Effect of Supplied Amount and Strength of Nutrient Solution on Growth, Yield, and Fruit Quality of Strawberry ‘Saga-honoka’ Grown with Sufficiently Elevated CO2

The effects of supplied amount and strength of nutrient solution were investigated for strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa Duch. cv. Saga-honoka) grown with peat bags in elevated CO2 environment (800-2500 ppm in the day time, November 4 to April 7). Three strengths (L : low-80%, M : standard-100% and H : high-120%) of nutrient solution (N : 8.85, P : 0.85, K : 3.90, Ca : 2.05, Mg : 0.93 mM ; half strength of Ohtsuka A solution) were compared. Around 20% of discharged rate (discharged/supplied amount of nutrient solution) was kept for these 3 plots and 30 to 40% of the rate was kept for additional plot of 80%-solution (L2) by altering the supplied amount of 80%-solution. As almost no nitrate could be detected in drainage of L, nutrient supply was probably insufficient throughout the experiment. Total amount of nitrogen supply was lower than the other 3 plots and leaf area was the smallest after December. Although there was no significant difference in yield and fruit quality, the rate of tip burn affected flowers was lowest in L2 and highest in H. Thus, around 30-40% of drainage rate and 50-60 mS・m−1 of drainage EC may be desirable target values for ‘Saga-honoka’ strawberry grown with peat based substrate.イチゴ‘さがほのか’を用いて，高CO2濃度条件下(日中800～2500ppm)での栽培における培養液濃度と施用量の影響について検討した．培養液は排液率20%を目標に，大塚Ａ処方を30～50%濃度で適宜変更する慣行区を標準として，濃度をその1.2倍，0.8倍とする高濃度区と低濃度区，さらに低濃度区においては，給液量を1.2倍(排液率35%)とする低濃度多量区を設け，計４処理区とした．排液率20%を目標とした低濃度培養液管理では，12月以降の排液中NO3-Nは検出限界以下であり，栽培期間を通して養分が不足しがちであった．また，全Ｎ施用量も他の３処理区と比較すると少なくなり，１月以降の葉面積が小さくなった．収量・果実品質においては処理区間で有意な差は認められなかったが，チップバーン発生率は，高濃度区で高く，低濃度多量区の発生率が最も低かった．低濃度多量区では，葉面積も大きくなったことから，‘さがほのか’においては，排液率30～40%，排液EC50～60mS・m-1を目標とした低濃度での培養液管理が望ましいといえる

Novel High-Temperature Alkaline Water Electrolysis Using Molten KOH–H₂O System

To improve water electrolysis efficiency, we investigated the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER) at a Ni electrode in a molten KOH–H₂O system (85:15 wt%, 65:35 mol%) at a high temperature (150 °C). The overpotentials for the HER and OER at 500 mA cm⁻² were significantly reduced, by 261 mV and 75 mV, respectively, in the novel system relative to those obtained in a conventional aqueous solution system (30 wt% KOH, 80 °C). The decreases in polarization were attributed predominantly to kinetic effects, including a change in the rate-determining steps, on the HER and OER with the change of electrolytes

Micro-Scanning Laser Range Finders and Position-Attitude Determination for Formation Flight

There are several space missions which require a cluster of micro spacecraft with small area of several kilometer. We propose an asteroid mission by means of several micro spacecraft in formation flight. We are in progress to develop a micro-scanning laser range finder (MS-LRF) for navigation system of such cluster missions. The MS-LRF is a LRF which utilized a two-dimensional scanner fabricated by micromachine technology. Also we propose navigation algorithm to determine the relative position and attitude of member spacecraft in the cluster using MS-LRFs

Effects of potassium nutrition on fruit development and yield of substrate grown strawberry

　Effect of K nutrition on sugar and organic acid concentration in fruit and yield of strawberry cultivars (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.; Nyoho, Toyonoka, Sachinoka, Asukarubi, Akihime, Tochiotome, and Sagahonoka) was investigated. Nutrient solution (NO3 8, NH4 1, P 1, K 4, Ca 2, Mg 1, SO4 1 ; mM) was modified to contain 0 to 4mM of K by replacing K with Ca and supplied from the beginning of flowering. K in the drainage decreased to a trace level 3 weeks after the beginning of treatment except for 4mM‒K solution. Absorption of NO3 apparently decreased in plants supplied 0mM‒K solution, but little difference was observed among the other 3 solutions. K concentration in petiole decreased linearly with decrease in K concentration in solutions, but there was little difference between the concentrations of leaflet of plants supplied with 4 and 2mM‒K solutions. No difference was observed in concentrations of sugars and organic acids in fruit in primary inflorescence. In the second inflorescence, organic acids and K concentration in fruit linearly decreased with decrease in K in supplied solutions while sugar concentration of fruit decreased significantly only in plants supplied 0mM‒K solution. When 0.5 to 4mM‒K solutions were supplied from 2 weeks after planting, marketable fruit yield was smallest in plants supplied 0.5mM‒K solution followed, by that supplied 1mM‒K solution, and largest in that supplied with 2mM‒K solution. Almost all K supplied with 2mM‒K solution was absorbed by strawberry plants and no difference was observed in quality and K concentration of fruit, yield and plant growth between the plants supplied with 2 and 4mM‒K solutions. It may be suitable to reduce the concentration of K in nutrient solution by half for substrate production of strawberry

Incidence of Blossom-end Rot in Relation to Water-soluble Ca Concentration in Tomato Fruits as Affected by Ca Nutrition under Root Restriction

The rate of absorbed Ca to N was less than half of Enshi or Hoagland solution in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) grown with restricted root zone volume in previous experiments. Tomato plants were grown in plastic pots containing 250 or 500ml of peat based medium with modified Enshi solutions containing 1, 2 or 4mM of Ca. The solutions were prepared by replacing a part of Ca(NO3)2・4H2O to NH4NO3. Although Ca concentration was higher than 2mM in drainage collected from plants supplied 1mM Ca solution, absorbed amount of Ca was very small and severe symptom of Ca deficiency was observed. Incidence of blossom-end rot (BER) increased with decrease in Ca concentration of the solution and yield decreased to 50% and 36% of 4mM control, in 2mM and 1mM plots, respectively. Among fractionated Ca in stem of lateral shoot, decrease in water-soluble fraction was remarkable compared to 1N NaCl- or 0.6N HCl-soluble fractions. Tomato plants were then grown with modified solutions containing 1~4mM of Ca and fractionated Ca was determined for distal half of fruits. With decrease in solution Ca, fruit Ca decreased in all fractions, and days to BER incidence after flowering also decreased. Significant relationship was found only between the water-soluble Ca concentration in fruit tissue and rate of BER incidence. Thus water-soluble Ca in tomato fruit may closely relate to BER incidence, and an efficient tool to estimate the potential risk of BER may possibly be developed by determining the Ca fraction in the stem of lateral shoots.根域制限下におけるトマトの養分吸収を調査した結果，培養液中Caの多くは排液とともに排出され，Ｎに対するCaの吸収比率は園試処方やHoagland処方中の比率の50%以下であった．そこで，園試処方培養液中のCa(NO3)2･4H2Oの一部をNH4NO3に置換してCa濃度１，２，４ﾋの培養液を作成し，日射比例給液制御下で ‘ハウス桃太郎’の根城制限栽培（培地容量250，500 ㎖）を行った．培養液のCa濃度が１ﾋであっても排液中のCa濃度が２ﾋよりも高く推移したが，Ca吸収量は極めて少なく，著しいCa欠乏症状が現れた．低Ca濃度区では尻腐れ果が多発し，１ﾋ区では第３果房より上段の果実は全て尻腐れ果となり，第９果房までの収量は２ﾋ区，１ﾋ区でそれぞれ４ﾋ区の50%，36%に低下した．腋芽茎中のCa濃度の低下は0.6N-NaCl可溶性画分や0.6N-HCl可溶性画分と比較して水溶性画分の低下が著しかった．そこで，Ca濃度が１～４ﾋの培養液を用いて点滴栽培を行い，果実中のCa濃度を分画して定量した．果実頂部のCa濃度はいずれの画分においても培養液中Ca濃度が低いほど低く，開花から尻腐れ症状が発生するまでの日数も短くなった．尻腐れ果発生率と果頂部の水溶性Ca濃度との間にのみ有意な負の相関が認められた．以上のことから，果実の水溶性Ca濃度がトマトの尻腐れ果発生リスクの大小に大きくかかわっており，植物体の水溶性Ca濃度測定は尻腐れ果発生防止のためのCa栄養診断に応用できる可能性が高いと考えられる

A Comprehensive Model for Packing and Hydration for Amyloid Fibrils of β2-Microglobulin

This research was originally published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. Young-Ho Lee, Eri Chatani, Kenji Sasahara, Hironobu Naiki and Yuji Goto. A Comprehensive Model for Packing and Hydration for Amyloid Fibrils of β2-Microglobulin. J. Biol. Chem. 2009; 284, 2169-2175. © the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biolog

Tectonic Evolution of the Sambagawa Schists and its Implications in Convergent Margin Processes

The Sambagawa schists as high P /T metamorphic rocks are a member of Mesozoic accretionary complexes developed in the southern front of the Kurosegawa-Koryoke continent of Southwest Japan. The Mesozoic accretionary complexes are divided into four megaunits developed as nappes, Chichibu megaunit II, Sambagawa megaunit, Chichibu megaunit I and Shimanto megaunit in descending order of structural level. The Chichibu megaunit II consists of three accretionary units developed as nappes, late early Jurassic unit, late middle Jurassic unit and latest Jurassic unit (Mikabu unit) in descending order of structural level. The Chichibu megaunit I consists of five accretionary units developed as nappes, late middle Jurassic unit (Niyodo unit), late Jurassic unit, Valanginian unit, Barremian unit and Albian unit in descending order of structural level. The Shimanto megaunit, which just underlies the Chichibu megaunit I, is Cenomanian-Turonian accretionary unit and Coniacian-Campanian accretionary unit. The schists, which underlie the Chichibu megaunit II, all have been so far called the Sambagawa schists. These are divided into six units, Saruta unit, Fuyunose unit, Sogauchi unit, Sakamoto unit, Oboke unit and Tatsuyama unit in descending order of structural level, which show different tectono-metamorphic history and different radiometric ages from each other. The Sakamoto unit, Oboke unit and Tatsuyama unit have been assumed with reference to their radiometric ages and structural relations to belong to the late middle Jurassic accretionary unit of the Chichibu megaunit I (high pressure equivalent of the Niyodo unit), the Cenomanian-Turonian accretionary unit of the Shimanto megaunit and the Coniacian-Campanian accretionary unit of the Shimanto megaunit respectively in this paper. The upper member of the Sambagawa schists, Saruta unit, Fuyunose unit and Sogauchi unit, is therefore called the Sambagawa megaunit in this paper. The northern half and the southern half of the Sambagawa megaunit are intercalated as nappes between the Chichibu megaunit II and the Oboke unit and between the Chichibu megaunit II and the Sakamoto unit respectively. The constituent units of the Chichibu megaunit II, Sambagawa megaunit and Shimanto megaunit clearly show a downward younging age polarity, as compared with each other with reference to the oldest one of radiometric ages ( = metamorphic ages) of each unit. The Chichibu megaunit II and the Chichibu megaunit I show the same radiometric ages as compared between them with the same fossil age. The Saruta unit, Fuyunose unit and Sogauchi unit have therefore been assumed to be high pressure equivalent of Valanginian unit, that of Barremian unit and that of Albian unit of the Chichibu megaunit I respectively. These high pressure units were exhumed, separating the Chichibu supermegaunit into the Chichibu megaunit II and the Chichibu megaunit I and thrusting up onto the Chichibu megaunit I. On the basis of the growth history of amphibole in hematite-bearing basic schists of the Sambagawa megaunit, it has been assumed that the highest temperature metamorphism of the Fuyunose unit occurred, when it had been coupled with the Saruta unit which was exhuming, and that of the Sogauchi unit did through its coupling with the Fuyunose and Saruta units which were exhuming. In the subduction zone which was responsible for the formation of the Sambagawa megaunit, namely, the peak metamorphism of a newly subducted unit appears to have occurred when it had been coupled with previously subcreted units which were exhuming. It has been also clarified that the subduction of a new unit occurred mixing the lower pressure part of the pre-existing subcretion unit as tectonic blocks. There is a distinct difference in the oldest one of radiometric ages between constituent units of the Sambagawa schists, showing a downward younging age polarity. The oldest one of radiometric ages of each unit appears to approximate to the age of the ending of peak metamorphism and to the age (Eh age) of the beginning of its exhumation. Such the tectonics of the Sambagawa megaunit would be explained in term of two-way street model. Because the age (Sub age) of the beginning of the subduction of each unit can be assumed from its fossil age, the average velocity of the subduction and that of the exhumation of the Sambagawa megaunit in Shikoku have roughly been estimated to be ca. 0.9 mm/year and ca. 2.0 mm/year respectively. Deformation of quartz, whose style depends strongly upon strain rate, resulted in type I crossed girdle without conentration in Y even in the depth part of more than 10kb of the subduction zone, which was placed under temperature condition of much higher than 500°C, unlike the cases of magma-arcs where quartz c-axis fabrics with maximum concentration in Y are found in gneisses produced under temperature condition of lower than 500°C. Quartz deformation in the depth part of 15-17kb of the subduction zone appears to have occurred as dominant prism slip. The hanging wall of the Kurosegawa-Koryoke continent, which was placed at the depth of ca. 15-17 kb, thrust onto the Saruta unit at the depth of ca. 10-11 kb, accompanying intermingling of constituent rocks of the former and the latter and also mixing of various depth parts of the latter. The highest temperature metamorphism of the Saruta unit, which appears to have occurred under metamorphic condition of lower P /T than under that related to the formation of the general type of high P /T type metamorphic rocks, is ascribed to a contact metamorphism related to the overthrusting of the Kurosegawa-Koryoke continent. The thrusting of the Kurosegawa-Koryoke continent is ascribed to its collision with the Hida continent. The coupling of the previously subcreted Saruta unit with the newly subcreted Fuyunose unit occurred accompanying nearly isobaric cooling of the former. The great exhumation of the Saruta nappe (I + II) and Fuyunose nappe schists with great volume began together with the subcretion of the Sogauchi unit. The beginning age of the exhumation of the Sambagawa schists with great volume appears to coincide with that of the subduction of the Kula-Pacific ridge in Kyushu-Shikoku, which has been assumed by Kiminami et al. (1990). Namely, their great exhumation occurred with the progress of the subduction of the Kula-Pacific ridge with an eastward younging age polarity. The exhumation units, which were developed after the Mikabu unit, clearly show an eastward younging age polarity. Namely, these comparable with the Saruta unit, Fuyunose unit and Sogauchi unit are not found in central Japan and the Kanto Mountains. Rock deformation in the deformation related to the exhumation of the Sambagawa schists and their underlying schists appears to have commonly been of flattened type in mean strain. During the Ozu phase when the Kula-Pacific ridge subducted to the greater depth, the collapse of the Kurosegawa-Koryoke continent took again place, accompanying that of the pile nappe structures of the Sambagawa megaunit, Chichibu megaunit I and Oboke unit, and the thermal gradient along the plate boundary greatly changed, giving rise to medium P/T type metamorphism in the subduction zone (formation of the Tatsuyama nappe schists). The geological structures of the Sambagawa megaunit consist thus of two types of pile nappe structures, pre-Ozu phase pile nappe structures and Ozu phase pile nappe structures. The former is structures related to the coupling of the exhuming units ( = previously subcreted units) with the newly subcreted unit. The latter is structures showing the collapse of the former. The Ozu phase pile nappe structures are further divided into the pile nappe structures formed during the earlier stage (Tsuji stage) of the Ozu phase and these formed during the later stage (Futami stage). The former is disharmonic with reference to movement picture with the latter: The deformation related to the formation of the former, accompanying exhumation of the Oboke nappes, appears to contain a component of northward displacement, while that for the latter does a component of southward displacement. After the Ozu phase deformation the Sambagawa megaunit suffered the Hijikawa-Oboke phase folding, forming a series of sinistral en echelon upright folds. The relationship between the above-mentioned tectonic events of the Sambagawa megaunit and its surroundings and their radiometric ages is summarized as follows: [Original table is skipped. For more details, please refer to the full text.