Use of a root bioassay to indicate the phosphorus status of forest trees

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Mangifera sylvatica (Wild Mango):A new cocoa butter alternative

Cocoa butter is the pure butter extracted from cocoa beans and is a major ingredient in the chocolate industry. Global production of cocoa is in decline due to crop failure, diseases and ageing plantations, leading to price fluctuations and the necessity for the industry to find high quality cocoa butter alternatives. This study explored the potential of a wild mango (Mangifera sylvatica), an underutilised fruit in south-east Asia, as a new Cocoa Butter Alternative (CBA). Analyses showed that wild mango butter has a light coloured fat with a similar fatty acid profile (palmitic, stearic and oleic acid) and triglyceride profile (POP, SOS and POS) to cocoa butter. Thermal and physical properties are also similar to cocoa butter. Additionally, wild mango butter comprises 65% SOS (1, 3-distearoyl-2-oleoyl-glycerol) which indicates potential to become a Cocoa Butter Improver (an enhancement of CBA). It is concluded that these attractive properties of wild mango could be prompted by a coalition of policy makers, foresters, food industries and horticulturists to promote more widespread cultivation of this wild fruit species to realise the market opportunity

Groundwater Vulnerability Mapping in Two Watersheds Affected by Yacyreta Dam in Paraguay

Groundwater vulnerability mapping was conducted for two intensive agriculture and urban watersheds draining to the Yacyreta Dam in Paraguay. Two widely used overlaying methods (GOD and DRASTIC) were applied and compared to determine groundwater vulnerability to contamination. Possible effects of climate change on vulnerability values were also assessed using climate change scenarios provided by third authors. Finally, the possible effects of water table variations derived from Yacyreta Dam operations was projected on groundwater vulnerability. Determination of groundwater vulnerability using DRASTIC shows a 56% of the area of the watersheds to be classified as “medium high” (DRASTIC index 140 – 159) and a 22% as either “high”, “very high” or “maximum” (DRASTIC index values 160 – > 200). GOD on the other hand showed a 96% of the area of the watersheds with a “moderate vulnerability” to contaminants (values 0.3-0.5) and a 4% of “high vulnerability” (values 0.51 – 0.6). Vulnerability classes remained the same regardless of any climate change scenarios reviewed, for a 100 year span. Operation by the dam, specifically a five meter elevation of the water table scenario, suggests an increase in vulnerability in lower parts of the watersheds. Finally we compare GOD and DRASTIC models and their suitability regarding the available data for the region and scenario building

Morphological, nutritional and medicinal traits of wild mango (Mangifera Sylvatica Roxb.): Implications for increased use and options for cultivar development

Mangifera sylvatica Roxb. is an underutilised and threatened wild fruit species found in Bangladesh, which is highly valued by local people as a source of fruit and is an important source of nutrition. As part of a feasibility study of the domestication and cultivar development potential of M. sylvatica, a preliminary study examined the morphological traits (fruit, kernel and pulp mass), nutritional profile (carbohydrate, sugar, pH, fat, protein, mineral and vitamins) and medicinal traits (total phenolic and phenolic profiling). The fruit of M. sylvatica is small (27.00g ± 7.03g) with a comparatively bigger kernel fruit (40% of its body weight). M. sylvatica fruit pulp has been proved to be a good source of carbohydrate, Vitamin C, sodium (Na) and potassium (K) and also has good medicinal properties (mangiferin and quercetin). The kernel is also a rich source of carbohydrate and has a good fatty acid profile (rich in stearic and oleic acids) consistent with cocoa butter, which indicates its potential to be used in the chocolate and confectionery industry. There is continuous variation in these traits, indicating opportunities for multiple trait cultivar development targeted at the food and pharmaceutical industries. The information generated in the study can be used as a stimulus to the process of domestication and to encourage widespread use of the species, which will ultimately help to conserve this wild underutilised fruit species

Establishment of background water quality conditions in the Great Zab River catchment:influence of geogenic and anthropogenic controls on developing a baseline for water assessment and resource management

The Great Zab River catchment is a major left-bank tributary of the River Tigris and drains a substantial part of the Kurdistan Region, an autonomous region of Northern Iraq. Within Kurdistan, the water resources of the Great Zab River catchment are under pressure from population increase and are utilized for potable, domestic and agricultural and industrial supply. As with many parts of the world, effective management of water resources within Kurdistan is hindered by a lack of water quality data and established background concentrations. This study therefore represents the first regional survey of river water chemistry for the Great Zab River catchment and presents data on the spatial and temporal trends in concentrations of As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sr, Zn, NO3?, SO42?, F?, Cl? and PO43?, in addition to pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen and turbidity. As a tool for underpinning the management and monitoring of water quality, background concentrations were defined for the Great Zab catchment using three methods. The influences of geogenic and anthropogenic controls upon spatial and temporal trends in water chemistry are also evaluated. The influence of geogenic loading from underlying bedrock was identifiable within the observed spatial trends, with the most notable differences found between waters sampled from the relatively more volcanic-rich Zagros zone to the north and those sampled from the lower catchment underlain by younger clay-, sand- and siltstones. The greatest anthropogenic influence, identifiable through elements such as Cl? and NO3?, is present in the more highly populated lower catchment. The background concentrations identified in the Great Zab catchment would be those expected as a result of geogenic loading with some anthropogenic influence and represent a more conservative value when compared to those such as the World Health Organization Maximum Admissible Concentration. However, background concentrations represent a powerful tool for identifying potential anthropogenic impacts on water quality and informing management of such occurrencespublishersversionPeer reviewe