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How leaf area: Fruit weight ratio influences date of véraison and synchrony of primary and secondary metabolites
No full textKey points:
- Reducing the leaf area:fruit weight ratio via trimming delays véraison and directly slows the rate of sugar accumulation.
- In contrast, the rate of decrease in concentration of acidity and other secondary metabolites such as methoxypyrazines are less affected.
- As a result, when harvesting fruit at the same sugar concentrations, fruit will have a lower acidity or green character when the leaf area:fruit weight
ratio is reduced.
- Delaying and slowing sugar accumulation by trimming shoots is a useful tool for growers to manipulate the synchrony of fruit metabolites and may be valuable in combating the consequences of climate change
Insights into the influence of indigenous values in NZ's dairy industry
No full textGlobally, the agricultural sector is facing environmental and wellbeing challenges. Communities, scientists, policy-makers and industries are requiring farmers to address these challenges in their onfarm management, which requires a transition to a multi-faceted system focus with values that move away from productivity only and include environmental and social values. This paper searches to understand how Miraka Ltd., a milk company owned and run by the indigenous people of New Zealand and which strongly adheres to a multi-faceted system, supports institutional entrepreneurship that responds to this change amongst its supply farmers. A qualitative study was conducted, in which observations and semi-structured interviews were carried out to: i) identify farmers’ change in practices, beliefs and values over the last ten years; and ii) identify how Miraka functions as an indigenous entrepreneur in the agricultural sector. Findings show that farmers were initially guided by a business and family/lifestyle logic, but in response to the institutional entrepreneurship by Miraka, a number of farmers extended their logics, by transforming the ‘family’ logic into a ‘whānau’ (wider family) logic and adding an ‘environment’ logic. The main strategies employed by Miraka were mobilisation of material resources such as incentives and awards, creation of a rationale addressing environmental and social concerns in the dairy sector, and proactive connection with new actors. The findings however show that only half of the supply farmers achieved a change in logics. The other farmers perceived the material resources as insufficient and experienced a loss of trust in the rationale. This research contributes to current literature by expanding knowledge on institutional change in the agricultural sector, and identifying how a value based approach based on indigenous knowledge can contribute to change
Inhibition of phenolics on the in vitro digestion of noodles from the view of phenolics release
No full textThe inhibition mechanism of buckwheat phenolics on in vitro starch digestion was investigated using extruded noodles with buckwheat starch and phenolic extract (0.50%–2.00%). The cooking quality and reducing sugar released during in vitro digestion were studied, and the extractable phenolic content along digestion was also monitored to reveal a dose–effect relationship between reducing sugar released and the release of phenolics. Noodles containing increased phenolics released less reducing sugar (230–188 mg g¯¹) during digestion. Cooking and digestion made phenolics more extractable, and most of the phenolics were released at the end of the gastric phase (85.6%–94.8%) compared with during the small intestinal digestion. The IC₅₀ of buckwheat phenolic extract (0.102 mg mL¯¹) was four times that of acarbose (0.032 mg mL¯¹). The inhibitory mechanism was further analysed using molecular docking, in which the activity of α-amylase was inhibited by phenolics that bind with active sites of α-amylase through hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interaction. Phenolics interacting with starch and the released phenolics can both explain the reduction in starch digestion
Integrated research sector: Future pathways for emerging researchers
No full textThe preparation of this position paper was led by Htin Lin Aung (University of Otago), Annette Bolton (ESR), Khoon Lim (University of Otago), Kiely McFarlane (Cawthron Institute), Brya Matthews (University of Auckland), Shannon Davis (Lincoln University), Sereana Naepi (University of Auckland), and Sarah Moss (Plant and Food Research).
This position paper on future pathways for emerging researchers is the work of many, published under the auspices of the Early Career Researcher (ECR) Forum of Royal Society Te Apārangi in November 2022. It outlines a vision for an integrated research sector that promotes improved career pathways for emerging researchers
The influence of root restriction, soil texture and lateral growth on vine balance and ripening of Pinot noir
No full textUnderstanding vine balance is essential to develop tools that can potentially assist growers enhance yield without compromising the quality of Pinot noir production. The aim of this research was to examine the effect of pot volume and soil texture on Pinot noir vine balance and berry composition through manipulating the environment in which roots grow (competing sinks).
A potted vine model system was set up over two growing seasons where the competing sinks (roots) of Pinot noir were manipulated via pot volume (7.5 L and 4 L pot) and soil texture (0% gravel or 50% gravel) in a controlled environment glasshouse. The influence of laterals as competing source and sinks in combination with root volume was also evaluated.
This study showed that increasing pot volume increased the competing sink size of roots in the presence of laterals. However, neither soil texture nor pot volume alterations led to an increase in yield. Moreover, in 50% gravel soil and 4 L volume pots, an increase in vegetative growth occurred, primarily attributed to lateral growth. In the absence of laterals, the competing sinks of roots attained a larger proportion of carbohydrates and therefore responded as a vigorous sink in response to increased pot volume (7.5 L) and potting mix volume (0% gravel).
This study demonstrate that vine balance is likely to be modified according to planting density, soil volume and texture, suggesting that in the long term these management aspects may provide tools to adjust the yield-quality seesaw
The role of value co-creation in linking green purchase behavior and corporate social responsibility – An empirical analysis of the agri-food sector in China
No full textGreen purchase behavior emerges in the agri-food sector with the increasing awareness of the negative environmental impacts of agricultural production intensification. The agri-food sector responds to consumers’ demand for green products by either implementing social responsibility practices, such as environmental protection activities, to construct a “green” image/brand, or using green marketing strategies to boost sales. Amongst all the marketing strategies, value co-creation is regarded as an innovative strategy to incorporate consumer ideas and address consumer needs. To understand the role of value co-creation in the relationship between corporate social responsibility and green purchase behavior, this study employs a structural equation model to test for the inter-correlations of the three using the sample data drawn from an online survey in China. The results show corporate social responsibility influences green purchase behavior through the cognitive mechanism of value co-creation. Food safety concern has a role in positively moderating the impact of corporate social responsibility and value co-creation activities on green purchase behavior. Understanding the role of value co-creation may assist policymakers in designing supporting policy for developing an efficient and innovative channel connecting the agri-food sector and consumers to build consumer confidence in the green food market
Dynamic changes in phosphorus transport in a river system traversing rural and urban landscapes in Christchurch, New Zealand : A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master Water Resource Management at Lincoln University
Get PDFPhosphorus (P) can degrade water quality and the biodiversity of lotic and lentic environments by accelerating the growth of aquatic plants and phytoplankton. The nutrient enters and moves in natural waters in dissolved and particulate forms. The former is more available for uptake by biota and the latter can serve as a long-term reservoir when settled. Partitioning between these forms can be highly variable over time and depends on river flow conditions. The relationship between flow and P form can be used to infer the spatial origin of the source and the dominant P transport pathways; thus, it is essential to assess the fate and behaviour of P forms in the aquatic system.
This study investigated the partitioning of P between dissolved and particulate forms in a river that traverses rural and urban areas and examined how well their transport can be measured under variable environmental conditions. Phosphorus and other water quality variables were measured at fortnightly intervals at seven locations along the Cashmere and Heathcote rivers using active and passive sampling methods. Additional sampling was done during high flow and rain events and an autosampler was used to collect high-frequency (two-hourly) samples at one location.
Results show that total P (TP) concentrations increased with increased flow. Total P loads were also significantly higher under high flows. The P fraction and its relationship to the river flow varied across different land uses. Dissolved P was more sensitive to changes in flow especially in the Cashmere Stream that is a rural tributary with agricultural land use. Dissolved P was the dominant P fraction both under low and high flows based on the grab sampling method. However, the contribution of PP to the total P load was more evident in high frequency sampling during rain events. Particulate P increased rapidly during rainfall events with response characteristics depending on land use.
Overall, the results reveal the complexity of sources, transport pathways and the factors affecting P loss in Cashmere Stream and the Heathcote River. Given the large amount of P being mobilised into the river, especially during rain events via erosion or surface runoff, efforts to adopt high frequency monitoring are recommended to improve estimates of P loads downstream and to inform strategies to minimize P losses into the river
Canterbury game industry action plan 2022
Get PDFThis report reviews the video game and interactive media industry landscape, and is intended for game studios, local and international investors in the games industry, regional policy makers, central government, local government agencies, Christchurch City Council, and sector stakeholders
An update of lectins from marine organisms: Characterization, extraction methodology, and potential biofunctional applications
No full textLectins are a unique group of nonimmune carbohydrate-binding proteins or glycopro-teins that exhibit specific and reversible carbohydrate-binding activity in a non-catalytic manner. Lectins have diverse sources and are classified according to their origins, such as plant lectins, animal lectins, and fish lectins. Marine organisms including fish, crustaceans, and mollusks produce a myriad of lectins, including rhamnose binding lectins (RBL), fucose-binding lectins (FTL), mannose-binding lectin, galectins, galactose binding lectins, and C-type lectins. The widely used method of extracting lectins from marine samples is a simple two-step process employing a polar salt solution and purification by column chromatography. Lectins exert several immunomodulatory functions, including pathogen recognition, inflammatory reactions, participating in various hemocyte functions (e.g., agglutination), phagocytic reactions, among others. Lectins can also control cell proliferation, protein folding, RNA splicing, and trafficking of molecules. Due to their reported biological and pharmaceutical activities, lectins have attracted the attention of scientists and industries (i.e., food, biomedical, and pharmaceutical industries). Therefore, this review aims to update current information on lectins from marine organisms, their characterization, extraction, and biofunctionalities