Molecular characteristics of porcine Fas-associated death domain (FADD) and procaspase-8

To reveal the intracellular signal transduction molecules involved in granulosa cell apoptosis in porcine ovarian follicles, we cloned the porcine Fas-associated death domain (FADD), an adaptor protein for the cell death receptor, and procaspase-8, an initiator caspase. Porcine FADD (pFADD) was 636 bp (211 amino acids: aa) long and showed 74.0 and 65.4% homology with human and murine FADD, respectively. Porcine procaspase-8 (pprocaspase-8) was 1,431 bp (476 aa) long and 70.6 and 63.4% homologous with human and murine procaspase-8, respectively. To confirm the apoptosis-inducing abilities, we constructed pFADD and pprocaspase-8 cDNA expression vectors with enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) and then transfected them into human uterine cervix tumor (HeLa-K), human granulosa cell-derived (KGN), murine granulosa-derived tumor (KK1), and porcine granulosa cell-derived (JC410) cells. When pFADD and pprocaspase-8 were overexpressed, cell death was induced in these transfected cells. However when caspase-inhibitor p35 was cotransfected, cell death was inhibited. The pFADD and pprocaspase-8 genes are well conserved, as are the physiological functions of their products.     

Inoculum effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on soybeans grown in long-term bare-fallowed field with low phosphate availability

ABSTRACT

Inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can increase the growth of host plants, especially under condition of low phosphate (P) availability. Although this effect is shown relatively easily in simplified systems such as pot experiments, it is often hard to show in the field because of complicating factors such as competition with indigenous AMF. We conducted an AMF inoculation experiment with three Japanese soybean cultivars (Enrei, Misuzudaizu, and Akishirome) in an allophanic (Umbric Silandic) Andosol field under the long-term selective application of major nutrients (NPK and -P) and bare fallow. In the inoculation plots, introduced AMF were well colonized in soybean roots at flowering stage. In the -P plots, inoculation tended to increase the shoot dry weight of all the three soybean cultivars; this effect remained until harvest. Although a significant difference is not recognized, there was a tendency of residual effect on Enrei in the following year. In the NPK plots, inoculation did not significantly increase the shoot dry weight. We thought that in the -P plots, the long-term selective application of N and K and the long-term maintenance of bare fallow created the soil conditions of low P availability and poor native AMF. Thus, introduced AMF can benefit soybean growth and yield in the soil with low competitor AMF density and low phosphate availability.     

Utilization of flow cytometry for festulolium breeding (Lolium multiflorum (2x) × Festuca arundinacea (6x))

Festulolium is a hybrid between Festuca and Lolium species that has valuable agronomic traits from both grass species. The purpose of our breeding program is to produce hexaploid festulolium that introduces tolerance to summer depression into Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) by crossing it with tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea). However, we found the DNA ploidy of hexaploids was not stable and was reduced in successive generations. We aimed to find out how to obtain stable high-ploidy festulolium. F1 hybrids of L. multiflorum and F. arundinacea were produced. The F3 generation was produced from putative hexaploid F2 individuals by open pollination. The F4 to F6 generations were obtained by polycrossing. The DNA ploidy levels of F2 to F6 individuals were estimated by flow cytometry. Cytological characteristics of the F5 and F6 individuals were investigated by FISH and GISH. The DNA ploidy level of hexaploid festulolium was reduced and stabilized at almost the same level as a tetraploid. Seed fertility was inversely correlated with an increase in ploidy level. GISH revealed no preferential Lolium transmission. FISH with a telomere probe revealed that counting the exact number of chromosomes in festulolium was difficult. DNA ploidy level was strongly correlated with the number of chromosomes.     

Effect of cations on the growth of fluorescent pseudomonad isolates from spinach roots grown in soils with different salinity levels

Abstract

Effect of Inorganic ion concentrations in culture solution on the growth of Pseudomonas putida and P. fluorescens Isolates from spinach roots grown in soils with high-salinity (H-soil) and low-salinity (L-soil) levels was investigated. Both H- and L-soils were taken from the topsoil of a greenhouse for spinach cultivation and a nearby fallow field, respectively. In the H-soil inorganic ions had accumulated due to the high rates of application of fertilizer. Among the ions, the concentrations of Ca²⁺, NO₃ ^-, and SO₄ ^2- in the H-soil were significantly higher than those in the L-soil. Among the inorganic ions tested (K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl^-, NO₃ ^-, and SO₄ ^2-), Ca²⁺ was found to be the most inhibitory on the growth of isolates. In addition, the isolates from the H-soil were more Ca²⁺-tolerant than those from the L-soil.

Consequents the growth tolerance to Ca²⁺ stress of the total 80 isolates, 40 each from the H-soil and L-soil, was compared at 150 mM Ca²⁺. Most isolates from the H-soil showed a significantly higher tolerance. The higher tolerance to Ca²⁺ of the isolates from the H-soil may have been acquired through selection under increasing Ca²⁺ stress in the field. The Ca²⁺ tolerance of the fluorescent pseudomonad strains may account for their survival and root-colonizing activity in soils with Ca²⁺ accumulation.     

QTL analysis of rice (O. Sativa L.) root vitality in a double halpoid population derived from anther culture of an indica/japonica cross

The functions of rice roots are absorption of water and nutrition, synthesis of amino acid and homone, and transportation of these substrates to overground parts. Rice root vitality is very important to the development of overground parts and yield. So far, many studies on the relationship between physiology condition and the root vitality, and their influence on the yield have been undertaken, and some QTLs for root growth characteristics, such as root length and root thick, have been identified. But the genetic base of the root vitality is still not clear.     

Survey of freshwater mussels using high-resolution acoustic imaging sonar and deep learning-based object detection in Lake Izunuma,Japan

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