PHYSIOLOGICAL.STUDIES OF A CHIMAERA FORMED BY GRAFTING NIGHTSHADE UPON TOMATO I. RESPIRATORY ACTIVITY OF LEAVES

1. Leaves of a chimaera which are composed of the tissues fromLycopersicum esculentum var. kinnari (L. e.) covered by twolayers of cells from Solatium villosum (S. v.) were comparedwith those of control plants, L. e. and S. v. with respect tothe respiratory activity. 2. As for the respiratory activity of leaf strips, the chimaerawas more active than either L. e.. or S. v. 3. To respiratory inhibitors examined leaf strips of the chimaeraresponded rather similarly to those of S. v. but differentlyfrom those of L. e. 4. Of various substrates tested, glycolic, ascorbic and chlorogenicacids were actively oxidized by cell-free extracts of leavesfrom every plant. The first two were especially good substratesfor S. v.: L. e. attacked most the third, and the chimaera oxidizedjust as well the first two as S. v. did and the third as L.e. did. 5. Ascorbic acid and chlorogenic acid contents of the leaf extractswere not correlated with the activities of the extracts of oxidizingthese substances. 6. Physiological interactions were suggested between the twotissues of different origins in the chimaera. (Received December 2, 1963; )     

CHANGES IN ACTIVITY OF DGLUCOSE-6-PHOSPHATE: NADP AND 6-PHOSPHO-D-GLUCONATE: NADP OXIDOREDUCTASES IN RELATION TO LIGNIFICATION OF BAMBOO

D-Glucose-6-phosphate: NADP oxidoreductase (glucose-6-phosphatedehydrogenase; EC 1.1.1.49 [EC] ) and 6-phospho-D-gluconate: NADPoxidoreductase (6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase; EC 1.1.1.44 [EC] )were found to be present in immature bamboo. Optimal pHs ofthe glucose-6-phosphate- and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenaseswere found to be 8.0 and 8.5, respectively. Both enzymes were demonstrated to be NADP-specific and NADPcould not be replaced by NAD. Fructose-6-phosphate was indirectlyutilized after convrsion to glucose-6-phosphate by glucose-6-phosphateisomerase coexisting in the enzyme preparation. Pattern of enzyme activity and of respiratory breakdown of glucose-1-¹⁴Cand glucose-6-¹⁴C were investigated in connection with lignificationof bamboo and discussed in comparison with sugar metabolismof fungi-infected plant tissues. As for the changes in the enzymeactivity with growth of bamboo, it was recognized that therewas a tendency that the activity of both enzymes increased andwas maintained at a certain level even in the aged tissues.In addition there was a drop of the C₆/C₁ ratio toward the tissuesof lower parts containing considerable amount of lignin andthis phenomenon was the same as that observed in pentose phosphatemetabolism of fungi-infected plant tissues. (Received September 5, 1966; )     

Do battles lead to coexistence? Role of interference competition in structuring the insect community on fermented tree sap

Abstract.  1. In insect communities on fermented tree sap, agonistic interactions occur frequently among the component species. This study examined the effects of such interference competition on community structure and species co-occurrence on a spatio-temporally small scale.
2. Experimental removal of giant hornets ( Vespa mandarinia ), one of the most dominant species, showed no effect on either species richness or total abundance of the remaining insects. Significant increases in abundance were detected for five out of 19 taxa: V. ducalis , V. crabro , Lasius japonicus , Cryptarcha lewisi , and a group of micro sap beetles ( Epuraea spp., Haptoncus spp., and Haptoncurina spp.).
3. Behavioural observations indicated that interference did not alter the staying time at a patch (an exuding spot on a tree) for V. mandarinia , Rhomborrhina japonica , and Neope goschkevitschii . Interference-mediated departure from a patch was less frequent than departure without interference for all nine species observed, except for R. japonica . These behavioural contexts varied yearly for several species.
4. These results suggest that interference competition is a minor determinant of overall community structure, despite its conspicuousness. This weak effect of interference may be attributed to the short stay of dominant species and to individual behavioural responses, such as competitor avoidance. The variable influence of interference might be related to differences in species attributes, such as dominance hierarchies.     

Change in CO2 balance under a series of forestry activities in a cool-temperate mixed forest with dense undergrowth

To evaluate the effects on CO₂ exchange of clearcutting a mixed forest and replacing it with a plantation, 4.5 years of continuous eddy covariance measurements of CO₂ fluxes and soil respiration measurements were conducted in a conifer-broadleaf mixed forest in Hokkaido, Japan. The mixed forest was a weak carbon sink (net ecosystem exchange, −44 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹), and it became a large carbon source (569 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹) after clearcutting. However, the large emission in the harvest year rapidly decreased in the following 2 years (495 and 153 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹, respectively) as the gross primary production (GPP) increased, while the total ecosystem respiration (RE) remained relatively stable. The rapid increase in GPP was attributed to an increase in biomass and photosynthetic activity of Sasa dwarf bamboo, an understory species. Soil respiration increased in the 3 years following clearcutting, in the first year mainly owing to the change in the gap ratio of the forest, and in the following years because of increased root respiration by the bamboo. The ratio of soil respiration to RE increased from 44% in the forest to nearly 100% after clearcutting, and aboveground parts of the vegetation contributed little to the RE although the respiration chamber measurements showed heterogeneous soil condition after clearcutting.     

CHANGES IN ACTIVITY OF SHIKIMATE : NADP OXIDOREDUCTASE IN RELATION TO LIGNIFICATION OF BAMBOO

Shikimate : NADP oxidoreductase (5-dehydroshikimate reductase;EC 1.1.1.25 [EC] ) was extracted from immature bamboo and partiallypurified. The optimal pH of the enzyme was found to be 11.0.The enzyme was demonstrated to be NADP specific. Michaelis constants (Km) for NADP and shikimic acid as substratewere found to be 1.4 10^–4M and 2.0 10^–4M, respectively,at pH 8.0. No metal requirement could be demonstrated sincelittle change in enzyme activity was observed on addition ofethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA). On the other hand,the enzyme was potently inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoicacid (PCMB). 5-Dehydroshikimate reductase was demonstrated to be widely distributedin woody plants such as bamboo, udo (Aralia cordata), asparagus(Asparagus officinalis) and tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)as well as other higher plants. Shikimic acid content was comparatively low at the top, butafter reaching maximal content in the part just below the top,it began to decrease toward lower parts of bamboo. The enzymeactivity at the top was the highest and seemed to decrease towardthe tissues of lower parts. However the fact that the activitywas still maintained at a certain level even in the aged tissuessuggests that 5-dehydroshikimate reductase might play a significantrole for biosynthesis of lignin. (Received September 5, 1966; )     

Differential anatomical responses to elevated CO2 in saplings of four hardwood species

To determine whether an elevated carbon dioxide concentration ([CO₂]) can induce changes in the wood structure and stem radial growth in forest trees, we investigated the anatomical features of conduit cells and cambial activity in 4‐year‐old saplings of four deciduous broadleaved tree species – two ring‐porous (Quercus mongolica and Kalopanax septemlobus) and two diffuse‐porous species (Betula maximowicziana and Acer mono) – grown for three growing seasons in a free‐air CO₂ enrichment system. Elevated [CO₂] had no effects on vessels, growth and physiological traits of Q. mongolica, whereas tree height, photosynthesis and vessel area tended to increase in K. septemlobus. No effects of [CO₂] on growth, physiological traits and vessels were seen in the two diffuse‐porous woods. Elevated [CO₂] increased larger vessels in all species, except B. maximowicziana and number of cambial cells in two ring‐porous species. Our results showed that the vessel anatomy and radial stem growth of Q. mongolica, B. maximowicziana and A. mono were not affected by elevated [CO₂], although vessel size frequency and cambial activity in Q. mongolica were altered. In contrast, changes in vessel anatomy and cambial activity were induced by elevated [CO₂] in K. septemlobus. The different responses to elevated [CO₂] suggest that the sensitivity of forest trees to CO₂ is species dependent.     

Rumen microbes and fermentation of wild sika deer on the Shiretoko peninsula of Hokkaido Island,Japan

A total of 32 wild Hokkaido sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) were shot (13 in summer, nine in autumn and 10 in winter) in the Syari district, Shiretoko Peninsula of Hokkaido Island, Japan. The ingested foods, rumen fermentation parameters and microbes were determined to evaluate digestive strategy and food availability in each season. Ingested foods and ruminal characteristics greatly varied by season. Rumen digesta mainly comprised of graminoids in summer, graminoids and agricultural products in autumn, and bark and twigs in winter. Rumen pH showed seasonal differences (P<0.05) and was lowest in summer, highest in winter, and intermediate in autumn, reflecting the seasonal differences in ruminal concentration of total volatile fatty acids which were significantly lower (P<0.05) in winter than in summer and autumn. Acetate proportions were significantly higher in winter than in other seasons (P<0.05), while the opposite trend was seen in proportions of propionate and butyrate. Rumen ammonia levels showed significant seasonal differences (P<0.05), decreasing from summer to autumn to winter. Rumen protozoa levels in autumn and winter decreased to 28 and 10% of the levels observed in summer, respectively (P<0.05 for both). The rumen bacteria level in winter was lower (P<0.05) than that in autumn, but no difference was seen for the other seasonal comparisons. Gram negative cocci were present in significantly higher proportions in winter than in other seasons (P<0.05), while Gram negative curved rods were less frequently observed in winter (P<0.05). Based on these results, wild sika deer in this area are shown to survive with rumen microbial populations altered with the dietary conditions that vary greatly by season.