Authentication of the botanical and geographical origin of honey by mid-infrared spectroscopy

The potential of Fourier transform mid-infrared spectroscopy (FT-MIR) using an attenuated total reflectance (ATR) cell was evaluated for the authentication of 11 unifloral (acacia, alpine rose, chestnut, dandelion, heather, lime, rape, fir honeydew, metcalfa honeydew, oak honeydew) and polyfloral honey types (n = 411 samples) previously classified with traditional methods such as chemical, pollen, and sensory analysis. Chemometric evaluation of the spectra was carried out by applying principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis, the error rates of the discriminant models being calculated by using Bayes' theorem. The error rates ranged from <0.1% (polyfloral and heather honeys as well as honeydew honeys from metcalfa, oak, and fir) to 8.3% (alpine rose honey) in both jackknife classification and validation, depending on the honey type considered. This study indicates that ATR-MIR spectroscopy is a valuable tool for the authentication of the botanical origin and quality control and may also be useful for the determination of the geographical origin of honey.     

Authentication of the botanical and geographical origin of honey by front-face fluorescence spectroscopy

Front-face fluorescence spectroscopy, directly applied on honey samples, was used for the authentication of 11 unifloral and polyfloral honey types (n = 371 samples) previously classified using traditional methods such as chemical, pollen, and sensory analysis. Excitation spectra (220-400 nm) were recorded with the emission measured at 420 nm. In addition, emission spectra were recorded between 290 and 500 nm (excitation at 270 nm) as well as between 330 and 550 nm (excitation at 310 nm). A total of four different spectral data sets were considered for data analysis. Chemometric evaluation of the spectra included principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis; the error rates of the discriminant models were calculated by using Bayes' theorem. They ranged from <0.1% (polyfloral and chestnut honeys) to 9.9% (fir honeydew honey) by using single spectral data sets and from <0.1% (metcalfa honeydew, polyfloral, and chestnut honeys) to 7.5% (lime honey) by combining two data sets. This study indicates that front-face fluorescence spectroscopy is a promising technique for the authentication of the botanical origin of honey and may also be useful for the determination of the geographical origin within the same unifloral honey type.     

Assessment of stable nitrogen isotopes in fingerprinting surface water inorganic nitrogen sources

In many coastal areas of Louisiana, surface water quality is deteriorating rapidly due to elevated nutrient input from agricultural, domestic and industrial sources. This study investigates the potential use of natural abundance variations in ¹⁵N/¹⁴N ratios for identification and tracing surface water inorganic N sources. Surface water samples were collected from streams and point sources in Louisiana and analyzed for NH₄ ⁺-N, NO₃ ^?-N and associated ¹⁵N/¹⁴N (δ¹⁵N ‰) concentrations. Ammonium-N from domestic sewage and industrial discharge point sources was found to have distinct δ¹⁵N ranges. Domestic sewage discharge into a slow flowing stream was traced for about 30 km downstream using ¹⁵N/¹⁴N ratios. At the sewage point source NH₄ ⁺-δ¹⁵N values averaged +43%o and increased linearly to +162‰ with distance from the discharge. In a larger stream with a greater flow velocity the NH₄ ⁺-δ¹⁵N surface water signature of an industrial discharge source was identifiable for approximately 1 km from the point source. Surface water NO₃ ^?-°¹⁵N values generally ranged from +1 to +99‰ and no significant association was observed between δ¹⁵N values with distance from the domestic sewage and industrial point sources. The discrete NH₄ ⁺-δ¹⁵N signatures of domestic sewage and industrial point sources compared to downstream surface water NH₄ ⁺-δ¹⁵N values suggest that N isotopic ratios have the potential to be used as tracers in surface waters contaminated with inorganic N.     

碳氮稳定同位素检测能力的验证——2013年实验室间比对分析结果的汇总

稳定性同位素示踪技术,特别是碳、氮稳定性同位素已广泛地应用于农业化学、地球化学和环境化学。碳、氮同位素比值的质谱检测结果直接关系到示踪试验的可靠性。在目前缺乏富集碳、氮同位素的标准物质的条件下,通过实验室间的比对可以验证各实验室对碳、氮同位素比值检测能力、检测结果的准确性和可比性。我所在2013年组织和实施了一次由全国14个单位的检测实验室共17台仪器参加的农业、生态和环境样品中碳氮百分含量及其稳定性同位素比值的实验室间比对。我所制备了多种被检测的样品,有含碳氮的化学肥料、土壤和植物样品;在稳定性同位素富集度上,有自然丰度的和不同富集程度的同位素样品。除固体样品外,还有3种不同丰度的N2O和CO2气体样品。在进行检测结果的统计和评价时,采用Z比分衡量各实验室检测结果的可信度。本文汇总了2013年实验室间比对的结果。     

Predicting soil organic matter stability in agricultural fields through carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes

In order to evaluate the sustainability and efficiency of soil carbon sequestration measures and the impact of different management and environmental factors, information on soil organic matter (SOM) stability and mean residence time (MRT) is required. However, this information on SOM stability and MRT is expensive to determine via radiocarbon dating, precluding a wide spread use of stability measurements in soil science. In this paper, we test an alternative method, first developed by Conen et al. (2008) for undisturbed Alpine grassland systems, using C and N stable isotope ratios in more frequently disturbed agricultural soils. Since only information on carbon and nitrogen concentrations and their stable isotope ratios is required, it is possible to estimate the SOM stability at greatly reduced costs compared to radiocarbon dating. Using four different experimental sites located in various climates and soil types, this research proved the effectiveness of using the C/N ratio and δ¹⁵N signature to determine the stability of mOM (mineral associated organic matter) relative to POM (particulate organic matter) in an intensively managed agro-ecological setting. Combining this approach with δ¹³C measurements allowed discriminating between different management (grassland vs cropland) and land use (till vs no till) systems. With increasing depth the stability of mOM relative to POM increases, but less so under tillage compared to no-till practises. Applying this approach to investigate SOM stability in different soil aggregate fractions, it corroborates the aggregate hierarchy theory as proposed by Six et al. (2004) and Segoli et al. (2013). The organic matter in the occluded micro-aggregate and silt & clay fractions is less degraded than the SOM in the free micro-aggregate and silt & clay fractions. The stable isotope approach can be particularly useful for soils with a history of burning and thus containing old charcoal particles, preventing the use of ¹⁴C to determine the SOM stability.     

Soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics using stable isotopes in 19- and 10-year-old tropical agroforestry systems

Conversion of forests to agricultural land in the American tropics, through traditional agricultural practices such as shifting cultivation, has not been able to maintain stocks of soil organic carbon (SOC), and increasing population pressure has led to shortened fallow periods, causing further losses of soil fertility. However, land management practices such as agroforestry can provide a sustainable alternative to single cropping because of its ability to maintain or increase the SOC pool. This study quantified SOC and nitrogen (N) pools, gross SOC turnover, residue stabilization efficiency (RSE_AC) in the alley crop, soil δ¹³C partitioning, C₃-C abundance and δ¹⁵N dynamics in 19- and 10-year Gliricidia sepium and Erythrina poeppigiana alley cropping system. Each system was studied at two fertilizer levels (tree prunings only [−N or −A], and tree prunings plus chicken manure [+N], or Arachis pintoi as a groundcover [+A]), and was compared to a sole crop system. The SOC and N pools were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the 19-year-old alley crop compared to the sole crop, but not significantly different (p < 0.05) in the 10-year-old system. Soil C and N (%) showed a similar trend as that of the SOC and N pools in both 19- and 10-year-old systems. Gross SOC turnover, to a 20 cm depth, ranged from 12 to 21 years in the 19-year-old alley crop compared to 50 years in the sole crop, and from 20 to 32 years in the 10-year-old alley crop compared to 106 years in the sole crop. The RSE_AC ranged from 10% to 58% in the 19-year-old system, and from 3% to 43% in the 10-year-old system. The δ¹³C signature of the soil shifted significantly (p < 0.05) towards that of C₃ vegetation in the alley crop due to the greater input of organic residues from tree prunings compared to the sole crop. The proportion of input from tree prunings only in the 19-year-old alley crop ranged from 14% to 20%, and from 9% to 11% in the 10-year-old system to a soil depth of 20 cm. The δ¹⁵N signature of the soil showed two patterns: that of the 19-year-old system being enriched in δ¹⁵N, and that of the 10-year-old system being depleted in δ¹⁵N compared to the sole crop. The addition of manure in the 19-year-old system has enriched the soil δ¹⁵N and in the 10-year-old system the soil was depleted due to the N₂-fixing groundcover A. pintoi.     

Influence of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on stable isotopes of nitrogen in Phaseolus vulgaris

The interactions between Phaseolus vulgaris, Rhizobium spp. strains nodulating P. vulgaris, and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi were assessed under greenhouse conditions in a nonsterilized Typic Haplustalf soil from Cauca, Colombia. Our results indicate a specific involvement of AM fungal species in nitrogen acquisition by the legume plants from symbiotic nitrogen fixation and from soil. A significant specific influence of inoculation with Glomus spp. on the ¹⁵N/¹⁴N ratio in plant shoots was dependent on the inoculated rhizobial strain, but AM fungal inoculation had no significant effect on shoot dry weight or nodule occupancy in the two different rhizobial strain treatments. The results imply that in low P soils the effects of an improved mycorrhizal symbiosis may include improved symbiotic N₂ fixation efficiency and/or improved soil N uptake. Received: 11 May 1996     

Carbon and nitrogen mineralization in cultivated and natural savanna soils of Northern Tanzania

In the present study, soil C and N mineralization and nutrient availability were compared: (1) in savanna woodland soils under natural acacia vegetation; (2) at termite sites; (3) in degraded woodland where acacias were selective logged for charcoal production; (4) in agricultural fields which were cultivated for 3 and 15 years, and (5) in traditional homestead fields which regularly received animal manure for about 10 years. Soil C and N mineralization dynamics were measured by incubation under controlled conditions for 120 days. Labile and stable soil C and N pools were determined by fitting double-exponential models to the measured cumulative mineralization. Selective removal of acacias from the woodland and short-term cultivation for 3 years did not affect available nutrient contents but significantly decreased total C and N contents and mineralization (P<0.05). Mainly the labile soil N pool decreased during the first 3 years of continuous cropping, whereas after 15 years the stable N pool, total S, available Ca and Zn contents were also depleted. Even after 15 years, however, the decrease of nutrient availability (apart from N) was less severe than that of soil organic matter stability. Additionally, not only the labile but also the more stable soil C and N pools decreased and controlled total mineralization as determined by the incubation experiments. Homestead fields with manure additions were shown to have elevated soil nutrient and organic matter contents. However, the manure should be mixed into the soil to improve organic matter stabilization. Soil regeneration in degraded savannas and recently cultivated fields might rapidly be achieved, whereas the 15-years-cultivated fields may require longer fallows to restore soil fertility.     

Immunochemical approach to detection of adulteration in honey: physiologically active royal jelly protein stimulating TNF-alpha release is a regular component of honey

The presence of royal jelly (RJ) proteins in honey collected from nectars of different plants, origin, and regions and in honeybee's pollen was detected by Western-blot analysis using polyclonal antibodies raised against water-soluble RJ-proteins. The most abundant RJ-protein in honeybee products corresponded to a 55 kDa protein. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of 55 kDa protein was N-I-L-R-G-E. This sequence is identical to the apalbumin-1, the most abundant protein of RJ. Apalbumin-1 is a regular component of honeybee products and thus is a suitable marker tool for proving adulteration of honey by means of immunochemical detection. Its presence in all tested samples of honeys and honeybee pollen was confirmed also by Western-blot analysis using polyclonal antibodies raised against recombinant apalbumin-1. It has been found that major RJ-proteins, apalbumin-1, and apalbumin-2, stimulate mouse macrophages to release TNF-alpha, which demonstrates that physiologically active proteins of honey could be used for its biological valuation.     

水分利用效率与用水有效性: 基于气孔视角的稳定同位素应用研究

澳大利亚多年降水较少并且分布不均,同华北平原相似,水资源短缺是制约粮食生产和作物产量的限制因子,水资源消耗中,农业用水所占比例最大,提高植物(作物)的水分利用效率和用水有效性对于实现水资源和农业生产的可持续利用和发展具有重要意义。本文针对澳大利亚和华北平原的农业生产和水资源现状,基于植物气孔角度在以下3个方面进行论述:1水分利用效率与用水有效性的概念;2基于气孔视角的水分利用效率和用水有效性的分析;3不同作物品种水分利用状况的同位素判别与应用。除此之外,也对华北平原目前农业水分利用情况提出相应建议。     

Incorporation of S into soil organic matter in the field as determined by the natural abundance of stable S isotopes

In agricultural systems with low S inputs, soil organic matter is a major source of S and the transformations between organic and inorganic S pools are important for the supply of S to plants. This study was conducted to determine the effect of S fertilizer on the size and activity of organic S pools. For 5 years S fertilizer with a known composition of stable S isotopes was applied to a rotation on a loamy soil and a coarse sandy soil at rates higher than the plant demand. Total organic S in soil organic matter was not affected by sulphur application, but a small increase occurred in the sulphate ester fractions (P<0.05). Inorganic sulphate concentrations in the soil reflected the S application in the year of sampling, whereas S applied in earlier years was not recognized. Organic matter below the plough layer in both soils was enriched with S, possibly as a result or organic matter leaching or an increased clay content in the subsoils. At 0–20 cm, the C:S ratio in organic matter was ca. 100 for both soils, decreasing to 73 and 46 at 60–80 cm for the coarse sandy soil and the loamy soils, respectively. In both soils, isotope data showed that ca. 30% of organic-bonded S at 0–20 cm originated from fertilizer S applied during the last 5 years, irrespective of the S application rate. At 20–40 cm the rate of incorporations was lower and at 40–60 cm no incorporation of fertilizer S into organic matter was recognized. The fertilizer application did not induce net changes in the total organic S fraction, but isotope data indicated that a considerable part of the organic S pool was involved in S cycling in the field.     

Carbon in vegetation of Russian forests: Methods to estimate storage and geographical distribution

Estimates of carbon (C) storage for the forest vegetation of Russia vary to a considerable extent. In this paper we describe methods of estimating C storage of forest ecosystems and present estimates of C storage in the forest vegetation of administrative territories and ecoregions of Russia. Estimates of C storage are based on National Forest Inventory data, estimates of the phytomass of trees and other vegetation of different forest ecosystems in various ecoregions of Russia, and mapped data for natural ecoregions. The forest ecosystems of Russia (771.1 Mha) have 118.8 Pg of C with 23.6% of the total in forest vegetation, 14.1% in the mortmass, and 62.3% in the soils. The estimates from this study are comparable to the estimates from other countries with temperate and boreal forest ecosystems.     

Carbon and nitrogen mineralization after maize harvest between and within maize rows: a microcosm study using 13C natural abundance

The sequestration of carbon in soil is not completely understood, and quantitative information about the rates of soil organic carbon (SOC) turnover could improve understanding. We analyzed the effects of the uneven distribution of crop residues after harvest of silage maize on C and N losses (CO₂‐C, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON), and NO₃^–) from a Haplic Phaeozem and on the occurrence of priming effects induced by the decomposition of accumulated maize residues. Soil columns were taken from a continuous maize (since 1961) field after harvest i) between maize stalk rows (M_bare), ii) within the maize rows including a standing maize stalk (M_stalk), and iii) from a continuous rye (since 1878) field after tillage (rye stalk and roots were mixed into the Ap horizon). The soil columns were incubated for 230 days at 8 °C with an irrigation rate of 2 mm 10^–2 M CaCl₂ per day. Natural ¹³C abundance was used to distinguish between maize‐derived C (in SOC and maize residues) and older C originating from former C₃ vegetation. The uneven distribution of maize residues resulted in a considerably increased heterotrophic activity within the maize rows as compared with soil between seed rows. Cumulative CO₂ production was 53.1 g CO₂‐C m^–2 for M_stalk and 23.3 g CO₂‐C m^–2 for M_bare. The contribution of maize‐derived C to the total CO₂ emission was 83 % (M_stalk) and 67 % (M_bare). Calculated as difference between CO₂‐C release from M_stalk and M_bare, 19 % of the maize residues (roots and stalk) in M_stalk were mineralized during the incubation period. There was no or only a marginal effect of the accumulation of maize residues in M_stalk on leaching of DOC, DON, and NO₃^–. Total DOC and DON leaching amounted to 2.5 g C m^–2 and 0.16 g N m^–2 for M_stalk and to 2.1 g C m^–2 and 0.12 g N m^–2 for M_bare. The contribution of maize‐derived C to DOC leaching was about 25 % for M_stalk and M_bare. Nitrate leaching amounted to 3.9 g NO₃^–‐N m^–2 for M_stalk and to 3.5 g NO₃^–‐N m^–2 for M_bare. There was no priming effect induced by the decomposition of fresh maize residues with respect to CO₂ or DOC production from indigenous soil organic carbon derived from C₃ vegetation.     

自然场景图像中的重叠蜜柚识别及试验

重叠蜜柚目标的准确分离和蜜柚果梗的定位是实现采摘自动化必须解决的两个关键问题.现有的苹果、柑橘等重叠果实分离方法不适用于重叠蜜柚,且无果梗定位功能.针对以上问题,该研究提出了一种结合渐进式中心定位的重叠蜜柚分离方法和果梗定位方法.首先利用主成分分析方法提取蜜柚区域、滤除背景并对图像中的重叠蜜柚进行初步分离;接着,对重叠...     

Cyclic polyalcohols: fingerprints to identify the botanical origin of natural woods used in wine aging

Cyclic polyalcohol composition of 80 natural wood samples from different botanical species, with the majority of them used in the oenology industry for aging purposes, has been studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after its conversion into their trimethylsilyloxime derivatives. Each botanical species showed a different and specific cyclic polyalcohol profile. Oak wood samples were characterized by the richness in deoxyinositols, especially proto-quercitol. Meanwhile, other botanical species showed a very low content of cyclic polyalcohols. The qualitative and quantitative study of cyclic polyalcohols was a useful tool to characterize and differentiate woods of different botanical origin to guarantee the authenticity of chips used in the wine-aging process. Monosaccharide composition was also analyzed, showing some quantitative differences among species, but cyclic polyalcohols were the compounds that revealed the main differentiation power.     

Trophic shift of stable isotopes and fatty acids in Collembola on bacterial diets

Fatty acid (FA) analysis is a promising tool to study trophic relationships in soil food webs. We determined FA biomarkers to trace bacterial food sources (Bacillus megaterium, Pseudomonas putida, Enterobacter aerogenes) of Collembola (Heteromurus nitidus, Protaphorura fimata, Folsomia candida). In addition, δ¹⁵N, δ¹³C, C/N ratio, body weight and NLFA/PLFA ratio (neutral lipid/phospholipid fatty acids) of Collembola were assessed. These measures indicated that P. putida ranked first, B. megaterium second and E. aerogenes third in food quality. FAs specific for bacteria were found in the NLFAs of the Collembola reflecting the respective bacterial diet. Biomarker FAs for gram-positive bacteria were methyl branched i14:0, i15:0, a15:0 and i17:0. Consumption of gram-negative bacteria was reflected by the cyclic form cy17:0 (E. aerogenes, P. putida) and by 16:1ω5 (P. putida).     

Distributions of carbon and nitrogen isotopes in Scotland's topsoil: a national‐scale study

The land use and climate of Scotland are currently undergoing change. Concentrations of Natural abundance stable isotopes in ecosystems have been used extensively to help to understand a wide range of processes and functions. In the current study topsoil was collected from the intercepts of a 20‐km grid across the whole of Scotland (183 points), which encompass large differences in mean annual temperature (MAT,3.1–9.1°C), mean annual precipitation (MAP, 588–3470 mm) and land use (from arable land through grassland and woodland to less fertile moorlands and bogs). At each sampling point the natural abundance δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values were measured. This paper describes for the first time the spatial distribution of these isotopes in the topsoil of Scotland. We applied linear modelling to assess the extent to which land use and climate can control the observed distributions. The more enriched topsoil δ¹³C values occurred in the northern and western regions of Scotland. Topsoil δ¹³C values were tightly constrained about the mean, and possibly because of this we were able to explain only 23.6% of the variance even after considering the potential effects of a wide range of abiotic factors and land uses. Precipitation and land use explained the greatest variance in topsoil δ¹³C, but individually this was only 10.4 and 9.9%, respectively. Topsoil δ¹⁵N values showed a more complex spatial arrangement. The main areas of the more enriched δ¹⁵N values were in the northern isles, along or near the coast on the eastern side of the country and in some areas of the western mainland. For topsoil δ¹⁵N, all explanatory variables together explained 55.7% of the variance, with land use alone explaining 45.4%. Soil under arable land and improved grassland, the more fertile sites, had the most enriched δ¹⁵N values, whereas woodland and bogs had the most depleted values. A positive relationship between topsoil δ¹⁵N and potential rate of nitrification suggested that this was due, at least in part, to greater losses of nitrate under arable land and improved grassland.     

Carbon and nitrogen transfer in leaf litter mixtures

The decomposition rate of litter mixtures can differ from that expected on the basis of the decomposition rate of the individual components. This difference may be linked to nitrogen (N) transfer from high-N to low-N components. Transfer of N is probably also associated with transfer of C, but the extent and direction of this C transfer are unknown. This study examined transfer and loss in laboratory microcosms of C and N from two mixed litter species (Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris L. and maize, Zea mays L.), which have natural isotopic differences in ¹³C. Half the material was ¹⁵N-labelled and the plants were fertilised or unfertilised. Substantial bidirectional transfer of C and N occurred between the litters, with net transfer of C from pine to maize litter and net transfer of N from high-N to low-N litter. Mixtures of fertilised and unfertilised plant litter showed higher than expected C losses and net transfer of N. Mixtures with litters from the same fertilisation treatment had small or insignificant net transfer of N and their C losses did not differ from values estimated using the decomposition rates of the pure litters.