Protein and energy contents of numerous samples of Gambian foods have been determined in order to examine variations in composition.There was a highly significant negative correlation between the energy and water content of the foods, which enables the energy content to be predicted accurately by measurements of the water content alone.Protein content of foods, as estimated from measurement of total nitrogen, was more variable than the energy; nevertheless, for most foods there was a significant negative correlation between protein and water content. Consideration of cereal and groundnut foods separately enabled the protein content to be predicted from the water content with almost as great an accuracy as for the energy.The accuracy of large-scale studies designed to estimate the protein and energy intake of individuals would be increased considerably by adopting the approach described. It would be necessary, of course, to determine in each case the regression equations relevant to the range of foods included in the study.

An automated procedure, using p-hydroxybenzoic acid hydrazide as the colour reagent, for the determination of carbohydrate in solution is described. The method is applicable to the determination of available carbohydrate in foodstuffs. The results of analysis of some foods are given, and compared with values obtained by a manual procedure.

I. A femur was analysed from each of the following malnourished children: five Turkish (4-7.5 months; marasmic), eight Jamaican (9-13 months; two marasmic, one marasmic with kwashiorkor, three with kwashiorkor, two 'malnourished') and two Ugandan (I: and 12 months; marasmic and with kwashiorkor respectively). These were matched with appropriate controls. Dry weight, fat, total nitrogen, collagen N, calcium and phosphorus were determined, and values are presented for them in the bone, with and without epiphyses, and in the epiphyses and cortex.2. The femurs of the Turkish children (4-7.5 months) showed greater deficits in length, Ca and P than did those of the Jamaican and Ugandan children (9-13 months). I n both agegroups, regardless of the clinical condition, there was significantly less dry fat-free bone tissue than in control bones of similar ages. The concentration of fat in the bones was variable, but in the Turkish bones it was higher than in the controls.3. When the epiphyses were excluded, the femurs of the Jamaican and Ugandan children with kwashiorkor contained a lower concentration of total N per IOO g fat-free solids than did those of children with marasmus.4. The epiphyses of the malnourished children aged 4-7'5 months contained lower concentrations of total N, collagen N, Ca and P than those of controls. In the older age-group the only significant difference was a lower level of Ca. 5. The cortex of all the malnourished children had a similar composition to that of the controls.Marasmus and kwashiorkor are probably best considered as the extremes of a spectrum of malnutrition (Jelliffe, 1959). The relative incidence and the ages at which they occur vary in different parts of the world (McLaren, 1966; Garrow, 1966). It is known that malnutrition either in man or animals, whether due primarily to deficiency of protein or of calories, results in a decreased rate of skeletal growth and of skeletal maturation (Berridge

Pea (Pisum sativum L.) mutant near-isogenic lines (RRrbrb, rrRbRb, rrrbrb) with lower starch but higher lipid contents, brought about by lesions in the starch biosynthetic pathway, had seed moisture sorption isotherms displaced below that of the wild type (RRRbRb). The negative logarithmic relationship between seed longevity and seed storage moisture content (%, f.wt basis), determined in hermetic storage at 65 degrees C, also differed: longevity in the mutant near-isogenic lines was poorer and less sensitive to moisture content than in the wild type (i.e. C(W) was lower). The low-moisture-content limit (m(c)) to this relation also differed, being lower in the mutant near-isogenic lines (5.4-5.9%) than in the wild type (6.1%). In contrast, all four near-isogenic lines showed no difference (P >0.25) in the negative semi-logarithmic relationship between equilibrium relative humidity (ERH) and seed longevity. It is concluded that the effect of these alleles at the r and rb loci on seed longevity was largely indirect; a consequence of their effect on seed composition and hence on moisture sorption isotherms. However, this explanation could not be invoked at moisture contents below m(c) where differences in longevity remained substantial (RRRbRb double that of rrrbrb). Hence, these mutant alleles affected seed longevity directly at very low moisture contents.

2. Alkaline sucrase was present in the ungerminated seed. fl-Fructofuranosidase was absent from the ungerminated seed but appeared in the embryo on germination, reaching a maximum (under etiolated conditions) after 9-10 days. Much of the activity appeared in the roots. 3. The alkaline sucrase could be purified only twofold, whereas the fl-fructofuranosidase was purified 110-fold. 4. The Km for the fl-fructofuranosidase was 2-4 mm on sucrose and 14 mm on raffinose. Alkaline sucrase had Km 8-9 mm on sucrose. 5. Both enzymes were inhibited by Ag+ ions (0 1 mM), though iodoacetamide (10 mM) had little effect. Alkaline sucrase was strongly inhibited by tris. Transferase activity was observed with the fifructofuranosidase but not with alkaline sucrase. 6. The function of the sucrases in vivo and their relation to the metabolism of raffinose-type oligosaccharides during germination is discussed. We thank Birmingham University for a University Scholarship to R. A. C. during the course of this work.