Mountain Ash Research Articles

A telomere-to-telomere Eucalyptus regnans genome: unveiling haplotype variance in structure and genes within one of the world’s tallest trees

BackgroundEucalyptus regnans (Mountain Ash) is an Australian native giant tree species which form forests that are among the highest known carbon-dense biomasses in the world. To enhance genomic studies in this ecologically important species, we assembled a high-quality, mostly telomere-to-telomere complete, chromosome-level, haplotype-resolved reference genome. We sampled a single tree, the Centurion, which is currently a contender for the world’s tallest flowering plant.ResultsUsing long-read sequencing data (PacBio HiFi, Oxford Nanopore ultra-long reads) and chromosome conformation capture data (Hi-C), we assembled the most contiguous and complete Eucalyptus reference genome to date. For each haplotype, we observed contig N50s exceeding 36 Mbp, scaffold N50s exceeding 43 Mbp, and genome BUSCO completeness exceeding 99%. The assembled genome revealed extensive structural variations between the two haplotypes, consisting mostly of insertions, deletions, duplications and translocations. Analysis of gene content revealed haplotype-specific genes, which were enriched in functional categories related to transcription, energy production and conservation. Additionally, many genes reside within structurally rearranged regions, particularly duplications, suggesting that haplotype-specific variation may contribute to environmental adaptation in the species.ConclusionsOur study provides a foundation for future research into E. regnans environmental adaptation, and the high-quality genome will be a powerful resource for conservation of carbon-dense giant tree forests.

ХИМИЧЕСКИЙ СОСТАВ СОКА И ВЫЖИМОК ПЛОДОВ РЯБИНЫ ОБЫКНОВЕННОЙ (SORBUS AUCUPARIA L.)

The purpose of the study is to determine the chemical composition of the juice and mountain ash fruit pomace. Objectives: to establish the chemical composition of the juice and rowan fruit pomace: mineral, fatty acid, vitamin. The results of determining the composition of the juice and mountain ash fruit pomace (Sorbus aucuparia L.), growing in the vicinity of the city of Krasnoyarsk, are presented. The collection of rowan fruits was carried out during the period of their technological maturity (September 2023). The results obtained showed that the protein content in the juice of rowan fruits was 0.0099 %, sugars - 3.47 %, minerals 3.15 %, including: calcium – 370.40 mg/kg; magnesium – 146.90; sodium – 738.10; potassium – 1617.00; phosphorus – 68.60; iron – 4.342 mg/kg. The protein content in rowan fruit pomace is 5.79 %; fiber – 18.00; fat – 3.56; sugars – 7.60 %; carotene – 204.6 mg/kg; mineral elements – 2.19 %: calcium – 3959.00 mg/kg; magne¬sium – 1107.00; sodium – 3902; potassium – 7191.00 mg/kg; phosphorus – 451.20 mg/100 g; iron – 106.20 mg/kg. The results of a study of the fatty acid composition of rowan fruit pomace showed that the composition contains polyunsaturated essential acids, such as LinoleicC18:2 / linoleic (58.5257 %), alpha-Linoleic (18:3 cis9.12) / alpha-linolenic (2.4116 %). The vitamin composition of the juice and rowan fruit pomace was determined. The content of ascorbic acid in rowan fruit juice was 0.0083 %, in pomace – 0.0100 %, vitamin B5 in rowan fruit juice – 0.0067 g/kg, in pomace – 0.5220 g/kg, carotene in rowan fruit pomace – 204.60 mg/kg.

Analysis and assessment of potential risks in the production of enriched sugar

The object of research is the quality indicators of sugar enriched with derivatives of the processing of the fruits of wild plants (viburnum, mountain ash, sea buckthorn, black elder) and potential dangerous factors that may arise during its production. This study is aimed at the analysis and assessment of all risks that arise in the production of sugar enriched with derivatives of processing of wild raw materials. For the production of enriched sugar, pre-cleaned fruits were frozen at a temperature of –18±2 °С, and after defrosting, they were partially dehydrated by the method of osmotic dehydration. For this, a 70 % sugar solution with a temperature of 50±5 °C was used (hydromodule 1). The duration of osmotic dehydration was 1 hour. The derivative product formed as a result of osmotic dehydration of fruits (sugar solution) was used to enrich granulated sugar in the amount of 10 % by mass of sugar. After thorough mixing with the solution, the sugar was dried in a laboratory vacuum dryer and analyzed. Based on the principles of HACCP, a detailed description of the product and its use with a specific purpose has been developed. In particular, the description of all stages of production, from the initial materials to the processing and packaging processes, as well as the definition of all possible dangerous factors that can affect the safety and quality of products. The identification and assessment of all hazardous factors included the analysis of all possible threats to the safety and quality of products at each stage of production. To ensure the quality and safety of enriched sugar obtained from wild raw materials, an assessment of potential dangerous factors at all stages of production was carried out. A HACCP plan has been developed that allows effective management of critical control points and evaluation of the results of this management. This will allow potential manufacturers to produce safe and competitive products of high quality. The practical implementation of these proposals will allow bringing new products to the market - elderberry, sea buckthorn, rowan and viburnum sugar.

Emergence Characteristics of Fire Blight from 2019 to 2023 in Korea

Erwinia amylovora is a gram-negative plant pathogen that causes fire blight in apple and pear trees, resulting in significant damage worldwide. In this study, we monitored the emergence of fire blight from 2019 to 2023 to determine the emergence patterns and the factors affecting the outbreak of the disease. As a result of the 5-year survey on the emergence of fire blight, a total of 2,029 cases have emerged, mostly in apple trees of 1,378 cases (67.9%) followed by 645 cases (31.8%) in pear trees, and from quince, hawthorn, and mountain ash trees. Fire blight appeared in specific areas of Gyeonggi, Chungnam, Gangwon, and Chungbuk provinces in 2019, but spread to Andong and Yesan in 2021, Muju and Bonghwa in 2023. In 2020 and 2021, there were 744 and 618 cases of fire blight outbreaks, respectively, compared to other years (188–245 cases/year). Notably, 914 of these cases were observed in apple trees from May to July, with 667 cases reported in Chungju and Jecheon. The incidence of fire blight was positively correlated with the daily maximum temperatures and rainy days in January and February, as well as the rainy days in May and June. The average age of the diseased pear trees was 25 years, higher than the 10-year average age of the apple trees. This study provides fundamental information to understand the status and factors affecting the fire blight emergence in Korea. Prevention measures should be established through continuous analysis of the status of fire blight.

Investigation of the effect of bio-ap-irga dietary supplements on the composition and properties of yogurts

Today, consumers pay special attention to the quality of their products. They also expect a high level of innovation. Thus, the dairy sector's supply is increasingly focusing on the use of various additives with proven health benefits. The modern market of functional products consists of 65% dairy products. The basis of the technology of functional food products is the modification of traditional products, which ensure an increase in the content of useful ingredients in them to a level correlated with the physiological norms of consumption. Many scientific studies from different regions of the world are engaged in research, and their goal is to identify herbal supplements that have a beneficial effect on the human body. A specific feature of plant raw materials is the ability to synthesize a large number of various chemical compounds of various natures that have physiological activity. This article presents the results of studies on the effect of a biologically active additive obtained by using whey protein concentrate, saskatoon berries and mountain ash. The results of the physico-chemical, organoleptic parameters of yogurt obtained using the developed dietary supplement are presented. It was found that the content of proteins, vitamin C, and polyphenols in the finished yoghurts significantly increased. An increase in antioxidant properties was noted. The data obtained indicate the biological value of the developed yogurt was enriched with BIO-AP-IRGA dietary supplement.

Mapping the recovery of Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans) and Alpine Ash (E. delegatensis) using satellite remote sensing and a machine learning classifier

This research presents a random forest classification approach to map the response of the obligate-seeder Eucalyptus species, Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans) and Alpine Ash (E. delegatensis), to disturbance from timber harvesting in the Victorian Central Highlands in south-eastern Australia. A Sentinel-2 MultiSpectral Instrument (MSI) composite image was classified and analysed using a random forest algorithm trained using field data collected within fifty-three sites. Training and validation datasets were produced by randomly sub setting using a 70:30 split. Validation was performed by producing a confusion matrix using the points which were excluded from model training. The random forest model demonstrated strong performance at distinguishing Eucalyptus regrowth from the dominant understory species, Silver Wattle (Acacia dealbata), achieving an F1-score of 97.3% and true skill statistic of 96.4%.This study showcases the operational insights that satellite remote sensing data and machine learning can provide for regional-scale monitoring and management of E. regnans and E. delegatensis dominant ecosystems following disturbance. Due to the high conservation value of these communities, and their sensitivity to frequent high intensity disturbance and low precipitation during regeneration, this research seeks to provide a means to assess the condition of regenerating forest and in doing so enhance our understanding of these ecologically significant ecosystems in response to changing environmental conditions.

CHROMATOMASS SPECTROMETRIC STUDY OF LEAVES OF RUBUS IDAEUS L. AND SORBUS AUCUPARIA L. SOUTH OF THE TOMSK REGION

The features of the distribution of fat-soluble organic compounds in the leaves of deciduous shrubs Rubus idaeus and Sorbus aucuparia growing in identical weather conditions in mixed and pine forests of the southern taiga of Western Siberia are shown. The composition of n-alkanes, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, n-aldehydes, n-alkane-2-ones, n-alkanols, acyclic isoprenoids, steroids and pentacyclic triterpenoids was studied by chromatomass spectrometry. It was found that the microclimate of pine forest and mixed forest influences the composition of organic compounds in the leaves of single-species plants. In a mixed forest, among acyclic compounds, the total proportion of n-alkanes and the relative content of high-molecular homologues of n-alkanes, n-aldehydes and n-alkane-2-ones in rowan and raspberry leaves were increased. The composition of steroids is dominated by sitosterol, while in the bushes of mixed forest, unlike pine forest, there is a higher proportion of keto-substituted stigmast-4-en-3-one and the hydrocarbon stigmast-3,5-diene. Pine raspberries are distinguished by the presence of cholesterol, lanosterol and lanost-8-en-3-one, an increased content of cycloartenol. The leaves of ash among the pentacyclic triterpenoids identified a- and β-amerins, and the leaves of the raspberry a-, β- and d-amerins, among which in the pine forest increased the proportion a- amerin, and in the mixed forest – d-amerin. Raspberry leaves are dominated by neolup-12-en-3-ol, whereas in the leaves of mountain ash of mixed forest – lupeol, and pine forest – presumably 28-norneogop-18-en-3-ol. It is shown that the distribution of fat-soluble compounds depends not only on the type of plant, but also on the conditions of its growth, which must be taken into account when planning the practical use of plant raw materials.

Applying the Precautionary Principle to Hidden Collapse

There is growing evidence around the world of serious decline in biodiversity requiring urgent application of precautionary risk management. A better regulatory regime for precautionary management of long-term risk is now an urgent priority. This article addresses the prioritization of long-term risk management by examining risk management of ecosystems that may be experiencing hidden collapse. Hidden collapse refers to the existence of environmental indicators indicative of future collapse of forests, even though the forest appears intact and not at risk of ecosystem collapse. Professor David Lindenmayer and Dr Chloe Sato (Lindenmayer) first identified hidden collapse in 2018 in Mountain Ash forests of Victoria, Australia. The risk of hidden collapse represents a long-term environmental threat and is a potential trigger for application of the precautionary principle (principle). Implicit in hidden collapse are two preconditions for application of the principle; the risk of a serious or irreversible environmental threat, and the existence of scientific uncertainty about the nature of the risk. Despite hidden collapse satisfying these essential preconditions for applying the principle, decision makers did not apply it in respect hidden collapse of Mountain Ash forests in Victoria. This article considers the current status of the principle in regulation and how it can be adjusted to address long term environmental risk.

What did it used to look like? A case study from tall, wet mainland Mountain Ash forests prior to British invasion

AbstractThere has been extensive commentary about historical First Nations' land management in Australia, including in tall, wet forests, and therefore their condition at the time of the British invasion in 1788. Popular texts have interpreted records kept by early British invaders to argue that extensive areas of tall, wet forest were kept open through frequent burning by the First Peoples. However, these interpretations conflict with historical and ecological evidence, which is rarely acknowledged in public discourse. Here, we present evidence about what Victorian Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans) forests were like at the time of the British invasion. We show that at the time of the British invasion, most areas of mainland Mountain Ash forests were likely to have been naturally dense and wet, with: (1) overstorey trees spaced relatively widely; and (2) an understorey consisting of a cool temperate rainforest mesic layer. Ecological and physiological evidence suggests that Mountain Ash forests evolved under conditions where high‐severity wildfire was comparatively rare, leading to patterns of landscape‐level cover dominated by relatively mature forests. This is broadly consistent with reports from the First Peoples, early historical accounts, paintings, and photographs. These forests were not open or park‐like, as may have been the case in some other Australian vegetation types. However, these forests were not wilderness, but places of significance to the First Peoples. Understanding forest structure at the time of the British invasion is critically important in establishing historical reference conditions for guiding appropriate restoration programmes, especially the reinstatement of traditional ecological knowledge, after long periods of post‐British invasion disturbance and degradation. Notably, the dense, wet understorey that characterizes Mountain Ash forests should be recognized as an inherent and entirely natural part of the ecological dynamics of this ecosystem, with approaches to thin, burn, or remove it highly likely to be counterproductive and have a range of detrimental environmental effects.

Feasibility of ProVu™ Video Stylet for awake intubation of patients with severe obesity: A pilot observational study

BackgroundAirway management in the obese patient is known to be challenging as oxygenation may rapidly decrease after general anesthesia induction. Mask ventilation and tracheal intubation can be complicated due to obesity-related anatomical features. The reduced safe apnea time can put the patient at risk of severe and rapid desaturation. Recent guidelines recommend avoiding the suppression of spontaneous breathing in cases of predicted anatomically or physiologically difficult airway. Many different devices, such as video stylets and video laryngoscopes, have been proposed as alternatives to traditional gold standard flexible bronchoscope use for awake intubation. AimOur study reports the use of a new flexible ProVu™ Video Stylet (Flexicare Medical Ltd., Mountain Ash, UK) for awake intubations in 11 patients with severe obesity, who presented with at least one criterion for potentially difficult oxygenation (during ventilation and/or intubation attempts) after suppression of spontaneous breathing. MethodsIn total 11 consecutive patients with severe obesity and clinical indication for an awake tracheal intubation were enrolled over a 10-months period and intubated with the ProVu™ Video Stylet. ResultsAll 11 tracheal intubations were successfully performed. The procedures also highlighted potential limitations to consider while using the device in an awake intubation setting. ConclusionDespite the limitations of this small observational pilot study, our study showed that the ProVu™ Video Stylet may be a promising tool and a valid alternative for performing awake tracheal intubation in patients with severe obesity and predictors of difficult oxygenation. Future studies are needed to compare the performance of the ProVu™ Video Stylet with video laryngoscopy and flexible bronchoscopy, and to provide stronger evidence in favor or against the use of this new device. The possible availability of an alternative device, combined with the skill and confidence to use it, may provide the anesthesiologist an additional tool for managing awake intubation of at-risk airways, in accordance with recommendations from the most recent guidelines.

Research of innovative technology of sour-milk product using raw materials for detoxification of contomenants

This article focuses on the possibilities and methods of integrating enterosorbents into the composition of yoghurts in order to increase the body's ability to eliminate heavy metals. Not only the perspectives of this introduction are considered, but also the different methods of implementation, creating promising avenues for the development of functional products that promote detoxification of the body. This research represents not only a contribution to the field of food innovation, but also a response to the current challenges of heavy metal levels in the environment and the desire to improve the health and well-being of society.This study examines the potential of using a polycomponent blend of hawthorn and mountain ash syrup, activated charcoal as a control and the dietary supplement RotovitCardio as enterosorbents. These natural ingredients not only provide sustainable options, but also have the potential to improve the way heavy metals are eliminated from the body through innovative products such as yoghurts. This approach not only reduces the cost of production, making the product more affordable, but is also actively embedded in the environmental paradigm, providing an answer to the challenges of strain on natural resources. These components, taken from different sources, emphasise the diversity of the substances investigated and offer opportunities to understand differences in application and sorption capacity. In this context, analysing pectin-containing, porous products provides a fascinating insight into their potential to create products that harmonise health care and responsibility to nature. This innovative approach not only forms the basis for functional products, but also supports the idea of sustainable consumption, making it an important step towards future wellbeing and environmental sustainability.

No evidence for fractal scaling in canopy surfaces across a diverse range of forest types

Abstract Canopy structural complexity is a key emergent property of forest ecosystems that directly relates to their ability to store carbon, cycle water and nutrients, and provide habitat for biodiversity. However, we lack a general framework for quantifying the structural complexity of forest canopies, and it remains to be seen if there are simple rules that explain the huge variation in canopy structure that we observe across the world's forests. A leading candidate for characterizing differences in structural complexity among forest ecosystems are fractal scaling laws, or measures of statistical self‐similarity. If forest canopies were fractal in nature, their structural attributes could be distilled into a single coefficient—their fractal dimension—which could then be used to directly compare structural differences within and across biomes. To test this idea, we used airborne laser scanning (ALS) data acquired across nine landscapes in Australia that span a huge environmental gradient and include everything from dry shrublands, tropical savannas, dense rainforests, to 90 m tall Mountain Ash forests. Using the ALS data, we built high‐resolution 3D canopy height models of each landscape so that we could quantify how closely they followed fractal scaling laws, based on a comprehensive set of fractal dimension estimators. Across all ecosystem types, fractal scaling assumptions were consistently violated, with clear and systematic differences between real‐world forest canopies and simulated fractal surfaces. However, deviations from fractality did vary predictably among sites, with forests in less arid environments, dominated by tall trees with large crowns, exhibiting a higher degree of self‐similarity across scales. Synthesis: Our study conclusively shows that canopy surfaces are not fractal beyond the scale of individual tree crowns. Nevertheless, we still observed ecologically meaningful and generalisable patterns in forest structure across scales, which closely reflect biophysical and physiological constraints on tree size and architecture. These patterns point the way towards a more general framework for characterizing ecological complexity.

ROSPECTS FOR THE USE OF WILD BERRY PROCESSING PRODUCTS AS FUNCTIONAL FOOD INGREDIENTS

The aim of this study is to substantiate the feasibility of processing wild berries (Viburnum opulus, Sorbus, Hippophae, Sambucus nigra) into functional food ingredients. The paper analyses the structure of powders from wild berries Viburnum opulus, Sorbus, Hippophae, Sambucus nigra, and investigates the content of micro- and macroelements in the powders; physicochemical parameters of wild berry powders (dry matter, mass fraction of moisture, dispersibility, mass fraction of reducing sugars, solubility, acidity) and dietary fibre content in Viburnum opulus, Sorbus, Hippophae, Sambucus nigra powders. The prototypes were made from high-quality fruit and berry raw materials not damaged by diseases and pests. To make the powders, the berries were dehydrated by osmotic dehydration, then dried in infrared dryers for 2 hours at 50°C to a mass fraction of moisture of 6–8 %. The dried berries were ground in a laboratory mill LZM-1. The structure of the berry powders was studied by electron microscopy. It was found that the powders have a crystalline porous structure and, accordingly, hydrophilic properties. This makes it possible to use them in food production as structure stabilisers, emulsifiers and moisture retainers. The content of some minerals in the samples was studied using a microscope-based SEM and EDS detector. It was found that the powders contain macronutrients (K, Ca, P, Cl, S, N), essential trace elements (Mg) and the conditionally vital trace element Si, which was found in powders from viburnum and sea buckthorn. The obtained powders from wild berries Hippophae rhamnoides L., Viburnum opulus, Sambucus nigra and Sorbus aucuparia contain a significant amount of vitamin C. According to all physicochemical parameters, the samples of plant powders from viburnum, elderberry, sea buckthorn, and mountain ash berries meet the requirements of DSTU 8498:2015. These results indicate the feasibility of processing Viburnum opulus, Sorbus, Hippophae, Sambucus nigra into functional food ingredients.

Chemometrics-Driven Variability Evaluation of Phenolic Composition, Antioxidant Capacity, and α-Glucosidase Inhibition of Sorbus aucuparia L. Fruits from Poland: Identification of Variability Markers for Plant Material Valorization.

Sorbus aucuparia L. (rowan tree) is a widely distributed European plant, valued for its nutritional and medicinal qualities. The medicinal application of rowanberries, relying particularly on their antioxidant and antidiabetic effects, is closely connected with the presence of numerous phenolic compounds. However, the broad geographical occurrence of rowan trees may contribute to fluctuations in fruit composition, influencing their biological properties. This study aimed to identify the constituents most involved in this variability to facilitate effective quality control. The investigation encompassed 20 samples collected from diverse locations across Poland, evaluated in terms of the variation in composition and bioactivity. The UHPLC-PDA-ESI-MSn study identified 45 different constituents, including flavonoids, phenolic acid and flavon-3-ols. The detected compounds were quantitatively assessed by HPLC-PDA, alongside spectrophotometric evaluation of total phenolic content and the content of high-molecular-weight proanthocyanidins (TPA). Additionally, •OH scavenging capacity and α-glucosidase inhibition were included as bioactivity parameters. Chemometric analyses, including hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis, revealed geographically dependent variability, with low to moderate variation observed for most factors (variation coefficients 20.44-44.97%), except for flavonoids (variation coefficients 45-76%). They also enabled the selection of seven constituents and TPA as the key markers of variability and biological activity of rowanberries. These markers could be employed for quality control of the fruits, offering a more efficient and cost-effective approach compared to full phytochemical analysis.

First Report of Fire Blight on Chinese hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge) Caused by Erwinia amylovora in Korea.

Fire blight is one of the destructive plant diseases caused by Erwinia amylovora and causes enormous economic losses worldwide. Fire blight was initially reported in apples, pears, and Chinese quince (Park et al. 2016; Myung et al. 2016a, 2016b) in Korea, but recent studies have reported new hosts such as apricot (Lee et al. 2021) and mountain ash (Lim et al, 2023). These reports indicate that fire blight is likely to disperse to new hosts in Korea. During the nationwide survey in June 2021, we observed typical symptoms of blossom blight and shoot blight on a Chinese hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge) just near an orchard (37°09'21.7"N, 127°35'02.6"E) in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, where fire blight of Asian pear occurred. For identifying its causal agent, bacterial isolates were recovered after incubating at 28 ℃ for 24 hours on tryptic soy agar (TSA) medium (BD Difco, USA) from blighted leaves and shoots that were surface sterilized with 70% alcohol for 30 sec and homogenized in 500 µl of 10mM MgCl2. Pure cultures of white to mucoid colonies were grown on mannitol glutamate yeast extract (MGY) medium, a semi-selective medium for E. amylovora (Shrestha et al, 2003). Two isolates produced 1.5 kb amplicon through colony PCR using amsB primers (Bereswill et al. 1995). Two strains (CPFB26 and CPFB27) from the Chinese hawthorn produced amplicons identical to that from the TS3128 strain of E. amylovora, isolated from the pear tree and identified in 2016 (Park et al. 2016). For the partial 16s rRNA sequences, the total DNA of these two strains was extracted using the Wizard DNA prep kit (Promega, USA), and PCR was performed using fD1 (5'-AGAGTTTGATCCTGGCTCAG-3') and Rp2 (5'-ACGGCTACCTTGTTACGACTT-3') primer sets and further sequenced (Weisburg et al. 1991). These sequences belonged to the E. amylovora clade and were identified as E. amylovora in phylogenetic analysis (GenBank accession no. OP753569 and OP753570). Based on BLASTN analysis, CPFB26 and CPFB27 showed 99.78% similarity to the sequences of the E. amylovora strains TS3128, CFBP 1430, and ATCC 49946. To confirm pathogenicity of the isolates, 10 ㎕ bacterial suspensions (1.5 ⅹ 108 CFU/ml) was injected through the veins of the upper 2nd leaf of 3-month-old clone of apple rootstock (Malus domestica cv. M29) and incubated for six days at 28 ℃ in a chamber with 12 hours of light per day. Petioles and stems turned red hue, and the shoots finally blighted. To complete Koch's postulates, colonies were recovered on TSA medium from the inoculated apple rootstocks and verified through colony PCR for the amsB and A/B primer set (Powney et al. 2011). Hawthorn has been reported as an epidemiologically important alternate host plant of fire blight (van der Zwet et al. 2012). This study is the first to report fire blight caused by E. amylovora in Chinese hawthorn in Korea. Because Chinese hawthorn is natively distributed in Korea and is widely used as a landscaping tree (Jang et al. 2006), the findings of this study suggest that early monitoring could prevent the spread of fire blight through natural hosts.

The use of medicinal plants in the diets of lactating cows

In studies conducted on the territory of a farm belonging to the Novgorod Research Institute on Ayrshire cows during lactation, the use of plants with medicinal properties – crushed leaves of stinging nettle and fruits of red mountain ash for forcing the excretion of cesium and potassium radionuclides through the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys was studied. Seven groups of cows were selected for the research (n = 10 in each). For animals of the first three groups, in addition to the main feed, crushed nettle leaves were used (5, 10 and 30 g/head/day), for the next three groups, crushed rowan berries (5, 10 and 30 g/head/day) were used. For animals of the control group, a set of feeds was used, established and adjusted for this farm. It was found that when using herbal supplements in the diet, the concentration of caesium-137 in the urine of animals of all experimental groups significantly exceeded the control indicators. The content of potassium-40 in the urine of the fourth experimental group exceeds the control by 43%, in the rest the indicator is stable. In the feces of cows of the experimental groups, there is a significant increase in the concentration of both caesium-137 (from 31 to 136% relative to the control) and potassium-40 (from 24 to 166%). Accordingly, the release of radionuclides by the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys in the experimental groups is more active, relative to the indicators of the control groups. In some cases, more radionuclides were excreted than were ingested with food.

Impact of Red Mountain Ash Powder on the Qualitative Characteristics of Flour Confectionery Products

Vegetable additives in flour and confectionery products increase nutritional value, reducing the micronutrients and dietary fiber deficiency. The study aim is to evaluate the red mountain ash powder impact on the qualitative characteristics of flour confectionery products made of shortbread dough. To do this, a man replaced 5; 10; 15; 20; 25 and 30% of flour in the semi-finished product cooked according to the recipe No. 8 “Pesochniy (osnovnoj)” with red mountain ash powder. The thesis presents the study results of the mass fraction of moisture, the preservation of dry substances, wetness, alkalinity, toughness, organoleptic parameters. Products with red mountain ash powder contain a significant number of polyphenolic compounds that can have an impact on the microbiological parameters and the oxidative processes rate during long-term storage. The researchers revealed that products with powder had a higher yield and dry substances preservation, better wetness and friability, higher nutritional value compared with the traditional recipe. The optimal level of wheat flour replacement with red mountain ash powder in the recipe of the semi-finished shortbread product is 20%. On this basis, a man developed the formulation and technology of the semi-finished product “Ryabinoviy”. The baked semi-finished product has high organoleptic characteristics, is a source of dietary fiber (17.4% of the recommended daily intake) and can be recommended for use in nutrition for people without alimentary-dependent diseases. The application scope of the research results is confectionery industry and public catering enterprises.

Effects of understory characteristics on browsing patterns of roe deer in central European mountain forests.

Selective browsing by deer on young trees may impede the management goal of increasing forest resilience against climate change and other disturbances. Deer population density is often considered the main driver of browsing impacts on young trees, however, a range of other variables such as food availability also affect this relationship. In this study, we use browsing survey data from 135 research plots to explore patterns of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) browsing pressure on woody plants in mountainous forests in central Europe. We fitted species-specific generalised linear mixed models for eight woody taxa, assessing the potential effects of understory characteristics, roe deer abundance and lying deadwood on browsing intensity. Our study reveals conspecific and associational effects for woody taxa that are intermediately browsed by roe deer. Selective browsing pressure was mediated by preferences of plants, in that, browsing of strongly preferred woody taxa as for example mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia) and of least preferred woody taxa, for example Norway spruce (Picea abies) was not affected by the surrounding understory vegetation, while browsing pressure on intermediately browsed species like for example silver fir (Abies alba) was affected by understory characteristics. Contrary to our expectations, roe deer abundance was only positively associated with browsing pressure on silver fir and bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), while all other plants were unaffected by deer abundance. Finally, we did not find an influence of lying deadwood volume on the browsing pressure on any woody-plant species. Overall, our results indicate that patterns in browsing preference and intensity are species-specific processes and are partly affected by the surrounding understory vegetation. Current management strategies that aim to reduce browsing pressure through culling may be inefficient as they do not address other drivers of browsing pressure. However, managers also need to consider the characteristics of the local understory vegetation in addition to deer abundance and design species-specific plans to reduce browsing on woody plant taxa.

Sugar in the hospitality industry

This study is designed to reveal the role of sugar in the hospitality industry. The purpose of the study is to analyze the range of sugar used in restaurant technologies and develop recommendations for its expansion and application, the creation of a gastronomic brand based on sugar. The subject of the study was the fruits of wild plants: viburnum (Viburnum opulus), sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.), elderberry (Sambucus nigra), mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia) and fortified sugar. It is proposed to enrich sugar with a derivative product of processing wild fruits by the method of osmotic dehydration (sugar solution). It is expedient to use this technology in craft industries. An analytical review of literary sources was carried out, on the basis of which directions for the use of various types of sugar in restaurant technologies were formulated. It has been established that the high cost of imported sugars contributes to an increase in the cost of products with their use. The methodological basis for creating a gastronomic brand was the improvement of approaches to the cultural branding of Ukraine in the international arena by planning the development of "gastronomic tourism" not only as a tourist attraction, but also as a tool for implementing the strategy of public diplomacy. The gastronomic brand "Noble Sugar" was developed on the basis of local raw materials. Directions for the use of fortified sugar in the production of many foods and drinks have been developed, which can be attributed to gastronomic innovations. The presented products are unique and have no analogues in the hospitality industry

JUSTIFICATION OF THE SHELF LIFE OF FERMENTED DAIRY PRODUCTS BASED ON GOAT'S MILK

The article presents the results of studies on the number of survival of lactic acid bacteria, which determine the shelf life of fermented milk products during storage. The studies were carried out at the Department of Food Biotechnology of the Almaty Technological University, as well as in the laboratory of biotechnology of specialized products and dietary supplements of the Kazakh Academy of Nutrition. In the preparation of fermented milk products, a starter consisting of Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Lactobacillus fermentum 14 was used. Lactobacillus fermentum 14, as a probiotic, exhibits antagonistic properties, which helps to extend the shelf life and does not allow yeast and mold to grow in the final products. Lactobacillus bulgaricus, in turn, synthesizes a specific enzyme, peptidoglycan hydrolase, which is responsible for the hydrolysis of peptidoglycan which is an important component of the bacterial cell wall. When dairy products are enriched with biologically active substances of berry syrups Lactobacillus bulgaricus actively synthesizes extracellular polysaccharides, which improve the structure of the clot, increase stability and prevent syneresis. Streptococcus thermophilus is a mild curing thermophilic culture with a high degree of viscosity that promotes the formation of a good clot. Rosehip, hawthorn and mountain ash syrups, grape peel extract enriched fermented milk products with biologically active substances, which improved the growth and development of lactic acid microorganisms. The addition of phytofillers not only enhance the microscopic picture, but also improves the consistency and odors of the products.