Insecticidal effect of phthalides and furanocoumarins from Angelica acutiloba against Drosophila melanogaster

Insecticidal activity of Angelica acutiloba extract and its constituents was investigated and compared with that of rotenone. Bioassay-guided isolation of the chloroform extract of A. acutiloba against larvae of Drosophila melanogaster afforded two phthalides, (Z)-butylidenephthalide (1) and (Z)-ligustilide (2), and two furanocoumarins, xanthotoxin (3) and isopimpinellin (4). The structures of these compounds were established by spectroscopic analysis. The isolated compounds 1, 2, 3, and 4 exhibited LC(50) values of 0.94, 2.54, 3.35, and 0.82 micromol/mL of diet concentration against larvae of D. melanogaster, respectively. Against both sexes (males/females, 1:1) of adults (5-7 days old), compound 1 showed the most potent activity with a LD(50) value of 0.84 microg/adult. Compound 1 is a more active insecticide than rotenone (LD(50) = 3.68 microg/adult) and has potential as a novel insect control agent. However, compound 2 was inactive against adults. The structure-activity relationship of phthalides isolated indicated that the aromaticity appeared to play an important role in the activity of both larvae and adults. To determine the insecticide mode of action for acute adulticidal activity, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity was also investigated in vitro, and the result indicated that the acute adulticidal activity of compounds 3 and 4 was due to the inhibition of AChE.     

水稻耐冷性研究Ⅲ.特定颖花结实率作为耐冷性指标的分子依据

以云南稻种耐冷性资源昆明小白谷及弱耐冷性的日本品种十和田配制的杂交F2代为材料,采用159个RFLP及SSR分子标记构建的连锁图和STATISTIC等分析软件,以单株结实率作为耐冷性评价指标.分析结果显示单株结实率与单株特定颖花结实率之间的相关系数(r)为0.8364;与耐冷性(以单株结实率为指标)相关的分子标记有43个,分布在8条染色体     

Application of activable tracers to investigate radial movement of minerals in the stem of Japanese cedar (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptomeria japonica</Emphasis>)

Two activable tracers, Rb and Eu, were injected into the sapwood of Japanese cedars (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) to investigate the radial movement of minerals in their stems in the resting period. Eight trees of four cultivars, two of which genetically form wet heartwood, were treated near the end of the growing period. At 40 days after the treatment, Rb was detected in the outer heartwood, whereas Eu was not. Radial movement of Rb was more rapid in trees with wet heartwood than in those with normal heartwood. At 204 days after the treatment, more Rb was detected in the heartwood than was found on the first sampling, whereas no Eu was detected in the heartwood. The difference in radial movement between Rb and Eu was considered mainly to be the result of selective transport of beneficial minerals by Japanese cedar. The difference in the rate of radial movement of Rb between wet and normal heartwood became more conspicuous at 204 days after treatment. We concluded that the movement of Rb from the sapwood to the outer heartwood was by active transport through the rays, whereas that in the heartwood was by diffusion due to the gradient of Rb concentration.     

Production and characterization of an alloplasmic and monosomic addition line of Brassica rapa carrying the cytoplasm and one chromosome of Moricandia arvensis

Intergeneric hybridization was performed between Moricandia arvensis and four inbred lines of Brassica rapa following embryo rescue. Three F₁ hybrid plants were developed from three cross combinations of M. arvensis × B. rapa, and amphidiploids were synthesized by colchicine treatment. Six BC₁ plants were generated from a single cross combination of amphidipolid × B. rapa ‘Ko1-303’ through embryo rescue. One BC₂ and three BC₃ plants were obtained from successive backcrossing with B. rapa ‘Ko1-303’ employing embryo rescue. Alloplasmic and monosomic addition lines of B. rapa (Allo-MALs, 2n = 21) were obtained from backcrossed progeny of three BC₃ plants (2n = 21, 22 and 23) without embryo rescue. An alloplasmic line of B. rapa (2n = 20) degenerated before floliation on 1/2 MS medium due to severe chlorosis. Allo-MALs of B. rapa (2n = 21) showed stable male sterility without any abnormal traits in vegetative growth and female fertility. Molecular analyses revealed that the same chromosome and cytoplasm of M. arvensis had been added to each Allo-MAL of B. rapa. This Allo-MAL of B. rapa may be useful material for producing cytoplasmic male sterile lines of B. rapa.     

Occurrence of metaxenia and false hybrids in Brassica juncea L. cv. Kikarashina × B. napus

Imported genetically modified (GM) canola (Brassica napus) is approved by Japanese law. Some GM canola varieties have been found around importation sites, and there is public concern that these may have any harmful effects on related species such as reduction of wild relatives. Because B. juncea is distributed throughout Japan and is known to be high crossability with B. napus, it is assumed to be a recipient of B. napus. However, there are few reports for introgression of cross-combination in B. juncea × B. napus. To assess crossability, we artificially pollinated B. juncea with B. napus. After harvesting a large number of progeny seeds, we observed false hybrids and metaxenia of seed coats. Seed coat color was classified into four categories and false hybrids were confirmed by morphological characteristics and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Furthermore, the occurrence of false hybrids was affected by varietal differences in B. napus, whereas that of metaxenia was related to hybridity. Therefore, we suggest that metaxenia can be used as a marker for hybrid identification in B. juncea L. cv. Kikarashina × B. napus. Our results suggest that hybrid productivity in B. juncea × B. napus should not be evaluated by only seed productivity, crossability ought to be assessed the detection of true hybrids.     

Gelation of low salt soluble proteins from scallop adductor muscle in relation to its freshness

ABSTRACT: The low salt extract from scallop striated adductor muscle contained extra proteins in addition to sarcoplasmic proteins and was turned into a gel upon standing or immediately by the addition of Ca²⁺. The amount of extra protein, which was composed of a large amount of actin and a small amount of myosin, decreased with a decrease in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content in the muscle during storage at 5°C. Actin was easily extracted from scallop myofibrils in low salt solution with ATP at 1 mM or above. Furthermore, ATP was required to induce the gelation of the low salt extract. A visual observation of the gelation of low salt extract is therefore a simple and easy method to inspect prerigor state of scallop adductor muscle.     

Comparison of amino acid profiles between rats subjected to forced running and voluntary running exercises

It has been suspected that in comparison with glucose or fatty acids, the levels of amino acids may readily change with different forms of exercise. In the present study, we measured the concentrations of amino acids, glucose, triglycerides, total protein and total cholesterol in the blood and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of rats subjected to forced running exercise on a treadmill, and voluntary running exercise using a wheel, with a constant running distance of 440 m. Rats that performed no running and rats subjected to immobilization stress were used as controls. We observed a few significant changes in the levels of plasma glucose, triglycerides, total protein and total cholesterol in all groups. Whereas, plasma amino acid levels were significantly changed by exercise and stress, especially during the light period. The plasma levels of many amino acids were specifically increased by forced running; some were decreased by immobilization stress. Few amino acids showed similar changes in their levels as a result of voluntary running. In addition, there was a significant difference in the degree of amino acid imbalance between blood and CSF. These results provide the first information on changes in levels of amino acids in plasma and CSF resulting from forced and voluntary exercises.