Effects of organic acid treatments on small hive beetles, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aethina tumida</Emphasis>, and the associated yeast <Emphasis Type="Italic">Kodamaea ohmeri</Emphasis>

In honeybee, Apis mellifera, colonies infested with larval and adult small hive beetles (SHB), hive material, and in particular honey, tends to ferment, probably due to SHB-associated yeasts such as the predominant Kodamaea ohmeri. Here, we test the effects of organic acids on K. ohmeri and on SHB-infested honey/pollen combs. Organic acids were applied at standard concentrations used by beekeepers to control other pests. In laboratory tests, the growth of K. ohmeri was significantly inhibited by lactic, formic and acetic acids. Treatments of SHB-infested honey/pollen combs (N = 18 colonies) with acetic acid significantly increased mortality of adult SHB and treatments with formic acid significantly reduced larval infestation. Our data suggest that treatment of honeybee colonies and storage rooms with organic acids could also help in reducing SHB damage.     

Ecotypes of Italian ryegrass from Swiss permanent grassland outperform current recommended cultivars

Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam. ssp. italicum Volkart ex Schinz et Keller) thrives well in permanent grassland in mild and moist regions of Switzerland. Ecotypes of Italian ryegrass from Swiss permanent meadows have often been used successfully as the base material of breeding programmes. However, their agronomic performance per se has never been studied in detail. Therefore, field trials were conducted to assess the potential of this semi-natural genetic resource for use in breeding. Twenty ecotype populations were collected in different geographical regions in 2003 and seed was increased. Plot trials with 20 ecotype populations were conducted 2005–2007 at three locations, supplemented by row trials at two additional locations, and including four currently recommended cultivars as controls. Average performance in terms of yield, vigour and resistance to snow mould of ecotypes was superior to the cultivars. Depending on the characteristic, between three and 16 of the 20 ecotypes performed significantly better than the cultivars mean. However, resistance against crown rust of all ecotypes was significantly poorer than that of the cultivars. Correlation and regression analysis showed that more eastern and more northern collecting sites harboured better performing ecotypes. However, the most consistent site related factor favouring performance of the ecotypes in terms of yield, vigour, snow mould and Xanthomonas resistance was a low abundance of species which are typical of Arrhenatheretum type meadows. Data from the plot trials were related to results obtained with spaced plants at a single site, either in a seedling nursery or in the greenhouse. Resistance against crown rust was extremely well predicted by spaced plant observations. Xanthomonas resistance observed after artificial inoculation in the greenhouse was also significantly, but less closely correlated with field observations. An early date of ear emergence as observed on spaced plants was associated with high annual yield in the plot trials. It is concluded that in intensively managed habitats, natural selection has resulted in ecotype populations of Italian ryegrass which are highly promising for use in breeding. Individual plant selection for resistance can be expected to efficiently reduce their high susceptibility to crown rust.     

Localisation of iron in wheat grain using high resolution secondary ion mass spectrometry

Insufficient iron (Fe) is one of the most prevalent micronutrient deficiencies in humans, with billions of people affected. Cereal grains are an important source of Fe for humans but the bioavailability of Fe in cereals is generally low. Information regarding the cellular and sub-cellular localisation of Fe in wheat grain will aid optimising nutrient delivery for human health. In this study high resolution secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) was used to map the distribution of Fe in the aleurone layer and in the endosperm of immature wheat grain. Iron was shown to be localised strongly in the phytin globoids in the aleurone cells and to a lesser extent in the cytoplasm around the starch granules in the endosperm.     

A reassessment of the electrophoretic mobility of high molecular weight glutenin subunits of wheat

The high molecular weight subunits of wheat glutenin (HMW-GS) are important for bread-making quality. Their composition is routinely identified by Tris-glycine SDS-PAGE after reduction of glutenin disulfide bonds. However, the relation between their molecular weight and, hence, their primary structure, and their mobility in Tris-glycine SDS-PAGE has proven to be ambiguous. We demonstrate a Bis-Tris SDS-PAGE procedure with a neutral, instead of alkaline, pH in the gel and running buffers. In this method commonly occurring HMW-GS from wheat migrated in the order 5 > 2 ≈ 3 > 1 > 6 ≈ 2* > 7 > 8 > 9 > 12 > 10, which is different from the order obtained in the Tris-glycine system. HMW-GS were identified by N-terminal sequencing after isolation with RP-HPLC. Protein sequences of HMW-GS were further confirmed by LC-MS/MS analyses of chymotryptic peptides after comparing the MS data to amino acid sequences in protein databases. The numbers of amino acids of HMW-GS reflected well the mobility order in Bis-Tris SDS-PAGE. The results indicate that Bis-Tris SDS-PAGE may not only be used to identify HMW-GS, but also to estimate the length of their polypeptide chain, as such avoiding previously observed anomalies in migration order.     

Evaluation of agricultural ecosystem services in fallowing land based on farmers’ participation and model simulation

Fallowing with green fertilizer can benefit agricultural ecosystem services (AES). Farmers in Taiwan do not implement fallow practices and plant green fertilizer because the current subsidy level (46,000 NT$ per ha) is too low to manage fallowing. This paper defines the objective of government agriculture policy or the farmer’s objective as maximization of farm productivity, approximated to the value of social welfare and AES. Farms, which do not follow proper fallowing practices, often have poorly maintained fallow land or left farmland abandoned. This results in negative environmental consequences such as cutworm infestations in abandoned land, which in turn can affect crops in adjacent farmlands. The objectives of this study are twofold. First, it determines the proper fallowing subsidy based on the concept of payment for ecosystem services to entice more farmers to participate in fallowing. Second, it simulates the benefit of planting green manure in fallow land to the supply of AES based on the rate of farmers who are willing to participate in fallow land practices and essential parameters that can affect soil fertility change. The approach involves a series of interviews and a developed empirical model. The value of AES when the rate of farmer participation is 100% represents a 1.5% increase in AES (448,317,000 NT$) over the value at the current participation rate of 14%. This study further concludes that the appropriate fallowing subsidy has a large positive impact on AES and social welfare (e.g., benefit from food and biofuel supplies) and is seen as a basis of ecological governance for sustainable agro-ecosystems.     

Combined use of Multiple Methodologies for the Measurement of Total Antioxidant Capacity in UK Commercially Available Vegetable Juices

Substantial evidence exists to support the hypothesis that high fruit and vegetable consumption, rich in antioxidants, can reduce the incidence of several disease states. The aim of this study was to compare the results obtained by six spectrophotometric biochemical methods including the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH?), 2,2-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS??), copper (II) reducing capacity (CUPRAC) and Cerium (IV) reducing antioxidant capacity (CERAC) assays as well as Folin-Ciocalteu method (FC) for the measurement of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total polyphenols (TP) in different commercially available vegetable juices. There was a significant positive correlation between the results obtained for FRAP, ABTS??, CUPRAC, CERAC and FC (0.68?≤?r?≤?0.96, P?相似文献   

Psychophysics and the Sensory Assessment of Fish

Procedures for sensory evaluation of fish often give the appearance of being empirical, that is, having been developed from practice without any contribution of underlying theory. The fundamental principles of sensory evaluation lie in psychophysics, a branch of psychology. Some textbooks of sensory evaluation have sections on psychophysics, but they are based on what might be called classical psychophysics which is summarized by the Weber/Fechner laws. Contemporary psychophysics has theories and practices which have wider applications in sensory evaluation of foods than classical psychophysics and can be applied to the advantage in the sensory analysis of fish. Three examples from the author's own experience will be presented in this discussion paper: use of the Theory of Signal Detection in evaluating taints; use of similarity ranking methods and multidimensional scaling for grouping fish by sensory properties; and application of current ideas of scaling to the measurement of freshness.     

Nutritional and Chemical Composition of By-Product Fractions Produced from Wet Reduction of Individual Red Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Heads and Viscera

There is growing interest for fishmeals and oils made from utilizing different fish by-products (heads, viscera, frames, etc.) that come directly from the commercial processing line. The major components of fish processing waste from salmon filleting operations are heads and viscera. In order to maximize the utilization of these individual by-products, the different fractions were evaluated. Analysis of essential amino acids in fishmeal showed significant differences in all essential amino acids except lysine. Differences were also noted in the levels of minerals, fatty acid methyl esters, biogenic amines, and fat soluble vitamins. The largest difference observed was in the level of retinol in the oil extracted from heads (8.9 ± 1.0 μg/g oil) and viscera (26.9 ± 3.8 μg/g oil). Head processing resulted in more lipids and cake, while the majority of viscera became stickwater. Results suggest that the fishmeal produced from different by-product parts can result in different nutritional values for feed or food ingredients.     

Chemical Characterization of Testes Meals Made from Alaska's Seafood Processing Byproducts

ABSTRACT

Our objective was to produce a unique feed ingredient from underutilized walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) and pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) testes. Protein content in meals from both species (72% and 80%, respectively) were above the values found in high quality herring meals (～70%), but both were poor in some essential amino acids, e.g., methionine. Additionally, both were good sources of the amino acid taurine (1.7 and 2.2% of meal, respectively). Pollock meal was very rich in phospholipids (82% of total lipids) and in DHA (28 mg/g meal) and EPA (18 mg/g meal), indicating potential as an ingredient in larval starter diets. The purine contents in both pollock and salmon testes meals were more than 10 times the concentrations found in other fish byproducts or commercial fishmeals. The high concentrations of purines found in these testes, especially in the salmon meal, make it an ideal candidate for an immune system stimulant when added to dietary formulations.     

Socio-Economic and Scientific Impact Created by Whitefly-Transmitted,Plant-Virus Disease Resistant Tomato Varieties in Southern India

Research carried out to assess the impact of open-pollinated Tomato leaf curl virus (ToLCV)-resistant tomatoes and hybrids on the livelihoods of resource-poor farmers in Southern India is described and discussed. Three high-yielding ToLCV-resistant tomato varieties were developed initially using conventional breeding and screening techniques involving inoculation by ToLCV-viruliferous whitefly, Bemisia tabaci. In 2003 and 2004, respectively, these varieties were released officially by the Karnataka State Seed Committee and the Indian Ministry of Agriculture through notification in the Gazette of India. From 2003 to 2005, eleven seed companies bought breeder seed of the ToLCV-resistant varieties and used them to begin breeding F₁ hybrids from them. Socio-economic studies carried out to assess the benefits obtained from growing the ToLCV-resistant varieties found that farmers could gain up to 10 times the profit by growing the ToLCV-resistant varieties compared to the pre-existing ToLCV-susceptible varieties. Adoption of ToLCV-resistant tomatoes was also associated with reduced pesticide use. Extra income from tomato sales was prioritised by farmers to pay for children's education, better nutrition and medicines. In a joint effort with the commercial seed sector in India, a promotional field day was organised in 2007. As well as the three ToLCV-resistant varieties, 62 ToLCV-resistant hybrid tomatoes were exhibited during a farmer-field day by 17 commercial seed companies and several public institutes. Tomatoes with ToLCV-resistance are now grown widely in South India and seeds of the three open-pollinated varieties have been distributed to more than 12 countries. In 2007, a conservative estimate of the financial-benefit to cost of the research ratio was already more than 837:1.