Anthocyanin composition of wild bananas in Thailand

Anthocyanins were isolated from male bracts of 10 wild species of bananas (Musa spp. and Ensete spp.) distributed in Thailand. Six major anthocyanin pigments were identified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), mass spectrometry (MS), and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). They are delphinidin-3-rutinoside (m/z 611.2), cyanidin-3-rutinoside (m/z 595.8), petunidin-3-rutinoside (m/z 624.9), pelargonidin-3-rutinoside (m/z 579.4), peonidin-3-rutinoside (m/z 608.7), and malvidin-3-rutinoside (m/z 638.8). On the basis of the types of pigment present, the wild bananas can be divided into 5 groups. The first group comprises M. itinerans, Musa sp. one, Musa sp. two, and M. acuminata accessions, which contain almost or all anthocyanin pigments except for pelargonidin-3-rutinoside, including both nonmethylated and methylated anthocyanins. The second group, M. acuminata subsp. truncata, contains only malvidin-3-rutinoside while the third group, M. coccinea, contains cyanidin-3-rutinoside and pelargonidin-3-rutinoside. The forth group, M. acuminata yellow bract and E. glaucum do not appear to contain any anthocyanin pigment. The fifth group consists of M. balbisiana, M. velutina, M. laterita, and E. superbum which contain only nonmethylated anthocyanin, delphinidin-3-rutinoside, and cyanidin-3-rutinoside. Total anthocyanin content in the analyzed bracts ranged from 0-119.70 mg/100 g bract fresh weight. The differences in the type of anthocyanin and variation in the amounts present indicate that wild bananas show biochemical diversity, which may be useful for identifying specific groups of bananas or for clarifying the evolution of flavonoid metabolism in each banana group.     

Improving growth performance and blood profile by feeding autolyzed yeast to improve pork carcass and meat quality

The 63 commercial pigs were divided into three groups consisting of seven replicates of three piglets each. The experimental diets were (1) control diet, (2) diet with autolyzed yeast (AY) 0.5%, and (3) diet with AY 1.0%. Compared to the control group, using AY 0.5% in the diet reduced average daily feed intake (ADFI) and improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p < 0.05). The blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (N/L) in blood decreased with the addition of AY 0.5% (p < 0.05). The pH at 6-h postmortem of meat in the 0.5% AY diet group was higher than for the control group (p < 0.05). Backfat thickness (p = 0.09) and P2-backfat thickness (p = 0.07) tended to decrease, while the fat free index (FFI; p = 0.07) tended to increase with 0.5% AY supplementation. The protein percentage (p = 0.07) and the a* value (redness) (p = 0.08) in the meat tended to increase, and the springiness increased with 0.5% AY supplementation (p < 0.05). An appropriate level of AY supplementation can impact positively on the physiological functions in swine with a consequent seems to improve in qualitative traits of the meat quality.     

Impact of Soaking and Drying Conditions on Rice Chalkiness as Revealed by Scanning Electron Microscopy

Chalkiness is one of the most influential factors on head rice yield. Parboiling is known to be an effective way to remove chalkiness and improve head rice yield. However, the steps involved in the removal of chalkiness are still not completely resolved. This study investigated the effects of soaking temperature, soaking duration, and drying conditions on the removal of rice chalkiness. Chalky brown rice kernels were selected and soaked at 25, 65, 70, or 75°C for 3 h. After 1, 2, or 3 h, the rice samples were frozen before drying or immediately dried. Soaking at 25°C did not remove chalkiness and caused no morphological change in starch granules. When the soaking temperature increased from 25 to 65, 70, and 75°C, the chalkiness decreased from 100% to 34.1, 29.7, and 15.9%, respectively. Soaking rice at temperatures above the starch glass transition temperature but below the gelatinization temperature reduced chalkiness owing to rearrangement of starch granules and protein denaturation to fill the void spaces in the chalky area. During soaking, the morphology of starch granules also changed from round to angular in shape. Drying at temperatures above the starch glass transition temperature also facilitated rearrangement of starch granules to further reduce rice chalkiness.     

Comparison of radiographic and computed tomographic acetabular index in small-breed dogs: a preliminary study using Maltese and Shih Tzu

BackgroundThe morphometry of the acetabulum is one source of information that assists in the clinical diagnosis of the hip and influences the proper selection of a prosthesis, reducing post-operative complications such as those seen in total hip replacement (THR). However, acetabular parameters in small-breed dogs are rarely reported.ObjectivesTo investigate acetabular parameters using radiography and computed tomography (CT) in small-breed dogs with Maltese and Shih Tzu dogs used as model breeds.MethodsStandard calibrated, extended hip radiographs and CT images were obtained. Subsequently, acetabular width (AW) in various directions was measured using radiography and CT, whereas acetabular depth (AD) was obtained by CT. Acetabular index (AI) is a ratio calculated from AD and AW.ResultsThe values of AW and AD were much higher in Shih Tzu than in Maltese dogs. Male Shih Tzus showed higher values of these parameters than females, while sex-based differences in most of the parameters could not be detected in Maltese. Body weight, but not age, influenced AWs and ADs. While AWs and ADs were influenced by several factors, AI was comparable among the assessed factors and between Maltese and Shih Tzu dogs (p = 0.172; 31.42 ± 1.35 and 32.60 ± 1.80, respectively). Also, AI did not vary with breed, sex, or body size.ConclusionsThe obtained radiographic and CT acetabular parameters could be useful as guidelines for evaluating the acetabulum of small-breed dogs in clinical practice.     

Sperm cryopreservation of silver barb (Barbodes gonionotus): cryoprotectants,cooling rate and storage time on sperm quality

Effectiveness and efficiency of frozen sperm on fertilization and hatching success of eggs from silver barb was examined in relation to cryoprotectants, freezing rate and storage period. Sperm was diluted in calcium‐free Hank's balanced salt solution, equilibrated with dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO), propylene glycol, sucrose or methanol at 5%, 10%, 15% or 20% final concentrations, and frozen in 250‐μL straws using a one‐step freezing procedure (1, 5 and 8°C min^?1 from 25 to ?40°C). Highest post‐thaw sperm motility was found from a treatment using 10% DMSO and 5°C min^?1 (82.2 ± 2.1%), similar to that of 10% DMSO and 8°C min^?1 (87.8 ± 3.2%). Post‐thaw motility of sperm frozen at 5 or 8°C min^?1 was significantly higher than 1°C min^?1. Relative sperm motility declined significantly after 10 months of cryostorage while viability did not change during a 12‐month cryostorage. Average fertilization rates of sperm after 1 and 4 months of storage were 64.5 ± 4.6% and 61.3 ± 3.4%, respectively, similar to those of fresh sperm (69.6–72.3%). Hatching rates of cryopreserved sperm (45.4–51.2%) were similar to those of fresh sperm (51.8–57.8%). This study developed suitable methods for cryopreservation of silver barb sperm that can be used to facilitate hatchery operation.     

QTL underlying plant and first branch height in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

Cassava, Manihot esculenta Crantz subsp. Esculenta was a major food crop across Asia and Africa. The crop was a highly heterozygous perennial woody shrub cultivated from stem cuttings. Cassava improvement for starchy tuberous roots requires about 5-6 years from F₁ hybrid seed germination to the selection of superior genotypes. Early selection with DNA markers could increase the number of elite genotypes identified. The aim here was to identify DNA markers associated with loci underlying plant and first branch height. In this study, 640 SSR primer pairs were used to screen for polymorphisms in two parental lines, cv. ‘Huaybong60’ (female) and cv. ‘Hanatee’ (male). There were 235 informative polymorphic markers used to genotype 100 individuals of an F₁ mapping population. Genotype data was analyzed by JoinMap^® version 3.0 software in order to construct a genetic linkage map. The map consisted of 156 linked SSR markers distributed across 25 linkage groups. The total length of the map was 845.2 cM (Kosambi cM) with 6.2 loci per linkage group, and an average distance between markers of 7.9 cM. Plant and first branch height of stem cuttings from the F₁ mapping population were collected from individual lines planted in 2007-2009. Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) underlying these traits were identified using mapQTL^®/version 4.0. A total of seven QTL placed on four linkage groups were found for plant height. Of these, one major QTL was discovered on linkage group 2 near the marker SSRY155 with 17.9% of phenotypic variation explained (PVE). For first branch height, five QTL located on five linkage groups were identified. The two major QTL were located on linkage groups 2, and 20 at the loci SSRY323 and SSRY236 with 23.5% and 22.6% PVE, respectively. The QTL for plant and first branch height will serve as useful molecular markers in a cassava breeding program and may allow identification of the underlying genes in future.     

Effects of Butea superba on reproductive systems of rats

The effects of Butea superba on the reproductive system in male Wistar rats were investigated. The animals were fed daily with the powdered crude drug suspended in distilled water by a gastric tube at the dose of 2, 25, 250 and 1250 mg/kg body weight for 8 weeks. Rats fed with 1 ml of distilled water were used as a negative control. The weights of all vital organs in all treated groups were not different from the control. The percentage weight ratios of body weights of seminal vesicles and prostate glands were not different from the control, except that the testis of the group fed with 1250 mg/kg was significantly different from the control and the other treated groups. In addition, the sperm counts in this group showed about 16% more than the control group. Hematology as well as the liver and kidney function of all treated groups showed no difference from the control. B. superba, drug at 250 mg/kg which was 100 times more than the Thai FDA recommended dose for humans appeared to be safe in rats. The crude drug has demonstrated an increase tendency on testis weight and sperm counts in rat. The information from the present study can be used to explain the Thai folklore application of this plant in Thailand.