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Contemporary agriculture faces the challenge of sustainably feeding constantly growing human population. Application of green algae in plant production is a new, relatively low-cost green technology with potential benefits for plant health. This study examines the application of Chlorella vulgaris S45 and its effect on seed germination, pigment content, total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of Swiss chard. Treatments included 5% and 10% algal suspensions applied by spraying on plants and in substrate, respectively. C. vulgaris S45 positively affected all the investigated parameters. Seed germination percentage (GP) increased in comparison to the control treatment. The highest GP (46%) and germination index (GI) values were observed in the 10% suspension treatment. Photosyntetic pigment content also increased significantly under 10% suspension application, while both total phenol content and antioxidant capacity improved following plant spraying with 10% suspension. Correlation analysis indicated statistically significant interdependence among the tested parameters (pigment content, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity). Foliar application of Chlorella vulgaris S45 could be an alternative fertilization method in sustainable Swiss chard production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: To analyze the potential therapeutic effects of chard against streptozotocin (STZ) -induced erectile dysfunction (ED) and oxidative damage in the corpus cavernousum in rats. Materials and Methods: In this study, Sprague-Dawley rats (250-300g) were allocated into groups as follows: control, diabetic, diabetic + chard, and diabetic + insulin. In order to induce diabetes, rats were given 65 mg/kg intraperitoneal streptozotocin. Chard extract was given orally at a dose 2 g/kg for 45 days beginning on 15th days. Sixty days after STZ injection, intracavernosal pressure (ICP) was measured and rats were decapitated. Blood samples were obtained for glucose, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA)levels, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity while cavernous tissues were taken to analyze luminol and lucigenin chemiluminescence (CL), malondialdehyde and glutathione and along with histological analysis. Results: The results revealed that diabetes caused significant decreases in cavernosal tissue glutathione levels, while luminol and lucigenin CL, and malondialdehyde levels were significantly elevated. Plasma glucose, ADMA levels, and LDH activity were also found to be increased in diabetic group. On the other hand, both chard extract and insulin treatment reversed these biochemical parameters significantly. Furthermore, it was found that the ICP value examined for evaluating erectile functions were lower in the diabetic group, but increased in both treatment groups which were similar to the control values. Conclusion: According to our results, chard extract, similar to insulin, reduced diabetes-induced oxidative damage in cavernosal tissue and protected erectile functions. This effects may be attributed its hypoglycemic and antioxidant properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are important nematode pests, causing huge economic losses on vegetable crops worldwide. A decline in the yield of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L.) which was associated with RKNs was observed on an organic vegetable farm in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Nematodes were extracted from galled plant roots and identified using molecular tools. PCR-based Sequence Characterised Amplified Region (SCAR) primers was used to confirm the specie of the RKN associated with the infected plants. Thereafter, a pot assay was conducted to determine the response of artificially infected Swiss chard plants to varying concentrations of bio-synthesized silver nanoparticle Ag-NP (1 μg/mL, 2 μg/mL, and 3 μg/mL) under controlled conditions. The results of the study showed that Swiss chard is highly susceptible to M. javanica with an egg-laying-female index of >5 in all infected plants. Significantly lower values (at P=0.05) in egg masses (EM), juveniles (J2s), and reproduction factor (RF) of nematodes were recorded on plants treated with 3 μg/mL, indicating a potential for nematode control. A negative correlation was also observed in the number of egg masses, J2s, and RF of the nematodes with increasing concentrations of the Ag-NP. This study confirms that Swiss chard is highly susceptible to M. javanica and demonstrates the potential nematicidal property of Ag-NP in controlling the nematode pest of Swiss chard.

Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L., ssp. cicla) are grown for whole leaves or only for petiole. In Romania, chard is a less cultivated species, being present in some areas of Transylvania. Research aim was to establish how some Swiss chard cultivars behave, after fertilization with three different organic fertilizers. Plant growth, total production as well as dry matter, phenols, flavonoids, dietary fiber, carbohydrates and vitamin C content was measured. Experiment took place between 2021-2022, in an organic vegetable farm, in Săcueni, Bihor county, Romania. Three organic fertilizers were used: Lignohumate, Alcygol Z2M and Alg Green, applied 30 days after emergence, at the dose recommended by the manufacturer. Plant development, 60 days after emergence, was higher at Lucullus cultivar, fertilized with Alg Green, 54.35 cm. Production ranged from 44.67 t/ha (Carde Blanche d'Ampuis fertilized with Lignohumate) to 51.04 t/ha (Lucullus fertilized with Alg Green). Plant content in dry matter, fibers and vitamin C, was higher when plants were fertilized with Lignohumate. Phenols and flavonoids were higher at variants fertlized with Alg Green. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the disturbingly high quantities of pesticides found in recent years, it has become essential to analyze the food composition intended for consumption. In this study and from a similar angle, we are interested in the detection of alpha-cypermethrin insecticide residues in edible Swiss chard. To this end, we suggest an electronic nose that was constructed using metal oxide gas sensors. Following data collection and pre-processing, two machine learning algorithms—principal component analysis (PCA) and support vector machine (SVM)—were used to analyze the sensor matrix data. The PCA method initially showed that the first three principal components (PCs) may account for more than 96.5% of the sample variation with a clear distinction between known groups corresponding to treated and untreated samples. The identification of untreated Swiss chard from treated one was then accomplished using the SVM method with five folds cross-validation, with a success rate of 92.3%. These results show that our suggestion, which is quick, easy, and affordable, can be utilized as an effective substitute for current methods for identifying Swiss chard that has been treated with the hazardous alpha-cypermethrin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla), a popular leafy vegetable grown mainly for its ease of production and nutritional content, is normally used as a good source of microminerals iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn). Improving plant uptake of Fe and Zn could assist in reducing micromineral deficiencies in humans, which are a global problem. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Council, Stellenbosch to assess the response in micromineral and soil trace elements uptake in Swiss chard grown under zeolite and sandy soil. The experiment consisted of four treatments, with six replicates arranged in a randomized complete block design. Zeolite was applied at 0%; 10%; 20% and 30% in combination with sandy soil. Swiss chard was harvested for micromineral analysis 143 days after transplanting. Soil samples were also collected at the end of each growing season. Swiss chard leaves were analysed for Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu content with soil samples also analysed for the same elements. The study found that zeolite did not improve Swiss chard uptake of Fe, Zn and Mn. Soil Fe also had an inverse relationship to zeolite application while the residual effect of zeolite showed the same trend, but only in the second season. This study indicated that zeolite cannot be used to improve micromineral uptake by Swiss chard but can be used to rectify heavy metal-infested soils.

Glasshouse experiments to evaluate the effect of bioslurry effluent on seedling growth of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L) were conducted in summer 2017 and winter 2018 at Dohne Agriculture Development Institute, Stutterheim, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Two cultivars of Swiss chard, Star 1801 and Fordhook giant, were planted in 200 cavity trays using a hygromix commercial growing medium incorporated with fertilizer treatments at different rates of bioslurry: no incorporation (control), 50% bioslurry, 100% bioslurry, 200% bioslurry and the recommended rate of 2:3:4 (30) NPK fertilizers. In the glasshouse the experiments were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) which was replicated three times. At four weeks after germination, ten (10) seedlings per treatment were destructively sampled randomly to determine the plant growth and biological mass parameters: i) Seedling height, shoot and root height; ii) Seedling mass; iii) Fresh shoot and fresh root mass as well as their dry mass; iv) Nutrient content of leaves. The results indicated that fertilization with 100%Bioslurry produced significantly taller seedlings and shoot height, while the shortest seedlings were obtained from the recommended inorganic fertilizer. Fertilization with 200%Bioslurry and the control treatment produced significantly higher biological yield compared to other treatments. The interaction between fertilizer treatments, cultivar and season indicated that summer season performed better compared to winter in seedling growth and development, and Fordhook giant fertilized with 100% and 200% bioslurry was superior compared to Star 1801. Fertilization with 50% bioslurry resulted in seedlings with higher sodium, while the seedlings grown in the control treatment showed higher copper content. The highest manganese was obtained from the seedlings fertilized with the inorganic fertilizer. It is therefore, concluded that fertilization with bioslurry at 100% and 200% bioslurry application rates enhanced the growth and quality of Swiss chard seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is a frequently encountered heavy metal contaminant in agricultural soil and water sources resulting from industrial and agricultural applications, traffic, and urbanization. It is the most toxic form of chromium (Cr), which causes severe health problems. The accumulation capacity of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla) for hexavalent chromium and the effect of heavy metal accumulation on the antibacterial activity of plant extracts were evaluated in a pot experiment. The soil was treated with 10 mg kg−1 hexavalent chromium, 30 days prior to planting Swiss chard seedlings. After the harvest, macro- and micronutrient elements and Cr were measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Moreover, plant extracts were obtained by maceration in methanol and the extracts were tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Cr was found to be uptaken and accumulated with a high concentration (54.7 ± 0.23 mg kg−1) in the aerial parts (transfer factor = 74.95). Cr toxicity reduced plant development and the macronutrient elements phosphorus and potassium in Swiss chard. The micronutrient elements iron and boron were found to be significantly increased in plant upon chromium in a synergistic manner with Cr. Additionally, the antibacterial activity of the extract of Swiss chard decreased against Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis around 50%. Moreover, the number of culturable bacteria decreased about 40% in soil after chromium treatment. The results suggested that this plant can accumulate a high amount of Cr in its aerial parts, which may decrease the health effects of the extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercial jellies are infamous for their excessive sugar content and for offering no nutritional or functional benefits. Hence, this research is intended to produce sugar-free, healthy jellies utilizing leafy vegetables, including leek, Swiss chard, and celery juice. The findings demonstrated that these products were softer, less gummy, easier to chew, and had nearly the same range of springiness and cohesiveness compared with commercial ones. Also, they have an appealing green hue. Besides, these products are rich sources for manganese, magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium, and calcium, providing an average of 110, 72, 52, 30, 25, and 22.9% of the daily values (DV), respectively. They are also considered a moderate source of vitamins A, C, and B6, giving an average of 16.7, 10.36, and 8.8% DV. Moreover, they could cover up to 55% of the daily value required from dietary fibers. Conversely, they have a lower percentage of carbohydrates, energy density, and glycemic index than the commercial equivalent. Additionally, they showed a high amount of flavonoids (100-348 mg QE/100 g), total phenolic components (318-824 mg GAE/100 g), and significant antioxidant activity (112.91-255.43 mg TE/100 g). Therefore, these novel varieties of jellies provide a nutritious and multifunctional source to satisfy consumers' desire for value-added products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to determine the concentrations of nitrates and nitrites in different types of vegetables that are commonly represented in the diet of the inhabitants of Split and Dalmatian County. Therefore, using the method of random selection, there were 96 samples of different vegetables. The determination of the nitrate and nitrite concentrations was carried out by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a diode array detector (DAD). The nitrate concentrations in the range 2.1–4526.3 mg kg−1 were found in 92.7% of the analyzed samples. The highest nitrate values were found in rucola (Eruca sativa L.) followed by Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L.). In 36.5% of the leafy vegetables intended for consumption without prior heat treatment, nitrite was found in the range of 3.3–537.9 mg kg−1. The high levels of nitrite in the vegetables intended for fresh consumption and the high nitrate values in Swiss chard indicate the need to establish maximum nitrite limits in vegetables, as well as the broadening of legal nitrate limits to wide varieties of vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the effect of a chemical fertilizer (ammonium nitrate), a compost (vermicompost from cattle manure) and two biochars (from vine prunings and wood chips, respectively), applied to the soil alone or in mixture, on the yield, phytochemical content and biological activity of Beta vulgaris L. var. cycla (Swiss chard). The respective treatments, each replicated four times, were arranged according to a completely randomized block design. Results showed that vermicompost, both alone and in mixture with vine pruning biochar, significantly increased yield parameters (plant height and leaf area) and yield over the untreated soil and the biochars alone, similar to ammonium nitrate. Moreover, vermicompost, both alone and in mixture, respectively, with the two biochars, determined lower total N and NO3− contents than ammonium nitrate, both alone and in mixture, respectively, with the two biochars. In particular, NO3− content was within the safe thresholds fixed for leafy vegetables by the European Commission to prevent any adverse implication on human health from dietary NO3− exposure. The biochars alone resulted in very low yield and leaf total N content, likely due to a limited release of N for plant uptake, also evidenced by the undetectable NO3− leaf content, similarly shown by plants grown in untreated soil. Vermicompost, alone or in mixture, respectively, with the two biochars, increased the content of specialized metabolites, with a positive effect on antioxidant activity. The organic amendments, particularly compost, could be an alternative to chemical fertilizers to reach a trade-off between yield, nutritional and health qualities in Swiss chard, meeting the needs of farmers and consumers as well as the targets for sustainable food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was made to determine the influence of incorporate carbonized plant residues, as a soil improver, on the growth and development of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris). A pot experiment was conduct on two soil types: Vertisols and Luvisol soils. Five variants were develop in three replicates, as follow: 1. Control -- pure soil without fertilization; 2. Soil + biochar (BC); 3. BC+N200P200K250; 4. BC+N400P200K250; 5. BC+N600P200K250 and the same variants (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) on Luvisol. Irrespective of the different starting supply of nutrients in two soil types, the highest yield of plant mass was recorded in the variant with BC+N200P200K250, followed by the variant with BC+N400P200K250. The fresh mass recorded on Vertisol significantly exceeds that on Luvisol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The purpose of the experiment is to establish production directions and sowing dates for open field production of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris ssp. cicla L.). The experiment was carried out during the period 2019-2021 at Maritsa Vegetable Crops Research Institute, Plovdiv in an open field with two species of chard – green (Swiss chard) and red (Rhubarb chard), with a planting scheme of 100+60/30 cm (non-profiled surface), in two directions for early and late field production, with two sowing dates: at the beginning and middle of March, at the beginning and middle of June Early production of chard (Beta vulgaris ssp. cicla L.) was found to be a more suitable direction than late, and a species response was also observed. Green chard is characterized by higher productivity. From one plant, 60 leaves (2.06 kg fresh mass) are harvested, with a seed sowing date in early March, and when sowing in mid-March – 54 leaves (1.66 kg fresh mass). Red chard shows lower productivity. On the first date of early production, the plants form 50 leaves (1.22 kg fresh mass), and on the second date 45 leaves (1.05 kg fresh mass). Late production is characterized by significantly lower productivity. Green chard forms 13-15 leaves (0.315 to 0.270 kg) and red chard 8- 14 leaves (0.320 to 0.270 kg) according to sowing dates. For field production of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris ssp. cicla L.), early production is recommended with a mid-March sowing date and mid April planting. Harvesting begins about 67 days after the plants are planted, and the growing season lasts 121 days, average for the period. The yield of fresh leaf mass on average for the period was 87.20 t/ha. Regarding the Swiss chard species, it is recommended to grow green chard according to the direction for early field production with a sowing date of the beginning of March and planting in the beginning of April. Harvesting of plants begins about 56-71 days after planting Vegetation lasts 213 days average for the period and the yield of fresh leaf mass is 82.47 t/ha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrite and nitrate levels in vegetables are a matter of concern due to their toxicity at high levels and nitrate high accumulation. Moreover, there is a lack of knowledge about their levels in some types of widely consumed vegetables such as chard and rocket. In this study, 124 Swiss chard and wild rocket samples were analyzed for determining nitrite and nitrate using validated and accredited analytical methods by ion chromatography with conductivity detection. High nitrite concentrations, up to 219.5 mg kg−1 f.w., were detected in one Swiss chard and three wild rocket samples. One Margin of Safety (MoS) value was <1. Regarding nitrate, in Swiss chard samples the mean concentration (2522.6 mg kg−1) was slightly higher than those reported in the literature for spinach and lettuce. No MoS was <1, but 83% of values were <100. Nitrate concentrations higher than the legal limit were quantified in 11 rucola samples. The verification of 25% of wild rocket samples with nitrate concentration higher than the legal limit confirmed the need for official control. This study also suggests the introduction of legal limits for nitrite/nitrate in Swiss chard and nitrite in wild rocket. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrate is a compound that accumulates in the leaves of some leafy vegetables such as spinach, lettuce and rocket, and the European Regulation No. 2023/915 establishes maximum limits, due to some health effects. Nitrite should be absent or present only in traces in leafy vegetables. However, some recent studies demonstrated that not negligible concentrations of nitrite (higher than 50 mg kg−1) may be quantified in leafy vegetables such as spinach and lettuce. In this work, several possible sources of nitrite formation in leafy vegetables, agronomic, environmental, microbiological, and processing have been investigated to evaluate the main factors which led to this accumulation. Microbiological contamination, particularly Enterobacteriaceae , of "fresh-cut" samples of spinach, Swiss chard and wild rocket, has been ascertained as the main source of nitrite accumulation, regardless of other considered factors (agronomic, environmental, processing, etc.). The correlation between Enterobacteriaceae count and nitrite concentration was assessed at 0.98, confirming this one as the main source of nitrite increase, also at very high levels, in processed leafy vegetables. [Display omitted] • Significant levels of nitrite can be detected in processed leafy vegetables. • The possible causes of such accumulation were investigated. • Several environmental, microbiological and processing factors were considered. • Enterobacteriaceae contamination was identified as a possible significant cause. • Pearson r coefficient between Enterobacteriaceae and nitrite concentration was 0.98. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing interest in the use of seawater in horticulture. The objective of this study was to evaluate Beta vulgaris var. cicla (Swiss chard) and its wild ancestor B. vulgaris spp. maritima (sea beet) as potential crop species for seawater hydroponics or aquaponics. Both species were grown in a floating system for leaf production with recurrent harvests. The nutrient solutions contained different concentrations of nitrate (1 and 10 mM) and a synthetic sea salt (0 and 10 g L−1), in a factorial design, where the saline solution with a low nitrate level intended to mimic the typical nutritional conditions of saltwater aquaponics. In both species, increasing the salinity or reducing the N level in the nutrient solution reduced the crop yield and total dry biomass. In both Swiss chard and sea beet, the use of saline water resulted in a lower leaf concentration of K, Ca, Cu, and Mn, and a greater content of Na and Cl. In Swiss chard, an increase in Na and Cl and a decrease in K leaf content were found in successive harvests. On average, sea beet showed a higher leaf production and accumulation of nitrate than Swiss chard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted at Maritsa Vegetable Crops Research Institute – Plovdiv and Institute of Agriculture – Kyustendil in the period 2018–2021. The climatic conditions of Plovdiv are suitable for cultivation of Swiss chard for early and late production in open field and Kyustendil for late production in open field. The main objective of the study is to make an economic assessment of Swiss chard production in two regions to see and provide information on the efficiency of this production. Key indicators to determine the economic evaluation were used. Production costs are determined on the basis of cultivation technology and obtained yields. It was found that the value of gross production for the Plovdiv region is highest with green chard (Swiss chard) with the first date of sowing, in early March – 55 815 lv/da, and in the Kyustendil region, the highest gross production is obtained from the variety Verde a costa larga argentata 2 (Italy) – 25,163 lv/da. Low production costs are characterized by early production in the Plovdiv region (0.56–0.73 lv/kg), followed by late production in the Kyustendil region (0.78–0.93 lv/kg) and the highest cost of late production in Plovdiv (1.48–2.51 lv/kg). The production of Swiss chard in both regions is economically profitable, as for Plovdiv it is preferable to green (Swiss chard) with early sowing, and for Kyustendil swiss chard variety Verde a costa larga argentata 2 (Italy). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swiss chard is a vegetable valued not only for the taste of its leaves but also because of its health-promoting properties. To date, nothing is known regarding the occurrence of saponins in the Swiss chard plant, even though they could be at least partially responsible for the nutraceutical activities of this plant. This research aimed to describe saponins from the leaves of four Swiss chard ( Beta vulgaris L.) cultivars. Saponin structures were analyzed by UHPLC-CAD/QTOF-MS/MS. Based on the fragmentation patterns, we tentatively identified 16 triterpene saponins in B. vulgaris , including two that had not been detected previously. The observed compounds were glycosides of five different, tentatively identified aglycones, i.e ., oleanolic acid, hederagenin, gypsogenin, akebonoic acid, and serjanic acid. Moreover, the structure of four saponins detected in Swiss chard leaves included dioxolane-type and six acetal-type substituents. Eleven, eight, eleven, and eight saponins were observed in saponin fractions obtained from Rhubarb, Bulls Blood, Perpetual Spinach, and White Silver cultivars, respectively. Furthermore, the content of all identified triterpene derivatives in the investigated cultivars was estimated using a method based on the UHPLC coupled with QTOF-MS/MS and charged aerosol detector (CAD). The analyzed cultivars differed in the total and individual saponin content. The total saponin content ranged from 125.53 to 397.09 μg/g DW.

This research was conducted aiming to determine the accumulation of some heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Mn, Cu, and Co) in a commonly used leafy vegetable crop Swiss-chard (Beta vulgarisL.) in Kurdistan region of Iraq, irrigated with wastewater from Tanjaro river. This experiment was implemented in the Research Field Station of the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Sulaimani. It was laid out in RCBD design with three treatments and three replicants. The Swiss-chard plants were grown inside pots and irrigated with wastewater from Tanjaro river alone (chr-t1), wastewater from Tanjaro river and clean water (1:1) in rotation (chr-t2), and clean water alone (chr-t3), during the entire growing seasons from planting to harvest. The results showed that the means of heavy metals concentrations were higher in (chr-t1), followed by (chr-t2) compared to control treatment(chr-t3). Even though, the recorded concentrations were far below maximum permissible level in the vegetables. Also, it is observed that Swiss-chard plant had significantly higher ability to bioaccumulation and translocation of heavy metalswhen chr-t1 treatment is applied, compared to the other studied treatments, chr-t2 and chr-t3, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to determine the concentrations of nitrates and nitrites in different types of vegetables that are commonly represented in the diet of the inhabitants of Split and Dalmatian County. Therefore, using the method of random selection, there were 96 samples of different vegetables. The determination of the nitrate and nitrite concentrations was carried out by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a diode array detector (DAD). The nitrate concentrations in the range 2.1–4526.3 mg kg−1 were found in 92.7% of the analyzed samples. The highest nitrate values were found in rucola (Eruca sativa L.) followed by Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L.). In 36.5% of the leafy vegetables intended for consumption without prior heat treatment, nitrite was found in the range of 3.3–537.9 mg kg−1. The high levels of nitrite in the vegetables intended for fresh consumption and the high nitrate values in Swiss chard indicate the need to establish maximum nitrite limits in vegetables, as well as the broadening of legal nitrate limits to wide varieties of vegetables.

The pathogenicity of the root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne arenaria, M. incognita and M. javanica on spinach cvs. 'Balady', 'Barkly', 'Orient', 'Pacific' and 'Solanicy', Swiss chard cvs. 'Balady' and 'Ford Hook', and table beet cvs. 'Asgro Wonder', 'Balady', 'Detroit Dark' and 'Detroit Spainal' was determined in several greenhouse tests. The results show that the tested chenopodiaceous plant cultivars were either susceptible or highly susceptible to the tested root-knot nematode species except spinach cv. 'Pacific' and table beet cv. 'Asgro Wonder' which exhibited moderately susceptible reaction to M. arenaria and M. javanica. In a separate control experiment, the pathogenicity of M. incognita on spinach cv. 'Balady' was studied in a greenhouse experiment. Soil treatments with dried plant materials of Monterey cypress, Brazil pepper-tree, lime and China tree induced great reductions (81.4-91.8%) in the numbers of root galls and egg masses of M. incognita on infected spinach plants. On the other hand, treatments with plant materials of blue gum tree, California pepper - tree, lantana and pomegranate gave 49.8-69.3% reduction of root galls and egg masses of M. incognita on infected spinach plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the effect of a chemical fertilizer (ammonium nitrate), a compost (vermicompost from cattle manure) and two biochars (from vine prunings and wood chips, respectively), applied to the soil alone or in mixture, on the yield, phytochemical content and biological activity of Beta vulgaris L. var. cycla (Swiss chard). The respective treatments, each replicated four times, were arranged according to a completely randomized block design. Results showed that vermicompost, both alone and in mixture with vine pruning biochar, significantly increased yield parameters (plant height and leaf area) and yield over the untreated soil and the biochars alone, similar to ammonium nitrate. Moreover, vermicompost, both alone and in mixture, respectively, with the two biochars, determined lower total N and NO3− contents than ammonium nitrate, both alone and in mixture, respectively, with the two biochars. In particular, NO3− content was within the safe thresholds fixed for leafy vegetables by the European Commission to prevent any adverse implication on human health from dietary NO3− exposure. The biochars alone resulted in very low yield and leaf total N content, likely due to a limited release of N for plant uptake, also evidenced by the undetectable NO3− leaf content, similarly shown by plants grown in untreated soil. Vermicompost, alone or in mixture, respectively, with the two biochars, increased the content of specialized metabolites, with a positive effect on antioxidant activity. The organic amendments, particularly compost, could be an alternative to chemical fertilizers to reach a trade-off between yield, nutritional and health qualities in Swiss chard, meeting the needs of farmers and consumers as well as the targets for sustainable food production.

High perchlorate findings were reported in fruits and vegetables from different countries in 2013. It was speculated that mineral fertilizers were responsible for the contamination because perchlorate was detected in substantial amounts in some fertilizers and is generally available for plant uptake. In principle, other source such as the growth medium, washing water, contamination during packaging or treatment of products to increase shelf-life of fruits and vegetables are potential contamination sources as well. A greenhouse trial was conducted with different vegetables to investigate the perchlorate uptake and transfer between different plant organs. For this purpose, spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris) were grown as leafy vegetables, radish (Raphanus sativus) and May turnip (Brassica rapa L. var. rapa) as root vegetables and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) as a fruit-bearing crop. Perchlorate was added to the substrate in concentrations of 0 - 5 - 10 - 100 - 500 µg ClO4-/pot to the young plants (two to six leaf stage). The investigated species took up almost the applied perchlorate and the highest proportion of 70-100% was detected in leaves. In the bulbs of radish and May turnip only at the higher level of 100 or 500 µg ClO4-/pot low concentrations of perchlorate could be detected. In tomato fruits no perchlorate was detected indicating that no transfer from leaves to fruits occurred, when perchlorate was applied in one dose at the beginning of the experiment. It can be concluded that the majority of perchlorate contained in fertilizers will be taken up by plants and will be stored mainly in leaves. Therefore, leafy vegetables have a high risk to be contaminated by perchlorate while the edible parts of bulb vegetables and fruits show a lower risk to be contaminated when perchlorate was applied at the beginning of vegetative growth. No conclusions are possible if perchlorate-containing fertilizers are applied regularly over the whole vegetation period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study was conducted to evaluate quality characteristics of cured pork loin with natural nitrite source from Swiss chard. Methods Pork loin was cured in brine and the ratio of water and fermented Swiss chard (FSC) solution in the brine was changed by 4:0 (control), 3:1 (T1), 1:1 (T2), 1:3 (T3), 0:4 (T4), and pickled samples with 0.012% sodium nitrite (PC, positive control) and nitrite free brine (NC, negative control) were considered as the control. Results The pH values of cured pork loins with FSC were decreased with increasing addition level of FSC. Cooking loss was not significantly different among all treatments. T4 had the lowest value in moisture content and lightness value and the highest value in curing efficiency. The redness value of T4 was not significantly different from that of PC in raw. After cooking, however, it was higher than that of PC. The yellowness value of cured pork loin added with FSC was increased with increasing level of FSC. Volatile basic nitrogen content of cured pork loin added with FSC was higher than PC and NC. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance value of cured pork loin added with FSC was decreased with increasing FSC level. Residual nitrite level and shear force were increased with increasing FSC level. In the sensory evaluation, sensory score for flavor, off-flavor, chewiness, juiciness, and overall acceptability were not significantly different among all treatments. However, sensory score for color was increased when the concentration of FSC added to pork loin was increased. Conclusion The FSC solution had a positive effect on redness and lipid oxidation. As shown by the results in protein deterioration and sensory, Swiss chard can replace sodium nitrite as natural curing agent.

Use of hydroponics is increasing because of its ability to be used for year round vegetable production using an environmentally sustainable system. Management of solution pH is an important challenge in hydroponics systems. Our objective was to quantify the effects of various pH modifiers on growth and nutrient uptake of leafy greens and stability of nutrient solution’s pH. Lettuce, basil, and Swiss chard were transplanted into an Ebb and flow system, and nutrient solution pH was maintained using three different pH modifiers (pH Down, lime juice, or vinegar). The nutrient solution’s pH was maintained between 5.5 and 6.5. pH Down resulted in the most stable solution pH and required the least amount of product used when compared to lime juice and vinegar. The cost of using phosphoric acid or lime juice was greater than that of using vinegar. Vinegar reduced the yield of all crops in comparison to pH Down. When compared to pH Down, lime juice reduced the yield of basil and Swiss chard but not that of lettuce. Therefore, growers can use lime juice as an alternative to pH Down in lettuce production but not for basil and Swiss chard, while vinegar would not be recommended for any of the crops studied.

Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla Moq.), which is grown as a vegetable in Turkey and well adapted to the Marmara region, was used in our experiments. Provided by a producer, chard seedlings were grown in 6 L plastic bags in a non-heated plastic greenhouse. Starting from the 4-5 true-leaf stage to harvest, sodium chloride (NaCl)-added tap water at 5 different electricity conductivity (EC) values [(0. 4 (tap water, control), 8, 16, 24 and 32 dS/m)] was used as irrigation water. The results showed that the EC of the irrigation water affected some of the morphological and physiological properties of chard. An increase in the EC value of irrigation water led to a decrease in the number of leaves, leaf weight, leaf area, plant length, root length, chlorophyll content and increase in the injury level in the leaves and leaf thickness of Swiss chard. The changes observed upon the application of irrigation water with an EC of 16 dS/m were 50% greater than those observed in the control plants, whereas irrigation water with an EC of 32 dS/m results in severe discoloration and yellowing, but the plant was still alive. Therefore, chard growing can be suggested in agricultural areas with salinity problems.

Nitrite and nitrate levels in vegetables are a matter of concern due to their toxicity at high levels and nitrate high accumulation. Moreover, there is a lack of knowledge about their levels in some types of widely consumed vegetables such as chard and rocket. In this study, 124 Swiss chard and wild rocket samples were analyzed for determining nitrite and nitrate using validated and accredited analytical methods by ion chromatography with conductivity detection. High nitrite concentrations, up to 219.5 mg kg−1 f.w., were detected in one Swiss chard and three wild rocket samples. One Margin of Safety (MoS) value was −1) was slightly higher than those reported in the literature for spinach and lettuce. No MoS was

There is an increasing interest in the use of seawater in horticulture. The objective of this study was to evaluate Beta vulgaris var. cicla (Swiss chard) and its wild ancestor B. vulgaris spp. maritima (sea beet) as potential crop species for seawater hydroponics or aquaponics. Both species were grown in a floating system for leaf production with recurrent harvests. The nutrient solutions contained different concentrations of nitrate (1 and 10 mM) and a synthetic sea salt (0 and 10 g L−1), in a factorial design, where the saline solution with a low nitrate level intended to mimic the typical nutritional conditions of saltwater aquaponics. In both species, increasing the salinity or reducing the N level in the nutrient solution reduced the crop yield and total dry biomass. In both Swiss chard and sea beet, the use of saline water resulted in a lower leaf concentration of K, Ca, Cu, and Mn, and a greater content of Na and Cl. In Swiss chard, an increase in Na and Cl and a decrease in K leaf content were found in successive harvests. On average, sea beet showed a higher leaf production and accumulation of nitrate than Swiss chard.

Swiss chard is a vegetable valued not only for the taste of its leaves but also because of its health-promoting properties. To date, nothing is known regarding the occurrence of saponins in the Swiss chard plant, even though they could be at least partially responsible for the nutraceutical activities of this plant. This research aimed to describe saponins from the leaves of four Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L.) cultivars. Saponin structures were analyzed by UHPLC-CAD/QTOF-MS/MS. Based on the fragmentation patterns, we tentatively identified 16 triterpene saponins in B. vulgaris, including two that had not been detected previously. The observed compounds were glycosides of five different, tentatively identified aglycones, i.e., oleanolic acid, hederagenin, gypsogenin, akebonoic acid, and serjanic acid. Moreover, the structure of four saponins detected in Swiss chard leaves included dioxolane-type and six acetal-type substituents. Eleven, eight, eleven, and eight saponins were observed in saponin fractions obtained from Rhubarb, Bulls Blood, Perpetual Spinach, and White Silver cultivars, respectively. Furthermore, the content of all identified triterpene derivatives in the investigated cultivars was estimated using a method based on the UHPLC coupled with QTOF-MS/MS and charged aerosol detector (CAD). The analyzed cultivars differed in the total and individual saponin content. The total saponin content ranged from 125.53 to 397.09 µg/g DW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nematode survey was conducted in Alexandria, ElBehera, El-Gharbia, El-Monufia and Kafr El-Sheikh governorates in northern Egypt during the 2017-2019 cropping seasons to study the occurrence, population density and host association of plant parasitic nematodes associated with spinach, Swiss chard and table beet. A total of 854 soil and root samples were collected from the rhizosphere of the surveyed vegetable crops. The surveyed governorates and their respective numbers of soil samples were as follows: Alexandria 230, El-Behera 206, ElGharbia 138, El-Monufia 211 and Kafr El-Sheikh 69 samples. Plant parasitic nematodes in the collected soil and root samples were extracted, identified, and counted under the compound light microscope. The collected soil and root samples contained mixed populations of 15 genera and 18 species of phytoparasitic nematodes that are reported for the first time on spinach, Swiss chard and table beet in Egypt. The root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) with 37 - 67 frequency of occurrence (FO) were the most frequently encountered group of nematodes, followed by spiral (Helicotylenchus sp.), cyst (Heterodera sp.), lesion (Pratylenchus sp.) and stunt (Tylenchorhynchus sp.) with 15 - 61 FO. The genera Criconema, Criconemella and Tylenchus were quite common. However, the other genera (Ditylenchus, Hoplolaimus, Psilenchus, Rotylenchulus, Rotylenchus, Trichodorus, and Xiphinema) were less common. The nematode species Meloidogyne arenaria, M. incognita, M. javanica, Heterodera schachtii and H. trifolii were identified on spinach, Swiss chard and table beet roots. The occurrence of the cyst nematodes H. schachtii and H. trifolii on spinach, Swiss chard and table beet are new records in Egypt. Also, survey results revealed new host plant records for most of the identified nematode genera and species in Egypt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Aquaponics is considered a sustainable system for the production of fish and vegetables. However, little is known about the effects of different system variables on vegetable quality. Hence, the aims of this study were to evaluate the influence of aquaponics on the composition and quality traits of three vegetable species in relation to stocking density of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), in comparison with those of plants grown in hydroponics. RESULTS: The highest cumulative vegetable marketable yield was obtained in low‐density aquaponics (APL), followed by hydroponics (HP) and high‐density aquaponics (APH). Vegetable quality traits showed species‐specific responses. In general, phosphorus concentration was higher in plants grown in APH and lower in those grown in HP, while the opposite was observed for nitrate concentration. In lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), sugar content was the highest in APH, whereas for Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. subsp. vulgaris Cicla group), the aquaponics treatments increased only glucose content. No differences in sugar content were observed in Catalogna (Cichorium intybus L. Catalogna group). The lowest and highest phenolic acid concentrations in the aboveground biomass of Catalogna and lettuce were observed in HP and APH treatments, respectively. For Swiss chard, APH treatment resulted in the highest caffeic acid content, whereas ferulic acid was the highest in HP. CONCLUSIONS: Aquaponics at low stocking density increased plant yield, compared to HP, without compromising vegetable quality, whereas aquaponics at high stocking density improved vegetable quality, but at the expense of yield. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae application in agriculture is an alternative measure that could be highly beneficial to plants. The application of microalgae Chlorella vulgaris S45 and its effect on plant growth and pigment content in Swiss chard were investigated. In the treatments, 5% and 10% algal suspensions were applied by spraying on plants and in soil, respectively. C. vulgaris S45 affected the initial growth of Swiss chard and the content of photosynthetic pigments positively. The correlation analysis proved the existence of statistically significant interdependency between chlorophyll a (Chl a) content and leaf number (r = 0.876 at p < 0.05), and chlorophyll b (Chl b) content and fresh leaf weight (r = 0.783 at p < 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrocatalytic properties of carbonaceous electrodes, electrochemically modified with microquantities of PdPt (low-platinum-content alloy), were evaluated with regards to electrooxidation of oxalic acid (OA). Electrochemical studies indicated that the electrodes possess high activity towards oxidation of OA, fast response, remarkable anti-interference performance, and high stability, defining them as promising cost-effective sensing materials for non-enzymatic detection of OA. At an applied potential of 0.75 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), modified glassy carbon PdPt/GC showed excellent analytical performance: sensitivity of 213.7 µA mM−1 cm−2, linear range 0.01–4.7 mM, detection limit of 1.0 µM, response time of 8 s, and good reproducibility (2.6% RSD, n = 10). The proposed electrode was successfully applied for amperometric determination of OA content in spinach and swiss chard samples. The simple and rapid procedure for electrode fabrication, technical simplicity, and demonstrated feasibility in food sample analysis, are great advantages of the developed electrochemical sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the potential impact of various Fusarium strains on the population development of sugarbeet cyst nematodes. Fungi were isolated from cysts or eggs of Heterodera schachtii Schmidt that were obtained from a field suppressive to that nematode. Twenty-six strains of Fusarium spp. were subjected to a phylogenic analysis of their rRNA-ITS nucleotide sequences. Seven genetically distinct Fusarium strains were evaluated for their ability to influence population development of H. schachtii and crop performance in greenhouse trials. Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris) seedlings were transplanted into fumigated field soil amended with a single fungal strain at 1,000 propagules/g soil. One week later, the soil was infested with 250 H. schachtii J2/100 cm3 soil. Parasitized eggs were present in all seven Fusarium treatments at 1,180 degree-days after fungal infestation. The percentage of parasitism ranged from 17 to 34%. Although the most efficacious F. oxysporum strain 471 produced as many parasitized eggs as occurred in the original suppressive soil, none of the Fusarium strains reduced the population density of H. schachtii compared to the conducive check. This supports prior results that Fusarium spp. were not the primary cause of the population suppression of sugarbeet cyst nematodes at this location.

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In recent years, soil addition with organic amendments, such as biochar and compost, has gained attention as an effective agronomic practice to sustain soil fertility, enhance plant growth and crop yield. Well known are the positive effects of compost on yield of a wide crop varieties, while both positive and negative responses are reported for biochar Therefore, the aim of the study was to verify the effect of biochar mixed with three types of compost on quanti-qualitative response of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. cycla), a leafy green vegetable rich in dietary antioxidants, largely consumed worldwide. A factorial experiment in pots with two factors, including biochar (without biochar and with biochar from vine pruning residues) and compost (without compost, with compost from olive pomace, with vermicompost from cattle manure, and with compost from cattle anaerobic digestate), was setup. Two growth cycles were considered, and a set of quantitative (height of plants, number, area and fresh weight of leaves) and qualitative parameters (carotenoids, chlorophyll, total N, and NO3−content of leaves) were analyzed. Biochar decreased plant growth and NO3− leaf content; on the contrary, it increased total N leaf content, while compost improved all the considered parameters. The interactive effect of biochar and compost was evident only on total N and NO3− leaf content. In our experimental conditions, the compost showed to be the best option to improve Swiss chard growth and increase the content of phytopigments, while the biochar-compost mixtures did not produce the expected effect.

The paper aimed to present the effects of Ca - containing metallurgical slag (MS) and liquid fish (LF) fertilizer appliance on yield and chemical composition of aerial parts of Swiss chard cultivated on marginal eutric cambisol type of soil. The study was performed in semi-controlled glasshouse conditions, and the effects of MS was compared to those of commercial lime materials - ground limestone and hydrated lime, in combination with and without standard mineral and LF fertilizers. The results of the paper indicate that all Ca-materials studied, including MS, along with the studied fertilizers, showed positive effects on the content of main and beneficial biogenic macroelements in chards biomass and its yield. There is a statistically significant tendency of an increase in the content of P, K and C in tested herb in the treatment with LF fertilizer in relation to other treatments. The concentration of trace metals such as Fe and Cd was within the safety limits and allowed concentrations in all the treatments in spite of significant Fe content in MS, which is a highly desirable outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective We compared three methods for estimating the individual peak height velocity (PHV) and age at peak height velocity (APHV) from the SuperImposition by Translation and Rotation (SITAR) model. Methods We fitted the SITAR model using simulated data and heights of 12 girls from the Chard Growth Study and obtained individual PHVs and APHVs from three methods: the model method, the quadratic function method and the numerical method, which are available in our newly developed R package“iapvbs”. The mean, interquartile range, range of biases in estimated APHV and PHV as well as the rates of warning and unreasonable cases, i.e. estimated APHVs being outside the range of age measurements, from the three methods were presented and compared. Results When the growth curves of all individuals were well fitted by the SITAR model, all three methods estimated individual APHVs with similarly small biases, with a few unreasonable cases (0.16%) observed when the model method was used while more computation time required for the numerical method. When the growth curves of some individuals were not very well fitted, the model method generated more unreasonable individual APHV (8.15%) and more bias in PHV and APHV, compared to those estimated by the numerical method and quadratic function method. In line with the observations from the simulated data, the real data analysis demonstrated that the numerical method generated more reliable PHV and APHV for individuals with growth curve not well fitted by the SITAR model. Conclusion The performance of different methods estimating individual APHV depends largely on how well the growth curves are fitted by the SITAR model. The quadratic function method is more superior when growth curves of all individuals are well fitted by the SITAR model; otherwise, the numerical method should be adopted for getting most robust estimates of PHV and APHV. The model method generates unreasonable APHV estimates, particularly when the growth curves are not well fitted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, it has been given a geometric model description of the annular type tracheal elements of chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla L.) Numerical comparisons have been also made by taking measurements from different parts of the leaf. It has been have shown that the tracheal elements which are taxonomical value of the plant can be considered as a surface of revolution or a tubular shape along a special curve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microgreens, like sprouts, are relatively fast-growing products and are generally consumed raw. Moreover, as observed for sprouts, microbial contamination from preharvest sources may also be present in the production of microgreens. In this study, two Salmonella enterica serovars (Hartford and Cubana), applied at multiple inoculation levels, were evaluated for survival and growth on alfalfa sprouts and Swiss chard microgreens by using the most-probable-number (MPN) method. Various abiotic factors were also examined for their effects on Salmonella survival and growth on sprouts and microgreens. Community-level physiological profiles (CLPPs) of sprout/microgreen rhizospheres with different levels of S. enterica inoculation at different growth stages were characterized by use of Biolog EcoPlates. In the seed contamination group, the ability of S. enterica to grow on sprouting alfalfa seeds was affected by both seed storage time and inoculation level but not by serovar. However, the growth of S. enterica on Swiss chard microgreens was affected by serovar and inoculation level. Seed storage time had little effect on the average level of Salmonella populations in microgreens. In the irrigation water contamination group, the growth of Salmonella on both alfalfa sprouts and microgreens was largely affected by inoculation level. Surprisingly, the growth medium was found to play an important role in Salmonella survival and growth on microgreens. CLPP analysis showed significant changes in the microbial community metabolic diversity during sprouting for alfalfa sprouts, but few temporal changes were seen with microgreens. The data suggest that the change in rhizosphere bacterial functional diversity was dependent on the host but independent of Salmonella contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]