Relationship between inbreeding coefficients and plant height of 1-year-old seedlings in crosses among Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai) cultivars/selections

Plant height, a vigor trait, in 1-year-old seedlings made from Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) cultivars/selections was measured using 994 individuals from 29 families. The family mean of plant height was negatively correlated (r = −0.72**) to the inbreeding coefficients (F). The regression of the family mean (Fm) on the F value (Fm = 130 − 104F) showed that inbreeding depressions were 8%, 20%, and 40% for F = 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5, respectively. According to the regression, the family mean at F = 0 was estimated at 130 cm. These results showed that the vigor was greatly influenced by inbreeding in Japanese pear. Within-family variances, the genetic segregation of offspring in a family, differed according to family. The proportions of offspring with plant height above 130 cm (estimated Fm for F = 0) were extremely low, i.e., 0–17% for 0.5 ≤ F < 0.60 and 0–8% for F = 0.75.     

Hair cortisol levels of lactating dairy cows in cold‐ and warm‐temperate regions in Japan

We compared the hair cortisol levels of lactating dairy cows in a cold‐ and a warm‐temperate region out of four climatic zones in Japan. We simultaneously investigated the effects of calving number, lactation period and month of hair sampling. Hair of nine Holstein lactating cows chosen from each region (i.e. 18 cows per sampling) was sampled in March, June, September and December. Number of calvings (1, 2, ≥3) and lactation duration (early: <100, middle: 101–200, and late: >201 days) were balanced between regions. Cortisol was extracted from hair by methanol, and its level was determined with a cortisol immunoassay kit. A multi‐way analysis of variance revealed that the effects of month of hair sampling (P < 0.001) and its combination with region (P < 0.05) were significant. In a multiple comparison test, significant differences (P < 0.01) in hair cortisol level (pg/mg of hair) were found between June (13.0 ± 1.0) and the other 3 months, and between September (1.6 ± 0.2) and December (4.5 ± 0.3). The rise in cortisol level from March to June was more intense in the cold‐temperate region. These results demonstrate the necessity of considering seasonal variations in each climatic region when we use hair cortisol level as an indicator of stress.     

Proton Budgets of Forest Ecosystems on Volcanogenous Regosols in Hokkaido,Northern Japan

The proton budgets of deciduous and coniferous forest ecosystems on volcanogenous regosols in Hokkaido, northern Japan, were studied by measuring the biogeochemical fluxes (atmospheric deposition, canopy leaching, vegetation uptake and leaching from soil) at each site during a three year period. The proton budgets were developed for individual compartments of the ecosystem: vegetation canopy, organic and mineral soil layers. At both sites, atmospheric S deposition was the dominant proton source in the vegetation canopy. In organic horizons, dissociation of weak acids (bicarbonate and/or organic acids) and vegetation uptake of base cations were the dominant proton sources, and the net mineralization of base cations was the dominant proton sink. Atmospheric acid deposition was almost neutralized in the forest canopy and organic horizon. At both sites, weathering and/or ion exchange of base cations and protonation of weak acids (mainly bicarbonate) were the dominant proton sinks in the mineral soil. In both organic and mineral soil, internal proton sources (mainly vegetation uptake of base cations and dissociation of weak acids) exceeded external proton sources, indicating that acid deposition was not the main driving force of soil acidification in the studied forest ecosystems.     

α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone directly increases the plasma calcitonin level and involves calcium metabolism in goldfish

International Aquatic Research - The effects of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) on calcium metabolism were examined with goldfish. The scales on the left side of goldfish bodies...     

Mapping rice-planted areas using time-series synthetic aperture radar data for the Asia-RiCE activity

In Asia, rice is a staple cereal crop and the continent accounts for about 90 % of the global rice production and consumption. Statistics on the areas planted with rice or production of paddy rice are fundamental to agriculture-related decisions or policy-making. Asia-Rice Crop Estimation & Monitoring (Asia-RiCE) aims to develop rice-related information, such as paddy field maps, rice growing conditions, yield, and production, using remote sensing tools and disseminate the same at the local and global scales. In this paper, we propose a methodology for the identification of rice-planted areas by using multi-temporal SAR images; a software named INternational Asian Harvest mOnitoring system for Rice (INAHOR) was developed to manipulate the proposed algorithm. The INAHOR uses the imagery observed both at the time of planting of rice and grown-up stages. In this study, two thresholds needed for the INAHOR were optimized based on the detailed land cover data collected through a field survey. Rice-planted areas across the study area in Japan were identified by the INAHOR using the RADARSAT-2 Wide Fine beam mode data. The classification results of RADARSAT-2 VV and VH polarizations were compared. The data with VH polarization showed a higher total accuracy of 83 % with ?20.5 dB and 3.0 dB for the minimum and range thresholds, respectively. The INAHOR is currently being used with the RADARSAT-2, ALOS, and ALOS-2 SAR data in the Southeast Asian countries to assess the robustness of the thresholds and classification accuracies under the framework of Asia-RiCE.     

Improved porcine model for Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli infection by deprivation of colostrum feeding in newborn piglets

Porcine edema disease (ED) is a toxemia caused by enteric infection with Shiga toxin 2e (Stx2e)‐producing Escherichia coli (STEC). ED occurs most frequently during the weaning period and is manifested as emaciation associated with high mortality. In our experimental infection with a specific STEC strain, we failed to cause the suppression of weight gain in piglets, which is a typical symptom of ED, in two consecutive experiments. Therefore, we examined the effects of deprivation of colostrum on the sensitivity of newborn piglets to STEC infection. Neonatal pigs were categorized into two groups: one fed artificial milk instead of colostrum in the first 24 h after birth and then returned to the care of their mother, the other breastfed by a surrogate mother until weaning. The oral challenge with 10¹¹ colony‐forming units of virulent STEC strain on days 25, 26 and 27 caused suppression of weight gain and other ED symptoms in both groups, suggesting that colostrum deprivation from piglets was effective in enhancing susceptibility to STEC. Two successive STEC infection experiments using colostrum‐deprived piglets reproduced this result, leading us to conclude that this improved ED piglet model is more sensitive to STEC infection than the previously established models.     

Canopy temperature on clear and cloudy days can be used to estimate varietal differences in stomatal conductance in rice

Leaf photosynthetic potential, a major determinant of yield potential in rice, is mostly explained by stomatal conductance (g_s) as well as leaf N content (Rubisco protein content). Therefore, the rapid and precise evaluation of g_s as well as leaf N content would be a valuable addition to rice breeding programs aimed at improved yield potential. We established a simple method based on infrared thermography to estimate varietal differences in g_s. Seven rice varieties were cultivated in two-row plots in 2007, and canopy temperatures in three varieties, including a control variety, Koshihikari, were simultaneously measured to determine canopy temperature difference (CTd) between Koshihikari and the other varieties on clear days. The varieties Takanari, Habataki, and TUAT1-5-6a displayed significantly (P < 0.05) lower leaf temperature and higher g_s and leaf photosynthetic rate (P_n) than Koshihikari. CTd was closely correlated with g_s and P_n. These results indicate that CTd may be useful as a relative index to estimate varietal differences in g_s. A significant CTd was still observed even under cloudy conditions in 2008. Takanari and TUAT1-5-6a had lower leaf temperature than Koshihikari on cloudy days as well as on clear days. Subsequent investigation of photosynthetic light response curves revealed that Takanari and TUAT1-5-6a had higher g_s and P_n than Koshihikari under lower irradiance. These results suggest that infrared thermography may be a simple method of evaluating varietal differences in g_s through CTd, and that it may be practicable even under cloudy conditions.     

Effects of Twice-Weekly Follicular Punctures of Ovaries With or Without the Corpus Luteum on Follicular and Luteal Dynamics

We investigated the effects of twice-weekly follicular punctures of ovaries with or without corpus luteum (CL) on follicular and luteal dynamics. A cross-over design was used, with each cow (seven Japanese Black beef cows) being assigned to one of the three groups at 2-month intervals. Follicular punctures were performed twice weekly for three consecutive weeks until day 20 (oestrus = day 0). All visible follicles (diameter >3 mm) in the ovaries bearing CL (ipsilateral group) or those in the contralateral ovaries (contralateral group) were aspirated. As a control, all visible follicles in both ovaries were aspirated (bilateral group). Follicular development, CL formation and progesterone concentrations in each cow were monitored from days 0 to 30. Follicular growth profiles in the punctured ovaries during/after puncture treatment were similar, irrespective of the presence of follicles in the unpunctured ovary and the CL in the punctured or unpunctured ovaries. After puncture, two cows (28.6%) each in the ipsilateral and bilateral groups did not exhibit behavioural oestrus until day 30, whereas all cows in the contralateral group exhibited oestrus. CL growth and increase in progesterone concentrations after the last follicular puncture in the bilateral group were delayed when compared with those in the ipsilateral group. Our results indicate that the presence of follicles in the unpunctured ovary and the CL in the punctured or unpunctured ovaries does not significantly influence follicular growth in punctured ovaries during/after puncture treatment. However, follicular puncture in ovaries bearing CL may disturb or delay oestrus occurrence after treatment.     

Molecular typing and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Choleraesuis isolates from diseased pigs in Japan

Salmonella enterica serovar Choleraesuis (S. Choleraesuis) isolates derived from diseased pigs in Japan during 2001 and 2005 were analyzed for biotype, based on H(2)S production and dulcitol fermentation, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profile, and antimicrobial resistance profile. S. Choleraesuis biotype Choleraesuis (biotype Choleraesuis) was classified into one genotype, while varietas Kunzendorf (var. Kunzendorf) was classified into two genotypes. The isolates of var. Kunzendorf belonging to one genotype were isolated in a limited area of Japan. Variation in the antimicrobial resistance pattern was observed in isolates of both biotypes Choleraesuis and var. Kunzendorf. We have also shown that the PFGE profile was associated with the biotype and isolation region of each isolate.     

Collaborative non-self recognition system in S-RNase-based self-incompatibility

Self-incompatibility in flowering plants prevents inbreeding and promotes outcrossing to generate genetic diversity. In Solanaceae, a multiallelic gene, S-locus F-box (SLF), was previously shown to encode the pollen determinant in self-incompatibility. It was postulated that an SLF allelic product specifically detoxifies its non-self S-ribonucleases (S-RNases), allelic products of the pistil determinant, inside pollen tubes via the ubiquitin-26S-proteasome system, thereby allowing compatible pollinations. However, it remained puzzling how SLF, with much lower allelic sequence diversity than S-RNase, might have the capacity to recognize a large repertoire of non-self S-RNases. We used in vivo functional assays and protein interaction assays to show that in Petunia, at least three types of divergent SLF proteins function as the pollen determinant, each recognizing a subset of non-self S-RNases. Our findings reveal a collaborative non-self recognition system in plants.