Chemical Control of Ripening in Banana

A post-harvest dip of banana (Musa paradisiaca L.) fruits into the aqueous solutions of abscisic acid and indoleacetic acid significantly hastened the banana ripening, judging from increases in total sugars, acidity, ascorbic acid and units of von Losecke's colour chart during storage at 20°C. The treatment of bananas with gibberellic acid and kinetin, on the contrary, retarded banana ripening as indicated by higher values for firmness, starch, cellulose and hemicellulose. The results obtained suggest that ripening of banana can be controlled chemically.     

Observations on the Fine Structure of Plant Cell Walls III. The Sieve Tube Wall in Cucurbita

The sieve tube wall in Cucurbita was examined in ultra-thinsections of petioles treated in different ways for the removalof non-cellulosic wall components. The sections were stainedwith permanganate. The microfibrillar components of the wallare arranged in concentric lamellae. The earliest (outermost)part of the wall is similar to that of ordinary parenchyma inhaving its lamellae composed of thinly-distributed microfibrilsreadily separated from one another by certain treatments suchas pectinase extraction. In the characteristically-thickenedinner (nacreous) layer the microfibrils are very densely packedand the lamellae do not separate readily. The microfibrils inthis layer of the wall are very close to transverse and the‘crossed fibrillar’ orientation is not easily discernible.     

NUTRITIONAL, PHYSICAL AND SENSORY CHARACTERISTICS OF VARIOUS CHOCOLATE-FLAVORED PEANUT–SOY BEVERAGE FORMULATIONS

Mixture design and pilot‐plant scale processing protocol were developed to obtain the best chocolate‐flavored peanut–soy beverage formulation. Twenty‐eight formulations were evaluated for nutritional (lysine content), physical (viscosity [η], visual stability index [VSI]) and nine sensory (consumer liking) attributes. Lysine contents (mg/g protein) (44.1–57.1) were close to the reference (51.0) and in the desirable range observed for other peanut‐based beverages. Higher viscosity indicated lower consumer liking, but lower viscosity resulted in lower VSI. Formulation ?8 having 43.9% peanut, 36.3% soy protein isolate (SPI) and 19.8% chocolate syrup had the highest consumer liking and the best balance of physical properties (η = 41.5 mPa·s; VSI = 0.99). As compared to commercial chocolate milk (6 = slightly like to 7 = moderately like), it was rated higher for appearance (7.0), color (6.8) and sweetness (6.4). Two SPI formulations (?6 and ?7) and a soy flour formulation (?14) were rated highest for aroma (6.2), color (7.0) and flavor (6.0), respectively.     

The inhibition of molting fluid enzymes of Pod borer,Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) by an aspartic protease inhibitor: Its effects on insect development

In this study, the inhibition of molting fluid enzymes from Helicoverpa armigera by an aspartic protease inhibitor, Alkalophilic Thermophilic Bacillus Inhibitor (ATBI) purified from Bacillus sp. is reported. The in vitro experiments showed 80% inhibition (IC₅₀= 48 µM) of hemoglobin hydrolyzing and 95% inhibition (IC₅₀= 35 µM) of chitin hydrolyzing activity from molting fluid by ATBI (IC₅₀ value is the ATBI concentration for 50% inhibition of total enzymatic activity). The treatment of H. armigera larvae with 400 µM ATBI recorded 20% larval mortality, 27.77% deformed pupae and 12.22% deformed adults. The LC₅₀ value (Concentration of ATBI calculated to give 50% mortality) calculated for insect population was found to be 330.06 µM. Similarly, significant variations in mean larval and pupal weight, no. of eggs laid per female and percent hatching of eggs were observed at higher concentrations of ATBI. The results may provide the basis for the selection of non-host inhibitors to develop a H. armigera insecticide formulation.     

On the Occurrence of Spiny Vesicles in the Phloem of Salix

Many parenchyma cells in the primary phloem of young shootsof Salix contain spiny vesicles similar to those reported byNewcomb and others. They may occur singly or clustered, usuallyintermingled with other cell components. A lightly-stainingfibrous-granular background substance is generally found intheir vicinity. In most cells this substance is evenly dispersedin the cytoplasm; less frequently, a presumably similar substanceshowing a tendency to form compact clumps occurs in the vicinityof the spiny vesicles. These clumps occasionally show a tubularorganization, suggesting P-protein. The spiny vesicles are alsofound in association with well developed P-protein bodies insome cells. However, the question as to whether spiny vesiclesare connected with the formation of P-protein is left open.     

Observations on the Fine Structure of Plant Cell Walls: I. Use of Permanganate Staining

Aqueous solutions of potassium and barium permanganates usedas post-stains for ultra thin sections are effective in revealingthe microfibrillar framework of parenchymatous walls when thetissues are extracted, prior to embedding, with macerating andclearing agents for non-cellulosic wall components. Images ofthe collenchymatous wall in permanganate-stained sections ofCucurbita petioles treated variously with pectinase, protease,H₂O₂-acetic acid and NaOH are presented.     

Acetylcholinesterase Differentiation during Myogenesis in Early Chick Embryonic Cells Caused by an Inducer RNA

In the stage 4 chick blastoderm, an area located 0.6 mm posterior to Hensen's node, the post-nodal piece (PNP), consists of an undifferentiated population of cells, since the explants when cultivated in vitro in a variety of media do not develop into any histologically identifiable structures. However, addition of a specific low molecular weight RNA isolated from the 16-day-old chick embryonic heart promotes the appearance of a distinct mode of morphological and biochemical changes that is similar to that of embryonic cardiogenic process. The RNA-induced changes in the PNP also include a marked increase in acetylcholinesterase activity. The increase in enzymatic activity can be measured biochemically, as well as visualized histochemically.     

A Crystalline P-Protein in Gmelina arborea

In a light microscope study of the secondary phloem in Gmelinaarborea (Verbenaceae) many sieve elements were found to possessbar-shaped cytoplasmic inclusions of proteinaceous nature Itis suggested that these inclusions represent a type of crystallineP-protein not reported in the family Verbenaceae before Crystalline P-protein, phloem, sieve element inclusion     

Development of the Sieve Plate in Saxifraga sarmentosa L.

The differentiating sieve plate in the phloem of the stolonof Saxifraga sarmentosa L. was studied with the electron microscope.Development of the pore site begins with differentiation ofa pair of collar-like areas around the plasmodesma which canbe seen in the youngest identifiable sieve plates. Further growthof the collars occurs by deposition of an amorphous substance,presumably caflose. Although the growth of the collars is simultaneouswith the growth of the surrounding cell wall it is rapid atfirst and the pore sites appear asdome-shaped protuberances.It also involves deposition of callose over an increasinglywider area of the cell wall and since the thickening of thenormal cell wall continues only where notcovered by callose,the collars assume a conical form. There seems to be no displacementor lysis of normal cell wall material during growth of the collars.Eventually the growth of the cell wall in thickness overtakesthe pore sites so that when the growth of the cell wall is completethe pore sites appear as depressions in the sieve plate. Theperforation of a pore site is accomplished by widening of theplasmodesmatal cylinder which begins at the middle lamella byremoval of callose. Endoplasmic reticulum is found in closeproximity to the plasmodesma andis believed to penetrate it.