plastic weighing boats were sterilized to prevent microbial
contamination of the axes during the experiment.
In both drying methods, the temperature during dehydration
was maintained between 22 and 25 8C. Water contents
were determined gravimetrically after drying at 80 8C for
36 h. Values represent the mean of ®ve axes, and are
expressed on a g H2O per g dry matter (g gÿ1
) and on
a percentage fresh mass basis ( % fmb) indicated in
parentheses.
L