Efficacy and mechanisms of rotating algal biofilm system in remediation of soy sauce wastewater.

This study investigated the efficacy of the rotating algal biofilm (RAB) for treating soy sauce wastewater (SW) and its related treatment mechanisms. The RAB system demonstrated superior nutrient removal (chemical oxygen demand, ammonium nitrogen, total nitrogen, and phosphorus for 92 %, 94 %, 91 %, and 82 %, respectively) and biofilm productivity (14 g m-2 d-1) at optimized 5-day harvest time and 2-day hydraulic retention time. This was mainly attributed to the synergistic interactions within the algae-fungi (Apiotrichum)-bacteria (Acinetobacter and Rhizobia) consortium, which effectively assimilated certain extracellular polymeric substances into biomass to enhance algal biofilm growth. Increased algal productivity notably improved protein and essential amino acid contents in the biomass, suggesting a potential for animal feed applications. This study not only demonstrates a sustainable approach for managing SW but also provides insight into the nutrient removal and biomass conversion, offering a viable strategy for large-scale applications in nutrient recovery and wastewater treatment.

Effect of harvest timing and plant parts on the nutritional and chemical profile of five potential fodder plants found in eastern coast of United Arab Emirates.

Selecting highly nutritive fodder plants in arid regions can be a key to improving the livestock productivity. This work explores the variation in nutritive value of the leaves, stem, and shoots of five potential fodder plants of the Emirates of Fujairah, Erucaria hispanica, Haplophyllum tuberculatum, Convolvulus virgatus, Teucrium stocksianum, and Cleome Ibrachycarpa. influenced by two weather conditions, winter and spring. The plant samples underwent mineral composition, proximate, phytochemical, and heavy metals and two-way ANOVA. Weather data were accessed from National Center of Meteorology (NCM). Our findings reveal significant influences of collection time and species on nutritive content. Shoots collected in March exhibited higher ash (6.167%), crude protein (11.9%), crude fiber (14.89%), dry matter (45.86%), and total digestive nutrients (TDS) (48.35%), with lower tannin (5.11%) compared to January. Conversely, January-collected shoots had greater total sugar content (1.28 g/100 g). Plant organs played a crucial role, with leaves surpassing stems in Mg, P, Ca, K, Na, Mn, Zn, and Ni. Leaves also showed higher crude protein (23.33%), dry matter (92.26%), total ash (4.8%), and TDS (87.58%) compared to stems, while stems exhibited elevated crude fiber (17.45%) and tannin (4.53%). There is a need to assess the bioactive compounds found in these fodder species for the enhancement its effective use and maximize browsing of these species.

Analysis of quality evaluation and optimal harvest period of Aurantii Fructus from different sources using UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS.

INTRODUCTION: The active constituents in Aurantii Fructus sourced from different regions within Hunan Province exhibit variations, with certain samples demonstrating substandard quality. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to conduct a comparative analysis of the chemical composition and quality of Aurantii Fructus from various sources, establish a robust methodology for quality evaluation, and determine the optimal harvesting period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The components of Aurantii Fructus were qualitatively analyzed using a non-targeted metabolomics approach. Multivariate statistical analyses were conducted to identify potential markers, enabling qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the quality and optimal harvest period of Aurantii Fructus. RESULTS: Overall, 155 compounds were identified in Aurantii Fructus, with Huangpi exhibiting the highest number of components. Eleven potential markers were selected to assess the quality of Aurantii Fructus. The average content of Huangpi was the highest, indicating a high level of similarity. The samples' overall scores were ordered as follows: Huangpi > Xiangcheng > Choucheng > Daidai. Anren and Changde's Huangpi exhibited high contents, being rich in chemical components, resulting in favorable scores. Similarly, Changde's Xiangcheng displayed significant medicinal value. As the harvest time was delayed, there was an increase in fruit size, accompanied by thinner peels and a continuous decrease in the contents of potential markers. The best harvest period of Aurantii Fructus was within 1 week before and after the Lesser Heat. CONCLUSION: The present study establishes a precise and efficient method for evaluating the quality of Aurantii Fructus, thereby providing more comprehensive insights into its composition. This research lays the foundation for subsequent development and utilization of Aurantii Fructus.

The Composition of Volatiles and the Role of Non-Traditional LOX on Target Metabolites in Virgin Olive Oil from Autochthonous Dalmatian Cultivars.

The lipoxygenase pathway has a significant influence on the composition of the volatile components of virgin olive oil (VOO). In this work, the influence of the maturity index (MI) on the activity of the lipoxygenase enzyme (LOX) in the fruits of the autochthonous Dalmatian olive cultivars Oblica, Levantinka and Lastovka was studied. The analysis of the primary oxidation products of linoleic acid in the studied cultivars showed that LOX synthesises a mixture of 9- and 13-hydroperoxides of octadecenoic acid in a ratio of about 1:2, which makes it a non-traditional plant LOX. By processing the fruits of MI~3, we obtained VOOs with the highest concentration of desirable C6 volatile compounds among the cultivars studied. We confirmed a positive correlation between MI, the enzyme activity LOX and the concentration of hexyl acetate and hexanol in cultivars Oblica and Lastovka, while no positive correlation with hexanol was observed in the cultivar Levantinka. A significant negative correlation was found between total phenolic compounds in VOO and LOX enzyme activity, followed by an increase in the MI of fruits. This article contributes to the selection of the optimal harvest time for the production of VOOs with the desired aromatic properties and to the knowledge of the varietal characteristics of VOOs.

Based on HPLC and HS-GC-IMS Techniques, the Changes in the Internal Chemical Components of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. Fruit at Different Harvesting Periods Were Analyzed.

Schisandra chinensis, as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has clear pharmacological effects such as treating asthma, protecting nerves and blood vessels, and having anti-inflammatory properties. Although the Schisandra chinensis fruit contain multiple active components, the lignans have been widely studied as the primary pharmacologically active compound. The volatile chemical components of Schisandra chinensis include a large amount of terpenes, which have been proven to have broad pharmacological activities. However, when to harvest to ensure the highest accumulation of pharmacologically active components in Schisandra chinensis fruits is a critical issue. The Schisandra chinensis fruit trees in the resource nursery were all planted in 2019 and began bearing fruit in 2021. Their nutritional status and tree vigor remain consistently good. The content of lignans and organic acids in the fruits of Schisandra chinensis over seven different harvest periods was tested, and the results of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) indicated that the lignan content was higher, at 35 mg/g, in late July, and the organic acid content was higher, at 72.34 mg/g, in early September. If lignans and organic acids are to be selected as raw materials for pharmacological development, the harvest can be carried out at this stage. Using HS-GC-IMS technology, a total of 67 volatile flavor substances were detected, and the fingerprint of the volatile flavor substances in the different picking periods was established. It was shown by the results that the content of volatile flavor substances was the highest in early August, and 16 flavor substances were selected by odor activity value (OAV). The variable importance in projection (VIP) values of 16 substances were further screened, and terpinolene was identified as the key volatile flavor substance that caused the aroma characteristics of Schisandra chinensis fruit at different harvesting periods. If the aroma component content of Schisandra chinensis fruit is planned to be used as raw material for development and utilization, then early August, when the aroma component content is higher, should be chosen as the time for harvest. This study provides a theoretical basis for the suitable harvesting time of Schisandra chinensis for different uses, and promotes the high-quality development of the Schisandra chinensis industry.

Cultivar and Harvest Time of Almonds Affect Their Antioxidant and Nutritional Profile through Gut Microbiota Modifications.

Almonds are a rich source of beneficial compounds for human health. In this work, we assessed the influence of almond cultivars and harvest time on their morphological (length, width and thickness) and nutritional (ash, moisture, proteins) profiles. We also evaluated the impact of an in vitro digestion and fermentation process on almonds' antioxidant and phenolic content, as well as their support of gut microbiota community and functionality, including the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), lactic and succinic acids. The length, width, and thickness of almonds varied significantly among cultivars, with the latter two parameters also exhibiting significant changes over time. Moisture content decreased with maturity, while protein and ash increased significantly. Total antioxidant capacity released by almonds after digestion and fermentation had different trends depending on the antioxidant capacity method used. The fermentation step contributed more to the antioxidant capacity than the digestion step. Both cultivar and harvest time exerted a significant influence on the concentration of certain phenolic compounds, although the total content remained unaffected. Similarly, fecal microbiota modulation depended on the cultivar and maturity stage, with the Guara cultivar and late maturity showing the largest effects. Cultivar type also exerted a significant impact on the concentration of SCFAs, with the Guara cultivar displaying the highest total SCFAs concentration. Thus, we conclude that cultivar and harvest time are key factors in shaping the morphological and nutritional composition of almonds. In addition, taking into account all the results obtained, the Guara variety has the best nutritional profile.

Impact of Harvest Time on the Dry Matter Content, and Nutritional Parameters Related to Forage Quality of Maralfalfa (Cenchrus purpureus (Schumach.) Morrone, Poaceae) under Mediterranean Climate.

Maralfalfa (Cenchrus purpureus (Schumach.) Morrone) is a productive fodder crop in tropical regions that has been evaluated for forage nutritional value in a Mediterranean climate. To assess the nutritional value, parameters including dry matter content (DM), ash, ether extract (EE), protein (CP), fiber contents (NDF and ADF), and the amino acids profile were determined at eight harvest times (HTs) in a non-fertilized and non-irrigated crop based in Silla (Valencia, Spain). The results showed significant differences in most of the parameters studied. While CP and ash significantly decreased over the eight HTs, NDF and ADF increased. In contrast, EE and the ratio of essential amino acids/total amino acids remained constant. Values of CP remained higher than 15% during the first two HTs (16 and 28 days). According to the analyses performed, the optimum HT can be stated at 28 days as it combines high levels of CP (including an optimal combination of essential amino acids) with low levels of fibers (NDF = 57.13%; ADF = 34.76%) and a considerable amount of dry matter (15.40%). Among the essential amino acids (EA) determined, lysine and histidine showed similar values (Lys ≈ 6%, His ≈ 1.70%) when comparing the composition of these EA to other forage species and cultivars studied, whereas methionine showed lower values. This work establishes the basis for the appropriate HT of maralfalfa according to the nutritional parameters measured. Further studies could be aimed to optimize the nutritional and phytogenic properties of maralfalfa to improve its value as a fodder crop, and to finally introduce it for sustainable livestock production in Mediterranean countries.

Postharvest Quality Improvement of Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv Nagano) with Forced-Air Precooling and Modified Atmosphere Packaging.

Optimum postharvest storage conditions increase the postharvest quality and shelf life of horticultural crops. The effects of forced-air precooling (FAP) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on shelf life, physicochemical quality, and health-promoting properties of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Nagano) harvested at 90 and 50% coloring stages in May and July respectively, stored at 11 °C, 95% relative humidity were assessed. Fruits were subjected to four treatments: FAP + 30 µm polyethylene liner (FOLO); FAP-only (FOLX); 30 µm polyethylene liner-only (FXLO); and control (FXLX). The quality attributes, viz. weight loss, firmness, color, soluble solids content (SSC), soluble sugars, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), 2,2-dephenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) were evaluated. The investigated parameters differed significantly (p < 0.05) among treatments except for soluble sugars. FOLO maintained sensory quality (weight loss, firmness, and color), physicochemical (SSC and soluble sugars), and health-promoting properties compared to other treatments during storage. The 50% coloring fruits had a huge variation between treatments than 90% coloring. The results revealed more TPC and antioxidant capacity in the 50% than in the 90% coloring fruits. The study highlights the need to consider the ideal fruit coloring stage at harvest under the effect of FAP and MAP treatments in preserving bell pepper's postharvest quality and shelf life.

Evaluation of the Harvest Dates for Three Major Cultivars of Blue Honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) in China.

Blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) is an emerging fruit crop; however, determining its proper harvest time in commercial cultivation remains challenging due to its rapid fruit development characteristics. In this study, we investigated 17 agronomic traits of three blue honeysuckle cultivars harvested on 5 successive dates within their respective harvest windows. 'Lanjingling', 'Wulan', and 'Berel' showed solid-acid ratios (SS:TA) ranging from 10.00 to 16.01, 8.13 to 10.23, and 5.77 to 7.11, respectively; anthocyanin contents ranged from 233.85 to 276.83 mg/100 g, 236.38 to 312.23 mg/100 g, and 235.71 to 334.98 mg/100 g, respectively; vitamin C contents ranged from 88.43 to 99.68 mg/100 g, 108.13 to 191.23 mg/100 g, and 89.71 to 120.40 mg/100 g, respectively; phenolic contents ranged from 25.22 to 37.59 mg/g, 25.40 to 36.52 mg/g, and 37.66 to 50.00 mg/g, respectively. The results revealed the SS:TA value consistently increased with delayed harvesting and were significantly negatively correlated with fruit firmness, total acidity, shelf life, and respiration intensity, suggesting it is an ideal maturity indicator for blue honeysuckle berries. The factor analysis suggests that the suitable harvest date for 'Lanjingling' could be either 47 days after flowering (DAF) with an SS:TA value of approximately 10.0, characterized by high firmness, extended shelf life, and elevated levels of anthocyanins and phenolics; or 67 DAF (SS:TA ≈ 16.0), characterized by high vitamin C content and sweetness, and larger size and weight. For 'Wulan', it suggests the suitable harvest date is either 54 DAF (SS:TA ≈ 9.0), yielding fruit with high levels of anthocyanins and vitamin C; or 62 DAF (SS:TA > 10.0), yielding fruit with high sweetness and large size and weight. For 'Berel', it is suggested to be either 52 DAF (SS:TA ≈ 6.5), resulting in fruit with high levels of anthocyanins and vitamin C; or 62 DAF (SS:TA > 7.0), resulting in balanced levels of the fruit quality traits.

Effects of Harvest Timing on Phytochemical Composition in Lamiaceae Plants under an Environment-Controlled System.

The Lamiaceae family is widely recognized for its production of essential oils and phenolic compounds that have promising value as pharmaceutical materials. However, the impact of environmental conditions and different harvest stages on the phytochemical composition of Lamiaceae plants remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of harvest time on the phytochemical composition, including rosmarinic acid (RA) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), of four Lamiaceae plants-Korean mint (AR), lemon balm (MO), opal basil (OBP), and sage (SO)-and was conducted under an environment-controlled system. Although all four plants had RA as the dominant compound, its distribution varied by species. The flowered plants, including AR and OBP, exhibited a rapid increase of RA during the transition from the vegetative stage to the reproductive stage. In contrast, non-flowered groups, including MO and SO, showed a steady increase in the content of total phenolics and RA. The main components of VOCs also differed depending on the plant, with characteristic fragrance compounds identified for each one (AR: estragole; MO: (Z)-neral and geranial; OBP: methyl eugenol, eugenol, and linalool; and SO: (Z)-thujone, camphor, and humulene). The total VOCs content was highest on the 60th day after transplanting regardless of the species, while the trends of total phenolics, RA content, and antioxidant activities were different depending on whether plant species flowered during the cultivation cycle. There was a steady increase in species that had not flowered, and the highest content and activity of the flowering period were confirmed in the flowering plant species.

Effect of sucrose as an elicitor in increasing quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside (quercitrin) content of chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat) callus culture based on harvest time differences.

Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) contains secondary metabolites, such as flavonoid compounds, especially luteolin-7-glucoside and quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside (quercitrin), in its tissues. Utilizing sucrose as an elicitor through callus culture presents an alternative method to enhance the production of secondary metabolites. This research aimed to determine the best sucrose concentration and harvest time for maximizing quercitrin content in chrysanthemum callus culture. The research employed a completely randomized design with four treatment groups: 0, 30, 45, and 60 g/l of sucrose added to MS medium containing 4 ppm 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Callus samples were harvested on the 15th and 30th days of culture. The observed parameters included callus morphology (color and texture), fresh weight, dry weight, the diameter of the callus, and quercitrin content analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. The results showed that all callus cultures exhibited intermediate textures and varied colors, predominantly shades of brown. The treatment involving 45 g/l of sucrose with a 30th-day harvest yielded the highest fresh weight, dry weight, and quercitrin content, namely 2.108 g, 0.051 g, and 0.437 mg/g DW, respectively. Notably, the quercitrin content exhibited a 63.67% increase compared to the control.

The chemical profiling of Salvia plebeia during different growth periods and the biosynthesis of its main flavonoids ingredients.

Salvia plebeia (Lamiaceae) is a valuable medicinal plant widely distributed across Asia and Oceania. However, the composition and accumulation patterns of its active ingredients in different organs during the growth and their biosynthetic mechanism remain unknown. Therefore, we conducted metabolite profiling, transcriptomic analysis, and biological functional verification to explore the distribution, accumulation, and biosynthesis mechanisms of flavonoids in S. plebeia. We identified 70 metabolites including 46 flavonoids, 16 phenolic acids, seven terpenoids, and one organic acid, of which 21 were previously unreported in S. plebeia. Combining metabolomic-transcriptomic analysis and biological functional verification, we identified the key genes involved in biosynthesis of its main active ingredients, hispidulin and homoplantaginin, including SpPAL, SpC4H, Sp4CL2, Sp4CL5, SpCHS1, SpCHI, SpFNS, SpF6H1, SpF6OMT1, SpF6OMT2, SpUGT1, SpUGT2, and SpUGT3. Using the identified genes, we reconstructed the hispidulin and homoplantaginin biosynthesis pathways in Escherichia coli, and obtained a yield of 5.33 and 3.86 mg/L for hispidulin and homoplantaginin, respectively. Our findings provide valuable insights into the changes in chemical components in different organs of S. plebeia during different growth and harvest stages and establishes a foundation for identifying and synthesizing its active components.

Evaluation of pharmaceutical compounds at vegetative and reproductive growth stages of Marrubium vulgare, a medicinal plant to cleanse the body.

Marrubium vulgareis a plant with high bioactive potential. The rich bioactive compounds of medicinal horehound, as well as their antioxidant activity have led to its wider application in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. The present work aimed to determine the phenolic compounds, total phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity at vegetative and reproductive growth stages of Marrubium vulgare. The experiments were performed in Eram Garden with five replications and using SPSS software (v. 13) and Mann-Whitney U-Test at p ≤ 0.01. The total content of flavonoids and main phenolic compounds increased when plants collected at vegetative stage. On the other hand, the highest vanillin content was observed in full flowering stage. Overall, this study can provide useful information about the best harvest period for horehound to produce the desired compounds for use in the food, pharmaceutical, and plant industries.

Uncovering the Nutritive Profiles of Adult Male Chinese Mitten Crab (E. sinensis) Harvested from the Pond and Natural Water Area of Qin Lake Based on Metabolomics.

E. sinensis, normally harvested in October and November, is an economic aquatic product in China. Pond culture has been widely applied for the production of E. sinensis, wherein a stable food supply for crabs is provided. In order to improve the nutritional quality of E. sinensis products, this study evaluated the effect of the local pond culture on the nutritive profiles of E. sinensis and screened out the best harvest time for the nutrient-rich crabs, thereby guiding the local crab industry to improve its aquaculture mode and harvest strategy. The results indicated that pond culture enhanced the levels of protein, amino acids, and specific organic acid derivatives, and reduced the levels of peptides and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Compared with E. sinensis harvested in October, peptide levels were significantly increased, whereas sugar, phenolic acid, and nucleotide levels were decreased in those harvested in November. Overall, the study revealed that the nutritive profile of the pond-reared E. sinensis was significantly modulated by a high-protein diet, thus lacking the diversity of metabolites. Additionally, October could be more appropriate for harvesting E. sinensis than November.

Monitoring of Volatile Organic Compounds in Strawberry Genotypes over the Harvest Period.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) over the harvest period have been assessed in twenty-five strawberry genotypes cultivated in western Greece. Using liquid-liquid extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC--MS), twenty-eight volatiles were monitored at early (T1) and mid-harvest (T3) time points to investigate the effect of the genotype and harvest time on strawberry volatilome. A quantitative impact of both harvest date and genotype on VOCs associated with aroma was demonstrated, with the most significant VOCs being terpenes, esters, and acids, followed by lactones and furanones. Harvest date was crucial for terpenoid and phenylpropanoid content, and important for esters, short-chain acids, and lactones. Six out of the twenty-five genotypes (four commercial varieties, including 'Rociera', 'Victory', 'Leyre', and 'Inspire', and two advanced selection genotypes (G2 and G8) were evaluated at two additional time points, covering the entire harvest season. The volatile levels were higher in fruits harvested at early stages (T1-T2) for most of the genotypes examined. The G2 genotype turned out to have a less ample but more stable volatile profile throughout harvesting, while 'Victory', 'Leyre', and 'Inspire' exhibited less abrupt changes than 'Rociera'. This study demonstrates that the determination of VOCs provides significant information regarding the differences in strawberry genotypes related to aroma and enables the selection of genotypes based on specific VOCs content and/or volatile stability over the harvest period. Furthermore, this study pinpoints that growers could opt for optimal harvest dates based on the genotypes and the VOC content.

Analysis of the Composition of Different Instars of Tenebrio molitor Larvae using Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy for Prediction of Amino and Fatty Acid Content.

Insects are a sustainable protein source for food and feed. The yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) is a promising candidate for industrial insect rearing and was the focus of this study. This research revealed the diversity of Tenebrio molitor larvae in the varying larval instars in terms of the nutritional content. We hypothesized that water and protein are highest in the earlier instar, while fat content is very low but increases with larval development. Consequently, an earlier instar would be a good choice for harvest, since proteins and amino acids content decrease with larval development. Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) was represented in this research as a tool for predicting the amino and fatty acid composition of mealworm larvae. Samples were scanned with a near-infrared spectrometer using wavelengths from 1100 to 2100 nm. The calibration for the prediction was developed with modified partial least squares (PLS) as the regression method. The coefficient for determining calibration (R2C) and prediction (R2P) were >0.82 and >0.86, with RPD values of >2.20 for 10 amino acids, resulting in a high prediction accuracy. The PLS models for glutamic acid, leucine, lysine and valine have to be improved. The prediction of six fatty acids was also possible with the coefficient of the determination of calibration (R2C) and prediction (R2P) > 0.77 and >0.66 with RPD values > 1.73. Only the prediction accuracy of palmitic acid was very weak, which was probably due to the narrow variation range. NIRS could help insect producers to analyze the nutritional composition of Tenebrio molitor larvae fast and easily in order to improve the larval feeding and composition for industrial mass rearing.

Variability in 'Capri' Everbearing Strawberry Quality during a Harvest Season.

Strawberries are appreciated by consumers for their characteristic taste and health benefits, which enhance their demand throughout the year. Everbearing strawberries can produce fruits for a longer period and could thus meet this demand, but the fruit quality depends on environmental factors and the cultivar. This study focused on the effect of environmental conditions on the physical attributes and the composition of everbearing Capri cultivar fruit harvested from the end of June to the end of October. A positive correlation was observed between temperature and organic acid content (r = 0.87), and a positive correlation was observed between sunshine duration, anthocyanin (r = 0.87) and phenolic compound contents (r = 0.89). Additionally, the composition of sugars was affected by the environmental conditions. While strawberries harvested towards the end of October, when lower temperatures predominated, were larger in size and had a higher sugar/acid ratio, fruit harvested in the middle of August, when there were longer periods of sunshine, had higher anthocyanin and phenolic compound contents. In conclusion, strawberries with higher sugar/acid ratios are obtained when temperatures are lower, while strawberries exposed to longer periods of sunshine are richer in health-promoting compounds.

Integrated untargeted metabolome, full-length sequencing, and transcriptome analyses reveal insights into the fruit quality at different harvest times of Chaenomeles speciosa.

Chaenomeles speciosa fruit is a homologous medicine and food plant with a long history of multiple uses. It could be harvested near maturity and last for a long time. However, the optimal harvest strategy of Chaenomeles speciosa for various uses is currently unavailable. Here, untargeted metabolome at different harvest times during maturation was investigated for the first time, and 896 metabolites, including sugars, organic acids, amino acids, and phenylpropanoids, were identified. Optimal harvesting methods were proposed for different purposes. During the early maturation stages (before 105 days after full bloom), Ch. speciosa fruit could be harvested as Chinesemedicine. Whereas as snacks and food, Ch. speciosa fruit might be harvested at late maturity (after 120 days after full bloom). In addition, the overall network was revealed by integrating full-length Iso-seq and transcriptomics (RNA-seq) to investigate the association between quality-associated metabolites and Chaenomeles speciosa fruit gene expression during maturation. A few putative genes were captured via screening, dissecting and correlation analysis with the quality-associated metabolites (including d-glucose, catechin, gallocatechin, and succinic acid). Overall, in addition to providing a harvesting strategy for food and medicine, we also investigated the metabolism and gene expression pattern of Chaenomeles speciosa fruit during maturation. This comprehensive data and analyses laid the foundation for further investigating potential regulatory mechanisms during harvest and provided a new possibility for its development and utilization.

Utilization of the Winkler scale of plants using big data temperature presented by the Korea Meteorological Administration.

Introduction: Rice is an important food source that can provide a stable supply of calories for most people around the world. However, owing to the recent rapid temperature rise, we are facing social issues related to the increase in the Winkler scale. In this study, a strategy for screening potential candidate genes related to the yield according to the Winkler scale is presented, and the possibility of using a candidate gene identified through sequence haplotype and homology analysis as a breeding source is suggested. Methods: QTL for the Winkler scale was identified using a population of 120 double haploids derived from a cross between Cheongchoneg, Indica, and Nagdong, Japonica. Results and discussion: A total of 79 candidate genes were detected in the identified QTL region, and OsHAq8 was finally screened. Through haplotype analysis, OsHAq8 was derived from the Indica group and orthologous to Graminae's activator of Hsp90 ATPase, suggesting that it is a candidate gene involved in yield according to temperature during the growing period. The expression level of OsHAq8 increased as the Winkler scale increased. The findings of this study can serve as a crucial indicator for predicting harvest time and grain quality while achieving a stable yield through marker selection and adaptation to climate change. Climate change occurs more frequently. In these situations, it is very important to predict harvest time and apply relevant candidate genes to breeding. The candidate genes presented in this study can be effectively applied to rice breeding in preparation for climate change.

Determinação do rendimento, teor e composição química de óleo essencial de espécie medicinal aloysia gratíssima (gillies & hook.) tronc. em diferentes horários do dia / Determination of yield, content and chemical composition of essential oil of medicinal plant aloysia gratissima (gillies & hook.) tronc. at different times of the day / Determinación del rendimiento, contenido y composición química del aceite esencial de la especie medicinal aloysia gratíssima (gillies & hook.) tronc. en distintos momentos del día

A Aloysia gratíssima, popularmente conhecida como alfazema-do-brasil é uma importante planta medicinal, sendo o óleo essencial rico em terpenos. Determinar o horário de colheita que resulte em maior rendimento, teor de óleo essencial e compostos químicos, são informações importantes para toda cadeia produtiva de plantas medicinais. Neste sentido, o objetivo do trabalho foi analisar o rendimento, teor e composição química do óleo essencial de A. gratíssima, em diferentes horários de colheita. O experimento foi realizado na Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná - Campus Dois Vizinhos, nos anos de 2018 e 2019. Os tratamentos foram diferentes horários de colheita (9:00, 11:00, 15:00 e 17:00 horas) de massa fresca de A. gratíssima. O óleo essencial foi obtido pelo método de hidrodestilação e a composição química determinada por cromatografia gasosa-espectrometria de massa. Os melhores resultados de teor (1,18 e 0,55%) e rendimento de óleo essencial (0,71 e 0,33 g planta-1) foram obtidos nos horários de colheita das 9:00 e 11:00 horas, respectivamente, quando as plantas estavam no estádio de floração, e também as condições climáticas favoráveis, como temperaturas amenas. A cromatografia gasosa-espectrometria de massa revelou que os principais componentes dos óleos essenciais foram classificados como terpenos. Eucaliptol (39,30%) foi o componente majoritário do óleo essencial no horário de colheita das 9:00 horas. Os resultados desse estudo podem contribuir para otimizar o período de colheita de A. gratíssima, quanto à quantidade e qualidade dos óleos essenciais para indústria de produtos farmacêuticos e cosméticos.

Aloysia gratissima, popularly known as Brazilian lavender, is an important medicinal plant, the essential oil being rich in terpenes. Determining the harvest time that results in greater yield, essential oil content and chemical compounds, are important information for the entire production chain of medicinal plants In this sense, the objective of this work was to analyze the yield, content and chemical composition of the essential oil of A. gratíssima, at different harvest times. The experiment was carried out at the Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná - Campus Dois Vizinhos, in the years 2018 and 2019. The treatments were different harvest times (9:00 am, 11:00 am, 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm) of fresh mass by A. gratissima. The essential oil was obtained by the hydrodistillation method and the chemical composition determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The best results for essential oil content (1.18 and 0.55%) and yield (0.71 and 0.33 g plant-1) were obtained at 9:00 am and 11:00 am, respectively, when the plants were in the flowering stage, and also favorable climatic conditions, such as mild temperatures. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed that the main components of essential oils were as terpenes. Eucalyptol (39.30%) was the major component of the essential oil at the 9:00 am harvest time. The results of this study may contribute to optimizing the period of harvesting A. gratissima, regarding the quantity and quality of essential oils for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry.

Aloysia gratissima, conocida popularmente como lavanda brasileña, es una importante planta medicinal, siendo el aceite esencial rico en terpenos. Determinar el tiempo de cosecha que resulte en mayor rendimiento, contenido de aceites esenciales y compuestos químicos, son información importante para toda la cadena productiva de las plantas medicinales. En ese sentido, el objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar el rendimiento, contenido y composición química del aceite esencial de A. gratíssima, en diferentes épocas de cosecha. El experimento se realizó en la Universidad Tecnológica Federal de Paraná - Campus Dois Vizinhos, en los años 2018 y 2019. Los tratamientos fueron diferentes tiempos de cosecha (9:00 am, 11:00 am, 3:00 pm y 5:00 pm ) de masa fresca por A. gratissima. El aceite esencial se obtuvo por el método de hidrodestilación y la composición química determinada por cromatografía de gases-espectrometría de masas. Los mejores resultados para contenido de aceite esencial (1.18 y 0.55%) y rendimiento (0.71 y 0.33 g planta-1) se obtuvieron a las 9:00 am y 11:00 am, respectivamente, cuando las plantas se encontraban en etapa de floración, y también condiciones climáticas favorables, como temperaturas suaves. La cromatografía de gases-espectrometría de masas reveló que los principales componentes de los aceites esenciales se clasificaron como terpenos. El eucaliptol (39,30%) fue el componente mayoritario del aceite esencial a las 9:00 a. m. del tiempo de cosecha. Los resultados de este estudio pueden contribuir a optimizar el período de cosecha de A. gratissima, en cuanto a la cantidad y calidad de los aceites esenciales para la industria farmacéutica y cosmética.