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1.
Food Microbiol ; 122: 104554, 2024 Sep.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38839220

Challenge tests are commonly employed to evaluate the growth behavior of L. monocytogenes in food matrices; they are known for being expensive and time-consuming. An alternative could be the use of predictive models to forecast microbial behavior under different conditions. In this study, the growth behavior of L. monocytogenes in different fresh produce was evaluated using a predictive model based on the Gamma concept considering pH, water activity (aw), and temperature as input factors. An extensive literature search resulted in a total of 105 research articles selected to collect growth/no growth behavior data of L. monocytogenes. Up to 808 L. monocytogenes behavior values and physicochemical characteristics were extracted for different fruits and vegetables. The predictive performance of the model as a tool for identifying the produce commodities supporting the growth of L. monocytogenes was proved by comparing with the experimental data collected from the literature. The model provided satisfactory predictions on the behavior of L. monocytogenes in vegetables (>80% agreement with experimental observations). For leafy greens, a 90% agreement was achieved. In contrast, the performance of the Gamma model was less satisfactory for fruits, as it tends to overestimate the potential of acid commodities to inhibit the growth of L. monocytogenes.


Food Microbiology , Fruit , Listeria monocytogenes , Vegetables , Listeria monocytogenes/growth & development , Vegetables/microbiology , Vegetables/growth & development , Fruit/microbiology , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Temperature , Models, Biological , Water/metabolism , Colony Count, Microbial , Food Contamination/analysis
2.
Ying Yong Sheng Tai Xue Bao ; 35(5): 1293-1300, 2024 May.
Article Zh | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38886428

Reductive soil disinfestation (RSD) is an effective method for remediating degraded facility vegetable soils. However, the effectiveness of RSD using green manure as a carbon source in the field has not yet been clarified. We investigated the effects of RSD and organic fertilizer application on soil microbial community composition, diversity, and stability in a degraded facility vegetable soil. There were six treatments, including no fertilization (CK), no fertilization and soil flooded and mulched with plastic film (FF), soil amended with chicken manure (OM), soil amended with chicken manure and flooded and mulched with plastic film (OMR), soil amended with Sesbania cannabina (TF), and soil amended with S. cannabina and flooded and mulched with plastic film (TR). The results showed that the OMR and TR treatments significantly decreased bacterial Chao1 index, altered bacterial and fungal community structure, and increased the relative abundances of Bacillus, Rhodococcus, Clostridium, and Penicillium. The TR treatment significantly reduced the relative abundance of Fusarium. Results of redundancy analysis and Mantel test analysis suggested that soil ammonium nitrogen and dissolved organic carbon contents were the key factors influencing bacterial community composition, and soil pH was the key factor affecting fungal community composition. Results of cohesion analysis showed that the OMR and TR treatments significantly improved bacterial community stability, and that there was no difference between OMR and TR treatments. The TR treatment enhanced fungal community stability, which was significantly higher than the OMR treatment. Therefore, the RSD with green manure as carbon source could be effective remediation practice to improve soil health.


Fertilizers , Manure , Soil Microbiology , Soil , Vegetables , Soil/chemistry , Vegetables/growth & development , Bacteria/growth & development , Bacteria/classification , Bacteria/metabolism , Microbiota , Organic Chemicals/analysis , Fungi/growth & development
3.
PLoS One ; 19(6): e0302135, 2024.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38861530

Soilless agriculture is acknowledged worldwide because it uses organic leftovers as a means of supporting intensive and efficient plant production. However, the quality of potting media deteriorates because of lower nutrient content and excessive shrinkage of most organic materials. A current study was undertaken to identify the optimal blend of locally available organic materials with desirable qualities for use as potting media. Therefore, different ingredients, viz., Pinus roxburghii needles, sugarcane bagasse, and farmyard manure were used alone or in combination as potting media to test their suitability by growing spinach as a test crop. Results showed that an increase in Pinus roxburghii needles and sugarcane bagasse decreased medium pH and electrical conductivity. Higher pH and electrical conductivity were recorded for the treatments having a higher farmyard manure ratio (≥50%) in combination. Except for pine needles 100%, pH and electrical conductivity were in the recommended range. The growth attributes include, leaves plant-1, shoot length, fresh- and dry shoot weight along with plant macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium) and micronutrients (iron, copper, manganese, and zinc) content were higher in treatment pine needles 50%+farmyard manure 50% followed by pine needles 25%+farmyard manure 50%+sugarcane bagasse 25%. Moreover, the particular treatment of pine needles 50%+farmyard manure 50% exhibited the highest concentrations of macro- (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) as well as micronutrients (iron, copper, manganese, and zinc) in the potting media following the harvest. This study highlights the potential of utilizing agro-industrial litter/waste as a soilless growing medium for spinach production under greenhouse conditions. When employed in appropriate proportions, this approach not only addresses disposal concerns but also proves effective for sustainable cultivation. Further research is needed to investigate the use of these wastes as potting media by mixing various particle-size ingredients.


Manure , Pinus , Saccharum , Manure/analysis , Saccharum/growth & development , Saccharum/chemistry , Pinus/growth & development , Cellulose , Vegetables/growth & development , Vegetables/chemistry , Spinacia oleracea/growth & development , Spinacia oleracea/metabolism , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Electric Conductivity , Agriculture/methods , Plant Leaves/growth & development , Plant Leaves/chemistry , Soil/chemistry , Nitrogen/analysis
4.
Huan Jing Ke Xue ; 45(6): 3512-3522, 2024 Jun 08.
Article Zh | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38897771

Heavy metal pollution in farmland soil can affect the growth, development, and yield of vegetable crops, as well as the quality and taste of vegetables, and can be continuously transmitted and enriched through the food chain, which ultimately poses a certain hazard to human health in the long term. Therefore, in order to investigate the distribution characteristics of soil heavy metals after years of multi-crop planting of vegetables supplied to Hong Kong, predict their ecological risks, and analyze the causes of pollution formation, 477 surface soil samples of vegetable fields supplied to Hong Kong in Ningxia were collected for three consecutive years from 2019 to 2021, and the contents and distribution characteristics of eight heavy metals, namely, As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Ni were analyzed. The soil heavy metal pollution status of vegetable fields supplied to Hong Kong in Ningxia was evaluated using the single-factor pollution index method, Nemero's comprehensive pollution index method, land accumulation index method, and potential ecological risk index method, and the sources of heavy metals in vegetable fields supplied to Hong Kong in Ningxia were analyzed using the Pearson's correlation analysis and the principal component analysis method. The results showed that the mean values of As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Cu, and Zn in the soils of Ningxia's vegetable fields were higher than the background values of Ningxia soils, but the contents of all eight heavy metals were lower than the risk screening values of domestic agricultural soils; in terms of spatial distribution, As, Cr, and Ni showed contiguous high values in the northwestern, central, and southern parts of the study area, whereas Pb, Zn, Cd, Hg, and Cu showed high values in the northwestern and southern parts of the study area. The single-factor index method and the Nemero's comprehensive pollution index method showed that the soil of Ningxia's vegetable farmland for Hong Kong was at the clean level as a whole. The results of the ground accumulation index method showed that the pollution in the study area was mainly Hg and Cd pollution, and the pollution areas were mainly concentrated in the northwest and south of the study area. The potential ecological risk index showed that Hg and Cd were the main risk elements, among which Hg was dominated by moderate, strong, and very strong ecological risks, accounting for 44.65 %, 44.65 %, and 1.26 %, respectively, and Cd was dominated by moderate and strong risks, accounting for 65.83 % and 3.56 %. The comprehensive Pearson correlation analysis and principal component analysis showed that the pollution sources of eight heavy metals could be divided into three categories, namely, natural sources:Cu, Zn, Pb, As, Ni, and Cr; agricultural sources:Cd; and industrial and agricultural sources:Hg. From a comprehensive point of view, the heavy metals of the soil in the fields of vegetables supplied to Hong Kong had not exceeded the standard, and the environmental conditions of the soil were good, such that the production of vegetables supplied to Hong Kong by Ningxia was at a safe level overall. The results of the study can provide a theoretical basis for the safe utilization of soil in vegetable fields and the green production of vegetables supplied to Hong Kong in Ningxia, which were aimed to provide help for the safe production of vegetable fields supplied to Hong Kong, the rational application of fertilizers, agronomic planning, and the adjustment of planting structure.


Environmental Monitoring , Metals, Heavy , Soil Pollutants , Vegetables , Metals, Heavy/analysis , Soil Pollutants/analysis , Vegetables/growth & development , Vegetables/chemistry , Hong Kong , Risk Assessment , China , Soil/chemistry
5.
Food Chem ; 452: 139382, 2024 Sep 15.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38705117

Vitamin K is a multi-function vitamin that has emerging roles in bone, brain and vascular health. Vitamin K composition data remain limited globally and Australia has lacked nationally representative data for vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) in horticultural commodities. Primary samples (n = 927) of 90 Australian-grown fruit, vegetable and nut commodities were purchased in three Australian cities. We measured vitamin K1/phylloquinone in duplicate in 95 composite samples using liquid chromatography with electrospray ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry. The greatest mean concentrations of vitamin K1/phylloquinone were found in kale (565 µg/100 g), baby spinach (255 µg/100 g) and Brussels sprouts (195 µg/100 g). The data contribute to the global collection of vitamin K food composition data. They add to the evidence that vitamin K1/phylloquinone concentrations vary markedly between geographic regions, supporting development of region-specific datasets for national food composition databases that do not yet contain data for vitamin K. Such data are needed globally.


Fruit , Vegetables , Australia , Fruit/chemistry , Fruit/growth & development , Vegetables/chemistry , Vegetables/growth & development , Vitamin K/analysis , Tandem Mass Spectrometry , Nuts/chemistry , Vitamin K 1/analysis
6.
J Insect Sci ; 24(3)2024 May 01.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38703099

This study was carried out in 3 types of biotopes where vegetable crops are not grown to highlight their contribution to the dynamics of vegetable-infesting flies. To this end, a trapping system based on a sexual attractant, the Cuelure associated with an insecticide was set up in 18 biotopes (6 natural areas, 6 mango orchards, and 6 agroforestry parks) in the regions of Hauts Bassins and Cascades in the South-West of Burkina Faso. During the trapping monitoring, which was done every 2 wk to collect insects captured, fruits present in 3 types of biotopes were sampled and incubated for insect emergence. Ten Dacus (Fabricius) [Diptera: Tephritidae] species and Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) [Diptera: Tephritidae] were trapped in the study area. The predominant species captured was Z. cucurbitae (52.93%) followed by Dacus punctatifrons (Karsch) [Diptera: Tephritidae] (29.89%) and Dacus humeralis (Bezzi) (12.71%). Six tephritid species were emerged from 6 wild fruit species belonging to Cucurbitaceae, Apocynaceae, and Passifloraceae families. Fruit flies were more abundant from Jul to Nov with peaks observed in Aug or Oct depending on the species. Citrullus colocynthis L. (Cucurbitaceae), Lagenaria sp. (Cucurbitaceae), Passiflora foetida L. (Passifloraceae), and Passiflora sp. acted as reservoir host plants of Dacus ciliatus (Loew), Dacus bivittatus (Bigot), Dacus vertebratus (Bezzi) [Diptera: Tephritidae], D. punctatifrons, and Z. cucurbitae, the major vegetable insect pests in West Africa. The 3 types of biotopes acted as suitable refuge areas of vegetable crop-infesting fruit flies either for the favorable microclimate or for the alternative host plants.


Seasons , Tephritidae , Animals , Tephritidae/physiology , Tephritidae/growth & development , Burkina Faso , Crops, Agricultural/growth & development , Vegetables/growth & development , Population Dynamics , Fruit
7.
J Environ Sci Health B ; 59(6): 300-314, 2024.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38619427

The presence of toxic metals in residential areas near abandoned gold mine tailings is a major environmental issue. This study mainly aimed to investigate the elemental distribution of both toxic and essential elements in soils and leafy vegetables (Brassica oleracea) collected from eight different sites around the Davidsonville residential area, located closer to the abandoned Princess gold mine dump, Johannesburg, South Africa. The nutritional value of vegetables in the human diet was determined to assess their value to their health. The vegetables contained metals in the following descending order: Ca > Mg > Ca > Sb > Pb > Fe > Mo > Cr > Se > As > V > Ni > Co > Cd. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF) revealed that vegetables tend to accumulate most metals even (toxic) during the transfer and translocation process. Based on the recommended daily allowance (%RDA) the vegetables showed to contribute 152%, 84% and 75% toward RDA for Se, V and Ca, respectively for most adults and these play a role in human metabolic activities. The vegetables were found to be a good source of essential elements (Ca, Mg, Ni, Na, Fe) but with some traces of toxic metals such as Pb, As and Sb. Based on the health risk assessment, the vegetable posed an adverse health hazard for human consumption due to metals with high HRI >1.


Gold , Mining , Soil Pollutants , Soil , Vegetables , Soil Pollutants/analysis , South Africa , Vegetables/chemistry , Vegetables/growth & development , Humans , Risk Assessment , Soil/chemistry , Food Contamination/analysis , Environmental Monitoring , Metals, Heavy/analysis
8.
Environ Res ; 251(Pt 2): 118727, 2024 Jun 15.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38490629

Agriculture plays a vital role in the food security and economies of Asian countries. Annually, numerous metric tons of vegetable and fruit wastes are disposed of. This research aimed to convert the food wastes encompassing the vegetable and fruit wastes into solid and liquid organic fertilizer and to evaluate their influence on the growth (germination, phytochemicals, and biomolecules) of Solanum lycopersicum and Capsicum annum. Solanum lycopersicum, known as tomato, and Capsicum annum, known as bell pepper or chili pepper, are globally significant crops valued for their medicinal properties and economic importance. The pot experiment was performed with organic fertilizers (solid and liquid organic fertilizer) and compared with the influence of chemical fertilizer and control soil without fertilizers. Interestingly, the liquid organic fertilizer effectively enhanced the biometric profile and chlorophyll content of S. lycopersicum and C. annum Viz., 1.23 mg g-1 and 0.89 mg g-1, respectively. The results of a 30-days pot experiment with various fertilizer treatments showed significant influence of liquid organic fertilizer on the fresh and dry weight biomass of both S. lycopersicum and C. annum. Subsequently, the solid organic fertilizer showed considerable influence on test crops, and the influence of these organic fertilizers was more significant than the chemical fertilizer on crop growth in 30-days experiment. These results suggest that the sustainable approach can effectively convert vegetables and fruit waste into valuable organic fertilizer enriched with plant growth supporting essential nutritional elements.


Capsicum , Fertilizers , Fruit , Solanum lycopersicum , Vegetables , Fertilizers/analysis , Capsicum/growth & development , Capsicum/chemistry , Solanum lycopersicum/growth & development , Fruit/growth & development , Fruit/chemistry , Vegetables/growth & development , Crops, Agricultural/growth & development , Agriculture/methods
9.
J Sci Food Agric ; 104(10): 6100-6107, 2024 Aug 15.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38445779

BACKGROUND: Dietary selenium (Se) deficiency, stemming from low Se concentrations in agricultural products, threatens human health. While Se-containing fertilizers can enhance the Se content in crops, the key factors governing Se biofortification with Se fertilization remain unclear. RESULTS: This study constructed a global meta-analysis dataset based on field experiments comprising 364 entries on Se content in agricultural products and 271 entries on their yield. Random forest models and mixed effects meta-analyses revealed that plant types (i.e., cereals, vegetables, legumes, and forages) primarily influenced Se biofortification, with Se fertilization rates being the next significant factor. The random forest model, which included variables like plant types, Se fertilization rates, methods and types of Se application, initial soil conditions (including Se content, organic carbon content, and pH), soil types, mean annual precipitation, and temperature, explained 82.14% of the variation in Se content and 48.42% of the yield variation in agricultural products. For the same agricultural products, the increase in Se content decreased with higher rates of Se fertilization. The increase in Se content in their edible parts will be negligible for cereals, forages, legumes, and vegetable crops, when Se fertilization rates were 164, 103, 144, and 147 g Se ha-1, respectively. Conversely, while low Se fertilization rates enhanced yields, high rates led to a yield reduction, particularly in cereals. CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight the need for balanced and precise Se fertilization strategies to optimize Se biofortification benefits and minimize the risk of yield reduction. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.


Biofortification , Crops, Agricultural , Fertilizers , Selenium , Soil , Fertilizers/analysis , Selenium/analysis , Selenium/metabolism , Soil/chemistry , Crops, Agricultural/chemistry , Crops, Agricultural/growth & development , Crops, Agricultural/metabolism , Edible Grain/chemistry , Edible Grain/metabolism , Vegetables/chemistry , Vegetables/metabolism , Vegetables/growth & development , Fabaceae/chemistry , Fabaceae/metabolism , Fabaceae/growth & development , Humans
10.
Microbiol Spectr ; 12(5): e0018624, 2024 May 02.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38511949

Inoculation with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains has promoted plant growth and decreased nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from agricultural soils simultaneously. However, limited PGPR strains can mitigate N2O emissions from agricultural soils, and the microbial ecological mechanisms underlying N2O mitigation after inoculation are poorly understood. In greenhouse pot experiments, the effects of inoculation with Stutzerimonas stutzeri NRCB010 and NRCB025 on tomato growth and N2O emissions were investigated in two vegetable agricultural soils with contrasting textures. Inoculation with NRCB010 and NRCB025 significantly promoted tomato growth in both soils. Moreover, inoculation with NRCB010 decreased the N2O emissions from the fine- and coarse-textured soils by 38.7% and 52.2%, respectively, and inoculation with NRCB025 decreased the N2O emissions from the coarse-textured soil by 76.6%. Inoculation with NRCB010 and NRCB025 decreased N2O emissions mainly by altering soil microbial community composition and the abundance of nitrogen-cycle functional genes. The N2O-mitigating effect might be partially explained by a decrease in the (amoA + amoB)/(nosZI + nosZII) and (nirS + nirK)/(nosZI + nosZII) ratios, respectively. Soil pH and organic matter were key variables that explain the variation in abundance of N-cycle functional genes and subsequent N2O emission. Moreover, the N2O-mitigating effect varied depending on soil textures and individual strain after inoculation. This study provides insights into developing biofertilizers with plant growth-promoting and N2O-mitigating effects. IMPORTANCE: Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have been applied to mitigate nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from agricultural soils, but the microbial ecological mechanisms underlying N2O mitigation are poorly understood. That is why only limited PGPR strains can mitigate N2O emissions from agricultural soils. Therefore, it is of substantial significance to reveal soil ecological mechanisms of PGPR strains to achieve efficient and reliable N2O-mitigating effect after inoculation. Inoculation with Stutzerimonas stutzeri strains decreased N2O emissions from two soils with contrasting textures probably by altering soil microbial community composition and gene abundance involved in nitrification and denitrification. Our findings provide detailed insight into soil ecological mechanisms of PGPR strains to mitigate N2O emissions from vegetable agricultural soils.


Microbiota , Nitrous Oxide , Soil Microbiology , Soil , Solanum lycopersicum , Vegetables , Nitrous Oxide/metabolism , Soil/chemistry , Vegetables/microbiology , Vegetables/growth & development , Solanum lycopersicum/microbiology , Solanum lycopersicum/growth & development , Pseudomonas stutzeri/metabolism , Pseudomonas stutzeri/growth & development , Pseudomonas stutzeri/genetics , Agriculture/methods
11.
Pest Manag Sci ; 80(6): 2761-2772, 2024 Jun.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38314954

BACKGROUND: The use of pesticides in greenhouse vegetable cultivation is necessary and significant. However, traditional pesticide application methods such as the use of backpack sprayers with water-diluted pesticides have certain drawbacks, e.g., uneven distribution, high labor intensity, and safety risks. RESULTS: In this work, fluazinam ultra-low-volume liquids (Flu-ULVs) were prepared using oily solvents as carriers. The effects of different oils on the physical properties of the preparations were investigated. The Flu-ULV can be sprayed directly using a hand-held ultra-low-volume (ULV) sprayer without dilution with water. Compared with commercial water-based suspension concentrates of fluazinam, the Flu-ULV samples showed better wetting of tomato leaves, better atomization, and more uniform droplet distribution. At a dosage of 300 mL/ha, the coverage rate of tomato leaves ranged from 32.47% to 79.3%, with a droplet deposition density of 556 to 2017 droplets/cm2. Application of Flu-ULVs provided 70.86% control efficacy against gray mold in tomatoes, which was higher than those achieved with reference products. Dermal exposure to Flu-ULVs was also evaluated in greenhouse experiments. The coverage rates for all parts of the operator's body ranged from 0.02% to 0.07%, with deposition volumes of 2.23 to 12.26 µg/cm2. CONCLUSION: Ground ULV spraying of fluazinam was proved to be an effective and safe management option for the control of tomato gray mold in greenhouses. This study laid a foundation for the use of ultra-low volume spray to control vegetable diseases in greenhouse, especially those induced by high humidity environment. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.


Plant Diseases , Solanum lycopersicum , Solanum lycopersicum/growth & development , Plant Diseases/prevention & control , Humans , Occupational Exposure/prevention & control , Vegetables/growth & development , Vegetables/chemistry
12.
J Sci Food Agric ; 104(9): 4950-4965, 2024 Jul.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38294182

BACKGROUND: Previous research has established that using high-quality planting material during the early phase of vegetable production significantly impacts success and efficiency, leading to improved crop performance, faster time to harvest and better profitability. In the present study, we conducted a global analysis of vegetable seedlings and transplants, providing a comprehensive overview of research trends in seedling and transplant production to enhance the nutritional quality of vegetables. RESULTS: The analysis involved reviewing and quantitatively analysing 762 articles and 5248 keywords from the Scopus database from 1971 to 2022. We used statistical, mathematical and clustering tools to analyse bibliometrics and visualise the most relevant research topics. A visualisation map was generated to identify the evolution of keywords used in the articles, resulting in five clusters for further analysis. Our study highlights the importance of the size of seed trays for the type of crop, the mechanical seeder used and the greenhouse facilities to produce desirable transplants. We identified grafting and light-emitting diode (LED) lighting technology as rapidly expanding technologies in vegetable seedlings and transplant production used to promote plant qualitative profile. CONCLUSION: There is a need for sustainable growing media to optimise resources and reduce input use. Thus, applying grafting, LED artificial lighting, biostimulants, biofortification and plant growth-promoting microorganisms in seedling production can enhance efficiency and promote sustainable vegetable nutritional quality by accumulating biocompounds. Further research is needed to explore the working mechanisms and devise novel strategies to enhance the product quality of vegetables, commencing from the early stages of food production. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.


Seedlings , Vegetables , Seedlings/growth & development , Vegetables/growth & development , Vegetables/metabolism , Vegetables/chemistry , Crop Production/methods , Nutritive Value
13.
FEMS Microbiol Ecol ; 99(4)2023 03 23.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36931894

This study aimed to determine the impact of different agroecological practices on the composition and diversity of edaphic bacterial and fungal communities. We designed two experimental agroecological vegetable cropping systems and analyzed their effects on soil microbial communities by pyrosequencing the 16S and 18S ribosomal RNA genes. Our results highlighted modifications to the Operational Taxonomic Units in both experimental systems compared with bare soil, particularly for the phyla Actinobacteria, Ascomycota, Bacteroidetes, and Mucoromycota. Multidimensional scaling plots based on beta diversity showed a clear distinction between the two experimental systems for fungi, whereas differences were observed between bare soil and the two experimental systems for bacteria. Overall, the agroecological systems enhanced soil microbial diversity. We showed a distinction between the two experimental systems and bare soil, correlated with the high total N and total P contents in the agroecological systems. Both experimental systems promoted soil enrichment with certain essential minerals. The agroecological systems had a positive impact on soil microbial communities, particularly by promoting the development of beneficial soil bacteria like Actinobacteria. In the two experimental systems, changes in the quality and quantity of organic matter (i.e. mulch, vermicompost, plant diversity) could have modified the abundance and diversity of microbial communities.


Agriculture , Microbiota , Soil Microbiology , Vegetables , Bacteria/classification , Bacteria/genetics , Bacteria/metabolism , Microbiota/genetics , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics , Soil/chemistry , Vegetables/growth & development , Vegetables/microbiology , Agriculture/methods , Biodiversity , Fungi/classification , Fungi/genetics , Fungi/metabolism
14.
Arq. ciências saúde UNIPAR ; 26(1): 89-93, Jan-Abr. 2022.
Article Pt | LILACS | ID: biblio-1362686

Introdução: É notório que a alimentação e a nutrição adequada constituem requisitos indispensáveis para a promoção e a proteção da saúde. Objetivo: Contribuir para a melhoria do acesso a alimentos saudáveis de famílias em um Bairro da periferia urbana do Município de Sobral através de hortas comunitárias, orgânicas e sustentáveis como estratégia de promover Educação Alimentar e Nutricional. Métodos e Materiais: Estudo descritivo com características de intervenção comunitária sob a abordagem qualitativa. A amostra inclui 15 pessoas de famílias beneficiárias do Programa Bolsa Família, acompanhadas pelo Centro de Saúde da Família. Foram realizados quatro encontros educativos sobre alimentação saudável com enfoque na inclusão de frutas, legumes e verduras. Além, do manejo de hortas para o cultivo do próprio alimento. Resultados: Os encontros tiveram duração de 8 horas ao dia, totalizando 24 horas. O momento foi oportuno para treinamento ofertado por um técnico em olericultura orgânica pela entidade parceira, que transmitiu os conhecimentos de maneira prática, em que os participantes aprenderam a preparar a terra, a semear, plantar, regar, colher. No decorrer do treinamento a nutricionista pesquisadora, transmitiu informações nutricionais. Os encontros aconteceram em dias seguidos, nos turnos manhã e tarde. Conclusão: Diante do que foi vivenciado, a pesquisa se mostrou útil para melhoria do grau de conhecimento das participantes, promoveu reflexão crítica sobre a segurança alimentar e nutricional. Ressaltou a importância de se cultivar o próprio alimento para torná-lo acessível.


This study aims at contributing to the improvement of access to healthy food for families in a neighborhood of the urban outskirts of the Municipality of Sobral through community organic and sustainable vegetable gardens as a strategy to promote Food and Nutrition Education. It is a descriptive study with characteristics of community intervention using a qualitative approach. The sample includes 15 people from families benefited from the Family Grant Program (Bolsa Família), accompanied by the Family Health Center. Four educational meetings were held on healthy eating with a focus on the inclusion of fruits and vegetables. In addition, the participants were also taught how to manage vegetable gardens for the cultivation of the food itself. The meetings lasted 8 hours a day, totaling 24 hours. The moment was ideal to provide training offered by an organic olericulture technician provided by the partner entity, who shared the knowledge in a practical way, where the participants could learn how to prepare the earth, to sow, to plant, to water, and to harvest. During the training, the nutritionist researcher also shared nutritional information. The encounters took place on consecutive days, during the morning and afternoon shifts. In view of what was experienced, the research proved to be useful for improving the participants' knowledge on the topic, promoting a critical reflection on food and nutritional security. It also emphasized the importance of cultivating the food itself to make it accessible.


Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Sustainable Agriculture , Health Promotion , Vegetables/growth & development , Food and Nutrition Education , Crop Production , Health Education , Nutritional Sciences , Nutritionists/education , Diet, Healthy , Mentoring
15.
Biosci. j. (Online) ; 38: e38029, Jan.-Dec. 2022. tab, graf
Article En | LILACS | ID: biblio-1395418

The carbonized rice husk (CRH) is an agro-industrial residue with great potential for use in mixtures with other substrates for the production of vegetable seedlings. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of CRH to the commercial substrate for the production of greenhouse seedlings. The evaluated vegetables were lettuce, broccoli and mustard, cultivated in polystyrene foam (Styrofoam®) trays. Five treatments were evaluated: 100% of the commercial substrate (CS); 25% of CRH + 75% of CS; 50% of CRH + 50% of CS; 75% CRH + 25% CS; and 100% CRH, in a completely randomized design with twelve replicates. The substrates were evaluated for their physical and chemical characteristics. The morphometric evaluations were: number of leaves per plant, plant height, shoot fresh matter yield, root length, and shoot and root dry matter yield. The data were submitted to regression analysis, and the homogeneity of the variance between the experiments was confirmed by the Cochran test. With the addition of CRH to the substrate, there was an increase in total porosity and P content and a reduction in density, water holding capacity, cation exchange capacity, electrical conductivity, and N, K, S, Ca and Mg contents. The carbonized rice husk added to the commercial substrate is a viable alternative for the production of lettuce, broccoli and mustard seedlings. The quality of the vegetable seedlings was higher when there was a 25% CRH + 75% CS mixture.


Vegetables/growth & development , Composting , Molting , Horticulture
16.
J Sci Food Agric ; 102(2): 472-487, 2022 Jan 30.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34462916

Specialized metabolites from plants are important for human health due to their antioxidant properties. Light is one of the main factors modulating the biosynthesis of specialized metabolites, determining the cascade response activated by photoreceptors and the consequent modulation of expressed genes and biosynthetic pathways. Recent developments in light emitting diode (LED) technology have enabled improvements in artificial light applications for horticulture. In particular, the possibility to select specific spectral light compositions, intensities and photoperiods has been associated with altered metabolite content in a variety of crops. This review aims to analyze the effects of indoor LED lighting recipes and management on the specialized metabolite content in different groups of crop plants (namely medicinal and aromatic plants, microgreens and edible flowers), focusing on the literature from the last 5 years. The literature collection produced a total of 40 papers, which were analyzed according to the effects of artificial LED lighting on the content of anthocyanins, carotenoids, phenols, tocopherols, glycosides, and terpenes, and ranked on a scale of 1 to 3. Most studies applied a combination of red and blue light (22%) or monochromatic blue (23%), with a 16 h day-1 photoperiod (78%) and an intensity greater than 200 µmol m-2  s-1 (77%). These treatment features were often the most efficient in enhancing specialized metabolite content, although large variations in performance were observed, according to the species considered and the compound analyzed. The review aims to provide valuable indications for the definition of the most promising spectral components toward the achievement of nutrient-rich indoor-grown products. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.


Flowers/chemistry , Plant Leaves/chemistry , Plants, Edible/metabolism , Plants, Medicinal/metabolism , Vegetables/radiation effects , Carotenoids/chemistry , Carotenoids/metabolism , Crop Production/instrumentation , Crop Production/methods , Flowers/growth & development , Flowers/metabolism , Flowers/radiation effects , Light , Phenols/chemistry , Phenols/metabolism , Plant Leaves/growth & development , Plant Leaves/metabolism , Plant Leaves/radiation effects , Plants, Edible/chemistry , Plants, Edible/growth & development , Plants, Edible/radiation effects , Plants, Medicinal/chemistry , Plants, Medicinal/growth & development , Plants, Medicinal/radiation effects , Vegetables/chemistry , Vegetables/growth & development , Vegetables/metabolism
17.
J Sci Food Agric ; 102(2): 844-850, 2022 Jan 30.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34231921

BACKGROUND: Beyond nutrition, fruits and vegetables can be considered as natural sources of bioactive molecules, for which beneficial effects on human health are widely recognised. To improve food quality, soilless growing systems could represent a good strategy for promoting a sustainable food production chain, although the nutritional and nutraceutical properties of their products should be investigated in depth. The main quality traits and the volatile and non-volatile secondary metabolites of Solanum lycopersicum L., Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Fuss and Ocimun basilicum L. grown in an aquaponics system and in organic farming were quantified and compared. RESULTS: On a fresh basis, soil-grown P. crispum and O. basilicum showed significantly higher total phenolics and antioxidant activity compared to aquaponic crops, whereas, on a dry basis, both plants showed opposite results. Soil-grown S. lycopersicum was significantly richer in total phenolics, whereas the aquaponic type showed a higher antioxidant activity. Aquaponics induced the accumulation of resveratrol in P. crispum, rosmarinic acid and myricetin in O. basilicum, and lycopene in S. lycopersicum. Among the volatile compounds, in O. basilicum, linalool was the main constituent in both treatments, whereas τ-cadinol represented the second constituent in aquaponic crops. The volatile profiles of P. crispum did not differ significantly between the two cultivation methods. CONCLUSION: The overall quality of organic and aquaponics cultures appeared to be comparable. The results showed that aquaponic farming method can be an innovative, rapid and sustainable way of producing quality food. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.


Fruit/chemistry , Fruit/growth & development , Hydroponics/methods , Phytochemicals/chemistry , Vegetables/chemistry , Vegetables/growth & development , Antioxidants/chemistry , Crops, Agricultural/chemistry , Crops, Agricultural/growth & development , Food Quality , Hydroponics/instrumentation , Organic Agriculture , Phenols/chemistry
18.
Braz. j. biol ; 82: e255816, 2022. tab, graf, mapas
Article En | LILACS, VETINDEX | ID: biblio-1364490

A significant level of yield losses in the vegetable and fruit farms are attributed to the weed populations of the area. This study was conducted for eighteen months during 2019-2020 to assess the presence of various weed families, related species, and their densities in the vegetable (CROP A) and fruit (CROP B) farms of Taif, Saudi Arabia. During the study, fourteen and ten weed families were noted in the vegetable and fruit farms of the studied area, respectively. Poaceae family weeds (729) were significantly higher in numbers followed by the families Asteraceae (414), Chenopodiaceae (338), and Gisekiaceae (153). In the vegetable farms, two weed species of the family Poaceae including Setaria viridis (437) and Eleusine indica ssp (277) were present in the higher numbers followed by Chenopodium murale (166) of the Chenopodiaceae family. In the fruit farms, the weed species Cynodon dactylon of the family Poaceae represented the highest weed density (172) followed by Gisekia pharnaceoides L. species (153) of family Gisekiaceae and Portulaca oleracea (59) belonging to the family Portulacaceae. The vegetable and fruit farms of the Taif region face severe weed pressure that affects the cultivated crops. This study depicts a comprehensive picture of weed diversity and density in the vegetable and fruit farms of the area. The results of this study will be beneficial in developing effective weed management practices for better crop production.


Um nível significativo de perdas de rendimento nas fazendas de hortaliças e frutas é atribuído às populações de ervas daninhas da área. Este estudo foi conduzido por dezoito meses durante 2019-2020 para avaliar a presença de várias famílias de ervas daninhas, espécies relacionadas e suas densidades nas fazendas de vegetais (CROP A) e frutas (CROP B) de Taif, Arábia Saudita. Durante o estudo, catorze e dez famílias de plantas daninhas foram observadas nas fazendas de hortaliças e frutas da área estudada, respectivamente. As plantas daninhas da família Poaceae (729) foram significativamente maiores em número, seguidas pelas famílias Asteraceae (414), Chenopodiaceae (338) e Gisekiaceae (153). Nas hortas, duas espécies de plantas daninhas da família Poaceae, incluindo Setaria viridis (437) e Eleusine indica ssp (277), estavam presentes em maior número, seguidas por Chenopodium murale (166) da família Chenopodiaceae. Nas fruticulturas, a espécie de plantas daninhas Cynodon dactylon da família Poaceae representou a maior densidade de plantas daninhas (172) seguida das espécies Gisekia pharnaceoides L. (153) da família Gisekiaceae e Portulaca oleracea (59) pertencentes à família Portulacaceae. As fazendas de hortaliças e frutas da região de Taif enfrentam uma forte pressão de ervas daninhas que afeta as culturas cultivadas. Este estudo apresenta um quadro abrangente da diversidade e densidade de plantas daninhas nas fazendas de hortaliças e frutas da região. Os resultados deste estudo serão benéficos no desenvolvimento de práticas eficazes de manejo de plantas daninhas para uma melhor produção das culturas.


Vegetables/growth & development , Plant Weeds/growth & development , Farms , Fruit/growth & development , Saudi Arabia
19.
Sci Rep ; 11(1): 22030, 2021 11 11.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34764422

Achieving seed germination quality standards poses a real challenge to seed companies as they are compelled to abide by strict certification rules, while having only partial seed separation solutions at their disposal. This discrepancy results with wasteful disqualification of seed lots holding considerable amounts of good seeds and further translates to financial losses and supply chain insecurity. Here, we present the first-ever generic germination prediction technology that is based on deep learning and RGB image data and facilitates seed classification by seed germinability and usability, two facets of germination fate. We show technology competence to render dozens of disqualified seed lots of seven vegetable crops, representing different genetics and production pipelines, industrially appropriate, and to adequately classify lots by utilizing available crop-level image data, instead of lot-specific data. These achievements constitute a major milestone in the deployment of this technology for industrial seed sorting by germination fate for multiple crops.


Deep Learning , Germination , Seeds/growth & development , Vegetables/growth & development , Crops, Agricultural/growth & development , Models, Biological
20.
Int J Mol Sci ; 22(22)2021 Nov 12.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34830124

Vegetable cultivation is a promising economic activity, and vegetable consumption is important for human health due to the high nutritional content of vegetables. Vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and several phytochemical compounds. However, the production of vegetables is insufficient to meet the demand of the ever-increasing population. Plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) facilitate the growth and production of vegetable crops by acquiring nutrients, producing phytohormones, and protecting them from various detrimental effects. In this review, we highlight well-developed and cutting-edge findings focusing on the role of a PGPR-based bioinoculant formulation in enhancing vegetable crop production. We also discuss the role of PGPR in promoting vegetable crop growth and resisting the adverse effects arising from various abiotic (drought, salinity, heat, heavy metals) and biotic (fungi, bacteria, nematodes, and insect pests) stresses.


Crops, Agricultural/growth & development , Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/growth & development , Plant Roots/growth & development , Rhizobiaceae/growth & development , Vegetables/growth & development , Adaptation, Physiological/physiology , Crop Production/methods , Crops, Agricultural/metabolism , Crops, Agricultural/microbiology , Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/classification , Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/physiology , Plant Roots/metabolism , Plant Roots/microbiology , Rhizobiaceae/classification , Rhizobiaceae/physiology , Rhizosphere , Stress, Physiological/physiology , Symbiosis/physiology , Vegetables/metabolism , Vegetables/microbiology
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