Season has a Major Effect on the Essential oil Yield response to Nutrient Supply in Origanum Majorana

Summary

The effect of different nutrients on growth and essential oil yield and composition in Origanum majorana L. were studied under two seasons differing mainly with respect to their temperature regimes. Oil composition was little affected by either season or nutrient regime. Growth rates and yield of essential oils were positively correlated with nutrient supply; less strongly so in the summer than in late spring. Speci®c oil yield (yield per unit plant weight) was generally positively correlated with nutrient level at the lower temperature, negatively at higher temperature. In both seasons, the oil yield per plant was closely correlated to the growth rate, regardless of the nutrient or dose, but the responses differed signi®cantly according to the season.     

Diverse phytoplasmas associated with maize bushy stunt disease in Peru

European Journal of Plant Pathology - Corn plants showing symptoms of midribs chlorosis, and leaf reddening, short internodes, ear proliferation, and plant growth reduction were collected in Peru...     

Nationwide survey of hepatitis E virus infection among wildlife in Japan

In Japan, hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes hepatitis in humans through the consumption of raw or undercooked meat, including game meat. In the present study, nationwide surveillance of HEV infection among a total of 5,557 wild animals, including 15 species, was conducted in Japan. The prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies in wild boar was 12.4%, with higher positive rates in big boars (over 50 kg, 18.4%) than in small individuals (less than 30 kg, 5.3%). Furthermore, HEV RNA was more frequently detected in piglets than in older boars. Interestingly, the detection of HEV among wildlife by ELISA and RT-PCR suggested that HEV infection in Sika deer was a very rare event, and that there was no HEV infection among wild animals except for wild boar, Sika deer and Japanese monkeys. In conclusion, wild boar, especially piglets, are at high risk of HEV infection, while other wild animals showed less risk or no risk of HEV transmission.     

Concurrent infection with ranavirus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, and Aeromonas in a captive anuran colony

Four species (Dendrobates auratus, Phyllobates terribilis, Pyxicephalus adspersus, and Rhacophorus dennysi) of captive anurans with a clinical history of lethargy and inappetence were found dead and were submitted for necropsy. Gross lesions included irregular patches of sloughed skin and rare dermal ulcerations. Histologic findings included epidermal proliferation that was most pronounced on the digits and that included intracytoplasmic chytrid organisms. Bacteria were often associated with the epidermal lesions. Intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies were observed in hepatocytes. Real-time polymerase chain reaction yielded positive results for both Ranavirus and Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Bacterial culture of internal organs yielded Aeromonas hydrophila. This is the first report of concurrent infections in anurans by Ranavirus and Bd and A. hydrophila.     

Determination of postharvest fungicides in fruit juices by solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A multiresidue method using liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-TOFMS) has been developed for the quantitative analysis of five widely used postharvest fungicides (carbendazim, thiabendazole, imazalil, prochloraz, and iprodione) and two of their transformation products (imazalil and prochloraz metabolites) in fruit juices. LC-TOFMS in positive electrospray ionization mode was used to quantify and confirm trace levels of these fungicides in fruit juices. The proposed method consists of a sample treatment step based on solid-phase extraction using hydrophilic-lipophilic-balanced polymer-based reverse-phase SPE cartridges (Oasis HLB) and methanol as an eluting solvent. Fruit-juice extracts spiked at different fortification levels (10 and 20 microg L(-1)) yielded average recoveries in the range of 71-109% with RSD (%) below 15%. Subsequent identification, confirmation, and quantitation were carried out by LC-TOFMS analysis. The confirmation of the target species was based on accurate mass measurements of protonated molecules ([M+H]+) and fragment ions, obtaining routine accuracy errors lower than 2 ppm in most cases. The obtained limits of detection (LODs) of the proposed method were in the range of 0.08-0.45 microg L(-1). Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of 23 fruit juice samples collected from different European countries and the United States, showing the potential applicability of the method in routine analysis. Over 50% of the samples tested contained pesticide residues, but relatively low concentration levels were found.     

Agronomic characteristics and carotenoid content of five Bola-type paprika red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars

The production of sweet paprika in Spain uses exclusively fruit of Bola-type Capsicum annuum L. This work describes the evaluation of the agronomic behaviour of five new cultivars of the Bola-type paprika red pepper, selected in the Instituto Murciano de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario y Alimentario (IMIDA), and grown in Extremadura for 3 years. The colour and the pigment content of the paprika elaborated following the traditional procedure of La Vera were also studied.     

Presence of snapper, seabass, and siganid inhibits growth of luminous bacteria in a simulated shrimp culture system

The antibacterial effect of the presence of Tilapia hornorum against luminous bacteria in shrimp culture has been reported. This study investigates how the presence of commercially valued marine species such as seabass, snapper and siganid affect the growth of luminous bacteria in shrimp culture water. Results showed that luminous bacterial count of water stocked with seabass, siganid and snapper are significantly lower than those without fish. Therefore this study has demonstrated that seabass, siganid and snapper are alternative species for culture with shrimp to control or inhibit the growth of luminous bacteria in shrimp ponds.     

Arsenic and Heavy Metal Uptake and Accumulation in Native Plant Species from Soils Polluted by Mining Activities

Arsenic and heavy metal (specifically Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) uptake, translocation, and accumulation in ten native plant species spontaneously growing in soils polluted by mining activities were studied, with a focus on future phytoremediation work in polluted soils. Plant and soil samples were collected in the vicinity of the Mónica mine (NW Madrid, Spain). Soil analysis showed the ability of native plants for growing in soils with high concentration levels of Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, and especially As. From these elements, the highest percentage of extractable elements was found for Cd and the lowest for Pb. A highly significant correlation was observed between total and extractable element concentrations in soils, except for Cu, indicating that total concentration is the most relevant factor for element mobility in these soils. Extractable elements in soils were better correlated with concentrations in plants than total elements in soils; thus, extraction methods applied are suitable to estimate the element phytoavailable fraction in soils, which depends on the plant species and not only on the element mobility in soils. High element concentrations were found in the aboveground parts of Corrigiola telephiifolia (As and Pb), Jasione montana (Cd and Zn), and Digitalis thapsi (As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn). However, considering the translocation and accumulation factors, together with the concentration levels found in roots and aboveground parts, only C. telephiifolia could be considered a Pb accumulator and an As hyperaccumulator plant, which could be used for future phytoremediation work in soils polluted with As.     

HPLC-PDA-MS and NMR characterization of C-glycosyl flavones in a hydroalcoholic extract of Citrus aurantifolia leaves with antiplatelet activity

A hydroalcoholic extract of lime ( Citrus aurantifolia) leaves has been developed in Cuba to be used as a nutritional supplement and phytomedicine in the form of tincture (TLL). A HPLC-PDA-ESI/MS/MS method has been used for the comprehensive analysis of C-glycosyl flavones in TLL. Six C-glycosyl flavones were characterized and, to confirm the proposed structures and to elucidate the nature of the sugar units, a preparative procedure was applied, and isolated compounds were characterized by NMR. Apigenin-6,8-di-C-beta-D-glucopyranoside (vicenin II) (1), diosmetin-6,8-di- C-beta- d-glucopyranoside (2), apigenin-8-C-beta-D-glucopyranoside (vitexin) (3), apigenin-8-C-[alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->6)]-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4), apigenin-6-C-[alpha-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->6)]-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5). and apigenin-6-C-beta-D-glucopyranoside (isovitexin) (6) were identified in TLL and quantified by HPLC-PDA. Compounds 4 and 5 were two new arabinosyl derivatives of vitexin and isovitexin. Inhibitor effect of TLL on platelet aggregation induced by physiological agonists of platelets was evaluated in human plasma. TLL inhibited significantly ADP and epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner (IC 50=0.40 and 0.32 mg/mL, respectively).     

In Vivo Nutritional Assessment of the Microalga Nannochloropsis gaditana and Evaluation of the Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Capacity of Its Functional Extracts

Nannochloropsis gaditana is a microalga with interesting nutritional and functional value due to its high content of protein, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and bioactive compounds. However, the hardness of its cell wall prevents accessibility to these components. This work aimed to study the effect of a treatment to increase the fragility of the cell wall on the bioavailability of its nutrients and functional compounds. The antioxidant and antiproliferative capacity of functional extracts from treated and untreated N. gaditana was assessed, and the profile of bioactive compounds was characterized. Furthermore, to study the effect of treatment on its nutrient availability and functional capacity, an in vivo experiment was carried out using a rat experimental model and a 20% dietary inclusion level of microalgae. Functional extracts from treated N. gaditana exhibited higher antioxidant activity than the untreated control. Furthermore, the treated microalga induced hypoglycemic action, higher nitrogen digestibility, and increased hepatic antioxidant activity. In conclusion, N. gaditana has interesting hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory potential, thus proving itself an ideal functional food candidate, especially if the microalga is treated to increase the fragility of its cell wall before consumption.