Hotpot Warms up Chilly Winter

ADJUSTING their diet to the changing seasons is a way for Chinese people to preserve their health,as they value the concept that eating habits should be in harmony with nature.Winter solstice is the day with the shortest daytime and longest night of the year.From the Winter Solstice,the wintry days start,which are divided into nine sessions with

Chilly Ties Persist

Sino-Japanese relations seem unlikely to improve under the leadership of Shinzo Abe The deteriorating state of relations between China and Japan may persist under the government of Shinzo Abe, who won the presidential election of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on September 20 and

Chilly Trade Winds

Traders brave the ill effects of the global economic crisis in one of China’s largest export centers Hongye Cartons Packing Salesroom in Yiwu sells carton packages just across the street from Yiwu International Trade City,a mam-

THE FEATURES OF EAST ASIAN JET STREAM IN PERSISTENT SNOWSTORM AND FREEZING RAIN PROCESSES OVER SOUTHERN CHINA IN EARLY 2008

Based on the National Centers for Environmental Prediction and National Center for Atmospheric Research(NCEP/NCAR) daily reanalysis data and the upper-level objective analysis data provided by the Meteorological Information Comprehensive Analysis and Process System(MICAPS),the feature of the spatio-temporal variation of the East Asian jet stream(EAJS) in persistent snowstorm and freezing rain processes over southern China in January 2008 have been investigated.Each of the storm events was closely linked with the extraordinarily abnormal variations of East Asian subtropical jet(EASJ) and East Asian polar front jet(EAPJ) at that time.The stronger EASJ with abnormally northward position of the jet axis corresponded to the more intense storm event with broader ranges and longer duration time.The heavy freezing-rain-and-snow event occurred over the region where a strong southerly wind of EASJ prevailed.Meanwhile,the westerly and northerly winds of the EAPJ were significantly intensified,which were also closely related to the beginning,enhancement,and ending of the heavy snowfall.The meridional component of the EAPJ was dominated by the northerly wind during the snowstorm.Thus,the intensification of the snowstorm was attributed to both the strengthening of the meridional wind of EAPJ and the southerly wind of EASJ.Further analysis indicated that wind speed and the zonal wind of the two jets exhibited precursory signals about half a month prior to this extreme event,and the precursory signals were found in the meridional components of the two jets about 20 days preceding the event.The sudden weakening of the meridional component of EASJ and the zonal component of EAPJ signified the ending of this persistent snowstorm.

Identification of Aflatoxigenic Fungi and Detection of Their Aflatoxin in Red Chilli (<i>Capsicum annuum</i>) Samples Using Direct Cultural Method and HPLC

Aflatoxins are the potential lethal toxin produced by Aspergillus sp. important health hazard throughout the world. In this study, 26 Aspergillus sp. have been isolated from 50 samples of red chilli collected throughout the country. These 26 isolates were grown primarily on agar media to identify the aflatoxin producing species. It is possible to distinguish A. flavus strains from other Aspergillus sp. developing orange colour on the reverse of the plates. The Coconut Cream Agar (CCA) is used to detect aflatoxin producer strains having blue fluorescence when exposed to a UV-light. Several other media were used for morphological characteristics of Aspergillus sp. Out of 26 isolates, four isolates were confirmed as Aspergillus sp. These isolates were subjected to cross contamination with freshly ground, sterile maize and after 15 days of incubation the contaminated maize were analyzed by HPLC and found aflatoxin in each of the sample containing 186 ppb (max.). This study was conducted to assay the ability to produce aflatoxins by the Aspergillus spp. isolated from red chilli (Capsicum annuum L. Solanaceae) available throughout the country. The results found in the experiment are much more behind the acceptable limit according to some international standard. As red chilli is a widely used spice in Bangladesh, the proper controlling measures may be taken for controlling the surveillance of aflatoxinic fungi like as use of bio-pesticides, proper drying method and storage conditions.

Screening and Assessment of Selected Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) Genotypes for Drought Tolerance at Seedling Stage

This study was undertaken to investigate oxidative stress tolerant mechanisms in chilli(Capsicum annuum L.)under drought genotypes through evaluating morphological,physiological,biochemical and stomatal parameters.Twenty genotypes were evaluated for their genetic potential to drought stress tolerant at seedling stage.Thirty days old seedlings were exposed to drought stress induced by stop watering for the following 10 days and rewatering for the following one week as recovery.Based on their survival performance,two tolerant genotypes viz.BD-10906 and BD-109012 and two susceptible genotypes viz.BD-10902 and RT-20 were selected for studying the oxidative stress tolerance mechanism.Drought reduced root and shoot length,dry weight,ratio,petiole weight and leaf area in both tolerant and susceptible genotypes,and a higher reduction was observed in susceptible genotypes.Lower reduction of leaf area and photosynthetic pigments were also found in tolerant genotypes.Moreover,tolerant genotypes showed higher recovery than susceptible genotypes after the removal of stress.A higher reduction of relative water content(RWC)may cause an imbalance between absorbed and transpirated water in susceptible genotypes.Higher accumulation of proline in tolerant genotypes might be helpful to for better osmotic maintenance than that in susceptible genotypes.Tolerant genotypes showed higher antioxidant activity as they showed DPPH radical scavenging percentage than the susceptible genotypes.Moreover,closer stomata in tolerant genotypes than susceptible ones helped to avoid dehydration in tolerant genotypes.Thus,the above morphological,physiological,biochemical and stomatal parameters helped to show better tolerance in chilli under drought stress.

Molecular Characterization of CMS Lines and Standardization of Hybrid Seed Production Technique in Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

The study has been initiated with an aim to utilize cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) associated gene fragment marker to understand the marker flow in segregating population and nature of dominance of the marker. And further it was aimed to understand the best pollination time for the maximum fruit set and to economise the chilli hybrid seed production based on CMS lines. Hence, two CMS based high yielding hybrids, which were found to be much more potential than that of the non CMS based hybrids, have been identified. The CMS gene was dissected from one of the high yielding hybrid. The marker was successfully amplified in A line, F1 and F2 population with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product of 600 bp. The seedlings were transplanted at the ratio of 2:1, 2:2 and 3:2 sterile:fertile for natural pollination and 2:1 sterile:fertile for artificial pollination. The percent of fruit set was calculated without emasculation (CMS line) and pollination, and with emasculation and pollination, respectively. The maximum fruit set of 95.24% per plant was recorded when artificial crossing attempted between 10:00 am and 11:00 am using male sterile lines. While, 40% fruit set was observed in emasculation and pollination system. The maximum numbers of fruit set (351 and 75) were registered in JNA1 and ACA1 male sterile lines, respectively, thorough artificial pollination. However, the maximum numbers of fruit set (20.24 and 14.74) were recorded in JNA1 and ACA1, respectively, by natural pollination. Pollinating more number of flowers and fruit set success was recorded using male sterile lines than that of the bisexual plant in chilli.

Chilli Pepper (<i>Capsicum</i>Spp.) Diversity, Production and Fungal Contamination Management in Benin

The present study was carried out in the form of a survey with the aim of listing and describing the technical itineraries of production, storage and conservation used in six departments of high production of chilli pepper in Benin. The survey was conducted on the basis of a questionnaire in the six departments of Benin: Ouémé, Plateau, Atlantic, Littoral, Zou and Collines. The survey collected information on the socio-economic characteristics of producers, the varieties of chilli pepper grown, and the current technical itineraries used for the production, storage and conservation of chilli pepper. On the other hand, it also gave an idea of the constraints that prevent the production of chilli pepper of good sanitary quality. The results of this survey show that three varieties of chilli peppers are the most produced and consumed in Benin. These are the Gbotakin variety (Capsicum chinense), the Afundja variety (Capsicum annuum) and the Danhomètakin variety (Capsicum frutescens). The technical itineraries related to the cultivation of these chilli peppers varieties are the same in the six study departments. Unfortunately, their contamination sometimes starts at the nursery stage, passing through the field where other contaminants are added and develop until harvest. After harvest, contamination can continue in storage and finally reach the consumer if proper measures are not taken. The inappropriate or inadequate use of phytosanitary products in the chilli pepper industry is also a source of illness for consumers of this vegetable fruit. Training of producers on the best technical itineraries for the production and storage of chilli peppers is essential to revitalize and develop this sector by improving the sanitary quality of the chilli peppers produced in Benin.