Temporary nutrient deficiency - a difficult case for diagnosis and prognosis by plant analysis

Plant analysis aims to either detect deficiency at the time of sampling (diagnosis) or predict its occurrence at a later stage of growth (prognosis). Its use is based on the presumption that the plant nutrient status will either be constant with plant age or follow a predictable pattern of change over time after sampling. However, a period of deficiency during plant growth followed by the recovery of nutrient uptake to satisfactory rates may cause an irreversible impairment of growth which plant analysis fails to diagnose or predict. Several cases are considered, each involving a temporary deficiency of, or interruption to nutrient supply. Such cases generally involve but are not restricted to micronutrient deficiency. For example, B deficiency impairs early seedling growth when seeds low in B are planted, even on B fertilised soils. Low B concentration in seeds diagnoses the subsequent impairment of seed germination or seedling establishment: however, leaf analysis after emergence does not. Similarly, Zn deficiency impairs early growth of transplanted oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) seedlings and eventually depresses seed yield. However, leaf analysis during crop growth fails to diagnose a Zn deficiency. Finally, temporary B deficiency induced by low vapour pressure deficit or low soil water especially during reproductive development may depress yield markedly but remain difficult to diagnose by plant analysis. Strategies for diagnosing and predicting such temporary deficiencies are discussed including the measurement of environmental parameters such as pan evaporation or rainfall and their inclusion in multi‐variate regression models of plant response to nutrients

Iron Deficiency in Infancy and Its Impact on Motor and Mental Development

Iron plays a large role in nerve myelination, dopamine neurotransmission, and neuronal metabolism. The purpose of this literary review was to investigate the connection between iron deficiency and motor and cognitive development. Iron-deficiency is the most prevalent nutrient deficiency world-wide, and infants are at a greater risk due to their rapid growth. Due to the higher risk, this review focuses on iron deficiency in infancy

Determinants of Food Acceptance and Micro-Nutrient Deficiency in Preschoolers: A Case Study of Households from Karachi, Pakistan

This study attempts to find out the determinants of food acceptance and micro-nutrient deficiency in preschool children from Karachi, Pakistan. Primary data was collected through survey from 400 households by interviewing and filling up the questionnaire. Index for food acceptance and micro-nutrient deficiency were constructed with the help of related questions from the questionnaire. Econometric models were developed and Logit techniques was employed to estimate probability of end indicator. Our results show that increase Micro-Nutrient Deficiency (MND) may cause lower level of Food Acceptance and vice versa. On the other hand, modeling food acceptance may indicate higher level of MND among preschoolers reduce the acceptance level of appropriate food. Other important variables like Household Income, Mother’s Literacy and Mother’s Maternal Knowledge showed significant effects and appropriate signs of coefficients as per expectations. On the basis of these findings, if government targets the core independent variables that are identified in the analysis, Food Acceptance level can be increased amongst the children and Micro- Nutrient Deficiency could then be reduced. Consequently government intervention, both long term and short term are needed to provide and regulate the food acceptance behavior either at household level or at other form so that our generation could be healthier and more productive which would lead the economic growth of a country which is abundant in labor.Food acceptance, preschoolers, nutritional status, micronutrient deficiency

Effects of catch crops on the content of sulfur (S) and selenium (Se) in vegetables

Selenium is an essential nutrient for animals, humans and microorganisms. Se deficiency in humans has been linked to a plethora of physiological disorders. Increasing evidences point to an anticarcinogenic potential of Se-compounds. To address Se deficiency in the human diet, agronomists and plant breeders are pursuing complementary strategies to produce crops with greater Se concentrations. Catch crops have been used successfully in agriculture, increasing nitrogen and sulfur content in the soil and avoiding nutrient leaching. In this experiment we study whether catch crops can have similar beneficial effects regarding Se

Evaluation of Level of Milk Potential on Nutrient Balance in 2- and 4- Year- Old May- Calving Range Cows Grazing Sandhills Upland Range

A modeling study evaluated the effects of milk production level on nutrient balance in May- calving cows grazing Sandhills upland range during the breeding season. Forage quality of upland range peaks in June and steadily declines in July until November. With timing of forage quality decline and increasing nutrient demands due to lactation, cows were in a negative energy balance in late June and early July prior to deficiency of metabolizable protein. Supplementation to meet energy deficiencies in June and July and MP deficiencies in July with distiller grains that is high ruminally undegradable protein and high fiber energy may be needed in May- calving cowherds. Selection for milk over 23 lb at peak lactation creates deficiencies early post- calving and increases the need for additional supplementation to correct the nutrient deficiency. In an effort to match cow type to environment in the Sandhills and optimize performance, producers should consider selecting against high milk potential

Fortification and health: challenges and opportunities.

Fortification is the process of adding nutrients or non-nutrient bioactive components to edible products (e.g., food, food constituents, or supplements). Fortification can be used to correct or prevent widespread nutrient intake shortfalls and associated deficiencies, to balance the total nutrient profile of a diet, to restore nutrients lost in processing, or to appeal to consumers looking to supplement their diet. Food fortification could be considered as a public health strategy to enhance nutrient intakes of a population. Over the past century, fortification has been effective at reducing the risk of nutrient deficiency diseases such as beriberi, goiter, pellagra, and rickets. However, the world today is very different from when fortification emerged in the 1920s. Although early fortification programs were designed to eliminate deficiency diseases, current fortification programs are based on low dietary intakes rather than a diagnosable condition. Moving forward, we must be diligent in our approach to achieving effective and responsible fortification practices and policies, including responsible marketing of fortified products. Fortification must be applied prudently, its effects monitored diligently, and the public informed effectively about its benefits through consumer education efforts. Clear lines of authority for establishing fortification guidelines should be developed and should take into account changing population demographics, changes in the food supply, and advances in technology. This article is a summary of a symposium presented at the ASN Scientific Sessions and Annual Meeting at Experimental Biology 2014 on current issues involving fortification focusing primarily on the United States and Canada and recommendations for the development of responsible fortification practices to ensure their safety and effectiveness

Fertimetro, a Principle and Device to Measure Soil Nutrient Availability for Plants by Microbial Degradation Rates on Differently-Spiked Buried Threads

A novel patented method (PCT/IB2012/001157: Squartini, Concheri, Tiozzo, University of Padova) and the corresponding application devices, suitable to measure soil fertility, are presented. The availability or deficiency of specific nutrients for crops is assessed by monitoring the kinetics of progressive weakening of cotton or silk threads due to in situ microbial activity. The method is based on a nutrient-primed incremented substrate degradation principle. Threads are buried as is or pre-impregnated with N or P solutions, and the acceleration of the degradation rate for the N-supplemented or P-supplemented thread, in comparison to the untreated thread, is proportional to the lack of the corresponding nutrient in that soil. Tests were validated on corn crops in plots receiving increasing fertilizer rates in a historical rotation that has been established since 1962. The measurement carried out in May significantly correlated with the subsequent crop yields recorded in October. The analysis allows an early, inexpensive, fast, and reproducible self-assessment at field level to improve fertilization rates. The device is envisaged as a user-friendly tool for agronomy, horticulture, and any environmental applications where organic matter cycling, soil quality, and specific nutrients excess or deficiency are critical considerations

EVALUATION OF ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF ANAEROBIC DIGESTATE AND ITS EFFECT ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF MAIZE

Pakistan is an agricultural country. The increased population leads to increasing demand for food. Unfortunately, crops are infected by different microbes and nutrient deficiency of soil adversely affects the yield of the crop. Furthermore, the use of chemical fertilizers like Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium (NPK), Urea, Diammonium phosphate (DAP) and pesticides have environmental consequences. Therefore, so there is need to find alternative renewable and sustainable biofertilizers

Investigation into the relationship between ethylene and sulfur assimilation in Arabidopsis thaliana and onion (Allium cepa L.) : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (with Honours) in Biochemistry at Massey University

The phytohormone ethylene (C2H4) mediates the adaptive responses of plants to various nutrient deficiencies including iron (Fe)-deficiency, phosphorus (P)-deficiency and potassium (K)-deficiency. However, evidence for the involvement this hormone in the sulfur (S) deficiency response is limited to date. In this study, the effect of C2H4 treatment on the accumulation of the S-assimilation enzymes ATP sulfurylase (ATPS). adenosine-5 -phosphosulfate-reductase (APR), O-acetylserine-(thiol)-lyase (OASTL) and sulfite reductase (SiR) was examined in A. thaliana and onion (A. cepa). To complement this, the effect of short-term S-depletion on the expression of the 12-member gene family of the C2H4 biosynthetic enzyme, l-amino-cyclopropane-l-carboxylic acid (ACC) synthase (ACS) from A. thaliana, designated AtACS1-12, was also examined. Western analyses were used to show that plants of A. thaliana pre-treated with the C2H4-signalling inhibitor 1-MCP, had elevated levels of ATPS, APR and OASTL protein in leaf tissue at all time points examined, suggesting that C2H4 has an inhibitory effect on the accumulation of these enzymes. However, SiR appeared to be under dual regulation by C2H4: under S-sufficient conditions C2H4 appears to prevent the unnecessary accumulation of SiR and conversely promote the fast accumulation of SiR under S-depleted conditions. The changes in AtACS1-12 expression in the root and leaf tissues of S-sufficient and S-depleted plants of A. thaliana were examined by RT-PCR using gene-specific, exon-spanning primers. The expression patterns of AtACS2, AtACS6 and AtACS7 were comparable regardless of S availability and may therefore be housekeeping genes. In contrast, the expression of AtACS5 in leaf, and AtACS8 and AtACS9 in roots was repressed under S-depleted conditions, although the mechanism of this repression cannot be elucidated from this study. The protein products of these closely-related genes are believed to be phosphorylated and stabilised by a CDPK whose activity may be compromised by S-depletion. The inhibition of AtACS5, AtACS8 and AtACS9 expression, and the decrease in AtACS5, AtACS8 and AtACS9 accumulation, and hence less C2H4 production, may be part of the plant adaptive response to S-depletion, as the C2H4 -mediated repression of root growth is alleviated to allow the plant to better seek out the lacking nutrient. The expression of the MPK-stabilised genes AtACS2 and AtACS6 appeared to be similar regardless of S availability, although this may merely be a consequence of the scoring method used in this study, which cannot determine whether there was any difference in the level of expression of these genes. The expression of AtACS10 and AtACS12 was repressed in S-deficient plants. Although both AtACS10 and AtACS12 isozymes posses the hallmark seven conserved regions found in the ACSes of other plant species, they are also phylogenetically related to alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, and are known to encode aspartate (AtACS10) and aromatic amino acid transaminases (AtACS12). Therefore, the apparent downregulation of these genes suggests that the downregulation of amino acid metabolism may be part of the plant adaptive response to S-depletion. The downregulation of several AtACS genes, and therefore possibly also C2H4 biosynthesis, in S-deficient plants was accompanied by an accumulation of APR protein. The increase in APR protein that also occurred in 1-MCP-treated plants indicates that C2H4 may be involved in the plant response to S-depletion, because in both cases the upregulation of the S-assimilation pathway, as manifested by the accumulation of APR protein, occurred when C2H4 biosynthesis and signalling was repressed. However, the possible role of other phytohormoes in the plant response to S-depletion cannot be excluded, as there is evidence for crosstalk between the C2H4 signalling pathway and those of auxin, abscisic acid (ABA), cytokinins and jasmonic acid (JA). Furthermore, because C2H4 has been implicated in the response of various plants to Fe-deficiency, P-deficiency, and K-deficiency, in addition to S-deficiency, it may be a regulator of the plant adaptive response to nutrient stresses in general