Nickel Biosorption by Free and Immobilized Cells of Pseudomonas fluorescens 4F39: A Comparative Study

The biosorption of nickel ions on Pseudomonasfluorescens 4F39 free cells or immobilized cells in beads of agar (biobeads)has been studied in batch experiments to determine the effect ofcell immobilization on the metal accumulation properties of bothsystems. Bacterial cells were immobilized in agar beads followingthe interphase technique. When free cells were used, the sorptionequilibrium was reached in 5 min but with biobeads it took 24 hr as a consequence of metal diffusion. The pH of the Ni²⁺solution was found to be critical for Ni²⁺ accumulation,the optimum being 8, although the magnitude of this effect waslower in immobilized cells. The equilibrium data have been analysed using the Langmuir adsorption model. The q _max of free cells, immobilized cells and biobeads was 145, 37 and7.6 mg Ni²⁺/g dry sorbent, respectively. The removal capacity of free cells and immobilized cells increased when the cell concentration decreased. The maximum removal efficiency ofbiobeads was obtained when the cell concentration was 1.43 mg drycells/mL Ni²⁺ solution. The agar concentration in biobeads affected the Ni²⁺ accumulation, the optimum being 2%. Desorption of Ni²⁺ with 0.5 mM dipicolinic acid was efficient. Cycles of accumulation/desorption resulted in a lossof non immobilized cells. An increase of the removal efficiencyfrom the first cycle of accumulation/desorption was observed with biobeads.     

Factors contributing to the development of aluminum resistance in the Madeiran maize germplasm

Forty genotypes representing maize genetic diversity from the Island of Madeira were screened for resistance to aluminum (Al) in nutrient solution. Seeds of maize were obtained from local farmers from field plots spread around the island in a range of altitudes from 99 to 1000 m above sea level. The content of ionic aluminum and the pH of soils cultivated with maize were determined. The mean pH value of all examined soils was 4.9, while the mean ionic Al content was 0.76 cmol kg^–1. Seventy‐two hours (h) exposure to 100 and 200 μM Al followed by a 48 h recovery period of 4‐day old seedlings revealed significant differences in Al resistance in the Madeiran maize germplasm. Root survival and regrowth exceeding 80 % of the seedlings were observed in 22 and 8 of the tested genotypes screened at 100 and 200 μM Al in nutrient solution. High Al resistance among Madeiran maize genotypes appeared not to be associated with the lower pH of soil, and did not correlate with the amount of soil Al³⁺ or the altitude at the site of collection. The high level of Al resistance of the maize cultivars indicates an initial genetic trait enhanced by open pollination of maize.     

GC-ITMS determination and degradation of captan during winemaking

Captan and its metabolite tetrahydrophthalimide (THPI) were determined in grapes, must, and wine by GC-ITMS. Pesticides were extracted with acetone/petroleum ether (50:50 v/v). Because of the high selectivity of the ITMS detector, no interferent was found and cleanup was not necessary. Recoveries from fortified grapes, must, and wines ranged between 90 and 113% with a maximum coefficient of variation of 11%. Limits of quantitation were 0.01 mg/kg for both compounds. In model systems, captan and its metabolites, THPI, cis-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid, and 1,2,3,6-tetrahydrophthalamic acid, were determined by HPLC. The degradation of captan during winemaking was studied. Captan degraded in must, giving 100% THPI, and at the end of fermentation, only THPI was found in wine. The degradation of captan to THPI was due to the acidity in must and wine. This metabolite was present at low levels on grapes, and, unlike captan, it had no negative effect on the fermentative process. Model systems showed that the mechanism of disappearance of captan in grapes was due to photodegradation and codistillation.     

Production in large quantities of highly purified hydroxytyrosol from liquid-solid waste of two-phase olive oil processing or "Alperujo"

The effect of hydrothermal treatment of two-phase olive waste (alperujo) on the solubilization of hydroxytyrosol was studied. Different conditions of saturated steam were assayed. A high amount of hydroxytyrosol was solubilized and increased with increasing steaming temperature and time, reaching 1.4-1.7 g/100 g of dry alperujo. The effect of acidic (H(2)SO(4)) and basic (NaOH) catalysts was also evaluated. Acid-catalyzed treatment was more effective at milder conditions, whereas the alkali-catalyzed conditions were not very suitable. In the present study, the extracted hydroxytyrosol was purified by means of a new, simple, and inexpensive chromatographic system, under international patent application (PCT/ES02/00058). From 1000 kg of alperujo, with 70% humidity, can be obtained approximately 4.5-5 kg of hydroxytyrosol. After a purification process, at least 3 kg of hydroxytyrosol, at 90-95% purity, would be obtained. The purified compound was identified by HPLC/UV and (1)H and (13)C NMR analyses, and its antioxidant activity was tested on refined olive oil without antioxidants by Rancimat method. The oxidative stability of refined olive oil was increased by a factor of 1.71 in the presence of 100 ppm of hydroxytyrosol.     

Distribution and contents of phenolic compounds in eighteen Scandinavian berry species

Berries contain a wide range of phenolic compounds in different conjugated forms, a fact that makes their simultaneous analysis a difficult task. In this work, soluble and insoluble phenolic compounds were identified and quantified in 18 species of berries by reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography combined with diode array detection. The analytical results and literature data were used for the identification of the predominant conjugated hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonol glycosides, and anthocyanins in berries from six families, viz. Grossulariaceae, Ericaceae, Rosaceae, Empetraceae, Elaeagnaceae, and Caprifoliaceae. The study showed distinctive similarities among berry species of the same family in the distribution of conjugated forms of phenolic compounds but differences in chromatographic profiles of conjugates and compositions of aglycones especially in the case of anthocyanins. The chromatographic profiles of chokeberry and the related sweet rowanberry (Rosaceae) were exceptionally similar. These data are informative to studies on the authenticity of berry raw materials as well as to those on the evaluation of berries as sources of phenolic compounds.     

Antifeedant effects of marine halogenated monoterpenes

In this work the antifeedant effects of the halogenated monoterpenes 1-13 were tested against several divergent insect species. These compounds have been isolated from Plocamium cartilagineum (6 was isolated as an acetyl derivative), except for 4, which was isolated from Pantoneura plocamioides. We have also included the semisynthetic derivatives 1a, 2a, and 7. Compounds 1, 1a, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8-10, and 13 were antifeedants against Leptinotarsa decemlineata with varying potencies. The aphids Myzus persicae and Ropalosiphum padi were strongly deterred in the presence of compounds 2, 12, and 13. This effect was correlated with the electronic recording of their probing behavior. Compounds 2 and 12 were toxic to L. decemlineata and had selective cytotoxicity to insect-derived Sf9 cells. None of the tested compounds showed phytotoxic effects. The antifeedant and cytotoxic effects of these compounds were compared with those of the polyhalogenated insecticide gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (lindane).     

Application of NMR spectroscopy and LC-NMR/MS to the identification of carbohydrates in beer

The application of LC-NMR/MS for the direct identification of carbohydrates in beer has been studied. Carbohydrates are major beer components, and their structural characterization by NMR alone is seriously hindered by strong spectroscopic overlap. Direct analysis of beer by LC-NMR/MS enables the rapid (1-2 h) identification of dextrins with degree of polymerization (DP) of up to nine monomers, with degassing being the only sample treatment required. Although the presence of alpha(1-->6) branching points is easily indicated by NMR for each subfraction separated by LC, difficulties arise for the unambiguous assignment of linear or branched forms of high DP dextrins. The two beer samples investigated in this work were found to have significantly different oligosaccharide compositions, reflecting the different production conditions employed. The use of hyphenated NMR for the rapid characterization of the carbohydrate composition of beers may be the basis of a useful tool for the quality control of beer.     

Denitrification from an irrigated soil fertilized with pig slurry under Mediterranean conditions

Under a Mediterranean climate, denitrification losses were quantified for 2 years on a sandy loam soil with an irrigated maize crop. The effect of pig slurry application at two different rates (165 and 495 kg N ha^–1, respectively, for PS1 and PS3) was compared with that of urea (U) applied at 165 kg N ha^–1 and with a control treatment (P0) without fertilizer. After application, the denitrification rate (DR) increased in PS1 and PS3 respect to P0 and decreased to the levels of the control treatment after 5 days. In July and August (the irrigation period) the DR increased considerably in all treatments with maximum values for the PS3 treatment (0.134 g N m^–2 day^–1 in the first year and 0.147 g N m^–2 day^–1 in the second year). The differences in DRs between each treatment could be explained by the pattern of water filled pore space, NO₃^– concentration of the soil solution and the soil temperature during the maize growing season. In the first year denitrification losses in the 0–10 cm layer were 1.90, 2.49, 2.87 and 4.00 g N m^–2 for P0, U, PS1 and PS3, respectively, while in the second year the losses were 1.21, 2.28, 2.47 and 3.42 g N m^–2. Finally, a simple predictive model (SOILN) was evaluated and found to give acceptable results.     

Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and potassium fertilization

The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of potassium (K) fertilization and soil texture on total yield (1st and 2nd cuttings) and yield components of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted in a completely randomized statistical design. Basil growth was examined in two different textured soils under three different doses of K fertilization. Generally, for the basil grown under clay soil conditions, moderate amounts of K fertilization is proposed to be sufficient if higher linalool contents are wanted. However, if the growing conditions are sandy loam in texture, it is suggested that higher doses of K be used. Results also highlighted the contribution of second cut as an important cultural practice in the cultivation of an annual basil.