Release of the Flightless Strain of Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Against Two Aphid Species on Komatsuna (Brassica rapa var. perviridis) in Open Fields.

Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach) are important pests of Brassica leafy vegetables, especially in Japan, the United States, and India. In Japan, because most of the nonheading Brassica vegetables are considered minor crops, the number of commercially available pesticides against these aphids is limited. Here, we evaluated the effect of releasing adults of a flightless strain of the multicolored Asian ladybird, Harmonia axyridis Pallas, on these aphid species on a nonheading Brassica cultivar in open fields.

Relationships between postnatal plasma oxytocin concentrations and social behaviors in cattle.

We examined the associations between natural individual variations in basal oxytocin (OXT) in postnatal cattle and social behavioral traits. At 1, 2 and 6 weeks of age, the basal OXT exhibited individual variability in 20 Holstein heifer calves. Cluster analysis of mean OXT for these time periods obtained two subgroups: high OXT (HOXT; n = 9) and low OXT (LOXT; n = 11).

Prediction of carcass composition and individual carcass cuts of Japanese Black steers.

The objective of this study was to develop equations to predict carcass tissue weights and percentages and boneless carcass non-trimmed cut weights by using the cold carcass weight (CCW) and three other traits at the 6-7th rib section, which are routinely collected in carcass markets in Japan. Carcasses from 94 Japanese Black steers were used for the multiple regression analysis with a stepwise procedure and a novel Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO). The accuracies of prediction (R(2)) and RMSEs for the carcass tissue and cut weights were similar between the two procedures.

Influence of different feeding systems on the growth performance and muscle development of Japanese Black steers.

This study investigated the growth performance and gene expression for muscle development between grass hay-fed (GH) and concentrate-fed (CT) steers. Daily gain and energy intake during the fattening period of the GH group were lower than those of the CT group. Analysis of C/EBPα, PPARγ2, myosin heavy chain (MHC), and myostatin gene expressions was performed by real-time PCR.

Characterization of FLC, SOC1 and FT homologs in Eustoma grandiflorum: effects of vernalization and post-vernalization conditions on flowering and gene expression.

A rosette plant of Eustoma grandiflorum requires vernalization (exposure to a period of cold temperature) and long-day conditions to promote flowering, while prolonged cold or cool temperatures in post-vernalization periods delay flowering. This study aimed to investigate the effect of growth conditions on flowering regulation in Eustoma. In Arabidopsis, vernalization suppresses a floral repressor gene, FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) and upregulates floral promoter genes, such as SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS 1 (SOC1) and FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT).

Isolation and identification of an anti-bolting compound, hexadecatrienoic acid monoglyceride, responsible for inhibition of bolting and maintenance of the leaf rosette in radish plants.

Generally, the bolting (stem elongation from rosette plants) of winter annuals is believed to be induced by an increase in the levels of gibberellin that occurs after a certain period of chilling (vernalization), and a deficiency of gibberellin allows the plant to maintain a rosette style. Lack of direct evidence proving the above assumption in radish plants (Raphanus sativus L.) encouraged us to assume the presence of an anti-bolting compound actively maintaining the rosette habit through inhibition of bolting.

Deoxynivalenol Distribution in Flour and Bran of Spring Wheat Lines with Different Levels of Fusarium Head Blight Resistance.

The level of the fungal toxin deoxynivalenol (DON) in milled flour and its partitioning between flour and bran of 15 spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) lines with different levels of Fusarium head blight (FHB; mainly caused by Fusarium graminearum) resistance was investigated in Hokkaido, Japan between 2004 and 2007. The DON levels in flour (DON) and bran (DON) showed positive linear relationships with DON levels in whole kernels (DON) (R = 0.94, n = 60, P ≤ 0.

A fraction of unripe kiwi fruit extract regulates adipocyte differentiation and function in 3T3-L1 cells.

Adipocyte dysfunction is strongly associated with the development of insulin resistance and diabetes, and regulation of adipogenesis is important in prevention of diabetes. We prepared a 100% methanol fraction of methanolic extract from unripe kiwi fruit (Actinidia deliciosa), designated KMF (kiwi fruit methanol fraction). When applied to 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells, KMF promoted adipocyte differentiation, increased glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity, and increased triglyceride (TG) content.

A barley Hordoindoline mutation resulted in an increase in grain hardness.

Barley seed proteins, Hordoindolines, are homologues of wheat Puroindolines, which are associated with grain hardness. Barley Hordoindoline genes are known to comprise Hina and Hinb, and Hinb consists of two Hinb genes, Hinb-1 and Hinb-2. Two types of allele were found for Hina, Hinb-1 and Hinb-2 genes, respectively, among Japanese two- and six-rowed barley lines.

Angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitory peptides produced by autolysis reactions from wheat bran.

The production of angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides by autolysis reactions from wheat milling byproducts was investigated. Milled whole grain, bran, shorts, and red dog acquired ACE inhibitory activity though water soaking treatment. Among the milled fractions, the preparation of shorts exhibited the strongest inhibitory activity (IC50 = 0.

Differential expression of the skeletal muscle proteome in grazed cattle.

The objective of this study was to investigate the differences in the muscle proteome of grass-fed and grain-fed cattle. Eight Japanese Black Cattle 10 mo of age were separated randomly into 2 groups: 1) grazing (grass-fed) and 2) concentrate (grain-fed) groups. All cattle were first housed individually in a stall barn and fed a combination of concentrate ad libitum and Italian ryegrass hay until 21 mo of age.

Production of free amino acids and gamma-aminobutyric acid by autolysis reactions from wheat bran.

To find added value for wheat-milling byproduct, an approach for producing free amino acids and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was examined. Milled whole grain, bran, shorts, red dog, and 60% extracted flour all released amino acids using a water-soaking treatment. Little difference was found in amino acid production yield from whole grain between the soft and hard wheat cultivars investigated.

Flavanone exhibits PPARgamma ligand activity and enhances differentiation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Flavanones are class of polyphenolic compounds, some of which are found in foods and provide health benefits. In this study, we show that flavanone significantly enhances differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. During adipogenesis, flavanone enhanced expression of genes and accumulation of proteins that are involved in adipocyte function.

Further evidence of Mirafiori lettuce big-vein virus but not of Lettuce big-vein associated virus with big-vein disease in lettuce.

Mirafiori lettuce big-vein virus (MLBVV) and Lettuce big-vein associated virus (LBVaV) are found in association with big-vein disease of lettuce. Discrimination between the two viruses is critical for elucidating the etiology of big-vein disease. Using specific antibodies to MLBVV and LBVaV for western blotting and exploiting differences between MLBVV and LBVaV in host reaction of cucumber and temperature dependence in lettuce, we separated the two viruses by transfering each virus from doubly infected lettuce plants to cucumber or lettuce plants.

Concentration of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) in bovine peripheral blood during pregnancy.

Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) is a hemopoietic cytokine with a primary role in placental physiology. Gene expression of M-CSF in the bovine endometrium shows a temporal upward trend during early and mid pregnancy. This study determined the plasma M-CSF levels during pregnancy using ELISA.

Influence of Cold-Hardening and Soil Matric Potential on Resistance to Speckled Snow Mold in Wheat.

The influence of soil matric potential, cold-hardening temperature, and duration on resistance to speckled snow mold caused by Typhula ishikariensis in wheat was investigated. Six winter wheat lines were subjected to cold-hardening temperatures of 2 or 4°C for 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks with soil matric potential of -0.1 or -0.

Sakuranetin induces adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells through enhanced expression of PPARgamma2.

Sakuranetin (5,4'-dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone) belongs to the flavanone class of polyphenols predominantly known as phytoalexin in rice plant. In this study, we demonstrate that sakuranetin strongly induces differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, as evidenced by increased triglyceride accumulation and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity. In addition, even in the absence of adipogenic hormonal stimuli, sakuranetin strongly induced adipogenesis and expression of genes that are critical for the adipocytes phenotype.

Nobiletin enhances differentiation and lipolysis of 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Nobiletin is a polymethoxylated flavone found in certain citrus fruits. Here we demonstrate that nobiletin enhance differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Nobiletin dose-dependently increased accumulation of lipid droplets in adipocytes.

Gene expression of myostatin during development and regeneration of skeletal muscle in Japanese Black Cattle.

Myostatin is a specific negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth and is regarded as one of the most important factors for myogenesis. The aim of the current study was to analyze the developmental change in the gene expression of myostatin and an adipogenic transcription factor (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor lambda2) in the semitendinosus muscle of Japanese Black Cattle throughout the whole life cycle. An additional aim was to compare the temporal expression patterns of myostatin and relevant myogenic regulatory factors (MRF) mRNA during muscle regeneration after frostbite injury at 16 mo of age.

Sennidin stimulates glucose incorporation in rat adipocytes.

A novel small molecule compound which exerts insulin mimetic is desirable. Dozens of natural products that have quinone, naphthoquinone, or anthraquinone structure, were tested by a glucose incorporation assay. We found that sennidin A, anthraquinone derivative, stimulated glucose incorporation to near level of maximal insulin-stimulated and sennidin B, a stereoisomer of sennidin A, also stimulated, but the activity of sennidin B was lower than sennidin A.

Flavonoid composition of fruit tissues of citrus species.

An HPLC analysis was performed on the concentrations of flavonoids in 42 species and cultivars of the Citrus genus and those of two Fortunella and one Poncirus species according to the classification system established by Tanaka. The composition of 8 flavanones and 9 flavone/ols for these species was determined in the albedo, flavedo, segment epidermis and juice vesicle tissues, and those in the fruit and peel tissues were calculated from the composition data of the tissues. A principal component analysis showed that such neohesperidosyl flavonoids as neoeriocitrin, naringin, neohesperidin, and rhoifolin had large factor loading values in the first principal component for each tissue.

Characterization of low-molecular-weight glutenin subunit genes and their protein products in common wheats.

To characterize the low-molecular-weight glutenin subunit (LMW-GS), we developed specific PCR primer sets to distinguish 12 groups of LMW-GS genes of Norin 61 and to decide their loci with nullisomic-tetrasomic lines of Chinese Spring. Three, two, and ten groups were assigned to Glu-A3, Glu-B3, and Glu-D3 loci, respectively. To identify the proteins containing the corresponding amino acid sequences, we determined the N-terminal amino acid sequence of 12 spots of LMW-GSs of Norin 61 separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE).

Molecular analysis of coat protein coding region of tobacco stunt virus shows that it is a strain of Lettuce big-vein virus in the genus Varicosavirus.

To evaluate the relationship between tobacco stunt virus (TStV) and Lettuce big-vein virus (LBVV), we determined nucleotide sequences of the coat protein (CP) coding region of five TStV and three LBVV isolates and compared them with those of one Japanese and four Spanish isolates of LBVV. CP coding regions were identical in size and the nucleotide and amino acid sequence identities between TStV and LBVV were 95.6-96.