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Dormancy in barley has been thoroughly studied and shown to negatively impact malt quality, resulting in selection against dormancy. However, reduced dormancy coincides with increased preharvest sprout (PHS) risk, thus sparking a new interest in integrating dormancy back into American barley lines if the negative effects of dormancy on malt quality can be overcome. We evaluated the dormancy and hydration index (HYI) in a biparental mapping population to determine the genotypes that would protect against PHS but have good malt quality. We found 4 HYI QTLs and 4 dormancy QTLs, one of which was near the well‐described SD2 QTL. The HYI QTLs were pleiotropically related to seed size (1H), dormancy (5H) and malt quality (2H). Lines with dormancy (5H) and increased HYI (2H and 3H) had malt quality similar to nondormant lines while maintaining PHS resistance, suggesting improvements in HYI could be the key to overcoming the negative effects of dormancy in malting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) is a gluten-free underutilized pseudocereal with excellent therapeutic and nutraceutical potential. Sprouts and microgreens produced from this plant species can be consumed regularly owing to a rich nutritional profile that can be improved by regulating the abiotic factors during their growth. Therefore, this study explores the responses of common buckwheat sprouts and microgreens in terms of growth and phytochemicals accumulation under temperature (16, and 25 ºC) and photoperiodic (16/8 h and 20/4 h, light/dark intervals) variations. Some analyses were also performed at 4 and 8 ºC. The findings highlight the beneficial effects of mild stress induced by extended photoperiod and moderate temperature like enhanced yield and phytochemical content. Extending the photoperiodic duration from 16/8 h to 20/4 h significantly triggered the biosynthesis of pigments such as carotenoids and chlorophyll in 12-day-old microgreen leaves. Likewise, a moderate temperature i.e., 16 ºC was proved more effective in inducing the accumulation of secondary metabolites including phenolics and flavonoids. However, extreme cold conditions hindered the sprouting and growth rate underscoring common buckwheat sensitivity to low temperature. These findings are crucial for refining the production strategies, ensuring the nutritional values, and optimizing the potential of common buckwheat sprouts and microgreens as "superfoods". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION It is imperative to enhance the quality of sprouts since they are a rich source of various primary and secondary metabolites. The objective of this work was to examine how multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) priming at various concentrations affected the nutritional qualities of four horticultural plants (T. foenum‐graecum, L. grandiflorum, L. sativum and A. graveolens) and their sprouting processes.Among the four applied concentrations (10–60 mgL−1), MWCNTs at 10 and 40 mg L⁻¹ induced the highest biomass accumulation in L. grandiflorum and T. foenum‐graecum, respectively, while 60 mg L⁻¹ was most effective for L. sativum and A. graveolent. MWCNTs induced growth by enhancing photosynthesis, as shown by increased chlorophyll content and rubisco activity, which rose by 27%, 17%, 23% and 12% in T. foenum‐graecum, L. grandiflorum, L. sativum, and A. graveolens, respectively. Enhanced photosynthesis by MWCNTs improved sugar metabolism as indicated by increased activity of sugar metabolic enzymes such as amylase, starch synthase and invertase. This also supplied the carbon necessary for the production of primary (amino acids, fatty acids and organic acids) and secondary (flavonoids and polyphenols) metabolites. There was consistently higher activity of antioxidant enzymes (catalase and peroxidase). Interestingly, species‐specific reactions to MWCNT priming were observed, where L. sativum sprouts showed the highest antioxidant activity, followed by A. graveolens.MWCNT priming improves sprout growth and nutritional quality by boosting metabolic processes and antioxidant activity, presenting a promising approach for sustainable agriculture. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the use of gaseous ozone (O3) to promote the germination of edible seeds. While its ability to improve seedling vigor and stimulate germination is acknowledged, there has been limited research on the impact of gaseous O3 on the biochemical profile, including phenolic compounds (TPC) and antioxidant activity, of cereals, seeds, and their sprouts. The lack of information has led to the initiation of this study, which aims to assess the impact of ozone treatment duration at a concentration of 50 ppm 1 L min−1, ranging from 1 to 5 h, on the biochemical attributes of broccoli (Brassica oleracea), radish (Raphanus sativus), alfalfa (Medicago sativa) seeds, and sprouts, as well as wheat (Triticum aestivum) grains and sprouts. By optimizing O3 exposure parameters, including duration, this approach has the potential to serve as a valuable tool for enhancing the microbiological and nutritional quality of seeds and cereals. The findings revealed that O3 treatment generally had an adverse impact on TPC in seeds, cereals, and sprouts, resulting in a significant reduction in TPC post O3 treatment. Wheat grains, in particular, displayed the lowest TPC following ozone exposure, with an average decrease of 39.4% compared to the untreated sample. However, it is noteworthy that alfalfa seeds exhibited a positive response to 4 and 5 h O3 treatment, manifesting an average increase in TPC of 13.0% and 27.7%, respectively. In turn, broccoli, radish, and wheat sprouts displayed the lowest TPC, with values of 47.7%, 20.2%, and 18.0% lower than the control samples, respectively. This study revealed that plant responses to O3 exposure varied, and the effects of O3 treatment on TPC levels depended on O3 exposure time. Furthermore, the effect of O3 on the sugar content of the seeds, cereals, and sprouts varied among different plant types, with some showing an increase in content and others showing no substantial changes. This suggests that, depending on the type of seed, O3 may have both positive and neutral effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Levodopa (LD) is the first discovered and the most promising and effective medication for Parkinson's disease (PD). As the first identified natural source of LD, Vicia faba L. (broad beans), especially its sprouts, has been confirmed to contain many other potential bioactive compounds that could also be therapeutic for PD. In this study, the bioactive components obtained from broad bean sprout extraction (BSE) that could be beneficial for PD treatment were screened, and the related mechanisms were explored. Solvent extraction combined with column chromatography was used to isolate bioactive fractions and monomer compounds, while UPLC-ESI-MS/MS, HRESI-MS and (1H, 13C) NMR were employed for compound identification. Network pharmacology techniques were applied to screen for potential mechanisms. A total of 52 compounds were identified in a 50% MeOH extract of broad bean sprouts. Moreover, twelve compounds were isolated and identified from ethyl acetate and n-butanol portions, including caffeic acid (1), trans-3-indoleacrylic acid (2), p-coumaric acid (3), protocatechualdehyde (4), isovitexin (5), isoquercetin (6), grosvenorine (7), kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside (8), isoschaftoside (9), narcissin (10), kaempferitrin (11) and trigonelline HCl (12). Compounds 2, 4, 7, 8 and 12 were isolated from Vicia faba L. for the first time. The potential mechanisms were determined by analyzing 557 drug targets, 2334 disease targets and 199 intersections between them using a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network, gene ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment. Further in vitro experiments confirmed that caffeic acid (compound 1) and p-coumaric acid (compound 3) have neuroprotective effects in 6-hydroxydopamine-treated SH-SY5Y cells and lipopolysaccharide-treated PC-12 cells through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms. In conclusion, this study explored effective components in broad bean sprouts and performed in vitro evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the anti-pruritic and immunomodulatory effects of Coix sprouts extract, focusing on histamine release and IL-31 cytokine production in HMC-1 cells. The extract significantly inhibited both factors, indicating its potential for pruritus relief. In a pruritus induction mouse model, Coix sprouts extract outperformed prednisolone in anti-pruritus effectiveness, also improving skin lesions and inhibiting mast cell infiltration. The extract suppressed tryptase expression, reduced release, inhibited mast cell proliferation, and lowered nitric oxide production, suggesting anti-inflammatory properties. Coix sprouts extract shows promise in suppressing inflammation and pruritus, making it a valuable candidate for clinical use. Additionally, the analysis of coixol content in Coix sprouts revealed variations in growth time, indicating their potential as functional materials with anti-pruritus and immune-enhancing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese cabbage is rich in vitamins, fibre, and nutrients and is one of the primary vegetables consumed in autumn and winter in South Asia. 'Purple pak choi' sprouts are particularly rich in anthocyanins and are favoured by consumers. However, reports on the regulation of anthocyanin synthesis in purple pak choi sprouts do not exist. In this study, we examined the phenotypic development of purple pak choi sprouts after germination. The total anthocyanin content increased from 0.02 to 0.52 mg/g FW from days 0 to 6. RNA-seq data analysis revealed an increase in differentially expressed genes corresponding to the development of purple pak choi sprouts. Expression pattern analysis of genes associated with the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway revealed a significant upregulation of structural genes during the purple phase, suggesting that the transcription factors PAP2 and MYBL2 may play crucial regulatory roles. BraPAP2.A03, BraTT8.A09, and BraMYBL2.A07 exhibited strong interactions with key genes in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway, specifically BraDFR.A09. Furthermore, the expression of BraPAP2.A03 aligned with the expression patterns of most anthocyanin biosynthesis-related genes, whereas those of BraTT8.A09 and BraMYBL2.A07 corresponded with the expression pattern of BraDFR.A09. These results provide valuable insights into regulatory mechanisms underlying anthocyanin synthesis in purple pak choi sprouts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The present study focuses on the use of natural substances like vitamin C, folic acid, and lactoferrin to stimulate the phenylpropanoid pathway in germinating fenugreek sprouts. • Among the different genotypes studied, germinated fenugreek sprouts of the IM6 genotype pre-treated with 500 µM vitamin C (T1) demonstrated the highest increase in total phenolic content and antioxidant activity on the 4th day of germination. • The T1-treated IM3 fenugreek sprouts also exhibited the most significant anti-hyperglycemic activity. They were able to inhibit the activities of key enzymes involved in carbohydrate digestion, including α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and invertase under in vitro conditions. • The treatments did not significantly affect the levels of diosgenin and trigonelline in germinating sprouts. These compounds are known for their health benefits and remained relatively stable during germination. • Notably, the quercetin content in T1-treated germinating sprouts continued to increase, even beyond the fourth day of germination. Quercetin is a type of flavonoid with antioxidant properties. • The study established a positive correlation between the increase in total phenol content, especially quercetin, and the antioxidant potential as well as anti-diabetic activity observed in the 4th day germinated sprouts. • These findings suggest that using T1-treated fenugreek sprouts may be a promising dietary approach for managing diabetes-related hyperglycemia and oxidative stress. The present study investigated the use of natural elicitors (vitamin C, folic acid, and lactoferrin) to stimulate the phenylpropanoid pathway in germinating fenugreek sprouts, with the aim of increasing their total phenolic phytochemical compounds responsible for imparting antioxidant and anti-hyperglycemic properties. Observations revealed that germinating fenugreek sprouts of the IM3 genotype, pre-treated with 500 µM vitamin C (T1) on the 4th day, exhibited maximal elicitation of total phenolic content (3680 mg/100 g DW) and antioxidant activity (2607.5 µM/100 g DW) compared to other genotypes. Moreover, T1-treated IM3 fenugreek sprouts demonstrated the highest anti-hyperglycemic activity by inhibiting α-amylase (48.96%), α-glucosidase (92.60%), and invertase (45.65%) enzyme activities under in vitro conditions. Interestingly, the selected treatments did not affect the diosgenin and trigonelline content of germinating sprouts, which decreased in a time-dependent manner during germination. However, the quercetin content (0.01365%) of T1-treated germinating sprouts continued to increase appreciably, even after the 4th day of germination. A direct positive correlation was established between the increase in total phenols, especially quercetin, and the antioxidant potential as well as the anti-hyperglycemic activity in germinated fenugreek sprouts on the 4th day. Thus, T1-treated sprouts hold promise for managing diabetes-related hyperglycemia and oxidative stress, emphasizing the efficacy of vitamin C in enhancing their bioactive properties. This research pioneers the use of natural elicitors to enhance the health benefits of fenugreek sprouts, notably by identifying an optimal treatment and elucidating quercetin dynamics during germination. Such findings are pivotal for advancing our understanding of sprouting processes and provide valuable insights into the development of therapeutic functional foods. However, further research is necessary to validate their efficacy before considering them as futuristic functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bi2O3 is an excellent visible light photocatalyst. However, the structural instability limits its activity and engineering application. To enhance the activity and stability, the composite of CQDs and Bi2O3 was constructed by solvothermal method, and the physical–chemical properties of prepared composite were characterized using XRD, TEM, XPS, FTIR and TPC. As the target pollutant, bisphenol A (BPA) was used to investigate the photocatalytic activity and the stability of CQDs@Bi2O3 by photodegradation experiment under the irradiation of simulated visible light, and butyl xanthate was used to prove the applicability by mung bean sprouts. As the results, the existence of CODs obviously promoted the photocatalytic activity of Bi2O3:10% CQDs@Bi2O3 could remove 93.7% of BPA in 120 min, and the reaction constant rate was almost 1.5 time of pure Bi2O3. Moreover, 10%CQDs@Bi2O3 could effectively remove butyl xanthate and greatly reduce the growth toxicity on mung bean sprouts. After doping with CQDs, the electron transfer path on the surface of the catalyst could effectively inhibit the electron–hole composite and improve the stability of the composite to a certain extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Codominant stems are a common condition of concern on landscape trees. Understanding the impact of varying degrees of stem reduction can assist practitioners in making informed pruning decisions. Methods: To determine this, a single reduction or removal cut was made on each pair of codominant stems on medium-aged Acer rubrum 'October Glory' at approximately 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of the diameter relative to the basal diameter at the shared union or left as nonpruned controls. Changes in stem diameter ratio, trunk diameter growth, sprout production, wound closure, and aesthetics were documented for 4 years starting in 2020. Results: Stem diameter ratio was significantly reduced in codominant stems pruned to a relative diameter of 50% or 75% after a single growing season. The 75% treatment reduced growth for 2 growing seasons. There were no significant differences in change of stem diameter ratio with any treatment after 3 growing seasons. Larger pruning cuts resulted in the growth of more sprouts and more exposed wood after 3 years. Aesthetics of trees following pruning were acceptable for nonpruned, 25%, and 50% treatments in all years but were rated as not acceptable or moderately acceptable for 75% and 100% treatments after 2 growing seasons. Trees with the 75% treatment became aesthetically acceptable after 3 growing seasons. Conclusions: Pruning codominant stems of A. rubrum 'October Glory' with a cut that is 50% or 75% the diameter of the basal diameter at the shared union is appropriate at reducing stem diameter ratio, minimizing exposed wood, and maintaining overall aesthetic appearance after 2 to 3 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Fermented and aged mountain‐cultivated ginseng sprouts (FAMCGS) exhibit superior antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties compared to mountain‐cultivated ginseng sprouts (MCGS). However, the mechanisms behind these properties of FAMCGSE remain unclear. This study explores the anti‐inflammatory effects of FAMCGS extract (FAMCGSE) on LPS‐stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages and the underlying mechanisms. The MTT assay confirmed that FAMCGSE (0 to 0.1%) maintained cell viability without inducing morphological changes. Pretreatment with FAMCGSE significantly mitigated LPS‐induced morphological alterations dose‐dependently. RT‐PCR and Western blot analyses showed that FAMCGSE significantly reduced the mRNA and protein levels of proinflammatory mediators such as TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐6, iNOS, and COX‐2. Additionally, FAMCGSE decreased the production of TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐6, nitric oxide, and PGE2 in LPS‐activated RAW264.7 cells. Mechanistically, FAMCGSE inhibited the phosphorylation of mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs; ERK, p38, and JNK) and prevented the LPS‐induced nuclear translocation of NF‐κB, with effects comparable to compound K (CK) or dexamethasone. Notably, FAMCGSE was particularly effective in inhibiting ERK and JNK activation, with less impact on p38, suggesting a specific inhibitory action on certain MAPK pathways. These findings highlight FAMCGSE's potential as an inhibitor of MAPK and NF‐κB pathways, indicating that FAMCGSE, including its main component CK, may be a promising therapeutic agent for inflammation‐related conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractUnderstanding the nutritional dynamics before pruning is essential to elucidate how nutrient reserves affect the mango tree’s ability to regenerate tissues. A research project was carried out to determine the adequate range of supply for mango sprout phase (pre-pruning) in two different mango leaves (from the first and second vegetative flushes), and evaluate effect of biochemical activity on mango sprouting and correlate it with fruit yield. Two experiments with ‘Ataulfo’ and ‘Kent’ mangoes were carried out from 2021 to 2023. The experiments were arranged in randomized blocks with treatments distributed in subdivided plots referring to two N sources (NO3-, NH4+) in the plots and N doses (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200% of the recommended dose) in the subplots. The leaf nutrient concentrations, sodium, and α-amylase were evaluated in leaves of the 1st and 2nd vegetative flush, the number of shoots per pruned branch, and fruit yield. The number of shoots per pruned branch, influenced by the nutritional status prior to production pruning, varies with nutrient, and the 2nd vegetative flush after the previous pruning has a greater impact on shoot development in the current cycle. The shoot growth of the ‘Ataulfo’ after production pruning depends on leaf concentrations of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sulfur, cooper, manganese, zinc and molybdenum, in addition to sodium, while ‘Kent’ depends only on phosphorus, cooper, iron, manganese, and zinc. The highest fruit yield indices are recorded under the average number of sprouts per pruned branch of 2.72 for ‘Ataulfo’ and 2.63 for ‘Kent’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sprouts are well known for having a remarkable nutritional profile. Enhancing plant chemical composition and quality of sprouts is essential since these metabolites offer numerous health advantages. To this end, this study aimed to investigate the effects of priming with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the growth and nitrogen (N) metabolism of four horticultural plants, namely, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Linium grandiflorum, Lepidium sativum, and Anethum gravelones. The properties of our synthesized MWCNTs included three characteristic peaks 3434, 1539, and 1068 cm−1 attributable to the stretching vibration of O–H, bending vibration, and C − O, respectively. MWCNT priming increased the sprouting process by inducing biomass and protein accumulation. MWCNT priming improved N metabolism, including amino acid and polyamine metabolism. At the amino acid level, there was an increase in amino acid levels (e.g., glycine, lysine, asparagine, and glutamic acid) as well as their metabolic enzyme activities, including glutamine synthetase (GS), threonine synthetase (TS), and glutamate synthetase (GOGAT). Increased polyamine levels like spermine, putrescine, and spermidine were also associated with boosting their related biosynthetic enzyme activities, i.e., arginine decarboxylase (ADC), ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), spermidine synthase, and spermine synthase (SpmS). This improvement of nitrogen metabolic pathways highlights the potential of MWCNT to boost the chemical composition of horticultural plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The improvement of the genetic and agronomic properties of cultivated plants can be carried out by various plant breeding methods, including mutation breeding. Mutations in nature are very few and rare. Ethyl Methane Sulfonate (EMS) is a chemical mutagen that can cause random mutations resulting in changes in genetic material. This study aims to determine the effect of EMS on the germination of soybean (cv. Gepak Kuning) seeds. Methods: The research was conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture Laboratory, Universitas Malikussaleh, Indonesia, in January 2023. The concentrations of EMS used were 0%, 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.25%, 0.5% and 1% with a soaking time of 4 hours. EMS concentration of 0% was used as a control treatment. The observed variables were made as percentage of germination (%) and seedling height at 7th day and 14th day after planting. Result: The results showed that an increase in EMS concentration affected the percentage of germination of soybean (cv. Gepak Kuning) sprouts. A decrease in the percentage of germination was found at an EMS concentration of 0.5%, while a decrease in seedling height had begun to be seen at an EMS concentration of 0.25%. The results of the analysis with CurveExpert 1.4 software showed that the LD50 value of the seeds of soybean (cv. Gepak Kuning) treated with EMS mutagen was at a concentration of 0.63%, the LD20 dan LD30 value was at a concentration of 0.25% and 0.41%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The legume pod borer Maruca vitrata Fabricius (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) is a key insect pest of cowpea, Vigna unguiculata Walp. The present study was designed to optimize the efficiency of mass rearing two of its biological control agents, the larval parasitoid Liragathis javana (Bhat and Gupta) and ovo-larval parasitoid Phanerotoma syleptae (Zettel), by comparing their performance on M. vitrata hosts reared on sprouting grains of 10 different varieties of cowpea as feeding substrate. Fecundity of M. vitrata and the two parasitoids were assessed per variety. Significant differences were observed between varieties for the development of unparasitzed larvae of M. vitrata and L. javana or P. syleptae-parasitized larvae. The cumulative daily fecundity shows different patterns: higher in IT 84D-449 for M. vitrata and L. javana but higher in Kpodji for P. sylepatae. Mortality of parasitized (by L. javana and P. syleptae) larvae and unparasitized (M. vitrata larvae) was lower in Kpodji variety. No significant differences were observed between male and female proportions (sex-ratio), regardless of insect species and cowpea variety except the varieties Tawa and Vitoco in L. javana. The mass rearing of M. vitrata and its two parasitoids' species could be optimized using some cowpea varieties such as Kpodji and IT 84D-449 for biological control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research analyzed the impact of exposing mung bean sprouts to ultraviolet-C (UV-C) radiation for different periods (2, 5, and 10 min). Treated sprouts were preserved at 5°C and 85-95% relative humidity for 6 days. Irradiation for 10 min effectively reduced fresh weight loss, electrolyte leakage, and microbial count and maintained the firmness of sprouts. It also positively influenced the bioactive components, including antioxidants, total phenols, and protein, potentially providing health benefits to consumers. In addition, prolonged UV-C exposure for 10 min leads to oxidative stress, marked by a rise in malondialdehyde, proline, and hydrogen peroxide content. These compounds assist in stress reduction and preserve secondary metabolites. This research implies that postharvest 10 min UV-C irradiation offers a potential approach to uphold quality while maximizing the nutritional value of mung bean sprouts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Urdbean leaf crinkle is one of the serious diseases of urdbean [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] which is caused by an ungrouped virus called Urdbean leaf crinkle virus (ULCV). The disease is highly seed transmissible under natural conditions and in experimental conditions it is mechanically transmitted through sap inoculation. Methods: The aim of this study was to standardize the protocol for sap inoculation by sprout seed abrasive method by comparing the effects of different inoculation methods, such as pin prick and without pin prick, with 0.05M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) supplemented with additives and abrasives and to further validate the standardized protocol upon different urdbean genotypes. Result: This is the first effort on the optimization of protocol in which, pin pricking as inoculation method with potassium phosphate buffer (0.05M, pH 7.0) supplemented with 0.15% sodium sulfite+0.01M 2-Mercaptoethanol and 1% celite+2% carborundum showed 100% transmissibility foremost at 2nd trifoliate stage and further validation with various urdbean genotype resulted in percent transmission ranging from 92 to 100% which evinces the efficacy and repeatability of the methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sprouts are popular due to their high nutritional content, including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and enzymes. However, the conditions favorable for sprouting, such as warm and humid environments, are also ideal for the growth of bacteria, including food‐borne pathogens. Here, we analyzed the growth and developed predictive models of locally isolated and commercial strains of Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes in alfalfa sprouts under various constant temperatures, ranging from 5°C to 25°C. Our findings indicated that these pathogens could grow at 5°C in sprouts, albeit with a low growth rate. A rapid increase in concentration occurred at temperatures of 10°C and above. The fitted models demonstrated high performance, with R2 values ranging from 0.964 to 0.997 and RMSE values ranging from 0.15 to 0.51, respectively. Based on the fitted values, bias factor (Af) values varied between 1.01 and 1.06, with all accuracy factor (Bf) values at 1.00. Acceptable prediction zone (APZ) values ranged from 81.8% to 100%. Validation of the models under dynamic temperature conditions for specific strains showed acceptable performance. This study enhances our understanding of S. enterica and L. monocytogenes growth in alfalfa sprouts. The findings of this study could be used to improve the risk assessment of these pathogens in alfalfa sprouts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The rat's model evaluated the function of sprouted beans enriched with probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v in alleviating dyslipidaemia, inflammation and disturbed redox homeostasis caused by a high‐lard diet. Sprouted beans improved the total antioxidant capacity of serum and liver, regardless of whether the feeds had a higher content of low‐molecular antioxidants or were additionally enriched with probiotics. The reduction of inflammation (lowered level of C‐reactive protein) and restoration of triglycerides and total cholesterol to the levels recorded in the control group (AIN‐93M) were especially observed in the group supplemented with the control adzuki bean. Introducing sprouted legumes (both the control and probiotic‐rich) improved microbiota activity affected by a high‐lard diet. The highest, desirable reduction of urease (by 80%) and tryptophanase (by 78%) activity was found in the groups fed with probiotic‐rich adzuki and mung bean sprouts respectively. Sprouted beans improve the metabolism of individuals subjected to a diet with an increased fat‐to‐carbohydrate energy ratio, especially concerning oxidative stress injury and microbiota activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate a parabolic–parabolic–elliptic system that describes the initial stage of tumor-related angiogenesis, given by u t = Δ u - ∇ · (u ∇ v) + ξ ∇ · (u m ∇ w) + μ u (1 - u α) , v t = Δ v + χ ∇ · (v ∇ w) - v + u , 0 = Δ w - w + u. We demonstrate that the model possesses a global classical solutions for all suitably regular initial data and associated homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions. Additionally, when m=1, the asymptotic behavior can be investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sprouts, as an edible vegetable with rich nutrients and health care efficacy, have been increasingly favored by people in recent years. Plant hormones are intrinsic mediators of plant growth and development. The impacts of plant hormone treatment on the growth and quality of sprouts were summarized, and the potential mechanisms were briefly discussed. Moreover, this review explored prospective applications and investigations to promote the sprouts industry. Proper plant hormone treatment could promote the seed germination rate, hypocotyl growth, and fresh weight of sprouts. Meantime, appropriate plant hormone treatment could enhance the bioactive compound contents (such as total phenolic, pigments, and vitamins), antioxidant capacity, and anti-adipogenic and anti-diabetic activities of sprouts. Furthermore, hormones could delay the discoloration progress and promote the antioxidant capacity in sprouts, thus maintaining the postharvest quality. Although the impact of hormones on sprout quality is mainly dependent on the kind, dose, and treatment method of the hormone, the sprout species and cultivars, the growth phase, environmental factors, and others, plant hormone treatment is still a practical and prospective strategy in sprout industry to produce sprouts with enhanced growth and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The orthogonal array design method was used to optimize ultrasonic-assisted extraction of resveratrol from peanut sprouts. The results showed that the highest extraction yield of resveratrol using ultrasonic-assisted extraction could be up to 1.1%. The optimal extraction conditions were liquid to solid ratio of 30:1 (mL/g) and ethanol concentration of 80% (v/v) as solvent for 40 min at the temperature of 70 °C. AB-8 macroporous adsorption resin was used to purify the crude extract and the resveratrol content increased to 47.5% after one treatment run. The optimal adsorption parameters were initial concentrations in the sample solution of 2 mg/mL, a pH of 5.0, a flow rate of 2 mL/min, and a temperature of 25 °C. The optimal desorption parameters were 60% ethanol and a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The chemical composition of the peanut sprout's resveratrol sample was investigated via HPLC, and the predominant constituents were found to be protocatechuic acid, catechins, caffeic acid, epicatechuic acid, resveratrol, and rutin. The antioxidant activities of the resveratrol were measured via the following different analytical methods: reducing power, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhdrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl radical-scavenger activity, superoxide radical-scavenger activity, the β-carotene bleaching test, and the scavenging nitrite test. The results indicated that the resveratrol in peanut sprouts have significant antioxidant activities and can be used as a source of potential antioxidant. And peanut sprout's resveratrol has the potential and valuable application to be used as a new type of resveratrol resource. The finding of this study can provide some theoretical reference for the comprehensive utilization of peanut resources in the development of antioxidant health foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cruciferous sprout is a new form of vegetable product rich in bioactive compounds, especially glucosinolates. Previous studies have focused on increasing the accumulation of glucosinolates in cruciferous sprouts by applying different chemical regulators, with a particular focus on their contribution to nutritional quality and health benefits. Nevertheless, the effects of melatonin and UV-B irradiation on glucosinolate biosynthesis remain unclear. In this study, it was found that changes in melatonin concentrations significantly affected the contents of individual as well as total aliphatic and indolic glucosinolates. The 5 μmol · L−1 melatonin was decided as the optimum concentration that could increase the content of beneficial glucosinolates including glucoraphanin and 4-methoxy glucobrassicin in Chinese kale sprouts. Notably, the enhancement of glucosinolate accumulation by melatonin treatment could be further amplified by UV-B irradiation. Furthermore, our results showed that R2R3-MYB transcription factor BoaMYB28 and BoaMYB51, which are central regulators of aliphatic and indolic glucosinolate biosynthesis respectively, were both involved in the regulation of glucosinolate biosynthesis by melatonin and UV-B irradiation. Additionally, the expression of glucosinolate biosynthetic genes, including BoaCYP79F1, BoaCYP83A1, BoaSUR1, BoaUGT74B1, BoaCYP79B2, BoaCYP79B3, and BoaCYP83B1 participated in the formation of core structures and BoaFMOGS-OX5, BoaAOP2, BoaCYP81F2, and BoaIGMT1 involved in the side-chain modification of aliphatic and indolic glucosinolate, was regulated by melatonin or UV-B irradiation. Taken together, these findings provide a potential strategy for improving the nutritional quality and resistance of Chinese kale sprouts.

Introduction: In recent years, with the rapid expansion of ratoon rice production in Hunan, a unique ratoon rice-based production system, forage-grain ratoon rice (FG-RR), has been newly developed. Ratooning rice is a season of rice harvested by utilizing the dormant buds on the rice stubble left after harvesting the first season of rice to sprout and grow. Therefore, the characteristics of stalks themselves are crucial for the production of ratoon rice. The cutting period and higher stubble height directly affect the characteristics of ratoon rice stubbles. Based on this, we conducted the following research. Methods: In 2021 and 2022, field experiments were conducted in central China to study the effects of different cutting periods and stubble height on the regeneration rate and nutrient content of ratoon crops. The treatments included two cutting periods (10 days after heading in the first season and 30 days after heading in the first season, respectively referred to as T10 and T30) and two stubble heights (10 cm and 30 cm, respectively referred to as H10 and H30). Results: Compared with the T30H30 treatment, T10H10 and T10H30 increased grain yield by 48.1%, 41.7%, 73.1%, and 65.2% in the two-year ratoon seasons, while T30H10 reduced grain yield by 30.9% and 19.5% in the two years, respectively. Early cutting increased the panicles, spikelets per panicle, and filled grain rate to varying increase, while higher stubble height increased panicles but decreased spikelet panicle. On the one hand, early cutting and higher stubble height increased the dry and fresh weight, nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs), organic carbon (C), and nitrogen content of rice stalks, thereby improving the regeneration rate of ratoon rice. On the other hand, early cutting and higher stubble height retention increased the accumulation of nitrogen in rice stubble throughout the entire growth period and facilitated the transport of nitrogen to the mature panicles. Discussion: Therefore, appropriate early cutting and higher stubble height retention are the keys to improving the grain yield and stability of ratoon rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the fast kurtogram, many previous studies have focused on frequency band selection (FBS) affected by interference due to impulsive noise and varying speed conditions. Recently, machine learning algorithms have been considered effective for bearing diagnosis. However, most of these methods are supervised learning and thus suffer from data imbalance in the practical applications. This study proposes a semi-supervised learning indicator called outlier rate diagram (ORgram) based on the signal changes before and after bearing damage. ORgram is suitable for impulsive noise and varying speed conditions. First, the healthy bearing data is segmented by rotational speed and modeled with one-class support vector machine (SVM) for each frequency band. As bearing defects sprout, the defect response will produce the highest outlier rate in the informative frequency band (IFB). After selecting the IFB, techniques such as envelope analysis and order tracking are used to identify damaged bearing components for an alarm to reduce the losses caused by unplanned downtime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The images of crop roots collected by the minirhizotron method have a complex soil background, and roots occupy a relatively small proportion. Common semantic segmentation models used for root extraction may misclassify pixels at the edge of roots as soil when the receptive field is small or multi-scale feature fusion is inadequate. Moreover, the long image acquisition cycle and initial difficulty in collecting a large number of valid samples with the minirhizotron method hindered the rapid deployment of root extraction models. To improve the accuracy of root phenotyping measurements and optimize extraction model deployment strategies, this study devised an in-situ automatic root imaging system to acquire minirhizotron images of crops in real time. A full-scale skip feature fusion mechanism is constructed for the U²-Net model with rich receptive fields for the effective classification of root pixels in minirhizotron images. Integrating data augmentation and fine-tuning method of transfer learning methods to achieve rapid deployment of root extraction models for target species. The full-scale skip feature fusion mechanism involved fusing the output features of the upper encoder and lower decoder of the U²-Net model across all scales, thereby serving as input features for a certain decoder layer and effectively retaining more feature information to enhance the decoder's information restoration capability. In terms of model deployment, this study compared fine tuning method of transfer learning with mixed training to address the issue of model training with limited samples. Experimental materials included self-developed in-situ automatic root imaging systems for collecting garlic sprout root system images and the publicly available minirhizotron dataset PRMI(plant root minirhizotron imagery). The experimental design included performance metric comparisons on the PRMI(plant root minirhizotron imagery)dataset, followed by analysis and validation on garlic sprout data. The control group comprised pre-improvement and post-improvement versions of the U²-Net, U-Net, SegNet, and DeeplabV3+_Resnet50 models. Finally, the predictive effects of fine-tuning and mixed training methods on the garlic sprout test set were compared to identify effective strategies for rapid model deployment. The experimental results demonstrate that on the garlic sprout dataset, the improved U²-Net model achieves average F1 and IoU scores of 86.54% and 76.28%, respectively. Compared to the pre-improvement version, U-Net, SegNet, and DeeplabV3+_Resnet50 models, the average F1 increases by 0.66、5.51、8.67 and 2.84 percentage points, respectively, while the average IoU increases by 1.02、8.18、12.52 and 4.31 percentage points, respectively. Practical segmentation shows enhanced recognition capability for root system edges, significantly reducing over-segmentation and under-segmentation phenomena. In the garlic sprout dataset with limited samples, fine-tuning of transfer learning outperformed mixed data and training, with model performance metrics F1 and IoU improving by 2.89 and 4.45 percentage points, respectively. For root length, area, and average diameter, the determination coefficient R² values between the result of the model's predicted images and manually labeled images reached 0.965, 0.966, and 0.830, respectively. This study offers a reference for enhancing the accuracy of root phenotype measurement in minirhizotron images and the rapid deployment of root extraction models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we established a system to analyze and accurately distinguish changes in the metabolite content of mung bean sprouts at various growth stages. Specific regions of the FT-IR spectrum (1700–1500 cm-1, 1500–300 cm-1, and 1100–950 cm-1) reflected qualitative and quantitative changes in key metabolites, such as amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and sugars. These regions play crucial roles in assessing metabolic changes at different growth stages. The results of the PCA revealed that metabolite clusters were distinctly separated according to growth stage, with notable differences observed between days 7, 10, 14, and 17. This indicated significant differences in metabolite changes across growth stages. PLS-DA analysis also confirmed similar results, clearly distinguishing metabolite changes according to growth stage, thus providing valuable information for identifying growth stages. This technique can be an important tool in the selection and breeding of mung bean varieties and can contribute to the development of functional materials. Furthermore, it is expected to contribute significantly to enhancing mung bean productivity and research on functional substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Approximately half of the populations of developed countries contract cancer, with a very high proportion of colorectal cancer among all cancer types. Food choices must be improved to maintain good health. HASPIN inhibitors suppress the proliferation of various cancer cells. In this study, the antitumor effect of ingesting bean sprouts containing the HASPIN inhibitor coumestrol was investigated using a mouse model of familial adenomatous polyposis (ApcMin/+). The results indicated that ingesting a diet including bean sprouts suppressed the development of intestinal polyps, cachexia, and hypogonadism in mice. These findings demonstrated that bean sprouts are a beneficial food for preventing cancer and are expected to be applicable in humans. (1) Background: HASPIN kinase is involved in regulating spindle function and chromosome segregation, as well as phosphorylating histone H3 at Thr3 in mitotic cells. Several HASPIN inhibitors suppress cancer cell proliferation. It was recently reported that coumestrol from bean sprouts inhibits HASPIN, and a cultivation method for bean sprouts containing large amounts of coumestrol has been established. Here, we showed the effects of bean sprout ingestion on intestinal polyp development, cachexia, and hypogonadism in a mouse model of familial adenomatous polyposis (ApcMin/+). (2) Methods: ApcMin/+ mice were randomized into control and treatment groups. Mice in the control group were given the standard diet, while those in the treatment group were given the same standard diet with the addition of 15% bean sprouts. Treatments were commenced at 7 weeks old and analyses were performed at 12 weeks old. (3) Results: ingesting bean sprouts suppressed the development of intestinal polyps, cachexia, and hypogonadism, and also increased serum levels of testosterone in male wild-type and ApcMin/+ mice. (4) Conclusions: ingesting bean sprouts helps prevent cancer and increases serum levels of testosterone in a mouse model. These results are expected to be applicable to humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pea sprouts, considered a nutritious and environmentally sustainable vegetable with significant cultivation prospects and market potential, face growth challenges due to salt stress. However, the underlying mechanisms associated with this stress have not been fully elucidated. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a hydroponic study applying various concentrations of NaCl salt stress to pea sprouts. Systematic analysis was performed on key parameters including germination, plant height, biomass, and enzyme activity of pea sprouts under salt treatment. Our aim was to unravel the underlying mechanisms associated with the impact of salt stress on the growth of pea sprouts. Results revealed that salt treatment significantly inhibited the germination process of pea sprouts' seeds, leading to a notable decrease in plant height and sprout yield. Salt stress induced an increase in MDA content, a decrease in chlorophyll content, and elevated relative conductivity. However, a low concentration of salt treatment enhanced SOD activity, suggesting the activation of oxidative stress resistance mechanisms in pea sprouts. Moreover, salt treatment exhibited an inhibitory effect on soluble protein content while promoting soluble sugar content in pea sprouts. Additionally, low-concentration salt treatment increased the crude fiber content of pea sprouts, while high-concentration salt treatment inhibited it. In summary, this study indicates that salt stress could cause physiological damage to pea sprouts, but pea sprouts may employ metabolic strategies to adapt to the low concentration of salt stress. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the physiological responses of pea sprouts to salt stress and provide valuable insights for its implementation of salt-tolerant cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study is to investigate the mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites considering void defects by adopting a representative volume element model. The results reveal that initial damage always sprouts at the interface, the void defects affect the location of the initial damage and are the dominant factor in determining the stress required for damage sprouting. In addition, the void defects as well as the neighboring debonding interfaces together determine the direction of the main damage evolution zone. The transverse tensile properties are most affected by the void defects, while the longitudinal tensile properties are least affected. In particular, the strength is more sensitive to void defects than that of elastic constants. In addition, the mechanical properties of high Fiber Volume Fraction (FVF) FRP composites are significantly stronger affected by void defects than those of low FVF FRP composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of burned plant biomass ashes could help not only with respect to utilizing combustion residues, but also with respect to optimizing the nutrition of cultivated agricultural plants without harming the environment. With this aim, a pot experiment of the effects of multi-crop biomass ash on faba bean seedlings was carried out in the Academy of Agriculture of the Vytautas Magnus University (VMU). Four ash fertilization rates were tested: 1. unfertilized (N0, comparative-control treatment); 2. fertilized at a low rate (N1, 200 kg ha−1); 3. fertilized at an average rate (N2, 1000 kg ha−1); 4. fertilized at a high rate (N3, 2000 kg ha−1). Final observations showed that ash fertilization significantly increases the height of faba bean sprouts by 21–38%, the length of the roots by 10–20% and the chlorophyll concentration in the leaves by 17%. The average green biomass of faba bean sprouts consistently increased with increasing fertilization rate, from 56% to 209%. Dried biomass increased by 160–220%. With increasing ash fertilization rate, the percentage of dry matter in the roots decreased by 10–50%. We recommend fertilizing faba bean with medium (1000 kg ha−1) and high (2000 kg ha−1) ash rates, as these rates led to the largest plants with the highest productivity potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) sprouts are rich in bioactive compounds that offer numerous health benefits. However, limited research exists on their cultivation, nutritional value, and processing potential. This study compared the nutritional composition and antioxidant activity of quinoa sprouts from different varieties at various time points. Results showed a general increase in most nutrients over time. At the 24 h mark, JQ-W3 exhibited a 17.77% increase in leucine, 1.68 times higher than in eggs, along with a 6.11-fold elevation in GABA content. JQ-B1 exhibited the preeminent antioxidant potency composite (APC) score. Saponins, known for their bitter taste, decreased at 12 h but returned to original levels by 24 h. Based on nutritional components and saponin content, 24 h sprouted black quinoa JQ-B1 and white quinoa JQ-W3 were selected, providing a basis for quinoa sprout development in the food industry. These findings contribute to the understanding and utilization of quinoa sprouts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to enhance the quality of hot air drying for Tartary buckwheat sprouts and minimize the loss of active substances, this research explored the impact of Color Protection(CP), Osmosis(OM), Blanching (BC), β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), and Ultrasound (US) in conjunction with hot air drying on the color, nutritional value, antioxidant properties, and other attributes of Tartary buckwheat sprouts. The findings revealed that as the drying temperature increased from 50 °C to 70 °C, the drying duration for Tartary buckwheat sprouts decreased across all treatment groups, leading to a higher dehydration rate. Treatments involving CP, US, and BC effectively reduced the drying time of Tartary buckwheat sprouts. Sprouts subjected to CP, β-CD, and US treatments exhibited elevated L* values and decreased a* values and displayed a more vibrant green color. When exposed to a hot air setting of 60 °C, the total flavonoid content in the CP, OM, β-CD, and US groups increased by 8.76%, 6.76%, 12.34%, and 4.25%, respectively, compared to the Control Group (CK). The application of the CP, OM, β-CD, and US treatments enhanced the sprouts' ability to combat ABTS and DPPH free radicals. Notably, under hot air conditions of 60 °C, the β-CD treatment demonstrated the most effective quality preservation during the hot air drying process for sprouts. This study provides valuable insights into the drying behavior of Tartary buckwheat sprouts and offers guidance for optimizing the drying procedures in industrial settings. Tartary buckwheat sprouts contain a variety of polyphenols and have a high water content. The study of changes in active components such as polyphenols and their alteration mechanisms in Tartary buckwheat sprouts under different processing methods is particularly important for the development of sprout processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation on a pre-harvest spray of alpha-1-naphthalene acetic acid (alpha-NAA) on potato crops in relation to improving the storage ability was undertaken in the Botany Department of Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, India on Solanum tuberosum cv. 'Kufri Chandermukhi'. Sprout initiation was observed in tubers on the 20th day, with 4.0 x 10-4 M application of alpha-NAA during storage. In control, it was prominently noticed on the first observation made on the 10th day (0.8 mm), whereas in the treated one, it was very small. These treatments were able to check the percentage of sprouting. Rottage was observed after the 40th day of storage. The decline in starch content was less in the treatment group than in the control group up to the 20 days, but a reverse trend was witnessed after that compared with initial values. The starch contents were significantly higher in treated tubers than untreated in most stages. After 40 days, per cent cumulative physiological weight loss values were 9.20, 9.62, and 10.33% in 4.0 x 10-4 M alpha-NAA, 5.5 x 10-4 M alpha-NAA, and control, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to initiate sprouting soon after harvest to enable direct tuber testing for potato virus Y (PVY) could aid in acquiring more rapid results compared to the traditional winter grow out tests currently used. Methods to break dormancy for PVY detection using laboratory direct tuber testing by ELISA in commercially produced Ranger Russet, Clearwater Russet, and Umatilla Russet seed lots were tested over two years and compared to leaf testing results obtained from the winter grow out and spring grow out. At harvest, three 400 tuber samples from each cultivar were obtained for the trial and included (1) untreated control (UTC), (2) application of cold aerosol smoke, or (3) application of Rindite. Tuber samples were held at 18.3 C and sprout development was monitored weekly. Treatments were direct tuber tested for PVY when one treatment of that cultivar achieved three sprouts elongating to six millimeters. A fourth 400 tuber sample was collected, treated with Rindite, and included in the Idaho winter grow out plots in Waialua, Hawaii and leaves were sampled and evaluated for PVY using ELISA. Laboratory tested seed was stored and planted in a spring grow out (Kimberly, Idaho) and leaf samples were analyzed for PVY by ELISA. Rindite treated tubers had greater sprout rating and number of sprouts elongating compared to UTC tubers and tubers receiving the smoke treatment at time of PVY testing. Smoke had a greater sprout rating but did not always significantly differ in the number of sprouts elongating compared to the untreated tubers. Overall, estimates of PVY prevalence from direct tuber testing showed limited significant differences to those obtained in the winter grow out for each cultivar, year, and PVY incidence. However, in year two, the incidence of PVY in the winter grow out (7% PVY) significantly differed from direct tuber testing (16% PVY) in Ranger Russet. In both years, the spring grow out PVY results for all cultivars were not significantly different than the direct tuber testing, except in year one the Ranger Russet direct tuber tested UTC showed 10% lower PVY detection compared to the spring grow out. This study identified a novel dormancy breaking treatment to promote earlier and accurate PVY detection by direct tuber testing using ELISA and provided data to support direct tuber testing for post-harvest evaluation of PVY in seed certification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ailanthus altissima is an invasive tree threatening the biodiversity in natural and disturbed habitats of temperate regions, primarily because of its high resprouting vigor. To test the effect of light exclusion on stem and root sprouting, black covers were applied on the cut stumps of 3-year-old saplings grown in pots. The treatments were as follows: SL, stumps exposed to light; SH, only stumps covered; SPH, the entire pot covered; C, intact control plants. The covers were removed when the root sprouts appeared. The emergence of stem and root sprouts was checked weekly, and their number and biomass were determined at the growth peak (cut I and III) and the end (cut II and IV) of two seasons after cutting. Stem sprouts were produced only in the first growth season in SL and SH and never in SPH and the controls. The number and biomass of the root sprouts were the highest in SH at cut I and in SL in the following cuts. In SH, the sprouting ceased completely after cut I, suggesting a rapid consumption of root reserves, while in SL and SPH, repeated cutting progressively reduced the sprouting vigor. We concluded that covering the stems after cutting is a promising technique to control ailanthus resprouting without the use of herbicides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broccoli sprouts have been considered as functional foods which have received increasing attention because they have been highly prized for glucosinolates, phenolics, and vitamins in particular glucosinolates. One of hydrolysates-sulforaphane from glucoraphanin is positively associated with the attenuation of inflammatory, which could reduce diabetes, cardiovascular and cancer risk. In recent decades, the great interest in natural bioactive components especially for sulforaphane promotes numerous researchers to investigate the methods to enhance glucoraphanin levels in broccoli sprouts and evaluate the immunomodulatory activities of sulforaphane. Therefore, glucosinolates profiles are different in broccoli sprouts varied with genotypes and inducers. Physicochemical, biological elicitors, and storage conditions were widely studied to promote the accumulation of glucosinolates and sulforaphane in broccoli sprouts. These inducers would stimulate the biosynthesis pathway gene expression and enzyme activities of glucosinolates and sulforaphane to increase the concentration in broccoli sprouts. The immunomodulatory activity of sulforaphane was summarized to be a new therapy for diseases with immune dysregulation. The perspective of this review served as a potential reference for customers and industries by application of broccoli sprouts as a functional food and clinical medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mung bean sprouts are widely consumed as a seasonal fresh vegetable, renowned for their affordability and richness in antioxidants and bioactive compounds. This study employed ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatogram‐Q‐Exactive HF mass spectrometry (UHPLC‐QE‐MS) and multivariate statistical analysis to comprehensively evaluate the chemical profile of mung bean sprouts following sulfite immersion. The findings revealed a significant alteration in the overall chemical composition of mung bean sprouts following sodium sulfite immersion. Eleven components, including four sulfur‐containing compounds, were identified as characteristic markers distinguishing between non‐immersed and sodium sulfite‐immersed mung bean sprouts. Esterification and addition reactions were inferred to occur during sodium sulfite immersion, leading to the transformation of flavonoid and saponin sulfates. Commercial samples analysis indicated that sulfur‐containing compounds were detectable in 9 of 11 commercial mung bean sprouts. Meanwhile, when sodium sulfite concentration exceeded 3.00 mg/mL and immersion time exceeded 360 min, the contents of total polyphenol and flavonoid were significantly reduced and the antioxidant activity was adversely influenced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the phytochemical composition and biological activities of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) leaves, flowers' methanolic extracts from the Sofia variety, and its sprouts cultivated under different light conditions (natural light, darkness, blue, and white LED light for 5, 7, and 9 days). Phytochemical analysis using HPLC identified four key polyphenolic compounds in sprouts' extracts: chlorogenic, caffeic, and gallic acids, and myricetin, with a predomination of the chlorogenic acid. In contrast, leaves and flowers' extracts contained cannflavins A and B and chlorogenic, p-coumaric, and ferulic acids, with a significant presence of isochlorogenic acid. Antioxidant capacity, assessed by FRAP method, revealed higher antioxidant potential in leaves compared to flowers and sprouts, with sprouts grown under blue and white LED lights exhibiting the highest activity. Cytotoxic activity was evaluated on human colon cancer cell lines (HT29, HCT116, DLD-1) and normal colon epithelial cells (CCD 841 CoN). Results demonstrated significant and selective cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines, with leaves showing more pronounced effects than flowers, and sprouts only moderate activity. All samples revealed an anti-inflammatory effect in vitro. To conclude, sprouts, leaves, and flowers of the Sofia hemp may be considered promising products for chemoprevention in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sprout is a popular homemade salad, but frequently contaminated with pathogens, which requires efficient disinfection measure. The present work demonstrated an effective method to control microorganisms on seeds before sprout production using electrochemical activated solution (EAS). The seeds were treated with EAS containing different concentrations of chlorine to assess the efficacy of disinfection, germination, and sprout growth. The long-term effect of the treatment with EAS was studied on seeds stored for 4, 8, or 12 w at 8 or 28°C. The results showed that EAS treatment reduced coliform and Erwinia carotovora without affecting seed germination or sprout growth. High sterilisation efficacy was achieved at higher available chlorine concentration (ACC) and/or longer treatment. The highest disinfection effect was observed at the ACC of 29.0 ppm and treatment at 15 min. Sterilisation was maintained for 12 w at 8°C or 4 – 8 w at 28°C when the seeds were treated with EAS having 29.0 ppm ACC in 15 min. The present work provided an effective way to control bacteria on seeds, and prevent the transmission of pathogens from seeds to later sprout products, thus improving their safety and hygiene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sprouts of various seeds have garnered considerable regard amid consumers due to its verdure, crispiness, and germination potential, offering a cost-effective and straightforward process. The moist and warm conditions are very conducive to germination, fostering the growth of microorganisms and thereby raising food safety concerns. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of ozone on Enterobacteriaceae counts by subjecting wheat (Triticum aestivum) grains, alfalfa (Medicago sativa), radish (Raphanus sativus) and broccoli (Brassica oleracea) seeds to ozone gas treatment. Additionally, the grain and seeds were rinsed with ozonated water during germination. Three different treatment methods were employed for seeds and grains. In the first method, samples were exposed to ozone gas at 20 ppm for 10 minutes, with subsequent rinsing every 12 hours during germination until the rinse water appeared visually clean, at a concentration of 2.0 mg L-1 of ozone. The second method involved rinsing with ozonated water at a concentration of 2.0 mg L-1 for durations of 20, 40, and 60 minutes. The third method - treated with ozone gas at 50 ppm and the exposure time of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 h. Untreated samples were used as controls. Evaluation of the samples revealed that Enterobacteriaceae was virtually undetectable in dry seeds. However, after 72 hours of germination in both the control and ozonetreated sprouts and following 7 days of storage at 4±2 °C, Enterobacteriaceae were found at an average of 7 to 8.1 log CFU g-1 in all samples, irrespective of the treatment method. Additionally, mould was observed only in wheat and radish sprouts during the assessment period. The study showed that there was no significant reduction in the number of mesophilic aerobic and facultative anaerobic microorganisms, moulds and Enterobacteriaceae then treated with ozone gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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To enhance the selenium (Se) intake of the general public, the present study implemented biofortification techniques in alfalfa sprouts. Alfalfa sprouts possess unique nutritional value and provide an optimal Se-enriched supplemental Se source. The impact of sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) on alfalfa shoot germination, shoot length, and biomass was assessed experimentally, and changes in the antioxidant capacity of sprouts treated with optimal Se concentrations were investigated. In addition, the transcriptome of alfalfa sprouts treated with the optimal Na2SeO3 concentration was sequenced. Gene co-expression networks, constructed through differential gene analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis, were used to identify the core genes responsible for Se enrichment in alfalfa sprouts. The findings of the present study offer novel insights into the effects of Se treatment on the nutrient composition of alfalfa sprouts, in addition to introducing novel methods and references that could facilitate production of Se-enriched alfalfa sprouts and associated products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sesame is an important oilseed crop that provides invaluable nutrients in food products. Due to the fact that it is neglected, little is known on how sprouting days affect its nutritional quality. This study aimed to determine the effect of sprouting durations on the nutritional composition of two sesame varieties grown in Ghana. The experimental design was a 2x5 factorial design in Completely Randomized Design with three replications. Factor one was sesame varieties at two levels (Grey and Brown) and factor two was sprouting durations at five levels (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 day). The study revealed that highest carbohydrate (30.64%), protein (35.77%) and moisture (87.79%) contents were produced by the grey variety which was sprouted for 8 durations. Moreover, the best crude fibre (25.88%) content was produced by the brown variety which was not sprouted, whiles highest fat content was produced by the grey variety which was sprouted for 2 durations. Highest calcium (2.37mg/kg), phosphorus (1.49mg/kg) and potassium (1.39mg/kg) content was produced by the grey variety which was sprouted for 8 durations whiles highest magnesium content (0.79mg/kg) was produced by the brown variety which was sprouted for 2 durations. Sprouting durations and the varieties did not significantly influence sodium content of sprouted seeds. Highest nutrients from sesame seeds can be obtained by sprouting the grey variety for 8 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skin aging is an inevitable and intricate process instigated, among others, by oxidative stress. The search for natural sources that inhibit this mechanism is a promising approach to preventing skin aging. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the composition of phenolic compounds in the micellar extract of Phaseolus vulgaris sprouts. The results of a liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis revealed the presence of thirty-two constituents, including phenolic acids, flavanols, flavan-3-ols, flavanones, isoflavones, and other compounds. Subsequently, the extract was assessed for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-collagenase, anti-elastase, anti-tyrosinase, and cytotoxic properties, as well as for the evaluation of collagen synthesis. It was demonstrated that micellar extract from common bean sprouts has strong anti-aging properties. The performed WST-8 (a water-soluble tetrazolium salt) assay revealed that selected concentrations of extract significantly increased proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts compared to the control cells in a dose-dependent manner. A similar tendency was observed with respect to collagen synthesis. Our results suggest that micellar extract from Phaseolus vulgaris sprouts can be considered a promising anti-aging compound for applications in cosmetic formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Phenolic acid exhibits a variety of well‐known physiological functions. In this study, optimal germination conditions to ensure total phenolic acid enrichment in barley sprouts induced by salicylic acid treatment and its effects on sprout physiology and activity, as well as the gene expression of key enzymes for phenolic acid biosynthesis, were investigated. RESULTS: When sprouts were treated with 1 mmol L−1 salicylic acid during germination and germinated at 25 °C for 4 days, the phenolic acid content was 1.82 times that of the control, reaching 1221.54 μg g−1 fresh weight. Salicylic acid significantly increased the activity of phenylalanine aminolase and cinnamic acid‐4‐hydroxylase and the gene expression of phenylalanine aminolase, cinnamic acid‐3‐hydroxylase, cinnamic acid‐4‐hydroxylase, 4‐coumaric acid‐coenzyme A, caffeic acid O‐methyltransferase, and ferulate‐5‐hydroxylase in barley sprouts. However, salicylic acid treatment significantly increased malondialdehyde and H2O2 content, H2O2 and O2− fluorescence intensity, as well as significantly decreasing sprout length and fresh weight. Salicylic acid treatment markedly increased the activity of peroxidase and catalase and the gene expression of peroxidase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase in barley sprouts. CONCLUSION: Salicylic acid treatment during barley germination significantly promoted the enrichment of total phenolic acid by increasing the activities and gene expression levels of enzymes involved in the phenolic acid biosynthesis pathway. Salicylic acid induced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, inhibited sprout growth, and activated the antioxidant system. This study provides a basis for the future development of functional foods using phenol acid‐rich plants as raw materials. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Cruciferous vegetable sprout has been highlighted as a promising functional material rich in bioactive compounds called isothiocyanates (ITCs) and it can be grown in very short periods in controlled indoor farms. However, because ITCs content depends on multiple factors such as cultivar, germination time and myrosinase activity, those variables need to be controlled during germination or extraction to produce functional materials enriched in ITCs. Sulforaphene (SFEN), an ITC found primarily in radishes (Raphanus sativus L.), exerts beneficial effects on obesity. However, the optimal germination and extraction conditions for radish sprout (RSP) to increase SFEN content remain unascertained, and the extract's anti‐obesity effect has yet to be evaluated. RESULTS: The present study found that the SFEN content was highest in purple radish sprout (PRSP) among the six cultivars investigated. Optimal SFEN content occurred after 2 days of PRSP germination (2 days PRSP). To maximize the dry matter yield, total ITCs and SFEN contents in RSP extract, we found the optimal conditions for extracting PRSP [27.5 °C, 60 min, 1:75.52 solute/solvent (w/v), no ascorbic acid] using response surface methodology. Consistent with high SFEN content, 2 days PRSP extract significantly outperformed 3 days or 4 days PRSP extract in inhibiting lipid accumulation in 3T3‐L1 cells. Moreover, 2 days PRSP extract suppressed adipogenesis and lipogenesis‐related protein expression. CONCLUSION: Regarding the cultivar, germination time and extraction conditions, optimally produced PRSP extract contains high SFEN content and exerts anti‐obesity effects. Thus, we suggest PRSP extract as a potent functional material for obesity prevention. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigates the impact of a new geometry Atmospheric Cold-Plasma (ACP) system on mung bean (Vigna radiata) seed germination and seedling growth. Plasma is produced using a bipolar pulse power source, providing superior control of the generated species. A substantial increase in germination rates (86.67%–91.67%) and optimal seedling growth after 40 s of treatment is reported. The functional and morphological features have shown improvements. Plasma treatment significantly increases the specific surface area (7.695 m2/g) and total pore volume (0.007 cc/g) of the seeds compared to the control (2.214 m2/g and 0.001 cc/g, respectively), suggesting potential enhancements in water absorption and nutrient exchange. Radicle growth stimulation is also observed without alterations in the seed's chemical structure. These findings highlight the potential of the ACP system for enhancing mung bean sprout germination and seedling development, which is helpful for agriculture applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, plasma activated water (PAW) immersion with different discharge times were applied to investigate their effects on broccoli seed germination, sprouts growth, antioxidant enzyme activities, polyphenol and anthocyanin content as well as sulforaphane formation. The seed germination rate, germination index, vigor index, water absorption, wettability and sprouts growth were promoted by PAW treatments, and plasma discharge for 30 min (PAW30) treatment showed the best germination rate and sprouts growth. No significant difference was found in color, polyphenol and anthocyanin content as well as myrosinase activity among different PAW treatments. The superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) enzyme activities of broccoli sprouts were enhanced significantly by all PAW treatments. Besides, PAW15, PAW30 and PAW60 treatments also increased significantly the sulforaphane formation of 5 d sprouts, which increased by 7.09%, 10.34% and 5.43% compared to the control, respectively. Therefore, these data indicated that seeds immersed with PAW30 could be used as a promising strategy to enhance the seed germination and quality of broccoli sprouts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]