Chemical and Chromatic Bases for Preferential Visiting By the Cabbage Butterfly, Pieris rapae, to Rape Flowers

Scent and coloration of corolla were examined as floral attributes responsible for preferential visiting by the cabbage butterfly, Pieris rapae, to rape flower, Brassica rapa. Floral volatile components that release the flower-visiting behavior of the butterfly were identified by chemical analyses, electroantennography (EAG), and two behavioral bioassays: proboscis extension reflex (PER) in response to odor and attraction to artificial flowers. GC and GC-MS analyses of the headspace volatiles from the flowers revealed the presence of six aromatic compounds, benzaldehyde, phenylacetaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, 2-phenylethanol, phenylacetonitrile, and indole in decreasing order of quantity. Of these, phenylacetaldehyde elicited the highest response in the PER assay. While benzyl alcohol, 2-phenylethanol, benzaldehyde, and phenylacetonitrile evoked moderate responses, the PER-eliciting activity of indole was very weak. In two-choice behavioral bioassays, artificial flowers scented with any one of these PER-active compounds attracted significantly more butterflies than control (unscented) flowers, whereas those treated with indole were almost inactive. The EAG activities of the six chemicals were not high and were about the same at a low dose (1 g), but phenylacetaldehyde elicited a much stronger response from both sexes at higher doses (10 and 100 g). An overall profile of EAG responses at a dose of 100 g was analogous to that of PER performance, suggesting that floral volatiles may be involved in close-range location or recognition of flowers rather than long-range attraction. By spectroscopic and UV-photographic examinations of rape flower, the central part of the corolla was found to absorb UV rays in marked contrast to the other parts, which reflected near-UV rays (_max = 350 nm). This indicates that the flower is endowed with a conspicuous nectar guide that is probably an important visual stimulus for attracting foraging adults of P. rapae. Consequently, the present findings strongly suggest that this elaborate pollination strategy of rape flower, characterized by its good combination of olfactory and visual attractiveness, accounts for preferential visiting by the cabbage butterfly to the flower.     

Effect of packaging materials and storage temperature on the quality of sour cherry nectar

The purpose of this research was to determine the effects of the packaging materials and size on the stability of monomeric anthocyanins, polyphenols, antioxidant activity, ascorbic acid, colour index and hydroxyl methyl furfural (HMF) during the 12‐month shelf life of sour cherry nectars at 4 °C and 20 °C. Sour cherry nectars were aseptically filled out into packaging of different sizes and materials. The packaging included cartons of two different sizes (200 and 1000 mL) and aluminium cans (330 mL). Results showed that the nectars were of better quality when stored at lower temperatures. HMF generally increased significantly for all nectars during storage. Conversely, the total polyphenol content and the antioxidant activity of the nectars stored in aluminium cans and the larger‐sized carton packaging decreased during storage. Lower anthocyanin loss and colour change were found in the nectars stored in aluminium cans. However, the better packaging material was found to be the large‐sized carton package when HMF was analysed.     

Phenolic contents,antioxidant activities and potential bioaccessibilities of industrial pomegranate nectar processing wastes

Antioxidant potential and bioaccessibility of co‐products from industrial pasteurised pomegranate nectar (PN) processing such as peel (PP), press cake (PC) and precipitate after clarification (PAC) in comparison with raw material (arils) and final products (CON and PN) were determined. Total phenolic (TPC), flavonoid (TFC), anthocyanin (TAC), tannin contents (TTC) and antioxidant activity (TAA) were determined besides identifying major phenolics and investigating in vitro bioaccessibility after gastrointestinal (GI) digestion. PP showed the highest values, except for TAC. Phenolics (12.7–43.0%) were found to be more stable than anthocyanins (0.6–2.1%) after in vitro GI digestion. PAC was found to be a better source for anthocyanins than CON and also showed higher phenolic bioaccessibility (28.8%) than PN (19.6%). PC and PAC possessed as much TPC, TFC, TTC and TAA levels as CON, with some exceptions. Therefore, these results indicated that not only PP but also PC and PAC should be valorised as a good source for phenolics and anthocyanins.     

贵州蓝莓蜜TaqMan探针实时荧光PCR检测方法的建立与应用

该研究利用TaqMan特异性探针实时荧光PCR检测手段,建立了高效、精准鉴别贵州特色（中蜂）蓝莓蜜的方法。对贵州白竹林、麻卡和乌卡坪三个地域的蓝莓种植区蓝莓蜜进行采集（包括意蜂蓝莓蜜）,同时购买市售蜂蜜及加拿大蓝莓蜜,该方法通过采集贵州麻江县白竹林地区蓝莓种植园及蜂场周围蓝莓同花期26种植物样本,基于植物基因组中trnL基因序列的多序列比对,设计蓝莓trnL基因特异性引物,并进行TaqMan探针验证。结果表明,本研究设计的TaqMan探针特异性强,建立的TaqMan探针实时荧光PCR检测方法能检测到蓝莓花粉DNA最低浓度为0.3 ng/μL;利用建立的方法对11种市售蜂蜜和贵州蓝莓蜜样本进行检测,发现贵州蓝莓蜜的Ct值为24～26,蓝莓花粉数在800～1 700颗,其余蜂蜜Ct值在30以上,表明该方法能够有效实现贵州蓝莓蜜和其他蜂蜜的区分,具有良好的应用前景。     

柑橘-胡萝卜复合果肉饮料的研制

以柑橘、胡萝卜为主要原料,研制一种新型的复合果肉饮料,重点解决产品配方和悬浮稳定性问题。采用单因素实验和正交试验,产品最佳配方为柑橘浆12.5%、胡萝卜浆12.5%、蔗糖11%、柠檬酸0.15%;稳定剂的最佳组合为羧甲基纤维素(Carboxymethyl Cellulose,CMC)0.25%、黄原胶0.15%。在此配方下,产品口感好,稳定效果佳。     

Modeling the Time to Fail of Peach Nectars Formulated by Hurdle Technology

The use of regression with life-data is helpful to observe whether one or more factors affect the failure time (spoilage) of a product, obtaining a model that predicts the time to fail (TTF). TTF models link kinetic (lag time) and probabilistic (growth /no-growth prediction) models for selected formulation/storage conditions. Our objective was to assess the individual and combined effects of pH, a_w, and the incorporation of potassium sorbate (KS) or sodium benzoate (BNa) at selected concentrations on the microbial stability of peach nectar during storage at 25°C, in order to model and predict TTF. Peach nectars were formulated with 40% fruit pulp and the necessary sucrose syrup and citric acid to attain a_w 0.96, 0.97, or 0.98 and pH 3.0, 3.5, or 4.0; while 0, 500, or 1000ppm of KS or BNa were added. Nectars were stored for 180 days in glass jars at 25°C, and periodically analyzed (standard plate as well as yeast and mould counts). The experimental design and analyses were replicated three times. Storage times that revealed microbial populations higher than 10⁴ CFU/mL and signs of spoilage were registered to model TTF by survival analysis. From the 54 combinations tested, 9 formulations (without antimicrobials) exhibited early spoilage (<5 days). For the combinations formulated with 500ppm of BNa, spoilage was detected after 30 days; much longer spoilage times were observed for nectars with 1000ppm of KS or BNa. In general, KS was more effective than BNa in delaying spoilage when 1000ppm were added. TTF models included individual and interaction effects of the evaluated factors and revealed good agreement among experimental and predicted data (R²>0.90). Survival analysis through TTF models can be used to predict spoilage time under specific factor combinations or to select factor levels for a specific shelf-life of peach nectars.     

不同配比有机基质养分转化与甜瓜生长发育关系

以厚皮甜瓜“优选早蜜”为材料,研究了牛粪和麦秸混合腐熟物与沙化土不同体积配比基质中有机肥养分转化及其与甜瓜生长发育的关系。结果表明:在甜瓜生长过程中有机肥养分转化百分率为氮素呈线性上升、磷素呈先下降后缓慢上升、钾素为先降低后急剧上升的变化规律,其中磷、钾元素随着基质中有机肥含量的增加而增加。基质中速效氮的变化规律为先增高后降低,速效磷、钾则一直呈下降趋势;总氮、磷、钾和有机质均呈下降趋势,但均随基质中有机肥含量的增高而增大。甜瓜植株高度、茎粗、根系活力和叶片叶绿素含量等在甜瓜生长发育前期均随着基质中有机肥含量的增高而降低,但在中后期则随着其含量的增加而增大。从满足甜瓜生长过程中营养需求的角度综合考虑,以混合腐熟物与沙化土体积1∶1配比最佳,其次为0.75∶1,0.5∶1和0.25∶1。     

香瓜酒发酵工艺的研究

以香瓜为主要原料,研究了生产发酵型香瓜酒的工艺过程,用正交试验确定最佳工艺参数。结果表明,取占香瓜浆质量0.02%的葡萄酒干酵母,活化添加到糖度21%、pH3.8的香瓜原汁中,经24℃发酵10d,酒精度可达11%(v/v),可制得色泽淡黄、口感协调、澄清透明、独特芳香的香瓜酒。     

Dual role of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in nectar

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids occur in several plant families, attracting ithomiine and danaine butterflies that specialize on the flowers. I show that pyrrolizidine alkaloids in artificial nectar also inhibit at least one butterfly,Agraulis vanillae (Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae), a more general forager. Inhibition was demonstrated in two ways: quantity of nectar consumed and number of artificial flowers visited. The amount of sucrose solution consumed by individual butterflies was measured using a microcapillary tube. Number of flower visits was determined using an array of artificial orange and yellow flowers.A. vanillae drank less sucrose solution with monocrotaline, a pyrrolizidine alkaloid, than without. When monocrotaline was placed into yellow flowers,A. vanillae learned to visit predominantly orange flowers. Evolutionarily, pyrrolizidine alkaloids in nectar may represent an adaptation to exclude butterflies. Ithomiines and danaines, seeking these compounds in larval food plants, were not excluded. Alternatively, ithomiines and danaines overcame the nectar defense. In either case, the plant effectively increased floral constancy by inhibiting generalist butterflies and attracting specialists.     

Nutrient Composition of Larval Nectar Secretions from Three Species of Myrmecophilous Butterflies

A comparative chemical analysis of the larval nectar secretions and hemolymph from three unspecifically and facultatively ant-attended lycaenid species (Polyommatus coridon, P. icarus, and Zizeeria knysna) was performed by using high-performance liquid chromatography techniques. Sucrose was the main sugar component in all three species. In half of the samples of P. coridon, it was accompanied by glucose, whereas other sugars occurred only rarely. In P. icarus and Z. knysna, melezitose was the second-most important component, followed by fructose and glucose. Total sugar contents were 43.6 ± 14.8 g/l (mean ± SD) for P. coridon, 74.2 g/l for P. icarus, and 68.3 ± 22.6 g/l for Z. knysna. Up to 14 different identified amino acids were found in P. coridon nectar, with a total content of 9.7 ± 3.4 g/l. Leucine was always the major component (contributing 50% of overall amino acid content). Other important amino acids were tyrosine, proline, arginine, and phenylalanine. P. icarus nectar contained up to six amino acids with a total content of 1.2 g/l, dominated by tyrosine and phenylalanine. Z. knysna nectar contained alanine and proline, with only 0.3 ± 0.17 g/l total content. In the hemolymph of all species, up to 16 different amino acids occurred relatively regularly, with histidine dominating, followed by serine and proline. The amino acid pattern in hemolymph was considerably different from that of the nectar secretions. Larval diet weakly influenced P. coridon nectar sugars, and with a semisynthetic diet, a more homogeneous amino acid pattern was detected. Comparison with reports from other lycaenid species shows that secretions rich in amino acids are related to intimate, often obligate ant associations, whereas facultative, unspecific myrmecophiles rely on carbohydrates.