Minolta CR

Chlorogenic acid (CGA), one of the most abundant polyphenol compounds in nature, is regarded as a potential feed additive to promote animal health and enhance the meat products’ quality via its various biological properties. The current study aims: (1) to determine whether dietary CGA supplementation improves meat quality and muscle fiber characteristics, and (2) to ascertain whether the corresponding improvement is associated with enhancing the antioxidant capacity of the finishing pigs. Thirty-two (Large × White × Landrace) finishing pigs with an average initial body weight of 71.89 ± 0.92 kg were allotted to 4 groups, and each was fed diets supplemented with 0, 0.02, 0.04, or 0.08% (weight/weight) of CGA. The meat quality traits, muscle fiber characteristics, and the serum and muscle antioxidant capacity were assessed. Results suggested that, compared with the control group, dietary CGA supplementation at a level of 0.04% significantly decreased the b^∗ value and distinctly increased the inosinic acid content of longissimus dorsi (LD) and biceps femoris (BF) muscles (P < 0.01). Moreover, dietary supplementation with 0.04% of CGA markedly improved the amino acid composition of LD and BF muscles, as well as augmented the mRNA abundance of Nrf-2, GPX-1, MyoD, MyoG, and oxidative muscle fiber (I and IIa) in LD muscle (P < 0.05). This result indicates that a diet supplemented with 0.04% of CGA promotes myogenesis and induces a transformation toward more oxidative muscle fibers in LD muscle, subsequently improving meat quality. Besides, dietary supplementation with 0.02% and 0.04% of CGA notably enhanced the serum GSH-PX level (P < 0.01). Considering all these effects are closely related to the alteration of antioxidant activities of the finishing pigs, the underlying metabolism is likely connected to the boosting of their antioxidant capacity induced by dietary CGA.

Wenlong Wang, Chaoyue Wen, Qiuping Guo, Jianzhong Li, Shanping He, Yulong Yin. Frontiers in Physiology, 12, 2021.

Optimizing the utilization of applied nitrogen (N) in fruit trees requires N supply that is temporally matched to tree demand. We investigated how the timing of N application affected uptake, allocation, and remobilization within 14-year-old “Gala”/M26 apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh) over two seasons. In the 2017–2018 season, 30 g N tree⁻¹ of 5.5 atom% ¹⁵N–calcium nitrate was applied by weekly fertigation in four equal doses, commencing either 4 weeks after full bloom (WAFB) (pre-harvest) or 1-week post-harvest, or fortnightly, divided between pre- and post-harvest (50:50 split). Nitrogen uptake derived from fertilizer (NDF) was monitored by leaf sampling before whole trees were destructively harvested at dormancy of the first season to quantify N uptake and allocation and at fruit harvest of the second season to quantify the remobilization of NDF. The uptake efficiency of applied N fertilizer (NUpE) was significantly higher from pre-harvest (32.0%) than from the other treatments (~17%). The leaf NDF concentration, an indicator of N uptake, increased concomitantly only when pre-harvest N was applied. Pre-harvest treated trees allocated more than half of the NDF into fruit and leaves and stored the same amount of NDF into perennial organs as the post-harvest treatment. Subsequent spring remobilization of NDF was not affected by the timing of N fertigation from the previous season. A seasonal effect of remobilization was observed with a decrease in root N status and a reciprocal increase in branch N status at fruit harvest of season two. These findings represent a shift in the understanding of dynamics of N use in mature deciduous trees and indicate that current fertilizer strategies need to be adjusted from post-harvest to primarily pre-harvest N application to optimize N use efficiency. This approach can provide adequate storage N to support early spring growth the following season with no detriment to fruit quality.

Bi Zheng Tan, Dugald C. Close, Peter R. Quin, Nigel D. Swarts. Frontiers in Plant Science, 12, 2021.

With the rapid development of economy, the demand for beef, with regard to quantity and quality, by consumers has been increasing in China. Chinese native cattle are characterized by their abundant genetic resources, unique origins, large breeding stocks, and robust environmental adaptability. Thus, to explore the genetic mechanisms on regulating meat quality in Chinese native cattle is of great importance to satisfy increased requirements for beef production. In this study, we investigated three breeds of cattle, namely Yunling, Wenshan, and Simmental, at the age of 12 months. Animals were classified into three groups (n = 5/breed). Growth traits including body weight and body size and plasma hormone levels were measured. Body weight of Wenshan cattle was significantly lower than that of Yunling and Simmental cattle (P < 0.05). Again, body size indexes, such as withers height, body slanting length, chest circumference, and hip and rump length, were significantly lower in Wenshan cattle than those in Yunling and Simmental cattle (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in those indexes between Yunling and Simmental cattle (P > 0.05). Cattle were slaughtered at the age of 18 months and then meat color, pH, pressing losses, muscle tenderness, and cooking losses were measured at 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 days. Data revealed differences in meat quality among the three breeds analyzed. Based on transcriptomic sequencing and bioinformatic analysis, we observed 3,198 differentially expressed genes related to meat quality, of which 1,750 genes were upregulated. Moreover, we found two important signaling pathways closely linked to meat quality, namely adipocytokine signaling pathway [e.g., Leptin receptor (LEPR)] and protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum [e.g., signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), heat shock protein (HSPA12A), and calpain 1 (CAPN1)]. The results of transcripts were further verified by qRT-PCR. Using correlation analysis between gene expression levels and shear force, we also identified two functional genes (e.g., HSPA12A and CAPN1) associated with meat quality. Overall, this study provides new sights into novel targets and underlying mechanisms to modulate meat quality in Chinese native cattle.

Xiangren Meng, Ziwu Gao, Yusheng Liang, Chenglong Zhang, Zhi Chen, Yongjiang Mao, Bizhi Huang, Kaixing Kui, Zhangping Yang. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 7, 2020.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of diet and age on finishing performances and carcass characteristics of male Creole goats. A total of 91 weaned male Creole kids [84 days old ± 7 days, 9.2 kg live weight (LW) ± 0.5 kg] were randomly allocated in a 2 × 3 experimental design. The animals were fed individually with two diets: C0: a 28-day-old Digitaria decubens grass alone, or C50: the same grass plus a commercial concentrate (50% of the total diet) and then slaughtered at 7, 11, or 15 months of age. Significant feeding regimen and age at slaughter effects were observed on the goat carcass characteristics. The addition of concentrate improved the average daily gain (ADG), the dressing percentage, and the conformation score (1–5 scale) from 46 to 88 g/day, 52.8 to 62.4%, and 2.2 to 4.9, respectively. Moreover, carcasses of the C0 group appeared lean with less developed fat than the C50 group and lighter than visceral fat. The meat color was significantly more affected by diet than age. Our data suggested that the production of heavy carcasses with low proportions of fat in the meat is possible in this local breed. The valorization of such a forage feeding system until 11 months of age or with the addition of concentrate from 7 to 11 months of age should be evaluated economically.

Jean-Christophe Bambou, Steve Cériac, Léticia Liméa, Rémy Arquet, Bruno Bocage, Gisèle Alexandre. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8, 2021.

This study investigated the effect of hot-air and freeze-drying on the physicochemical, phytochemical and antioxidant capacity of dried pomegranate arils during long-term cold storage (7 ± 0.3 °C, with 92 ± 3% relative humidity) of whole fruit over a single experiment. Extracted arils were processed at monthly intervals during 12 weeks of cold storage of whole fruit. After the 12-week storage period, hot-air and freeze-dried arils showed the least (3.02) and highest (23.6) total colour difference (TCD), respectively. Hot-air dried arils also contained 46% more total soluble solids (TSS) than freeze-dried arils. During the storage of pomegranate fruit, total phenolic content (TPC) steadily increased from 20.9 to 23.9 mg GAE/100 mL and total anthocyanin content (TAC) increased from 6.91 to 8.77 mg C3gE /100 mL. Similarly, an increase in TPC and TAC were observed for hot-air (9.3%; 13%) and freeze-dried arils (5%; 5%), respectively. However, the radical scavenging activity (RSA) reduced by 8.5 and 17.4% for hot-air and freeze-dried arils, respectively, after 12 weeks of cold storage. Overall, the parameters such as colour, TPC and TAC as well as the lower degradation in RSA stability during storage showed distinct differences in quality when using the freeze-drying method, which is, therefore, recommended.

Adegoke Olusesan Adetoro, Umezuruike Linus Opara, Olaniyi Amos Fawole. Agriculture, 10 (11), 493, 2020.

Legumes crops play significant roles both in human diets and agriculture, and contribute to sustainable farming. In this study, we evaluated both some quality traits and yield of four landraces (Cegliese, Iambola, San Francesco, and FV5) of faba bean (Vicia faba L. var. major Harz) for fresh consumption in order to assess and distinguish the landraces also in comparison with two commercial varieties (Aguadulce supersimonia and Extra-early purple) by using a crop system without irrigation. Independently of the genotype, we obtained the same pods yield (1794 g m−2) without affecting the seed size. All genotypes can be considered a good source of vitamin C, although Extra-early purple and San Francesco reveal the highest content (703 and 646 mg 100 g−1 fresh weight—FW, respectively). Cegliese showed the highest L-dopa content (10.14 mg 100 g−1 FW), suggesting its use as a natural rich source of L-dopa (dopamine precursor used for Parkinson’s disease treatment) instead of using synthesized L-dopa. In conclusion, this study highlight interesting quality traits of faba bean when consumed as fresh vegetables, suggesting its positive role on human health and the possibility of its production by using local horticultural systems that are skilled in optimizing resource utilization.

Francesca De Cillis, Beniamino Leoni, Maria Massaro, Massimiliano Renna, Pietro Santamaria. Agriculture, 9 (12), 253, 2019.

The present study addresses the effects of Trichoderma-based biostimulants and nitrogen (N) fertilization levels on agronomic performance and functional quality of two important greenhouse leafy vegetables: lettuce and rocket. A factorial analysis of the relative effects of Trichoderma-based biostimulants (Trichoderma harzianum strain T22 and Trichoderma virens strain GV41) and N fertilization levels (sub-optimal, optimal, and supra-optimal) was carried out to evaluate crop productive behavior (marketable and unmarketable yields, leaf dry matter content, and biomass production), nitrogen nutrition (N uptake, apparent N recovery, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE)) as well as phytochemical qualitative components (antioxidant activity and total polyphenols). The soil plant analysis development (SPAD) index in both leafy vegetables and leaf colorimetry only in rocket were mainly affected by N fertilization levels but not by Trichoderma-based biostimulants. The contribution of native mineral N was 60 and 100 kg N ha−1 of the total uptake in lettuce and rocket, respectively, and N surpluses were observed in both crops, even under optimal fertilization conditions. Trichoderma virens GV41-based biostimulant increased lettuce marketable yield and biomass production, both under optimal and sub-optimal fertilization. In addition, the same treatment increased NUE up to 116% under recommended N fertilization, that was also associated to an increase in phenol content and antioxidant activity. Rocket showed a clear effect of the Trichoderma virens GV41 treatment, only in absence of fertilization, demonstrating an increase in marketable yield and N uptake. Thus, the inoculation of rocket with this Trichoderma biostimulant can be considered as a useful management tool in leafy vegetable cropping systems for the efficient use of residual fertilizers from previous crops, enhancing NUE within the crop rotations. Nevertheless, the application of microbial biostimulant treatments requires good monitoring of soil N fertility in order to avoid an overexploitation of soil N supplying potential.

Donato Visconti, Nunzio Fiorentino, Eugenio Cozzolino, Sheridan Lois Woo, Massimo Fagnano, Youssef Rouphael. Agronomy, 10 (1), 121, 2020.

Scientists, extensions specialists, and growers are seeking sustainable agricultural practices that are able to cope with these objectives in order to ensure global food security and minimize environmental damage. The use of mulching films and plant biostimulants in agriculture seems to be a valid solution for tackling these rising concerns. A greenhouse experiment was conducted in order to elucidate the morpho-physiological and nutritive characteristics of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in response to foliar application of a tropical plant extract (PE) biostimulant and the use of plastic mulches. Two biodegradable mulch treatments (Mater-Bi® 1 and Mater-Bi® 2) were compared to black polyethylene (LDPE) and bare soil. Biodegradable mulch film Mater-Bi® 1 produced a comparable marketable fresh yield to the commercial standard polyethylene (LDPE), whereas Mater-Bi® 2 exhibited the highest crop productivity. When averaged over biostimulant application, lettuce plants grown with biodegradable film Mater-Bi® 2 exhibited superior quality traits in terms of K, Ca, total ascorbic acid, and carotenoids content. The combination of film mulching (LDPE, Mater-Bi® 1 or Mater-Bi® 2) with the tropical plant extract biostimulant exhibited a positive and significant synergistic effect (+30%) on yield. The PE-biostimulant induced higher values of SPAD index and total chlorophyll content when compared to untreated greenhouse lettuce. The mineral content of leaf tissues was greater by 10% and 17% (for P and Ca, respectively) when compared to the untreated lettuce (no PE application). Nitrate content was significantly reduced by 23% in greenhouse lettuce plants receiving PE as compared to the untreated control. The positive effect of Mater-Bi® 2 film on the ascorbic acid content has also been highlighted when combined with the biostimulant application, where a major amplification of total ascorbic acid (+168%) was recorded in comparison to the untreated lettuce. Overall, our work can assist leafy vegetables growers in adopting good agricultural practices, such as biodegradable plastic mulches and vegetal-derived biostimulants, to improve the sustainability of greenhouse production.

Eugenio Cozzolino, Maria Giordano, Nunzio Fiorentino, Christophe El-Nakhel, Antonio Pannico, Ida Di Mola, Mauro Mori, Marios Kyriacou, Giuseppe Colla, Youssef Rouphael. Agronomy, 10 (3), 427, 2020.

Citrus fruits are one of the main crops produced in the world with oranges, tangerines, lemons and grapefruits being among the most important. Among them, lemons are beneficial for human health because of their antioxidant activity, phenols and vitamin C. This study evaluates three rootstocks obtained in a Spanish breeding program (Valencian Institute for Agricultural Research (IVIA)): Forner-Alcaide 5 citrus rootstock (‘FA 5’), Forner-Alcaide 13 (‘FA 13’) and Forner-Alcaide 517 (‘FA 517’) grafted onto cultivars ‘Eureka´, ‘Verna´, ‘Fino 49’ and ‘Betera´. The results determined that rootstocks have influenced cultivars in terms of a decrease in the fruit size, weight, and thickness of the peel; but has increased the percentage of juice and soluble solids. With respect to phenol content and antioxidant activity, higher values were found with all cultivars studied on rootstocks ‘FA 13’, followed by ‘FA 517’. Cultivars that were most influenced by rootstocks were ’Bétera’ and ’Eureka’ in physical properties, while in chemical properties they were ’Verna’ followed by ’Fino 49’. This investigation demonstrated the interaction of rootstocks on different cultivars in morphological, biochemical and nutraceutical characteristics.

Marlene G. Aguilar-Hernández, Lucía Sánchez-Rodríguez, Francisca Hernández, María Ángeles Forner-Giner, Joaquín J. Pastor-Pérez, Pilar Legua. Agronomy, 10 (7), 974, 2020.

The effect of six edible coatings were investigated on the ability to alleviate shrivel and extend shelf life of plums. Fruit were subjected to a simulated shipping period (−0.5 ± 2 °C and 90 ± 5% relative humidity (RH)) for five weeks and a subsequent shelf life period (20 ± 2 °C and 80 ± 5% RH) for 20 d. Overall, the study showed that it is possible to alleviate shrivel and also extend shelf life of plum (‘African Delight™’) at export and shelf life conditions. Amongst the edible coatings investigated, the findings in fruit coated with gum arabic and the commercial products were comparable and promising for postharvest preservation of the investigated plum cultivar. The coatings showed a moderate delay of fruit ripening, significantly reduced weight loss and shrivel development, allowing for the export of fruit over a long distance (five weeks) and up to 20 d of shelf life.

Olaniyi Amos Fawole, Shannon Claudia Riva, Umezuruike Linus Opara. Agronomy, 10 (7), 1023, 2020.

Vegetable grafting has become entrenched as a sustainable tool for addressing biotic and abiotic stresses of vegetable crops, including watermelon. The concerted action of scion–rootstock genotypes in shaping crop performance, fruit quality and postharvest behavior of watermelon is critical. In this respect, scions of different ploidy grafted on interspecific and gourd rootstocks were assessed. Yield traits were strongly influenced by rootstock, as opposed to fruit morphometric characteristics. Interspecific rootstock supported stable yield across seasons with a 20.5% increase over gourd, and induced thicker rind and higher pulp firmness by 30.1% over gourd, which constitute advantageous traits for shelf-life. Interspecific rootstock also increased lycopene content, which was further influenced by scion genotype irrespective of ploidy. Triploid cultivars attained higher firmness but lower sugars than diploid, which renders the former particularly prone to loss of sensory quality during postharvest depletion of sugars. Although total and reducing sugars decreased during storage, sucrose increased, which in conjunction with the postharvest accumulation of lycopene sheds new light on the postharvest physiology of watermelon. The marginal rootstock effect on sugars renders interspecific rootstock superior to gourd on account of higher yield, firmness and lycopene content. The present work constitutes a contribution toward understanding rootstock–scion relations and how they mediate crop performance, fruit quality and postharvest behavior of watermelon.

Marios C. Kyriacou, Georgios A. Soteriou, Youssef Rouphael. Agronomy, 10 (9), 1396, 2020.

While processing tomato cultivation (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is considered one of the most important industrial crops in Greece, a waste known as tomato pomace is growing significantly high. Notably, the tomato pomace presents enormous opportunities for the creations of organic fertilizers. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of tomato pomace as a fertilizer in the same crop. A field experiment was established at the Agricultural University of Athens during 2018 and 2019 in a randomized complete design with five treatments (control, inorganic NPK (NPK), Tomato pomace and Biocycle Humus Soil (Tp and BHS), Tomato pomace and Farmyard manure (Tp and FYM), and Tomato pomace and Compost (Tp and CM). Physical soil properties such as soil porosity and penetration resistance were improved by the application of organic blends. Additionally, soil nitrogen content ranged from 0.10% (control and NPK) to 0.13% (Tp and FYM). A significant increase of yield was noticed under organic fertilization where the highest yield of 8.00 tn ha−1 was recorded in Tp and BHS (2018). Lycopene content was significantly affected by fertilization and its highest values were 87.25 (Tp and BHS; 2018), and 88.82 mg kg−1 fresh (Tp and FYM; 2019). Regarding fruit firmness, the three organic blends did not have statistically significant difference. In addition, the Total Soluble Solids (TSS) was significantly affected by the fertilization and the maximum value was 4.80 ◦Brix (Tp and CM; 2018). In brief, tomato pomace blended with organic fertilizers was yielded considerable since it improved soil quality and increased yield.

Ioanna Kakabouki, Antigolena Folina, Aspasia Efthimiadou, Stella Karydogianni, Charikleia Zisi, Varvara Kouneli, Nikolaos C. Kapsalis, Nikolaos Katsenios, Ilias Travlos. Agronomy, 11 (1), 88, 2021.

Scientific investigations are being increasingly devoted to biostimulant effects on vegetable yield and quality, with the perspective of sustainable crop management. Two farming systems (conventional or organic) in factorial combination with two biostimulant treatments (tropical plant extract (PE); legume-derived protein hydrolysate (PH)) plus a non-treated control were compared in terms of tomato fruit yield, yield components, mineral composition, functional and nutritional indicators. PE- and PH-based biostimulants resulted in higher plant biomass, PH even in higher leaf area index, compared to non-treated control. Marketable yield was not significantly affected by farming system. PH and PE gave higher yield than non-treated control. PH treatment led to higher fruit number than the control, whereas PE incurred significant increase in yield only under organic farming. The mean fruit weight attained the highest value upon PE application under conventional management. Colour component a* (redness) was higher with the conventional system compared to the organic one, whereas an opposite trend was shown by the organic acids malate, oxalate and isocitrate. Irrespective of the farming system, the soluble solids, fruit brightness (L*) and redness as well as the target organic acids malate, oxalate, citrate and isocitrate were significantly higher than untreated plants by 10.1%, 16.1%, 19.8%, 18.9%, 12.1%, 13.5% and 26.8%, respectively, with no significant differences between the PH- and PE-based biostimulants. Higher lipophilic activity and total ascorbic acid concentration but lower lycopene were recorded under organic management. PE and PH application resulted in higher total phenol and ascorbic acid as well as in lycopene content, and lipophilic antioxidant activity than the non-treated control. Biostimulants proved to be an effective sustainable tool for enhancing tomato fruit yield and functional quality both under conventional and organic vegetable systems.

Gianluca Caruso, Stefania De Pascale, Eugenio Cozzolino, Antonio Cuciniello, Vincenzo Cenvinzo, Paolo Bonini, Giuseppe Colla, Youssef Rouphael. Agronomy, 9 (9), 505, 2019.