Growth of recombinant equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) replaced with passage-induced mutant gene 1 and gene 71 derived from an attenuated EHV-1 in cell cultures and in the lungs of mice

The relationship of passage-induced mutant genes 1 and 71 of an attenuated equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) with virulence was analysed by constructing nine recombinant EHV-1 viruses by homologous recombination. Gene 1 or/and gene 71 of a virulent EHV-1 strain, HH1, was replaced by a mutant gene 1 or/and 71 of an attenuated HH1 strain, BK343, respectively. The beta-galactosidase gene of Escherichia coli was inserted within the gene 1 or 71 coding sequence of HH1 to inactivate the genes. Virus replications of these recombinant viruses in cell cultures were similar, but release of the gene 71-inactivated virus from infected cells was delayed compared to that of the other viruses. Plaque sizes of the recombinant viruses were similar to those of HH1, but those of BK343 were significantly smaller, indicating an effect of some unknown factor(s) on viral cell-to-cell spread. The growth abilities of the recombinant viruses with a mutant gene 1 or/and 71 in lungs of mice were similar to those of HH1, but those of gene 71-inactivated viruses were reduced to the level of BK343 and the titers were about 100-times lower than those of the other recombinant viruses. These results indicate that the mutant genes 1 and 71 of BK343 might not confer an attenuated nature to EHV-1.     

Effects of silviculture treatments in a hurricane-damaged forest on carbon storage and emissions in central Hokkaido,Japan

Hurricanes cause abrupt carbon reduction in forests, but silviculture treatment can be an effective means of quickly regenerating and restoring hurricane-damaged sites. This study assessed how silviculture treatments affect carbon balance after hurricane damage in central Hokkaido, Japan. We examined carbon storage in trees and underground vegetation as well as carbon emissions from silviculture operations in 25-year-old stands, where scarification and plantation occurred just after hurricane damage. The amount of carbon stored varied according to silviculture treatment. Among three scarification treatments, a scarified depth of 0 cm (understory vegetation removal) led to the largest amount of carbon stored (64.7 t·ha-1 C). Among four plantation treatments, the largest amount of carbon was stored in a Larix hybrid (L. gmelinii var. japonica × L. kaempferi) plantation (80.3 t·ha-1 C). The plantation of Abies sachalinensis was not successful at accumulating carbon (40.5·ha-1 C). The amount of carbon emitted from silviculture operations was 0.05-0.14 t·ha-1 C, and it marginally affected the net carbon balance of the silviculture project. Results indicate that silviculture treatments should beperformed in an appropriate way to effectively recover the ability of carbon sequestration in hurricane-damaged forests.     

Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration alters the effect of phosphate supply on growth of Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora) seedlings

We demonstrated that the inorganic phosphate (P(i)) requirement for growth of Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb. & Zucc.) seedlings is increased by elevated CO(2) concentration ([CO(2)]) and that responses of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius (Pers.) Coker & Couch to P(i) supply are also altered. To investigate the growth response of non-mycorrhizal seedlings to P(i) supply in elevated [CO(2)], non-mycorrhizal seedlings were grown for 73 days in ambient or elevated [CO(2)] (350 or 700 micromol mol(-1)) with nutrient solutions containing one of seven phosphate concentrations (0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.10 and 0.20 mM). In ambient [CO(2)], the growth response to P(i) was saturated at about 0.1 mM P(i), whereas in elevated [CO(2)], the growth response to P(i) supply did not saturate, even at the highest P(i) supply (0.2 mM), indicating that the P(i) requirement is higher in elevated [CO(2)] than in ambient [CO(2)]. The increased requirement was due mainly to an altered shoot growth response to P(i) supply. The enhanced P(i) requirement in elevated [CO(2)] was not associated with a change in photosynthetic response to P(i) or a change in leaf phosphorus (P) status. We investigated the effect of P(i) supply (0.04, 0.08 and 0.20 mM) on the ectomycorrhizal fungus P. tinctorius in mycorrhizal seedlings grown in ambient or elevated [CO(2)]. Root ergosterol concentration (an indicator of fungal biomass) decreased with increasing P(i) supply in ambient [CO(2)], but the decrease was far less in elevated [CO(2)]. In ambient [CO(2)] the ratio of extramatrical mycelium to root biomass decreased with increasing P(i) supply but did not change in elevated [CO(2)]. We conclude that, because elevated [CO(2)] increased the P(i) requirement for shoot growth, the significance of the ectomycorrhizal association was also increased in elevated [CO(2)].     

农田防护林主要间距离的确定——基于林带结构与风速降低的关系

Relative windspeed reduction was measured behind nine relatively narrow, homogenous tree windbreaks with porosities between 0.13–0.33, and behind 28 combinations of model stubble barriers representing 25 different optical porosities (0.00–0.80). The optimum porosities observed were 0.25 and 0.13 for tree windbreaks and stubble barriers respectively. Based on the relationship between windbreak structure (optical porosity) and wind reduction, the chief indices for determining spacing interval, i.e., the windbreak structure index (δ) and the parameter of microclimate, represented by the problem wind (L _rp ), were determined. Additionally, investigations on shelterbelt trees were carried out, and stem-analysis techniques were used, to develop a method for determining the mature height of tree windbreaks (H ₀). Optimal spacing intervals between windbreaks could be predicted from the indices of a given windbreak structure, percentage of reduction of windspeed desired and tree growth model. A hypothetical example for determining the spacing interval of principal poplar windbreaks is given at the end of this paper. The results can be applied not only to tree windbreak design but also to other plant materials and artificial barriers for wind protection. Foundation item: This study was supported by Innovation Research Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences Biography: ZHU Jiao-jun (1965-), male, Ph. Doctor, PhD advisor. Professor of Institute of Applied Ecology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, Scholar researcher of Faculty of Agriculture, Niigata University, Japan. Responsible editor: Song Funan     

Novel plasmodesmata association of dehydrin-like proteins in cold- acclimated Red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea)

Dehydrins are proteins associated with conditions affecting the water status of plant cells, such as drought, salinity, freezing and seed maturation. Although the function of dehydrins remains unknown, it is hypothesized that they stabilize membranes and macromolecules during cellular dehydration. Red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea L.), an extremely freeze-tolerant woody plant, accumulates dehydrin-like proteins during cold acclimation and the presence of these proteins is correlated with increased freeze tolerance (Karlson 2001, Sarnighausen et al. 2002, Karlson et al. 2003). Our objective was to determine the location of dehydrins in cold-acclimated C. sericea stems in an effort to provide insight into their potential role in the freeze tolerance of this extremely cold hardy species. Abundant labeling was observed in the nucleus and cytoplasm of cold-acclimated C. sericea stem cells. In addition, labeling was observed in association with plasmodesmata of cold-acclimated vascular cambium cells. The unique association of dehydrin-like proteins with plasmodesmata has not been reported previously.     

Synthesis of 1-hydroxyethyl-2-alkyl-2-imidazoline and its derivative sulfonate amphoteric surfactant from tall oil fatty acid

1-Hydroxyethyl-2-alkyl-2-imidazoline (HEAI) and its derivative sulfonate amphoteric surfactant were synthesized using tall oil fatty acid as the raw material. Suitable experimental conditions for synthesizing the intermediate and final products were probed. Their chemical structures were also investigated by means of infrared spectroscopy and hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Based on the results of these analyses, it has been found that during the reaction process of HEAI with sodium 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropane sulfonate under alkaline condition the imidazoline ring was hydrolyzed to amides, and the obtained amphoteric surfactant was actually a complex mixture of amides. An etherification reaction in the hydroxyethyl group was also observed when the HEAI/sodium 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropane sulfonate molar ratio was more than 1:1.     

Effect of bamboo vinegar on regulation of germination and radicle growth of seed plants

 Two kinds of bamboo vinegar from madake bamboo (Phyllostachys bambusoides) and moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) were prepared to analyze their components by gas chromatography (GC). The original vinegar, distilled vinegar, ether-extracted vinegar, and three fractions including acidic, neutral, and phenolic fractions separated from ether-extracted vinegar were diluted with distilled water 10² to 10⁷ times. These diluted vinegar solutions were used to investigate the effect of bamboo vinegar on the germination and radicle growth of seed plants. High concentrations of all kinds of treated bamboo vinegars (e.g., 10² of original vinegar and 10³ of ether-extracted vinegar) showed strong inhibition against germination of the seeds. However, an appropriate dilution of bamboo vinegar showed an obvious promotional effect on germination and radicle growth for the four kinds of tested seeds (lettuce, watercress, honewort, chrysanthemum). Received: December, 12, 2001 / Accepted: July 29, 2002 RID="*" ID="*" Part of this paper was presented at the 51st Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Tokyo, April 2001