Partial characterisation of a novel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tobamovirus</Emphasis> infecting <Emphasis Type="Italic">Actinidia chinensis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">A. deliciosa</Emphasis> (Actinidiaceae) from China

Actinidia chinensis and A. deliciosa plants from China, showing a range of symptoms, including vein clearing, interveinal mottling, mosaics and chlorotic ring spots, were found to contain ~300 nm rod-shaped virus particles. The virus was mechanically transmitted to several herbaceous indicators causing systemic infections in Nicotiana benthamiana, N. clevelandii, and N. occidentalis, and local lesions in Chenopodium quinoa. Systemically- infected leaves reacted with a Tobacco mosaic virus polyclonal antibody in indirect ELISA. PCR using generic and specific Tobamovirus primers produced a 1,526 bp sequence spanning the coat protein (CP), movement protein (MP), and partial RNA replicase genes which showed a maximum nucleotide identity (88%) with Turnip vein clearing virus and Penstemon ringspot virus. However, when the CP sequence alone was considered the highest CP sequence identity (96% nt and 98% aa) was to Ribgrass mosaic virus strain Kons 1105. The morphological, transmission, serological and molecular properties indicate that the virus is a member of subgroup 3 of the genus Tobamovirus.     

Utilization of expeller pressed partially defatted peanut cake meal in the preparation of bakery products

Expeller pressed partially defatted peanut cake obtained from skin-free kernels was used as graded supplements in the preparation of breads, sweet buns, cupcakes and yeast-raised doughnuts. Incorporation of cake meal lowered the specific volume and sensory properties, but improved the fresh weight, water holding capacity and protein content of the products. The products containing 10% peanut cake meal were found to be acceptable.     

Effects of Varying Concentrations of l-carnitine-incorporated Diets on Growth and Body Composition of Fry of Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton, 1822)

Experiment was conducted to ascertain the effect of l ‐carnitine on growth and body composition of Cirrhinus mrigala fry (0.342 ± 0.03 g) using five different concentrations (0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1, and 0%) of l ‐carnitine‐incorporated diets for 120 d. At the end of trial, weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, and protein efficiency of fishes fed with 0.25% l ‐carnitine diet were observed to be significantly higher. Poor growth was recorded in the fry fed diet with no carnitine, while intermediate growth was observed when fed with 0.50, 0.75, and 1% l ‐carnitine‐incorporated diets. The analysis of body composition of C. mrigala fry indicated that there is no significant difference (P > 0.05) in moisture, protein, and ash contents, but significant difference (P < 0.05) was found in body lipid content of fry, fed with different concentrations of l ‐carnitine. Decrease in viscerosomatic and hepatosomatic indices were observed in fishes fed with l ‐carnitine‐incorporated diets. Results of this study indicated that diet containing 0.25% l ‐carnitine can promote higher growth in C. mrigala fry.     

Biotreatment of Melanoidin-Containing Distillery Spent Wash Effluent by Free and Immobilized Aspergillus oryzae MTCC 7691

Humic acids (HA) are known as the precursors of carcinogenic compounds formed by the disinfection of drinking water. While conventional treatments were found to be inefficient HA removal processes in drinking water, advanced oxidation processes have been proven to have a significant effect in the treatment of HA. The degradation of HA was investigated using nano-sized zinc oxide (ZnO)/laponite composite (NZLC). The reactions occurred in a UVC reactor by considering following variables: pH, initial HA concentration, catalyst loading, addition of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and catalyst reuse. Water samples containing HA were analysed by ultraviolet/visible spectrophotometer and high-performance size-exclusion chromatography. Initial HA concentrations were tested by the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model with k and K _ads values, determined to be 0.126 mg/L.min and 0.0257 L/mg, respectively. The change in pH affected the HA degradation efficiency by the photocatalytic activity where it was higher under acidic conditions rather than alkaline ones. Optimal catalyst loading was proved to be a constrained factor in influencing the photocatalytic efficiency: the increase of catalyst concentration enhanced the HA decomposition efficiency up to an optimum value of 20 g/L, where there was no further degradation with excess loading. The addition of H₂O₂ was investigated through homogenous and heterogeneous photocatalysis, and, heterogeneous photocatalysis showed higher removal efficiency due to the combined effect of both catalysts and H₂O₂. Finally, NZLC was effective for reuse and exhibited an excellent stability after six times of usage.     

Dry matter accumulation and nutrient uptake patterns of onion seed crop

Abstract

Dry matter accumulation and nutrient uptake patterns of crops must be determined to optimize fertilizer scheduling. This study assesses the dry matter accumulation and nutrient uptake patterns of onion seed crop. Plant samples were collected between 0 and 120?days after planting, and their nutrient content was analyzed to determine the dry matter accumulation and nutrient uptake patterns. The quantity and period of nutrient uptake and the mobility of nutrients within the plant parts varied for different nutrients. The absorption of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) was the highest during vegetative stage, whereas phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S) uptake was the highest during flower initiation stage. N, P, K, and S, which had accumulated in the vegetative parts, moved from the senesced vegetative parts to the inflorescence during the reproductive stages owing to their high mobility in the phloem. The onion plants continued to absorb zinc, copper, manganese, and iron throughout their growth owing to the immobility of these elements in plant system. The result of this study may facilitate efficient scheduling of fertilizer application to increase nutrient uptake and yield.     

Nutritional quality of proteins in grain sorghum

Grain sorghum is low in protein content Lysine, threonine and tryptophan are the limiting amino acids in the proteins of grain Sorghum. Protein fractionation studies have shown that prolamine and glutelin are the principal protein fractions. Increase in protein content of grain Sorghum leads to an increase in prolamin fraction and decreases the nutritional quality. Environmental factors such as location, chemical fertilizers, plant population and chemical treatments influence the protein content and amino acid pattern. The presence of tannins in grain Sorghum reduces the digestibility and nutritional quality.

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Zusammenfassung Die Caryopsen von Sorghum-Hirse haben einen geringen Eiweißgehalt. Lysin, Threonin und Tryptophan sind die limitierenden Aminosäuren ihres Eiweißes. Untersuchungen über die Eiweiß-Frankrionierung haben ergeben, daß Prolamin und Glutelin die Haupt-Eiweißfranktionen sind. Erhöhung des Eiweißgehaltes von Sorghum-Korn führt zur Erhöhung der Prolamin-Fraktion und damit zum Abfall der Biologischen Eiweißwertigkeit. Umweltfaktoren, wie Standort, chemische Dünger, Pflanzendichte und chemische Pflanzen-Behandlung beeinflussen den Eiweißgehalt und die Art des Aminosäuremusters. Anwesenheit von Tanninen (Gerbstoffen), im Sorghum-Korn reduzieren seine Verdaulichkeit und die Biologische Eiweißwertigkeit.

     

Behavior of Pilot-Scale Constructed Wetlands in Removing Nutrients and Sediments Under Varying Environmental Conditions

Water resources are threatened globally and declining water quality is primarily due to stormwater, agricultural, urban, and mining runoffs. Steamboat Creek in Nevada is the largest non point source (NPS) of pollution to the Truckee River. Treatment wetlands are a cost-effective and reliable technique to control NPS pollution, therefore, a large-scale wetland along Steamboat Creek has been proposed as a component of a regional watershed restoration plan. This study used ten parallel pilot-scale wetland mesocosms, and tested the effects of drying and rewetting, hydraulic retention time (HRT), and high nitrogen loading on the efficiency of nutrient and total suspended solids (TSS) removal. Drying and rewetting produced noticeable effects on nutrient retention, but the effect was short-lived. During longer HRT period nutrient removal in manipulated mesocosms with an 8 h HRT were higher than controls with a 4 h HRT. Reducing the HRT from 4 h to 30 min further decreased nutrient interception. During increased influent nitrogen loading (9.5?±?2.4 mg l^?1), manipulated mesocosms functioned as sinks for total nitrogen (TN) with removal efficiency increasing from 45?±?13% to 87?±?9%. The average change in TN concentration was 9.1?±?2.2 mg l^?1. Drying/rewetting and varying HRT influenced total phosphorus (TP) and TSS similarly, and TP removal was associated with TSS removal. Results can help make decisions regarding wetland construction, management, and operation more effective in order to reduce nutrient loads to the Truckee River.