Effects of various gaseous compounds and respiratory inhibitors on breaking dormancy of freesia corms

The exposure of freesia corms to an atmosphere containing 1 ml/l C₂H₄ strongly promoted sprouting of the corms when the treatment was applied at a high temperature (28–31°C), but the response was weak at temperatures below 20°C. Repeated treatments with C₂H₄ did not enhance sprouting, i.e. was not more effective than a single treatment. Exposure to an atmosphere containing CO of concentrations over 1 ml/l accelerated sprouting. The maximum effect of CO was obtained with 10 ml/l at 28–31°C.The effect of C₂H₄ combined with CO was similar to that of a single treatment with each separately. Soaking corms in solutions of 10^?1 M potassium cyanide and 30 g/l calcium cyanamide effectively promoted sprouting, but similar treatments with slaked lime and thiourea had no effect.Treatments with C₂H₄, CO, KCN and CaCN₂ did not stimulate C₂H₄-evolution in dormant corms. Respiration of the corms was increased by C₂H₄ and CO, and decreased by KCN and CaCN₂.     

A cytochrome P450 gene involved in methidathion resistance in Amblyseius womersleyi Schicha (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

This study reports on a CYP4 gene possibly involved in methidathion resistance in Amblyseius womersleyi Schicha. This is the first report on a CYP4 gene from a phytoseiid mite. Four different CYP4 genes (CYP4-a, CYP4-b, CYP4-c, and CYP4-d) were detected in this predaceous mites. No differences in CYP4 expression levels were detected for the strains Ishigaki S, Kanaya S (methidathion susceptible strains) and Kanaya R (methidathion resistant strain), using RT-PCR method for CYP4-a, CYP4-b, and CYP4-c. In the case of CYP4-d, the expression level in Kanaya R was significantly higher than in susceptible strains. Studies using RT-PCR indicated that CYP4-d gene is expressed in all stages of A. womersleyi, with a little higher expression in protonymph, deutonymph and adult, in comparison to egg and larva. Significant correlation between CYP4-d expression and monooxygenase activity was observed for the different strains and life stages of A. womersleyi.     

Phenobarbital induction of permethrin detoxification and phenobarbital metabolism in susceptible and resistant strains of the beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua (Hübner)

The permethrin resistant strain (TR-strain) of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner), has 92.5-fold resistance to permethrin (at LD₅₀ level) compared to the permethrin susceptible strain (TS-strain). Bioassay involving permethrin mixed with piperonyl butoxide, an inhibitor of microsomal cytochrome P450s, significantly reduced the resistance ratio from 92.5- to 7.9-fold. However, S,S,S-tributylphosphorotrithioate and diethylmaleate which are inhibitors of esterases and glutathione S-transferase, respectively, did not affect the resistance level. These results indicate that the detoxification of permethrin in the TR-strain was primarily due to the cytochrome P450 monooxygenases. LD₅₀ for permethrin was increased to 4.5-fold by the pre-treatment of phenobarbital in the TS-strain. The effect of induction by phenobarbital was almost completely overcome by the piperonyl butoxide treatment. However, it was observed that phenobarbital treatment did not cause any change in the toxicity of permethrin to TR strain. Since this result deviated from the expectation that the metabolism of phenobarbital in the TR-strain should be greater than that in the TS-strain, it was deemed necessary to compare the metabolism of phenobarbital between the TS- and TR-strains. Comparison was made based on the concentration of phenobarbital in the hemolymph and whole body. The results showed no significant difference in phenobarbital treatment between the two strains used in this study suggesting the possibility that the induction system in TS-strain is different from the TR-strain.     

树皮草炭混配基质对生菜生长的影响

采用草炭与熟化树皮混配作基质栽培生菜 ,结果表明 :适当增加树皮比例 ,可促进生菜生长发育 ,树皮∶草炭为 7∶3时 ,单位叶面积干鲜质量、叶绿素含量、根数与根质量、产量及净菜率均最高。而树皮含量高于或低于 70 %时 ,生长发育会不同程度延缓。树皮含量越高 ,生菜单株耗水量越低 ,即节水效果越好 ,同时 ,生菜植株中N、K含量随之提高 ,但P、Ca、Mg各处理间无显著差异。     

Reduction of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes during febrile periods in horses experimentally infected with equine infectious anemia virus

Three horses were experimentally infected with equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV). All horses were febrile after inoculation with EIAV and then developed chronic symptoms with intermittent fever. The febrile period was characterized by a rise in body temperature with reduced PBL and erythrocyte counts. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the reduced number of lymphocytes was due to significant decreases in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the absence of any change in B cell number. At the end of the febrile period the body temperature began to recover and numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells showed a tendency to increase. For CD8+ T cells, this increase continued for several days after the febrile period. B cell number also significantly increased after the febrile period in two out of three horses. The decrease of CD8+ T cells was greater than that of CD4+ T cells. Although the PBL numbers and the CD4/CD8 ratio returned to the level of the preinoculation period, erythrocyte numbers decreased as the body temperature normalized after each intermittent fever. These results suggest that the recurring cycle of fever accompanied with viremia is caused by a reciprocal relationship between EIAV replication and the host immune response. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the lymphocytic response mitigates fever and viremia in EIAV infection despite the absence of virus neutralizing antibody.     

Supplementations of dl‐Methionine and Methionine Dipeptide in Diets are Effective for the Development and Growth of Larvae and Juvenile Red Sea Bream,Pagrus major

Growth trials for larvae and juvenile red sea bream, Pagrus major, were conducted to elucidate the efficacy of two molecular forms of methionine; dl ‐methionine (dl ‐Met) and methionine dipeptide (Met‐Met). For the larvae experiment, five experimental diets were formulated and fed to fish (42 mg) for 30 days. A diet which has 15% soy protein isolate served as the control diet. Similarly, test diets supplemented with dl ‐Met and Met‐Met at 0.5%, which were either precoated by zein or intact, were also formulated. For the juvenile experiment, five experimental diets were formulated wherein the control diet contained 25% soy protein isolate. Test diets were supplemented with dl ‐Met and Met‐Met at 0.75%, which were either coated by carboxymethycellulose or intact and fed to juveniles (0.75 g) for 56 days. The results of two feeding trials showed both dl ‐Met and Met‐Met can be equally utilized by red sea bream larvae and juveniles. Coating the amino acid significantly improved both fish larval and juvenile growth performance. The development of digestive protease activity of larvae was significantly influenced by coating the amino acid, but the type of methionine was not a factor in changing the protease activity of larvae.     

Particle Size Effects on the Quality of Flour Tortillas Enriched with Whole Grain Waxy Barley

Wheat tortillas were enriched with whole barley flour (WBF) of different particle sizes including 237 μm (regular [R]), 131 μm (intermediate [IM]), and 68 μm (microground [MG]). Topographical and fluorescent microstructure images of flours, doughs, and tortillas were examined. Flours and tortillas were analyzed for color, protein, ash, starch, moisture, and β‐glucan content. Farinograph testing was conducted on the flour blends. Water activity and texture analyses of tortillas were conducted. A 9‐point hedonic scale was used by 95 untrained panelists to evaluate tortilla appearance, color, flavor, texture, and overall acceptability. Two commercial products (CP) were included in some analyses. As WBF particle size decreased, color was lighter; protein, moisture content and mixing stability decreased; ash, starch content, water absorption and farinograph peak time increased; and β‐glucan content was constant. WBF tortillas were darker than the control (C), while IM and MG tortillas had lower peak forces than C. No flavor differences were reported among C, R, and MG tortillas but higher scores were given to both CP in all attributes tested. Tortillas made with the largest WBF particle size (R) were the most similar in protein content, texture and flavor when compared with C tortillas made with refined bread flour.     

Reduction of nitrogen,phosphorus, and suspended solids effluent loads from paddy fields by transplanting into retained ponding water using a GNSS-controlled rice transplanter

Paddy and Water Environment - We measured nutrient inflows and outflows on reclaimed land (157 km2, including 100 km2 of paddy fields) in Lake Hachiro. The net effluent loads...