Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 2,3-dihydro-1H-1,5-benzodiazepin-2-ones; potential imaging agents of the metabotropic glutamate 2 receptor

A focused library of novel 2,3-dihydro-1H-1,5-benzodiazepin-2-ones containing sites for 11C-, 18F- and 123I-labelling have been prepared and evaluated against membrane expressing human recombinant metabotropic glutamate 2 receptor (mGluR2). The compounds were found to be non-competitive antagonists with nanomolar affinity. HPLC evaluation of the physiochemical properties of these compounds identified two candidates for PET and SPECT imaging of mGluR2

Pre-Harvest light intensity affects shelf-Life of fresh-cut lettuce

The industry of fresh-cut produce is continuously growing due to increasing demand for fresh, healthy and convenient foods. However, processing of vegetables accelerates quality deterioration due to structural, physiological and biochemical changes. Therefore, the value of the produce to the consumer is decreased by negative changes in appearance, texture, flavor and nutritional value. Cultivation practices, such as nitrogen application, light and temperature regimes and, the choice of varieties with a higher resistance to processing might greatly influence the postharvest characteristics of lettuce. In this study, the effect of light intensity during growth on shelf-life of fresh-cut lettuce was examined in different varieties. Plants were grown under controlled environmental conditions with day/night temperature 20°C/15°C, relative humidity of 70% and high (250 µmol m-2 s-1) or moderate (120 µmol m-2 s-1) photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) provided by white fluorescent tubes, with a 12h photoperiod. The shelf-life of plants grown under high light was two-fold that of the plants grown under moderate light. The level of leaf chlorophyll differed between light treatments and varieties. The variety with highest pre-harvest chlorophyll content had the shortest shelf life under both light conditions. The shelf life data are supported by chlorophyll fluorescence images indicating that the latter technique may be used as a quality evaluation tool

Programmed Cell Death and Postharvest Deterioration of Horticultural Produce

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a process where cells or tissues are broken down in an orderly and predictable manner, whereby nutrients are re-used by other cells, tissues or plant parts. The process of (petal) senescence shows many similarities to autophagic PCD in animal cells including a massive breakdown of protein, DNA and RNA, the formation of autophagic vacuoles for the breakdown of cytoplasm and organelles therein and, the eventual rupture of these vacuoles that kills the cell. Common storage disorders such as scald, internal browning, core breakdown and senescent breakdown in fruit and formation of a variety of storage-related problems in vegetables that are induced by severe conditions such as low temperature, low oxygen and increased carbon dioxide concentrations, are accompanied by death and sometimes disappearance of cells. This type of cell death shows similarities to autophagic cell death during aerenchyma formation in flooded roots. This paper discusses different types of cell death in relation to flower petal senescence and storage disorders in fruit and vegetables

Petal Senescence: New Concepts for Ageing Cells

Senescence in flower petals can be regarded as a form of programmed cell death (PCD), being a process where cells or tissues are broken down in an orderly and predictable manner, whereby nutrients are re-used by other cells, tissues or plant parts. The process of petal senescence shows many similarities to autophagic PCD in animal cells including a massive breakdown of protein, DNA and RNA, the formation of autophagic vacuoles for the breakdown of cytoplasm and organelles therein and, the eventual rupture of these vacuoles that kills the cell. Chromatin condensation and DNA and nuclear fragmentation (traditionally considered being apoptotic-like features) are observed in both autophagic animal cells and in senescing petal cells. We present a conceptional model underlying petal senescence that integrates elements that have been associated with both apoptotic and autophagic types of PC

Effect of home-refrigerator storage temperature on tomato quality

Postharvest storage, handling and distribution of fruit at low temperatures is the most common and manageable approach to control ripening and subsequent deterioration and to maximize product shelf-life. However, tomatoes, as many other subtropical fruits, are susceptible to develop symptoms of chilling injury, a physiological disorder caused by the exposure to low temperature above the freezing point. Development of chilling injury depends on temperature, time, ripening stage and tomato type/cultivar. We studied the effect of home-refrigerator storage temperature on the quality of two types of tomato: cocktail tomato (cultivars ‘Amoroso’ and ‘Brioso’) and truss tomato (cultivars ‘Capricia’ and ‘Roterno’). Fully ripe tomatoes were stored for 10 days at two temperatures: 4°C as simulation of home-refrigerator storage and 15°C as an optimal storage temperature. We evaluated several quality parameters: weight loss, firmness, soluble solid content, titratable acidity, carbohydrates, titratable acidity and citrate content. Although we did not observe any apparent symptom of chilling injury, we found that 4°C temperature stimulates firmness decay in both cocktail tomato cultivars, increasing fruit susceptibility to mechanical injury. Moreover, already after 5 days of 4°C storage, tomatoes generally showed decreased sugar and increased acid content (especially in cocktail tomatoes) compared to 15°C stored fruit, indicating a loss of sensoric quality at 4°C

Jack Ehleiter v. Grapetree Shores, Inc.

Published in cooperation with the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolutio

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Ethyleenvisie GreenRail : ethyleen bij treintransport van potplanten

Sierteeltgewassen zijn bederfelijke producten, gevoelig voor temperatuur, vocht en lange(re) donkerperiodes. Niet adequate conditionering zal mogelijk tot meer uitval leiden en zou de introductie van deze nieuwe, duurzame transportoptie in de weg kunnen staan. Wageningen UR Food & Biobased Research heeft in dit kader onderzoek gedaan naar de 20 belangrijkste bloeiende en groene planten. Daarnaast zijn meerdere transportzendingen begeleidt en testen in de praktijk uitgevoerd. Dit heeft geresulteerd in een transportprotocol met aanbevelingen t.a.v. kwaliteitsborging in treintransport. Daarnaast is een literatuurstudie gedaan naar mogelijke problemen door ethyleen in deze specifieke keten van sierteeltgewasse