Globalisation and income growth promote the Mediterranean diet

OBJECTIVE: To examine global food demand patterns and how changing diets may stimulate demand for and trade of Mediterranean diet products. DESIGN: Literature review. Trends in global and US food consumption patterns are examined and trade data are reviewed to evaluate the impact of changing diets on trade of Mediterranean diet products. Market access issues are also addressed briefly to highlight the role of policy in the trade of Mediterranean diet products. RESULTS: Diets are shifting towards higher-value products such as meats, fruits and vegetables, and a wider array of packaged food products. Trade in these products has also grown in the past two decades, with several non-traditional importers and exporters becoming increasingly active in the global market. CONCLUSIONS: Income-driven demands for quality and variety are likely to increase the demand for Mediterranean diet products globally. While the middle-income countries appear to be the best growth prospects, the USA remains a potential growth market if these products can meet the growing consumer demand for variety, quality and convenience. Although consumer trends globally indicate growth in demand for Mediterranean diet products, the additional demand may not be reflected by a corresponding growth in trade. Trade in Mediterranean diet products continues to be hampered by higher than average trade barriers and high transportation costs for perishables.     

ALUMINUM TOXICITY IN CORN PLANTS CULTIVATED WITH LOW AND HIGH IONIC STRENGTH NUTRIENT SOLUTIONS

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the phytotoxic effect of aluminum (Al) in corn plants in nutrient solution under high ionic strength (0.0094 uM) and low ionic strength (0.00001 uM). Regarding the low ionic strengths, nutrient solution was added daily until the end of the experimental period. The findings showed that the pH of the nutrient solution reduced with the increase in Al concentration, under both high and low ionic strengths solutions. Electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution increased with Al concentrations only in the solution with low ionic strength, demonstrating that the plant was more sensible to the element toxicity, thus reducing its growth and absorption of nutrients. The production of the total dry mass of corn was affected by the increase of Al concentration in the solution only under low ionic strengths, which reinforces the greater activity and absorption of the element under such condition.     

Soil carbon dioxide and methane fluxes from long-term tillage systems in continuous corn and corn–soybean rotations

Although the Midwestern United States is one of the world's major agricultural production areas, few studies have assessed the effects of the region's predominant tillage and rotation practices on greenhouse gas emissions from the soil surface. Our objectives were to (a) assess short-term chisel (CP) and moldboard plow (MP) effects on soil CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes relative to no-till (NT) and, (b) determine how tillage and rotation interactions affect seasonal gas emissions in continuous corn and corn–soybean rotations on a poorly drained Chalmers silty clay loam (Typic Endoaquoll) in Indiana. The field experiment itself began in 1975. Short-term gas emissions were measured immediately before, and at increasing hourly intervals following primary tillage in the fall of 2004, and after secondary tillage in the spring of 2005, for up to 168 h. To quantify treatment effects on seasonal emissions, gas fluxes were measured at weekly or biweekly intervals for up to 14 sampling dates in the growing season for corn. Both CO₂ and CH₄ emissions were significantly affected by tillage but not by rotation in the short-term following tillage, and by rotation during the growing season. Soil temperature and moisture conditions in the surface 10 cm were significantly related to CO₂ emissions, although the proportion of variation explained by temperature and moisture was generally very low (never exceeded 27%) and varied with the tillage system being measured. In the short-term, CO₂ emissions were significantly higher for CP than MP and NT. Similarly, mean seasonal CO₂ emissions during the 2-year period were higher for CP (6.2 Mg CO₂-C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) than for MP (5.9 Mg CO₂-C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) and NT (5.7 Mg CO₂-C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹). Both CP and MP resulted in low net CH₄ uptake (7.6 and 2.4 kg CH₄-C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, respectively) while NT resulted in net emissions of 7.7 kg CH₄-C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Mean emissions of CO₂ were 16% higher from continuous corn than from rotation corn during the two growing seasons. After 3 decades of consistent tillage and crop rotation management for corn and soybean producing grain yields well above average in the Midwest, continuous NT production in the corn–soybean rotation was identified as the system with the least soil-derived C emissions to the atmosphere from among those evaluated prior to and during corn production.     

The effects of lead on algae

The effects of lethal and sublethal concentrations of PbCl₂ on reproduction , viability, and motility of a marine unicellular green flagellate alga, Platymonas subcordiformis, were studied under controlled laboratory conditions. The severity of the effects depended primarily upon the concentration of Pb⁺⁺ and the duration of treatment. Log phase cells were more sensitive than stationary phase cells. Sublethal amounts of Pb (2.5 and 10 mg l^?1 Pb⁺⁺) tended to retard population growth by delaying cell division and daughter cell separation. A lethal amount of Pb (60 mg I^?1 Pb⁺) caused inhibition of growth and cell death. Various intracellular abnormalities resulted from Pb treatment. The flagella were shed or altered in a variety of ways, depending on Pb concentration; motility was least affected by low Pb and completely impaired by high Pb. Normal wild-type cells appeared to be more sensitive to Pb than mechanically sheared (flagella-less) cells and cells of a non-flagellate mutant of Platymonas. Exposure of cells to Pb in non-growth conditions of dark and cold (2°C) had little negative effect.     

Effect of endosulfan in female rats growing on low- and high-protein cereal diet

Endosulfan (α,β-1,2,3,4,7,7-hexachlorobicyclo(2,2,1)-heptene-(2)-bis-hydroxymethylene(5,6)sulfite) fed daily 0.5 and 100 ppm in the diet proved significantly toxic to female rats (initial weight 40–50 g) growing on a low-protein (5%) diet as compared to those growing on a high-protein (24%) diet. The toxic symptoms which developed exclusively in low-protein-fed rats included growth retardation, low blood counts, low RNA and protein levels in liver, and high glutathione levels in liver and blood. However, no changes in the activities of liver RNase, blood glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and glutathione reductase were observed. Liver glucose-6-phosphatase activity increased significantly. Endosulfan induced an increased accumulation of perirenal adipose in rats raised both on low- and high-protein diets. Endosulfan elicited cumulative toxic manifestations as evident from the relative degree of toxicity caused by 0.5 ppm and 18 weeks feeding. α-Endosulfan, β-endosulfan, and endosulfan sulfate were recovered from adipose tissue, the recovery being higher in adipose tissue of rats raised on a low-protein diet.     

Fungicidal activity of 2-(1-alkenyl)-3-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones and related compounds

The fungicidal activity of a series of 2-(1-alkenyl)-3-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones and their acetates has been assessed against various fungi in vitro and against others, notably powdery mildews, in vivo, and the activity compared with that of analogous compounds bearing saturated side chains. Several of the compounds demonstrated a broad spectrum of activity in vitro. Whereas the presence of α-unsaturation in the side chain is essential for the in-vitro activity against the non-obligate fungi tested, it is of virtually no importance for the curative effect against Erysiphe graminis on barley. Only the corresponding acetates had activity against the latter pathogen.     

Analytical method for assessing potential dermal exposure to captan, using whole body dosimetry, in small vegetable production units in Argentina

An analytical method has been developed that can be used to determine the potential dermal exposure (PDE) of workers to the pesticide captan in small-scale horticultural production units. The methodology is based on the whole body dosimetry technique, using a cotton coverall and cotton gloves as sampling media, with protective clothing worn beneath the cotton media to protect the operator. The quantitative determination of captan was done by gas chromatography-electron capture detector (GC-ECD), with the analytical method validated by measuring limits of detection and quantification, linear ranges, sample recovery and precision. Special emphasis is placed on factors that affected the stability of captan during chromatographic determination. The data generated for potential dermal exposure are presented separately for mixing/loading and application activities. These data are compared with values obtained with visible tracers using a similar field technique. Margin of safety (MOS) values are also calculated for the agricultural procedures studied.     

Detecting potato viruses using direct reverse transcription quantitative PCR (DiRT-qPCR) without RNA purification: an alternative to DAS-ELISA

Rubber wood, one of the most preferred plantation timbers in the tropical regions, is easily prone to various moulds, decay and stain fungi. Lasiodiplodia theobromae, the dominant sapstain fungus of rubber wood, causes high economic loss to the industry through its bluish black sap wood discolouration. In our previous laboratory trials, Bacillus subtilis B1 isolated from market available compost was proved as a potent biocontrol agent against the sapstain fungus L. theobromae. The main aim of the present study was to demonstrate the biocontrol potential of B. subtilis B1 against rubber wood sapstain fungus on fresh rubber wood pieces during pre-monsoon, southwest monsoon and northeast monsoon seasons in the field. The visual ratings provided for the wood fungal growth and internal wood stain exhibited the bio-protectant efficiency of B. subtilis B1 even in the southwest monsoon season, which is considered as the most favourable period for the wood fungal growth. Biocontrol agent, B. subtilis B1 demonstrated significant inhibitions of sapstain fungus on open stacked rubber wood pieces in all the seasons. The frequent rainfalls during monsoon periods provide a conducive environment for fungal growth on felled rubber wood. Successful field evaluations of the biocontrol agent during pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon periods would guarantee year round protection against rubber wood sapstain. B. subtilis B1 displayed holistic biocontrol efficiency towards other stain (Ceratocystis sp., Fusarium sp.), mould (Aspergillus sp., Penicllium sp.) and decay fungi (Trametes versicolor) as well.     

Pathogenic and genetic variability in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tilletia indica</Emphasis> monosporidial culture lines using universal rice primer-PCR

Tilletia indica Mitra is the causal agent of Karnal bunt of wheat, an important disease prevalent in several countries. The disease is internationally quarantined and the pathogen due to its heterothallic nature shows high variability. In the present study, we compared the pathogenic behaviour of various isolates of T. indica collected from different geographical locations of India and genetically characterized monosporidial (Ms) culture lines raised from these isolates of the pathogen. Pathogenic variability revealed existence of three pathotypes based on aggressiveness on a set of differential host genotypes. Monosporidial culture lines viz., 5 each from KB1, KB2, KB4 and KB5 and three lines of KB3 were established and analyzed genetically using 12 Universal Rice Primers (URPs). Amplification showed 98.44% polymorphism and primer URP 13R produced 100% polymorphic bands. Maximum similarity (83%) was between KB1MsB and KB1MsD as calculated by Jaccard’s similarity coefficient, whereas, minimum similarity was between KB1MsC and KB4MsB; KB1MsE and KB3MsA (46%). Three groups were formed among all Ms culture lines. One major group consisted of 13 lines with approximately 70% similarity, the second group consisted of 7 culture lines showing 55% similarity and the third group consisted of 3 Ms lines. URPs were able to differentiate the Ms culture lines raised from different T. indica isolates and the results indicated heterogeneity in the pathogen population.