Soaking In Water Research Articles

Spectroscopic Characterization of the Chemical Changes Occurring in Soy Wood Composite Adhesives When Exposed to Moisture

Abstract Solid-state surface attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (SATR-FTIR) and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SSNMR) were used to characterize the physiochemical changes in solid soy-flour adhesives upon exposure to water. Comparisons were made between adhesives that were prepared with and without the crosslinking chemical polyamideamine-epichlorohydrin (PAE). Comparisons were also made between neat monolithic adhesive films, and adhesives that were laminated to yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). FTIR data revealed that the relative surface concentration of water-soluble components on neat monolithic adhesives was higher prior to water-exposure as compared with the adhesive laminated to wood. Moreover, the chemical composition of the water-soluble extract was affected by PAE. After soaking in water, the water-soluble components were observed to dissolve and disappear from the surfaces of the adhesives, as well as from the surfaces of water-soaked wood-laminate specimens. Similarly, SSNMR results corroborated with the dissolution and disappearance of the water-soluble components from the neat monolithic adhesives after water soaking. Moreover, it was discovered that the water-soluble components have a plasticization effect when PAE is used as a crosslinker. The implications of these findings as they pertain to the mechanism of adhesion will be discussed.

Effect of chitosan-epoxy ratio in bio-based adhesive on physical and mechanical properties of medium density fiberboards from mixed hardwood fibers

Chitosan and bio-based epoxy resins have emerged as promising formaldehyde-free replacements for traditional urea–formaldehyde (UF) adhesives in engineered wood products. This study evaluated five chitosan-to-epoxy weight ratios (3:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3) as adhesives for hot-pressing medium density fiberboards (MDF) using mixed hardwood fibers. Increasing the epoxy ratio reduced viscosity and gel time, facilitating spraying and fast curing. The density of the formulated MDFs increased with higher epoxy ratios, ranging from 679 kg/m3 for the 3:1 ratio to 701 kg/m3 for the 1:3 formulation, meeting the 500–900 kg/m3 density range specified in EN 323. The 1:3 epoxy-rich formulation enhanced modulus of rupture (MOR) to 31 MPa and modulus of elasticity (MOE) to 2392 MPa, exceeding the minimum requirements of 16 MPa and 1500 MPa set out in EN 310 and EN 316, respectively. Dimensional stability peaked at 5% thickness swelling for the 1:3 formulation after 24 h water soaking, fulfilling the < 25% requirement per EN 316. Internal bond strength reached a maximum of 0.98 MPa for the 3:1 chitosan-rich formulation, satisfying the 0.40 MPa minimum per EN 319. One-way ANOVA tests showed the adhesive ratio had a significant effect on mechanical properties and dimensional stability at 95–99% confidence levels. Duncan's multiple range test revealed the 1:3 ratio boards exhibited statistically significant improvements compared to untreated group. Overall, tailoring the ratios achieved well-balanced properties for MOR, MOE, and dimensional stability, demonstrating potential to replace UF resins.

Ultrawide sensing-range, super durable and high-strength epoxy/carbon fiber composites sensor based on stress-induced structure

Nowadays, high-pressure sensors are broadly utilized in manufacturing and applications for ensuring safe production and preventing failures. However, present high-pressure sensors are mainly fabricated by high-strength metal and cement, which are too heavy or easy-corrosive to satisfy long-term usage. Polymer piezoresistive materials have great potential due to their stability and light weight, but achieving high strength and durability at the same time remains a serious challenge. In this work, a high-strength pressure sensor is fabricated by epoxy resin/carbon fiber (EP/CF) composite, where CF builds a conductive network as a reinforcing phase and EP provides a durable and light-weight base phase. The conductive mechanism based on stress-induced structure has been elucidated, and the performance of related sensors in various conditions is revealed. The lightweight (∼1.28 g/cm3) pressure sensor manifests a wide sensing response range from 22 kPa to 80 MPa. Moreover, the durability of this novel pressure sensor is verified by repeating loading and unloading at a high pressure of 10 MPa for more than 3500 cycles. Meanwhile, the high temperature and water resistance are furtherly confirmed, where EP/CF composites exhibits excellent cycling stability (10 MPa, >1000 cycles) after heating (100 °C) or soaking in water. Attributed to the comprehensive performance of high-strength, ultrawide detection range, durability and light weight, EP/CF composites are applied for road safety monitoring and deep-sea operation, showing wide application prospects in high-pressure monitoring field.

Использование процесса проращивания для повышения антиоксидантных свойств сырья

Abstract. The development of technology for controlled germination of grains and raw ingredients based on them, as well as the adaptation of methods and approaches for each individual crop, is one of the promising areas in the development of a line of food products that meets all the requirements of the modern population. The novelty of the research lies in the use of short-term temperature exposure as a disinfecting step before the process of germination of barley grain and the formation of an evidence base that this type of exposure does not have a negative impact on the remaining technological stages. The purpose of the study was to study the possibility of using barley grain in germination technology for the further production of raw ingredients with increased antioxidant properties. Research methods. The objects of study were barley grain (Hordeum vulgare L.), harvested from 2019 to 2022. The production of sprouted grain included separate technological stages: disinfection (short-term exposure to high temperatures), soaking (in water at 20 ± 2 °C for 20 hours) and germination (in a chamber with a temperature of 22 ± 2 °C and air humidity 95 ± 3 % , with a time range of 12–48 hours). Standard methods were used to evaluate: organoleptic indicators, humidity, nature, mass fraction of protein, ability and energy of germination, as well as microbiological indicators. To select the optimal duration of germination, the total content of flavonoids, polyphenols and antioxidant activity was controlled. Results. As a result of the studies, it was established that the use of short-term thermal exposure at a temperature of 190 °C and a duration of 10 s allows minimizing the risks of activating the development of the present microflora of barley grain. Using the proposed approaches, when carrying out the technological stage of germination, it was possible to identify the optimal duration of the process – 36 hours, which leads to an increase in total antioxidant activity by an average of 46 %, flavonoid content by 560 % and polyphenols by 145 %.

Boosting Kesterite Solar Cell Performance with Tantalum Oxide Passivation Layer and In Situ Formed Point Contacts

Kesterite solar cells often suffer from low open‐circuit voltage due to interface recombination. To address this, a passivation approach is explored using a dielectric layer between the absorber and buffer layer, coupled with a point contact structure. In this method, carrier transport is enabled through point contacts while effectively passivating regions covered by oxide. In this study, although forming point contacts on the front surface poses processing challenges, a novel solution is presented. Herein, in situ formed ZnS nanoparticles (NPs) during Cu2ZnSn(S, Se)4 (CZTSSe) absorber fabrication is utilized as a nanomask for front surface point contacts. A thin TaOx layer, acting as the passivation layer, is deposited over the CZTSSe surface with ZnS NPs by using atomic layer deposition (ALD). The selective removal of these NPs by deionized water soaking creates size‐controlled point contacts without damaging the absorber surface. In this approach, the first successful implementation of TaOx in enhancing CZTSSe solar cell efficiency, which jumps from 6.17% to 9.02% due to this strategy, is marked. The passivation mechanism involves sodium attraction during ALD, reduced interface defects, and the generation of positive fixed oxide charges. In this innovative method, not only solar cell efficiency is improved but new insights are also provided into using secondary phases as nanomasks in interface engineering.

Quality Improvement of Pea Protein Isolate‐Based Film: Effect of Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose on Film

AbstractSodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is cross‐linked with pea protein isolate (PPI) to prepare pea protein isolate/sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (PPI/CMC) composite film by the diffusion method. The effects of the mass fraction of CMC on the mechanical properties and water resistance of PPI/CMC composite film are investigated. In the film containing 0.4% CMC, the water vapor permeability (1.43 × 10−7 g m (m2∙h∙Pa)−1) is significantly decreased, while the water contact angle value is elevated (55.76°). The tensile strength of the composite film is enhanced by 54.45%, while the elongation at break is increased by 23.30%. The film has excellent thermal stability and a homogenous structure. The remarkable changes may be attributed to new chemical interactions (hydrogen bonds) between CMC and PPI as revealed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Further, the composite film has great advantages in water resistance after comparison. The film is applied to the fresh bean skin, effectively blocking and reducing the tearing force between the fresh bean skin, and consequently easy separation after soaking in water for 20 min. Overall, the inclusion of CMC effectively solves the functional limitation caused by the hydrophilicity of PPI film, paving the way for its effective application as a novel edible packaging film in conventional foods.

Seed priming with corona discharge plasma modified growth performance, improved metabolism, and elicited production of tropane alkaloids in Datura inoxia seedlings; plasma technology for application in plant in‐vitro cultures

AbstractThis study monitored the growth, biochemical, and developmental responses of Datura seedlings to the cold plasma. The effectiveness of different methods was explored to break seed dormancy. Germinating seeds were exposed to corona discharge plasma for different durations, including 0, 60, 120, 180, and 300 s. A procedure consisting of illumination with a red light (20 min), soaking in water (4°C for 48 h), and removing a part of Testa was the best method for breaking seed dormancy. The plasma treatments of 60, 120, and 180 s improved the plant growth performance, while this trait was declined in response to the plasma treatment of 300 s. The proline concentrations in both root and leaves displayed a linear significant upward trend in response to the plasma treatments. The plasma for 180 s was the most effective method to increase tropane alkaloids. With increasing the exposure time from 60 to 300 s, the leaf soluble phenols were linearly enhanced. The plasma application for 60, 120, and 180 s significantly augmented total protein concentration, while the exposure of seeds for 300 s significantly diminished it. The highest amounts of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids) were recorded in the seedlings treated with plasma for 120 and 180 s. The activities of enzymatic antioxidants (catalase and peroxidase) showed a similar upward trend to that of proline. The plasma priming also improved the phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase activity (a secondary metabolism index). Further investigations are needed to optimize plasma parameters and understand the involved mechanisms to maximize its benefits while minimizing potential risks.

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Kencur Warm Water Soaking with Salt Warm Water Against Leg Edema of Third Trimester Pregnant Women in the Working Area of Rawang Health Center, Indonesia

Leg edema is a common complaint in third trimester pregnant women. It is believed that soaking in kencur warm water and salt warm water can help overcome this. Comparing the effectiveness of soaking in warm kencur water with warm salt water on leg edema in third trimester pregnant women. Quasi-experimental research with a pretest-posttest design with the control group. A total of 60 third trimester pregnant women were divided into two groups: the kencur warm water immersion group (n=30) and the salt warm water immersion group (n=30). The intervention was carried out for 15 minutes, twice a day for 3 days. Leg edema was measured using a measuring tape before and after the intervention. There was a significant reduction in leg edema in both groups after intervention (p&lt;0.05). The reduction in leg edema in the kencur warm water immersion group was greater than in the salt warm water immersion group (p&lt;0.05). Kencur warm water soaks are more effective than salt warm water soaks in reducing leg edema in third-trimester pregnant women.

Enabling Highly Robust Full‐Color Ultralong Room‐Temperature Phosphorescence and Stable White Organic Afterglow from Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

AbstractIn this work, full‐color and stable white organic afterglow materials with outstanding water, organic solvents, and temperature resistances have been developed for the first time by embedding the selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons into melamine‐formaldehyde polymer via solution polymerization. The afterglow quantum yields and lifetimes of the resulting polymer films were up to 22.7 % and 4.83 s, respectively, under ambient conditions. For the coronene‐doped sample, its afterglow color could be linearly tuned between yellow and blue by adjusting the temperature, and it could still emit an intense blue afterglow with a lifetime of 0.68 s at 440 K. Moreover, the films showed a bright and stable white afterglow at 370 K with a lifetime of 2.80 s and maintained an excellent afterglow performance after soaking in water and organic solvents for more than 150 days. In addition, the application potential of the polymer films in information encryption and anti‐counterfeiting was also demonstrated.

Enabling Highly Robust Full-Color Ultralong Room-Temperature Phosphorescence and Stable White Organic Afterglow from Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.

In this work, full-color and stable white organic afterglow materials with outstanding water, organic solvents, and temperature resistances have been developed for the first time by embedding the selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons into melamine-formaldehyde polymer via solution polymerization. The afterglow quantum yields and lifetimes of the resulting polymer films were up to 22.7 % and 4.83 s, respectively, under ambient conditions. For the coronene-doped sample, its afterglow color could be linearly tuned between yellow and blue by adjusting the temperature, and it could still emit an intense blue afterglow with a lifetime of 0.68 s at 440 K. Moreover, the films showed a bright and stable white afterglow at 370 K with a lifetime of 2.80 s and maintained an excellent afterglow performance after soaking in water and organic solvents for more than 150 days. In addition, the application potential of the polymer films in information encryption and anti-counterfeiting was also demonstrated.

Exploring how YouTube videos demonstrating preparation of dried wood ear mushrooms could pose food safety risks: a case study

PurposeIn 2020, an outbreak of Salmonella Stanley linked to imported dried wood ear mushrooms affected 55 individuals in the United States of America. These mushrooms, commonly used in Asian cuisine, require processing, like rehydration and cutting, before serving. The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention advise food preparers to use boiling water for rehydration to inactivate vegetative bacterial pathogens. Little is known about how food handlers prepare this ethnic ingredient and which handling procedures could enable Salmonella proliferation.Design/methodology/approachThis study used content analysis to investigate handling practices for dried wood ear mushrooms as demonstrated in YouTube recipe videos and to identify food safety implications during handling of the product. A total of 125 Chinese- and English-language YouTube videos were analysed.FindingsMajor steps in handling procedures were identified, including rehydration, cutting/tearing and blanching. Around 62% of the videos failed to specify the water temperature for rehydration. Only three videos specified a water temperature of 100 °C for rehydrating the mushrooms, and 36% of the videos did not specify the soaking duration. Only one video showed handwashing, cleaning and sanitising of surfaces when handling the dried wood ear mushrooms.Practical implicationsThis study found that most YouTube videos provided vague and inconsistent descriptions of the rehydration procedure, including water temperature and soaking duration. Food preparers were advised to use boiling water for rehydration to inactivate vegetative bacterial pathogens. However, boiling water alone is insufficient to inactivate all bacterial spores. Extended periods of soaking and storage could be of concern for spore germination and bacterial growth. More validation studies need to be conducted to provide guidance on how to safely handle the mushrooms.Originality/valueThis study will make a distinctive contribution to the field of food safety by being the first to investigate the handling procedure of a unique ethnic food ingredient, dried wood ear mushrooms, which has been linked to a previous outbreak and multiple recalls in the United States of America. The valuable data collected from this study can help target food handling education as well as influence future microbial validation study design and risk assessment.

Ultrastable, Superrobust, and Recyclable Supramolecular Polymer Networks

AbstractSupramolecular polymer networks (SPNs), crosslinked by noncovalent bonds, have emerged as reorganizable and recyclable polymeric materials with unique functionality. However, poor stability is an imperative challenge faced by SPNs, because SPNs are susceptible to heat, water, and/or solvents due to the dynamic and reversible nature of noncovalent bonds. Herein, the design of a noncovalent cooperative network (NCoN) to simultaneously stabilize and reinforce SPNs is reported, resulting in an ultrastable, superrobust, and recyclable SPN. The NCoN is constructed by multiplying the H‐bonding sites and tuning the conformation/geometry of the H‐bonding segment to optimize the multivalence cooperativity of H‐bonds. The rationally designed H‐bonding segment with high conformational compliance favors the formation of tightly packed H‐bond arrays comprising higher‐density and stronger H‐bonds. Consequently, the H‐bonded crosslinks in the NCoN display a covalent crosslinking effect but retain on‐demand dynamics and reversibility. The resultant ultrastable SPN not only displays remarkable resistance to heat up to 120 °C, water soaking, and a broad spectrum of solvents, but also possesses a superhigh true stress at break (1.1 GPa) and an ultrahigh toughness (406 MJ m−3). Despite the covalent‐network‐like stability, the SPN is recyclable through activating its reversibility in a high‐polarity solvent heated to a threshold temperature.

Ultrastable, Superrobust, and Recyclable Supramolecular Polymer Networks.

Supramolecular polymer networks (SPNs), crosslinked by noncovalent bonds, have emerged as reorganizable and recyclable polymeric materials with unique functionality. However, poor stability is an imperative challenge faced by SPNs, because SPNs are susceptible to heat, water, and/or solvents due to the dynamic and reversible nature of noncovalent bonds. Herein, the design of a noncovalent cooperative network (NCoN) to simultaneously stabilize and reinforce SPNs is reported, resulting in an ultrastable, superrobust, and recyclable SPN. The NCoN is constructed by multiplying the H-bonding sites and tuning the conformation/geometry of the H-bonding segment to optimize the multivalence cooperativity of H-bonds. The rationally designed H-bonding segment with high conformational compliance favors the formation of tightly packed H-bond arrays comprising higher-density and stronger H-bonds. Consequently, the H-bonded crosslinks in the NCoN display a covalent crosslinking effect but retain on-demand dynamics and reversibility. The resultant ultrastable SPN not only displays remarkable resistance to heat up to 120 °C, water soaking, and a broad spectrum of solvents, but also possesses a superhigh true stress at break (1.1 GPa) and an ultrahigh toughness (406 MJ m-3 ). Despite the covalent-network-like stability, the SPN is recyclable through activating its reversibility in a high-polarity solvent heated to a threshold temperature.

Study on the oxidized gas production characteristics and spontaneous combustion tendency of pre-oxidized water-soaked coal in lean-oxygen environments.

The oxidation characteristics and spontaneous combustion (SC) tendency of raw long-flame coal (RC), water-soaked 200-day coal (S200), pre-oxidized water-soaked coal at 200°C (O200S200), and pre-oxidized soaked coal at 300°C (O300S200) in an oxygen-poor environment were investigated using a programmed warming system. The results show that pre-oxidation water-soaked treatment (PWT) promotes the coal-oxygen complex reaction and increases the rate of coal oxygen consumption (OCR) and the rate of carbon and oxygen compound production. The rate of CO and CO2 production of the water-soaked (WS) coal increased by 0.329mol·(cm3·s)-1 and 0.922mol·(cm3·s)-1, respectively, compared with that of the original coal sample. PWT reduces the activation energy of coal in the low-temperature oxidation stage (the maximum difference can be up to 110.99kJ/mol) and enhances the oxidizing and heat-releasing capacity. There was a synergistic effect between the pre-oxidation (PO) and WS treatment, and the lowest comprehensive determination index of the SC propensity of coal in O200S200 samples was 831.92 which was 4.72 lower than that of RC samples, presenting a more SC tendency. Low oxygen concentration has an inhibitory effect on the oxidation characteristic parameters of coal, and the apparent activation energy of the low-temperature oxidation stage of pre-oxidized water-soaked coal (PWC) increased to 206.418kJ/mol at 3% oxygen concentration. The lower the oxygen concentration of the anoxic environment, the lower the risk of SC of the coal samples. The results of the study can provide theoretical guidance for the identification and prevention of SC disasters in coal seams with shallow burial and close spacing.

Effectiveness of applying the preparation Tropikanka 1 on potatoes in the forest steppe of the Obie region

The results of complex experiments to study the effectiveness of using the drug Tropikanka 1 on early potatoes of the Vega variety are presented. The studies were conducted in arid conditions on grey forest soils of the northern forest-steppe of the Novosibirsk Ob region. Before planting, the tubers were soaked for 15 minutes in a solution of Tropikanka 1 with a dilution of 1:50 depending on the options: 1:100, 1:200 and without using the drug with soaking in water (control). The research aims to develop methods for using the environmentally friendly organic fertiliser Tropikanka 1 to stimulate the growth and development of potatoes, increasing their yield and product quality. It was established that on grey forest heavy loamy soil of the forest-steppe of the Novosibirsk Ob region under conditions of acute moisture deficiency in May, June and early July 2023, the use of pre-planting soaking of early potato tubers of the Vega variety for 15 minutes in a solution of Tropikanka 1 fertiliser, obtained based on bird droppings, accelerated the growth and development of potatoes by seven days compared to the control (using water). The largest area of potato leaves was observed against the background of pre-planting treatment of tubers with Tropikanka 1 at a dilution of 1:100, exceeding the control by 1.8 times. The yield of early potato production (the beginning of the third decade of July) with a dilution of the drug 1: 100 is 1.7 times higher than the control. The total yield against the background of soaking tubers with Tropikanka 1 fertiliser for the Vega variety when diluting the drug 1: 100 reached up to 33.8 t/ha, which is 38% higher than the control. At the same time, the yield of marketable products increased to 30 t/ha, exceeding the control by 52 %. The quality indicatorsof commercial products also improved. When the drug was diluted 1:100, there was an increase in starch content by 0.2 %. The concentration of nitrates during the use of the medication is 6.5 times lower than the maximum permissible concentration for potatoes.

Effect of Seed Priming Treatments on Germination, Growth and Yield of Ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi L.)

Aim: To discern the most effective seed priming treatment among several priming treatments, which provide early and maximum germination, prosperous growth, and prodigious yield.&#x0D; Study Design: Nine treatments with one control treatment in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: Chilli and Vegetable Research Unit, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola (M.S), during the rabi season of 2022.&#x0D; Methodology: The ajwain seeds were primed with treatments comprised of, Gibberellic acid at 100 ppm and 200 ppm, Monopotassium phosphate (KH2PO4) at 2% and 3%, moringa leaf extract at 5% and 7.5%, tulsi leaf extract at 5% and 7.5%, hydro-priming (soaking in water), control (without soaking), for 24 hours before sowing. After that, primed seeds shade-dried for 4-5 hours. Then, the seeds were sown in the field.&#x0D; Results: The outcomes unveiled fascinating insights. Notably, treating the seeds with 7.5% moringa leaf extract (T6) revealed remarkable results, exhibiting the swiftest germination at 11.67 days, a staggering initial plant stand of 99.38%, and an impressive germination percentage of 93.33%. Meanwhile, the utilization of 200 ppm GA3 led to a maximum plant height of 89.70 cm. Furthermore, the application of 7.5% moringa leaf extract (T6) observed the minimum days to 50% flowering at 92.98 days and days to harvesting at 156.17 days and boasting the maximum primary branches plant-1 at 11.55. Among the myriad treatments, the application of 7.5% moringa leaf extract (T6) emerged as a standout, showcasing unparalleled results with a maximum number of umbels and umbellets at 200.72 and 18.03, respectively. A prodigious yield of 10.49g plant-1, 2.67 kg plot-1 and 11.86q ha-1.&#x0D; Conclusion: These findings underscore the potency of specific seed priming treatments, particularly, the 7.5% moringa leaf extract (T6) and 200 ppm Gibberellic acid (T2), in fostering robust ajwain seed germination, growth, accelerated plant development, and prodigious yield.

An anti-swelling chitosan-based hydrogel driven by balance of hydrophilic segment and hydrophobic segment strategy for underwater detection of human motion

Hydrogel-based flexible strain sensors have gained rapid development. However, most of traditional hydrogels were prone to undergo swelling behavior underwater as solvent molecules continuously penetrated, which limited their application scenarios. To make up this deficiency, a chitosan-based anti-swelling hydrogel cross-linked by ionic liquid are presented. The hydrogel is consisted of chitosan (CS) and copolymer of acrylic acid (AA), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), butyl acrylate (BA) and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate maleate (DMAEMA-MA). The P(HEMA-BA-AA)/ILs/CS hydrogel exhibited excellent anti-swelling properties driven by balance of hydrophilic segment and hydrophobic segment strategy (equilibrium swelling rate of −3.79 % in water for 100 days). The ionic liquid was introduced into the hydrogel system as cross-linking agent, which could effectively prevent the loss of conductivity of the hydrogel after soaking in water. The synergy effect chain entanglement, H-bonds and electrostatic interactions endowed the hydrogel with excellent mechanical property. Surprisingly, the modulus and toughness of the hydrogel were significantly boosted after a week of submersion. Thus, this anti-swelling hydrogel was employed as wireless strain sensor, which implemented underwater motion monitoring and safety alarms. It is expected that the anti-swelling hydrogel driven by balance of hydrophilic and hydrophobic effects would inspire the development of underwater sensors.

Phenotyping 172 strawberry genotypes for water soaking reveals a close relationship with skin water permeance.

Water soaking is a commercially important disorder of field-grown strawberries that is exacerbated by surface wetness and high humidity. The objective was to establish the effect of genotype on susceptibility to water soaking. Three greenhouse-grown model 'collections' were used comprising a total of 172 different genotypes: (1) a segregating F2 population, (2) a collection of strawberry cultivars and breeding clones, and (3) a collection of wild Fragaria species. A standardized immersion assay was used to induce water soaking. Potential relationships between water soaking and water uptake characteristics, depth of the achene depressions, fruit firmness, cuticle mass and strain relaxation and microcracking were investigated. Further, the effect of downregulating the polygalacturonase genes (FaPG1 and FaPG2) on the susceptibility to water soaking was investigated. The collection of wild species was most susceptible to water soaking. This was followed by the collection of cultivars and breeding clones, and by the F2 population. Susceptibility to water soaking was strongly correlated with water uptake rate (mass of water, per fruit, per time). For the pooled dataset of 172 genotypes, 46% of the variability in water soaking was accounted for by the permeance of the skin to osmotic water uptake. Susceptibility to water soaking was not, or was only poorly correlated with measurements of fruit surface area or of the osmotic potential of the expressed fruit juice. The only exceptions were the wild Fragaria species which were highly variable in fruit size and also in fruit osmotic potential. For genotypes from the F2 and the wild species collections, firmer fruit were less susceptible to water soaking than softer fruit. There were no relationships between fruit firmness and susceptibility to water soaking in transgenic plants in which FaPG1 and FaPG2 were down-regulated. Susceptibility to water soaking was not related to cuticle mass per unit fruit surface area, nor to strain relaxation of the cuticle upon isolation, nor to achene position. In summary, strawberry's susceptibility to water soaking has a significant genetic component and is closely and consistently related to the skin's permeance to osmotic water uptake.

Mechanical Scarification: The Key to Optimal Germination Parameters in Nine Flowering Species Of The United Arab Emirates.

Seed germination is the most essential stage of the plant life. Prior to germination, seed dormancy provides protection to the seed against germinating under unfavorable conditions. The seeds of many plants in arid regions are particularly characterized by having a hard seed coat. Seed dormancy is essential to the survival of plants, however in some incidents such as reforestation on desert areas, it is important for ecologists to investigate methods of breaking the dormancy of seeds in order to maximize the production of plants. In this study, we tested four methods of seed pre-treatment (Mechanical scarification (MChip), chemical scarification with sulfuric acid at two exposure durations (SAcid15, SAcid30), and soaking in water for 24h (Soak)) on 9 flowering plants (Senna italica, Sorghum sudanese, Tephrosia nubica, Senna angustifolia, Acacia tortilles, Senna occidentalis, Abutilon pannosum, Prosopis cineraria, Crotalaria persica) of the UAE. Six germination parameters (Final germination percentage (G) %, Mean germination time (MGT) day, Mean germination rate (MGR) day, Coefficient of velocity of germination (CVG) %, Mean Daily Germination Percentage (MDG) %, and Germination index (GI) day) were calculated to assess the germination. Final Germination Percentage (G) significantly improved (P

Examining the methods used to extract various grades of Argan oil sold on the Moroccan market: Implications for quality and safety

The present study focused on the comparison of Argan oil extraction processes and their influence on oil and cake quality and safety. A survey was conducted among Argan oil producers in the Essaouira region of Morocco. The responses revealed that the quality of Argan products is influenced by several factors, the main one being the quality of the fruit. For 25% of responses, representing the women selling Argan oil in the souks, Argan fruits “AQAY” are soaking in water to facilitate the crushing stage. However, this maceration can lead to fermentation and mold. Besides, the quality of the mixing water is different from one response to another. Just 50% of responses came from cooperatives use high microbiological quality water. Eventually, poor-quality water affects the composition and shelf life of Argan products besides consumer health and safety. Furthermore, there is also significant variation in roasting time and temperature, roaster type, and storage conditions. Indeed, these factors have the greatest influence on the quality of Argan products. Consequently, the present investigation has shown that the extraction process from raw material to final product varies considerably between the obtained results. Therefore, extraction processes and storage conditions need to be standardized. This will improve the quality of Argan oil and cake.