Comparisons of Nectar Quantity and Sugar Concentration of Pomegranate Blossom in a Day

[Objective] The aim was to research the rules of nectar quantity and sugar concentration of perfect and staminate flowers in a day. [Method] Based on nine Tianguang Yan pomegranate trees, nectar quantity and sugar concentration of per- fect and staminate flowers were measured and analyzed in morning and afternoon. [Result] Average nectar quantity and sugar concentration differed insignificantly in morning and afternoon of perfect flowers, which could also be applied to staminate flowers. However, average nectar quantity of perfect flower was 64.09 μI and of staminate flower was 44.07 μl. It is obvious that the two were of extremely signifi- cant differences （t=4.642, P〈0.01）, and the former was significantly higher by 45,43%. On the other hand, average sugar concentration of perfect flower was 48.44% and of staminate flower was 37.16%. The two were of extremely significant differences and the former is higher by 30.36%, compared with the latter. These suggested that nectar quantity and sugar concentration would maintain unchanged in different periods for a day, if nectars are not consumed by pollinators, such as bees and butterflies. In the same period, nectar quantity and sugar concentration of per- fect flowers were higher than those of staminate flowers. [Conclusion] The research provides references for benefits increase of bee farmers and fruit farmers, as well as exploration of bee pollination.

Detection of Low Sugar Concentration Solution Using Frequency Selective Surface (FSS)

Sugar is important in daily food intake since it is used as food preservative and sweetener.Therefore,is important to analyze the influence of sugar on the spectroscopic properties of the sample.Terahertz spectroscopy is proven to be useful and an efficient method for sugar detection as well as for future food quality industry.However,the lack of detection sensitivity in Terahertz Spectroscopy has prevented it from being used in a widespread spectroscopic analysis technology.In this paper,Frequency Selective Surface(FSS)using the Terahertz Spectroscopy Time Domain Spectrum(THz-TDS)which operates at terahertz frequency range has been demonstrated for application of sugar detection.The FSS is designed with a circle slot structure and has been optimized in line with the molecular resonance of glucose and fructose at different level concentration at 1.98 THz and 1.80 THz,respectively.Transmission magnitude of glucose and sucrose is inversely proportional with the level of sugar concentrations.The realization of the FSS structure is using electron beam lithography and wet etching technique.Results show that the FSS performance for glucose and sucrose reveal fair shifts in measured transmission magnitude from its original in CST by approximately 30%.The use of fabricated FSS with circle structure indicates that the concentration can be improved averagely at 25%for glucose and 13%for sucrose.Thus,it shows that the FSS circle structure combined with THz-TDS has the potential to become an alternative method for food sensing technology in the future.

Study of blood sugar concentration based on serum UV absorption spectra＊

UV absorption spectrum and neural network theory was used for the analysis of blood sugar concentration. Experimental investigation shows that absorption spectrum has the following characteristics in the wave band of 200-300 nm： （1） The absorption spectrum is of complex shape, there is more absorption peak in UV-band, it shows that there is a complex absorption phenomenon in blood group macromolecules; （2） The curve shapes of absorption spectra are similar to different samples ,the reason is that the spectrum is synthesis of some group macromolecules absorption spectrum; （3） There is a degree of displacement of absorption peak to different samples; （4） There is no significant correlation between absorbance and blood sugar concentration at 278 nm, but random. Based on the wave band of 280 nm to 300 nm, a neural network model was built to determine the blood sugar concentration.

Effect of Leaf Removal on Grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese Cultivated in Different Italian Environments

Leaf removal is a farming practice that can affect must and grape quality; it is closely related to the meteorological conditions of the year and the climate of the area. The present study aims to analyse the effects of different types of defoliation, all conducted at veraison and removing 5-6 basal leaves. The trial provided four tests： leaf removal only on the east side, only on the west side, total defoliation （both sides）, and a non-defoliated treatment （control test）. Two different cultivars, the Sangiovese and the Cabernet Sauvignon, were studied in five different Italian environments： Puegnago （BS）, Scansano （GR）, Bolgheri （LI）, Brisighella （RA）, and Montefalco （PG）. The trial was repeated four times, once per year for the successive years 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010. The years differed mainly with regard to the total rainfall; because of the variability of the years, different results, both for the same cultivar and between the cultivars, were observed. The differences existing between these two varieties and among the different environments led to different reactions to defoliation, especially concerning the analytical parameters of musts and grapes.