Selenium (Se) is an important micronutrient which is essential for most living organisms and occurs in both organic and inorganic forms in the water system, soils, biomass, and the atmosphere. In ...addition to being essential for humans and animals, Se is beneficial for plants and is mostly involved in antioxidant activity/response, as well as a growth promoter. Se deficiency in the diet is a global problem, and Se levels in soils generally reflect its presence in food and, thus, availability to humans. Se participates in the antioxidant response mechanisms of the organism, heavy-metal detoxification, and regulation of the reproductive and immune system, as well as ensures the proper function of the thyroid gland. Plants are the main dietary source of Se for humans. Biofortification is a key strategy to increase Se in edible parts of plants. Agronomic biofortification provides an effective route to increase Se content in edible crop products via application of Se-enriched fertilizers to soil or by foliar application. The most common cereals in the human diet are wheat, rice, maize, and barley, making them the most suitable targets for agronomic biofortification. This review focuses on summarizing the most efficient form and method of Se application via agronomic biofortification corroborated by a meta-analysis of the literature reports. In the assessed literature, foliar application showed better results compared to application in soil. The selenate form appears to be the more efficient form of Se for biofortification than selenite in the most common cereals in human diet: wheat, rice, maize, and barley.
Starch is a polysaccharide that is widely used in food and other industries; therefore, due to its great potential, it is attempted to be maximally isolated from various foods rich in starch. ...Commonly, potatoes are used for starch production due to the relatively high starch content in tubers, and the process itself is complex and includes several steps. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize starch from eight potato varieties. First, the basic chemical composition of the potato samples was determined, and then the isolation was carried out under laboratory conditions. The isolated starch was air dried, then ground and sieved through a 400 µm sieve. The basic chemical composition, amylose content, starch color, swelling capacity and solubility index, clarity of starch pastes, texture of starch gels and thermo-physical properties (gelatinization and retrogradation) were determined in the obtained starch samples. The results showed that the SL 13–25 potato variety had the lowest starch content, while the Stilleto variety had the highest starch content. The content of protein, fat, ash and crude fiber was relatively low in all of the isolated starches, indicating their high purity. Also, the difference in the color of the isolated starches was difficult to see. The highest amylose content had starch from Saprodi, while the lowest was observed in starch from SL 13–25. Starch from the cv. Dartiest had the highest, while starch from the cv. Sereno had the lowest gel strength. The starch of the cv. Dartiest also had the highest clarity value. The retrogradation transition temperatures and enthalpies were lower compared to the gelatinization temperatures and enthalpies. With the increasing temperature, both the swelling capacity and the solubility index of all the samples increased. According to the obtained differences, this study confirmed the significant influence and role of different cultivars on starch characteristics.
Climate change poses a serious threat to agricultural production. Water deficit in agricultural soils is one of the consequences of climate change that has a negative impact on crop growth and yield. ...Selenium (Se) is known to be involved in plant defense against biotic and abiotic stress through metabolic, structural, and physiological activity in higher plants. The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological response of Se-biofortified soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) seedlings under osmotic stress. For this research, we used biofortified soybean grain obtained after foliar Se biofortification in 2020. The experiment was conducted in a growth chamber with two cultivars (Lucija and Sonja) grown on filter paper in three replicates. The experiment was carried out with two watering treatments: distilled water (PEG-0) and 2.5% polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG-2.5) on Se-biofortified seeds (Se) and nonbiofortified seeds (wSe). Contents of lipid peroxidation product (LP), free proline (PRO), total phenolic content (TP), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and ascorbic acid (AA) were analyzed in 7-days-old seedlings. Significant differences were detected in the Se content of soybean grains between the two cultivars. A milder reaction to PEG-2.5 was observed in cultivar Lucija in both Se and wSe treatments, which might represent the mitigating effects of Se on osmotic stress in this cultivar. Contrarily, in cultivar Sonja, Se adversely affected all analyzed traits in the PEG-2.5 treatment. Ultimately, Se is a pro-oxidant in Sonja, whereas it represents an anti-oxidant in Lucija. In conclusion, different soybean cultivars show contrasting physiological reactions to both osmotic stress and Se. However, the activation of antioxidant pathways in Sonja can also be interpreted as added value in soybean seedlings as a functional food.
Garlic is valuable crop that is used not only for human consumption, but also in pharmaceutical, food and cosmetics industries. Indigenous cultivars have specific beneficial properties that could be ...permanently lost due to cultivation of new cultivars. Aim of this study was to established two indigenous garlic cultivars in vitro under influence of growth regulator and light. Garlic varieties Slavonian winter (Croatia) and Vincek (Slovenia) were introduced on medium supplemented with two different concentrations of BAP (1 and 1,5 mg/L) and grown under two types of light (FLUO and LED). Results showed there were no significant influence of light type but concentration of growth regulator significantly influenced in vitro development of garlic microshoots of both investigated cultivars. The best treatment for Vincek garlic explants was nutrient medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/L BAP and LED lights, while for Slavonian winter garlic the best treatment showed to be FLUO light and 1,5 mg/L BAP.
A stationary field experiment of a reduced soil tillage was implemented at a Hypogley (Hypogleyic soils A–Gso–Gr soil horizon sequence) soil type of Eastern Croatia during three seasons and set up as ...a split-plot randomized block design in four repetitions. The tillage systems (TS) were as follows: 1) conventional tillage, i.e., plowing at 30 cm (CT), 2) disking up 10-12 cm (DT), 3) soil loosening up to 35 cm (LT), 4) no-tillage (NT). The experiment was designed to compare the penetration resistance (PR), soil moisture (SM), and bulk density (BD) at different TSs and soil depths. A cone penetrometer was used to measure the PR with 10 prods per TS, accompanied with a measurement of SM with a soil auger on every 10 cm, with four samples up to a 40-cm depth. The BD was determined by metal cylinders on every 10 cm up to a 30-cm depth, being weighed and dried thereafter to obtain an absolutely dry sample, and then calculated using absolutely a dry soil sample mass (m_s) and the soil volume (V). The PR and SM were significantly influenced by the TS and soil depth. The CT had the significantly lowest PR at all depths, while the DT has manifested a significantly higher PR at a soil depth amounting to 10 to 20 cm. The PR on NT were significantly diverse from the CT at all soil depths. The BD varied significantly concerning the TS and the soil depth. Subsequent to the three years, the CT had a significantly smaller BD at a depth amounting from 0 to 10 cm, and a significantly higher BD at 20- to 30-cm depth, compared to reduce the TS.
Stacionarni poljski pokus reducirane obrade tla proveden je u istočnoj Hrvatskoj na hipogleju tijekom triju sezona. Pokus je postavljen kao randomizirani blok-sustav u četiri ponavljanja. Sustavi obrade tla (TS) bili su sljedeći: 1) konvencionalna obrada tla oranjem na 30 cm (CT); 2) tanjuranje na 10–12 cm (DT); 3) rahljenje tla na 35 cm (LT); 4) no-tillage (NT). U eksperimentu su praćeni otpori tla (PR), vlaga tla (SM) i volumna gustoća tla (BD) na različitim TS-ovima i dubinama tla. Konusni penetrometar korišten je za mjerenje PR-a s 10 uboda po TS-u, praćeno sondiranjem za SM na svakih 10 cm, s četirima uzorcima do 40 cm dubine. BD je određen metalnim cilindrima na svakih 10 cm do 30 cm dubine. Izvagani uzorak je osušen do apsolutno suhoga uzorka, a zatim izračunan BD koristeći se apsolutno suhom masom uzorka tla (m_s) i volumena tla (V). PR i SM su bili pod značajnim utjecajem TS-a i dubine tla. CT je imao najniži PR na svim dubinama, DT je pokazao značajno veći PR na dubini tla od 10 do 20 cm u odnosu na CT. PR na NT bio je značajno različit od CT-a na svim dubinama tla. BD se znatno razlikovao po TS-u i dubini tla. Nakon tri godine CT je imao signifikantno manji BD na dubini 0-10 cm te signifikantno veći BD na dubini 20-30 cm u odnosu prema reduciranim sustavima obrade tla.
Leafy vegetables are a daily part of the human diet all over the world. At the same time, a worldwide problem of Se malnutrition is present in human populations, mostly due to low soil Se contents. ...As plants represent the main source of this element in the human diet, with Se being an essential trace element for humans and animals, plant foods containing Se can be used as an efficient means of increasing the Se in the human diet, as well as in animal feed (biofortification). At the same time, the production of growing media relies on limited peat reserves. The use of earthworms facilitates the production of composted organic masses mostly consisting of organic waste, called vermicompost. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of three different growing media (commercial peat media, vermicompost, and a 1:1 mixture) on Se biofortification’s efficacy and yield in lamb’s lettuce. The Se biofortification was performed with sodium selenate (Na2SeO4). It was shown that biofortification increased the Se contents such that a mass of only 48.9 g of fresh leaves contained enough Se for the recommended daily intake in human nutrition (55 µg Se/day), which represents a significant potential for solving Se malnutrition. Furthermore, the use of a 1:1 vermicompost–commercial substrate mixture showed a similar performance to the peat growing medium, contributing to the preservation of peat reserves.
Wheat is one of the primary crops for human nutrition and is used in milling, food, and pharmaceutical industries. In agricultural production, there are various factors that affect the yield and ...hence financial gain. Therefore, one of the major factors causing significant issues is the preharvest sprouting (PHS). Damages due to the PHS worldwide amount to approximately 1 trillion dollars. The research objectives were as follows: to examine sprouting on spikes after harvest (rated from 1 – 7) and to assess the variability of sprouting traits on spikes using a molecular marker (Vp1B3). Statistically significant differences were detected between the tested wheat cultivars for the sprouting trait on spikes. For most cultivars with a lower sprouting rating on spikes, the presence of the 569 bp allele (PHS tolerance) was detected, while for most cultivars with a high sprouting rating on spikes, the presence of the 652 bp allele (PHS sensitivity) at the Vp1B3 locus was identified.
Cilj ovog rada bio je prikazati agrotehničke mjere, prinos sjemena i sadržaj ulja suncokreta uzgajanog u ekološkoj proizvodnji na OPG-u "Ivica Plazibat“ u razdoblju od 2016. do 2020. godine. Sjetva ...suncokreta je obavljena u optimalnim rokovima u travnju, a žetva u zadnjoj dekadi rujna, tako da je dužina vegetacije varirala od 153 do 175 dana. Prosječna masa 1000 sjemenki varirala je od 81 g (2018.) do 86 g (2020. godine). Sadržaj ulja u sjemenu kretao se od 44 % (2018. godine) do 53 % (2020. godine). Ostvareni prinos sjemena iznosio je od 3,7 t/ha (2016. i 2019. godine) do 4,1 t/ha (2020. godine).
Garlic is valuable crop that is used not only for human consumption, but also in pharmaceutical, food and cosmetics industries. Indigenous cultivars have specific beneficial properties that could be ...permanently lost due to cultivation of new cultivars. Aim of this study was to established two indigenous garlic cultivars in vitro under influence of growth regulator and light. Garlic varieties Slavonian winter (Croatia) and Vincek (Slovenia) were introduced on medium supplemented with two different concentrations of BAP (1 and 1,5 mg/L) and grown under two types of light (FLUO and LED). Results showed there were no significant influence of light type but concentration of growth regulator significantly influenced in vitro development of garlic microshoots of both investigated cultivars. The best treatment for Vincek garlic explants was nutrient medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/L BAP and LED lights, while for Slavonian winter garlic the best treatment showed to be FLUO light and 1,5 mg/L BAP. Keywords: 6-benzyl aminopurine (BAP), Allium sativum, LED (Light Emitting Diode), Slavonian winter, Vincek Cešnjak je dragocjena kultura koja se koristi osim za ljudsku prehranu, i u farmaceutskoj, prehrambenoj i kozmetickoj industriji. Autohtone sorte imaju specificna korisna svojstva koja bi mogla biti trajno izgubljena uzgojem novih kultivara. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je uspostaviti in vitro protokol za uzgoj dvije autohtone sorte cešnjaka pod utjecajem regulatora rasta i svjetla. U in vitro kulturu uvedene su autohtone sorte cešnjaka Slavonski ozimi (Hrvatska) i Vincek (Slovenija) na dvije razlicite varijante hranjive podloge (1 i 1,5 mg/L BAP-a) te su uzgajane pod dvije varijante osvjetljenja (FLUO i LED). Rezultati su pokazali da nije bilo znacajnog utjecaja vrste svjetla, ali je koncentracija regulatora rasta znacajno utjecala na in vitro razvoj mikroizdanaka cešnjaka obje ispitivane sorte. Eksplantati cešnjaka Vincek postigli su bolje rezultate na tretmanu hranjive podloge s dodatkom 1,5 mg/L BAP-a i LED svjetla, dok se za Slavonski ozimi cešnjak pokazao najbolji tretman FLUO svjetlo i 1,5 mg/L BAP-a. Kljucne rijeci: 6-benzil aminopurin (BAP), Allium sativum, LED svjetla, Slavonski ozimi, Vincek
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