Potential for Tomato Cultivation Using Capillary Wick- watering Method

This research was conducted to investigate any potential problems that may be encountered while using capillary wick irrigation system. Medium-fruited tomato plants were cultivated in spring up to the 10th truss. In the first experiment, a 1/5,000a wagner pot was used, and small openings were made 5mm or 50mm from the bottom of the pots. Capillary wicks, 4 cm in width and 45 cm in length were inserted into the slits and aligned to the pot’s inner wall perpendicularly to the soil surface. The other end of the wick was dipped in half or full strength Ohtsuka-A nutrient solution. The wick was covered with water permeable root-barrier material to prevent root penetration into wick. This resulted in good growth and relatively high yield. Without covering, roots grew vigorously into the wicks and 1 month after transplanting extended to the reservoir solution. Removal of root overgrowth caused wilting in some of the plants. This symptom was more pronounced where the wick insertion points were 50 mm from the base. Root contexture was observed in non-covered and imperfectly covered wicks. These results indicate that it is important to make a wick with a perfect covering for stable plant growth and fruit yield. In the second experiment, the capacity of 2 cm or 4 cm wide with and single or double layers of capillary wicks to transport water to the plant root-zone was examined. Some of the plants wilted in the 2 cm single layer, while no differences were observed in other treatments. Furthermore, a high percentage of blossom-end rot was recorded in all treatments. In response to water uptake by the plants, the nutrient solution was supplied daily depending on the decrease of water in the reservoir, in order to maintain the water level fluctuation within a 3 cm range. This fluctuation may account for the blossom-end rot prevalence observed, probably due to water-stress imposed on the plants by unstable water level in the reservoir.「毛管給水ひも」によるトマト栽培の可能性を探るため，中玉トマトの10段摘心栽培を試み，ひもの特性と栽培上の問題点を明らかにした．1/5,000ａワグネルポットの底から5㎜位と50㎜位に小穴を開け，そこへ毛管ひも（幅4㎝，長さ45㎝）の一端を導入し，そのまま鉢中央を横切り対壁に沿って土壌表面まで配置した．他の一端は培養液に浸した．この毛管ひもを遮根透水シートで被覆し（接着あるいは機械織りによるチューブ状管にひもを挿入），その「被覆ひも」を「無被覆ひも」と比較したところ，被覆ひもでは根の侵入が強く抑制でき成育が旺盛で収量も高かった．被覆しないと1か月後には根が毛管ひも内に伸長して貯液槽にまで達した．この根を除去すると多くの個体は萎れの症状を呈した．この症状は50㎜位の方が著しかった．被覆が不完全だと接着部あるいは織り込み部から根は毛管ひもに侵入する．従って，毛管ひもは完全被覆されることが重要であるといえる．また，遮根透水ひもを2㎝幅，4㎝幅としシングル状とダブル状で比較したところ，成育半ばでシングル2㎝幅では萎れ症状が観察され枯死する個体も現れた．その 他では成育等に大きな差異は認められなかったが，いずれの処理区においても多くの尻腐れ果が発生した．トマトの吸水に伴って水位は低下するため本試験では毎日，培養液を手で補給した．しかし，水位変化は最大で3㎝と大きかった．尻腐れ果発生はこの液槽の水位レベル管理に起因するところ大と推察され，今後の課題として残された

Encouragement of New Industry from the Region of Kawarada Moriharu

明治政府の富国・殖産興業政策は官営工場や財閥系企業のみならず、過疎地の山間地の村々にも近代の特質として浸透した。近代の特質は貨幣経済中心の暮らしを民にも要求したことである。農家は暮らしを維持するために現金収入を得る道を切り開く必要があり、そのための殖産興業であった。そのことはどの地方においても同じで、どの産業に力点をおくかは地方の自然状況や風土、特産などによった。河原田盛美の出身地奥会津においては、その殖産興業の方策の第一が養蚕・生糸生産であった。　明治初期に明治政府の官僚となり、沖縄にわたった河原田は、当地域の物産、とくに、養蚕業への指導を提言した。河原田は具体的な養蚕具とその値段、関東における桑苗の値段、人件費などの提示をしており、河原田の当時の養蚕技術にたいする認識を示していて、そのレベルを知ることができる。　明治24年、奥会津の伊南村に戻り生家の家業を継いだ河原田は、とくに、養蚕と生糸生産・販売に従事、尽力した。河原田は沖縄でも奥会津でも殖産興業の視点で地域をみており、地域の民がどう暮らしていくのか、をさぐった。奥会津では村人へ農業・養蚕の技術指導、水田開発や植林など、また小学校設立にも尽力した。福島県会議員にも就任するが、今回は、輸出産業として有効な生糸生産とその輸送に焦点を絞り、地方実業家としての河原田を追った。奥会津が山間地のため物資の輸送手段の不便さをかかえており、横浜への生糸輸送に腐心する河原田を彼の日記を中心に分析した。輸送路の困難さをきわめたのが険阻な駒止峠で、明治39年からその大改修を行い、新道を開削した。彼はそのために福島県や国を奔走した。本論文は当地域の生糸生産とその輸送状況の実態を解明するのが目的である。河原田の奮戦に協同し、南会津郡全体の殖産興業に寄与したのが南会津地方の「豪農ネットワーク」である

Up-regulation of stanniocalcin 1 expression by 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 and parathyroid hormone in renal proximal tubular cells

Stanniocalcin 1 and stanniocalcin 2 are two glycoprotein hormones, which act as calcium phosphate-regulating factor on intestine and kidney. We have previously reported that stanniocalcin 2 expression is positively and negatively controlled by 1,25(OH)2D3 and parathyroid hormone in renal proximal tubular cells. However, it has been unclear whether they regulate the stanniocalcin 1 gene expression. In this study, we identified the opossum stanniocalcin 1 cDNA sequence. The opossum stanniocalcin 1 amino acid sequence had 83% homology with human stanniocalcin 1, and has a conserved putative N-linked glycosylation site. Real-time PCR analysis using opossum kidney proximal tubular (OK-P) cells revealed that the mRNA levels of stanniocalcin 1 gene is up-regulated by both 1,25(OH)2D3 and parathyroid hormone in dose-dependent and time-dependent manners. We also demonstrated that the stanniocalcin 1 expression was increased in parathyroid hormone injected rat kidney. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of stanniocalcin 1 and stanniocalcin 2 were oppositely regulated by phorbol 12,13-myristic acetate, a specific PKC activator. Interestingly, the up-regulation of stanniocalcin 1 gene by 1,25(OH)2D3 and phorbol 12,13-myristic acetate were not prevented in the presence of actinomycin D, an RNA synthesis inhibitor. These results suggest that the stanniocalcin 1 gene expression is up-regulated by 1,25(OH)2D3 and parathyroid hormone through mRNA stabilization in renal proximal tubular cells

Hydroxyhydroquinone, a by-product of coffee bean roasting, increases intracellular Ca2+ concentration in rat thymic lymphocytes

Hydroxyhydroquinone (HHQ) is generated during coffee bean roasting. A cup of coffee contains 0.1–1.7 mg of HHQ. The actions of HHQ on mammalian DNA were examined because HHQ is a metabolite of benzene, which causes leukemia. Currently, information on the cellular actions of HHQ is limited. We examined the effects of sublethal levels of HHQ on the concentration of intracellular Ca2+ in rat thymic lymphocytes by using a flow cytometric technique with fluorescent probes. HHQ at 10 μM or more significantly elevated intracellular Ca2+ levels by increasing the membrane permeability of divalent cations, resulting in hyperpolarization via the activation of Ca2+-dependent K+ channels. HHQ-induced changes in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration and membrane potential may affect the cell functions of lymphocytes. HHQ-reduced coffee may be preferable in order to avoid the possible adverse effects of HHQ

食餌性リン負荷がラットにおける鉄欠乏性貧血の発症・進展と鉄代謝に及ぼす影響

Inorganic phosphate (Pi) plays critical roles in bone metabolism and is an essential component of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG). It has been reported that animals fed a low-iron diet modulate Pi metabolism, whereas the effect of dietary Pi on iron metabolism, particularly in iron deficiency anemia (IDA), is not fully understood. In this study, we hypothesized the presence of a link between Pi and iron metabolism and tested the hypothesis by investigating the effects of dietary Pi on iron status and IDA. Wistar rats aged 4 weeks were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 experimental dietary groups: normal iron content (Con Fe) + 0.5% Pi, low-iron (Low Fe) + 0.5% Pi, Con Fe + 1.5% Pi, and Low Fe + 1.5% Pi. Rats fed the 1.5% Pi diet for 14 days, but not for 28 days, maintained their anemia state and plasma erythropoietin concentrations within the reference range, even under conditions of low iron. In addition, plasma concentrations of 2,3-DPG were significantly increased by the 1.5% Pi diets and were positively correlated with plasma Pi concentration (r = 0.779; P < .001). Dietary Pi regulated the messenger RNA expression of iron-regulated genes, including divalent metal transporter 1, duodenal cytochrome B, and hepcidin. Furthermore, iron concentration in liver tissues was increased by the 1.5% Pi in Con Fe diet. These results suggest that dietary Pi supplementation delays the onset of IDA and increases plasma 2,3- DPG concentration, followed by modulation of the expression of iron-regulated genes

Hypercholesterolemia and effects of high cholesterol diet in type IIa sodium-dependent phosphate co-transporter (Npt2a) deficient mice

The type IIa sodium-dependent phosphate co-transporter (Npt2a) is important to maintain renal inorganic phosphate (Pi) homeostasis and the plasma Pi levels. It has reported that disorder of Pi metabolism in kidney can be risk factors for cardiovascular disease as well as hypercholesterolemia. However, the relationship between Pi and cholesterol metabolism has not been clarified. The current study investigated the effects of Npt2a gene ablation that is known as hypophosphatemia model on cholesterol metabolism in mice. Npt2a deficient (Npt2a-/-) mice and wild type mice were fed diets with or without 2% cholesterol for 12 days. Plasma lipid and lipoprotein profile analysis revealed that plasma lipid levels (total, LDL and HDL cholesterol) were significantly higher in Npt2a-/- mice than wild type (WT) mice. Interestingly, high cholesterol diet markedly increased plasma levels of total, LDL and HDL cholesterol in WT mice, but not Npt2a-/- mice. On the other hand, there were no differences in body and liver weight, intake and hepatic lipid accumulation between WT and Npt2a-/- mice. These results suggest that ablation of Npt2a gene induces hypercholesterolemia and affects the ability to respond normally to dietary cholesterol