En la siguiente tesis se explica la viabilidad del negocio de las almohadillas terapéuticas a base de semillas naturales y aromáticas (manzanilla y lavanda) que ayudarán a aliviar el estrés, dolor y tensión en las zonas de los hombros y cuello a través de la termoterapia. Los segmentos por abarcar en este proyecto son los niveles socioeconómicos A, B y C de Lima Metropolitana cuyo rango de edad se encuentre entre 18 y 60 años. Nuestra idea de negocio consiste en la venta de una almohadilla terapéutica de fácil uso y práctica para transportar. La venta será a través de canales online como Facebook e Instagram, y a su vez se participarán en ferias de productos naturales, centros de relajación y farmacias. Nuestro producto será entregado en una bolsa reutilizable de yute el cual contendrá una almohadilla terapéutica y un frasco de esencia aromática a un precio de 60 nuevos soles. Además, se explicar más a detalle el plan de negocio y su desarrollo, el Concierge, el plan de operaciones, el plan de recursos humanos, el plan de marketing, el plan de responsabilidad social empresarial, el plan financiero y los aprendizajes que se obtuvieron en todo el proyecto. / The following thesis explains the business viability of therapeutic pads based on natural and aromatic seeds (chamomile and lavender) that will help relieve stress, pain and tension in the areas of the shoulders and neck through thermotherapy. The segments to be covered in this project are the socioeconomic levels A, B and C of Lima Metropolitan whose age range is between 18 and 60 years. Our business idea is to sell a therapeutic pad that is easy to use and practical to transport. The sale will be through online channels such as Facebook and Instagram, and in turn will participate in fairs of natural products, relaxation centers and pharmacies. Our product will be delivered in a reusable jute bag which will contain a therapeutic pad and a bottle of aromatic essence at a price of 60 soles. In addition, the business plan and its development, the Concierge, operations plan, human resources plan, marketing plan, corporate social responsibility plan, financial plan and learning obtained throughout the project are further explained. / Trabajo de investigación

La qualité germinative (vigueur) des semences est un caractère agronomique majeur. Elle correspond à la capacité d'un lot de semences à germer de façon rapide et homogène dans une large gamme de conditions environnementales. Cette qualité germinative est notamment contrôlée par une interaction antagoniste entre deux phytohormones, l'acide abscissique (ABA) qui induit et maintient la dormance et les gibbérellines (GAs) qui stimulent la germination et la croissance de la plantule. La dormance, qui correspond à un blocage physiologique de la germination, est un paramètre non souhaitable d'un point de vue agronomique. Par conséquent la compréhension de la régulation hormonale sur la qualité des semences représente un intérêt fort pour la communauté scientifique mais aussi pour les acteurs de la filière "semences". De nombreuses études ont démontré l'existence d’une importante régulation de la synthèse des protéines au cours de l’imbibition des graines. Cette régulation traductionnelle contribuerait à la mise en place des programmes métaboliques différents en fonction de l’état physiologique des semences pour maintenir un état de dormance ou initier le processus de germination.Le travail réalisé dans le cadre de cette thèse s’est concentré à apporter des éléments nouveaux sur le rôle de l’ABA dans la détermination de la qualité physiologique des semences au cours du développement de la graine et au cours de la germination. L’impact de l’ABA a été particulièrement décortiqué à l’aide de mutant d’Arabidopsis thaliana présentant des teneurs en ABA endogènes contrastées. Par une approche multi-omique combinant des analyses transcriptomiques, protéomiques et métabolomiques, nous avons étudié les mécanismes moléculaires et biochimiques associées avec la mise en place de la qualité physiologique des semences en relation avec l’ABA. Nos résultats ont montré qu’au-delà du contenu en ABA, l’origine tissulaire de cette hormone dans les graines gouverne de nombreux réarrangements métaboliques qui participent au déterminisme de la profondeur de dormance et de la vigueur germinative. Il apparaît un lien entre l’ABA et l’activité traductionnelle, étroitement associé au métabolisme énergétique et à l’homéostasie RedOx.L’effet de l’ABA sur l’activité traductionnelle a été suivi par une adaptation des méthodes SILAC (stable-isotope labelled amino acids in cell culture) aux grains d’Arabidopsis. Cette technique a été utilisée pour décrire la dynamique du protéome dépendante du contenu en ABA des graines au cours de leur imbibition. Nos résultats montrent que cette approche originale permet d’enrichir les connaissances sur la biologie fondamentale des semences. En effet, nous avons montré que l’ABA est un régulateur clé de la synthèse protéique dans les graines et est un contributeur majeur dans la mise en place des différents programmes traductionnels. Cette approche a montré que l’ABA exerce un contrôle sur la traduction de plus de 400 ARNm au cours de l’imbibition des graines et ouvre de nouvelles pistes pour la compréhension de la régulation de la synthèse protéique chez les semences et chez les plantes. Ces données générées offrent un nouveau regard sur le processus germinatif et de sa régulation par l’ABA.Sur la base des données existantes au laboratoire et celles générées au cours de cette thèse, nous avons également développé une utilisation de bio-marqueurs pour l’évaluation de la qualité des semences et nous avons mis au point des traitements de semences innovants. Ces technologies ont été développé en accord avec les attentes des industriels de la filière « semences ». La récente obtention d’un financement pour ce projet de recherche appliquée démontre la complémentarité des recherches effectuées au sein du laboratoire avec les besoin des industriels de la filière « semences ». / Germination vigor is a main concern in agriculture. High seed vigor is defined as the capacity of a seed lot to germinate rapidly, uniformly and in a wide range of environmental conditions. Seed quality is controlled by a dynamic balance between two antagonistic hormones, abscisic acid (ABA), which induces and maintains dormancy and gibberellins (GAs), which stimulate seed germination and seedling establishment. Seed dormancy corresponds to a block to the completion of germination and is an undesirable characteristic from an agronomic point of view. Thus, investigation of seed quality toward a better understanding of hormonal regulation is of fundamental concern for scientific community and seed industry.Recent studies have highlighted the intensive regulation of protein synthesis during seed germination. Translational regulation would govern the implementation of different metabolic programs during seed imbibition in order to maintain seed dormancy or to initiate the germination process. In this thesis, we explore the role of ABA in the control of germination quality during seed development and seed germination, using Arabidopsis thaliana mutant displaying contrasted ABA content.By combined “omic” approaches, we have highlighted the impact of ABA level on metabolic rearrangements during seed maturation. Our results showed that ABA origin in the seeds governs many metabolic rearrangements controlling dormancy depth and germination vigor. In addition, the present work suggests an intimate linkage between translational activity and ABA content, in association with energetic pathways and redox homeostasis.The impact of ABA on proteome turnover during seed germination was studied by adapting a metabolic labeling of neosynthesized proteins based on SILAC methods (stable isotope labelled amino acids in cell culture) to Arabidopsis seeds. Our results suggest that ABA is a key regulator of protein synthesis and modulates metabolic changes during seed imbibition. Indeed, this novel approach has highlighted that ABA controls the translation of more than 400 mRNAs during seed imbibition. This work provides an original perspective on the contribution of ABA and mRNA translation in seed germination and provides a valuable basis for further investigation of translational regulation in seeds and in plants.Based on existing data and those generated during this thesis, we also developed innovative seed treatments and new biomarkers for seed quality assessment. Recent funding for a maturation program dedicated to improve these biotechnologies demonstrates that our research meets the needs of seed industry.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) implemented the Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative (MBHI) in summer 2010 to provide wetlands for waterbirds inland from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. To evaluate MBHI and associated wetland management practices, I estimated seed and waterbird densities in MBHI and non-managed wetlands in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) of Mississippi and Louisiana. Although not statistically different, wetlands enrolled in MBHI contained 1.26 and 1.53 times more seed biomass and seeds consumed by waterfowl than non-managed wetlands, respectively. I also detected 3 times more dabbling ducks and all ducks combined on MBHI wetlands. When I combined density data for all waterbird species, MBHI wetlands contained more than 2 times as many birds than control wetlands. Management via MBHI increased waterbird and potential food abundances, suggesting NRCS consider sustaining MBHI and provide financial incentives to landowners for management of wetlands in the MAV and United States.

No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (M.A. Agricultural Management (Plant Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Artemisia afra Jacq. ex Willd is a common medicinal plant in Africa belonging to the Asteraceae plant family. It has been used for decades as a treatment for cold related illnesses and a variety of other ailments such as asthma, malaria and kidney disorders. As such this has led to its high demand and it is faced with threats of overharvesting. As the plant is naturally occurring and not widely cultivated, it’s seed biology and germination properties are not documented. The optimum requirements (temperature and photoperiod) for seed germination as well as the effects of Moringa based biostimulant and different scarification methods were investigated on A. afra seeds in this study. The seeds were exposed to different scarification methods including physical scarification (rubbing using sandpaper), hot water soaking, cold water soaking, acid treatment (H2SO4) and fermentation (using effective microorganisms) while the untreated seeds served as the control under all conditions. Moringa based biostimulant was also used as a seed priming agent at 0, 0.5, 1 and 3% levels. The seeds were then placed under a variety of photoperiods including constant light, alternating light (16/8 hours) and continuous darkness at different temperatures (15°C, 25°C and 35°C). Germination percentages and mean germination time (MGT) were calculated from the results and Statistix 10.0 software was used at the probability level of 5%, to compare the mean values. It was observed that under the different temperatures without any other treatments, the highest germination rate (70%) was achieved at a 25°C. No germination (0%) was obtained at both 15°C and 35°C in all the experiments including scarification methods and photoperiods. Under the scarification treatments, soaking in hot and cold water scarification improved germination with final germination of 70%, compared to the other scarification methods (Physical at 20%, acid treatment at 20% and control at 10%). There was no germination observed (0%) for the fermented seeds in all the experiments. On the photoperiod treatments, the highest germination percentage of 70% was observed under alternating light condition. However, when mean germination time was calculated, continuous xiv darkness resulted in shortest MGT of 11 days compared to 13 days for both alternating light and for continuous light in this set of experiment. Seed priming with Moringa based biostimulant under alternating light conditions and at 25°C resulted in improved MGT. Under the investigated treatments, the use of 3% biostimulant exerted the highest improvement on germination with germination percentage of 62% and the shortest MGT of 7 days compared to the other treatments. Generally the final germination (%) and time of A. afra seeds were affected by scarification, temperature, light and priming using Moringa based biostimulant. The information generated from this study is important because it will contribute in bridging the scientific gap on the information that has never been documented on optimum requirements for effective propagation of A. afra through seeds. As such this information will be useful for small scale farmers and medicinal plant growers who are willing to recover the lost populations of A. afra through seed propagation thus improving their supply and income / National Research Foundation (NRF)

<p>Hermetic storage systems have gained global popularity for their ability to minimize stored product losses by depleting oxygen. However, relying solely on insects to deplete oxygen in hermetic storage, when this process takes longer, can result in (further) damage to stored commodities. This study was conducted to investigate: (i) the potential of four different germinating seeds (soybean, rice, cowpea, and corn) in scavenging oxygen within hermetic storage systems; (ii) the impact of container volume and the number of germinating seeds on oxygen depletion; and (iii) the effects of germinating seeds on insect mortality and grain quality. Among the crops tested, cowpea, during their fourth, fifth, and sixth germination stages (T4, T5, and T6), depleted oxygen below 5% within 12 hours. The fourth stage of cowpea (T4) was identified as a potential oxygen scavenger due to its shorter germination time and ease of handling. Moreover, increasing the number of germinating seeds resulted in a faster initial rate of oxygen depletion in all-sized jars. Doubling both the volume of the jars and the number of germinating seeds had a similar rate of oxygen depletion. Additionally, an equation was derived to predict the required number of germinating seeds based on data from different numbers of seed and container volume combinations. Relative humidity levels increased to approximately 90% when empty jars were used but remained consistent at 40% when the jars were filled with grains. Furthermore, using 10, 20, and 30 germinating cowpea seeds with stored grains and insects, oxygen levels were reduced below 5% at different time intervals. Complete adult mortality of <em>C. maculatus</em> was achieved within 3-5 days of exposure, depending upon the number of germinating seeds. 20 and 30 seeds achieved complete mortality within 72 hours, while 10 seeds required 120 hours. As the number of germinating seeds increased, egg counts decreased, and moisture content significantly increased in the treatment involving 30 seeds. Furthermore, no adult emerged after 96 and 120 hours of exposure to normoxia for the 30 and 20 seed treatments, respectively. However, in the 10 seeds treatment, a small percentage of adults (0.29%) did emerge even after 120 hours of exposure.</p>

As the global food system causes environmental degradation and contributes to detrimental health effects, a transformation is vital for a sustainable and fair future for all. Research on food system transformation and the role of food initiatives have increased. Niche initiatives or “seeds” in the food sectors in Stockholm and Cape Town are finding new ways to contribute to change in the social-ecological systems in which they operate. The questions addressed in this thesis are (i) how the transformative capacity of these seeds have developed over time (ii) what amplification strategies the seeds apply to increase their impact and (iii) what the enablers and barriers to amplification processes are. A three-dimensional framework of transformative capacity and a typology of eight amplification processes are used for the analysis. Findings indicate that seeds are building momentum and developing transformative capacity within three areas: connecting to the biosphere, social cohesion, and agency. The initiatives foremost apply strategies of stabilizing, growing, scaling deep, and scaling up to amplify their transformative impact. Food seeds play an important role in building sustainable food systems and their contribution to change challenges the traditional thinking of growth in transformations and emphasize aspects of changing values, improving quality, and encouraging diversity.

This study focuses on the morphometric and systematic studies of fossil vitaceous seeds recently recovered from the Gray Fossil Site (7-4.5 Ma, latest Miocene-earliest Pliocene) northeastern Tennessee. Morphologically, all fossil seeds correspond to the extant subgenus Vitis (genus Vitis) of the Vitaceae based on the smooth dorsal surface with a centrally positioned chalaza connected with a conspicuous chalaza-apex groove and short linear ventral infolds that are slightly diverged apically. A multivariate analysis based on 11 measured characters from 76 complete seeds identified three types of seeds, each representing a distinct morphotaxon. Based on comparison with modern and fossil vitaceous specimens, three new species were recognized: Vitis grayana sp. nov., Vitis lanatoides sp. nov., and Vitis latisulcata sp.nov. The close resemblance between the first two fossil grapes (Vitis grayana and Vitis lanatoides) with extant eastern Asian Vitis provides further evidence that the eastern Asian floristic elements existing in the southeastern North American flora continued to as late as late Neogene.

<p> A quantitative study is made of the relative sensitivity of Phaseolus vulgaris var. Pinto to several different growth retardants, and to treatment of retarded plants with GA3. The growth of progeny from retarded plants is exam!ned and the cause of the transfer phenomenon is determined to be transfer of the growth retardants themselves to the progeny via the seeds, in some cases through to a third generation. </p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)