Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and chemometric analysis of white wine polysaccharide extracts

Monovarietal white wines from Maria Gomes and Bical Portuguese Bairrada varieties were prepared according to different maceration and pectic enzyme clarification procedures. The polysaccharide-rich extracts, obtained by wine concentration, dialysis, and lyophilization, were fractionated by graded ethanol precipitation. A wide range of fractions rich in polysaccharides were obtained. Using the spectral region between 1200 and 800 cm(-)(1) of the FTIR spectra of the wine polysaccharide dry extracts, using PCA and CCA chemometric methods, it was possible to discriminate the extracts on the basis of their polysaccharide composition. Moreover, it was possible to identify the wine-making processes involved and their influence on the wine polysaccharides. Furthermore, a calibration model using a PLS1 was proposed for the quantification of mannose in the samples obtained by precipitation with 60% ethanol aqueous solutions. This information will allow an expeditious assessment and monitoring of the polysaccharide composition and modifications that occur during the wine-making processing and evolution.     

Characterization of white wine mannoproteins

Mannoproteins, Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast polysaccharides, play a major role in wine processing and characteristics. A systematic characterization of these polymers in terms of chemical composition and molecular structure is addressed in this study. Mannoproteins were isolated from white wine through a sequence of operations that consisted of nanofiltration for concentration of macromolecules, polysaccharide precipitation with ethanol, and affinity chromatography on concanavalin A. The whole wine mannoproteins present a very broad molecular mass distribution with several populations. Two major populations with very different compositions were separated by size exclusion chromatography. The mannoproteins with higher molecular mass are a mannose homopolymer containing 10.3% protein. The mannoproteins with lower molecular mass consisted of 87.5% of mannose and some other residues and a protein content of 2.5%. The highest molecular weight mannoprotein structure was examined by (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopic techniques such as 1-D TOCSY, 2-D COSY, and 2-D HMQC.     

Bioavailability of Metals at a Southeastern Brazilian Coastal Area of High Environmental Concern Under Anthropic Influence: Evaluation Using Transplanted Bivalves (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Nodipecten nodosus</Emphasis>) and the DGT Technique

Metals are commonly determined in aquatic organisms, primarily using bivalves to provide important data on their bioavailability. The technique of diffusive gradients in thin films (DGTs) has also been employed to assess the concentration of metals in freshwater and marine environments, determining their lability. The present work evaluated and compared the labile and bioavailable concentrations of Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni and Pb in seawater from Ilha Grande Bay, RJ, using DGT and transplanted bivalves (Nodipecten nodosus), respectively. The scallops and DGTs were immersed in water at three sampling locations within the bay from July to September 2012 (winter campaign) and from December 2012 to February 2013 (summer campaign). The metals were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). DGT technique was successfully used to determine the concentrations of metals in waters, except for Pb when short deployment times were used. All metals were determined using transplanted bivalves (N. nodosus), but pre-exposure to Cd was evident, which made the interpretation of the data for this analyte difficult. The data on metal lability in Ilha Grande Bay waters obtained from the DGT technique were correlated with the metal bioavailability determined in the soft tissues of the transplanted N. nodosus for Co, Cu, Mn, Ni and Pb. This is the first evaluation of this type for this area of high environmental concern. Both techniques revealed that Náutico was the location with the highest concentration of metals in the study area.     

In vitro gastrointestinal digestion study of broccoli inflorescence phenolic compounds, glucosinolates, and vitamin C

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica cv. Marathon) inflorescences are a good source of bioactive compounds, such as phenolics (flavonoids and hydroxycinnamoyl derivatives), glucosinolates, and vitamin C. In this work, these health-promoting compounds were submitted to digestion under in vitro gastrointestinal conditions (pH, temperature, enzyme, and chemical conditions). This technique differentiated among the compounds associated with macromolecules in soluble and insoluble form and those that are freely soluble. In addition, it evaluates the chemical stability of the broccoli compounds under simulated physiological conditions. The gastric digestion of broccoli caused high losses in glucosinolates (69% loss), whereas phenolics and vitamin C presented higher stability under these conditions. Thus, there were no losses in flavonoids, a 7% loss of vitamin C, and a variable rate of loss (6-25%) in hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives. The stability of all of the compounds was affected by the in vitro intestinal conditions. Under the in vitro conditions, flavonoids and hydroxycinnamoyl acid derivatives were of low availability, due to their significant losses under these conditions, at the end of the experiment (84 and 80% loss, respectively). Vitamin C was the metabolite that showed the greater decrease after intestinal digestion (91% loss). Regarding the remaining glucosinolates, these compounds presented higher stability under intestinal conditions, rendering an availability similar to that found for phenolics (75% loss). Therefore, broccoli components were affected by gastric and/or intestinal conditions depending on the type of compound. Thus, glucosinolates were mainly degraded by gastric conditions, whereas phenolic compounds and vitamin C were degraded by intestinal conditions.     

Nutrient Removal,Fertilization Needs and Yields of Protea Plants Cultivated in Subtropical Conditions

A study of nutrient removal was carried out in commercial protea plantations of each of the cultivars ‘Scarlett Ribbon,’ ‘High Gold,’ ‘Veldfire,’ and ‘Sunrise’ of Leucospermum cordifolium, and of the species L. patersonii,located in a subtropical region (La Palma, Canarian Archipelago).

Flowering stems of optimal commercial quality were taken from each of the mentioned cultivars and species, once a year (2003 and 2004) at harvest time (January to April), and the different organs were analyzed separately. Flowering stems of the cultivars ‘High Gold’ and ‘Veldfire’ presented the highest contents of most studied nutrients, whereas the opposite was observed in ‘Scarlett Ribbon’ and L. patersonii. Mean yields of flowering stems varied very much among cultivars, and the highest ones were those of ‘High Gold’ and ‘Scarlett Ribbon’. The cultivar ‘High Gold’ removed the highest quantities of studied nutrients, and the contrary was observed in L. patersonii for most of them.

Suitable rates of nitrogen (N): phosphorus (P): potassium (K) fertilizers for nutrient restitution purposes were 1:0.08:0.40 for ‘Scarlett Ribbon,’ 1:0.08:0.66 for ‘High Gold,’ 1:0.08:0.38 for ‘Veldfire,’ 1:0.09:0.75 for L. patersonii;and 1:0.18:1.11 for ‘Sunrise’.     

Growth Responses of Micropropagated Cassava Clones as Affected by Glomus Intraradices Colonization

This study reports the effectiveness of an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Glomus intraradices on three clones (SOM-1, 05 and 50) of cassava (Manihot esculenta). Arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation increased plant resistance to transplant stress from “in vitro” to “ex vitro” conditions and plant biomass (shoot and root) production was greatly enhanced by AM-colonization. The magnitude of AM growth stimulation over control clones was: 861% (SOM-1), 1042% (05) and 854% (50). Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonized cassava plants increased cassava water uptake in terms of percentage, 62% in clone SOM-1, 24% in clone 05, and 157% in clone 50. The highest effect of AM-colonization on water content in root of clone 50 was correlated with the greatest increment in leaf tissue production (1218% over control) and with the maximum shoot/root ratio determined. The biomass distribution between shoot and root was changed by AM symbiosis and such effect varied for each clone that may be caused by mycorrhizal changes in macro/micro-nutrients translocation/compartimentation. Cassava dependence on AM symbiosis was greatest in clone SOM-1 since AM-colonization provided the highest stem (weight, length, and diameters), leaf (weight and number), bud number, and root weight. These results lead to practical applications because AM inoculation is crucial for improving cassava yield (shoot and root) and nutrition irrespective of the clone involved. Thus, importance of AM symbiosis in micropropagated cassava clones is of great practical interest in agriculture and allows the selection of the most suitable clone for dry environments due to the particular effect on root water content that improves drought adaptation.     

A seasonal model of contracts between a monopsonistic processor and smallholder pepper producers in Costa Rica

We model the contractual arrangements between smallholder pepper (Piper nigrum L.) producers and a single processor in Costa Rica. Producers in the El Roble settlement sell their pepper to only one processing firm, which exerts its monopsonistic bargaining power by setting the purchase price of fresh pepper. It also sets quality norms that result in the rejection of considerable amounts of the pepper produced by individual farmers. Because the firm is not able to produce its own raw pepper and requires a sufficiently stable flow of the fresh product to be processed into high quality white pepper, it usually relies on contracts with individual smallholders. Nevertheless, the latter considered collective marketing and took the initiative to propose a group contract with the firm. Such a contract increases the producers’ bargaining power vis-à-vis the processing firm and reduces rejection rates as more care is taken when transporting the pepper to be processed. Although a group contract causes the firm to lose part of its monopsonistic rents, it also reduces transaction costs as only one contract must be negotiated instead of many. Both the firm and the producers benefit, yet from the very beginning of the association, the producers breached the group contract. We have used a mixed integer linear model which, given a set of constraints, maximises the weighted sum of the expected incomes of the firm and producers. We modelled the contract chosen by the firm and the producers according to the conditions included, such as minimum income requirements and risk considerations of both processor and farmers. We calibrated the model with data from pepper producers and the firm in El Roble. The results show that at different fresh pepper prices, the contract preferred changes with the bargaining power attributed to the firm and smallholders. However, in general, it can be concluded that fresh pepper prices high enough to cover the costs, for the farmers, of a group contract lead to lower rejection rates, and thus to more pepper of an acceptable quality, increasing the incomes of both the processor and the farmers. This is also of interest in agricultural policy-making.     

The genetics of resistance in sunflower capitula to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum measured by mycelium infections combined with ascospore tests

To enhance efficiency of breeding programmes for Sclerotinia sclerotiorum resistance in sunflower capitula, two separate resistance tests have been recommended. However, the time necessary to develop genotypes with two types of resistance makes this impractical. A strategy to combine the two tests was consequently proposed to reduce the number of seasons per selection cycle, but genetic studies were necessary to determine if it could be applied in breeding programmes. This was the objective of this work. Data from two genetically different sunflower inbred lines and their F1, F2 and backcross generations were analysed in two years to determine the genetics of resistance to S. sclerotiorum in capitula measured by application on the same plants of a mycelium test combined with an ascospore test. Effects of maternal origin were detected when the reciprocal generations were evaluated for the mycelium test. This suggests the importance of choice of the inbred line used as female in population formation by hybridisation. Progeny subjected to the mycelium test did not show any change in relative reactions to two S. sclerotiorum isolates suggesting that ranking genotypes according to the results of combined S. sclerotiorum tests is repeatable across Sclerotinia isolates and experimental seasons. Moderate narrow sense heritability indicated that selection of the best F2 plants should be effective. Genetic gain from selection is possible because a reduction of lesion areas produced by the mycelium test can be expected. Additive gene effects contribute significantly to reduction in lesion area. Consequences of results in population improvement for S. sclerotiorum resistance in capitula are discussed. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Density and microviscosity studies of palm oil/water emulsions

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and densitometry were used to measure the temperature- and rate-dependent formation of fat crystals in emulsion droplets in hardened palm kernel oil in water emulsions. The solid fat content in emulsions can be critical for the functionality of the emulsions in a wide variety of applications. Therefore, new and accessible methods are needed to monitor solid fat content in order to control the functional properties of these emulsions. EPR measurements showed that the microviscosity within the oil droplets could be measured as a function of temperature and that the storage temperature below the main fat melting point is crucial for an increase in the microviscosity, due to fat solidification. The microviscosity of the oil droplets could be an important parameter for defining functional performance (e.g., rheology and partial coalescence). Density measurements provided a simple and accurate method for monitoring changes in phase state of the oil. The phase behavior agreed well with the EPR results, demonstrating that accurate density measurements could prove to be a valuable tool for monitoring fat crystallization processes.