Effect of aqueous and lipophilic mullet (Mugil cephalus) Bottarga extracts on the growth and lipid profile of intestinal Caco-2 cells

The importance of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) intake has long been recognized in human nutrition. Although health benefits, n-3 PUFA are subject to rapid and/or extensive oxidation during processing and storage, resulting in potential alteration in nutritional composition and quality of food. Bottarga, a salted and semi-dried mullet ( Mugil cephalus ) ovary product, is proposed as an important source of n-3 PUFA, having high levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). In this work, we investigated the extent of lipid oxidation of grated bottarga samples during 7 months of storage at -20 °C and room temperature under light exposure. Cell viability, lipid composition, and lipid peroxidation were measured in intestinal differentiated Caco-2 cell monolayers after 6-48 h of incubation with lipid and hydrophilic extracts obtained from bottarga samples at different storage conditions. The storage of bottarga did not affect the n-3 PUFA level, but differences were observed in hydroperoxide levels in samples from different storage conditions. All tested bottarga extracts did not show a toxic effect on cell viability of differentiated Caco-2 cells. Epithelial cells incubated with bottarga oil had significant changes in fatty acid composition but not in cholesterol levels with an accumulation of EPA, DHA, and 22:5. Cell hydroperoxides were higher in treated cells, in relation to the oxidative status of bottarga oil. Moreover, the bottarga lipid extract showed an in vitro inhibitory effect on the growth of a colon cancer cell line (undifferentiated Caco-2 cells).     

Comparing photosynthetic and photovoltaic efficiencies and recognizing the potential for improvement

Comparing photosynthetic and photovoltaic efficiencies is not a simple issue. Although both processes harvest the energy in sunlight, they operate in distinctly different ways and produce different types of products: biomass or chemical fuels in the case of natural photosynthesis and nonstored electrical current in the case of photovoltaics. In order to find common ground for evaluating energy-conversion efficiency, we compare natural photosynthesis with present technologies for photovoltaic-driven electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen. Photovoltaic-driven electrolysis is the more efficient process when measured on an annual basis, yet short-term yields for photosynthetic conversion under optimal conditions come within a factor of 2 or 3 of the photovoltaic benchmark. We consider opportunities in which the frontiers of synthetic biology might be used to enhance natural photosynthesis for improved solar energy conversion efficiency.     

Genetic variation in cassava for postharvest physiological deterioration

Cassava storage roots start deteriorating 1 to 3 days after harvest due to postharvest physiological deterioration (PPD) which reduces the potential of cassava as a commercial crop. The objective of this study was to examine the extent of genetic variability in cassava for PPD. Genetic variability is important in selecting suitable genotypes for crop improvement. Twelve cassava genotypes were evaluated in a randomized complete block design at three different locations in Uganda for five different harvest times, and PPD assessment was done 7 days after each harvest time. Genotype, location, harvest time, genotype × harvest time and harvest time × location were highly significantly different for PPD. Estimates of phenotypic, genotypic and environmental variance components revealed that a large portion of the phenotypic variance was accounted for by the genotypic component which is an indication of substantial genetic variability among the test genotypes for PPD. This genetic variability is important in a breeding programme because it indicates that significant genetic gain through phenotypic selection is possible for PPD. The results give guidance to breeding efforts for improved shelf life of cassava storage roots.     

Genetic analysis for resistance to bean fly (Ophiomyia phaseoli) and seed yield among common bean genotypes in a semi-arid environment

Bean fly (Ophiomyia spp.) is a major field pest limiting common bean production in eastern Africa. The genetic enhancement of beans for resistance to insect pests is essential for minimizing yield losses arising from crop damage. The objectives of this study were to (1) assess combining ability for bean fly resistance and seed yield accumulation in common bean and (2) estimate genetic parameters associated with resistance for formulating further breeding strategy. Four parents with known reaction to bean fly were crossed with four locally adapted genotypes in an 8 × 8 half diallel mating design. Parents and F₂ progenies were grown in an alpha-lattice design replicated twice in an open-field and subjected to natural populations of bean fly for two cropping seasons under semi-arid conditions. Similarly, two resistant and two susceptible parents were selected and crossed to produce populations for generation means and variances components analysis. Results revealed that both general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) mean squares were significant (p ≤ 0.05) for all four traits studied except SCA for stem damage during one cropping season. Among the parents, GBK 047858 was the best general combiner for all the traits studied across seasons except for stem damage during long rains (LR) 2009. Besides, genotypes GBK 047821 and Kat × 69 (a locally adapted variety) were generally good general combiners for resistance traits as well as seed yield. General predictability ratio (GPR) values ranging from 0.63 to 0.90 were obtained for plant mortality, stem damage, pupae in stem and seed yield across cropping seasons. These results established the predominance of additive gene effects (fixable variation) over the non-additive effects in controlling the traits. Low to moderate narrow sense heritability values ranging from 0.22 to 0.45 were obtained for pupae in stem. Such heritability estimates indicate that although additive gene components were critical in the inheritance of resistance for the trait, non-additive gene action were also important in addition to the environmental effects.     

The Effect of Prior Frozen Storage (−20°C) on the Quality of Oven-Baked Sardines (Sardina pilchardus)

ABSTRACT

The effect of frozen storage for 3, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days on the quality of sardines baked for 15, 30, and 45 min was studied. The combination of frozen storage with the baking time in linear reduction of yield and moisture led to less juicy products, as well as significant changes in proteins and lipids. A linear increase of C16:0 followed by a linear reduction of C22:6ω-3 was detected due to frozen storage, indicating lipid oxidation. This was also confirmed by the C22:6ω-3/C16:0 and C20:5ω-3/ C16:0 ratios, which were reduced by 36.8 and 32.7%, respectively. The fatty acid profiles of sardine samples were not significantly altered due to oven-baking. A gradual reduction of eicosapentaenoic acid + docosahexaenoic acid (EPA + DHA) of the baked products was observed mainly due to frozen storage. Cholesterol and squalene content increased with increasing the time of baking. A gradual decrease of cholesterol and squalene was observed due to frozen storage.     

Reflectance Spectroscopy (Vis-NIR) for Assessing Soil Heavy Metals Concentrations Determined by two Different Analytical Protocols,Based on ISO 11466 and ISO 14869-1

This study aimed to investigate the potency of soil reflectance spectroscopy in the visible and near infrared (Vis-NIR) spectral regions in estimating soil heavy metal pollution in the western coastal front of Thessaloniki (N. Greece) and how the protocol used for chemical analyses can affect the models’ performance. For this purpose, 49 topsoil samples were collected and the concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, and Pb were determined by two different analytical methods, i.e., ISO 11466 based on the technique of atomic absorbance spectrometry (AAS) and ISO 14869-1 using the technique of inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The spectral signatures were applied for modeling the metal concentrations by using the partial least squares regression (PLSR) method. To eliminate the “noise” of data and enhance the models’ accuracy, four spectral pre-treatment methods were used. The overall results showed that there is heavy metal pollution in the soils of specific areas in the studied region and that the use of different chemical analytical methods can affect the performance of examined prediction models. Better prediction models were created for the cases of Pb, Cu, and Cr concentrations, which were estimated by the application of ISO 14869-1, while for the case of Cd better prediction models were obtained, by the application of ISO 11466. These results may indicate that soil reflectance spectroscopy can measure the total heavy metal content in soil samples.     

Biological and molecular characterization of field isolates of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alternaria alternata</Emphasis> with single or double resistance to respiratory complex II and III inhibitors

Field isolates of Alternaria alternata collected from tomato processors were characterized for sensitivity to respiration inhibitors using in vitro mycelial growth assays. Pyraclostrobin (QoI), boscalid, fluopyram and isopyrazam (SDHIs) mean EC₅₀ values were 0.32, 1.43, 2.21, and 3.53 μg/ml respectively. Of the 42 isolates, 36 were sensitive to all respiration inhibiting fungicides tested whereas three isolates were less sensitive to boscalid, one to pyraclostrobin and two were simultaneously resistant to both inhibitors and isopyrazam. Correlation analysis between fungicide sensitivities revealed a positive cross-resistance between pyraclostrobin and tebuconazole, and between cyprodinil and mancozeb. There was no cross-resistance between QoIs, SHDIs or any other mode of action. Sequencing of the QoI and SDHI targets revealed the G143A cytochrome b resistance mutation in all pyraclostrobin-resistant isolates while analysis of the succinate dehydrogenase coding gene revealed point mutations in two of three of the gene subunits analyzed in boscalid-resistant isolates. Specifically, two isolates carried the H277Y and three the H133Q resistance mutations located in the sdhB and sdhD subunits of the respiration complex II, respectively. Isolates bearing the H277Y mutation also carried the G143A cytochrome b resistance mutation. Boscalid and pyraclostrobin-resistant isolates exhibited greater pathogenicity and sporulation compared to sensitive isolates, respectively. Isolates with cross-resistance exhibited greater pathogenicity and sporulation but slower mycelial growth compared to sensitive isolates. This is the first report of field isolates of A. alternata with single or double resistance to QoIs and SDHIs in Greece and should be considered in planning and implementing effective anti-resistance strategies.     

Study of stayability in Nellore cows using a threshold model

The objectives of the current study were to assess the feasibility of using stayability traits to improve fertility of Nellore cows and to examine the genetic relationship among the stayabilities at different ages. Stayability was defined as whether a cow calved every year up to the age of 5 (Stay5), 6 (Stay6), or 7 (Stay7) yr of age or more, given that she was provided the opportunity to breed. Data were analyzed based on a maximum a posteriori probit threshold model to predict breeding values on the liability scale, whereas the Gibbs sampler was used to estimate variance components. The EBV were obtained using all animals included in the pedigree or bulls with at least 10 daughters with stayability observations, and average genetic trends were obtained in the liability and transformed to the probability scale. Additional analyses were performed to study the genetic relationship among stayability traits, which were compared by contrasting results in terms of EBV and the average genetic superiority as a function of the selected proportion of sires. Heritability estimates and SD were 0.25 +/- 0.02, 0.22 +/- 0.03, and 0.28 +/- 0.03 for Stay5, Stay6, and Stay7, respectively. Average genetic trends, by year, were 0.51, 0.34, and 0.38% for Stay5, Stay6, and Stay7, respectively. Estimates of EBV SD, in the probability scale, for all animals included in the pedigree and for bulls with at least 10 daughters with stayability observations were 7.98 and 12.95, 6.93 and 11.38, and 8.24 and 14.30% for Stay5, Stay6, and Stay7, respectively. A reduction in the average genetic superiorities in Stay7 would be expected if the selection were based on Stay5 or Stay6. Nonetheless, the reduction in EPD, depending on selection intensity, is on average 0.74 and 1.55%, respectively. Regressions of the sires' EBV for Stay5 and Stay6 on the sires' EBV for Stay7 confirmed these results. The heritability and genetic trend estimates for all stayability traits indicate that it is possible to improve fertility with selection based on a threshold analysis of stayability. The SD of EBV for stayability traits show that there is adequate genetic variability among animals to justify inclusion of stayability as a selection criterion. The potential linear relationship among stayability traits indicates that selection for improved female traits would be more effective by having predictions on the Stay5 trait.     

THE 4C APPROACH AS A WAY TO UNDERSTAND SPECIES INTERACTIONS DETERMINING INTERCROPPING PRODUCTIVITY

● The 4C approach considers intercropping performances as the result of joint 4C effects. ● Partial land equivalent ratios indicate which effect(s) are the major one(s). ● A major effect of complementarity is related to a better capture of abiotic resources. Modern agriculture needs to develop transition pathways toward agroecological, resilient and sustainable farming systems. One key pathway for such agroecological intensification is the diversification of cropping systems using intercropping and notably cereal-grain legume mixtures. Such mixtures or intercrops have the potential to increase and stabilize yields and improve cereal grain protein concentration in comparison to sole crops. Species mixtures are complex and the 4C approach is both a pedagogical and scientific way to represent the combination of four joint effects of Competition, Complementarity, Cooperation, and Compensation as processes or effects occurring simultaneously and dynamically between species over the whole cropping cycle. Competition is when plants have fairly similar requirements for abiotic resources in space and time, the result of all processes that occur when one species has a greater ability to use limiting resources (e.g., nutrients, water, space, light) than others. Complementarity is when plants grown together have different requirements for abiotic resources in space, time or form. Cooperation is when the modification of the environment by one species is beneficial to the other(s). Compensation is when the failure of one species is compensated by the other(s) because they differ in their sensitivity to abiotic stress. The 4C approach allows to assess the performance of arable intercropping versus classical sole cropping through understanding the use of abiotic resources.     

Genetic diversity analysis of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes for resistance to Mexican bean weevil (Zabrotes subfasciatus), using single nucleotide polymorphism and phenotypic markers

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to examine the genetic diversity present among 297 common bean genotypes using 2554 SNPs and 12 insects and seed-related traits. The phenotyping was done under laboratory condition while the genotyping was conducted by using the Illumina SNP BeadChip. High phenotypic diversity among traits were recorded, ranging from 0.87 to 0.96, with a mean of 0.92. Principal component and discriminant analyses identi?ed four PCs and three discriminant functions, which explained 82% and 100% of the total phenotypic variations among genotypes, respectively. Polymorphic Information Content ranged from 0.21 to 0.38, with a mean of 0.34. The mean gene diversity among genotypes ranged from 0.24 to 0.50, with a mean of 0.44. Genetic distance ranged from 0.19 to 0.82, with a mean of 0.62, while the phenotypic distance ranged from 0.00 to 1.00, with a mean of 0.64 were observed aamong genotypes. The analysis of molecular variance revealed highly signi?cant differences (p<0.001) among and within individuals and among populations. Both the SNP and the phenotypic markers grouped the 297 genotypes into two major distinct clusters and three sub-clusters. This information is useful for identi?cation and development of common bean germplasm with economically valuable traits and the conservation and utilization of genotypes.