Characterization of squid-processing byproduct hydrolysate and its potential as aquaculture feed ingredient

The squid (Loligo pealei) byproduct composed of heads, viscera, skin, fins, and small tubes was subjected to hydrolysis at 55 degrees C and natural pH (6.8) using endogenous proteases. Squid hydrolysate was characterized during the course of hydrolysis for changes in the degree of hydrolysis, viscosity, electrophoretic pattern of proteins and peptides, and amino acid and fatty acid profiles. The change in viscosity can be used to monitor the progress of protein hydrolysis up to the molecular mass of 26.63 kDa. The 2 h hydrolysis resulted in a 2-fold increase in the total free amino acids and yielded hydrolysate with protein molecular mass of < or =45 kDa having feed attractability and good amino acid and fatty acid profiles with high contents of essential amino acids and fatty acids. Such hydrolysis-induced changes can make squid byproduct hydrolysate a good source of aquaculture feed ingredient, especially for a starter diet for larval fish.     

Biotransformation of an organochlorine insecticide,endosulfan, by Anabaena species

This study assesses the role of the blue-green algal species present in the soil in the dissipation of endosulfan and its metabolites in the soil environment. Two Anabaena species, Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 and Anabaena flos-aquae, were used in this study. Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 produced three principal biotransformation compounds, chiefly endosulfan diol (endodiol), and minor amounts of endosulfan hydroxyether and endosulfan lactone. Trace amounts of endosulfan sulfate were detected. In comparison, the biotransformation of endosulfan by Anabaena flos-aquae yielded mainly endodiol with minor amounts of endosulfan sulfate. An unknown compound was produced up to 70% from endosulfan spiked in the medium inoculated by A. flos-aquae after 8 days of incubation. Therefore, the endosulfan fate was dependent on the species. Within 1 day of incubation, two Anabaena species produced low amounts of beta-endosulfan after application of alpha-endosulfan. These results suggest the presence of isomerase in the Anabaena species. Further studies using a fermentor to control the medium pH at 7.2 to minimize chemical hydrolysis of endosulfan revealed a major production of endodiol with minor amounts of endosulfan sulfate and the unknown compound. These results showed that the production of the unknown compound might be dependent on the alkaline pH in the medium and that the production of endodiol by A. flos-aquae might be biologically controlled. This study showed that two algal species could contribute in the detoxification pathways of endosulfan in the soil environment.     

Analytical procedure for quantifying five compounds suspected as possible contaminants in recycled paper/paperboard for food packaging

Because contaminants in recycled paper intended for food packaging could be a risk to public health, analytical methods are needed to identify and quantify residues of concern in paper/paperboard. The U. S. Food and Drug Administration is considering development of a guidance document for testing levels of contaminants that might be retained through paper recycling processes. An analytical procedure was developed using paper spiked with suspected contaminants at concentrations of 1-50 ppm in the paper. Benzophenone, dimethyl phthalate, anthracene, methyl stearate, and pentachlorophenol were introduced by soaking the paper in a solution in acetone at 25 degrees C for 24 h; the paper was removed and dried by evaporating the solvent with nitrogen. The model contaminant residues were extracted from the paper using ultrasonication and quantified by GC with flame ionization and electron capture detectors. Recoveries from the spiked paper were 80-109% with a repeatability of +/-4%. The method was also used to analyze commercial recycled paperboard to validate its applicability.     

Effect of sowing time on buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) growth and yield in central Korea

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum MOENCH) is a traditional Korean crop that gaining global attention as a health food due to its rich nutrition. Climate change effects such as high temperature, cold weather, flooding, and drought induce plant stress, reduced production yield of upland crops. In general, buckwheat is grown during the fall season in Korea. Flooding is a severe environmental stress factor, and flooding during the early growth stage of buckwheat causes large reductions in yield. Therefore, we established optimum growth parameters to maximize buckwheat yield. The optimum temperature for harvesting of buckwheat was approximately 1,083 ~ 1,515°C. The number of growing degree days (G.D.D.) from flowering to harvest was 509 ~ 673°C. Plant hight, stem diameter, and dry matter weight were reduced as planting date was delayed (p < 0.05). We investigated buckwheat sowing time during fall, and established an optimum cropping system according to the local climate conditions in central Korea. The growth period of buckwheat cultivar ‘Yangjueol’ was approximately 56 ~ 60 days during fall, and yield was higher than that of cultivar ‘Daesan’. The results indicated that buckwheat yield in central Korea was maximized by sowing cultivar on 25th August and cultivar ‘Daesan’ on 15th August. The yield of Yangjeol sown in spring was 119 kg 10a^-1, whereas the yield of Daesan sown in summer was 158kg 10a^-1. The results of this study established the effects of sowing time on growth and yield in central Korea. We propose an optimum cropping system for improving quality.     

China's compliance in global environmental affairs

Abstract: As the most populous country on earth with 10 per cent of its rare species of flora and fauna, China's environmental practice is of great importance. Already the country is one of the most polluted places in the world. At least seven out of the ten of the world's most polluted cities are located in China. It is the second largest producer of greenhouse gases after the United States, inflicting heavy, long‐term casualties on its own public health and economic development as well as on those of its close neighbours in the Asia‐Pacific region. How to strike a proper balance between environmental protection and fast economic growth will have an important impact on China's modernisation outcome and its international standing. The country began to pay serious attention to environment problems in the 1970s. Since the adoption of the reform and opening‐up policy in the late 1970s, it has signed or ratified many international treaties dealing with environmental issues. By now, it has entered into most international environmental regimes. But how compliant is China with respect to commitments made to these regimes? How willing and capable is it in complying with international environmental norms and rules? What does sustainable development mean to China? How do red tape, fear, inexperience, and ignorance affect China's efforts to protect its environment? And how do inter‐ministerial wrangling and the growth of green NGOs within China affect its compliance? This paper tries to answer these questions.     

Evaluation of seedling and adult plant resistance to leaf rust in European wheat cultivars

Summary A set of 105 European wheat cultivars, comprising 68 cultivars with known seedling resistance genes and 37 cultivars that had not been tested previously, was tested for resistance to selected Australian pathotypes of P. triticina in seedling greenhouse tests and adult plant field tests. Only 4% of the cultivars were susceptible at all growth stages. Twelve cultivars lacked detectable seedling resistance to leaf rust, and among the remaining cultivars, 10 designated genes were present either singly or in combination. Lr13 was the most frequently detected gene, present in 67 cultivars, followed by the rye-derived gene Lr26, present in 19 cultivars. Other genes present were Lr1, Lr3a, Lr3ka, Lr10, Lr14a, Lr17b, Lr20 and Lr37. There was evidence for unidentified seedling resistance in addition to known resistance genes in 11 cultivars. Field tests with known pathotypes of P. triticina demonstrated that 57% of the cultivars carried adult plant resistance (APR) to P. triticina. The genetic identity of the APR is largely unknown. Genetic studies on selected cultivars with unidentified seedling resistances as well as all of those identified to carry APR are required to determine the number and inheritance of the genes involved, to determine their relationships with previously designated rust resistance genes, and to assess their potential value in breeding for resistance to leaf rust.     

Comparison of near-isogenic lines for anthracnoseAre are genes in common bean,Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Summary This study was undertaken to determine whether the Are gene controlling anthracnose resistance had an adverse effect on maturity and yield because backcross-derived cultivars/lines had numerically lower yield and later maturity than the respective recurrent parent. Three pairs of common bean lines near-isogenic for theAre gene were developed fromAre are F₂ plants of the sixth backcross of Seafarer, Fleetwood, and Ex Rico 23. The near-isogenic lines were tested along with the recurrent cultivars and backcross-derived cultivars/lines. The results showed no evidence of any adverse effect of theAre gene on the agronomic characteristics in 11 trails at 5 locations in 3 years.     

Plant Regeneration and Chromosomal Stability in Tissue Cultures of the Hybrids of Elymus canadensis with Psathyrostachys juncea and Secale cereale

Callus was induced from segments of immature inflorescences of Elymus canadensis×Psathyrostachys juncea and Elymus canadensis×Secale cereale F₁ hybrids on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/l of 2,4-D and plants were regenerated from the calluses on a hormone free MS medium. The plants regenerated from both the hybrids exhibited a high degree of stability in morphology, chromosome number and chromosome pairing. The reasons for this are discussed.     

Identification of S-alleles using polymerase chain reaction-cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence of the S-locus receptor kinase in inbreeding lines of Brassica oleracea

Identification and DNA polymorphism of the S‐locus receptor kinasegene (SRK) was analysed by pollen tube tests, polymerase chain reaction‐cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (PCR‐CAPS) and nucleotide sequencing. SRK‐specific primers that can distinguish class and class II S haplotypes amplified single DNA fragments of 900‐1050 bp. The DNA fragments of 22 inbred lines amplified with a class SRK‐specific primer pair determined seven types with HinfI and EcoRII. In addition, the DNA fragments of 17 inbred lines amplified with a class II SRK‐specific primer pair determined three types with Hinf1. Nucleotide sequencing of the DNA fragments amplified from 10S haplotypes showed that exons of the 3′‐end in SRK are highly conserved, and that there is much variation of the introns, which produced polymorphism of the band pattern in PCR‐CAPS profiles. The S haplotypes of the plants were determined by restriction analysis of PCR products and agreed with results based on pollen tube growth tests. The PCR‐CAPS analysis using specific primer pairs of SRK is considered to be useful for S allele identification in breeding programmes.