Identification of phenolic compounds and their relationships to in-vitro digestibility of sorghum leaves from bird-resistant and non-bird-resistant varieties

Soluble phenolics in leaf blades and sheaths from the crop residues of 24 sorghum varieties were studied. Apigenin, luteolin, apigenin and luteolin 7-O-glucosides, p-coumaric acid, butin and apigeninidin were identified. This is the first report of butin in sorghum tissues. Derivatives of the following compounds were also detected but not characterised further: apigeninidin, luteolinidin, chalcone, flavanone and/or dihydroflavonol, cinnamic acid, apigenin and luteolin. The composition of phenolics was clearly different between leaf blades (LB) and sheaths (LS), and also between leaf sheaths of bird-resistant (BR) and non-bird-resistant (NBR) varieties. Routes of flavonoid biosynthesis in BR and NBR varieties appear to diverge at the flavanone/dihydroflavonol level. Several negative correlations were found between HPLC peaks and in-vitro digestibilities, ie true dry matter and neutral-detergent fibre digestibility. These were highly significant with butin and significant with several luteolin derivatives but only with one apigenin derivative. Butin in turn was highly negatively correlated with colorimetric measurements of 3-desoxyanthocyanidins. This may suggest that butin—rather than the 3-desoxyanthocyanidins as previously reported—is implicated in reducing dry matter digestibility. Selecting varieties low in luteolin derivatives and butin and rich in apigenin should enhance the digestibilities of sorghum crop residues.     

Effects of nitrogen supply on cassava/pigeonpea intercropping with three contrasting cassava cultivars

Three cassava cultivars of contrasting canopy size were grown as a sole crop and in intercropping with pigeonpea under two N supply levels to examine whether the effect of N fertilizer was different in sole crop cassava and in intercropping, and whether it depended on the canopy type of cassava cultivar. Application of N promoted plant height and canopy width of cassava in both cropping systems, and this resulted in increased competitiveness of cassava in intercropping. However, when the most vigorous cassava cultivar was used in intercropping, N supply caused excessive top growth with no increase in tuber yield. The yield of pigeonpea on the other hand was always reduced with N supply in intercropping with any cassava cultivar.     

设施栽培条件下葡萄光合特性初探

利用电子光合测定仪，对设施栽培条件下“乍娜”、“凤凰５１”品种的光合特性进行研究，结果表明葡萄光合日变化呈明显的双峰型，两品种光合峰值及光合低谷期长短有明显不同。在华北地区，影响设施内葡萄光合效率的主要生态因素是ＣＯ２浓度和水分状况，尤其是设施内相对湿度和光合效率有明显相关。     

Effects of ripening, 1-methylcyclopropene and ultra-high-pressure pasteurisation on the change of volatiles in Chinese pear cultivars

BACKGROUND: Aroma is one important fruit sensory attribute influenced by the volatile constituents related to species, variety and technological treatments. We analysed the variations of volatile compounds in five pear cultivars and investigated their changes related to different pear organs, different ripening stages, 1‐MCP treatment and ultra‐high‐pressure pasteurisation. RESULTS: Considerable variations exist in the quantity of 10 volatile compounds among five pear cultivars. Their levels generally showed an increasing trend when collected at later harvest time in Ya pear. In Whangkeumbae pear, most volatile compounds reached their maximum levels in skin and pulp. After treating pears with 42 µmol L^?1 1‐methylcyclopropene (1‐MCP), the levels of volatiles remained basically unchanged or only slightly increased in Ya pear during a shelf life of 21 days. When Huangguan pear juice was pasteurised by using ultra‐high pressure, the levels of volatiles significantly changed during the shelf life. CONCLUSION: The volatile compositions of five different Chinese pear cultivars differ considerably. The levels of these volatiles vary along with ripening stages and pear tissues. A moderate concentration of 1‐MCP could keep the levels of volatile compounds basically unchanged during storage and ultra‐high‐pressure pasteurisation could change the levels of volatiles significantly during the following shelf life. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Allergenicity of different apple cultivars assessed by means of skin prick test and sensitisation to recombinant allergens Mal d 1 and Mal d 3 in a group of Italian apple‐allergic patients

To evaluate differences in skin prick test response to apple cultivars in patients with apple allergy, 19 patients (10 adults and 9 children) underwent prick‐to‐prick skin prick test with eleven commercial and noncommercial apple cultivars, and evaluation of specific IgE to apple and recombinant apple allergens Mal d 1 and Mal d 3. The results show that different reactions might be evoked in a single patient by different apple cultivars and also separately for the peel and the pulp of a single cultivar. The cultivars were ranked according to their allergenicity level, being Jonathan, Jonagold, Golden Delicious and Fiesta the most allergenic when considering the pulp and Gala, Fiesta and Golden Delicious for the peel. Further investigations are needed to clarify if a single patient can be allergic only to well‐defined apple cultivars and which allergometric tests are necessary to ascertain this.     

Assessment of bulb pungency level in different Indian cultivars of onion (Allium cepa L.)

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is an important vegetable crop consumed primarily for its ability to enhance the flavor of other foods. The quality of onion depends on its pungency. While highly pungent onions are popular in India, less pungent ones are preferred in other countries. However, the variability in pungency in bulbs of different cultivars however has not been investigated. The present investigation was therefore undertaken to determine the pungency in three popular Indian onion cultivars viz. N-2-4-1, B-780 and Phule Safed. Randomly selected bulb samples of the cultivars were analyzed for the content of pyruvic acid, total soluble solids (TSS) and reducing, non-reducing and total sugars. The red variety N-2-4-1 showed higher level of pungency, while other two varieties were comparatively less pungent.     

枇杷不同器官多糖含量的比较

采用苯酚—硫酸比色法对早钟6号、长红3号、解放钟3个枇杷主栽品种各器官间的多糖含量进行测定分析。结果表明,枇杷各器官皆含多糖类化合物,且繁殖器官的多糖含量均大于1.900%,显著高于营养器官(均小于1.500%)。3个品种同一器官(除种子和成年叶外)多糖含量差异均达极显著水平,其中鲜果肉的多糖含量以解放钟最高为4.500%,早钟6号次之为2.293%,长红3号最低为1.918%。     

茉莉(Jasminum sambac(L.)Aiton)3品种次生木质部的比较解剖学研究

应用光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜对相似生境条件下生长的茉莉3品种次生木质部的形态结构特征进行了观察,并测量了其数量特征.双瓣茉莉的单孔率比单、多瓣茉莉显著更低,导管聚合度显著更高;双辫茉莉夏、冬季次生木质部射线薄壁细胞含有更多的淀粉粒,射线比率显著大于单、多瓣茉莉;夏季和冬季材料中.双瓣茉莉大部分导管壁具附物.但单瓣茉莉和多瓣茉莉的附物仅在少量导管壁上出现.讨论了不同品种解剖结构的变动与抗寒耐旱性关系.     

盐胁迫下葡萄光合特性的研究

对葡萄(8804品系)扦插苗进行不同程度的盐处理(0.2%,0.4%,0.6%),在一定时期对叶片的光合特性和叶绿素含量进行测定,结果表明:葡萄的净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)和蒸腾速率(Tr)的变化规律与叶绿素a、b的含量变化规律基本一致,即在处理前期都持续下降,中期出现一段时间稳定甚至上升,后期又开始下降;细胞间CO2浓度(C i)前期几乎不变,后期则迅速下降。类胡萝卜素含量的变化幅度较小。