Factors in pig production that impact the quality of dry-cured ham: a review.

This study reviews the factors of pig production that impact the quality of dry-cured ham. When processing is standardized, the quality of the final dry-cured product is primarily determined by the quality of the meat before curing (green ham). This has been defined as the aptitude for seasoning and is determined by the green ham weight, adipose tissue quantity and quality, meat physico-chemical properties and the absence of visual defects.

Longidorus carniolensis sp. n. (Nematoda, Longidoridae) from vineyard soil in Slovenia.

A new needle nematode, Longidorus carniolensissp. n., recovered from the soil around the roots of grapevine Vitis vinifera L.

First Report of Peach latent mosaic viroid in Peach Trees in Montenegro.

Peach latent mosaic viroid (PLMVd) and Hop stunt viroid (HSVd) are known to infect stone fruit species worldwide. The viroid infection can be latent or induce a variety of disease symptoms. Stone fruit samples were collected in Montenegro for a Plum pox virus (PPV) survey in 2007.

First Report of Potato spindle tuber viroid in Cape Gooseberry in Slovenia.

Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana) was first reported as a host of Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) in 2009 (4). In Slovenia, 10 young plants of cape gooseberry that were grown in a glasshouse were inspected in April 2011. Plants were multiplied from an adult plant of unknown origin.

A revision of Cyanonectria and Geejayessia gen. nov., and related species with Fusarium-like anamorphs.

A revision of Fusarium-like species associated with the plant genus Buxus led to a reconsideration of generic concepts in the Fusarium clade of the Nectriaceae. Phylogenetic analyses of the partial second largest subunit of the RNA polymerase II (rpb2) and the larger subunit of the ATP citrate lyase (acl1) gene exons confirm the existence of a clade, here called the terminal Fusarium clade, that includes genera such as Fusariumsensu stricto (including its Gibberella teleomorphs), Albonectria, Cyanonectria, "Haematonectria", the newly described genus Geejayessia, and "Nectria" albida. Geejayessia accommodates five species.

Exceptionally fast uptake and metabolism of cyanidin 3-glucoside by rat kidneys and liver.

To asses the hypothesis that anthocyanins are rapidly taken up from the blood into tissues, where they accumulate up to their bioactivity threshold, an intravenous dose of cyanidin 3-glucoside (1) was administered to anaesthetized rats. Cyanidin 3-glucoside (1) and its metabolites were analyzed in the plasma, kidneys, liver, urine, and bile, using last-generation mass spectrometry. Compound 1 was found to rapidly disappear from plasma (t/2=0.

Proteomic profile of dry-cured ham relative to PRKAG3 or CAST genotype, level of salt and pastiness.

Two-dimensional electrophoresis was used to compare dry-cured biceps femoris insoluble protein fraction according to genotype (PRKAG3Ile199Val and CASTLys249Arg/Ser638Arg) as well as salt and pastiness level. The PRKAG3 affected mainly muscle metabolic enzymes, indicating its possible influence on muscle metabolism with heterozygotes Ile/Val appearing different from both homozygous genotypes. The effect of CAST was smaller, affecting the quantity of one actin fragment.

Accuracy of near infrared spectroscopy for prediction of chemical composition, salt content and free amino acids in dry-cured ham.

The capability of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was examined for the purposes of quality control of the traditional Slovenian dry-cured ham "Kraški pršut." Predictive models were developed for moisture, salt, protein, non-protein nitrogen, intramuscular fat and free amino acids in biceps femoris muscle (n = 135). The models' quality was assessed using statistical parameters: coefficient of determination (R(2)) and standard error (se) of cross-validation (CV) and external validation (EV).

Molecular variability and evolution of the pectate lyase (pel-2) parasitism gene in cyst nematodes parasitizing different solanaceous plants.

While pectate lyases are major parasitism factors in plant-parasitic nematodes, there is little information on the variability of these genes within species and their utility as pathotype or host range molecular markers. We have analysed polymorphisms of pectate lyase 2 (pel-2) gene, which degrades the unesterified polygalacturonate (pectate) of the host cell-wall, in the genus Globodera. Molecular variability of the pel-2 gene and the predicted protein was evaluated in populations of G.

First Report of Brown Rot Caused by Monilinia fructicola Affecting Peach Orchards in Slovenia.

Monilinia fructicola, the causal agent of brown rot, is a destructive fungal pathogen that affects mainly stone fruits (Prunoideae). It causes fruit rot, blossom wilt, twig blight, and canker formation and is common in North and South America, Australia, and New Zealand. M.

First Report of Tomato chlorotic dwarf viroid in Petunia spp. in Slovenia.

In early April 2010, 30 samples of Petunia spp. were taken by phytosanitary inspectors from 22 production sites in Slovenia in the frame of surveying host plants for the presence of Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd). Samples were taken in accordance with the plan of the survey for the year 2010 and were tested for the presence of PSTVd by real-time RT-PCR according to the EPPO protocol (1).

Determination of glutathione content in grape juice and wine by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

A modified preparation of sample was developed for the determination of glutathione content in grape juice and wine by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection, using on-line pre-column derivatization. Ice-cold deoxygenated methanol was used to deactivate the oxidation enzymes in juices or wines and keep the glutathione stable. The optimum recovery of glutathione content in grape juice and wine was obtained when either the sample of grape juice or wine was mixed in ice-cold deoxygenated methanol in the ratio 10:90 (v:v) and further diluted in sodium acetate buffer in the ratio 1:1 (v:v).

Microcyclospora and Microcyclosporella: novel genera accommodating epiphytic fungi causing sooty blotch on apple.

Recent studies have found a wide range of ascomycetes to be associated with sooty blotch and flyspeck (SBFS) blemishes on the surfaces of pomaceous fruits, specifically apples. Based on collections of such fungi from apple orchards in Germany and Slovenia we introduce two novel genera according to analyses of morphological characters and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences (large subunit and internal transcribed spacer regions). Microcyclosporella is represented by a single species, M.

Exposure to pesticides at sublethal level and their distribution within a honey bee (Apis mellifera) colony.

Honey bee colonies were exposed to pesticides used in agriculture or within bee hives by beekeepers: coumaphos; diazinon; amitraz or fluvalinate. Samples of bee workers, larvae and royal jelly were analysed using Gas Chromatography-Electron Capture Detection (GC-ECD). Amitraz was quantified using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS/MS) was used for quantification of diazinon.

An attempt to predict pork drip loss from pH and colour measurements or near infrared spectra using artificial neural networks.

The ability to predict meat drip loss by using either near infrared spectra (SPECTRA) or different meat quality (MQ) measurements, such as pH(24), Minolta L(∗), a(∗), b(∗), along with different chemometric approach, was investigated. Back propagation (BP) and counter propagation (CP) artificial neural networks (ANN) were used and compared to PLS (partial least squares) regression. Prediction models were created either by using MQ measurements or by using NIR spectral data as independent predictive variables.

A quantitative technique for determining proteases and their substrate specificities and pH optima in crude enzyme extracts.

A zymography technique based on native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) has been devised, which enables the substrate specificities, content and pH profiles of proteolytic enzymes to be determined in an unfractionated tissue extract. Enzymes were visualized by exogenous application of small molecule substrates that fluoresce when hydrolyzed. The linearity of response, treatment of background fluorescence, and effects of diffusion of substrate and enzyme were taken into account.

Development of sampling approaches for the determination of the presence of genetically modified organisms at the field level.

In order to comply with the European Union regulatory threshold for the adventitious presence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food and feed, it is important to trace GMOs from the field. Appropriate sampling methods are needed to accurately predict the presence of GMOs at the field level. A 2-year field experiment with two maize varieties differing in kernel colour was conducted in Slovenia.

Evaluation of different approaches for the estimation of daily yield from single milk testing scheme in cattle.

Three models for the estimation of milk, fat and protein daily yield (DY) based on a.m. (AM) or p.

First Report of Chickpea Wilt Caused by Clonostachys rhizophaga in Syria.

In 2007 and 2008, disease symptoms were observed on four cultivars of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), including two of the most popular cultivars grown in Syria (Ghab 3 and Ghab 4), in a replicated on-farm trial conducted in the fertile Al Ghab Plains. Affected plants exhibited chlorosis of the foliage, vascular discoloration, and death.

Residues of Pesticides in honeybee (Apis mellifera carnica) bee bread and in pollen loads from treated apple orchards.

Honey bee (Apis mellifera carnica) colonies were placed in two apple orchards treated with the insecticides diazinon and thiacloprid and the fungicide difenoconazole in accordance with a Protection Treatment Plan in the spring of 2007. Pollen and bee bread were collected from combs inside the hives. The residue of diazinon in pollen loads 10 days after orchard treatment was 0.

Identification of Lettuce big-vein associated virus and Mirafiori lettuce big-vein virus Associated with Lettuce Big-Vein Disease in Slovenia.

Lettuce big-vein disease (LBVD) is an important disease of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) worldwide. Two viruses are reported to be associated with the disease, Lettuce big-vein associated virus (LBVaV) and Mirafiori lettuce big-vein virus (MLBVV).

Taxonomy and phylogeny of the Fusarium dimerum species group.

The morphospecies Fusarium dimerum, known only from its anamorph, comprises at least 12 phylogenetically distinct species. Analyses of the large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU rDNA) show they are taxa of the Nectriaceae (Hypocreales), related to F. domesticum and form a phylogenetically distinct clade within Fusarium.

AFLP Analysis of Intraspecific Variation Between Monilinia laxa Isolates from Different Hosts.

We analyzed with an amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) marker system the genetic diversity and relationships among 67 Monilinia laxa isolates obtained from different host plants. From a total of 1,089 amplified bands scored using 20 primer combinations with two selective nucleotides, 354 were polymorphic and further used in genetic diversity analysis. Genetic relationships among isolates were assessed with different phenetic approaches, including unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean clustering and principal coordinate analysis; the population's differentiation estimate was analyzed by molecular variance; and model-based clustering was employed to infer population structure.

Uptake of grape anthocyanins into the rat kidney and the involvement of bilitranslocase.

Anthocyanins are among the most common flavonoids in the human diet. In spite of their very low bioavailability, anthocyanins are indicated as active in preventing the progress of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, obesity, inflammation, and cancer. Any piece of knowledge concerning absorption, tissue distribution, metabolism, and excretion of dietary anthocyanins is expected to help understanding the apparent paradox between their low concentrations in cells and their bioactivity.

The effect of pyrimethanil on the growth of wine yeasts.

Aims: The toxicity of the fungicide pyrimethanil on the growth of wine yeasts was evaluated using in vivo and in vitro experimentation.

Methods And Results: The effect of pyrimethanil in the must was studied during the spontaneous wine fermentation of three consecutive vintages and by the cultivation of Hanseniaspora uvarum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeasts in a liquid medium. The residues of the fungicide were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry system and the sugar concentration in the must using HPLC-RI.