The effects of simulated frost on black currant (Ribes nigrum L.)

Pot plants of 12 black currant genotypes were assessed in frost simulation chambers for their tolerance of spring frosts during the flowering period. The most tolerant were some genotypes from the UK and Scandinavia. The inheritance of tolerance may be complex rather than simply additive. The results indicate that physiological frost hardiness at flowering is needed as well as later flowering, particularly when breeding for early ripening cultivars.     

Lagenidium callinectes (Couch, 1942) infection and its control in cultured larval Indian tiger prawn, Penaeus monodon Fabricius

A mycosis in larval tiger prawn, Penaeus monodon Fabricius, is described for the first time from India. The hyphae of Lagenidium callinectes are contorted, irregularly branched, sparingly septate, and contain a cell wall and membrane, vacuoles, mito chondria, ribosomes, small and large vesicles, and Woronin bodies. The spores occur singly or in pairs. The fungal mycelium may either invade and embed itself in the tissues, or alternatively, replace all the muscle tissues of the infected larval P. monodon. Fungus infected, untreated populations of nauplii, zoea and myksis exhibited mortalities of 5.33 ± 0.55%, 24.68 ± 4.58% and 47.89 ± 0.27%, respectively. A 0.5 ppm treatment with trifluralin significantly reduced the mortality of infected larval populations (i.e. 1.1% nauplii, 3.28% zoea and 5.21% myksis mortality). Lagenidium sp. exhibited growth in potato dextrose agar medium and in Sabouraud's agar at 28 °C.     

Genotypic variation in fatty acid content of blackcurrant seeds.

The fatty acid composition and total fatty acid content of seeds from 36 blackcurrant genotypes developed at the Scottish Crop Research Institute were examined. A rapid small-scale procedure, involving homogenization of seeds in toluene followed by sodium methoxide transesterification and gas chromatography, was used. There was considerable variation between genotypes. The gamma-linolenic acid content generally varied from 11 to 19% of the total fatty acids, but three genotypes had higher values of 22-24%, levels previously not reported for blackcurrant seed and similar to those for borage seed. Other nutritionally important fatty acids, stearidonic acid and alpha-linolenic acid, varied from 2 to 4% and 10-19%, respectively. The mean total fatty acid contents ranged from 14 to 23% of the seed, but repeatability was poor. The results are discussed. Blackcurrant seeds are mainly byproducts from juice production, and the study shows the potential for developing blackcurrant genotypes with optimal added value.     

Accumulation of Cadmium by Lupin Species as Affected by Cd Application to Acidic Yellow Sand

Cadmium (Cd) accumulation in the aboveground parts of grain crops, and cultivar variation in uptake are of significant concern in the food supply chain. A glasshouse experiment on an acidic yellow sand was conducted to determine the effect of applied cadmium (0, 0.83, 1.67, 2.5, 3.35 mg Cd kg^?1 soil) on the grain yield of Lupinus angustifolius L. (narrow-leafed lupin; cv. Gungurru) and Lupinus luteus L. (yellow lupin) cultivars, and the concentration and uptake (content) of cadmium by stems and grain. The addition of Cd decreased the grain yield of all varieties of yellow lupin, except Teo-105. However, the grain yield of narrow-leafed lupin was not significantly (p = 0.05) reduced by the addition of Cd to the soil. The grain yield of yellow lupin varieties of P283553 and 94017-3 decreased by 50–60% by the addition of Cd compared to other varieties (Wodjil, 94DO19-1) where grain yield decreased by about 10% with Cd application. Cadmium concentration in plant stems and grain and the content of Cd in lupin plants increased markedly with increasing levels of Cd in the soil. The increase in Cd concentration in stems and grain with the addition of Cd was always higher in yellow lupin than for narrow-leafed lupin. The Cd concentration in the grain of narrow-leafed lupin was about 40% of that of yellow lupin. The concentration of Cd in the stem at maturity was always higher than the Cd concentration in the grain for both Lupinus species. Yellow lupin, except 94DO19-1 had higher concentration of Cd in grain where no Cd was applied to the soil. However, compared to narrow-leafed lupin, all yellow lupin varieties had higher concentration of Cd in grain where Cd was applied to the soil.     

Crystal structure of a naturally occurring dinucleoside monophosphate: uridylyl (3',5') adenosine hemihydrate

The crystal structure of uridylyl (3',5') adenosine hemihydrate has been analyzed by x-ray diffraction. The two independent molecules found in the asymmetric unit exhibit conformations that differ significantly from those found in double-helical RNA. The conformational information obtained from this analysis provides considerable insight into the possible conformations of nonhelical "loop" regions of transfer RNA, as well as single-stranded regions of nucleic acids in general.     

Age differences in infants' attention to patterns of different complexities

Infants 3 weeks, 8 weeks, and 14 weeks old were presented with checkerboard patterns which differed in the number of squares they contained. The older the infants, the more complex was the checkerboard that they looked at longest. This result does not appear to depend on changes in visual acuity or accommodation related to age.     

Nutritional and physicochemical characteristics of dietary fiber enriched pasta.

The relationship between pasta texture and physicostructural characteristics was determined in relation to potential starch degradation and subsequent glucose release. Pastas with added soluble and insoluble dietary fiber ingredients were evaluated in relation to biochemical composition, cooking properties, and textural characteristics. Results show that both the type and amount of added fiber influence the overall quality of both raw and cooked pasta. Glucose release may be significantly reduced by the addition of soluble dietary fiber.