Relative parasitic fitness of isolates of Pyricularia oryzae Cav. with different sensitivities to fungicides

The relative parasitic fitness of isolates of Pyricularia oryzae with different sensitivities to isoprothiolane (di-isopropyl 1,3-dithiolan-2-ylidenemalonate) and IBP (S-benzyl O, O-di-isopropyl phosphorothioate) was studied in the absence of fungicides. Four field isolates (S-1,S-2,MR-1 and MR-2) and two in-vitro mutants (Rvt-1 and Rvt-2) were used for disease epidemics. S-l and S-2 were wild types; MR-1 and MR-2 were sensitive to isoprothiolane and moderately resistant to IBP, and Rvt-1 and Rvt-2 were resistant to both fungicides. Twelve epidemics were made by inoculating rice seedlings with mixed conidial suspensions of two isolates or mutants. The value of relative parasitic fitness (W = 0-1.0) was calculated for each isolate and epidemic. S-l and S-2 were stronger (W = 1.0) than MR-2, Rvt-1 and Rvt-2; but weaker (W = 0.75, 0.73, respectively) than MR-1. MR-1 was strongest among all isolates and mutants used. MR-2 was slightly weaker (W = 0.9-1.0) than S-l and S-2, but stronger than Rvt-1 and Rvt-2. Rvt-1 and Rvt-2 had smaller values of W, ranging from 0.25-0.58, in the epidemics with each field isolate. These results suggest that the proportions of in-vitro mutants do not increase unless intensive selection pressure is given, and would be expected to decrease rapidly after the selection pressure is removed. Isolates moderately resistant to IBP, such as MR-1 and MR-2, however, had high values of W, suggesting that they would increase or would not decrease rapidly in the absence of selection pressure. These results may well explain why isolates highly resistant to isoprothiolane and IBP have seldom been found, and why a large number of isolates moderately resistant to IBP but sensitive to isoprothiolane have been observed in the field.     

Mangrove Habitat Formation and Response to Holocene Sea-level Changes on Kosrae Island,Micronesia

Mangrove habitats on Kosrae are divided into three types, i.e., an estuary or delta type, a backmarsh or lagoon type and a coral reef or tidal-flat type. Most of the mangrove forests of Kosrae have been developed during the last 2000 years by accumulating mangrove peat with the gradual sea-level rise of 1 to 2 mm/yr except the landward part of the estuary or delta type. On the other hand, during the period of rapid sea-level rise of about 10 mm/yr between 4100 and 3700 yr B.P., the mangrove forests ceased peat accumulation and retreated landward. Until 3500 yr B.P., mangrove forests were distributed only in narrow bands in the inlets. Therefore, the critical rate of mangrove peat accretion with sea-level rise is estimated at more than 2 mm/yr and less than 10 mm/yr. If the anticipated sea-level rise exceeds this critical rate, all of the mangrove forests of Kosrae will retreat landward and reduce rapidly.     

Characterization of the quantitatively major collagen in the mantle of oyster <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crassostrea gigas</Emphasis>

ABSTRACT:   A quantitatively major collagen was isolated from the pepsin-solubilized collagen preparation of the mantle by differential salt precipitation and phosphocellulose column chromatography, and its constituent α components (α1 and α2) were purified by phosphocellulose column chromatography. The subunits were demonstrated to be genetically distinct from each other by peptide mapping and amino acid analysis. The amino acid composition calculated from those of the α1 and α2 components in 2 : 1 ratio coincided well with that of the major collagen from the mantle. These results suggest that the major collagen in the mantle of the oyster may have a heterotrimer structure (α1)₂α2.     

Anaemia, iron deficiency and vitamin A status among school-aged children in rural Kazakhstan

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of anaemia and iron deficiency and vitamin A status among school-aged children in rural Kazakhstan and identify factors associated with anaemia in this population. DESIGN: A cross-sectional design. SETTING: School-aged children in rural Kazakhstan. SUBJECTS: Socio-economic and anthropometric information was collected from 159 school-aged children living in the Kzyl-Orda region of Kazakhstan. Blood samples were collected and the concentrations of haemoglobin (Hb), serum iron, serum ferritin (SF), erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP), serum retinol and beta-carotene, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation (TS) and other haematological indices were measured. RESULTS: Among the 159 children, the prevalence of anaemia and iron deficiency defined by the multiple criteria model (SF, TS and EP) was 27% and 13%, respectively. Nine per cent had iron-deficiency anaemia and 21% had serum retinol value < 1.05 micromol l(-1). Mean SF and serum iron concentrations and TS were significantly lower in anaemic children than in their non-anaemic peers, while TIBC and EP were significantly higher in children with anaemia. Hb was significantly correlated with serum iron and retinol concentrations. Serum retinol and SF concentrations and mean corpuscular volume were significantly correlated with Hb by multiple regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Anaemia among school-aged children in rural Kazakhstan appears to be related to iron indices and vitamin A status.     

Growth, Net Photosynthetic Rate, Nutrient Status and Secondary Xylem Anatomical Characteristics of Fagus Crenata Seedlings Grown in Brown Forest Soil Acidified with H2SO4 Solution

Dry matter production, net photosynthetic rate, leaf nutrient status and trunk anatomical characteristics of Fagus crenata seedlings grown in brown forest soil acidified by adding H₂SO₄ solution were investigated. The soil acidification leaded to decreased (Ca+Mg+K)/Al molar ratio in the soil solution. Dry mass per plant of the seedlings grown in the soil treated with H⁺ at 120 mg·L^?1 was significantly reduced compared with the control value at 0 mg·L^?1. When net photosynthetic rate was reduced in the seedlings grown in the soil treated with H⁺ at 120 mg·L^?1, the carboxylation efficiency and maximum net photosynthetic rate at saturated CO₂-concentration were lower than the control values. The addition of H⁺ to the soil at 120 mg·L^?1iinduced a reduction in the concentration of Ca in the leaf. By contrast, the concentration of Al in the leaf was increased with increasing the amount of H⁺ added to the soil. The annual ring formed in the seedlings grown in the soil treated with H⁺ at 120 mg·L^?1 was significantly narrower than that at 0 (control), 10, 30, 60 or 90 mg·L^?1. Based on the results obtained in the present study, we conclude that Fagus crenata is relatively sensitive to a reduction in the (Ca+Mg+K)/Al molar ratio of soil solution compared with Picea abies.     

Multitracer Study on Absorption of Radionuclides in Atmosphere-Plant Model System

The absorption of atmospheric radionuclides by soybean plants was experimentally studied using a radioactive multitracer consisting of radionuclides of Sc, Mn, Co, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Y, Eu, Gd, Yb, Hf, Re, and Ir. The soybean plants were cultivated in soil under no-rain conditions in a box containing air in which multitracer-absorbed cellulose particles were dispersed. The soil was covered with plastic film. After about one-month cultivation, the plants were harvested and washed with dilute HCl solution. The leaves, stems, and beans were subjected to γ-ray measurement. The radionuclides of As, Se, and Re were accumulated in the leaves, and those of Co, Se, and Rb were accumulated in the beans. Among them Se was accumulated to a large extent in the leaves and in the beans. Small amounts of the radionuclides of Co, Se, Rb and Re were found in the roots. Little absorption of these radionuclides into the soil occurred. These results indicate that various radionuclides in the atmosphere were absorbed through the soybean leaves and then transported to the seeds. These findings must be taken into consideration for a complete understanding of the system of uptake of radionuclides by the soybean plant.     

Coxsackievirus B4 myocarditis in an orangutan.

A 37-year-old female orangutan died at the zoological garden. Autopsy examination demonstrated severe coxsackievirus B4 myocarditis immunohistochemically as a cause of the death. Apoptosis of the cardiac muscle cells was observed using the TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick endo labeling method and was considered to play a role in the myocarditis. Congestion of the liver and both lungs due to cardiac failure was also observed. Coxsackievirus infection is found frequently in the Okinawan human population. The present orangutan's infection might have come from visitors who were allowed to go near the orangutan. Malignant tumors, severe suppurative infections, and intestinal parasite infections were not observed. Epstein-Barr virus DNA was detected in lymph nodes, but there was no Burkitt's lymphoma.     

Inhibitory effect of isoprothiolane on metabolism of a phosphoramidate by isolates of Pyricularia oryzae cav. in relation to fungicide sensitivity

The inhibitory effect of isoprothiolane(diisopropyl 1,3-dithiolan-2-ylidenemalonate), a fungicide for rice blast control, on the metabolism of dibutyl N-methyl-N-phenylphosphoramidate (BPA) by 20 isolates of Pyricularia oryzae was examined in relation to sensitivity of the isolates to the reference fungicide IBP(S-benzyl diisopropylphosphorothiolate). The isolates were divided into five groups based on the modes of BPA metabolism and the inhibition of BPA metabolism by isoprothiolane. Every isolate in groups I and II, which was either a field isolate or a stock culture, decomposed BPA rapidly and produced both hydroxylated and N-demethylated BPA as metabolites. BPA decomposition by these isolates was strongly inhibited by isoprothiolane, resulting in the decreased production of both metabolites in group I and of the hydroxylated metabolite in group II. These isolates were almost equally sensitive to isoprothiolane. Isolates in groups III, IV, and V were all obtained from selection of the fungus mutants found growing on media containing isoprothiolane. Isolates in group III, derived by plating large numbers of conidia, did not decompose BPA to any extent. Mutants of groups IV and V were obtained from fast-growing sectors on agar containing isoprothiolane. Both these groups decomposed BPA, but isolates belonging to group IV produced copious amount of N-demethylated BPA whereas isolates in group V did not. BPA metabolism by these in vitro mutants in groups III, IV, and V was not inhibited by isoprothiolane. Thus, the inhibitory effect of isoprothiolane on BPA metabolism was correlated with sensitivity of an isolate to isoprothiolane. The inhibitory effect of IBP on BPA metabolism was not always correlated with the sensitivity of an isolate to IBP.     

Retinal ganglion cell topography in juvenile Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis (Temminck and Schlegel)

The retinal ganglion cell distribution, which is known to reflect fish feeding behavior, was investigated in juvenile Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis. During the course of examination, regularly arrayed cells with a distinctive larger soma, which may be regarded as motion-sensitive cells, were found. The topographical distribution of ordinary-sized ganglion cells, which is usually utilized to estimate fish visual axis and/or visual field characteristics, showed that the highest-density area, termed the area centralis, was localized in the ventral-temporal retina. The retinal topography of ordinary-sized ganglion cells seems to reflect the bluefin tuna’s foraging behavior; while cruising, cells in the area centralis may signal potential prey, such as small schooling pelagic fishes or squids, that are present in the upward-forward direction. Judging from morphological characteristics, the large ganglion cells localized in the small temporal retinal area seem to be equivalent to physiologically categorized off-center Y-cells of cat, which are stimulated by a transient dark spot in a bright visual field. It was inferred that presumed large off-center cells in the temporal retina detect movements of agile prey animals escaping from bluefin tuna as a silhouette against environmental light.