High-quality Oil Research Articles

Effect of screw pressing temperature on apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) kernels oil quality properties and apricot kernels protein isolate functional properties

This study evaluated the effects of screw pressing temperature (40°C to 200°C) on the yields, physicochemical properties, oxidation stabilities, and antioxidant activities of apricot kernels oil (AO). Additionally, this study comparatively analyzed the functional properties of different apricot kernels protein isolates (APIs). The oil yield ranged from 30.06% to 49.07% with AO-200 showing the highest yield. Compared with cold pressing, high-temperature pressing significantly increased the trace components (such as total phenols, tocopherols, and phytosterols), oxidation stabilities, and antioxidant activities of AOs. High-temperature pressing also increased the functional properties of API. Multivariate analysis revealed that spiral pressing at 120°C may be an optimal strategy for obtaining high-quality oil and protein isolate from apricot kernels. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the extraction and application of AO and API.

Frequency-dependent nonlinear AVO inversion for fluid mobility in viscoelastic media

Reservoir fluid mobility is defined as the ratio of rock permeability to fluid viscosity, which is an important attribute to guide the prediction of high-quality oil and gas reservoirs. Frequency-dependent amplitude variation with offset (AVO) inversion, based on viscoelastic theory, is a useful tool for fluid identification. In conventional pre-stack inversion, linear approximations are usually used to calculate the reflection coefficients, while nonlinear inversions are only occasionally carried out. However, the nonlinear equation for the reflection coefficient, derived from the exact Zoeppritz equation, has higher accuracy and fewer assumptions than the linear approximations. Therefore, we derive a nonlinear frequency-dependent reflection coefficient equation of the PP-wave in terms of P-wave velocity reflectivity, S-wave velocity reflectivity and fluid mobility, based on the relationship among fluid mobility, incident angle, and seismic wave frequency. We consider viscoelastic media and frequency-dependent responses to improve the authenticity of the reflection coefficients. Additionally, we develop a split-step inversion method for fluid mobility based on the Artificial Neural Network Inversion (ANNI) algorithm. Synthetic and field data examples demonstrate that the proposed split-step inversion method outperforms traditional inversion methods that rely on approximate equations for predicting underground reservoirs, improving the stability of fluid mobility parameter inversion.

Genome- and transcriptome-wide association studies reveal the genetic basis of seed palmitic acid content in Brassica napus

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is one of the most important oilseed crops worldwide. Development of rapeseed varieties with high-quality oil is a long-term breeding goal. Reducing the contents of palmitic acid, the main saturated fatty acid in rapeseed oil, could greatly improve oil quality. Here, we performed genome-wide association study (GWAS) and transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) of seed palmitic acid content (SPAC) using 393 diverse B. napus accessions. Four genes (BnaA08.DAP, BnaA08.PAA1, BnaA08. DUF106, and BnaC03.DAP) were identified by both GWAS and TWAS. The transcripts per million (TPM) values of these candidate genes at 20 and 40 days after flowering (DAF) were significantly correlated with SPAC in this association panel. Based on genetic variation in the candidate genes, we identified four low-SPAC haplotypes by combining candidate gene association analysis and haplotype analysis. Brassica napus accessions carrying low-SPAC haplotypes had lower SPAC than those carrying high-SPAC haplotypes without affecting seed oil content, seed protein content, or seed yield. Based on the functional single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chrA08_9529850 (C/A) in the promoter of BnaA08.DUF106, we developed a molecular marker (Bn_A8_SPAC_Marker) that could be used to facilitate breeding for low SPAC in B. napus. Our findings provide valuable information for studying the genetic control of SPAC in B. napus. Moreover, the candidate genes, favorable haplotypes, and molecular marker identified in this study will be useful for breeding low-SPAC B. napus varieties.

Investigation on the improvement of shea butter yield and quality through enhanced pre-treatment methods: An analytical study on physicochemical properties

Shea butter is an organic ingredient used in direct consumption, or the manufacture of products in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Some pre-treatment processes of shea nuts may not favor the high oil recovery and quality attributes, leading to products that may not conform to market standards for quality, stability, importation, and human consumption. This research emphasizes how roasting or boiling shea nuts for shea butter production enhances its quality by lessening its vulnerability to oxidative instability while simultaneously optimizing oil yield. Shea nuts were collected from an agro-processing company in Ghana. Physicochemical parameters such as refractive index, volatile, acid, iodine, saponification, and peroxide values were analyzed using standard analytical methods. Roasted, boiled, and untreated shea nuts produced a maximum oil yield of 53.53, 48.75, and 47.63 %, respectively. The findings of physicochemical properties of the shea butter samples as time increased from 10 to 50 min for roasted, boiled, and untreated shea nuts showed; an acid value from 8.50 to 17.49 mgKOH/g, 19.4 to 26.46 mgKOH/g and 18.20 mgKOH/g, iodine value from 40.91 – 48.23 gI2/100 g, 46.17 – 57.93 gI2/100 g, and 42.9 gI2/100 g, peroxide value from 2.45 to 4.69 meq/kg, 3.05 to 7.08 meq/kg and 2.15 meq/Kg, refractive index from 1.464 to 1.465, 1.464 to 1.469, and 1.463, saponification value from 181.90 to 187.90 mg KOH/g, 177.70 to 181.55 mg KOH/g and 180.60 mg KOH/g. The quality parameters indicate chances of rancidity. Roasting shea nuts was the optimal condition to produce high yield and quality shea butter than boiled shea nuts. The study recommends that regulatory agencies and consumers conduct regular inspections to verify that shea butter satisfies the appropriate quality and safety criteria for consumption and export.

Experimental study of viscosity reducer-assisted gas huff-n-puff in heavy oil reservoirs

With the diminishing of conventional high-quality oil resources and the advancement of both thermal and non-thermal recovery techniques for heavy oil, the development of heavy and ultra-heavy oil resources is becoming economically feasible. To address some of the reservoir challenges, such as the high heat loss and steam injection costs when using thermal recovery techniques in deep heavy oil reservoirs, as well as the prohibitive cost of CO2 injection when applying non-thermal techniques in heavy oil reservoirs located far from CO2 sources, this study explores the potential application of viscosity reducer-assisted CO2/N2 huff-n-puff (HnP) technique. The effect of different types of gases (N2, CO2 and hybrid N2/CO2) and viscosity reducers is evaluated by analyzing the pressure change, oil recovery rate and oil recovery factor in sandpack models. The results show that 96.62% and 60.75% viscosity reduction is achieved by the water-soluble viscosity reducer ASD-J-202 and the oil-soluble viscosity reducer KR-4, respectively. The oil recovery factors for the hybrid gas and CO2 gas are 17.98% and 18.58%, respectively, in presence of KR-4. In addition, high-quality, stable foamy oil is observed during production coupled with increased formation energy and reduced viscosity. For these runs, the residual oil at the injection end drops to 38.7%. During the soaking stage, N2 dominates the pore space while CO2 gradually diffuses to the distal end, dissolves in the heavy oil, causing oil swelling and increasing the sweep efficiency and oil recovery.

Wild introgression as an effective tool for aiding the expansion and adaptation of cultivated safflower

AbstractSafflower is a multipurpose crop grown in different regions, mainly for its high oil quality. Crop wild relatives serve as a valuable reservoir of genes that have been depleted due to evolutionary bottlenecks, which are poorly applied in safflower. During the last decade, we developed three populations from hybridization of safflower with its wild relatives and selected the superior lines to develop new varieties. From each of three different interspecific populations (TP: Carthamus tinctorius × Carthamus palaestinus, PO: C. palaestinus × Carthamus oxyacantha, and TO: C. tinctorius × C. oxyacantha), 10 genotypes were selected (a total of 30 lines) in the “F8” generation and were evaluated along with their parents (T, P, and O) and one control cultivar (Golsfid) at the field during 2019–2022 to assess genetic variation, estimate genetic parameters, and evaluate the stability. Considerable genetic variability for oil, seed yield, and other agronomic traits between and within the interspecific populations suggests the high potential of these new recombinant lines for introducing beneficial alleles. Our results indicated that recombinant inbred lines derived from the hybridization of TP were superior in terms of seed yield, oil content, and stability parameters. The use of stability indices of Wricke, Lin and Binns, Eberhart and Russell, and HMRPGVi, along with the biplot analysis, allowed the identification of preferable and stable safflower genotypes. Moderately high values of heritability were found for yield‐related traits. New recombinant lines can be introduced to the safflower gene pool to improve the genetic base of this valuable oil seed crop.

Advancements in breeding for high oil content in maize (Zea mays. L)

Maize is one of the world’s most important food crops, supplying>5% deity energy. Due to its wider adaptability, high yield potential, maize is widely utilized as food and animals world worldwide. It enriched with caloric starch and the high energy in its oil. The kernel oil content in commercial high-oil maize hybrids averages ∼8%, far lower than that in developed high-oil maize lines (as high as 20%). The maize seed/kernel consisted of endosperm (82%) and the germ (embryo and scutellum) (12%). The germ region makes up 80–84% of kernel oil, with the aleurone and endosperm making up 12% and 5%, respectively. High-oil maize may serve as a valuable forage maize germplasm for breeding. Maize oil is also considered as high-quality oil for human health due to the high proportion of polyun-saturated fatty acids. Selection for high oil increases the proportion of germ and further content of germ oil. The problems that over-shadow the successful production of high-oil corn are low grain yield potential, physiological cost of oil synthesis, low seed vigor, low kernel weight, shorter seed longevity, and poor germination of high-oil corn lines. It is necessary to make efforts to generate nested populations or use marker-assisted recurrent selection (MARS) to accumulate the advantageous quantitative trait loci (QTLs) in the pa-rental lines. The oil content of maize inbreeds and hybrids could be further improved with the use of transgenes, genomics, and metabolic engineering technologies in new insight for the development of high oil maize breeding and strategies.

Green enrichment of argan oil (Argania spinosa L.) with thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) and oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) leaves: Evaluating quality and stability improvements

This study aimed to assess the impact of enriching argan oil (AO) (Argania spinosa L.) using the maceration technique with thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) and oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) leaves (TL and OL) at two proportions (5 and 10%). The oxidative stability of the control and enriched oils was examined under accelerated conditions at a temperature of 60 °C for 120 days (4 months). Quality indices (Free fatty acids (FFA), peroxide value (PV), p-anisidine value (p-AV), ultraviolet absoptions (K232 and K270), Rancimat test, fatty acids composition, sensory attributes, simple phenolic contents (SPC) and antioxidant activity (DPPH•) were determined. As a simple, inexpensive and green method, enrichment by maceration yielded advantageous results. Compared to the control (68.05 ± 1.10 mg GAE/kg), the SPC significantly increased in enriched oils reaching notably 250.9 ± 9.1 mg GAE/kg when adding 10% of TL. Also, the enriched oil samples showed the lowest PV, p-AV and ultraviolet absorptions compared with the control. However, no noticeable changes were reported in fatty acids composition and iodine value. In terms of sensory attributes, enrichment by maceration masked the rancid odour caused by oxidation. These scientific discoveries inherently yield economic advantages by enabling the diversification of product offerings, simultaneously catering to a broader market seeking high-quality oils infused with herbs, including both AO and aromatic plants.

Effect of stationary factors on the yield and chemical composition of essential oils of Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Masters from Sdama Chergui massif’s (Tiaret, North-West Algeria)

This paper aims to study the influence of exposure, altitude, and soil pH on the yield and chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) from the leaves of Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Masters, developed in the Sdama Chergui massif in northwestern Algeria. These EOs were obtained by hydrodistillation, resulting in average yields of 0.33±0.13 %, 0.29±0.07 %, 0.24±0.07 %, and 0.2±0.03 %, recorded at the south, west, north, and east exposures, respectively. Upon analyzing the obtained EOs by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS), a total of chemical molecules grouped into 22 families were identified. The predominant compounds were Bornyl acetate (9.14 %, 7.95 %, 11.20 %, and 9.78 %), Limonene (5.03 %, 7.18 %, 5.76 %, and 5.41 %), α-Pinene (4.97 %, 5.26 %, 5.09 %, and 4.79 %), Camphor (7.53 %, 3.69 %, 3.01 %, and 5.91 %), and Borneol (5.20 %, 6.26 %, 4.93 %, and 5.11 %). Additionally, the analysis of these molecules by Factorial Analysis of Mixed Data (PCAmix) revealed that exposure, altitude, and soil pH have little effect on the yield and chemical composition of the essential oils of Tetraclinis articulata. Finally, careful attention to stationary parameters is crucial for obtaining essential oils of high quality and optimal quantity.

Mitochondrial genome study of Camellia oleifera revealed the tandem conserved gene cluster of nad5-nads in evolution.

Camellia oleifera is a kind of high-quality oil supply species. Its seeds contain rich unsaturated fatty acids and antioxidant active ingredients, which is a kind of high-quality edible oil. In this study, we used bioinformatics methods to decipher a hexaploid Camellia oil tree's mitochondrial (mt) genome based on second-generation sequencing data. A 709,596 bp circular map of C. oleifera mt genome was found for the first time. And 74 genes were annotated in the whole genome. Mt genomes of C. oleifera and three Theaceae species had regions with high similarity, including gene composition and gene sequence. At the same time, five conserved gene pairs were found in 20 species. In all of the mt genomes, most of nad genes existed in tandem pairs. In addition, the species classification result, which, according to the gene differences in tandem with nad5 genes, was consistent with the phylogenetic tree. These initial results provide a valuable basis for the further researches of Camellia oleifera and a reference for the systematic evolution of plant mt genomes.

GmIRT1.1 from soybean (Glycine max L.) is involved in transporting Fe, Mn and Cd

Soybean is one of the most important crops for producing high quality oil and protein. Mineral nutrient deficiencies are frequently observed in soybeans. However, there are few studies to understand the absorption process of mineral nutrients in soybeans. Here, we investigated the functions of soybean (Glycine max L.) IRT1.1 (IRON-REGULATED TRANSPORTER 1.1) in the transportation of mineral elements. Heterologous expression of GmIRT1.1 in yeast mutants revealed that GmIRT1.1 compensated for the growth defects of Δfet3fet4 and Δsmf1 mutants under iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) deficiency conditions, respectively, and enhanced the sensitivity of the Δycf1 mutant to cadmium (Cd) toxicity. Expression analysis revealed that GmIRT1.1 was only significantly induced by Fe deficiency and was primarily expressed in roots. Furthermore, the GmIRT1.1 overexpression lines enhanced Arabidopsis tolerance to Fe deficiency, leading to increased accumulation of Fe in the roots and shoots. Additionally, the transgenic lines increased the sensitivity to Mn and Cd toxicity. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that GmIRT1.1 was localized on the plasma membrane. Moreover, the results obtained from the soybean hairy roots system indicated that the localization of GmIRT1.1 was dependent on the regulation of Fe homeostasis in plant. Consequently, these results suggested that GmIRT1.1 was responsible for the transportation of Fe, Mn and Cd.

Research on seeds compression‐structural damage and castor oil extraction mechanism with in situ observation

AbstractCastor oil has attracted large attention for wide applications, including lubrication oil and bioenergy resources. Castor seeds mechanical pressing is widely used for oil extraction. To better research castor seeds mechanical‐structural damage behavior and oil extraction mechanism during extrusion, a self‐developed mechanical pressing test setup combined with in situ observation is built for oil output behavior. Influencing factors of working pressure, speed, temperature and creep time on oil outflow were investigated. The results indicate that seeds squeezing extraction can be divided into three stages, preloading, oil discharging, compressing consolidation stage, matching with pressing cake structural evolution. As working pressure increases, oil yield shows an upper parabola relation with pressure. When pressure exceeding 25 MPa, castor oil yield increasing tends to stabilize, reaching 38%. Speed effect showed down parabola relation on oil yield, opposite to stress factor. Creep time promoted oil output with upper parabola within 720 s. When temperature below 120°C, a linear increasing relation on oil yield presents. Oil yield decreases when above 120°C. This research provides in‐depth theoretical guidance for industrial castor oil extraction.Practical ApplicationsCastor seeds are rich in oil content. Extracted castor oil has been widely used for industrial applications such as biodiesel, lubricants, medicine. Mechanical extraction working parameters optimization can improve oil yield of castor seeds. The research provides a basic working optimization for castor seeds oil extraction. Castor oil has unique properties and has been proved to be a high promising renewable and independent energy sources. Compared with solvent oil extraction, mechanical oil pressing extraction method has higher oil quality and safety. The mechanical extracted oil is pure without organic solvent. In the research, castor seeds compression‐structural damage property and oil extraction mechanism were studied. Besides, the influence factors including compression pressure, speed, temperature and creep time are analyzed, working optimization for castor seeds oil extraction. The research provides important reference value for the mechanical pressing process and mechanical design of castor seeds in the practical applications.

Analysis of Multi-Input ARIMA Interventions with Additive Outlier for Forecasting Price of Crude Oil West Texas Intermediate

Crude oil is a liquid characterized by a thick texture and blackish color. It is composed of complex hydrocarbon compounds with various benefits that are spread around the world. Crude oil derived from fossil fuels can be used as primary fuels, such as gasoline, and is the most important of the energy resources. Based on that, crude oil play a crucial role in the global economy movement because can be used as the main sources of energy all over the world. However, one of the benchmarks for crude oil from the USA is West Texas Intermediate (WTI). Known to produce high-quality oil, the price of crude oil of WTI fluctuates. In addition, fluctuations occur because of several factors, such as the availability of oil supplies, the embargo on oil imports, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The research aims to analyze price forecasting that occurs over the next five months and the accuracy level of the method used. The data that exists outliers is usually removed from forecasting that contains outliers, but that can affect the estimation result in the model. So, in this research intervention and outlier factors are added to the research to overcome the constraints In this study, the Multi-Input ARIMA Intervention and Additive Outlier (AO) method are used by modelling ARIMA pre-intervention and then. After that, the procedure is adding intervention factorsand additive outlier with iterative procedures. Multi-Input ARIMA Intervention and Additive Outlier (AO) are used to determine the magnitude of fluctuations that occur. Data shocks causing outlier data can be used by adding AO factors. WTI oil price data was retrieved from investing.com with monthly data from January 2011 to June 2023. Based on the results of Mmulti-Iinput ARIMA intervention with Additive Outlier method, it has been determined that the movement of WTI oil prices in the next five months will increase compared to the last five periods of actual data. Because of incrased price of crude oil, it will impact of the economic growth all over the world. So, the government better controlled the price of crude oil at lower price. . withMulti-Input ARIMA interventions resulting in AIC, MAPE, and RMSE model each 941.490, 6.979%, and 5.913 . So, Multi-Input and AO proven can be used to forecast data with fluctuate that data occur.

Hydrothermal dechlorination strategy for high-quality oil recovery from polyvinyl chloride

The global production of PVC is around 3.5 million tons each year. Unfortunately, the disposal of PVC waste releases toxic substances such as hydrochloric acid, polychlorinated dioxins, and furans, which can harm the environment. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a safe and environmentally friendly thermochemical treatment method that reduces the damage caused by HCl gas produced during PVC pyrolysis and improves the quality of pyrolysis oil. Hydrothermal treatment technology is one of the potential dechlorination strategies for PVC. However, its efficiency is reduced in the supercritical region, while the additives used result in secondary pollution and increased operating costs. This study is pioneering in its approach, aiming to produce high-quality oil with reduced chlorine through low-temperature hydrothermal treatment of PVC, all without additives. The results are promising, indicating that by administering steam at 250 °C with a 2.0–3.0 g-steam/g-feed ratio, we can significantly reduce chlorine content to 0.13 % while achieving an oil yield of up to 14.9 % from PVC. The hydrothermal process can reduce CO2 emissions by 15–43 % compared to pyrolysis methods, providing a simultaneous opportunity for carbon neutrality and resource recovery.

Создание во ВНИИМК несуществующей в природе озимой формы горчицы сарептской (обзор)

Breeding of a new winter form of mustard started at the V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops in 1959. This work was aimed on increasing of crop yield due to winter plant growth. Hybrids between winter rapeseed and spring mustard were used as initial material. These species cross easily and had fertile progenies. A breeding sample No. 7823 was selected in hybrid combinations; it withstands low temperatures – from minus 10 to minus 15 °C at autumn sowing. At favorable overwintering conditions, yield of this sample was 2.0–2.8 t/ha, oil content of seeds – 44–48%. During further works, the winter mustard samples No. 26205 and 25582 with yield of 3.65–4.06 t/ha were selected. However, in unfavora-ble winter conditions, the winter resistance of winter mustard was 30–40% low than of winter rapeseed. In 1968, another method to develop winter mustard was chosen: by resynthesis from the elementary species – winter turnip rape (genome AA) and black mustard (genome BB). Usage of grafting and gamma radia-tion of pollen allowed producing F1 hybrid seeds. As a result of long-term works (1971–1989), based on resynthesis hybrids, the first in the world practice variety of winter mustard Suzdalskaya was developed. It competed with winter rapeseed by seed yield and winter resistance, however, erucic acid content in seed oil was 35–37%. In 2002, the first erucic acid free (1.5%) variety of winter mustard Snezhinka was submitted for the State trial. In 2010, the absolutely erucic acid free variety of winter mustard Dzhuna was included into the State register of breeding achievements. In 2022, the variety Vyuzhanka was included into the State Register, it exceeds the variety Dzhuna by seed yield by 0.72 t/ha and has oil of high quality.

DETERMINATION OF YIELD AND FATTY ACID CONTENTS OF DIFFERENT CAMELINA (Camelina sativa L. Crantz) GENOTYPES

Grain yield and fatty acid components of camelina (Camelina sativa L. Crantz) are largely unknown in the Eastern Mediterranean. For this reason, two year field experiment was carried out with three replicates in randomized complete block design to determine the yield performances and fatty acid components of 33 camelina genotypes in Mediterranean climate conditions. In the study, in addition to grain yield and agronomic characteristics, oil quality parameters palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and erucic acid were analyzed. It was determined that genotype 28 (3120 kg ha-1) gave good results in terms of yield, followed by genotype 9 (2735 kg ha-1) and 1 (2651 kg ha-1). These genotypes are genetically drought resistant. Besides, 28 (3.09 %), 9 (2.66 %) and 1 (2.73 %) are the preferred genotypes for the Eastern Mediterranean due to their two-year mean erucic acid content based on the 5% EU residue limit for erucic acid in edible oils. It has been concluded that in regions where the Mediterranean climate prevails and drought stress begins to be seen, camelina cultivation can be done with natural rainfall. Promising genotypes with high oil quality can be evaluated in plant breeding in order to combine yield and quality.

Cold Hydraulic Extraction Optimization and Characterization of Balanites aegyptiaca and Ceiba pentandra Seed Oils

Non-edible vegetable oils have a huge potential for many industrial applications. Most of them are expressed by mechanical pressing, but data on the different operating conditions to achieve optimal extraction yields and high-quality oil are scarce. Hence, the objective of this study was to optimize key hydraulic extraction parameters at ambient temperature (25 °C) of <em>Balanites aegyptiaca</em> and <em>Ceiba pentandra</em> oils by increasing the oil recovery. Optimal holding time, applied pressure, compression speed, and press cage charge were determined for whole and crushed oleaginous material. The results indicate that the <em>B.aegyptiaca </em>kernels and <em>C.pentandra</em> seeds contained 2.7 and 5.7% moisture, as well as 46.3 and 26.2% fat, respectively. Under the optimal operating conditions, the oil recovery (wt.%. d.b.) from whole (crushed) material was 73.4 (69.8) <em>B.aegyptiaca </em>kernels and 38.2 (41.2) <em>C.pentandra</em> seeds.<strong> </strong>The extracted oils have a high content of unsaturated fatty acids including of about 74 wt.% for <em>B. aegyptiaca</em> and 69 wt.% for <em>C.pentandra</em>. They were particularly rich in linoleic ω-6 acid, 45.32 and 38.77 wt.%, respectively. The chemical characteristics of cold-extracted <em>B. aegyptiaca</em> and <em>C.pentandra</em> oils were 10 and 20 ppm phosphorus, 2.8 and 3.5 ppm iron, 0.0 ppm copper, 0.06 and 0.1% water-volatile matter, respectively. These valuable material properties make the <em>B.aegyptiaca</em> and <em>C.pentandra</em> oils an ecological and renewable resource for multipurpose applications.

Exploring the Genetic Wealth of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.): A Comprehensive Review on Its Products and By-Products

Sunflower stands out as a significant oilseed crop, pivotal not only in the production of edible oil and biofuels but also in the formulation of nutritious animal feed. Particularly noteworthy are the diverse opportunities presented by sunflower by-products. From the nutrient-rich sunflower oil cake to the versatile sunflower wax utilized in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, the potential applications are manifold. Additionally, the burgeoning interest in sunflower-derived biofuels as sustainable alternatives to conventional energy sources highlights the crop's growing importance in modern agriculture. However, to meet the evolving demands sustainably, an in-depth analysis of sunflower cultivation practices and nutrient management strategies for optimal productivity is imperative. This review provides a comprehensive overview of sunflower cultivation techniques, processing methods, and avenues for value addition across various sectors. Renowned for its vibrant flowers and seeds brimming with high-quality oil, sunflower holds a significant economic value. Its oil, rich in beneficial unsaturated fatty acids and essential vitamins, has garnered acclaim for its health benefits, including cholesterol reduction and cardiovascular health promotion. Thriving primarily in warm climates and exhibiting resilience to drought conditions, sunflowers have witnessed a surge in demand for their sprouts, roasted seeds, oil, and even agricultural tourism ventures. With sunflower seeds and oil serving as essential components in integrated production systems, the scope for creating diverse food and non-food products continues to expand. By offering this comprehensive synthesis, this review aims to guide stakeholders towards maximizing the utilization of sunflowers across multiple domains.

Analysis of Seismic Response Characteristics of Fractured Carbonate Reservoirs Based on Physical Model (Tarim Basin)

Anomalous bright spots, called the string of bead-like response, are typical seismic migration profile features in carbonate fractured reservoirs in the Tarim Basin, and they are indicators of high-quality oil and gas reservoirs. Correctly recognizing the correspondence between fractures and the SBLR can contribute to the efficient drilling of target carbonate fractured reservoirs. Physical models can describe fractured reservoirs more directly and efficiently than real situations and have obvious advantages in accurately and quantitatively designing parameters such as dipping angles and the number of layers of fractured reservoirs. Under such a background, according to the real tectonic characteristics of the Tarim Basin, among the main hydrocarbon reservoirs, fractured reservoirs with various parameters were designed and a physical model was constructed according to the real stratigraphic parameters. After seismic data acquisition and processing, the response characteristics of the string of bead-like response were extracted and summarized from seismic migration profiles for all fractured reservoirs, which provided targeted analyses and discussions on the fracture dipping angle, number of fracture layers, overlying stratigraphic influences, and planar attributes of the fractured reservoirs. In general, the larger the fracture dip, the more difficult it is to identify, while the slope of reflection strength and maximum absolute amplitude attributes can be important markers for fractured reservoir identification. The physical modeling study of fractured reservoirs in this paper can provide a basis for the analysis and prediction of carbonate fractured reservoirs in the Tarim Basin.

Safety Assessment RP1372 Genetically Modified 73496 Oilseed Rape

Following the submission of application RP1372 from Corteva Agrisciences LLC Represented by Corteva Agriscience UK Limited, to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) under assimilated Regulation (EC) No. 1829/2003, FSA/FSS (Food Standards Scotland) have undertaken a safety assessment on genetically modified 73496 oilseed rape. To support the safety assessment by FSA/FSS, the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) provided advice to FSA/FSS on the data submitted for the authorisation of genetically modified 73496 oilseed rape, as outlined in this document. The advice of the ACNFP has been taken into account in this safety assessment which represents the opinion of FSA/FSS on the safety of genetically modified 73496 oilseed rape. 73496 oilseed rape is modified by the addition of the gat4621 (glyphosate acetyltransferase) gene cassette (a shuffled variant of three gat genes from Bacillus licheniformis). Glyphosate inhibits the enzyme enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS), which is involved in the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids. The expression of the GAT4621 protein, encoded by the gat4621 gene in 73496 oilseed rape renders the crop tolerant to the herbicidal active ingredient glyphosate by acetylating its secondary amine. This generates N-acetyl glyphosate, which has no herbicidal activity. Canada, China, the EU and India are the top oilseed rape producers with the crop also being grown in Australia, South America and the United States. The EU is the largest producer of oilseed rape. Oilseed rape seed is not commonly consumed without processing and its fractions have different uses for humans and livestock. The seed is crushed to harvest the high-quality oil, used in human diets for shallow, home or pan frying, cooking and dressing. The animal feed industry uses the by-product of the crushing process as a source of protein. The scope of the application is for the authorisation for import, processing, and food and feed use of glyphosate tolerant 73496 oilseed rape. The application does not cover cultivation and therefore no 73496 oilseed rape will be grown in the UK. In providing its scientific advice, the ACNFP considered data provided as part of application RP1372. The molecular characterisation determined that 73496 oilseed rape contained a single, intact copy of the T-DNA at a single locus, with the presence of a disrupted triose phosphate transporter (tpt) gene near the 5’ border of the insert flanking regions. From the analysis of Bioinformatic data it emerged that a fairly large rearrangement has occurred at the locus of recombination which could have caused the disruption, but from sequencing data it is not possible to confirm if this rearrangement is a consequence of the transformation event, or if it was already in the progenitor line, as the applicant does not have the parental sequence. The ACNFP concluded that it was not necessary to request parental sequencing data and that no safety concerns arose from the rearrangement. However, other tpt homologues in the oilseed rape genome are likely to compensate at least partially for the loss of the disrupted tpt gene. Moreover, as 73496 oilseed rape is commercialised as a hybrid product containing one intact and one disrupted copy of the tpt gene, the phenotypic and agronomic effect of the tpt disruption near the 73496 event is likely negligible. Bioinformatics analyses of the insert and flanking regions (including the junctions between them) found no homology with known toxic or allergenic proteins and found no sequences that could lead to horizontal gene transfer. Genetic stability of the transgenic locus, and phenotypic stability of transgenic protein expression were both confirmed. The field trials (including locations and management practices) to produce test materials for the comparative analysis were considered appropriate, and no differences between the 73496 oilseed rape and the conventional counterpart or the non-GM reference varieties that would raise safety concerns were observed. Studies on the newly expressed protein found no evidence of potential toxicology. The studies were performed using bacterially-produced protein, and the ACNFP considered that these proteins were equivalent to plant-produced proteins. Toxicological feeding studies indicate that there are no safety concerns for animal and human health. The homology searches performed through BLASTP confirmed that GAT4621 protein shows no similarity to known allergens, toxins or antinutrients. An independent, outside contractor assessed the outcomes and methodologies of all bioinformatic analyses and was satisfied that the methods and results were satisfactory. The ACNFP concludes that considering the nature of the introduced traits, the lack of differences in the agronomic and compositional analyses, and the proposed levels of exposure, there is no evidence that the import, processing, and food and feed use of 73496 oilseed rape would raise any safety concerns. The ACNFP concludes that 73496 oilseed rape is as safe as its conventional counterpart.