Chlorogenic acid,a metabolite identified by untargeted metabolome analysis in resistant tomatoes,inhibits the colonization by Alternaria alternata by inhibiting alternariol biosynthesis

Tomato fruits can be contaminated by saprophytic strains of Alternaria alternata which is the reason for the frequent occurrence of Alternaria toxins like alternariol, alternariol monomethylether or tenuazonic acid in these types of products. It was shown earlier that alternariol is a colonization factor for tomatoes. In the current analysis two different tomato genotypes were analysed by untargeted comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC×GC-MS). This analysis revealed clear differences in the metabolic profiles which were paralleled by differences in resistance towards Alternaria colonization. One of the genotypes was more resistant against A. alternata infection and contained high amounts of chlorogenic acid in contrast to the other genotype which was sensitive against infection. In in vitro analysis, chlorogenic acid reduced alternariol biosynthesis during the first days of growth of A. alternata. Expression analysis of the alternariol polyketide synthase gene, a key gene in the biosynthesis of alternariol, also revealed a temporal reduction in its expression in the first phases of growth. However by chromatographic analysis it could be demonstrated that chlorogenic acid was degraded over time. This degradation leads to a relief of inhibition resulting in an only temporal inhibition of alternariol biosynthesis. In vivo colonization experiments revealed that chlorogenic acid reduces colonization of tomatoes by A. alternata in a concentration dependent manner, which however is partly counteracted by the addition of alterariol.     

Effects of Early and Late Harvest on Agronomic Performance and Stability of Late Blight Resistant (R-gene Free) Potato Genotypes

Late blight is an important constraint to potato production and genotype resistance is an effective disease control mesure. Ten late blight resistant potato genotypes (R-gene free) were assessed for yield performance and stability at early (90 days) and late harvest (120 days) at two locations in Kenya during two years. Significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) in area under disease progress curves (AUDPC) were detected among potato genotypes. Resistant genotypes free of R-genes had significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher yield at late than early harvest, perhaps due to increased tuber bulking period. The rank of genotypes for AUDPC, late blight resistance, and tuber yield varied across seasons and locations (environment). Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) analysis of tuber yield and late blight resistance resulted in significant (P ≤ 0.05) effects of genotypes (G) and environments (E). The proportion of genotypic variance was larger than the environmental variance and the G × E interactions. For tuber yield, the G, E, and G × E interactions accounted for 42.9, 39.6 and 17.5%; and 53.4, 29.7, and 16.9% at early and late harvests, respectively. For AUDPC, G, E, and G × E accounted for 80.2, 5.0, and 14.8%; as well as 82.3, 4.6, and 13% for early and late harvests, respectively. The resistance of potato genotypes without R-genes varied. Selective deployment of resistant genotypes can improve potato tuber yield.     

Release and perception of ethyl butanoate during and after consumption of whey protein gels: relation between textural and physiological parameters

The influence of gel texture on parameters such as positioning of food material in the oral cavity during mastication, and salivation, and their influence on aroma release in vivo was studied. Retronasal perception was followed by means of time-resolved sensory evaluation, while volatile release patterns were observed by means of PTR-MS. A clear correlation was found between individual-specific consumption patterns and the respective sensory perception. Also, gel texture could be clearly correlated with respective physicochemical release patterns in vivo and to the corresponding retronasal aroma perception.     

The effect of dietary chitin on the autochthonous gut bacteria of Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua L.)

In the present study the impact on autochthonous (adherent) bacteria in proximal intestine (PI) and distal intestine (DI) of Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua L.) was evaluated following feeding of a control diet and a diet supplemented with 5% chitin. The autochthonous gut bacteria were investigated using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Analysis of the microbiota associated with PI and DI of Atlantic cod indicate that dietary chitin modulate the intestinal bacterial community. For example, band 25 ( Escherichia coli–like), band 14 ( Anaerorhabdus furcosa–like) and band 29 (uncultured bacterium–like) in PI were depressed by dietary chitin (P < 0.05). The number of bands (23.7 ± 5.4) in DI of fish fed chitin was marginally higher than the control fish (16.7 ± 2.1) (P = 0.065), and the relative abundances of band 6 (swine faecal bacterium–like) were marginally stimulated by dietary chitin (P = 0.095). Furthermore, the present study reports several novel sequences not previously reported in the gastrointestinal tract of Atlantic cod. Whether the dietary effect of chitin on gut bacterial community has any positive effect of fish health merits further investigations.     

Factors influencing the association between active ingredient and adjuvant in the leaf deposit of adjuvant-containing suspoemulsion formulations

BACKGROUND: For an oil adjuvant to enhance uptake of a particulate active ingredient (AI), it is hypothesised that closer association between the two should result in higher uptake. Accordingly, factors important for the spray deposit size on grapevine leaves have been investigated for a series of model suspoemulsion formulations containing colloidal crystalline AI or fluorescent pigment particles and an emulsion of an oil adjuvant with different degrees of wetting and different spray volumes. RESULTS: Low spray volumes (<100 L ha(-1)) produced small deposits with high particle-adjuvant association. Complementary uptake studies showed increased uptake with decreasing deposit size, in agreement with the above hypothesis. Higher spray volumes produced larger deposits that consisted of annuli formed by pinning of the contact line by particles. Low surfactant concentrations favoured particles in the annulus and adjuvant separated in the centre. Intermediate surfactant concentrations produced annuli containing both particles and adjuvant, while with high surfactant concentrations the deposits were large with few annuli.CONCLUSIONS: Small deposits result in high AI-adjuvant association. With larger deposits, annulus structures allow for enhanced AI-adjuvant association (5-20 times greater). The formation of annuli appears to be important in enhancing the biodelivery of particulate AIs in adjuvant-containing suspoemulsion formulations at intermediate spray volumes.     

Influence of compost/sludge application on sugarcane yield and nitrogen requirement on a sand soil

Mineral soils in southern Florida are very low in organic matter content and most of the nitrogen (N) for sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) must be supplied in split fertilizer applications. Information is needed regarding how the interaction of organic amendments and fertilizer N influences sugarcane yields. A field study on a sand soil (Alfisol) was established to determine (1) potential sugarcane yield benefits of a compost/sludge amendment, and (2) the influence of the amendment on N fertilizer requirement. A split-plot Latin square design was used with five N rates (main plots) and presence or absence of compost/sludge broadcast at 113 m³ ha^?1 (subplots). Annual N rates were 0, 67, 134, 202, and 269 kg N ha^?1. Compost/sludge application increased cumulative t sucrose ha^?1 by 36% averaged across N rates. The amendment also lowered annual N requirement by an average of 38%, but maintenance applications of compost/sludge will be required every four years.     

Biological P cycling is influenced by the form of P fertilizer in an Oxisol

Phosphate rock (PR) is an alternative fertilizer to increase the P content of P-deficient weathered soils. We evaluated the effects of fertilizer form on indicators of biological cycling of P using an on-farm trial on a Rhodic Kandiudox in western Kenya. Treatment plots were sampled after 13 cropping seasons of P applications as Minjingu phosphate rock (PR) or as triple super phosphate (?TSP) (50 kg P ha^?1 season^?1), as well as a P-unfertilized control (0 kg P ha^?1 season^?1). Soils (0–15 and 15–30 cm) were analyzed for microbial biomass P (P_mic), activities of acid phosphomonoesterase, alkaline phosphomonoesterase, and phosphodiesterase, and sequentially extractable P fractions. P additions as Minjingu PR yielded 299% greater P_mic than TSP at 0–15-cm depth despite similar labile P concentrations in the two P fertilization treatments and stimulated activities of acid phosphomonoesterase (+39%). When added in the soluble form of TSP, a greater percentage of total soil P was present in mineral-bound forms (+33% Fe- and Al-associated P). Higher soil pH under Minjingu PR (pH 5.35) versus TSP (pH 5.02) and the P-unfertilized treatment (pH 4.69) at 0–15-cm depth reflected a liming effect of Minjingu PR. The form of P fertilizer can influence biological P cycling in weathered soils, potentially improving P availability under Minjingu PR relative to TSP via enhanced microbial biomass P and enzymatic drivers of P cycling.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Colletotrichum acutatum</Emphasis> occurs asymptomatically on sweet cherry leaves

Leaves of sweet cherry, exposed to either paraquat or freezing to quickly senesce the leaf tissue, were incubated in about 100% RH at 25°C for 6 d. Sporulating colonies of Colletotrichum acutatum, the cause of anthracnose, developed on up to 100% of the paraquat-treated and frozen leaves, and on none of the untreated controls. Number of leaves and leaf area containing C. acutatum on naturally infected leaves increased over time from May to September. Mean incidence of C. acutatum on leaf blades on fruit spurs and vegetative shoots from eight orchard/year samplings were 41 and 33%, respectively. Secondary conidiation (formation of short hyphae and new conidia) from conidia applied to detached leaves took place 6 h after inoculation, but only up to 3% of the conidia formed new conidia. It may be concluded that asymptomatic sweet cherry leaves frequently host C. acutatum and may be a potential inoculum source for cherry fruit.