Phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms associated with the rhizosphere of mangroves in a semiarid coastal lagoon

 The phosphate-solubilizing potential of the rhizosphere microbial community in mangroves was demonstrated when culture media supplemented with insoluble, tribasic calcium phosphate, and incubated with roots of black (Avicennia germinans L.) and white [Laguncularia racemosa (L.) Gaertn.] mangrove became transparent after a few days of incubation. Thirteen phosphate-solubilizing bacterial strains were isolated from the rhizosphere of both species of mangroves: Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus atrophaeus, Paenibacillus macerans, Vibrio proteolyticus, Xanthobacter agilis, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacter taylorae, Enterobacter asburiae, Kluyvera cryocrescens, Pseudomonas stutzeri, and Chryseomonas luteola. One bacterial isolate could not be identified. The rhizosphere of black mangroves also yielded the fungus Aspergillus niger. The phosphate-solubilizing activity of the isolates was first qualitatively evaluated by the formation of halos (clear zones) around the colonies growing on solid medium containing tribasic calcium phosphate as a sole phosphorus source. Spectrophotometric quantification of phosphate solubilization showed that all bacterial species and A. niger solubilized insoluble phosphate well in a liquid medium, and that V. proteolyticus was the most active solubilizing species among the bacteria. Gas chromatographic analyses of cell-free spent culture medium from the various bacteria demonstrated the presence of 11 identified, and several unidentified, volatile and nonvolatile organic acids. Those most commonly produced by different species were lactic, succinic, isovaleric, isobutyric, and acetic acids. Most of the bacterial species produced more than one organic acid whereas A. niger produced only succinic acid. We propose the production of organic acids by these mangrove rhizosphere microorganisms as a possible mechanism involved in the solubilization of insoluble calcium phosphate. Received: 21 April 1999     

Methyl jasmonate reduces chilling injury and maintains postharvest quality of mango fruit

Exposure of mango (Mangifera indica cv. Tommy Atkins) fruit to methyl jasmonate (MJ) vapors (10(-)(4) M) for 24 h at 25 degrees C reduced chilling injury during subsequent storage for 21 days at 7 degrees C and after 5 days of shelf life at 20 degrees C. The chilling tolerance induced by MJ was positively correlated with the reduction in the percent ion leakage of mango tissue. The overall quality of MJ-treated fruit was also better than that of control fruit. MJ treatment increased the total soluble solids but did not affect titratable acidity or pH. MJ also did not change the normal climacteric rise in respiration, water loss, and softening rates. The efficacy of MJ to reduce chilling injury and decay of mango could be related to the tolerance induced at low temperature. It was concluded that MJ treatment may prevent chilling injury symptoms of mango without altering the ripening process.     

Influence of dietary fat and vitamin E supplementation on free radical production and on lipid and protein oxidation in turkey muscle extracts

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of dietary fat (6% soy oil or rapeseed oil or tallow) and alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplementation at two levels (30 or 200 ppm) on radical production, measured by ESR spectroscopy, and on lipid and protein oxidation in turkey muscle extracts oxidized by an enzymic system (NADPH, ADP, FeSO(4)/cytochrome P450 reductase). Two muscles were tested: pectoralis major (glycolytic) and sartorius (oxidative) muscles. Radical production measured by ESR was higher in pectoralis major muscle than in sartorius muscle, whereas lipid and protein oxidation was more important in sartorius muscle, showing the importance of the pro-/antioxidant ratio in oxidative processes in muscular cells and of the measurement methodology to appreciate the free radical production. Dietary fat had no effect on the level of ESR signals, whereas feeding of animals with soy oil induced higher oxidation of lipids. Protein oxidation was less sensitive to the nature of the dietary fat than lipid oxidation. Vitamin E supplementation significantly decreased radical production, as measured by ESR spectroscopy. Vitamin E also decreased lipid and protein oxidation, but the effect of vitamin E on protein oxidation was less pronounced than on lipid oxidation.     

Lysozyme-glucose stearic acid monoester conjugate formed through the Maillard reaction as an antibacterial emulsifier

Lysozyme-glucose stearic acid monoester (HEL-GE) conjugate was prepared through the Maillard reaction as an antibacterial emulsifier. The molar ratio of GE to HEL was 1:1. The isoelectric point was 6-7, which is lower than that of native HEL. Spectroscopic studies indicated that the alpha-helix content was slightly lower but the conformation around Trp had not changed and that the surface of the conjugate was covered with the GE moiety. The conjugate maintained approximately 53-57% of the enzymatic activity of native HEL at 40-60 degrees C and exhibited considerable resistance to proteolysis. The denaturation temperature of the conjugate was approximately 74 degrees C, somewhat higher than that of control HEL, whereas the enthalpy was about one-third of that of control HEL. The emulsifying activity of the conjugate and the emulsion stability were much enhanced compared to those of native HEL, and the conjugate maintained approximately 70% of the bactericidal activity.     

Loss of pendimethalin in runoff and leaching from turfgrass land under simulated rainfall

A field study was undertaken to investigate runoff and leaching loss of the herbicide pendimethalin in turfgrass land of loamy sand soil. A series of plots constructed in a golf course fairway were surface-applied with pendimethalin SC formulation at the rate of 2. 25 or 4.50 kg a.i./ha and subjected to simulated rainfall at 2.0 cm/day for 10 consecutive days. Runoff losses of pendimethalin were the highest at the first rainfall and then gradually decreased with time. The first runoff event contained pendimethalin in its highest concentration, and in subsequent runoff samples the concentration decreased exponentially. The ranges of pendimethalin concentration were 80.9-18.2 and 177.4-48.6 microgram/L in the standard and double doses, respectively. Total losses by 20 cm of rainfall for 10 days reached 0.81 and 1.22% of the initial deposits at 2.25 and 4.50 kg a. i./ha, respectively. Pendimethalin concentration in the leachate collected at 30-cm soil depth was quite lower than that in the runoff, and the concentration rapidly decreased from 4.3-4.7 to 0. 2-0.4 microgram/L during the 10 days of rainfall treatment. Soil residue analysis at 45 and 90 days after pendimethalin treatment showed that more than 90% of the residue remained at the top 10 cm of soil depth. Low runoff and leaching confirmed that lateral and downward movement of the herbicide should be limited in turf soil. The half-life of pendimethalin under field conditions was 23-30 days and was not affected by application dose and rainfall treatment, but longer persistence was observed under laboratory conditions. Considering low runoff and leaching, as well as relatively short persistence in soil, it is concluded that little environmental carryover of pendimethalin would be expected in turfgrass land.     

Mechanism and characteristics of protein release from lactitol-based cross-linked hydrogel

Lactitol-based cross-linked hydrogel was synthesized, and model proteins (alpha-chymotrypsin, beta-lactoglobulin, bovine serum albumin (BSA), and gamma-globulin) were incorporated into the cross-linked hydrogel. The larger-molecular-weight proteins have lower diffusivity (D(e)) in the hydrogel. Increasing temperature accelerated the diffusion rate of proteins; however, the diffusion did not follow the Arrhenius equation at temperatures above 37 degrees C. The swelling ratio of the hydrogel was slightly decreased after heating for 2 h at 37 and 45 degrees C, and significantly reduced after 1 h at 60 degrees C. Therefore, diffusion of beta-lactoglobulin and BSA may be decreased by hydrogel shrinking at temperature over 37 degrees C. The model proteins have high affinities to buffer solution compared to the hydrogel network structure, resulting in high partition coefficients (K > 1) which do not affect the calculation of D(e) values. Incorporated protein release follows the theory of hindered diffusion.     

EDTA Extraction of Heavy Metals from Different Soil Fractions and Synthetic Soils

A laboratory-prepared contaminated soil was partitioned into four fractions, namely carbonate, Fe/Mn oxides, organic matter and clay mineral, according to the form in which the heavy metal bound with soil constituents. Individual contaminated soil fractions and synthetic soils were prepared for the study of soil extraction using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The effect of contact time and EDTA concentration were evaluated for both individual soil fractions and synthetic soils. The extraction reached equilibrium rapidly, after about 30 min. A 0.01 M EDTA solution was less effective than a 0.05 M or a 0.10 M EDTA. EDTA was proved to be effective for metal removal from the four individual soil fractions and synthetic soils. In general, approximately 90% of metals were removed from synthetic soils by 0.10 M EDTA. EDTA extraction of Pb from a contaminated carbonate fraction was thought to be affected by the formation of lead carbonates. A simple equation based on the sum of the released heavy metal from the individual components is used to check if there are interactions among the different soil components when mixed. The estimated values agreed well with the experimentally measured results only for the 0.10 M EDTA system.     

Colorimetric determination of boric acid in prawns, shrimp, and salted jelly fish by chelate extraction with 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol.

Borate was directly chelate-extracted from foods with 5% 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol (EHD) in n-hexane-n-butyl acetate mixture (8 + 2), from which borate was selectively transferred into 1% NaOH, since EHD-chelated boron did not react with curcumin to develop color. Finally, an aliquot of the alkaline solution was acidified with HCl and reacted with curcumin in a rotary evaporator. Color development was increased by heating for 8 min at 80 degrees C under reduced pressure of 16 mm Hg. Frozen shrimp and prawns (peeled and with shells) and salted jelly fish were analyzed by the proposed method. Results were compared with the contemporary official method of Japan based on curcumin reaction on an incinerated sample. Over 90% of the boric acid was recovered by the proposed method when samples were fortified with 20 ppm boric acid. Recoveries were superior to those of the official method especially for shrimp and prawns with shells and salted jelly fish. Detection limit of boric acid is 1 ppm. Moreover, the method requires only about 1 hr for analysis of one sample, making it suitable for routine analysis.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of barbaloin (aloin) in foods

A simple and rapid liquid chromatographic method is described for the determination of barbaloin (aloin, 10-D-glucopyranosyl-1,8-dihydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)-9(10H)-anthraceno ne) in foods. Barbaloin is extracted with water from foods containing aloe and the extract is cleaned up on a disposable cartridge by using methanol-water (55 + 45) as eluant. The eluted barbaloin is separated by liquid chromatography on a YMC A-302 column with methanol-water (50 + 50) mobile phase, and detected at 293 nm. Recoveries of barbaloin added to foods at the levels of 0.05 and 0.50 mg/g were 94.4-100%. Assay results for commercial food samples indicated that the present method is applicable to a variety of foods supplemented with aloe.     

Adsorption of sulphate and fluoride by variable charge soils

The adsorption of sulphate and fluoride by three variable charge soils was studied. Adsorption increased with increase in the amount of sulphate added at constant _pH, and decreased with increase of _pH.
The ratios of the amount of released OH⁻to that of the adsorbed SO^2-₄ at pH 5–0 were 0.12, 0.14 and 0.20 for the three soils, respectively, much lower than the corresponding OH⁻/F⁻ ratios which ranged from 0.3 to 1.0. For a ferric acrisol the OH⁻ released accounted, on average, for only 15% of the SO^2-₄ adsorbed, leaving more than 60% to be explained by the decrease in positive charge and the increase in negative charge carried by the soil.