Breakdown of a hybridization barrier between Solanum pinnatisectum Dunal and potato using the S locus inhibitor gene (Sli)

Several attempts have been undertaken to exploit the resistance to late blight [Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary] of the Mexican diploid Solanum pinnatisectum Dunal (2n = 2x = 24). However, sexual hybridization between S. pinnatisectum and cultivated potatoes is almost impossible because of strict reproductive barriers. In this study, we first induced chromosome doubling of S. pinnatisectum for matching of the species-specific endosperm balance number (EBN), which is a genetic phenomenon responsible for normal endosperm development. We pollinated 4x (2EBN) S. pinnatisectum flowers with pollen from 2x (2EBN) clones carrying the S locus inhibitor gene (Sli), which originally was identified as an inhibitor of S-locus-controlled self-incompatibility in pollen of diploid potatoes. Nine putative hybrid plants were obtained from 613 pollinations, of which two plants were characterized. Both individuals were triploid hybrids with extreme resistance to P. infestans derived from S. pinnatisectum and showed an acceptable level of female fertility for backcrossing. Thus, utilization of the Sli gene, combined with chromosome-doubling for matching of the EBN, is proposed as a technique to overcome barriers to interspecific hybridization between Mexican 2x (1EBN) Solanum species and cultivated diploid potatoes.     

Effect of species and spacing of fast-growing nurse trees on growth of an indigenous tree, Hopea odorata Roxb., in northeast Thailand

We tested the effects of species and spacing of nurse trees on the growth of Hopea odorata, a dipterocarp tree indigenous to Southeast Asia, in a two-storied forest management system in northeast Thailand. Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Acacia auriculiformis, and Senna siamea were planted as nurse trees in 1987 at spacings of 4 m × 8 m, 2 m × 8 m, 4 m × 4 m, and 2 m × 4 m in the Sakaerat Silvicultural Research Station of the Royal Forest Department, Thailand. Seedlings of H. odorata were planted in the nurse tree stands at a uniform spacing of 4 m × 4 m and in control plots (no nurse trees) in 1990. Stem numbers of some nurse trees were thinned by half in 1994. The stem diameter and height of all trees were measured annually until 1995 and again in 2007. The mean annual increment (MAI) in volume was estimated as 8.2–10.1 m³ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ for E. camaldulensis and 0.9–1.2 m³ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ for S. siamea, smaller than reported elsewhere. This suggests that the site properties were not suitable for them. The MAI of A. auriculiformis was 7.9–9.8 m³ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, within the reported range. Survival rates of H. odorata in the S. siamea stands and the control plots decreased rapidly during the first 2 years but then stayed constant from 1992. In contrast, survival rates of H. odorata in the E. camaldulensis and A. auriculiformis stands were initially high (>70%), but then decreased after 1995. Stem diameter, tree height, and stand basal area of H. odorata were large in both the S. siamea stands and the control plots from then. The growth of H. odorata was largest in the 2 m × 8 m S. siamea stands. In contrast, it was restricted in the E. camaldulensis and A. auriculiformis stands owing to strong shading by their canopies. Thinning by 50% tended to facilitate the growth of H. odorata temporarily in the E. camaldulensis and A. auriculiformis stands. The stand basal areas of nurse trees and of H. odorata showed a trade-off. These results suggest that the growth of H. odorata was maximized in the S. siamea stands. We assume, however, that the growth of H. odorata could be improved even in the E. camaldulensis and A. auriculiformis stands by frequent or heavy thinning.     

Apple necrotic mosaic virus,a novel ilarvirus from mosaic-diseased apple trees in Japan and China

The causal agent of apple mosaic disease has been previously thought to be solely caused by apple mosaic virus (ApMV). In this study, we report that a novel ilarvirus is also associated with apple mosaic disease. Next-generation sequencing analysis of an apple tree showing mosaic symptoms revealed that the tree was infected with three apple latent viruses (apple stem pitting virus, apple stem grooving virus, and apple chlorotic leaf spot virus) and a novel ilarvirus (given the name apple necrotic mosaic virus (ApNMV)) that is closely related to Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) and ApMV. The genome of ApNMV consists of RNA1 (3378 nt), RNA2 (2767 nt), and RNA3 (1956 nt). A phylogenetic analysis based on the coat protein amino acid sequences indicated that the novel virus belongs to the same subgroup 3 of the genus Ilarvirus as PNRSV and ApMV. The presence of mosaic leaves, which tend to be unevenly distributed in diseased apple trees, was correlated with the internal distribution of ApNMV. RT-PCR detection of mosaic-diseased apple trees in Japan indicated that ApNMV was detected in apple trees introduced from China, whereas ApMV was detected from cultivated apple trees in domestic orchards. Consistent with these findings, a survey of mosaic-diseased apple trees in major apple-producing provinces in China revealed that the majority of apple trees showing mosaic symptoms in China are infected with ApNMV.     

Flavonoid content in fresh, home-processed, and light-exposed onions and in dehydrated commercial onion products

Onion plants synthesize flavonoids as protection against damage by UV radiation and by intracellular hydrogen peroxide. Because flavonoids also exhibit health-promoting effects in humans, a need exists to measure their content in onions and in processed onion products. To contribute to the knowledge about the levels of onion flavonoids, HPLC and LC-MS were used to measure levels of seven quercetin and isorhamnetin glucosides in four Korean commercial onion bulb varieties and their distribution within the onion, in scales of field-grown onions exposed to home processing or to fluorescent light and in 16 commercial dehydrated onion products sold in the United States. Small onions had higher flavonoid content per kilogram than large ones. There was a graduated decrease in the distribution of the flavonoids across an onion bulb from the first (outside) to the seventh (innermost) scale. Commercial, dehydrated onion products contained low amounts or no flavonoids. Losses of onion flavonoids subjected to "cooking" (in percent) ranged as follows: frying, 33; sauteing, 21; boiling, 14-20; steaming, 14; microwaving, 4; baking, 0. Exposure to fluorescent light for 24 and 48 h induced time-dependent increases in the flavonoid content. The results extend the knowledge about the distribution of flavonoids in fresh and processed onions.     

Analysis by HPLC and LC/MS of pungent piperamides in commercial black, white, green, and red whole and ground peppercorns

Pepper plants accumulate pungent bioactive alkaloids called piperamides. To facilitate studies in this area, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry methods were developed and used to measure the following piperamides in 10 commercial whole (peppercorns) and in 10 ground, black, white, green, and red peppers: piperanine, piperdardine, piperine, piperlonguminine, and piperettine. Structural identification of individual compounds in extracts was performed by associating the HPLC peak of each compound with the corresponding mass spectrum. The piperanine content of the peppers (in mg/g piperine equivalents) ranged from 0.3 for the ground white pepper to 1.4 in black peppercorns. The corresponding range for piperdardine was from 0.0 for seven samples to 1.8 in black peppercorns; for four isomeric piperines, from 0.7 for red to 129 in green peppercorns; for piperlonguminine, from 0.0 in red peppercorns to 1.0 in black peppercorns; and for piperyline, from 0.9 in ground black pepper to 5.9 for red peppercorn. Four well-separated stereoisomeric forms of piperettine with the same molecular weight were present in 19 peppers. The sums of the piperamides ranged from 6.6 for red to 153 for green peppercorns. In contrast to large differences in absolute concentrations among the peppers, the ratios of piperines to total piperamide were quite narrow, ranging from 0.76 for black to 0.90 for white peppercorns, with an average value of 0.84 +/- 0.04 ( n = 19). Thus, on average, the total piperamide content of the peppers consists of 84% piperines and 16% other piperamides. These results demonstrate the utility of the described extraction and analytical methods used to determine the wide-ranging individual and total piperamide contents of widely consumed peppers.     

Studies on keeping-quality of vegetables and fruits. III. Changes in sugar and organic acid contents accompanying the chilling-injury of eggplant fruits

The mechanism of chiiling-injury in fruits of eggplants (Solanum melongena L. cultivar ‘Hyonaga’) was investigated by determining the sugar and organic acid content during cold storage and after exposure to low temperature for various periods. Fructose, glucose and maltose were detected, and totalled more than 96% of total sugar on the initial day. Total sugar content increased to 30% higher than the initial day after 2 days of cold storage, and after that decreased gradually, while in 20° C-stored fruits it decreased sharply. Fructose, glucose and maltose increased rapidly after transfer from 1° C to 20° C. Succinic, oxalic, malic and citric acid were detected before storage. Malic and citric acid were found to be the main organic acids. The ratio of malic/citric acid in fruits stored at 1°C decreased during storage, while after storage at 20°C it increased. The ratio in fruits after transfer from 1°C to 20°C increased rapidly during the time course. The ratio of malic/citric acid ranged from 6.0 to 6.8 in healthy fruits, while it was below 5.9 or above 7.3 in chilled fruits. It is suggested that according to this ratio the degree of chilling-injury of eggplant fruits might be foreseen.     

Outbreak of larval Echinococcus multilocularis infection in Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata) in a zoo, Hokkaido: western blotting patterns in the infected monkeys

A high prevalence of larval Echinococcus multilocularis (Em) infection was found in zoo primates in Hokkaido, Japan. In October 1997, a Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata) died and histopathologically diagnosed as alveolar hydatidosis. Serum samples were collected from the remaining Japanese monkeys and examined for antibodies against Em by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blotting. Serological tests showed 12 more animals of the remaining 57 monkeys were possibly infected. Ultrasonography revealed that nine of these 12 animals had a cystic lesion in the liver. The band patterns of western blotting in the monkeys were very similar to those in human.     

Influence of a PGF2alpha-analogue, etiproston tromethamine, on the functional corpus luteum of dogs

To induce luteal regression-related abortion/delivery and treat pyometra in dogs, various PGF2alpha-analogues (PGAs) are administered, but a PGA most appropriate for clinical application in dogs, with a low incidence of side effects, is being investigated. In this study, we compared the effects of etiproston tromethamine (PGA-E), which has not been investigated in dogs, with those of cloprostenol (PGA-C), which is routinely used in dogs. A single dose of PGA-E at 100, 200, 400 or 800 microg or PGA-C at 12.5, 25, 50 or 100 microg was administered to beagles (n=5 per group) 25 days after ovulation, when the corpus luteum was in the functional phase. We compared the state of luteal regression by measuring plasma progesterone levels. As side effects, the incidences of salivation, vomiting, tachypnea, diarrhea and the drop in body temperature were investigated. In the 400-microg and 800-microg groups treated with PGA-E, the mean intervals from administration until luteal regression were 18.6 days and 31.2 days, respectively. In the dogs treated with 50 microg or more of PGA-C, luteal regression was noted 2 days after administration. The above side effects were observed for 3 hr after administration of PGA-E/PGA-C. In the dogs treated with 800 microg of PGA-E, the mean body temperature was 36.7 degrees C 4 hr after administration; hypothermia persisted. PGA-E may be less useful than PGA-C for promoting luteal regression in dogs in clinical application.     

Effects of long-term oral administration of ketoprofen in clinically healthy beagle dogs

To investigate the adverse effects of long-term administration of ketoprofen in dogs, ketoprofen (1 mg/kg) was administered to five clinically healthy beagle dogs (ketoprofen group) and gelatin capsules (control group) were administered to four clinically healthy beagle dogs for 30 days. We monitored the dogs through periodic physical examination, blood analyses, endoscopic examinations, fecal occult blood tests, renal function tests, urinalysis, urinary enzyme indices and cuticle bleeding time analysis. The lesions in the stomach, especially in the pyloric antrum, and fecal occult blood progressively worsened in the ketoprofen group. However, the differences between the ketoprofen group and the control group were not statistically significant. One dog in the ketoprofen group temporarily exhibited a decrease in renal plasma flow and two dogs exhibited enzymuria. However, these changes did not persist and the other examinations showed no significant difference between premedication and postmedication in the ketoprofen group. Therefore, the adverse effects of long-term administration of ketoprofen observed in this study were not clinically important in healthy dogs. Nevertheless, further investigation of adverse renal effects from long-term administration of ketoprofen is necessary in the dogs with subclinical renal disease.