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Conservation and creation of multi-functional margins to maintain and increase the pollinator biodiversity in agricultural environments (d)
Get PDFEffects of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. aizawai GC91 (Agree WG) on R&D colonies of the Buff-Tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris (2.5 Part 2)
Get PDFBacillus thuringiensis subsp. aizawai, a widely used biological plant protection product, was tested on buff-tailed bumblebee Bombus terrestris, using an updated laboratory method on full standardized R&D colonies. The maximum field recommended concentration (MFRC) was applied through topical, oral pollen and oral sugar water treatment. Parameters such as survival of the mother queen and workers, formation of gynes, weight and volume of the colonies were recorded during the study, while the total number of formed workers/drones, the number of newborn gynes and queen brood were taken also at the end of the colonies’ life. For the evaluation of the results the data were calculated and categorized according to the IOBC side-effect classes, used for laboratory trials. According to the results, no toxic effect was recorded for all parameters taken from the bumblebee colonies when they were exposed to B. thuringiensis aizawai GC91.Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. aizawai, a widely used biological plant protection product, was tested on buff-tailed bumblebee Bombus terrestris, using an updated laboratory method on full standardized R&D colonies. The maximum field recommended concentration (MFRC) was applied through topical, oral pollen and oral sugar water treatment. Parameters such as survival of the mother queen and workers, formation of gynes, weight and volume of the colonies were recorded during the study, while the total number of formed workers/drones, the number of newborn gynes and queen brood were taken also at the end of the colonies’ life. For the evaluation of the results the data were calculated and categorized according to the IOBC side-effect classes, used for laboratory trials. According to the results, no toxic effect was recorded for all parameters taken from the bumblebee colonies when they were exposed to B. thuringiensis aizawai GC91
Chronic oral exposure of adult honey bees to PPPs: sensitivity and impact analysis of EFSA Bee GD
Get PDFMethod development for a larval test design for the solitary bee Osmia cornuta - First experiences with different larval pollen provisions
Get PDFPhotosynthetic activity and grape yield of \u27Alicante Bouschet\u27 (Vitis vinifera L.) grapevines submitted to nitrogen supply methods and doses
Get PDFThe great majority of sandy soils present low nitrogen availability, generally below vines physiological demand, and therefore nitrogen fertilizer application, such as urea, is necessary. However, when urea is applied on the soil surface, the vine can use only a small amount of N. Thus, management strategies such as fertigation can increase N utilization by vine, reflecting in a greater photosynthetic activity and grape yield. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of nitrogen supply methods and doses on photosynthetic activity and grape yield of \u27Alicante Bouschet\u27 grapevines cultivated in sandy soil. The experiment was carried out in Santana do Livramento, in the southern region of Brazil, in a vineyard planted in 2011. The cultivar was \u27Alicante Bouschet\u27 grafted on \u271103 Paulsen\u27. The experimental design was of randomized blocks in a bifactorial arrangement (dose x method). The N source used was urea (45 % N). The 0, 20, 60 and 100 kg N·ha-1 doses were applied on the soil surface, without irrigation (NWI) and via fertigation (NF). Photosynthetic activity, N concentration in leaves and grape yield during two growing seasons were evaluated. The application of N doses in soil increased N concentration in grapevine leaves by up to 53 % in NF and 18 % in NWI methods but did not affect yield. Strong correlations between yield and water use efficiency were also observed, evidencing a certain synchronism between the physiological demand of the grapevine and the offer of the adequate N dose by a more efficient method
Preface to the FRUTIC- 2019 Symposium
Get PDFFresh fruit and vegetables are the major source of essential vitamins and minerals, which are needed for human health and well-being. They are, however, perishable living products that request continuous measures for quality keeping by growers, storage operators, processors, and retailers. Sampling of fresh produce for assessing appearance, texture, flavour, and nutritional value have been established quality criteria, whereas non-invasive measurements on each individual product pre- and postharvest with traceability along the supply chain are becoming important for all role players.
The FRUTIC-2019 provided a platform for researchers and practitioners to engage in technical discussions about innovations and new technologies, and explore further areas of research needed in the industry to promote quality and safety of fruit and vegetables. The first symposium of the FRUTIC series took place in Israel 1983, followed by USA, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, Italy and Chile. In 2017 and 2018 FRUTIC was organized in cooperation with FRUIT LOGISTICA in Berlin, Germany, in September 2019 FRUTIC was held in Hong Kong in cooperation with ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA. Scientists presented their topics at the site of the ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA trade fair at the AsiaWorld-EXPO of Hong Kong, in industry-oriented sections. Some of the selected talks are now published as full articles in this Special Issue.
The FRUTIC-2019 event provided a concerted action that brought together academic scientists and the role players from fresh produce industry, to interact with each other for the purpose of information dissemination, sharing practical experience and developing road maps for the most effective way to reach the common goals. We would like to thank all participants for their contributions to the symposium program and for their contributions to this special issue. We also express our sincere thanks to the Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality team for publishing this special issue on time
Morphometric and phytochemical characterization and elevation effect on yield of three potato landraces of the Ligurian Apennines (Northern Italy)
Get PDFThe great adaptability, productivity and importance in human diet conditioned the diffusion of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in very different areas, leading to the formation of numerous landraces through anthropic or natural selection. Genoa mountainous inland is an historical area for potato cultivation and landraces are preserved by farmers associations as “Consorzio della Quarantina”. The aim of this study was the phytochemical and morphometric characterization of three potato landraces of the consortium (Quarantina Bianca, Quarantina Prugnona and Rubra spes) analysing the bio-agronomical performance at different elevations. The commercial cultivar Kennebec was used as control. For the morphometric analysis, the results of pairwise MANOVA shows that only Quarantina Bianca does not present significant differences with Kennebec in the mean shape. The four potato varieties resulted significantly different for the most of the considered phytochemical aspects (among content in ash, starch, solanine, total flavonoids, total phenols, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid and radical scavenging activity only starch and solanine content didn’t result statistically different). A remarkable result was a more consistent yield for all the varieties with the increase of elevation in the agronomical trials. We can conclude that Genovese landraces are a good choice to exploit Genovese mountain marginal territories
Influence of senescence on the differentiation of the ingredients of grain legume straw as a basis for the calculation of theoretical biogas potentials
Get PDFDer Einsatz von Getreidekorn oder Mais als Substrat für die Biogasanlage wird durch das Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz (EEG) zukünftig schrittweise auf maximal 44 % begrenzt (EEG, 2017, § 39 h). Zusätzlich hierzu wird bei den meisten bestehenden und neuen Anlagen die Festvergütung entfallen, was eine weitere Herausforderung hinsichtlich der Wirtschaftlichkeit von Substraten darstellt. Koppelprodukte aus der Landwirtschaft stellen eine bisher weitestgehend ungenutzte, kostengünstige Alternative dar. Für einen erfolgreichen Einsatz von strohartigen und damit lignozellulosereichen Substraten in Biogasanlagen ist es jedoch notwendig, Daten zum Biogaspotential zu generieren. Den bisherigen hauptsächlichen Anbaureiz bei Körnerleguminosen stellt der Vorfruchtwert der Kultur dar (Zerhusen-Blecher et al., 2016). Die Nutzung dieses Koppelprodukts in Biogasanlagen könnte einen zusätzlichen Anbaureiz schaffen und die Wirtschaftlichkeit von Körnerleguminosen verbessern. Um die Auswirkung der zunehmenden Seneszenz auf die Inhaltsstoffe des Strohs bei Körnerleguminosen zu prüfen, wurden jeweils drei Genotypen von Futtererbsen Pisum sativum L. und Ackerbohnen Vicia faba L. in zwei Jahren, an zwei Standorten in vierfacher Wiederholung zu unterschiedlichen Terminen geerntet und als Stroh oder Strohsilage konserviert. Die Termine sollten die Zeitspanne von einer beginnenden Druschreife (BBCH 84 – 89), zur Druschreife (BBCH 89 – 94) und später Druschreife (BBCH 96 – 98) bis hin zur vollständigen Totreife (BBCH 99) abdecken. Die Untersuchung der Inhaltsstoffe umfasste den Rohprotein-, Hemizellulose-, Zellulose- und Ligningehalt nach van Soest. Anhand dieser Inhaltsstoffe wurden theoretische Biogaspotentiale berechnet. Die Untersuchungen ergaben bei beiden Arten eine Abnahme des Rohproteingehalts mit zunehmender Seneszenz. Bei den anderen Inhaltsstoffen gab es Unterschiede zwischen den Arten und Konservierungsverfahren. Der Hemizellulosegehalt lag, durch die Silierung abgebaut und zu organischen Säuren umgewandelt, bei den Silagen unterhalb der Gehalte im Stroh, trotz identischem Ausgangsmaterial. Insgesamt wurde eine Zunahme der Gerüstsubstanzen mit fortschreitender Seneszenz festgestellt. Die theoretischen Biogaspotentiale nahmen mit fortschreitender Seneszenz zu oder blieben davon unbeeinflusst. Es wurden Biogasausbeuten von etwa 530 l/kg TM und Methangasausbeuten von etwa 265 l/kg TM berechnet, dies entspricht etwa 75 % der Methangasausbeute von Silomais (Karpenstein-Machan, 2005). Die Sortenunterschiede waren bei den Gasausbeuten der Ackerbohnen gering, daher ist der Strohertrag ein wichtigerer Parameter für die Nutzung als Biogassubstrat. Bei den Ackerbohnen sind die Sorten Fuego und Tiffany zu empfehlen, da hier die Stroherträge gesichert höher waren als die der Sorte Taifun. Bei den Erbsen hatte die Sorte Respect einen höheren Strohertrag und etwas höhere Gasausbeuten als die anderen Sorten, jedoch konnte diese Sorte nicht vollständig geprüft werden, weshalb keine Sortenempfehlung gegeben wird.The use of cereal grains or maize as substrate for the biogas plant will in future be gradually limited to a maximum of 44 % by the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG, 2017, § 39 h). In addition, the fixed payment will no longer apply to most existing plants and new plants, which represents a further challenge with regard to the economic efficiency of substrates. Co-products from agriculture represent a so far largely unused, cost-effective alternative. Up to now, the main motivation for growing grain legumes has been the preceding crop value of the crop (Zerhusen-Blecher et al., 2016). The use of this co-product in biogas plants could provide an additional cultivation inducement and improve the profitability of grain legumes. However, for a successful use of straw-like and thus lignocellulose-rich substrates in biogas plants it is necessary to generate data on the biogas potential. In order to test the effect of increasing senescence on straw ingredients in grain legumes, three genotypes each of field peas Pisum sativum L. and field beans Vicia faba L. were harvested at different dates and conserved as straw or straw silage in two years, at two locations with four repetitions. Harvesting dates should cover the period from beginning of threshing maturity (EC 84–89), to threshing maturity (EC 89–94) and later threshing maturity (EC 96–98) until complete dead maturity (EC 99). The examination of the ingredients included the crude protein, hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin content according to van Soest. Based on these ingredients, theoretical biogas potentials were calculated. The investigations showed a decrease of the crude protein content with increasing senescence in both species. For the other ingredients, there were differences between the species and preservation methods. The hemicellulose content degraded by ensiling and converted to organic acids was lower in the silages than in the straw, despite the same starting material. Overall, an increase in the structural substances with progressive senescence was observed. The theoretical biogas potentials increased with progressive senescence or remained unaffected by it. Biogas yields of about 530 l/kg DM and methane gas yields of about 265 l/kg DM were calculated, which is about 75 % of the methane gas yield of silage maize (Karpenstein-Machan, 2005). The differences in the gas yields of field bean varieties were small, therefore straw yield as a parameter for use as biogas substrate is more important. For field beans, the varieties Fuego and Tiffany are recommended, since the straw yields were significantly higher than those of the variety Taifun. For peas, the variety Respect had a higher straw yield and slightly higher gas yields than the other varieties, but this variety could not be completely tested, which is why no variety recommendation is given
Agronomic evaluation of bone char as phosphorus fertiliser after five years of consecutive application
Get PDFKnochenkohle (BC), hergestellt mittels einer technischen Pyrolyse von entfetteten Tierknochen aus Schlachtabfällen, könnte ein vielversprechender Phosphor (P) Recyclingdünger sein. Agronomische Bewertungen aus Langzeitversuchen fehlen jedoch bisher. Phosphor in BC (15% P) ist überwiegend in Strukturen ähnlich dem Hydroxylapatit (HA) gebunden. Es kann davon ausgegangen werden, dass in HA gebundener P aufgrund geringer Löslichkeit keine große Düngewirkung erzielt. Eine bessere Löslichkeit wird von Schwefel angereicherter BC (BCplus) erwartet.2013 wurde ein Feldversuch angelegt, um das Düngepotenzial von BC und BCplus im Vergleich zu P0 und Triple Superphosphat (TSP) zu testen. In Abhängigkeit der durchschnittlichen PCAL-Konzentration im Boden (0–30 cm) wurden Parzellen den Boden-P-Gehaltsklasse A (11 mg kg–1 PCAL), B (21 mg kg–1 PCAL), und C (47 mg kg–1 PCAL) zugeordnet. In Boden-P-Gehaltklasse A stieg der mittlere Relativertrag kumuliert für die erste Fruchtfolge (Wintergerste, Winterraps, Winterweizen, Lupine, Winterroggen) in der Reihenfolge P0 (90 %) < BC (94 %) < BCplus (95 %) < TSP (100 %) an. Die relative P-Aufnahme (Korn) wurde durch die Düngevarianten in Boden-P-Gehaltsklasse A in der Reihenfolge P0 (81 %) < BC (88 %) < BCplus (91 %) < TSP (100 %) und in Klasse B von P0 (84 %) < BCplus (90 %) < BC (92 %) < TSP (100 %) beeinflusst. Bei ausreichender P-Versorgung (Boden-P-Gehaltsklasse C) wurde im Fruchtfolgemittel kein Düngereinfluss auf die Ertragsbildung und die P-Aufnahme beobachtet. Die PCAL-Konzentration im Boden wurde ausschließlich durch die Anwendung von TSP erhöht. Ausgehend von einer ausreichenden P-Versorgung (Boden-P-Gehaltsklasse C) werden weitere Versuchsjahre zeigen, ob Knochenkohlen in der Lage sind, die Nährstoffversorgung von Kulturpflanzen mit P langfristig zu gewährleisten.Bone char (BC), pyrolyzed defatted bones from slaughterhouse waste, may be a promising secondary raw material to produce phosphorus (P) fertiliser, but its agronomic value has not yet been shown in longer-term field experiments. Phosphorus in BC (15 % P) is mainly bound in a structure similar to hydroxylapatite (HA). Generally, P in HA is of low solubility and, consequently, it can be expected that bones or BC have a low fertilisation value. Better solubility of P is expected from BC enriched with sulphur (BCplus). In 2013, a field experiment was established to test the fertilisation potential of BC and BCplus compared to a control (P0) and triple super phosphate (TSP) treatment. According to their mean PCAL concentrations (0–30 cm) plots were assigned to the initial soil P-test class (iSPTC) A (11 mg kg–1 PCAL), B (21 mg kg–1 PCAL), and C (47 mg kg–1 PCAL). After a first crop rotation an increased cumulative yield was determined for iSPTC-A depending on the fertiliser treatment with means of relative yield of P0 (90 %) < BC (94 %) < BCplus (95 %) < TSP (100 %). Effects on the relative P uptake of grain in iSPTC-A depending on the fertiliser treatment were in the order of P0 (81 %) < BC (88 %) < BCplus (91 %) < TSP (100 %) and in iSPTC-B of P0 (84 %) < BCplus (90 %) < BC (92 %) < TSP (100 %). Fertiliser treatments had no effect on mean yield and P uptake in the first crop rotation if initially sufficient soil P (iSPTC-C) was available. An increase of PCAL concentrations was only achieved by TSP fertilisation. Future experimental years will show, if BC fertilisers are able to maintain sufficient P availability to crops in the long term
Mechanical tests and definition of new indexes of grape berry firmness. Evolution of berry skin hardness during alcoholic fermentation
Get PDFThe mechanical strength or firmness of a fruit is considered an important parameter to characterise its state of ripeness or conservation, as well as other parameters such as sugar level or color. The mechanical hardness of grapes influences the integrity and sanitary quality of the harvest. In this study, the mechanical characteristics of grapevine berries were studied at harvest time in order to determine their rheological properties (firmness and hardness of the berry skin) during alcoholic fermentation. Special indexes were defined measuring the energy needed to crush the berries to 50 % of their initial diameter, and applied successively to two different varieties. The entire berry firmness and the skin hardness were both different. Mechanical indexes linked to grape firmness were defined. Using these indexes, a significant effect on the firmness behavior due to variety was recorded: the skin of \u27Grenache Noir\u27 was found firmer and harder than \u27Carignan Noir\u27. Furthermore, during the alcoholic fermentation, no change in skin hardness was observed for both varieties, despite changes in the composition of the must. These results give new information on mechanical properties of berries and could be used as an aid in the winemaking process. Indeed, they would probably help the winemaker to better choose the type of fermentation and maceration adapted to his grapes according to the type of wine he wishes to produce