Effect of storage time and conditions on the seed coat colour of Australian adzuki beans

Two varieties of adzuki beans (Vigna angularis), Bloodwood and Erimo, were stored at temperatures of 10, 20 or 30degreesC, and relative humidities (RH) 40 or 65%, and samples were analysed at 0, 1.5, 3 and 6 months. Storage at 30degreesC for > 1.5 months caused a significant decrease in the a(star) and b(star) colour values and darkening of the seed coat. Beans stored at 65% RH had lower L-star but higher a(star) and b(star) colour values than those stored at 40% RH. Bloodwood and Erimo samples showed similar trends in colour during storage. The best storage conditions for the preservation of the adzuki colour were 10degreesC and 65% RH. The Australian beans had lower L-star, a(star) and b(star) colour values than Japanese Erimo-shouzu beans and storage increased the difference.

Analysis of line x environment interactions for yield in navy beans. 2. Pattern analysis of lines and environment within years

Seven years of multi-environment yield trials of navy bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown in Queensland were examined. As is common with plant breeding evaluation trials, test entries and locations varied between years. Grain yield data were analysed for each year using cluster and ordination analyses (pattern analyses). These methods facilitate descriptions of genotype performance across environments and the discrimination among genotypes provided by the environments. The observed trends for genotypic yield performance across environments were partly consistent with agronomic and disease reactions at specific environments and also partly explainable by breeding and selection history. In some cases, similarities in discrimination among environments were related to geographic proximity, in others management practices, and in others similarities occurred between geographically widely separated environments which differed in management practices. One location was identified as having atypical line discrimination. The analysis indicated that the number of test locations was below requirements for adequate representation of line x environment interaction. The pattern analyses methods used were an effective aid in describing the patterns in data for each year and illustrated the variations in adaptive patterns from year to year. The study has implications for assessing the number and location of test sites for plant breeding multi-environment trials, and for the understanding of genetic traits contributing to line x environment interactions.

Optimum inclusion of field peas, faba beans, chick peas and sweet lupins in poultry diets. II. Broiler experiments

1. Three experiments were undertaken to determine the optimum inclusion rates of held peas, faba beans, chick peas and sweet lupins in broiler starter and finisher diets in amounts up to 360 g/kg. 2. In experiment A chickens in cages grown to 21 d on diets with field peas and faba beans gave better growth rate and feed efficiency than those with sweet lupins and chick peas. Growth rate and Food conversion ratio (FCR) improved with increasing amounts of faba beans in the diet while for chick peas growth rate and FCR declined. Digesta viscosity and excreta stickiness scores were much higher on diets with sweet lupins. Steam pelleting improved growth rate and FCR on all diets. 3. In experiment B birds were in cages and grown from 21 to 42 d. There were no differences between grain legumes (when combined for all inclusions) for growth rate, food intake or FCR. Viscosity was again much higher on the sweet lupin-based diets while the pancreas was significantly enlarged on the diets with chick peas, as observed previously in chickens grown to 21 d. Steam pelleting of diets gave a consistent and positive response for weight gain and FCR. 4. Experiment C was carried out in pens each holding 60 birds under semi-commercial conditions and grown to 4 2 d on starter and finisher diets with the same grain legumes as used previously but each at 2 rates of inclusion similar to those in commercial practice. Field peas at 200 to 300 g/kg and chick peas at 150 to 220 g/kg gave inferior growth to faba beans (150 to 180 g/kg) and sweet lupins (120 g/kg). 5. The results of these experiments allowed tentative recommendations to be made to industry for inclusion rates of these cultivars of the 4 grain legumes. These were: field peas 300 g/kg; faba beans 200 g/kg, chick peas 100 g/kg and sweet lupins

Food habits of young and middle-aged women living outside the capital cities of Australia

Young (18-22 years) and middle-aged (45-49 years) women living in urban and rural areas of New South Wales completed a brief food frequency questionnaire as part of a wider health survey. Urban women in both age groups consumed meat less frequently than women in rural areas; and women in the less populated rural areas were more likely to eat green and yellow vegetables and least likely to eat dried beans. There were few other geographic differences in food habits. Middle-aged women consumed reduced-fat milk, fruit, vegetables, fish, biscuits and cakes significantly more frequently, and rice, pasta, full-cream milk, fried food and take-away food less frequently than younger women. Smokers in both age groups consumed fresh fruit, vegetables and breakfast cereals significantly less frequently than non-smokers, and women with low levels of habitual physical activity consumed fresh fruit and cereals less frequently than more active women. The findings suggest that strategies aimed at changing eating behaviours should be age-group-specific and targeted specifically to smokers and less active women.

Physical properties and fluidization behaviour of fresh green bean particulates during fluidized bed drying

Changes in the physical properties (such as particle density, bulk density of the bed, shrinkage and bed porosity) of fresh green bean particulates were investigated during drying. Three length:diameter ratios (1:1, 2:1 and 3:1) were considered, using drying conditions of 50 +/- 2 degrees C and 13 +/- 2% relative humidity in a heat pump dehumidifier system. The fluidization behaviour was also evaluated at 10 levels of moisture content. The fluidization experiments demonstrated that the minimum fluidization velocity decreases as the drying proceeds due to the reduced moisture content and changes in the physical properties of the bean particulates. Empirical relationships of the following nature were developed for the change in shrinkage [VR = 1 - Be-kMR], particle density [rho(p) = A + BMR + C (exp)(-D MR)], bulk density [rho(b) = a(1) + b(1)MR + c(1)MR(2)] and bed porosity [epsilon = a(2) + b(2)MR + c(2)MR(2)] with the moisture content during fluidized bed drying.

Effect of storage time and conditions on the hardness and cooking quality of adzuki (Vigna angularis)

A storage trial of two varieties of adzuki (Vigna angularis), Bloodwood and Erimo, produced in Australia, was conducted to determine the effect of various combinations of temperature, humidity and length of storage on bean quality. The beans were stored for up to 6 mo under the following conditions: temperature (10, 20 and 30degreesC), relative humidity (RH) (40 and 65%). Storage of adzuki at elevated temperature (30degreesC) and low relative humidity (40%) resulted in the greatest loss of bean moisture, increase in hydration times and decrease in bean cooking quality, i.e. increased hardness of cooked beans. The best storage conditions for the preservation of adzuki quality were 10degreesC and 65% RH.

Effect of storage of adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) on starch and protein properties

Differential scanning calorimetry was used to evaluate the effect of storage at 10degreesC, 20degreesC and 30degreesC, and 40% and 65% relative humidity (RH) on adzuki bean starch gelatinisation and protein denaturation temperatures. Storage for 6 months at an elevated storage temperature (30degreesC) caused increases in the starch gelatinisation onset temperature (T-o) and gelatinisation peak temperature (T-p) for both Bloodwood and Erimo varieties. Storage at 40% RH resulted in higher T-o and T-p values than storage at 65% RH. The T-o of starch from Bloodwood and Erimo beans stored for up to 1.5 months at 10degreesC and 65% were similar to those of fresh beans. The changes in the salt-soluble protein component were less clear cut than those of the starch. Nonetheless, protein extracted from beans stored at 40% RH exhibited significantly lower T-o and T-p values compared with those stored at 65% RH. This indicates some destabilisation of the protein at the higher RH. These results suggest that detrimental changes occur in starch and, to a lesser extent protein, of adzuki beans stored under unfavourable conditions. On the basis of these results, the best storage conditions to maintain the characteristics of fresh beans are low temperatures (e.g. 10degreesC) and high RH (e.g. 65%). (C) 2003 Swiss Society of Food Science and Technology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

The plant isoflavenoid genistein activates p53 and Chk2 in an ATM-dependent manner

Genistein is an isoflavenoid that is abundant in soy beans. Genistein has been reported to have a wide range of biological activities and to play a role in the diminished incidence of breast cancer in populations that consume a soy-rich diet. Genistein was originally identified as an inhibitor of tyrosine kinases; however, it also inhibits topoisomerase II by stabilizing the covalent DNA cleavage complex, an event predicted to cause DNA damage. The topoisomerase II inhibitor etoposide acts in a similar manner. Here we show that genistein induces the up-regulation of p53 protein, phosphorylation of p53 at serine 15, activation of the sequence-specific DNA binding properties of p53, and phosphorylation of the hCds1/Chk2 protein kinase at threonine 68. Phosphorylation and activation of p53 and phosphorylation of Chk2 were not observed in ATM-deficient cells. In contrast, the topoisomerase II inhibitor etoposide induced phosphorylation of p53 and Chk2 in ATM-positive and ATM-deficient cells. In addition, genistein-treated ATM-deficient cells were significantly more susceptible to genistein-induced killing than were ATM-positive cells. Together our data suggest that ATM is required for activation of a DNA damage-induced pathway that activates p53 and Chk2 in response to genistein.

Inhibition of adventitious rooting in Backhousia citriodora F. Muell cuttings correlate with the concentration of essential oil

Backhousia citriodora is typical of the many commercially valuable woody Australian Myrtaceae species that are recalcitrant in forming adventitious roots from cuttings after maturation. A series of experiments were conducted to identify an endogenous rooting inhibitor in line with established criteria. Endogenous levels of citral were correlated with the rooting capacities of juvenile versus mature, and easy- versus difficult-to-root genotypes of B. citriodora, in both winter and summer. The biological activity of citral was confirmed in bioassays on mung beans and easy-to-root B. citriodora seedlings. Evidence of a common mechanism of root inhibition with other species in the Myrtaceae and the role of action of citral are discussed.

Effect of storage time and conditions on the cotyledon cell wall of the adzuki bean (Vigna angularis)

Two varieties of adzuki grown in Australia, Bloodwood and Erimo, were stored for up to 6 months at three temperatures (10, 20 and 30 degreesC), and two relative humidities (RH; 40 and 65%). The amount of cell wall material increased with time under all storage conditions. This increase was greatest at 30 degreesC and 40% RH. Storage time and conditions did not affect the total pectin levels in the cell wall. Erimo constantly exhibited a higher total pectin level than Bloodwood. The Bloodwood soluble pectin, Ca++ and Mg++ and Erimo Ca++ in the cell wall remained stable during storage, while the Erimo soluble pectin and Mg++ exhibited a slight decrease at 20 and 30 degreesC after 3 months of storage. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influence of shapes of selected vegetable materials on drying kinetics during fluidized bed drying

Three different particular geometrical shapes of parallelepiped, cylinder and sphere were taken from cut green beans (length:diameter = 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1) and potatoes (aspect ratio = 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1) and peas, respectively. Their drying behaviour in a fluidised bed was studied at three different drying temperatures of 30, 40 and 50 degreesC (RH = 15%). Drying curves were constructed using non-dimensional moisture ratio (MR) and time and their behaviour was modelled using exponential (MR = exp(-kt)) and Page (MR = exp(-kt(n))) models. The effective diffusion coefficient of moisture transfer was determined by Fickian method using uni- and three-dimensional moisture movements. The diffusion coefficient was least affected by the size when the moisture movement was considered three-dimensional, whereas the drying temperature had a significative effect on diffusivity as expected. The drying constant and diffusivity coefficients were on the descending order for potato, beans and peas. The Arrhenius activation energy for the peas was also highest, indicating a strong barrier to moisture movement in peas as compared to beans and skinless cut potato pieces. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Total and phytate-phosphorus contents and phytase activity of Australian-sourced feed ingredients for pigs and poultry

A total of 160 samples of 20 Australian-sourced feed ingredients of plant origin for pigs and poultry was analysed for total phosphorus and phytate-phosphorus contents and endogenous phytase activity. The majority of total P was present as phytate-phosphorus, and these concentrations were significantly correlated in 9 feed ingredients. The endogenous phytase activity in tested feed ingredients was negligible other than for wheat, its by-products and barley. Phytate-phosphorus was determined by a standard 'ferric chloride precipitation' method, which was satisfactory for individual feed ingredients, with the exception of lupins and faba beans. It appears that phytate is more difficult to extract from these two feedstuffs, possibly because of the affinity of phytate for protein. Ferric chloride precipitation methods are not suitable for phytate-phosphorus determinations of complete feed samples containing other sources of phosphorus, which is a distinct limitation. A lesser limitation is that these methods cannot distinguish between the various esters of myo-inositol phosphate present. Given the variation of phytate contents within ingredients, particularly wheat, the desirability of determining dietary substrate levels is emphasised to take full advantage of including exogenous phytases in pig and poultry diets to reduce phosphorus excretion and abate phosphorus pollution.

Ileal digestibility of amino acids in feed ingredients for broilers.

To more precisely formulate feed and predict animal performance, it is important to base both the recommendations and feed formulations on digestible rather than total amino acid contents. Most published data on the digestibility of amino acids in feed ingredients for poultry are based on excreta digestibility. Ileal digestibility is an alternative and preferred approach to estimate amino acid availability in feed ingredients. Both methodologies are described and assessed. In addition, the differences between apparent and standardised (in which corrections are made for basal endogenous losses) digestible amino acid systems are discussed. The concept of a standardised digestibility system as a mean of overcoming the limitations of apparent digestibility estimates is proposed. In this context, different methodologies for the determination of basal endogenous amino acid losses are discussed. Although each methodology suffers from some limitations and published data on endogenous losses at the ileal level in growing poultry are limited, averaged data from repeated experiments using the 'enzymatically hydrolysed casein' method are considered as the best measure of basal losses. Standardised ileal amino acid digestibility values of 17 feed ingredients commonly used in broiler nutrition are presented including grains (barley, corn, sorghum, triticale, wheat), grain by-products (wheat middlings, rice pollard), plant protein sources (soybean meal, canola meal, corn gluten meal, cottonseed meal, lupins, peas/beans, sunflower meal), and animal by-products (feather meal, fish meal, meat and bone meal). This comprehensive set of the ileal amino acid digestibility of feed ingredients in broiler nutrition may serve as a basis for the establishment of the system in broiler feeding and for further research.

A simulation model of cereal-legume intercropping systems for semi-arid regions II. Model application

Smallholder farmers in Africa practice traditional cropping techniques such as intercropping. Intercropping is thought to offer higher productivity and resource milisation than sole cropping. In this study, risk associated with maize-bean intercropping was evaluated by quantifying long-term yield in both intercropping and sole cropping in a semi-arid region of South Africa (Bloemfontein, Free State) with reference to rainfall variability. The crop simulation model was run with different cultural practices (planting date and plant density) for 52 summer crop growing seasons (1950/1951-2001/2002). Eighty-one scenarios, consisted of three levels of initial soil water, planting date, maize population, and bean population, were simulated. From the simulation outputs, the total land equivalent ratio (LER) was greater than one. The intercrop (equivalent to sole maize) had greater energy value (EV) than sole beans, and the intercrop (equivalent to sole beans) had greater monetary value (MV) than sole maize. From these results, it can be concluded that maize-bean intercropping is advantageous for this semi-arid region. Soil water at planting was the most important factor of all scenario factors, followed by planting date. Irrigation application at planting, November/December planting and high plant density of maize for EV and beans for MV can be one of the most effective cultural practices in the study region. With regard to rainfall variability, seasonal (October-April) rainfall positively affected EV and MV, but not LER. There was more intercrop production in La Nina years than in El Nino years. Thus, better cultural practices may be selected to maximize maize-bean intercrop yields for specific seasons in the semi-arid region based on the global seasonal outlook. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Modeling dimensional shrinkage of shaped foods in fluidized bed drying

Three particular geometrical shapes of parallelepiped, cylinder and sphere were selected from cut beans (length : diameter = 1: 1, 2:1, 3: 1), potatoes (aspect ratio = 1:1, 2:1, 3:1) and peas, respectively. The dimensional shrinkage behavior was studied in a batch fluidized bed at three drying temperatures of 30, 40 and 50C. Relative humidity of hot air was kept at 15%. Dimensional shrinkage was plotted using a nondimensional moisture ratio and the shrinkage behavior of the selected foods was modeled with simple mathematical models.