Haploid induction from F1 hybrids between CMS shallot with Allium galanthum cytoplasm and common onion by unpollinated flower culture

The induction of haploid plants from F₁ hybrids between CMS shallot with Allium galanthum cytoplasm and common onion was examined. Starting with 535 unpollinated flowers cultured in B5 medium 25 seedlings from part henogenetic embryos were obtained of which 13 seedlings survived. Eleven seedlings were determined as haploid plants (2n = x = 8) and 2 seedlings were doubled haploid plants (2n = 2x = 16). All haploid and doubled haploid plants preserved chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from A. galanthum. Segregation in different characters was observed among the haploid plants. The haploid and doubled haploid plants exhibited the different combinations of genes from shallot and common onion. Crossing of the doubled haploid plants with other shallot strains, common onion cultivars or related species may produce excellent F₁ hybrids for bulb production. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Isolation of antifouling substances from the Palauan sponge Protophlitaspongia aga

ABSTRACT: Fouling organisms cause serious problems by settling on ships' hulls, and other marine infrastructures. Organotin compounds have been developed as effective antifoulants. However, environmental problems are associated with these compounds. It is necessary to find antifouling substances that exhibit a lower toxicity than those substances currently used. A new pyrimidine derivative, 3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-6-hydroxymethyl-3,6-dimethyl-4-pyrimidinecarboxylic acid, (compound 1) and zooanemonin (compound 2) were isolated from the marine sponge Protophlitaspongia aga as antifouling substances against the barnacle Balanus amphitrite . We also found that α-nicotinamide ribose (compound 3) inhibited germination and the attachment of Ulva spores.     

LED不同光质对草莓组织培养的影响

以京藏香草莓(Fragaria ananassa Duch.cv.Jingzangxiang)匍匐茎茎尖为试验材料,以LED白光为对照,研究了红光、蓝光、组合光(红∶蓝∶远红=1∶1∶1)不同LED光质对草莓茎尖组织培养的影响。结果表明,在茎尖诱导分化阶段,丛生芽分化时间快慢依次为红光组合光白光蓝光;诱导分化率高低依次为组合光白光红光蓝光;增殖系数大小依次为组合光白光红光蓝光;生根率高低依次为组合光白光蓝光红光,植株生长势强弱依次为组合光白光红光蓝光。综合而言,LED组合光质有利于草莓茎尖组织培养。     

Effects of daily management changes on behavioral patterns of a solitary female African elephant (Loxodonta africana) in a zoo

This study investigated the effects of changes in daily management on behavior of a solitary female elephant in a zoo. The activity budget and space utilization of the subject and the management changes were recorded for 1 year after the conspecific male died. The observation days could be categorized into five clusters (C1–C5) by the characteristic behavioral pattern of each day. C1 had the highest percentage of resting of all clusters, and was observed after the loss of the conspecific and the beginning of use of the indoor exhibition room at night. C2, which had the highest percentage of stereotypy of any cluster, was observed after the beginning of habituation to the indoor exhibition room. Also, when the time schedule of management was changed irregularly, the subject frequently exhibited stereotypic pacing (C2, C4). The subject tended to rest when exhibiting lameness in the left hind limb (C3). In C5, activity reached a high level when she could utilize a familiar place under a stable management schedule. These results indicate that management changes affected the mental stability of an elephant in the early stage of social isolation.     

Identification of potato scab-causing Streptomyces sp. occurring in strongly acidic soils in Saga Prefecture in Japan

Acid scab of potatoes occurs frequently in strongly acidic soils at pH 3.9–5.2. On the basis of the phylogenetic relationships derived from 16S rDNA sequences and physiological characteristics, we identified the organism causing this disease in potatoes grown in the Uwaba district of Saga Prefecture, Kyushu Island, southwest Japan, as Streptomyces acidiscabies. Another pathogen that occurred more frequently in weakly acidic to neutral soils, rather than strongly acidic soils, was identified as S. scabiei. Streptomyces acidiscabies tended to produce superficial lesions, while S. scabiei mostly produced raised and/or erumpent lesions.     

Emergence and frequency of highly benzimidazole-resistant Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, pathogen of Japanese pear anthracnose, after discontinued use of benzimidazole

From July to October 1999, two Japanese pear varieties, Housui and Niitaka, were unexpectedly infected with Colletotrichum gloeosporioides causing anthracnose in Saga Prefecture of Japan. More than 90?% of the anthracnose fungus strains collected in 1999 were highly benzimidazole-resistant and distributed at high frequencies across pear-producing areas. The control of anthracnose by benzimidazole fungicides could not be confirmed in orchards where the isolation frequency of resistant strains was high. The frequency of resistant strains did not significantly decline, even 2?C5?years after the last use of benzimidazole fungicides.     

Spontaneous Gingivitis Related to Hair Penetration in Rats

Maxillary gingivae from male and female Crl:CD(SD) rats at 12, 16, 21, and 34 weeks of age were examined histologically. The incidence of gingivitis was approximately 40%, with no age or sex predilection, and was most frequent between the first and second molar. Lesions were characterized by acute focal neutrophilic infiltration into the gingival mucosa, occasionally with inflammatory exudate. In severe cases, inflammation extended to the periodontal ligament with abscess formation, and adjacent alveolar bone destruction/resorption. The most characteristic finding was the presence of hair shafts associated with the lesion, which was observed in approximately 80% of the rats with gingivitis. These findings suggest that molar gingivitis occurs in rats from an early age and persists thereafter, and that the main cause of gingivitis in rats is hair penetration into the gingiva. It would be prudent to keep these background lesions in mind as potential modifiers in toxicity studies.     

Acute Phase Pulmonary Responses to a Single Intratracheal Spray Instillation of Magnetite (Fe3O4) Nanoparticles in Fischer 344 Rats

Iron nanomaterials are of considerable interest for application to nanotechnology-related fields including environmental catalysis, biomedical imaging, drug delivery and hyperthermia, because of their superparamagnetic characteristics and high catalytic abilities. However, information about potential risks of iron nanomaterials is limited. The present study assessed pulmonary responses to a single intratracheal spray instillation of triiron tetraoxide nanoparticles (magnetite) in rats. Ten-week-old male and female Fischer 344 rats (n=5/group) were exposed to a single intratracheal spray instillation of 0 (vehicle), 5.0, 15.0 or 45.0 mg/kg body weight (BW) of magnetite. After 14 days, the rats were sacrificed, and biological consequences were investigated. The lung weights of the 15.0 and 45.0 mg/kg BW male and female groups were significantly higher than those of the control groups. The lungs of treated rats showed enlargement and black patches originating from the color of magnetite. The typical histopathological changes in the lungs of the treated rats included infiltration of macrophages phagocytosing magnetite, inflammatory cell infiltration, granuloma formation and an increase of goblet cells in the bronchial epithelium. The results clearly show that instilled magnetite causes foreign body inflammatory and granulating lesions in the lung. These pulmonary responses occur in a dose-dependent manner in association with the increase in lung weight.     

Isolation of genes showing increased expression during bovine adipocyte differentiation

The adipocyte is important not only for the storage of excess energy as fat, but also for the secretion of homeostatic factors. Gene expression profiles during adipocyte differentiation have been reported previously for mouse 3T3‐L1 cells. However, the profiles of adipogenic gene expression in mice and cattle may be different because several metabolic pathways of the ruminant adipose tissue are different from those of non‐ruminants. The gene expression profile in a clonal bovine intramuscular preadipocyte cell line during adipogenesis was examined using the polymerase chain reaction‐subtraction method. Six hundred and twenty‐one clones, which were expressed at an early stage of differentiation, from the preadipocyte to adipocyte, were isolated and characterized. Further detailed studies were carried out for 86 selected genes using northern blotting. Ten genes were found to be highly expressed after differentiation of bovine intramuscular preadipocyte cells. In particular, the expression profiles of genes for stearoyl CoA desaturase and FK506 binding protein were quite different from the time course of differentiation of that seen in the 3T3‐L1 cells reported previously. In addition, these genes were assigned to bovine chromosomes using a bovine/hamster somatic cell hybrid panel and public database.     

Therapeutic effect of modified oligopeptides from the beetle Allomyrina dichotoma on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in mice

Anti-bacterial activity of two synthesized oligopeptides, RLYLRIGRR-NH2 (peptide A) and RLRLRIGRR-NH2 (peptide B), both which based on a putative active site of defensin, an anti-bacterial peptide from the beetle Allomyrina dichotoma, was examined by macroscopic and histopathologic assessment during the course of infection in mice inoculated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in vivo. Both peptides A and B decreased the mortality of mice inoculated with MRSA. Peptides A and B decreased the macroscopical and histopathological lesions by MRSA infection in mice even seven days after the challenge. The anti-bacterial activity of peptides A and B has a therapeutic effect on MRSA infection in mice even seven days after being challenged.