A SCAR marker for the sex types determination in Colombian genotypes of Carica papaya

Sex type determination in papaya (Carica papaya L.) is very important for crop improvement processes because it accelerates the identification of the fruitful plants. The use of molecular technology provides a quick and reliable identification of sex types in plantlets growing in seedbeds. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to determine the sex types of Colombian cultivars of dioecious papaya genotypes. This species has three sex types (male, female and hermaphrodite) determined by a multiallelic locus. There are no morphological differences at the chromosome level; therefore the identification of sex types by chromosomal dimorphism is not possible. A RAPD marker of 900 bp was found in male plants, but not in females or hermaphrodites. From this RAPD marker a sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) was developed and it was possible to amplify fragments from the genomes of male and hermaphrodite plants, but not the female ones. The results indicate that this new SCAR marker will be valuable to determine the sex type of papaya plants.     

Evaluation of Weaning Strategies for Intensively Reared Australian Freshwater Fish, Murray Cod, Maccullochella peelii peelii

The Australian Murray cod supports a growing national industry. However, with regard to the process of weaning fry, there is a lack of information and optimal procedures need to be developed. The aim of the present investigation was to test the biological and economic efficacy of different weaning strategies for Murray cod. Three weaning strategies were tested on triplicate groups of fish: (1) only Artemia for 5 d, 7 d on Artemia plus starter diet, and 14 d on dry diet only; (2) 12 d on Artemia plus starter diet and 14 d on dry diet only; and (3) directly to dry diet for the entire experimental period. No significant differences were recorded in the growth and feed efficiency, while significantly higher mortality (38.4 ± 0.35%) was recorded in fish weaned directly onto dry diet. Fish subjected to the first 5 d on Artemia only showed a growth reduction during this period, which was compensated by a phase of enhanced growth during the dry‐diet phase. No significant differences were noted in the proximate composition of fish under the different treatments. The economic evaluation suggested that the treatment with the simultaneous supply of Artemia and starter diet is preferable.     

Copper complexes grafted to functionalized silica gel as wood preservatives against the brown rot fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coniophora puteana</Emphasis>

Wood modification with siloxanes bearing amino groups with copper-linking function was carried out by a sol–gel process. Tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) were the main components. Two different procedures were followed: a two-step process (impregnation with the TEOS/APTES mixture followed by dipping into a copper sulphate solution) and a one-step process (impregnation with a homogeneous sol mixture of TEOS, APTES and copper (II) chloride). The obtained materials were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis. The determination of copper content before and after leaching was performed by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The efficacy against the brown rot fungus Coniophora puteana was tested by an accelerated procedure. SEM analyses showed that silicon penetrated into wood, while copper is effectively drawn into wood only in the one-step treatment. Copper fixation to the silica gel proved to be adequately strong. Both sol–gel treatments gave good protection against Coniophora puteana.     

Diterpenoids from Cascarilla (Croton eluteria Bennet)

Cascarilla is a commercially available and cheap source of polyfunctionalized diterpenoids belonging to the clerodane structural type. In addition to the bitter triol cascarillin, 10 additional new diterpenoids (eluterins A-J) have been isolated and characterized by spectroscopic means. Structural diversity within cascarilla clerodanes involves mainly the linkage between the carbocyclic and the heterocyclic moieties and the functionalization of C-3, C-4, and C-6 of the decalin core. Cascarillin was shown to be a mixture of interconverting gamma-lactols and not a gamma-hydroxyaldehyde as previously reported.     

Genotypic response of faba bean to water stress

Forty resistant rice cultivars were studied for theinheritance of resistance to bacterial blight usingPhilippine races of Xanthomonas oryzae pv.oryzae (Xoo). Results showed that all thevarieties have at least two recessive genes forresistance. One of these genes governs resistance torace 1 (PXO61) while the other gene confers resistanceto race 6 (PXO99). In addition to the recessivegenes, nine of the varieties possess another dominantgene which also confers resistance to race 1.Allelism tests revealed that the recessive genesgoverning resistance to race 1 in 39 varieties areallelic to xa5 while the dominant genes in thenine varieties are allelic to Xa4. Therecessive gene conferring resistance to race 1 incultivar Sada Diga is inherited independently of xa5. Similarly, the recessive genes governingresistance to race 6 in all the varieties arenon-allelic to xa13. The allelic relationshipsof these genes with xa-24(t), a new recessivegene identified in cultivar DV86 which conveysresistance to race 6 are now being investigated.     

Novel approach to study oxidative stability of extra virgin olive oils: importance of alpha-tocopherol concentration

The stability of extra virgin olive oils is mainly due to their relatively low fatty acids unsaturation and to the antioxidant activity of some of the unsaponifiable components. We studied the activity of alpha-tocopherol in extra virgin olive oil in its natural state, using new and simple oxidizing conditions in "thin layer" and "bulk phase". Oxidation time course was monitored at 37 degrees C or 75 degrees C. A storage test was also performed. Two parameters were evaluated: depletion of alpha-tocopherol and formation of PUFA hydroperoxides, measured as conjugated dienes (CD) and peroxide value. The value of complex polyphenols was also measured. alpha-Tocopherol concentration decreased in function of time and temperature and showed a strong inverse correlation with the increase of CD. When alpha-tocopherol reached a "threshold value" of 60-70 mg/kg, a significant increase of CD formation was observed, together with a good correlation between CD and peroxide value. The initial amount of alpha-tocopherol is one of the components that influences oil oxidative susceptibility.     

Flavonoids detection by HPLC-DAD-MS-MS in lemon juices from Sicilian cultivars

High-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) coupled with electronspray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was used to detect the flavonoid profile in lemon juices obtained from the main Sicilian cultivars (Femminello comune, Monachello, and Interdonato). Significant amounts of an unusual constituent were found in the lemon juice of the above-mentioned cultivars together with eriocitrin, hesperidin, and diosmin. Following purification by preparative HPLC, the structure was assigned as 6,8-di-C-glucopyranosyldiosmetin by means of DAD-UV, ESI-MS-MS, and (1)H NMR analysis. Three other minor components were also detected. One of these presented a flavone nature, and spectral data and literature references both suggested a 6,8-di-C-glucopyranosylapigenin structure. The different contents of eriocitrin, hesperidin, diosmin, and above minor components in the cultivars allow juices to be readily differentiated.     

Natural fungicides from Ruta graveolens L. leaves,including a new quinolone alkaloid

Bioassay-directed isolation of antifungal compounds from an ethyl acetate extract of Ruta graveolens leaves yielded two furanocoumarins, one quinoline alkaloid, and four quinolone alkaloids, including a novel compound, 1-methyl-2-[6'-(3' ',4' '-methylenedioxyphenyl)hexyl]-4-quinolone. The (1)H and (13)C NMR assignments of the new compound are reported. Antifungal activities of the isolated compounds, together with 7-hydroxycoumarin, 4-hydroxycoumarin, and 7-methoxycoumarin, which are known to occur in Rutaceae species, were evaluated by bioautography and microbioassay. Four of the alkaloids had moderate activity against Colletotrichum species, including a benomyl-resistant C. acutatum. These compounds and the furanocoumarins 5- and 8-methoxypsoralen had moderate activity against Fusarium oxysporum. The novel quinolone alkaloid was highly active against Botrytis cinerea. Phomopsis species were much more sensitive to most of the compounds, with P. viticola being highly sensitive to all of the compounds.