Seasonal and yearly variations in light use and nitrogen use by seedlings of four deciduous broad-leaved tree species invading larch plantations

Several deciduous broad-leaved tree species, differing in leaf phenology, invade larch (Larix kaempferii (Lamb.) Carrière) plantations in Japan. The understory light environment of larch forests changes drastically between the leafy and leafless periods. To determine how the invading seedlings exploit the changing light environment, and if phenological differences reflect the light- and nitrogen-use traits of the seedlings, we measured leaf phenology, seasonal changes in light-saturated photosynthetic rate (P(sat)), leaf nitrogen (N) content (N(area)), chlorophyll/nitrogen ratio (Chl/N), specific leaf area (SLA) and N remobilization rate (NRMR) over 3 years. The mid-successional or gap-phase species, Magnolia hypoleuca Siebold & Zucc., had a short leafy period and high P(sat) and NRMR. In contrast, two late-successional tree species, Prunus ssiori Friedr. Schmidt, which undergoes leaf flush before larch, and Carpinus cordata Blume, which maintains green leaves until frost, both had low P(sat) and NRMR but exploited the opportunity for growth during the period when the larch canopy trees were leafless. Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb. var. crispula (Blume) Ohashi, a mid-late-successional species that underwent leaf flush at the same time as the overstory larch, had values of photosynthetic parameters between those of the gap-phase and late-successional species. Among species, M. hypoleuca and Q. mongolica had higher photosynthetic rates and photosynthetic N-use efficiencies. In all species, the relationship between N(area) and P(sat) showed species-specific yearly fluctuations; however, there was no yearly fluctuation in the relationship between N(area) and P(sat) at CO2 saturation. Yearly fluctuations in the N(area)-P(sat) relationship appeared to be induced by changes in SLA and N-use characteristics, which in turn are affected by climatic variations.     

Gonadal morphogenesis and sex differentiation in cultured chub mackerel,Scomber japonicus

The timing of primordial germ‐cell (PGC) migration with regard to the gonadal anlagen, gonad formation and sex differentiation was examined histologically in the chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) at 5–190 days post hatching (dph). At 5 dph, PGCs appeared on the peritoneal epithelium surface or in the mesentery, on the dorsal side of the abdominal cavity. By 10 dph, stromal cells around the PGCs proliferated. The gonadal primordium was formed by 15 dph. The gonadosomatic index was 0.01% at 30 dph and increased thereafter (0.32% in females and 0.04% in males at 160 dph). Ovarian differentiation occurred at 30–40 dph, indicated by ovarian cavity formation (elongation and fusion of the upper and lower ovarian edges). Meiosis was subsequently initiated. A few meiotic oocytes surrounded the cavity at 50 dph; most were in the perinucleolus stage at 60 dph and attained a diameter of 60–70 μm at 190 dph. Testicular differentiation occurred at 30 dph, indicated by the formation of the sperm duct primordium. Spermatogonia gradually proliferated, developing into spermatocytes at the chromatin–nucleolus stage (after 90 dph) and subsequently into spermatids and spermatozoa (160 dph). These data could aid the development of seeding and cell‐engineering technologies for scombrid fish.     

Influences of indigenous phototrophs on methane emissions from a straw-amended paddy soil

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the influences of indigenous phototrophs on methane (CH₄) emissions from a paddy soil where rice straw was incorporated or was surface-applied. During the cultivation, half of the pots were covered with aluminum foil, except for the minimum space for rice plants, to prevent ambient light reaching the floodwater or the soil surface. Growth of oxygen-producing phototrophs was hardly observed in the unilluminated plots, whereas intensive growth of algae, duckweed and hydrophytes was found in the illuminated ones. Plant growth was not affected by the different treatments. Seasonal changes in CH₄ emission determined by a closed chamber method indicated that illumination had no or only minor effects on CH₄ emissions when rice straw was incorporated or was not applied, but significantly reduced CH₄ emissions when rice straw was surface-applied. Methanogenesis occurring in the soil-floodwater interface was further investigated in two lab-scale model experiments measuring methanogenic activity. As a result, more activated methanogenesis was found in the surface-applied rice straw and the soil around the straw compared with the soil incubated without rice straw. The magnitude of the methanogenic activity in the rice straw incubated under illuminated conditions was significantly lower than that incubated in the dark. Consequently, this study demonstrates that methanogenesis in paddy soil occurs even in the soil-floodwater interface if plant residues like rice straw exist, and such methanogenesis is likely to be suppressed by growth of indigenous phototrophs under illumination.     

利用Terra/MODIS数据提取冬小麦面积及精度分析

利用遥感技术提取作物播种面积是农情监测研究中一种实用而可行的方法。以河北省藁城市为研究区域,研究利用多时相Terra/MODIS数据提取2004年冬小麦播种面积的技术方法。在分析MODIS波谱特性与冬小麦生物学特征,并考虑了有关植被指数图像对面积提取精度的影响基础上,选择将MODIS数据的Red、Blue、NIR和ESWIR波段作为基础工作波段。利用4种方法提取了2004年藁城市各乡镇的冬小麦播种面积,并利用2004年各乡镇统计数据及土地利用数据进行了精度评价。结果表明：4种方法提取的冬小麦播种面积总体上都与参考值比较吻合,总体误差和平均误差均小于5%。可见,利用Terra/MODIS数据提取冬小麦播种面积是完全可行的。研究还发现,最佳的MODIS数据是冬小麦抽穗期的Red、Blue、NIR、ESWIR波段图像和冬小麦播种期与抽穗期EVI差值图像的组合。     

Identification of Trichoderma SKT-1, a biological control agent against seedborne pathogens of rice

Trichoderma SKT-1 was previously reported as a powerful biological control agent against seedborne pathogens of rice, but the taxonomic disposition of the fungal isolate was not clear. Trichoderma SKT-1 produced irregular pyramidal warts on conidia and had an optimum growth temperature of 30°C. Morphological characteristics and colony growth were identical to those of known species of Trichoderma, including the newly recognized species T. asperellum. The 5.8S rDNA with the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ca. 514 bp) of the fungus was compared with those of known species to determine the phylogenetic placement of the fungus. The length and sequence of the regions from Trichoderma SKT-1 were completely identical to those of an isolate of T. asperellum NRRL 5242 (AJ230669). On the basis of these results, we concluded that Trichoderma SKT-1 was T. asperellum.     

Evaluation of cytokine messenger RNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from dogs with canine demodicosis

Using RT-PCR and semi-quantitative PCR, mRNA expression for canine interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was examined in dogs with or without demodicosis. mRNA expression for IFN-gamma as well as TNF-alpha in dogs with demodicosis (localized (LD) and generalized (GD)) was slightly lower than those in dogs without demodicosis (healthy controls). Expression of IL-5 mRNA in dogs with demodicosis was higher than that in control dogs, but there were no significant differences in IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA expression levels among the three groups. On the other hand, expression levels of TGF-beta mRNA in dogs with GD were higher than those in control dogs and dogs with LD. The expression levels of IL-5 and TGF-beta mRNA decreased in all three dogs with GD which showed resolution of the clinical signs. Taken together, these results suggest that the Th2-like response in PBMCs from dogs with demodicosis is up-regulated, and that subsequent increased expression of IL-5 and TGF-beta mRNA in dogs with GD is reversible after treatment. Therefore, these cytokines, particularly IL-5, might be a useful clinical index of the clinical course in demodicosis. Also, increased TGF-beta mRNA expression might be a key factor for revealing the difference in the mechanism of onset between LD and GD.     

Age-related changes in bone mineral density, cross-sectional area and strength at different skeletal sites in male rats

Age-related changes in bone mineral density (BMD), cross-sectional area and strength strain index (SSI) of the long bones in the limbs and first lumbar vertebra of male Wistar rats were measured by a peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) method. One hundred and ten rats aged 2-30 months were used. The results indicate that the total (cortical + trabecular), cortical and trabecular BMD values of the metaphysis and cortical BMD values of the diaphysis in the long bones varied for each bone and differed from those of the first lumbar vertebra. The total BMD of long bones showed high values at 6-21 months and then decreased, but these did not always coincide with cortical and trabecular BMD. The values of SSI in the long bones varied. The values of total and cortical BMD and SSI of lumbar vertebra increased for 6-12 months and then decreased, but the trabecular BMD increased after 12 months. The total area in both the long bones and the first lumbar vertebra increased with the decrease in cortical area and the increase in the trabecular area with increasing age. It was concluded that age-related changes in bones, similar to those observed in humans, could be observed in some bones and parameters, although the age in rats when the so-called peak bone mass appears in the whole skeleton could not be clearly determined.     

Serum activities of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase and bone specific alkaline phosphatase as indices of bone metabolism in the cow

The correlation between the serum hydroxyproline concentration and serum activity levels of TRAP and BALP was examined in 41 cows. The correlated coefficient (r) was 0.6391 for TRAP and 0.3147 for BALP, respectively. Judging from the significant correlation to the serum hydroxyproline concentration, serum TRAP activity is an index for bone metabolism in cows. Serum TRAP activity was therefore measured in 205 healthy cows (2-9 years old) in order to observe the changes in bone resorption with aging and milk production. TRAP levels differed slightly between group A (< or =4 yrs) and B (5 yrs< or =) at the same stage of lactation. The activity levels rose slightly at the height of lactation stage and during the dry stage.     

Validation and application of real-time polymerase chain reaction assays for representative rumen bacteria

Real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for 11 representative rumen bacterial species were validated. The sensitivity was tested by using the serially diluted target 16S rDNA from respective bacterial species. The recovery of the target DNA and the assay reproducibility were determined using DNA from rumen fluid spiked with different quantities of the target. Minimum detection levels for the target were 10–100 copies in pure culture. The recovery of the added target ranged from 82.4 to 116.6%. The intra‐ and inter‐assay variations of each assay were <9.4 and <12.6%, respectively. Therefore, the real‐time PCR assays evaluated in the present study are considered to be sufficiently reliable for monitoring all 11 bacterial species in the rumen. The assays were then applied to the monitoring of the bacterial species attached to ruminally incubated rice straw. Among the monitored fibrolytic species, Fibrobacter succinogenes was found to be the most dominant, accounting for 2.61% of total bacteria after 24 h incubation. Selenomonas ruminantium and Streptococcus bovis, non‐fibrolytics, were detected on the rice straw at 8.96% and 1.16% of total bacteria, respectively. Such high levels of non‐fibrolytics on the plant fiber suggest a synergistic relationship between fibrolytics and non‐fibrolytics.