Potato storage quality as influenced by rate of ventilation

Insulated bins containing approximately 1800 kg (2 ton) were ventilated at airflow rates of 0, 2.3, 4.7, 9.4, 18.7, 37.5, and 74.9 m³/h/T(0, 1.25, 2.5, 10, 20, and 40 cfm/t). Replicated trials over a three year period showed that ventilating with an airflow rate of 18.7 m³/h/T (10 cfm/t) resulted in the lowest combined storage loss due to weight, sprouts, and rot. The time required to grade the tubers from the bins ventilated with airflow rates greater than 9.4 m³/h/T (5 cfm/t) was significantly less than that from those receiving lower airflow rates. There was no significant difference in tuber temperature at the top of the bins having an airflow rate of 9.4 m³/h/T (5 cfm/t) or more.     

Seed potato quality as influenced by high temperatures during the growth period. 1. Effect of storage temperature on sprout growth

Summary In the Negev area of Israel potatoes are grown in two seasons of the year: spring and autumn. Locally grown seed of cv. Up-to-Date prepared for the autumn season are grown in the spring under high-temperature conditions during the last part of the growth period. The response to storage temperature treatments consisted of different degrees of sprouting. Temperatures that encouraged bud development (12–22°C) shortened the dormant period of the tubers by about a month, and usually there is clear apical dominance. However, increasing length of the apical bud was positively correlated with storage temperature. Partial loss of apical dominance was obtained when the tubers were held at a low temperature (4°C) for at least two months after lifting. After transfer of the tubers to high temperatures for another month, there were 3 or 4 sprouts per tuber. The physiological age of seed tubers developing in the semi-arid region is discussed. Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, Beit Dagan, Israel 1979 Series, No 300.     

Herbage growth rates on heterogeneous swards as influenced by sward-height classes

The contribution of four classes of sward height to daily herbage growth rates of a heterogeneous sward in eight periods throughout a grazing season was investigated in two continuous cattle-grazing systems differing in intensity (moderate stocking rate: MC; lenient stocking rate: LC). At the beginning and end of periods of 12 to 28 d, the compressed sward height (CSH) was measured in exclusion cages at eighteen fixed points per cage to derive daily growth rates for the four classes of sward height. Stratified calibrations were made to relate sward height to herbage mass for each treatment in each period. Quadratic regressions described the relationship between herbage growth rate and initial CSH for each treatment in each period. For scaling up to the scale of the plot, CSH was measured monthly at 100 points per plot. Daily herbage growth rates declined from more than 100 kg dry matter (DM) ha⁻¹ d⁻¹ on both treatments at the beginning of the grazing season to 20 kg DM ha⁻¹ d⁻¹ or less, especially on treatment LC. This was due to the larger area covered by tall herbage on treatment LC than on treatment MC. On treatment MC, daily herbage growth rate was predominantly derived from short sward areas of up to 12 cm in height while sward areas taller than 12 cm contributed most to daily growth rates on treatment LC in early summer. The method used is considered suitable for estimating daily herbage growth rates of different classes of sward height in extensively managed pastures and can easily be adapted to deal with more heterogeneous swards than used in this study.     

Seed potato quality as influenced by high temperatures during the growth period. 2. Sprouting pattern in several cultivars in response to storage temperature

Summary Locally grown seed tubers of nine varieties developing in spring or in autumn in a semi-arid region were examined for length of dormancy and for sprouting response. In spring, high temperatures during the last part of tuber development markedly shortened the dormant periods of tubers in comparison with tubers of the same varieties developing in autumn. The sprouting behaviour of tubers indicated that it is a varietal characteristic influenced by the change in environmental conditions during tuber development and storage. On tubers developing in spring and stored at high temperatures, three sprouting patterns were defined: a) apical dominance, characterized by the evident development of the apical sprout and less than 10% sprouting of the non-apical buds; b) apical influence, the apical sprout well developed and 10–20% sprouting of the non-apical buds; and c) simultaneous sprouting of 3 or 4 sprouts of similar size per tuber. It is suggested that apical dominance is a relative rather than an absolute phenomenon. The extent of dominance depends upon the variety's response to the high temperatures during tuber growth and storage. Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, Beit Dagan, Israel, 1979 Series, No 301.     

Aspergillus flavus growth and aflatoxin production as influenced by total lipid content during growth and development of cottonseed

Aspergillus flavus infects several food and feed crops, such as corn (Zea mays L.), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.), and tree nut crops and contaminates the seed with carcinogenic aflatoxins. These susceptible crops contain rich reserves of lipids and fatty acids. The nature of relationship between lipids and the ability of the fungus to infect and produce aflatoxins in mature cottonseed, a protein-rich animal feed, has been addressed previously. In this study, we tracked lipid accumulation in developing cottonseed (15–35 days post-anthesis [DPA]) and also the ability of an aflatoxigenic strain and an isogenic non-aflatoxigenic strain to grow and produce aflatoxins in planta. The aflatoxigenic strain Af-70 green fluorescent protein (GFP) and the isogenic, non-aflatoxigenic strain SRRC 1500 (fungal collections maintained at the Southern Regional Research Center) did not differ much in infection and colonization of cottonseed. The non-aflatoxigenic strain did not produce aflatoxin at all stages of cottonseed development, whereas the aflatoxigenic strain Af-70 GFP produced copious amounts of aflatoxin and it coincided with the increasing levels of lipids, especially in mature cottonseed (30–35 DPA). Fungal growth, as quantified by the GFP expression in the fungus, was highly correlated with toxin production.     

赤霉素打破种薯休眠对马铃薯出苗的影响

试验研究结果表明:采用20mg/L赤霉素水溶液喷雾催芽,催芽效果达到了相同浓度浸泡催芽的效果,解决了赤霉素浸泡催芽块茎腐烂的问题。     

Properties of sugar-snap cookies as influenced by lauric-based shortenings

The objective of this work was to assess the effect of different lauric-based shortenings with varying solid fat content (SFC) on sugar-snap cookie dough properties and cookie quality. Shortenings were produced by blending high oleic sunflower oil, palm kernel oil and palm stearin in different ratios, obtaining shortenings with different SFCs. It was observed that the SFC of the shortening largely influences the rheological properties of the cookie dough. At small deformations, fat crystals add elasticity to the dough; while at large deformations, fat-structure is disrupted, and it does not contribute to dough hardness. Fats with intermediate SFCs decrease dough resistance due to an enhanced shortening ability. Nevertheless, this effect is only obtained when shortening is homogeneously distributed in the dough. The SFC of the shortening influences dough and cookie structure by preventing gluten polymerization which was observed by a decrease in cookie break strength. A prerequisite for this effect is that shortening is finely dispersed in the dough. Good quality cookies were obtained using lauric-based shortenings, and best results were obtained with SFC between 20 and 25%. Higher SFC (around 45–50%) led to the production of unacceptable sugar-snap cookies.     

Potato flavor quality as affected by two fungicides

In 1964, eleven weekly foliar spray applications of one and two pounds of Difolatan and one and two pounds of Maneb had no significant effect on the flavor quality of the baked Katahdin tubers examined in the study.     

Nutritive characterization of purslane accessions as influenced by planting date

The uniqueness of purslane (Portulaca spp.) asthe richest vegetable source of omega-3 (-3)fatty acids is well documented. However, purslane hasnot been domesticated or fully evaluated for itsnutritive value. The objective of this study was todetermine the influence of planting date on chemicalcomposition of purslane accessions. Eight accessionsfrom different geographical locations were planted 12days apart, and whole plants harvested at full bloom. Chemical analysis (DM basis) of leaves showedsignificant differences among varieties for all thecharacteristics measured. Accession by planting dateinteraction influenced (p < 0.05) levels of crudeprotein, total lipids, and carbohydrate contents. Wild Greek accession had the highest, while aBeltsville (Maryland) wild type had the lowest crudeprotein content (27.1 vs 20.5%) at the secondplanting date. Crude protein, lipid and ash levelswere most influenced (p < 0.05) by planting date. Total lipids varied from 4.0–5.8% and 3.7–5.1% forthe first and second planting dates, respectively. Selected fatty acid content indicated significantly(p < 0.05) higher levels of 18: 26, and18: 33 in the Dutch Garden accession comparedwith other varieties. The Egyptian wild accession hadthe lowest level of 18: 33. The ratio of 3 to 6 acids, which ranged from 5.5 to22.3 indicated a highnutritive value of purslane compared to other oilcrops such as soybeans and perrilla. The high levelsof protein in purslane compete with those of othercommercially important vegetable crops. The studyshows that, in spite of its genetic diversity, purslaneremains one of the most abundant terrestrial vegetablesources of Omega-3 fatty acids and other essentialnutrients potentially beneficial for humans as well asanimals.     

Root textural quality in ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) as influenced by crop growth periods and morphotypes

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a commercially important medicinal crop and roots are the main portion of the plant used therapeutically. The root textural quality determined by high starch-fiber ratio fetches premium price for the produce. Influence of morphological variants and crop growth intervals on accumulation of starch and crude fiber in roots was studied to assess morphotypical differences and to determine the right harvest stage for high root yield with better physical quality. The morphotypes showed similar trend for dry root yield, whereas differences were observed for starch and crude fiber accumulation. The pattern of starch and fiber accumulation varied with different crop growth periods. In general, crude fiber content increased with the crop duration, whereas starch content and starch-fiber ratio followed a trend of decrease-increase-decrease as influenced by different phenophases. Discussions on suitable harvest stage based on dry root yield and starch-fiber ratio are made.     

Growth in Netted Gem potatoes as influenced by transplanting and by greensprouting

The basis of difference in field growth and yield in Netted Gem potato plants grown from greenhouse transplants, from seed which was greensprouted for two weeks prior to planting and from seed which was retained in storage until planting was studied by measuring changes in plant dry weight and leaf area throughout the season. Cut seed, approximately 70g in size, which were either two or four-cut from 142g or 283g mother tubers respectively, were used in the comparisons. Transplants were started in 7.6 cm peat pots in the greenhouse and were transplanted to the field when 10 cm high. The greensprouted seed was cut from mother tubers which had been sprouted under fluorescent light at 15–18°C for two weeks producing strong sprouts 5 mm long. Transplants, greensprouted seed and seed from mother tubers held in 3°C storage were all planted in the field May 30, 1974, coinciding with commercial plantings of Netted Gem in the province. Backup field experiments, comparing similarly treated greensprouted and storage seed and transplants, were conducted in 1974 and 1975 but were not subjected to growth analysis. All plantings were grown on a Riverbank sandy loam soil. The 1974 growing season in New Brunswick was excellent while that for 1975 was dry and required extensive irrigation. The use of transplants established a substantial advantage in terms of early emergence and yields were consistently and significantly greater than those of greensprouted-seed and unsprouted-seed plants. The transplant yield advantage was attributed to the fact that tuberization was advanced substantially compared with the latter two types. Higher relative growth rates were associated with later emergence so that the rate for plants growing from unsprouted seed was greater than that for plants growing from greensprouted plants which, in turn, was superior to that of transplants. This pattern was maintained through the season. Consequently, small advantages in time of emergence, such as that obtained with greensprouted-seed plants, were not accompanied by significant yield differences. Canopy size decreased as emergence was delayed and canopy size differences were determined largely by the amount of branching. As canopy size decreased and emergence was delayed, the net assimilation rate was found to increase.     

Forage production by two Lotus species as influenced by companion grass species

A small-plot experiment was carried out with grass-lotus (Lotus spp.) swards on a lowland (185 m) clay-soil site in S-W England. Two species of lotus (Lotus corniculatus cv. Leo and L. pedunculatus, syn, L. uliginosus, cv. Maku) were each sown at 10 kg seed ha^?1 with lour grass species each at two grass-seed rates: Festuca pratensis at 6 or 3 kg ha^?1 and Phleum pratense, Agrostis capillaris and Poa pratensis at 4 or 2 kg ha^?1. Assessments were made over three harvest years (1992–94). during which no fertilizers were applied. Mean total herbage dry matter (DM) harvested from cv. Leo swards was 90 t ha^?1 in year 1, 8–9 t ha^?1 in year 2 and 4 0 t ha^?1 in year 3. and from cv. Maku swards 6–6 t ha^?1 in year 1. 8–9 t ha^?1 in year 2 and 3–9 t ha^?1 in year 3. Highest three-year mean total yields were with F. pratensis as the companion grass (7–4 t ha^?1 year^?1), followed by Phleum pratense (7–0 t ha^?1), A. capillaris (6–9 t ha^?1) and Poa pratensis (6–2 t ha^?1). The lower grass-seed rate resulted in a greater proportion of lotus in the total harvested DM in year I. The higher grass-seed rate resulted in higher yields from F. pratensis swards in year 1, but there were no significant effects for other species or in subsequent years. Lotus as a proportion of harvested DM declined from about 70% in year 1 to about 20% in year 3. The mean DM yield of lotus herbage in years 1, 2 and 3, respectively, was 5–5, 2–8 and 0–8 t ha^?1 from cv. Leo swards, and 4–0, 3–3 and 0–8 t ha^?1 from cv. Maku swards. Lotus herbage was of higher digestibility from cv. Leo [digestible organic matter (DOM) of 661 g kg^?1 of lotus DM] compared with cv. Maku (551 g kg^?1 DM). Mean N content of lotus herbage was 35 g N kg^?1 DM. Digestibility of companion grass herbage was highest for Phleum pratense (557 g kg^?1 DM) and lowest for A. capillaris (493 g kg^?1 DM). It is concluded that lotus may be an alternative legume to white clover for low-input, low-fertility situations. However, further research is needed to evaluate its performance on different sites and under different management regimes, particularly grazing, and to overcome the apparent problems of its persistence.