Phenolic compounds and terpenes in soil organic horizon layers under silver birch,Norway spruce and Scots pine

The aim of this study was to monitor the concentration of some plant secondary metabolites, such as low- and high-molecular-weight phenolics, condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins), and sesqui-, di- and triterpenes, in litter (L), fermentation (F) and humified (H) layers of the soil organic horizon in stands dominated by silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.), Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), and from samples taken from birch leaves and spruce and pine needles. Concentrations of low- and high-molecular-weight phenolics and terpenes from the four most dominant species of ground vegetation taken from the stands were also determined. In general, the L layer showed higher concentrations of both phenolic compounds and terpenes than the F and H layers did. Concentrations of terpenes decreased relatively more with soil depth than did concentrations of total phenolics (=low + high) or condensed tannins. Of the total phenolics, the proportion of low-molecular-weight phenolics increased from the L to the H layer with all tree species. Concentrations of all terpenes were highest under pine and lowest under birch. Concentrations of the studied secondary metabolites in the ground vegetation species were similar under different tree species. Blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) and lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) contained considerably higher concentrations of total phenolics than did feather moss (Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt.) and wavy hair-grass (Deschampsia flexuosa (L.) Trin.). Concentration of total phenolics in soil correlated positively with soil respiration and microbial biomass C, and terpenes showed positive correlation with soil C-to-N ratio.     

Relation between tacticity and fiber diameter in melt-electrospinning of polypropylene

Electrospun atactic polypropylene (PP) fibers are thicker than those obtained from isotactic PP, although the viscosity of molten PPs is almost same. Thus we focused on the effect of tacticity of PP on fiber diameters. The PP samples with various tacticity were prepared by changing the blend ratio of isotactic PP and atactic PP. Melt-electrospinning is performed by using blended samples, and then electrospun fibers were observed by scanning electron microscope to evaluate fiber diameter of obtained fibers. It is clear that the diameter of electrospun PP fibers decreases as high tacticity content of PP increases. This result suggests that tacticity of samples is an important factor to control the electrospun fiber diameter.     

Identification of SSR markers linked to the Phytophthora resistance gene Rps1-d in soybean

To identify markers for the Phytophthora resistance gene, Rps1‐d, 123 F_{2 : 3} families were produced from a cross between Glycine max (L.) Merr. ‘Tanbakuro’ (a Japanese traditional black soybean) and PI103091 (Rps1‐d) as an experimental population. The results of virulence tests produced 33 homozygous resistant, 61 segregating and 29 homozygous susceptible F_{2 : 3} families. The chi‐squared test gave a goodness‐of‐fit for the expected ratio of 1 : 2 : 1 for resistant, segregating and susceptible traits, suggesting that the inheritance of Rps1‐d is controlled by a monogenic dominant gene. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) analyses of this trait were carried out using the cultivars ‘Tanbakuro’ and PI103091. Sixteen SSR primers, which produced 19 polymorphic fragments between the two parents, were identified from 41 SSR primers in MLG N. Eight SSR markers were related to Rps1‐d, based on 32 of the 123 F_{2 : 3} families, consisting of 16 homozygous resistant and 16 homozygous susceptible lines. The remaining 91 families were analysed for these eight markers, and a linkage map was constructed using all 123 F_{2 : 3} families. The length of this linkage group is 44.0 cM. The closest markers, Sat_186 and Satt152, are mapped at 5.7 cM and 11.5 cM, respectively, on either side of the Rps1‐d gene. Three‐way contingency table analysis indicates that dual‐marker‐assisted selection using these two flanking markers would be efficient.     

Response of litter decomposition and soil C and N transformations in a Norway spruce thinning stand to removal of logging residue

Increasing demand for production of bioenergy has led to an interest in forest management which uses logging residue from both clear-cuttings and thinning stands. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of removal of logging residue in a thinning Norway spruce stand on (1) litter decomposition and (2) soil microbial processes in C and N cycling and the quality of soil organic matter. The study site was a 40-year-old Norway spruce stand growing on a relatively fertile site. During thinning, logging residue was either removed (whole-tree harvest) or left on the site (stem-only harvest). Different types of material in the logging residue, from main branches to needles, were weighed separately into mesh bags. The bags were placed above the moss layer in the whole-tree harvest treatment and in the logging residue layer in the stem-only harvest treatment, and decomposition was monitored for 5 years after treatment. From the humus layer, samples were taken 10 years after treatment. Harvest method affected the mass loss of the litter material very little but the C-to-N ratio of the remaining material was slightly higher in whole-tree harvest than in stem-only harvest, particularly in the needle material. In the humus layer samples, taken 10 years after treatment, the rate of C mineralization was lower in whole-tree harvest than in stem-only harvest; also the rate of net N mineralization and the amounts of C and N in the microbial biomass tended to be lower, although not statistically significantly. Removal of logging residue had no effect on pH (pHH₂O$\text{p}{\text{H}}_{{\text{H}}_2\text{O}}$ 3.9 in both treatments) or C-to-N ratio (28 in both treatments) in the humus layer. The concentrations of total water-soluble phenols and an important group of phenols, condensed tannins, were both lower in the humus layer of whole-tree harvest than in that of stem-only harvest. Concentrations of sesqui-, di- or triterpenes in the humus layer were similar in both treatments. In conclusion, 10 years after harvest, soil microbial activities and organic matter characteristics in whole-tree harvest differed from those in stem-only harvest.     

Analysis of plasmids encoding the histidine decarboxylase gene in Tetragenococcus muriaticus isolated from Japanese fermented seafoods

In order to analyze the genes related to histamine production in halophilic lactic acid bacteria, 16 strains of histamine-producing bacteria were isolated from three fermented seafoods produced in the Hokuriku region of Japan. Phenotypic and 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses identified all of the strains as those of Tetragenococcus muriaticus. Pyruvoyl-dependent histidine decarboxylase gene (hdcA) was determined from all strains using the PCR method with an hdcA-specific detection primer set. Genetic analyses (Southern blot and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis) of hdcA and genes related to histamine production (the hdc cluster) confirmed that all of the strains harbored 21–23 kbp plasmids encoding a single copy of hdcA. The four representative strains were selected based on isolation source and genetic analysis, and subsequently full sequences of plasmids harbored in these strains were determined. hdc cluster sequences from the plasmids showed very high similarity (>99 %) to known hdc clusters of T. halophilus, Lactobacillus hilgardii 0006, and other lactic acid bacteria. The structures of the plasmids, the replication region, the hdc cluster, and the plasmid maintenance system were conserved between the plasmids present in new isolates and the T. halophilus strains. These results indicate that plasmids encoding hdcA are widely distributed among T. halophilus and T. muriaticus and function in both species.     

添加甲酸对象草青贮发酵品质的影响

为评价甲酸对象草(Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.)青贮发酵品质的影响,分别设置添加量为0(对照),2.2,4.4和6.6 mL·kg^-1FM处理,在青贮0.5,1,2,3,5,7,14,30 d开窖,测定青贮饲料发酵品质的动态变化。结果表明:对照发酵品质良好,未见丁酸生成;与对照相比,添加甲酸能够快速酸化青贮饲料,明显提高水溶性碳水化合物含量(P<0.05),且添加量越高效果越好;添加2.2 mL·kg^-1甲酸组氨态氮/总氮值在2 d后快速升高,且在3 d后显著高于对照(P<0.05),并从第7 d开始检测到丁酸;添加4.4和6.6 mL·kg^-1甲酸组整个青贮过程中无乳酸和挥发性脂肪酸产生,氨态氮/总氮值维持在很低的水平(<12 g·kg^-1TN)。综上所述,添加2.2 mL·kg^-1甲酸的处理在青贮后期酸化作用减弱,使象草的发酵品质和营养品质变差,而添加4.4 mL·kg^-1以上甲酸能够有效地保存象草的营养物质。     

添加酶和乳酸菌制剂对西藏苇状羊茅和箭筈豌豆混合青贮发酵品质的影响

为评价添加酶、乳酸菌制剂和酶+乳酸菌制剂对苇状羊茅与箭筈豌豆(7∶3)混合青贮发酵品质的影响,试验设对照组(C)、酶制剂(E)、乳酸菌制剂(LAB)和酶+乳酸菌制剂(E+LAB)4个处理,3个重复,青贮后第7,24,60天开窖取样,测定青贮饲料发酵品质。结果表明,与对照组相比,添加酶或乳酸菌制剂能有效地改善混合青贮发酵品质,组合添加进一步提高了乳酸含量和降低了pH值。与对照组和单独添加乳酸菌组相比,在整个青贮过程中无论是酶单独添加还是组合添加都显示较高的乙酸和总挥发性脂肪酸含量,最高的水溶性碳水化合物含量和最低的氨态氮/总氮。这说明酶和乳酸菌制剂组合添加对改善青贮发酵品质有叠加效应。综上所述,酶和乳酸菌制剂组合添加能更好的改善苇状羊茅和箭筈豌豆混合青贮的发酵品质。     

添加青稞酒糟对西藏地区青稞秸秆和高羊茅混合青贮发酵品质的影响

 ：为评价添加不同水平青稞酒糟对青稞秸秆与高羊茅（４∶６）混合青贮发酵品质的影响,试验设对照组（Ｃｏｎｔｒｏｌ）和３个添加水平（１０％,２０％和３０％）的青稞酒糟处理组,青贮后第７,１４和３０天后打开青贮窖,测定青贮饲料发酵品质。结果表明,添加青稞酒糟可以抑制青贮早期好氧性微生物的活性,促进乳酸发酵,使ｐＨ 值快速下降,青贮饲料快速进入稳定阶段。青贮３０ｄ后,与对照组相比酒糟处理显著降低（P＜０．０５）了青贮饲料的ｐＨ 值,提高了乳酸和水溶性碳水化合物含量,降低了（P＜０．０５）氨态氮／总氮及丙酸和丁酸含量。综合考虑,添加２０％ 酒糟效果更佳。     

Studies on pH and Nitrate Checkers Made of Semiconductor Devices for Acid Rain Monitoring

Ion-selective field-effect transistors (ISFETs), which are integrated devices for ion-selective electrodes using solid-state microelectronics technology, have attracted much attention for convenient monitoring of acid rain, since conventional analytical procedures are time-consuming. In this paper, some recent results of studies on pH and nitrate checkers made of ISFETs using new sensing materials and their application to samples of acid rain are described. A new pH-sensitive film, TiN was deposited onto the gate of ISFET device using RF plasma-enhanced CVD method. The plasma was generated in a mixture of TiCl₄, N₂ and H₂ gases. The prepared pH-ISFETs showed a linear response and the almost theoretical slope sensitivity of 59 mV per pH change with a rapid response of less than 10 seconds. We have obtained fairly good agreement with the pH values using conventional pH glass electrode. A prototype nitrate-checker was prepared with casting newly designed nitrate-sensing materials, plasticizers and PVC based tetrahydrofuran solution onto the ISFET device. We have obtained good agreement with the values using conventional ion-chromatography at mg L^?1 level.     

Properties of dissolved organic matter derived from silver birch and Norway spruce stands: Degradability combined with chemical characteristics

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) derived from the humus layer under silver birch (Betula pendula Roth), Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), and mixed stands, and from senescent birch leaves and from spruce needles of the four oldest year-growth were characterized microbiologically and chemically. Samples were collected in the autumn and the solutions were obtained by centrifugation-drainage technique. The degradability of DOM, the availability of DOM to bacteria and fungi, concentrations of phenolic compounds and carbohydrates, and the distribution of carbon and nitrogen into fractions according to the chemical nature and the molecular size were studied. DOM derived from leaves and needles was clearly more labile than DOM derived from the humus layer indicating the importance of studying the DOM originating from fresh litter when assessing the turnover of DOM.DOM derived from spruce needles appeared to differ chemically greatly from all other samples. It had very high concentrations of carbohydrates, probably due to the sampling time, and phenolic compounds. The chemical composition of DOM derived from humus layer did not reflect the composition of DOM derived from needles and leaves. DOM derived from birch leaves degraded more than DOM derived from spruce needles and DOM derived from humus layer collected at the birch sites degraded more than DOM derived from humus layer collected at the spruce sites. The degradability of different compound groups of DOC and DON was studied in a short-term incubation (20 d) of DOM solutions by characterizing the solutions initially and after the incubation. Almost all compound groups appeared to degrade but weak hydrophobic acids, bases, hydrophilic neutrals, the smallest molecular size compounds, carbohydrates, and phenolic compounds degraded the most.