Yield and dry matter productivity of Japanese and US soybean cultivars

The difference in yields of cultivars may be causing difference in soybean yield between Japan and the USA. The objective of this study was to identify the effect of the cultivar on dry matter production and to reveal the key factors causing the differences in yield by focusing utilization of solar radiation in recent Japanese and US soybean cultivars. Field experiments were conducted during two seasons in Takatsuki, Japan (34°50′), and in a single season in Fayetteville (36°04′), AR, USA. Five Japanese and 10 US cultivars were observed under near-optimal conditions in order to achieve yields as close to their physiological potential as possible. The seed yield and total aboveground dry matter (TDM) were measured at maturity as long as radiation was intercepted by the canopy. The seed yield ranged from 3.10t ha^?1 to 5.91t ha^?1. Throughout the three environments, the seed yield of US cultivars was significantly higher than that of Japanese cultivars. The seed yield correlated with the TDM rather than the HI with correlation coefficients from .519 to .928 for the TDM vs. .175 to .800 for the HI, for each of the three environments. The higher TDM of US cultivars was caused by a higher radiation use efficiency rather than higher total intercepted radiation throughout the three environments. The seasonal change in the TDM observed in four cultivars indicated that dry matter productivity was different between cultivars, specifically during the seed-filling period.     

An institutional case study of Japanese Water Users Association: towards successful participatory irrigation management

This paper examines irrigation management conduct within the Japanese Water Users Association (WUA), namely the Land Improvement District (LID). LID is regarded as a successful case of participatory irrigation management (PIM), in which there are few conflicts over water between farmers so that it attains high social cost performance. However, the management system of LID still remains obscure. We throw light on this system assuming the existence of "the rule of fairness". Farmers operate the irrigation facilities in a self-serving way and have their own rule of fairness, such as upstream superiority, based on the long-term experiences of irrigation systems. We defined this rule of fairness as made up of two components: one is "fairness of outcome" and the other is "fairness of procedure". Finally, we discovered that the approach of LID staff is the essential factor to satisfying the farmers' criteria of fairness and maintaining peace; LID staff place importance on farmers' customary rules, taking care to remain neutral in arbitrating quarrels between farmers and trying to ensure organizational transparency to farmers. This can be also a good lesson for future PIM projects.     

Effect of environmental factors and prey species on daytime and nighttime vertical distribution of juvenile walleye pollock in and around Funka Bay

We examined factors affecting the vertical distribution of juvenile walleye pollock during “the second critical period” (i.e. the transition period of prey size) in and around Funka Bay, Hokkaido, Japan. During the day, small juveniles (<30 mm) were distributed mainly in shallow, warm, and low-salinity water within the bay, whereas larger ones (≥30 mm) occurred in deeper, cold and saline water. During the night, the large juveniles migrated to shallower depths. Outside the bay, small- and large-sized juveniles were distributed in water masses of similar physical properties during the daytime, whereas during the nighttime, most of the juveniles moved to shallower depth, and some juveniles dived to deeper water mass. Dietary analysis revealed that large juveniles fed on large copepods (≥0.5 mm in body width) more than small juveniles did. The composition of zooplankton in our survey area showed that large-sized copepods often occurred in deeper saline water. From these results, there is a possibility that juvenile pollock inside and outside Funka Bay occupied different water masses preferable for each feeding advantage.     

Lead pollution: records in Southern California coastal sediments

The present anthropogenic lead fluxes into sediments from the Santa Monica, San Pedro, and Santa Barbara basins of Southern California are, respectively, 0.9, 1.7, and 2.1 micrograms of lead per square centimeter of sea bottom per year; the natural (prepollution) rates for these three basins were, respectively, 0.24, 0.26, and 1.0 microgram of lead per square centimeter per year. Studies of isotopic composition indicate that lead pollutants in coastal sediments are derived mainly from the combustion of lead additives in gasoline.     

A set of near-isogenic lines for blast resistance genes with an Indica-type rainfed lowland elite rice (Oryza sativa L.) genetic background

A set of near-isogenic lines for blast resistance genes was developed by using an Indica-type elite rice variety, IR49830-7-1-2-2, suitable for the rainfed lowland conditions in the tropics, as a genetic background. Initially, we revealed that IR49830-7-1-2-2 harbors five blast resistance genes - Pia, Pib, Pik-s, Pita, and Pi11(t) - by using a differential system involving 19 selected standard blast isolates from the Philippines. Based on this result, we developed nine near-isogenic lines (NILs) targeting eight resistance genes - Pik, Pi7(t), Pi3, Pi5, Pita-2, Piz-5, Pish, and Pi9 - by recurrent backcrossing. The introgression of each resistance gene in the NILs was confirmed by reaction patterns to the blast isolates, allelism tests, and DNA marker analysis. In addition, a genome-wide DNA marker survey revealed that most of the chromosome regions in each NIL were of the IR49830-7-1-2-2 type. The agricultural characteristics of most of the developed NILs were almost the same as those of IR49830-7-1-2-2. Moreover, with one exception, they showed submergence tolerance similar to IR49830-7-1-2-2. The developed NILs could be used as a multiline variety suitable for the rainfed lowland in the tropics.     

Effects of maturity genes E2 and E3 on yield formation in soybean cultivar Enrei in warm region,Fukuyama in Japan

ABSTRACT

Understanding how maturity genes affect soybean yield formation will provide important information for crop management decisions. This study aimed to reveal how maturity genes E2 and E3 in the soybean cultivar ‘Enrei’ affect yields and yield formation in warm regions of Japan. ‘Enrei’ (e2e3) and three near-isogenic lines of ‘Enrei’ (e2E3, E2e3, and E2E3) were cultivated in 2016 and 2017 in Fukuyama, Japan (34°30′N, 133°23′E). Two sowing dates were set in each year (June sowing and July sowing). E2 extended the period from emergence to R1 and also the period from R1 to R7, whereas E3 extended only the period from emergence to R1. Interaction between E2 and E3 did not affect duration of the period from emergence to R1, but did affect the period from R1 to R7. Although seed yield did not differ between genotypes in the June sowings, the effects of E2 and E3 on seed yield in July sowing were both significant and interaction between E2 and E3 also observed. The total number of nodes increased in E3 genotypes in both sowing dates, especially in E2E3. Pod-set ratio was lower in E2 and E3 genotypes than in e2 and e3 genotypes in the June sowings, but did not differ between genotypes in the July sowings. The high yield of E2E3 genotypes in the July sowings was attributed to increased number of nodes and flower production while maintaining pod-set ratio. Appropriate choice of sowing date is suggested to be essential when using E3 genotypes.Abbreviations: HI: harvest index; NIL: near-isogenic line; RUE: radiation use efficiency; TDM: total above-ground dry matter; TRI: total solar radiation intercepted     

MytiLec,a Mussel R-Type Lectin,Interacts with Surface Glycan Gb3 on Burkitt’s Lymphoma Cells to Trigger Apoptosis through Multiple Pathways

MytiLec; a novel lectin isolated from the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis); shows strong binding affinity to globotriose (Gb3: Galα1-4Galβ1-4Glc). MytiLec revealed β-trefoil folding as also found in the ricin B-subunit type (R-type) lectin family, although the amino acid sequences were quite different. Classification of R-type lectin family members therefore needs to be based on conformation as well as on primary structure. MytiLec specifically killed Burkitt''s lymphoma Ramos cells, which express Gb3. Fluorescein-labeling assay revealed that MytiLec was incorporated inside the cells. MytiLec treatment of Ramos cells resulted in activation of both classical MAPK/ extracellular signal-regulated kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK-ERK) and stress-activated (p38 kinase and JNK) Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathways. In the cells, MytiLec treatment triggered expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (a ligand of death receptor-dependent apoptosis) and activation of mitochondria-controlling caspase-9 (initiator caspase) and caspase-3 (activator caspase). Experiments using the specific MEK inhibitor U0126 showed that MytiLec-induced phosphorylation of the MEK-ERK pathway up-regulated expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21, leading to cell cycle arrest and TNF-α production. Activation of caspase-3 by MytiLec appeared to be regulated by multiple different pathways. Our findings, taken together, indicate that the novel R-type lectin MytiLec initiates programmed cell death of Burkitt’s lymphoma cells through multiple pathways (MAPK cascade, death receptor signaling; caspase activation) based on interaction of the lectin with Gb3-containing glycosphingolipid-enriched microdomains on the cell surface.     

Leak detection by monitoring pressure to preserve integrity of agricultural pipe

Paddy and Water Environment - Leakage of agricultural pipes has been increasingly frequent problems due to corrosion, loosening of joints, and cracks, which result in the subsidence of peripheral...     

Effects of late sowing on soybean yields and yield components in southwestern Japan

ABSTRACT

Soybean production in southwestern Japan tends to be unstable owing to wet soils during the rainy season. Although late sowing after the rainy season can avoid excess water, information on its yield potential is limited. The objective of this study was to reveal the effect of late sowing on yields and yield components of new soybean cultivars developed for warm regions. The experiment was conducted in 2016 and 2017 in Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan. Upland fields converted from paddy fields with a subirrigation system were planted in June (normal) or July (late sparse or late dense). Lodging was prevented with a net. The effects of late sowing and dense treatment were analyzed in relation to solar radiation use. In 2016, differences in yield among cultivars and among environments were not significant. In 2017, yield was significantly reduced following late sparse sowing. The total aboveground dry matter at maturity was correlated with total solar radiation intercepted (r = 0.76) but not with radiation use efficiency (r = 0.47). Late sowing increased harvest index (HI) significantly from 0.464 to 0.571 in 2016 and from 0.524 to 0.585 in 2017, but density had no significant effect. The changes in HI were correlated with stem dry weight (r = ?0.80 in 2016 and r = ?0.79 in 2017) rather than seed yield (r = 0.08, n.s. in 2016 and r = 0.19, n.s. in 2017). Thus, under irrigation, late dense sowing might stabilize yield in southwestern Japan because of higher HI.

Abbreviations: DM: dry matter; FOEAS: farm-oriented enhancing aquatic system; HI: harvest index; RUE: radiation use efficiency     

Magnetohydrodynamic production of relativistic jets

A number of astronomical systems have been discovered that generate collimated flows of plasma with velocities close to the speed of light. In all cases, the central object is probably a neutron star or black hole and is either accreting material from other stars or is in the initial violent stages of formation. Supercomputer simulations of the production of relativistic jets have been based on a magnetohydrodynamic model, in which differential rotation in the system creates a magnetic coil that simultaneously expels and pinches some of the infalling material. The model may explain the basic features of observed jets, including their speed and amount of collimation, and some of the details in the behavior and statistics of different jet-producing sources.