U.S. Dept. Of Agriculture Research Articles

Position of The American Dietetic Association: Child and Adolescent Food and Nutrition Programs

Our children are our future. In light of that, The American Dietetic Association (ADA) recognizes the importance of nutrition, nutrition education, and physical activity to the growth and development of the nation's children ( (1) Derelian D. President's page children — a small audience only in stature. J Am Diet Assoc. 1995; 95: 1167 Google Scholar ). Food and nutrition programs for children and adolescents, whether school food programs or programs targeting at-risk populations, are an important way to ensure that US children will continue to have access to a healthful diet that follows the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans ( (2) Nutrition and Your Health. 4th ed. US Depts of Agriculture and Health and Human Services, Washington, DC1995 Google Scholar ): eat a healthful, varied diet, as outlined in the Food Guide Pyramid ( (3) The Food Guide Pyramid. US Dept of Agriculture, Washington, DC1992 Google Scholar ), and balance energy intake with physical activity. Children who do not have access to an adequate diet are at risk for a variety of conditions. For example, research has established that malnutrition in early life can limit long-term intellectual development, and that learning capabilities are affected by how recently one has eaten ( (4) Brown J.L. Pollitt E. Malnutrition, poverty and intellectual development. Scientific American. 1996; 274: 38-43 Google Scholar ).

Response of Central European Pyrus Germplasm to Natural Fire Blight Infection and Artificial Inoculation

Of 133 Pyrus accessions (predominantly P. communis L.), collected in Central Europe and previously rated in the resistant U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) blight scores 10–6, only 77 (57.0%) remained in these scores after an additional 5 years of exposure to fire blight [Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al.]. Of these, 24 originated from three states in former Yugoslavia. Following several years of severe blight epiphytotics, only 5 (10.4%) of 52 accessions released from quarantine since 1986 and planted at Appalachian Fruit Research Station scored 6 or above. All accessions were highly susceptible to artificial blossom inoculation, and only 10 accessions were at least moderately resistant to artificial shoot inoculations.

Relationship of U.S. Department of Agriculture Grades to the Value of Fraser Fir Christmas Trees

Wholesale values, retail values of five eastern United States lots, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Christmas-tree grades, and measurements of various growth and quality traits were obtained on ≥1400 Fraser fir [Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.] (8 years old) Christmas trees. Retail lot values were similar, but average retail value correlated poorly with wholesale value within merchandising height classes. For each of the current wholesale categories (defined by the combination of 30.5-cm interval height classes and USDA grades), average values ranged widely. Some cull-grade trees, which would be unmerchantable according to USDA standards, had moderate retail value. Also, the retail mean of any one wholesale category generally was not significantly different from that of adjacent categories. Some tree quality defects that have equal impact on USDA grade, and consequently wholesale value, differed widely in their effect on retail values. This study indicates that current USDA Christmas-tree grade standards do not adequately differentiate Fraser fir trees with respect to their retail value. We propose a new method of Christmas-tree quality certification that involves computed Christmas-tree quality index values that offer greater accuracy in describing quality with respect to retail value.

`Fantasy Seedless': A New Black Seedless Grape

‘Fantasy Seedless’ grape (Vitis vinifera L.) (Fig. 1) is a midseason, attractive, blue-black, referred to as black in the industry, seedless grape with naturally large berries. This grape was introduced in 1989 to fill the need for a black seedless cultivar for the fresh market. The California table grape industry has made dramatic strides in producing more seedless grapes. In 1982, 61.4% (31,300,000 boxes; box = 10 kg) of the grapes produced for the fresh market were seedless, compared to 80.0% (50,100,000 boxes) in 1992 (California Table Grape Commission, 1983, 1993). The development and release of ‘Flame Seedless’, a red grape (Weinberger and Harmon, 1974), in 1973 by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) played a significant role in this change. Since its inception in 1923 (Snyder, 1931, 1937), one of the objectives of the USDA grape breeding program in Fresno, Calif., has been to develop seedless grapes. However, since 1975, as a result of consumer demand, the development of seedless cultivars has become the most important objective. White seedless grapes (i.e., ‘Perlette’, ‘Superior Seedless’, and ‘Thompson Seedless’) are available most of the season. ‘Flame Seedless’ is available from May to October, ripening at various times in California’s grape production districts. However, few black grapes are being produced. In 1992, most black grapes shipped were ‘Ribier’ (877,000 boxes) and ‘Exotic’ (661,000), both of which have seeds (California Table Grape Commission, 1993). A few black seedless grapes have been introduced, but they have not become major cultivars. Among these is ‘Beauty Seedless’ (174,000 boxes shipped in 1992), which has been planted principally in the Coachella Valley of southern California for the early market. Also, ‘Black Monukka’ has been grown for the fresh market, but it shatters badly and is not economical to produce. Other minor black seedless cultivars are ‘Negrita’ (5600 boxes) and ‘Majestic’ (97,000 boxes).

`Redgem' and `Bountiful' Strawberries

‘Redgem’ and ‘Bountiful’ are new strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.) cultivars released from the Cooperative U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)–Oregon State Univ. (OSU) Breeding Program at the Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory, Corvallis, Ore. The Pacific Northwest region is primarily a processing market for junebearing strawberries (Lawrence, 1989). Qualities necessary for the processing industry include fruit uniformly red externally, bright and fully red internally, firm fruit texture after thawing, an easily removable calyx, and highly productive plants that are virus tolerant. Additionally, field resistance to red stele (Phytophthora fragariae Hickman) is highly desirable. Currently, ‘Totem’ is the leading cultivar in the Pacific Northwest (Daubeny et al., 1991, 1993). Before ‘Totem’, ‘Hood’ and ‘Benton’ were widely grown. Field testing of ‘Redgem’ and ‘Bountiful’ has been principally in Washington and Oregon research plots and grower trials. ‘Redgem’ has a mid-late season, dual purpose,

Determining Yellow-flesh Intensity in Potatoes

For the yellow-flesh fresh market, potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) varieties with intense yellow flesh are desired. Twenty-five yellow-flesh clones, including 24 U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) selections and the check variety `Yukon Gold', were evaluated for tuber yellow-flesh color, as measured by a reflectance colorimeter, and for individual tuber weight in replicated field trials in Presque Isle, Maine, in 1991 and 1992. There were significant differences among clones for yellow-flesh intensity. Yellow-flesh intensity in two USDA selections was significantly less than in `Yukon Gold'. In four USDA selections, yellow-flesh intensity was significantly greater than in `Yukon Gold'. In general, there was an inverse relationship between tuber weight and yellow-flesh intensity. Subsamples of tubers whose weight fell between the 10 to 90, 25 to 75, 35 to 65, and 40 to 60 percentile were compared to the full sample. There was good agreement between the 10 to 90 and 25 to 75 percentile subsample and the full sample regarding the average yellow-flesh intensity and in the consistency of pairwise comparisons between individual selections and `Yukon Gold'. For determining yellow-flesh intensity, the 25 to 75 percentile subsample was as informative as the full sample.

`Cooper' and `Gulfcoast' Southern Highbush Blueberry

‘Cooper’ and ‘Gulfcoast’ tetraploid southern highbush blueberries were developed by the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) breeding programs in Beltsville, Md., and Poplarville, Miss. These cultivars were released in 1987 for production in the coastal plains of the southeastern United States to provide fruit for the mid-May to early June market window, when the supply of fresh blueberries is low.

Factors Influencing the Survival and Growth of Listeria monocytogenes on the Surface of Canadian Retail Wieners

A study of survival and growth of Listeria monocytogenes on Canadian retail wieners was undertaken to assess the potential hazard of this product. All-beef, poultry or beef/pork wieners from a total of six processing plants were surface-inoculated with a three-strain cocktail of L. monocytogenes, and stored under vacuum at 5°C for up to 28 days. Of a total of 61 samples tested, 40 (65.6%) supported growth of the pathogen. A model was derived for 35 samples with stepwise multiple regression analysis, which used initial pH (pH0), initial lactic acid bacteria counts (LAB0), and LAB after 14 days (LAB14) to explain 48.1% of the variation in the L monocytogenes counts after 14 days. The observed times to 1-log increase in counts for 25 samples in which growth occurred were compared to times predicted by the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Pathogen Modelling Program. The latter model, based on storage temperature, and initial pH, nitrite and salt concentrations, explained only 12.4% of the variation in the observed times. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the wiener surface was composed of a dense layer of coagulated protein. This may alter the ability of L. monocytogenes to develop relative to growth conditions in the meat formulation. These results suggest that retail wieners may support growth of L monocytogenes, which could present a health hazard to target groups of consumers if subjected to post-processing contamination. They also suggest that further work is needed to derive adequate models to allow an accurate prediction of the growth of L. monocytogenes on ready-to-eat meat products.

Low prevalence of healthful dietary behavior in a California agricultural county: Emphasis on white and Mexican-American adults

In 1989, the National Academy of Sciences recommended that to lower the risk of chronic diseases, Americans should reduce dietary fat intake to 30% or less of energy, and should consume a daily diet that includes five or more servings of fruits and vegetables and six or more servings of breads, cereals, and legumes ( 1. Committee on Diet and Health, Food and Nutrition Board Diet and Health: Implications for Reducing Chronic Disease Risk. National Academy Press, Washington, DC1989 Google Scholar ). Other national health authorities have recommended similar guidelines ( 2. Diet, Nutrition and Cancer Prevention: A Guide to Food Choices. 4th ed. DHHS (NIH) publication 87-2878. National Cancer Institute, US Dept of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC1987 Google Scholar , 3. The Surgeon General's Report on Nutrition and Health. 4th ed. DHHS (PHS) publication 88-50210. US Dept of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Washington, DC1988 Google Scholar , 4. American Cancer Society Nutrition and cancer: cause and prevention. Cancer. 1984; 34: 121-126 Google Scholar ). Nevertheless, results from two national surveys indicate a large discrepancy between scientific recommendations and public behavior ( 5. Patterson B Block G Rosenberger W Pee D Kahle L Fruit and vegetables in the American diet: data from the NHANES II survey. Am J Public Health. 1990; 80: 1443-1449 Google Scholar , 6. Food and Nutrient Intakes of Individuals in 1 Day in the United States, Spring 1977: Nationwide Food Consumption Survey 1977–1978. 4th ed. Preliminary report 2. Consumer Nutrition Center, US Dept of Agriculture, Hyattsville, Md1980 Google Scholar , 7. Kant A Block G Schatzkin A Ziegler R Nestle M Dietary diversity in the US population, NHANES II, 1976–1980. J Am Diet Assoc. 1991; 91: 1526-1531 Google Scholar ). In an attempt to address this situation, the Institute of Medicine reviewed barriers to implementing these guidelines and emphasized the need to put the recommendations into practice ( 8. Committee on Dietary Guidelines Implementation, Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine Improving America's Diet and Health—From Recommendations to Action. National Academy Press, Washington, DC1991 Google Scholar ).

Eating quality of muffins, cake, and cookies prepared with reduced fat and sugar

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans ( 1. Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 3rd ed. US Dept of Agriculture and US Dept of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC1990 Google Scholar ), published jointly by the US Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services, recommends that Americans choose a diet low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol, and use sugars only in moderation. The Surgeon General's Report on Nutrition and Health( 2. Public Health Service: The Surgeon General's Report on Nutrition and Health. US Dept of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC1988 Google Scholar ) and the National Academy of Sciences Diet and Health Report( 3. National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council, Food and Nutrition Board, Committee on Diet and Health Diet and Health: Implications for Reducing Chronic Disease Risk. National Academy Press, Washington, DC1989 Google Scholar ) support these recommendations. Data from USDA's Report on the 1987–88 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey( 4. Riddick H 10th ed. Report on the 1987–1988 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey. US Dept of Agriculture, Washington, DC1990 Google Scholar ) indicate that total dietary fat intake accounts for about 36% and saturated fatty acids for about 13% of an individual's total energy intake. These amounts of total fat and saturated fat are above the Dietary Guidelines intake re-commendations of 30% or less of total energy as fat and less than 10% as saturated fat. USDA data indicate that Americans' daily per capita consumption of nutritive sweeteners (ie, corn sweeteners, edible syrups, and honey) increased 14% over the past 20 years ( 5. Food Consumption, Prices, and Expenditures, 1968–1989. 10th ed. Statistical Bulletin No. 825. US Dept of Agriculture, Washington, DC1991 Google Scholar ). Consumption of nutritive sweeteners increased from 118 lb in 1968 to 138 lb in 1990.

Strawberry Parent Clones US 70, US 159, US 292, and US 438 Resistant to Anthracnose Crown Rot

The clones described in this germplasm release were originated during an extended cooperative team effort by U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) and state agricultural experiment station personnel to overcome anthracnose crown rot disease limitations on strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.) production in the southeastern United States. Our efforts to originate anthracnose-resistant strawberry germplasm started in 1975 with strawberry selection and fungal isolate contributions from the USDA, Univ. of Florida, Louisiana State Univ., and North Carolina State Univ. Breeding to develop regionally resistant host materials started at Beltsville, Md., in 1976 under the direction of A.D. Draper, who is now retired, and it has continued since 1977 under the direction of G.J.G. Starting in 1975, disease epidemiology information and isolate culture and inoculation techniques were developed in Poplarville, Miss., under the direction of B.J.S. (Smith and Black, 1987, 1990; Smith and Spiers, 1982; Smith et al., 1990). Originally, anthracnose crown rot was thought to be incited by Colletotrichum fragariae Brooks (Bonde et al., 1991); however, C. acutatum Simmonds has incited severe strawberry fruit rot (Simmonds, 1965; Smith and Black, 1987). Colletotrichum gloeosporiodes (Penz.) Penz. & Sacc. also may cause strawberry anthracnose crown and fruit rot (Smith and Black, 1990). Although all three fungal species may cause strawberry plant death, C. fragariae is the usual incitant in the U.S. Gulf Coast states, and C. acutatum is the principal anthracnose fruit rot incitant in this region (Howard et al., 1992). Anthracnose crown rot resistance inheritance models were determined by Gupton and Smith (1991). In addition to showing a high

Heritability and Phenotypic Correlations of Six Pecan Nut Characteristics

Heritability estimates for pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch] nut weight, nut buoyancy, nut volume, nut density, kernel weight, and percentage kernel were determined from 8748 nut samples representing 152 families collected during 25 years in the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) pecan breeding program at Brownwood, Texas. Measurements were corrected for year-to-year environmental variability using least-squares constants of individual year effects. Adjusted values were then regressed on midparent means. Generally, heritability (h2) estimates were low to moderate: nut weight 0.35, nut buoyancy 0.18, nut volume 0.35, nut density 0.03, kernel weight 0.38, and percentage kernel 0.32. The low values are probably due to the extreme alternate bearing tendency of this species, since crop load affects pecan nut characteristics so directly. Phenotypic correlations among these traits showed that larger or heavier nuts had significantly higher kernel weight, buoyancy, and percentage kernel. Nut density increased with higher nut and kernel weight, but decreased with nut volume.

`Centennial' Variegated Kumquat Hybrid

‘Centennial’ resulted from a spontaneous variegated mutation that was observed first in 1986 on a small twig of an unnamed breeding selection, US 1515. US 1515 originated from open-pollinated ‘Nagami’ kumquat seed planted in 1975 at A.H. Whitmore Foundation Farm, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), near Leesburg, Fla., and was selected for further tests in 1980. Buds of the mutant twig were propagated on Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf. rootstocks soon after its discovery. It has been grown and maintained on this rootstock in containers at the U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory (USHRL) in Orlando, Fla. This woody ornamental was named in recognition of the USHRL centennial.

Firmness Measurement of Stored `Delicious' Apples by Sensory Methods, Magness-Taylor, and Sonic Transmission

`Delicious' apples (Malus domestica Borkh.) from five major U.S. production areas were tested after ≈3 months of commercial storage. Soluble solids concentration (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), Magness-Taylor (MT) firmness, and sonic transmission spectra were compared with ripeness (maturity in trade terminology) scores assigned by six U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)-licensed apple inspectors according to USDA Grades and Standards inspection procedures. USDA ripeness categories are defined by textural and flavor terms. Inspectors in this test used visual, manual, oral, and auditory sensations to make their judgments, but firmness was the paramount characteristic judged. SSC and TA did not correlate with inspectors' scores, MT, or sonic measurements and thus are not satisfactory indices of ripeness for stored apples. Sonic resonance functions correlated significantly with mean inspectors' scores and with MT firmness. Inspectors' scores correlated slightly better with MT firmness than with sonic terms. MT is destructive and site-specific; in contrast, sonic measurements are nondestructive and representative of the entire fruit.

Rodale Press and Organic Gardening

Fig. 1, J.I. Rodale (1898-1971). A gricultural opinions in the United States drastically changed following the economic collapse of farming in the late 1920s and the dust storms and the exodus of farmers due to the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. Many thought agriculture had failed and new methods of farming must be found. The most successful new system of agriculture was the establishment of the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), with Hugh H. Bennett as its chief. Bennett was a forceful, charismatic speaker who caught the imagination of the agricultural community and, especially, college students and young farmers. SCS had dramatic success on the highly erodible soils in the southern United States, Terracing, strip cropping, and rotations together with lime and superphosphate reclaimed abandoned farmland. A familiar “before and after” picture was a nondescript cow in a pasture with three hoof-soil contacts visible and a Hereford standing knee-deep in clover. Obviously, that could not happen in 1 year, but it actually did happen over several years. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) pilot farms were important in promoting lime and superphosphate. The key to the success was preventing erosion and rotating crops with a legume. Raising the pH and supplying phosphorus ensured good stands of legumes. One popular conclusion from the success of the SCS programs was that improving the soil not only increased the carrying capacity of the pastures but also improved the nutritive value of the forage. W.A. Albrecht, Head of Soils, Univ. of Missouri, was a leading voice in promoting the idea that improving the soil by fertilization and increasing the organic matter improved the nutritive value of forage. In fact, the conclusion that soil fertility was an important factor in the health of animals and humans was so widely accepted that the U.S. Plant, Soil, and Nutrition Laboratory was established in 1941 as a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Regional Laboratory at Ithaca,

Erroneous References.

—In the COMMENTARY by Weldon J. Walker, MD, titled "Government-Subsidized Death and Disability," published in the Dec 16 issue (230:1529-1530, 1974), references were cited incorrectly. Errors were made in the first column of page 1530. In the second line, reference 4 should have been cited instead of<i>American Medical News</i>; contrariwise, in the seventh line under the heading "Tobacco Paradox,"<i>American Medical News</i>, May 27, 1974, should have been cited, not reference 4. Finally, the source of the statement made in point 1 is the "Agricultural Statistics, US Dept of Agriculture, 1972," in addition to reference 3, which was cited correctly.