Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization on Quantity of Flour Protein Components,Dough Properties,and Breadmaking Quality of Wheat

Three winter wheat varieties with differing breadmaking quality were grown at two locations in two years at 0 or 3 × 60 kg of nitrogen application. The effect of nitrogen on amount of different components of gluten proteins was determined by reverse-phase HPLC. A high amount of nitrogen led generally to a significant increase of total protein content. However, this increase was obvious only for the gluten proteins; albumins and globulins remained nearly unaffected. The effect of increased protein content on gliadin to glutenin (gli-glu) ratio was inconsistent. While increased protein content increased the gli-glu ratio in the variety Capo, the opposite was true for the variety Renan. Gli-glu ratio of the variety Lindos showed no discernible tendency. As total protein content increased, the ratio of low molecular weight (LMW) to high molecular weight (HMW) glutenins decreased consistently, i.e., in all varieties, in both years and locations. Change of LMW to HMW ratio showed a significant negative correlation to sedimentation value and bread volume. There was no consistent change in the ratio between x- and y-type HMW subunits due to fertilization, as could be shown by densitometric measurements on SDS-PAGE gels. This ratio appeared to be dependent on the genotype and has decreased with decreasing quality. The amount of x-type subunits correlated closely with sedimentation value and bread volume. These results suggest that ratio of HMW glutenins, especially x-type subunits, to total protein content could be the best early detectable parameter with high predictive value for breadmaking quality.     

Maximum economic yield in crisis?

We examine the claim in Christensen that Maximum Economic Yield (MEY) is equal to Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY). The basis for this claim is that MEY considers only the ‘catching’ of fish and that when the full value‐chain is considered; it is the MSY level that maximizes economic value. We argue that to maximize society’s benefit from a given sector of an economy, resources need to be allocated across all sectors such that additional net benefits from employing one more unit of society’s resources are equalized across all sectors of the economy. In this way, the opportunity cost of employing society’s resources across all economic sectors is minimized. In an economy where all resources are fully utilized, further value added in the value chain for fish is an additional cost and has the effect of reducing fishing effort and optimum yield rather than the opposite. In a less developed economy or a developed one in recession where all resources are not fully used, the multiplier effect could be important, and if it is high for fisheries it would be an argument to maximize sustainable yield and effort. We show, using current input‐output data, that this is not the case. Furthermore, from a simple principle of optimization, we know that to optimize a sector that consists of many segments through time, one has to optimize every portion of the chain through time.     

Nitrogen,phosphorus, potassium and magnesium contents of field vegetables — Recent data for fertiliser recommendations and nutrient balances

When calculating fertiliser recommendations and nutrient balances, growers and advisers usually do not do site specific measurements but use data from look up tables. Data given by older literature sources, however, do not take into account today's cropping practices. Therefore a databank on nutrient contents of total yields, marketable yields and harvest residues of 22 field vegetable crops is presented. This databank was compiled using results from topical field experiments and from recent literature.     

Occurrence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci in the pig-production chain in Ibadan,Nigeria

Staphylococcus species colonises humans and animals and is a major food contaminant with public health significance. Here, we assessed the occurrence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) in the pig-production chain in Ibadan, Nigeria. Nares of 120 pigs and 10 farmers were sampled with sterile swabs whilst 54 pork samples were collected from a retail slaughterhouse. Staphylococcus species were isolated using enrichment, cefoxitin–aztreonam selective broth and Mannitol salt agar. Isolates were tested for susceptibility to cefoxitin (30 μg), oxacillin (1 μg) and vancomycin (30 μg). Methicillin-resistant staphylococci isolates were characterised using conventional biochemical tests. From 184 samples, 364 staphylococcal isolates were obtained. Amongst the 54 pork samples, 44.0% were contaminated with Staphylococcus species. Overall, 9 (2.5%) MRS were obtained and presumptively identified as Staphylococcus xylosus (n = 3), Staphylococcus sciuri (n = 3), Staphylococcus warneri (n = 2) and Staphylococcus cohnii (n = 1). There was no relationship between the prevalence of MRS between pigs and pig handlers in the farms, but Farm 2 had the highest frequency of 66.7% (p < 0.05). Piglets had the highest prevalence of 66.7% (p < 0.05) whilst MRS was absent in workers and pork samples. This study raises concerns about the cross-contamination of staphylococci in the food chain. Constant surveillance is imperative to ensure food safety.     

Sri Lankan reservoir fishery: a case for introduction of a co-management strategy

The inland fisheries of Sri Lanka are essentially artisanal on most of the reservoirs in the country. The annual inland fish production declined dramatically after 1990, when state patronage for the development of the inland fisheries was discontinued for 4 years. This decline was shown to be a result of growth overfishing of the two dominant cichlid species which accounted for over 90% of landings. This was a result of using small mesh ( < 6.9 cm) gillnets in the absence of the State-sponsored monitoring procedure in the fishery after 1990. This indicates that it is necessary to monitor inland fisheries management in Sri Lanka through a centralized authority in the current situation. However, in some Sri Lankan reservoirs, fishing communities can be categorized as 'organized' because they collectively make decisions to define procedures for the rational exploitation of the fishery resources. In reservoirs with 'organized' fishing, the communities themselves have developed mechanisms to regulate the landing sizes of dominant cichlid fish species through community-based fisheries management strategies. In such reservoirs, over-exploitation of fish stocks was not evident, even after 1990, when state-sponsored monitoring procedures were suspended. Based on these observations, an alternative approach is recommended for the management of Sri Lankan reservoir capture fisheries in which the Government and resource-users have equal responsibilities in the management of the resources.     

Evaluation of 28 balm and lemon balm (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Melissa officinalis</Emphasis>) accessions for content and composition of essential oil and content of rosmarinic acid

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) is a well-known aromatic and medicinal plant. Because of its proven sedative, spasmolytic and antiviral effects, it is often used in watery or alcoholic extracts for self-medication or pharmaceutical purposes. Its therapeutic effect is due to the content of essential oil and rosmarinic acid. A set of 28 balm accessions was evaluated for the variability of essential oil content and composition and the content of rosmarinic acid. For analysis of secondary metabolites distillation, gas chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography was used. The content of essential oil in the first cut of the years 2009 and 2010 varied in this study in a range between 0.02 and 0.48% and in the second cut between 0.01 and 0.72%. The rosmarinic acid content of the collection ranged in the year 2009 for the first cut from 3.99 to 8.78% and in the second cut from 2.45 to 6.78%. Ploidy was determined for all accessions and two cytotypes were found: diploid 2n = 2x = 32 (15 accessions), tetraploid 2n = 4x = 64 (13 accessions). Via statistical analyses two chemotypes of essential oil were found: chemotype citral and chemotype germacrene D.     

Content and composition of essential oil and content of rosmarinic acid in lemon balm and balm genotypes (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Melissa officinalis</Emphasis>)

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) is used since ancient times because of its sedative, spasmolytic and antiviral effects. Its therapeutic impact is due to the content of essential oil and rosmarinic acid. A set of 68 M. officinalis genotypes was evaluated for content and composition of essential oil and the content of rosmarinic acid. For all genotypes the level of ploidy was determined. The 68 genotypes were clone plants grown and evaluated for two years at Quedlinburg. For analysis of secondary metabolites distillation, gas chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography was used. The content of essential oil varied in this study in ranges from 0.03 to 0.33% for the second cut 2010 and 0.01–0.35% for the second cut 2011. The rosmarinic acid content ranged in the year 2010 from 3.67 to 7.55% and in the year 2011 from 4.92 to 8.07%. Via statistical analyses two chemotypes of essential oil were found: chemotype citral and chemotype β-caryophyllene oxide. Ploidy was determined for all genotypes and two cytotypes were found: diploid 2n = 2x = 32 (62 of 68 genotypes) and triploid 2n = 3x = 48 (6 of 68 genotypes).     

Lactococcus lactis,causative agent of an endocarditis valvularis and parietalis thromboticans in the allis shad,Alosa alosa (L.)

Since the 1940s, the anadromous allis shad, Alosa alosa (L.), has suffered population declines throughout its distribution range in Europe. In context of EU‐LIFE projects for the reintroduction of the allis shad in the Rhine system, a comprehensive study was started in 2012 to investigate infectious diseases occurring in allis shad. In course of the study, 217 mature and young‐of‐the‐year allis shad originating from the wild population from the Gironde–Garonne–Dordogne system (GGD‐system) and the Rhine system as well as 38 allis shad from the breeding population were examined by use of bacteriological and histological methods. In 2012 and 2014, an endocarditis valvularis thromboticans caused by a coccoid bacterium was detected in 16% and 25% of mature allis shad originating from the GGD‐system. Results of microbiologic examinations, including biochemical characteristics, matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS) and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, revealed Lactococcus lactis as causative agent of this infection. This is the first report of an endocarditis valvularis and parietalis thromboticans caused by Lactococcus lactis in fish. Possible sources of infection as well as the impact for the reintroduction programme are discussed.     

Time after seawater transfer influences immune cell abundance and responses to SAV3 infection in Atlantic salmon

Pancreas disease (PD) caused by salmonid alphavirus (SAV) severely affects salmonid aquaculture during the seawater phase. To characterize immune cells in target tissues for SAV infection, heart, pancreas and pyloric caeca were analysed from two groups of fish adapted to seawater for 2 and 9 weeks. The sections were scored for the relative abundance of cells expressing MHC class II, IgM, CD3, CD8 or neutrophil/granulocyte markers using immuno‐histochemical techniques. In general, necrosis of tissue was more severe in fish infected at 2 weeks post‐seawater transfer (wpt) compared with those infected at 9 wpt. At 9 wpt, there were higher numbers of MHC II⁺ cells in heart, pancreas and pyloric caeca, IgM⁺ cells in heart and pancreas, and CD3⁺ cells in pancreas compared to those infected at 2 wpt. The majority of the immune cells infiltrating PD‐affected tissues were MHC II⁺ and CD3⁺ cells suggesting that antigen‐presenting cells and T lymphocytes are the main types of immune cells responding to SAV infection. All the investigated cell types were also observed in pyloric caeca of infected fish, suggesting that this tissue may play a role in the immune response to SAV.     

Involvement of cholinergic and adenosinergic systems on the branchial immune response of experimentally infected silver catfish with Streptococcus agalactiae

It has been recognized that the cholinergic and adenosinergic systems have an essential role in immune and inflammatory responses during bacterial fish pathogens, such as the enzymes acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and adenosine deaminase (ADA), which are responsible for catalysis of the anti‐inflammatory molecules acetylcholine (ACh) and adenosine (Ado) respectively. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of the cholinergic and adenosinergic systems on the immune response and inflammatory process in gills of experimentally infected Rhamdia quelen with Streptococcus agalactiae. Acetylcholinesterase activity decreased, while ACh levels increased in gills of infected animals compared to uninfected animals. On the other hand, a significant increase in ADA activity with a concomitant decrease in Ado levels was observed in infected animals compared to uninfected animals. Based on this evidence, we concluded that infection by S. agalactiae in silver catfish alters the cholinergic and adenosinergic systems, suggesting the involvement of AChE and ADA activities on immune and inflammatory responses, regulating the ACh and Ado levels. In summary, the downregulation of AChE activity exerts an anti‐inflammatory profile in an attempt to reduce or prevent the tissue damage, while the upregulation of ADA activity exerts a pro‐inflammatory profile, contributing to disease pathophysiology.