Biomass,proximate biochemical composition and fatty acid profiles associated with the growth phase of Chlorella salina Butcher and Isochrysis maritima Billard and Gayral isolated from the coastal waters of Penang,Malaysia

Choosing the right algae with the relevant properties and optimal harvest time for specific culture conditions and products is essential. As such, biomass, biochemical composition and fatty acid (FA) profile at different growth stages of locally isolated strains, suitable for aquaculture, Chlorella salina and Isochrysis maritima, were determined. Biomass and moisture content of both species were affected by the growth phase. A particular accumulation trend of proximate biochemical compounds was observed in these two strains. Protein content decreased whereby, as culture aged, more carbohydrate and lipid accumulated in C. salina and I. maritima, respectively. Variations in FA profile were exhibited in C. salina where PUFA was the highest, followed by SFA and MUFA throughout the growth phases. I. maritima had the highest SFA content, followed by PUFA and MUFA during the exponential phase. The essential PUFAs in C. salina were linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA) with a low occurrence of γ-linolenic acid (GLA; 0.49–0.78%) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 0.21–0.45%). I. maritima recorded relatively high ALA (4.73–6.71%), GLA (5.05–7.80%) and DHA (5.15–7.02%) with minor presence of arachidonic acid (ARA; 0.45–0.59%) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 0.43–0.58%). Both C. salina and I. maritima are suitable for aquaculture feeds, but I. maritima was more superior by having EPA and higher DHA in their cells. Harvesting regime at a specific phase must be taken into account to achieve maximum yields of a target compound; thus, for feeding purpose, harvesting both strains at stationary phase is recommended as better PUFA compositions were obtained.

     

Evaluation of Plasticizing and Antioxidant Properties of Silver Carp Protein Hydrolysates in Fish Gelatin Film

Physico-mechanical and antioxidant properties of glycerol plasticized fish gelatin films were investigated at different levels of fish protein hydrolysates (FPH) from silver carp muscle (5, 10, 15, and 20 g FPH/100 g gelatin). The films supplemented with FPH, especially at higher concentration showed significant increase in 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2, 20-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfnic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), elongation at break, difference of color, water vapor permeability and opacity, while tensile strength, elastic modulus, L*, b*, and contact angle decreased markedly (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed for a* and solubility of all samples (p > 0.05). Films prepared using 20% FPH had lower glass transition temperature and more homogeneous structure, compared with control film. Also, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the increase of free groups of hydrolysates and lower interaction between chains of film incorporated with the highest content of FPH. Thus, these results indicate that FPH enhanced the antioxidant activities and affected some characteristics due to less interaction between gelatin and FPH.     

Identification of genomic regions associated with resistance to blackleg (Leptosphaeria maculans) in canola using genome wide association study

Black rot of crucifers is one of the most important diseases of wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia L. (D.C.)) caused by the seedborne pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris. From 2005, it frequently affected this cultivation in the south of Italy, leading to heavy crop losses. In the present work, we aimed to describe the physiological and molecular characteristics of twenty X. campestris pv. campestris strains isolated from plants and seeds. Ten Xanthomonas spp. strains contaminating seeds were identified on the basis of molecular characterization and in vivo pathogenicity on a discriminating host range. Some of seed-borne isolates were ascribed to the species Xanthomonas campestris pv. raphani and X. campestris pv. incanae, indicating the occurrence of non-host pathogenic Xanthomonas on wild rocket seeds. As well as the presence of pathogenic bacteria, even non-pathogenic Xanthomonas spp. strains were detected on the seeds, underlying the importance of identifying them to evaluate the suitability of lots intended for sowing. A phylogeny using 69 Gyrase B (gyrB) sequences retrieved from the literature, was also carried out, highlighting species relatedness. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive framework for Xanthomonas species affecting wild rocket in Southern Italy.

     

Removal of Arsenic, Boron, and Selenium from Excavated Rocks by Consecutive Washing

This paper describes the leaching behavior and release mechanisms of arsenic (As), boron (B), and selenium (Se) from excavated rocks using sequential extraction for solid-phase fractionation, batch experiments with pH variation, and consecutive batch experiments with changes in the solid?Cliquid mixing ratios. Arsenic in the excavated rock was mostly found with the sulfides/organic matter fraction while majority of the leachable B and Se were associated with the exchangeable phases. The leaching of As was strongly pH dependent, Se was pH dependent only around the acidic region, and B was pH independent. Consecutive washing technique with deionized water effectively lowered the B and Se concentrations in the leachate below the drinking water standards of Japan, but was inefficient in the removal of As. Arsenic exhibited non-conservative leaching behavior and its movement was affected by processes like dissolution, precipitation, and pyrite oxidation. In contrast, B and Se behaved more conservatively, resulting in their easy removal from the excavated rock by simple washing and dilution.     

Newly synthesized palm esters for cosmetics industry

Palm esters were synthesized through enzymatic transesterification of various palm oil fractions with oleyl alcohol using Lipozyme RM IM as the catalyst. At the optimized alcoholysis reaction condition, after 5 h reaction time all palm oil fractions exhibited a high percentage yields of esters (>80%). Simultaneous differential scanning calorimeter-thermal gravity analysis showed a high thermal stability profile of palm esters. Other physicochemical properties of palm esters such as refractive index, density, surface tension, slip melting point, saponification value, iodine value and acid value were analyzed following standard test methods modified from the American Oil Chemists’ Society standards. The dermal irritation assay of palm oil esters shows the non-irritancy of the esters with a Human Irritancy Equivalent (HIE) score below 0.9. Furthermore, an increase in skin hydration of 40.7% after 90 min after application in an acute moisturizing test, has proven the suitably of palm oil esters to be used in the cosmetics formulation.