Stable free radicals and peroxyl radical trapping capacity in red wines

Thirty-two experimental red wines, obtained from eight cultivars and aged in bottles for 2 and 7 years, were examined for the presence of stable free radicals (SFR), for the peroxyl radical trapping capacity (PRTC), and for the concentrations of some important polyphenol families. Aging significantly increases SFR, polyphenol polymers with n > or = 5 (HMWP), and PRTC and is accompanied by a strong decrease of free anthocyanins. Multivariate regression analyses show that HMWP and SFR are independently associated with PRTC while HMWP and anthocyanins are independently associated with the formation of SFR. These results indicate that polymeric polyphenols generated from anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins during wine aging are able to convert highly reactive free radicals into nonreactive radicals through electron delocalization. The strict correlation between SFR and antioxidant activity that we found suggests that these characteristics are related to the functional properties of food.     

Red chicories as potent scavengers of highly reactive radicals: a study on their phenolic composition and peroxyl radical trapping capacity and efficiency

Eight varieties of Cichorium genus vegetables (five heavily red colored, one red spotted, and two fully green) were investigated for their phenolic content (by HPLC and UV-vis spectrophotometry) and for their antioxidant activity. In particular, the capacity (that is, the amount of trapped peroxyl radicals) and the efficiency (that is, the amount of antioxidant necessary to halve the steady-state concentration of peroxyl radicals) were measured. All of the studied chicories are characterized by the presence of a large amount of hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids, whereas the red color is due to cyanidin glycosides. The presence of these phenolics in red chicories confers to them an exceptionally high peroxyl radical scavenging activity in terms of both capacity and efficiency, particularly in their early stage of growth, and makes this popular and low-cost foods comparable or superior to many foods having well-known antioxidant properties such as red wine, blueberry, and tomato.     

Major phenolics in apple and their contribution to the total antioxidant capacity

The contribution of each phytochemical to the total antioxidant capacity of apples was determined. Major phenolic phytochemicals of six apple cultivars were identified and quantified, and their contributions to total antioxidant activity of apples were determined using a 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging assay and expressed as vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity (VCEAC). Average concentrations of major phenolics and vitamin C in six apple cultivars were as follows (mg/100 g of fresh weight of apples): quercetin glycosides, 13.20; procyanidin B(2), 9.35; chlorogenic acid, 9.02; epicatechin, 8.65; phloretin glycosides, 5.59; vitamin C, 12.80. A highly linear relationship (r (2) > 0.97) was attained between concentrations and total antioxidant capacity of phenolics and vitamin C. Relative VCEAC values of these compounds were in the order quercetin (3.06) > epicatechin (2.67) > procyanidin B(2) (2.36) > phloretin (1.63) > vitamin C (1.00) > chlorogenic acid (0.97). Therefore, the estimated contribution of major phenolics and vitamin C to the total antioxidant capacity of 100 g of fresh apples is as follows: quercetin (40.39 VCEAC) > epicatechin (23.10) > procyanidin B(2) (22.07) > vitamin C (12.80) > phloretin (9.11) > chlorogenic acid (8.75). These results indicate that flavonoids such as quercetin, epicatechin, and procyanidin B(2) rather than vitamin C contribute significantly to the total antioxidant activity of apples.     

High-throughput quantitation of peroxyl radical scavenging capacity in bulk oils

Autoxidation of methyl linoleate (8:2 mixture with decane, 37 degrees C) was induced by 2,2'-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) (AMVN, 17.7 mM) and the kinetics of oxygen consumption monitored using a 96-well microplate coated with an oxygen-sensitive fluorescence probe, a ruthenium dye, embedded in a silicone matrix at the bottom of the microplate. The probe does not participate in the reaction; instead, its fluorescence intensity is inversely proportional to the solution oxygen concentration as it changes during oxidation. In the absence of antioxidants, the oxidation rate has a linear relationship with the square root of the initiator concentrations. This is in agreement with theoretical autoxidation kinetics equations. In the presence of tocopherol-type antioxidants, a sharp lag phase appears. The quantitation of the antioxidant capacity is achieved using the area under the curve (AUC) approach. The assay has a 2 h running time, a linearity range from 1.56 to 18.7 microM (Trolox), and a limit of quantitation at 2.7 microM Trolox equivalency. The peroxyl radical scavenging capacities of several cold-pressed and organically grown plant seed oils were quantified along with the tocopherol concentrations of the oils. Tocopherols contribute only a fraction of the peroxyl radical scavenging capacity of the oils, and there is poor correlation between total tocopherol concentrations and radical scavenging capacity, suggesting that the antioxidant capacity of oils is due not only to tocopherols but also to other lipid-soluble antioxidants.     

Fast and simple method for the simultaneous evaluation of the capacity and efficiency of food antioxidants in trapping peroxyl radicals in an intestinal model system

A simple oxygraphic method, for which the theoretical and experimental bases have been recently revised, has been successfully applied to evaluate the peroxyl radical chain-breaking characteristics of some typical food antioxidants in micelle systems, among which is a system that reproduces conditions present in the upper part of the digestive tract, where the absorption and digestion of lipids occur. This method permits one to obtain from a single experimental run the peroxyl radical trapping capacity (PRTC, that is, the number of moles of peroxyl radicals trapped by a given amount of food), the peroxyl radical trapping efficiency (PRTE, that is, the reciprocal of the amount of food that reduces to half the steady-state concentration of peroxyl radicals), and the half-life of the antioxidant ( t(1/2)) when only a small fraction of peroxyl radicals reacts with the antioxidants present in foods. Examples of application of the method to various types of foodstuffs have been reported, assessing the general validity of the method in the simple and fast evaluation of the above-reported fundamental antioxidant characteristics of foods.     

我国主要苹果种质抗黑星病评价

采用涂抹法、浸蘸法、菌饼覆盖法和注射法接种苹果黑星菌分生孢子,确定了适于苹果黑星病菌的涂抹接种法.收集了"秦冠"、"陕富6号"、"嘎啦(丽嘎)"、"红星"、"乔纳金"、"粉红女士"、"金世纪"、"萌"、"太平洋玫瑰"、"澳洲青苹"、"4-1"、"M26"、"MMl06"、"八棱海棠"、"新疆野苹果"等15种苹果种质资源,并对其抗苹果黑星病特性进行鉴定和评价.结果表明,15种苹果种质可被划分为高度抗病品种"新疆野苹果"和"秦冠",中度抗病品种"八棱海棠",中度感病品种"MM106"、"M26"、"乔纳金"、"红星"、"陕富6号"和"丽嘎",高度感病品种"澳洲青苹"、"4-1"、"萌"、"太平洋玫瑰"、"粉红女士"和"金世纪"4类.     

Polyphenol levels and free radical scavenging activities of four apple cultivars from integrated and organic farming in different italian areas

This paper investigates the influence of cultivar (Annurca, Golden Delicious, Red Chief, and Stayman Neepling), rural practice (integrated and organic), and growing region (different Italian regions) on polyphenol composition and antiradical activity of the pulp and skin of apples, as presented to the consumer at the market. Antiradical activity of fruit was strongly related with the total polyphenolic content, determined both by the spectrophotometric Folin-Ciocalteu method ( R (2) = 0.90; P < 0.01) and by HPLC ( R (2) = 0.85; P < 0.01). Considering the edible portion of the fruit, polyphenolics contribute toward explaining approximately 90% of the overall antiradical activity, thus highlighting their important role in human health protection. Therefore, the data indirectly indicated that ascorbic acid and other antiradical molecules differing from polyphenols play a much less important role in explaining the health-protecting properties of apples. Cultivar effect was by far the most important, and Annurca and Golden Delicious were respectively the best and the worst apples from the point of view of the health-protecting attributes.     

不同品种苹果幼树对氮磷亏缺的生理响应

【目的】探究不同苹果品种对低磷、低氮及低磷低氮胁迫的生理响应,为养分高效利用苹果品种的选育提供理论基础。【方法】采用沙培盆栽试验方法,供试材料为三年生‘嘎拉’/M9T337、‘富士’/M9T337和‘蜜脆’/M9T337矮化自根砧苹果(M9T337为矮化砧木)。以改良1/2Hoagland营养液为基础,设置正常、低氮两个氮水平(NO₃~–15、1.5 mmol/L)和正常、低磷两个磷水平(H₂PO₄~–1.0、0.1 mmol/L),共配置适氮适磷、适氮低磷、低氮适磷和低氮低磷4个处理。测定了苹果树体生长、叶片光合作用和叶绿素荧光参数,分析了苹果叶片氮、磷代谢相关酶活性,树体氮、磷累积量。【结果】与适氮适磷相比,适氮低磷和低氮适磷条件下,‘嘎拉’和‘蜜脆’的植株总干物质量均显著降低,‘富士’的植株总干物质量有显著增加;适氮低磷条件下的‘嘎拉’、‘富士’和‘蜜脆’叶绿素b含量均显著降低,F_o呈升高趋势,但‘嘎拉’和‘富士’的F_v/F_m显著升高且P_n...     

Polyphenolic profiles in eight apple cultivars using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)

Polyphenolic compounds of apple may play an important role in physiologic functions related to human health. Different polyphenolics may have varied biological activities including antioxidant activity. The objective of this study was to investigate the profiles of polyphenolic compounds in different apple varieties and different parts of an apple. The total and individual polyphenolics differed significantly among the eight apple cultivars grown in Ontario, and the peels had higher concentrations than the flesh. Among the tested cultivars, Red Delicious and Northern Spy had the highest concentrations and Empire the lowest. Five major polyphenolic groups with a total of 16 identified individual compounds were found, among which the dihydroxycinnamic acid esters, phloretin glycosides, and flavan-3-ols were found in both flesh and peel, whereas quercetin glycosides were almost exclusively found in the peel. Cyanidin 3-galactoside was unique to and found only in red apple peels. In both apple peel and flesh, the predominant group of polyphenolics was the procyanidins, followed by quercetin glycosides in the peel and hydroxycinnamic acid esters in the flesh. 3-Hydroxyphloretin 2'-xyloglucoside was newly identified in apple. The results obtained in this study will further the understanding of the polyphenolic composition of apples and their roles in health-promoting physiological functions.     

我国南方主推水稻品种氮效率筛选及评价

【目的】评价我国南方地区主推水稻品种氮效率,筛选氮高效和氮低效品种,并探索其高效和低效的原因及其生理机制。【方法】选用34份我国南方主推水稻品种,采用大田小区试验和盆栽试验,进行正常氮和低氮处理,利用产量法并结合产量构成因子、叶片SPAD值以及水稻地上部氮素累积量,筛选出氮高效和氮低效品种。【结果】 1）在2011年大田试验中,34个品种正常氮处理产量大多高于低氮处理的产量。通过对氮效率的分析发现,徽两优6号、广两优35和天优华占3个品种具有较高的氮效率,分别达到1.11、1.02和1.00,而秀水134、富稻2号和五丰优7025的氮效率较低,分别为0.55、0.61和 0.61。通过对各品种的产量构成因子分析发现,正常氮处理下,各品种产量构成因子大多高于低氮处理。在低氮条件下,氮高效品种的穗数和穗粒数以及千粒重均较高。通过筛选发现徽两优6号、广两优35和天优华占3个水稻品种表现为氮高效;秀水134、富稻2号和五丰优7025 3个品种表现为氮低效。2）通过2012年大田和盆栽试验的复筛,发现大田与盆栽试验结果基本一致。实际产量和理论产量均表现出徽两优6号和广两优35的产量和氮效率较高,秀水134、五丰优7025和富稻2号的氮效率较低。通过对各品种的产量构成因子分析发现,2012年大田试验中,在正常氮条件下,高效品种广两优35的穗数、千粒重均显著高于低效品种。在对SPAD值的分析中发现,2012年大田试验中,低氮处理下氮高效品种在同一生育时期其SPAD值普遍高于或者显著高于低效品种。2012年盆栽试验中,正常氮处理下,高效品种叶片SPAD值略高于低效品种。在对水稻地上部氮累积量的研究中发现,在正常氮处理下,不同生育期高效品种与低效品种间普遍没有显著性差异,仅低效品种秀水134显著低于其他几个品种;而在低氮处理下,在分蘖期高效品种与低效品种并无显著性差异,甚至高效品种徽两优6号氮素累积量还要低于低效品种;但在灌浆期和成熟期,两个高效品种的氮素累积量高于或显著高于低效品种。【结论】确定广两优35为高效品种,秀水134为低效品种。氮高效品种在低氮胁迫下,能够获得较高的穗数和穗粒数,从而获得较高产量。特别在生育后期,高效品种地上部能够积累更多的氮素,从而可促进光合作用,提高碳、氮同化效率,并获得较高产量。     

Great differences in antioxidant properties exist between 56 apple cultivars and vegetation seasons

The contents of ascorbate, thiols, and phenolic compounds and antioxidative enzyme activity were measured in the apple peel of 56 genotypes after harvest in two vegetation seasons, 2003 and 2004. The main reason of great interest in these bioactive compounds is their well-established physiological role in all living systems. The biggest differences between tested genotypes were noted for ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase (GR) activity, followed by total ascorbate, phenolics, and glutathione concentration; the least difference was observed in the case of catalase. A large cultivar variation was noted in the anthocyanins and flavonols contents. Distinguishing the cultivars with the lowest, highest, relatively stable or those in which antioxidant content greatly differed depending on growing seasons was attempted. The GR activity is proposed as an environmental stress marker of apple fruit.     

Technological classification of basque cider apple cultivars according to their polyphenolic profiles by pattern recognition analysis

The polyphenolic compositions of 31 Basque cider apple cultivars were determined in pulp, peel, and juice by high-performance liquid chromatography--diode array detection analysis of crude extracts and after thiolysis. Data sets, consisting of individual polyphenol concentrations, total procyanidin content, and the average degree of polymerization of procyanidins, were evaluated by multivariate chemometric techniques, to develop decision rules for classifying apple cultivars technologically into bitter and nonbitter categories. A preliminary study of the data structure was performed by cluster analysis and principal component analysis in each apple material. Bitter apple varieties presented higher contents of flavan-3-ols and/or dihydrochalcones than nonbitter cultivars. Different classification systems for the two categories on the basis of the chemical data were obtained applying several supervised pattern recognition procedures, such as linear discriminant analysis, K-nearest neighbors, soft independent modeling of class analogy, partial least-squares, and multilayer feed forward artificial neural networks. Excellent performance in terms of recognition and prediction abilities for both categories (100% of hits) was achieved in every case (pulp, peel, or juice). Polyphenolic profiles of apple pulp, peel, or juice provide enough information to develop classification criteria for establishing the technological group of apple cultivars (bitter or nonbitter).     

Nitrogen physiological efficiency index in some selected spring barley cultivars

Abstract

The efficient use of nitrogen is one of the most important goals in crop and soil management. The physiological efficiency index of absorbed nitrogen (PEN) is defined as the ratio of kg grain production to kg of nitrogen absorbed in the above‐ground (grain and straw) dry matter production at maturity. If the grain yields of cultivars are related to the PEN, which is a genetic trait of the genotype, than this index can be used in the breeding program to detect the high yielding potential genotypes. The objective of this study was to determine the genetic variation in nitrogen physiological efficiency and its relation with grain yield in spring barley (Hordeum vulRare. L.) cultivars. Seven cultivars were used in greenhouse conditions with two nitrogen fertility levels: unfertilized (check) and fertilized with 160 mg of N kg^‐1 of dry soil. The results showed that there was a highly significant variation among cultivars in both yield (F=23.1???) and PEN (F=20.5???) values. The EEN varied from 54.6 to 66.2 and from 44.9 to 57.4 g grain g^‐1 of absorbed nitrogen in the check and in the fertilized treatment respectively. Furthermore, the grain yield was significantly related to PEN (r=0.81? and r=0.98??? for the two fertility levels respectively). The absorbed nitrogen varied much less among the cultivars (F=2.9?) and was also less related to grain yield. These results suggest that the FEN can be successfully used in the breeding program to detect the potentially high yielding cultivars.     

Dry matter accumulation and phosphorus efficiency response of cotton cultivars to phosphorus and drought

Low soil phosphorus (P) availability and drought are the most recognized growth-limiting factors for the cotton production in arid regions. A pot experiment with P-efficient (Xinluzao19, X19) and P-inefficient (Xinluzao19, X26) cotton cultivars was conducted to investigate the effects of P and drought on dry matter accumulation and P efficiency. Results showed that biomass and chlorophyll content of leaves increased significantly with the increase in soil P content, whereas the root:shoot ratio decreased dramatically. Drought increased the root:shoot ratio, but the chlorophyll content of leaves remained stable. The yield of X19 increased with the increase in soil P content. For X26, the highest yield was attained under the medium P content. Under drought conditions, root P efficiency ratio, P absorption efficiency, and P transfer efficiency were all proportional to P concentration, whereas P utilization was inversely proportional. Compared with X26, X19 presented higher P absorption efficiency and P utilization but lower root P efficiency ratio and P transfer efficiency. It suggested thatthe application of phosphate fertilizer under drought could increase the root P efficiency ratio, P absorption efficiency, and P transfer efficiency, thereby enhancing the ability of stress resistance of cotton and significantly increasing biomass as well as cotton yield.     

Cut-off shoots method for estimation of partial resistance in apple cultivars to fruit tree canker caused by Neonectria ditissima

Fruit tree canker, caused by the fungus Neonectria ditissima, is an economically devastating disease in apple orchards, especially in north-western Europe. Complete resistance has not yet been reported in apple, but variation in levels of partial resistance has been described and could be valuable in plant breeding programmes. A screening method based on spore inoculation of manually inflicted leaf scars on cut shoots was evaluated for reliability and repeatability in discrimination of 11 apple cultivars during two years – 2012 and 2013 – in two different facilities – biotron and standard greenhouse – and different time periods (February–May). The resulting cankers were counted (infection percentage), first appearance noted (incubation period) and lesion size measured at regular intervals during a period of 25–29 days for comparison of resistance levels. Results of two-way analysis of variance and correlation analyses showed that the area under the disease progress curve yielded the most robust data. This parameter was then applied for screening 30 apple cultivars using the same cut-shoot method. ‘Elise’ showed very high susceptibility, while the ornamental ‘Prairifire’ showed the highest level of partial resistance. Results suggested that cut shoots can be used to assess levels of resistance among cultivars, but great care must be taken to provide stable experimental conditions.     

不同硼效率甘蓝型油菜苗期对硼镁营养的反应

利用溶液培养研究硼低效和高效甘蓝型油菜(Brassica.napus)苗期对硼镁营养的反应。结果表明,低硼浓度下提高镁时,油菜的生长受影响不大,硼含量和累积量降低,镁含量和累积量及叶绿素上升。低镁浓度下提高硼时,油菜镁含量、镁积累量降低,且硼低效品种降低幅度大于硼高效;叶绿素降低幅度则硼高效大于硼低效品种。高硼浓度下提高镁时,硼镁含量和累积量及叶绿素含量均提高,提高幅度为硼高效品种大于低效品种。高镁浓度下提高硼时,硼镁表现出显著的相互促进,硼高效品种促进效应大于低效品种。在很大程度上镁影响油菜叶绿素a的含量,而硼影响油菜叶绿素b的含量。硼镁营养对锌含量无大的影响;在低镁浓度下,油菜低效品种锰含量显著增加。无论是低镁或高镁浓度下提高硼,硼高效和低效品种铁含量均有所增加,低效品种增加显著。     

不同氮素利用效率小麦品种的氮效率相关生理参数研究

在不同氮处理条件下,研究了不同氮效率小麦品种的子粒产量、植株氮含量和植株氮累积量及氮效率相关的生理参数。结果表明,在低氮处理（LN）下,氮高效品种沧核036较氮低效品种衡6599具有较高的子粒产量、植株氮含量和植株氮累积量,其产量比对照的下降幅度也明显小于衡6599;单位面积穗数的大幅减少是衡6599产量明显下降的主导因素。在LN条件下,沧核036在挑旗期、开花期和灌浆期,植株上部三片展开叶均具有较高的硝酸还原酶（NR）、亚硝酸还原酶（NIR）和谷氨酰胺合成酶（GS）活性,以及较高的光合色素含量和可溶蛋白含量;生育后期该品种的气孔导度和光合速率也高于衡6599。在LN条件下,叶片的可溶性糖含量和脯氨酸含量以衡6599较高;各测定时期的丙二醛含量,沧核036也低于衡6599,但SOD活性在两品种间差异较小。表明LN条件下,氮高效品种沧核036表现的氮高效特征,是其具有较强的氮素吸收和同化能力;较高SOD活性,缓解了细胞的膜脂过氧化程度;光合色素含量增加和光合暗反应活性增强,使光合碳同化能力提高的综合作用结果。     

有机物对苹果叶片脯氨酸和水分利用效率的影响

以盆栽3年生红富士苹果（Malus domestica Borkh cv.Rehd. Fuji）做试材,研究了土壤控水和自然失水过程中,甜菜碱（Bet）、β-氨基丁酸（β-ABA）和壳聚糖（OC）以及自然干旱（ND）对叶片水分利用效率（WUE）和脯氨酸含量的影响。结果表明,在土壤相对含水率（RWC）70%～80%时,β-ABA和OC处理后第2天叶片脯氨酸含量升高、第10天叶片WUE升高。在自然失水过程中,预先Bet、β-ABA和OC的叶片脯氨酸含量明显升高。自然失水第5天（RWC=50%～60%）,经自然干旱（ND）预处理的植株,叶片WUE最高,其次是经Bet预处理的,再次是OC;自然失水第10天（RWC=25%～35%）,叶片WUE普遍下降,但经Bet、β-ABA和OC预处理的明显高于对照。综合比较显示,Bet、β-ABA、OC和ND预处理都能不同程度地诱导苹果叶片积累脯氨酸,并可有效延缓严重干旱胁迫引起的叶片WUE下降,其中甜菜碱效果最好,其次是β-氨基丁酸。     

不同的水稻品种产量及生理氮素利用效率的差异

Efficient use of N in agricultural practice can increase yield, decrease production costs and reduce the risk of environmental pollution. Effects of N fertilizer application rates on grain yield and physiological N use efficiency (PE) in relation to the accumulation and redistribution of biomass and N in rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars were studied at two experimental farms of Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China in 2004. Three high N use efficiency (NUE) rice cultivars (Wuyunjing 7, Nanguang and 4007) and one low NUE rice cultivar (Elio) with similar growth patterns were studied under seven N rates (0, 60, 120, 180, 240, 300 and 360 kg ha^-1). Grain yield increased with the N application rate and attained plateau at 180 kg N ha^-1 for rice cultivars at each site. Increasing N rate decreased PE for biomass and grain yield. Grain yield and PE of Elio were about 20% and 18% lower than those of high NUE cultivars. Differences in biomass, N accumulation and N redistribution were observed at the post-heading stage among rice cultivars with differing NUEs. The less reproductive tillers of Elio resulted in less demand for C and N during grain filling, thus leading to lower PE of Elio compared with the high NUE rice cultivars.