Nutritional Value Research Articles

γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)-enriched Hemp Milk by Solid-state Co-fermentation and Germination Bioprocesses.

This study introduces the concept of developing a functional hemp drink enriched with γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) to enhance its nutritional value and functional properties utilizing Solid-State (SSF) co-Fermentation by Lactobacillus casei and Bacillus subtilis and germination bioprocesses. Bioprocesses may offer an alternative solution to challenges in hemp milk, such as product instability and the use of additives. Notably, the hemp milk produced through the germination for three days or co-fermentation processes yielded the highest GABA content of 79.84 and 102.45mg/100 mL, respectively, compared to the untreated milk. These bioactive milk samples exhibited higher zeta potential and soluble protein content and also reduced solid particle sedimentation and droplet sizes (D4,3 and D3,2) compared to the untreated milk. Furthermore, the peptide, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity of the produced GABA-enriched kinds of milk surpassed those of the untreated milk. Overall, the SSF and germination processes present a promising alternative for producing stable milk analogs with enhanced health-boosting properties.

Physical treatment and protease or probiotic supplementation and feather meal digestibility by broilers

Context Improving the utilisation of alternative protein ingredients in livestock production will reduce feeding costs and improve industry sustainability. Feather meal (FM) is an abundant, alternative protein source with a high protein content but poor amino acid (AA) digestibility. Aim This study evaluated strategies for improving AA digestibility of FM. Methods Experiment 1 examined the effects of physical treatment with ultrasound, microwave and autoclaving on FM AA profile and digestibility. Experiment 2 evaluated the dietary addition of a protease (Ronozyme ProAct, 200 and 600 mg/kg; RPA) and a probiotic (BioPlus 400, 1500 mg/kg) on FM AA digestibility. Apparent ileal digestibility was determined by feeding each treatment to four replicate groups of six birds in Experiment 1 and five replicate groups of seven birds in Experiment 2, and then collecting the contents of the lower half of the ileum. Key results None of the physical treatments improved (P > 0.05) the AA profile or ileal AA digestibility of FM. Dietary supplementation with RPA at 200 mg/kg or BioPlus 400 at 1500 mg/kg did not significantly (P > 0.05) influence the apparent ileal AA digestibility of FM. However, the higher concentration of RPA (600 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) increased the apparent ileal AA digestibility of FM. Conclusion The increased digestibility of FM by the protease and numerical increase (P < 0.1) by the probiotic (1500 mg/kg) presumably reflects keratinase activity of both feed supplements. Implications The results of this study indicated that there is scope for further improvement in the nutritive value of FM for broilers.

Polysaccharides extracted from larvae of Lucilia sericata ameliorated ulcerative colitis by regulating the intestinal barrier and gut microbiota

Pest management technology has been a promising bioconversion method for waste resource utilization. Unlike many pests that consume waste, the larvae of Lucilia sericata, also known as maggots, have many outstanding advantages as following: with their strong adaption to environment and not easily infected and exhibiting a medicinal nutritional value. Herein, the potential efficacies of maggot polysaccharides (MP), as well as their underlying mechanisms, were explored in Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice and TNF-α-elicited Caco-2 cells. We extracted two bioactive polysaccharides from maggots, MP-80 and MP-L, whose molecular weights were 4.25 × 103 and 2.28 × 103 g/mol, respectively. MP-80 and MP-L contained nine sugar residues: 1,4-α-Arap, 1,3-β-Galp, 1,4,6-β-Galp, 1,6-α-Glcp, 1-α-Glcp, 1,4-β-Glcp, 1-β-Xylp, 1,2-α-Manp, and 1-β-Manp. We demonstrated that MP-80 and MP-L significantly ameliorated DSS-induced symptoms and histopathological damage. Immuno-analysis revealed that compared with MP-L, MP-80 could better restore intestinal barrier and reduced inflammation by suppressing NLRP3/NF-κB pathways, which might be attributed to its enriched galactose fraction. Moreover, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that MP-80 and MP-L both improved the dysbiosis and diversity of gut microbiota and acted on multiple microbial functions. Our study sheds new light on the possibility of using maggot polysaccharides as an alternative therapy for colitis.

Synergistic modification of phycocyanin composite gel by xanthan gum and flaxseed gum and the fate during in vitro digestion

Phycocyanin (PC) belongs to the “blue food” protein, and its application exploration is of great significance in the food industry. In this study, the effects of different proportions of xanthan gum (XG) and flaxseed gum (FG) on the applicability of 3D printing, rheological properties, and the structural properties of PC were studied, and the interaction and in vitro digestion properties were also discussed. In the composite gel, PC concentration [0.1% (w/v)] and blend concentration (5 wt%) were fixed, but the ratio of XG to FG was different (5:0–0:5). With the increase of FG content, the 3D printing performance of the gel was improved, and the rheological properties and texture properties were also changed. The molecular interaction between PC and XG/FG was hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. In addition, PC-XG/FG gels after in vitro digestion had better ability to remove hydroxyl free radicals. In summary, the study offered theoretical direction for the use of two polysaccharides to synergistic modification of the functional factors to improve stability. Furthermore, it provided guidance on how to improve the nutritional value of 3D-printed samples.

Socio-environmental Opportunities for Organic Material Management in California's Sustainability Transition.

Contemporary resource management is doubly burdened by high rates of organic material disposal in landfills, generating potent greenhouse gases (GHG), and globally degraded soils, which threaten future food security. Expansion of composting can provide a resilient alternative, by avoiding landfill GHG emissions, returning valuable nutrients to the soil to ensure continued agricultural production, and sequestering carbon while supporting local communities. Recognizing this opportunity, California has set ambitious organics diversion targets in the Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Law (SB1383) which will require significant increases (5 to 8 million tonnes per year) in organic material processing capacity. This paper develops a spatial optimization model to consider how to handle this flow of additional material while achieving myriad social and ecological benefits through compost production. We consider community-based and on-farm facilities alongside centralized, large-scale infrastructure to explore decentralized and diversified alternative futures of composting infrastructure in the state of California. We find using a diversity of facilities would provide opportunity for cost savings while achieving significant emissions reductions of approximately 3.4 ± 1 MMT CO2e and demonstrate that it is possible to incorporate community protection into compost infrastructure planning while meeting economic and environmental objectives.

Agronomic and economic productivity of summer annual forage systems under different poultry litter application methods

AbstractPoultry litter (litter) is a nutrient dense fertilizer that increases nutritive value and yield in pastures in the mid‐southern US. Nutrient losses due to runoff and nitrogen volatilization are common when broadcasting litter. As such, incorporating litter below the soil surface (subsurface) was evaluated in comparison to broadcasting in 2021 and 2022 by quantifying yield and nutritive value of annual forages. The study was a randomized complete block design with three forage treatments—sorghum‐sudangrass only (Sorghum bicolor L.), cowpea only (Vigna unguiculata L.), and their mixture, and three litter application methods (broadcast, subsurface, and a no litter control). Litter was applied in 2021 only as biennial application is common to save on application cost. Nutritive analyses included neutral detergent fiber and crude protein (CP). Partial budgeting led to relative profitability estimates by accounting for yield and cost differences across treatments. In comparison to the second‐highest yielding forage mixture, sorghum‐sudangrass yielded 4.5%–18.4% more regardless of litter application method. The forage mixture did not improve forage nutritive value, as cowpea were vastly outcompeted and did not average more than 5% of the total forage harvested in mixtures. Cowpea yields did not benefit from litter application. Subsurface application resulted in 8%–10% greater CP content compared to no litter and broadcast litter, respectively, across all forage species. Sorghum‐sudangrass with subsurface applied litter earned nearly $70/acre more than sorghum‐sudangrass with broadcast litter, the next highest treatment combination, and, with lesser nutrient loss.

Synergistic modification of hot-melt extrusion and nobiletin on the multi-scale structures, interactions, thermal properties, and in vitro digestibility of rice starch.

Rice starch has high digestibility due to its large carbohydrate content. Synergistic modification of hot-melt extrusion (HME) and additives such as flavonoids, hydrocolloids, proteins, lipids, and other additives has the tendency to retard the rate of starch hydrolysis. Hence, the current investigation aimed to study the combined effect of the HME-assisted addition of nobiletin (NOB, 0, 2, 4, and 6%) on the multi-scale structures, interactions, thermal, and digestibility characteristics of rice starch. The study employed density functional theory calculations and an infrared second derivative of an Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer to analyze the interactions between NOB and starch. The physicochemical properties of the starch extrudates were characterized by FTIR, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry, while the digestibility was evaluated using an in vitro digestion model. HME was found to disrupt the crystalline structure, helix structure, short-ordered structure, and thermal properties of starch. The interaction between NOB and starch involved hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds, effectively preventing the molecular chains of starch from interacting with each other and disrupting their double helix structure. The addition of NOB led to the formation of a highly single-helical V-type crystalline structure, along with the formation of ordered structural domains. Consequently, the combined treatment significantly enhanced the ordered structure and thermal stability of starch, thus effectively leading to an increase in resistant starch and slowly digestion starch. The study underscores that synergistic modification of HME and NOB holds promise for enhancing both the nutritional value and functional properties of rice starch. These findings offer valuable insights for developing high-quality rice starch products with broader applications.

Consumer Awareness and Perceptions of Pesticide Residues in Vegetables in Bangladesh

Vegetables are heavily sprayed and prone to retaining residues. The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Bangladesh has set up some projects to disseminate technologies among the farmers to reduce pesticide residues. Farmers are motivated to produce pesticide-free vegetables using vermin compost and other organic fertilizers. The study investigates consumers’ awareness and perceptions of pesticide residues in vegetables. A survey was conducted at the local market in Mymensingh, Gazipur, and Dhaka city. In total. 200 sample respondents were collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive methods. There was a substantial heterogeneity in preferences across consumers. The consumers were aware of the health risks associated with vegetables produced using pesticides and chemical fertilizers. More than 60 percent of respondents thought that vegetables are usually contaminated at the farm or production level using excessive pesticides. Most of the consumers knew the effects of pesticide-borne health risks and suggested to ban some pesticides and monitoring the use of others. Consumers considered pesticide residue-free vegetables as being safer, healthy, no harmful effects, better taste, more nutritive value, and good for the environment, and would like to pay a premium for those products. Media particularly television and newspapers can play an important role in creating awareness about food safety among the producers and consumers. Government programmes on food safety should be channeled through television and newspapers where the majority of the people get their information. Policy measures should include creating awareness concerning the relevance of production, and consumption through effective marketing strategies and educational awareness. Res. Agric. Livest. Fish. Vol. 11, No. 1, April 2024: 25-33

Ananas comosus (Pineapple): A Comprehensive Review of Its Medicinal Properties, Phytochemical Composition, and Pharmacological Activities

Herbal medicine, also known as phytomedicine, utilizes various plant parts like leaves, fruits, roots, bark, or flowers for their health benefits, standing as an alternative healthcare approach to conventional medicine. Traditional herbal remedies, integral to medical systems worldwide, notably in China and India, are gaining global recognition for their efficacy and fewer side effects. Approximately 80% of the world's population relies on traditional herbal medicine for primary healthcare, as per the World Health Organization. Ananas comosus (L.) Merril, commonly known as pineapple, belongs to the Bromeliaceae family, encompassing about 50 genera and 200 species. Pineapple, a perennial herbaceous plant, exhibits unique physical attributes, with its main parts including the stem, leaves, peduncle, multiple fruit, crown, shoots, and roots. Pineapple contains various amino acids, including tyrosine and tryptophan, along with bromelain, an enzyme aiding digestion by breaking down proteins. This review outlines previous research on the phytochemical and pharmacological characteristics of Ananas comosus, highlighting its diverse medicinal properties. From antimicrobial and anticancer activities to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective effects, pineapple demonstrates significant therapeutic potential across multiple health domains. Additionally, its nutritional value and traditional uses further underscore its importance as a versatile herbal remedy. Keywords: Ananas comosus, pineapple, phytochemicals, pharmacological activities, medicinal properties, bromelain.

Evaluation of Alternative Sources of Proteins and Other Nutrients with Potential Applications in Fish Nutrition

The European Union’s (EU) agricultural self-sufficiency is challenged by its reliance on imported plant proteins, particularly soy from the Americas, contributing to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. Addressing the EU’s protein deficit, this study evaluates alternative protein sources for aquaculture, focusing on their nutritional value, elemental content, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Protein flours from gastropods (Helix pomatia, Arion lusitanicus, Arion vulgaris) and their hepatopancreas, along with plant-based proteins from food industry by-products (oilcakes, coffee grounds, spent brewer’s yeast), were analyzed. Results revealed that snail flour contained the highest protein content at 59.09%, significantly outperforming hepatopancreas flour at 42.26%. Plant-based proteins demonstrated substantial nutritional value, with coffee grounds flour exhibiting a remarkable protein content of 71.8% and spent brewer’s yeast flour at 57.9%. Elemental analysis indicated high levels of essential minerals such as magnesium in hepatopancreas flour (5719.10 mg/kg) and calcium in slug flour (48,640.11 mg/kg). However, cadmium levels in hepatopancreas flour (11.45 mg/kg) necessitate caution due to potential health risks. PAH concentrations were low across all samples, with the highest total PAH content observed in hepatopancreas flour at 0.0353 µg/kg, suggesting minimal risk of PAH-related toxicity. The analysis of plant-based protein sources, particularly oilcakes derived from sunflower, hemp, flax, and pumpkin seeds, revealed that these by-products not only exhibit high protein contents but present a promising avenue for enhancing the nutritional quality of feed. This study underscores the potential of utilizing gastropod and plant-based by-products as sustainable and nutritionally adequate alternatives to conventional feeds in aquaculture, contributing to the EU’s environmental sustainability goals.

A Narrative Review of Metabolomic Insights into Olive Oil’s Nutritional Value

This review explores the critical role of advanced metabolomic methodologies in interpreting the complex relationship between the bioactive compounds in olive oil and their health benefits. Olive oil, the cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet, is renowned for its numerous health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cardioprotective properties. This review begins with an overview of the importance of olive oil for nutrition and health, followed by a detailed discussion of the key metabolites that contribute to its therapeutic potential. It further explores the evolution of analytical techniques in metabolomics from traditional methods to cutting-edge technologies, such as mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, which have enhanced our understanding of the complex composition of olive oil. This review highlights how these advanced analytical findings correlate with the known health properties of olive oil and presents case studies in which these methodologies have led to new insights. Finally, we address the challenges in standardizing these techniques and discuss future research directions, underscoring the significance of metabolomics in nutritional science and public health. This comprehensive analysis aims to provide a deeper understanding of the health benefits of olive oil, informed by the latest advancements in analytical methodologies.

Nutritional and Therapeutic Values of Cow Milk: A Comprehensive Review

Milk is the most necessary food for humans because it provides almost all nutrients such as the most nutritious protein, calcium, essential fatty acids, water-soluble vitamins, and other bioactive compounds responsible for maintaining health and other physiological functions. Milk has also been used effectively in the Unani system of medicine for centuries to improve complexion and to treat other ailments (especially dermatological disorders). For skin brightening, Unani physicians mentioned the use of the paste made up of powdered tukhm e kharpazah (seeds of musk melon), aarad e nakhud (powdered chickpea) each 2 parts, arad e baqla(powdered broad beans), aarad e jau (powdered barley) each 1 part, adas muqashshar (powdered lentil), nishasta (corn flour), kateera (tragacanth gum) each half part, tukhm e turb (radish seeds) 1/4th part, za’fran (saffron) a little and milk at night on the face and advice to wash the face with the decoction of banafsha (sweet violet) and post kharpaza (musk melon fruit epicarp) in the morning. Milk has several therapeutic actions too e.g. Musammin e Badan (adipogenous), Muhallil (anti-inflammatory), Mugharri (glutinous- Mugharri drug is a cold and dry substance with a small amount of viscid moisture that coats the surface and constricts pores. It moisturizes the skin and makes it appear lighter), Mohsin e laun (fairness activity), Ghassal (irrigator), Tiryaq (antidote), and Muqawwi (general tonic), etc. There are some scientific reports on the anti-hyperpigmentation effect of cow milk in which a paste of cow milk and powdered roasted red lentils was tested to enhance the complexion. They found significantly effective result on the Fitzpatrick scale, enhanced complexion, and reduced tanning as well as dullness. The main objective of this article is to present cow milk's nutritional and therapeutic activity. Keywords: Cow milk, Unani medicine, Nutrition, Skin Tanning, Skin Brightening.

Deleterious Effects of Heat Stress on the Tomato, Its Innate Responses, and Potential Preventive Strategies in the Realm of Emerging Technologies.

The tomato is a fruit vegetable rich in nutritional and medicinal value grown in greenhouses and fields worldwide. It is severely sensitive to heat stress, which frequently occurs with rising global warming. Predictions indicate a 0.2 °C increase in average surface temperatures per decade for the next three decades, which underlines the threat of austere heat stress in the future. Previous studies have reported that heat stress adversely affects tomato growth, limits nutrient availability, hammers photosynthesis, disrupts reproduction, denatures proteins, upsets signaling pathways, and damages cell membranes. The overproduction of reactive oxygen species in response to heat stress is toxic to tomato plants. The negative consequences of heat stress on the tomato have been the focus of much investigation, resulting in the emergence of several therapeutic interventions. However, a considerable distance remains to be covered to develop tomato varieties that are tolerant to current heat stress and durable in the perspective of increasing global warming. This current review provides a critical analysis of the heat stress consequences on the tomato in the context of global warming, its innate response to heat stress, and the elucidation of domains characterized by a scarcity of knowledge, along with potential avenues for enhancing sustainable tolerance against heat stress through the involvement of diverse advanced technologies. The particular mechanism underlying thermotolerance remains indeterminate and requires further elucidatory investigation. The precise roles and interplay of signaling pathways in response to heat stress remain unresolved. The etiology of tomato plants' physiological and molecular responses against heat stress remains unexplained. Utilizing modern functional genomics techniques, including transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, can assist in identifying potential candidate proteins, metabolites, genes, gene networks, and signaling pathways contributing to tomato stress tolerance. Improving tomato tolerance against heat stress urges a comprehensive and combined strategy including modern techniques, the latest apparatuses, speedy breeding, physiology, and molecular markers to regulate their physiological, molecular, and biochemical reactions.

Phytochemical, antimicrobial and proximate analysis of <em>Costus spectabilis</em> grown in different soil types

The search for medicinal plants with novel properties for therapeutical potentials is a continuum. The preliminary phytochemical analysis, antimicrobial properties and proximate contents of Costus spectabilis leaf and root harvested from different soil types were studied following standard protocols. The ethyl ethanoate extracts were assayed against six microbial cultures of Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29523), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633), Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus clavatus using the agar well diffusion methods. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponin, phenol, flavonoids and anthraquinone in all samples at varying concentrations. Terpenes and phlobatannins were not observed in any extract. Phenolic compound was observed to have the highest quantity of 6.18±0.00 mg/g from the leaf extract of the plant grown in loamy soil. Tannin and flavonoids were only detected in very insignificant quantities. The extracts showed significant inhibitory potential against the bacterial strains. The highest zone of inhibition was recorded as 33.02±1.45 mm against B. subtilis in the leaf extracts of the plant grown in clay soil. The leaf extracts from the plant obtained from clay soil showed fungicidal activity against the Aspergillus species, while the other extracts only showed fungistatic effects against all sampled fungal species. The proximate content analysis revealed that carbohydrates and protein are the dominant nutrients in the leaf of C. spectabilis. Costus spectabilis is a plant that can be exploited for its medicinal, nutritional and economic values.

Phytochemical contents and bioactivity of four endemic Salvia seeds from Turkey: a comparative study to chia seed

AbstractRecently, the importance of medicinal plants such as Salvia species has been increasing both in medicine and in industrial branches, which includes food, feed, and cosmetic raw materials. On the other hand, chia seed is a functional food that has recently increased industrial importance due to its superior nutritional value, phytochemical components, and therapeutic effects. In our study, the antioxidant activity of methanol extracts from the seeds of endemic Salvia cadmica Boiss var. cadmica, and Salvia caespitosa Montbret & Aucher ex Benth., Salvia pisidica Boiss. & Heldr. ex Benth., and Salvia potentillifolia Boiss. & Heldr. ex Benth. collected from Burdur-Antalya/Turkey were determined via 1,1-diphenyl,2-picryl hydrazyl radical scavenging activity, cupric (II) reducing antioxidant capacity, b-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching and total phenolic, and total flavonoid content tests and compared with that of chia seed. Antimicrobial activity was determined according to minimum inhibitory concentration values, on S. aureus, E. coli, S. enterica, L. monocytogenes, C. albicans strains, but it was found negligible. Phenolic and fatty acid contents of the seed extracts were also determined by HPLC and GC–MS, respectively. S. pisidica and S. potentillifolia were found to be highly active. The major fatty acid composition of the chia seed was linolenic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid while the others were linoleic, oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids. Despite fatty acid ratios of chia seed being more favorable; 1,1-diphenyl,2-picryl hydrazyl radical scavenging activity, cupric (II) reducing antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content, and antimicrobial activity of S. pisidica seed extracts and total flavonoid content and inhibition of β-carotene bleaching of S. potentillifolia seed extracts was higher than that of chia seed. These findings suggest seed extracts of these Salvia species are richer in phytochemicals and they are more active as antioxidants when compared to chia seed.

Merging the spring onion extract into soft cheese as a rich natural phenolic ingredient to improve its antioxidant, functional, and sensory properties

The dairy industry has added a wide range of useful ingredients to its dairy products in response to consumers’ shifting lifestyles and desire for healthier diets. Despite the extensive usage of preservatives and antioxidants, the dairy industry is coming to understand the demand for natural food items free of synthetic additives. The current study aim to determine the impact of spring onion (Allium fistulosum) extract on the antioxidant, functional, and sensory aspects of ultrafiltration cheese (UF-soft cheese).Spring onion extracts are incorporated into UF-soft cheese at levels of (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5%). HPLC was used to determine the total phenolic compounds and water-soluble vitamin content of spring onion extract samples, using an Agilent 1260 series HPLC. To separate phenolic chemicals, the Eclipse C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm ID x 5 m) was employed. Furthermore, chemicals, colors, acetaldehyde and diacetyl components, total phenol, antioxidant content, and sensory qualities were evaluated during one month of cold storage. The chlorogenic (1021.22 µg/g) and gallic acid (915.83 µg/g) levels were found to have the greatest phenolic components in spring onion ethanol extract. Moreover, the extract is very high in some vitamins, particularly vitamin C (771.15 g/g) and vitamin B6 (254.85 g/g). The chemical properties, total phenol content, antioxidant activity, and sensory scores of cheese were improved by the incorporation of spring onion extract compared to control cheese. During storage, the taste and flavor of all cheese treatments were enhanced, with T2 having the best taste and flavor, and the total sensory score is listed in descending order of acceptability for cheese: T2 > T3 > T1 > Control. Therefore, the addition of spring onion extract as a rich source of natural antioxidant agents can provide nutritional value and a unique appealing flavor profile to the cheese, making it more healthy and enjoyable for consumers.

Drying characteristics and kinetics of bottle gourd using stand-alone indirect solar dryer

Drying food is an effective method to preserve fruits and vegetables, increasing their shelf life and preventing germination. Bottle gourds, known for their high nutritional value, can rot quickly due to their high moisture content, causing biochemical and microbial changes. To improve shelf life, moisture can be removed to prevent microbial activity. Different drying methods are used to preserve gourd family vegetables for long periods and off-season. Indirect solar drying shields foods from UV rays, dust, insects, and other contamination by avoiding direct exposure. This study aimed to utilize an indirect solar dryer to research the potential for drying bottle gourds and conduct physicochemical analyses for the dried products to compare the drying techniques. In this experiment, different samples of bottle gourd slices were dried using an indirect solar dryer and compared with sun and shade drying. Under physicochemical properties, moisture content (MC), retention of color, thickness, and shrinkage of dried samples were analyzed and compared. The result showed that the time taken to reach 10% moisture was 13 h for samples dried with sun drying. While shade and indirect solar drying took 17 h. The Midilli-Kucuk model outperforms other approaches for drying bottle gourd, with the greatest R2 values (0.9967, 0.9950, 0.9936) and the lowest RMSE values (0.0182, 0.0220, 0.0277) for direct sun, shade, and indirect solar drying, respectively. The indirect sun dryer showed good color retention compared to the fresh bottle gourd samples with L* value of 44.08, b* value of 15.40 and a* value of 7.01. The volumetric shrinkage was 97.64% in the direct sun drying method after 15 h, which is higher compared to sun and shade dryers due to the effect of time and temperature. In addition, there was a significant difference (p-value <0.05) between the thickness of the three drying methods. The use of indirect solar drying methods can be highly recommended to get high-quality dried food with zero energy cost. For future studies it is recommended to enhance the function and design of the indirect solar dryer to speed up drying times and improve the quality of dried samples.

Development of gluten free crackers using water chestnut (Trapa natans) and Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum)

Baked goods are favored by the public due to their widespread availability, convenience, ready-to-eat nature, and excellent storage capabilities. The study focused on developing high-quality gluten-free crackers by incorporating pearl millet (Bajra) and water chestnut flour which enhances nutritional value and is gluten free, catering to individuals with celiac disease.To Formulate Crackers with Pearl Millet and water chestnut flour. To determine the Sensory quality of the developed product. To Estimate the Proximate composition and cost of the developed product.Pearl millet flour, water chestnut flour, whole wheat flour,salt, jaggery, garlic powder, ajwain, mixed herbs, oil, and baking powder were procured from local grocery stores of Mysore and standard A.O.A.C (2005) methods for Proximate analysis and 9-point hedonic scale was used for sensory analysis.: The sensory evaluation revealed that PMC4 was highly acceptable on par with control. Proximate analysis showed that PMC4 had high phosphorous and calcium content.The study successfully developed superior gluten-free crackers with incorporation of Pearl millet and water chestnut flour. Among all the variations PMC4 was rich in phosphorous and calcium and is gluten free which caters to individuals with celiac disease.

Forage accumulation and nutritive value in extensive, intensive, and integrated pasture-based beef cattle production systems

Context A challenge for the livestock sector is to improve the production and nutritive value of forage grasses through sustainable management strategies. Aims This study evaluated the impact of management on the productive and nutritive value of five pasture-based production systems: irrigated pasture with 600 kg nitrogen (N) ha−1 (IP600); rainfed pasture with 400 kg N ha−1 (RP400); rainfed pasture with 200 kg N ha−1 (RP200); silvopastoral with 200 kg N ha−1 (SP200); and degraded pasture without N fertilisation (DP0). Methods During two experimental years, samples were collected pre- and post-grazing to determine forage and nutritional parameters. Land-saving effects and efficiencies of N fertilisation and water use were calculated. Key results For C4 grasses, forage mass accumulation was greater for IP600 and RP400. IP600 also presented the greatest leaf area index and crude protein concentration, whereas DP0 presented the lowest values of both. For C3 grasses in the IP600 treatment, greater forage mass accumulation and leaf area index were found in winter than in autumn; all nutritional characteristics were not affected by season of the year. For land-saving effect, and N- and water-use efficiencies, IP600, RP400 and RP200 presented higher values than DP0 and SP200. Conclusions More intensified systems with proper management allowed better productive and nutritional characteristics than degraded pasture or silvopasture, especially during seasons with greater precipitation or when irrigated. Implications Intensification practices make better use of natural resources (water and land) and agricultural inputs (N fertiliser) to ameliorate the effects of seasonality and improve quality and productivity of tropical grasses in pasture-based livestock production systems.

The Synergetic Effect of Light Spectra and Selenium Supplementation on Eruca sativa Mill. Growth and Physiological and Metabolic Responses

Eco-friendly lighting systems, like LED lights, can reduce energy consumption in greenhouse operations, have a long lifespan, and enable precise control over plant growth through spectrum selection. On the other hand, Selenium (Se) is a micronutrient with a beneficial role in plant metabolism and an essential element for human health. In this study, we aim to unravel the effects of LED lighting combined with Se supplementation on the physiological behavior, yield, and quality of arugula (Eruca sativa). Arugula plants were cultivated under controlled conditions using two distinct LED lights: full white spectrum (W) and a mix of 80%/20% of red/blue light (R:B). These plants were then supplemented with three levels of Se: 0 mg Se kg−1 soil [0], 0.3 mg Se kg−1 soil [0.3], and 0.6 mg Se kg−1 soil [0.6]. The results showed that stomatal conductance remained unaffected by the light script. However, the plants exposed to R:B displayed more pronounced signs of photodamage and reduced net photosynthetic rate. Supplementation with Se plays a significant role in mitigating light-induced stress and in improving the antioxidant defense system; this was especially notable in R:B plants. Finally, R:B light decreased the accumulation of aboveground biomass, while no significant impact of Se was noticed on this outcome. Se accumulation exhibited a direct and proportional relationship with the concentration of Se applied. The integration of LED technology and Se supplementation not only enhances crop nutritional value but also aligns with the adoption of more sustainable agricultural practices.