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ABSTRACT The sucrose yield in sugarcane largely depends on stem morphology, including length, diameter and sugar content, making sugarcane stem a key trait in breeding. The “Bainianzhe” variety from Songxi County, Fujian Province, possesses both aerial stems and rhizomes, providing a unique model for studying stem development. We performed a spatiotemporal transcriptomic analysis of the base, middle and apical sections of both aerial stems and rhizomes. The analysis categorized transcriptomes by developmental stage—base, middle and apical—rather than environmental differences. Apical segments were enriched with genes related to cell proliferation, while base segments were linked to senescence and fibrosis. Gene regulatory networks revealed key TFs involved in stem development. Orphan genes may be involved in rhizome development through coexpression networks. Plant hormones, especially genes involved in ABA and GAs synthesis, were highly expressed in rhizomes. Thiamine‐related genes were also more prevalent in rhizomes. Furthermore, the apical segments of rhizomes enriched in photosynthesis‐related genes suggest adaptations to light exposure. Low average temperatures in Songxi have led to unique cold acclimation in Bainianzhe, with rhizomes showing higher expression of genes linked to unsaturated fatty acid synthesis and cold‐responsive calcium signalling. This indicates that rhizomes may have enhanced cold tolerance, aiding in the plant's overwintering success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet sorghum can be used to produce a substantial quantity of biofuel due to its high biological yield and high carbohydrate content. In this study, we investigated the dynamic changes in fermentation characteristics, carbohydrate components, and the bacterial community during the ensiling of wilted and unwilted sweet sorghum. The results revealed a rapid fermentation pattern and high-quality fermentation quality in wilted and unwilted sweet sorghum, wherein lactic acid, and acetic acid accumulated and stabilized during the initial 9 days of ensiling, with the pH values less than 4.2, until 60 days of ensiling. We found that the ensiling of sweet sorghum involved the degradation (5% ~ 10%) of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and hemicellulose and that the degradation of NDF fit a first-order exponential decay model. A shift in dominance from Lactococcus to Lactobacillus occurred before the first 9 days of ensiling, and the abundance of Lactobacillus (r = -0.68, p < 0.001) was negatively correlated with the NDF content. The relative abundances of Lactobacillus in wilted and unwilted sweet sorghum after ensiling for 60 days were 76.30 and 93.49%, respectively, and relatively high fermentation quality was obtained. In summary, ensiling is proposed as a biological pretreatment for sweet sorghum for subsequent biofuel production, and unlike other materials, sweet sorghum quickly achieves good fermentation quality and has great potential for bioresource production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change mitigation is a major challenge of human society. Currently, to this end, many countries including China are committed to achieving carbon neutrality within a few decades. China is a major sugarcane and sugar beet producing country and has one of the largest carbon footprint for sugarcane and sugar beet production globally. A comprehensive study was conducted on sugarcane and sugar beet crops grown in China for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions mitigation potential, economic crop production from a sustainable sugar production perspective. Long-term trend analysis showed that yield and GHG emissions of sugarcane and sugar beet crops increased but the ratio of income to cost declined. Structural equation model analysis revealed nitrogen fertilizer and labor as the major drivers of GHG emissions for both sugarcane and sugar beet. For sugarcane and sugar beet, the path coefficient of N fertilizer were -0.964 and -0.835 and that of labor were 0.771 and 0.589, respectively. By transitioning the current cropping system to an improved model with optimized labor, N input and machinery use, the GHG emissions and total annual cost of sugarcane and sugar beet production can be reduced by 32% and 24%, respectively, by 2030, compared to a business-as-usual scenario. This is the first integrated and comparative study of environmental and economic sustainability of sugarcane and sugar beet production in China. These findings will enable all stakeholders of Chinese sugarcane and sugar beet industries to transform them into environmentally and economically sustainable sugar production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen, volatile fatty acids (VFAs), and methane coproduction from sweet sorghum stems using bacterial consortium was investigated as an efficient and sustainable pre-treatment strategy to improve energy recovery. Integrated two-stage dark fermentation and methanization approach aimed to reduce fractionation, juice extraction, and pre-treatment steps to improve the efficiency and sustainability of stalks energy bioconversion. Stems biomass loading did not significantly influence hydrogen and VFAs productivities. Energy recovery yields were (7.07) and (10.01) MJ/kg dry matter (DM), respectively, for raw stem single dark fermentation (DF) and methanization processes, corresponding to 41.22% and 58.37% of raw stalk energy potential. Methanogenic potential increase of 31.9% and energy bioconversion yield of 13.21 MJ/kg DM were reached for solid residues from DF (80.75% of their energy content), suggesting that bacterial consortium efficiently pre-treated sorghum stalk fibers. Coupling process led to 88.74% net biomass energy recovery yield, corresponding respectively to 57.38% and 40.23% more than single DF and methanization. Fiber degradation ability of DF bacterial consortium significantly contributed to improve sorghum stalk energy recovery efficiency and cost-competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the intricate thermal decomposition of sweet sorghum bagasse, an agricultural residue with significant potential as a renewable energy and biofuel feedstock. Both slow and flash pyrolysis has been conducted over a temperature range of 300–450°C and flash pyrolysis experiments were performed through analytical pyrolysis via Py-GC/MS to comprehensively assess the pyrolysis behaviour and elucidate the biomass degradation pathways. In the slow pyrolysis experiments, sweet sorghum bagasse underwent controlled thermal decomposition at different temperatures (300–450°C), allowing for the investigation of the influence of temperature on product yields and compositions. The evolved volatile compounds and biochar products were analyzed to determine the impact of temperature on biomass degradation. The results revealed that 400°C is the optimum pyrolysis temperature for maximizing valuable bio-oil production with approximately 42 wt.% yields with an overall conversion of 73%. Various characterization techniques were employed to analyze the slow pyrolysis products, including GC-MS, TGA, FTIR, SEM, and XRD. Flash pyrolysis was employed to provide a detailed understanding of the rapid biomass breakdown under extreme heating conditions with a heating rate of 20°C/ms to complement the slow pyrolysis findings. This technique elucidated the primary mechanisms responsible for the degradation of sweet sorghum bagasse, shedding light on the fragmentation patterns and the formation of vital intermediate compounds during flash pyrolysis. These insights into the transient phenomena occurring during pyrolysis provide valuable information for developing efficient and sustainable biomass conversion processes. The pyrolysis behaviour of sweet sorghum bagasse (SSB) is comprehensively assessed using TGA, slow pyrolysis via lab scale glass tubular reactor and flash pyrolysis via analytical tool Py-GC/MS from 300–450°C. The study reveals the potential use of SSB as a renewable energy and biofuel feedstock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity is a major environmental constraint on plant growth in arid regions. Soluble sugars and amino acids are essential osmolytes for plants to cope with osmotic stresses. Sweet sorghum is an important bioenergy crop and forage with strong adaptabilities to adverse environments; however, the accumulation pattern and biosynthesis basis of soluble sugars and amino acids in this species under osmotic stresses remain elusive. Here, we investigated the physiological responses of a sweet sorghum cultivar to PEG-induced osmotic stresses, analyzed differentially accumulated soluble sugars and amino acids after 20% PEG treatment using metabolome profiling, and identified key genes involved in the biosynthesis pathways of soluble sugars and amino acids using transcriptome sequencing. The results showed that the growth and photosynthesis of sweet sorghum seedlings were significantly inhibited by more than 20% PEG. After PEG treatments, the leaf osmotic adjustment ability was strengthened, while the contents of major inorganic osmolytes, including K+ and NO3−, remained stable. After 20% PEG treatment, a total of 119 and 188 differentially accumulated metabolites were identified in the stems and leaves, respectively, and the accumulations of soluble sugars such as raffinose, trehalose, glucose, sucrose, and melibiose, as well as amino acids such as proline, leucine, valine, serine, and arginine were significantly increased, suggesting that these metabolites should play key roles in osmotic adjustment of sweet sorghum. The transcriptome sequencing identified 1711 and 4978 DEGs in the stems, as well as 2061 and 6596 DEGs in the leaves after 20% PEG treatment for 6 and 48 h, respectively, among which the expressions of genes involved in biosynthesis pathways of sucrose (such as SUS1, SUS2, etc.), trehalose (including TPS6), raffinose (such as RAFS2 and GOLS2, etc.), proline (such as P5CS2 and P5CR), leucine and valine (including BCAT2), and arginine (such as ASS and ASL) were significantly upregulated. These genes should be responsible for the large accumulation of soluble sugars and amino acids under osmotic stresses. This study deepens our understanding of the important roles of individual soluble sugars and amino acids in the adaptation of sweet sorghum to water scarcity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was conducted to study the effects of different mixing ratios of sweet sorghum and alfalfa on the nutrient composition and fermentation quality of mixed silage. The proportion of alfalfa in each group was 0 (T1 group), 20% (T2 group), 40% (T3 group), 60% (T4 group), 80% (T5 group) and 100% (T6 group), and four replicates were set in each group. After 60 days of silage, the sensory, nutrient composition and fermentation parameters of silage in each group were detected. The results showed that the silage treated with T3~T5 groups had strong acid flavor, light yellow color, good stem and leaf structure, and high grade. The pH value of mixed alfalfa and sweet sorghum silage in T6 group was significantly higher than that in T1 group, T3 group, and T4 group (P<0.05). Ammonia nitrogen/total nitrogen in T5 group and T6 group was significantly higher than that in other groups (P<0.05), and T3 group and T4 group were significantly higher than that in T1 group and T2 group (P<0.05). The propionic acid content in T1 group was significantly higher than that in other groups (P<0.05), and the propionic acid content in T2 group was significantly higher than that in T3 group, T4 group, and T6 group (P<0.05). Butyric acid was detected only in group T6 mixed silage, and no butyric acid was detected in other groups. The lactic acid content of T5 group and T6 group was significantly lower than that of the other groups (P<0.05). The organic matter and dry matter of silage in T4 group, T5 group and T6 group were significantly higher than those in T1 group and T2 group (P<0.05). The contentrations of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber in T4 group, T5 group and T6 group were significantly lower than those in T1 group and T2 group (P<0.05). The crude fiber content in T5 group and T6 group was significantly higher than that in T1 group and T2 group (P<0.05). The crude protein content in T2~T6 groups was significantly higher than that in T1 group (P<0.05). The content of soluble carbohydrate in T3~T6 groups was significantly lower than that in T1 group and T2 group (P<0.05). The study indicates that alfalfa and sweet sorghum mixed silage can improve the nutritional value and fermentation quality of silage, and the silage effect is the best when alfalfa accounts for 60%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet sorghum is an important sugar crop and forage with a strong tolerance to soil salinity. We have previously analyzed the ion accumulation traits and transcriptome of a sweet sorghum cultivar under NaCl treatments. However, the mechanisms underlying Na+, K+, Cl−, and NO3− transports and the osmotic adjustment of sweet sorghum under salt stresses need further investigations. In this study, the growth, photosynthesis, inorganic ion and organic solute contents, and leaf osmotic adjustment ability of the sweet sorghum cultivars "Lvjuren" and "Fengtian" under NaCl treatments were determined; meanwhile, the expressions of key genes associated with the Na+, K+, Cl−, and NO3− transport were analyzed using the qRT-PCR method. The results showed that NaCl treatments more severely inhibited the growth and photosynthesis of "Lvjuren" than those of "Fengtian". After NaCl treatments, "Fengtian" could more efficiently restrict the overaccumulation of Na+ and Cl− in leaf blades than "Lvjuren" by withholding large amounts of Na+ in the roots or reserving high quantities of Cl− in the leaf sheaths, which could be attributed to the upregulated expressions of SbNHX2, SbHKT1;4, SbHKT1;5, SbCLCc, and SbCLCg or the downregulated expression of SbNPF6.4. "Fengtian" exhibited significantly lower leaf osmotic potential but higher leaf water potential and turgor pressure under NaCl treatments, suggesting that the former possessed a stronger osmotic ability than the latter. The contents of K+, NO3−, soluble sugar, and betaine in leaf blades, as well as the contributions of these osmolytes to the leaf osmotic potential, in "Fengtian" were significantly higher than those in "Lvjuren". In addition, the upregulated expressions of SbAKT1, SbHAK5, SbSKOR, SbNPF3.1, SbNPF6.3, and SbNPF7.3 should be responsible for maintaining K+ and NO3− homeostasis under NaCl treatment. These results lay a foundation for uncovering the salt tolerance mechanisms of sweet sorghum and large-scale cultivation of this species in saline areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policosanol is a blend of long-chain aliphatic alcohols (LCAAs) and is well-known for several health-beneficial activities; however, the functionality of policosanol varied substantially based on the composition of LCAAs. In this study, two distinct policosanols, Raydel® (extracted from Cuban sugarcane wax) and BOC Sciences (extracted from Chinese sugarcane wax), were dietarily supplemented (0.1% w/w) for 12 weeks in hyperlipidemic zebrafish to examine their influence on the blood lipid profile and functionality of the liver, kidney, and reproductive organs. The results demonstrated a noteworthy impact of both policosanols on preventing high-cholesterol diet (HCD, 4% w/w)-induced dyslipidemia by decreasing total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels in the plasma. However, compared to BOC Sciences, the Raydel® policosanol exhibited a significantly (p < 0.05) higher efficacy in reducing HCD-induced TC and TG levels. A substantial effect was observed exclusively with the Raydel® policosanol in mitigating HCD-impaired low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. Hepatic histology and immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis revealed the higher efficacy of Raydel® policosanol over BOC Sciences policosanol to prevent HCD-provoked fatty liver changes, cellular senescence, oxidative stress, and interleukin (IL)-6 production. Consistently, a significantly higher effect of Raydel® over BOC Sciences policosanol was observed on the protection of kidney, testis, and ovary morphology hampered by HCD consumption. In addition, Raydel® policosanol exhibited a notably stronger effect (~2-fold, p < 0.05) on the egg-laying ability of the zebrafish compared to policosanol from BOC Sciences. Furthermore, Raydel® policosanol plays a crucial role in improving embryo viability and mitigating developmental defects caused by the intake of an HCD. Conclusively, Raydel® policosanol displayed a substantially higher efficacy over BOC Sciences policosanol to revert HCD-induced dyslipidemia, the functionality of vital organs, and the reproductive health of zebrafish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Salinity is one of the most common abiotic stresses in the world. It negatively affects the growth and development of sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench). It significantly reduces germination and seedling growth parameters. The present study was carried out to evaluate the impact of four salinity levels (0, 100, 200, and 300 mM) on the germination and seedling growth parameters of four sweet sorghum genotypes (Erdurmus, Uzun, Srg 156, and BSS 424) and on their ion content (Na, K, Ca, and Mg). The results indicate that under nonsaline conditions, the germination percentage (GP) of all genotypes was 100%, and Erdurmus was identified as the earliest germinating genotype. The BSS 424 genotype showed a significant reduction in germination index (GI), ranging from 8.33% at 100 mM to 0.89% at 300 mM, while Erdurmus and Srg 156 showed the lowest decreases, with mean values of 15.801 and 13.901, respectively. The highest root fresh weight (RFW) value was observed in the control for all the genotypes, while Erdurmus showed the lowest decrease. Moreover, the highest decrease in Mg (0.24%) and Ca (0.17%) content was observed in Uzun, and the lowest K content was identified in BSS 424 (0.5%), whereas the highest Na content was also determined in Uzun (3.12%). Considering all the results, salt stress above 200 mM significantly affected the germination and seedling growth parameters. Therefore, lower concentrations should be taken into consideration for sustainable sorghum production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to screen suitable sugar sorghum varieties for planting in the Xing'an League area of Inner Mongolia, and analyzed and compared the production performance and nutritional quality of eight fodder sweet sorghum varieties, using grey relational analysis for comprehensive evaluation. The results showed that 3701 had the highest plant height (412.67 cm), fresh forage yield (186 111.11 kg/hm²), and dry forage yield (39 995.56 kg/hm²). Hercules had the highest crude protein content (5.17%). Manatee had the lowest content of neutral detergent fiber (64.02%) and acid detergent fiber (40.35%). The adaptability order of the eight tested varieties in the Xing'an League area of Inner Mongolia was: Fengtian > Lishen > F10 > Green Giant > Hercules > Bull Demon King > Manatee > 3701. The study indicates that the sweet sorghum variety Fengtian has the best comprehensive performance in the Xing'an League area and has the value for promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to select sweet sorghum varieties suitable for planting in Guangdong with high forage value, and compared the agronomic traits and nutritional values of Hercules, Lüjuren, Desheng, B6, and Sorghum bicolor × S. sudanense. The results showed that the dry matter yield of the five varieties tested ranged from 4.28 t/hm² to 20.35 t/hm², with B6 being the highest. The crude protein yield of B6 was 1.14 t/hm², which was significantly higher than that of other varieties (P<0.05). The relative forage value of Sorghum bicolor × S. sudanense was 90.64, which was significantly higher than the rest of the varieties (P<0.05). B6 had a higher content of water-soluble carbohydrates (16.17%DM), and the highest content of nitrogen-free extractives. The study indicates that taking into account agronomic traits, nutritional components, and sugar composition, B6 is more suitable for cultivation in Guangdong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice continues to be the staple food for most Indonesians. Because Indonesians have such ingrained consumption patterns, switching to other food sources besides rice can be difficult, contributing to the country's high rice consumption. Indonesia has plenty of local food resources that can be used as a carbohydrate source and staple food. However, a lack of understanding about the foods' potential use and nutritional content has caused many of them to grow wildly in nature, neglected, and underutilized. Most recently, there has been an increase in studies examining the potential of underutilized carbohydrate sources, including their nutritionally rich compounds, following the 2018 agriculture policy in promoting agriculture and food diversification. Taro beneng (Xanthosoma undipes K. Koch), sago (from the genus Metroxylon), sweet potato (Ipomea batatas L.), and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) are the local sources of carbohydrates and have the potential to be utilized as a healthy alternative to white rice, gluten-free product, or as an ingredient of supplementary or complementary foods. To find out if underutilized foods in Indonesia have the potential to substitute rice and glutenfree products and also to assist with food diversification initiatives, a comparison of their nutritional compositions was conducted using a literature review. Taro beneng, sago, sweet potatoes, and sorghum can be used as healthy alternatives for substituting rice and glutenfree products. This underutilized food offers diverse nutrients and many possibilities for product diversification, such as analog rice, symbiotic yogurt, gluten-free biscuits, and noodles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Salt tolerance in plants is defined as their ability to grow and complete their life cycle under saline conditions. Staple crops have limited salt tolerance, but forage grass can survive in large unexploited saline areas of costal or desert land. However, due to the restriction of self-incompatible fertilization in many grass species, vegetative propagation via stem cuttings is the dominant practice; this is incompatible with current methodologies of salt-tolerance phenotyping, which have been developed for germination-based seedling growth. Therefore, the performance of seedlings from cuttings under salt stress is still fuzzy. Moreover, the morphological traits involved in salt tolerance are still mostly unknown, especially under experimental conditions with varying levels of stress. Results: To estimate the salt tolerance of cutting propagation-dependent grasses, a reliable and low-cost workflow was established with multiple saline treatments, using Paspalum vaginatum as the material and substrate as medium, where cold stratification and selection of stem segments were the two variables used to control for experimental errors. Average leaf number (ALN) was designated as the best criterion for evaluating ion-accumulated salt tolerance. The reliability of ALN was revealed by the consistent results among four P. vaginatum genotypes, and three warm-season (pearl millet, sweet sorghum, and wild maize) and four cold-season (barley, oat, rye, and ryegrass) forage cultivars. Dynamic curves simulated by sigmoidal mathematical models were well-depicted for the calculation of the key parameter, Salt50. The reliability of the integrated platform was further validated by screening 48 additional recombinants, which were previously generated from a self-fertile mutant of P. vaginatum. The genotypes displaying extreme ALN-based Salt50 also exhibited variations in biomass and ion content, which not only confirmed the reliability of our phenotyping platform but also the representativeness of the aerial ALN trait for salt tolerance. Conclusions: Our phenotyping platform is proved to be compatible with estimations in both germination-based and cutting propagation-dependent seedling tolerance under salt stresses. ALN and its derived parameters are prone to overcome the species barriers when comparing salt tolerance of different species together. The accuracy and reliability of the developed phenotyping platform is expected to benefit breeding programs in saline agriculture. Key message: A novel phenotyping system was developed to screen for salt tolerance of erect stems of Paspalum vaginatum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sweet sorghum juice is a typical production feedstock for natural, eco-friendly sweeteners and beverages. Clostridium tyrobutyricum is one of the widely used microorganisms in the food industry, and its principal product, bio-butyric acid is an important food additive. There are no published reports of Clostridium tyrobutyricum producing butyric acid using SSJ as the sole substrate without adding exogenous substances, which could reach a food-additive grade. This study focuses on tailoring a cost-effective, safe, and sustainable process and strategy for their production and application. Methods: This study modeled the enzymolysis of non-reducing sugars via the first/second-order kinetics and added food-grade diatomite to the hydrolysate. Qualitative and quantitative analysis were performed using high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometer, full-scale laser diffraction method, ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, the cell double-staining assay, transmission electron microscopy, and Oxford nanopore technology sequencing. Quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction, pathway and process enrichment analysis, and homology modeling were conducted for mutant genes. Results: The treated sweet sorghum juice showed promising results, containing 70.60 g/L glucose and 63.09 g/L fructose, with a sucrose hydrolysis rate of 98.29% and a minimal sucrose loss rate of 0.87%. Furthermore, 99.62% of the colloidal particles and 82.13% of the starch particles were removed, and the concentrations of hazardous substances were effectively reduced. A food microorganism Clostridium tyrobutyricum TGL-A236 with deep utilization value was developed, which showed superior performance by converting 30.65% glucose and 37.22% fructose to 24.1364 g/L bio-butyric acid in a treated sweet sorghum juice (1:1 dilution) fermentation broth. This titer was 2.12 times higher than that of the original strain, with a butyric acid selectivity of 86.36%. Finally, the Genome atlas view, Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and evolutionary genealogy of genes: Non-supervised Orthologous (eggNOG) functional annotations, three-dimensional structure and protein cavity prediction of five non-synonymous variant genes were obtained. Conclusion: This study not only includes a systematic process flow and indepth elucidation of relevant mechanisms but also provides a new strategy for green processing of food raw materials, improving food microbial performance, and ensuring the safe production of food additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Elucidating the mechanism of fiber transformation underlying microbial metabolism is critical for improving fiber-rich silage digestibility and preserving silage energy for ruminant nutrient absorption. However, few studies have combined quantitative microbial function and transformation products in silage to explain this mechanism. Here, we constructed a workflow to detect the substrates and products of fiber transformation in mixed silage of Sesbania cannabina and sweet sorghum (SS) and combined the absolute quantification 16S rRNA sequencing to reveal this mechanism. Results: The synergistic effect of Lactobacillus cocktail and cellulase (LC) simplified the microbial diversity and minimized the microbial quantity, making Lentilactobacillus buchneri the dominant species in SS silage. As a result, the LC-treated silage had greater lactic acid content, lower pH value, and less NH3-N content. The indigestible fibers were significantly decreased due to the synergistic effect of the Lactobacillus cocktail and cellulase. Changes in microbial structure during ensiling also resulted in metabolic alterations. The increased levels of microbial enzymes, including β-glucosidase and sucrose phosphorylase, involved in starch and sucrose metabolism led to the enrichment of monosaccharides (including glucose, xylose, mannose, galactose, ribose, rhamnose, and arabinose) in the LC-treated silage. We found that L. buchneri was positively associated with β-glucosidase and sucrose phosphorylase, reflecting the crucial contribution of L. buchneri to fiber decomposition in SS silage. Conclusion: Using an absolute quantitative microbiome, we found that LC treatment decreased the microbial biomass in SS silage, which in turn promoted the energy preservation in the SS silage. The cooperative interaction of the Lactobacillus cocktail and cellulase improved the fiber decomposition and in vitro dry matter digestibility rate by changing the microbiome structure and function in the SS silage, providing guidance and support for future fiber-rich silage production in the saline-alkaline region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The third instar larvae of Chlaenobia rzedowskiana Aragón y Morón 2003 are described from 16 specimens that were reared in the laboratory from larvae captured in a sorghum field in the Jantetelco, Morelos, Mexico. The diagnostic characters were compared with those of Chlaenobia tumulosa. Resumen Se describe la larva de tercer instar de Chlaenobia rzedowskiana Aragón y Morón, 2003, de 16 ejemplares criados en un laboratorio a partir de larvas colectadas en sorgo en el municipio Jantetelco, Morelos, México. Los caracteres diagnósticos se comparan con Chlaenobia tumulosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melanaphis sorghi Theobald (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is an economic pest of cultivated sorghum (Sorghum bicolor Moench) and utilizes the common weed Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense Pers.) as a non-crop host across North America. Effective management strategies for this aphid include host plant resistance and the conservation of natural enemies. However, the effectiveness of both strategies has been found to vary regionally, with the majority of research conducted in areas with heavy sorghum production. A study was conducted to monitor M. sorghi and its natural enemies over time in Johnsongrass and grain sorghum with varying levels of aphid resistance in Mississippi. The aphid density in susceptible sorghum averaged 67 aphids per leaf, while the aphid densities in the resistant sorghum and Johnsongrass were significantly lower. Trends observed in the densities of seven families of natural enemies among the host plants were similar to those observed with M. sorghi. The numerical responses of the natural enemies varied considerably less between sorghum varieties than their density alone. The densities of insects and the numerical responses of natural enemies did not vary significant over time during the reproductive growth phase of sorghum or Johnsongrass. This research demonstrates that host plant resistance and natural enemies in the mid-southern United States, where there is limited sorghum acreage, function similarly to other regions characterized by widespread sorghum production. It also indicated that there was no antagonism between the host plant resistance and natural enemies, which should enable both to function within sorghum integrated pest management. Resumen Melanaphis sorghi Theobald (Hemiptera: Aphididae) es una plaga económica del sorgo (Sorghum bicolor Moench), además de utilizar la maleza Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense Pers.) como hospedero natural en toda América del Norte. Las estrategias más afectivas para el manejo de este áfido incluyen la resistencia de plantas hospedantes y la conservación de enemigos naturales. Se ha descubierto que la eficacia de ambas estrategias varían regionalmente, y la mayoría de las investigaciones se han llevado a cabo en áreas con altas producciones de sorgo. Este estudio se realizó en Mississippi con el fin de monitorear poblaciones de M. sorghi y enemigos naturales a través del tiempo en el pasto Johnsongrass y en sorgo para grano con distintos niveles de resistencia al áfido. La densidad promedio de M. sorghi en el sorgo susceptible fueron de 67 áfidos por hoja, cuyas densidades fueron significativamente menores comparadas con el sorgo resistente y Johnsongrass. Las tendencias observadas en las densidades de siete familias de enemigos naturales entre las plantas hospedantes fueron similares a las observadas con los áfidos. Las respuestas numéricas de los depredadores y parasitoides mostraron una variabilidad considerablemente; menor entre las variedades de sorgo que la densidad de enemigos naturales. Las densidades de insectos y las respuestas numéricas no mostraron ninguna variabilidad significativa a lo largo del tiempo durante la fase de crecimiento reproductivo del sorgo o Johnsongrass. Esta investigación demuestra que la resistencia de las plantas hospedantes y los enemigos naturales en Misisipi, donde la producción de sorgo es limitada, funcionan de manera similar en regiones que se caracterizan por su alta producción. También indica que no hay antagonismo entre la resistencia de la planta huésped y los enemigos naturales, lo que permitiría que ambas estrategias funcionen dentro del manejo integrado de plagas del sorgo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Altering plant carbon allocation from leaves to stems is key to improve biomass for forage, fuel, and renewable chemicals. The sorghum dry stalk (D) locus controls a quantitative trait for sugar accumulation, with enhanced carbon allocation in the stems of juicy green (dd) sorghum but reduced carbon allocation in that of dry white (DD) sorghum. However, it remains unclear whether altering sorghum sugar accumulation in stem affects below‐ground microbiome. Here we investigated sorghum rhizosphere soil microbiome in near isogenic lines with different magnitude of carbon allocations and accumulation in the stems. Results showed that enhanced carbon accumulation in stems of juicy green sorghum results in stronger selection in rhizosphere microbiome assembly. The rhizosphere soil microbial communities selected in juicy green sorghum tended to be fast‐growing microbial taxa which possessed potential functions that would promote higher potential capacity to use chemically labile carbon sources and potentially result in higher potential decomposition rates. We found the rhizosphere microbes selected by juicy green sorghum form weaker interactions than dry white sorghum. This is the first comprehensive study revealing how the different magnitude of carbon allocations to stems regulates microbial community assembly, microbial interaction, and microbial functions. This study indicates that future plant modification for bioenergy crops should also consider the impacts on belowground microbial community without compromising the sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Maize silage is one of the most commonly used forages on many dairy farms. However, the absence of tiller and regeneration characteristics, alongside its high-water needs, limit its planting potential in arid areas. Conversely, the cultivation of sweet sorghum for silage in arid regions worldwide has been constantly increasing due to its excellent regrowth, tiller, biomass yield, water-soluble carbohydrates, and resistance to drought. Our previous in vitro studies have shown that sweet sorghum can replace maize in arid areas to produce high-quality silage feed. This study assumes that the sugar in sweet sorghum silage can provide the required proportion of starch content. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of high-sugar sorghum silage, forage sorghum silage, and maize silage on the lactation performance and digestibility of dairy cows. It was observed that feeding sweet sorghum silage without additional grain supplementation was substantially similar to feeding maize silage. No differences in milk yield or nutrient digestibility in cows were noted for these tested forages. This indicates that sweet sorghum silage could be an acceptable feedstuff to support milk production in dairy cattle, especially in water-limited regions worldwide. This study investigated the effects of replacing maize silage (MZS) with high-sugar sorghum silage (HSS) or forage sorghum silage (FSS) without additional grain supplement in the diets of dairy cows on nutrient digestibility, milk composition, nitrogen (N) use, and rumen fermentation. Twenty-four Chinese Holstein cows (545 ± 42.8 kg; 21.41 ± 0.62 kg milk yield; 150 ± 5.6 days in milk) were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments (n = 8 cows/treatment). The cows were fed ad libitum total mixed rations containing (dry matter basis) either 40% MZS (MZS-based diet), 40% HSS (HSS-based diet), or 40% FSS (FSS-based diet). The study lasted for 42 days, with 14 days devoted to adaptation, 21 days to daily feed intake and milk production, and 7 days to the sampling of feed, refusals, feces, urine, and rumen fluid. Milk production was measured twice daily, and digestibility was estimated using the method of acid-insoluble ash. The data were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA in SPSS 22.0 according to a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments were used as fixed effects and cows as random effects. The results indicate that MZS and HSS had greater crude protein but less neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), and a lower pH than FSS (p ≤ 0.04). High starch contents in MZS and water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) contents in HSS were observed (p < 0.01). While the highest starch intake was observed for the MZS-based diet, the highest WSC intake was noted for the HSS-based diet, and the highest NDF, ADF, ADL intake was observed for the FSS-based diet (p ≤ 0.05). The diets, including MZS and HSS, had greater digestibility than that of FSS (p ≤ 0.03). Feeding MZS- and HSS-based diets increased the yield, fat, and protein content of the milk, as well as feed conversion efficiency (p ≤ 0.03). However, feeding the MZS- and HSS-based diets decreased the contents of milk urea N, urinary urea N, and urinary N excretion more than the FSS-based diet (p ≤ 0.05). The N use efficiency tended to increase relative to diets containing MZS and HSS compared with FSS (p = 0.06 and p = 0.09). Ruminal ammonia-N and pH were lower, but total volatile fatty acids, acetate, and propionate were higher in cows fed the HSS- and MZS-based diets compared to those fed the FSS-based diet (p ≤ 0.03). It appears as though replacing MZS with HSS in the diet of cows without additional grain supplements has no negative influence on feed intake, milk yield, N utilization, or ruminal fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Bioenergy sorghum is a low‐input, drought‐resilient, deep‐rooting annual crop that has high biomass yield potential enabling the sustainable production of biofuels, biopower, and bioproducts. Bioenergy sorghum's 4–5 m stems account for ~80% of the harvested biomass. Stems accumulate high levels of sucrose that could be used to synthesize bioethanol and useful biopolymers if information about cell‐type gene expression and regulation in stems was available to enable engineering. To obtain this information, laser capture microdissection was used to isolate and collect transcriptome profiles from five major cell types that are present in stems of the sweet sorghum Wray. Transcriptome analysis identified genes with cell‐type‐specific and cell‐preferred expression patterns that reflect the distinct metabolic, transport, and regulatory functions of each cell type. Analysis of cell‐type‐specific gene regulatory networks (GRNs) revealed that unique transcription factor families contribute to distinct regulatory landscapes, where regulation is organized through various modes and identifiable network motifs. Cell‐specific transcriptome data was combined with known secondary cell wall (SCW) networks to identify the GRNs that differentially activate SCW formation in vascular sclerenchyma and epidermal cells. The spatial transcriptomic dataset provides a valuable source of information about the function of different sorghum cell types and GRNs that will enable the engineering of bioenergy sorghum stems, and an interactive web application developed during this project will allow easy access and exploration of the data (https://mc‐lab.shinyapps.io/lcm‐dataset/). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used Actinidia arguta 'Kuilv' as raw material to produce wine by two different methods: whole pulp and clear juice fermentation. The basic physicochemical properties, nutrients, antioxidant capacity, volatile flavor compounds, and sensory evaluation of Actinidia arguta wine were detected. The results indicated that clear juice fermentation increased the ethanol content and color quality, and decreased the residual sugar content. Whole pulp fermentation reduced the total acid content and the total amount of organic acid and increased the pH value, antioxidant active ingredients, antioxidant activity, and the volatile flavor substances of the wine. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed that citric acid and quinic acid were the main organic acids in the wine. Headspace gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC–IMS) analysis detected 55 volatile flavor compounds in the wine, including 26 esters, 13 alcohols, 10 aldehydes, 3 ketones, 1 acid, 1 terpene, and 1 pyrazine. Fourteen key volatile flavor substances were identified based on P-value < 0.05 and VIP value > 1: 2-pentanone, isoamyl alcohol, propionaldehyde, ethyl isobutyrate, 4-methyl-1-pentanol, butanal, butyl acetate, 2-heptanone, ethyl isovalerate, acetal M, 3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol M, ethyl butyrate, 1-penten-3-ol, octanal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of gas production rate being affected by solid content (TS) in the manure/stalk co-digestion, the bench-scale tests were carried out of mixed anaerobic co-digestion with raw materials containing complementary carbon and nitrogen for the purpose of evaluating the gas production characteristics of whole sweet-sorghum stalks and dairy manure. The co-digestion was at medium temperature ((37±0.5) °C) with a 1:1 ratio of sweet-sorghum stalks to dairy manure volatile solids (VS) in the substrate, and with four treatment groups of dairy manure samples of different solid contents, i.e., 2% (Group T2), 4% (Group T4), 6% (Group T6) and 8% (Group T8), methanogenic performances were analyzed, and the modified Gompertz model was used for dynamical analysis. Consequently, the tests showed that Group T2, among others, generated cumulative gas of 633.49 mL/(g VS) and cumulative methane of 350.26 mL/(g VS): the greatest of all the groups; in addition, the increase of TS would lead to decreasing of cumulative gas production rate, and obviously, high TS was not conducive to biogas production. The model fitting of modified Gompertz resulted in the correlation co-efficient (R² = 0.988 to 0.999). With an increase of TS, the delay period lengthened, and the maximum rate of methane production declined. Compared with other treatment groups, Group T2 was the best in terms of mixed digestion system. The concentration of COD and volatile fatty acids increased with the increase of TS. Summarily, it is expected that the achievment of the tests is of guiding significance regarding the efficient methane production and stability control of digestion process of mixed digestion of whole sweet sorghum stalks and dairy manure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to better understand how time of day (ToD) or turgor pressure might affect the flexural stiffness of sweet sorghum stalks and potentially regulate stalk lodging resistance. Stalk flexural stiffness measured across a 48 h period in 2019 showed a significant diurnal association with leaf water potential and stalk flexural stiffness. While the correlation between stalk flexural stiffness and this proxy for internal turgor status was statistically significant, it only accounted for roughly 2% of the overall variance in stiffness. Given that turgor status is a dynamic rather than fixed physiological variable like the cellular structure, these data suggest that internal turgor plays a small yet significant role in influencing the flexural stiffness of fully mature stalks prior to a stalk lodging event. The association was assessed at earlier developmental stages across three distinct cultivars and found not to be significant. Panicle weight and stalk basal weight, but not stalk Brix or water content, were found to be better predictors of stalk flexural stiffness than either ToD or turgor status. Observation across three cultivars and four distinct developmental stages ranging from the vegetative to the hard-dough stages suggests that stalk flexural stiffness changes significantly as a function of time. However, neither ToD nor turgor status appear to meaningfully contribute to observed variations in stalk flexural stiffness in either individual stalks or across larger populations. As turgor status was not found to meaningfully influence stalk strength or flexural stiffness at any developmental time point examined in any of the three sweet sorghum cultivars under study, turgor pressure likely offers only inconsequential contributions to the biomechanics underlying sweet sorghum stalk lodging resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioethanol production offers promise in mitigating environmental impacts from ethanol consumption despite water scarcity. This study endeavors to evaluate the nuanced influence of different deheading times (45 days before harvest, 21 days before harvest, and no deheading) along with varying water regimes on select sweet sorghum cultivars (Honey, Willy, MN1500, and Atlas), focusing on yield traits, theoretical ethanol production, and water productivity. Findings underscore the substantial impact of cultivation practices on bioethanol yield. A water deficit ranging from 30% to 70% resulted in a discernible reduction in stalk yields of 17.86% to 18.54% and in sugar yields of 0.2 to 0.31 Mg ha−1, accompanied by a corresponding decline in theoretical ethanol yield of 120.9 to 180.9 L ha−1. Additionally, notable enhancements in Brix and sugar content of 16.32% to 18.42% and 16.81% to 19.03%, respectively, were observed across both seasons. Of particular significance, the Honey variety, subjected to a 30% water deficit and deheading at 21 days before harvest, demonstrated exceptional growth and yield characteristics. These empirical insights furnish valuable guidance for optimizing sweet sorghum cultivation practices, thereby augmenting sustainable bioethanol production and propelling forward the frontier of renewable energy technologies towards a more environmentally sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioconversion in biorefineries is a way to valorize residues from agriculture and food processing. Pretreatment is an important step in the bioconversion of lignocellulosic materials, including crop residues. This Special Issue includes nine articles on several pretreatment and bioconversion approaches applied to different agricultural residues and food-processing by-products. The materials addressed in this collection cover straw from wheat, rye, and miscanthus, olive tree pruning residue, almond shells and husks, avocado waste, sweet sorghum bagasse, soybean meal, and residues of non-edible oilseeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, genomic selection (GS) has gained significant traction as a valuable tool for predicting the phenotypic performance in plant breeding populations and for expediting the development of new cultivars. Diverse statistical models and approaches have been developed to facilitate the integration of GS into plant breeding practices, with a growing emphasis on strategies that enhance accurate and resource‐efficient prediction. Since its inception in 2010, the sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] breeding program at Centre Haïtien d'Innovation en Biotechnologies et pour une Agriculture Soutenable has taken the lead in endeavors to cultivate and introduce varieties that exhibit resilience against both abiotic and biotic stresses. Among these challenges, drought stress holds particular prominence, given the reliance of growers on unpredictable rainfall patterns for successful sorghum production. The central objective of this study was to assess the predictive ability of genomic prediction models across varying environmental conditions in Haiti, employing two statistical methods. Our assessment encompassed 12 distinct sorghum traits, with genomic predictions conducted both within and across irrigated and water‐stress treatments, executed at different planting dates. Overall, the two methods showed similar results. Prediction accuracy was notably higher for within‐environment scenarios (ranging from 0.30 to 0.71) as opposed to across‐environment scenarios (ranging from 0.08 to 0.68). Furthermore, there was considerable variation in the prediction accuracy for all traits, with "total soluble solids" displaying the highest mean value (0.71), while "total stem number" exhibited the lowest (0.38). The attained genomic prediction accuracies in this study offer encouraging insights for the integration of GS strategies in small‐scale breeding programs, particularly those aimed at enhancing drought tolerance. Core Ideas: The phenotypic distribution of the 12 phenotypic sorghum traits was close to symmetric.Prediction accuracy varied significantly among all traits, with total soluble solids having the highest mean value, while maturity time and grain yield exhibited the lowest.Prediction accuracy was higher within environments than across environments.Bayes B and Bayes ridge regression performed similarly for all 12 traits.The prediction accuracy for grain yield across environments involving the water stress 2 condition is low.Genomic heritability is higher in favorable environmental conditions than unfavorable conditions.Total soluble solids exhibited high genomic heritability across all water regime levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The high salinity of soil, nutrient scarcity, and poor aggregate structure limit the exploitation and utilization of coastal mudflat resources and the sustainable development of saline soil agriculture. In this paper, the effects of applying exogenous organic acids combined with biological substrate on the composition and diversity of soil bacterial community were studied in moderately saline mudflats in Jiangsu Province. Methods: A combination of three exogenous organic acids (humic acid, fulvic acid, and citric acid) and four biological substrates (cottonseed hull, cow manure, grass charcoal, and pine needle) was set up set up on a coastal saline mudflat planted with a salt-tolerant forage grass, sweet sorghum. A total of 120 kg ha-1 of organic acids and 5,000 kg ha-1 of substrates were used, plus two treatments, CK without application of organic acids and substrates and CK0 in bare ground, for a total of 14 treatments. Results: No significant difference was found in the alpha diversity of soil bacterial community among all treatments (p ≥ 0.05), with the fulvic acid composite pine needle (FPN) treatment showing the largest increase in each index. The beta diversity differed significantly (p < 0.05) among all treatments, and the difference between citric acid--grass charcoal (CGC) and CK treatments was greater than that of other treatments. All treatments were effective in increasing the number of bacterial ASVs and affecting the structural composition of the community. Citric acid--cow manure (CCM), FPN, and CGC treatments were found to be beneficial for increasing the relative abundance of Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Actinobacteria, respectively. By contrast, all treatments triggered a decrease in the relative abundance of Acidobacteria. Conclusion: Among the 12 different combinations of exogenous organic acid composite biomass substrates applied to the coastal beach, the CGC treatment was more conducive to increasing the relative abundance of the salt-tolerant bacteria Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi and Actinobacteria, and improving the community structure of soil bacteria. The FPN treatment was more conducive to increase the species diversity of the soil bacterial community and adjust the species composition of the bacterial community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Background: This experiment was conducted in the Research and Application Field of Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Faculty of Agriculture, during the 2020 and 2021 summer period. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of different harvesting heights on forage yields and crude ash, fat, protein, and carbon and nitrogen content of leaves and stalks of sweet sorghum (SS) and sorghum sudangrass hybrid (SSH) cultivars. Methods: Nutri Honey and Nutrima varieties of SSH and the M81-E and Topper-76 varieties of SS were used in this study. The experiment was conducted using the randomized complete block design with four replications. The main plots each included two early and late varieties of SS and SSH cultivars, while the subplots were used to test different harvesting heights (30, 60, 90, 120, 150 cm) and physiological parameters of each crop. Results: The results of this study showed that dry forage yields increased with plant growth, with the amount of forage produced at the end of the growth cycle increasing 172.2% compared to the early growth stages. Carbon (C) content of leaves decreased by 6.5%, nitrogen (N) by 46%, crude protein (CP) by 54%, crude fat (CF) by 34%, while crude ash (CA) content increased by 6% due to the increase in plant height harvest. At the same time, in parallel with the increase in plant height at harvest, the nitrogen content of the stems of the plants decreased by 87%, crude protein by 65%, crude ash by 33% and crude fat by 41%, while the carbon content increased by 4%. As plant height at harvest increased, hay yield increased but nutrient contents of the hay decreased. However, the Nutrima, Nutri Honey and M81-E sorghum cultivars, harvested three times at heights of 90 to 120 cm, are recommended for the highest yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document discusses the application of supercritical technology in various industries, including food, pharmaceutical, and chemical. Supercritical technology is a green methodology that uses high-pressure processes to extract, fractionate, purify, and transform molecules, as well as for particle formation, impregnation, drying, and sterilization. The document includes research manuscripts on topics such as particle formation techniques, chemical reactions, sterilization of foods, removal of undesirable compounds, and extraction of bioactive compounds. The research findings support the industrial use of supercritical technology and provide valuable information for process optimization and cost reduction. [Extracted from the article]

Climate change, characterized by rising atmospheric CO2 levels and temperatures, poses significant challenges to global crop production. Sweet sorghum, a prominent C4 cereal extensively grown in arid areas, emerges as a promising candidate for sustainable bioenergy production. This study investigated the responses of photosynthesis and leaf-scale water use efficiency (WUE) to varying light intensity (I) in sweet sorghum under different temperature and CO2 conditions. Comparative analyses were conducted between the An-I, gs-I, Tr-I, WUEi-I, and WUEinst-I models proposed by Ye et al. and the widely utilized the non-rectangular hyperbolic (NRH) model for fitting light response curves. The Ye's models effectively replicated the light response curves of sweet sorghum, accurately capturing the diminishing intrinsic WUE (WUEi) and instantaneous WUE (WUEinst) trends with increasing I. The fitted maximum values of An, gs, Tr, WUEi, and WUEinst and their saturation light intensities closely matched observations, unlike the NRH model. Despite the NRH model demonstrating high R2 values for An-I, gs-I, and Tr-I modelling, it returned the maximum values significantly deviating from observed values and failed to generate saturation light intensities. It also inadequately represented WUE responses to I, overestimating WUE. Across different leaf temperatures, An, gs, and Tr of sweet sorghum displayed comparable light response patterns. Elevated temperatures increased maximum An, gs, and Tr but consistently declined maximum WUEi and WUEinst. However, WUEinst declined more sharply due to the disproportionate transpiration increase over carbon assimilation. Critically, sweet sorghum An saturated at current atmospheric CO2 levels, with no significant gains under 550 mmol mol-1. Instead, stomatal closure enhanced WUE under elevated CO2 by coordinated gs and Tr reductions rather than improved carbon assimilation. Nonetheless, this response diminished under simultaneously high temperature, suggesting intricate interplay between CO2 and temperature in modulating plant responses. These findings provide valuable insights into photosynthetic dynamics of sweet sorghum, aiding predictions of yield and optimization of cultivation practices. Moreover, our methodology serves as a valuable reference for evaluating leaf photosynthesis and WUE dynamics in diverse plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet sorghum crop produces grains at its ear-head which can be utilised as food and feed, produces stalks for the production of syrup, bio-ethanol, bio-diesel, bagasse and green foliage for use as organic fertiliser and excellent animal fodder. Approximately 4000 sweet sorghum cultivars are spread over the globe, providing a broad and varied genetic foundation for the development of highly productive, region-specific cultivars. A study was conducted to assess the grains of selected 10 different sweet sorghum varieties for the feed quality characters. For this aim, ADF, NDF, ADL, DMD, DMI, TDN, RFV, DE and ME values of sweet sorghum grains were determined. As a result of the study, crude ash, CP, ADF, NDF, ADL, DMD, DMI, RFV, TDN, DE and ME values were determined as 0.19-3.74%; 9.03-11.05%; 10.0-24.6%; 24.3-38.0%; 1.07-9.13%; 69.69-81.09%; 3.16-4.94%; 170.5-309.5%; 63.85-74.84%; 3.25-3.74 MJ/kg and 9.85-11.78 Mcal/kg, respectively. Variety "Smith" stands out with its ADF, NDF and ADL characteristics. Gülşeker, USDA-Taiwan and Erdurmuş varieties were significant in terms of CP. Ulusoy variety stands out with DMI, TDN, RFV, DE and ME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet sorghum is a cereal crop that can potentially serve as a source for bioethanol production. This study aims to analyse the genetic diversity of promising genotypes of sweet sorghum at the molecular level. The genetic material consisted of 12 sweet sorghum genotypes. The genetic diversity estimated using 59 SSRs markers showed a polymorphism value of 0.48 and the coefficient of genetic diversity was classified as moderate. The unweighted pair group method arithmetic average (UPGMA) analysis assigned the tested genotypes into three major clusters with a similarity coefficient level of 0.596. This indicates that the genetic similarity of the tested genotypes is moderate to high. Eight unique loci were identified with the SSRs markers in six genotypes, which are considered to control high sugar traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current work focused on the intermediate pyrolysis of Bambara Groundnut Shells (BGS-G1), Sweet Sorghum Stalk (SSS), and Shea Nutshells (SNS). These feedstocks are readily available as wastes or by-products from industrial and agricultural activities. The thermo-gravimetric analysis of the biomass samples exhibited decomposition and devolatilization potentials in the temperature range of 110–650°C. The kinetic modelling resulted in the activation energy of BGS G1 being the lowest as 20.43 kJ/mol and SNS as the highest 24.89 kJ/mol among the three biomass samples. Intermediate pyrolysis was conducted in a vertical tube reactor at a temperature of 600°C, with nitrogen flow at 10 ml/min and heating rate ≥ 33.0℃/min. The yield of pyrolysis bio-oil was 38.0 ± 6.4, 44.2 ± 6, and 39.7 ± 5.2 wt.% for BGS-G1, SSS, and SNS, respectively. The HHV of bio-oil varied as 23.7 ± 1.8, 23.8 ± 1.8, to 26.5 ± 2.0 MJ/kg for BGS-G1 SSS and SNS respectively. The biochar recorded the lowest HHV for BGS-G1 as 18.8 ± 1.2 MJ/kg and the highest for SNS as 26.4 ± 1.8 MJ/kg. The FTIR of bio-oil revealed significant functional groups, and GC-MS (Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry) analysis categorized the compounds in bio-oils as ketones, furans, phenolics, acids, phenols and benzene derivatives. The physicochemical analysis of the feedstocks and the products (bio-oil and biochar) showed their potential for bioenergy and biochemical (green chemicals) production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fertilizer‐intensive sugarcane plantations are expanding in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) amidst increased groundwater pollution and carbon footprint concerns. Yet, the impact of nitrogen (N) levels on N losses, productivity and profitability in these plantations remains unclear. To address this gap, we conducted a completely randomized design experiment in a Ugandan sugarcane plantation using three N fertilization rates (low, standard and high) as treatments. N leaching under the different treatments was determined using the average drainage fluxes across a 1‐m‐layered profile which we estimated with a suite of pedotransfer functions (PTFs) and leachate N concentrations from suction cup lysimeters. Soil nitrous oxide fluxes were determined using static vented chamber bases and gas chromatography. Partial factor crop productivity was estimated from the average field fresh weight under each treatment and the amount of N fertilizer applied, while the return on investment was determined from the factory price of the field fresh weight and the market price of fertilizers. Our findings indicate that three out of five PTFs effectively estimated soil hydraulic properties at our test site, based on the close match between measured and predicted soil matric potential values. Notably, N leaching at low and standard N rates were comparable but significantly lower than at higher‐than‐standard N rates. Additionally, we measured comparable soil nitrous oxide emissions and field fresh weight but partial factor productivity and return on investment declined along the fertilizer intensification gradient. In conclusion, the study demonstrates the promising application of certain PTFs in N‐leaching modelling in the data‐scarce SSA. Furthermore, obtaining comparable field fresh weight with minimal N losses at lower‐than‐standard N rates presents an opportunity to mitigate groundwater pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. However, the potential impact of the switch from standard to low N rates on soil organic carbon stocks and sugarcane yields warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

This article discusses the potential of maize cultivation in Punjab, India, as a viable alternative to paddy cultivation. Maize has a high starch content, making it suitable for ethanol production. The article highlights the need for increased support and infrastructure development to promote maize cultivation, including assured procurement and price stability, government initiatives and support, infrastructure development, capacity building and education, and linking industries with maize growers. The article also provides a comparison of bioethanol production costs from sugarcane, maize, and rice grains. Overall, the article emphasizes the opportunity to diversify agriculture in Punjab through maize cultivation. [Extracted from the article]

Lignocellulosic pretreatment is an important stage in biomass utilization, which usually requires high input. In this study, a low-cost method using combined ensiling and NaOH was developed for lignocellulosic pretreatment. Sweet sorghum bagasse (SSB) was ensiled for 21 days and then treated with diluted NaOH (0%, 1%, and 2%) for fermentation. The results showed that the application of Lactobacillus plantarum (L) reduced fermentation losses of the silages, mainly low water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and ammonia nitrogen loss. Meanwhile, the application of Lactobacillus plantarum and ensiling enzyme (LE) promoted lignocellulosic degradation, as evidenced by low neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), lignin (ADL), and hemicellulosic (HC) contents. The dominant bacterial genera were Lactobacillus, uncultured_bacterium_f_Enterobacteriaceae, and Pantoea after silage, which corresponded to the higher lactic acid and acetic contents and lower pH. The reducing sugar yields of SSB increased after combined pretreatment of silage and NaOH and were further enhanced by the 2% NaOH application, as evidenced by the high reducing sugar yield and microstructure damage, especially in the L-2% NaOH group and the LE-2% NaOH group, in which the reducing sugar yields were 87.99 and 94.45%, respectively, compared with those of the no additive control (CK)-0 NaOH group. Therefore, this study provides an effective method for SSB pretreatment to enhance biomass conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the environmental sustainability of a circular economy concept applied to the management of biowaste was studied. To achieve this goal, the composting performance, compost-amended soil health, and phytotoxicity were assessed in the case of management of solid waste from a small swine slaughterhouse. Microorganisms present in a similar composting process were used as inoculums to improve the efficiency of composting. Addition of the inoculum promoted a faster and more efficient composting process than composting without the inoculum. The physical, chemical, and microbiological characteristics of soil were considered to be improved after compost application. Phytotoxicity tests in soils with and without compost amendment showed that a soil–compost mixture (90:10 and 70:30 mass ratios) was not phytotoxic to the plant species Sorghum saccharatum and Lepidium sativum, and that soil with compost showed higher plant biomass growth than that without compost amendment. The triple bottom line methodology used in this study can help in the assessment of circular economy activity in relation to the environmentally sustainable management of solid waste generated in small swine slaughterhouses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to study butanol fermentation from sweet sorghum stem juice (SSJ) by immobilized Clostridium beijerinckii TISTR 1461 cells on bamboo chopsticks using Arthrobacter sp. as an efficient bacterium for creating anaerobic conditions in scaled-up bioreactors. For batch culture in a 1-L screw-capped bottle, a butanol concentration (PB), butanol productivity (QB), and butanol yield (YB/S) were 12.09 g/L, 0.26 g/L·h and 0.28 g/g, respectively. These values were ~8 to 14% higher than those of a single culture using oxygen-free nitrogen (OFN) gas to generate anaerobic conditions. When butanol fermentation by the co-culture was scaled-up to 5-L and 30-L stirred-tank fermenters, the butanol production efficiency was not different from that using the 1-L bottles. Additionally, repeated-batch butanol fermentation in the 1-L bottles by the co-culture was successfully operated for four successive cycles with high butanol production. All results clearly indicate that Arthrobacter sp. is promising for creation of anaerobic conditions for butanol production by immobilized Clostridium in large scale bioreactors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the biogas production from sweet sorghum bagasse (SSB) pretreated with alkaline hydrogen peroxide and reveal the influence of zeolite dosage and TE on the anaerobic digestion performance, as well as the synergistic effect of zeolite dosage and TE, three dosages of zeolite and trace elements (TE) were used as additives for batched biogas production from pretreated sweet sorghum bagasse slurry (PSSBS). The results showed that the maximum methane production of 274.5 mL/g volatile solid (VS) from the group of PSSBS + 5 g/L zeolite + 1 mL TE could be obtained and 58.4% higher than that of untreated sweet sorghum bagasse. Modified Gompertz model estimation demonstrated that the PSSBS + 5 g/L zeolite + 1 mL TE group caused the highest methane production rate to improve by up to 41.6% from SSB and by at least 39.9% from PSSBS. Moreover, with the zeolite and TE addition, activities of cellulase and dehydrogenase of the digestate analysis indicated a positive influence on biogas production and the high alkalinity maintained the stability of the system. This work will provide experimental reference for biogas production from sweet sorghum bagasse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nature of a sweet sorghum cultivar influences the recovery of sugars from the bagasse during pretreatment. The sugars recovered are used in applications for conversion to high-value products such as alcohols, organic acids, and other fuels and chemicals. The severity of the pretreatment used plays a crucial role in the yield and quality of the sugars that can be recovered. Therefore, a strategic approach was taken to lower the severity of the pretreatment process to a combined severity factor (CSF) value of 0.48, whilst maintaining a high level of total-sugar recovery (i.e. 68% (w/w) and higher). This was achieved by screening 23 sweet sorghum cultivars for high-performance characteristics at low-severity conditions and optimizing the pretreatment process conditions. The pretreatment conditions included time, temperature, and acid concentration ranges of 5 to 60 min, 150 to 210 oC, and 0.00–0.96% (w/w) H2SO4, respectively. Cultivar AP6 was identified as the best performer, producing the highest total sugar yield of 78.17%. A reduction in total by-product formation from 4.79 to 2.79 g/100 g biomass was also observed. Three preferred cultivars selected for pilot scale pretreatment using steam explosion resulted in maximum total sugar recoveries that exceeded 80% (w/w). Cultivar selection provides an opportunity to utilize sweet sorghum bagasse that will liberate sugars at desired yields while reducing the generation of by-products by implementing low severity pretreatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofuels, especially ethanol, have gained immense popularity in the global energy sector, driven by a significant increase in demand. Ethanol production using agroindustrial residues reduces costs and can provide a destination for these residues that are generally wasted. In this context, the cashew apple emerges as an attractive and unconventional feedstock for bioethanol production. Although the technology to obtain ethanol from cashew apple juice is present in several studies, the key elements that determine its economic feasibility have never been defined. Then, this study aimed to present the first techno-economic assessment of ethanol production from cashew apple juice. Two industrial full-detailed scenarios were proposed based on the application of the obtained ethanol, where in scenario I, 2.1 × 106 liters of ethanol are produced for combustion purposes (94% w/w), while in scenario II, 2.8 × 106 liters of ethanol are produced for antiseptic purposes (70% w/w). The yields calculated in the proposed scenarios I and II were 66.5 L/ton and 88.9 L/ton, respectively, values comparable with those found in the literature using sugar cane and sweet sorghum as feedstocks. Then, the production of ethanol from cashew apple juice proved technically feasible. Economic sensibility analysis showed that both proposed scenarios are economically viable, as long as the cashew apple acquisition cost is at most 17.2 US$/ton for the scenario I and 28.1 US$/ton for scenario II. The raw material cost was the most crucial parameter to impact the economic analysis. In conclusion, the proposed biorefinery returned promising results, and it can consolidate a new raw material for ethanol production, provided that idle capacity is reduced and heat generation from cashew apple bagasse is optimized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet sorghum and sweet pearl millet are considered promising alternative feedstocks for bioethanol production. Water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) extraction from the stems for first generation ethanol production is practically well mastered. However, structural carbohydrate (SC) release from the bagasse for cellulosic ethanol production still needs to be more understood and improved, especially for sweet pearl millet. In this study, the effects of two bagasse particle sizes (4.5–9 mm and 1 mm) and two pretreatment solutions (NaOH and H2SO4) at two concentrations (1% and 3%) on the release of SC from sweet sorghum and sweet pearl millet bagasse were investigated. After the extraction of juice, the bagasse pretreatment was carried out at 121 °C for 60 min followed by an enzymatic saccharification. Results indicated that hemicellulose and lignin were better solubilized when the bagasse from both crops was pretreated with NaOH than with H2SO4. The highest glucose concentration (320 and 249 g/kg DM of bagasse for sweet sorghum and sweet pearl millet, respectively) was reached after enzymatic saccharification of the bagasse chopped to 4.5–9 mm particle size and pretreated with 3% NaOH. Under these conditions, cellulose saccharification efficiency reached 88% and 73% for sweet sorghum and sweet pearl millet, respectively, while that of hemicellulose saccharification approached 100% for sweet sorghum and reached 90% for sweet pearl millet. Potential first generation ethanol of 80.3 and 60.7 L/kg DM of biomass and cellulosic ethanol of 138.8 and 115 L/kg DM of biomass were estimated for sweet sorghum and sweet pearl millet, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Damage by fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), causes sorghum Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Poaceae) yield loss and decreases crop value, causing great economic losses to growers. Foliar damage was evaluated with natural infestation by fall armyworms in experimental lines of sorghum. Foliar damage was analyzed using a Davis scoring scale and grain yield was evaluated 120 days after planting. Data were processed with analysis of variance (ANOVA) and correlation using Spearman test with R software. ELS 254-1 yielded most (9.92 tons/ha) and a value of 1 on Davis scale with less foliar damage with 19.75%; ELS-154 yielded least (2.45 tons/ha) and had most foliar damage (25.93%) and a value of 2 on the Davis scale. All experimental lines were managed the same during the crop cycle. Outstanding lines ELS-18, ELS-103-1, ELS-143-1, ELS-197, ELS-203-3, ELS-284, and Negro-Soruyo had less damage by fall armyworms and good yield and could be a source of useful germplasm in breeding programs. Sorghum lines resistant to fall armyworms that yield well in regions in which they are better such as in southeastern Coahuila, will result in a less cost to growers by less need to control the pest and greater economic benefit. El daño causado por el gusano cogollero, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) causa pérdidas de rendimiento en sorgo Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Poaceae) y disminuye el valor del cultivo, causando grandes pérdidas económicas al productor. El daño foliar se analizó bajo infestación natural de gusano cogollero en líneas experimentales de sorgo utilizando la escala de puntuación de Davis, y el rendimiento de grano se evaluó 120 días después de la siembra. Los datos se procesaron con un análisis de varianza (ANOVA) y una prueba de correlación con el software R utilizando la prueba de Spearman. El ELS 254-1 tuvo el mayor rendimiento (9.92 tons/ha) y un valor de 1 en la escala de Davis con menor daño foliar con 19.75%. ELS-154 presentó el menor rendimiento (2.45 tons/ha) y el mayor daño foliar con 25.93% con un valor de 2 en la escala de Davis. Todas las líneas experimentales recibieron el mismo manejo durante el ciclo de cultivo. Otras líneas sobresalientes ELS-18, ELS-103-1, ELS-143-1, ELS-197, ELS-203-3, ELS-284, y Negro-Soruyo, también tuvieron bajo daño por gusano cogollero y buen rendimiento y podrían ser una fuente de germoplasma útil en los programas de mejoramiento. Las líneas de sorgo que muestran resistencia al gusano cogollero y produzcan alto rendimiento en regiones en las que estos materiales se desempeñan mejor como en el sureste de Coahuila, resultarán en un menor costo para los productores, al tener un control más efectivo de esta plaga y mayores beneficios económicos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]