The objectives of this study were to (i) determine the optimum number of whole leaves to retain on a tomato plant for effective blossom-end rot (BER) management and (ii) explore the relationship between shoot calcium (Ca) and fruit Ca in non-defoliated plants in two different sized fruit cultivars, a large-fruited cultivar ‘Momotaro fight’ and a medium-fruited cultivar ‘Cindy sweet’. Treatments involved maintaining 18, 15 and 12 leaves on a plant. All lateral shoots were removed regularly throughout the growing period except the shoot closest to the flowering truss in the 18-leaf treatment. At the length of 10cm, these shoots were sampled for real time Ca determination using a hand held Ca2+ meter. In the plants defoliated to 18 leaves, BER was higher in ‘Momotaro fight’ at 10% compared to 2% in ‘Cindy sweet’. Fruit growth rate was significantly increased by defoliation in ‘Momotaro fight’, however no significant difference was observed among treatments in ‘Cindy sweet’. Defoliating to 12 leaves increased daily Ca transport rate by 59% and 37% in ‘Momotaro fight’ and ‘Cindy sweet’, respectively. Defoliating to 12 leaves increased the water-soluble Ca concentration in the distal part of fruit by 34% and 14% in ‘Momotaro fight’ and ‘Cindy sweet’, respectively. In the plants defoliated to 18 leaves where only old yellowish leaves were removed, a significant steady decrease was observed in the concentration of water soluble Ca in the distal part of fruit with increase in truss order. There was a significant linear relationship between water-soluble Ca concentration in the distal part of the fruit and Ca concentration in the lateral shoot of plants defoliated to 18 leaves. We conclude that under moderate water stress by root zone restriction and also certain other BER inductive conditions, defoliation to 12–15 leaves on a tomato plant should be a promising approach for decreasing BER incidence in susceptible large fruit cultivars.
The field study was conducted in Nam Dong district, Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam during May 2019 to observe the effects of SRI method on the rice yield and eradicate the factor affecting the yield. The study was carried out to evaluate the agronomic characteristics of rice, fresh and dry matter production, soil characteristics with a focus group discussion regarding cultivation by SRI and non-SRI methods. The soil analyses using standard measurements showed quite similar soil fertility in both SRI and non-SRI methods, while rice plants showed good agronomic performances and fresh and dry matter production in SRI method. At harvesting time, the yield and yield potentials of rice were greater in SRI than that in non-SRI methods. Focus group discussion found some factors that limited SRI development in Nam Dong district.
Boron (B) is an essential micro element for plants and plays important roles in the synthesis and functions of cell wall. B deficiency has been reported as one of the causes of fruit malformation in strawberries. We investigated the effect of B deficiency on flower and fruit development of forced strawberries for two cropping seasons (2015-2017). In the second season, B was resupplied for B-deficient plants and we investigated changes in fruit development. When B-free nutrient solutions were supplied, tip burn began to occur in newly emerging leaves and calyx 2 to 3 months later, and fruit malformation including seedy or only partly developed fruits with undeveloped achenes occurred frequently. However, these deficient symptoms were quickly disappeared by supplying B containing nutrient solutions. In conclusion, B nutrition is closely related to the occurrence of fruit malformation through fertility of pollen and pistils, and also development of receptacle tissue in strawberries. It should be possible to reduce fruit malformation in strawberries by proper control of B nutrition.
Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) has been used as a rapid and effective tool for functional analysis of genes in various plants, including woody fruit tree species. In this study, we attempted to develop a VIGS-based gene evaluation system for seven Prunus species, including apricot (P. armeniaca L.), sweet cherry (P. avium L.), almond [P. dulcis (Mill.) D. A. Webb.], peach (P. persica Batsch), Japanese apricot (P. mume Siebold & Zucc.), Japanese plum (P. salicina Lindl.), and European plum (P. domestica L.), with the Apple latent spherical virus (ALSV) vectors. ALSV vectors carrying part of the apricot PHYTOENE DESATURASE (PDS) gene sequence were amplified in Nicotiana benthamiana, and inoculated into the cotyledons of Prunus seedlings by particle bombardment. Typical PDS-silenced phenotypes, characterized by uniform discoloration of the upper leaves, were observed in sweet cherry and some cultivars of apricot and almond several weeks after inoculation. In contrast, attempted ALSV infections of Japanese apricot, Japanese plum, European plum, and the other cultivars of apricot and almond were unsuccessful. Furthermore, although the infection rate of ALSV in peach was high, severe viral infection symptoms were observed in the infected leaves. These results collectively suggested that the efficiency of ALSV infection and VIGS could vary depending on species and/or cultivar in Prunus. The possible use of the ALSV-mediated VIGS system for functional analysis of genes in Prunus is discussed.
Olibanum (frankincense), used as a religious offering, has been one of the most valuable and respected substances since ancient times. Tea-tree, with a long history as a folk medicine for Australian aborigines, has been used in modern aromatherapy since the late 1970’s. In this paper, comparisons of olibanum and tea-tree in aromatherapy and their effects on the body and mind are discussed.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease characterized by memory and language disorder. The accumulation of senile plaques called β-amyloid and neurofibrillary tangles involving protein tau in the brains of AD patients have been considered as two hallmarks of AD. In AD, it is reported that accumulation of β-amyloid may be observed 25 years before onset, supporting early diagnosis and treatment by brain image analysis, because several techniques have recently been developed to detect β-amyloid and tau protein in brains of persons diagnosed with AD. AD patients are usually suffering from other diseases such as diabetes or periodontal disease, and there is accumulating data to show that these diseases associate with the human microbiome, such as gut and oral microbiota. In this report, the relation ship between AD and the human microbiome is reviewed.
The chili pepper (Capsicum) is both an important spice and fresh vegetable worldwide. C. baccatum is a lesser known domesticated species that is native to the Andean region. Fruit traits such as color, shape, and pungency markedly vary in this species. C. baccatum has potential as a bioresource for future chili pepper breeding programs. Although extensive studies have been conducted on the pungency of C. annuum, that of C. baccatum has not been examined in as much detail. In the present study, capsaicinoid contents were analyzed in 36 C. baccatum accessions. Capsaicinoid contents ranged between 0 and 4,258 μg/gDW. Furthermore, a negative relationship was observed between capsaicinoid contents and fruit weights. Although the pungency of C. baccatum is regarded as low-mild, very few non-pungent accessions were detected ; only one non-pungent accession (‘Kaleidoscope’) was identified among the C. baccatum accessions examined. In order to validate the stability of non-pungency in the accession, capsaicinoid contents were determined at different harvest dates, along with other accessions with different pungencies. Although capsaicinoid contents in other C. baccatum accessions changed with the picking date, capsaicinoid was not detected in ‘Kaleidoscope’ at any date. The non-pungent accession reported here may be useful for future C. baccatum pepper breeding programs.
Intermittent low temperature storage is expected to be a new artificial flower-inducing treatment and becoming to be a practical procedure as it does not require expensive equipment or much energy cost. Tray-grown ‘Nyoho’ plants were placed in a refrigerator (15°C, in the dark) for 3 days and then transferred to a further outdoor shelter for 3 days. Plants were transferred at noon and this cycle was repeated twice (3D/3D). Such 3D/3D treatments were begun on August 22, 25, 28, 31, and September 3and the effectiveness on flowering was determined for 2 years. Both in 2012 and 2013, treatments begun before August 28 were less effective compared to the treatments begun on August 28 or later. Continuous 6 days of 15°C storage (6D) was effective to some extent, but 6D from August 25 was apparently less effective compared to those begun later. Both in intermittent and continuous treatments for ‘Nyoho’, it was confirmed that any flower-inducing effect became relatively small and unstable when the treatments were begun before 28 August in Okayama.
Light intensity is one of the most important environmental factors to determine the growth and yield of rice. However, little information is known about the response of indica cultivars, especially Vietnamese cultivars to shading conditions. In this study, a field experiment was conducted in 2015 to determine the response of Vietnamese cultivars to shading condition during the grain filling period. Fourteen Vietnamese cultivars were covered by black cloth (50% shading treatment) after the heading stage in the field conditions. Grain yield of fourteen Vietnamese cultivars in shading condition fell to about 32.2–65.0% of the natural light condition. The most sensitive cultivars to shading are ‘Jasmine 85’ and ‘OM2395’, of which the grain yield decreased to 65.0 and 59.8% of natural light condition, respectively. The shaded yield decreased corresponding to the reduction in crop growth rate (CGR) and yield components, especially in the percentage of filled grain due to the increase in spikelet sterility. Shading increased the percentage of immature grains in all cultivars. Shading induced an increase in the percentage of chalky and green grains, which was largest in ‘OM2517’ and ‘OM5451’, respectively. Clearly, shading depressed both grain yield and the appearance quality of brown rice in Vietnamese cultivars, similarly reported in previous studies with Japanese cultivars.
We have identified, and purified to homogeneity, a high molecular weight Ginkgo biloba α-fucosidase (α-fucosidase Gb, 120 kDa estimated by SDS‒PAGE) with activity against α-fucosylated oligosaccharides. When a Lewis a epitope-containing N-glycan was used as a substrate, α-fucosidase Gb showed optimum activity at approximately pH 5.5, suggesting that it functions in acidic environments such as the vacuole. It remains uncertain, however, whether this Ginkgo α-fucosidase belongs to the GH29 family, since its N-terminal sequence could not be determined, probably due to a chemical modification. α-Fucosidase Gb showed substantial activity towards the α1,3-fucosyl linkage in Lacto-N-fucopentaose III and an α1,4-fucosyl linkage in the Lewis a epitope found in plant complex type N-glycans, indicating an involvement in the degradation process of α-fucosylated oligosaccharides or N-glycoproteins.
Established mangrove forests along the coastal area of the Arabian Peninsula and African side of the Red Sea are uniquely different from mangrove forests in other parts of the world because of their low biodiversity and harsh habitat of arid and highly saline conditions. Therefore mangrove forests in this area appear in patchy and scattered patterns at mouths of wadi or in sheltered lagoons with rare and irregular flooding. Most of them are pure forests of Avicennia marina, occasionally mixed with Rhizophora mucronata in the southern part of the Red Sea. In this study, we analyze the forest structure of A. marina and discuss the regeneration strategy and the forest dynamics of this unique mangrove species. Three experimental plots of 1000 to 2000 trees/ha were selected from north to south along the Red Sea coast. The highest tree size (6.8m) suggested severe effects of the high salinity of the Red Sea (3.2 to 4.9%) on tree growth. Dense mantle vegetation had developed at the forest edge facing the open sea to protect the forest interior against strong waves and wind. Tree growth was also prevented by severe drought on the landside edge of the forest. All the forests had a dense seedling bank throughout the forest floor, with a very high rate of turnover and regeneration, which seldom occurred in other forests.
一季成り性のイチゴは,多くの落葉性果樹と同様に晩 夏から初秋の低温・短日条件下で花芽が分化し,自然条 件下では冬の低温を経過した後に開花する.農業用ビ ニルが実用化された1960年頃から,低温で休眠打破され た株をトンネルやビニルハウスで保温して開花結実を前 進化させる半促成栽培が全国的に普及した.静岡や四 国・九州などの温暖地ではほぼ同時期に,花芽分化が早 く,休眠が浅くて低温要求量が少ない‘福羽’などの品 種を利用したハウスの促成栽培が行われるようになっ た.ただし,これらの南方系品種は果実品質が劣り,適 地も一部の温暖地に限られていた.その後,「断根ずら し」による花芽分化促進と電照による休眠制御を組み合 わせることによって,中間型品種を用いたイチゴの促成 栽培が可能であることが明らかにされ,奈良県農業試験 場による精力的な研究によって,当時としてはきわめて 優れた果実品質を有する‘宝交早生’を用いた年内どり の促成栽培技術が確立された. この技術開発の過程で,8月末から9月上旬に断根し, 苗の窒素吸収を抑制することによって‘宝交早生’の花 芽分化が促進されることが明らかにされたが,効果が天 候に影響されやすい点と萎黄病の多発が栽培上の課題と して残された.1970年代後半には,安定した窒素栄養制 御が可能なポット育苗技術が確立され,高い萎黄病の 回避効果と相俟って苗床への仮植を大前提としたイチゴ の育苗技術に大きな転換がもたらされた.1980年代には いると,果実品質が優れ,花芽分化が早い‘とよのか’, ‘女峰’が相次いで育成され,‘宝交早生’に替わって この2品種が急速に普及した.ほぼ同時に,これらの品 種を用いた夜冷短日処理と低温暗黒処理が実用化さ れ,山上げ育苗に替わる人為的な花芽分化促進技術とし て多くの産地に導入された. 1990年代後半には,NFT,ロックウールに替わる低コ ストの高設養液栽培システムが実用化され,様々な仕 様のシステムが各地に導入された.近年では,収穫終了 後にこれらの装置を転用してランナー子株を増殖し,空 中採苗した子苗を利用するトレイ育苗が省力技術として 注目されている.従来のポット育苗の場合,10 a 当たり 約1万本の苗を育成するのに400~500時間の労働力投下 が必要とされているが,トレイ育苗はきわめて省力的で 200時間程度の労力で育苗が可能である.しかし,ポッ ト育苗と比較すると,花芽分化がやや遅く,不揃いにな る傾向にある.省力化を目的とした育苗期間の短縮や苗 数の確保のため,7月中旬から8月上旬にかけて採苗や 挿し苗が行われるため株の充実が劣ること,密植で育苗 されるためクラウンの肥大が劣ることなどがその要因と して指摘されているが,その原因はまだ明らかではない. トレイ育苗したイチゴ‘女峰’の花芽分化と開花に及ぼす挿し苗時期と 施肥中断時期の影響
地球は,しばしば水の惑星と呼ばれる.それは,表面 に大量に水が存在する,太陽系では唯一の惑星だからで ある.この地球表面は,その7割が水で覆われている. しかしこの水の97.5オは海水と塩水で,淡水は残りの2.5 オである.しかも淡水の大部分は氷雪であるため,人間 生活や経済活動に利用可能な淡水資源は河川水,地下水 など,地球上の水の約0.8オにすぎない.さらにこの 潜在的に利用可能な0.8オの水のうち比較的容易に利用 できる河川水や湖沼水として存在する淡水資源は,地球 上の水のわずか0.007オであるという.一方,近年,淡水 の使用量が急増するとともに淡水の汚染が進んでいる. そのため2025年時点で世界人口の30~35オの人が,一般 的な渇水基準以下の地域に住むことになるという予測も ある. 農業は大量の水を必要とするため,淡水の部門別使用 割合は農業が全体の60オ~70オを占めている.一方,生 活用水や工業部門の水利用が増加しているので,農業用 水が不足している.したがって,農業部門でも淡水の使 い方を改善する必要があると考えられている.この状況 に対応して水田では灌漑水の節約,畑地ではマイクロ 灌漑など,淡水の使用量を減らす技術が開発されてい る.そして一方で無尽蔵といってもよい海水と塩水を利 用することによって,農業用水を確保するという対策が 考えられている. 農業部門の作物栽培に海水や塩水を用いるのは困難で ある.海水や塩水は,塩が多量に溶けているため水ポテ ンシャルが著しく低い.そのため海水や塩水を与えると まず作物の吸水が抑制されるからである.そして多量 に存在する塩が作物の養分吸収をかく乱する,あるいは 作物の体内に蓄積するなどして生育を阻害するからであ る.したがって,海水や塩水を淡水化してから使うと安 全に作物栽培に使える.現在のところ淡水化技術は逆浸 透膜処理が主流である.また小規模なものとしては凍 結濃縮法がある.これは生活排水を部分凍結させて生 成した氷を分離,回収,溶解して塩分等の不純物の少な い再生水を作るというものである.しかし淡水化はコス イオン交換樹脂および逆浸透膜を用いたコムギとオオムギの塩水灌漑栽培
Effects of nutrient solution concentration on cut flower yield, quality and characteristics of seasonal nutrient absorption of spray carnation 'Barbara' grown by cultivation in drip fertigation were investi- gated. 'Barbara' was grown with a nutrient solution (N : 15 %, P : 6.5 %, K : 12.5 %, Ca : 3.6 %, Mg : 0.9 %), at three concentration levels which were high concentration (1,000 times), middle concen- tration (1,500 times) and low concentration (3,000 times). The daily amount of nutrient solution was ranged from 0.0mm to 13.9mm. The total cut flower yield of middle concentration and high concentra- tion were bigger than that of low concentration. The weight of the second cut flower of low concentra- tion was decreased as compared to that of middle concentration and high concentration. Nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) in the plant nutrient ratio were decreased as the increase of dry matter and phos- phorus (P) was increased at autumn and spring. With a reduction in the soil nutrient contents, Nitrogen and potassium in the plant nutrient ratio of low concentration were decreased. Nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil nutrient contents of high concentration were increased at the end of cultivation. In the total nutrient absorbed amount of middle concentration, 2,807.9 mg nitrogen, 493.5 mg phos- phorus, 3,667.4 mg potassium, 1,615.8 mg calcium (Ca) and 320.9 mg magnesium (Mg) were absorbed per plant. In spring, the ratio of nitrogen absorbed amount to nutrients absorbed amount was increased 1.3 times. Phosphorus ratio and phosphorus absorbed amount in spray carnation were fewer than that of standard carnation. There were no differences in total nitrogen, potassium, calcium and magnesium absorption between spray carnation and standard carnation.
Sulfolobus tokodaii strain7は大分県別府温泉で採取 された超好熱好酸性のアーキア(古細菌)であり,単独 で硫化水素を分解する特徴を有している.Aeropyrum pernix や Pyrococcus horikoshii と比較すると生育限界 温度は87°Cとやや低いが,硫化水素を分解する性質や酸 性を(pH2~3)を好む性質からすでに工場の排気ガス 対策で産業利用されていることで知られている.生産さ れるタンパク質や酵素は非常に高い耐熱性を有してお り,化学,食品,医薬品など様々な産業分野への応用や 代謝経路の解明を行うことによる環境分野への盛んな利 用が期待されている. 本菌のゲノム DNA は1対の染色体からなっており, その長さは2,694,756 bp,GC 含量は32.8オで,2,826の ORF が確認された.今回その中からシスタチオニン γン シンターゼ(CGS)[EC 2.5.1.48]遺伝子と思われる ORF が同定された. 含硫アミノ酸代謝は多くの生物に普遍的に存在し,多 くの重要な生物反応に必須である.近年,含硫アミノ酸 代謝が動脈硬化,アルツハイマーの病理に関与し中間代 謝物質である硫化水素がガスメディエーターとして神経 や血管の機能制御に大きな役割を果たすことが明らかに されている. 硫黄代謝経路は細菌や植物では l ンメチオニンを合成 する硫黄転移経路,哺乳類やカビ類では逆硫黄転移経路 が存在し,基質となる l ンホモセリン誘導体は細菌ではOン アセチルンl ンホモセリン,もしくはOンサクシニルンl ンホモ セリン,植物ではOンホスホンl ンホモセリンを生理的基質 とすることが知られている.これらメチオニン代謝経 路に存在する酵素の多くはCGS と同じくピリドキサー ル5センリン酸(PLP)を補酵素とし,その構造や機能が 非常に類似していることがこれまでの研究で分かってい る. CGS は l ンホモセリン誘導体と l ンシステインから l ンシ スタチオニンの合成を触媒するビタミンB6酵素であ る.l ンシステインの代わりに硫化水素やメタンチオー ルも基質としてそれぞれ l ンホモシステインや l ンメチオ ニンを生成する.以上のようなγン脱離反応の他にも l ン ホモセリン誘導体のγン脱離反応やγン脱離反応も触媒す 好熱好酸性アーキア Sulfolobus tokodaii 由来 シスタチオニン γ-シンターゼの精製及び性質検討
Sinefungin is a nucleoside antibiotic, in which a molecule of L-ornithine is linked to the 5' end of adenosine through a C-C bond. The antibiotic was isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces incarnatus. For the purpose of detecting intermediate of sinefungin biosynthesis, resting cell suspensions were incubated with supplemental L-arginine, and L-ornithine. 50mM Arginine was converted to a compound X that has low polarity. 50mM ornithine was not converted and remained in reaction solution. Compound X was purified using HPLC, and analyzed using sup(1)H-NMR and FAB-MS. These analyses showed that a compound X is 'ornithine-lactam' (Mw=114), which has a structure of circularized ornithine. These results indicated that S. incarnatus has an enzyme that converts arginine to ornithine-lactam. Such an enzyme has never been reported, and suggested that it may be relevant to sinefungin biosynthesis.
The gene encoding a cystathionine γ-synthase from Sulfolobus tokodaii was cloned and expressed in Escherihia coli Rosetta-gami (DE3). Cystathionine γ-synthase ［EC 2. 5. 1. 48］ from Sulfolobus tokodaii (stCGS) was purified by heat treatment, DEAE- Toyopearl 650M and Sephacryl S-300 column chro matographies from E. coli transformants. stCGS shows optimum activity at pH 7.0, and is stable between pH5.0 and pH9.0. The optimum temperature of stCGS is above 100°C, and the enzyme showed the remaining activity of almost 100% up to 70°C. The Km and Vmax with O-phospho-l- homoserine as a substrate are 0.82 mM and 2.42 U/mg. To analyze the role of Phe 97 in the active site of stCGS, we constructed F97Y, R99C, and F97Y-R99C mutant enzymes. Although native stCGS has no activity toward l-methionine, F97Y mutant enzyme gained the elimination activity toward l-methionine.
The FFC ceramicsTM from FFC Japan Co., Ltd. are now widely in the fields of agriculture, fish- ery and food industry in Japan. Recently the FFC ceramic beads-based technology has been also applied to meet several environmental problems including pollution in sea, lakes and rivers. In this study the FFC ceramic water was tested for effect on plant enzyme, potato apyrase (EC 3.6.1.5; ATP- diphosphohydrolase), which hydrolyses nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) and -diphosphate (NDP) to produce corresponding nucleoside monophosphate (NMP) and inorganic phosphate (Pi). Addition of the FFC ceramic water to the enzyme reaction mixture markedly enhanced ATP-hydrolyzing activity, when as ATP as substrate. However, the concomitant presence of Ca 2+ chelator, EGTA (O,O'-bis(2- aminoethyl)ethyleneglycol-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid) with the FFC ceramic water, completely abolished the enzyme activation. In fact, exogenous calcium ion such as CaSO4 mimicked the FFC ceramic water. These results indicate that apyrase activation by the FFC ceramic water largely depends on calcium ions. On the other hand, when the FFC ceramic water prepared from used ceramics was tested for the apyrase activity, the enhanced effect on apyrase was decreased compared to the FFC ceramic water from new ones. This result, consistent with our present data covering concentration of calcium ions and conductivity, indicates that long and/or successive usage of the ceramic beads results in decrease of contents of released minerals, especially calcium ions. The apyrase-based enzyme assay presented here is probably applicable to estimate and quantify the effect of FFC ceramic water.
