Application of differential pulse polarography in analysis of pectin

Differential pulse polarography (DPP) with dropping mercury electrode (DME) was used to determine quantitatively galacturonic acid (GA), methylated polygalacturonic acid (met PGA), pectin (PC) and pectinase (PE) in 0.1 M NaClO4 as supporting electrolyte. Current peaks of GA, met PGA, PC and PE, at -1.55, - 1.50, -1.40 and -1.60 V vs SCE respectively, were found suitable for quantitative determination in the concentration range considered. Enzymatic reaction between PE and PC was followed and possibility to determine simultaneously of PC and PE was proved

Biochemical and functional properties of indigenous Australian herbal infusions

The phytochemical profile, organic acid content, minerals, various antioxidant assays and consumers acceptability of indigenous Australian herbal infusions namely gulban (Melaleuca citrolens), anise myrtle (Syzygium anisatum), and lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) were compared with a commercial green tea (Camellia sinensis). Total phenolic content and catechin derivatives were higher in green tea as compared to indigenous herbal infusions (P < 0.05). Phytochemical profiles showed high levels of caffeine in green tea, but, it was not found in herbal infusions (P < 0.05). Australian indigenous herbal infusions were a good source of calcium and magnesium compared to green tea (P < 0.05). Oxalic acid was higher in green tea, whereas gulban and anise myrtle infusions were rich in citric acid (P < 0.05). Antioxidant activities of green tea and gulban herbal infusions were comparable (P ≥ 0.05). Overall liking scores were higher for herbal infusions compared to green tea (P < 0.05). Indigenous Australian herbal infusions particularly gulban has a potential to become a successful commercial herbal beverage

Mandibular molar root and pulp cavity morphology in Homo naledi and other Plio-Pleistocene hominins

The craniomandibular morphology of Homo naledi shows variable resemblances with species across Homo, which confounds an easy assessment of its phylogenetic position. In terms of skull shape, H. naledi has its closest affinities with Homo erectus, while mandibular shape places it closer to early Homo. From a tooth crown perspective, the smaller molars of H. naledi make it distinct from early Homo and H. erectus. Here, we compare the mandibular molar root morphology of six H. naledi individuals from the Dinaledi Chamber to those of African and Eurasian Plio-Pleistocene fossil hominins (totalling 183 mandibular first, second and third molars). The analysis of five root metric variables (cervical plane area, root length, root cervix volume, root branch volume, and root surface area) derived from microCT reconstructions reveals that the molar roots of H. naledi are smaller than those of Homo habilis, Homo rudolfensis, and H. erectus, but that they resemble those of three Homo sp. specimens from Swartkrans and Koobi Fora in size and overall appearance. Moreover, though H. naledi molar roots are similar in absolute size to Pleistocene Homo sapiens, they differ from H. sapiens in having a larger root volume for a given cervical plane area and less taurodont roots; the root cervix-to-branch proportions of H. naledi are comparable to those of Australopithecus africanus and species of Paranthropus. Homo naledi also shares a metameric root volume pattern (M2 > M3 > M1) with Australopithecus and Paranthropus but not with any of the other Homo species (M2 > M1 > M3). Our findings therefore concur with previous studies that found that H. naledi shares plesiomorphic features with early Homo, Australopithecus, and Paranthropus. While absolute molar root size aligns H. naledi with Homo from North and South Africa, it is distinguishable from these in terms of root volumetric proportions

Genetic analysis for grain weight per spike and harvest index in macaroni wheat

Using the line x tester analysis (Sing and Choudhary, 1979), we studied the combining ability, gene effects and mode of inheritance of grain weight per spike and harvest index, using 5 females, 3 testers and 15 hybrids of durum wheat. The results of the study show that non-additive genes play the more important role than additive in the inheritance of grain weight per spike and harvest index. The mode of inheritance of characters under study depended on the cross combination and the year of growing. In most cases the mode of inheritance was dominant. The estimates of general combining ability (GCA) pointed out that none of the genotypes in the first year of research had the significant GCA for grain weight per spike, while in the second year the best combiner was Kunduru. For the harvest index the best general combiner, in the first year, was Monodur, while in the second year the best combiner was Mexicali 75. In majority of the cases positive specific combining ability (SCA) effect were usually associated with crosses of two genetically divergent parents having at least one parent as a good general combiner

AMMI analysis of nitrogen harvest index in bread wheat

Nitrogen harvest index - NHI is a measure of efficiency of nitrogen translocation from vegetative organs to grain. The goal of this paper is to investigate variability and stability of nitrogen harvest index of twelve bread wheat genotypes, on three nitrogen levels. ANOVA showed that nitrogen harvest index was mostly under influence of the year x genotype interaction, year of investigation and genotype, and in the smallest amount of the nitrogen rate. Increasing doses of nitrogen did not lead to increased nitrogen harvest index. AMMI analysis showed that most genotypes differed in both the main effect and in GxE interaction. The highest stability i.e. the smallest interaction effect, was found in varieties Axis, Ilona, Sonata and Renan on N0 rate, and in varieties Malyska, Petrana, Axis and Evropa 90 on N100 rate. Cultivar Pobeda with the high average values for nitrogen harvest index, also had small interaction effect, i.e. it proved to be a stable variety

Correlations among yield components in durum wheat

The main reason that makes breeding for the main yield components difficult is that they are in negative correlation with each other. Numerous researchers have studied relations between yield and different yield components in order to find dependable selection criteria. The goal of this paper is to estimate the variability and correlations between yield components. The experiment was conducted on twelve durum wheat genotypes. Plant height was in both years positively correlated with number of spikelets per spike and negatively correlated with spike length. grain weight per spike. number of grains per spike and harvest index. Spike length was positively correlated with grain weight per spike and number of grains per spike. in both years and with harvest index only in the first year. while it was negatively correlated with number of spikelets per spike in the first year. Number of spikelets was in negative correlations with grain weight per spike and number of grains per spike in the first year and with harvest index in both years of investigations. Grain weight per spike was positively correlated with number of grain per spike and harvest index in both years. Number of grains per spike was in positive correlation with harvest index in both years of investigations