Ecological roles of stem sprouts and creeping sprouts ofAucuba japonica Thunb.

The ecological roles of stem sprouts and creeping sprouts ofAucuba japonica Thunb. were investigated through comparisons of the population structure at individual and stem level between two sites with different disturbance histories. Age and size structure of individuals indicated fewer chances for establishment of new individuals in undisturbed population. Maintenance of population was achieved by stem replacement within a clump and vegetative propagation with creeping sprouts which adapted to the non-severe disturbances. Rapid recovery by vigorous sprouting and encouraged seedling recruitment were detected in the disturbed sites. Results of the stem level analysis suggested transformation of stem sprouts into creeping sprouts. The major role of stem sprouts shifted from the maintenance of individuals to recovery of individuals by a severe disturbance. These differentiation of ecological roles among stem types, and their flexible changes according to disturbance regimes were thought to be the reasons whyA. japonica can achieve both the rapid dominance in a disturbed stand and the stable population in a less disturbed stand.     

Improved survival and growth performances with photoperiod and feeding schedule manipulation in bagrid catfish Mystus nemurus (Cuvier & Valenciennes 1840) larvae

Manipulation of photoperiod: 24 h light (24L), 12 h light:12 h dark (12L:12D) and 24 h dark (24D); and feeding schedules: day and night feeding (DNF), day feeding (DF) and night feeding (NF) was conducted to determine effects on survival, cannibalism and growth of larval bagrid catfish Mystus nemurus 2–14 days after hatching (dAH). Photoperiod insignificantly affected all parameters. Feeding schedule significantly affected survival and total length at 6 (P < 0.049; P < 0.009), 10 (P < 0.033; P < 0.000) and 14 dAH (P < 0.013; P < 0.000), respectively, but affected cannibalism at 10 (P < 0.043) and 14 dAH (P < 0.013). Survival for DNF was significantly higher than DF. Cannibalism for DNF was significantly lower than NF at 10 and 14 dAH. Total length for DNF was significantly higher than DF and NF at 10 and 14 dAH. At 14 dAH, feeding schedule significantly affected feed intake, final weight and coefficient of variation. For feed intake and final weight, DNF was significantly higher than DF and NF. For coefficient of variation, NF was significantly higher than DF. This study suggests that larval bagrid catfish can be reared at 24L, 12L:12D or 24D but should be fed day and night for improved growth, survival and reduced cannibalism.     

Living Mulch with White Clover Improves Phosphorus Nutrition of Maize of Early Growth Stage

We examined the effect of a living mulch with white clover on the growth of maize in an Andisol. Maize was grown using a living mulch without fertilizer application, or by conventional cultivation with or without fertilizer application. Although the living mulch did not affect the amount of available phosphate in soil, the phosphorus concentration of maize shoots increased due to the living mulch compared with conventional cultivation without fertilizer application. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization of maize roots was higher with the living mulch than with conventional cultivation. These results suggested that a living mulch with white clover enhanced the phosphorus uptake by maize through AM colonization.     

Analysis of the mineral composition of taro for determination of geographic origin

The mineral composition of taro ( Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) was analyzed to develop a method to distinguish taro produced in Japan and China. The concentrations of 15 elements (Al, Ca, Cl, Mg, Mn, Br, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, K, Na, Rb, Sc, Zn) were assayed using instrumental neutron activation analysis. The concentrations of NO(3)(-), SO(4)(2-), H(2)PO(4)(-), Cl(-), malate, and oxalate were measured by ion chromatography. The mean concentrations of H(2)PO(4)(-), Co, Cr, and Na significantly differed (P < 0.01) between taro grown in Japan and that grown in China. Discriminant analysis was performed to identify the most efficient combination of elements and compounds to discriminate the taro geographic origin. The highest percentage of correct classification was achieved with a two-variable model including H(2)PO(4)(-) and Co (100% for Japanese, 93.75% for Chinese). Principal component analysis and cluster analysis using all of the assayed elements and compounds were also conducted to determine which elements significantly accounted for the variation of the taro mineral composition. We report on the potential of H(2)PO(4)(-) and Co concentrations to differentiate taro grown in China and Japan and discuss the sources of variability in the taro mineral composition of our samples.     

Isolation and identification of two phytotoxic compounds from the medicinal plant Cassia alata L.

Cassia alata (Caesalpiniaceae), an ornamental shrub, has many biological properties such as antifungal and antibacterial activities. Several bioactive and phytotoxic compounds have already been isolated from C. alata. Phytotoxic substances from plants have drawn attention as an alternative biological approach to control weeds. Thus, we conducted this research to explore other phytotoxic compounds in C. alata leaves. Aqueous methanol extracts of C. alata leaves strongly inhibited the seedling growth of broccoli, cabbage, cress, radish and rapeseed, in which the level of inhibition correlated with concentration. Two active compounds were isolated through chromatographies and identified using spectral data as (S)‐4‐(3‐hydroxybutyl)phenol [(+)‐rhododendrol] and (E)‐4‐((1R,4R)‐4‐hydroxy‐2,6,6‐trimethylcyclohex‐2‐en‐1‐yl)but‐3‐en‐2‐one [3‐hydroxy‐α‐ionone]. These two active compounds inhibited the growth of cress seedlings in a concentration‐dependent manner. The required concentrations for 50% growth inhibition (I₅₀ value) of cress seedlings were 192.0–296.1 μM for (+)‐rhododendrol and 132.4–195.3 μM for 3‐hydroxy‐α‐ionone. These results indicate that the two phytotoxic compounds play a part in the phytotoxic activity of C. alata leaves.     

Development of a new selection method and quality improvement of sugary-1 rice mutants

Brown rice of sugary-1 mutants has a wrinkled character because of the presence of phytoglycogen instead of starch in the inner part of the endosperm. Because the wrinkled phenotype was used as a sole selection marker for progeny of the sugary-1 strain, identification of mutant seeds with improved appearance is very difficult. We found that sugary-1 varieties contained not only phytoglycogen but also free glucose in the endosperm, and these were positively correlated. In the segregated F₂ seeds that resulted from crossing Hokurikutou237 (sugary-1) and Koshihikari strains, glucose and phytoglycogen were also significantly correlated. Thus, we identified new sugary types with improved appearance from these progeny using glucose measurements. The F₄ seeds of the improved strain had moderate phytoglycogen contents and seed germination characteristics. Native-PAGE showed that pullulanase activity in the improved strain increased in developing seeds compared with Hokurikutou237, although isoamylase activity was extremely low and similar to that in sugary-1 types. The new selection method in this study efficiently aids the development of improved sugary rice types that lack the wrinkled phenotype.     

Objective evaluation of whiteness of cooked rice and rice cakes using a portable spectrophotometer

The whiteness of cooked rice and rice cakes was evaluated using a portable spectrophotometer with a whiteness index (WI). Also, by using boiled rice for measurement of Mido values by Mido Meter, it was possible to infer the whiteness of cooked rice without rice cooking. In the analysis of varietal differences of cooked rice, ‘Tsuyahime’, ‘Koshihikari’ and ‘Koshinokaori’ showed high whiteness, while ‘Satonoyuki’ had inferior whiteness. The whiteness of rice cakes made from ‘Koyukimochi’ and ‘Dewanomochi’ was higher than the whiteness of those made from ‘Himenomochi’ and ‘Koganemochi’. While there was a significant correlation (r = 0.84) between WI values and whiteness scores of cooked rice by the sensory test, no correlation was detected between the whiteness scores and Mido values, indicating that the values obtained by a spectrophotometer differ from those obtained by a Mido Meter. Thus, a spectrophotometer may be a novel device for measurement of rice eating quality.     

Local cerebral blood flow assessment using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in a dog with brain infarction in the right middle cerebral artery territory

A 12-year-old neutered male Chihuahua was diagnosed with acute brain infarction in the right middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory. Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) was performed to assess the local cerebral blood flow at the time of diagnosis and after 4 and 31 hr. Initially, the right MCA retained blood flow but with a lower cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV; 14.9 cm/sec) than the left MCA (27.9 cm/sec). The TCD vascular resistance variables were higher in the right than in the left MCA. An increase in the CBFV and a decrease in TCD vascular resistance variables were observed, consistent with improvements in neurological symptoms. TCD can be a non-invasive, and easy-to-use modality for bedside monitoring of cerebral edema and infarction.     

Loss of p16/Ink4a drives high frequency of rhabdomyosarcoma in a rat model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is an aggressive type of soft tissue sarcoma, and pleomorphic RMS is a rare subtype of RMS found in adult. p16 is a tumor suppressor which inhibits cell cycle. In human RMS, p16 gene is frequently deleted, but p16-null mice do not develop RMS. We reported that genetic ablation of p16 by the crossbreeding of p16 knock-out rats (p16-KO rats) improved the dystrophic phenotype of a rat model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Dmd-KO rats). However, p16/Dmd double knock-out rats (dKO rats) unexpectedly developed sarcoma. In the present study, we raised p16-KO, Dmd-KO, and dKO rats until 11 months of age. Twelve out of 22 dKO rats developed pleomorphic RMS after 9 months of age, while none of p16-KO rats and Dmd-KO rats developed tumor. The neoplasms were connected to skeletal muscle tissue with indistinct borders and characterized by diffuse proliferation of pleomorphic cells which had eosinophilic cytoplasm and atypical nuclei with anisokaryosis. For almost all cases, the tumor cells immunohistochemically expressed myogenic markers including desmin, MyoD, and myogenin. The single cell cloning from tumor primary cells gained 20 individual Pax7-negative MyoD-positive RMS cell clones. Our results demonstrated that double knock-out of p16 and dystrophin in rats leads to the development of pleomorphic RMS, providing an animal model that may be useful to study the developmental mechanism of pleomorphic RMS.     

Analysis of Potassium Uptake by Rice Roots Treated with Aluminum Using a Positron Emitting Nuclide, 38K

We investigate the effect of Al on K⁺ uptake by rice roots. Potassium-38 (³⁸K), a positron emitting nuclide (the half-life: 7.61 min), was used to trace K⁺ behavior. When a rice root was treated with 10μM Al for 24 h, the uptake of ³⁸K in the root was increased in the range of 1 to 2 cm from the root tip compared with that of the control sample. Because the root continued to grow without showing any damage of plasma membrane during the Al treatment, it was suggested that the ³⁸K uptake was not occurred through diffusion into the cells. The uptake of ³⁸K in both treatments, with/without Al, was decreased by VO₄^3- (inhibitor of H⁺-ATPase on plasma membrane) and DNP (H⁺ ionophore) treatment, which suggested that the K⁺ uptake was performed through an active transport, such as H⁺:K⁺ transport or H⁺ gradient promoted by an Al treatment.