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Over the last years, hard carbon (HC) has been the most promising anode material for sodium‐ion batteries due to its low voltage plateau, low cost and sustainability. In this study, biomass waste (spent coffee grounds, sunflower seed shells and rose stems) was investigated as potential material for hard carbon preparation combining a two‐step method consisting of on hydrothermal carbonization (HTC), to remove the inorganic impurities and increase the carbon content, and a subsequent pyrolysis process. The use of HTC as pretreatment prior to pyrolysis improves the specific capacity in all the materials compared to the ones directly pyrolyzed by more than 100 % at high C‐rates. The obtained capacity ranging between 210 and 280 mAh g−1 at C/15 is similar to the values reported in literature for biomass‐based hard carbons. Overall, HC obtained from sunflower seed shell performs better than that obtained from the other precursors with an initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) of 76 % and capacities of 120 mAh g−1 during 1000 cycles at C with a high capacity retention of 86–93 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metal oxides based various nanostructures are believed to be a promising candidate for the development of high-performance electrochemical energy storage devices. Nickel oxide (NiO) based nanostructures such as nanoplate, nanoflower, nanorod, and nanosheet have been successfully synthesized by facile, solution-based hydrothermal method. The electrochemical performances of different NiOs nanostructures have been investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. When NiOs are used as an electrode in a three-electrode system, the maximum achieved specific capacity values are 355 C g-1, 294 C g-1, 284 C g-1, and 432 C g-1 at 1 A g-1 for NiO nanoplate, nanoflower, nanorod, and nanosheet respectively. The solid-state asymmetric supercapacitor device (NiO//AC) has been fabricated using a NiO nanosheet as an anode and activated carbon derived from sunflower seed (AC) as a cathode. The Asymmetric supercapacitor NiO//AC device exhibits a specific capacity of 83 C g-1 at a current density of 1 A g-1. In addition, NiO//AC delivers a maximum energy density of 39.49 Wh Kg-1 at a power density of 1.7 kW Kg-1 and a retention of 107.9 % is observed at 10000 charge/discharge cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On a daily basis, a wide range of materials including inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) inadvertently find their way into the environment. Meanwhile, intentionally used NPs, such as the new generation of nanofertilizers (NFs) are designed to enhance agronomic production. However, their physicochemical properties and not-so-well understood effects raise potential risks to the plant reproductive cycle, specifically pollen development, a subject largely absent in academic research. Even slight contamination, deformation, or aberration of pollen could have enormous impacts on the ecosystem. Thus, our objective was to evaluate the influence of various metal-based NPs on sunflower pollen morphology and its yield. Nano-formulations were applied during the 2019–2021 agronomic seasons on two sunflower hybrids, Neostar and Edison, in Dolná Malanta, near Nitra, Slovak Republic. Pollen morphology findings indicated that conventional ZnSO4 had the most positive impact on the size of pollen grains compared to ZnO-NPs, Fe3O4-NPs, and the NP-free control. Gold-NPs on SiO2 mesoporous silica (AuSi-NPs) showed a statistically insignificant impact, while the use of TiO2-NPs in agriculture remained a topic of debate. Surprisingly, pollen characteristics did not fully correspond to crop yields. Despite causing a reduction in pollen grain size, the TiO2-NPs consistently showed the highest yield compared to other variants. Employing low concentrations of NFs did not notably alter pollen morphology, reinforcing our commitment to eco-friendly, precise, and sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is proposed to study the qualities of sunflower seeds in three zones of location in the head. Moderate negative correlations of the sign of the number of lateral heads (branching) in sunflower lines from the mass of 1000 seeds, the number of rows, seeds in a row, the total number of seeds and the diameter of the head were established (r = −0.5 to −0.53* on the Chedokk scale). The dependence of the number of seeds in the head on its size was confirmed (r = 0.83). In particular, we obtained a high positive correlation between the signs of the number of rows in the head and the number of seeds in the row with the size of the head (0.71 and 0.72). It was established that the mass of 1000 seeds of the first tier has correlations with the number of seeds in a row and the number of rows (r = 0.32 and 0.39), which are attributed only to the group of noticeable ones. This indicates the possibility of combining in one plant a large number and size of seeds in the head. It was found that changes in the size and weight of the seeds in the head by zone occur in hybrids and lines gradually, while the variety shows only a slight decrease in the size and weight of the seeds in the third zone. The largest quantity and the best confectionary quality of seeds was provided by the Zaporizhzhya Confectionery variety. In hybrids, the output of seeds weighing 90–80 g from one head reached only 1000 pieces. The potential to increase the number of seeds in heads in hybrids is present, but the size of the seeds is critical. With the available average weight of 1000 seeds: 90 g in the best maternal line and 70 in the best paternal line, the hybrids only approached the 100 g mark. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Areas of sunflower cultivation in Ukraine, Europe, and the world have significantly increased over the past decade, along with an increase in crop yield, largely due to the development of new varieties and hybrids resistant to various abiotic stresses and extreme environmental conditions. The mineral nutrition background is also an important element of sunflower cultivation technology. The influence of mineral fertilizer rates on the productivity of new early-maturing and medium-early sunflower hybrids was the focus of research conducted during 2020–2021 on dark chestnut soils in the southern region of Ukraine. The results of the study showed that optimization of the mineral nutrition background contributed to increased plant height and leaf area. Both indicators were maximized for the cultivation of Alambra KS and Blyutuz hybrids with the application of fertilizers at the rate of N90P60. These experimental variants also ensured the formation of the maximum level of seed yield (3.05 t/ha for Alambra KS hybrid; 3.39 t/ha for Blyutuz hybrid) and the highest indicators of profitability per 1 kg of active substance of fertilizers (0.35 tons for Alambra KS hybrid; 0.45 tons for Blyutuz hybrid). The mineral nutrition background had little effect on the oil content in sunflower seeds. With an increase in the nitrogen fertilizer rate on the phosphorus background, the oil content in the seeds slightly decreased. However, the experimental variants differed in terms of conditional oil output per hectare of sunflower cultivation. Among early-maturing hybrids, the Alambra KS hybrid showed a higher value for this indicator, while among medium-early hybrids, it was the Blyutuz hybrid. The most effective rate of mineral fertilizers in terms of oil output was determined to be N90P60. Based on the results of the study on dark chestnut soils in the southern region of Ukraine, it is recommended to cultivate the Alambra KS hybrid among early-maturing sunflower hybrids and the Blyutuz hybrid among medium-early hybrids, with the application of mineral fertilizers at the rate of N90P60. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presented results of the study on the effect of biopreparations and different fertilizer systems on the formation of sunflower yield and productivity, determination of economic efficiency of sunflower cultivation under sharp fluctuations in climatic conditions through the use of biotechnology elements and fertilization. Growing sunflower without seed treatment with biopreparations under mineral fertilizer system provided an average yield of 2.93 t/ha, with an additional 0.31 t/ha of sunflower seeds. The organo-mineral fertilizer system resulted in the highest increase in additional production – 0.50 t/ha, and the increase in sunflower yield through fertilization system was the most significant, with a minimum important difference (MID05) of 0.11 t/ha. Seed treatment with biopreparation contributed to an increase in sunflower yield in all fertilizer systems: without fertilizer application, only due to the action of biopreparation, the yield increased to 2.82 t/ha; application of mineral fertilizer ensured a harvest of 3.09 t/ha of sunflower seeds; the organo-mineral fertilizer system had the highest yield indicator – 3.23 t/ha. The highest output of dry matter from the production was obtained through seed treatment with biopreparation and the use of organo-mineral fertilizer system, which provided a yield per hectare of: grain units – 6.47 t, fodder units – 3.56 t, digestible protein – 1.23 t. However, the most significant increase in sunflower productivity was observed in the organo-mineral fertilizer system without seed treatment with biopreparation. The highest indicators of economic efficiency of sunflower cultivation were observed under the conditions of seed treatment with biopreparation without fertilizer application, which amounted to 18,322 UAH/ha – net profit at a profitability of 91.5 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Diets and parasites influence the gut bacterial symbionts of bumble bees, but potential interactive effects remain overlooked. The main objective of this study was to assess the isolated and interactive effects of sunflower pollen, its phenolamides, and the widespread trypanosomatid Crithidia sp. on the gut bacterial symbionts of Bombus terrestris males. Methods and results Bumble bee males emerged in microcolonies fed on either (i) willow pollen (control), (ii) sunflower pollen, or (iii) willow pollen spiked with phenolamide extracts from sunflower pollen. These microcolonies were infected by Crithidia sp. or were pathogen-free. Using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing (V3–V4 region), we observed a significant alteration of the beta diversity but not of the alpha diversity in the gut microbial communities of males fed on sunflower pollen compared to males fed on control pollen. Similarly, infection by the gut parasite Crithidia sp. altered the beta diversity but not the alpha diversity in the gut microbial communities of males, irrespective of the diet. By contrast, we did not observe any significant alteration of the beta or alpha diversity in the gut microbial communities of males fed on phenolamide-enriched pollen compared to males fed on control pollen. Changes in the beta diversity indicate significant dissimilarities of the bacterial taxa between the treatment groups, while the lack of difference in alpha diversity demonstrates no significant changes within each treatment group. Conclusions Bumble bees harbour consistent gut microbiota worldwide, but our results suggest that the gut bacterial communities of bumble bees are somewhat shaped by their diets and gut parasites as well as by the interaction of these two factors. This study confirms that bumble bees are suitable biological surrogates to assess the effect of diet and parasite infections on gut microbial communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of state agroecological monitoring of soils conducted in the southwestern part of the forest–steppe zone of the Central Chernozem Region are analyzed. It was found that in the Aar layer of the arable chernozem in a typical forest–steppe zone of the Central Chernozem Region, the mean total contents of As and Hg are 4.18 and 0.022 mg/kg, respectively. In the parent rock (C), the content of As is 1.38 times higher, and Hg is 2.22 times lower than in the Aar layer. Organic fertilizers are the main source of As and Hg in the agroecosystems of the Belgorod region, but this does not pose a danger to soil pollution or crop production. The highest mean As content (0.020 mg/kg) was found in winter wheat, peas, and sunflower seeds, and the lowest (0.016 mg/kg) was in corn and soybeans. The highest Hg content was found in barley (0.006 mg/kg) and winter wheat (0.007 mg/kg), while the lowest content of this element (0.002 mg/kg) was found in sainfoin hay. No evidence of exceeding the maximum allowable concentration of As and Hg in food grains and the maximum allowable level in feed products was revealed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Bayer AG, Crop Science Division submitted a request to the competent national authority in the Netherlands to modify the existing maximum residue levels (MRL) and to set import tolerances for flupyradifurone and its metabolite difluoroacetic acid (DFA) in various plant commodities. The data submitted in support of the request were found to be sufficient to derive MRL proposals for flupyradifurone and DFA in avocados, mangoes, papayas, asparagus, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, sugar beet roots and chicory roots. Adequate analytical methods for enforcement are available to control the residues of flupyradifurone and DFA in plant matrices under consideration at the validated limits of quantification (LOQs) of 0.01 and 0.007 mg/kg, respectively. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concluded that the short‐term and long‐term intake of flupyradifurone and DFA residues resulting from the use of flupyradifurone according to the reported agricultural practices is unlikely to present a risk to consumer health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New gene sources are needed for adaptation to climatic changes, resistance to the regeneration of diseases and pests, and achieving high heterosis in sunflower breeding. Wild species are the most important gene sources for sunflower breeding studies. For breeding studies, it is necessary to know the morphological, Phenological, and agronomic characteristics of these genotypes in field conditions. The aim of this research was to determine these components of annual wild sunflower (Helianthus) species under field conditions in the 2012 and 2013 growing seasons for new gene sources. In this research, H. agrestis, H. annuus (4 different genotypes), H. anomalus, H. argophyllus, H. bolanderi, H. debilis (ssp. debilis, ssp. cucumerifolius, ssp. silvestris, ssp. tardiflorus and ssp. vestitus subspecies), H. deserticola, H. exilis, H. neglectus, H. niveus (ssp. niveus, ssp. canescens and ssp. tephrodes subspecies) H. petiolaris (ssp. petiolaris (2 different genotypes) and ssp. fallax subspecies), H. porteri, and H. praecox (ssp. praecox (2 different genotypes), ssp. hirtus, and ssp. runyani subspecies) were used as material. In this study, determined characters on annual wild sunflower genotypes were plant height, primary branches number, secondary branches number per primary branches, plant spreading diameter, the number of days from planting to first flowering, the number of days from planting to 50 % flowering, the number of days from planting to the end of flowering, the number of days of the flowering period, main stem diameter, head diameter, 1000 seeds weight, and seed yield. Year factor had a significant effect on these characters except plant height. Genotype had a significant effect on all characters in both years except seed width in 2013. In both years, the highest values for seed yield, 100 seed weight, head diameter, and main stem diameter were obtained in wild H. annuus genotypes while H. argophyllus had the highest values for plant height and primary branches number, and the highest days numbers from planting to first and 50% flowering. In the first and second growing seasons; values of the genotypes changed between 61.33 and 325.67 cm for plant height, between 0.73 and 101.20 g for thousand seed weight, between 97 and 223 days for the time from planting to 50% flowering, between 50 and 171 days for the flowering period, between 5.0 and 800.70 units for the number of plant heads, between 1.57 and 233.20 g for plant grain yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel is a food contaminant of natural or anthropogenic origin. Monitoring of contaminants in food in general allows obtaining an overview on the presence of substances that are undesirable to health. The aim of this study was to analyse nickel content in food of non-animal origin and beverages sold in Luxembourg to determine the exposure of the population to this contaminant. In total, 660 samples were analysed in the timeframe from 2017 to 2021. The results demonstrate high concentrations of nickel in cashew nuts, walnuts, hemp and sunflower seeds, dried peas, oregano, and cocoa powder. Surveillance of contaminants in food allows identifying contributors to the chronic and acute exposure of nickel in order to potentially set official maximum levels in European legislation in the future, allowing for better enforcement actions in case of contaminated products and increasing consumer protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evaluation of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivar leaves belonging to different exotic and local genotypes for physiological traits, viz., chlorophyll a and b, total chlorophyll, carotenoid pigments, and concentration of total pigments transpired spectrophotometrically. The exotic sunflower genotypes used in the study consisted of 9859 (USA), 30837 (Australia), 33673 (France), 9843 and 30835 (Turkey), 9853 and 9848 (Russia), and a local cultivar Jakhongir (Uzbekistan). In the budding phase, the exotic accession 33673 (France) showed higher contents of chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids, and total pigments (17.8 ± 0.55, 6.61 ± 0.40, 5.82 ± 0.19, and 24.47 ± 0.95 mg/ml, respectively). For the flowering phase, exotic genotype 30835 (Turkey) excelled for chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids, and total pigments concentration (17.10 ± 0.37, 6.31 ± 0.24, 5.42 ± 0.24, and 23.41 ± 0.55 mg/ml, respectively). In the ripening phase, the amount of chlorophyll a and carotenoids were 16.64 ± 0.84 and 5.82 ± 0.12 mg/ml, respectively, in genotype 9853 (Russia), and chlorophyll b and total pigments correspond to 6.04 ± 0.33 mg/ml and 21.19 ± 0.57 mg/ml in the local cultivar Jakhongir. No significant quantitative variations were evident for nitrogen content and total protein content in sunflower genotype seeds. However, higher values of total protein content (21.8%) manifested in the exotic genotypes, i.e., 30837 (Australia), 33673 (France), and 9848 (Russia). During 2021, the seed oil content ranged from 31.9% ± 0.51% to 54.4% ± 0.87%, while the highest oil content (54.4% ± 0.87%) emerged in genotype 9853 (Russia). In 2022 planting, the sunflower seeds' highest fat content percentage surfaced in sample 9848 (Russia), 53.99% ± 0.14%. In addition, genotype 9853 (Russia) also contained various micro-macro elements, i.e., Mg, Al, Ca, Fe, Sr, and Ba, compared with the rest of the sunflower genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water availability is the most important key factor affecting sunflower productivity and its oil quality. This study investigated the effect of drought stress on sunflower fatty acids and its effects on grain yield and related components. Thirteen sunflower hybrids were evaluated as randomized complete block design with three replications under normal and drought stress conditions in Karaj, Iran, during 2 years (2019 and 2020). Drought stress was imposed by water withholding during the reproductive stage. Drought stress accelerated the maturity of sunflower and caused a reduction in grain yield (30%), grains weight (11%), and grain numbers/head (22%) compared with normal irrigation. Means of grain yield were 2.7 and 1.8 t/ha under normal and drought stress conditions respectively. Grain numbers/head had higher correlation with grain yield than grains weight under both conditions. Among the fatty acids, the contents of palmitic and linoleic acids were increased (11% and 3%, respectively) while stearic and oleic acids were decreased (6% and 11%). The results indicated that sunflower hybrids benefit from the escape strategy differentially to adapt drought stress condition. However, this adaptation changes sunflower fatty acid profile that reduces grain yield and quality of sunflower oil in Karaj conditions in Iran. In order to achieve the higher yields and higher oil quality, it is necessary to avoid drought stress in sunflower production fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the water crisis affecting several countries, the use of innovative technologies and methods in irrigated agriculture is essential to increase water use efficiency. The use of magnetised water has been considered a possibility both for saving water resources and in increasing crop productivity and quality. Following this, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the growth and longevity of flower stems of ornamental sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.; Vincent's Choice) irrigated with different irrigation depths and water subjected to magnetic field treatment. The treatments consisted of five percentage of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) (20, 70, 100, 130, and 160% of ETc) and two types of irrigation water (magnetised water; and ordinary water). The following characteristics were evaluated: plant height, stem diameter, inflorescence diameter, fresh and dry masses of the leaves and stems, fresh and dry masses of the inflorescence, and post-harvest longevity of the flower stems. The growth and post-harvest longevity characteristics were not influenced by the water type. An increase in irrigation depth promoted an increase in all analysed parameters. Regarding the commercialisation patterns of cut flowers, depth equal to or greater than 0.7 ETc yielded the best classification of ornamental sunflower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conserving more than 7 million plant germplasm accessions in 1,750 genebanks worldwide raises the hope of securing the food supply for humanity for future generations. However, there is a genetic cost for such long-term germplasm conservation, which has been largely unaccounted for before. We investigated the extent and variation of deleterious and adaptive mutations in 490 individual plants representing barley, wheat, oat, soybean, maize, rapa, and sunflower collections in a seed genebank using RNA-Seq technology. These collections were found to have a range of deleterious mutations detected from 125 (maize) to 83,695 (oat) with a mean of 13,537 and of the averaged sample-wise mutation burden per deleterious locus from 0.069 to 0.357 with a mean of 0.200. Soybean and sunflower collections showed that accessions acquired earlier had increased mutation burdens. The germplasm with more years of storage in several collections carried more deleterious and fewer adaptive mutations. The samples with more cycles of germplasm regeneration revealed fewer deleterious and more adaptive mutations. These findings are significant for understanding mutational dynamics and genetic cost in conserved germplasm and have implications for long-term germplasm management and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In arid regions, deficit irrigation stands as an efficacious strategy for augmenting agricultural water conservation and fostering sustainable crop production. The Hexi Oasis, an irrigation zone situated in Northwest China, serves as a pivotal area to produce grain and cash crops. Nonetheless, due to the predominant conditions of low rainfall and high evaporation, the scarcity of irrigation water has emerged as a critical constraint affecting crop growth and yield in the area. In order to evaluate the effects of deficit irrigation on photosynthetic characteristics, yield, quality, and water use efficiency of sunflower, a two-year field experiment with under-mulched drip irrigation was conducted in the cold and arid environment of the Hexi Oasis region. Water deficits were implemented at sunflower seedling and maturity and consisted of three deficit levels: mild deficit (65-75% field capacity, FC), moderate deficit (55-65% FC), and severe deficit (45-55% FC). A total of six combined water deficit treatments were applied, using full irrigation (75-85% FC) throughout the entire crop-growing season as the control (CK). The results illustrated that water deficit engendered a decrease in leaf net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance of sunflower compared to CK, with the decrease becoming significant with the water deficit increasing. A mild water deficit, both at the seedling and maturity phases, precipitated a significant enhancement (p< 0.05) in leaf water use efficiency. Under mild water deficit, stomatal limitation emerged as the predominant factor inducing a reduction in the photosynthetic capacity of sunflower leaves, while as the water deficit escalated, non-stomatal limitation progressively assumed dominance. Moreover, a mild/moderate water deficit at seedling and a mild water deficit at maturity (WD1 and WD3) significantly improved sunflower seed quality under consistent yield conditions and significantly increased irrigation water use efficiency, with an average increase of 15.3% and 18.5% over the two years, respectively. Evaluations utilizing principal component analysis and membership function methods revealed that WD1 attained the highest comprehensive score. Consequently, a mild water deficit at both seedling and maturity (WD1) is advocated as the optimal deficit irrigation strategy for sunflower production within the cold and arid environment of Northwest China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amount of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can be reduced by food additives. In this study, the impact of various flavors was investigated on the formation of PAHs in roasted sunflower seeds. PAHs was measured in the shell and kernel of sunflower with the flavors of lemon, golpar (hogweed), salt, ketchup and raw sunflower. Measuring the amount of PAHs was analyzed by Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). PAHs with low molecular weight were detected. The total of PAHs of sunflower seeds were in the range of 0.4–3.2 mg kg−1. The lowest amount was related to the hogweed kernel, and the highest amount was related to the lemon. High molecular weight PAHs were not detected because the temperature did not rise above 100 °C during roasting. Some flavors, such as hogweed can reduce the amount of PAHs because of their antioxidant properties. On the contrary, the PAHs level with lemon juice was higher than other flavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the increased demand for sunflower production, its breeding assignment is the intensification of the development of highly productive oil seed hybrids to satisfy the edible oil industry. Sunflower Oil Yield Prediction (SOYP) can help breeders to identify desirable new hybrids with high oil yield and their characteristics using machine learning (ML) algorithms. In this study, we developed ML models to predict oil yield using two sets of features. Moreover, we evaluated the most relevant features for accurate SOYP. ML algorithms that were used and compared were Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Support Vector Regression, K-Nearest Neighbour, and Random Forest Regressor (RFR). The dataset consisted of samples for 1250 hybrids of which 70% were randomly selected and were used to train the model and 30% were used to test the model and assess its performance. Employing MAE, MSE, RMSE and R2 evaluation metrics, RFR consistently outperformed in all datasets, achieving a peak of 0.92 for R2 in 2019. In contrast, ANN recorded the lowest MAE, reaching 65 in 2018 The paper revealed that in addition to seed yield, the following characteristics of hybrids were important for SOYP: resistance to broomrape (Or) and downy mildew (Pl) and maturity. It was also disclosed that the locality feature could be used for the estimation of sunflower oil yield but it is highly dependable on weather conditions that affect the oil content and seed yield. Up to our knowledge, this is the first study in which ML was used for sunflower oil yield prediction. The obtained results indicate that ML has great potential for application in oil yield prediction, but also selection of parental lines for hybrid production, RFR algorithm was found to be the most effective and along with locality feature is going to be further evaluated as an alternative method for genotypic selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Given the escalating production of livestock and poultry coupled with the surging cost of soybean meal, the quest for alternative raw materials capable of replacing soybean meal is gaining increasing significance. Rapeseed meal, cottonseed meal, and sunflower seed meal, which are common by-products of agricultural production, offer viable plant-based protein substitutes for soybean meal in pig production. This study reveals that the incorporation of miscellaneous meal (rapeseed meal, cottonseed meal, and sunflower seed meal) as a substitute for soybean meal in the diet did not significantly influence the growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, serum amino acid content, or fecal microbiota diversity of growing pigs weighing between 50 and 75 kg. These results suggest that miscellaneous meal (rapeseed meal, cottonseed meal, and sunflower seed meal) could potentially serve as a partial or complete replacement for soybean meal in the diet of growing pigs. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of miscellaneous meal (rapeseed meal, cottonseed meal, and sunflower seed meal) as a replacement for soybean meal on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, serum biochemical parameters, serum free amino acid contents, and gut microbiota of 50–75 kg growing pigs. A total of 54 healthy growing pigs (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) with initial body weights (BWs) of 50.64 ± 2.09 kg were randomly divided into three treatment groups, which included the corn–soybean meal group (CON), corn–soybean–miscellaneous meal group (CSM), and corn–miscellaneous meal group (CM). Each treatment included six replicates with three pigs in each replicate. Dietary protein levels were maintained at 15% in all three treatment groups. Additional rapeseed meals, cottonseed meals, and sunflower seed meals were added to the CSM group's meals to partially replace the 10.99% soybean meal in the CON group in a 1:1:1 ratio. Pigs in the CM group were fed a diet with a mixture of miscellaneous meals (7.69% rapeseed meal, 7.69% cottonseed meal, and 7.68% sunflower seed meal) to totally replace soybean meal. Our findings revealed that there was no significant impact of replacing soybean meal with miscellaneous meal on the ADG (average daily gain), ADFI (average daily feed intake), or F/G (feed-to-gain ratio) (p > 0.05) of growing pigs weighing 50–75 kg, nor on the crude protein, crude fat, or gross energy (p > 0.05) of the diet. On the other hand, compared to the CON group, the CM group exhibited significantly elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and triglyceride (TG) levels (p < 0.05), while urea levels were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). No significant effect was observed on the serum free amino acid contents (p > 0.05) following the substitution of soybean meal with miscellaneous meal. A t-test analysis indicated that compared with the CON group, the CM group exhibited a significantly diminished abundance of Euryachaeota at the phylum level and augmented abundance of Desulfobacterota at the genus level. This study demonstrated that the miscellaneous meals (rapeseed meal, cottonseed meal, and sunflower seed meal) as a substitute for soybean meal in the diet had no significant negative effects on the growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, serum amino acid content, or diversity of fecal microbiota in 50–75 kg growing pigs. These results can be helpful in developing further miscellaneous meals (rapeseed meal, cottonseed meal, and sunflower seed meal) as functional alternative feed ingredients to soybean meal in pig diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pineapple leaf fiber (PALF), striped sunflower seed fiber (SFSF), and watermelon seed (WMS) are considered natural waste polymer materials, which are biodegradable and sustainable. This study presents new novel thermal insulation and sound absorption materials using such waste as raw materials. PALF, SFSF, and WMS were used as loose, bound, and hybrid samples with different compositions to develop promising thermal insulation and sound-absorbing materials. Eleven sample boards were prepared: three were loose, three were bound, and five were hybrid between PALF with either SFSF or WMS. Wood adhesive was used as a binder for both the bound and hybrid sample boards. Laboratory scale sample boards of size 30 cm × 30 cm with variable thicknesses were prepared. The results show that the average thermal conductivity coefficient for the loose samples at the temperature range 20–80 °C is 0.04694 W/(m.K), 0.05611 W/(m.K), and 0.05976 W/m.K for PALF, SFSF, and WMS, respectively. Those for bound sample boards are 0.06344 W/(m.K), 0.07113 W/(m.K), and 0.08344 W/m.K for PALF, SFSF, and WMS, respectively. The hybrid ones between PALF and SFSF have 0.05921 W/m.K and 0.06845 W/(m.K) for two different compositions. The other hybrid between PALF and WMS has 0.06577 W/(m.K) and 0.07007 for two different compassions. The sound absorption coefficient for most of the bound and hybrid boards is above 0.5 and reaches higher values at some different frequencies. The thermogravimetric analysis for both SFSF and WMS shows that they are thermally stable up to 261 °C and 270 °C, respectively. The three-point bending moment test was also performed to test the mechanical properties of the bound and hybrid sample boards. It should be mentioned that using such waste materials as new sources of thermal insulation and sound absorption materials in buildings and other applications would lead the world to utilize the waste until zero agrowaste is reached, which will lower the environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sunflower seeds are a popular snack in many countries, such as the United States, China, and Spain. Sunflower seeds are typically roasted to create desirable aromas before being eaten. The desirable aromas are created by the Maillard and lipid oxidation reactions. Increasing the volatiles created by these reactions can create a more desirable product, increasing consumer acceptance of sunflower seeds. Seeds were soaked in solutions at pH 4, 7, and 9 and with added glucose, fructose, whey protein isolate, or whey protein concentrate before roasting. The resulting seeds were evaluated by selected-ion flow tube mass spectrometry to determine the volatile concentrations and by an untrained panel of consumers to determine acceptability. Increasing the pH increased the pyrazines but did not affect other volatiles. Adding reducing sugars or whey protein increased most volatiles. The fructose increased dimethylpyrazines, 2-methylpyrazine, and trimethylpyrazine concentrations more than glucose. However, the glucose increased furfural concentration more than fructose. The whey protein concentrate increased volatile levels more than any other treatment. The total Maillard volatiles and Browning index were increased by the same treatments. Sensory indicated that fructose increased desirable aroma the most, followed by whey protein treatments, and both were liked more than the pH 7 control. Optimizing roasting conditions by increasing the pH and reducing sugar and protein content can favor the Maillard reaction conditions, increasing the positive aromas associated with roasted sunflower seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current food system suffers from the inefficient use of resources, including the generation of side streams of low economic value that still contain nutritional components. One potential approach to reach a more sustainable food system is to reintroduce such side streams into a circular value chain and valorise them in novel food products, preferably in an unrefined or minimally refined manner. Blending side streams from different industries might be a suitable way to improve the nutritional value of the final matrix. In this study, sunflower seed press cake and cheese whey were combined to obtain matrices containing valuable proteins, structuring polysaccharides, as well as lactose and minerals facilitating fermentation with three different co-cultures of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts. Fermentation for 48 h at 26 °C decreased the pH from ~6.3 to ~4.7 and enhanced the storage stability of the blends with no effect on their rheological properties and microstructure. This research demonstrates the potential of fermentation as a mean to stabilise side stream blends while only minimally affecting their physical appearance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of a study on the effects of the addition of bread bakery waste (stale bread, sometimes infected with mold, from store returns) to agricultural waste consisting of triticale straw on the process of solid biofuel pelleting and the physical and fuel properties of the obtained pellets. The pelleting process was conducted in a pelletizer equipped with a flat matrix, with holes 6 mm in diameter, and two pelleting rollers (for straw alone and for a mixture of straw and bread waste with mass fractions of 5, 10, and 15%). The addition of bread waste during the process of pelleting resulted in reduced power demand for the pelletizer in each of the analyzed cases. The largest decrease in the power demand (by approximately 18%, i.e., from 1.27 to 1.04 kW) was recorded for a 15% addition of sunflower seed bread to the mixture with straw. Moreover, the addition of bread waste also caused a significant increase in the kinetic strength of pellets compared to pellets produced from straw alone. The highest kinetic strength was obtained in the case of pellets produced from a mixture of straw with a 15% white bread content, i.e., 99.43%. For all of the analyzed types of additives, kinetic strength increased with increasing additive content. In each of the analyzed cases, the obtained values of density of pellets produced from a mixture of straw and bread waste, as well as the kinetic strength, allow for the conclusion that the obtained pellets, in this respect, meet the requirements of ISO 17225-2:2021 and ENplus standards for Class A1 pellets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was performed to assess Ni-immobilization and the phytoremediation potential of sunflower by the application of quinoa stalks biochar (QSB) and its magnetic nanocomposite (MQSB). The QSB and MQSB were characterized with FTIR, SEM, EDX, and XRD to get an insight of their surface properties. Three-week-old seedlings of sunflower were transplanted to soil spiked with Ni (0, 15, 30, 60, 90 mg kg−1), QSB and MQSB (0, 1, and 2%) in the wire house under natural conditions. The results showed that increasing Ni levels inhibited sunflower growth and yield due to the high production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation. Enzyme activities like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and peroxidase (POX) also increased as Ni levels increased. However, the application of QSB and MQSB reduced Ni uptake, root-shoot, and shoot-seed translocation and decreased the generation of ROS, and lowered the activity of SOD, CAT, APX, and POX, leading to improved growth and yield, especially with MQSB. This was verified through SEM, EDX, XRD, and FTIR. It can be concluded that QSB and MQSB can effectively enhance Ni-tolerance in sunflowers and mitigate oxidative stress and human health risks. The article focuses on enhancing the phytoremediation remediation potential of Helianthus annuus by using the quinoa stalks biochar (QSB) and magnetic quinoa stalks biochar (MQSB) by immobilization of Ni in soil and ultimately attenuation of oxidative stress in plants and human health risk. Iron enrichment of biochar improves the surface characteristics (surface area, functional groups, porosity, etc.) which help to immobilize metals ions. To the best of our knowledge, QSB and MQSB has never been used before to study the Ni dynamics and for enhancing sunflower phytoremediation potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Crop sensitivity to root zone salinity can vary over time, which can lead to severe damage when high sensitivity coincides with high soil salinity. The variation in salinity sensitivity of sunflower during its growth cycle is unknown. Methods: Two pot experiments were conducted in sand culture with a complete nutrient solution. Solutions were flushed through pots in excess to maintain specified salt concentrations in the soil solution. In Experiment 1, salt-sensitive stages were determined by applying solutions with an electrical conductivity of < 0.7, 2, 4 or 8 dS m− 1 through the vegetative, flowering or grain filling stages. In Experiment 2, the most sensitive stage to root-zone salinity was determined by exposing plants to 10-day periods of salinity (< 0.7, 8, 16 and 24 dS m− 1) overlapping by 4 days starting from 13-leaf to grain filling. Results: In both experiments, decreases in seed yield were associated with exposure of plants to elevated EC during the period before opening of disk flower to ~ 95% anthesis, while grain filling was the least sensitive. The decline in yield was correlated with a decrease in mature seed number. Increasing salinity from 4 to 8 dS m− 1 during flowering increased the area without seeds at the centre of the disk. In experiment 2, measurements of leaf ion concentrations and photosynthesis suggested that Na+ toxicity decreased yield due to decreases in availability of photosynthate to flowers. Conclusion: To maximise sunflower yield in saline soils, it is important to minimise salinity stress from before flower opening to anthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many pathogens spread with sunflower seeds, which later cause plant diseases. The aim of our work was to isolate and identify sunflower seed pathogens and to investigate their effect on the germination of seeds that were formed on plants with different degrees of damage by Septoria leaf spot. Field germination of seeds was analyzed on a stationary artificial infectious background in 2020-2021, and laboratory germination and phytopathological analysis - out in laboratory conditions in 2021. All four experimental samples were found to be infected with seed infection, and the level of pathogen infection ranged from 5% to 75%. The isolated pathogens belonged to the genera Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Mucor, Rhizopus, Trichoderma and Penicillium. A bacterial infection was also detected. Most pathogens were found on seeds that were formed on plants affected by Septoria leaf spot. The main pathogens here were representatives of the genera Alternaria with infection from 45% to 75%, Cladosporim - 10% and bacterial infection - from 15% to 25%. The smallest number of pathogens was isolated on the seeds of healthy plants. Seed samples, both in the field and in the laboratory, differed significantly in terms of germination. It was found that the highest level of seed infection with various pathogens was characteristic of samples with low germination. The presence of the Alternaria pathogen had a negative effect on seed germination. No infection of sunflower seeds with Septoria leaf spot was detected, despite the high level of damage by this disease to the plants on which it was formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tempeh, yam, and sunflower's flour have been known to have antidiabetic effects, but their combined effect on the histopathology of hyperglycemic rat pancreatic cells in an enteral formula has not been proven. This study aimed to analyze the effect of GLITEROS specific-diabetes enteral formula modification based on tempeh flour, yam flour, and sunflower seed flour on the score pancreatic damage, number and diameter of the islets of langerhans of hyperglycemic rats with streptozotocin induction. The intervention was administered via an oral probe for 28 days to 30 Wistar rats, with each group consisting of 6 rats. The formula was given at a dose of 3.97 g/200 g/day (P1) and 8.75 g/200gr/day (P2) compared to standard control (K), positive control (K +), and negative control (K-). Histopathological features of the pancreas were analyzed using the hematoxylin–eosin staining method. Data were analyzed using paied t-test/Wilcoxon and ANOVA/Kruskal Wallis. The results showed a significant repair of pancreatic cell damage in the treatment group (P1 and P2) after the intervention (p < 0.05), but there was no difference in the number and diameter of the islets of Langerhans (p > 0.05). Overall, our findings suggest that the modified GLITEROS specific-diabetes enteral formula made from tempeh, yam, and sunflower seeds flour on the histopathological picture of hyperglycemia-induced rat pancreas, especially in the repair of damage to pancreatic Langerhans cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water stress is a primary abiotic stress that produces several morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular alterations, which affect crop productivity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare morphophysiological and biochemical characteristics and the hormone profiles of two sunflower inbred lines (C803 and R461-4) in response to moderate water stress at the early vegetative growth (V2) stage. Sunflower seedlings of C803 and R461-4 inbred lines obtained in pots filled with sand moistened to 60% field capacity were watered with (1) Hoagland's solution (control) or (2) mannitol 400 mM (moderate water stress) to field capacity on the fourth day after sowing. At V2, the seedlings were harvested and sectioned into the aerial part and roots. The parameters recorded for the analyses included the aerial part and root length, fresh and dry weight, leaf area and expansion rate, stomatal conductance, osmotic potential, phytohormones and total soluble carbohydrates. Among these parameters, the leaf area and stomatal conductance were the most affected by water stress. Abscisic acid and salicylic acid showed significant increases in the aerial part of water-stressed seedlings, while abscisic acid was the most abundant phytohormone in the roots. In addition, 28-Homocastasterone was the brassinosteroid with higher levels in both lines. This is the first report of teasterone in the sunflower. Finally, total soluble carbohydrates increased upon stressful conditions. Altogether, the water stress led to different parameter alterations dependent on the inbred line and its different sensitivity to water stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-analyte methods based on QuEChERS sample preparation and chromatography/mass spectrometry determination are indispensable in monitoring pesticide residues in the feed and food chain. QuEChERS method, even though perceived as convenient and generic, can contribute to sample matrix constituents' introduction to the measuring system and possibly affect analytical results. In this study, matrix effects (ME) were investigated in four food matrices of plant origin (apples, grapes, spelt kernels, and sunflower seeds) during GC-MS/MS analysis of >200 pesticide residues using QuEChERS sample preparation. Data analysis revealed considerable analyte signal enhancement and suppression: strong enhancement was observed for the majority of analytes in two matrices within the commodity groups with high water content—apples, and high acid and water content—grapes (73.9% MES and 72.5% MEA, and 77.7% MES and 74.9% MEA, respectively), while strong suppression was observed for matrices within the commodity groups with high starch/protein content and low water and fat content—spelt kernels, and high oil content and very low water content—sunflower seeds (82.1% MES and 82.6% MEA, and 65.2% MES and 70.0% MEA, respectively). Although strong matrix effects were the most common for all investigated matrices, the use of matrix-matched calibration for each sample type enabled satisfactory method performance, i.e., recoveries for the majority of analytes (up to roughly 90%, depending on the fortification level and matrix type), which was also externally confirmed through participation in proficiency testing schemes for relevant food commodity groups with the achieved z-scores within acceptable range ≤ |2|. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Climate change projections for the 21st century pose great threats to semi-arid regions, impacting seed production and the quality of sunflowers. Crop yields are negatively affected by climate variability, especially in the event of droughts during the crucial growth stages. Understanding the relationships between agrometeorological, genetic, and agronomic factors is crucial for maintaining crop sustainability. Optimal sowing dates are an essential condition for maximizing crop genetic potential, but challenges come from annual weather variations. This study analyzes how sunflower genotypes respond to different sowing dates under climate change and focuses on the conditions for obtaining maximum seed yields and favorable agronomic traits. From 2020 to 2022, the experiment featured six genotypes sown across four different dates at two-week intervals, simulating seed sunflower production. The results obtained by ANOVA indicated that the seed yield and oil yield were significantly affected by the sowing date, the genotype, and their interaction, with coefficients of variation ranging from 7.6% for oil yield to 41.1% for seed yield. Besides seed yield and oil yield, LDA biplot and Discriminant Functions confirmed that seed germination energy also played a significant role in separating genotypes into clusters. A Visual Mixed Model showed that shifting the optimal sowing date (mid-April) to early May allows a reduction in the number of days the plants spend in critical growth stages, thereby escaping stressful conditions during pollination and seed filling. The findings resulted, on average, in increased yields and improved seed quality, which are the primary goals of seed production, but not in increased 1000-seed weight. Notably, high temperatures during the critical sunflower growth stages negatively affected the measured parameters of seed production. The increased precipitation during seed filling boosted the 1000-seed mass and seed yield. Extended flowering reduced the growth rate and seed germination, but longer seed filling increased the 1000-seed mass and seed yield. Our future breeding goals will be to create genotypes with a shorter flowering period and an extended seed-filling period to better respond to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enhancement of seed germination by using nanoparticles (NPs) holds the potential to elicit the synthesis of more desired compounds with important biomedical applications, such as preventing protein glycation, which occurs in diabetes. Here, we used 7 nm and 100 nm ZnO and 4.5 nm and 16.7 nm Fe2O3 NPs to treat sunflower seeds. We evaluated the effects on germination, total phenolic content, and the anti-glycation potential of extracted polyphenols. Sunflower seeds were allowed to germinate in vitro after soaking in NP solutions of different concentrations. Polyphenols were extracted, dosed, and used in serum albumin glycation experiments. The germination speed of seeds was significantly increased by the 100 nm ZnO NPs and significantly decreased by the 4.5 nm Fe2O3 NPs. The total phenolic content (TPC) of seeds was influenced by the type of NP, as ZnO NPs enhanced TPC, and the size of the NPs, as smaller NPs led to improved parameters. The polyphenols extracted from seeds inhibited protein glycation, especially those extracted from seeds treated with 7 nm ZnO. The usage of NPs impacted the germination speed and total polyphenol content of sunflower seeds, highlighting the importance of NP type and size in the germination process.

The sunflower has the potential to be a highly competitive crop owing to its diversity market and the valuable oil it produces. Nevertheless, the amount of sunflower seed oil – a key factor for the crushing industry – is affected by genotype and environment, which sometimes is difficult to predict. The paper analyzes the theoretical principles of sunflower growth in Ukraine, highlights the current trends in the sowing of this crop, the influence of climatic factors of the environment on the prospects of the oilseed sunflower yield. The results of the research are presented for 3 years (2014–2016), during the authors conducted a grain quality observatory at the regional level, taking into account the climatic conditions of sunflower growth in different natural zones of Ukraine (from 45° to 51° north latitude and from 22° to 37° east longitude). Additionally, the research includes the coefficient of significance of the deviation from long-term climatic indicators, which makes it possible to forecast sunflower yield in the future. The analyzed data was obtained from the commercial fields with a minimum area of 40 ​ha in all Ukrainian regions except Crimea peninsula, Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The results obtained in research show the great diversity of oil content index as per both latitude and longitude meaning. If we consider the entire country, this survey shows that the seed oil content can change dramatically from year to year: e.g. 47.5% in one year versus 45.7% in another year. Regionally, these changes have a completely different dynamic with a gradual decrease in seed oil content in the southern part of the country. The main goal of the research was to identify the best sunflower growing areas in Ukraine according to the oil content index.