ISSN 2285-1364, ISSN CD-ROM 2285-5521, ISSN ONLINE 2285-1372, ISSN-L 2285-1364
 

Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XIX
Written by Abd Rahman Jabir MOHD DIN, Rosnani HASHAM, A. Rafidah MOHD YUNOS, Alina WAGIRAN, Mohamad Roji SARMIDI

Biotechnology and agriculture based sectors have been identified as important drivers of economic development in the State of Johor. These sectors are regarded as the new-wave of wealth creation and economic activity characterized by high economic value addition. The progress of biotechnology development is in the state of Johor is highlighted in this report. In addition the study provides a robust strategic direction and action plan for creating a strong biotechnology ecosystem. This study used stakeholders based approach to investigate public perception on application of agricultural biotechnology and stakeholder interest in Malaysia particularly in State of Johor. The results suggested that agriculture based industries strongly believed the creation of vibrant biotechnology ecosystem is needed to jump-start the biotechnology industry. Moreover, most of the companies are looking forward for new technology to improve their business by reducing their operating cost and increasing their productivity. Instead, they claimed the state government should reclaim stewardship of the industry and proactively synergise with the current players to place Johor as the leading biotechnology state in Malaysia. The paper mentioned that state of Johor has become a leader in prospering biotechnology and bioeconomy activities while Iskandar Malaysia, most developed region in Southern Peninsular Malaysia that is expected to act as a prime growth catalyst and complement Johor's overall economic contribution to the Malaysian economy constitutes 45.6% of the Johor population and half of total employment. Biotechnology awareness need to be revitalized to a new level through encouraging the adoption of biotechnology innovation and establishing a synergistic framework for acceleration of agro based industrial development towards sustainable market driven, commercially oriented and environmentally friendly.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XIX
Written by Luminiţa VIŞAN, Ricuţa DOBRINOIU

Obtained grapes from vine varieties with biological resistance (the varieties of interspecific vines): Seyval, Admira, Radames, Valérien, Brumăriu and Purpuriu were vinified by traditional methods, and the obtained wines were analysed in terms of composition and as aromatic profile, compared with a control wine, of table wine, provided from an vinifera vines. The chemical analysis of wines have referred to alcoholic strength, total acidity, volatile acidity, total dry extract, glycerol, phenolic compounds and anthocyanins for the Purpuriu variety etc. The aromatic profile of wines was determined by the gas chromatography method coupled with mass spectrometry. The result of analysis showed that Admira, Seyval and Radames wines presents a high alcoholic strength (11.8 vol% alcohol, 12.1 vol% alcohol, respectively 11.0 vol% alcohol) as well as higher values of the total dry extract and glycerol, compared to the control variety. Volatile acidity of wines was slightly elevated for most varieties with biological resistance, a higher value presenting at the Pupuriu wine. In the case of Purpuriu wine was analysed the content from the phenolic and anthocyanins compounds, their value being reduced. In terms of the content in volatile compounds, the main analysis of compounds show a predominance of 3-methyl-1-butanol (Isoamyl alcohol), 2-methyl propanol, Isoamyl acetate, Ethyl propanoate, both in the case of varieties with biological resistance, even in the vinifera variety case. Isoamyl acetate showed high values in the case of varieties with biological resistance and very low values in the case of vinifera wine. Overall, the wines from the two groups of grapes varieties showed different values of the main volatile compounds, standing out a clear difference between them.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XIX
Written by Krasimira TASHEVA, Zornica KATEROVA, Georgina KOSTURKOVA

Increasing production of secondary metabolites from medicinal plants is highly important for food and pharmacology. The plant cell and tissue culture methods offer an integrated approach for valuable substances production. Biosynthesis could be enhanced by different chemical and physical stimuli including UV radiation. Some investigations demonstrated increase of metabolite components in cultivated plant cells and tissues after their irradiation, particularly with UV-B (280-315 nm) and UV-C (200-280 nm) However, in vitro cultures potential to produce secondary metabolites after UV exposure is not extensively studied giving a perspective to enlarge the investigations on the role of UV light as elicitor. In this respect medicinal plants are promising. Golden root is a wildly used medicinal plant, containing a range of antioxidant compounds. The aim of this work was to study the effect of low doses UV radiation on the process of callus formation and in vitro growth. Plants, calli and explants cultivated in vitro on different nutrient media were irradiated with low doses UV-B (280-315 nm) and UV-C (200-280 nm). Irradiation exposure to UV-B light was for 3, 5 and 7 minutes and to UV-C light for 1 and 2 minutes. Irradiation caused changes in callus growth, structure and color without influencing calli and plants viability. Lethal effect was observed only for leaf explants exposed to UV-C for 2 min and UV-B for 7 min.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XIX
Written by Maria VARSTA (Pop), Mona Elena POPA

Berries are forest fruit characterized by rich content on active - biologically compounds (phyto-hormones, plant pigments - carotenoids, flavonoids and indole quinone pigments etc., metabolic products - derivatives of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, glycosides, lignin, tannins, essential oils, resins, balsams, alkaloids, antibiotics and other fitoncide substances). This article aims to present the results of several studies regarding the determination of the influence of processing on active - biologically substances of eco-berries. In preparing this article, a review of the state of the art literature has been done and based on it a synthesis of the research results obtained by specialists will be presented. In general, the transformation of fresh berries in food products (juice, natural syrups etc.) is done through a specific technology which consists of the concentration of active - biologically substances from fruit and removing a significant amount of water. Active - biologically substances existing in raw fruit, consisting of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, hormones etc. remain in a big proportion in juices, after cold processing. Absence of thermal processing of fruit protects many nutrients and catalytic compounds which should be finding also in final juices. Berries processed at 1000C, for up to 20 minutes, retains important amount of active - biological compounds, then their bioactivity decreased significantly with the time. Berry juices with pulp contain important components of the raw fruit and maintain good flavour and aroma of raw material.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XIX
Written by Devarajan THANGADURAI, Manjunath KUMBAR, Jeyabalan SANGEETHA, Abhishek MUNDARAGI

This is the most comprehensive study to present the genetic diversity available in populations of eggplant cultivars using molecular markers. An attempt was made to analyze genetic variability among twelve eggplant cultivars by Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) techniques using twenty random primers. Among the twenty RAPD primers used, OPA-04, OPA-07, OPA-14 and OPA-20 primers gave the best positive results with all twelve egg plant cultivars and bands generated showed a higher level of polymorphism. This reveals a very narrow genetic base of the different collections and the results also indicate that all the populations show more than 80% similarity irrespective of their flower colour and other morphological features. POPGENE software was used for the population genetic analysis, each band produced was treated as a locus and variations among the alleles were calculated. The RAPD markers used in the present study were able to differentiate the genetic diversity in the eggplant cultivars. The genetic diversity of eggplant cultivars was revealed by percentage of polymorphic loci. Dendrogram based on Nei’s (1972) genetic distance using Unweighted Pair Group Method of Arithmetic Means (UPGMA) indicated in the present study shows the segregation of twelve cultivars of eggplant into three main clusters: five entries were grouped into cluster 1, four entries were grouped into cluster 2 and remaining three entries were grouped into cluster 3. The results of RAPD showed that there appears a need to take individuals from more different populations so as to preserve their diversity for the future. The study also confirms the suitability of RAPD as a reliable, simple, easy to handle and elegant tool in molecular diagnosis of different accessions of an important vegetable plant like eggplant.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XIX
Written by Ionuț Răzvan DOBRE

Edible mushrooms are foods with a great nutritional value of which chemical composition differs from one species to another depending on the nutritive substrate, the development stage and microclimate conditions. The accumulation of heavy metals can take place in different phases of the technological process of growing, harvesting, conditioning, packaging as it becamed necessary to determine the acumulation of heavy metals from edible mushrooms. The researches were done by using samples with commercial mushrooms (Agaricus and Pleurotus) packaged in bottle recipes, tin cans and on fresh samples, purchased from public sales units. Determinations were done by using optical emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma ICP – OES, after the disaggregation with a microwave oven for digestion Berghof. In the case of fresh mushrooms, the higher concentrations of zinc (4,16 mg/kg) and copper (3,15 mg/kg) can be explained by introducing them as zinc sulphide and copper sulphide in the nutritive substrate. The mushrooms packaged in glass jars presented higher quantities of lead (0,44 mg/kg), this fact can be explained by the intense traffic in the vicinity of the mushroom farms or by soil composition where were grazing animals from which was obtained the fertilizer used in the substrat of culture. The samples of mushrooms packaged in cans presented a higher quantity of tin (0,39 respectively 0,40 mg/kg) released probably from cans walls as a result of their deterioration. All the heavy metals existing in the samples were under the maximum admissible limits established by the legislation in force. In all the mushroom farms were identified residues of copper, zinc and lead. Tin was present just in the mushrooms packaged in cans.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XIX
Written by Cornelia NICHITA, Georgeta NEAGU, Ana CUCU, Virginia VULTURESCU

Cynara scolymus L. is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family and is one of the most common and important medicinal plants used of the Mediterranean etnopharmacy. In folk medicine Cynara scolymus L. leaf extracts have been widely used as astringent, blood cleanser, cardiotonic, detoxifier, digestive stimulant, diuretic and hypocholesterolemic because was proved to inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis and LDL oxidation. In the present study we investigated the antioxidant characteristics, of most chemical important constituents of extracts from leaves of Cynara scolymus L. (phenolic and flavonoid compounds, amino acids,) as well as of selective extracts obtained after technological processes (filtration, concentration, separation, precipitation). Antioxidant properties was studied using the chemiluminescence technique and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method. The total flavonoids and polyphenols content was spectrophotometrically determined according to Romanian Pharmacopoea (FR). In addition the viability of cells were detected by MTS - assay that emphasize significant stimulation of the growth of mouse fibroblast 3T3 in a dose-dependent manner.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XIX
Written by Nihad. H.M. Al- Ezerjawi

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of biocontrol fungi - Trichoderma harzianum.austaralian(T.h.a). and Trichoderma harzianum.Rafai (T.h.n) and Chaetomium elatum (C.e) isolates in improvement of the growth of rice seedlings - class anber -33 and combating Echinochloa weeds which accompaniment to rice cultivation.To attain these aims , three laboratorial experements were carryied out. The first experement included isolation, purification and estimation of fungi frequency in rice field (AL-Najaf AL-Ashraf Governorate), while the second experiment included the use of fungi and their filtrates by planting rice and Echinochloa seeds in petri-dish containing biocontrol fungi. The third experiment acheived by using a spots that containing a soils (200 gm of field samples) treated with studied fungi (held on powerded wheat straw) and comparing the germination and growth ( percentage of germination , lengths (cm), fresh and dry weights (gm) of plumile and radicle of rice and Echinochloa seedlings).These experiments was designed by completely randomized design(C.R.D) Results of this study can be summarized as follows. ………….……………… 1- The genous Aspergillus showed the frequency of 23.53% at the start of growing, while Trichoderma reached at the highest frequency of 39.00% at the end of growing. 2- T.h.t. and Rhizoctonia solani (non pathogenic isolate ) and their filtrates showed an important results in the field of controlling of Echinochloa weeds grown in petri dishes and spots , Echinochloa germination percentage reached 8.22, 16.55% in petri dishes and 20.56, 12.65% in spots respectively as well as fungi filterates achieved 12.50, 17.50% in petri dishes respectively, in addition T.h.t. and R. solani attained a asignificant differences on rice seedlings growth parameters germination percentage reached 95.32, 80.16% in petri dishes and 93.50,77.50% in spots respectively, as well as fungi filterates acheived 93.51, 81.50% in petri dishes respectively. Also T.h.t. and R. solani and its filtrates attained asignificant results in combating with Echinochloa germination percentage and in reducing of plumile and radicle length ,fresh and dry weight in compare with control treatment.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XIX
Written by Georgiana-Aurora ŞTEFÃNOIU, Elisabeta Elena TÃNASE, Amalia Carmen MITELUŢ, Mona Elena POPA

Despite intensified prevention efforts, foodborne illness remains a serious health problem worldwide. Food spoilage is caused by both biologically and chemically agents. The growth of microorganisms is the major route for food spoilage, leading to low quality, shortened shelf-life, and changes in natural micro-flora that could induce pathogenic problems. Microbial spoilage of food products is caused by many bacteria, yeast, and moulds. For the food industries, the prevention of food spoilage is a very important issue in determining profit. Furthermore, reducing food spoilage can prolong the shelf-life of food products and accordingly extend market boundary, resulting in increased profit. The objective of this work is to make a short review in respect to unconventional antimicrobial treatments of food, which are used nowadays in industry or are in the research and development phase. The paper presents an inventory of novel techniques such as: ohmic treatment, PEF, microwave treatment, IR, UV, UHP, ozone treatment, light pulses treatment, plasma treatment, active packaging, encapsulation of antimicrobial compounds, edible films, radio frequency treatment.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XIX
Written by Cristinel POPESCU, Horia BARDEANU, Stefana JURCOANE

Many biogas systems are too small to handle the available supply of substrates. Knowing the quality and retention time at which maximum methane is produced will help in selecting the mixture of best substrates during co-digestion. In such manner, there will be no need for any increment of infrastructure to raise the capacity of a Biogas plant. The Biogas in an Anaerobic Digestion Plant is produced from different substrates which vary in terms of quantities and quality. Approximately 55% methane and 45% carbon dioxide is issued alongside of other gases which makes difficult the prognoses of methane production for transforming it into electricity and feeding it to grid in order by optimizing the substrates fed on the fermenter. The objective of this study is to assess the variation of methane and carbon dioxide yield with methane production, retention time and different quality substrates in a biogas plant. A good productivity of methane (52,5% by biogas volume) has been obtained from a mixture of corn silage and rye, occurred on the 3rd day of digestion. Additional treatment with 4% fats and 2% leftovers of the total daily feeding substrates produced even higher methane. The production of methane was hindered by the presence of some trace gases as hydrogen sulfide which limited the methane producing bacteria.

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