Paphiopedilum charlesworthii var. lannaense, a new slipper orchid from Northern Thailand identified by morphological and AFLP analyses

A new endemic slipper orchid in the family Orchidaceae from Northern Thailand was described according to morphological and molecular analyses. Morphological information specifies the new slipper orchid Paphiopedilum charlesworthii var. lannaense to be similar to Paphiopedilum charlesworthii (Rolfe) Pfitzer 1895, with the exception of its staminode being obovate-obcordate with yellow color, glittery and rough surface. Molecular analysis by AFLP technique indicates that Paphiopedilum charlesworthii var. lannaense can be included as a member of section Paphiopedilum and is closely related to Paphiopedilum coccineum Perner, H. & Herrmann, R. (2000) (syn. Paphiopedilum barbigerum var. coccineum), from which it differs morphologically by dorsal sepal and petal characters. The morphological and molecular evidence supported that Paphiopedilum charlesworthii var. lannaense is a new slipper orchid in the genus Paphiopedilum (Cypripedioideae, Orchidaceae).

Nutritional Characterization of a Traditional Cultivar of Tomato Grown Under Organic Conditions—cv. “Malacara”

The loss of genetic diversity due to the replacement of local tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) varieties by improved cultivars has been mitigated in many cases by the good work of organic farmers in maintaining local agricultural biodiversity. In parallel to these initiatives, in recent years, consumers have developed an increasing awareness of both food-related health, environmental issues, and food demand to recover the flavors of the past. In the case of tomatoes, these attributes (nutritional, organoleptic, social, and environmental) are closely related to organic production using local varieties. “Malacara” tomato is an example of a local variety. Coming from Sierra de Cádiz, it is a varietal type called “Cuelga” (“for hanging,” because the tomato trusses are hung from beams in the farmhouses). Cultivated and harvested in the open air during the summer months, these tomatoes are commercialized and consumed in the winter. Historically, this variety has enabled the fresh consumption of tomatoes during the winter, without the need to force cultivation. It is highly appreciated in the local cuisine and is the basis for sauces figuring in typical dishes. Its characteristic traits are small, pallid fruits, and long shelf life. The main objective of this work has been to typify two Malacara tomato cultivars (red and yellow color) grown under organic farming conditions, through the characterization of morphological, nutritional, and volatile parameters. The main differences are due to morphological parameters (fruit weight and color of the exocarp and endocarp). Other characteristics such as the content of ash, fiber, moisture, the concentration of iron, magnesium, and calcium, and content of lycopene are different between both cultivars. This study provides information on the nutritional and aromatic composition of two Malacara tomato cultivars, differentiated by their color and grown under organic farming conditions. The results add value to the native horticultural heritage and can aid in the selection of tomato varieties suitable for a sustainable production system and to produce tomatoes with high nutritional value and rich in aroma.

Assessment of Variation in Feeding Behavior by Color Morph in the Asian citrus Psyllid (Diaphorini Citri Kuwayama)

The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera:Liviidae), vector of huanglongbing disease, displays a high degree of color polyphenism. In the adult stage, ACP exhibits abdominal colors that can be separated into three color groupings: blue-green, grey-brown and orange-yellow. Color morphology has been shown to influence important and energetically costly psyllid life traits including reproduction, dispersion, immune defense and resistance to insecticides. Despite this, it remains unclear how color morphology is correlated with feeding behavior. Understanding variation in feeding behavior of the ACP color morphs is critical to better understanding how ACP populations utilize host-plants and to assess potential risk for transmission of the causal agent of huanglongbing disease. We compared the feeding behavior of the three ACP color morphs by using electropenetrography (EPG). We did not detect differences in the feeding behavior activities at phloem or xylem tissues when comparing the three-color morphs. Furthermore, there were no differences in feeding behavioral parameters before reaching phloem or xylem tissues. Our results suggest energy requirements are similar between color morphs and feeding behavior parameters associated with CLas transmission are potentially similar between color morphs.

Effects of addition of Sodium Benzoate of the Physicochemical Characteristic of Watermelon rind (Citrullus lanatus)

Watermelon rind is a food product that utilize wasted albedo waste. Generally, jam is gel or semi-dense so it has short shelf life. To make the jam more imperishable in storage, preservatives can be added in manufactured progress, one of the preservatives that can be used is sodium benzoate. This research aims to determine the effects of the addition of sodium benzoate on the physicochemical characteristics of watermelon rind jam. The results reveals that the formula of watermelon rind jam with the addition of sodium benzoate has physicochemical content that not much different apart from the one that isn’t added by sodium benzoate. The characteristics that were significantly different were only in viscosity, the jam with the addition of sodium benzoate (6400 cP) was greater than the jam without the addition of sodium benzoate (2900 cP). The selected formula will be tested by organoleptic (hedonic quality) with texture, taste, and aroma attributes with the results that the jam formula was well received by 30 panelists. The quality of watermelon rind jam is identified by color aspect with average score of 5.10 with good category that has brownish yellow color, by texture with average score of 5.10 with good category that has soft and fibrous textured, and by the taste with average score of 5,20 with good category that has sweet acidity taste. Keywords: Watermelon rinds, sensorics analysis

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Genes Respond to Chlorophyll Deficiency in Green and Yellow Leaves of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat

Chlorophyll is vital for photosynthesis to produce sugars and other useful biochemical products in green plants. However, the molecular effects of chlorophyll deficiency in Chrysanthemum are largely unknown. In this study, we identified a bud sport mutant chrysanthemum belonging to the variety ‘Nannong Binyun’, which has yellow branches. Plant physiological studies have shown that the yellow color is revealed due to chlorophyll loss. RNA extracts of yellow and green tissues were analyzed using high-throughput RNA-sequencing, and a total of 11,649 tissue enriched unigenes that respond to chlorophyll deficiency were identified, including 4803 unigenes upregulated in yellow tissues and 6846 unigenes in green tissues. GO analysis revealed that these tissue-enriched genes may involve in the physiological processes of chlorophyll accumulation and photosynthesis. In addition, many DEGs from the families of AP2-EREBP, bHLH, MYB, and FAR1 that are associated with plant development and stress response were detected. Our study found that most of the genes from the GRAS family were downregulated in yellow leaves, indicating their putative roles in stem cell maintenance and possible contribution to leaf size determination.

Yellow nail syndrome

Yellow nail syndrome is an extremely rare syndrome, mainly in people over 50 years of age, occurring both systemically and in isolation and requiring the most careful collection of anamnesis, since this condition has a close relationship with respiratory diseases, malignant neoplasms of internal organs and rheumatoid arthritis. Moreover, this rare disease is not sufficiently studied to fully understand its pathogenesis and effective treatment. Patients pay attention to the yellow color of the nails, associated with the deposition of melanin, bile pigments and hemosiderin in the submarginal space, slowing down the growth and thickening of the nail. It should be noted that the change in the nail plates can be observed long before the other clinical manifestations of this syndrome are detected, and probably this can in some cases serve as a harbinger of incipient changes in the lung tissue, neoplasms and changes in the lymphatic vessels. In this regard, it is extremely important to clearly differentiate this condition and refer patients to related specialists for verification of the diagnosis and further treatment.

Comparative Effect of Frying and Baking on Chemical, Physical, and Microbiological Characteristics of Frozen Fish Nuggets

The effects of deep-frying and oven-baking on chemical, physical, and microbiological, properties of cassava croaker (Pseudotolithus senegalensis) nuggets during frozen storage were investigated. The moisture, protein, fat, ash, and carbohydrate contents varied among the cooking methods and frozen storage times. The deep-fried nugget had a higher fat content, which resulted in a higher energy value (p < 0.05). The free fatty acid content and peroxide value (PV) of the oven-baked nuggets were higher than the deep-fried ones (p < 0.05). The PV tended to increase with increasing storage time, but it was still within the recommended range for consumption. The deep-fried nugget showed a vivid orange–yellow color, with higher L*, a*, and b* values, while oven-baked nuggets showed a pale-yellow color. The baked nuggets had relatively lower total expressible fluid than the deep-fried nuggets at all time points (p < 0.05). The hardness, springiness, and chewiness of deep-fried nuggets were higher than baked nuggets throughout the storage period (p < 0.05). The total plate count and yeast and mold counts produced by the two cooking methods were within the acceptable range throughout the storage.

COMPARATIVE TEST OF FLAVONOIDS AND SAPONINS BETWEEN LEAVES AND FLOWERS OF KNOBS (Gomphrena globosa l.) AS ANTI-NAUSEA AND ANTIOXIDANT THERAPY IN CANCER PATIENTS UNDERGOING CHEMOTHERAPY

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world today. In 2018, there were 18.1 million new cases of cancer with a death rate of 9.6 million. Chemotherapy is one way of cancer treating. Effects of chemotherapy include gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, stomatitis and myelo suppression in the form of anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Symptoms of nausea and vomiting are one of the most serious side effects. This condition can cause patient choose to stop therapy. Discontinuation of therapy has the potential to increase cancer progression. If not treated quickly, it will cause malnutrition. The knob plant (Gomhprena globosa l.) is a nutritious plant that has been used in traditional medicine. Knobs have potential as antioxidants of it flavonoids. The flavonoid and saponin compounds can accelerate the digestive system and act as an anti-nausea, making it suitable as therapy for patients with chemotherapy. This study aims to compare the flavonoid and saponin between the leaves and knob flowers which are best used as anti-nausea products. The research was conducted at the Chemical Laboratory of MAN 1 Gresik. The extraction method used in this is maceration. The steps for testing flavonoids and saponins on knob leaves and flowers can be done by pounding the leaves and knob flowers, labeling 4 test tubes, namely, F flowers for the Flavonoid test, S flowers for the Saponins test, F leaves for the Flavonoid test, S leaves for the Saponins test. Then, add 1 ml of leaf and flower extracts into test tube, add magnesium tape to the test tube labeled F leaves and F flowers, add 1 ml of concentrated HCl into the test tube labeled F, then enter 1 ml of HCl 2N on the test tube labeled S leaves and S flowers. Based on this study, can be concluded that knob leaves have higher flavonoids and saponins. Fact, knob leaves produce more yellow color. In the saponin test, the leaf had more foam than the flower. Therefore, knob leaves can be used as anti-nausea and antioxidants in cancer patients with chemotherapy.

Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of the Essential Oil of Cardiospermum grandiflorum Sw Harvested in Kokumbo in Ivory Coast

Aims: The objective of this work is to contribute to the valorization of medicinal and aromatic plants of the Ivorian flora. We propose to determine the chemical composition and to evaluate the antioxidant activity by spectrophotometry of the essential oil of Cardiospermum. grandiflorum Sw Study Design: Valorization of aromatic and medicinal plants. Methodology: The technical of steam distillation using a four-compartment stainless steel device was used to extract the essential oil from the plant matrix. The analysis of the essential oils was carried out on a GC chromatograph (7890A, Agilent Technologies) coupled to a mass spectrometer (5975C, Agilent Technologies). The identification of the compounds was carried out by comparison of the retention indices and mass spectra obtained with those from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) database and from the literature The antioxidant potential of the extracts was evaluated using the Blois method. Results: The essential oil obtained by steaming, with an aromatic odor and pale yellow color has a yield of (0.0045 ± 0.0002)%. Analysis of the chromatogram and mass spectra obtained by GC-MS identified 24 phytocompounds representing 99.45% of the total chemical composition. The chemical composition of EO consists mainly of hydrocarbon sesquiterpenes (97.72%).The major compound is γ-muurolene (46.06%) (A) followed by β-Caryophyllene (24.35%) (B) and γ-elemene (7.07 %). The essential oil extract of C. grandiflorum exhibits low antioxidant activity compared to vitamin C. The IC 50 value of vitamin C is 0.31 µg / mL while that of EO extract of C grandiflorum is 15.1 µg / mL Conclusion: In the present study, we are interested in the valuation of Cardiospermum grandiflorum an aromatic plant used in traditional Ivorian medicine. The yields of essential oil is low. (24) phytocompounds were identified there. The essential oil has less antioxidant activity than that of vitamin C,

Is sulfur the responsible for color of yellow Chiapas Amber?

Amber is a fossilized natural resin found in specific areas of the world; its geographical origin is associated to a characteristic color. Amber all over the world share basic characteristics due to a common polymeric matrix; however, its color is associated to the environment where it was formed. In this work, based on a compositional analysis, it is proposed that yellow color of Mexican amber is originated from the sulfur physical and chemical interaction within its polymeric matrix. The effect of sulfur present in yellow Mexican amber is studied by employing X-ray photoelectron and UV-Vis spectroscopies. Results show that sulfur is incorporated inside the polymer matrix with two different chemical environments; one related with sulfur-carbon bonds and the other with sulfur-sulfur bonds. The optical transmission spectrum simulated considering amber as a composite material reproduce the scattering contribution observed experimentally.