Annals of Agricultural Science最新文献

Iron (Fe) plays a pivotal role in biogeochemical cycling in the soil-plant-human continuum; however, much research has focused on Fe deficiency with limited knowledge about Fe toxicity impacts on micronutrient (e.g., zinc: Zn) accumulation in cassava, an important staple tuber food in the Tropics. A sand-hydroponic-hybrid technique was undertaken for 60 days to investigate the effects of variable Fe concentrations (0.1–500 μmol Fe L⁻¹) on the root-proton and root-organic acid release, rhizosphere Fe solubility, and levels of cassava nutrient accumulation. The results showed that high Fe concentrations (50–500 μmol Fe L⁻¹) significantly decreased the root (0.34–0.51 g dry weight) biomass compared to the control (0.82–0.83 g dry weight). The Fe concentrations significantly regulated the net proton release from the roots by upregulating (25–45 μmol L⁻¹ h⁻¹ g⁻¹ fresh weight root) and downregulating (1.8–7.1 μmol L⁻¹ h⁻¹ g⁻¹ fresh weight root) the net proton efflux at low (1.0 μmol Fe L⁻¹) and high Fe concentrations (500 μmol Fe L⁻¹), respectively. Succinic acid was the sole organic acid observed and only in the Fe-sensitive cultivar. The water-extractable Fe in the rhizosphere sand (average 3.37 mg kg⁻¹) was lower than in the bulk sand (average 5.31 mg kg⁻¹), indicating that net proton efflux controlled rhizosphere Fe solubility. The high Fe concentrations significantly decreased Zn accumulation (20–29 mg Zn kg⁻¹) but increased phosphorus (P) accumulation (2.7–3.4 g P kg⁻¹) in the roots compared to the control (48–59 mg Zn kg⁻¹ and 2.0–2.3 g P kg⁻¹, respectively), implying that Fe toxicity could be responsible for the undernourished Zn content in the tuber. This study suggested the importance of alleviating Fe toxicity in soil-plant systems to mitigate cassava root Zn deficiency, which is relevant to human Zn malnutrition in countries consuming cassava as the main staple diet.

Study aimed to investigate the impact of long-term high ambient temperature (HAT) exposure and dietary antioxidant supplementation (elevated levels and in combination) on nutrient digestibility, metabolism and immune response of pigs. A total of 36 Danbred barrows (65.1 ± 2.81 kg) were allotted to four treatments: Trm1: HAT (28.9 ± 0.9 °C) + control diet (CD); Trm2: HAT + elevated vitamin C and E and Se and Zn; Trm3: HAT + further elevated vitamin C and E and Se and Zn; and Trm4: thermo-neutral ambient temperature (19.5 ± 0.9 °C) + CD. Nutrients (DM, CP, Cfat, CF, CA, GE) and minerals (Ca, P, Na, Zn, Se) digestibility were determined. Plasma metabolite and cytokine concentrations were investigated from the blood samples collected on d 15 and 28. Heat shock proteins (HSP 70 and 90) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) expressions were investigated from jejunum samples of pigs. HAT did not significantly affect pigs' nutrient digestibility and retention (P > 0.05). However, Trm2 pigs had greater digestibility in terms of DM, CF, Ca, Zn, Se and retention of Ca, Zn, Na, and Se than Trm1 and Trm4 groups. Trm3 pigs had significantly higher (P < 0.05) creatinine concentrations than Trm4 pigs. HAT did not significantly affect the expression of cytokines; however, vitamins and micro-minerals supplementation in the diet significantly (P < 0.05) improved interleukin (IL) 10 expression, reduced TNF-α, and HSP70 expressions. Vitamin and micro-mineral fortified diet can improve pigs' nutrient and mineral digestibility and could alleviate inflammatory response in pigs exposed to HAT.

Jerusalem artichoke is known as a good source of inulin beside other essential bioactive molecules that may promote human health. In the present study the Jerusalem artichoke powder (JAP) was used for fortification of dumplings' dough in different incorporation levels (2, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 %). Furthermore, the physicochemical, rheological, and organoleptic characteristics have been evaluated for the fortified dumplings and developing a novel and functional an inulin-rich dumplings' dough. Jerusalem artichoke showed a fiber content (21.4 ± 0.26 %) with high content of inulin and pectin (38.70 ± 0.19 % and 13.5 ± 0.36 % out of total carbohydrates respectively). JAP containing calcium, potassium and iron (3.9, 2.75 and 7.48 times respectively) more than wheat flour. Thiamin, riboflavin and niacin showed a content 4.47, 84.5 and 5.7 times higher than wheat flour. JAP is containing an ascorbic acid (23.57 ± 2.15 mg/100) and β-carotene (57.14 ± 1.45 mg/100 g) which are not existing in wheat flour. Adding up to 7.5 % of Jerusalem artichoke powder improved the rheological and organoleptic properties of dough. The fortified dumplings' dough prepared with 7.5 % of JAP recorded the highest sensory score (∼8 out of 9) and preferred by the panelists. In conclusion the fortification of dumpling's dough with up to 7.5 % JAP has improved the nutritional, rheological and organoleptic properties of the product which is promising for a wider application in different functional bakery products.

Globally, around 800 million hectares are affected by salinity. This abiotic stress causes plant growth inhibition, disruptions in physiological processes in plant cells, and yield losses in many crops. Sunflower is the third-most oilseed crop globally produced, and it is considered moderately tolerant to salinity. There are few studies about the genotypic variability existing in sunflower for responses to salinity, especially the changes in yield and oil content and quality under salinity. The present work aimed to study the effects of salinity on achene yield in four sunflower genotypes and their components and on the oil content and quality and their relationships. Four sunflower hybrids (ACA885, TRITON MAX, SRM769 and SRM779) were grown at 130 mM NaCl irrigation solution under controlled environmental conditions. The achene yield, the yield components, and the content and oil quality were determined. Based on the four studied genotypes, salinity decreased achene yield by 75.1 %. SRM779CL had a lower achene yield reduction by salinity. Yield component that most explained this tolerance was the number of achenes per plant. SRM779CL was the hybrid with the highest oil percentage loss. Contrarily, salinity increased the oil content in ACA885. Salinity decreased the ratio between oleic (18:1) and linoleic acid (18:2) in all genotypes. Therefore, salt stress increased the percentage of unsaturations in the four genotypes examined in this work. Finally, considering the 12 parameters measured, principal components analysis could determine that SRM779CL showed the best performance under control conditions while ACA885 was the most tolerant under salinity.

African swine fever is an important viral disease of domestic pigs and wild boars. Inactivation of the African swine fever virus (ASFV) contaminating equipment and premises is an effective biosecurity risk management measure to prevent the introduction of ASFV through contaminated fomites and the environment. Even though some chemical agents' virucidal activity against ASFV was previously demonstrated, compound disinfectants are still limited. For the fact that the ASFV titer in some excretions from pigs was far >4 log. Even after the application of disinfectants as instructed by the manufacturers, the excessive ASFV load in the excretions from pigs could contaminate fomites or the environment. To solve this dilemma, the concept of contact time of disinfectant for 1–log reduction was introduced, as the decimal reduction time or D value. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the inactivation rate of four compound disinfectants against ASFV as the D value. Four compound disinfectants (iodine and phenol, quaternary ammonium and alcohol, and two quaternary ammonium and glutaraldehyde compounds) currently used in the veterinary field were evaluated in a suspension test at 25 °C in the absence of interfering substances. Primary porcine alveolar macrophages were used to determine the titer of ASFV genotype II (strain VNUA/HY-ASF1/Vietnam/2019). The virucidal activity of four compound disinfectants achieved 4–log ASFV reduction. The mean D_0.5%, D_0.25%, and D_0.125% values of all disinfectants inactivating ASFV were 1.62–3.60, 2.60–3.8, and 2.89–3.90 min, respectively. The D value of disinfectants allows users to manipulate the appropriate concentration and/or contact time of the disinfectant, depending on the magnitude of ASFV contamination, to completely inactivate the ASFV titer on the fomites to minimise a potential biosecurity risk.

Calcium (Ca) and potassium (K) are essential nutrients for plant growth but the antagonistic effect between these nutrients may reduce crop yield. A two–year field trial was carried out in a loamy sand soil to evaluate cassava response to Ca (0, 50, 100, and 200 kg ha⁻¹, as ground limestone, GL) and K (0, 50, 100, and 200 kg K₂O ha⁻¹, as potassium chloride, KCl). Calcium addition, especially 200 kg Ca ha⁻¹, adversely affected soil K availability with more pronounced on water–soluble K than on exchangeable and non–exchangeable K from day–7 onwards. Both Ca and K had no antagonistic impact on cassava. However, growth and yield responded positively to K more promptly than to Ca. Combined rates, except 100 kg Ca ha⁻¹ with no K fertilizer, significantly increased fresh tuber yield by 7.6–41.1 % over the control. To gain the highest fresh tuber yield by adding 200 kg Ca ha⁻¹, 200 kg K₂O ha⁻¹ must be implemented. This light–textured soil was physically preferable for cassava tuberization, and the optimum yield can be achieved by proper Ca and K fertilization.

Fruits of the genus Ziziphus are known for their medicinal and nutritional value. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the influence of different maturity stages (unripe, half-ripe, and ripe fruit) at harvest on the physicochemical characteristics, phytochemical composition, antioxidants, and antibacterial activities of Ziziphus mauritiana and Ziziphus spina-christi fruits. In both plant species, the unripe fruits had significantly higher (P < 0.05) phenolic and flavonoid content and antioxidant and antibacterial activity compared with ripe fruits. At all maturity stages, these features were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in Z. spina-christi fruits than in Z. mauritiana fruits. Regardless of the species, 13 phenolic compounds were identified and quantified in the fruit extracts. For both species, the concentration of individual phenolic compounds changed with fruit maturity. Among the phenolic compounds, the gallic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, salicylic acid, catechin, and rutin levels were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in Z. spina-christi fruits than those for Z. mauritiana fruits, whereas vanillic acid and quercetin showed the opposite trend. Additionally, trans-cinnamic acid was only detected in Z. spina-christi fruits. In conclusion, the mature unripe jujube fruit, especially in Z. spina-christi, was shown to be a promising source of various naturally occurring compounds of significant interest owing to its pharmacological and therapeutic properties as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic.