A climosequence of soils from tuffs on slopes of an extinct volcano in Southern Italy

After preliminary examination of soils on the slopes of the main part of Mt. Vulture, four profiles were selected to represent the major kinds. These were at elevations ranging from 800 to 1300 m. The profiles were described and sampled for laboratory characterization; data obtained are presented in the paper. Principal soils above 1000 m are Dystrandepts with minor proportions of Haplohumods at the highest elevations. Between 1000 and 700 m, the principal soils are Haplumbrepts, the most extensive on the slopes of the volcano. Associated with the Haplumbrepts but of limited extent are Hapludolls, formed in tuffs with carbonate inclusions. Differences among profiles in characteristics such as amounts of organic matter, cation-exchange capacity and extractable acidity are associated with differences in elevation and climate. At the same time, the four profiles share certain characteristics, suggesting operation of both unlike and similar processes in formation of the soils.     

Effect of crossbreeding with Limousine,Rubia Gallega and Belgium Blue on meat quality and fatty acid profile of Holstein calves

The object of this work was to study the effects of crossbreeding on meat quality and fatty acid profile of Holstein calves. Samples were taken from Longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle of 36 calves of three different groups (Holstein crossed with Rubia Gallega (HF×RG), Holstein crossed with Limousine (HF×LI) and Holstein crossed with Belgian Blue (HF×BB)). Significant differences were observed in carcass weight and killing out percentage (P < 0.001) among, groups reaching the highest values in the HF×BB group (228 kg and 59.4%, respectively), while the cross with Limousine presented the lowest values for carcass weight (191 kg) and the cross with Rubia Gallega showed the lowest killing out percentages (54.9%). Meat from HF×RG animals was redder (a* 13.31) and lightest (L* 39.55) than meat from HF×LI and HF×BB groups. With regard to fatty acid profile, the saturated fatty acids were the most abundant fatty acid, followed by monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids in the three groups. Crossbreeding did not affect the proportion of fatty acid. Finally, live weight, cold carcass weight, killing out, shear force, L* from LT, b*from LT, a* from fat, b* from fat, C14:0, C15:0, C16:0, C18:0, C18:3n‐6, MUFA and price‐to‐sales ratio were the selected variables from discriminant analysis to classify the types of crossbreeding.     

The occurrence of a wild Brassica of the oleracea group (2n=18) in Calabria (Italy)

Summary In the course of a mission in Calabria committed to collection of wild and cultivated plant samples of agricltural interest, a station of wild Brassica rupestris Rafin. was found near Stilo (CZ). At the author's best knowledge this detection represents one of the few findings and the first living collection of a wild species of Brassica of the oleracea group in Calabria. The taxonomic and practical importance of this discovery is discussed in relation to the distribution of these species in South Italy with particular regard to Calabria.     

Morpho-physiological traits to complement grain yield selection under semi-arid Mediterranean conditions in each of the durum wheat types mediterraneum typicum and syriacum

Summary Some 238 landraces from Algeria and Tunisia representative of the mediterraneum typicum durum wheat type and 265 landraces from Syria and Jordan representing the syriacum type were grown in a semi-arid Mediterranean environment of Northern Syria characterized by moderate drought stress. The germplasm types were compared for mean value, level of variation and relationships with grain yield of various morpho-physiological traits possibly usable for indirect selection of best yielding materials. The syriacum germplasm showed higher yield mainly due to greater earliness of cycle, slightly longer grain filling period, shorter stature, lower early growth vigour and higher drought tolerance expressed by a visual score recorded in another, more stressful environment in the region. It also showed lower variation for all morpho-physiological characters except plant glaucousness, for which it was more variable. The wheat types differed not only for architecture but also for optima of individual morpho-physiological traits required to maximize the yield response in the given environment. Higher yield of syriacum materials was attained at same heading and three to four days delayed maturity with respect to average phenology of three well-adapted control cultivars, and it was favoured by increasing number of kernels per spike, early vigour and drought tolerance. Higher yield of mediterraneum typicum landraces was related to heading and maturity dates approaching those of the control cultivars and to increasing kernel weight, early vigour and drought tolerance. Plant stature hardly affected the yield. Both absent and strong glaucousness could confer a yield advantage in syriacum materials.     

Variation of seed storage proteins in landraces of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) from Basilicata,Southern Italy

Summary Twenty landraces of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) from Sarconi and Rotonda two locations of Basilicata, a Southern Italy region, were screened for variation in seed storage proteins (phaseolin and phytohemagglutinin) by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS/PAGE and IEF-SDS/PAGE). No variation of the main seed protein fractions was observed within each landrace. Phaseolin patterns type C and T were exhibited from the landraces; the type C resulted predominant with a frequency of 70%. Only the C type was observed for the landraces of Rotonda, T and C for those from Sarconi. Two variants were observed for the phytohemagglutinin by SDS-PAGE, one was common to eighteen landraces. However, these variants submitted to IEF-SDS/PAGE resulted similar to the type T_G2described by Brown. The importance to safeguard these landraces is stressed by the observation that the more spread commercial cultivars of common bean growing in Southern-Italy had a T phaseolin pattern. A reduction of C type diffusion could produce the loss a typical trait of common bean in Mediterranean regions.     

Light quality on the in vitro growth and production of pigments in the genus Alternanthera

In tissue culture, several chemical and physiological factors can influence the production of secondary metabolites. The growth response and increased secondary metabolite production generated by a high irradiance environment, can be used to determine a favorable habitat for the growth and conservation of medicinal plants. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the influence of light quality on growth and production of secondary metabolites in Alternanthera sessilis (L.) R. Br. ex DC. (sessile joyweed), Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Grisebach (alligatorweed), Alternanthera tenella Colla (joyweed), and Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze (Brazilian joyweed) plants cultured in vitro. The species were grown in MS medium, for 45 days in different light qualities (blue, white, and red). Growth parameters and biochemical analysis were performed at the end of the study. The results show that the red light allowed a higher accumulation of biomass in most species; red and white light were great inductors for the production of betacyanin and the blue light favored the enhancement of flavonoids. In this manner, the quality of light can affect the betacyanin, betaxanthin, and flavonoid biosynthesis as well as growth patterns in the related Alternanthera species. Based on the data presented, we suggest that specific genes can encode the pigment production according to the light quality which exhibit distinct activation patterns in different plant species.     

Precipitation and Erosivity in Southern Portugal: Seasonal Variability and Trends (1950–2008)

Southern Portugal experiences the lowest amounts of annual precipitation and the highest level of susceptibility to soil erosion, drought events and desertification phenomena in mainland Portugal. The first goal of this paper was to analyse spatial variability and trends in annual precipitation and erosivity in southern mainland Portugal for the period 1950/1951–2007/2008. The second objective was to evaluate seasonality in relation to precipitation distribution, erosivity and concentration over the same period and to evaluate and detect possible changes in the time trend for precipitation erosivity. In order to achieve these objectives, the annual and seasonal precipitation figures, corresponding to data from 90 rain gauges, were analysed and the Modified Fournier Index and Precipitation Concentration Index calculated for each station. The results obtained revealed distinct behaviour patterns for yearly precipitation, erosivity and concentration trends. Decreases in annual precipitation and erosivity figures accompanied by increases in precipitation concentration were found. Nevertheless, no generalised significant trends have been detected for these variables. In seasonal terms, there was a general trend towards an increase in amount, concentration and precipitation erosivity in autumn and summer, and a significantly reducing in winter. The increase in precipitation erosivity, particularly in the autumn, the most water‐erosive season, suggests a rising in potential soil erosion risk in southern Portugal. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of Surface Runoff Prediction by AnnAGNPS Model in a Large Mediterranean Watershed Covered by Olive Groves

The distributed parameter and continuous simulation Annualized Agricultural Non‐Point Source (AnnAGNPS) model was implemented in the watershed Anzur (Spain) covered by olive groves, to assess its prediction capability of surface runoff at the large watershed scale in semi‐arid conditions. A 5‐year database reporting hydrological, geomorphological and land use characteristics of the watershed allowed model implementation. Almost 180 surface runoff events were modelled by AnnAGNPS and compared with the corresponding observations through statistical indexes and grouping the runoff events in order to evaluate the model at different temporal scales (event, monthly and seasonal). AnnAGNPS evaluation showed that, in general, runoff was estimated by the default model with low accuracy at all the investigated time scales, likely, as a result of a simple representation of spatial variability. Calibration (by reducing initial curve numbers (CN) of the olive groves) provided more accurate and satisfactory predictions of event, monthly and seasonal runoff volumes with a low effort in the parameterisation approach. The best model performance was achieved at the event scale. The runoff prediction reliability may be attributable to the AnnAGNPS inaccuracy in adjusting CN values during the continuous simulation of the soil moisture conditions, because estimations of daily evapotranspiration values are quite realistic. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A rapid sample screening method for authenticity control of whiskey using capillary electrophoresis with online preconcentration

The present study aimed to develop a methodology using capillary electrophoresis for the determination of sinapaldehyde, syringaldehyde, coniferaldehyde, and vanillin in whiskey samples. The main objective was to obtain a screening method to differentiate authentic samples from seized samples suspected of being false using the phenolic aldehydes as chemical markers. The optimized background electrolyte was composed of 20 mmol L(-1) sodium tetraborate with 10% MeOH at pH 9.3. The study examined two kinds of sample stacking, using a long-end injection mode: normal sample stacking (NSM) and sample stacking with matrix removal (SWMR). In SWMR, the optimized injection time of the samples was 42 s (SWMR42); at this time, no matrix effects were observed. Values of r were >0.99 for the both methods. The LOD and LOQ were better than 100 and 330 mg mL(-1) for NSM and better than 22 and 73 mg L(-1) for SWMR. The CE-UV reliability in the aldehyde analysis in the real sample was compared statistically with LC-MS/MS methodology, and no significant differences were found, with a 95% confidence interval between the methodologies.     

Genetic variability of soybean bradyrhizobia populations under different soil managements

Due to their ecologic and economic importance, bradyrhizobia have been extensively studied in recent years. Since 1992, Bradyrhizobium elkanii SEMIA 587 and SEMIA 5019 and Bradyrhizobium japonicum SEMIA 5079 and SEMIA 5080 have been widely used in most Brazilian soybean fields. The objective of this work was to estimate the genetic variability of bradyrhizobial isolates recovered from soils under rhizobial inoculation and different soil managements. Only 25% of the isolates demonstrated high similarities to the original strains, and a strong correlation was obtained between the bradyrhizobial genetic variability and soil management. A high level of genetic diversity was observed both within isolates (H = 5.46) as well as among the different soil practices. Soil under no-tillage presented a higher bradyrhizobia diversity compared with bradyrhizobia isolated from soil under conventional tillage. Serological characterization also indicated that B. elkanii strains SEMIA 587 and SEMIA 5019 were more competitive and presented a higher nodular occupancy capacity than strains belonging to B. japonicum species in Southern Brazilian soils.