熟制方式对牦牛平滑肌食用品质和微观结构的影响

为研究熟制方式对牦牛平滑肌食用品质和微观结构的影响,将牦牛平滑肌分别在水浴熟制(方式1(80℃、60 min)、水浴熟制方式2(100℃、60 min)、蒸汽熟制(100℃、60 min)和高压熟制(0.20 MPa、10 min)4种条件下熟制,测定不同熟制方式下牦牛平滑肌蒸煮损失、热收缩率、剪切力、质构、胶原蛋白含量和微观结构的变化。结果表明,牦牛平滑肌经水浴熟制方式1处理后剪切力较大;经水浴熟制方式2处理后其蒸煮损失和热收缩率较大;经蒸汽熟制其胶原蛋白含量较高;水浴熟制方式2和蒸汽熟制方式下其硬度和咀嚼性均大于水浴熟制方式1和高压熟制。苏木精-伊红染色结果表明,水浴熟制方式1下牦牛平滑肌的肌纤维和肌束膜受热收缩明显;水浴熟制方式2和蒸汽熟制方式下其肌纤维和肌束膜边界清晰,肌束膜膨胀存在于肌纤维之间,肌纤维有明显裂痕;高压熟制方式下其肌纤维断裂程度较大。本研究结果为牦牛平滑肌的精深加工提供了理论依据和数据支持。     

年龄对牦牛平滑肌胶原蛋白含量和质构特性的影响

为研究年龄对牦牛平滑肌胶原蛋白含量和质构特性的影响。研究了1～6岁牦牛瘤胃平滑肌中的胶原蛋白含量、溶解性和交联度以及剪切力和质构变化。结果表明:随年龄的增加,牦牛平滑肌中总胶原蛋白、不可溶性胶原蛋白、吡啶诺林含量显著增加(P0.05),增幅分别为7.61%、33.86%和196.46%;可溶性胶原蛋白含量和溶解性显著下降(P0.05),降幅分别为30.80%和35.72%;表明随着年龄增加平滑肌中胶原蛋白的交联度增加、溶解性降低。牦牛平滑肌的剪切力、硬度和咀嚼性随年龄增加而显著增加(P0.05),增幅分别为96.48%、91%和102%;内聚性、弹性和胶着性随年龄增加而显著降低(P0.05),降幅分别为25%、32%和39%;表明平滑肌的质构随年龄增加而呈现劣变趋势。相关性分析表明年龄与牦牛平滑肌总胶原蛋白含量、不可溶性胶原蛋白含量、交联度、剪切力、硬度和咀嚼性呈极显著正相关(P0.01);与可溶性胶原蛋白含量、胶原蛋白溶解性、内聚性、弹性和胶着性呈极显著负相关(P0.01);牦牛平滑肌胶原蛋白的溶解性和交联度均与剪切力和质构指标呈极显著相关(P0.01)。综合来看,年龄对平滑肌的胶原蛋白含量、溶解性、交联度和质构有显著影响;年龄越大平滑肌胶原蛋白交联度越大、溶解性越小、质构品质越差,3岁是牦牛平滑肌加工利用的适宜年龄。研究结果明确了不同年龄平滑肌的胶原蛋白特性和质构品质的变化规律,以及胶原蛋白特性对其质构品质的影响,将为平滑肌及含平滑肌内脏的产品开发和品质控制提供理论依据和数据支持。     

冷藏和冻藏对牦牛瘤胃平滑肌氧化稳定性及加工品质的影响

为探明4℃冷藏和-18℃冻藏对牦牛瘤胃平滑肌脂肪和蛋白质氧化及其加工特性的影响,以PE薄膜和PE真空包装的牦牛瘤胃为研究对象,分别测定其在贮藏过程中的脂肪氧化(硫代巴比妥酸)、蛋白质氧化(羰基值、总巯基、表面疏水性)和加工品质(失水率、蒸煮损失率、剪切力、质构特性)的变化。结果表明,不同贮藏温度和包装方式下的瘤胃均发生了不同程度的脂肪和蛋白质氧化,与薄膜包装相比,真空包装可延缓牦牛瘤胃脂肪和蛋白质氧化的发生,且-18℃冻藏下更为显著。此外,冷(冻)藏条件下不同包装牦牛瘤胃的失水率和蒸煮损失率均显著增大(P<0.05),剪切力值显著降低(P<0.05),硬度先减小后增大,且薄膜包装在冷藏0~5 d和冻藏0~28 d时,其加工特性均优于真空包装。综上表明,2种包装下的牦牛瘤胃在冷(冻)藏过程中均发生了脂肪和蛋白质氧化,但真空包装可以有效地延缓氧化反应的发生。此外,在冷藏0~5 d和冻藏0~28 d时,薄膜包装更有利于改善瘤胃的加工特性,增加其嫩度和弹性,但长时间贮藏会导致瘤胃加工特性下降,冷藏条件下薄膜包装瘤胃的变化表现最为显著。本研究可为瘤胃贮藏过程中食用品质的控制提供参考。     

熟制温度及切割方式对牛排食用品质的影响

为研究熟制温度以及切割方式对西餐红肉煎制牛排食用品质的影响,该文采集了12头中国西门塔尔公牛的背最长肌,研究了终点温度、切片厚度以及肌纤维走向对煎制牛排剪切力、质构剖面分析(texture profile analysis,TPA)以及感官品质的影响。结果显示:牛排的剪切力、蒸煮损失、硬度和咀嚼性随熟制温度的升高而增加(P0.05)。终点温度为72~100℃的牛排风味和总体可接受性得分显著高于45和60℃的牛肉(P0.05)。牛排剪切力随切片厚度增加而增加(P0.05);平行肌纤维切片的剪切力、硬度和咀嚼性显著低于垂直肌纤维切片(P0.05);切片厚度和肌纤维走向只对感官嫩度有显著影响(P0.05)。因此,煎制牛排的较佳熟制温度为80℃、切片厚度为10 mm和肌纤维走向为垂直肌纤维。研究结果为牛排生产企业、西餐厅以及宾馆饭店等生产、销售和加工牛排提供参考。     

模拟运输温度变化对牦牛肉品质及货架期的影响

为研究运输温度变化对牦牛肉品质及货架期的影响,本试验模拟牦牛肉在4、6、8、10、12℃条件下静态运输4 h,测定不同贮藏期牦牛肉的汁液流失、蒸煮损失、肉色、剪切力、挥发性盐基氮含量和菌落总数的变化,并对温度、贮藏时间与各项品质指标进行相关性分析。结果表明,随着运输温度的升高,牦牛肉的汁液流失率、蒸煮损失率、挥发性盐基氮含量和菌落总数显著增大(P0.05),剪切力值显著下降(P0.05),肉色差异不显著(P0.05);随着贮藏时间的延长,牦牛肉的汁液流失率、蒸煮损失率、L*值、挥发性盐基氮含量和菌落总数显著增大(P0.05),a*值和剪切力值显著下降(P0.05)。牦牛肉在4、6、8、10、12℃条件下静态运输4 h后的货架期分别约为8、8、6、4、2 d。相关性分析表明,运输温度和贮藏时间与汁液流失、蒸煮损失、挥发性盐基氮和菌落总数呈显著正相关(P0.05),与剪切力值呈显著负相关(P0.05);相关系数表明贮藏时间对牦牛肉品质的影响大于运输温度。总之,运输温度的升高和贮藏时间的延长均会使牦牛肉的品质下降,运输过程维持4~6℃可最大限度地保持牦牛肉的品质和货架期。本研究为牦牛肉运输过程中的温度控制提供了理论依据与技术支持。     

适宜宰后成熟时间提高牦牛肉品质

为了研究宰后成熟时间对牦牛肉品质的影响,该研究采集牦牛背最长肌,真空包装后进行成熟排酸,成熟期间取样测定pH值、剪切力、持水能力、色度,并通过标准化和动力学模型分析研究其变化规律。结果发现,除了黄色度b*以外,其余品质指标均在21d的成熟过程中有显著变化(P0.05)。相比于7 d成熟,延长至21 d的长时间成熟可将牦牛肉剪切力显著地降低47%(P0.05),并将蒸煮损失和红色度a*分别显著地提高28%和32%(P0.05)。通过对比线性函数、指数函数、二次函数对牦牛肉品质变化的预测效果,结果发现二次函数预测模型与牦牛肉宰后品质变化具有相对最好的拟合度(决定系数R2范围为0.90~0.98),其中pH值、剪切力、加压损失、亮度L*值随时间的变化函数呈现出凸函数特征,而蒸煮损失和a*值则呈现出凹函数特征。结果表明,相比于牛肉品质宰后预测中常用的线性函数和指数函数而言,二次函数更适用于牦牛肉品质变化的预测,而将牦牛肉宰后成熟时间延长至21 d可有效降低牦牛肉剪切力。研究可为牦牛肉品质控制提供参考。     

加热温度和时间对牛肉嫩度影响的主成分分析评价

为研究加热温度及时间对不同部位牛肉嫩度的影响,该研究以夏南牛肩肉、外脊和米龙3个部位肉为例,分别代表牛胴体前、中、后躯部位肉,提出了一种基于主成分分析的高熟度牛肉嫩度综合评价方法。利用剪切力测定法和质构剖面分析测定了6头夏南牛3个部位(肩肉、外脊、米龙)4个加热温度(70、80、90、100℃)6个保温时间(0、30、60、90、120、180 min)的剪切力值和质构指标,对不同加热处理牛肉的蒸煮损失、剪切力值、硬度、黏附性、弹性、内聚性、胶着性、咀嚼性和回复性等9个指标进行主成分分析,从中提取了3个主成分,方差贡献率分别为56.53%、24.43%、8.62%,分别代表牛肉的咀嚼特性、抗压特性和剪切特性,累积方差贡献率达89.58%,并建立了综合评价模型。试验结果表明,在高熟度牛肉的评价过程中,以剪切力值作为主要载荷的第3主成分在肉品嫩度综合评价中仅占很小的比例,并不能代表肉品嫩度的全部信息,因此不能把剪切力值作为高熟度牛肉嫩度评价的主要指标,在评价过程中应综合考虑与内聚性、胶着性、咀嚼性和回复性等与肉品质地相关的指标进行分析评价;加热温度和时间对牛肉嫩度综合得分影响较大,当肉块中心温度小于80℃时,随着加热时间的延长,牛肉嫩度综合得分整体变化比较平稳;而当肉块中心温度高于80℃时,随着加热时间的延长,牛肉嫩度品质综合得分整体呈下降趋势,且中心温度越高,加热时间越长,得分值越低。运用主成分分析减少了牛肉嫩度品质的评价指标,简化评价流程,为高熟度牛肉嫩度评价提供理论依据。     

重组鹿肉制品的加工特性

该文以不同营养、风味和加工特性的鹿肉和猪肉为原料,加非肉蛋白等营养强化物质,借谷氨酰胺转胺酶(TG)的粘合交联作用研制营养风味俱佳的重组鹿肉制品.单因素试验得出各因素对重组特性(剪切力、拉伸强度和蒸煮损失)的影响:TG-B(含1%TG、99%蛋白质)作用效果优于TG-A(含0.5%TG、99.5%蛋白质);大豆蛋白对重组特性和品质的作用效果优于脱脂麦胚蛋白、乳清蛋白、酪蛋白酸钠等非肉蛋白;TG-B的作用温度和时间、食盐和复合磷酸盐对嫩度和持水性的影响显著.借因子分析法和Plackett-Burman(PB)设计筛选出影响肉制品重组效果的主要因素为TG-B作用温度、食盐和大豆蛋白;运用中心组合设计和响应曲面分析优化出重组肉制品的最佳工艺参数为TG-B 0.5%、复合磷酸盐0.4%、食盐2%、大豆蛋白4.1%、42℃反应30 min、80℃灭酶20 min.     

超声辅助脱脂对牦牛骨粉制备及其理化特性的影响

为提高牦牛骨粉的脱脂率,以青海牦牛股骨为原料进行超声辅助有机溶剂脱脂参数优化,并比较分析了超声脱脂法和蒸煮脱脂法对骨粉制备的影响。该文以脱脂率为指标筛选高效脱脂溶剂;通过响应面法对超声脱脂参数（超声功率、脱脂时间及液料比）进行优化;对比分析了2种脱脂牦牛骨的脱脂率、蛋白质流失率、主要矿物质流失率、微观形态及其骨粉的粒径分布、微观形态、化学结构和钙离子释放度。结果显示：乙酸乙酯为最佳脱脂溶剂;超声功率500 W,超声时间30 min,液料比（体积质量比）6为最佳脱脂参数,此条件下脱脂率达92.00%,显著高于蒸煮脱脂法（71.25%）（P<0.01）;与蒸煮脱脂法相比,超声脱脂法蛋白质流失率（8.11%）,主要矿物质元素Na、K、Fe、Mn流失率显著降低（P<0.05）,微观结构更加致密;超声脱脂法和蒸煮脱脂法制得牦牛骨粉中值粒径（D50）分别为35.84 μm和11.73 μm;红外光谱显示两者化学结构无明显变化;钙离子释放度结果显示两者同样无显著差异（P>0.05）。超声波辅助有机溶剂脱脂处理制备骨粉可更多保留骨中营养物质,对改善骨粉加工工艺及提高骨粉品质具有一定的参考价值。     

标准化法和主成分法评估牦牛不同部位分割肉品质

为了研究牦牛不同部位分割肉的品质特征,该研究测定了牦牛辣椒条、上脑、眼肉、外脊、里脊、小黄瓜条、大黄瓜条、米龙、霖肉9个部位分割肉的剪切力、蒸煮损失、失水率、L*、a*、b*、蛋白、脂肪、含水率9项品质特性,并通过方差分析法、标准化法、主成分法研究其品质特征。结果表明,除了脂肪和含水率外,其余7项品质特性均存在显著差异性（P＜0.05）。标准化分析结果表明小黄瓜条、大黄瓜条、米龙、霖肉4个后部肉具有相似特征,具有较好的嫩度、较高的蛋白含量、中等水平的持水能力。主成分分析共提取出3个主成分因子PC1（34.69%）、PC2（25.97%）、PC3（19.12%）,其中PC1可明显区分出中部肉与后部肉差异,根据因子载荷,牦牛肉化学组成（蛋白、脂肪、含水率）与这一差异密切相关。可以得出以下结论：不同部位牦牛肉品质存在差异,这一差异与其在牦牛胴体上的相对位置有关,而牦牛胴体的后部肉品质优于其他部位,因此可以作为开发高档产品的原料来源。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

Faculty positions:Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Biodiversity and ecogeography of wild Lactuca spp. in some European countries

Staff members of the Department of Botany of Palacký University in Olomouc and Gene Bank Department – Workplace Olomouc, Research Institute of Crop Production in Prague, Czech Republic, conducted an expedition in seven European countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland) in August/September 1999 to collect wild Lactuca spp. germplasm and study its geographic distribution, ecology and biodiversity. During the mission, more than 600 locations were visited resulting in the collection of 602 seed samples (accessions) of wild Lactuca species and 13 seed samples of related genera (Chondrilla and Mycelis). Lactuca serriola f. serriola, L. serriola f. integrifolia, L. saligna and L. viminea subsp. chondrilliflora were prevalent in southern Europe (Italy, France), however, only L. serriola was common in central and western Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland). The greatest diversity of Lactuca species was found in France, where also the most seed samples (165) were collected. The most characteristic habitats with a high density of Lactuca spp. populations were observed along roads and highways, grassy ditches, ruderal communities, and dust-heaps. Natural infections by powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) and downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) on some wild Lactuca spp. were observed. Recent observations concerning the geographic distribution, population structure, habitats, and natural occurrence of diseases of Lactuca spp. are discussed. This assemblage of genetic resources of Lactuca spp. can serve as the basis of future studies of species diversification, spatial population structure, plant microevolution, domestication processes, and genetic variability of host-parasite interactions.     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.     

Properties of anaerobically digested and composted municipal solid waste assessed by linking soil mesofauna dynamics and nitrogen modelling

We have studied the effect of anaerobically digested (ADMSW) and composted municipal solid waste (CMSW) on mineralization and foodweb dynamics to verify the hypothesis that ADMSW would immobilize N right after addition to soil in contrast to addition with CMSW. Another hypothesis was that the mesofauna (enchytraeids and microarthropods) would stimulate N release from the decomposer community. We measured excretion of -N and urea-N from the mesofauna and hypothesized that enchytraeids would release urea. ADMSW and CMSW were amended to pots with sandy loam and barley. The pots were divided into treatments with or without mesofauna. Mesofauna, plant N and biomass, soil N and ergosterol (fungal biomass) were measured over a 113-day period of four equidistant samplings. Soil respiration, N mineralization and N release by the mesofauna were modelled from concurrent studies. ADMSW- and CMSW-treated soils initially (<20 days) immobilized N. The amendments did not increase plant growth substantially, and this was probably due to N-limitation in the early stages of plant growth. Enchytraeid abundance was about three times higher in ADMSW- than CMSW-treated soils, indicating that ADMSW contained more labile compounds, bacteria, and microfauna. The mesofauna did not affect N-content, but the cumulated -N excreted by the mesofauna was estimated to be substantial and about one-fifth of total plant N in ADMSW. An explanation for this discrepancy might be that in the absence of the mesofauna, other members of the detrivore and microbivore community performed the mesofauna’s function. Neither enchytraeids nor microarthropods excreted urea.     

Faculty positions: Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Faculty positions: Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Variation in quality parameters between and within 14 Nordic tree fruit and berry species

Abstract

A 3-year study was carried out to investigate quality parameters in 14 tree fruit and berry species grown in southern Norway. The species were blueberry, apple, aronia, sour cherry, sweet cherry, red raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, gooseberry, red currant and elderberry, harvested along with wild bilberry, cloudberry and lingonberry. Significant differences between species were identified for all quality parameters. The coefficient of variation between species was lowest for pH (12.5%), dry matter (18.9%) and soluble solids (25.3%), followed by titratable acids (59.3%), total phenolics (83.8%), antioxidant capacity FRAP (85.7%) and antiradical power by the DPPH-assay (97.8%), total monomeric anthocyanins (132%) and ascorbic acid (137%). Average coefficient of variation within species were lower and ranged from 4 (pH) to 62% (ascorbic acid). Only the FRAP values were significantly affected by harvesting year with lower levels in 2004 than in 2005 and 2006. There were significant interactions between species and harvesting year for dry matter, soluble solids, pH, ascorbic acid and FRAP. The results indicate generic ranges in composition within species independent upon growing location and climate, and the composition of the tree fruits and berries is not likely to deviate from these ranges. It is concluded that desirable composition of tree fruits and berries and their products should primarily be achieved by selection among species rather than searching fors broadened variation within individual species.     

Potassium Fixation and Release Characteristics in Rhizosphere and Nonrhizosphere Soils for a Rapeseed–Rice Cropping Sequence

Potassium (K) fixation and release in soil are important factors in the long-term sustainability of a cropping system. Changes in K concentration and characteristics of K fixation and release in rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils in the rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)–rice (Oryza sativa L.) rotation were investigated using a rhizobox system. The concentrations of different forms of K in both rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils decreased with plants compared to without plants, regardless of K fertilizer application. Potassium uptake by crops mainly came from the rhizosphere soil. In the treatment without K fertilizer (–K), the main form of K supplied by the soil to the crops was 1.0 mol L^?1 nitric acid (HNO₃) nonextractable K, followed by nonexchangeable K, and then exchangeable K. In the treatment with K fertilizer (+K), the main K forms supplied by the soil to the crops were exchangeable K and nonexchangeable K. The amount and rate of K fixation after one cycle of the rapeseed–rice rotation was greater in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The amount and rate of K fixation of soil in the +K treatment were significantly less than in the –K treatment. The cumulative amounts of K released with 1.0 mol L^?1 ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) and 1.0 mol L^?1 HNO₃ extraction increased with the increasing numbers of extractions, but the K-releasing power of soil by successive extraction decreased gradually and finally became almost constant. The release of K was less in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The release of K in the +K treatment was similar to that in the –K treatment in rhizosphere soil, but the K release in nonrhizosphere soil was greater with the +K than the –K treatment. Overall, the information obtained in this study will be helpful in formulating more precise K fertilizer recommendations for certain soils.