Chemical and Morphological Characteristics of New Clones and Commercial Varieties of Globe Artichoke (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cynara cardunculus</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">scolymus</Emphasis>)

The globe artichoke is a widely consumed vegetable in the Mediterranean Basin, with Italy being the leading producer. In southern Italy, its cultivation contributes to local economic stability and social development. The producers are increasingly choosing to replace autochthonous varieties, such as ‘Violetto di Sicilia’, with cultivars bred or selected outside of the region, putting pressure on the maintenance of traditional varieties. Here, we have undertaken a detailed morphological and chemical analysis of a group of clones selected from a population of ‘Violetto di Sicilia’. All the traits measured displayed genetic variation, particularly the total content of phenolics and minerals. The capitula of the ‘Violetto di Sicilia’ clones contained, on average, 6.3 g kg⁻¹ of fresh weight total phenolics, compared with 4.5 g kg⁻¹ in the two commercial varieties. The clones also had more inulin than commercial varieties (254 vs. 225 g kg⁻¹ of dry matter), as well as a good mineral content. The set of clones is of interest in the context of the proposed improvement of the crop through breeding and selection of genotypes with high nutritional quality and a specific end-use (industrial processing or fresh consumption).     

Preservation causes shrinkage in seahorses: implications for biological studies and for managing sustainable trade with minimum size limits

• 1. The implications of shrinkage associated with desiccation and ethanol preservation for seahorses (genus Hippocampus) were investigated using Hippocampus guttulatus (European long‐snouted seahorse) as a model. Specifically, this research addressed the implications of preservation for taxonomy and life history studies and the application of minimum size limits (MSL) for managing seahorse trade.
• 2. In 2004, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) listed all seahorse species on its Appendix II, and recommended a 10 cm MSL as an interim means of ensuring sustainable international trade. Inconsistencies in seahorse measurement methods and repeatability posed challenges for applying the MSL. Moreover, the shrinking effect of desiccation on body length observed in other fish was assumed to be negligible for seahorses because of their high degree of ossification.
• 3. Changes in seahorse sizes were measured following immersion in ethanol and desiccation. H. guttulatus shrank on average by 0.1–2.3% when preserved in ethanol and 3.0–6.4% when dried, depending on the trait measured. Similar trends were observed in a sample of H. kuda (yellow seahorse). Specimen posture during drying, and measurement methods also influenced estimates of size.
• 4. Based on the shrinkage observed, 14–44% of captured seahorses that are dried could shrink to below the recommended MSL, even if all seahorses were longer than the MSL at capture. This demonstrates that small changes in body lengths can have significant implications for trade of species managed with size limits.
• 5. Recommendations are to (1) standardize seahorse measurement methods, (2) consider the effects of preservation and measurement technique on body lengths, and apply appropriate corrections in comparative studies and when developing fisheries management strategies, and (3) adjust size limits at the point of capture to ensure retained seahorses comply with the CITES recommended MSL.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reduced high intensity training distance had no effect on VLa4 but attenuated heart rate response in 2-3-year-old Standardbred horses

Background

Training of Standardbred race horses aims to improve cardiovascular and metabolic functions but studies on the effects of different training strategies from breaking till racing are lacking. Sixteen horses with the goal to race as 3-year-olds were studied from breaking (1-year-olds) to December as 3-year-olds. Horses were allocated to either a control (C) or reduced (R) training program from 2 years of age. The aim was to evaluate the effect of reducing the distance of high intensity exercise by 30% with respect to velocity at lactate concentration 4 mmol/l (V_La4), blood lactate and cardiovascular response. All training sessions were documented and heart rate (HR) was recorded. A standardized exercise test of 1,600 m was performed 10 times and a V_La4 test was performed five times.

Results

C horses initially exercised for a longer time with a HR >180 beats per minute compared to R horses (P < 0.05) but after 6–9 months, time with HR >180 bpm decreased in C and were similar in the two groups (P > 0.05). Over the 2-year period, recovery HR after the 1,600 m-test decreased in both groups but was within 2 months lower in C than in R (P < 0.05). C horses also had lower resting HR as 3-year-olds (P < 0.01) than R horses. In C, post exercise hematocrit was higher than in R (P < 0.05). There was a tendency (P < 0.1) towards a larger aortic diameter in C as 3-year-olds (C: 1.75 ± 0.05, R: 1.70 ± 0.05 cm/100 kg BW). Left ventricle diameter and blood volume (in December as 2-year-olds) did not differ between groups. There were no differences between groups in post exercise blood lactate concentration or in V_La4. Both groups were equally successful in reaching the goal of participation in races.

Conclusions

Horses subjected to a reduced distance of high intensity training from the age of 2 showed an attenuated heart rate response, but were able to maintain the same V_La4 and race participation as horses subjected to longer training distances.     

Effects of pulsation rate and viscosity on pulsation-induced taste enhancement: new insights into texture-taste interactions

Oral stimulation with high-tastant concentrations that are alternared with low-tastant concentrations or water rinses (pulsatile stimulation) results in taste intensity ratings that are higher than continuous stimulation with the same average tastant concentration. This study tested the combined effects of taste pulsation rate and viscosity on pulsation-induced taste enhancement in apple juice. According to a tastant-kinetics hypothesis, less pulsation-induced taste enhancement is expected at enhanced pulsation rates in the high-viscous proximal stimulus compared to lower viscous stimuli. High-concentration sucrose apple juice pulses and low-concentration sucrose apple juice intervals were alternated at different pulsation periods (pulse + interval in seconds) every 2.5 s (period length = 5 s) or every 1.25 s (period length = 2.5 s). Pulsed stimuli were presented at two viscosity levels by the addition of pectin (0 and 10 g/L). Sweetness intensities of pulsed stimuli were compared to a continuous reference of the same net but nonalternating sucrose concentration. Sweetness ratings were higher for pulsatile stimuli than for continuous stimuli. In low-viscous stimuli, enhancement depended on the pulsation period and peaked at 5 s periods. In high-viscous stimuli, the same enhancement was observed for both pulsation periods. These results contradict a tastant-kinetics hypothesis of viscosity-induced taste suppression because impaired tastant kinetics by viscosity would predict the opposite: lower pulsation-induced taste enhancement for viscous stimuli, especially at higher pulsation rates. Instead, these observations favor an explanation based on perceptual texture-taste interactions, which predict the observed independence between viscosity and pulsation rate.     

The effect of BAY SIR 8514, diflubenzuron,and Hercules 24108 on growth and development ofTribolium confusum

Phytoparasitica - The effect of BAY SIR 8514, diflubenzuron and Hercules 24108 on larval growth, pupation and emergence ofTribolium confusum was determined. BAY SIR 8514 was about twice as active...     

Development of an artificial diet for mass rearing of the spiny bollworm,Earias insulana

An artificial diet for rearing the spiny bollworm,Earias insulana (Boisd.), was developed in experiments with three successive generations. The present recommended diet is based on kidney beans, alfalfa meal, whole powdered milk and yeast; methyl-P-hydroxy benzoate, chloramphenicol and formaldehyde were included as preservatives. The effect of the diets on the insect quality is discussed.     

Deposition and clearance of radiolabelled monodisperse polystyrene spheres in the calf lung

Two groups of three calves were exposed to monodisperse aerosols of radiolabelled polystyrene spheres measuring 3.3 microns in aerodynamic diameter (SD 0.3 micron). Although the spheres preferentially deposited in the trachea and major bronchi, 72 per cent of the total radioactivity deposited was found in lung tissue beyond the major bronchi. Mean alveolar deposition, estimated from the end retention value after mucociliary clearance, was 34 per cent in the group of bull calves and 52 per cent in the group of heifer calves. Alveolar deposition increased from 47 to 56 per cent (P less than 0.05) in heifer calves treated with oestradiol. Mucociliary clearance of the spheres was unaffected by repeated exposure to the experimental aerosol and the overall mean mucociliary clearance rate constant was 1.28 (+/- 0.43) h-1 (half-life 32 minutes). Clearance curve profiles tended to be characteristic for individual calves but variation in mucociliary clearance rates within calves was high and on occasions clearance rate inexplicably fell to 10 to 50 per cent of the maximum achievable value for the calf. Neither mucociliary clearance rate nor alveolar deposition was affected by a change in climate from 14 degrees C, 87 per cent relative humidity to 5 degrees C, 75 per cent relative humidity. Both alveolar deposition and mucociliary clearance of the spheres could be manipulated using a beta-adrenergic treatment.     

Estimation of repeatability of blood constituents in gestating beef cattle on protein- and energy-restricted diets

Repeatabilities of blood constituents were calculated for 104 Angus heifers on two separate experiments fed adequate, protein-deficient, energy-deficient, or both protein- and energy-deficient diets. Four statistical methodologies were compared including analysis of variance, principal component (structural) analysis based on the sample covariance and sample correlation matrix, and maximum likelihood. Of 12 blood constituents tested only seven were considered sufficiently important to be included in the analysis. These blood constituents included blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Creat), alkaline phosphatase (Alk Phos), total protein (T Prot), total bilirubin (T Bil), cholesterol (Chol) and Iron (Fe). If the standard linear model assumptions were met for heifers on the adequate diet, the estimators appeared to be quite similar for both years except when the correlation coefficient was relatively small. If the assumption of homogeneity of the variance-covariance matrix (compound symmetry) was relaxed, the structural analysis method based on the sample correlation matrix appeared preferable. However, when combining all diets, the maximum likelihood methodology was preferred. Among the specific blood constituents, Alk Phos had the highest repeatability, not only for the heifers on the adequate diet, but also for heifers on other treatments in both years. Repeatabilities for T Prot appeared to be the most consistent over all rations in both years. Repeatability estimates for Fe were high and relative rankings were consistent for both years, while repeatabilities for the other variables were either low and(or) inconsistent.