Tomatoes are often considered the most consumed vegetable worldwide. More importantly, they serve as a rich source of valuable compounds such as carotenoids, phenolic acids, and flavonoids, which ...play an important role in health and disease prevention. The main focus of this work was the stimulation of the synthesis of these compounds. This research examined the impact of encapsulated calcium and copper ions, with and without the biological agent Trichoderma viride, on plant metabolites synthesis of two tomato cultivars ('Clarabella' and 'Alamina') in hydroponic and soil cultivation. This included determining total carotenoids, total polyphenolic content, and total flavonoid content, as well as antioxidant activity and their correlations. The research highlighted the role of alginate-encapsulated ions and the significant enhancement of carotenoid synthesis by the presence of T. viride. Microsphere treatments increased carotenoid content by up to 100.46% and 123.83%, respectively. Furthermore, calcium-based microsphere treatments consistently improved polyphenolic and flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity. The principal component analysis revealed two main components that explain 81.73% of the total variance in the data, confirming and highlighting distinct patterns. The presented results are vital to advance agricultural practices and to improve the nutritional value of tomatoes. These findings suggest that the selected treatments not only improve carotenoid synthesis but also improve the polyphenolic and flavonoid content and antioxidant potential of tomatoes, contributing to both the health benefits and agricultural sustainability.
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•Encapsulation of two fermentation agents in calcium alginate microspheres.•Encapsulation does not inhibit the activity of Lactobacillus sakei (LS0296).•Fickian diffusion and ...anomalous transport kinetics control calcium ions release.•Release of LS0296 from microspheres is controlled by Fickian diffusion.•New microsphere formulations are suitable for use in fermented food production.
Alginate microspheres loaded with two fermentation active agents, calcium cations and strain LS0296 identified as Lactobacillus sakei, have been prepared and characterized. The role of calcium cation is twofold, it acts as gelling cation and as fermentation active agent. Encapsulation and the presence of calcium ions in the same compartment do not inhibit the activity of LS0296. Molecular interactions in microspheres are complex, including mainly hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions.
In vitro calcium cations and strain LS0296 release profiles were fitted to the Korsmeyer–Peppas empirical model. The calcium cation release process is driven at first by Fickian diffusion through microspheres and then by anomalous transport kinetics. The in vitro LS0296 release process is driven by Fickian diffusion through microspheres showing a much slower releasing rate than calcium cations. The release of LS0296 strain is followed by a decrease in the pH value.
Results obtained give us a new insight into complex interactions between bacterial cultures and microsphere constituents. Prepared formulations of calcium alginate microspheres loaded with LS0296 could be used as a new promising tool and a model for different starter cultures encapsulation and use in the production of fermented foods.
Phytopathogenic fungi are living organisms that cause plant diseases and great damage to agricultural products. Despite the wide range of commercial fungicide products in use, there is a clear need ...for new and environmentally friendly fungicides. Here we propose a new ecological fungicide, copper alginate microspheres prepared by ionic gelation. The microspheres were characterized (morphology and topography, encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity, swelling behavior, rheology, kinetics and mechanism of copper ions release) and their in vitro antifungal potential against selected genera of phytopathogenic fungi was evaluated. Copper alginate microspheres inhibited spore germination of Botrytis cinerea. Compared to the control, the inhibition of B. cinerea spore germination (48%) was greater than that of the commercial fungicide Neoram® (22%). The mycelial growth of Cercospora beticola and Phytophthora ramorum was also significantly inhibited by the addition of copper alginate microspheres. Novel fungicide offer effective disease control while minimizing environmental impact and promoting sustainable agriculture practices.
An overview of a research on Vitis vinifera plants treated with a chemical (calcium and magnesium ions) and biological (Trichoderma viride) agents simultaneously loaded in alginate microspheres was ...presented. Microspheres were applied at two growth stages: before flowering and berries pea-size. Physicochemical characteristics of leaves after the two growth stages and grapes were measured in terms of bioactive components content and antioxidant activity. After the treatments, vine leaves reached a significant increase in almost all measured parameters (polyphenols, antioxidant capacity, β-carotene, and chlorophyll) compared to the control. The highest total chlorophyll content was found after the treatment with microspheres containing Mg
2+
/Ca
2+
cations, and T. viride. The treatments enhanced Vitis vinifera leaves in terms of bioactive potential and can be further used as a functional food. As compared to the control, somewhat elevated values of total polyphenols and antioxidant activity were found on the grape samples.
The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys Stål, 1855) is an invasive polyphagous species that threatens fruit growing both in the United States and Europe. Many pesticide active ingredients ...have been studied in H. halys management, but for sustainable fruit growing, which implies the reduction of chemical harm to the environment, new safe insecticides should be implemented into the practice. For this purpose, novel green insecticide based on natural polyphenols of species Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni and Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliott 1821 was developed. Stevia leaves (SLE) and Aronia pomace (APE) aqueous extracts were prepared using the ultrasound-assisted extraction method. Optimal extraction conditions for bioactive compounds (total polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and flavan-3-ols, respectively) and antioxidant activity were determined using response surface methodology. Bioactive compounds rich SLE and APE were encapsulated in calcium alginate microparticles by the ionic gelation method. Physicochemical characteristics (morphology, size, encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity, and swelling) of microparticles showed very good properties with especially high encapsulation efficiency. Fitting to simple Korsmeyer–Peppa’s empirical model revealed that the underlying release mechanism of polyphenols is Fickian diffusion. SLE loaded microparticles showed very good pesticidal efficiency against Halyomorpha halys, especially on younger larval stages after both contact and digestive treatment. Microparticles loaded with APE did not achieve satisfactory digestive efficiency, but a certain toxic impact has been observed at contact application on all H. halys growth stages. Microparticles loaded with SLS exhibited prolonged insecticidal action against H. halys and could be a potential candidate as a green insecticide whose application could increase fruit growing safety.
The main purpose of this study is to determine for the first time the structure of the self-assembled aggregates in the system made of 1,4 poly(1,3-butadiene)-polyethylene oxide diblock copolymer ...(IUPAC name: poly(but-2-ene-1,4-diyl)-block-polyoxyethylene) and water, and the rheological behavior of the solution. The degree of polymerization of the polybutadiene and polyethylene oxide blocks is 37 and 45, respectively. The diblock copolymer concentration was limited to be
2.5 wt% to avoid phase separation. Small X-ray scattering revealed that the diblock copolymer self-assembles in worm-like micelles with a diameter of ∼ 12 nm. This system does not closely follow the rheological behavior of worm-like micelle solutions made of typical surfactants. The system steadily shear thins reaching very low viscosity values at large shear rates, however there are not shear-thickening peaks. In thixotropic loops, the micellar solution does not present hysteresis. The viscoelastic spectra do not follow the Maxwell model at low and intermediate frequencies. This uncommon behavior for a worm-like micellar system is explained by the slow dynamics of the self-assembly. The extremely high hydrophobicity of the polybutadiene block does not allow any micellar rearrangement
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Addressing the growing need for environmentally friendly fungicides in agriculture, this study explored the potential of biopolymer microparticles loaded with metal ions as a novel approach to combat ...fungal pathogens. Novel alginate microspheres and chitosan/alginate microcapsules loaded with zinc or with zinc and silver ions were prepared and characterized (microparticle size, morphology, topography, encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity, and swelling behavior). Investigation of molecular interactions in microparticles using FTIR-ATR spectroscopy exhibited complex interactions between all constituents. Fitting to the simple Korsmeyer–Peppas empirical model revealed the rate-controlling mechanism of metal ions release from microparticles is Fickian diffusion. Lower values of the release constant k imply a slower release rate of Znsup.2+ or Agsup.+ ions from microcapsules compared to that of microspheres. The antimicrobial potential of the new formulations against the fungus Botrytis cinerea was evaluated. When subjected to tests against the fungus, microspheres exhibited superior antifungal activity especially those loaded with both zinc and silver ions, reducing fungal growth up to 98.9% and altering the hyphal structures. Due to the slower release of metal ions, the microcapsule formulations seem suitable for plant protection throughout the growing season. The results showed the potential of these novel microparticles as powerful fungicides in agriculture.
Demands for higher production and consumer demand for healthier food have encouraged intensive research for alternative animal growth promoters in recent years. Research trends are focused on the ...development of new products enriched with feed additives to improve animal health and enhancing production. Many of these compounds are unstable in the presence of light, air, water, or high temperatures and need to be protected during processing, storage, and application. By encapsulatied in microparticles, feed additives are protected from harmful external influences, and their stability and functionality are not diminished. Microencapsulation technology is used to protect payload and improve bioavailability by controlled and targeted delivery to the digestive tract. It is particularly suitable for the addition of feed additives in ruminant’s nutrition, because the correct choice of microparticle material allows the release of the feed additives in the small intestine, and not in the rumen. With proper use, microparticle formulations are an effective tool in animal nutrition that delivers nutrients and/or drugs to a specific site at the desired rate. The paper summarizes laboratory studies on the application of microencapsulation technology in feeding ruminants and monogastric animals. Numerous results of the application of encapsulated feed additives have shown a positive effect on animal health, increased productivity without negative effects on the final product, and environmental protection.
Zahtjevi za većom proizvodnjom i potražnja potrošača za zdravijom hranom
potaknuli su posljednjih godina intenzivna istraživanja alternativnih promotora rasta životinja. Trendovi istraživanja su orijentirani na razvoj novih proizvoda obogaćenih dodacima stočnoj hrani s ciljem poboljšanja zdravlja životinja i boljeg prirasta. Mnogi od tih spojeva su nestabilni u prisutnosti svjetla, zraka, vode ili visokih temperatura
te ih je potrebno zaštiti tijekom procesiranja, skladištenja i primjene. Inkapsulacijom u mikročestice dodaci stočnoj hrani se štite od
štetnih vanjskih utjecaja, a ne umanjuju im se stabilnost i funkcionalnost. Tehnologija mikroinkapsulacije se koristi za zaštitu dodataka i poboljšanje biodostupnosti kontroliranom i ciljanom isporukom
u probavni trakt. Posebno je pogodna za dodavanje u hranidbi preživača,
jer se pravilnim izborom materijala mikročestice omogućava oslobađanje dodataka u tankom crijevu, a ne u buragu. Uz pravilno korištenje, formulacije mikročestica su učinkovit alat u hranidbi životinja koji isporučuje hranjive sastojke i/ili lijekove na određeno mjesto željenom brzinom. U radu su sažeta laboratorijska istraživanja primjene tehnologije mikroinkapsulacije dodataka stočnoj hrani u hranidbi preživača i monogastričnih životinja. Brojni rezultati primjene inkapsuliranih bioaktivnih spojeva pokazali su pozitivne učinke na zdravlje životinja, povećanje produktivnosti bez štetnih učinaka na konačni proizvod i zaštitu okoliša.
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