Pre-hydration Treatment Research Articles

Viscous Oil De-Wetting Surfaces Based on Robust Superhydrophilic Barium Sulfate Nanocoating.

Viscous oil adherence onto solid surfaces is ubiquitous and has caused intractable fouling problems, impairing the function of solid surfaces in various areas such as optics and separation membranes. Materials with superhydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity are very effective in elimination of oil fouling. However, most of them cannot dewet viscous oils and may malfunction without prehydration treatment. Herein, we report a facile and environmental strategy to prepare barium sulfate (BaSO4) nanocoating to dewet viscous oils on dry surfaces. Abundant surface polar groups (surface hydroxyl) on BaSO4 nanocoating enhance both hydrophilicity after oil fouling (underoil water contact angle <10°) and underwater superoleophobicity (underwater-oil contact angle >155°) and then facilitate oil dewetting ability. Different oils with viscosity up to 900 mPa·s can be easily eliminated after immersion into water. The results and force analysis also demonstrate that small surface roughness and ultrahydrophilicity under oil are beneficial to achieve oil dewetting property on dry surfaces. Furthermore, BaSO4 nanocoating displays excellent mechanical, thermal and chemical stability and can maintain oil repellency through various harsh conditions. Outstanding antioil fouling ability also enables the fabric coated by BaSO4 nanocoating to separate crude oil/water with flux higher than 28 000 Lm2-h-1 and separation efficiency larger than 99.9% and maintain effective separation performance even after 100 times of separation. Thus, the robust superhydrophilic BaSO4 nanocoating is potential in oil dewetting and waste oil remediation.

Prehydration mitigates damage accrued from prolonged periods of desiccation in cultured shoot apices of Syntrichia ruralis

ABSTRACT Introduction. We hypothesised that a prehydration period (exposure to humid air) should mitigate the damaging effects of short or long periods of desiccation in a desert moss, Syntrichia ruralis. Methods. Cultured uniclonal shoots of S. ruralis were dried rapidly, equilibrated at 42% relative humidity (RH), allowed to remain at this RH for 1–50 days, and either (1) prehydrated (24 h at 100% RH) then rehydrated with liquid water, or (2) rehydrated directly using liquid water without a prehydration treatment, and assessed using chlorophyll fluorescence and visual damage. Key results. At both 20 min and 24 h postrehydration, all chlorophyll fluorescence measures (F m, F v/F m, ΦPSII, qP) were higher in shoots that were prehydrated. Prehydrated S. ruralis shoots also had less visual leaf damage 7 d postrehydration. Duration-dry (DD) had an overall negative effect for all fluorescence measures on shoots immediately after rehydration, an effect that dissipated at 24 h postrehydration in three of the four fluorescence measures (F m, F v/F m, ΦPSII). Leaf damage was not influenced by Duration-dry. Although no interaction was detected between Prehydration and Duration-dry treatments, the benefits of prehydration were accentuated based on fluorescence metrics F v/F m and ΦPSII, when shoots are exposed to longer drying periods. Conclusions. A prehydration treatment implemented just prior to hydration with liquid water significantly mitigated shoot damage accrued from a prior rapid drying event and DDs of up to 50 d at 42% RH. Based on photosynthetic efficiency, prehydration conferred greater effects at longer DDs. Experiencing humid conditions prior to rainwater mitigates damage incurred during prolonged desiccation.

Hazelnut Pollen Phenotyping Using Label-Free Impedance Flow Cytometry.

Impedance flow cytometry (IFC) is a versatile lab-on-chip technology which enables fast and label-free analysis of pollen grains in various plant species, promising new research possibilities in agriculture and plant breeding. Hazelnut is a monoecious, anemophilous species, exhibiting sporophytic self-incompatibility. Its pollen is dispersed by wind in midwinter when temperatures are still low and relative humidity is usually high. Previous research found that hazelnut can be characterized by high degrees of pollen sterility following a reciprocal chromosome translocation occurring in some cultivated genotypes. In this study, IFC was used for the first time to characterize hazelnut pollen biology. IFC was validated via dye exclusion in microscopy and employed to (i) follow pollen hydration over time to define the best pre-hydration treatment for pollen viability evaluation; (ii) test hazelnut pollen viability and sterility on 33 cultivars grown in a collection field located in central Italy, and two wild hazelnuts. The accessions were also characterized by their amount and distribution of catkins in the tree canopy. Pollen sterility rate greatly varied among hazelnut accessions, with one main group of highly sterile cultivars and a second group, comprising wild genotypes and the remaining cultivars, producing good quality pollen. The results support the hypothesis of recurring reciprocal translocation events in Corylus avellana cultivars, leading to the observed gametic semi-sterility. The measured hazelnut pollen viability was also strongly influenced by pollen hydration (R = 0.83, P ≤ 0.0001) and reached its maximum at around 6 h of pre-hydration in humid chambers. Viable and dead pollen were best discriminated at around the same time of pollen pre-hydration, suggesting that high humidity levels are required for hazelnut pollen to maintain its functionality. Altogether, our results detail the value of impedance flow cytometry for high throughput phenotyping of hazelnut pollen. Further research is required to clarify the causes of pollen sterility in hazelnut, to confirm the role of reciprocal chromosome translocations and to investigate its effects on plant productivity.

Effects of Inorganic Salt Solutions on Vigour, Viability, Oxidative Metabolism and Germination Enzymes in Aged Cabbage and Lettuce Seeds.

This study assessed the potential of pre-hydration treatment with aqueous solutions (electrolysed [cathodic water; CW] and non-electrolysed) prepared from four different inorganic ion combinations: 1 mM CaCl2, 1 µm CaCl2 and 1 mM MgCl2 (CaMg, hereafter), 1 mM MgCl2 and 1 mM NaCl to invigorate controlled deteriorated (CDd) Brassica oleracea (cabbage) and Lactuca sativa (lettuce) seeds by assessing germination, vigour and biochemical markers (electrolyte leakage, lipid peroxidation products, protein carbonylation, and defence and germination associated enzymes) of oxidative stress. Additionally, the possible effects of pH of electrolysed CaMg and NaCl solutions were assessed. The inorganic salt solutions were applied to fresh seeds and seeds deteriorated to 75% viability (P75), 50% viability (P50) and 25% viability (P25); deionised water served as control. The pre-hydration treatment did not enhance normal seedling production in cabbage. However, Ca-containing and CW hydration treatments (CaCl2 CW, CaMg and CaMg CW [6.5], MgCl2 CW, NaCl CW and NaCl CW [6.5]) promoted normal seedling production of CDd lettuce seeds, while seedling vigour was enhanced by CaMg, CaMg CW (6.5), NaCl CW and NaCl CW (6.5) in CDd cabbage seeds, and CaCl2, CaCl2 CW, CaMg, CaMg CW (6.5), MgCl2 CW, NaCl CW and NaCl CW (6.5) in CDd lettuce seeds. The supplementation of Ca, a component of the ionised solutes, and/or the reducing potential of CW contributed to increased normal seedling production in lettuce seeds irrespective of the pH of treatment solutions or degree of deterioration. Overall, the pre-hydration treatments enhanced endogenous antioxidants leading to reduced levels of electrolyte leakage, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation, and enhanced germination enzyme activities in lettuce seeds. The study concluded that pre-hydration with selected inorganic salt solutions can invigorate debilitated lettuce seeds.

Scaling the water cluster size of Nafion membranes for a high performance Zn/Br redox flow battery

Due to their preferential cation transport, dense cation exchange membranes like Nafion membranes are unsuitable for Zn/Br redox flow batteries which require bi-ionic transport of Zn2+ and Br- ions. This work shows that scaling the water cluster size of Nafion membranes by a pre-hydration treatment can achieve not only a high ionic conductivity but also a bi-ionic transport property. Small angle X-Ray scattering, diffusion cell, and electrochemical analysis verify that by increasing the pre-hydration temperature, the water clusters are expanded, resulting in an increase of water uptake, ionic conductivity and the anion transference number. The bi-ionic transport and low area specific resistance induced by the pretreatment enable the successful operation of a Zn/Br redox flow battery with a NRE-212 membrane. Compared with a conventional porous membrane, the properly treated Nafion membrane has an 11.3% higher energy efficiency indicating that the dense structured ion exchange membrane can be used for Zn/Br flow batteries by scaling the water cluster size.

The role of prehydration in rescuing shoots of mosses damaged by extreme desiccation events: Syntrichia norvegica (Pottiaceae)

While regarded as a principal factor of desiccation tolerance in bryophytes (along with rate of drying, water content and duration dry), the rate of rehydration has been broadly neglected or inadequately assessed. Prior to receiving liquid water from a rain event, desiccated bryophytes are able to partially rehydrate their tissues by absorbing water vapor when ambient relative humidity is high, a process known as prehydration. A single clone of Syntrichia norvegica was cultured for 4–6 months in a suprasaturated condition. Shoot apices were used in experimental prehydrating (1–48 h), drying (5 min–300 h, equilibrating at ∼0% relative humidity), and duration dry (0–42 d continuously dry at 54% RH) series. Shoots were subsequently prehydrated 24 h prior to exposure to liquid water or directly immersed in liquid water and assessed for desiccation associated damage. Prehydration occurs over a 4-h period, after which shoot water content levels out. Shoots that normally die when equilibrated at low water contents were rescued with a prehydration treatment. At extremely rapid rates of drying (<20 min) prehydration effects were limited. However, at gradual rates of drying the prehydration treatment restored chlorophyll fluorescence and regeneration capacity to near control levels. Prehydration also improved the capacity of a shoot to recover following continuously dry episodes of several weeks. Without a prehydration treatment, shoot apices of the moss Syntrichia norvegica were killed by desiccation to equilibrium with 0% RH, and severely damaged upon rehydration from a 42-d dry period. With a prehydration treatment, both of these scenarios were mitigated. For the prehydration treatment to be effective, a rate of drying only of 30 or more minutes from full turgor without external free water to leaf curling achieves a significant lessening of damage.

Pre-Sowing Seed Treatments with Silicon Nano-Iron and Nano-Silicon Particles on Germination of Dragonhead

Abstract Nanotechnology is an emerging field of science widely exploited in agriculture in recent years. In this investigation, application of nanotechnology in agriculture via application of some nano-particles (nano-iron and nano-silicon) have been investigated in seed priming of dragonhead. Seeds were subjected to pre-hydration treatments by factor nano-silicon dioxide as; (S1) 0 mM or distilled water, (S2) 1 mM concentration and (S3) 2 mM concentration and and factor nano-iron oxide as; (F1) 0 Mm or distilled water, (F2) 1 mM concentration and (F3) 2 mM concentration. Germination percent, root fresh weight, shoot fresh weight, root length, shoot length, dry weight of the seed residue, root dry weight and shoot dry weight were measured. Analysis of variance showed significant variation for the main effect of nano-silicon dioxide as well as nano-iron dioxide in root length and dry weight of the seed residue. The interaction effect of nano-silicon × nano-iron priming treatments were significant in all of the measured traits except germination percentage and root fresh weight. The highest germination percentage was recorded in S2-F3, S3-F1 and S3-F3 while the root fresh weight was high in S2-F3 and treatments S1-F1 following to S2-F3 and S3-F2 produced the highest shoot fresh weight. Also, S2-F3 has the highest root length (16.1 cm) and the highest shoot length (18.4 cm). The best treatment combination suitable for obtaining of high values of germination characteristics of dragon-head was identified as S2-F3 (1 mM nano-silicon dioxide plus 2 mM nano-iron dioxide).

Pré-hidratação e avaliação do potencial fisiológico de sementes de soja

Sementes de soja submetidas à rápida hidratação podem sofrer danos por embebição, cuja intensidade depende do cultivar e do teor de água inicial das sementes. O presente trabalho objetivou estudar alterações fisiológicas determinadas por métodos de pré-hidratação para minimização do dano por embebição. Foram utilizados três lotes de cada cultivar de soja, de tamanho uniforme, CD 202 e CD 215, caracterizados quanto ao teor de água, germinação, primeira contagem de germinação, envelhecimento acelerado, condutividade elétrica e emergência de plântulas em campo. Os teores de água das sementes foram ajustados para 7,5; 10,5 e 13,5%. A seguir, as sementes foram submetidas a tratamentos de pré-hidratação em atmosfera saturada e em substrato umedecido, por quatro e seis horas e, posteriormente, avaliadas pelos testes de condutividade elétrica após 24 horas, germinação e emergência de plântulas em campo. Os tratamentos de pré-hidratação em atmosfera saturada e substrato umedecido, por quatro e seis horas mostraram-se eficientes na diminuição de danos causados às sementes com baixo teor de água, sendo mais expressivo nas sementes de cultivar CD 202. No entanto, a pré-hidratação em substrato umedecido por seis horas foi o mais eficiente para os dois genótipos, ao proporcionar menor quantidade de solutos lixiviados, tendo em vista o menor valor obtido pelo teste de condutividade elétricaz e promover melhor desempenho das sementes nos testes de germinação e de emergência de plântulas em campo.

Invigoration of pioneer tree seeds using prehydration treatments

Invigoration of pioneer tree seeds using prehydration treatments

Efeito do condicionamento osmótico de sementes de soja sobre a habilidade competitiva da cultura com as plantas daninhas

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos do condicionamento osmótico de sementes de soja sobre o desempenho da cultura e sua habilidade competitiva com as plantas daninhas. As sementes de soja, da variedade UFV 16, colhidas nos estádios fenológicos R8 e R8 + 15 dias, foram submetidas ao condicionamento osmótico em solução de polietileno glicol (PEG 6000), a -0,8 MPa e 20ºC, por 96 horas. Como testemunha foram utilizadas sementes sem tratamento de pré-embebição, colhidas nos mesmos estádios fenológicos. Em laboratório, a germinação e o vigor das sementes foram avaliados pelo teste-padrão de germinação, utilizando-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, no esquema fatorial 2x2, com quatro repetições. A campo foram realizados dois experimentos, utilizando sementes com e sem condicionamento osmótico, colhidas também nos estádios fenológicos R8 e R8+15, respectivamente. Em ambos os experimentos, utilizando o delineamento de blocos casualizados com quatro repetições, foram avaliados os efeitos de diferentes períodos (0, 15, 30, 45, 60 e 125 dias após a emergência da soja) de convivência da soja com as plantas daninhas. Os maiores valores de germinação e vigor, de estande inicial e final e de rendimento de grãos foram observados nos tratamentos com as sementes condicionadas e colhidas no estádio fenológico R8. As demais características agronômicas avaliadas (altura de plantas, número de nós, número de vagens por planta, número de sementes por planta, número de sementes por vagem e peso de 100 sementes) não foram alteradas pelo condicionamento. O efeito competitivo cultura-planta daninha foi verificado pelos menores valores de biomassa seca de plantas daninhas, nos tratamentos em que foram utilizadas as sementes colhidas no estádio R8 e condicionadas osmoticamente.

The effect of parsley seed hydration treatment and pelleting on seed vigour

The effect of two priming techniques: hardening (prehydration treatment) and solid matrix priming (SMP) was studied on the seeds of two parsley varieties (Cukrowa and Berlińska) in 3-year laboratory experiments. On the images obtained from scanning electron microscope (SEM) there is a&amp;nbsp;parsley embryo developing during germination up to the moment of radicle emergence. On the surface of primed seeds, in particular using the hardening method, lateral cracks are visible. The respiratory activity of primed seeds was similar to that of non-primed in the period of initial 24 h of germination, but significantly higher after 48 h. As compared to non primed seeds solid matrix priming significantly increased the percentage and the speed of germination. Nevertheless, pelleting reduced the positive effect of priming on the germination ability, without affecting the germination speed. After 18 months of storage, the vigour of primed seeds, particularly through hardening, had significantly decreased.

Photometathesis activity and thermal stability of two types of mesoporous silica materials, FSM-16 and MCM-41

The metathesis reaction of propene under photoirradiation was performed over two types of mesoporous silica materials, FSM-16 and MCM-41, and amorphous silica evacuated at high temperature. The activity increased with increasing evacuation temperature, and moreover, prehydration treatment before evacuation influenced the activity. The effect of these pretreatment conditions, however, differed from sample to sample. FSM-16 and MCM-41, exhibited activity after evacuation at considerably lower temperature than amorphous silica. Prehydration enhanced the activity of FSM-16 and amorphous silica, but suppressed that of MCM-41. It was also observed that the stability of FSM-16 is higher than MCM-41 under pretreatment conditions. From these results, the specific features of mesoporous silica materials and the difference between FSM-16 and MCM-41 were discussed.

Improvement of Brown Bread Quality by Prehydration Treatment and Cultivar Selection of Bran

ABSTRACTDifferent bran pretreatments and bran cultivars were investigated with the aim of alleviating the adverse effects caused by bran addition in brown (fiber‐rich) bread. Three different bran treatments: hydration, wet heat, and wet oxidation, all hydrate bran before its addition to other breadmaking ingredients. Four different bran cultivars were investigated. All treatments improved brown bread quality significantly, resulting in larger, softer loafs. All treatments resulted in an increase in the water absorption of brown bread doughs and a decrease in potentially oxidizable substances (POS) in brans. It is suggested that prehydration treatment activates bran lipoxy‐Different bran pretreatments and bran cultivars were investigated with the aim of alleviating the adverse effects caused by bran addition in brown (fiber‐rich) bread. Three different bran treatments: hydration, wet heat, and wet oxidation, all hydrate bran before its addition to other breadmaking ingredients. Four different bran cultivars were investigated. All treatments improved brown bread quality significantly, resulting in larger, softer loafs. All treatments resulted in an increase in the water absorption of brown bread doughs and a decrease in potentially oxidizable substances (POS) in brans. It is suggested that prehydration treatment activates bran lipoxygenase which oxidizes POS in bran, reducing bran's contribution to brown bread dough. A further reduction of these substances is caused by a washout effect of the treatments. On average across all bran cultivars, the hydration and wet oxidation treatments improved brown bread quality significantly more than the wet heat treatment, which also reduced the bran POS significantly less than the other treatments, probably due to its rapid inactivation of lipoxygenase. The bran cultivars differed significantly in their effects on brown bread quality, suggesting that bran selection according to cultivar should be considered.

The solubilization of the basic subunit of sugarbeet seed 11-S globulin during priming and early germination

AbstractThe basic B-subunit of the seed storage protein 11-S globulin (an 11-S-legumin type protein) is the major polypeptide in soluble protein extracts from primed sugarbeet (Beta vulgarisL.) seeds. In contrast, only a small amount of this protein is present in corresponding extracts from untreated dry mature seeds. Here, and as for all 11-S globulins described so far, the B-chain is linked to other polypeptide(s), corresponding most presumably to an acidic A-chain, through the formation of disulphide bridge(s). Polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analyses of total and soluble protein extracts from untreated and primed seeds strongly indicate that this priming-induced solubilization of the B-chain resulted from an endoproteolytic attack on the A-chain. Microscopical immunolocalization showed a uniform distribution of the 11-S globulin B-chain over the protein bodies of the embryonic cells from the untreated seeds. For the primed seeds, however, the B-subunit of 11-S globulin diffused out of the protein bodies and invaded the cytosolic compartment. This phenomenon occurred independently of the manner of priming, being observed with hydroprimed and osmoprimed seeds, as well as with sugarbeet seeds that had been primed by a prehydration treatment. Quantitative analyses of the amounts of soluble 11-S globulin B-chain have enabled the priming of sugarbeet seeds to be optimized.