Nondestructive determination of total soluble solid content and firmness in plums using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy

The fruit industry requires rapid, economical, and nondestructive methods for classifying fruit by internal quality, which can be built into the processing line. Total soluble solid content and firmness are the two indicators of plum internal quality that most affect consumer acceptance. These parameters are routinely evaluated using methods which involve destruction of the fruit; as a result, only control batches can be analyzed. The development of nondestructive analytical methods would enable the quality control of individual fruits. Near-IR spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to assess total soluble solid content (SSC, degrees Brix) and firmness (N) in intact plums. A total of 720 plums (Prunus salicina L. cv. 'African Pride', 'Black Diamond', 'Fortune', 'Laetitia', 'Larry Anne', 'Late Royal', 'Prime Time', 'Sapphire', and 'Songold') were used to obtain calibration models based on reference data and near-IR spectral data. Standard errors of cross-validation (SECV) and coefficients of determination for cross-validation (r(2)) were (0.77 degrees Brix; 0.83) for total soluble solids content and (2.54 N; 0.52) for firmness. Results suggest that NIRS technology enables fruit to be classified in terms of total soluble solid content and firmness, thus allowing increased sampling of each production batch and ensuring a given quality with greater precision and accuracy.     

滩涂区不同围垦年限土壤总盐及盐基离子含量变化规律

为了研究江苏沿海百年尺度滩涂围垦区土壤含盐量、Cl-、SO42-、HCO3-、Na+、K+、Ca2+、Mg2+等盐基离子变化规律及影响因素,采用了数量统计、相关分析、因子分析等方法对大丰典型滩涂5个不同时段围垦区表层土壤含盐量、Cl-、SO42-、HCO3-、Na+、K+、Ca2+、Mg2+等盐基离子的含量变化、相关关系、盐渍化特征及土壤理化性质对脱盐的影响进行了研究。研究结果显示:随着围垦年限增加土壤含盐量及盐基离子含量逐渐降低,围垦到60 a左右土壤含量平均值低于1g/kg,基本完成脱盐过程,并且盐渍化类型以氯化物型为主转变成以硫酸盐型为主;随着脱盐过程进行,盐基离子之间相关关系和组合特征发生了明显变化,从初期以Cl-、Na+作为主控因子,到围垦后期以SO42-、Ca2+为主控因子;土壤有机质和粉砂粒的增加加速了土壤脱盐进程;盐基离子变化是围垦过程中土壤酸碱度变化驱动因素之一。     

Phosphorus source effects on alfalfa yield,total nitrogen content,and soil test phosphorus

Abstract

Recent studies showing a lack of response by alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) to phosphorus (P) fertilization have raised concerns about the efficacy of commonly used P fertilizer materials in the southwestern United States. Studies were conducted between 1982 and 1985 in southeastern New Mexico to evaluate (i) alfalfa yield response to different P sources, (ii) the effect of P fertilizer source on forage total nitrogen (N) content and leafiness, and (iii) the effect of P fertilizer source on soil test P. Nine P sources were applied annually from 1982 through 1984 at a rate of 58 kg P/ha. Alfalfa was grown during 1985 without fertilization to examine the residual effect of P sources. Triple superphosphate (TSP) and monoammonium phosphate (MAP) gave the highest alfalfa forage yields over the 3‐year application period, but no residual fertilizer effects were observed when fertilization was discontinued. Fertilization did not affect forage leafiness. Except for a small N response in forage total N content in 1984, neither P nor concomitant applied N had a significant effect on forage N content over the 3‐year period. Phosphorus fertilization significantly increased average soil test P for the 3‐year period, but there were no significant differences between treatments. Currently used P materials (TSP and MAP) still appear to be the most efficacious for alfalfa production.     

Influence of thermal treatments simulating cooking processes on the polyphenol content in virgin olive oil

Virgin olive oils were subjected to simulated common domestic processing, including frying, microwave heating, and boiling with water in a pressure cooker. The impact of these processes on polyphenol content and physicochemical characteristics of oils was assessed. Thermal oxidation of oils at 180 degrees C caused a significant decrease in hydroxytyrosol- and tyrosol-like substances. In contrast, oils heated for 25 h still retained a high proportion of the lignans 1-acetoxypinoresinol and pinoresinol. Thermal oxidation also resulted in a rapid degradation of alpha-tocopherol and the glyceridic fraction of oils. Microwave heating of oils for 10 min caused only minor losses in polyphenols, and the oil degradation was lower than that in thermoxidation assays. Again, lignans were the least affected polyphenols and did not change during microwave heating. Boiling a mixture of virgin olive oil and water in a pressure cooker for 30 min provoked the hydrolysis of the secoiridoid aglycons and the diffusion of the free phenolics hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol from the oil to the water phase. Losses of polyphenols were detected only at pH lower than 6. Moreover, alpha-tocopherol and the glyceridic fraction of oils were not modified during this process. It is worth noting that all the heating methods assayed resulted in more severe polyphenols losses and oil degradation for Arbequina than for Picual oil, which could be related to the lower content in polyunsaturated fatty acids of the latter olive cultivar. These findings may be relevant to the choice of cooking method and olive oil cultivar to increase the intake of olive polyphenols.     

Determination of insoluble, soluble, and total dietary fiber in foods and food products: interlaboratory study

A collaborative study was conducted to determine the insoluble dietary fiber (IDF), soluble dietary fiber (SDF), and total dietary fiber (TDF) content of food and food products by using a combination of enzymatic and gravimetric procedures. The method was basically the same as that developed for TDF only, which was adopted official final action by AOAC, except for changing the concentration of buffer and base and substituting hydrochloric acid for phosphoric acid. These changes were made to improve the robustness of the method. Duplicate blind samples of soy isolate, white wheat flour, rye bread, potatoes, rice, corn bran, oats, Fabulous Fiber, wheat bran, and a high fiber cereal were analyzed by 13 collaborators. Dietary fiber values (IDF, SDF, and TDF) were calculated as the weight of residue minus the weight of protein and ash. The coefficients of variation (CVs) of both the independent TDF determination and the sum of IDF and SDF were better than 15 and 18%, respectively, with the exception of rice and soy isolate. These 2 foods, however, contained only about 1% TDF. The CVs of the IDF were equally good, except for Fabulous Fiber, for which filtration problems occurred. The CVs for the SDF were somewhat high, but these products had very low SDF content. There was excellent agreement between the TDF determined independently and the TDF determined by summing the IDF and SDF. The method for separate determination of IDF and SDF requires further study. The modifications (changes in concentration of buffer and base and the use of hydrochloric acid instead of phosphoric acid) to the official final action method for TDF have been adopted.     

Flavone C-glycoside,phenolic acid,and nitrogen contents in leaves of barley subject to organic fertilization treatments

From the leaves of barley, Hordeum vulgare, one new flavone C-glucoside and three known flavone glucosides were isolated and characterized by (1)H and (13)C NMR and MALDI-TOF-MS. The novel flavone C-glucoside was isovitexin 7-O-beta-[6' "-O-(E)-p-coumaroyl]glucoside (6' "-coumaroylsaponarin), and the known compounds were isovitexin 7-O-beta-[6' "-O-(E)-feruloyl]glucoside, isoorientin 7-O-beta-[6' "-O-(E)-feruloyl]glucoside, and tricin 7-O-beta-glucoside. The sum of all the flavone glycosides and soluble phenolic acids in the leaves decreased with increased rate of plant nutrients given in animal manure and with increased crop yield. All of the major phenylpropanoids showed the same general response to nutrient level. The concentration of nitrogen in the leaves was not directly related to nutrient application or to contents of phenylpropanoids.     

Induction of soluble and cell wall peroxidases by aphid infestation in barley

Peroxidase enzymes have been found in soluble, ionically bound, and covalently bound forms and have been implicated in several physiological processes in plants. This paper investigates the effect of aphid infestation on soluble and bound-cell wall peroxidase activity and bound-cell wall isoform changes of barley plants. Peroxidase activity was measured in control plants and plants infested with the aphid Schizaphis graminum (Rondani). The activity of soluble peroxidases increased with time of infestation, older plants being more affected than younger ones. The increase in bound-cell wall peroxidase activity as a function of age was higher in infested than in control plants, being higher in ionically bound than in covalently bound peroxidases. When the aphids were removed from plants, the activities of both types of peroxidases decreased to control levels. Isoelectrofocusing analyses of the ionically bound peroxidases showed changes in the isoform pattern. A new isoform was induced by infestation. The activities of all covalently bound isoforms increased after infestation. The physiological implications of these changes are discussed.     

Revising the role of pH and thermal treatments in aflatoxin content reduction during the tortilla and deep frying processes.

Naturally aflatoxin-contaminated corn (Zea mays L.) was made into tortillas, tortilla chips, and corn chips by the traditional and commercial alkaline cooking processes. The traditional nixtamalization (alkaline-cooking) process involved cooking and steeping the corn, whereas the commercial nixtamalization process only steeps the corn in a hot alkaline solution (initially boiling). A pilot plant that includes the cooker, stone grinder, celorio cutter, and oven was used for the experiments. The traditional process eliminated 51.7, 84.5, and 78.8% of the aflatoxins content in tortilla, tortilla chips, and corn chips, respectively. The commercial process was less effective: it removed 29.5, 71.2, and 71.2 of the aflatoxin in the same products. Intermediate and final products did not reach a high enough pH to allow permanent aflatoxin reduction during thermal processing. The cooking or steeping liquor (nejayote) is the only component of the system with a sufficiently high pH (10.2-10.7) to allow modification and detoxification of aflatoxins present in the corn grain. The importance of removal of tip, pericarp, and germ during nixtamalization for aflatoxin reduction in tortilla is evident.     

Relationship between phenolic compounds, anthocyanins content and antioxidant activity in colored barley germplasm

Barley and its products are good sources of antioxidants. This experiment was conducted to examine the classification and concentration of phenolic compounds, proanthocyanidins, and anthocyanins in 127 lines of colored barley. Their relationship with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity was also examined. Barley was placed into seven groups using the colorimeter: hulled (black 1, black 2, black 3, and purple) and unhulled (black, blue, and purple). The contents of phenolic compounds and anthocyanins were analyzed by using HPLC. The average content of phenolic compounds in unhulled barley groups (268.6 microg/g) was higher than that in hulled (207.0 microg/g) (P > 0.05). The proanthocyanidins content was determined by modified vanillin assay. The average content of proanthocyanidins was significantly higher in purple and blue barley groups compared with black (P < 0.05). The content of anthocyanins varied from 13.0 to 1037.8 microg/g. Purple and blue barley groups contained higher average contents of anthocyanins than black (P < 0.05). The most common anthocyanin in the purple barley groups was cyanidin 3-glucoside, whereas delphinidin 3-glucoside was the most abundant anthocyanin in the blue and black groups. In colored barley, DPPH radical scavenging activity had high positive correlation to the content of phenolic compounds and proanthocyanidins.     

Effect of germination and thermal treatments on folates in rye

Effects of germination conditions and thermal processes on folate contents of rye were investigated. Total folate contents were determined microbiologically with Lactobacillus rhamnosus (ATCC 7469) as the growth indicator organism, and individual folates were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography after affinity chromatographic purification. Germination increased the folate content by 1.7-3.8-fold, depending on germination temperature, with a maximum content of 250 micro g/100 g dry matter. Hypocotylar roots with their notably high folate concentrations (600-1180 micro g/100 g dry matter) contributed 30-50% of the folate contents of germinated grains. Germination altered the proportions of folates, increasing the proportion of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and decreasing the proportion of formylated folate compounds. Thermal treatments (extrusion, autoclaving and puffing, and IR and toasting) resulted in significant folate losses. However, folate levels in grains that were germinated and then were heat processed were higher than for native (nongerminated) grains. Opportunities to optimize rye processing to enhance folate levels in rye-based foods are discussed.     

电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法测定土壤中全硫、全磷和全钾

分别采用传统王水消解法和微波消解法处理样品,用电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法测定土壤中全硫、全磷和全钾的含量。该方法简单快捷,检测灵敏度高,线性范围宽,重复性好,准确度高,能同时测定土壤中全硫、全磷和全钾的含量,测定结果准确可靠,重现性及精密度很好,加标回收率在95.1%~100.4%之间。可使分析工作者从传统的分析手续冗繁、耗时的繁重工作中解放出来。     

A comprehensive physical activity promotion programme at elementary school: the effects on physical activity, physical fitness and psychosocial correlates of physical activity

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a comprehensive physical activity (PA) promotion programme in elementary schools on children's total PA levels, leisure-time PA, physical fitness and psychosocial correlates of PA. DESIGN: A pre-test-post-test design over two school years. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: Sixteen elementary schools (764 children, mean age: 11.2 +/- 0.7 years) were randomly assigned to the intervention condition (n = 8) and the control condition (n = 8). The intervention included a health-related physical education programme, an extracurricular PA promotion programme and classroom-based PA education lessons. In the total sample, leisure-time PA, psychosocial correlates of PA and physical fitness were measured using a PA questionnaire and the Eurofit test battery. In a sub-sample, total PA levels were measured using an accelerometer. RESULTS: According to accelerometer data, children's moderate PA and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) levels decreased less in the intervention schools than in the control schools (P < 0.01). The average time spent on MVPA decreased by 9 min per day in the intervention schools compared with 33 min per day in the control schools. Children in the intervention schools reported significantly more moderate PA in leisure time than the controls (P < 0.05). No overall improvement of physical fitness and no effects on the psychosocial correlates of PA were found. CONCLUSIONS: The comprehensive PA promotion programme was successful in preventing a decline in children's total activity levels. Furthermore, the intervention increased children's PA engagement in leisure time. Therefore, implementation needs to be encouraged.     

Tillage and crop sequence effects on organic carbon and total nitrogen content in an irrigated Alberta soil

A better understanding of tillage effects on soil organic matter is vital for development of effective soil conservation practices. The objective of this research is to determine the effect of tillage and crop sequence on soil organic carbon (OC) and total nitrogen (TN) content in an irrigated southern Alberta soil. A field experiment was conducted using a split–split plot design from 1994 to 1998 in Alberta, Canada. There were two crop sequences (Sequence 1: spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.)–spring wheat–annual legume; and Sequence 2: spring wheat–spring wheat–annual legume–sugar beet) and two tillage practices (CT: conventional tillage and MT: minimum tillage). Surface soil under MT had significantly higher OC (30.1 Mg ha⁻¹) content than under CT (28.3 Mg ha⁻¹) after 4 years of treatment. The MT treatment retains crop residue at the soil surface, reduces soil erosion and slows organic matter decomposition, which are key factors in enhancing the soil fertility status of southern Alberta irrigated soils.     

Antigenic stability of pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch] proteins: effects of thermal treatments and in vitro digestion

Rabbit polyclonal antibody-based inhibition ELISA as well as immunoblotting analyses of proteins extracted from variously processed pecans (cv. Desirable) indicate that pecan proteins are antigenically stable. Pecan antigens were more sensitive to moist heat than dry heat processing treatments. SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting analysis of the native and heat-denatured proteins that were previously subjected to in vitro simulated gastric fluid digestions indicate that stable antigenic peptides were produced. Both enzyme-to-substrate ratio and digestion time were influential in determining the stability of pecan polypeptides. The stable antigenic polypeptides may serve as useful markers in developing assays suitable for the detection of trace amounts of pecans in foods.     

Decomposability of barley straw: Effect of cold-water extraction on dry weight and nutrient content

Mature spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) straw, cut to a length of 5 cm, was successively extracted with cold water. The influence of leaching on dry weight, nutrient content, and decomposability was investigated in fresh and in partially-decomposed straw.The loss in dry weight was 6% after one extraction, increasing to 9% after three successive extractions. Incubating the straw between extractions increased losses of dry matter and N, whereas losses of ash, K, P, Mg and Ca were not affected by the intervening incubations. Three successive extractions removed 58% of the ash, 87% of the K, 59% of the P, 34% of the Mg and 25% of the Ca. The loss of N increased from 20% without intermittent incubations to 43% for straw samples incubated at 15°C between the extractions (total incubation period, 66 days).The respiration losses of untreated straw samples incubated for 203 days at 5 and 15°C were 9 and 23%, respectively. Extracting the straw before incubation reduced initial respiration losses. After 203 days, the cumulative respiration loss of leached straw incubated at 15°C was 11% of initial straw dry weight, whereas the loss at 5°C was similar to that of untreated straw.     

Determination of the grape invertase content (using PTA-ELISA) following various fining treatments versus changes in the total protein content of wine. relationships with wine foamability

Proteins have proven to play a major role in the stabilization of foam in Champagne wines despite their low concentration that ranges from 4 to 20 mg/L. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fining on total protein and grape invertase contents of champenois base wines and their foaming properties. Data showed that fining and especially the use of bentonite at doses ranging from 10 to 50 g/hL leads to a significant decrease in the total protein content of wines together with that of the grape invertase content, with such a decrease being very detrimental to the foaming properties of the treated wines in terms of foam height (HM) and foam stability (HS). Only a slight decrease in the total protein content, in the grape invertase concentration, and in the foam quality of wines was observed when using casein (10 and 20 g/hL) or bentonite combined with casein (both at 20 g/hL). Our study thus clearly establishes the good correlation existing between the wine protein concentration and its foaming properties. A remarkable correlation was observed between the decrease in the grape invertase content and the total protein content of wines, following bentonite treatments, suggesting that the grape invertase (which represents at least 10-20% of the wine proteins) follows a similar behavior upon fining to other proteins of Champagne wines, despite the high molecular mass and the highly glycosylated structure of this particular protein. Moreover, the decrease in total protein and grape invertase contents of wine after fining with bentonite was found to be correlated with a decrease in the foaming properties of the corresponding wines (with respectively R(2) = 0.89 and 0.95).     

Leaf photosynthesis,chlorophyll fluorescence and ion content of barley (Hordeum vulgare) in response to salinity

Eight barley genotypes contrasting in their salinity tolerance were assessed for their chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthetic performance, lipid peroxidation level and ionic content. A pot experiment was conducted in Borj-Cedria (Tunisia), in a wire house with a glass roof to avoid rainfall. The assay consisted of three treatments (0, 100 and 200 mM NaCl) with eight barley genotypes following a completely randomized design. Each pot was considered as one replicate and nine replicates were used for each genotype and treatment. The salt-tolerant genotypes Kerkna and Tichedrett recorded the highest tolerance for photosynthesis and potassium accumulation, whereas the susceptible genotypes were mostly affected at severe salinity. Contrasting behavior was noted for fluorescence attributes, while PSII yield was unchanged reflecting good protection against photodamage. Photosynthetic performance, enhanced water use efficiency, maintained leaf K⁺ and oxidative defense remain the key components for tolerance mechanisms. Salt-tolerant barley could be suitable for management of salt-affected soils.     

四种畜禽粪便易溶性磷含量的研究

畜禽养殖产生的粪便已经成为我国农村面源污染的主要来源之一,粪便中磷流失也越来越引起人们的重视.以牛粪、猪粪、鸡粪和鸭粪为研究对象,采用H2O、NaHCO3独立提取与H2O+NaHCO3连续提取两种方法,根据磷在H2O和0.5 mol·L-1NaHCO3溶液中的溶解性来研究粪便中磷的形态及其分布特征.研究结果表明,4种粪便全磷含量的变化范围是4.21～40.17 g·kg-1.H2O、NaHCO3独立提取与H2O+NaHCO3连续提取法中,牛粪无机磷平均含量分别为2.37、4.95和5.75 g·kg-1,占全磷含量的26%、53%和62%;猪粪无机磷平均含量分别为5.42、11.58和12.67 g·kg-1,占全磷含量的28%、60%和67%;鸡粪无机磷平均含量分别为4.01、5.94和6.89 g·kg-1,占全磷含量的28%、42%和48%;鸭粪平均无机磷分别为2.82、4.06和4.79 g·kg-1,占全磷含量的18%、26%和31%.H2O和NaHCO3连续提取法测得的畜禽粪便无机磷含量略高于NaHCO3独立提取法测得的结果,差异不显著,两种提取方法测得的结果呈显著正相关关系.各提取液中的磷均以无机磷为主,占总提取磷的60%～99%,猪粪在各提取液中无机磷和总提取磷含量均显著高于其它3种粪便.     

Development of a monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to quantify soluble beta-glucans in oats and barley

A set of 31 murine monoclonal antibodies was produced against (1-->3,1-->4)beta-d-glucan from oats (Avena sativa L.) chemically cross-linked to keyhole limpet hemocyanin. Monoclonal antibodies were tested for their cross-reactivity to related and unrelated polysaccharides. The antibodies reacted strongly to unmodified beta-glucan from oats and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and to lichenan from Icelandic moss, a polysaccharide with a structure similar to that of beta-glucan but which is not encountered in cereals. Cross-reaction to other polysaccharides tested was minimal at physiological levels. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that could routinely detect and quantify nanogram levels of soluble beta-glucan extracted from the flour of oats or barley was designed with one of these monoclonal antibodies. The beta-glucan extraction procedure from ground oat and barley samples and the ELISA were both optimized for reproducibility, accuracy, and throughput, and results were compared to values obtained from an established, commercially available enzyme-based assay. Correlations between the two assays were consistently high (r (2) > 0.9), indicating that the ELISA presented in this paper is a valuable alternative for assaying beta-glucan levels in cereals and cereal products, both routinely and in preparations in which beta-glucans are present in nanogram amounts. Development of the extraction procedure for ELISA is discussed.     

硅对盐胁迫下大麦叶片的亚显微结构、叶绿素含量及光合活力的影响

Two contrasting cultivars of barley(Hordeum vulgare L.):Kepin No.7(salt sensitive),and Jian 4(salt tolerant)were grown in a hydropon ics system with 2 NaCl levels:60 mmol NaCl L^-1 and 120 mmol NaCl L^-1 ,and 3 Si levels:0 mmol Si L^-1 ,0.5 mmol Si L^-1 and 1.0 mmol Si L^-1 (as silicic acid).Compared with the plants treated with 60 mmol NaCl L^-1 alone,the leaf chlorophyll contents of plants rreated with salt and Si increased significantly ofr salt-sensitive cultivar at tillering stage,but for alt-tolerant cultivar,the addition of Si resulted in an obivous increase in the leaf chlorophyll content of plants exposed to 120 mmol NaCl L^-1 ,However,this Si-enhancement of leaf chlorophyll content was also observed in the salttolerant plants at joninting stage,but not in the salt-sensitive plants.Moreover,leaf chlorophyll content was consistently higher for the salt-tolerant cultivar than for the salt-sensitive cultivar irrespective of salt and/or Si treatment .Compared with the plants treated with sal alont ,net CO2 assimilation rate in plant leaves increased significantly for both cultivars when treated with salt and Si, Teh addition of Si to the salt teatment was found to improve the cell ultrastructure of leaves.Under salt stress condition,the double membranes of chloroplasts disappeared,but membrane integrity was markedly improved in the salt treatment supplemented with Si.Silicon was also found to ameliorate the damage to the ultrasturcture of chloroplast granae which appeared to be disintegrated and vague in salt treatments without added Si.The results support previous work which showed that Si decreases the permeability of plasma membranes of salt-stressed barley,thus mitigating salt damage.