Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences最新文献

The present research aimed to develop gluten-free biscuits from corn-based flour which was partially substituted with 5, 10, 15, or 20 % of either crushed, shell-less walnuts (WN), peanuts (PN), or their combination (1:1). Proximate analysis, physical and organoleptic properties of the biscuits developed were evaluated. Biscuit quality criteria were significantly improved by increasing the concentrations of WN, PN, or their combination. The content of fat, protein, crude fiber and ash increased as the levels of walnut, peanut, or their combination increased. The fat content of the gluten-free biscuits increased by 237.3, 148.1, and 188.9% when 20 % of the corn meal was replaced with WN, PN or their combination, respectively. Likewise, increases in protein were 129.1, 186.2 and 159.7 %, respectively. Furthermore, biscuit energy content was increased with all nut formulations, but increases were more obvious in those with WN, particularly at 15 and 20 %. A distinctly nutty flavor appeared in gluten-free biscuits supplemented with WN, PN, and their combination, and this desirable flavor was enhanced by increasing the nut content. Biscuits prepared from WN, PN, and a combination of both at 15 to 20 % were the most preferred formulation in terms of nutritional value and sensory criteria. Taking into account the cost of WN and PN, biscuits prepared with corn flour substituted with 15% nuts are recommended for celiac patients.

Proanthocyanidin is a phenolic compound in red sorghum grains that is popular as an antioxidant agent for food, supplement, and nutraceuticals. The development of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of proanthocyanidins (PA) from the grains is needed to maximize its potency. The performance of MAE was evaluated to accelerate the extraction by applying different MAE’s power ratings and citric acid (CA) concentrations in aquadest as a safe solvent. This research analyzed the MAE performance in various powers and CA concentrations using Peleg's and Newton’s law as the model approaches. The increase of PA content during MAE was evaluated as the effect of microwave power (640 W, 720 W, and 800 W) and the CA concentration (0%, 1%, and 2%). Using Peleg’s model, the initial extraction rates were stretched between 2.3 × 10^-3 to 10.6 × 10^-3 mg/ml.minute. The maximum capacity of each extraction ranged from 0.92 to 1.80 ml/mg. The increase of MAE power and CA concentration affected the increase of the initial extraction rate and the maximum extraction capacity. Peleg’s model illustrated a more complete and precise description of the effect of MAE power and CA concentration on the extraction rate and the maximum capacity of extraction than Newton’s model. Peleg’s model was also more accurate than Newton’s model in predicting the PA concentration during MAE, although both of them gave a good match in describing the MAE’s performance.

A detailed study was conducted on micropropagation of two elite date palm cvs. Samany and Bertamoda using immature spikelet explants. Initially the callus cultures were established using spikelet explants of immature spathes (avg. 15 cm). Initiation medium containing 0.5 mg L^-1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 3.0 mg L^-1 2-isopentenyl adenine (2iP) induced significantly highest callus in cv. Samany (95%) followed by cv. Bertamoda (81%). Medium containing micro and macronutrients of MS, vitamins of MS, 30 g L^-1 sucrose, 100 mg L^-1 myo-inositol, 200 mg L^-1 L-Glutamine_, 0.05 mg L^-1 2,4-D, 3.0 mg L^-1 2iP, 3 g L^-1 Activated Charcoal (AC) induced white friable embryogenic callus in cv. Samany (84%) and in cv. Bertamoda (69%). Significantly highest multiplication of somatic embryos was obtained in cv. Samany (85%) and in cv. Bertamoda (76%) on the medium containing 0.1 mg L^-1 naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), 0.1 mg L^-1 Kinetin (Kin) under light. Leaf number, leaf length, root number and root length as significantly highest values were obtained on the medium containing 0.1 mg L^-1 BA, 0.1 mg L^-1 NAA. Root trimming of primary single root resulted in production of multiple roots in each plantlet. The in vitro hardening supported to select healthy plantlets to be able to grow vigorously in greenhouse. Soil mixture based on peatmoss, river sand, hill sand (4:1:1 v/v) resulted in significantly highest survival (91%) of plantlets in greenhouse during acclimatization. Micropropagated plants (45 cm in height) with 3-4 compound leaves grown in the greenhouse were transferred in the open field for tree and fruit evaluation. Results showed that cvs. Samany and Bertamoda produced true-to-type fruits after three years of plantations in open field. Fruits of cv. Samany were harvested at late khalal stage and utilized to make Chhuhara (boiled/ dried dates) which showed excellent quality. Micropropagation of elite date cultivars is need of the time which will boost varietal structure in the area.

One of the main challenges that hinder wheat cultivation is weeds through its competitiveness to obtain the essential requirements of growth as most growers claimed that no efficient method can be applied to increase the nutritional value of wheat grains. Therefore, current study aims to increase the nutritional content of wheat using different methods during the development of growth stages. A field experiment was conducted in Zulele village, Babylon province during 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 season to achieve the object above. Treatments and combinations of the experiment (manual weeds removal, herbicides, seeding rate and nano-nutrients) were arranged using randomized complete block design (R.C.B.D) with four replicates. Results showed that there were significant differences between treatments and combinations as Navigator + IQ combi and Weed free + IQ combi combinations with 180 kg.h⁻¹ seeding rate were exceeded and gave the highest average of the percentage of carbohydrates, protein, gluten, total amino acids and tryptophan, also gave the lowest percentage of ash compare to control combination with 140 kg.h⁻¹ seeding rate. The use of Navigator or Surage (Herbicides) or Weed free together with foliar nano-nutrients was improved the nutritional content of wheat grains.

Bio-based fungicides with nanotechnology delivery systems employing bacterial products, such as antifungal compounds, could be an alternative substitution for synthetic fungicides. Antifungal activity of extract from B. subtilis strain CR.9 and its nanoemulsion formula using medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) and Tween-80 was evaluated in vitro and in planta effectiveness against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. glycines associated with soybean plants. For this purpose, the antifungal compounds from bacterial culture were recovered using ethyl acetate as an organic solvent. The fungitoxic activity of antifungal compounds strains CR.9 demonstrated fungal growth inhibition at 394.12 µg/mL (IC₅₀), 250 µg/mL (MIC_EE), and 100 µg/mL (MIC_nanoemulsion), respectively. The EtOAc extract (EE)-nanoemulsion formula developed with a ratio of 2:1 (MCT: Tween-80) showed homogenous size and stability for 25 days without creaming, sedimentation, or separate layers. Moreover, seedlings treatment and soil amendment of EE-nanoemulsion performed high efficacy in suppressing wilt and in agreement with commercial fungicide, Dithane M−45. Overall, the antifungal properties of strain CR.9 may have potency as a bio-based fungicide in plant diseases biocontrol strategy.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of nitrogen mineral fertilizer on the vegetative growth of citrus as well as on the densities and population dynamics of the main aphid species Aphis spiraecola Patch (Hemiptera, Aphididae). Two trials were conducted on clementine trees, Citrus clementina Hort. ex Tan., in 2016 and 2017 in Tunisia. The quantities of nitrogen delivered varied from the control to the triple recommended dose of nitrogen (3ARD) in a complete randomized block design. Results showed that all vegetative growth parameters evaluated for the clementine trees responded positively to the amount of nitrogen supplied. The highest values were obtained with the highest Nitrogen doses in both years. A positive response also was observed for aphids for all doses, with densities increasing proportionally to Nitrogen inputs. The highest dose (3ARD) increased aphid populations by 3 times compared to the control. The aphid population dynamics differed between the two years, probably under the influence of other factors such as rainfall. Thus, too much nitrogen should be avoided in citrus orchards. The control of aphids with the aim to reduce insecticide sprays cannot be separated from the management of nitrogen fertilization.

Global olive oil demand is rising; hence production has been expanding, resulting in a considerable liquid waste known as olive mill wastewater (OMW) or Zibar, which has an adverse environmental impact as it contains a variety of pollutants. Proper control and treatment before disposal are essential. This study reviews the availability of international legislation and alternative techniques implemented worldwide to ensure safe OMW disposal and its applicability in hot climatic regions. Safe OMW disposal provides sustainable waste management throughout the entire chain of olive oil production. Three alternative techniques derived from legislations from high olive oil-producing countries have been evaluated using the strength, weakness, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis by evaluating internal factors and investigating external factors to derive valuable strategies using Jordan as a case study. Those alternatives are switching to a two-phase continuous centrifugation system, land spreading, and lime pretreatment. The SWOT analyses yielded that shifting towards using a two-phase system would be a viable option for attracting funding agencies; the land spreading option can be applied if the risk of groundwater contamination is minimal, such as in the southern region of Jordan. Finally, before the evaporation ponds, lime pretreatment is a good option if the produced OMW is enormous such as the case in the northern region of Jordan, which has the highest mills number and produces a massive amount of OMW of about 66.3% of the total amount generated in Jordan.

In fluctuating thermal conditions, the survival challenge for insects is particularly difficult because their physiological activities depend upon environmental temperature. The extreme temperature or heat stress leads to the insect species' extinction and evolution in adaptation strategies. Upon extreme heat, many insect species cannot survive, because they do not possess sufficient heat tolerance during gradual heat stress in their habitat. In the current review, we demonstrated the physiological process which triggers responses toward heat stressed environments and engenders the heat tolerance capacities in ectothermic insects including the nervous system response to detect heat, metabolic mechanism in response to heat stress, silk shelters behavior during thermal changes, host plant preferences, microhabitat selection, thermoregulatory behavior and thermal acclimation response under the heat stress. This review highlighted that besides the insect’s responses regulated by varied physiological mechanisms, heat shock proteins (HSPs) still needs proper investigations. Entrenched in geographical distributions and microhabitat selection, we discussed the adaptation strategies and physiological and behavioral mechanisms that evolved due to heat stress. Many insect species cope with heat stress with the help of phenotype plasticity and genetic variations. The plasticity mechanisms are not sufficient alone to avoid extreme temperatures in insect populations. There is still need to explore how insects respond to thermal changes by using advanced genetic variation methods in both hot and cold-adapted insect species. This review enriched the new insight to improve the researcher’s understanding of distinct responses and evolutionary consequences of insect responses and thermal adaptations under the changing climate.

The poor dispersibility of coconut protein (CP) as a byproduct of industrial coconut oil production limits its use in food. In this study, we aimed to characterize the physicochemical properties of CP and improve its solubility and dispersion using pH, NaCl, and xanthan gum (XG) in the concentrations used in food. Compared with other CPs, this CP had a high fat:protein ratio, with 42% protein, 15% fat, and 32% carbohydrate (wet basis). After spray drying, increases in crystallinity and in starch–lipid interaction or starch–protein–lipid interaction in the CP powder were observed using X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared. The CP particles had a rough, irregular shape, with a wide distribution without surface cracks, and contained oil bodies. CP suspension with 2% protein was investigated. Increasing pH to 6.2 and adding 0.4–0.5 M NaCl increased the protein solubility because the pH was far from the isoelectric point, and salting-in effect occurred. However, precipitation of the CP suspension was observed. Adding 0.4% XG to CP suspension produced fluid-like behavior without precipitation by increasing the viscosity and the negative charge of surface particles. Thus, a CP–XG suspension with 2% protein could be used in the food industry, such as in protein drinks.