Effect of CO2 enrichment on carbon and nitrogen interaction in wheat and soybean

Effect of CO₂ enrichment on the carbon-nitrogen balance in whole plant and the acclimation of photosynthesis was studied in wheat (spring wheat) and soybean (A62-1 [nodulated] and A62-2 [non-nodulated]) with a combination of two nitrogen application rates (0 g N land area m^-2 and 30 g N land area m^-2) and two temperature treatments (30/20°C (day/night) and 26/16°C). Results were as follows.

1. Carbon (dry matter)-nitrogen balance of whole plant throughout growth was remarkably different between wheat and soybean, as follows: 1) in wheat, the relationship between the amount of dry matter (DMt) and amount of nitrogen absorbed (Nt) in whole plant was expressed by an exponential regression, in which the regression coefficient was affected by only the nitrogen application rate, and not by CO₂ and temperature treatments, and 2) in soybean the DMt-Nt relationship was basically expressed by a linear regression, in which the regression coefficient was only slightly affected by the nitrogen treatment (at 0N, DMt-Nt balance finally converged to a linear regression). Thus, carbon-nitrogen interaction in wheat was strongly affected by the underground environment (nitrogen nutrition), but not by the above ground environment (CO₂ enrichment and temperature), while that in soybean was less affected by both under and above ground environments.

2. The photosynthetic response curve to CO₂ concentration in wheat and soybean was less affected by the CO₂ enrichment treatment, while that in wheat and soybean (A62-2) was affected by the nitrogen treatment, indicating that nitrogen nutrition is a more important factor for the regulation of photosynthesis regardless of the CO₂ enrichment.

3. Carbon isotope discrimination (..:1) in soybean was similar to that in wheat under ambient CO₂, while lower than that in wheat under CO₂ enrichment, suggesting that the carbon metabolism is considerably different between wheat and soybean under the CO₂ enrichment conditions.     

Aluminum-induced growth stimulation in relation to calcium,magnesium, and silicate nutrition in Melastoma malabathricum L.

Effects of Al, Ca, Mg, and Si on the growth and mineral accumulation of M. malabathricum (Melastoma malabathricum L.), which is an Al accumulator plant, were investigated using the water culture method. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were used as control plants. After Al application, growth was inhibited in barley, but stimulated in M. malabathricum and rice. The growth of M. malabathricum was not reduced by very low Ca and Mg concentrations (0.1 mm Ca and 0.05 mm Mg). However, it was depressed in the absence of Ca. Ca and Mg contents somewhat decreased by Al application, which was most evident in young leaves and roots. M. malabathricum accumulated more than 10,000 mg kg^-1 Al in mature leaves, and more than 7,000 mg kg^-1 even in the youngest leaf. Al content in leaves of M. malabathricum did not decrease by the Ca or Mg application, but slightly decreased by in the absence of Ca.

Although Si is a strong ligand of Al in solution, in M. malabathricum, Si application hardly affected the growth, Al accumulation and nutrient uptake.     

Effects of nitrogen source and aluminum on growth of tropical tree seedlings adapted to low pH soils

The effects of N-source and Al on the growth of seedlings of Melastoma malabathricum, Acacia mangium, and Melaleuca cajuputi, which are tropical woody plants and are very tolerant to Al, and barley (Hordeum vulgare), which is a typical Al-sensitive plant, were investigated. The Al and N treatments consisted of the application of either 0 or 0.5 mM Al, and 2 mM NH₄ ⁺ or N0₃ ^-, respectively. Growth of the tropical plants was enhanced by Al and NH₄ application. In all the plant species, the pH of the culture solution decreased and the concentrations of soluble Al and P increased with the + NH₄ treatment, which positively affected the growth of the tropical plant species. Excised roots of M. malabathricum dissolved insoluble Al with NH₄ application and absorbed Al mainly from root tips. Al did not affect the leaf N concentration except in the case of barley. Roots of M. cajuputi exuded a large amount of citrate, which slightly increased by the + Al treatment. In A. mangium, the reactivity of soluble Al to PCV (pyrocatecholviolet) decreased in the culture solution of the + Al + NH₄. treatment and Al concentration of roots in this treatment was very low. Roots of M. malabathricum released H+ along with Al uptake as well as NH₄ ⁺ uptake. It is concluded that Al and NH₄ ⁺ exert beneficial effects on the growth of tropical tree seedlings.     

DIFFERENCES IN ACQUISITION OF ORGANIC NITROGEN IN SOILS BETWEEN BOK CHOY AND TOMATO

Seedlings of bok choy and tomato were grown in soils with different nitrogen (N) sources [no N (?N), ammonium sulfate (AS), and cattle farmyard manure (CM)]. Comparison between soils treated with ?N and CM indicated that the growth and N accumulation in bok choy were significantly enhanced by CM treatment, whereas no difference was found in tomato. In the rhizosphere soils, the highest protease activity was detected in CM treatment irrespective of species. Correlation analysis between rhizospheric protease activity and total N accumulation of plant treated with –N and CM showed a significant positive correlation only for bok choy. The determination of amino acid absorption rate in excised roots indicated that glycine was taken up at a significantly higher rate in bok choy than tomato. This study suggested that at least two possible factors affected the acquisition of organic N: rhizospheric protease activity and ability to absorb amino acids in roots.     

Effects of low-crude protein diets supplemented with rumen-protected lysine and methionine on fattening performance and nitrogen excretion of Holstein steers

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of low-crude protein (CP) diets supplemented with rumen-protected lysine and methionine on growth performance, nitrogen excretion, and carcass traits in Holstein steers. Steers consumed the following diets: (1) 17.2% CP on a dry-matter basis during the early period (from 7 to 10 months of age) and 14.5% CP during the late period (from 10 to 18 months of age; CON, n = 4, initial body weight [BW] 238 kg), and (2) 14.4% CP during the early period and 11.4% CP during the late period (AA, n = 4, initial BW 243 kg). The AA diet contains rumen-protected lysine and methionine. Except for CP intake, feed intake and body weight gain were not affected by dietary CP content. Total nitrogen excretion per metabolic BW tended to be lower (p < .10) in the early period and significantly lower (p < .05) in the late period with decreasing the feed CP content. Plasma urea nitrogen concentrations were lower in AA than CON. Carcass traits and total free amino acid contents of the longissimus thoracis muscle were not affected by dietary CP content. Adding rumen-protected lysine and methionine to a low-CP diet would reduce nitrogen excretion in fattening Holstein steers without affecting productivity.     

Dependence of self-tolerance on TRAF6-directed development of thymic stroma

The microenvironments of the thymus are generated by thymic epithelial cells (TECs) and are essential for inducing immune self-tolerance or developing T cells. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie the differentiation of TECs and thymic compartmentalization are not fully understood. Here we show that deficiency in the tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor (TRAF) 6 results in disorganized distribution of medullary TECs (mTECs) and the absence of mature mTECs. Engraftment of thymic stroma of TRAF6(-/-) embryos into athymic nude mice induced autoimmunity. Thus, TRAF6 directs the development of thymic stroma and represents a critical point of regulation for self-tolerance and autoimmunity.     

Immunohistochemical Expressions of Main PGE(2) Biosynthesis-related Enzymes and PGE(2) Receptor in Rat Nephrogenesis

Endogenous prostaglandin (PG) E(2) plays important roles in renal homeostasis. Immunoexpressions of PGE(2) biosynthesis-related enzymes, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and microsomal PGE(2) synthetase (mPGES)-1 and EP4 (a PGE(2) receptor), were investigated in renal development. Kidney tissues were obtained from fetuses on gestation days 18 and 21 and neonates on days 1 to 18. In fetuses and early neonates, the expressions of COX-2, mPGES-1 and EP4 were observed in developing renal tubules, indicating that COX-2 and its product, PGE(2), play important roles in blastemal cell-derived renal tubular development via EP4. Cyclin D1 expression was seen in both the nucleus and cytoplasm of the developing tubules. These findings differed from the decreased COX-2 expression and exclusive nuclear expression of cyclin D1 seen in abnormal epithelial regeneration of injured renal tubules in cisplatin-treated rats in our previous articles. Collectively, PGE(2), induced by COX-2, regulates renal tubular epithelial formation via EP4.     

Improved methodology of measuring moisture content of wood by a vibrational technique

A method of measuring moisture content of wood is introduced. This method uses a vibrational technique. A shaker driven by swept sine signals was used for the accurate generation of vibration. A cylindrical wood sample was used to verify the method of measuring the moisture content. Resonance frequencies of the wood sample decreased as its moisture content increased. An experiment was performed by measuring the vibration of a tree to explore the feasibility of applying the method to the measurement of the moisture content of trees. The circumferential mode, which is independent of the height of a tree, was identified using a white oak tree.     

One-step immunochromatography assay for detection of high-level canine serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity

We developed a one-step immunochromatography assay kit to measure high levels of canine trypsin-like immunoreactivity (cTLI) for bedside estimation of canine pancreatitis. The serum cTLI level can be determined within 10 min by visual comparison of color strengths in the test and reference zones. The serum cTLI levels determined by this method correlate well with canine TLI-ELISA and can be classified into 3 categories: cTLI levels higher than 60 ng/ml were considered positive; 20-60 ng/ml, weakly positive; and less than 20 ng/ml, negative. Twelve dogs suspected of pancreatitis were examined using this method; 4 dogs were positive, 2 were weakly positive, and 6 were negative. This test can detect a high level of serum cTLI and a positive result in the TLIH test will provide critical information for evaluation of pancreatitis in dogs.