White root rot disease of the lacquer tree <Emphasis Type="Italic">Toxicodendron vernicifluum</Emphasis> caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rosellinia necatrix</Emphasis>

In early August 2010, lacquer trees (Toxicodendron vernicifluum) severely damaged by a root rot disease were found on plantations in Iwate, Japan. The causal agent was a fungus identified as Rosellinia necatrix, based on morphology and the sequence of the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer region. The fungus was clearly pathogenic on T. vernicifluum root plantings. This report is the first of white root rot on T. vernicifluum.     

Termite feeding preference to four wood species after gamma irradiation

The effect of gamma irradiation at 100 kGy and at lower levels on termite resistance was examined in the laboratory by no-choice and choice feeding termite tests (Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki) using four wood species: sapwood of Cryptomeria japonica D. Don, and heartwoods of Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco, Larix kaempferi (Lambert) Carriere, and Chamaecyparis obtusa Endl. The wood consumption rates in C. japonica and P. menziesii specimens were likely to increase with increases in gamma-irradiation levels, whereas little effect of gamma irradiation was seen in L. kaempferi and C. obtusa. Similar results were obtained in the two-choice test. The current results indicated that in the two-choice test with C. formosanus, 100-kGy-irradiated C. japonica and P. menziesii, which are not rich in antitermite substances, were eaten more than other wood samples with or without gamma irradiation. However, only C. japonica showed significant difference in termite feeding activity. The mass loss in 100-kGy-irradiated C. japonica was significantly higher in the multichoice test.     

Resistance of gamma-irradiated sapwood of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptomeria japonica</Emphasis> to biological attacks

Any means helpful for the promotion of termite feeding activity has potential for use in a matrix in termite bait application. Therefore, energy transfer by gamma irradiation is worthy of consideration for converting wood into termite-accessible material. Wood specimens gamma-irradiated at 100 kGy and at lower levels were tested for their degrees of polymerization (DP) of cellulose and biological resistance. The DP of cellulose adversely decreased with increased doses of gamma irradiation. Termite wood consumption rates, which were determined by laboratory tests using undifferentiated larvae (workers) of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, were significantly higher at 100 kGy than at other doses. On the other hand, the decay resistance of gamma-irradiated wood against the fungi Fomitopsis palustris (Berkeley et Curtis) Murrill and Trametes versicolor (L. ex Fr.) Quel did not vary by irradiation dose.     

Preparation of acetylated wood meal and polypropylene composites I: acetylation of wood meal by mechanochemical processing and its characteristics

Wood meals of Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D.Don) passing 2.0 mm and retained on 1.0 mm mesh screens were milled along with acetic anhydride (AA) and pyridine as a catalyst in a high-speed vibration rod mill at ambient temperature. The weight percent gain (WPG) of the chemically modified wood was calculated based on the yield after washing with deionized water. The effects of amounts of AA and catalyst added, pulverization time, and saponification of the acetylated wood on WPG were examined. In addition, FT-IR analysis, and water vapor adsorption and desorption tests were performed as functions of the WPG. Increases in WPG, the acetyl contents of the acetylated wood after saponification, changes in the FT-IR spectra after pulverization, and the water vapor sorption isotherms showed that the one-step acetylation systematically modified the hydroxyl groups of the wood into acetyl groups. Up to 38 % WPG was obtained at 100 phr AA and 15 phr catalyst, and 120 min pulverization. Pulverization time and the amounts of AA and catalyst added to the wood meals could be adjusted to obtain acetylated wood meal with the desired WPG. These demonstrated that the mechanochemical acetylation is a method to prepare acetylated wood meals with high WPG at less reaction time and required AA addition.     

Bioactivation and mode of action of the oxadiazine indoxacarb in insects

DPX-MP062 (indoxacarb) is a novel oxadiazine insecticide which has good field activity against a number of pest Lepidoptera, as well as certain Homoptera and Coleoptera. Indoxacarb (discovered and developed by E.I. DuPont and Co.) is a 75%S : 25%R mixture of enantiomers at the chiral bicyclic carbon; DPX-JW062 is the corresponding racemic compound. Several species of lepidopteran larvae can rapidly metabolize ¹⁴C-JW062 to ¹⁴C-DCJW (for N-decarbomethoxyllated JW062) after ingestion, and more slowly after topical treatment; this conversion is correlated with the appearance of neurotoxic symptoms. Several sucking insects are also capable of absorbing and bioactivating indoxacarb after either dermal or oral administration, but do so much more slowly than the Lepidoptera. DCJW is a highly potent, voltage-dependent blocker of Na⁺-dependent compound action potentials when tested in a Manduca sexta larval abdominal motoneuron preparation; DPX-JW062 was much less potent in this regard. When larvae were poisoned in vivo, onset of paralysis and block of central nervous system action potentials was more rapid with DCJW than with DPX-JW062; onset of neurotoxic symptoms leads to a rapid and irreversible halt in feeding. The S-enantiomer of DCJW is active both in the motoneuron preparation in vitro and in lepidopteran larvae in vivo; however S-DPX-JW062 is active in vivo only, while the R-enantiomers of DCJW and DPX-MP062 are inactive in both. Thus, activation of the parent oxadiazines to the S-enantiomers of the N-decarbomethoxyllated metabolites, which are powerful sodium channel blockers, is the toxic mechanism of action in Lepidoptera and apparently for other pest insects as well; however, the rate of bioactivation is a critical factor in determining the speed and ultimate toxicity of this compound in different insect species. Indoxacarb's inherent activity against Lepidoptera is comparable to the most potent insecticides ever commercialized.     

Development of the IRGA enclosed-chamber system for soil CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> efflux measurement and its application to a spatial variation measurement

A new system was developed for measuring soil CO₂ efflux. The chamber in this system contains a small infrared CO₂ gas analyzer. This system does not need air tubes or pumps for circulating air, so it is expected to offer the advantages of mobility and durability. This system was verified by a comparison with measurements made by using a closed-dynamic-chamber (CDC) system. The spatial variation in the soil CO₂ efflux in a broadleaved deciduous forest was measured using the new system. The soil CO₂ efflux at sampling locations 50–70cm apart varied within a range of 60%–150%. This variation was smaller than the variation due to differences in soil characteristic reflected in different moisture conditions, etc.     

Investigation for presence of Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii and Brucella-species infection in killer whales (Orcinus orca) mass-stranded on the coast of Shiretoko, Hokkaido, Japan

Twelve killer whale (Orcinus orca) were hemmed in by ice floes, and nine died on the Aidomari coast in the Nemuro Strait in Rausu, Shiretoko, Hokkaido, Japan on 8 February 2005. Tissue samples collected from 8 whales were tested for Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii, and Brucella species DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Gamma-globulin isolated from blood samples by ammonium sulfate precipitation was tested for antibodies to these pathogens by means of agglutination tests and immunoblotting. None of the 8 tissue samples had antibodies to the pathogens, when subjected to agglutination tests. In immunoblotting, one sample (sample No.5) showed antibody binding to N. caninum antigens. In the PCR assay, none of the samples was positive. Further study is necessary to examine the prevalence of the pathogens in marine mammals inhabiting this area.     

麦冬遗传多样性的RAPD分析及分子指纹图谱构建

以福建莆田、泉州、福安等地及浙江崇寿、湖北襄樊、四川三台等地34个自然居群的麦冬类植物为试材,以80 条 10 碱基随机引物进行RAPD 分析,研究百合科植物麦冬及山麦冬不同自然居群间的遗传多样性。试验筛选出15条有效引物,共扩增获得 1566条DNA多态性带,通过聚类分析,构建DNA 分子系统树图,确定了其居群及种间亲缘关系。结果表明,不同自然种群间麦冬类植物遗传差异明显,具有丰富的遗传多样性,其中野生资源比栽培类型遗传多样性更大;不同自然居群间遗传差异与地理分布联系并不紧密,而与形态差异联系较密切。     

激光平地乳芽直播节水效果的研究

我国水资源严重短缺，农业生态环境急剧恶化。农业是我国的用水大户，约占全国总用水量的72％；水稻生产又是农业生产中的用水大户，在东北地区平均每公顷用水7 500～9 000 m³。故此，研究水稻生产中的节约用水，保护生态环境和节本增效等问题，具有重要的经济和社会效益。该文利用自动控制理论，研究了激光平地机组的结构和工作原理；通过在辽阳市太子河区景尔屯村进行的20 hm²激光平地乳芽直播田间试验，对激光平地的作业效果和泡田过程中的节水、节地效果进行了试验研究，在测试泡田用水量的过程中，利用秒表、乒乓球等设备实时地测试了田块的进水口流量，实践证明此方法成本低，操作简单，测试结果准确可靠。结果表明，激光平地可节约泡田用水21.578％ ，节约土地 0.92％；乳芽直播可节约泡田用水25.888%。     

Cholangiohepatitis in broiler chickens in Japan: histopathological, immunohistochemical and microbiological studies of spontaneous disease

Forty-five broiler carcasses from 6 different flocks were condemned due to liver lesions at processing meat inspection, and collected for pathological and bacterial examinations. All affected chickens showed liver enlargement with discolouration and an apparent acinar pattern. The enlarged gallbladder and the extrahepatic bile ducts contained yellow inspissated cream-coloured material. Histopathologically, extensive proliferation of bile ductules with fibrosis was observed in interlobular connective tissue, and it spread to form bridges with adjoining triads. Destruction and obstruction of portal bile ducts with multiple granulomas due to bacterial infection and outflow of the bile were frequently observed. Many Gram-positive bacilli were seen in the lesions, and they were identified as Clostridium perfringens by indirect immunofluorescence staining technique. Clostridium perfringens was isolated from affected livers. These findings are consistent with cholangiohepatitis. Therefore, it is suggested that C. perfringens might be important in the pathogenesis of cholangiohepatitis in broiler chickens.