Genetic mapping of a dwarfing gene found inSolanum phureja clone 1.22

Dwarf plants were obtained in an F₂ population of a cross betweenSolanum chacoense (clone chc 525-3) andS. phureja (clone 1.22). Segregation analyses in F₂ and backcross populations suggested that the dwarfism was controlled by a single recessive gene transmitted fromS. phureja clone 1.22. The dwarf plants responded to treatment with gibberellic acid, which recovered normal growth. We named this gene‘ga ₂’. Linkage analysis of the genega ₂ with RFLP and RAPD markers indicated that the genega ₂ was located on the most or near distal end of chromosome 7.     

Stereolithographic biomodeling of equine ovary based on 3D serial digitizing device

The 3D internal structure microscopy (3D-ISM) was applied to the equine ovary, which possesses peculiar structural characteristics. Stereolithography was applied to make a life-sized model by means of data obtained from 3D-ISM. Images from serially sliced surfaces contributed to a successful 3D reconstruction of the equine ovary. Photopolymerized resin models of equine ovaries produced by stereolithography can clearly show the internal structure and spatial localizations in the ovary. The understanding of the spatial relationship between the ovulation fossa and follicles and/or corpora lutea in the equine ovary was a great benefit. The peculiar structure of the equine ovary could be thoroughly observed and understood through this model.     

Activity of cyazofamid against Sclerospora graminicola, a downy mildew disease of pearl millet

The efficacy of cyazofamid was tested against pearl millet downy mildew disease caused by Sclerospora graminicola Schroet. Significant inhibition of sporangial sporulation, zoospore release and motility was observed at 0.3 mg mL(-1), and this concentration also provided good fungicidal activity under in vitro conditions. Under glasshouse conditions, none of the concentrations tested, either 0.01-2 mg mL(-1) as seed treatment or 1-10 mg mL(-1) by foliar application, was found to be phytotoxic. The effect of cyazofamid was tested by seed treatment alone, seed treatment followed by foliar application and foliar application alone. Seed treatment with cyazofamid offered only 19.7% disease control, but seed treatment followed by a single foliar application to diseased plants provided good control over disease, seed treatment with two foliar applications was significantly superior and foliar application alone showed a high level of activity, with 10 mg mL(-1) giving 97.9% disease control. Lack of systemic activity of cyazofamid was evident, root treatment giving disease levels on a par with the untreated control. The fungicide exhibited strong curative activity, but only moderate translaminar activity, with only marginal (34.8%) disease control after treatment of the adaxial leaf surface at 10 mg mL(-1). Loss of cyazofamid activity over time was very low, indicating stable residual and rainfastness activity. These results indicate that cyazofamid has a high potential to be an effective fungicide for the control of downy mildew disease of pearl millet.     

Vertical Changes in Bacterial Communities in Percolating Water of a Japanese Paddy Field as Revealed by PCR-DGGE

Percolating water was sampled from the plow layer and subsoil layer in a Japanese paddy field, and the bacterial communities were compared together with floodwater by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) targeting a partial 16S rRNA gene and subsequent sequencing. The number of DGGE bands ranged from 16 to 28 with no significant differences among the sampling sites and times. Only 2 bands were common for the three sources of water samples. DGGE bands specific for the floodwater samples and percolating water samples from the plow layer were identified, while percolating water samples from the subsoil layer did not show specific bands but displayed common bands to those of the floodwater samples (7 bands) and percolating water samples from the plow layer (1 band). Cluster analysis of the DGGE banding patterns showed a distinct clustering in the samples of percolating water from the plow layer and a closer relationship between the others. These results suggest that the bacterial communities in percolating water changed during downward movement through the plow layer and subsoil layer. Sequences of the DGGE bands specific for the samples of percolating water from the plow layer showed a close relationship with anaerobic bacteria such as iron-reducers or uncultured bacterial DNA isolated from environments that are considered to be less oxic. On the other hand, the sequences of the bands specific for the samples of floodwater and percolating water from the subsoil layer showed a close relationship with uncultured bacterial DNA isolated from freshwater environments.     

Influences of organic debris and rice root on the nitrogen fixation in the submerged soil

Abstract

A series of experiments has been conducted on the N2 fixation in the paddy soils by the authors (1–4). The amount of organic substrates for microorganisms and the degree of reduction of the soil are found to be two major factors affecting the N₂-fixing activity of the heterotrophic microorganisms in the submerged soil. Organic debris, rice root and their neighboring soils are identified to be the important micro-sites for the heterotrophic N₂ fixers. The organic debris and the rice root are considered to play dual roles by supplying the organic substances; (1) increase of the population of the heterotrophic N₂ fixers—the amount of nitrogenase, (2) preparation of the reduced conditions favorable for the nitrogenase activity.

However, it is not yet clearly known which of these two roles of the organic substrates is more essential to the N₂-fixing activity in the paddy soil. In addition, it is expected that there must be some differences between the organic debris and rice root in their contribution to the N₂ fixation in the paddy soil.

An experiment was carried out to clarify these problems. Moist soil sample was collected from the plough layer of the paddy field at Central Agric. Exp. Sta. in Konosu City, Saitama Pref., passed through a 5 mm sieve and placed in pots (3 kg moist soil/pot). Ammonium sulfate, calcium superphosphate, and potassium chloride at the rate of 0.4-0.4-0.4 (N-P₂O₅-K₂0) g/pot were incorporated into the soil 7 days before transplanting. Split application of ammonium sulfate at the rates of 0.2 and 0.4 g N/pot were also incorporated at 30 and 41 days after transplanting respectively. These pots were divided into three series; planted (P-series), non-planted (N-series), and non-planted and applied with organic manure (O-series). In case of O-series, 60 g of fairly rotted organic manure was applied to each pot. Each pot of P-series was planted with two 4O-day-old seedlings of rice plant at 7 days after submergence. The Nseries was regarded as a control. Each series was not replicated in this preliminary experiment.     

In situ detection of cellular and abnormal isoforms of prion protein in brains of cattle with bovine spongiform encephalopathy and sheep with scrapie by use of a histoblot technique.

To detect prion protein, brains from 5 cattle naturally affected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and 3 sheep naturally affected with scrapie were examined and compared with brains of normal cattle and sheep using a histoblot technique. The technique enabled the in situ distinctive detection of the cellular (PrP(C)) and abnormal (PrP(Sc)) isoforms of the prion protein. In BSE- or scrapie-affected brains, the Prp(C) signal decreased, especially in those areas where the PrP(Sc) signal was detected.     

Microfibril angle and density of hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa) trees in 15 half-sib families in a progeny test stand in Kyushu, Japan

It was previously believed in Japan that the wood qualities of hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa) were superior to sugi (Cryptomeria japonica). However, few studies of wood properties such as MFA (microfibril angle of S₂ layer in secondary wall of tracheid) have been completed for hinoki. Some reports have found that hinoki plus tree families have similar mechanical properties to sugi. Here we report the characteristics of MFA and density of hinoki half-sib families in a progeny test stand. There were significant differences in MFA and density between families. The wood properties of two families, Nakatsu 3 and Kanzaki 5, are stable in radial pattern and suitable for structural use. Early selection of hinoki families by MFA and density may be difficult. Effects of MFA and density on E _d (dynamic modulus of elasticity) of logs differed between families. The effects of growth rate on MFA and density differed between families and also between juvenile and mature wood. The faster growth rate in Nakatsu 3 appeared to improve wood properties and increase E _d of logs, although in many other families, faster growth rate had negative effects on desirable wood properties for structural use.     

Distribution of Lectin‐Bindings in the Testis of the Lesser Mouse Deer,Tragulus javanicus

The distribution of lectin bindings in the testis of the smallest ruminant, lesser mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus), was studied using 12 biotinylated lectins specific for d ‐galactose (peanut agglutinin PNA, Ricinus communis agglutinin RCA I), N‐acetyl‐d ‐galactosamine (Dolichos biflorus agglutinin DBA, Vicia villosa agglutinin VVA, Soybean agglutinin SBA), N‐acetyl‐d ‐glucosamine and sialic acid (wheat germ agglutinin WGA, s‐WGA), d ‐mannose and d ‐glucose (Lens culinaris agglutinin LCA, Pisum sativum agglutinin PSA, Concanavalin A Con A), l ‐fucose (Ulex europaeus agglutinin UEA I), and oligosaccharide (Phaseolus vulgaris agglutinin PHA‐E) sugar residues. In Golgi‐, cap‐, and acrosome‐phase spermatids, lectin‐bindings were found in the acrosome (PNA, RCA I, VVA, SBA, WGA and s‐WGA), and in the cytoplasm (PNA, RCA I, VVA, SBA, WGA, LCA, PSA, Con A and PHA‐E). s‐WGA binding was confined to the spermatid acrosome, but other lectins were also observed in spermatocytes. In spermatogonia, VVA, WGA, Con A, and PHA‐E bindings were observed. Sertoli cells were intensely stained with DBA and Con A, and weakly with PHA‐E. In interstitial Leydig cells, RCA I, DBA, VVA, Con A, PSA, LCA, WGA and PHA‐E were positive. UEA I was negative in all cell types including spermatogenic cells. Unusual distribution of lectin‐bindings noted in the testis of lesser mouse deer included the limited distribution of s‐WGA only in the spermatid acrosome, the distribution of DBA in Sertoli cells, Leydig cells and lamina propria, and the absence of UEA I in all type cells. The present results were discussed in comparison with those of other animals and their possible functional implications.     

Influence of flooding on exchangeability and release of stable and radioactive cesium in contaminated paddy soil

ABSTRACT

An incubation experiment was conducted to clarify how soil flooding influences the mobility of radioactive cesium (RCs: ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs) in paddy soil after aging, focusing on the effects of ammonium increase and soil reduction. We used two contaminated paddy soils (A and B, both Gleyic Fluvisols) aged for 26 months after the Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accidents, and analyzed both the RCs and stable cesium (¹³³Cs). The soils were incubated in a flooded condition, with or without the addition of ammonium fertilizer, for 1, 15 and 30 d, and in an unflooded condition for 30 d. After the incubation periods, we quantified ¹³³Cs concentration in the soil solution, ¹³³Cs and RCs released from soil in 0.01 mol L^–1 calcium chloride solution as parameters of release intensity, and ¹³³Cs and RCs extracted with 1 mol L^?1 ammonium acetate solution as exchangeable quantities, and analyzed their relationship with ammonium content and redox condition in soil. The increase of ammonium by both ammonification and fertilizer application promoted release of exchangeable ¹³³Cs and RCs to the soil solution and calcium solution. When ammonium content became low during unflooded incubation, exchangeable ¹³³Cs and RCs themselves decreased. When soil reduction progressed with flooded incubation, however, exchangeable ¹³³Cs and RCs decreased, despite high ammonium content. To estimate the influence of soil reduction on the exchangeability of RCs, soil A was sequentially extracted with sodium hydrosulfite (a reducing agent) and ammonium acetate solutions. Compared with a control treatment using sodium sulfate instead of sodium hydrosulfite, the total RCs extracted by the reducing treatment was 42% lower, indicating that soil reduction decreases RCs exchangeability. Through these analyses of ¹³³Cs and RCs, we conclude that soil flooding influences the mobility of aged RCs through two opposite effects: the release of exchangeable RCs into soil solution is enhanced with increased ammonium, while the exchangeable RCs itself decreases due to soil reduction.     

Diel and ontogenetic body density change in Pacific bluefin tuna, Thunnus orientalis (Temminck and Schlegel), larvae

Diel and ontogenetic changes in larval body density related to swim bladder volume were investigated in Pacific bluefin tuna, Thunnus orientalis, to determine the causality of larval mortality – adhesion to the water surface and contact with the tank bottom during seedling production. The density of larvae with deflated swim bladders increased with total length and days post hatch. Diel density change was observed after day 2 post hatch; owing to daytime deflation and night‐time inflation of the swim bladder, the density was relatively higher during the daytime. Increased swim bladder volumes clearly reduced larval density during the night‐time after day 9 post hatch. However, the density of larvae with inflated swim bladders was greater than rearing water density (Δρ>0.0099). The small density difference between larvae and rearing water (Δρ=0.0022?0.0100) until day 4 post hatch may have caused larval mortality by adhesion to the water surface because larvae can be easily transported to the water surface by aeration‐driven upwelling in rearing tanks. Density increased noticeably from day 5 to day 9 post hatch. The increased density difference (Δρ=0.0065?0.0209) in larvae and rearing water possibly induced mortality by contact with the tank bottom because larvae sink particularly during the night‐time on ceasing swimming.