Collaborative Analysis of Wheat Endosperm Compressive Material Properties

The objective measurement of cereal endosperm texture, for wheat (Triticum spp. L.) in particular, is relevant to the milling, processing, and utilization of grain. The objective of this study was to evaluate the interlaboratory results of compression failure testing of wheat endosperm specimens of defined geometry. Parallelepipeds (bricks) and cylinders were prepared from individual soft and hard near‐isogenic wheat kernels and compressed in two orientations (parallel and perpendicular to the long brush‐to‐germ axis). Compression curves were used to derive failure stress, failure strain, work density (area under the curve), and Young's modulus. In all five laboratories, the ability to delineate hard from soft wheat endosperm material properties was quite high. Four laboratories compressed endosperm bricks in the same orientation, on edge; texture class (soft vs. hard) was consistently the greatest source of variation in analysis of variance models (F‐values from 417 to 1401, Young's modulus and failure stress, respectively). Failure stress was found to be the best overall means of measuring the difference in what is known in the vernacular as wheat hardness. Across laboratories, the absolute measures of all four material properties ranged on the order of about two‐ to threefold from low to high, although within a laboratory, results were highly consistent. Laboratory by texture class interaction was deemed to be of minor importance. Brick size and moisture content within the ranges tested were not major sources of variation, and cylinders prepared from endosperm produced results similar to those obtained from bricks. The results suggested that wheat endosperm might express some level of anisotropic behavior, as specimens compressed in the kernel orientation parallel to the long axis failed at lower strain and stress values, with lower work density, when compared with kernel orientation perpendicular to the long axis. A key feature of interlaboratory variation was identified as being instrument rigidity, a subject of ongoing research. In conclusion, the preparation of endosperm specimens of defined size and shape, in combination with compression failure testing at low moisture content (<18%), is useful for objectively delineating the phenomenon known as hardness. The study presented here will advance our ability to objectively measure cereal grain texture and the material properties of endosperm.     

狗牙根黑斑病病原鉴定及生物学特性研究

从华中农业大学草坪草的狗牙根Cynodon dactylon上分离得到引起该草坪草黑斑病的病原菌,并对该病原菌进行了形态学观察、致病性测定、rDNA-ITS序列分析以及生物学特性的研究.研究结果表明:该病原菌在PDA培养基上培养7 d后菌落呈墨绿色,菌丝有隔,分生孢子有3个隔膜,中间两细胞较大,弯曲,两端细胞颜色较浅.孢子平均大小为24.94 μm×10.30 μm.其rDNA-ITS序列表明,分离的病原菌与Genbank中的Curvularia verruculosa的同源性是99%,结合形态学特征和致病性测定认为该菌为C.verruculosa.生物学特性研究表明,该菌丝在pH值5.0～9.0的PDA上均能生长,最适碳源为可溶性淀粉,最适氮源为KNO3.菌丝生长的致死温度为70 ℃ 15 min,孢子萌发的致死温度为75 ℃ 15 min.这是C.verruculosa引起狗牙根黑斑病的首次报道.     

Elution of bacteria adhering to the epithelium in the rumen in sheep and their detection using electron microscopy

A method of preparing the pure concentrate of epithelium-adherent bacteria in sheep rumen was worked out and it was tested in 24 samples of the rumen wall, obtained from 12 slaughtered sheep. The purity of the bacterial eluate was checked by transmission electron microscopy and negative staining, followed by electron-microscopic evaluation. Besides bacterial cells no residues of feed, epithelium and other undesirable impurities were found out in the eluate. The percent yield of this method was determined by scanning electron microscopy and it made 93.3%. An isolated pure concentrate of the mixture of bacterial cultures, previously adhered to the rumen epithelium, was prepared which can be used for morphological and biochemical studies of this interesting group of rumen bacteria.     

Book reviews

Agriculture and Human Values -     

Isolation and identification of the infectious pancreatic necrosis virus in trout

The first isolation and identification of the infectious pancreatic necrosis virus in trout in Czechoslovakia is described. The RTG-2, PG and CHSE cell lines were used for isolation and the identification was made by the methods of electron microscopy, cross virus-neutralizing test, and immunofluorescence. As demonstrated, all the isolates in the Czechoslovak territory are serologically identical and are closely related (or perhaps congruent) with the Sp reference strain which has the highest frequency in Europe. The described methodical procedure is also applicable to the diagnostics of other virus diseases of fish.     

Juvenile-Onset Distal Myopathy in Rottweiler Dogs

Two juvenile Rottweiler siblings were presented with the complaint of decreased activity and various postural abnormalities, including plantigrade and palmigrade stance and splayed forepaw digits. The neurologic examinations were otherwise normal. Electromyography revealed rare fibrillation potentials and positive sharp waves. Motor nerve conduction velocities were normal, whereas compound muscle action potentials from the interosseous muscles were decreased. These findings were consistent with a primary myopathy. A 3rd pup from a different litter and a 4th pup from a litter with 3 of 8 affected dogs had similar clinical presentations. Histopathologic changes in fresh-frozen muscle biopsy samples were similar in all pups and consisted of myofiber atrophy with mild myonecrosis, endomysial fibrosis, and replacement of muscle with fatty tissue. These changes were more severe in distal muscles than in proximal muscles. Plasma carnitine concentrations (total and free) were decreased in all pups. Muscle carnitine concentrations (total and free) were decreased in 3 of 4 pups and the least affected pup had a borderline low free muscle carnitine concentration. Abnormalities involving major metabolic pathways were not found on quantification of organic and amino acids. Dystrophin immunocytochemistry was normal in 2 dogs tested. Distal myopathies in humans are classified under the dystrophic group of muscle disorders. These 4 cases represent a form of muscular dystrophy apparently not previously reported in dogs.     

Synergistic effects of agonists and antagonists in insect venoms—a natural way of insecticidal action

Contrary to the typical killing action of most animal venoms, including social wasp venoms, the solitary wasp venoms seem to have been created to paralyse the prey. This suggests a specific action on parts of the nervous system. However, the solitary wasp venoms studied, contain many agonists and antagonists of synaptic transmission, and their paralysing action is very complicated. Besides a contribution of agonists to initiate and enhance the action of antagonists, one of the venoms contains two antagonists with different actions, and one of these antagonists enhances the effect of the other. The specific action of both toxins and their interaction will be discussed as an example of how nature enhances pesticide action through mixtures.     

Climate change and translocations: The potential to re-establish two regionally-extinct butterfly species in Britain

Climate change is causing many organisms to migrate to track climatically-suitable habitat. In many cases, this will happen naturally, but in others, human intervention may be necessary in the form of ‘assisted colonisation’. Species re-establishments in suitable parts of their historic ranges provide an opportunity to conserve some species and to test ideas about assisted colonisation. Here, bioclimatic models of the distributions of two extinct British butterflies, Aporia crataegi and Polyommatus semiargus, were used to investigate the potential for re-establishment in Britain. Generalised additive models and generalised linear models were created to describe the species’ European distributions for the period 1961–1990. All models projected the British climate during this period to be suitable for both species. Thirty-year climate projections for the periods 1991–2020 and 2021–2050, and for three climate change scenarios, were then put into the models to generate projections of climatic suitability throughout the 21st century. British climate was projected to remain highly suitable for A. crataegi, but to decline somewhat for P. semiargus. Southern and eastern Britain were found to be the areas most likely to support suitable climate. This difference between the species appeared to be due in part to decreasing summer rainfall in climate change projections, as this should only benefit A. crataegi. It is concluded that, with further study of habitat requirements, both species could be reintroduced to Britain as part of a long-term European conservation strategy.