Generation of roasted notes based on 2-acetyl-2-thiazoline and its precursor, 2-(1-hydroxyethyl)-4,5-dihydrothiazole, by combined bio and thermal approaches

Roasted notes contribute to the flavor of thermally processed foods such as meat and bread. 2-Acetyl-2-thiazoline is one of the key volatile compounds responsible for the roasted and popcorn-like aroma character. We report here on the biogeneration of flavoring preparations with intense roasted notes, which are characterized by a high content of 2-acetyl-2-thiazoline. These flavoring preparations were obtained by fermentation of cysteamine, ethyl-L-lactate, and D-glucose with baker's yeast. The precursor of 2-acetyl-2-thiazoline, 2-(1-hydroxyethyl)-4,5-dihydrothiazole, was prepared under mild conditions by microbial reduction of the carbonyl group of 2-acetyl-2-thiazoline using baker's yeast as biocatalyst. The addition of 2-(1-hydroxyethyl)-4,5-dihydrothiazole as aroma precursor to pizza dough resulted in an increase of the roasted note.     

Phosphatbindungsformen auf einem Bergehaldenrekultivierungsversuch

Phosphorous species in a field reclaimation experiment of a coal mining dump In the autumn of 1990 soil samples from 15 different plots of a field experiment cultivation area on a former coal mining waste heap were taken to characterize phosphorous species. In the upper 10 cm of the colliery spoil soil up to 30 % of total phosphorous is bound in the soil organic matter. The phosphate fixed in Ca phosphates is in nearly all cases below 1 % of total P. Up to 63 % of total P are accumulated as Fe and Al phosphates. The amount of water soluble phosphates is strongly reduced by the amount of hydrous iron oxides. The small amounts of lactate leachable phosphate show that P is a strong limiting factor in plant nutrition on soils of coal mining dumps. Besides the investigations showed a rapid acidification of the coal mining waste substrate which results from pyrite oxidation. Some plots of the field experiment area are acidified to pH (CaCl₂) 2.6, this is in some cases a decreasing by 4.6 pH units which is a remarkable change within 3 years.     

Forest decline and soil nutritional problems in pacific areas

Soil nutrient stresses have been determined to contribute to stand-level dieback in two Pacific forest biomes, the HawaiianMetrosideros rain forest and remnants of the eastern AustralianEucalyptus forest. In the Hawaiian dieback, low levels of N limit indigenous forest development early in primary succession on volcanic soils, while later in primary succession, stresses appear to be associated with soil aging, acidification, loss of cations, decreasing levels of P, increases in soluble Al, and, under poor drainage, sharp increases in soluble Fe. These nutrient limitations put a ceiling on stand development and growth and are considered as one of the three causes predisposing stands to dieback. In the rural or New England dieback of eastern Australia, indigenous eucalypts are adapted to ancient soils with very low levels of P, but pasture improvement with clover and fertilization with superphosphate has imposed different stresses on remnant eucalypts in pastures and nearby forest islands. After fertilization, the trees grow faster initially, but their foliage becomes highly nutritious for insects. Other factors also contribute to a build-up of insects as pests, which now threaten the remaining eucalypts. The rural dieback represents an example of how forests with low canopy species diversity, simplified structure, lack of successional species, and which are prone to dieback under natural conditions, can be destroyed by intensification of agricultural development. The paper closes with a summary of generic factors that were found to cause forest dieback under natural conditions and compares these to the anthropogenically superimposed stresses that led to aggravated tree and forest decline in the Australian rural or New England dieback. The suggestion is made that comparative dieback research at the global level will lead to an improved understanding of natural forest dynamics as an aid in interpreting the new stresses imposed on forests by human activity.     

Alkylpyridiniums. 2. Isolation and quantification in roasted and ground coffees

Recent model studies on trigonelline decomposition have identified nonvolatile alkylpyridiniums as major reaction products under certain physicochemical conditions. The quaternary base 1-methylpyridinium was isolated from roasted and ground coffee and purified by ion exchange and thin-layer chromatography. The compound was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H, (13)C) and mass spectrometry techniques. A liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method was developed to quantify the alkaloid in coffee by isotope dilution mass spectrometry. The formation of alkylpyridiniums is positively correlated to the roasting degree in arabica coffee, and highest levels of 1-methylpyridinium, reaching up to 0.25% on a per weight basis, were found in dark roasted coffee beans. Analyses of coffee extracts also showed the presence of dimethylpyridinium, at concentrations ranging from 5 to 25 mg/kg. This is the first report on the isolation and quantification of alkylpyridiniums in coffee. These compounds, described here in detail for the first time, may have an impact on the flavor/aroma profile of coffee directly (e.g., bitterness), or indirectly as precursors, and potentially open new avenues in the flavor/aroma modulation of coffee.     

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha and nitric oxide synthases in bovine follicles close to ovulation and early luteal angiogenesis

The objective of the study was to characterize expression patterns of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF1A), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial (eNOS) isoforms in time-defined follicle classes before and after GnRH application in the cow. Ovaries containing pre-ovulatory follicles or corpora lutea were collected by transvaginal ovariectomy (n = 5 cows/group) as follow: (I) before GnRH administration; (II) 4h after GnRH; (III) 10h after GnRH; (IV) 20h after GnRH; (V) 25h after GnRH; and (VI) 60h after GnRH (early corpus luteum). The mRNA abundance of HIF1A in the follicle group before GnRH was high, followed by a significant down regulation afterwards with a minimum level 25h after GnRH (close to ovulation) and significant increase only after ovulation. The mRNA abundance of iNOS before GnRH was high, decreased significantly during LH surge, with minimum levels afterwards. In contrast, the mRNA of eNOS decreased in the follicle group 20h after GnRH, followed by a rapid and significant upregulation just after ovulation. Immunohistochemically, the granulosa cells of antral follicles and the eosinophils of the theca tissue as well of the early corpus luteum showed a strong staining for HIF1A. The location of the eosinophils could be clearly demonstrated by immunostaining with an eosinophil-specific antibody (EMBP) and transmission electron microscopy. In conclusion, the parallel and acute regulated expression patterns of HIF1A and NOS isoforms, specifically during the interval between the LH surge and ovulation, indicate that these paracrine factors are involved in the local mechanisms, regulating final follicle maturation, ovulation and early luteal angiogenesis.     

Soil nitrogen dynamics after slurry injection in field trials: Evaluation of a soil sampling strategy

Slurry injection below maize seeds is a rather new application technique developed to improve the nitrogen use efficiency of liquid organic manure. To enable the characterization of the spatial and temporal soil mineral nitrogen (SMN) dynamics after slurry injection, the present study aims to develop an appropriate soil sampling strategy. Three consecutive experiments were conducted. The first testing of the soil sampling approach was conducted in an existing field trial where the slurry was injected down to a depth of 12 cm (upper rim) below the soil surface. The soil profile (75 cm wide) centered below the maize row was sampled grid‐like to a depth of 90 cm. Around the injection zone, soil monoliths (SM) were sampled using a purpose‐built soil shovel. Below the SMs and in the interrow space (15 and 30 cm distance to the row) a standardized auger procedure was performed. The second experiment aimed at improving the sampling strategy with a focus on sample homogenization quality and necessary sample sizes per pooled sample. Furthermore, the risk of a carryover of slurry components along the soil core due to drilling an auger through a slurry band was analyzed. In the third experiment this improved sampling strategy was validated. Results from the first testing of the sampling procedure showed that the strategy is suitable, although some problems occurred (especially the high spread in values among the replications causing high coefficients of variation (CV) of mostly 40–60%). The improvement trial revealed that due to the high gradient of SMN concentration in the direct range of the injection zone an intensive homogenization of these samples is required. Suitable sample sizes (twelve auger samples and six soil monolith samples per pooled sample) have to be collected to obtain reliable SMN values. Drilling an auger through a slurry band to sample subjacent soil layers has to be avoided. Following this enhanced sampling strategy, in the final validation trial the spread in values were considerably reduced and resulted in CV values of mostly < 20%. The developed sampling strategy enables the characterization of the spatial and temporal SMN dynamics when slurry has been band‐injected below a maize row. The method can be transferred to other row crops and different slurry injection spacing.     

Effects of nozzle type and spray angle on spray deposition in ivy pot plants

BACKGROUND: Fewer plant protection products are now authorised for use in ornamental growings. Frequent spraying with the same product or a suboptimal technique can lead to resistance in pests and diseases. Better application techniques could improve the sustainable use of the plant protection products still available. Spray boom systems—instead of the still predominantly used spray guns—might improve crop protection management in greenhouses considerably. The effect of nozzle type, spray pressure and spray angle on spray deposition and coverage in ivy pot plants was studied, with a focus on crop penetration and spraying the bottom side of the leaves in this dense crop. RESULTS: The experiments showed a significant and important effect of collector position on deposition and coverage in the plant. Although spray deposition and coverage on the bottom side of the leaves are generally low, they could be improved 3.0–4.9‐fold using the appropriate application technique. CONCLUSIONS: When using a spray boom in a dense crop, the nozzle choice, spray pressure and spray angle should be well considered. The hollow‐cone, the air‐inclusion flat‐fan and the standard flat‐fan nozzle with an inclined spray angle performed best because of the effect of swirling droplets, droplets with a high momentum and droplet direction respectively. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Ergebnisse und Probleme bei der züchterischen Nutzung transgener Pflanzen

Zusammenfassung Die vorwiegend bei Tabak, Petunie und Tomate gewonnenen Erkenntnisse über die genetischen Eigenschaften transgener Pflanzen werden referiert und hinsichtlich ihrer Bedeutung für die pflanzenzüchterische Nutzung von Gentechnik und Gentransfer diskutiert. Die aus einem Transferexperiment hervorgehenden transgenen Pflanzen variieren hinsichtlich des Expressionsniveaus und der Transmissionsstabilität des transferierten Gens sowie als Folge von insertionsbedingten und spontanen (somaklonalen) Mutationen. Die bei züchterischen Gentransferprogrammen angestrebte verbesserte Sorte (Linie, Klon) kann daher nur in einem Selektions- und Vermehrungsprozeß durch kombinierten Einsatz von molekulargenetischen und konventionell-züchterischen Prüfverfahren gewonnen werden. Die zweckmäßige Gestaltung dieses Prozesses hängt vom Reproduktionsmodus der betreffenden Pflanzenart, möglichen Kriterien zur Früherkennung des züchterischen Wertes sowie möglichen Pleiotropien und Genotypspezifitäten in der Wirkung des transferierten Gens ab.

---

Results and problems in the use of transgenic plants for crop improvement

Summary Transgenic plants have been obtained by bothAgrobacterium-mediated and direct gene transfer methods in tobacco, petunia, tomato, and very recently also in other plant species. In this review we summarize the results of molecular and genetical analyses of transgenic plants and discuss their implications with the use of recombinant DNA technology for crop improvement.These results indicate that by the methods presently available it is possible to insert a foreign gene into the plant genome in a highly stable and fully functional form without altering other characters of this plant variety. However, this ideal type of a transgenic plant has to be selected from a large number of less favourable transfer products. The transgenic individuals generated in a single transfer experiment vary with respect to the number, structure and chromosomal localization of the gene copies integrated, and consequently differ in the expression and stability of the foreign gene. Moreover, their genotype may have been changed by insertional and spontaneous (somaclonal) mutations. Whether or not a foreign gene is capable of improving a given variety, can therefore only be decided by testing a series of transgenic lines. These tests obviously cannot be confined to screening the primary transgenic plants for high expression level. It is necessary to propagate several of the selected plants, to establish homozygous transgenic lines and to evaluate the agronomic performance of these lines in field trials. Since the transgenic individuals can be identified by biochemical tests, it will generally not be difficult to recover the homozygous lines, although this procedure sometimes may be complicated by the presence of functional gene copies at more than one locus. In principle, it would also be necessary to see whether the foreign gene is transmitted to progeny with the high degree of meiotic stability required for commercial varieties. However, assessment of the genetic stability depends on an easily detectable phenotype and therefore will in most cases be extremely difficult.We discuss several factors that may influence the selection of the desired transgenic variety or may limit its agronomic value, e.g. deleterious pleiotropic effects of the transferred gene, modifications of the gene effect by the recipient genotype, and effects of marker genes co-transferred with the desired gene.

---

, , , . , , , , , («») . (, ), , , , - . , , .

     

Phenolic diterpenes,flavones, and rosmarinic acid distribution during the development of leaves,flowers, stems,and roots of Rosmarinus officinalis. Antioxidant activity

The distribution of six compounds with three different polyphenol skeletons have been studied in Rosmarinus officinalis: phenolic diterpenes (carnosic acid, carnosol, and 12-O-methylcarnosic acid), caffeoyl derivatives (rosmarinic acid), and flavones (isoscutellarein 7-O-glucoside and genkwanin), each showing a characteristic behavior and distribution during the vegetative cycle. Only in leaves were all six compounds present, and the highest accumulation rate was related with the young stages of development. Rosmarinic acid showed the highest concentrations of all the polyphenols in all organs. The distribution of this acid in leaves, flowers, and stems suggests that in the first stages of flower growth, levels were due to in situ biosynthesis, and in the last stages, the contribution of transport phenomena was increased. The antioxidant activity of six extracts with different polyphenolic composition was evaluated in aqueous and lipid systems. The results clearly suggest that rosemary extracts are excellent antioxidants in both aqueous and lipid systems.