Biomass Production Research Articles

Serotonin-Salt-Stress Model-Induced Cell Growth via Promoting an Antioxidant System and Secondary Metabolites in Capsicum annuum Cell Suspension Culture.

Capsicum annuum contains potential therapeutic capsaicinoids, and various stress factors influence plant productivity. Serotonin is an indoleamine involved in signaling several stress response mechanisms in plants. However, the influence of serotonin on cell growth and the accumulation of secondary metabolites, mainly capsaicinoids production, is not yet clearly defined under salt stress. In this study, we optimized chili cell suspension cultures to maximize biomass, capsaicinoids, and phenolic compounds production using response surface methodology with two variables (serotonin and NaCl) of different concentrations in culture media supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and Kinetin. The results revealed a significant increase in biomass (14.3 g/L FW), capsaicin (0.93 μg/g FW), and dihydrocapsaicin content (0.32 μg/g FW) in chili cell suspension cultures compared with the control. Among all the phenolic compounds, chlorogenic acid was enhanced (17.4 μg/g FW), compared to control cultures. Serotonin exhibited stress mitigation effects and boosted antioxidant potential in chili suspension cultures. The present results illustrated that the optimized conditions can be used in scale-up studies of capsaicinoids production through the bioreactor.

The impact of shade net use on total nitrogen removal by duckweed (Lemna perpusilla) at different levels of catfish farming effluent

Duckweed (Lemna perpusilla) has been shown to reduce nutrient levels in aquaculture effluent, particularly total nitrogen, which can be caused by a variety of organic contaminants in water. Duckweed biomass is an important source of bioenergy and phytoremediation in aquaculture. This aspect makes it a viable solution for sustainable integrated aquaculture, although appropriate duckweed biomass development is critical to its success and long-term survival. Duckweed growth, as an autotroph, is controlled by two factors: nutrition and sunlight. The aquaculture production cycle changes nutrient content in medium culture based on feed, fish age, and density, while weather influences solar radiation. The study aims to investigate duckweed growth response and phytoremediation capacity by analyzing changes in catfish farming waste-water quality grouped by fish age (L1: 2 months, L2: 3 months, and L3: 4 months) and shade net treatment at 25 % sunlight blocking (N25), 50 % (N50), and no shade net (N0). The experiment was carried out in triplicate in a semi-outdoor growth system placed in a greenhouse. It comprised of three series of duckweed culture containers filled with catfish farming wastewater, each with a working volume of 50 L. A total of 48 duckweed culture containers were floated inside a series of Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) tanks. Biomass harvesting and water quality monitoring were done every three days for a period of 18 days. N25 had the highest biomass weight, productivity, and average TN elimination efficiency, with values of 225.21 ± 140.04 g, 50.05 ± 10.06 g/(m2.d), and 61.94 ± 8.01 %, respectively (P < 0.05). The N0 values were 190.80 ± 117.52 g, 42.40 ± 9.29 g/(m2.d), and 55.61 ± 6.85 % (P < 0.05). The lowest values observed in N50 were 72.27 ± 55.70 g, 16.06 ± 4.90 g/(m2.d), and 51.67 ± 4.10 % (P < 0.05). This study proved the optimal duckweed growth and TN removal effectiveness with N25 under varying light intensity, allowing for the long-term use of duckweed in waste management and integrated aquaculture.

High-resolution temporal NDVI data reveal contrasting intratidal, spring-neap and seasonal biomass dynamics in euglenoid- and diatom-dominated biofilms

Intertidal microphytobenthos (MPB) are a major contributor to primary production in estuarine ecosystems. While their biomass is highly variable at multiple spatial and temporal scales, the underlying drivers are as yet little understood. Both in situ sampling and remote-sensing techniques often lack the temporal resolution or coverage to simultaneously capture short-term (intratidal to daily) and longer-term (weekly to annual) biomass changes. Our field setup with in-situ NDVI sensors allowed us to study MPB surface biomass variability at high temporal resolution (10 mins) for up to two years in a freshwater euglenoid dominated mudflat, and a brackish and a marine diatom dominated mudflat. MPB biomass showed marked periodicities at multiple temporal scales: seasonal, spring-neap and intratidal. The diatom-dominated MPB community showed a seasonal biomass peak in winter, while the euglenoid-dominated community showed biomass peaks during spring and summer, probably caused by underlying divergent responses to mainly irradiance, temperature and wind-induced resuspension, and macrobenthos grazing. Spring-neap periodicity likely resulted from differential migratory responses of the MPB communities to variation in timing and duration of daylight exposure. In the freshwater community, upward migration only occurred when exposure duration was sufficiently long (≥4 h). In the diatom-dominated community, morning daylight exposure resulted in highest NDVI values. This study highlights the differences in MPB biomass dynamics between MPB communities within estuarine ecosystems, and underscores the great potential of high-resolution temporal NDVI monitoring for more accurate estimates of MPB biomass and primary production.

Promoting microalgal biofilm formation by crushed oyster shell-hydroxyapatite layer on micropatterned aluminum coating for heavy metal ions removal

Microalgal biomass has shown inspiring potential for the heavy metal removal from wastewater, and forming microalgal biofilm is one of the sustainable methods for the microalgal biomass production. Here we report the formation of microalgal biofilm by accelerated colonization of typical algae Chlorella on thermal sprayed aluminum (Al) coatings with biologically modified surfaces. Micro-patterning surface treatment of the Al coatings promotes the attachment of Chlorella from 6.31 % to 17.51 %. Further enhanced algae attachment is achieved through liquid flame spraying a bioactive crushed oyster shell-hydroxyapatite (CaCO3-HA) composite top layer on the micropatterned coating, reaching 46.03–49.62 % of Chlorella attachment ratio after soaking in Chlorella suspension for 5 days. The rapidly formed microalgal biofilm shows an adsorption ratio of 95.43 % and 85.23 % for low concentration Zn2+ and Cu2+ in artificial seawater respectively within 3 days. Quick interaction has been realized between heavy metal ions and the negatively-charged extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) matrix existing in the biofilm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results indicate that both carboxyl and phosphoryl groups of biofilms are crucial in the adsorption of Cu2+ and the adsorption of Zn2+ is due to the hydroxyl and phosphate groups. Meanwhile, the biofilm could act as a barrier to protect Chlorella against the attack of the heavy metal ions with relatively low concentrations in aqueous solution. The route of quick cultivating microalgal biofilm on marine structures through constructing biological layer on their surfaces would give insight into developing new techniques for removing low concentration heavy metal ions from water for environmental bioremediation.

Isolation and characterization of a Halomonas species for non-axenic growth-associated production of bio-polyesters from sustainable feedstocks.

The urgent need for renewable replacements for synthetic materials may be addressed through microbial biotechnology. To simplify the large-scale implementation of such bio-processes, robust cell factories that can utilize sustainable and widely available feedstocks are pivotal. To this end, non-axenic growth-associated production could reduce operational costs and enhance biomass productivity, thereby improving commercial competitiveness. Another major cost factor is downstream processing, especially in the case of intracellular products, such as bio-polyesters. Simplified cell-lysis strategies could also further improve economic viability.

Study of nanosilica coated and polyaniline grafted cotton fabric

Valuable biomass product nanosilica obtained from rice husk has been hybridized with polyaniline through grafting and was used as coating material over cotton fabric using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane as crosslinking agent. In order to optimize the coating percentages of nanosilica and polyaniline, different weight concentration of both sodium silicate and aniline were used to develop the nanosilica coated and polyaniline grafted cotton fabric. The resulting cotton fabrics were studied for their UV shielding property, thermal and basic fabric properties. Cotton fabric coated with 50% of aniline and 0.75% of silica (S0.75A50C) affords the highest Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) as 46.2. The result shows that the nanosilica coated and polyaniline grafted cotton fabric possess higher UV shielding when compared with that of neat cotton fabric.

Addressing Nitrogen-rich Biomass Production Challenges in &lt;i&gt;Azolla microphylla&lt;/i&gt; Cultivation from Varying Shading and Water Depth Dynamics

&lt;i&gt;Azolla microphylla&lt;/i&gt;, a rapidly growing aquatic fern with the unique ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, presents significant potential for sustainable agriculture. Despite its nitrogen-fixing prowess, challenges persist in optimizing biomass production, prompting a detailed exploration of influential factors in this study. This paper addresses the persistent challenge of optimizing nitrogen-rich biomass production in &lt;i&gt;Azolla&lt;/i&gt; cultivation. Employing a split-plot experimental design, the study investigates the influential factors of shading percentage (N) and water depth (G) in &lt;i&gt;Azolla&lt;/i&gt; growth, systematically ranging from 0% (full sunlight/N1) to 75% (N3) shading percentages and 2.5 cm (G1), 5.0 cm (G2), and 7.5 cm (G3) water depths. In addition to assessing growth and production outcomes, this study explores the nitrogen content in &lt;i&gt;Azolla&lt;/i&gt; under three different conditions: fresh, dried, and composted &lt;i&gt;Azolla&lt;/i&gt;. Findings unveil the significant influence of shading percentage and water depth on &lt;i&gt;Azolla&lt;/i&gt; growth, with the N1G2 treatment identified as the optimal condition for achieving maximum biomass production. Set against the backdrop of tropical agriculture, specifically within the high temperatures in Indonesia, our study underscores the resilience of &lt;i&gt;Azolla&lt;/i&gt; to elevated temperatures, highlighting its potential as a nitrogen-fixing agent. Notably, fresh &lt;i&gt;Azolla&lt;/i&gt; closely matches urea in nitrogen content, suggesting its potential as an organic fertilizer substitute for urea. This research sheds light on the critical challenges surrounding nitrogen-rich biomass production from fresh &lt;i&gt;Azolla&lt;/i&gt;, emphasizing the necessity of temperature resilience and water depth optimization. The insights provided hold significance for tropical agriculture practices seeking to harness the potential of &lt;i&gt;Azolla&lt;/i&gt; as a free-air nitrogen fixator.

Effect of Harvesting Time in Growth Performance and Energy Crops Productivity of Napier (&lt;i&gt;Pennisetum purpureum cv&lt;/i&gt;. Taiwan) Exposed under CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; Elevated Conditions

Napier grass is crucial in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by substituting non-renewable resources. When Napier grass is burned, the carbon dioxide (CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;) released is roughly equal to the amount absorbed during its growth, making it a potentially carbon-neutral energy source. This study investigates the impact of ratooning (repeated harvesting) on various aspects of Napier grass, including growth, physiology, biomass production, nutrient content, and chemical analysis. It also explored the interaction between elevated CO&gt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; levels and ratooning. Two experiments were conducted over 12 months. Experiment 1 took place in an open field at the Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), with two treatments: no ratooning and ratooning at three months after planting (MAP). Experiment 2 was conducted in an open field at UPM and a greenhouse at Tenaga National Berhad Research, Kajang, Selangor. Eight combination treatments were studied: (T1) 1-month elevated CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; (MECO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;) - no ratooned, (T2) 1 MECO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;-R at 3 MAP, (T3) 2 MECO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;-noR, (T4) 2 MECO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;-R at 3 MAP, (T5) 5 MECO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;-noR, (T6) 5 MECO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;-R at 3 MAP, (T7) 12 MECO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;-noR, and (T8) 12 MECO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;-R at 3 MAP. The results indicated that, in Experiment 1, no ratooning was more favourable for all parameters compared to ratooning. In Experiment 2, a 1-month exposure to elevated CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; showed better results compared to longer exposure periods. In conclusion, Napier grass performed better when not subjected to ratooning and exposed to short-term elevated CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; levels. This research highlights the potential of Napier grass as a sustainable and carbon-neutral energy source.

Overexpression of forage millet (Setaria italica) SiER genes enhances drought resistance of Arabidopsis thaliana.

ERECTA (ER) is a type of receptor-like kinase that contributes a crucial mission in various aspects of plant development, physiological metabolism, and abiotic stresses responses. This study aimed to explore the functional characteristics of the SiER family genes in millet (Setaria italica L.), focusing on the growth phenotype and drought resistance of Arabidopsis overexpressed SiER4_X1 and SiER1_X4 genes (SiERs ). The results revealed that overexpression of SiER4_X1 and SiER1_X4 genes in Arabidopsis significantly enhanced the leaf number, expanded leaf length and width, further promoted the silique number, length and diameter, and plant height and main stem thickness, ultimately leading to a substantial increase in individual plant biomass. Compared to the wild-type (WT), through simulated drought stress, the expression level of SiER genes was notably upregulated, transgenic Arabidopsis seeds exhibited stronger germination rates and root development; after experiencing drought conditions, the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and peroxidase) increased, while the levels of malondialdehyde and relative electrical conductivity decreased. These results indicate that overexpression of SiERs significantly enhanced both biomass production and drought resistance in Arabidopsis . The SiER4_X1 and SiER1_X4 genes emerge as promising candidate genes for improving biomass production and drought resistance in forage plants.

Production of eicosapentaenoic acid by Vacuoliviride crystalliferum under 20% CO2 conditions

Utilizing flue gas CO2 to co-produce eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) with microalgae is considered an ideal approach for combating climate change and reducing cultivation costs. However, microalgal species that can efficiently produce EPA under high-CO2 conditions are scarce. This study identified that the eustigmatophycean strain Vacuoliviride crystalliferum demonstrates rapid growth under 20 % CO2 conditions (0.22 vvm), achieving a biomass concentration and productivity of 3.90 g/L and 229.26 mg/L/d, respectively. The EPA content and EPA productivity were found to be 4.28 % (w/w) and 9.80 mg/L/d, respectively. Additionally, an improved biomass concentration of 3.39 g/L and EPA content and productivity of 4.32 % (w/w) and 11.28 mg/L/d were obtained in a 30 L up-scaled cultivation system. Taken together, these findings suggest that V. crystalliferum is a promising candidate for integrating flue gas sequestration with EPA production.

Engineering the Rhizosphere Microbiome with Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria for Modulation of the Plant Metabolome.

Plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) have beneficial effects on plants. They can promote growth and enhance plant defense against abiotic stress and disease, and these effects are associated with changes in the plant metabolite profile. The research problem addressed in this study was the impact of inoculation with PGPB on the metabolite profile of Salicornia europaea L. across controlled and field conditions. Salicornia europaea seeds, inoculated with Brevibacterium casei EB3 and Pseudomonas oryzihabitans RL18, were grown in controlled laboratory experiments and in a natural field setting. The metabolite composition of the aboveground tissues was analyzed using GC-MS and UHPLC-MS. PGPB inoculation promoted a reconfiguration in plant metabolism in both environments. Under controlled laboratory conditions, inoculation contributed to increased biomass production and the reinforcement of immune responses by significantly increasing the levels of unsaturated fatty acids, sugars, citric acid, acetic acid, chlorogenic acids, and quercetin. In field conditions, the inoculated plants exhibited a distinct phytochemical profile, with increased glucose, fructose, and phenolic compounds, especially hydroxybenzoic acid, quercetin, and apigenin, alongside decreased unsaturated fatty acids, suggesting higher stress levels. The metabolic response shifted from growth enhancement to stress resistance in the latter context. As a common pattern to both laboratory and field conditions, biopriming induced metabolic reprogramming towards the expression of apigenin, quercetin, formononetin, caffeic acid, and caffeoylquinic acid, metabolites that enhance the plant's tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress. This study unveils the intricate metabolic adaptations of Salicornia europaea under controlled and field conditions, highlighting PGPB's potential to redesign the metabolite profile of the plant. Elevated-stress-related metabolites may fortify plant defense mechanisms, laying the groundwork for stress-resistant crop development through PGPB-based inoculants, especially in saline agriculture.

Usage of Chlorella and diverse microalgae for CO2 capture - towards a bioenergy revolution.

To address climate change threats to ecosystems and the global economy, sustainable solutions for reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels are crucial. Existing CO2 capture projects face challenges like high costs and environmental risks. This review explores leveraging microalgae, specifically the Chlorella genus, for CO2 capture and conversion into valuable bioenergy products like biohydrogen. The introduction section provides an overview of carbon pathways in microalgal cells and their role in CO2 capture for biomass production. It discusses current carbon credit industries and projects, highlighting the Chlorella genus's carbon concentration mechanism (CCM) model for efficient CO2 sequestration. Factors influencing microalgal CO2 sequestration are examined, including pretreatment, pH, temperature, irradiation, nutrients, dissolved oxygen, and sources and concentrations of CO2. The review explores microalgae as a feedstock for various bioenergy applications like biodiesel, biooil, bioethanol, biogas and biohydrogen production. Strategies for optimizing biohydrogen yield from Chlorella are highlighted. Outlining the possibilities of further optimizations the review concludes by suggesting that microalgae and Chlorella-based CO2 capture is promising and offers contributions to achieve global climate goals.

Effect of Seed Rate on Forage Yield, and Nutritional Value of Sudan Grass and Vetch Mixtures in Ethiopia: A Review

The livestock feed resources in Ethiopia are classified as natural pasture, crop residues, improved pasture and forage, agro-industrial by-products, and also hay production of which the first two feed resources are the major feed contributors for the livestock production in Ethiopia but they are lacking in protein and minerals. Natural pastures contribute about 80-85 of animal feed in Ethiopia, including naturally occurring grasses, legumes, shrubs, hurbs, and tree foliages. Crop residue is one of the feed resources used for animal production in Ethiopia and is available in those areas in which livestock and crop production are practiced. Around 30 million tonnes of DM of agricultural crop residues are produced annually on the national scale, of which 70% are used as animal feed. The major agro-industrial by products commonly used in Ethiopia are obtained from different agro-industries. The nutritional values of agro-industrial by products are excellent but their productivity is small, limited, and limited to few farms in urban and peri-urban areas and they contribute much less to livestock feed. Furthermore, traditional livestock feed supply mainly depends upon natural pasture and crop residues, which have low crude protein and other chemical composition. However, there is tremendous potential to alleviate feed shortages using improved forage production. To fulfill this gap, producing a stable improved forage in the livestock sector is mandatory. For that reason, the legume and grass intercropping system are important to increase biomass production and forage yield. Hence, Sudan grass (Aden gode) known with its plant height than other cultivars and vetch (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Vicia dasycarpa&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;) have greater plant height and creeping growth habit that enable compatible to larger grass species and they are selectable forages to enhance the forage yield and quality under similar times.

Agitated and temporary immersion bioreactor cultures of Reynoutria japonica Houtt. as a rich source of phenolic compounds

Reynoutria japonica Houtt. (Japanese knotweed) is an invasive plant belonging to the Polygonaceae family. However, being native to East Asia, it has been used in natural medicine for ages because of its broad range of biological activity. Although R. japonica is known as a rich source of phenolic compounds, plant biomass collected from the field may be contaminated with toxic elements like heavy metals, and the level of metabolite accumulation depends on environmental conditions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to derive Japanese knotweed tissue cultures and investigate biomass production and phenolic compound synthesis in in vitro conditions. Plants were cultivated in a traditional agar-solidified medium, in a liquid medium with rotary shaking (agitated culture), and in a temporary immersion bioreactors Plantform™, as well as in soil (ex vitro conditions). Analyses of the growth index and dry weight accumulation were performed on the collected material. In the extracts obtained from examined plants, qualitative and quantitative analysis of phenolic derivatives using DAD-HPLC was conducted to determine the sum of phenolic compounds, as well as the quantity of selected phenolic acids, catechins, and other flavonoids. Results have shown that agitated cultures and temporary immersion bioreactors increased biomass accumulation compared to solid medium cultures. Tissue cultures of R. japonica had increased synthesis of phenolic compounds compared to plants from ex vitro conditions. Shoots and roots from agitated cultures were 2.8- and 3.3-fold richer in catechins, respectively, compared to plants cultivated in soil. Based on the obtained results it can be concluded that agitated and bioreactor cultures are the best source of Japanese knotweed biomass rich in valuable secondary metabolites.

Efficient treatment of actual biogas slurry by Chlorella sorokiniana: Nutrient recovery and biomass production

Microalgae have received widespread attention for their effectiveness in treating highly concentrated organic wastewater, not only for the effective removal of pollutants, but also for the preparation of biofuels and high-value products. This study investigated that the efficient purification process and mechanism of Chlorella sorokiniana on actual biogas slurry, including nutrient removal and biomass production. The results showed the C. sorokiniana grew well with a biomass of 742.35 ± 1.72 mg/L at pH 9, an inoculum concentration of 60 mg/L and 24 h of continuous light for 12 days. The recirculating experiments showed that after three incubations of the biogas slurry, the removal efficiency of COD, TN, NH4+-N, TP and PO43−-P were 89.11 %, 89.30 %, 97.26 %, 95.39 % and 96.43 %, respectively, and the total biomass of microalgae was 1015.87 mg/L. The contents of lipids, proteins, carbohydrates and photosynthetic pigments in C. sorokiniana cultured in biogas slurry were 26.36 %, 31.34 %, 30.26 % and 16.31 mg/L, respectively. It was increased by 6.21 %, 7.24 %, 2.74 % and 12.82 mg/L compared to the control, respectively. SEM results showed that the surface of C. sorokiniana mosaic with a large number of bacteria, and the cultivation of C. sorokiniana promoted the relative abundance for Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria and Bacteroidota. Cultivation of C. sorokiniana in the actual biogas slurry constituted a good algae-bacterial symbiosis system, which effectively promoted the process of wastewater purification. This study provided an applied reference for the efficient treatment of actual wastewater by microalgae and its potential for resources utilization.

Mapping phenoregions and phytoplankton seasonality in Northeast Pacific marine coastal ecosystems via a satellite-based approach

Phytoplankton phenology describes yearly algal growth cycles and characterises the timing, duration, and magnitude of bloom occurrences. This study used satellite chlorophyll-a data from 1998 to 2020 and the Hierarchical Agglomerative Clustering method to define phenoregions based on phytoplankton phenology spatial patterns over the British Columbia and Southeast Alaska coastal oceans. The defined phenoregions were used to simplify the spatial complexity of the heterogenous study region and thus better describe phytoplankton seasonality across the target area. The cluster analysis allowed the delineation of four coherent regions: two coastal regions and northern and southern shelf/offshore regions. Results showed that each phenoregion had distinguishable phytoplankton phenological characteristics, likely due to different physical forcings acting in these areas. Moreover, the interannual variability of the spring bloom initiation was evaluated considering interactions between sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies and the El Niño Southern Oscillation Index (ENSO). Early spring blooms were associated with positive SST anomalies and El Niño conditions; conversely, average or late spring blooms occurred in years with negative SST anomalies and La Niña conditions, with the strongest relationship occurring in the southern shelf/offshore phenoregion. This study provided new insights into the regionalisation of the British Columbia and Southeast Alaska coastal oceans based on phytoplankton phenology patterns. Given the critical role of phytoplankton as the base of the marine food web, such phenoregions have implications for regional zooplankton biomass and fish production. The link between phytoplankton phenology and climate drivers points to the importance of environmental change in phytoplankton bloom dynamics. Further research into the connection between phytoplankton bloom indices and zooplankton community structure and production would be an important step towards using these indices for ecosystem monitoring and fisheries management.

Farmers’ motivations to cultivate biomass for energy and implications

Bioenergy derived from agricultural biomass can contribute to meeting the rising demand for renewable energy. To estimate the agricultural sector's potential to contribute to bioenergy, it is crucial to understand what motivates farmers to increase agricultural feedstock production sustainably. Through eight semi-structured interviews and online surveys with 174 farmers in southern Sweden, we explore the barriers and incentives farmers perceive in starting or increasing feedstock production for energy purposes sustainably using production methods with a low risk of causing indirect land use change (iLUC). Among the most prominent barriers are low profitability, high-risk investments, and potential negative environmental consequences such as soil depletion. Higher market prices for plant residuals and energy crops, combined with more long-term and reliable subsidies that support investments in new machinery, facilities, and production systems, are major driving factors to increase feedstock production for bioenergy. The study found that the farmers see little potential in using marginal lands due to their low soil productivity and spatial characteristics. Further, the potential for intensifying biomass production on currently cropped land is also found to be limited due to risks of soil depletion and environmental degradation. Our study highlights that the potential of bioenergy production from underutilized land and intensive production in Scania may be overestimated, and realizing this potential in practice may require suitable policy changes.

Green energy and rooftop innovation: Unlocking the carbon reduction potential of photovoltaic-green roofs

As urbanization progresses rapidly, cities encounter significant environmental and energy challenges. Photovoltaic-Green Roof (PV-GR) technology offers an innovative strategy with the potential to alleviate urban carbon emissions and resource scarcity issues. However, the carbon reduction potential of PV-GR technology remains unclear. Hence, this study aims to comprehensively assess the carbon reduction potential of PV-GR. This is achieved by integrating Geographic Information Systems (GIS), lifecycle assessment, the Denitrification-Decomposition Model (DNDC), and solar simulation. Using Fuzhou City as a case study, the research indicates: (1) Fuzhou has approximately 72.9 km2 of rooftops suitable for PV-GR development, with an annual biomass production from herbaceous plants estimated at around 2.958 × 107 kg. The annual electricity production under the baseline scenario reaches 9,678 GWh, satisfying about 17 % of Fuzhou’s annual electricity demand. Moreover, in an optimistic scenario, electricity generation rises to 10,176 GWh, and even in a pessimistic scenario, it could achieve 9,471 GWh. (2) In the baseline scenario, Fuzhou’s PV-GR annual carbon reduction is estimated at 6.678 × 106 t CO2, potentially offsetting about 11.14 % of the city’s annual carbon emissions. In an optimistic scenario, this reduction increases to 7.022 × 106 t CO2, and even in a pessimistic scenario, the reduction remains significant at 6.535 × 106 t CO2. (3) Over a 30-year lifecycle, the carbon emissions from PV-GR are projected to total 3.092 × 107 t CO2, accounting for 51.34 % of Fuzhou’s annual emissions. In an ideal baseline scenario, the net carbon reduction over the lifecycle of PV-GR could total 1.703×108 t CO2, effectively offsetting 282.76 % of Fuzhou’s annual carbon emissions. Additionally, scenario simulations suggest that by 2030, potential electricity generation from PV-GR could increase to between 10,463 GWh and 10,901 GWh, due to changes in power structure and urban expansion. Overall, this study demonstrates that PV-GR holds considerable potential for carbon reduction.

Dhurrin in Sorghum: Biosynthesis, Regulation, Biological Function and Challenges for Animal Production.

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) holds a significant position as the fifth most vital cereal crop globally. Its drought resistance and robust biomass production, coupled with commendable nutritional value, make sorghum a promising choice for animal feed. Nevertheless, the utilization of sorghum in animal production faces hurdles of dhurrin (a cyanogenic glycoside) poisoning. While dhurrin serves as a protective secondary metabolite during sorghum growth, the resulting highly toxic hydrogen cyanide poses a significant threat to animal safety. This review extensively examines the biometabolic processes of dhurrin, the pivotal genes involved in the regulation of dhurrin biosynthesis, and the factors influencing dhurrin content in sorghum. It delves into the impact of dhurrin on animal production and explores measures to mitigate its content, aiming to provide insights for advancing research on dhurrin metabolism regulation in sorghum and its rational utilization in animal production.

Sustainable production of nutritional iron-enriched yeast from low-cost bran sources: A valuable feedstock for circular economy

Enhancing iron bioavailability through iron-enriched yeast offers a promising nutritional solution. This study explores the sustainable production of iron-enriched yeast using soybean, corn, and wheat bran hydrolysates as low-cost culture media in submerged fermentation. Culture mediums were supplemented with 15 mg L−1 of Fe+2. Iron-yeast production was successful using starchy hydrolysates due to their rich composition. Soybean bran hydrolysate achieved the highest biomass production (7.9 g L−1 dry cell), corn bran hydrolysate accomplished the largest iron incorporation (3.18 mg of iron/gram of dry cell); while supplemented wheat hydrolysate attained the greatest yield (2.58 ± 0.68 g/g). This research showed high potential on the production of iron-enriched yeast biomass from starchy hydrolysates, and the potential production of health and food products through sustainable production methods.