Diet alters the fatty acid composition of individual phospholipid classes in beef muscle

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of diet on the distribution of phospholipid classes and fatty acid profiles of individual phospholipid classes in longissimus muscle of beef. An experiment was established to examine the effect of pasture-based versus concentrate diet offered to two different breeds (German Holstein and German Simmental bulls) to enhance the content of beneficial fatty acids in beef and improve the meat quality for the consumer. High-performance thin-layer chromatography was utilized to separate the phospholipid classes. The fatty acid composition of the individual phospholipid classes was determined by gas chromatography. The main phospholipid classes in the muscle were phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine, representing approximately 60% of the total phospholipids, followed by phosphatidylinositol ranging between 11.8 and 14.8%. The results have shown that the fatty acid profiles in the detected seven phospholipid classes can be affected by different feeding systems. Pasture-based feeding resulted in an enrichment of total and individual n-3 fatty acids in all phospholipid classes of muscle lipids of bulls compared with those fed on concentrate. In contrast, pasture-based diet significantly decreased the proportion of total and individual n-6 fatty acids in phospholipid classes, except in the sphingomyelin fraction. The total saturated fatty acid proportions in the phospholipid classes were different and ranged between 4.5% in the cardiolipin fraction and 50.5% in the sphingomyelin fraction of muscle lipids of bulls. Furthermore, the diet effects on the saturated fatty acid proportion in the different phospholipid classes differ widely. The results have shown that the C18:1 trans and CLA profiles in the detected seven phospholipid classes can be affected by different feeding systems.     

Effects of dietary <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-3 fatty acids on Toll-like receptor activation in primary leucocytes from Atlantic salmon (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmo salar</Emphasis>)

The shortage of the n-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on the international markets has led to increasing substitution of fish oil by plant oils in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) feed and thereby reducing the EPA and DHA content in salmon. However, the minimum required levels of these fatty acids in fish diets for securing fish health are unknown. Fish were fed with 0, 1 or 2% EPA or DHA alone or in combination of both over a period, growing from 50 to 400 g. Primary head kidney leucocytes were isolated and stimulated with Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands to determine if EPA and DHA deficiency can affect expression of important immune genes and eicosanoid production. Several genes related to viral immune response did not vary between groups. However, there was a tendency that the high-level EPA and DHA groups expressed lower levels of IL-1β in non-stimulated leucocytes. These leucocytes were also more responsive to the TLR ligands, inducing higher expression levels of IL-1β and Mx1 after stimulation. The levels of prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4 in serum and media from stimulated leucocytes were lower in both low and high EPA and DHA groups. In conclusion, leucocytes from low EPA and DHA groups seemed to be less responsive towards immunostimulants, like TLR ligands, indicating that low levels or absence of dietary EPA and DHA may have immunosuppressive effects.     

Somatic in vitro culture response of Lolium perenne L.: genetic effects and correlations with anther culture

Summary Genotypic effects on callus induction and plant regeneration in callus, suspension and protoplast culture, and their correlations with both phenotypic and GCA-values for anther culture response, were studied using 21 genotypes of perennial ryegrass. Differences between genotypes accounted for approximately 40% of the total variation for callus induction and initial callus growth, and 59 and 83% of the variation in callus culture for regeneration percentage and percentage of green plants. Effects of genotypes were less pronounced in suspension culture, where suspensions from the same genotype often behaved differently. Some suspension cultures retained their capacity for green plant regeneration for almost two years, repeatedly producing 80–100% green regenerants during this period. Genotypes with high regeneration percentage and a large proportion of green plants from callus culture were also superior in suspension culture for both regeneration performance and longevity. Regeneration percentage and percentage of green plants were uncorrelated, and probably under different genetic control. While capacity for green plant formation from the different genotypes showed no correlation between anther culture and somatic in vitro culture, a positive correlation was observed between the regeneration percentages in somatic in vitro culture and anther culture (r=0.44^*–0.85^***), suggesting some common genetic control of the two systems.     

Editorial: a warm welcome to Professor Dr. Evert Jacobsen, new Editor-in-Chief and retrospections on thirty years of editorship

Editorial: a warm welcome to Professor Dr. Evert Jacobsen, new Editor-in-Chief and retrospections on thirty years of editorship     

Standorteigenschaften und Wasserhaushalt von versiegelten Flächen

Site characteristics and hydrology of sealed aereas Soil physical and chemical properties of typical sealed urban sites in Berlin were measured. Water components were determined using lysimeters with differently sealed surfaces. Water storage and infiltration is small and depends on sealing materials. Evapotranspiration and drainage are reduced whereas runoff is increased. During summer time high surface temperatures might occur on sealed surfaces. Because of high dust input, infiltration of old sealed sites is reduced by an order of magnitude compared to sites which have been sealed recently. Long-term input of dust resulted in an increase of clay, silt, organic material and heavy metals. Finally specific recommendations for land planners are given.     

Bestimmung der Lagerungsdichte in stark skeletthaltigen Böden

Determination of bulk density in stony soils A new method is represented which makes it possible to measure the bulk density easily even in the case of stony soils. First results demonstrate the reliability of this new method.     

Effect of sample preparation,length of time,and sample size on quantification of total lipids from bovine liver

The objective was to evaluate the effect of sample preparation (pulverization under liquid nitrogen, homogenization, or sonication), time length of sonication (0-60 s), shaking in chloroform/methanol solvent (0, 2, 4, or 12 h), incubation in chloroform (0 or 12 h), and drying of extracted lipids at 50 degrees C (2, 4, 6, or 24 h), and sample size (50-250 mg) on quantification of total lipids from bovine liver. Pulverization under liquid nitrogen yielded the lowest recovery. Sonication was least time-consuming for sample preparation. Precise estimates and the greatest recovery were obtained with 30 s of sonication, at least 2 h of shaking in chloroform/methanol solvent, 12 h of incubation in chloroform, and at least 6 h of drying. Sample sizes of at least 150 mg gave precise estimates. The results demonstrate that sample preparation, time length of different steps of the extraction procedure, and sample size affect quantification of total lipid from bovine liver.     

Abteilung Integrierter Pflanzenschutz und Diagnostik

Faced with a large diversity of pests and diseases of regular or variable importance to fruit production, the Plant Protection Section has to deliver timely disease forecasts and decisions concerning potential control measures. The main strength of the Plant Protection Section has been a functional experimental set-up which lays an important foundation for the regional advisory service. Applied research has been a basis for developments in crop protection in the Lower Elbe region. Thus, crucial prerequisites for the introduction of Integrated Crop Protection have been established and further developed, always looking for solutions to existential problems. Problems in controlling of apple sucker and apple scab led to the establishment of the Fruit Experiment Station (OVA) Jork. Existential threats in subsequent years were posed by a large number of pests and diseases, including water voles and bitter rot in apple production, and fire blight, tree decline and little-cherry in sweet cherry production. Specific legislation covering the special fruit production area??Altes Land?? has been a milestone in securing the future of regional fruit production. Along similar lines, comprehensive surveys of the behaviour of crop protection compound residue have been conducted recently, the results being used as arguments against scientifically unfounded demands by food retailers concerning limitations of the number of detectable residues. The Plant Protection Section will continue to play a crucial role in the Fruit Experiment Station. Future challenges have to be met by a highly motivated and well equipped team.