Clones of Armillaria ostoyae and the pattern of infected juvenile lodgepole pine in Alberta,Canada

Small patches of dead trees were common among 7- to 15-year-old Pinns contorta var. latifolia in Alberta, Canada. The sizes of clones of Armillaria ostoyae, determined by pairing diploid isolates, was larger than these patches. Pairing diploid isolates on strips of Betula papyrifera provided a clear indication of clonal relationships.     

Bending and shear properties of compressed Sitka spruce

We examined the bending and shear properties of compressed wood using small and clear specimens of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis Carr.). For measuring the bending properties, three-point bending tests were conducted under the span/depth ratio of 14, which is standardized in the American Society for Testing and Materials [ASTM D143-94 (2005a)] and Japanese Industrial Standards [JIS Z2101-94 (1994)]. In the bending test, the load, deflection at the midspan, and strain at the bottom of the midspan were simultaneously measured, and Young’s modulus and bending strength were obtained by elementary beam theory. For obtaining the shear modulus and shear strength, asymmetric four-point bending tests were conducted using the specimens with rectangular and side-grooved cross sections, respectively, and the influence of the compression ratio on the shear properties was examined. The results are summarized as follows: (1) Young’s modulus increased with increasing compression ratio when it was determined by the load–strain relation. Nevertheless, this tendency was rather obscured when Young’s modulus was determined by the load–deflection relation. Hence, it is preferable that Young’s modulus is measured from the load–strain relation. (2) The shear modulus in the longitudinal–tangential plane was maximum at the compression ratio of 50%, whereas that in the longitudinal–radial plane was minimum at the compression ratio of 50%. (3) The influence of the compression on the bending and shear strength ratio was not significant.     

Bioluminescence reporter assay system to monitor Arabidopsis MPK3 gene expression in response to infection by Botrytis cinerea

The Arabidopsis MPK3 gene product participates in disease resistance mediated by the MAP kinase cascade. The expression of the MPK3 gene is induced by pathogen inoculation and treatment with chemicals such as salicylic acid (SA) and methyl jasmonate (JA), but the detailed expression pattern of the MPK3 gene has been largely unknown. To investigate MPK3 gene expression in response to disease stress, we fused the MPK3 promoter to the firefly luciferase gene to create a real-time monitoring system for regulated gene expression in planta. The results of an in vivo reporter assay using transgenic Arabidopsis plants harboring MPK3::Fluc showed that the MPK3 promoter activity was induced by treatment with chemicals such as SA and benzo(1,2,3)-thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester (BTH), that induce defense gene expression. Inoculation with the fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea resulted in systemic induction of MPK3::Fluc.     

Morphological Study of Bovine Pregnant Corpus luteum Cells

The bovine pregnant corpus luteum was examined morphologically, to clarify the appearance and properties of the intramitochondrial bodies (IMB) in mitochondria of the large luteum cell (LLC). The incidence and diameter of the IMB (200–900 nm) showed a tendency to increase with the advance of pregnancy. Histochemically, the IMB reacted positively with protein, and immunohistochemically, they reacted IMB with 11 α-hydroxyprogesterone-1-11 succinyl-bovine serum albumin (P-BSA). The IMB seemed to combine with protein, and these granules did not undergo exocytosis. The cytoplasm of LLC contained another type of small electron-dense granules that were 150–200 nm in diameter, had an orifice for secretion, and reacted with relaxin. Small luteum cells (SLC) revealed crystalline-like inclusions. It is suggested that these inclusion cells participate in the synthesis of steroids.     

Identification of Equine Subclinical Lameness Induced by Pressure to the Sole of Fore- or Hindlimb

Lameness has been investigated in past studies with kinematic analyses, and the features of lameness have been qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. The output was, however, limited to visible lameness that was scored by experienced clinicians. Subclinical supporting lameness that was induced by subtle pressure to the sole of limb, but that could not be detected by visual check, has yet to be extensively analyzed. To find specific kinematic parameters that were influenced by such subclinical lameness of the fore- or hindlimb, we produced subclinical, subtle and mild lameness in five sound horses by applying slight pressure to the sole. Trot on a treadmill was recorded by a high-speed camera. Symmetric properties of acceleration of the head and the tuber sacrale were disturbed in mild fore- and hindlimb lameness, respectively. In subclinical forelimb lameness, no obvious changes in the symmetric properties of the head, the withers, or the tuber sacrale were observed; however, the vertical lift-off acceleration of the treated forelimb was decreased. In the case of subclinical hindlimb lameness, the lift-off points of both the treated and sound hindlimb shifted posteriad. These findings may contribute to further investigations of subclinical lameness aiming to establish new procedures for early detection of subclinical musculoskeletal disease, which would enable more timely treatment.     

Characterization of an S-allele associated protein in Japanese pear

Summary This paper describes some characteristics of a stylar protein associated with the S₂ self-incompatibility allele (S₂-protein) in Japanese pear reported earlier (Hiratsuka, 1992). The term style refers to style plus stigma in this paper unless indicated otherwise.The S₂-protein, which is a relatively major component of styles with a pI of 6.5, was present only in the style, and the stigmatic zone involved the protein much higher in quantity than upper half of the style, followed by lower half. Molecular weight was assumed to be 24,000 judged from migration distance in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel. Immature styles from 8 to 4 days before anthesis also contained the protein though the amount was relatively small. Neither the heat treatment of prepollinated styles nor the pollination (compatible or incompatible) altered the pI value and staining concentration of S₂-protein in the gel. The protein did not have so strong ribonuclease (RNase) activity as reported in S-proteins of Nicotiana alata (McClure et al., 1989) and the RNase activities of extractable stylar proteins from self-incompatible strains were almost the same as those from self-compatible strains.Abbreviations CBB Coomassie Brilliant Blue - IEF-PAGE isoelectricfocusing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - RNase ribonuclease - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis