Seed oil and seed oil byproducts of common purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.): a new insight to plant-based sources rich in omega-3 fatty acids

In the present study, nutritional value, chemical composition and bioactive properties of purslane seeds, seed oils and seedcakes were examined. Data were analyzed by a one-way ANOVA, while means were compared with Tukey's HSD test. For seed oil extraction mechanical and ultrasound assisted methods were tested. Cold extraction methods (CE1 and CE2) resulted in higher oil yield (increased by 33.7% and 38.1%, respectively) comparing to hot extraction (HE) method. Seeds contained the highest amount of fats and energy (15.03 ± 0.06 g/100 g dry basis (db) and 459 ± 1 kcal/100 g db, respectively), while seedcakes from CE2 had the highest content in proteins and ash (31.20 ± 0.03 and 4.27 ± 0.06 g/100 g db, respectively). Seeds and seedcakes contained a balanced content of linoleic and α-linolenic acids (33.80–34.74% and 32.83–34.64%, respectively). HE and CE1 oils had slightly higher amounts of α-linolenic (39.67% and 39.57%, respectively) than linoleic acid (35.44% and 35.13%, respectively), whereas CE2 oils contained twice as much linoleic as α- linolenic acid (49.77% and 24.18%, respectively). In conclusion, the tested materials are good sources of omega- 6 and omega-3 fatty acids and proteins, while extraction method affected oil yield and fatty acids composition of seed oils.Agricultural Machinery, University of Thessaly, Greece, for providing the equipment and technical assistance for hot extraction of seed oils. We are also thankful to Mr. Tsolakidis C. (Giachanas - Cold Pressed Seed Oils S.A.; Evros, Greece) for providing the equipment and technical assistance for cold extraction of seed oils. The authors are also grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2019). L. Barros and A. Fernandes would like to thank the national funding by FCT, P.I., through the institutional scientific employment program-contract for their contracts.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Conception et realisation d'un appareillage automatique pour la preconcentration et l'analyse de l'isoprene et des monoterpenes atmospheriques

SIGLECNRS T Bordereau / INIST-CNRS - Institut de l'Information Scientifique et TechniqueFRFranc

Cultivation Practices, Adaptability and Phytochemical Composition of Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.): A Weed with Economic Value

The Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) is a perennial weed that is cultivated for bioethanol production or pharmaceutical purposes, as its aerial parts and tubers contain several chemical compounds. This review summarizes important data on the effects of the main cultivation practices (e.g., the planting density and pattern, weed management, fertilization, irrigation, genotypes and harvest) on tuber yield and quality. The most widespread method for the propagation of the Jerusalem artichoke is planting the tubers directly in the field, with a plant density of about 33,000–47,000 plants ha−1. Weed management is based on herbicide application, mechanical cultivation and hand hoeing, while the nutrient requirements are low, and irrigation relies on weather conditions. For instance, under Mediterranean semi-arid conditions, the crops are irrigated from June to September. In addition, the harvest time depends on the genotype and the purpose of cultivation, which is an important consideration for obtaining a high-quality product. In conclusion, Jerusalem artichoke yield and quality depend on several factors, and this plant, due to its high productivity, constitutes a promising crop with numerous uses

Level of Contamination Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in the Urban Soils of Volos City (Central Greece)

A three-year study, designed to record the level of potentially toxic elements within the urban complex in the city of Volos, Greece, was carried out between 2018 and 2020. For the needs of the aforementioned study, 62 surface (0–15 cm) soil samples were collected each year (i.e., 186 samples in total) from an urban area of 3.65 km2, and the average value of pseudo-total metal concentration was measured. Soil pollution indices, such as the contamination factor (CF) and the geo-accumulation index (Igeo), were estimated regarding each of the metals of interest. The respective thematic maps were constructed, and the spatial variability of the contamination degree was displayed. Higher values of the CF and Igeo were obtained near the heavy traffic roads and beside the railway station, the bus stations, and the commercial port. The maps based on the pollution indices, along with the database that was constructed using the appropriate mathematical tools of geostatistical analysis, may be a useful tool for monitoring, prediction, and continuous verification of contamination in the urban soils of Volos city

Study of Potentially Toxic Metal Adsorption in a Polluted Acid and Alkaline Soil: Influence of Soil Properties and Levels of Metal Concentration

In the present study, the adsorption of zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and cadmium (Cd) was studied in two already polluted urban soil samples with different pH values, an acidic and an alkaline one. The Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm equations were used to thoroughly study the adsorption of the metallic elements on the solid surface of the soils. Langmuir equation described the adsorption of each metal satisfactorily, with a slight predominance over Freundlich, in both soils, as the R2 value approached almost unity. Even though Zn and Cu were adsorbed on the soil phase, their adsorption was minimal compared to the adsorption of more harmful metals such as Pb and Cd. Using the values of the coefficients obtained from the equations of the mathematical models, we concluded that in alkaline soils, the retention of metals was much greater than in acidic soils. The simultaneous presence of metals during the addition of the single-element solutions of the metals to the already metal-contaminated soils caused competitive adsorption increasing the retention of the more toxic metals on the solid surface of the alkaline soil. Factors affecting soil sorption (such as soil pH and CaCO3 content) were studied to provide theoretical support for understanding the laws and causes of metal sorption in the soils of the survey

Strong synergistic activity and egg hatch inhibition by (E,E)-2,4-decadienal and (E)-2-decenal in Meloidogyne species

Recent research has been focused on the potential of plant natural products for the control of nematodes, but few studies are reported on synergistic interactions and egg hatch inhibition properties of botanicals. Herein, we evaluate the nematicidal activity of (E,E)-2,4-decadienal, 2-undecanone, furfural and (E)-2-decenal alone and in binary mixtures, on different Meloidogyne spp. and growth stages. (E,E)-2,4-decadienal exhibited strong paralysis activity on second-stage M. incognita,M. javanica and M. arenaria juveniles (EC50/4d = 8.06, 9.04 and 12.90 μg mL−1, respectively) and all its binary mixtures demonstrated synergy on all nematode species. (E,E)-2,4-decadienal best inhibited M. incognita undifferentiated egg hatch and J2 release from eggs immersed in 10 μg mL−1 solution. SEM experiments revealed malformations, in the form of constrictions, along the larvae body retained in eggs treated with (E)-2-decenal. Egg masses treated with 1 μg mL−1 solution of (E)-2-decenal released less than 50 % of the eggs if compared with the control. (E)-2-decenal and (E,E)-2,4-decadienal arrested M. incognita life cycle in pot bioassays (EC50 = 77.46 and 114.47 mg kg−1), with the latter additionally promoting tomato growth. Ailanthus altissima powder (AWP) and water extract (AWE), naturally containing (E,E)-2,4-decadienal and (E)-2-decenal, strongly arrested M. incognita life cycle in tomato plants, and AWP was far more active than AWE. Thus, we conclude that (E,E)-2,4-decadienal and (E)-2-decenal are promising nematicidal agents used alone, in artificial blends or as naturally present in botanical soil amendments

Influence of grain type on the efficacy of spinetoram for the control of Rhyzopertha dominica, Sitophilus granarius and Sitophilus oryzae

The efficacy of spinetoram against adults of three major stored grain beetle species, the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae), the granary weevil, Sitophilus granarius (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in seven grain commodities was evaluated under laboratory conditions. Spinetoram residues in each grain were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection. The tested grains were hard wheat, soft wheat, oats, rye, triticale, paddy rice and maize. Spinetoram was applied at three dose rates: 0.1, 1 and 10 ppm (mg of active ingredient per kg of grain) and bioassays were carried out at 25 °C and 60% r.h. Mortality of the exposed adults was assessed after 7 and 14 d of exposure while progeny emergence was recorded 65 d after the last exposure interval (14 d). Among the tested species, R. dominica was highly susceptible to spinetoram for all commodities tested, since 100% mortality was noted after 14 d of exposure at 1 and 10 ppm. From the two Sitophilus species, S. granarius was more susceptible to spinetoram than S. oryzae, while for both species 0.1 ppm was not effective. For these two species, spinetoram efficacy differed among the tested commodities. In general, mortality was higher in hard wheat for both Sitophilus species in comparison with the other grains, while the lowest mortality levels were recorded in oats and soft wheat for S. granarius and in maize and soft wheat for S. oryzae. Progeny production was low in the case of R. dominica, and F1 adult emergence was recorded mostly at 0.1 ppm. For both S. granarius and S. oryzae, the highest progeny production was noted in soft wheat. Spinetoram residue determination in each grain at the dose rate of 10 ppm, did not show any differences among the treated commodities. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd