Reduction of potato damage during grading by radiant heating

Summary The effect of using radiant heat to quickly warm potatoes and reduce damage in handling after cold storage was investigated. Two treatments were investigated: tubers dropped 350 mm with no radiant heat applied, and tubers dropped with radiant heat applied. Both treatments were compared with a control set of tubers which were taken directly out of store. The mean damage index per tuber was significantly reduced following radiant heat treatment although there were cultivar and size variations. The temperature profile under radiant heat was also measured which showed an increase in the outside flesh temperature of 8–12°C depending on tuber colour.     

Effect of transferring lignocellulose-degrading bacteria from termite to rumen fluid of sheep on in vitro gas production,fermentation parameters,microbial populations and enzyme activity

The digestive tract of termite(Microcerotermes diversus) contains a variety of lignocellulose-degrading bacteria with exocellulases enzyme activity, not found in the rumen, which could potentially improve fiber degradation in the rumen. The objectives of the current study were to determine the effect of inoculation of rumen fluid(RF) with three species of bacteria isolated from termite digestive tract, Bacillus licheniformis, Ochrobactrum intermedium, and Microbacterium paludicola, on in vitro gas production(IVGP), fermentation parameters, nutrient disappearance, microbial populations, and hydrolytic enzyme activities with fibrous wheat straw(WS) and date leaf(DL) as incubation substrate. Inoculation of RF with either of three termite bacteria increased(P0.05) ammonia-N concentration compared with the control group(free of termite gut bacteria). Termite bacteria inoculation had no effect(P0.05) on gas production characteristics, dry matter, organic matter and neutral detergent fiber disappearance, pH, and concentration and composition of volatile fatty acids. Population of proteolytic bacteria and protozoa, but not cellulolytic bacteria, were increased(P0.05) when RF was inoculated with termite bacteria with both WS and DL substrates. Inoculation of RF with termite bacteria increased protease activity, while activities of carboxymethyl-cellulase, microcrystalline-cellulase, α-amylase and filter paper degrading activity remained unchanged(P0.05). Overall, the results of this study indicated that transferring lignocellulose-degrading bacteria, isolated from digestive tract of termite, to rumen liquid increased protozoa and proteolytic bacteria population and consequently increased protease activity and ammonia-N concentration in vitro, however, no effect on fermentation and fiber degradation parameters were detected. These results suggest that the termite bacteria might be rapidly lysed by the rumen microbes before beneficial effects on the rumen fermentation process could occur.     

Antifungal and antitermitic activities of wood vinegar from Vitex pubescens Vahl

Antifungal and antitermitic activities of wood vinegar produced from Vitex pubescens were evaluated. Three kinds of wood vinegar were produced at three different pyrolysis temperatures, i.e. at 350, 400 and 450 °C. A PDA dilution method was employed to assay antifungal activity of the vinegars with a white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor and a brown-rot fungus Fomitopsis palustris. Termiticidal activity and repellent effect were evaluated by a no-choice test and a choice test with Reticulitermes speratus and Coptotermes formosanus. All wood vinegars exhibited antifungal activity against both fungi. Wood vinegar of 450 °C had the higher activity than those of 400 and 350 °C. It was assumed that acid component contributed to the increase in controlling the growth of fungal. The wood vinegar exhibited antitermite activity to both R. speratus and C. formosanus workers in the no-choice experiment. However, it needed relatively high concentration to obtain the perfect mortality. For instance, the wood vinegar of 10 % concentration was needed to achieve 100 % mortality against C. formosanus, whereas for R. speratus only 3 % of wood vinegar was required. In the direct-choice experiment, wood vinegar had a significantly repellent effect to both termites at the lowest treating concentration of 10 %.     

Genetic model analysis on seedling and maturity traits in wheat under rainfed conditions

An experiment was conducted to access the genetic variability among early vigour and quantitative traits under limited moisture in F₂ generation of a 5 × 5 diallel cross of bread wheat. The results indicated that there was significant genotypic variation among the genotypes. Additive dominance model revealed full fitness of the data for RL, DSW, FRW, DRW, spike length, and 1000-grain weight but was partially fit for SL, FSW, R/S, tillers per seedling, plant height, tillers per plant, spikelets per spike, and grain yield per plant. The partially adequate models for these plant characters might be due to the presence of non-allelic interaction, linkage, and non-independent distribution of the genes in the parents. Additive genes coupled with moderate to high narrow sense heritability were involved in the heritage of all the traits, which indicated a higher scope of selection in early generations.     

Estudio Estructural y Ultraestructural del Parenquima Renal Hematopoyetico en la Tenca (Tinca tinca, L.)

Light- and ultrastructural study of the renal hemopoietic cells of the Tenca ( Tincca tinca , L.)
A study of the renal hemopoietic cells was carried out in 63 adult Tenca's, captured from their natural environment. The hemopoietic tissues of the Tenca is located in the intertuberal tissues of the kidney. The basic structure of these tissues is similar to that of the red bone marrow of mammals. The morphology of individual cellular elements (erythrocytes, thrombocytes, heterophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes, monocytes and macrophages) are described. Light microscopy, using hematoxylin and eosin, P. AS. and Prussian Asure stains and transmission electron microscopy were used to study these cells.     

Effects of vitamin and mineral premix withdrawal from diets on carcass and meat quality of feedlot steers

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The primary objective of the present study was to assess the effects of vitamin and mineral premix (VMP) withdrawal from the diets 30 and 60 days...     

Cd and Nutrient Elements Release into Various Aqueous Solutions from Synthesized K-Struvite Fertilizer

K-struvite (potassium magnesium phosphate, KMgPO₄.6H₂O) is a promising multinutrient slow-release fertilizer; however, it may contain cadmium (Cd) in significant ranges like other phosphorus (P) fertilizers. This paper focuses on dissolution of a synthesized K-struvite in water, acid solutions and complexing agents. Firstly, K-struvite was synthesized by using Cd containing phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄). After its characterization, a three-stage dissolution study was carried out. The release of nutrient elements and Cd into extracts was studied. Phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) solubilities in pure water are low, not more than about 2.5% at the end of three extractions. It was found that solubility increased with the presence of mineral and organic acids. The presence of complexing agents also enhanced the dissolution of K-struvite. At the end of three extractions, citric acid (CA, C₆H₈O₇.H₂O) solution solubilized P about 38%, while dissolved K was about 35%, in cumulative. In the case of 0.001 mol/L Na₂EDTA (C₁₀H₁₄N₂Na₂O₈.2H₂O), the solubilized K-struvite was found to be about 40%, which was about 14% in a 250 mg/L Na-humate. The maximum concentrations of Cd in the third extracts of hydrochloric acid (HCl), CA, oxalic acid (OA, C₂H₂O₄) and Na₂EDTA were measured to be in the range of about 14–19 μg/L, which corresponds to a Cd solubilization more than 46% for the three successive extractions.     

Effects of different nutrient solution formulations on morphological and biochemical characteristics of nursery fig trees grown in substrate culture

This research was carried out to determine the effects of different nutrient solution formulations on the growth of nursery fig trees in substrate culture, which is one of the soil-less culture techniques. The hardwood cuttings of Ficus carica L. cv. “Sar?lop” (Calimyrna) were planted into pots filled with 13 L of perlite. Five different nutrient solution formulations were tested on the quality and growth progress of nursery fig trees. The trials were conducted in two different growing conditions, namely, high-tunnel and open-field conditions in substrate culture. To observe the effect of different nutrient solution formulations on nursery fig trees, some morphological and biochemical characteristics were determined. It was concluded that the use of Hewitt's and Hoagland's nutrient solution formulations led to increased growth of nursery fig trees in high-tunnel and open-field conditions, respectively.