Authentication of the botanical and geographical origin of honey by mid-infrared spectroscopy

The potential of Fourier transform mid-infrared spectroscopy (FT-MIR) using an attenuated total reflectance (ATR) cell was evaluated for the authentication of 11 unifloral (acacia, alpine rose, chestnut, dandelion, heather, lime, rape, fir honeydew, metcalfa honeydew, oak honeydew) and polyfloral honey types (n = 411 samples) previously classified with traditional methods such as chemical, pollen, and sensory analysis. Chemometric evaluation of the spectra was carried out by applying principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis, the error rates of the discriminant models being calculated by using Bayes' theorem. The error rates ranged from <0.1% (polyfloral and heather honeys as well as honeydew honeys from metcalfa, oak, and fir) to 8.3% (alpine rose honey) in both jackknife classification and validation, depending on the honey type considered. This study indicates that ATR-MIR spectroscopy is a valuable tool for the authentication of the botanical origin and quality control and may also be useful for the determination of the geographical origin of honey.     

Elicitation of resistance responses in grapefruit and lemon fruits treated with a pomegranate peel extract

The defence responses of grapefruit and lemon to treatment with pomegranate extract (PGE) were investigated. PGE, an alcoholic extract from pomegranate peel, was recently proposed as a means of effective alternative control against postharvest rots. In in vivo experiments, a significant reduction of rots caused by Penicillium digitatum and P. italicum was achieved on artificially inoculated fruits without direct contact between PGE and pathogens. On lemons both pathogens were completely inhibited by PGE at 12 g dry matter L^?1 applied 12 and 24 h before the pathogen but a significant reduction of rots was also achieved by inoculating the pathogen immediately after PGE (0 h), indicating a very quick activation of defence responses. Lower, but significant, reductions were also obtained on grapefruits. An increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity, reaching its peak after 24 h, was observed, in agreement with in vivo efficacy trials. Similarly, the expression of five genes involved in activation of defence responses in plants (CHI, CHS, MAPK, MAPKK and PAL) increased following PGE application. Based on the results of the present study, the high efficacy demonstrated for PGE in previous studies can be partially attributed to the induction of resistance in host tissues.     

Acute and Chronic Effects of Three Pharmaceutical Drugs on the Tropical Freshwater Cladoceran Ceriodaphnia silvestrii

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution - Phosphorus (P) is an essential element for all living organisms, and plays a major role in many physiological processes. However, in recent years, excessive...     

Using fish landing sites and markets information towards quantification of the blue economy to enhance fisheries management

Fisheries management uses important fish market information and information from Communication Technology (ICT) to improve fish trade by identifying inefficiencies, inequity and post‐harvest losses. The current study reports fisheries output using ICT at major landing sites and markets in Kenya and Uganda from the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) Enhanced Fish Market Information Service (EFMIS) database for 2009 – 2017. Catch assessment survey data validated the use of market data in drawing conclusions. Regional Frame Survey data provided information before EFMIS, enabling comparisons of fish trade costings. The average quantity of fish traded in Kenya depended on seasons of active lake fishing, which occurs in January – March and August – October, while Uganda had an irregular pattern associated with fish trade throughout the year. The quantity of fish traded weekly depended on the average price of fish. Lower sales margins during the EFMIS project showed the merits of information sharing using ICT platforms for efficient and equitable fish trade. Such evaluation of fish market information is useful in fish trade policy formulation and for fisheries management and ecological sustainability in rural and peri‐urban communities.     

Spatial and temporal dynamics of habitat availability and stability for a critically endangered arboreal marsupial: implications for conservation planning in a fire-prone landscape

Landscape Ecology - Effective conservation planning for species depends on vegetation models that can capture the dynamics of habitat elements across both spatial and temporal domains....     

Performance of ‘Coscia’ pear (Pyrus communis) on nine rootstocks in the north of Israel

The vegetative and reproductive performances of ‘Coscia’ pear (Pyrus communis L.) grown on nine rootstocks [OHF 69, OHF 97, OHF 217, OHF 333, OHF 513 and BP 1 (P. communis), clonal seedling (Davis AxB) of Pyrus betulifolia and quince BA 29 and EMA (Cydonia oblonga)] were compared during a 9-year period. The trial was conducted at the Experimental Station ‘Avnei Eitan’ in northern Israel (elevation 400 m above sea level, a.s.l.), on a well-drained soil with pH 7.1. Trees were planted in December 1998, spaced at 4.0 m × 2.0 m and trained with a central axis. The most vigorous trees were on P. betulifolia seedlings, followed by the four OHF rootstock (69, 97, 333, 513) and BP 1 (with no significant difference between them). All the above rootstocks demonstrated greater vigor than OHF 217 and quince BA 29 or EMA. The highest cumulative yields per tree were harvested from trees on the four OHF rootstocks (69, 97, 333, 513) and P. betulifolia followed by the BP 1. The two quince rootstocks, as well as OHF 217, had the lowest cumulative yield and the lowest yield of large fruit. A positive correlation was found between the vigor of the tree, as affected by the rootstock, and both the total yield and the fruit size. We conclude that in a warm climate, yield efficiency is not the only parameter that should be taken into account, and building a strong tree for a weak cultivar is the first requirement for establishing an orchard.