High Lignin Content Research Articles

Waste Sludge: Entirely Waste or a Sustainable Source of Biocrude? A Review.

Biomass-derived biocrude is gaining greater recognition from people in general as an alternative fuel source to traditional fossil fuels. Worldwide, a great deal of research is being done to develop fuels made from sustainable biomass in order to replace the current conventional energy sources. Waste sludge has been thought of as a viable raw biomass source because of its accessibility, affordability, high lignin content, and higher heating value. Additionally, considering sludge contains a high proportion of moisture and water acts as a catalyst during the hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) process, it is the best choice for thermochemical conversion. From the ultimate component value ranges obtained from elemental analysis, it can be demonstrated that the C, H, and higher heating value (HHV) of petrocrude are approximately 8.78%, 23.5%, and 10.66% higher than those of biofuel. According to the overall analysis, co-liquefaction of waste vegetable oil and swine manure can result in 87.97% bio-oil at 340°C. The temperature, retention period, inclusion of catalysts, and use of solvents, however, can all affect this proportion. To support this illustration, it has been assessed from the study that municipal wet sewage sludge can produce an HHV of 28.52MJ/kg when water is used as the solvent. However, 34.14MJ/kg, or 16.5% more than the previous one, can be produced for the same amount of biomass, when the mixture of water and methanol serves as the solvents. This review article highlights an array of waste sludge categories, their chemical properties, and their conversion through the HTL process. It also features a Van Krevlen diagram with a graphical representation of essential operating parameters. This review research illustrates one of the best strategies for producing biofuel in which waste sludge can be used as raw material through the HTL conversion process, considering the prospective mass commercial production of biocrude oil.

Integration of unmodified kraft lignin powder in waterborne coatings and investigation of antifouling properties

AbstractAntifouling properties of unmodified kraft lignin for potential use in marine coatings were investigated. The study was based on preliminary findings that pointed toward lignin’s efficacy against seawater organisms during laboratory tests. Coatings were formulated that contained lignin as a filler and had a pigment volume concentration above the critical pigment volume concentration. This ensured direct interaction between lignin and seawater organisms, as the lignin particles remained incompletely wetted by the binder. Moreover, all formulations were waterborne to mitigate the release of volatile organic compounds. Despite the initial promise, the antifouling performance of the formulated lignin coatings during field experiments at the CoaST Maritime Test Center was limited, and the anticipated mechanism must be reconsidered. Additionally, it was found that high lignin concentrations, while facilitating organism interaction, compromised the coating's mechanical properties. Nevertheless, the waterborne coating formulation introduced here might provide a foundation for other researchers to further investigate lignin’s potential as a bio-based pigment or a filler in coatings.

Biomass characterization and solvent extraction as tools to promote phenol production from urban pruning

Nowadays, leaves, bark, and branches are generated from the tree-pruning process in urban places, where their management is a problem because of the necessity of disposal. These wastes are lignocellulosic biomasses with poor properties for use in biofuel production, but with interesting projections for building block products such as phenol compounds. Therefore, extensive biomass characterization of urban pruning from Liquidambar styraciflua L. was developed to evaluate its composition as a tool for phenol production through thermal processing, in which solvent extraction is a complementary tool for selectivity improvement. The results showed high lignin content in bark and leaves at 45 and 28 %, respectively, compared with that in branches (14 %). Additionally, high extractives in leaves (14 %) could be an additional source of phenols. The lignin units were analyzed by Raman dispersion, revealing p–hydroxyphenyl (H) units in the bark, guaiacyl (G) units in the bark and leaves, and syringyl (S) units only in the branches. Furthermore, the micropyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry assay realized at 600 °C showed high presence of phenolic compounds in the three biomass investigated, where a high phenol concentration was identified in leaves, probably due to the S unit degradation during pyrolysis. With these results, an assay for bio-oil production was performed in a low-temperature pyrolysis reactor using leaves as feedstock, reaching a low bio-oil yield with high water content favored for the high inorganic content of leaves (13 %). The produced bio-oil was used for liquid–liquid extraction evaluation, where 1-octanol and methyl isobutyl ketone were identified as interesting solvents for catechol and phenol extraction, respectively. This article presents the challenge of characterizing each part of urban trees, which could be a tool to promote the use of urban pruning by studying the thermal degradation mechanism to implement processes for high-value products, such as phenols produced from L. styraciflua L.

The expression of lignin biosynthesis genes during plant development and effects of downregulated cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) gene in bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge)

AbstractBahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) is a warm‐season grass where high lignin content limits its forage quality, negatively affecting animal performance. To create a new breeding method by genome editing, isolation and characterization of lignin biosynthesis genes and identification of their molecular relationships are essential. The caffeic acid O‐methyltransferase (COMT) and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) cDNA clones were isolated from bahiagrass, and their protein sequences showed high similarity to other C4 monocot species through phylogenetic analysis. Gene expression analysis of phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase (PAL), COMT and CAD, involved in crucial stages of lignin biosynthesis and lignin content, was conducted at different plant developmental stages. The highest gene expression levels of these genes were observed in the vegetative (V) and early reproductive stages, while the lignin content increased until the middle reproductive stage and remained constant thereafter. Additionally, to further understand the molecular relationships in lignin biosynthesis, the effect of CAD downregulation was analyzed in transgenic bahiagrass lines introduced with sorghum CAD antisense and RNAi vector obtained from a previous report. This led to a reduced lignin content and affected the expression of PAL and COMT working upstream of CAD. In the V stage, PAL expression was lower in transgenic lines compared to wild type (WT), while COMT expression showed no significant differences. However, PAL and COMT expression of transgenic lines in the middle reproductive stage (R2) was significantly higher than in the WT. These findings suggest that the downregulation of CAD gene expression affects PAL and COMT expression and induces a feedback system in the R2 stage. Lignin content influenced the phenotype of the transgenic plants with significantly reduced lignin, exhibiting a dwarf phenotype with shorter plant heights. The findings of this study can be applied to genome editing for the development of practical new breeding materials with improved digestibility in bahiagrass.

Application of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) as a predictive tool for the removal of pharmaceutical from wastewater streams using biochar: a multifunctional technology for environment sustainability

This study investigates biochar as an attractive option for removing pharmaceuticals from wastewater streams utilizing data from various literature sources and also explores the sensitivity of the characteristics and implementation of biochar. ANN 1 was designed to determine the optimal biochar characteristics (Surface Area, Pore Volume) to achieve the maximum percentage removal of pharmaceuticals in wastewater streams. ANN 2 was developed to identify the optimal biomass feedstock composition, pyrolysis conditions (temperature and time), and chemical activation (acid or base) to produce the optimal biochar from ANN 1. ANN 3 was developed to investigate the effectiveness of the biochar produced in ANN 1 and 2 in removing dye from water. Biomass feedstock with a high lignin content and high volatile matter at a high pyrolysis temperature, whether using an acid or base, achieves a high mesopore volume and high surface area. The biochar with the highest surface area and mesopore volume achieved the highest removal percentage. Regardless of hydrophobicity conditions, at low dosages (0.2), a high surface area and pore volume are required for a high percent removal. And with a higher dosage, a lower surface area and pore volume is necessary to achieve a high percent removal.

Chemical characterization of different wood fragments and their volatile composition in model spirit solutions

This study characterizes oak (sessile and pedunculate oak) and alternative wood (black locust, Myrobalan plum, wild cherry, and mulberry) species as important sources of volatile compounds of aged spirits. Nowadays, their fragments are used to hasten the brandies? aging process. The ATR-FTIR spectra of analyzed wood samples are similar, only the mulberry FTIR spectrum contains unique peaks primarily due to its highest lignin content (40.93%). Using the untargeted GC-MS approach, a total of forty-one volatile compounds were identified in the wood extracts in a model spirit solution. The volatile profiles of alternative wood extracts in a model spirit solution were significantly different, both quantitatively and qualitatively, compared to those of oak. Coniferyl (23.14 ?g/g - 26.6 ?g/g) and sinapyl (23.56 ?g/g - 25.82 ?g/g) alcohols were the most abundant volatile compounds in investigated oak extracts. Resorcinol and coniferyl alcohol were the most abundant volatile compounds in black locust, sakuranin in wild cherry, while resorcinol and ?-resorcinaldehyde in mulberry wood. To the best of our knowledge, sakuranin has not been detected in wild cherry wood until now. Besides wood chemical characteristics, the technology used during the aging process strongly influences on volatile profiles of aged brandies, thus, these compounds are potential chemical markers for discrimination between wood species as well as aging technologies.

Characterization of sago tree parts from Sentani, Papua, Indonesia for biomass energy utilization

Biomass derived from organic waste in industrial processes is an effective method to mitigate the negative impacts of agricultural waste materials. In Sentani, Papua, one such potential biomass source is sago tree waste. This study characterized the waste from the bark, middle, and inner parts of the sago tree to evaluate its biomass energy potential. Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) analysis of the complete sample revealed that oxygen, carbon, and silicon were the primary elements, with carbon content ranging from 30.75 % to 38.87 %. This indicates that all parts of the sago plant have the potential to be used as biomass fuel. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results showed that the inner section of the sago had the lowest moisture content at approximately 13.3 %, followed by the outer part at 42 % and the bark at 55 %. The inner section had the highest lignin content, approximately 37 %, and exhibited the slowest thermal degradation in the differential thermal analysis (DTA) profile. The outer and bark parts of the sago were more reactive in stage II of the DTA profile, suggesting a higher concentration of cellulose and hemicellulose compared to lignin, making them suitable for gasification and pyrolysis. The heating value of sago bark was determined to be 12.85 MJ/kg (adb). These findings underscore the potential of sago waste as a renewable energy source, particularly in remote areas.

Hydrothermal carbonization of Calotropis procera leaves as a biomass: Preparation and characterization

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a biowaste treatment process and a promising technology for many applications. The use of Calotropis procera (CP), found in the Egyptian desert, as a biosource feedstock for the HTC process. In the present work, different process conditions were applied during the HTC process. The influence of temperature, time, and particle size was studied to produce hydrochar using CP leaves as biomass. The hydrochar samples were characterized by many analytical techniques. The temperature and time controlled the severity of the reaction; they caused a significant decrease in the yield (wt.%) and caused an increase in the carbon content of the hydrochar product, with a value of 57.03 % at 240 °C and a time of 180 min. Although time in this case has a more significant effect than temperature, a long reaction time influences the hydrochar yield. FTIR showed the formation on hydrochar with high content of lignin at high temperature and longtime. The O/C decrease with increase the temperature and time as evidence of decarboxylation reaction occurs and the reaction move toward carbonization and increase the HHV of hydrochar than raw biomass that recorded 40.2 MJ/Kg at 240 °C, time 180 min and biomass particle size 150 μm. The hydrochars produced under all condition have negative surface charge in wide range of pH and all have negative charge over pH 4–5 and most suitable pH value is between 6 and 7. The best conditions recorded were temperature 200–240 °C and reaction time 120–180 min at this conditions hydrochar has a stable negative charge in slightly acidic and basic media which let it able to use in applications of removing the cationic pollutants from wastewater, and the high heating value give opportunity to use in energy production applications.

Lignin-Based Electrolytes for Redox Flow Batteries

Redox flow batteries (RFBs) are promising candidates for long duration energy storage applications thanks to their unique feature of independent scaling of energy and power. Organic electrolytes and an alternative to the present metal-based have been proposed as potentially low-cost and environmentally friendly electrolytes to alleviate the capital costs of RFBs. Lignin, the second most abundant bio-based polymer in nature, demonstrates the advantages of high carbon content, rich in aromatic groups and is a potential electrolyte basefor RFBs [1] [2] [3] [4]. In this work, soda lignin was considered as redox species modified in optimum oxidative conditions. The cyclic voltammetry analysis confirmed its electrochemical reversibility, so that for RFB tests, modified soda lignin was used on the negative side versus ferrocyanide on the positive at highly alkaline media.Following RFB cycling tests, a substantial improvement was achieved in the charge/discharge capacities and coulombic efficiency of RFB using modified soda lignin compared to pristine. For further performance optimization, it was found that the flow ratehas a substantial influence. This is more likely due to the thixotropic behaviour of the lignin electrolyte. Further explorations are under way of studying different membranes/electrolyte additives and cycling with higher concentration of lignin towards enhancing the RFB performance by improving the conductivity thus voltage efficiencies. Thecurrent approach of introducing bio-based electrolytes could enlighten a new path in the future research direction of organic RFBs and add a valuable point towards the carbon neutralization. Keywords: Lignin, Bio-based electrolyte, Organic redox flow battery, Sustainability, Energy storageAcknowledgement:The authors acknowledge Miscancell, Hondiusstraat 28, 6827 DE Arnhem, Netherlands for providing the lignin material for this work.

Evaluation of hardwood or softwood bark biomass as feed materials for aqueous-phase reforming gasification process

In the present study, pine (Pinus brutia) and poplar (Populus alba) tree barks, softwood and hardwood representative biomass were evaluated for production of gas biofuel, hydrogen by aqueous-phase reforming. The proximate composition, elemental composition, higher heating values (HHVs), proximate thermogravimetric and differential thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG), fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and volatile composition of these biomass materials were determined and their effect on gasification performance of the softwood and hardwood biomass were evaluated. Gasification was performed by aqueous-phase reforming of solubilized liquid fraction of the biomass materials in presence of carbon-supported Pd catalyst which was synthesized in the present study. Softwood contained significantly higher levels of ash and volatile matter, with lower hemicellulose but higher lignin content. Gasification results showed that softwood produced slightly higher amounts of hydrogen with significantly lower carbon monoxide compared to hardwood. Although solid hardwood bark composition was expected to produce more gaseous products, the results observed were opposite. The dissolution of biomass in pressured hot water prior to gasification resulted in a more dilute hydrolysate in softwood compared to hardwood, positively influencing the gasification performance. Despite of many advantages of the aqueous-phase reforming (APR) gasification process used in the present study, the process still needs to be improved further to make the process more economical. To increase the advantage of this process, new catalysts that are more robust and active and have high stability in organic-rich APR conditions should be developed.

Rationally designed conductive wood with mechanoresponsive electrical resistance

Porous cellular foams, combining lightweight, high strength, and compressibility, hold great promise in a wide range of advanced applications. Here, the native structure of pine wood was modified by in-situ lignin sulfonation and unidirectional freezing, resulting in an alveolate structure inside the wood cell wall with arrays of sub-100 nm channels. The obtained wood foam exhibited highly enhanced permeability while retaining the native cellular arrangement and high lignin and hemicellulose content. Such engineered cellular foam contributed to superior mechanical performance with compressive strength of 9 MPa and Young’s modulus of 344 MPa in the longitudinal direction. The high porosity allowed homogeneous infiltration of conductive polymer PEDOT:PSS inside the wood cell wall. The resulting composite exhibited high conductivity, sponge-like compressibility and the ability to modulate electrical resistance in a reversible manner in the radial direction. This rationally designed conductive wood demonstrated potential in durable and ultrasensitive pressure-responsive devices and strain sensors.

On-Farm Conversion of Cannabis Sativa Waste Biomass into an Organic Fertilizer by Microbial Digestion

Nearly 90% of the total biomass of hemp plants grown for cannabidiol (CBD) is left to rot in piles, burned, or hauled to landfills post-harvest even though these residues are nutrient-rich. Composting is an option for waste management and nutrient recovery for hemp producers. However, materials, labor costs, time, and space needed to properly construct compost piles pose significant logistic challenges to smallholder farmers who want to manage their waste on-farm. Additionally, the high lignin content of cannabis hurd is often poorly degraded if the compost fails to meet national organic standards for thermophilic conditions. A potentially more efficient and cost-effective alternative is to convert leftover cannabis waste into bio-fertilizers through a semi-anaerobic process by adding microbial inoculants that specialize in lignin degradation. Imio Technologies, Inc. (Imio) developed cannabis-specific microbial inoculants designed to optimize the conversion of hemp waste into a bio-available form. Applied as a liquid culture, Imio microbes colonize wasted stalks and produce organic acids and oxidative enzymes that decompose lignin and release plant nutrients. This study aimed to investigate the ability of Imio microbial inoculants to degrade lignin-rich material into a fertilizer substitute. At the conclusion of a 3-week digestion period, biomass was transformed into a more bioavailable form with a nutrient profile similar to finished composts. Two-week cured fertilizer generated through this process promoted greater root:shoot ratios, which suggests plant growth promotion, compared to a synthetically fertilized control group. The digested hemp fertilizer also showed a value-added property of disease suppression against the soilborne pathogen Rhizoctonia solani.

CHEMICAL PROCESSING OF AGRICULTURE WASTES INTO VANILLIN, PULP AND GLUCOSE

Agrotechnical wastes from processing herbaceous plants consist of lignin and polysaccharides, which can be processed into monomers – phenols and carbohydrates. The prospects of chemical processing of several agrotechnical waste types with a high lignin content (flax shives, sunflower seed husks and buckwheat husks) into vanillin, pulp, and glucose by oxidation and acid hydrolysis were studied. It has been shown that despite the distant phylogenetic relationship of the studied plants, their lignins have a similar structure: they contain a similar amount of methoxyl groups (10–13 wt.% per lignin) and give close yields of aromatic aldehydes upon oxidation with nitrobenzene (17–19%) and oxygen (14–16%). In general, the suitability of agrotechnical wastes for oxidation to aromatic aldehydes determines by the lignin content. Among the studied wastes, flax shives are the most promising feedstock for chemical processing into vanillin and glucose. Cellulose-containing solid residues of oxidation process are more easily hydrolyzed compared to the initial lignocellulosic biomass. The inversion of glucose oligomers during the hydrolysis of cellulose with H2SO4 is limited by the hydrolysis of the tetra- and octamers.

Usporedba reakcijskoga i normalnog drva nekih komercijalnih vrsta drva

This study aims to analyze the reaction wood samples for some industrial tree species naturally grown in Kastamonu province in Turkey and compare them with the relevant standards. Some anatomical, chemical, fiber morphological, optical properties, and color changes before and after drying were analyzed for the reaction wood (RW) samples. While the holocellulose content of fir and pine compression wood (CW) was found to be lesser (~3-4 %), the lignin content was higher than those of the opposite wood (OW) (~34 % for pine and 12 % for fir). On the contrary, the amount of holocellulose was found to be higher (~1-4 %), and the lignin was lower (at about 6-15 %) in the tension wood (TW) samples. It was observed that average lengths are more extended in TW(~50-54 %) and shorter in CW (~13-17 %) than those of OW. Significant differences were observed between the anatomical structures of the coniferous and deciduous species studied. Although, the greatest color differences in wet and oven-dried samples of coniferous trees were measured in CW (~15-17 %), it has been found as about 0.7-3 % in TW for deciduous species. Some differences were observed in the anatomical, optical, fiber morphological, and chemical properties of the RW for the studied wood species. Due to its higher lignin content and better physical properties, CW can be used for producing small households and hand tools, ornaments, toys, etc. It will also be appropriate for use in milling and turning work. It is recommended that, because of the lower lignin content and higher polysaccharide ratio, TW should be primarily used for the cellulose, pulp, and paper industries, where high mechanical resistance values are required. Consequently, RW formation causes some physical, chemical, mechanical, anatomical, and optical differences compared to OW in deciduous and coniferous species.

A pilot study on non-invasive in situ detection of phytochemicals and plant endogenous status using fiber optic infrared spectroscopy

Traditional methods for assessing plant health often lack the necessary attributes for continuous and non-destructive monitoring. In this pilot study, we present a novel technique utilizing a customized fiber optic probe based on attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) with a contact force control unit for non-invasive and continuous plant health monitoring. We also developed a normalized difference mid-infrared reflectance index through statistical analysis of spectral features, enabling differentiation of drought and age conditions in plants. Our research aims to characterize phytochemicals and plant endogenous status optically, addressing the need for improved analytical measurement methods for in situ plant health assessment. The probe configuration was optimized with a triple-loop tip and a 3 N contact force, allowing sensitive measurements while minimizing leaf damage. By combining polycrystalline and chalcogenide fiber probes, a comprehensive wavenumber range analysis (4000–900 cm−1) was achieved. Results revealed significant variations in phytochemical composition among plant species, for example, red spinach with the highest polyphenolic content and green kale with the highest lignin content. Petioles displayed higher lignin and cellulose absorbance values compared to veins. The technique effectively monitored drought stress on potted green bok choy plants in situ, facilitating the quantification of changes in water content, antioxidant activity, lignin, and cellulose levels. This research represents the first demonstration of the potential of fiber optic ATR-FTIR probes for non-invasive and rapid plant health measurements, providing insights into plant health and advancements in quantitative monitoring for indoor farming practices, bioanalytical chemistry, and environmental sciences.

Identification of QTLs and allelic effect controlling lignan content in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) using QTL-seq approach.

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), an oilseed crop, is gaining worldwide recognition for its healthy functional ingredients as consumption increases. The content of lignans, known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, is a key agronomic trait that determines the industrialization of sesame. However, the study of the genetics and physiology of lignans in sesame is challenging, as they are influenced by multiple genes and environmental factors, therefore, the understanding of gene function and synthetic pathways related to lignan in sesame is still limited. To address these knowledge gaps, we conducted genetic analyses using F7 recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations derived from Goenbaek and Gomazou as low and high lignin content variants, respectively. Using the QTL-seq approach, we identified three loci, qLignan1-1, qLignan6-1, and qLignan11-1, that control lignan content, specifically sesamin and sesamolin. The allelic effect between loci was evaluated using the RIL population. qLignan6-1 had an additive effect that increased lignan content when combined with the other two loci, suggesting that it could be an important factor in gene pyramiding for the development of high-lignan varieties. This study not only highlights the value of sesame lignan, but also provides valuable insights for the development of high-lignan varieties through the use of DNA markers in breeding strategies. Overall, this research contributes to our understanding of the importance of sesame oil and facilitates progress in sesame breeding for improved lignan content.

Chemical properties, crystallinity, and fiber biometry of Jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba) wood for pulp raw material: the effect of age and position

Abstract Jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba) is a promising plant species with straight, visually pleasing trunks that can be harvested at a young age as a resource for pulp and paper production due to the rapid growth rate possessed. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the chemical composition and fiber biometry of 3, 6, and 9-year-old Jabon wood, determining their suitability as a pulp and paper raw material. Samples were collected from both stem and branch sections and analyzed according to the Tappi standard. Fiber cell maceration was conducted to enable the precise measurement of fiber dimensions and derivatives. The results showed high cellulose, holocellulose, and lignin content in Jabon wood, with low to moderate levels of extractives and ash. Additionally, the crystallinity index (CrI) increased with age, particularly from 3 to 9 years old. The branch of the plant, with Grade II fiber derivative quality, had lower CrI compared to the stem, while the inner stem showed a lesser value than the outer part. In conclusion, 3-year-old Jabon wood is a potential raw material for pulp and paper production.

Development of Mungbean Genotypes for Shattering Tolerance and Correlation Analysis with Biochemical and Morphological Factors Governing Pre Harvest Sprouting

Background: Most of the mungbean genotypes are prone to shattering. The indeterminate flowering habit of this crop leads to a spread of flowering and pod maturity on a single plant over the entire reproductive phase. Consequently, pods which develop at the earliest flower may shatter prior to 100% pod maturity. Sometimes losses due to pre-harvest sprouting will be as high as 60-70%. High yielding varieties developed/identified in recent years, despite their high yield potential, could not increase/stabilize the yields of this crop due to lack of resistance to pre-harvest sprouting. Therefore, an attempt was essentially made to develop tolerant varieties to pre-harvest sprouting in the current investigation. Methods: The F2 (Healthy and well dried) seeds derived from the crosses DGGV-2 ´ Pant Moong-1 were irradiated with 60 kR gamma rays for the creation of desirable variability. The gamma rays irradiated seeds were sown in during kharif-2017 along with their respective checks to grow the F2M1 generation. Further advanced to F2M2. The individual plants were critically observed at maturity for morphological traits viz., small pod beak length and angle, thick pod wall and hard seededness that determine the tolerance to PHS. The mutant lines were compared with the parental lines viz., shattering tolerant variety Pant Moong-1 as well as susceptible variety DGGV2. The putative mutants selected and tagged in F2M2 and the seeds were harvested separately and forwarded to develop the F2M3 mutant population (1000 plants) in summer-2018. The seeds from F2M3 generation were harvested on individual plant basis and were sown. 806 progenies were sown in augmented design along with the checks in each block during kharif 2019. Thus from the population of 24812 such derived plants, genotypes with small pod beak and angle, thick pod wall, hard seededness and higher epicuticular wax and lignin content were isolated in F2M3 and F2M4. Further a total of 49 advanced breeding lines along with a known shattering susceptible check were studied for the morphometric and biochemical parameters governing the pre harvest sprouting. Result: Lower PHS was recorded in DGGV-79 (0.02%), DGGV-125 (0.02%) and DGGV 195 (0.91%). Higher phenol content was recorded in DGGV-125 (9.43 mg GA eq /g) and DGGV-79 (9.37 mg GA eq /g). Higher lignin content was recorded in DGGV-125 (6.42 mg/g) and DGGV-79 (6.10 mg GA eq /g). Further correlation analysis revealed that negative correlation of PHS was observed for epicuticular wax (r= -0.983), phenol (r= -0.892), lignin content (r= -0.981) and hard seed percentage (r= -0.942). Significant negative correlation was observed between PHS and pod wall thickness (r= -0.570). Pod beak length recorded highly significant positive correlation (r= 0.911) to PHS. Genotypes with inherent tolerance to seed shattering hold a promise to minimize yield losses due to viviparous germination.

Preparation of natural antibacterial regenerated cellulose fiber from seed-type hemp

Seed-type hemp fiber is hard to spinning and weaving because of its high lignin and hemicellulose content. In this work, the impurities in seed-type hemp fiber were removed by alkali degumming method, ammonium oxalate-complex enzyme method, ethylenediamainetetraacetic acid disodium -complex enzyme method, ammonium oxalate-complex enzyme-chemical method and ethylenediamainetetraacetic acid disodium -complex enzyme-chemical method, and the results were compared. The fibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The fiber after impurity removal is prepared into pulp, and the structure of pulp was characterized by fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The hemp pulp was dissolved into ZnCl2 aqueous solution at a specific temperature to prepare a spinning solution and spun to produce antimicrobial seed-type hemp regenerated cellulose fibers by using a self-made spinning machine. The surface morphology, strength, moisture regain, and antibacterial properties were evaluated, the regenerated fibers had a superior performance.

Alfalfa Stem Cell Wall Digestibility: Current Knowledge and Future Research Directions

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is considered as the most important forage legume with high biomass yield and nutritional quality for ruminants. The alfalfa leaf cell walls are highly digestible, but stem cell walls of alfalfa are not readily digestible. The cell wall component of alfalfa has a large source of dietary energy, but ruminant animals can digest less than half of this component due to the presence of high lignin content. The main goal of this review is to make a summary of existing knowledge of alfalfa cell wall thickening and lignification patterns and suggest future directions for improving alfalfa stem cell wall digestibility. We describe alfalfa cell wall biochemistry, alfalfa stem morphology, stem tissue degradation, and existing methods to improve alfalfa digestibility, and discuss the potential future strategies for improving alfalfa cell wall digestibility. Information on these will help alfalfa breeders and producers identify superior alfalfa cultivars with improved stem cell wall digestibility. Concentrating future efforts on the selection and identification of traits and associated genes that affect cell wall digestibility could improve alfalfa cell wall digestibility.