Effects of root exudates of Rj2Rj3- and Rj4-genotype soybeans on growth and chemotaxis of Bradyrhizobium japonicum

Almost all of the soybean cultivars (Glycine max L. Merr.) form nodules on their roots by infection with Bradyrhizobium japonicum. However, it has been observed that the soybean cultivars harboring nodulation conditioning genes, for instance Rj ₂, Rj ₃, and Rj ₄, do not form effective nodules with some strains of B. japonicum. Ishizuka et al. (1991b) classified the rhizobia isolated from field-grown soybeans into nodulation-types A, B, and C based on the compatibility with these Rj-soybean cultivars. Nodulation-type B is incompatible with Rj ₂ Rj ₃-cultivars and type C is incompatible with Rj ₄-cultivars. Nodulation-type A rhizobia are compatible with both Rj ₂ Rj ₃ - and Rj ₄-cultivars. Furthermore, the Rj-cultivars were found to prefer appropriate nodulation-type rhizobia for nodulation, that is, non-Rj-, Rj ₂ Rj ₃ -, and Rj ₄-cultivars prefer nodulation-types A, C, and B rhizobia, respectively (Ishizuka et al. 1991a). In the present study, in order to examine the mechanisms of preference of Rj-cultivars for rhizobial strains for nodulation, root exudates from Rj-cultivars were examined for their effects on the growth rate and chemotaxis of various types of B. japonicum strains.     

Allele‐specific PCR typing and sequencing of the mitochondrial D‐loop region in four layer breeds

This study aimed to investigate the ability of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) haplotypes in chicken mtDNA for presumption of the origins of chicken meat. We typed five SNPs of the D‐loop region in mtDNA by allele‐specific PCR (AS‐PCR) in 556 hens, that is 233 White Leghorn (WL), 50 Dekalb‐TX35 (D‐TX), 140 Barred Plymouth Rock (BPR) and 133 Rhode Island Red (RIR) kept in the National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science (NILGS, Tsukuba, Japan). Five haplotypes were observed among those chickens by AS‐PCR. WL, D‐TX, BPR and RIR displayed three, two, one and four SNP haplotypes, respectively. By a combination of the haplotypes by AS‐PCR and the breeds, these chickens were classified into 10 groups. After the D‐loop was sequenced in two chickens from every group (20 individuals), 15 SNP sites (including one insertion) and eight sequence haplotypes were observed. In conclusion, haplotype variation was observed in and among the layer breeds of the NILGS. This study demonstrates that SNP haplotypes in mtDNA should be appropriate for the presumption of the origins of chicken meat.     

Comparison of ratoon yield under high-level cutting in two varieties of forage sugarcane,KRFo93-1, and Shimanoushie

High-level cutting without stubble shaving has been recommended in the cultivation of forage sugarcane, KRFo93-1. However, it is unclear whether this management practice is appropriate for the more recently developed variety Shimanoushie. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the dry matter yield of both varieties to high-level cutting. The study included five ratoon crops (RC1–RC5). In KRFo93-1, dry matter yield was higher in HC plots (high-level cutting without stubble shaving plots) than in Control plots (stubble shaving after high-level cutting plots), and the differences were significant for the first three ratoon crops. A similar trend was observed in Shimanoushie; however, the dry matter yield of HC plots was slightly lower than Control plots in RC4 and RC5 owing to a lower stem number. Although the sum of dry matter yield of five ratoon crops was significantly higher in HC plots of both varieties, the influence of high-level cutting was more effective in KRFo93-1 than in Shimanoushie.     

Astrocytoma in an African hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) suspected wobbly hedgehog syndrome

A 28-month-old African hedgehog was referred to our hospital with progressive tetraparesis. On the first presentation, the hedgehog was suspected as having wobbly hedgehog syndrome (WHS) and the animal was treated with medication and rehabilitation. The animal died 22 days after onset. Pathological examination revealed that the animal was involved in astrocytoma between the medulla oblongata and the spinal cord (C1). This report indicates that a primary central nervous system tumor should be considered as one of the differential diagnoses for hedgehogs presenting with progressive paresis, together with WHS.     

Survival time of juvenile pen shell Atrina pectinata (Bivalvia: Pinnidae) in hyposaline water

International Aquatic Research - Survival time of juvenile pen shell Atrina pectinata (shell length ≈ 34 mm) exposed to hyposaline water without sediments was...     

A canine case of necrotizing meningoencephalitis for long-term observation: clinical and MRI findings

A 3-year-old female pug presented with general seizure following a partial seizure. During the remaining 48 months till death, the dog showed various neurological signs such as disturbance of consciousness, myoclonus and various types of partial seizure after each occurrence of the seizure clusters, and the dog eventually exhibited inability to stand and dementia. Magnetic resonance imaging findings revealed atrophy of the brain over the course of the disease. On histopathological analysis, the dog was diagnosed with necrotizing meningoencephalitis. This case of a canine necrotizing meningoencephalitis observed over the long term is valuable.     

Inhibitory actions of several natural products on proliferation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells induced by Hsp60 from Chlamydia pneumoniae J138

Atherosclerosis is a vascular disorder involving inflammation, a narrowed vascular lumen in the entire tunica intima, and reduced elasticity of the arterial wall. It has been found that Hsp60 from Chlamydia pneumoniae, an obligate bacterial pathogen associated with atheroma lesions, mimics human Hsp60, thereby causing attacks by immune cells on stressed endothelial cells expressing endogenous Hsp60 on their surface. Furthermore, Hsp60 from C. pneumoniae has been shown to promote the growth of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). To explore probes that can be used for studying signal transduction elicited by the chlamydial Hsp60, we have tested several natural products for their inhibitory actions on the Hsp60-induced proliferation of rat arterial smooth muscle cells. Sesamol, vanillyl alcohol, and trans-ferulic acid exhibited moderate inhibitory actions on the Hsp60-induced cell proliferation; zerumbone, humulene, and caryophylene effectively inhibited it at low concentrations with IC(50) values of 529, 122, and 110 nM, respectively. The results indicated that the 11-membered alicyclic ring is favorable for interactions with receptors involved in the Hsp60-induced VSMC proliferation.     

Effect of CO2-free air treatment on nitrogen fixation of soybeans inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Rhizobium fredii

Soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) cultivars Akisirome and Peking were inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum Is-21 and Rhizobium fredii USDA 194, respectively, and were grown in cylindrical pots containing sterilized vermiculite which were aerated with CO₂-free air or ambient air to study the effects of CO₂ deficiency in the rhizosphere on plant growth, nodulation, and nitrogen fixation. The repressive effects of CO₂-free air treatment were more conspicuous in Peking than Akisirome, and nodule number, nodule mass, amount of biologically fixed N and plant growth of Peking were reduced remarkably by the CO₂-free air treatment.

Acetylene reduction activity (ARA) of Peking inoculated with USDA 194 and Akisirome inoculated Is-21 was assayed in the absence and presence of CO₂, ARA of Akisirome was not affected by the absence of CO₂, while that of Peking decreased drastically.

Based on these results, it was concluded that nitrogen fixation by Akisirome inoculated with B. japonicum Is-21 was not appreciably influenced by CO₂ deficiency in the rhizosphere, while that of Peking inoculated with R. fredii USDA 194 was severely repressed, and the decrease was estimated to be due to both the reduction of the nodule mass and specific nitrogen-fixing activity.