Rapid survey of de novo mutations in naturally growing tree species following the March 2011 disaster in Fukushima: The effect of low-dose-rate radiation.

The impact of low-dose-rate radiation on genetics is largely unknown, particularly in natural environments. The Fukushima Dai-ich Nuclear Power Plant disaster resulted in the creation of contaminated natural lands. In this study, de novo mutations (DNMs) in germ line cells were surveyed from double-digest RADseq fragments in Japanese cedar and flowering cherry trees exposed to ambient dose rates ranging from 0.

Transcriptome analysis of Aurantiochytrium limacinum under low salt conditions.

Aurantiochytrium limacinum can accumulate high amounts of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Although salinity affects the DHA content, its impact on the metabolic pathway responsible for DHA production in A. limacinum is not completely understood.

Multiscale spatial genetic structure within and between populations of wild cherry trees in nuclear genotypes and chloroplast haplotypes.

Spatial genetic structure (SGS) of plants mainly depends on the effective population size and gene dispersal. Maternally inherited loci are expected to have higher genetic differentiation between populations and more intensive SGS within populations than biparentally inherited loci because of smaller effective population sizes and fewer opportunities of gene dispersal in the maternally inherited loci. We investigated biparentally inherited nuclear genotypes and maternally inherited chloroplast haplotypes of microsatellites in 17 tree populations of three wild cherry species under different conditions of tree distribution and seed dispersal.

Clone identification in Japanese flowering cherry (Prunus subgenus Cerasus) cultivars using nuclear SSR markers.

Numerous cultivars of Japanese flowering cherry (Prunus subgenus Cerasus) are recognized, but in many cases they are difficult to distinguish morphologically. Therefore, we evaluated the clonal status of 215 designated cultivars using 17 SSR markers. More than half the cultivars were morphologically distinct and had unique genotypes.

Genetic structure of island populations of Prunus lannesiana var. speciosa revealed by chloroplast DNA, AFLP and nuclear SSR loci analyses.

The wild flowering cherry Prunus lannesiana var. speciosa is highly geographically restricted, being confined to the Izu Islands and neighboring peninsulas in Japan. In an attempt to elucidate how populations of this species have established we investigated the genetic diversity and differentiation in seven populations (sampling 408 individuals in total), using three kinds of genetic markers: chloroplast DNA (cpDNA), amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs), and 11 nuclear SSR polymorphic loci.

Genetic structure of Cerasus jamasakura, a Japanese flowering cherry, revealed by nuclear SSRs: implications for conservation.

The genetic resources of a particular species of flowering cherry, Cerasus jamasakura, have high conservation priority because of its cultural, ecological and economic value in Japan. Therefore, the genetic structures of 12 natural populations of C. jamasakura were assessed using ten nuclear SSR loci.

Distribution of S-alleles in island populations of flowering cherry, Prunus lannesiana var. speciosa.

We surveyed the distribution of S-alleles in natural island populations of Prunus lannesiana var. speciosa sampled from seven sites on the Izu Peninsula and six Izu islands, Japan. The S-genotypes of sampled individuals were determined by Southern analysis of RFLPs generated by restriction enzyme digestion of genomic DNA, using cDNA of the S-RNase gene as a probe.

Vertical, horizontal and azimuthal variations in leaf photosynthetic characteristics within a Fagus crenata crown in relation to light acclimation.

An understanding of spatial variations in gas exchange parameters in relation to the light environment is crucial for modeling canopy photosynthesis. We measured vertical, horizontal and azimuthal (north and south) variations in photosynthetic capacity (i.e.