Effects of elevation and postharvest disturbance on the composition of vegetation established after the clear-cut harvest of conifer plantations in southern Shikoku, Japan

Large areas of previously clear-cut conifer plantations have been recently abandoned in Japan. We investigated the vegetation in the clear-cut sites and examined the environmental factors affecting species composition of the vegetation. We set up 32 study sites, each composed of several study plots (5 × 5 m), ranging from 220 m to 1060 m a.s.l. Elevation and warmth index (cumulated thermal quantity) were the primary factors affecting the species composition, with clear-cut areas showing a smaller effect in the nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMS) ordination. Two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) divided the 32 study sites into ten vegetation groups, clustering the sites by elevation or by postharvest disturbances (i.e., replanting or browsing of Sika deer). Deciduous trees and shrubs were significant in the vegetation cover at higher elevations, while they were less so in areas of high Sika deer populations. We also investigated the abundance of old-growth species, which are expected to regenerate where the clear-cut site is abandoned. Evergreen Quercus and Castanopsis saplings were abundant at low elevations (<600 m), suggesting that they will successfully regenerate. The sapling densities of Abies firma and Betula grossa were significantly large where a clear-cut site was adjacent to natural forest, which is expected to act as a seed source. This implies that degraded deciduous forests may establish after clear-cutting at intermediate and high elevations (>600 m) if the clear-cut site is distinct from seed sources. It is argued that the preservation of natural forests is critical for the regeneration of old-growth species.     

Graft-induced changes in soybean storage proteins. I. Appearance of the changes

Summary Genetic changes induced by grafting were observed in soybean storage proteins, involving the 11S acidic subunit composition and Kunitz trypsin inhibitor. Changes from Gly ₁ Gly ₁to Gly ₁ gly ₁involved the 11S acidic subunit, and those from Ti ⁰Ti⁰ to Ti ³Ti⁰ involved the KTI in the first progeny (G₁S₁) in the scion (Gly ₁ Gly ₁ Ti ⁰Ti⁰, var. Kinzu) grafted onto var. Raiden (gly ₁ gly ₁ Ti ³ Ti ³). The progenies G₁S₂ and G₂S₁ from the seeds that had been changed segregated for both proteins. However, the segregation ratio in the progenies were different from those of the F₂'s from the sexual crosses between Kinzu and Raiden used for grafting. These findings show that the changes (changed genes) were transmitted to the progenies in an unstable manner.     

Graft-induced change in fruit shape in Capsicum annuum L. I. genetic analysis by crossing

Summary Characteristics of fruit shape in the progeny from a graft-induced change were analysed. Non-pointed, typically inverted-blunt (two-lobed) fruit apex was observed in chimeric state within a scion of Yatsubusa grafted onto Spanish Paprika (inverted-blunt, three-or four-lobed fruit). This frequency of change in fruit shape was unstable in an early generation on the graft.     

Genetic nature of low capsaicin content in the variant strains induced by grafting in Capsicum annuum L.

Summary The genetic nature of low capsaicin content in variant strains induced by grafting was elucidated by crossing the G₅S₂₃ strain with the two cultivars, Yatsubusa (Capsicum annuum L. var. fasciculatum Ilish) and Spanish Paprika (C. annuum L. grossum Sendt) originally used for grafting. Decreased capsaicin synthesis was a stable characteristic for at least several generations from G₅S₁₆ to G₅S₂₃ and was transmitted to the progenies of crosses. This fact shows that the decreased capsaicin synthesis is a genetic trait in the graft-induced variant strains. The genetically dependent characteristic of pungency of the G₅S₂₃, Yatsubusa and Spanish Paprika were analysed by High Perfomance Liquid Chromatography measurement and tasting assay.Cross experiment between the G₅S₂₃ strain, hot parent Yatsubusa and sweet parent Spanish Paprika showed that pungent and sweet for pungency chracteristics are generally controlled by at least two pairs of genes. Although segregation of capsaicin content and pungency was clearly demonstrated in F₂ progenies from reciprocal crosses between the G₅S₂₃ strain and Spanish Paprika, F₂ progenies from reciprocal crosses between G₅S₂₃ and Yatsubusa were all hot and did not develop low capsaicin plants.     

Quantification of genetically modified soybean by quenching probe polymerase chain reaction

Quenching probe (QProbe) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a simple and cost-effective real-time PCR assay in comparison with other real-time PCR assays such as the TaqMan assay. We used QProbe-PCR to quantify genetically modified (GM) soybean (Roundup Ready soybean). We designed event-specific QProbes for Le1 (soy endogenous gene) and RRS (recombinant gene), and we quantified certified reference materials containing 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, and 5% GM soybean. The TaqMan assay was also applied to the same samples, and the results were compared. The accuracy of QProbe-PCR was similar to that of TaqMan assay. When GM soybean content was 0.5% or more, the relative standard deviations of QProbe-PCR were less than 20%. QProbe-PCR is sensitive enough to monitor labeling systems and has acceptable levels of accuracy and precision.     

Volcanism in response to plate flexure

Volcanism on Earth is known to occur in three tectonic settings: divergent plate boundaries (such as mid-ocean ridges), convergent plate boundaries (such as island arcs), and hot spots. We report volcanism on the 135 million-year-old Pacific Plate not belonging to any of these categories. Small alkalic volcanoes form from small percent melts and originate in the asthenosphere, as implied by their trace element geochemistry and noble gas isotopic compositions. We propose that these small volcanoes erupt along lithospheric fractures in response to plate flexure during subduction. Minor extents of asthenospheric melting and the volcanoes' tectonic alignment and age progression in the direction opposite to that of plate motion provide evidence for the presence of a small percent melt in the asthenosphere.     

Morphological and immunohistochemical features of Cryptosporidium andersoni in cattle

Light and electron microscopic features and immunohistochemical features of Cryptosporidium andersoni (C. andersoni) and host reaction in the mucosa were studied. Although the affected cattle demonstrated no apparent clinical signs, a severe infection of C. andersoni was observed in the abomasum. C. andersoni were round in shape, measured 6-8 microm in size and were mainly observed to be freely located in the gastric pits, being attached in occasional cases to the surface of the abomasum epithelium. Frequent inflammatory cells had infiltrated the lamina propria of the affected mucosa, and frequent mitotic figures were observed in epithelial cells at the dilated isthmus. To access the cell kinetics, the number of epithelial cells infected with C. andersoni were counted and compared with noninfected cattle. The number of gastric pit cells in infected cattle was significantly higher than that in the controls. The number of proliferative cells determined by the Ki-67 antigen in C. andersoni infected cattle was also significantly higher than that in the controls. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the morphology of the C. andersoni organism was common to those of other Cryptosporidium spp. Immunohistochemically, several commercial antibodies against Cryptosporidium spp. showed positive reactions at the wall of these oocysts or parasitophorous vacuoles. This report is possibly the first to discuss the prominent hyperplasia of the abomasum mucosa, as well as morphologic features of C. andersoni in cattle.     

Evaluation of the mineralizable organic nitrogen in soil using an immunological technique

Phosphate buffer-extractable organic nitrogen (PEON), which can be extracted from soil with a 67-mM neutral phosphate buffer solution, is considered to be a major source of mineralizable nitrogen (N) that is ubiquitous in soil. We have developed a Western blot analysis and enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) method for determining PEON. First, anti-PEON antibody (IgG) from a rabbit was produced using purified PEON from a volcanic ash soil. PEON was detected as a ladder-like staining pattern in the high-molecular-weight region and as a single band under 14 kDa in Western blot analysis using the anti-PEON IgG. In the ELISA assay, the anti-PEON IgG could specifically react with PEON irrespective of soil type and management. Furthermore, the absorbance at 450 nm in ELISA was highly correlated to the concentration of organic N (N_org) in phosphate extracts of different soils. We propose the immune assay using the anti-PEON IgG as a possible novel method for evaluating available N in soil.     

Factors Associated with Well-to-Well Variation in Nitrate Concentration of Groundwater in a Nitrate-Polluted District in Miyakonojo Basin, Southern Kyushu, Japan

This study monitored nitrate levels in well water and analyzed their association with well attributes (physicochemical parameters of water, location, livestock farming conditions) in a nitrate-polluted, animal industry district in central Miyakonojo Basin, southern Kyushu, Japan, to characterize the nitrate status of groundwater in the district. Water quality varied considerably among the wells, with nitrate-N concentration and natural nitrogen-15 abundance in nitrate-N (δ¹⁵N-NO₃) ranging from 1.1–44.6 mg L^?1 and 4.2–17.8‰, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between nitrate-N concentration and δ¹⁵N-NO₃. Nitrate-N concentration was higher in wells located at higher elevations, having larger areas of livestock barns within a 100-m radius and with higher animal populations. Wells in pig farms showed a higher nitrate tendency than those in the other situations (cattle farm, poultry farm, non-livestock farm and non-farmer). The results show that the nitrate status of groundwater in the district has not been drastically changed since 1996, and the nitrate in the wells is of multiple origins (e.g. chemical fertilizer, animal wastes) with a tendency for higher contribution of animal wastes in more heavily polluted wells. The results also highlight a need for further regular monitoring of groundwater quality in the district particularly for wells; (1) located at higher elevations, (2) with a large area of livestock barns nearby, (3) in farms with a high animal population and/or (4) in pig farms.     

Propagation of slow slip leading up to the 2011 M(w) 9.0 Tohoku-Oki earthquake

Many large earthquakes are preceded by one or more foreshocks, but it is unclear how these foreshocks relate to the nucleation process of the mainshock. On the basis of an earthquake catalog created using a waveform correlation technique, we identified two distinct sequences of foreshocks migrating at rates of 2 to 10 kilometers per day along the trench axis toward the epicenter of the 2011 moment magnitude (M(w)) 9.0 Tohoku-Oki earthquake in Japan. The time history of quasi-static slip along the plate interface, based on small repeating earthquakes that were part of the migrating seismicity, suggests that two sequences involved slow-slip transients propagating toward the initial rupture point. The second sequence, which involved large slip rates, may have caused substantial stress loading, prompting the unstable dynamic rupture of the mainshock.