Comparison of phospholipid fatty acid composition in percolating water,floodwater, and the plow layer soil during the rice cultivation period in a Japanese paddy field

Azolla has been used as a green manure for rice in Vietnam and southern China (3). Recently it was adopted by farmers in the Koronadal area in South Cotabato Province, the Philippines (2). In that area Azolla pinnata grows reasonably well without phosphate fertilizer, which is generally used for stimulating Azolla growth (3, 5).     

Effect of chloropicrin fumigation on microbial communities evaluated by community-level physiological profile and the resistance against fusarium wilt

Different microbial communities characterized by the Biolog pattern were developed in the rhizosphere of radish grown on a rockwool hydroponic system treated with chloropicrinfumigated and non-fumigated soil suspensions although no differences were observed in their viable counts. Different microbial communities also were developed in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere. After the development of microbial communities in the rhizosphere, bud cells of Fusarium oxysporum that causes vascular wilt of radish plants were inoculated, and disease symptoms were examined. Treatment with the non-fumigated soil suspension was much more effective than that with the fumigated one in controlling the disease, indicating that the Biolog method might be applicable to characterize microbial communities that control the disease caused by F. oxysporum.     

Effect of calcined lime (CaO) on chlamydospores of the rice false smut pathogen,Villosiclava virens,and their root attachment and infection

Rice false smut caused by Villosiclava virens is a devastating disease. The smut balls contain chlamydospores, which fall onto paddy soils to become the primary inoculum. After transplanting, the chlamydospores subsequently germinate and infect rice roots. The application of a CaO-containing fertilizer to paddy soils can inhibit the development of rice false smut disease; however, the underlying mechanism is unknown. In this study, we evaluated the suppression of chlamydospore behaviour due to CaO. Specifically, we clarified the effects of the following on chlamydospore morphology and germination: (a) pH, (b) calcium (Ca) concentration, (c) Ca concentration (pH adjusted to 6.5), and (d) CaO-added soil solution. Germination was suppressed at pH 4 and 10, in contrast with the normal germination at pH 6, 7, and 8. Treatments with more than 10 mg/L Ca melted the outer layer of chlamydospores and suppressed germination regardless of whether the pH was adjusted to 6.5. A saturated CaO solution induced bursting of chlamydospores. Suppressed germination and a melted outer chlamydospore layer were also observed, even though the soil buffering effect initially prevented the CaO-mediated pH increase. Furthermore, the chlamydospores within 15 mm from the CaO small lump exhibited suppressed germination in soil. In addition, there was no effect of CaO treatment on chlamydospore attachment to rice roots and hyphal invasion of rice roots in in vitro inoculation tests. These results suggest that Ca concentration is an important factor for inhibiting the occurrence of rice false smut disease.     

Blockade of bovine PD-1 increases T cell function and inhibits bovine leukemia virus expression in B cells in vitro

Programmed death-1 (PD-1) is a known immunoinhibitory receptor that contributes to immune evasion of various tumor cells and pathogens causing chronic infection, such as bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection. First, in this study, to establish a method for the expression and functional analysis of bovine PD-1, hybridomas producing monoclonal antibodies (mAb) specific for bovine PD-1 were established. Treatment with these anti-PD-1 mAb enhanced interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production of bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Next, to examine whether PD-1 blockade by anti-PD-1 mAb could upregulate the immune reaction during chronic infection, the expression and functional analysis of PD-1 in PBMC isolated from BLV-infected cattle with or without lymphoma were performed using anti-PD-1 mAb. The frequencies of both PD-1⁺ CD4⁺ T cells in blood and lymph node and PD-1⁺ CD8⁺ T cells in lymph node were higher in BLV-infected cattle with lymphoma than those without lymphoma or control uninfected cattle. PD-1 blockade enhanced IFN-γ production and proliferation and reduced BLV-gp51 expression and B-cell activation in PBMC from BLV-infected cattle in response to BLV-gp51 peptide mixture. These data show that anti-bovine PD-1 mAb could provide a new therapy to control BLV infection via upregulation of immune response.     

Biological control of Fusarium wilt by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus amyloliquefaciens</Emphasis> IUMC7 isolated from mushroom compost

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens IUMC7 isolated from mushroom compost inhibited growth of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL) on culture plates, and a culture supernatant of IUMC7 inhibited in vitro germ tube elongation of FOL. When compared with control soils, mushroom compost inoculated with IUMC7 significantly reduced disease severity caused by FOL in tomato plants. PCR tests for expression of PR genes indicated that IUMC7 did not induce resistance in tomato plants. These results suggested that the suppression of disease was mainly caused by antimicrobial compounds produced by IUMC7.     

Conyza sumatrensis: A new weed species resistant to glyphosate in the Americas

Recent reports of weed‐control failures after the use of glyphosate led to suspicion about the selection of resistant biotypes of Conyza at locations in west and north Paraná, Brazil. Plants were collected, identified as Conyza sumatrensis and subsequently evaluated for possible resistance to glyphosate in four stages of weed development. The experiments were carried out in a greenhouse by combining biotypes, stages of development and a range of glyphosate doses. All the suspected biotypes were collected from locations in Cascavel, Toledo, Assis Chateaubriand, Tupãssi and Campo Mourão with a history of glyphosate use in burndown and in glyphosate‐resistant soybean for at least the four previous years and were compared to a susceptible biotype (São Jorge do Ivaí) with no previous history of herbicide use. The doses of glyphosate ranged from 0 to 5760 g ae ha^?1. The biotypes were considered as resistant if two combined criteria were present (resistance factor > 1 and the rate required to achieve 80% control is >720 g ha^?1). The results provided evidence that there is a marked difference in the level of control of older plants and also confirmed the presence of some resistant biotypes. For applications at the first stage of development, two biotypes that were resistant to glyphosate were identified (Cascavel‐1 and Tupãssi‐6). For applications in the second stage of development, beyond the biotypes that were found in the first stage, three other biotypes were considered as resistant: Toledo‐5, Assis Chateaubriand‐7 and Floresta‐10. However, for applications at the third and fourth stages, all the biotypes were considered as resistant.     

Cooling set and its recovery in water-saturated bamboo under large bending deformation

To clarify the bending properties and cooling set for bamboo under large deformation, the relationship between applied deflection and residual deflection was investigated, and comparison was made with the results of thermal recovery and anatomical changes due to deformation. No clear effect of initial deflection on set measured after a long time was found for wood and bamboo loaded on the epidermis side (Bepi). On the other hand, set for bamboo loaded on the endodermis side (Bendo) increased with deformation level. Recovery from the deformation with time for Bendo was almost complete at around 1000 min after unloading in the three-point bending method. This recovery behavior was not seen for Bepi or wood. It was considered that no failure was caused in the bent specimen, because most of the deformation was completely recovered by reheating to the temperature at which the specimens were deformed before cooling. The recovery from deformation for B_endo loaded by the four-point bending method continued even after 1000 min. From microscopic observations, shearing deformations were seen for Bendo loaded by the three-point bending method. From these results, it can be considered that shearing deformations between the two loaded points effectively contribute to decreased recovery force from deformations for B_endo. Part of this report was presented at the 54th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society in Sapporo, August 2004     

Simultaneous detection of benzimidazole-resistant strains of Fusarium head blight using the loop-mediated isothermal amplification-fluorescent loop primer method

The loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)-fluorescent loop primer (FLP) method detects genetic polymorphisms by using a LAMP amplicon and measuring the peak temperatures of fluorescence resonance energy transfer between an FLP and a quencher probe, which is specifically hybridized to a sequence including a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). In the present study, the LAMP-FLP method was used to detect mutant genotypes F167Y, E198Q, and F200Y in the β2-tubulin gene region of causal pathogens of Fusarium head blight of wheat that result in methyl benzimidazole carbamate (MBC) resistance, proving its usefulness for monitoring strains with SNPs in target regions of MBC resistance.     

Effect of dietary kapok oil supplementation on growth performance,carcass traits,meat quality and sensory traits of pork in finishing‐pigs

Kapok seed and oil from the tropical zone are widely used as pig feed to harden porcine fat in Japan. This study evaluated the effect of dietary kapok oil supplementation on pork quality and sensory traits. Five Duroc pigs each were assigned to an experimental group supplemented with kapok oil and a control group. Dietary kapok oil supplementation had no effect on growth performance and intramuscular fat content in the Longissimus dorsi muscle (LM). Supplemental kapok oil increased saturated fatty acid contents in subcutaneous and intramuscular fat and decreased monounsaturated fatty acid levels (P < 0.05). Off‐flavor detection by a trained panel was higher in the experimental than the control group (P < 0.05), but tenderness, juiciness, texture and flavor intensity of LM chops were similar in both groups. The overall palatability of pork as judged by a consumer panel decreased with kapok oil supplementation (P < 0.01). These results indicate that while growth performance, intramuscular fat contents and carcass characteristics were unchanged, while dietary kapok oil supplementation makes firm fat to prevent inferior soft fat in pork, it can lower the palatability of pork due to a decrease in monounsaturated fatty acids.