Variation in amount and elemental composition of epicuticular wax in Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) leaves associated with natural environmental factors

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroyuki Sase ◽  
Takejiro Takamatsu ◽  
Tomio Yoshida
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Elemental Composition ◽  
Cryptomeria Japonica ◽  
Leaf Age ◽  
Japanese Cedar ◽  
Epicuticular Wax ◽  
Acidic Gases ◽  
Unit Leaf ◽  
Opposite Change

Leaf samples of Cryptomeria japonica D. Don (and some other conifers) taken from various locations in Japan were analyzed for differences in the amount and elemental composition of their epicuticular wax. In C. japonica the amount of wax per unit leaf mass was lower, and the C content of the wax relatively higher, than those of other species. The properties of the wax (amount, C and O contents) varied according to natural environmental factors such as altitude and exposure to volcanic acidic gases such as H2S, as well as branch height and leaf age within the tree. The amount of wax increased with leaf age (during the growing phase), altitude, branch height, and exposure to the gases, while the C content of wax decreased and the O content increased, except in the case of altitude, where they showed an opposite change. These findings suggest different alterations in wax properties under the effects of water stress (on high branches and at locations with a low rain factor), exposure to noxious gases, and strong UV radiation at high altitude.

Some physiological properties of Cryptomeria japonica leaves from Kanto, Japan: potential factors causing tree decline

2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 663-672 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Takamatsu ◽  
H Sase ◽  
J Takada
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Activation Analysis ◽  
Water Stress ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Cryptomeria Japonica ◽  
Japanese Cedar ◽  
Contact Angles ◽  
Epicuticular Wax ◽  
Tree Decline ◽  
Physiological Properties ◽  
Potential Factors

Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) has been declining in urban areas of Japan. We examined if the decline was associated with physiological deterioration of leaves and resulting water stress. Leaves from three locations (severe decline, slight decline, and healthy) were analyzed for minimum transpiration rates (MT), amounts of epicuticular wax (EW), contact angles (CA), fractions of unhealthy stomata (US), cuticular thickness, and leaching of elements (LE). Anthropogenic elements (e.g., antimony (Sb)) in aerosols on the leaves were also analyzed by neutron activation analysis. MT, US, and amounts of Sb were 2, 15, and 10 times greater, respectively, at the severe decline location compared with the healthy location. LE was also greater at the severe decline location than at the slight decline and healthy locations. In contrast, CA was greatest at the healthy location and least at the severe decline location. MT correlated with the values obtained from a linear trinomial function that included EW, CA, and US as variables (r = 0.872, P < 0.01), and US correlated with amounts of Sb in aerosols (r = 0.939, P < 0.01). Therefore, it is likely that the deterioration of epicuticular wax and stomatal unhealthiness resulting mainly from clogging with aerosols, in combination with environmental aridification, have placed C. japonica under chronic and sometimes fatal water stress, causing tree decline.

Changes in properties of epicuticular wax and the related water loss in Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) affected by anthropogenic environmental factors

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 546-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroyuki Sase ◽  
Takejiro Takamatsu ◽  
Tomio Yoshida ◽  
Kazuyuki Inubushi
Keyword(s):  
Water Loss ◽  
Cryptomeria Japonica ◽  
Japanese Cedar ◽  
Epicuticular Wax ◽  
Additional Stress ◽  
Mountainous Area ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Mountainous Areas ◽  
Yakushima Island ◽  
Leaf Chlorophyll

The leaves of Cryptomeria japonica D. Don collected near an electrochemical plant (on Yakushima Island) had more wax (approximately 10% higher in 1-year leaves) and less chlorophyll (approximately 50 and 30% lower in 0- and 1-year leaves, respectively) than those from a reference area, although the trees showed no symptoms of decline. In the Kanto Plain around Tokyo (Saitama and Ibaraki), where C. japonica is declining (dieback and (or) defoliation), the amount of epicuticular wax in current-year leaves and the leaf chlorophyll content were almost equivalent to those of healthy plants in mountainous areas, but the wax eroded more rapidly (approximately 1.5 times faster). Although the C and O contents and the C/O ratio of epicuticular wax were approximately equivalent irrespective of the levels of decline, the cuticular transpiration rate, especially in 1-year leaves, was higher in Saitama (water loss: 0.92 ± 0.21%/h) and to some extent in Ibaraki (0.66 ± 0.08%/h) than in the mountainous area (0.60 ± 0.12%/h). This excessive transpiration, probably resulting from a degraded wax layer and the partial malfunctioning of stomata due to deposited aerosols, may be a significant factor causing the decline of C. japonica. Dry atmospheric conditions (e.g., rain factor <100), which have prevailed since the 1950s due to urbanization, may have inflicted additional stress on the tree.

scholarly journals CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeted mutagenesis in Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don)

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshihiko Nanasato ◽  
Masafumi Mikami ◽  
Norihiro Futamura ◽  
Masaki Endo ◽  
Mitsuru Nishiguchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genome Editing ◽  
Cryptomeria Japonica ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Japanese Cedar ◽  
Targeted Mutagenesis ◽  
Embryogenic Tissue ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Single Mutation ◽  
Knock Out ◽  
Guide Rna

AbstractCryptomeria japonica (Japanese cedar or sugi) is one of the most important coniferous tree species in Japan and breeding programs for this species have been launched since 1950s. Genome editing technology can be used to shorten the breeding period. In this study, we performed targeted mutagenesis using the CRISPR/Cas9 system in C. japonica. First, the CRISPR/Cas9 system was tested using green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing transgenic embryogenic tissue lines. Knock-out efficiency of GFP ranged from 3.1 to 41.4% depending on U6 promoters and target sequences. The GFP knock-out region was mottled in many lines, indicating genome editing in individual cells. However, in 101 of 102 mutated individuals (> 99%) from 6 GFP knock-out lines, embryos had a single mutation pattern. Next, we knocked out the endogenous C. japonica magnesium chelatase subunit I (CjChlI) gene using two guide RNA targets. Green, pale green, and albino phenotypes were obtained in the gene-edited cell lines. Sequence analysis revealed random deletions, insertions, and replacements in the target region. Thus, targeted mutagenesis using the CRISPR/Cas9 system can be used to modify the C. japonica genome.

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