Longer Storage Periods Research Articles

The influence of storage time on ponazuril concentrations in feline plasma.

BackgroundThe pharmacokinetics of ponazuril have been determined in several species; however, there is very little information on the stability of the drug after storage for long periods of time. This study was undertaken to determine the stability of ponazuril in plasma samples stored at −80 °C, which is the temperature most commonly used in the author’s laboratory.MethodSpiked plasma samples (0.3, 7.5, and 15 µg/mL) were stored at −80 °C for three months. Analysis occurred on the first day and then once a week for the following twelve weeks. The drug was extracted using a chloroform extraction and separated by high performance liquid chromatography using ultraviolet detection.ResultsThere was no loss of drug for any concentration for the first four weeks of storage. There was an average loss of less than 5% from day 35 through day 70 and an average loss of 6% on day 77 and 84. The data suggest that ponazuril is stable for 4 weeks when stored at −80 °C and undergoes minimal loss in the remaining 8 weeks.

Effect of Salvia (Salvia officinalis) on the oxidative stability of salmon hamburgers

Nowadays, in the food it is common market to develop healthier products aiming at health benefits. Among the alternatives, there are products with the addition of aromatic herbs, since, throughout the storage period, they enhance the preservation of the desirable properties of these foods by preventing/delaying oxidative processes. In this work the efficiency of three concentrations (0.50, 1.00, and 1.50%) of Salvia officinalis powder in salmon hamburgers were investigated. The results showed that Salvia officinalis was able to stop the oxidation process of the meat matrix under analysis, presenting a good antioxidant and antimicrobial potential under the conditions of raw and grilled hamburgers. Therefore, through the analyzes performed, it was possible to predict that Salvia officinalis is a good strategy for the food industry when it comes to preserving salmon meat for a long period of storage, in this case being studied for 90 days.

Effects of Refrigeration at 5°C for Long Periods of Time on Bovine Ear Skin as a Strategy to Transport Biological Material and Isolate Fibroblasts to Use in the Nuclear Transfer.

Animal cloning is an important technique used to produce clones from valuable farm animals, to rescue animals in risk of extinction, and for producing transgenic animals. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of refrigeration on bovine ear skin as a strategy to transport biological material for long periods of time to isolate viable fibroblasts. Ears from eight cows were collected after death and stored for 30 days at 5°C. On days 0, 2, 4, 7, 14, 21, and 30, skin biopsies were cultured in vitro for fibroblast isolation. The time for first fibroblast outgrowth, time to reach 100% confluence. and cell concentration before freezing were observed for each period. In addition, plasma membrane integrity, cell apoptosis, and necrosis in cells were evaluated through fluorescent colorant combination in a flow cytometer from all periods after thawing. Fibroblasts obtained after 30 days of storage, considered a critical period, were tested for embryo production using nuclear transfer (NT) with micromanipulators. All time points allowed for cell culture. The time of cell growth onset was longer in samples refrigerated for 14, 21, and 30 days. The time to reach confluence also increased with longer refrigeration periods. Cells from day 0 reached confluence in 24 ± 2 days, while day 30 cells took 31 ± 0 days. Cell concentration and viability dropped with increased storage time and freezing/thawing, respectively. It was found that a long period of sample storage results in cell damage, making cultivation more difficult and decreasing cell viability post-thawing and cell concentration. However, when cells from day 30 were used as nuclei donors in NT, a 26.05% blastocyst rate after 7 days in culture was obtained. In conclusion, refrigeration at 5°C was shown to be efficient in maintaining viable tissue for up to 30 days, and fibroblasts isolated can be used for cloned embryo production.

Relationship between storage period and germination of Ipomoea hederacea var. integriuscula seeds under natural condition

AbstractMorning glory (Ipomoea spp.), a problematic weed in soybean fields, is difficult to control due to its long emergence period. The intermittent germination of morning glory prolongs the emergence period, and the factors remain unclear. Therefore, we aimed to clarify the effects of different storage periods under natural conditions on germination conditions and emergence percentages of physically dormant entire‐leaf morning glory (Ipomoea hederacea var. integriuscula) seeds in the field. In 2017–2020, I. hederacea var. integriuscula was cultivated in outdoor planters. Each plant was tagged on the blooming flower peduncle to record the flowering date. The seeds of I. hederacea var. integriuscula germinated 23 days after flowering (DAF). The water content of the seeds decreased rapidly until 30 DAF, and no water absorption occurred thereafter. The germination percentage of seeds in bags outdoors was low from 45 to 210 DAF, and it increased after 270 DAF irrespective of the temperature (20–35°C). On the field surface, the shorter the period of storage in bags outdoors, the lower the cumulative emergence percentage of I. hederacea var. integriuscula. The cumulative emergence was 0% in the soil for seeds of more than 90 DAF. The survival percentage of seeds in the soil increased with the number of DAFs. Therefore, the longer the DAF of the seeds, the higher the emergence of the field and survival percentage in the soil. The long period of storage on mother plants may be one of the factors associated with the long emergence period.

Synthetic zwitterions as efficient non-permeable cryoprotectants

Cryopreservation of cells is necessary for long periods of storage. However, some cell lines cannot be efficiently cryopreserved, even when optimized commercial cryoprotectants are employed. Previously, we found that a low-toxic synthetic zwitterion aqueous solution enabled good cryopreservation. However, this zwitterion solution could not cryopreserve some cells, such as human kidney BOSC cells, with good efficiency. Therefore, details of the cryoprotective effect of the zwitterions and optimization based on its mechanisms are required. Herein, we synthesized 18 zwitterion species and assessed the effects of the physical properties of water/zwitterion mixtures. Non-cell-permeable zwitterions can inhibit ice crystal formation extracellularly via direct interaction with water and intracellularly via dehydration of cells. However, cells that could not be cryopreserved by zwitterions were insufficiently dehydrated in the zwitterion solution. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was combined as a cell-permeable cryoprotectant to compensate for the shortcomings of non-cell-permeable zwitterions. The water/zwitterion/DMSO (90/10/15, v/w/w) could cryopreserve different cells, for example freezing-vulnerable K562 and OVMANA cells; yielding ~1.8-fold cell viability compared to the case using a commercial cryoprotectant. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulation indicated that the zwitterions protected the cell membrane from the collapse induced by DMSO.

Comparison of the immersion chilling and freezing and traditional air freezing on the quality of beef during storage.

Compared to traditional air freezing, immersion chilling and freezing shows an improvement in the freezing effect on meat quality, but it is not known whether this advantage persists over longer storage periods. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to compare the effects of immersion chilling and freezing (ICF) and traditional air freezing (TAF) on the physical and chemical indexes in beef longissimus muscle during a storage period of 150 days. In the current study, the longissimus muscle from Luxi cattle (aged 20–24 months) was analyzed, with samples independently frozen by ICF and TAF. After the core temperature was frozen to below −18 degrees by the two chilling methods, samples were transferred to a −18 degrees cold room for further storage. During the storage period, physical and chemical indexes, mainly including color and texture qualities, total volatile base nitrogen (TVB‐N) and peroxide value (POV) were measured and comparatively analyzed at several fixed time points. A higher freezing rate was observed in ICF (5.124 cm/h) than in TAF (0.194 cm/h), and better microstructure was observed in ICF treatment. Besides, peak force values and total energy values were significantly lower in the TAF group than in the ICF group during the first 45 days of freezing storage time (p < .05). ICF also showed better color quality due to higher L* values than TAF samples during the first 75 days of frozen storage (p < .05). In addition, the thawing loss (after 75 days of storage), total volatile base nitrogen, and peroxide value (in the 30 to 75 days of storage period) were lower in the ICF than in the TAF group. In conclusion, the immersion chilling and freezing is more conducive to the quality of beef during storage at −18 degrees compared to traditional air freezing.

Effect of modified atmosphere packaging and vacuum packaging on quality characteristics of lamb meat.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of vacuum packaging and modified atmosphere packaging (80 % N 20 % CO) on the microbial and physicochemical parameters of lamb meat and the sensory properties of cooked meat. Musculus longissimus thoracis et lumborum samples were examined at 10 d intervals (0, 10, 20 and 30 d) during storage at 4 C. There was no significant effect of the packaging method and storage time used on cooking loss, natural drip loss, lightness, yellowness, and intensity of taste and aroma. An interaction between storage time, packaging method, and mesophilic aerobic bacteria and coliform counts was observed. Storage time significantly affected the number of aerobic psychrotrophic bacteria, redness, pH (), shear force value (), and the desirability of aroma () and taste (). During the storage time, an increase in red saturation from 11.92 to 13.33 and pH value from 5.69 to 5.80 was recorded. Moreover, the storage method affected sensory properties. Vacuum-packed meat was characterized by higher scores in juiciness, tenderness and taste desirability in comparison to MAP. The obtained results suggest that both packaging methods allow for maintaining high-quality lamb meat during a long period of storage under refrigeration conditions.

The environmental adaptation strategy of seed germination, and roles of the seed pappus on dispersal and hypocotyl hairs on seedling anchorage in Tamarix ramosissima.

Seed dispersal, germination and seedling establishment are affected by various ecological factors in desert plant species. Tamarix ramosissima has evolved multiple strategies to facilitate its survival in harsh environments during the early stages of development. In this study, we investigated the effects of different ecological factors on seed germination and seedling growth, the function of the seed pappus in seed dispersal, as well as the function of the hypocotyl hairs in seedling establishment. We found that the seed germination of T. ramosissima was rapid and could occur under a wide range of temperatures (5–30 °C), after long periods of storage (at least 12 months on dispersal), under high concentrations of salts (700–900 mmol·L−1) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 (500 g·L−1) and under medium concentrations of alkalis (300–500 mmol·L−1). Lower concentrations of salts and PEG promoted seedling growth. The seed pappus had no effect on seed germination, but it might function as an accessory structure that provides a buoyancy force and promotes long-distance seed dispersal. The hypocotyl hairs located on the edge of the hypocotyl end might aid the upright positioning of the seedlings during early development, especially when seed germination occurs under floating or flooding conditions. In conclusion, the germination of T. ramosissima seeds and seedling development can occur under diverse types of abiotic stress, and the seed pappus and hypocotyl hairs played an important role in seed dispersal and seedling establishment.

Improved Blastocystis spp. detection method using swabs with Amies transport medium and charcoal.

Blastocystis is one of the most frequently detected protozoa in the human large intestine. One of the most effective and cheap methods for detecting Blastocystis in faeces is culture on a special medium in anaerobic conditions. Sampling faeces using traditional containers and their transport to the laboratory has certain limitations: a sample taken in this way should reach the laboratory relatively quickly, moreover, some patients are uncomfortable during sampling and protection of material in this way. We propose utilizing a swab for sampling and transportation of the faeces samples to be examined for Blastocystis instead of using traditional containers. We believe this is an excellent method allowing the material to be transported over longer distances without additional, and sometimes expensive, safety measures, and at the same time permitting the possibility of obtaining living cells after a relatively long period of storage.

The Role of Mitochondrial Energy Metabolism in Shaping the Quality of Highbush Blueberry Fruit During Storage in Ozone-Enriched Atmosphere

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ozone treatment on the mitochondrial energy metabolism in blueberry fruit during storage as well as to determine the relationship between the activity of mitochondria and the antioxidative properties of ozonated fruit. Blueberry fruit was stored for 28 days at 4 °C and ozonated daily with gaseous ozone at the concentration of 15 mg L−1 for 30 min, every 12 h of storage. Research showed that ozonated fruit was characterized by higher activity of enzymes involved in oxidative phosphorylation (by 58.7% for SDH, 118.2% for CCO, and 78.16% for H+-ATPase after 7 days, respectively) than non-ozonated sample, which contributed to reduction of the loss of energy charge and ATP in the fruit during storage. Moreover, the increased activity of mitochondria led to the growth of mitochondrial ROS accumulation which, in turn, activated defense mechanisms against oxidative stress in the fruit. These metabolic responses might collectively contribute to increase the antioxidative properties of ozonated fruit and consequently to maintain a good quality of the fruit over a long period of storage.

Effect of Various Drying and Dehydration Techniques on The Organoleptic Quality of Mango Leathers

Background: Mango is known as the king of fruits. It has several varieties however, some are more popular in the country including Sindhri. Each variety has its significance when used in different food products. The pulp of mango is used for developing jams, beverages, chutney (dips) etc., and sometimes preserved with some additives to be used for the production of mango leather. In general, the application of drying techniques to fruit puree yields a stable shelf-life product called fruit leather, which is of soft rubbery texture with a sweet taste and especially dehydrated.&#x0D; Objectives: To analyze the effect of various drying techniques (i.e. sun drying, oven drying, and dehydration) on the organoleptic quality (i.e. quality that affects how a consumer experiences the food via their senses e.g. look, taste, smell, and touch) of mango leather.&#x0D; Methodology: A drying experiment was performed like sun drying, hot air oven drying, and commercial dehydrator to determine the effect of drying times on the quality of mango leathers using these techniques. The effect of the storage period was also studied for the quality of mango leathers. The dried mango leathers were sensory analyzed by the trained panelists.&#x0D; Results: A minimum drying time of 8-10hours was achieved in a commercial dehydrator for mango fruit leather at 70°C. It was also observed that despite the longer dehydration time, the mango leathers produced remained equally acceptable compared to other dehydration techniques. The mango leathers dried in dehydrater at 70°C ± 2°C gave the highest score of color (6.20), texture (6.13), flavour/taste (5.88), appearance (5.88), and overall acceptability (5.85), while mango leather dried in an oven at 70°C ± 2°C has recorded a score of color (5.93), texture (5.87), flavour/taste (5.77), appearance (5.53), and overall acceptability (5.70). The storage of mango leathers had also a significant effect (p &lt; 0.05) in the storage period of mango leathers as compared to control. A non-significant difference was also observed in all the organoleptic parameters after 10-12 weeks of storage.&#x0D; Conclusion: It is obtained from the current study that for the production of mango leather, the commercial dehydrator based drying techniques results in acceptable sensory characteristics as well as longer storage period by comparing other drying techniques, as it has a controlled environment.

Urea-treated wet-spun PEDOT: PSS fibers for achieving high-performance wearable supercapacitors

Reliable stability plays an essential role in the development of wearable electronics, while for fiber-based wearable sensors, it is a big challenge to achieve their long-term stability. Currently, developing facile and rapid methods to obtain conductive fibers with high durability and electrical conductivity is still unremitting. In this work, we report a facile secondary treatment strategy to prepare PEDOT: PSS fibers with excellent durability, which is demonstrated in the fact that the electrical conductivity as well as the electrochemical properties of the fibers remain stable even after a long period of storage. Meanwhile, the conductivity of urea-treated fibers has been remarkably improved compared to that of pristine fibers. It is worth mentioning that enhanced durability not only stabilizes their electrical conductivity, but also enables long-term stability of the supercapacitor made of the fibers. Moreover, this work explores the importance of stability for PEDOT: PSS fiber-based devices, inspiring a unique path for novel fiber design.

Short‐term hypobaric treatment enhances chilling tolerance in peaches

Peach fruit quickly shows symptoms of chilling injury (CI) during shelf life after storage under inadequate temperatures. We found that short-term hypobaric treatment (SHT) was effective in reducing the CI index to maintain the quality of peaches (Prunus persica L. Batsch cv. Yingshuanghong) during shelf life after cold storage. The respiration rate of peaches was inhibited, and the climacteric peak was delayed during storage after being treated at 0.45 atm pressures for 4 hr at 20°C. Meanwhile, SHT fruits maintained higher disaccharide concentrations and lower monosaccharide concentrations. SHT fruits also exhibited higher antioxidant enzyme activity that likely reduced the production of ROS. In addition, SHT suppressed membrane oxidation effectively by inhibiting phospholipase D (PLD) and lipoxygenase (LOX) activity to prevent malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation. These results indicated that SHT performed effectively to alleviate CI in peaches by modulating respiration and sugars metabolism, oxidative stress, and membrane oxidation. Practical applications Unlike hypobaric storage for long periods of time, short-term hypobaric treatment (SHT) is a short-term application of subatmospheric pressure. This paper suggests that SHT is an effective method to alleviate CI and to maintain quality of peaches after cold storage. This work will help to expand chilling-sensitive fruit storage life to satisfy market and consumer demands.

Mechanical properties of thermal aged HTPB composite solid propellant under confining pressure

With the purpose of investigating the effects of confining pressure and aging on the mechanical properties of Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) based composite solid propellant, tensile tests of thermal accelerated aged propellant samples under room temperature and different confining pressure conditions were performed through the use of a self-made confining pressure device and conventional testing machine. Afterwards, the maximum tensile stress σm and the corresponding strain εm for the propellant under different test conditions were obtained and analyzed. The results indicate that confining pressure and aging can significantly affect the mechanical properties of HTPB propellant, and the coupled effects are very complex. On the one hand, the stress σm increases as a whole when confining pressure becomes higher or thermal aging time rises. Besides, this stress is more sensitive to aging with increasing confining pressure. There are almost three regions in the stress increments σmP−σm0/σm0 and thermal aging time curves for HTPB propellant. The maximum value of the stress increment σmP−σm0/σm0 for the propellant is about 98% at 7.0 MPa and 170 d. On the other hand, the strain εm decreases with increasing thermal aging time under the whole confining pressure conditions. However, the variation of this strain with confining pressure is more complex at various thermal aging time, which is different from that of unaged solid propellant in previous researches. In addition, this strain is slightly less sensitive to aging as the confining pressure increases. Furthermore, there is also a critical confining pressure in this investigation, whose value is between 0.15 MPa and 4.0 MPa. Beyond this critical pressure, the trends of the stress σm and the corresponding strain εm all change. Moreover, there are some critical thermal aging time for the stress increment (σmP−σm0)/σm0 and strain increment (εmP−εm0)/εm0 of HTPB propellant in this investigation, which are about at 35, 50 and 170 d. Finally, based on the twin-shear strength theory, a new modified nonlinear strength criterion of thermal aged HTPB propellant under confining pressure was proposed. And the whole errors of fitted results are lower than 6%. Therefore, the proposed strength criterion can be selected as a failure criterion for the analysis the failure properties of aged HTPB propellant under different confining pressures, the structural integrity of solid propellant grain and the safety of solid rocket motor during ignition operation after long periods of storage.

GSTP1 rs1695 and rs1871042, and SOD2 rs4880 as molecular markers of lipid peroxidation in blood storage.

Red blood cells (RBC) are subject to oxidative stress by reactive oxygen species (ROS) during storage. Molecular characterisation of oxidative stress in stored RBC, which may also occur in other blood components during long periods of storage, is rare. Our study included 45 healthy RBC donors recruited in Brazil. Blood was collected into standard Grifols® Triple Bags containing CPD SAG-M. Haematological values, biochemical data, and oxidative stress markers were assessed weekly during storage until 42 days after collection. GSTM1 and GSTT1 were determined by multiplex-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), while GSTP1 rs1695 and rs1871042, CAT rs1001179, and SOD2 rs4880 were evaluated by real-time PCR. A direct proportional relationship was found between storage time and levels of ROS and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS, indicators of lipid peroxidation) (p<0.001). These parameters were indirectly proportional to ABTS values (p<0.001). The plasma concentration of TBARS was associated with GSTP1 303AG/GG, GSTP1 -16CT/TT, and SOD2 47CT/TT genotypes. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms at the CAT C-262T gene were not associated with TBARS, nor were oxidative markers of ROS. Prolonged storage may result in the onset of erythrocyte deterioration. Our results clearly indicate that erythrocytes are capable of attenuating ROS for 2 weeks of storage. We observed an association between elevated TBARS levels and the presence of GSTP1 and SOD2 variants in stored RBC. Although notable for heterozygous variants, this association was even stronger for the homozygous variants GSTP1 rs1695 (303GG), GSTP1 rs1871042 (-16TT), and SOD2 rs4880 (47TT). These findings accentuate the importance of genetic factors in storage lesions and will expand our understanding and consideration of endogenous and exogenous causes in improving clinical treatment with blood transfusions.

Potential of cold plasma to control Callosobruchus chinensis (Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) in chickpea cultivars during four year storage

Cold plasma has proven itself as a promising method of food preservation by controlling food spoilage bacteria at very low temperatures. It is showing potential for insect control. Synthetic pesticides are mostly used to control Callosobruchus chinensis L. (Chrysomelidae: Coleoptera) to which it has developed resistance. The prospective potential of cold plasma treatment to control pulse beetle infestation of chickpea in the storage for about four years of plasma treatment was studied. The four chickpea cultivars were treated with cold plasma at different power 40, 50, and 60 W each for 10, 15, 20 min. Plasma treated and untreated chickpeas were stored in an airtight ziplock pouch. At regular intervals, the grains were observed for infestation. It was found most effective in controlling the pulse beetle infestation of treated chickpea samples. While plasma untreated chickpeas were attacked and damaged mostly by pulse beetle within the first quarter of the storage study. To avoid the problems created by the use of pesticides cold plasma treatment is found to be the best alternative in the protection of chickpea invasion by pulse beetle during a longer storage period. The findings in the present research may be used for the preparation of legumes which may also soak and cook faster like quick-cooking legumes and preserved for years without invasion of pulse beetle.

Correlation between seed longevity and RNA integrity in the embryos of rice seeds.

The mature embryos of rice seeds contain translatable mRNAs required for the initial phase of germination. To clarify the relationship between seed longevity and RNA integrity in embryos, germinability and stability of embryonic RNAs were analyzed using the seeds of japonica rice cultivars subjected to controlled deterioration treatment (CDT) or long periods of storage. Degradation of RNA from embryos of a japonica rice cultivar "Nipponbare" was induced by CDT before the decline of the germination rate and we observed a positive relationship between seed germinability and integrity of embryonic RNAs. Moreover, this relationship was confirmed in the experiments using aged seeds from the "Nipponbare", "Sasanishiki" and "Koshihikari" rice cultivars. In addition, the RNA integrity number (RIN) values, calculated using electrophoresis data and Agilent Bioanalyzer software, had a positive correlation with germinability (R2=0.75). Therefore, the stability of embryonic RNAs required for germination is involved in maintaining seed longevity over time and RIN values can serve as a quantitative indicator to evaluate germinability in rice.

Avaliação da qualidade oleoquímica das sementes de gergelim (Sesamum indicum) e girassol (Helianthus annus)

Vegetable oils are extremely important for the human organism, being considered a source of energy and of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K), and fundamental in promoting the taste of food. Sunflower oil is obtained from the seed of the plant Helianthus annuus L., of the Compositae family, standing out for being the fourth oilseed in grain production and the fifth in cultivated area in the world. Another valuable seed used for oil extraction is sesame (Sesamum indicum, L.), which belongs to the Pedaliaceae family. Due to the quality and characteristics of some vegetable oils, which may change after long periods of storage, thus giving relevance to studies on the determination of these changes. From this, this work had the objective of evaluating the quality of the sesame and sunflower oil, commercial and cold extracted, to obtain more information about the alterations occurred during the storage period and its oxidative potential. The oleochemical analyzes were performed using the variables related to the iodine, peroxide, acidity and % free fatty acids (FFA) indices, where the analyzes were performed in triplicates. As a result, the commercialized sesame and sunflower oils showed values ​​above the limits recommended by the RDC No. 270, of September 22, 2005, in relation to the cold extracting sesame and sunflower oleochemical indexes presented adequate values. The contribution of the work developed shows that oils after extraction, industrial processing and depending on storage conditions can present vulnerability and compromise their quality.

Deficit Irrigation as a Tool to Optimize Fruit Quality in Abbé Fetél Pear

Climate change is leading to higher plant water requirements and rootstock can play a role in tree adaptation, since the more vigorous ones are also likely to be more stress resistant. Pear trees of the cv. Abbé Fetél grafted on BA29 (more vigorous) and SYDO (more dwarfing) quince were irrigated according to three different treatments: 110 C, 80 DI and 60 DI, corresponding to 110%, 80% and 60% of the crop evapotranspiration rate (ETc), respectively. Shoot and fruit growth, water potentials, leaf gas exchanges and dry matter content were monitored during the season. Fruit quality was evaluated at harvest and after 6 months of storage at 1 °C. Results show how for both rootstocks, 60 DI significantly decreased their stem (Ψstem) and leaf (Ψleaf) water potentials as well as leaf gas exchanges. In SYDO, final fruit size was affected by irrigation, with lower values on 60 DI, but in BA29, no differences were found between treatments. After storage, BA29 60 DI fruit showed a higher soluble solid content, while in SYDO fruit, firmness was more affected by irrigation level. In conclusion, despite a slight decrease in fruit size, reduced irrigation led to fruit with higher quality features that were also maintained after a long period of storage.

Effects of duration and conditions of storage on germination of seeds of Pedicularis sceptrum-carolinum (Orobanchaceae)

Choosing optimum conditions for plants of the Pedicularis genus to productively germinate and undergo the initial stages of development is currently a relevant problem in the search of solutions to successfully grow these taxa. For the experiments, seeds of Pedicularis sceptrum-carolinum L. (Lamiales, Orobanchaceae) were collected in the first decade of September in the vicinity of Chashnitskoe Lake. The study of specifics of germination of seeds and the initial stages of the development of P. sceptrum-carolinum was carried out in controlled laboratory conditions in a climate chamber with illumination (1,200–1,500 lux, photoperiod of 9/15, temperature of 23–25 °С). After a month-long storage of seeds in their fruit capsules in the laboratory conditions, the greatest germination (83.3–93.3%) was achieved after their subsequent dry maintenance (taken out of the fruits) in a refrigerator at the temperature of +2…+3 ºС for 3 or 6 months. Lower values of final germination were obtained after maintaining dry seeds at the temperature of –24…–28 ºС for 3 months. Increasing periods of such storage up to six months led to decrease in the final germination and energy of germination. After-ripening lasting different periods provided lower values of the two most important parameters – final germination and energy of germination, even in cases of quite long periods of dry storage in the laboratory. The initial stages of the development of plants from seeds of P. sceptrum-carolinum, which had undergone 3-month stratification in a refrigerator, were studied during the period of 2.0 (2.5) months in different conditions: Petri dishes on moistened filter paper, and in glass vessels with settled tap water, in soil in a plastic container (pure groups of sowed seeds) and also in soil sown together with seeds of Avena sativa L., with seeds put singly into a plastic block of 9 cassettes. The study revealed morphological differences in plants that had developed over the two-months growth, in each variant of the experiment. We recorded fragmentary development of haustorial hairs on the lateral roots of the plants in the pure sown group and also the haustorium in the group sown together with common oat. We achieved no further development and the plants died. The plants grew for a longer period (2.5 months) in the pure sown groups, which then died as well. The study we performed may be a basis for preparing successful introduction and cultivation of P. sceptrum-carolinum, which would be an important source of preservation of a species that raises concerns on account of the rapid decreases in its populations, narrowing of its range and rare occurrence.