Sugar Tech最新文献

Atrazine, a triazine herbicide, is extensively utilized globally owing to its cost-effectiveness and high efficacy in weed control. Despite these advantages, atrazine’s substantial stability in soil and aquatic environments poses significant challenges for degradation, leading to environmental contamination. Residual atrazine can seriously affect the quality and yield of later crops, especially beet. Consequently, it is necessary to explore economical and efficient methodologies for atrazine degradation. This paper presents a comprehensive review of various atrazine degradation techniques in soil and water, along with the latest research progress. These methods are critically evaluated in terms of their advantages, disadvantages and potential applications, which provided a theoretical foundation for guiding future research directions in this area.

Guangxi is China’s largest province for sugarcane and sugar production. In China, sugarcane is predominantly grown through monocropping. Most sugarcane fields have undergone over 30 years of continuous cultivation and long-term chemical fertilization, which has resulted in severe soil degradation. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play a vital role in promoting plant nutrient absorption, enhancing plant stress resistance, and improving soil fertility. However, AM fungi are highly susceptible to influences from cultivation practices especially chemical fertilization in agricultural ecosystems. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of different chemical fertilization rates on the AM fungal communities in the rhizosphere soil of ratoon sugarcane, to provide a theoretical basis for further utilizing AM fungi to improve sugarcane yield and soil nutrient utilization. In this study, two sugarcane varieties, GT58 and GT29, were used as the experimental materials under four different chemical fertilization rates of a compound fertilizer: A (0.0 kg/ha), B (562.5 kg/ha with N 95.6 kg/ha, P 39.4 kg/ha, K 95.6 kg/ha), C (1125.0 kg/ha with N 191.3 kg/ha, P 78.8 kg/ha, K 191.3 kg/ha), and D (2250.0 kg/ha with N 382.5 kg/ha, P 157.5 kg/ha, K 382.5 kg/ha). The results show that chemical fertilizer application tended to improve the cane yield with the fertilizer application rate, and the effect was statistically significant in C and D treatments for GT58 as compared with control. High chemical fertilization caused soil acidification and phosphorus accumulation. Compared to no fertilizer control, the soil pH in the rhizosphere of GT29 and GT58 was significantly decreased from 4.79 and 4.68 to 4.29 and 4.32, respectively, while available phosphorus content increased significantly from 16.43 and 9.11 mg/kg to 32.13 and 30.69 mg/kg, respectively, under high chemical fertilization condition. Increased chemical fertilization also inhibited the mycorrhizal colonization in roots of sugarcane to varying degrees. The dominant genera in the AM fungal communities in the rhizosphere soil of both varieties was Glomus. However, the sensitivity of the AM fungal communities to the rates of chemical fertilization differed between sugarcane varieties, with GT29 being more stable. The α diversity in rhizosphere soil of GT29 showed no significant change, whereas that of GT58 showed a significant decrease under high chemical fertilization condition. In conclusion, high chemical fertilization reduced the α diversity of AM fungal communities in the rhizosphere soil, causing soil degradation, while moderate chemical fertilization is beneficial to the sustainable sugarcane production.

The production of polysaccharides through submerged fermentation using a sole corn steep liquor (CSL) medium with Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris GDMCC 5270) has been successfully demonstrated. Single-factor experiments and orthogonal optimization of culture conditions were conducted for analysis. The results indicated that the optimal fermentation conditions for C. militaris polysaccharides (CMP) were 6% (6 mL/100 mL) corn steep liquor, a 7% (7 mL/100 mL) inoculation amount, and 0.10% inorganic salt (KH₂PO₄: MgSO₄ = 1:1). The fermentation yield of CMP was 1.185 g/L, which was 20.43% higher than that of the conventional group. Ultraviolet and FTIR spectroscopy analyses confirmed that CMP was a nucleic acid- and protein-free β-pyranose. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations revealed that the CMP surface was rough, irregularly connected, and contains voids, exhibited a relatively compact polysaccharide structure. In vitro antioxidant assays demonstrated that CMP possessed significant antioxidant activity and could serve as a potential source of functional food. These results provide a novel approach to enhance the production of CMP using CSL as a medium, and explored promising biological activity and economic potential of Cordyceps militaris polysaccharides.

The present investigation was focused on determining the effect of the addition of blended spice oleoresins to jaggery cubes and to determine the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of blended spice-flavoured jaggery cubes during storage. The storage studies were conducted by packaging the jaggery cubes in laminated and craft paper pouches for a period of up to 270 days. The experimental data revealed that the moisture content of blended spice-flavoured jaggery cubes increased from 4.56 to 7.13% when packaged in laminated pouches and from 5.62 to 8.93% for control jaggery cubes packaged in paper pouches. Similarly, the changes in hygroscopicity, hardness, sucrose, reducing sugars and acidity were found to be significantly lower for blended spice-flavoured jaggery cubes packaged in laminated pouches than for control jaggery cubes stored in paper pouches. Blended spice-flavoured jaggery cubes packaged in laminated pouches exhibited the lowest reduction in total phenolics from 791.55 to 745.27 mg GAE/100 g and flavonoids from 243.13 to 229.84 mg QE/100 g after 270 days of storage. The sensory evaluation of the jaggery cubes revealed that a minimum reduction in overall acceptability score from 8.80 to 8.47 was observed for blended spice-flavoured jaggery cubes packaged in laminated pouches while a maximum reduction from 5.60 to 5.01 was observed for control jaggery cubes packaged in paper pouches. The storage studies concluded that the blended spice-flavoured jaggery cubes packaged in laminated pouches exhibited good storage stability for up to 240 days under ambient conditions.

Jaggery, a traditional sweetener derived from sugarcane, is valued for its nutritional benefits and comes in three forms: solid jaggery, liquid jaggery, and jaggery powder. Unlike refined sugar cubes, which lack nutrients and provide only empty calories, jaggery cubes retains a higher nutritional content, making it a healthier alternative. This study presents a manually operated machine designed to produce compressed jaggery cubes from jaggery powder, specifically selected for its particle size (less than 0.300 mm) and moisture content (7.00%). The machine demonstrated impressive performance, achieving a capacity of 5.04 kg/h and an efficiency of 98.33%, producing approximately 20 jaggery cubes weighing 6 g each in about 85 s. A physico-chemical analysis of the dried jaggery cubes (at 80 °C) revealed favorable results, including moisture content ranging from 1.92 to 1.99%, true volume of 34 × 10^–8 m³, density of 1.60 g/cc, and a pH of 5.71.Additionally, electrical conductivity was measured at 2.69 µS/cm, with total soluble solids (°Brix) at 94.77. These findings highlight the machine's efficiency and the potential of jaggery cubes as a nutritious sweetening alternative.

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a key bioenergy crop due to its high sugar yield and biomass. Biofuel production efficiency depends on cell wall composition, which affects biomass digestibility and fermentation. Cell walls are formed by the polymerization of biosynthetic products, such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, and modified by regulatory factors and enzymes. Proteomics has advanced our understanding of cell wall remodelling through the identification of key proteins. Comparative studies using model organisms such as Arabidopsis thaliana, Populus trichocarpa, and Brachypodium distachyon have revealed candidate genes and proteomes that can improve sugarcane’s bioenergy traits. Key discoveries include proteins involved in lignin deposition, cellulose biosynthesis, and structural components of the cell wall, alongside regulatory mechanisms at the transcriptional level. Further integration of functional genomics and proteomics can help develop sugarcane varieties with higher biomass, lower recalcitrance, and greater saccharification efficiency, facilitating sustainable lignocellulosic biofuel production. This paper reviews recent findings and discusses the potential for genetic manipulation and proteomics in enhancing sugarcane as a bioenergy crop.

In this research, a series of experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of the dissolved solids (brix) composition of the alkalized juice on the impurities sedimentation in the raw sugar manufacturing process. For this purpose, discontinuous sedimentation tests were carried out in graduated cylinders with industrial juices prepared at different brix. The results showed that sludge compaction and turbidity removal decreased by 5% and settling rate by 30% if the juice brix varied from 13 to 15°Bx. A mathematical regression model was used to correlate the settling rate with the juice brix with excellent goodness-of-fit. This mathematical model showed that the dependence of the settling rate on the juice brix was non-linear. The settling rate was most sensitive when the juice brix varied between 10 and 14°Bx, which means that small changes in brix in this range have a large effect on the clarification performance. The results provided a better understanding of this influence and constitute valuable experimental evidence as references for a better operation and operational control of this process.

Enhancing the sugar yield in sugarcane is considered a huge challenge due to the inherent complexity of its metabolic pathways and genomic organization. The incorporation of novel isomerase enzymes encoded through the Sweet Sucrose Isomerase Gene III (SSGIII) emerged as a promising strategy to augment sugar recovery percentage. This study meticulously engineered the SSGIII, optimized for expression in sugarcane, and subsequently introduced it into plant expression vectors under the influence of single and double promoter systems in conjunction with vacuole-targeted signal peptides at the 3′ end. The real-time PCR (RT-PCR) manifested the increased expression of SSGIII in sugarcane stalks relative to the leaves recommending a tissue-specific enhancement of sugar metabolism. The tested transgenic lines, SS-70, SS-55, SS-111, upheld very high level of sweetness in sugarcane. Transgenic line SS-220 transformed with triple gene constructs exhibited the maximum level of enhancement in sugar contents with a 27% improvement than13% over control line. This unprecedented augmentation was also seen to increase with maturity while reached optimum at the age of 18 months, underscoring the developmental dynamics influencing gene efficacy. The elite sugarcane line SS-220 displayed the highest Isomaltulose concentration (650 mM), substantiating the potential of triple gene constructs for maximal metabolic redirection. Furthermore, the Brix analysis corroborated these findings, exhibiting a surge in sugar content encompassing over 100% in transgenic lines relative to control plants. This investigation highlights the transformation potential of leveraging tailored genetic modifications, through the strategic deployment of SSGIII under diverse promoter systems, to significantly elevate sugar content in sugarcane. These advancements not only enhance the economic viability of sugarcane cultivation but also pave the way for future biotechnological interventions in crop improvement.

Unburned sugarcane harvesting has become a reality in Brazil, bringing impacts on sugarcane cultivation that are still not fully understood. This study evaluates the long-term impact (32 years) of different sugarcane harvesting systems—burned (B), unburned (U), and their alternation—on crop productivity, juice and stalk technological parameters, and soil micronutrient and organic carbon (OC) levels. The experiment, initiated in 1989, covered four cultivation cycles in Espírito Santo—Brazil. The experimental area comprised five blocks with four plots. Treatments included unburned harvesting, burned harvesting, and their alternations during the cycles. Evaluations were carried out in 2021, on the 5th ratoon of the fourth cycle. Productivity and technological quality of the juice and stalk were analyzed. Soil samples were collected at different depths and analyzed for OC content and the micronutrients B, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn. Harvesting method combinations did not affect the productivity of dry leaves, tops, or stalks, nor the technological parameters. Average B and Fe contents were adequate, while Cu, Mn, and Zn were below recommended levels. The contents of Cu, Fe and Mn varied significantly between harvesting systems. While the harvesting systems over 32 years did not influence the productivity and technological parameters of the crop, the levels of micronutrient, except for B and Zn, and OC were affected by the different harvesting approaches. Although burned systems showed some positive responses, their continued use is not recommended due to environmental concerns. Sustainable alternatives should be prioritized to ensure long-term soil health and sugarcane viability.

Saccharum spontaneum, a wild progenitor of sugarcane, serves as a vital source of genes for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, particularly tolerance to water stress. To assess the drought tolerance potential of Saccharum spontaneum, 40 accessions along with two checks were evaluated in four environments for four drought-related traits, namely fresh biomass per clump (FBM), dry biomass per clump (DBM), tiller number per clump (TILL), and stalk height (SH) under control and drought treatments. Significant reductions in trait values were observed in each of these traits, and analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the accessions for stress tolerance and differential performance of accessions in control and drought. Among five computed stress tolerance indices for four traits, drought tolerance coefficient (DC) and geometric mean productivity (GMP) were uncorrelated, and promising genotypes were selected based on an integrated comprehensive index termed as membership function value for drought tolerance (MFVD) for each trait and across the traits. Considering environment-wise and pooled multivariate analyses, accessions IND 04–1372, IND 99–847, IND 99–850, IND 99–984, and IND 03–1307 were considered to be tolerant to drought and could serve as potential parents for trait introgression through developing trait-specific genetic stocks via interspecific hybridization.