Effects of maturity genes E2 and E3 on yield formation in soybean cultivar Enrei in warm region,Fukuyama in Japan

ABSTRACT

Understanding how maturity genes affect soybean yield formation will provide important information for crop management decisions. This study aimed to reveal how maturity genes E2 and E3 in the soybean cultivar ‘Enrei’ affect yields and yield formation in warm regions of Japan. ‘Enrei’ (e2e3) and three near-isogenic lines of ‘Enrei’ (e2E3, E2e3, and E2E3) were cultivated in 2016 and 2017 in Fukuyama, Japan (34°30′N, 133°23′E). Two sowing dates were set in each year (June sowing and July sowing). E2 extended the period from emergence to R1 and also the period from R1 to R7, whereas E3 extended only the period from emergence to R1. Interaction between E2 and E3 did not affect duration of the period from emergence to R1, but did affect the period from R1 to R7. Although seed yield did not differ between genotypes in the June sowings, the effects of E2 and E3 on seed yield in July sowing were both significant and interaction between E2 and E3 also observed. The total number of nodes increased in E3 genotypes in both sowing dates, especially in E2E3. Pod-set ratio was lower in E2 and E3 genotypes than in e2 and e3 genotypes in the June sowings, but did not differ between genotypes in the July sowings. The high yield of E2E3 genotypes in the July sowings was attributed to increased number of nodes and flower production while maintaining pod-set ratio. Appropriate choice of sowing date is suggested to be essential when using E3 genotypes.Abbreviations: HI: harvest index; NIL: near-isogenic line; RUE: radiation use efficiency; TDM: total above-ground dry matter; TRI: total solar radiation intercepted     

A review of seed production and stock enhancement for commercially important portunid crabs in Japan

We reviewed the present status of seed production for stock enhancement and evaluated the impact of stocking on commercial catches in Japan, of portunid crabs particularly Portunus trituberculatus and Scylla paramamosain. The mean survival rate from hatching to first-stage crabs was around 10%, and 20–30% of the larval culture trials conducted in recent years could not harvest juveniles during seed production. To achieve reliable mass seed production technologies, measures for controlling disease and the nutritional condition of larvae in seed production tanks are required to be developed. The main spawning season extends from April/May to July. Reflecting their life cycle characteristics such as high growth rates, crabs recruit to the fishery after September and largely contribute to the commercial landings until December in the hatching year. The main release season of juveniles is from June to July. Consequently, released juveniles are expected to contribute to commercial landings in the release year. Analyses of catch and release statistics in two small bays estimated the yield from released individuals (YPR, yield per release) at 2.4 g for P. trituberculatus and 3.3–7.7 g for S. paramamosain, which were similar to values reported from tagging surveys. On a major regional basis, catch and release histories of P. trituberculatus highlighted the impact of hatchery releases on commercial landings as 33.6 g YPR in the Seto Inland Sea, where catches and releases have been greatest. Although the YPR estimates were different between small bays and major regional seas, Japanese stock enhancement programmes should have had an impact on portunid crab production, dependent on the magnitude of the releases.     

Fishery biology of mud crabs <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scylla</Emphasis> spp. at Iriomote Island,Japan: species composition,catch, growth and size at sexual maturity

The fishery biology of mud crabs Scylla spp. was examined using baited traps and gill nets from September 2001 to August 2005 at Iriomote Island, Japan. To elucidate the growth of the crabs, artificially produced S. serrata juveniles were released and recaptured at the study site. The sizes at which 50% of females and males of S. serrata reached sexual maturity (SM₅₀) were estimated as an external carapace width (ECW) based on the morphology of the abdomen and the chela respectively. Two species, S. serrata and S. olivacea, were identified in the area with S. serrata being the dominant species (>95% of the catch). Changes in the mean ECW and the results of the release and recapture experiments suggested that the recruitment of young crabs to the fishery occurred from December/January to April/May. The SM₅₀ of females and males occurred at 132.4 and 150.7 mm ECW respectively. The body size composition of S. serrata revealed that immature crabs comprised approximately 40 and 65% of the catch for females and males respectively. To maintain a sustainable fishery for S. serrata, a minimum landing size based on the SM₅₀ estimates should be implemented as a fishing regulation.     

Swim bladder inflation as a possible cause of saddleback-like syndrome malformation in hatchery-reared red spotted grouper <Emphasis Type="Italic">Epinephelus akaara</Emphasis>

Saddleback-like syndrome is one of the most frequently observed malformations in hatchery-reared red spotted grouper Epinephelus akaara. Saddleback-like syndrome is characterized by a V-shaped dorsal-profile depression behind the head region accompanied by deformities or misalignments of the first to fourth neural spines on the vertebral column and the first to fourth pterygiophores of the dorsal fin. Abnormal swim bladder inflation in several finfish species leads to malformations, particularly of the vertebral column. The present study examined the influence of swim bladder inflation on saddleback-like syndrome in hatchery-reared red spotted grouper. The incidence of saddleback-like syndrome increased as swim bladder inflation rate increased. Additionally, the incidence of saddleback-like syndrome among juveniles with inflated swim bladders was significantly higher than that among juveniles with uninflated swim bladders. The larval swim bladder is located just below the first to fifth vertebrae and the first to fifth dorsal spines, where saddleback-like syndrome occurs. Our results suggest that an inflated swim bladder increases the risk of saddleback-like syndrome in hatchery-reared red spotted grouper.     

Characterization of Aquimarina hainanensis isolated from diseased mud crab Scylla serrata larvae in a hatchery

Mass mortality due to necrosis signs occurred in hatchery-reared zoea stage larvae of the mud crab Scylla serrata in Okinawa, Japan, and a causative bacterium was isolated. In this study, we identified and characterized the bacterium by genome analysis, biochemical properties and pathogenicity. The bacterium was a Gram-negative, non-motile, long rod, forming yellow colonies on a marine agar plate. It grew at 20–33°C (not at 37°C) and degraded chitin and gelatin. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence identified the bacterium as Aquimarina hainanensis. Genome sequence data obtained from Illumina MiSeq generated 29 contigs with 3.56 Mbp in total length and a G + C content of 32.5%. The predicted 16 chitinase genes, as putative virulence factors, had certain homologies with those of genus Aquimarina. Experimental infection with the bacterium conducted on larvae of four crustacean species, brine shrimp Artemia franciscana, freshwater shrimp Caridina multidentata, swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus and mud crab S. serrata, revealed that this bacterium was highly virulent to these species. The present study suggests that the bacterium caused mass mortality in mud crab seed production was A. hainanensis and can be widely pathogenic to crustaceans.     

Quality Characteristics of Waxy Hexaploid Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): Properties of Starch Gelatinization and Retrogradation

The viscoelastic properties and molecular structure of the starch isolated from waxy (amylose-free) hexaploid wheat (WHW) (Triticum aestivum L.) were examined. WHW starch generally had lower gelatinization onset temperature, peak viscosity, and setback than the starch isolated from normal hexaploid wheat (NHW). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that WHW starch had higher transition temperatures (T_o, T_p, and T_c) and enthalpy (ΔH) than NHW starch. However, when compared on the basis of amylopectin (AP) content, ΔH of WHW starch was almost statistically identical to that of its parental varieties. Typical A-type X-ray diffraction patterns were observed for the starches of WHW and its parental varieties. Somewhat higher crystallinity was indicated for WHW starch. WHW starch was also characterized by having greater retrogradation resistance. The high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) of amylopectin showed that each amylopectin yielded two fractions after debranching. Although WHW amylopectin had somewhat long B chains, little difference was observed in the ratio of Fr.III/ Fr.II between WHW and its parental varieties.     

Geographic distribution of Waxy gene SNPs and indels in foxtail millet, Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.

To elucidate diversity and evolution of the Waxy gene in foxtail millet, Setaria italica, we analyzed sequence polymorphism of Waxy gene in 83 foxtail millet landraces collected from various regions covering the entire geographical distribution of this millet in Europe and Asia. We found a unique geographic distribution pattern at the sequence level of gene haplotypes and also found a large diversity in East Asian landraces. We also found a higher degree of genetic polymorphism in a non-waxy phenotype than in other low amylose types, supporting the hypothesis that low amylose types recently originated from non-waxy type.     

Methods for measuring N2O flux from water surface and N2O dissolved in water from agricultural land

A new chamber method and a stripping method were developed for field measurements of the rate of N₂O emission from the water surface and for determinations of dissolved N₂O in water from agricultural land.

These methods were used for the measurement of drainage canal water and flooded water of rice fields during the period of June 1982 to January 1983. The results demonstrate that aquatic systems of agricultural land may provide both source and sink for atmospheric N₂O.     

利用137Cs示踪农业耕作土壤侵蚀速率的定量模型

建立了一个根据农业耕作土壤剖面中^137Cs的损失量与土壤侵蚀量之间关系的定量模型,在假设^137Cs在耕层中得到充分的混合而变得均一的基础上,根据质量平衡模型推导而成,模型显示^137Cs的衰变常数,年沉降分量,耕层厚和采样年份对年平均土壤侵蚀速率都有重大影响,模型结果还说明,^137Cs的损失量与年平均土壤侵蚀量之间的关系既非线性关系亦非指数关系,而是一种复杂的曲线关系。     

Reducing effect of dietary anacardic acid on body fat pads in rats

We have previously shown that anacardic acid has an uncoupling effect on oxidative phosphorylation in rat liver mitochondria using succinate as a substrate (Toyomizu et al. 2000). In the present study, in order to clarify whether or not anacardic acid could be used advantageously as a special feed/food supplement to reduce fat deposition through the uncoupling action, two sets of experiments were conducted to determine quantitatively the effect of dietary anacardic acid (0.1% w/w) supplementation. More specifically, effects on growth, feed efficiency, fattening, and levels of several constituents of blood serum in rats fed normal and low protein–high carbohydrate (CHO) diets were examined. There were no significant differences in bodyweight gain, feed consumption and feed efficiency among the experimental groups. For the total fat pad content, including inguinal and epididymal fat, significant interaction was shown between both treatments: dietary anacardic acid at 0.1% w/w significantly decreased the total fat pad content in rats fed the CHO diet, but not in rats fed the normal diet. Weights of heart, spleen and brown adipose tissue were not affected by either the dietary treatment or anacardic acid, while both liver and kidney weights decreased with feeding of anacardic acid at 0.1% w/w, but were not affected by the CHO diet. Anacardic acid supplementation in the diet had no effect on serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase or lactate dehydrogenase levels, suggesting that the dysfunction of liver or kidney may not be induced by dietary anacardic acid. The results of the present study reveal a unique function of anacardic acid in that, for dietary conditions enhancing body fat deposition, that is consumption of a diet high in carbohydrates, dietary anacardic acid has the potential to decrease body fat deposition. A possible mechanism for differences observed in anacardic acid‐induced regulation of body fat pad content between rats fed the normal and CHO diets, based on uncoupling action of anacardic acid on the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, is discussed.