Nutrient storage in termite (Macrotermes bellicosus) mounds and the implications for nutrient dynamics in a tropical savanna Ultisol

The role of mounds of the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes bellicosus (Smeathman) in nutrient recycling in a highly weathered and nutrient-depleted tropical red earth (Ultisol) of the Nigerian savanna was examined by measuring stored amounts of selected nutrients and estimating their rates of turnover via the mounds. A study plot (4?ha) with a representative termite population density (1.5?mounds?ha^?1) and size (3.7?±?0.4?m in height, 2.4?±?0.2?m in basal diameter) of M. bellicosus mounds was selected. The mounds were found to contain soil mass of 9249?±?2371?kg?ha^?1, composed of 7502?±?1934?kg?ha^?1 of mound wall and 1747?±?440?kg?ha^?1 of nest body. Significant nutrient enrichment, compared to the neighboring topmost soil (Ap1 horizon: 0–16?cm), was observed in the nest body for total nitrogen (N) and exchangeable calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K), and in the mound wall for exchangeable K only. In contrast, available (Bray-1) phosphorus (P) content was found to be lower in both the mound wall and the nest body than in the adjacent topmost soil horizon. Consequently, the mounds formed by M. bellicosus contained 1.71?±?0.62?kg?ha^?1 of total N, 0.004?±?0.003?kg?ha^?1 of available P, 3.23?±?0.81?kg?ha^?1 of exchangeable Ca, 1.11?±?0.22?kg?ha^?1 of exchangeable Mg and 0.79?±?0.21?kg?ha^?1 of exchangeable K. However, with the exception of exchangeable K (1.2%), these nutrients amounted to less than 0.5% of those found in the topmost soil horizon. The soil nutrient turnover rate via M. bellicosus mounds was indeed limited, being estimated at 1.72?kg?ha^?1 for organic carbon (C), 0.15?kg?ha^?1 for total N, 0.0004?kg?ha^?1 for available P, 0.15?kg?ha^?1 for exchangeable Ca, 0.05?kg?ha^?1 for exchangeable Mg, and 0.06?kg?ha^?1 for exchangeable K per annum. These findings suggest that the mounds of M. bellicosus, while being enriched with some nutrients to create hot spots of soil nutrients in the vicinity of the mounds, are not a significant reservoir of soil nutrients and are therefore of minor importance for nutrient cycling at the ecosystem scale in the tropical savanna.     

Downy mildew of busy lizzie caused by Plasmopara obducens in Japan

In June 2010 and March 2012, busy lizzie (Impatiens sultanii) plants in a glasshouse in Yamagata Prefecture and in nurseries in a plastic house in Shimane Prefecture, Japan were observed with yellowing of the adaxial surface of leaves or cotyledons and a white downy growth on the abaxial surface of leaves or cotyledons. We identified the causal pathogen as Plasmopara obducens based on the morphologies and rDNA-large subunit sequences. This new disease was named “downy mildew of busy lizzie” in Japan.     

Eremothecium ashbyi causes soybean yeast-spot and is associated with stink bug, Riptortus clavatus

Many fusiform ascospores observed on soybean seeds with yeast spot disease symptoms differed significantly from those of Eremothecium coryli, the known causal agent of yeast spot disease in soybean. On the basis of morphological and physiological characteristics and sequence data of the internal transcribed spacer regions including the 5.8S rDNA and D1/D2 regions of 26S rDNA, this fungus was identified as E. ashbyi. Pathogenicity of E. ashbyi was confirmed by reinoculation test. This report is the report on E. ashbyi causing soybean yeast spot disease. In addition, this study showed that E. ashbyi was transmitted by the stink bug, Riptortus clavatus, as was E. coryli, the two Eremothecium yeasts may have been acquired when the stink bug fed on infected soybeans and overwintered in this insect species. The nucleotide sequence data reported are available in the GeneBank/EMBL/DDBJ database as accessions AB294407 to AB294412 for E. ashbyi EA1, EA7 and EA11.     

Overexpression of the LASAP2 gene for secretory acid phosphatase in white lupin improves the phosphorus uptake and growth of tobacco plants

Secretion of acid phosphatase (APase) from the roots to take up phosphorus (P) is a well-known strategy of plants under P-deficient conditions. White lupin, which shows vigorous growth in low-P soils, is noted for its ability to secrete APase under P-deficient conditions. The APase secreted by white lupin roots is stable in soil solution and shows low substrate specificity, suggesting that genetic modification of plants using the APase gene LASAP2 might improve their ability to use organic P. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the potential of LASAP2 transgenic plants to increase organic P utilization. Dry matter production and P accumulation were higher in LASAP2 transgenic tobacco plants grown in gel media containing soluble phytate as the sole P source than in wild-type tobacco plants. Phosphorus uptake by the transgenic plants also increased in soil culture conditions. LASAP2 was apparently more effective in the liberation of organic P, including phytate, in the soil than the native tobacco APase. Thus, the enzymatic stability of LASAP2 in the soil appears to be an important factor for P acquisition.     

Physicochemical and morphological properties of termite (Macrotermes bellicosus) mounds and surrounding pedons on a toposequence of an inland valley in the southern Guinea savanna zone of Nigeria

Termites play a significant role in soil-forming processes of the tropics. The influence of termites on pedogenesis as affected by the toposequence, however, has rarely been explored. We investigated the soil physicochemical and morphological characteristics of epigeal mounds constructed by Macrotermes bellicosus (Smethman) compared with those of surrounding pedons along a toposequence (bottom, fringe and upland sites) of an inland valley in central Nigeria. The physicochemical and morphological properties of the mound soils varied according to structural units but were generally different from those of the adjacent pedons. The differences included finer texture, higher electrical conductivity, total N, exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg and K) and effective cation exchange capacity and lower C/N ratio and exchange acidity in the mound than the pedon at each toposequence position. This tendency to modify the soil properties was more prominent in the nest body where the termites actually live, that is, in the hives, royal cell and base-plate, than in the soils below the nest and the other mound parts, that is, the external wall, internal wall and pillars. We found this trend to a greater or lesser degree at all toposequence positions. Our findings suggest that: (1) M. bellicosus can manipulate the mound soils according to functional applications of structure units or environmental requirements for its livelihood, regardless of local soils; (2) M. bellicosus makes ecological patches (hot spots) at all toposequence positions in the same measure; (3) the influence of M. bellicosus on the pedogenesis is reduced in the lowlands compared with the uplands because the number and volume of the mounds were substantially lower in the bottom and fringe sites compared with the upland site.     

Effect of temperature on survival,growth and malformation of cultured larvae and juveniles of the seven-band grouper Epinephelus septemfasciatus

The effects of rearing temperature (23–29 °C) during the larval and juvenile stage on survival, growth and skeletal malformations in the seven-band grouper Epinephelus septemfasciatus were investigated. The survival rate of juveniles 30–40 mm in total length emerging from eggs was higher at 25 and 26 °C (0.1–1.3 %) than at 23 °C or 27–29 °C (0.004–1.5 %). Growth (increase in total length) was accelerated at higher temperatures. The frequency of malformed individuals was lower at 25–27 °C (36.0–61.5 %) than at 23, 28 or 29 °C (65.3–76.9 %). Specific incidences of spinal curvature and centrum fusion or defects in juveniles were not related to rearing temperature. However, incidences of twisted or compressed vertebrae (6.5–64.0 %) were higher at higher temperatures, while the incidence of bifurcated neural spine was significantly higher at 23 °C (43.6–54.4 %) than at other temperatures (3.3–22.7 %). The incidence rate of spinal curvature (23.3 %) was significantly higher in juveniles with a deflated swim bladder, regardless of rearing temperature. The results of this study suggest that the optimum culture temperature for seven-band grouper is 25–26 °C, collectively considering the survival, growth and incidences of abnormalities. Our results also demonstrate the significance of identifying the conditions for swim bladder inflation to prevent spinal curvature in seven-band grouper.     

Long-term effects on tree regeneration of soil scarification with microtopography manipulation in mixed forests of central Hokkaido,northern Japan

Natural regeneration of canopy tree species is generally poor under a selective cutting regime practised in mixed conifer–hardwood stands on Hokkaido, northern Japan, and is prevented by dense bamboo layers in the understory. To promote tree regeneration, we scarified soil in ten sites, with elevations ranging from 420 to 760 m, in 1979, with a rake-equipped bulldozer to produce three different artificial microtopographies (concave, flat, and convex). Twenty-six years after scarification, six canopy tree species (Acer mono, Abies sachalinensis, Betula ermanii, B. maximowicziana, Kalopanax pictus, and Picea jezoensis) had become well established. Abies sachalinensis and B. ermanii regenerated at all sites. Picea jezoensis was well established in high-elevation sites, whereas other hardwood tree species (A. mono, B. maximowicziana, and K. pictus) were well established at low-elevation sites. The Betula species dominated upper layers of regenerated trees, and two conifer species (A. sachalinensis and P. jezoensis) occupied lower layers. Regenerated densities of four (of six) major tree species were positively correlated with standing timber volume of mother trees, whereas those of shade-intolerant species (two Betula species and K. pictus) were negatively correlated with standing timber volume of all canopy trees. Small-seeded species (P. jezoensis and the two Betula species) had higher regeneration densities on convex sites than on other microtopographies. Adequate seed supply, convex substratum for small-seeded species, and control of light conditions for shade-intolerant species should be taken into account when planning regeneration of desirable tree species in central Hokkaido.     

Influence of saltwater wedges on irrigation water near a river estuary

Paddy and Water Environment - Paddy fields irrigated using water from the Shinkawa River in Niigata, Japan, are subject to adverse effects associated with the occurrence of saltwater wedges in the...     

Effects of epilactose on calcium absorption and serum lipid metabolism in rats

Epilactose (4-O-beta-galactopyranosyl-D-mannnose) is a rare disaccharide in cow milk that can be synthesized from lactose by the cellobiose 2-epimerase of Ruminococcus albus. In this study, we examined the biological activities of epilactose using male Wistar-ST rats. The apparent rates of calcium and magnesium absorption of rats fed epilactose and fructooligosaccharide diets were greater than those fed control and lactose diets, accompanied by greater weight gain of the cecal wall and higher levels of short-chain fatty acids and other organic acids. Epilactose also increased the calcium absorption in everted small intestinal sacs. In addition, the levels of plasma total cholesterol and nonhigh-density lipoprotein cholesterol were lower in epilactose-fed rats. These results indicate that epilactose promotes calcium absorption in the small intestine and possibly lowers the risk of arteriosclerosis. Cecal microbes may efficiently utilize epilactose and contribute to these biological activities.