Evaluation of wheat and emmer varieties for artisanal baking,pasta making,and sensory quality

Identifying varieties best suited to local food systems requires a comprehensive understanding of varietal performance from field to fork. After conducting four years of field trials to test which varieties of ancient, heritage, and modern wheat grow best on organically managed land, we screened a subset of varieties for bread, pastry, pasta, and cooked grain quality. The varieties evaluated were three lines of emmer (T. turgidum L. ssp. dicoccum Schrank ex Schübl) and eleven lines of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), including two modern soft wheat varieties, four soft heritage wheat varieties, four hard modern wheat varieties, and one hard heritage wheat variety. A diverse group of bakers, chefs, researchers, and consumers compared varieties for qualities of interest to regional markets. Participants assessed differences in sensory profiles, pasta making ability, and baking quality for sourdough, matzah crackers, yeast bread, and shortbread cookies. In addition to detecting significant differences among varieties for pasta, sourdough, and pastry quality, participants documented variation in texture and flavor for the evaluated products. By demonstrating which varieties perform best in the field, in the bakery, and on our taste buds, these results can support recommendations that strengthen the revival of local grain economies.     

Effects of a hook ring on catch and bycatch in a Mediterranean swordfish longline fishery: small addition with potentially large consequences

1. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a circle hook ring on catch rates of target fish species and bycatch rates of sea turtles, elasmobranchs, and non‐commercial fish in a shallow‐set Italian swordfish longline fishery.
2. Results were compared from 65 sets from six commercial fishing vessels totalling 50 800 hooks in which ringed and non‐ringed 16/0 circle hooks with a 10° offset were alternated along the length of the longline. In total, 464 individuals were caught in the 4 years of experiment, with swordfish (Xiphias gladius) comprising 83% of the total number of animals captured. Catch rates of targeted swordfish were significantly higher on ringed hooks (CPUE_{ringed hooks} = 8.465, CPUE_{non‐ringed hooks} = 6.654).
3. Results indicate that ringed circle hooks captured significantly more small‐sized swordfish than non‐ringed circle hooks (27.7% vs. 19.5%, respectively).
4. For species with sufficient sample sizes, the odds ratio (OR) of a capture was in favour of ringed hooks; significantly for swordfish (OR = 1.27 95%CI 1.04–1.57), and not significantly for bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) (OR = 1.50, 95%CI 0.68–3.42) nor for pelagic stingray (Pteroplatytrigon violacea) (OR = 1.13, 95%CI 0.54–2.36). All six loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) and three of the four blue sharks (Prionace glauca) were captured on ringed hooks, however, the small sample sizes prevented meaningful statistical analysis.
5. In summary, results from this study suggest that the addition of a ring to 16/0 circle hooks confers higher catchability for small‐sized commercial swordfish, and does not significantly reduce catch rate of bycatch species and protected species in a Mediterranean shallow pelagic longline fishery.
6. These findings should motivate fisheries managers to consider factors in addition to hook shape when aiming to promote sustainable fishing practices. The presence of a ring has the potential to negate some conservation benefits.

Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) abundance within the Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary,Scotland: recent trends and extrapolation to extinction

1. Aerial surveys have detected alarming declines in counts of harbour seals in several regions across Scotland.
2. Demographic data and simple models were used to examine the recent decline in the numbers of harbour seals counted in one population within a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) on the east coast of Scotland. The models suggest that the continuation of current trends would result in the species effectively disappearing from this area within the next 20 years.
3. While the cause of the decline is unknown, it must be reducing adult survival because the high rate of decline cannot be wholly accounted for by changes in other demographic parameters.
4. Recovery of the population to the abundance recorded at the time the SAC was designated (2005) is likely to take at least 40 years, even if the cause of the decline is immediately identified and removed.
5. The models suggest that partial removal of the cause can have only limited benefits to population recovery, and there are unlikely to be any long‐term benefits from introducing or reintroducing additional individuals while the underlying problem persists. Therefore, if the population of harbour seals in this area is to recover it is essential that the sources of the increased mortality are identified and measures are put in place to manage these.

Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于雷达图分析法初步评价稻米食昧品质的研究

本研究建立了一种基于雷达图分析稻米食味评价的新方法.该方法选择胶稠度、碱消值、粒型、直链淀粉含量和蛋白质含量等5个对稻米食味品质影响较大的理化指标作为雷达图分析的评价指标.各个评价指标经无量纲化处理后用于绘制雷达图.为消除指标排列顺序不同引起的差异,本文采用雷达图的平均周长和平均面积作为特征向量构建评价参数,并对10个参试样品的食味品质进行综合评价.结果表明,采用本文建立的雷达图分析法得到的食味评价排序与常规感官评价法的排序基本一致,表明本文建立的雷达图分析法适用于稻米食昧品质的初步评价.     

大豆种质资源对大豆胞囊线虫3号生理小种的抗性评价

2006-2014年,应用病土盆栽方法,对来自于12个省(市)的779份大豆种质资源进行了大豆胞囊线虫3号生理小种的抗病性鉴定。鉴定材料来源于吉林省539份、黑龙江省58份、辽宁省51份、山西省16份、内蒙古17份、河北省10份、北京市42份、安徽省5份、广西壮族自治区14份、河南省17份、山东省6份、江苏省4份。从中选出19份抗病种质,占鉴定总数的2.44%,分别是FY001-3、W93155、JH229、HJ01-1900、W94128-8、YX04-6561、W7491、W201102-25、Q30、Q31、HK6、HK7、BN9、CM2008-12、JY407、Q32、Q28、Q33、BN10,按抗病种质在各省份鉴定材料中所占的比例来看,山东省大豆种质抗病比例最高,占83.33%,其次是黑龙江省占15%。这些品种(系)的农艺性状优良,可直接作为抗性亲本应用于育种。     

An economically based evaluation index for perennial and short‐term ryegrasses in New Zealand dairy farm systems

Grazed pastures based on ryegrass species provide most of the feed for dairy cattle in New Zealand. There are many cultivars of perennial (Lolium perenne), annual and Italian (L. multiflorum), and hybrid (L. boucheanum) ryegrasses available for dairy farmers to use in pasture renewal. This study describes an index which ranks ryegrass cultivars relative to a genetic base according to the estimated economic value (EV) of seasonal dry matter (DM) traits. A farm system model was used to derive EVs (Grazed pastures based on ryegrass species provide most of the feed for dairy cattle in New Zealand. There are many cultivars of perennial (Lolium perenne), annual and Italian (L. multiflorum), and hybrid (L. boucheanum) ryegrasses available for dairy farmers to use in pasture renewal. This study describes an index which ranks ryegrass cultivars relative to a genetic base according to the estimated economic value (EV) of seasonal dry matter (DM) traits. A farm system model was used to derive EVs ($ ha^?1 calculated as change in operating profit divided by unit change of the trait) for additional DM produced in different seasons of the year in four regions. The EV of early spring DM was consistently high across all regions, whereas EV for late spring DM was moderate to low. Genotype × environment analysis revealed significant reranking of DM yield among ryegrass cultivars across regions. Hence, separate performance values (PVs) were calculated for two mega‐environments and then combined with the corresponding season and region EV to calculate the overall EV for twenty‐three perennial ryegrass and fifteen short‐term ryegrass cultivars. The difference in operating profit between the highest ranked and lowest ranked perennial ryegrass cultivar ranged from $556 ha^?1 to $863 ha^?1 year^?1 depending on region. For short‐term ryegrasses used for winter feed, the corresponding range was $394 to $478 ha^?1 year^?1. Using PV for DM yield, it was estimated that plant improvement in perennial ryegrass has added $12–$18 ha^?1 year^?1 (depending on region) operating profit on dairy farms since the mid‐1960s.     

西藏鱼类增殖放流初报

西藏土著鱼类生长缓慢、性成熟晚并对环境变化高度敏感。近年来,受过度捕捞、水利工程建设等人类活动的影响,西藏渔业资源面临越来越大的压力。开展增殖放流活动是恢复当地渔业资源和生态平衡的重要手段。本文介绍了西藏鱼类增殖放流概况、苗种来源、放流实施、效果评估情况,分析了目前存在的基础研究不足、苗种来源不稳定、缺乏技术规范、效果评估有待加强等问题。提出了加强增殖放流基础设施建设和基础理论研究、建立西藏鱼类增殖放流与效果评估技术规范、重视放流后的管理与评估工作、加强专业技术人才队伍建设的建议。     

基于“3S”技术的辽宁省某尾矿库扩容工程生态影响预测与评价

以辽宁省某尾矿库为例,基于GIS技术,利用2010年的TM遥感影像及地形图,预测该尾矿库扩容后的生态影响。分析结果显示:尾矿库扩容工程对生态的影响主要体现在土地利用、植被、生态景观和地形地貌的变化4个方面。     

浙江省山矾科植物园林应用综合评析

本文通过对浙江省山矾科植物进行园林应用综合评析,以期为园林绿化建设提供适应性强、观赏价值高、生态功能强的优良园林树种,并筛选出了5种优良树种可供后期开发利用,并为山矾植物树种的引种、选育及产业化研究的开展提供相应的理论价值。     

Conservation implications of establishment success of the Critically Endangered Twee River redfin ‘Pseudobarbus’ erubescens (Skelton, ) in an artificial impoundment in South Africa

1. This study reports the first known record of breeding of the Critically Endangered Twee River redfin ‘Pseudobarbus’ erubescens in an artificial impoundment. This followed an introduction of 48 individuals into a 10 ha impoundment within the species' native range more than a decade ago.
2. Sampling the impoundment using three fyke nets set overnight yielded 2838 P. erubescens, which included both juveniles and adults capable of spawning. Fork length measurements of a subsample of 250 individuals ranged from 29 to 125 mm with length cohorts indicating multiple spawning events.
3. This demonstrates that this species can successfully reproduce in lentic environments and suggests that artificial impoundments could be stocked to provide refugia for P. erubescens and other highly threatened small cyprinids while conservation strategies are developed to mitigate against habitat loss resulting from alien fish invasions, increased human use of water, and from climate change in rivers.