A case study of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus globulus</Emphasis> fingerprinting for breeding

• Introduction  

Tree genetic improvement programs usually lack, in general, pedigree information. Since molecular markers can be used to estimate the level of genetic similarity between individuals, we genotyped a sample of a Portuguese Eucalyptus globulus breeding population—a reference population of 125 individuals—with 16 microsatellites (SSR).     

Bovine blood components: fractionation, composition, and nutritive value

The objective of this research work was to fractionate bovine blood, collected hygienically in a slaughterhouse, into blood plasma protein concentrate, red blood cell concentrate, globin isolate, and a carboxymethylcellulose-heme iron (CMC-heme) complex. All four fractions were studied for proximate composition and amino acid and mineral contents. The nutritive value of plasma protein concentrate and globin isolate was comparatively studied using rat bioassays. The amino acid content in plasma protein concentrate is well balanced and produced net protein utilization and net protein ratio equivalent to 95% those of casein. Globin isolate ( approximately 91% protein) is deficient in isoleucine and S-containing amino acids and was unable to support rat growth at 10% concentration in the diet. Red blood cell concentrate and the isolated CMC-heme complex were good sources of bioavailable iron. Iron availabilities for CMC-heme and whole blood cell concentrate, related to ferrous sulfate as 100%, were 64 and 70%, respectively.     

Determination of Organic Mercury in Biota, Plants and Contaminated Sediments Using a Thermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Technique

A simple, rapid procedure for the determination of organic mercury in sediments, plants and fish tissues has been developed and validated. Extraction and separation of organic mercury compounds from the sample matrix was achieved by an established procedure based on an acid leaching of the sample (H₂SO₄/KBr/CuSO₄), followed by extraction of the organic mercury halide with toluene and back-extraction with an aqueous solution of thiosulphate. Detection and quantification of mercury, in the liquid extracts, was made by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), following thermal decomposition of the sample. The method was evaluated using Certified Reference Material (CRM) BCR 463 (tuna fish), BCR 580 (estuarine sediment), IAEA-140TM (sea plant homogenate) and NRCC TORT-2 (lobster hepathopancreas). The recovery factors for organic mercury in all tested CRM were between 81–107%. The precision of the method has relative standard deviations of less than 10% for sediments and fish tissues and of less than 16% for plant material. The method was successfully applied to natural samples of sediments, plants, macroalgae and fish tissues collected from an estuarine ecosystem and could, therefore, be used for routine analyses.     

Free amino acid composition of quince (Cydonia oblonga Miller) fruit (pulp and peel) and jam

Twenty-one free amino acids present in several samples of quince fruit (pulp and peel) and quince jam (homemade and industrially manufactured) were analyzed by GC/FID. The analyses showed some differences between quince pulps and peels. Generally, the highest content in total free amino acids and in glycine was found in peels. As a general rule, the three major free amino acids detected in pulps were aspartic acid, asparagine, and hydroxyproline. For quince peels, usually, the three most abundant amino acids were glycine, aspartic acid, and asparagine. Similarly, for quince jams the most important free amino acids were aspartic acid, asparagine, and glycine or hydroxyproline. This study suggests that the free amino acid analysis can be useful for the evaluation of quince jam authenticity. It seems that glycine percentage can be used for the detection of quince peel addition while high alanine content can be related to pear addition.     

Characterization of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) grown with biopesticides and deltamethrin

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physico-chemical characteristics and the post-harvest loss of mass of curly lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cv. Verônica that was grown in a protective environment with applications of biopesticides. The curly lettuce was treated by spraying with neem oil, cassava flour wastewater (manipueira), biofertiliser or the control treatment of deltamethrin. We determined the weight, circumference, dry matter, ash, crude protein, total phenols and minerals profile for the heads of lettuce. After harvesting, the lettuce was packed into opened plastic bags and kept at 5 °C for 5 days to evaluate its weight loss. No differences were observed among the treatments for the physico-chemical parameters. The lettuce that was sprayed with manipueira or biofertiliser had the greatest weight loss during storage. The achievement of similar yields with cheaper products suggests a benefit of using organic bioinsecticides.     

Influence of condensed tannin on intake, digestibility, and efficiency of protein utilization in beef steers fed high concentrate diet

This trial was conducted to evaluate if the effect of condensed tannin (CT) is associated with a true protein source on intake, ruminal and total digestibility, ruminal digestion rate, protein efficiency, and microbial efficiency in beef steers fed high concentrate diet (87% of DM). Four Bos indicus steers (407 ± 12 kg of BW) fitted with rumen cannula were assigned to a 4 × 4 Latin square design, arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Treatments consisted of either inclusion (0.4% of DM) or exclusion of condensed tannin (CT) from quebracho extract (76% of CT) with or without the use of soybean meal (SBM) as source of true protein. The level of inclusion was calculated to provide a daily intake of 1 g/10 kg of BW of CT. Intake of DM and nutrients was not affected (P > 0.10) by CT inclusion. However, there was an effect (P < 0.10) of CT inclusion on ether extract digestibility. An interaction (P < 0.10) was observed between CT and SBM on ruminal digestibility and digestion rate of crude protein (CP): when mixed with soybean meal, CT decreased the ruminal digestibility and, consequently, reduced the digestion rate of CP. Intake of CP increased (P < 0.10) with the inclusion of SBM. No differences in DM passage rate were observed (P > 0.10) among treatments. Effects of the interaction (P < 0.10) between CT and SBM were observed on flux of rumen undegradable protein (RUP), metabolizable protein (MP), and on the ratio MP:CP. In the presence of soybean meal, the addition of CT increased (P < 0.10) the flux of RUP and MP, and improved the ratio MP:CP. The yield of microbial protein on the abomasum and the microbial efficiency did not differ among treatments (P > 0.10). There was no difference (P > 0.10) on the pH, VFA, and ruminal ammonia (N-NH₃) with the addition of condensed tannin. The N-NH₃ increased and the ruminal pH decreased with the inclusion of soybean meal (P < 0.10). The utilization of condensed tannin as an additive in beef cattle diets with high level of concentrate and soybean meal as a source of true protein implies positive effects on crude protein utilization, decreasing digestion rate and ruminal digestibility of crude protein and consequently increasing the levels of metabolizable protein, with no changes in the ruminal fermentation parameters.     

Input of Atmospheric Particles into Forest Stands by Dry Deposition

In this study the dry input of atmospheric particles into a forest stand is quantified. A wash-off-method using the natural leaf surfaces as collectors of the dry deposition was chosen. The direct on-site-measurement on living branches were achieved in a spruce stand (Picea abies (L.) Karst) at Solling, Germany. The ion exchange processes occurring on natural branches can reliably be quantified through immediate sequential washings. In order to calculate also the gas dry deposition of those trace elements which occur in both particle and gas phases, a resistance model was used. From these results the deposition velocity of particulate aerosol components into the forest stand was calculated. Dry particle deposition constitutes an important part of the total matter input into the forest ecosystem. Just the nitrogen input into Solling only by dry deposition (from particle-, mist-, and gas-deposition) with about 30 kg N ha^?1 a^?1 already exceeds the critical load of 20 kg N ha^?1 a^?1 by far, and this is without even considering the additional load by wet deposition which amounts to 15 kg ha^?1 a^?1. These findings are of greatest ecological importance, as the damage to the stability of the forest ecosystem caused by increased nitrogen input is considerable. Only a quick and drastic reduction of sulphur and nitrogen emissions could stop the further increase of the nutritient imbalance and the progressing acidification of this ecosystem.     

High-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and multivariate analysis for the characterization of beer

Beer contains a very complex mixture of nutrients, which in this work are identified to some extent by high-field high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) one- and two-dimensional methods. The (1)H NMR spectrum of beer shows a predominance of strongly overlapped peaks arising from several carbohydrates. Minor components are clearly observed both in the aliphatic and in the aromatic regions of the spectrum. With the aid of two-dimensional methods, spectral assignment was carried out, enabling the identification of approximately 30 compounds and identifying about the same number of spin systems for further assignment. The variability of the spectral profile of beers differing in type and label was studied by principal component analysis (PCA), and it was found that, although some distinction is achieved on the basis of the aliphatic and sugar compositions, clearer separation between ales and lagers is obtained by PCA of the aromatic profiles alone. The potential of this technique as a rapid and informative quality control tool is discussed.     

High-resolution NMR and diffusion-ordered spectroscopy of port wine

The use of high-resolution NMR and high-resolution diffusion-ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) for the characterization of selected Port wine samples of different ages with the aim of identifying changes in composition is described. Conventional 1D and 2D NMR methods enabled the identification of about 35 compounds, including minor components such as some medium-chain alcohols, amino acids, and organic acids. High-resolution (HR) DOSY extended sample characterization, increasing the number of compounds identified and NMR assignments made, by providing information on the relative molecular sizes of the metabolites present. Port wines of different ages were found to differ mainly in their content of (a) organic acids and some amino acids, (b) an unidentified possible disaccharide, and (c) large aromatic species. The relative amount of these last high Mw aromatics is seen to decrease significantly in the oldest wine, as expected from the known formation and precipitation of anthocyanin-based polymers during red wine aging.