Glutamine synthetase I-deficiency in Mesorhizobium loti differentially affects nodule development and activity in Lotus japonicus

In this study, we focused on the effect of glutamine synthetase (GSI) activity in Mesorhizobium loti on the symbiosis between the host plant, Lotus japonicus, and the bacteroids. We used a signature-tagged mutant of M. loti (STM30) with a transposon inserted into the GSI (mll0343) gene. The L. japonicus plants inoculated with STM30 had significantly more nodules, and the occurrence of senesced nodules was much higher than in plants inoculated with the wild-type. The acetylene reduction activity (ARA) per nodule inoculated with STM30 was lowered compared to the control. Also, the concentration of chlorophyll, glutamine, and asparagine in leaves of STM30-infected plants was found to be reduced. Taken together, these data demonstrate that a GSI deficiency in M. loti differentially affects legume–rhizobia symbiosis by modifying nodule development and metabolic processes.     

Carbon and nitrogen content of Noctiluca scintillans in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan

The carbon and nitrogen content of Noctiluca scintillans cellsfrom the Seto Inland Sea, Japan was investigated in order toestimate its biomass in natural samples. The carbon contentof N.scintillans ranged from 123 to 627 ng C cell^–1 witha mean value of 353 ng C cell^–1, or 1.12 to 2.67 fg Cµm^–3 with a mean value of 1.98 fg C µm^–3.The nitrogen content ranged from 36.0 to 232 ng N cell^–1with a mean value of 131 ng N cell^–1, or 0.499 to 0.910fg N µm^–3 with a mean value of 0.694 fg N µm^–3.Total cell carbon and nitrogen increased but the carbon andnitrogen per cell volume decreased with increasing cell volume.The C/N ratio of the cells ranged from 2.3 to 4.4, which wasrelatively low compared with the Redfield ratio. The carbonand nitrogen content was extremely low (91.2 ng C cell^–1,41.8 ng N cell^–1) for starved cells, whereas it was extremelyhigh (528 ng C cell^–1, 205 ng N cell^–1) for cellswhich had ingested the large diatom, Coscinodiscus wailesii.Our results suggest that the carbon and nitrogen content ofN.scintillans varies depending on its physiological conditionand the type of food that it has recently consumed.     

Optically active components and light attenuation in an offshore station of Harima Sound, eastern Seto Inland Sea, Japan

In the eastern Seto Inland Sea, Japan, phytoplankton abundance in the surface water has gradually declined, whereas Secchi depth has risen in recent years, particularly in offshore areas. Therefore, it may be hypothesized that phytoplankton dominate light attenuation in the offshore area, and that other constituents are less important. To test this hypothesis, we examined the roles of seawater, colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM), non-algal particles (tripton), and phytoplankton in the light attenuation at an offshore station of Harima Sound in the eastern Sea. The magnitude of light attenuation was then determined from the attenuation coefficient of photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) through the water column (K _d). During a 13-month period, K _d ranged from 0.179 to 0.507 m^?1, with a mean of 0.262 m^?1. The mean relative contributions of seawater (15%) and CDOM (13%) to K _d were small, while the most dominant K _d constituent was tripton (45%). The mean contribution of phytoplankton to K _d (27%) was consequently less than that of tripton. However, 75% of the temporal variability in K _d was attributed to phytoplankton, measured as chlorophyll a. Our results emphasize that the main component of light attenuation does not always govern the temporal variation of light attenuation in coastal regions.     

Characterization of the water quality of dam lakes on Shikoku Island, Japan

This study clarifies the distribution and variation of bioelements in dam lakes of the Shikoku region, Japan. The survey was carried out from 2002 to 2003 on three dam lakes in the Shikoku Mountains with high precipitation levels and on three dam lakes in the Sanuki mountain range with low precipitation levels. By the conventional classification for eutrophication, the dam lakes in the Shikoku Mountains were classified as oligotrophic to mesotrophic, whereas those in the Sanuki mountain range were classified as mesotrophic to eutrophic. Furthermore, for the dam lakes in the Sanuki mountain range, it was indicated that the amount of precipitation directly and indirectly affected lake water quality, such as high nitrogen concentration, low dissolved oxygen concentration, and increase in primary production. Especially, in a hypertrophic dam lake, during the period of low precipitation the surface water flowed out and the water under the thermocline, with no dissolved oxygen, appeared on the lake surface. As a result, the anaerobic environment extended across all the layers. Because a compulsory water-level operation was carried out in the dam lake, it was considered that the effect of the hydrological environment in the catchment area on the dam lake was relatively large in comparison with that in natural lakes.     

Size-fractionated phytoplankton biomass in coral reef waters off Sesoko Island, Okinawa, Japan

The seasonal dynamics of size-fractionated phytoplankton biomassin a coral reef area were investigated off Sesoko Island, Okinawa,Japan. Chlorophyll (Chl) a and nutrient concentrations werelow almost all year round, showing no clear seasonal variabilitywith values similar to those in some other coral reef areas.Picoplankton dominated the phytoplankton community; averagecontributions of pico-, nano- and microplankton to the totalChl a biomass were 52, 34 and 11%, respectively. However, in1998, when the seawater temperature was extremely high and coralbleaching occurred due to the ENSO event, low Chl a coupledwith high nutrient concentrations were observed. This was associatedwith a decrease in the picoplankton size fraction. We suggestthat the high seawater temperature in 1998 decreased the growthrate of the picoplankton; however, the micro- and nanoplanktonmay also be limited by other factors such as low nutrient concentrations.     

EXTREMELY HIGH GROWTH RATE OF THE SMALL DIATOM CHAETOCEROS SALSUGINEUM ISOLATED FROM AN ESTUARY IN THE EASTERN SETO INLAND SEA,JAPAN1

Small single‐celled Chaetoceros sp. are often widely distributed, but frequently overlooked. An estuarine diatom with an extremely high growth potential under optimal conditions was isolated from the Shinkawa‐Kasugagawa estuary in the eastern part of the Seto Inland Sea, western Japan. It was identified as Chaetoceros salsugineum based on morphological observations. This strain had a specific growth rate of 0.54 h^?1 at 30°C under 700 μmol · m^?2 · s^?1 (about 30% of natural maximal summer light) with a 14:10 L:D cycle; there was little growth in the dark. However, under continuous light it grew at only 0.35 h^?1 or a daily specific growth rate of 8.4 d^?1. In addition, cell density, chlorophyll a, and particulate organic carbon concentrations increased by about 1000 times in 24 h at 30°C under 700 μmol · m^?2 · s^?1 with a 14:10 L:D cycle, showing a growth rate of close to 7 d^?1. This very rapid growth rate may be the result of adaptation to this estuarine environment with high light and temperature. Thus, C. salsugineum can be an important primary producer in this estuary in summer and also an important organism for further physiological and genetic research.