Eucalyptus camaldulensis density and fiber length estimated by near-infrared spectroscopy

Density and fiber length belong to the parameters that are used by the pulping industry as indicators of wood quality for different industrial processes and final paper products. The feasibility of Fourier transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy for the non-destructive evaluation of fiber length and air-dry density of fast-growing E. camaldulensis from Thailand was investigated using 50 samples. NIR spectra taken from solid wood and air-dry density as well as fiber length were used for partial least squares (PLS) regression analyses. It is the first time that the fiber length of E. camaldulensis solid wood could be predicted with high accuracy and precision and that the ratios of performance to deviation (RPD) obtained are the first that fully fulfill the requirements of AACC Method 39-00 (AACC 1999) for screening in breeding programs (RPD?≥?2.5). The RPDs for cross-validation (test set validation) of the NIR-PLS-R models of 3.3 (3.8) for air-dry density and 3.5 (3.9) for fiber length allow drawing the conclusion that the models are at least applicable for screening in breeding programs as they lie in-between screening (RPD?≥?2.5) and quality control (RPD?≥?5). Even when 40% of the samples were removed in cross-validation of the air-dry density model, the RPD is 3.2, which confirms that the model is robust, stable, and well qualified for prediction. The good model statistics obtained in this study might be due to the fact that measurement sites for the measurement of NIR spectra, air-dry density, and fiber lengths were strictly coincided.     

The effects of distance from coral reefs on seagrass nursery use by 5 emperor fishes at the southern Ryukyu Islands,Japan

Whilst the importance of seagrass beds as nurseries for coral reef fishes has been clearly recognized, the vast majority of early studies on fish nursery habitats emphasized the close proximity of the latter to coral reefs. To determine the potential nursery role of isolated seagrass beds, we investigated the degree to which juvenile emperor fishes (Lethrinidae) utilized seagrass beds in the presence/absence of adjacent coral habitats at Ishigaki Island (southern Japan), such fishes being known to use seagrass beds as nurseries. Seagrass beds in close proximity to coral habitats (distance between the two habitats of 50–200 m) had greater densities of lethrinid juveniles than those without adjacent coral habitats (2.5–4 km) for 3 different sites investigated, although a significant difference was obtained only for 1 site. Juveniles of Lethrinus atkinsoni, L. obsoletus, L. harak, and L. nebulosus were observed in seagrass beds with and without adjacent coral habitats, whereas L. ornatus occurred only in the former. Overall, most lethrinid juveniles utilize seagrass beds irrespective of the presence of adjacent adult coral habitat, suggesting that both types of seagrass beds would contribute to lethrinid adult populations. Therefore, management efforts for lethrinid populations should be applied not only to contiguous coral-seagrass habitat systems but also to isolated habitats.     

Age Difference in Morphology and Immunohistology inthe Thymus and Spleen in Crl:CD (SD) Rats

We investigated chronological changes in immunohistochemical phenotyping in the thymus and spleen in Crl:CD rats up to the age of about one year. In the thymus, T cells increased markedly from 3 to 4 weeks of age. Proliferating cells also increased markedly at these points. B cells tended towards an increase with age. In the spleen, white pulp increased until 9 weeks of age and remained fairly stable thereafter. In the periarteriolar lymphoid sheath and marginal zone, T cells gradually increased until 9 weeks of age and became almost flat thereafter. In the lymph follicle, T cells increased with age. B cells tended towards an increase with age in all areas of the spleen. It was concluded that development of the thymus was most marked from 3 to 4 weeks of age and that both the thymus and spleen had matured by 9 weeks of age.     

Comparison of kinetic properties of a hydrophilic form of acetylcholinesterase purified from strains susceptible and resistant to carbamate and organophosphorus insecticides of green rice leafhopper (Nephotettix cincticeps Uhler)

A hydrophilic form of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was purified from N-methyl carbamate susceptible (SA) and highly N-methyl carbamate-resistant (N3D) strains of the green rice leafhopper (GRLH), Nephotettix cincticeps Uhler. Both of purified AChE from SA and N3D strains displayed the highest activities toward acetylthiocholine (ATCh) at pH 8.5. In the SA strain, the optimum concentrations for ATCh, propionylthiocholine (PTCh), and butyrylthiocholine (BTCh) were about 1 × 10⁻³, 2.5 × 10⁻³, and 1 × 10⁻³ M, respectively. However, in the N3D strain, substrate inhibition was not identified for ATCh, PTCh, and BTCh to 1 × 10⁻² M. The K_m value in the SA strain was 51.1, 39.1, and 41.6 μM and that in the N3D strain was 91.8, 88.1, and 85.2 μM for ATCh, PTCh, and BTCh, respectively. The K_m value in the N3D strain indicated about 1.80-, 2.25-, and 2.05-fold lower affinity than that of the SA strain for ATCh, PTCh, and BTCh, respectively. The V_max value in the SA strain was 70.2, 30.5, and 4.6 U/mg protein and that in the N3D strain was 123.0, 27.0, and 14.5 U/mg protein for ATCh, PTCh, and BTCh, respectively. The V_max value in the N3D strain was 1.75- and 3.15-fold higher for ATCh and BTCh than that in the N3D strain. However, it was 1.13-fold lower for PTCh. The increased activity of AChE in the N3D strain is due to the qualitatively modified enzyme with a higher catalytic efficiency. The bimolecular rate constant (k_i) for propoxur was 27.1 × 10⁴ and 0.51 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ min⁻¹ in the SA and N3D strain and that for monocrotophos was 0.031 × 10⁴ and 2.0 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ min⁻¹ in the SA and N3D strain. AChE from the N3D strain was 53-fold less sensitive than SA strain to inhibition by propoxur. In contrast, AChE from the N3D strain was 65-fold more sensitive to inhibition by monocrotophos than AChE from the SA strain. This indicated negatively correlated cross-insensitivity of AChE to propoxur and monocrotophos.     

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.     

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...     

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.     

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.