Impact of Enzymatic Hydrolysis and Microfluidization on the Techno-Functionality of Oat Bran in Suspension and Acid Milk Gel Models

Oat bran is a nutritionally rich ingredient, but it is underutilized in semi-moist and liquid foods due to technological issues such as high viscosity and sliminess. The aim of this work was to improve the technological properties of oat bran concentrate (OBC) in high-moisture food applications by enzymatic and mechanical treatments. OBC was hydrolyzed with β-glucanase (OBC-Hyd) and the water-soluble fraction (OBC-Sol) was separated. OBC, OBC-Hyd and OBC-Sol were further microfluidized at 5% dry matter content. Enzymatic treatment and microfluidization of OBC reduced the molecular weight (Mw) of β-glucan from 2748 kDa to 893 and 350 kDa, respectively, as well as the average particle size of OBC (3.4 and 35 times, respectively). Both treatments increased the extractability of the soluble compounds from the OBC samples (up to 80%) and affected their water retention capacity. OBC in suspension had very high viscosity (969 mPa·s) when heated, which decreased after both enzyme and microfluidization treatments. The colloidal stability of the OBC in suspension was improved, especially after microfluidization. The addition of OBC samples to acid milk gels decreased syneresis, improved the water holding capacity and softened the texture. The changes in the suspension and gel characteristics were linked with reduced β-glucan Mw and OBC particle size.

Consistent Grime’s CSR Strategy of Daisy Fleabane Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers. despite Its High Morphological Variability—A Case Study from Zagreb and Medvednica Mt., Croatia

Alongside the direct destruction of natural habitats and changes in land use, invasive species are considered one of the greatest threats to global biodiversity. Daisy fleabane Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers. is among the most widespread invasive plants in Croatia. Invasions of E. annuus may be aided by morphological variability, which this study investigates. The variability of life traits (stem height, fresh and dry leaf mass, length, width and leaf area, specific leaf area, and leaf dry matter content) was examined among 18 locations throughout Zagreb and Medvednica Mt. Overall, 87 plant specimens and 435 leaves were measured and analysed using univariate and multivariate statistics. Viable populations were recorded in diverse habitat types, mostly with marked human impact. We determined Grime’s CR plant life strategies for all, except for two localities with C/CR plant strategies. Two populations with a more pronounced competitive strategy had high leaf dry matter content, with smaller leaves and medium height stems. Significant differences between the localities were found, with the specific leaf area (SLA) and plant height being the most diverse. Despite its high morphological variability, daisy fleabane had a consistent CSR strategy, which likely enables its widespread invasions across variable habitats.

Linking functional diversity to ecological indicators: A tool to predict the anthropogenic effects on ecosystem functioning

Functional diversity is related to the maintenance of processes and functions in ecosystems. However, there is a lack of a conceptual framework that highlights the application of functional diversity as an ecological indicator. Therefore, we present a new initiative for motivating the development of ecological indicators based on functional diversity. We are interested in showing the challenges and solutions associated with these indicators. We integrated species assemblage theories and literature reviews. We considered plant traits related to ecosystem processes and functions (specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, wood density, phenology, and seed mass) to show the application of a selection of functional diversity metrics that can be used as ecological indicators (i.e., Community Weighted-Mean, Functional Divergence, Functional Richness and Functional Evenness). We caution that functional diversity as an ecological indicator can be misinterpreted if species composition is unknown. Functional diversity values can be overrepresented by weed species (species established in disturbed sites) and do not maintain original processes and functions in ecosystems. Therefore, we searched for evidence to demonstrate that weed species are ecological indicators of functional diversity changes. We found support for two hypotheses that explain the effect of weed species on ecosystem function: functional homogenization and functional transformation. Likewise, we showed the application of some tools that can help study the anthropogenic effect on functional indicators. This review shows that the paradigm of addressing the effects of disturbances on ecosystem processes by using functional diversity as an ecological indicator can improve environmental evaluation, particularly in areas affected by human activities.

Plant Functional and Phylogenetic Diversity Regulate Ecosystem Multifunctionality in Semi-Arid Grassland During Succession

The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) is crucial for understanding the processes of ecological restoration in semi-arid regions. However, partitioning the relative influence of various biodiversity attributes, namely taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity, on EMF during secondary succession is still unclear. This study aimed to bridge the gap by employing field measurements and the chronosequence approach at 21 plots with different stand ages and precipitation conditions on the Loess Plateau of China. For diversity indices, we calculated the Shannon–Wiener diversity index, Simpson’s dominance index, Pielou evenness index, community weighted mean (CWM), functional variance (FDvar), and Faith’s phylogenetic diversity (PD) based on the empirically measured composition and traits of plant species. The EMF was expressed as the averaged value of eight function variables (including aboveground biomass, root biomass, soil total carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus content, soil organic carbon, available nitrogen and available phosphorus content). The results showed that species evenness and CWM of leaf dry matter content (LDMC) significantly increased yet the CWM of specific leaf area (SLA) decreased with stand age, indicating the resource-use strategy of the plants became more conservative through succession into its later stages. The EMF increased with both stand age and mean annual precipitation. The structural equation model revealed that stand age, soil water content (SWC), and the multiple diversity indices altogether accounted for 56.0% of the variation in the EMF. PD and the CWMs of plant height and LDMC had positive effects on the EMF, and the FDvar of leaf nitrogen had negative effects on EMF. However, the Shannon Wiener diversity had no significant effect on the EMF. Our results suggest that functional and phylogenetic diversity are more important than taxonomic diversity in predicting EMF, and that multidimensional biodiversity indices should be jointly considered to better predict EMF during the succession of semiarid grasslands.

Divergent Abiotic Stressors Drive Grassland Community Assembly of Tibet and Mongolia Plateau

Multiple ecological processes simultaneously govern community assembly, but it remains unclear how abiotic stressors regulate the relative importance of these processes among different biogeographic regions. Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive study on the responses of community assembly to varying environmental gradients, using the mean, variance, skewness, and kurtosis of plant height (height), specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf dry matter content (LDMC) distributions on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and the Mongolian Plateau (MP). Our results showed that the prevalence of trait convergence across all grasslands in both TP and MP seem to be the result of abiotic filtering or weaker competitive exclusion etc. These trait-convergence assembly processes decrease the functional dispersion but increase the evenness of the trait frequency distribution. The mean, variance, skewness, and kurtosis responses of grassland communities to abiotic stress varied between the TP and MP. On average, plant trait distribution was mainly driven by temperature on the TP, and low-temperature stress altered the community assembly rules. In contrast, water availability shaped plant trait frequency distributions on the MP, and drought stress mediated the balance between different assembly processes. Our results provide empirical evidence that divergent abiotic stressors regulate the grassland community assembly on the TP and MP. Together, our study speculates that different aspects of future climate change, such as climate warming and changing precipitation patterns, on community assembly are dependent on regional climatic regimes.

Different calcium sources on the productive performance and bone quality of meat quail

ABSTRACT: This study was developed to examine the effect of using charru mussel-, maçunim- and oyster-shell meals as calcium sources on the productive performance, carcass yield and bone parameters of meat quail. A total of 250 one-day-old non-sexed European quail were used. The birds were distributed into five treatments (calcium sources: calcitic lime, calcium carbonate, charru mussel shell meal, maçunim shell meal or oyster shell meal) in a completely randomized design with five replicates and ten birds per experimental unit. Feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion were evaluated from one to 35 days. At 35 days, two birds with the average weight of the plot were slaughtered per plot and used for analysis of carcass yield and bone parameters. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion, carcass yield or tibia dry matter content, ash content and strength. The charru mussel-, maçunim- and oyster-shell meals can be used as calcium sources in the diet of European quail without affecting their productive performance, carcass yield or bone mineralization.

Preliminary results on tomato breeding (Lycopersicon) in the Republic of Dagestan

The aim of the work is to separate from hybrid generations (F3-F4) the promising material of high-temperature stress resistance. Scientific novelty. Testing the growth of the germ root at 35, 38 and especially 43 °C is an effective method of differentiating tomato genotypes and identifying their resistance to heat. As a result of our studies of inter-grade and remote hybridization, tomato lines have been obtained, combining heat-resistantness with high productivity and valuable biochemical indicators of fruit quality. Methods. The material for research served 11 promising varieties and lines of tomato. Dedicated genetic sources of heat resistance were included in inter-grade crossings. The selection of genotypes for heat-resistantness in the field was carried out taking into account the complex of morphological and agrochemical features (type and strength of plant growth, bush foliage, phenology, shape and size of the fruit, general productivity of commodity fruits, the mass of the fetus). Results. It has been established that in varieties and lines of tomato, created as a result of inter-grade and interspecies interbreeding, heat-resistant sporophyte varied to large limits depending on the genotype and temperature level. The fruit's product ranged depending on the genotype and the year of cultivation (71.8–98.3 %). All forms turned out to be large-fruited – the weight of the fruit was from 87.8–124.6 g. L132, L204, L112 lines stood out as early forms. The dry matter content of all the genotypes studied is high, as it is above 5.0 %, except for the lines L122, L211 dry matter content of which was 4.74 and 4.58 %, respectively. Vitamin C was highest in L143 (63.32), L141 (62.65), L112 (63.38).

Agrobiological estimation of the collection samples of Allium sativum subsp. vulgare (Kuzn.)

Purpose. To study biological features of biological potential realization of softneck garlic productivity. Methods. Field, laboratory, statistical and calculation-analytical. Results. The results of studying local and introduced forms of softneck garlic cultivars (samples No. 1, 14, 16, 19, 24, 27) in comparison with varieties (‘Prometei’ (standard) and ‘Liubasha’) in terms of productivity are presented. In the research, field, laboratory and statistical methods were used. The experimental design was a systemic complete block design without replicates. It was found that all, without exception, softneck garlic cultivars have an erectoid type of leaf placement. Introduced cultivars featured low seedstalk formation, which is a manifestation of adaptation to growing conditions. All studied cultivars were characterized by lower values of the number of air bulbils in the inflorescence compared to the standard cultivar ‘Prometei’. Thus, ‘Liubasha’ formed 16.1% fewer bulbils than the standard; however, its 1000-bulbil weight was 37.2% larger than in ‘Prometei’. The softneck cultivars that formed bulbils on the reduced seedstalk were characterized by a very small number of bulbils − by 89.7–90.8% less than in the standard – however, the formed bulbils had very large 1000-bulbil weight. Thus, sample No. 1 formed bulbils by 542.0% larger in terms of the 1000-bulbil weight than standard; sample No. 16 by 554.3%; sample No. 27 by 752.9%. Samples No. 14, 19 and 24 did not formed seedstalks. In terms of the bulbil yield, the samples that formed bulbils had by 11.7–40.1% lower indicators than the standard. Cultivar ‘Liubasha’ was characterized by a 19.0% higher bulbil yield. The vast majority of collection samples of winter garlic formed smaller bulbs. Sample No. 16 had a large bulb wight compared to the standard. Collection samples had significantly lower yield except for No. 16, which exceeded the standard by 30.2 and 56.8%. Conclusions. Collection samples have a significantly higher dry matter content. The promising samples (No. 14, 16, 19, 24) were selected by a number of characteristics as promising for further breding of softneck table garlic cultivars. In further research, the content of secondary metabolites and the storage of the samples in uncontrolled conditions will be studied in order to create table garlic cultivars suitable for long-term storage.

Analysis of Growth and Yield of Three Types Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) Based on Yield Components

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the yield of different types of cucumbers from the perspective of yield components. The yield and yield components of nine cucumber cultivars (Beit Alpha, Greenhouse, and Japanese) grown hydroponically in a greenhouse were investigated. Fruit yield fresh weight in the Beit Alpha type was higher than that of the Japanese type, and the fruit yield fresh weight was significantly correlated with fruit yield dry weight, total dry matter (TDM), fraction of fruits, and number of fruits. However, the fruit yield fresh weight was not significantly correlated with intercepted light, light use efficiency (LUE), leaf area index, light extinction coefficient, and fruit dry matter content. High fruit yield dry weight was associated with a high TDM and the fraction of fruits. Moreover, the high TDM and fraction of fruits were associated with LUE and the number of fruits, respectively.

Dry matter and ash content in leaves and stems of bioenergy crops

Purpose. Determine the content of dry mass and ash in the leaves and stems of bioenergy crops (miscanthus, switchgrass, willow). Methods. Samples were taken at the end of the growing season (October). The dry matter content was determined by thermogravimetric method, ash content by burning in a muffle furnace. Results. The dry matter content of the leaves varied depending on the year of research and crop. Thus, on average over the years of research, this figure was highest in switchgrass and willow, 65.8–66.0% with an ash content of 4.3–4.5%. The content of dry mass in miscanthus leaves was 9–10% lower compared to other energy crops. The ash content was at the level of 2.8% or 1.5–1.6 times. Physico-chemical parameters of the leaves of energy crops have changed since one year of the study. In miscanthus leaves it varied from 59.9 to 60.2%, switchgrass from 54.5 to 76.9%, and willow from 60.7 to 72.2%. The ash content varied in a smaller range of all energy crops. In the stems of miscanthus, the dry matter content was in the range from 57.5% to 58.9%, in switchgrass it was the largest, from 54.9 to 65.3%, and in the stems of willow from 51.3 to 57.1% over the years of research. The stems of all energy crops had a lower ash content compared to the leaves. Thus, this indicator in miscanthus leaves was at the level of 1.5–1.6%, switchgrass 1.3–2.2%, willow 2.0–2.5% (1.5–3.0 times). Conclusions. The content of dry mass and ash in the leaves and stems varies depending on the type of energy crop. The highest content of dry mass is formed in the leaves of switchgrass (54.5–76.9%) and willow 60.7–72.2%. The ash content is 4.1–4.9% and 4.0–4.5%, respectively. The content of dry mass in miscanthus stems is 57.5–58.9%, switchgrass 54.9–65.3%, willow 51.3–57.1%. The content of ash in the stems of miscanthus is 1.5–1.6%, switchgrass 1.3–2.2, willow 2.0–2.5% or 1.5–3.0 times.