Impact of Phytosanitary Quality of Seed Potato and Temporal Epidemic Progress on the Phenotypic Diversity of Phytophthora infestans Populations

Altogether 365 isolates of Phytophthora infestans were sampled from potatoes propagated from seed potatoes of high (multiplied for two years in open field after meristem phase) and low (commercial certified seed multiplied for several consecutive years in open field) phytosanitary quality at different phases of epidemic progress during the growing seasons of 2001–2007 from field plots at two experimental institutes in Estonia, North-East Europe. High or low phytosanitary quality of seed potatoes had no effect on mating type ratio or response to metalaxyl in populations of P. infestans isolated from these two different groups of potato material. In contrast, the incidence of certain virulence factors, as well as the diversity of pathotypes, was very high in populations collected from potatoes propagated from low-quality seed in comparison to those from high-quality seed. The incidence of A2 mating type and fully metalaxyl sensitive strains was statistically significantly higher at the epidemic outbreak than later during epidemic progress. The incidence of most virulence factors and overall pathotype diversity were not affected by the temporal progress of the epidemic. Rare virulence factors 5 and 9 were more frequent at the outbreak of the epidemic and declined in the population during the course of epidemic.     

Sterilization of exopolysaccharides produced by deep-sea bacteria: impact on their stability and degradation

Polysaccharides are highly heat-sensitive macromolecules, so high temperature treatments are greatly destructive and cause considerable damage, such as a great decrease in both viscosity and molecular weight of the polymer. The technical feasibility of the production of exopolysaccharides by deep-sea bacteria Vibrio diabolicus and Alteromonas infernus was previously demonstrated using a bioproduct manufacturing process. The objective of this study was to determine which sterilization method, other than heat sterilization, was the most appropriate for these marine exopolysaccharides and was in accordance with bioprocess engineering requirements. Chemical sterilization using low-temperature ethylene oxide and a mixture of ionized gases (plasmas) was compared to the sterilization methods using gamma and beta radiations. The changes to both the physical and chemical properties of the sterilized exopolysaccharides were analyzed. The use of ethylene oxide can be recommended for the sterilization of polysaccharides as a weak effect on both rheological and structural properties was observed. This low-temperature gas sterilizing process is very efficient, giving a good Sterility Assurance Level (SAL), and is also well suited to large-scale compound manufacturing in the pharmaceutical industry.     

马铃薯块茎休眠及其打破的方法

马铃薯块茎借休眠以渡过不利其生长的条件,从而保证世代繁衍的遗传特性。马铃薯块茎的大小和休眠时间的长短影响其商品价值和利用时间,储藏过程中的休眠解除会造成水分、养分大量消耗,以至丧失应用价值。随着生产发展的需要,有关马铃薯休眠的研究已经被提出,了解休眠特征和打破休眠的方法,对于栽培和储藏保鲜具有十分重要的意义。     

Effect of particle size and addition level of wheat bran on quality of dry white Chinese noodles

Wheat bran is one of the major dietary fiber sources widely used in the food industry in order to produce fiber-rich foods. The effects of particle size and addition level of wheat bran on the quality of flour and of dry white Chinese noodles (DWCN) were investigated. Results suggested that increasing wheat bran concentration and particle size decreased midline peak value (MPV). However, the MTxW and MPT increased as particle size increased. Peak viscosity, trough, final viscosity, area of viscosity, breakdown, and setback of blends decreased significantly with increasing bran levels from 5% to 20%, but there were no significant differences in the impact of particle size on pasting properties. For the 5% and 10% addition levels, there was no distinct effect in breaking strength of the noodles when bran size was 0.21 mm and 0.53 mm. Hardness, gumminess and chewiness of cooked DWCN showed a downtrend with increasing addition levels and particle size, while adhesiveness showed uptrend. The total score of DWCN showed a downtrend with increasing of addition level and particle size. For the 5% bran level, the scores of cooked DWCN were more than 83 when wheat bran particle size was 0.21 mm and 0.53 mm. By using 5–10% fine bran or using 5% medium bran in wheat flour, it is possible to satisfactorily produce fiber-rich DWCN.     

Chemical,sensory and rheological properties of porridges from processed sorghum (Sorghum bicolor,bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc) and sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) flours

The chemical, sensory and rheological properties of porridges made from blends of sprouted sorghum, bambara groundnuts and fermented sweet potatoes were examined. Sorghum and bambara groundnuts were sprouted for 48 h while sweet potatoes were fermented for the same period. Blends were formulated from the processed ingredients in the ratio of 60:40:0, 57:42:1, 55:44:1 and 52:46:2 (protein basis) of sorghum, bambara groundnuts and sweet potatoes. Porridges were prepared from the composite flours and the traditional sorghum complementary food. Standard assay methods were used to evaluate the flours for nutrient composition. The porridges were also tested for sensory properties and viscosity. Processing increased the levels of most of the nutrients evaluated. Relative to the sorghum traditional complementary food, thecomposite flours had higher levels of lipids, protein, ash, crude fiber and minerals (p<0.05). The porridges from the composite flours were generally liked slightly by the panelists and were about seven times less viscous than the porridge from the traditional sorghum complementary food. Use of the composite flours, particularly the 52:46:2 blend, as a traditional complementary food should be encouraged in Nigeria especially with the increasing cost of commercial complementary foods.     

Threshold sugar concentrations in snowden potatoes during storage

The suitability of potatoes for processing into potato chips is dependent on chip color, and internal and external defects. Concentrations of reducing sugars, and more specifically glucose, have been used as a quantitative indicator of acceptability of potato for chipping. The research reported here investigated the correlation between sugar concentrations and chip color, and the variability of sugar concentrations between samples and sample locations. Three potato storage research bins, each with an independent air handling and control system, were located inside of commercial potato storage bins. Snowden potatoes were harvested in the fall of 1992 and stored at different temperatures in the bins through late March, 1993. The potatoes were sampled bi-weekly during the storage period, and the samples were analyzed for sugar concentrations (sucrose and glucose) using a YSI model 2700 sugar analyzer.¹ The results indicated that a Snowden potato sample with a glucose concentration less than 0.0075%² (fresh weight basis) will have a 90% probability of having an acceptable Snack Food Association color score of 1.5 or lower. Lower numbers indicate whiter chips which are generally preferred by chip producers. Similarly, a sample with a glucose concentration of 0.01% will have a 90% probability of having a color of 2 or lower. Based on tubers sampled from four heights within the storage bins, samples from the top of a potato bin will provide a representative sample as long as recommended storage procedures are followed, and potato pulp temperatures are similar throughout the storage.     

Breaking Strength of Pedicel and Grain Shattering Habit in Two Species of Buckwheat (Fagopyrum spp.)

Abstract

The grain shattering habit was examined in nine common buckwheat cultivars/strains (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.) and four tartary buckwheat strains (F. tataricum Gaertner). As indices of grain shattering habit, the breaking bending strength and breaking tensile strength of the pedicel and the pedicel diameter were measured. Thin longitudinal pedicel sections were also observed. The breaking strength showed significant differences among cultivars, but the stage of seed maturity influenced the grain shattering habit. The two breaking strengths were larger in common buckwheat than in tartary buckwheat, and these differences may be explained by the pedicel diameter. The abscission layer was not observed in the pedicel tissue of the buckwheat cultivars.     

不同木薯品种（系）块根淀粉特性研究

对79个木薯品种(系)块根淀粉的鲜薯含粉率、原淀粉水分、直链淀粉和支链淀粉含量、峰值粘度、糊化温度、透明度、恩氏粘度、淀粉粒直径和表面积等淀粉特性指标进行研究.结果表明,不同木薯品种(系)各淀粉特性指标存在很大的差异,不同指标间也有一定的相关性,利用主成分分析对各品种(系)各指标进行综合分析,认为E169、C766、E1424、E339、R72、E217、E344、E232、E316和桂热3号木薯淀粉的加工特性最好,更适合木薯淀粉的深加工.     

Effect of soil temperatures at harvest on the bruise resistance of potatoes

The effect of soil temperature at harvest time on the bruise resistance of potatoes was determined by dropping a weight onto tubers, by dropping tubers, and by sampling commercially harvested potatoes. The results show that a positive linear relationship exists with bruise resistance increasing as soil temperature increases. Shifts in the regression function during the one season studied suggest that some factor or factors which were influenced by time also affected the bruise resistance rating. However temperature of the tubers (and hence, of the soil) at harvest remains the major determinant of the resistance of potato tubers to bruising. Correlation between the bruise rating and soil temperature, as found in the commercial operation, indicates that the relationship is of a magnitude to be of economic importance. An average of 20% of the Katahdin tubers sampled were bruised in the harvesting process and were a potential loss from marketing channels.     

Mechanical properties of wool fiber in the stretch breaking process

Short wool fibers obtained by the stretch breaking process can be blended with cotton fibers and processed in a cotton spinning system, which has a high production rate. For the structural property of the wool fiber after stretch breaking, the diameter and length of the wool fiber were measured as a function of time. The diameter of the broken fibers was finer than the diameter of untreated fibers. The fiber diameter at the break point was the finest and was more irregular than the original fiber. The broken fiber showed mechanical properties of increased modulus, decreased breaking strain, and increased breaking strength.     

Susceptibility to Pressure Flattening Correlates with Texture Analysis of Potato Tubers

The physiological disorder referred to as pressure flattening is a cause of significant economic losses in the storage of Irish potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) intended for use in the fresh market. As the flattened area on each tuber becomes larger in diameter or becomes more depressed the USDA quality grade, and therefore the market value of the potatoes is reduced. Experiments were conducted to identify at-harvest which potato lots within and among cultivars were likely to pressure flatten earlier or more severely. The use of an instrumented penetrometer or texture analyzer to measure peak load required for periderm deformation at harvest appears to anticipate correctly the majority of fields from which tubers are more likely to have severe pressure flattening at six months’ storage duration. At-harvest texture analysis appears to segregate varieties according to susceptibility to deformation based on cultivar specific factors that play a role in pressure flattening development during storage. The Pearson correlation coefficient (R²=0.5481) indicates that there is a correlation between tuber texture at harvest and pressure flattened area on the tuber following storage. Testing of tubers from different fields and cultivars as the potatoes are loaded into storage, may allow growers to identify and ship potatoes that are more susceptible before they develop significant pressure flattening.     

Modeling the tensile strains of non-uniform fibers

The maximum strain experienced by the thinnest segment of a non-uniform fiber governs fiber breakage, yet this maximum strain can not be obtained from a normal single fiber test. Only the average strain of the whole fiber specimen can be obtained from a normal single fiber tensile test. This study has examined the relationship between the average strain, the maximum strain and the degree of fiber non-uniformity, expressed in coefficient of variation (CV) of fiber diameters along fiber length. The tensile strain of irregular fibers has been simulated using the finite element method (FEM). Using this method, average and maximum tensile strains of non-uniform fibers were calculated. The results indicate that for irregular fibers such as wool, there is an exponential relationship (i.e.ɛ _ave ɛ _max=ae ^{−b CV} ) between the ratio of average breaking strain and maximum breaking strain (ɛ _ave ɛ _max) and the along-fiber diameter variation (CV). The strain ratio decreases with the increase of the along-fiber diameter variation.     

不同玉米品种青贮收获期茎秆抗倒力学特性比较分析

以34个玉米品种为试材,在青贮收获期调查田间倒伏率、株高、穗位高、茎粗等农艺性状,测定茎秆穿刺强度及压碎强度,比较分析不同玉米品种的茎秆力学特性、品种差异性和指标相关性,为筛选抗倒能力强、适宜机械化收获的青贮玉米品种提供理论依据。结果表明,茎秆基部节间的穿刺强度及压碎强度随节间的上升逐渐降低,且与株高存在显著正相关关系。茎折是玉米青贮收获期倒伏的关键因素,参试的34个玉米品种中,32D22、先玉1692、东单606和KXA4574综合抗倒能力较强。     

施氮量对糯小麦和非糯小麦籽粒淀粉组分与理化特性的影响

为探明氮肥对小麦籽粒淀粉组分和理化特性的影响,采用田间试验,分析了4个施氮量(0、100、200、300kg·hm~(-2))对糯小麦(农大糯50222)和非糯小麦(轮选987)籽粒淀粉组分与理化特性的影响。结果表明,随施氮量的增加,小麦籽粒淀粉含量降低,轮选987籽粒中B型淀粉粒的数目占比增加,而农大糯50222籽粒的B型淀粉粒数目占比呈减少趋势;增施氮肥能显著提高小麦籽粒淀粉的峰值黏度和谷值黏度。相同施氮量处理下,轮选987淀粉的被测糊化特征参数(除谷值黏度外)均大于农大糯50222。施氮量不同,2个品种籽粒淀粉X-衍射图谱中各峰的位置和相对强度明显不同。随施氮量的增加,轮选987淀粉的相对结晶度增大,而农大糯50222淀粉的相对结晶度减小。相关分析表明,小麦籽粒的直链淀粉含量和直支比与最终黏度、稀澥值、反弹值、糊化温度和峰值时间呈显著正相关,与谷值黏度和相对结晶度呈显著负相关;支链淀粉含量反之。小麦籽粒的B型淀粉粒数目占比与峰值黏度、稀澥值呈显著负相关。综上所述,施氮量可影响小麦籽粒的淀粉含量和粒度分布,进而改变其糊化特性和晶体特征。     

Effects of NCO/OH ratios and polyols during polymerization of water-based polyurethanes on polyurethane modified polylactide fabrics

Polylactides (PLAs) are a type of environmental friendly material. PLA fabrics feature excellent performance in terms of texture, comfort, curling effect, crystallinity, and transparency. However, because of its aliphatic polyester structure, PLA is relatively fragile as compared with the commercially available products like PET or Nylon. This study adopted water-based polyurethane (PU) to modify the surface of PLA fabrics, thereby enhancing the fabrics’ mechanical properties. Various polyols such as polytetrahydrofuran (PTMG), polycaprolactone diol (PCL), and polycarbonates diol (PC) were used and various NCO/OH molar ratios were designed in this study. As the PLA fabric was processed by dipping in various PU dispersions, it was found that the breaking strength of the fabric was increased, while its elongation at breakage decreased. Particularly, the breaking strength of the fabric modified by PUD50PC containing 50 weight percent of PC and two other polyols was the most prominent showing an 80 % increase in strength. Furthermore, the abrasion resistance of the PUD50PC-modified PLA fabric showed a roughly 6 times increase as compared to the plain PLA fabric. SEM images also reveal that after processing with water-based PU, the PLA fibers are bonded tightly with the water-based PU molecules to increase the breaking strength of the PLA fabrics.     

Incidence of potato tuber blight in Ecuador

Potato late blight, caused byPhytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary, is the most important biotic constraint to potato yield and productivity in Ecuador. Yields are severely reduced by foliage blight, but tuber blight has never been quantified in this country. To address this issue, three independent surveys were carried out in Ecuador to estimate the incidence of tuber infection byP. infestans. The first two (1998–1999) involved the collection and assessment of more than 8,000 tubers from the four provinces that produce the most potatoes: Carchi, Chimborazo, Pichincha, and Tungurahua. In the third survey (1999–2001), approximately 10,000 tubers were sampled from the two provinces producing the most potatoes, Carchi and Chimborazo, and from Canar and Bolivar, two provinces that produce relatively small amounts. In spite of confirmed foliage infection in most fields sampled, very few infected tubers were found. In 1999, an extremely low incidence of tuber blight (less than 0.1%) was detected in three samples (each of more than 1,000 tubers) from the province of Pichincha. In a separate survey in 1999, tuber blight was also found in three fields in the province of Carchi, but with very low incidence. Our data indicate that tuber blight does occur in Ecuador, but the incidence of the disease is extremely low. Factors that might suppress tuber blight in Ecuador are discussed.     

王草茎秆拉伸与剪切的强度特性

为研发优质高效的王草收获机械和加工机械,采用响应面试验设计和统计分析,从根径、取样高度2个维度上研究了收获期王草茎秆拉伸与剪切的强度问题,同时考察了茎秆含水率与观测截面的长径、短径、圆度对强度的影响。结果表明,在根径20~30 mm、取样高度10~200 cm、含水率72.53%~90.65%、长径15.20~30.40 mm、短径13.90~27.65 mm、圆度1.0144~1.2428范围内时,王草植株的节间抗拉强度、节间抗剪强度和茎节抗剪强度处于3.2456~28.9373MPa范围内。茎秆含水率在72.53%~90.65%之间变化时,对上述3个强度指标的影响在0.005水平上显著。根径、取样高度、长径、圆度等对3个强度指标的影响0.05水平上均不显著。含水率与根径、取样高度、长径、短径、圆度等在0.05水平上均线性无关。综上,相近生长期的王草植株,虽然其根径、取样高度、长径及圆度不同,但对茎秆强度无显著影响,茎秆强度的差异主要取决于茎秆内部组织结构的不同,含水率是独立影响茎秆强度的重要因子。     

Verticillium albo-atrum carried by certified seed potatoes into Washington and control by chemicals

Fifty-one percent of 110 lots of certified seed potatoes from 10 states and Canada sampled in 1968 and 30% of 134 lots from nine states and Canada sampled in 1969 were infected withVerticillium albo-atrum. Fortyone percent of the 1968 lots and 13% of the 1969 lots carried soil infested with the fungus on tuber surfaces. The dark mycelial type ofV. albo-atrum was found infecting tubers more often than the microsclerotial type, however, high propapgule populations of the microsclerotial type were present on tuber surfaces in the soil of infested lots. Over 24% of the isolates ofV. albo-atrum infecting and infesting tubers from lots of seed potatoes were pathogenic to eggplant var. Black Beauty. Captan^®, household bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite), Polyram^®, Orthocide^®, and Semesan Bel^®, were effective in preventing germination of the fungus in small amounts of soil such as might be carried by infested tubers. Liquid treatments were more effective than dusts.     

Effects of protein oxidation on gelatinization characteristics during rice storage

Gliadin and glutelin are major rice storage proteins. In this study, we evaluated changes in these proteins to determine the influence of pasting properties on rice storage. Notably, the physical and chemical properties of these proteins changed steadily. We analyzed protein oxidation indexes and determined correlations between the protein oxidation index and gelatinization property index. The results showed that significant oxidation of gliadin and glutelin occurred during the process of rice storage (P < 0.05). Protein oxidation had a significant impact on pasting properties. For glutelin, changes in the structure and function of the protein during rice storage had a significant impact on the five rice pasting property indexes, including peak viscosity (PV), holding strength (HS), breakdown, final viscosity (FV), and setback (SB; P < 0.05). In particular, the levels of carbonyl compounds and active sulfur and the surface hydrophobicity of glutelin were significantly correlated with rice pasting property indexes (P < 0.05). However, gliadin only significantly affected three indexes, i.e., PV, HS, and FV (P < 0.05). Thus, these findings suggested that the carbonyl compounds, active sulfur, and surface hydrophobicity of glutelin could be used as sensitive indexes for changes in rice quality evaluation.     

The effect of glyphosate on the viability of seed potato tubers

Summary Glyphosate applied to a growing crop of potatoes adversely affected the growth of the harvested tubers in the following season. Some effects were produced at 0.018 kg/ha^*, equivalent to ca 1 % of a commercial application rate. Symptoms were more severe at higher rates.