QTL for spikelet number from a high-yielding rice variety, Hoshiaoba, detected in an introgression line with the genetic background of an indica rice variety, IR64

Total spikelet number per panicle (TSN) is thought to be one of the most important agronomic traits associated with grain production in rice (Oryza sativa L.). We previously reported the development of 334 introgression lines (ILs) with variations in agronomic traits in the genetic background of indica rice variety IR64. Among these, an IL derived from high-yielding rice variety Hoshiaoba showed significantly higher TSN than IR64. We therefore have conducted a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis for TSN in an F₂ population of IL × IR64 to ascertain the genetic basis for the high TSN of the IL. The analysis revealed the presence of a QTL for TSN on chromosome 7, where several QTLs for grain number have been previously reported. We developed a near-isogenic line (NIL) for this QTL by using DNA marker-assisted selection and characterized its effect. The NIL showed significantly higher TSN than IR64. These results suggest that the QTL and the NIL will be useful materials in breeding programs aimed at increasing TSN.     

Anatomical variation of habitat‐related changes in scapular morphology

The mammalian forelimb is adapted to different functions including postural, locomotor, feeding, exploratory, grooming and defence. Comparative studies on morphology of the mammalian scapula have been performed in an attempt to establish the functional differences in the use of the forelimb. In this study, a total of 102 scapulae collected from 66 species of animals, representatives of all major taxa from rodents, sirenians, marsupials, pilosa, cetaceans, carnivores, ungulates, primates and apes, were analysed. Parameters measured included scapular length, width, position, thickness, area, angles and index. Structures included supraspinous and infraspinous fossae, scapular spine, glenoid cavity, acromium and coracoid processes. Images were taken using computed tomographic (CT) scanning technology (CT‐Aquarium, Toshiba and micro CT‐LaTheta, Hotachi, Japan), and measurement values were acquired and processed using Avizo computer software and CanvasTM 11 ACD systems. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel 2013. Results obtained showed that there were differences in morphological characteristics of scapula between mammals with arboreal locomotion and living in forest and mountainous areas and those with leaping and terrestrial locomotion living in open habitat or savannah. Differences were seen in the ratio of maximum length and maximum width, the orientation of scapular spine and the horizontal length of acromion and coracoid processes. The cause for the statistical grouping of the animals and the way the scapular shape covaries with habitat and to the type of locomotion and speed are discussed in detail.     

Successful use of prednisolone and radiation therapy in a dog with intracranial histiocytic sarcoma

The ideal treatment for intracranial histiocytic sarcoma (HS) remains unclear. Herein, we report a case of intracranial HS that was successfully treated using prednisolone and radiation therapy. The patient was a 9-year-old spayed female Pembroke Welsh Corgi that presented with epileptic seizures. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a contrast-enhancing mass adjacent to the right piriform lobe. Prednisolone administration (1 mg/kg/day) decreased the lesion size. Additional palliative radiation therapy (total dose, 37 Gy) resulted in complete disappearance of the lesion. However, on day 164, the dog’s neurological signs deteriorated, and she was euthanized. Necropsy revealed an intracranial metastasis of HS via the cerebrospinal fluid without any extracranial metastasis. Nonetheless, combined prednisolone and radiation therapy might be effective in treating intracranial HS.     

Studies on inter-relationship of various ions in absorption by tobacco plants IV

The foliar symptoms of magnesium deficiency occur not only by the decrease in the contents of exchangeable magnesium in soil, but the antagonistic interaction among the nutrient elements in absorption. The relationship between phosphorus and magnesium in absorption was reported previously (1). In this paper influence of potassium and calcium on the magnesium absorption of tobacco plant was investigated.     

Meiotic chromosome pairing in intergeneric hybrids of colchicaceous ornamentals revealed by genomic in situ hybridization (GISH)

Diploid and triploid intergeneric hybrids obtained by crosses among Gloriosa superba ‘Lutea’ (2n = 2x = 22), G. ‘Marron Gold’ (2n = 4x = 44), Littonia modesta (2n = 2x = 22), and Sandersonia aurantiaca (2n = 2x = 24) were analyzed for their meiotic chromosome pairing in pollen mother cells by genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) with digoxigenin-labeled total DNA of one parent as probe. Chromosomes from each parent could be clearly distinguished in pollen mother cells of all the five intergeneric hybrids by GISH. For three diploid hybrids, L. modesta × G. superba ‘Lutea’ (2n = 2x = 22), L. modesta × S. aurantiaca (2n = 2x = 23) and S. aurantiaca × G. superba ‘Lutea’ (2n = 2x = 23), 0.04?0.27 autosyndetic bivalents (intragenomic pairing of non-homologous chromosomes) and 0.13?0.36 allosyndetic bivalents (intergenomic chromosome pairing) were observed per pollen mother cell, indicating that there are some homologous chromosomal regions within each genome and among the genomes of Gloriosa, Littonia and Sandersonia. Differences in the average number of allosyndetic bivalents per pollen mother cell among different genome combinations may reflect the evolutionary distances among the three genera, and Gloriosa and Littonia may be closely related to each other, while Sandersonia may have relatively distant relationships with Gloriosa and Littonia. For two triploid hybrids, L. modesta × G. ‘Marron Gold’ (2n = 3x = 33) and S. aurantiaca × G. ‘Marron Gold’ (2n = 3x = 34), no allosyndetic bivalents were observed. Based on the results obtained in the present study, possible utilization of the diploid and triploid intergeneric hybrids for further breeding of colchicaceous ornamentals is discussed.     

Distribution,body length,and abundance of blue shark and shortfin mako offshore of northeastern Japan,as determined from observed pelagic longline data, 2000–2014

Longline surveys have been conducted in the Northwest Pacific Ocean from 2000 to 2014 using chartered commercial longline vessels. Each year, two cruises were conducted offshore of northeastern Japan from mid‐April to mid‐June. For each longline set during the surveys, onboard scientists collected detailed biological information about the species caught, such as the size and sex, and recorded the catch numbers for all species. Blue shark (Prionace glauca) and shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) have eurythermal distributions, but the application of a generalized additive model (GAM) showed that the sea surface temperatures (SSTs) at catch sites positive for shortfin mako were warmer than those for blue shark. On the basis of the GAM, the probabilities of occurrence of both sharks differed by size category: small sharks had a narrower SST range than that of large sharks. Most catches of both sharks were juveniles, and the nominal catch rate of blue shark was more than 10 times that of shortfin mako. The standardized catch per unit effort (CPUE) for both species was calculated using a generalized linear model (GLM) with negative binomial errors, or a delta‐lognormal GLM. The standardized CPUE for blue shark in the second quarter of the year peaked in the mid‐2000s and then decreased, but it has been increasing since 2012. The CPUE for shortfin mako in the second quarter generally increased, with fluctuations.     

Inhibition of growth hormone secretagogue receptor antagonist, [D-Lys-3]-GHRP-6, in adipogenesis of ovine and rat adipocytes

Ghrelin and growth hormone secretagogues receptor (GHS‐R or ghrelin receptor) have been reported as being one of the factors of adipogenesis in adipocytes. To investigate the involvement of ghrelin and GHS‐R in adipocytes, the effect of the GHS‐R antagonist, [D‐Lys‐3]‐GHRP‐6 (His‐D‐Trp‐D‐Lys‐Trp‐D‐Phe‐Lys‐NH₂), on the process of adipogenesis in ovine and rat adipocytes was evaluated. [D‐Lys‐3]‐GHRP‐6 (10^?7 mol/L) significantly inhibited adipogenic differentiation of ovine and rat preadipocytes prepared from adipose tissues. The level of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)‐γ2 mRNA, an adipogenic marker, was decreased during the differentiation of adipocytes treated with [D‐Lys‐3]‐GHRP‐6 for 10 days. Ghrelin stimulated adipogenesis, also causing an increment of glycerol‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase and upregulation of PPAR‐γ2. Furthermore, the antilipolytic effect of ghrelin was attenuated by treatment with [D‐Lys‐3]‐GHRP‐6 in both types of isolated adipocytes. Overall, the results of the present study highlight that GHS‐R in adipogenesis can be blocked by treatment with [D‐Lys‐3]‐GHRP‐6.     

Genetic organization and preferential distribution of putative pilus gene clusters in Streptococcus suis

Recent analyses of Streptococcus suis isolates using multilocus sequence typing (MLST) suggested the importance of sequence type (ST) 1 and ST27 complexes for animal hygiene and public health. In this study, to investigate whether pilus-associated genes in S. suis can be used as novel genetic markers for important clonal groups, we examined the correlation between STs and putative pilus-associated gene profiles in S. suis. Genomic searches using sequenced genomes and sequence data determined in several isolates revealed the presence of at least four distinct putative pilus gene clusters in S. suis (srtBCD, srtE, srtF, and srtG clusters). On the basis of the presence or absence of genes in the four clusters, 108 S. suis isolates from various origins were classified into 12 genotypes (genotypes A–L). Genotypes A and B, which possessed srtBCD plus srtF clusters and srtF plus srtG clusters, respectively, were the most common in isolates from diseased pigs and humans, and 29.9% and 59.8% of the isolates belonged to genotypes A and B, respectively. In contrast, only 4.8% and 28.6% of isolates from healthy carriers were genotypes A and B, respectively. MLST analysis showed the associations of genotypes A and B with ST1 and ST27 complexes, respectively. In addition, srtBCD and srtG clusters were preferentially distributed to ST1 and ST27 complex members, respectively. These results suggest that profiling of selected pilus-associated genes could be used as an easy screening method to monitor isolates important for S. suis infection.