Comparative studies of plant and soil analysis for the sulphur status of oilseed rape and winter wheat

Recently S deficiency became one of the most widespread nutrient disorders in North-European agriculture. Therefore precise and reliable methods for the evaluation of the S nutritional status of agricultural crops are required. For the prognosis of the plant available S soil analysis would be a favourite method, however, no relation between plant S concentrations and mobile (extractable sulphate plus extractable organic S) S contents in soils could be stated. The reasons for the impracticability of traditional soil tests seem to be related to interactions between soil water and mobile S in soils, so that site specific models need to be developed for the prognosis of the S status of agricultural crops.     

Reclamation of Polluted Soil: Phytoremediation Potential of Crop-Related BRASSICA Species

Soils polluted by heavy metals can be reclaimed using a number of expensive tactics that either remove the contaminants or stabilize them within the soil. The value of metal accumulating plants for environmental remediation has recently been appreciated and promising results have been obtained. This paper reports a study on the behavior of Brassica napus, Brassica juncea, Raphanus sativus and Brassica carinata grown on a substrate contaminated by several heavy metals caused by the use of contaminated irrigation water. Data on carbon dioxide assimilation, biomass growth and the bioconcentration and translocation factor of each metal in each species were measured. The polluted substrate caused only a small variation in photosynthesis, however transpiration was more affected by the experimental substrate and in all three species of the genus Brassica the presence of metals in the substrate resulted in higher transpiration levels.Two bioconcentration factors were calculated respectively for the roots (BCF) and the shoots (BCF); the BCF was >1 for all the species for Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn without significant differences among species. All the values of BCF were lower than 0.5; among the metals, all Brassica species demonstrated a similar performance for Cd and Zn, whereas for other elements the bioconcentration factor was very low.     

Antioxidants, free radicals, storage proteins, puroindolines, and proteolytic activities in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) seeds during accelerated aging

Seeds of bread wheat were incubated at 40 degrees C and 100% relative humidity for 0, 3, 4, 6, and 10 days. The effects of accelerated aging on seed germinability and some biochemical properties of flour (carotenoid, free radical, and protein contents and proteolytic activity) and gluten (free radical content and flexibility) were investigated. Seed germinability decreased during aging, resulting in seed death after 10 days. A progressive decrease of carotenoid content, in particular, lutein, was observed, prolonging the incubation, whereas the free radical content increased in both flour and gluten. A degradation of soluble and storage proteins was found, associated with a marked increase of proteolytic activity and a loss of viscoelastic properties of gluten. On the contrary, puroindolines were quite resistant to the treatment. The results are discussed in comparison with those previously obtained during accelerated aging of durum wheat seeds.     

Environmental correlates of two macro-decapods distribution in Central Italy: Multi-dimensional ecological knowledge as a tool for conservation of endangered species

Using a multi-dimensional ecological design, this study aimed first to analyse whether local environmental conditions can account for the spatial segregation of two Italian native decapods, the crayfish Austropotamobius italicus and the river crab Potamon fluviatile, in Central Italy freshwater ecosystems. Second, we aimed to analyse which environmental variables were more closely associated with the presence/absence of the two decapods in specific sites within their distribution area. Following a factorial design, a total of 32 sites were selected in two neighbouring geographic areas, one occupied by crayfish and one by crabs. Within each distribution area, eight streams where the decapod was present and eight where it was not present were selected. At each site, macro-invertebrate community composition and 16 abiotic variables were recorded and analysed with multi-variate methods. Variations in physical (minimum and maximum temperatures), chemical (calcium, oxygen, nitrate and nitrite) and geomorphological (substrate composition) parameters explained spatial segregation of P. fluviatile and A. italicus in the study area. The occurrence of crayfish reflected variations of chemistry (such as pH, calcium, nitrate and nitrite concentrations), temperature, water depth and substrate composition. On the contrary, the presence of the river crab, within its occurrence zone, was not associated to any biotic and abiotic parameters and was probably affected by anthropogenic pressure and uncontrolled harvesting. These findings provide fundamental ecological data for the maintenance of the two decapod natural populations as well as for the selection of areas and streams adequate for their reintroduction.     

Accumulation of metals in macrophytes from water reservoirs of a power supply plant, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Aquatic macrophytes are well known accumulators for heavy metals, the reason why they are used as bioindicators for water quality and in phytoremediaton strategies. This study reports on the elemental concentrations in four free-floating aquatic macrophytes (S. auriculata; P. stratiotes; E. crassipes and E. azurea) growing in two water reservoirs (Santana e Vigário, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil) of an electric power plant that receive input from the polluted Paraíba do Sul River. Filtered water samples and water suspended solids from these environments were also analysed. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used as the principal method, allowing the determination of up to 41 elements, including the rare-earth elements (REEs) and other trace metals not assayed before in these macrophytes. The results show that all elements studied are accumulated by the macrophytes with concentration ratios (CR = [plant]: [water]) varying from about 1,000 to 200,000, based on the dry weight of the plant species. With a few exceptions, highest accumulations were observed in E. crassipes in which CRs increase in the sequence: Cu < Mo < Cr < Pb < Tl < Fe < La < Zn < Ce< Mn. Surprisingly high CRs (e.g. Ce: 74,000) and corresponding mass concentrations were observed for the rare-earth elements (e.g. ∑REE: 112 mg kg^?1), also measured in the water suspended particle fraction. The results show that this fraction acts as an effective sink for trace metals in the aquatic system studied and seems to play also an important role in the transfer of metals from water to the plant species.     

Effects of No. 2 fuel oil water-soluble-fractions on growth and reproduction in Neanthes arenaceodentata (Polychaeta: annelida)

Effects of water-soluble-fractions (WSFs) from No. 2 Fuel Oil on growth and reproduction in a laboratory strain of Neanthes arenaceodentata were studied in experiments simulating conditions of acute and chronic sublethal exposure. Effects were defined relative to concentrations of diaromatic hydrocarbons (naphthalenes) and total dissolved hydrocarbons. Hatching of metatrochophore larvae was inversely related to WSF concentration and to the length of time larvae were exposed prior to hatching. Growth of larvae into juveniles was unaffected by low concentrations. Inhibition of larval growth by higher WSF concentrations was reversible upon return of larvae to hydrocarbon-free sea water. Growth of juveniles into adult polychaetes was inversely related to concentration. Rate of development to the feeding juvenile stage was not affected by WSF in three successive generations of continuously exposed polychaetes. Oocyte maturation rates in the four WSF concentrations (2.5, 5, 10, 2507o) increased with each successive generation. All concentrations suppressed fecundity in each generation. Survival to the 32-segment juvenile stage (brood mortality) was inversely related to concentration in first generation animals. Brood mortality in all WSF concentrations decreased with successive generations thereafter. Levels of naphthalenes in worms declined with each generation. Naphthalenes concentrations in third generation animals was very similar to those of exposure media.     

Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction and characterization of Laurus nobilis essential oil

Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction allowed essential oil of Laurus nobilis to be obtained. Extraction conditions were as follows: pressure, 90 bar; temperature, 50 degrees C; and carbon dioxide flow, Phi = 1.0 kg/h. Waxes were entrapped in the first separator set at 90 bar and -10 degrees C. The oil was recovered in the second separator working at 15 bar and 10 degrees C. The main components were 1,8-cineole (22.8%), linalool (12.5%), alpha-terpinyl acetate (11.4%), and methyleugenol (8.1%). Comparison with the hydrodistilled oil did not reveal any significant difference. Collection of samples at different extraction times during supercritical extraction allowed the change of the oil composition to be monitored. Lighter compounds such as hydrocarbon and oxygenated monoterpenes were extracted in shorter times than the heavier hydrocarbon and oxygenated sesquiterpenes.     

Chemometrical analysis of capillary electrophoresis casein fractions for predicting ripening times of milk mixture cheese

The effect of the ripening time on the proteolytic process in cheeses manufactured from mixtures of cow's and ewe's milk during a 167-day ripening period was monitored by capillary electrophoresis of the pH 4.6-insoluble fraction. Totals of 21 and 16 peaks were recognized and matched in the electropherograms obtained with a fused-silica capillary and a neutral capillary (hydrophilically coated), respectively. These peaks corresponded to intact bovine and ovine caseins and their hydrolysis products (e.g., alpha(s1)-casein, gamma-caseins). In 167-day-old cheeses, bovine alpha(s0)-casein (alpha(s1)-casein 9P) had been completely degraded and 6% of the residual bovine alpha(s1)-casein remained intact. Breakdown of the beta-casein fraction was lower than that of the alpha(s)-casein fraction. Finally, partial least-squares regression and principal component regression were used to predict the ripening time in cheeses. The root-mean-square errors in prediction by cross-validation were <7.8 days in all cases.     

Combined effect of sourdough lactic acid bacteria and additives on bread firmness and staling

The effect of various sourdoughs and additives on bread firmness and staling was studied. Compared to the bread produced with Saccharomyces cerevisiae 141, the chemical acidification of dough fermented by S. cerevisiae 141 or the use of sourdoughs increased the volume of the breads. Only sourdough fermentation was effective in delaying starch retrogradation. The effect depended on the level of acidification and on the lactic acid bacteria strain. The effect of sourdough made of S. cerevisiae 141-Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis 57-Lactobacillus plantarum 13 was improved when fungal alpha-amylase or amylolytic strains such as L. amylovorus CNBL1008 or engineered L. sanfranciscensis CB1 Amy were added. When pentosans or pentosans, endoxylanase enzyme, and L. hilgardii S32 were added to the same sourdough, a greater delay of the bread firmness and staling was found. When pentosans were in part hydrolyzed by the endoxylanase enzyme, the bread also had the highest titratable acidity, due to the fermentation of pentoses by L. hilgardii S32. The addition of the bacterial protease to the sourdough increased the bread firmness and staling.     

Isolation and biochemical characterization of a basic myrosinase from ripe Crambe abyssinica seeds,highly specific for epi-progoitrin

On the basis of previous studies on the mechanism-based inhibition, activation, and active site structure of myrosinase(s) isolated from Sinapis alba and other cruciferous seeds, crambe myrosinase shows uncommon properties and behavior. For this reason homogeneous crambe myrosinase was isolated and investigated to establish the most important physicochemical features, including kinetic properties determined with the epimers progoitrin (R) and epi-progoitrin (S) as substrates, with and without ascorbate as an activator. The results of this study demonstrate that crambe myrosinase is highly specific for epi-progoitrin due to a better stabilization of the enzyme-substrate complex. This stabilization is caused by additional hydrogen bonding that only epi-progoitrin can set up between its hydroxyl group and a suitable residue in the hydrophobic pocket where the "docking" of the glucosinolates side chain takes place.