Effect of maturity and storage temperature on the development of peteca in lemons (Citrus limon (L.) Burm. F.) cv. Eureka

To evaluate the effect of maturity and storage temperature on the development of the physiological disorder peteca, lemons cv. Eureka were harvested from a grove with northern exposure located in Mallarauco (33°45′ Latitude South) Metropolitan Region of Chile, at 2 levels of maturity (silver or yellow). After storage for 60 d at 3 or 7 °C, under 90% R.H., fruits were evaluated visually for incidence of epidermal and subepidermal peteca. At that time, the concentration of galacturonic acid and degree of methylation were measured in the albedo, and calcium, hydrogen peroxides and total oxalate concentrations, peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase (PPO) activities were determined in the juice and albedo. Yellow lemons at 3 °C developed more epidermal peteca than fruit stored at 7 °C, and that silver fruit stored at 3 and 7 °C, with these last lemons presenting a higher pectin quality than fruit stored at 3 °C. Maturity and temperature interacted significantly on the concentrations of peroxide and calcium in the albedo, which in average were much higher than in the juice, while for PPO and peroxidases, this interaction was highly significant both in juice and albedo, with higher activity in the albedo. These biochemical evaluations suggest that peteca is a result of some kind of stress on the fruit. It is concluded that yellow lemons are more prone to develop peteca than silver fruit. They will develop greater incidence of the disorder when stored at temperatures as low as 3 °C for 60 d, and that this condition affects the degree of methylation in the albedo, which would end up altering the quality of pectins.     

黑松针叶提取物抗霉菌活性的研究

采用滤纸片法,检测不同质量浓度的针叶提取物对霉菌的抑制圈大小,以研究黑松针叶提取物的抗霉菌活性。结果表明:黑松针叶提取物具有抗霉菌活性,但抑制效果与其质量浓度不成正比;3种提取物中,乙醇提取物的抗霉菌效果最显著,丙酮和水提取物的抗霉菌效果次之。其对黑曲霉、青霉、根霉起最佳抑制效果的质量浓度分别为6.25、25.01、2.5 g/L,其抑菌圈直径分别为14.8、16.61、2.6 mm。     

不同类型甜菜品种根中Mg^2＋-ATP酶活性和产质量的关系

测定不同类型甜菜品种各生育时期根中Mg^2＋-ATP酶活性、可溶性总糖、可溶性蛋白含量和产量、含糖率。结果表明,在幼苗期和叶丛繁茂期,Mg^2＋-ATP活性呈先上升后下降趋势,从块根增长期直至糖分积累期,Mg^2＋-ATP酶的活性逐渐增强,并保持在全生育期最高水平。不同类型品种间存在差异,在各生育时期高糖型品种Mg^2＋-ATP酶活性较强。根中Mg^2＋-ATP酶活性与根中可溶性总糖呈正相关,与甜菜根的成熟进程正相关;Mg^2＋-ATP酶活性与可溶性蛋白质舍量呈负相关,对可溶性糖的积累方面,二者的作用刚好相反。高糖型品种的可溶性总糖含量较高．相应的根中蛋白质含量很低。Mg^2＋-ATP酶活性较高．     

内蒙古根河14种野生大型经济真菌生物活性测定

对内蒙古根河市14种野生大型经济真菌的抗菌活性及凝集素、蛋白酶、磷酸酶等生物活性进行了测定。结果表明在被测的14个样品中,具有蛋白酶活性的有4种、具有凝集素活性的有7种、具有抗植物病原真菌活性的有3种,开发和利用这些野生大型经济真菌将取得巨大的经济效益和社会效益。     

Feeding responses of juvenile shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) fed at different frequencies under laboratory conditions

In shrimp farms, food partitioning during the course of the day is contradictory, ethology studies may help in determining the proper frequency. Litopenaeus vannamei juveniles were placed in 30 L aquariums (41 m⁻²), exposed to a 12:12 h light–dark cycle. Feeding was provided at 10% of biomass three, four and seven times per day, with observations made in 15 min h⁻¹ windows, initiated after the ration was offered. Latency to access the feeding tray and to start eating was recorded using instantaneous focal sampling and digestive tract filling (DTF) by the continuous focal method. Weight gain was recorded at the end of the experiment. We performed seven repetitions, with 28 individuals observed for 33 days for each treatment (490 h of observation). The three-times offering induced less latency for accessing the tray and for ingesting the feed as well as a higher DTF when compared with the other frequencies. Animals fed three and four times had similar weight gains, and were greater than those fed seven times. Our results indicate that a more spaced food offering stimulates the search for and ingestion of feed. As compared with other frequencies, the three-times-per-day option assumes lower labour costs and a more efficient use of the feed.     

Seminal plasma proteins of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.)

Protein content and properties in the seminal plasma of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) were assayed using spectrophotometric and electrophoretic methods. The protein concentration ranged from 6.4 ± 3.1 to 19.4 ± 3.4 mg ml⁻¹ and anti-proteolytic activity from 585.2 ± 104.6 to 2912.4 ± 367.4 U l^−l. A high correlation between anti-proteolytic activity and protein concentration (r = 0.95), and between sperm concentration and osmolality was found (r = 0.92). There was a significant decrease in anti-proteolytic activity from the first to the second sampling, but not in protein concentration. Anti-proteolytic activity and protein concentration were significantly affected by variations in individual males. Electrophoresis revealed four anti-proteolytic bands and individual differences in bands of proteolytic activity, which were subsequently characterized as metalloproteases and serine proteases.     

Interactions between fishing strategies of Nephrops trawlers in the Bay of Biscay and Norway lobster diel activity patterns

Abstract  Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus (L.), in the Bay of Biscay exhibited diel activity patterns with more individuals outside their burrows at dawn and dusk, increasing catchability at these times. Data from an on board observer programme on Nephrops trawlers between 2002 and 2005 were used to assess variability in catchability in commercial catches. Catch numbers per haul varied spatially and between months, but no signal for diel variations was found. Fishing strategies developed by the Nephrops trawlers had several components. On a seasonal level, they started around sunrise. On a haul level, haul duration decreased from haul to haul, with the longest hauls taking place at the time of the highest catchability. By-catch of hake, Merluccius merluccius (L.), increased more than proportionally with haul duration.     

Purification and characterization of a 630 kDa bacterial killing metalloprotease (KilC) isolated from plaice Pleuronectes platessa (L.), epidermal mucus

Antibacterial chemicals in the mucus of fish such as lysozyme, lectins, peptides and proteases provide an efficient first line of defence against pathogens. This study shows that there are at least three antibacterial proteins in plaice skin mucus in addition to lysozyme. One of these proteins is responsible for approximately 74% of the antibacterial activity and is a 630 kDa protease complex designated KilC (bacterial killing metalloprotease C). Purified KilC kills the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa efficiently. The protease activity of KilC is dependent upon the divalent cation Mg(2+) and shows pH dual optima of 5.0 and 8.0. The enzyme has a temperature optimum of 25 degrees C and is made up of at least five different sized peptides. Studies with protease inhibitors show that the catalytic site of KilC may be cysteine- or serine protease-like. KilC may kill bacterial cells by acting directly upon the bacteria or by producing low molecular weight bioactive compounds such as peptides.     

海南粗榧内生真菌F127发酵液的次级代谢产物研究

对海南粗榧(Cephalotaxus hainanensis Li.)内生真菌F127发酵液化学组分进行研究。用多种色谱技术对F127代谢产物进行分离纯化,以LC-MS、ESI-MS和超导核磁共振分析鉴定化合物结构,最后采用MTT法测定化合物的抗肿瘤活性。从海南粗榧内生真菌F127的发酵液中分离得到5个单体化合物,分别鉴定为oblongolide T(1)、sorbicillin(2)、邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(3)、phomopsolide B(4)、6,8-二羟基-3-甲基-3,4-二氢异香豆素(5),且化合物1、4、5对肿瘤细胞K562、NB4、HL-60、Hep G-2和Lovo表现出不同抑制活性。化合物4对5株肿瘤细胞均表现出抑制活性,对K562、NB4、HL-60抑制效果显著,IC50值分别为3.35、0.014和0.16μg/m L,对Hep G-2和Lo Vo只有温和抑制作用;化合物1对K562、NB4、HL-60抑制作用良好,IC50值分别为51.82、54.25和29.31μg/m L;化合物5对NB4和Hep G-2则具有一定抑制活性;化合物2和3对测试细胞株未表现出抑制活性。5个化合物均是首次从海南粗榧内生真菌中分离得到,并首次报道了化合物1、4对K562、NB4、HL-60的优良细胞毒活性,为进一步研究海南粗榧内生真菌中的活性天然产物奠定了基础。