Effects of ginseng berry saponins from panax ginseng on glucose metabolism of patients with prediabetes: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.

BACKGROUND: Prediabetes strongly increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular events. However, lifestyle intervention, the first-line treatment for prediabetes currently, was inconsistently beneficial for glucose metabolism, and the conventional medicines, such as metformin, is controversial for prediabetes due to the possible side effects. PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of Zhenyuan Capsule, a Chinese patented medicine consisting of ginseng berry saponins extracted from the mature berry of Panax Ginseng, on the glucose metabolism of prediabetic patients as a complementary therapy. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In this randomized, double-Blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial, 195 participants with prediabetes were randomized 1:1 to receive either placebo followed by Zhenyuan Capsule, or vice versa, alongside lifestyle interventions. Each treatment period lasted 4 weeks with a 4-week washout period in between. The primary outcomes were the changes in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2-h postprandial plasma glucose (2-h PG) from baseline. Secondary outcomes includes the changes in fasting and 2-h postprandial insulin and C-peptide, the homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) from baseline. Blood lipids and adverse events were also assessed. RESULTS: Compared with placebo, Zhenyuan Capsule caused remarkable reduction in 2-h PG (-0.98 mmol/l) after adjusting treatment order. Zhenyuan Capsule also reduced the fasting and 2-h postprandial levels of insulin and C-peptide, lowered HOMA-IR index (-1.26), and raised QUICKI index (+0.012) when compared to placebo. Additionally, a significant increase in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C; +0.25 mmol/l) was found in patients with Zhenyuan Capsule. No serious adverse event occurred during the study. CONCLUSIONS: Among prediabetic patients, Zhenyuan Capsule further reduced 2-h PG level, alleviated insulin resistance and raised HDL-C level on the background of lifestyle interventions. The study protocol is registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2000034000).

Analysis of volatile compounds, betaine, and antioxidant effect in goji berry (Lycium barbarum L.) powder extracted by various drying methods and extraction solvents.

Goji berry (Lycium barbarum L.), a deciduous solanaceous shrub, were subjected to extraction using five solvents (water, 50% and 70% ethanol, and 50% and 70% methanol) and dried using two methods: freeze drying (FD) and spray drying (SD). To investigate the chemical properties of these various goji berry powders, an examination was conducted on the content of volatile compounds, betaine, antioxidant effect, total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid compounds (TFC) (p < 0.05). The total volatile compound content was highest in SD powder with 50% ethanol extract, showing a 66.7% increase over the control. The betaine content was in the range of 9.25-31.9 mg/g dry weight, and it exhibited a significant increase with higher water concentration in the extraction solvent. Betaine, total phenolic compounds and total flavonoid compounds showed a significant increase in the sequence of SD followed by FD (p < 0.05). Overall, the SD sample showed superior benefits when evaluating volatile compounds, betaine, and antioxidant effect. SD was more suitable for drying goji berry, as it retains its appearance and biological activity.

Simultaneous Circular Dichroism and Wavefront Manipulation with Generalized Pancharatnam-Berry Phase Metasurfaces.

Simultaneous circular dichroism and wavefront manipulation have gained considerable attention in various applications, such as chiroptical spectroscopy, chiral imaging, sorting and detection of enantiomers, and quantum optics, which can improve the miniaturization and integration of the optical system. Typically, structures with n-fold rotational symmetry (n ≥ 3) are used to improve circular dichroism, as they induce stronger interactions between the electric and magnetic fields. However, manipulating the wavefront with these structures remains challenging because they are commonly considered isotropic and lack a geometric phase response in linear optics. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate an approach to achieve simultaneous circular dichroism (with a maximum value of ∼0.62) and wavefront manipulation using a plasmonic metasurface made up of C3 Archimedes spiral nanostructures. The circular dichroism arises from the magnetic dipole-dipole resonance and strong interactions between adjacent meta-atoms. As a proof of concept, two metadevices are fabricated and characterized in the near-infrared regime. This configuration possesses the potential for future applications in photodetection, chiroptical spectroscopy, and the customization of linear and nonlinear optical responses.

Intrinsic second-order magnon thermal Hall effect.

In this paper, we study the intrinsic contribution of nonlinear magnon thermal Hall Effect. We derive the intrinsic second-order thermal Hall conductivity of magnon by the thermal scalar potential method and the thermal vector potential method. We find that the intrinsic second-order magnon thermal Hall conductivity is related to the thermal Berry-connection polarizability. We apply our theory to the monolayer ferromagnetic Hexagonal lattice, and we find that the second-order magnon thermal Hall conductivity can be controlled by changing Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya strength and applying strain.

Identification, Elucidation and Deployment of a Cytoplasmic Male Sterility System for Hybrid Potato.

Recent advances in diploid F1 hybrid potato breeding rely on the production of inbred lines using the S-locus inhibitor (Sli) gene. As a result of this method, female parent lines are self-fertile and require emasculation before hybrid seed production. The resulting F1 hybrids are self-fertile as well and produce many undesirable berries in the field. Utilization of cytoplasmic male sterility would eliminate the need for emasculation, resulting in more efficient hybrid seed production and male sterile F1 hybrids. We observed plants that completely lacked anthers in an F2 population derived from an interspecific cross between diploid S. tuberosum and S. microdontum. We studied the antherless trait to determine its suitability for use in hybrid potato breeding. We mapped the causal locus to the short arm of Chromosome 6, developed KASP markers for the antherless (al) locus and introduced it into lines with T and A cytoplasm. We found that antherless type male sterility is not expressed in T and A cytoplasm, proving that it is a form of CMS. We hybridized male sterile al/al plants with P cytoplasm with pollen from al/al plants with T and A cytoplasm and we show that the resulting hybrids set significantly fewer berries in the field. Here, we show that the antherless CMS system can be readily deployed in diploid F1 hybrid potato breeding to improve hybridization efficiency and reduce berry set in the field.

Inhibitory Effect and Mechanism of Carvacrol against Black Mold Disease Agent Alternaria alternata in Goji Berries.

Alternaria alternata, as a main decay fungus of goji berry, can produce mycotoxins such as alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), and tenuazonic acid (TeA). Carvacrol (CVR) has exhibited a broad-spectrum antifungal activity in vitro. We assumed that CVR can also be applied to control Alternaria rot on goji berries and mycotoxins produced by the pathogens. To investigate whether CVR impacts the accumulation of mycotoxins and cell membrane damage of A. alternata, the antifungal activity of CVR on the fungal growth and mycotoxin production was evaluated in this study. The results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of CVR against A. alternata was 0.12 µL/mL. Meanwhile, the destruction of plasma membrane integrity, cytoplasmic leakage, intracellular oxidative damage, and inhibitory effect in vivo were also observed in A. alternata treated with CVR. Moreover, CVR significantly reduced the accumulation of AOH, AME, and TeA. Transcriptomic profiling was performed by means of comparative RNA-Seq analysis to research the gene expression level of A. alternata, which attested to significant changes in nitrogen metabolism, carbon utilization, fatty acid oxidation, and antioxidant enzymes in CVR-treated A. alternata. This study suggests a new understanding of the molecular mechanism of response to CVR treatment in A. alternata, indicating that CVR is a novel antifungal agent with the potential to be applied to various fungi.

Black Goji Berry (Lycium ruthenicum) Juice Fermented with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG Enhances Inhibitory Activity against Dipeptidyl Peptidase-IV and Key Steps of Lipid Digestion and Absorption.

With the global increase in hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia, there is an urgent need to explore dietary interventions targeting the inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) and lipid digestion and absorption. This study investigated how Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) affects various aspects of black goji berry (BGB) (Lycium ruthenicum Murr.) juice, including changes in physicochemical and functional properties, as well as microbiological and sensory attributes. Throughout the fermentation process with 2.5-10% (w/v) BGB, significantly improved probiotic viability, lactic acid production, and decreased sugar content. While total flavonoids increase, anthocyanins decrease, with no discernible change in antioxidant activities. Metabolite profiling reveals elevated phenolic compounds post-fermentation. Regarding the inhibition of lipid digestion and absorption, fermented BGB exhibits improved bile acid binding, and disrupted cholesterol micellization by approximately threefold compared to non-fermented BGB, while also increasing pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity. Furthermore, a decrease in cholesterol uptake was observed in Caco-2 cells treated with fermented BGB (0.5 mg/mL), with a maximum reduction of 16.94%. Fermented BGB also shows more potent DPP-IV inhibition. Sensory attributes are significantly improved in fermented BGB samples. These findings highlight the potential of BGB as a bioactive resource and a promising non-dairy carrier for LGG, enhancing its anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic properties.

Using In Vitro Cultured Berries to Unravel the Effects of Heat- and ABA-Induced Stress on Thiol Precursor Biosynthesis in Sauvignon Blanc.

Global warming, heat waves, and seasonal drought pose serious threats to crops, such as grapevine, that are valued for their secondary metabolites, which are of primary importance for the wine industry. Discriminating the effects of distinct environmental factors in the open field is challenging. In the present study, in vitro cultured berries of Sauvignon Blanc were exposed to individual and combined stress factors to investigate the effects on the biosynthesis of the thiol precursors. Our results confirm the complexity and extreme reactivity of the accumulation process in grapes. However, they also indicate that heat stress has a positive effect on the production of the Cys-3SH precursor. Moreover, we identified several candidate genes, such as VvGSTs and VvGGT that are potentially involved in biosynthesis and consistently modulated. Nonetheless, we were unable to conclusively determine the effects of stresses on the biosynthesis of other precursors nor could we formulate hypotheses regarding their regulation.

Development of an active biogenic silver nanoparticles composite film based on berry wax and chitosan for rabbit meat preservation.

This study aimed to develop an eco-friendly active biogenic nanocomposite film through the complexation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), berry wax (BYW), and chitosan (CT) for maintiaing rabbit functional meat freshness. AgNPs were synthesized using Chinese medicinal paeoniaceae petal extract, and they were loaded at various concentrations (0.5 %, 0.75 %, 1.0 %, 1.25 %, and 1.5 % based on CT w/w) into the CT/BYW complex. The AgNPs exhibited an average size of 55 nm and a zeta potential of -26.3 mV with a spherical shape. The particle size and zeta potential of the film dispersions were 370.5-529.5 nm and 40.17-49.345 mV, respectively. FTIR, SEM, and XRD results showed compatibility among AgNPs and CT/BYW structure. The film water vapor permeability and light transparency decreased from 6.5 to 3.5 and 10 to 0.78 %, respectively, while opacity increased from 1.76 to 9.96 % with increasing concentrations of AgNPs. Among them, the film composite CT/BYW/AgNPs1.5% had better antioxidant and antibacterial properties, which was then applied for rabbit meat preservation at 4 °C for 16 days of storage. CT/BYW/AgNPs1.25%-packed sample had lower values of TVB-N, TBARS, TVC, and pH with greater retention of color properties compared to the control sample, which describes its ability to maintain meat freshness.

Hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida) berries ripeness induced pectin diversity: A comparative study in physicochemical properties, structure, function and fresh-keeping potential.

The effect of hawthorn berries ripeness on the physicochemical, structural and functional properties of hawthorn pectin (HP) and its potential in sweet cherry preservation were investigated. With the advanced ripeness of hawthorn berries, the galacturonic acid (GalA) content decreased from 59.70 mol% to 52.16 mol%, the molecular weight (Mw) reduced from 368.6 kDa to 284.3 kDa, the microstructure exhibited variable appearance from thick lamella towards porous cross-linked fragment, emulsifying activity and emulsions stability, antioxidant activities, α-amylase and pancreatic lipid inhibitory capacities significantly increased. The heated emulsion stored for 30 d presented higher creaming index and more ordered oil droplets compared to the unheated emulsion. With the extended berries ripeness, the firmness of HP gels remarkably decreased from 225.69 g to 73.39 g, while the springiness increased from 0.78 to 1.16, HP exhibited a superior inhibitory effect in water loss, browning, softening, and bacterial infection in sweet cherries preservation.

Pollinator Diversity and Phenological Interplay: Exploring Mineral, Hormonal, Sugar, and Vitamin Contents in Vitis vinifera L. cv Bozcaada Çavusu.

Unraveling the intricate physiological and biochemical intricacies associated with female dominance in grape berries across diverse developmental stages is imperative for optimizing grape production and ensuring the attainment of high-quality yields. This study conducted a thorough analysis of grape berries across phenological stages (BBCH-79, BBCH-81, BBCH-89) and cultivars. At BBCH-89, Bozcaada Çavusu*Vasilâki demonstrated the highest berry weight and total soluble solids (TSS) levels, emphasizing its enological potential. Acidity peaked at BBCH-79 (28.16) and declined at BBCH-89 (6.11), signaling a shift towards lower acidity in later stages. Bozcaada Çavusu*Vasilâki consistently showed the highest maturity index (MI). Mineral content variations were observed across nitrogen (N), calcium (Ca), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), boron (B), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu), with Bozcaada Çavusu*Vasilâki often having the highest concentrations, particularly in potassium, calcium, and boron. Hormonal analysis revealed a significant surge in concentrations at BBCH-89, with Bozcaada Çavusu*Vasilâki standing out. Notably, Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) concentrations increased by 106%, and abscisic acid (ABA) levels peaked at BBCH-79 with a 38% increase in Bozcaada Çavusu*Kuntra. Sugar content analysis showed variations in fructose, glucose, sucrose, rhamnose, xylose, galactose, and arabinose levels across sampling times and cultivars. Bozcaada Çavusu*Vasilâki consistently exhibited higher sugar levels, especially at BBCH-81 and BBCH-89. Vitamin concentrations varied temporally and among cultivars, with BBCH-89 displaying the highest vitamin A concentration (6.24 mg/100 g FW), and Bozcaada Çavusu*Vasilâki often exhibiting maximum values for vitamin B1, B2, B6, and C. Further research and targeted cultivation practices focusing on the unique attributes of Bozcaada Çavusu*Vasilâki could enhance grape production efficiency, emphasizing its potential contribution to achieving consistently high-quality yields across various phenological stages.

Efficacy and Safety of Habitual Consumption of a Food Supplement Containing Miraculin in Malnourished Cancer Patients: The CLINMIR Pilot Study.

Taste disorders (TDs) are common among systemically treated cancer patients and negatively impact their nutritional status and quality of life. The novel food approved by the European Commission (EFSA), dried miracle berries (DMB), contains the natural taste-modifying protein miraculin. DMB, also available as a supplement, has emerged as a possible alternative treatment for TDs. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of habitual DMB consumption in malnourished cancer patients undergoing active treatment. An exploratory clinical trial was carried out in which 31 cancer patients were randomized into three arms [standard dose of DMB (150 mg DMB/tablet), high dose of DMB (300 mg DMB/tablet) or placebo (300 mg freeze-dried strawberry)] for three months. Patients consumed a DMB tablet or placebo daily before each main meal (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). Throughout the five main visits, electrochemical taste perception, nutritional status, dietary intake, quality of life and the fatty acid profile of erythrocytes were evaluated. Patients consuming a standard dose of DMB exhibited improved taste acuity over time (% change right/left side: -52.8 ± 38.5/-58.7 ± 69.2%) and salty taste perception (2.29 ± 1.25 vs. high dose: 2.17 ± 1.84 vs. placebo: 1.57 ± 1.51 points, p < 0.05). They also had higher energy intake (p = 0.075) and covered better energy expenditure (107 ± 19%). The quality of life evaluated by symptom scales improved in patients receiving the standard dose of DMB (constipation, p = 0.048). The levels of arachidonic (13.1 ± 1.8; 14.0 ± 2.8, 12.0 ± 2.0%; p = 0.004) and docosahexaenoic (4.4 ± 1.7; 4.1 ± 1.0; 3.9 ± 1.6%; p = 0.014) acids in erythrocytes increased over time after DMB intake. The standard dose of DMB increased fat-free mass vs. placebo (47.4 ± 9.3 vs. 44.1 ± 4.7 kg, p = 0.007). Importantly, habitual patients with DMB did not experience any adverse events, and metabolic parameters remained stable and within normal ranges. In conclusion, habitual consumption of a standard 150 mg dose of DMB improves electrochemical food perception, nutritional status (energy intake, fat quantity and quality, fat-free mass), and quality of life in malnourished cancer patients receiving antineoplastic treatment. Additionally, DMB consumption appears to be safe, with no changes in major biochemical parameters associated with health status. Clinical trial registered (NCT05486260).

Extended Berry Curvature Tail in Ferromagnetic Weyl Semimetals NiMnSb and PtMnSb.

Heusler compounds belong to a large family of materials and exhibit numerous physical phenomena with promising applications, particularly ferromagnetic Weyl semimetals for their use in spintronics and memory devices. Here, anomalous Hall transport is reported in the room-temperature ferromagnets NiMnSb (half-metal with a Curie temperature (TC) of 660 K) and PtMnSb (pseudo half-metal with a TC of 560 K). They exhibit 4 µB/f.u. magnetic moments and non-trivial topological states. Moreover, NiMnSb and PtMnSb are the first half-Heusler ferromagnets to be reported as Weyl semimetals, and they exhibit anomalous Hall conductivity (AHC) due to the extended tail of the Berry curvature in these systems. The experimentally measured AHC values at 2 K are 1.8 × 102 Ω-1 cm-1 for NiMnSb and 2.2 × 103 Ω-1 cm-1 for PtMnSb. The comparatively large value between them can be explained in terms of the spin-orbit coupling strength. The combined approach of using ab initio calculations and a simple model shows that the Weyl nodes located far from the Fermi energy act as the driving mechanism for the intrinsic AHC. This contribution of topological features at higher energies can be generalized.

Topology-Driven Coulomb Drag in van der Waals Heterostructure with Broken Inversion Symmetry.

As Coulomb drag near charge neutrality (CN) is driven by fluctuations or inhomogeneity in charge density, the topology should play an extremely important role. Interlinking Coulomb drag and topology could reveal how the system's nontrivial topology influences the electron-electron interactions at the quantum level. However, such an aspect is overlooked as most studies focus on symmetric drag systems without topology. To understand this topological aspect, we need to study Coulomb drag in an asymmetric system with a broken inversion symmetry and strong spin-orbit coupling (SOC). Here we experimentally demonstrate the energy-driven Coulomb drag in an asymmetric van der Waals heterostructure composed of black phosphorus and rhenium disulfide characterized by broken inversion symmetry. Temperature-dependent transport measurements near CN provide compelling evidence for the energy-driven Coulomb drag due to electron-hole coupling that is energetically favored in a broken-gap heterojunction, as confirmed by Hall coefficient sign reversal with temperature. Moreover, contrary to the symmetric devices, our results exhibit magnetic-field-free, i.e., topology-driven, Hall drag, revealing an intrinsic coupling between energy and charge modes. This is the manifestation of nonzero Berry curvature, akin to a magnetic field in momentum space, in a Rashba system, which arises from the SOC and broken inversion symmetry of the heterostructure.

Effect of goji berry incorporation on the texture, physicochemical, and sensory properties of wheat bread.

The regular intake of Lycium barbarum (goji berry) is supposed to play an important role in the promotion of human health. Regarding, its incorporation into staple foods, including bread, seems to be effective. However, it requires the evaluation of dough behavior and final product quality. This study investigated the effect of goji berry incorporation at levels of 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30% ww-1 on the textural, physicochemical, and sensory properties of wheat bread. Results indicated a significant enhancement of water absorption and gelatinization temperature in composite flour via the inclusion of goji berry powder (p < 0.05). Using goji berry powder up to 20% ww-1 has shown to obtain the structure able to restore gases through the baking process and provide enhancement in a specific volume at about 10%. Alongside, the hardness of composite bread decreased, and the optimal hardness was observed at formulations containing 20% w/w goji berry powder with a value equal to 1199.95 ± 0.05 g, which is supposed to be induced by the higher specific volume and lower moisture content of bread samples. Moreover, color and sensory perception have been found to be significantly changed by goji berry substitution. Goji berry substitution up to 20% ww-1 is found to be preferred by the consumer, and a drop in overall acceptability was observed at its higher inclusion. The technological characteristic changes induced by goji berry incorporation are induced by its gluten dilution impact. However, the gel-like structure formed by the high fiber content of goji berries compensates for this adverse impact up to 20% w/w substitution level.

Functional responses of two species of predatory mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to eggs and first-instar nymphs of Bactericera Gobica Logniova (Homoptera: Psyllidae).

The goji berry psyllid, Bactericera gobica Logniova (Homoptera: Psyllidae), is one of the most important pests on goji berry plants (Lycium barbarum L.), whose fruits are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and food. However, chemical control is still the predominant control strategy of this pest. Recently, two species of predatory mites, Neoseiulus setarius Ma, Meng & Fan and Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes were found to be associated with B. gobica in China. To assess their predation potential against B. gobica, the functional responses of these two phytoseiid species feeding on different densities (2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24 and 32 individuals) of B. gobica eggs and 1st instar nymphs were compared at a temperature of 25ºC ± 1º C. Logistic regression analysis revealed that both predatory mite species exhibited type Holling-II functional responses on eggs and 1st instar nymphs of B. gobica, with the predation number increased for both predators as the density of prey increased. Overall, N. setarius consumed more prey compared to N. barkeri across all levels of prey densities. Meanwhile, the highest attack rate (α = 0.0283), the lowest handling time (Th = 1.1324 h prey- 1), and the highest estimated maximum predation rate (T/Th = 21.19 prey day- 1) were all observed for N. setarius fed with 1st instar nymphs of B. gobica. These findings suggest that it is worthy considering utilizing N. setarius and N. barkeri as candidate biocontrol agents of B. gobica, with N. setarius appearing to be a more effective predator than N. barkeri.

Hexagonal warping effects on Bloch oscillations in proximitized Rashba systems.

Bloch oscillations (BOs) in Rashba systems, taking into account the effects of hexagonal warping and proximity-induced band gap, are reported. We find that in addition to real-space trajectories, the group and Berry velocities of Bloch electrons exhibit novel BOs which strongly depend on the crystal momentum. This oscillatory motion is affected significantly by variations in the strength of hexagonal warping and the proximity-induced band gap, originating from the substantial changes in the energy spectrum induced by these factors. In addition, it is shown that the Bloch oscillations are modified considerably under the influence of applied uniform in-plane electric and transverse magnetic fields, which allow for a geometric visualization of the Bloch dynamics. Interestingly, when the system is subjected to these fields simultaneously, it undergoes a dynamic phase transition between confined and de-confined states. This phase transition is tuned by the relative strength of the applied fields and is further influenced by variations in the strength of hexagonal warping and proximity-induced band gap. The appearance of such a transition is attributed to the interplay between the external fields and the intrinsic properties of the crystal lattice. Moreover, we find that the direct-current drift velocity shows negative differential conductivity, which is a characteristic feature of the BO regime.

Parsing skin effect in a non-Hermitian spinless BHZ-like model.

This work comprehensively investigates the non-Hermitian skin effect (NHSE) in a spinless Bernevig-Hughes-Zhang -like model in one dimension. It is generally believed that a system with non-reciprocal hopping amplitudes demonstrates NHSE. However, we show that there are exceptions, and more in-depth analyses are required to decode the presence of NHSE or its variants in a system. The fascinating aspects of our findings, depending on the inclusion of non-reciprocity in the inter-orbital hopping terms, concede the existence of conventional NHSE or NHSE at both edges and even a surprising absence of NHSE. The topological properties and the (bi-orthogonal) bulk-boundary correspondence, enumerated via computation of the (complex) Berry phase and spatial localization of the edge modes, highlight the topological phase transitions occurring therein. Further, to facilitate a structured discussion of the non-Hermitian model, we split the results intoPTsymmetric and non-PTsymmetric cases with a view to comparing the two.

Water deficit differentially modulates leaf photosynthesis and transpiration of fungus-tolerant Muscadinia x Vitis hybrids.

Screening for drought performance among novel fungi-tolerant grapevine genotypes is a key point to consider in semiarid regions where water scarcity is a common problem during fruit ripening period. It is therefore important to evaluate the genotypes' responses at the level of carbon metabolism and water demand, under water deficit conditions. This study aimed to characterize leaf and plant water use efficiency (respectively named WUEi and WUEpl) of novel INRAE fungi-tolerant genotypes (including LowSugarBerry (LSB) genotypes), under mild and high-water deficit (WD) and to decipher the photosynthetic parameters leading to higher WUEi. For this purpose, experiments were conducted on potted plants during one season using a phenotyping platform. Two stabilized soil moisture capacity (SMC) conditions, corresponding to mild (SMC 0.6) and high (SMC 0.3) WD, were imposed from the onset of berry ripening until the physiological ripeness stage, which was defined as the point at which fruits reach their maximum solutes and water content. At the whole plant level, all genotypes increased WUEpl under high WD. The highest WUEpl was reached for 3176N, which displayed both a high rate of non-structural carbon accumulation in fruits due to high fruit-to-leaf ratio and low plant transpiration because of low total leaf area. However, when normalizing the fruit-to-leaf ratio among the genotypes, G14 reached the highest normalized WUEpl_n under high WD. At the leaf level, WUEi also increased under high WD, with the highest value attained for G14 and 3176N and the lowest value for Syrah. The higher WUEi values for all genotypes compared to Syrah were associated to higher levels of photosynthesis and changes in light-harvesting efficiency parameters (ΦCO2, qP and qN), while no clear trend was apparent when considering the photosynthetic biochemical parameters (Vcmax, Jmax). Finally, a positive correlation between leaf and plant WUE was observed regardless of genotypes. This study allowed us to classify grapevine genotypes based on their grapes primary metabolite accumulation and water consumption during the critical sugar-loading period. Additionally, the study highlighted the potential drought adaptation mechanism of the LSB genotypes.

Role of lingonberry press cake in producing stable herring protein isolates via pH-shift processing: A dose response study.

The effects of cross-processing lingonberry press cake (LPC) (2.5-30 %, dw/dw) with herring co-products on protein yield, oxidative stability and color of pH-shift-produced protein isolates were investigated. Even at 2.5 % LPC, the formation of volatile oxidation-derived aldehydes, including hexanal, (E)-2-hexenal, heptanal, octanal, and 2,4-heptadienal, were prevented during the actual protein isolate production. Adding 10 % LPC successfully prevented formation of all these aldehydes also during eight days ice storage which was explained by the partitioning of phenolics, especially ideain (1.09 mg/g dw) and procyanidin A1 (65.5 mg/g dw), into isolates. Although higher amounts of LPC (20-30 %) further prolonged the oxidation lag phase, it reduced total protein yield, increased the consumption of acid and base, and darkened protein isolates. Therefore, it is recommended to use 10 % LPC when pH-shift-processing sensitive fish raw materials as a route to mitigate lipid oxidation and at the same time promote industrial symbiosis and more circular food production.