Abstracts of nippon Dozyohiryogaku Zasshi

Aluminum toxicity and boron deficiency are the major factors that limit plant growth and development in acid soils and in B-deficient soils. Root growth inhibition is an early symptom of AI toxicity and B deficiency. Effects of AI and B supply and their interaction on the growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings were investigated using hydroponics. Fifteen wheat cultivars commonly grown in Bangladesh were used and found to differ considerably in their tolerance to AI toxicity and B deficiency. The relative root length of all the wheat cultivars at 50 µM AI (pH 4.5) ranged from 27 to 71% relative to the control (0 µM AI). Among the cultivars, Inia66 and Kalyansona were found to be the most Al-tolerant and sensitive cultivars, respectively, based on the data of relative root length, malate exudation and AI content of roots. Malate was detected in all the cultivars in the presence of 100 µM AI (pH 4.3). Inia66 exuded a 6-fold larger amount of malate and the AI content of roots was 4 times lower than that in Kalyansona. The vigorous seedling growth was observed at 40 µM B among the series of B treatments. Considerable cultivar differences in response to 40 µM B were observed among the 15 cultivars. Kalyansona was considered to be the most sensitive and Kheri the most tolerant to B deficiency. The interaction effects of B ( 40 and 200 µM) and AI (50 µM) on seedling growth were also examined in Inia66 and Kalyansona. Root growth was inhibited in the presence of Al but B supply especially at 200 µM B in the Kalyansona cultivar caused a slight improvement.     

Varietal differences in the growth of rice plants in response to aluminum and silicon

Effects of Al (0–100 μM) and Si (0–2,000 μM) supplied singly or in combination on root growth of different rice varieties were examined under hydroponic conditions. Al addition inhibited root elongation of rice plants, and the inhibition increased with increasing amount of Al in the culture solution. Among 22 indica varieties and among 8 japonica varieties tested, IAC3 and Nakateshinsenbon were relatively tolerant to AI, respectively, whereas IR45 and Norinl were relatively sensitive to AI, respectively. Si exerted a beneficial effect at all levels of Si treatment on indica varieties, whereas Si supply resulted in a slight increase in the root dry weight of japonica varieties only at the highest level (2,000 μM Silo The alleviation of Al inhibition of rice root growth by Si was observed in the combination of Al and Si treatments. Alleviation was more pronounced for all the Si treatments in indica varieties than in japonica varieties, and the alleviation was maximum with 2,000 μM Si in IR45. The alleviation effect by Si was more pronounced in the AI-sensitive varieties than in the AI-tolerant varieties. The application of Si resulted in an increase in the contents of Al and Si in plants, and there was no relationship between the Al content and Al inhibition in plants.     

Post-logging loss of genetic diversity in a mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King,Meliaceae) population in Brazilian Amazonia

Big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King, Meliaceae) is the most valuable widely traded timber species from the Neotropics. Mahogany has been severely overexploited throughout its natural range, which stretches from southern Mexico through Central and South America as far south as the Bolivian Amazon. We investigated effects of selective logging on the genetic diversity of a mahogany population in eastern Amazonia. Using eight hypervariable microsatellite loci, we estimated the number of alleles per locus (A), mean expected and observed heterozygosity (H_e, H_o), the number of distinct multilocus genotypes (G_o), and the inbreeding coefficient (f) for pre- and post-logging cohorts (adults and seedlings) collected over identical spatial scales. We found a significant reduction in the number of alleles, observed heterozygosity, and distinct multilocus genotype number in the post- compared to the pre-logging cohort. The loss of genetic diversity is likely to have occurred due to a reduction in the effective population size as a consequence of logging, which leads to the loss of alleles and limits mating possibilities. The results raise concerns about the conservation genetics of logged mahogany populations where a high proportion of adults are removed from the system. We suggest initiatives to promote the maintenance of genetic diversity as an integral part of the production system, allowing genetically sustainable use of this valuable timber resource.     

Physiological characteristics of blue sac disease in chum salmon alevins

Fisheries Science - Blue sac disease (BSD) in salmonids results in the abnormal accumulation of ascites fluid and can often lead to mass mortality. However, the symptoms and causes of BSD remain...     

Antinociceptive effect and acute toxicity of the essential oil of Hyptis fruticosa in mice

The essential oil of the Hyptis fruticosa leaves was analyzed by GC/MS and evaluated for antinociceptive property as well as acute toxicity in mice. The essential oil, at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg (s.c.), produced significant inhibition of acetic acid-induced writhing, but did not manifest a significant effect in hot-plate test. There was no acute toxicity at doses up to 5 g/kg. Bicyclogermacrene, 1,8-cineole, alpha-pinene, and beta-caryophyllene were the major compounds detected in the essential oil.     

Antinociceptive effect and acute toxicity of the Hyptis suaveolens leaves aqueous extract on mice

The aqueous extract of Hyptis suaveolens leaves was studied for their antinociceptive property in chemical and thermal models of nociception in mice. Oral administration of the aqueous extract (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) dose-dependently reduced the number of writhings induced by acetic acid, decreased the licking activity of the early phase in formalin test and increased the reaction time in hot-plate test. The antinociceptive effect was significantly antagonized by naloxone (3 mg/kg; i.p.). Preliminary acute toxicity study showed that no animal death with doses up to 5 g/kg (p.o.).     

Occurrence of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis Race 1 in Japan

In 1994, Fusarium wilt of melon cultivars which are resistant to races 0 and 2 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis was observed in southern area of the Lake Biwa region, Shiga prefecture. In commercial fields, mature plants of cv. Amus which were grafted onto cv. Enken Daigi 2, and of cv. FR Amus showed yellowing, wilting and finally death before harvesting of fruits. Diseased plants had vascular and root discolorations, and their stem sections yielded typical colonies of F. oxysporum. When the Shiga strains were tested for their pathogenicity to 12 species of cucurbits, they caused wilts only on melon. Using race differential cultivars of melon, the Shiga strains were classified as race 1 of F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis, which has not been reported in Japan. To further characterize their pathogenicity, the strains were used to inoculate 46 additional cultivars of melon, oriental melon and oriental pickling melon. All the race 1 strains were pathogenic to the cultivars tested, and their host range was apparently different from those of strains belonging to other races (races 0, 2 and 1,2y). DNA fingerprinting with a repetitive DNA sequence, FOLR3, differentiated race 1 strains from strains of races 0 and 2, but not from race 1,2y strains. Received 2 July 1999/ Accepted in revised form 30 September 1999     

Identification of RFLP markers linked with heading date and its heterosis in hexaploid wheat

Recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from a cross between hexaploid wheat (T. aestivum cv. Chinese Spring (CS) and T. spelta (Sp)) were used for RFLP analysis of heading date and heterosis. Fourteen RFLP markers linking with heading date were identified; two were localized on chromosome 1A, one on 2A, three on 2B, one on 2D, four on 5A, two on 7A and one unlinked but reported to be on group 2. All of these markers may be attributable to genes for earliness per se. However, the markers in the chromosomes of 1A and 7A are new to this study. RILs were crossed with (tim)-CS, the alloplasmic CS with T. timopheevi cytoplasm, and the heterosis from earlier-parent and mid-parents were calculated for the F₁s to examine the heterotic effect toward earliness on heading date. Five and two RFLP markers were associated with heterosis from the earlier-parent and mid-parents, respectively. They were distributed on the chromosomes of homoeologous groups 1 and 2. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A quantitative study on arginine catabolism by mixed ruminal bacteria,protozoa and their mixture in vitro

The catabolism of arginine (Arg) by mixed rumen bacteria (B), mixed rumen protozoa (P), and their mixture (BP) was quantitatively investigated in an in vitro system in order to confirm the metabolic pathway of Arg and provide basic information for enzymatic and molecular studies as well as an understanding of the quantitative distribution of metabolites. Rumen microbial suspensions (B, P, and BP) collected from fistulated goats were anaerobically incubated with or without 1 mmol/L Arg at 39°C for 12 h. Arg and other related compounds such as citrulline (Cit), ornithine (Orn), proline (Pro) and 5‐aminovaleric acid (5AV) in both supernatant and hydrolyzates of B, P, and BP suspensions were analyzed by HPLC. The metabolic pathways of Arg in mixed rumen bacteria and mixed rumen protozoa were considered to be as follows: rumen bacteria, Arg → Cit → Orn → Pro → 5AV → VFAs + NH₃; rumen protozoa, Arg → Cit → Orn → Pro → 5AV. The disappearance of Arg (1 mmol/L) was approximately 52.9 and 88.2% in B, 33.9 and 55.6% in P, and 52.8 and 85.2% in BP during 6 and 12 h incubations, respectively. When expressed in units of ‘per gram (g) of microbial nitrogen (MN)’, the net degradation rate of Arg in BP (50.3 µmol/g MN/h) was approximately 46% lower than that of B during a 12 h incubation period. The presence of protozoa tended to inhibit the production of Orn from Cit and the production of 5AV from Pro which were thought to be rate‐limiting steps of Arg metabolism in rumen microorganisms. As a result, protozoa appeared to have a saving effect on Arg metabolism, that is, protozoa protected Arg from wasteful exhaustion in the rumen.     

Quantitative structure-activity studies of substituted benzyl chrysanthemates: 5. Physicochemical substituent factors and neurophysiological effects in knockdown and lethal activities against the house fly

Knockdown and lethal activities of meta- and para-substituted benzyl (1R)-trans-chrysanthemates against the house fly were measured under synergistic conditions using piperonyl butoxide as an inhibitor of oxidative metabolism and NIA 16388 as an inhibitor of hydrolytic degradation. The variations in these activities were quantitatively analyzed in terms of physicochemical substituent effects using electronic, hydrophobic, and steric parameters of the aromatic substituents, and regression analysis. The most significant parameter in determining these activities is the steric bulkiness represented by the van der Waals voluem, the effect of which is highly specific to substituent positions. The substituent effects on knockdown and lethal activities against the house fly are shown to correspond well, respectively, with those on the convulsive and lethal activities against the American cockroach. The relationship between these symptomatic activities against the house fly and the neurophysiological activities determined by using excised nerve cords from American cockroaches were also quantitatively analyzed. Each house fly symptomatic activity was found to be analyzable by a linear combination of the neuroexcitatory and neuroblocking activity indices when the transport factor was separated by using the hydrophobicity parameter.