Comparison of Antioxidant Components and Activity of Buckwheat and Wheat Flours

Plant phenolics and tocopherols content were determined in light and wholegrain buckwheat and wheat flour. Antioxidant activity of flours were comparatively assessed by scavenging activity on 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^•), hydroxyl (^•OH), and superoxide anion (O₂^•–) radicals, reducing activity, and chelating activity on Fe²⁺. Rutin, quercetin, and ferulic acid were quantified in both buckwheat flours, while ferulic acid was quantified in wholegrain wheat flour. Significantly higher content of phenolics and tocopherols was found in buckwheat than in wheat flours. Tocopherols in buckwheat flours were present in the order: γ‐ > α‐>> δ‐tocopherol, and in wheat flours: α‐ > γ‐ >> δ‐tocopherol. Buckwheat flours possessed better scavenging abilities on DPPH^•, ^•OH and O₂^•– radicals, as well as better reducing activity, while wheat flours showed better chelating activity on Fe²⁺, according to IC₅₀ values. Results suggest the possibility of improving the antioxidant properties of wheat‐based food products through addition of buckwheat flour.     

Assessment of the retardation of selected herbicides onto Danube sediment based on small column tests

Journal of Soils and Sediments - This study utilizes column tests to investigate the retardation of certain herbicides with different hydrophobicities (atrazine, alachlor and trifluralin) during...     

Quercetin influences response in Nicotiana megalosiphon infected by satellite-associated cucumber mosaic virus

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Quercetin is a prominent flavonoid with a remarkable spectrum of biochemical activities. Its impact on human health, as well as its role in the normal...     

The effects of cold pre-treatment on the toxicity of several contact insecticides on adults of three Sitophilus granarius (L.) populations

As very little is known about the impact of cold pre-treatments on insecticidal toxicity to the surviving stored-product insects, we examined the effects of cooling (?5 °C) on the toxicity of five contact insecticides to Sitophilus granarius adults from three populations (laboratory, field and selected). We determined: (a) weevil lethal time after exposure to ?5 °C, (b) the effects of two cold pre-treatments (LT₂₀ and LT₅₀—lethal time for 20 and 50 % of exposed adults) on 24 and 72 h recovery rates of laboratory adults after exposure to five insecticides and (c) deltamethrin, dichlorvos and malathion toxicity to two weevil populations with altered insecticide susceptibility after exposure to the LT₂₀ and LT₅₀ pre-treatments. The tested S. granarius populations showed no significant differences in their susceptibility to cooling. All insecticides except dichlorvos were more toxic to the laboratory weevils after 24 h than after 72 h recovery from the LT₂₀ pre-treatment. Dichlorvos and deltamethrin were more toxic to the other two populations after 72 h of recovery. Comparing the effects of cold pre-treatment and non-treatment on the laboratory strain, no significant increase in the toxicity of insecticides was detected, while only deltamethrin was significantly more toxic to the field and selected populations recovering for 24 h (12.1 and 11.0 times, respectively) and 72 h (6.9 and 36.6 times) from the LT₂₀ pre-treatment. In conclusion, only the shorter of the two cold pre-treatments was found effective in terms of increasing the insecticidal toxicity, especially against the populations with altered susceptibility to insecticides.     

Functional and Structural Characterization of FAU Gene/Protein from Marine Sponge Suberites domuncula

Finkel-Biskis-Reilly murine sarcoma virus (FBR-MuSV) ubiquitously expressed (FAU) gene is down-regulated in human prostate, breast and ovarian cancers. Moreover, its dysregulation is associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer. Sponges (Porifera) are animals without tissues which branched off first from the common ancestor of all metazoans. A large majority of genes implicated in human cancers have their homologues in the sponge genome. Our study suggests that FAU gene from the sponge Suberites domuncula reflects characteristics of the FAU gene from the metazoan ancestor, which have changed only slightly during the course of animal evolution. We found pro-apoptotic activity of sponge FAU protein. The same as its human homologue, sponge FAU increases apoptosis in human HEK293T cells. This indicates that the biological functions of FAU, usually associated with “higher” metazoans, particularly in cancer etiology, possess a biochemical background established early in metazoan evolution. The ancestor of all animals possibly possessed FAU protein with the structure and function similar to evolutionarily more recent versions of the protein, even before the appearance of true tissues and the origin of tumors and metastasis. It provides an opportunity to use pre-bilaterian animals as a simpler model for studying complex interactions in human cancerogenesis.     

Biochemical markers of morphogenesis in long term horseradish (Armoracia lapathifolia Gilib.) tissue culture

Long term in vitro cultures of plant tissue spontaneously change at morphological, cellular and biochemical level. Horseradish tissues were cultivated in vitro for more than 16 years. Primary crown-gall tumours were induced with Agrobacterium tumefaciens on leaf explants excised from plantlets propagated in vitro. Subcultured on hormone-free MS medium, transformed tissue continued to grow in an unorganized way (TN tumour) or as teratogenous tumour (TM teratoma) forming malformed shoots which never rooted. The aim of this study was to establish the morphological and biochemical status of this long term cultures. The study was performed by verifying biochemical marker of transformation and morphogenesis, which had been investigated when the culture was established (peroxidase, PPX) as well as by introducing new markers which have not been analyzed so far in horseradish tissues (ascorbate peroxidase, APX; phenylalanine-ammonia lyase, PAL; and phenolics content). Morphological changes were observed only in teratoma tissue. Peroxidase activity and isoenzyme pattern indicated stability of horseradish tissue culture. The new biochemical markers were in a complete (PAL) and partial (APX) correlation with the PPX results and are therefore useful addition in biochemical characterisation of these tissues and can also be applied as markers of morphogenesis and tumorization.     

Photosynthesis,chlorophyll fluorescence,and water relations in young sugar beet plants as affected by sulfur supply

The effect of different concentrations of sulfur (1 and 3 mM) and interruption of sulfur (S) supply for 25 days on the photosynthesis and leaf water relations in young sugar beet plants (Beta vulgaris L.) was studied in water culture, under greenhouse conditions. Interruption of S‐supply significantly reduced the content of sulfur, chlorophylls a+b and carotenoids, leaf area, density of stomatal and epidermal cells, transpiration rate and leaf water potential, while it increased the free proline content and stomatal diffusion resistance. An increase in S concentration in the nutrient medium from 1 to 3 mM did not significantly affect the tested parameters, except for an increase in leaf S content and a decrease of leaf water potential. Sulfur deficiency caused a pronounced decrease of the rate and quantum yield of photosynthetic oxygen evolution under non‐photorespiratory conditions. This was partly the result of the diminished photochemical efficiency of photosystem II reaction centers. Less efficient excitation of PSII reaction centers is most probably the consequence of higher thermal energy dissipation in the reaction centers of S‐starved plants. These data support that S nutrition is one of the factors regulating plant photosynthesis.     

How to improve strawberry productivity,nutrients composition,and beneficial rhizosphere microflora by biofertilization and mineral fertilization?

The main objective of this study was to investigate and compare the effects of fertilizer types on the counts of soil microorganisms, the mineral leaf composition, and productivity of three strawberry cultivars in the period 2012–2013. Two types of fertilizers were applied—mineral and microbiological. Significantly higher number of Azotobacter, ammonifiers, oligonitrophils, and total microbial count were observed under biofertilizers treatment. Significantly higher counts of fungi and actinomycetes were obtained under mineral fertilizer treatment, compared to other fertilizer treatments. The use of mineral fertilizer led to the most favorable balance of macronutrients and micronutrients in the leaf. In 2012, the generative potential and yield increased after mineral fertilization, whereas in 2013 these parameters were positively affected by mineral fertilizer and Biofertilizer 1. Given the obtained results, in order to improve technology of strawberry production, a partial substitution of mineral fertilizers by microbiological ones can be recommended.     

Geochemical monitoring of organic and inorganic pollutants in the sediment of the Eastern Posavina (Serbia)

Purpose

The aim of this study was to obtain a complete picture of the geochemical character of the sediment in the eastern Posavina region, Serbia, an area which has thus far not been systematically investigated. Geological mapping and impact assessment were thus carried out for this area.

Materials and methods

Sediments were sampled (from 0 to 0.5 m depth) in four locations in eastern Posavina between 2002 and 2014. Eight heavy metals (Ni, Zn, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, As and Hg) and a wide variety of organic parameters (16 EPA polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), mineral oils, selected pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)) were monitored. Metals were analysed by flame and graphite atomic absorption spectrometry, and gas chromatography with mass detection was used for the PAH analyses. The origins of the monitored substances were classified using geoaccumulation index (I _geo), ecological risk index (RI) and principal component analysis (PCA/FA).

Results and discussion

The sediments all contained higher heavy metals concentrations than the upper continental crust (UCC), suggesting dynamic natural and anthropogenic processes in this unique region. Significant variations (RSD values from 13 to 190) were observed for Cd (0.001–80.00 mg kg^?1), Hg (0.01–5.40 mg kg^?1), mineral oil (2.00–1851 mg kg^?1) and the sum of 16 EPA PAHs (0.003–5.57 mg kg^?1). The I _geo index classified the pollution risk due to Cr as strong, Cd, Zn and Hg as moderate to strong and Ni as moderate. Based on PCA/FA analysis, the parameters were grouped somewhat differently, with anthropogenic activity found to be responsible for much of the Hg, Cd and Cr pollution present in the sediments.

Conclusions

The analysis revealed eight heavy metals (Ni, Zn, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, As and Hg), the sum of 16 EPA PAHs and mineral oil as parameters of great interest for this unique region. These parameters must be the focus of future monitoring programs, in support of appropriate remediation techniques and/or dredging activities, which are required in order to comply with the new Serbian regulations and the relevant EU recommendations.