Showing papers in "Jarq-japan Agricultural Research Quarterly in 2014"
TL;DR: The solubilization into mixed-micelles, intestinal absorption and oxidative metabolism of carotenoids are reviewed to understand the factors that determine the bioavailability of carOTenoids ingested from fruit and vegetables.
Abstract: Various carotenoids with diverse structures are present in foods and have been reported to have benefi cial effects on human health. Owing to their hydrophobicity, however, poor solubilization in the aqueous milieu of the digestive tract restricts their intestinal absorption. Fats and oils were found to increase the solubilization of carotenoids into mixed-micelles, which would therefore enhance their bioavailability. The uptake of carotenoids solubilized in the micelles by intestinal cells are thought to be mediated by simple diffusion and/or facilitated diffusion through scavenger receptors. Lipids that constituted the mixed-micelles affected the uptake of carotenoids. In particular, lysophosphatidylcholine significantly enhanced uptake. Highly polar carotenoids, meanwhile accumulated in mice but not in humans, suggesting discriminate absorption and metabolism in the latter. The metabolism of provitamin A carotenoids is well known to be mediated by the central cleavage enzyme. Recently, another cleavage enzyme was found to cleave various carotenoids asymmetrically into apocarotenoids. Xanthophylls were found to be oxidized to unstable keto-carotenoids in mice. These metabolic conversions are thought to affect the levels of bioavailable carotenoids in tissues. In this article, the solubilization into mixed-micelles, intestinal absorption and oxidative metabolism of carotenoids are reviewed to understand the factors that determine the bioavailability of carotenoids ingested from fruit and vegetables.
51 citations
TL;DR: An end-effector was developed with three functions: to prevent the fruit adjoining the target fruit from being touched during the approach, to force adjoining fruit away from the target Fruit during the picking motion, and to remove peduncles from harvested fruit, as done manually.
Abstract: A stationary robotic strawberry harvester, combinable with a movable bench system, was developed. Initially, the features of strawberries, such as the visibility of fruit, the picking force required, and spectral reflectance were investigated. Subsequently, a machine-vision system was constructed, comprising units to measure position and coloration respectively. Considering the visibility of strawberry fruit, these units were optimally located to detect mature fruit and estimate their coloration. White, red, and green light-emitting diodes were installed for more accurate coloration measurement. The average error was 5.4%, and its standard deviation was 10.8%. We developed an end-effector with three functions: 1) to prevent the fruit adjoining the target fruit from being touched during the approach, 2) to force adjoining fruit away from the target fruit during the picking motion, and 3) to remove peduncles from harvested fruit, as done manually. The performance test confirmed that the stationary robotic harvester outperformed the conventional robots, namely, the harvester achieved a stable high harvesting success rate of 67.1%, and was able to successfully remove the peduncles from 88.0% of the harvested fruit. Discipline: Agricultural engineering Additional key words: end-effector, machine vision, movable bench system, plant factory
45 citations
TL;DR: The development of a movable strawberry-harvesting robot that can be mounted on a travel platform, along with its practical operation in a greenhouse, showed that a higher shippable fruit rate could be achieved later in the harvest season.
Abstract: This paper describes the development of a movable strawberry-harvesting robot that can be mounted on a travel platform, along with its practical operation in a greenhouse. The harvesting robot can traverse and enter an adjacent path and picking is performed with the travel platform halted on the travel path. Machine vision is used to detect a piece of red fruit and calculate its position in the three-dimensional space, whereupon its maturity level is assessed according to an area ratio determined by classifying the whole fruit into three areas: ripe, intermediate, and unripe area fractions. Sufficiently mature fruit are picked by the end-effector by cutting the peduncle. During operational tests in a greenhouse, our machine vision algorithm to assess maturity level showed a coefficient of determination of 0.84. Setting the maturity level parameter at 70 or 80% resulted in higher shippable fruit rates than the setting of 60%, because small unripe fruit positioned in front of larger ripe fruit were successfully skipped in the former case. Our results showed that a higher shippable fruit rate could be achieved later in the harvest season, reaching 97.3% in the test in June. The successful harvesting rate and work efficiency were 54.9% and 102.5 m h, respectively. Discipline: Agricultural machinery Additional key words: shippable fruit rate, successful harvesting rate, traverse function, work efficiency
43 citations
TL;DR: The classifications established under the new designation system, alongside cluster analysis and the geographical distribution of blast isolates, are used to investigate the diversity and differentiation of blast races in the Tonle Sap and Mekong river regions.
Abstract: The evaluation of a total of 122 blast (Pyricularia oryzae Cavara) isolates collected from the Tonle Sap and Mekong river regions of Cambodia revealed wide variation. Using a new designation system, the blast isolates were categorized into 92 races based on the reaction patterns of rice (Oryza sativa L.) differential varieties (DVs) harboring 23 resistance genes and of 1 susceptible cultivar, Lijiangxintuanheigu (LTH). Cluster analysis was used to classify the blast isolates into 3 groups — I, IIa, and IIb — using data from these reaction patterns of the DVs and LTH. We used the classifications established under the new designation system, alongside cluster analysis and the geographical distribution of blast isolates, to investigate the diversity and differentiation of blast races in the Tonle Sap and Mekong river regions. The distributions of the blast races differed between the 2 regions, although blast isolates of group IIa were distributed commonly in both regions and groups I and IIb occurred at higher frequencies in the Tonle Sap region rather than the Mekong region. The blast isolates in groups I and IIb were also less diverse than those in group IIa. Accordingly, Group II blast isolates overall were distributed in both regions with high diversity, but some modified blast isolates were additionally distributed in the Tonle Sap region. We also investigated the pathogenicities of blast isolates from wild rice (Oryza rufipogon Griff) weeds neighboring the cultivated rice, and discuss the relationship between these isolates and those from cultivated rice. Discipline: Plant disease Additional key words: cluster analysis, differential variety, diversity, pathotype, resistance gene
23 citations
TL;DR: The growth of the juvenile sea cucumber, Holothuria scabra, was studied under captivity to elucidate the growth variation pattern and determine the best-fit growth model to estimate age- and size-specific growth rates.
Abstract: The growth of the juvenile sea cucumber, Holothuria scabra, was studied under captivity to elucidate the growth variation pattern and determine the best-fit growth model to estimate age- and size-specific growth rates. Individual growth was extremely variable, with some individuals below the mean initial weight and some expanding their original body length (L) and weight (W) by up to 6.4 and 156 times, respectively; during 84 days of culture starting at 127 days of age. Some of the smallest individuals showed a higher condition factor than larger individuals in the presence of ample food, indicating that lack of food may not be the only impediment to growth. Among the three growth models compared (von Bertalanffy, Gompertz and logistic), the Gompertz model was considered optimal to express H. scabra growth; both in L and W. The age- and size-specific daily growth rate for L and W up to 365 days of age, as estimated by the Gompertz model, had a range of two and nine orders of magnitude in L (0.035 – 0.96 mm/day) and W (3.4 × 10 -7 – 3.5 g/day), respectively. Use of the Gompertz model over the linear model, which tends to overestimate growth rates, is encouraged to estimate the growth of H. scabra more accurately.
22 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the feasibility of using solid food waste generated from a shopping center as a fertilizer for organic hydroponics was examined, and it was shown that using solid organic matter and the anaerobic conditions at the bottom of a rectangular container might stimulate denitrification.
Abstract: It is important to use food waste as organic fertilizer because considerable energy is needed to produce inorganic fertilizer, while most food waste is burned and landfilled. Recently, a groundbreaking method, organic hydroponics, has been developed, which enables the cultivation of vegetables by directly adding organic fertilizers to the hydroponic solution. Organic fertilizer is degraded to mineral nutrients by a microbial method, multiple parallel mineralization, involving concurrent ammonification and nitrification reactions. Previous studies have shown vegetables thriving when raised on liquid organic fertilizers via organic hydroponics. However, cultivation using solid organic fertilizers has yet to be examined. In this study, we examined the feasibility of using solid food waste generated from a shopping center as a fertilizer for organic hydroponics. We confirmed nitrate ion generation from the food waste by multiple parallel mineralization. Using solid organic matter and the anaerobic conditions at the bottom of a rectangular container might stimulate denitrification. We improved the retrieval rate of inorganic nitrogen ions by filtrating the solution with a nonwoven fabric bag to remove undegraded organic matter and successfully cultivated butterhead lettuce using the food waste as fertilizer in the hydroponics. The results provided a methodological basis for a new effective means of recycling food waste. Discipline: Soils, fertilizers and plant nutrition Additional key words: biofilm, filtration, microbial ecosystem, multiple parallel mineralization, nitrogen fertilizer
21 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a subcritical water extraction of low-molecular-weight phenolic compounds from oil palm biomass (trunk, bark, petiole, rachis, leaves, empty fruit bunch fiber, midrib spine leaf lets, stalk of fruit bunches, flesh, kernel shells, and albumen) was conducted.
Abstract: Subcritical water extraction of low-molecular-weight phenolic compounds from oil palm biomass (trunk, bark, petiole, rachis, leaves, empty fruit bunch fiber, midrib spine leaf lets, stalk of fruit bunches, flesh, kernel shells, and albumen) was conducted. It was elucidated that gallic acid, protocatechuicaldehyde, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, vanillic acid, syringic acid, vanillin, syringaldehyde p-coumaric acid and ferulic acid, all of which could be used as 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid (PDC) precursors, were contained in all parts of oil palm, although their composition differed. The peak yield of p-hydroxybenzoic acid was obtained among the PDC precursors. With regard to extraction conditions, temperature: 200°C, time: 20-60 min, and liquor ratio: 50-125 were the most efficient. The kernel shell exhibited the highest yield of PDC precursors, followed by the trunk, empty fruit bunch fiber, and bark. The results of our study indicate the oil palm is a potentially valuable source of PDC precursors. Discipline: Forestry and forest products Additional key words: Elaeis guineensis, Malaysian biomass, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, 2-pyrone-4, 6-dicarboxylic acid precursors
17 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that many types of blast races were distributed in the upland ecosystem, while the limited ones were in lowland in West Africa.
Abstract: To clarify the diversity of blast (Pyricularia oryzae Cavara) races in West Africa, we investigated the pathogenicity of 96 blast isolates collected from different ecosystems in six countries, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote-d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, and Nigeria, and characterized using rice (Oryza sativa L.) differential varieties for 23 resistance genes and a susceptible control variety Lijangxintuanheigu (LTH). Virulent blast isolates occurred with high frequencies against LTH or differential varieties carrying Pia, Pik-s, Pi19(t), Pi12(t), Pit, Pii, Pi3 and Pi5(t). Conversely, they occurred at low frequencies against differential varieties carrying Pish, Pi9(t), Piz, Piz-5, Piz-t and Pita-2 and at intermediate frequencies against those carrying Pib, Pik-m, Pi1, Pik-h, Pik, Pik-p, Pita and Pi20(t). The isolates were recharacterized as reaction types of five groups, U, i, k, z and ta; accordingly, LTH and the differential varieties were categorized based on the chromosome locations of the resistance genes harbored in each genetic background. Twelve, seven, thirteen, eight and seventeen reaction types were found in groups U, i, k, z and ta, respectively. Thirteen of these, namely U43, U63, i7, k100, k106, k177, z00, z03, z04, ta003, ta031, ta403 and ta431, showed high frequencies of blast isolates and were considered dominant reaction types. We used the infection types of the differential varieties against these blast isolates to conduct a cluster analysis, and the isolates were classified into two clusters, I and II. Substantial differ ences in frequencies between both clusters were found in the reactions of differential varieties carrying these genes in the Pii, Pik and Pita chromosome regions. Both clusters I and II were distributed in an upland ecosystem with high and similar frequencies, whereas group II was mainly distributed in the irrigated lowland. These results suggested that many types of blast races were distributed in the upland ecosystem, while the limited ones were in lowland in West Africa. Finally, these blast isolates were categorized into 79 races in accordance with a new designation system based on the five differential variety groups used for reaction typing.
15 citations
TL;DR: Survey of internal infection of swine with gastrointestinal tract protozoa by checking the stools of 334 pigs on 8 hog farms in Saitama, Japan from September to November 2009 found a correlation between the infection rate and diarrhea in five piglets aged 1 month or younger.
Abstract: We surveyed the rates of internal infection of swine with gastrointestinal tract protozoa by checking the stools of 334 pigs (suckling pigs, growing pigs aged 1 to 6 months and sows or sow candidates) on 8 hog farms in Saitama, Japan from September to November 2009. Oocysts and cysts per gram of stools in all pigs were calculated. Parasite detection rates were statistically analyzed for each of the farms, age groups, and stool condition scores, and the relationship between parasitic infection and diarrhea was investigated. Cryptosporidium was detected in 79 pigs (23.7%) of all pigs checked, Giardia was found in 53 (15.9%), Balantidium in 155 (46.4%), and coccidium in 20 (6.0%). The rate of Cryptosporidium infection was higher in the 2and 3-month-old groups (55.6 to 60.0%) than in the others (2.5 to 27.6%) (P < 0.05): oocysts per gram of stools of 104 to 105 were detected in a total of 33 suckling pigs and 2and 3-month-old pigs, including 10 of an outdoor farm. There was a correlation between the infection rate and diarrhea in five piglets aged 1 month or younger. In addition, the number of 6-month-old pigs infected with Giardia was 40.0%, as opposed to just 5.1% (P < 0.05) of suckling pigs. Detection rates differed among farms. The Balantidium infection rate was high in pigs older than 4 months (45.0 to 78.9%), as opposed to 15.4 to 17.2% (P < 0.05) in pigs younger than 1 month. Discipline: Animal health Additional key words: Balantidium, coccidium, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, pig
13 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that crickets can help deplete weed seed banks over a large portion of paddy fields with a significant difference in activity density between the examined distances from the field edge.
Abstract: In this study, the relationship between the predation of weed seed by crickets and the distance from the edge of paddy fields after the irrigation water receded was investigated. In September 2011, the activity density of crickets and invertebrate seed predation were investigated twice in a paddy field at distances of 0, 5, 10, and 15 m from the field edge, and on a paddy levee. The activity density of all cricket species in the field was 2.8–4.6 individuals/trap/day (first trial) and 2.4–6.0 individuals/trap/ day (second trial), with no significant difference in activity density between the examined distances from the field edge. However, the cricket species differed in their spatial distribution. The activity density of Teleogryllus emma peaked at 5 m from the field edge, whereas that of Velarifictorus micado peaked 15 m from the edge. In contrast, the activity density of Loxoblemmus spp., including L. campestris, was higher on the paddy levee than in the field. The proportion of invertebrate seed predation on Echinochloa crus-galli var. crus-galli (23.9–40.9%/day) and Lolium multiflorum (81.0– 98.8%/day) did not differ significantly between the examined distances from the field edge. Camera recordings showed crickets to be the predominant invertebrate seed predators. These results suggest that crickets can help deplete weed seed banks over a large portion of paddy fields.
12 citations
TL;DR: The morphology of 18 and seven species of fungi isolated from spoiled bean sprouts of Vigna spp.
Abstract: The morphology of 18 and seven species of fungi isolated from spoiled bean sprouts of Vigna spp. and soybean in Japan were respectively described, and DNA barcode markers of most isolates were sequenced to confirm the morphological identification. Fifteen and five species were isolated for the first time from Vigna spp. and soybean sprouts, including their ingredient grains, respectively. Globisporangium ultimum var. ultimum was newly recorded from the mung bean and most isolated fungi seemed to originate from the grains. Approximately 70% of isolates are recognized as plant pathogens and at least 14 species are known to be seed-borne. Inoculation experiments with representative strains of each species are needed to estimate the risks to bean sprout production and crop protection. Some strains of Fusarium graminearum isolated from the soybean were already reported as producing high concentrations of deoxynivalenol. Aspergillus flavus, which was found in mung bean sprouts, is a well-known aflatoxin producer. The ingredient grains should be imported after complete sterilization to avoid hazards; not only to bean sprout production but to human health. The effects of previously used sterilization techniques should be re-examined with the strains of various fungi isolated in this study to make them more practical. Discipline: Food Additional key words: black matpe, fungal carrier, identification, mung bean, soybean
TL;DR: To characterize the blast resistance of IT, quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of the resistance using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers was conducted in F3 progenies derived from crossing IT with a susceptible lowland variety, ‘Koshihikari’.
Abstract: Rice blast, caused by Pyricularia oryzae Cavara (Magnaporthe grisea (Hebert) Barr), is one of the most severe global rice diseases. The Philippine rice landrace ‘Ingngoppor-tinawon’ (IT) displays not only high field resistance to rice blast but also high tolerance to lodging, despite its very long culms. These characteristics make IT suitable for use in breeding animal feed varieties as whole-crop silage (WCS). To characterize the blast resistance of IT, quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of the resistance using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers was conducted in F3 progenies derived from crossing IT with a susceptible lowland variety, ‘Koshihikari’. A QTL for blast field resistance (qBFR4) was identified on chromosome 4, and the resistance allele was derived from IT. The QTL explained 73.5% of the phenotypic variation for blast resistance. qBFR4 mapped to almost the same position as that of the blast field-resistance gene Pi39. Inoculation assays revealed that IT (containing qBFR4) showed resistance characteristics that differed from those of Mineharuka (containing Pi39), making it very likely that resistance derived from IT is distinct from Pi39. IT showed broad resistance to Japanese isolates and race-specific resistance to some Philippine isolates.
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of foliar ca spray on the Ca concentration in fruit and the incidence of disorder are sometimes inconsistent, and three possible reasons for inconsistencies in foliar Ca application are discussed.
Abstract: Calcium is involved in several disorders and influences the storage life of different fruit species. Moreover, applying preharvest foliar Ca spray is a standard practice to control fruit Ca concentration in certain deciduous fruit trees. Conversely, the effects of foliar Ca spray on the Ca concentration in fruit and the incidence of disorder are sometimes inconsistent. This article provides an overview of recent works on foliar Ca application and discusses Ca application inconsistencies. Foliar Ca sprays reduced bitter pit, enhanced fruit firmness and storage time, and sometimes reduced the incidence of brown rot during storage in apples; reduced internal browning during storage and the incidence of brown rot in peaches; decreased postharvest decay and cork spot in pears; and increased shelf life in grapes. Experiments using 45 Ca or isolated cuticular revealed the effects of fruit growth stages, atmospheric conditions, and adjuvants on Ca penetration. Finally, three possible reasons for inconsistencies of foliar Ca application are discussed.
TL;DR: Although these toxins share highly similar chemical structures, there are evident differences in their toxicities, indicating that the toxicity mechanisms of these toxins differ.
Abstract: To illustrate the differences in toxicities between deoxynivalenol (DON) and nivalenol (NIV), cell proliferation, cytokine secretion, and the involvement of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) were investigated. Both toxins retarded the proliferation of all four cell lines tested. NIV was more potent than DON in human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL60, human lymphoblastic leukemia cell line MOLT-4, and rat aortic myoblast cell line A-10. In contrast, both toxins exhibited almost equivalent potencies in human hepatoblastoma cell line HepG2. If both toxins exert their toxicities through the same mechanism, one should be more potent than the other, regardless of cell types. While exposure to DON significantly induced the secretion of anti-hematopoietic cytokines macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α/ CCL3) and MIP-1β/CCL4, treatment with NIV decreased the secretion of these cytokines in HL60 cells, indicating that the toxicity mechanisms of these toxins differ. An Hsp90-specific inhibitor radici col canceled the effect of DON on these cytokine secretions, indicating that Hsp90 plays a crucial role in these DON-induced cytokine secretions in HL60 cells. Conversely, the results of treatment with NIV and radicicol indicate that radicicol does not mitigate the effect of NIV. When viewing the above results collectively, although these toxins share highly similar chemical structures, there are evident differences in their toxicities.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined uneven-aged forest management, in which dipterocarp trees were planted under nurse trees, by monitoring their growth for 20 years, and found that the survival rate and tree size of the dipters were monitored at both sites until 1995.
Abstract: To develop silvicultural methods for dipterocarp species in degraded lands in a tropical monsoon climate, we examined uneven-aged forest management, in which dipterocarp trees were planted under nurse trees, by monitoring their growth for 20 years. In 1989, seedlings of four dipterocarp species (Dipterocarpus alatus, D. turbinatus, Hopea odorata and Shorea henryana) were planted beneath a 3-year-old Leucaena leucocephala plantation and in an open site in Sakaerat, north-east Thailand. The survival rate and tree size of the dipterocarp seedlings were monitored at both sites until 1995. Surand svival rates of the dipterocarp trees were significantly better under the Leucaena plantation. However, no apparent difference was observed in basal area between both sites, since saw vigorous growth of the surviving seedlings compensated for the loss of dead seedlings at the open site. Our results showed that D. alatus and H. odorata could be planted in an open site due to the vigorous growth of the seedlings, but that it was preferable to plant D. turbinatus beneath nurse trees. The Leucaena plantation was partially thinned to 50, 75 and 100% (clear-cut) in 1993, and the survival rate and growth of the dipterocarps was monitored until 2009. Thinning had no apparent effect on the survival rates of the dipterocarp seedlings. Although relative growth rates (RGR) of the dipterocarps reduced after thinning, thinning rates did not affect the growth of the dipterocarps. After thinning, dipterocarp trees overtook Leucaena in height at all thinning rates, possibly from 1999. An uneven-aged system combining Leucaena and dipterocarp trees is likely to be applicable to several dipterocarp species.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined fine root biomass and its vertical pattern along the gradient of topography in a typical terra firme forest in the Central Amazon in this region.
Abstract: Fine roots are an important component of the carbon flow of forests. Soil properties in tropical forest (terra firme forest) of the Central Amazon differ substantially along topography, and the biomass and vertical distribution of fine roots may also differ accordingly. Information on the vertical distribution of fine roots is essential to obtain unbiased estimates of fine root biomass. Accordingly, we examined fine root biomass and its vertical pattern along the gradient of topography in a typical terra firme forest in this region. The regressions on the cumulative fine root biomass along soil depth (at 5 cm intervals from 0-40 cm in depth) revealed significantly different vertical distribution of fine root biomass among three topographic habitats (lower-slope valley called baixio, mid-slope, and upper-slope plateau). A shallower rooting pattern was observed in the plateau than the other habitats, while fine root biomass was larger in the baixio than the plateau – a difference likely attributable to the soil physical properties than the aboveground stand structures among the sites. More than 74 and 93% of the fine root biomass was estimated to be distributed within the upper 20- and 40-cm soil layers, respectively. Our results suggested that a shallow sampling depth, which is common in fine root research in the Amazon, would be reasonable, though we should examine the consistency of our results in different regions.
TL;DR: In this paper, the current status of rice plant damage caused by the brown planthopper (BPH) in Cambodia through semi-structured interviews with government officials and rice farmers from the main rice-producing province was clarified.
Abstract: This study aims to clarify the current status of rice plant damage caused by the brown planthopper (BPH) in Cambodia through semi-structured interviews with government officials and rice farmers from the main rice-producing province. BPH is known to cause serious damage to rice crops in many Southeast Asian countries. However, few studies exist on the damage caused by BPH in Cambodia and information on effective pest-control management remains limited. Interviews with provincial government officials revealed that BPH infestation had been recorded in 6 of 8 target provinces located near the border with the southern part of Vietnam. Of these, Takeo province was selected for a more detailed survey using semi-structured interviews with district government officials and workshopstyle interviews with 416 farmers from 3 communes. These interviews indicated that damage by BPH in Cambodia was possibly attributable to BPH occurrence in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. Discipline: Insect pest Additional key words: brown planthopper, Mekong Delta, workshop-style interview
TL;DR: In this paper, the effect of drought stress on the cucumber (Cucumis sativus L) was investigated with three treatments: control (C), moderate drought stress (MDS) and severe drought (SDS) during exposure to high temperature and strong light.
Abstract: To gain a physiological understanding of the effect of drought stress on the cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), we subjected ‘Jinchun No. 5’ seedlings to three treatments: control (C), moderate drought stress (MDS) and severe drought stress (SDS) during exposure to high temperature and strong light. We then investigated the metabolic properties of active oxygen species, nitrogen and photosynthesis in leaves from the 3rd to 15th days of treatment. The amounts of active oxygen species superoxide anion (O2 ) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) increased with increasing drought stress in C, MDS and SDS. The malondialdehyde (MDA) content, which reflects the excess metabolism of active oxygen was increased on the 12th and 15th days of treatment with increasing drought stress. The nitrate-reductase (NR) activity of nitrogen metabolism indicators decreased on the 3rd to 15th days of treatment, while soluble protein content increased on the 9th to 15th days of treatment with increasing drought stress. With respect to the photosynthetic properties, stomatal conductance (gs) decreased from the 6th to 15th days of treatment with increasing drought stress, no significant difference was seen in sub-stomatal CO2 concentration (Ci) between all three treatment plots, transpiration rate (E) was lower in SDS than C, and the net photosynthesis rate (A) decreased with increasing drought stress. A significant correlation between gs, H2O2 and E with A, and secondly between MDA and NR with A was observed. These findings suggest that drought stress during periods of high temperature and strong light results in the generation and accumulation of abundant active oxygen species, and inhibition of nitrogen and photosynthesis metabolism in cucumber ‘Jinchun No. 5’ seedlings. Discipline: Horticulture Additional key words: hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, net photosynthesis rate, nitrate-reductase, stomatal conductance
TL;DR: A study of phylogenetic relationships indicates that the late-spring T. beneficus is closer to the different species T. sinensis than the early- spring T.beneficus, which can partly explain why T.Sinensis hybridizes more readily with theLate-Spring T.Beneficus.
Abstract: Torymus sinensis is a parasitoid wasp that was introduced from China to Japan to control the invasive chestnut gall wasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus. Interaction between T. sinensis and the indigenous parasitoid T. beneficus has been of interest since T. sinensis was first released in chestnut orchards, as hybridization between them might impede the success of biological control by the introduced parasitoid. Such apprehensions disappeared with the drastic decrease in damage caused by D. kuriphilus. However, the emergence of morphologically intermediate individuals between them after the introduction of the parasitoid has triggered renewed interest in hybridization, specifically on the non-target effects of biological control. In this review, the interaction between both species, specifically hybridization, species composition and species displacement, is surveyed. Molecular markers are used, not only because T. sinensis and T. beneficus are similar morphologically, but also because the latter has two emergence strains (early- and late-spring). Surveys show that 1) T. sinensis has displaced both emergence strains of T. beneficus; 2) hybridization between T. sinensis and early-spring T. beneficus occurs at a low frequency (≤ 1%); but that 3), hybrid F 1 s between T. sinensis and late-spring T. beneficus occur at a much higher frequency (≤ 20%). A study of phylogenetic relationships indicates that the late-spring T. beneficus is closer to the different species T. sinensis than the early-spring T. beneficus. This can partly explain why T. sinensis hybridizes more readily with the late-spring T. beneficus than with the early-spring T. beneficus.
TL;DR: In this paper, the properties of grain and flour in floury rice mutants were investigated and compared to wild-type rice mutants and a wild type rice, and the results showed that the starch and amylose content of some floury mutant lines declined slightly compared to the wild type, and that the specific loaf volume (SLV) of rice bread made from pin-milled floury mutants was equivalent to that made from the jetmilled wild type.
Abstract: Rice flour is used to make various traditional foods and also increasingly as a substitute for wheat flour. To explore rice suitable for milling, the properties of grain and flour in floury rice mutants were investigated. Floury rice mutants commonly show loosely packed starch granules in the endosperm, which results in decreased grain hardness. The starch and amylose content of some floury mutant lines declined slightly compared to the wild-type. In wild-type rice, fine flour with low starch damage is obtained when jet-milled under wet condition; while flour which is pin-milled under dry conditions is coarser and more damaged compared to jet-milled flour. Rice flour prepared from floury mutant lines shows low starch damage and fine particle size, in both jet- or pin-milling. The differences in grain components, starch damage and particle size would lead to a characteristic RVA profile. In some mutant lines, the specific loaf volume (SLV) of rice bread made from pin-milled floury mutant rice is reportedly equivalent to that made from the jet-milled wild-type. The dry-milling process needs none of the excess water treatment required in wet-milling. Therefore, using floury mutant lines and the pin-mill, industrial production of rice flour suitable for high-SLV rice bread would be easier.
TL;DR: A comparison of the gene expression among several citrus species with different carotenoid profiles showed that the difference in carotanoid profiles among citrus species was highly regulated by coordination of the expression for genes related to carotENoid biosynthesis and catabolism.
Abstract: To learn how to regulate carotenoid content in citrus fruit, we studied the mechanism of carotenoid accumulation using physiological and genetic methods. Based on differences in the carotenoid profiles of flavedo and juice sacs, citrus species could be roughly divided into three groups: carotenoidpoor, violaxanthin-abundant, and b-cryptoxanthin-abundant groups. A comparison of the gene expression among several citrus species with different carotenoid profiles showed that the difference in carotenoid profiles among citrus species was highly regulated by coordination of the expression for genes related to carotenoid biosynthesis and catabolism. Quantitative trait loci related to carotenoid content were also identified to select progeny with high carotenoid content. Moreover, we showed that the effect of postharvest ethylene on carotenoid accumulation in flavedo varied with temperature. Under an ethylene atmosphere, in flavedo, carotenoid accumulation was enhanced more dramatically than under an ethylene-free atmosphere at 20°C but repressed at 5°C.
TL;DR: The infection process of the anthracnose fungus Discula theae-sinensis in tea was investigated in detail by fluorescence microscopy, with results indicating that hyphae that had invaded the mesophyll were confined to the small round spots that formed surrounding the infected trichomes.
Abstract: The infection process of the anthracnose fungus Discula theae-sinensis in tea was investigated in detail by fluorescence microscopy. Leaves of the susceptible tea variety ‘Yabukita’ spray inoculated with the conidial suspension were collected sequentially and examined after fluorescence staining with fluorescein-conjugated wheat germ agglutinin. Conidia adhering to the trichomes germinated and formed very short germ tubes. Penetration hyphae grew from the germ tube tips into the cell walls of the trichomes, and formed infection hyphae by 12 h after inoculation. Hyphae that had invaded the mesophyll were confined to the small round spots that formed surrounding the infected trichomes. However, hyphae that had reached the veins extended through the phloem, causing necrosis of the neighboring mesophylls and eventually the formation of large necrotic lesions. Discipline: Plant disease Additional key words: anthracnose, Camellia sinensis, fluorescein-conjugated wheat germ agglutinin Present address: 1 National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences (Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8604, Japan) *Corresponding author: e-mail kenyama@affrc.go.jp Received 2 September 2013; accepted 22 January 2014. K. Yamada & R. Sonoda 400 JARQ 48 (4) 2014 stems and potted plants were placed in a dew chamber at 26°C for 48 h, and grown at 26°C with a 12-h light/dark cycle. The upper 2-3 leaves of the new shoots on detached stems were sampled at 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 24 h and 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 days after inoculation and at least 8 leaves on 4 shoots were examined for each sampling period. The experiment was repeated twice. Lesion development after 10 days was observed on intact shoots on potted and field-grown plants, and leaves were sampled depending on the lesion
TL;DR: In this article, a method for monitoring winter wheat growth using multi-temporal TerraSAR-X dual-polarimetric data was described, and the results confirm that X-band SAR data possess great potential for the development of an operational system for monitoring wheat growth.
Abstract: This paper describes a method for monitoring winter wheat growth using multi-temporal TerraSAR-X dual-polarimetric data. Six TerraSAR-X HH/VV images were collected in Hokkaido, and the temporal responses to the winter wheat fields were analyzed. The height, moisture content and dry matter of the crops were measured at nearly the same time as TerraSAR-X data was acquired, and the relationships between these parameters and SAR data, including sigma naught and coherence, were studied. Quadratic relationships between the crop height and sigma naught were observed for HH polarization. The determination coefficient was 0.73 and the model had an RMS error of 0.17 dB for the validation data. Coherence is expressed as a regression equation with two explanatory variables: crop height and elongation. Next, the determination coefficient of 0.69 was observed for HH, while the RMS error of coherence was 0.01 for the validation data. The possibility of using the co-polarization ratio of TerraSAR-X to estimate the vegetation’s water content was also analyzed and a determination coefficient of 0.70 was obtained. The results confirm that X-band SAR data possess great potential for the development of an operational system for monitoring wheat growth.
TL;DR: A research strategy is presented to understand the mechanisms that govern the formation of flower color patterns and the unusual genomic structure of chalcone synthase is probably related to the operation of position-specific post-transcriptional gene-silencing.
Abstract: The coloration pattern of flower tissue affects the commercial potential of floricultural plants and is also a subject of fundamental biological interest. Transposon insertion or excision and post-transcriptional gene-silencing are well-studied mechanisms involved when flower color patterns form. In this paper, I present a research strategy to understand the mechanisms that govern the formation of flower color patterns. First, I discuss the significance of flower color pattern-formation research and then go on to describe a research system in the following six sections: Observation of f lower patterns, Comparison of pigment components, Gene expression analysis, Regulation of target gene expression, Genomic structure, and Factors that can change color pattern-formation. In these sections, reference is made to my own studies on the marginal picotee pattern of Petunia f lowers. Post-transcriptional gene-silencing of the chalcone synthase gene is responsible for the formation of white tissue in the white marginal picotee pattern in Petunia flowers. The unusual genomic structure of chalcone synthase is probably related to the operation of position-specific post-transcriptional gene-silencing. In the colored marginal picotee pattern of Petunia flowers, the higher expression of flavonol synthase is a responsible for the central white tissue formation. I also provide a research perspective from which to resolve the remaining questions. Discipline: Horticulture Additional key words: anthocyanins, chalcone synthase, flavones, flavonol synthase, post-transcriptional gene-silencing, transposon
TL;DR: The first report on the growth and maturation of the roughear scad Decapterus tabl in the East China Sea is reported, meaning a first spawning age of 2 years old in theEast China Sea.
Abstract: The species of the genus Decapterus are important for fisheries in western Japan, but few in number and reports on their biological characteristics remain limited. This is the first report on the growth and maturation of the roughear scad Decapterus tabl in the East China Sea. The growth model of the roughear scad was estimated as follows: FLt = 390{1 – exp [–0.56(t + 0.36]} (1 < t < 8) using otolith annual rings that were formed once a year. The spawning period was from May to July, while the 50% maturation gonad somatic index GSI50 was calculated as 3.80 for female using logistic regression. The minimum length over the GSI50 was 274 mm, meaning a first spawning age of 2 years old in the East China Sea.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors evaluate management procedures (MPs) in data-poor situations using an operating model (OM) based on a production model, which incorporates uncertainties regarding its assumptions and the process and observation errors of population dynamics and fishing processes.
Abstract: The allowable biological catch (ABC) in Japanese fishery management is currently determined by applying harvest control rules, which are categorized into two types depending on whether or not stock-size information is available. We evaluate management procedures (MPs) in data-poor situations using an operating model (OM) based on a production model. The OM incorporates uncertainties regarding its assumptions and the process and observation errors of population dynamics and fishing processes, while the values of the MP parameters are determined to avoid stock collapses and low catches. We evaluated the MP formulation ABC = δ × Ct × (1 + k b ) Ī , where δ is a coefficient dependent on the stock status level on the stock size, Ct is the catch in year t, k is the weight coefficient, b reflects the trend in stock abundance index over time, and Ī is the mean of the stock abundance index I. This study shows that smaller values of k reduce the frequency of substantially low catches, particularly when there is significant uncertainty surrounding the stock status. In addition, the value of δ affects both the frequency of fishery collapse as well as stock and catch sizes. We conclude that more reliable stock abundance indices are necessary if the stock size and catch are to stabilize and MPs become more robust to uncertainties. Discipline: Fisheries Additional key words: harvest control rules, management procedure, population dynamics
TL;DR: The genetic separation of the flesh texture characteristics in F 1 and F 2 offspring from the cross of non-melting and stonyhard cultivars indicated that the stony hard trait was controlled by a single gene, and inherited independently of melting flesh/non-Melting flesh traits.
Abstract: Flesh texture of peach (Prunus persica Batsch) was classified into melting and non-melting, while in 1976, the stony hard variety was reported as a third type. However, the fruit ripening characteristics and inheritance of stony hard trait remained unclear. The fruit of melting and non-melting cultivars showed increased ethylene production and softer flesh, although their degrees differed. Conversely, the stony hard texture was characterized by the absence of both ethylene production and postharvest softening in mature fruit, while the firmness of the stony hard peach decreased effectively with continuous ethylene treatment. Treatment of the stony hard peach with 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), which is the immediate precursor to ethylene, softened the fruit and rapidly induced ethylene production. The genetic separation of the flesh texture characteristics in F 1 and F 2 offspring from the cross of non-melting and stony hard cultivars indicated that the stony hard trait was controlled by a single gene, and inherited independently of melting flesh/non-melting flesh traits. The stony hard peach is expected to be used as a genetic source to enhance the preservability of the table peach.
TL;DR: In this paper, allometric models to estimate the aboveground mass AGM, belowground mass BGM and total mass TM of juvenile trees (stem diameter at breast height DBH ≤ 5 cm, tree height H ≥ 30 cm) in open-canopy terra-firme forests after wind disturbance were developed in the Amazon.
Abstract: Allometric models to estimate the aboveground mass AGM, belowground mass BGM and total mass TM of juvenile trees (stem diameter at breast height DBH ≤ 5 cm, tree height H ≥ 30 cm) in open-canopy terra-firme forests after wind disturbance were developed in the Amazon. For comparison, the allometric models were also developed for a closed-canopy terra-firme forest. After six models had been compared in each forest type, the model with diameter at ground basis DGB and H was selected as the best for estimating AGM and TM, and the model with diameter at ground basis DGB as a single variable was selected as the best for estimating BGM considering the adjusted coefficient of determination and standard deviation of the mean. Models based on the diameter at breast height DBH showed poor correlation with each biomass component compared with those based on DGB for the open-canopy forest. The juvenile trees in the open-canopy forest showed higher AGM and H at a given DGB than in the closed-canopy forest, while the DGB – BGM relationships did not differ significantly between the open- and closed-canopy forests. It was concluded that the allometric models used to estimate AGM and TM were unique to each forest type. This would be because light-demanding species show higher allocation to AGM than BGM to be advantageous for competition for light by achieving rapid growth in height.
TL;DR: In this paper, new methods of evaluating the quality of vegetables, which included physical methods, ion selective electrode (ISE), liquid chromatography (LC) (high-performance liquid chromalysis (HPLC), ultra-performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC)), gas chromatography(GC), visible (Vis) spectroscopy, near-infrared (NIR) spectrograms, and VIS-NIR spectrographs, were reviewed.
Abstract: This paper reviews new methods of evaluating the quality of vegetables, which included physical methods, ion-selective electrode (ISE), liquid chromatography (LC) (high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)), gas chromatography (GC), visible (Vis) spectroscopy, near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and VIS-NIR spectroscopy. Moreover, penetrability, juiciness, nitrate ions, lycopene, glucosinolate (GSL), isothiocyanate (ITC) determination, rapid total dietary fiber (TDF) determination and non-destructive determination were also described.
TL;DR: In this paper, the paddy soil properties in 20 villages in Nangarhar province, East Afghanistan were investigated, which were mostly classified as sandy loam or loam, were alkaline and contained carbonate ranging from 4.9 to 16.9 g C kg.
Abstract: Paddy soil properties in 20 villages in Nangarhar province, East Afghanistan were investigated. The soils, which were mostly classified as sandy loam or loam, were alkaline and contained carbonate ranging from 4.9 to 16.9 g C kg. The average total N and organic C, (0.36 N and 6.2 C g kg) was low compared to the average values in tropical Asian paddy soils. Calcium was the predominant exchangeable cation followed by Mg, K and Na in that order. The available P (Olsen-P) content was 20.7 mg P2O5 kg on average and did not vary significantly throughout the study area, while the available Si content, (261 mg SiO2 kg) was comparable with the level in tropical Asia. The available micronutrients (DTPA-TEA extraction) Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn, were 35.9, 9.6, 4.75 and 0.33 mg kg on average. The paddy soil properties were generally low in fertility compared to those in tropical Asia, while the available P and Zn contents were deficient for rice growth. Paddy fields in Nagarhar province could be divided into groups according to the location. The paddy soil properties varied in Kabul and Kunar watersheds and were influenced by spot distribution of different types of parent materials such as limestone, dolomite and lava. Discipline: Soil, fertilizer and plant nutrition Additional key words: available Zn, micronutrients