Effect of CCC and daminozide on growth of silver birch container seedlings during three years after spraying

Applications of growth retardants, daminozide and CCC (chlormequatchloride), were studied in order to determine their effects on morphology and post-planting growth of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) container seedlings. Daminozide was sprayed once (on 28 June at concentrations of 1.0 – 6.0 g l^–1) and CCC was sprayed twice (on 29 June and 27 July at concentrations of 0.5–3.0 gl^–1). Height growth, morphology of seedlings at the end of the growing season, the shoot and root growth potential the following spring and field performance during the following seasons were measured. During the first summer in the nursery, both daminozide and CCC retarded height growth,but daminozide was more effective. The effects of compounds on stem diameter during the summer of application were small. Neither of the compounds affected the field performance of seedlings. The most suitable applications for retardation of height growth, without negative effects on other morphological variables, were 4 g l^–1 (32 mg per seedling) for daminozide and 2 g l^–1 (16 mg per seedling), sprayed in two applications, for CCC.     

Field performance of silver-birch planting-stock grown at different spacing and in containers of different volume

Silver birch seedlings were grown in two types of trays differing incell volume. For each kind of tray, three different spacings were achieved bygrowing seedlings in all, half or one quarter of the cells. The planting-stockso produced was out-planted at two forest sites and growth followed for fiveyears. Container size had a large effect on seedling morphology and on fieldperformance. Density also had a large effect on seedling morphology, but littleinfluence on performance. The tightest relationship of field performance was tothe mean dry weight of the stems of the planting stock (R² = 0.94).Mean height and sturdiness index, defined as diameter ÷height, were not correlated with performance. Of the non-destructivemeasurements, mean root-collar diameter was the most closely correlated withperformance.     

Biscogniauxia nummularia infecting beech (Fagus sylvatica) trees and sympatric plants of the sedge Carex brevicollis

Biscogniauxia nummularia is known for its association with beech (Fagus sylvatica), on which it occurs as a saprotroph and a pathogen causing strip cankers following water stress. This fungus has also been reported as a dominant endophytic species in plants of the sedge Carex brevicollis growing in the understory of beech forests and adjacent grasslands in Sierra de Urbasa (Navarre, Spain). In this area, stromata of B. nummularia were observed in dead and living wood of beech trees at several locations where plants of C. brevicollis also contained the fungus as an endophyte. Pure cultures obtained from stromata of B. nummularia on F. sylvatica trees were compared to endophytic isolates from symptomless C. brevicollis. Culture morphology and micromorphology as well as rDNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions were identical, suggesting that B. nummularia from beech can also live endophytically in C. brevicollis. It is unknown whether the endophytic strains of Carex might have a role as an inoculum source for the infection of beech trees, or whether they represent a dead end in the life cycle of the fungus.     

Method of determination of nitrosamines in sausages by CO2 supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC)

In this paper, the use of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) is proposed for the complete analysis of volatile nitrosamines in sausages. The extraction fluid used was CO2 and variables such as density, temperature of thimbles, extraction time, modifier, fluid flow, and kind of traps were investigated. Several experiments were carried out to obtain the most favorable conditions for analysis of volatile nitrosamines in sausages. The recoveries ranged from 21 to 82% for the five nitrosamines studied. The optimal condition of extraction was 0.2 g of sample fortified with 10 mg/kg, using dynamic extraction during 20 min and with adsorbent Florisil in the trap. The solvent selected for the elution of the analytes was methanol.     

Volumetric properties of sunflower methyl ester oil at high pressure

Biodiesel is an alternative to diesel oil (DO), because it is a fuel obtained from renewable resources that has lower emissions than DO. Biomass production should promote agricultural activity to obtain fuels for the transport sector. The study of the behavior of biodiesel at varying pressure and temperature is very interesting because diesel engines are mechanical systems that work with fuels submitted to high pressure. The specific volume, isothermal compressibility, and cubic expansion coefficients of refined sunflower methyl ester oil (SMEO) and unrefined sunflower methyl ester oil (URSMEO) were obtained and compared with those of DO from 0.1 to 350 MPa and 288.15 to 328.15 K. This work shows that oil refinement did not significantly modify any of the properties studied of the final biodiesel. Compared with DO, both SMEOs were about 6% denser, whereas isothermal compressibility and cubic expansion coefficients were bigger or smaller for DO depending on pressure and temperature.     

Multivariate analysis for the evaluation of fiber, sugars, and organic acids in commercial presentations of table olives

Table olives constitute an important part of the Mediterranean diet and the diet of many non-olive-producing countries. The aim of this work was to determine the fiber, sugar, and organic acid contents in Spanish commercial presentations of table olives and characterize them by means of a multivariate analysis. The selection of variables was carried out on the basis of a canonical analysis and their classification, according to processing styles and cultivars, through a linear discriminant analysis. Values of dietary fiber in table olives ranged from 2 to 5 g/100 g edible portion (e.p.). Some stuffing materials (almond, hot red pepper, and hazelnut) or the addition of capers produced a significant increase in the total dietary fiber in green olives. Glucose, fructose, and mannitol were usually found in the ranges of 0-55, 0-70, and 0-107 mg/100 g e.p., respectively. Succinic acid was detected only in green and directly brined olives (0-40 mg/100 g e.p.), while lactic and acetic acids were used within the ranges of 0-681 and 5-492.8 mg/100 g e.p., respectively. A multivariate analysis showed that fiber, mannitol, and succinic, lactic, and acetic acids can be used to discriminate between processing styles (95.5% correct assignations) and cultivars (61.20%). Current data can also be used in the evaluation of the dietary value of table olives.