Characterization of milkweed (Asclepias spp.) seed proteins

Milkweed (Asclepias spp.) is a crop grown mainly for the production of floss used as hypoallergenic fillers in comforters and pillows. The seeds end up as by-products. Milkweed seed contains 21% oil and 30% crude protein (dry basis). The oil is similar in quality to soybean oil, but there is no information on the properties of milkweed protein. This study determined the MW of major fractions, soluble classes, amino acid composition, and functional properties of milkweed seed protein. Ground milkweed seeds were analyzed for proximate composition and amino acid profile, as well as, subjected to SDS-PAGE and protein functionality tests. Reduced proteins showed eight distinct bands with MW ranging from 6.5 to 59.3 kDa. The dominant protein classes were water-soluble (22%) and salt-soluble (15%). Solubility of milkweed seed protein was lowest (12%) at pH 4, 40% at pH 7, and reached a maximum (60%) at pH 10. The protein produced substantial foam volumes, but foam stability was poor. Its emulsifying capacity was excellent, especially at pH 10, and emulsions formed were stable. Water-holding capacity and surface hydrophobicity index values were higher at pH 7 than at pH 10. These results showed that milkweed seed protein has functional properties that may find use as a thickener, protein extender in adhesives, or emulsifier in paints.     

Origins and diversity of the Portuguese Landrace of Eucalyptus globulus

The Portuguese Landrace of Eucalyptus globulus is of unknown origin, with the earliest plantings of this tree species dating back to the early 19th century. In Portugal it is currently a major seed source for plantations and is also used in breeding programs. Eucalyptus globulus is native to south-eastern Australia. The substantial genetic differentiation of chloroplast and nuclear DNA markers between different native geographic races of this species allowed us to uncover the Australian origins of the Portuguese Landrace and to study its genetic diversity. To achieve this, we sequenced a highly polymorphic region of chloroplast DNA from 47 Portuguese Landrace individuals, and genotyped 34 of these using seven nuclear microsatellites. We compared these individuals to those in a database comprising chloroplast DNA sequence profiles from 292 native trees and seven nuclear microsatellites from 372 native trees. The majority of the Portuguese Landrace samples had closest affinities, in both marker systems, to native trees from south-eastern Tasmania, but some had affinities to trees from south-eastern Victoria. The discrepancies in the affinities indicated by chloroplast versus nuclear DNA markers could be explained by inter-race hybridisation after introduction. The genetic diversity in the Portuguese Landrace was less than that found in native E. globulus at the species level, but was similar to the average diversity found in native races of the species. This study demonstrates the power of using independent marker systems to identify the origins and diversity of domesticated populations, by comparison with variation in native stands.     

A unified nomenclature for quantification and description of water conducting properties of sapwood xylem based on Darcy's law

The literature dealing with the water conducting properties of sapwood xylem in trees is inconsistent in terminology, symbols and units. This has resulted from confusion in the use of either an analogy to Ohm's law or Darcy's law as the basis for nomenclature. Ohm's law describes movement of electricity through a conductor, whereas Darcy's law describes movement of a fluid (liquid or gas) through a porous medium. However, it is generally not realized that, in their full notation, these laws are mathematically equivalent. Despite this, plant physiologists have failed to agree on a convention for nomenclature. As a result, the study of water movement through sapwood xylem is confusing, especially for scientists entering the field. To improve clarity, we suggest the adoption of a single nomenclature that can be used by all plant physiologists when describing water movement in xylem. Darcy's law is an explicit hydraulic relationship and the basis for established theories that describe three-dimensional saturated and unsaturated flow in porous media. We suggest, therefore, that Darcy's law is the more appropriate theoretical framework on which to base nomenclature describing sapwood hydraulics. Our proposed nomenclature is summarized in a table that describes conventional terms, with their formulae, dimensions, units and symbols; the table also lists the many synonyms found in recent literature that describe the same concepts. Adoption of this proposal will require some changes in the use of terminology, but a common rigorous nomenclature is needed for efficient and clear communication among scientists.     

Phenology and pollination of Manilkara zapota in forest and homegardens

Knowledge on reproductive phenology and pollination biology are basic elements that should be considered in the management and exploitation of plant species that offer non-timber products. The tropical tree Manilkara zapota is a species from which non-timber products have been obtained for centuries by Mayan communities in Mexico. Nevertheless, there are no quantitative reports on its reproductive biology and the factors that limit fruit production. The present study describes the reproductive phenology, breeding system and pollination of this species in two contrasting environments: medium-height, subdeciduous forest, and homegardens (“solares”) in a Mayan community in the state of Yucatan. Significant differences were found between environments both in the temporal distribution of flower and mature fruit production, as well as in the proportion of mature fruits. Homegarden trees showed the greatest fruit production, although flower production did not differ between environments. Mature fruits were of better quality (i.e., greater fresh weight) in homegardens. Hand pollination experiments showed that M. zapota is self-compatible, and that there is pollinator limitation for fruit production in trees that grow in homegardens. We propose that water and soil nutrients are the main factors limiting M. zapota fruit production in forests, while in homegardens the main factor appears to be pollinator availability.     

Reaction between hydroxycinnamic acids and anthocyanin-pyruvic acid adducts yielding new portisins

Three new anthocyanin-derived pigments were found to occur in a 2-year-old Port red wine. Their structures were elucidated through LC/DAD-MS and NMR analysis and were found to correspond to a pyranoanthocyanin moiety linked to substituted cinnamyl substituents. The structures of these compounds are very similar to the one already reported for portisins, with a phenolic moiety replacing the catechin moiety. The newly formed anthocyanin-derived compounds display a bathochromic shift of the lambdamax ( approximately 540 nm) when compared with their anthocyanin-pyruvic acid adduct precursor (lambdamax = 511 nm), which may be due to the extended conjugation of the pi electrons in the structures of those pigments. Studies performed in model solutions helped to clarify the formation mechanism of these pigments that can result from the nucleophilic attack of the olefinic double bond of a hydroxycinnamic acid to the eletrophilic C-10 position of the anthocyanin-pyruvic acid adduct, followed by the loss of a formic acid molecule and decarboxylation. The chromatic characterization of these malvidin-3-glucoside-derived compounds revealed a higher resistance to discoloration against the nucleophilic attack by water and bisulfite when compared to malvidin-3-glucoside that is almost converted into its colorless hemiacetal form. However, the resistance to discoloration of these new pigments is not as high as the one reported for catechin-derived portisins. This could be explained by the presence of a smaller group (hydroxycinnamyl group), which does not protect so efficiently the chromophore against nucleophilic attack at the C-2 position. The occurrence of these pigments in red wine highlights new chemical pathways involving anthocyanin-pyruvic acid derivatives as precursors for the formation of new pigments in subsequent stages of wine aging that may contribute to its color evolution.     

Quercetin increases oxidative stress resistance and longevity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Quercetin, the major flavonol found in several fruits and vegetables, is a natural antioxidant with potential anticancer and antiaging activities. In this paper, the effect of quercetin in Sacharomyces cerevisiae cells submitted to oxidative stress was studied. Hydrogen peroxide resistance increased in cells pretreated with quercetin. Cellular protection was correlated with a decrease in oxidative stress markers, namely, levels of reactive oxygen species, glutathione oxidation, protein carbonylation, and lipid peroxidation. The acquisition of H2O2 resistance was not associated with the induction of antioxidant defenses or with iron chelation. Oxidative stress is a limiting factor for longevity. In agreement, quercetin also increased 60% chronological life span. These results support the utilization of yeast as a useful model to screen in vivo for natural antioxidants with putative health beneficial effects.     

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide induces porcine circovirus type 2 replication in swine alveolar macrophages

Monocyte/macrophage lineage cells are major target cells of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2). From tissues of field pigs suffering from postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), both intracytoplasmic and intranuclear PCV2 signals, including antigens and nucleic acid, were easily detected in the monocyte/macrophage lineage cells. However, there was a high incidence of intracytoplasmic PCV2-positive signals, but lack of intranuclear signals and PCV2 replication in these cells in vitro. Concurrent infection with bacteria and activation of immune system are suggested to promote viral replication. In this study, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) were used to stimulate PCV2-inoculated alveolar macrophages (AMs). A decrease in intracytoplasmic but increase in intranuclear PCV2-positive signals, including antigens and nucleic acid, were detected in LPS-treated PCV2-inoculated AMs, but not in PMA-treated cells. Additionally, the replication product corresponding to PCV2 spliced major capsid protein (Cap) mRNA and a significant elevation in PCV2 titer were demonstrated in the LPS-treated PCV2-inoculated AMs. The results imply that Gram-negative bacterial co-infection in PCV2-infected pigs may be an important factor in promoting PCV2 replication and contributing, at least partially, to the full development of PMWS.     

The veterinary programs at the Romanian University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine

Romania has a long tradition in the field of veterinary medicine, interest in which can be traced back to the early nineteenth century. There are four main veterinary educational centers in Romania, one for each province: the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Bucharest in the south; the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Cluj-Napoca in the northwest; the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Ia?i in the northeast; and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Timi?oara in the south west. The authors of this article are faculty members representing each of these schools.     

Carbohydrate transfer through root grafts to support shaded trees

We investigated whether root grafts between lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia Dougl. ex. Loud.) trees can transfer sufficient carbohydrate reserves from a source tree to a grafted sink tree to affect the vigor of trees growing in a light-limited environment. Eleven plots were established in early spring and two grafted tree pairs and two independent non-grafted trees were selected at each plot. One tree in a grafted pair and one non-grafted tree were shaded at each plot, whereas the remaining trees were non-shaded during the experimental period. Shaded trees had significantly lower carbohydrate reserves and smaller crowns than non-shaded trees following one growing season. Grafted shaded trees had significantly higher root total nonstructural carbohydrate concentrations than non-grafted shaded trees, indicating that root grafts partially offset the effects of shading. Also, large root grafts transferred proportionately more carbohydrates to the shaded trees than small root grafts. Carbohydrates transferred through root grafts could allow grafted trees to persist under conditions where non-grafted trees would be removed by competition.     

Productivity of single-grip harvesters in clear-cutting operations in the northern European part of Russia

A field-based study was carried out to broaden our knowledge of fully mechanized cut-to-length harvesting productivity in naturally grown forests in the northern European part of Russia (NEPR). The recorded data comprised 38 midsized single-grip harvesters (JD 1270D) in clear-cutting operations in the Karelia, Komi, Vologda, Leningrad, Tver, and Kirov regions in NEPR, 4.3 million felled trees, and 1.4 million m³ u.b. (under bark) of processed timber. Harvesting operations were conducted in forest stands composed of spruce (48% on average), pine (19%), birch (22%), and aspen (11%), with an average stem volume 0.31 m³ u.b. The cut-to-length harvesters produced from 4.3 to 14.9 m³ u.b./productive machine hour (PMH) and 16.0–49.5 m³ u.b./stem processing machine hour (S _proc MH). A machine evaluation analysis and a regression analysis were used to formulate models for predicting cutting productivity of modern single-grip harvester. The regression models were developed to estimate the productivity of the harvesters in the regions taking into account two significant factors influencing the productivity: the stem volume and tree species of the felled trees. Productivity/cubic meter u.b. of processed timber/PMH was calculated according to stem volume and tree species distributions in most forest-covered NEPR regions. Further research is suggested to improve the developed productivity models and to allow prediction of system performance over a broad range of stand and site conditions.