The genetic diversities of 4 species of subg. Lithocerasus (Prunus, Rosaceae) revealed by RAPD analysis

RAPD analysis was applied to reveal the genetic diversities of 4 speciesof subg. Lithocerasus within the genus Prunus using 40accessions representing the subgenera Prunophora, Amygdalus,Lithocerasus and Cerasus. The accession of subg. Lithocerasus are phenotypically similar to members of subgenus Cerasus but different with them in interspecific crossing tests and isozymeprofiles. Two major clusters, `Prunophora and Amygdalus group' and `Cerasus group' were constructed in the phenogram. We revealthat the examined 4 species of subg. Lithocerasus species; P.tomentosa Thunb., P. japonica Thunb., P. glandulosa Thunb.and P. besseyi Bailey, were genetically closer to the members ofsubgenera Prunophora and Amygdalus than to subg. Cerasus.     

Variation in heading date conceals quantitative trait loci for other traits of importance in breeding selection of rice

To identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with the primary target traits for selection in practical rice breeding programs, backcross inbred lines (BILs) derived from crosses between temperate japonica rice cultivars Nipponbare and Koshihikari were evaluated for 50 agronomic traits at six experimental fields located throughout Japan. Thirty-three of the 50 traits were significantly correlated with heading date. Using a linkage map including 647 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), a total of 122 QTLs for 38 traits were mapped on all rice chromosomes except chromosomes 5 and 9. Fifty-eight of the 122 QTLs were detected near the heading date QTLs Hd16 and Hd17 and the remaining 64 QTLs were found in other chromosome regions. QTL analysis of 51 BILs having homozygous for the Koshihikari chromosome segments around Hd16 and Hd17 allowed us to detect 40 QTLs associated with 27 traits; 23 of these QTLs had not been detected in the original analysis. Among the 97 QTLs for the 30 traits measured in multiple environments, the genotype-by-environment interaction was significant for 44 QTLs and not significant for 53 QTLs. These results led us to propose a new selection strategy to improve agronomic performance in temperate japonica rice cultivars.     

Influence of High Shoot and Root-Zone Temperatures on Growth of Three Wheat Genotypes during Early Vegetative Stages

High temperatures, whether of shoot or root, are reported to affect shoot and root growth of various plant species. The scanty information available on the differential response of wheat genotypes to high shoot and root‐zone temperatures triggered this investigation to study the response and adaptation of shoot and root growth of three wheat genotypes to high shoot and root‐zone temperatures during early growth stages. Three wheat genotypes; Fang (heat tolerant), Siete Cerros (heat sensitive) and Imam (recent cultivar adapted to a hot irrigated environment) were grown in soil and hydroponically. Three shoot/root‐zone temperatures (23/23, 23/35 and 35/35 °C for the soil experiment and 22/22, 22/38 and 38/38 °C for the hydroponic experiment) were applied at three‐leaf growth stage. High root‐zone temperature alone or combined with high shoot temperature reduced xylem sap flow rate, root dry weight, root length and root/shoot ratio. Unexpectedly, shoot fresh and dry weights and relative growth rate (RGR) were not significantly affected by the high root‐zone temperature except for the susceptible genotype, Siete Cerros, after prolonged exposure in the hydroponic experiment. In contrast, high shoot/root‐zone temperature significantly reduced shoot fresh and dry weights from as early as the first week of the hydroponic experiment. The 38/38 °C treatment also caused significant reduction in RGR and net assimilation rate during the first 2 weeks, but no significant differences were found during the last 2 weeks compared with 22/22 °C. Interesting responses were observed among genotypes in terms of shoot and root dry weights and root/shoot ratio at 38/38 °C treatment. The heat‐sensitive Siete Cerros showed the least reduction in these traits during the first 2 weeks while the heat‐tolerant Fang and Imam responded by greatly reducing their shoot and root weights. The situation was almost reversed with the duration of treatments such that Siete Cerros became the most affected genotype while Fang and Imam were better adapted to high shoot/root‐zone temperature. Specific root weight was the exceptional trait that increased under high temperature treatments. Results indicate that despite the reduction in root length and weight observed under high root‐zone temperature, shoot growth was not much affected suggesting that the use of suitable cultivar coupled with proper management could alleviate most of high root‐zone temperature effects during early growth stages.     

New types of major anthocyanins detected in Japanese garden iris and its wild forms

The anthocyanins of 130 cultivars, 13 lines and 3 wild forms of Iris ensata were analyzed by HPLC, and these plants were classified into 16 types of major anthocyanins. Among these types, 8 types such as petunidin 3RGac5G – delphinidin 3RGac5G, delphinidin 3RGac5G – petunidin 3RGac5G, cyanidin 3RGac5G – peonidin 3RGac5G, delphinidin 3RG – delphinidin 3RGac, petunidin 3RG5G – malvidin 3RG5G, malvidin 3RG5G – peonidin 3RG5G, peonidin 3RG5G – cyanidin 3RG5G and peonidin 3RG – cyanidin 3RG were obtained as new types. In these new types, peonidin 3RG – cyanidin 3RG and peonidin 3RG5G – cyanidin 3RG5G types were noteworthy because cyanidin 3RG and cyanidin 3RG5G are useful for the breeding of red flowers in I. ensata. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Assessment of the decay risk of airborne wood-decay fungi III: decay risks at different sampling sites

The decay risk of airborne wood-decay fungi in the same volume of air was investigated by using an air sampler over the course of a year at three different sampling sites. Japanese cedar disks measuring 7.8 cm in diameter and about 3 mm in thickness, and with a moisture content of about 100 % were placed in a “BIOSAMP” air sampler and then exposed to 1000 l of air in the northern, central, and southwest parts of Japan. The exposed disks were incubated for 20 weeks in a damp container maintained at 26 ± 2 °C and degraded by fungi trapped on the disks. The decay risk was calculated from the mass loss during incubation, and the factors affecting the said risk were explored. The results showed that sampling sites apparently do not affect decay risk, even though the Scheffer’s climate indexes of the sites were quite different. The relation between the sampling month and decay risk reveals that decay risk remains virtually the same year-round. Relative humidity on a sampling day is one of the key factors affecting decay risk in sampling conducted at the central or southwest site. In contrast, no weather factors influenced decay risk at the northern sampling site.     

Genomic gene encoding manganese peroxidase from a white-rot fungus Phanerochaete crassa WD1694

The gene encoding manganese peroxidase of a white-rot fungus Phanerochaete crassa WD1694 was cloned and sequenced. Four genomic clones were sequenced in which 3 clones were existed as alleles. The analysis of intron–exon structures divided the 4 clones into three subfamilies that corresponded to mnp2 and mnp3 of Phanerochaete chrysosporium, and a new subfamily possessing only five introns. The purified P. crassa WD1694 MnP consisted of 4 isozymes with same molecular weight, same N-terminal sequence, and different pI. N-terminal sequence of deduced protein of P. crassa mnpB3 gene was identical to those of 4 MnP isozymes; however, the other 3 mnp genes had different N-terminal sequence. The molecular weight of encoded mature protein of mnpB3 gene and purified MnP had a gap that could be difference between MnP proteins encoded by single gene. The results suggested that 4 MnP isozymes of P. crassa WD1694 arose from single gene.     

Silicic acid: boric acid complexes as wood preservatives

Wood was treated with a low molecular-weight silicic acid: boric acid agent and examined for increased resistance to termites and combustion. Wood treated with silicic acid only exhibited increased termite resistance, but not to the marked extent observed after treatment with a mixture of silicic and boric acids. Increasing the quantity of boric acid also increased the termite mortality rate and shortened the time to death. Oral-toxicity tests using dyed silicic acid: boric acid suggested that the boric acid in the agent acted as a stomach poison. Field tests on stakes over three years showed that even if stakes were placed near the termite exit, those treated with silicic acid and high levels of boric acid had no attack by termites and maintained their original form. Though these specimens were installed in the field during three rainy seasons (about six months in total) in three years, the termite resistance ability of these chemicals was maintained. It became clear that this silicic acid: boric acid agent has a high water resistance ability worthy of application in the outdoors. Combustion tests showed that flame and glowing combustion times were shortened at high levels of boric acid. When a boric acid: methanol solution was added at of rate of not less than 25 ml for 100 g of colloidal silicic acid solution (CSAS), flaming and glowing combustion were not observed. Although the charring length of the wood specimen which was treated with a low molecular weight silicic acid: boric acid agent decreased to 2/3 of that of the control wood, the charring lengths were not influenced by the level of boric acid. However, the volume of smoke decreased relative to the amount of boric acid that had been added.     

Nitrogen-fixing microorganisms in paddy soils IV

In 1949, GEST and KAMEN (1,2) reported that Photosynthetic bacteria can fix molecular nitrogen. LINDSTROM et al. (3,4) tested the nitrogen fixing ability of five species of photosynthetic bacteria under the following four conditions; 1) anaerobic light, 2) aerobic light, 3) aerobic dark, 4) anaerobic dark. As the result of the experiment, they certified that it Was only under the anaerobic light condition that the bacteria can fix molecular nitrogen.     

Prediction of Soil Acidification Using a Dymanic Model at a Bamboo Forest in Osaka Prefecture

This study is based on research of throughfall formation and soil chemistry processes. Through the experimental verification of the cation exchange part of the simulation model; making use of results of the flux of acid deposition on the forest and the chemical weathering of soil mineral, we predicted the future soil acidification. The result indicated that chemical weathering occupies the important portion of acid neutralization capacity of the soil and that significant soil acidification will not occur in this field within 40 years, even if the present acid load continues in the future.