High Oil Content Research Articles

Evaluation of confirmatory data following the Article 12 MRL review and modification of the existing maximum residue levels for aluminium phosphide and magnesium phosphide.

The applicant Detia Freyberg GmbH submitted to the competent national authority in Germany two requests to evaluate the confirmatory data that were identified for tree nuts, oilseeds, cereals and commodities of animal origin in the framework of the maximum residue level (MRL) review under Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 as not available and two requests in accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 to increase the existing MRL for the active substance aluminium phosphide in peanuts, barley, oat, rye, rice and wheat, roots of herbal infusions, cocoa beans and seed spices and for the active substance magnesium phosphide in oilseeds (except peanuts) and pistachios. The four applications were combined by EFSA under the current assessment. To address the data gaps, validation data for the method of analysis for enforcement of phosphide in high-oil content commodities and new residue trials were submitted. The data gaps on additional residue trials supporting authorisations on oilseeds and cereal grains, on clarifications regarding the discrepancies observed in the residue trial results for pistachios, and on data confirming the negligible occurrence of phosphane and its oxidation products in livestock products were considered addressed. The data gap on independent laboratory validation (ILV) and a confirmatory method for monitoring of phosphide in high-oil content commodities was considered not fully addressed. The information provided justified a lowering of the current tentative MRLs for the whole group of cereals (except rice and 'others'), an increase of the current tentative MRLs for pistachios, the whole group of oilseeds, rice and 'other' cereals, herbal infusions from roots, cocoa beans and seed spices, and a revision of the risk assessment performed for phosphane and its phosphide salts. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concluded that the short-term and long-term intake of residues resulting from the use of AlP and Mg3P2 according to the reported agricultural practices is unlikely to present a risk to consumer health. Further risk management considerations are required.

Characterization of mono‐varietal virgin olive oils obtained from Turkish National Germplasm Bank according to fatty acid composition, volatile profile, and sensory properties

AbstractMono‐varietal virgin olive oils were obtained from Olea europaea L. olives grown in the National Olive Germplasm Bank in the same agronomic conditions for two harvesting years. Samples were characterized according to fatty acid composition, volatile profile, and sensory attributes, and varieties were compared using Pearson correlation, principal component analysis (PCA), and cluster analysis. Odor activity values (OAVs) of the volatiles were calculated to discuss relationships between individual sensory properties and volatiles. Although most of the samples overlapped on the score plots, some samples were located away from the others. The sample groupings on the dendrogram plotted using Ward's linkage were generally suitable with PCA results. Ethanol had a negative correlation with 9 out of 14 pleasant attributes. According to OAVs, trans‐2‐hexenal content had the most important effect on sensory attributes and positively correlated with flower odor, whereas hexenal content contributed to sweet attributes. Similarly, the effect of 1‐hexanol content strengthened the flower attribute but weakened the bitter taste. These findings were also confirmed by separating some varieties rich in those volatiles on the PCA bi‐plot of sensory attributes. Samples were grouped on a dendrogram in accordance with total ester and total C3, C5, and C6 acid contents.Practical Application: Most olive production in Turkey is based on a few varieties, whereas 95 different endemic varieties were registered by Turkish National Germplasm Bank. This study provides information on the volatile composition, sensory profile, and fatty acid composition of virgin olive oils produced from some rare varieties with high oil content. Moreover, relationships and correlations between individual volatiles and sensory attributes were evaluated, and the main differences in fatty acid composition, volatile profile, and sensory attributes of these Turkish virgin olive oils and those produced from well‐known varieties from major producing countries were compared. Thus, data on the main characteristics of extra virgin olive oils produced from Turkish olives were provided to the literature, these varieties were promoted internationally, and their cultivation was encouraged.

Efficient callus induction from various explants of Jatropha curcas

Jatropha curcas L. is a tropical plant of the Euphorbiaceae family, characterized by its high oil content and its ability to grow in a variety of conditions, which made it the most promising non-food biofuel crop in the world. The current study was directed to develop effective methods of tissue culture using this plant. The study was able to induce callus from cotyledons of sterile seedlings, as well as from true leaves taken from the field and from the embryo, using MS medium supplemented with interfering concentrations of Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) with Benzyl adenine (BA), as the results indicated that The medium containing 0.5 mgL-1 for each of them gave the highest percentage of callus induction for the cotyledonous leaves, true leaves and embryonic peduncle, which reached 100%, 80% and 100%, respectively.

Registration of “Maya” Variety of Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill)

Maya (PI-567190) soybean was developed by the Fedis Agricultural Research Center and was released in 2023. It is a high yielding medium maturity group variety adapted to the eastern Ethiopia particularly east Oromia. Then the trial was developed to evaluate and release stable high yielding and disease resistant/tolerant soybean variety for the east Oromia and other similar agro-ecologies. “Maya” soybean variety with pedigree of PI-567190 was developed through selection. It was evaluated at three locations; Fedis, Mechara and Babile for two years (2021 and 2022). Similarly, during verification trial “Maya” was evaluated with two standard checks (Awasa 04 and SC-status) and one candidate variety (PI-230970). “Maya” recorded 26.22 % of oil content while recently released variety “SC-STATUS” recorded 25.23. It has high oil contents that commercial variety Awasa-04 and recently released variety SC- STATUS. “Maya” soybean variety had higher seed yield and better stability performances with comparable oil content. It is resistant to common soybean diseases viz., bacterial blight, rust and bacterial pustule than commercial variety Awasa-04.

Возделывание рапса ярового в условиях лесостепи Среднего Поволжья

The article presents the results of field research on agroecological variety testing of spring rapeseed in the conditions of the forest-steppe of the Middle Volga region. On average, over the 2021-2023 years of research, all varieties of spring rapeseed have formed a fairly high seed yield from 1.54 to 1.71 t/ha. The highest yields were observed in Rif (1.71 t/ha), Habilitation (1.70 t/ha) and Novosel (1.68 t/ha) varieties, which significantly exceeded the standard Galant variety by 0.14-0.17 t/ha. All the studied varieties had high agronomic stability, the values of this indicator were at the level of 80.2-86.5%, which characterizes the value of varieties for production. The oil content of rapeseed seeds varied on average from 40.4% to 46.3%. The highest oil content was noted in the Tavrion and Neman varieties, which amounted to 46.3 and 43.2%, respectively. The accumulation of erucic acid ranged from 0.07% in the Hunter variety to 2.35% in the Reliable 92 variety. The highest content of oleic acid (65.42%) was observed in the Tavrion variety. Large seeds were formed by the Novosel and Tavrion varieties, the weight of 1000 seeds of which was 4.50 and 4.26 g, respectively. Keywords: SPRING RAPESEED, VARIETY, YIELD, OIL CONTENT, FATTY ACID COMPOSITION, CROP STRUCTURE

Effectiveness of <i>Jatropha curcas</i> as Biodiesel and Antiviral: A Review

Jatropha curcas has emerged as a potential feedstock for biodiesel production due to its non-edible nature, high oil content, and adaptability to marginal lands. This review provides an overview of the advantages and challenges associated with Jatropha curcas as a biodiesel source. The non-edible nature of Jatropha curcas makes it an attractive option for biofuel production, as it does not compete with food crops, minimizing concerns about food security. The seeds of Jatropha curcas contain a significant amount of oil, ranging from 30% to 40%, making it a suitable feedstock for biodiesel production. Jatropha curcas exhibits adaptability to harsh environments and can grow on marginal lands unsuitable for food crops. It requires low water and nutrient inputs, making it a potential solution for areas where other crops struggle to thrive. Furthermore, the cultivation of Jatropha curcas can provide economic opportunities, especially in rural areas, contributing to rural development and income generation for farmers. However, there are challenges that need to be addressed for the successful commercialization of Jatropha curcas as a biodiesel feedstock.

Source-sink coordinated peanut cultivar increases yield and kernel protein content through enhancing photosynthetic characteristics and regulating carbon and nitrogen metabolisms

The grain yield of crops is determined by the synergistic interaction between source activity and sink capacity. However, source-sink interactions are far from being fully understood of peanut. Therefore, a 2-year field study (2018–2019) was conducted to compare differences in photosynthetic characteristics, carbon and nitrogen metabolism, and yield and quality of different source–sink peanut varieties. Four representative source–sink types were examined: JH5 (source–sink coordination type), SH9 (sufficient source–large sink type), ZH24 (sufficient source–few sink type), and HY36 (large source–few sink type). The results showed that the photosynthetic potential of HY36 was higher than that of the other varieties after flowering because of a large source (leaves), whereas the chlorophyll content and net photosynthetic rate of HY36 were significantly lower than those of JH5 and ZH24. Proportions of dry matter transferred to pods were significantly different among four source–sink peanut varieties. From 50 days after flowering, the dry matter distribution ratio of pods exceeded that of stems and leaves in JH5, significantly earlier than other varieties, which prolong the duration of pod-filling period, followed by SH9 and ZH24. The activities of nitrate reductase, glutamine synthetase, glutamate dehydrogenase, and glutamate synthase in JH5 were the highest among the varieties, and thus, the highest protein content was also in JH5. The activities of sucrose synthase and sucrose phosphate synthase in ZH24 were significantly higher than those in HY36. The highest oil content was also in ZH24. Among pod sink characteristics and yield, SH9 had the longest flowering period and the highest gynophore formation rate but the lowest pod-bearing rate, and the effective proportion and pod fullness were also lower than those of other varieties. The highest pod rate was in ZH24. The effective proportion and pod fullness of JH5 were higher than those of the other varieties, and its yield was also the highest, followed by SH9 and ZH24, with the lowest yield in HY36. The obtained results indicate that the source–sink coordinated variety had high Pn and chlorophyll content in the late growth stage, a long functional period of leaves, and a high proportion of assimilates transported to pods, thus promoting effective proportions and pod fullness to improve peanut yield and protein content, suggesting that different cultivation and management measures should select for different peanut varieties to best coordinate the relationship between the source and sink.

Physiological and Proteomic Changes in Camellia semiserrata in Response to Aluminum Stress.

Camellia semiserrata is an important woody edible oil tree species in southern China that is characterized by large fruits and seed kernels with high oil contents. Increasing soil acidification due to increased use of fossil fuels, misuse of acidic fertilizers, and irrational farming practices has led to leaching of aluminum (Al) in the form of free Al3+, Al(OH)2+, and Al(OH)2+, which inhibits the growth and development of C. semiserrata in South China. To investigate the mechanism underlying C. semiserrata responses to Al stress, we determined the changes in photosynthetic parameters, antioxidant enzyme activities, and osmoregulatory substance contents of C. semiserrata leaves under different concentrations of Al stress treatments (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 mmol/L Alcl3) using a combination of physiological and proteomics approaches. In addition, we identified the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) under 0 (CK or GNR0), 2 mmol/L (GNR2), and 4 mmol/L (GNR4) Al stress using a 4D-label-free technique. With increasing stress concentration, the photosynthetic indexes of C. semiserrata leaves, peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), soluble protein (SP), and soluble sugar (SS) showed an overall trend of increasing and then decreasing, and proline (Pro) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents tended to continuously increase overall. Compared with the control group, we identified 124 and 192 DEPs in GNR2 and GNR4, respectively, which were mainly involved in metabolic processes such as photosynthesis, flavonoid metabolism, oxidative stress response, energy and carbohydrate metabolism, and signal transduction. At 2 mmol/L Al stress, carbon metabolism, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, and flavonoid metabolism-related proteins were significantly changed, and when the stress was increased to 4 mmol/L Al, the cells accumulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) at a rate exceeding the antioxidant system scavenging capacity. To deal with this change, C. semiserrata leaves enhanced their glutathione metabolism, drug metabolism-cytochrome P450, metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450, and other metabolic processes to counteract peroxidative damage to the cytoplasmic membrane caused by stress. In addition, we found that C. semiserrata resisted aluminum toxicity mainly by synthesizing anthocyanidins under 2 mmol/L stress, whereas proanthocyanidins were alleviated by the generation of proanthocyanidins under 4 mmol/L stress, which may be a special mechanism by which C. semiserrata responds to different concentrations of aluminum stress.

Multivariate analysis among indigenous and exotic advanced inbred lines of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) for genetic improvement

Evaluation and validation of 358 Indian-origin and exotic inbred lines of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) was done over two years toidentify trait-specific inbreds with desirable agronomical features for genetic improvement. The analysis of variance exhibited significant differences among the genotypes for most of the agronomic traits studied, which favor selection. Positive correlations were recorded among the various characters in the improvement of seed yield, particularly for plant height, head diameter, and 100 seed weight. Cluster analysis grouped 163 inbreds under Cluster V, which included genotypes with medium maturity, high oil content and good yielding ability. The clustering pattern indicated the association between geographic diversity and genetic diversity. The first principal component accounted for 75% of the total variation in the population. The most important trait that contributed more to the variation in PC1 was plant height (0.989), followed by the number of leaves per plant (0.113). The second principal component accounted for 87% of the total variation and was positively associated with days to 50% flowering (0.674) and days to maturity (0.654), whereas it was negatively associated with seed yield per plant (-0312). Several trait-specific inbred lines were identified using multivariate analysis that may serve as potential breeding material/parental lines for effective utilization in the heterosis breeding programme for developing agronomically superior heterotic sunflower hybrids.

Shift in the rhizosphere soil fungal community associated with root rot infection of Plukenetia volubilis Linneo caused by Fusarium and Rhizopus species.

Plukenetia volubilis Linneo is an oleaginous plant belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae. Due to its seeds containing a high content of edible oil and rich in vitamins, P. volubilis is cultivated as an economical plantworldwide. However, the cultivation and growth of P. volubilis is challenged by phytopathogen invasion leading to production loss. In the current study, we tested the pathogenicity of fungal pathogens isolated from root rot infected P. volubilis plant tissues by inoculating them into healthy P. volubilis seedlings. Metagenomic sequencing was used to assess the shift in the fungal community of P. volubilis rhizosphere soil after root rot infection. Four Fusarium isolates and two Rhizopus isolates were found to be root rot causative agents of P. volubilis as they induced typical root rot symptoms in healthy seedlings. The metagenomic sequencing data showed that root rot infection altered the rhizosphere fungal community. In root rot infected soil, the richness and diversity indices increased or decreased depending on pathogens. The four most abundant phyla across all samples were Ascomycota, Glomeromycota, Basidiomycota, and Mortierellomycota. In infected soil, the relative abundance of each phylum increased or decreased depending on the pathogen and functional taxonomic classification. Based on our results, we concluded that Fusarium and Rhizopus species cause root rot infection of P. volubilis. In root rot infected P. volubilis, the shift in the rhizosphere fungal community was pathogen-dependent. These findings may serve as a key point for a future study on the biocontrol of root rot of P. volubilis.

RSM optimization of ultrasound-assisted melia dubia oil extraction with green solvents and their suitability for diesel engine applications

Melia-dubia, a member of the neem family, is recognized as a promising biodiesel feedstock due to its higher oil content. Hence, this study uses an ultrasound-assisted extraction method to focus on oil extraction from Melia-dubia seeds. Response surface methodology using a 3-factor, 3-level Box-Behnken design (BBD) optimized the oil yield using environmentally friendly solvents such as 2-Methyl tetrahydrofuran, Cyclopentyl methyl ether, and ethanol. They were utilized in the range of 4–8 mL/g. A maximum of 50.5 % yield was achieved using 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran solvent at the solvent-to-solid ratio of 6.98 mL/g at an extraction time of 87.6 min. Furthermore, the GCMS reveals the presence of higher levels of palmitic and linoleic acids in Melia-dubia oil. The obtained biodiesel was tested in a single-cylinder diesel engine at different BMEP values, where the MD20 blend exhibited a 3.75 % increase in brake thermal efficiency compared to diesel at higher BMEP conditions. Additionally, CO and smoke emissions demonstrated significant reductions of 13.08 % and 27.1 % for MD10, as well as 9.83 % and 16.78 % for MD20 blends, respectively, to the baseline diesel fuel. However, it is worth noting that there was a slight increase in NOx emissions for all blends compared to diesel.

PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SUNFLOWER (HELIANTHUS ANNUUS L.)

The evaluation of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivar leaves belonging to different exotic and local genotypes for physiological traits, viz., chlorophyll a and b, total chlorophyll, carotenoid pigments, and concentration of total pigments transpired spectrophotometrically. The exotic sunflower genotypes used in the study consisted of 9859 (USA), 30837 (Australia), 33673 (France), 9843 and 30835 (Turkey), 9853 and 9848 (Russia), and a local cultivar Jakhongir (Uzbekistan). In the budding phase, the exotic accession 33673 (France) showed higher contents of chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids, and total pigments (17.8  0.55, 6.61  0.40, 5.82  0.19, and 24.47  0.95 mg/ml, respectively). For the flowering phase, exotic genotype 30835 (Turkey) excelled for chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids, and total pigments concentration (17.10  0.37, 6.31  0.24, 5.42  0.24, and 23.41  0.55 mg/ml, respectively). In the ripening phase, the amount of chlorophyll a and carotenoids were 16.64  0.84 and 5.82  0.12 mg/ml, respectively, in genotype 9853 (Russia), and chlorophyll b and total pigments correspond to 6.04  0.33 mg/ml and 21.19  0.57 mg/ml in the local cultivar Jakhongir. No significant quantitative variations were evident for nitrogen content and total protein content in sunflower genotype seeds. However, higher values of total protein content (21.8%) manifested in the exotic genotypes, i.e., 30837 (Australia), 33673 (France), and 9848 (Russia). During 2021, the seed oil content ranged from 31.9%  0.51% to 54.4%  0.87%, while the highest oil content (54.4%  0.87%) emerged in genotype 9853 (Russia). In 2022 planting, the sunflower seeds’ highest fat content percentage surfaced in sample 9848 (Russia), 53.99%  0.14%. In addition, genotype 9853 (Russia) also contained various micro-macro elements, i.e., Mg, Al, Ca, Fe, Sr, and Ba, compared with the rest of the sunflower genotypes.

PUMPKIN SEED PASTE WITH IMPROVED CONSUMER PROPERTIES

According to the opinion of nutritionists, human health depends on a number of factors: the structure of nutrition by 40–45%, genetics by 18%, the state of health care by 10%, environmental factors by 8%, from other reasons – by 19–24%. That is, the nutrition factor is the leading one, and the health of the nation mainly depends on it. In recent decades, the pace of life of people in the developed countries of the world has accelerated significantly, and this is a significant lever in favor of the use of so-called "fast foods". Their composition includes peanut paste, which is very popular among the population of many countries, and its modifications containing various additives. The purpose of the work was to substantiate the feasibility of obtaining paste from domestic raw materials – pumpkin seeds with the addition of berry powders, as well as the characteristics of the obtained products. Analysis of the amino acid composition of pumpkin seed protein paste, its comparison with that of peanuts and the FAO/WHO standard shows that pumpkin seed protein is characterized by greater biological value. The oil components of the pumpkin and peanut seed pastes had almost the same qualitative fatty acid composition, but the latter was significantly inferior in terms of the ratio of different groups of acids – it was characterized by a low content of polyunsaturated linoleic acid and at the same time a large amount of saturated acids. Peanut paste had a higher oil content and higher calorie content compared to pumpkin seed paste. Three samples were obtained on the basis of pumpkin seed paste: 25% of the mass of the product was replaced with berry powders, namely dried and crushed viburnum, cranberry, sea buckthorn berries. They outperformed the original sample in terms of their sensory properties and had a reduced calorie content compared to it. The results of the study of changes in the physico-chemical parameters of the oil component of products during storage indicate that the introduction of berry powders significantly slows down the process of its oxidation. The best result was observed for the sample containing sea buckthorn powder, which is probably due to its high content of tocopherol, an effective antioxidant.

Comparative analysis of the complete chloroplast genome sequences of four camellia species

Researching the photosynthetic characteristics based on the whole chloroplast genome sequence of Camellia osmantha cv ‘yidan’ is important for improving production. We sequenced and analyzed the chloroplast (cp) genomes of C. osmantha cv ‘yidan’. The total cp genome length was 156,981 bp. The cp genomes included 134 genes encoding 81 proteins, 39 transfer RNAs, 8 ribosomal RNAs, and 6 genes with unknown functions. In total, 50 repeat sequences were identified in C. osmantha cv ‘yidan’ cp genomes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that C. osmantha cv ‘yidan’ is more closely related to Camellia vietnamensis cv ‘hongguo’ and Camellia oleifera cv ‘cenruan 3’ than to Camellia semiserrata cv ‘hongyu 1’. Our complete assembly of four Camellia cp genomes may contribute to breeding for high oil content plants and further biological discoveries. The results of this study provide a basis for the assembly of the entire chloroplast genome of C. osmantha cv ‘yidan’.

Новый сорт горчицы сарептской яровой Дюна

The new mustard cultivar Dyuna was developed by a method of multiple individual selection of elite plants from an interspecific hybrid combination of a brown mustard cultivar Rosinka and a spring rapeseed BN-2254 using self-pollination. The main features of the cultivar are brown color of seed coat and high content of essential oil – about 0.76%. The new cultivar is characterized with high potential yield, which exceeds the standard variety by 0.22 t/ha. Cultivation of the cultivar Dyuna allows obtaining raw material with increased contents of antioxidants and phytoncides to produce wide diversity of condiments, most particularly popular and spiciest Dijon mustard that requires for dark mustard seeds with high content of essential oil.

Bazı Yerfıstığı Çeşitlerinin Yağ Kalitesi Özellikleri ve Yağ Asidi Bileşimlerinin Belirlenmesi

The aim of this study was to determine the oil properties and fatty acid compositions of peanut cultivars (Arachis hypogaea L.) grown as the main crop in the Eastern Mediterranean transition zone of Turkey. The field experiment was conducted at the Oil Seed Research Institute experiment area in the main crop seasons of 2018 and 2019. The experiment was designed according to the randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Oil ratio, saturated fatty acids (palmitic acid, stearic acid), unsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid, linoleic acid), iodine value, and oleic/linoleic acid ratios were investigated in the experiment. Runner (Georgia Green), Spanish (Florispan), and Virginia market types (Sultan, Brantley, BATEM-Cihangir, BATEM-5025, Arioglu-2003, Halisbey, NC-7, Flower-22, Wilson, NC-V-11, Com, Osmaniye-2005, Gazipasa) varieties were used as plant materials. As a result of this study, NC-V-11 (52.23%) cultivar with the highest oil content was determined, followed by Florispan (52.16%), Brantley (52.10%), and Gerogia Green (51.54%). The lowest oil content was obtained from BATEM-Cihangir (44.57%) variety. Brantley variety was found to have the least palmitic acid ratio with 8.04%, while Florispan variety was found the highest with 12.24%. In terms of stearic acid ratios, the lowest value (1.38%) was determined in Com variety, while the highest value (2.91%) was found in Brantley variety. Brantley variety was found to have the highest oleic acid content (71.83%), which is one of the unsaturated fatty acids. Florispan variety had the lowest oleic acid content (43.70%). While Brantley variety had the lowest linoleic acid ratio (9.78%), it was determined that Com variety had the highest linoleic acid ratio (35.77%). The iodine value varied between 78.71-100.71, the lowest value was in Brantley and the highest value was in Com. The oleic acid/linoleic acid ratio was determined to vary between 1.22 and 7.35, the lowest value was in Florispan and the highest value was in Brantley. As a result of the research, it was determined that the variety with the highest oleic acid ratio in the Eastern Mediterranean Transition Zone was Brantley. Peanuts with high oleic acid content are preferred by producers and consumers because they have good quality and extend the shelf life of products producing with them.

EFFECT OF PLANT REGULATORS ON OIL RATIO AND FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF PEANUT (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Plant growth regulators are organic substances that are synthesized naturally within the plant, and controlled the physiological events, can be transported from where they are formed to other parts of the plants, and can show their effects even at very low concentrations. In this study, it was aimed to determine the effect of different doses of plant growth regulators in different growth stages on oil content and fatty acid compositions of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). A total of twelve different treatments were preferred with different chemicals such as gibberallic acid (GA3), mepiquat-chloride (MC), and seaweed (SW) in different growth stages (beginning bloom (BB), full bloom (FB) and beginning bloom + full bloom (BB+FB)). The highest oil content was obtained in MCFB200 (55.46%) treatment, while the lowest was obtained in GA3BB20 (45.44%) treatment. Oleic acid ratio varied from 50.33% to 59.25%, and all treatments were higher than that of the control group. The highest and lowest linoleic acid ratios were observed in SWBBFB100 (26.72%) and GA3FB10 (19.52%) treatments, respectively. MCFB200 and GA3FB10 treatments could be recommended for the highest oil ratio and the highest oleic acid ratio, respectively.

Monitoring of anthropogenic impact on the Port Qasim coastal area, Karachi, Pakistan

The present study was undertaken to investigate the extent of pollution load at Port Qasim coastal area, the second largest port in the country. The samples of sea water were collected from 23 locations, including the samples from Bundal Island situated in the Port Qasim area. Samples were analyzed for physico-chemical characteristics to determine the extent of pollution load. Samples were also analyzed for heavy metals including As, Cr, Cu, Cd, Pb and Ni. The investigation revealed that the Port Qasim Area is grossly polluted from inorganic and organic loads mainly coming from the nearby industrial setup. Extensively high organic load was found at the site receiving the wastewater from the Landhi Cattle colony. PQ-6 receives untreated wastewater from oil industries as exhibited by its high oil content. PQ-14 is receiving untreated industrial discharges from the nearby chemical industries and represents a very high pollution load. The sites closed to Bundal Island are relatively less polluted. The mangroves in the area are constantly under threat owing to the indiscriminate discharge of both domestic and industrial effluents. The concentration of DO although not on higher side but at least prevents the anoxic condition in the area. Out of all the heavy metals the concentration of Cr and Pb was exceptionally higher. The distribution of heavy metals demonstrated a typical diffusion pattern from the land to the sea. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis of the data showed the major gradients, similarities of localities and the variables of importance in terms of overall variability in the pollution characteristics. It is concluded that the level of pollution is increasing at an alarming rate, which is detrimental to the biodiversity of the coastal area.

Heterosis and Combining Ability Analysis in Sunflower Through Line × Tester Breeding Scheme

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is considered a superior oil seed crop due to its high oil and protein content. Due to their cross-pollinated mode, its hybrids are very popular. Several crosses were evaluated for their oil and yield-related traits. To achieve this goal, seven parent genotypes were collected, including four female and three male parents each. Three repetitions of the Randomized Complete Block Design were used to evaluate twelve crosses and seven parental lines. The following traits were measured at maturity: days to flower initiation, days to 100% flowering, head diameter, plant height, leaf area, and 100 achene weight. To find the significance of parents, crosses, and general and specific combinations, data were analyzed using line x-tester analysis. The parents A-10, A-20, and R-70 performed well for days to 100% flowering, whereas A-30 and A-40 performed well for leaf area and head diameter. In terms of days to flower initiation, the hybrids A-30 x R-74 and A-40 x R-72 displayed negative and significant heterosis compared to the mid-parent, better parent, and standard. Crosses A-20 x R-70 and A-30 x R-74 functioned exceptionally well for 100 achene weight. The best-performing crosses were selected for further use in breeding programs.

Stability and gastrointestinal behavior of curcumin-loaded emulsion stabilized by multi-conformation soy proteins: Influence of oil volume fraction

The aim of this work was to assess the potential of nanoemulsions stabilized by mixed soy protein with multi-conformation as curcumin carrier, and the influence of oil volume fraction on stability and gastrointestinal behavior of curcumin-loaded emulsion was investigated. Loading efficiency showed a slight increase with higher oil content, though the difference was not statistically significant. With the increase of oil, the viscosity (Pa‧s), thixotropy (area of hysteresis loop) and particle size of the emulsion increased, which facilitated the physical and chemical stability of curcumin-loaded emulsion. However, the free fatty acid release rate and bioaccessibility of curcumin was negatively correlated with the oil volume fraction and the particle size of emulsion after gastric digestion. Notably, the digestion in stomach did not affect the structure of interfacial protein, demonstrating that protein-based nanoemulsions exhibited resistance to gastric digestion. This study provides theoretical guidance for the application of protein-based emulsion in curcumin delivery.