Improvements in somatic embryogenesis protocol in Feijoa (Acca sellowiana (Berg) Burret): Induction,conversion and synthetic seeds

Pineapple guava (Acca sellowiana) syn. Feijoa sellowiana, a Brazilian indigenous Myrtaceae is under domestication in South Brazil. Previous works showed that this species is responsive to somatic embryogenesis and recalcitrant to conventional methods of clonal propagation. In the present work it was evaluated the role of components of culture medium in the induction and development of somatic embryos. The technology of synthetic seeds was also evaluated. Zygotic embryos were inoculated in LPm medium supplemented with 8 mM glutamic acid and 8 mM l-glutamine, 2,4-dichlophenoxiacetic acid (20 μM) and myo-inositol. For conversion of somatic embryos and synthetic seeds it was tested the effect of 6-benzylaminopurine and gibberellic acid combined or not with activated charcoal. The highest values for embryogenetic induction (100%) and number of somatic embryos/explant (113) were observed in the LPm medium supplemented with Glu (8 mM), and 2,4-D. The culture medium supplemented with BA (0.5 μM) and GA₃ (1 μM) and activated charcoal (1.5 g L⁻¹) enhanced the conversion of somatic embryos to plantlets. Pre-germinated somatic embryos encapsulated in sodium alginate with BA (0.5 μM) and GA₃ (1 μM) developed radicles. The use of synthetic seed was a requisite for the survival of plantlets.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> screening for sunflower (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Helianthus annuus</Emphasis>L.) resistant calli to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Diaporthe helianthi</Emphasis> fungal culture filtrate

Diaporthe helianthi the causal agent of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) stem canker, causes significant reductions in yield and oil content in most sunflower-growing areas. With the aim of enhancing host resistance, we selected in vitro sunflower calli against culture filtrates of two pathogen isolates (7/96 and 101/96). This technique may be an effective and rapid tool to discriminate the most virulent D. helianthi isolate and to screen for host resistance in the early stage of a breeding programme. Further investigation on the mechanisms involved in defence pathways showed no induction of salicylic acid and pathogenesis-related proteins in calli, indicating that the host resistance is not associated with Systemic Acquired Resistance but probably other biochemical mechanisms.     

Determination of free and bound phenolic compounds in buckwheat spaghetti by RP-HPLC-ESI-TOF-MS: effect of thermal processing from farm to fork

Nowadays there is considerable interest in the consumption of alternative crops as potential recipes for gluten-free products production. Therefore, the use of buckwheat for the production of gluten-free pasta has been investigated in the present study. RP-HPLC-ESI-TOF-MS has been applied for the separation and characterization of free and bound phenolic compounds in buckwheat flour and buckwheat spaghetti. Thus, 32 free and 24 bound phenolic compounds in buckwheat flour and spaghetti have been characterized and quantified. To the authors' knowledge, protochatechuic-4-O-glucoside acid and procyanidin A have been detected in buckwheat for the first time. The results have demonstrated a decrease of total free phenolic compounds from farm to fork (from flour to cooked spaghetti) of about 74.5%, with a range between 55.3 and 100%, for individual compounds. The decrease in bound phenols was 80.9%, with a range between 46.2 and 100%. The spaghetti-making process and the cooking caused losses of 46.1 and 49.4% of total phenolic compounds, respectively. Of the total phenolic compounds present in dried spaghetti, 11.6% were dissolved in water after cooking.     

Changes in the volatile composition of a semihard ewe milk cheese induced by high-pressure treatment of 300 MPa

The effect of high-pressure (HP) treatment (300 MPa, 10 min) on the volatile profile of semihard ewe milk cheeses was investigated. The HP treatment was applied at two different stages of ripening (1 and 15 days; 3P1 and 3P15) and microbiota, proteolysis indexes (soluble nitrogen and total free amino acid content), and volatile compounds were assayed at 15, 60, 90, and 150 days of ripening. The intensity of odor and aroma of cheeses was also assayed. 3P1 cheeses presented the highest content of free amino acids and were characterized by the lowest amounts of aldehydes, ketones, short-chain free fatty acids, and terpenes and higher levels of ethanol and ethyl esters. 3P15 cheeses were characterized by the highest content of short-chain free fatty acids and pyruvaldehyde and the lowest abundance of secondary alcohols and were more similar to control cheeses than those HP-treated on the first day. Intensities of odor and aroma were not significantly influenced by the HP treatment. However, the panellists found some differences in 3P1 as compared with control and 3P15 cheeses in what they perceived as lower odor and aroma quality.     

Implications of early selection for grain colour on iron and zinc content and productivity of common bean

Brazilian consumers prefer beans of the beige grain colour. Common beans help supply dietary requirements for iron and zinc. The objectives of this study were (i) to determine whether early selection for grain colour affects the iron and zinc content and the grain yield in common beans and (ii) if an association between these characteristics was found, to obtain lines of carioca‐type grains with a high iron and zinc content and good grain yield. We evaluated 96 F_3:4, F_3:5 and F_3:6 progeny at two locations for iron and zinc content and grain yield. We selected 48 progeny for grain colour and chose 48 others at random. We found that early selection for grain colour does not affect the zinc content and grain yield. A positive and high association was found between iron and zinc content, and both iron and zinc content were slightly negatively correlated with grain yield. It is possible to obtain common bean lines combining a high iron and zinc content with good grain yield as long as a selection index is used.     

Aerobic bacterial flora of the nasal cavity in Gulf of California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) pups

Nasal swab samples from clinically healthy California sea lions pups (Zalophus californianus) from six different reproductive rookeries in the Gulf of California were collected to determine the type and frequency of the representative aerobic bacterial microflora of their nasal mucosa. A total of 114 samples were examined and 100 bacterial isolates were identified and typified by microbiological and biochemical standard tests. Fifty four isolates corresponded to Gram positive bacteria (54%) and 46 isolates to Gram negative bacteria (46%). Fifteen bacterial genera were identified, including Micrococcus, Arcanobacterium, Corynebacterium, Moraxella, Neisseria, Escherichia, Kurthia, Acinetobacter, Staphylococcus, Brevibacillus, Bacillus, Klebsiella, Stenotrophomonas, Pseudomonas and Aeromonas. The most frequently isolated genera were Moraxella (24%), Micrococcus (18%), and Corynebacterium (15%). These results show the presence in the nasal cavity of sea lions of several microorganisms. Although considered part of the normal microflora, they may also be opportunistic pathogens for their hosts and may act as a potential natural sentinel of environmental changes.     

Supercritical fluid extraction of pesticides from a table-ready food composite of plant origin (gazpacho)

Supercritical fluid carbon dioxide extraction (SFE) has been evaluated for the extraction of 17 organohalogen and organophosphate pesticides in gazpacho (a table-ready food composite containing crude vegetables, white bread, vegetable oil, water, and other minor components) using anhydrous magnesium sulfate as drying agent. The effects of different parameters, such as fat content in gazpacho composites, magnesium sulfate/gazpacho ratio, supercritical fluid volume, pressure, temperature, and static modifier additions, on SFE recoveries from spiked gazpacho samples have been studied. Analyses were performed by gas chromatography (GC) with flame photometric (FPD), electron capture (ECD), and mass spectrometry (MSD) detectors. In most experiments, recoveries obtained for the nonpolar organohalogen pesticides were lower than those obtained for the most polar organophosphate pesticides, but overall pesticide recoveries determined by using the optimal SFE conditions indicate that SFE could be used to determine pesticide residue levels in gazpacho.     

Unravelling the relationships among Verticillium wilt,irrigation, and susceptible and tolerant olive cultivars

Survival, germination, olive colonization, and water-use efficiency (WUE) impairments by Verticillium dahliae could be influenced by cultivar susceptibility or irrigation, and this could modify the irrigation–pathogen–disease relationship. In this study, the combined effects of irrigation and cultivar susceptibility on Verticillium wilt (VW) development were modelled by the temporary assessment of V. dahliae propagules (total inoculum density, density of micropropagules, and sclerotia in wet and air-dried soil; ID, MpD, S_wD, and S_dD, respectively), root (RCI) and shoot (SCI) colonization indexes, and WUE. The relationship of disease severity to the measured parameters was then explored. Under controlled conditions, plants of cultivars ‘Picual’ and ‘Frantoio’ were irrigated to a high and low rate by varying drip-irrigation frequencies: daily, twice weekly, and a combination of daily for 11 days and then twice weekly. Disease severity and colonization parameters were higher in ‘Picual’, while WUE was higher in ‘Frantoio’. However, high rate and twice weekly and combination treatments significantly increased disease incidence and reduced time-to-symptoms-onset only in ‘Picual’, while high rate reduced WUE and increased relative ID, MpD, and S_wD in both cultivars. Irrigation did not affect SCI, but a higher RCI was found at high rate during the development of symptoms in ‘Picual’. By using classification trees to examine parameters—disease severity relationships, it was possible to determine the degree to which VW was affected by irrigation and/or cultivar susceptibility. MpD was the best indicator for VW detection at any time, WUE was best before symptoms developed, and RCI, total ID, and S_dD after symptoms developed.     

Effects of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (ω-3) Supplementation on Some Cardiovascular Risk Factors with a Ketogenic Mediterranean Diet

Background: the ketogenic diet (KD) has become a widely used nutritional approach for weight loss. Some of the KD’s positive effects on metabolism and cardiovascular risk factors are similar to those seen after n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3) supplementation. We hypothesized that a ketogenic Mediterranean diet with phytoextracts combined with ω-3 supplementation may have increased positive effects on cardiovascular risk factors and inflammation. Methods: We analyzed 34 male overweight subjects; aged between 25 and 65 years who were overall healthy apart from overweight. The subjects followed a ketogenic diet protocol for four weeks; with (KDO3) or without (KD) ω-3 supplementation. Results: All subjects experienced a significant loss of body weight and body fat and there was no significant differences between treatment (body weight: KD—4.7 kg, KDO3—4.03 kg, body fat KD—5.41 kg, KDO3—5.86 kg). There were also significant decreases in total cholesterol, LDL-c, and glucose levels. Triglycerides and insulin levels decreased more in KDO3 vs. KD subjects, with a significant difference. All the investigated inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) decreased significantly in KDO3 subjects whilst only TNF-α showed a significant decrease in KD subjects over the 12 month study period. No significant changes were observed in anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10 and IL-1Ra), creatinine, urea and uric acid. Adiponectin increased significantly only in the KDO3 group. Conclusions: ω-3 supplementation improved the positive effects of a ketogenic Mediterranean diet with phytoextracts on some cardiovascular/metabolic risk factors and inflammatory state.