Due to the exhaustion and increased pressure regarding the environmental and political aspects of fossil fuels, the industrial focus has switched towards renewable energy resources. Lignocellulosic biowaste can come from several sources, such as industrial waste, agricultural waste, forestry waste, and bioenergy crops and processed into bioethanol via a biochemical pathway. Although much research has been done on the ethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass, the economic viability of a bioethanol plant in the Northern Netherlands is yet unknown, and therefore, examined. In this thesis, the feasibility study of a bioethanol plant treating sugar beet pulp, cow manure, and grass straw is conducted using the simulation software SuperPro Designer. Results show that it is not economically viable to treat the tested lignocellulosic biomass for the production of bioethanol, since all three original cases result in a negative net present value (NPV). An alternative would be to exclude the pretreatment step from the process. Although this results in a lower production of bioethanol per year, the plant treating sugar beet pulp (SBP) and grass straw (GS) becomes economically viable since the costs have significantly decreased.
DOCUMENT
Rationale: The goal of the PROVE (Protein enriched vegan products to fight malnutrition) project is to innovate the assortment of plant-based energy and protein enriched products for dietary treatment of (risk of) malnutrition. We aimed to explore preferences of dietitians for plant-based products in the treatment of malnutrition.Methods: In this design-based research project, the Double Diamond model was applied. Contextual interviews were performed with 9 dietitians experienced in treating clients using a vegan diet (1 omnivore, 3 flexi-vegetarian, 1 vegetarian, 1 pescetarian, 3 flexi-vegan). Interviews focused on preferences regarding product type, size, nutrients, taste, packaging, price. Affinity mapping was used to code and analyze the transcripted interviews. The results were summarized into concept products.Results: Four product concepts were developed that represent preferences of dietitians for a plant-based energy and protein enriched product for clients with (risk of) malnutrition. Overall, pea or soy were preferred as a protein source and addition of vitamins and minerals was not preferred.Conclusion: Preferences of dietitians for plant-based protein and energy rich products for patients with risk of malnutrition largely vary. Within PROVE, we will enrich these results with patient perspectives, as basis to develop and deliver plant-based energy and protein enriched products for treatment of (risk of) malnutrition.
DOCUMENT
The increased cultivation of highly productive C4 crop plants may contribute to a second green revolution in agriculture. However, the regulation of mineral nutrition is rather poorly understood in C4 plants. To understand the impact of C4 photosynthesis on the regulation of sulfate uptake by the root and sulfate assimilation into cysteine at the whole plant level, seedlings of the monocot C4 plant maize (Zea mays) were exposed to a non-toxic level of 1.0 µl l−1 atmospheric H2S at sulfate-sufficient and sulfate-deprived conditions. Sulfate deprivation not only affected growth and the levels of sulfur- and nitrogen-containing compounds, but it also enhanced the expression and activity of the sulfate transporters in the root and the expression and activity of APS reductase (APR) in the root and shoot. H2S exposure alleviated the establishment of sulfur deprivation symptoms and seedlings switched, at least partly, from sulfate to H2S as sulfur source. Moreover, H2S exposure resulted in a downregulation of the expression and activity of APR in both shoot and root, though it hardly affected that of the sulfate transporters in the root. These results indicate that maize seedlings respond similarly to sulfate deprivation and atmospheric H2S exposure as C3 monocots, implying that C4 photosynthesis in maize is not associated with a distinct whole plant regulation of sulfate uptake and assimilation into cysteine.
DOCUMENT
Growth curve analysis of sedentary plant parasitic nematodes on different hosts and at different population densities is used to assess plant suitability including their resistance and tolerance. The estimated parameters of host suitability can be used in pest management programs for economic important species such as potato cyst nematodes.
LINK
COTOPAXI is an ANDEAN lupin which has obtained Plant Breeder Rights by Vandinter Semo BV, the Netherlands. COTOPAXI is rich in protein (45%) and oils (20%). COTOPAXI will positively contribute to the plant-based protein transition in hte Netherlands and Europe.
MULTIFILE
Control of plant growth is an important aspect of crop productivity and yield in agriculture. Overexpression of the At CHR12/ 23 genes in Arabidopsis thaliana reduced growth habit without other morphological changes. These two genes encode Snf2 chromatin remodelling ATPases. Here, we translate this approach to the horticultural crop tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum). We identified and cloned the single tomato ortholog of the two Arabidopsis Snf2 genes, designated Sl CHR1. Transgenic tomato plants (cv. Micro-Tom) that constitutively overexpress the coding sequence of Sl CHR1 show reduced growth in all developmental stages of tomato. This confirms that Sl CHR1 combines the functions of both Arabidopsis genes in tomato. Compared to the wild type, the transgenic seedlings of tomato have significantly shorter roots, hypocotyls and reduced cotyledon size. Transgenic plants have a much more compact growth habit with markedly reduced plant height, severely compacted reproductive structures with smaller flowers and smaller fruits. The results indicate that either GMO-based or non- GMO-based approaches to modulate the expression of chromatin remodelling ATPase genes could develop into methods to control plant growth, for example to replace the use of chemical growth retardants. This approach is likely to be applicable and attractive for any crop for which growth habit reduction has added value.
DOCUMENT
The protein transition from animal towards plant proteins, is driven by the growth of the world’s population combined with a rising standard of living. Over the last five years, this has already resulted in a 7-fold increase in product launches with a plant-based claim or notification. This manuscript gives an overview of current, emerging and future protein sources and their use to replace protein in dairy and meat products as well as egg proteins. Currently, a major focus is on the development of products that mimic the original product the most, for example the best meat alternative. However, the question arises if this is enough to change the overall balance between animal and plant proteins? The outlook discusses the demand for a better understanding of consumer needs and preferences.
LINK
Plant parasitaire aaltjes (nematoden) zijn een groot probleem in de land- en tuinbouw. Chemische bestrijding is niet langer gewenst. Biologische bestrijding van aaltjes is een welkom alternatief. Het Afrikaantje (Tagetes erecta) is een biologische bestrijder van het uiterst schadelijke wortellesie aaltje Pratylenchus penetrans, dat veel schade in de bollen- en aardappelteelt veroorzaakt. De inzet van Tagetes wordt beperkt door de hoge teeltkosten zonder dat daar een oogstbaar product tegenover staat. Tagetes wordt na teelt in zijn geheel in de bodem als groenbemester ingewerkt. De bloemen van Tagetes zijn rijk aan de carotenoïde inhoudstoffen luteïne en zeaxanthine. Luteïne heeft een actieve werking onder andere bij het voorkomen van leeftijd gerelateerde netvlies degeneratie (ARMD) en als anti-aging ingrediënt bij huidverzorgende cosmetica. Luteïne is een krachtig antioxidant en beschermt de huid tegen schadelijke UV-stralen. Het doel van dit onderzoek is het ontwikkelen van een circulair ontwerp voor het duurzaam bestrijden van plant parasitaire aaltjes met Tagetes vanggewassen waarbij restproducten van de biologische bestrijding benut worden voor creëren van producten met extra toegevoegde waarde voor anti-aging cosmetica. Op deze wijze ontstaat een nieuwe productieketen die een volwaardig alternatief is voor chemische grondontsmetting waarbij tegelijkertijd hoogwaardige consumententoepassingen mogelijk zijn. Luteïne is met superkritische CO2 als groen extractie middel in zeer zuivere vorm uit de bloemen van Afrikaantjes geëxtraheerd. Mogelijke verbetering is door ook plantaardige olie (zonnebloemolie) te gebruiken. Luteïne extracten zijn in-vitro en in-vivo getest. Luteïne voorkwam collageen afbraak in huidcellen. Gebruik van luteïne rijke cosmetische crèmes door vrijwilligers verhoogde huidhydratie en huid elasticiteit.Kosten-Baten analyse van het circulaire luteïne productieproces met superkritisch CO2 extractie liet zien dat deze keten in principe rendabel kan zijn als plantaardige al mede-oplosmiddel gebruikt wordt. Hiermee is in principe een duurzaam circulair proces te creëren voor zowel biologische betrijding van planteziekten als voor hoogwaardige consumentenproducten.
DOCUMENT
Adults of many mosquito species feed on plants to obtain metabolic energy and to enhance reproduction. Mosquitoes primarily rely on olfaction to locate plants and are known to respond to a range of plant volatiles. We studied the olfactory response of the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti to methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and cis-jasmone (CiJA), volatile compounds originating from the octadecanoid signaling pathway that plays a key role in plant defense against herbivores. Specifcally, we investigated how Ae. aegypti of diferent ages responded to elevated levels of CiJA in two attractive odor contexts, either derived from Lima bean plants or human skin. Aedes aegypti females landed signifcantly less often on a surface with CiJA and MeJA compared to the solvent control, CiJA exerting a stronger reduction in landing than MeJA. Odor context (plant or human) had no signifcant main efect on the olfactory responses of Ae. aegypti females to CiJA. Mosquito age signifcantly afected the olfactory response, older females (7–9 d) responding more strongly to elevated levels of CiJA than young females (1–3 d) in either odor context. Our results show that avoidance of CiJA by Ae. aegypti is independent of odor background, suggesting that jasmonates are inherently aversive cues to these mosquitoes. We propose that avoidance of plants with elevated levels of jasmonates is adaptive to mosquitoes to reduce the risk of encountering predators that is higher on these plants, i.e. by avoiding ‘enemy-dense-space’.
LINK
There is consensus that plant species richness enhances plant productivity within natural grasslands, but the underlying drivers remain debated. Recently, differential accumulation of soil‐borne fungal pathogens across the plant diversity gradient has been proposed as a cause of this pattern. However, the below‐ground environment has generally been treated as a ‘black box’ in biodiversity experiments, leaving these fungi unidentified. Using next generation sequencing and pathogenicity assays, we analysed the community composition of root‐associated fungi from a biodiversity experiment to examine if evidence exists for host specificity and negative density dependence in the interplay between soil‐borne fungi, plant diversity and productivity. Plant species were colonised by distinct (pathogenic) fungal communities and isolated fungal species showed negative, species‐specific effects on plant growth. Moreover, 57% of the pathogenic fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) recorded in plant monocultures were not detected in eight plant species plots, suggesting a loss of pathogenic OTUs with plant diversity. Our work provides strong evidence for host specificity and negative density‐dependent effects of root‐associated fungi on plant species in grasslands. Our work substantiates the hypothesis that fungal root pathogens are an important driver of biodiversity‐ecosystem functioning relationships.
LINK
