Magister Commercii - MCom / Oilseed is the third most important export item in Ethiopian foreign trade. It has registered a high export growth rate over recent years both in terms of volume and value. Besides its growing share in export, it is widely used for the extraction of edible oil and oilcake that is supplied to the domestic market. Although farmers are the primary producers of oilseeds, they are not able to benefit from the growing market share of the product due to the fact that they find themselves at the end of an extended market chain. As a result they only receive a very small proportion of what the final buyers are paying for the oilseed products. In addition, there is not much experience on the part of the farmers to process oilseeds, change it to edible oil and oilcake and retain the value addition in the local economy. This thesis used the value chain approach to investigate the possibilities for the primary producers to increase their income share from the selling of their products either by directly selling to exporters or by processing oilseeds, producing edible oil and oilcake, and retaining the value addition in the local economy. / South Africa

Improvements in mass spectrometry (MS)-based strategies for characterizing the plant lipidome through quantitative and qualitative approaches such as shotgun lipidomics have substantially enhanced our understanding of the structural diversity and functional complexity of plant lipids. However, most of these approaches require chemical extractions that result in the loss of the original spatial context and cellular compartmentation for these compounds. To address this current limitation, several technologies were developed to visualize lipids in situ with detailed chemical information. A subcellular visualization approach, direct organelle MS, was developed for directly sampling and analyzing the triacylglycerol contents within purified lipid droplets (LDs) at the level of a single LD. Sampling of single LDs demonstrated seed lipid droplet-to-droplet variability in triacylglycerol (TAG) composition suggesting that there may be substantial variation in the intracellular packaging process for neutral lipids in plant tissues. A cellular and tissue visualization approach, MS imaging, was implemented and enhanced for visualizing the lipid distributions in oilseeds. In mature cotton seed embryos distributions of storage lipids (TAGs) and their phosphatidylcholine (PCs) precursors were distribution heterogeneous between the cotyledons and embryonic axis raising new questions about extent and regulation of oilseed heterogeneity. Extension of this methodology provides an avenue for understanding metabolism in cellular (perhaps even subcellular) context with substantial metabolic engineering implications. To visualize metabolite distributions, a free and customizable application, Metabolite Imager, was developed providing several tools for spatially-based chemical data analysis. These tools collectively enable new forms of visualizing the plant lipidome and should prove valuable toward addressing additional unanswered biological questions.

Organic food products are produced without synthetic chemicals, including herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers. Food grown in organic systems that are certified organic by the United States Department of Agriculture command a price premium, whether it is direct to consumer via farmers markets or in conventional grocery stores. Organic food and food products are representing a relatively larger portion of overall food sales in recent years, and the demand for organic meat has also increased. However, there is a lack of available U.S.-grown organic grains and soybeans to feed the growing number of organic certified livestock to produce organic meat to meet this demand. This shortage results from many factors, yet is primarily due to organic production requirements for significantly more land and operating capital when compared to conventionally grown counterparts. There is a lack of information detailing the relative costs and returns of organic grain production, and, limited understanding of organic premiums. The overall goal of this study is to examine differences in price levels between organic and conventional corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, and barley between 2007 and 2015, as well as factors that may affect the organic premium. For organic grain and soybean producers, study findings reveal that the least risky organic commodities to grow include corn and soybeans, especially if sold in the cash market. However, the author suggests that growers may consider growing wheat, barley, and oats if they have a buyer willing to contract in advance to ensure a premium and reduce price risk. For purchasers of organic grains and soybeans, including major food companies as well as livestock producers, it is recommended they continue to study developments in organic grain supplies as producers continue to consider adoption of organic production methods. / Master of Science

No description available.

Lauko eksperimentas buvo vykdomas nuo 1999 metų pagal šią schemą: A veiksnys: Šiaudų įterpimas: šiaudai pašalinti (-Š), šiaudai susmulkinti ir paskleisti (+Š). B veiksnys: Žemės dirbimo sistemos. Eksperimentas buvo atliktas Lietuvos žemės ūkio universiteto bandymų stotyje. Eksperimentas vykdytas 2010 metais. Atlikus tyrimus nustatyta, kad šiaudų įterpimas ir žemės dirbimo sistemos neturėjo esminės įtakos piktžolių daigų skaičiui. Daugiausiai daugiamečių piktžolių daigų rasta sekliai purentuose variantuose, o mažiausiai – tiesiogiai sėjant į neįdirbtą dirvą. Trumpaamžių piktžolių daigų kiekiui esminės įtakos turėjo šiaudų paskleidimas (+Š). Trumpaamžių piktžolių daigų skaičius buvo 43 procentais mažesnis nei dirvoje, kur šiaudai buvo pašalinti (-Š). Nustatyta, kad šiaudų paskleidimas neturėjo esminės įtakos vasarinių rapsų piktžolėtumui, nustatytam prieš derliaus nuėmimą. Esminių skirtumų buvo rasta skirtingose žemės dirbimo sistemose, sekliai purentuose laukeliuose. Palyginus seklųjį purenimą kultivatoriumi plokščiapjūviais noragėliais ir lėkštiniais padargais (KL) bei seklųjį purenimą rotoriniu kultivatoriumi (RK) su giliu arimu (kontrolė) (GA), piktžolių kiekis padidėjo 1,5 ir 1,6 karto. Daugiamečių piktžolių esmingai padidėjo laukeliuose, kur buvo sekliai arta (SA). Šiaudų paskleidimas turėjo esminės įtakos trumpaamžių piktžolių kiekiui. Dirvoje su šiaudais, palyginus su laukeliais be šiaudų, trumpaamžių piktžolių sumažėjo 1,3 karto. Esmingai trumpaamžių piktžolių kiekis... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Field experiment was carried out since 1999, as follows: Factor A: Insert a straw: straw removal (-S), straw, shredded and spread (+S). Factor B: tillage systems. The experiment was carried out in Lithuanian University of Agriculture Experimental Station. The experiment was conducted in 2010. It was determined that straw incorporation and tillage system had no significant effect on the number of weed seedlings. Most perennial weed seedlings found in shallow scratch in the treatments, while at least - when sown directly into uncultivated soil. Short-lived weed seedlings had a substantial impact on the quantity of straw spreading (+S). Short-lived weed seedling density was 43 percent lower than in the soil, where straw was removed (-S). It was found that the spreading of straw had no significant effect on weed control in spring rape, before the harvest. Significant differences were found in different tillage systems, shallow scratch boxes. Compared shallow scarification autum cultivator tines and implements Disc (KL) and a rotary cultivator shallow scarification (RK) with deep plowing (control) (GA), weeds grew 1.5 and 1.6 times. Perennial weeds has increased substantially in the fields, where it was shallow plowing (SA). Spreading straw had a substantial impact on short amount of weed. The soil with straw, as compared with the boxes without straw, weeds, fallen short 1.3 times. Substantially short amount of weeds growing through tillage systems. Studies have shown that both... [to full text]

The overriding objective of this study was to induce genetic variation in Vernonia (Vernonia galamensis variety ethiopica) using ethylmethanesulfonate (EMS) and select mutants for subsequent selective breeding. Vernonia is an underutilised, potential novel oilseed crop with multiple applications in industry mostly due to the production of naturally epoxidised vernolic acid oil. Commercial cultivation of vernonia is significantly hampered by non-uniform seed maturity, tall plant height, seed shattering and lack of appropriate technologies for mechanical harvesting, seed threshing and cleaning. Mutations of a single or few genes possessing target traits are invaluable in crop improvement programs. Chemical mutagenesis using EMS is an important, affordable and effective method to induce random useful genetic mutations in crop plants. Ethylmethanesulfonate mutagenesis has previously been reported to affect various agronomic traits, induce a wide variety of phenotypic mutations and alter both seed oil content and fatty acid profile on several crops. The objectives of this study were: (i) to determine an optimum EMS treatment combination i.e. exposure duration, temperature and dose that would enable 50-60% germination at minimum days to emergence in selected V. galamensis var. ethiopica lines (Vge-1, Vge-4, Vge-7 and Vge-10), (ii) to induce genetic variation using predetermined optimal treatment conditions and select mutants in V. galamensis variety ethiopica lines (Vge-1 and Vge-4) and (iii) to evaluate oil content and fatty acid compositions among seeds of chloroplast mutants, EMS treated seeds and untreated controls of Vge-1 and Vge-4. Before any mutation is administered in plants, it is important that the optimal mutation dose is determined. The lethal dose 50 (LD50) was the standard used in this study to find optimal treatment conditions. Significant interactions (P<0.001) existed between EMS, line, time and temperature with respect to days to 50% emergence, germination percentage and seedling height. Optimal days to 50% emergence (10-12 days) and germination (50- 58%) was achieved for Vge-1, Vge-7 and Vge-10 when treated with 0.372% EMS at 350C for 1 hour treatment. The optimal treatment combination for Vge-4 was 0.372% EMS at 32.50C for 2hr. The treatment combinations that yielded optimum results in the tested lines were utilized to induce large scale mutations in V. galamensis to select target mutants in the field. Large scale mutation was conducted using the observed optimal treatment conditions. Ethylmethanesulfonate mutagenesis significantly delayed days to head formation, days to flowering and days to maturity on both lines. Delays in days to emergence were only significant in Vge-4. EMS treatment also significantly reduced germination percentage, number of seeds per head, number of fertile plants, plant height and plot yield for both Vge-1 and Vge-4. Thousand seed weight significantly increased in treated seeds of the two lines. Chlorophyll mutants were observed for tested lines associated with high count of sterility for both lines. Ethylmethanesulfonate successfully induced phenotypic mutation in selected vernonia lines, however at this stage the effect of mutation on vernonia seed oil content and fatty acid was unknown. Liquid gas chromatography method was employed for oil and fatty acids analysis. In Vge-1, significant differences were observed in composition of linoleic and oleic acid due to the mutagenesis. Significant increases in linoleic and oleic acid composition were found in chloroplast mutants due to EMS mutagenesis. No significant differences were detected in fatty acid compositions in Vge-4 after the EMS treatment. Differential responses were observed when lines were compared at various EMS mutation levels showing significant effect on vernolic, linoleic and oleic acids compositions. In both lines no differences were detected on seed oil content, palmitic acid, steraic acid and arachidic acid compositions after the treatment. Oil content significantly and positively correlated with vernolic acid for Vge-1 (P<0.001; r= 0.898) and Vge-4 (P<0.05; r= 0.65). Vernolic acid significantly and negatively correlated with other fatty acids. The study found that EMS mutagenesis significantly changed the oleic acid and linoleic acid compositions in vernonia. However, the oil content and vernolic acid composition were not significantly affected by EMS treatment. This study established that EMS was successful in inducing genetic variation (in agronomic traits, seed oil content and fatty acid composition) in the two tested lines of V. galamensis. Data from a single planting generation is insufficient to conclude fully on the effect of EMS on V. galamensis; therefore it is highly recommended that further multigenerational studies should be conducted with an increased number of testing lines from a wide range of environmental backgrounds. / Thesis (M.Sc.Agric.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

No description available.

Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering at the School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg, South Africa October, 2017 / The significant increase in the primary energy demand and the effort to reduce harmful emissions related to the greenhouse gases enhanced the search for alternative energy. Production and modelling processes of biofuel from non-edible oil sources assist in the process development of an environmentally friendly fuel such as biodiesel. This work focused on the kinetic modelling of biodiesel synthesised from non-edible oils. Two types of non-edible oils (Jatropha curcas seed oil and Tobacco seed oil) were used in this study including the development of the kinetic behaviour of the transesterification reaction. A linear polynomial model was generated from experimental data found in literature in order to study the influence of operating parameters during biodiesel production. It was found that the temperature improves the yield of biodiesel; this is attributed to the fact that temperature affects the reaction rate constants; and the higher the reaction rate, the lower the activation energy required for a reaction to occur. The optimum conditions for the transesterification of Jatropha curcas seed oil are a temperature of 55 0C, methanol to oil ratio of 6:1, catalyst concentration of 1.2% KOH (by volume of oil), and agitation speed range of 0-250 rpm. Results from both the homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions of Jatropha curcas oil and tobacco seed oil were used to verify the theoretical kinetic and empirical models. It was found that both models describe the kinetic behaviour of transesterification with minor deviations in the estimated parameters. However, the use of empirical model in determining the reaction order, as opposed to the theoretical assumption, gave a second order with respect to oil triglycerides at a temperature of 60 0C. The theoretical kinetic model gave a first order with respect to oil triglycerides. In this case, the activation energy was found to be 71.83 kJ/mol and pre-exponential factor was found to be 2.48 x1010. More investigation should be done to describe the kinetic behaviour of biodiesel production from non-edible oil in order to confirm the correct reaction order and why there is change in reaction order when the temperature increases above 60°C. / MT2018

As condições divergentes do ambiente in vitro, como elevadas concentrações de sacarose, de reguladores de crescimento, de substâncias tóxicas, quando comparadas com o ambiente ex vitro, refletem-se em um desequilíbrio da relação entre compostos antioxidantes versus compostos oxidantes, resultando em elevada formação de espécies reativas de oxigênio, culminando no estabelecimento de um estresse oxidativo in vitro. No entanto, mesmo sendo capazes de conduzirem a morte celular, as espécies reativas de oxigênio atuam como importantes sinalizadoras do crescimento e desenvolvimento vegetal, por alterarem o padrão de expressão gênica, o metabolismo e a competência celular, sendo nesse aspecto considerado benéfico um nível moderado de estresse oxidativo para desencadear uma determinada rota morfogênica. Diante disso, o presente trabalho objetivou induzir o estresse oxidativo, suplementando o meio de cultura com reguladores de crescimento do grupo das citocininas e auxinas, com a finalidade de compreender a atuação deste evento nas respostas morfogênicas in vitro do pinhão manso (Jatropha curcas L.). Para tanto, utilizou-se sementes de pinhão manso de três procedências (CNPAE 101: Rio Verde, GO; CNPAE 115: Xambrê, PR e CNPAE 224: São Francisco do Glória, MG), as quais foram germinadas in vitro para a obtenção das plântulas e utilização do terço mediano do hipocótilo como explante nos experimentos de indução de estresse oxidativo in vitro. A análise morfofisiológica permitiu selecionar os tratamentos que induziram respostas organogênicas, que juntamente com o grupo controle, tiveram a quantificação da peroxidação lipídica, as atividades das enzimas antioxidantes catalase, superóxido dismutase e ascorbato peroxidase, determinadas, assim como o estabelecimento do perfil proteico de cada tratamento e a realização de análises histológicas e histoquímicas. Os resultados evidenciaram que as respostas morfogênicas foram dependentes do tipo e combinação de regulador de crescimento presente no meio de cultura; e ficou evidente pela quantificação da peroxidação lipídica e das atividades das enzimas antioxidantes, que a ausência de regulador de crescimento no meio de cultura foi o principal indutor do estresse oxidativo, permitindo constatar que quanto mais suave o estresse oxidativo, mais promissoras eram as respostas organogênicas constatadas nos explantes hipocotiledonares. Desta forma, o maior nível de estresse oxidativo constatado no grupo controle, relacionou-se negativamente com a resposta morfogênica obtida neste grupo, quando comparado aos demais tratamentos que apresentaram um nível de estresse oxidativo mais ameno e, consequentemente, uma resposta morfogênica mais promissora. O perfil proteico evidenciou o padrão existente de algumas bandas, independentemente da procedência considerada, confirmando a proximidade genética dos diferentes acessos de pinhão manso no Brasil. As análises histológicas demonstraram a ocorrência de organogênese indireta, com o desenvolvimento de calos organogênicos, ao passo que nas análises histoquímicas somente a presença de lipídios não foi detectada, enquanto proteínas totais, compostos fenólicos e amido foram constatados em pelo menos um dos três materiais analisados, para as três procedências de pinhão manso. Os resultados obtidos possibilitaram estabelecer uma relação entre o estresse oxidativo in vitro, a resposta morfogênica e o efeito dos reguladores de crescimento presentes no meio de cultura, além do potencial sucesso de produção de pinhão manso pela cultura de tecidos. / The environmental divergent conditions in vitro culture , such as high concentrations of saccharose , growth regulators, toxic substances, and others, when compared with the ex vitro conditions, reflected in an imbalance of antioxidants versus oxidant compounds relationship, resulting in an elevated formation of reactive oxygen species, which culminates in the establishment of an oxidative in vitro stress. However, even being able to conduce cell death, reactive oxygen species act as an important signaling of plant growth and development by altering the pattern of gene expression, cellular metabolism and cellular competence, being considerate beneficial in this context in which a moderate level of oxidative stress is required to trigger a morphogenetic route. Therefore, this study aimed to induce oxidative stress, supplementing the culture medium with growth regulators group of cytokines and auxin, with the purpose of understand the role of these event in vitro morphogenetic responses of physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.). Hence, were used physic nut´s seeds of three provenances (CNPAE 101: Rio Verde, GO; CNPAE 115: Xambrê, PR and CNPAE 224: São Francisco do Glória, MG ), which were in vitro germinated to obtain the seedlings and the middle third of hypocotyls that was used as explant in experiments to induction in vitro oxidative stress. The morphophysiological analysis allowed to select the treatments that induced the organogenic responses, which along with the control group, had the quantification of lipid peroxidation, activities of antioxidant enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase, determined as well as the establishment of the protein profile of each treatment and the realization of histological and histochemical analyses. The results showed that the morphogenic responses were dependent on the type and combination of growth regulators present in the culture medium; and with the lipid peroxidation quantification as well as antioxidant enzyme activities, it became evident that the oxidative stress was mainly caused by the absence of growth regulators in the culture medium, allowing noted that the softer oxidative stress, were the most promising responses organogenic found in hypocotyls. Thus, the higher level of oxidative stress observed in the control group correlated negatively with the morphogenic response obtained in this group when compared to the other treatments that showed a level of milder oxidative stress and, consequently, a more promising morphogenic response. The protein profile showed some band pattern, regardless of the provenances considered, confirming the low genetic distance between different accessions of Jatropha in Brazil. Histological analysis demonstrated the occurrence of indirect organogenesis, with the development of organogenic calli, whereas in histochemical analyzes only the presence of lipids was not detected while total proteins, phenolic compounds and starch were found in at least one of the three materials analyzed for the three provenances of physic nut. Taking together all the obtained data, it was possible to establish a relationship between oxidative stress, the morphogenic response in vitro and the effect of growth regulators in the culture medium as well as prove the potential success of the production of jatropha tissue culture.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T15:14:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissertacaoNelsonZornitta.pdf: 1964043 bytes, checksum: 6e00e96d6c14cfef884c7e8f887042f3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-17 / The oil produced by the Tung s fruit (Aleurites fordii) is already inserted in the market due to its numerous applications that comprehends drying qualities reaching the packing production. In this study, it was evaluated the energetic potential of the Tung s fruit, oil and biodiesel to fill the gap of unpublished information. The fruits were harvested in Cascavel, state of Paraná, Brazil, and they were kept in a shadow place for drying in a period of six months. When the fruits were sliced it was separated the pericarp, the seed coat and the seed. The experiments were performed at the Unioeste campus. The results obtained show that the moisture of crushed seeds presented a value of 3.81% and the seed that was not crushed, 4.5%. The average yielding obtained from the oil extracted from the seeds using the Soxhlet equipment presented a value of 50.6% with a standard deviation of 1.22%; the value of density obtained using the pycnometer was 931.5 g L-1; the value of acid index obtained by titration was 4.5 mg KOH g-1. Biodiesel was produced using the methyl route through a basic catalysis with potassium hydroxide, presenting a density value of 910.8 g L-1 and the specific mass 909.2 kg m-3 at 20 ° C, acid index of 0.473 mg KOH g-1 and flash point of 178 °C. The energetic potential of the Tung was evaluated by the determination of the higher heating value of the mass, oil and biodiesel and from the development of the specific Tung s biodiesel consumption and its blends with diesel. The heating values obtained using a Combustion Calorimeter, e2k, are presented as follow: 9209 kcal kg-1 for the extracted oil; 9117 kcal kg-1 for the commercial oil; 9149 kcal kg-1 for the biodiesel; 7017 kcal kg-1 for the crushed seed; 4840 kcal kg-1 for the pie after extraction; 4608 kcal kg-1 for the pericarp; and 3592 kcal kg-1 for the seed coat. The value of the heating value for the entire dry fruit was estimated through by calculation and the value obtained was 4818 kcal kg-1. The values of ash level are shown as follow: 1.80% for the crushed seed; 2.24% for the pie after extraction of oil; 0.66% for the pericarp; and 5.80% for the seed coat. The results obtained confirms the high level of oil in the Tung s seeds; moreover, the biomass of the Tung s fruits in natura show considerable values for the heating value (LHV > 1850 kcal kg-1) and when it is put together to the low level of ash (< 8%) the Tung seed can be considered a renewable source of clean energy / O fruto do tungue (Aleurites fordii) produz um óleo de grande aceitação no mercado pelas inúmeras aplicações que vão das qualidades secativas a produção de embalagens e revestimentos. Neste estudo avaliou-se o potencial energético do fruto, do óleo e do biodisel do tungue para suprir a falta de informações publicadas. Os frutos foram colhidos em Cascavel, Paraná, Brasil e guardados a sombra para secagem por um período de seis meses. Na abertura dos frutos foram separados o pericarpo, a testa da semente e o endosperma. Os experimentos foram realizados no campus da Unioeste de Cascavel. A úmidade das sementes foi determinada pelo método destrutivo indireto por estufa a ar; para as sementes quebradas foi de 3,81% e para as sementes inteiras de 4,5%. O rendimento médio do óleo extraído das sementes por Soxhlet foi de 50,6% com desvio padrão de 1,22%; a densidade, medida com picnômetro, foi 931,5 g L-1; o índice de acidez obtido por titulação foi de 4,5 mg KOH g-1. O biodiesel foi produzido pela rota metílica com catálise básica por hidróxido de potássio, apresentando densidade de 910,8 g L-1 e a massa específica 909,2 kg m-3 a 20 °C; o índice de acidez foi de 0,473 mg KOH g-1 e ponto de fulgor de 178 °C. O potencial energético do tungue foi medido através da determinação do poder calorífico superior da biomassa, do óleo e do biodiesel e do levantamento da curva do consumo específico do biodiesel de tungue e de blendas com o diesel. Com um calorímetro a combustão, modelo e2k foram medidos o poder calorífico superior das partes do fruto, do óleo extraído, do óleo comercial e do biodiesel obtendo-se: para o óleo extraído 9209 kcal kg-1; para o óleo comercial 9117 kcal kg-1; para o biodiesel 9149 kcal kg-1; para a semente triturada 7017 kcal kg-1; para a torta após a extração 4880 kcal kg-1; para o pericarpo 4608 kcal kg-1; e para a testa da semente 3592 kcal kg-1. Estimou-se através de cálculo para o fruto inteiro seco 4818 kcal kg-1. O teor de cinzas encontrado foi: para a semente triturada 1,80%; para a torta após a extração do óleo 2,24%; para pericarpo 0,66%; e para a testa da semente 5,80%. Os resultados obtidos confirmam o alto índice de óleo nas sementes de tungue; a biomassa dos frutos de tungue apresentam apreciáveis valores de poder calorífico in natura (PCI>1850 kcal kg-1) que associados aos baixos teores de cinzas (<8%) podem ser consideradas fontes renováveis de energia limpa