Klimaat sturen op de inhoud van het blad

Growers would like to know the status of their crop to determine climate strategy and crop management practices. Chemical composition of the crop can now only be determined by sampling leaves or fruits, send this to a laboratory and wait for the analysis. In this project, we aimed to use hyperspectral imaging to determine the contents of sugars and starch, dry matter percentage, chlorophyll and nutrient composition in the crop. The results are promising. Hyperspectral cameras are very well capable to estimate the concentrations of sugars in leaves and fruits, chlorophyll content, dry matter percentage and specific leaf area. This allows the growers to adjust their climate settings or crop management based on these hyperspectral images

Polysaccharides from Agaricus bisporus and Agaricus brasiliensis show similarities in their structures and their immunomodulatory effects on human monocytic THP-1 cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mushroom polysaccharides have traditionally been used for the prevention and treatment of a multitude of disorders like infectious illnesses, cancers and various autoimmune diseases. Crude mushroom extracts have been tested without detailed chemical analyses of its polysaccharide content. For the present study we decided to chemically determine the carbohydrate composition of semi-purified extracts from 2 closely related and well known basidiomycete species, i.e. <it>Agaricus bisporus </it>and <it>A. brasiliensis </it>and to study their effects on the innate immune system, in particular on the <it>in vitro </it>induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, using THP-1 cells.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Mushroom polysaccharide extracts were prepared by hot water extraction and precipitation with ethanol. Their composition was analyzed by GC-MS and NMR spectroscopy. PMA activated THP-1 cells were treated with the extracts under different conditions and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines was evaluated by qPCR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Semi-purified polysaccharide extracts of <it>A. bisporus </it>and <it>A. brasiliensis </it>(= <it>blazei</it>) were found to contain (1→6),(1→4)-linked α-glucan, (1→6)-linked β-glucan, and mannogalactan. Their proportions were determined by integration of ¹H-NMR signs, and were considerably different for the two species. <it>A. brasiliensis </it>showed a higher content of β-glucan, while <it>A. bisporus </it>presented mannogalactan as its main polysaccharide. The extracts induced a comparable increase of transcription of the pro-inflammatory cytokine genes IL-1β and TNF-α as well as of COX-2 in PMA differentiated THP-1 cells. Pro-inflammatory effects of bacterial LPS in this assay could be reduced significantly by the simultaneous addition of <it>A. brasiliensis </it>extract.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The polysaccharide preparations from the closely related species <it>A. bisporus </it>and <it>A. brasiliensis </it>show major differences in composition: <it>A. bisporus </it>shows high mannogalactan content whereas <it>A. brasiliensis </it>has mostly β-glucan. Semi-purified polysaccharide extracts from both <it>Agaricus </it>species stimulated the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enzymes, while the polysaccharide extract of <it>A. brasiliensis </it>reduced synthesis of these cytokines induced by LPS, suggesting programmable immunomodulation.</p

Cichorium intybus L. Hairy Roots as a Platform for Antimicrobial Activity

Industrial chicory is an important crop for its high dietary fibre content. Besides inulin, chicory taproots contain interesting secondary metabolite compounds, which possess bioactive properties. Hairy roots are differentiated plant cell cultures that have shown to be feasible biotechnological hosts for the production of several plant-derived molecules. In this study, hairy roots of industrial chicory cultivars were established, and their potential as a source of antimicrobial ingredients was assessed. It was shown that hot water extracts of hairy roots possessed antimicrobial activity against relevant human microbes, whereas corresponding chicory taproots did not show activity. Remarkably, a significant antimicrobial activity of hot water extracts of chicory hairy roots towards methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was observed, indicating a high potential of hairy roots as a host for production of antimicrobial agents

Assessing the nutritional quality of fungal treated wheat straw : Compounds formed after treatment with Ceriporiopsis subvermispora and Lentinula edodes

A variety of secondary metabolites are formed and compounds released during the bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass by white-rot fungi that can affect the nutritional value and acceptance of the biomass by ruminants. Changes in pH, ergosterol content, fibre and metabolites composition of wheat straw (WS) incubated with either Ceriporiopsis subvermispora or Lentinula edodes for up to 8 weeks were investigated. With increases in mycelium content, significant decreases in absolute amount of hemicellulose, acid detergent lignin and, to a lesser extent, cellulose were observed in both fungal treatments. Acidification mainly occurred within the first four weeks of incubation, coinciding with the largest changes in metabolites profile. Diverse compounds, including organic acids and soluble sugars increased or decreased with C. subvermispora and L. edodes treatment. None of the thirty-four common mycotoxins analyzed were detected in WS after 8 weeks of fungal incubation. These results provide important information for application of fungal treated WS that might affect animal acceptance and performance

Storage temperature and time and its influence on feed quality of fungal treated wheat straw

Degradation of lignocellulose by selective white-rot fungi can significantly improve the nutritional value of high lignocellulose containing biomass by affecting the access of rumen microbes to structural carbohydrates. To determine if such treated biomass is stable in time to allow it to be conserved for subsequent feeding to ruminant animals, wheat straw (WS) pre-treated for 7 weeks with either Ceriporiopsis subvermispora or Lentinula edodes was stored anaerobically up to 10 weeks at different temperatures (24.7–52.4 °C). Substrates were subsequently analysed for changes in pH, titratable acidity, fibre composition, in vitro gas production (IVGP) and colour, as well as polar metabolites by GC–MS and ceriporic acids by LC–MS. The increased titratable acidity of fungal treated WS during storage indicated acidification of the straw. A significant decrease in hemicellulose and an increase in acid detergent lignin content was observed at 52.4 °C. No negative effect of the storage condition on the degradability of both fungal treated WS in rumen fluid was observed. A darker colour was observed for substrates incubated at higher temperatures, coinciding with a strong accumulation of several organic acids and sugars. A decrease in ceriporic acid A, B, C and G produced by C. subvermispora was observed when stored at 52.4 °C from week 2–10. The results show that, although the chemical composition changes, anaerobic storage of fungal treated WS at different temperatures does not affect its fermentation potential for ruminants

A Biostimulant Seed Treatment Improved Heat Stress Tolerance During Cucumber Seed Germination by Acting on the Antioxidant System and Glyoxylate Cycle

Seed enhancement technologies have the potential to improve germination and seedling growth under environmental stress. The effects of KIEM®, an innovative biostimulant based on lignin derivatives and containing plant-derived amino acids and molybdenum, were investigated on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seed germination. To determine the metabolic targets of this product, biometric, transcriptional and biochemical analyses were carried out on both non-treated and KIEM®-treated seeds incubated for 24 and 48 h under standard (28°C) and heat stress (35°C) conditions. The application of the biostimulant as a seed treatment increased the percent germination (+6.54%) and fresh biomass (+13%) at 48 h, and decreased the content of H2O2 in treated seeds at 28°C (−70%) and at 35°C (−80%). These changes in biometric and biochemical properties were accompanied by changes in expression levels of the genes coding for ROS-producing (RBOH) and scavenging (SOD, CAT, GST) enzymes and their specific activity. In general, the treatment with KIEM® in heat-stress condition appeared to stimulate a higher accumulation of three scavenger gene transcripts: CuZnSOD (+1.78), MnSOD (+1.75), and CAT (+3.39), while the FeSOD isoform was dramatically downregulated (0.24). Moreover, the amount of non-protein thiols, important antioxidant molecules, was increased by the biostimulant after 48 h (+20%). Taken together these results suggest that KIEM® acts through mitigation of the effects of the oxidative stress. Moreover, after 48 h, the pre-sowing treatment with KIEM® increased the transcription levels (+1.5) and the activity of isocitrate lyase (+37%), a key enzyme of the glyoxylate cycle, suggesting a potential effect of this product in speeding up the germination process. Finally, the chemical characterization of KIEM® identified five essential and three non-essential amino acids, and others bioactive compounds, including five organic and inorganic acids that might be potentially involved in its activity. Based on these data, insights on the potential mechanism of action of the biostimulant, suggested that there are broader applications as a product able to increase seed tolerance to different abiotic stress typical of adverse environmental conditions.</p

Enzyme-treated chicory for cosmetics:application assessment and techno-economic analysis

Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) is an important industrial crop that produces large quantities of the dietary fiber inulin in its roots. Following inulin extraction, the bagasse is typically used as animal feed, but it contains numerous bioactive secondary metabolites with potential applications in healthcare and cosmetic products. Here we assessed the antimicrobial properties of chicory biomass pre-treated with various enzymes alone and in combination to release the bioactive compounds and increase their bioavailability. We found that pre-treatment significantly increased the antimicrobial activity of this industrial by-product, yielding an extract that inhibited typical skin pathogens in a cosmetic formula challenge test. We also evaluated the valorization of chicory biomass as a bioactive cosmetic ingredient. Economic feasibility was estimated by combining our experimental results with a conceptual techno-economic analysis. Our results suggest that chicory biomass can be utilized for the sustainable production of efficacious cosmetic ingredients. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13568-022-01494-8

Achilles tendinosis: changes in biochemical composition and collagen turnover rate

Understanding biochemical and structural changes of the extracellular matrix in Achilles tendinosis might be important for developing mechanism-based therapies. In Achilles tendinosis, changes occur in biochemical composition and collagen turnover rate. Descriptive laboratory study. From 10 patients undergoing surgery for Achilles tendinopathy, 1 tendinosis biopsy specimen and 1 biopsy specimen of macroscopically healthy tendon tissue adjacent to the lesion were collected. Furthermore, biopsy samples were collected from 3 donors with asymptomatic Achilles tendons. Water content, collagen content, percentage of denatured collagen, amount of lysine hydroxylation, number of enzymatic and nonenzymatic crosslinks, matrix metalloproteinase activity, and matrix metalloproteinase and collagen gene-expression levels were analyzed. In tendinotic lesions, the water content was highest, and collagen content was subnormal with higher amounts of denatured/damaged collagen. Low pentosidine levels in tendinotic tissue indicated the presence of relatively young collagenous matrix. More hydroxylated lysine residues were present in tendinotic samples, but enzymatic crosslinks revealed no differences between tendinotic, adjacent, and healthy samples. In tendinotic specimens, matrix metalloproteinase activity was higher, matrix metalloproteinase gene-expression profile was altered, and collagen type I and III gene expression were upregulated. In Achilles tendinosis, the collagen turnover rate is increased, and the natural biochemical composition of the collagenous matrix is compromised. Although tendon tissue directly adjacent to an Achilles tendinosis lesion looks macroscopically healthy, histological and biochemical degenerative changes in adjacent tissue are evident, which may have implications for surgical intervention