Identification of a novel gene (Apq1) from the indica rice cultivar ‘Habataki’ that improves the quality of grains produced under high temperature stress

The appearance of brown rice grown under high temperature conditions is an important characteristic for improvement in Japanese rice breeding programs. We performed a QTL analysis of the appearance quality of brown rice using chromosome segment substitution lines of the indica cultivar ‘Habataki’ in the ‘Koshihikari’ genetic background. A line carrying a ‘Habataki’ segment on chromosome 7 showed a high percentage of perfect grains produced under high temperature conditions during the ripening period. To verify the role of this segment, and to narrow down the region containing the useful allele, substitution mapping was performed using multiple paired lines. As a result, the chromosomal location of a gene that we named Appearance quality of brown rice 1 (Apq1) was delimited to a 48-kb region. In addition, we developed an Apq1-near isogenic line (NIL) to evaluate the effect of Apq1 on various agronomic traits. Under high temperature conditions during the ripening period, the Apq1-NIL produced significantly higher percentages of perfect grains than ‘Koshihikari’. Other agronomic traits, including yield and palatability, were similar between the Apq1-NIL and ‘Koshihikari’. Therefore, the ‘Habataki’ allele of Apq1 will be useful in breeding programs aimed at improving the quality of grains ripened under high temperature conditions.     

Homologue gene of bile acid transporters ntcp,asbt, and ost-alpha in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss: tissue expression,effect of fasting,and response to bile acid administration

Bile acid transporters belonging to the SLC10A protein family, Na+ taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP or SLC10A1), apical sodium-dependent bile salt transporter (ASBT or SLC10A2), and organic solute transporter alpha (Ost-alpha) have been known to play critical roles in the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids in mammals. In this study, ntcp, asbt, and ost-alpha-1/-2 cDNA were cloned, their tissue distributions were characterized, and the effects of fasting and bile acid administration on their expression were examined in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. The structural characteristics of Ntcp, Asbt, and Ost-alpha were well conserved in trout, and three-dimensional structure analysis showed that Ntcp and Asbt were similar to each other. Tissue distribution analysis revealed that trout asbt was primarily expressed in the hindgut, while ntcp expression occurred in the brain, and ost-alpha-1/-2 was mainly expressed in the liver or ovary. Although asbt and ost-alpha-1 mRNA levels in the gut increased in response to fasting for 4 days, ost-alpha-1 expression in the liver decreased. Similarly, bile acid administration increased asbt and ost-alpha-1 expression levels in the gut, while those of ntcp and ost-alpha-2 in the liver decreased. These results suggested that the genes asbt, ntcp, and ost-alpha are involved in bile acid transport in rainbow trout.     

Differential growth rates related to initiation of piscivory by hatchery-reared larval Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis

Fast growth plays an important role in survival processes during the early life stages of both field-captured and hatchery-reared Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis. Marked growth variations in hatchery-reared tuna larvae are frequently observed even for the same age and within the same rearing tank after the onset of the piscivory. We hypothesized that these small growth variations in the growth of tuna larvae at the onset of piscivory lead subsequently to large growth variations and tested the hypothesis using three size groups (large, intermediate and small) of hatchery-reared fish by nitrogen stable isotope and otolith analyses. Stable isotope analysis revealed that the large group rapidly utilized prey fish larvae, but the smaller groups depended more on rotifers as the main prey item relative to the large group. The otolith radius from the core to the increment corresponding to the first feeding on yolk-sac larvae was compared among the three size groups. The results revealed that the large group had larger otolith radii than the small and intermediate groups. Our findings suggest that small growth variations apparent during the early larval stage of tuna could induce further large growth variations in the late-larval and juvenile stages through differences in the initial ability to utilize piscivory.     

Promotion of initial swim bladder inflation and effect of initial inflation failure on skeletal malformation in cultured seven‐band grouper Hyporthodus septemfasciatus (Thunberg)

The effects of the removal of the oily surface film on initial swim bladder inflation and survival in cultured seven‐band grouper Hyporthodus septemfasciatus were investigated during the larval stage. Additionally, the relationship between swim bladder inflation failure and malformations in later stages was examined. To explore promotion conditions for inflation, duplicate experiments were conducted under three different water surface conditions: removal of the oily surface film (ROF group), covering the water surface with an oil film (COF group), and sealing the water surface with liquid paraffin (SLP group). Larval swim bladder inflation was first observed 14 days after hatching (DAH) in the ROF group; thereafter, swim bladder inflation rates increased to 11.1% and 38.7% until the end of the experiments. This indicates that initial swim bladder inflation occurs at the pre‐flexion stage in larval development. Conversely, bladder inflation was rarely observed in the COF or SLP groups, indicating the promotional effect of surface film removal on larval swim bladder inflation and suggesting that gulping atmospheric air is necessary for initial inflation. Although larval water surface death occurred frequently in the ROF group, no significant difference existed in any group between the survival rates at 10 DAH and at the end of the experiment. The incidence rate of spinal curvature and deformation of the centra was significantly higher in individuals without initial swim bladder inflation, and these malformations mainly occurred in the caudal vertebra. Therefore, the removal of the oily surface film promotes initial swim bladder inflation and reduces larval malformations.     

Distribution patterns of settlement-stage juveniles of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Girella punctata</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Girella leonina</Emphasis> on the rocky coast of the Kanto–Izu region,Japan

The early life history of girellid fishes in Japanese waters is unclear, and little is known about their species-specific reproductive strategies. We examined seasonal changes of distribution patterns for settlement-stage juveniles of Girella punctata and Girella leonina on the rocky shore in the regions of Kanto and Izu, Japan, to infer the influence of the Kuroshio Current on their reproduction. We collected 813 settlement-stage juveniles mainly in Sagami Bay and genetically identified the species. The juveniles of G. punctata were collected on the rocky shore in Sagami Bay during April to August, with the abundant catch in May and June. Thus, we infer that juvenile G. punctata ubiquitously inhabit the rocky shore in the area in spring and summer. By contrast, juveniles of G. leonina were rarely collected in Sagami Bay, with a total catch of only 66. Notably, no juveniles were collected during the wintertime in Sagami Bay, although an abundant catch of G. leonina had been previously reported for Sagami Nada off Sagami Bay during January to March. This clear-cut difference between the areas likely reflects the difference in proximity to the path of the Kuroshio Current. We expect that the Kuroshio Current strongly influences the reproductive success of G. leonina.     

Mortality processes of hatchery‐reared Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis (Temminck et Schlegel) larvae in relation to their piscivory

In mass culture of Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis, yolk‐sac larvae of other species are fed as a major prey item to tuna larvae from 7 to 8 mm in total length. Marked growth variations in tuna larvae are frequently observed after feeding of yolk‐sac larvae, and this variation in the growth of tuna larvae is subsequently a factor leading to the prevalence of cannibalistic attacks. To elucidate details of the mortality process of hatchery‐reared tuna larvae after the initiation of yolk‐sac larvae feeding, we compared the nutritional and growth histories of the surviving (live) tuna larvae to those of the dead fish, found dead on the bottom of the tank, as direct evidence of their mortality processes. Cause of mortality of tuna larvae 3 and 5 days after the initiation of feeding of yolk‐sac larvae was assessed from nitrogen stable isotope and otolith microstructure analyses. Stable isotope analysis revealed that the live fish rapidly utilized prey fish larvae, but the dead fish had depended more on rotifers relative to the live fish 3 and 5 days after the initiation of feeding of yolk‐sac larvae. The growth histories based on otolith increments were compared between the live and dead tuna larvae and indicated that the live fish showed significantly faster growth histories than dead fish. Our results suggest that fast‐growing larvae at the onset of piscivory could survive in the mass culture tank of Pacific bluefin tuna and were characterized by growth‐selective mortality.     

Characterization of Japanese <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizoctonia solani</Emphasis> AG-2-1 isolates using rDNA-ITS sequences,culture morphology,and growth temperature

Rhizoctonia solani AG-2-1 is classified into three subsets (Subsets 1–3) based on the rDNA-ITS sequence. Few Japanese isolates, however, have been phylogenetically analyzed. To understand the distribution and diversification of AG-2-1 isolates in Japan, we examined 23 Japanese AG-2-1 isolates (15 from Hokkaido, the northernmost island, and eight from NARO Genebank) in terms of rDNA-ITS sequences, culture morphology, and temperature-dependent growth characteristics. Of these, 15 isolates were found to belong to Subset 1. One isolate, which formed a light brown colony with concentric rings and grew slowly at 25 °C, was classified into Subset 2. Six isolates had varied culture morphology and relatively faster growth than Subset 1 isolates at 30 °C. They formed a clade on the phylogenetic tree, designated clade HK, with cauliflower isolates from Belgium and the Netherlands, with a bootstrap value of 47%, and were separate from the three known subsets. Sequence similarity in the rDNA-ITS region for this clade ranged from 98.2 to 100%, whereas clade HK isolates had 96.7–98.6% similarity with the isolates in each subset. This result suggests that clade HK is likely an independent intragroup within AG-2-1, although the rDNA-ITS sequences in this clade were variable. One isolate was not assignable to any clade because it was intermediate between isolates in clade HK and Subset 2. This is the first report describing variation among rDNA-ITS sequences of Japanese AG-2-1 isolates.