Influence of Volatile Peppermint (Mentha ×piperita L.) Compounds on Germination and Seedling of Radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. radicula Pers.) Growth

The research concerns the influence of volatile compounds contained in dry peppermint leaves (Mentha ×piperita L.) on germination and seedling characteristics of radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. radicula Pers. ‘Półdługa’). 1, 5 and 10 g of dried peppermint leaves were added respectively into containers, and then Petri dishes with radish seeds were placed in each of them. The control was performed without dried mint. Radish seeds treated with volatile mint compounds in the lowest 1g dose germinated similarly to the control sample. The other two doses, 5 and 10 g, inhibited the process of seeds germination. Allelophatins from M. ×piperita at 1 g of dose had also a stimulating effect on the growth of radish seedlings, especially its roots. The growth of underground organs was also observed at 5 and 10 g doses. For radishes grown in the lowest dose of allelopathic compounds, the values of fresh and dry masses and percentage water content were highest. As the dose of emitters increased, a slight decrease in the value of these parameters was observed, as compared to the control. ********* In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 4, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue. *********

Uji Performansi Mesin Penggiling Tipe Conical Burr Mill Terhadap Biji Kopi Robusta

Abstrak: Kopi robusta merupakan jenis kopi yang mendominasi perkebunan kopi di Indonesia hingga saat ini. Kopi robusta biasanya digunakan sebagai kopi instant atau cepat saji yang memiliki rasa netral serta aroma kopi yang kuat. Produksi kopi robusta saat ini mencapai sepertiga dari produksi seluruh dunia. Salah satu aspek dalam pengolahan kopi yang penting untuk diperhatikan yaitu pada proses penggilingan biji kopi yang telah disangrai dengan penanganan teknologi pasca panen menggunakan mesin penggiling biji kopi tipe conical burr mill. Penggilingan yang dilakukan dengan mesin ini dapat diatur sehingga menghasilkan berbagai macam jenis kehalusan bubuk kopi. Dengan berbagai macam jenis kehalusan bubuk kopi yang dihasilkan tentunya dapat mempengaruhi performansi dari mesin penggiling dan mempengaruhi mutu dari hasil gilingan. Oleh karena itu tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui kinerja dari mesin penggiling kopi dengan perlakuan ukuran ayakan. Bahan yang digunakan pada penelitian ini adalah biji kopi robusta yang diperoleh dari Bener Meriah yang disangrai dengan suhu 200°C selama 10 menit. Penelitian ini menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) Non Faktorial. Perlakuan yang dilakukan adalah perbedaan kehalusan dengan 3 taraf kehalusan yang diukur dengan ayakan berukuran 35 mesh, 10 mesh, 5 mesh dengan setiap perlakuannya dilakukan sebanyak 3 kali ulangan sehingga diperoleh 9 satuan percobaan. Pengamatan dan pengukuran data dilakukan dengan cara analisa sesuai dengan parameter meliputi kapasitas pengilingan, rendemen, persentase kehilangan hasil, kadar air, persentase kelarutan dan uji organoleptik (tekstur, aroma dan rasa). Data yang didapatkan kemudian akan dianalisa. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa perbedaan ukuran ayakan atau tingkat kehalusan memberikan pengaruh nyata terhadap kapasitas penggilingan, kadar air, persentase kelarutan dan uji organoleptik (tekstur,aroma dan rasa), tetapi tidak memberikan pengaruh nyata terhadap rendemen dan persentase kehilangan hasil. Berdasarkan perlakuan ukuran ayakan 5 mesh didapatkan perolehan terbaik nilai kapasitas penggilingan sebesar 44,469 kg/jam, rendemen 90,951%, persentase kehilangan hasil 9,049% dan kadar air 0,807%. Sedangkan pada perlakuan ukuran ayakan 35 mesh didapatkan perolehan terbaik nilai persentase kelarutan sebesar 27,880% dan uji organoleptik terhadap tekstur, aroma serta rasa bubuk kopi robusta hasil dari penggilingan biji kopi robusta menggunakan mesin conical burr mill dengan nilai skor rata-rata yaitu 4 (suka).PERFORMANCE TEST BY USING CONICAL BURR MILL TOWARDS ROBUSTA COFFEE BEANAbstract: Nowadays, robusta coffee is one of coffee types which dominates coffee plantation in Indonesia. Normally, robusta coffee will be used as an instant coffee which has neutral flavour, either strong aroma. Thus far, an increase in the number of robusta coffee production raises a third from the whole production over the world. One of the notable aspects in processing coffee located in the process of bean grinding which have already been roasted by using Conical Burr Mill in postharvest handling. Grinding process in which is done by Conical Burr Mill is able to be controlled to yield various types of coffee fineness. In addition, the various types of coffee fineness produced definitely will be affecting the performance of grinder machine, either affecting the quality of its production. Hence, the purpose of this research is to ascertain the performance of the coffee grinder machine by sieving. Furthermore, the material that will be used in this research is roasted bean robusta coffee from Bener Meriah in a temperature of 200°C in 10 minutes. This research uses Complete Tool Design Non Factorial which is by using 3 different size types of sieves, which are 35 mesh, 10 mesh, 5 mesh, and it is made repeatedly in three times which is resulting nine times trial. Moreover, the observation and data measurement are analyzed by using parameter such as the capacity of grinding, rendement, loss result percentage, water content, solubility percentage, and organoleptic test (texture, aroma, and flavor). Subsequently, the data will be analyzed and the result of research will indicate that the different size of sieves give an obvious effect towards grinding capacity, water content, solubility percentage, and organoleptic test (texture, aroma, and flavor), yet it does not give an obvious effect on rendement and loss result percentage. In conclusion, the utilization of 5 mesh sieve results the best capacity of grinding such as 44,469 kg/hour, rendement 90,951%, loss percentage result 9,049% and water content 0,807%. Whereas, using 35 mesh sieve produces the best percentage of solubility which is 27,880% and organoleptic test towards texture, aroma, even the flavor of bean robusta coffee by using Conical Burr Mill with the average score is 4 (like).

The performance and radiation exposure of some neutron probes in measuring the water content of the topsoil layer

The use of neutron scattering technique for determining the soil surface water content is not popular due to the radiation escaping from the soil surface and the large errors in measurement. To compare the radiation exposure and the performance of different techniques statistically, 3 sites were selected. Five different neutron probe models and different adaptors were used with the depth probes. Exposure to neutrons and γ radiations, at various distances from the probes, were determined. In situ calibration curves were determined using different models of depth probes with a Solo surface reflector block, CPN surface adaptor, and different numbers of plastic Teflon parallelepiped, as well as surface Troxler 3401-B probes. Depth neutron probe readings increased with increasing number of Teflon plastic blocks deposited on the soil surface. The intercept of the straight line regression analysis of CR (count ratio, surface count over standard count) u. percentage water content on a volume basis decreased with increasing number of blocks deposited on the soil surface at all sites. The determination coefficient values of any depth probe with a Solo surface reflector or a block of 4·8 cm thickness were higher than those of a Troxler 3401-B surface probe or CPN 503 depth probe with its surface adaptor. The least exposure to radiation was with a depth probe with surface reflectors. This study proves the possibility of measuring the moisture content of the soil surface by using a depth neutron probe with a block laid on the surface, without danger of receiving the threshold dose of radiation.

A study on the salt and sodium tolerance of rice

SUMMARYAlthough salt injury in plants is due to both osmotic and specific ion effects, little is known about the reaction of rice plants to salinity under increasing sodium adsorption ratios (SAR) in the growth medium. Therefore, a glasshouse experiment was conducted to study the effect of four levels of salt concentration (20, 40, 60 and 80 m-equiv/1 with respect to the sum of Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+) and four levels of SAR (2, 25, 50 and 75) on growth and mineral composition of rice cvs IR 2153-26-3 and IR 26. The results show that as salt concentration increased, dry-matter yield and percentage water content of shoots decreased regardless of the variety. The rate of decline with salinity was most pronounced under low SAR and in the salt-sensitive variety IR 26. With increase in SAR, the yield, percentage water content and concentrations of Ca, Mg, and K in shoots and roots decreased, but the effects were more marked at the lowest salt concentration and in IR 26. Variety IR 2153-26-3 showed greater tolerance, maintaining a higher concentration of Ca and higher Ca/Na and K/Na ratios and a lower concentration of Na and Cl in the tops compared with IR 26.The degree of salt injury in rice seems to depend not only on salt concentration but also on SAR in the growth medium whilst salt tolerance is associated with tolerance for both high salt concentration and high SAR. Therefore, in studies on screening rice varieties for salt and sodium tolerance, the interactive effects of SAR and salinity must be considered so as to ensure greater adaptability by the varieties recommended for salt-affected soils.

Chemical and dissected composition changes in weaned piglets

ABSTRACTTwenty-four pigs were weaned at 21 days of age and given restricted feed allowances for the subsequent 8 days. Eight suckled pigs served as control and gained 320 g daily, of which approximately 40 g were lipid and 40 g protein. Pigs were slaughtered at 2-day intervals, physically dissected into non-carcass, carcass fatty tissue and carcass muscle plus bone, and these fractions were then analysed for water, protein and lipid. On average, weaned pigs made small positive body-weight gains. In comparison with suckled pigs, weaned pigs contained more water and less lipid but the same protein, and more non-carcass and less carcass fatty tissue but similar carcass muscle plus bone. Losses of lipid were offset by gains of water and associated with an increase in the percentage water content of carcass fatty tissue. At zero weight gain, pigs lost 43 g carcass fatty tissue, gained 37 g non-carcass, lost 56 g lipid and gained 53 g water, while carcass muscle plus bon e and protein gains were themselves not significantly different from zero. No change in carcass fatty tissue weight was associated with counterbalancing losses of lipid (18 g) and gains of water (15 g) and protein (3g). Lipid catabolism to support anabolism of essential body tissues commenced in the weaned pigs when weight gains fell below 193 g/day; this was about two-thirds of the gains achieved by the suckled control pigs. Plasma free fatty acid concentrations indicated that maximum lipid catabolism to occur on the 2nd day after weaning, and to reduce thereafter as body fat stores were progressively depleted.

Overripe eggs and postovulatory corpora lutea in the threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus L., form trachurus

Threespine sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus L., form trachurus) with overripe, ovulated eggs have a hard 'berried' abdomen, easily distinguishable from the soft, smoothly distended abdomen of fish with normal ovulated eggs. The 'berried' fish weigh less and have a smaller GSI than 'nonberried' ovulated fish but the percentage water of their whole ovaries is the same. In contrast with 'nonberried' fish, 'berried' fish do not respond to male courtship. Overripe eggs are typical of those in other species with aggregation of cytoplasm and oil droplets at the animal pole. However, in contrast with normal ovulated eggs, they are larger, more transparent, and have a higher percentage water content although surrounded by much less fluid within the ovarian cavity. Overripe eggs do not appear to form a perivitelline space in fresh water. In 'berried' fish both the postovulatory corpora lutea (follicles) and ovarian epithelium (lining of the ovarian cavity) show histological signs of regression, in contrast with the histologically active condition of these tissues in fish with normal ovulated eggs. It is suggested that postovulatory corpora lutea play a role in maintenance of ovulated eggs in the ovarian cavity through secretion of steroid(s) which in turn stimulate the ovarian epithelium to secrete the bathing fluid of the eggs.

The accumulation and utilization of food reserves by the adult female cattle tick, Boophilus microplus (Canestrini)

Changes in water content and cuticle weight during adult parasitic life of B. microplus, and the manner in which water and dry matter are utilized for egg production, suggest that capacity for cuticle growth, and thus for distension, determines water content in relation to body weight, and this in turn fecundity of the female. Figures for Australian B. microplus are compared with those for this species in Japan, where higher average engorged weight, cuticle weight, percentage water content, and numbers of eggs laid have been reported.

Water Relations in an Insect, Thermobia Domestica

1. The percentage water content of Thermobia can be increased by starvation. 2. After desiccation (3 days in dry air) the water content of starved insects is still above normal; yet such insects will take up water from a infsaturated atmosphere (83% R.H.). 3. The rate of water loss into dry air from starved insects is not dependent upon water content. 4. Both water content and rate of water loss remain constant throughout the moulting cycle. 5. In general terms the uptake mechanism is not dependent upon water content. 6. Severe starvation before desiccation seems to impair or inhibit the uptake mechanism.