To investigate component properties of 'Prince' melon (Cucumis melo L.), eating and functional quality, sugars, amino acids, ascorbic acids and β-carotene of 'Prince' melon and 2 other commercial melon cultivars were analyzed. The value for alanine, known to lead to an improvement of hepatopathy, of'Prince' melon was higher than other cultivars. In addition, ascorbic acids and β-carotene contents were high, which is known to be an antioxidative effect. These results will contribute to the advertisement for the sales promotion of the 'Prince' melon.

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The recovering of Japanese apricot (Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc.) trees, depressed mainly by white root rot (Rosellinia necatrix) and inoculated with three kinds of beneficial bacteria isolated from shoots, leaves and roots of Vulpia myuros or bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge) was investigated. The leaf color, root spread and existence of inoculated bacteria by the PCR-DGGE method were the criteria used to evaluate this recovering. The results have shown that the leaf color of the depressed trees inoculated with these bacteria changed from yellow to green, and the roots, which were observed only in the immediate vicinity of the trunk, was recovered to the same root spread of healthy trees. The PCR-DGGE method detected the inoculated beneficial bacteria in soils, i.e. this method was useful for the biological soil diagnosis.

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We investigated whether potted culture in zucchini was efficient. The total number of flowers and female of 'Diner' significantly increased compared with 2 other cultivars. The length of the largest leaf of 'Diner' was the longest, and that of 3 cultivars in potted culture was approximately 15 cm shorter than that in open culture. The number of harvest fruits in potted culture was the most with 'Diner', and that of 3 cultivars was more than that of open culture. These results were estimated that 'Diner' was optimized in potted culture because it grew vigorously and was high yield. Additionally, it was revealed that potted culture in zucchini is effective to prevent an outbreak of soil borne disease since soil in each pot was divided. Furthermore, potted culture became available to plant closely and plant size compacted by restricted root growth compared with open culture.

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Certain cyanides are commonly used for breaking bud dormancy in grapevines, but they are sometimes toxic for humans. Cyanamide, the bud dormancy breaking substance, blocks the aldehyde dehydrogenase in human bodies. It is necessary to use safe chemicals for breaking bud dormancy and forcing grape growth. Our study investigated the effect of rare sugars for breaking bud dormancy. Bud burst was hastened when cuttings of Vitis kiusiana were treated with D-psicose. Painting treatment was more effective on breaking bud dormancy than immersing for 'Neo Muscat' cuttings in the endodormancy period. Of the 4 rare sugars (D-psicose, L-psicose, L-fructose and D-allose) that were painted on the buds of 'Muscat of Alexandria' cuttings in the endodormancy or ecodormancy period, D-psicose, L-fructose and D-allose broke bud dormancy in the endodormancy period. The effects of treatment with rare sugars for the ecodormancy period were less clear on breaking bud dormancy than those for the endodormancy period.

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