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Investigating the tolerance of different strawberry cultivars to Botrytis cinerea infection and its relation with fruit quality

BACKGROUND: Strawberries are a delicate, high nutritional value fruit with an extremely short shelf life and high susceptibility to tissue infection, mainly by Botrytis cinerea. Control of the disease requires an extensive amount of fungicide that is applied in varying complexes because the pathogen easily develops resistance against the active compounds. Planting tolerant cultivars seems to be a promising alternative for fruit growers, but there are currently no cultivars available combining tolerance to B. cinerea with attractive horticultural traits. OBJECTIVE: In this study, four well-defined strawberry cultivars (‘Romina’, ‘Cristina’, ‘Silvia’, and ‘Sibilla’) were selected and tested under treatment with Botrytis cinerea to determine the tolerance of each cultivar and its association with fruit quality. METHODS: Fruits were harvested and then stored for four days after inoculation (treatment) or not (control) with spores of B. cinerea; then, every day the level of decay was detected, and fruits were frozen for successive evaluation of fruit quality. RESULTS: The ‘Silvia’ cultivar is the one that demonstrated a higher level of tolerance to Botrytis infection during the treatment, and the ‘Romina’ cultivar was the cultivar most susceptible to the treatment. The results of the study also highlighted qualitative changes in all strawberry cultivars infected with Botrytis cinerea, by a decrease in the soluble solids content and an increase of acids. Generally, in all cultivars, phenolic acids, and vitamin C decreased in both control and infected but there was a strong decrease in infected fruit compared to control. Anthocyanin content increased in control fruits but strongly decreased in infected. CONCLUSION: As a preliminary outcome, a positive correlation was obtained between fruit nutritional quality and tolerance to decay, as a high amount of nutritional compound content provides lower susceptibility of fruits to Botrytis cinerea. To confirm this result more studies need to be done.

Assembly process of locust bean gum and xanthan gum for synergistic gelling revealed by atomic force microscopy

Synergistic interaction gels (SIGs) have become attractive in food industry due to their ability to modify rheology features, realize safe swallowing and apply as fat simulants. Locust bean gum (LBG) and xanthan give rise to SIG, however, their assembly process remain elusive. This work demonstrated that, in xanthan-rich system, xanthan chains transformed into helical structure and aggregated into thick bundles upon cooling. Subsequently they bound with LBG clusters, constructing a xanthan-like 3D gel network. However, in LBG-rich system, LBG chains gradually dissociated from clusters and associated into helical structure during cooling (“dissociation-association” process), forming an LBG-like “sea-island” structure. With further cooling, LBG continued to undergo “dissociation-association” process, along with specifically binding by xanthan chains (helical structure or thick bundles), generating thick grid contour lines and larger sparse gel network. The enthalpy change values indicated that with the decrease of xanthan content, synergistic binding extent was increased and then decreased, reaching the maximum at LBG: xanthan ratio of 7:3. This was responsible for the increment of G′, gel hardness, and capacity to accumulate energy for the weak shear-induced structure for LBG/xanthan SIGs. This study serves to facilitate the design and production of SIGs with the requisite performance characteristics.

Enhancing the efficiency of hemp fiber dyeing with natural dyes: Indigo and lac

Hemp fibers dyed with natural dyes are environmentally sustainable, but it is typically difficult to achieve an intense shade and washing durability. In this study, mercerization and cationization using polyelectrolyte, Poly-diallyldimethylammonium chloride (polyDADMAC), were chosen to enhance the dyeing efficiency and mechanical properties. Indigo and lac were chosen as natural dyes due to their widespread use. SEM demonstrated that untreated fibers contained the non-cellulose boundary layer on the surfaces, but after mercerization, the surfaces were smoother, making them suitable for absorbing natural dyes. In agreement with the FT-IR, the spectra of non-cellulose disappeared after mercerizing. Following cationization, the FT-IR spectra confirmed the consequences of using poly-DADMAC. Tensile testing demonstrated that mercerized hemp yarns were 34.1% stronger compared to untreated hemp yarns due to the decrease in non-cellulose content and that the intermolecular attraction of cellulose was not disturbed. The color strength and fastness properties were described by the K/S value. Mercerization considerably affected the K/S of indigo dyeing, while cationization affected lac dyeing significantly. Besides that, both treatments improved fastness properties as well.

Physical and insecticidal durability of Interceptor®, Interceptor® G2, and PermaNet® 3.0 insecticide-treated nets in Burkina Faso: results of durability monitoring in three sites from 2019 to 2022

BackgroundNational Malaria Programmes (NMPs) monitor the durability of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) to inform procurement and replacement decisions. This is crucial for new dual active ingredients (AI) ITNs, for which less data is available. Pyrethroid-only ITN (Interceptor®) and dual AI (Interceptor® G2, and PermaNet® 3.0) ITNs were assessed across three health districts over 36 months in southern Burkina Faso to estimate median ITN survival, insecticidal efficacy, and to identify factors contributing to field ITN longevity.MethodsDurability was monitored through a prospective study of a cohort of nets distributed during the 2019 mass campaign. Three health districts were selected for their similar pyrethroid-resistance, environmental, epidemiological, and population profiles. Households were recruited after the mass campaign, with annual household questionnaire follow-ups over three years. Each round, ITNs were withdrawn for bioassays and chemical residue testing. Key measures were the percentage of cohort ITNs in serviceable condition, insecticidal effectiveness, and chemical residue content against target dose. Cox proportional hazard models were used to identify determinants influencing ITN survival.ResultsAt endline, the median useful life was 3.2 (95% CI 2.5–4.0) years for PermaNet® 3.0 ITNs in Orodara, 2.6 (95% CI 1.9–3.2) years for Interceptor® G2 ITNs in Banfora and 2.4 (95% CI 1.9–2.9) years for Interceptor® ITNs in Gaoua. Factors associated with ITN survival included cohort ITNs from Orodara (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.58, p = 0.026), households seeing less rodents (aHR = 0.66, p = 0.005), female-headed households (aHR = 0.66, p = 0.044), exposure to social behavior change (SBC) messages (aHR = 0.52, ≤ 0.001) and folding nets when not in use (aHR = 0.47, p < 0.001). At endline, PermaNet® 3.0 ITN recorded 24-h mortality of 26% against resistant mosquitos on roof panels, with an 84% reduction in PBO content. Interceptor® G2 ITN 72-h mortality was 51%, with a 67% reduction in chlorfenapyr content. Interceptor® ITN 24-h mortality was 71%, with an 84% reduction in alpha-cypermethrin content.ConclusionOnly PermaNet® 3.0 ITNs surpassed the standard three-year survival threshold. Identified protective factors should inform SBC messaging. Significant decreases in chemical content and resulting impact on bioefficacy warrant more research in other countries to better understand dual AI ITN insecticidal performance.

Agricultural waste-based modified biochars differentially affected the soil properties, growth, and nutrient accumulation by maize (Zea mays L.) plants

Biochar (BC) is an organic compound formed by the pyrolysis of organic wastes. Application of BCs as soil amendments has many benefits including carbon sequestration, enhanced soil fertility and sustainable agriculture production. In the present study, we acidified the different BCs prepared from rice straw, rice husk, wheat straw, cotton stalk, poultry manure, sugarcane press mud and vegetable waste; following which, we applied them in a series of pot experiments. Comparisons were made between acidified and non- acidified BCs for their effects on seed germination, soil properties (EC, pH) nutrient contents (P, K, Na) and organic matter. The treatments comprised of a control, and all above-described BCs (acidified as well as non-acidified) applied to soil at the rate of 1% (w/w). The maize crop was selected as a test crop. The results showed that acidified poultry manure BC significantly improved germination percentage, shoot length, and biomass of maize seedlings as compared to other BCs and their respective control plants. However, acidified BCs caused a significant decrease in nutrient contents (P, K, Na) of soil,maize seedlings, and the soil organic matter contents as compared to non- acidified BCs. But when compared with control treatments, all BCs treatments (acidified and non-acidified) delivered higher levels of nutrients and organic matter contents. It was concluded that none of the BCs (acidified and non-acidified) had caused negative effect on soil conditions and growth of maize. In addition, the acidification of BC prior to its application to alkaline soils might had altered soil chemistry and delivered better maize growth. Moving forward, more research is needed to understand the long-term effects of modified BCs on nutrient dynamics in different soils. In addition, the possible effects of BC application timings, application rates, particle size, and crop species have to be evaluated systemtically.

Energy deprivation affects nitrogen assimilation and fatty acid biosynthesis leading to leaf chlorosis under waterlogging stress in the endangered Abies koreana.

Energy deprivation triggers various physiological, biochemical and molecular changes in plants under abiotic stress. We investigated the oxidative damages in the high altitude grown conifer Korean fir (Abies koreana) exposed to waterlogging stress. Our experimental results showed that waterlogging stress led to leaf chlorosis, 35days after treatment. A significant decrease in leaf fresh weight, chlorophyll and sugar content supported this phenotypic change. Biochemical analysis showed a significant increase in leaf proline, lipid peroxidase and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical content of waterlogged plants. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms, we conducted RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and de novo assembly. Using RNA-seq analysis approach and filtering (P<0.05 and false discovery rate<0.001), we obtained 134 unigenes upregulated and 574 unigenes downregulated. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis placed the obtained differentially expressed unigenes in α-linoleic pathway, fatty acid degradation, glycosis, glycolipid metabolism and oligosaccharide biosynthesis process. Mapping of unigenes with Arabidopsis using basic local alignment search tool for nucleotides showed several critical genes in photosynthesis and carbon metabolism downregulated. Following this, we found the repression of multiple nitrogen (N) assimilation and nucleotide biosynthesis genes including purine metabolism. In addition, waterlogging stress reduced the levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids with a concomitant increase only in myristic acid. Together, our results indicate that the prolonged snowmelt may cause inability of A. koreana seedlings to lead the photosynthesis normally due to the lack of root intercellular oxygen and emphasizes a detrimental effect on the N metabolic pathway, compromising this endangered tree's ability to be fully functional under waterlogging stress.

Effects of chemical pre-treatment methods combined with electron beam irradiation on the quality of “Edor” longan

Using electron beam (EB) radiation as a quarantine treatment when exporting fresh fruit is a development trend in the world. In this study, the effect of EB irradiation treatment in the quarantine dose (400 to 1000 Gy) on the quality of export "Edor" longan was investigated. Investigation of chemical pre - treatments measure combined with EB irradiation to decrease pericarp browning of longan has also been carried out. “Edor” longan were treated by SO2 fumigation or dipping in 1,5 N HCl solution for 20 min after EB irradiation at low quarantine dose (400 Gy). Untreated and non-irradiated fruits were used as control. That all were then stored assumed commercial conditions (25-26°C). The results showed that the treated samples delayed a decrease in the total phenolic content and had lower pericarp browning than control. In addition, the treated samples were no significantly difference in terms of weight loss, TSS, total acid content, vitamin C, ... compared with the control. In particular, the treated samples had delayed the degree of damage level due to rotting when extending shelf life up to 22 days compared the control (12 days). Therefore, the method of combining SO2 fumigation treatment with EB irradiation (400 Gy) can be used for quarantine treatment of export "Edor" longan; and treatment with 1,5 N HCl solution can be considered to replace the traditional SO2 fumigation method.

RESEARCH ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE THICKNESS AND THE STRUCTURAL CONDITION OF ROLLED METAL FROM LOW-CARBON LOW-ALLOY STEEL 10G2FB

When choosing steels for the design of high-rise and long-span buildings with increased load-bearing capacity, it is advisable to give preference to thick rolled steel from low-carbon, low-alloy steels, since it, with the same level of strength as construction steels, has a higher level of plasticity. At the same time, the problem of using thick rolled steel from low-carbon, low-alloy steels in the construction industry are the anisotropy of the rolled metal properties, which can increase with an increase in the thickness of the rolled metal. Currently, in Ukraine, controlled rolling is one of the most promising technologies of high-temperature thermomechanical processing for the production of thick rolled metal from low-carbon, low-alloy steels. At the same time, with an increase in the thickness of the rolled metal, which is produced with this technological scheme, the effect of the regulated formation of the structural state decreases due to the influence on the temperature of the surface layers of the rolled metal, the thermodynamic state of the inner layers and the inability of the rolling equipment available at domestic enterprises to deform the metal over the entire cross-sectional area. Therefore, the task of obtaining such a structural state in the thick sheet metal roll, which will ensure the reduction of the anisotropy of the properties, which will allow the use of such rolled metal in the construction industry, is urgent. Purpose of the article is to study of the structural state of low-carbon low-alloy steel 10G2FB, which was produced using the technology of controlled rolling, depending on the thickness of the rolled metal. Conclusion. The relationship between the structural state and the thickness of rolled metal from low-carbon low-alloy steel 10G2FB, which was produced by controlled rolling technology, was studied. It was established that with the increase in thickness, the percentage content of the ferrite component increases with a simultaneous decrease in the percentage content of the pearlite phase. It is shown that changes in the formation languages of structural components begin with an increase in the thickness of the rolled metal over 30 mm, which is explained by the influence of the temperature of the inner layers on the processes of forming the structural state, namely, with an increase in the thickness of the rolled metal, the thermodynamic rate of phase transformations in the middle layers of the rolled metal samples decreases. This conclusion is confirmed by two factors: firstly, an increase in the size of pearlite colonies, and secondly, a change in the morphology of the cementite framework of pearlite colonies from zigzag (thickness 16...30 mm) to ribbon (thickness 40...100 mm).

Effects of dietary soybean lecithin on growth, tissue fatty acid composition, and gonadal development in the hermaphroditic rice field eel (Monopterus albus)

This study investigates the effects of soybean lecithin (SL) on the growth, fatty acid composition, lipid metabolism, and gonadal development of rice field eels. Fourteen-month-old eels were fed either fish oil diets or varying levels of dietary soybean lecithin (0 %, 1.4 %, and 2.8 %) for 10 weeks. Dietary SL had no significant impact on growth, whereas 1.4 % SL led to a significant decrease in moisture content and an increase in crude protein content in eels. The content of both saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids increased in muscles fed the higher SL diet, with a concurrent decline in saturated fatty acids and an increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids detected in the liver. The expression levels of genes related to lipid synthesis, including accα and PPARγ, and genes related to polyunsaturated fatty acid synthesis, such as pla2g4a, fad2 and scd, were significantly increased in the liver of eels fed with 1.4 % SL diet. SL supplementation enhances lipid transport and antioxidant capacity in the liver, reduces fat deposition, and protects the liver from damage. Hepatosomatic index of fish in the SL1.4 % and SL2.8 % groups decreased. Supplementation of the diet with 1.4 % SL led to a significant decrease in the content of saturated fatty acids and an increase in the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the gonads, with a significant increase in arachidonic acid levels. The gonadosomatic index also increased with increasing dietary SL content. Rice field eels fed diets containing SL exhibited elevated serum levels of E2, delayed ovary-to-testis transition, and a preference for retaining the female state. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with SL increased the proportion of highly unsaturated fatty acids in the tissues, enhanced lipid metabolism in the liver, and improved antioxidant capacity. Furthermore, SL supplementation has been demonstrated to promote ovarian development and delay sex reversal in rice field eels.

The control effect and mechanism of antioxidants on the flavor deterioration of Sichuan pepper essential oil during thermal processing

The impacts of varying heating temperature on the flavor of Sichuan pepper essential oil (SPEO) have been studied. The high temperature heating was found to accelerate the oxidation of SPEO and caused the deterioration of its flavor (odor and pungency taste). With the intervention of antioxidants including RE, AP, and TPP, both thermal oxidation stability and flavor stability of SPEO were enhanced. Addition of 1.5% TPP had the best control effect, which significantly improved the overall flavor of heated SPEO and made the overall flavor of SPEO heated at 100°C highly similar to that of original SPEO. According to the results of GC-MS and OAV analyses, the control effect of antioxidants on odor deterioration of SPEO was mainly through significantly inhibiting the decrease in content and OAV of both linalool and terpenes, and restricting the formation of some oxygenated compounds such as aldehydes. The results of HPLC analysis showed that the control effect of antioxidants on the thermal taste stability of SPEO was mainly dependent on blocking the chemical reactions of sanshools, especially hydroxy-α-sanshool.

Enhanced performance and mechanism of adsorption pretreatment for alleviating membrane fouling in AGMBR: Impact of structural variations in carbon adsorbents

The structural variances of adsorbents play a crucial role in determining the number of effective adsorption sites and pretreatment performance. However, there is still a gap in comprehending the impact of different carbon structural adsorbents on membrane fouling. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the efficacy of granular activated carbon (GAC), powdered activated carbon (PAC), and activated carbon fiber (ACF) in mitigating membrane fouling during municipal sewage reclamation using an aerobic granular sludge membrane bioreactor (AGMBR). The results demonstrated that the utilization of PAC significantly enhanced the normalized flux and reduced fouling resistance in comparison to GAC and ACF systems. PAC effectively adsorbed low and medium-molecular-weight pollutants present in raw sewage, resulting in an increase in average particle size and a decrease in foulant content on the membrane surface. The Hermia model indicated that adsorption pretreatment minimized standard blocking while promoting the formation of a sparse and porous cake layer. Moreover, according to the extended Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek theory, PAC has been demonstrated as the optimal antifouling system owing to its enhanced repulsion between membrane-foulant and foulant-foulant interactions. Correlation analysis revealed that the exceptional antifouling performance of the PAC system was due to its high removal rates of chemical oxygen demand (~78 %) and suspended solids (~97 %). This research offers valuable insights into the mitigation of membrane fouling through the utilization of adsorbents featuring diverse carbon structures.

Integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics study of embryonic breast muscle of Jiaji ducks

Because number of matured muscle fibers in poultry does not increase after birth, the meat yield is mainly determined during embryogenesis. We previously indicated breast muscle grew rapidly from 18th day after hatching (E18) to E27, and almost stopped from E27 to E34 of Jiaji ducks, while the mechanism is unclear. This study utilized RNA-seq to explore the related genes of muscle development and their relationship with small molecule metabolites at E18, E27 and E34 of Jiaji ducks. Several thousand differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected among E18, E27 and E34. DEGs expression profiles included 8 trend maps, among which trend 1 was opposite to and trend 6 was consistent with breast muscle development trend of Jiaji ducks. Through joint analysis between trend 1 of DEGs and trend 1 of differential metabolites (DEMs), protein digestion and absorption pathway stood out. The decrease of COL8A2 gene expression will lead to the decrease of arginine content, which will inhibit the development of breast muscle in embryonic Jiaji duck. Similarly, joint analysis between trend 6 of DEGs and trend 6 of DEMs indicated the increase of GAMT gene expression will cause the increase of proline content, and then promote the development of breast muscle of Jiaji duck in embryonic period. These results will be helpful for further understanding the mechanism of muscle yields of Jiaji ducks.

Effect of microwave vacuum drying time on the quality profiles, microstructures and in vitro digestibility of pork chip snacks

In present study, the quality profiles, microstructures and in vitro digestibility of pork chip snacks (PCS) prepared by microwave vacuum drying (MVD) under different drying times (20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 min) were investigated. The results revealed significant decreases in the moisture content and L*-value of PCS, while the protein/ash contents, a*-value, and b*-value of PCS markedly increased with prolonged MVD time (P < 0.05). Additionally, as MVD time extended from 20 to 24 min, the textural characteristics of PCS, particularly brittleness and crunchiness, initially increased and then gradually decreased (P < 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that a moderate MVD time (22 min) resulted in the formation of larger pores in PCS, enhancing brittleness and crunchiness. However, excessive MVD time (24 min) led to the melting of these pores, subsequently reducing the brittleness and crunchiness of PCS. Furthermore, in vitro protein digestibility of PCS gradually decreased with increasing MVD time, primarily attributed to increased protein aggregation, as indicated by changes in sulfhydryl contents. In summary, our findings highlight that PCS subjected to 22 min of MVD exhibited the highest overall acceptability. This study provides a novel strategy for the application of MVD in the processing of meat snacks.

Quality improvement of soybean meal by simultaneous microbial fermentation and enzymolysis and untargeted metabolomic analysis of its metabolites

Twelve lactobacillus strains, four yeast strains, and eight proteases were screened, and their effects on oligosaccharide degradation, lactic acid production, and proteolytic capacity were investigated in soybean meal. The simultaneous microbial fermentation and enzymolysis (SMFE) conditions were optimized as feed/water ratio of 1:0.8 (w/v), yeast inoculum of 2.1×105 CFU/g, lactobacillus inoculum of 2.1×107 CFU/g, protease addition of 200 U/g, and fermentation at 37 °C for 48 h. The results showed that SMFE soybean meal exhibited superior performance over unprocessed soybean meal, showing increases in crude protein content from 49.8% to 56.3%, acid-soluble protein content from 3.7% to 10.4%, lactic acid production from 0 to 71.5 g/kg, and a decrease in oligosaccharide content from 6.4% to 0%. The comprehensive performance of SMFE soybean meal is higher than that from enzymolysis or fermentation alone Non-targeted metabolomic analysis revealed a diversity of metabolites in fermented soybean meal produced by different processes, and 8366 detected metabolites were mainly amino acids and their metabolites. Furthermore, among the six experimental groups, the metabolites of the SMFE group, and the yeast and lactic acid bacteria fermentation groups were the most similar. This study facilitates the assessment of overall quality of soybean meal and reveals the superiority of SMFE over traditional methods in enhancing nutritional profile of soybean meal.

Ultrasound-assisted modification of soybean protein isolate with L-histidine: Relationship between structure and function

Herein, the effects of ultrasound-assisted L-histidine (L-His) on the physicochemical properties and conformation of soybean protein isolate (SPI) were investigated. Particle size, zeta potential, turbidity, and solubility were used to evaluate protein aggregation, and the relationship between structural and functional changes of the proteins was characterized using spectral analysis, surface hydrophobicity, emulsification, and antioxidant properties. After ultrasound-assisted L-His treatment, SPI exhibited a smaller particle size, higher solubility, and more homogeneous micromorphology owing to the decrease in alpha-helix content and subsequent increases in zeta potential and active sulfhydryl content. In addition, spectral analysis showed that L-His and SPI could form a complex, which changed the microenvironment of the amino acid residues in SPI, thus improving its emulsification and antioxidant properties. At the concentration of L-His was 0.3 % w/w, the nanocomplex had a smaller particle size (140.03 nm), higher ζ-potential (–23.63 mV), and higher emulsification stability (22.48 min).

The Effect of Drying Method on The Quality of MOCAF (Modified Cassava Flour) from Raw Material Beta-Carotene-Rich Bokor Genotype Cassava

The high dependence on flour imports is a significant challenge to overcome by processing local food ingredients through diversification. To address this challenge, the use of MOCAF (Modified Cassava Flour) as a substitute for wheat flour has been carried out in the manufacture of wet and dry noodles, along with analog rice, and bread. The optimization of MOCAF production from beta-carotene-rich cassava depends on the selection of appropriate equipment technology and drying process. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the effect of drying method on MOCAF characteristics of beta-carotene-rich cassava genotype. The analysis was carried out using two methods, namely sun drying for 3-4 days and oven drying at 60 o C for 24 hours. Parameters analyzed included viscosity, solubility, syneresis, Near Infra-Red analysis, proximate analysis, and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The results showed that drying affected the physicochemical properties of MOCAF, including viscosity, solubility, and syneresis. NIR (Near-infrared) and proximate analysis showed that drying process affected the decrease in moisture, ash, protein, and fat content, along with an increase in crude fiber, and dry fiber matter content. Furthermore, SEM microstructural analysis resulted in the reformation of starch granules, characterized by changes in morphology and structure, such as the separation of irregular spherical shapes, and hollowness.

Energy strategy alteration, rather than toxicity itself, interferes with the population fluctuation of Brachionus plicatilis exposed to water-accommodated fractions (WAFs) of crude oil

Oil spills are reported to have conflicting impacts of either injury or resilience on zooplankton communities, and physiological plasticity is speculated to be the possible causative factor. But how? An explanation was sought by exposing the marine rotifer Brachionus plicatilis to a series of water-accommodated fractions (WAFs) of crude oil under controlled laboratory conditions, and population dynamics, which is the core issue for zooplankton facing external stress, were analyzed. The total hydrocarbon concentration of WAFs was quickly degraded from a concentration of 5.0 mg L−1 to half within 24 h and then remained stable. No acute lethality was observed; only motion inhibition was observed in the group treated with 10 %, 50 % and 100 % WAFs, which occurred simultaneously with inhibition of feeding and filtration. However, sublethal exposure to the WAFs concentration series presented stimulation impacts on reproduction and even the population of B. plicatilis. The negative correlation between motion and reproduction seemed to indicate that a shift in the distribution of individual energy toward reproduction rather than motion resulted in increased reproduction after exposure to WAFs. More evidence from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed ultrastructural impairment in both the ovaries and cilia in each treated group, and imbalance in mitochondrial numbers was one of the distinct features of alteration. WAFs stress may alter the energy utilization and storage paradigm, as indicated by the significant elevation in glycogen and the significant decrease in lipid content after WAFs exposure. Further evidence from metabolomics analysis showed that WAFs stress increased the level of lipid metabolism and inhibited some of the pathways in glucose metabolism. Sublethal acute toxicity was observed only in the first 24 h with WAFs exposure, and an energy strategy consisting of changes in the utilization and storage paradigm and reallocation is responsible for the population resilience of B. plicatilis during oil spills.

Assessment of biogas production potentials of palm oil mill effluent and cow dung substrates in anaerobic digester

The biogas production potentials of palm oil mill effluent (POME) and cow manure (CM) substrates were evaluated using anaerobic digester. The first two digesters (D1 and D2) were charged with POME and CM for mono-digestion respectively. However, co-substrates digestion was done in digesters D3 (60/40 % POME-CM), D4 (70/30 % POME-CM), and D5 (80/20 % POME-CM) and all the digestion lasted for 21 days. The biogas yield of the digesters and performance of the digestions were measured by the analysis of moisture content, pH, total suspended solids (TSS), total solids (TS), volatile solid (VS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total organic carbon (TOC) using standard analytical methods. The results showed that D4 (70/30 % POME-CM) has the highest biogas yield (1875±0.11 mL) while D2 (100 % CM) gave the lowest biogas yield (443±0.15 mL). The BOD of D3, D4 and D5 were not detected. The concentrations of COD, TS, TSS and TOC showed a significant (p&lt;0.05) decrease in D1, D3, D4 and D5 compared to D2. While D2, D3, D4 and D5 showed a significant (p&lt;0.05) decrease in moisture content compared to D1. However, D1, D3, D4 and D5 showed increasing level of alkalinity compared to acidic level of D2. Therefore, this study suggests that co-substrates anaerobic digestion of palm oil mill effluent and CM are suitable for biogas production.

Identification and expression analysis of the GLK gene family in tea plant (Camellia sinensis) and a functional study of CsGLK54 under low-temperature stress

The Golden2-like (GLK) transcription factor family is a significant group of transcription factors in plantae. The currently available studies have shown that GLK transcription factors have been studied mainly in chloroplast growth and development, with fewer studies in abiotic stress regulation. In this study, all tea plant GLK transcription factors were identified for the first time in tea plants, and genome-wide identification, phylogenetic analysis, and thematic characterization were performed to identify 66 GLK transcription factors in tea plants. These genes are categorized into seven groups, and an amino acid sequence comparison analysis is performed. This study revealed that the structure of GLK genes in tea plants is highly conserved and that these genes are distributed across 14 chromosomes. Collinearity analysis revealed 17 pairs of genes with fragment duplications and one pair of genes with tandem duplications, and the analysis of Ka/Ks ratios indicated that most of the genes underwent negative purifying selection. Analysis of promoter cis-elements revealed that the promoters of tea plant GLK genes contain a large number of cis-acting elements related to phytohormones and stress tolerance. In addition, a large number of genes contain LTR elements, suggesting that tea plant GLK genes are involved in low-temperature stress. qRT‒PCR analysis revealed that the expression of CsGLK17, CsGLK38, CsGLK54, CsGLK11 and CsGLK60 significantly increased and that the expression of CsGLK7 and CsGLK13 decreased in response to low-temperature induction. Taken together, the results of the transcription profile analysis suggested that CsGLK54 may play an important regulatory role under low-temperature stress. The subcellular localization of CsGLK54 was in the nucleus. Furthermore, CsGLK54 positively regulated the transcription levels of the NbPOD and NbSOD genes under low-temperature stress, which led to an increase in POD and SOD enzyme activities and a decrease in MDA content. These findings provide valuable insights into the regulatory mechanism of low-temperature stress in tea plants.

Effect of transglutaminase crosslinking combined with lactic fermentation on the potential allergenicity and conformational structure of soy protein.

Food allergies are a growing concern worldwide, with soy proteins being important allergens that are widely used in various food products. This study investigated the potential of transglutaminase (TGase) and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) treatments to modify the allergenicity and structural properties of soy protein isolate (SPI), aiming to develop safer soy-based food products. Treatment with TGase, LAB or their combination significantly reduced the antibody reactivity of β-conglycinin and the immunoglobulin E (IgE) binding capacity of soy protein, indicating a decrease in allergenicity. TGase treatment led to the formation of high-molecular-weight aggregates, suggesting protein crosslinking, while LAB treatment resulted in partial protein hydrolysis. These structural changes were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, which showed a decrease in β-sheet content and an increase in random coil and β-turn contents. In addition, changes in intrinsic fluorescence and ultraviolet spectroscopy were also observed. The alterations in protein interaction and the reduction in free sulfhydryl groups highlighted the extensive structural modifications induced by these treatments. The synergistic application of TGase and LAB treatments effectively reduced the allergenicity of SPI through significant structural modifications. This approach not only diminished antibody reactivity of β-conglycinin and IgE binding capacity of soy protein but also altered the protein's primary, secondary and tertiary structures, suggesting a comprehensive alteration of SPI's allergenic potential. These findings provide a promising strategy for mitigating food allergy concerns and lay the foundation for future research on food-processing techniques aimed at allergen reduction. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.