AgroLife Scientific Journal 

About: AgroLife Scientific Journal is an academic journal published by University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Biology & Chemistry. It has an ISSN identifier of 2285-5718. Over the lifetime, 276 publications have been published receiving 527 citations.

Sustainable alternative for food packaging: chitosan biopolymer - a review.

Abstract: Food packaging technology is continuously evolving in response to growing challenges from a modern society. Active packaging is an innovative approach to enhance the shelf life of food stuffs while improving their quality, safety and integrity. Chitosan is the deacetylated derivative of chitin, which is the second most abundant polysaccharide found in nature after cellulose. Chitosan is nontoxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable and thus is considered as an environmentally friendly packaging material. Moreover, chitosan is a good inhibitor against the growth of a wide variety of yeasts, fungi and bacteria, and also displays gas and aroma barrier properties in dry conditions. Along with these characteristics, its ease for film formation, make chitosan an interesting choice for active antimicrobial food packaging applications. This study aims to present a literature review regarding chitin and chitosan biopolymers, their properties and the ability to be used in applications in food packaging industry.

Use landsat image to evaluate vegetation stage in sunflower crops

Abstract: Remote sensing is of great interest for the study and characterization of the vegetation and of the agricultural crops, in order to monitor them and to develop predictable patterns regarding the evolution of the crops and also for the purpose of the decision making process in real time. The main purpose of this research was the study of the sunflower crops dynamics based on spectral information obtained from satellite images. Vegetation dynamics was differently expressed by the indexes NDVI, NDBR and NDMI determined based on spectral information. NDVI has registered an ascending slope since the beginning of the vegetation period until the flowering (65 BBCH code) when the maximum value was recorded (NDVI GS6 = 0.4074). Later the distribution of this indicator recorded a descending slope until the physiological maturity. NDVI in correlation with the NIR band had lower values in the stages 12-14 BBCH code (p<0.01; R 2 = 0.642) and 80-81 BBCH code (p<0.01; R 2 = 0.605) and higher values at flowering stage, 65 BBCH code (p<0.01; R 2 = 0.966), and physiological maturity, 92-97 BBCH code (p<0.01; R 2 = 0.993; F = 3148.2). NDVI index has most closely correlated with vegetation phenophases and it highlighted, by the different level of correlation with the spectral information, the dynamics and variability in the sunflower crop.

Physical and chemical methods to avoid fruit cracking in cherry.

Abstract: Rain-induced fruit cracking in sweet cherries can cause heavy losses in yields and returns. Several advances in the use of different cultural practices, which reduce the incidence of fruit cracking have been made. These practices range from exclusion of water from the fruit surface during growth and maturation of the fruit, to reducing osmotic potential across the fruit skins during rainfall events, to coating the fruit with elastic hydrophobic rain exclusion biofilms. Physical exclusion of rainwater may also be achieved by covering the trees with protective plastic rain covers. Two systems have been researched in Norway; retractable plastic rain covers and multi-bay polyethylene “high tunnels”. The supporting framework of the former is built entirely of wood and overhead polyethylene curtains slide back and forth on three wires per row to open or close depending on the prevailing weather. Retractable covers must be drawn over the trees manually before rainfall events and is extremely labour intensive. The system is highly susceptible to heavy winds. High tunnels, which are accessible to tractors, are constructed of steel bows, attached to metal posts and covered with greenhouse–grade polyethylene. Tunnels may be fully ventilated on hot, humid days or completely closed for extending the growing season. The plastic covering is completely removed during winter. Cherries may be covered from bloom until harvest or only during the time when fruit are susceptible to cracking. A high density planting (1250 trees per ha) of ‘Sweetheart’/‘Colt’ in Norway grown in high tunnels yielded 9 kg per tree on average in the 4th leaf and 19 kg per tree on average in the 5th leaf. Fruit size measurements found that on average, more than half the fruit were larger than 32 mm in diameter by the 4th leaf. GA3 treatment at yellow straw colour delayed harvest by one week, and significantly improved fruit size and fruit firmness.But soil moisture management is critical inside the tunnels as excess soil moisture can induce significant percentages of fruit cracking even inside the tunnels. In the United States, Pacific Northwest, Parka (powered by SureSeal ® ), a novel biofilm comprised of palm oil and cellulose, patented by Oregon State University, resulted in 50% less fruit cracking on average, higher total soluble solids and increased retention force between the pedicel and fruit than untreated control fruit.

Re-thinking dairy cow feeding in light of food security.

Abstract: The competition for arable land to grow food, feeds, and biomass for fuel production (mostly from grain) has reached an all-time peak. Recent publications suggest that crop production would have to about double to keep up with the estimated demands resulting from population growth, dietary changes (especially meat consumption), and increasing bioenergy use, unless there are dramatic changes in agricultural consumption patterns (Foley et al., 2011). We have seen fundamental changes in the feeding of cattle over the last 50 years. Previously, cattle were fed almost exclusively feeds that were unsuitable for human consumption. The availability of cheap fossil energy for the production of mineral fertilizers and pesticides, the cultivation of land and long-distance shipping of crops has made it possible and even profitable to feed even ruminants enormous amounts of grain and pulses. As a result, highly intensive animal production systems have emerged. Grain and pulses, however, are potentially edible for humans. This means that these supposedly highly efficient animal production systems contribute to the increasing competition for arable land for crops. In dairy farming, to attain lactation of 10,000 kg/year and beyond, the amount of concentrates in the ration has to be maximized. Most of these concentrates are grain and pulse products. This kind of dairy cow feeding is not only contradictory to the evolutionary adaptation of cattle, which allows these animals to be able to digest fibrous plant substrate, but has also resulted in an increasingly unfavorable food balance (i.e. animal-derived food per unit of feed input potentially edible to humans). The potential of ruminants to efficiently convert forages from grasslands, pastures, and fiber-rich by-products from the processing of plant-derived foods into milk and meat will soon be of great significance, because arable land is becoming scarce and the demand for human food is growing. The use of highly productive arable land to produce animal feed results in a net loss for the potential global food supply.

Comparative study of the stomach morphology in rabbit and chinchilla

Abstract: In recent years the use of rabbits and chinchillas as experimental model both in human and veterinary medicine and as pets is gaining ground detriment to the carnivores. Moreover, major human intervention in their diet, leading to the artificiality of a major part of the food, justifies the acquisition of specific morphological knowledge to each organ. Changing the composition of nutrients increases the risk of many digestive disorders, especially digestive organs themselves. The aim of this study is achieving morphological and topographic description of the first important component of post diaphragmatic digestive tract - the stomach. We used 10 rabbits and 10 chinchillas. The subjects were clinically healthy and of different weights and ages. Gross dissection was perform in all subjects. In both species the stomach is simple. The transition from the esophageal mucosa to the gastric mucosa is clearly marked. The gastro esophageal sphincter is very visible, placed in the middle of the small curvature. The distal esophageal mucosa has a serrated pattern, making a strong gastro esophageal sphincter. In rabbit, the stomach shows thin walls with well individualized cardia and pilor orifices. The fornix is visible, located dorsal of the cardia orifice. Before the pyloric opening a narrow segment is visible - the pyloric antrum (Antrum pyloricum). The pylorus is mostly compressed by the duodenum and the left lobe of the liver. The gastric mucosa presents itself as a glandular type on its entire surface. At chinchillas, the stomach is oriented transversally and lies mainly caudal to the rib cage, slightly left deviated. The angular notch is sharpest and the dorsal region of the stomach is at the same level with the pylorus. The gastric folds are much more obvious in the stomach body than in the juxtacardial region. Both in rabits and chinchillas, the stomach present numerous similarities regarding the topography, divisions, pattern and relationships with adjacent organs. Significant differences exist in the mucosa, and the presence of an individualized fornix and a well-developed pyloric antrum in rabbits, compared with chinchilla.