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Prunus padus L. as a source of functional compounds – antioxidant activity and antidiabetic effect
The search for natural raw materials and their beneficial properties has recently become very popular. Bird cherry (Prunus padus L.) is a plant that grows mainly in Europe. The properties of its individual anatomical parts stem from the content of numerous characteristic compounds. The aim of the paper was to assess the impact of the way of bird tree (P.padus) fruit and bark extraction on the antioxidant potential and the assessment of inhibitory activity against alpha-glucosidase, catalase and glutathione reductase and peroxidase. Bark extract had a greater antioxidant potential. The highest chelating activity was determined for acetone-water extract of black cherry bark (44.87%), and ethanolic bark extract showed the highest reducing power. These activities, however, were similar for all extracts tested. It was demonstrated that ferulic acid and gallic acid predominated among polyphenols in aqueous extracts, together with quercetin and catechin, whose presence and proportion of occurrence probably determined the inhibitory activity against alpha-glucosidase, whose activity for fruit extract was determined at the level of 27.11 IC50 mg/mL.
Effect of extraction conditions and techniques on the antioxidant properties of ginger cultivated in Poland
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of NBPT and NPPT Application as a Urease Carrier in Fertilization of Maize (Zea mays L.) for Ensiling
The study presents the results of a 3-year field trial aimed at assessing the yield and quality of raw material for ensiling in the cultivation of three maize varieties differing in their agronomic and genetic profile, conditioned by the selection of nitrogen fertilizer. Maize cultivar ES Metronom showed a significant advantage over other cultivars when fertilized with UltraGrain stabile, or alternatively Super N-46. The application of nitrogen-stabilized fertilizers or urea + N-Lock significantly increased the yield of maize green fodder for ensiling. The “stay-green” maize cultivars were characterized by a higher content of non-structural carbohydrates, including starch and water-soluble sugars, and a lower content of structural carbohydrates, compared to the conventional cultivar, which increased their suitability for ensiling. The negative effect of maize fertilization with ammonium nitrate and ammonium nitrate + N-Lock on the chemical composition of green fodder was demonstrated by a reduced starch content and increased structural carbohydrate contents, including crude fiber and NDF. In turn, the positive effect of maize fertilization with urea and urea + N-Lock on the chemical composition of maize fodder was shown by increased starch content and reduced structural carbohydrate contents, including crude fiber and its NDF and ADF fractions. The analysis of the number and weight of leaves may indicate a highly effective utilization of nitrogen (“stay-green” maize hybrids), leading to the faster formation of leaves with a larger assimilation surface, which is the basis for the efficient absorption of solar radiation. The results obtained clearly show that only the correct choice of maize variety for silage cultivation, combined with nitrogen fertilizer guaranteeing access to N during the growing season, can guarantee a high yield for ensiling.
Preliminary Research on the Efficacy of Selected Herbicides Approved for Use in Sustainable Agriculture Using Spring Cereals as an Example
The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of selected herbicides permitted for use in sustainable agriculture, specifically targeting spring rye and spring barley in a no-till farming system. The application of chemical herbicide protection in the cultivation of spring rye and barley significantly increased the yield and improved the quality parameters of the harvested grain, with the most pronounced effect observed in spring barley. The effectiveness of the herbicide treatment in reducing the number of weeds was 99.4% for spring rye and 82.39% for spring barley. The study demonstrated that the application of chemical herbicide protection had a positive impact on the quality parameters of spring barley grain. Both the thousand-grain weight and protein content were significantly higher in the grain collected from protected plots compared to the control plots. By utilizing herbicides permitted for use in integrated production (IP) in a sustainable manner, we protect the environment while minimizing the impact on crop yields and maintaining the quality of the harvested produce.
Ethyl Methanesulfonate (EMS) Mutagen Toxicity-Induced DNA Damage, Cytosine Methylation Alteration, and iPBS-Retrotransposon Polymorphisms in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
The use of mutagens in plant breeding is used to create new germplasm, increase agricultural yield, quality, and resistance to diseases and pests. Mutagens are physical or chemical factors that can alter the DNA or RNA structure of an organism, causing mutations above the expected level. One of the most common and potent chemical mutagens is EMS (ethyl-methane sulfonate), which produces point mutations in plants, but to a lesser degree can also cause the loss or deletion of a chromosomal region. This study used inter-primer binding site (iPBS) and coupled restriction enzyme digestion inter-primer binding site (CRED-iPBS) technique analysis to determine the effect of EMS mutagens on methylation rates in wheat genotypes at seedling growth stage. Treatments with five different EMS concentrations (0%; control, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.4%) at four different times (0; control, 3, 6, and 9 h) were used. Inter-primer binding site (iPBS) markers were employed to assess genomic instability and cytosine methylation in treated wheat. In seeds treated with EMS at different concentrations and times, the disappearance of regular bands and the formation of new bands due to the effects of the EMS mutagen revealed that genetic diversity exists. The CRED-iPBS analysis revealed that the 3 h + 0.1% EMS treatment produced the highest MspI polymorphism value (19.60%), while the 9 h + 0.1% EMS treatment produced the lowest value (10.90%). The mutagenic effects of EMS treatments had considerable polymorphism on a variety of impacts on the cytosine methylation and genomic instability of wheat. According to the current research, EMS mutagenesis may be a practical method for accelerating breeding programs to produce enough genetic diversity in wheat populations. Mutation-assisted breeding and the subsequent selection of desirable mutants using genetic markers may also be carried out in wheat utilizing an integrated strategy.
The role of maize variety (Zea mays L.) in shaping the grain vitamin content
Summary The Faculty of Agronomy at the University of Life Sciences in Poznań conducted laboratory tests on the content of B vitamins in the grain of three varieties of yellow-colored fodder maize. The grains of the variety ES Metronom had the statistically significantly highest content of vitamins B1 and B9. In the case of vitamin B3, the significantly highest concentration was recorded in the grain of the variety ES Abakus, while the lowest concentration was found for the variety ES Metronom. In contrast, the grain of the variety ES Bombastic had significantly higher vitamin B6 content than that of the varieties ES Abakus and ES Metronom. The grain of the variety ES Metronom had significantly higher vitamin B9 content than the other two varieties tested. In general, it should be concluded that the content of B vitamins in maize grain is not determined by the type of maize hybrid.
Functional relationships between yield of maize (Zea mays L.) and its components
Summary A field experiment was carried out in the years 2017–2019 on the fields of the Experimental Station in Chrząstowo, belonging to the Research Centre for Cultivar Testing in Słupia Wielka. It was carried out for 3 years in the same split-plot design with 2 experimental factors in 3 field replicates. The following factors were studied: A – 1st order factor – maize variety: A1 – ES Bombastic (FAO 230-240) – single cross hybrid (SC), A2 – ES Abakus (FAO 230-240) – three-way cross hybrid (TC, stay-green), A3 – ES Metronom (FAO 240) – single cross hybrid (SC, stay-green + roots power). B – 2nd order factor – type of nitrogen fertilizer: B1 – control (without N application), B2 – ammonium nitrate, B3 – urea, B4 – ammonium nitrate + N-Lock, B5 – urea + N-Lock, B6 – Super N-46, B7 – UltraGran stabilo. In this study, we investigated whether there was a functional relationship between maize grain yield and ear number, TSW (thousand-seed weight), and seed number per ear. Additionally, we investigated whether there was a functional relationship between maize grain yield and ear number, TSW, and seed number per ear for each type of fertilization in a given study year, as well as for each type of fertilization regardless of year.
The antioxidant and neuroprotective potential of leaves and inflorescences extracts of selected hemp varieties obtained with scCO2
Cannabis sativa, a versatile plant with numerous varieties, holds promising potential for a wide range of biological activity. As raw materials for research, we chose leaves and inflorescences of hemp varieties such as Białobrzeskie, Henola, and Tygra, which are cultivated mainly for their fibers or seeds. The choice of extraction is a key step in obtaining the selected compositions of active compounds from plant material. Bearing in mind the lipophilic nature of cannabinoids, we performed supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) extraction at 50 °C under 2000 (a) and 6000 PSI (b). The cannabinoid contents were determined with the use of the HPLC-DAD method. The antioxidant capabilities were assessed through a series of procedures, including the DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, and FRAP methods. The capacity to inhibit enzymes that play a role in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and tyrosinase was also studied. The dominant cannabinoids in the extracts were cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA). The highest concentration of eight cannabinoids was detected in the Tygra inflorescences extract (b). The most notable antioxidant properties were provided by the Tygra inflorescences extract (b). Nonetheless, it was the Henola inflorescences extract (b) that demonstrated the most efficient inhibition of AChE and BChE, and tyrosinase was inhibited the most significantly by the Białobrzeskie inflorescences extract (b). Multidimensional comparative analysis enrolled all assays and revealed that the Henola inflorescences extract (b) showed the most substantial neuroprotective potential.
Co-Dispersion Delivery Systems with Solubilizing Carriers Improving the Solubility and Permeability of Cannabinoids (Cannabidiol, Cannabidiolic Acid, and Cannabichromene) from Cannabis sativa (Henola Variety) Inflorescences
Cannabinoids: cannabidiol (CBD), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), and cannabichromene (CBC) are lipophilic compounds with limited water solubility, resulting in challenges related to their bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy upon oral administration. To overcome these limitations, we developed co-dispersion cannabinoid delivery systems with the biopolymer polyvinyl caprolactam-polyvinyl acetate-polyethylene glycol (Soluplus) and magnesium aluminometasilicate (Neusilin US2) to improve solubility and permeability. Recognizing the potential therapeutic benefits arising from the entourage effect, we decided to work with an extract instead of isolated cannabinoids. Cannabis sativa inflorescences (Henola variety) with a confirming neuroprotective activity were subjected to dynamic supercritical CO2 (scCO2) extraction and next they were combined with carriers (1:1 mass ratio) to prepare the co-dispersion cannabinoid delivery systems (HiE). In vitro dissolution studies were conducted to evaluate the solubility of CBD, CBDA, and CBC in various media (pH 1.2, 6.8, fasted, and fed state simulated intestinal fluid). The HiE-Soluplus delivery systems consistently demonstrated the highest dissolution rate of cannabinoids. Additionally, HiE-Soluplus exhibited the highest permeability coefficients for cannabinoids in gastrointestinal tract conditions than it was during the permeability studies using model PAMPA GIT. All three cannabinoids exhibited promising blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability (Papp higher than 4.0 × 10−6 cm/s), suggesting their potential to effectively cross into the central nervous system. The improved solubility and permeability of cannabinoids from the HiE-Soluplus delivery system hold promise for enhancement in their bioavailability.
Comparative Analysis of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) and Chemical Fertilizers on Quantitative and Qualitative Characteristics of Rainfed Wheat
The indiscriminate use of hazardous chemical fertilizers can be reduced by applying eco-friendly smart farming technologies, such as biofertilizers. The effects of five different types of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), including Fla-wheat (F), Barvar-2 (B), Nitroxin (N1), Nitrokara (N2), and SWRI, and their integration with chemical fertilizers (50% and/or 100% need-based N, P, and Zn) on the quantitative and qualitative traits of a rainfed wheat cultivar were investigated. Field experiments, in the form of randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications, were conducted at the Qamloo Dryland Agricultural Research Station in Kurdistan Province, Iran, in three cropping seasons (2016–2017, 2017–2018, and 2018–2019). All the investigated characteristics of rainfed wheat were significantly affected by the integrated application of PGPR chemical fertilizers. The grain yield of treated plants with F, B, N1, and N2 PGPR plus 50% of need-based chemical fertilizers was increased by 28%, 28%, 37%, and 33%, respectively, compared with the noninoculated control. Compared with the noninoculated control, the grain protein content was increased by 0.54%, 0.88%, and 0.34% through the integrated application of F, N1, and N2 PGPR plus 50% of need-based chemical fertilizers, respectively. A combination of Nitroxin PGPR and 100% of need-based chemical fertilizers was the best treatment to increase the grain yield (56%) and grain protein content (1%) of the Azar-2 rainfed wheat cultivar. The results of this 3-year field study showed that the integrated nutrient management of PGPR-need-based N, P, and Zn chemical fertilizers can be considered a crop management tactic to increase the yield and quality of rainfed wheat and reduce chemical fertilization and subsequent environmental pollution and could be useful in terms of sustainable rainfed crop production.
Wpływ czynników agrotechnicznych w kontekście ograniczenia zawartości składników mineralnych w glebie po zbiorze kukurydzy
Genotype-Trait (GT) Biplot Analysis for Yield and Quality Stability in Some Sweet Corn (Zea mays L. saccharata Sturt.) Genotypes
A strong statistical method for investigating the correlations between traits, assessing genotypes based on numerous traits, and finding individuals who excel in particular traits is genotype–trait (GT) biplot analysis. The current study was applied to evaluate 11 sweet corn (Zea mays L. saccharata) genotypes and correlate them based on genotype–trait (GT) biplot analysis for two cropping seasons in Erzurum, Türkiye using the RCBD experimental design with three reputations. The results showed that the genotypes were significantly different for the majority of the examined variables according to the combined analysis of variance findings at 0.01 probability level. An ecological analysis was performed to evaluate sweet corn varieties and environmental conditions and interactions between them (genotype × environmental conditions). Our results showed that the summation of the first two and second main components was responsible for 73.51% of the combined cropping years of the sweet corn growth and development variance, demonstrating the biplot graph’s optimum relative validity, which was obtained. In this study, the Khan F1 (G6) genotype was found to be the stablest genotype, and the Kompozit Seker (G7) genotype was the non-stable genotype, moreover based on the first cropping year, second cropping year, and the average mean of the two cropping years. As a conclusion, the Khan F1 (G6) genotype is the highest-yielding genotype, and the Kompozit Seker (G7) is the lowest. Based on the heat map dendrogram, the context of the differential extent of trait association of all genotypes into two clusters is indicated. The highest genetic distance was shown between the BATEM Tatlı (G3) and Febris (G5) genotypes. Our results provide helpful information about the sweet corn genotypes and environments for future breeding programs.
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