High Oil Content Research Articles

Optimizing engine performance and emission properties with Garcinia indica biodiesel: a holistic RSM-TLBO-DFA strategy

Garcinia indica (GI) feedstock poses high oil content (45.2%) and after transesterification resulted with 94.8% yield. The GI crude oil, biodiesel, and their blends were tested for fuel characteristics and run in a diesel engine. Response surface methodology based on central composite design experimental matrices was used to model and examine the input variables (engine load, injection timing, injection pressure, and blend type) on engine performance (brake thermal efficiency (BTE), brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC)) and emission characteristics (nitrogen oxide (NOx), unburnt hydrocarbon (UHC), carbon monoxide (CO)). All factors showed significant effects (except injection pressure and injection time for NOx) on all responses. The empirical equations predicted 27 experimental cases with 4.75% accuracy. Desirability function approach was applied to transform all output functions (maximize BTE and minimize BSFC, CO, NOx, and UHC) with different weight fractions (WF) to single composite desirability function for maximization. Teaching learning-based optimization (TLBO) determined optimal condition corresponding to case 4 (maximum WF to CO, minimum WF to BTE, BSFC, UHC, NOx) resulting in highest desirability function value (0.9432) with a percent deviation of 7.09%. The developed models assist novice users in predicting unknown parametric conditions and improving engine performance and emission characteristics without practical experiments.

Energy Utilization of Rapeseed Biomass in Europe: A Review of Current and Innovative Applications

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) biomass holds significant potential as a renewable energy resource in Europe due to its adaptability, high oil content, and role in biodiesel production. This review explores the energy applications of rapeseed biomass, examining its agronomic characteristics and environmental benefits. A detailed analysis of extraction processes—pressing, solvent extraction, and refining—highlights methods to optimize oil yield and quality. Additionally, the review addresses the use of rapeseed oil in various biofuel applications, including its direct use and in blends with fuels like alcohols and hydrogen, analyzing performance and emissions outcomes. Rapeseed cake, a valuable by-product, is discussed for its dual role as animal feed and as a moderate biofuel alternative. Emissions data and combustion efficiency metrics provide insights into the feasibility of rapeseed oil as a fuel substitute. Overall, this review aims to underscore the contributions of rapeseed biomass to sustainable energy and to identify gaps in current research that can guide future innovations in biofuel production and agricultural sustainability in Europe. Research in rapeseed biomass focuses on optimizing extraction methods, improving combustion efficiency and emission control, exploring advanced uses for rapeseed cake, developing higher-yielding and resilient varieties, conducting lifecycle sustainability assessments, and investigating new biofuel blends and applications.

Variability Studies in Soybean Genotypes under Different Water Regimes

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is economically one of the most important oilseed crop worldwide which have high protein and oil content. Its productivity is frequently affected due to drought occurrence in India. Variability for root shoot traits under early seedling stage under drought stress may be important selection criteria for development of drought tolerant genotypes. The present investigation was carried out at Net house of Experimental Farm, Mandsaur University, Mandsaur. Sixty genotypes, procured from ICAR-IISR, were used to know the extent of genetic variability under different water regimes [normal, 100 ml (100%), S1, 50 ml (50%), S2, 25 ml (25%) and S3,0 ml (0%)] for root-soot traits and relative leaf water content under early seedling stage. Significant genetic variability was recorded for all the traits among genotypes studied under normal and water stress conditions respectively which showed the presence of ample variability in studied material. High Phenotypic Coefficient of Variation than their corresponding Genotypic Coefficient of Variation for the entire trait under different water regimes denoted influence of environment on these traits. The large genetic variation found in these genotypes may be used to develop varieties with better drought tolerance behavior and used as drought donor lines in drought breeding programs. We measured high heritability for selected characters under non water stress condition (75.05% to 100%) and water stress conditions S1 (81.40% to 100%), S2 (85.69% to 100%) and S3 (92.60% to 99.26%) respectively. Additive gene action interacted to control characters under different water regimes because high broad sense heritability along with high genetic advance as percentage of mean were recorded for most of traits. It is indicating that simple phenotypic selection would be effective for these traits under water stress condition.

Effect of Different Drying Methods and Distillation Times on Essential Oil Composition and Antioxidant Content of Rosemary

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of different drying methods and distillation times on the antioxidant and essential oil contents of rosemary. The essential oil content of rosemary extracts was determined using hydrodistillation and its composition by GC-FID/MS. The antioxidant content of deoiled materials was quantified on the LC-MS/MS. Carnosol and carnosic acid contents (LC/MS-MS) and essential oil compositions (GC-MS) were determined after each treatment. The highest essential oil (2.34%), carnosol (0.62%), and carnosic acid (0.85%) contents of dried samples were determined at 45C. Some variations were also observed in the essential oil composition of dried samples. These quality parameters showed significant variations over different distillation times. And, the distillation time of 120 min was determined more appropriate to obtain essential oils and antioxidant compounds at a high yield. To produce rosemary extracts with a high content of essential oils and antioxidant compounds, it is highly recommended that the fresh plants should be first dried at 45C, and then dried samples should be processed into essential oils by hydrodistillation for 120 min. The remnants of plant materials from the production of rosemary essential oil could be used to produce carnosol and carnosic acid. Eventually, essential oils and antioxidant compounds should be extracted from rosemary in an integrated manner.

Эффективность агроприемов в агробиоценозе подсолнечника на черноземе выщелоченном Западного Предкавказья

In 2022–2023, we studied the influence of sowing dates and seed sowing rates on yield and quality of seeds of a sunflower hybrid Surus on leached black soil of the Western Ciscaucasia (Krasnodar). The results of mycological analysis of the experimental plot soil showed the differences in fungus amounts of genera Fusarium, Alternaria, and Rhizopus in sunflower rhizosphere, which was planted in various dates and with different seed sowing rates; also there were differences between these pathogens presence in rhizosphere and plant infection with fusariosis, alternaria, and dry rot. We stated the features in formation of a sunflower head diameter and plant height depending on the seed sowing rates and dates in the different by water supply weather conditions. In moderately favorable weather conditions of 2022, the highest yields of sunflower were obtained when planting it in period of May 10–20 and April 20–30 – 3.27 and 2.97 t/hа, respectively. Under summer water deficient of 2023, the highest sunflower yields were obtained at planting dates of May 10–20 and 20–30 – 3.08 and 2.90 t/hа, respectively. The reliably high oil contents in seeds, produced in these crops in 2023 – 49.3 and 50.0%, respectively, allowed receiv-ing the highest oil yields – 1.37 and 1.31 t/hа, respectively. The significant moisture deposit in soil (2022) and big precipitation amount at the beginning of a vegetative period (2023) promoted obtaining the highest indicators of sunflower productivity at seed sowing rate of 80 thousand pieces per ha.

Uncovering key genes associated with protein and oil in soybeans based on transcriptomics and proteomics

Soybean is an important oilseed crop, providing abundant protein and fat for human consumption. However, in practical production, there exists a significant negative correlation between soybean oil and protein content, making it difficult to obtain soybean varieties with both high protein and high oil content. There is limited research on the regulatory network governing soybean oil and protein content. We selected four soybean varieties, Sui Xiao Li (SXL), Ji Da 5 (JD5), Ji Da 33 (JD33), and Ji Yu 202 (JY202), and determined their protein and oil content. We found that SXL and JD33 are high-protein, low-oil varieties, while JD5 and JY202 are high-oil, low-protein varieties. Subsequently, transcriptomic and proteomic analyses were conducted on these four soybean varieties. The results revealed a total of 7182 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 1037 differentially expressed proteins (DAPs) among the four soybean varieties SXL, JD5, JD33, and JY202. Through KEGG analysis, we identified 96 and 319 DEGs involved in fatty acid metabolism and protein metabolism, respectively, as well as 23 and 28 DAPs involved in fatty acid metabolism and protein metabolism, respectively. Additionally, based on WGCNA and PPI interaction networks, several central genes were identified, which potentially play a role in the accumulation of protein content and oil content. These potential genes mainly participate in processes such as glycolysis and carbon metabolism. Joint analysis of transcriptomic and proteomic data revealed generally poor correlation between gene expression at the transcriptional and protein levels, with 240 co-regulated genes identified. Combining metabolic pathways, we identified 12 and 5 genes that are involved in lipid metabolism and protein synthesis at both transcriptional and translational levels, respectively. Finally, based on predictions of correlation and interaction, we identified 22 genes that may simultaneously regulate protein and oil content negatively at the transcriptional and translational levels. This study provides important scientific guidance for the genetic improvement of soybean quality components.

Optimizing Basil Seed Vigor Evaluations: An Automatic Approach Using Computer Vision-Based Technique

The short cultivation cycle and high essential oil content of basil plants render them a valuable raw material source for diverse industries. However, large-scale production is hindered by the lack of specific protocols to assess seed vigor; thus, a consistent supply of high-quality seeds that meet consumer demands cannot be ensured. This study investigated the effectiveness of an automated system for seedling analysis as a tool for evaluating basil seed vigor and compared it to traditional tests. For this purpose, seeds from eight commercial lots were evaluated in two separate trials spaced six months apart using the following tests: germination, first germination count, saturated salt accelerated aging, primary root emergence, mean germination time, seedling emergence, seedling emergence speed index, and computerized seedling image analysis. The parameters provided by the system allowed us to clearly and objectively classify the basil seed lots based on vigor, and the results were strongly and significantly correlated with the findings of traditional vigor tests, particularly between the vigor index and seedling length. Digital analysis of four-day-old seedlings proved to be a fast and efficient technique for evaluating basil seed vigor and has the potential for use in automating the data collection and analysis process.

Genome-wide identification of XsDGAT family and their expression patterns in yellowhorn (Xanthoceras sorbifolium)

Diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) plays a pivotal role in lipid metabolism, particularly in the biosynthesis of triacylglycerols (TAGs), which are essential for energy storage and cellular membrane formation. Xanthoceras sorbifolium, commonly known as yellowhorn, is notable for the high oil content of its seeds and its potential in biodiesel production. However, its DGATs have not been thoroughly studied. In this study, we conducted the bioinformatics analysis of the XsDGAT gene family in X. sorbifolium. The XsDGAT homologs, sequence features, domain architecture, and evolutionary relationships were identified, the expression patterns across different tissues and their potential regulatory elements of XsDGATs were also displayed, providing valuable insights into their potential roles in lipid biosynthesis and accumulation. This comprehensive bioinformatics analysis offers valuable resources for further experimental investigations and potential applications aimed at enhancing lipid productivity in X. sorbifolium.

Integrative Analysis of Metabolome and Transcriptome Reveals Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Oil and Protein Content in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L).

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important source of edible vegetable oils and plant proteins globally. However, the complex mechanisms regulating the oil and protein contents of peanut seeds remain unclear. Here, comparative broad-target metabolomics and quantitative lipidomics, together with transcriptome analysis, of peanut seeds at four developmental stages from the high-oil content variety "YH15" and high-protein content variety "KB008" were performed to search for oil and protein content control genes. A total of 984 differential metabolites, including 128 amino acids and derivatives and 310 differentially accumulated lipids, were identified between "YH15" and "KB008" in four seed developmental stages. The weighted gene coexpression network analysis and module-trait relationship analysis revealed that MEbrown, MEyellow, and MEturquoise modules were key contributors to the quality discrepancies observed between "YH15" and "KB008." Crucial genes potentially regulating the differences in oil and protein contents between "YH15" and "KB008" were identified within the aforementioned three modules, including genes involved in amino acid synthesis and degradation, nitrogen allocation, triglyceride synthesis and degradation, and fatty acid synthesis and degradation, as well as transcription factors. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the molecular regulation of oil and protein contents in peanut seeds and may help cultivate specialized peanut varieties with enhanced nutritional and economic values.

Rapid and nondestructive detection of oil and fatty acid content of soybean using hyperspectral imaging

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) is an important oil crop with significant economic value worldwide, the breeding of soybean varieties requires not only high oil content, but also the appropriate ratio of fatty acids. In this study, a rapid and nondestructive detection method for oil and fatty acid content of soybean was developed using hyperspectral imaging (HSI). Five wavelength selection methods, including competitive adaptive re-weighted sampling, random frogs, iteratively retaining informative variables, uninformative variable elimination, and genetic algorithm, were used to select the important variables, and partial least squares (PLS) was used to build the prediction models. Among five methods, uninformative variable elimination provided with satisfactory results for the prediction of oil content and fatty acid content of soybean. The validation results showed that oil content and linolenic acid had good performance with correlation coefficient for cross-validation (R2cv) values of 0.90 and 0.92, and correlation coefficient predictive (R2p) values of 0.93 and 0.93, respectively. The absolute errors between the predicted and actual values of oil and linolenic acid content ranged from -1.39% to 0.97% and from -0.86% to 1.07%, respectively. In addition, oleic acid had better results with R2cv, RPDcv, and R2p values of 0.84, 2.45, and 0.85, respectively. Furthermore, Compared the models developed using near infrared (NIR), the the average relative errors of the established HSI models for oil content, oleic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid in soybean decreased by 48.94%, 21.85%, 37.98% and 39.31%, respectively. Therefore, HSI has great potential to detect oil content and major fatty acids in soybeans.

A comparative microbiological study of the essential oils from the genus Rosa L.

The medicinal plant raw material containing essential oils always attract the attention of scientists from various countries worldwide. The search for new sources of the plant raw material rich in biologically active substances, particularly volatile compounds, remains a relevant task in modern pharmaceutical science. Our focus has been drawn to Rosa damascena Mill. of the “Veselka” (“Rainbow”) variety grown in the natural environment of Zaporizhzhia; its essential oil exhibits anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiseptic effects. To obtain a valuable medicinal plant raw material from Rosa damascena with a high content of essential oil, it was introduced into in vitro culture to produce aseptic regenerants, followed by their reintroduction into the natural environment. Aim. To conduct a comparative microbiological study of essential oils from Rosa damascena of the “Veselka” variety grown via clonal micropropagation in in vitro culture and in the natural environment of Zaporizhzhia. Materials and methods. The study objects were essential oils obtained by water distillation from rose petals cultivated using the method of clonal micropropagation in in vitro culture (at the premises of the Educational and Scientific Medical Laboratory Center with a vivarium) and the natural environment of Zaporizhzhia. The study of the antimicrobial activity was conducted in the microbiological laboratory of the Department of Microbiology, Virology, and Immunology at Zaporizhzhia State Medical and Pharmaceutical University. Results and discussion. The essential oils from Rosa damascena grown via clonal micropropagation in in vitro culture and under natural conditions in Zaporizhzhia effectively inhibited the growth of E. coli (21.3 mm and 12.0 mm, respectively) and S. aureus (11.3 mm and 10.2 mm, respectively). The results of the study on C. albicans indicate a high antifungal activity in both essential oils; the mean inhibition zone diameter in the experiments using the oil from Rosa damascena cultivated in in vitro culture is less: 33.3 mm compared to 40 mm in the experiments with the oil from roses grown in the natural environment of Zaporizhzhia. Conclusions. The method of clonal micropropagation of Rosa damascena of the “Veselka” variety is effective for obtaining a large amount of planting material in a short time with the subsequent reintroduction into the natural environment to expand the raw material base of valuable medicinal plants with a high content of essential oils. The results of the study of the antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Rosa damascena of the “Veselka” variety cultivated through clonal micropropagation in in vitro culture have exhibited a high antimicrobial activity and moderate antifungal activity compared to the essential oil from Rosa damascena grown in the natural environment of Zaporizhzhia. Therefore, Rosa damascena Mill. of the “Veselka” variety cultivated under in vitro conditions is a promising source of essential oil with a high antibacterial effect in order to create new herbal formulations.

Biodegradation of Model Solid Waste from Palm Oil production by Micromycete Strains

The study employed micromycetes of the genus Penicillium isolated from solid waste generated in palm oil production. For P. goetzii strain ZCMC-01M and P. chrysogenum strain ZCMC-02M, the lipolytic activity on tributyrin agar and the potential of palm oil as a growth substrate were revealed. Both strains showed specific activity of laccases, peroxidases and Mn-peroxidases. The biodegradation of solid waste by Penicillium strains was studied in the experiments conducted using a mixture of coconut fiber and palm oil in a 1:1 ratio. After 30-day incubation at 22℃ and 32℃, the mass fraction of dry matter in waste was found to decrease in both strains by not less than 11% and 7% respectively, compared to the control. The mass fraction of lipids decreased by not less than 9% and 6%, respectively. The maximum acid value at both temperatures was recorded for P. goetzii strain ZCMC-01M; it increased more than 4-fold compared to the control. For P. chrysogenum strain ZCMC-02M, the acid value increased 3.9 and 3.7 fold at 22℃ and 32℃ respectively. The results obtained indicate that representatives of P. chrysogenum and P. goetzii isolated from waste with a high content of palm oil can effectively biodegrade this type of waste.

Assessing population structure and morpho-molecular characterization of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) for elite germplasm identification.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), known for its adaptability and high yield potential, is vital in global edible oil production. Estimating genetic diversity is a key pre-breeding activity in crop breeding. The current study comprised of 48 genotypes which were assessed for their biometrical traits at department of Oilseeds, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, during the rainy season of 2022. The lines were subsequently characterised using 103 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers for molecular diversity analysis. The results indicated that the net nucleotide distances indicated varying genetic divergence, with subpopulations II and V showing the highest (0.056) and I and IV the lowest (0.014). Subpopulation IV exhibited the highest heterozygosity (0.352), while subpopulation III had the lowest heterozygosity and a low Fst (0.173). Principal components analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis were employed for assessing the morphological diversity, facilitating genotype grouping and parent selection for breeding programs. The first four components cumulatively accounted for 86.72% of the total variation. Cluster Analysis grouped 48 sunflower genotypes into three clusters based on genetic diversity. COSF 13B stands out for its high head diameter, oil content, seed yield, and oil yield based on mean performance of morphological data. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) mirrored the groupings from the Neighbor Joining method, with the first three components explaining 27.24% of the total variation. Molecular data analysis identified five distinct clusters among the germplasm. By integrating morphological and molecular marker data with genetic distance analysis, substantial diversity was revealed with the genotypes RHA 273 and GMU 325 consistently demonstrated high oil yield per plant. The genotypes GMU 477, GMU 450, COSF 13B, RHA 102, CMS 1103B, and RHA GPR 58 have been identified as suitable parents for enhancing oil content in sunflower breeding programs. These findings also aid in selecting SSR markers for genotype characterization and in choosing diverse parents for breeding programs.

Advances in Soybean Genetic Improvement.

The soybean (Glycine max) is a globally important crop due to its high protein and oil content, which serves as a key resource for human and animal nutrition, as well as bioenergy production. This review assesses recent advancements in soybean genetic improvement by conducting an extensive literature analysis focusing on enhancing resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, improving nutritional profiles, and optimizing yield. We also describe the progress in breeding techniques, including traditional approaches, marker-assisted selection, and biotechnological innovations such as genetic engineering and genome editing. The development of transgenic soybean cultivars through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and biolistic methods aims to introduce traits such as herbicide resistance, pest tolerance, and improved oil composition. However, challenges remain, particularly with respect to genotype recalcitrance to transformation, plant regeneration, and regulatory hurdles. In addition, we examined how wild soybean germplasm and polyploidy contribute to expanding genetic diversity as well as the influence of epigenetic processes and microbiome on stress tolerance. These genetic innovations are crucial for addressing the increasing global demand for soybeans, while mitigating the effects of climate change and environmental stressors. The integration of molecular breeding strategies with sustainable agricultural practices offers a pathway for developing more resilient and productive soybean varieties, thereby contributing to global food security and agricultural sustainability.

Domestication and engineering of pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.): challenges and opportunities for sustainable bio-based feedstocks.

Pennycress, as an emerging oilseed crop with high oil content, faces challenges but offers potential for sustainable bioproducts; ongoing research aims to enhance its traits and quality. Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) is an emerging oilseed crop with many advantages, such as high seed oil (27-39%) and monounsaturated fatty acid (55.6%) content, making it an attractive candidate to produce sustainable bioproducts. However, several challenges are associated with domesticating pennycress, including high silicle shatter, which reduces seed yield during harvest, non-uniformed germination rate and high contents of erucic acid and glucosinolates, which have adverse health effects on humans and animals. Pennycress, which can be easily and rapidly transformed using the floral dip method under vacuum, can achieve trait improvements. Ongoing research for pennycress domestication using mutation breeding, including ethylmethylsulfonate treatment and genome editing, aims to improve its quality. Pennycress can be used as an excellent platform for producing industrially important fatty acids such as hydroxy and epoxy fatty acids and docosahexaenoic acid. In conclusion, pennycress is a promising oilseed crop with multiple advantages and potential applications. Continuous improvements in quality and engineering for producing high-value bio-based feedstocks in pennycress will establish it as a sustainable and economically valuable crop.

Grey correlation analysis of the main influencing factors of wax deposition of waxy crude oil and determination of pigging period based on dynamic analysis

Normal temperature gathering and transportation has significant advantages in reducing energy consumption and cost. Due to the high wax content of crude oil in carbonate reservoirs, obvious wax deposition will occur in the process of gathering and transportation at room temperature. In this paper, according to the component analysis results of crude oil on site, the HEATANALOGY wax deposition model was used to calculate the wax deposition of different gathering pipelines. The main influencing factors of wax deposition were analyzed by grey correlation method. Finally, according to the pigging mechanical balance model, the safe pigging period is derived, and the relationship diagram of different pipe diameters, throughput and ground temperature is drawn. The results show that the wellhead temperature has the greatest influence on the initial wax deposition position and the peak wax deposition position of the pipe section. The flow rate has the greatest influence on the maximum wax deposition thickness of the tube wall. According to the relationship between the working conditions and the pigging cycle, it can be found that with the increase of the throughput, the pigging cycle decreases first and then increases. With the increase of ground temperature, the pigging cycle increases.

Comparative Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Possible Roles of Rice Phospholipase A Genes in the Accumulation of Oil in Grains.

The phospholipase A (PLA) gene family plays a crucial role in the regulation of plant growth, development and stress response. Although PLA genes have been identified in various plant species, their specific functions and characteristics in oil quality formation of rice grains (Oryza sativa L.) have not been studied yet. Here, we identified and characterized 35 rice PLA genes, which were divided into three subgroups based on gene structures and phylogenetic relationships. These genes are distributed unevenly across 11 rice chromosomes. The promoter sequence of rice PLAs contain multiple plant hormones and stress-related elements. Gene expression analyses in various tissues and under stress conditions indicated that PLAs may be involved in rice growth, development and stress response. In addition, metabolomics, transcriptomics and qRT-PCR analyses between two rice varieties Guang8B (G8B, high oil content) and YueFengB (YFB, low oil content) revealed that the different expressional levels of rice PLA genes were closely related to the differences in the oil content between 'G8B' and 'YFB' grains. The findings of this study provide potential novel insights into the molecular information of the phospholipase A gene family in rice, and underscore the potential functions of PLA genes in rice oil content accumulation, providing valuable resources for future genetic improvement and breeding strategies.

Microbial community acclimation during anaerobic digestion of high-oil food waste

Anaerobic digestion is one of the most promising options for the disposal of biodegradable food waste. However, the relatively high content of oil in food waste inhibits the conversion efficiency of anaerobic digestion because of the accumulation of long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs). In this study, activated anaerobic sludge was acclimated to accommodate high-oil conditions. The methane yield of high-oil food waste digested by the acclimated sludge increased by 24.9% compared to that digested by the raw sludge. To determine the internal changes in the acclimated sludge, the shifts in the microbial communities during the acclimation period were investigated via high-throughput sequencing (HTS) based on the 16 S rRNA gene. The results indicated that Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Chloroflexi and Proteobacteria were the dominant bacteria at the phylum level. The acclimation time allows some functional bacterial taxa to proliferate, such as Clostridium and Longilinea, which are able to degrade LCFAs and turn them into small organic molecules that also have nutrient value for other bacteria. Among the archaeal communities, the hydrogenotrophic methanogen Methanobacterium nearly supplanted the acetotrophic methanogen Methanosaeta. The time profiles of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and pH during this period provided additional evidence for the success of the acclimation. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of acclimation and the dynamic of microbial communities, which further contributed to the management and resource utilization of high-oil food waste.

Plant-based flaxseed oil microcapsules fabricated from coacervation of gluten at oil droplet surface: Microstructure, oxidation stability, and oil digestion control.

This study aimed to develop microcapsules with wheat gluten-coated oil droplets to enhance the oxidation stability and control the digestibility of flaxseed oil. The microcapsules were fabricated using a three-step procedure: (i) flaxseed oil was homogenized with an alkaline gluten solution to form oil-in-water emulsions containing small gluten-coated oil droplets (320-400nm); (ii) the pH of these emulsions was then neutralized to facilitate the deposition of gluten around the oil droplets, thereby forming a thick layer; (iii) a flaxseed oil microcapsule powder was then prepared by spray drying. During the microcapsule formation, intermolecular interactions, including hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds, were involved in the coacervation of gluten at the emulsion surface. The resultant microcapsules with a multiple-core structure had external diameters of 4-26µm and encapsulation efficiencies of 90%-94%. The microencapsulated oil powders contained a relatively high flaxseed oil content (60%-80%). Among them, the sample with 60% oil content demonstrated the best stability in resisting oil droplet coalescence; thus, it exhibited a higher lipolysis rate and extent during simulated gastrointestinal digestion. A 30-day accelerated storage study showed that encapsulation of the flaxseed oil improved its resistance to oxidation. These findings suggest that the pH-deposition method can successfully produce microencapsulated polyunsaturated lipids using all plant-derived ingredients, which may facilitate their use in new plant-based foods through a green and sustainable approach.

Yield, grain quality and morphological characteristics of new early maturing varieties of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] from domestic breeding

Purpose. To carry out a comprehensive study and evaluation of new varieties of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] of the early maturity group (vegetation period – 91–110 days) by morphological characteristics and the main economic indicators: yield, oil and protein content. Methods. Field stu­dies on the qualification examination of soybean varieties were carried out during 2022–2023 in ten branches of the Ukrainian Institute for Plant Variety Examination (UIPVE) within the soil and climatic zones of the Steppe, Forest­Steppe and Polissia. The process was based on the existing methods of qualification examination of plant varieties for their suitability for distribution in Ukraine (VCU), determination of quality indicators of crop production and compliance of varieties with the criteria of distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS). Results. The morphological characteristics, yield and grain quality of new early maturing varieties of Ukrainian breeding, included in the State Register of Plant Varieties Suitable for Distribution in Ukraine, were evalua­ted. Namely: ‘Zlatopilska’, ‘Kobuko’, ‘AFC Tempo’, ‘AFC Fest’, ‘Hospodynia’ and ‘Sunrise’. The most productive varieties in all soil and climate zones were ‘AFC Tempo’ (Steppe – 3.25 t/ha, Forest­Steppe – 3.64, Polissia – 3.63 t/ha) and ‘Kobuko’ (Steppe – 3.03 t/ha, Forest­Steppe – 3.68, Polissia – 3.42 t/ha). At the same time, ‘Zlatopilska’, ‘Kobuko’, ‘AFC Tempo’, ‘AFC Fest’ and ‘Sunrise’ produced the highest yields in Forest­Steppe [from 2.89 t/ha (‘Zlatopilska’) to 3.68 t/ha (‘Kobuko’)] and ‘Hospodynia’ – in Polissia (2.83 t/ha). ‘Zlatopilska’ (38.4–40.3%) and ‘Sunrise’ (37.9–40.6%) had the highest protein content in the grain and ‘AFC Fest’ (23.3–24.3%) the highest oil content. Conclusions. According to the results of the qualification examination, varieties of soybean ‘Zlatopilska’, ‘Kobuko’ and ‘AFC Tempo’ are recommended for cultivation in all soil and climatic zones; ‘Sunrise’ – in the Steppe and Forest­Steppe; ‘Hospodynia’ – in the Steppe and Polissia; ‘AFC Fest’ – only in the Steppe. Seeds produced in the Forest­Steppe zone have the best quality indicators in terms of protein content, and in terms of oil content – in the Steppe zone. The studied varieties of soybeans meet the criteria of distinctness, uniformity and stability, as well as the requirements for suitability for distribution in Ukraine.