Effect of ultrasound emulsification on cheese aroma encapsulation by carbohydrates

The encapsulation of liquid cheese aroma (20%) in different carbohydrate matrices by spray-drying was investigated. Carbohydrate stabilized emulsions have been prepared by two emulsifying methods, ultrasonic or Ultra-Turrax treatments, and have been compared in terms of emulsion stability and encapsulation efficiency. The use of ultrasound is particularly effective to obtain a stable emulsion with maltodextrin as support, which is known for poor emulsification properties. In the same way, the spray-dried maltodextrin microcapsules were more effective for retaining cheese aroma when ultrasound (12.7 g/100 g of dry powder) was used for the emulsification step rather than Ultra-Turrax (10.7 g/100 g of dry powder). In terms of encapsulation efficiency, the best system of cheese aroma encapsulation is obtained using ultrasound for the emulsification step and modified starch as support (94.3%). With this support, the positive effect of ultrasound resulted in a lower microcaspsule size and in a higher aroma retention than when Ultra-Turrax was used (83.3%). Studies on the aroma profiles showed changes after encapsulation that depend not only on the nature of the support and the emulsification method but also on the interactions between the aroma compound and the matrix. In terms of flavor quality, the best system of cheese aroma encapsulation is obtained using ultrasound and maltodextrin as support.     

Breeding for increased nitrogen‐use efficiency: a review for wheat (T. aestivum L.)

Nitrogen fertilizer is the most used nutrient source in modern agriculture and represents significant environmental and production costs. In the meantime, the demand for grain increases and production per area has to increase as new cultivated areas are scarce. In this context, breeding for an efficient use of nitrogen became a major objective. In wheat, nitrogen is required to maintain a photosynthetically active canopy ensuring grain yield and to produce grain storage proteins that are generally needed to maintain a high end‐use quality. This review presents current knowledge of physiological, metabolic and genetic factors influencing nitrogen uptake and utilization in the context of different nitrogen management systems. This includes the role of root system and its interactions with microorganisms, nitrate assimilation and its relationship with photosynthesis as postanthesis remobilization and nitrogen partitioning. Regarding nitrogen‐use efficiency complexity, several physiological avenues for increasing it were discussed and their phenotyping methods were reviewed. Phenotypic and molecular breeding strategies were also reviewed and discussed regarding nitrogen regimes and genetic diversity.     

Evaluation of decay resistance of wood products made from borax-impregnated wood and bonded with a formaldehyde-free cornstarch and tannin adhesive

? At present, the production of wood composites mainly relies on the petrochemical-based and formaldehyde-based adhesives such as phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resins and urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins, which are non-renewable and therefore ultimately limited in supply.

? This paper concerns the decay resistance of wood products bonded with a new, environment-friendly adhesive derived from abundant and renewable cornstarch and tannin. To improve the total resistance of the composite against both Coriolus versicolor and Coniophora puteana rot fungi, borax (di-sodium tetraborate) was added in proportions of 0.5%, 1% and 2% (w/w) to the cornstarch-tannin adhesives.

? The results show that increasing the concentration of borax in the adhesive decreased the mechanical properties of the composite. The best way to avoid this problem was to use wood impregnated with borax.

? Biodegradation studies were conducted on new composites, first without any treatment, followed by borax at 0.5% aqueous solution treatment. The results show that wood impregnated with borax, in the presence of tannin and sodium hydroxide in the adhesive improves the total resistance of the wood composite against both Coriolus versicolor and Coniophora puteana rot fungi.

     

Heterozygous genotypes are efficient testers for assessing between-population combining ability in the reciprocal recurrent selection of Coffea canephora

Coffea canephora Pierre breeding in Côte d’Ivoire is based on indirect reciprocal recurrent selection (RRSi) using the Congolese and Guinean populations. In practice, the genotypes of each population (78 Congolese genotypes and 100 Guinean genotypes) are tested with several testers from the reciprocal population: two Guinean and three Congolese testers. These testers are heterozygous as C. canephora is a strictly outcrossing species. After a first cycle of RRSi, we judged the efficiency of these testers for yield, susceptibility to coffee leaf rust (SCLR) and hundred bean weight (HBW). All the testers discriminated the tested genotypes highly significantly (P < 0.01), even though differences were found in the degrees of discrimination. For yield and SCLR, no interaction between tested genotypes and testers was observed and correlations between test values obtained from different testers were significant or highly significant. Furthermore, test values of tested genotypes could be used to predict the yield and SCLR of between-population (BP) hybrids. Prediction was always more accurate with the best tester than with the mean of several testers. As opposed to yield and SCLR, HBW showed significant interactions between tested genotypes and testers and HBW of hybrids could not be predicted from the test value of the genotypes. We conclude that only one reciprocal tester can be used in the next cycles of RRSi applied to C. canephora. This will allow either a reduced cost of selection or increased selection intensity.     

An increase in the upper tree-limit of silver fir (Abiesalba Mill.) in the Alps since the mid-20th century: A land-use change phenomenon

Global environmental changes observed during recent decades are likely to have had an impact on the distribution of species. Currently, silver fir (Abies alba) is becoming established in the subalpine forests of the west central Alps at elevations higher than 2000 m a.s.l.; prior to the 1970s its upper altitudinal limit was 2000 m. Several hypotheses could explain this recent expansion of the upper tree-limit. Silver fir regeneration could be linked (1) to land-use changes or (2) to current climatic warming. Using dendrochronology, the age structure of 31 forest plots containing at least one silver fir was examined in order to elucidate the population dynamics of subalpine communities. This allowed us to decipher the timing of fir regeneration in relation to the mean age of the stands examined and of the other tree-canopy species present. The majority of the firs germinated sporadically since 1950, before the regional temperature increase. The pattern of fir recruitment did not appear to relate to altitude, but followed a pattern characteristic of secondary succession. The age structures identified showed an exponential increase in tree-density during the 20th century; the stands were first dominated by Larix decidua during the 18th and 19th centuries, and then by Pinus cembra during the 20th century. In most stands, fir regeneration occurred after Larix and before P. cembra dominated, following a similar pattern to Picea abies regeneration. The number of local inhabitants and temperature both exhibited a negative relationship with fir tree recruitment, thus supporting the land-use change hypothesis. There has been a significant upward shift of the altitudinal range of fir, amounting to an increase of about 300 m since 1950. This followed the abandonment of low-productivity land. This trend is likely to continue during the 21st century, because of new agricultural and forestry practices which involve limited intervention in low-productivity areas and may be because of the effects of global warming.     

Post‐capture survival of whale sharks encircled in tuna purse‐seine nets: tagging and safe release methods

1. Whale shark, the world's largest fish, is believed to be particularly vulnerable owing to its biological characteristics (slow growth, late maturation, great longevity) and is listed as Vulnerable by IUCN and included in Appendix II of CITES. 2. Whale sharks are occasionally encircled in tropical tuna purse‐seine nets, throughout this global fishery. Although apparent immediate survival rates following encirclement and release have recently been assessed through scientific onboard observer programmes, a more rigorous methodology is still required for studying post‐released survival. 3. This work provides a method for applying pop‐up satellite tags and reports an enhanced release procedure for whale sharks. The first assessment of survival after release from purse‐seine nets involved six whale sharks tagged between May and September 2014 in the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean. Five tags transmitted data: three popped up as programmed (after 30 days), while two surfaced prematurely (one after 21 and the other after 71 days (programmed to pop off after 30 and 90 days, respectively)) but showed no sign of unusual behaviour. 4. Overall, whale sharks survived at least 21 days (one at least 71 days) after release from purse‐seine nets. These observations based on five large individuals (total length > 8 m), suggest that whale sharks have a good chance of survival when released with the proposed method. 5. Additional tagging in this and other oceans, especially of juveniles which may be more sensitive to encirclement and release operations, is essential to further assess whale shark post‐release survival rates in tuna purse‐seine fisheries. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Interaction between cultivar and crop management effects on winter wheat diseases, lodging, and yield

The breeding of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for resistance to major fungal diseases has been a priority over the last 15 years in France. During this period, integrated low-input strategies have been developed for winter wheat, to cope with falling grain prices and growing environmental concerns. We investigated the interactions between genotype and management for disease and lodging intensities, and analysed their effects on yield within an integrated crop management (CM) context.

A multi-environment experimental network (13 locations, studied in three seasons, between 1999–2000 and 2001–2002) comprising several combinations of cultivars and CM systems was carried out. Four rule-based CM plans were defined, with a decrease in input level from CM1 (a high-input CM plan designed to maximise the yield of a given cultivar) to CM4 (a low-input system with no fungicide protection, no plant growth regulator applications, a sowing density 40% lower than for CM1, and 90 kg ha⁻¹ less N fertiliser than for CM1). Cultivars were clustered into three groups (cultivar type (CT) CT1–CT3), according to their scores for resistance to diseases, for the analysis of yield, whereas the resistance cultivar rating (CR) for each disease and for lodging was considered for the analysis of disease and lodging intensities.

For all diseases, CM had a significant effect (P<0.0001), with disease intensity increasing from CM1 to CM4, whereas CR had a negative effect (P<0.005). An interaction between CR and CM was also detected for all diseases (P<0.005) except eyespot. Lodging intensity decreased significantly from CM1 to CM4 (P<0.0001), and significant increases in lodging resistance score (P<0.0001) were not associated with a genotype by management interaction.

Lastly, yield was significantly affected by CM (P<0.0001), CT (P<0.0003), and CM by CT interaction (P=0.0023). Cultivar ranking differed as a function of CM for yield, demonstrating that breeding programs focusing on cultivar evaluation in high-input environments do not result in the selection of cultivars suited to low-input environments.     

Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships among the annual Cicer species as revealed by isozyme polymorphism

Summary There are few estimates of genetic variability within and among populations of the nine annual Cicer species and for the wild species this information is based on few accessions. The present study was undertaken to examine genetic variation within and between annual Cicer species. One hundred and thirty-nine accessions of nine annual Cicer species were used for electrophoretic analysis at ICARDA. High levels of polymorphism in all eight wild annual Cicer species was found. This is in contrast to earlier research which had shown high polymorphism only in C. reticulatum. Cicer reticulatum had the highest proportion of polymorphic loci. However, for the cultigen, among 14 loci assayed, only two were polymorphic, ADH and PGD2. The nine species formed four phylogenetic groups based on the neighbor-joining method. The first group comprised C. arietinum, C. Reticulatum and C. echinospermum, the second C. bijugum, C. judaicum and C. pinnatifidum, the third C. chorassanicum and C. yamashitae; and the fourth group consisted of one species, C. cuneatum. The phylogenetic tree developed from the neighbor-joining technique illustrated that C. reticulatum is the probable progenitor of C. arietinum and that C. echinospermum split off from a common ancestor at an earlier stage in the evolutionary history of Cicer. Genetic diversity data showed that the greatest diversity was within C. reticulatum and the lowest with the cultigen, C. arientinum. With the exception of C. reticulatum, genetic diversity increased with genetic distance from the cultigen. Little geographic variation in genetic diversity was found.     

Genetic diversity for RAPD markers between cultivated and wild accessions of Coffea arabica

Summary Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers have been successfully employed to analyse the genetic diversity among cultivated and subspontaneous accessions of Coffea arabica. The narrow genetic base of commercial cultivars was confirmed. On the other hand, a relatively large genetic diversity was observed within the germplasm collection demonstrating the importance of collecting missions. Results suggested an East-West differentiation in Ethiopia, the primary centre of diversification of C. arabica. The large heterosis effect reported in intergroup hybrids could be related to such genetic differentiation. RAPD method appeared to be effective in resolving genetic variations and in grouping germplasm in C. arabica.     

Selection for bean and liquor qualities within related hybrids of Arabica coffee in multilocal field trials

The success of a new variety of Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.) depends to an important extent on its liquor and bean qualities. Selection for these traits is however constrained by the prevalence of large genotype-by-environment (G×E)interactions in conjunction with the low genetic variability characteristic of this species. The aim of this study was to assess the extent to which key bean and liquor traits are affected by the environments and could be combined in order to improve the efficiency of selection for coffee quality in a narrow genetic basis set of hybrids obtained from a set of related lines and collectively representing the Ruiru 11 cultivar. Twenty-one full-sib families representative of this hybrid cultivar grown in Kenya in five sites exhibiting strong edaphic and climatic differences were used for the study. Rainfall amounts during various phases of berry development were used to explain the differences observed in the discriminating abilities of the locations for bean and liquor traits. The results showed that these families were best differentiated for bean sizes in the site where moisture supply was optimal throughout berry expansion and filling stages, whereas discrimination on the basis of liquor traits were best observed in the site where moderate moisture stress occurred during bean filling stage. The overall precision in prediction of family values was low for liquor qualities; but a much more efficient selection for large bold beans, optimally based on the AA grade was shown to be possible. Selection indices for family selection were computed to realize a trade-off between genetic gains in bean size and liquor flavour. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.