Quality Assessment of Goldenrod, Milkweed and Multifloral Honeys Based on Botanical Origin, Antioxidant Capacity and Mineral Content

The goal of the study was to evaluate the pollen spectrum, antioxidant capacity and mineral content of four Hungarian honey types, using multivariate statistical analysis. The light colored honeys were represented by milkweed honey and a multifloral (MF) honey with dominant pollen frequency of linden (MF-Tilia); the darker ones were goldenrod honey and a multifloral honey with Lamiaceae pollen majority (MF-Lamiaceae). The pollen spectrum of the samples was established with melissopalynological analysis. The absorbance of the honeys positively correlated with the antioxidant capacity determined with three of the used methods (TRC, TEAC, DPPH), but not with ORAC. The latter method correlated negatively also with other antioxidant methods and with most of the mineral values. MF-Tilia had high ORAC value, K and Na content. The MF-Lamiaceae had the highest K, Mg, P, S, Cu and Zn content, the last five elements showing strict correlation with the TRC method. The darker goldenrod honey had higher SET values and total mineral content, than the milkweed honey. The above character-sets facilitate identification of each honey type and serve as indicators of variety. The antioxidant levels and mineral content of honeys allowed their clear separation by principal component analysis (PCA).

Electrochemical Surface Biofunctionalization of Titanium through Growth of TiO2 Nanotubes and Deposition of Zn Doped Hydroxyapatite

The current research aim is to biofunctionalize pure titanium (Ti, grade IV) substrate with titania nanotubes and Zn doped hydroxyapatite-based coatings by applying a duplex electrochemical treatment, and to evaluate the influence of Zn content on the physico-chemical properties of hydroxyapatite (HAp). The obtained nanostructured surfaces were covered with HAp-based coatings doped with Zn in different concentrations by electrochemical deposition in pulsed galvanostatic mode. The obtained surfaces were characterized in terms of morphology, elemental and phasic composition, chemical bonds, roughness, and adhesion. The nanostructured surface consisted of titania nanotubes (NT), aligned, vertically oriented, and hollow, with an inner diameter of ~70 nm. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that the nanostructured surface consists of an anatase phase and some rutile peaks as a secondary phase. The morphology of all coatings consisted of ribbon like-crystals, and by increasing the Zn content the coating became denser due to the decrement of the crystals’ dimensions. The elemental and phase compositions evidenced that HAp was successfully doped with Zn through the pulsed galvanostatic method on the Ti nanostructured surfaces. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and XRD analysis confirmed the presence of HAp in all coatings, while the adhesion test showed that the addition of a high quantity leads to some delamination. Based on the obtained results, it can be said that the addition of Zn enhances the properties of HAp, and through proper experimental design, the concentration of Zn can be modulated to achieve coatings with tunable features.

DIAGNOSE NUTRICIONAL E ÍNDICES FOTOSSINTÉTICOS DE ERVA-MATE SOB DIFERENTES NÍVEIS DE ADUBAÇÃO COM ZINCO

A deficiência de zinco representa um problema de saúde pública. Uma das estratégias para melhorar essa questão consiste em biofortificação agronômica. O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi avaliar o teor de Zn na parte aérea (folhas e ramos) e o limite crítico de Zn para plantas de erva-mate submetidas a adubação com sulfato de Zn. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação no município de Lages. Foi utilizado Cambissolo Háplico Distrófico Típico, o qual foi submetido a análise química (Tedesco et al., 1995) e granulométrica (EMBRAPA, 1997). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado. As unidades experimentais foram compostas por vasos contendo 6 kg de solo, cinco doses de Zn (0, 100, 200, 300 e 400 mg.kg-1) e sete repetições, totalizando 35 unidades experimentais. Foram realizadas análises antes da colheita (Índice SPAD, altura e Infrared Gas Analyser - IRGA) e análises após a colheita (peso fresco e seco de parte aérea, teor de Ca, Mg, P, Cu, Zn na folha). Os dados foram submetidos a análise de variância, com normalidade testada pelo teste de Shapiro-Wilk e a homogeneidade de variâncias pelo teste de Levenne, a nível de significância de 5%. A aplicação de doses crescentes de Zn ao solo resultou em aumento do teor de Zn na parte aérea de forma linear. O teor médio de Zn na folha variou de 27 mg kg-1 na ausência de aplicação de Zn a 883 mg kg-1 na dose aplicado de 400 mg kg-1. Não houve diferença estatística para massa fresca, seca de parte aérea, índice SPAD, altura, condutância estomática e transpiração indicando ausência de estresse oxidativo. Não foi possível calcular o limite crítico de Zn para erva-mate. Palavras-chave: biofortificação agronômica; Cambissolo; Ilex paraguariensis. Diagnose yerba mate nutritional and photosynthetic indices under different levels of zinc fertilization ABSTRACT: Zinc deficiency represents a public health problem. One of the strategies to improve this issue is agronomic biofortification. The objective of this research was to evaluate the Zn content in the aerial part (leaves and branches) and the critical limit of Zn for yerba mate plants submitted to fertilization with Zn sulfate. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in the municipality of Lages. A typical Dystrophic Cambisol was used, which was subjected to chemical (Tedesco et al., 1995) and granulometric (EMBRAPA, 1997) analysis. The experimental design used was completely randomized. The experimental units were composed of pots containing 6 kg of soil, five doses of Zn (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg.kg-1) and seven replications, totaling 35 experimental units. Analyzes were performed before harvesting (SPAD Index, height and Infrared Gas Analyzer - IRGA) and analyzes after harvesting (fresh and dry aerial weight, and Ca, Mg, P, Cu, Zn content in the leaf). The data were submitted to analysis of variance, with normality tested by the Shapiro-Wilk test and homogeneity of variances by the Levenne test, at a significance level of 5%. The application of increasing doses of Zn to the soil resulted in a linear increase in the Zn content in the aerial part. The average Zn content in the leaf varied from 27 mg kg-1 in the absence of Zn application to 883 mg kg-1 at the applied dose of 400 mg kg-1. There was no statistical difference for fresh, dry shoot weight, SPAD index, height, stomatal conductance and perspiration indicating absence of oxidative stress. It was not possible to calculate the critical limit of Zn for yerba mate. Keywords: biofortification agronomic; Cambisol; Ilex paraguariensis.

Influencing Factors in the Synthesis of Photoactive Nanocomposites of ZnO/SiO2-Porous Heterostructures from Montmorillonite and the Study for Methyl Violet Photodegradation

In this work, photoactive nanocomposites of ZnO/SiO2 porous heterostructures (PCHs) were prepared from montmorillonite clay. The effects of preparation methods and Zn content on the physicochemical features and photocatalytic properties were investigated. Briefly, a comparison of the use of hydrothermal and microwave-assisted methods was done. The Zn content was varied between 5 and 15 wt% and the characteristics of the nanomaterials were also examined. The physical and chemical properties of the materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction, diffuse-reflectance UV-Vis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and gas sorption analyses. The morphology of the synthesized materials was characterized through scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The photocatalytic performance of the prepared materials was quantified through the photocatalytic degradation of methyl violet (MV) under irradiation with UV and visible light. It was found that PCHs exhibit greatly improved physicochemical characteristics as photocatalysts, resulting in boosting photocatalytic activity for the degradation of MV. It was found that varied synthesis methods and Zn content strongly affected the specific surface area, pore distribution, and band gap energy of PCHs. In addition, the band gap energy was found to govern the photoactivity. Additionally, the surface parameters of the PCHs were found to contribute to the degradation mechanism. It was found that the prepared PCHs demonstrated excellent photocatalytic activity and reusability, as seen in the high degradation efficiency attained at high concentrations. No significant changes in activity were seen until five cycles of photodegradation were done.

Proximate and Mineral Nutrition of Common Bean Genotypes as Influenced by Harvesting Time

Common bean is the most consumed legume by humans and hence significant for global food security and nutritive value mainly iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn). The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of harvesting time and genotypes on proximate and mineral composition of common bean. Two field experiments were carried out in Sebele (24o33′S, 25o54′E, 994 m above sea level) horticultural fields during summer 2018/2019. Treatments included two common bean genotypes DAB 564 (white) or 520 (red) and three harvesting stages as the early, mid and late season harvest. In both seasons, genotype and harvesting time significantly (P < 0.05) influenced proximate, macro and micro mineral composition of common bean seeds. Generally genotypes studied had a sufficient amount of proximate and mineral content with crude protein, iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) content as the most abundant minerals at a range between 20-22%, 33-101 mg g-1 and 41-45 mg g-1, respectively across harvesting times. Genotype DAB 564 (white coloured) significantly (P < 0.05) produced seeds with the highest concentration of proximate and mineral contents especially zinc (45 mg g-1) and iron (70 mg g-1) content irrespective of season. Harvesting common bean seed early or mid-stage produced high seed concentration of proximate, micro and macro mineral content across genotype or season.

Effect of Zn-Rich Wheat Bran With Different Particle Sizes on the Quality of Steamed Bread

Bran is the main by-product of wheat milling and the part of the grain with the highest Zn content. We investigated the effects of the particle sizes (coarse, D50 = 375.4 ± 12.3 μm; medium, D50 = 122.3 ± 7.1 μm; and fine, D50 = 60.5 ± 4.2 μm) and addition level (5–20%) of Zn-biofortified bran on the quality of flour and Chinese steamed bread. It was studied to determine if the Zn content of steamed bread could be enhanced without deleterious effects on quality. Dough pasting properties, such as peak viscosity, trough viscosity, final viscosity, breakdown, and setback, decreased significantly as the bran addition level was increased from 5 to 20% but did not significantly differ as a result of different bran particle sizes. Bran incorporation significantly increased hardness, gumminess, chewiness, and adhesiveness, whereas the springiness, cohesiveness, and specific volume of steamed bread decreased with the increase in bran addition. The optimal sensory score of steamed bread samples in the control and Zn fertilizer groups were obtained under 5% bran addition resulting in comparable flavor, and texture relative to control. Meanwhile, the Zn content of the steamed bread in the Zn fertilizer group was 40.2 mg/kg, which was 55.8% higher than that in the control group. Results indicated that adding the appropriate particle size and amount of bran would be an effective and practical way to solve the problem of the insufficient Zn content of steamed bread.

The Effect of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles for Enhancing Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Yield and Quality

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have been applied widely in agriculture, and many studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of ZnO NPs on plant growth. So far, few studies have been investigated with regard to the potential effect of ZnO NPs on cereal yield formation or Zn content in grains. Herein, we used a pot experiment, which was conducted involving five dosages of Zn (0.3, 0.6, 1.2, 2.4, and 4.8 g Zn pot−1), to evaluate the impacts which ZnO NPs made in rice yield, dry matter accumulation, rice quality and grain Zn contents. The results demonstrated that ZnO NPs increased the production of grain, dry matter accumulation and particulate Zn content. Compared with control treatment, ZnO NPs application presented higher rice yield with more panicle number (4.83–13.14%), spikelets per panicle (4.81–10.69%), 1000-grain weight (3.82–6.62%) and filled grain rate (0.28–2.36%). Additionally, the dry jointing, heading and mature periods, LAI, SPAD values, and photosynthetic potentials of ZnO NPs were all significantly higher relative to treatment without ZnO NPs. The more photosynthetic substances and higher dry matter accumulated in the whole rice growing stage resulted in higher rice grain yield. Furthermore, ZnO NPs increased brown rice rate, milled rice rate, head rice rate, chalkiness size, chalkiness grain rate, chalkiness degree, amylose content and protein content, improving rice processing and appearance qualities. For the Zn nutrition in rice grain, ZnO NPs application significantly increased the Zn content of edible polished rice and promoted the relocation of Zn from the aleurone layer. This study effectively demonstrated that ZnO NPs could be a potential high-performed fertiliser for enhancing rice yield and quality.

Genesis of the Weizigou Au Deposit, Heilongjiang Province, NE China: Constraints from LA-ICP-MS Trace Element Analysis of Magnetite, Pyrite and Pyrrhotite, Pyrite Re-Os Dating and S-Pb Isotopes

The Weizigou Au deposit in Heilongjiang Province, NE China, located in the southern Jiamusi Massif, shows similarities to IOCG deposits. To determine the mineralization age, sources of ore-forming materials and genetic type, pyrite Re-Os dating, S-Pb isotopic analysis, in situ sulfur analysis and LA-ICP-MS analysis of trace elements in magnetite, pyrite and pyrrhotite were conducted. Four pyrite samples yielded a Re-Os isochron age of 197 ± 11 Ma, implying the occurrence a metallogenic event in the Early Jurassic. The δ34S values of sulfides display a relatively narrow range from 4.70‰ to 12.83‰ (mainly 9.90‰ to 12.83‰), which may be accounted for the extensively exposed granitic gneiss and meta-gabbro, with δ34S values of 7.44‰ to 8.44‰ and 4.37‰ to 10.54‰, respectively. Sulfide lead isotopic compositions have 206Pb/204Pb = 18.605–20.136, 207Pb/204Pb = 15.637–15.710 and 208Pb/204Pb = 38.534–39.129, indicating that the lead was derived from a mixed source. Magnetite has the characteristics of a lower Ti content and higher Zn content, indicating that it should be of hydrothermal origin, which may be related to IOCG-type mineralization. Pyrite and pyrrhotite have a Co/Ni ratio greater than 1 and a lower As content, indicating that they are of magmatic hydrothermal origin. Integrating the above analysis results, we inferred that the Weizigou Au deposit experienced the IOCG-type mineralization in the Middle-Late Permian, associated with magmatic-hydrothermal mineralization in the Early Jurassic.