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.     

Evaluation of Genetic Variation Among Wild Populations and Local Varieties of Rice

Cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) is derived from Asian wild rice (Oryza rufipogon Griff). Vietnamese local varieties and wild natural populations in Vietnam and Myanmar were examined to evaluate the levels of genetic variation in cultivated and wild rice. In total, 222 Vietnamese local varieties were analyzed with ten microsatellite markers. Using marker genotype and gene diversity data, the local varieties were differentiated based on geographical distribution, cropping season, and human preference. A total of 976 wild plants were collected at six natural sites of wild populations (three each in Myanmar and Vietnam), and the degrees of variation among populations were analyzed with five microsatellite markers. Phylogenetic analyses revealed wide genetic differentiation among wild populations. The diversity values detected in a single wild population in Vietnam were higher than those in whole Vietnamese local varieties. These results indicate that wild rice has much greater genetic variation than cultivated rice.     

Anthracnose of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Enkianthus campanulatus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhynchosia acuminatifolia</Emphasis> caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</Emphasis> (new occurrence)

In 2003–2004, anthracnoses of Enkianthus campanulatus and Rhynchosia acuminatifolia were found for the first time in Kanagawa Prefecture and Tokyo in Japan. These pathogens were identified as Colletotrichum gloeosporioides based on their pathogenicity, morphology and ribosomal DNA spacer sequences. Results were presented at the annual meeting of The Phytopathological Society of Japan in 2004.     

黔中山地2种喀斯特森林对降雨量分配和降雨中离子浓度的影响

黔中山地2种喀斯特森林的林冠截留总量均值为76.36mm、灌草层截留总量均值为435.75mm、净地表径流总量均值为11.06mm、90cm壤中流量均值为10.76mm、蒸发及其它量均值为509.75mm,其相对值为7.32%、41.76%、1.06%、1.03%、48.84%,与其它森林类型对降雨量的影响模式明显不同。不同喀斯特森林类型对随降雨流动的Ca^2＋,Mg^2＋,K^＋,Na^＋,Cl^-,NO3^-,NH4^＋,SO4^2-有稀释或积聚作用,主要受森林树种组成和结构以及土壤类型的影响,这为利用喀斯特森林改善水质、净化空气提供了依据。除马尾松树干径流中所测离子浓度均有积聚作用外,杨树、枫香、樟和冬青对部分离子有积聚作用、对另一部分离子有稀释作用,因树种而异。相对于林外降雨,林内降雨中离子浓度增大的有Ca^2＋、Mg^2＋、K^＋、NH4^＋、SO4^2-、NO3^-、降低的有Na^＋,地表径流中所测离子浓度均增大,相应集水区溪流中离子浓度增大的有Ca^2＋、Mg^2＋、Na^＋、NO3^-、降低的有K^＋、NH4^＋、SO4^2-。黑色石灰土和黄色石灰土对90cm壤中流的离子浓度有不同效应,二者均具有集聚作用的是Ca^2＋、Mg^2＋、SO4^2-、稀释作用的是NO3^-。Cl^-在喀斯特森林降雨中的规律性较差。     

Modulation of gut microbiota associated with abalone Haliotis gigantea by dietary administration of host-derived Pediococcus sp. Ab1

In the present study, we evaluated how dietary administration of host-derived Pediococcus sp. Ab1 has an effect on the abalone gut microbiota using a culture-dependent method and 16S rRNA gene library analysis. The culturable lactic acid bacteria number in the probiotic sample was 10⁵ higher than that in the non-probiotic sample, and we speculate that this significant increase was due to colonization of Ab1 into abalone gut. The result of a culture-dependent method showed that the proportion of Vibrio halioticoli clade, which is known to be a beneficial resident bacterium to abalone, was much higher in the probiotic sample than in the non-probiotic sample. 16S rRNA gene clone sequences revealed that gut microbiota in the probiotic sample was obviously diverse compared to the non-probiotic sample, probably due to improvement of the gut environment by Ab1 colonization. In addition, some beneficial bacteria–like sequences such as V. halioticoli were only found in the probiotic sample. These results suggest that the dietary administration of Ab1 to abalone gut has a great effect on modulation of not only culturable but also unculturable gut microbiota. Our results are useful for future investigations into understanding the effect of probiotics on gut microbiota.     

Effect of quantitative trait loci for seed shattering on abscission layer formation in Asian wild rice Oryza rufipogon

Asian cultivated rice Oryza sativa L. was domesticated from its wild ancestor, O. rufipogon. During domestication, the cultivated rice lost its seed-shattering behaviour. Previous studies have shown that two major quantitative trait loci (QTLs; qSH1 and sh4) are responsible for the seed-shattering degree. Here, we produced introgression lines carrying non-functional alleles from O. sativa ‘Nipponbare’ at the two major QTLs in the genetic background of wild rice O. rufipogon W630, and examined the effects of the two QTLs on seed shattering and abscission layer formation. The introgression lines, with Nipponbare alleles at either or both loci, showed complete or partial abscission layer formation, respectively, indicating that other unknown loci might be involved in enhancing seed shattering in wild rice. We detected a single QTL named qSH3 regulating seed-shattering degree using an F₂ population between Nipponbare and the introgression line carrying Nipponbare alleles at the two QTLs. Although we generated an introgression line for qSH3 alone, no effects on seed shattering were observed. However, a significant effect on seed-shattering degree was observed for the introgression line carrying Nipponbare alleles at qSH3 and the two QTLs, suggesting an important role of qSH3 on seed shattering in coordination with the two QTLs.     

Evaluation of Short-term Myelotoxicity Study in Dietary Reduced Rats

This study attempted to prove our hypothesis that a short-term toxicity study, using a 4-day dosing regimen as an example, is suitable for evaluating myelotoxicity in rats. We compared the hematological, bone marrow cytological and histopathological results of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) treated and pair-feeding groups after a 4-day administration period. Several experimental groups were defined for this 4-day study as well as for our previously reported 14-day study (Miyata et al., 2009); these included 5-FU treated groups receiving 12, 15 and 18 mg/kg/day (FU12, FU15 and FU18), pair-feeding groups (R12, R15 and R18 receiving the same amount of food as the FU12, FU15 and FU18 groups, respectively) and a nontreated control group. Although severe reductions in body weight gain and food consumption were reported in the 14-day study, only slight reductions were observed in the 4-day study. In the 4-day study, a decrease in blood reticulocytes and a decreasing trend of marrow erythroid cells were only observed in the FU18 group, and no effects were observed in the pair-feeding groups. The erythroblastic changes observed in this 4-day study were thought to reflect the direct influence of 5-FU administration. Since concerns regarding the influence of secondary changes related to undernutrition were minimized in the 4-day study, it was thought to clarify the direct influence of 5-FU administration on erythroblastic cells. Thus, a 4-day study protocol might be helpful for distinguishing secondary changes related to undernutrition.     

Haplotype diversity and molecular evolution of the rice <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pikm</Emphasis> locus for blast resistance

Pikm-specific rice blast resistance is conferred by a combination of two genes that have a nucleotide-binding site and a leucine-rich repeat (LRR), Pikm1-TS and Pikm2-TS. To study the evolution of these genes, we investigated the allele diversity of their LRR regions in 16 elite rice cultivars and 35 landraces. Both phylogenetic trees were characterized by a deep bifurcation that separated two major clades of alleles. A high level of polymorphism was detected exclusively between these clades and not within each clade. This two-clade structure commonly observed for the two genes suggests that these genes have evolved together through bidirectional differentiation.     

Plasma cell myeloma producing IgG, IgM, and IgA immunoglobulins in a cow.

A diagnosis of plasma cell myeloma was made in a 6-year-old Holstein cow that showed continuous nosebleed, progressing emaciation, and hyperglobulinemia. Necropsy revealed enlargement of the caudal mesenteric lymph nodes. Lymph nodes and spleen were infiltrated by neoplastic plasma cells. Renal lymph nodes, bone marrow, and kidneys also were affected. Amyloid-like material that was negative for Congo red was present in most of the affected lymph nodes. Congo red-positive amyloid material was noted in spleen, kidneys, liver, and adrenal glands. Neoplastic plasma cells exhibited immunohistochemical reactions for lambda-light chain and 3 classes of heavy chain but not for kappa-light chain. Nonamyloid deposits were labeled with antisera against lambda-light chain and heavy chains. Plasmacytoid cells, which stained positively for IgG, IgM, or IgA, were intermingled in all lesions. Production of 3 types of immunoglobulins may be caused by heavy-chain class switching, constantly occurring in certain proportions.     

Elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) activities in the sera and milk of cows with naturally occurring coliform mastitis

The presence of tumor necrosis factor-α (tnf-α) and interleukin-6 (il-6) activities was determined in milk and serum of cows with naturally occurring coliform mastitis (cfm). tnf-α was detected in the sera from 26 of 32 cows with cfm. tnf-α levels were higher in the sera than in the milk. il-6 was high in the sera of surviving cfm animals, but was low in animals that died and in healthy controls. Furthermore, the mean level of il-6 was 20-fold higher in the milk than in the sera of mastitic cows. The level of il-6 in the serum was correlated to that in the milk in individual animals. The presence of il-6 and tnf-α in the sera appears to relate to severe clinical condition of cfm, in the milk whereas they may play a role in generating inflammation of the mammary gland.