Chemical composition of selected edible nut seeds

Commercially important edible nut seeds were analyzed for chemical composition and moisture sorption. Moisture (1.47-9.51%), protein (7.50-21.56%), lipid (42.88-66.71%), ash (1.16-3.28%), total soluble sugars (0.55-3.96%), tannins (0.01-0.88%), and phytate (0.15-0.35%) contents varied considerably. Regardless of the seed type, lipids were mainly composed of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids (>75% of the total lipids). Fatty acid composition analysis indicated that oleic acid (C18:1) was the main constituent of monounsaturated lipids in all seed samples. With the exception of macadamia, linoleic acid (C18:2) was the major polyunsaturated fatty acid. In the case of walnuts, in addition to linoleic acid (59.79%) linolenic acid (C18:3) also significantly contributed toward the total polyunsaturated lipids. Amino acid composition analyses indicated lysine (Brazil nut, cashew nut, hazelnut, pine nut, and walnut), sulfur amino acids methionine and cysteine (almond), tryptophan (macadamia, pecan), and threonine (peanut) to be the first limiting amino acid as compared to human (2-5 year old) amino acid requirements. The amino acid composition of the seeds was characterized by the dominance of hydrophobic (range = 37.16-44.54%) and acidic (27.95-33.17%) amino acids followed by basic (16.16-21.17%) and hydrophilic (8.48-11.74%) amino acids. Trypsin inhibitory activity, hemagglutinating activity, and proteolytic activity were not detected in the nut seed samples analyzed. Sorption isotherms (Aw range = 0.08-0.97) indicated a narrow range for monolayer water content (11-29 mg/g of dry matter). No visible mold growth was evident on any of the samples stored at Aw < 0.53 and 25 degrees C for 6 months.     

Carbohydrate and amino acid composition of dissolved organic matter leached from soil

Low molecular weight organic substances (LMWOS) in soil and soil solution include mainly amino acids, carboxylic acids, and carbohydrates. Due to their high bioavailability they play a crucial role in the cycles of C and nutrients in soils. The variety of soil processes that involve LMWOS requires identifying their composition to elucidate reactions and transformations. In most studies, LMWOS are extracted under artificial conditions, e.g. batch experiments, which may overestimate the actual concentrations. This study measures the composition of carbohydrates and amino acids in solution of a Haplic Luvisol leached in a column experiment. A combined system for simultaneous leaching and blowout of CO₂ was used to estimate LMWOS decomposition. ¹⁴C-labeled glucose was added as a highly sensitive tracer to control the efficiency of the LMWOS extraction by leaching and to estimate LMWOS decomposition during leaching. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), optimized for soil extracts, was used to analyze LMWOS composition. For HPLC optimization, different preparations of leached solutions (filtration vs. centrifugation, and drying vs. no-drying) were compared. For sugar determination, drying had no influence on the solution concentrations. In contrast, amino acid concentrations significantly decreased by drying LMWOS eluted substances. Combining the HPLC identification of eluted substances with ¹⁴C tracer application revealed that about 5% of the glucose could be leached unchanged within 786 min (13.1 h), whereas about 84% remained in the soil, 9% were decomposed to CO₂, and 2% were transformed to other LMWOS and recovered in the soil solution. The total amino acid concentration (TAC) in soil solution was about 8.2 μmol l⁻¹, dominated by alanine (14.4% of TAC), glycine (13.4%), glutamic acid (9.9%), serine (9.4%), and leucine (9.3%). The total carbohydrate concentration was about 2.4 μM, dominated by glucose (29.9%), glucuronic acid (26.8%), and galacturonic acid (17.3%). Ratios of hexoses to pentoses, amino sugars glucosamine to galactosamine, and neutral sugars to uronic acids were determined. All three parameters pointed to the dominant influence of plants as the source of LMWOS in the leached soil solution. Within the small contribution of microorganisms, bacteria dominated over fungi. These used biomarker ratios as well as LMWOS concentrations differed widely from the ones obtained with conventional batch extraction. More research is necessary to evaluate the application of these biomarkers to soil solutions.     

Carbohydrate composition of hay and maize soils and their possible importance in soil structure

The soils of three fields under continuous maize culture for 2,4 and 15 yr, and the soil of an adjacent hayfield were analyzed for carbohydrates by gas chromatography. A sharp decrease (30%) in total carbohydrates, paralleled by a smaller decrease in organic matter (9%), was observed after 2 yr of maize cultivation. The 4-yr maize soil showed an upward trend in both organic matter and carbohydrate content but this was subsequently reversed. The 15-yr highly-compacted maize soil had 40% less organic matter and 40% less carbohydrates than the hay soil. When compared to the well structured 2-yr maize soil, this compacted soil had less arabinose, xylose, glucose, galactose and mannose; carbohydrates which are probably of plant root origin. These sugars are likely to be involved in the structural stability of soil aggregates. Conversely, neither the amino sugars nor the uronic acids seemed to contribute to good soil structure.     

The chemical composition of atmospheric precipitation from selected stations in Michigan

The pH and amount of rainfall from over 60 selected stations throughout northern and lower Michigan was determined from September 1972 to December 1974. Precipitation pH was determined for each station by calibrated electrode meters. The seasonal weighted average and median pH from all stations in the study was 5.0 and 6.3, respectively. Daily readings from stations throughout Michigan indicate that pH is dependent on the amount of rainfall and that variations in it are often locally controlled. Collectively the pH values suggest carbonic acid control for most of the state. Annual median pH varied from a high of 8.45 at Dimondale, a station located 1.5 km from a concrete tile plant in central Michigan to 4.65 at Vassar, a small town located east of several industrial centers in the thumb region of the state. A comparison of annual nutrient loading for NO ₃ ^? , SO ₄ ⁼ , Cl^?,PO ₄ ^≡ , Ca⁺⁺, Mg⁺⁺ Na⁺ K⁺ and pH of rainwater from selected stations revealed that the eastern U.S. stations reporting pHs < 4.02 have similar loadings for NO₃ but twice the SO₄ input found for rural areas of Michigan.     

Cell wall composition of smooth bromegrass plants selected for divergent fiber concentration

Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) is considered the single best laboratory predictor of voluntary intake by ruminant livestock, creating interest in using NDF as a selection criterion in forage breeding programs. Because genetic reductions in NDF lead to increases in dry matter digestibility but not to changes in digestibility of the NDF fraction, we postulated that low-NDF plants do not have altered compositions of their cell walls. We tested this hypothesis using clones of smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) with divergent NDF concentrations. High-NDF and low-NDF plants did not differ in cell wall concentrations or in the concentrations of any cell wall component (fucose, arabinose, rhamnose, galactose, glucose, xylose, mannose, uronic acids, and lignin). Instead, low-NDF plants had a cell wall that was more susceptible to solubilization in neutral detergent solution, suggesting that their cell walls were less well-developed as compared to high-NDF plants. NDF should not be used as a substitute for cell wall concentration in forage plants.     

Performance of six European plum cultivars on four plum rootstocks growing in a northern climate

Abstract

The performances of the plum rootstocks Marianna GF 8-1, Pixy, and Wangenheim, compared with St. Julien A as a standard, for the cultivars ‘Avalon’, ‘Edda’, ‘Excalibur’, ‘Jubileum’, ‘Reeves’, and ‘Victoria’ were assessed in a field trial in western Norway at 60° North. Trees were planted in spring 1999; the plant material was one-year-old whips, spaced 2.0×4.5 m and formed with a central leader as free spindles. Tree vigour, yield, fruit size, fruit quality, and yield efficiency were evaluated for the seven subsequent years. Tree size was significantly affected by the rootstocks after seven years' growth. Wangenheim produced the smallest and St. Julien A and Pixy the largest trees as measured by trunk cross-sectional area, on average for the different cultivars. However, Pixy produced significant larger yields per tree for the cultivar ‘Reeves’ than did St. Julien A. ‘Edda’ gave the smallest yield and ‘Avalon the largest. Trees on Pixy were the most yield efficient for all cultivars with the exception of ‘Victoria’. The fruit sizes became little affected by the different rootstocks. ‘Edda’ and ‘Victoria’ produced the smallest fruits and ‘Excalibur’ and ‘Reeves’ the largest. Fruit quality characterized by the content of soluble solids was on average 16.1% and did not differ between trees on the various rootstocks. The cultivar ‘Avalon’ had the highest contents of soluble solids and ‘Reeves’ the lowest. The nutrient levels in the leaves were within the optimum range by the end of the seventh season. Trees on Marianna GF 8-1 had the highest nitrogen and magnesium leaf uptake. In conclusion, St. Julien A and Pixy were the most reliable semi-vigorous rootstocks which induced high yield efficiency and with favourable influences on fruit quality to the six European plum cultivars. Pixy is a good alternative to St. Julien A, with a lower vigour in trees, more precocity, and higher yield efficiency.     

Effect of pectolytic enzyme preparations on the phenolic composition and antioxidant activity of asparagus juice

Commercial pectolytic enzymes were investigated for their influence on phenolics and antioxidant activities of asparagus juice. The antioxidant activity of asparagus juice was analyzed according to 2,2'-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) methods. The enzymes, with the exception of pectinase from Rhizopus sp., contained rutinase, which hydrolyzed rutin to quercetin. Asparagus juice treated with Viscozyme had the highest quercetin content without exhibiting a significant increase in the antioxidant activity. For a pectinase from Aspergillus niger, the antioxidant activity of asparagus juice was markedly reduced. Caution should be paid in the selection of pectolytic enzyme preparations for production of antioxidant activity-rich juice.     

Characterization of plum procyanidins by thiolytic depolymerization

The phenolic compounds of 'Green Gage' (GG) plums ( Prunus domestica L.), "Rainha Claudia Verde", from a 'protected designation of origin' (PDO), in Portugal, were quantified in both flesh and skin tissues of plums collected in two different orchards (GG-V and GG-C). Analyzes of phenolic compounds were also performed on another GG European plum obtained in France (GG-F) and two other French plums, 'Mirabelle' (M) and 'Golden Japan' (GJ). Thiolysis was used for the first time in the analysis of plum phenolic compounds. This methodology showed that the flesh and skin contain a large proportion of flavan-3-ols, which account, respectively, for 92 and 85% in GJ, 61 and 44% in GG-V, 62 and 48% in GG-C, 54 and 27% in M, and 45 and 37% in GG-F. Terminal units of procyanidins observed in plums are mainly (+)-catechin (54-77% of all terminal units in flesh and 57-81% in skin). The GJ plums showed a phenolic composition different from all of the others, with a lower content of chlorogenic acid isomers and the presence of A-type procyanidins as dimers and terminal residues of polymerized forms. The average degree of polymerization (DPn) of plum procyanidins was higher in the flesh (5-9 units) than in the skin (4-6 units). Procyanidin B7 was observed in the flesh of all GG plums and in the skin of the Portuguese ones. Principal component analysis of the phenolic composition of the flesh and skin of these plums obtained after thiolysis allowed their distinction according to the variety and origin, opening the possibility of the use of phenolic composition for variety/origin identification.     

Carbohydrate composition in relation to structural stability, compactibility and plasticity of two soils in a long-term experiment

The effects of tillage on soil organic carbon content, carbohydrate content, monosaccharide composition, aggregate stability, compactibility and plasticity were investigated in a field experiment on a gleysol and on a cambisol under winter barley in South-East Scotland. Two long-term treatments (direct drilling and conventional mouldboard ploughing for 22 years) were compared with short-term direct drilling and broadcast sowing plus rotavation for 5 years. Carbohydrate released sequentially to cold water, hot water, 1.0 M HCl and 0.5 M NaOH was determined after hydrolysis as reducing sugar equivalent to glucose in both fresh and air-dried samples. All other measurements were made on dry soils only. About 3% of the soluble carbohydrate was extracted by cold water, 10% by hot water, 12% by HCl and 75% by NaOH from both the dry and fresh soils. The total reducing sugars of the fractions were proportional to the total organic carbon determined by dichromate oxidation or C analysis. Organic carbon and carbohydrates were concentrated near the surface of the direct drilled soil, but were more uniformly distributed with depth in the ploughed soil. The surface soil under direct drilling was more stable, less compactible and had greater plasticity limits than under ploughing. However, particle size distributions were unaffected by tillage so that differences in soil properties were attributed to differences in the quantity and quality of organic matter. Differences in compactibility, structural stability and plasticity limits between depths and tillage treatments correlated with total carbon and with total carbohydrates. The hot water extractable carbohydrate fraction correlated best with aggregate stability and the NaOH fraction correlated best with compactibility and plastic limit. Both fractions were greatest in the long-term direct drilled soil. The hot water fraction had a galactose plus mannose over arabinose plus xylose ratio of 1.0–1.6 in comparison to 0.4–0.7 in the NaOH fraction indicating that the microbial contribution within the hot water-soluble fraction was the greater. The hot-water fraction was likely to contain more exocellular microbial polysaccharides involved in the stabilizing of soil aggregates. The hot-water and NaOH carbohydrate fractions may be good indicators of soil organic matter quality relevant to the preservation of good soil physical conditions.     

水分胁迫下李树叶绿素荧光动力学特性研究

水分胁迫引起李树叶片叶绿素含量(CHL)、相对含水量(LRWC)下降,叶绿素荧光参数Fo升高,Fm、Fv、Fv/Fm、Fv/Fo、Fm/Fo和Fo与Fm曲线之间面积降低,表明水分胁迫影响了光系统Ⅱ光化学效率、潜在活性、捕获激发能的效率、光合电子的传递以及电子受体库的大小,从而导致光合速率下降。3个供试品种中以“索瑞斯”受影响最小,“秋姬”居中,“安哥洛”最大,说明“索瑞斯”抗旱性最强。     

Antioxidant activity of prune (Prunus domestica L.) constituents and a new synergist

Ethanol extract of prune was separated into hexane-soluble and H(2)O-soluble fractions, and the H(2)O-soluble fraction was further separated into a methanol (MeOH) eluate and an H(2)O eluate by Diaion HP-20 column chromatography. The MeOH eluate exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity among the separated fractions evaluated by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). Further purification of the MeOH eluate led to isolation of a novel compound, 4-amino-4-carboxychroman-2-one, together with four known compounds (p-coumaric acid, vanillic acid beta-glucoside, protocatechuic acid, and caffeic acid), structures of which were identified by NMR and MS analyses. The ORAC values of these isolated compounds showed 0.15-1.43 units (micromol of Trolox equiv)/micromol, and the new compound showed a remarkable synergistic effect on caffeoylquinic acid isomers. The antioxidant activity of the MeOH eluate was highly dependent on the major prune components, caffeoylquinic acid isomers, with a contribution from the new synergist.     

Irrigation effects on quality, phenolic composition, and selected volatiles of virgin olive oils cv. Leccino

Field-grown olive trees (Olea europaea L. cv. Leccino) were used over two growing seasons to determine the effect of deficit irrigation regimes on virgin olive oil (VOO) quality. Drip irrigation was managed to maintain a predawn leaf water potential (PLWP): (a) higher than -1.1 MPa (full irrigation: FI); (b) between -1.0 and -3.3 MPa (deficit irrigation: DI); (c) higher than -4.2 MPa (severe deficit irrigation: SI). The fruit yield and oil yield of DI trees were over 90% of those of FI treatments in both years, respectively, whereas yields of SI trees ranged from 61 to 76%. The irrigation regime had minor effects on the free acidity, peroxide value, and fatty acid composition of VOO. The concentrations of phenols and o-diphenols in VOO were negatively correlated with PLWP. The concentrations of the dialdehydic form of decarboxymethyl elenolic acid linked to (3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethanol (3,4-DHPEA-EDA), the isomer of the oleuropein aglycon (3,4-DHPEA-EA), and the dialdehydic form of decarboxymethyl elenolic acid linked to (p-hydroxyphenyl)ethanol (p-HPEA-EDA) were lower in FI than in SI treatments. The concentrations of lignans (+)-1-acetoxipinoresinol and (+)-1-pinoresinol were unaffected by the irrigation regime. The tree water status had a marked effect on the concentration of volatile compounds, such as the C(6)-saturated and unsaturated aldehydes, alcohols, and esters.     

Chemical composition of some traditional herbal drug preparations: essential oil and aromatic water of costmary (Balsamita suaveolens Pers.).

The compositions of the essential oil and the aromatic water of costmary (Balsamita suaveolens Pers.) cultivated in Tuscany were investigated. They represent the main ingredients of some traditional preparations sold commercially. The essential oil as such and the n-hexane extract of the aromatic water were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Both samples were found to be rich in monoterpenes. Eighty-five compounds were identified, accounting for 95.1 and 95.4% of the essential oil and n-hexane extract of aromatic water, respectively. Carvone was the main compound (43.5% in the essential oil and 74.9% in the n-hexane extract of aromatic water). In addition, solid phase microextraction was used to sample the volatile organic compounds emitted from the fresh plant and from the aromatic water, and carvone was again the main component, amounting to 46.2 and 41.3%, respectively.     

Evolution of the composition of a selected bitter Camembert cheese during ripening: release and migration of taste-active compounds.

The aim of this study was to add to the understanding of changes in taste that occur during the ripening of a bitter Camembert cheese by the evolution of its composition. Physicochemical analyses were performed on rind, under-rind, and center portions of a Camembert cheese selected for its intense bitterness. At each of the six steps of ripening studied organic acids, sugars, total nitrogen, soluble nitrogen, phosphotungstic acid soluble nitrogen, non-protein nitrogen, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Pi, Cl, and biogenic amines were quantified in each portion. Changes in cheese composition seemed to mainly result from the development of Penicillium camemberti on the cheese outer layer. Migration phenomena and the release of potentially taste-active compounds allowed for the evolution of saltiness, sourness, and bitterness throughout ripening to be better understood. Apart from taste-active compounds, the impact of the cheese matrix on its taste development is discussed.     

高透光率青梅浓缩汁贮藏过程颜色的动力学研究

该文研究了高透光率青梅浓缩汁在贮藏过程中吸光度与贮藏温度、贮藏时间的关系,建立了颜色变化动力学模型,为高透光率青梅浓缩汁贮藏条件的优化控制及保质期预测提供了科学依据。结果表明：高透光率青梅浓缩汁的吸光度变化(A₀-A)符合Arrhenius模型,且为零级反应,其反应常数K₀为1.13×10⁷,活化能Ea为59.89 kJ/mol。经验证,该模型预测值与试验实测值的相关系数达0.999,表明该模型是合适有效的。     

Endogenous metabolism and macromolecular composition of Arthrobacter globiformis

Arthrobacter globiformis was grown under both carbon- and nitrogen-limiting conditions in a chemostat at a variety of growth rates. Under C-limiting conditions at 25°C, the true growth yield was 602 mg g^?1h^?1 and the specific maintenance rate 0.01 h^?1. However, at dilution rates less than 0.026 h^?1, the energy diverted for maintenance fell. Specific maintenance rates also fell as the growth temperature was lowered to a value of 0.0022 h^?1 at 10°C. The viability of populations at all temperatures remained above 80%. Under N-limiting conditions, viabilities were even higher and cell yields increased markedly as the dilution rate decreased, due to the formation of a glycogen-like reserve material. This made it difficult to calculate a meaningful specific maintenance rate.The chemical composition of the cells depended upon the nature of the medium and the growth rate, with exceptionally high carbohydrate levels, under N-limiting conditions where up to 65% of the cell material was carbohydrate at low growth rates. This accumulation of carbohydrate increased mean cell weights more than four-fold. If C-limited cells were starved, their weight decreased slowly and Q(O₂) rates fell to values close to 1 within a few days. Nitrogen-limited cells when starved lost weight faster due to rapid utilization of the excess carbohydrate. Their viability also decreased and Q(O₂) values only fell to about 3.6 after 28 days.The changes in maintenance requirement and rates of endogenous metabolism are discussed in the context of a fluctuating environment which might be found in soil.     

Carbohydrate and amino acid degradation pathways in L-methionine/D-[13C] glucose model systems

Maillard model systems consisting of labeled D-[(13)C]glucoses, L-[(15)N]methionine, and L-[methyl-(13)C]methionine, have been utilized to identify the amino acid and carbohydrate fragmentation pathways occurring in the model system through Py-GC/MS analysis. The label incorporation analyses have indicated that the carbohydrate moiety produces 1-deoxy- and 3-deoxyglucosones and undergoes C(2)/C(4) and C(3)/C(3) cleavages to produce glycolaldehyde, tetrose, and C(3)-reactive sugar derivatives such as acetol, glyceraldehyde, and pyruvaldehyde. Glycolaldehyde was found to incorporate C-1, C-2 (70%) and C-5, C-6 (30%) glucose carbon fragments, whereas the tetrose moiety incorporates only C-3, C-4, C-5, C-6 glucose carbon atoms. In addition, the major source of reactive C(3) fragments was found to contain C-4, C-5, C-6 sugar moiety. On the other hand, methionine alone also generated Strecker aldehyde as detected by its condensation product with 3-(methylthio)propylamine. Plausible mechanisms were proposed for the formation of the interaction products between sugar and amino acid degradation products on the basis of the label incorporation patterns.     

玉米碳水化合物分配机制研究进展与展望

源-库互作是重要的产量决定因子,源库间碳水化合物的转运与分配机制是生命科学领域研究热点。玉米作为同化能力较强的C4植物,是研究植物碳水化合物分配的理想模型。为给玉米碳水化合物分配机制及源-库互作研究提供理论支持,通过大量文献资料的整理,分析了蔗糖长距离运输和瞬时淀粉转化形成蔗糖相关基因的调控作用,论述了同化产物分配的调控机制,对影响共质体运输基因、质外体运输基因、韧皮部结构基因和机制调控未知基因对玉米碳水化合物分配调控的分子功能方面的研究进展进行了综述,并对玉米碳水化合物分配机制研究进行了展望。     

L-半胱氨酸处理对采后青脆李果实苯丙烷代谢的影响

L-半胱氨酸(L-cysteine)作为生物体中的常见氨基酸,已有研究发现其能有效延缓青脆李果实的衰老和品质的下降。然而,L-半胱氨酸处理对李果实中苯丙烷代谢途径合成酚类物质的影响尚不清楚。因此,该研究以青脆李果实为试材,采用1 g/L L-半胱氨酸浸泡处理后于(20±1)℃贮藏,研究贮藏期间苯丙烷代谢途径中关键酶活性以及总酚、总黄酮等相关代谢产物的变化规律,同时测定果实中糖酸含量和抗氧化活性的变化。结果表明,李果实在贮藏过程中可溶性固形物(Total soluble solids,TSS)含量和可滴定酸(Titratable acid,TA)呈逐渐降低的趋势,L-半胱氨酸处理显著延缓了李果实TSS和TA的下降(P0.05)。在贮藏期间,苯丙烷代谢途径中关键酶活性均呈逐渐上升的趋势,与对照组相比,处理组中苯丙氨酸解氨酶、4-香豆酸辅酶A连接酶活性更高。果实中总酚、总黄酮含量在贮藏期间先降低后上升,在贮藏前三天,处理组中总酚、总黄酮含量显著高于对照组(P0.05)。对酚类物质单体含量的测定发现,处理后的果实中绿原酸、咖啡酸、丁香酸、芦丁等酚类物质单体含量显著高于对照组(P0.05)。抗氧化活性与总酚、总黄酮的变化趋势一致,经L-半胱氨酸处理后的果实保持了较高的抗氧化活性。相关性分析结果表明,果实中苯丙氨酸解氨酶、肉桂酸-4-羟基化酶和4-香豆酸辅酶A连接酶与果实酚类物质含量及抗氧化活性显著相关(P0.05)。总体来说,1 g/L L-半胱氨酸浸泡处理能够延缓青脆李果实贮藏品质下降,同时能够激活苯丙烷代谢途径关键酶,促进果实中酚类物质的积累。