Differential response of Scots pine seedlings to variable intensity and ratio of red and far-red light.

We investigated the response to increasing intensity of red (R) and far-R (FR) light and to a decrease in R:FR ratio in Pinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine) seedling. The results showed that FR high-irradiance response for hypocotyl elongation may be present in Scots pine and that this response is enhanced by increasing light intensity. However, both hypocotyl inhibition and pigment accumulation were more strongly affected by the R light compared with FR light. This is in contrast to previous reports in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. In the angiosperm, A. thaliana R light shows an overall milder effect on inhibition of hypocotyl elongation and on pigment biosynthesis compared with FR suggesting conifers and angiosperms respond very differently to the different light regimes. Scots pine shade avoidance syndrome with longer hypocotyls, shorter cotyledons and lower chlorophyll content in response to shade conditions resembles the response observed in A. thaliana. However, anthocyanin accumulation increased with shade in Scots pine, which again differs from what is known in angiosperms. Overall, the response of seedling development and physiology to R and FR light in Scots pine indicates that the regulatory mechanism for light response may differ between gymnosperms and angiosperms.

Fungal Infection Increases the Rate of Somatic Mutation in Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.).

Somatic mutations are transmitted during mitosis in developing somatic tissue. Somatic cells bearing the mutations can develop into reproductive (germ) cells and the somatic mutations are then passed on to the next generation of plants. Somatic mutations are a source of variation essential to evolve new defense strategies and adapt to the environment. Stem rust disease in Scots pine has a negative effect on wood quality, and thus adversely affects the economy. It is caused by the 2 most destructive fungal species in Scandinavia: Peridermium pini and Cronartium flaccidum. We studied nuclear genome stability in Scots pine under biotic stress (fungus-infected, 22 trees) compared to a control population (plantation, 20 trees). Stability was assessed as accumulation of new somatic mutations in 10 microsatellite loci selected for genotyping. Microsatellites are widely used as molecular markers in population genetics studies of plants, and are particularly used for detection of somatic mutations as their rate of mutation is of a much higher magnitude when compared with other DNA markers. We report double the rate of somatic mutation per locus in the fungus-infected trees (4.8×10(-3) mutations per locus), as compared to the controls (2.0×10(-3) mutations per locus) when individual samples were analyzed at 10 different microsatellite markers. Pearson's chi-squared test indicated a significant effect of the fungal infection which increased the number of mutations in the fungus-infected trees (χ(2) = 12.9883, df = 1, P = 0.0003134).

An extensive real-world in field tomato image dataset involving maturity classification and recognition of fresh and defect tomatoes.

Tomato, a fruiting plant species within the Solanaceae family, is a widely used ingredient in culinary dishes due to its sweet and acidic flavor profile, as well as its rich nutritional content. Recognized for its potential health benefits, including reducing the risk of coronary artery disease and specific types of cancer, tomatoes have become a staple in global cuisine. Traditional methods for tomato maturity assessment, harvesting, quality grading, and packaging are often labor-intensive and economically inefficient. This paper introduces an extensive dataset of high-resolution tomato images collected over an eight-month period from the demonstration fields of Sher-E-Bangla Agricultural University in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in collaboration with plant breeding experts of the same university. The dataset was meticulously curated to ensure precision and consistency, encompassing various stages of tomato maturity, including images of both fresh and defective tomatoes. This dataset is a valuable resource for researchers, stakeholders, and individuals interested in tomato production in Bangladesh, providing a robust foundation for leveraging computer vision and deep learning techniques in the agriculture sector. The dataset's potential applications extend to automating tasks such as robotic harvesting, quality assessment, and packaging systems, ultimately enhancing the efficiency of tomato production processes.

Effect of cooking methods on the nutritional quality of selected vegetables at Sylhet City.

The study was carried out to analyze the impacts of boiling, steaming, and microwave cooking on the physicochemical properties, the content of bioactive compounds, and boiling effect on mineral and heavy metal content of six widely consumed vegetables in Bangladesh's north-eastern region. In comparison to raw, boiled, and microwave-cooked vegetables, those that are steam-cooked retain a higher percentage of ß-carotene with the exception of carrots. Boiling vegetables led to the most substantial reduction in ascorbic acid content (from 9.83 % to 70.88 %), with spinach experiencing the greatest decline. In contrast, microwaving had the mildest effect on ascorbic acid, preserving over 90 % of the initial content. The decrease in carotene content may be associated with color changes (decreasing greenness and increasing hue angle) in the chosen vegetables. The colorimeter shows the L* value (lightness/darkness) of all cooked vegetables significantly decreased. In terms of total polyphenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), boiling had a higher negative effect on most vegetables than the other two cooking methods, with losses of up to 70.3 % and 82.27 %, respectively. All cooked vegetables, with the exception of carrot and microwave pumpkin, had substantial reductions in free radicals scavenging activity, with losses ranging from 8.48 % to 56.73 %. In comparison to raw vegetables, boiled vegetables significantly lost minerals like potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn). On the other hand, the calcium (Ca) and iron (Fe) content of all cooked vegetables, except for carrots and peas, exhibited an increase, ranging from 6 to 17 % and 6-12 %, respectively. The Cr concentration in all vegetables and the Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cd content in the spinach sample was higher than the FAO/WHO recommended maximum permissible level (MPL), whereas the accumulation of Cu and Ni content was lower in all vegetables. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that microwaving was the most effective method for retaining the nutritional value of vegetables, while steaming had a moderate impact.

Effect of Thermal Processing on Physicochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Raw and Cooked Moringa oleifera Lam. Pods.

Moringa is regarded as a miracle tree because all components of the plant, including the roots, leaves, pod, and flowers, have significant nutritional and therapeutic value. Moringa oleifera Lam. pods have excellent antioxidant characteristics and are a good source of protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, beta-carotene, amino acids, and phenolic compounds. The pods of Moringa oleifera Lam. were collected from the local market of Sunamganj, and their nutritional value was assessed in raw condition and after thermal processing. The goal of this research was to observe how the thermal temperature affected the antioxidant and physicochemical qualities of thermally-processed Moringa oleifera Lam. pods. Thermal treatment diminished the amount of crude protein, fat, carbohydrate, ash, ascorbic acid, and beta-carotene in the pods, as well as DPPH, total phenol content, and total flavonoid content. The moisture percentage of raw and thermally-processed Moringa oleifera Lam. pods was determined to be 83.12%, 86.03% with a total ash level of 2.01%, and 1.8%, respectively. The crude protein, fat content, and carbohydrate were 3.0%, 0.1%, and 3.2%, respectively, in thermally-processed pods. The values for total phenol content, total flavonoid content, vitamin C, DPPH free radical scavenging activity, and ß-carotene were 28.13 mg, 2.98 mg, 38.23%, 3.98 mg, and 0.12 mg, respectively, in raw samples whereas 24.56 mg, 2.72 mg, 3.50 mg, 34.32%, and 0.0904 mg, respectively, in thermally-processed samples. According to the findings, Moringa oleifera Lam. pods have high nutritional content and thus can be used as an excellent source of diet, and even after thermal processing, a significant nutritive value remains in the Moringa oleifera Lam. pods.

Arsenic removal by iron-oxidizing bacteria in a fixed-bed coconut husk column: Experimental study and numerical modeling.

Groundwater in several parts of the world, particularly in developing countries, has been contaminated with Arsenic (As). In search of low-cost As removal methods, the biological oxidation of As(III) and Fe(II) followed by co-precipitation requires detailed investigation for the practical implementation of this technology. The present study investigated the biological oxidation of As(III) and Fe(II) through a combination of laboratory experiments and reactive transport modeling. Batch experiments were conducted to evaluate the As(III) oxidation by Fe-oxidizing bacteria, mainly Leptothrix spp. A fixed-bed down-flow biological column containing inexpensive and readily available coconut husk support media was used to evaluate the combined removal of As(III) and Fe(II) from synthetic groundwater. Oxidation and co-precipitation processes effectively reduced the concentration of As(III) from 500 µg/L to < 10 µg/L with a hydraulic retention time of 120 min. A one-dimensional reactive transport model was developed based on the microbially mediated biochemical reactions of As(III) and Fe(II). The model successfully reproduced the observed As(III) and Fe(II) removal trends in the column experiments. The modeling results showed that the top 20 cm aerobic layer of the column played a primary role in the microbial oxidation of Fe(II) and As(III). The model calibration identified the hydraulic residence time as the most significant process parameter for the removal of Fe and As in the column. The developed model can effectively predict As concentrations in the effluent and provide design guidelines for the biological treatment of As. The model would also be useful for understanding the biogeochemical behavior of Fe and As under aerobic conditions.