Response of the pigeonpea-Rhizobium symbiosis to salinity stress: variation among Rhizobium strains in symbiotic ability

Summary There were significant differences among pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp] Rhizobium sp. strains (IC 3506, IC 3484, IC 3195, and IC 3087) in their ability to nodulate and fix N₂ under saline conditions. Pigeonpea plants inoculated with IC 3087 and IC 3506 were less affected in growth by salinity levels of 6 and 8 dS m^-1 than plants inoculated with the other strains. For IC 3506, IC 3484, and IC 3195, there was a decrease in the number of nodules with increasing salinity, while the average nodule dry weight and the specific nitrogenase activity remained unaffected. However, in IC 3087, the number of nodules increased slightly with increasing salinity. Leaf-P concentrations increased with salinity in the inoculated plants irrespective of the Rhizobium sp. strain, and leaf-N concentrations decreased with increasing salinity in IC 3484 and IC 3195 only. Shoot-Na and-Cl levels were further increased in these salt-sensitive strains only at 8 dS m^-1. Therefore there may be scope for selecting pigeonpea Rhizobium sp. symbioses better adapted to saline conditions. The Rhizobium sp. strains best able to form effective symbioses at high salinity levels are not necessarily derived from saline soils.Submitted as JA No. 919 by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)     

Enzymatic determination of free glutamic acid in dried soups and in minced sausages: NMKL collaborative study.

An enzymatic method for the determination of free glutamic acid in meat products and dried soups was collaboratively studied in 11 laboratories. In the presence of the enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase, L-glutamic acid is oxidatively deaminated by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) to 2-oxoglutarate. In a reaction catalyzed by diaphorase, the NADH thus formed converts 2-(p-iodophenyl)-3-(p-nitrophenyl)-5-phenyltetrazolium chloride to a formazan, which is measured in the visible range at 492 nm. Fourteen samples (7 samples of minced sausage and 7 samples of dried cauliflower soup) with glutamate contents varying between 0.4 and 16 g/kg were included in the study. Materials were distributed to participants as blind duplicates and as split level pairs. The mean relative standard deviation (RSDR) for reproducibility for the dried soup material containing glutamate between 7 and 16 g/kg was 4.6%. RSDR values for samples of minced sausage containing glutamate at lower levels (0.4-1.3 g/kg) were between 12 and 16%.     

Determination of benzene in polypropylene food-packaging materials and food-contact paraffin waxes

An analytical procedure was developed for determination of benzene in polypropylene food packaging and was adapted for determination of benzene in commercial paraffin waxes intended for food-contact use. The polymer was dissolved in hexadecane at 150 degrees C. The wax was melted in an 80 degrees C oven. A simple helium-sparging apparatus was used to remove the volatile chemical from the polymer or wax. The contaminant was collected in methanol, distilled water was added, and the resulting solution was analyzed by headspace gas chromatography. The instrument was equipped with a 30 m fused silica open tubular capillary column and a photoionization detector. Average recoveries of benzene from polymer and paraffin wax at low parts-per-billion concentrations were 63 and 70%, respectively. Limits of detection and quantitation for analysis of polypropylene were 8 and 17 ppb, respectively; the limit of quantitation for analysis of paraffin wax was 2 ppb. In several commercial polypropylene products examined, benzene levels ranged from none detected to 426 ppb. In 3 commercial waxes examined, concentrations of 16-73 ppb benzene were determined. The presence of benzene was confirmed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.     

Comparison of microwave digestion with conventional wet ashing and dry ashing digestion for analysis of lead, cadmium, chromium, copper, and zinc in shellfish by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy

A closed vessel microwave digestion procedure was developed for shellfish samples. This procedure was compared with wet and dry ash procedures for levels of lead, cadmium, chromium, copper, and zinc. Results obtained for microwave and conventional wet ash digestion were comparable. The dry ashing procedure produced results consistently lower than either of the other methods. Recoveries ranged from 80-92% for microwave and wet ashing procedures and 54-72% for the dry ashing procedure. Accuracy was also determined by analyzing lobster hepatopancreas marine reference material. Values for Pb, Cd, and Cr fell within the range specified for the reference material for all 3 digestion procedures; however, values were lower for Cu and Zn. Results of this study show that microwave digestion is comparable to wet ashing.     

Methyl jasmonate reduces chilling injury and maintains postharvest quality of mango fruit

Exposure of mango (Mangifera indica cv. Tommy Atkins) fruit to methyl jasmonate (MJ) vapors (10(-)(4) M) for 24 h at 25 degrees C reduced chilling injury during subsequent storage for 21 days at 7 degrees C and after 5 days of shelf life at 20 degrees C. The chilling tolerance induced by MJ was positively correlated with the reduction in the percent ion leakage of mango tissue. The overall quality of MJ-treated fruit was also better than that of control fruit. MJ treatment increased the total soluble solids but did not affect titratable acidity or pH. MJ also did not change the normal climacteric rise in respiration, water loss, and softening rates. The efficacy of MJ to reduce chilling injury and decay of mango could be related to the tolerance induced at low temperature. It was concluded that MJ treatment may prevent chilling injury symptoms of mango without altering the ripening process.     

Properties of deamidated gluten films enzymatically cross-linked

Films were prepared at neutral pH from deamidated gluten by casting with or without enzymatic treatment by transglutaminase in the presence of various concentrations of diamines added to the film-forming solution. Variation in the glycerol/deamidated gluten ratio from 0.2 to 0.5 had a major effect on the film mechanical properties, which is characteristic of a plasticizing effect. A ratio of 0.35, producing a tensile strength of 1.14 +/- 0.12 MPa and an elongation at break of 376 +/- 62%, was chosen for most of the enzymatic modifications. The action of transglutaminase with or without the addition of external diamines induced a simultaneous increase in tensile strength and elongation at break of the films but tended to decrease the contact angle between the film surface and a water droplet. The presence of diamines in the film solution affected the elongation at break more than the tensile strength of the films. These diamines, able to react at their two extremities, probably acted as spacers between gluten proteins. The decrease in solubility was related to the formation of high molecular weight polymers in the film. The film properties were unaffected by the type of diamine added as secondary substrate in the transglutaminase reaction.     

Behavior of Brick Samples in Aggressive Environments

The weathering of different brick samples ina range of aggressive environments has been studied.Brick samples were prepared using two clay types (fromGranada, Spain), different additives, and a range offiring temperatures (850–1100 °C). The brickscompositional and textural characteristics wereevaluated using XRD, SEM, hydric tests and mercuryintrusion porosimetry (MIP). The samples weresubjected to accelerate aging, including wet-dry,freeze-thaw and salt crystallization cycles. The decayof the bricks in polluted atmospheres was simulated ina static chamber containing sulfur dioxide (SO₂)at 25 °C and 50% relative humidity. Samplesfired at 1000 °C proved to be the most durable,with better hydric behavior (fast drying and slowwater absorption) and fewer micropores. However, theywere not suitable for salt-rich environments (badperformance in the salt decay test). Samples fired at850 °C turned out to be more resistant to saltdecay, but they showed a poor hydric behavior (slowdrying and rapid water absorption) and littleresistance to freeze-thaw and wet-dry cycles. Samplesfired at 1100 °C had good hydric behavior, theyperformed well in the salt decay test, but they didnot perform as well as the samples fired at1000 °C in most accelerated aging tests. Gypsumformed on all the brick samples submitted to SO₂atmosphere regardless exposure time (e.g. gypsumappears following just 24 h of exposure),composition, or firing temperature. Samples withdeposited particulate matter collected from vehicleexhausts (diesel, as well as leaded and non-leadedgasoline motor cars) resulted in the fastest gypsumdevelopment and greater abundance. On the other hand,the blank samples, and the samples withpollution-derived dust collected from historicalbuildings showed little gypsum development. Theimplications of these results in historicalbrick-building preservation in a range of aggressiveenvironments, and in polluted atmospheres inparticular, are discussed.     

Distribution and Phytoavailability of Lead in a Soil Contaminated with Lead Shot

Water, Air, &; Soil Pollution - This paper presents a study of Pb contamination of soil at a clay target shooting facility in Canterbury, New Zealand. The spatial distribution of Pb...     

Oxidation-reduction regimes in some Oxisols of tropical China

The oxidation-reduction regimes of some Oxisols of tropical China were investigated on the basis of the Eh values and the amounts of reducing substances, both measured by newly devised methods. The Eh values in the surface layers of soil profiles under natural forest and commercial forest were 400–550 mV, lower by 100–200 mV than the deeper horizons. The concentrations of reducing substances in the surface layers corresponded to 0.5–5.0 · 10^?5M of Mn²⁺. In the cultivated layer of a submerged paddy soil the concentration of reducing substances was as high as 13·10^?5M, with an Eh value of less than 100 mV. There was a negative correlation between the Eh value and the logarithm of the concentration of reducing substances, showing that the intensity aspect and the capacity aspect of the oxidation-reduction status of a soil are closely interrelated.     

Theoretical effect of wheel loads on subsoil stresses

This study highlights the previously expressed concerns of soil researchers who have indicated that compaction pressures or stresses in the deeper layers of soil are determined by the amount of surface load. Modifications of Boussinesq theory by Froelich and further modification of Froelich's equations by Soehne were used to predict and develop graphical relationships for maximum allowable loads and/or mean surface contact pressures beneath loaded farm machinery tyres. Vertical compressive stresses at different subsoil depths were calculated and design loads for a currently used high flotation tyre were examined for comparative purposes. For highly compactible soils the results indicate that mean surface contact pressures should not exceed maximum allowable stresses in the subsoil for individual wheel loads which exceed approximately 30 kN. Thus, it appears that future designs based upon limited ground contact pressures are essential. This will require limitations on vehicle wheel loads and the use of more tyres and axles on heavy equipment.