Flavonoid and carbohydrate contents in Tropea red onions: effects of homelike peeling and storage

The content of anthocyanins, flavonols, and carbohydrates of Tropea red onions (Allium cepa L.) was determined by HPLC and HPLC-MS. Cyanidin derivatives constitute >50% of total anthocyanins, but delphinidin and petunidin derivatives, which have not been reported in red onions thus far, were also detected. The flavonoid distribution in the different layers of the bulbs indicates that, after homelike peeling, the edible portion contains 79% of the total content of quercetin 4'-glucoside but only 27% of the anthocyanins. Storage of onions for 6 weeks in different conditions, all of them mimicking home storage habits, resulted in a decrease to 64-73% of total anthocyanins. The same trend was verified for the total antioxidant activity, which was reduced to 29-36%. A decrease in glucose and fructose content correlated with anthocyanin degradation was also observed. Storage at low temperature seems to better preserve the onion anthocyanins.     

Nutritional value of cherry tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Cv. Naomi F1) harvested at different ripening stages

The average content of some classes of antioxidants is generally higher in cherry tomatoes than in normal-sized berries. The aim of this work was to assess the nutritional value of cherry tomato (cv. Naomi F1) by investigating the compositional pattern of berries harvested at different ripening stages and evaluating, in particular, all of the main antioxidants (carotenoids, ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds, and alpha-tocopherol) and the antioxidant activity of the water-soluble and water-insoluble fractions. Results confirmed the relatively high level of carotenoids in cherry tomato but showed that not all biologically active compounds necessarily increase in tomatoes picked at later stages of ripeness. Cherry tomatoes harvested at full ripeness exhibited the highest level of carotenoids and antioxidant activity in the water-insoluble fraction. On the other hand, no significant differences in ascorbic acid content were observed at different ripening stages, whereas the main phenolics content and the antioxidant activity of water-soluble fraction showed slight, but significant, decreases at later stages of ripeness.     

Electrochemically mediated atom transfer radical polymerization

Atom transfer radical polymerization is a versatile technique for exerting precise control over polymer molecular weights, molecular weight distributions, and complex architectures. Here, we show that an externally applied electrochemical potential can reversibly activate the copper catalyst for this process by a one-electron reduction of an initially added air-stable cupric species (Cu(II)/Ligand). Modulation of polymerization kinetics is thereby tunable in real time by varying the magnitude of applied potential. Application of multistep intermittent potentials successfully triggers initiation of polymerization and subsequently toggles the polymerization between dormant and active states in a living manner. Catalyst concentrations down to 50 parts per million are demonstrated to maintain polymerization control manifested in linear first-order kinetics, a linear increase in polymer molecular weight with monomer conversion, and narrow polymer molecular weight distributions over a range of applied potentials.     

Identification of RAPD markers linked to fusarium crown and root rot resistance (Frl) in tomato

In tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) a single dominant gene ( Frl) on chromosome 9 confers resistance to fusarium crown and root rot (crown rot) incited by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici. To identify randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers linked to Frl, crown rot susceptible and resistant tomato lines were screened for polymorphisms using 1000 random 10-mer primers and three reliable RAPD markers were found linked to Frl (UBC #'s 116, 194, and 655). A codominant polymorphic PCR marker of TG101, a restriction fragment length polymorphic (RFLP) marker linked to Frl, was developed to facilitate the linkage studies. Using TG101 and the four RAPD markers, on a Frl segregating backcross population of 950 plants indicated that all belong to the same linkage group. The polymorphic allele order was found to be TG101 – 655 – 116 – 194 – Frl. UBC 194 was found to be 5.1 cM from Frl in this population. Furthermore, it was the only marker found in the resistant genotypes ‘Mocis’ and Fla 7226, whereas resistant genotypes ‘Momor’, Ohio 89-1, and Fla 7464 all had UBC 194 and UBC #'s 116, 194, and 655. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Comparative analysis of cultivated melon groups (Cucumis melo L.) using random amplified polymorphic DNA and simple sequence repeat markers

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to characterize genetic relationships among 46 accessions in two C. melo L. subsp. melo (Cantalupensis, Inodorus) and subsp.agrestis (Conomon, and Flexuosus) groups. Genetic distance (GD) estimates were made among and between accessions in four melon market classes [Galia, Ogen, Charentais, and Shipper (European and U.S. types)] of Cantalupensis, one market class of Inodorus (Cassaba and Honey Dew), one accession of Conomon, and one accession of Flexuosus by employing three GD estimators; simple matching coefficient, Jaccard's coefficient, and Nei's distance-D. Differences detected among 135 RAPD bands and 54 SSR bands (products of 17 SSR primers) were used to calculate GD. Band polymorphisms observed with 21 RAPD primers and 7 SSR primers were important (p =0.01) in the detection of genetic differences. Estimators of GD were highly correlated (p 0.0001; r_s = 0.64 to0.99) when comparisons were made between estimation methods within a particular marker system. Lower correlations (r_s = 0.17 to 0.40) were detected (P > 0.001) between marker systems using any one estimator. The GD of the Conomon and Flexuosus accessions was significantly different (p> 0.001)from the mean GD of all the market classes examined. The mean GD (Jaccard's coefficient) among accessions of Ogen, Galia, Cassaba, Charentais, European shipper, and U.S. shipper groups was 0.11 ± 0.04, 0.33± 0.09, 0.21 ± 0.04, 0.26 ± 0.10, 0.17± 0.05 and 0.22 ± 0.08, respectively. Market classes were distinct (p > 0.001), such that GDs between Galia and other accessions were the largest(mean GD 0.34 to 0.35), and GDs between Ogen and other accessions were the smallest (mean GD 0.29 to 0.30). Contrasts between the U.S. shipper cultivar Top Mark and accessions within any market class was relatively large (mean GD = 0.42 ± 0.06). Empirical estimations of variances associated with each marker type in the accessions examined indicated that, per band, lower coefficients of variation can be attained in the estimation of GD when using RAPDs compared to SSRs. Nevertheless, the genetic relationships identified using these markers were generally similar. The disparity between the analyses of the two markers made may be related to the amount of genome coverage which is characteristic of a particular marker system and/or its efficiency in sampling variation in a population. Results of RAPD marker analysis suggest that 80 marker bands were adequate for assessing the genetic variation present in the accessions examined. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Trichinellosis Outbreak Caused by Meat from a Wild Boar Hunted in an Italian Region Considered to be at Negligible Risk for Trichinella

The wild boar is an important source of trichinellosis for people in European countries as a large number of hunted animals escape veterinary control. In November 2012, uncooked sausages made with meat from wild boar were consumed by 38 persons in a village of the Lucca province (Tuscany region, Italy). Of them, 34 were serologically positive, 32 developed clinical signs and symptoms of trichinellosis, and two were asymptomatic. Trichinella britovi larvae were detected in vacuum‐packed sausages made with the same batch of sausages consumed raw which had been prepared with meat from wild boar hunted in the Lucca province. As no case of trichinellosis had been reported in this region during the last 20 years, the regional public health authority considered the risk for this zoonosis to be negligible and put in place a surveillance programme on Trichinella spp. in indicator animals (mainly foxes and including wild boar for private consumption), by testing only a percentage of heads. The experience from this outbreak shows that the definition of a region with a negligible risk for Trichinella infection is not applicable to wild boar and stresses the need to test all Trichinella‐susceptible wild animals intended for human consumption and to implement risk communication to consumers and hunters.     

Pathogenesis of sodium selenite and dimethylselenide acute toxicosis in pigs: Cardiovascular changes

In pigs and other food producing animals, relatively little is known about the mode of action of excess selenium. This study reports the cardiovascular effects brought about in anaesthetised Landrace pigs by 2 mg selenium kg-1 bodyweight intravenously as either sodium selenite or dimethylselenide. Sodium selenite dosing was characterised by a dramatic fall in systemic blood pressure with an increase in cardiac output and heart frequency. The only significant change elicited by dimethylselenide was a linear rise of cardiac output. Neither of the tested compounds significantly affected pulmonary arterial pressure. These results suggest that under the experimental conditions in this study, sodium selenite induces a vasculogenic shock without primarily affecting cardiac performance. The lack of detrimental effects on cardiovascular parameters with dimethylselenide indicates the importance of methylation in detoxifying excess selenium.     

Electrochemotherapy for the Treatment of Multiple Melanomas in a Horse

A 22-year-old Camargue mare was referred for showing signs of discomfort during chewing, building up of food in the mouth, and foul odor from the mouth. On physical examination, the mare presented bilateral pigmented labial masses affecting the upper and lower lips, more in the form of plaques at the mucocutaneous junction as well as multiple perivulvar and perianal lumps. The skin lesions were biopsied for histopathologic examination and the clinical suspect of melanoma was confirmed. The owner elected the lesions to be treated with electrochemotherapy using the drug cisplatin. After two sessions, the nodules were shrunk by 50% and the horse’s ability to feed normally was restored: at that time, the owner had the treatment discontinued because of financial issues. The horse is still in partial remission after 1 year from the end of the treatment. Electrochemotherapy can be successfully used to palliate large melanomas in horses.