Duckweeds as Promising Food Feedstocks Globally

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debora Pagliuso ◽  
Adriana Grandis ◽  
Janaina Silva Fortirer ◽  
Plinio Camargo ◽  
Eny Ioshevet Floh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Cell Walls ◽  
Food Source ◽  
Soluble Sugars ◽  
Flowering Plants ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Common Food ◽  
The World

Duckweeds are the smallest flowering plants on Earth. They grow fast on water's surface and produce large amounts of biomass. Further, duckweeds display high adaptability, and species are found around the globe growing under different environmental conditions. In this work, we report the composition of 21 ecotypes of fourteen species of duckweeds belonging to the two sub-families of the group (Lemnoideae and Wolffioideae). It is reported the presence of starch and the composition of soluble sugars, cell walls, amino acids, phenolics, and tannins. These data were combined with literature data recovered from 85 publications to produce a compiled analysis that affords the examination of duckweeds as possible food sources for human consumption. We compare duckweeds compositions with some of the most common food sources and conclude that duckweed, which is already in use as food in Asia, can be an interesting food source anywhere in the world.

scholarly journals Diseases of Gastropoda

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle F. O’Brien ◽  
Sarah Pellett
Keyword(s):  
Fresh Water ◽  
Food Source ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Etiological Agent ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
The World ◽  
Herpesvirus 1 ◽  
World Organisation

Gastropods (class Gastropoda) form the largest of the classes in the phylum Mollusca and inhabit terrestrial, fresh water and marine environments. A large number of these species are of major conservation importance and are an essential component of ecosystems. Gastropods may be deemed as pests, having a negative impact in horticulture and agriculture, whereas others may be used as a food source for human consumption and therefore are beneficial. Gastropods are susceptible to primary diseases and also act as intermediate hosts for diseases which affect other animals, including humans. The diseases described include two that are notifiable to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE): Xenohaliotis californiensis and Abalone viral ganglioneuritis caused by Haliotid herpesvirus-1 (HaHV-1). Research into the diseases of gastropods has often focused on those species that act as intermediate disease hosts, those that are used in research or those cultured for food. In this paper we review the viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic and miscellaneous conditions that have been reported in gastropods and mention some of the factors that appear to predispose them to disease. The pathogenicity of a number of these conditions has not been fully ascertained and more research is needed into specifying both the etiological agent and significance in some of the diseases reported.

Edible Insects and the Genus Homo

2018 ◽  
pp. 109-122
Author(s):  
Julie J. Lesnik
Keyword(s):  
Human Evolution ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Food Source ◽  
Nonhuman Primates ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Genus Homo ◽  
The World ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
The Tropics

In this second paleoanthropology chapter, the focus shifts to later human evolution with members of the genus Homo. Over the evolution of our genus, morphology and behaviors emerge that are more similar to our own. In reconstructing the insect portion of the diet for these hominins, present-day foragers provide a better-fit model than nonhuman primates. The genus Homo was the first to colonize outside of Africa, and as humans began to occupy the far reaches of the world, environmental conditions were less suitable for insect eating in some regions over others. Outside of the tropics, the predictability and reliability of insects as a food source is greatly reduced, so the absence of insect eating in these regions today may have a deep history.

scholarly journals Nutritional Properties of Larval Epidermis and Meat of the Edible Insect Clanis bilineata tsingtauica (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae)

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 2895
Author(s):  
Ying Su ◽  
Ming-Xing Lu ◽  
Li-Quan Jing ◽  
Lei Qian ◽  
Ming Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Phytic Acid ◽  
Food Source ◽  
Mineral Elements ◽  
Molar Ratio ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Edible Insect ◽  
High Quality Protein ◽  
Protein Rich ◽  
Nonessential Amino Acids

Insects represent a sustainable, protein-rich food source widely consumed in Asia, Africa, and South America. Eating Clanis bilineata tsingtauica Mell is common in the eastern part of China. A comparative characterization of nutrients in the meat and epidermis of C. bilineata tsingtauica was performed in this study. The results showed this insect to be high in nutrients, particularly in the epidermis where protein total was 71.82%. Sixteen different amino acids were quantified in C. bilineata tsingtauica, and the ratio of essential to nonessential amino acids in the epidermis and meat was 68.14% and 59.27%, respectively. The amino acid composition of C. bilineata tsingtauica is balanced, representing a high-quality protein source. Eight minerals were quantified in C. bilineata tsingtauica, including four macro and four trace elements. Fe in the epidermis and Zn in the meat were abundant at 163.82 and 299.31 μg/g DW, respectively. The presence of phytic acid impacted the absorption of mineral elements in food. We also detected phytic acid in C. bilineata tsingtauica. The molar ratio of phytic acid to zinc (PA/Zn) in C. bilineata tsingtauica was very low (3.28) compared to Glycine max and Cryptotympana atrata, which indicated that mineral utilization was high. In conclusion, this study confirms that C. bilineata tsingtauica is a highly nutritious food source for human consumption, and the results provide a basis for further consumption and industrialization of this edible insect.

scholarly journals Preliminary studies on the in situ prevention of food spoilage fungi using antifungal Lactic acid bacteria

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Srileka Chinnaiyan ◽  
◽  
Vijila Kenas ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Lactic Acid ◽  
Antifungal Activity ◽  
Lactic Acid Bacteria ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Fungal Growth ◽  
Maximum Growth ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
The World

Food loss is a major threat in the world and one-third of the food produced for human consumption are wasted. Many fungal species cause loss of food/raw materials like grains, fruits and vegetables throughout the world. Chemical preservatives and fungicides when used in food have negative impacts on health and the environment. Biopreservatives such as lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are effective, safe, biodegradable and have additional health benefits. The focus of this research is to survey the occurrence of native lactic acid bacteria with antifungal activity in various food sources and to obtain a potential lactic acid bacterial isolate for strategic application to control fungal pathogen in food products. In the present study, the population of lactic acid bacteria were about 104 to 105 cells in all food samples. Sixty isolates of lactic acid bacteria were obtained from samples collected. Of these, 21 exhibited inhibition towards the growth of Fusarium oxysporum and 13 isolates towards A. flavus. Ten of the total isolates exhibited inhibition towards both the test fungi. Based on potential of antifungal activity in the dual plate technique, six isolates were selected and subjected to fungal growth inhibition analysis using microplate. Of these six isolates, the isolate LABT3 showed the highest inhibition percentage (%) against both the target fungi. The isolate was tested for its growth and maximum growth was noted at 48 h and pH at this period was 5.16.

Carotenoid-Rich Bananas: A Potential Food Source for Alleviating Vitamin A Deficiency

2003 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 303-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lois Englberger ◽  
Ian Darnton-Hill ◽  
Terry Coyne ◽  
Maureen H. Fitzgerald ◽  
Geoffrey C. Marks
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin A ◽  
Food Source ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Carotenoid Content ◽  
Potential Food Source ◽  
Vitamin A Status ◽  
The World ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Potential Food

This review article points out that bananas are an important food for many people in the world. Thus, banana cultivars rich in provitamin A carotenoids may offer a potential food source for alleviating vitamin A deficiency, particularly in developing countries. Many factors are associated with the presently known food sources of vitamin A that limit their effectiveness in improving vitamin A status. Acceptable carotenoid-rich banana cultivars have been identified in Micronesia, and some carotenoid-rich bananas have been identified elsewhere. Bananas are an ideal food for young children and families for many regions of the world, because of their sweetness, texture, portion size, familiarity, availability, convenience, versatility, and cost. Foods containing high levels of carotenoids have been shown to protect against chronic disease, including certain cancers, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Because the coloration of the edible flesh of the banana appears to be a good indicator of likely carotenoid content, it may be possible to develop a simple method for selecting carotenoid-rich banana cultivars in the community. Research is needed on the identification of carotenoid-rich cultivars, targeting those areas of the world where bananas are a major staple food; investigating factors affecting production, consumption, and acceptability; and determining the impact that carotenoid-rich bananas may have on improving vitamin A status. Based on these results, interventions should be undertaken for initiating or increasing homestead and commercial production.

scholarly journals In Silico Characterization of Toxin-Antitoxin Systems in Campylobacter Isolates Recovered from Food Sources and Sporadic Human Illness

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 72
Author(s):  
Bishoy Wadie ◽  
Mohamed A. Abdel-Fattah ◽  
Alshymaa Yousef ◽  
Shaimaa F. Mouftah ◽  
Mohamed Elhadidy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
In Silico ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Food Borne ◽  
Food Borne Illness ◽  
Human Illness ◽  
Clonal Population Structure ◽  
In Silico Characterization

Campylobacter spp. represents the most common cause of gastroenteritis worldwide with the potential to cause serious sequelae. The ability of Campylobacter to survive stressful environmental conditions has been directly linked with food-borne illness. Toxin-antitoxin (TA) modules play an important role as defense systems against antimicrobial agents and are considered an invaluable strategy harnessed by bacterial pathogens to survive in stressful environments. Although TA modules have been extensively studied in model organisms such as Escherichia coli K12, the TA landscape in Campylobacter remains largely unexplored. Therefore, in this study, a comprehensive in silico screen of 111 Campylobacter (90 C.jejuni and 21 C.coli) isolates recovered from different food and clinical sources was performed. We identified 10 type II TA systems belonging to four TA families predicted in Campylobacter genomes. Furthermore, there was a significant association between the clonal population structure and distribution of TA modules; more specifically, most (12/13) of the Campylobacter isolates belonging to ST-21 isolates possess HicB-HicA TA modules. Finally, we observed a high degree of shared synteny among isolates bearing certain TA systems or even coexisting pairs of TA systems. Collectively, these findings provide useful insights about the distribution of TA modules in a heterogeneous pool of Campylobacter isolates from different sources, thus developing a better understanding regarding the mechanisms by which these pathogens survive stressful environmental conditions, which will further aid in the future designing of more targeted antimicrobials.

scholarly journals Sunlight-assisted degradation of textile pollutants and phytotoxicity evaluation using mesoporous ZnO/g-C3N4 catalyst

RSC Advances ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (43) ◽  
pp. 26800-26812
Author(s):  
H. Leelavathi ◽  
N. Abirami ◽  
R. Muralidharan ◽  
Helen P. Kavitha ◽  
S. Tamizharasan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fresh Water ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
The World ◽  
Mesoporous Zno

Accessibility of adequate safe and fresh water for human consumption is one of the most significant issues throughout the world and extensive research is being undertaken to resolve it.

scholarly journals Meta-analysis reveals severe pollen limitation for the flowering plants growing in East Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains region

BMC Ecology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xianfeng Jiang ◽  
Yanping Xie
Keyword(s):  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Pollen Limitation ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Flowering Plants ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspot ◽  
Clear Relationship ◽  
Hengduan Mountains ◽  
Independent Data ◽  
The World ◽  
Global Biodiversity

Abstract Background Pollen limitation occurs widely and has an important effect on flowering plants. The East Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains region is a global biodiversity hotspot. However, to our knowledge, no study has synthetically assessed the degree of pollen limitation in this area. The present study aims to reveal the degree of pollen limitation for the flowering plants growing on East Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains and to test whether the reproductive features or the elevation is closely correlated with the degree of pollen limitation in this area. Results We complied data from 76 studies, which included 96 species and 108 independent data records. We found that the flowering plants in this area undergo severe pollen limitation [overall Hedges’ d = 2.004, with a 95% confidence interval (1.3264, 2.6743)] that is much higher than that of the flowering plants growing in many other regions around the world. The degree of pollen limitation was tested to determine the correlation with the capacity for autonomous self-reproduction and with the pollination pattern (generalized vs. specialized pollination) of plants. In addition, we found a clear relationship between elevation and the degree of pollen limitation, which indicates that plants might undergo more severe pollen limitation in relatively high places. Conclusions This paper is the first to address the severe pollen limitation of the flowering plants growing in East Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains region. Moreover, we reveal the positive correlation between elevation and the degree of pollen limitation.

Kuehneola loeseneriana.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Pathogenic Fungus ◽  
North Central ◽  
Plant Pathogenic Fungus ◽  
The World ◽  
Agricultural Plants

Abstract There is little published information on this plant pathogenic fungus, which is limited to parts of North, Central and South America. It infects Rubus spp., which exist in other regions of the world with similar environmental conditions, therefore this species may pose a threat to native or agricultural plants if introduced.

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