Economic study of the cultivation of kale, coriander, lettuce, and chives in intercropping / Estudo econômico do cultivo da couve, coentro, alface e cebolinha em consórcio

Intercropping of vegetables in a poorly planned manner may not achieve the expected economic results, as it is an activity that requires a great technical and administrative capacity of the producer. This study aimed to analyze the economic feasibility of intercropping kale with coriander, lettuce, and chives in relation to monocultures. The experiment was conducted in the Center for Agri-food Science and Technology, Federal University of Campina Grande, in the municipality of Pombal, PB in the period from June 2014 to July 2015. Eleven treatments were tested: four polycultures, three bicultives, and four monocultures, in randomized blocks, with four replications. The productivity, total operating costs (TOC), gross and net revenue, rate of return, profitability index, and efficient land use were evaluated. The TOC values of intercropping were calculated with the prices of July 2015. In all the systems studied, the largest participation was referring to the cost hand of labor. The highest gross and net revenues were observed in the kale with lettuce in bicultive, the rate of return and profitability index was higher on lettuce in monoculture. Despite the increase in the TOCs of the intercropping in relation to the monocultures, the intercropping proved to be economically viable in terms of efficient land use, reaching values indicating a land-use efficiency of up to 50% more in polycultures and bicultives.

O cultivo de hortaliças de maneira mal planejada pode não alcançar os resultados econômicos esperados, pois é uma atividade que exige grande capacidade técnica e administrativa do produtor. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a viabilidade econômica de cultivar couve, alface e cebolinha em consórcio. O experimento foi conduzido no Centro de Ciência e Tecnologia Agroalimentar da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, no município de Pombal, PB, no período de junho de 2014 a julho de 2015. Foram testados onze tratamentos: quatro policultivos, três bicultivos e quatro monocultivos, em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Foram avaliados: produtividade; custos operacionais totais (COT); receita bruta e líquida; taxa de retorno; índice de lucratividade e uso eficiente da terra (UET). Os valores de COT do consórcio foram calculados com os preços de julho de 2015. Em todos os sistemas estudados, a maior participação foi referente ao custo mão de obra. As maiores receita bruta e líquida foram observadas na couve com alface em bicultivo, a taxa de retorno e rentabilidade índice foram maiores na alface em monocultura. Apesar do aumento nos COT'S dos consórcios em relação às monoculturas, a consorciação mostrou-se economicamente viável em termos de uso eficiente da terra, alcançando valores que indicam uma eficiência no uso da terra de até 50% a mais em policultivos e bicultivos.

Green onion production under strategies of replacement and frequencies of circulation of brackish nutritive solutions / Produção de cebolinha sob estratégias de reposição e frequências de circulação de soluções nutritivas salobras

The cultivation of vegetables in semi-arid regions, especially in the context of the use of brackish water, has been made possible by the use of the hydroponics technique. Thus, two experiments were carried out between December 2016 and January 2017 in a protected environment at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE), Recife ­ PE, Brazil (8° 1"7" South latitude and 34° 56" 53" West longitude, and average altitude of 6.5 m), aiming at evaluating the production of green onion (cv. "Todo dia" Evergreen - Nebuka) in plants exposed to brackish nutrient solution (1.5, 3.0, 4.5, 6.0, 7.5 and 9.0 dS m-1), applied at two frequencies of circulation (twice a day - at 8 and 16 hours, and three times per day - at 8, 12 and 16 hours) in low-cost hydroponics system. In Experiment I, the nutrient solution evapotranspirated by the plants was replaced with the respective brackish water used in its preparation, and in Experiment II with UFRPE supply water (0.12 dS m-1). In both cases, a completely randomized experimental design was used, in a 6 x 2 factorial scheme, with five replications. It was concluded that under replacement with brackish water, the increase in the frequency of circulation attenuated the losses imposed by the salinity to the biometric variables and of the production of fresh and dry phytomass of the plants; the water supply replenishment had a greater mitigating role in relation to the damage caused by the salinity with the increase of the electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution.

O cultivo de hortaliças em regiões semiáridas, especialmente no contexto de uso de águas salobras, tem sido viabilizado pelo uso da técnica da hidroponia. Diante disto, entre janeiro de 2016 e abril de 2017, foram conduzidos dois experimentos em ambiente protegido na Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Recife, PE (8° 1"7" Sul e 34° 56" 53" Oeste, altitude média de 6,5 m), objetivando-se avaliar a produção da cebolinha (cv. Todo ano Evergreen - Nebuka) em plantas expostas a soluções nutritivas salobras (1,5; 3,0; 4,5; 6,0; 7,5 e 9,0 dS m-1) aplicadas em duas frequências de circulação (duas vezes ao dia - às 8 e às 16 horas; e três vezes ao dia - às 8, 12 e 16 horas). Em ambos os casos, utilizou-se um delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 6 x 2, com cinco repetições. No Experimento I, a lâmina de solução nutritiva evapotranspirada pelas plantas foi reposta com a respectiva água salobra utilizada no seu preparo e, no Experimento II, com água de abastecimento da UFRPE (0,12 dS m-1). Concluiu-se que sob reposição com água salobra, o aumento da frequência de circulação atenuou as perdas impostas pela salinidade às variáveis biométricas e de produção de fitomassa fresca e seca das plantas; a reposição com água deabastecimento passou a ter maior papel mitigador em relação ao dano causado pela salinidade com o aumento da condutividade elétrica da solução nutritiva.

Simultaneous Molecular Detection of Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora from Raw Vegetables in Korea

Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora are well-known coccidian protozoa that can cause waterborne and foodborne diarrheal illnesses. There have been a few reports regarding contamination in different vegetables with Cryptosporidium, but no data are available regarding the sources of Cyclospora infections in Korea. In the present study, we collected 6 kinds of vegetables (perilla leaves, winter-grown cabbages, chives, sprouts, blueberries, and cherry tomatoes) from July 2014 to June 2015, and investigated contamination by these 2 protozoa using multiplex quantitative real-time PCR. Among 404 vegetables, Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora were detected in 31 (7.7%) and 5 (1.2%) samples, respectively. In addition, Cryptosporidium was isolated from all 6 kinds of vegetables, whereas Cyclospora was detected in 4 kinds of vegetables (except perilla leaves and chives). Cryptosporidium (17.8%) and Cyclospora (2.9%) had the highest detection rates in chives and winter-grown cabbages, respectively. Cryptosporidium was detected all year long; however, Cyclospora was detected only from October to January. In 2 samples (sprout and blueberry), both Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora were detected. Further investigations using TaqI restriction enzyme fragmentation and nested PCR confirmed Cryptosporidium parvum and Cyclospora cayetanensis, respectively. In conclusion, we detected C. cayetanensis in vegetables for the first time in Korea. This suggests that screening should be employed to prevent these protozoal infections in Korea.

Protective Effect of Allium tuberosum Extract on Vascular Inflammation in Tumor Necrosis Factor-α-induced Human Vascular Endothelial Cells

BACKGROUND: Endothelial adhesion molecule expression induced by pro-inflammatory cytokine plays an important role in vascular endothelial cell injury, leading to vascular disease. Allium tuberosum (AT), which is used as a functional food, has a thrombolytic effect. It contains vitamin A, vitamin C, carbohydrate, calcium, iron, and phosphorus. There are many carotenes that turn into vitamin A in the body. Also, it helps blood circulation and stimulates metabolism. The purpose of the this study was to estimate the anti-inflammatory effects of the AT extract. METHODS: Human vascular endothelial cells were pre-treated with 100 μg/mL AT extract for 30 minutes and subsequently co-treated with TNF-α (10 ng/mL) and AT extract (100 μg/mL) for 1, 4, and 6 hours. After treatment, the cells were lysed and used for quantitative reverse transcription PCR, Western blot analysis, and monocyte adhesion assay. RESULTS: We examined the effect of the AT extract on inflammatory gene expression in TNF-α-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The extract reduced the expression levels of mRNA and protein of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 in TNF-α-stimulated HUVECs. It also inhibited the TNF-α-induced phosphorylation of the NF-κB p65 subunit and degradation of IκBα. Furthermore, the AT extract prevented the increased adhesion capacity of monocyte to TNF-α-stimulated vascular endothelial cells by reducing ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression. CONCLUSIONS: The AT extract has preventive and anti-inflammatory effect against vascular disease and has potential for supporting prevention against the early process of atherosclerosis.

Composition of the essential oil of leaves and roots of Allium schoenoprasum L. (Alliaceae) / Composición del aceite esencial de hojas y raíces de Allium schoenoprasum L

Essential oil from leaves and roots of Allium schoenoprasum L. (Alliaceae) were analyzed by GC/MS. The oils extracted by hydrodistillation yielded 0.02 percent and 0.03 percent for leaves and roots, respectively. Five (99.12 percent leaves) and four (98.32 percent roots) components were identified being bis-(2-sulfhydryethyl)-disulfide (72.06 percent leaves, 56.47 percent roots) the major constituent on the two oil samples while 2,4,5-trithiahexane (5.45 percent leaves, 15.90 percent roots) and tris (methylthio)-methane (4.01 percent leaves, 12.81 percent roots) were detected in lower amounts.

Los aceites esenciales de hojas y raíces de Allium schoenoprasum L. (Alliaceae fueron analizados por CG/EM. La extracción por hidrodestilación mostró un rendimiento de 0.02 por ciento y 0.03 por ciento para las hojas y raíces, respectivamente. Cinco (99.12 por ciento hojas) y cuatro (98.32 por ciento raíces) compuestos fueron identificados siendo el bis-(2-sulfidietil)-disulfuro (72.06 por ciento hojas, 56.47 por ciento raíces) el compuesto mayoritario en los dos aceites mientras que 2,4,5-tritiahexano (5.45 por ciento hojas, 15.90 por ciento raíces) y tris (metilthio)-metano (4.01 por ciento hojas, 12.81 por ciento raíces) fueron observados en menores cantidades.

Occurrence of Sclerotium Rot in Allium tuberosum Caused by Sclerotium rolfsii in Korea

In this study, we characterized sporadically occurring sclerotium rot caused by Sclerotium rolfsii in Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum Roth.) in farm fields in Sacheon, Korea. The initial symptom of the disease was water-soaked, which progressed to rotting, wilting, blighting, and eventually death. Further, mycelial mats spread over the lesions near the soil line, and sclerotia formed on the scaly stem and leaves. The sclerotia were globoid, 1~3 mm, and white to brown. The optimum temperature for growth and sclerotia formation on potato dextrose agar (PDA) was 30degrees C. The diameter of the hypae ranged from 4 to 8 microm. Clamp connection was observed on PDA medium after 5 days of incubation. Based on the mycological characteristics, internal transcribed spacer sequence analysis, and pathogenicity test, the causal agent was identified as Sclerotium rolfsii Saccardo. This is the first report of sclerotium rot in Chinese chive caused by S. rolfsii in Korea.

Differential Growth Response of Various Crop Species to Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Inoculation

To investigate the growth response of various crop species to mycorrhizal inoculation, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were applied to Glycine max, Vigna angularis, Senna tora, Hordeum vulgare var. hexastichon. Zea mays, Sorghum bicolor, Allium tuberosum, Solanum melongena, and Capsicum annuum. The biomass of the inoculated crops was measured every two weeks for the 12-week growth period. By measuring biomass, we calculated the mycorrhizal responsiveness of the nine crop species. Among the nine crop species, four species showed a significant response to mycorrhizal inoculation. The shoot biomasses of V. angularis, C. annuum, A. tuberosum, and S. tora significantly increased with mycorrhizal inoculation.

Effects of Allium Vegetable Intake on Levels of Plasma Glucose, Lipid and Minerals in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

The effects of Allium vegetables on blood glucose levels and lipid metabolism in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats were investigated. Diabetes mellitus was induced by STZ injection (45 mg/kg b.w.) into the tail vein. Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 220+/-10 g were randomly assigned to 7 groups: normal, STZ-control and five Allium groups (Allium cepa, Allium fistulosum, Allium sativum, Allium tuberosum and Allium victorialis) . Normal and STZ-control groups were fed an AIN-93 diet and five Allium groups were fed a modified diet containing 10% Allium powder each for 4 weeks. Body weight, diet intake, food efficiency ratio (FER) and organ weights were monitored. Activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were observed. Plasma levels of glucose, free fatty acid, triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol were analyzed. Levels of glycogen, cholesterol and triglyceride in liver were determined. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver, lung, kidney, and pancreas were assayed. The hepatic contents of chromium (Cr) , iron (Fe) , zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) were measured. The Allium sativum group had weight gain and suppressed a hypertrophy of the kidney significantly. The activity of ALT was significantly lowered in the diabetic groups except Allium sativum group compared to STZ-control group. The Allium sativum and Allium tuberosum groups showed the hypoglycemic effects at 4 weeks. There were no significant differences between the control and all the other diabetic groups in the plasma levels of cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and free fatty acids. Most of the Allium groups except Allium fistulosum were observed significantly lowered level of MDA in the lung compared to STZ-control group. The diabetic rats fed the Allium cepa and Allium sativum have shown significantly lowered hepatic Zn contents. The results suggested that the intake of the Allium vegetables may be effective in the antihyperglycemia by lowering blood glucose levels.

Study on the effect of extract of Chinese chive seed in warming kidney and enhancing yang / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of extract from Chinese chive seed in warming kidney and enhancing yang.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The influence of extract from Chinese chive seed on the erection of penis of was investigated in adult male rats with experimental insufficiency of the kidney-yang produced by both removal of double spermaries and high dose of hydrocortisone.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The extract of Chinese chive seed enhanced the responsiveness of the penis of emasculate rats to outside stimulus, promoted the resistance of the emasculated rats to cold and tiredness and increased autonomous activity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The extract of Chinese chive seed has the effect of warming kidney and enhancing yang.</p>