Newest publications
Multivariate analysis for balancing electrical energy requirement, throughput and oil recovery in mechanical extraction of peanut oil
(2026) Bonzi, Wiomou Joévin; Romuli, Sebastian; Nounagnon, Bignon Stéphanie; Meissner, Klaus; Müller, Joachim
Mechanical pressing stands out as a widely adopted method for plant oil extraction in rural areas due to its simplicity and lower initial investment. This process requires seed conditioning and adjusted pressing parameters to enhance oil recovery. Previous studies have focused primarily on optimising oil recovery. In a sustainable approach, additional parameters such as specific energy and throughput should be considered due to their impact on production costs. This study aims to balance optimal oil recovery, energy efficiency, and economic viability in peanut oil mechanical extraction. Employing a Box Behnken design, the impact of shell ratio (5%, 10%, and 15%), steaming duration (10 min, 20 min, and 30 min), and rotational speed (20 rpm, 45 rpm, and 70 rpm) on specific energy of pressing stage, oil recovery, and throughput were investigated. Results show specific energy ranging from 50.7 Wh kg−1 to 96.3 Wh kg−1 and oil recovery ranging from 83.2% to 91.0%. Both responses were predominantly influenced by rotational speed. Specifically, lower rotational speed led to increased specific energy and higher oil recovery. A desirability function was introduced to perform multivariate optimisation, assigning response importance based on their influence on oil production cost. The results revealed an optimum point at 70 rpm, 5% shell ratio, and 20 min steaming duration, corresponding to a desirability value of 0.61. This optimum corresponds to a minimised specific energy (49.2 Wh kg−1) and maximised throughput (10.9 kg h−1), while providing an acceptable oil recovery (86.2%). This research provides valuable insights into optimising peanut oil mechanical extraction, considering energy efficiency and economic viability.
The regulation of FGF23 under physiological and pathophysiological conditions
(2022) Rausch, Steffen; Föller, Michael
Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is an important bone hormone that regulates phosphate homeostasis in the kidney along with active vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D3) and parathyroid hormone (PTH). Endocrine effects of FGF23 depend, at least in part, on αKlotho functioning as a co-receptor whereas further paracrine effects in other tissues are αKlotho-independent. Regulation of FGF23 production is complex under both, physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Physiological regulators of FGF23 include, but are not limited to, 1,25(OH)2D3, PTH, dietary phosphorus intake, and further intracellular and extracellular factors, kinases, cytokines, and hormones. Moreover, several acute and chronic diseases including chronic kidney disease (CKD) or further cardiovascular disorders are characterized by early rises in the plasma FGF23 level pointing to further mechanisms effective in the regulation of FGF23 under pathophysiological conditions. Therefore, FGF23 also serves as a prognostic marker in several diseases. Our review aims to comprehensively summarize the regulation of FGF23 in health and disease.
Hybrid wheat: quantitative genetic parameters and heterosis for quality and rheological traits as well as baking volume
(2022) Schwarzwälder, Lea; Thorwarth, Patrick; Zhao, Yusheng; Reif, Jochen Christoph; Longin, C. Friedrich H.
Bread wheat cultivars have been selected according to numerous quality traits to fulfill the requirements of the bread making industry. These include beside protein content and quality also rheological traits and baking volume. We evaluated 35 male and 73 female lines and 119 of their single-cross hybrids at three different locations for grain yield, protein content, sedimentation value, extensograph traits and baking volume. No significant differences ( p < 0.05) were found in the mean comparisons of males, females and hybrids, except for higher grain yield and lower protein content in the hybrids. Mid-parent and better-parent heterosis values were close to zero and slightly negative, respectively, for baking volume and extensograph traits. However, the majority of heterosis values resulted in the finding that hybrids had higher grain yield than lines for a given level of baking volume, sedimentation value or energy value of extensograph. Due to the high correlation with the mid-parent values ( r > 0.70), an initial prediction of hybrid performance based on line per se performance for protein content, sedimentation value, most traits of the extensograph and baking volume is possible. The low variance due to specific combining ability effects for most quality traits points toward an additive gene action requires quality selection within both heterotic groups. Consequently, hybrid wheat can combine high grain yield with high bread making quality. However, the future use of wheat hybrids strongly depends on the establishment of a cost-efficient and reliable seed production system.
Protein use efficiency and stability of baking quality in winter wheat based on the relation of loaf volume and grain protein content
(2022) Laidig, Friedrich; Hüsken, Alexandra; Rentel, Dirk; Piepho, Hans-Peter
The most important trait for baking quality of winter wheat is loaf volume (V). It is mostly determined by grain protein content (GPC) and quality. New varieties with a high potential of grain protein use efficiency (ProtUE) are very important for reducing the surplus use of nitrogen fertilizer in areas where nitrogen leaching is large. This is also an important goal of agricultural policies in the European Union. Additionally, ProtUE needs to be very stable across environments in the face of progressing climate change with more volatile growing conditions. We evaluated a new approach to assess ProtUE and stability based on the V–GPC relationship instead of using only single traits. The study comprised 11,775 baking tests from 355 varieties grown 1988–2019 in 668 different environments in Germany. V was predicted by quadratic and linear regression functions for quality groups, indicating a reduction of ProtUE from 1988 to 2019. We introduced a dynamic and a static approach to assess ProtUE and stability as potential criteria in variety registration. We found a considerably lower heritability of the dynamic ProtUE ( h 2 = 43%) compared to the static ProtUE ( h 2 = 92%) and a lower dynamic stability ( h 2 = 32%) than for the static stability ( h 2 = 51%). None of these measures is in conflict with the selection for high V. In particular, V and static ProtUE are strongly genetically associated ( r = 0.81), indicating an advantage of the static over the dynamic approach.
Digestate composition affecting N fertiliser value and C mineralisation
(2022) Häfner, Franziska; Hartung, Jens; Möller, Kurt
A variety of organic feedstocks can be used for anaerobic digestion, resulting in digestates with different compositions, affecting the fertiliser value. Therefore, two experiments were conducted to assess (1) differences in the nitrogen (N) fertiliser value of seven digestates from different feedstocks in a 2-year field experiment with spring wheat, and (2) the degradability of organic matter (OM) in the digestates within an aerobic incubation experiment. In the field, mineral fertiliser equivalents were in a range of 18–60% (1st year) and 39–83% (2nd year). Fertiliser properties could describe 58.9–74.2% of the N offtake variance among digestates. In the incubation experiment, digestates produced 720–1900 mg CO2-C kg−1. After 56 days, 61% of organic C added by food waste digestate has been mineralised, compared to 16–22% for the other digestates. Digestate composition (C/N, Corg/Norg, carbonate, cellulose, lignin, and crude fibre) could explain 90.4% of the CO2 evolution. In both experiments, digested food waste stood out among digestates with the highest N offtake and highest OM mineralisation. In conclusion, differences in fertiliser value and OM degradability could be related to compositional variations. However, apart from food waste, the composition had only minor influence on digestate performance after soil application.Graphical Abstract