Evaluation of isotonic sodium bicarbonate solution for alkalizing effects in conscious calves

After intravenous (i.v.) infusion of various volumes of 1.35%-isotonic sodium bicarbonate solution (ISB), acid-base equilibrium, blood pressure, plasma volume and biochemical parameters in healthy Holstein calves were studied. Four calves each were randomly assigned to the low-dose (LD; i.v. infusion of 5 ml/kg ISB), middle-dose (MD; i.v. infusion of 10 ml/kg ISB) and the high-dose groups (HD; i.v. infusion of 15 ml/kg ISB). Administration volumes of ISB in the LD, MD and HD groups were decided based on the first half volumes of 5, 10 and 15 mEq of base requirement by the acceptable equation. Systemic, pulmonary artery and central venous pressures, cardiac output and plasma osmotic pressure were not changed by ISB infusion and remained constant throughout the experiment for all groups. There was good correlation (r(2) = 0.950) between relative changes in base excess and infused volume of bicarbonate (y=2.491x). The coefficient of distribution for bicarbonate ions was calculated to be 0.401 (=1/2.491). Therefore, it is suggested that a value of 0.4 would be most appropriate when calculating the base requirements in calves. Therefore, the first half volumes of ISB correcting base deficits of 5, 10 and 15 mEq in calves were estimated to be 6, 12 and 18 ml/kg, respectively. On the basis of the findings in this study, ISB may be used to correct metabolic acidosis without altering the plasma osmotic pressure, hemodynamic status and respiratory function in the calves.     

PCR-based differentiation of Fusarium oxysporum ff. sp. lycopersici and radicis-lycopersici and races of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici

The pathogenic type (form and race) of Fusarium oxysporum, which generates wilt symptoms on tomato, was rapidly identified with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based technique. We compared the partial nucleotide sequences of endo polygalacturonase (pg1) and exo polygalacturonase (pgx4) genes from isolates of F. oxysporum ff. sp. lycopersici (FOL) and radicis-lycopersici (FORL) from Japan and designed specific primer sets (uni, sp13, sp23, and sprl) based on the nucleotide differences that appeared among the pathogenic types. PCR with the uni primer set amplified a 670∼672-bp fragment from all isolates of FOL and FORL. With the sp13 primer set, an amplicon of 445 bp was obtained only from isolates of FOL race 1 and 3. With the sp23 primer set, a 518-bp fragment was obtained from isolates of FOL race 2 and 3. The sprl primer set yielded a 947-bp fragment from isolates of FORL, but not from FOL. A combination of amplifications with these primer sets effectively differentiated the pathogenic types of F. oxysporum in tomato.     

The effect of exogenous purine supply on the endogenous excretion of purine derivatives in the urine of growing lambs

An experiment was made to determine the absorption of purine metabolites in dietary nucleic acids through the digestive tract, and also to determine the utilization of nucleic acids absorbed in the body, using growing lambs. Two pairs of 120‐ and 180‐day‐old twin female lambs with a bodyweight of 18.2–19.0 kg were kept in metabolism crates and fed on purine‐free milk replacement (MR) with supplements of exogenous purine (purine base or purine nucleoside) at a level of 0.2 mmol/BW^0.75/d for 5 consecutive days, and thereafter they were maintained in the crates for 4 days. The daily amount of exogenous purine supply was calculated based on the urinary excreted purine derivatives (PD) in lambs fed on milk replacement alone. A urine sample was collected daily for 9 consecutive days, and the urinary excretion of PD was determined daily. Urinary PD excretion opened to increase within 24 h after the dose of purine bases, and the level was recovered on 3 days after ceasing the exogenous purine supply. The recovery of PD in the urine was about 70% of the purine supplement. When purine nucleosides were added to the feed, urinary PD excretion was initiated within 24 h after dosing, and the values were recovered after ending the purine nucleoside supply. The recovery rate of PD in the urine was only 30% of the supplemented purine. The plasma allantoin levels were almost similar after feeding purine bases and purine nucleosides, and the values were mostly in the range (40–60 µmol/L). These findings indicate that an exogenous purine can be directly incorporated into the body, and the purine as nucleoside is more effectively utilized for the synthesis of nucleic acids than as a purine base in the body of growing lambs.     

Effect of soluble glass bolus administration on the blood selenium concentration in grazing Philippine goats under backyard conditions

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of selenium (Se) soluble glass bolus (SGB) on blood Se concentrations of mixed‐bred (native × Anglo Nubian) pregnant does weighing between 15 and 52 kg and grazing on natural pastures in the Philippines. The control group, consisting of 28 does, was not administered with SGB, while 23 does were administered with SGB every 6 months for a period of 12 months. Forage and blood samples in both groups were collected every 2 months. Their Se, sulfur, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper and zinc concentrations were analyzed using the wet digestion method. The results showed that the grazed forage had concentrations of all these minerals that were far higher than the accepted critical lower levels. The Se concentration was higher (P < 0.05) in the dry season than in the rainy season, especially in the whole blood collected from the does and newborn kids. In both groups the Se concentration in the kids tended to increase during the suckling period but decreased after weaning. Kids born to the SGB does had higher whole blood Se concentrations (P < 0.05) than those born to the control does. However, the administration of SGB to the does did not affect any blood mineral concentrations except for Se in the grazing does and their kids. The animals did not exhibit any clinical signs of mineral deficiencies or toxicities during the experimental period.     

rep-PCR-Mediated Genomic Fingerprinting: A Rapid and Effective Method to Identify Clavibacter michiganensis

ABSTRACT The genomic DNA fingerprinting technique known as repetitive-sequence-based polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) was evaluated as a tool to differentiate subspecies of Clavibacter michiganensis, with special emphasis on C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, the pathogen responsible for bacterial canker of tomato. DNA primers (REP, ERIC, and BOX), corresponding to conserved repetitive element motifs in the genomes of diverse bacterial species, were used to generate genomic fingerprints of C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, C. michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus, C. michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis, C. michiganensis subsp. tessellarius, and C. michiganensis subsp. insidiosum. The rep-PCR-generated patterns of DNA fragments observed after agarose gel electrophoresis support the current division of C. michiganensis into five subspecies. In addition, the rep-PCR fingerprints identified at least four types (A, B, C, and D) within C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis based on limited DNA polymorphisms; the ability to differentiate individual strains may be of potential use in studies on the epidemiology and host-pathogen interactions of this organism. In addition, we have recovered from diseased tomato plants a relatively large number of naturally occurring avirulent C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis strains with rep-PCR fingerprints identical to those of virulent C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis strains.     

Reactivity of secondary hydroxyl groups in methylβ-d-xylopyranoside toward aβ-o-4-type quinone methide

Methyl-d-xylopyranoside was allowed to react with-O-4-type quinone methide without a catalyst to elucidate the reactivities of secondary hydroxyl groups at the C2, C3, and C4 positions. Benzyl ether-type lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC) compounds linked at the C2 and C4 positions were predominant, at a ratio of 23. However, the reactivity of the hydroxyl group at the C3 position was quite low. These results strongly suggest that the reactivity of the C2 hydroxyl group in xylan toward quinone methide intermediate is higher than that of the C3 hydroxyl group during biosynthesis of LCCs.     

First report of trunk rot caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fomitiporia torreyae</Emphasis> in Kyoto prefecture on cultivars of Japanese cedar with no relatedness to ‘Sanbu-sugi’

Trunk rot, caused by Fomitiporia torreyae, is one of the most economically important sap rot diseases on Cryptomeria japonica, especially on a cutting cultivar ‘Sanbu-sugi’. This disease had been reported only from Chiba and Ibaraki prefectures in Japan; however, a similar trunk rot on Japanese cedars was found recently in Kyoto prefecture. We identified the causal agent of the trunk rot on Japanese cedars in Kyoto prefecture, clarified the genotype of ‘Sanbu-sugi’ (sensu stricto) using microsatellite markers, and then investigated the relatedness of these infected cedars with ‘Sanbu-sugi’. The pathogen was identified as F. torreyae by its DNA sequences and morphological characteristics of the fruiting body. The 25 ramets of ‘Sanbu-sugi’ had only one genotype based on eight microsatellite loci. Infected Japanese cedars in Kyoto were comprised of different genotypes and showed no close relatedness to ‘Sanbu-sugi’. This is the first report of trunk rot caused by F. torreyae on cultivars of Japanese cedar with no relatedness to ‘Sanbu-sugi’ outside of Chiba and Ibaraki prefectures and showed the potential for expansion of this disease to Japanese cedar plantations in other areas.     

Behavior of four broad-leaved tree species used to revegetate eroded granite hill slopes

Information on primary growth behavior after planting is required for mixed-plantation revegetation using broad-leaved species. To estimate primary growth, especially from the perspective of crown coverage and changing growth rates, we examined the growth and survival of four broad-leaved species that are frequently used in erosion-control plantations in Japan. The species studied were Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc., Alnus pendula Matsum., Quercus glauca Thunb., and Q. serrata Thunb. The survival, height, and basal diameter of planted trees were measured over a 4-year period, and crown area was calculated over a 3-year period. We found a negative relationship between relative growth rate (RGR) and survival rate, suggesting that fast growth may be fatal when resources are severely limited. The relative height growth rate (RHGR) of A. pendula was especially high during the early period of the study (1997–1999) and then drastically declined, whereas the opposite tendency was observed in Q. glauca. The results of stem allometry analyses conformed to the specific relationships between height growth and diameter growth of the four species; increases in stem thickness based on height increments were smaller in the pioneer species A. pendula. Between-species differences in coverage per planted tree (mean crown area multiplied by survival rate) were small as a result of the negative relationship between coverage area and survival rate.     

Transverse swelling behavior of hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa) revealed by the replica method

Transverse swelling and its anisotropy in hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa) in several kinds of organic liquids and in water were investigated by means the replica method. There was more cross-sectional swelling of cell walls and cell wall thickness in earlywood than in latewood. Marked swelling toward cell lumens was observed in wood swollen in liquids that had higher swelling potentials than water. This suggests that the swelling of cell walls in these liquids is much greater than the external swelling. Feret's diameters of the cell lumens were reduced by swelling in all the observed cases except in the tangential direction of earlywood, suggesting that cell walls swell to a much less extent in width than in thickness. Deformation of cell shapes caused by the tensile force from the latewood were observed in the earlywood and in the transitional region from earlywood to latewood. When swollen in water, transverse swelling anisotropy caused only by the swelling in cell wall thickness were calculated to be 1.2 for the whole region over an annual ring and 1.4 for the earlywood. These values could not account for the external swelling anisotropy of 2.1. Considering obvious deformations of cell shapes in the earlywood and in the transitional region, we conclude that the interaction between earlywood and latewood is one of the prime factors contributing to the transverse swelling anisotropy of coniferous wood.Part of this report was presented at the 48th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Nagoya, April 1998