Effects of Soil Type and Genotype on Cadmium Accumulation by Rootstalk Crops: Implications for Phytomanagement

The variations of Cd accumulation in three rootstalk crop species (radish, carrot and potato) were investigated by using twelve cultivars grown in acidic Ferralsols and neutral Cambisols under two Cd treatments (0.3 and 0.6 mg kg^?1) in a pot experiment. The result showed that the total Cd uptake was significantly affected by genotype, soil type and interaction between them, suggesting the importance of selecting proper cultivars for phytoextraction in a given soil type. Among the cultivars tested, potato cultivar Luyin No.1 in Ferralsols and radish cultivar Zhedachang in Cambisols exhibited the highest Cd phytoextraction efficiency in aerial parts (4.45% and 0.59%, respectively) under 0.6 mg kg^?1Cd treatment. Furthermore, the Cd concentrations in their edible parts were below the National Food Hygiene Standard of China (0.1 mg kg^?1, fresh weight). Therefore, phytomanagement of slightly Cd-contaminated soils using rootstalk crops for safe food production combined with long-term phytoextraction was feasible, and potato cultivar Luyin No.1 for Ferralsols and radish cultivar Zhedachang for Cambisols were promising candidates for this approach.     

Impact of Lipid Content on the Ability of Excipient Emulsions to Increase Carotenoid Bioaccessibility from Natural Sources (Raw and Cooked Carrots)

The influence of lipid concentration on the ability of excipient emulsions to increase carotenoid bioaccessibility from raw and cooked carrots was investigated using a simulated gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Excipient emulsions were fabricated using whey protein as a natural emulsifier and a long chain triglyceride (corn oil) as a digestible lipid. Changes in particle size, charge, and microstructure were determined as the carrot-emulsion mixtures were passed through simulated mouth, stomach, and small intestine. Carotenoid bioaccessibility increased with increasing digestible lipid concentration in the excipient emulsions (from 0 to 8 %). Carotenoid bioaccessibility was higher from boiled carrots than for raw carrots, which was attributed to disruption of plant cell structure facilitating carotenoid release. In conclusion, excipient emulsions are highly effective at increasing carotenoid bioaccessibility from carrots, which can be attributed to the ability of the small lipid droplets to rapidly solubilize the carotenoids.     

Influence of exogenous iron,calcium, protein and common salt on the bioaccessibility of zinc from cereals and legumes

We have earlier reported the zinc bioaccessibility from cereals and pulses and documented the influence of heat processing, germination and fermentation on the same. In the present study, we have assessed the influence of exogenous iron and calcium equivalent to their supplemental levels on the bioaccessibility of zinc from food grains that generally are the major components of meal in India. Bioaccessibility measurement was made by a procedure involving equilibrium dialysis during simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Exogenous iron equivalent to therapeutic levels (5 mg per 10 g of cereal–legume combination) significantly reduced the bioaccessibility of zinc from the food grains tested, the percent reduction being 32.4. Exogenous calcium equivalent to therapeutic levels (83 mg per 10 g of the cereal–legume combination) also significantly reduced (by 27.4%) the bioaccessibility of zinc from the tested food grains. The negative influence of exogenous iron and calcium was similar in both raw and cooked grains. Such negative influences on the bioaccessibility of zinc were however not seen when exogenous iron and calcium were only moderate (up to four times the intrinsic level). A study of the influence of exogenous protein on the bioaccessibility of zinc from food grains revealed that soy protein isolate added at amounts to result in a total protein content of 20% produced contrasting effects on zinc and iron bioaccessibility from cereals – rice and sorghum. While soy protein had a negative effect on iron bioaccessibility from these food grains, the same produced an enhancing effect on zinc bioaccessibility (an increase of 50% and 90% increase) from raw and cooked grain, respectively). Exogenous sodium chloride (at 5% level) potentiated the positive effect of soy protein on zinc bioaccessibility, and effectively countered its negative effect on iron bioaccessibility. The observed negative influence of supplemental iron and calcium on zinc bioaccessibility suggests that zinc supplementation may be necessary in the Indian context, whenever iron and calcium supplements are taken, to compensate for the reduction in zinc bioaccessibility.     

Effects of Cropping Sequences on Population Densities of Meloidogyne hapla and Carrot Yield in Organic Soil

The influence of various cropping sequences on population densities of Meloidogyne hapla and carrot yield was studied in organic soil under microplot-and field conditions. Spinach, radish, barley, oat, and wheat were poor or nonhosts for M. hapla. Population densities of M. hapla were maintained or increased on cabbage, celery, lettuce, leek, marigold, and potato. Marketable percent-age and root weight of carrots were greater following spinach, oat, radish, and fallow-onion than those following two crops of onion or carrot in microplots. Under field conditions, the carrot-onion-oat-carrot cropping sequence decreased M. hapla population densities and provided a 282% increase in marketable yield of carrot compared to a carrot monoculture. Two consecutive years of onion increased M. hapla population densities causing severe root galling and a 50% yield loss in the following crop of carrot. Based on root-gall indices, carrots could be grown economically for 2 years following radish, spinach, and oat, but not following onion and carrot without the use of nematicides.     

镉在莲各器官中累积规律的研究

莲子是我国重要的特产优质资源,但莲等水生植物容易吸收积累重金属.为了探究莲对重金属镉的吸收积累特点,利用盆栽外施不同浓度的镉(0,1.0 mg·kg-1,2.5 mg·kg-1)培养两个莲子品种,检测分析镉对莲子生物量的影响及莲各器官中镉的含量.结果表明:随着外施镉浓度的增加,两种莲子生物量下降,各器官中镉含量增加,且...     

Banana starch structure and digestibility

It is well known that raw banana starch is a good source of resistant starch. Less is known, however, regarding the digestion property of gelatinized banana starch. In this study, banana starch cooked for 20 min in excess water had a significant fraction of slowly digestible starch (19%), as well as resistant fraction (27%). Amylopectin is thought to be responsible for its slow digestion property, since banana starch studied here has a relatively low amylose content of 11.2%. Chain-length distribution analysis revealed that banana amylopectin has a significantly different structure from corn or potato amylopectin in that it has a higher proportion of very long chains. Retrogradation studies support the view that banana starch retrogrades at a substantially faster rate than corn or potato starch leading to less digestible cooked starch. Additionally, banana starch has unique pasting properties making it behave like a chemically lightly cross-linked starch. Banana starch is unique, both nutritionally and functionally, to warrant further investigation on potential commercial uses.     

Field Evidence of Cadmium Phytoavailability Decreased Effectively by Rape Straw and/or Red Mud with Zinc Sulphate in a Cd-Contaminated Calcareous Soil

To reduce Cd phytoavailability in calcareous soils, the effects of soil amendments of red mud, rape straw, and corn straw in combination with zinc fertilization on Cd extractability and phytoavailability to spinach, tomato, Chinese cabbage and radish were investigated in a calcareous soil with added Cd at 1.5 mg kg⁻¹. The results showed that water soluble and exchangeable Cd in soils was significantly decreased by the amendments themselves from 26% to 70%, which resulted in marked decrease by approximately from 34% to 77% in Cd concentration in vegetables. The amendments plus Zn fertilization further decreased the Cd concentration in vegetables. Also cruciferous rape straw was more effective than gramineous corn straw. In all treatments, rape straw plus red mud combined with Zn fertilization was most effective in decreasing Cd phytoavailability in soils, and it is potential to be an efficient and cost-effective measure to ensure food safety for vegetable production in mildly Cd-contaminated calcareous soils.     

The composition of volatile components of cepe (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Boletus edulis</Emphasis>) and oyster mushrooms (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurotus ostreatus</Emphasis>)

The composition of aroma compounds in cooked and canned cepe (Boletus edulis) and in cooked oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) is studied using capillary gas chromatography and chromatographymass spectrometry. It is found that unsaturated alcohols and ketones containing eight atoms of carbon determine the aroma of raw mushrooms and take part in the formation of the aroma of cooked mushrooms as well. The content of these compounds was the highest in canned cepes. In oyster mushrooms, the concentration of these alcohols and ketones was lower in comparison with cepes. The content of aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes was much higher in oyster mushrooms. Volatile aliphatic and heterocyclic Maillard reaction products and isomeric octenols and octenones formed the aroma of cooked and canned mushrooms.     

Performance of nymphal and adult southern green stink bug on an overwintering host plant and impact of nymph to adult food-switch

Performance of nymphs and adults of the southern green stink bug,Nezara viridula (L.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) feeding on immature fruits of radish,Raphanus raphanistrum L. (Brassicaceae) was poor compared with feeding on immature soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] pods, but a change from radish to soybean from nymph to adult alleviated some of the detrimental effects of this food on adult performance. Over 50% of nymphs died on radish, while only 15% died on soybean. To complete nymph development (stadia 2 through 5), male and female nymphs required 9.5 and 13.3 days longer on radish compared to soybean. Fresh body weight of 1-d-old adult females and males was ≅65% greater for those reared as nymphs on soybean than on radish, with females being significantly heavier than males on both foods. Survivorship and longevity of females, however, was greater for those fed on radish as nymphs and as adults, as compared to those that fed on soybean or radish followed by soybean. Males lived longer when fed exclusively on soybean. In general, reproductive performance and percentage gain in adult body weight was greatest for insects fed on soybean only, and were better for those whose food was switched from nymph to adult, as compared to those insects fed on radish solely.     

Absorption and Assimilation of Inorganic Nitrogen from Different Sources by Storage Root-Tissue

1. The rate of ammonium and nitrate absorption and assimilationby storage tissues of sweet potato tubers, radish, and carrotroots cultured in aerated dilute solutions (5 mg. eq./1.) ofNH₄Cl, KNO₃ or NH₄NO₂ at 25° C. and the effect of the sourceof nitrogen on the nitrogenous composition of the tissues werestudied.
2. Both ions were absorbed at more or less equal ratesunder theprevailing experimental conditions by cells of thedifferentplant materials used.
3. The rate of nitrate assimilationwas lower than absorption,leading to the accumulation of nitrate-Nin the cells of alltissues examined. Ammonium-N, on the otherhand, was assimilatedalmost as soon as it entered the cellsof sweet potato tubersand carrot roots, and there was onlya small increase in thelevel of arnmonium-N; but in radishroot cells ammonium assimilationlagged very much behind absorption,resulting in a great increasein the level of arnmonium-N.
4. Sweetpotato tubers and carrot tissues were shown to be adaptedtothe utilization of more ammonium than nitrate nitrogen, butradish root tissues are adapted to the utilization of more nitratenitrogen.
5. Ammonium or nitrate-N caused similar increases inthe complexorganic-N level (protein-+rest-N) in radish root,but the rateof synthesis was higher with ammonium in sweetpotato tubersand with nitrate in carrot roots.

Furthermore, with both sources changes in the content of amideand amino-N were negligible in radish tissues of both series.In contrast to radish, carrot tissues showed marked increasesin the two fractions. The increase of these fractions in sweetpotato tuber tissues was much lower. The marked contrast in nitrogenous composition in the threedifferent plant materials fed with ammonium and nitrate saltsseparately indicated that the actual course of protein metabolismis most probably dependent on the source of nitrogen utilized.     

Effect of Cooking on Speciation and In Vitro Bioaccessibility of Hg and As from Rice,Using Ordinary and Pressure Cookers

Rice is the most widely consumed staple food for a large part of the world’s human population, and owing to environmental pollution, it is a major source of human exposure to mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As). We evaluated the impact of cooking on the speciation and bioaccessibility of Hg and As from rice in this study. Results show that the dominant Hg and As species in rice from Guangzhou market in China were their inorganic forms (iHg and iAs), respectively. The cooking process modified the levels of Hg and As. Average Hg and As bioaccessibility in raw rice was 69.74 and 80.32%, respectively. Hg bioaccessibility decreased to 46.22 and 42.37% for pressure- and ordinary-cooked rice, respectively. In contrast, As bioaccessibility remained unchanged except after cooking with a large amount of water. Protein denaturation and the amount of soluble and volatile forms determine the bioaccessibility of Hg and As in cooked rice by being released into the cooking water or into the air. From the bioaccessibility data, the average established daily intake (EDI) values of Hg and As from pressure-cooked rice for children and adults were 0.034 and 0.025 μg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹ (Hg), and 0.735 and 0.559 μg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹ (As), respectively. This study provides novel insights into Hg and As exposure due to rice cooking.

     

Transformation of the mycotoxin ochratoxin A in plants. 2. Time course and rates of degradation and metabolite production in cell-suspension cultures of different crop plants

Ochratoxin A, one of the most toxic mycotoxins, can be metabolized nearly completely by suspension cultures of various plant cells. The transformation products identified in this study were almost the same in the cell-suspension cultures of maize, carrot, tomato, potato, soybean, wheat and barley, but the quantitative distribution differed strongly depending on incubation time and species of plant-cell culture. The compounds were extracted with ethyl acetate and detected by reversed-phase HPLC with gradient elution. From the result it is supposed that besides ochratoxin A also ochratoxin derivatives may occur in food and feedstuff of plant origin.     

不同光质光周期对樱桃萝卜生长发育及营养品质的影响

光质和光周期可以调节植物生长过程中肉质根等地下贮藏器官的形成。该试验以‘昆优2号’樱桃萝卜为试验材料,以白光(W)为对照,研究8R2B、5R5B、2R8B红蓝光配比光质(红蓝光比例分别为8∶2、5∶5、2∶8)与8L/16D、12L/12D、16L/8D光周期(光照/黑暗分别为8 h/16 h、12 h/12 h、16 h/8 h)组合对樱桃萝卜生长发育和营养品质的影响,筛选适合樱桃萝卜生长的光质光周期组合。结果表明:长光照(16L/8D)W、8R2B处理对樱桃萝卜叶片生长、肉质根大小、根冠比都有显著的促进作用,长光照W有利于樱桃萝卜更快形成膨大的肉质根;长光照W、8R2B处理下的樱桃萝卜肉质根多酚含量、抗氧化能力差异不大;长光照W利于樱桃萝卜肉质根可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白积累,长光照8R2B有利于肉质根可溶性蛋白积累。研究发现,适当的光质和光周期组合可显著促进樱桃萝卜叶片生长、肉质根膨大以及根中营养物质的积累,从而获得良好的长势和营养品质,并以长光照(16L/8D即光照/黑暗为16 h/8 h)白光组合最佳。     

Differential inactivation of seed exudate stimulation of Pythium ultimum sporangium germination by Enterobacter cloacae influences biological control efficacy on different plant species

This study was initiated to understand whether differential biological control efficacy of Enterobacter cloacae on various plant species is due to differences in the ability of E. cloacae to inactivate the stimulatory activity of seed exudates to Pythium ultimum sporangium germination. In biological control assays, E. cloacae was effective in controlling Pythium damping-off when placed on the seeds of carrot, cotton, cucumber, lettuce, radish, tomato, and wheat but failed to protect corn and pea from damping-off. Seeds from plants such as corn and pea had high rates of exudation, whereas cotton and cucumber seeds had much lower rates of exudation. Patterns of seed exudation and the release of P. ultimum sporangium germination stimulants varied among the plants tested. Seed exudates of plants such as carrot, corn, lettuce, pea, radish, and wheat were generally more stimulatory to P. ultimum than were the exudates of cotton, cucumber, sunflower, and tomato. However, this was not directly related to the ability of E. cloacae to inactivate the stimulatory activity of the exudate and reduce P. ultimum sporangium germination. In the spermosphere, E. cloacae readily reduced the stimulatory activity of seed exudates from all plant species except corn and pea. Our data have shown that the inability of E. cloacae to protect corn and pea seeds from Pythium damping-off is directly related to its ability to inactivate the stimulatory activity of seed exudates. On all other plants tested, E. cloacae was effective in suppressing damping-off and inactivating the stimulatory activity of seed exudates.     

Effect of food processing on the fate of DNA with regard to degradation and transformation capability in Bacillus subtilis

Soymilk, tofu, corn masa, and cooked potato were produced from transgenic raw materials and the effect of processing on the degradation of DNA was studied. Major degrading factors were for soymilk and tofu the mechanical treatment of soaked soybeans and for corn masa and cooked potatoes the thermal treatment. In the processed foods no DNA fragments > 1.1 kb were detected. We included in our studies the effect of the size of donor DNA and length of the homologous sequence on the marker rescue transformation of B. subtilis LTH 5466, which was monitored by restoration of deleted nptII. When DNA fragments (168, 414, 658, and 792 bp) of nptII and linearized plasmid DNA (pGEM-T-1, 3168 bp and pGEM-T-2, 3792 bp) containing the 168 bp or 792 bp fragments, respectively, were used as donor DNA, it was observed that the efficiency of marker rescue decreased with decreasing length of homologous sequence. The use of a larger plasmid (pMR2, 5786 bp) containing the 792 bp fragment revealed higher efficiency of marker rescue compared to pGEM-T-2. The nptII fragments resulted in lower efficiencies compared to plasmid DNA containing the same fragment. For the 792 bp fragment and the linearized plasmid pMR2 a first-order dependency of the frequency of marker rescue transformation on the DNA concentration was observed. Based on the acquired data, the hypothetical frequency of transformation of transgenic DNA to B. subtilis in cooked potatoes was calculated to be equal to 8.5 x 10(-19) and 1.2 x 10(-27) for homologous and illegitimate recombination, respectively. These data permit to roughly estimate the time after which a person (10(8) years) or the world population (15 days) is exposed to one transformant generated by homologous recombination event, when the daily consumption per person is 130 g of cooked potatoes.     

Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Potatoes Grown on Calcareous Soils of the Hamedan,Western Iran

This study was conducted to investigate heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils and their transfer in a soil-potato system. A total of 59 pairs of potato and soil samples, representing different locations were collected from Hamedan, western Iran and subjected to heavy metals analysis. Average concentrations of Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn were 1.2, 13.1, 161.4, 13.2, 3.2, 19.5, and 41.5 mg kg^?1 dry weight in potato tubers, respectively. A sequence of decreasing plant transfer factors values: Cd > Pb > Cu > Zn > Ni ≥ Mn > Fe was obtained. Furthermore, the health risk index (HRI) values were within the safe limit (<1) except for Cd and Pb. HRI values for Cd and Pb were higher than 1, indicating potential health risk, especially for children. The results indicated that daily intakes of Cd and Pb in potato in the study area may present a future hazard.     

Influence of Lipid Phase Composition of Excipient Emulsions on Curcumin Solubility,Stability, and Bioaccessibility

The influence of oil type on the ability of excipient emulsions to improve the solubility, stability, and bioaccessibility of curcumin was examined. Oil-in-water emulsions were prepared using coconut, sunflower, corn, flaxseed, or fish oils. These excipient emulsions were then mixed with powdered curcumin and incubated at 30 or 100 °C. For all oils, more curcumin was transferred from powder to excipient emulsion at 100 °C (190–200 μg/mL) than at 30 °C (30–36 μg/mL), which was attributed to increased curcumin solubility with temperature. Oil type influenced the stability and bioaccessibility of curcumin when excipient emulsions were exposed to simulated gastrointestinal tract conditions, which was attributed to differences in the molecular composition and physicochemical properties of the oils. Overall, the use of fish oil led to the highest effective curcumin bioavailability (38 %). This study provides valuable information for optimizing excipient emulsions to increase curcumin bioavailability in food, supplement, or pharmaceutical applications.     

3种花色苷对DF-1细胞的影响

目的:探讨来自心里美萝卜、紫甘薯和紫玉米的3种不同的花色苷对DF-1细胞单层生长的影响。方法:直观观察3种花色苷对DF-1细胞生长的影响,初步摸索其最适终浓度;用MTT法检测花色苷在提高细胞活性方面的作用。结果:不同浓度的3种花色苷均对细胞单层生长有不同的影响,心里美萝卜花色苷、紫甘薯花色苷和紫玉米花色苷对细胞生长的最适终浓度分别为100、75和50μg/mL;用MTT法获得相应数据并制成细胞活性图表。结论:不同品种来源及不同浓度的花色苷对DF-1细胞单层生长均有明显影响,为今后开展花色苷促细胞生长,提高细胞抗病毒活性研究提供了数据基础。     

High-concentration alcoholic production from hydrolysate of raw ground corn by a tetraploid yeast strain

Summary The suitable conditions for high-concentration ethanol production from raw ground corn by a tetraploid yeast strain were examined. We found that the glucoamylase preparation which ia usually employed for alcoholic fermentation of cooked starch could effectively saccharify raw ground corn starch.     

Slurry-producing agents provide buoyancy and allow growth of plant suspension cells in stationary culture

Summary Suspension cultures of carrot, soybean, tobacco, Black Mexican sweet corn, and photoautotrophic soybean have been successfully grown in stationary slurry culture. Cell colonies grew loosely and slowly in clumps which were easily dispersable, increasing in size only 4–5 fold by 48 days, which facilitated subculture.