Sorbitol Content Research Articles

Use of Limestone Sludge in the Preparation of ɩ-Carrageenan/Alginate-Based Films.

The use of processed limestone sludge as a crosslinking agent for films based on Na-alginate and ɩ-carrageenan/Na-alginate blends was studied. Sorbitol was tested as a plasticizer. The produced gel formulations included alginate/sorbitol and carrageenan/alginate/sorbitol mixtures, with tested sorbitol concentrations of 0.0, 0.5 and 1.0 wt%. The limestone sludge waste obtained from the processing of quarried limestone was converted into an aqueous solution of Ca2+ by dissolution with mineral acid. This solution was then diluted in water and used to induce gel crosslinking. The necessity of using sorbitol as a component of the crosslinking solution was also assessed. The resulting films were characterized regarding their dimensional stability, microstructure, chemical structure, mechanical performance and antifungal properties. Alginate/sorbitol films displayed poor dimensional stability and were deemed not viable. Carrageenan/alginate/sorbitol films exhibited higher dimensional stability and smooth and flat surfaces, especially in compositions with 0.5 wt% sorbitol. However, an increasing amount of plasticizer appears to result in severe surface cracking, the development of a segregation phenomenon affecting carrageenan and an overall decrease in films' mechanical resistance. Although further studies regarding film composition-including plasticizer fraction, film optimal thickness and film/mold material interaction-are mandatory, the attained results show the potential of the reported ɩ-carrageenan/alginate/sorbitol films to be used towards the development of viable films derived from algal polysaccharides.

Liquid in vitro culture system allows gradual intensification of osmotic stress in Solanum tuberosum through sorbitol

Because of their shallow root system, drought stress is a major problem in potato cultivation. Due to climate change more severe drought periods are expected to occur in the vegetative growth phase of potato growth. Therefore, there is a great need for drought tolerant potato genotypes. Potato responds to drought stress in the field in various ways, including osmoregulation. Osmotic stress can be induced in vitro by adding an osmotic agent and thus lowering the osmotic potential of the medium. In this study, a new, cost-effective in vitro test system is presented, in which the osmotic agent can be gradually added after root formation to prevent an osmotic shock. This is achieved by using sieves as plant holders and liquid medium, which, allows an improved simulation of gradually drying soil. Responses to osmotic stress in four potato genotypes were analysed and an increase in proline under osmotic stress was detected. Moreover, genes of interest that were postulated to be linked to drought stress were shown by quantitative qRT-PCR to be regulated under osmotic stress. Furthermore, we showed that the content of sorbitol, which was used as osmotic agent, was 700- fold higher for ‘Eurostarch’ after seven days under osmotic stress and 1093- fold higher after 14 days, respectively, compared to control plants without sorbitol addition. Therefore, further investigations must show, whether it was taken up through the roots, is metabolised, stored or de novo synthesised by the potato plants.KeypointsThe established novel in vitro test system for potato allows gradually increasing stress exposition of rooted plants. Sorbitol seems not an ideal osmotic agent as it is likely taken up.

Pengaruh Konsentrasi Sorbitol dan Variasi Tingkat Penyangraian Terhadak Karakteristik Fisikokimia dan Organoleptik Kopi Robusta Cililin

Cililin is one of the robusta coffee producing regions in Indonesia, but there are still many people who do not know robusta coffee from Cililin, so an effort is needed to improve its quality. Coffee that goes through heating stages such as drying or roasting will cause several other chemical ingredients to change. Coffee processing can affect the characteristics and taste of the coffee produced. Soaking with sorbitol solution can retain moisture (humectant) in food and in processing that undergoes high temperature treatment so that it will not cause browning reactions One of the stages carried out in coffee processing using high temperatures is the roasting process. Therefore, a study was conducted to determine the effect of the difference in sorbitol concentration with roasting level on the characteristics of the Cililin robusta coffee products produced. This study consisted of two factors, namely sorbitol concentration (a1=10%, a2=15%, a3=20%) and roasting rate (b1 = Light Roast, b2 = Medium Roast, b3 = Dark Roast). Data processing using Two Way Anova on SPSS application version 26.0. The results showed that concentration had an effect on water content, color test and organoleptic response in color, aroma, and texture attributes, but did not affect the characteristics of caffeine levels, and pH. Roasting rate affects coffee characteristics, namely moisture content, caffeine content, pH, color test, and organoleptic response in color, aroma, and texture attributes. The interaction between sorbitol concentration and roasting rate affects the characteristics of robusta cililin coffee, namely moisture content and color test. However, it has no effect on the characteristics of caffeine levels, and pH. Keywords: Cililin Robusta Coffee, Sorbitol, Roasting Level

Evaluation of Sample Size Influence on Chemical Characterization and In Vitro Antioxidant Properties of Flours Obtained from Mushroom Stems Coproducts.

The mushroom industry generates large amounts of stem co-product. This is generated after mushroom harvest; stems are attached to the growth substratum, and their only use has traditionally been as compost. In this study, we investigated extensively for the first time this co-product and the influence of sample size (L->0.510 mm; LI-0.510-0.315 mm; SI-0.315-0.180 mm; S-<0.180 mm) on the characterization and antioxidant activity of flours obtained from stem co-products of Agaricus bisporus (ABSF) and Pleurotus ostreatus (POSF). ABSF was rich in protein (14 g/100 g), calcium (428.23-700.77 mg/100 g), and sorbitol (22.57-26.60 g/100 g), while POSF was rich in β-glucans (36.62-40.34 g/100 g) and linoleic acid (20.57-39.86 g/100 g of lipid). Both species were flush in amino acids and had an umami flavour. ABSF showed more elevated values for emulsifying activity than POSF. The S sizes were highlighted for their yield, hydration properties, and oil holding capacity. Furthermore, ABSF-S exhibited heightened antioxidant capacity in vitro, in consonance with the total phenolic compounds observed (0.91 mg/g). However, the antioxidant assays in POSF presented a positive correlation with β-glucan content. Our study suggests that these co-products could have several food-related applications, such as potential for use as an emulsifier, sweetener, or fortifier in the development of functional food, owing to their rich concentrations of fibre, protein, sorbitol, and β-glucans. Nevertheless, it is necessary to understand the interactions of the flours with the potential food matrix prior to proceeding further with food-related applications.

A seed-borne endophyte mediates plant drought responses and intergenerational effects on seed characteristics

Global warming is expected to increase drought severity in diverse environments, impacting plant performance. Plants acclimate to drought by mechanisms like stomatal closure and osmotic adjustment. Maternally inherited symbiotic microorganisms with capacity to regulate these mechanisms have the potential to influence intergenerational plant drought responses. We studied how a seedborne endophyte affects maternal drought effects on seed germination water requirements and specialized metabolites. Isotopic analysis of seed cellulose indicated that drought led to improved water use efficiency (WUE; higher δ13C) in endophyte-free mother plants, seemingly without affecting stomatal conductance (non-significant δ18O change). Alternatively, endophyte-symbiotic plants did not exhibit a change in WUE but apparently an increase in stomatal conductance (significant δ18O decrease). Regardless of the symbiosis, drought reduced seed production but not seed size. Endophyte symbiosis improved the seed concentration of mannitol and sorbitol, but this increment was higher under drought. Maternal plant responses to drought did not increase seed germination under reduced water potential but induced dormancy in seeds from endophyte-free but not endophyte-symbiotic plants. Our findings suggest that although differential accumulation of metabolites in seeds results from how endophyte-symbiotic plants perceive and respond to drought, this response may not form part of a mechanism that would enhance seed performance of progeny under drought.

Sorbitol production from mixtures of molasses and sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate using the thermally adapted Zymomonas mobilis ZM AD41

Byproducts from the sugarcane manufacturing process, specifically sugarcane molasses (SM) and sugarcane bagasse (SB), can be used as alternative raw materials for sorbitol production via the biological fermentation process. This study investigated the production of sorbitol from SM and sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate (SBH) using a thermally adapted Zymomonas mobilis ZM AD41. Various combinations of SM and SBH on sorbitol production using batch fermentation process were tested. The results revealed that SM alone (FM1) or a mixture of SM and SBH at a ratio of 3:1 (FM2) based on the sugar mass in the raw material proved to be the best condition for sorbitol production by ZM AD41 at 37 °C. Further optimization conditions for sorbitol production revealed that a sugar concentration of 200 g/L and a CaCl2 concentration of 5.0 g/L yielded the highest sorbitol content. The maximum sorbitol concentrations produced by ZM AD41 in the fermentation medium containing SM (FM1) or a mixture of SM and SBH (FM2) were 31.23 and 30.45 g/L, respectively, comparable to those reported in the literature using sucrose or a mixture of sucrose and maltose as feedstock. These results suggested that SBH could be used as an alternative feedstock to supplement or blend with SM for sustainable sorbitol production. In addition, the fermentation conditions established in this study could also be applied to large-scale sorbitol production. Moreover, the thermally adapted Z. mobilis ZM AD41 is also a promising sorbitol-producing bacterium for large-scale production at a relatively high fermentation temperature using agricultural byproducts, specifically SM and SB, as feedstock, which could reduce the operating cost due to minimizing the energy required for the cooling system.

The Ca2+-MdCRF4-MdWRKY9 module negatively affects apple fruit watercore formation by suppressing the transcription of MdSOT2.

Watercore is a common physiological disease of Rosaceae plants, such as apples (Malus domestica), usually occurring during fruit ripening. Apple fruit with watercore symptoms is prone to browning and rotting, thus losing commercial viability. Sorbitol and calcium ions are considered key factors affecting watercore occurrence in apples. However, the mechanism by which they affect the occurrence of watercore remains unclear. Here, we identified that the transcription factor MdWRKY9 directly binds to the promoter of MdSOT2, positively regulates the transcription of MdSOT2, increases sorbitol content in fruit, and promotes watercore occurrence. Additionally, MdCRF4 can directly bind to MdWRKY9 and MdSOT2 promoters, positively regulating their expression. Since calcium ions can induce the ubiquitination and degradation of the transcription factor MdCRF4, they can inhibit the transcription of MdWRKY9 and MdSOT2 by degrading MdCRF4, thereby reducing the sorbitol content in fruit and inhibiting the occurrence of fruit watercore disease. Our data sheds light on how calcium ions mitigate watercore in fruit, providing molecular-level insights to enhance fruit quality artificially.

Production of biliverdin by biotransformation of exogenous heme using recombinant Pichia pastoris cells

Biliverdin, a bile pigment hydrolyzed from heme by heme oxygenase (HO), serves multiple functions in the human body, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune response inhibitory activities. Biliverdin has great potential as a clinical drug; however, no economic and efficient production method is available currently. Therefore, the production of biliverdin by the biotransformation of exogenous heme using recombinant HO-expressing yeast cells was studied in this research. First, the heme oxygenase-1 gene (HO1) encoding the inducible plastidic isozyme from Arabidopsis thaliana, with the plastid transport peptide sequence removed, was recombined into Pichia pastoris GS115 cells. This resulted in the construction of a recombinant P. pastoris GS115-HO1 strain that expressed active HO1 in the cytoplasm. After that, the concentration of the inducer methanol, the induction culture time, the pH of the medium, and the concentration of sorbitol supplied in the medium were optimized, resulting in a significant improvement in the yield of HO1. Subsequently, the whole cells of GS115-HO1 were employed as catalysts to convert heme chloride (hemin) into biliverdin. The results showed that the yield of biliverdin was 132 mg/L when hemin was added to the culture of GS115-HO1 and incubated for 4 h at 30 °C. The findings of this study have laid a good foundation for future applications of this method for the economical production of biliverdin.Graphical

Synthesis and Characterization of Sorbitol Membraneless Alkaline Fuel Cell Catalysts for Cathode and Anode, Utilizing AgV2O5/C, AgMnO2/C, and PdCeO2/C Catalysts

This study aimed to develop sorbitol fuel cell catalysts for cathode and anode fuels by synthesizing AgV2O5/C, AgMnO2/C, and PdCeO2/C catalysts. The physical characteristics of the catalysts were analyzed using SEM and EDS. The results showed that the prepared catalysts were small, lumpy, and densely clustered on the carbon surface with small particles. The electrochemical characteristics of the oxidation of alkaline fuels using sorbitol as fuel were investigated by assessing sorbitol concentration ratios of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 per 0.1 M alkaline KOH solution through cyclic voltammetry. The PdCeO2/C catalyst at a concentration of 0.1 M sorbitol solution exhibits the highest potential difference at the potential range of -0.5 to 0.5 V, resulting in a maximum current density of 0.2 mA/cm2. The AgV2O5/C and AgMnO2/C catalysts were tested in the reduction reaction, and the concentration ratios of sorbitol solution per 0.1 M alkaline KOH solution varied from 0.1 to 0.5 M. The results demonstrated a decrease in activity in the catalyst reduction reaction as the sorbitol solution concentration increased, indicating a potential correlation with enhanced oxidation resistance. HIGHLIGHTS In order to achieve the highest efficiency and suitability in an electric cell, it is essential for the AgV2O5/C and AgMnO2/C catalysts to possess excellent resistance to cathode oxidation The AgV2O5/C and AgMnO2/C catalysts function as cathode-side catalysts involved in reduction reactions. Consequently, it is imperative for these catalysts to exhibit exceptional resistance to oxidation at the cathode At a concentration of 0.1 M KOH solution, the PdCeO2/C catalyst exhibited a maximum oxidation current density of 0.2 mA/cm² GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Widely distributable and retainable in-situ gelling material for treating myocardial infarction

Intramyocardial hydrogel injection is a promising therapy to prevent negative remodeling following myocardial infarction (MI). In this study, we report a mechanism for in-situ gel formation without external stimulation, resulting in an injectable and tissue-retainable hydrogel for MI treatment, and investigate its therapeutic outcomes. A liquid-like polymeric solution comprising poly(3-acrylamidophenylboronic acid-co-acrylamide) (BAAm), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and sorbitol (S) increases the viscous modulus by reducing the pre-added sorbitol concentration is developed. This solution achieves a sol-gel transition in-vitro in heart tissue by spontaneously diffusing the sorbitol. After intramyocardial injection, the BAAm/PVA/S with lower initial viscous modulus widely spreads in the myocardium and gelate compared to a viscoelastic alginate (ALG) hydrogel and is retained longer than the BAAm/S solution. Serial echocardiogram analyses prove that injecting the BAAm/PVA/S into the hearts of subacute MI rats significantly increases the fraction shortening and ejection shortening and attenuates the expansion of systolic LV diameter for up to 21 d after injection compared to the saline injection as a control, but the ALG injection does not. In addition, histological evaluation shows that only the BAAm/PVA/S decreases the infarct size and increases the wall thickness 21 d after injection. The BAAm/PVA/S intramyocardial injection is better at restraining systolic ventricular dilatation and cardiac failure in the rat MI model than in the control groups. Our findings highlight an effective injectable hydrogel therapy for MI by optimizing injectability-dependent distribution and retention of injected material. Statement of significanceIn-situ gelling material is a promising strategy for intramyocardial hydrogel injection therapy for myocardial infarction (MI). Since the sol-gel transition of reported materials is driven by external stimulation such as temperature, pH, or ultraviolet, their application in vivo remains challenging. In this study, we first reported a synthetic in-situ gelling material (BAAm/PVA/S) whose gelation is stimulated by spontaneously reducing pre-added sorbitol after contacting the heart tissue. The BAAm/PVA/S solution spreads evenly, and is retained for at least 21 d in the heart tissue. Our study demonstrated that intramyocardial injection of the BAAm/PVA/S with more extensive distribution and longer retention had better effects on preventing LV dilation and improving cardiac function after MI than that of viscoelastic ALG and saline solution. We expect that these findings provide fundamental information for the optimum design of injectable biomaterials for treating MI.

Maternal Serum Polyols and Its Link to Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Population-Based Nested Case-Control Study.

Sugar alcohols (also called polyols) are regarded as a "healthy" sugar substitute. One of the possible reasons for their safe use in pregnant women is their natural origin and the presence of polyols in maternal and fetal samples during normal human gestation. But little is known about the association between circulating sugar alcohols levels and maternal metabolic disorders during pregnancy. We aimed to detect the concentration of the polyols in participants with and without gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and to investigate the association between maternal serum levels of polyols and GDM, as well as newborn outcomes. A nested population-based case-control study was conducted in 109 women with and without GDM. Maternal concentrations of serum erythritol, sorbitol, and xylitol in the fasting state were quantified using a time of flight mass spectrometry system. In women with GDM, serum concentrations of erythritol and sorbitol were higher, but serum concentrations of xylitol were lower than those in women without GDM. Per 1-SD increment of Box-Cox-transformed concentrations of erythritol and sorbitol were associated with the increased odds of GDM by 43% and 155% (95% CI 1.07-1.92 and 95% CI 1.77-3.69), while decreased odds were found for xylitol by 25% (95% CI 0.57-1.00). Additionally, per 1-SD increase of Box-Cox-transformed concentrations of serum sorbitol was associated with a 52% increased odds of large for gestational age newborns controlling for possible confounders (95% CI 1.00-2.30). Maternal circulating sugar alcohols levels during pregnancy were significantly associated with GDM. These findings provide the potential roles of polyols on maternal metabolic health during pregnancy.

Evaluation of Cariogenic and Erosive Potential of Anti-tussive Lozenges: An In Vitro Study

Objectives To evaluate the cariogenic and erosive potential of commonly available anti- tussive lozenges.Methods Six anti-tussive lozenges Strepsilsreg Cofsilsreg Tus-Qreg Alexreg Vicksreg Kofletreg were selected. The lozenges were dissolved in deionized water. Their endogenous pH was measured using a digital pH meter. The titratable acidity was determined using 0.02N sodium hydroxide solution and titrated until pH was neutralized. Analysis of sugars glucose fructose sucrose and sorbitol was performed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography. For saccharin the Indian standard method for analysis of food grade described by Bureau of Indian Standard Food additives was used. Results The pH ranged from 3.17 Strepsilsreg to 5.84 Kofletreg. The titratable acidity was lowest for Kofletreg 0.02 and highest for Strepsilsreg 0.28. The content of total fermentable sugars was highest in Kofletreg 74.78 g. Saccharin concentration was highest in Cofsilsreg 3.46 g and sorbitol concentration was highest in Alexreg 5.64 g. Conclusion All the lozenges showed properties that were potentially cariogenic and erosive to dental structures.

Development and Regulation of the Extreme Biofilm Formation of Deinococcus radiodurans R1 under Extreme Environmental Conditions.

To grow in various harsh environments, extremophiles have developed extraordinary strategies such as biofilm formation, which is an extremely complex and progressive process. However, the genetic elements and exact mechanisms underlying extreme biofilm formation remain enigmatic. Here, we characterized the biofilm-forming ability of Deinococcus radiodurans in vitro under extreme environmental conditions and found that extremely high concentrations of NaCl or sorbitol could induce biofilm formation. Meantime, the survival ability of biofilm cells was superior to that of planktonic cells in different extreme conditions, such as hydrogen peroxide stress, sorbitol stress, and high UV radiation. Transcriptome profiles of D. radiodurans in four different biofilm development stages further revealed that only 13 matched genes, which are involved in environmental information processing, carbohydrate metabolism, or stress responses, share sequence homology with genes related to the biofilm formation of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Overall, 64% of the differentially expressed genes are functionally unknown, indicating the specificity of the regulatory network of D. radiodurans. The mutation of the drRRA gene encoding a response regulator strongly impaired biofilm formation ability, implying that DrRRA is an essential component of the biofilm formation of D. radiodurans. Furthermore, transcripts from both the wild type and the drRRA mutant were compared, showing that the expression of drBON1 (Deinococcus radioduransBON domain-containing protein 1) significantly decreased in the drRRA mutant during biofilm development. Further analysis revealed that the drBON1 mutant lacked the ability to form biofilm and DrRRA, and as a facilitator of biofilm formation, could directly stimulate the transcription of the biofilm-related gene drBON1. Overall, our work highlights a molecular mechanism mediated by the response regulator DrRRA for controlling extreme biofilm formation and thus provides guidance for future studies to investigate novel mechanisms that are used by D. radiodurans to adapt to extreme environments.

Low molecular weight carbohydrate patterns of mangrove macroalgae from different climatic niches under ocean acidification, warming and salinity variation

Ocean acidification has increased due to the enhanced solubility of CO2 in seawater. Mangrove macroalgae in tropical and subtropical coastal regions can benefit from the higher availability of CO2 for photosynthesis and primary production. However, they can be negatively affected by the simultaneously occurring warming and increased salinity in estuaries. Thus, we analyzed the isolated effects of ocean acidification and the interactive effects of increased temperature and salinity on the low molecular weight carbohydrate (LMWC) contents of the mangrove red macroalgae Bostrychia montagnei and Bostrychia calliptera from Brazilian tropical and subtropical populations. Specimens from both climatic niches were tolerant to pH decreased by CO2 enrichment and enhanced their LMWC contents under increased availability of CO2. Specimens from both climatic niches also accumulated their dulcitol and sorbitol contents to cope with warming and salt stress. Nevertheless, temperature of 34 °C was lethal for tropical macroalgae, while 29 °C and 31 °C were lethal for subtropical B. calliptera under salinity of 35. Tropical and subtropical B. montagnei synthesized dulcitol (5–110 mmol kg−1 dry weight) and sorbitol (5–100 mmol kg−1 dry weight) as osmoregulatory, energy and thermal protection compounds, whereas tropical and subtropical B. calliptera synthesized mainly dulcitol (10–210 mmol kg−1 dry weight). Although digeneaside has an energy function in Bostrychia spp., it is not an osmolyte or thermal protection compound. Our data demonstrated that both tropical and subtropical Bostrychia spp. benefit from ocean acidification by CO2 enrichment, increasing their LMWC contents. However, warming and increased salinity in estuaries will be detrimental to them, even they producing protective metabolites. Multifactorial approaches are recommended to investigate whether negative effects of increased temperature and salinity nullify positive effects of ocean acidification on these Bostrychia species/populations.

Hibernation induced biochemical changes in spotted stem borer &lt;i&gt;Chilo partellus&lt;/i&gt;

Spotted stem borer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) is one of the most destructive pests of sorghum and maize, and undergoes hibernation during harsh winters. Several aspects of diapause have been studied, however metabolic and biochemical processes underlying hibernation remain poorly understood in C. partellus. Present studies carried out during 2020–22 at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi deciphered the variations in nutritional biochemicals, digestive and stress enzymes, cryoprotectants in the hibernation and in non-hibernating larvae and pupae of C. partellus. These studies revealed that the total lipids and proteins were significantly greater during pre- hibernation and hibernation, and sugars were greater in non-hibernation larvae. Glycogen content was greater in pre- hibernation, and sorbitol, trehalose and glucitol contents consistently increased from pre-hibernation to hibernation stages in comparison to non-hibernation larvae of C. partellus. Total sugar and sorbitol contents decreased, while total protein, trehalose and glucitol increased, in post-hibernation than the non-hibernation pupae of C. partellus. Activities of ascorbic acid, lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant, catalase and superoxide dismutase were significantly greater during hibernation followed by pre-hibernation as compared to non-hibernation larvae, while the reverse was the case with protease activity. Ascorbic acid, lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant and catalase activities were greater in post-hibernation as compared to non-hibernation pupae of C. partellus. However, glutathione S-transferase activity was greater in the non-hibernation larvae and pupae than the hibernation larvae and post-hibernation pupae of C. partellus. These findings can be useful to design newer management strategies keeping in view the weak links like the state of nutritional metabolism and oxidative stress tolerance due to diapause in C. partellus.

Rootstock and Crop Load Effects on ‘Honeycrisp’ Photosynthetic Performance and Carbohydrate Accumulation

Rootstock selection and crop load adjustment are key practices in apple orchard management; nevertheless, the effects of rootstocks and crop load levels on important physiological processes of the scions, such as photosynthetic performance and carbohydrate accumulation, are still unclear. To investigate the impact of different rootstocks and crop load levels on scion photosynthesis and carbohydrate buildup, in 2020, ‘Honeycrisp’ trees grafted on rootstocks ‘G.41’, ‘G.935’, and ‘M.9-T337’ were thinned to low and high crop load levels, and photosynthetic performance and carbohydrate accumulation in leaves and fruit were evaluated. Leaves from ‘G.935’ showed the highest net photosynthesis and electron use efficiency of photosynthesis and the lowest activity for non-net carboxylative processes, all together indicative of enhanced photosynthetic performance. High crop load determined an increase in gas exchange, suggesting a positive feedback of high fruit competition on carbon assimilation. While rootstock ‘M.9-T337’ showed a higher accumulation of starch in leaves, no pattern regarding the composition of leaf-soluble sugars among rootstocks could be identified. Conversely, by the end of the harvest season, leaves from low-cropping trees had higher fructose, glucose, and sorbitol than those from high-cropping trees, but differences in starch content were not significant. Fructose and sorbitol concentrations were affected by rootstock and crop load, respectively. Overall, this study showed that high cropping enhanced photosynthesis in ‘Honeycrisp’ apple and determined lower accumulation of some soluble carbohydrates (fructose, glucose, sorbitol) in leaves. This study also provided insights into how rootstocks affect photosynthetic performance of ‘Honeycrisp’, highlighting ‘G.935’ as the rootstock conferring the highest photosynthetic capacity under the present experimental conditions.

The potential of using sweet corn (Zea mays Saccharata) husk waste as a source for biodegradable plastics

Synthetic plastics are generally challenging to degrade in the environment and capable of releasing harmful chemicals upon improper disposal, endangering both wildlife and humans. Therefore, this study aimed to develop cellulose-based bioplastics from corn husk waste and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) using sorbitol as a plasticizer. The effect of corn husk delignification, CMC addition, and variations in sorbitol concentration were investigated. The results of Chesson's test showed that the delignification process increased cellulose content to 77.30% and decreased lignin content to 3.6%. Additionally, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) demonstrated the effective removal of lignin and hemicellulose components from corn husk fibers. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated the elevation of corn husk crystallinity from 63.97% to 80.83% after the treatment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed bioplastic morphologies featuring porous and smooth surfaces juxtaposed with uneven and lumpy characteristics. Biodegradation assessment yielded a peak value of 33.4% under a composition comprising 3% CMC and 1.5% sorbitol. The swelling test performed on corn husk bioplastic samples produced values ranging from 52.89 to 66%, with the highest value recorded at 66% for the bioplastic formulation consisting of 3% CMC and 1.5% sorbitol. Resistance testing on samples containing 3% CMC, with a soaking time of four days in acidic environments, indicated a maximum weight loss of 61.3% (10% H2SO4) and 62.5% (20% H2SO4). Alkaline resistance tests displayed a 95.6% (10% NaOH) and 94.6% (20% NaOH) weight loss under similar conditions. These results suggested the potential utility of corn husk waste as a viable bioplastic source, promoting the circular economy concept in Indonesia while mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, reducing waste volume, and increasing rural economic growth.

Plasticizer concentration effect on films and coatings based on poly(vinyl alcohol) and cationic starch blends

Films based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and cationic starch (CS) were combined with different percentages of sorbitol (S; 15.0, 22.5, and 30.0% w v-1) to assess the effect of plasticizer on the films. Spectroscopic analyses confirmed the interaction between them. However, micrographs indicated the formation of sorbitol crystals on the surface of the films, especially at higher sorbitol concentrations. The blends presented low water vapor transmission rate values, reaching (7.703 ± 0.000) g h−1 m−2 (PVA75CS25S15), and low solubility values for the films containing higher CS amounts. The lack of statistical differences in most parameters suggests that no significant gain comes from increasing the amount of sorbitol at percentages higher than 15%. As a coating, the blend PVA75CS25S15 successfully decreased the loss of moisture content in acerolas by 1.15 times (compared to the control), confirming the suitability of this matrix as a fruit coating.

Response surface methodology (RSM) identifies the lowest amount of chicken plasma protein (CPP) in surimi-based products with optimum protein solubility, cohesiveness, and whiteness

ABSTRACT This research aimed to determine the minimum amounts of chicken blood plasma (X1) and sorbitol (X2) that affect the protein solubility (Y1), cohesiveness (Y2), and whiteness (Y3) of surimi. Response surface methodology (RSM) generated 13 experimental designs ranging from 0.5% to 2.5% for chicken plasma protein (CPP) and 2% to 6% for sorbitol. The results show that optimal conditions for protein solubility, cohesiveness, and a whiteness of surimi were achieved with a CPP concentration of 0.79% and a sorbitol concentration of 4.68%. This resulted in a predicted protein solubility of approximately 49.09 mg/ml, cohesiveness of 0.654 and whiteness value of 75.55. Meanwhile, the optimal experimental values for protein solubility, cohesiveness, and whiteness were found to be 46.56 mg/ml, 0.65, and 75.55, respectively. The measured values and predicted values have no statistically significant difference (p > .05), indicating the validity of the RSM model. These findings are valuable for improving surimi production.

The Effects of Different Crop Loads on Yield, Quality, and Sugar Fractions in Early Sweet (Vitis vinifera L) Table Grape

The quality of the grapes taken from the vines varies depending on many factors. Grape quality is one of the critical determining factors in the crop load left on the vine. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of three different crop load levels (36 (T1), 75 (T2), and 105 (T3) bud vine-1) on yield, quality, and sugar fractions of Early Sweet (Vitis vinifera L.) table grape variety grown in Alaşehir district of Manisa/Türkiye. As two years average, the heaviest clusters, berry weight, and soluble solid content (733.0g, 4.41g, 18.05%) were determined in T1 crop load level while the lowest weight clusters and berry weight (580.7g, 388g, 17.42%) were obtained from T3 crop load level. The opposite of these findings was observed in titratable acidity values. In the research; the highest amount of table grapes per vine was obtained at T2 treatment in both years. The mean total glucose values for both years varied between 45.70% (T1), 45% (T2), and 37.90% (T3), respectively. Fructose content ranged between 41.50% (T1) and 41% (T3), and sorbitol content was 2.17% (T1), 2.05% (T2), and 2.17% (T3). Galactose content was negligible in all crop load treatments and ranged between 0.54% and 0.56%. The result is also T2 treatment (75 bud vine-1) can be recommended to ‘Early Sweet’ grape growers as the most effective treatment that provides the highest amount of marketable grapes in terms of yield-quality balance.