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Background: Salt has been identified as an elicitor that can increase the accumulation of phytochemicals in seedlings during the germination process. However, the salinity level required to maximize the yield of phytochemicals, particularly phenolic compounds, needs further investigation for several plant species. To address this issue, we imposed increasing levels of salinity (NaCl solutions) on the sprouting substrate of Triticum durum (var. Platone) grains, at concentrations of 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 mM (0_S, 50_S, 100_S, 150_S, 200_S, 250_S, and 300_S, respectively)., Results: The highest NaCl doses (250_S and 300_S) significantly impacted germination performance and were excluded from further analysis. The seedlings harvested at 8 days after sowing exhibited different growth stages depending on the salinity level: wheatgrass for 0_S, early wheatgrass for 50_S, intermediate between sprout and wheatgrass for 100_S, sprout for 150_S, and very early sprout for 200_S. Furthermore, salinity induced the concentration of phenolic compounds (PhCs) in the seedlings' tissues (i.e., both roots and shoots) in a salinity-dependent manner. The highest values were observed at 200_S, with an increase of 187% of the total investigated PhCs in comparison with 0_S, averaged over shoots and roots. In particular, in 200_S, the accumulation of phenolic acids was up to fourfold higher in roots, and that of flavonoids was up to twofold higher in shoots., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the use of 200 mM NaCl applied to the sprouting substrate is excessive for producing edible sprouts but may be suitable for phytochemical extraction purposes. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.)

The consumption of plant sprouts as part of human day-to-day diets is gradually increasing, and their health benefit is attracting interest across multiple disciplines. The purpose of this review was to (a) critically evaluate the phytochemicals in selected sprouts (alfalfa, buckwheat, broccoli, and red cabbage), (b) describe the health benefits of sprouts, (c) assess the recent advances in sprout production, (d) rigorously evaluate their safety, and (e) suggest directions that merit special consideration for further novel research on sprouts. Young shoots are characterized by high levels of health-benefitting phytochemicals. Their utility as functional ingredients have been extensively described. Tremendous advances in the production and safety of sprouts have been made over the recent past and numerous reports have appeared in mainstream scientific journals describing their nutritional and medicinal properties. However, subjects such as application of sprouted seed flours in processed products, utilizing sprouts as leads in the synthesis of nanoparticles, and assessing the dynamics of a relationship between sprouts and gut health require special attention for future clinical exploration. Sprouting is an effective strategy allowing manipulation of phytochemicals in seeds to improve their health benefits.

The germination process causes changes in the chemical composition of seeds that improves the nutritional value of sprouts, while decreasing their microbiological safety, since the germination conditions are ideal for bacterial growth as well. This review explores the bacteriological safety of sprouts and their involvement in foodborne illness outbreaks, worldwide. Additionally, approaches to improve the shelf-life and microbiological safety of sprouts are discussed. According to the literature, sprout consumption is associated with more than 60 outbreaks of foodborne illness worldwide, since 1988. Alfalfa sprouts were most commonly involved in outbreaks and the most commonly implicated pathogens were Salmonella and pathogenic Escherichia coli (especially, Shiga toxin producing E. coli). In the pre-harvest stage, the implementation of good agricultural practices is an important tool for producing high-quality seeds. In the post-harvest stage, several methods of seed decontamination are used commercially, or have been investigated by researchers. After germination, seedlings should be kept under refrigeration and, if possible, cooked before consumption. Finally, microbiological analyses should be performed at all stages to monitor the hygiene of the sprout production process., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Microgreens and sprouts have been used for raw consumption for a long time and are generally viewed as a healthy food. However, several serious outbreaks of foodborne illness have been recorded in European countries, Japan, and North America. Many companies in Latvia nowadays are producing this type of products. The aim of this study was to characterize the incidence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), Salmonella spp., and Listeria spp. in microgreens, sprouts, and seeds intended for domestic production of microgreens on retail market in Riga, Latvia, from January to April 2019. The background microflora was identified as well. A total of 45 samples were purchased, including fresh and processed sprouts, microgreens, baby greens, as well as seeds intended for domestic production of microgreens and sprouts. The samples were processed according to the methods set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)-ISO/TS 13136:2012 for STEC, ISO 6579-1:2017 for Salmonella spp., and ISO 11290-1:2017 for Listeria spp. Molecular detection of Salmonella spp. was also performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The typical and atypical colonies isolated from selective plates were identified with matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Listeria monocytogenes was not detected in any of the tested samples. However, the presence of Listeria innocua was detected in two (4.4%) of the samples. Three (6.7%) samples of dried sprouts were positive for the STEC virulence genes. Salmonella spp. was detected in one (2.2%) sample of common sunflower seeds. Altogether, 46 different background bacterial species were identified. The majority were environmental bacteria characteristic to soil, water, and plants, including coliform bacteria. The results provide evidence that microgreens and seeds available for Latvian consumers are generally safe, however, attention has to be paid to dried sprouts.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) outbreaks involving ready-to-eat salad products have been described in the scientific literature since 1995. These products typically do not undergo a definitive control step such as cooking to eliminate pathogens. To reduce the number of STEC infections from salad products, efforts will need to focus on preventing and reducing contamination throughout the food chain. We performed a systematic review of STEC outbreaks involving sprouted seeds, salad, or leafy green products to determine whether there were recurrent features, such as availability of microbiological evidence or identification of the contamination event, which may inform future investigations and prevention and control strategies. Thirty-five STEC outbreaks linked to contaminated leafy greens were identified for inclusion. The outbreaks occurred from 1995 to 2018 and ranged from 8 to more than 8,500 cases. Detection of STEC in the food product was rare (4 of 35 outbreaks). For the remaining outbreaks, the determination of leafy greens as the source of the outbreak mainly relied on analytical epidemiology (20 of 35) or descriptive evidence (11 of 35). The traceback investigation in 21 of 32 outbreaks was not able to identify possible routes leading to where the STEC bacteria came from or how the leaves were contaminated. Investigations in eight outbreaks found poor practice during processing that may have contributed to the outbreak, such as insufficient postharvest disinfection of the product. Six outbreak investigations were able to identify the outbreak strain in animal feces near the growing fields; two of these were also able to find it in irrigation water on the farms, providing a likely route of contamination. These results highlight the limitations of relying on microbiological confirmation as a basis to initiate investigations of upstream production to understand the source of contamination. This review also demonstrates the importance of, and difficulties associated with, food-chain traceback studies to inform control measures and future prevention.

Several outbreaks of illness have been associated with consumption of alfalfa sprouts contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and Salmonella. The ozone application was investigated as an intervention. Alfalfa seeds were inoculated with cocktails of 3 Salmonella strains, including serotypes Typhimurium, Agona and Saintpaul, and 3 strains of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) including serotypes O104:H4, O157:H7 and O121:H19 with a final load of 7.0 log CFU/ml. Then, the inoculated seeds, and the sprouts obtained from these seeds were separately subjected to aqueous ozone treatment containing (5 mg/L) ozone for varied times of exposure. The mean log reductions for Salmonella achieved on seeds after 10, 15, and 20 min of ozone exposure were 1.6 ± 0.5, 1.7 ± 0.3, 2.1 ± 0.5, respectively and 1.5 ± 0.4, 1.6 ± 0.4, 2.1 ± 0.5 for STEC, respectively. For sprouts obtained from the inoculated seed, the mean log reductions for Salmonella after 10, 15, and 20 min exposure times were 0.7 ± 0.2, 1.1 ± 0.4, 3.6 ± 0.2, respectively, whereas the mean log reductions for STEC were 0.7 ± 0.1, 1.2 ± 0.3 and 1.8 ± 0.2, respectively. At each contact time, there were no differences in log reductions between pathogens on seeds (P > 0.05), whereas on sprouts, the reductions obtained at 20 min were significantly greater (P < 0.05) for Salmonella than for STEC. On both seeds and sprouts, the exposure time had significant (P < 0.05) effects on log reductions of Salmonella and STEC. The weight, color properties and shelf life of ozonated sprouts were also tested. The ozonation did not have negative effects on germination (%), color and mass of sprouts in comparison with the controls. This study confirmed that it is possible to substantially reduce Salmonella and STEC by using a low ozone concentration (5 mg/L) and reduce food safety risk with less concern about the safety for processing workers of this treatment, this without affecting seed germination. This procedure may be a promising intervention to reduce Salmonella and STEC from alfalfa seeds and sprouts., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The main purpose of this work was to evaluate culture enrichment conditions, with particular regard to those reported in ISO/TS 13136:2012, for STEC detection in food. The culture media evaluated included mTSB with novobiocin 0-16mg/l (mTSB+N 0-16 ) or acriflavin 12mg/l (mTSB+A 12 ); BPW; mBPWp with acriflavin 10mg/l, cefsulodin 10mg/l, vancomycin 8mg/l (mBPWp+ACV); and mBPWp with cefsulodin 10mg/l, vancomycin 8mg/l (mBPWp+CV). They were used for the growth of STEC O157, O26, O103, O111, O145 and O104 in pure cultures or in artificially contaminated food matrices (ground beef, mung bean sprouts). STEC detection was accomplished using commercially available multiplex real-time PCR assays targeting stx1-stx2 and eae, and serogroup-associated genes. More rapid multiplication of STEC in pure cultures occurred in mBPWp+CV, while an inhibitory effect of novobiocin and acriflavin was observed for some STEC serogroups in media with these selective agents. mBPWp+CV allowed the detection of all serogroups in bean sprouts when inoculated at levels as low as 1CFU/25g. A reduced novobiocin concentration of 2mg/l in mTSB was required for STEC detection in ground beef samples. A temperature of 42°C for the entire duration of the enrichment or 44°C after an initial phase of 6h at 37°C was important to limit the multiplication of non-target bacteria. Results of this study suggest that media and protocols should be adapted to the food being analyzed, since protocols provided in official reference methods may produce insufficient sensitivity., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Fresh sprouted seeds have been associated with a number of large outbreaks caused by Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. However, the high number of commensal bacteria found on sprouted seeds hampers the detection of these pathogens. Knowledge about the composition of the sprout microbiome is limited. In this study, the microbiome of mungo bean sprouts and the impact of buffered peptone water (BPW) and Enterobacteriaceae enrichment broth (EE-broth)-based enrichment protocols on this microbiome were investigated., Results: Assessments based on aerobic mesophilic colony counts showed similar increases in mungo bean sprout background flora levels independent of the enrichment protocol used. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed a mungo bean sprout microbiome dominated by Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. EE-broth enrichment of such samples preserved and increased Proteobacteria dominance while reducing Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes relative abundances. BPW enrichment, however, increased Firmicutes relative abundance while decreasing Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes levels. Both enrichments also lead to various genus level changes within the Protobacteria and Firmicutes phyla., Conclusions: New insights into the microbiome associated with mungo bean sprout and how it is influenced through BPW and EE-broth-based enrichment strategies used for detecting Gram-negative pathogens were generated. BPW enrichment leads to Firmicutes and Proteobacteria dominance, whereas EE-broth enrichment preserves Proteobacteria dominance in the mungo bean sprout samples. By increasing the relative abundance of Firmicutes, BPW also increases the abundance of Gram-positive organisms including some that might inhibit recovery of Gram-negative pathogens. The use of EE-broth, although preserving and increasing the dominance of Proteobacteria, can also hamper the detection of lowly abundant Gram-negative target pathogens due to outgrowth of such organisms by the highly abundant non-target Proteobacteria genera comprising the mungo bean sprout associated background flora.

The aim of this study was to investigate the application of elicitors (500 μM ascorbic acid, 50 μM folic acid, 5 mM glutamic acid and 50 ppm chitosan in 5 mM glutamic acid) during lentil germination up to 8 days as a strategy to increase germination rate and to enhance the accumulation of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and phenolic compounds. The effect of elicitation on the protein profile and antioxidant and angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities of sprouted lentils was also evaluated. The application of elicitors did not negatively affect the germination yield of lentils and no significant changes on the protein pattern of lentils germinated in the presence of elicitors were observed. Chitosan/glutamic acid increased by 1.6-fold the GABA content in lentil sprouts, whilst ascorbic and folic acids as well as chitosan/glutamic acid were highly effective to enhance the total content of phenolic compounds and the antioxidant activity of sprouted lentils. All elicited lentil sprouts showed ability to inhibit ACE activity (IC50: 9.5-11.9 μg peptides/mL). Therefore, elicitation can be considered a promising approach to improve the content of compounds with antioxidant and potential antihypertensive activities in lentil sprouts.

The effects of germination of selected legumes and further storage of sprouts under cool conditions on the phenolics, antioxidant activity and starch content and their potential bioaccessibility were elucidated. In green pea and mung bean sprouts a slight increase of chemically extractable phenolics (including flavonoids) during the first 4 days of sprouting was observed. Digestion in vitro released phenolics; however, flavonoids were poorly bioaccessible. Storage of green pea sprouts decreased reducing power and increased the antiradical ability. Reducing potential of potentially bioaccessible fraction of stored lentil sprouts was elevated of 40%, 31% and 23% in 3-, 4- and 5-day-old sprouts, respectively. Postharvest storage significantly increases the starch digestibility and values of expected glycemic index (eGI)--the highest eGIs were determined for 5-day-old stored sprouts; 75.17-green pea, 83.18-lentil and 89.87-mung bean. Bioactivity and nutritional quality of legumes is affected by sprouting and further storage at low temperatures., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of dietary supplementation with flax and alfalfa sprouts on fatty acid, tocopherol and phytochemical contents of rabbit meat. Ninety weaned New Zealand White rabbits were assigned to three dietary groups: standard diet (S); standard diet+20g/d of alfalfa sprouts (A); and standard diet+20g/d of flax sprouts (F). In the F rabbits the Longissimus dorsi muscle showed a higher thio-barbituric acid-reactive value and at the same time significantly higher values of alpha-linolenic acid, total polyunsaturated and n-3 fatty acids. Additionally n-3/n-6 ratio and thrombogenic indices were improved. The meat of A rabbits showed intermediate values of the previously reported examined parameters. Dietary supplementation with sprouts produced meat with a higher total phytoestrogen content. The addition of fresh alfalfa and flax sprouts to commercial feed modified the fat content, fatty acid and phytochemical profile of the meat, but the flax ones worsened the oxidative status of meat., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the bacterial and fungal quality of minimally-processed vegetables (MPV) and sprouts. A total of 116 samples of fresh-cut vegetables, ready-to-eat salads, and mung bean and wheat sprouts were randomly collected and analyzed. The load of aerobic mesophilic bacteria was minimum and maximum in the fresh-cut vegetables and fresh mung bean sprouts respectively, corresponding to populations of 5.3 and 8.5 log CFU/g. E. coli O157:H7 was found to be absent in all samples; however,  other E. coli strains were detected in 21 samples (18.1%), and Salmonella spp. were found in one mung bean (3.1%) and one ready-to-eat salad sample (5%). Yeasts were the predominant organisms and were found in 100% of the samples. Geotrichum, Fusarium, and Penicillium spp. were the most prevalent molds in mung sprouts while Cladosporium and Penicillium spp. were most frequently found in ready-to-eat salad samples. According to results from the present study, effective control measures should be implemented to minimize the microbiological contamination of fresh produce sold in Tehran, Iran.

Manual planting of sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids) in Mexico is slow, and eye bud germination is deficient. Alternative planting methods must be adopted in order to improve sugarcane field productivity. This study evaluated the field performance of a tractor-mounted planter prototype when transplanting two-month-old nursery-grown sugarcane sprouts in relation to the following parameters: sound sprout treatments, row separation between seedlings, upright placement into the soil, appropriate soil covering, and field uniformity at planting. This mechanical equipment was tested on a readily tilled soil suitable for sugarcane planting, although slightly stoney on the surface. The tractor and implement combination were set to travel at a field speed of 0.3 m s-1 when laying seedlings into the row at 900 mm separation. Transplanting separation between seedlings onto the row had a variation of 3.4 %. When assisted by two laborers for planting, the tractor and implement combination achieved a field capacity of 2.5 ha d-1. Thus, for a field capacity of 2 ha d-1 and 120 workdays per planting season, the investment in the machine can be returned in two years. Consequently, planting sugarcane sprouts using the planter prototype is up to eight times more cost-effective than manual transplanting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Representatives of the genus Gleditsia, valuable trees for agroforestry in the south-east of the European part of Russia, form productive forest strips. In regions with difficult soil and climatic conditions, good plant development at the initial stage is important. The introduced species Gleditsia triacanthos has characterized by a high degree of drought resistance and stable fruiting. The main source material for reproduction is seeds, but the structural features of the seed coat affect the germination and development of Gleditsia seedlings. The aim was to assess the impact of processing methods on the dormancy of seeds with a hard shell and the growth of seedlings. Under laboratory conditions at the Federal Scientific Center of Agroecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the period from November 17 to December 1, 2022, an experiment was conducted to study the effect of methods of treatment of seeds of Gleditsia triacantha (2022 year of fruit harvest). It has been established that the chemical method (H2SO4 concentration 95.72%, density 1.895 g/cm³, 1757 g/l) is more effective, because swelling (after 24 h-96%) and the appearance of hypocotyl (after 72 h-39.7%) in seeds and other phases of seedling formation of Gleditsia triacanthos. The recommended methods of seed pretreatment ensured mass sprouts (76-78% on day 7) and increased the yield of seedlings (55.0-61.5%). Research findings contribute to the search for techniques and methods for the development of low-carbon production technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regeneration of plants endemic to remote mountain areas is thought to be relatively unimpacted by human disturbances but rather dominated by abiotic factors, such as geography, climate, and soil. However, because human disturbances are accelerating the extinction of montane plants and the loss of montane forest, this balance may be shifting. Yet, the relative effects of abiotic factors and human disturbances to montane plant regeneration are still largely unclear. Here, we investigated the geographic pattern of regeneration (ratio of seedling and ratio of sprout) and assessed the impacts of abiotic and anthropogenic factors for an endangered montane tree species (Davidia involucrata) across its distribution range in China. We found that the ratio of seedling increased from south to north, whereas the ratio of sprout exhibited an opposite pattern, indicating that under climate warming this species may adopt sprout regeneration as a potential strategy to buffer population contraction at the southern edge. Moreover, while climatic factors were the main drivers of regeneration, anthropogenic factors were also important. Of note, the proportion of pasture land area had a significant positive effect on sprouting, with more sprout regeneration at grazed sites and a higher ratio of sprout at sites with a greater intensity of human disturbance. Our findings suggested that, in addition to climate change, human disturbance is also an important driving factor of the regeneration of plants native to remote mountain areas, and we emphasized that researchers and policymakers should take it into account when protecting endangered plants and managing forest biodiversity. • From south to north, the ratio of seedling increased, while the ratio of sprout decreased. • While climatic factors were the main drivers of regeneration of montane plants, anthropogenic factors were also important. • The proportion of pasture land area had a significant positive effect on sprouting, with more sprout regeneration at grazed/disturbed sites. • This study provides empirical evidence that human disturbance plays an important role in the regeneration of montane plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Northwest A & F University - Natural Science Edition is the property of Editorial Department of Journal of Northwest A&F University (Natural Science Edition) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Glucosinolates (GLs) are plant secondary metabolites that may act against different types of cancers. Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) is rich in GLs which makes it an excellent source of these nutraceuticals. The composition and concentration of GLs vary among broccoli cultivars and throughout the developmental stages of the plant. To obtain the GL profiles of broccoli, GL compositions and contents in four early developmental stages (seeds, 3-day sprouts, 11-day and 17-day seedlings) were determined for nine cultivars of broccoli in this study. A total of 12 GLs including 9 aliphatic GLs and 3 indole GLs were identified from the nine broccoli cultivars using LC-QTOF-MS. UPLC results showed that aliphatic GLs concentrations decreased with broccoli sprouts and seedling growth for most cultivars. Interestingly, indole GLs amounts increased after germination and reached the highest level in 3-day sprouts or 11-day seedlings, and they fell back to a low level in 17-day seedlings. The GL profiles of nine cultivars documented in this study will provide useful information for high quality germplasm selection for cultivation or genetic engineering, and further understanding of the GL metabolic pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interest in the pre-harvest ultraviolet-B (UV-B) exposure of crops in indoor cultivation has grown consistently, though very little is known about its influence on the nutraceutical quality of microgreens. Flaxseeds constitute a valuable oilseed species, mostly appreciated for their nutritional properties and the presence of health-promoting compounds. Therefore, although scarcely studied, flaxseed sprouts and microgreens might constitute a high-quality food product to be included in a healthy diet. This study aims to unravel the effects of pre-harvest ultraviolet-B irradiation on the nutritional and nutraceutical quality of flaxseed sprouts and microgreens grown under artificial conditions. The UV-B irradiation decreased the biomass and stem length of microgreens. However, the content of total phenolics and flavonoids and the antioxidant capacity were strongly enhanced by the UV-B treatment in both sprouts and microgreens. Among photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll a, violaxanthin, antheraxanthin, and lutein in sprouts were reduced by the treatment, while chlorophyll b increased in microgreens. In conclusion, our results showed that growing flaxseed sprouts and microgreens in controlled conditions with supplemental UV-B exposure might increase their nutritional and nutraceutical quality, as well as their antioxidant capacity, making them high-quality functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, the composition and the content of the main components of the phenolic complex of aboveground organs of buckwheat plants (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) with different levels of ploidy (2n and 4n) at the initial stages of ontogenesis and their changes under the action of cadmium (Cd, 65 µM) were studied by the method of high-performance liquid chromatography. In all variants, phenolic compounds (PCs) were represented by chlorogenic acid (phenylpropanoid), rutin (flavonol), as well as orientin, isoorientin, vitexin, and isovitexin (flavones). The amount of PCs in the cotyledon leaves in most cases exceeded that in the hypocotyls. Buckwheat seedlings of the tetraploid genotype are characterized by a higher accumulation of PCs as compared to the diploid genotype. Under the effect of Cd, the content of their individual representatives changed: in the hypocotyls of the diploid genotype, it decreased in most cases, whereas in the hypocotyls of the tetraploid genotype it increased. In the cotyledon leaves, the tendency was opposite. It was found that seedlings of two F. esculentum genotypes with different ploidy levels differed in the content of the main PCs and in their response to Cd, which is important for breeding this culture for stress resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Avances is the property of Instituto de Informacion Cientifica y Tecnologica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Plant emergence from seed banks and from asexual reproduction could be strongly influenced by environmental and biological factors. Among environmental factors, animal disturbances deserve special consideration. In this study we test the hypothesis that disturbances resulting from the burrowing activity of Ctenomys affect plant emergence (sexual and asexual) in the south of the cold Puna desert. Richness and abundance of seedlings and sprouts growing in areas disturbed or undisturbed by Ctenomys were recorded at the beginning and at the end of the vegetative season. In general terms, the activity of Ctenomys does not affect richness of emerging species, but does have a significant influence on the type of emergence. Analyses between areas revealed that seedling emergence was significantly higher than sprout emergence in areas showing Ctenomys activity, whereas no significant differences were found between types of emergence in undisturbed areas. Although vegetative emergence was important, plant emergence from seeds appears to be relevant to the recolonization of areas disturbed by Ctenomys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regeneration plays an essential role in the restructuring of plant communities, with seedlings and sprouts representing two different regeneration strategies. As an important timber species, Cunninghamia lanceolata is widely distributed throughout southern and eastern China. However, the morphology and growth of its sprouts and seedlings under natural environments have not been examined in detail. Our study quantified the morphology and growth of Cunninghamia lanceolata during its early regeneration phase. We selected a secondary mixed coniferous forest in the Huangshan region of China as the research location, and examined sapling height, basal stem diameter, lateral branch length, as well as the relationships between main stem and lateral branch elongation, and between sapling basal stem diameter and height. The results showed that high light intensity promoted the extension growth of main stems and the elongation of lateral branches of seedlings. Meanwhile, sprouts generally had shorter height growth than seedlings with the same basal stem diameter, and the growth allocation of seedlings was generally more dependent on light intensity. Our findings suggest that the morphology and growth of C. lanceolata might vary depending on the interaction of regeneration mode (plants originating from sprouts or seedlings) and light intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new sprout decay and seedling stunting disease of unknown aetiology in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) affecting nearly 5%–10% of young seedlings was noticed in vertisols of central Vidarbha (Maharashtra state, India) in July of 2017. The bacterium was consistently isolated from diseased seedlings and identified with a polyphasic method of characterization, including morphological, physiological, biochemical and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The bacterium strain CICR‐MGMG1 was isolated from diseased plants identified as Enterobacter sp. Inoculation of healthy cotton seed with an axenic culture of strain CICR‐MGMG1 isolated from diseased young seedling reproduced disease symptoms of yellowing, stunting and deformed growth similar to the symptoms reported from infected field condition. The strain CICR‐MGMG1 was consistently isolated from both diseased seedlings and stunted plants. Thus, the pathogenicity test of Koch's postulates was confirmed with the bacterium Enterobacter sp. strain CICR‐MGMG1 as the causal organism of sprout decay and seedling stunting. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first record of Enterobacter sp. causing sprouts decay and seedling stunting of cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contaminated vegetable seeds have been identified as a potential source of foodborne bacterial pathogens. This study was undertaken to observe the behavior of Salmonella and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) on vegetable seeds, contaminated by direct contact with artificially inoculated soil, during germination. Sterile sandy soil inoculated with lyophilized cells of four individual strains of Salmonella or EHEC (three O157:H7 strains and one O104:H4 strain) was mixed with sanitized seeds (2 g) of alfalfa, fenugreek, lettuce, and tomato at 20°C for 1 h. The contaminated seeds were germinated on 1% water agar at 25°C for 9 days in the dark. Populations of Salmonella and EHEC on various tissues (seed coat, root, cotyledon, and stem, etc.) of sprouts and seedlings were determined every other day over the germination period. Overall, 70.4 and 72.4% of collected tissue samples (n = 544) tested positive for Salmonella and EHEC, respectively. In general, the mean populations of Salmonella and EHEC on sprout and seedling tissues increased with the prolongation of germination time. Seed coats had the highest bacterial counts (4.00 to 4.06 log CFU/0.01 g), followed by the root (3.36 to 3.38 log CFU/0.01 g), cotyledon (3.13 to 3.38 log CFU/0.01 g), and stem tissues (2.67 to 2.84 log CFU/0.01 g). On average, tissue sections of fenugreek sprouts and lettuce seedlings had significantly higher (P < 0.05) numbers of Salmonella and EHEC cells than that of alfalfa sprouts and tomato seedlings. Data suggest that the growth and dissemination of Salmonella and EHEC cells on alfalfa, fenugreek, lettuce, and tomato sprout and seedling tissues are influenced by the type of vegetable seeds and sprout and seedling tissues involved. The study provides useful information on the fate of two important foodborne bacterial pathogens on selected vegetable seeds, contaminated by direct contact with inoculated soil, during the germination process. Vegetable seeds were contaminated via contact with pathogen-bearing sandy soil. Pathogens on contaminated seeds were recovered from tissues of sprouts and seedlings. Tomato and alfalfa tissues had lower pathogen counts than fenugreek and lettuce tissues. Seed coats had higher pathogen counts than the root and cotyledon tissues. Stem tissues had lower Salmonella/EHEC counts compared with all other tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Seeds contaminated with bacterial pathogens were found to be the primary cause of sprout-associated outbreaks of human gastrointestinal infections. This study was undertaken to determine if cells of selected Salmonella enterica and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) strains, artificially inoculated onto the flowers of vegetable plants, will result in contamination of sprouts/seedlings that develop from seeds produced by the inoculated flowers. Pistils of alfalfa, fenugreek, lettuce, and tomato flowers were inoculated with cells of selected S. enterica or EHEC strains. A total of 906, 715, 1236, and 1276 mature seeds, produced by lettuce, tomato, alfalfa or fenugreek flowers inoculated with Salmonella were collected as 48, 94, 109, and 116 composite samples (367 in total), respectively. Correspondingly, 934, 640, 1827 and 1027 seeds, produced by the four respective types of flowers after inoculation with E. coli were divided into 42, 81, 162, and 107 composite samples (392 in total), respectively. Seeds in each composite sample were surface-decontaminated with NaOCl solution and germinated at 25 °C in the dark for 5 days. Subsequently, pathogen populations on the sprouts/seedlings developed from each composite seed sample were determined by the plate count assay. The overall Salmonella recovery rate from vegetable sprouts/seedlings developed from the 367 composite seed samples was 2.7%, while none of the sprouts/seedlings grown from the 392 composite seed samples with prior E. coli inoculation tested positive for the pathogen. One of the 94 tomato seedling samples contained 4 CFU of Salmonella and five additional samples tested positive by enrichment (6.4%). Two out of 109 (1.8%) alfalfa and 116 (1.7%) fenugreek composite samples tested positive for Salmonella by enrichment. However, none of the lettuce seedlings tested positive for Salmonella or E. coli even after enrichment. This study suggests that under controlled environmental conditions, human pathogens inoculated onto flowers of vegetable plants can result in the contamination of sprouts/seedlings via seeds produced by the inoculated flowers. However, the frequency of sprout/seedling contamination was low and could be affected by characteristics of the pathogens and plant species tested. Highlights • Salmonella cells inoculated to flowers transmitted to sprouts/seedlings via seeds. • Incidence of Salmonella transmission through the floral pathway was low. • Salmonella transmission frequency was pathogen type- and vegetable type-dependent. • Contamination of vegetable seeds through floral pathway was not observed with EHEC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coppice forest is an alternative to high forest mainly aimed at the production of firewood with a short rotation period. A new interest in this silvicultural system has arisen with the demand for renewable energy resources. Exploiting the existing root system of the stump, sprouts are advantaged over plants of seed origin, and this advantage could induce changes at the level of a photosynthetic apparatus, especially in young plants. This paper presents a comparison of the photosynthetic ability of young sprouts, young seedlings and mature trees of sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) growing in a forest stand managed as a coppice-with-standards in the southeast of the Czech Republic. The basic photosynthetic characteristics and transpiration rate at the leaf level were determined using gas-exchange measurement techniques. Data taken in non-limiting conditions were compared with those obtained under limiting soil moisture. The results revealed no differences between the measured parameters of sprouts, seedlings and old trees in non-limiting conditions. Contrastingly, sprouts had the highest photosynthetic capacity and transpiration during drought due to their ability to maintain a higher stomatal conductance as compared with seedlings and old trees. This suggests a better drought tolerance of sprouts compared to seedlings.

Sprouts and microgreens, the edible seedlings of vegetables and herbs, have received increasing attention in recent years and are considered as functional foods or superfoods owing to their valuable health-promoting properties. In particular, the seedlings of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. Italica) have been highly prized for their substantial amount of bioactive constituents, including glucosinolates, phenolic compounds, vitamins, and essential minerals. These secondary metabolites are positively associated with potential health benefits. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that broccoli seedlings possess various biological properties, including antioxidant, anticancer, anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity and antidiabetic activities. The present review summarizes the updated knowledge about bioactive compounds and bioactivities of these broccoli products and discusses the relevant mechanisms of action. This review will serve as a potential reference for food selections of consumers and applications in functional food and nutraceutical industries.

The assortment of salad crops, process parameters for production of seedlings (Baby leaf) and sprouts (Microgreens) is presented. The principles of the selection and sale of salad crops in the local market are recommended.

Although a number of studies have investigated the effects of grazing frequency and intensity on seedling resprouting, the influence of grazed stubble height and timing of grazing on oak seedlings is little known. In the present study, we aimed to explore the effects of grazed stubble height and timing of grazing on the seedling resprouting of twelve oak species. By imitating herbivory grazing, we artificially clipped the shoots to different stubble heights and at different development stages of seedlings to see the resprouting capability of 12 oak species. Our study showed that both grazed stubble height and timing of grazing posed significant influences on resprouting of clipped oak seedlings. Our results indicate that the attached cotyledons play an important role in supporting resprouting of the clipped oak seedlings. Moreover, oaks bearing larger acorns show higher ability to counter herbivory grazing than those producing smaller ones. Higher stubbles grazed by herbivores exert less negative impacts on resprouting of oak seedlings than lower stubbles. Earlier grazing is less harmful to damaged oak seedlings compared with later grazing by herbivory animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron (Fe) and magnesium (Mg) deficiency in human diets is a widespread problem observed in various regions of the world. Insufficient Fe uptake results in the development of iron dependent anaemia and depressed physical and intellectual performance. In turn Mg deficiency is associated with alterations in neuromuscular and cardiovascular systems. An emerging alternative to traditional supplementation of these elements in the form of pills, liquids or effervescent tablets, is introduction of fortified food products. In present study we show that preincubation of soybean seeds in Fe and Mg solutions leads to elevated content of these elements in the seedlings. Importantly the pretreatment did not affect germination rate, seedlings growth or, with an exception of Fe supplementation at highest concentration, antioxidant capacity. The obtained results indicate that preincubation of seeds in Fe and Mg solutions may be a promising method of obtaining enriched soybean sprouts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contaminated vegetable seeds have been identified as a potential source of foodborne pathogens. This study was undertaken to observe the physiological behavior of various Salmonella enterica and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) cells attached to different types of vegetable seeds during germination. Surface-sanitized seeds (2 g) of alfalfa, fenugreek, lettuce, and tomato were exposed to four individual strains of Salmonella (Baildon, Cubana, Montevideo, and Stanley) or EHEC (three O157:H7 and one O104:H4 strain[s]) at 20 °C for 1 h. Vegetable seeds with attached bacterial cells were germinated on 1% water agar at 25 °C in the dark. Populations of Salmonella and EHEC on various tissues of sprouts/seedlings (seed coat, root, cotyledon, stem, etc .) were determined every other day over a 9-day germination period. The mean populations of Salmonella and EHEC on sprout/seedling tissues increased as the prolongation of germination time. Overall, 93.0% and 92.3% of collected tissue samples (n = 544) tested positive for Salmonella and EHEC, respectively. Seed coats had significantly higher ( P  < 0.05) bacterial counts (7.8 log CFU/g) compared to the root, cotyledon, and stem tissues (7.1–6.2 log CFU/g). On average, lettuce seedlings and alfalfa sprouts had significantly higher ( P  < 0.05) numbers of Salmonella and EHEC cells, followed by fenugreek sprouts, and tomato seedlings. The E. coli O104:H4 strain established the lowest ( P  < 0.05) cell population (5.2 log CFU/g) on sprout/seedling tissues among all EHEC strains used in the study. Among the three E. coli O157:H7 strains, F4546 (7.2 log CFU/g) and H1730 (7.0 log CFU/g) had significantly ( P  < 0.05) higher mean cell population than K4499 (6.8 log CFU/g). The mean population of S. Cubana (7.0 log CFU/g) was significantly higher ( P  < 0.05) than the populations of the other 3 Salmonella strains (6.5–6.6 log CFU/ g) used in this study. These data suggested that the growth and dissemination of Salmonella and EHEC cells on alfalfa, fenugreek, lettuce, and tomato sprouts/seedlings were influenced by the bacterial strains, type of sprouts/seedlings, and specific sprout/seedling tissues involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• American beech sprout density increases with increasing percentage of the harvest. • Beech sprouts grow faster than seedlings of all three species. • Beech seedlings and sprouts have higher survival than the other two species. • High growth and survival, and low palatability allow beech to dominate the saplings. In northern hardwood stands, silvicultural treatments aimed at regenerating sugar maple and yellow birch, such as site preparation and mechanical control of American beech saplings, often results in the formation of dense thickets of beech regeneration. The objective of this study was to compare the growth and survival of beech regeneration originating from stump sprouts, root suckers and seedlings, with yellow birch and sugar maple regeneration in partially harvested stands under cervid browsing pressure. Over an eight-year period, 997 individuals of the three species were monitored in three northern hardwood stands dominated by sugar maple, yellow birch, and American beech in Quebec, Canada. Each stand included replicates of four partial harvesting treatments and a control, providing a gradient of light and competition conditions. Beech stump sprouts and root suckers had higher growth and survival probabilities than seedlings of all three species under all light and competition conditions. Results suggest that treatments triggering beech sprouts should be applied with caution and under conditions that ensure sufficient survival and development of desired species. This study also provides evidence that selective browsing by cervids could be an important overriding factor exacerbating the effect of beech competition on yellow birch regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetable seeds contaminated with bacterial pathogens have been linked to fresh-produce-associated outbreaks of gastrointestinal infections. This study was undertaken to observe the physiological behavior of Salmonella enterica and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) cells artificially internalized into vegetable seeds during the germination process. Surface-decontaminated seeds of alfalfa, fenugreek, lettuce, and tomato were vacuum-infiltrated with four individual strains of Salmonella or EHEC. Contaminated seeds were germinated at 25°C for 9 days, and different sprout/seedling tissues were microbiologically analyzed every other day. The internalization of Salmonella and EHEC cells into vegetable seeds was confirmed by the absence of pathogens in seed-rinsing water and the presence of pathogens in seed homogenates after postinternalization seed surface decontamination. Results show that 317 (62%) and 343 (67%) of the 512 collected sprout/seedling tissue samples were positive for Salmonella and EHEC, respectively. The average Salmonella populations were significantly larger (P<0.05) than the EHEC populations. Significantly larger Salmonella populations were recovered from the cotyledon and seed coat tissues, followed by the root tissues, but the mean EHEC populations from all sampled tissue sections were statistically similar, except in pregerminated seeds. Three Salmonella and two EHEC strains had significantly larger cell populations on sprout/seedling tissues than other strains used in the study. Salmonella and EHEC populations from fenugreek and alfalfa tissues were significantly larger than those from tomato and lettuce tissues. The study showed the fate of internalized human pathogens on germinating vegetable seeds and sprout/seedling tissues and emphasized the importance of using pathogen-free seeds for sprout production,IMPORTANCE The internalization of microorganisms into vegetable seeds could occur naturally and represents a possible pathway of vegetable seed contamination by human pathogens. The present study investigated the ability of two important bacterial pathogens, Salmonella and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), when artificially internalized into vegetable seeds, to grow and disseminate along vegetable sprouts/seedlings during germination. The data from the study revealed that the pathogen cells artificially internalized into vegetable seeds caused the contamination of different tissues of sprouts/seedlings and that pathogen growth on germinating seeds is bacterial species and vegetable seed-type dependent. These results further stress the necessity of using pathogen-free vegetable seeds for edible sprout production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empirical studies indicate that the exponents governing the scaling of plant respiration rates ( R) with respect to biomass ( M) numerically vary between three-fourth for adult plants and 1.0 for seedlings and saplings and are affected by nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) content. However, whether the scaling of R with respect to M (or N and P) varies among different phylogenetic groups (e.g., gymnosperms vs. angiosperms) or during the growing and dormant seasons remains unclear. We measured the whole-plant R and M, and N and P content of the seedlings of four woody species during the growing season (early October) and the dormant season (January). The data show that (i) the scaling exponents of R versus M, R versus N, and R versus P differed significantly among the four species, but (ii), not between the growing and dormant seasons for each of the four species, although (iii) the normalization constants governing the scaling relationships were numerically greater for the growing season compared to the dormant season. In addition, (iv) the scaling exponents of R versus M, R versus N, and R versus P were numerically larger for the two angiosperm species compared to those of the two gymnosperm species, (v) the interspecific scaling exponents for the four species were greater during the growing season than in the dormant season, and (vi), interspecifically, P scaled nearly isometric with N content. Those findings indicate that the metabolic scaling relationships among R, M, N, and P manifest seasonal variation and differ between angiosperm and gymnosperm species, that is, there is no single, canonical scaling exponent for the seedlings of woody species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pea ( Pisum sativum L., cv. ‘Petit Provencal’) seeds were soaked in solutions of different iodine (I) and selenium (Se) forms (1000 mg I L −1 and 10 mg Se L −1 ). Iodine and selenium content in different parts of pea sprouts, as well as morphological, biochemical and physiological characteristics were measured in sprouts. The results showed increased concentrations of both elements in sprouts grown from treated seeds. Soaking influenced the biomass and height of the sprouts. Significant differences between plants grown from treated seeds in comparison with control plants were also observed for electron transport system activity and concentrations of tocopherol and glutathione. On the other hand, the content of photosynthetic pigments and anthocyanins remained similar as in control plants. Potential photochemical efficiency of photosystem II was close to theoretical maximum 0.8 in all samples. From the pattern of changes of stress indicators we suppose that plants adapted to the stress earlier in the experiment, i.e. before they were sampled for physiological measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Very few agroforestry species perform well in the Cuvelai Basin of north-central Namibia due to the harsh climatic and edaphic conditions. Leucaena leucocephala is one of these species and has many ecological and economic benefits but it tends to be invasive. To evaluate the suitability of this species for agroforestry in Namibia, two experiments were conducted at the Ogongo Campus of the University of Namibia. As indication of invasiveness, seed germination and survival of seedlings under different management were monitored for 44 weeks and growth rates of 33-month-old sprouts were used to estimate the potential wood biomass production. Watering and tilling the land gave the highest number of surviving seedlings. Death of seedlings was highest during the dry cold and dry hot months. Height growth rate of sprouts was 1.98 m year-1 and sun dried wood production was 15.8 tonnes ha-1 year-1. Low temperature, soil surface hard pan and extreme lack of moisture could limit seedling survival and hence invasiveness. Biomass production compares favourably with productivity of L. leucocephala grown elsewhere. The likelihood of the species becoming invasive is viewed as high only in cultivated, irrigated areas. Leucaena leucocephala could be utilised as an agroforestry species under proper management to minimise chances of it becoming invasive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential of high pressure (HP) to affect the content of free amino acids (FAA) using seedlings of Brussels sprouts as a simple non-chopped vegetable system was examined. Firstly, the effect on FAA composition during growth was assessed and it was found that the composition of total free amino acids (TFAA) and individual FAA changed dramatically during growth of the seeds to the seedling at 7 days with the highest content of TFAA. Secondly, 7-day-old seedlings were HP-treated at various pressure levels (200–800 MPa for 3 min at 5 °C). As expected the HP-treatment did not affect the amino acids as no changes in TFFA were found immediately after pressurisation. In this line, HP-treatment up to 800 MPa had minor, but significant, effect on the FAA concentrations of 10 FAA (Ala, Asp, Glu, Gly, Leu, Phe, Pro, Ser, Trp and Tyr) and no significant changes were found for 7 of the FAA (Asn, Gln, His, Ile, Lys, Thr, and Val) concluding that the short pressure time (3 min) was insufficient to activate indigenous proteolytic enzymes. Furthermore, changes in the FAA content and composition of HP-treated seedlings during storage (0, 1, 2, and 4 days at 4 ± 2 °C) were evaluated in order to assess changes in the proteolytic enzyme activity. It was found that the changes in FAA differed according to the specific amino acids as well as the HP processing conditions and the subsequent storage time. These results suggest that HP treatment affects proteolysis and/or certain amino acids metabolism pathways in Brussels sprouts seedlings after HP treatment and during subsequent storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many of the agricultural products which are highly-damped and nutrient-rich become microbially spoiled after a short while and are subsequently omitted from the human food chain. Therefore, employing different techniques of food preservation with the intention of increasing their shelf life and reducing their waste is extremely important. Accordingly, the present study aimed to explore the effect of antiseptic compounds including Sodium Hypochlorite and Ozone packed with modified atmosphere in which CO2 density was 1.5 % and 2.5% and conventional air at three different times (3,6 and 9 days) on the microbial spoilage of Mung. The results revealed that Sodium Hypochlorite plays a more effective role on the reduction of microbial load in comparison with Ozone. It was also found that packaging with modified atmosphere is effective on the reduction of mesophilic aerobic bacteria but the amount of mold and yeast increased due to the high levels of perspiration and water ellipsis in the packets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical and morphological characteristics represents quality of raw material, various physical properties of green gram seeds, soaked seeds, sprout and treated (10 and 20 min soaked in essential oil) sprouts were evaluated as a function of moisture content in the range of 10.24 to 89.7% d.b. The average length, width and hundred grain mass of green gram seeds, soaked seeds, sprouts and treated sprouts were 5.85± 0.2, 4.49 ±0.4mm, 6.3±0.1g, 7.01±.01, 5.93± 0.2mm,8.2±0.1g, 9.69±.01, 6.23 ±.01mm, 11.4±0.1g and 9.69±.01, 6.23 ±.01mm, 11.4±0.1g respectively. The geometric mean diameter increased from 5.85mm to 9.69mm, bulk density increased from 0.42 to 0.43 g/ml, tap density increased from 0.48 to 0.49g/ml, car's index increased from 8.16 to 12.2%, angle of repose increased from 30.96° to 33.02° and The static coefficient of friction varied from 0.48 to 0.36 against different six material surfaces and varied from 0.48 to 0.50 in treated samples due to significant effect (p < 0.05) of moisture content within the studied moisture range. Attended studies showed morphological characteriscs of green gram seeds at different seeding densities like 50g, 75g and 100g/500ml water, significant difference (p < 0.05) observed in sprout length, hypocotyl length and hypocotyl weight over different seeding densities. Significant decrease observed in sprout length, hypocotyl length and hypocotyl weight 20.6±0.1,15.3±0.4mm, 5.02±0.01g for 50g/500ml, 15.14±0.08, 9.80±0.5mm, 3.2±0.11g for 75g/500ml, mm,10.34±0.3, 5.01±0.2mm, 1.1±0.05g for 100g/500ml after changing the densities for seeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Janzen-Connell ( JC) hypothesis proposes that diversity of tree communities is promoted by species-specific enemies that suppress seedling recruitment. Pathogenic soil-borne fungi are often responsible for JC effects. However, previous ecological studies have not placed JC effects in the context of beneficial soil bacteria. Using the JC effect surrounding a subtropical legume tree (O rmosia glaberrima) as a model, we characterized tripartite interactions between seedlings, soil fungi and plant-associated bacteria., Survival of seedlings grown in soil inocula collected at close distances to focal adult trees was reduced. Half of the experimental units were treated with fungicides to confirm the presence of pathogenic fungi. In a parallel experiment, nitrogen-fixing rhizobia induced fewer nodules on O. glaberrima seedlings when soil inocula were collected closer to focal adult trees. An inoculation experiment with rhizobial isolates promoted nodulation of seedlings grown in soil taken at close distances to adult trees, suggesting that rhizobial densities are suboptimal at these locations., Fusarium oxysporum, a pathogen of O. glaberrima seedlings, produced exudates that inhibited growth of most bacteria isolated from nodules. Accordingly, F. oxysporum negatively affected rhizosphere colonization of rhizobia in a co-inoculation experiment. Contrariwise, certain Burkholderia isolates (from nodules and the rhizosphere) were identified that possess the ability to inhibit growth of F. oxysporum. The majority of the antagonistic bacteria were isolated from locations with fungal pathogens, suggesting competition between fungi and rhizosphere bacteria., Exclusion of pathogenic fungi by application of fungicides promoted nodulation of O. glaberrima seedlings under growth-room and field conditions., Synthesis. Our findings indicate that soil-borne pathogens surrounding adult trees are microbial keystone species that locally influence interactions between seedlings and plant-associated bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young Sessea brasiliensis trees derived from seeds and sprouts after coppicing were analyzed for differences in axial variation of anatomical features. It was hypothesized that 1) quantitative variation in anatomical features in the axial direction would indicate adjustments in water conductivity and mechanical strength along tree height and 2) significant quantitative differences in anatomical features would be observed between trees originating from seed compared to those derived from sprouts after coppicing. Results showed that wood originating from sprouts after coppicing developed differently from wood originating from seeds. Specifically, for seed provenance samples, narrower vessels were observed in the transition zone, whereas for sprouting provenance, narrower vessels were seen in roots and trunk base. Also, when comparing axial variation between seeds and sprouts, vessel diameter was smaller in plants of seed origin in the transition zone, whereas fiber diameter was smaller in trunk top and branch in plants of seed and sprouting provenances, respectively. Higher rays were observed in branch and trunk top when comparing different axial position in both origins. Thus, the first hypothesis is confirmed by significant axial variation in vessels, fibers and rays, and the second hypothesis is confirmed by the significant differences observed between trees of seed and sprout origins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early management of the regenerated seedlings shapes the future stand properties. To address these issues, pre-commercial thinning (PCT) and control treatments were applied to planted Norway spruce (Picea abiesL. Karst) and naturally regenerated birch (Betula pendulaRoth.,Betula pubescensEhrh.) stands in forest experiments in southern Sweden (lat. 56–57 N) containing 1.1–5.5 m tall saplings. The treatments were retention of 1000 or 2000 stems ha−1of Norway spruce, with no birch or birch at 1000 stems ha−1. Treatments were replicated with and without annual removal of birch sprouts from stumps. The periodic annual increment (PAI) over five years was calculated for total stand volume and individual trees. The mean PAI of dominant trees was significantly higher both following all PCT treatments than controls, and following low rather than high-density PCT. Birch retention did not affect growth of the dominant trees but PAI was lower in plots with uncontrolled sprouting. The PAI of birch was significantly higher in low-density Norway spruce plots than in control plots and the high-density plots. The treatment response was significant even in stands with initial heights of only 1–2 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited data are available concerning the physical and nutrient properties of soybean sprouts from the ultrasound-treated seeds. In this study, soybean seeds were treated by ultrasound at different power levels (0 W to 300 W), then germinated for 5 d in darkness. Morphological changes, protein patterns, amino acid contents, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content, IgE-binding, lipoxygenase isozyme activity, trypsin inhibitor, and isoflavone content of soybean sprouts were quantified. Results showed that ultrasound treatment increased germination rate, sprout length, and GABA content of soybean sprouts. No significant change was observed in protein patterns. The IgE-binding, lipoxygenase isozyme activity, and trypsin inhibitor content of soybean sprouts showed a power-dependent decrease after the seeds were exposed to ultrasound. As for the isoflavone content, daidzin and genstin contents markedly decreased, whereas, daidzein and genistein contents increased compared with those of the untreated sample. The present work indicated that ultrasound treatment will be a novel approach to improve the edibility and nutritional quality of soybean sprouts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incubation conditions using tetrathionate broth (TT) and Rappaport-Vassiliadis broth (RV), which are typically employed as enrichment broths, were investigated for the isolation of Salmonella Brandenburg grown poorly at 42°C from radish sprouts. A small number (10² CFU/ml of broth) of Salmonella with Pseudomonas aeruginosa were injected into TT and RV; however, Salmonella colonies were absent when these broths were incubated at 42°C. No differences were observed in the detection rates of colonies on either TT or RV incubated anaerobically at 35°C and aerobically at 35°C, with the exception of a small number of Salmonella with P. aeruginosa on RV. In case of mixed culture of Salmonella Brandenburg and Escherichia coli in TT and RV at 42°C, there were samples that Salmonella colonies were not detected. In the mixed culture of Salmonella Brandenburg and radish sprouts in TT and RV, the detection rate of Salmonella was better on incubation at 35°C than that at 42°C when a large number of Salmonella Brandenburg was injected (105 or 106 CFU/ml of broth). Moreover, the detection rate at colonies was better at 35°Cthan at 42°C in the case of the injection (10² CFU/ml of broth) into RV. On the other hand, no remarkable differences were observed in the detection rates of colonies on either TT or RV incubated anaerobically at 35°C and aerobically at 35°C. These results demonstrated that the isolation of Salmonella grown poorly at 42°C from radish sprouts using a high temperature incubation was not favorable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Low-temperature conditioning of garlic "seed" cloves substitutes the initial climatic requirements of the crop and accelerates the cycle. We have reported that "seed" bulbs from "Coreano" variety conditioned at 5°C for 5 weeks reduces growth and plant weight as well as the crop yields and increases the synthesis of phenolic compounds and anthocyanins. Therefore, this treatment suggests a cold stress. Plant acclimation to stress is associated with deep changes in proteome composition. Since proteins are directly involved in plant stress response, proteomics studies can significantly contribute to unravel the possible relationships between protein abundance and plant stress acclimation. The aim of this work was to study the changes in the protein profiles of garlic "seed" cloves subjected to conditioning at low-temperature using proteomics approach. Two sets of garlic bulbs were used, one set was stored at room temperature (23°C), and the other was conditioned at low temperature (5°C) for 5 weeks. Total soluble proteins were extracted from sprouts of cloves and separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Protein spots showing statistically significant changes in abundance were analyzed by LC-ESI-MS/MS and identified by database search analysis using the Mascot search engine. The results revealed that low-temperature conditioning of garlic "seed" cloves causes alterations in the accumulation of proteins involved in different physiological processes such as cellular growth, antioxidative/oxidative state, macromolecules transport, protein folding and transcription regulation process. The metabolic pathways affected include protein biosynthesis and quality control system, photosynthesis, photorespiration, energy production, and carbohydrate and nucleotide metabolism. These processes can work cooperatively to establish a new cellular homeostasis that might be related with the physiological and biochemical changes observed in previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Israel Rhizoglyphus robini is considered to be a pest in its own right, even though the mite is usually found in association with fungal pathogens. Plant protection recommendations are therefore to treat germinating onions seedlings, clearly a crucial phase in crop production, when mites are discovered. The aim of this study was to determine the role of fungi in bulb mite infestation and damage to germinating onion seedlings. Accordingly we (1) evaluated the effect of the mite on onion seedling germination and survival without fungi, (2) compared the attraction of the mite to species and isolates of various fungi, (3) assessed the effect of a relatively non-pathogenic isolate of Fusarium oxysporum on mite fecundity, and (4) determined the effects of the mite and of F. oxysporum separately and together, on onion seedling germination and sprout development. A significant reduction of seedling survival was recorded only in the 1,000 mites/pot treatment, after 4 weeks. Mites were attracted to 6 out of 7 collected fungi isolates. Mite fecundity on onion sprouts infested with F. oxysporum was higher than on non-infested sprouts. Survival of seedlings was affected by mites, fungi, and their combination. Sprouts on Petri dishes after 5 days were significantly longer in the control and mite treatments than both fungi treatments. During the 5-day experiment more mites were always found on the fungi-infected sprouts than on the non-infected sprouts. Future research using suppressive soils to suppress soil pathogens and subsequent mite damage is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]