The Influence of the Type of Dry-Cured Italian PDO Ham on Cathepsin B Activity Trend during Processing

Cathepsin B activity was measured during processing in hams originating from the main Italian prosciutto PDOs: Parma, San Daniele and Toscano. Sixty-five heavy pig thighs, from sixty-five Italian large white x Italian Landrace pigs bred and slaughtered in the same conditions were considered. Five thighs represented the post-mortem control time. The other 60 were distributed one plant per PDO, following a balanced plan. The thighs were sampled at the biceps femoris in groups of four per plant in the following ripening phases: salting, resting, drying, greasing, end of curing. The activity of the Cathepsin B (U/g protein) was determined by means of fluorescence measurements. The Cathepsin B ripening trend of the various PDOs was significantly different, particularly during the initial and mid-curing stage. This activity correlates with the proteolysis index through a PDO dependent pattern, indicating that different processing conditions can influence the quality of prosciutto, since they determine its biochemical development.

Ephemeral Growth span and Rapid Veg-repo shift is Critical for Survival against Naturally Rainfed Upland and Erratic Drought in Rice Growing Regions

Two experiments were undertaken simultaneously (early generation evalua-tion and advanced generation evaluation respectively) during Kharif 2013-14 at S G College of Agriculture and Research Station, Jagdalpur, IGKV, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, to indentify and analyze ephemeral genotypes for their suitability in rainfed upland and present era’s climate change-laid unpredicted water stress production agro-ecosystem. In early generation testing, mean plot flowering was recorded to be 72 Days After Sowing (DAS), plant height 83cm, panicles per square meter 212 and grain yield to be 2330kg/ha. Regional check Vandana and CRR-676-1 flowered earliest by 68 DAS followed by CRR-627-35-1-5 (69 DAS) and CRR-507-11-B-1 and CRR-605-23-1. The CRR-433-2-1-1 flowered latest by 83 DAS and as per hypothesis; yield was con-siderably reduced since plant could not develop optimum source-sink bal-ance and carbon accumulation in seeds eventually. Regarding, crop yield, five genotypes placed above the local check, namely CRR-597-5-1 (29.47%), the national check i.e. Anjali (21.05%), CRR-676-1 (15.79%), CRR-433-2-1-1 (10.53%) and the regional check i.e. Vandana (7.92%). Among advanced ma-terial, interestingly, the highest yielding genotype flowered earliest (69 DAS) that suggests the accomplishment of crop growth and physio-biochemical development while utilizing the soil and environmental reserve appropriate-ly. On overall, mean yield was 2349kg/ha, whereas genotype CRR-616-B-2-54-1 ranked 1st with 2718 kg/ha yield, 69 days of flowering duration and short bold grains. The bimodal experiment concludes that ephemeral growth span and rapid veg-repo shift is critical for survival against naturally rainfed-upland and erratic drought in rice growing regions and those genotypes which maintain the physiological buffer at the shift will be able to sustain genetic yield potential.

Myopathy of slaughter chickens

High-powered means of slaughter chickens production cause on certain individuals abnormal biochemical development of postmortal changes in their muscles. It consequently lead to interferences of sensory quality of the chicken meat. So called myopathies of the chicken breast meat occur in the low extent. It is typical variation in dark colouring of breast muscle. Veterinary supervision confiscates chickens embodying myopathy by reason of sensorical unacceptable dark muscle colour. Deepness of colour is evaluated by adspection of veterinary supervisors. It is tendency leading to find out objective parameters for evaluating this sensual chicken meat colour variation. Incidence of the chickens with myopathy has been evaluating for 3 years in big poultry slaughter, therewithal high-quality chickens and chickens with perspicuous myopathy have been taking out of slaughter-line. Electric conductivity values and pH values were measuring during 60 till 330 minutes post mortem in breast muscles. Aproximately 9 millions chicken was annually slaughtered and 13 thousands of them was confiscated out of the slaughter line by reason of myopathy. It amounts to 0.14 per cent of annually count of processed chickens. Myopatical chickens had significantly higher muscle pH values as compared with healthy ones. Healthy chicken muscles decreased on ultimative pH values aproximately past 3 hours post mortem. It means pH 6.03, and after 300 minutes decreased to pH 5.82. However, myopatical chickens values varied from pH 6.46 to pH 6.30. Concurrently measured values of electric conductivity significantly corellated with pH values. Whereto, it's predication of similarity chicken myopathies and dark, firm, dry (DFD) pork or turkey meat. Beyond unacceptable dark meat colour have disadvantage in poor post mortem acidifying of the meat and in consequence of microbial proteolyse. Significantly correlation between pH and electric conductivity values foreshadows on identification of myopatical chicken meat by means of conductivity measuring.

The ultrastructural, histochemical, and biochemical development of the post-fertilization megagametophyte and the zygotic embryo of Pseudotsugamenziesii

Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) megagametophyte and embryo development were studied from fertilization until seed maturity, a period of about 71 days. The most important morphogenetic events occurred during the first 43 days. During this time lipid bodies and protein bodies increased rapidly in the megagametophyte. Lipids, proteins, and starch became evident in the embryo toward the end of the morphogenetic phase. The subsequent embryo maturation phase showed slight increases in size and number of megagametophyte lipid bodies and protein bodies, as well as an increase in protein body complexity. Later, in the mature seed, lipids and proteins were distributed uniformly in the megagametophyte. Starch was abundant in some regions of the embryo but not abundant in the megagametophyte. In mature seeds soluble sugars made up 2 and 3%, proteins 16 and 11%, and lipids 60 and 45% of the megagametophyte and embryo dry weight, respectively. Histochemical and ultrastructural observations confirmed these amounts of lipids and proteins and showed their distribution in megagametophytes and embryos during development.