Synthesis and herbicidal activity of new oxazinone herbicides with a long-lasting herbicidal activity against Echinochloa oryzicola

Chemical modification of the herbicide 1-[2-(benzothiazol-2-yl)isopropyl]-4-methyl-3-phenyl-5H-pyrrolin-2-one (MI-2826) has revealed a new oxazinone herbicide, 3-[2-(7-chlorobenzothiazol-2-yl)isopropyl]-2,3-dihydro-6-methyl-5-phenyl-4H-1,3-oxazin-4-one (MI-3069), for use in paddy fields. In comparing the phyototoxicity of the two herbicides to transplanted rice, the latter was superior to the former and kept the same predominant characteristic to control Echinochloa oryzicola Vasin for a long period of time owing to its long-lasting residual effect.     

Glyphosate‐resistant Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) on rice paddy levees in Japan

The rapid range expansion of naturalized Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) in farmland is a serious problem in Fukuroi city in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Glyphosate has been used to control Italian ryegrass in the levees of rice paddy fields and wheat fields for ～20 years, but this weed in Fukuroi city is poorly controlled by glyphosate. In order to elucidate the level of resistance to glyphosate in Italian ryegrass populations, seed bioassays and a foliar application experiment, using seeds collected from 16 wild populations in and around Fukuroi city and from three susceptible cultivars, were conducted. For the susceptible cultivars and one population from a site where glyphosate had not been applied for >10 years, the shoot length in the seed bioassays was greatly suppressed at a glyphosate concentration of 10 mg ai L^?1 and no seedling survived after the foliar application of glyphosate at a rate of 2.3 kg ai ha^?1. Nine wild populations from levees in the southern part of Fukuroi city showed vigorous shoot growth at a glyphosate concentration of 10 mg ai L^?1 and had at least a 78% survival rate after the application of glyphosate at 2.3 kg ai ha^?1. Four wild populations from levees in the northern part of Fukuroi city showed a slight suppression of the shoot growth as a result of the glyphosate treatment and their survival rates ranged from 20 to 64%. The results suggested that resistance to glyphosate has evolved in the wild populations of Italian ryegrass that are growing on the levees. This is the first report of a glyphosate‐resistant weed in Japan.     

Dietary supplementation with cellooligosaccharide improves growth performance in weanling pigs

Nondigestible oligosaccharides are not digested in the small intestine, but are fermented by bacteria colonizing in the large intestine. Physiological effects of non‐digestible oligosaccharides have been considered to be conferred by the fermentation of bacteria colonizing in the large intestine. Because cellooligosaccharide is a non‐digestible oligosaccharide, various physiological effects are expected. However, physiological functions of cellooligosaccharide are not well understood. This experiment was conducted to clarify the effect of dietary supplementation with cellooligosaccharide on the growth performance in weanling pigs. The result showed that average daily gain was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in pigs fed a diet supplemented with cellooligosaccharide than in pigs without cellooligosaccharide. There was a tendency to increasing average daily feed intake in pigs with cellooligosaccharide, though the significant difference was not detected (P = 0.18). Feed efficiency and nutrient digestibility of feces and ileum were not changed by feeding cellooligosaccharide. In addition, blood urea nitrogen was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in pigs fed the diet supplemented with cellooligosaccharide than in pigs without cellooligosaccharide. The concentrations of acetic and iso‐valeric acids in the cecum of pigs fed the diet with cellooligosaccharide tended to be higher (P < 0.10) than those without cellooligosaccharide. The results obtained in this study demonstrated that dietary supplementation with cellooligosaccharide improves growth performance in weanling pigs.     

Cellular functions of mitogen-activated protein kinases and protein tyrosine phosphatases in ovarian granulosa cells

A number of endocrine and paracrine factors regulate the follicular growth and atresia, which are closely associated with granulosa cell survival and apoptosis. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the intracellular events induced by these factors are poorly understood. Here, we describe the correlation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activities with granulosa cell survival and apoptosis, and the cellular functions of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) in these cells based on our recent data. MAPKs play key roles in various cellular responses because numerous extracellular stimuli are integrated into MAPKs. The protein phospho-Tyr level regulated by protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) and PTPs is a major control mechanism for processes as diverse as cell survival, proliferation, differentiation, and metabolism. Although PTKs are critically involved in granulosa cell survival and proliferation, there are no reports indicating the roles of PTPs in the ovary except for ours. Information about MAPKs and PTPs in these cells will provide a basis for the understanding of the molecular mechanisms controlling the fate of follicles.     

Effect of Fucoidan Extracted from Mozuku on Experimental Cartilaginous Tissue Injury

We investigated the effect of fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide, on acceleration of healing of experimental cartilage injury in a rabbit model. An injured cartilage model was surgically created by introduction of three holes, one in the articular cartilage of the medial trochlea and two in the trochlear sulcus of the distal femur. Rabbits in three experimental groups (F groups) were orally administered fucoidan of seven different molecular weights (8, 50, 146, 239, 330, 400, or 1000 kD) for 3 weeks by screening. Control (C group) rabbits were provided water ad libitum. After the experimental period, macroscopic examination showed that the degree of filling in the fucoidan group was higher than that in the C group. Histologically, the holes were filled by collagen fiber and fibroblasts in the C group, and by chondroblasts and fibroblasts in the F groups. Image analysis of Alcian blue- and safranin O-stained F-group specimens showed increased production of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and proteoglycans (PGs), respectively. Some injured holes were well repaired both macroscopically and microscopically and were filled with cartilage tissues; cartilage matrices such as PGs and GAGs were produced in groups F 50, F 146, and F 239. Thus, fucoidan administration enhanced morphologically healing of cartilage injury.     

Granulocyte responses to experimental injection of live and formalin-killed bacteria in carp (Cyprinus carpio)

The objective of the study was to investigate the dynamics of changes in number of granulocytes in bacterial infections of carp (Cyprinus carpio). Carp were inoculated with non-pathogenic or pathogenic bacteria and changes in type I (neutrophils) and type II granulocyte (basophils/eosinophils) counts in kidney, circulating blood and peritoneal cavity were assessed. After the injection of non-pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli), the number of type I and II cells in blood increased after 6-12h, but returned to the control level after 24-48 h. In contrast, after the injection of pathogenic bacteria (Aeromonas hydrophila), the number of type I cells initially increased followed by an increase in the number of type II cells. The peak counts of type I and II cells were at 12 and 24h after the injection, respectively. When the fish were given serial-injections of formalin-killed bacteria at 12-h intervals, the type II cells also predominantly increased and remained at high levels, following the peak count of type I cells.     

Soil aggregate stability under different landscapes and vegetation types in a semiarid area in northeastern Syria

The influence of landscapes and vegetation types on soil aggregate stability was studied at 55 sites in rangeland and 18 sites in cropland in northeastern Syria. For the measurement of soil aggregate stability, the wet-sieving test was applied to air-dried and prewetted aggregates. As soil properties, pH, EC, organic carbon content, inorganic carbon content, sand content were determined. Slope gradients at all the sites and soil surface coverage at the sites in the rangeland were also determined. Due to the slaking process, the stability of air-dried aggregates with a mean value of 47.5 × 10^-2 kg kg^-1 was lower than that of prewetted ones with a mean value of 89.8 × 10^-2 kg kg^-1. The absence of a significant relationship between the soil aggregate stability and soil chemical properties in the cropland suggested the influence of tillage. Principal component analysis and stepwise multiple regression analysis for the sites in the rangeland indicated that the air-dried aggregate stability could be described by a coverage factor and slope factor (r=0.76). The contribution of the coverage factor suggested that the increase of the soil organic matter content through the addition of plant materials and protection of the soil surface from the raindrop impact could enhance the soil aggregate stability. The positive contribution of the slope factor implied that unstable aggregates on steeper slopes had already been translocated, while stable aggregates remained. Thus, for the preservation of the soil aggregate stability, the soil surface coverage should be improved especially on gentler slopes.