In this study, α-glucosidase from rice bran was purified by chromatography and electrophoresis. This enzyme has a molecular weight of 310 kDa and consists of 4 subunits with a molecular weight of 76 kDa or 36 kDa. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the 76-kDa protein was found to be similar to that previously reported for a rice glycosidase. However, the molecular weight of the enzyme differed from that reported for any rice glycosidase. The enzymatic properties of this enzyme were almost similar to those of most rice α-glucosidases. However, 2 properties, that is, the pH activity and thermostability, were a little different from those reported for polished rice. This enzyme was stable in ethanol up to a concentration of 10% ethanol. In addition, its activity in ethanol did not decrease up to a concentration of 20% ethanol. Ethyl-α-D-glucoside was optimally produced at pH4.0 and 40°C.

　These results show that α-glucosidase from rice bran can be used in the production of ethyl-α-D-glucoside.

　We investigated the effects of cultivars and harvest season on the rupture stress and rutin content of open-cultured asparagus by using 4 cultivars that were 6 years old: 'UC157,' 'NJ953,' 'Gijnlim,' and 'Purple Passion.' From the results of the rupture stress test, we found that 'UC157' could easily be hardened during 7-day storage throughout the harvest seasons. 'NJ953' and 'Gijnlim' also showed the tendency to harden during storage in autumn. In 'UC157,' 'NJ953,' and 'Gijnlim,' rutin contents in spring were higher than those in summer or autumn. Among the cultivars, 'Purple Passion' had the highest rutin content from summer to autumn. These results suggested that rupture stress and rutin content and their changes after harvest were affected by cultivar and/or harvest season.

　結球キャベツにおけるストレス応答の一端の解明を目指して，結球最外葉からコルクボーラーで切り出したディスク試料について処理後120分まで継続的に，植物のストレス応答において重要な役割を担っているカルモデュリン（Calmodulin : CaM），フォスフォリパーゼD（Phospholipase D : PLD），ACC合成酵素（1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase : ACS）をコードするBoCam1，BoCam2，BoPLD1，BoPLD2，BoACS2の各遺伝子の発現解析を行った。リアルタイム定量PCRによる解析の結果，キャベツのBoCam1の発現レベルは，切断処理によって著しく増大し，処理60分後には処理前に対して6.4倍に達した。また，BoCam2の発現レベルは，増大程度は大きくはないものの，処理60分後には処理前の1.6倍となった。一方，PLDをコードするBoPLD1の発現レベルは，処理前に比べて120分後に1.5倍に増大した。また，BoLPD2の発現レベルは，実験期間中ほぼ一定の状態を維持し，処理後の経過時間による差はみられなかった。他方，ACSをコードするBoACS2の発現レベルは，処理後15，30分後に一旦低下した後に増大し，120分後には処理前の1.6倍に達したものの，実験期間を通して大きな増大を示さなかった。以上の結果を総合的すると，BoCam1は，調査したストレス関連遺伝子の中で切断損傷によるストレスに応答して，発現レベルを最も大きく増大させる遺伝子であることが明らかとなった。さらに，BoCam1は，切断損傷に対して極めて鋭敏に応答することに加えて，ストレス応答のシグナル伝達および，その後のさまざまな細胞応答に影響を与えることから，収穫後のキャベツの物理ストレスに関する研究において重要な遺伝子であることが明らかになった。

　豆乳生産時の副産物であるオカラの有効利用と食物繊維を含んだ新規な肉製品の開発を図るため，オカラ（水分76％）を塩漬肉と置換することで5，10，15および20％添加したソーセージを製造し，その品質を検討した。その結果，オカラ添加量の増加に伴いソーセージの水分，食物繊維，pH, L^＊値およびb^＊値は増加し，タンパク質，脂質およびa^＊値は減少した。歩留まりはオカラを5％添加することでドリップの流出が抑制され向上した。過度なオカラ添加は肉タンパク質が形成するゲルネットワーク構造を粗くし，テクスチャー（かたさ，弾力性，凝集性および咀嚼性）は15％以上のオカラ添加で著しく低下した。オカラを5および10％添加したソーセージはオカラ無添加のものと同等の官能評価を得た。本結果から，オカラを添加することで食物繊維を含有し，保水性が高いソーセージ製造の可能性が示され，オカラの添加量は10％程度が適当であることが明らかになった。

　The effect of microbubble (MB)-generation and treatment conditions on the characteristics of MB and MB containing water was evaluated. For MB generation, a MB generator based on the pressurizing dissolution method (operated at 0～0.5MPa) was used, and the high discharge pressure likely resulted in small bubbles and highly turbid (which indicates the MB density) MB containing water. The most effective discharge pressure for the preparation of ozonized water was 0.2 MPa. However, this pressure was different from the optimal pressure for MB generation. The MB treatment (mechanical agitation) increased the ozone dissolution rate. Moreover, the ozone dissolution rate and equilibrium concentration of dissolved ozone varied with the addition of particular substances. For example, when NaCl or a surfactant (L-150A) were added, the ozone dissolution rate and equilibrium concentration of dissolved ozone were higher and lower, respectively, than the rate and concentration of control condition (RO water) . Moreover, the addition of citric acid resulted in an ozone dissolution rate and equilibrium concentration of dissolved ozone that were similar to and higher than, respectively, the rate and concentration of control. Finally, considering the results for the discharge pressure and ozone dissolution rate, it can be concluded that the MB-generation method and MB-treatment conditions should be selected in strict accordance with the intended use of MBs.