Induction of cytoplasmic male sterility in the seed progeny derived from artificially-synthesized interspecific chimera in Brassica

We produced artificial interspecific chimeras by in vitro grafting, and obtained cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) variants in the seed progenies derived from backcrossing the chimera with one of the mother plants, B. campestris cv. Komatsuna. The induced CMS has been stably inherited by crossing it with `Komatsuna', not with `Ruby Ball' cabbage. The nuclear component of CMS is complete `Komatsuna' type in morphology, chromosome number (2n = 20) and Southern blot using ribosomal 17S RNA gene as a probe. PCR analysis by using mitochondrial atpA primer showed the complete `Ruby Ball' type, suggesting nuclear-cytoplasmic exchange. However, Southern blot patterns were different among those of the CMS and both parents by using atpA. Recombination or some unknown change is supposed in the mitochondrial genome via the processes of synthesis and propagation of the chimeras.     

Net blotch resistance in wild species of Hordeum

Resistance to net blotch was evaluated in 175 Hordeum vulgare subsp. spontaneum (H. spontaneum) accessions and 149 accessions of thirteen species or subspecies of wild Hordeum. Most H. spontaneum accessions showed resistance to each of the four Pyrenophora teres f. teres (P. teres) isolates tested. However, H. spontaneum accessions showed different resistance reactions, depending upon their origin. In particular, some accessions from Afghanistan and Russia showed a high level of resistance, and accessions from Morocco were susceptible. Among the four P. teres isolates, the virulence spectra on the H. spontaneum accessions were more different between isolates from different countries than between those from the same country. Hordeum spontaneum accessions susceptible to the Canadian isolate WRS102, but resistant to the other three isolates were found in Iraq suggesting the geographical differentiation of resistance genes in H. spontaneum. All accessions of the other wild Hordeum species, especially some accessions of H. marinum subsp. gussoneanum, showed high levels of resistance. These resistance genes may be useful candidates for incorporation into cultivated barley. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Genome‐wide association study and genomic evaluation of feed efficiency traits in Japanese Black cattle using single‐step genomic best linear unbiased prediction method

The objectives of this study were to better understand the genetic architecture and the possibility of genomic evaluation for feed efficiency traits by (i) performing genome‐wide association studies (GWAS), and (ii) assessing the accuracy of genomic evaluation for feed efficiency traits, using single‐step genomic best linear unbiased prediction (ssGBLUP)‐based methods. The analyses were performed in residual feed intake (RFI), residual body weight gain (RG), and residual intake and body weight gain (RIG) during three different fattening periods. The phenotypes from 4,578 Japanese Black steers, which were progenies of 362 progeny‐tested bulls and the genotypes from the bulls were used in this study. The results of GWAS showed that a total of 16, 8, and 12 gene ontology terms were related to RFI, RG, and RIG, respectively, and the candidate genes identified in RFI and RG were involved in olfactory transduction and the phosphatidylinositol signaling system, respectively. The realized reliabilities of genomic estimated breeding values were low to moderate in the feed efficiency traits. In conclusion, ssGBLUP‐based method can lead to understand some biological functions related to feed efficiency traits, even with small population with genotypes, however, an alternative strategy will be needed to enhance the reliability of genomic evaluation.     

Maturation and spawning of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spratelloides gracilis</Emphasis> Clupeidae in temperate waters off Cape Shionomisaki,central Japan

ABSTRACT:   The reproductive ecology of Spratelloides gracilis was investigated in the temperate waters off Cape Shionomisaki, central Japan. Cape Shionomisaki is located at the northern margin of the distribution range of this species. Females of S. gracilis with gonadosomatic index (GSI) ≥ 4.0 were defined as mature based on the relationship between GSI and the histological maturity phases of their ovaries. More than 50% of females greater than 60 mm standard length (SL) were mature. Hatch dates of larvae and juveniles collected in the study area were determined by otolith daily ring counts and found to extend from April to November. The size at maturity of females (60 mm SL) and the spawning season of S. gracilis in the temperate waters off Cape Shionomisaki (April–November) was larger and shorter, respectively, than those in tropical waters in the western Pacific. The reproductive traits observed for S. gracilis off Cape Shionomisaki appear to be adaptive to northern temperate waters with seasonal changes in environmental conditions.     

Barley lines showing prominent high green shoot regeneration in cultures derived from immature embryos

Eighty‐four cultivars of barley (Hordeum vulgare) and 95 wild strains (82 of H. spontaneum and 13 of H. agriocrithon) were surveyed for the production of callus, callus growth, and shoot regeneration in cultures derived from immature embryos. All cultivars except for ‘Turkey 381′, induced calli from more than 90% of embryos. On the other hand, the wild lines showed a large variation in the percentage of callus induction from 0 to 100%. Among the cultivars, those with the brittle rachis genotype, bt Bt₂, on chromosome 3H, regenerated shoots with a significantly higher percentage than the cultivars with the Bt bt₂ genotype. Green shoots were produced in a higher ratio (0.84) in the cultivars than in the wild lines (0.52). Among the lines examined,‘Lenins’ regenerated shoots efficiently (90.4%) and produced the highest number of calli with green shoots per embryo (4.77) followed by ‘Golden Promise’ (3.15). Examination of callus growth and shoot regeneration from embryos at different developmental stages revealed that scutellum development affected the quantity and quality of callus and shoot regeneration.     

Chromosome arm location of the gene controlling leaf pubescence of a Chinese local wheat cultivar ‘Hong-mang-mai’

The inheritance of the leaf pubescence character of a Chinese local wheat cultivar ‘Hon-mang-mai’ was investigated by monosomic and telosomic analyses. Leaf pubescence was evaluated by observation of the adaxial side of the penultimate leaf of adult plants. F₁ hybrids of ‘Hong-mang-mai’ with a non-pubescent cultivar ‘Chinese Spring’ had leaf pubescence, but its density was about a half of that of ‘Hong-mang-mai’. In the F₂ generation, the segregation ratio of pubescent to non-pubescent plants fitted a ratio of 3: 1, suggesting that leaf pubescence was controlled by one dominant gene. Monosomic analysis revealed that the gene for pubescence is located on chromosome 7B. Telosomic analysis showed that the gene is located on the short arm of chromosome 7B with a distance of 14.3%from the centromere. This gene is not allelic with the previously reported hairy leaf gene Hl on chromosome 4B, and therefore, is designated Hl2, hairy leaf 2. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus-induced myocarditis by different virus variants and mouse strains.

The mode of occurrence of encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus-induced myocarditis in mice was pathologically and virologically investigated using 2 virus variants (highly diabetogenic EMC-D and non-diabetogenic EMC-B) and 2 mouse strains (diabetes-susceptible BALB/c and diabetes-resistant C57BL/6). Mice were inoculated with 10(5) PFU/head of the virus intraperitoneally and observed up to 7 days post inoculation (7DPI). As compared with EMC-B-infected BALB/c and EMC-D-infected C57BL/6 mice, EMC-D-infected BALB/c mice developed marked myocarditis and exhibited a heart virus titer of more than 100 times above that of the others after 4DPI. Electron microscopically, small aggregations of virus-like particles, with 20-25 nm in diameter, were found in the cytoplasm of degenerated cardiomyocytes showing mitochondrial and myofibrillar degeneration in EMC-D-infected BALB/c mice.     

Effect of Dietary Inclusion of Blue Mussel Extract on Growth and Body Composition of Japanese Flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

Dietary inclusion of a water-soluble fraction of blue mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis was examined as a feeding stimulant for juvenile Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus . The control diet mainly consisted of fish meal, potato starch, and pollack liver oil. Five, 10, and 20% (weight/weight) of the control diet was exchanged with aqueous extracts of blue mussel meat in experimental groups. Fish of about 10 g in initial body weight were fed each diet to satiation, twice daily, 6 d per wk for 6 wk at 20 C. The final body weight, weight gain, and feed efficiency of fish fed the diets containing blue mussel extracts were significantly higher than those of fish fed the control diet. However, these parameters were not different among experimental groups containing blue mussel extract independent of the inclusion level of extract. A similar trend was shown in protein efficiency ratio as fish fed the control diet had a significantly lower protein efficiency ratio than the other dietary groups. Compared to the control diet, higher plasma protein and lower triglyceride were found in fish fed the diets with the extract, while other blood constituents were relatively similar for the dietary groups tested. On the other hand, whole-body crude lipid content and lipid retention of fish fed the diets with the extract were generally significantly higher than those of fish fed the control diet. Whole body crude protein was identical regardless of the dietary composition; however, protein retention of fish showed a similar trend to lipid retention.     

Decomposition of the modulated waves in a rotating couette system

The time-dependent velocity field in a rotating Couette system has been decomposed. Successive instantaneous velocity profiles were obtained by an ultrasonic Doppler velocity profile method, and the spatiotemporal velocity field had been analyzed by two-dimensional Fourier transform. The Fourier spectrum is depicted by intrinsic peaks, and the velocity field cpan be reconstructed with these peak components only, indicating a successful decomposition of the velocity field. This method shows that the so-called broadband component, which is purely spatiotemporal and attributed to chaos, corresponds to a global motion of the wave propagating from roll to roll.     

Monoacylglycerol from Punica granatum seed oil.

The seeds of Punica granatum, known as hap roman in the Arabian Peninsula, are commonly eaten as a dessert. As part of an ongoing project to find nonnutritional natural products which have health benefits, or that can be exploited to protect crops, the chloroform-soluble extract of the fermented seeds of P. granatum was found to be rich in 1-O-trans,cis,trans-9,11,13-octadecatrienoyl glycerol (1). The seed oil is not lethal to brine shrimp larvae. 1-O-isopentyl-3-O-octadec-2-enoyl glycerol (2) and the known cis-9-octadecenoic, octadecanoic, and eicosanoic acids were also detected in small amounts in the seed oil by LC and MS. The structure of 1 was determined from NMR and MS spectral data.