Nematocidal quassinoids and bicyclophosphorothionates: a possible common mode of action on the GABA receptor

The present study was undertaken to identify noncompetitive γ-aminobutyric acid receptor (GABAR) antagonists that are effective in nematodes, as well as to examine the hypothesis that the noncompetitive antagonism of the GABAR underlies the nematocidal activity of quassinoids against free-living nematodes of the Diplogastridae family. First, 14 known GABAR antagonists were screened for the effectiveness of their nematocidal activity in Diplogastridae. As a result, 3-isopropyl-1-phospha-2,6,7-trioxabicyclo[2.2.2]octane 1-sulfides (3-isopropyl-BPTs) were found to have high nematocidal activities, and 4-cyclohexyl-3-isopropyl-BPT (23) and 3-isopropyl-4-(2-propenyl)-BPT (27) were the two most potent analogues; these compounds are equipotent to samaderine B and more potent than the anthelmintic abamectin. 23-resistant nematodes, selected by challenge with 23, showed cross-resistance to samaderine B. 23 (10 μM) reduced [³H]23 binding to nematode membranes by 30.4%. Samaderine B (10 μM) resulted in a similar level of the inhibition, but had neither additive nor synergistic effects on the 23 inhibition of [³H]23 binding. These findings suggest that samaderine B shares a common binding site with the GABAR antagonist 23 in Diplogastridae. The results of comparative molecular field analysis, a method of three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship analysis, supported this conclusion.     

Nitrogen acquisition and its relation to growth and yield in recent high-yielding cultivars of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Japan

During the last two decades, high-yielding cultivars for multipurpose use of rice have been bred and released in Japan. Some of them have repeatedly recorded high yields of over 9?t?ha^?1 of brown rice (about 11.25?t?ha^?1 of rough rice). Here, characteristic features of nitrogen (N) acquisition and its relation to formation of yield components, dry matter production and grain yield at yield levels over 9?t?ha^?1 of brown rice in recent high-yielding cultivars, a large grain type of japonica variety, “Akita 63,” extra-panicle weight types of indica variety, “Takanari” and “Saikai 198,” and a panicle weight type of japonica variety, “Fukuhibiki,” are described as compared with those in the standard japonica cultivars, “Toyonishiki” and “Nipponbare.” The grain yield of the recent high-yielding cultivars was 9.4 to 11.6?t?ha^?1 of brown rice; that is 1.2?1.7 times greater than those of the standard cultivars. Sink capacity (1000-grain weight?×?spikelet number per unit land area) was 47?62% greater in the recent high-yielding cultivars, largely due to their 1.3?1.5 times greater N-use efficiency for sink formation (sink capacity per unit amount of total plant N in the aboveground part at maturity), although major component(s) responsible for their greater sink capacity differ among the cultivars. The ratio of grain yield to total dry matter was 1.1?1.4 times greater in the recent high-yielding cultivars than in the standard cultivars, indicating that the former efficiently translocate dry matter into spikelets during the grain-filling period. N-use efficiency for dry matter production (total dry matter per unit amount of total plant N) was comparable between “Akita 63,” “Fukuhibiki” and “Toyonishiki,” and slightly greater in “Takanari” and “Saikai 198” than in “Nipponbare.”

These results indicate that greater N-use efficiency for sink formation and efficient translocation of dry matter into spikelets contribute greatly to the high-yielding potential of the recent high-yielding cultivars.     

Gigantic photoresponse in 1/4-filled-band organic salt (EDO-TTF)2PF6

We report that the organic salt (EDO-TTF)2PF6 with 3/4-filled-band (1/4-filled in terms of holes), which forms an organic metal with strong electron and lattice correlation, shows a highly sensitive response to photoexcitation. An ultrafast, photoinduced phase transition from the insulator phase to the metal phase can be induced with very weak excitation intensity at near room temperature. This response makes the material attractive for applications in switching devices with room-temperature operation. The observed photo-induced spectroscopic change shows that this photoinduced phase transition process is caused by the cooperative melting of charge ordering assisted by coherent phonon generation.