7850 research outputs found
Sort by
Phenological growth stages of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.): An extended BBCH scale
Full text linkDer Anbau von Buchweizen (Fagopyrum esculentum MOENCH) gewinnt in Deutschland aufgrund veränderter Ernährungsgewohnheiten und des Bedarfs zur Diversifizierung der Fruchtfolgen zunehmend an Bedeutung. Dennoch stehen einer großflächigen Kultivierung Herausforderungen entgegen, darunter die geringe Wirtschaftlichkeit, fehlende Absatzmärkte, Verarbeitungsschwierigkeiten (z. B. fehlende Schälanlagen) sowie mangelnde Bekanntheit als Kultur- und Nahrungsmittel in der breiten Bevölkerung. Zudem erschwert das Fehlen entwicklungsphasenspezifischer Bewirtschaftungsempfehlungen den Anbau. Bisher liegt keine standardisierte Skala zur Beschreibung der Entwicklungsstadien von Buchweizen vor. Diese Studie stellt erstmals eine erweiterte BBCH-Skala (Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt und Chemische Industrie) für Buchweizen vor, die neun Hauptentwicklungsstadien beschreibt. Die Bestimmung der Entwicklungsstadien erfolgte durch visuelle Bewertung von drei Pflanzen pro Parzelle sowie einer parallelen Beurteilung des Gesamtbestands. Die Sorte ‚Dikul‘ wurde als Referenz gewählt, da sie eine homogenere und frühere Abreife mit zuverlässigen Kornerträgen von 2–2.5 T ha-1 kombiniert und somit eine praxisrelevante Wahl darstellt. Zusätzlich wurden die Entwicklungsstadien anhand der akkumulierten Wärmesumme (Growing Degree-Days) erfasst. Die bereitgestellte Skala dient als wichtige Grundlage für agronomische Bewirtschaftungsstrategien, um Buchweizen besser in vielfältige Fruchtfolgen zu integrieren und den Herausforderungen des Klimawandels sowie wechselnder Umweltbedingungen zu begegnen.In recent years, the cultivation of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum MOENCH) has regained attention in Germany due to shifting dietary preferences and the demand for diversification of crop rotations. However, its low profitability, lack of sales markets and governmental support, processing challenges (such as dehulling), and limited consumer awareness of this historical niche crop continue to hinder large-scale cultivation in Germany. The absence of growth stage-specific management recommendations further complicates this issue. For the first time, this study introduces an extended BBCH scale (Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt und Chemische Industrie) outlining nine principal phenological developmental stages of common buckwheat. Developmental stages were determined by visual assessment of three defined plants per plot, in parallel with the overall visual assessment of the stand. The cultivar ‘Dikul’ was chosen as a reference variety as it combines the advantages of more homogeneous and earlier ripening with reliable yields of 20–25 dt ha-1 in previous trials, making it a relevant choice in agricultural practice. In addition, the developmental stages were recorded using accumulated growing degree-days. The provided code serves as an essential guideline for agronomic management protocols, facilitating the incorporation of buckwheat into diversified crop rotations and addressing the challenges posed by climate change and variable environmental conditions
Fast and cost-effective production of transgenic potato microtubersof Gala and Milena varieties
Full text linkPotato microtubers play an important role in the technology of seed potato production, since they have great advantages in storage, transportation and mechanization due to their small size and weight. For research purposes, it is also often necessary to obtain microtubers, in particular when creating lines of transgenic potato plants. Unlike agricultural needs, research requires a small number of microtubers, but as fast as possible and with minimal financial costs. We propose a method for obtaining microtubers, which saves time for transferring in vitro studies to soil in 4-7 weeks compared to so called “high sucrose concentration” methods (high concentration of sucrose; reduced photoperiod). We designated the method as “2.5S” due to sucrose content (2.5%) in Murashige and Skoog medium which amount for each plant was reduced by approximately 3 times. That leads to a lack of nutrients and the rapid formation of microtubers. The proposed method was tested on two potato varieties and their transgenic lines; in case of one of the varieties, a reliable increase in the mass of microtubers by 1.6-3.6 times was recorded compared to the standard method of obtaining microtubers. The method is also cost-effective and does not require any additional labor costs from researchers
Gardens are real-world laboratories for climate adapted gardening : Report from the 3rd Braunschweig Urban Green Day
Full text linkDer Bericht vom 3. Braunschweiger Stadtgrün-Tag thematisiert Gärten als "Reallabore" für klimaangepasstes Gärtnern und zeigt innovative Ansätze und Herausforderungen auf. Der Fokus lag auf klimawandelbedingten Anpassungsmaßnahmen in urbanen und privaten Grünflächen. Wichtige Aspekte wie Wassermanagement, Pflanzenauswahl und Beetformen wurden beleuchtet. Zentrale Inhalte waren die Diskussion der Beetformen Hochbeete, Kraterbeete und Hügelbeete. Sie wurden hinsichtlich ihrer Wirksamkeit als klimaangepasste Gartenlösungen analysiert. Dabei zeigte sich, dass spezifische Vorzüge wie Wasserspeicherung oder Wärmeregulierung oft situationsabhängig sind. Die Wahl anpassungsfähiger Pflanzen ist entscheidend. Empfehlungen umfassen einheimische Arten, aber auch geeignete nicht-einheimische Pflanzen. Strategien wie Mulchen, gezielte Bewässerung und Bodenverbesserung wurden als essenziell hervorgehoben. Initiativen wie die Forschungsprojekte "OPEN_CULTURES" und "CliMax" verbinden Klimaanpassung mit Bürgerbeteiligung und urbaner Planung. Der Stadtgrün-Tag hob hervor, dass eine detaillierte Forschung erforderlich ist, um die Rolle spezifischer Anbaumethoden im Kontext des Klimawandels besser zu verstehen. Klimaangepasstes Gärtnern verlangt präzise Planung, Beobachtung und iterative Anpassung.The report from the 3rd Braunschweig Urban Green Day focuses on gardens as "living laboratories" for climate-adapted gardening, showcasing innovative approaches and challenges. The emphasis was on climate change-driven adaptation measures in urban and private green spaces. Key aspects such as water management, plant selection, and bed designs were explored. Central topics included the discussion of raised beds, crater beds, and mound beds, which were analyzed for their effectiveness as climate-adapted gardening solutions. It became evident that specific benefits, such as water retention or temperature regulation, are often situation-dependent. The selection of adaptable plants is crucial. Recommendations include native species as well as suitable non-native plants. Strategies such as mulching, targeted irrigation, and soil improvement were highlighted as essential. Initiatives like the research projects "OPEN_CULTURES" and "CliMax" connect climate adaptation with citizen participation and urban planning. The event underscored the need for detailed research to better understand the role of specific gardening methods in the context of climate change. Climate-adapted gardening requires precise planning, observation, and iterative adjustment
Innovation Area for Urban Agriculture – an application-oriented research project as part of the implementation of the New Garden City Öjendorf
Full text linkMitten in Hamburg entsteht ein Innovationsareal für Urbane Landwirtschaft im Rahmen der Ausgestaltung der Landschaftsachse Horner Geest und der städtebaulichen Entwicklung der Neuen Gartenstadt Öjendorf. In dem interdisziplinäre Forschungsprojekt entwickeln Projektpartner aus den Fachbereichen der Landschaftsplanung (HafenCity Universität), der Gartenbauwissenschaften (Julius Kühn-Institut), und der Agrarökonomie und Nachhaltigkeitsforschung (Universität Kassel) Szenarien für einen produktiven gartenbaulichen Park und erproben diese auf einer Test- und Demonstrationsfläche. Ziel des Projektes ist es, innovative Formen der urbanen Landwirtschaft im städtischen Raum zu etablieren, die eine stärkere Präsenz und Wahrnehmung der Landwirtschaft und die Förderung der direkten Interaktion zwischen Stadtbewohner:innen und Akteur:innen der professionellen Landwirtschaft ermöglichen. Zum Anlass des ersten Szenarienworkshops berichten wir hier von dem Projektvorhaben.An innovation area for urban agriculture is being created in the heart of Hamburg as part of the design of the Horner Geest landscape axis and the development of the new garden city of Öjendorf. In this interdisciplinary research project, partners from the fields of landscape planning (HafenCity University), horticultural sciences (Julius Kühn Institute), and agricultural economics and sustainability research (University of Kassel) are developing scenarios for a productive horticultural park and testing them on a demonstration site. The aim of the project is to establish innovative forms of urban agriculture in the city that enable a stronger presence and awareness of agriculture and promote direct interaction between city dwellers and professional agricultural stakeholders. On the occasion of the first scenario workshop, we report here on the project
Research progress on the regulation of grape quality by calcium fertilizer
Full text linkCalcium is an essential element for the growth and development of grapes and ultimately affect the taste and aroma of the wine. It not only promotes the growth of roots and leaves but also influences fruit quality through its roles in sugar transport, secondary metabolism, antioxidant activity, cell wall structure, and defense mechanisms against pathogens. At the molecular level, the pathways through which calcium regulates grape quality are complex and involve numerous secondary metabolites and genes. This paper reviews the physiological functions and mechanisms by which calcium improves grape growth, enhances fruit quality, and promotes yield. Meanwhile, it summarizes recent insights into the molecular regulatory mechanisms of calcium in fruit quality formation, facilitating a deeper understanding of the calcium-mediated metabolic network underlying grape quality and offering theoretical support for the scientific and efficient management of grape production
Chemical analysis and antibacterial activity of optimized Satureja montana L. extracts
Full text linkThe study aimed at the phytochemical characterization of the optimized ethanol and acetone extracts of Satureja montana L., and the evaluation of their antibacterial and synergistic activity with an antibiotic, along with their potential mechanisms of action. Response surface methodology was employed to optimize the extraction conditions. The antibacterial activity was evaluated using microdilution, checkerboard, time-kill kinetics, and cell membrane permeability methods. S. montana extracts were effective against different bacterial species, including the Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus sp., Bacillus cereus, and the Gram-negative Acinetobacter sp. and Proteus mirabilis. Notably, the acetone extract enhanced gentamicin\u27s efficacy up to 16-fold against a gentamicin-resistant strain of P. mirabilis. Additionally, the extracts exhibited bactericidal activity against certain strains within a 3-hour and 6-hour time frame and increased cell membrane permeability, thereby disrupting normal cellular functions. The ethanol and acetone extracts reached a total phenolic content of 79.44 ± 0.5 mg GAE/g and 53.88 ± 0.2 mg GAE/g, and a total flavonoid content of 27.93 ± 0.3 mg RUE/g and 16.35 ± 0.3 mg RUE/g, respectively. Rosmarinic acid, chlorogenic acid, luteolin, quercetin, and naringenin were detected in the highest quantities in the extracts. S. montana extracts may serve as potential natural antibacterial agents
Contribution to the recovery of grapevine cultivated biodiversity in Veneto and Trentino Alto Adige regions (North-East Italy) through genetic characterization
Full text linkAfter dozens of years of prospections in North-East Italy aiming at the recovery and valorization of ancient grapevine germplasm, it is still possible to find new genotypes. One-hundred-sixty-three grapevine samples were recovered in Veneto and Trentino Alto Adige regions, as a result of surveys performed from 2021 to 2024. In total, 163 vines were sampled at 36 sites. Genotyping was performed using 12 SSR markers, nine of them internationally adopted for grape varietal identification, and 98 SSR profiles were obtained. By comparison of these profiles with reference molecular databases, 87 profiles were ascribed to known varieties, and seven remained anonymous. Some hybrids were detected. PCA showed the complex history and different geographical origin of the compared genotypes: some were closer to the Balkan varieties ‘Vulpea’, ‘Heunisch weiss’ and ‘Muscat à petits grains blancs’, while others were closer to ‘Raboso Piave’ or to ‘Garganega’. Among the novelties found, some are under observation since 2022 for ampelographic and oenological evaluation, like ‘Brepona’, ‘Ottavia’, ‘Pontedara’, ‘Rossa Baver’, ‘Rossa Burgan’, and ‘Saccola bianca’
Efficient regeneration of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni transformants through hairy root culture technique
Full text linkStevia rebaudiana is a small herb from the Asteraceae family. The plant produces tetracyclic diterpenes, steviol glycosides (SGs) thatmakes it Stevia sweet. Stevia can act as a natural sweetener as it does not interfere with insulin metabolism in humans when consumed. Amid the prevailing paradigm of health-focused living, Stevia can be produced and used worldwide by individuals and plant breeders. Yet, it is frequently challenging to cultivate stevia conventionally due to low germinating rate and viability of its seeds. Hence, raising plants through tissue culture becomes a viable option.
The present study aims to regenerate transformed Stevia lines through Rhizobium rhizogenes mediated hairy root culture for investigating the possibility of increasing SGs. This study also focuses on increasing Stevia plant lines through an efficient and cost-effective micropropagation technique. For micropropagation, MS media supplied with 1 mg L-1 BAP in combination with 0.2 mg L -1 NAA gave the best result for shooting with nodal segments as explants. MS medium supplemented with IBA at a concentration of 1 mg L-1 was most effective in promoting the highest number of roots, while 2 mg L-1 IBA was optimal for achieving the longest root length. The highest number and frequency of hairy roots were observed with co-culture period of 48 h. Growth of transformed plantlets was observed best with 1 mg L-1 BAP + 0.3 mg L-1 NAA after 8 weeks of micro-shoots placed on solid MS media. Stevia plants raised through these biotechnological approaches will be a boon to plant breeders and researchers as these are efficient and easy methods to raise Stevia plants. The growing demand for natural sweeteners will be met at lower cost to pharmacologyindustries and individuals suffering from various life style diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity
Urban areas as habitats for wild bees: Resources and stressors from local to landscape scales
No full textDie Dissertation wurde nur als Druckausgabe veröffentlicht.
Weltweit gehen die Artenvielfalt und Häufigkeit von Wildbienen zurück. Veränderungen in der Landnutzung und die Verwendung von Pestiziden gehören zu den wichtigsten Ursachen. Landschaftsveränderungen hin zu Siedlung- und Verkehrsflächen werden häufig als negativ für Wildbienen angesehen. Die damit verbundene Versiegelung von Flächen verringert die verfügbare Fläche für blühende Pflanzen oder bodennistende Wildbienen. Diese Umweltveränderungen könnten Wildbienen mit spezifischen ökologischen Eigenschaften bevorzugen und dadurch die Wildbienengemeinschaft verändern. Andere Studien hingegen sehen in Städten Rückzugsorte für Wildbienen. In Gärten angebaute blühende Pflanzen, die Heterogenität des Lebensraums mit unterschiedlichen Grünflächen, sowie die geringere Belastung durch Pflanzenschutzmittel verglichen mit dem Agrarraum wird als wertvoll für Wildbienen angesehen.
Am Beispiel von Braunschweig in Niedersachsen, Deutschland, wurden die Einflüsse des städtischen Raumes auf die Wildbienengemeinschaft in einer Großstadt untersucht. Hierfür wurden mit 49 Farbschalensets, die im Verwaltungsbereich der Stadt aufgestellt wurden, im April, Juni und August 2019 Wildbienen erfasst. Während dieser Untersuchung wurden 1589 Wildbienenindividuen aus 107 Arten gefangen, was einem Drittel der für Niedersachsen bekannten Arten entspricht, davon fast ein Viertel Arten der Roten Liste.
In der ersten Studie wurde der Einfluss verschiedener Landnutzungsarten und versiegelter Fläche auf die Diversität der erfassten Wildbienen in mehreren räumlichen Radien untersucht. Die Wildbienen wurden entsprechend ihrer Nistweise, ihres Pollensammelverhaltens und ihrer Körpergröße in Gruppen unterteilt. Der Anteil von blütenreichen anthropogen gestalteten Flächen wie Kleingärten und Friedhöfe hatte einen positiven Einfluss auf die meisten Bienengruppen, wobei der relevante Radius von der Körpergröße abhing. Überraschenderweise hatten Parks einen negativen Einfluss auf bodennistende Wildbienen. Die Versiegelung beeinflusste nur wenige Wildbienengruppen, hier meist nichtlinear mit einer maximalen Artenanzahl oder Häufigkeit bei 20 - 40% versiegelter Fläche im 100 m Radius. Dies deutet auf positive Randeffekte beim Übergang zwischen versiegelten und nicht versiegelten Bereichen hin.
Die zweite Studie befasste sich mit der Zusammensetzung der Wildbienengemeinschaften zwischen den Erfassungspunkten und potenziellen Umweltfiltern. Die Wildbienengemeinschaft unterschied sich deutlich zwischen den Erfassungspunkten und nur etwa ein Drittel der stadtweiten Wildbienendiversität wurde an einem durchschnittlichen Erfassungspunkt festgestellt. Die Gemeinschaft der blühenden Pflanzenarten vor Ort und die Bodenart (Anteile von Ton, Schluff und Sand) in der Umgebung wurden als wichtige Faktoren für die Zusammensetzung der Wildbienengemeinschaft erkannt. Die geographische Nähe zwischen den Erfassungspunkten, der Abstand zum Stadtmittelpunkt, sowie die Landnutzung in der Umgebung hatten keinen Einfluss auf die Wildbienengemeinschaft. Dahingegen beeinflusste die Landnutzung in der Umgebung die Gemeinschaft blühender Pflanzenarten.
In der dritten Studie wurde die Hypothese, ob die kürzlich beobachtete geringere Flügelasymmetrie von Anthophora plumipes in urbanen Räumen verglichen mit Agrarräumen wie vermutet durch Pflanzenschutzmittel hervorgerufen sein könnte, untersucht. Aufgrund der etablierten und standardisierten Protokolle für ökotoxikologische Tests für adulte und larvale Honigbienen, wurden diese als Modellorganismus genutzt. Im Labor wurden Honigbienenlarven Futter gegeben, das mit feldrealistischen Konzentrationen von häufig in Bienenprodukten nachgewiesenen Pestiziden versetzt war. Nach dem Schlupf wurde deren Flügelmorphologie untersucht. Während in der Studie nur selten Effekte auf die Flügelmorphologie durch die Pestizidexposition festgestellt werde konnten, verursachten die Aufzuchtbedingungen selbst einen höheren Anteil an Bienen mit verkrüppelten oder asymmetrischen Flügeln verglichen mit Bienen aus den Ursprungskolonien. Bei den beiden als potenzielle Positivkontrollen verwendeten Substanzen Chlorpyrifos und Fenoxycarb wurde ein erhöhter Anteil an Bienen mit verkrüppelten Flügeln beobachtet.
Der in Braunschweig nachgewiesene hohe Anteil an in der Region vorkommenden Bienen und der hohe Artenwechsel zwischen den Erfassungsflächen lässt einen hohen Wert der Städte für den Erhalt der Wildbienendiversität vermuten. Als besonders wertvoll wurden Kleingärten festgestellt und ihr Fläche sollte daher erhalten oder erhöht werden. Die hohe Beta-Diversität zwischen den Erfassungspunkten zeigte, dass Unterschiede in der lokalen Umgebung, insbesondere Blütenressourcen und Bodeneigenschaften, das Vorkommen und die Häufigkeit von Arten bestimmen. Dies verdeutlicht das Potenzial, Wildbienen mit Verbesserung der lokalen Bedingungen zu unterstützen. Parks sollten genauer untersucht und insbesondere Fördermöglichkeiten für Wildbienen entwickelt werden. Die Fragestellung, welchen Einfluss Pestizide auf die Flügelmorphologie von Bienen haben, bedarf weiterer Forschung.This dissertation was only published as a printed edition.
Species richness and abundance of wild bees are declining worldwide. Land-use change and the use of pesticides are among the key drivers. Land-use change, such as increased settlement or traffic area, are often considered to be detrimental to wild bees. Soil sealing caused by the increase of these areas reduces the available space for flowering plants or soil-nesting bees. These changes in the environment may filter the wild bee community according to specific ecological traits. In contrast, some studies suggest cities as refuges for wild bees. Flowering plants cultivated in gardens, the diversity of the landscape with different greenspaces and the low pollution with plant protection products compared to agricultural areas is considered to be valuable for wild bees.
In order to investigate the effects of an urban area on wild bee diversity, the city of Braunschweig in Lower Saxony, Germany was selected as study area. Bees were sampled with 49 sets of pan traps set up in the administrative area of the city in April, June and August 2019. During this survey, 1589 wild bee individuals from 107 species were caught, representing one third of the wild bees known for Lower Saxony, with almost one quarter on the Red List of Threatened Species.
In the first study, the effects of different land-use types and impervious surface on the sampled wild bee diversity was assessed across multiple spatial scales. Wild bees were grouped according to their nesting and flower-visiting behaviour as well as their body size. The proportion of flower-rich anthropogenically managed areas, such as long-term allotments and cemeteries, had a positive effect on most groups, while the decisive spatial scale depended on body size. Unexpectedly, parks negatively affected below-ground nesting bees. Impervious surface affected a few bee groups, mostly in a non-linear manner with a maximum species richness or abundance at 20 – 40% impervious surface within a 100 m radius. This suggests positive edge effects at the transition between sealed and unsealed areas.
In the second study, the differences in wild bee community composition were investigated among the sampling points in Braunschweig and potential environmental filters were examined. Wild bee communities varied markedly between sampling points, and only about one third of the overall citywide wild bee diversity was present at an average sampling point. The local community composition of flowering plants and soil texture (proportion of sand, silt, and clay) in the surroundings were identified as important drivers of wild bee community composition. Geographic distance between sampling points, distance to the city centre, and surrounding land use did not influence wild bee community. However, surrounding land use had an effect on the community composition of flowering plants.
The third study examined the hypothesis whether the recently observed lower wing asymmetry of Anthophora plumipes in urban areas, compared to agricultural areas, might be caused by the lower use of plant protection products, as previously suggested. Due to the availability of well-established standard protocols for ecotoxicological assessments of larvae and adults, honey bees were used as a model organism. In the laboratory, honey bee larvae were fed with diets spiked with field realistic concentrations of pesticides most commonly recorded in bee products. After emergence, their wing morphology was analysed. While effects of pesticide exposure on wing morphology were rarely observed in this study, the rearing condition itself caused higher proportions of crippled wings and higher wing asymmetry compared to honey bees of parental colonies. Bees fed with the two active substances, chlorpyrifos and fenoxycarb, included in the study as potential positive controls showed a higher proportion of crippled wings.
The high share of wild bees of the regional species pool and the high community turnover between sites found in Braunschweig suggests that urban areas play an important role in the conservation of wild bee diversity. Long-term allotments were shown to be particularly valuable and their area should therefore be preserved or increased. High levels of beta diversity between sampling locations showed that differences in the local environment, particularly flower resources and soil characteristics, determined the presence and abundance of species. This highlights the potential for supporting wild bees with these local improvements. Nevertheless, more research is needed to address supporting opportunities for wild bees in parks. Furthermore, the impact of pesticides on bee wing morphology needs further study
Advanced strawberry farming: effect of UV light and fruiting characteristics on resource efficiency in Vertical Indoor Farming
Full text linkVertical Indoor Farming (VIF) offers a potential for high-quality strawberry production, but resource efficiency data still need tobe provided. Three strawberry cultivars with different fruiting characteristics, one Ever-bearing cultivar and two June-bearing (high-yielding and an old, traditional) cultivars, and two light treatments were investigated: artificial white LED light with an additional2% UVA (365 nm) and white LED light alone. The Ever-bearing cultivar demonstrated significantly higher efficiencies for surface useefficiency (SUE) of 15.2 kg fresh weight m-2 a-1, water use efficiency (WUE) of 291 g fresh weight l-1, and energy use efficiency (EUE)of 10.6 g fresh weight kWh-1, due to a high harvest index of up to0.8 and a low proportion of non-marketable fruit. However, the totalenergy demand of a container VIF is high, with 4.4-6.4 kWh m-2 d-1. Additional UVA radiation did not significantly alter the Ever-bearingcultivar’s performance. At the same time, multiple harvests and a low proportion of non-marketable fruits led to a higher cumulative yield and increased efficiency, making it a promising choice for strawberry cultivation in VIF