Signaling by glutamate dehydrogenase in response to pesticide treatment and nitrogen fertilization of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.).

The responses of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) to NH(4)(+) and herbicides offer a new approach for probing the effects of NH(4)(+)-pesticide interactions at the whole-plant level. Although pesticides and fertilizers have greatly enhanced food production, their combined biochemical effects are not known in detail. Peanut plants were treated with different rates of Basagran (3-(1-methylethyl)-1H-2,1,3-benzothiadiazin-4(3H)-one 2,2-dioxide), Bravo 720 (tetrachloroiso-phthalonitrile), and Sevin XLR Plus (1-naphthyl N-methylcarbamate), with and without 25 mM NH(4)Cl fertilization. Isoelectric focusing, followed by native 7.5% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) fractionated the peanut seed GDH fully to its isoenzyme population patterns. The pesticide treatments induced positive skewing of the GDH isoenzymes, but NH(4)Cl-pesticide cotreatments induced a negatively skewed distribution. Basagran, Sevin, and Bravo increased the amination activities of GDH from 30.0 +/- 2.8 units in the control assay to 479.0 +/- 20.7, 63.0 +/- 5.8, and 35.2 +/- 2.2 units, respectively, therefore indicating a direct GDH-pesticide interaction. Neither the NH(4)(+) nor the pesticides increased the peanut seed protein yields above the threshold of 3.8 +/- 0.7 g per pot. But in the GDH combination of the signals from a pesticide and NH(4)(+), at least 70% of the pesticide signal was overridden by NH(4)(+) with concomitant increases in peanut seed protein yields to 7.0 +/- 1.8 g per pot. Basagran, Sevin, and Bravo possess different pesticidal properties, but their effects on GDH activity were related in the decreasing order of their nucleophilicity, viz. Basagran > Sevin > Bravo.     

不同花生品种氮代谢相关酶活性的研究

为研究不同品种花生各器官中氮代谢酶活性的差异及与籽仁蛋白质含量间的关系,采用田间小区试验,利用高产大花生品种(花育22号)和小花生品种(白沙1016)研究了两品种不同生长发育时期植株各器官中可溶性蛋白质(Pro)含量、硝酸还原酶(NRase)、谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)和谷氨酸脱氢酶(GDH)活性的变化。结果表明,两粒型花生品种各器官的Protein、NRase、GS、GDH活性变化态势大致相同,但其含量的高低有异;各器官中的各指标含量均以小花生品种白沙1016较高。各器官中NRase活性随生育期的推进呈渐降趋势,籽仁中NRase活性远高于其他营养器官;两粒型品种叶片、茎和根中GS活性的变化趋势均呈单峰曲线,其峰值均出现在结荚期;叶片GDH活性以苗期较高,花针期最低,之后又迅速升高。茎和根中GDH活性均呈V字型曲线变化,根中峰谷滞后于茎,出现在饱果期,而籽仁中GDH活性成熟期略有升高。各器官中蛋白质含量与GS和GDH活性间的相关关系不明显,但与其相应器官中的NRase活性表现显著或极显著相关。     

Degradation of pesticides in biobeds: the effect of concentration and pesticide mixtures

Biobeds aim to create an environment whereby any pesticide spills are retained and then degraded, thus reducing the potential for surface or groundwater contamination. Biobeds may receive high concentrations of relatively complex mixtures of pesticides. The effects of concentration and pesticide interaction on degradation rate were therefore investigated. At concentrations up to 20 times the maximum recommended application rate for isoproturon and chlorothalonil, the rate of degradation in topsoil and biomix decreased with increasing concentration. With the exception of isoproturon at concentrations above 11 mg kg(-1), degradation was quicker in biomix (a composted mixture of topsoil, compost, and wheat straw) than in topsoil. One possible explanation for faster isoproturon degradation in topsoil as compared to biomix may be that previous treatments of isoproturon applied to the field soil as part of normal agricultural practices had resulted in proliferation of microbial communities specifically adapted to use isoproturon as an energy source. Such microbial adaptation could enhance the performance of a biobed. Studies with a mixture of isoproturon and chlorothalonil showed that interactions between pesticides are possible. In biomix, the degradation of either isoproturon or chlorothalonil was unaffected by the presence of the other pesticide, whereas in topsoil, isoproturon DT(50) values increased from 18.5 to 71.5 days in the presence of chlorothalonil. These studies suggest that biobeds appear capable of treating high concentrations of more than one pesticide.     

有机无机复混肥对花生生长和品质的影响

试验以不施肥(CK)为对照处理,在同等施肥量下设置化肥处理(NPK)、有机无机复混肥处理(T1和T2),研究其对土壤养分含量、花生农艺性状和花生产量、品质指标的影响。结果表明:与CK相比,化肥处理(NPK)和有机无机复混肥处理均促进了花生生长,增加了土壤速效养分含量,且NPK、T1和T2分别增产9.5%、17.3%和19.7%;与单施化肥处理相比,有机无机复混肥处理改良了土壤pH,提高了土壤速效钾含量,明显改善花生农艺性状,T1和T2处理分别增产7.1%和9.3%,分别提高肥料偏生产力21.0%和23.5%、肥料贡献率6.0%和7.8%。因此,在等量施肥下,有机无机复混肥对土壤速效养分含量的增加、花生农艺性状的改善以及产量的提升具有更好的促进作用,肥料的偏生产力和肥料贡献率更高,是未来花生可持续生产的重要施肥措施。     

Modelling the impacts of maize decomposition on glyphosate dynamics in mulch

The retention of crop residues as mulch on the soil surface in conservation agriculture systems greatly influences the fate of pesticides, as most of the applied pesticide is intercepted by mulch before moving to the soil. This work was conducted in order to model the effect of maize decomposition on glyphosate degradation in mulch and soil. Labelled ¹⁴C‐glyphosate degradation was monitored for 49 days in three treatments with the same soils but with maize residues at different stages of decomposition (0, 20 and 49 days). Fresh residues of maize (0 days) exhibited an evolution of their biochemical fractions to a greater extent than decomposed residues. Glyphosate mineralization was faster in the 0‐day treatment in mulch residues and in the soil layer below the mulch. However, a greater formation of non‐extractable residues (NERs) was observed in mulch residues and soils in the 20‐ and 49‐day treatments than in the 0‐day treatment. Modelling maize mulch decomposition with the COP‐soil model indicated that microbial activity was different in the three treatments and depended on the initial composition of maize residues. Glyphosate mineralization in mulch and soil can be simulated with an assumption of co‐metabolism by coupling the modules of pesticide degradation and mulch carbon decomposition. Glyphosate and its metabolites, including soluble and adsorbed fractions, were simulated with the same adsorption coefficients for all treatments. The simulation of NER formation, however, suggested that more than one microbial population may be involved in the degradation process and could be added in the future development of the model.     

控释肥养分释放对坡耕地土壤磷钾损失及花生产量的影响

以沂蒙山区坡耕地花生为研究对象，探究控释肥养分释放对土壤磷钾流失特征、花生产量及磷钾利用率的影响。试验设五个处理，分别为全量和减量30%控释肥（CRF1，CRF2），全量和减量30%普通复合肥（CF1，CF2）及不施肥处理。结果表明：控释肥在田间土壤中的释放规律与花生植株磷钾吸收特征曲线相吻合，配合土壤磷钾供应量，满足了不同时期花生植株养分需求。等量施肥下，控释肥处理荚果产量较普通复合肥处理显著增加5.75-12.01%，且减量30%控释肥处理较CF1增产3.75%；控释肥处理中植株磷钾吸收量分别较普通复合肥提高11.46-11.78%和10.44-12.38%，其中CRF2磷钾表观利用率最高，分别为45.48%和51.84%。土壤有效磷和速效钾含量均随深度的增加而下降，CF1和CF2苗期时0-40 cm的表层土中有效磷含量高于控释肥处理，花针期以后趋势相反，但40 cm以下土层中各处理差异不显著；控释肥处理显著提高了花针期以后0-60 cm土层速效钾含量，各处理不同时期60-100 cm土层速效钾差异不显著。前三次产流事件中，控释肥处理显著减少了地表径流水中有效磷和速效钾含量，各处理后期径流水中水溶性磷和钾含量降低且趋于稳定，处理间差异不显著。因此，控释肥能够减少坡耕地土壤有效磷和速效钾的径流和淋溶损失，提高花生养分利用率和产量，促进生态农业的可持续发展。     

Effect of Plant Growth Regulators and Different Nitrogen Sources on Glutamate Dehydrogenase Activity

Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) seedlings, treated with various plant growth regulators (PGRs) [viz. kinetin (KiN), gibberellic acid (GA), and abscisic acid(ABA)] were exposed to different nitrogen (N) sources in light and dark condition, and aminative (NADH) and deaminative (NAD⁺) glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activities were measured in cotyledons. A differential effect of nitrogen sources, plant growth regulators, and light or dark condition was observed in all the treatments. The NAD‐GDH (deaminating) activity in radish seedlings was only about 10% of aminating activity (irrespective of the PGR treatment). Except with abscisic acid, in all other treatments, either NAD‐GDH or NADH‐GDH activities were more in dark than in light. The amination and deamination reactions also showed different ratios of activity under different N sources (KNO3, NH₄Cl and NH₄NO₃). These data suggest the presence of isoenzymes or conformers of GDH, specific for each tissue, whose activities vary depending on the physiological condition of the tissue. Different energy status of the seedlings during light or dark condition or with PGR treatments may affect the GDH activity differently.     

Isomerization and degradation kinetics of hop (Humulus lupulus) acids in a model wort-boiling system

The rate of isomerization of alpha acids to iso-alpha acids (the compounds contributing bitter taste to beer) was determined across a range of temperatures (90-130 degrees C) to characterize the rate at which iso-alpha acids are formed during kettle boiling. Multiple 12 mL stainless steel vessels were utilized to heat samples (alpha acids in a pH 5.2 buffered aqueous solution) at given temperatures, for varying lengths of time. Concentrations of alpha acids and iso-alpha acids were quantified by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The isomerization reaction was found to be first order, with reaction rate varying as a function of temperature. Rate constants were experimentally determined to be k1 = (7.9 x 10(11)) e(-11858/T) for the isomerization reaction of alpha acids to iso-alpha acids, and k2 = (4.1 x 10(12)) e(-12994/T) for the subsequent loss of iso-alpha acids to uncharacterized degradation products. Activation energy was experimentally determined to be 98.6 kJ per mole for isomerization, and 108.0 kJ per mole for degradation. Losses of iso-alpha acids to degradation products were pronounced for cases in which boiling was continued beyond two half-lives of alpha-acid concentration.     

Effect of Roundup Ultra on atrazine degradation in soil

Tank mixing pesticides and the use of pre-packaged mixtures have become common agricultural practices. However, pesticide degradation in multi-pesticide systems is rarely evaluated. The objective of this laboratory study was to determine the effect of Roundup Ultra on atrazine degradation in soil. Based on a 2-mm glyphosate-soil interaction depth, the isopropylamine salt of glyphosate was added to Aatrex-amended and non-amended soil at rates of 0, 1 (43 mg ai kg ^-1), 2, 3, 4, and 5×. Treatments were incubated for 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, and 32 days. Atrazine degradation was significantly different among treatments at 8 days. In the 0× treatment (Aatrex only), 87% of the atrazine was degraded. During the same 8-day period, atrazine degradation in the 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5× treatments was 77%, 69%, 60%, 61%, and 52%, respectively. Atrazine degradation approached 97% for all treatments after 12 days and statistical differences were no longer observed. Atrazine degradation was inversely correlated with Roundup Ultra rate and microbial activity at 8 ( r ²=0.97) and 12 days ( r ²=0.92). These results indicate that Roundup Ultra stimulated microbial activity while simultaneously inhibiting atrazine degradation.     

新农药哌虫啶在三种典型土壤中的吸附与淋溶研究

采用实验室模拟方法研究了烟碱类新农药哌虫啶在土壤生态系统中的降解动态及其对土壤微生物的影响.结果表明,哌虫啶的降解过程符合一级反应动力学方程,浓度为1、5和10 mg kg-1的哌虫啶在土壤中的降解半衰期为11.28 ~7.30 d.哌虫啶对土壤微生物的毒性作用与浓度正相关.施药后哌虫啶对土壤中细菌和放线菌的数量具有激活作用,3 d后,哌虫啶开始抑制土壤中细菌和放线菌的数量,施药后5 d内,哌虫啶促进了真菌的生长繁殖,10 d后表现为抑制真菌数量,有先促进后抑制细菌、真菌和放线菌的趋势.哌虫啶施入土壤后对土壤酶活性具有一定的影响,土壤碱性磷酸酶较酸性磷酸酶更敏感,哌虫啶具有抑制酸性磷酸酶和碱性磷酸酶的作用,这种抑制作用一直延续至试验的第20天;施药处理组对脲酶活性均有显著的抑制作用,并且浓度越大,抑制作用越强烈;哌虫啶对土壤脱氢酶具有显著的激活作用,哌虫啶对土壤过氧化氢酶影响作用较弱.总之哌虫啶在土壤中降解半衰期较短,属于易降解农药,10 mg kg-1浓度的哌虫啶对土壤微生物具有一定的毒性作用.     

外源钙水平与花生下针期不同土壤水分对植株生理特性的影响

沿海耕作风砂土土壤缺钙与干旱常相伴发生。通过盆栽试验，研究了不同钙肥水平下花生下针期至结荚初期土壤水分管理对植株生理特性及产量的影响。结果表明，下针期(553)%（LW）、 (753)%（MW）和(953)%（HW）三种田间持水量条件下，叶片SPAD值、 净光合速率、 水分利用效率及产量均随着钙肥用量的增加而提高，其中施钙肥的花生荚果产量增幅12.2% ~19.4%，而三种钙肥水平下，MW比LW与HW的荚果产量分别显著提高18.7%与56.5%，说明下针期过高或过低的水分均不利于光合作用及产量形成，尤其高水量条件下，其根系活力显著下降。花生成熟期产量与下针期叶片SPAD值、 净光合速率、 水分利用效率及根系活力呈显著正相关; 不同水分管理与钙肥水平均显著影响花生产量，但水钙间产量交互效应不明显。耕作风砂土上增施钙肥增产潜力大，且一定程度上可缓解旱情，花生下针期调控约75%的田间持水量，其光合速率与产量最高。     

Hydrolysis of terbufos using simulated environmental conditions: rates, mechanisms, and product analysis.

This study focuses on the hydrolysis of terbufos, an organophosphorus pesticide. Combining GC-MS and wet chemistry methods, di-tert-butyl disulfide and formaldehyde were identified and quantified as major degradation products. Diethyl dithiophosphate was also indirectly identified as a degradation product under alkaline conditions. Hydrolysis rate constants of terbufos under homogeneous conditions were comparable to those of phorate and show relative insensitivity to pH under slightly acidic to neutral pH conditions, as the observed rate constants varied only in the range of (4.5-5.0) x 10(-6) s(-1) between pH 5.7 and 9.4; neutral hydrolysis is thus the most dominant hydrolysis pathway of terbufos in ambient waters. The mechanisms for terbufos hydrolysis and the formation of the major products and their temporal profiles are discussed. To assess the environmental impact of degradation products of this widely used pesticide, Microtox was used to analyze the toxicity of terbufos and two of its degradation products: diethyl dithiophosphate and di-tert-butyl disulfide; the EC(50) of terbufos was found to be >17 microM, whereas the EC(50) of di-tert-butyl disulfide was 1.3 microM.     

Degradation and sorption of pirimiphos-methyl in two Nigerian soils

This research is a continuation of a study on the behavior of hydrophobic organic compounds in the environment and describes the simultaneous abiotic degradation and sorption of pirimiphos-methyl (O-2-diethylamino-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl O,O-dimethylphosphorothioate) under controlled conditions in soil/water slurries. A microfiltration-HPLC technique was employed to follow these processes in two well-characterized soils from the Middle Belt region of Nigeria. Rapid sorption of the pesticide occurs during the first 10 min of equilibration and accounted for 37% of the original pirimiphos-methyl in the Rhodic Kandiustalf soil and for 41% of the original concentration in Aquic Ustropept soil. Subsequent slow processes were followed during the remaining 30 days of the experiment. During this time, first-order rate constants for disappearance from solution of pirimiphos-methyl were found to have values of 6.1 x 10(-)(7) and 9.8 x 10(-)(7) s(-)(1) for the Rhodic and Aquic soils, respectively. Similarly, rate constants for production of the product, pyrimidinol, were calculated to be 6.0 x 10(-)(7) and 9.4 x 10(-)(7) s(-)(1) for the Rhodic and Aquic soils, respectively, giving pesticide degradation half-lives of 13 and 8.5 days. Disappearance of the pesticide is discussed in terms of a scheme involving both sorptive uptake by the soil and degradation by hydrolysis in the presence of the soil matrix. The labile sorption capacities for pirimiphos-methyl in the Rhodic and Aquic soils were found to be 0.75 and 0.90 micromol g(-)(1), respectively.     

小青菜对土壤中毒死蜱吸收移动特征研究

以小青菜为供试蔬菜,通过在土壤中添加毒死蜱,进行盆栽试验,研究毒死蜱对小青菜生长的影响、在土壤中的降解速度以及在小青菜中的吸收和转移规律,为蔬菜中农药残留风险评估和蔬菜安全生产提供理论依据。试验结果表明,与对照相比,含有高浓度(>50.0 mg kg-1)毒死蜱土壤对小青菜的生长有显著抑制作用;毒死蜱在不同处理土壤中的半衰期从23.03 d至77.43 d不等;残留于土壤中的毒死蜱能够被种植的小青菜根系吸收并转移至茎叶部分,随着土壤中处理浓度的增加,毒死蜱在小青菜根、茎和叶中的残留量也随之增加,且毒死蜱在小青菜根中的残留量最大,在叶中的残留量最小;土壤中毒死蜱残留量与小青菜根、茎和叶中毒死蜱的含量呈良好的线性关系,线性方程分别为:C根=0.025 1C土壤-0.235 8,C茎=0.012 3C土壤-0.051 7,C叶=0.000 7C土壤+0.011 5。为了实现蔬菜中农药残留从农田到餐桌的全程控制,保证无公害蔬菜的安全生产与供应,首先要对生产基地土壤中的农药残留进行检测,并从源头上进行控制。     

花生对DDT的吸收积累

采用盆栽试验,通过向土壤中添加DDT设置3个浓度处理(T1,295 ng g-1;T2,3723 ng g-1;T3,6109 ng g-1)和1个对照(CK,31 ng g-1),研究花生(Arachis hypogaea)对DDT的吸收积累。花生果实成熟后将植株分成根、茎、果壳和果仁四部分,GC-ECD测定各部位中的DDT浓度。结果表明,在T2和T3处理中,花生果仁中的DDT含量高达200 ng g-1左右,超过100 ng g-1的WHO/FAO最大残留限量标准。虽然在CK和T1中,花生的果仁没有超标,但是,果壳和茎中,特别是根中DDT的高浓度值得关注。根部的总量最大,果仁中的总量最小,根部是DDT吸收积累的最主要部位。花生根部和茎部较高的生物蓄积系数暗示着花生对DDT具有较强的吸收积累能力。此外,研究显示花生果仁中高的含油量可能有助于亲脂性DDT的吸收积累。     

苹果中有机氯农药残留的超声波去除条件优化

中国是世界苹果第一生产大国,但中国苹果出口仅占世界贸易量的不足10%,其主要制约因素是安全性,其中农药残留是主要原因之一。论文采用响应曲面法对超声波去除苹果中有机氯农药残留的工艺条件（功率、时间、温度）及其交互作用进行了优化,并就超声波处理对苹果主要品质指标的影响进行了分析。结果表明：超声波去除苹果中有机氯农药残留的适宜工艺参数为：超声波功率为609.16 W,时间为70.46 min,温度为15.45℃,去除率可达到64.32%;超声波处理对苹果的硬度没有显著性影响;对苹果的总糖、总酸具有一定的显著性影响,但没有超出国家标准及主要出口国苹果标准的要求。超声波处理简单快速,能有效去除苹果中有机氯农药的残留,极大提高苹果的安全性,很容易和现有鲜果清洗、分级、打蜡生产线耦合链接,其产业化应用前景极为广阔。     

种植密度和播种方式对盐碱地花生生长发育、产量及品质的影响

以耐盐品种‘花育25号’为材料,通过田间小区试验,设置18.0万穴·hm~(-2)(M1)、19.6万穴·hm~(-2)(M2)、21.4万穴·hm~(-2)(M3)、23.5万穴·hm~(-2)(M4)、26.0万穴·hm~(-2)(M5)5个单粒精播播种方式下的种植密度和双粒穴播播种方式下的11.6万穴·hm~(-2)(M6)、13.0万穴·hm~(-2)(M7)、14.7万穴·hm~(-2)(M8)3个种植密度,研究种植密度和播种方式对盐碱地花生主要农艺性状、产量和品质的影响,探讨盐碱地花生适宜的种植密度和播种方式。结果显示,1)土壤盐碱胁迫较大程度地抑制了花生植株的生长发育,与非盐碱地花生相比,盐碱地花生主茎高和侧枝长明显降低,仅分别为25.6 cm和29.0 cm左右。2)单粒精播方式下,在19.6~26.0万穴·hm~(-2)范围内,主茎高和侧枝长在饱果期前随种植密度的增加显著降低;荚果膨大前和饱果期后,单粒精播方式下一、二次分枝数显著高于双粒穴播,且在M2~M4密度范围内,其基部茎长随密度增大而缩短但差异不显著。基部茎长和茎粗的变化主要发生在结荚期前,且以茎的伸长速度快于横截面积增大速度,生育后期基部茎长和茎粗均趋于稳定。3)盐碱地花生叶片和茎+叶柄光合产物快速积累期主要在花针期和荚果膨大期,叶片最大生长速率(Vm)只有茎+叶柄Vm的一半,叶片快速生长早于茎+叶柄5 d左右,且双粒穴播方式下叶片和茎+叶柄最大生长速率出现的时间(Tm)明显滞后于单粒精播方式。单粒精播方式下盐碱地花生地上部营养器官Vm随种植密度增加表现为"抛物线型"变化,M4处理下的叶片和茎+叶柄的Vm最大,分别为0.492 5 g·株-1和0.878 3 g·株-1。4)种植密度对盐碱地花生各生育时期光合产物的积累影响较为显著,但对各时期各器官中分配率的影响差异较小。盐碱地花生光合产物分配规律与非盐碱地花生基本一致,生育前期光合产物主要分配在茎和叶片等营养器官中,至饱果期约1/3以上的光合产物分配于荚果中。5)种植密度对单粒精播方式下荚果产量有显著影响,但对各处理下的籽仁可溶性糖、蛋白质、脂肪和油酸/亚油酸(O/L)等影响不大。中轻度盐碱土区,采用单粒精播的播种方式时,适宜的种植密度为19.0~23.5万株·hm~(-2)。     

土壤悬液培养法研究长期施肥下花生根际解磷菌溶磷特性

基于长期野外定位试验和室内土壤悬液培养,研究长期不同有机与无机肥料配施(纯化肥(NPK)、化肥与厩肥配施(NPKM)和化肥与稻草秸秆配施(NPKS))下,花生根际土壤解磷菌对Ca_3(PO_4)_2(Ca-P)、FePO_4(Fe-P)和AlPO_4(Al-P)的溶解特性。结果表明:有机无机肥配施促进了解磷菌的繁殖,在Ca-P和Fe-P固体NBRIP(国际植物研究所磷酸盐生长培养基)培养基中,NPKM处理可培养解磷菌密度分别为6.15和5.80 log(cfu g-1 dry soil),高于其他处理。在分别以Ca-P、Fe-P和Al-P为唯一磷源的NBRIP液体培养基中添加土壤悬液培养9 d发现,NPKM处理对Fe-P和Al-P的最高溶磷量分别为221.8 mg kg~(-1)和205.5 mg kg~(-1);NPKS处理对Ca-P的溶解有明显的优势。相比于单一菌株,解磷菌溶磷能力无绝对优势,但更能反映田间复杂条件下实际溶磷效果。通过土壤悬液培养法,从微生物群体角度发现:长期无机肥和厩肥配施更能促进花生根际解磷菌的繁殖以及对无机磷的溶解,从而改善土壤缺磷状况,提高花生生物量和产量。     

Model studies on the stability of folic acid and 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid degradation during thermal treatment in combination with high hydrostatic pressure

Stability of folic acid and 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid in phosphate buffer (0.2 M; pH 7) toward thermal (above 65 degrees C) and combined high pressure (up to 800 MPa)/thermal (20 up to 65 degrees C) treatments was studied on a kinetic basis. Residual folate concentration after thermal and high pressure/thermal treatments was measured using reverse phase liquid chromatography. The degradation of both folates followed first-order reaction kinetics. At ambient pressure, the estimated Arrhenius activation energy (E(a)) values of folic acid and 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid thermal degradation were 51.66 and 79.98 kJ mol(-1), respectively. It was noticed that the stability of folic acid toward thermal and combined high pressure thermal treatments was much higher than 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid. High-pressure treatments at room temperature or higher (up to 60 degrees C) had no or little effect on folic acid. In the whole P/T area studied, the rate constant of 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid degradation was enhanced by increasing pressure, and a remarkable synergistic effect of pressure and temperature on 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid degradation occurred at temperatures above 40 degrees C. A model to describe the combined pressure and temperature effect on the 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid degradation rate constant is presented.     

Lycopene degradation and isomerization kinetics during thermal processing of an olive oil/tomato emulsion

The stability of lycopene in an olive oil/tomato emulsion during thermal processing (80-140 °C) was studied. Initially, the degradation of total lycopene (all-E plus Z-forms) occurred quickly at temperatures above 100 °C. However, a nonzero plateau value, depending on the processing temperature, was attained after longer treatment times. Besides degradation, the isomerization of total-Z-lycopene as well as the individual isomerization of all-E-, 5-Z-, 9-Z-, and 13-Z-lycopene was studied in detail. After prolonged heating, the isomer conversion reached a temperature-dependent equilibrium state. The degradation of total lycopene and the isomerization could be described by a fractional conversion model. The temperature dependency of the corresponding reaction rate constants was quantified by the Arrhenius equation. The activation energy of degradation was estimated to be 28 kJ/mol, and the activation energy of overall (all-E and total-Z) isomerization was estimated to be 52 kJ/mol.