Micronutrient Mixture Research Articles

Unlocking bottlenecks of groundnut productivity and quality: opportunities for foliar micronutrient mixture

Micronutrient deficiency is a critical obstacle to producing healthy groundnut crops, achieving sustainable yield and quality. Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.), popularly known as ‘peanut,’ is a vital edible oilseed crop across the world. However, achieving optimal groundnut yield and quality is challenging due to various factors, including micronutrient deficiencies arising due to imbalanced nutrient management in intensive agriculture. This led to global nutritional insecurity. Currently micronutrient deficiency in groundnut is addressed by soil application of individual elements, which has efficiency of less than 3%. A Combined foliar micronutrient mixture would be a practical, easy to apply solution for swiftly correcting multiple micronutrient deficiencies during critical crop growth stages. This approach allows for targeted nutrient delivery directly to the foliage for quicker absorption, bypassing soil limitations. Field experiments were conducted in summer irrigated groundnut during 2019 and 2020 in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India to evaluate the performance of four different grades of newly developed foliar micronutrients on groundnut yield and quality. The MN grades ranging from I to IV were assigned to increasing concentration of Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu and B levels. Experiment laid in split plot design, replicated thrice with four micronutrients grades as the main plot and four different foliar spray timings as sup plots. Concentration of micronutrients and spray timings significantly influenced the groundnut pod and stover yields. Among the four micronutrient grades tested, the Grade IV mixture with highest concentration of all constituent ((Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu and B) micronutrients that sprayed twice at the vegetative and flowering stages recorded significantly highest stover (4120 kgha−1) and pod yield (2806 kgha−1). This optimal combination resulted an increment of 12–13% pod yield, 37–43% in kernel yield, 17–18% in oil content and 39–33% soluble protein content of groundnut over the control with no supply of micronutrient. Future research may explore integrating soil application and foliar spray of micronutrients for enhanced sustainability. Foliar micronutrient formulation can address multiple micronutrient deficiencies in groundnut crops during their active growth stages, overcoming all soil limitations and ensuring sustainable yield and high quality groundnut for nutritional security.

Analysis of the Consequences of a Mixture of Micronutrients on the Parameters Associated with Wheat Growth and Yield

The field experiments were conducted at the agriculture farm of BFIT Crop Research Centre, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, during 2021–22 on the title- “Analysis of the consequences of a mixture of micronutrients on the parameters associated with wheat growth and yield”. A RBD (Randomized Block Design) of plot with eight treatments and three replications was used in this study. The experimental treatments included: T1 - Control (without fertilizer or any other growth activity), T2 - RDF (NPK) only, T3 - RDF (NPK) + Local Formulation(LF) Grade V 10kg/ha mixture of micronutrient on Soil Application (SA) only, T4 - RDF (NPK) + Local Formulation (LF) GradeV 10kg/ha mixture of micronutrient on Soil Application (SA) + 0.25% FS of micronutrient mixture @ tillering stage only,T5 - RDF(NPK) + Local Formulation (LF) Grade V 15kg/ha mixture of micronutrient on Soil Application (SA) only,T6 - RDF(NPK) + Local Formulation (LF) Grade V 15kg/ha mixture of micronutrient on Soil Application (SA) + 0.25 % FS @ tillering stages only, T7 - RDF (NPK) + Local Formulation(LF) GradeV 25kg/ha mixture of micronutrient on Soil Application (SA) only, T8 - RDF (NPK) + Local Formulation (LF) Grade V 25kg/ha mixture of micronutrient 0.25% Foliar Spray (FS) of micronutrient mixture @ tillering stage only. Significant 0.5% increases in spike length, spikelets/spike, spike/m2, number of tillers/m2, number of grains/spike, 1000-grain weight, grain, straw, and biological yields (ton)/fed were noted in the study's results. Additionally, the harvest index was found to be significantly higher in T8 only. The highest grain yield was achieved by T8 while lower yield of growth attributes / parameters was found in the control plot.

Evaluating micronutrients effects on yield and quality attributes of chrysanthemum (Dendrathemum Grandiflorum Tzeuleu) cv.CO1

The field experiment was conducted in the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, and Tamil Nadu in chrysanthemum (Dendrathemum grandiflorum Tzeuleu) cv.CO 1. The experimental site situated approximately 6 km west of the Bay of Bengal, positioned at 11o 24' North latitude and 79o 41' East longitude, with an altitude of +5.79 meters above mean sea level. The maximum mean temperature range from 29.7ºC to 38.3ºCwith a mean of 32.4ºC, while the minimum temperature range from 21.10ºC to 27.0ºC with a mean value of 25.3ºC. Its receives an annual rainfall of 1500 mm with a relative humidity of 85%. From the results, it can be concluded that soil application of micronutrients mixture @12.5 kg ha-1 in split as basal, 25, 50 and 75 DAT was found to have beneficial effect on yield and quality attributes of chrysanthemum.

Personalizing Nutrition Strategies: Bridging Research and Public Health.

In recent years, although life expectancy has increased significantly, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) continue to pose a significant threat to the health of the global population. Therefore, eating habits have been recognized as key modifiable factors that influence people's health and well-being. For this reason, it is interesting to study dietary patterns, since the human diet is a complex mixture of macronutrients, micronutrients, and bioactive compounds, and can modulate multiple physiological processes, including immune function, the metabolism, and inflammation. To ensure that the data we acquired were current and relevant, we searched primary and secondary sources, including scientific journals, bibliographic indexes, and databases in the last 15 years with the most relevant articles. After this search, we observed that all the recent research on NCDs suggests that diet is a critical factor in shaping an individual's health outcomes. Thus, cardiovascular, metabolic, mental, dental, and visual health depends largely on the intake, habits and patterns, and nutritional behaviors. A diet high in processed and refined foods, added sugars, and saturated fats can increase the risk of developing chronic diseases. On the other hand, a diet rich in whole, nutrient-dense foods, such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, and a high adherence to Mediterranean diet can improve health's people.

Specific dairy foods and risk of frailty in older women: a prospective cohort study

BackgroundDairy contains a complex mixture of lipids, proteins, and micronutrients. Whether habitual dairy consumption is associated with health benefits is not well established. Since dairy is high in nutrients that are potentially protective against frailty, the association between dairy products and the risk of frailty is of interest.MethodsWe analyzed data from 85,280 women aged ≥ 60 years participating in the Nurses’ Health Study. Consumption of milk, yogurt, and cheese was obtained from repeated food frequency questionnaires administered between 1980 and 2010. Frailty was defined as having at least three of the following five criteria from the FRAIL scale: fatigue, low strength, reduced aerobic capacity, having ≥ 5 chronic illnesses, and a weight loss of ≥ 5%. The occurrence of frailty was assessed every four years from 1992 to 2018. Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine the association between the intake of dairy foods and frailty.ResultsDuring follow-up we identified 15,912 incident cases of frailty. Consumption of milk or yogurt was not associated with the risk of frailty after adjustment for lifestyle factors, medication use, and overall diet quality. Cheese consumption was positively associated with risk of frailty [relative risk (95% confidence interval) for one serving/day increment in consumption: 1.10 (1.05, 1.16)]. Replacing one serving/day of milk, yogurt, or cheese with one serving/day of whole grains, nuts, or legumes was associated with a significant lower risk of frailty, while replacing milk, yogurt, or cheese with red meat or eggs was associated with an increased risk. When milk was replaced with a sugar-sweetened or artificially sweetened beverage, a greater risk of frailty was observed, while replacing milk with orange juice was associated with a lower risk of frailty.ConclusionsThe results suggest that the association between milk, yogurt, and cheese and frailty partly depends on the replacement product. Habitual consumption of milk or yogurt was not associated with risk of frailty, whereas cheese consumption may be associated with an increased risk.

Effect of Micronutrients on Flowering and Yield Attributes of Chrysanthemum (Dendrathemum grandiflora Tzeuleu) cv.CO 1

Micronutrients are essential for crop growth and are equally important as primary and secondary nutrients. The Present study was carried out at orchard, Department of Horticulture Faculty of Agriculture, in the year 2010. The experiment was laid out in a Randomised Block Design with seventeen treatments and three replications. The treatment comprised of various combination of micronutrients viz., Zinc sulphate 0.5%, Ferrous sulphate 0.5%, Borax 0.5%, Manganese sulphate 0.5%, Copper sulphate 0.5%, Mixture of all micronutrients 0.5% and micronutrients mixture at 12.5 kg ha-1, two different concentrations with recommended dose 25 t FYM ha-1 + RDF of N, P, K and a control at 5 different interval on flowering and yield attributes of chrysanthemum. The results revealed that soil application of micronutrients mixture @ 12.5 kg ha-1 in split as basal, 25, 50 and 75 DAT were found superior on number of flowers per plant (89.91), flower stalk length (8.92 cm) and flower yield per hectare (21.14 t ha-1).

Impact of Organic and Inorganic Plant Growth Promoters on Growth Indices and Yield of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Varieties

The micronutrients, such as zinc, iron, copper, and boron play an important role in the physiological processes of plants. This experiment evaluate the impact of organic (GA3, Seaweed extract solid/liquid) and inorganic (Nitrobenzene and micronutrients- Zn, Fe, B, Cu) plant growth promoters on the growth indices and yield of wheat varieties. The experiment was laid out in Split Plot Design with three replications. Three timely shown wheat varieties (DBW-187, K-1006, and K-607) allocated in the main plots and plant growth promoters (Nitrobenzene, Gibberellic acid, Seaweed extract, and a mixture of micronutrients-Zn, Fe, Cu, B) in the sub-plots comprised of 18 treatment combinations. The results revealed that significant variations in the response of wheat varieties to the different plant growth promoters. The highest growth and yield viz., plant height (85.50cm), number of tillers (451.75 m-2), fresh weight (86.83 g plant-1), dry weight (23. 39 g plant-1), crop growth rate, test weight (40.67g) and grain yield (4764.67 kg ha-1) was recorded in wheat varieties DBW-187 followed by K-1006 and minimum in variety K-607. Among plant growth promoters, the mixture of micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Cu, B) @ 0.5% foliar spray at tillering stage, show significant result in growth and yield viz., plant height (86.21cm), number of tillers (459.63 m-2), fresh weight (86.96 g plant-1), dry weight (23.92 g plant-1), crop growth rate, test weight (41.87g) and grain yield (4813.67 kg ha-1) as compared to all other treatment. The Gibberellic acid @ 2000 ppm and Seaweed extract liquid @ 625 ml ha-1 show significant result also. The maximum growth and yield was obtained by the variety DBW-187 and mixture nutrients (Zn, Fe, Cu, and B). The interaction effects were found non-significant.

Influence of different levels of pH of nutrient solution & TDS of micronutrients mixture on vegetative growth, flowering and fruit setting of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa L.) grown in Aeroponics system

Influence of different levels of pH of nutrient solution & TDS of micronutrients mixture on vegetative growth, flowering and fruit setting of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa L.) grown in Aeroponics system

Effect of Micronutrients on Growth and Yield of Chrysanthemum (Dendrathemum grandiflorum Tzeuleu) cv.CO 1

Micronutrient is considered as one of the constraints in the optimum production of crops. A field experiment entitled “Effect of micronutrients on growth, yield and quality of chrysanthemum (Dendrathemum grandiflorum Tzeuleu) cv.CO 1” was carried out at Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, during 2008-2010 in Randomized Block Design with seventeen treatments and three replications. The treatment comprised of various combination of micronutrients viz., Zinc sulphate 0.5 %, Ferrous sulphate 0.5 %, Borax 0.5 %, Manganese sulphate 0.5 %, Copper sulphate 0.5 %, Mixture of all micronutrients 0.5 % and micronutrients mixture at 12.5 kg ha-1, different concentrations with recommended 25 t FYM ha-1 + Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (RDF) and a control at 5 different interval. The results of present investigation indicated that, the vegetative growth in term of plant height (54.62 cm), number of branches (10.23), number of leaves (52.15), stem girth (3.33 cm) and flower yield per plant (201.74 g) were found superior under, soil application of micronutrients mixture @ 12.5 kg ha-1 in split as basal, 25, 50 and 75 DAT days after transplanting (T17).

Effect of various doses of basal and foliar application of nitrogen and potassium with trace elements on summer groundnut (Arachis hypogaea)

The present field study was carried out during summer season of 2020 and 2021 at Jaguli Instructional Farm, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal to study the effect of solid and foliar grade of N and K along with trace elements in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.). The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with 3 replications. In main plot; F0, control; F1, 50% RDN and K; F2, 75% RDN and K and; F3, 100% RDN and K and sub-plot T1, Starter dose of N and K @2% with 10:20 ratio + micronutrient mixture of Fe, B, Zn and Mo foliar spray at 30 DAE; T2, Booster dose of N and K @2% with 5:40 ratio + micronutrient mixture of Fe, B, Zn and Mo foliar spray at 45 and 60 DAE; and T3, Starter dose + Booster dose. Growth and yield attributes of groundnut were significantly influenced by application of inorganic fertilizer and maximum were recorded with 100% of RDN and K. Foliar applications of RDN and K with a micronutrient mixture responded better at later stages (45 and 60 DAE) than at an earlier stage (30 DAE). Higher groundnut pod yield was obtained with basal application of 100% of RDN and K but performed statistically same response to the treatment 75% of RDN and K. The pod yield increased by 5–12% with each incremental dose of inorganic fertilizer, while it decreased in control. Booster dose of N and K gave higher pod and oil yield to starter dose. Maximum BCR of 2.38 and 1.99 was found in 100% of RDN and K and in booster doses of N and K. Inorganic fertilizer as basal and foliar application + micronutrients increased the groundnut pod yield but foliar application was not substitute to any quantity of inorganic fertilizer.

Effect of Foliar Feeding of Nutrients, Salicylic Acid and Sea Weed Extract on Yield and Yield Attributes of Wheat Varieties under Tarai Region

A field experiment was conducted in the E-2 block of Norman E. Borlaug Crop Research Centre (NEBCRC) of Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUA&T), Pantnagar during rabi of 2021-2022. The experiment envisages study the growth and productivity and economic feasibility wheat under variable varieties and foliar nutrition management. The experiment was laid in Factorial Randomized Block Design with two varieties (DBW-17&WH-1105) and five foliar spray treatments viz., no spray (control), NPK mixture at 45 & 60 DAS (FN-1), Micro-nutrients mixture at 45 & 60 DAS (FN-2), salicylic acid at 45 & 60 DAS (FN-3) and seaweed extract at 45 & 60 DAS (FN-4). Variety WH-1105 recorded higher plant height, number of tillers/m2 and dry matter accumulation (g/m2) than DBW-17 at 60, 90 DAS. At harvest, variety WH-1105 indicated the effective tillers/m2, spike length, number of grains/spikes, number of spikelets/spike and grain weight per spike were higher by 2.7, 8.0, 4.6, 3.3 and 17.2%, respectively over variety DBW-17. Thousand grain weight and number of sterile spikelets/spikes was also exhibiting significant increase. Significantly higher grain yield, straw yield and biological yield were recorded under WH-1105 as compared to DBW-17 and the respective increase was 4.9, 4.3 and 5.0 percent. The net return and B:C ratio were improved by 5.6 & 5.7%, respectively at variety WH-1105 over variety DBW-17.

Impact of Precision Farming on Shelf Life and Organoleptic Evaluation of Banana (Musa paradisiaca L.) cv. Rajapuri

Consumers choose the fruits that look good, firm and offer good flavour and have nutritive value. Producers and handlers are first concerned with appearance and textural quality along with long post harvest shelf life. Present experiment was undertaken at ICAR-AICRP on Fruits, Kittur Rani Channamma College of Horticulture, Arabhavi to know the impact of precision farming on shelf life and organoleptic evaluation of banana cv. Rajapuri during 2019-20 and 2020-21 in the laboratory, Department of Fruit Science, KRC College of Horticulture, Arabhavi, Karnataka (India). The experiment was carried out in Randomized Complete Block Design with thirteen treatments and three replications. Among all the treatments, application of 100 per cent RDF through fertigation at weekly intervals along with polythene mulching with foliar spray of micronutrient mixture and bunch nutrition recorded the highest shelf life (10.00 days) and the least physiological loss in weight (8.45 %). The analyzed results for overall acceptability were in higher preference level in T5, T7 and T9 (9.00) while minimum was noticed in T13 (7.00).

Effect of Micronutrient Mixture on Yield and Quality of Guava cv Lucknow 49 in Sodic Soil

Tamil Nadu occupies 4.7 lakh ha of salt affected soils, in which 3.0 lakh ha area under inland and 1.7 lakh ha under coastal. Among the 3.0 lakh inland salt affected soils, 2.0 lakh ha occupy alkalinity and 1.0 lakh ha under salinity. In Trichirappalli 18,155 ha comes under alkalinity problem. Guava is one of the commercial fruit crop comes well under salt affected soils. The main problem in yield reduction in guava is due to micronutrient deficiency. Hence the present investigation was conducted at Horticultural College and Research Institute for Women, Tiruchirappalli during 2020-2021 in clay loam texture with pH -9.23, ESP-36.52%. . The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) on guava cv. Lucknow -49 planted at 3 x 2mspacing with seven treatments replicated three and ten number of plants per replication were taken. The treatments comprised of T1 – Control, T2 – Recommended Dose of Fertilizers alone (300:150:150 g NPK/tree), T3 – RDF + 100% MN Mixture TN Govt. rec.@500g/tree,T4 – RDF + 125% MN Mixture TN Govt. rec.@500g/tree ,T5 – RDF + 100% Enriched FYM TN Govt. rec.@500g/tree,T6 - RDF + 125% Enriched FYM TN Govt. rec.@500g/tree,T7- RDF +1% foliar spray of 100% MN Mixture Tamil Nadu Government (II approximation) rec .The foliar application of these treatments was made at three times of new flush, 30 and 70 days after flowering. The results revealed that the application of RDF + 100% Enriched FYM TN Govt. rec.@500g/tree recorded highest 50% flowering (33.6%), fruit retention (51.5%), highest yield (42.3 t/ha) and quality parameters like TSS (12.80brix) and lowest acidity (0.42%) followed by treatment RDF + 125% MN Mixture TN Govt. rec.@500g/tree and the same treatment recorded the BC ratio of 3.64 while the control with BC ratio of 2.75.

Foliar Application of Liquid Micronutrient Formulation for Improving Quality of Panner Grapes

Micronutrient deficiencies play a significant role in impacting the yield and quality of grapes in vineyards. To address the deficiencies, a field study was conducted during the summer, of 2022 by using foliar micronutrient mixtures in three different concentrations (0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%), with one spray during pre-fruit set stage and twice at pre-fruit set/berry growth stages. The study aimed to investigate the effects of foliar micronutrient application on the biochemical quality characteristics of the Muscat Hamburg grapevine cultivar. The results of the study showed that the application of micronutrients spray showed a beneficial impact on all the yield parameters, such as number of bunches per vine (ranging from 28 to 44), the yield per vine (varied from 5.56 to 6.55 kg per vine), with overall yield range between 20.7 to 24.2 t ha-1. The biochemical properties of the berries, including sugars (reducing, non-reducing, and total sugars), juice pH and content, TSS (Total Soluble Solids), Titrable acidity, and berry firmness, were found to be high in grapevines sprayed at 1.0% twice. Results showed that total sugars ranged from 15.2% to 10.7%, with a juice pH of 3.47 to 3.94, juice content of 83.5 to 95.5%, and TSS from 15.6 to 17.40º Brix. Regarding the Titrable acidity and firmness of the berries, the outcomes showed a range of 0.92% to 1.14% for acidity and 9.4 to 12.9 N for firmness. Findings from the study clearly showed that applying 1.0% micronutrients twice at fruit-set and berry stages increased yield and improved quality indices of Paneer grapes.

Response of Enriched Biochar and Vermicompost on Nutrient and Seed Quality by Sweet Corn

Sweet corn is a short-season crop, thus it requires a balanced nutrient supply to ensure adequate crop uptake. Enriched biochar with inorganic fertilizer produces a balanced nutrient by maintaining an inorganic nutrient in the soil and enhancing crop return. The study was carried out in 2020-21 at the CRC, GBPUAT, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, to investigate the effect of enriched biochar or vermicompost with micronutrients and inorganic nutrients on crop nutrition and seed quality. A randomized block design experiment with three replications was carried out consist eight treatments (control, 100% RDF, 75 and 100% RDF + enriched biochar @ 2t/ha, 75% RDF + enriched biochar @ 2t/ha + micronutrient mixture, 75 and 100% RDF with vermicompost @ 4t/ha, and 75% RDF with vermicompost @ 4t/ha + micronutrient mixture). Treatment 4 (100% RDF + EB @ 2t/ha) produced the maximum yield, nutrient absorption, and quality. As a consequence, a combination of enriched biochar and inorganic produced good results in sweet corn. It is advised that sweet corn be grown in a combination of inorganic and organic fertilizers.

Growth and Yield of Cabbage as Influenced by Micronutrient Mixture in a Sandy Clay Loam Soil

The objective of the present study is to study the effect of various micronutrient mixtures on the growth and yield parameters of cabbage. Randomized Block Design (RBD) was used in the present study with twelve treatments and three replications. The field experiment was carried out in the farmer’s field at Boluvampatti, Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) during March to June 2023. A field experiment was conducted where three different ratios of micronutrient mixtures were applied at four different levels (15 kg ha-1,20 kg ha-1, 25 kg ha -1 30 kg ha-1). The influence of the micronutrient mixture on the growth and yield parameters were investigated. The results revealed a positive and significant effect of the micronutrient mixture on the cabbage. The maximum plant height (34.1cm), Plant spread (63.9cm), no of loose leaves (22), whole plant weight (1.37kg), stem length (9.5cm), stem diameter ( 7.5 cm), root weight (28.36 g), root length (26.4) , loose leaves weight (420g), head weight (900g), yield (54 t ha -1) and Dry matter content ( 5.42 t ha -1 ) were observed in treatment t4 where ratio 1 of micronutrient was applied @ 30 kg ha-1). The results revealed positive effect of micronutrient mixture on cabbage. The yield increase over control for Ratio 1 of micronutrient mixture @ 30 kg ha-1 was 164.70% over the control followed by Ratio 3 of micronutrient mixture @ 30 kg ha-1 (147.05%).

Response of Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. Botrytis) to Micronutrient Mixture in the Micronutrient Deficient Alfisol

Aim: Though the effect of foliar application of micronutrients is well established, research on the performance of cauliflower with combined application of micronutrients is very meager. Keeping this in view, the research work was proposed to assess the effect of Micronutrient Mixture on the growth, yield, and quality of cauliflower under field conditions.
 Study Design: The field experiment in a randomized block design consisted of 6 treatment combinations with four replications.
 Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted at Farmers Field, Deverayapuram, Thondamuthur, Coimbatore. The field experiment was conducted from March 2023 to May 2023.
 Methodology: The micronutrient mixture specific to cauliflower was developed at various levels based on their requirement to crop, with data obtained from soil testing, literature on nutrient uptake, and micronutrient deficiencies in cauliflower crops. Different rates of micronutrient mixture viz., 15, 20, 25, and 30 kg ha-1 combined with farmyard manure (FYM), were used to enhance fertilizer solubility.
 Results: It was recorded that the application of Micronutrient Mixture @ 30 kg ha-1 increased morphological characters and yield compared to other treatments followed by the Micronutrient Mixture @ 25 kg ha-1. The minimum yield and morphological characters were recorded in the control plot where neither FYM nor Micronutrient Mixture was applied.
 Conclusion: This research depicted that the combined application of a micronutrient mixture @ 30 kg ha-1 incubated with FYM has a positive impact on the growth, yield, and quality of cauliflower in micronutrient-deficient soil under field conditions resulting in improved morphological characters and crop yield. Hence, it may be concluded that an optimum dose of 30kg ha-1 can be recommended for cauliflower in micronutrient-deficient soils to enhance crop productivity.

Boosting biopesticide potential of Trichoderma harzianum for controlling the downy mildew and improving the growth and the productivity of King Ruby seedless grape

BackgroundPlasmopara viticola, the causal agent of grape downy mildew, is one of the most serious grape diseases. Application of Trichoderma harzianum grown on different potato dextrose supplemented broth media using some chemical inducers (TSDCIS), i.e., thiamine (T2), a mixture of micronutrients (T3) and potassium tartrate (T4), compared to Trichoderma without amendment (T1), was conducted under field conditions to evaluate the potential of T. harzianum against grape downy mildew, improving the growth, as well as the yield quality, and quantity.ResultsFoliar application of all TSDCIS significantly reduced the disease severity and increased the phenolic content, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase enzyme activity, growth parameters, and yield parameters. Trichoderma growing on medium supplemented with potassium tartrate (T4) achieved the most significant reduction in the disease severity (78.9, 81.8%) than the control treatment in two growing seasons, respectively. In contrast, it decreased H2O2 content, lipid peroxidation, and cellular electrolyte leakage. Scanning electron microscopy observations revealed that the number of opened stomata, average stomatal area, and stomatal pore area decreased significantly in response to T4 treatment.ConclusionsIt can be concluded that using Trichoderma growing on medium supplemented with potassium tartrate (T4) to biosafety control the downy mildew disease of grape and improve its growth, yield, and fruit quality is recommended.

Attenuation of short-term increased oxidative stress during martial arts competitions, and benefits of micronutrients for martial art athletes

Interest and participation in competitive Martial Arts such as Taekwondo, Karate, Kung Fu, Aikido, and Tai Chi is growing in children, adolescent as well as in adults in the USA and worldwide. Competitive Martial Arts require daily training weeks and sometimes, months prior to the start of a competition or tournament. The training period could be for a few hours daily over a period of one to six months with one or two days for every one week for rest and recovery. The types and extents of injuries after competition depend upon the form of Martial Arts and the type of physical contact. They include muscle, joint, head and neck, groin, upper and lower extremities, and soft tissues. Some acute injuries can be taken care of at home and the injured may recover quickly. Some injuries may require hospitalization and even surgery; while others may take longer period to recover and require stoppage in training. The training involves daily exercises during which moderate levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced. ROS activates a transcriptional factor Nrf2 (nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2) which enhances the levels of antioxidant enzymes; and thereby, reduces oxidative stress. Because of this observation, some investigators have suggested that supplementation with micronutrient and antioxidant compounds is not necessary for reducing injuries and improving the rate of healing from injury. Appropriate diet recommended for Martial Arts athletes are sufficient to reduce oxidative damage and protect against injuries that occur during Martial Arts competitions. The use of a single antioxidant in reducing oxidative stress has produced inconsistent results in reducing the markers of oxidative stress. The limitations of such an approach are briefly discussed. This review has proposed a mixture of micronutrients which may reduce oxidative stress and improve performance in Martial Arts competitions. In addition, some beneficial effects of Martial Arts are also described.

A Novel Mix of Polyphenols and Micronutrients Reduces Adipogenesis and Promotes White Adipose Tissue Browning via UCP1 Expression and AMPK Activation

Background: Obesity is a pandemic disease characterized by excessive severe body comorbidities. Reduction in fat accumulation represents a mechanism of prevention, and the replacement of white adipose tissue (WAT) with brown adipose tissue (BAT) has been proposed as one promising strategy against obesity. In the present study, we sought to investigate the ability of a natural mixture of polyphenols and micronutrients (A5+) to counteract white adipogenesis by promoting WAT browning. Methods: For this study, we employed a murine 3T3-L1 fibroblast cell line treated with A5+, or DMSO as control, during the differentiation in mature adipocytes for 10 days. Cell cycle analysis was performed using propidium iodide staining and cytofluorimetric analysis. Intracellular lipid contents were detected by Oil Red O staining. Inflammation Array, along with qRT-PCR and Western Blot analyses, served to measure the expression of the analyzed markers, such as pro-inflammatory cytokines. Results: A5+ administration significantly reduced lipids' accumulation in adipocytes when compared to control cells (p < 0.005). Similarly, A5+ inhibited cellular proliferation during the mitotic clonal expansion (MCE), the most relevant stage in adipocytes differentiation (p < 0.0001). We also found that A5+ significantly reduced the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and Leptin (p < 0.005), and promoted fat browning and fatty acid oxidation through increasing expression levels of genes related to BAT, such as UCP1 (p < 0.05). This thermogenic process is mediated via AMPK-ATGL pathway activation. Conclusion: Overall, these results demonstrated that the synergistic effect of compounds contained in A5+ may be able to counteract adipogenesis and then obesity by inducing fat browning.