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Morphological and Yield Parameters, Dry Matter Distribution, Nutrients Uptake, and Distribution in Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cv. ‘Elsanta’ as Influenced by Spent Mushroom Substrates and Planting Seasons
The performance of autumn and spring-planted strawberry cv. ‘Elsanta’ in peat and peat supplemented with fresh spent mushroom substrate (SMS) of Agaricus bisporus, Lentinus edodes, and Pleurotus ostreatus in 15% and 25% was evaluated. The morphological and yield parameters, dry matter distribution, uptake, and partitioning of macro- and micronutrients were studied. The experiment was carried out during 2020–2021 in an unheated tunnel and was laid out in a randomised complete block design in five replicates. The study aimed to deliver greater insight into utilising fresh SMS as a sustainable substitute to peat. The shoot and root length, leaf number, crown diameter, plant dry weight, and marketable yields were superior in SMS-based substrates in autumn planting. The nutrient uptake varied among substrates and planting seasons, where higher plant nutrient uptake was noticed in SMS-based substrates. Nutrient partitioning among leaves, crowns, and roots was dynamic. The N, P, K, and Mn were mainly recovered in leaves. While Mg was almost equally partitioned among plant organs. The higher amounts of Na, Zn, and Cu were found in crowns. The greater accumulation of Ca and Fe in roots was evident. Correlation indicated that plant macro- and micronutrients had both positive and negative interactions. Overall, the superior morphological and yield performances of cv. ‘Elsanta’ were more noticeable in SMSs than in peat in autumn-planted strawberries.
Anticholinesterase Activity and Bioactive Compound Profiling of Six Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) Varieties
Hops (Humulus lupulus L.) are widely recognized for their use in brewing, but they also possess significant pharmacological properties due to their rich bioactive compounds, with many varieties exhibiting diverse characteristics. This study investigates the chemical composition and biological activities of extracts from six hop varieties, focusing on quantifying xanthohumol and lupulone using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Total Phenolic Content (TPC) analysis. The hop varieties demonstrated significant variability in bioactive compound concentrations, with Aurora showing the highest xanthohumol (0.665 mg/g) and Zwiegniowski the highest lupulone (9.228 mg/g). TPC analysis revealed Aurora also had the highest phenolic content (22.47 mg GAE/g). Antioxidant activities were evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, and FRAP assays, with Aurora and Oregon Fuggle displaying the most potent capacities. Aurora, in particular, showed the highest activity across multiple assays, including significant acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and tyrosinase inhibition, with IC50 values of 24.39 mg/mL, 20.38 mg/mL, and 9.37 mg/mL, respectively. The chelating activity was also assessed, with Apolon demonstrating the strongest metal ion binding capacity (IC50 = 1.04 mg/mL). Additionally, Aurora exhibited the most effective hyaluronidase inhibition (IC50 = 10.27 mg/mL), highlighting its potential for anti-inflammatory applications. The results underscore the influence of genetic and environmental factors on the bioactive compound profiles of hop varieties and their biological activity offering promising avenues for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. However, further studies are needed to fully understand the potential interactions between hop cones components.
Combined Dairy Manure-Food Waste Digestate as a Medium for Pleurotus djamor—Mineral Composition in Substrate and Bioaccumulation of Elements in Fruiting Bodies
The present investigation aimed to study the utilisation of combined dairy manure-food waste digestate as a substrate (experimental mushroom substrate—EMS) for Pleurotus djamor (strain 2708, Mycelia) cultivation. Considering the lack of scientific information about the influence of elements concentration in growing substrates on the bioaccumulation of elements in cultivated mushrooms and their residual concentrations in substrates left after cultivation (spent mushroom substrate—SMS), a multi-elemental analysis of 38 elements was carried out. In the study, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) was used for elemental analysis. The P. djamor cultivated on EMS resulted in a yield of 196.50 g/bag, achieving a biological efficiency (BE) of 39.90%. High variability in the elemental concentrations among substrates both before and after mushroom cultivation was evident. The studied elements accumulation in P. djamor was in an increasing trend in three subsequent flushes and was also reflected in the bioconcentration factors (BCFs). The highest BCF (2.35) was determined for Fe. Interestingly, the BCF values for all studied trace elements with detrimental health effects were lower than 1.00. The estimated daily intake (EDI) reflected that the P. djamor fruiting bodies grown on EMS can serve as an excellent dietary source of essential major and trace elements: Ca, Mg, Na, Mn, Mo, Ni, Se and Zn. On the other hand, EDI values for K, Cu, Fe, Ag, Ba, Cd, Al, Sb and Sr were greater than the referred guideline values corresponding to higher intake. Overall, the study presented an insight into elemental accumulations and demonstrated the potential utilisation of combined dairy manure-food waste digestate.
(1→3)-α-D-Glucan from Pink Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus djamor): Structural features
(1→3)-α-d-Glucan is an important component of the cell wall of most fungi. The polymer has many applications, including as a therapeutic agent in the prevention or treatment of various diseases, as well as a heavy metal sorbent and a component of new materials used in the plastics industry. The presence of (1→3)-α-d-glucan (water-insoluble, alkali-soluble polysaccharide) in the cell wall of Pleurotus djamor (pink oyster mushroom) was confirmed using specific fluorophore-labeled antibodies. Therefore, the water-insoluble fraction (WI-ASF) of P. djamor B123 fruiting bodies was isolated by alkaline extraction and used for further analyses. The structural features of the WI-ASF were determined by composition analysis, linkage analysis, Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, as well as viscosity, specific rotation, and gel permeation chromatography. These studies revealed the presence of glucose units linked by α-glycosidic bonds and scanty amounts of mannose and xylose. Furthermore, methylation analysis of WI-ASF demonstrated that the (1→3)-linked glucopyranose (Glcp) is the primary moiety (86.4%) of the polymer, while the 3,4- and 3,6-substituted hexoses are the branching residues of the glucan. The results of chemical and spectroscopic investigations indicated that the analyzed WI-ASF is a (1→3)-linked α-d-glucan type with a molecular weight of 552 kDa.