The effects of heat treatment on chemical, biochemical, and microbiological properties of Ezine cheese

In this study, Ezine cheese was manufactured in accordance with different heat treatment norms (at 65 °C for 10, 20 and 30 minutes) and ripened for 180 days. Different heat treatment norms did not affect the chemical composition of the cheeses, while statistically significantly affected the water-soluble nitrogen (WSN) and 12% trichloroacetic acidsoluble nitrogen (TSN-SN) ratios. Although pH and protein were reduced during ripening, titration acidity, moisture, WSN, TCA-SN and amino acid ratio increased. αs1-casein was more hydrolyzed than β-casein during ripening in Ezine cheese. The heat treatment time increased, while the counts of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria and Escherichia coli decreased.

A thermophilous and arid-tolerant flora from the Lower Jurassic of Junggar Basin, Xinjiang, NW China, corresponding to the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event

Twenty taxa of fossil plants are described from the Sangonghe Formation (Lower Jurassic) of the Haojiagou section in the Junggar Basin, Xinjiang, NW China. The Sangonghe flora consists of Equisetales, ferns, bennettitaleans, ginkgoes, conifers and gnetales, but is dominated by ferns. It is a low species diversity but extraordinary flora for having a high proportion (45%) of thermophilous or arid-tolerant (xerophilous) elements, by comparing with 0% in the underlying Badaowan Formation and around 2% in the overlying Xishanyao Formation. These thermophilous or arid-tolerant (xerophilous) elements include Marattiopsis asiatica Kawasaki, Phlebopteris polypodioides Brongniart and Dictyophyllum sp. (ferns) , Otozamites leckenbyi Harris, Otozamites sp. , Zamites sp. and Dictyozamites sp. (bennettitaleans), Brachyphyllum ( Hirmeriella ?) sp. (conifers) and Cadmisega ephedroides Krassilov et Bugdaeva (gnetales). Based on the geological ranges of the known species and comparisons with the coeval floras in Eurasia, the age of the Sangonghe flora is Toarcian of the Early Jurassic. The flora reveals a climatic warming and aridification event, which occurred during the Toarcian in the Junggar Basin. Palaeontological (including palaeobotanical and palynological), sedimentological and geochemical data demonstrate that warming and aridification occurred widely across the north of China during the Toarcian, and this might be the response of the terrestrial ecosystem to the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event (T-OAE).

About this title - The Triassic and Jurassic of the Junggar Basin, China: Advances in Palaeontology and Environments

This volume presents recent advances in our understanding of Mesozoic palaeontology, sedimentology and geochemistry of the Junggar Basin, China. This basin is of particular interest because it provides rare insights into life on the continents from a region that was at high latitudes during the Triassic and Jurassic.

New Jurassic Dysmorphoptilidae from the Junggar Basin of northwestern China (Insecta: Hemiptera): evolutionary and palaeogeographic implications

Dysmorphoptilidae is a renowned extinct family of hemipteran insects which is easily distinguished by its bizarrely shaped forewings and distinctive venation. Although widespread in the Early Permian to Middle Jurassic, this family has extremely rarely been recorded in China. Herein one new genus and two new species, Dysmorphoptila gobiensis sp. nov. and Guchinus xinjiangensis gen. et sp. nov., are described from the Lower Jurassic Badaowan Formation of the Junggar Basin, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, NW China, representing the first Jurassic Dysmorphoptilidae from northern China. We present a detailed morphological comparison of all known genera and species of Dysmorphoptilidae and a phylogenetic tree based on eight genera and species with relatively complete tegminal characters. The tree indicates that the present subfamilial classification of Dysmorphoptilidae is questionable. A large-scale diversification in forewing venation probably occurred during the Triassic, possibly coeval with the palaeogeographical radiation and ecological adaption of Dysmorphoptilidae. Our results provide new insights into the evolution and occurrence of this family.

Isolation and molecular characterization of Cordyceps sp. from Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and pathogenic to Glycaspis brimblecombei (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae)

Abstract The Brazilian forestry sector stands out for its technology, forestry management practices, social and environmental responsibility and, mainly, for its high productivity and exotic pests can reduce it. The red gum lerp psyllid Glycaspis brimblecombei (Moore, 1964) (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) is an important pest in Eucalyptus plantations. The parasitoid Psyllaephagus bliteus (Riek, 1962) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), predatory bugs and entomopathogenic fungi such as Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae are the natural enemies and used in the biological control of the red gum lerp psyllid. The use of entomopathogenic fungi against exotic pests is increasing in the forestry sector and the prospecting and identification of fungus isolates is important for integrated pest management. The objective of this work was the isolation and molecular identification of Cordyceps spp. And to evaluate the pathogenicity of isolates, obtained from Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius, 1889) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) adults, against to the red gum lerp psyllid G. brimblecombei. The fungi were isolated from B. tabaci adults found in soybean and tomato crops and molecularly identified. The conidia obtained were suspended in solution with Tween 80 (0.1%) at a concentration of 1.0 × 108 conidia/mL and sprayed on ten G. brimblecombei nymphs per Eucalyptus leaf cut and placed on a hydroretentive gel inside per Petri dishes as a replication. The number of dead insects was quantified, daily, for seven days, and transferred to humid chambers. Cordyceps javanica (LCBPF 11) and C. fumosorosea (LCBPF 12 and LCBPF 63) were identified with a molecular analysis and all isolates were pathogenic to the insects and indicates that they could be used to manage G. brimblecombei and adds to reports that, normally, fungi cause greater mortality on insects of the same order as that from which they were isolated.

Mitigation of salt stress in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) by the application of triacontanol and hydrogen sulfide

Salinity stress is a well-known abiotic stress that has been shown to have a negative impact on crop growth, production, and soil richness. The current study was intended to ameliorate salt stress in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.), keeping in mind the detrimental influence of salt stress. A pot experimentation was executed on B. juncea to examine the efficacy of exogenous application of triacontanol (TRIA) and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) (NaHS donor), either alone or in combination, on growth attributes, metabolites, and antioxidant defense system exposed to salt stress at three distinct concentrations (50, 100 and 150 mM NaCl). Increase in the concentration of oxidative markers (malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide) was found which results in inhibited growth of B. juncea. The growth characteristics of plant, such as root and shoot length, fresh and dry weight under salt stress, were improved by foliar application of TRIA (150 µM) and H₂S (25 µM) alone as well as in combination. Additionally, salt stress reduced the levels of protein, metabolites (flavonoids, phenolic and anthocyanin), antioxidant enzyme activity including that of ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, polyphenol oxidase and guaiacol peroxidase as well as the level of ascorbic acid and glutathione (non-enzymatic antioxidants). However, application of TRIA and H₂S alone or in grouping substantially raised the content of protein, metabolites and antioxidant defense system in plants of B. juncea.