Size Of Pea Research Articles

Interacting effects of phytohormones and fruit pruning on the morpho-physiological and biochemical attributes of bell pepper

Several factors, such as pruning and phytohormones, have demonstrated an influence on both the quantity and quality in the bell pepper. A factorial experiment using a completely randomized design was conducted on the Lumos yellow bell in a greenhouse. Treatments were the fruit pruning (0, 10, and 30%) and foliar application of phytohormones auxin (AUX) and gibberellic acid (GA3) at concentrations of 10 µM AUX, 10 µM GA3, 10 µM AUX + 10 µM GA3+, and 20 µM AUX + 10 µM GA3 along with controls. The plants were sprayed with phytohormones in four growth stages (1: flowering stage when 50% of the flowers were on the plant, 2: fruiting stage when 50% of the fruits were the size of peas, 3: fruit growth stage when 50% of the fruits had reached 50% of their growth, and 4: ripening stage when 50% of the fruits were at color break). The results of the present investigation showed that pruning rate of 30% yielded the highest flesh thickness and vitamin C content, decreased seed count and hastened fruit ripening. The use of GA3 along with AUX has been observed to augment diverse fruit quality characteristics. According to the results, the application of 10% pruning in combination with 20 µM AUX and 10 µM GA3 demonstrated the most significant levels of carotenoids, chlorophyll, and fruit length. The experimental group subjected to the combined treatment of 30% pruning and 10 µM AUX + 10 µM GA3 showed the most noteworthy levels of vitamin C, fruit weight, and fruit thickness. The groups that received the 10 µM GA3 and 20 µM AUX + 10 µM GA3 treatments exhibited the most favorable fruit flavor. According to the research results, the implementation of hormonal treatments 10 µM AUX and 10 µM AUX + 10 µM GA3 in combination with a 30% pruning strategy resulted in the most advantageous yield of bell peppers.

Standardized total tract digestibility of phosphorus in field peas fed to growing pigs is increased by microbial phytase, but particle size and origin of field peas do not affect digestibility of phosphorus

Two experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that particle size or origin of field peas does not influence apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) or standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) of P, but that increasing levels of phytase will increase ATTD and STTD of P in field peas when fed to growing pigs. In experiment 1, one source of field peas was obtained from the U.S., and two sources were obtained from Canada (i.e., Canada 1 and Canada 2). The U.S. field peas were ground to 265, 457, or 678 µm, whereas the Canada 1 peas were ground to 253 µm, and the Canada 2 source was ground to 411 µm. The five batches of field peas were each included in one diet and fed to 50 growing pigs (16.36 ± 1.19 kg) with 10 replicate pigs per diet. In experiment 2, six diets based on the U.S. field peas ground to 678 µm were formulated to contain 0, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, or 4000 units per kg of microbial phytase and fed to 48 pigs (15.26 ± 0.91 kg) with eight replicate pigs per diet. In both experiments, field peas were the only source of P in the diets. Pigs were housed individually in metabolism crates and feces were collected for four days. Results of experiment 1 indicated that the ATTD and STTD of P were not affected by source of peas or by particle size of the field peas and it was concluded that growing location and variety do not influence STTD of P in field peas. Results of experiment 2 indicated that the ATTD of Ca and P and the STTD of P increased (linear, P < 0.001) as phytase increased in the diets, and fecal excretion of Ca and P was reduced as the concentration of dietary phytase increased (linear, P < 0.001). It was, therefore, concluded that if microbial phytase is included in diets containing field peas, the inclusion of feed phosphate can be reduced, and manure concentration of P will also be reduced. In conclusion, the hypotheses that neither growing location nor particle size influences STTD of P were confirmed, and the hypothesis that increased concentration of dietary phytase increases STTD of P was also confirmed.

Canopy Architecture and Sun Exposure Influence Berry Cluster-Water Relations in the Grapevine Variety Muscat of Alexandria.

Climate-change-related increases in the frequency and intensity of heatwaves affect viticulture, leading to losses in yield and grape quality. We assessed whether canopy-architecture manipulation mitigates the effects of summer stress in a Mediterranean vineyard. The Vitis vinifera L variety Muscat of Alexandria plants were monitored during 2019-2020. Two canopy shoot-positioning treatments were applied: vertical shoot positioning (VSP) and modulated shoot positioning (MSP). In MSP, the west-side upper foliage was released to promote partial shoot leaning, shading the clusters. Clusters were sampled at pea size (PS), veraison (VER), and full maturation (FM). Measurements included rachis anatomy and hydraulic conductance (Kh) and aquaporins (AQP) and stress-related genes expression in cluster tissues. The results show significant seasonal and interannual differences in Kh and vascular anatomy. At VER, the Kh of the rachis and rachis+pedicel and the xylem diameter decreased but were unaffected by treatments. The phloem-xylem ratio was either increased (2019) or reduced (2020) in MSP compared to VSP. Most AQPs were down-regulated at FM in pedicels and up-regulated at VER in pulp. A potential maturation shift in MSP was observed and confirmed by the up-regulation of several stress-related genes in all tissues. The study pinpoints the role of canopy architecture in berry-water relations and stress response during ripening.

Bunch thinning and its influence on the shoots growth dynamics in some syrah wine variety clones

During the period 2020-2022, an experiment was conducted in the experimental vineyard of the Agricultural University – Plovdiv, and four clones of the wine variety Syrah, numbered 100, 174, 470 and 524, grafted on the SO4 rootstock were selected as the study object. During the „pea size“ phase, the green pruning operation – bunch thinning was applied. The shoots growth starts from the vegetation phase „first leaf appearance“ and ends at the „veraison“. The average duration is about 100 days, covering the period of May, June and July. It was found that the vine shoots from a clone 470 reached the greatest average length, V3 – 285, 265, 290 cm and V7 – 359, 336, and 380 cm, and those from a clone 100 were distinguished by the weakest growth, V1 – 197, 203 and 205 cm and V5 – 240, 228 and 245 cm. Differences were proven between the variants, both in the non-reduced (V1, V2, V3, and V4) and in those with reduced yields (V5, V6, V7, and V8), as after reducing the number of bunches, the length of the shoots was longer – high in all vines from the used Syrah clones. This study provides information on the relationship between the applied green pruning operation (bunch thinning) during the growing season and its effects on the vegetative growth. Balancing the vines bud load by controlling yield during the growing season is a preferred viticultural practice for increasing the grape quality. Keywords: Clones, Syrah, green pruning, bunch thinning, shoot growth

Exploring Seaweed and Glycine Betaine Biostimulants for Enhanced Phenolic Content, Antioxidant Properties, and Gene Expression of Vitis vinifera cv. "Touriga Franca" Berries.

Climate change will pose a challenge for the winemaking sector worldwide, bringing progressively drier and warmer conditions and increasing the frequency and intensity of weather extremes. The short-term adaptation strategy of applying biostimulants through foliar application serves as a crucial measure in mitigating the detrimental effects of environmental stresses on grapevine yield and berry quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of foliar application of a seaweed-based biostimulant (A. nodosum-ANE) and glycine betaine (GB) on berry quality, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity and to elucidate their action on the secondary metabolism. A trial was installed in a commercial vineyard (cv. "Touriga Franca") in the Cima Corgo (Upper Corgo) sub-region of the Douro Demarcated Region, Portugal. A total of four foliar sprayings were performed during the growing season: at flowering, pea size, bunch closer, and veraison. There was a positive effect of GB in the berry quality traits. Both ANE and GB increased the synthesis of anthocyanins and other phenolics in berries and influenced the expression of genes related to the synthesis and transport of anthocyanins (CHS, F3H, UFGT, and GST). So, they have the potential to act as elicitors of the secondary metabolism, leading to improved grape quality, and also to set the foundation for sustainable agricultural practices in the long run.

154 Reduction of particle size of field peas increases net energy and digestibility of starch when fed to growing pigs

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that particle size of field peas and location of production may affect the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of starch, the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA), and net energy (NE). One source of peas from the U.S., and two sources from Canada were procured. The U.S. peas were ground to 265, 457, or 678 µm, whereas the two Canadian peas were ground to 411 and 415 µm, respectively. A basal diet containing corn and soybean meal as the sources of energy, starch, and AA, and five diets containing corn and soybean meal and 50% of each source of peas were formulated. Pigs were fed the same diets in Exp. 1 and 2, but an N-free diet was also used in Exp. 1. In Exp. 1, barrows [n = 7; initial body weight (BW) = 60.6 kg; SD = 2.1] that had a T-cannula installed in the distal ileum were allotted to a 7 × 7 Latin square design with seven diets and seven periods. Ileal digesta were collected and analyzed for Cr and AA. In Exp. 2, pigs (n = 24; initial BW = 30.8 kg; SD = 1.0) were used in a 6 × 6 Latin square design with six calorimetry chambers and six periods. To determine NE, feces and urine were quantitatively collected and O2 consumption and CO2 and CH4 productions were measured. In both Exp. 1 and 2, the statistical model included diet as the main effect and pairwise comparisons were used to separate the means. Contrast coefficients were also used to determine linear effects of particle size within the U.S. peas. Results from Exp. 1 indicated that the SID of AA was not influenced by the origin of the peas or by particle size, except that the SID of Arg was linearly (P = 0.042) increased (Table 1) as particle size of U.S. field peas was reduced. The AID of starch in the U.S. peas ground to 265 µm was greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) than in the two Canadian sources, and the AID of starch and NE in diets were linearly (P &amp;lt; 0.001) increased as particle size was reduced. The NE in U.S. peas ground to 678 µm was less (P &amp;lt; 0.05) than in all other pea samples. In conclusion, AID of starch, SID of AA, and NE did not differ between field peas grown in Canada and peas grown in the U.S., but reducing the particle size of field peas resulted in improved digestibility of starch and energy by pigs.

Impact of foliar spray of nano-Zn and nano-Cu on biochemical characteristics of guava cv. Allahabad Safeda

Foliar spraying of nanoparticles (NPs) improves the absorption of plant nutrient application compared to traditional soil–root application, and it also enhances the yield and quality of fruits. The present study aimed to evaluate the qualitative effects of foliar sprays of two concentrations of nano-zinc and nano-copper (40 ppm, 60 ppm; 20 ppm, 30 ppm respectively), in comparison to ZnSo4 (recommended by, Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana) and control (foliar spray of water) on the guava crop (var. Allahabad Safeda). The experiment was conducted at Lovely Professional University Research farm, Phagwara, Jalandhar (Punjab) by applying a simple randomized block design, with ten treatments applied as T1: control, T2: nano-Zn1, T3: nano-Zn2, T4: nano-Cu1, T5: nano-Cu2, T6: nano-Zn1+ nano-Cu1, T7: nano-Zn1+ nano-Cu2, T8: nano-Zn2 + nano-Cu1, T9: nano-Zn2 + nano-Cu2, T10: ZnSO4 (PAU recommendation) in three replications. The treatments were sprayed two times, first at the flowering stage and second when the fruit reached pea size. The nutrient spray increases the concentration of nutrients in the leaves while also affecting the biochemical parameters. The performance for total soluble solids (9.89°B), total sugars (8.74%), titratable acidity (0.98%), antioxidants (7.49%), firmness (5.71kg/cm2), non-reducing sugars (3.32%), Vitamin-C (268.90mg/100g pulp), pectin content (2.13%), reducing sugars (5.46%), and TSS/acid ratio (10.06) was superior with the application of nano-Zn2 + nano-Cu2 (T9). The application of nano-micronutrients (zinc and copper) in combination is favorable for the quality of guava fruit (Allahabad Safeda).

New instrumentation in grapevine research: A dual respiration prototype for grape berries and whole bunch. The grape CO2/O2 respiratory quotient revisited

Grape berry respiration is a key process during maturation, since it influences must acidity. In recent literature, there are some reports showing measurements of bunch respiration, as CO2 efflux, from the point of view of the plant C balance. Traditionally, in the late 60 s and 70 s, grape berry respiration, either as CO2 or O2, was measured by slicing grape berries and using the standard Warburg method. Commercially available instruments adequate to measure gas exchange, particularly H2O (transpiration) and CO2 (respiration or photosynthesis), in small fruits (typically apples) are not suitable for a whole bunch or isolated grape berries.In this report, we present a low-cost, closed chamber system where the gases (CO2 and O2) are allowed to accumulate/be consumed, based on the use of sensors from Vaisala (CO2) and SST Sensing (O2), which can monitor respiration in a whole bunch of grape berries, or alternatively in isolated grape berries.Respiration was measured in whole Tempranillo bunches sampled at different phenological stages with the whole bunch respiration prototype. Results showed a decreasing trend of respiration from pea size to maturity (both measured as CO2 efflux and O2 uptake) with an almost constant CO2/O2 respiratory quotient of around 1.3. Data from the old literature postulated an increase in this respiratory quotient when grapes start to ripen. Since the measurement in a whole bunch modifies the relationship between the air volume circulating around the bunch as it grows in size with the phenological stage, we optimized the system by reducing as much as possible the air death volume using an alternative chamber for isolated grape berries. Measurements of Tempranillo grape berries collected at different phenological stages using this new closed system confirmed the decreased respiration trend throughout grape development and ripening period. Even most important, these respiration measurements resulted in a change of the CO2/O2 respiratory quotient from ca. 1.0 before veraison to 1.3 and 1.2 at veraison and maturity, respectively. These data suggest a change in the respired substrate from hexoses to organic acids, putatively mainly malic acid. Finally, a series of respiration measurements as CO2 efflux was made to check any possible physiological effect of cutting the bunch or the grape berry. A very important result of these series of measurements is that the fact of detaching the bunch from the plant or the grape from the bunch did not change the bunch/grape berry respiration rate, at least for several hours.

Reduction of particle size of field peas (Pisum sativum L.) increases net energy and digestibility of starch when fed to growing pigs, but there is no difference in nutritional value between peas from the United States and peas from Canada.

Two experiments were conducted to test the hypotheses that particle size of field peas and location where peas are grown do not affect apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients and gross energy, digestible energy (DE), metabolizable energy (ME), and net energy (NE), apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of starch, or standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA). In both experiments, 3 sources of field peas were used. One source was obtained from the United States and 2 sources were obtained from Canada (i.e., Canada 1 and Canada 2). The U.S. field peas were ground to 678, 457, or 265 µm, whereas the 2 sources of Canadian peas were ground to 411 and 415 µm, respectively. Therefore, 5 batches of field peas were used in both experiments. A basal diet contained corn and soybean meal as the only source of energy, starch, and AA, and 5 diets containing corn and soybean meal and 50% of each source of field peas were also formulated. The ratio between corn and soybean meal was 1.92:1 in all diets. In experiment 1, an N-free diet was also used to calculate basal endogenous losses of AA and CP, but in experiment 2, no N-free diet was used. In experiment 1, 7 barrows (initial body weight = 60.6 ± 2.1kg) that had a T-cannula installed in the distal ileum were allotted to a 7 × 7 Latin square design with 7 diets and 7 periods. In experiment 2, 24 pigs (initial body weight = 30.8 ± 1.0kg) were housed in 6 calorimeter chambers with 4 pigs per chamber. The 6 chambers were allotted to one of the 6 diets using a 6 × 6 Latin square design with 6 consecutive periods of 15 d. Results of experiment 1 demonstrated that the SID of CP and AA was not influenced by the origin of the peas or by the particle size, but the AID of starch increased (linear, P < 0.001) as particle size was reduced from 678 to 457 or 265 µm. Results of experiment 2 indicated that growing location did not affect concentrations of DE, ME, or NE of field peas, but concentrations of DE, ME, and NE increased (linear, P < 0.05) when particle size was reduced from 678 to 457 or 265 µm. In conclusion, field peas grown in Canada or the United States have the same nutritional value, but starch digestibility and NE increase if the particle size of field peas is reduced.

Influence of particle size and origin of field peas on apparent ileal digestibility of starch and amino acids and standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids when fed to growing pigs.

The objective was to test the hypothesis that particle size and origin of field peas influence the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of starch, crude protein (CP), and amino acids (AA) and the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of AA. Three sources of field peas were procured. One source was from the United States and two sources were from Canada. The U.S. source and one of the sources from Canada (i.e., Canada 1) were each divided into two batches and ground to achieve a target particle size of 250 or 450µm, whereas the other source from Canada (i.e., Canada 2) was only ground to a target particle size of 250µm. Each batch of field peas was included in one diet as the only source of AA. An N-free diet was used to determine the basal endogenous losses of CP and AA. Six barrows (initial weight: 50.5kg; SD = 3.7) that had a T-cannula installed in the distal ileum were randomly allotted to a 6 × 6 Latin square design with six diets and six 7-d periods. Ileal digesta from pigs were collected for 2d after 5d of adaptation. Data were analyzed using a statistical model that included batch of field peas as the fixed effect and animal and period as the random effects. Contrast statements were used to analyze the effects of particle size, origin, and the interaction between particle size and origin. Results indicated that the AID of starch was increased by reducing the particle size in the U.S. source of field peas, but that was not the case for the Canada 1 source (interaction; P < 0.001). Particle size did not influence the AID of CP or AA, but the Canada 2 source of field peas had greater (P < 0.05) AID of Trp, Ala, Cys, Gly, and Tyr than the field peas from the United States. The SID of CP and AA was also not affected by the particle size of field peas. The SID of CP and Trp was greater (P < 0.05), and the SID of His, Ile, and Thr tended (P < 0.10) to be greater in the Canada 2 source compared with the U.S. source, but no differences between the two Canada sources were observed. In conclusion, a few differences in SID of AA between field peas produced in the United States and peas produced in Canada were observed, but there was no effect on SID of AA of reducing the particle size of field peas from 450 to 250µm, whereas the AID of starch increased by reducing the particle size only in the field peas from the United States.

Response of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Pinotage to Irrigation Strategy and Trellis System in the Breede River Valley Region: Vegetative Growth, Yield and Juice Characteristics

Pinotage is a South African bred red wine cultivar and is second only to Shiraz in terms of the country’s wine exports. Since rainfall in the Breede River region is low, vineyards in this region depend on irrigation. The sensitivity of Pinotage/99R to water deficits and the most suitable irrigation strategy during water restrictions were studied in a field trial from 1998/99 until 2000/01. The possibility to produce more grapes with the same volume of irrigation water was also investigated. Irrigation strategies entailed combinations of 50% readily available water (RAW) depletion, 75% RAW depletion and no irrigation between various phenological stages, viz. budbreak, flowering, pea size berries, véraison, 17°B and harvest. Irrigation applied at 50% RAW depletion from budbreak in September until harvest in February was regarded as the control. Each experiment plot was split into a six-strand vertical hedge and a two-tier vertical trellis. The experiment layout was a split plot, randomised block design. Cane mass of grapevines on the two-tier trellis was lower compared to those on the six-strand hedge. Irrigation at 75% RAW depletion level until harvest tended to reduce cane mass compared to more frequent irrigation. Drier soil conditions reduced berry mass, regardless of the trellis system. Sustained water deficits reduced yield, but had little effect on juice acidity and pH. More Pinotage grapes were produced on the two-tier vertical trellis compared to the six-strand hedge with the same amount of irrigation, thereby reducing the blue water footprint and increasing the irrigation water use efficiency substantially.

Effect of the grape thinning on the content of trans-resveratrol in some Syrah clones

Wine is a product obtained through fermentation process, the trans-resveratrol is a polyphenol derived from grapes and a natural antioxidant that passes into wine. The trans-resveratrol is a rare compound with the highest content in the red wine and a positive physiological effect on human organism. The present study was conducted in three years period from 2020 until 2022 at the Agricultural university-Plovdiv experimental vineyard, located near the village of Brestnik. Four Syrah wine variety clones were included and eight experimental wines have been made during the experimental period. In all tested wines, the presence of trans-resveratrol was detected but its amount was higher in clone 524 (V4) with non-reduced yield (3.35, 4.36, 7.02 mg/L), and in clone 100 (V5) with reduced yield (5.24, 3.75, 7.23 mg/L). Reducing the bunch numbers at the “pea size” stage did not significantly influence the content of trans-resveratrol. The wine antioxidant properties were directly affected by the clone and the grape harvest and was under the terroir influence. In today's conditions of overproduction and increased competition, the results of this study provide a valuable economic information and expand the portfolio of wineries. Keywords: clones, Syrah, red wine, resveratrol, bunch thinning, canopy management

301 Effects of Different Sources and Particle Sizes of Field Peas on Ileal Digestibility of Amino Acids and Starch by Growing Pigs

Abstract The objective was to test the hypothesis that particle size and origin influence the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of starch and the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA) in field peas. Three sources of field peas were procured. One source was from the U.S. and 2 sources were from Canada. The U.S. source and 1 of the sources from Canada (i.e., Canada 1) were each divided into 2 batches and ground at 200 or 400 µm, whereas the other source from Canada (i.e., Canada 2) was only ground at 200 µm. Each source of field peas was included in one diet as the only source of AA. An N-free diet was used to determine the basal endogenous losses of crude protein (CP) and AA. Barrows (n = 6; initial body weight: 50.5 kg; SD = 3.7) that had a T-cannula installed in the distal ileum were randomly allotted to a 6 × 6 Latin square design with 6 diets and six 7-d periods. Ileal digesta from pigs were collected for 2 days after 5 days of adaptation. The statistical model included source as the fixed effect and animal and period as the random effects. Contrast statements were used to analyze effects of particle size, origin, and the interaction between particle size and origin. Results indicated that the AID of starch was increased by reducing the particle size of the U.S. source, but that was not the case for the Canada 1 source (interaction; P &amp;lt; 0.001; Table 1). No interactions were observed for the SID of CP or AA. The SID of CP and AA was not affected by particle size of field peas. The SID of CP and Trp was greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) and the SID of His, Ile, and Thr tended to be greater in the Canada 2 source (P &amp;lt; 0.10) than in the U.S. source. In conclusion, a few differences in the SID of AA in field peas produced in the U.S. or Canada were observed, but there was no effect on SID of AA of reducing the particle size of field peas from 400 to 200 µm. However, the effect of particle size on the AID of starch was greater in field peas from the U.S. compared with field peas from Canada.

Ascophyllum nodosum Extract and Glycine Betaine Preharvest Application in Grapevine: Enhancement of Berry Quality, Phytochemical Content and Antioxidant Properties.

The Douro Demarcated Region (DDR) has peculiar edaphoclimatic characteristics that provide a suitable terroir for premium wine production. As climate change effects continue to emerge, ensuring productivity and quality becomes increasingly important for viticulturists, as those directly determine their profits. Cultural approaches, such as the use of biostimulants, are actively being developed to mitigate abiotic stress. The main objective of this work was to assess the effect of foliar sprays of a seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum)-based extract (ANE) and glycine betaine (GB) on grape berry quality, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity. A trial was installed in a commercial vineyard (cv. 'Touriga Franca') in the Douro Superior (Upper Douro) sub-region of the Douro Demarcated Region. In 2020 and 2021, three foliar sprayings were performed during the growing season, namely at pea size, bunch closure, and veraison. There was a positive effect of both biostimulants (ANE and GB) on the physiological and biochemical performance of cv. 'Touriga Franca' exposed to summer stress. In general, the GB 0.2% spraying was the most promising treatment for this grape cultivar, as it increased berry quality, the concentration of bioactive compounds (total phenolics, flavonoids, and ortho-diphenols), and the antioxidant activity. These results revealed the efficacy of biostimulant sprayings as a sustainable viticultural practice, improving berry quality under summer stress conditions.

Improving the functionality of pea protein with laccase-catalyzed crosslinking mediated by chlorogenic acid

The influences of laccase-catalyzed crosslinking on the structural, emulsifying and gelling properties of pea protein with chlorogenic acid were intensively probed. Molecular weight analysis illustrated the formation of pea protein aggregates by laccase-induced polymerization in the presence of chlorogenic acid and the increase of incubation time facilitated the aggregation. Particle size of pea protein-laccase-chlorogenic acid progressively enhanced increasing incubation time. Laccase-induced polymerization possessed remarkable impacts on the secondary and tertiary structure of pea protein, confirmed by circular dichroism, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Surface hydrophobicity of pea protein appreciably enhanced with laccase-induced crosslinking due to the exposure of interior hydrophobic amino acid residues. Emulsifying activity, emulsifying capacity, gel strength, and water-holding capacity of pea protein can be considerably enhanced with laccase-catalyzed crosslinking with chlorogenic acid, suggesting excellent functionalities for pea protein were accomplished after being modified by laccase with chlorogenic acid. The obtained information will widen pea protein’s application in food systems.

Assessment of vineyard vigour and yield spatio-temporal variability based on UAV high resolution multispectral images

Accurate, timely assessment of the vineyard on a field scale is essential for successful grape yield and quality. Remote sensing can be an effective and useful monitoring tool, as data from sensors on board Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) can measure vegetative and reproductive growth and thus directly or indirectly detect variability. Through the images obtained from UAV, the Vegetation Indices (VIs) can be calculated and compared with various agronomic characteristics of the vineyard. The objective of this study was to evaluate the multispectral response of the vineyard in three specific phenological phases and to analyse the spatial distribution of vegetative vigour. A multirotor UAV equipped with a camera featuring multispectral sensors was used. Four VIs namely Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalised Difference Red Edge (NDRE), Green Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (GNDVI), Modified Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (MSAVI), were calculated using the georeferenced orthomosaic UAV images. Computer vision techniques were used to segment these orthoimages to extract only the vegetation canopy pixels. High level of agronomic variability within the vineyard was identified. Pearson's coefficient showed a significant correlation between NDVI and NDRE indices and yield since early phenological stages (r = 0.80 and 0.72 respectively), GNDVI at grape ripening (r = 0.83). Shoot pruning weight (SPW) shows the highest values of correlation (r = 0.84) with NDVI during the phenological stage of berries pea size. Simple linear regression techniques were evaluated using VIs as predictors of the SPW, and accurate predictive results were obtained for NDVI and NDRE with RMSE values of 0.18 and 0.24, respectively. Geostatistical analysis was applied to model the spatial variability of SPW, and thus vineyard vigour. Assessing spatial variability and appreciating the level of vigour enables improved vineyard management by increasing sustainability and production efficiency.

Transcriptomic analysis reveals GA3 is involved in regulating flavonoid metabolism in grape development for facility cultivation.

Gibberellin, as one of the pivotal plant growth regulators, can improve fruit quality by altering fruit size and secondary metabolite content. Flavonoids are the most abundant secondary metabolites in grapes, which influence the color and quality of the fruit. However, the molecular mechanism of whether and how GA3 affects flavonoid metabolism has not been reported, especially for the 'Red globe' grape with delayed cultivation in Hexi corridor. In the present study, the 'Red globe' grape grown in delayed facilities was sprayed with 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100mg/L GA3 at berries pea size (BPS), veraison (V) and berries ripe (BR), respectively. The results showed that the berry weight, soluble sugar content and secondary metabolite content (the flavonoid content, anthocyanin content and polyphenol content) at BR under 80mg/L GA3 treatment were remarkably increased compared with other concentration treatments. Therefore, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was used to analyze the differentially expressed genes (DEGS) and pathways under 80mg/L GA3 treatment at three periods. GO analysis showed that DEGs were closely related to transporter activity, cofactor binding, photosynthetic membrane, thylakoid, ribosome biogenesis and other items. The KEGG enrichment analysis found that the DEGs were mainly involved in flavonoid biosynthesis and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, indicating GA3 exerted an impact on the color and quality of berries through these pathways. In conclusion, GA3 significantly increased the expression of genes related to flavonoid synthesis, enhanced the production of secondary metabolites, and improved fruit quality. In addition, these findings can provide a theoretical basis for GA3 to modulate the accumulation and metabolism of flavonoids in grape fruit.

Water deficit before veraison is crucial in regulating berry VOCs concentration in Sangiovese grapevines.

The impact of water deficit on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) responsible for grape aroma remains quite unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different timing and intensity of water deficit on berry VOCs and on their biosynthetic pathways. Fully irrigated control vines were compared with the following treatments: i) two different levels of water deficit from berry pea-size through veraison, ii) one level of water deficit during the lag-phase, and iii) two different levels of water deficit from veraison through harvest. At harvest, total VOC concentrations were higher in berries of water stressed vines from berry pea size through veraison or during the lag phase, whereas post-veraison water deficit determined similar concentrations as control. This pattern was even more pronounced for the glycosylated fraction and was also observed for single compounds, mainly monoterpenes and C13-norisoprenoids. On the other hand, free VOCs were higher in berries from lag phase or post-veraison stressed vines. The significant glycosylated and free VOCs increment measured after the short water stress limited to the lag phase highlight the pivotal role played by this stage in berry aroma compound biosynthesis modulation. The severity of water stress before veraison was also important, since glycosylated VOCs showed a positive correlation with the pre-veraison daily water stress integral. The RNA-seq analysis showed a wide regulation induced by irrigation regimes on terpenes and carotenoids biosynthetic pathways. The terpene synthases and glycosyltransferases as well as genes of the network of transcription factors were upregulated, especially in berries from pre-veraison stressed vines. Since the timing and intensity of water deficit contribute to regulate berry VOCs, irrigation management can be used to achieve high-quality grapes while saving water.

Yield estimation using machine learning from satellite imagery

Accurate and early yield estimation (from pea size) allows 1.- Make decisions at field level: green harvesting, irrigation management. 2.- Advance or organise the purchase of grapes from suppliers. 3.- Forecast the volume of wine produced in the campaign that has not yet begun. 4.- Define the quality of the vintage: regular and detailed monitoring of whether, or not, the heterogeneity of the leaf surface, photosynthetic activity or soil moisture observed in the vineyards is as expected at this time, compared with historical values. 5.- Precise control of each vine in production, knowing which vines are no longer productive or should be grubbed up. The Sentinel-2 satellite has generated a time series of images spanning more than six years, which is a great help in analysing the state of permanent crops such as vineyards, where grapes are produced every year. The weekly comparison of what is happening in the current season with what has happened in the previous six seasons is information that is in line with agricultural practices: Winegrowers make the mental exercise of comparing how the vines are developing today with how they developed in previous seasons, with the aim of repeating the years of good yields. In addition, several commercial satellites can now capture images of 50 centimetres pixel resolution or even better, making it possible to check the health of each vine every year. Since 2020, GMV and Pago de Carraovejas have been working together to develop a yield estimation service based on field information and satellite images that feed machine learning algorithms. This paper describes the path followed from the beginning and the steps taken, summarising as follows: 1. - Machine learning algorithm trained with cluster counting and satellite data. 2. - Adjustment of the number of vines in production in each vineyard using very high-resolution imagery. 3. - Machine learning algorithm trained on real production from past campaigns and historical Sentinel-2 time series. The results obtained by comparing the actual grape intake in the winery with the yield estimation range from 91% accuracy in 2020 to 95% accuracy in 2022.

Chemicals that Disrupt the Endocrine System and their Effects on Human Health

Endocrine glands are the important glands of human that performs certain functions and has specific characteristics. The main function of these glands is that they regulate the whole system by producing hormones which they produce indigenously and pours them directly in the blood for a targeted action and all of their functions are involuntary. They are specifically ductless glands and their course of action is regulated by a pea size Pituitary gland or sometimes referred as the Master Gland. Until now, very less has been known about these glands that their actions or functions are being interrupted or disturbed by chemicals or other environmental actions. There are certain chemicals which include chlorpyrifos, DDT, insecticides, pesticides, fungicides and other daily use items such as plastics, paints, furniture, perfumes, toys polishes, electronic gadgets, items of food packaging are reported to have disturbed the normal hormonal functions in humans that are leading to numerous diseases due to either lack of production of specific hormone or increased production of a specific hormone by the action of these chemicals. The diseases that are commonly reported due to the action of the above chemicals and daily use items includes neurological disorders, behavioral disorders, metabolic dysfunction leading to obesity or weakness, thyroid dysfunction, reproductive disturbances and several others that can prove fatal and lead to cancer as well.