Dissipation of fungicides residues along winemaking, and their effects on fermentation and the volatile composition of wines

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry

The effects of four fungicides commonly used for the control of fungal diseases in vines and grapes in the course of winemaking was tested. The concentration of fungicide residues was monitored throughout the process in order to establish their kinetics of dissipation. In all cases the percentages of dissipation were higher than 68% which shows the detoxificant effect of the winemaking process. On the other hand, the effect of the fungicide residues on the aroma composition of Tempranillo red wines was tested.

Cu retention in an acid soil amended with perlite winery waste

Environmental Science and Pollution Research (2016), 23, 3789–3798

DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-5639-4

The effect of perlite waste from a winery on general soil characteristics and Cu adsorption was assessed. The studied soil was amended with different perlite waste concentrations corresponding to 10, 20, 40 and 80 Mg ha−1. General soil characteristics and Cu adsorption and desorption curves were determined after different incubation times (from 1 day to 8 months). The addition of perlite waste to the soil increased the amounts of organic matter as well as soil nutrients such as phosphorus and potassium, and these increments were stable with time. An increase in Cu adsorption capacity was also detected in the perlite waste-amended soils. The effect of perlite waste addition to the soil had special relevance on its Cu adsorption capacity at low coverage concentrations and on the energy of the soil-Cu bonds.

Xylitol production in immobilized cultures: a recent review

Critical Reviews in Biotechnology 36 (2016)

http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/07388551.2015.1004660 

Xylitol is a pentahydroxy sugar alcohol coming from xylose with many applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries as a low caloric sweetener suitable for diabetics and as an active ingredient in several biomedical applications. The microbial bioproduction of xylitol from natural xylose coming from lignocellulosic materials appears a sustainable and a promising alternative to chemical synthesis, which works at stronger reaction conditions and generates undesirable co-products which must be removed. There are several reviews that study the metabolic pathways in wild and transformed xylitol producing yeasts and the culture conditions that enhance xylitol accumulation, which are mainly related to the need of microaerobiose for the best producing wild yeasts. Nevertheless, there are relatively few studies focusing on the engineering aspects related to scalable systems and bioreactors that could result in a final industrial stage. This review explores recent advances on xylitol production using immobilized systems, which have been proposed to facilitate the reuse of the biocatalyst for extended periods and the main types of bioreactors available assayed for this purpose.

Oxidation of edible animal fats. Comparison of the performance of different quantification methods and of a proposed new semi-objective colour scale-based method

Food Chemistry, 217 (2017) 743–749

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.09.009

The agreement among the results determined for the main parameters used in the evaluation of the fat auto-oxidation was investigated in animal fats (butter fat, subcutaneous pig back-fat and subcutaneous ham fat). Also, graduated colour scales representing the colour change during storage/ripening were developed for the three types of fat, and the values read in these scales were correlated with the values observed for the different parameters indicating fat oxidation.

In general good correlation among the values of the different parameters was observed (e.g. TBA value correlated with the peroxide value: r = 0.466 for butter and r = 0.898 for back-fat). A reasonable correlation was observed between the values read in the developed colour scales and the values for the other parameters determined (e.g. values of r = 0.320 and r = 0.793 with peroxide value for butter and back-fat, respectively, and of r = 0.767 and r = 0.498 with TBA value for back-fat and ham fat, respectively).

Phenolics production from alkaline hydrolysis of autohydrolysis liquors

CyTA - Journal of Food, 14 (2016) 255-265

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19476337.2015.1094516

The objective of this work was to study the release, identification and characterization of phenolic compounds by saponification of non-isothermal autohydrolysis liquors of corn (Zea mays) cobs and Eucalyptus globulus. Corn cobs and E. globulus are lignocellulosic materials with high contents in cellulose and hemicelluloses. Efficient use of these materials can be achieved using autohydrolysis as the first stage of a biorefinery, resulting in a solid phase rich in cellulose and lignin, and a liquid phase containing essentially hemicelluloses-derived compounds and phenolic compounds from the partial solubilization of lignin. This work studied the combination of alkaline hydrolysis and extraction with organic solvents to maximize the amounts of released phenolic compounds since these compounds are interesting for their properties and food applications.

Airborne pollen trends in the Iberian Peninsula

Science of the Total Environment

DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.01.069

Airborne pollen monitoring is an effective tool for studying the reproductive phenology of anemophilous plants, an important bioindicator of plant behavior. Recent decades have revealed a trend towards rising airborne pollen concentrations in Europe, attributing these trends to an increase in anthropogenic CO2 emissions and temperature. However, the lack of water availability in southern Europe may prompt a trend towards lower flowering intensity, especially in herbaceous plants. Here we show variations in flowering intensity by analyzing the Annual Pollen Index (API) of 12 anemophilous taxa across 12 locations in the Iberian Peninsula, over the last two decades, and detecting the influence of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Results revealed differences in the distribution and flowering intensity of anemophilous species. A negative correlation was observed between airborne pollen concentrations and winter averages of the NAO index. This study confirms that changes in rainfall in the Mediterranean region, attributed to climate change, have an important impact on the phenology of plants.

Agronomic performance of maize populations divergently selected for diferulate cross-linkage

Journal of Agricultural Science

DOI: 10.1017/S0021859615001161

The direct response of a divergent selection programme for total cell wall ester-linked diferulate concentration in maize pith stalk tissues and its indirect effect on cell wall degradability and corn borer resistance have been previously evaluated. Since increased total diferulate concentration is expected to improve crop performance in response to corn borers, the objective of the present research was to evaluate the indirect response of the divergent selection for diferulates on agronomic traits under corn borer infestation. For this purpose, five maize populations with contrasting total diferulate concentrations were evaluated four environments for performance under protected and infested conditions. Measured traits were: days to anthesis, days to silking, plant height, stalk lodging, grain moisture at harvest and grain yield. High diferulate populations showed a significant reduction in anthesis (precocity), and were 11 cm taller than the starting population, while low diferulate populations were 9 cm shorter, and showed nearly 1 t/ha lower grain yield than the original and high diferulate populations. The analysis showed that cycles of selection were positively correlated with flowering, plant height and grain yield. The infestations with borers produced >1 t/ha of reduction in grain yield; although the higher diferulate populations showed a better performance under infestation than the low diferulate populations. This positive effect on the grain yield by increasing diferulate content can be considered an extra in order to breed for resistance to corn borers.

Oleaceae cross-reactions as potential pollinosis cause in urban areas

Science of the Total Environment

DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.10.107

It is worth noting the allergological problems induced by a not accurate design of the ornamental vegetation in the parks and streets of the cities. Usually, in the Oleaceae family, only the olive pollen is considered an important aeroallergen but other species of the family could be an important source of airborne pollen allergens. Pollen from Fraxinus, Olea and Ligustrum and its main aeroallergens were sampled in the atmosphere of an urban area in North-Western Spain during 2011. The allergen bioaerosol content was quantified by using specific 2-site ELISA and Ole e 1 antibodies. The Fra e 1 and Lig v 1 allergens were detected by means Ole e 1 antibodies. This fact demonstrates the cross-reactivity between the main allergens of Fraxinus, Olea and Ligustrum, plants widely species used as ornamental in the cities. Therefore, the urban allergenic people sensitized to Olea pollen could present allergenic reactions during the winter (due to ash pollen allergens), the spring (caused by olive pollen allergens) and the early summer (triggered by the privet flowering). As a consequence, sensitivity to the pollen of one species may favour development of sensitivity to all three species as consequence of the priming effect. The combination of pollen count and the allergen quantification must be assessed in the epidemiologic study of allergic respiratory diseases.

Acidification of mixtures of granite powder and compost for reuse in plant production

Compost Science & Utilization, 24 (2016)

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1065657X.2015.1020399

We evaluated the utilization of granite powder—a residue of stone cutting and polishing resulting from its preparation for construction and ornamental use—in the preparation of nursery potting mixtures, within a general objective of waste recycling and reuse. Granite powder was blended with two composts of different origins and properties: one elaborated from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW), and another from pine bark. Since all materials presented pH values over 8, which are excessive for growing most vegetal species, the use of iron sulphate to acidify them has been assessed. Three doses of iron sulphate (14, 69, and 97 g kg−1, equivalent to 0.1, 0.5, and 0.7 meq H+ g−1) were added to the granitic powder and mixtures with 25 or 75% (v/v) of each compost, which were incubated in the laboratory during 30 days. Doses of iron sulphate above 0.1 meq H+ g−1 resulted in excessive electrical conductivity (>2 dS m−1) in all the samples, and too low pH values (<5) in most of them. The productivity of granite powder/compost mixtures acidified with 0.1 meq H+ g−1 was tested in a greenhouse experiment with ryegrass, where it was observed that plant productivity increased with respect to a control commercial substrate based on peat, in particular when the MSW compost was employed. On the basis of the physicochemical properties of the mixtures and the results of the greenhouse experiment, the use of granite powder mixed with 75% of MSW compost (v/v), acidified with 14 g kg−1 of iron sulphate (0.1 meq H+ g−1) is recommended.

Application of transit data analysis and artificial neural network in the prediction of discharge of Lor River, NW Spain

Water Science & Technology (2016)

DOI: 10.2166/wst.2016.002

Transit data analysis and artificial neural networks (ANNs) have proven to be a useful tool for characterizing and modelling non-linear hydrological processes. In this paper, these methods have been used to characterize and to predict the discharge of Lor River (North Western of Spain), one, two and three days ahead. Transit data analyses have showed a coefficient of correlation of 0.53 for a lag between precipitation and discharge of one day. By other hand, temperature and discharge has a coefficient of correlation negative (−0.43) for a delay of 19 day. The ANNs developed provide a good result for the validation period, with R2 between 0.92 and 0.80. Furthermore, these prediction models have been tested with discharge data from a period of 16 years later. Results of this testing period also show a good correlation with a R2 between 0.91 and 0.64. Overall, results indicate that ANNs are a good tool to predict river discharge with a small number of input variables.

Variedades tolerantes a los taladros

 Agricultura: Revista agropecuaria, 992 (2016) 146-150

Acidification of mixtures of granite powder and compost for reuse in plant production

COMPOST SCIENCE & UTILIZATION, 2016, 24, 1-10 

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1065657X.2015.1020399

We evaluated the utilization of granite powder—a residue of stone cutting and polishing resulting from its preparation for construction and ornamental use—in the preparation of nursery potting mixtures, within a general objective of waste recycling and reuse. Granite powder was blended with two composts of different origins and properties: one elaborated from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW), and another from pine bark. Since all materials presented pH values over 8, which are excessive for growing most vegetal species, the use of iron sulphate to acidify them has been assessed. Three doses of iron sulphate (14, 69, and 97 g kg¡1, equivalent to 0.1, 0.5, and 0.7 meq HC g¡1) were added to the granitic powder and mixtures with 25 or 75% (v/v) of each compost, which were incubated in the laboratory during 30 days. Doses of iron sulphate above 0.1 meq HC g¡1 resulted in excessive electrical conductivity (>2 dS m¡1) in all the samples, and too low pH values (<5) in most of them. The productivity of granite powder/compost mixtures acidified with 0.1 meq HC g¡1 was tested in a greenhouse experiment with ryegrass, where it was observed that plant productivity increased with respect to a control commercial substrate based on peat, in particular when the MSW compost was employed. On the basis of the physicochemical properties of the mixtures and the results of the greenhouse experiment, the use of granite powder mixed with 75% of MSW compost (v/v), acidified with 14 g kg¡1 of iron sulphate (0.1 meq HC g¡1) is recommended.

Hydroxycinnamate Synthesis and Association with Mediterranean Corn Borer Resistance

J. Agric. Food Chem., 2016, 64, 539–551

DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5b04862

Previous results suggest a relationship between maize hydroxycinnamate concentration in the pith tissues and resistance to stem tunneling by Mediterranean corn borer (MCB, Sesamia nonagrioides Lef.) larvae. This study performs a more precise experiment, mapping an F2 derived from the cross between two inbreds with contrasting levels for hydroxycinnamates EP125 × PB130. We aimed to co-localize genomic regions involved in hydroxycinnamate synthesis and resistance to MCB and to highlight the particular route for each hydroxycinnamate component in relation to the better known phenylpropanoid pathway. Seven quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for p-coumarate, two QTLs for ferulate, and seven QTLs for total diferulates explained 81.7, 26.9, and 57.8% of the genotypic variance, respectively. In relation to borer resistance, alleles for increased hydroxycinnamate content (affecting one or more hydroxycinnamate compounds) could be associated with favorable effects on stem resistance to MCB, particularly the putative role of p-coumarate in borer resistance.

Biochemical, physiological and isotopic responses to natural product p-hydroxybenzoic acid in Cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.)

Plant Growth Regulation

DOI: 10.1007/s10725-014-9981-1

The present study was conducted to evaluate the role of natural compound p-hydroxybenzoic acid (pHBA) on physiological, biochemical and isotopic responses of Dactylis glomerata L. Application of pHBA in the range 0.5–1.5 mM reduced the leaf fresh/dry biomass, shoot/root length, relative water content and leaf osmotic potential of D. glomerata. pHBA decreased the photosynthetic efficiency and quantum yield of photosystem II photochemistry in D. glomerata seedlings following treatment at all concentrations. Photochemical and non-photochemical fluorescence quenching were reduced after treatment with 1.5 mM pHBA. Carbon isotope composition ratio in D. glomerata leaves was significantly less negative following treatment with pHBA than the control. Carbon isotope discrimination value was declined by pHBA. The leaf protein content was lower after treatment with 1.5 mM pHBA. Our results suggest that pHBA possesses allelopathic potential against D. glomerata and this study provide new insights into the physiological, biochemical and isotopic action mechanism of pHBA.

The plant secondary metabolite citral alters water status and prevents seed formation in Arabidopsis thaliana

Plant Biology

DOI: 10.1111/plb.12418

Based on previous results, which showed that the secondary metabolite citral causes disturbances to plant water status, the present study is focused on demonstrating and detailing these effects on the water-related parameters of Arabidopsis thaliana adult plants, and their impact on plant fitness. Clear evidence of effects on water status and fitness were observed: plants treated with 1200 and 2400 μm citral showed decreased RWC, reduced Ψs, increased Ψw and reduced stomatal opening, even 7 days after the beginning of the experiment. Plant protection signals, such as leaf rolling or increased anthocyanin content, were also detected in these plants. In contrast, 14 days after beginning the treatment, treated plants showed signs of citral-related damage. Moreover, the reproductive success of treated plants was critically compromised, with prematurely withered flowers and no silique or seed development. This effect of citral on fitness of adult plants suggests a promising application of this natural compound in weed management by reducing the weed seed bank in the soil.

Forecasting Olea Airborne Pollen Concentrations by Means of Artificial Intelligence

Fresenius Environmental Bulletin, (2015) 24, 4574-4580

A model based in an Artificial Neural Network was de- veloped in order to forecast the Olea airborne pollen concen- tration due to the allergenic power of its pollen grains. Daily data for Olea pollen and the meteorological variables docu- mented in the period 1993-2008, were used. All developed models had five input variables; i) Julian day, ii) precipita- tion, iii) humidity value, and iv) insolation hours. The model was carried out with data collected in the city of Ourense, North West of Spain. The developed model predicts the at- mospheric concentration of Olea pollen one day ahead. The model was tested with data from 2009 and 2010. The devel- oped model could be employed in allergology and health sci- ences in order to prevent effect of pollinosis. It is due the ability of obtain good predictions of threshold pollen con- centration values, which are important to take preventive measures by Health Systems. The time-lag observed in pre- diction phase may be due to the influence of other meteoro- logical parameters which have not been taken into account in the beginning, this fact is reaffirmed by studying the simi- larity between the different pollen seasons and the year 2010 (Mann-Whitney U Test with p<0.031), or due the low concen- trations of Olea pollen during the MPS (≈ 14 grains·m-3).

Organic pollutants profiling of wood ashes from biomass power plants linked to the ash characteristics

Science of the Total Environment, 544 (2016) 535-543

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.11.134

Wood ash, characterized by high content of certain nutrients and charcoal, can be applied to soils as a means of managing this waste product improving the soil quality. The associated environmental risk must be assessed. The objective of this study was to characterize the bottom and fly ash collected from 15 biomass power plants in Spain by determining the benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene and styrene (BTEX + S), PAHs and aliphatic hydrocarbon contents of both types of ash. Biochar was also used for comparison purposes.

As(V) and P Competitive Sorption on Soils, By-Products and Waste Materials

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(12), 15706-15715

doi:10.3390/ijerph121215016

Batch-type experiments were used to study competitive As(V) and P sorption on various soils and sorbent materials. The materials assayed were a forest soil, a vineyard soil, pyritic material, granitic material, coarsely and finely ground mussel shell, calcinated mussel shell ash, pine sawdust and slate processing fines. Competition between As(V) and P was pronounced in the case of both soils, granitic material, slate fines, both shells and pine sawdust, showing more affinity for P. Contrary, the pyritic material and mussel shell ash showed high and similar affinity for As(V) and P. These results could be useful to make a correct use of the soils and materials assayed when focusing on As and P removal in solid or liquid media, in circumstances where both pollutants may compete for sorption sites.

Electrical Percolation of AOT-based Microemulsions with n-Alcohols

Journal of Molecular Liquids

DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2015.12.021

Percolative behaviour of w/o AOT/iC8/H2O microemulsions added with different n-alkanols is reported. 1-n-alcohols and 2-n-alkanols presented dissimilarities affecting percolation. Smaller alcohols ease percolation, especially at low concentrations. Greater molecules implied a reinforcement of the surfactant film that delayed percolation threshold. Also, a neural network based simulation model of the phenomenon has been developed. This single model has only five input variables and can estimate percolation temperature of microemulsions added with the two types of alcohols studied, with an RMSE of 0.98oC and R2=0.9740 (validation dataset values). This is considered a successful prediction rate, following previous developments with other families of additives, that confirms neural networks as reliable tools for percolative behaviour modelling.

A palla de cereal reinvéntase como material de última xeración para producir nanofibras de celulosa

• Investigadores das universidades de Córdoba e Vigo desenvolven novos usos para estes residuos a través de novas novas técnicas de separación ambientalmente favorables.

A industria agroalimentaria enfróntase ao reto de xestionar os seus residuos e faino, entre outras liñas de actuación, buscando a través da I+D novos usos para os subprodutos que xera. É o caso da palla de cereal. Os cambios nos usos dos terreos agrícolas, máis orientados actualmente á obtención de alimentos e de biocombustible, traen consigo a necesidade e a oportunidade de aproveitar os residuos de cultivos de cereais como o trigo, a cebada ou a avea. Investigadores da Universidade de Vigo colaboran nun proxecto da Universidade de Córdoba que traballa na obtención de nanofibras de celulosa, actualmente obtidas principalmente de especies madereiras, destes residuos agrícolas. 

Os resultados desta investigación conxunta veñen de ser publicados na revista Bioresource Technology, nun artigo titulado Agricultural residue valorization using a hydrothermal process for second generation bioethanol and oligosaccharides production e asinado por F. Vargas, E. Domínguez, C. Vila, A. Rodríguez Pascual e Gil Garrote, investigador este último da Facultade de Ciencias do campus de Ourense. Segundo explican os científicos do equipo de investigación Biorrefinería de Materiais Lignocelulósicos da Industria Agroalimentaria da Universidade de Córdoba, liderado por Alejandro Rodríguez, a celulosa é un dos polímeros máis dispoñibles do planeta pola súa presenza nos vexetais. Este grupo ten unha ampla bagaxe na obtención de papel e cartón a partir da celulosa, buscando agora novos procedementos químicos para obter máis produtos e de maior valor engadido, como hidroxeles ou compoñentes para a formulación de cemento.

Obtención de azucres e biocombustible

Entre estes procedementos está a biorrefinería de materiais lignocelulosos, que permite separar nos residuos agrícolas como a palla de cereal a celulosa, a hemicelulosa e a lignina. O primeiro material é aproveitable directamente para facer papel desde a celulosa chamada nobre, mentres que coas hemicelulosas obtéñense compostos de interese industrial, como por exemplo xilitol. Por último, está a lignina, que está presente na chamada lixivia negra ou licor residual. A colaboración coa Universidade de Vigo permitiu desenvolver novas técnicas na separación da celulosa e a lignina. O proceso, de carácter innovador, disolve a materia prima cun catalizador ácido, obtendo unha fracción rica en hemicelulosas e outra rica en celulosa e lignina. A partir desta fracción líquida caracterizáronse azucres interesantes para a industria alimentaria, como xilitol. A fracción sólida, rica en celulosa, púidose fermentar para a obtención de biocombustibles. 

Segundo comenta Rodríguez Pascual, “a palla do cereal ata o de agora empregábase para alimentar o gando ou se desbotaba no campo, en ocasións por medio de pequenos lumes controlados”. O procedemento desenvolvido durante a investigación parte dun proceso ambientalmente favorable, ao empregar sosa a presión atmosférica. Así obtéñense fibras celulósicas por un lado, que se utilizarán para a obtención de lignonanofibras de celulosa (con aparencia de xel), e o licor negro, rico en lignina, por outro. Os investigadores están obtendo lignonanofibras de celulosa mediante procedementos mecánicos, enzimáticos e por oxidación TEMPO, partindo da pasta celulósica sen branquexar, o que implica un menor custe económico e ambiental respecto a outras nanofibras que se obteñen mediante un proceso previo de blanqueamiento.

Fuente: DUVI