Degradation of Carotenoids in Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) During Drying Process

Carotenoids are natural compounds whose nutritional importance comes from the provitamin A activity of some of them and their protection against several serious human disorders. The degradation of carotenoids was investigated during apricot drying by microwave and convective hot-air at 60 and 70 °C. Seven carotenoids were identified: antheraxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, 13-cis-β-carotene, all-trans-β-carotene and 9-cis-β-carotene; among these, all-trans-β-carotene was found to be about 50 % of total carotenoids. First-order kinetic models were found to better describe all-trans-β-carotene reduction during drying, with a degradation rate constant (k₁) that increased two folds when temperatures increased by 10 °C, in both methods. No differences were found in k₁ between apricots dried by hot air at 70 °C (k₁?=?0.0340 h^?1) and by microwave at 60 °C. The evolution of total carotenoids (117.1 mg/kg on dry basis) during drying highlighted a wider decrease (about 50 %) when microwave heating was employed, for both set temperatures. Antheraxantin was found to be the carotenoid most susceptible to heat, disappearing at 6 h during both trials with microwave as well as during convective hot-air at 70 °C. For this reason, antheraxanthin could be a useful marker for the evaluation of thermal damage due to the drying process. Also the degree of isomerization of all-trans-β-carotene could be a useful marker for the evaluation of the drying process.     

Effect of Prunus avium roots on river bank strong

A pulling effect by side roots is one way in which roots help to side in-plane strong of a little depth soil mass. In contrast to the effect of vertically-enlarge roots, whereby soil is strengthened by an increase in its shear strength, the pulling effect strengthens the soil by increasing the tensile strength of the rooted soil zone. To verify whether or not a pulling effect exists in the root system of Prunus avium in the Roudsar, North Iran and to study the importance and size of this effect, a direct in situ test was led at a site in the Chaboksar Forests. The results from the site showed that, in the surface soil (0-30 cm), Side roots can provide a pull force of up to 490-712 N (Newtons) over a vertical cross-section area of 20-50 cm2, or an enhance in the pulling stability of the rooted soil by about 48.1%. The test results suggest that, together with the Prunus avium vertical roots, which keep the little depth rooted soil zone to the deep and more stable soil mass, the side roots of the Prunus avium, with their pulling effect, are able to make less against little depth instability in the forest slopes, such as little depth slide, to a certain degree.     

Sequential application of soil-incorporated and post-emergence herbicides for controlling wild oat (Avena fatua L.) and green foxtail (Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv.) in spring wheat

The effects of shallow-soil-incorporated tri-allate or trifluralin, applied alone or in sequence with three post-emergence herbicides (barban, difenzoquat or flamprop-methyl), for controlling wild oat (Avena fatua L.) and green foxtail (Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv.) in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Neepawa) were investigated at Brandon, Manitoba in 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1981. All herbicide treatments, except trifluralin alone in 1981, gave good wild-oat control compared with the untreated control. Tri-allate applied alone did not control green foxtail. With tri-allate, subsequent applications of post-emergence herbicides did not further improve wild-oat control and produced a wheat yield similar to that of tri-allate applied alone. The addition of barban in 1981 did provide a significant yield increase. All treatments involving trifluralin gave equal foxtail control superior to that of tri-allate, but the post-emergence herbicides had no activity on green foxtail. Subsequent applications of barban and flamprop-methyl to trifluralin in 4 years and difenzoquat in 3 years improved wild-oat control. As a result, significant increases in yield were recorded from the addition of barban, difenzoquat, and flamprop-methyl in 1981 and in the mean values for 4 years. In one (1979) of the four years, difenzoquat application to tri-allate or trifluralin tended to reduce wheat tolerance based on visual ratings of plant height and growth vigour, but this did not affect wheat yield. Overall, herbicide treatments in 4 years resulted in significant wheat yield increases over the untreated control.     

芝麻种质资源信息数据库的设计与构建

农作物种质资源信息的数据建设对品种改良至关重要。本研究对我国收集保存的8 115份芝麻种质资源的基本信息、形态特征和生物学特性、品质特性、抗性等数据进行规范整理,以90 420条芝麻信息为数据来源,采用LMAP数据库技术构建了在线芝麻种质资源信息数据库http://www.sesame-bioinfo.org/phenotype/index.html。数据库主要功能包括芝麻种质资源信息浏览、信息检索及实物索取。本数据库的创建打破了传统纸质或综合性数据库存储芝麻种质资源信息的局限,有效解决芝麻种质资源数据保存分散,共享、交流、利用困难等问题,实现了芝麻资源数字化管理和交流,将极大促进资源的有效利用。     

Effect of rice establishment methods on weedy rice (Oryza sativa L.) infestation and grain yield of cultivated rice (O. sativa L.) in Sri Lanka

Weedy rice is a great threat to rice production in Sri Lanka. Selective herbicides to manage weedy rice in conventional rice cultivars are not available in Sri Lanka. In the absence of appropriate chemical control measures, cultural approaches may help to achieve effective control of weedy rice. A study was conducted in two consecutive seasons in farmers' fields at three sites (Atalla, Samanthurai, and Girithale villages) in Sri Lanka to evaluate the effect of different establishment methods (farmers' practice, random broadcast, row seeding, seedling broadcast, and transplanted rice) on weedy rice infestation and rice yield. The farmers' practice had a higher number of weedy rice panicles (60–80 m⁻²) than the random broadcast (39–48 panicles m⁻²), seedling broadcast (3–15 panicles m⁻²), and transplanted rice (1.3–3.0 panicles m⁻²) methods. The use of clean rice seeds in the random broadcast method reduced weedy rice seed production by 29–41% compared with the farmers' practice (0.6–2.0 t ha⁻¹). Compared with the farmers' practice, the seedling broadcast method reduced weedy rice seed production by 71–87% and transplanted rice by 95–98%; and increased rice yield by 27–49% (7.5–9.1 t ha⁻¹). At all three sites, the farmers' practice resulted in the lowest grain yield (5.1–6.7 t ha⁻¹). Compared with the farmers' practice, the random broadcast and row seeding methods increased rice yield by up to 21% and 31%, respectively. The findings suggest that the use of clean rice seeds, the use of a row-seeded crop, and the adoption of different rice planting methods may help to suppress the spread of weedy rice.     

Detecting ALS and ACCase herbicide tolerant accession of Echinochloa oryzoides (Ard.) Fritsch. in rice (Oryza sativa L.) fields

Inconsistent control of Echinochloa oryzoides has been reported repeatedly by farmers in the major rice growing area of Turkey. Greenhouse studies confirmed the existence of cross and multiple herbicide tolerance of E. oryzoides accessions including acetolactate synthase (penoxsulam, bispyribac-sodium) and acetyl CoA carboxylase (cyhalofob-butyl) inhibiting herbicides. Comparison of 95% lower confidence intervals of ED₉₀ derived from log-logistic dose–response curves, and twice the recommended field rates of the herbicides showed some, but not distinct separation of susceptible and tolerant accessions. We used a novel method to separate heterogeneous data without a priori knowledge of grouping into more than one group. On the basis of the distribution of ED₉₀ it was possible to identify two distinct groups of the 172 accessions tested, 78% were not controlled by ALS inhibitors (penoxsulam, and bispyribac-sodium) at recommended field rates; and 38% were not controlled by the ACCase Inhibitor (cyhalofob-butyl) at twice the field rates. The effective response level of ED₉₀ resulted in 64 and 14 tolerant accessions to ALS and ACCase, respectively. Fourteen accessions showed multiple resistances to ALS and ACCase Inhibitors.Some of the accessions were strongly tolerant to both herbicide modes of action and had 100% survival even at 6 times the recommended rates. Most of these tolerant accessions were from Marmara region, predominantly in Edirne and Balıkesir, which are the regions without any crop rotation.     

来源于野生大豆的多小叶性状遗传分析

本文通过杂交初步分析一个起源于野生大豆的多小叶性状。五叶大豆与6个正常大豆配制了6个杂交组合，其中5个F2分离群体产生带有主要的3叶和5叶，少数4叶，个别6叶或7叶植株，3叶和5叶（包括其它多小叶）表现为3:1分离；1个组合仅产生带有5叶株和3叶，表现为64:1分离。遗传分析显示，除了一个已知的Lf1基因控制5叶遗传外，可能还存在另外2个控制5叶的基因。5叶多小叶性状基因对正常3叶是不完全显性的，这3个基因是独立遗传的，并且具有重叠地位。     

Evaluation of sugarcane smut resistance in wild sugarcane (Saccharum spontaneum L.) accessions collected in Japan

ABSTRACT

Sugarcane smut, caused by Sporisorium scitamineum, is one of the most important sugarcane diseases in Japan. Wild sugarcane, Saccharum spontaneum, is known to be a key breeding material to obtain high-yielding clones. In this study, we sought to identify Japanese wild sugarcane accessions with high resistance to smut. Thirty wild sugarcanes and three sugarcane cultivars were tested by the pinprick method. The results of the inoculation tests aided in identifying wild sugarcanes with high resistance to smut disease, namely JW90, Iriomote8, and Iriomote15. After screening the germplasm, progeny distribution of smut resistance from the inoculation test and dry matter productivity in the smut disease-free field were compared. The highly resistant wild sugarcane accession had a much better impact on progeny distribution of smut resistance compared with the susceptible accession. No relationship was found between smut resistance and dry matter productivity in both populations.     

Proteins and amino acids of some local varieties of rice seeds (Oryza Sativa L.)

Proteins and amino acids in four local rice (Oryza Sativa L.) varieties were identified. Albumin and globulin were extracted from rice seeds, and the major promoters of these proteins were investigated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to show their patterns.Amino acid composition of the rice seed were determined quantitatively and qualitatively, and classified according to their acidic, basic and uncharged polar groups.Essential amino acids for each variety were determined, and the hydrophobicity index value of Amber 33 was (0.6078), Mishkhab 1 (0.63372), Hybrid 2 (0.6523) and Hwazawi (0.7411).     

Identification of potato (solarium tuberosum L.) haploid x wild species hybrids with the capacity to cold-chip

Cold sweetening, the accumulation of reducing sugars in potatoes stored at low temperatures, results in dark chips unacceptable to the consumer. Developing potato cultivars that can chip directly from cooler temperatures (i.e., 3 to 4 C) requires the identification and use of new germplasm with cold-chipping resistance. Individuals from 16 haploid x wild species hybrid families were grown at two sites and their harvested tubers stored at 3 C for 15 wk. Following storage, individuals were evaluated for cold-chipping ability by (1) direct chipping, and (2) reconditioning for 2 wk at 18 C prior to chipping. At both sites, approximately 1% of progeny had good chip color (<2.0 rating using the Snack Food Association scale). Germplasm representing haploid x wild species hybrid families was evaluated for cold-chipping ability following storage of tubers at 3 C for 15 wk, and after storage at 18 C for 2 wk. The two cold-chipping clones identified with chip color means <2.0 were AH 66-1 and H 28-6, hybrids derived fromS. raphanifolium accessions 296126 and 310998, respectively.S. raphanifolium PI 296126 was exceptional in that chip color means of its progeny were 2.5 and 2.7 at McLeod (North Dakota) and Crookston (Minnesota), respectively. All clones with chip color means <2.6 involvedS. raphanifolium PIs 296126, 310998, and 458384 in their parentage. Following reconditioning, the number of progeny in the good and medium chipping categories improved from direct chipping with 14.1% of the progeny at McLeod and 3.8% at Crookston in the good chipping category.S. raphanifolium PIs 210048 and 310998 together accounted for 100% and 50% of the clones with chip scores <2.0 at McLeod and Crookston, respectively. Clones ranking high for chip color following direct chipping generally chipped well following reconditioning.     

Almond (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Prunus dulcis</Emphasis> L.) Protein Quality

Three marketing varieties of almonds; Carmel, Mission, and Nonpareil; were analyzed for proximate composition and protein nutritive quality. Moisture, lipids, protein, ash, sugars, and tannins ranges were 3.05-4.33%, 43.37-47.50%, 20.68-23.30%, 3.74-4.56%, 5.35-7.45%, and 0.12-0.18%, respectively. No detectable hemagglutinating and trypsin inhibitory activities were present in Carmel, Mission, and Nonpareil almonds. Amino acid analyses indicated the sulfur amino acids (methionine + cysteine), lysine, and threonine to be the first, second, and third limiting amino acids in almonds when compared to the recommended amino acid pattern for children 2-5-year old. However, compared to the recommended amino acid pattern for adults, sulfur amino acids were the only limiting amino acids in almonds tested. True Protein Digestibility (% TPD) values for Carmel, Mission, and Nonpareil were 88.55 +/- 1.26, 92.25 +/- 1.05, and 82.62 +/- 1.47, respectively. Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Scoring (PDCAAS) values suggested almond proteins to be of poor nutritional quality.     

Chitosan boehmite-alumina nanocomposite films and thyme oil vapour control brown rot in peaches (Prunus persica L.) during postharvest storage

Brown rot (Monilinia spp.) affects the shelf life, fruit quality and marketability of peaches (Prunus persica L.). Increasing consumer concern regarding food safety makes it necessary to search for natural environmentally friendly alternative products for postharvest disease control. In this investigation, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) punnets containing thyme oil (TO sachets) and sealed with chitosan/boehmite nanocomposite lidding films significantly reduced the incidence and severity of brown rot caused by Monilinia laxa in artificially inoculated peach fruits (cv. Kakawa) held at 25 °C for 5 days. Furthermore, PET punnets containing TO sachets and sealed with chitosan/boehmite nanocomposite lidding films significantly reduced the brown rot incidence to 10% in naturally infected fruits stored at 0.5 °C, 90% RH for 7 days and at the simulated market shelf conditions for 3 days at 15 °C, 75% RH. The chitosan/boehmite nanocomposite lidding films maintained the active components of thyme oil, thymol (56.43% RA), caryophyllen (9.47% RA) and β-linalool (37.6% RA) within the (head space volatiles) punnet. Panellists preferred fruits packed from commercial punnet containing thyme oil (sachets) and sealed with chitosan/boehmite nanocomposite lidding films due to overall appearance, taste, and natural peach flavour.     

Polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase activities of apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.) as affected by cultivar,location, and year of harvest

A total of 22 samples of apricots belonging to ten cultivars from two locations and picked in the years 1975–78 were assayed for polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and partly for peroxidase (POD) activities, heat resistance of these enzymes,o-dihydroxy phenol (ODP) content, and initial rate of enzymatic browning (BA). Of these characteristics, ODP content showed the greatest and BA the least variation. PPO activity relative to fresh weight was found to depend on the year of harvest rather than on the cultivar, while POD activity relative to fresh weight was cultivar dependent. The values of BA and ODP content were markedly influenced by both cultivar and year. For a given cultivar, PPO and POD activities relative to fresh weight as well as BA were higher in the samples picked in 1976 at one location than in those picked in the other years at the other location.The initial rate of browning of apricots was primarily dependent on the ODP content as shown by linear regression analysis with two independent variables. The relative influence of ODP content as compared with that of PPO activity related to fresh weight was the stronger the higher the value of the ratio of PPO-ODP, i.e. the smaller the values of the endogenous substrate available to the enzyme in the tissues. This suggests substrate depletion to be the limiting factor in the enzymatic browning of apricots.Heat inactivation of PPO was found to be a simple exponential process, while that of POD a biphasic one. PPO was less heat resistant than POD: total inactivation occurred after 10-min heat treatment at 75°C and 85°C, respectively.     

分子标记在菠萝研究中的应用

介绍了分子标记技术在菠萝上的应用,主要包括种质鉴别、遗传多样性、亲缘关系、连锁图谱构建以及与优良农艺性状相关的分子标记的获得等方面的情况,并对存在的问题和应用前景进行了讨论。     

Preferences of lambs offered Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) herbage as choices

Partial preference for feeds in ruminants is a well-documented phenomenon although their explanation can be elusive. The hypothesis was tested that sheep offered herbage of two annual grass species differing in chemical composition free-choice would select a diet that would maximize the nutritive value of the diet compared with sheep offered each herbage separately through a greater nutrient balance and synchronization of nutrient release for efficient ruminal microbial function. Fifteen male lambs were placed into metabolic cages, and randomly assigned to three treatments ( n  = 5): Italian ryegrass fresh herbage (treatment R), barley fresh herbage (treatment B) or free-choice Italian ryegrass and barley fresh herbage (treatment RB). Both herbages had similar crude protein concentrations but Italian ryegrass herbage had higher concentration of water-soluble carbohydrates and lower concentration of fibre than barley herbage. Lambs were exposed to the treatments for 15 d. Lambs on treatment RB showed a partial preference of 0·82 (s.e. 0·031) for Italian ryegrass. Lambs on treatment RB had higher intakes of digestible dry matter and higher values for nitrogen retention than lambs on treatment B although similar to that of lambs on treatment R. The results for the dietary choices were not always consistent with maximizing the nutritive value of the diet. Other explanations, such as lambs needed to sample and track the nutritive value of dietary options or there was the development of transient food aversions, were also possible.     

Competitiveness of rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars against Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. in water-seeded production systems

Developing more competitive rice cultivars could help improve weed management and reduce dependency on herbicides. To achieve this goal, an understanding of key traits related to competitiveness is critical. Experiments were conducted at Gelemen and Bafra districts of Samsun province in Turkey between 2008 and 2009 to measure the competitiveness of rice cultivars against Echinochloa crus-galli, a problematic weed in rice fields. Five rice cultivars (Osmancık, Kızılırmak, Karadeniz, Koral and Neğiş) and five E. crus-galli densities (0, 5, 10, 20, and 30 plants m⁻²) were used. Koral produced significantly more tillers than the other cultivars irrespective of E. crus-galli densities and reduced E. crus-galli tiller production by about 29.5% at Gelemen and 15.8% at Bafra at the highest weed density. E. crus-galli interference reduced rice height and there was a density dependent relationship. Koral was the most competitive cultivar; it maintained high biomass accumulation in early growth stages and suffered smaller reductions in plant height in the presence of E. crus-galli, compared to the other cultivars. In the absence of weed competition, Koral and Neğiş produced the highest yields at both locations. Stepwise regression analyses of the combined data from both years showed tillering capacity, early growth crop biomass, and plant height were critical traits related to competitiveness. These traits should be considered by plant breeders in their efforts to develop rice cultivars with enhanced competitiveness against weeds. Development of such cultivars could substantially reduce herbicide and labor inputs for rice production.     

Control of Alternaria post-harvest infections on cherry tomato fruits by wild pepper phenolic-rich extracts

The use of plant-derived products in postharvest disease management may be a valid alternative to conventional chemical treatments. In this study, the antifungal activity of crude foliar extracts of a wild Capsicum annuum accession against Alternaria alternata was assessed. Pepper extracts affected mycelial growth and suppressed conidia germination in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, they significantly reduced soft rot disease severity on artificially infected ripe cherry tomatoes. Extracts were characterized for their total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. UPLC–DAD analysis was also performed to obtain phenolic profiles of extracts and quantify the individual known components, including gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, catechin, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid and ferulic acid. The putative role of this class of molecules in conferring antifungal activity to the extracts is discussed. The results indicate that extracts rich in natural phenolic compounds could be promising for sustainable applications in crop protection.     

Study of bitterness perception of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa wild.) saponin extracts

The thresholds and behavior of bitterness perception over time were studied for quinoa saponins. The detection threshold was calculated in two ways using R-index values: linear equation (as previously used) and regression analysis (proposed hereby). Panelists were grouped depending on their bitterness sensitivity, and differences were found among dynamic panelist perceptions. At the threshold level, the sensation dynamic was lower than the caffeine threshold. By HPLC analysis, we identified three main types of saponins (A, B, and C), which positively correlated with the stimulus concentration. The saponin fractions were more related to the time-intensity parameters than the total saponins. Pearson's correlations showed that maximum intensity, total duration, area under the curve, and rising slope were best correlated with A, B, and C saponins. Interestingly, bitterness was perceived before chemical differentiation. It is important to study the saponin bitterness thresholds and perception, as they directly influence consumer choices and must be addressed before being used in quinoa products in the food industry.