Biological Activities of Chickpea in Human Health (Cicer arietinum L.). A Review

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Chickpea is one of the most consumed legumes worldwide. Among their benefits are the high protein concentration that reflects not only at the nutritional level but...     

Sorghum Pasta and Noodles: Technological and Nutritional Aspects

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Sorghum is a major cereal crop with various agronomic advantages, contains health-promoting compounds and is gluten-free. There is a growing tendency to use...     

Strategy to identify resistance to white mould associated with high yield for irrigated common bean in Brazil

Development of common bean cultivars with partial white mould resistance through breeding techniques has been a challenge in Brazil. As yet, lines/cultivars from breeding programmes have not been investigated for resistance; therefore, this study screened 107 lines/cultivars for their reactions to white mould in 14 preliminary trials conducted under irrigation. Thirteen resistant lines/cultivars (three of Andean origin) and six Mesoamerican cultivars (three intermediately resistant and three susceptible) were selected for further investigation. These lines/cultivars and the resistant control A195 were evaluated in six advanced trials and two straw tests to assess the effectiveness of the screening procedure. In 11 preliminary trials, screenings were performed under moderate/high or higher disease pressure. These pressures occurred in two advanced trials in which, when yields were averaged across moderate/high and high pressures, 10 Mesoamerican lines/cultivars selected for resistance yielded 14%, 23%, and 38% more than intermediately resistant cultivars, A195, and susceptible cultivars, with median disease ratings (1–9 scale) of 4.5, 5.7, 5.7, and 6.7, respectively. In the straw test, three Andean lines/cultivars (A195 included) and two susceptible cultivars in the field were among those with the highest levels of physiological resistance. Thus, field rating under high disease pressure and greenhouse rating did not correlate significantly, suggesting that field trials are critical to evaluating resistance and to identifying high-yielding beans. Therefore, lines/cultivars from breeding programmes assessed in field trials may provide a low cost and fast way to identify high-yielding bean cultivars with partial resistance to white mould in the subtropical southern hemisphere.     

Intensive rearing of juvenile crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus,Astacidae) during the first 6 months: effects of size grading

Recent advances in crayfish feeding have enabled the development of size grading studies from the start of first‐feeding. A 180‐day experiment aimed at intensive rearing of Pacifastacus leniusculus was carried out under controlled conditions, evaluating the effects of size grading at two different periods from the onset of exogenous feeding. Stage 2 juveniles were stocked in fibreglass tanks at a density of 100 m², and fed a dry diet for salmonids combined with restricted amounts of Artemia cysts. Five groups were tested: no grading, grading at 60 days (large and small size) and grading at 100 days (large and small size). After 6 months, no significant differences were found in the survival among groups (mean: 73.06%). The highest final growth (pooled results from upper and lower classes: 17.39 mm carapace length, 1.43 g weight) was achieved by the crayfish sorted at 60 days, showing significant differences from the ungraded group. Smaller crayfish graded at 60 days grew significantly faster than smaller crayfish graded at 100 days. The food conversion ratio was lower in the graded groups (mean: 2.64), showing significant differences from the ungraded group (3.23). This study shows that size grading allows a better performance and an improved feeding efficiency.     

First results of embryonic development,spawning and larval rearing of the Mediterranean spider crab Maja squinado (Herbst ) under laboratory conditions,a candidate species for a restocking program

The Mediterranean spider crab, Maja squinado, is depleted due to overfishing. The crab has virtually disappeared from areas where it was abundant, such as the Balearic Islands and the Catalan coast. Maja squinado, is economically and ecologically very valuable, and it is essential to obtain information on its biology and rearing conditions to attempt to repopulate the damaged stocks of the species in the Mediterranean basin. Herein, we describe the first successful rearing of M. squinado under laboratory conditions. Our results show that M. squinado is an excellent candidate for restocking using cultured juveniles. Two consecutive broods with a 1–4 day interbrood period were observed in the laboratory in wild‐caught females, the maximum observed duration of embryonic development of the egg mass being 32 days at 18.4 ± 0.9°C, and went through four different stages. The complete larval and first juvenile development was studied in laboratory cultures fed enriched Artemia metanauplius. At 19.6 ± 0.6°C, development from hatching to first crab moult took 17 days, and it comprised two zoeae stages and one megalopa stage. The survival rate at the different stages was monitored, and 7.13 ± 2.3% was achieved at the first crab instar.     

Biochemical,Physical, Chemical,and Microbiological Assessment of Blue Shrimp (Litopenaeus stylirostris) Stored in Ice

Postmortem changes in blue shrimp (Litopenaeus stylirostris) muscle were studied on the basis of biochemical, chemical, physical, and microbiological changes during an 18 day storage period at 0°C. Adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) content, breakdown products, K-value, pH, trimethylamine nitrogen (TMA-N), total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), water holding capacity (WHC), color, and texture (shear force) changes were examined. Also, total mesophilic and psychrophilic bacterial counts were measured. K-value increased linearly (r² = 0.98) from an initial value of 1.37 ± 0.59 to 59.42 ± 6.05% at Day 18. Spoilage indicators TVB-N and TMA-N increased from 29.56 ± 1.33 and 0.69 ± 0.25 to 39.04 and 2.04 ± 0.59 mg of N/100 g at Day 18, respectively; meanwhile, the total viable counts of mesophilic and psychrophilic bacteria increased from 3.48 ± 0.44 and 2.61 ± 0.29 log CFU/g to 6.27 ± 0.21 and 7.14 ± 0.39 log CFU/g, respectively, which indicated spoilage at the end of the storage period. The pH, texture, WHC, and color were affected (p < 0.05) during the storage period. Overall, results indicate that blue shrimp muscle quality was maintained for 12 days of storage in ice.     

Weed abundance and soil seedbank responses to tillage systems in continuous maize crops

Weed abundance in crops undergoes frequent changes, often due to changes in tillage practices. Annual species, with quick germination, a short vegetative stage, profuse seed production and long-lived seeds become problematic under zero-tillage systems. Portulaca oleracea L. and Amaranthus blitoides L. are widespread weeds in the Mediterranean area, prominent in irrigated crops. We studied the total weed abundance in the field, and specifically these two species (Portulaca oleracea and Amaranthus blitoides) with high frequency of occurrence in monoculture maize, from 2012 to 2014, in the field and soil seedbank. Results showed significant differences between zero-tillage (ZT) and conventional tillage (CT) systems on total weed abundance and relative abundance of Portulaca oleracea. Total weed abundance decreased in ZT plots (from 136 plants m^?2 to 25 and 46 plants m^?2, in 2013 and 2014 respectively). The same trend was observed in Portulaca oleracea recorded in ZT plots, but the abundance of Amaranthus blitoides did not vary in this system. Weed seedling germination and weed seed numbers both of total weed seedbank and Portulaca oleracea, were greater in ZT plots compared to CT, regarding Amaranthus blitoides seedling germination and seed count, the values did not increase with ZT, in continuous maize crops.     

Effect of nutrient solution salinity and ionic concentration on parsley (Petroselinum crispum Mill.) essential oil yield and content

The growth and essential oil (EO) production of parsley were evaluated in response to salinity and nutrient solution concentrations in a soilless culture. Parsley plants that were 60 days old were potted in a coconut fiber and peat moss medium and were treated with four different nutrient solutions, including T1, T2, T3 and T4. The T1 nutrient solution was the standard, the T2 and T3 solutions contained incremental macronutrient concentrations with an electrical conductivity (EC) of up to 2.2 and 3.2 dS m^?1, respectively, and the T4 solution was the same as T2 but with sodium chloride (NaCl) and an incremental macronutrient concentration with an EC of 3.2 dS m^?1. Next, these plants were grown for 90 days in a greenhouse with natural daylight in Nador, Morocco. Shoot and root growth significant decreased with increasing EC. However, the salinity that resulted from the addition of NaCl did not affect plant growth in the nutrient solutions. The optimum obtained growth and EO production were 1.2 and 2.2 dS m^?1, respectively. Consequently, the optimum EC value (based on the EO production) of parsley in the soilless culture was 1.2–2.2 dS m^?1.     

Use of Aloe vera gel coating preserves the functional properties of table grapes

Table grapes (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Crimson Seedless) were coated with Aloe vera gel according to our developed patent (SP Patent P200302937) and then stored for 35 days at 1 degrees C, and the subsequent shelf life (SL) was monitored at 20 degrees C. Uncoated clusters showed a rapid loss of functional compounds, such as total phenolics and ascorbic acid. These changes were accompanied by reduction of the total antioxidant activity (TAA) and increases in total anthocyanins, showing an accelerated ripening process. On the contrary, table grapes coated with Aloe vera gel significantly delayed the above changes, such as the retention of ascorbic acid during cold storage or SL. Consequently, Aloe vera gel coating, a simple and noncontaminating treatment, maintained the functional properties during postharvest storage of table grapes.     

1-methylcyclopropene increases storability and shelf life in climacteric and nonclimacteric plums

The effect of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) at three different doses (0.25, 0.50, and 0.75 microL L(-1)) on the ripening processes of a climacteric, cv. Santa Rosa, and a suppressed climacteric type, cv. Golden Japan, plum was studied. For both cultivars, positive effects were observed in terms of inhibition of ethylene production and delays of the physical, chemical, and biochemical changes associated with ripening. 1-MCP-treated plums were firmer with lower weight loss, reduced degrees Brix/titratable acidity ratios, and lower color changes during cold storage and subsequent shelf life at 20 degrees C than controls. For most factors, the effectiveness of 1-MCP was dose-dependent in Santa Rosa but dose-independent for Golden Japan.