9 July 2009 by Robert.

I was recently looking at all of the cool fruits available during the recent Fruit Tree Sale and ran across a fruit that I had no clue what it was. I was determined to find out all about this strange citrus in case I had to answer any questions about it.

Ujukitsu, Citrus ujukitsu Tanaka, originated in Kyushu, Japan and is considered quite rare. Several references mentioned that the ujukitsu is a cross between a lemon and an orange. That is not actually true; it is a hybrid lemon created in the early 1950’s by T. Tanaka. It is a lemon with a rather sweet flavor and is shaped like a small Bloomsweet grapefruit. The yellow, pear-shaped fruit can be peeled and eaten like a tangerine. Many folks say it tastes kind of like lemonade!

This variety does well in this part of Texas and should be considered a good option for a different type of citrus in your orchard. The typical protection you would use for other citrus during the cold weather would be proper for this tree also.

While researching this citrus, I came across information that shows that the oil of certain citrus [ujukitsu, yuzu (C. junos ), mochiyu (C. inflata ), and ponkan (C. reticulate)] is very effective at inhibiting the effects of N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NMDA). NMDA is a highly toxic chemical that can be found in some foods (rare) and which can cause liver cancer. Use of ujukitsu oil extract actually reduces the effect of NMDA by inhibiting the formation of the chemical.

References:
Citrus Information by John Panzarella, Brief Description of Citrus Trees, http://johnpanza.googlepages.com/briefdescriptionofcitrustrees

Inhibitory Effects of Citrus Essential Oils and Their Components on the Formation of N-Nitrosodimethylamine, Sawamura, M., Sun, S.H., Ozaki, K., Ishikawa, J., and Ukeda, H. J. Agric. Food Chem., 47, 12, 4868 - 4872, 1999,  10.1021/jf9903206

Posted in Trees | 3 Comments »

9 July 2009 by Robert.

Humulus lupulus is a rapid growing vine that grows well in zones 5 through 8. The plant reaches about 20 feet in height in a growing season and must be cut back during the winter months. This plant tolerates full sun to partial shade and should have lattice or something on which to cling while growing. It must be planted in well-drained soil.

The oils of this plant can be used in perfumes, cereal beverages, mineral waters and the stems are a source of fiber (like cotton stalks) that may be used for pulp or even biomass production. The young bleached tops are used as a vegetable (especially in Belgium) and the Romans ate the young shoots like asparagus.

Alcoholic extracts in various dosage forms have been used clinically in treating numerous forms of leprosy, pulmonary tuberculosis, and acute bacterial dysentery. Extracts are used in skin creams and lotions while the extracts and oils are used for flavoring in nonalcoholic beverages, frozen dairy desserts, candy, baked goods, gelatins, and puddings.

Additionally, recent studies indicate that a flavonoid compound called xanthohumol located in the flower of the plant show toxicity to human breast, colon and ovarian cancer cells, and most recently has shown some activity against prostate cancer in Oregon State University studies.

However, the part of Humulus lupulus that is most recognized and most used is the flower. And 99.9% of all Hululus lupulus grown and harvested is used in beer production. As many of you may know, Humulus lupulus L. var. lupulus is in the family of Cannabaceae and is commonly known as “brewer’s hop.”

Today’s beer is produced by using only yeast, grain (mostly barley), hops, and water. But hops were only used in beer since about the 12th or 13th century. Originally an herbal medicine, brewers discovered that beer brewed with hops actually preserved the beer longer. Later, they discovered the beer could be brewed with lower alcohol content by using hops. Lower alcohol meant using less grain and, therefore, greater profit could be obtained.

Being a home brewer (I make my own beer and wine at the house), I have been used to buying my hops from a local homebrew store. However, in the past two years, the price of hops has gone from around $2 an ounce to upwards of $7. Some special varieties are not even available to most markets these days. This spiral in prices is due to a world-wide shortage of hops and has resulted in a large interest to grow your own hops. Most of the literature indicated that growing hops in the south was probably not a good idea but more recently, I have discovered several successful hops growers in Texas with at least a dozen within 50 miles of Houston.

Local home brewing stores have started to carry the risome during the planting season, usually early March. My contact tells me that they sell out very quickly. So, my next planting in the spring will be some hops - if I get to the store in time.

References:

“Anti-Cancer Compound in Beer Gaining Interest”, Oregon State University, http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ncs/newsarch/2005/Oct05/beerandcancer.htm
“Humulus lupulus L.”, Center for New Crops & Plants Products, Purdue University, http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Humulus_lupulus.html
“Humulus lupulus”, Vines for the Southeast, North Carolina State University, http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/vines/humulus_lupulus.html
Leung, A.Y. 1980. Encyclopedia of common natural ingredients used in food, drugs, and cosmetics. John Wiley & Sons. New York.

Posted in herbs | No Comments »

9 July 2009 by Robert.

Each day, I start out by looking over my yard to see if another mound of fire ants appeared overnight. Although I’m pretty much amiable to just about any sort of critter in my yard, these little beasts and I have a Hate-Hate relationship. I don’t like the way their mounds look in my yard and I have severe reactions to their stings. Therefore, I do my job to help completely eradicate these imported pests.

But I heard a chance comment on the radio one day that led me to believe that some good may come from imported red fire ants. Evidently, some grape growers allow the fire ants to stay around because they help control insect pests. So, I decided to do some research on this matter.

Appears that the imported red fire ants eat just about everything including ticks, mites, weevils, and other arthropods. Crops that benefit from this natural predation are generally cotton and sugarcane fields as the ants feed on boll weevils and the sugarcane borer. This generally leads to less insecticides needed for these crops. Other agricultural crops that benefit from fire ants would be soybean, corn, sorghum, watermelon, cucumber, sunflower, and peanuts.

However, fire ants also will eat young shoots of crops and, during dry periods, chew and damage irrigation tubing. The large mounds of these ants interfere with harvesting equipment and can cause a lot of pain for any field workers who happen to get in their way. Plus, these voracious feeders are indiscriminate in their prey and will also kill beneficial insects. Okra farmers find that fire ants love the okra and pecan nuts are also a delectable for them.

Overall, I still don’t like these critters and will continue my one-person fire ant eradication efforts. I will continue to use the 2-Step Method for control in my yard and try to convince my neighbors to do the same. But, if I ever start a major sugarcane or cotton farm, I may just let these ants do their thing.

References:
AgriLife Extension (Texas A&M) and Cooperative Extension Program (Prairie View A&M), http://www.extension.org
Auburn University College of Agriculture, http://www.ag.auburn.edu
University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, http://www.uaex.edu
University of Tennessee Extension, http://www.fireants.utk.edu

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