Effects of copper source and concentration on in vitro phytate phosphorus hydrolysis by phytase

Five copper (Cu) sources were studied at pH 2.5, 5.5, and 6.5 to determine how Cu affects phytate phosphorus (PP) hydrolysis by phytase at concentrations up to 500 mg/kg diet (60 min, 40-41 degrees C). Subsequently, Cu solubility with and without sodium phytate was measured. Adding Cu inhibited PP hydrolysis at pH 5.5 and pH 6.5 (P < 0.05). This inhibition was greater with higher concentrations of Cu. Tri-basic copper chloride and copper lysinate inhibited PP hydrolysis much less than copper sulfate pentahydrate, copper chloride, and copper citrate (P < 0.05). A strong negative relationship was observed between PP hydrolysis and soluble Cu at pH 5.5 (r = -0.76, P < 0.0001) and 6.5 (r = -0.54, P < 0.0001). In conclusion, pH, Cu concentration, and source influenced PP hydrolysis by phytase in vitro and were related to the amount of soluble Cu and the formation of insoluble copper-phytin complexes.     

Consumption of oxidized oil increases oxidative stress in broilers and affects the quality of breast meat

A total of 120 4-week-old broiler chickens were allotted to 12 pens and fed one of three diets including control, oxidized diet (5% oxidized oil), or antioxidant-added diet (500 IU vitamin E) for 2 weeks. Blood samples were collected at the end of feeding trial, and breast muscles were sampled immediately after slaughter. Breast meats were also collected 24 h after slaughter and used for meat quality measurements. Oxidative stress in blood, lipid and protein oxidation, and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2(+)-ATPase (SERCA) activity of breast muscle were determined. The oxidized diet increased oxidative stress in blood and increased carbonyl content in breast meat compared with the other two dietary treatments (P < 0.05). Lipid oxidation of breast muscles with the antioxidant-supplemented diet was lower than that with the oxidized and control diet groups (P < 0.05). Meat from birds fed the oxidized diet showed higher drip loss after 1 and 3 days of storage and greater 0-1 h post-mortem pH decline (P < 0.05). Significant differences in specific SERCA activity in breast muscles from birds fed control and oxidized diets (P < 0.05) were detected. This suggested that dietary oxidized oil induced oxidative stress in live birds and increased lipid and protein oxidation in breast muscle. Decrease in SERCA activity in breast muscles due to oxidative stress in live animals accelerated post-mortem glycolysis, which sped the pH drop after slaughter and increased drip loss, indicating that oxidation of diet can cause PSE-like (pale, soft, and exudative) conditions in broiler breast muscles.     

Effect of bread baking on the bioavailability of hydrogen-reduced iron powder added to unenriched refined wheat flour

Elemental iron powders are widely used to fortify flour and other cereal products. Our objective was to test the hypothesis that baking enhances the bioavailability of elemental iron powders by oxidizing Fe(0) to Fe(2+) or Fe(3+). An in vitro digestion/Caco-2 cell culture model and a piglet model were used to measure bioavailability. Bread flour, either unfortified or fortified with hydrogen-reduced (HR) iron powder or FeSO(4) (300 mg Fe/kg flour), was baked into bread. For the in vitro studies, bread samples were treated with pepsin at pH 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 and subsequently incubated with pancreatic enzymes at pH 7 in a chamber positioned above monolayers of cultured Caco-2 cells. Ferritin formation in the cells was used as an index of iron bioavailability. Ferritin formation in cells fed HR Fe bread was similar to cells fed FeSO(4) bread when the peptic digestion was conducted at a pH 2 but lower when the peptic phase was conducted at pH 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 (P < 0.05). Pig diets containing 35% dried bread were prepared and fed to cross-bred (Hampshire x Landrace x Yorkshire) anemic pigs in two studies. The rate of increase in hemoglobin Fe over the feeding period was used to calculate relative biological value (RBV), an index of iron bioavailability. In the first pig study, RBV of HR Fe added to flour prior to baking was 47.9% when compared to FeSO(4) fortified flour (P < 0.05). In the second pig study, a third treatment consisting of unfortified bread with HR iron added during diet mixing (after bread baking) was included. RBVs of the HR Fe diet (Fe added after baking) and HR Fe diet (Fe added before baking) were 40.1% and 53.5%, respectively, compared to the FeSO(4) diet. Differences in RBV between the HR Fe (before and after baking) and FeSO(4) (before baking) treatment groups were significant, but the difference between the before and after HR treatment groups was not significant. We conclude that bread baking does not enhance the bioavailability of elemental iron powders.     

SOME EFFECTS OF FERTILIZERS AND FARMYARD MANURE ON THE ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS IN SOILS

The amounts of P applied cumulatively to a neutral arable soil (pH 7.1–7. in 0.01M CaCl₂) at Rothamsted, as farmyard manure, alone or with superphosphate, which were converted to organic P in 100 years ranged from 18 to 44 μg P/g of soil (0–23 cm). Superphosphate alone (3300 kg P/ha) slightly lessened the total organic P in the soil. Neither farmyard manure nor super-phosphate significantly changed the amounts (38 to 42 μg P/g) of inositol penta- and hexaphosphate in these soils. In the surface layers (0–7.5 cm) of soils from permanent grassland at Rothamsted, superphosphate (3370kg P/ha) increased organic P by 134 μg P/g at pH 4.5 and 19 μg P/g at pH 6.5, about 6 and 1 per cent respectively of the P remaining from superphosphate applied cumulatively since 1858. In the sub-surface layers (7.5–23 cm) superphosphate increased organic P by 93 μg P/g at pH 4.5 and 62 μg P/g at pH 6.2, about 18 and 10 per cent respectively of the P remaining from superphosphate. The sum of inositol penta- and hexaphosphates accounted for 32 per cent at pH 4.5 and 21 per cent at pH 6.5 of the increases in organic P in the surface layers and 45 per cent and 26 per cent in the sub-surface layers at pH 4.5 and 6.5 respectively. Superphosphate (1260–2100 kg P/ha) applied intermittently or cumulatively increased total organic P by 19 to 52 μg P/g and inositol penta- and hexaphosphates by 13 to 17 μg P/g in acid tea soils (pH 3.2–3.4) from Georgia, U.S.S.R. Rock phosphate (510–1020kg P/ha) applied cumulatively had no effect on either the total organic P or the inositol P in acid tea soils (PH 3.6–3.7) from Ceylon.     

Increasing plant‐available phosphorus in an Ultisol with a yard‐waste compost

Abstract

Beneficial uses of a yard‐waste compost as a soil amendment and plant‐growth medium were evaluated on a highly weathered, acid soil (Ustic Kanhaplohumult), using corn (Zea mays L.) seedlings as a test crop. First, factors responsible for the soil's infertility were identified in a greenhouse experiment consisting of five phosphorus (P) rates (0, 75, 150, 300, and 600 mg/kg) with or without 1.0 g calcium (Ca)/g (2 tons Ca/ha) as gypsum (CaSO₄‐2H₂O) or calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)₂]. At no or low P additions, severe growth restrictions (low dry matter production and shoot P concentration <0.10%) irrespective of the Ca amendments indicated that P deficiency was the most growth limiting factor in this tropical soil. Subsequently, P sorption isotherms were constructed for the soil, the compost, and soilxompost mixtures by equilibrating 1.0 g soil in 20 mL 0.001M calcium chloride (CaCl₂) containing various P concentrations. The results showed that in the unamended state, the soil supported only 0.01 mg P/L, the compost 9.5 mg P/L, and the mixtures containing 25%, 50% or 75% compost by volume 0.04, 0.06, or 0.10 mg P/L in the soil solution, respectively. Approximately 300 mg P/kg must be added to the unamended soil to maintain 0.20 mg P/L in the soil solution. Finally, effects of the compost amendment were studied by growing corn in various volumetric mixtures containing 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% compost. Best growth was obtained when compost fractions were >75%, corresponding to approximately 0.20% P in the plant shoots and 40 mg/kg Mehlich‐1‐extractable P.     

Inulin effects on bioavailability of soy isoflavones and their calcium absorption enhancing ability

The effect of inulin on isoflavone absorption and the effect of isoflavones and synergy with inulin on calcium absorption in rats was investigated. Rats (n = 48) were divided into three groups and fed inulin (50 mg/g), isoflavone (8 mg/g) or inulin + isoflavone (50 mg/g + 8 mg/g) diets for 21 days. After a 2-h fast, rats were given (45)Ca orally or intraperitoneally, together with 25 mg of calcium as calcium acetate. Blood and femurs were collected 4 days later. Sera were analyzed for isoflavones using HPLC-MS, femurs for (45)Ca by beta-scintillation counting, and total femoral calcium by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Both groups fed isoflavones had similar and significantly higher weight-adjusted total femoral calcium content compared to the inulin-fed group (p < 0.0001). (45)Ca absorption was significantly higher (p < 0.01) when isoflavones were added to the diet, and serum equol was significantly lower (p < 0.01) when inulin was added to the diet containing isoflavones. We conclude that isoflavones enhance calcium absorption, without synergy from inulin, and that inulin decreases equol production.     

Competitive and noncompetitive adsorption of silicate and phosphate by two acid Si-deficient soils and their effects on P and Si extractability

The effects of pH on the adsorption of silicate and phosphate, either singly or in competition, by two acid soils were investigated. Both soils adsorbed two to three times more P than Si and adsorption isotherms at pH 5.0, 5.5, 6.0 and 6.5 showed that increasing pH greatly increased Si adsorption but decreased that of P. Silicate adsorption was very low below pH 5.0, increased rapidly up to pH 9–10 before decreasing again. Adsorption of P was at a maximum at pH 2.0, decreased slowly up to pH 7.0 and then more rapidly above pH 7.0. When Si and P were added at equimolar concentrations, the presence of P decreased Si adsorption between pH 6.0 and 8.0 while the presence of Si decreased P adsorption in the pH region 6.0 and 11. Addition of calcium silicate at rates equivalent to 300, 600 and 1200 kg Si ha^?1 resulted in a progressive increase in soil pH. Separate samples of soil were treated with Ca(OH)₂ to give the same pH values so that the effect of Si could be identified. The highest rate of Si (1200 kg ha^?1 which gave a pH of 6.5) caused a significant decrease in P adsorption (as determined by adsorption isotherms) and an increase in resin-extractable P but the lower rates had little effect. Addition of P to the soil as calcium phosphate at rates equivalent to 30, 60 and 100 kg P ha^?1 all caused a decrease in Si adsorption capacity and an increase in CaCl₂-extractable Si. It was concluded that the strategy of adding Si to lower P requirements in acid soils is not likely to be effective while addition of fertilizer P may well lower Si adsorption and promote Si desorption and its increased mobility.     

富里酸对红壤酸度的改良及酸化阻控效果

用采自安徽由第四纪红色黏土发育的红壤(红黏土)和采自江西由第三纪红砂岩发育的红壤(红砂土)进行室内培养试验,研究了添加富里酸对红壤酸度的改良效果和红壤酸化的阻控效果。结果表明,添加富里酸显著提高了两种土壤的pH,并且随着富里酸添加量的增加对土壤pH的提升效果逐渐增加,添加50g/kg富里酸处理红黏土和红砂土的土壤pH分别由对照的4.31和4.69提高至5.91和5.97。添加富里酸也提高了两种土壤的pH缓冲容量(pHBC),因而提高了土壤的抗酸化能力。与土壤pH的变化趋势相似,富里酸对土壤pHBC的提升效果也随其加入量的增加而增加。添加50 g/kg富里酸时,红黏土和红砂土的pHBC分别由对照的20.73和7.78 mmol/(kg×pH)提高至35.31和23.30 mmol/(kg×pH),分别比对照提高了0.70倍和1.99倍。添加富里酸不仅可以有效改良红壤酸度,还可以提高红壤的抗酸化能力。富里酸对红砂土酸化的阻控效果明显优于对红黏土。     

Interactions of lipid metabolism and intestinal physiology with Tremella fuciformis Berk edible mushroom in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet with or without Nebacitin

Male adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups in a 2 x 3 factorial design and fed diets containing different levels of Tremella fuciformis Berk (TFB) dietary fiber (0, 5, or 10%) and 1 g of cholesterol/100 g of diet with or without 0.7% Nebacitin for 4 weeks. TFB contained 6.2% soluble dietary fiber and 57.3% insoluble dietary fiber. The results showed that the serum LDL-cholesterol, hepatic total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the rats fed diets with TFB content with or without Nebacitin. However, the serum total cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) by Nebacitin. In feces, the presence of TFB (T5, T10, AT5, and AT10) in the diet significantly increased the total neutral steroids and bile acid excretions and undigested fiber concentrations as compared to T0 or AT0. In the small intestine, the Nebacitin diets increased the weights of both cecum and colon-rectum contents and lowered short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations of serum and cecal contents more than no Nebacitin diets did. It was suggested that the hypocholesterolemic effect of TFB dietary fiber may be mediated by the increase in fecal neutral steroids and total bile acids excretion and the increase in SCFA productions. The TFB edible mushroom dietary supplement altered the intestinal physiology of the rats.     

Dietary fibers from mushroom sclerotia. 4. In vivo mineral absorption using ovariectomized rat model

The effect of three novel dietary fibers (DFs) prepared from mushroom sclerotia, namely, Pleurotus tuber-regium, Polyporus rhinocerus, and Wolfiporia cocos, on calcium and magnesium absorption was evaluated in ovariectomized (OVX) rats fed with sclerotial DF based and low Ca (0.3%) diets for 14 days. The animals in the W. cocos DF diet group possessed significantly (p < 0.05) higher levels of cecal total short-chain fatty acids (204 mumol/g of cecal content) and had an acidic pH (5.88) in their cecum when compared with those of the cellulose control group. Such an acidic environment was found to promote the ionization of the unabsorbed Ca and Mg in their cecum, which in turn significantly (p < 0.05) increased the concentrations of cecal soluble Ca (2.56-fold) and Mg (1.22-fold). Besides, the apparent Ca and Mg absorptions of the W. cocos DF group were also significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced (Ca, 16.5%; Mg, 15.3%) together with significantly (p < 0.05) higher serum Ca (3.61 mmol/L) and Mg (1.07 mmol/L) levels when compared with those of the cellulose control group. These data suggest that ingestion of W. cocos DF could improve the overall Ca and Mg absorptions of the OVX rats fed a low Ca diet. The potential use of sclerotial DFs as a functional food ingredient for enhancing mineral absorption is also discussed.     

Olive oils improve lipid metabolism and increase antioxidant potential in rats fed diets containing cholesterol

The effect of olive oils on lipid metabolism and antioxidant activity was investigated on 60 male Wistar rats adapted to cholesterol-free or 1% cholesterol diets. The rats were divided into six diet groups of 10. The control group (control) consumed the basal diet (BD) only, which contained wheat starch, casein, cellulose, and mineral and vitamin mixtures. To the BD were added 10 g/100 g virgin (virg group) or Lampante (Lamp group) oils, 1 g/100 g cholesterol (chol group), or both (chol/virg group) and (chol/Lamp group). The experiment lasted 4 weeks. Plasma total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), total phospholipids (TPH), HDL-phospholipids (HDL-PH), total radical-trapping antioxidative potential (TRAP), malondialdehyde lipid peroxidation (MDA), and liver TC were measured. Groups did not differ before the experiment. In the chol/virg and chol/Lamp vs chol group, the oil-supplemented diets significantly (P < 0.05) lessened the increase in plasma lipids due to dietary cholesterol as follows: TC (25.1 and 23.6%), LDL-C (39.3 and 34.7%), TG (19.3 and 17.0%), and TC in liver (36.0 and 35.1%) for the chol/virg and chol/Lamp group, respectively. The chol/virg and chol/Lamp diets significantly decreased the levels of TPH (24.7 and 21.2%; p < 0.05 in both cases) and HDL-PH (22.9 and 18.0%; p < 0.05 in both cases) for the chol/virg and chol/Lamp group, respectively. Virgin and Lampante oils in rats fed basal diet without cholesterol did not affect the lipid variables measured. Virgin, and to a lesser degree Lampante, oils have increased the plasma antioxidant activity in rats fed BD without cholesterol (an increase in TRAP, 20.6 and 18.5%; and a decrease in MDA, 23.2 and 11.3%, respectively). In the rats of chol/virg and chol/Lamp vs Chol diet groups the added oils significantly hindered the decrease in the plasma antioxidant activity (TRAP, 21.2 and 16.7%; and MDA, 27.0 and 22.3%, respectively). These results demonstrate that virgin, and to less degree Lampante, oils possess hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties. It is more evident when these oils are added to the diets of rats fed cholesterol. These positive properties are attributed mostly to the phenolic compounds of the studied oils.     

Long‐term phosphorus solubility in soils receiving poultry litter treated with aluminum,calcium, and iron amendments

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) runoff from poultry litter applied to fields can adversely impact water quality. The majority of P in runoff from poultry litter is soluble, so decreasing the solubility of P could lessen the impact of poultry litter on water quality. The objective of this study was to determine long‐term P solubility in soils receiving poultry litter treated with aluminum (Al), calcium (Ca), and iron (Fe) amendments at various soil pHs. Soil pH was adjusted to 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, and 8.0 using elemental sulfur (S) or CaCO₃ with some soil left at its native pH. The pH‐adjusted soil was then incubated with either no litter (control), litter alone (litter control), or litter amended with alum, A1₂(SO₄)₃.16H₂O, (100 or 200 g/kg), Ca(OH)₂ (25 or 50 g/kg), or FeSO₄ .7H₂O (100 or 200 g/kg). The soil was then allowed to equilibrate in the dark at room temperature for 0, 7, 49, 98, and 294 days. After equilibration, soils were extracted with deionized water and soluble reactive P levels were determined. Water‐soluble P levels decreased with time in all treatments, including the control and litter control treatments. Soil pH also affected soluble reactive P levels, with the lowest levels generally observed at pH 8.0. Addition of both unamended and chemically‐amended litter to soil significantly increased P concentrations at all combinations of pH and sampling time. Addition of chemically‐amended litter to soil significantly reduced soluble reactive P compared to unamended litter. With all treatments, an apparent equilibrium was reached at 98 d after treatment. Amendment of litter with either FeSO₄ .7H₂O or alum resulted in the lowest soluble reactive P levels after 294 days. Use of chemical amendments to limit P solubility has potential and should be pursued as a means of reducing eutrophication of sensitive surface waters where poultry litter is applied as a fertilizer.     

Food matrix effects on bioactivity of broccoli-derived sulforaphane in liver and colon of F344 rats

Sulforaphane (SF) is considered to be the major anticarcinogenic component in broccoli. The effects of feeding rats purified SF (5 mmol/kg of diet), broccoli containing SF formed in situ during laboratory hydrolysis (broccoli-HP; 20% freeze-dried broccoli diet, 0.16 mmol of SF/kg of diet), and broccoli containing intact glucosinolates (broccoli-GS; 20% freeze-dried broccoli diet, 2.2 mmol of glucoraphanin/kg of diet) were compared. Rats (male F344 rats, five per group) were fed control (modified AIN-76 B-40), SF, broccoli-HP, or broccoli-GS for 5 days. In rats fed broccoli-GS, quinone reductase activities (QR) in the colon and liver were greater (4.5- and 1.4-fold over control, respectively) than in rats fed broccoli-HP (3.2- and 1.1-fold over control, respectively). Broccoli-GS and SF diets increased QR to the same extent, even though the broccoli-GS diet contained far less SF (as the unhydrolyzed glucosinolate, glucoraphanin) than the purified SF diet. In a second experiment, rats were fed one of six diets for 5 days: (1) control; (2) 20% broccoli-GS; (3) diet 2 + low SF (0.16 mmol/kg of diet); (4) diet 2 + high SF (5 mmol/kg of diet); (5) low SF (0.32 mmol/kg of diet); or (6) high SF (5.16 mmol/kg of diet). In both liver and colon, QR was increased most by high SF plus broccoli-GS; individually, high SF and broccoli-GS had similar effects, and adding the low-dose SF to broccoli-GS had either no effect or a negative effect. In both experiments, urinary SF-mercapturic acid correlated with QR activity, not with dietary intake. It was concluded that all diets were substantially more effective in the colon than in the liver and that broccoli-GS was more potent than SF or broccoli-HP.     

Can phosphorus fertilizers sparingly soluble in water decrease phosphorus leaching loss from an acid peat soil?

The potential risk of phosphorus (P) loss in surface run‐off can be decreased using sparingly soluble forms of P fertilizer (e.g. reactive phosphate rock (RPR)). However, it is unclear whether RPR can decrease P loss in leachate, especially when applied to soils with a small anion storage capacity (viz. P sorption capacity) and pH. Our hypothesis was that at low soil pH, the solubility of RPR would increase and result in P losses in leachate similar to those receiving single superphosphate (SSP), but at higher pH, less P would be lost from soils receiving RPR than SSP. Lysimeters containing a crushed, sieved acid mesic Organic (viz. peat) subsoil (30–60 cm) were limed to pH 4.5, 5.5 or 6.5 and treated with SSP or RPR at rates of 0, 50, 100 or 200 kg P/ha. Lysimeters were sown with ryegrass and watered over 12 months under controlled conditions and the leachate collected. Losses of filtered (< 0.45 μm) reactive inorganic P (FRP) and unreactive or organic P (FUP) in leachate were greatest for pH 4.5 treatments and least for the pH 6.5 treatments. The difference in FRP and FUP leachate losses in RPR‐ and SSP‐treated soils was smaller at pH 4.5 and 5.5, and increased at pH 6.5 as losses from soils receiving RPR decreased compared to those receiving SSP. The results suggest that RPR can be used as a strategy to decrease P losses in leachate from an acid Organic soil with small P sorption capacity when limed to > pH 5.5.     

厌氧土壤灭菌法对西瓜连作土壤性质的影响

对旱田和水田西瓜连作土用厌氧土壤灭菌法(ASD)处理,分别设对照(H1和S1,H指旱田土,S指水田土)、淹水对照(H2和S2)、添加1%稻草(H3和S3)、1%稻草+0.1%硫磺(H4和S4)、1%稻草+300 mg/kg氨水(H5和S5),混匀后淹水、密封,户外处理20 d。分别测定土壤pH值、EC值、NO_3~-、NH_4~+、SO_4~(2-)和土壤可培养微生物等指标。结果表明,ASD法可显著提高土壤pH值(P0.05),淹水对照和各处理土样的pH6.5(除H4和S4的pH6.5外),均显著高于对照(P0.05);有效调节土壤EC值,旱田土的淹水对照和各处理EC值均低于对照H1(除H5高于对照H1外),水田土S2和S3的EC值低于S1,S4和S5高于S1,但淹水对照和各处理EC值与对照相比,差异不显著(P0.05);降低土壤中NO_3~-、SO_4~(2-)含量,淹水对照和各处理土样中NO_3~-含量较对照降低79.4%~99.9%,除H4和S4中SO_4~(2-)含量较对照分别增加155.7%和58.9%外,淹水对照和其它各处理土样中SO_4~(2-)含量较对照降低38.2%~91.0%;尖孢镰刀菌西瓜专化型(Fusarium Oxysporum f.sp.Niveum,FON)数量显著降低(P0.05),旱田土和水田土中FON含量与对照H1和S1相比,分别由10~5和10~4CFU/g降至10~3CFU/g(其中各旱田土样中FON含量大小依次为H4H3=H5H2H1,各水田土样中FON含量大小依次为S4S3S5S2S1)。可见,ASD法可调节西瓜连作土理化性质,抑制FON,改善退化土壤质量。     

NUTRITION OF CONTAINER-GROWN CHRISTMAS CACTI

The effect of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and lime additions to container-grown Schlumbergera x buckleyi were examined in two experiments. In each case rooted cuttings were grown in peat/perlite (1:1, v/v), with three plants per pot, for 17 months in a heated greenhouse. Foliage growth and flowering were strongly enhanced by added N and fertilization of between 1800 and 2200 g N m^{? 3} (105–130 g N m^{? 3} per month) and a foliar N content of 3.4–4.2% were recommended. Flowering was delayed by high N but promoted by added P. Added P also strongly influenced foliage growth and flowering but at lower rates than that for N fertilization. Recommended P rates were between 650 and 850 g P m^{? 3} (40–50 g P m^{? 3} per month) and a foliar P content of 1.3–1.5%. This species appeared tolerant of a wide range of pH levels, with a range of lime rates having no significant effect. A foliar calcium (Ca) content of 0.7% to 0.9% was suggested with a recommended media pH of 5.5–6.5. High K strongly influenced the production of stem segments and flowering in a small experiment and fertilization of 1500–2000 g K m^{? 3} (90–120 g K m^{? 3} per month) and a foliar content of 1.8–2.6% K were tentatively recommended.     

石灰性土壤施用氯化钙对冬小麦生长及钙锌吸收的影响

【目的】北方石灰性土壤碳酸钙含量、p H高等因素制约了小麦对锌的吸收,但由于交换性钙含量高,这一地区作物钙锌营养及其相互作用的研究一直缺乏。本研究通过冬小麦盆栽试验,研究石灰性土壤上不同氯化钙用量对冬小麦生长及钙锌吸收利用的影响,初步探索冬小麦钙锌的相互作用。【方法】选取西北农林科技大学农作一站麦田耕层0—20 cm的土壤进行冬小麦盆栽试验。设5个处理,在施N 0.3 g/kg、P2O50.2 g/kg、K2O 0.3 g/kg土基础上,以氯化钙为钙肥,设施Ca 0、0.3、0.6、0.9和1.2 g/kg土5个水平,每个处理4次重复,完全随机区组设计。供试品种为小偃22,2010年10月15日播种。在收获期采集小麦地上部,分别测定茎叶、颖壳和籽粒烘干重及其钙、锌的含量,收获后土壤p H、交换性钙及有效锌的含量,并计算冬小麦钙、锌累积量及钙、锌收获指数。试验数据采用Excel软件进行计算处理,DPS软件进行方差分析。【结果】小麦籽粒产量和地上部生物量随氯化钙用量升高而增加,施Ca 0.6、0.9和1.2 g/kg时小麦地上部生物量显著提高9.8%17.5%,籽粒产量在施Ca 0.9和1.2g/kg时分别显著增加10.7%和22.7%。施用氯化钙显著提高了小麦茎叶和颖壳中的钙含量,茎叶钙含量在施Ca0.9和1.2 g/kg时分别较对照显著提高53%和68%,颖壳钙含量在施Ca 0.6、0.9和1.2 g/kg时分别显著增加34%、36%和51%,籽粒钙含量无显著变化。整株钙累积量随施钙量的提高显著增加38.6%91.4%。施Ca 0.9和1.2 g/kg,籽粒锌含量显著增加,分别由对照的33.7 mg/kg提高到42.0和41.6 mg/kg。整株锌累积量随施钙量提高而显著增加,施Ca 1.2 g/kg时最高,比对照提高47.0%。收获后土壤交换性钙、有效锌含量无显著差异,但施Ca 0.9和1.2 g/kg时土壤p H分别由对照的8.16降低至7.93和7.97。【结论】发现盆栽试验条件下,石灰性土壤适量施用氯化钙可促进小麦干物质形成,增加籽粒产量;整株吸钙量随施钙量的提高显著增加,但不影响籽粒钙含量;施用氯化钙显著降低了土壤p H,同时促进了小麦对锌的吸收以及向籽粒的转移。该结果可为理解石灰性土壤中锌的活化机制,促进作物对锌的吸收利用提供参考。     

Chronic effects of low ph and elevated aluminum on survival,maturation, spawning and embryo-larval development of the fathead minnow in soft water

Fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) were exposed to a range of pH and A1 concentrations in soft water (8 mg Ca L^?1) to determine effect levels at various life stages. The tested pH levels ranged from 8.0 through 5.2 and inorganic monomeric Al from 15 through 60 μg L^?1. Reproductive processes including spawning, embryogenesis and early larval survival were more sensitive to acid stress than were juvenile growth and survival. Juvenile survival was significantly reduced at pH 5.2 + 60 μg Al L^?1 (P <0.05). Spawning success was reduced at pH 6.0 and 5.5 (P <0.10) and failed completely at pH 5.2, regardless of Al concentration. An apparant beneficial effect of added Al was observed during spawning at pH 7.5 + 35 μg Al L^?1, but this effect was not significantly greater than at pH 7.5 + 15 μg Al L^?1. A significant (P <0.05) decrease in larval survival occurred at pH 6.0 + 15 μg Al L^?1 and lower compared to the survival at pH 7.5 + 15 μg Al L^?1. Aluminum at 30 μg L^?1 provided protection resulting in short term increased embryo-larval survival at pH 5.5. The effect of parental exposure on progeny survival was assessed by an interchange of embryos from the spawning treatment to all tested exposure conditions. When reared at pH 8.0 + 15 μg Al L^?1 through 6.0 + 15 μg Al L^?1 or at pH 5.5 + 30 μg Al L^?1, parental exposure did not significantly influence progeny survival. However, survival was significantly reduced among progeny from brood fish reared at pH 5.5 + 15 μg Al L^?1 as compared to those spawned at pH 6.0 + 15 μg Al L^?1 and above, or at pH 5.5 + 30 μg Al L^?1 (P <0.05). Juvenile or 14 d larval growth effects were not detected under any exposure condition (P >0.05). Ultimately, fathead minnow young-of-the-year recruitment and production potential can be expected to diminish when environmental pH falls to 6.0, and to fail completely at 5.5 and lower.     

Flavor improvement in pork from barrows and gilts via inhibition of intestinal skatole formation with resistant potato starch

Skatole originates from microbial processing of tryptophan in the large intestine of pigs and accumulates in adipose tissue. Formation may be inhibited by the anti-apoptotic function of butyrate formed out of raw potato starch. Two groups of pigs (each consisting of gilts and barrows) were fed from 30 to 110 kg life weight either a conventional diet (controls; n = 35) or an isocaloric diet containing 300 g of raw potato starch/kg of body weight (RS; n = 34). Skatole concentrations were measured in colon content, blood, and adipose tissue. Odor of cooked meat samples was evaluated by a test panel. RS reduced concentrations in colon content and blood plasma (P < 0.001). Back fat concentrations were decreased significantly from 25 to 1.40 ng/g (barrows; P < 0.001) and from 40 to 9 ng/g (gilts; P < 0.001). Odor rating (scale of 1-5 from very unpleasant to very pleasant) was 3.07 for low skatole concentrations and 2.66 for both medium and high skatole concentrations (P < 0.05).     

Increase in Bone Calcification in Young Rats Fed Breads Highly Fortified with Calcium

Breads were prepared with flour fortified with calcium (Ca) at four levels: 211 (U.S. enrichment standard), 446, 924, and 1,412 mg/100 g of flour. Corresponding diets prepared with these breads and fed to growing rats for four weeks provided 25 (diet A), 50 (diet B), 100 (diet C), and 150% (diet D) of their Ca requirement. After four weeks, the Ca content of the femurs of these rats had increased significantly as Ca in the diet increased up to 100% of requirement but not beyond. The increase in femur strength was significant only between diet A and diet B. Apparent Ca absorption increased as Ca in the diet increased, but Ca absorbed from diet D was not retained any better than that absorbed from diet C. Overall, the data suggested that Ca in highly fortified breads was well absorbed and retained, and that the rats' Ca status early in life was greatly improved. Flour fortified with Ca up to the 924-mg level (4.4× the mandated enrichment level) had no adverse effect on bread quality. These breads can be labeled a “good source of ” or “high in” Ca.