Changes in hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidant activity and related bioactive compounds during postharvest storage of yellow and purple plum cultivars

Eight plum cultivars (four dark-purple and four yellow) were harvested at the commercial ripening stage, and changes of fruit quality properties were evaluated during cold storage and subsequent shelf-life, with special emphasis on bioactive compounds (phenolics, anthocyanins and carotenoids) and antioxidant activity (TAA). From the eight plum cultivars, four showed the typical climacteric ripening pattern (‘Blackamber’, ‘Larry Ann’, ‘Golden Globe’ and ‘Songold’) while four behaved as suppressed-climacteric types (‘Golden Japan’ ‘Angeleno’, Black Diamond’ and ‘TC Sun’), the latter being described for the first time. At harvest, large variations in phytochemicals and antioxidant activity were found among cultivars in peel and pulp tissues, although phytochemical concentration and antioxidant activity were higher in the peel than in the flesh (2–40-fold depending on the bioactive compound). During storage, increases in total phenolics for all cultivars (peel and pulp), in total anthocyanin content in the peel of the dark-purple plums, and total carotenoids in the peel and pulp of the yellow cultivars were observed. This behaviour of the bioactive compounds was reflected in TAA changes, since hydrophilic-TAA (H-TAA) was correlated with both phenolics and anthocyanins, while lipophilic-TAA (L-TAA) was correlated with carotenoids. L-TAA comprised about 30–50% of the TAA in plum tissues. Carotenoids and phenolics (and among them the anthocyanins) could be the main lipophilic and hydrophilic compounds contributing to L-TAA and H-TAA, respectively. No significant loss of bioactive compounds and TAA occurred during prolonged plum storage. Moreover, for a better evaluation of the antioxidant potential of plums, the contribution to carotenoids should not be overlooked.     

Methyl jasmonate treatment promotes flower opening of cut Eustoma by inducing cell wall loosening proteins in petals

Establishing the technique for controlling the rate of cut flower opening is important to maintain appropriate cut flower supplies to meet consumer demand. Cut flowers of Eustoma grandiflorum (Raf.) Shinn. were held in a vase solution containing (±)-abscisic acid (ABA), 6-benzylaminopurine (BA), gibberellic acid-3 (GA), methyl jasmonate (MeJA) or 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) at 100 μM. MeJA accelerated flower opening. Only the timing of flowering was earlier, and there was no change in maximum flower diameter at the fully open stage. Expansin and xyloglucan endotransglycosylase/hydrolase (XTH), regarded as cell wall loosing proteins, participate in petal growth from bud stage to the fully open stage in Eustoma. MeJA also accelerated the expression of EgEXPA2, EgEXPA3 and EgXTH1 mRNA and the accumulation of expansin and XTH protein in petals. Meanwhile, the acceleration of both flower opening and expression of these genes was not observed by ABA, BA or GA treatment. It was proposed that early flower opening by JA treatment resulted from petal cell wall loosening by accelerated expression of expansin and XTH.     

Moisture-dependent physical properties of jatropha seed (Jatropha curcas L.)

The study was conducted to investigate some moisture-dependent physical properties of jatropha seed namely, seed dimension, 1000 seed mass, surface area, sphericity, bulk density, true density, angle of repose and static coefficient of friction against different materials. The physical properties of jatropha seed were evaluated as a function of moisture content in the range of 4.75–19.57% d.w. The average length, width, thickness and 1000 seed mass were 18.65 mm, 11.34 mm, 8.91 mm and 741.1 g, respectively at moisture content of 4.75% d.w. The geometric mean diameter and sphericity increased from 12.32 to 12.89 mm and 0.66 to 0.67 as moisture content increased from 4.75 to 19.57% d.w., respectively. In the same moisture range, densities of the rewetted jatropha seed decreased from 492 to 419 kg m⁻³, true density increased from 679 to 767 kg m⁻³, and the corresponding porosity increased from 27.54 to 45.37%. As the moisture content increased from 4.75 to 19.57% d.w., the angle of repose and surface area were found to increase from 28.15° to 39.95° and 476.78 to 521.99 mm², respectively. The static coefficient of friction of jatropha seed increased linearly against the surfaces of three structural materials, namely plywood (44.12%), mild steel sheet (64.15%) and aluminum (68.63%) as the moisture content increased from 4.75 to 19.57% d.w.     

可变剪接体WNT4-β对山羊卵泡颗粒细胞增殖和激素分泌的影响

旨在研究WNT4的一个可变剪接体（WNT4-β）对山羊卵泡颗粒细胞增殖的影响。本研究选取4~6月龄健康母羊20只,采集双侧卵巢,体外分离卵泡颗粒细胞进行培养。通过免疫荧光染色技术确定WNT4-β的表达位置;在山羊颗粒细胞中过表达或干扰WNT4-β后,利用RT-qPCR、Western blot检测WNT4-β和WNT信号通路中关键标记因子ROA1、RHOA及颗粒细胞增殖标记基因cyclin-D2、CDK4的表达变化;CCK-8技术检测颗粒细胞增殖情况;并通过ELISA分析颗粒细胞中生殖激素水平的变化。免疫荧光染色结果显示,WNT4-β只在山羊卵泡颗粒细胞中表达,在卵母细胞不表达;过表达WNT4-β后,WNT4-β和颗粒细胞增殖因子cyclin-D2、CDK4的mRNA相对表达量极显著增加（P<0.01）,蛋白表达水平显著增加（P<0.05）;WNT信号通路标记因子ROA1、RHOA mRNA表达水平显著增加（P<0.05）,β-catenin蛋白表达水平显著增加（P<0.05）;干扰WNT4-β后,WNT4-β、cyclin-D2、CDK4、ROA1和RHOA 的mRNA表达显著降低（P<0.05）,WNT4-β、cyclin-D2、CDK4及β-catenin蛋白表达显著降低（P<0.05）。CCK-8结果显示,过表达WNT4-β促进颗粒细胞增殖（P<0.05）;ELISA结果显示,过表达WNT4-β后,颗粒细胞中雌二醇（estradiol,E₂）水平显著增加（P<0.05）,孕酮（progesterone,P₄）水平升高但不显著（P>0.05）;干扰WNT4-β后则结果相反,颗粒细胞增殖受到抑制（P<0.05）,E₂和P₄的水平显著降低（P<0.05）。综上所述,WNT4可变剪接体WNT4-β通过调控WNT信号通路促进山羊卵泡颗粒细胞增殖及类固醇激素分泌,本研究为解析WNT4调控山羊颗粒细胞增殖的潜在分子机制提供理论基础。     

利用加权基因共表达网络分析筛选天农麻鸡胴体性状候选基因

旨在通过转录组测序(RNA-Seq)与加权基因共表达网络分析(weighted gene co-expression network analysis,WGCNA)筛选慢速型黄羽肉鸡天农麻鸡胴体性状相关候选基因。本研究以104只天农麻鸡为素材,在126日龄时进行屠宰,测定胸肌重等7个胴体性状,采集胸肌组织进行RNA-Seq。基于RNA-Seq数据获得基因表达矩阵后,结合表型进行WGCNA分析,确定目标模块,筛选目标模块的枢纽基因,并分别进行KEGG通路富集、蛋白质互作网络(protein-protein interaction network,PPI)构建和相关性分析。104份胸肌组织RNA-Seq质控后获得15 092个基因的表达量。与胴体表型进行WGCNA,共得到19个模块,其中4个模块与胴体性状极显著相关。功能富集结果表明,目标模块内基因主要富集在ECM-受体相互作用、黏着力等通路。以|Module membership|> 0.8、|Gene significance|> 0.2为标准筛选到58个枢纽基因,并通过PPI网络构建鉴定到5个网络节点基因,整合相关性分析确定COL1A2和SPARC为最重要候选基因。本研究通过大样本量转录组分析,发现ECM-受体相互作用等通路在天农麻鸡胴体性状调控中发挥主要作用,筛选到COL1A2和SPARC是影响全净膛率性状的重要候选基因,研究结果为鉴定选育分子标记,解析胴体性状分子机制奠定理论基础,为慢速型黄羽肉鸡育种提供重要参考。     

冻存液添加蜂王浆主蛋白对精子品质的影响

目的 精液冷冻保存作为人工授精不可或缺的一个技术环节,对优质畜禽种群的繁衍和保存有着至关重要的意义。目前,因精液冻存时冻存液成分、冷冻方法和外部氧化应激等因素影响,导致冻存精液品质不一。蜂王浆（RJ）已被证明能提高动物精液品质,蜂王浆主蛋白（MRJPs）作为RJ主要生物活性成分物质,具有多种生物活性和抗氧化能力。方法 为提高冻存精子品质,本研究开展了在公牛精液冻存液中添加不同浓度（0 g/25 mL、0.01 g/25 mL、0.02 g/25 mL、0.03 g/25 mL、0.04 g/25 mL）的MRJPs冻干粉,对冻存48 h后解冻精子的总活力、前进性活力、畸形率等相关参数进行了观察评估。结果 添加MRJPs呈浓度依赖性方式显著降低精子总活力、快速前进性活力、缓慢前进性活力和直行性活力（P<0.05）,而且精子畸形率和精子原地移动活力与对照组相比无显著差异（P> 0.05）。结论 精液冻存液中添加MRJPs会抑制冻存精子活力,因此,对MRJPs能以何种方式提高精液品质的研究还需要进一步开展。     

南极磷虾粉潜在危害因子分析及风险评价进展

南极磷虾粉是目前南极磷虾船载加工的主要产品之一,富含优质蛋白质、脂质、磷脂、虾青素和矿物质等物质,具有良好的开发利用前景。目前,南极磷虾粉主要用作水产动物饲料及提取油脂等的原料。然而,研究表明南极磷虾粉也存在潜在危害因子不明确等问题,严重限制了其应用领域和范围的拓展。因此,本文分析了南极磷虾粉潜在危害因子的来源、限量标准、检测方法等,介绍了南极磷虾粉风险评估进展,旨在为南极磷虾粉危害因子的减除和深度利用提供参考依据。     

叶黄素酯和叶黄素稳定性的研究

研究光、热、酸、碱、金属离子、氧化剂和还原剂对叶黄素酯和叶黄素稳定性的影响。结果表明,光对叶黄素酯和叶黄素的稳定性影响很大,日光照射0.5h,二者的保存率仅为0.35%,而放置在暗处保存率基本不变;叶黄素酯和叶黄素对热较稳定,但随着温度的升高和加热时间的延长,保存率下降,降解速度加快;在相同的光、热条件下,叶黄素酯的稳定性优于叶黄素,叶黄素以与脂肪酸结合的形式存在,稳定性更强;强酸性条件对叶黄素酯和叶黄素有一定的破坏作用,而其在中性、碱性条件下较稳定;Fe3 、Fe2 、Cu2 对它们的破坏作用较强,保存率下降较多,而Zn2 、Mg2 、Ca2 、K 、Na 对它们基本无影响;氧化剂H2O2对其有轻微的破坏作用;还原剂Na2SO3对叶黄素酯和叶黄素影响不大,VC可以使它们降解,与VC共存叶黄素酯的降解程度比叶黄素大。     

Rapid assessment of wood chemical properties and pulp yield of Eucalyptus camaldulensis in Thailand tree plantations by near infrared spectroscopy for improving wood selection for high quality pulp

Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has been demonstrated as a means for rapid nondestructive determination of the chemical composition and final pulp yield of Eucalyptus camaldulensis in Thailand tree plantations. Multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis and partial least squares (PLS) analysis were introduced to develop statistical models in terms of calibration equations for total pulp yield, screened pulp yield, and contents of -cellulose, pentosans, and lignin in wood. In MLR analysis, a reasonably good calibration equation was found only for pentosans (standard error of prediction (SEP): 0.98%). The PLS analysis improved the accuracy of prediction for every criterion variable, especially for pentosans (SEP: 0.91%) and lignin (SEP: 0.52%). Also, in the case of screened pulp yield, we were able to use such a statistical result as an indicator of the characteristics of the pulp and paper. Thus, NIR spectroscopy could be satisfactorily used as an effective assessment technique for Eucalyptus camaldulensis plantation trees.     

Non-destructive quality determination of pecans using soft X-rays

Use of soft X-ray digital imaging for non-destructive quality evaluation of pecans was explored. Unshelled pecans were imaged at various X-ray tube voltages from 15 to 50 kVp and currents from 0.1 to 1 mA. Pecan images with good contrast image were identified. The cavity inside the pecan shell and the nutmeat portion were segmented manually in the pecan radiographs. Percent nutmeat area, mean pixel intensity, and local intensity variation adequately determined nutmeat quality, non-destructively. Pecan nutmeat weight was estimated with an error of less than 10% from images taken at 35 kVp–0.75 mA, 40 kVp–0.5 mA, and 45 kVp–0.5 mA. Defects and insects were clearly differentiated in X-ray images after applying contrast stretching or high-frequency emphasis techniques.