Intensive production of the harpacticoid copepod Tigriopus californicus in a zero-effluent ‘green water’ bioreactor

Aquaculture is looking for substitutes for fishmeal and fish oil to maintain its continued growth. Zooplankton is the most nutritious option, but its controlled mass production has not yet been achieved. In this context, we have developed a monoalgal ‘green water’ closed-loop bioreactor with the microalgae Tetraselmis chui that continuously produced the harpacticoid copepod Tigriopus californicus. During 145 days of operation, the 2.2 m3 bioreactor produced 3.9 kg (wet weight) of Tigriopus with (dry weight) 0.79 ± 0.29% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), 0.82 ± 0.26% docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), 1.89 ± 0,60% 3S,3’S-astaxanthin and an essential amino acid index (EAAI) of 97% for juvenile Atlantic salmon. The reactor kept the pH stable over the operation time (pH 8.81 ± 0.40 in the algae phase and pH 8.22 ± 2.96 in the zooplankton phase), while constantly removed nitrate (322.6 mg L−1) and phosphate (20.4 mg L−1) from the water. As a result of the stable pH and nutrient removal, the bioreactor achieved zero effluent discharges. The upscaling of monoalgal, closed-loop ‘green water’ bioreactors could help standardize zooplankton mass production to supply the aquafeeds industry.

Changes in the biochemical components of mandarin fruits after pest control in the Republic of Abkhazia

The study assessing biochemical components (sugars and organic acids) in mandarin fruits after pest control was carried out in matured plantings of cv. Unshiu mandarin in the Republic of Abkhazia in 2019-2020. The treated fruits contained a greater amount of soluble carbohydrates than the fruits in control. The predominant form of monosaccharides is fructose (17.78-17.85 g/l, with 11.89 g/l in the control) in the fruits from the standard treatment and in variant 6 (with a combination of Metamax, Vermitek and Karate Zeon), which is preferable, since it has the greatest sweetness (173 units), providing a sweeter taste of the fruit. According to the content of organic acids, variants 6 and 8 (four treatments with Diatomite, 6%) were distinguished, the content of citric acid on which was 11.86-11.3 mg/l. A more balanced taste of the fruit was in variants 6, 7 (four treatments with Diatomite, 3%) and 8 (sugar-acid index from 7.7 to 7.9 units). Taking into account the content of basic acids and sugars in mandarin fruits, it is possible to predict the impact of insecticides and their combinations on their basic taste properties.

The relationship between the chemical composition and taste of strawberries

The results of the evaluation of promising 24 cultivars and 6 forms of garden strawberries by their chemical composition (contents of ascorbic acid, titrated acid, sugars, dry substances, monosaccharides, the level of the sugar-acid coefficient) and the taste qualities of the fruits are presented to identify sources of high taste qualities and high content of biologically active substances. Seven cultivars and forms (Aidarina, Assol, Zarina, Efsane 3-15 Atlantida × Uniol, 12-15 Sunrise × Hercules, 25-15 Jantarnaja × Zenga Zengana) with a high fruit flavor (4.8-5.0 points); six cultivars (Aidarina, Assol, Atlantida, Bagryana, Zarina, Present) with an increased content of ascorbic acid (76.1-85.4 mg/100 g); eight cultivars and forms (Bagryana, Hercules, Krymskaya Remontantnaya, Luiza, Sanika, Honey, 3-15 Atlantida × Uniol, 14-15 Sunrise × Clery) with high titratable acidity (1.1-1.2%); five cultivars (Aidarina, Albion, Bagryana, Zarina, Rusanovka) with optimal total sugar content (7.5-9.8%); four cultivars (Albion, Bagryana, Krymskaya Remontantnaya, Uniol) with a high amount of dry matter (10.6-17.3 %); seven cultivars and forms (Assol, Albion, Zarina, Krymskaya Rannaya, Rusanovka, 13-15 Sunrise × Zenga Zengana, 14-15 Sunrise × Clery, 25-15 Jantarnaja × Zenga Zengana) with a high sugar-acid index (8.0-11.9). The lowest variability (8.2-16.7%) was characterized by such signs as the taste of fruits and the content of total sugar, titrated acidity, and the highest (18.3-25.0%) - the content of ascorbic acid, solids, and the sugar-acid index. The most significant correlation between the sugar-acid coefficient and the biochemical parameters of strawberry fruits was revealed.

Suitability of plum varieties and forms selected by the Federal Research Center n.a. I.V. Michurin for the production of prunes

The study is aimed at assessing the suitability of plum varieties cultivated in Tambov region for the production of dried fruits (prunes). Large-fruited (average weight of more than 31 g) varieties were identified. Renklod by Kharitonovoy, Etude, Vengerka by Kursakov and Nochka are characterized by intense violet and dark purple integumentary colors. A combination of high skin strength, pulp hardness and good stone separation was found in Renklod by Kharitonov, Renklod Tambov, Etude, Vengerka by Kursakov and 23-135 Elite. A high accumulation of soluble solids, sugars, a low content of organic acids, as well as a high sugar-acid index were found in Renklod by Kharitonov, Renklod Tambov and Elite 23-135. Prunes produced from Renklod by Kharitonov, Renklod Tambov and 23-135 Elite were characterized by high commercial and consumer qualities, which makes it possible to recommend these varieties for the production of dried fruits.

Nutritional Composition, Antioxidant and Sensory Properties of a Maize-based Snack (Kokoro) Enriched with Defatted Sesame and Moringa Seed Flour

Kokoro, a maize-based snack was made from maize flour and supplemented with Moringa seed flour (MSS) and defatted sesame flour (DSF) flours with the aim of improving its nutritional quality. An experimental design was carried out using optimal mixture model of response surface methodology which yielded 16 formulations in which three blends in terms of the best proximate composition and the control sample (100% maize) were selected. The snacks were analyzed for proximate, mineral, amino acid composition, sensory and antioxidant properties. Proximate analysis results showed significant (p<0.05) increase in protein (9.25–24.23%), fat (15.07–35.25%), ash (2.25–4.25%) content, and energy value (508.43–607.71 KJ/ g), while crude fiber (7.58–5.80%), moisture (4.58-3.64%) and carbohydrate (61.27–26.83%) content decreased with inclusion of MSF and DSF. Potassium (4.02-5.03mg/100 g) was the predominant mineral, followed by calcium (3.31-5.41mg/100 g) and potassium (1.67-3.75mg/100 g). Glutamic acid was the most abundant non–essential amino acids while leucine was the predominant essential amino acid in the enriched “kokoro”. There was an increase in the amino acid content (except for aspartic acid, arginine and histidine) of the kokoro samples as the proportions of MSF and DSF increased. The result also showed that the essential amino acid index, predicted biological value, protein efficiency ratio and nutritional index of the enriched kokoro were higher than the control sample with values ranging from 0.6108-0.8944, 54.88-85.79%, 1.63-3.49g/100g and 5.65-21.67%, respectively. The result also showed that there was a significant (p<0.05) increase in the flavonoid, phenolic content and DPPH of the kokoro as supplementation with MSF and DSF increased. The control sample compared favourably with kokoro supplemented with 6.25% and 17.5% MSF and DSF, respectively, in terms of sensory evaluation. Hence, acceptable and nutritious kokoro snacks from this blend can be formulated which could enhance the nutritional wellness of consumers.

Scientific Aspects of Identification Criteria for Fruit Distillates

Introduction. Beverages based on fruit distillates belong to elite alcoholic drinks. As a result, there is a high risk of counterfeit. Controlled indicators do not allow identifying distillates by the type of raw material. The research objective was to develop scientifically based identification criteria for fruit distillates. Study objects and methods. The research featured ten fruits and their distillates. It involved three schemes of pre-distillation processing: pulp fermentation, juice fermentation, and pulp fermentation with subsequent maceration. The biochemical composition of raw materials was assessed by the HPLC analysis of mass concentration of sugars, titratable acids, pH, mono- and disaccharides, free organic acids and amino acids, as well as by the sugar-acid index. The concentration of higher alcohols in the distillates was determined using gas chromatography. Results and discussion. The research revealed significant differences in the biochemical composition of raw materials, which made it possible to divide it into groups depending on the methods of pre-distillation processing. The groups can be identified by the ratio of the concentrations of the main higher alcohols: 1-propanol to the sum of isobutanol and isoamylol. The revealed differences were caused by the peculiarities of the ratio of organic acids and amino acids. For the distillates of Cornelian cherry, black currant, cherry-plum, plum, cherry, and apricot, the ratio of 1-propanol to the sum of isobutanol and isoamylol was within the following ranges: 0.02–0.06, 0.08–0.10, 0.30–0.35, 0.47–0.51, 0.55–0.65, and 0.69–0.92, respectively. The method of preparing raw materials for distillation did not affect the values of the identification indicator. Conclusion. The ratio of 1-propanol to the sum of isobutanol and isoamylol could serve as an indicator for the identification of distillates of Cornelian cherries, black currant, cherry-plum, plum, cherry, and apricot. However, it proved useless for distillates of pears, raspberries, tangerines, and mulberries, since its values were within comparable limits. Therefore, the research requires a GC-MS analysis to determine the concentration and ratios of other specific volatile components in other raw materials.

BIOLOGICAL VALUE OF PROTEINS OF MILK OF SIMMENTAL COWS PRODUCED UNDER CONDITIONS OF INTENSIVE TECHNOLOGY

Taking into account modern requirements, the biological value of the protein component of the Simmental breed Krov milk produced under intensive technology has been studied. The amino acid composition of milk proteins was identified by high-performance liquid chromatography. To analyze the biological value of proteins, calculated indicators were used: the amino acid index and the amino acid number (skor) of essential amino acids, taking into account the true digestibility of each of them. As a result of the research, all the essential and interchangeable amino acids and a fairly high concentration of many of them were identified. Among the essential amino acids, the largest amount in the milk samples contained phenylalanine+tyrosine, leucine, lysine, valine, and the smallest-tryptophan, methionine+cysteine. In the aggregate of interchangeable amino acids, the highest saturation was noted for glutamic acid+glutamine, arginine, proline, and the lowest-glycine, alanine. The predominance of interchangeable amino acids was noted in the protein component, which caused a low amino acid index (0.61). The amount of assimilated essential amino acids was higher relative to the reference protein. However, the amino acid score had a wide oscillation amplitude: from 149.6 % for the amino acids phenylalanine + tyrosine to 61.2 and 87.8 %, respectively, for tryptophan and methionine+cysteine, which indicated their imbalance. The essential amino acids tryptophan and methionine+cysteine were limiting, since their amino acid number (skor) is below 100 %.

Sources, Distribution and Paleoenvironmental Application of Fatty Acids in Speleothem Deposits From Krem Mawmluh, Northeast India

Integrated multiproxy geochemical studies are essential to reconstruct the paleoenvironment through different time scales. Pristine terrestrial archives such as speleothems provide an excellent opportunity to study these changes by measuring the stable isotope and biomarker trends preserved in these records. Here, we investigated fatty acids in drip water, moonmilk, and a stalagmite (KM-1) retrieved from Krem Mawmluh in northeast India to constrain the sources and distribution of these compounds. Besides, we tested their compatibility with established glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers and stable isotope proxies in KM-1 to probe the use of fatty acid-derived proxies for paleoclimate reconstruction. We observe a similar composition of fatty acids in drip water as well as the cave deposits with significantly higher concentrations of fatty acids in drip water (10.6–124 μg/L) and moonmilk (1.32–16.5 μg/g) compared to the stalagmite (0.67–2.09 μg/g). In KM-1 stalagmite, fatty acids and the presence of azelaic acid transported from surface soils indicate that these compounds are derived from bacterial activity both within the cave and the overlying soil cover. The branched C15 fatty acid index (iso+anteiso C15/nC15) increases during the Holocene, suggesting enhanced microbial production under warm/wet conditions. Fluctuations in the fatty acid indices coincide with abrupt shifts in the TEX86 and BIT proxies reflecting the warm/wet Holocene and cold/dry Late Pleistocene. These trends imply the potential use of fatty acids for reconstructing past climate changes in speleothems but need more analytical reference points to provide statistical data.

Relationship between Free Amino Acid Index and Burnt-Mellow-Sweet Aroma Style Intensity of Flue-Cured Tobacco Leaves

80 samples of flue-cured tobacco leaves in Ganzhou area, Jiangxi Province in China were selected, relationships between free amino acid index and burntmellow- sweet aroma style intensity of leaves were studied with correlation analysis and stepwise regression analysis. In contrast to the content of Trp, Ile, Ser, Cys, β-Ala, Lys and the ratio of β-AiBA/TFAA, the content of Asp, Ala, Gly, Leu, β-AiBA and the ratio of Trp/TFAA, Ile/TFAA, Val/TFAA, Thr/TFAA, Ser/TFAA, Cys/TFAA, Asn/TFAA, β-Ala/TFAA, Lys/TFAA and Pro/TFAA in fluecured tobacco leaves had extremely significant positive correlation with burntmellow- sweet aroma style intensity. There was a significant negative correlation between burnt-mellow-sweet aroma style intensity and the content of Phe, Tyr, Asn, γ-ABA. 31 free amino acid indexes including the content of Asp, Glu, Phe etc. and the ratio of Glu/TFAA, Phe/TFAA, Trp/TFAA, etc. were main free amino acid index influencing burnt-mellow-sweet aroma style intensity of flue-cured tobacco leaves, which jointly decides 99.1% of variation of burnt-mellow-sweet aroma style intensity.