Chicory roots improves the taste and odour of organic pork

The carbohydrate inulin is known to reduce the production of skatole in pigs. This is caused by inulin changing the intestinal flora, so that the bacteria that produce skatole are held in check. This change in intestinal flora also reduces the number of intestinal parasites in the pigs. However the high cost of inulin makes its use in pig feed impractical. Chicory root contains inulin and a series of other carbohydrates and secondary metabolites. Therefore we have examined whether chicory root can replace pure inulin and thereby reduce boar taint, improve the taste of pork and reduce the infection of pigs with pathogenic parasites and bacteria

Morphological diversity of Meloidogyne spp. from carrot (Daucus carota subsp. Sativus) in Vietnam

Carrot (Daucus carota subsp. Sativus) is known as one of the most widely cultivated and widely consumed vegetables in the world due to its nutritional and economic values. During a survey of nematodes parasites carrots from Vietnam, six populations of three species of root-knot nematodes, namely M. incognita, M. arenaria, and M. graminicola were found. The species specific primers were confirmed before morphological studies. By combining the morphology and morphometry of the females, males, and juveniles, this study provided useful references for classification of Meloidogyne on carrots in the future. Quantitative morphological studies reveal profound changes corresponding with the generation of morphological disparity at high taxonomic diversity. Especially, this study provided the first morphological and morphometric information of M. graminicola, that is known as aquatic root-knot nematodes, on carrots

Comparative Metabolomics of Early Development of the Parasitic Plants Phelipanche aegyptiaca and Triphysaria versicolor.

Parasitic weeds of the family Orobanchaceae attach to the roots of host plants via haustoria capable of drawing nutrients from host vascular tissue. The connection of the haustorium to the host marks a shift in parasite metabolism from autotrophy to at least partial heterotrophy, depending on the level of parasite dependence. Species within the family Orobanchaceae span the spectrum of host nutrient dependency, yet the diversity of parasitic plant metabolism remains poorly understood, particularly during the key metabolic shift surrounding haustorial attachment. Comparative profiling of major metabolites in the obligate holoparasite Phelipanche aegyptiaca and the facultative hemiparasite Triphysaria versicolor before and after attachment to the hosts revealed several metabolic shifts implicating remodeling of energy and amino acid metabolism. After attachment, both parasites showed metabolite profiles that were different from their respective hosts. In P. aegyptiaca, prominent changes in metabolite profiles were also associated with transitioning between different tissue types before and after attachment, with aspartate levels increasing significantly after the attachment. Based on the results from 15N labeling experiments, asparagine and/or aspartate-rich proteins were enriched in host-derived nitrogen in T. versicolor. These results point to the importance of aspartate and/or asparagine in the early stages of attachment in these plant parasites and provide a rationale for targeting aspartate-family amino acid biosynthesis for disrupting the growth of parasitic weeds

\u3ci\u3eMicroctonus Pachylobii\u3c/i\u3e (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): New Host Record From \u3ci\u3eHylobius Radicis\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and Additional Notes on Its Biology

The endoparasite Microctonus pachylobii was discovered parasitizing a new weevil host, Hylobius radicis. Thirteen of the 154 H. radicis adults collected were parasitized (8.5%). The median numbers of parasites per weevil were 26 (x =22.5) during the period April through June, and 4 (x =9.4) during August and September. The median male:female sex ratio was 0.91 (x =0.65). Males emerged approximately 1 day earlier than females. Median parasite mortality while in the cocoon was 10.2% per parasitized weevil (x = 11.8%). Microctonus pachylobii was not found parasitizing two previously recorded weevil hosts from field samples, Hylobius rhizophagus and H. pales, and a laboratory study suggests that the parasite may have difficulty parasitizing the latter species

Efficacy of Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aureofaciens SH2 and Pseudomonas fluorescens RH43 isolates against root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) in kiwifruit

The Root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp., are parasites of many crops and orchards, including kiwifruit trees. The Islamic Republic of Iran is among the leading kiwifruit producers in the world and M. incognita has been found as the dominant species responsible for severe loss of this crop. In order to evaluate the eff ectiveness of antagonistic bacteria on larval mortality, number of galls per plant and egg masses of nematode reduction, fifty local bacterial strains were isolated from root surrounding soils of kiwifruit plants in the northern production areas in Iran. Bacterial antagonists were characterized by morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular methods. Two representative strains, showing the best nematicidal activity, were identif ed as Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aureofaciens (isolate Sh2) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (isolate Rh43). They increased the percentage of larval mortality to 56:38% and 54:28% respectively in assays in vitro and showed excellent performance also in vivo with consistent reduction of number of galls (67:31% and 55:63%, respectively) and egg mass (86:46% and 84:29%, respectively) in plants. This study indicates that Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aureofaciens isolate Sh2 and Pseudomonas fluorescens isolate Rh43 are good potential biocontrol agents for containing root-knot nematodes in kiwifruit trees.peer-reviewe

French study on Quality and Safety of Organic Food (AFSSA 2003 Evaluation nutritionnelle et sanitaire des aliments issus de l’agriculture biologique)

The presentations summarises the results of a study on organic farming and food quality published 2003 in France. Agence française de sécurité sanitaire des aliments (AFSSA) (2003): Evaluation nutritionnelle et sanitaire des aliments issus de l’agriculture biologique. AFSSA, F-94701 Maisons-Alfort, France These Conclusions of the study are: · Confirmation of most of the findings in other similar studies · Interesting findings with regard to health promoting compounds · More studies are needed (consumption studies) · Several negative prejudgements about safety of organic food have not been confirmed · Regarding food safety issues: in some areas more monitoring might be needed · The system approach of Organic Farming is recognized as a potential model for more sustainable food safety strategie