The source of "fairy rings": 2-azahypoxanthine and its metabolite found in a novel purine metabolic pathway in plants.

Rings or arcs of fungus-stimulated plant growth occur worldwide; these are commonly referred to as "fairy rings". In 2010, we discovered 2-azahypoxanthine (AHX), a compound responsible for the fairy-ring phenomenon caused by fungus; AHX stimulated the growth of all the plants tested. Herein, we reveal the isolation and structure determination of a common metabolite of AHX in plants, 2-aza-8-oxohypoxanthine (AOH).

New rapid screening method for anti-aging compounds using budding yeast and identification of beauveriolide I as a potent active compound.

The chronological lifespan (CLS) of budding yeast is a model for the aging of post-mitotic cells in higher eukaryotes. We report here the development of a new method to assess yeast CLS. The new assay is simple, convenient and labor-saving.

Genotypic variation in rice yield enhancement by elevated CO2 relates to growth before heading, and not to maturity group.

Maturity group (based on the number of days to maturity) is an important growth trait for determining crop productivity, but there has been no attempt to examine the effects of elevated [CO(2)] on yield enhancement of rice cultivars with different maturity groups. Since early-maturing cultivars generally show higher plant N concentration than late-maturing cultivars, it is hypothesized that [CO(2)]-induced yield enhancement might be larger for early-maturing cultivars than late-maturing cultivars. To test this hypothesis, the effects of elevated [CO(2)] on yield components, biomass, N uptake, and leaf photosynthesis of cultivars with different maturity groups were examined for 2 years using a free-air CO(2) enrichment (FACE).