Authentication of the botanical origin of honey by near-infrared spectroscopy

Fourier transform near-infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIR) was evaluated for the authentication of eight unifloral and polyfloral honey types (n = 364 samples) previously classified using 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 corresponding error rates were calculated according to Bayes' theorem. NIR spectroscopy enabled a reliable discrimination of acacia, chestnut, and fir honeydew honey from the other unifloral and polyfloral honey types studied. The error rates ranged from <0.1 to 6.3% depending on the honey type. NIR proved also to be useful for the classification of blossom and honeydew honeys. The results demonstrate that near-infrared spectrometry is a valuable, rapid, and nondestructive tool for the authentication of the above-mentioned honeys, but not for all varieties studied.     

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.     

Identification of flavonoid markers for the botanical origin of Eucalyptus honey

European Eucalyptus honeys showed a common and characteristic HPLC profile in which the flavonoids myricetin (3,5,7,3',4', 5'-hexahydroxyflavone), tricetin (5,7,3',4',5'-pentahydroxyflavone), quercetin (3,5,7,3',4'-pentahydroxyflavone), luteolin (5,7,3', 4'-tetrahydroxyflavone), and kaempferol (3,5,7, 4'-tetrahydroxyflavone) were identified. Their contents, and relative amounts, in the analyzed honey samples were quite constant and supported their floral origin. In addition, ellagic acid and the propolis-derived flavonoids pinobanksin, pinocembrin, and chrysin were detected in most samples. The contents of these nonfloral phenolics were much more variable as could be expected for their propolis origin. Myricetin, tricetin, and luteolin had not been identified as floral markers in any other honey sample previously analyzed in our laboratory (chestnut, citrus, rosemary, lavender, acacia, rapeseed, sunflower, heather, lime tree, etc.) or reported in the literature, suggesting that these could be useful markers. Only in some individual heather samples produced in Portugal has tricetin previously been detected in minor amounts. These samples, however, were contaminated with Eucalyptus as revealed by their pollen analysis and the lack of tricetin or their glycosides in heather floral nectar. It remains to be established if myricetin, tricetin, and luteolin originate from Eucalyptus floral nectar where the corresponding glycosides should be present.     

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.     

LED光源红蓝光配比对生菜光合作用及能量利用效率的影响

为了提高植物光能及电能利用效率,降低植物工厂光源的投入产出比,该文从不同红蓝光配比(R/B)对生菜光合作用影响机理入手,分析不同R/B对生菜光能及电能利用效率的影响。以荧光灯处理(FL)作为对照,通过设置不同红蓝光配比(R/B)共7个处理进行试验,测定不同R/B下生菜的Ru Bis Co羧化速率和氧化速率、光合电子流分配以及叶氮分配。结果表明:1)当R/B≥8时,增大蓝光比例显著降低了总电子传递速率向参与光呼吸的光合电子流的分配,促进了叶氮向羧化系统和生物能学系统中的投入,提高了叶片的光合作用;2)当R/B≤8时,生菜电能利用效率(electric-energy use efficiency,EUE)和光能利用效率(light use efficiency,LUE)随着R/B增加而显著增大,R/B≥8处理间EUE无显著性差异,但R/B=12处理下LUE较R/B=8处理高12.5%。综上所述,在光强为200μmol/(m2·s)的红蓝LED植物工厂中,R/B为8是影响生菜光合作用、光能及电能利用效率的转折点;为保证生菜高效生产,以红蓝光配比不小于8为宜。     

Multielemental analysis and classification of amaranth seeds according to their botanical origin

The characterization of amaranth seeds (Amaranthus spp.) was developed for Amaranthus hypochondriacus, Amaranthus cruentus, and Amaranthus dubius. The elemental concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma optic atomic spectroscopy. Pattern recognition methods were used for the characterization of seed samples: nonsupervised methods included principal components analysis and cluster analysis; supervised methods were linear discriminant analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). Informed are the concentrations of the following elements: Ag, Al, Ba, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, S, Sr, V, Zn, and Zr. The lowest mineral content was found in A. hypochondriacus, and the highest one was found in A. dubius. For the classification, selected variables for all multivariate methods were Ba, Cr, Li, Mn, Ni, S, and Sr. Nonsupervised methods allowed us to distinguish between the three species of amaranth; however, PLS-DA supervised methods showed the best prediction ability.     

Suppressive effects of ethanolic extracts from propolis and its main botanical origin on dioxin toxicity

Suppressive effects of ethanolic extracts prepared from propolis group 12 and its main botanical origin (leaf bud of Baccharis dracunculifolia) on transformation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), the initial action of dioxin toxicity, were investigated. It was found that suppressive effects of propolis on AhR transformation were relatively higher than those of resins of its botanical origin in cell-free system and in Hepa-1c1c7 cells. When the composition of chemical ingredients was measured, propolis contained slightly higher amounts of flavonoid aglycones as compared with its botanical origin with the same characteristics. Moreover, antiradical activity, one of the typical biological activities of flavonoids, in propolis was also slightly higher than that in its botanical origin. These results indicate that not only propolis but also its botanical origin contains high amounts of flavonoid aglycones and that both of them are useful dietary sources for flavonoids with a potency to prevent dioxin toxicity.     

Evaluation of the botanical origin of estonian uni- and polyfloral honeys by amino acid content

The free amino acid content of 61 honey samples from Estonia has been determined by HPLC-UV with precolumn derivatization with diethyl ethoxymethylenemalonate. Analyzed samples were seven types of unifloral honeys and polyfloral honeys. The main amino acids found in Estonian honeys were proline and phenylalanine. The resulting data have been analyzed by t test and principal component analysis (PCA). t Test revealed that some amino acids (alpha-alanine, beta-alanine, asparagine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, glutamine, glycine, histidine, ornithine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, and tryptophan) are more potent for assigning honey botanical origin than others. PCA enabled differentiation of some honey types by their botanical origin. In the space of the two first principal components, heather honeys form a cluster that is clearly separable from, for example, polyfloral honeys. It is concluded that analysis of the free amino acid profile may serve as a useful tool to assess the botanical origin of Estonian honeys.     

Multivariate correlation between color and mineral composition of honeys and by their botanical origin

The mineral content and color characteristics of 77 honey samples were analyzed. Eighteen minerals were quantified for each honey. Multiple linear regression (MLR) was used to establish equations relating the colorimetric CIELAB coordinates to the mineral data. The results obtained shown that lightness (L) was significantly correlated with S, Ca, Fe, As, Pb, and Cd for the dark honey types (avocado, heather, chestnut, and honeydew). For the light and brown honey types (citrus, rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus, and thyme), C(ab) and b showed the lower correlation with the mineral content of the honeys; their regression functions involve a few independent variables (Mg and Al for b and only Al for C(ab)). Furthermore, by means of application of linear discriminant analysis to the mineral content, it was possible to obtain a model that classifies the honeys by their lightness. The prediction ability of the built model, determined with the test set method, was 85%.     

Chemical constituents in Baccharis dracunculifolia as the main botanical origin of southeastern Brazilian propolis

Previously, it was reported that one group of propolis (Group 12) was identified in southeastern Brazil, and the botanical origin of the propolis was Baccharis dracunculifolia resinous exudates. It was also observed that honeybee (Africanized Apis mellifera) mainly visited the leaf buds or unexpanded leaves of B. dracunculifolia but rarely expanded leaves. B. dracunculifolia is dioecious with male and female inflorescences, and RPHPLC of the ethanolic extracts of the respective male and female bud resinous exudates showed the same profiles. RPHPLC profiles of propolis G12 leaf buds and unexpanded and expanded leaves of B. dracunculifolia showed similarity, but unexpanded leaves quantitatively decreased in chemical constituents as compared with leaf buds. In the case of expanded leaves, all chemical constituents were severely decreased or disappeared. Artepillin C (3,5-diprenyl-4-hydroxycinnamic acid) was also identified in both propolis and resinous exudates, and both ethanolic extracts contained the highest concentrations of this compound as compared with the rest of the chemical constituents.     

Effect of steam pressure treatment on the physicochemical properties of Dioscorea starches

Dioscorea alata and Dioscorea rotundata starches were subjected to steam pressure treatments (0.35, 0.7, and 1.05 kg cm(-)(2)) for different periods. The total amylose content in the treated starches was not significantly affected, but the soluble amylose content decreased 3-5-fold. Reducing values and lambda(max) of the iodine complexes were unaffected. Viscosity of the starch paste was reduced by the treatments, and at higher pressures and longer time of treatments, the peak viscosity values were reduced to very low values. Pasting temperatures were enhanced considerably. Swelling volumes underwent reduction, but no change in solubility occurred. Clarity and paste stability were markedly lowered. The results suggest that starch granules are compressed by the steam pressure treatment, leading to vast changes in physicochemical properties.     

Authentication of the botanical origin of honey by front-face fluorescence spectroscopy. A preliminary study

The potential of front-face fluorescence spectroscopy for the authentication of unifloral and polyfloral honey types (n = 57 samples) previously classified using traditional methods such as chemical, pollen, and sensory analysis was evaluated. Emission spectra were recorded between 280 and 480 nm (excit: 250 nm), 305 and 500 nm (excit: 290 nm), and 380 and 600 nm (excit: 373 nm) directly on honey samples. In addition, excitation spectra (290-440 nm) were recorded with the emission measured at 450 nm. A total of four different spectral data sets were considered for data analysis. After normalization of the spectra, chemometric evaluation of the spectral data was carried out using principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The rate of correct classification ranged from 36% to 100% by using single spectral data sets (250, 290, 373, 450 nm) and from 73% to 100% by combining these four data sets. For alpine polyfloral honey and the unifloral varieties investigated (acacia, alpine rose, honeydew, chestnut, and rape), correct classification ranged from 96% to 100%. This preliminary study indicates that front-face fluorescence spectroscopy is a promising technique for the authentication of the botanical origin of honey. It is nondestructive, rapid, easy to use, and inexpensive. The use of additional excitation wavelengths between 320 and 440 nm could increase the correct classification of the less characteristic fluorescent varieties.     

Improved characterization of the botanical origin of sugar by carbon-13 SNIF-NMR applied to ethanol

Until now, no analytical method, not even isotopic ones, had been able to differentiate between sugars coming from C4-metabolism plants (cane, maize, etc.) and some crassulacean acid metabolism plants (e.g., pineapple, agave) because in both cases the isotope distributions of the overall carbon-13/carbon-12 and site-specific deuterium/hydrogen isotope ratios are very similar. Following recent advances in the field of quantitative isotopic carbon-13 NMR measurements, a procedure for the analysis of the positional carbon-13/carbon-12 isotope ratios of ethanol derived from the sugars of pineapples and agave using the site-specific natural isotopic fractionation-nuclear magnetic resonance (SNIF-NMR) method is presented. It is shown that reproducible results can be obtained when appropriate analytical conditions are used. When applied to pineapple juice, this new method demonstrates a unique ability to detect cane and maize sugar, which are major potential adulterants, with a detection limit in the order of 15% of the total sugars, which provides an efficient mean of controlling the authenticity of juices made from this specific fruit. When applied to tequila products, this new method demonstrates a unique ability to unambiguously differentiate authentic 100% agave tequila, as well as misto tequila (made from at least 51% agave), from products made from a larger proportion of cane or maize sugar and therefore not complying with the legal definition of tequila.     

H型栽培架组合方式对光照及草莓生长和产量的影响

H型立体栽培架是目前在生产中应用较广的一种草莓立体栽培装置。针对草莓立体栽培过程中产生的遮光和植株生长不良等问题,该研究提出将两层和三层的H型栽培架进行不同组合,通过在日光温室中设置两层+两层(T1)、两层+三层交替(T2)、三层+三层(T3)的H型栽培架的3种布置组合方式,比较不同组合处理下草莓的光照环境、生长及产量的差异。结果表明:T1上、下层草莓的光照条件最佳,T2次之,T3最差;试验期内,T1上层的草莓达到光饱和点(light saturation point,LSP)的时间比T2增加了40.0%,并且T1上、下层草莓达到光补偿点(light compensation point,LCP)的时间分别比T2中两层栽培架的上、下层增加了9.3%和21.3%;T1处理草莓的生长状况最佳。T1的单元产量最高,为50.8 kg,分别比T2与T3的单元产量提高了2.8%和33.7%。因此,日光温室内H型栽培架以两层与两层相邻的布置方式较适合用于草莓的立体栽培,可在生产中推广应用。     

红壤调理剂的改土培肥及作物增产研究

在南方红壤地区,土壤酸化加剧、养分贫瘠化严重,研发红壤改良的技术和物化产品,对作物均衡增产和红壤可持续利用有重要意义。红壤旱地连续3年定位种植油菜-花生,花生品种为赣花5号,油菜品种为丰油730。调理剂为自行研制的专利产品,已经实现了产业化。研究了红壤调理剂对土壤微结构、物理性状、养分和pH值的影响,并对花生、油菜的产量进行了分析。结果表明:1)施用调理剂后,从微观结构来看,红壤的致密性降低、孔隙度增加,土壤颗粒直径4μm;2)施用调理剂的土壤容重显著降低,孔隙度增加到59%以上,大颗粒水稳性团聚体(0.25 mm)含量增加幅度为1.6%~14.0%,分形维数显著降低,并且与0.25mm粒径的团粒结构含量间呈极显著线性相关;3)施用调理剂的土壤电导率、有机碳、矿质态氮、有效磷、速效钾含量均提高,提高幅度在4.3%~143.7%之间;4)施用调理剂还降低了红壤的酸性,pH值从对照处理的5.28提高到5.82,差异显著;5)施用调理剂,花生和油菜增产幅度分别在13.1%~24.8%、10.3%~21.6%之间;6)应用笔者研制的红壤调理剂,可有效改善红壤旱地的理化性质,提高油菜和花生产量,其用量在2 250~3 000 kg/hm~2时较佳。     

Influence of geographical origin and botanical species on the content of extractives in American, French, and East European oak woods

The chemical composition of East European (Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, and Romania) oaks was investigated profoundly for the first time in the present study and compared with American and French counterparts. Taking into account the high natural variability of oak extractives contents, the wide-ranging sampling was performed for all oak origins: 276 French oaks, 102 East European oaks of both species (Quercus robur L. and Quercus petraea Liebl.), and 56 American oaks (Quercus alba). These oaks were compared with great attention paid to the extractives, which are most important for sensorial impact in wine or spirit maturation, such as ellagitannins and principal odorant substances (aromatic aldehydes, lactones and phenols). The substances in question were studied by application of HPLC and GC-MS techniques. The pattern of all studied extractive contents allowed adequate separation of oak samples according to their geographical origin or botanical species. The highest separation rate was for American and French oaks, whereas East European samples could be partially misclassified in two sets mentioned above. The most important variables for species discrimination were whiskey lactone related variables and ellagitannins, whereas the most important features for distinguishing the origin were eugenol, 2-phenylethanol, vanillin, and syringaldehyde. These substances allowed the distinction of French and East European woods of the same species. With regard to chemical composition, East European wood held the intermediary place between American and French oaks according to their ellagitannin and whiskey lactone levels; nevertheless, it was characterized by specific high values of eugenol, aromatic aldehydes, and 2-phenylethanol.     

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.     

不同LED光源对番茄果实转色期品质的影响

采用新型半导体光源发光二极管（LED）精量调制光质（红光、蓝光和红蓝组合光）,以普通日光灯（白光）为对照,研究不同光质对番茄果实转色期品质的影响。结果表明,红光处理下番茄果实番茄红素含量最高,显著高于对照和其他处理,但Vc含量最低。蓝光处理下番茄果实维生素C（Vc）含量、可溶性蛋白含量均显著提高。红蓝组合光处理番茄果实Vc含量与对照差异不明显,但可溶性蛋白的含量显著提高。红光和红蓝组合光处理能够显著提高番茄果实糖、酸含量;各处理糖酸比均显著高于对照,且红蓝组合光处理番茄果实的糖/酸值最高。红光和蓝光是影响番茄果实转色期品质变化的主要光质。     

冻结-高压湿热解冻对多种淀粉中支链淀粉断裂的影响

冻结和高压湿热解冻是含淀粉面团在食品加工过程的必要工艺,在此过程中淀粉球破裂、部分支链淀粉断裂成为直链淀粉,给面团和食品的物理性状控制带来许多不可预见的结果。该文通过研究加热时间、加热温度、冷冻时间和解冻时间对糊化后的小麦、甘薯、马铃薯和玉米淀粉中直链淀粉含量的影响,间接反映支链淀粉断裂情况,结合冻结解冻前后淀粉分子量分布、链长分布、光学和电子显微镜图谱提出了冻结-解冻过程不同淀粉中支链淀粉可能断裂方式。结果表明,4种淀粉中的直链淀粉含量先升高后下降,直链淀粉含量在4种淀粉的中达到峰值的时间分别为48,48,48,72 h。光学显微照片观察表明,冻融处理会导致更多凝胶化淀粉球的破裂。对于小麦支链淀粉,冻融解冻过程支链淀粉中侧链长度为5、6、7个葡萄糖残基的侧链对应3种可能的断裂方式:2+2+1、2+2+2及2+2+2+1;对于甘薯支链淀粉,支链淀粉中侧链长度为10、11和13个葡萄糖残基的侧链对应3种可能的断裂方式:3+3+4、2+2+3+4及2+2+2+3+4;对于马铃薯支链淀粉,支链淀粉中侧链长度为5和6个葡萄糖残基的侧链对应3种可能的断裂方式:2+3、2+4、3+3;而玉米支链淀粉中,支链淀粉中侧链长度为7、8、9个葡萄糖残基的侧链对应3种可能的断裂方式:2+5,3+5,和3+3+3(其中1表示1个葡萄糖;2表示含2个葡萄糖的麦芽糖、3表示含3个葡萄糖的麦芽多糖、4表示含4个葡萄糖的麦芽多糖和5表示含5个葡萄糖的麦芽多糖)。该论文结果为培育具有冻融稳定性的淀粉种子提供一种全新的思路,即通过基因方法控制植物减少容易断裂淀粉侧链的合成。     

灌浆期不同光强对水稻不同粒位籽粒品质的影响

为探讨灌浆期光照强度对水稻籽粒品质的影响及在不同品种类型和粒间差异,揭示弱光下水稻籽粒充实不良和米质变劣的生理机制,本文以代表性的超级稻品种"扬两优6号"和"武运粳23"为材料,以穗中部不同粒位籽粒为研究对象,以自然光强为对照,设置3种弱光处理(光强分别为对照的71%、55%和40%),研究了灌浆期不同光照强度对稻米品质的影响。结果表明:1)灌浆期光照强度对稻米品质影响较大,光强减弱稻米品质变劣,光照对米质形成的影响因光照强度大小、品种类型和籽粒着生位置不同而存在差异,同枝梗上迟开花籽粒稳定性较差,早开花籽粒稳定性较好。2)随光照强度降低,整精米率和直链淀粉含量降低,垩白度增加,不同光强下一次枝梗籽粒变化幅度大于二次枝梗籽粒;光强越弱,崩解值越低,消减值和粗蛋白含量越高,稻米蒸煮食味品质变差。3)生产上应因品种类型合理安排播期,通过栽培措施改善稻株受光条件,减轻光照不足对稻米品质形成的影响。