Suppression of conidial germination and appressorial formation by silicate treatment in powdery mildew of strawberry

The mode of action of soluble silicon against strawberry powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca aphanis var. aphanis) was investigated in four experiments. First, silicon-treated leaves from plants grown with silicate (Si+) and control leaves were excised, inoculated with conidia, and subsequent germination and formation of appressoria in a petri dish was assessed after 24 h. The germination rate was 49.7% on Si+ leaves, and was 67.2% on control leaves (t-test, P < 0.01). Second, we soaked cellulose membranes in various solvents and then placed the membranes on 4% water agar, dusted the membranes with conidia, and examined after 12 h. No difference was apparent between any treatment and the control (distilled water). Third, strawberries growing hydroponically with additional silicon in the medium were inoculated with conidia, and leaves were observed with a scanning electron microscope 1–2 days after inoculation. Germ tubes and secondary hyphae were shorter and had fewer branches on Si+ leaves than on the control. Moreover, penetration appeared to be inhibited. Fourth, the cuticle was separated from leaves from plants grown as in the third experiment, placed on water agar, and dusted with conidia. Germination of conidia, observed with a light microscope, on Si+ leaves was suppressed markedly to 40%–60% of that of the control. These results suggested that soluble silicon induced physiological changes in the cuticle layer after absorption by the plant. In addition, soluble silicate reduced germination of conidia, formation of appressoria, and possibly the penetration of powdery mildew.     

Exotic hard clam in Tokyo Bay identified as Mercenaria mercenaria by genetic analysis

ABSTRACT:   An exotic hard clam has been observed in Tokyo Bay since the mid-1990s, which has been morphologically identified as Mercenaria mercenaria . The authors have determined 444-bp partial nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) 16S rRNA gene of 31 hard clam individuals collected in three locations of Tokyo Bay. Phylogenetic analysis indicated all individuals to be M. mercenaria . Two shell interior colorations (white or purple) were observed, but no relationships between the colorations and mtDNA haplotypes were detected. Frequency of clam individuals having white or purple shell significantly differed among locations, which was accompanied by heterogeneous amounts of acid-volatile sulfides and organic matter and mud ratio.     

Evaluation of quality indexes of bending performance and hardness for hardwoods

The mechanical properties of 613 small clear specimens of 35 species (11 ring-porous hardwoods, 19 diffuse-porous hardwoods, and 5 softwoods) were evaluated. The aim of the study was to examine indexes of wood quality that are easy to measure and that exhibit a high correlation with bending performance and hardness that are essential properties of hardwood products. The modulus of rigidity, dynamic modulus of elasticity, bending properties (modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, stress at the proportional limit, absorbed energy, Tetmajer’s modulus), dynamic energy absorption by an impact bending test, compressive strength parallel to the grain, shear strength, partial bearing strength, and Brinell’s hardness were measured. A high correlation was found between dynamic modulus of elasticity and static modulus of elasticity. Bending stress at the proportional limit was found to be approximately equivalent to the compressive strength parallel to the grain. Static energy absorption correlated with dynamic energy absorption. Tetmajer’s modulus was found to be closely related to the ratio of the initial stiffness within the elastic range to the secant modulus at the maximum load. A high correlation was observed between Brinell’s hardness and partial bearing strength. The difference in the regression coefficients obtained for these correlations between the species groups was small. Part of this study was presented at the All Division 5 Conference of IUFRO, Taipei, October 2007     

Molecular typing of Japanese strains of Ralstonia solanacearum in relation to the ability to induce a hypersensitive reaction in tobacco

The genetic diversity of 120 Ralstonia solanacearum strains isolated from a variety of host plants across Japan was assessed on the basis of hypersensitive response (HR) in tobacco leaves and phylogenetic analyses of endoglucanase gene egl, hrpB, and gyrB. Phylogenetic analysis of egl revealed that only three strains belonged to phylotype IV, and 117 strains belonged to phylotype I. Partial sequences of HrpB were identical among phylotype I strains except for one strain. Analyses using the partial nucleotide sequences of the gyrB and egl gene fragments grouped phylotype I strains into 11 gyrB and 8 egl types, respectively, whereas analyses using the partial amino acid sequences of GyrB and Egl grouped phylotype I strains into 4 GyrB and 5 Egl types, respectively. Using multilocus sequence typing of GyrB and Egl, we identified 10 unique sequence types within the Japanese phylotype I strains. Strains belonging to the GyrB42 or GyrB66 type caused wilt in tobacco, and strains belonging to GyrB2 or GyrB9 type elicited HR, demonstrating that HR induction in tobacco is genetically differentiated in the Japanese strains of R. solanacearum.     

添加绿汁发酵液、乳酸菌制剂和葡萄糖对象草青贮发酵品质的影响

为评价添加绿汁发酵液、乳酸菌制剂和葡萄糖对象草青贮发酵品质的影响,试验设6个处理组:即对照组(无添加剂),绿汁发酵液组(FJLB),乳酸菌制剂组(LAB),葡萄糖组(G),绿汁发酵液＋葡萄糖组(FJLB+G),乳酸菌制剂＋葡萄糖组(LAB+G);在青贮第3,7,14,30天开窖,取样分析发酵品质。结果表明,与对照组相比,LAB处理对发酵品质影响不大,FJLB处理显著(P<0.05)降低了乳酸和水溶性碳水化合物含量,显著(P<0.05)提高了pH值、乙酸、丁酸和氨态氮含量,使发酵品质变差,而G、LAB+G和FJLB+G处理均显著(P<0.05)提高了青贮早期的乳酸含量,在整个青贮过程中保持较高的乳酸/乙酸值,并显著(P<0.05)降低了最终青贮饲料的pH和氨态氮含量,但与G处理相比,LAB+G和FJLB+G处理没有显示出更优的效果。综上所述,添加葡萄糖可促进同型乳酸发酵,对象草青贮发酵品质的改善效果优于接种乳酸菌。     

西藏青稞秸秆与多年生黑麦草混合青贮发酵品质的研究

本研究旨在将青稞秸秆与黑麦草以不同比例混合青贮,评价其发酵品质,筛选出适宜的混合比例。试验设青稞秸秆单独青贮(对照组)、80%青稞秸秆+20%多年生黑麦草混贮(L组)、60%青稞秸秆+40%多年生黑麦草混贮(M组)及40%青稞秸秆+60%多年生黑麦草混贮(H组)4个处理。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,青稞秸秆与黑麦草混合青贮显著(P<0.05)提高了乳酸和水溶性碳水化合物含量,显著(P<0.05)降低了pH值和干物质含量,M和H组在乳酸产生的同时乙酸含量显著(P<0.05)提高,混贮组氨态氮/总氮略低于对照组(P>0.05),各组均显示较低的丙酸和丁酸含量。从秸秆利用最大化的角度出发,建议以40%黑麦草混合青贮较为适宜。     

Persistence of virus-neutralizing antibodies in horses inoculated with two doses of a live equine herpesvirus type 1 vaccine with different vaccination intervals

The antibody response in horses inoculated with 2 doses of a live equine herpesvirus type 1 vaccine with different vaccination intervals (1 to 3 months) was evaluated with regard to the persistence of virus-neutralizing (VN) antibodies. The durations for which the geometric mean VN titers were maintained significantly higher than those before the first vaccination (P<0.05) were up to 5 months in horses that received the vaccination with a 1-month interval (n=17) and 7 months for those that received it with a 2-month (n=17) or 3-month interval (n=14 or 17). The vaccination program with the 2-month interval was the most effective in maintaining VN antibodies for a long duration with the smallest gap of antibody decline between the first and second vaccinations.     

IgG antibody subclass response against equine herpesvirus type 4 in horses

In this study, IgG subclass responses against equine herpesvirus type 4 (EHV-4) were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a type-specific region of EHV-4 glycoprotein G (gG). ELISA using sera collected from horses experimentally infected with EHV-4 revealed that IgGa and IgGb antibodies were detected at high level, but IgGc and IgG(T) antibody responses were detected at low level or were undetectable. The IgGa antibody response reached its peak on day 10 post-infection, and then dropped. The IgGb antibody response reached its maximum level on day 12 post-infection, and then the level was sustained during at least 28 days after infection. Forty healthy racehorses that had already been infected with EHV-4 possessed antibody against EHV-4. Although IgGa antibodies specific for EHV-4 were not detected in any horses, IgGb antibodies were detected and the levels correlated with total IgG antibodies against EHV-4 gG. The results suggest that EHV-4-specific IgGa and IgGb antibodies are induced in EHV-4-infected horses, and that IgGb antibody, but not IgGa, is long lasting.