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Abstract
Pectinesterase (PE) assay of apple tissue was accomplished by using a dialysis cell containing a Visking (cellulose) membrane. Production and separation of methanol from the pectin substrate occurred during the dialysis. Agitation was needed for best separation of methanol from the reaction mixture. Microquantities of methanol were detected subsequently by direct injection into a gas-liquid Chromatograph equipped with a flame-ionization detector.
Apple PE, prepared as an acetone powder, exhibited the characteristics of optimal pH between 6.5 and 7.5, an optimal reaction temperature at 55°C, and an activation energy of 5800 calories. The enzyme was completely inactivated at 80° for 10 min or 90° for 5 min. About 40% of the natural PE activity was inhibited in the presence of 15% sucrose.
Abstract
An isogenic line, differing from ‘New Yorker’ tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) by being homozygous for the crimson gene (ogc ), had 60% less provitamin A due to reduced β- and γ-carotene.
Abstract
Cauliflower PI 183214 (Brassica oleracea L. (Botrytis group) produced a persistent pure white curd even when fully exposed to the sun. The inheritance of white curd is controlled by 2-3 genes with a narrow sense heritability of 33-38%. Visual color selection was correlated (r=.79) with Hunter Colorimeter readings. PI 183214 has a light weight curd which is not linked to persistent white color. PI 183214 is also free of riciness, leaf-in-curd, and bracting which are closely linked to the standard non-persistent white curd.
Oriental pear, `Niitaka', often suffers from skin and/or core browning when storage duration is extended. Skin browning occurred in aged fruit differs from browning disorder occurred at the early stage of low temperature storage (within 1 month), which is dark in color. This disorder can be inhibited by temperature conditioning through stacking fruit under shade for 7 days. Unlike dark browning disorder, fruit affected by light browning disorder often develops core browning. Also, when the duration of temperature conditioning is extended, light browning disorder occurred more rapidly even at 0 °C. In this experiment, the effect of external application of ethylene and ethylene scrubbing in storage environment was examined. Light browning disorder increased when fruit were wrapped with polyethylene film (30 μm) and the application of ethylene scrubber effectively decreased this disorder. Skin peeling was also observed in disordered fruit. The application of ethylene resulted in the increase of light browning on skin and core browning. Thus, both disorders seemed to be involved with senescence. The involvement of ethylene on both disorders will be further discussed.
The coloration of grape berries depends on the anthocyanin synthesis during maturation. The quality of berries is often decreased due to the poor color development when berries are grown under unfavorable environments and/or inadequate internal factors are involved. It has been well-known that the level of ABA at ripening is closely associated with anthocyanin synthesis; thus, the external application of ABA results in the increase of anthocyanin content even in berries grown under favorable conditions. However, the agricultural use of natural ABA is not possible because of high prices. This experiment was conducted to study the potential of STC-4771 as a substitute for ABA. The effect of STC-4771 was studied in `Kyoho', `Pione', and `Delaware' grapes. Chemicals were applied when ≈10% of berries in a cluster were colored. In `Kyoho', anthocyanin synthesis was enhanced at a concentration of 100 mg/L and there was a trend in color enhancement in `Pione', regardless of treatment concentration, between 10 to 40 mg/L. However, no clear effect was found in `Delaware' at 50 to 100 mg/L. In an in vitro experiment, anthocyanin was only increased when an adequate amount of sucrose (0.6 m) was added in the incubation medium under light. Natural ABA effectively increased the anthocyanin content of berry segments even under shading condition through four bagging materials, but no effect was confirmed in STC treatment.
Abstract
The orange curd mutant in cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) Snowball’ (1). Orange curd was controlled by a single dominant gene, or, but the intensity of orange color varied in homozygous (OrOr) and heterzygous (Oror) plants, due to modifying genes. Curd of OrOr plants were generally more intense colored than curds of Oror plants. The OrOr plants are stunted, and produce small curds, ≈30 to 40 mm or less in diameter, compared to Oror or oror curd plants, which have curds 150 to 200 mm in diameter.
Abstract
Callus tissues of orchid Aranda Tay Swee Eng (Archnis Lily Chong × Vanda Piha Moon) were cultured in Vacin and Went's medium that contained between 0% and 2% fructose. The chlorophyll content of callus tissues measured after 31 days of incubation ranged from 59 to 133 µg·g–1 tissue and was inversely proportional to the C/N ratio of the initial culture medium. The number of protocorm developed on callus tissue was instead inversely proportional to the residual C/N ratio of the 31-day-old culture medium and ranged from 13 to 74. The interrelationship of the C/N ratio of the medium, chlorophyll content, and protocorm formation in Aranda callus tissues is discussed.
Abstract
Leaves of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) from N fertilized and unfertilized plots were harvested at different stages of maturity, and analyzed for nitrate and nitrite at harvest and after storage at 10°C for 5, 10 or 15 days. Leaf nitrate-N increased with time in plants sidedressed with 340 kg N/ha, but decreased in unfertilized spinach. Leaves harvested at market maturity accumulated 5-fold more nitrite-N when held at 10°C for 15 days than immature leaves. N fertilization increased nitrate accumulation at harvest, and nitrite accumulation after 15 days at 10°C.
Abstract
The pronounced bitterness found in some apple wines, such as from ‘Cortland’ but not ‘Mcintosh’ apples (Malus domestica Borkh.), is produced during the later stages of fermentation. Bitterness in grape wines is also related to cultivar and some grape parents show a tendency to yield progeny whose fruit makes bitter wine.
The health status of Alabama's population ranks above the national average with respect to the prevalence of poor overall health indicators. Consumer knowledge of the health benefits of consumption of fresh fruit is lacking. The compositional and nutritional qualities of fruit are highly variable among states with different climate, soil, and other environmental conditions. Compositional and nutritional data of fresh fruit that reflect Alabama growing conditions is limited. Commercially fully ripened kiwi fruit (Actinidia deliciosa cvs. Fitzgerald and Hayward) were compared for fruit quality (pH, TA, °Brix, °Brix/TA, and soluble sugars), and antioxidant properties; Vitamin C (reduced, oxidized, and total), Vitamin C Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (VCEAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), DPPH radical scavenging activity, total phenolics, and flavonoids. In general, `Fitzgerald' ranked higher in overall fruit quality and antioxidant properties when compared to `Hayward'.