Growth and canopy structure of rice plants grown under field conditions as affected by Si application

Abstract

The ontogenetic changes of N, P, and K contents in leaves of rice, maize, soybean, adzuki bean, potato, and sugar beet were studied as the following results were obtained.

1. N content of rice and maize drastically changed at the primordia formation stage, while that of other crops did not show clear changes depending on the stage of growth.

2. P content of rice and maize was higher in upper leaves than lower leaves, but did not change appreciably in other crops.

3. K content of potato and sugar beet remained constant for a long period of time compared to other crops.

4. P-N relationship in rice and maize distinctly differed between upper and lower leaves; ratio of P content to N content of upper leaves was higher than that of lower leaves.

5. K-N relationship in potato and sugar beet was very different from that in other crops; K content remained constant regardless of the decrease in N content except for the lower leaves.

Thus, as the P-N balance of rice and maize (Gramineae crops) and K-N balance of potato and sugar beet (root crops) showed distinctive characteristics compared to other crops, the physiological significance of the mineral balance must be further investigated.     

Bacterial numbers and biomass in leachate and in subsoil of a submerged paddy field

By a leaching experiment with glass columns packed with submerged paddy soils, the relationships among numbers of total bacteria, total Gram-positive bacteria, culturare aerobic bacteria and a amount of bacterial biomass both in the leachate, and in the subsoil after leaching incubation were studied. The leachate from soil columns was collected every 3 d during the 30-d incubation period. The soil columns were packed with plow layer soil samples with and without rice straw (RS) amendment, and the subsoil column was connected to the plow layer soil column without RS. Numbers of total bacteria, culturable aerobic bacteria, and a amount of bacterial biomass in the leachate decreased with the incubation time. There was no correlation between the number of total bacteria in the leachate and the concentration of total organic carbon in the leachate. Bacteria less than 0.1 µsm³ in size predominated in the leachate, especially in that from the plow layer soil column with RS. Percentages of the number of Gram-positive bacteria in the leachate were very low (less than 7% of the total bacterial number), while the percentage in the subsoil after the leaching experiment was in the range of 21–82%. The sum of the number of bacteria percolated from the plow layer soil column with RS during the 30-d period of incubation and the sum of the amount of biomass C were 39 and 77% less than the corresponding values for the bacteria percolated from the plow layer soil column without RS. Percentages of culturable aerobic bacteria among the total bacteria ranged between 2.8 and 37% in the leachate, while less than 0.6% in the subsoil after the leaching experiment.     

Estimation of nitrogen and phosphorus flows in livestock production in Dianchi Lake basin,China

We assessed the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) flows in intensified livestock production systems by investigating nutrient budgets and cycling in the basin of Dianchi Lake, one of the most eutrophic lakes in China. We conducted field surveys based on feed samplings and interviews of livestock farmers. The N and P in local and external feeds, animal body retentions, animal products and excretions were calculated at the individual level for dairy cattle, fattening pigs, breeding sows, broilers and laying hens. The N and P flows in the total livestock production system in the area were estimated by multiplying the individual N and P budgets by the number of animals. For the dairy and fattening pig productions, N and P supplied from local crops or by‐products accounted for large parts of the inputs. For the other livestock categories, most of the N and P inputs depended on external resources. The N and P outputs through animal manure into the cropland were 287 and 66 kg/ha/year, respectively, which were higher than the N and P inputs into the livestock production systems from the cropland. The N and P loads from manure should be reduced for the establishment of sustainable agricultural production systems.     

Serological evidence of influenza A virus infection in Kuril harbor seals (Phoca vitulina stejnegeri) of Hokkaido, Japan

For proper management and conservation of the Kuril harbor seal (Phoca vitulina stejnegeri) through disease control, serological analysis was performed for influenza A virus infection in free-ranging seals in Hokkaido, Japan. Serum samples were collected from seals at Nosappu (231 seals), Akkeshi (16) and Erimo (75), between 1998 and 2005, and were analyzed by ELISA. Antibodies to the influenza A virus were detected only in seals from Nosappu. The incidences were 11% (1/9), 3% (2/66), 12% (7/59) and 6% (5/77) in 1998, 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively. These suggest sporadic infection. Because antibody-positive seals included juvenile seals in each year, the infections were considered to have been circulated since no later than the late 1990s until recent years. ELISA-positive sera were analyzed by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests to determine the subtypes. Antibodies to the H3 and H6 subtypes were detected in 10 and 2 sera, respectively. Two of the sera that had antibodies to the H6 subtype also had antibodies to the H3 subtype. These two seals were considered to have been infected with both the H3 and H6 subtypes. This is the first investigation to find antibodies to the H6 subtype in seals. Although the H6 subtype had been isolated only from avians, genetic analysis had suggested that the H6 subtype could become a novel mammalian pathogen. For definitive diagnosis, detection of the virus from the tissue or mucus of seals is required.     

The interaction between orally administered non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and prednisolone in healthy dogs

The interaction between oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and prednisolone administered concurrently for 30 days was studied in 18 healthy dogs divided into 3 groups of 6 dogs each: a drug-free negative control group (NC group) given 2 gelatin capsules; a group given meloxicam (0.1 mg/kg) and prednisolone (0.5 mg/kg) (MP group); and a group given a reduced dosage of ketoprofen (0.25 mg/kg, p.o.) and prednisolone (0.5 mg/kg, p.o.) (KP group). The dogs were periodically monitored by physical examinations, blood analyses, endoscopic examinations, fecal occult blood tests, renal function tests [effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR)], urinalyses [urinary sediments, and urinary micro-albumin to creatinine ratio (UAlb/Cre)], urinary enzyme indices, and haemostatic function tests [buccal mucosa bleeding time (BMBT), cuticle bleeding time (CBT)]. Significant changes were observed in the KP group, including a decrease of ERPF and GFR, an increased UAlb/Cre ratio, prolonged BMBT and CBT, as well as the presence of more severe grades of endoscopic lesions and fecal occult blood. In both the MP and KP groups, abnormal enzymuria with exfoliation of renal tubular epithelial cells in the urine was found. However, no significant changes in any of the other tests were observed in the MP group compared with the NC group. These findings suggest that the combination of NSAIDs, even selective COX-2 inhibitors, with prednisolone may be contraindicated due to the potential for serious adverse effects on the kidneys, the platelets, and the gastrointestinal tract.     

Selection of ABC genes for candidate genes of morphological changes in hydrangea floral organs induced by phytoplasma infection

The mechanism underlying the green colouration of floral organs in phytoplasma-infected hydrangeas was studied. Elucidation of morphological changes of floral organs induced by phytoplasma infection and a comparison of the expression level of genes related to floral organ morphogenesis between phytoplasma-infected and non-infected hydrangea plants was conducted. Sixteen hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.) cultivars were used to study structural changes in floral organs induced by Japanese Hydrangea Phyllody (JHP) phytoplasma infection. The homeotic conversion of sepals to leaves was observed in different number of florets between cultivars, and was observed in 75.8–100% of the decorative florets and 2.7–67.3% of the non-decorative florets of JHP phytoplasma-infected inflorescences. The homeotic conversion of carpels to leaves was observed in 1.2–17.9% of the decorative florets and 0.1–18.9% of the non-decorative florets of infected inflorescences. The expression levels of hydrangea orthologues of class A, B and C genes were suppressed in the infected inflorescences during the developmental stage in which no morphological differences in the internal structure of floral organs have been observed. The contribution of this suppression to homeotic conversion of sepals and carpels to leaves was suggested.     

Pathophysiological features in the brains of female Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) fatty rats

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and obesity are associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and psychiatric disorders such as major depression. In this study, we investigated pathophysiological changes in the brains of female Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) fatty rats with diabetes and obesity. Brains of Sprague-Dawley (SD), SDT and SDT fatty rats were collected at 58 weeks of age. The parietal cortical thickness was measured and the number of pyramidal cells in the hippocampal cornu ammonis 1 and 3 (CA1 and CA3) and the number of granule cells in the dentate gyrus (DG) regions were counted. The area of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) positivity in CA1, CA3 and DG regions were measured. The parietal cortical thickness and the number of cells in CA3 and DG regions of SDT and SDT fatty rats did not show obvious changes. On the other hand, in the CA1 region, the number of cells in SDT rats and SDT fatty rats was significantly lower than that in SD rats, and that in SDT fatty rats was significantly lower than that in SDT rats. The GFAP-positive area in SDT fatty rats was significantly reduced compared to that in SD rats only in the DG region. Preliminarily result showed that the expression of S100a9, an inflammation-related gene, was increased in the brains of SDT fatty rats. These results suggest that female SDT fatty rat may exhibit central nervous system diseases due to obesity and DM.     

Identification of anthocyanins in the sprouts of buckwheat

The anthocyanin profiles and varieties/breeding line differences of anthocyanin concentrations in common/tartary buckwheat sprouts have been studied. Four anthocyanins, cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside, cyanidin 3-O-galactoside, and cyanidin 3-O-galactopyranosyl-rhamnoside, were isolated from the sprouts of common buckwheat, were separated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and were identified using reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC)/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS)/MS techniques. In tartary buckwheat sprouts, two anthocyanins (cyanidin 3-O-glucoside and cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside) were identified. Among 19 common/tartary buckwheat varieties/breeding lines, Hokkai T10 contained the highest amounts of anthocyanins. Cyanidin 3-O-glucoside and cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside concentrations in 6-10 days after seeding sprouts of Hokkai T10 ranged from 0.16 to 0.20 mg/g dry wt and from 5.55 to 6.57 mg/g dry wt, respectively. In addition, dark-grown sprouts of Hokkai T10 accumulated 0.091 and 2.77 mg/g dry wt of cyanidin 3-O-glucoside and cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside whereas other varieties/breeding lines accumulated trace amounts of anthocyanins. Given its anthocyanin-rich red cotyledons, Hokkai T10 is a promising line for use as "Moyashi" type sprouts and is strongly recommended as a new functional food, rich in dietary anthocyanins.