PCR-mediated Detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xanthomonas oryzae </Emphasis>pv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">oryzae </Emphasis>by Amplification of the 16S–23S rDNA Spacer Region Sequence

A detection method specific for Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, the pathogen responsible for bacterial blight of rice, was based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and designed by amplifying the 16S–23S rDNA spacer region from this bacterium. The nucleotide sequence of the spacer region between the 16S and 23S rDNA, consisting of approximately 580-bp, from X. oryzae pv. oryzae, X. campestris pv. alfalfae, X. campestris pv. campestris, X. campestris pv. cannabis, X. campestris pv. citri, X. campestris pv. cucurbitae, X. campestris pv. pisi, X. campestris pv. pruni and X. campestris pv. vitians, was determined. The determined sequences had more than 95% identity. Therefore, a pair of primers, XOR-F (5′-GCATGACGTCATCGTCCTGT-3′) and XOR-R2 (5′-CTCGGAGCTATATGCCGTGC-3′) was designed and found to specifically amplify a 470-bp fragment from all strains of X. oryzae pv. oryzae isolated from diverse regions in Japan. No PCR product was amplified from X. campestris pathovars alfalfae, campestris, cannabis, carotae, cucurbitae, dieffenbachiae, glycines, pisi, pruni, vitians or zantedeschiae, except for pathovars citri, incanae and zinniae. The method could also detect the pathogen in infected rice leaves within 3 hr, at a detection limit of 4×10¹ cfu/ml. Received 17 December 1999/ Accepted in revised form 10 April 2000     

Effects of nutrient enrichment,irradiance control,and boiling on the color of the brown alga <Emphasis Type="Italic">Undaria pinnatifida</Emphasis>

The color of Undaria pinnatifida after boiling is an important factor determining its marketable value. Our previous study showed that decreased nutrients and elevated irradiance resulted in increases of lightness and yellowness (i.e., discoloration) of this alga. However, little is known about the optimal levels of nutrients and irradiance required to decrease these color values and the combined effects of these factors and boiling. We conducted two culture experiments to test the effects of nutrients (non-enriched and 1.25, 5, and 25% PESI enriched treatments), irradiance (0, 10, 30, and 180 µmol m^?2 s^?1), and boiling on lightness L*, redness a*, and yellowness b* of this alga. L* and b* did not differ between non-enriched and 1.25–5% PESI treatments, but were lower in the 25% PESI treatment. L* and b* were lowest at 0–10 µmol m^?2 s^?1, although negative growth occurred at 0 µmol m^?2 s^?1. Decreased irradiance had a positive or little effect on a* before boiling, but had a negative effect after boiling. These results suggest that around 25% PESI and 10 µmol m^?2 s^?1 were the optimal levels to decrease the three color values of this species after boiling.     

Double heat shock more potently suppresses cleavage of fertilized willow minnow (Gnathopogon caerulescens) eggs than single heat‐shock treatment

This study examined the effects and optimal conditions of double heat‐shock treatment (HST) for the suppression of cleavage in fertilized willow minnow (Gnathopogon caerulescens) eggs. In addition, we performed a cytological analysis of the nucleus and mitotic apparatus dynamics before and after HST. Tetraploidy occurred at the highest frequency (45.4%) when the first HST was delivered 25 min after fertilization and the second 15 min later. In this group, the spindle atrophied immediately after completion of the second HST; subsequently, three distinct patterns were observed in the nucleus and mitotic apparatus of the first cell cycle. In the first pattern, one pole disappeared and a monopolar spindle formed; chromosomes were unable to separate and accumulated at one pole where they formed a large nucleus. In the second pattern, the poles were dispersed or localized to one side of the nucleus, resulting in the failure of chromosomes to separate and the formation of a single nucleus. In the third pattern, the first cleavage was completed normally. Thus, double HST can block the first cleavage division by eliminating one centrosome or bringing two poles close together, giving rise to a subset of tetraploid embryos.     

Environmental DNA analysis reveals the spatial distribution,abundance, and biomass of Japanese eels at the river‐basin scale

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长江三峡花岗岩坡面管流产流特性研究

含有大孔隙的土体 ,如花岗岩风化壳及其上形成的土层水分运动规律并不遵从达西定律 (Darcy L aw) ,大孔隙中运动的水流称为管流 (pipe flow)。在花岗岩地区 ,由于管流的普遍存在 ,从土壤剖面流出的水量远远超出在达西法则定义下流出的水量。为研究土壤水分渗透中非遵从达西定律的土管 (大孔隙 )管流运动规律 ,在位于长江三峡的湖北省秭归县花岗岩坡面进行了管流流量、坡面渗流、地表径流和降雨过程等项目的观测和研究。发现管流在该地区是一种普遍存在的现象 ,管流过程中的水分运动不遵从达西定律 ,其流量在坡面渗流中占的比重约为 10 %～ 30 % ,土管在土壤剖面中所占面积虽然很小 ,但其水分通量远大于相同降雨条件下的土壤剖面水分渗透通量。     

Effect of forest structure on the spatial variation in soil respiration in a Bornean tropical rainforest

This study was undertaken to identify critical and practical factors explaining spatial variations in soil respiration and to estimate stand-scale soil respiration in an aseasonal tropical rainforest on Borneo Island. To this aim, we conducted soil respiration measurements at 25 points in a 40 m × 40 m subplot of a 4 ha study plot between 2002 and 2006, and examined the spatial variation in soil respiration averaged over the 4 years in relation to soil, root, and forest structural factors. In addition, we examined the spatial representativeness of soil respiration measured in the subplot using a specific scaling procedure. Consequently, we found significant positive correlation between the soil respiration and forest structural parameters such as the mean diameter at breast height (DBH), total basal area, and maximum DBH within 6 m of the measurement points. The most important factor was the mean DBH within 6 m of the measurement points, which had a significant linear relationship with soil respiration. Using the derived linear regression and an inventory dataset, we estimated the 4 ha plot-scale soil respiration. The 4 ha plot-scale estimation (6.0 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) was nearly identical to the subplot-scale measurements (5.7 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹), which were roughly comparable to the nocturnal CO₂ fluxes calculated using the eddy covariance technique. In addition, we discuss characteristics of the stand-scale soil respiration at this site by comparing with those of other forests reported in previous literature in terms of the soil C balance. Soil respiration at our site was noticeably greater, relative to the incident litterfall amount, than soil respiration in other tropical and temperate forests probably owing to the larger total belowground C allocation by emergent trees. Overall, this study suggests the arrangement of emergent trees with larger DBH and their belowground C allocation could be primary factors controlling spatial variations in soil respiration in the tropical rainforest.     

Effects of three infusion fluids with different sodium chloride contents on steady‐state serum concentrations of bromide in dogs

Potassium bromide overdose (bromism) in the management of canine epilepsy has been known. However, a protocol to reduce bromide concentrations rapidly has not been previously established. The effects of three infusion fluids with different chloride contents on the steady‐state serum concentrations of bromide in beagles were determined. After stabilization of the serum bromide concentrations, seven dogs were infused with saline (Na⁺ 154 mmol/L; Cl^? 154 mmol/L), lactated Ringer's (Na⁺ 131 mmol/L; Cl^? 110 mmol/L), or maintenance solutions (Na⁺ 35 mmol/L; Cl^? 35 mmol/L) at a rate of 2 or 10 ml kg^?1 hr^?1 for 5 hr. Serum and urine were collected hourly, and the bromide concentrations were measured. When saline and lactated Ringer's solutions were infused at a rate of 10 ml kg^?1 hr^?1 for 5 hr, serum bromide concentrations were decreased by 14.24% and urine bromide concentrations by 17.63%, respectively. Of all compositions of infusion fluids, only sodium and chloride contents were associated with the decreased serum concentrations and the increased renal clearance of bromide. In summary, saline and lactated Ringer's solutions reduced serum bromide concentrations in a sodium chloride‐dependent manner in dogs were found when infused at 10 ml kg^?1 hr^?1 for 5 hr.     

Effective combinations of functional groups in chemically modified kraft lignins for reduction of aluminum toxicity

Plant growth tests were performed with radish (Raphanus sativa var. radicula Pers.) in culture solutions containing low molecular weight compounds in the presence of aluminum to determine the types of functional groups in kraft lignin (KL) modified with ozone and alkali that contributed to reducing aluminum toxicity. The low molecular weight compounds used in this study contained carboxyl, formyl, methoxyl, alcohol hydroxyl, and phenolic hydroxyl groups. The compounds that had adjacent two carboxyl groups (oxalic acid), carboxyl/alcohol hydroxyl groups (glycolic acid), or carboxyl/formyl groups (glyoxylic acid) were effective in reducing aluminum toxicity. Malonic acid, having two carboxyl groups, also reduced aluminum toxicity. The ability of ozone-treated KLs to reduce aluminum toxicity was considered to be partly due to these chemical structures. Protocatechuic acid, having two adjacent phenolic hydroxyl groups, was also effective in reducing aluminum toxicity. This indicated that the effectiveness of the alkaline-treated KL was partly due to its catechol structure. This report was presented in part at the 58th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Tsukuba, Japan, March 2008     

Development of acid soil conditioning agent from lignin by ozone treatment II

Kraft lignins (KLs) modified with ozone were saponified with 0.1 M NaOH at room temperature overnight and the abilities of the modified KLs in reducing aluminum toxicity in acidic soil were assayed by planting experiments with radish (Raphanus sativa var. radicula Pers.). The abilities of ozone-treated KLs in reducing aluminum toxicity and accelerating root elongation increased markedly by saponification. Furthermore, KL treated with 0.1 M NaOH at room temperature overnight also effectively reduced aluminum toxicity and accelerated root elongation. These results suggest that KL contains chemical structures that contribute toward these favorable effects. Saponified ozone-treated KLs reduced aluminum toxicity at lower dosages than the alkaline-treated KL. This report was presented in part at the 57th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Hiroshima, Japan, August 2007, and at the 52nd Lignin Symposium, Utsunomiya, Japan, November 2007     

Morphological and molecular phylogenetical identification of Tricodectes pinguis from Japanese black bears (Ursus thibetanus japonicus) in Aomori Prefecture,Japan

Trichodectes pinguis, referred to commonly as the bear-biting louse, has been reported in several bear species. However, graphical (blurred or coarse) and genetic information on the louse is limited. In this study, we identified T. pinguis collected from Japanese black bears in the Aomori Prefecture, Japan. We confirmed 12S rDNA sequences derived from the collected T. pinguis and performed molecular phylogenetic analysis based on 12S rDNA. The analysis revealed the parasitic louse to be T. pinguis. Interestingly, the body size of T. pinguis found in this study was smaller than the previous recorded body size of them in Japan and Turkey. To better understand the biting louse infesting bears, morphometric and genetic information from other bear hosts needs to be accumulated.