Performance evaluation of IoT-based service system for monitoring nutritional deficiencies in plants

This study aimed to develop and evaluate the performance of a service system platform based on the Internet of Things(IoT)for monitoring nutritional deficiencies in plants and providing fertilizer recommendations.There are two distinct differences between this work and previous ones;namely,this service system platform has been developed based on IoT using a system engineering approach and its performance has been evaluated using dependability.We have successfully developed and integrated a service system platform and chlorophyll meter that is based on IoT.We have also successfully tested the performance of the service system platform using the JMeter software.The dependability value measured from the five tested variables(reliability,availability,integrity,maintainability,and safety)showed a value of 0.97 which represents a very good level of system confidence in not failing to deliver services to users under normal operational conditions.From a future perspective,this platform can be used as an alternative service to monitor nutrient deficiencies in plants and provide fertilization recommendations to increase yields,reduce fertilizer costs,and prevent the use of excessive fertilizers,which can cause environmental pollution.

Is magnesium deficiency the major cause of needle chlorosis of Pinus taeda in Brazil?

Needle chlorosis(NC)in Pinus taeda L.systems in Brazil becomes more frequent after second and third harvest rotation cycles.In a study to identify factors contributing to yellowing needle chorosis(YNC),trees were grown in soils originating from contrasting parent materials,and soils and needles(whole,green and chlorotic portions)from 1-and 2-year-old branches and the first and second needle flush release at four sites with YNC on P.taeda were analyzed for various elements and properties.All soils had very low base levels(Ca^(2+),Mg^(2+)and K^(+))and P,suggesting a possible lack of multiple elements.YNC symptoms started at needle tips,then extended toward the needle base with time.First flush needles had longer portions with YNC than second flush needles did.Needles from the lower crown also had more symptoms along their length than those higher in the canopy.Symptoms were similar to those reported for Mg.In chlorotic portions,Mg and Ca concentrations were well below critical values;in particular,Mg levels were only one third of the critical value of 0.3 g kg^(-1).Collectively,results suggest that Mg deficiency is the primary reason for NC of P.taeda in various parent soils in Brazil.

Certain Aspects of Nutritional Security of People with Gluten-Related Disorders

As a consequence of the production of high-yielding cereal varieties per hectare and the considerable increase in gluten consumption, today, consequently, we face a rising epidemic of disorders related to gluten consumption: celiac disease, gluten allergy gluten sensitivity. Nutritional therapy is the only treatment for celiac disease unanimously accepted by the medical community. The aim of the study is to analyze the food and nutritional security of people with disorders related to gluten consumption from the perspective of assessing the nutritional deficiencies of people diagnosed with celiac disease or gluten intolerance, but also assessing the nutritional deficiencies of gluten-free products. The study on the assessment of nutritional deficiencies of people with disorders related to gluten consumption, but also the nutritional deficiencies of gluten-free products/diets were conducted on the PubMed search engine. 154 free full text papers published in the period 2010-2020 were analyzed, according to the keywords (gluten free, diet, deficiencies). Specialists in the field are unanimous in the opinion that increasing nutritional security and ensuring sustainability can be achieved by: diversifying gluten-free products;extension of legislation to strengthen gluten-free products;developing educational strategies focused on the relationship between nutrients, food and human health;informing the population and optimizing services in order to increase the quality of life and health. However, the design of GF products, both technologically and nutritionally, especially bakery/pastry, pasta is still a challenge, and research in this area, is current and required.

Coeliac Disease: Gluten Free Diet and… What Else?

Coeliac Disease (CD) is a permanent gluten intolerance, whose pathogenesis involves multiple factors including genetics and environment. CD has different representations and non-specific symptoms such as diarrhea, bloating, pain, flatulence and constipation may sometimes be misleading. Once diagnosed of CD, patients must adhere to Gluten Free Diet, which consists in the lifelong avoidance of gluten containing foods and of those naturally gluten free but at risk of contamination. This dietary approach is considered the only therapy in order to avoid symptoms exacerbation and to reduce the digestive mucosa inflammation, which has been related to higher risks of lymphoproliferative malignancy and other immunological disorders. However, being on a Gluten Free Diet is not as resolving as it may seem since it has several criticalities. First of all, excluding gluten means limiting food variety so that coeliac patients may have unbalanced intake of several nutrients and develop clinical or subclinical deficiencies. This can be due to scarce attention to qualitative and quantitative composition of diets and poor information about gluten-containing foods, which only patient-tailored dietetic protocol and long-term follow-up can achieve. Secondly, Gluten Free Diet may not result in complete remission of mucosal damage or in resolution of symptoms. Unintentional contamination of gluten or poor adherence to diet are the main culprits of the incomplete mucosal healing but other triggers may be involved. Recent research has focused on the role of FODMAPs in changing gut microbiota and on the improvement of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) symptoms after their dietary avoidance or reduction. Since CD and IBS may share many clinical presentations, further studies are needed to evaluate if a subgroup of CD patients whose symptoms are not improved by Gluten Free Diet could benefit from a new therapeutic approach consisting in both gluten/wheat and FODMAPs avoidance.

Molecular Characterization and Expression Analysis of TaZFP15, a C_2H_2-Type Zinc Finger Transcription Factor Gene in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Based on sequencing of part clones in a root subtractive cDNA library, an expressed sequence tag （EST） sharing high similarity to a rice C2H2 zinc finger transcription factor （ZFP15） was obtained in wheat. Through bioinformatics approach, the wheat C2H2-type ZFP gene referred to TaZFP15 has been identified and characterized. As a full-length cDNA of 670 bp, TaZFP15 has an open reading frame of 408 bp and encodes a 135-aa polypeptide. TaZFP15 contains two C2H2 zinc finger domains and each one has a conserved motif QALGGH. The typical L-box, generally identified in the C2H2 type transcription factors, has also been found in TaZFP15. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that TaZFP15 shares high similarities with rice ZFP15 （GenBank accession no. AY286473）, maize ZFP （GenBank accession no. NM_001159094） and a subset of other zinc-finger transcription factor genes in plant species. The expression of TaZFP15 was up-regulated by starved-Pi stress, showing a pattern to be gradually elevated along with the progression of the Pi-stress in a 23-h treatment regime. Similarly, the transcripts of TaZFP15 in roots were also induced by nitrogen deficiency, and abiotic stresses of drought and salinity. No responses of TaZFP15 were detected in roots to nutrition deficiencies of P, Zn, and Ca, and the external treatment of abscisic acid （ABA）. TaZFP15 could be specifically amplified in genome A, B, and D, and without variability in the sequences, suggesting that TaZFP15 has multi-copies in the homologous hexaploid species. Transgenic analysis in tobacco revealed that up-regulation of TaZFP15 could significantly improve plant dry mass accumulation via increasing the plant phosphorus acquisition capacity under Pi-deficiency condition. The results suggested that TaZFP15 is involved in mediation of signal transductions of diverse external stresses.

Growth and Visual Symptoms of Nutrients Deficiency in Mangosteens(Garcinia mangostana L.)

The aims of study were to evaluate growth and characterize the visual symptoms of macronutrient and micronutrient deficiencies in mangosteens. The seedlings were cultivated in nutritive solution containing all required macronutrient and micronutrients and in solutions with omission of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn, using the missing element technique. The experimental design was completely randomized with five replicates and twelve treatments. Symptoms of nutrient deficiency were accompanied by photographic records and described from beginning until complete definition, in which the plants were collected. Growth was evaluated through of dry mass production and nutrient contents. Nutrients omissions resulted in morphological alterations, characteristic symptoms of nutritional deficiency, promoted the reduction in dry mass production in plant, in which the Fe was most limiting, followed by N, and S. Macronutrients and micronutrients contents, without deficiencies (complete treatment) and deficient in mangosteen leaves were respectively: N (16.4 and 12.5 g kg-1);P (1.1 and 0.2 g kg-1);K (10.2 and 8.1 g kg-1);Ca (6.7 and 1.9 g kg-1);Mg (1.1 and 0.1 g kg-1);S (3.0 and 2.2 g kg-1);B (20 and 16 mg kg-1);Cu (7 and 3 mg kg-1);Fe (266 and 86 mg kg-1);Mn (58 and 17 mg kg-1). The decreasing order in appearance of visual symptoms of deficiency was N > S > K > B > Ca > P > Mg > Mn > Cu > Zn.

Understandings and future challenges in soybean functional genomics and molecular breeding

Soybean(Glycine max)is a major source of plant protein and oil.Soybean breeding has benefited from advances in functional genomics.In particular,the release of soybean reference genomes has advanced our understanding of soybean adaptation to soil nutrient deficiencies,the molecular mechanism of symbiotic nitrogen(N)fixation,biotic and abiotic stress tolerance,and the roles of flowering time in regional adaptation,plant architecture,and seed yield and quality.Nevertheless,many challenges remain for soybean functional genomics and molecular breeding,mainly related to improving grain yield through high-density planting,maize-soybean intercropping,taking advantage of wild resources,utilization of heterosis,genomic prediction and selection breeding,and precise breeding through genome editing.This review summarizes the current progress in soybean functional genomics and directs future challenges for molecular breeding of soybean.