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Although suggestions to shift towards plant-based diets have been proposed, and consumers have indicated their willingness to reduce meat consumption, there is a scarcity of research exploring consumers' attitudes and intentions regarding plant-based products. Therefore, this study analyses consumers’ hedonic sensory acceptance and its impact on the attitudes and predictors associated with purchasing intentions with regard to various plant-based products. Data were collected from 132 consumers using a validated questionnaire designed on the Qualtrics platform. Statistical package for the social sciences software was used to analyze the descriptive statistics relating to consumers' attitudes towards plant-based products, and partial least squares structural equation modeling was employed to identify the factors influencing their purchasing intentions. The results showed that consumers have tended to adopt moderate attitudes towards plant-based products. They rated their perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, and perceptions of the sensory characteristics of these products as high. However, they also reported only a moderate level of satisfaction after tasting the product. The results of the structural equation modelling analysis demonstrated that four factors significantly influenced consumers' intentions to purchase plant-based products: perceived behavioral control, sensory perceptions, attitude, and informed tasting. This study contributes to existing knowledge and provides empirical support for explaining the factors influencing Spanish consumers' decisions to purchase plant-based products. These findings have promising implications for the future sales of plant-based food products in Spain and other European countries., This research was supported by the LOCALNUTLEG research grant. Grant Agreement number: [2033] [LOCALNUTLEG] [Call 2020 Section 1 Agrofood IA]. The CERCA Program (Generalitat de Catalunya) also supported this research., Peer Reviewed, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::2 - Fam zero::2.4 - Per a 2030, assegurar la sostenibilitat dels sistemes de producció d’aliments i aplicar pràctiques agrícoles resilients que augmentin la productivitat i la producció, contribueixin al manteniment dels ecosistemes, enfor­teixin la capacitat d’adaptació al canvi climàtic, fenòmens meteorològics extrems, sequeres, inundacions i altres desastres, i millorin progressivament la qualitat del sòl i la terra, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::12 - Producció i Consum Responsables, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::12 - Producció i Consum Responsables::12.2 - Per a 2030, assolir la gestió sostenible i l’ús eficient dels recursos naturals, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::2 - Fam zero, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::13 - Acció per al Clima, Postprint (published version)

Meloidogyne spp. are the most devastating plant-parasitic nematodes affecting to- mato worldwide. Although resistant cultivars and rootstocks are used, selection for virulence occurs in the pathogen. Consequently, using other resistance sources, such as Solanum torvum, could improve resistance durability. Several experiments in mi- croplots and plastic greenhouses were carried out to determine the potential use of S. torvum as a tomato rootstock to protect against M. incognita and M. javanica. In mi- croplots, the relationship between nematode density at transplanting (Pi) and multipli- cation rate did not differ between Meloidogyne species in either ungrafted or grafted tomato. However, maximum multiplication rate and maximum density on grafted to- mato were 1.27% and 2.93% those on ungrafted, respectively. The grafted tomato plants yielded between 2.9 and 7.5 more times than the ungrafted plants at Pi = 100 eggs + J2s per 100 cm3 of soil, but no differences were observed in plastic greenhouse where a large amount of scion-rooting occurred. In microplots, the quality of the to- mato fruits of ungrafted and grafted plants was affected by the Pi. In parallel, some pot experiments were conducted on S. torvum and susceptible eggplant to determine the putative selection for nematode virulence to S. torvum and the nematode fitness cost. These showed that the nematode subpopulations infected and reproduced less on S. torvum than on eggplant. However, the female fertility was only reduced after development of three or four subpopulations on S. torvum. Finally, a histopathologi- cal study showed that nematode infection and development in S. torvum was delayed compared to eggplant., Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Grant/Award Number: AGL2017-89785-R; Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca, Grant/ Award Number: 871124; European Social Fund Plus, Grant/Award Number: PRE2018- 084265 and PRE2020- 095721; Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Grant/Award Number: CEX2019- 000910-S; Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología, Grant/Award Number: MCIN/ AEI/10.13039/501100011033, Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Global meat consumption will continue to increase in response to the growth in population and demand. Numerous studies have emphasized the nutritional, economic, and environmental benefits of using insect meal as an alternative protein source for animal feed. This article analyses Spanish consumers' willingness to consume pork, chicken, eggs, and fish, and explores the effect of sociodemographic and psychometric characteristics on their willingness to consume when the animals are fed with insect protein as a sustainable feed alternative. The study used an online Spanish consumers' panel belonging to Qualtrics© (market company services) and distributed it to 1260 individuals stratified by age, gender, and region. The data were analysed using the non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests. Overall, the results demonstrated that most Spanish consumers expressed high uncertainty regarding their willingness to consume animal-fed insect meals. They also exhibited moderate levels of food neophobia and showed a highly ecocentric attitude. The non-parametric comparison analysis confirmed significant differences in willingness to consume sustainable animal products across sociodemographic characteristics: financial situation and gender were significant variables, with females more willing to consume sustainable animal products than males. For the psychometric traits, significant differences in willingness to consume sustainable animal products were confirmed across food neophobia, food neophilia, opinions on using insects in animal feed, and ecocentric attitude. The results also confirmed a significant difference in the effects of sociodemographic variables on psychometric attributes. Financial situation affects food neophilia, anthropocentric attitudes, and opinions on the use of insects in animal feed. Age influences food neophobia, ecocentric attitudes, and opinions on the use of insects in animal feed. Education also influences food neophilia, ecocentric attit, This study has received funding from the Spanish Research Agency (AEI) under grant agreement No PID2019-111716RB-I00 (project acronym SUSPROMO). The content of this thesis reflects only the author’s view and the AEI is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains, Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Background Fogging is a conventional technique used to combat Aedes mosquitoes and prevent dengue disease. It is often implemented in outbreak areas or areas harbouring a high density of Aedes mosquitoes. Currently, studies on stakeholders’ attitudes towards fogging are still limited in number. Therefore, this study aims to assess Malaysian attitudes, and identify the predicting factors influencing such attitudes. Methods A validated instrument was used to interview 399 randomly selected respondents from the public (n = 202, 50.6%) and scientists (n = 197, 49.4%) in the Klang Valley region of Malaysia. The data were analysed using PLS-SEM involving Smart-PLS software. Results The results confirmed that stakeholder attitudes toward fogging should be viewed in terms of a multi- dimensional association. The stakeholders surveyed were highly positive with regard to the application of fogging to control dengue but professed moderate concerns as to associated risks. The PLS-SEM analyses demonstrated that the perceived benefit was the most important factor influencing attitudes, followed by trust in key players. Conclusions This result provides a good insight from the perspective of education and unravels the underlying fundamentals of stakeholders’ attitudes toward the fogging technique. The findings also provide a positive indicator to the responsible parties involved to continue the usage of this technique in conjunction with improvements with regard to its safety aspects, and possibly in combination with other environmental-friendly alternatives in order to achieve a healthy environment without dengue in Malaysia., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

High-protein snacks appeal to consumers seeking to increase the protein intake in their diet. The high environmental impact of conventional protein sources is urging the need to explore more sustainable alternatives such as edible insects. In this study, the willingness to pay for yogurt enriched with insect protein was estimated. It also determined the effect of socio-demographics and product extrinsic attributes on the purchase decision and expenditure using the Heckman sample selection model. Data was collected through an online survey from 1909 consumers in Catalonia, Spain using Qualtrics ´ consumer panel. The results showed that 55.7% of the participants were willing to purchase the product and that the average premium price computed was 0.36€ or 24% extra compared to the conventional price of yogurt. Findings also revealed that the probability of purchasing yogurt enriched with insect protein increases with younger adults, male consumers, residing in rural areas, having a child member in the family unit, and an active employment situation. Moreover, expenditure increases when the importance of the local and ecological attributes of food is higher, while lower for the price attribute. The results of this study offer food producers valuable insights into consumers’ willingness to pay for novel protein snacks., Postprint (published version)

A rotation sequence of ungrafted and grafted tomato-melon-pepper- watermelon on resistant rootstocks ‘Brigeor’, Cucumis metuliferus, ‘Oscos’ and Citrullus amarus, respectively, was carried out in a plastic greenhouse, ending with a susceptible or resistant tomato crop. The rotation was conducted in plots infested by an avirulent (Avi) or a partially virulent (Vi) Meloidogyne incognita population to the Mi1.2 gene. At the beginning of the study, the reproduction index (RI, relative reproduction in the resistant respect susceptible tomato) of Avi and Vi populations was 1.3% and 21.6%, respectively. Soil nematode density at transplanting (Pi) and at the end (Pf) of each crop, disease severity and crop yield were determined. Moreover, the putative virulence selection and fitness cost were determined at the end of each crop in pot tests. In addition, a histopathological study was carried out 15 days after nematode inoculation in pot test. The volume and number of nuclei per giant cell (GC) and the number of GC, their volume and the number of nuclei per feeding site in susceptible watermelon and pepper were compared with C. amarus and resistant pepper. At the beginning of the study, the Pi of Avi and Vi plots did not differ between susceptible and resistant germplasm., UPC authors acknowledge funding from the R+D+i project AGL2017-89785-R, financed by MCIN and FEDER; and Fondo Social Europeo (PRE2018-084265, AF). ICFO authors acknowledge funding from Fundació CELLEX; Ministerio de Economı́ a y Competitividad - Severo Ochoa program for Centres of Excellence in R&D (CEX2019-000910-S); CERCA program and Laserlab-Europe (871124); Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovació n (MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033); and Fondo Social Europeo (PRE2020-095721, MC), Postprint (published version)

Rainfall–runoff events occurring in vineyard fields can result in pesticide ground losses and the subsequent pollution of surface water bodies, derivate from the crop protection spray applications. In this study, the capacity of vegetated buffer strips (BS) to prevent surface water pollution due to the application of five fungicide products typically used in vineyards (copper, dimethomorph, oxathiapiprolin, zoxamide, acibenzolar-s-methyl, and laminarin) following a simulated run-off event has been assessed, and compared to that from a bare ground soil (BG). Two strips (5 m in length, each), one with vegetation and the other without were built up, and two different experiments were performed, a runoff event and a soil fungicide degradation kinetic evaluation. The runoff results show that fungicide mass retention in the strips ranged from 73 to 98% and that the presence of vegetation in BS increased the fungicide mass retention in the strips by almost 10% (on average) in comparison to the unvegetated strip. Moreover, soil degradation studies highlighted that the presence of vegetation reduces significantly the half-time life of almost all the studied fungicides by 55%, on average. Eight fungicide transformation products (TPs) were identified following a runoff event in the soil strips, but the abundance of these TPs was up to 78% lower in vegetated strips. These results highlight the effectiveness of using vegetated buffer zones in vineyards to protect aquatic ecosystem pollution., The authors gratefully acknowledge the partial founding support of the FI-AGAUR grant from the Generalitat de Catalunya (2020FI_B 00012)., Postprint (published version)

The interest in natural sources with high antioxidant powder has recently increased in several sectors. Ionic gelation methods could be used to protect bioactive substances to control the kinetics and release of these ingredients to the food matrix. This study dealt with the evaluation of the antioxidant capacity and scavenging activity of extracts of Hibiscus Sabdariffa L. (HSL) (with 50% ethanol) encapsulated in calcium alginate spheres as a new source for preserving food against oxidative damage. Their antioxidant activity was measured in different o/w emulsions in which HSL spheres reduced the formation of hydroperoxides (~80%) and thiobarbituric-acid-reactive substance products (~20%). The scavenging activity of HSL extracts was measured in different food simulants (water, water acidified with 3% acetic acid, ethanol at 50%, and pure ethanol), and corresponded to 0.20–0.43, 0.31–0.62, and 11.13–23.82 mmol Trolox/mL extract for Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays, respectively. In general, the best antiradical activity was observed in the ethanolic and acidified mediums, in which the highest concentration of released polyphenols ranged from 0.068 to 0.079 mg GAE/mL. This work indicates the potential of alginate spheres for encapsulating antioxidant compounds as an innovative strategy for several industrial applications., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

This study unveiled the effect of the suspected precursors of acrylamide (asparagine, glutamine) combined/ separated with different formulations of glucose, fructose, and sucrose. To better understand the interaction between acrylamide precursors, cooking technique (deep vs air frying), and temperature (170 ¿C vs 190 ¿C), seven potato models from starch, sugars, amino acids, water and hydrocolloids (alginate and agar) were formulated. In line with previous findings, the present results showed that asparagine, glucose and fructose played an important role in acrylamide formation in these synthetic potato models. Furthermore, glutamine and sodium alginate might have an inhibitory effect on acrylamide formation. A significant impact of frying tech- nique was also revealed. On the other hand, GC-FID analysis detected acrylamide in only these three models, (glucose-fructose, sucrose and asparagine-glucose/fructose/sucrose models > LOD 333.33 µg.kg 1)., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Trace metals are essential elements that play key roles in a number of biochemical processes governing human visual physiology in health and disease. Several trace metals, such as zinc, have been shown to play important roles in the visual phototransduction process. In spite of this, there has been little research conducted on the direct effect of trace metal elements on the visual photoreceptor rhodopsin. In the current study, we have determined the effect of several metal ions, such as iron, copper, chromium, manganese, and nickel, on the conformational stability of rhodopsin. To this aim, we analyzed, by means of UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopic methods, the effects of these trace elements on the thermal stability of dark rhodopsin, the stability of its active Metarhodopsin II conformation, and its chromophore regeneration. Our results show that copper prevented rhodopsin regeneration and slowed down the retinal release process after illumination. In turn, Fe3+, but not Fe2+, increased the thermal stability of the dark inactive conformation of rhodopsin, whereas copper ions markedly decreased it. These findings stress the important role of trace metals in retinal physiology at the photoreceptor level and may be useful for the development of novel therapeutic strategies to treat retinal disease., This research was funded by grants from Ministry of Science and Innovation, Spain (PID2019-104817GB-I00), and from the Government of Catalonia to Research Consolidated Groups (2021 SGR 00342) to P.G. F.W. is the recipient of a predoctoral grant from the Secretariat for Universities and Research of the Ministry of Business and Knowledge of the Government of Catalonia and the European Social Fund (2021 FI_B 00228)., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

An orchard sprayer prototype running a variable-rate algorithm to adapt the spray volume to the canopy characteristics (dimensions, shape and leaf density) in real-time was designed and implemented. The developed machine was able to modify the application rate by using an algorithm based on the tree row volume (TRV), in combination with a newly coefficient defined as Density Factor (Df). Variations in the canopy characteristics along the row crop were electronically measured using six ultrasonic sensors (three per sprayer side), This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 773718 (OPTimised Integrated pest Management for precise detection and control of plant diseases in perennial crops and open- field vegetables, www.optima-h2020.eu). Bernat Salas received funding for his Ph.D. development from Agència de Gestió D'Ajuts Universitaris I de Recerca (AGAUR) (file N° FI_B 01193), Preprint

The traditional use of copper as a fungicide in vineyards has raised concerns among authorities as it increases environmental pollution. As a result, new regulations have been enacted to reduce the use of plant protection products while encouraging the use of biological pesticides, which are less harmful to the environment. In this study, we surveyed two of the most relevant countries in terms of vine cultivation: Spain and Portugal. The objective of this study was to analyse the factors influencing the use of copper-based fungicides and their biological alternatives to provide a framework for state-of-the-art downy mildew control. This has led to some forward-thinking on the applicability of EU objectives. A probabilistic LogiT model was used to observe the field and exploitation variables that influenced winegrowers’ use of biopesticides. Given its great reliance on copper, it can be concluded that copper is still a necessary product for viticulture. Moreover, because the use of synthetic products is prohibited in organic vineyards, more copper treatments are carried out. Although the intention to use biopesticides exists, this did not result in actual use. The most influential factor in the probability of biopesticide use is knowledge of the legislation; however, it is also important to have watercourses near the field and to have the necessary technology. These results are relevant for formulating recommendations to ensure that all information reaches small farmers, as this would be key to more sustainable agriculture in Europe., This work was partially supported by the Generalitat de Catalunya (2020FI_B 00012) [Grant identification: FI-AGAUR], Postprint (updated version)

New spraying systems embedded with different technologies have been developed for pesticide application in 3D crops. However, while applied to specific tree crops, the potential spray drift mitigation for advanced spraying systems needs to be classified due to the great variability of spray equipment and canopy structure. Here a precision spraying system was developed and compared with two typical spraying systems (conventional system, optimized system following the best management practices) for the applied volume/pesticide and spray drift in an apple orchard at two growth stages following the ISO22866-2005 protocol. Compared to the conventional system, the other two advanced systems significantly reduced the amount of ground drift (>60%) at most of the sampling distances at the growth stage BBCH 72, while the precision system demonstrated the best drift mitigation (57.3% reduction) at the stage BBCH 99. For the airborne drift, a remarkable drift reduction was also achieved with the two advanced systems. Specifically, the optimized spraying system exhibited a drift reduction by approximately 80% at the first growth stage, and the precision application demonstrated its considerable advantages in minimizing drift loss for the sparse canopy at the stage BBCH 99. Moreover, the saving of applied volume/pesticide was achieved by 12% with the optimized system and 43% with the precision system. This study revealed the necessity and prospect of the advanced spraying systems to reduce the environmental contamination and health risk from pesticide applications in fruit tree production., This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 773718 (OPTimised Integrated pest Management for precise detection and control of plant diseases in perennial crops and open-field vegetables, www.optima-h2020.eu). Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Although mineral chelates are widely produced to be used as food fortifiers, the proof that these complexes are chelates is still missing. In our present work, iron II complexes using citric acid in different ratios are produced, and the occurrence of chelation is investigated along with its behavior according to a molar ratio between the ligand and the mineral. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), and near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) were used for a non-structural characterization of these complexes. In contrast to published work, our findings show that the chelation of citric acid is achieved in the liquid form and at a low pH and that the molar ratio is very important in setting the direction of the reaction, either toward chelation or dimer formation. The ratio citric acid:iron 1:4 seems to be the most convenient ratio in which no free citric acid remains in the solution, while the 1:3 ratio behaves differently, requiring further investigations by such techniques as extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS), among others, in order to deeply identify the structural organization occurring in this ratio. NIR, extensively used in industries, proved to be very useful in the demonstration and characterization of chelates. These findings are particularly advantageous for pharmaceutical and food industries in offering an innovative competent fortifying agent to be used in combatting iron deficiency., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Block cryoconcentration is a technique that can be applied to obtain fruit juice concentrates while preserving their nutritional, bioactive and organoleptic properties. Until now, the investigations present both the centrifugation and vacuum cryoconcentration method independently for different matrices, but with different purposes such as observing the effect of the initial freezing temperature, the freezing direction, whether radial or unidirectional, the effect of several cycles of cryoconcentration, comparing cryoconcentration with other concentration methods, etc. However, there is no study that compares both methods in the same matrix considering some common parameters such as cryoconcentration time. The objective of this research work was to compare two block centrifugation methods, centrifugation-assisted (CABC) and vacuum-assisted (VABC). A factorial experimental design was used. The operation conditions evaluated were 110 RCF and 2360 RCF, and 10 and 70kPa at the same time conditions (4 and 12min). Pomegranate juice was frozen at -20°C unidirectionally for 48h before treatments. For the response studied—concentration index (CI), solute yield (SY, %) and efficiency (Eff, %)—CABC at 110 RCF for 12min showed the best overall results (SY=59.2% and Eff=84.3%) and the desirability was .91. For VABC at 10¿kPa for 12¿min, the desirability was .98 but SY was lower. In both methods, the CI in one cycle was up to 3.0. The advantage of both systems is that in one cycle the CI, SY and Eff were higher than those obtained by other investigations on pomegranate juice.e>Practical applications Cryoconcentration is an emerging technology for concentrating a food solute in a solution based on the separation of ice crystals from a freeze-concentrated solution. The nutritional and sensory quality of cryoconcentrated fruit juices is higher than those concentrated conventionally by means of evaporation due to the low processing temperatures. Consumer demand for food rich in bioact, Postprint (published version)

Postprint (published version)

Aquaculture can represent an alternative means of economic yield and food security. Despite this fact, consumers still have a more negative perception of farmed fish when compared with wild fish, including its sustainability. Understanding how consumers perceive sustainability is essential in building an effective strategy to encourage sustainable fish consumption. A survey with 2145 consumers was conducted in five European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain) to inquire into consumers’ beliefs about the main pillars of the sustainability (environmental, social, and economic) when farmed and wild fish are compared, as well as to identify segments of consumers with similar beliefs about fish sustainability. Overall, results showed that European consumers perceived farmed fish as being more sustainable, locally obtained, providing environmental benefits, generating employment, improving human living conditions, generating rural development, and ensuring more fair fish prices than wild fish. Conversely, wild fish was perceived as ensuring animal welfare and being more organic but causing more environmental damage than farmed fish. Additionally, it seems that to effectively communicate aquaculture sustainability, it would be better to focus on single aspects of sustainability (beliefs) rather than focusing on the whole concept of sustainability. Finally, four segments of consumers were identified according to consumers’ beliefs, which were labelled accordingly: ambivalent, pro aquaculture, pro wild fish, and impartial. Results obtained may be helpful to provide each segment with tailored marketing strategies to stimulate farmed fish consumption and improve the overall image of the aquaculture sector to foster its full development in Europe., Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::14 - Vida Submarina, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::14 - Vida Submarina::14.2 - Per al 2020, gestionar i protegir de manera sostenible dels ecosistemes marins i costaners amb vista a evitar efectes nocius importants, fins i tot mitjançant l'enfortiment de la seva resiliència, i adoptar mesures de restauració a fi de restablir la salut i la productivitat dels oceans, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::14 - Vida Submarina::14.5 - Per al 2020, conservar almenys el 10% de les zones costaneres i marines, de conformitat amb les lleis nacionals i el dret internacional i sobre la base de la millor informació científica disponible, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::14 - Vida Submarina::14.a - Augmentar els coneixements científics, desenvolupar la capacitat de recerca i transferir la tecnologia marina, tenint en compte els criteris i directrius per a la transferència de tecnologia marina de la Comissió Oceanogràfica Intergovernamental, a fi de millorar la salut dels oceans i potenciar la contribució de la biodiversitat marina al desenvolupament dels països en desenvolupament, en particular els petits Estats insulars en desenvolupament i els països menys avançats, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::14 - Vida Submarina::14.c - Millorar la conservació i l'ús sostenible dels oceans i els seus recursos aplicant el dret internacional reflectit en la Convenció de les Nacions Unides sobre el Dret del Mar, que proporciona el marc jurídic per a la conservació i la utilització sostenible dels oceans i els seus recursos, com es recorda en el paràgraf 158 del document "El futur que volem", Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::2 - Fam zero, Postprint (published version)

There are several methods of concentration by freezing: suspension, progressive and block. In general, there is a consensus that the future of cryoconcentration will lie in these latter systems. The objective of this work is to propose a new method CABC-VABC, in which the centrifugation-assisted block system (CABC) and vacuum (VABC) are combined in successive stages, Postprint (published version)

Ailanthus altissima is considered an invasive weed in natural ecosystems in Europe (Europe, R 2019/1262). Its invasion alters the ecosystem functioning, modifying native plant communities and wildlife habitat and threatening biodiversity. The Conservation Park of Serra de Collserola in Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain) has an area of 8,300 ha of which 40 ha have been invaded by A. altissima. Glyphosate is one of the most effective herbicide for this species, but because of a ban for its use in many cities in Barcelona region, other active ingredients should must be tested. The use of herbicides is known as an effective method (Burch and Zedaker 2003)., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Although many different designed air-assisted sprayers can be used for pesticide application in apple orchards, the lack of adequate adjustments according to specific crop characteristics leads to application inefficiencies and failures. To evaluate the spray coverage and biological efficacy of different application techniques combined with an alternative dosage adjustment based on tree row volume (TRV), field tests with five different techniques were carried out at three crop stages on a commercial apple orchard. The results showed that conventional mist-blower with a high application volume (800 L ha-1) exhibited an excessive coverage with a high risk of contamination at the early crop stage (BBCH19), whereas other treatments using different application techniques, with a reduced volume rate and pesticide dose of 75%, were equivalent with good uniformity, revealing the great importance of suitable adjustment for the sprayers. For the middle and late stages (BBCH64 and 75), the orchard sprayer equipped with vertical booms provided the maximum coverage, and the pneumatic sprayer achieved significantly higher impacts density, which revealed their advantages and high efficiency for dense apple trees. The newly developed multi-fan sprayer and pneumatic sprayer achieved consistent coverage during the entire crop stage, independent of the changes in canopy structure (TRV). This indicates that a suitable setting and adjustment of the sprayer can contribute to a consistent spray quality. In general, benefiting from these new spraying technologies, an average reduction of 60.7% in pesticide dose and volume rate were achieved within the entire season, maintaining the same threshold of pest and disease control as that of the higher reference dose normally applied. These results demonstrate the importance of an alternative dose adjustment method to meet the requirements of the Farm to Fork strategy., Postprint (author's final draft)

Air assistance and droplet’s characteristics influence on the pesticide deposit and its distribution over the intended target during the spray application process. The present research work is focused on the characterization of the leaf coverage and the overall spray distribution within the whole canopy by combining different settings of air assistance with different nozzles, generating different droplet’s sizes. A new designed air-assisted orchard sprayer was tested, presenting a wireless remote-regulation system to control the airflow rate from the fan by adjusting the blade pitch. In this way, five airflow rates were obtained by combining the gearbox position and the blade pitch. For each one of these five air settings, three droplet sizes (F-Fine, M-Medium, and C-Coarse) were combined and evaluated over a set of artificial apple trees., This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 773718 (OPTimised Integrated pest Management for precise detection and control of plant diseases in perennial crops and open-field vegetables, www.optima-h2020.eu). Bernat Salas received funding for his Ph.D. development from Agència de Gestió D'Ajuts Universitaris I de Recerca (AGAUR) (file N° FI_B 01193), Postprint (updated version)

El árbol del cielo (Ailanthus altissima) es una especie invasora con alta capacidad de expansión, capaz de instalarse y competir con la flora autóctona en áreas naturales. Con el fin de encontrar materias activas eficientes para su control se han realizado diferentes tratamientos inyectando herbicida en árboles de diámetro < 10 cm. En otoño de 2019, inyectando metribuzina (60%) y aclonifen (60%), ambos diluidos al 40%, se observó una mortalidad del 62% y 0% respectivamente. Triclopir (9%) + fluroxipir (3%) diluidos al 1% y 10% mostraron una mortalidad del 13% y 79% respectivamente. Inyecciones de vinagre, un detergente y un tensioactivo a tocones de árboles cortados no mostraron ningún control sobre los mismos. En verano de 2020, metribuzina (60%) diluida al 80%, presentó una mortalidad del 38%, triclopir (9%) + fluroxipir (3%) diluido al 60% y triclopir (24%) + aminopiralida (3%) diluido al 60% y 80% mostraron una mortalidad total. En otoño de 2020 inyecciones de fluroxipir (20%) al 75% mostraron una mortalidad total y diluido al 50% una mortalidad del 96%., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (author's final draft)

The European Green Deal strategy pursues the reduction of pesticide use by 50%. Spray application techniques are one of the key points to accomplish this objective. In bush and tree crops, the proper adjustment of the sprayer is an option to reduce pesticide losses. On these crops, vertical spray distribution is a relevant aspect to optimize spray distribution on the canopy while reducing losses to the environment. Vertical patternators are a suitable technique to assess liquid distribution. In this study the vertical spray distribution of three type of nozzles (ATI8003, IDK 9003 and 652-30), at three distances (1, 2.5 and 5 m) from both sides of the sprayer were assessed. A vertical patternator of 3.5 m high, fitted with 30 collectors was used. Results show a different contour of the liquid profile between nozzles, distance to target and side of the sprayer, as uniformity values ranged from 70% in best cases to 19% to worst case. In spite of influence of sprayer side, results of symmetry are classified good or very good., Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::3 - Salut i Benestar, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::4 - Educació de Qualitat, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::6 - Aigua Neta i Sanejament, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::17 - Aliança per a Aconseguir els Objetius, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::2 - Fam zero, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::8 - Treball Decent i Creixement Econòmic, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::12 - Producció i Consum Responsables, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::11 - Ciutats i Comunitats Sostenibles, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::9 - Indústria, Innovació i Infraestructura, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::13 - Acció per al Clima, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::15 - Vida d'Ecosistemes Terrestres, Postprint (updated version)

The application of pig slurry as fertilizer in agriculture provides nutrients, but it can also contain veterinary medicines, including antibiotic residues (ABs), which can have an ecotoxicological impact on agroecosystems. Furthermore, uptake, translocation, and accumulation of ABs in crops can mobilize them throughout the food chain. This greenhouse study aims to assess AB uptake from soil fertilized with pig slurry and its phenotypical effects on Lactuca sativa L, The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through project AGL 2017- 89518-R. IDAEA-CSIC is a Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Project CEX 2018-000794-S). Monica Escola Casas wishes to thank the Beatriu de Pinos 2018 grant program (MSCA grant agreement number 801370) for the funding. The authors likewise thank Miquel Massip, Daniel Fenero, and Nerea Gran- ados for their technical assistance in the greenhouse facility, Postprint (published version)

Apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) is one of the most endemic diseases that affect apple production worldwide. An accurate management of Plant Protection Products (PPP) together with the use of the latest technologies is one of the objectives of the EU Horizon 2020 OPTIMA project, as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) system. Optimal dose adjustment of PPP in orchards requires an accurate identification of canopy characteristics and a precise sprayer adjustment to distribute the adequate amount of active ingredient and liquid proportionally to the canopy variations. Furthermore, the possibility to use available tools and knowledge to consider the potential variability inside the parcel will lead into a reduction of the amount of PPP, which is a shared objective with the EU Farm to Fork strategy. Within the OPTIMA project a smart orchard sprayer has been developed. The system incorporates 6 ultrasonic sensors (three per side) for canopy characterization. A dedicated program developed using python allows the system to calculate canopy width and canopy density along the row. This information, together with the georeferenced location of the sprayer and the actual forward speed is used to activate the six-solenoid proportional motor-valves controlling the six different spray sections. Information about working pressure and consequently the nozzle flow rate is recorded every 1 s in order to generate the actual application map. The system is based on the adaptation of the Tree Row Volume (TRV) method established by European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO, 2021) with additional information concerning canopy density. The system is linked with development of EDS (Early Detection System) and DSS (Decision Support System) within the OPTIMA project and the aim at the end of the project will be to link all the three technological developments to achieve a holistic smart sprayer., PROJECTE HORIZON 2020-OPTIMA, Postprint (published version)

Copper plant protection products have been severely restricted in the EU according to soil and groundwater contamination due to the traditional use as a fungicide, especially in vineyards. This limitation, together with the dependence on copper use for mildew control, places winegrowers in a great disadvantage, especially in organic production. Therefore, EURECAT together with the UPC, have developed a new copper product, more efficient in terms of deposition, in order to reduce the amount of active ingredient necessary for good disease control. Preliminary trials have been carried out by the UPC, in order to select the best formulation and to compare it with a conventional copper-based product in terms of deposition using filter paper as a collector in an artificial vineyard. The obtained results show that deposition of different developed products is statistically different from the control product, even doubling the amount of copper deposited in the collectors, which would be a promising solution to solve the problem outlined above., The presented research is part of the COPPEREPLACE project (INTERREG SUDOE, Ref. SOE4/ P1/E100) in the frame of the activity 3.3 in the GT3., Postprint (published version)

Recent studies have demonstrated the crop uptake of antibiotics (ABs) from soils treated with AB-carrying fertilisers. However, there is a lack of plot-scale studies linking their effects at the agronomic and metabolomic/transcriptomic level to their impact on human health. This paper assesses the plant uptake of 23 ABs following two productive cycles of lettuce and radish cropped with sewage sludge, pig slurry, the organic fraction of municipal solid waste, or chemical fertilisation under plot-scale conditions (32 plots spanning 3-10 m2 each). AB uptake by plants depended on both the vegetable and the AB class and was higher in radish than in lettuce edible parts. Levels ranged from undetectable to up to 76 ng/g (fresh weight). Repetitive organic fertilisation resulted in an increase in the concentration of ABs in lettuce leaves, but not in radish roots. Significant metabolomic and transcriptomic changes were observed following soil fertilisation. Nevertheless, a human health risk assessment indicates that the occurrence of ABs in lettuce or radish edible parts does not pose any risk. To our knowledge, this is the first holistic plot-scale study demonstrating that the use of organic fertilisers containing ABs is safe for crop security and human health., The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through projects AGL2017- 89518-R and RTI2018-096175-B-I00. IDAEA-CSIC is a Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Project CEX2018-000794-S). Mònica Escolà Casas wishes to thank the Beatriu de Pinós 2018 grant programme (MSCA grant agreement number 801370) for the funding., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

The potential spreading of antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) into agricultural fields and crops represent a fundamental limitation on the use of organic fertilization in food production systems. We present here a study of the effect of spreading four types of organic soil amendments (raw pig slurry, liquid and solid fractions, and a digested derivative) on demonstrative plots in two consecutive productive cycles of corn harvest (Zea mays), using a mineral fertilizer as a control, following the application of organic amendments at 32–62 T per ha (150 kg total N/ha) and allowing 5–8 months between fertilization and harvest. A combination of qPCR and high-throughput 16S rDNA sequencing methods showed a small, but significant impact of the fertilizers in both ARG loads and microbiomes in soil samples, particularly after the second harvesting cycle. The slurry solid fraction showed the largest impact on both ARG loads and microbiome variation, whereas its digestion derivatives showed a much smaller impact. Soil samples with the highest ARG loads also presented increased levels of tetracyclines, indicating a potential dual hazard by ARG and antibiotic residues linked to some organic amendments. Unlike soils, no accumulation of ARG or antibiotics was observed in corn leaves (used as fodder) or grains, and no grain sample reached detection limits for neither parameter. These results support the use of organic soil amendments in corn crops, while proposing the reduction of the loads of ARGs and antibiotics from the fertilizers to greatly reduce their potential risk., Postprint (published version)

Packaging is no longer a mere structural element that only aims to preserve foods, but it is also a powerful marketing tool able to affect product perception, purchase decision and consumers’ food choices. Incorporating consumers’ voices into packaging design through co-creation could maximise its impact on the market. The main goal of this exploratory study was to test the usefulness of co-creation with consumers for packaging design. For that purpose, a survey with 200 Spanish participants was conducted to find out which of the presented visual and textual packaging attributes were the most appropriate. A validation study with 40 participants using implicit (eye tracker, galvanic skin response and automatic facial expression analysis) and explicit measurements was used to test the packaging co-created by consumers against some of its possible competitors in the market. The co-creation process with consumers allowed for the identification of the visual and textual attributes, among the available options, that best fit their preferences, whereas the validation process confirmed that the packaging design co-created by consumers was equally or even preferred over the competitors. The information gathered might help designers and marketers to guide the packaging design for fish products in the Spanish market., This research was funded by the European Union’s Horizon2020 MedAID project (grant number 727315). L.L.-M. was supported by a grant from the Secretaria d’Universitats i Recerca de la Generalitat de Catalunya and the European Social Fund., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Mutations in the photoreceptor protein rhodopsin are known as one of the leading causes of retinal degeneration in humans. Two rhodopsin mutations, Y102H and I307N, obtained in chemically mutagenized mice, are currently the subject of increased interest as relevant models for studying the process of retinal degeneration in humans. Here, we report on the biochemical and functional characterization of the structural and functional alterations of these two rhodopsin mutants and we compare them with the G90V mutant previously analyzed, as a basis for a better understanding of in vivo studies. This mechanis- tic knowledge is fundamental to use it for developing novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of inherited retinal degeneration in retinitis pigmentosa. We find that Y102H and I307N mutations affect the inactive–active equilibrium of the receptor. In this regard, the mutations reduce the stability of the inactive conformation but increase the stability of the active conformation. Furthermore, the initial rate of the functional activation of transducin, by the I307N mutant is reduced, but its kinetic profile shows an unusual increase with time suggesting a profound effect on the signal transduction process. This latter effect can be associated with a change in the flexibility of helix 7 and an indirect effect of the mutation on helix 8 and the C-terminal tail of rhodopsin, whose potential role in the functional activation of the receptor has been usually underes- timated. In the case of the Y102H mutant, the observed changes can be associated with conformational alterations affecting the folding of the rhodopsin intradiscal domain, and its presumed involvement in the retinal binding process by the receptor., This research was supported by Grant PID2019-104817GB-I00 from Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN), Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

La crioconcentración es una técnica de concentrar soluciones conservando sus propiedades nutritivas y compuestos bioactivos, debido al uso de temperaturas por debajo del punto de congelación. Existen varios métodos de crioconcentración entre los que se encuentra el sistema en bloque (BFC) asistido por vacío como una alternativa para mejorar el rendimiento y la eficiencia del producto concentrado. Se ha realizado este estudio con zumo de granada ya que es una de las frutas que contiene una mayor capacidad antioxidante y contenido de compuestos fenólicos, entre ellos la punicalagina. Por esto, el propósito de este trabajo es evaluar el sistema BFC asistida por vacio para crioconcentrar el zumo de granada. Se realizó un diseño experimental con la Metodología de Superficie de Respuesta para estudiar el efecto de los factores tiempo y presión de vacío sobre las variables respuestas: Índice de Concentración (IC), Eficiencia (Eff) y Rendimiento de Soluto (RS). Posteriormente se buscó optimizar el sistema en función de cada una de las variables y considerando todas las variables en conjunto. Los resultados mostraron que la presión de vacío tiene un efecto significativo en el IC, que el tiempo de tratamiento tiene un efecto significativo en el RS, y que ambos factores tienen efectos significativos en la Eff (p<0.05). El IC óptimo fue de 3.24. Este se obtuvo con 2 kPa de vacío durante 12 min, alcanzando una concentración máxima de 52.2°Brix, partiendo de un zumo inicial de 15.3°Brix. El RS óptimo fue de 68.2%, este se obtuvo con 35.9 kPa durante 12 min. La Eff óptima fue de 86%, esta se obtuvo con 22.9 kPa durante 12 minutos. Tomando en cuenta la deseabilidad de cada variable respuesta: CI, RS y Eff, se encontró un valor de deseabilidad de 0,74 este se obtuvo con 17.3 KPa durante 12 min, siendo IC de 2.96, RS de 61.4% y la Eff del 85,8%. Se comparó el color, contenido en compuestos fenólicos totales, capacidad antioxidante por DPPH, antocianinas, punicalagina y ácido elágico, Postprint (published version)

La concentración de fluidos alimentarios permite la transformación de materia prima a productos estables y con vida útil más larga. La crioconcentración es una tecnología que alcanza un alto grado de concentración mediante el uso de temperaturas bajas. Esto permite obtener líquidos de alta calidad nutricional y retención de sus componentes termolábiles. Entre los métodos de crioconcentración, el sistema en bloque (BFC) asistido con centrifugación es una alternativa útil para la recuperación de solutos ocluidos en el hielo, sin embargo, existen pocos estudios para zumos de tomate. Es importante retener los compuestos bioactivos del tomate, ya que este es fuente de vitaminas, carotenos y polifenoles, sensibles al calor. Por esto, el propósito de este trabajo es presentar al sistema BFC como alternativa para la concentración de zumo de tomate., Postprint (published version)

Plant-parasitic nematodes are a significant cause of yield losses and food security issues. Specifically, nematodes of the genus Meloidogyne can cause significant production losses in horticultural crops around the world. Understanding the mechanisms of the ever-changing physiology of plant roots by imaging the galls induced by nematodes could provide a great insight into their control. However, infected roots are unsuitable for light microscopy investigation due to the opacity of plant tissues. Thus, samples must be cleared to visualize the interior of whole plants in order to make them transparent using clearing agents. This work aims to identify which clearing protocol and microscopy system is the most appropriate to obtain 3D images of tomato cv. Durinta and eggplant cv. Cristal samples infected with Meloidogyne incognita to visualize and study the root–nematode interaction. To that extent, two clearing solutions (BABB and ECi), combined with three different dehydration solvents (ethanol, methanol and 1-propanol), are tested. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of alternative imaging techniques to confocal microscopy are analyzed by employing an experimental custom-made setup that combines two microscopic techniques, light sheet fluorescence microscopy and optical projection tomography, on a single instrument., Postprint (published version)

Este estudio tiene como objetivo conocer las preferencias de los consumidores en relación con la sostenibilidad y el bienestar animal, y comprender mejor el proceso de toma de decisiones alimentarias. Para ello se combinaron medidas autoinformadas proporcionadas por los consumidores (explícitas) y medidas fisiológicas recogidas mediante sensores no invasivos (implícitas), utilizando como caso de estudio un producto acuícola., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

La mayor parte de los consumidores no distinguen entre las diferentes fechas de marcado de los alimentos, lo que condiciona su comportamiento y favorece el desperdicio alimentario. Los valores interiorizados que constituyen la norma personal de cada individuo son el principal determinante del comportamiento final., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

El logotipo ecológico de la Unión Europea (UE) ayuda a identificar de forma fácil e inequívoca los productos ecológicos. Con el fin de estimular su uso y su reconocimiento, se identificaron tres segmentos de consumidores europeos. Uno de esos segmentos mostró un escaso conocimiento y una peor percepción de dicho logotipo y es por ese motivo que debería ser el objetivo principal de las futuras campañas de comunicación y promoción., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Dysphagia affects a person's ability to swallow, and it causes health problems by directly limiting nutritional intake, being the elderly the most at-risk group and also likely to be deficient in nutrition. Diets for patients with dysphagia require textural modifications to offer soft and safe food to swallow. Puree is easily consumed by the elderly, being an alternative food preparation providing essential nutrition for people with dysphagia. In this study, we aimed to create different formulations with soy protein and agar added to potato puree to add nutritional value and end up with printable material by designing food for the elderly and people with dysphagia. Some enriched potato puree formulations were obtained by adding soy protein (3%, 5%, and 7%) and up to 0.2% agar. The use of three-dimensional food printing allows visual customization with appeal benefits of nutritional food formulations for specific consumers. The rheology and texture profile analysis of the different formulations has been performed. According to International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) scales, the texture of all modified samples was suitable for people with swallowing difficulties. The samples with agar presented a better-printed shape and a more viscous-like behavior than the samples with soy protein. These findings highlight that soy protein could modify the texture and, from the nutritional point of view, add value to the formulations. The addition of 0.2% agar can establish good material for designing three-dimensional (3D)-printed food that allows the creation of textures in accordance with the needs of the elderly and people with dysphagia., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Recently, personalized meals and customized food design by means of 3D printing technology have been considered over traditional food manufacturing methods. This study examined the effects of different proteins (soy, cricket, and egg albumin protein) in two concentrations (3% and 5%) on rheological, textural, and 3D printing characteristics. The textural and microstructural properties of different formulations were evaluated and compared. The addition of soy and cricket protein induced an increase in yield stress (t0), storage modulus (G'), and loss modulus (G¿) while egg albumin protein decreased these parameters. The textural analysis (back extrusion and force of extrusion) demonstrated the relationship between increasing the amount of protein in the formula with an improvement in consistency and index of viscosity. These values showed a straight correlation with the printability of fortified formulas. 3D printing of the different formulas revealed that soy and cricket proteins allow the targeting of complex geometry with multilayers., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Sentinel-2 offers great potential for monitoring water quality in inland and coastal waters. However, atmospheric correction in these waters is challenging, and there is no standardized approach yet, but different methods coexist under constant development. The atmospheric correction Case 2 Regional Coast Colour (C2RCC) processor has been recently updated with the C2X-COMPLEX (C2XC). This study is one of the first attempts at exploring its performance, in comparison with C2RCC and C2X, in inland and coastal waters in the east of the Iberian Peninsula, in retrieving water surface reflectance and estimating chlorophyll-a ([Chl-a]), total suspended matter ([TSM]), and Secchi disk depth (ZSD). The relationship between in situ ZSD and Kd_z90max product (i.e., the depth of the water column from which 90% of the water-leaving irradiance is derived) of the C2RCC processors demonstrated the potential of this product for estimating water clarity (r > 0.75). However, [TSM] and [Chl-a] derived from the different processors with default calibration factors were not suitable within the targeted scenarios, requiring recalibration based on optical water types or a shift to dynamic algorithm blending approaches. This would benefit from switching between C2RCC and C2XC, which extends the potential for improving surface reflectance estimates to a wide range of scenarios and suggests a promising future for C2-Nets in operational monitoring of water quality., Jesús Soriano held a pre-doctoral grant funded by Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (2020FI_B2 00148). Esther Patricia Urrego holds a pre-doctoral grant funded by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (PRE2019-088232). This research was partially funded by the European Union—ERDF and the Ministry of Science and Innovation and the State Research Agency of Spain under project RTI2018-098651-B-C51 (FLEXL3L4—Advanced Products L3 and L4 for the FLEX-S3 mission)., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Acrylamide is classified as a toxic food contaminant, and it is formed in carbohydrate rich food when heated>120 °C through the Maillard reaction. The main parameters that affect acrylamide formation in foods are the composition of the raw food, and time–temperature of food processing. International organizations have warned against the existence of acrylamide in foods and mandated to limit its consumption to prevent its adverse health effects. This review summarizes some of the innovative and the conventional mitigation techniques. The innovative mitigation techniques are based on the use of lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, and cell extracts used alone or in combination with electrical pulses, while the conventional techniques are blanch-ing, microwave, and the addition of food ingredients in which their effectiveness is related to the control of the temperature and the cooking time. Although LC–MS and GC–MS with or without derivatization are cumbersome procedures, they give accurate results and reduce the interferences of compounds. On the other hand, the current trend for acrylamide detection in food matrices is using simple, fast, and inexpensive techniques such as the filtration-assisted approach for optical detection and the PHYTON imaging program. Yet, their application needs an exhaustive validation., Postprint (published version)

Co-creation is a process that directly involves different stakeholders in the idea generation phase of a new product development process. A pool of 112 new aquaculture fish product ideas was obtained by applying a combination of creative and projective techniques to the co-creation process with consumers in six focus groups conducted in three European countries (Germany, France, and Spain). The subjectivity of qualitative data analysis (e.g., focus groups) is one of its recognised disadvantages. To overcome this drawback, a combination of specialised software (i.e., Alceste), along with word frequency, co-occurrence, and context checking, was applied to provide a different approach to data analyses in qualitative studies. The method identified the most salient dimensions behind the participants’ discourse (naturalness, quality, ethics, price, and health) and inferred the importance those dimensions had for them, thus proving the existence of a correlation of 0.7 between what the participants said (frequency of mention) and what they liked the most (importance). Overall, the exploratory approach proposed is deemed useful for drawing key conclusions from qualitative research, thus offering an alternative to traditional content analysis. In future, the results obtained may be useful for selecting the co-created ideas with the greatest potential to be well received in the market., Postprint (published version)

Proximal remote sensing devices are novel tools that enable the study of plant health status through the measurement of specific characteristics, including the color or spectrum of light reflected or transmitted by the leaves or the canopy. The aim of this study is to compare the RGB and multispectral data collected during five years (2016–2020) of four fruiting vegetables (melon, tomato, eggplant, and peppers) with trial treatments of non-grafted and grafted onto resistant rootstocks cultivated in a Meloidogyne incognita (a root-knot nematode) infested soil in a greenhouse. The proximal remote sensing of plant health status data collected was divided into three levels. Firstly, leaf level pigments were measured using two different handheld sensors (SPAD and Dualex). Secondly, canopy vigor and biomass were assessed using vegetation indices derived from RGB images and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) measured with a portable spectroradiometer (Greenseeker). Third, we assessed plant level water stress, as a consequence of the root damage by nematodes, using stomatal conductance measured with a porometer and indirectly using plant temperature with an infrared thermometer, and also the stable carbon isotope composition of leaf dry matter.. It was found that the interaction between treatments and crops (ANOVA) was statistically different for only four of seventeen parameters: flavonoid (p < 0.05), NBI (p < 0.05), NDVI (p < 0.05) and the RGB CSI (Crop Senescence Index) (p < 0.05). Concerning the effect of treatments across all crops, differences existed only in two parameters, which were flavonoid (p < 0.05) and CSI (p < 0.001). Grafted plants contained fewer flavonoids (x¯ = 1.37) and showed lower CSI (x¯ = 11.65) than non-grafted plants (x¯ = 1.98 and x¯ = 17.28, respectively, p < 0.05 and p < 0.05) when combining all five years and four crops. We conclude that the grafted plants were less stressed and more protected against nematode attack. Leaf flavon, Y.H. acknowledges the support of the Tunisian government from the Ministery of Higher Education and Scientific Research. J.L.A. acknowledges support from the Institució Catalana d’Investigació i Estudis Avançats (ICREA) Academia, Generalitat de Catalunya, Spain. S.C.K. is supported by the Ramon y Cajal RYC-2019-027818-I research fellowship from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Spain. Thanks are also given to the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) and the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) for funding the project AGL2013-49040-C2-1-R and to the Ministry of Science and Innovation from the Spanish Government for funding the AGL2017-89785-R, and to the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) AGL2017-89785-R, and for providing the FPI grant PRE2018-084265 to AMF. This research was also supported by the COST Action CA17134 SENSECO (Optical synergies for spatiotemporal sensing of scalable ecophysiological traits) funded by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology, www.cost.eu accessed on 29 April 2022)., Postprint (published version)

Canopy characterisation is a key factor for the success and efficiency of the pesticide application process in vineyards., This research was developed with partial funding from the FI-AGAUR grant from the Generalitat de Catalunya (2017 FI_B 00893, Preprint

Proximal remote sensing devices are novel tools that enable the study of plant health status through the measurement of specific characteristics, including the color or spectrum of light reflected or transmitted by the leaves or the canopy. Among these, RGB images can provide spatially detailed information about crop status including estimates of biomass, chlorophyll (and chlorosis) and fractional vegetation cover. The aim of this study is to compare the RGB data collected during five years (2016–2020) of four fruiting vegetables (melon, tomato, eggplant and peppers) with trial treatments of non-grafted and grafted onto resistant rootstocks cultivated in a Meloidogyne incognita (a root-knot nematode, RKN) infested soil in a greenhouse. The proximal remote sensing of plant health status data collected were divided into three levels. Firstly, leaf level pigments were measured using two different handheld sensors (SPAD and Dualex). Secondly, canopy vigor and biomass were assessed using vegetation indices derived from RGB images and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) measured with a portable spectroradiometer (Greenseeker). Thirdly, we assessed plant level water stress, as a consequence of the root damage by nematodes, directly using stomatal conductance measured with a porometer, and indirectly using plant temperature with an infrared thermometer and also the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope composition of leaf dry matter. Among the measured parameters, carbon and nitrogen percentage exhibited the highest positive correlation (r = 0.9), whereas flavonoids and NBI (Nitrogen Balance Index) showed the highest inverse correlation (r = -0.87). It was found that the interaction between treatments and crops (ANOVA) was statistically different for only 4 of 17 parameters (flavonoid (p = 0.002), NBI (p = 0.044), NDVI (p = 0.004) and CSI (RGB-based Crop Senescence Index) (p = 0.002). Concerning the effect of treatments across all crops, differences existed only, Postprint (published version)

An appropriate management of the available resources within oceans and coastal regions is vital to guarantee their sustainable development and preservation, where water quality is a key element. Leveraging on a combination of cross-disciplinary technologies including Remote Sensing (RS), Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, cloud computing, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is essential to attain this aim. In this paper, we review methodologies and technologies for water quality assessment that contribute to a sustainable management of marine environments. Specifically, we focus on Deep Leaning (DL) strategies for water quality estimation and forecasting. The analyzed literature is classified depending on the type of task, scenario and architecture. Moreover, several applications including coastal management and aquaculture are surveyed. Finally, we discuss open issues still to be addressed and potential research lines where transfer learning, knowledge fusion, reinforcement learning, edge computing and decision-making policies are expected to be the main involved agents., Postprint (published version)

This work aims to manufacture a new concentrated lactose-free probiotic yogurt. For this purpose, the probiotic Bifidocaterium BB-12 was incorporated in a concentrated lactose-free yogurt, both in its free form and previously encapsulated. Previous cell encapsulation was performed using the spray-drying technique with the following wall materials: lactose-free milk, lactose-free milk and inulin, and lactose-free milk and oligofructose. Thus, three different probiotic powders were obtained and added separately to three fractions of concentrated lactose-free yogurt. The probiotic survival of both powders and yogurts was evaluated during refrigerated storage. Likewise, the viability of starter cultures in yogurt (Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus) was controlled. In addition, the physicochemical properties of the four yogurts were also measured (color, pH and acidity, and texture properties). All three powders showed good probiotic viability (>8 log CFU g-1) throughout 120 days of storage at 4 ºC. In turn, yogurt formulations (with the addition of powders or free bifidobacteria) presented probiotic viability above 7 log CFU g-1 after storage; as well as the starter cultures (> 8 log UFC g-1). Yogurt with probiotic powder from lactosefree milk showed a more yellowish color; however, these differences would not be detected by the human eye (¿E < 3.00). The yogurt with bifidobacteria free cells showed a greater post-acidification process (pH 4.18 to 4.02 and titratable acidity 1.52 to 1.89). It was not observed differences for firmness values of yogurt with free cells addition and yogurt with lactose-free milk and oligofructose powder addition. A slight significant decrease in the cohesiveness was observed in the yogurt elaborated with bifidobacteria free cells. The gumminess showed fluctuating values between all concentrated lactose-free yogurts. At the end of this study, we conclude that these probiotic powders can be incorporated into innovative l, The authors are grateful to the Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES, Brazil) [CAPES-PRINT, Project number 88887.310560/2018-00]; to National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, Brazil) by the financial support [CNPq, 405965/2016-8], and Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES, Brazil) by the scholarship [001], Postprint (updated version)

The aims of this study were to determine i) the effect of grafted watermelon cv. Sugar Baby onto C. amarus accessions BGV0005164 and BGV0005167 on M. incognita and M. javanica population growth estimated by means of the values of maximum reproduction rate, maximum nematode density and equilibrium density in pot experiments; ii) the effect of increasing nematode densities on plant productivity in pot experiments; and iii) the effect of repeated cultivation of watermelon cv. Sugar Baby grafted onto both C, Postprint (updated version)

Uniformity of spray volumetric distribution is one of the officially established measurements for the evaluation of horizontal boom sprayers according to ISO 16119 and requirements established in ISO 16122., Postprint (updated version)

Nesta edição da Revista Cultivar Máquinas apresentamos um teste de campo com a semeadora da marca Horsch, modelo Maestro Evolution 36.50, realizado em Barreiras na Bahia. Este modelo é uma evolução da maestro SW, antes comercializada no Brasil. A qualidade da tecnologia alemã realmente, além do conceito mundial, apresentou-se plenamente nesta máquina. Esta série de máquinas da Horsch é oferecida com versões de 24, 30, 36, 39 e 40 linhas e espaçamentos de 45 a 60 cm. Contudo, o espaçamento de 60 cm só é oferecido no modelo de 30 linhas e a versão de 40 linhas somente com espaçamento de 45 cm. A versão de 39 linhas é chamada de Split row e só tem oferta com 45 cm e serve para o algodão de 90 cm de espaçamento. Nos demais casos o cliente pode escolher o espaçamento. O modelo que tivemos disponível para teste era de 36 linhas, com espaçamento de 50 cm e é um dos modelos mais comercializados para as regiões de grandes áreas de agricultura, como o Mato Grosso e o Nordeste. Embora esta máquina tenha projeto e tecnologia alemã, ela é fabricada em Curitiba, PR, com grande nacionalização de componentes, possuindo credenciamento no Programa Finame do BNDES desde 2017. Além de várias inovações tecnológicas a máquina caracteriza-se por ser articulada e auto transportável. Articulada porque possui uma barra de plantio com seções que se adaptam às ondulações do terreno e auto transportável porque a barra pode ser recolhida lateralmente ao depósito reduzindo a largura de transporte da máquina para 3,20 m., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (author's final draft)

Peer Reviewed, Postprint (author's final draft)