Shelf life of minimally processed apple (cv. Jonagored) determined by colour changes

Physical, chemical and sensory changes of cut apple (cv. Jonagored) stored in the dark at 4 °C were evaluated. Colour was found to be the critical parameter for this product. Apple cubes underwent severe surface browning primarily during the initial days of storage. The shelf-life of cut apple was therefore very limited, to three days maximum. Sensory analyses and objective quality evaluations of cut apple were considered highly correlated in terms of colour and flavour, especially with respect to fructose and sucrose, showing that the selected sensory attributes were good indicators of overall fruit quality

Upper bound for the conductivity of nanotube networks

Films composed of nanotube networks have their conductivities regulated by the junction resistances formed between tubes. Conductivity values are enhanced by lower junction resistances but should reach a maximum that is limited by the network morphology. By considering ideal ballistic-like contacts between nanotubes we use the Kubo formalism to calculate the upper bound for the conductivity of such films and show how it depends on the nanotube concentration as well as on their aspect ratio. Highest measured conductivities reported so far are approaching this limiting value, suggesting that further progress lies with nanowires other than nanotubes.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure. Minor changes. Accepted for publication in Applied Physics Letter

Yield stability of soybean lines using addtive main effects and multiplicative interaction analysis - AMMI.

The grain yield of 27 soybean lines was evaluated at three locations (Anhembi, Areão and Esalq) in Piracicaba, State of São Paulo, Brazil, during four crop years to study the effect of environment (E) on the adaptability and stability of the lines (G) using additive main effects and multiplicative interaction analysis (AMMI). Effects of the G, E, and GE interaction were found to be significant and accounted for 51, 12, and 36% of the variation, respectively. The first and only significant interaction principal component axis (IPCA1) accounted for 26% of the sum of squares due to original GE interaction. This concentrated the largest proportion of the pattern of GE interaction. Environments associated with Anhembi and Esalq proved more favorable, while Areão contributed negatively to the grain yield. However, Anhembi and Areão were more predictable for the crop years. USP 93-5082 and USP 93-5243 lines combined high adaptability and stability

Magnitude da interação genótipos X ambientes para o caráter teor de óleo em linhagens de soja.

RESUMO: Com o objetivo de se estimar a interação genótipos x ambientes sobre o teor de óleo, avaliaram-se 28 linhagens de soja em três locais do município de Piracicaba (Anhembi, Areão e ESALQ), SP, com altitude de 540 m, 22 o 45' de latitude sul e 47 o 38' de longitude oeste, nos anos agrícolas de 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99 e 1999/00, totalizando 12 ambientes. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos completos casualisados com duas repetições, estratificadas em conjuntos experimentais com quatro testemunhas comuns. A parcela experimental correspondeu a quatro fileiras de 5,0 x 0,5 m, avaliando-se os 4 m centrais das duas fileiras intermediárias de cada parcela. Pelos resultados obtidos pode-se evidenciar significância para os efeitos de genótipos, ambientes e interação genótipos x ambientes. A interação locais x anos contribuiu mais que os efeitos isolados de locais e anos para a variação ambiental, enquanto a interação genótipos x anos foi responsável pela maior parte da interação genótipos x ambientes. Destacaram-se as linhagens USPs 93-1188, 93-1024, 93-1042, 93-1043, 93-1044, 93-1012, 94-1195 e 94-1203, com teores de óleo acima de 22%. Na seleção de linhagens para estabilidade e adaptabilidade do teor de óleo no município de Piracicaba, SP, deve-se considerar os testes realizados em mais de um ano, com o propósito de amenizar os efeitos da interação genótipos x ambientes e obter maior garantia na recomendação de cultivares. Termos para indexação: comportamento genotípico, Glycine max, resposta ambiental, variação fenotípica. ABSTRACT: With the objective of estimating the magnitude of the genotype x environment interaction on the oil content, twenty eight soybean lines were evaluated in three location (Anhembi, Areão and Esalq) of Piracicaba, state of São Paulo, Brazil, at 540 m of altitude, 22 o 45' South latitude, and 47 o 38' West longitude, during the agricultural years of 1996/ 97, 1997/98, 1998/99 and 1999/00, totalizing 12 environments. A randomized complete block experiment was designed, with two replications stratified in experimental sets with four common checks. The experimental plot corresponded to four rows 5,0 x 0,5 m, where the four central meters of the two intermediate rows were evaluated. The results evidenced that significative effects were detected for genotypes, environments and genotype x environment interaction. The locations x years interaction contributed more than the effects isolated of locations and years for the environmental variation, while the genotypes x years was responsible for most of the genotype x environment interaction. USP 93-1188, 93-1024, 93-1042, 93-1043, 93-1044, 93-1012, 94-1195 and 94-1203 presented superiority, with oil percentage above 22%. In the selection of lines for stability and adaptability of the oil content in Piracicaba, SP, trials conducted in more than one year should be considered, with the purpose to decrease the effects of the genotype x environment interaction and obtain larger reliability in the recommendation of cultivars. Index terms: genotypic behavior, Glycine max, environmental response, phenotypic variation