Nutritional Availability Research Articles

Use of brewer's residual yeast for production of bacterial nanocellulose with Gluconacetobacter hansenii

Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) has attained elevated interest due to its versatile structure and high resistance characteristics. Accordingly, efforts have been made in order to reduce its production costs, such as the employment of its by-products as a nutrient broth to yield the microorganism. Residual brewer's yeast is an excellent recourse, due to its high nutritional value and availability. Therefore, research which aimed to contribute to the development of a low cost, efficient and biosustainable technology for BNC production with Gluconacetobacter hansenii was carried out. BNC was obtained from residual brewer's yeast hydrolysate at pH 7.0 and five days of incubation at 30 °C in static culture. The hydrolysate was characterized by the amount of sugars, fatty acids, total proteins and ash content. Subsequently, BNC obtained was characterized in terms of yield, carbon conversion ratio, hydrodynamic size, crystallinity, morphology, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and surface analysis. Residual brewer's yeast hydrolysate proved to be efficient in BNC production via gluconeogenesis with consumption of alanine, threonine and glycerol, obtaining 1.9 times the yield of the chemically defined broth adopted as standard. Additionally, properties observed in the obtained BNC were equal to those obtained from conventional chemical medium. The research contributed to bacterial nanocellulose production using by-products from the brewing industry.

Influence of bacterial and alveolar cell co-culture on microbial VOC production using HS-GC/MS.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in exhaled breath continue to garner interest as an alternative diagnostic tool in pulmonary infections yet, their clinical integration remains a challenge with difficulties in translating identified biomarkers. Alterations in bacterial metabolism secondary to host nutritional availability may explain this but is often inadequately modelled in vitro. The influence of more clinically relevant nutrients on VOC production for two common respiratory pathogens was investigated. VOCs from Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P.aeruginosa) cultured with and without human alveolar A549 epithelial cells were analyzed using headspace extraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Untargeted and targeted analyses were performed, volatile molecules identified from published data, and the differences in VOC production evaluated. Principal component analysis (PCA) could differentiate alveolar cells from either S. aureus or P. aeruginosa when cultured in isolation based on PC1 (p = 0.0017 and 0.0498, respectively). However, this separation was lost for S. aureus (p = 0.31) but not for P. aeruginosa (p = 0.028) when they were cultured with alveolar cells. S. aureus cultured with alveolar cells led to higher concentrations of two candidate biomarkers, 3-methyl-1-butanol (p = 0.001) and 3-methylbutanal (p = 0.002) when compared to S. aureus, alone. P. aeruginosa metabolism resulted in less generation of pathogen-associated VOCs when co-cultured with alveolar cells compared to culturing in isolation. VOC biomarkers previously considered indicative of bacterial presence are influenced by the local nutritional environment and this should be considered when evaluating their biochemical origin.

Feeding enhances fibronectin adherence of quiescent lymphocytes through non-canonical insulin signalling.

Nutritional availability during fasting and refeeding affects the temporal redistribution of lymphoid and myeloid immune cells among the circulating and tissue-resident pools. Conversely, nutritional imbalance and impaired glucose metabolism are associated with chronic inflammation, aberrant immunity and anomalous leukocyte trafficking. Despite being exposed to periodic alterations in blood insulin levels upon fasting and feeding, studies exploring the physiological effects of these hormonal changes on quiescent immune cell function and trafficking are scanty. Here, we report that oral glucose load in mice and healthy men enhances the adherence of circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and lymphocytes to fibronectin. Adherence to fibronectin is also observed upon regular intake of breakfast following overnight fasting in healthy subjects. This glucose load-induced phenomenon is abrogated in streptozotocin-injected mice that lack insulin. Intra-vital microscopy in mice demonstrated that oral glucose feeding enhances the homing of PBMCs to injured blood vessels in vivo. Furthermore, employing flow cytometry, Western blotting and adhesion assays for PBMCs and Jurkat-T cells, we elucidate that insulin enhances fibronectin adherence of quiescent lymphocytes through non-canonical signalling involving insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) autophosphorylation, phospholipase C gamma-1 (PLCγ-1) Tyr783 phosphorylation and inside-out activation of β-integrins respectively. Our findings uncover the physiological relevance of post-prandial insulin spikes in regulating the adherence and trafficking of circulating quiescent T-cells through fibronectin-integrin interaction.

Availability of palliative parenteral nutrition to patients with advanced cancer: A national survey of service provision.

Patients with advanced malignancy who are unable to meet their nutritional requirements orally or enterally as a result of intestinal failure may be considered for parenteral nutrition support. Current UK guidance recommends that patients with a 3-month prognosis and good performance status (i.e., Karnofsky performance status >50) should be considered for this intervention at home (termed Home Parenteral Nutrition; HPN). However, HPN is a nationally commissioned service by National Health Service (NHS) England and Improvement that can only be initiated at specific NHS centres and so may not be easily accessed by patients outside of these centres. This survey aimed to identify current clinical practice across UK hospitals about how palliative parenteral nutrition is initiated. Clinical staff associated with Nutrition Support Teams at NHS Organisations within the UK were invited to complete an electronically administered survey of national clinical practice through advertisements posted on relevant professional interest groups. Sixty clinicians responded to the survey administered between September and November 2020. The majority of respondents responded positively that decisions made to initiate palliative parenteral nutrition were conducted in alignment with current national guidance in relation to decision-making and formulation of parenteral nutrition. Variation was observed in relation to the provision of advance care planning in relation to nutrition support prior to discharge, as well as the consideration of venting gastrostomy placement in patients with malignant bowel obstruction unsuitable for surgical intervention. Adherence to current national guidance in relation to the provision of palliative parenteral nutrition is variable for some aspects of care. Further work is required particularly in relation to maximising the opportunity for the provision of advance care planning prior to discharge in this patient cohort.

The mesoglea buffers the physico-chemical microenvironment of photosymbionts in the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea sp.

IntroductionThe jellyfish Cassiopea has a conspicuous lifestyle, positioning itself upside-down on sediments in shallow waters thereby exposing its photosynthetic endosymbionts (Symbiodiniaceae) to light. Several studies have shown how the photosymbionts benefit the jellyfish host in terms of nutrition and O2 availability, but little is known about the internal physico-chemical microenvironment of Cassiopea during light–dark periods.MethodsHere, we used fiber-optic sensors to investigate how light is modulated at the water-tissue interface of Cassiopea sp. and how light is scattered inside host tissue. We additionally used electrochemical and fiber-optic microsensors to investigate the dynamics of O2 and pH in response to changes in the light availability in intact living specimens of Cassiopea sp.Results and discussionMapping of photon scalar irradiance revealed a distinct spatial heterogeneity over different anatomical structures of the host, where oral arms and the manubrium had overall higher light availability, while shaded parts underneath the oral arms and the bell had less light available. White host pigmentation, especially in the bell tissue, showed higher light availability relative to similar bell tissue without white pigmentation. Microprofiles of scalar irradiance into white pigmented bell tissue showed intense light scattering and enhanced light penetration, while light was rapidly attenuated over the upper 0.5 mm in tissue with symbionts only. Depth profiles of O2 concentration into bell tissue of live jellyfish showed increasing concentration with depth into the mesoglea, with no apparent saturation point during light periods. O2 was slowly depleted in the mesoglea in darkness, and O2 concentration remained higher than ambient water in large (> 6 cm diameter) individuals, even after 50 min in darkness. Light–dark shifts in large medusae showed that the mesoglea slowly turns from a net sink during photoperiods into a net source of O2 during darkness. In contrast, small medusae showed a more dramatic change in O2 concentration, with rapid O2 buildup/consumption in response to light–dark shifts; in a manner similar to corals. These effects on O2 production/consumption were also reflected in moderate pH fluctuations within the mesoglea. The mesoglea thus buffers O2 and pH dynamics during dark-periods.

ANALISIS EFEKTIVITAS ENDOMIKORIZA DAN AMELIORAN TERHADAP PEMBENTUKAN JARINGAN KAYU SEMAI JABON MERAH (Anthochepalus macropyllus)


 
 Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (FMA) is a potential microbial that can increase plant growth in various conditions of planting media, including in post-mining soil limestone. In the post-mining land, limestone has been found several types of FMA. This type of FMA has the potential as an inoculant source that is thought to increase the growth of the red jabon plant (anthocephalus macropyllus). Furthermore PT. Holcim Indonesia Tbk also produces the remaining cement laundering waste (LPS), which has the potential as ameliorating material that can increase the availability of nutrition, improve soil aggregate and increase the growth and formation of plant tissue (xylem). Considering that similar research is still minimal, it is necessary to research the effectiveness of using FMA inoculants and Amelioran material on the growth and formation of Red Jabon Semai Wood (A. Macropyllus) in the post-mining soil media. The varied analysis of variables using SPSS software version 10.01 was to determine the effect of treatment and the combination of treatment of the measured variables. At the same time, the analysis of wood anatomy uses the Sass method. The results showed that FMA and Amelioran soil effectively increased the growth and formation of wood networks in A. Macrophyllus. The interaction of FMA and LPS treatment can increase the proportion of phloem and xylem and is significant in increasing the proportion of empul. In contrast, the single FMA treatment effectively increases the growth of the proportion of phloem and xylem. Percentage of Increasing Floem Network Proposi M1 Treatment (64.91%), M2 (66.12%), and Increased Xylem Network Composition for M1 Treatment (16.59%) and M2 (16.38%).

Nutrient Status of Soil and Farm Yard Manure (FYM) under Different Agro-Climatic Regions of Maharashtra

Aim: To gain maximum crop production from a unit area, soil health is one of the major components. It is determined based on the nutritional availability and other parameters like pH, EC, organic carbon, etc. The reports on soil nutrients help farmers in fertilizer application to optimize the yields. The values of these parameters vary from region, soil type, agro-climatic zones, crop, etc. To maintain soil fertility application of organic source of fertilizer such as, FYM plays an important role. It is not only a good source of nutrients but also increases water-holding capacity, soil organic matter, soil physical properties, etc. The study was conducted with an objective to assess nutrient status of soil and FYM from various agro-climatic regions of Maharashtra. 
 Methodology: Maharashtra state is divided into nine different agro-climatic regions. The study was conducted to understand the region-wise variability in the nutritional composition of both soil and FYM in Maharashtra during the year 2020-21. Samples of soils and dried FYM were collected from farmer’s fields from five agro-climatic regions of Maharashtra i.e., Western Maharashtra, Northern Maharashtra, Marathwada, Vidharbha, and Konkan. The samples were analyzed for various parameters at BAL-Chemical laboratory, BAIF Central Research Station, Urulikanchan.
 Results: The analysis reports of soil samples revealed that soils of the Western Maharashtra region showed maximum values for N, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn whereas, soil samples from the Vidharbha region were having high values for P and K content as compared to other regions. The soil samples from the Konkan region showed low nutrients availability than other regions. The soil pH of different agro-climatic regions ranged from 6.3 to 9.0. Similarly, FYM samples of the Western Maharashtra region showed maximum values for N, P, K, Fe, Mn, and Zn content whereas, samples of the Marathwada region were comparatively low in all nutrients and organic carbon content. PCA biplot of macro and micro elements of soil and FYM nutrients revealed geographical/spatial structuring based on nutrient content.

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) nutritional carrying capacity over two decades after exclusion

Studies on the impacts of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus; hereafter deer) herbivory on vegetation biomass and nutritional availability are limited. Considering deer can shift plant species composition and abundance through selective browsing, we sought to investigate whether deer could influence their own nutritional carrying capacity. Using paired control and exclosure experimental units constructed in 2000 on three Wildlife Management Areas in the Upper Coastal Plain, Lower Coastal Plain, and Mississippi Alluvial Valley (hereafter Delta) ecoregions of Mississippi, we collected biomass samples following methods initially used on the sites in 2005. Biomass data were collected during July – August of 2021 at 15 random sampling points per experimental unit. Additionally, representative samples of each plant species were collected and analyzed for crude protein content to determine nutritional carrying capacity. By analyzing biomass data from 2005 and 2021, we found between-year differences, but no differences by treatment (exclosure vs. control). Notably, there was a simultaneous increase in shade tolerant species and decrease in shade intolerant species from 2005 to 2021, and a decrease in preferred forage species. Nutritional carrying capacity was only determined using 2021 data and revealed a lack of treatment effects. The differences between ecoregions demonstrated abundant low quality forage on both Coastal Plain sites (Upper and Lower) and a comparatively low amount of forage that was higher in quality in the Delta. Results suggest changing understory light conditions and a need for additional management if increasing available forage for deer is a desired management outcome. Specifically, regional differences in nutritional availability between the Coastal Plain sites and the Delta site illustrate the potential for active management to aid in the promotion of herbaceous understory forage species.

Herbaceous Alfalfa plant as a multipurpose crop and predominant forage specie in Pakistan

Fodder crops play an important role in agriculture as they deliver food for animals, which is eventually converted to food for humans. All over the world, Alfalfa has had utmost importance for a few decades, not only as a fodder crop due to having high nutritional value for dairy farming but also being positively involved in many health-related and environmental affairs. Medicinally, it helps in controlling diseases such as arthritis, cholesterol, anemia, and cardio-related illnesses. Furthermore, like other cereal crops (wheat, rice, corn, etc.), it could also be a great source of several healthy nutrients for humans when the proper quantity is added to daily meals. However, unlike other nations of the world such as America, China, and India, Pakistan does not utilize it directly in human meals. This crop also has eco-friendly behavior since it controls soil erosion by binding the soil particles together and makes atmospheric nitrogen available to the plants by fixing it in the soil. Other uses include its role in water purification, improved pollination, and most importantly, its tolerance against water, salt, and temperature stress, making its position even stronger in arid and semi-arid areas. This review will draw researchers' attention to its multiple uses other than fodder crop and most importantly, its nutritional availability at a very low cost, which could prove nothing short of a miracle for the economy if properly mediated.

Body length, dry and ash-free dry weights, and developmental changes at each copepodid stage in five sympatric mesopelagic aetideid copepods in the western Arctic Ocean

Abstract Aetideid copepods dominate the mesopelagic layer of the Arctic Ocean and play an important role in the vertical material flux and biodiversity. However, little information about the lengths and weights of their copepodids is available. In this study, we collected five sympatric aetideid copepods, Chiridius obtusifrons Sars G.O., 1902, Gaetanus tenuispinus (Sars G.O., 1900), Gaetanus brevispinus (Sars G.O., 1900), Aetideopsis multiserrata (Wolfenden, 1904), and Aetideopsis rostrata Sars G.O., 1903, from the Arctic Ocean and examined their body lengths, dry and ash-free dry weights, and developmental growths at each copepodid stage. Highly significant length-weight relationships were obtained among copepodids for all species. Within genera, individuals of the same length were heavier at shallower depths. This may result from the greater nutritional availability to species within genera inhabiting shallower depths. Common to all species, the organic content (ash-free dry weight per dry weight) was high for the early copepodid stages. This may be due to the residual organic content of lipid-rich eggs retained in the non-feeding nauplii. The largest growth in females occurred at C5/C6, whereas the largest growth in males occurred at C4/C5, as determined by moult increment and proportion of growth in weight. These sex differences in weight growth could be due to the degeneration of the feeding appendage and cessation of feeding in C6 males of aetideid copepods.

ASSESSMENT OF HIGH-PROTEIN QUALITY FEED ADDITIVES FROM BY-PRODUCTS MANUFACTURE OF SUNFLOWER OIL

The article states that until 2022, Ukraine will occupy the first place in the world food market in the production of sunflower, sunflower oil and export of sunflower oil. The production of sunflower has always been sufficiently profitable, and the products of its processing competitive on the domestic and world markets. They are also an important component of food and feed protein resources. The production of complete ration compound feed for farm animals and poultry is restrained by a shortage of protein components, a low level of sanitary and hygienic safety of protein raw materials of animal origin. This leads to a decrease in the efficiency of feed, their costs and, as it should be, a shortage of livestock products. Cake and meal are high-protein raw materials, which are obtained in the amount of 1/3 of the mass of processed seeds during the production of sunflower oil. The fodder value of sunflower cake and meal is given. Factors that negatively affect the nutritional value and availability of nutrients of sunflower meal in the feed of farm animals and poultry were analyzed. The choice of components for the production of high-protein feed additive is theoretically justified. The indicators of the quality of sunflower seeds and by-products of their processing, which meet the requirements of DSTU, have been determined. On the basis of theoretical and experimental data, a structural scheme for the production of a high-protein feed supplement based on sunflower cake and meal is proposed, which involves the preliminary preparation of the by-products of sunflower oil production - cake and meal, with the following dosage in the amount: 75% sunflower meal, 10% sunflower cake and 15% limestone flour. The physical properties and microbiological indicators of the quality of a highprotein feed additive were experimentally determined, and it was determined that, compared to a loose, granular high-protein feed additive, it has the following advantages: increased nutritional value, has a greater volumetric weight, sanitary quality, which leads to saving space during transportation and better storage.

Enhancing the Amino Acid and Reducing the Metal Ions Contents in the Hydrolysate Resulting from Hydrothermal Carbonization of Chicken Feather Waste by Chemical Phosphorylation

Chemical phosphorylation of hydrolysate resulting from hydrothermal carbonization of chicken feather waste was performed to enhance the amino acids and reduce the metal ions content. The aim of this research is to improve the functional properties of chicken feathers hydrolysate without impairing the nutritional availability thereof with the cheapest chemical method by phosphorylation. Phosphorylated hydrolysate can function as animal feed and fertilizer. The hydrolysate of chicken feathers was obtained by hydrothermal carbonization in an alkaline condition using a CaO and KOH catalyst, by the ratio of water:dry matter of chicken feathers is 5:1, at 9–10 atm pressure, and in a temperature of 190–200 °C during 3 h. Phosphorylation has been carried out by reacting the hydrolysate with H3PO4 85% in pH of 5, 6, 7 and using the original hydrolysate as control. The sample that has been prepared was characterized and semi-quantitative analyzed by HPLC and AAS. The phosphorylation results showed that the total maximum protein of soluble protein, their minimum metal ions, and anion in soluble protein was obtained at pH 7, while the higher the pH, the lower the liquid protein that was obtained.

Effects of Various Lipid Sources and L-Carnitine Supplementation on the Growth Performance, Body Composition, and Antioxidants Enzyme Ability of Dog Conch Larvae, Laevistrombus canarium

A feeding experiment was conducted to study the effects of dietary lipid sources and L-carnitine on the growth performance, body component, muscle fatty acid composition, and antioxidant enzyme ability of average weight of 0.28 g dog conch larvae, Laevistrombus canarium. Three sources of lipid: fish oil, soybean oil, and beef tallow were tested in combination with two levels (0 and 0.5%) of L-carnitine. The dog conch larvae fed diets containing fish oil with L-carnitine supplementation exhibited the highest weight gain. After air exposure challenge, the liver tissue of dog conch fed the diets containing soybean oil and beef tallow without supplemented L-carnitine had lower levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD, U min−1), phenoloxidase (PO, U min−1), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx, mU/mL) activity. The activity of SOD, PO, and GPx of dog conch larvae increased with increasing levels of dietary L-carnitine. In particular, dog conch larvae fed the diet containing fish oil supplemented with L-carnitine exhibited significantly ( P < 0.05 ) enhanced antioxidant responses. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the muscle tissue of dog conch larvae fed the diet containing fish oil without L-carnitine supplementation showed significantly ( P < 0.05 ) higher activity. It was concluded that dietary administration of L-carnitine can enhance resistance against beta-oxidation, and the administration of fish oil in the diet was the best strategy to promote growth due to high nutritional availability.

Maternal preconception circulating blood biomarker mixtures, child behavioural symptom scores and the potential mediating role of neonatal brain microstructure: the S-PRESTO cohort

Human brain development starts in the embryonic period. Maternal preconception nutrition and nutrient availability to the embryo may influence brain development at this critical period following conception and early cellular differentiation, thereby affecting offspring neurodevelopmental and behavioural disorder risk. However, studying this is challenging due to difficulties in characterizing preconception nutritional status and few studies have objective neurodevelopmental imaging measures in children. We investigated the associations of maternal preconception circulating blood nutrient-related biomarker mixtures (~15 weeks before conception) with child behavioural symptoms (Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL), aged 3 years) within the Singapore Preconception Study of Long-Term Maternal and Child Outcomes (S-PRESTO) study. The CBCL preschool form evaluates child behaviours based on syndrome scales and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) oriented scales. These scales consist of internalizing problems, externalizing problems, anxiety problems, pervasive developmental problems, oppositional defiant, etc. We applied data-driven clustering and a method for modelling mixtures (Bayesian kernel machine regression, BKMR) to account for complex, non-linear dependencies between 67 biomarkers. We used effect decomposition analyses to explore the potential mediating role of neonatal (week 1) brain microstructure, specifically orientation dispersion indices (ODI) of 49 cortical and subcortical grey matter regions. We found that higher levels of a nutrient cluster including thiamine, thiamine monophosphate (TMP), pyridoxal phosphate, pyridoxic acid, and pyridoxal were associated with a higher CBCL score for internalizing problems (posterior inclusion probability (PIP) = 0.768). Specifically, thiamine independently influenced CBCL (Conditional PIP = 0.775). Higher maternal preconception thiamine level was also associated with a lower right subthalamic nucleus ODI (P-value = 0.01) while a lower right subthalamic nucleus ODI was associated with higher CBCL scores for multiple domains (P-value < 0.05). One potential mechanism is the suboptimal metabolism of free thiamine to active vitamin B1, but additional follow-up and replication studies in other cohorts are needed.

Effects of solarisation combined with compost on soil pathogens and the microbial community in a spinach cropping system

This study compares the effects of solarization combined with compost (72% vineyard prunings and 28% leek residues) (CAS) versus solarization (NAS) in soils used for intensive spinach cultivation in the Mediterranean area. The objective was to study the beneficial effects of the compost on the soil microbial community, soil fertility and soil functionality related to C and N cycling during solarization, during the spinach crop growth period and after harvesting. CAS did increase soil fertility and microbial activity, in addition, CAS increased the microbial alpha diversity in the soil to a greater extent than NAS, and the Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) of the beta diversity in the soil revealed changes in the bacterial and fungal community at the different sampling times, except after the plastic was lifted. During solarization and after harvesting, different beneficial bacteria and fungi related to C and N cycling were more abundant in CAS than in NAS, in the same way as the genera involved in plant defense and plant growth (Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, Bacillus, Thermomyces, Streptomyces, NMD1 or Nitrospira). CAS also had a notable effect on the abundance of predictive genes involved in the C and N cycles. The functional genes showed their lowest activity level a week after covering the soil with plastic, but they increased after lifting the plastic and after harvesting. Compared to NAS, CAS also showed higher N2-fixation and greater conversion of N2O to N2. Moreover, the abundance of several predictive genes involved in hemicellulose, lignin and cellulose degradation suggested that CAS produced an increase in nutritional availability. From this study, it can be concluded that the combination of solarization and compost increased soil fertility, microbial activity, microbial diversity and functionality. Compost could provide added value by stimulating the microbiological community in the soil until harvest.

Comparison of Nutritional Availability of Biogenic Selenium Nanoparticles and Chemically Synthesized Selenium Nanoparticles.

Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient, and animals biosynthesize selenoproteins from various selenocompounds such as inorganic salts and organic selenocompounds as a Se source. In addition to the inorganic and organic forms of Se, it is also known that elemental Se is biologically synthesized at the nanoscale in nature. Biologically synthesized Se nanoparticles (Se-NPs), i.e., biogenic Se-NPs (Se-BgNPs), have not been fully investigated as a Se source compared with the other forms of Se. In this study, we evaluated the nutritional availability of Se-BgNPs biosynthesized in E. coli and revealed that Se-BgNPs were less assimilated into selenoproteins in rats as a Se source than inorganic Se salt or chemically synthesized Se-NPs. Se-BgNPs showed tolerance toward digestion and low absorbability in gut, which resulted in the low nutritional availability. Se-BgNPs seem to be coated with a biomaterial that functions to reduce their toxicity toward E. coli and at the same time lowers their availability to animals.

Soil origin impacts Acacia longifolia above and belowground development: water and nutrition as players

Context Acacia longifolia is an aggressive invader, disrupting habitats and communities worldwide. Understanding what drives its expansion is of paramount importance. Key functional traits include fast growth and the presence of bacterial symbionts performing nitrogen fixation. Aims To address early plant development of A. longifolia under different soils and growth conditions (water and nutrition availability), establishing the key factors that influence above and belowground responses. Methods Plants were grown in pots with soils collected from forest, agricultural and dune areas in relative proximity, in a controlled experiment designed to study water effect and nutrient availability on early growth. Growth parameters included shoot and root length, nodule number and weight. Bacteria were isolated from nodules for genetic diversity evaluation. Photosynthetic pigments and isotopic nitrogen and carbon analyses were performed to address nitrogen fixation and photosynthesis. Key results Soil origin influenced plant growth and bacterial diversity. Largest plant development was achieved in forest soils with added nutrition and water. Plants from agricultural soil displayed higher aboveground development; however, belowground nodule number and bacterial biodiversity decreased, possibly due to anthropogenic activities. Forest soil promoted belowground development and bacterial diversity. In dune soils overall growth was lower and nitrogen fixation was higher. Conclusion Abiotic factors influenced juvenile acacia development; nutrition acts as a growth enhancer, and soil origin, including its microbial communities, can be considered a development modulator. Bacterial diversity varied according to soil type. Implications Several above and belowground interactions showed the need for an integrative perspective to understand acacias invasive potential.

Nutritive value and herbage mass of Pueraria phaseoloides (tropical kudzu) in un-utilized open grasslands in north-eastern and central Trinidad and Tobago

Pueraria phaseoloides is an important forage for ruminants in the tropics. However, its nutritive value and availability in areas easily accessed by ruminants and ruminant farmers in Trinidad and Tobago is unknown. This study, therefore, evaluated the effects of harvest date and location on the nutritive value, herbage mass and crude protein yield of P. phaseoloides in un-utilized open grasslands in three locations with high livestock density in Trinidad. Pueraria phaseoloides herbage (whole fraction and leaf) trailing on the upper canopy of open un-utilized grasslands were harvested in the late wet season of 2019 (October - November), early dry (January - February) and early wet (July - August) seasons of 2020 following a stratified random sampling scheme. The crude protein (CP) concentrations of P. phaseoloides leaves (235 g/kg DM) and whole fraction (217 g/kg DM) were highest in Wallerfield during the early wet season. Neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and lignin were lowest in the early dry season (P < 0.01). Crude protein yield (376–478 kg CP ha−1) and herbage mass (1,742–2,654 kg DM ha−1) were highest during the late wet and early dry season, respectively. In vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) of P. phaseoloides leaf (548–598 g/kg) and whole fraction (549 –580 g/kg) were highest in the late wet season. It was, therefore concluded that open un-utilized grasslands in Trinidad and Tobago produced significant amount of P. phaseoloides herbage year-round to support ruminant livestock production. However, the nutritive value, herbage mass and CP yield of P. phaseoloides herbage were highest during the late wet and early dry seasons.

Navigating sustainability and health trade-offs in global seafood systems

Seafood is expected to play a key role in improving access to healthy diets while providing food products with relatively low rates of greenhouse gas emissions. However, both nutrients and carbon footprints vary among species and production methods, and seafood consumption is further influenced by price and consumer preference, such that it is unclear which species are best placed to provide low-emissions nutritious seafood. Here, we use seafood production data to assess the nutritional value, carbon emissions, sustainability, affordability, and availability of seafood available to UK consumers. Globally, most seafood products are more nutritious and emit lower greenhouse gases than terrestrial animal-source foods, particularly small pelagic fishes and bivalves that contributed to recommended intakes for 3–4 essential dietary nutrients at the lowest emissions. For seafood products relevant to UK markets and consumers, Atlantic mackerel had the highest availability (i.e. landings) of all wild-caught UK seafood and lowest carbon footprint of all finfish, with one fillet portion exceeding recommended intakes of three nutrients (selenium, vitamins B12 and D). We found that price and sustainability of UK seafood, both factors in consumer demand, had considerable trade-offs with nutrients, carbon footprint, and availability. Farmed salmon, for example, were produced in large volumes but were relatively more expensive than other seafood, whereas highly nutritious, low-emissions farmed mussels had limited production volumes. The UK’s seafood system is therefore not currently optimised to produce nutritious, low-emissions seafood in large amounts. Policies that promote local consumption of affordable species already produced in high volumes, such as mackerel, could improve intakes of nutrients that are deficient in the UK population at relatively low environmental cost.

Perspectives on the metabolism of strigolactone rhizospheric signals.

Strigolactones (SLs) are a plant hormone regulating different processes in plant development and adjusting plant's architecture to nutrition availability. Moreover, SLs are released by plants to communicate with beneficial fungi in the rhizosphere where they are, however, abused as chemical cues inducing seed germination of root parasitic weeds, e.g. Striga spp., and guiding them towards host plants in their vicinity. Based on their structure, SLs are divided into canonical and non-canonical SLs. In this perspective, we describe the metabolism of root-released SLs and SL pattern in rice max1-900 mutants, which are affected in the biosynthesis of canonical SLs, and show the accumulation of two putative non-canonical SLs, CL+30 and CL+14. Using max1-900 and SL-deficient d17 rice mutants, we further investigated the metabolism of non-canonical SLs and their possible biological roles. Our results show that the presence and further metabolism of canonical and non-canonical SLs are particularly important for their role in rhizospheric interactions, such as that with root parasitic plants. Hence, we proposed that the root-released SLs are mainly responsible for rhizospheric communications and have low impact on plant architecture, which makes targeted manipulation of root-released SLs an option for rhizospheric engineering.