using amplified fragment length polymorphism and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Quantitative trait loci analysis revealed the position of the major resistance locus. A high LOD score was observed for RAPD-marker WF25-42, and this marker showed good correspondence to the phenotype in different cultivars and lines. We successfully developed a sequence characterized amplified region marker from WF25-42.     

Role of the capsular polysaccharide as a virulence factor for Streptococcus suis serotype 14

Streptococcus suis is an important swine pathogen and a zoonotic agent causing meningitis and septicemia. Although serotype 2 is the most virulent type, serotype 14 is emerging, and understanding of its pathogenesis is limited. To study the role of the capsular polysaccharide (CPS) of serotype 14 as a virulence factor, we constructed knockout mutants devoid of either cps14B, a highly conserved regulatory gene, or neu14C, a gene coding for uridine diphospho-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase, which is involved in sialic acid synthesis. The mutants showed total loss of the CPS with coagglutination assays and electron microscopy. Phagocytosis assays showed high susceptibility of mutant Δcps14B. An in vivo murine model was used to demonstrate attenuated virulence of this non-encapsulated mutant. Despite the difference in the CPS composition of different serotypes, this study has demonstrated for the first time that the CPS of a serotype other than 2 is also an important antiphagocytic factor and a critical virulence factor.     

Paternity determination of captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) using microsatellite DNA analysis

We applied previously published PCR primer pairs to amplify alleles at three polymorphic microsatellite loci to determine the genetic relationship of 6 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) that were living together in a Japanese aquarium. The three microsatellite loci were sufficient to determine the haplotype relationships of the six dolphins, which represented three different generations. It was confirmed that this genotyping method is simple and economical for assessing, establishing and maintaining genetic diversity in captive populations and will become a very effective technique for ex situ conservation in aquariums and zoos.