Structural ripening-related changes of the arabinan-rich pectic polysaccharides from olive pulp cell walls

In this study, the structural features and ripening-related changes that occur in the arabinan-rich pectic polysaccharides highly enmeshed in the cellulosic matrix of the olive pulp fruit were evaluated. These pectic polysaccharides, obtained from two consecutive harvests at green, cherry, and black ripening stages, account for 11-19% of the total pectic polysaccharides found in the olive pulp cell walls and were previously shown to occur as calcium chelating dimers. On the basis of the 13C NMR, (1H, 13C) gHSQC, 2D COSYPR, and (1H,13C) gHMBC carbon and proton resonances of the variously linked arabinosyl residues, we propose a tentative structure. This structure is particularly characterized by T-beta-Araf (1-->5)-linked to (1-->3,5)-Araf residues and by the occurrence of branched and linear blocks in the arabinan backbone. Methylation analysis showed that these pectic polysaccharides of black olives have more arabinan side chains, which were shorter (less (1-->5)-Araf), highly branched (more (1-->3,5)-Araf), and with shorter side chains (fewer (1-->3)-Araf) than those of green and cherry olives. Quantitative 13C NMR data indicated that these modifications involved the disappearance of the characteristic terminally linked beta-Araf residue of the arabinans. This odd feature can be used as a diagnostic tool in the evaluation of the stage of ripening of this fruit, as well as a marker for the presence of olive pulp in matrices containing pectic polysaccharides samples.     

Transformation of bioactive compounds by Fusarium sacchari fungus isolated from the soil-cultivated ginseng

Ginsenoside bioactive compounds, namely, compound K (C-K), compound Mx (C-Mx), and ginsenoside Mc (G-Mc), were the metabolites of ginsenosides Rb 1, Rb 2, Rb 3, and Rc by intestinal microflora of humans or rats, microorganisms, and enzymes, and C-K showed beneficial effects in vitro and in vivo as an antitumoral agent. The objective of this work was to explore an efficient procedure for biotransformation of these bioactive compounds. Thus, a filamentous fungus, Fusarium sacchari, was first obtained from the soil-cultivated ginseng, which was verified to possess a potent capacity of transformation of C-K, C-Mx, and G-Mc. The optimal biotransformation conditions of F. sacchari with C-K, C-Mx, and G-Mc were obtained as follows: transforming temperature, 30 degrees C; transforming time, 6 days; rotary speed, 160 rpm; pH of the medium, 5.5. HPLC analysis indicated that these three bioactive compounds were key metabolites and their structures were confirmed by (1)H and (13)C NMR analysis. Moreover, the in vitro antitumor activities of C-K, C-Mx, and G-Mc and the in vivo antitumor activities of the transformed product mainly containing these compounds were also evaluated. Among C-K, C-Mx, and G-Mc, C-K exhibited the most potent antitumor activities. The in vivo study showed that the transformed products by F. sacchari had much more antitumor activity than those of commonly used ginsenoside Rg3 and Paclitaxel.     

Stem mapping and estimating standing volume from stereoscopic hemispherical images

Sustainable forest management requires knowledge of forest structure and dynamics as well as an estimation of growing stock. The forest inventory provides the data for estimating stand variables. The measurement device MU2005-01738, patented by the Center for Forest Research (INIA-CIFOR), provides stereoscopic hemispherical images which can allow the 3D restoration of the stand around the sampling point. The aim of this study is to develop a methodology for forest stand mapping as well as tree diameter and height measurement along with volume estimation from the stereoscopic hemispherical images provided by the MU2005-01738. Using the MU2005-01738, Eucalyptus globulus Labill. plantations were sampled. Distance, diameter, height and volume were derived from the stereoscopic hemispherical images of 30 trees located at distances ranging from 0 to 15 m from the device. These variables were then compared with field measurements and the estimation errors analyzed. The (root-mean-squared error) RMSE was 0.23 m (8.95 %) for tree position and 1.51 cm (10.43 %) for diameter at breast height measurement at distances of less than 8 m. In the case of stem height and individual tree volume estimation, the RMSE was 2.59 m (23.05 %) and 0.025 m³ (17.94 %), respectively. The analysis of measurement errors indicated that the measurement precision decreases beyond 8 m from the device as well as for directions close to the baseline (the line between the optical centers of the two images), whereas the precision was highest for directions near to the line which is perpendicular to the base line. Future research should focus on improving measurement accuracy and possible applications in the field of forestry of the techniques presented in this study.     

Circumferential variation of heartwood and stem quality in maritime pine stems

Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) is an important timber and pulpwood species covering about 4 million ha in Portugal, Spain and France. This work studied the cross-sectional distribution of heartwood and sapwood along the stem using 3D modelling on 20 trees. The target was to assess the potential of this species for the industrial production of heartwood sawn products. The maritime pine stems were characterized by wide sapwood of 10 cm, in average, and the presence of heartwood at all height levels with constant diameter up to 35 % tree height, decreasing afterwards. In the radial section, the heartwood follows a circumferential-like shape which changes along the stem. Pith eccentricity index values were low and homogeneous regarding to stem and higher for heartwood. Heartwood cross-sectional shape was constant up to 45 % of total height of the tree and more elongated upwards. The constant heartwood diameter, low taper and pith eccentricity index, and an approximate circular shape up to 10 m height indicated these species’ potential to produce solid wood products made out of heartwood.     

Optimization of experimental infection protocols for the estimation of genetic parameters of resistance to White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) in Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei

Two infection protocols, individual oral (IO) and waterborne infection (WB), were evaluated to challenge Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei with White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV). Five different batches of full and half-sib families were infected experimentally and tested for growth performance under commercial growth conditions. The genetic variance for WSSV resistance was estimated using a linear sire-dam repeatability model that considers test-day survival as the dependent variable. The heritability estimates using the IO protocol ranged from 0.01 ± 0.00 to 0.02 ± 0.01, whereas the heritability estimates using the WB infection protocol were not significantly different from zero. The genetic correlations measured as the product moment correlation between full-sib family breeding values for resistance to WSSV and harvest body weight in ponds were unfavourable in three of the five batches and favourable in one of them. The dosage of WSSV was better controlled with IO oral infection than with other methods, with all animals being exposed to approximately the same risk of infection at the same time. This should improve the accuracy of the genetic parameters and hence improve the accuracy of the breeding values. It should, however, be noted that once the outbreak was established and the mortalities began, the shape and the magnitude of the slope of the mortality curves showed little difference in the infection pattern between batches irrespective of the dosage and infection protocol, and in most of the cases the cumulative mortality was greater than 80%. The main reason for this is probably the high densities of animals in the tanks needed for the genetic evaluations.     

Microsatellite variability in natural populations of the blackspot seabream Pagellus bogaraveo (Brünnick, 1768): a database to access parentage assignment in aquaculture

Eight microsatellite loci previously reported were assessed for their utility in parentage assignment in 96 individuals belonging to natural populations of the blackspot seabream Pagellus bogaraveo (Brünnick, 1768) from the Mediterranean and Northeast Atlantic regions. At the mtDNA level, no differentiation was found between these two regions but based on microsatellite data an overall discrete genetic differentiation is perceivable between the two regions separated by the Strait of Gibraltar. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 8 to 30. A database constructed with allele frequency data from six populations was used in a simulation parentage assignment test using the software cervus . The test showed that the number of markers used is enough to perform parentage assignments with real data. The polymorphic information content for each locus was very high (mean value of 0.849), with a total exclusionary power of 0.9995. In summary, seven of the eight microsatellites analysed proved to be sufficient and powerful tools for parentage assignment in hatcheries and the allele frequency data given here can be used to perform pedigree analysis against which real data may be tested.     

Changes in the Solubility of Corn Proteins through Interaction with the Arabinoxylans in Extruded Nixtamalized Corn Flour Treated with Xylanase

The extrusion process allows the production of nixtamalized corn flour rich in arabinoxylans, which help to prevent cardiovascular and intestinal diseases. During extrusion, physiochemical properties of nixtamalized corn flour are negatively modified. The use of enzymes such as xylanase in order to obtain nixtamalized corn flour using extrusion has been studied as an alternative to reduce these changes in corn flour tortilla. The aim of this research was to evaluate changes in protein solubility of extruded nixtamalized corn flour with and without different concentrations of xylanase enzyme (0.05, 0.075, and 0.1 %, w/w). Soluble proteins of each corn flour were extracted and analyzed by SE-HPLC, while insoluble proteins were determined by the combustion method. In addition, each corn flour was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results showed that the extruded nixtamalized corn flour, with and without xylanase, increased the protein solubility, and this effect was lower in extruded nixtamalized corn flour with xylanase. Insoluble protein diminished in corn flours either with or without xylanase enzyme. The addition of xylanase reduces the effect that the extrusion process has on the solubility proteins of extruded nixtamalized corn flour.     

Cytogenetic variation in somatic tissue cultures and regenerated plants of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Summary Chromosome number of morphogenic and non-morphogenic calli and regenerated plants of barley were determined. Cultures were obtained from two kinds of explants, immature embryos and seedling leaves from three cultivars, Ingrid, Dissa and Golden Promise. Callus chromosome analyses were carried out during a 12 month period in a medium containing 2 mg/l of 2,4-D. Diploid cells were predominant in all cases; although in leaf-derived cultures, retraploid cells (2n=4x=28) showed a tendency to increase as time in culture increased and after more than six months in culture, diploid cells decreased to percentages of almost 70%. Aneuploid cells were generally infrequent in all cases. The source of explant has been more important than the genotype (cultivar) and the type of callus (morphogenic vs. non-morphogenic) in the chromosomal stability of cultures as time increases. From short term cultures, only 1.85% of the regenerated plants were tetraploid, the remaining were diploids. The ability of morphogenic calli to regenerate plants decreased before any significant reduction of diploid cells were observed.