Water Bamboo Research Articles

Effect of Different Postharvest Pre-Cooling Treatments on Quality of Water Bamboo Shoots (Zizania latifolia) during Refrigerated Storage

Post-harvest pre-cooling of water bamboo shoots (WBS) [Zizania latifolia] can effectively delay its quality deterioration. Six types of pre-cooling treatments were used to pre-cooling post-harvest WBS, including cold slightly acidic electrolytic water pre-cooling (CSAEW), cold water pre-cooling (CWPC), vacuum pre-cooling (VPC), strong wind pre-cooling (SWPC), refrigerator pre-cooling (RPC), and fluid ice pre-cooling (FIPC). The effects of different pre-cooling treatments on the quality of refrigerated WBS were investigated. The results showed that the FIPC treatment was harmful to the storage quality of WBS, while the other five pre-cooling treatments could extend the shelf life of WBS to some extent. These pre-cooling treatments can inhibit the respiration of WBS, slow down its weight loss and lignification process, and maintain its relatively high levels of nutrient content and antioxidant activity. The CSAEW treatment outperformed other treatments in terms of bactericidal action and microbiological content control for WBS during storage. The protective effect of CSAEW treatment on the storage quality of WBS was relatively the best, and extended the shelf life of WBS by 12 days compared to the control group. This study indicated that the CSAEW pre-cooling treatment offers a new choice for pre-cooling root vegetables.

Reaching China’s fertilizer reduction goals through nitrogen and phosphorus recovery: a substance flow analysis case study

Linear agricultural nutrient regimes are the principal cause for perturbation of the geochemical cycles for nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and other planetary boundaries. Nutrient cycles are characterized by high spatial disparity and China is a hotspot due to high fertilizer application rates. Using substance flow analysis, this study identified and quantified nutrient flows from agricultural production to residue management of Huangyan tangerines (Citrus reticulata) and water bamboo (Zizania latifolia) in a case study of Huangyan district (Taizhou City, Zhejiang province). About 754 Mg/a of N and 105 Mg/a of P can theoretically be recovered in the tangerines and water bamboo systems from currently untapped material flows. This could replace 59% of the N and 15% of the P currently applied as chemical fertilizer, reducing environmental impacts. Combining the nutrient recovery of both systems and upscaling the results to Taizhou City, the goal from the 14th Five-Year Plan for Agricultural and Rural Modernization to save 1182 Mg of nutrients per year could be exceeded by almost 12 times. This study’s data have varying degrees of uncertainty. The analysis of data representativeness shows potential for improvements, especially in the agricultural production of water bamboo and the nutrient contents of material flows.

Genetic diversity analysis of Saccharosydne procerus in Hunan region, China.

Saccharosydne procerus serves as a significant alternative host for parasitoids of the important rice pest, rice planthoppers. Rearing S. procerus on the water bamboo plants near rice field can provide a parasitic site for parasitic wasps during the idle period of rice fields, thereby stabilizing the number of parasitoids and suppressing the number of rice planthoppers in the field. However, limited understanding of genetic diversity of S. procerus restricts its application. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the genetic diversity of S. procerus in Hunan region. In this study, 16 geographical populations of the S. procerus from the Hunan region were used. After screening, ISSR primers were employed for polymorphism detection. POPGENE32 software was used for genetic diversity analysis, and UPGMA clustering was applied for statistical analysis of different geographical populations to generate an evolutionary tree. Eleven ISSR primers were screened, resulting in the detection of 194 amplification locus, of which 126 were polymorphic. The average percentage of polymorphic locus was 64.95%. The mean Nei's gene diversity (H) was 0.2475, the mean Shannon's Information index (I) was 0.3708, and the Genetic diversity index among populations (Gst) was 0.3800. Cluster analysis identified three groups, with most populations concentrated in the second group, indicating no clear genetic structure. This suggests that the 16 populations of S. procerus exhibit high levels of genetic diversity.

Effects of melatonin on inhibiting quality deterioration of postharvest water bamboo shoots

Water bamboo shoots (Zizania latifolia) is prone to quality deterioration during cold storage after harvest, which causes the decline of commodity value. Chlorophyll synthesis and lignin deposition are the major reasons for quality degradation. This paper studied the influence of exogenous melatonin (MT) on the cold storage quality of water bamboo shoots. MT treatment could delay the increase in skin browning, hardness and weight loss rate, inhibit chlorophyll synthesis and color change of water bamboo shoots, while maintain the content of total phenols and flavonoids, and inhibit lignin deposition by inhibiting the activity and gene expression of phenylpropanoid metabolism related enzymes as PAL, C4H, 4CL, CAD, and POD. The results indicate that exogenous MT treatment can effectively inhibit the quality degradation of cold stored water bamboo shoots.

The application of water bamboo (Zizania latifolia) husk-derived biochar for copper-contaminated irrigation water treatment and soil amendment

Biochar prepared from water bamboo husks can be used for water purification and soil acidification amendment to safeguard agricultural soil and increase crop yields in Taiwan.

Effects of natamycin, hexanoic acid and Lactobacillus plantarum on fermentation, aerobic stability and in vitro digestibility of an ensiled total mixed ration containing water bamboo sheath leaves

AbstractThe work aimed to evaluate the effect of lactic acid bacteria, natamycin and hexanoic acid on the fermentation quality, aerobic stability and in vitro digestibility of total mixed ration (TMR) silages containing water bamboo sheath leaves. The treatments were as follows: (1) no additives (control, C), (2) lactic acid bacteria (L), (3) natamycin (N), (4) hexanoic acid (H), (5) lactic acid bacteria + natamycin (LN), (6) lactic acid bacteria + hexanoic acid (LH). Silos were opened and silages were evaluated to assess fermentation quality, aerobic stability and in vitro digestibility. All TMR silages were well-preserved as indicated by dominant lactic acid content, low ammonia nitrogen/total nitrogen, trace propionic acid and negligible butyric acid contents. All additives improved the fermentation quality and in vitro digestibility, evidenced by higher lactic acid/acetic acid ratio, lactic acid, acetic acid, water-soluble carbohydrate contents and lactic acid bacteria count, and lower pH, aerobic bacteria and yeast counts. The LN had the highest lactic acid, acetic acid, lactic acid/acetic acid ratio, in vitro gas production and in vitro digestibility. During aerobic exposure, the LN silage had the highest lactic acid and acetic acid contents, and the lowest pH among all TMR silages. The LN and LH prolonged aerobic stability, reaching 85.5 and 81.5 h, respectively. The LN is recommended to improve the fermentation quality, aerobic stability and in vitro digestibility of TMR prepared with water bamboo sheath leaves.

Processing of Leachate Water into Liquid Fertilizer (POC) for Increasing the Economy of Chrysanthemum Farmers

The waste problem is a national problem that has derivative impacts, including the accumulation of waste in landfills which also causes pollution of locations around landfills for leachate production. TPST Piyungan which is the largest waste management site in Yogyakarta has a leachate treatment system but it does not work optimally. One of the leachate treatment technology options is a wetland system that can not only stabilize leachate by reducing heavy metal levels but can also produce liquid organic fertilizer (POC). This study aims to determine the performance of the wetland system using water bamboo to process leachate into liquid organic fertilizer and to determine the impact of testing on flower plants. Besides that, respondent analysis and economic analysis were also carried out. The results showed that the performance of the wetland system produced leachate NPK levels that were still below the standard liquid organic fertilizer, but its application to flower plants showed significant results in helping flower growth. The economic analysis also shows positive parameters and shows that this system is feasible for business development and has promising market potential.

Numerical Modelling of Constructed Wetland using Software HYDRUS 2D

One of the problems involving water bodies is the pollution of water sources, which later becomes the parent of various social, economic, and health problems. One of these conditions can be overcome by utilizing phytoremediation through constructed wetlands. HYDRUS is a software that offers easy modelling of pollutant decay mechanisms in water bodies and constructed wetlands using finite element method. This study aims to show and analyse how HYDRUS software can model the mechanism in constructed wetland by using finite element method. The parameters observed are the time for the pollutant, namely ammonia, nitrate, and inorganic phosphorous, to reach the outlet, and the response curve of the pollutant loading on the model. From the simulation, it can be inferred that the maximum velocity of the water going through the constructed wetland is 8.11 m/day, or 811 cm/day. The dominating velocity in the wetland is around 160 cm/day, or 1.6 m/day. The response curve of the pollutant transport is also in accordance with theoretical response for impulse loading. The result yields the effectivity of simulated constructed wetland, which are 90.33% for ammonia and nitrate, and 90.26% for inorganic phosphorous. The result yields quite optimistic effectivity of the constructed wetland, which may be caused by the assumptions made in the model, which goes through simplification method. It can also be caused by the differences in plants assumption. In the HYDRUS simulation, the plant used is grass, which does not specify what kind of grass. Meanwhile, the physical simulation uses water bamboo.

Lignin Biosynthesis in Postharvest Water Bamboo (Zizania latifolia) Shoots during Cold Storage Is Regulated by RBOH-Mediated Reactive Oxygen Species Signaling.

Lignification is a major cause of senescence in fresh shoots of water bamboo (Zizania latifolia), which is a popular vegetable in southeast Asia; however, its physiological and molecular mechanisms is less understood. In the present study, lignin content and transcriptome change in postharvested water bamboo shoots under cold storage were investigated. We found that lignin significantly accumulated in the epidermis of the shoots with the increase of firmness. In the cold storage shoots, the major up-regulated genes were involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, plant-pathogen interactions, and starch and sucrose metabolism. The lignin biosynthesis genes PAL, 4CL, C4H, CCoAOMT, CCR, F5H, CAD, and POD family were up-regulated during cold storage, while HCT and C3H were down-regulated. The MAPK signaling pathway was also up-regulated and respiratory burst oxidase homologue (RBOH) genes were strongly up-regulated. Therefore, we investigated the RBOH gene family and their expression profile in water bamboo shoots. The results indicated that 10 ZlRBOHs were up-regulated in cold storage shoots. Diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI), an inhibitor of RBOH oxidase, significantly inhibited the expression of genes involved in lignin deposition and biosynthesis, while H2O2 enhanced these processes. These results suggest that lignification of water bamboo shoots is regulated by RBOH-mediated ROS signaling.

Identification and First Report of Leaf Blight Caused by Phytophthora palmivora on Chinese Water Bamboo in China.

Chinese water bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) is a popular houseplant due to its ability to survive in various indoor conditions. In October 2020, pronounced leaf blight symptoms with approximately 50% disease incidence were observed on water bamboo in the 35-ha field of Wenchang county (19°50'45'' N, 110°21'38'' E), Hainan, China. The diseased leaves showed pale green with yellowish lesions, dried and shrivelled tips. As the disease progressed, upward-spreading necrosis led to stem weakness, and then the plants wilted and died within a few weeks (Fig. 1A,B). Ten symptomatic leaves were collected, and leaf pieces (5 mm × 5 mm) from the edge of the lesion were cut, disinfected for 30 s using 75% ethanol, and rinsed five times in d.d. H2O, and placed on V8 media amended with 10 mg/L pimaricin, 150 mg/L ampicillin, and 16 mg/L rifampicin (Guo et al., 2012). Eight isolates of Phytophthora recovered from 10 leaves were characterized morphologically. Colony morphology showed slightly radiate to stellate patterns, with cottony aerial mycelium (Fig.1D). Hyphae were smooth and uniform, branching at nearly right angles into stout (Fig.1E). Mycelial swellings were observed in plate culture (Fig.1F). Chlamydospores were abundant and spherical (Fig.1G). Sporangia were produced externally through sympodial development of the sporangiophore immediately below a sporangium (Fig.1H, I). The sporangia were 29.3-63.9 µm (mean, 48.5 µm) in length and 19.3-46.8 µm (mean, 33.5 µm, n=50) in width. No sexual organs were observed in the 8 isolates. The morphological characteristics of the isolates were consistent with the description of P. palmivora (Erwin and Ribeiro, 1996). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA, the translation elongation factor 1α gene (TEF1), and β-Tubulin gene (TUB) sequences of the 8 isolates were amplified using the primers ITS1/ITS4 (Cooke et al., 2000), ELONGF1/ELONGR1 and TUBUF2/TUBUR1 (Kroon, et al., 2004), respectively, followed by sequencing analysis. The sequences of representative isolate HK-5 for the ITS, TEF1 and TUB were deposited in GenBank with the accession numbers of OK349485, OK349488 and OK349487. BLAST results showed that the ITS (MG865559, identity=735/735; 100%), TEF1(MH359047, identity=682/684; 99.7%) and TUB (MH493992, identity=467/468; 99.8%) sequences were all highly similar with a sequence of P. palmivora strain CPHST BL105. Phylogenetic analysis using the combined ITS, TEF1, and TUB sequences showed that the isolate HK-5 were grouped with the P. palmivora with good bootstrap support (Fig.2). Based on morphological and molecular identification, the pathogens were identified as P. palmivora. The pathogenicity tests showed that all whole plants (1-year-old) sprayed with the 5 mL of zoospore suspension (1×106 zoospores mL-1) initially presented with discoloured spots on their leaves after 4 days of inoculation, and the symptoms gradually progressed from spots to leaf blight (Fig. 1C). Each isolate was applied onto 10 plants and control plants were sprayed with d.d.H2O. The results of the pathogenicity test exhibited typical symptoms as observed in the field. No significant differences of virulence were observed among the 8 isolates, and the control plants remained symptomless. P. palmivora was re-isolated from the leaves of inoculated plants. This is the first report of P. palmivora on water bamboo in China, and appropriate measures must be undertaken to control this agent in this region.

Description of Acaralox latifolia n. sp. (Acari: Trombidiformes: Eriophyoidea) on water bamboo from Taiwan

Water bamboo, Zizania latifolia (Griseb.), Poaceae, is the major crop in Puli Township, Taiwan. Following some unknown mite infestations causing leaf curling symptoms first observed in 2018, water bamboos experienced a dramatic crop yield. Our morphological evaluation revealed their infestation with a new species of eriophyoid mite, Acaralox latifolia n. sp. (Acari: Trombidiformes: Eriophyoidea). Here, we described and illustrated this new species and provided its scanning electronic micrographs and DNA sequences of COI and ITS regions. This is the first record of the genus Acaralox from Taiwan.

EFFECTIVITY OF POLLUTANT DECAY IN THE CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS BY USING WATER BAMBOO PLANTS (EQUISETUM HYEMALE)

One of the problems in urban areas is the pollution of water sources. Unmanaged domestic waste in urban areas causes the waste to enter the main river system, causing river water pollution. One of the efforts that can be made to reduce the burden of water pollution is to use phytoremediation through constructed wetlands. This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of water bamboo or Equisetum hyemale in pollutant removal. The rate of pollutant decay in constructed wetlands using water bamboo plants or Equisetum hyemale, modeled using 4th order Runge-Kutta. The study was conducted by taking water samples from constructed wetlands planted with Water Bamboo plants for a certain period. The parameters measured were DO, nitrate, phosphate, and ammonia. The concentrations of these parameters were analyzed using linear regression to determine the gradient of each equation (k). The gradient is a representation of the plant's ability to shed pollutants. The value of k is then used to calculate the change in concentration with time with the help of the Runge-Kutta numerical model of 4th order. Based on the regression results, the decay rate values for each parameter are 0.026/day for DO, 0.024/day for ammonia, 0.006 /day for phosphate, and 0.1214 /day for nitrate. This data is then entered into a numerical model which is solved by 4th order Runge-Kutta to obtain the change in concentration per unit time. When compared theoretically, pollutants in water bodies experience a decay pattern according to the theory. Based on the calculation of pollutant decay results in the field, it was found that the effectiveness of the constructed wetland in eliminating DO was 41.68%, ammonia was 60.49%, phosphate was 30.62%, and nitrate was 53.51%.

Application of melatonin delays lignification in postharvest water bamboo shoots in association with energy metabolism

Lignification occurs in some vegetables and fruit after harvest and lowers their quality and commercial value. This study investigated the effects of melatonin (MT) on the energy metabolism of postharvest water bamboo shoots (WBS) and their relationship with lignification. We found that lignin accumulation could result in insufficient energy in postharvest WBS. The ATP content of the melatonin treatment group was 1.7 times higher than that of the control. Melatonin slowed down the decrease in the energy status by activating succinic dehydrogenase (SDH), cytochrome c oxidase (CCO), H+-ATPase, Mg2+-ATPase, and Ca2+-ATPase, as well as the transcription levels of their corresponding genes in WBS. Moreover, melatonin treatment increased nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate reduced form (NADPH) content by promoting nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide kinase (NADK) activity as well as by maintaining lower nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide reduced form (NADH) levels during storage. The correlation study revealed a negative relationship between lignin accumulation and energy metabolism in postharvest WBS. These findings supported the notion that the application of MT is a viable and effective method for alleviating lignification and supplying adequate energy to harvested WBS.

Chemoenzymatic catalytic synthesis of furfurylamine from hemicellulose in biomasses

Recently, efficient synthesis of furan-based chemicals from biomacromolecule via chemoenzymatic approaches have been widely recognized. In this work, an efficient conversion of biomacromolecule (e.g., xylan in biomass) to furfurylamine (FLA) was developed in a tandem reaction by bridging with chemocatalysis and biocatalysis. Various biomasses (e.g., corncob, bagasse, bamboo shoot shell, corn stalk, rice straw stalk, reed, water bamboo and sunflower stalk) could produce different titer of furfural due to the diverse xylan content in biomass. After being catalyzed by shrimp shell-supported solid acid catalyst (Sn-DAT-SS) in deep eutectic solvent choline chloride:ethylene glycol (ChCl:EG) − water (10:90, v/v) at 170 °C after 30 min, corncob gave the highest furfural yield of 52.4 %. The potential catalytic mechanism for Sn-DAT-SS-catalyzing the conversion of biomass into furfural in ChCl:EG − water was proposed. It was found that by-products (formic acid, levulinic acid, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural) and soluble sugars (glucose, xylose, arabinose, cellobiose) produced during the conversion of biomass to furfural had certain inhibition effects on the biotransamination of furfural to FLA. Biomass-derived furfural (36.7–92.3 mM) could be fully aminated to FLA by E. coli CCZU-XLS160 cells harboring ω-transaminase after 24–72 h. The established chemoenzymatic strategy for converting biomacromolecules into valuable furan-based products was successfully developed in an eco-friendly system.

Effect of ozone treatment on lignification and postharvest quality of water bamboo shoots

AbstractOzone treatment is a useful approach to maintain postharvest quality for various fruits and vegetables. In this study, the effects of ozone fumigation on lignification and postharvest quality changes in water bamboo shoots were investigated. Water bamboo shoots were respectively treated with ozone at the concentrations of 0 (control), 3, 6, 9, and 12 µl L−1, packaged in polyethylene packing bag and stored at 2 ± 1°C for 60 days. The results showed that ozone treatment maintained the lightness, whiteness index values and retarded the lignification during storage. Water bamboo shoots treated with 9 µl L−1 ozone showed the best fruit quality and the least lignification. Ozone treatment also slowed the decrease of soluble pectin content and cellulose accumulation by inhibiting the activities of cellulase (Cx) and polygalacturonase. In addition, ozone treatment also protected cell ultrastructure. Ozone treatment could be a potential alternative for inhibiting lignification and delaying quality deterioration of water bamboo shoots during storage.

Analysis of lignin metabolism in water bamboo shoots during storage

Water bamboo shoots (WBS) are popular hydrophytic plant in China with a high nutritive value. However, WBS is susceptible to postharvest lignification. The firmness, lignin content, lignin composition, activity of lignin biosynthesis-related enzymes, and expression of lignin biosynthesis-related genes in WBS were determined after postharvest storage at 20 °C or 2 °C for 15 d or 63 d, respectively. The results indicated that lignin present in WBS was composed of G (vanillin and vanillic acid), H (p-hydroxybenzaldehyde and p-hydroxybenzoic acid), and S (syringaldehyde and syringic acid) monomers. During storage, the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase, and peroxidase also increased. Moreover, the upregulated gene expression levels of lignin biosynthesis-related enzymes positively correlated with increasing lignin content, which were the key contributors to the lignification of WBS during storage. We observed that low temperatures delayed lignification by repressing the expression of lignification-related genes and suppressing the activity of lignin biosynthesis-related enzymes.

Impact of ethanol vapor treatment on the quality of water bamboo ( Zizania caduciflora L.) shoots during cold storage

This study evaluated the effect of ethanol vapor treatments on the physicochemical characteristics and quality of postharvest water bamboo shoots (WBS) (Zizania caduciflora L.). WBS were treated with ethanol vapor at doses of 0 (control), 500, 750, and 1000 μl/L at 0 ± 1°C for 35 days. The fruit were evaluated for weight loss, firmness, color, total soluble solids, soluble sugars, malondialdehyde, lignin, and lignification-related enzyme activities. The results revealed that all ethanol treatments could inhibit the weight loss and softening of WBS, reduce the reduction of soluble solids and soluble sugars content, inhibit the lignification-associated enzymes peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase activities, and reduce the synthesis of lignin. Among them, the 750 μl/L ethanol vapor treatment had a significant effect on all tested parameters and maintained the storage quality of WBS better than other treatments. Practical applications Water bamboo shoot is a nutritionally rich aquatic vegetable. However, its quality deteriorates rapidly after harvest due to wilting, softening, and lignification. The ethanol vapor treatment in this study significantly reduced the softening and lignification of WBS. The ethanol vapor treatment is simple and has less residue, which is effective in maintaining the fruit quality and reducing the nutritional loss of WBS after harvest. It is a safe and environmentally friendly preservation method for WBS.

Nitric Oxide Extends the Postharvest Life of Water Bamboo Shoots Partly by Maintaining Mitochondrial Structure and Energy Metabolism.

Harvested water bamboo shoots can be stored for only a few days before they lose weight and become soft. Nitrogen oxide (NO) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) have previously been used to prolong horticultural crop storage. In the present study, we analyzed the joint effect of these two methods on extending the postharvest quality of water bamboo shoots. Water bamboo shoots were treated with (1) 30 μL L−1 NO, (2) MAP, and (3) a combination of NO and MAP. The NO treatment delayed the softness and weight loss through maintaining the integrity of the mitochondrial ultrastructure and enhancing the ATP level by activating the expressions and activities of succinic dehydrogenase, malic acid dehydrogenase, and cytochrome oxidase. MAP improved the effect of NO on the mitochondrial energy metabolism. These results indicate that NO and MAP treatments are effective at suppressing the quality deterioration of water bamboo shoots, MAP improves the effect of NO in extending postharvest life, and NO may be the main effective factor in the combination of NO and MAP.

The Use of Phytoremediaton with an Up-flow System to Reduce Pollutants at Anaerobic Pond Outlets II Palm Oil Mill Effluent (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)

<p>Palm oil plantations are one of the commodity crops that have an important role in the economy in Indonesia, namely as an export commodity that generates foreign exchange in addition to oil and gas. The increase in world demand for the palm oil commodity encourages the growth of the palm oil industry so that the estimate of liquid waste also increases. If the liquid waste is disposed of directly into the water without proper management, it will have a negative impact on the surrounding aquatic environment. This study aims to find the best phytoremedian in reducing the pollutants of WWTP II anaerobic ponds in the palm oil mill industry and to get the reduction. Research activities took place from July 2020 to September 2020 in the field and Analysis Laboratory of the Lampung State Polytechnic. This study uses an up-flow system with a stagnant condition and is carried out on a laboratory scale by testing using descriptive methods. The phytoremedian used in this study were water nails (<em>Azolla pinnata</em>) (A1), water spinach (<em>Ipomoea aquatica</em>) (A2), cattail (<em>Typha angustifolia</em>) (A3) and water bamboo (<em>Equisetum hyemale</em>) (A4). The results showed that the best phytoremedian in reducing the observation variable of palm oil mill effluent outlet anaerobic pond II was water spinach (<em>Ipomoea aquatica</em>). Phytoremedian <em>Ipomoea aquatica</em> at the end of the treatment was able to reduce the COD value with a decrease in percentage of 41.29%, increase the pH to 8.57, reduce the TSS value to 124 mg/L, the turbidity value to 21 mg/L, the total N value to 0.021 mg/L, the K value becomes 2.59 mg/L.</p>

Integrated QuEChERS strategy for high-throughput multi-pesticide residues analysis of vegetables

An integrated QuEChERS strategy was developed by combining the extraction and purification processes into a single step. All of the pretreatment procedures could be performed in one tube within 5 min with the aid of magnetic nanoparticles and careful optimization of the key parameters, including the dosages of the sorbents (magnetic nanoparticles, C18, and graphitized carbon black), dehydrating and salting out reagents. The optimal method was validated and compared with the conventional QuEChERS method, demonstrating its clear superiority in terms of operating procedure, sample pretreatment time, and reagent dosages while affording equivalent pesticide recoveries and matrix effects. Further application of this method was performed to analyze 127 pesticide residues in solanaceous vegetables (tomato, pepper, and eggplant), leafy vegetables (brassica campestris and cabbage), legumes (green beans and cowpea), melon-type vegetables (cucumber and towel gourd), and a root vegetable (water bamboo), with the mean recoveries of the pesticides in the individual vegetable samples ranging from 70.6 to 92.8%. The method LOQs for these pesticides ranged from 10 to 50 μg/kg depending on the matrix. These results fully confirmed its wide applicability and versatility for achieving robust, rapid, and high-throughput multi-pesticide residues analysis in vegetable samples. More importantly, the developed strategy provides a greener and more “QuEChERS” design concept, which could be applied to the analysis of numerous types of pesticide residues in various matrices.