Estimation of microbial biomass potassium in paddy field soil

Abstract

Potassium (K) in microbial cells, microbial biomass K, in soil has been recently recognized as a K pool for plant growth. We determined soil microbial biomass K in paddy fields to reveal its importance as a K pool in paddy field soil for the first time. Microbial biomass K ranged from 5 to 21 mg K kg^?1 in the soil samples periodically collected from a paddy field and the value corresponded to 41% of the exchangeable K on average. Both microbial biomass K and exchangeable K increased conspicuously due to the long-term application of livestock manure compost or rice straw compost. Biomass K was higher than exchangeable K under K-deficient conditions in the long-term experimental plots without K application. The present study revealed that the microbial biomass contained considerable amounts of K in paddy field soil, indicating the need for evaluation of the microbial biomass K as a source and a stock of K in soil that has been overlooked.     

Diversification and genetic differentiation of cultivated melon inferred from sequence polymorphism in the chloroplast genome

Molecular analysis encouraged discovery of genetic diversity and relationships of cultivated melon (Cucumis melo L.). We sequenced nine inter- and intra-genic regions of the chloroplast genome, about 5500 bp, using 60 melon accessions and six reference accessions of wild species of Cucumis to show intra-specific variation of the chloroplast genome. Sequence polymorphisms were detected among melon accessions and other Cucumis species, indicating intra-specific diversification of the chloroplast genome. Melon accessions were classified into three subclusters by cytoplasm type and then into 12 subgroups. Geographical origin and seed size also differed between the three subclusters. Subcluster Ia contained small-seed melon from Southern Africa and South and East Asia and subcluster Ib mainly consisted of large-seed melon from northern Africa, Europe and USA. Melon accessions of subcluster Ic were only found in West, Central and Southern Africa. Our results indicated that European melon groups and Asian melon groups diversified independently and shared the same maternal lineage with northern African large-seed melon and Southern African small-seed melon, respectively. Cultivated melon of subcluster Ic may have been domesticated independently in Africa. The presence of 11 cytoplasm types in Africa strongly supported African origin of cultivated melon and indicated the importance of germplasm from Africa.     

Prediction of enteric methane emission from beef cattle in Southeast Asia

We conducted a meta‐data analysis to develop prediction equations to estimate enteric methane (CH₄) emission from beef cattle in Southeast Asia. The dataset was obtained from 25 studies, which included 332 individual observations on nutrient intakes, digestibilities, and CH₄ emissions. Cattle were provided tropical forage or rice straw, with or without concentrates in individual pens equipped with indirect open‐circuit head hood apparatus. The simplest and best equation to predict daily CH₄ emission was CH₄ (g/day) = 22.71 (±1.008) × dry matter intake (DMI, kg/day) + 8.91 (±10.896) [R² = 0.77; root mean square error (RMSE) = 19.363 g/day]. The best equation to predict CH₄ energy as a proportion of gross energy intake (CH₄‐E/GEI, J/100 J) was obtained using DMI per body weight (DMIBW, kg/100 kg), content (g/100 g DM) of ether extract (EE) and crude protein (CP), and DM digestibility (DMD, g/100 g); CH₄‐E/GEI = ?0.782 (±0.2526) DMIBW ? 0.436 (±0.0548) EE ? 0.073 (±0.0218) CP + 0.049 (±0.0097) DMD + 8.654 (±0.6517) (R² = 0.39; RMSE = 1.3479 J/100 J GEI). It was indicated that CH₄ emissions from beef cattle in Southeast Asia are predictable using present developed models including simple indices.     

Low-dose recombinant canine interferon-γ for treatment of canine atopic dermatitis: An open randomized comparative trial of two doses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the minimum effective dose of recombinant canine interferon-γ (rCaIFN-γ) for the treatment of dogs with atopic dermatitis (AD). Thirty-four dogs with AD from 17 animal hospitals in Japan were administered half or one-fifth of the approved rCaIFN-γ dose of 10 000 units/kg, three times a week for 4 weeks, followed by once weekly for an additional 4 weeks. Pruritus, excoriation, erythema and alopecia were evaluated and scored by the investigators on weeks 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12. The efficacy rate (number of excellent cases + number of good cases/total number of cases) at week 8 in the 2000 units/kg group was 36.4% for pruritus, 36.4% for excoriation, 45.5% for erythema and 36.4% for alopecia. In contrast, in the 5000 units/kg group, the efficacy rate was 64.3% for pruritus, 57.1% for excoriation, 78.6% for erythema and 78.6% for alopecia. The efficacy rate of the 5000 units/kg group was high for all signs evaluated and comparable to that of the 10 000 units/kg group reported in a previous study. The results of this study showed that 2000 units/kg of rCaIFN-γ is less effective than 5000 units/kg to treat dogs with AD, and the efficacy of the 5000 units/kg dose is comparable to that of 10 000 units/kg at week 8.     

3-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid is involved in the biosynthesis of myricanol in Myrica rubra

There is little evidence concerning the biosynthetic pathways for cyclic diarylheptanoids. We previously demonstrated that the cyclic diarylheptanoids myricanol and myricanone were biologically synthesized from two molecules of 4-coumaric acid by the feeding of 4-[8,9-¹³C₂]coumaric acid to young shoots of Myrica rubra. In the present study, using a ¹³C-labeled compound, we revealed that two molecules of 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid could also be a biosynthetic precursor of myricanol in M. rubra. These results indicated that both 4-coumaric acid and its dihydro-derivative were incorporated into myricanol. Competitive feeding experiments with 4-[8,9-¹³C₂]coumaric acid and 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-[1-¹³C]propionic acid were performed in M. rubra to determine the preferential incorporation of these two precursors. ¹³C-NMR studies indicated that 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-[1-¹³C]propionic acid was preferentially incorporated into myricanol. The data provided evidence for a biosynthetic sequence originating from 4-coumaric acid and leading to myricanol, through 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid, in M. rubra.     

Evaluation of the bioactivities of water-soluble extracts from twelve deep-sea jellyfish species

Many polypeptides isolated from shallow water cnidarian species have been utilized as valuable biochemical tools in both basic and applied biological sciences. Deepwater cnidarian species might be another potential resource for novel biochemical tools. However, because of limited access to cnidarian samples from deep-sea environments, bioactive polypeptides have never before been reported from this group. In this study, we collected twelve deep-sea jellyfish species (nine hydrozoans and three scyphozoans) using a plankton net that was specially designed for collecting deep-sea organisms, and prepared water-soluble extracts, presumably containing polypeptides, of these jellyfishes. The extracts were subjected to cytotoxicity, hemolytic activity, and crustacean lethal toxicity tests. In the cytotoxicity test, six out of the nine tested hydrozoan species showed activity. In the hemolytic activity test, only three hydrozoans showed activity and none of the scyphozoan jellyfishes showed activity. In the crustacean lethality test, two hydrozoan jellyfishes and all three of the tested scyphozoan jellyfishes showed lethal activity. These results revealed a high incidence of water-soluble bioactive substances occurring in these deep-sea jellyfishes. Furthermore, all the heat-treated and the methanol-treated crude jellyfish extracts lost their bioactivities. Thus, it is likely that the bioactive compounds in the water-soluble extracts were unstable polypeptides (proteins). This is the first published report on bioactivities in extracts from deep-sea jellyfishes.     

Population model of Rana japonica crossing agricultural concrete canals: evaluating population conservation by improving the migration routes of frogs

Agricultural canals with deep concrete walls are commonly installed in paddy field areas following land consolidation projects in Japan. Such canals create a critical migration barrier for frogs, as escape is not possible after falling in. Hence, countermeasures that allow migrating frogs to cross agricultural canals, such as lid structures to prevent frogs from falling in or the creation of partial slopes to allow escape, have been developed to conserve endangered frog populations. The objective of this study was to design a method for evaluating the population viability of the endangered Japanese Brown Frog, Rana japonica, following the implementation of countermeasures. Two types of model simulations were examined: (1) a ??basic model,?? based on an age-structured model and (2) a ??crossing model,?? to evaluate migrating frogs crossing canals. Parameters, such as survival rate and fecundity, were estimated from field observation data of age-dependent population fluctuations. Comparison of a basic model simulation with the field observation data suggests model validation. The crossing model simulation, which had an initial population of 1,000 individuals, showed that a crossing proportion of greater than 30?C40% would achieve 95% population viability after 5?years. The simulation also showed that a crossing proportion of over 80% would also achieve 95% population viability after 40?years. These results indicate that frog survival during the migration period is insured, as long as no additional countermeasures are necessary after installation.