Metabolic dependence of green tea on plucking positions revisited: a metabolomic study

The dependence of global green tea metabolome on plucking positions was investigated through (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis coupled with multivariate statistical data set. Pattern recognition methods, such as principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal projection on latent structure-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), were employed for a finding metabolic discrimination among fresh green tea leaves plucked at different positions from young to old leaves. In addition to clear metabolic discrimination among green tea leaves, elevations in theanine, caffeine, and gallic acid levels but reductions in catechins, such as epicatechin (EC), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG), and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), glucose, and sucrose levels were observed, as the green tea plant grows up. On the other hand, the younger the green tea leaf is, the more theanine, caffeine, and gallic acid but the lesser catechins accumlated in the green tea leaf, revealing a reverse assocation between theanine and catechins levels due to incorporaton of theanine into catechins with growing up green tea plant. Moreover, as compared to the tea leaf, the observation of marked high levels of theanine and low levels of catechins in green tea stems exhibited a distinct tea plant metabolism between the tea leaf and the stem. This metabolomic approach highlights taking insight to global metabolic dependence of green tea leaf on plucking position, thereby providing distinct information on green tea production with specific tea quality.     

Dose and release pattern of anabolic implants affects growth of finishing beef steers across days on feed

Four experiments evaluated the effect of implant dose and release pattern on performance and carcass traits of crossbred beef steers. In Exp. 1, steers (4 to 7 pens/treatment; initial BW = 315 kg) were fed an average of 174 d. Treatments were 1) no implant (NI); 2) Revalor-S [120 mg of trenbolone acetate (TBA) and 24 mg of estradiol 17β (E(2)); REV-S]; 3) Revalor-IS followed by REV-S (cumulatively 200 mg of TBA and 40 mg of E(2); reimplanted at 68 to 74 d; REV-IS/S); and 4) Revalor-XS (200 mg of TBA and 40 mg of E(2); REV-X). Carcass-adjusted final BW was greater (P < 0.05) for REV-X and REV-IS/S than for REV-S (610, 609, and 598 kg, respectively). Daily DMI did not differ (P > 0.10) among the 3 implants, but carcass-adjusted G:F was greater (P < 0.05) for REV-X and REV-IS/S than for REV-S (0.197 and 0.195 vs. 0.188). Both HCW and LM area were greater (P < 0.05) for REV-X and REV-IS/S than for REV-S. Marbling scores were greatest (P < 0.05) for REV-S and least (P < 0.05) for REV-IS/S; REV-X was intermediate to NI and REV-IS/S. In Exp. 2, steers (10 pens/treatment; initial BW = 391 kg) were fed 131 d, with treatments of REV-S, REV-IS/S (reimplanted at 44 to 47 d), and REV-X. Carcass-adjusted final BW (598 kg), ADG (1.6 kg), DMI (9.4 kg), G:F (0.17), and HCW did not differ (P > 0.10) among treatments. The percentage of Choice was less (P < 0.05) and percentage of Select greater (P < 0.05) for REV-IS/S than for REV-S and REV-X. In Exp. 3, steers (10 pens/treatment; initial BW = 277 kg) were fed 197 d and received either REV-IS/S (reimplanted at 90 to 103 d) or REV-X. Carcass-adjusted final BW (625 vs. 633 kg) and ADG (1.81 vs. 1.76 kg) were greater (P < 0.05) for REV-X-implanted steers. Daily DMI did not differ, but G:F tended (P < 0.10) to be increased and HCW was greater (P < 0.05) for REV-X than for REV-IS/S. In Exp. 4, steers (8 pens/treatment; initial BW = 238 kg) were fed 243 d and received either REV-IS/S (reimplanted at 68 to 71 d) or REV-X. Carcass-adjusted final BW (612 kg), ADG (1.54 kg), DMI (7.55), and G:F (0.21) did not differ (P > 0.10) for REV-IS/S and REV-X-implanted steers. Carcass traits did not differ among implants, but the percentage of Choice carcasses was greater (P < 0.05) and percentage of Select was less (P < 0.05) for REV-X than for REV-IS/S. These data indicate that when TBA/E(2) dose is equal, the altered release rate of REV-X can improve performance and quality grade, but these effects depend on duration of the feeding period and timing of initial and terminal implants.     

Detection and characterization of bovine-like coronaviruses from four species of zoo ruminants

Five coronaviruses (CoVs) were detected in diarrheal feces from four zoo ruminant species: one wisent (Bison bonasus), two Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus), one sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekii), and one nyala (Tragelaphus angasii). We sequenced and analyzed the spike (S) and hemagglutinin/esterase (HE) genes of these viruses and compared the nucleotide (nt) and deduced amino acid (aa) sequences with those of other bovine CoV (BcoV) strains. Comparison of the entire deduced aa sequences of the S and HE glycoproteins revealed no specific differences that would account for discrimination between bovine-like CoV strains from zoo ruminants and BcoVs strains. In addition, the 99.9% aa identity among the five CoV strains revealed that the ruminants were infected by the same strain. Phylogenetically, bovine-like CoVs belong to group 2a CoVs, which are related most closely to the BcoV strains recently isolated in Korea. These data suggest that cattle are potential reservoirs for CoVs that are capable of infecting zoo ruminants.     

Removal of Phosphate from Aqueous Solution by Functionalized Mesoporous Materials

In the present study, the applications of mesoporous materials based on silica, namely post-synthesized, one-pot synthesized, and pure MCM-41, were investigated for the removal of phosphate from aqueous solution. The mesostructures were confirmed by X-ray diffraction, Brunauer?CEmmett?CTeller, Fourier transform spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The absorptions of phosphate by the mesoporous adsorbents were examined, with different adsorption models used to describe the equilibrium and kinetic data. The maximum adsorption capacities of the mesostructure adsorbents were found to be 45.162, 40.806, and 31.123 mg g^?C1 for the post-synthesized, one-pot synthesized, and pure MCM-41, respectively. The kinetic data showed that the adsorptions of phosphate onto the post-synthesized and pure MCM-41 followed the pseudo-first-order kinetic model, whereas the one-pot synthesized adsorbent was described by the pseudo-second-order model.     

Visualizing Meiotic Chromosome Pairing and Segregation in Interspecific Hybrids of Rice by Genomic in situ Hybridization

Meiotic disturbances in F1 hybrids and their progenies are still major problems in wide hybridization.To investigate the genome affinity reflected in chromosome pairing and segregation,we studied chromosome behaviors during meiosis in two interspecific F1 hybrids[O.minuta×O.australiensis(Om×Oa,BCE genome)and Oa×O.ridleyi(Or,EHJ genome)]by using both traditional staining methods and genomic in situ hybridization(GISH).GISH analysis has been successfully performed on mitotic chromosomes to distinguish different Oryza genomes,but relatively fewer systematic analyses of meiotic chromosomes of interspecific hybrids have been reported.In the hybrids,highly irregular chromosome behaviors through meiosis resulted in producing microspores with unbalanced genome.At diakinesis of these two hybrids,most chromosomes present as univalent,with low frequency as bivalents and occasionally as trivalents.In a pollen mother cell,2 to 8 bivalents and 0 to 4 trivalents were observed in the hybrid Oa×Or,and 1 to 8 bivalents and 0 to 5 trivalents were observed in the hybrid Om×Oa.GISH results indicated that 51.52%bivalents in Oa×Or and 79.65%bivalents in Om×Oa involved allosyndetic association,which indicates that recombination and introgression should be possible if viable backcrosses can be recovered even from triploid hybrids.In this study,we revealed that the meiotic disturbance due to low affinities between parental genomes is the major reason for the sterility of these two triploid interspecific hybrids.The two hybrids showing vigor in reproductive growth are potential genetic resources in future breeding programs.A better understanding of genomic affinities between these distant Oryza species can facilitate planning an effective breeding program by using wide hybridization,and efficient and routine GISH analysis is helpful to monitor alien introgression in the process.     

Characteristics of phosphorus accumulation in soils under organic and conventional farming in plastic film houses in Korea

Organic farming (OF) is a fast growing alternative for sustainable agriculture in Korea. However, information on the effects of OF on the soil properties and environmental conservation is limited. In order to determine the effects of OF on the soil properties, 31 fields under OF (hereafter referred to as "OF fields") and 61 fields under conventional farming (CF) (hereafter referred to as "CF fields") in plastic film houses were selected throughout Korea and the soil chemical properties were investigated, including the P distribution characteristics. Average organic matter (OM) content was significantly higher (44 g kg^-1) in the OF fields then in the CF fields (24 g kg^-1). Bray-2 P values were 986 and 935 mg kg^-1 in the OF and CF soils, respectively, markedly exceeding the optimum range. Average total P (T-P) values were 2,973 mg kg^-1 in the OF fields and 1,830 mg kg^-1 in the CF fields. The high T-P values were due to repeated application of manure compost with a low N/P ratio. Inorganic P was the dominant fraction with 62–65% of T-P. The amounts of residual and organic P were significantly lower. The level of OF organic P was significantly higher (453 mg kg^-1) compared to the 106 mg kg^-1 value for the CF fields. Fractionation of soil inorganic P showed that Ca-P predominated with 1,332 mg kg^-1 in the OF fields, which was associated with soil pH values over 6.0. The main inorganic P fraction in the CF soils whose pH values were generally less than 6.0 consisted of Al-/Fe-P. The levels of water-soluble P was significantly higher (65 mg kg^-1) in the OF fields than in the CF fields (24 mg kg^-1). These results indicated that the OF system may lead to a serious degradation of the soil environment due to the accumulation of phosphorus and may be an important source of water pollution compared to the CF systems in Korea.