Transpiration response of two bread wheat lines differing in drought resilience and their backcross parent under dry-down conditions

Improving wheat productivity in drylands largely depends on how plants manage limited water resources. Using fraction of transpirable soil water threshold (FTSW_Th) and drought stress response function, we characterized the water conservation traits of two wheat multiple synthetic derivative lines (MSD53 and MSD345) which both contain introgressed segments from Aegilops tauschii but differ in drought resilience. The lines and their backcross parent, ‘Norin 61’, were subjected to dry-down conditions. MSD53 had a higher FTSW_Th for transpiration decrease than ‘Norin 61’ and MSD345. In terms of drought stress response function, MSD53 had the lowest threshold suction, suggesting a lower drought resilience capacity compared with MSD345. However, MSD53 exhibited an effective-water-use trait whereas MSD345 exhibited a water-saving trait under dry-down conditions. These results are consistent with the reported higher yield of MSD53 in comparison with MSD345 under drought stress in Sudan, and demonstrate that high FTSW_Th supports effective water use for improved agricultural productivity in drylands. The differences in water conservation traits between the two MSD lines may be attributed to variation in introgressed segments, which can be further explored for drought resilience breeding.     

Analysis of mesh breaking loads in cotton gill nets: Possible solution to ghost fishing

ABSTRACT:   A small number of fishers in Chiba Prefecture of eastern Japan use cotton gill nets to catch Japanese spiny lobster Panulirus japonicus. To examine the advantages of cotton gill nets, we analyzed changes in mesh breaking load of a new cotton gill net used in a fishing operation. A new cotton gill net was also soaked in a seawater tank to simulate ghost fishing conditions. The average mesh breaking load of new cotton mesh was 50.3 N. This value decreased to 19.0 N after 38 days (∼912 h), and after 82 days (∼1968 h) the mesh could be easily torn (breaking load 0.07 N). Under fishing conditions, the cumulative soak time was only 744.4 h over 19 months. The average breaking load at the end of this period was 43.1 N, a strength 86% that of the presoaked mesh. The mesh breaking load of a cotton gill net continuously soaked for 744.4 h was 26.1 N, as estimated from tank experiment data. Thus, a cotton gill net maintains reasonable strength under typical use conditions, but will degrade if lost at sea.     

Improvement in recruitment of Japanese sardine with delays of the spring phytoplankton bloom in the Sea of Japan

To evaluate the impact of temporal variation of primary productivity on the recruitment of Japanese sardine (Sardinops melanostictus) in the Sea of Japan, the phenology of sea surface phytoplankton abundance was estimated from 8 day multiple satellite (SeaWiFS, MODIS‐Aqua, MERIS, and VIIRS) derived sea surface chlorophyll (SSChl) a concentrations from January 1998 to December 2015. Because relationships between SSChl a and in situ chlorophyll a concentrations were significantly different among periods based on the satellite combinations used, maximum and minimum SSChl a concentrations of 1 year were relativized as 1 and 0, respectively. Spatio‐temporal variation of relativized SSChl a concentrations was determined by using empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis. Scores in the first EOF mode denoted the basin‐scale variations of SSChl a concentrations in the Sea of Japan, and the major peak from the end of February to the end of May displayed the spring bloom. The logarithm of recruitment per spawner (LNRPS) for sardine was positively affected by delays in the start and end dates of the spring phytoplankton bloom. The delay of the date of the lowest sea surface temperature contributed to the delay of the end of the spring bloom during the period 1998–2015 and elevated the LNRPS during the period 1982–2015. Sardine spawns in the southern Sea of Japan from April to May, hence, delays of the spring bloom prolonged its overlap with sardine larval periods, and thus improved the recruitment of Japanese sardine in the Sea of Japan.     

Identification and phylogenetic analysis of Babesia parasites in domestic dogs in Nigeria

The present study examined the presence of Babesia parasites in 104 domestic dogs in Nigeria. Sequentially, Babesia parasites infecting domestic dogs underwent genetic and phylogenetic analyses. The results of nested PCR based on the Piroplasmida 18S rRNA gene illustrated that 13.5% (14/104) of the samples were positive. The obtained positive samples determined the nucleotide sequences of the 18S rRNA genes. In the genetic and phylogenetic analyses, four of five nucleotide sequences were similar to Babesia canis rossi, and one sample exhibited a close similarity to a Babesia sp. isolated from a raccoon in Hokkaido, Japan. The present study revealed the widespread presence of B. canis rossi among domestic dogs in Nigeria.     

Intrapancreatic accessory spleen mimicking pancreatic insulinoma with intrapancreatic metastasis in a cat

An 11-year-old neutered male Domestic Shorthair cat presented with a 3-month history of hypoglycemia, two episodes of seizure, and intermittent tick-like signs. Serum biochemistry revealed severe hypoglycemia associated with high insulin concentrations. Dynamic abdominal computed tomography (CT) indicated two pancreatic masses, which were enhanced most during the late arterial phase but had different degrees and variations of attenuation. Partial pancreatectomy was performed. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed that one mass was an insulinoma and the other was an ectopic splenic tissue, consistent with the differences in imaging findings. When an intrapancreatic lesion with hyper-attenuation on dynamic abdominal CT is detected, not only insulinoma or metastasis of malignancies but also intrapancreatic accessory spleen (IPAS) should be considered as differential diagnoses.     

Phytogeny and Cross-infectivity of Powdery Mildew Isolates (Podosphaera fuliginea s. lat.) on Cosmos and Cucumber

To clarify the relationship between the phylogeny and infectivity of isolates of Podosphaera fuliginea s. lat. (= Sphaerotheca fuliginea s. lat.) from cosmos and cucumber, more than 50 powdery mildew isolates from these two plants were subjected to nucleotide sequencing or PCR-RFLP analysis of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and cross-inoculation tests. The isolates from both cosmos and cucumber are genetically monotypic, and there are six nucleotide substitutions in the rDNA ITS region between isolates from cosmos and cucumber. Cross-inoculation tests of these isolates revealed that isolates from cosmos are not pathogenic on cucumber. Although isolates from cucumber produced conidia on leaves of cosmos in the laboratory, the conidial density was much lower than that from isolates from cosmos. This result, as well as the fact that the cucumber strain was not isolated from cosmos in fields, suggests that isolates from cucumber do not infect cosmos in the field. Therefore, powdery mildews on cosmos and cucumber can be regarded to have become specialized for their hosts both genetically and pathogenically. The present study reconfirms the close relationship between phylogeny and infectivity of powdery mildew fungi. Host specialization may be a trigger that causes genetic divergence of powdery mildew fungi. Received 28 June 2000/ Accepted in revised form 4 September 2000     

Microbiota of 'airag', 'tarag' and other kinds of fermented dairy products from nomad in Mongolia

The traditional fermented dairy products were collected from three nomadic families in Donto‐Govi prefecture in Mongolia (central Mongolia), and those microbiota were analyzed. These samples consist three of ‘airag’, two of ‘tarag’, two of ‘isgelen tarag’ and ‘qoormog’, and some cheeses. In airag, Lactobacillus (L.) helveticus, L. kefiri, and Saccharomyces (S.) dairensis were common, and L. paracasei, L. plantarum, L. farciminis, S. cerevisiae, Issachenkia (I.) orientalis, Kluyveromyces (K.) wickerhamii were also found. In tarag, isgelen tarag and qoormog, L. helveticus, L. kefiri, L. fermentum, L. paracasei and L. acetotolerance were found. L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus was also found in one tarag and one qoormog samples. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis showed that there were diversity in each L. helveticus family and products, and there were common strains found in airag and tarag in the same family.     

Bone morphological analyses in Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) fatty rats

The Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) fatty rat, a model for obese type 2 diabetes, shows bone quantitative abnormalities, namely low bone mineral density (BMD). The objective of this study was to evaluate bone morphological changes, in particular identifying the bone qualitative abnormalities, in the SDT fatty rat. Male SDT fatty rats showed increases in total trabecular area and trabecular number and decreases in trabecular thickness in cancellous bones of the proximal tibia, indicating trabecular miniaturization. The SDT fatty rat is useful for investigation of pathophysiological changes in bone quality in diabetic osteoporosis.     

Influence of overplanting paddy rice on irrigation water delivery performance: a case study in the Dakalt branch canal,Nile Delta of Egypt

In the North Nile Delta of Egypt, the impacts of overplanting paddy rice on water delivery performance have not been discussed quantitatively. Further, the amount of water that could have been saved if farmers would follow the planned area is unknown. In this study, water delivery performance was assessed by comparison of actual paddy rice planting and the government’s planned conditions. For both conditions, performance indicators relating to adequacy, equity, and dependability were analyzed across six locations in conjunction with the branch canal water level in 2013 and 2014. Based on the difference between the actual water supply and planned water demand, the amount of water that could have been saved for downstream uses was calculated. The average adequacy for the investigation period was good at one location, fair at 2 locations, and poor at 3 locations in both years. Further, adequacy under both actual and planned conditions was poor in late July at all locations. The planned adequacy and dependability downstream and equity among locations improved compared to the actual condition in both years. Under the condition that paddy rice area is the upper limit planned by the government, about 12.3% and 9.6% of water could be potentially saved in each year. The difference between actual and planned water delivery performance is caused by the branch canal’s low water level. Control of overplanting paddy rice and coordination of water distribution among water user associations would improve stable water level in the canal and, eventually, water delivery performance.

     

Suitable inflow rate and furrow length for simplified surge flow irrigation

Paddy and Water Environment - In the arid lands covering Uzbekistan, furrow irrigation with low application efficiency is still widely used due to a lack of funds and shortage of labor. To save...