Effects of chemical and organic fertilizers on the growth,flower quality and nutrient uptake of Anthurium andreanum, cultivated for cut flower production

Sustainable agriculture has become a concern, due to the pressures of the “energy crisis” and issues of “environmental protection”. The use of organic fertilizer made from agricultural waste regenerates natural resources and reduces the consumption of fossil energy as well as phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) deposits. There is scant information available concerning the use of organic fertilizer as the sole source of nutrients in flower production, especially in the cultivation of flowers in a soilless condition. The objective of this study was to develop an organic fertilization management system to replace the chemical fertilization management of the cut flower production of Anthurium andreanum Lind. cultivated under soilless conditions. Four fertilization treatments were carried out consisting of two chemical fertilizers [controlled release fertilizer (CRF) and a chemical nutrient solution (CNS)], and two organic fertilizers [pea and rice hull compost (PRHC) and cattle dung with tea leaf residue compost (CDTC)]. The effects of the various fertilizations on A. andreanum were evaluated based on plant growth, nutrient uptake, and cut flower quality during the 1-year experimental period. The results show that the growth, yield, and cut flower quality of plants receiving PRHC were the same as those receiving CNS and CRF, indicating that PRHC can substitute for CRF and CNS as a nutrient source for cut flower production of A. andreanum cultivated in soilless condition. The plants that received the CNS and PRHC treatments had a significantly increased leaf number and new leaf growth area than those that received the CRF and CDTC treatments. The plants receiving the CDTC showed the lowest increase in leaf area and number of flowers. The retardant growth of plants treated with CDTC has been explained as being due to less carbon (C) being assimilated, most likely as the result of an insufficient supply of nitrogen (N) and manganese (Mn) toxicity. The petiole and peduncle length of the plants receiving the CRF were the shortest, which might be due to the low level of potassium (K) accompanying the magnesium (Mg) deficiency. Even though there were significant differences in the N and K concentrations of the plants among the different treatments, no significant differences were observed in the cut flower quality. In short, the organic fertilizer PRHC can meet the nutrient requirements of A. andreanum cultivation for the cut flower production under soilless conditions.     

Disposition of fenbendazole in cattle

Fenbendazole (FBZ) was administered to cattle IV and orally in a crossover design. Plasma concentration vs time profiles were reported for FBZ and its major metabolites, the sulfoxide (oxfendazole) and the sulfone. The total excretion of FBZ and its metabolites in urine and feces was also measured for 6 days after administration. All known metabolites were identified in urine and feces except for fenbendazole amine. Neither this minor metabolite nor p-hydroxyfenbendazole (FBZ-OH) appeared in plasma. The major excretory product was FBZ-OH. After oral administration, only 44.6% of the dose was eliminated after 6 days, indicating a fairly high degree of sequestration, probably within the gastrointestinal tract.     

Production and isolation of aflatoxin M1 for toxicological studies

One hundred mg aflatoxin M1 was produced and purified for toxicological studies. Aspergillus flavus NRRL 3251 was cultured on rice to produce aflatoxins B1, B2, M1, and M2, B1 and B2 were separated from M1 and M2 by a normal phase low pressure liquid chromatography (LC) column. M1 was then separated from M2 by a reverse phase low pressure LC column. Recoveries of aflatoxins from the LC columns were about 90%. The purified M1 was confirmed by ultraviolet-visible spectrometry, mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, optical rotation, and its mutagenicity to Salmonella typhimurium TA98.     

Lactitol-based poly(ether polyol) hydrogels for controlled release chemical and drug delivery systems

The hydroxyl groups of lactitol were propoxylated to produce poly(ether polyol) (LPEP). The average pK(a) value of hydroxyl groups of the polyol was 1.63. Cross-linked hydrogels were synthesized by esterification with chlorinated poly(ethylene glycol) bis(carboxymethyl) ether (PEGBCOCl). The swelling ratio decreased with increasing cross-linking ratio (PEGBCOCl:LPEP) from 2:1 to 4:1 in the hydrogels and was sensitive to temperature change between 25 and 55 degrees C and concentrations of salt and glucose. The swelling ratio did not change significantly with pH in the range of 4-9. The release profiles of a model active agent, acetylsalicylic acid, from the hydrogels showed that the diffusional release rate had a half-order dependence on time, and the diffusivity decreased with increasing cross-linking ratio. This work demonstrated that LPEP-based hydrogels can be used for controlled delivery of drugs and agrochemicals and the release rates can be controlled with the cross-linking ratio of the hydrogel.     

Lunasin and Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor concentrations of protein extracts from enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction of soybeans

Lunasin and Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor (BBI) are two soybean peptides to which health-promoting properties have been attributed. Concentrations of these peptides were determined in skim fractions produced by enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction processing (EAEP) of extruded full-fat soybean flakes (an alternative to extracting oil from soybeans with hexane) and compared with similar extracts from hexane-defatted soybean meal. Oil and protein were extracted by using countercurrent two-stage EAEP of soybeans at 1:6 solids-to-liquid ratio, 50 °C, pH 9.0, and 120 rpm for 1 h. Protein-rich skim fractions were produced from extruded full-fat soybean flakes using different enzyme strategies in EAEP: 0.5% protease (wt/g extruded flakes) used in both extraction stages; 0.5% protease used only in the second extraction stage; no enzyme used in either extraction stage. Countercurrent two-stage protein extraction of air-desolventized, hexane-defatted soybean flakes was used as a control. Protein extraction yields increased from 66% to 89-96% when using countercurrent two-stage EAEP with extruded full-fat flakes compared to 85% when using countercurrent two-stage protein extraction of air-desolventized, hexane-defatted soybean flakes. Extruding full-fat soybean flakes reduced BBI activity. Enzymatic hydrolysis reduced BBI contents of EAEP skims. Lunasin, however, was more resistant to both enzymatic hydrolysis and heat denaturation. Although using enzymes in both EAEP extraction stages yielded the highest protein and oil extractions, reducing enzyme use to only the second stage preserved much of the BBI and Lunasin.     

14C]-aflatoxin B1 metabolism in lactating goats and rats

Four dairy goats in the second to third month of lactation were administered [14C]-Aflatoxin B1 ( [14C]-AFB1). Two goats were dosed intravenously (iv) with 130 muCi (182 muCi/mumol) and two were dosed orally with 196 muCi (256 muCi/mumol). Urine, milk and feces were collected for 120 h after [14C]-AFB1 administration. Recoveries (average of two animals) of 14C in urine, milk and feces were, respectively; 22.7, .97 and 65% (iv dose) and 30.9, 1.05 and 52.3% (oral dose). Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) was found in milk in the highest concentration. Aflatoxin Q1 (AFQ1) and aflatoxicol (AFL) were found in trace quantities in milk of animals administered the oral dose. In general, AFM1 could account for the majority of dicholromethane-soluble 14C. Liver contained 7.3 and 4.9% of the dose after 120 h for the iv and oral doses respectively. Kidney, heart, lung and spleen all contained .1% or less of the dose at 120 h. Muscle contained .48% of the dose at 120 h from the goats administered [14C]-AFB1 orally. There was no detectable radioactivity in the fat of any goat at 120 h. Six lactating Sprague-Dawley rats with 12 nursing pups were used for comparison of ruminants and simple-stomached animals. Rats were administered 2 muCi of [14C]-AFB1 (125 muCi/mumol) iv (three animals) and orally (three animals). Mean recovery of 14C in urine, mammary plus milk and feces were, respectively; 9.5, 2.0 and 60.7% (iv) and 8.8, 2.6 and 65.0% (orally).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Bovine ephemeral fever in Taiwan (2001-2002)

Bovine ephemeral fever (BEF), a vector-borne disease of cattle, is caused by the Ephemerovirus of the family Rhabdoviridae. In the past 40 years, Taiwan has had seven BEF epizootics, and we have previously reported the first five. This study summarizes the 2001 and 2002 epizootics; conducted case-control serologic studies on 10 herds involved in the 2001 epizootic; determined whether the recent BEF viruses have varied significantly; and discusses the relationship between epizootic patterns and possible variant BEF viruses. For mature cows that had received at least 2 doses of vaccine before the study, a negative correlation between the prevaccinated (the 3rd dose and after) serum neutralization antibody (SNA) titers and their postvaccinated peak rates was found. When prevaccinated SNA levels were at < or = 32, their postvaccinated SNA levels increased significantly faster (P<0.01) than for those at > or = 32. The glycoprotein gene of isolates from 1999, 2001, and 2002 had a 99.2-99.9% homology, without consistent amino acid variations in the neutralization sites. Phylogenetic analysis of Taiwanese isolates revealed 2 distinct clusters, the 1983-1989 and 1996-2002 isolates. Cross-neutralization tests confirmed the glycoprotein gene sequence analysis results. In conclusion, annual boosters at SNA levels > 32, at more than 2 doses, or at intervals shorter than 6 months are not advisable. The occurrence of frequent small epizootics implies the dominance of BEF virus over host immunity, but not a variant virus.     

Preparation of high hydroxyl equivalent weight polyols from vegetable oils

Multiple novel vegetable oil-based polyols were synthesized from the reaction-addition to epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO) by a series of acid acyl moieties derived from vegetable oils. The acid acyl moieties were linoleic acid (LA), ricinoleic acid (RC), ricinoleic acid estolide (RC estolide) and hydrolyzed bodied soybean oil (HBSBO). LA and RC were commercially available but RC estolide and HBSBO were synthesized by enzymatic catalytic reactions. In the reaction-addition, ESBO was heated with the acid acyl moieties at 170 °C, atmospheric pressure without any catalyst and solvent. The synthesized vegetable oil-based polyols had acid numbers less than 10 (mg KOH/g), hydroxy numbers of 82–152 (mg KOH/g), and hydroxyl equivalent weights of 370–680. The polyols made from RC estolide and HBSBO had improved numbers of OH equivalent weight comparing to the numbers from alkoxyl hydroxyl soybean oil which is widely used commercial soy-based polyols.