Management Zones Classified With Respect to Drought and Waterlogging

Within-field variations in potential grain yield may be due to variations in plant available soil water. Different water holding capacities affect yield differently in different years depending on weather. By estimating plant-water availability in different weathers, scenarios could be created of how yield potential and thereby fertilizer demand may vary within fields. To test this, measured cereal grain yields from a dry, a wet and an intermediate year were compared with different soil moisture related variables in a Swedish arable field consisting of clayey and sandy areas. Soil water budget calculations based on weather data and maximum plant available water (PAW), estimated from soil type and rooting data, were used to assess drought. A reasonable correlation between estimated and measured soil moisture was achieved. In the dry year, drought days explained differences in yield between the clayey and the sandy soil, but yield was better explained directly by maximum PAW, elevation, clay content and soil electrical conductivity (SEC). Yield correlated significantly with SEC and elevation within the sandy soil in the dry year and within the clayey soil in the wet year, probably due to water and nitrogen limitation respectively. Dense SEC, elevation and yield data were therefore used to divide the field into management zones representing different risk levels for drought and waterlogging. These could be used as a decision support tool for site-specific N fertilization, since both drought and waterlogging affect N fertilization demand.     

Antihyperglycemic Effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Platycodon grandiflorum</Emphasis> (Jacq.) A. DC. Extract on Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Mice

The root of Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC has been reported to have a wide range of health benefits in oriental food. This study examined the hypoglycemic effects of Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC aqueous-ethanol extract (PGE) in streptozotocin (STZ) -induced diabetic ICR mice (STZ diabetic mice) for the first time. The effects of PGE on blood glucose, plasma insulin levels and body weight were investigated. A significant decrease in blood glucose levels was observed after single administration of PGE. Furthermore, Glibenclamide and PGE significantly suppressed the rise in blood glucose after 30 min in the acute glucose tolerance test. Treatment with glibenclamide and PGE resulted in a reduction in blood glucose levels from the 2nd week, and this reduction was maintained until the 4th week of treatment. The body weight changed slightly in glibenclamide and PGE treated mice in comparison with the STZ control group. Plasma insulin levels were increased with glibenclamide treatment in STZ diabetic mice, whereas such effect was not observed with PGE. These results indicated that PGE could induce hypoglycemic effects without stimulating insulin secretion.     

Effect of Cultivar Resistance and Haulm Killing Method on Tuber Infection by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora infestans</Emphasis>

A series of field trials combining cultivars with different levels of resistance to Phythophtora infestans and different haulm killing methods was conducted in 1997, 1998 and 1999 to assess the contamination potential of the haulm. In addition, the frequency of tubers with late blight was assessed after harvest and storage, combining effects of pretreatment infection, infection by the haulm at harvest and the development of the disease during storage. Haulm killing was performed by diquat (200, 400, 600 g a.i. ha^-1), half cutting of the haulm in combination with diquat (100, 200, 300 g a.i. ha^-1) or full cutting of the haulm. In those treatments where haulm killing was performed purely chemically the haulm remnants’ contamination potential tended to increase at reduced doses. Full mechanical destruction gave as low a contamination potential as application of the full dose of chemical haulm killer. However, there were no consistent differences between the haulm killing treatments in the frequency of blighted tubers after harvest and storage. This indicates that the input of chemical haulm killers may be reduced. There was a large difference between years in tuber blight after harvest and storage, which confirms that climatic factors are of major importance for tuber infection. The large difference found between the cultivars in the frequency of tuber blight indicates that tuber resistance should be an important part of integrated late blight disease management.     

Effect of impact force on tensile properties and fiber splitting of splittable bicomponent hydroentangled fabrics

The effect of impact force when using inclined water jets on splittable bicomponents hydroentangled fabrics are investigated focusing on changes in tensile properties and fiber splitting. The results indicated that with increase of impact force, the tensile strength was increased in both machine direction (MD) and crosswise direction (CD). On changing of water jet inclination angle, the tensile strength was the highest at 10 degree followed by 20 degree and the last 0 degree. The highest fiber splitting were observed in pie segment (PA6/PET) followed by island in sea (PA6/COPET) fiber but no fiber splitting was observed for island in sea (PET/COPET) fiber. The impact force in inclined mode of impact, played a great role in improving fiber splitting and tensile properties of hydroentangled nonwoven fabrics. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) photos were used for investigation of fiber splitting by comparing fiber diameter before and after hydroentanglement.     

Antiradical Capacity and Induction of Apoptosis on HeLa Cells by a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaseolus vulgaris</Emphasis> Extract

Jamapa bean is a black Phaseolus vulgaris variety rich in condensed tannins, anthocyanins and flavonols with interesting biological activities. The objective of this work was to evaluate the antiradical capacity (ARC) of a Jamapa bean methanolic extract (BME) and some of the proanthocyanidin-rich fractions derived from it, using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The effect of the BME on some proteins involved in apoptosis on HeLa cells was also evaluated. A strong correlation between proanthocyanidin concentration in BME and antiradical capacity was found, suggesting that these compounds contribute significantly to antiradical activity. BME was a better radical scavenger than butylated hydroxytoluene (45.6 and 33.9% ARC at 400 μM, respectively). Two proanthocyanidin-rich fractions obtained after a preliminary separation of the BME using Toyopearl (TP4 and TP6) exhibited a higher antiradical activity than the parent extract. The treatment of HeLa cells with 35 μg BME/ml/24 h increased the expression of Bax and Caspase-3, pro-apoptotic proteins (6.13 and 1.2 times for Caspase-3 and Bax, respectively). The mechanism of action of some proteins involved in apoptosis was also evaluated, and the results suggest that black Jamapa bean could be an important source of polyphenolic compounds with potential biological use as antioxidant and anticancer agents.     

Nonrandom distribution of chum salmon stocks in the Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean estimated using mitochondrial DNA microarray

More than 1,000 age-identified chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta collected at 23 stations in the Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean in June to July 2003 were used to estimate their origin of stocks using a DNA microarray developed for analyzing the mitochondrial (mt)DNA haplotypes. The observed haplotype distribution was nearly the same as that reported previously for fish collected in September 2002 and 2003 in the present surveyed areas. A conditional maximum-likelihood method for estimation of stock compositions indicated that the Japanese stocks mainly distributed in north central Bering Sea, whereas the Russian stocks were mainly in western Bering Sea. The North American stocks were abundant in eastern Bering Sea and around the Aleutian Islands. Such an area-specific stock composition was not significantly different between mature and immature fish. Thus, the combined results of 2 years suggest that the distribution of chum salmon is nonrandom in the surveyed areas in summer and autumn, and that fish of the same origin migrate together to the same area irrespective of age.     

Estimation of the spawning grounds of chub mackerel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scomber japonicus</Emphasis> and spotted mackerel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scomber australasicus</Emphasis> in the East China Sea based on catch statistics and biometric data

The spawning grounds of the chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) and spotted mackerel (Scomber australasicus) in the East China Sea were estimated based on catch statistics of the Japanese large- and medium-type purse seine fishery from 1992 to 2006. Biometric data were obtained from specimens caught by purse seiners in the East China Sea from 1998 to 2006. Gonadosomatic index (GSI) at 50% sexual maturity of chub mackerel and spotted mackerel females was 2.5 and 2.6, respectively. Using this criterion for GSI, chub mackerel larger than 275 mm and spotted mackerel larger than 310 mm in fork length were considered to be mature. Mature chub mackerel was observed in the area of 15–22°C sea surface temperature (SST), and mature spotted mackerel was observed in the area of 17–25°C SST. The spawning period of chub mackerel ranged from February to June, and that of spotted mackerel ranged from February to May in the East China Sea. The spawning grounds were estimated from the distributions of catch per unit effort (CPUE) of spawners and SST. As a result, the spawning ground of chub mackerel was estimated to be in the central and southern part of the East China Sea and the area west of Kyushu in February, March, and April, and in the central part of the East China Sea, the area west of Kyushu and Tsushima Straight in May, and in Tsushima Straight and western part of the Sea of Japan in June. The spawning ground of spotted mackerel was estimated to be in the central and southern part of the East China Sea and southern coastal area of Kyushu in February, March, and April, and the central and southern part of the East China Sea and the area west of Kyushu in May.     

Growth stimulation of juvenile abalone <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haliotis discus hannai</Emphasis> by feeding with salmon growth hormone in sodium alginate gel

We examined the ability of salmon growth hormone (sGH) in sodium alginate (SA) gel to accelerate the somatic growth of juvenile abalone, Haliotis discus hannai, by feeding. After the feeding of sGH at 50 μg or 100 μg in 350 mg SA gel, immunoreactivity to sGH in body fluid was maximal after 12 h, and was still detectable at 24 h. No immunoreactivity was observed in the control group. Following the feeding of sGH at 0.5 mg or 5 mg/8 g of SA gel at 7- and 14-day intervals, there was a greater increase in shell length and body weight than in the control. In abalone, sGH can be transported from food into the circulatory system and subsequently improve somatic growth.     

Effect of prebiotic xylooligosaccharides on growth performances and digestive enzyme activities of allogynogenetic crucian carp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Carassius auratus gibelio</Emphasis>)

The effect of prebiotic xylooligosaccharides (XOS) on the growth performance and digestive enzyme activities of the allogynogenetic crucian carp, Carassius auratus gibelio, was investigated. XOS was added to fish basal semi-purified diets at three concentrations by dry feed weight: diet 1, 50 mg kg⁻¹; diet 2, 100 mg kg⁻¹; diet 3, 200 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. Twelve aquaria (n = 20) with three replicates for each treatment group (diets 1–3) and control treated without XOS were used. Weights of all collected carp from each aquarium were determined at the initial phase and at the end of the experiment, and the carp survival was also determined by counting the individuals in each aquarium. After 45 days, there were significant differences (P < 0.05) in the relative gain rate (RGR), and daily weight gain (DWG) of diets 1–3 were compared with the control. However, the survival rate was not affected (P > 0.05) by the dietary treatments. For enzymatic analysis, dissection produced a crude mixture of intestine and hepatopancreas of each segment to measure. The protease activity in the intestine and hepatopancreas content of fish in diet 2 (487.37 ± 20.58 U g⁻¹ and 20.52 ± 1.93 U g⁻¹) were significantly different (P < 0.05) from that in the control (428.13 ± 23.26 U g⁻¹ and 12.81 ± 1.52 U g⁻¹) and diet 3 (428.00 ± 23.78 U g⁻¹ and 14.04 ± 1.59 U g⁻¹). Amylase activity in the intestine was significantly higher for diet 2 compared to diet 1 and the control. As for amylase in the hepatopancreas, assays showed higher activity in diet 2 (P < 0.05) compared to the rest.     

Development of a whole-body cortisol extraction procedure for determination of stress in golden shiners, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Notemigonus crysoleucas</Emphasis>

Baitfish such as golden shiners are subjected to stress during harvesting, grading, and transport. Their small size makes it difficult to measure the stress response with the biological indicator cortisol using conventional assay methods for plasma. This paper examines the development and validation of methods for whole-body cortisol extraction from individual baitfish. Three types of extracts were tested: (1) an ethyl ether unaltered extract (UA); (2) an extract reconstituted in phosphate buffered saline (PBS); (3) an extract that had been increased in volume by the addition of food-grade vegetable oil (VO). These extracts were evaluated using validation tests with radioimmunoassays (RIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The UA extract produced inadequate volumes of extract for multiple assays and could not be used for the determination of cortisol in a single fish. The PBS reconstitution method failed the precision recovery of serial dilutions (62.3%), linearity (R ²: 0.7864), and parallelism validation tests. The VO volume-boosting method passed all validation tests [intra-assay coefficent of variation (%CV): 16.3 for ELISA and 5.9 for RIA; inter-assay %CV: 10.3; spiked recovery: 102.0%; dilution recovery: 93.0%; linearity R ²: 0.9435; log of serial dilutions was parallel] and provided enough extract for multiple assays from an individual baitfish. Based on these results, we conclude that the VO volume-boosting method presents a means for determining cortisol from individual baitfish using either RIA or ELISA assays.