Extraction of rice-planting area and identification of chilling damage by remote sensing technology: a case study of the emerging rice production region in high latitude

Rice is the second largest staple crop in the world and therefore plays an important role in food security. As a thermophilic crop, rice is sensitive to temperature changes. Thus, research on the chilling damage of rice is essential. The Sanjiang Plain is an emerging rice production area and is located at high latitudes in China, the world’s largest rice-producing country. Landsat data were used to extract rice-planting area from 1985 to 2015. MODIS 13Q1, which was uniformly distributed during the growing period of rice, was used to obtain NDVI values of paddies during 2002–2015. Dynamic Identification Index of sterile-type chilling damage and monitoring standard of delayed-type chilling damage were the proposed methods used in this paper, which were used to judge the chilling damage of rice. The results show that in the study region, the rice-planting area in 2015 is nearly 12 times larger than that in 1985. Delayed-type chilling damage occurred in 2002 and 2009, while sterile-type chilling damage occurred in 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2014, and 2015. Comparing with the prevalent meteorological standards, the results indicate that the index and standards proposed in this paper are precise, applicable, and more sensitive than them. The method is a macroscopic and accurate method to identify chilling damage in rice and can also provide a scientific basis to ensuring the stability of rice yield.     

Determination of the genetic structure of remnant Morus boninensis Koidz. trees to establish a conservation program on the Bonin Islands, Japan

Background  

Morus boninensis, is an endemic plant of the Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands of Japan and is categorized as "critically endangered" in the Japanese red data book. However, little information is available about its ecological, evolutionary and genetic status, despite the urgent need for guidelines for the conservation of the species. Therefore, we adopted Moritz's MU concept, based on the species' current genetic structure, to define management units and to select mother tree candidates for seed orchards.     

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) activity in cultured canine bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs)

Autologous bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) infusion therapy improves the hepatic fibrosis. To investigate the mechanism of remission, we evaluated the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 activity in canine BMSCs and the effect of pro-inflammatory cytokines on their expression. The activity and the gene expression of MMPs were analyzed by gelatin zymography and quantitative RT-PCR, respectively. The specific gelatinase bands were indicative effect of MMP-2 and -9 in canine BMSCs. MMP-2 expression seemed to be increased by TNF-α and IL-1β while MMP-9 was enhanced by TNF-α and IL-6. These results suggested that remissive effect on liver fibrosis might be partly attributable to the MMP-2 and -9 activity in BMSCs under the inflammatory condition.     

Improvement of DNA extraction method for dried blood spots and comparison of four PCR methods for detection of Babesia gibsoni (Asian genotype) infection in canine blood samples

To eradicate canine babesiosis in epidemic areas, mass-screening of the infection situation of Babesia gibsoni including occult infection is necessary. The development of cost-effective method for storage and transport of blood samples is required. A highly efficient DNA extraction procedure from dried blood spots (DBS) onto Whatman 3MM filter paper was developed for the diagnosis of B. gibsoni infection in dog by PCR. In 3 extraction methods, Chelex-based method in combination with saponin washing and phenol-chloroform-isoamyl alcohol extraction (Saponin-PCI method) provided the best results. Sensitivity of the 4 previously described PCR methods for detection of B. gibsoni infection was also compared using serially diluted blood samples of B. gibsoni-infected dogs. The PCR method using Gib599F/Gib1270R primer pair provided the best performance. To evaluate the stability of DNA in DBS, DBS of B. gibsoni-infected dogs stored at room temperature for 2 months. The stability was superior to whole blood samples stored at -20 degrees C for 2 months. This highly efficient DNA extraction method on DBS using Whatman 3MM filter paper has potential to be cost-effective and high performance tool for storage, and molecular diagnosis of clinical blood sample from dog. This procedure in combination with the PCR method using Gib599F/Gib1270R primer pair may greatly assist in diagnosis of B. gibsoni infection in dog populations that are geographically distant.     

Crown status of holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) trees as related to phenology and environmental stress

In order to study the possible interactions between air pollution and climate conditions in Mediterranean evergreen broadleaf species, since 1987 we have been monitoring the annual and infra-annual variations in crown density of Quercus ilex L. (holm oak) in a permanent sample plot. The behaviour of crown density has been compared with litterfall pattern and aging processes in leaves. The results of this study confirm the important impact of climate on crown condition in Mediterranean broadleaves, so that even the role of nonacute pollution can be disguised. Xeromorph adaptations in holm oak leaves are also a mechanism providing a greater protection against pollutants.     

Characterization of DAX‐8 adsorbed soil fulvic acid fractions by various types of analyses

We investigated the optical absorption properties (A ₄₀₀/C and A ₆₀₀/C values), elemental composition, weight-averaged molecular weight (Mw), and liquid-state carbon-13 (¹³C) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of DAX-8 adsorbed fulvic acid fractions (DAX-8 FAs) in various soils (n?=?36) to establish the general trends in their chemical characteristics. We also compared our results with those of humic acids (HAs) obtained from the same soils used in this study and other published data to discuss the differences between them. Our results clearly indicate that DAX-8 FAs with high carboxyl C content have small Mw and low hydrogen to carbon (H/C) ratio. In addition, DAX-8 FAs with high carbonyl C and alkyl C content have high A ₄₀₀/C values and H/C ratios, respectively. These results strongly suggest that DAX-8 FAs with high aliphatic chemical properties have low carboxyl C content, large Mw and high H/C ratio. There are significant differences in chemical characteristics among the various soil types in almost all data; e.g., DAX-8 FAs from Podzols showed significantly higher A ₄₀₀/C values, larger Mw, higher carbonyl C and O-aryl C content than those obtained from Andosols. However, these two C functional groups are relatively low values in the total C content among all soil types, suggesting that DAX-8 FAs may exhibit only small differences in chemical properties among the various soil types. The comparison with published data regarding soil HAs shows that DAX-8 FAs are characterized by smaller Mw; lower C, H, and nitrogen (N); higher oxygen (O) content; higher O/C; lower O/H ratios; higher carboxyl C content; and lower aryl C content in total C.     

Nitrate adsorption in some andisols developed under different moisture conditions

Nitrate leaching from agricultural lands is one of the most critical problems related to both environmental quality and human health. Although in many studies surfacecharge properties of and nitrate adsorption in soils have been analyzed in tropical and subtropical regions, fewer studies have been conducted on the nitrateretention properties of allo phanic Andisols. The objectives of the present study were to examine the potential nitrate adsorption capacity and the factors affecting nitrate retention in topsoils and subsoils of three Andisols Tokaachi, Hokkaido. Nitrate adsorption at pH 6.0 was found to be low or negligible even in the subsoil of a Haplic Wet Andisol (Melanaquands), despite the high clay content, Nitrate adsorption maxima calculated from the Langmuir equation were higher in the lower horizons of a Haplic Andisol (Melanudands) and a Lowhumic Andisol (Hap ludands), which were developed under moderate to moderately dry moisture conditions and displayed a high allophane content and a low total carbon content. The nitrate adsorption of the aliophanic Andisols was much higher than that reported from other studies conducted in Ultisols and Oxisols, which are rich in iron oxides. The potential capacity to adsorb nitrates and retard nitrate movement should be taken into account in predicting the fate of nitrate in soils and the consequent mitigation of groundwater contamination.     

Genetic diversity of the entomopathogen<Emphasis Type="Italic">Verticillium lecanii</Emphasis> on the basis of vegetative compatibility

Forty-three isolates ofVerticillium lecanii from insects, phytopathogenic fungi and other substrates were tested for vegetative compatibility by observing heterokaryon formation among complementary nitrate-nonutilizing (nit) mutants.nit mutants were isolated from 42/43 strains examined. Twenty-one isolates were self-incompatible, and the remaining 21 isolates were divided into 14 vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs): ten containing only a single strain each, and the remaining four containing two to four isolates each. Members of isolates in each of these VCGs all shared the same IGS haplotype. Further, the isolates within a VCG were correlated with one another in part by fragment patterns of mt-LrDNA, -SrDNA, Bt-2 and H4 region, by PCR-RFLP and -SSCP, but not by dsRNA. Two isolates belonging to VL-J2 have high virulence to aphids, whereas strains from VL-J1 lack this character. These findings indicate that two VCGs (VL-J1 and -J2) may originate from two distinct clonal lineages. Alternatively, high VCG diversity and HSI frequency ofV. lecanii might be associated with an array of distinct lineages. These data not only suggest relationships among DNA polymorphisms, virulence, and VCG, but also demonstrate genetic heterogeneity ofV. lecanii. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Sept. 30, 2003.     

Differentiation of Rhizoctonia AG-D Isolates from Turfgrass into Subgroups I and II Based on rDNA and RAPD Analyses

Binucleate Rhizoctonia anastomosis group (AG) D is the cause of rhizoctonia-patch and elephant-footprint diseases of zoysiagrass, and winter-patch disease of bentgrass. Rhizoctonia AG-D is also known as the causal pathogen of other diseases such as sharp-eye-spot of cereals, foot-rot of cereals and winter-stem-rot of mat rush. Isolates of AG-D have been divided into the two subgroups AG-D (I) and AG-D (II), based on the results of cultural characteristics and pathogenicity tests. Isolates obtained from zoysiagrass exhibiting symptoms of rhizoctonia-patch disease, from bentgrass with winter-patch disease, from wheat with foot-rot disease, and from mat rush with winter-stem-rot disease were reported to belong to subgroup AG-D (I). On the other hand, isolates obtained from zoysiagrass with elephant-footprint disease were assigned to subgroup AG-D (II). To confirm the existence of these two subgroups in AG-D, the genetic structure of AG-D isolates from turfgrass and other crops was compared. RFLP analysis of the ITS region from rDNA after digestion with the restriction enzymes EcoRI, HaeIII, HhaI, HinfI, and MboI separated AG-D isolates into two groups corresponding to AG-D (I) and AG-D (II). Furthermore, other AGs except AG-Q (AGs-A, Ba, Bb, C, E, F, G, I, K, L, O, P, and R. solani AG1-IC) did not have the same patterns that were seen for the two AG-D subgroups. AG-Q isolates from bentgrass showed the same patterns as AG-D (I). The results of the RAPD analysis also revealed the existence of two groups that corresponded to AG-D (I) and AG-D (II). These analyses revealed that Rhizoctonia AG-D isolates from turfgrass could be divided into two subgroups consistent with those based on cultural characteristics and pathogenicity. In addition, isolates of foot-rot disease of wheat and isolates of winter-stem-rot disease of mat rush whose cultural characteristics were the same as those of AG-D (I) also showed similar RFLP and RAPD patterns to those of AG-D (I) isolates from turfgrass.