Twenty different types of exotic and local Ghanaian leafy vegetables were evaluated on the bases ... more Twenty different types of exotic and local Ghanaian leafy vegetables were evaluated on the bases of their agronomic and nutritive values. The study showed that availability and consumption of leafy vegetables in Ghana is culture-and region-based. Some of the vegetables indicated good plant morphology and architecture, yield and resistance to pest damage. Nutrient contents of local Ghanaian leafy vegetables were better than the exotic types. Leaves of species like cleome, sweet potato, celosia, and cassava indicated high nutritive values as compared to well-known leafy vegetables like amaranth and cocoyams (taro and tannia). The country is however endowed with large number of under-exploited local leafy vegetable crop plants which need to be harnessed and studied for recommendation in the area of agronomy, crop improvement, recipe formulation and promotion.
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the major crops grown in several agroecological zones in ... more Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the major crops grown in several agroecological zones in Ethiopia but understudied. A field study was carried out to assess compound fertilizer, nitrogen-phosphorus-sulfur (NPS), effect on plant growth, yield and economic returns of three local potato varieties; namely, Menagesha, Gudane and Belete. Potato grown with the 150kg NPS/ha recorded the highest number of main stems and var. Belete had the most followed by var. Gudane and then var. Menagesha. An increase in NPS rate of application from 0 to 150 kg N/ha prolonged the time expected to attain 50% flowering from ca. 57 to ca. 69days. Variety Menagesha seemed to be early maturing compared to the other varieties. Consistently, the highest leaf tissue N, P and S concentrations were recorded by var. Belete, compared to vars Gudane and Menagesha. All the yield components increased significantly (P<0.05) when the rate of NPS application was increased stepwise to 150kg NPS/ha. Varieties Belet...
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Vermicompost is a nutrient-rich amendment commonly used to restore soil health such as restoratio... more Vermicompost is a nutrient-rich amendment commonly used to restore soil health such as restoration of trace element contamination of growing media. A pot study was carried out to determine vermin compost and copper (Cu) interaction on little finger carrot (Daucus carota cv. Nantes) seedlings emergence and plant growth. The treatments were varying rates of Cu (i.e., 0, 100, 200 and 300 mg Cu l-1) and vermicompost (i.e., 0, 25, 50 and 75% w/w).At two weeks after sowing, the emergence rate of carrot seedlings in pots with no vermicompost (i.e., control) were 0.22, 0.25, and 0.32 folds higher than those that received the 25%, 50% and 75% vermicompost, respectively. Vermicompost, Cu and their interaction had significant (p&lt;0.05) effects on leaf chlorophyll and anthocyanin contents. The 50% vermicompost combined with the 100 mg Cu l-1 resulted in greater leaf greenness and anthocyanin content. Plant height and number of leaves were significantly (p&lt;0.05)increased by 0.07 and 0.16 folds following the application of the 25% and 50% vermin compost respectively, compared to the control. The 50% vermicompost had a strongly positive impact on the carrot shoot compared to the root. This preliminary study on little finger carrot cv. Nantes seedlings will require further detailed studies to explain vermicompost mitigation of Cu stress on carrot plants and productivity.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Evaluation of diced onion (Allium cepa L.) quality using a potentially more efficient 32 conducti... more Evaluation of diced onion (Allium cepa L.) quality using a potentially more efficient 32 conducting polymer sensor electronic nose (E-nose) was investigated. Diced (ca. 6 mm 3) brown onion was sealed in 50 µm thick polyethylene bags and stored for 3, 6 and 9 days at 4 o C. E-nose sensor response (%dR/R) to samples headspace gas did not change significantly (P > 0.05) over the initial 6 days of storage but significantly (P < 0.05) reduced from 1.91 per cent on day 0 to 1.70 per cent on day 9. Mahalanobis distance (D 2) values for separation of headspace volatiles data set clusters increased with increasing storage period. Pyruvic acid concentration reduced significantly (P < 0.01) by 12, 13 and 27 per cent on 3, 6 and 9 days, respectively. Greatest reduction in dry-matter content, from 18 to 16 per cent, was recorded between days 0 and 3. Time to maximum lachrymatory potency (hotness) increased from 34 s response time on day 0 to 42 s on day 3, after which it could not be sensed. A positive linear correlation (r = 0.803) was found between %dR/R (Y) and pyruvic acid concentration (X). Overall, the results suggest that the conducting polymer sensor E-nose could be used to monitor quality of minimally processed onion.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture, Nov 14, 2022
Background: Pyroligneous acid (PA) is an aqueous smoky fraction produced during pyrolysis of biom... more Background: Pyroligneous acid (PA) is an aqueous smoky fraction produced during pyrolysis of biomass. The chemical composition of PA from different plant biomass has been studied, but reports on PA metabolites and elemental profiles are rare. In this study, we examined the metabolites, elemental profiles and the associated chemical activities of PA derived from white pine (Pinus strobus) at 1100 °C compared to similar work done elsewhere using different biomass at lower temperatures. Results: PA from P. strobus biomass exhibited a lower electrical conductivity (2.05 mS/cm), salinity (1.03 g/L) and total dissolved solids (1.42 g/L) but higher o Brix content (9.35 ± 0.06) compared to PA from other feedstock. The P. strobus PA showed a higher antioxidant activity characterized by enhanced radical scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free-radical (78.52%) and accumulation of higher total phenolic (95.81 ± 1.45 gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/mL) and flavonoid content (49.46 µg quercetin/mL). Metabolite profiling by direct injection mass spectrometry with a reverse-phase liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (DI/LC-MS/MS) identified a total of 156 metabolites. Four (4) main groups including organic acids (90.87%), hexose (8.60%), carnitine (0.3%) and phospholipids (0.24%) were found in the PA. Mineral element analysis revealed that the P. strobus PA contained high concentrations of nitrogen (N), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and zinc (Zn), while the content of sodium (Na) and trace/heavy metals were present at levels below the reported limit. Conclusion: This study indicates that P. strobus PA is a valuable product that can be used in agriculture to improve plant growth and productivity under normal and environmentally stressful conditions.
A 3-year research project was conducted to assess the effect of passive solar energy gains on two... more A 3-year research project was conducted to assess the effect of passive solar energy gains on two differently designed greenhouses, and to determine differences in heating cost. The two greenhouses (PS1 and PS2) were passive solar greenhouses with different design technology. The test crop was tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. 'Mountain Magic'). Solar energy data along with tomato fruit yield and plant growth characteristics were recorded from November to April in both greenhouses. Greenhouse PS2 maintained significantly (p<0.05) higher interior temperature and photosynthetically active radiation compared with greenhouse PS1. Outdoor heating and light effect on temperature required to heat the two greenhouses was significantly (p<0.05) higher in April compared with the other months. A nonsignificant difference was recorded between the months of November, December and January for outdoor heating effect. Similarly, non-significant difference between December and January and between March and April were recorded for outdoor light effect on temperature required to heat PS1 and PS2. Higher marketable fruit yield was harvested in PS2, with lower temperature required for heating. This study showed that a PS2-type greenhouse design, with a concrete in-floor active solar heating system, will provide a better crop production environment with reduced heating cost compared with PS1, with a gravel floor.
Pyroligneous acid (PA) is rich in bioactive compounds and known to have the potential to improve ... more Pyroligneous acid (PA) is rich in bioactive compounds and known to have the potential to improve crop productivity and phytochemical content. However, the synergistic effect of PA and fertilizer has not been thoroughly studied. In this study, we assessed the biostimulatory effect of different rates of foliar PA application (i.e., 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2% PA/ddH 2 O (v/v)) combined with full rate (i.e., 0.63, 0.28, 1.03 g) and half rate of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) fertilizer on the yield and nutritional quality of greenhouse-grown tomato (Solanum lycopersicum 'Scotia'). Plants treated with 0.25% and 0.5% PA showed a signi cantly (p < 0.001) higher maximum quantum e ciency of PSII (Fv/Fm) and increased potential photosynthetic capacity (Fv/Fo), especially when combined with the full NPK rate. Leaf chlorophyll was signi cantly (p < 0.001) increased by ca. 0.60 and 0.49 folds in plants treated with 2% PA and full NPK rate compared to no spray and water, respectively. Total number of fruits was signi cantly (p < 0.001) increased by ca. 0.56 folds with the 2% PA irrespective of the NPK rate. The combined 2% PA and full NPK rate enhanced total fruit weight and the number of marketable fruits. Similarly, fruit protein, sugar and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) activity were signi cantly (p < 0.001) enhanced by the combined 2% PA and full NPK rate. In contrast, the 0.5% PA combined with half NPK rate increased fruit carotenoid and phenolic contents while the 2% PA plus half NPK rate enhanced fruit avonoid content. Generally, the synergistic effect of PA and NPK fertilizer increased fruit elemental composition. These showed that foliar application of PA can be a novel and environmentally friendly strategy to increase the productivity and quality of tomato fruits.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Li... more This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. refer to many cultural practices or treatment methods applied to plants cultivated in indoor production systems or the farm before harvesting time that can influence quality and quantity of plant production. Regulating these preharvest parameters can be a practical strategy to Abstract Diabetes is a metabolic disorder with no definite treatment, but it can be controlled by changing lifestyle and diet. Consumption of high-fiber and nutrient-rich foods including vegetables have been shown to reduce risks of obesity and Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Also, many herbal plants have been associated with reduced risks of T2DM because of their composition of secondary metabolites. Antioxidant activities of some secondary metabolites have potent inhibitory effects against inflammation linked with insulin resistance and oxidative stress. More than 800 known medicinal plants are used to control diabetes and its relevant complications. However, variations in preharvest factors including plant genotype, growing medium properties, climatic factors, and management practices can influence plant growth and their accumulation of phytochemicals with health-promoting properties. However, the effects of these preharvest factors on the antidiabetic properties of plant secondary metabolites are neither explicit nor easily accessible in the literature. Therefore, this review aims to document recent studies that reported on under-exploited medicinal plants with antidiabetic properties. We reviewed several important preharvest factors that can potentially affect the synthesis of phytoconstituents which possess antidiabetic properties. This review will help identify gaps for future research in phytomedicine and functional foods.
Quality discrimination for spring onions using conventional methods of sensory appraisal and anal... more Quality discrimination for spring onions using conventional methods of sensory appraisal and analytical tests is difficult, expensive and time-consuming. Discrimination of spring onion characteristics with electronic nose (E-nose) technology was investigated. Plants of cv. White Lisbon were grown in a glasshouse in pots containing clay (Alluvial gley) or sandy loam (Brown earth). Irrigation regimes were regular watering to near field capacity (-0.01 MPa soil water potential, SWP) or re-watering to near field capacity when available moisture level was depleted to either less than or equal to50% (-0.80 MPa SWP) or less than or equal to25% (-1.19 MPa SWP). The E-nose sensor response (%dR/R) was significantly (P 0.05). Two-dimension Principal Component Analysis (PCA) plots showed significant (D-2>3.0) differences among data set clusters. Increases in water-deficit level reduced separations between data set clusters for plants grown on both clay and on sandy loam. Regular irrigation increased pyruvic acid concentration by 43% on the clay as compared with 8% increase in mild water-deficit stressed plants on clay versus severely stressed plants. In contrast, pyruvic acid concentration was reduced by 8% in regularly watered plants grown on the sandy loam as compared with 8% increase in mild water-deficit stressed plants on sandy loam versus severely stressed plants. In conclusion, significant (D-2>3.0) separations of data set clusters in association with water-deficit stress but not soil type were evident on the 2D PCA plots. However, while the E-nose has demonstrated potential for discrimination of spring onion quality, further detailed work is required to characterise the interactions of spring onion volatile components with conducting polymer sensors.
Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 bacteria secretes a considerable amount of flavins (FLs) and can form... more Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 bacteria secretes a considerable amount of flavins (FLs) and can form a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with legumes. This strain is also associated with non-legume plants. However, its role in plant growth promotion (PGP) of non-legumes is not well understood. The present study evaluated the growth and development of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) plants inoculated with S. meliloti 1021 (FL+) and its mutant 1021ΔribBA, with a limited ability to secrete FLs (FL−). The results from this study indicated that inoculation with 1021 significantly (p < 0.05) increased the lengths and surface areas of the roots and hypocotyls of the seedlings compared to 1021ΔribBA. The kale and lettuce seedlings recorded 19% and 14% increases in total root length, respectively, following inoculation with 1021 compared to 1021ΔribBA. A greenhouse study showed that plant growth, photosynthetic rate, and yield were improved by 1021 inoculation. Mo...
Twenty different types of exotic and local Ghanaian leafy vegetables were evaluated on the bases ... more Twenty different types of exotic and local Ghanaian leafy vegetables were evaluated on the bases of their agronomic and nutritive values. The study showed that availability and consumption of leafy vegetables in Ghana is culture-and region-based. Some of the vegetables indicated good plant morphology and architecture, yield and resistance to pest damage. Nutrient contents of local Ghanaian leafy vegetables were better than the exotic types. Leaves of species like cleome, sweet potato, celosia, and cassava indicated high nutritive values as compared to well-known leafy vegetables like amaranth and cocoyams (taro and tannia). The country is however endowed with large number of under-exploited local leafy vegetable crop plants which need to be harnessed and studied for recommendation in the area of agronomy, crop improvement, recipe formulation and promotion.
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the major crops grown in several agroecological zones in ... more Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the major crops grown in several agroecological zones in Ethiopia but understudied. A field study was carried out to assess compound fertilizer, nitrogen-phosphorus-sulfur (NPS), effect on plant growth, yield and economic returns of three local potato varieties; namely, Menagesha, Gudane and Belete. Potato grown with the 150kg NPS/ha recorded the highest number of main stems and var. Belete had the most followed by var. Gudane and then var. Menagesha. An increase in NPS rate of application from 0 to 150 kg N/ha prolonged the time expected to attain 50% flowering from ca. 57 to ca. 69days. Variety Menagesha seemed to be early maturing compared to the other varieties. Consistently, the highest leaf tissue N, P and S concentrations were recorded by var. Belete, compared to vars Gudane and Menagesha. All the yield components increased significantly (P<0.05) when the rate of NPS application was increased stepwise to 150kg NPS/ha. Varieties Belet...
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Vermicompost is a nutrient-rich amendment commonly used to restore soil health such as restoratio... more Vermicompost is a nutrient-rich amendment commonly used to restore soil health such as restoration of trace element contamination of growing media. A pot study was carried out to determine vermin compost and copper (Cu) interaction on little finger carrot (Daucus carota cv. Nantes) seedlings emergence and plant growth. The treatments were varying rates of Cu (i.e., 0, 100, 200 and 300 mg Cu l-1) and vermicompost (i.e., 0, 25, 50 and 75% w/w).At two weeks after sowing, the emergence rate of carrot seedlings in pots with no vermicompost (i.e., control) were 0.22, 0.25, and 0.32 folds higher than those that received the 25%, 50% and 75% vermicompost, respectively. Vermicompost, Cu and their interaction had significant (p&lt;0.05) effects on leaf chlorophyll and anthocyanin contents. The 50% vermicompost combined with the 100 mg Cu l-1 resulted in greater leaf greenness and anthocyanin content. Plant height and number of leaves were significantly (p&lt;0.05)increased by 0.07 and 0.16 folds following the application of the 25% and 50% vermin compost respectively, compared to the control. The 50% vermicompost had a strongly positive impact on the carrot shoot compared to the root. This preliminary study on little finger carrot cv. Nantes seedlings will require further detailed studies to explain vermicompost mitigation of Cu stress on carrot plants and productivity.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Evaluation of diced onion (Allium cepa L.) quality using a potentially more efficient 32 conducti... more Evaluation of diced onion (Allium cepa L.) quality using a potentially more efficient 32 conducting polymer sensor electronic nose (E-nose) was investigated. Diced (ca. 6 mm 3) brown onion was sealed in 50 µm thick polyethylene bags and stored for 3, 6 and 9 days at 4 o C. E-nose sensor response (%dR/R) to samples headspace gas did not change significantly (P > 0.05) over the initial 6 days of storage but significantly (P < 0.05) reduced from 1.91 per cent on day 0 to 1.70 per cent on day 9. Mahalanobis distance (D 2) values for separation of headspace volatiles data set clusters increased with increasing storage period. Pyruvic acid concentration reduced significantly (P < 0.01) by 12, 13 and 27 per cent on 3, 6 and 9 days, respectively. Greatest reduction in dry-matter content, from 18 to 16 per cent, was recorded between days 0 and 3. Time to maximum lachrymatory potency (hotness) increased from 34 s response time on day 0 to 42 s on day 3, after which it could not be sensed. A positive linear correlation (r = 0.803) was found between %dR/R (Y) and pyruvic acid concentration (X). Overall, the results suggest that the conducting polymer sensor E-nose could be used to monitor quality of minimally processed onion.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture, Nov 14, 2022
Background: Pyroligneous acid (PA) is an aqueous smoky fraction produced during pyrolysis of biom... more Background: Pyroligneous acid (PA) is an aqueous smoky fraction produced during pyrolysis of biomass. The chemical composition of PA from different plant biomass has been studied, but reports on PA metabolites and elemental profiles are rare. In this study, we examined the metabolites, elemental profiles and the associated chemical activities of PA derived from white pine (Pinus strobus) at 1100 °C compared to similar work done elsewhere using different biomass at lower temperatures. Results: PA from P. strobus biomass exhibited a lower electrical conductivity (2.05 mS/cm), salinity (1.03 g/L) and total dissolved solids (1.42 g/L) but higher o Brix content (9.35 ± 0.06) compared to PA from other feedstock. The P. strobus PA showed a higher antioxidant activity characterized by enhanced radical scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free-radical (78.52%) and accumulation of higher total phenolic (95.81 ± 1.45 gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/mL) and flavonoid content (49.46 µg quercetin/mL). Metabolite profiling by direct injection mass spectrometry with a reverse-phase liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (DI/LC-MS/MS) identified a total of 156 metabolites. Four (4) main groups including organic acids (90.87%), hexose (8.60%), carnitine (0.3%) and phospholipids (0.24%) were found in the PA. Mineral element analysis revealed that the P. strobus PA contained high concentrations of nitrogen (N), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and zinc (Zn), while the content of sodium (Na) and trace/heavy metals were present at levels below the reported limit. Conclusion: This study indicates that P. strobus PA is a valuable product that can be used in agriculture to improve plant growth and productivity under normal and environmentally stressful conditions.
A 3-year research project was conducted to assess the effect of passive solar energy gains on two... more A 3-year research project was conducted to assess the effect of passive solar energy gains on two differently designed greenhouses, and to determine differences in heating cost. The two greenhouses (PS1 and PS2) were passive solar greenhouses with different design technology. The test crop was tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. 'Mountain Magic'). Solar energy data along with tomato fruit yield and plant growth characteristics were recorded from November to April in both greenhouses. Greenhouse PS2 maintained significantly (p<0.05) higher interior temperature and photosynthetically active radiation compared with greenhouse PS1. Outdoor heating and light effect on temperature required to heat the two greenhouses was significantly (p<0.05) higher in April compared with the other months. A nonsignificant difference was recorded between the months of November, December and January for outdoor heating effect. Similarly, non-significant difference between December and January and between March and April were recorded for outdoor light effect on temperature required to heat PS1 and PS2. Higher marketable fruit yield was harvested in PS2, with lower temperature required for heating. This study showed that a PS2-type greenhouse design, with a concrete in-floor active solar heating system, will provide a better crop production environment with reduced heating cost compared with PS1, with a gravel floor.
Pyroligneous acid (PA) is rich in bioactive compounds and known to have the potential to improve ... more Pyroligneous acid (PA) is rich in bioactive compounds and known to have the potential to improve crop productivity and phytochemical content. However, the synergistic effect of PA and fertilizer has not been thoroughly studied. In this study, we assessed the biostimulatory effect of different rates of foliar PA application (i.e., 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2% PA/ddH 2 O (v/v)) combined with full rate (i.e., 0.63, 0.28, 1.03 g) and half rate of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) fertilizer on the yield and nutritional quality of greenhouse-grown tomato (Solanum lycopersicum 'Scotia'). Plants treated with 0.25% and 0.5% PA showed a signi cantly (p < 0.001) higher maximum quantum e ciency of PSII (Fv/Fm) and increased potential photosynthetic capacity (Fv/Fo), especially when combined with the full NPK rate. Leaf chlorophyll was signi cantly (p < 0.001) increased by ca. 0.60 and 0.49 folds in plants treated with 2% PA and full NPK rate compared to no spray and water, respectively. Total number of fruits was signi cantly (p < 0.001) increased by ca. 0.56 folds with the 2% PA irrespective of the NPK rate. The combined 2% PA and full NPK rate enhanced total fruit weight and the number of marketable fruits. Similarly, fruit protein, sugar and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) activity were signi cantly (p < 0.001) enhanced by the combined 2% PA and full NPK rate. In contrast, the 0.5% PA combined with half NPK rate increased fruit carotenoid and phenolic contents while the 2% PA plus half NPK rate enhanced fruit avonoid content. Generally, the synergistic effect of PA and NPK fertilizer increased fruit elemental composition. These showed that foliar application of PA can be a novel and environmentally friendly strategy to increase the productivity and quality of tomato fruits.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Li... more This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. refer to many cultural practices or treatment methods applied to plants cultivated in indoor production systems or the farm before harvesting time that can influence quality and quantity of plant production. Regulating these preharvest parameters can be a practical strategy to Abstract Diabetes is a metabolic disorder with no definite treatment, but it can be controlled by changing lifestyle and diet. Consumption of high-fiber and nutrient-rich foods including vegetables have been shown to reduce risks of obesity and Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Also, many herbal plants have been associated with reduced risks of T2DM because of their composition of secondary metabolites. Antioxidant activities of some secondary metabolites have potent inhibitory effects against inflammation linked with insulin resistance and oxidative stress. More than 800 known medicinal plants are used to control diabetes and its relevant complications. However, variations in preharvest factors including plant genotype, growing medium properties, climatic factors, and management practices can influence plant growth and their accumulation of phytochemicals with health-promoting properties. However, the effects of these preharvest factors on the antidiabetic properties of plant secondary metabolites are neither explicit nor easily accessible in the literature. Therefore, this review aims to document recent studies that reported on under-exploited medicinal plants with antidiabetic properties. We reviewed several important preharvest factors that can potentially affect the synthesis of phytoconstituents which possess antidiabetic properties. This review will help identify gaps for future research in phytomedicine and functional foods.
Quality discrimination for spring onions using conventional methods of sensory appraisal and anal... more Quality discrimination for spring onions using conventional methods of sensory appraisal and analytical tests is difficult, expensive and time-consuming. Discrimination of spring onion characteristics with electronic nose (E-nose) technology was investigated. Plants of cv. White Lisbon were grown in a glasshouse in pots containing clay (Alluvial gley) or sandy loam (Brown earth). Irrigation regimes were regular watering to near field capacity (-0.01 MPa soil water potential, SWP) or re-watering to near field capacity when available moisture level was depleted to either less than or equal to50% (-0.80 MPa SWP) or less than or equal to25% (-1.19 MPa SWP). The E-nose sensor response (%dR/R) was significantly (P 0.05). Two-dimension Principal Component Analysis (PCA) plots showed significant (D-2>3.0) differences among data set clusters. Increases in water-deficit level reduced separations between data set clusters for plants grown on both clay and on sandy loam. Regular irrigation increased pyruvic acid concentration by 43% on the clay as compared with 8% increase in mild water-deficit stressed plants on clay versus severely stressed plants. In contrast, pyruvic acid concentration was reduced by 8% in regularly watered plants grown on the sandy loam as compared with 8% increase in mild water-deficit stressed plants on sandy loam versus severely stressed plants. In conclusion, significant (D-2>3.0) separations of data set clusters in association with water-deficit stress but not soil type were evident on the 2D PCA plots. However, while the E-nose has demonstrated potential for discrimination of spring onion quality, further detailed work is required to characterise the interactions of spring onion volatile components with conducting polymer sensors.
Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 bacteria secretes a considerable amount of flavins (FLs) and can form... more Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 bacteria secretes a considerable amount of flavins (FLs) and can form a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with legumes. This strain is also associated with non-legume plants. However, its role in plant growth promotion (PGP) of non-legumes is not well understood. The present study evaluated the growth and development of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) plants inoculated with S. meliloti 1021 (FL+) and its mutant 1021ΔribBA, with a limited ability to secrete FLs (FL−). The results from this study indicated that inoculation with 1021 significantly (p < 0.05) increased the lengths and surface areas of the roots and hypocotyls of the seedlings compared to 1021ΔribBA. The kale and lettuce seedlings recorded 19% and 14% increases in total root length, respectively, following inoculation with 1021 compared to 1021ΔribBA. A greenhouse study showed that plant growth, photosynthetic rate, and yield were improved by 1021 inoculation. Mo...
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