Attractiveness to mexican fruit flies of combinations of acetic acid with ammonium/amino attractants with emphasis on effects of hunger

Ammonium acetate was more attractive than other ammonium salts to Mexican fruit flies (Anastrepha ludens) in an orchard test. We hypothesized that acetic acid enhanced the attractiveness of ammonia in the orchard test and that acetic acid may similarly enhance attractiveness of AMPu, an attractant consisting of a mixture of ammonium bicarbonate or ammonium carbonate, methylamine HCl, and putrescine. In laboratory experiments, acetic acid was attractive to flies deprived of either yeast hydrolysate or both sugar and yeast hydrolysate but not to flies fed both sugar and yeast hydrolysate. AMPu/acetic acid combinations were more attractive than AMPu alone to flies deprived of both sugar and yeast hydrolysate but not to flies fed sugar, regardless of yeast hydrolysate deprivation status. Acetic acid is the first attractant found that has become more attractive with both sugar and protein deprivation in studies withA. ludens. It is also the first that has enhanced the attractiveness of another attractant type. In orchard tests, yellow sticky panels baited with either AMPu or 17 mg of acetic acid were at least six times more attractive than unbaited panels. However, panels baited with both acetic acid (17–68 mg) and AMPu were less attractive than AMPu alone. These results differed from the laboratory data in which combinations were never less attractive than AMPu alone.     

Biogenic Amines Formation in Bigeye Tuna Steaks and Whole Skipjack Tuna

ABSTRACT: Putrescine, cadaverine and histamine formation was monitored in fresh and frozen/thawed Bigeye tuna steaks ( Thunnus obesus ) and whole Skipjack ( Katsuwonus pelamis ) stored at room temperature and in ice and to determine the potential use of putrescine and cadaverine as indicators of decomposition. While all biogenic amines were formed during both storage conditions, putrescine was formed at a much lower rate and concentration. For both storage conditions and species, cadaverine appeared prior to and/or accumulated at a faster rate than histamine. Skipjack tuna had a faster accumulation of cadaverine than Bigeye under the same storage conditions. The results indicated that cadaverine, either alone or with histamine, could be used as an index of decomposition for Skipjack and Bigeye tuna.     

Putrescine: A Key Metabolite Involved in Plant Development,Tolerance and Resistance Responses to Stress

Putrescine (Put) is the starting point of the polyamines (PAs) pathway and the most common PA in higher plants. It is synthesized by two main pathways (from ornithine and arginine), but recently a third pathway from citrulline was reported in sesame plants. There is strong evidence that Put may play a crucial role not only in plant growth and development but also in the tolerance responses to the major stresses affecting crop production. The main strategies to investigate the involvement of PA in plant systems are based on the application of competitive inhibitors, exogenous PAs treatments, and the most efficient approaches based on mutant and transgenic plants. Thus, in this article, the recent advances in understanding the role of this metabolite in plant growth promotion and protection against abiotic and biotic stresses will be discussed to provide an overview for future research.     

Interaction of perfused chemicals as inducers and reducers of bunchstem necrosis in grapevine bunches and the effects on the bunchstem concentrations of ammonium ion and abscisic acid

Wick-feeding of chemicals into grape bunches in the field successfully induced bunchstem necrosis (BSN) and hastened or delayed berry ripening. Evidence is presented that ammonium ion has a specific effect in delaying ripening. The most potent inducer of BSN was the amine agmatine; this compound, and the auxin benzothiazol-2-oxyacetic acid (BTOA), are new additions to the list of chemicals that induce BSN-like symptoms. Other inducers were ammonium sulfate, abscisic acid (ABA). Comparison of analyses of bunchstem tissue at two weeks after perfusion showed no correlation between released ammonium levels and BSN incidence. The potency of agmatine, which increased both ammonium and BSN, may be due to its effect in releasing the polyamine putrescine which is potentially phytotoxic. Positive correlations were evident between extracted levels of ABA and BSN incidence since most perfusions that induced BSN caused an increase in ABA. Co-perfusion of calcium and magnesium salts did not significantly reduce the incidence of induced BSN, a result that accords with previous vine-spraying experiments.     

Effects of Modified Atmosphere Packaging with Various Carbon Dioxide Composition on Biogenic Amines Formation in Indian Mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) stored at 5 ± 1°C

The profile of major biogenic amines was investigated in Indian mackerel packed in modified atmosphere for up to 12 days at 5 ± 1°C. Beheaded and gutted Indian mackerel was packed under different carbon dioxide compositions to study the effects on biogenic amines formation. The treatments were control air (C), vacuum packaging (VP), 30% CO₂/65% N₂/5% O₂ (M30C), 60% CO₂/35% N₂/5% O₂ (M60C), 80% CO₂/15% N₂/5% O₂ (M80C) and 100% CO₂ (M100C). Each amine responded differently to different CO₂ levels. After 12 days of storage, concentrations of histamine were reduced by 6.4%, 8.5%, 70.3%, 78.8% and 90.2% in fish packed under VP, M30C, M60C, M80C and M100C, respectively as compared with control air. Changes in putrescine and cadaverine showed a similar pattern. Gas mix of M30C and VP stimulated the formation of tyramine reaching 203 and 172 ppm, respectively. Higher composition of CO₂ had a significant inhibitory effect on tyramine concentration (p < 0.05). There were parallel increases of putrescine and spermidine in C, VP and M30C. No significant effect of CO₂ was observed on spermine (p > 0.05). After 9 days of storage, more than 300 ppm of histamine was detected in mackerel packed in VP and M30C; therefore, these atmospheres pose a histamine intoxication risk. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Vacuum Infiltration of Polyamines Increases Firmness of Strawberry Slices Under Various Storage Conditions

Strawberry slices were vacuum infiltrated with polyamines and changes in firmness during storage were determined. Spermine and spermidine at 10 mM or 100 mM significantly increased firmness, whereas pu-trescine was not as effective at increasing firmness of slices stored at 1°C. The firming effect of the polyamines was similar to that of calcium chloride, and may have been due to their ability to bind to cell walls and membranes. In ripe receptacles of various cultivars which differed in firmness, putrescine (12–38 nmol/g fresh weight) and spermidine (19–33 nmoI/g fresh weight) were the predominant polyamines, while only low levels of spermine (<10 nmol/g fresh weight) were present. There was no discernible relationship between endogenous polyamine levels and fresh fruit firmness for the cultivars studied.     

Polyamine Profiles Of Healthy and Parasite-Infected Vaccinium Myrtillus Plants Under Nitrogen Enrichment

Addition of nitrogen (N) to the field layer of boreal forests has been shown to increase the occurrence of the parasitic fungus Valdensia heterodoxa on Vaccinium myrtillus plants. We investigated whether N addition to soil alters the levels of polyamines in V. myrtillus shoots, and discuss here whether such changes could promote the spread of the parasitic fungus on V. myrtillus. Using HPLC, we analyzed the concentrations of free and conjugated polyamines in healthy and naturally V. heterodoxa-infected V. myrtillus plants, which had received a moderate or high dose of N fertilizer, or no additional N. Fertilization with N increased the concentrations of free diamines (putrescine and diaminopropane), but had no significant effect on conjugated amines. Thus, N-induced changes in the constitutive levels of soluble conjugated amines do not seem to explain the increased parasite susceptibility of V. myrtillus under N enrichment. Generally, the concentrations of free diamines and insoluble conjugated putrescine were higher in diseased than in healthy shoots, suggesting parasite-induced accumulation of diamines. Free spermine seemed to accumulate in unfertilized, diseased plants, but in fertilized plants this induction was dampened, suggesting that N-induced alterations in spermine metabolism may promote the spread of parasites on V. myrtillus under N-enrichment.     

Polyamine Metabolism under Different Light Regimes in Wheat

Although the relationship between polyamines and photosynthesis has been investigated at several levels, the main aim of this experiment was to test light-intensity-dependent influence of polyamine metabolism with or without exogenous polyamines. First, the effect of the duration of the daily illumination, then the effects of different light intensities (50, 250, and 500 μmol m^–2 s^–1) on the polyamine metabolism at metabolite and gene expression levels were investigated. In the second experiment, polyamine treatments, namely putrescine, spermidine and spermine, were also applied. The different light quantities induced different changes in the polyamine metabolism. In the leaves, light distinctly induced the putrescine level and reduced the 1,3-diaminopropane content. Leaves and roots responded differently to the polyamine treatments. Polyamines improved photosynthesis under lower light conditions. Exogenous polyamine treatments influenced the polyamine metabolism differently under individual light regimes. The fine-tuning of the synthesis, back-conversion and terminal catabolism could be responsible for the observed different polyamine metabolism-modulating strategies, leading to successful adaptation to different light conditions.     

Brief Note : Improved <i>in vitro</i> embryo development of stenospermic grape by putrescine

The goal of this study was to determine the effect of putrescine, added to the culture medium, on the in vitro development of stenospermic grape (Vitis vinifera L) embryos. The cross breedings of Perlón x G.C88552 and Perlón x Argentina were used. 0 (control), 2 and 4 mM of putrescine were added to the immature seed’s culture medium. In Perlón x Argentina, 2mM of putrescine statistically increased the percentage of total embryos, direct germination, polyembryos and normal plants. In Perlón x G.C88552, only 2 mM of putrescine increased all the variables considered, eventually tripling the percentage of normal plants obtained. The results suggest that the endogenous concentration of putrescine may be a growth limiting factor. Adding putrescine to the culture medium of immature grape seeds is a legitimate resource to significantly increase the results of this technique.