Presence of palm oil in foodstuffs: consumers' perception

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to determine the presence of palm oil in food products on sale, and to study and compare consumers' opinions about this oil type in Spain (importing country) and Peru (producing country). Design/methodology/approach - Recent news published in both countries, which could influence consumer perceptions, were analysed. A study on the labelling of foodstuffs in Spain was carried out, as was a survey with Spanish and Peruvian consumers. Findings - Palm oil was found in a large number of products and in a wide range of foods, especially those from the bakery sector. The percentages of saturated fats varied substantially within the same product type. Spanish consumers showed much more interest in the labelling and information on nutritional properties, especially energy values, saturated fats and sugars, while Peruvians focused more on energy values, and protein, vitamin and mineral contents. In Spain, palm oil was considered the worst quality fat/oil and had a clearly negative effect on both health and the environment. In Peru, palm oil was neither perceived by the majority of respondents as low quality oil nor associated with negative health effects. However, they were aware of the environmental problems that could result from its production. Originality/value - These results confirm that the food industry should make efforts to reduce or replace palm oil in foods, mainly in Spain, as most consumers believe that palm oil negatively affects their health and the environmen

Population-based diallel analyses among nine historically recognized alfalfa germplasms

Identification of heterotic groups and patterns among breeding populations provides fundamental information to help plant breeders more knowledgeably manipulate heterosis. A diallel analysis was conducted among nine alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) germplasms, commonly referred to as African, Chilean, Flemish, Indian, Ladak, M. falcata, M. varia, Peruvian, and Turkistan, which represent a significant proportion of the genetic diversity present in US cultivars. Heterotic responses were determined by evaluating forage yield of the germplasms and their 36 half-diallel hybrids in seeded plots that were harvested five times in each of 2 years. Commercially acceptable yields were obtained from some hybrids of unimproved parents, where at least one parent was adapted to the study environment. Variation among crosses was attributed primarily to general combining ability (GCA) effects; however, specific combining ability effects were also significant. GCA estimates for African, Chilean and Peruvian were positive, while those for Ladak, M. falcata, and M. varia were negative. Estimates for variety heterosis effects were positive for Peruvian and M. falcata and negative for Indian and M. varia. Significant mid-parent heterosis [(MPH) range of −21% to 55%] and high-parent heterosis [(HPH) range of −33% to 23%] was detected. M. falcata hybrids exhibited the highest MPH values. However, this likely reflects the poor yield of M. falcata per se in the study environment and consequently, low MPH values. Peruvian hybrids demonstrated the highest cross mean performance, significant positive MPH in all crosses, and positive HPH in five out of eight crosses. The results indicate that Peruvian should be recognized as a heterotic group. Alfalfa breeders may wish to explore opportunities for heterotic yield gains that are likely to exist in hybrids between the Peruvian germplasm and elite breeding populations, in particular, those adapted to the southwestern United States. MPH results suggest that alfalfa breeders may have capitalized on the heterotic response between Flemish and M. varia during past development of alfalfa synthetics adapted to the central and northern latitudes of the United States

Antibacterial activity of mexican oregano essential oil (Lippia berlandieri) against the phytopathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas euvesicatoria

Xanthomonas euvesicatoria causes bacterial spot disease in leaves, roots, fruits and stems of pepper plants. Identification of this phytopathogen in jalapeno seeds from Delicias, Chihuahua, Mexico and diseased plants from New Mexico, USA, was carried out by isolation on semiselective media, pathogenicity assays and biochemical tests. Mexican oregano (Lippia berlandieri) essential oil was tested in vitro against Xanthomonas euvesicatoria. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were performed and the oil showed an inhibition of bacterial growth in concentrations of 0.01 mg/ml and a bactericidal effect in concentrations of 0.05 mg/ml. Oregano essential oil is reported to have antimicrobial activities due to the effect of high content of carvacrol. Oregano oil had an MIC that was 10 times lower compared to pure carvacrol, since carvacrol content, measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/ MS) was only 30%. The antimicrobial effect in vivo was tested using a randomized complete block design model in a greenhouse. Disease severity, xanthomonad incidence as well as chlorophyll indices were calculated showing a strong inhibition of the disease, when seeds or foliage were treated with oregano oil. These results demonstrate the current commonality of xanthomonad pathogens on both sides of the Mexican-American border, and that oregano oil has potent antibacterial activity. Resumen Xanthomonas euvesicatoria es la bacteria agente causal de la marchitez bacteriana en hojas, raíces y frutos de chile jalapeño. Se realizó la identificación de este patógeno en las semillas de chile jalapeño provenientes de Delicias, Chihuahua, México y plantas enfermas provenientes del estado de Nuevo Mexico, EUA; a través de cultivo en medios semi-selectivos, ensayos de patogenicidad y pruebas bioquímicas. El aceite esencial del orégano mexicano (Lippia berlandieri) fue probado in vitro contra Xanthomonas euvesicatoria. Pruebas de concentración mínima inhibitoria (CMI) y concentración mínima bactericida (CMB) fueron determinadas y el aceite mostró una inhibición de crecimiento a concentraciones de 0.01 mg/ml y un efecto bactericida a concentraciones de 0.05 mg/ ml. El aceite esencial de orégano muestra actividades antibacterianas gracias al efecto de la alta concentración de carvacrol. El aceite de orégano mostró una CMI que fue 10 veces menor en comparación con el efecto de carvacrol puro, ya que la concentración determinada en el aceite por medio de cromatografía de gases/espectrometría de masas (GC/MS) fue de 30% de carvacrol. El efecto antibacteriano in vivo fue probado utilizando un diseño de bloques completos al azar en un invernadero. La severidad e incidencia de la enfermedad, así como los índices de clorofila, fueron calculados mostrando una inhibición de la enfermedad cuando las semillas u hojas de las plantas de chile se trataron con el aceite de orégano. Estos resultados demuestran la problemática de la bacteria Xanthomonas en las fronteras México-Americanas y que el aceite esencial de orégano ejerce una acción antibacteriana. Palabras clave: marchitez bacteriana, concentración mínima inhibitoria, Carvacrol

Towards an optimal sampling strategy for assessing genetic variation within and among white clover (Trifolium repens L.) cultivars using AFLP

Cost reduction in plant breeding and conservation programs depends largely on correctly defining the minimal sample size required for the trustworthy assessment of intra- and inter-cultivar genetic variation. White clover, an important pasture legume, was chosen for studying this aspect. In clonal plants, such as the aforementioned, an appropriate sampling scheme eliminates the redundant analysis of identical genotypes. The aim was to define an optimal sampling strategy, i.e., the minimum sample size and appropriate sampling scheme for white clover cultivars, by using AFLP data (283 loci) from three popular types. A grid-based sampling scheme, with an interplant distance of at least 40 cm, was sufficient to avoid any excess in replicates. Simulations revealed that the number of samples substantially influenced genetic diversity parameters. When using less than 15 per cultivar, the expected heterozygosity (He) and Shannon diversity index (I) were greatly underestimated, whereas with 20, more than 95% of total intra-cultivar genetic variation was covered. Based on AMOVA, a 20-cultivar sample was apparently sufficient to accurately quantify individual genetic structuring. The recommended sampling strategy facilitates the efficient characterization of diversity in white clover, for both conservation and exploitation

Potential to increase yield in lucerne (Medicago sativa subsp sativa) through introgression of Medicago sativa subsp falcata into Australian adapted material

The effect of interspecific heterosis in crosses between Medicago sativa subsp. sativa and M. sativa subsp. falcata was assessed. Three sativa and 3 falcata plants were crossed in a diallel design. Progeny dry matter yield and natural plant height were assessed in a replicated field experiment at Gatton, Queensland. Yield data were analysed using the method of residual maximum likelihood (REML) and Griffing's model 1. There were significant differences between the reciprocal, general combining ability (GCA), and specific combining ability (SCA) effects. As expected, S-1 populations were lower yielding than their respective intraspecific cross and falcata x falcata crosses were significantly lower yielding than sativa x sativa crosses. Some of the interspecific crosses indicated substantial SCA effects, yielding at least as well as the best sativa x sativa crosses. We have demonstrated the potential usefulness of unselected M. sativa subsp. falcata as a heterotic group in the improvement of yield in northern Australian adapted lucerne material, and discuss how it could be incorporated into future breeding to overcome the yield stagnation currently being experienced in Australian programs