Extractive components and taste aspects of fermented fish pastes and bean pastes prepared using different koji molds as starters

We have evaluated four commercially available mold starters (SP-01, NY, M1, and “for kome miso”) for fermented fish pastes with the aim of determining the effect of different koji molds on the nutritional and sensory characteristics of the fermented product. Comparative studies among different fermented fish and bean pastes were also conducted. Protein contents were considerably higher in the fermented fish pastes (22.7–24.1%) than the fermented bean pastes (8.2–12.8%). Free amino acids, oligopeptides, organic acids, mineral content, and sensory scores of the fermented fish pastes were superior to those of the bean pastes in terms of nutritional aspects. Sensory evaluation of fermented fish and bean pastes clearly indicated that different koji molds used as starters had little effect on the taste of the fermented fish pastes. However, in terms of nutritional and sensory characteristics, fermented fish pastes from trash fishes were found to be both commercially valuable and a potential gain to food processing firms among the many new generic fermented food products becoming available.     

Isolation and characteristics of eight novel polymorphic microsatellite loci from the genome of garlic (Allium sativum L.)

Here we characterized eight novel polymorphic SSR markers, developed from an enriched genomic library of garlic (Allium sativum L.). These SSRs produced a total of 64 alleles across 90 garlic accessions, with an average of 8 alleles per locus. Values for observed (H_O) and expected (H_E) heterozygosity ranged from 0.16 to 0.77 (mean = 0.44) and from 0.22 to 0.86 (mean = 0.65), respectively. Six loci deviated significantly (P < 0.05) from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). The averages of gene diversity and PIC values were 0.65 and 0.62, respectively. The mean genetic similarity coefficient was 0.4380, indicating that among garlic accessions existed wide genetic variation. Based on 64 alleles obtained by 8 SSRs, a phenogram was constructed to understand the relationships among the 90 accessions. These newly developed SSRs should prove very useful tools for genotypes identification, assessment of genetic diversity and population structure in garlic.     

Resistance and resilience of soil biological indicators: A case study with multi-walled carbon nanotube

Soil ecosystem is experiencing stresses due to climate change, and soil inhabitants try to demonstrate their inherent resistance and resilience against those stresses. Application of nanomaterials as agricultural inputs could bring shifts in resistance and resilience patterns of soil microbes and associated enzymes, especially under short-term heat stress. With this background, the impacts of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) on the resistance and resilience of soil biological indicators were evaluated. An incubation experiment was conducted with varied MWCNT concentrations (0, 50, 100, 250, and 500 mg kg^-1 soil) for 90 d after 24-h heat stress at 48 ±2 ℃ to assess the impacts of MWCNT on soil enzyme activities and microbial populations vis-à-vis their resistance and resilience indices under short-term exposure to heat stress. Enzyme activities were reduced after exposure to heat stress. Resistance indices of enzyme activities were enhanced by MWCNT application on day 1 after heat stress, whereas there was no recovery of enzyme activities after 90-d incubation. Like soil enzyme activities, resistance index values of soil microbial populations followed the similar trend and were improved by MWCNT application. Multi-walled carbon nanotube has the potential to improve resistance indices of soil enzyme activities and microbial populations under heat stress, although they could not recover to their original state during periodical incubation after heat stress. This study helps to understand the relative changes of biological indicators under MWCNT and their ability to withstand heat stress.     

Cryptic species composition and genetic diversity within Bemisia tabaci complex in soybean in India revealed by mtCOI DNA sequence

Bemisia tabaci is a cryptic species complex, causing significant loss on many agriculturally important crops worldwide. Knowledge on species composition and diversity within B. tabaci complex is critical for evolving sustainable pest management strategies. Here we investigate the whitefly species complex in soybean in major soybean growing states of India. The mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase gene subunit-1(mt COI) based phylogenetic relationships established using Bayesian methods indicated the existence of three cryptic species namely AsiaⅠ, AsiaⅡ1, and AsiaⅡ7. All the haplotypes detected in the study could be assigned to these three cryptic species following the species demarcation criteria of 3.5% divergence threshold. Of these, AsiaⅡ1 was found to be predominant with wide spread distribution across the surveyed regions from cool temperate zones to hot and humid tropical plains. On the contrary, cryptic species AsiaⅡ7 showed localized distribution. The AsiaⅡ1 exhibited the highest haplotype diversity and AsiaⅠ showed high level of nucleotide diversity. There was a significantly high genetic differentiation among these three cryptic species. The MEAM 1, a dreadful invasive species was not detected in the specimens tested in the current study. The diversity and distribution of three cryptic species is discussed in the light of current knowledge on distribution of whitefly species in India and yellow mosaic disease observed during sampling survey.     

Differentiation of chloride and sulphate salinity on the basis of ionic distribution in genetically diverse cultivars of wheat

Sulphate (SO₄) salinity, in general, was found to be more injurious than chloride (Cl) salinity in all the four genetically diverse wheat cultivars—Triticum monococcum (Cl), T. aestivum cv. Chinese spring (C2), T. turgidum cv. langdon (C3) and amphidiploid (C4) obtained by a cross between T. aestivum cv. Chinese spring x Thinopyrum bessarabicum grown in hydroponic cultures containing iso‐osmotic saline treatments T1 (90 mM NaCl), T2 (45 mM NaCl+22.5 mM Na₂SO₄), T3 (15 mM NaCl + 37.5 mM Na₂SO₄), and T4 (45 mM Na₂SO₄). Among the cultivars, C4 followed by C2 and C3 appeared to be more salt resistant and Cl the most salt sensitive as far as various observations on osmotic potential and internal ion accumulation were concerned. Salt resistance could be ascribed to more exclusion of Na and Cl ions. Sulphate injury might be due to less effective sequestration or mobility of this ion towards some innocuous centres of plant tissues. Most of the interactive effects of cultivar versus salinity were prominently higher in cultivar C4 in treatment T1.     

Superconductivity in the fullerenes

Intramolecular vibrations strongly scatter electrons near the Fermi-surface in doped fullerenes. A simple expression for the electron-phonon coupling parameters for this case is derived and evaluated by quantum-chemical calculations. The observed superconducting transition temperatures and their variation with lattice constants can be understood on this basis. To test the ideas and calculations presented here, we predict that high frequency H(2) modes acquire a width of about 20% of their frequency in superconductive fullerenes, and soften by about 5% compared to the insulating fullerenes.     

Delayed-type hypersensitivity test for assessing tick-immune status of cattle in Zambia

Delayed-type hypersensitivity skin reactions were used to assess the tick resistance status of Tonga calves in Zambia. The antigen used in the tests was a homogenate of unfed nymphal Rhipicephalus appendiculatus which had been shown to give protective immunity in guinea pigs to adult female R appendiculatus. There was a significant negative correlation between the intensity of the reactions and the total number of ticks (Amblyomma variegatum, R appendiculatus, Hyalomma truncatum, Boophilus decoloratus and Rhipicephalus species) on the animals.