Effect of thinning on cultivar differences of green stem disorder in soybean

ABSTRACT

Green stem disorder (GSD) in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) negatively affects harvest efficiency and seed appearances. Breeding GSD-insensitive cultivars is expected to be an effective countermeasure to GSD. However, it is difficult to stably detect cultivar differences in GSD under conventional field conditions because the occurrences of GSD largely vary by location and year. The thinning effect, which had been reported to promote GSD, may help accurate phenotyping for occurrences of GSD in breeding. To verify this possibility, the thinning treatment was applied to four cultivars, the GSD severity values of which were evaluated in an independent study by another group. As a result, the cultivar differences in GSD severity were generally comparable between the present and previous studies. However, the difference was more evident, with the thinning treatment exhibiting the GSD score of 2.8 of ‘Hatsusayaka’ compared with the GSD score of 3.6 of ‘Sachiyutaka’, while the scores of those cultivars were similar without the thinning treatment. A positive correlation between GSD severity and N concentration in the main stem could be seen but the increasing rate of GSD score with the N concentration in the main stem differed between cultivars. Thus, although more cultivars need to be tested to prove, the thinning treatment could be useful as a phenotyping technique in the breeding of GSD-insensitive cultivars.     

Growth pattern and seasonal weight changes of the feral raccoon (Procyon lotor) in Hokkaido,Japan

The growth pattern and seasonal weight fluctuations of feral raccoons in Hokkaido were evaluated between 1999 and 2001. The growth rates inbody length and body weight were described for juveniles (young of the year) and yearlings (animals born in the previous season) using the Gompertz growth model. The asymptotic body sizes for males were greater than those for females. Young raccoons born during spring in the study area could potentially grow up to their asymptotic size at the beginning of their first winter, but they would not reach their full adult sizes until at least their second fall. Adult raccoons (animals > or = 2 -year-old) had seasonal weight fluctuations with annual weight loss of 25% to 28% of mean maximum weights in west-central Hokkaido, but these result would be an underestimate of the degree of annual weight fluctuations. Juvenile raccoons can be distinguished from the older animals by measuring body length or body weight during fall in Hokkaido.     

Purification and Partial Characterization of Figaren, an RNase-like Novel Antiviral Protein from Cucumis figarei

An antiviral protein, designated figaren, was purified from leaves of Cucumis figarei and partially characterized. Column chromatography, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and periodic acid-Schiff staining revealed that figaren is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 23 kDa. Figaren was stable at pH 2 to 12 and below 90°C. N-terminal amino acid sequencing indicated that figaren contained the conserved region for the S-allele-associated ribonucleases (RNases). In-gel RNase assay showed that figaren digested yeast RNAs. Figaren also digested double-stranded RNAs extracted from Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)-infected tobacco tissues. Fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed that figaren and RNases (beef pancrease and RNase T₁ at 1 μg/ml similarly inhibited CMV infection in cowpea leaves. Figaren and the RNases at 5-500 ng/ml had similar inhibitory effect on local lesion formation by CMV. These data suggest that figaren is a novel RNase-like antiviral protein. Received 10 October 2000/ Accepted in revised form 6 February 2001     

Roles of central histaminergic system in glucose metabolisms and food intake in sheep

The neurotransmitter histamine is thought to be involved in the homeostatic regulation of energy balance. The present study was conducted to examine whether the central histaminergic system is involved in the regulation glucose metabolisms and food intake in ruminants. Thioperamide, a presynaptic H3‐receptor antagonist, was intracerebroventricularly infused at a rate of 68 μg/min for 3 h, beginning at 11.00 hours, into castrated Suffolk rams (48–55 kg bodyweight) accustomed to being fed alfalfa hay cubes (2% of body weight) at 12.00 hours. The food intake was measured every 60 min for 2 h after the commencement of feeding (12.00 hours). Blood samples were taken through a jugular vein catheter every 10 or 20 min during the experiment. Plasma glucose levels were significantly (P < 0.05) greater in the thioperamide‐treated group than in the control. The post‐prandial insulin increment was significantly (P < 0.05) greater in the thioperamide‐treated group than in the saline‐treated control. The food intake of the thioperamide‐treated group was significantly (P < 0.05) less than that of the control in the period from 60 to 120 min after feeding. In conclusion, the central histaminergic system is involved in the regulation of glucose metabolisms and food intake in ruminants.     

An annual faecal 16S amplicon sequencing of individual sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) demonstrates the feeding behaviours against eukaryotes in natural environments

To fill in the gaps in knowledge as to how individual sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus behave consuming eukaryotic food sources in natural environments, eukaryotic communities in the faeces of sea cucumbers and sediments were analysed through one whole year based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the organelle genomes. A total of 390 eukaryotic features were obtained, and 99.7% of the features were assigned to chloroplasts. The eukaryotic communities in faeces and sediments showed seasonal fluctuations through one whole year based on Bray‐Curtis distance and community composition. Comparison of eukaryotic communities between faeces and sediments showed that 12 families including Chaetocerotaceae and Laminariaceae were more abundant in faeces than in sediments, suggesting that sea cucumbers may choose sediment containing these algal taxa more often compared with others in natural environments. All features of Laminariaceae were assigned to Saccharina japonica, which is consistent with the fact that this alga is one of the most suitable diets in the aquaculture of A. japonicus. Assessments of individual 16S amplicon sequences of both faecal and sediment samples could be an alternative tool to help us understand dynamic feeding behaviours of sea cucumber populations in contributing to bioresource conservation and development of a superior approach to aquaculture.     

A case of juvenile form of dilated cardiomyopathy in a 6-month-old Shiba Inu dog

A 6-month-old Shiba Inu dog was brought to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital because of a cough, exercise intolerance, and pulmonary edema. The dog had a Levine 2/6 systolic murmur. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed left atrial and ventricular dilatation (left atrium to aortic ratio: 2.8), mitral and tricuspid valve regurgitation, and severe left ventricular myocardial hypokinesia (fractional shortening was 11.8%). Bubble contrast echocardiography did not reveal a congenital shunt; therefore, the dog was clinically diagnosed with early onset dilated cardiomyopathy. From the first visit, the dog was treated with pimobendan, taurine, torasemide, and isosorbide dinitrate. After 435 days, echocardiography revealed that systolic function had not improved. On Day 465, atrial fibrillation was confirmed via electrocardiogram, and treatment with diltiazem hydrochloride was initiated. The dog continued to appear clinically stable thereafter, until it died suddenly 1087 days after the initial visit. A postmortem histopathological examination identified severe enlargement of the left atrial and ventricular chambers as well as attenuated wavy fibers in the ventricular myocardium, which confirmed dilated cardiomyopathy in a juvenile. This is the first report of a juvenile form of dilated cardiomyopathy in a Shiba Inu dog. This case report provides evidence that the extended prognosis of this dog differed from that in previously reported cases of dilated cardiomyopathy in young dogs.Key clinical message:This is the first reported case of a juvenile form of dilated cardiomyopathy in a Shiba Inu dog. This report provides evidence that the prognosis of this dog differed from that in previously reported cases of dilated cardiomyopathy in young dogs.     

Effects of irradiance of various wavelengths from light-emitting diodes on the growth of the harmful dinoflagellate <Emphasis Type="Italic">Heterocapsa circularisquama</Emphasis> and the diatom <Emphasis Type="Italic">Skeletonema costatum</Emphasis>

ABSTRACT:   We investigated the effects of specific light wavelengths from light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on the growth of the dinoflagellate Heterocapsa circularisquama , which kills bivalves, and the diatom Skeletonema costatum , which is an important food source for bivalves. Growth of H. circularisquama was obviously inhibited at 590 nm and a photon flux density less than 75 μmol quanta/m²/s. However, growth of S. costatum was not suppressed by irradiance from any LEDs tested from near-ultraviolet to near-infrared wavelengths at 75 μmol quanta/m²/s. The growth rate of H. circularisquama in an experimental treatment group with irradiance provided by both cool-white fluorescent lamps (12:12 h L : D cycle) and a 590-nm LED (continuous irradiance) was 0.43/day. In the control group with irradiance provided only by cool-white fluorescent lamps (12:12 h L : D cycle), the growth rate was 0.63/day, indicating that growth of H. circularisquama was suppressed by 590 nm (less than 75 μmol quanta/m²/s) irradiance from the LED and the continuous irradiance. The use of 590-nm LEDs in bivalve culture at irradiance levels less than 75 μmol quanta/m²/s might encourage the growth of the useful diatom S. costatum without stimulating growth of the harmful dinoflagellate H. circularisquama .     

Photoassimilate partitioning in hypernodulation mutant of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) NOD1-3 and its parent williams in relation to nitrate inhibition of nodule growth

Nodule growth of a hypernodulating soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) mutant line NOD1-3 was compared to that of its wild-type parent cv. Williams from 14 to 18 days after planting (DAP) in the absence of nitrate treatment (hereafter referred to as “0 mM treatment”) or with 5 mM nitrate treatment. The growth rate determined by increase in the diameter of the nodules was relatively lower in the mutant NOD1-3 than that of the parent Williams under nitrogen-free conditions (0 mM nitrate). The inhibition of nodule growth by 5 mM nitrate started at 1 d after the onset of the nitrate treatment in Williams, while the inhibition did not occur before the application of the nitrate treatment for 2 d in NOD1-3. The nodule growth was completely inhibited after 2 d in Williams and after 3 d in NOD1-3 during the 5 mM nitrate treatment period. After 4 d of 5 mM nitrate treatment, the nodule dry weight decreased by 22% in NOD1-3 and by 58% in Williams, respectively. The treatment with 5 mM nitrate decreased the acetylene reduction activity (ARA) in NOD1-3 by 60% per plant and by 50% per nodule g DW and these parameters were less sensitive to the treatment than those in Williams in which the inhibition rate was 90% per plant and 80% per nodule g DW. These results indicate that NOD1-3 is partially nitrate-tolerant in terms of individual nodule growth as well as total nodule dry weight and Nz fixation activity. A whole shoot of Williams and NOD1-3 plants was exposed to ¹⁴CO₂ for 120 min followed by 0 or 5 mM nitrate treatment for 2 d, and the partitioning of the photoassimilates among the organs was analyzed. Under 0 mM nitrate treatment, the percentages of the distribution of ¹⁴C radioactivity between the nodules and roots were 63 and 37% in Williams and 89 and 11% in NOD1-3. Under the 5 mM nitrate conditions, the percentages of the distribution of ¹⁴C between the nodules and roots changed to 14 and 86% in Williams and 39 and 61% in NOD1-3, respectively. These results indicated that the hypernodulating mutant NOD1-3 supplied a larger amount of photoassimilates to the nodules than to the roots under nitrogen-free conditions, and that the nitrate depression of photoassimilate transport to the nodules was less sensitive than that of the parent line.