Ploidy variation of hardy kiwifruit (Actinidia arguta) resources and geographic distribution in Japan

Survey on the wild genetic resources of hardy kiwifruit (Actinidia arguta) in Japan was conducted to determine the ploidy variation and its geographic distribution. Among the 127 wild plants collected from different geographic locations, 15 plants were diploid, 87 were tetraploid, and 22 were hexaploid. Additionally, 2 plants were heptaploid and one plant was octaploid. The tetraploid plants were distributed all over the country, whereas the diploid and hexaploid plants were geographically localized, in the warm Pacific hill areas of the south western part and in the deep-snow region of the mid-northern part of Honshu, respectively. The diploid plants could be clearly distinguished from other plants with ploidy variation by the morphological characteristics of the leaf and fruit. Hexaploid plants showed a relatively larger L/D ratio of the leaf blade, a greenish petiole, and pubescence on the petiole and lower leaf vein, whereas the tetraploid plants exhibited a reddish petiole and callose hairs on the vein of the lower leaf surface. Fruit shape of the tetraploid plants varied largely, from round to ellipsoidal, whereas that of the hexaploid plants was mostly ellipsoidal. These results indicate that the hexaploid plants of A. arguta as well as the diploid and tetraploid ones, naturally grow in a certain size of population in the restricted region of Japan.     

广东低塱渍水地区主要土壤理化性质及其利用改良

本文研究广东低塱渍水地区主要土壤理化性质及其利用改良。采取田间调查研究与分析化验相结合的办法,结果表明:水稻土的养分含量较高,如有机质、氮素和全钾量均较高,伹速效磷和钾均偏低,冲积土和堆叠土的养分含量则较低(全钾量除外);土壤阳离子交换量、活性铁、锰和有效锌含量均较高,符合一般作物的需要;耕层土壤多属强酸性,pH多为4.5～5.1;土壤质地偏粘(冲积土除外),粘粒含量达30～45％;土壤生态环境条件不良,容易发生涝害,生产没有保证。因此,土壤利用改良的主要措施应是:继续整治水利,改善土壤生态条件;适施石灰,每亩一造约施25kg,增施有机肥;增施磷、钾肥,特别要注意早造施磷肥,晚造施钾肥;在保证粮食生产的前提下,适当发展养鱼(塘与基的面积比例以3:2为宜)、种植甘蔗、花生和水果等经济作物。     

Relationship between production of hydroxyl radicals and degradation of wood, crystalline cellulose, and a lignin-related compound or accumulation of oxalic acid in cultures of brown-rot fungi

The degradation of wood, filter paper cellulose, and a lignin-substructure model, was measured in cultures of seven fungi usually regarded as brown-rot fungi. Hydroxyl radical production and the accumulation of oxalic acid in the cultures were also measured. Four of the fungi, Gloeophyllum trabeum, Tyromyces palustris, Laetiporus sulphureus, and Postia placenta, were typical brown-rot fungi, in that they preferentially degraded and eliminated the polysaccharides in wood and produced large amounts of hydroxyl radical. The rates of hydroxyl radical generation in cultures of the four fungi were directly proportional to the degradation rates of wood, cellulose, and the lignin-related compound, and inversely proportional to the amount of oxalic acid in the cultures. Two of the fungi, Daedalea dickinsii and Lentinus lepideus, did not degrade any of the substrates significantly and produced very little hydroxyl radical. Coniophora puteana had the highest rate of cellulose degradation, but did not degrade wood or the lignin model significantly and produced only negligible amounts of hydroxyl radical. These results indicate that brown-rot fungi produce large amounts of hydroxyl radical for the degradation of wood and crystalline cellulose.     

Development of bovine embryos cultured in CR1aa and IVD101 media using different oxygen tensions and culture systems

The aim of the present study was to optimise the culture conditions for the in vitro production of bovine embryos. The development of in vitro fertilised bovine oocytes in CR1aa supplemented with 5% calf serum and IVD101 culture media were compared using traditional microdrops and Well of the Well (WOW) culture systems either under 5% or 20% oxygen tension. After 7 days of culture, a significantly higher blastocyst formation rate was obtained for embryos cultured in CR1aa medium compared to those cultured in IVD101, irrespective of O2 tensions and culture systems. The blastocyst formation in IVD101 was suppressed under 20% O2 compared to 5% O2 . Despite their similar total cell numbers, higher rates of inner cell mass (ICM) cells were observed in blastocysts developed in IVD101 medium than in those developed in CR1aa, irrespective of O2 tensions. There was no significant difference in blastocyst formation, total, ICM and trophectoderm (TE) cell numbers between embryos obtained by microdrop and WOW culture systems irrespective of the culture media and O2 tensions used. In conclusion, CR1aa resulted in higher blastocyst formation rates irrespective of O2 tension, whereas IVD101 supported blastocyst formation only under low O2 levels but enhanced the proliferation of ICM cells.     

基于节水高产优质目标的冬小麦适宜水分亏缺模式

为了探讨不同生育期水分亏缺对冬小麦产量和蛋白质形成的影响,同时确定出节水、高产、优质目标下冬小麦各生育期适宜的水分亏缺水平,开展了防雨棚下的冬小麦人工控水试验。该研究在返青期、拔节期、抽穗扬花期和灌浆成熟期设置2个水分亏缺水平即轻度亏水L(含水率控制在55%~60%田间持水量,相应土壤水吸力为375~448 k Pa)和中度亏水M(含水率控制在45%~50%田间持水量,土壤水吸力为586~687 k Pa);另设全生育期不亏水对照处理CK(含水率控制在65%~70%田间持水量,土壤水吸力为256~305 k Pa)。研究结果显示,同CK相比,亏水处理使得灌浆持续期缩短2.72%~15.78%,达到最大灌浆速度的时间提前2.33%~14.58%;除灌浆成熟期轻度亏水、中度亏水处理外,其他处理均使得最大灌浆速率和平均灌浆速率增加,其最大值分别为15.77%和12.09%。亏水处理没有改变蛋白质形成的基本趋势,均呈"V"字形;但亏水程度不同,蛋白质含量及产量不同,在拔节期、抽穗扬花期和灌浆成熟期,随着亏水程度加重,蛋白质含量升高,蛋白质含量最高为灌浆成熟期中度亏水处理(质量分数为14.33%),最低为拔节期轻度亏水处理(质量分数为12.88%);蛋白质产量最高为全生育期不亏水对照处理CK(1047.30 kg/hm2),最低为拔节期轻度亏水处理(802.77 kg/hm2)。结果表明,兼顾冬小麦产量与蛋白质产量的适宜亏水模式依次为:返青期轻度亏水、返青期中度亏水、灌浆成熟期轻度亏水、抽穗扬花期轻度亏水、拔节期中度亏水、拔节期轻度亏水。研究结果为相关区域冬小麦高产、优质栽培和水分调控提供理论依据和数据支持。     

Improvement of fiberboard made from acetylated fibers by ozonation I: effect of ozonation on mechanical properties

Acetylated fibers with a 24.8% weight gain by acetylation were ozonated with 0%–2.0% ozone on fibers. Fiberboards were then made from these treated fibers. The internal bond and bending strength of the acetylated fiberboards increased drastically with increasing ozone charge up to 0.5%–1.0%, whereas the thickness swelling of the fiberboards decreased. Ozone selectively cleaves the aromatic rings of hydrophobic lignin and introduces a hydrophilic carboxyl group into lignin. Thus, the wettability and thermoplasticity of acetylated fibers increased, and this structural modification improved the interfiber contact. Internal bond and bending strength increased as a result. In addition, steep density profiles were formed by the ozonation, resulting in high bending strength. The high compaction ratio accelerated the effect of ozonation. The optimum ozone charges for improving mechanical properties were 0.5%–1.0%.Part of this report was presented at the 49th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Tokyo, April 1999     

Effects of chlordimeform on rectus abdominis muscle of frog

The effects of chlordimeform on rectus abdominis muscle of frog were investigated. Chlordimeform (10^?3M) caused a slow contraction, and at lower concentration (10^?5–10^?3M) it inhibited the acetylcholine-induced contraction in noncompetitive manner. When chlordimeform was applied to the muscle of Rana catesbiana, K⁺-induced contraction was also inhibited in noncompetitive manner. Whereas it had no effect on caffeine-induced contraction.Chlordimeform-induced contraction was not affected by respective addition of d-tubocurarine (10^?4M), procaine (10^?3M), or eserine (0.3 mM), which results were same as that of K⁺-induced contraction. Chlordimeform, at lower concentration (10^?5–10^?3M), inhibits the acetylcholine- and K⁺-induced contractions probably owing to depression of not only the sensitivity of endplate but also the excitability of cell membrane.     

Effects of gaseous compounds in smoke on dormancy release in freesia corms

Exposing corms to smoke generated from smouldering plant materials (“smoke treatment”) releases freesia corms from dormancy. The smoke was found to contain some hydrocarbons, i.e. ethane, ethylene, (C₂H₄), and propylene at concentrations below 130 μl 1^?1, and carbon monoxide (CO) at 2000-400 μl 1^?1.Exogenous C₂H₄ at low levels of 100-1 μl/litre air strongly stimulated dormancy-release. In contrast, propylene and acetylene were required at a concentration much higher than that in the smoke to exert the dormancy-releasing effect: the application of 100 μl/litre air had little or no effect. Air containing $\text{1000 μ}\text{l CO}\text{litre}$ air produced some effect, which could be masked by co-existence of $\text{10 μ}\text{l C}{}_2\text{H}{}_4\text{litre}$ air. Acetaldehyde, which may occasionally be present in smoke, showed the dormancy release at ca. 1 mM but was phytotoxic. Corms exposed to smoke or C₂H₄ did not show an endogenous C₂H₄ rise, while non-treated corms showed it distinctly before dormancy release.These results suggest that a C₂H₄-stimulus is dominant in smoke treatment.     

Effect of candidate gene polymorphisms on reproductive traits in a Large White pig population

The objective of this study was to test for association of candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with sow prolificacy reproductive traits, such as litter size, ovulation rate and lifetime performance, in gilts of a Large White pig population. Preliminary research on 25 animals selected from the high‐ and low‐performance groups of 347 animals with case‐control studies indicated that seven genes were associated with total number of piglets born (TNB). Six of the seven genes were associated with reproductive traits, including TNB, number of piglets born alive (NBA) and average weight of piglet weaning (AWW). A MBL2 SNP was significantly associated with TNB and NBA in first parity. A CFB SNP was associated with TNB in first parity. An ACE SNP was associated with TNB in first and second parities. An EGF polymorphism was associated with TNB, NBA and AWW in second parity. A KCNC2 polymorphism was significantly associated with TNB and NBA in second parity. A SLC22A5 SNP was associated with TNB and NBA in second parity. Six candidate SNPs were associated with TNB; the only exception was a PRKAG3 polymorphism. A candidate gene approach enables some of these polymorphisms to be used in genetic improvement programs based on marker‐assisted selection.