Effect of epicuticular wax crystals on the localization of artificially deposited sub-micron carbon-based aerosols on needles of Cryptomeria japonica.

Elucidation of the mechanism of adsorption of particles suspended in the gas-phase (aerosol) to the outer surfaces of leaves provides useful information for understanding the mechanisms of the effect of aerosol particles on the growth and physiological functions of trees. In the present study, we examined the localization of artificially deposited sub-micron-sized carbon-based particles on the surfaces of needles of Cryptomeria japonica, a typical Japanese coniferous tree species, by field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The clusters (aggregates) of carbon-based particles were deposited on the needle surface regions where epicuticular wax crystals were sparsely distributed. By contrast, no clusters of the particles were found on the needle surface regions with dense distribution of epicuticular wax crystals. Number of clusters of carbon-based particles per unit area showed statistically significant differences between regions with sparse epicuticular wax crystals and those with dense epicuticular wax crystals. These results suggest that epicuticular wax crystals affect distribution of carbon-based particles on needles. Therefore, densely distributed epicuticular wax crystals might prevent the deposition of sub-micron-sized carbon-based particles on the surfaces of needles of Cryptomeria japonica to retain the function of stomata.

Topochemical and morphological characterization of wood cell wall treated with the ionic liquid, 1-ethylpyridinium bromide.

MAIN CONCLUSION : [EtPy][Br] is more reactive toward lignin than toward the PSs in wood cell walls, and [EtPy][Br] treatment results in inhomogenous changes to the cell wall's ultrastructural and chemical components. The effects of the ionic liquid 1-ethylpyridinium bromide ([EtPy][Br]), which prefers to react with lignin rather than cellulose on the wood cell walls of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), were investigated from a morphology and topochemistry point of view. The [EtPy][Br] treatment induced cell wall swelling, the elimination of warts, and the formation of countless pores in the tracheids. However, many of the pit membranes and the cellulose crystalline structure remained unchanged. Raman microscopic analyses revealed that chemical changes in the cell walls were different for different layers and that the lignin in the compound middle lamella and the cell corner resists interaction with [EtPy][Br]. Additionally, the interaction of [EtPy][Br] with the wood cell wall is different to that of other types of ionic liquid.

Ultrastructure of the innermost surface of differentiating normal and compression wood tracheids as revealed by field emission scanning electron microscopy.

The ultrastructure of the innermost surface of Cryptomeria japonica differentiating normal wood (NW) and compression wood (CW) was comparatively investigated by field emission electron microscopy (FE-SEM) combined with enzymatic degradation of hemicelluloses. Cellulose microfibril (CMF) bundles were readily observed in NW tracheids in the early stage of secondary cell wall formation, but not in CW tracheids because of the heavy accumulation of amorphous materials composed mainly of galactans and lignin. This result suggests that the ultrastructural deposition of cell wall components in the tracheid cell wall differ between NW and CW from the early stage of secondary cell wall formation. Delignified NW and CW tracheids showed similar structural changes during differentiating stages after xylanase or ß-mannanase treatment, whereas they exhibited clear differences in ultrastructure in mature stages. Although thin CMF bundles were exposed in both delignified mature NW and CW tracheids by xylanase treatment, ultrastructural changes following ß-mannanase treatment were only observed in CW tracheids. CW tracheids also showed different degradation patterns between xylanase and ß-mannanase. CMF bundles showed a smooth surface in delignified mature CW tracheids treated with xylanase, whereas they had an uneven surface in delignified mature CW tracheids treated with ß-mannanase, indicating that the uneven surface of CMF bundles was related to xylans. The present results suggest that ultrastructural deposition and organization of lignin and hemicelluloses in CW tracheids may differ from those of NW tracheids.

Noninvasive biological evaluation of response to pranlukast treatment in pediatric patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis.

Pranlukast (PLK) is a cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 antagonist approved for the treatment of bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis in Japan. We previously reported that PLK dry syrup (DS) improved the total nasal symptom score, as well as sneezing, nasal discharge, and nasal obstruction scores over placebo. We investigated the efficacy of PLK DS with a noninvasive method in 10- to 15-year-old children with Japanese cedar (JC) pollinosis challenged with pollen allergen using an artificial exposure chamber (OHIO Chamber). Levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in nasal secretions, nasal obstruction score, and the relationship with nasal obstruction scores were analyzed. The estimated difference of means in ECP levels (PLK DS--placebo) was -22.9 micrograms (95% CI, -45.2 to -0.5), suggesting PLK DS reduced ECP significantly when compared with placebo (p = 0.0454). The difference in the least square means for nasal obstruction between the PLK DS and placebo was -0.25 (95% CI, -0.36 to -0.14) with a value of p < 0.0001. In addition, a statistically significant, although weak, positive correlation between the nasal obstruction score and nasal ECP levels was observed with placebo treatment (correlation coefficient = 0.2394; p = 0.0428). Moreover, the inhibition rate of nasal ECP with PLK DS relative to placebo was statistically significant, although weak, positively correlated with the inhibition rate of nasal obstruction (correlation coefficient = 0.3373; p = 0.0219). PLK DS significantly decreases nasal ECP levels and nasal obstruction score compared with placebo in children with JC pollinosis challenged with pollen allergen. Suppression of mucosal eosinophilic inflammation is one of the pathways by which PLK DS improves pollinosis-induced nasal obstruction.

Larvicidal activity of tectoquinone isolated from red heartwood-type Cryptomeria japonica against two mosquito species.

Mosquito larvicidal activities of methanolic extracts from different plant parts of red heartwood-type Cryptomeria japonica D. Don against the fourth-instar larvae of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus were examined. Results of mosquito larvicidal tests demonstrated that the n-hexane fraction of C. japonica sapwood methanolic extract had an excellent inhibitory effect against the larvae of A. aegypti and A. albopictus and its LC50 values were 2.4 and 3.3 microg/ml, respectively, in 24h. Following the bioactivity-guided fractionation procedure, the active constituent isolated from C. japonica sapwood was characterized as tectoquinone by spectroscopic analyses. The LC50 values of tectoquinone against A. aegypti and A. albopictus in 24h were 3.3 and 5.4 microg/ml, respectively. In addition, comparisons of mosquito larvicidal activity of anthraquinone congeners demonstrated that anthraquinone skeleton with a methyl group at C-2 position, such as tectoquinone, exhibited the strongest mosquito larvicidal activity. Results of this study show that the methanolic extract of C. japonica sapwood may be considered as a potent source and tectoquinone as a new natural mosquito larvicidal agent.

Effect of ionic liquid treatment on the ultrastructural and topochemical features of compression wood in Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica).

The morphological and topochemical changes in wood tissues in compression wood of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) upon treated with two types of ionic liquids, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C2mim][Cl]) and 1-ethylpyridinium bromide ([EtPy][Br]) were investigated. Compression wood tracheids were swollen by both ionic liquids but their swelling behaviors were different in the types of ionic liquids used. Under the polarized light, we confirmed that crystalline cellulose in compression wood is amorphized by [C2mim][Cl] treatment whereas it changes slightly by [EtPy][Br] treatment. Raman microscopic analyses revealed that [C2mim][Cl] can preferentially liquefy polysaccharides in compression wood whereas [EtPy][Br] liquefy lignin. In addition, the interaction of compression wood with ionic liquids is different for the morphological regions. These results will assist in the use of ionic liquid treatment of woody biomass to produce valuable chemicals, bio-fuels, bio-based composites and other products.

An approach for the conquest of the sugi pollinosis using plant growth regulation.

The sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) pollinosis becomes representative allergic disease in early spring in Japan. However, effective treatment for the sugi pollinosis and countermeasure against pollen of C. japonica at its source have not been developed in a practical sense. In this paper, the research aiming to prevent dispersion of pollen of the C. japonica is introduced on application and practical application to the field from the laboratory using the growth regulation of the plant. We found that formation of male flower bud in C. japonica could be suppressed by TNE, since the 3 beta-hydroxylase is inhibited by the action of Trinexysapacethyl, TNE.

[In vitro establishment of Cryptomeria japonica (Taxocidaceae)]. / Establecimiento in vitro de Cryptomeria japonica (Taxocidaceae).

In this work, it was achieved to establish in vitro shoots of Cryptomeria japonica from 20 year old trees. The shoots were disinfected and treated with six different concentrations of kinetin and belciladenine in order to induce their development and budding. It was evaluated the effect of quality and lighting intensity on these using for this orange light at 20 microEs-1 m-2 and white light at 30 microEs-1 m-2. For shoots rooting it was used different concentrations of NAA (naftalen acetic acid) and IBA (indolbutiric acid) alone or combined. BA and KIN induced the bud formation in Cryptomeria but it was observed the best budding with BA at 9.1 microM. White light and orange light promoved the growth of explants as well as the growth of new buds but it was higher with orange light. The bud rooting was observed but it was not possible to find the best auxin concentration for rooting because of the plentiful callus formation on the base of explants and the root formation was very sporadic. The rooted shoots were placed on a substrate for their acclimation in greenhouse conditions.

Larvicidal efficacy of Cryptomeria japonica leaf essential oils against Anopheles gambiae.

BACKGROUND: Alternative insecticidal compounds with mortality effect against mosquito life cycle stages are currently needed. The compounds should be biodegradable and nontoxic to non-targeted insects. Plant based larvicides provide effective control of vector populations. This study explored Cryptomeria japonica leaf essential oil larvicidal potency against Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto. METHODS: Essential oils (12.5 to 200 µg/mL) extracted from C. japonica leaves were evaluated against An. gambiae s.s. larvae in both the laboratory and semi field in 6 replicates for each dose. Larval mortality readings were taken at 12, 24, 48, and 72 h post treatment. RESULTS: C. japonica leaf essential oil yield was 17.06 ± 0.56 mL/kg and 1.60 ± 0.33% (w/w). GC-FID and GC-MS analyses revealed 22 constituents. Essential oil was more effective against An. gambiae s.s. larvae in the laboratory than in semi field trials. Mortality increased with increasing dosages (12.5 to 200 µg/mL) in the laboratory (31.75 to 100%) and semi field trials (17.75 to 99.5%), respectively. The LC50 value ranged from 5.55 to 63.92 µg/mL in the laboratory, and 8.22 to 134.84 µg/mL in semi field conditions, LC90 value ranged from 41.34 to 205.93 µg/mL in the laboratory and 50.92 to 213.11 µg/mL in semi field conditions. CONCLUSION: This study has demonstrated the potential of C. japonica leaf essential oil to cause mortality effects to An. gambiae s. s. larval populations, however, further studies need to be conducted under field conditions and also with individual active compounds of C. japonica essential oil.

Cytokinesis block micronucleus assay in field plants for monitoring radiation-induced genotoxicity of the environment.

Effective biomonitoring for detection of radiation-induced genotoxicity of contaminants in natural environments involves testing of field plants for cytogenetic changes. To increase the efficiency and precision of cytogenetic analyses of field plants that have naturally high individual variability, an improved micronucleus assay is proposed that employs a cytokinesis block technique similar to the lymphocyte test system used in mammals. In seed embryonic meristems of the Japanese cedar, application of a methylxanthine derivative, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), was found to be effective in inhibiting cytokinesis to make once-divided cells easily recognizable by their binucleate appearance. In the meristem of IBMX-treated seminal roots from X-ray-irradiated seeds, variation in micronucleus frequency in the binucleate cell population was reduced compared to that in the total cell population. The highest efficiency of measurement of micronucleus frequencies was obtained in the root meristems where 0.2- to 1.5-mm-long seminal roots were incubated with IBMX for 24 h. This result indicated that this root elongation stage corresponded to the first divisions of the root meristematic cells, and was therefore suitable for obtaining reliable estimations of accumulated genetic damage in the seeds. This cytokinesis block assay applied specifically at the root elongation stage was then used to examine dose-response relationships in Japanese cedar seeds irradiated either acutely with X-rays or chronically with γ-rays. The resulting dose-response curve for the acute X-ray irradiation was fitted onto a linear-quadratic regression curve, whereas the dose-response curve for the chronic γ-irradiation matched a linear regression line better. Both dose-response curves were consistent with the target theory of classical radiation biology. The good agreement of the micronucleus data to a simple dose-response model indicates the proposed accuracy of the cytokinesis block micronucleus assay for plant monitoring.

Combined pretreatment using ozonolysis and wet-disk milling to improve enzymatic saccharification of Japanese cedar.

Ozonolysis and subsequent wet-disk milling (DM) were carried out on Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) to improve sugar production by enzymatic saccharification. When the moisture content reached more than 40%, ozone consumption decreased, resulting in less delignification. Ozone treatment removed mainly lignin, but also small amounts of polysaccharides. The application of DM following the ozone treatment further increased glucose and xylose yields, but had no significant effect on mannose yield, due to the loss of mannan in the ozone-treated product and the lack of mannose-releasing activity in the hemicellulase used. Sugar concentration increased with substrate concentration, when a constant ratio of enzyme to substrate was used.

Regeneration of transgenic Cryptomeria japonica D. Don after Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of embryogenic tissue.

A genetic transformation procedure for Cryptomeria japonica was developed after co-cultivation of embryogenic tissues with the disarmed Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain C58/pMP90, which harbours the visual reporter gene sgfp and two selectable marker genes, hpt and nptII. We were able to generate eight and three independent transgenic lines per gram of embryogenic tissue after selection on hygromycin and kanamycin medium, respectively. Transgenic plants were regenerated through somatic embryogenesis in 4 lines out of these 11 lines. Green fluorescent protein fluorescence was observed under fluorescent microscopy. Integration of the genes into the genome was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction analysis of embryogenic tissues and Southern blot analysis of regenerated plantlets.

Phytosulfokine stimulates somatic embryogenesis in Cryptomeria japonica.

Phytosulfokine (PSK), which has been identified as a plant growth factor, had a dramatic stimulatory effect on the formation of somatic embryos of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) in the presence of polyethylene glycol. The resultant somatic embryos germinated with synchronous sprouting of cotyledons, hypocotyls and roots, and most of the seedlings grew normally. A cDNA clone for the precursor to the PSK peptide of C. japonica was identified in an expressed sequence tags database. Our results support the existence of a PSK signaling pathway in C. japonica.