Characterization of tetraploid plants regenerated via protoplast culture of Iris fulva and their crossability with Japanese irises

Characteristics such as flower form, size and color of outer and inner perianths, anthocyanins in outer perianths, size, color and fertility of pollen and self-fertility of diploid and tetraploid lines regenerated via protoplast culture of Iris fulva were examined and compared with those of the diploid wild line. Among these characteristics, flower form, inner and outer perianth sizes of the tetraploid lines were noticeable, because these lines had upward flower forms and bigger flowers than diploid lines. Furthermore, reciprocal crosses between diploid or tetraploid lines of I. fulva and I. ensata and those of I. fulva and I. laevigata were performed. Three seedlings were obtained from the cross of tetraploid I. fulva × diploid I. laevigata through embryo rescue. One of them was identified as the interspecific hybrid between tetraploid I. fulva and I. laevigata by flow cytometoric (FCM), cytological and molecular (RAPD) analyses. This is the first report on production of hybrids from these lines. I. fulva has unique brown flowers, and this trait could be very useful for flower color breeding of I. laevigata which lacks this color. Therefore, the hybrid of I. fulva (4×) × I. laevigata may be the best available gene source for brown color breeding of this species.     

Formation of detached tail and coiled tail of sperm in a beagle dog

The right testis and epididymis were excised from a Beagle dog that ejaculated high percentages of sperm with detached tails and with coiled tails. Cross sections of the organs were stamped on glass slides and histological examination of the organs was performed to find the portion where sperm with the abnormal tails appear. Many sperm with tails whose axoneme was exposed near the neck region were observed in the testis and they decreased in order from the caput, to the corpus, and the cauda epididymis. Sperm with detached tails and sperm with coiled tails gradually increased in the epididymis. These findings indicate that the tails of sperm with an exposed axoneme detached in the epididymis.     

Ruminal fermentation and microbial ecology of buffaloes and cattle fed the same diet

Although buffaloes and cattle are ruminants, their digestive capabilities and rumen microbial compositions are considered to be different. The purpose of this study was to compare the rumen microbial ecology of crossbred water buffaloes and cattle that were fed the same diet. Cattle exhibited a higher fermentation rate than buffaloes. Methane production and methanogen density were lower in buffaloes. Phylogenetic analysis of Fibrobacter succinogenes‐specific 16S ribosomal RNA gene clone library showed that the diversity of groups within a species was significantly different (P < 0.05) between buffalo and cattle and most of the clones were affiliated with group 2 of the species. Population densities of F. succinogenes, Ruminococcus albus and R. flavefaciens were higher until 6 h post‐feeding in cattle; however, buffaloes exhibited different traits. The population of anaerobic fungi decreased at 3 h in cattle compared to buffaloes and was similar at 0 h and 6 h. The diversity profiles of bacteria and fungi were similar in the two species. The present study showed that the profiles of the fermentation process, microbial population and diversity were similar in crossbred water buffaloes and crossbred cattle.     

Enhancement of saccharification by overexpression of poplar cellulase in sengon

Lignocellulosic material from trees has great potential to form the basis of the second generation for bioethanol production because trees produce most of the biomass on the earth. We modified the wall structure of sengon (Paraserianthes falcataria) through overexpression of poplar cellulase in the cell walls. The overexpression did not decrease cellulose content but caused a decrease in xyloglucan bound to the walls. The level of saccharification and successive ethanol production was increased in the wood of the transgenic sengon overexpressing poplar cellulase compared with that of the wild type plant, and even after delignification of the wood. We propose that a xyloglucan intercalated into cellulose microfibrils could be one of the recalcitrant components in the saccharification of lignocelluloses.     

Mechanism of formaldehyde adsorption of (+)-catechin

The reaction of (+)-catechin with formaldehyde vapor was investigated as a model reaction of formaldehyde adsorption of (+)-catechin. It was found by H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and gel permeation chromatography of the product that the vapor reaction of (+)-catechin with formaldehyde without a solvent or a catalyst proceeds via methylolation, condensation, and polymerization. This is the same as the reaction in a solvent in the presence of an acid or a base. The formation of polyoxymethylenes such as paraformaldehyde was not confirmed.     

Pathogenicity evaluation of Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum race 4 on ginger by leaf-clipping inoculation

Journal of General Plant Pathology - An easy, rapid method has been needed to test the pathogenicity of strains of Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum, the cause of serious bacterial wilt on ginger...     

Renal Tubular Cyst Formation in Newborn Rats Treated with p-Cumylphenol

In this study, we investigated the sequential changes in the development of renal tubular cysts in newborn rats treated with p-cumylphenol (PCP). Fifteen animals per sex were treated orally with 300 mg/kg/day of PCP for up to 18 days from postnatal day (PND) 4 and were sacrificed on PNDs 8, 12, 19 and 22 and after a 7 day recovery period. On PNDs 8 and 12, slight dilatation of the collecting ducts was frequently observed in the medulla and slight papillary necrosis was also noted in some cases. These dilated collecting ducts were lined with slightly hyperplastic epithelial cells. On PNDs 19 and 22, multiple large cystic changes arising from the collecting ducts in the outer medulla were seen. These cystically dilated ducts were also lined with hyperplastic epithelial cells. During the dosing period, the labeling index of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in the collecting duct epithelium was higher in the PCP-treated group than in the control group at all time points. After a 7 day recovery period, the cystic change still remained, although the cell density was decreased and the epithelial cells became flattened. On the other hand, basophilic tubules with peritubular lymphoid cell infiltration were multifocally observed in the cortex. In conclusion, PCP induced multiple renal cysts that developed in the collecting ducts of the outer medulla in neonatal rats, and it is suggested that epithelial cell proliferation may play some roles in the induction of cystic lesions.