Tolerance of lowland C. rotundus of flooding may be attributed to large carbohydrate content and amylase activity, and the ability to maintain high levels of soluble sugars in the tubers during germination and early growth. This is coupled with the modulation of ADH and PDC activities during germination, possibly to control the use of carbohydrate reserves and sustain substrate supply in order to avoid starvation and death of seedlings with prolonged flooding.

Barnyard grasses are serious weeds in direct seeded rice. We assessed the effectiveness of using controlled flooding for its control using two rice cultivars and two barnyard grasses contrasting in flood tolerance during germination. Flooding with 100 mm water after seeding suppressed barnyard grasses; but delaying flooding by 2-4 days was ineffective. Flooding increased the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase and pyruvate decarboxylase; the increase was higher in the tolerant rice cultivar but similar in both barnyard grasses. Aldehyde dehydrogenase activity increased only in flood-tolerant types of rice and weeds, but not in flood-sensitive types, implying potential role in tolerance.

Comparing a lowland and an upland ecotype of Cyperus rotundus, the former had greater carbohydrate reserves in tubers, thicker roots and stems with larger air spaces and, under hypoxia, it maintained relatively lower activities of alcohol dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase.

Starches from two crops of 7 intermediate‐amylose and 7 waxy milled rices differing in eating qualities were characterized. Among the nonwaxy rice starches, those of softer cooked rice had gelatinization temperature of ≥ 70°C, medium to soft gel (110 mg/2 ml) consistency, low alkali viscograph peak viscosity, and greater Amylograph breakdown and lower Amylograph setback and consistency than low gelatinization temperature starches. Among waxy starches, gels of low gelatinization temperature samples had greater freeze‐thaw stability than gels of high gelatinization temperature samples. A 12% paste gave better differentiation in Amylograph viscosity than 10% paste of intermediate‐amylose milled rice. Water‐extractable substances that suppressed the Amylograph viscosity of milled waxy rices were lipids and polysaccharides.

Two strains of Chlorella vulgaris Beijerinck isolated from two different sites in Laguna de Bay, Philippines, were studied for their resistance and ability to remove four metal ions, i.e., Cu 2+ , Cr 6+ , Pb 2+ , and Cd 2+ added separately in BG-11 growth medium. The growth of the two strains was severely inhibited at 2 mg.l −1 of Cu 2+ , 5 mg.l −1 of Cr 6+ , 8 mg.l −1 of Pb 2+ , and 10 mg.l −1 of Cd 2+ . However, the two strains exhibited different EC 50 values for the same metal ion. The WB strain had a significantly higher resistance (p<0.01) for Cd 2+ and Cr 6+ compared with the SB strain, while the SB strain had significantly higher resistance (p<0.01) for Cu 2+ compared with the WB strain. On the other hand, the two strains behaved differently in their capacity to remove the metal ions in BG-11 medium containing 1.0 mg.L −1 of the three metal ions, except for Cu 2+ , which was added at 0.1 mg.L −1 . The WB strain showed the highest removal of Cd 2+ at 70.3% of total, followed by Pb 2+ at 32%, while the SB strain exhibited the highest removal of Pb 2+ at 48.7% followed by Cd 2+ at 40.7% of the total. Both strains showed the least removal of Cr 6+ at 28% and 20.8% of the total for the WB and SB strains respectively. The percentage removal for Cu 2+ was 50.7% and 60.8% for the WB and SB strains respectively. After 12 days of incubation, both strains showed that a greater percentage of the metal ions removed were accumulated intracellularly than adsorbed at a ratio of at least 2:1. Both strains manifested the same cytological deformities, like a loss of pyrenoids at 10 mg.L −1 in all four metal ions. Discoloration and disintegration of chloroplasts were observed at 1.0 mg.L −1 in Cu 2+ and 5 mg.L −1 in Cr 6+ . The nonrelease of autospores from the mother cells was observed at 10 mg.L −1 in Cu 2+ and Cr 6+ .

Akasya pods are seasonally abundant and are good sources of protein and energy and have been considered as an alternative feed source for livestock. This study was conducted to determine the effects of feeding Akasya pod meal (APM) on the growth performances and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. Three hundred straight-run 7-day-old Cobb broiler chicks were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments containing 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.5%, and 5.0% APM following a completely randomized design. Each treatment was replicated 10 times with 10 birds per replicate. The digestibility of nutrients was also evaluated to determine the effect of different levels of APM on the efficiency of nutrient digestion in broilers. Broilers fed APM level at more than 1.0% had lower body weights and body weight gains, but feed intake, feed conversion ratio, livability, and carcass characteristics were not affected by increasing levels of APM. The digestibility of crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), nitrogen free extract (NFE), ether extract (EE), and energy were the same in broilers across treatments. Increased income over chick and feed cost (IOFCC) was generated from broilers fed diets with 0.5% APM, but progressively declined as APM level in the diet was increased. In conclusion, APM can be used in broiler diets at inclusion levels up to 1.0% wherein growth performance and carcass characteristics were optimum in broilers and income generated was improved at 0.5% level.

The physicochemical properties and nutritional profile of the different parts and stages of maturity of “batuan” [ (Blco.) Choisy] fruits in the Visayas State University (VSU) were determined using standard analytical methods to validate their use as a safe food ingredient. Sensory evaluation on the acceptability of the dry, powdered “batuan” fruits as souring agent in fish stew dish was also conducted. Proximate composition, physicochemical properties and nutrient composition between parts and fruit maturity varied to some level. The pulp which constituted the biggest part of the fruit and the immature ones contained high moisture and acidity that decreased as the fruit matured. Ash, protein, sugar, starch, total carbohydrates, total soluble solids, and sodium content were low in “batuan” fruits. The seeds contained high crude fat, crude protein, and tannin. “Batuan” fruits were also found high in vitamin C, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron, and trace levels of zinc, copper and manganese. Crude fiber and vitamin A were concentrated in the peel, pulp and ripe fruit. Based on the 9-point Hedonic scale for sensory evaluation, the fresh and the dry, powdered “batuan” fruits were comparable to one another in terms of color, mouth feel, taste and general acceptability as souring agent for fish stew. Results showed that “batuan” fruits have good physicochemical properties and nutrient contents which are comparable or even higher than some conventional fruits used as souring agents. The powdered “batuan” fruit is a potential ready-touse souring agent for domestic consumption, food industry, and other applications.

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