Cereal Seeds Research Articles

Integrating environmental sustainability into food-based dietary guidelines in the Nordic countries.

The overall aim of this paper was to provide background knowledge to the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023 Committee for integrating environmental sustainability in a framework for national Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDG) within the Nordics and Baltics. Additionally, this paper aims to give an overview of recent Nordic scientific literature on environmental impact of foods and dietary patterns and of the FBDG of the Nordics. Finally, we suggest methods for developing national sustainable FBDG. Nordic and Baltic studies on sustainability of diets were searched in August 2022 and complemented with additional relevant literature. The studies show that current diets are far from environmentally sustainable, exceeding planetary boundaries for most impact categories; meat and dairy products being the largest contributors to dietary greenhouse gas emissions (GHGEs) and land use. Scenario, modelling, optimisation and intervention studies confirm the potential of shifting towards more plant-based diets to improve overall diet quality in terms of both health and environmental sustainability. Such diets comprised of vegetables, fruits, legumes, potatoes, whole grain and refined cereal products, nuts, seeds and vegetable oils, with animal foods in moderate or limited amounts. The FBDG in the Nordics promotes more plant-based diets than the current average diet but could improve from further integration of environmental sustainability. To form basis for sustainable FBDG dietary modelling at the national level, prioritising health outcomes and nutritional adequacy is essential. Second, integrating environmental sustainability involves estimating the impact of food choices and amounts on GHGE, land and water use, eutrophication and biodiversity loss. Exploring positive and negative implications of fortified foods and supplementation in relation to nutrient intake, health and environmental sustainability may be needed. Implementing dietary transition requires solutions beyond FBDG to ensure affordability, acceptability and ease of adaption.

Indices of carbohydrate metabolism and antioxidant system state during germination of aged wheat and triticale seeds treated with H(2)S donor

Hydrogen sulfide is a gasotransmitter molecule involved in the realization of many functions of the plant organism, including seed germination. Aging of seeds is shown to be accompanied by oxidative stress and reduced germination. The effect of exogenous hydrogen sulfide on the germination of aged cereal seeds has not been studied. The aim of the work was to estimate the effect of priming with NaHS as an H2S donor on wheat and triticale seeds previously subjected to natural aging. Seeds of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) and winter ×Triticosecale were stored indoors for 4 years at fluctuating temperature and humidity. Aged seeds were treated with 0.2-5 mM NaHS solution for 3 h and germinated in Petri dishes for 3 days. The hydropriming­ treatment was used as a control. Amylase activity in grains, the biomass of shoots and roots, the content of total sugars, H2O2, lipid peroxidation products and anthocyanin, and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in seedlings were determined. It was shown that after the treatment with H2S donor, the activities of catalase and guaiacol peroxidase, as well as the content of anthocyanins were increased only in triticale seedlings. Nevertheless, treatment of seeds of both cereal species was followed by enhanced growth of shoots and roots, increase in amylase and superoxide dismutase activities, decrease in H2O2 and MDA contents, and elevated accumulation of sugars in shoots. It is concluded that the increase in germination of aged cereal seeds under the influence of H2S donor is caused by increased mobilization of reserve carbohydrates and modulation of antioxidant system activity. Such treatment can be considered as an effective tool to improve seedling growth. Keywords: amylase, antioxidant system, hydrogen sulfide, oxidative stress, seeds aging, total sugar, Triticosecale, Triticum aestivum

Effects of ethyl methanesulfonate on growth and yield parameters of wheat and tolerance to imazamox

In the present study objective bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) lines resistant to Imazamox herbicides and effective lethal ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) doses for plants. During first year (2019/2020), 1000 seeds of bread wheat and durum wheat treated with 11 different EMS doses were sown under field and greenhouse conditions. During second year (2020/2021), M1 (first generation) cereal seeds were grown as M2 (second generation) in field experiments. Herbicide with Imazamox active ingredient at 125 ml da-1 was applied to the approximately 15 cm tall plants in the M2 generation. In bread and durum wheat lines, emergent plants were observed up to a dose of 60mM EMS. The effective EMS doses for the wheat species were determined as 80 mM for bread wheat and 50 mM for durum wheat. Bangladesh J. Bot. 53(3): 487-493, 2024 (September)

Effect of Infiltration-Percolation Treatment of Olive Mill Wastewater on Cereal Seed Germination

Effect of Infiltration-Percolation Treatment of Olive Mill Wastewater on Cereal Seed Germination

Finger Millet (<i>Eleusine Coracana</i> (L.) Gaertn) Production Status, Challenges, and Seed Source in Ethiopia; A Review

Similar to other cereal crops finger millet is being produced in a large volume in Ethiopia, as they are the principal staple food crop. Finger millet is considered as underutilized cereal crop which is commonly grown in the northern, west-northern, and western parts of the country and it is considered as a crop which is important to overcome malnutrition. Regions including Tigray, Amhara, Oromiya, Benishangul-Gumuz, Southern Nation and Nationalities Peoples (SNNP) and Gambela are considered as the potential regions for the production of finger millet in Ethiopia. Relatively, it is considered as drought tolerant as compared to other major cereals such as rice, wheat, and barley. In addition to this finger millet is considered as a highly resilient crop which can grow in different weather conditions, including drought, floods, and marginal soils. In Ethiopia it is commonly grown for the preparation of local foods like ‘injera’ and porridge and local drink such as ‘areki’ or ‘tella’. About 26 varieties of finger millet are cultivated in main season in the country. In Ethiopia, there are a limited source of cereal crop seeds which includes, farmer’s own saved seeds and government seed distributing companies. In this review the status of production, seed source and nutritional importance of finger millet in Ethiopia is presented.

Energy Content, Moisture Content, and Energy Assimilation Efficiency by Birds and Mammals of Oil-Containing Seeds and Implications for Seed Treatment Risk Assessments for Birds and Mammals.

Energy content, moisture content, and energy assimilation efficiency are essential parameters in the food intake rate (FIR) and exposure calculations for bird and mammal risk assessments. The updated European Food Safety Authority guidance document on risk assessment for birds and mammals summarizes these parameters for different food items. For seed treatments, values for cereal seeds are proposed as surrogates for other crops. Oil-containing seeds are expected to have a higher energy content than cereal seeds. This would result in lower FIR and, thus, exposure from consuming such seeds. To be able to calculate reliable exposure values for risk-assessment purposes, we conducted a systematic literature review to collect information on these three parameters for oil-containing seeds (sunflower, oilseed rape, soybean, peanut, sesame, safflower, linseed [flax], white mustard, and castor bean). The search yielded 401 papers, of which 151 contained values for at least one of the parameters of the crops in focus. The overall average energy content value of oil-containing seeds was 24.25 kJ/g (n = 124, SD = 3.00), whereas that for moisture content was 6.57% (n = 296, SD = 1.15). Energy assimilation values were only available for peanut, oilseed rape, soy, linseed, and sunflower for a limited number of bird and mammal species. Mean energy assimilation efficiency for mammals was 82.69% (n = 4, SD = 1.55), whereas values for birds were 57.54% (n = 2, SD = 6.77) for Galliformes and 79.25% (n = 2, SD = 1.82) for Passeriformes. The values presented can be used to calculate appropriate FIR values for future bird and mammal risk assessments. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:2080-2085. © 2024 The Author(s). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Increasing germination and antioxidant activity of aged wheat and triticale grains by priming with gamma-aminobutyric acid

During storage, elevated temperature and humidity cause accelerated aging and deterioration of seeds of various plant species, including important cultivated cereals, such as wheat and triticale. Germination of old seeds can be facilitated by seed priming with physiologically active substances that correct the pro/antioxidant balance and reduce the development of oxidative stress. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a regulatory compound with direct and indirect antioxidant effects. However, its effect on the germination of grains of cereals with low germination has not been extensively studied. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of GABA priming on the germination of aged grains of winter bread wheat (Triticum aestivum ‘Scorpion’) and winter triticale (×Triticosecale ‘Raritet’). the extent of oxidative stress and the state of the antioxidant system in seedlings. The results indicated that a three-hour treatment of grains with GABA at the optimal concentration (1 mM) resulted in a significant (18–21%) increase in germination energy and seed germination rate, as well as an increase in the biomass of shoots and roots of seedlings of both species. Concomitantly, the influence of GABA resulted in a reduction in oxidative stress markers, including the generation of superoxide anion radicals, hydrogen peroxide content, and the product of lipid peroxidation malondialdehyde. In wheat seedlings, the total content of phenolic compounds increased, while in triticale seedlings, the content of anthocyanins increased almost twofold. In seedlings derived from GABA-primed grains, catalase activity was also significantly elevated in the absence of notable alterations in superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activity. It was postulated that GABA priming is a promising approach for enhancing the germination of cereal seeds with diminished sowing quality.

Characterization of Ancient Cereals Cultivated by Intensive and Organic Procedures for Element Content.

According to their nutritional value, their ability to adapt to the various environmental conditions, and their versatility, cereals are among the most cultivated plants in the world. However, the ongoing climate changes subject crops to important environmental stress that for some varieties leads to high production losses. Therefore, the selection of species and varieties that are more versatile and adaptable to different environmental conditions can be important. However, the characteristics of some cereals are not completely known; this is a priority before aiming to improve their cultivation. The aim of this study is to characterize select species that are potentially suitable for local environmental conditions and that possess nutritional value. The elemental composition was assessed in different cereal species grown following intensive and organic agriculture practices. Six species were grown for this study with techniques of intensive agriculture: Triticum monococcum L., Triticum dicoccum L., Triticum aestivum L., variety Verna, Triticum durum Desf., variety Senatore Cappelli, Triticum durum Desf., variety Claudio, and Avena strigosa Schreb.; four of these were also grown following organic procedures: Triticum monococcum L., Triticum dicoccum L., Triticum aestivum L., variety Verna, and Triticum durum Desf., variety Senatore Cappelli. The study considered twenty elements, including major nutrients (Ca, K, Mg, P, and S), seven micronutrients (B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Se, and Zn), and trace elements with toxic properties (Al, Ba, Cd, Cr, Na, Rb, Sc, and Sr) that can be accumulated at the seed level. The results highlight the differences in the element concentrations in the cereal seeds in relation to the genus and species; the highest concentrations of the major nutrients appeared in T. monococcum; the concentrations were 6.9, 2.09, 7.2, and 2.9 mg/g for K, Mg, P, and S, respectively. The highest concentrations of certain micronutrients, B, Ca, Mo, and Se (16, 785, 3.69, and 0.34 μg/g), were in A. strigosa. There is also evidence that the element content can be affected by the adopted cultivation procedure; however, the effects of the growing procedure can be significantly different when different species are considered. T. monococcum, grown by an organic procedure, presented lower concentrations of the major nutrients, while it demonstrated a modest increase in the micronutrients in the T. durum variety organic S. Cappelli, and the production procedure did not affect the elemental composition of the T. aestivum variety Verna. The survey also highlights that the studied species and the growing procedure affected the capacity to accumulate and translocate trace hazardous elements for human health at the seed level.

Transcriptome and metabolome analyses reveal regulatory networks associated with nutrition synthesis in sorghum seeds

Cereal seeds are vital for food, feed, and agricultural sustainability because they store and provide essential nutrients to human and animal food and feed systems. Unraveling molecular processes in seed development is crucial for enhancing cereal grain yield and quality. We analyze spatiotemporal transcriptome and metabolome profiles during sorghum seed development in the inbred line ‘BTx623’. Morphological and molecular analyses identify the key stages of seed maturation, specifying starch biosynthesis onset at 5 days post-anthesis (dpa) and protein at 10 dpa. Transcriptome profiling from 1 to 25 dpa reveal dynamic gene expression pathways, shifting from cellular growth and embryo development (1–5 dpa) to cell division, fatty acid biosynthesis (5–25 dpa), and seed storage compounds synthesis in the endosperm (5–25 dpa). Network analysis identifies 361 and 207 hub genes linked to starch and protein synthesis in the endosperm, respectively, which will help breeders enhance sorghum grain quality. The availability of this data in the sorghum reference genome line establishes a baseline for future studies as new pangenomes emerge, which will consider copy number and presence-absence variation in functional food traits.

New distribution and breeding location of the Stock Dove Columba oenas in Algeria

Abstract Algeria hosts seven species of the Columbidae family, including pigeons and doves, the majority of which have been the subject of numerous studies, but none have been conducted on the Stock Dove (Columba oenas). Data on this species are still scarce, and its distribution is limited only to Kabylie in northern Algeria. Species occurrence data were collected from September 2022 to August 2023 using the point count method. However, the species was recently recorded in several new localities (20 stations) in West Algeria, at Sidi Bel Abbès and Tlemcen. All our observations were made in a semi-arid bioclimatic area at an altitude ranging between 750 and 1,216 m. Nesting sites were located on woodland and forest edges, not far from water sources, and feeding sites were located in open, natural, or agricultural environments where cereal seeds, grasses, flower buds, and young green shoots were consumed. It could also cohabit with other species of pigeons and doves.

Phenotyping Wheat Kernel Symmetry as a Consequence of Different Agronomic Practices

The use of instrumental methods of analysis in the assessment of indices that record changes in symmetry in the structure of grains to evaluate the quality of durum and soft wheat grain is currently considered a search tool that will allow us to obtain previously unavailable data by finding correlations associated with differences in the shape and ratio of starch granules in conditionally symmetrical and asymmetrical wheat fruits (kernels) formed in different field conditions and with different genotypes. Indicators that had previously shown their effectiveness were used to analyze the obviously complex unique material obtained as a result of growing under critically unique sowing conditions in 2022, which affected the stability of grain development and filling. For the evaluation, a typical agronomic comparative experiment was chosen, which was used to evaluate the soil tillage practices (fallow, non-moldboard loosening, and plowing) and sowing dates (early and after excessive rainfalls), which made it possible to analyze a wider range of factors influencing the studied indices. The soil tillage methods were found to affect the uniformity of kernel fullness and their symmetry, and the sowing dates did not lead to significant differences. This study presents detailed changes in the shape of the middle cut of a wheat kernel, associated with assessing the efficiency of kernel filling and the symmetrical distribution of storage substances under the influence of external and internal physical factors that affect the formation of the wheat kernel. The data obtained may be of interest to breeders and developers of predictive phenotyping programs for cereal grain and seeds of other crops, as well as plant physiologists.

Portable optical spectroscopy and machine learning techniques for quantification of the biochemical content of raw food materials

BackgroundAccuracy in determining food authenticity, possible contamination, content analysis, and even geographical origin is of considerable scientific and economic value. The aim of this study is to facilitate quantitative evaluation of protein content in the seeds of cereals (Triticum turgidum var. durum and Tritordeum genotypes) and ripening pomegranate fruits (Wonderful cultivar).MethodsTwo species of wheat were evaluated in this study: durum wheat, Triticum turgidum var. durum, and Tritordeum (durum wheat × wild barley) together with pomegranate fruits of the variety Wonderful. Two different portable Near InfraRed (NIR) spectrometers have been used: a prototype developed in the PhasmaFood project and the commercial SCiO™ molecular sensor.ResultsConsidering the specific samples, the obtained results of the classification models indicate a validation mean absolute error of 0.8% (percentage of total protein content in dry matter) for two species of wheat using Convolutional Neural Network following normalization procedures and 0.32% using Partial Least Square (PLS) analysis applied to Tritordeum samples; visible reflectance spectra have been used to discriminate the two cereal species. A Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 1.25 was obtained for the determination of total soluble solids (TSS) over a 2-year period for pomegranate fresh fruits of Wonderful cultivar, which is commonly harvested with TSS values of 16–17.ConclusionsThe application of portable sensors using NIR spectroscopy can be a valid and rapid alternative to the use of destructive laboratory techniques for the assessment of protein content in intact wheat seeds and ripeness grade (TSS) in intact pomegranates.

Discriminating among Alternative Dressing Solutions for Cereal Seed Treatment: Effect on Germination and Seedling Vigor of Durum Wheat

A prompt seed germination and emergence coupled with an excellent seedling vigor are highly desired features to ensure perfect crop establishment and subsequent vegetative growth. Seed dressing with pesticides represents the most common technology for enhancing seed performance after sowing, while little is known about biostimulant seed dressing. This practice could play a fundamental role in developing new sustainable starter fertilization for cereals. The enhancement of germination and seedling vigor of durum wheat seeds (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn) was the main target of this research. The experiment took place in a germination cabinet under controlled environmental conditions, settled at the constant temperature of 10 °C and under dark conditions for 8 days. The different seed dressings, sprayed on the seeds, were composed by a combination of a fungicide and different biostimulants. Coleoptile and root length, as well as biomass, were significantly increased by the different biostimulants, compared to the control. As for germination traits, seeds treated with Codium fragile and Opuntia ficus-indica extracts, containing phytohormones and different nutrients, showed a final germination (96%) significantly higher than the one obtained with the control treatment (86%). These results show that treating seeds with a suitable dressing solution can greatly improve the germination features and seedling vigor of durum wheat. This can help the crop to withstand future stresses, especially in early stages, and possibly increase the grain yield with a reduction in agrochemicals. However, the combination of the substances used in the present study rarely showed a synergistic effect on the tested variable.

Biofortified Rice Provides Rich Sakuranetin in Endosperm

Sakuranetin plays a key role as a phytoalexin in plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, and possesses diverse health-promoting benefits. However, mature rice seeds do not contain detectable levels of sakuranetin. In the present study, a transgenic rice plant was developed in which the promoter of an endosperm-specific glutelin gene OsGluD-1 drives the expression of a specific enzyme naringenin 7-O-methyltransferase (NOMT) for sakuranetin biosynthesis. The presence of naringenin, which serves as the biosynthetic precursor of sakuranetin made this modification feasible in theory. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) validated that the seeds of transgenic rice accumulated remarkable sakuranetin at the mature stage, and higher at the filling stage. In addition, the panicle blast resistance of transgenic rice was significantly higher than that of the wild type. Specially, the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) imaging was performed to detect the content and spatial distribution of sakuranetin and other nutritional metabolites in transgenic rice seeds. Notably, this genetic modification also did not change the nutritional and quality indicators such as soluble sugars, total amino acids, total flavonoids, amylose, total protein, and free amino acid content in rice. Meanwhile, the phenotypes of the transgenic plant during the whole growth and developmental periods and agricultural traits such as grain width, grain length, and 1000-grain weight exhibited no significant differences from the wild type. Collectively, the study provides a conceptual advance on cultivating sakuranetin-rich biofortified rice by metabolic engineering. This new breeding idea may not only enhance the disease resistance of cereal crop seeds but also improve the nutritional value of grains for human health benefits.

EFFECT OF CEREAL SEED CONTRIBUTION TO THE WEAROF SELECTED MATERIALS USED TO PRODUCE SCREWCONVEYOR BLADES

This paper presents the analysis of the process of structural material wear by cereal seeds. Two steel gradeswere subjected to testing: C45 and low-alloy steel with a micro-addition of boron. The experiment wasconducted under laboratory conditions by the “rotating bowl” method. Wheat and maize seeds were usedas an abrasive. During the testing, analyses of specimen weight and volume loss as a function of the frictiondistance were carried out. An analysis of the test material surface was conducted as well.The study results show that the C45 steel worn in maize grains exhibited a weight loss greater by 20% thanthat for the wear in wheat grains. For the abrasion-resistant steel, the difference was 22%. In both abrasivemediums, the C45 steel wore to a greater extent than the abrasion-resistant steel. For the maize grain abrasive,the weight loss value was approx. 1.5 times higher than that for the C45 steel. Similar correlations were notedfor the wheat abrasive. The abrasion-resistant steel had a wear rate approx. 1.6 times lower than the C45 steel.The dominant wear types observed on the surfaces of the test steels include ridging and micro-cutting.

Seed production of spring cereals at the Federal Agrarian Scientific Center of the North-East named after N.V. Rudnitsky

Seed production of spring grain crops is the foundation of food security of a modern state. Together with breeding, seed production provides high quality products in the required volume. In the Kirov region, the main producers of original seeds are the Federal Agrarian Scientific Center of the NorthEast named after N.V. Rudnitsky (FASC of the North-East) and Vyatka State Agrotechnological University. FASC of the North-East was reorganized in 2017 to include the North-East Regional Agrarian Research Center, Falyonskaya Breeding Station, Nizhny Novgorod, Mari, Mordovian and Chuvash Agricultural Research Institutes. The FASC of the North-East in Kirov has been producing original seeds of spring grain crops since 1974 by the method of individual-family selection. Original seeds are sold annually to the farms of the Kirov region and other regions of the Russian Federation for use in the nurseries of propagation and super elite. The article analyzes the work of the seed production department for 2019–2021, displays the methodology of obtaining original seeds of spring cereals (oats, wheat, barley), describes the varieties most in demand in the Kirov region. The area of sowing original seeds of spring cereals in the experimental fields of the FASC of the North-East increased by 23.4% during the period under review, reaching 49 ha in 2021. Due to dry weather in 2021, the gross harvest of conditioned spring cereal seed remained at the same level as in 2019 at 60.9 tons. The revenue of the seed division of the FASC of the North-East from the sale of original seeds increased by 47.53% in 2021 compared to 2019 to reach 2.5 million rubles. Original seeds are usually sold to the enterprises that have their own seed production units: AO Agrofirma "Doronichi", APC "Plemzavod "Krasny Oktyabr", APC "Agricultural Artel "Krasnaya Talitsa", OOO "Zurinsky Agrocomplex", OOO "Preduralye". Thus, the Seed Production Department of the FASC of the North-East is an important link in ensuring food security in the region.

Imaging the ER and Endomembrane System in Cereal Endosperm.

The cereal endosperm is a complex structure comprising distinct cell types, characterized by specialized organelles for the accumulation of storage proteins. Protein trafficking in these cells is complicated by the presence of several different storage organelles including protein bodies (PBs) derived from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and dynamic protein storage vacuoles (PSVs). In addition, trafficking may follow a number of different routes depending on developmental stage, showing that the endomembrane system is capable of massive reorganization. Thus, developmental sequences involve progressive changes of the endomembrane system of endosperm tissue and are characterized by a high structural plasticity and endosomal activity.Given the technical dexterity required to access endosperm tissue and study subcellular structures and SSP trafficking in cereal seeds, static images are the state of the art providing a bulk of information concerning the cellular composition of seed tissue. In view of the highly dynamic endomembrane system in cereal endosperm cells, it is reasonable to expect that live cell imaging will help to characterize the spatial and temporal changes of the endomembrane system. The high resolution achieved with electron microscopy perfectly complements the live cell imaging.We therefore established an imaging platform for TEM as well as for live cell imaging. Here, we describe the preparation of different cereal seed tissues for live cell imaging concomitant with immunolocalization studies and ultrastructure.

Pre-sowing stimulation of cereal seeds in high voltage electric field

Pre-sowing stimulation of cereal seeds in high voltage electric field

Prospects for phytorecultivation of degraded lands by composite biohumus briquette

Purpose. The study of the processing of organic waste by California worms of the Eisenia fetida species is presented, and the optimal content of the composite mix of biohumus briquettes for the needs of phytoremediation of degraded and contaminated lands is substantiated. The methods are based on a theoretical analysis of vermiculture technologies, laboratory studies on the influence of temperature and humidity on the growth of the worm population and biohumus production; vegetation experiments using multicomponent biohumus mixtures with yellow-brown loams and seeds of wild cereals for phytorecultivation of degraded and contaminated lands. Findings. The growth process of the biomass of the Eisenia fetida worms and the accumulation of biohumus over the time depending on the environment temperature were studied. The results of the laboratory bioindication experiments with composite briquettes consisting of biohumus, loam and seeds of wild cereals are presented. Vegetation experiments were carried out on complex multi-component mixtures to analyze the germination efficiency of seeds of wild cereals like Avena fatua and Brōmus inērmis for the purpose of technogenic lands reclamation. It was established that the optimal moisture of the biohumus substrate, at which the highest yield of vermiculture biomass was observed, is 60–70%, and the temperature range varies within 20–30°С. The originality. It was established that the most optimal ratio of biohumus and loam in the content of composite briquettes for plant growth is 20:30 and 30:20 by mass, which makes it possible to substantiate the working mixtures of phytomeliorants for degraded lands biological reclamation technologies. Practical implementation. The use of vermiculture products helps increase soil fertility, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. The performed laboratory studies show the prospects of using biohumus with plant seeds in the form of composite briquettes for phytoremediation of degraded and contaminated lands.

How does maturity stage affect seeds metabolome via UPLC/MS based molecular networking and chemometrics and in relation to antioxidant effect? A case study in 4 major cereals and legumes.

Legumes and cereals as staple food are typically consumed at mature stage, though also consumed at earlier stages. UPLC/MS based molecular networking and chemometrics were employed for the first time to address metabolome composition heterogeneity amongst seeds in the context of their maturity stages. The study included 4 major cereal and leguminous seeds of different species, and cultivars i.e., Triticum aestivum, Hordeum vulgare, Vicia faba and Cicer arietinum. 146 Metabolites from various classes were identified of which several are first time to be reported. Supervised OPLS model of all datasets revealed that sugars and oxylipids were dominant in mature and immature seeds, respectively. DPPH and FRAP assays were assessed for differential secondary metabolites' correlation. Results were attributed to flavonoids, oxylipids, and amino acids/peptides. Mature barley seeds possessed the strongest antioxidant activity among examined seeds. This study provides novel insights on seeds' maturation process in context to holistic metabolic changes.