The effects of feeding diets containing potato protein concentrate on reproductive performance of rats and quality of the offspring

Two diets containing either soybean meal (SBM) or SBM and potato protein concentrate (PPC) in proportion of protein 1:1 (diet BS and BPP, respectively), were fed each to 22 females and 22 males from the age of 4-5 weeks throughout two reproductive cycles. A commercial closed-formula SNF diet containing unknown amount of potato protein was fed till the end of the first reproductive cycle. All three diets were also fed during 21 days following weaning, each to 10 offspring males born in the first cycle. The solanidine glycoalkaloids (GA) content in PPC was 2316 mg/kg DM. Feeding diets containing potato protein did not affect pregnancy rate, number and conformation of neonates and number of pups weaned (in all litters number of neonates left with dams being reduced to eight) but it depressed their body weight (weight of weaners on BPP diet only in the first cycle). Growth rate of the offspring males did not differ but feed intake was lower and feed conversion was higher on BPP than on BS and SNF diets. Feeding of BPP diet to offspring did not affect mass of body organs but increased blood urea and albumin concentrations while feeding SNF diet increased relative weight of small intestine and liver and raised blood concentrations of alanine amino transferase, albumin, protein, urea and cholesterol. In dams sacrificed after two cycles only relative weight of uterus and ovaries were lower in females fed on BPP than on BS diet. It is concluded that feeding moderate amounts (6.4%) of high-GA PPC does not impair reproductive performance, does not induce malformation of pups but depresses foetal and postnatal growth rate till weaning but not after weaning.     

The effect of Linola and W92/72 transgenic flax seeds on the rabbit caecal fermentation--in vitro study

The effect of W92/72 transgenic flax seeds taken from a variety of Linola on the production of SCFA, ammonia and methane by bacteria inhabiting rabbit caecum was studied. The in vitro method was used where caecal contents from rabbits was incubated with W92/72 transgenic or Linola flax seeds, or without any additives (control samples). The total concentration of SCFA was higher in samples with the addition of flax seeds than in the control samples. The increase in concentrations of acetic, propionic and butyric acids was the highest in samples with Linola seeds added. A higher percentage of propionic and butyric acids was observed in the contents incubated with addition of flax seeds as compared to the control samples. This increase was the result of a percentage decrease in acetic acid. No differences were observed in the concentration of ammonia between fermented samples. Moreover, the addition of flax seeds resulted in slight decrease of pH in incubated samples. In gas samples, the methane level was higher in samples with flax seeds added, although the highest level was found in samples with transgenic seeds. In addition, gas pressure was significantly higher in samples with flax seeds added as compared to control samples, and this may indicate a higher intensity of microbiological fermentation processes. These studies suggest that neither Linola nor W92/72 flax seeds have any unfavorable effect on the caecal microflora activity of rabbits. A beneficial influence of flax seeds on the microbiological fermentation process in rabbit caecum was observed, based on an increase in percentage ratio of propionic acid in samples with flax seeds added.     

Antimicrobial activity of Viola tricolor herb

The antimicrobial activity of infusion, decoction, ethanol extract and fractions obtained by successive extraction of Viola tricolor herb with dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol was evaluated. The infusion, decoction and ethanol extract were found to be most effective against the tested microorganisms.     

Characterization of Apple mosaic virus isolates detected in hazelnut in Poland

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Apple mosaic virus (ApMV) infects over 65 plants species of Rosaceae family including hazelnut. The virus causes chlorotic or yellow patterns, rings and...     

Interrelated effects of temperature, light and oxygen on Amaranthus caudatus L. seed germination

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of temperature, light and oxygen on the germination of Amaranthus caudatus (var. viridis) seeds. At the highest temperature studied (35°C), seed germination was found to be most rapid and highest in both the dark and the light. Germination was inhibited by continuous white light. The lower the temperature, the greater the inhibitory effect of light. The far-red and blue spectral regions were the most effective in light inhibition. The light effect was also dependent on the percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere around the seeds; it was less marked in O₂-enriched atmospheres. Light/ oxygen dependency resulted from the action of the seed coat and endosperm. Scarified seeds were much less sensitive to light and hypoxia than non-scarified seeds. Effets combinés de la température, de la lumière et de I'oxygène sur la germination des graines d'Amaranthus caudatus L. Le but de ce travail était d'étudier les effets de la température, de la lumiere et de I'oxygène sur la germination des graines d'Amaranthus caudatus (var. viridis). A la temperature la plus élevée utilisée (35°C), la germination était la plus rapide et la plus complète tant à la lumière qu'à 1'obscuritè. La germination était inhibée par la lumière blanche continue. Plus la temperature était basse, plus 1'effet inhibiteur de la lumière était important. Les radiations rouge sombre et bleues du spectre étaient les plus in-hibitrices. L'effet de la lumière dépendait aussi de la teneur de 1'atmosphère en oxygène; il était moins marqué dans des atmosphères enrichies en oxygène. L'interaction lumière/oxygène provenait du tégument et de 1'albumen. Les graines scarifiées étaient beaucoup moins sensibles à la lumière et a 1'hypoxie que les graines non scarifiées. Wechselwirkungen von Temperatur, Licht und Sauerstoff auf die Keimung der Samen von Amaranthus caudatus L. Sowohl im Dunkeln als auch im Licht keimten die Samen von Amaranthus caudatus (var. viridis) bei 35°C, der höchsten Temperatur der Versuche, am schnellsten und meisten. Durch weiβes Dauerlicht wurde die Keimung gehemmt. Je niedriger die Temperatur, desto hölier die Hemmung durch Licht. Im entfernt roten und blauen Spektralbereich war die Lichthemmung am stärksten. Die Wirkung des Lichts hing auch vom Sauerstoffgehalt der die Samen umgebenden Luft ab: Bei O₂₅-Anreiche-rung war sie weniger deutlich. Die Licht/ Sauerstoff-Wechselwirkung wurde von der Samenschale und dem Endosperm beeinfluβt: Geritzte Samen waren gegenüber Licht und O₂-Mangel viel weniger empfindlich als ganze.     

Dormancy of Bromus rubens L. seeds in relation to temperature, light and oxygen effects

Freshly harvested mature Bromus rubens L. seeds are dormant. This dormancy corresponds to the inability of seeds to germinate in the dark at temperatures above 15°C, but is practically not apparent at temperatures between 5 and 15°C. Continuous white light markedly inhibits germination of dormant seeds, even at low irradiances, and reinforces their sensitivity to oxygen deprivation. However, prolonged illumination with white light does not alter subsequent germination in the dark. Breaking of dormancy during dry storage at 20°C results in a widening of the temperature range within which a high rate of germination occurs, and in almost complete disappearance of sensitivity of seeds to light. The structures surrounding the embryo (glumellae, caryopsis envelopes and possibly endosperm) are mainly responsible for dormancy and photosensitivity of whole seeds, probably because they limit the oxygen supply to the embryo. However, the embryo itself appears to play a role in dormancy. The results obtained are discussed in relation to dormancy of cereal seeds, and in relation to field establishment of B. rubens as a weed. La dormance des semences de Bromus rubens L. en relation avec les effets de la température, de la lumière et de l'oxygène Les semences mûres de Bromus rubens L. fraîchement récoltées sont dormantes. Leur dormance correspond à une inaptitude à germer à l'obscuritéà des températures supérieures à 15°C, mais elle ne se manifeste pratiquement pas entre 5 et 15°C. La lumière blanche continue inhibe nettement la germination des semences dormantes, même à de faibles énergies, et renforce leur sensibilitéà la privation d'oxygène. Cependant, un éclairement prolongé n'a aucune conséquence sur la germination ultérieure à l'obscurité. L'élimination de la dormance pendant la conservation au sec, à 20°C, se traduit par un élargissement de la gamme thermique qui assure une bonne germination et par la disparition presque complète de la sensibilité des semences à la lumière. Les structures qui entourent l'embryon (glumelles, enveloppes du caryopse et peut-être albumen) sont, en grande partie, responsables de la dormance et de la photosensibilité des semences entières, sans doute parce qu'elles limitent l'apport d'oxygène à l'embryon. Toutefois, l'embryon lui-même semble participer à la dormance. Les résultats obtenus sont discutés par comparaison avec la dormance des semences des céréales et en relation avec l'implantation, dans les cultures, de B. rubens en tant que mauvaise herbe. Dormanz der Samen von Bromus rubens L. in Bezug auf Temperatur, Licht und Sauerstoffversorgung Frisch geerntete Samen von Bromus rubens L. sind im Dunkeln bei Temperaturen über 15°C dormant, während diese Dormanz bei Temperaturen zwischen 5 und 15°C praktisch nicht vorliegt. Ständiges weißes Licht hemmt die Keimung dormanter Samen deutlich, sogar bei niedriger Intensität, und verstärkt ihre Empfindlichkeit gegenüber Sauerstoffmangel. Ständige Beleuchtung mit weißem Licht verändert jedoch nicht die folgende Dunkelkeimung. Das Brechen der Dormanz während der trockenen Lagerung bei 20 °C führt zu einem vergrößerten Temperaturbereich, in dem die Samen gut keimen, und läßt ihre Lichtempfindlichkeit fast vollständig verschwinden. Die Strukturen um den Embryo (Spelzen, Schale der Caryopse und möglicherweise Endosperm) sind hauptsächlich für die Dormanz und die Lichtempfindlichkeit des ganzen Samens verantwortlich, vermutlich deshalb, weil sie die Sauerstoffversorgung des Embryos einschränken. Aber auch der Embryo selbst scheint bei der Dormanz eine Rolle zu spielen. Die Untersuchungsergebnisse werden im Vergleich zur Dormanz von Getreidesamen und hinsichtlich des Vorkommens von Bromus rubens als Unkraut diskutiert.     

Effect of soil application of cadmium contaminated lime on soil cadmium distribution and cadmium concentration in strawberry leaves and fruit

Heavy metal environmental pollution which occurs as a result of lime contaminated with cadmium (Cd) poses a potential health hazard. This investigation was undertaken to study uptake of Cd by strawberry plants grown in soil amended with three different sources and two different rates of industry waste lime containing 3.4, 14.3, and 60.0 mg Cd/kg, respectively. The effects of Cd applied to the soil were investigated, including its distribution in the soil and effect on Cd concentration in strawberry cv. Senga Sengana (Fragaria anassa) leaves and fruit in response to soil organic matter content and lime rates. Cadmium accumulated mainly in the plough layer, increasing from 0.170 mg Cd/kg (background level) to a maximum of 1.2 mg Cd/kg. Fruit had very high, hazardous Cd concentrations regardless of its content in the soil. This indicates that Cd was easily taken up by strawberry plants and accumulated in upper plant parts, including the fruit. Soil Cd content had no effect on concentration of this element in strawberry fruit. However, plant Cd uptake and fruit concentration was increased in acid soils even when soil Cd concentration was low.     

Phytochemicals and dietary fiber components in rye varieties in the HEALTHGRAIN Diversity Screen

Ten rye varieties grown in one location were analyzed for their contents of dietary fiber (arabinoxylan and beta-glucan) and phytochemicals (folate, tocols, phenolic acids, alkylresorcinols, and sterols). The varieties included old and modern varieties from five European countries. Significant differences were observed in the contents of all phytochemicals in whole grains and in the fiber contents in the flour and bran. The old French varieties Haute Loire and Queyras had high contents of most phytochemicals, whereas the Polish varieties Dankowskie-Zlote and Warko were relatively poor in phytochemicals. The varieties with a high content of folate tended to have low alkylresorcinol contents and vice versa. Furthermore, high contents of arabinoxylans were associated with high contents in tocols and sterols. The 10 selected rye samples comprising old populations and old and modern varieties from different ecological regions of Europe demonstrate high natural variation in their composition and show that landraces and old populations are useful genetic resources for plant breeding. The contents of single phytochemicals can likely be affected by breeding, and they may be adjusted by the right selection of genotype.     

Phenolic composition and antioxidant properties of Polish blue-berried honeysuckle genotypes by HPLC-DAD-MS, HPLC postcolumn derivatization with ABTS or FC, and TLC with DPPH visualization

In this study, different Polish cultivars of blue-berried honeysuckles (Lonicera caerulea L.), wild and bog bilberry, were analyzed for bioactive compounds. The chemical properties verified included composition of anthocyanins and other polyphenols, antioxidant activity, and profiles of antioxidants by HPLC postcolumn derivatization or TLC. The antioxidant activities of different blue-berried honeysuckle cultivars were similar to that of wild-growing bilberries (ranging from 170 to 417 μmol TE/g dm in ABTS and from 93 to 166 μmol TE/g dm in DPPH and Folin-Ciocalteu tests). The major anthocyanin in the blue-berried honeysuckle was cyanidin-3-glucoside, which constituted 84-92% of the total anthocyanins. The TLC and HPLC postcolumn antioxidant profiles indicated that anthocyanins are the major antioxidants in all berries studied. Wild berries and the cultivars of the blue-berried honeysuckles are also a similar source of such minerals as K, Mg, and Ca.     

Undernutrition During Foetal and Post‐Natal Life Affects Testicular Structure and Reduces the Number of Sertoli Cells in the Adult Rat

To test whether undernutrition during foetal to pre‐pubertal life would have long lasting effects on testicular histology in adult male offspring, eleven adult Sprague–Dawley pregnant rats were divided into two groups: Control group, n = 4, fed ad libitum, during gestation and lactation (until 25 day post‐partum). Underfed group pregnant females (n = 7) were kept in cages where only dams had access to food (standard rat chow, 33.5% of ad libitum intake of Control group pregnant dams). After parturition, litters were adjusted to either 14 (Underfed group) or eight (Control group) pups. Mothers were weighed weekly. At 25 day of age pups were weaned, housed at four animals per cage, fed ad libitum and weighed weekly until euthanized at 100 day of age. Testes were processed for standard histology and morphometrical evaluation. At weaning, mother weight was lower in Underfedthan in Control group (mean ± SD): 214.1 ± 26.2 g vs 361.9 ± 33.1 g. Body weight at 100 days of age (254 ± 26.9 g vs 342.4 ± 10.2 g, p ≤ 0.001), testicular weight (1.29 ± 0.16 g vs 1.45 ± 0.13 g, p = 0.03), number of Sertoli cells per seminiferous tubule cross section (18.2 ± 1.2 vs 20.2 ± 1.3, p ≤ 0.01) and per testis (30.5 ± 4.2×10⁶ vs 36.0 ± 5.4×10⁶) were lower (p < 0.05) in Underfed than in Control group. This is the first report stating that foetal to pubertal subnutrition is accompanied by changes in testicular structure and lower Sertoli cell numbers in adult life, strongly suggesting lower daily sperm production.