Determination of odor active aroma compounds in freshly cut leek (Allium ampeloprasum Var. bulga) and in long-term stored frozen unblanched and blanched leek slices by gas chromatography olfactometry analysis

The odor active compounds in freshly cut leek slices and in blanched and unblanched leek slices stored for 12 months were investigated by a detection frequency method. Fifteen judges were evaluating the three samples randomized. The most important aroma compounds in the freshly cut leek slices were dipropyl disulfide, methyl propenyl disulfide, pentanal, decanal, and propyl propenyl disulfide in order of priority. When stored frozen and unblanched for 12 months, the aroma composition changed and the most important compounds became pentanal, decanal, 2,5-dimethyl furan, unknown compound I, and dipropyl disulfide. Blanching before freezing prevented to some degree these changes but also reduced the perceived intensity of the aroma compounds. The most important aroma compounds in the blanched sample were dipropyl disulfide, unknown compound I, pentanal, 2,5-dimethyl furan, and propyl propenyl disulfide.     

Impact of blanching and packaging atmosphere on the formation of aroma compounds during long-term frozen storage of leek (Allium ampeloprasum Var. Bulga) slices.

The content of aroma compounds and the catalytic activity of lipoxygenase (LOX), alliinase, hydroperoxide lyase (HPL), and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) were analyzed in unblanched and blanched 15-mm leek slices packed in atmospheric air (21% O2) or 100% nitrogen (0% O2) three times during 12 months of frozen storage (12 M). The total amount of sulfur compounds and the total amount of aldehydes were greatly influenced by storage time, atmosphere, and blanching [concentration of sulfur compounds in fresh unblanched (UNB) slices = 1.35 mg/L, fresh blanched (B) slices = 1.09 mg/L, UNB 21% O2 12 M = 0.656 mg/L, UNB 0% O2 12 M = 2.11 mg/L, B 21% O2 12 M = 1.14 mg/L, B 0% O2 12 M = 1.59 mg/L]. B 0% O2 was closest to the original ratio between sulfur compounds and aldehydes after 12 months. The activities of HPL and alliinase were totally lost after 12 months, and ADH showed minimal activity, whereas LOX (UNB 0% O2) showed approximately 25% of the original activity. LOX was the most and HPL the least heat labile enzyme investigated.     

Impact of blanching and packaging atmosphere on the formation of aroma compounds during long-term frozen storage of leek (Allium ampeloprasum Var. Bulga) slices.

The content of aroma compounds and the catalytic activity of lipoxygenase (LOX), alliinase, hydroperoxide lyase (HPL), and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) were analyzed in unblanched and blanched 15-mm leek slices packed in atmospheric air (21% O2) or 100% nitrogen (0% O2) three times during 12 months of frozen storage (12 M). The total amount of sulfur compounds and the total amount of aldehydes were greatly influenced by storage time, atmosphere, and blanching [concentration of sulfur compounds in fresh unblanched (UNB) slices = 1.35 mg/L, fresh blanched (B) slices = 1.09 mg/L, UNB 21% O2 12 M = 0.656 mg/L, UNB 0% O2 12 M = 2.11 mg/L, B 21% O2 12 M = 1.14 mg/L, B 0% O2 12 M = 1.59 mg/L]. B 0% O2 was closest to the original ratio between sulfur compounds and aldehydes after 12 months. The activities of HPL and alliinase were totally lost after 12 months, and ADH showed minimal activity, whereas LOX (UNB 0% O2) showed approximately 25% of the original activity. LOX was the most and HPL the least heat labile enzyme investigated.     

Estimates of denitrification in soil by remote sensing of thermal infrared emission at different moisture levels

Remote sensing techniques may be one way to narrow the range of uncertainty in extrapolating N₂ emissions from small-scale to large-scale terrestrial ecosystems. In the present work we investigated the correlations between denitrification activity, soil moisture, and soil thermal infrared emissions. A field experiment was performed on two different agricultural soils, one loam and one silty clay. The results indicated that thermal infrared emissions can only be used to estimate the denitrification rate in soil within a limited range of soil moisture levels. Estimates of denitrification activity based on soil texture and moisture are, however, very likely to be a fruitful approach to generating large-scale N fluxes.     

Methane uptake in Swedish forest soil in relation to liming and extra N-deposition

Methane uptake to soil was examined in individual chambers at three small forest catchments with different treatments, Control, Limed and Nitrex sites, where N-deposition was experimentally increased. The catchments consisted of both well-drained forest and wet sphagnum areas, and showed uptake of CH₄ from the ambient air. The lowest CH₄ uptakes were observed in the wet areas, where the different treatments did not influence the uptake rate. In the well-drained areas the CH₄ uptakes were 1.6, 1.4 and 0.6 kg ha^–1 year^–1 for the Limed, Control and Nitrex sites, respectively. The uptake of methane at the well-drained Nitrex site was statistically smaller than at the other well-drained catchments. Both acidification and increase in nitrogen in the soil, caused by the air-borne deposition, are the probable cause for the reduction in the methane uptake potential. Uptake of methane was correlated to soil water content or temperature for individual chambers at the well-drained sites. The uptake rate of methane in soil cores was largest in the 0- to 10-cm upper soil layer. The concentration of CH₄ in the soil was lower than the atmospheric concentration up to 30 cm depth, where methane production occurred. Besides acting as a sink for atmospheric methane, the oxidizing process in soil prevents the release of produced methane from deeper soil layers reaching the atmosphere. Received: 27 September 1996     

Modelling soil-water-plant relationships in the Cerrado soils of Brazil: The case of maize (Zea mays L.)

A soil-water balance simulation model developed for the Cerrado soils of central Brazil is presented. The model calculates daily soil water evaporation, plant transpiration and soil-water balance for fourteen soil layers of 15 mm each. The model includes a subroutine to calculate capillary water movement. Computer simulations of daily soil water levels at five soil depths (15, 30, 45, 60 and 90 cm) for a field of maize are compared with actual field measurements over an 80-day period. Results indicated that the developed model can, in general, estimate the soil-water balance of the various depths within ± 10% of actual measurements.     

Serological survey of Toxoplasma gondii, Dirofilaria immitis, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) infections in pet cats in Bangkok and vicinities, Thailand

The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, Dirofilaria immitis (heartworm), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infections was examined using serum or plasma samples from 746 pet cats collected between May and July 2009 from clinics and hospitals located in and around Bangkok, Thailand. The samples were tested for heartworm, FIV, and FeLV using a commercial ELISA. Of the 746 samples, 4.6% (34/746) were positive for heartworm antigen, 24.5% (183/746) had circulating FeLV antigen, and 20.1% (150/746) had antibodies against FIV. In addition, the first 348 submitted samples were tested for T. gondii antibodies using a modified agglutination test (MAT, cut off 1:25); 10.1% (35/348) were seropositive. Of the 348 cats sampled for all four pathogens, 11, 10, and 1 were positive for T. gondii antibodies and FIV antibodies, FeLV antigen, or D. immitis antigen, respectively. Of the 35 T. gondii-seropositive cats, 42.9% (15/35) were co-infected with at least one of the other three pathogens. The presence of antibodies to FIV was significantly associated with both age and gender, while FeLV antigen presence was only associated with age. In the case of FIV, males were twice as likely to be infected as females, and cats over 10 years of age were 13.5 times more likely to be infected than cats less than 1 year of age. FeLV antigen was more common in younger cats, with cats over 10 years of age being 10 times less likely to be FeLV positive than cats under 1 year of age. This is the first survey for these four pathogens affecting feline health in Thailand.     

Inheritance and expression of transgenes in T2 and T3 generations of Lotus corniculatus transformed using Agrobacterium tumefaciens

The inheritance and expression of the reporter gene uidA, encoding β-glucuronidase (GUS), was previously analysed in the T₁ generation of 25 independent transformed lines of Lotus corniculatus cv. Leo. In the work reported here, GUS activity in various tissues of seven of these lines was tested in the T₂ generation. Four representative lines were chosen for more detailed study in the T₃ generation. Lines 25 and 38 had multiple, independently segregating transgene inserts; lines 24 and 39 appeared to transmit one segregating transgene insert to their T₁ progeny, although transgene expression was low and was detected in fewer seedlings than expected in line 39. The uidA gene was inherited and expressed in seedlings of T₁, T₂ and T₃ generations of all four lines. In all lines, transgene expression varied between tissues, with more embryos than seedlings having detectable GUS activity. Studies in the T₂ generation showed that use of transgenic plants as female or male parents altered the frequency of expression of the transgene in progeny. By contrast, in the T₃ generation the use of transgenic plants as female or male parents did not effect either frequency of transmission, or expression of the transgene, in any of the four lines. Transgene inheritance was also similar among individual pods within flower heads and between individual flower heads. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Heat induced formation of free radicals in wheat flour

Oxidative Stability of bread is increasingly being recognized as important for long shelf-life. Formation of free radicals in whole wheat flour and white flour during heating was compared using Electron Spin Resonance spectroscopy in order to identify the primary oxidative events. Heating lead to a higher content of free radicals in wholemeal wheat flour than in white flour, since components in the husk seem to make a major contribution. Two different pathways are suggested for the formation of free radicals in wheat flour. The activation energy for the radical formation in the flours was estimated by Arrhenius plot as 34 kJ mol⁻¹ up to 453 K, and above 473 K higher activation energies were observed. The change in activation energies indicates a change in reaction mechanisms for oxidation probably involving species with different mobility, i.e. different molecular weight. The accumulated concentration of free radicals in heated flour increased during one month storage and it is slightly affected by the water activity in the storage container.     

Strong pH influence on N2O and CH4 fluxes from forested organic soils

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from farmed organic soils can have a major impact on national emission budgets. This investigation was conducted to evaluate whether afforestation of such soils could mitigate this problem. Over the period 1994–1997, emissions of methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) were recorded from an organic soil site in Sweden, forested with silver birch (Betula pendula Roth), using static field chambers. The site was used for grazing prior to forestation. Soil pH and soil carbon content varied greatly across the site. The soil pH ranged from 3.6 to 5.9 and soil carbon from 34 to 42%. The mean annual N₂O emission was 19.4 (± 6.7) kg N₂O‐N ha^?1 and was strongly correlated with soil pH (r = ?0.93, P < 0.01) and soil carbon content (r = 0.97, P < 0.001). The N₂O emissions showed large spatial and temporal variability with greatest emissions during the summer periods. The site was a sink for CH₄ (i.e. ?0.8 (± 0.5) kg CH₄ ha^?1 year^?1) and the flux correlated well with the C/N ratio (r = 0.93, P < 0.01), N₂O emission (r = 0.92, P < 0.01), soil pH (r = ?0.95, P < 0.01) and soil carbon (r = 0.97, P < 0.001). CH₄ flux followed a seasonal pattern, with uptake dominating during the summer, and emission during winter. This study indicates that, because of the large N₂O emissions, afforestation may not mitigate the GHG emissions from fertile peat soils with acidic pH, although it can reduce the net GHG because of greater CO₂ assimilation by the trees compared with agricultural crops.