Contamination of palm kernel meal with Aspergillus flavus affects its nutritive value in pelleted feed for tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus

An assessment of the nutritive value of palm kernel meal (PKM) and aflatoxin‐contaminated PKM (obtained by fermenting PKM with Aspergillus flavus) as a dietary ingredient in pelleted feed for tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus Peters, was carried out in a 12‐week feeding trial. Seven isonitrogenous (40% crude protein) and isoenergetic (15.1 kJ g^?1) practical diets were formulated and fed close to apparent satiation to triplicate groups of 12 fish (mean initial weight 8.4 ± 0.1 g). The control diet contained 30% fish meal and 10% soybean meal (SBM) proteins. Four other experimental diets containing 20% and 50% of the SBM protein replaced by either PKM or fermented PKM, respectively, were formulated. Two additional diets containing either PKM or fermented PKM supplemented with a commercial aflatoxin adsorber (0.5% Sorbatox^TM) were also formulated. Measured aflatoxin B₁ levels in the fermented PKM‐based diets ranged from 75 to 100 µg kg^?1 diet. The growth performance and feed utilization efficiency of tilapia fed fermented PKM‐based diets were significantly lower than in fish fed the control diet at all inclusion levels (P < 0.05). Despite a small reduction, weight gains of tilapia fed PKM‐based diets were not significantly different compared with fish fed the control diet. The addition of 0.5% Sorbatox did not produce any beneficial or negative effects to the growth of tilapia. Under the dietary conditions of the present experiment, it was concluded that PKM can substitute up to 50% SBM in practical diets for O. mossambicus without much adverse effect to fish growth. However, when PKM was contaminated with A. flavus, its' incorporation into tilapia diets resulted in growth depression as a result of decreased diet digestibility and also possibly because of the presence of anti‐nutrients found in the contaminated PKM.     

Genetic variation among cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) families for resistance to cocoa swollen shoot virus disease in relation to total phenolic content

Phenolic compounds have been suggested as one of the defence mechanisms to cocoa swollen shoot virus disease (CSSVD), but not well studied. Correlation and genetic variation of total phenolic content (TPC) and CSSVD resistance among 53 cocoa families were investigated. Three‐month‐old seedlings of 15 families obtained from an incomplete 6 × 3 NCII mating design, of 24 families from a 3 × 8 NCII mating design and of 14 other families were evaluated for CSSVD and TPC. Plants were inoculated with viruliferous mealybugs carrying the New Juaben CSSV strain (1A) in a gauze house facility. A single seedling randomization within blocks procedure was followed, using the gauze house units as blocks. There were six blocks with five seedlings of each family randomized within each block. Disease severity scores on leaf flushes at the first, second, third and seventh flushes after inoculation were recorded. The TPC before and 3 months after inoculation was also determined. Family effects were highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) for CSSVD severity scores and TPC. Narrow‐ and broad‐sense heritability estimates were low for CSSVD severity but moderate to high for TPC evaluations. Correlations between severity scores and TPC were weak (r = ?0.22 to 0.40) suggesting that the TPC may be of little value in selecting CSSVD resistance varieties in cocoa. Additive effect in terms of significant GCA was important for CSSVD severity scores whereas both additive and non‐additive effects were important for TPC values when the 3 × 8 and 6 × 3 NCII mating designs were analysed. Only clones GU 239/H, GU 290/H and GU 225/V had favourable GCA effects for CSSVD symptom expression indicating their potential for developing progeny with high levels of resistance to CSSVD infection.     

Suppression of Cephalosporium maydis by the resistance inducer beta-sitosterol

European Journal of Plant Pathology - Late wilt, a vascular disease caused by the fungus of Cephalosporium maydis, is considered one of Egypt’s most severe maize threats. The purpose of this...     

Theonellamide G,a Potent Antifungal and Cytotoxic Bicyclic Glycopeptide from the Red Sea Marine Sponge Theonella swinhoei

In our search for bioactive metabolites from marine organisms, we have investigated the polar fraction of the organic extract of the Red Sea sponge Theonella swinhoei. Successive chromatographic separations and final HPLC purification of the potent antifungal fraction afforded a new bicyclic glycopeptide, theonellamide G (1). The structure of the peptide was determined using extensive 1D and 2D NMR and high-resolution mass spectral determinations. The absolute configuration of theonellamide G was determined by chemical degradation and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Theonellamide G showed potent antifungal activity towards wild and amphotericin B-resistant strains of Candida albicans with IC₅₀ of 4.49 and 2.0 μM, respectively. Additionally, it displayed cytotoxic activity against the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (HCT-16) with IC₅₀ of 6.0 μM. These findings provide further insight into the chemical diversity and biological activities of this class of compounds.     

Didemnaketals F and G,New Bioactive Spiroketals from a Red Sea Ascidian Didemnum Species

In continuation of our ongoing efforts to identify bioactive compounds from Red Sea marine organisms, a new collection of the ascidian Didemnum species was investigated. Chromatographic fractionation and HPLC purification of the CH₂Cl₂ fraction of an organic extract of the ascidian resulted in the identification of two new spiroketals, didemnaketals F (1) and G (2). The structure determination of the compounds was completed by extensive study of 1D (¹H, ¹³C, and DEPT) and 2D (COSY, HSQC, and HMBC) NMR experiments in addition to high-resolution mass spectral data. Didemnaketal F (1) and G (2) differ from the previously reported compounds of this class by the lack the terminal methyl ester at C-1 and the methyl functionality at C-2. Instead, 1 and 2 possess a methyl ketone moiety instead of the terminal ester. Furthermore, didemnaketal F possesses a disubstituted double bond between C-2 and C-3, while the double bond was replaced by a secondary alcohol at C-3 in didemnaketal G. In addition, they possess the unique spiroketal/hemiketal functionality which was previously reported in didemnaketal E. Didemnaketals F (1) and G (2) displayed moderate activity against HeLa cells with of IC_50s of 49.9 and 14.0 µM, respectively. In addition, didemnaketal F (1) displayed potent antimicrobial activity against E. coli and C. albicans. These findings provide further insight into the biosynthetic capabilities of this ascidian and the chemical diversity as well as the biological activity of this class of compounds.     

INFLUENCE OF ALUMINUM ON MINERAL NUTRIENT UPTAKE AND ACCUMULATION IN URTICA PILULIFERA L.

Pollutants can have detrimental effects on living organisms. They can cause toxicity, damaging cells, tissues and organs because of their high concentrations or activities. Plants provide a useful system for screening and monitoring environmental pollutants. Among pollutants, aluminum is considered as a primary growth limiting factor for plants resulting in decreased plant growth and development. Although considered to be a non-essential and highly toxic metal ion for growth and development, aluminum (Al) is easily absorbed by plants. Urticaceae family members have high nutrient requirements demonstrated by leaves containing high levels of calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), and nitrogen (N). Urtica pilulifera is one of the important traditional medicinal plants in Turkey. In this study, U. pilulifera was used as a bioindicator to investigate the possible differences in the absorption and accumulation of mineral nutrients at different levels of the Al exposure and examine the mineral nutrition composition of U. pilulifera under Al stress. Also, some growth parameters (leaf-stem fresh and dry weights, root dry weights, stem lengths and leaf surface area) were investigated. U. pilulifera seedlings were grown for two months in growth-room conditions and watered with spiked Hoagland solution, which contained 0, 100, and 200 μM aluminium chloride (AlCl₃). It was observed that macro- and micro-nutritional status of roots and leaves was altered by Al exposure. The concentrations of some macro- and micronutrients were reduced while concentrations of others were increased by excess of Al. Some macro- and micronutrients were increased at low level of Al whereas reductions were observed at high level of Al, and vice versa. The patterns were dependent on the macro- or micronutrient and the plant part.     

Estimating daily actual evapotranspiration of a rice–wheat rotation system in typical farmland in the Huai River Basin using a two-step model and two one-step models

The objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of three models for estimating daily evapotranspiration(ET) by employing flux observation data from three years(2007, 2008 and 2009) during the growing seasons of winter wheat and rice crops cultivated in a farmland ecosystem(Shouxian County) located in the Huai River Basin(HRB), China. The first model is a two-step model(PM-K_c); the other two are one-step models(e.g., Rana-Katerji(R-K) and advection-aridity(AA)). The results showed that the energy closure degrees of eddy covariance(EC) data during winter wheat and rice-growing seasons were reasonable in the HRB, with values ranging from 0.84 to 0.91 and R2 of approximately 0.80. Daily ET of winter wheat showed a slow decreasing trend followed by a rapid increase, while that of rice presented a decreasing trend after an increase. After calibrating the crop coefficient(K_c), the PM–K_c model performed better than the model using the K_c recommended by the Food and Agricultural Organization(FAO). The calibrated key parameters of the R-K model and AA model showed better universality. After calibration, the simulation performance of the PM-K_c model was satisfactory. Both the R-K model and AA model underestimated the daily ET of winter wheat and rice. Compared with that of the R-K model, the simulation result of the AA model was better, especially in the simulation of daily ET of rice. Overall, this research highlighted the consistency of the PM-K_c model to estimate the water demand for rice and wheat crops in the HRB and in similar climatic regions in the world.     

NEPER: a multiple strategy wheat expert system

This paper presents a methodology for developing a strategic Expert System for wheat crop production, which has been developed using a Multiple Design approach. This Expert System consists of six subsystems; namely, variety selection, land preparation, sowing, irrigation, fertilization, and harvest. These subsystems exchange data between them through a common database. Each subsystem advises wheat growers on the corresponding plan(s), comprising a set of agricultural/chemical operations before or during the growing season. Applying an appropriate plan reduces risk to farmers from having a problem during the growing season. The system was verified, validated, and, tested in the field. Beneficial economic and environmental impacts have been demonstrated.     

Edible oil and protein concentrate fromLupinus mutabilis

The seeds ofLupinus mutabilis show on average a protein content of 42.6% and a fat content of 18.7%. Unfortunately they contain up to 4.5% of bitter alkaloids which must be removed before consumption. Edible oil and protein concentrate were produced from the seeds at an industrial level. The oil is of good quality and is recommended for human nutrition. The main fatty acid is oleic while the main tocopherol is γ-tocopherol. During the refining process, which includes a washing process with aqueous acids for debittering, the alkaloid content of the oil is reduced to 5 ppm. During the extraction of the oil the alkaloids are concentrated in the oil cake, from which they can be removed by washing with an ethanol-water mixture. A protein concentrate containing 72.3% protein and 0.06% residual alkaloids is obtained. The analysis of alkaloid pattern by gas-chromatography showed that the alkaloid composition of the crude oil differs totally from that of the seed. The relative percentage of the alkaloid esters and that of the Tetrahydrorhombifoline are very much higher in the oil than in the seed. During the debittering process of the oil cake the relative percentage of the hydroxylupanines increases.     

Synthesis and spectral characterization of novel azomethine disperse dyes derived from pyrazolone moiety and their dyeing performance on polyester fabrics

A series of new azomethine dyes based on pyrazolone system have been synthesized via different routes. The solvatochromism for the dyes was evaluated with respect to spectroscopic properties in various solvents. The dyes were applied as disperse dyes on polyester fabrics and gave shade poor to excellent light fastness, washing, perspiration, sublimation, and rubbing fastness properties. Also the position of color in CIELAB coordinates (L*, a*, b*) and K/S value were investigated.