Maturation in peas. 1. A visual method of maturity assessment.

A method is described for assessing maturity in green peas based on visual estimates of pod maturity. Crop maturity as measured by average pod maturity showed a close correlation with maturity as measured by the average alcohol-insoluble solids of the peas, and the regression equations were reasonably stable. More needs to be known about the behaviour of varieties under various conditions before the method can be used to predict optimum harvest date.-A.G.G.H. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission

Seabird metapopulations: searching for alternative breeding habitats

Today, many seabird species nest in port areas, which are also necessary for human economic activity. In this paper, we evaluate, using a metapopulation model, the possibilities for creating alternative breeding sites for the Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) in the Rhine¿Meuse¿Scheldt estuary. We explore 22 scenarios that differ with respect to (1) loss of breeding habitat in port areas, (2) location and size of newly created habitat, and (3) coexistence of old and new habitat. Results indicate that loss of port area habitats results in a serious 41% decline in the breeding population. When the loss in ports is compensated for within the ports, the decline was negligible. Fourteen scenarios result in an increase of the Common Tern metapopulation. In these, extra breeding habitat is created outside the ports in fish-rich waters, resulting in a potential metapopulation increase of 25%. However, the period of overlap between lost and newly created habitat strongly affects the results. A gap between the removal of old and the creation of new breeding areas might cause a drop in the metapopulation level of 30%. The population recovery from this drop might take more than 100 years due to slow recolonization. Our results suggest that conservation of seabird species should be evaluated on a metapopulation scale and that the creation of new habitat may help to compensate for habitat loss in other areas. Furthermore, the results indicate that overlap between the existence of old and newly created breeding habitats is crucial for the success of compensation efforts. However, new locations should be carefully selected, because not only is the suitability of the breeding grounds important, but ample fish availability nearby is also ke

Investigations about the possibility to measure quality characteristics of cooked potatoes by instrumental methods

Instrumental methods were developed to evaluate several properties of cooked potatoes: mealiness, softness (consistency), sloughing (disintegration), dryness, (coarseness of) structure, yellowness, discoloration and falling apart. Advantages (and some disadvantages of instrumental methods over sensory ones were discussed. There was little relation between specific gravity and texture.Mealiness was measured by the stickiness after mashing, and softness by resistance of the potatoes to pressure by a metal bar driven into the potato. For sloughing no mechanical method seemed suitable. Fibrousness was estimated by staining xylem. A quick and sufficiently accurate method for measuring 0 colour was described. The results of the method of estimating discoloration varied but were promising. Limitations of the methods were discussed. Suggestions were made for further research to fill gaps in knowledge of the physical and chemical background of quality

Electromagnetic form factors of the (rho) meson in light cone QCD sum rules

We investigate the electromagnetic form factors of the (rho) meson in light cone QCD sum rules. We find that the ratio of the magnetic and charge form factors is larger than two at all values of Q^2, (Q^2 >= 0.5 GeV^2). The values of the individual form factors at fixed values of Q^2 predicted by the light cone QCD sum rules are quite different compared to the results of other approaches. These results can be checked in future, when more precise data on (rho) meson form factors is available.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, LaTeX formatte

Ports and nature, striking a new balance

The report offers an overview of the project’s aims and results, and its conclusions and recommendations