Carotenoid content of 50 watermelon cultivars

The lycopene content of 50 commercial cultivars of seeded and seedless red-fleshed watermelons was determined. Scanning colorimetric and spectrophotometric assays of total lycopene were used to separate watermelon cultivars into low (<50 mg/kg fw), average (50-70 mg/kg fw), high (70-90 mg/kg fw), and very high (>90 mg/kg fw). Cultivars varied greatly in lycopene content, ranging from 33 to 100 mg/kg. Most of the seeded hybrid cultivars had average lycopene contents. Sixteen of the 33 seedless types had lycopene contents in the high and very high ranges. All-trans-lycopene was the predominant carotenoid (84-97%) in all watermelon cultivars measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, but the germplasm differed in the relative amounts of cis-lycopene, beta-carotene, and phytofluene. Red-fleshed watermelon genotypes vary extensively in carotenoid content and offer opportunities for developing watermelons with specifically enhanced carotenoids.     

Contrasting response of two forest soils to nitrogen input: rapidly altered NO and N2O emissions and nirK abundance

Denitrification represents one of the main microbial processes producing the primary and secondary greenhouse gases nitrous oxide (N₂O) and nitric oxide (NO) in soils. It is well established that abiotic factors like the soil water content and the availability of nitrogen (N) are key parameters determining the activity of denitrifiers in soils. However, soils differing regarding their characteristics such as the content of C_org, the soil texture or the pH value may respond in specific manners to equivalent changes in soil moisture and N input. Thus, short-term incubation experiments were performed to test and compare the capacity of two contrasting Austrian forest soils to respond to mineral N application at increased soil water contents. Soils from the pristine Rothwald forest (rich in C_org) and the more acidic Schottenwald forest (poor in C_org) were amended with either NH ₄ ⁺ -N or NO ₃ ^? -N and were incubated at 40% and 70% water-filled pore space for 4 days. Changes in mineral N pools, nitrite reductase activity and NO and N₂O emission rates were measured, and the abundance and structural community composition of the functional group involved in nitrite reduction were analysed via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the nirK gene. Rapid and distinct activity responses to increased soil moisture and altered mineral nitrogen availability were observed in two contrasting forest soils. In both soils, nitrogen oxide emission rates were stimulated by N inputs and, depending on the soil moisture status, either NO or N₂O emission was prevailing. However, different N cycling processes appeared to predominate in either soil under equivalent treatment. Nitrogen oxide emissions peaked following NO ₃ ^? application in Schottenwald soils but were the highest after NH ₄ ⁺ application in Rothwald soils. Denitrifying (nirK) communities differed significantly in Rothwald and Schottenwald soils; however, changes in the community structure were marginal during the short-term incubation. Abundances of nirK genes remained unaffected by N application in either soil. The soil water content affected nirK gene abundances only in Rothwald soil, indicating a distinct reaction of nitrite reducing communities in the two soils.     

Characteristics of Modern Triticale Quality: The Relationship Between Carbohydrate Properties, α‐Amylase Activity,and Falling Number

Triticale is a high‐yielding cereal crop with potential to increase grain production for human consumption over the coming decades. Minimal targeted selection has been conducted to produce cultivars with α‐amylase, amylose, and nonstarch polysaccharide (NSP) content appropriate for a milling market. Nevertheless, genotypic variability exists. Standard quality screening methods used for wheat, including pasting properties, falling number, and quantification of α‐amylase activity were employed to assess the environmental and genotypic variability among modern triticale cultivars and to investigate the suitability of these tests for triticale. Samples of 11 triticale lines from four environments were compared with five wheat cultivars bred for various end uses. Triticale exhibited a greater range than wheat for most tested variables, and the ranges usually overlapped. Triticale exhibited higher NSP content, generally equivalent pasting properties, higher α‐amylase activity, and lower falling number on average compared with wheat checks. However, low falling number was not indicative of high α‐amylase activity; the relationship with NSP level and other factors is discussed, and caution is recommended for interpretation of previous research. Three cultivars with equivalent α‐amylase activity to wheat and two with partially waxy starch were identified. These findings have great significance for research and the emerging triticale milling market.     

Antiproliferative steroidal glycosides from Digitalis ciliata

Two new compounds, a furostanol glycoside (1) and a pregnane glycoside (4), along with eight known compounds, belonging to the classes of spirostane (2,3), pregnane (5–7) and cardenolide (8–10) glycosides, were isolated from the seeds of Digitalis ciliata. Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D-NMR experiments as well as ESI-MS analysis. For the first time pregnane glycosides of the diginigenin series have been isolated from D. ciliata. The cytotoxic effects of compounds 1–10 on cell viability of several cancer cell lines, namely human breast cancer (MCF-7), human glioblastoma (T98G), human lung adenocarcinoma (A549), human colon carcinoma (HT-29), and human prostate cancer (PC-3) cell lines were evaluated. Compounds 1, 4, 7 and 8 showed antiproliferative effects against MCF-7, HT-29 and A549 cancer cells with IC₅₀ values ranging from 8.3 to 20 μM. The effects of compounds 1–10 on cell proliferation were evaluated on these three cancer cell lines by cell cycle analysis of DNA content using flow cytometry. Compounds 7, 8 and 10 induced significant changes in G₂/M cell cycle phase of all analyzed cells. The obtained results indicate that compounds 7, 8 and 10 are cytostatic compounds effective in reducing cell proliferation by inducing accumulation of the cells in the G₂/M phase of the cell cycle.     

Snow damages on trees of an uneven age in mixed broadleaf forests:effects of topographical conditions and tree characteristics

Snow damage on natural stands is an important problem concerning mountainous forest management.In the present research,the frequency and intensity of heavy snow damage on natural stands and the relationship of damages with characteristics of trees,stand and topography were studied in mountainous forests of northern Iran.A systematic sampling design was applied to the study area(140 ha),with 122 circular plots.The grid dimension was100 m and each plot area was 1000 m^2.The four types of snow damage to trees include:crown damage(8.6%),stem breakage(5.4%),uprooting(3.2%),and bending(1.4%).The frequency of crown damage grew with an increase inthe diameter at breast height(DBH),while the frequency of stem breakage,uprooting and bending decreased with an increase the DBH.The frequency of crown damage,stem breakage,and total damages was related to tree species(p<0.01).Not all tree species were equally susceptible to snow damage.The amount of damage grew with increasing elevation and slope angle and decreased with increasing soil depth.Young trees(DBH<25 cm)were more susceptible to snow damage than other trees.Snow damage decreased by as the trees in the stand became more mixed in age.The susceptibility of trees to snow damage increased by height and slenderness coefficient.With adequate silvicultural operation,snow damage can be reduced to a minimum level in these natural forests.     

Assessment of genetic variation in common bean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaseolus vulgaris</Emphasis> L.) from Nebrodi mountains (Sicily,Italy)

This study was carried out to estimate the level of diversity existing within some common bean landraces still cultivated in Nebrodi mountains, North-western area of Sicily. The multidisciplinary approach adopted to reach this goal involved the characterisation of collected material through morphological, biochemical and molecular marker analyses. The nutritional quality of seeds was also investigated in view of the proposition of the best landraces as niche products. Results showed that those bean landraces retain a considerable level of heterogeneity. The use of both biochemical and molecular markers showed that all landraces clustered into two main groups, corresponding to the Andean and Mesoamerican gene pools. Our results suggest that the best strategy for preserving the diversity of common bean from a restricted area such as Nebrodi mountains, necessitates of a deep knowledge of germplasm to avoid the loss of precious genetic resources or, on the contrary, the safeguard of populations genetically redundant.     

Hydrogeochemical Characteristics of Processes in the Temara Aquifer in Northwestern Morocco

The physico-chemical characteristics of the groundwater of the Temara aquifer were studied by means of piezometric mapping and determination of the ionic composition of the groundwater. In general, the agricultural activity is intense in the area, with water being pumped from numerous wells. Two aquifer formations can be distinguished which, over a wide area, are separated by layers of low permeability. The increased salinity at some points of the coastal zone is probably linked to the combined action of the washing out of Miocene marls, dissolution of carbonate rocks, agricultural pollution and seawater intrusion.     

Episodic blindness and ataxia in a horse with cholesterinic granulomas

An 11‐year‐old Oldenburg mare presented following three episodes of acute, transient blindness, ataxia, and disorientation within the preceding 7 months. Clinical improvement, including return of vision, occurred within 1 week of initiating corticosteroid therapy for each of the three episodes. However, mild right‐sided miosis was a consistent finding on ophthalmic examinations. Routine clinicopathologic testing revealed no significant abnormalities, and testing of cerebral spinal fluid for selected infectious diseases was unrewarding. Computed tomography of the brain demonstrated a hyperattenuating mass with peripheral mineralization in the rostroventral aspect of each lateral ventricle. The mare was euthanized due to a guarded to poor prognosis. On histopathology, the masses consisted of clusters of cholesterol clefts admixed with leukocytes, mineral deposits, and connective tissue. Cholesterinic granulomas of the lateral ventricles and hydrocephaly were diagnosed. Cholesterinic granulomas should be considered a differential diagnosis in horses presenting for intermittent blindness.