Change in flower morphology of Torenia fournieri Lind. induced by forchlorfenuron application

We induced various flower morphologies in torenia (Torenia fournieri Lind.) by the application of forchlorfenuron (CPPU). Those morphologies were the combination of four basic morphological changes, the development of serrate petals, incised petals, a paracorolla, and an increased number of floral organs. These morphological changes occurred systematically depending on the floral stage at the time of CPPU application. Serrate petals were induced when CPPU was applied during the stages of corolla development, whereas application at younger stages induced petal incision. The serrate petal margin resulted from preferential proliferation of cells around the vascular bundles, whereas petal incision likely resulted from the lateral outgrowths of petal. A paracorolla was induced at the adaxial petal face when CPPU was applied between the sepal development stage and early corolla development. The paracorolla appears to have arisen from the lateral outgrowths of the stamen. The numbers of stamens, petals, and sepals increased when CPPU was applied at and before the differentiation of sex organs and the corolla. Enlargement of the floral meristem probably caused this increase. Application of N⁶-benzylaminopurine and zeatin did not induce these morphological changes.     

Root and stem rot of chrysanthemum caused by five <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pythium</Emphasis> species in Japan

Root and stem rot with wilt of above ground parts of cultivated chrysanthemums was first found in Ibaraki, Toyama and Kagawa prefectures, Japan in 2002 and 2003. Pythium species were isolated from the diseased tissues and identified as P. dissotocum, P. oedochilum, P. sylvaticum, P. ultimum var. ultimum and asexual strains of P. helicoides based on their morphologies and sequences of rDNA-ITS region. All the Pythium species were strongly pathogenic to chrysanthemums in pot conditions and were reisolated from the inoculated plants. Because Pythium root and stem rot of chrysanthemum has never been reported in Japan, we propose that this is a new disease that can be caused by the five Pythium species.     

Antigens and antibodies in the ascitic fluid of mice infected with Fasciola gigantica

Fluke antigens were detected in the ascitic fluid of mice infected with Fasciola gigantica. The precipitating antibodies reactive against the antigens from metacercariae were detected as early as 2 weeks after the infection, and those against the adult and immature worms appeared 3 and 4 weeks later.     

Electroencephalogram of Japanese Black calves affected with cerebrocortical necrosis

Electroencephalogram (EEG) examinations were carried out on three Japanese Black calves (1, 2 and 14 week old) affected with cerebrocortical necrosis (CCN) in order to investigate the relationship between EEG abnormalities and encephalic lesions. Some neurologic signs such as circling, astasia, convulsion and opisthotonus appeared in two of the calves (case 1 and 3). The other calf (case 2), however, showed no neurologic signs. The EEGs obtained from the two calves (case 1 and 2), in the awake state, showed constant high amplitude (50-160 microV) and slow (1-4 Hz) activity (HASA). One of these (case 1) had necrosis mainly in the right hemisphere and showed a markedly asymmetric sharp wave. On the other hand, in case 3, the EEG showed diffuse lowered activity, and almost flat in some leads. A decrease in fast activity observed in common with all three animals. These findings suggest that one of the characteristic EEG patterns of CCN patient may be HASA and decreased fast activity. Histopathologic diagnoses of the calves were CCN in various degrees. The degrees of abnormality of the EEGs seemed to accord with the seriousness of the lesions. Because the EEG obtained from the calf having no obvious neurologic signs showed an abnormal pattern, it was considered that EEG examinations in the early stages of disorders are valuable to diagnose CCN.     

Response of gas exchange rates in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Abies firma</Emphasis> seedlings to various additional stresses under chronic acid fog stress

In order to clarify the chronic influence of acid fog on the gas exchange rates of momi fir (Abies firma Sieb. et Zucc.) trees, we exposed them to simulated acid fog (pH 3) for 3 years. The composition of the acid fog was similar to that observed in a region where momi fir trees have been declining, and it contained organic acids. We then treated the firs with various additional stresses, such as drought, low temperature, fine root cutting, ozone exposure, soil acidification, nitrogen load, and rhizosphere aluminum stress. Under chronic exposure to acid fog, the momi fir seedlings exhibited a pattern of stomatal behavior whereby they excessively opened in summer and closed in winter. Furthermore, the stomata of these seedlings tended to open during drought stress, and their needles were visibly injured after ozone exposure. The net photosynthesis rates of the seedlings exposed to acid fog were regulated by their stomatal aperture, rather than directly by acid fog. These results suggest that acid fog exposure disturbs the control of stomatal function in the momi fir seedlings. In addition, we found that chronic acid fog exposure suppressed the decrease in net photosynthesis rate, due to its nitrogen load.     

Biosynthesis of a syringyl 8-O-4′ neolignan in Eucommia ulmoides: formation of syringylglycerol-8-O-4′-(sinapyl alcohol) ether from sinapyl alcohol

To investigate the biosynthesis and stereochemistry of syringylglycerol-8-O-4′-(sinapyl alcohol) ether (SGSE), a syringyl 8-O-4′ neolignan, feeding experiments and enzyme assays using Eucommia ulmoides were carried out. Diastereoselective formation of erythro-SGSE was found. When [8-¹⁴C]sinapyl alcohol was administered to excised shoots of E. ulmoides, ¹⁴C was incorporated into free SGSE and SGSE glucosides. In stems, incorporation into (+)-erythro-[¹⁴C]SGSE (0.037%) with 9.1% enantiomeric excess (% e.e.) was found; incorporation into the threo isomer was not detectable. Erythro-[¹⁴C]SGSE glucosides (0.047%) dominated over threo forms (0.007%) with 74.0% diastereomeric excess (% d.e.); both diastereomers were levorotatory with 32.0% e.e. and 18.3% e.e., respectively. In leaves, higher incorporation into (−)-erythro-[¹⁴C]SGSE (0.500%, 15.9% e.e.) than into the threo isomer (0.206%, 7.4% e.e.) was observed (41.6% d.e.). (−)-Erythro-[¹⁴C]SGSE glucosides (1.692%, 25.0% e.e.) were produced at higher rates than threo isomers (0.177%, 16.4% e.e.) with 81.0% d.e. In incubations of a mixture of [8-¹⁴C]sinapyl and [8-¹⁴C]coniferyl alcohols with an insoluble enzyme preparation from stems of E. ulmoides, erythro-SGSE was preferentially produced. The highest % d.e. (82.8) was observed at 60 min with the (+)-erythro isomer (21.4% e.e.) and the (−)-threo form (4.3% e.e.).Part of this report was presented at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Gifu, April 2002, and the 47th Lignin Symposium, Fukuoka, October 2002