Anthracnose of salt-wort (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Salsola komarovii</Emphasis>) caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Colletotrichum truncatum</Emphasis>

In July 2006, black rot was observed on the leaves of 4-leaf-stage seedlings of salt-wort (Salsola komarovii) in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. We isolated two single-conidial isolates from the diseased leaves. Although colony appearance of the isolates was different from that of each other, both isolates were identified as Colletotrichum truncatum by morphology and molecular similarity. After inoculation of healthy salt-wort plants with the isolates, the isolates were reisolated from symptomatic plants. We thus propose a new disease, anthracnose of salt-wort.     

脱水热处理改善鱼皮明胶可食膜的性能

为了改良鱼皮明胶可食膜的性能,拓宽可食膜的资源,以罗非鱼皮为原料提取明胶制备可食膜,考察了脱水热处理对其理化性质的影响。结果发现罗非鱼皮明胶中亚氨基酸含量为19.3%,主要由β链和α链组成,制备的可食膜其抗拉伸强度（tensile strength,TS）达37.5 MPa。80℃热处理对明胶膜的理化性质无明显的影响。当热处理温度提高到100℃或120℃时,伴随热处理明胶膜的TS逐渐增大而溶解性逐渐降低。在热处理过程中,膜的颜色略微变黄,但断裂延伸率和透明度却无明显的变化。SDS-PAGE 图谱和明胶膜在蛋白变性剂中的溶解性结果显示,高于100℃的热处理使明胶α链和β链发生交联,增强疏水相互作用和共价键在明胶膜中的贡献,使膜的玻璃化转变温度得到提高。以上结果表明,脱水热处理可改善鱼皮明胶膜的机械性能、耐水性能和热稳定性,有利于拓宽可食膜的资源和鱼皮明胶膜的应用。     

Leaf mold of tomato caused by races 4 and 4.11 of Passalora fulva in Japan

Leaf mold of tomato was found on cv. Momotaro-fight in 2003 in Ehime Prefecture. The symptoms were marginal indefinite yellowing on the upper leaf surface, and downy, gray to brown sporulation on the lower surface underneath the spots. The symptoms and morphology were the same as seen with Passalora fulva. The fungal isolates were identified as races 2.4, 2.4.11, 4, and 4.11 by inoculation tests. Races 4 and 4.11 have never before been found in Japan.     

Immunohistochemical evaluation of canine ovarian tumors

Canine ovarian tumors (epithelial tumor, sex-cord stromal tumor, germ cell tumor) classifying into 9 histological types were examined immunohistochemically using placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), cytokeratin7 (CK7), desmin, S100, AE1/AE3, inhibin alpha, vimentin, and alfa feto-protein (AFP). The papillary and tubular types observed in epithelial tumors were immunoreactive for desmin and AE1/AE3. The papillary type was also immunoreactive for PLAP and CK7. The solid type, nest type, cord type, palisade type, cystic type and spindle type, which were observed in sex-cord stromal tumors, showed a positive immunoreaction for S100 but little or no positive immunoreaction for inhibin alpha with an exception of positive result in the palisade type. Most of the sex-cord stromal tumors were AE1/AE3-positive except for the palisade type. In the cobblestone type observed in germ cell tumors, only vimentin and AFP were positive. The present study elucidated the detailed histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of canine ovarian tumors.     

Immunohistochemical evaluation of canine ovarian cysts

To clarify the immunohistochemical characteristics of canine ovarian cysts, 109 canine ovarian cysts (57 cysts of subsurface epithelial structures: SES, 26 graafian follicle cysts, 12 cystic rete ovarii and 14 cysts difficult to classify morphologically) were examined regarding their lining cells immunohistochemically using antibodies against placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), S100, inhibin alpha, desmin and AE1/AE3. Both cysts of SES and cystic rete ovarii had a positive immunoreaction to desmin and AE1/AE3, whereas all cysts all but graafian follicle cysts were negative for inhibin alpha. PLAP-positive immunoreaction was observed only in cysts of SES. Graafian follicle cysts had a positive immunoreaction to inhibin alpha, but were negative for PLAP, desmin and AE1/AE3. Fourteen cysts were difficult to classify morphologically because these cysts had single-squamous lining cells and lacked other morphological characteristics. However, these unclassified cysts were immunohistochemically divided into two groups, including positive and negative cysts, by the reactivity of PLAP. The PLAP-positive cysts were considered large cysts of SES. These results suggest that PLAP was a useful marker for classification of cysts of SES, although cysts originating from SES are not always positive for this antigen.     

Developmental and tissue-specific changes in oxidative parameters and antioxidant systems in tomato fruits grown under salt stress

In tomato plants, salt stress has been induced to improve the quality of fruit. In general, plants under salt stress produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). Plants have their own ROS scavenging systems (antioxidant systems). In tomato plants, salt-induced changes in antioxidant systems have been examined extensively in leaves and roots; however, detailed information about salt-stressed fruits is not available. We examined the salt-induced changes in the antioxidant systems of the pericarp (containing epidermis) and pulp (containing seeds, placenta, and locule) during fruit ripening. Salt treatments were applied by adding 100 mM NaCl to the nutrient solution. In the pericarp and pulp, lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide content were not increased by salt stress during ripening, indicating the absence of salt-induced oxidative stress. In the pericarp, the activities of superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) and ascorbate (ASA)–glutathione (GSH) cycle-related enzymes increased with salt stress at the turning stage. Thus, at the turning stage, the antioxidant system may contribute to the enzymatic reaction involved ASA–GSH cycle. However, during the red and over-ripe fruit stages, salt stress produces little effect on antioxidant enzymes. In addition, the concentrations of antioxidants, such as the reduced form of ASA and GSH, increased during ripening in the control fruit, but those in the salt-stressed fruit remained unchanged. Therefore, the antioxidant system may contribute to the nonenzymatic reactions such as ASA and GSH taking place during the red and over-ripe fruit stages. In contrast, in the pulp, salt stress produces little effect on antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes. These results indicate that the salt-stressed fruit has protection mechanisms against salt-induced oxidative stress during ripening in both the pericarp and pulp. Salt-induced changes in antioxidant systems differed between the pericarp and pulp.     

Seasonal and cultivar differences in salt-induced changes in antioxidant system in tomato

Salt stress has been applied to improve the quality of tomato, but detailed information about the changes in antioxidant systems in salt-stressed fruit is not available. In this study, we examined the effect of salt stress on oxidative parameters, antioxidant content and antioxidant enzymes in two tomato cultivars during two cropping seasons. Salt stress was applied by adding 100 mM NaCl to the nutrient solution. We show that tomato fruits have antioxidant systems to protect themselves from salt-induced oxidative stress. This finding is supported by the lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide levels, which remained unchanged under salt stress conditions. However, these antioxidant systems depend on cultivars and cropping seasons. In the summer crop, the antioxidant systems in salt-stressed ‘House Momotaro’ can be attributed to the enzymatic reactions of ascorbate peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.11) and glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.2), while those in salt-stressed ‘Mini Carol’ can be attributed to their non-enzymatic reactions of ascorbate and glutathione. In the winter crop, the antioxidant systems were not influenced by salt stress in either cultivar. However, the proline content increased in both cropping seasons and cultivars. The seasonal and cultivar differences of salt-induced changes in the antioxidant systems may result from cultivar differences in antioxidant capacities and the interaction between salt stress and growth conditions such as temperature and solar radiation.     

Damping-off of cabbage plug seedlings caused by Pythium ultimum var. ultimum in Japan

In October 2004, Pythium ultimum var. ultimum was isolated from rotten stems of cabbage plug seedlings in a commercial nursery in Mie Prefecture (Japan). The isolated fungus was then used to inoculate seedlings and subsequently reisolated from the seedlings with the damping-off disease, showing that P. ultimum var. ultimum is a new pathogen causing cabbage seedling disease.     

Autolysis of krill protein from North Pacific krill Euphausia pacifica during protein recovery via isoelectric solubilization/precipitation

Autolysis of North Pacific krill protein in acidic and alkaline solubilization during protein recovery via isoelectric solubilization/precipitation was investigated. Pronounced auto-degradation of myosin heavy chain and actin from krill protein was observed at alkaline pH values (pH 9.0–12.0), with maximum autolytic activity at about pH 12.0. Meanwhile, proteolytic activity in krill protein at pH 12.0 was observed at low temperatures, suggesting a possible cause for the autolysis of krill protein during the protein recovery process. Three major proteinases were detected by zymographic analysis of myofibrillar protein, with approximate molecular weights of 26 kDa (KP-1), 18 kDa (KP-2) and 17 kDa (KP-3). KP-3 was active over a pH range from pH 5.0–12.0, suggesting that it may be responsible for the autolysis of krill protein during alkaline-induced protein recovery. Further study on substrate specificity and inhibitory specificity of KP-3 showed that KP-3 is serine type proteinase.     

Effects of anesthesia and surgery on U crit performance and MO2 in chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta

Telemetry is a useful technique for elucidating salmon behavior, but the recovery periods before fish can be safely released after the attachment of telemetry devices have not yet been established. Reported recovery times vary widely, from 2 h to 13 days. We examined how anesthesia and surgery to attach external electromyogram (EMG) transmitters affected chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) recovery based on three physiological parameters. Fish subjected to anesthesia plus EMG transmitter attachment (EMG group), anesthesia only (AO group), and no handling (control) were placed in a swim tunnel. Critical swimming speed (U _crit), oxygen consumption (MO₂), and muscle activity (EMG values) were assessed 0, 1, 6, 12, 24, and 30 h after treatment. The MO₂ in the EMG and AO groups was higher than in the control group 1 h after treatment, but did not differ significantly from the control in all subsequent trials (from 6 to 30 h after treatment). Values for U _crit and EMG were not significantly different from the control group in any of the trials conducted 1–30 h after treatment. We concluded that chum salmon had regained their normal swimming ability by 6 h after treatment and could be safely released into the natural environment.