Kounosuke Fujita

Biological nitrogen fixation in mixed legume-cereal cropping systems

Cereal/legume intercropping increases dry matter production and grain yield more than their monocultures. When fertilizer N is limited, biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is the major source of N in legume-cereal mixed cropping systems. The soil N use patterns of component crops depend on the N source and legume species. Nitrogen transfer from legume to cereal increases the cropping systems yield and efficiency of N use. The use of nitrate-tolerant legumes, whose BNF is thought to be little affected by application of combined N, may increase the quantity of N available for the cereal component. The distance between the cereal and legume root systems is important because N is transferred through the intermingling of root systems. Consequently, the most effective planting distance varies with type of legume and cereal. Mutual shading by component crops, especially the taller cereals, reduces BNF and yield of the associated legume. Light interception by the legume can be improved by selecting a suitable plant type and architecture. Planting pattern and population at which maximum yield is achieved also vary among component species and environments. Crops can be mixed in different proportions from additive to replacement or substitution mixtures. At an ideal population ratio a semi-additive mixture may produce higher gross returns.

Effects of drought stress on photosynthetic gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and stem diameter of soybean plants

Changes in plant growth, photosynthetic gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and stem diameter of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] plants under drought stress were studied. Total plant dry mass was reduced by 30 % compared to well-watered control plants. Leaf water potential was slightly decreased by water stress. Water stress induced daytime shrinkage and reduced night-time expansion of stem. Photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate were significantly declined by water stress, while the intercellular CO2 concentration was changed only slightly at the initiation of stress treatment. The maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem 2 and apparent photosynthetic electron transport rate were not changed by water stress.

Potassium deficiency affects water status and photosynthetic rate of the vegetative sink in green house tomato prior to its effects on source activity

The potassium requirement of green house tomatoes is very high for vegetative growth and fruit production. Potassium deficiency in plants takes long time for expression of visible symptoms. The objective of this study is to detect the deficiency early during the vegetative growth and define the roles of aquaporin and K-channel transporters in the process of regulation of water status and source-sink relationship. The tomato plants were grown hydroponically inside green house of Hiroshima University, Japan and subjected to different levels of K in the rooting medium. Potassium deficiency stress decreased photosynthesis, expansion and transport of ¹⁴C assimilates of the source leaf, but the effects became evident only after diameter expansion of the growing stem (sink) was down-regulated. The depression of stem diameter expansion is assumed to be associated with the suppression of water supply more than photosynthate supply to the organ. The stem diameter expansion is parameterized by root water uptake and leaf transpiration rates. The application of aquaporin inhibitor (AgNO₃) decreased leaf water potential, stem expansion and root hydraulic conductance within minutes of application. Similar results were obtained for application of the K-channel inhibitors. These observations suggested a close relationship between stem diameter expansion and activities of aquaporins and K-channel transporters in roots. The deficiency of potassium might have reduced aquaporin activity, consequently suppressing root hydraulic conductance and water supply to the growing stem for diameter expansion and leaf for transpiration. We conclude that close coupling between aquaporins and K-channel transporters in water uptake of roots is responsible for regulation of stem diameter dynamics of green house tomato plants.

Effect of salinity on growth, photosynthesis and mineral composition in leguminous plant Alhagi pseudoalhagi (Bieb.)

Abstract Leguminous plant Alhagi pseudoalhagi was subjected to 0 (control), 50, 100, and 200 mM NaCI treatments during a 30 d period to examine the mechanism of tolerance to salinity. Plant dry weight, net CO2 assimilation rate, leaf stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 concentration, and solute concentration in leaves, stems, and roots were determined. Total plant weight in the 50 mM treatment was 170% of that of the control after 10 d of treatment. Total plant weight was lower in the 100 and 200 mM treatments than in the control. The leaf CO2 assimilation rate was approximately 150% of that of the control in the 50 mM treatment, but was not affected significantly by 100 mM of NaCI, while it was reduced to about 60% of that the control in the 200 mM treatment. Similarly stomatal conductance was consistent with the CO2 assimilation rate regardless of the treatments. Intercellular CO2 concentration was lower in the NaCI-treated plants than in the control. Changes in CO2 assimilation rate due to salinity...

High temperature effects on photosynthate partitioning and sugar metabolism during ear expansion in maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes

Short hot and dry spells before, or during, silking have an inordinately large effect on maize (Zea mays L.; corn) grain yield. New high yielding genotypes could be developed if the mechanism of yield loss were more fully understood and new assays developed. The aim here was to determine the effects of high temperature (35/27 degrees C) compared to cooler (25/18 degrees C) temperatures (day/night). Stress was applied for a 14 d-period during reproductive stages prior to silking. Effects on whole plant biomass, ear development, photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism were measured in both dent and sweet corn genotypes. Results showed that the whole plant biomass was increased by the high temperature. However, the response varied among plant parts; in leaves and culms weights were slightly increased or stable; cob weights decreased; and other ear parts of dent corn also decreased by high temperature. Photosynthetic activity was not affected by the treatments. The (13)C export rate from an ear leaf was decreased by the high temperature treatment. The amount of (13)C partitioning to the ears decreased more than to other plant parts by the high temperature. Within the ear decreases were greatest in the cob than the shank within an ear. Sugar concentrations in both hemicellulose and cellulose fractions of cobs in sweet corn were decreased by high temperature, and the hemicellulose fraction in the shank also decreased. In dent corn there was no reduction of sugar concentration except in the in cellulose fraction, suggesting that synthesis of cell-wall components is impaired by high temperatures. The high temperature treatment promoted the growth of vegetative plant parts but reduced ear expansion, particularly suppression of cob extensibility by impairing hemicellulose and cellulose synthesis through reduction of photosynthate supply. Therefore, plant biomass production was enhanced and grain yield reduced by the high temperature treatment due to effects on sink activity rather than source activity. Heat resistant ear development can be targeted for genetic improvement.

Excretion of ureide and other nitrogenous compounds by the root system of soybean at different growth stages

Direct excretion of nitrogenous compounds into a N-free nutrient solution, which was allowed to drip onto the root system of soybean (Glycine max (L) Merr. cv. Kurosengoku) was examined at different growth stages; vegetative, flowering and pod-filling. Considerable amounts of nitrogenous compounds were excreted at all the growth stages, with the highest amount recorded at the pod-filling stage.The root was found to be the major site of N compound excretion and its dry weight was linearly correlated with N amount excreted. Maximum nitrogen excretion rate during vegetative and flowering stages was recorded during the ‘day’, however at the pod-filling stage, the highest was recorded during the ‘night’. Ureide was excreted at all growth stages, but the highest amount was recorded at the pod-filing stage. The root was found to be the active site of ureide excretion. Composition of the total nitrogen examined i. e. ureide, soluble proteins, ammonia and amino acids, was found to be changing during the growth stages, suggesting possible different major pathways of excretion at different plant age. Among the N compounds monitored, were soluble proteins, ammonia and amino acids. Only a few of the several amino acids found in the root tissues were observed in the ‘excreted solution’, notably phosphoserine and phosphoethanolamine, at all the growth stages, whilst γ-amino-butyric-acid and serine were observed in trace amounts during vegetative and flowering stages. Quantitatively the ammonia found in the ‘excreted solution’ was far greater than in the tissues.

Phosphorus absorption and utilization efficiency of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L) Millsp.) in relation to dry matter production and dinitrogen fixation

The effect of P supply on absorption and utilization efficiency of P in relation to dry matter production and dinitrogen fixation was examined in 8 pigeon pea cultivars with different growth duration and a soybean cultivar under field conditions.In all the pigeon pea cultivars, the maximum whole plant dry weight was obtained in a P-deficient soil at 100 kg P ha−1 application. The short duration cultivars had smaller whole plant dry weights at low P rates (5 and 25 kg P ha−1) and poor response to P application compared with the medium and long duration cultivars.Increasing the P application rate significantly increased dinitrogen fixation in all the cultivars. At the low P rates, the total nodule activity (TNA) was lower in the short than in the medium and the long duration cultivars. However, at 200 kg P ha−1 application, dinitrogen fixation did not vary among these cultivars except for one short duration cultivar whichregistered very low values.Dry matter production and dinitrogen fixation are strongly controlled by P absorption ability rather than P utilization efficiency. The low absorption ability of the short duration cultivars is mainly due to poor root development.The high P concentrations in the nodules of all the cultivars suggest that nodules have advantage over host plant interms of P distribution under P deficient conditions.Our results suggest that P plays an important role in dinitrogen fixation through an effective translocation of P to the leaf. Thus when P supply is limited, efficient cultivars obtained reasonably high yield through an effective translocation of the absorbed P to the leaf.

Willow Leaves' Extracts Contain Anti-Tumor Agents Effective against Three Cell Types

Many higher plants contain novel metabolites with antimicrobial, antifungal and antiviral properties. However, in the developed world almost all clinically used chemotherapeutics have been produced by in vitro chemical synthesis. Exceptions, like taxol and vincristine, were structurally complex metabolites that were difficult to synthesize in vitro. Many non-natural, synthetic drugs cause severe side effects that were not acceptable except as treatments of last resort for terminal diseases such as cancer. The metabolites discovered in medicinal plants may avoid the side effect of synthetic drugs, because they must accumulate within living cells. The aim here was to test an aqueous extract from the young developing leaves of willow (Salix safsaf, Salicaceae) trees for activity against human carcinoma cells in vivo and in vitro. In vivo Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma Cells (EACC) were injected into the intraperitoneal cavity of mice. The willow extract was fed via stomach tube. The (EACC) derived tumor growth was reduced by the willow extract and death was delayed (for 35 days). In vitro the willow extract could kill the majority (75%–80%) of abnormal cells among primary cells harvested from seven patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 13 with AML (acute myeloid leukemia). DNA fragmentation patterns within treated cells inferred targeted cell death by apoptosis had occurred. The metabolites within the willow extract may act as tumor inhibitors that promote apoptosis, cause DNA damage, and affect cell membranes and/or denature proteins.

Nitrogen transfer and dry matter production in soybean and sorghum mixed cropping system at different population densities

Abstract Field experiments were conducted to examine the effects of mixed cropping of soybean (Glycine max L. cv. Kurosengoku) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor Moench cv. Yukijirushi) on dry matter production, dinitrogen-fixing activity of soybean nodules and possible nitrogen transfer from soybean to sorghum at four spacing levels, namely 12.5 × 12.5 cm; 17.7 × 17.7 cm; 25 × 25 cm; and 50 × 50 cm. Dry matter production was consistently greater in mixed cropping than in mono-cropping, mainly due to the enhancement of sorghum growth regardless of spacing. Dinitrogen-fixing activity estimated by the acetylene reduction method in soybean decreased with the increase in the plant population density and with mixed cropping. Sorghum growth was closely related to the N accumulated in the plant. N-transfer from soybean was evident and was greatest at a 12.5 × 12.5 cm spacing. N-transfer from soybean to sorghum calculated on the assumption that there is no difference in the absorption ability of soil nitrogen between s...

Formation of unidentified nitrogen in plants: an implication for a novel nitrogen metabolism.

Plants take up inorganic nitrogen and store it unchanged or convert it to organic forms. The nitrogen in such organic compounds is stoichiometrically recoverable by the Kjeldahl method. The sum of inorganic nitrogen and Kjeldahl nitrogen has long been known to equal the total nitrogen in plants. However, in our attempt to study the mechanism of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) metabolism, we unexpectedly discovered that about one-third of the total nitrogen derived from 15N-labeled NO2 taken up by Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. plants was converted to neither inorganic nor Kjeldahl nitrogen, but instead to an as yet unknown nitrogen compound(s). We here refer to this nitrogen as unidentified nitrogen (UN). The generality of the formation of UN across species, nitrogen sources and cultivation environments for plants has been shown as follows. Firstly, all of the other 11 plant species studied were found to form the UN in response to fumigation with 15NO2. Secondly, tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants fed with 15N-nitrate appeared to form the UN. And lastly, the leaves of naturally fed vegetables, grass and roadside trees were found to possess the UN. In addition, the UN appeared to comprise a substantial proportion of total nitrogen in these plant species. Collectively, all of our present findings imply that there is a novel nitrogen mechanism for the formation of UN in plants. Based on the analyses of the exhaust gas and residue fractions of the Kjeldahl digestion of a plant sample containing the UN, probable candidates for compounds that bear the UN were deduced to be those containing the heat-labile nitrogen–oxygen functions and those recalcitrant to Kjeldahl digestion, including organic nitro and nitroso compounds. We propose UN-bearing compounds may provide a chemical basis for the mechanism of the reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and thus that cross-talk may occur between UN and RNS metabolisms in plants. A mechanism for the formation of UN-bearing compounds, in which RNS are involved as intermediates, is proposed. The important broad impact of this novel nitrogen metabolism, not only on the general physiology of plants, but also on plant substances as human and animal food, and on plants as an integral part of the global environment, is discussed.