Combined effect of gamma radiation,hot water and sodium bicarbonate on quality and chemical constituents of stored mandarin fruits

The combined effect of gamma radiation and both hot water and sodium carbonate on physiological decay and chemical constituents of stored mandarin fruits was investigated in this work. In this consideration, the studied fruits were gamma irradiated at doses of 0, 0.3, 0.6, 1.2 and 2.4 KGy. Then, the irradiated and non-irradiated fruits were treated either by hot water or sodium bicarbonate to examine their capacity to give a further maintenance and increasing shelf life or storage periods of mandarin. Treated and non-treated fruit samples were taken at intervals of 10 days and up to 60 days. Physiological decay, total acidity, vitamin C, total sugars and TSS were investigated during the different intervals. Gamma radiation treatments showed a promising effect for maintaining the studied fruits and retarding the development of decay. On the other hand, applying both hot water and sodium bicarbonate as a further combined treatments induced a powerful effect on delaying decay development, keeping the chemical constituents near to the normal level and in turn maximizing shelf life and storage periods of the fruits under investigation.     

γ-射线辐射对银杏种子贮藏期间呼吸速率及品质的影响

以贮藏于４℃下的广东南雄产银杏（Ｇｒｉｎｋｇｏ ｂｉｌｏｂａ Ｌ．）种子为材料,去外种皮后用３０００ｒａｄ ＾６０Ｃｏγ－射线照射。结果表明：＾６０Ｃｏγ－射线辐射处理后,明显抑制银杏种子的呼吸速率,延缓种子萌发对呼吸高峰的出现,降低种仁中淀粉酶的活力,减缓淀粉转化为还原糖的速度,但对银杏种仁蛋白质、Ｖｃ含量没有明显的影响。     

Biocide application for increasing storage periods and maintaining quality and chemical constituents of banana fruits

Banana fruits were treated with biocides formulated from essential oils of anise, coriander or black cumin seeds. Treated and non-treated fruits were stored at temperatures of 5, 10, 15 and 20°C. Samples were stored for periods of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 days. The collected samples in each interval were subjected to estimation of decay development and quality degree, in addition to the chemical constituents of starch, sugars, vitamin C of pulp and peel chlorophyll content. Results reveal that non-treated banana fruits decayed continuously by lapse of storage periods. However, this decay was significantly delayed by lowering the storage temperature. Soaking banana fruits in the tested biocides showed a positive potential for interrupting the decay in stored banana fruits and this promising impact was much more pronounced at lower storage temperature. Further, biocide treated banana fruits kept their good quality for longer storage periods compared to non-treated fruits, due to lower ripening rates which promisingly prolonged shelf-life. As the starch content gradually decreased during storage, the total sugar content increased. On the other hand, biocide application retarded the conversion of starch into simple sugars, especially at the low temperature rate. Additionally, the imposed treatments maintained vitamin C in banana pulp and lowered the decline in peel chlorophyll content.     

The effect of gamma radiation and N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea on cultured maize callus growth and plant regeneration

Regenerable maize calli of two inbred lines were exposed to 0 to 100 Gy of gamma rays or treated with 0 to 30 mM of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) to determine their effect on growth and plant regeneration capability. Both growth and plant regeneration capacity decreased with increasing levels of either gamma radiation or ENU; however, plant regeneration capacity was more sensitive to either agent than growth. The 50% inhibition dose (I₅₀) for callus growth (fresh-weight gain) was approximately 100 Gy of gamma radiation and 30 mM ENU. The I₅₀ for plant regeneration capacity of treated callus was approximately 25 Gy of gamma radiation and 2.5 mM ENU. The decrease in plant regeneration capacity correlated with a change in tissue composition of the treated callus from a hard, yellow and opaque tissue to a soft, grayish-yellow and translucent tissue. This change was quantified by measuring the reduction of MnO₄ ^- to MnO₂ (PR assay) by the callus. These results suggest that the effect of gamma radiation or ENU on plant regeneration capacity must be taken into consideration if these potentially mutagenic agents are to be used on maize callus cultures, for the purpose of producing useful mutations at a whole plant level. The data also suggest that the PR assay may be useful for predicting the actual plant regeneration capacity of maize callus.Abbreviations g f.w. gram fresh weight - ENU N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea - PR assay permanganate reduction assay - I₅₀ 50% inhibition dose     

典型森林生态系统总辐射和光合有效辐射长期观测中的仪器性能衰变和数据校正

利用中国通量网( ChinaFLUX)4个森林台站(长白山、千烟洲、鼎湖山和西双版纳)2003-2008年总辐射和光合有效辐射(PAR)观测资料,研究了CNR1总辐射表和Li-190SB光量子仪在长期观测中可能出现的不确定性和仪器性能变化等问题.结果表明:98％以上的CNR1总辐射观测精度满足技术标准,但在西双版纳站,CNR1观测的总辐射(QCNR1)比高精度短波辐射仪CM11观测的总辐射(QCM11)平均低7％;虽然温度对CNR1观测的总辐射有一定影响,但其影响大都在仪器允许的精度范围内,在西双版纳站,CNR1除了受温度影响外,还受到热带雨林特有的季节性雾的影响;通过分析光合有效辐射数据(特别是其与总辐射比值)的长期变化发现,光量子仪Li-190SB的性能衰减较明显,平均年衰减率达4％左右,为了校正PAR仪器性能衰减产生的系统误差,本文尝试给出了PAR的后期补偿校正方法,该方法可基本消除由于野外长期使用所造成的Li-190SB性能衰减.     

Mesh crop covers improve potato yield and inhibit tomato potato psyllid and blight: The roles of mesh pore size and ultraviolet radiation

Crop losses caused by the tomato potato psyllid (TPP; Bactericera cockerelli) and blight (Alternaria solani; Phytophthora infestans) continue to be major concerns for potato (Solanum tuberosum) growers worldwide, and commercial crops often require frequent use of agrichemicals to maintain tuber yield and quality. Nevertheless, a paradigm shift is unfolding in crop protection where new tools, such as physical barriers and light‐modifying filters, are being used to develop chemical‐free approaches for pest and disease control. In this study, we examined the use of crop covers as a non‐chemical method for controlling TPP and reducing blight in field potatoes. Our study demonstrated that those plants grown under mesh covers exhibited reduced levels of blight, TPP and associated psyllid yellows. Additionally, potatoes grown under mesh covers exhibited increased yield (91.4 ± 6.9 SD t/ha) compared with both uncovered control plants (75.0 ± 11.8 t/ha) and plants grown using agrichemical pest control (84.5 ± 10.8 t/ha). The plants grown under mesh produced fewer smaller tubers, with increased average and maximum tuber size, so that marketable yield (tubers ≥60 g) was also increased (83.5 ± 7.5 t/ha), compared with that achieved for uncovered control plants (60.0 ± 8.3 t/ha) and plants grown using agrichemicals (69.6 ± 9.2 t/ha). A second field experiment suggested that the incidence of TPP foliage damage and the development of blight were lowest when the passage of ambient ultraviolet (UV) radiation through the crop cover was reduced. This hypothesis was supported by a third trial where potatoes grown outdoors in pots exhibited reduced TPP foliage damage and fewer resident TPP when grown under UV‐blocking plastic screens. The results of these experiments suggest that the use of mesh covers offers new opportunities to sustainably protect potato crops both by acting as a physical barrier and by modifying the wavelength of light incident on the crop.     

Minimum acceptable sensitivity of intraoperative gamma probes used for sentinel lymph node detection in melanoma patients

The aim of this study was to determine the suspension level for the sensitivity of an intraoperative scintillation gamma probe in the detection of the sentinel lymph node (SLN) in melanoma patients.Thirty-eight consecutive patients with melanoma were enrolled in the study during a 12-month period and underwent lymphatic scintigraphy after the peritumoral intradermal administration of about 14 MBq of ^99mTc-nanocolloids. The SLNs were successfully removed during the surgical intervention about 4 h later.To identify and localize the SLN, a scintillation NaI(Tl) collimated probe was used. Predictably, the probe sensitivity decreased as the photopeak energy window was progressively narrowed, from 6.9 ± 0.7 counts per second (cps)/kBq (designated as the ‘optimum,’ or ‘OPT,’ sensitivity) to 2.5 ± 0.3 cps/kBq (LOW sensitivity) and to 1.4 ± 0.2 cps/kBq (VLOW sensitivity).Maximum lymph node count rates (cps) were determined for the foregoing energy windows prior to skin incision (PRE_OPT, PRE_LOW, PRE_VLOW, respectively) and in vivo after incision (INV_OPT, INV_LOW, INV_VLOW).Forty-three SLNs were removed with a mean source-to-detector distance of 46 ± 24 mm (min 12 mm, max 92 mm). Four SLNs could not have been detected using PRE_LOW. This figure would have decreased to 34, with nine undetectable lymph nodes, with PRE_VLOW. One SLN could not have been identified using INV_LOW and four could not have be identified using INV_VLOW.In the clinical scenario of SLN detection in melanoma patients, a system sensitivity of 2.5 cps/kBq represents a suspension level, that is, a level under which the equipment must be suspended from clinical use and the poor performance must be investigated.     

干热区小粒咖啡提质增产的灌水和遮荫耦合模式

通过大田试验研究了灌水量分别为充分灌水的100%(CI)、75%(DI75)和50%(DI50)3个灌水水平和光照强度分别为自然光的100%(T100)、70%(T70)、55%(T55)和40%(T40)4个遮荫水平对小粒咖啡生长、产量及品质的影响,并建立了不同灌水和遮荫水平下小粒咖啡产量和品质的综合效益评价模型.结果表明:与CI相比,DI75增加小粒咖啡干豆中脂肪和绿原酸含量6.0%和10.2%,DI50显著增加咖啡因含量,而降低水分利用效率.与T100相比,T70增加干豆产量和水分利用效率27.2%和26.8%,增加干豆中总糖和绿原酸含量6.3%和5.5%.而T55和T40显著减少干豆产量、水分利用效率,以及干豆中咖啡因和绿原酸含量.与CIT100相比,DI75T70提高干豆产量和水分利用效率28.0%和44.5%,增加咖啡干豆中总糖、蛋白质、脂肪和绿原酸含量分别为12.2%、14.7%、6.6%和10.0%,而减小咖啡因含量8.3%.综合分析表明,DI75T70(灌水量为充分灌水的75%和70%的自然光照)的产量和品质的综合效益最优,可以实现小粒咖啡的优质高产和节水高效.     

Inactivation of Paecilomyces fumosoroseus conidia by diffuse and total solar radiation

Abstract: The detrimental photic effects of natural solar radiation on the conidial persistence of the entomopathogenic hyphomycete Paecilomyces fumosoroseus were investigated by exposing quiescent conidia either to total solar radiation or to its diffuse component. A given amount of UVB diffuse radiation was found to be as detrimental, and sometimes twice as detrimental, as the same amount of total solar radiation. The variability in quantity and spectral distribution of the diffuse component of UVB solar radiation reaching the earth's surface, observed through spectral measurements, may be responsible for the difference in biological effects.     

Food quality of Ephestia eggs,the aphid Rhopalosiphum padi and mixed diet for Orius majusculus

We studied the food quality of the aphid Rhopalosiphum padi to the pirate bug Orius majusculus using Ephestia eggs as high-quality comparison prey. Several performance parameters were tested on individuals that had been reared and maintained on each of the two single-prey diets or on a mixed diet. All fitness parameters were lower in individuals fed aphids only, indicating poor food quality of this prey. Compared with the pure Ephestia egg diet, the mixed diet enhanced teneral mass, while adult survival and female starvation tolerance were negatively affected and all other traits were unaffected. Body protein proportions were constant across diets, whereas lipid proportion was low in the aphid treatment. Preference for aphids was lower following a monotypic aphid diet than when reared on Ephestia eggs or a mixed diet. The results confirm that R. padi is low-quality food for O. majusculus as it is for other generalist predators, even though O. majusculus may contribute significantly to population suppression of the aphid.     

The omnivorous predator Macrolophus pygmaeus,a good candidate for the control of both greenhouse whitefly and poinsettia thrips on gerbera plants

The poinsettia thrips Echinothrips americanus Morgan is a relatively new pest that has spread rapidly worldwide and causes serious damage in both vegetable and ornamental plants. In this study, we investigated if and how effective this pest can be controlled in gerbera by the omnivorous predator Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur). Because herbivores on plants can interact through a shared predator, we also investigated how poinsettia thrips control is affected by the presence of the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood), a pest that commonly coexists with E. americanus in gerbera. In laboratory studies, we found that the predator M. pygmaeus fed on both pests when offered together. Olfactometer tests showed a clear preference of the predators for plants infested by whiteflies but not by thrips. In a greenhouse experiment, densities of both pests on single gerbera plants were reduced to very low levels by the predator, either with both pests present together or alone. Hence, predator‐mediated effects between whiteflies and thrips played only a minor role. The plant feeding of the shared predator probably reduced the dependence of predator survival and reproduction on the densities of the two pests, thereby weakening potential predator‐mediated effects. Thus, M. pygmaeus is a good candidate for biological control of both pests in gerbera. However, further research is needed to investigate pest control at larger scales, when the pests can occur on different plants.     

Human interferon gamma: significance of the C-terminal flexible domain for its biological activity

The significance of the C-terminal part of human interferon gamma (hIFNgamma) for its biological activity was studied by 3(')-end gene mutagenesis. A series of nine derivative genes obtained by systemic deletion of three codons was constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli LE392. It was shown that the yield of recombinant protein gradually decreased and the solubility gradually increased with truncation of the C terminus. To avoid artifacts related to the imperfect folding of the proteins during purification, the biological activity of the hIFNgamma proteins was measured in clear cell lysates containing the soluble fractions only. The deletion of the C terminus had a two-step effect on both hIFNgamma antiviral and antiproliferative activities. Whereas the removal of the last 3, 6, and 9 C-terminal amino acids led to a gradual increase (up to 10 times) in biological activity of hIFNgamma, the deletion of more than 9 amino acids had an opposite effect. The truncation of the whole unstructured C-terminal domain resulted in a 10-fold decrease (but not in a complete loss) in biological activity of hIFNgamma. The latter was sequestered upon deletion of 24 amino acids, 3 of which belonged to the alpha-helical domain F.     

Improved quality management to enhance the efficacy of the sterile insect technique for lepidopteran pests

Lepidoptera are among the most severe pests of food and fibre crops in the world and are mainly controlled using broad spectrum insecticides. This does not lead to environmentally sustainable control and farmers are demanding alternative control tools which are both effective and friendly to the environment. The sterile insect technique (SIT), within an area‐wide integrated pest management (AW‐IPM) approach, has proven to be a powerful control tactic for the creation of pest‐free areas or areas of low pest prevalence. Improving the quality of laboratory‐reared moths would increase the efficacy of released sterile moths applied in AW‐IPM programmes that integrate the (SIT). Factors that might affect the quality and field performance of released sterile moths are identified and characterized in this study. Some tools and methods to measure, predict and enhance moth quality are described such as tests for moth quality, female moth trapping systems, ‘smart’ traps, machine vision for recording behaviour, marking techniques, and release technologies. Methods of enhancing rearing systems are discussed with a view to selecting and preserving useful genetic traits that improve field performance.     

丙型肝炎病毒分片段抗体检测蛋白质芯片质控参比品的建立及质量验证

建立能同时检测丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)嵌合抗体、核心抗体和NS3、NS4、NS5抗体的蛋白质芯片质控参比品,对质控合格的芯片进行质量验证。用3种HCV EIA试剂分别检测从3家医院收集的丙型肝炎病毒感染患血清及其他非HCV感染患血清,从3种EIA试剂同时阴性或阳性的血样中挑取阳性和阴性血清,然后用RNA hyb PCR试剂进行检测,从中再选取部分样本用RIBA3．0进行检测,确定HCV分片段抗体检测蛋白质芯片质控参比品。经质检合格的芯片用中国药品生物制品检定所的HCV参比品进行检定。通过490例临床标本的检测对芯片的质量进行进一步的验证。从收集的240份丙型肝炎病毒感染患血清及其他非HCV感染患血清筛选出30份血样(15份阳性,15份阴性)作为HCV分片段抗体检测蛋白芯片质控参比品。中国药品生物制品检定所的80份HCV参比品检定结果表明,混合抗体阳性检出率为39／40,阴性符合率为40／40,总符合率为98．7％;核心抗体阳性检出率为27／40,阴性符合率为40／40;NS3抗体阳性检出率为26／40,阴性符合率为39／40;NS4抗体阳性检出率为19／40,阴性符合率为40／40;NS5抗体阳性检出率2／40,阴性符合率为40／40。490例临床标本的检测结果表明,对于194例HCV阳性标本,蛋白质芯片混合抗体与ELISA的符合率达99．5％,分片段抗体符合率达97．4％,两种方法检测结果不符的标本经RIBA试剂确认,蛋白质芯片与RIBA试剂的符合率高度一致。对于296例各种HCV抗体阴性标本,蛋白质芯片检测结果全部为阴性。以上结果表明,制备的丙型肝炎病毒分片段抗体检测蛋白质芯片质控参比品可用于芯片生产的质量控制,经质控合格的芯片符合国家标准的要求,可用于临床检测。     

Effect of salinity on physiological characteristics,yield and quality of microtubers <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> in potato

In vitro microtuberization provides an adequate experimental model for the physiological and metabolic studies of tuberization and the preliminary screenings of potential potato genotypes. The effects of saline stress at 0–80 mmol concentration on in vitro tuberization of two potato cultivars were investigated in this study. With an increase in the salt concentration, the microtuberization of potato was either delayed by 5–10 days (20 and 40 mmol NaCl) or inhibited completely (80 mmol NaCl) in addition to the reduction in microtuber yields. The two potato genotypes studied showed different trends in total soluble sugars, sucrose and starch contents of microtubers under NaCl stress, while glucose and fructose levels remained unchanged. The vitamin C content in microtubers of two potato genotypes was reduced by salt stress. Salinity applied from 20 to 60 mmol progressively increased proline and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in microtubers of both the potato cultivars. In genotype Zihuabai, NaCl at a low concentration (20 mmol) led to a significant increase in peroxidase (POD) and polyphenoloxiadase (PPO) activities, while in Jingshi-2, the PPO activity decreased progressively with an increase in NaCl concentrations. Genotype Zihuabai exhibited higher tolerance to salt stress than Jingshi-2 under in vitro conditions. These results could be used for preliminary selections of salt tolerance in potato breeding programmes.     

Methyl benzoate fumigation for control of post-harvest pests and its effects on apple quality

Methyl benzoate is a newly discovered natural insecticide. In this study, we evaluated methyl benzoate as a potential fumigant for controlling four pests including western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis, lettuce aphid, Nasonovia ribisnigri, rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae, and bulb mites, Rhizoglyphus spp., at different temperatures and effects on post-harvest quality of apples. Methyl benzoate fumigations were effective against all four pests. Complete control of WFT and lettuce aphid was both achieved in 8, 16 and 24 hr at 25, 13 and 2°C, respectively. For rice weevil, complete control was achieved in 16 and 72 hr with and without rice at 25°C, respectively. Complete control of bulb mites was achieved in 64 hr at 25°C on peanut. In addition, a 24 hr methyl benzoate fumigation at 2°C had complete control of WFT but had no negative impact on visual quality of apples of three varieties 4 weeks after fumigation. These results suggest that methyl benzoate fumigation has potential to be an alternative treatment to methyl bromide fumigation, which has been phased out, for post-harvest pest control for stored products and may also have potential to control other pests on fresh products.