Search Results (46)

The present study explores the treatment and valorization of carbon-rich, low-cost waste streams—sugar beet molasses, expired rice, and wheat cereal hydrolysates—as substrates for submerged shake-flask cultures of edible ascomycetes (Morchella elata AMRL 63, Tuber aestivum AMRL 364) and basidiomycetes (Lentinula edodes AMRL 126, Agaricus bisporus AMRL 209) within a circular bioeconomy framework. Cultures were conducted under different C/N ratios (20 and 50) with or without the addition of olive oil or its emulsion. Among the tested species, the ascomycetes M. elata AMRL 63 and T. aestivum AMRL 364 outperformed the basidiomycetes in biomass production and substrate utilization. Supplementation with olive oil or its emulsion enhanced mycelial growth and lipid accumulation, while a higher C/N ratio (50) favored exopolysaccharide (EPS) synthesis. Lipid profiles were dominated by oleic (Δ⁹C18:1) and linoleic (Δ^9,12C18:2) acids, with greater unsaturation observed in C/N = 20 cultures. Volatile analysis revealed species-specific aroma signatures, including characteristic truffle and morel compounds. The results underscore the feasibility of using waste streams for sustainable mushroom cultivation. Full article

Honey authenticity is increasingly threatened by the addition of low-cost sugar syrups and substitutes, which reduce its nutritional value and market credibility. In this study, five types of Polish honeys (honeydew, forest, multifloral, nectar–honeydew, and rapeseed) were intentionally adulterated with beet syrup, beet molasses, invert syrup and artificial honey at levels of 10% and 50% (v/v). The impact of adulteration was evaluated using elemental profiling by ICP-OES combined with physicochemical analyses (water content, sugar content and electrical conductivity) and chemometric methods (PCA and HCA). Natural honeys were characterized by high K, Mg and Ca contents and low Na levels, whereas adulterants significantly altered mineral composition, leading to a marked decrease in key authenticity ratios, particularly K/Na (decreases exceeding 90% at the 50% adulteration level, with systematic shifts already observable at 10% addition). Beet molasses caused the strongest disturbances in macroelement balance, while invert syrup induced weaker effects. Adulteration also resulted in increased water content, reduced °Brix values and pronounced changes in electrical conductivity. Chemometric analysis enabled clear discrimination between natural, adulterated and sugar-based samples. The combined use of elemental ratios, physicochemical parameters and chemometrics provides a robust and sensitive approach for detecting honey adulteration and supporting authenticity control. Full article

Seed priming is a proven method for enhancing early plant development and stress resilience, yet its field-level effects on sugar beet performance remain underexplored. This study evaluated the impact of seed priming on emergence dynamics, canopy traits, root yield, and sugar productivity over three growing seasons with variable weather conditions in central Poland. We found that primed seeds consistently improved emergence uniformity, plant spacing, and early growth, resulting in a more regular canopy structure and greater biomass accumulation. Sugar beet root yield increased by 6.2–7.7%, primarily due to higher average root mass, while final plant density remained unaffected. Although sucrose content was not significantly altered, sugar beet roots from primed seeds exhibited lower concentrations of molasses-forming substances (Na⁺, K⁺, and α-amino nitrogen). As a result, biological and technological sugar yields increased by 5.9% and 6.1%, respectively. Our results illustrate how seed priming enhances both agronomic performance and processing quality of sugar beet under field conditions, offering a low-cost strategy for stabilizing yield in temperate environments. Full article

The bioproduction of 2-phenylethanol (2-PE), a high-value aromatic compound widely used in the fragrance, cosmetic, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical industries, through yeast fermentation offers a sustainable alternative to chemical synthesis and rose extraction. This study explores the fermentation of Yarrowia lipolytica strains using mixed agro-industrial by-products as substrates to produce 2-PE via de novo synthesis, without supplementation with the costly precursor L-phenylalanine. Y. lipolytica strains were genetically engineered to enhance flux through the shikimate pathway and enable the hydrolysis of a broader range of substrates. The culture media consisted solely of a mixture of agro-industrial by-products: sugar beet molasses (SBM), brewer’s spent grain (BSG) pressing extract, and chicory root (CR) pressing extract, serving as the primary carbon and nitrogen sources without the addition of nutrients, minerals, synthetic, complex ingredients, or costly additives. The co-culture approach enhanced substrate utilization, leading to an increase in 2-PE titers, reaching approximately 2.5 g/L 2-PE production after 240 h of fermentation. This study demonstrates the feasibility of integrating co-culture fermentation and agro-industrial waste valorization for sustainable 2-PE production, offering a scalable bioprocess for industrial applications. Full article

Carbon-rich products such as biochar and coal char have emerged as promising soil amendments to improve soil properties and support plant growth in semiarid climates. Coal char is produced from the pyrolysis of coal, while biochar is a biomass-derived product from pyrolysis. A two-year field study was conducted to evaluate the comparative impacts of coal char, biochar, inorganic fertilizer, and manure amendments on soil properties, plant growth indices, and soil and plant nutrient dynamics in a semiarid, sandy clay loam soil in Wyoming, USA. The study demonstrates the value of multivariate approaches for capturing the complex, interactive effects of amendments and plant covariates on crop performance. Results show that, while char and amendment treatments did not significantly alter soil pH, EC, or CEC, both char type and fertilizer amendments significantly affected soil nutrient availability and plant tissue nutrient concentrations. Multivariate multiple linear regression (MMLR) showed coal char at 22–44 Mg ha⁻¹ increased yield by up to 4.4 t ha⁻¹, with higher Normalized Difference Red Edge (NDRE) and leaf sulfur (S) concentrations associated with reduced sugar loss to molasses. Our results suggest that coal char has potential as a sustainable amendment for improving sugar beet productivity in semiarid, sandy clay loam soils, especially when integrated with inorganic fertilizer and manure. Further research is needed to assess the variability of coal char and biochar and their cumulative impacts on soil health and productivity across different cropping systems. Full article

The addition of organic carbon sources in biofloc technology (BFT) systems promotes microbial community development, enhancing water quality, nutrient recycling, and supplemental feeding through microbial biomass. These characteristics make BFT a viable strategy for the cultivation of promising aquaculture species, such as Mugil cephalus. This study evaluated the effects of three carbon sources—unrefined cane sugar (locally known as chancaca), refined sucrose, and beet molasses—on water quality and growth performance of M. cephalus juveniles reared in a BFT system. Juvenile mullets (4.33 ± 2.09 g) were cultured for 45 days at a stocking density of 0.03 ± 0.01 kg·m⁻³, with biofloc pre-matured in ex situ tanks. Most water quality parameters showed no significant differences among treatments (p > 0.05), except for nitrite concentrations, which were significantly higher in the sucrose group (p < 0.05). The highest growth performance was observed in the sucrose treatment, with a weight gain (WG) of 4.26 ± 0.51 g, an average daily weight gain (AWG) of 0.09 ± 0.01 g, and a thermal growth coefficient (GF3) of 1.27 ± 0.15 at a constant temperature of 24 °C. Bromatological analysis of bioflocs revealed significantly higher crude protein (CP: 9.8%) and energy content (Kcal·100 g⁻¹: 3.44 ± 0.2) in the sucrose treatment compared to chancaca (CP: 5.1%). These findings confirm that M. cephalus can be effectively cultured in BFT systems using simple carbon sources. Refined sucrose, due to its high solubility and nutritional contribution to biofloc formation, is recommended for improving growth performance and system efficiency in M. cephalus production. Full article

The rising cost of mineral fertilizers and the decreasing availability of manure in vegetable farming highlight the need for alternative fertilization strategies. To examine the possibility of applying byproducts from the food processing industry, sugar beet molasses, and compost from brewery sewage sludge in celery production, the field experiment was conducted over two years, using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The examined variants were T0—control (without fertilizer); T1—mineral fertilizer; T2—cattle manure; T3—sheep manure; T4—poultry manure; T5—supercompost; and T6—molasses. In the first year, there was no significant difference between T1 and T5 in thickened root yield, while these two variants achieved significantly higher yield compared with other variants. In both years, the highest leaf yield was achieved with T1, while no significant difference was found between T5, T6, and conventional organic fertilizers of animal origin. The highest amount of N was absorbed by roots in T1 (42.0 kg/ha and 51.2 kg/ha, respectively), while the lowest amount was absorbed in T0 (25.5 kg/ha and 26.7 kg/ha, respectively). A significantly higher amount of P₂O₅ was absorbed by roots in all organic fertilizer variants compared to T0 and T1. In both years, of all the nutrients, K₂O was the most absorbed nutrient by the celery root, while CaO was absorbed in greater quantities than N. Based on two years of research, it can be concluded that compost from brewery sludge and sugar beet molasses can be used as an alternative source of nutrients for plants. Full article

This study investigates the effect of ultrasonic treatment on the fermentation of molasses wort with a density range of 18–24 °Blg, using two high-performance Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strains: Thermosacc Dry and Ethanol Red. The primary objective was to determine if ultrasound could accelerate fermentation and increase ethanol yield. The research showed that ultrasonic treatment at 24 kHz significantly increased fermentation dynamics and ethanol yield by 5 to 20%, depending on the yeast strain and wort density. Higher wort densities (22–24 °Blg) showed more pronounced positive effects. Ultrasound treatment caused visible indentations in the yeast cell walls and promoted cell aggregation. In addition, the study investigated the influence of different ultrasound amplitudes on fermentation efficiency and showed that higher amplitudes further improved ethanol production in 22–24 °Blg worts. These results suggest that ultrasound can improve the efficiency and profitability of ethanol production, highlighting the potential for further research to optimise industrial fermentation processes. The application of ultrasound in biotechnology, particularly in fuel ethanol production, could lead to significant economic benefits on a global scale. Full article

The accumulation of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) root yield across Central and Eastern Europe typically occurs mostly from July to September but can vary substantially depending on precipitation patterns. When summer rainfall is insufficient, the period of intensive yield accumulation may be delayed, often affecting the technological quality of the roots. Conversely, as light and thermal conditions deteriorate in autumn, growth processes slow down, and each cultivar’s response to late-season conditions may vary. To investigate these dynamics, we examined nine sugar beet cultivars (Zeltic, Pacific, Mariza, Everest, BTS 2205N, Jaromir, Jantar, Eliska KWS, and Klara) under three harvest dates (8–10 September—first date; 7–8 October—second date; and 3–5 November—third date) during the 2020–2021 growing seasons. Both cultivar and harvest timing had a significant impact on root yield, sucrose content, and the concentrations of molasses-forming elements (K, Na, and α-amino N), though the magnitude of these effects strongly depended on weather conditions. In 2020, which was characterized by very high precipitation in June and August, harvesting in early September resulted in optimal yield for most cultivars, with no significant benefit from delaying harvest. However, in 2021, when precipitation was moderate and more evenly distributed, later harvest dates enhanced both yield and sucrose content in several cultivars (e.g., Eliska KWS and Jantar). Among all cultivars tested, Eliska KWS consistently demonstrated high root yield and sucrose content. The sucrose content in the roots was strongly influenced by weather conditions in each study year. In 2021, which had average water availability, sucrose content was high, and delaying the harvest led to an increase in sucrose content while reducing molasses-forming elements in the roots. In contrast, in 2020, during summer rainfall, the effect of harvest date on quality traits was significantly weaker and largely dependent on the cultivar. These findings underscore that choosing the optimal harvest date is highly site- and season-dependent, shaped by precipitation distribution, late-season temperatures, and cultivar genotype. In practical terms, these results can help producers and sugar processors align harvest schedules with local conditions to optimize both root yield and technological quality. Full article

The decrease in bread consumption in the daily diet observed in recent years results from the growing awareness of consumers and the desire to promote a healthy lifestyle. The valorization of sugar by-products allows for the design of new food products intended for health-conscious consumers. The aim of this study was to assess the possibility of using sugar beet pulp (SBP), without and with molasses, in bakery recipes as part of a strategy promoting increased consumption of foods rich in bioactive compounds. The basic composition of SBP was examined, and wheat flour mixtures with their addition at 0, 1, 5, and 10% were prepared. The rheological properties of the dough with flour blend samples were determined using Mixolab^®. The technological quality of the bread, its nutritional value, and its antioxidant potential were assessed. The research results indicate that fortifying bread up to 5% SBP allows for obtaining products of acceptable sensory and technological quality. The bread with 5% molasses SBP (mSBP) compared to the sample with SBP without molasses (umSBP) was characterized by greater bread volume and crumb moisture, a darker color of the crumb, a more appropriate color of the crust (golden-brown), more favorable, thin-walled pores, and a fluffier crumb. Moreover, the samples enriched with mSBP contained more total polyphenols (by approx. 40%) and showed higher antioxidant activity (by approx. 50%) than the bread with umSBP. Additionally, for bread samples with 5% or more SBP added, a nutritional claim could be made that they are a “source of fiber” (i.e., at least 3 g per 100 g of product). Full article

Sugar beet is an important sugar crop, and its roots are mainly used for processing raw materials to produce products such as sugar, molasses, and saccharin, as well as being used as fodder for livestock. BvCPD, a key enzyme gene for brassinosteroid (BR) synthesis, regulates the development of parenchyma cells and vascular bundles by promoting BR synthesis, which promotes the expansion of the sugar beet taproot and influences the growth, development, and yield of sugar beets. This study investigated the impact of BvCPD on the physiological metabolism of sugar beet utilizing BvCPD overexpression, silent, and wild-type (WT) lines. BvCPD increased the chlorophyll content and maximum photochemical efficiency and improved the photosynthetic characteristics of sugar beet leaves. Simultaneously, BvCPD increased the rate of sugar beet taproot respiration and ATP content by enhancing the activities of phosphoglycerate kinase, alcohol dehydrogenase, sucrose synthase, and sucrose synthase catabolism. Moreover, BvCPD induced changes in the sugar fraction content, which increased the sugar yield of a single plant. In addition, BvCPD promoted water absorption, nitrogen accumulation, and lignin/cellulose synthesis activities, facilitated by increased activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase, cellulose synthase, and protein serine/threonine phosphatases, providing the requisite energy and materials for sugar beet growth. These findings not only provide a new perspective for understanding the physiological mechanisms regulating the growth of sugar beets but also provide a theoretical basis for the future improvement of sugar beet varieties through molecular breeding techniques. Full article

In the present study, the nutritional and sensory properties of spelt cookies without wild garlic, cookies with fresh wild garlic, cookies with osmodehydrated wild garlic in sugar beet molasses, and cookies with osmodehydrated wild garlic in an aqueous solution of sucrose and salt were evaluated and compared. The tested cookie samples were characterized in terms of total antioxidative activity, the total content of phenols, flavonoids, and thiosulfates, the presence of dominant phenols, the content of betaine and dietary fiber, antioxidant activity after in vitro digestion, and sensory attributes for appearance, taste, smell, and texture. The results proved that the addition of wild garlic leaves osmodehydrated in molasses provided the cookies with the best nutritional and bioactive properties: 1.75 times higher total phenols content, 2.4 times higher total flavonoids content, 1.52 times higher total thiosulfates content, and 1.56 times higher betaine content, and a total quality increase of 54% compared to the control cookies. The cookies enriched with osmodehydrated wild garlic in molasses were rated as pleasant and acceptable, but also more complex compared to other cookies. The production of this nutritionally and sensory-improved cookie would contribute to expanding the assortment of flour confectionery products, especially for consumers who care about health and nutrition. Full article

Syzygium aromaticum L. Myrtaceae is one of the plants rich in bioactive compounds that have beneficial effects on the skin. Fermented plant extracts (FPEs) obtained from this plant have recently been exploited as new cosmetic ingredients. The concept of our study was related to the use of clove buds in the fermentation process in order to obtain new cosmetic raw materials with high antioxidant potential. The focus was on evaluating antioxidant activity (AA), total polyphenol content (TPC), and lactic acid efficiency (LA_e). For this purpose, the most favourable technological parameters of the fermentation process of clove buds were determined, including the type of microorganisms, initial sugar content, plant raw material content, and fermentation time. The most favourable parameters were correlated with the optimal parameters, which were determined based on response surface methodology (RSM). Based on DPPH and Folin–Ciocalteu assays and GC-MS analysis, optimal points of antioxidant activity against reactive oxygen species (analysed with RSM) were successfully selected, enabling quantitative mathematical representations. The optimisation revealed that using a strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus MI-0272 in lactic fermentation and plant material (6.40%) and beet molasses (3.20%) results in the highest antioxidant potential of FPE (33.90 mmol Tx/L) and yielding LA with the highest efficiency (96%). The optimised FPE had higher polyphenol content (11.60 mmol GA/L ± 0.14), chelating and antioxidant activity (0.32 mmol Fe²⁺/L ± 0.01 and 11.60 mmol Tx/L ± 0.09), and Fe³⁺ ion reduction (49.09 mmol Fe³⁺/L ± 0.16) than the PE. In addition, the possibility of using the spent plant material remaining after the extraction process to prepare activated carbons capable of treating wastewater was investigated. Full article

2-phenylethanol (2-PE) is a valuable aromatic alcohol with diverse applications in cosmetics, food, beverages, and pharmaceutical industries. Currently, 2-PE is produced either through chemical synthesis or by extraction from plant materials. However, both conventional production methods have their own limitations. Therefore, there is a need for more eco-friendly and cost-effective approaches to produce natural 2-PE. Biotechnological routes, particularly microbial fermentations, hold promise for natural 2-PE production, especially when using low-cost substrates. In this study, 2-PE was produced by de novo synthesis via the shikimate pathway, using the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica in a medium composed of sugar beet molasses (SBM) and yeast extract (YE) as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. A genetically engineered strain was generated, in which the SUC2 gene was transformed, expressing the invertase enzyme, enabling Y. lipolytica to efficiently utilize SBM as a cost-effective substrate. A central composite design allowed for the optimization of the concentrations of the carbon and nitrogen sources, resulting in approximately 0.71 g_(2-PE)/L_{(culture medium)}. The results obtained highlight the potential of utilizing SBM as a low-cost substrate for 2-PE production, advancing biotechnological approaches in fragrance synthesis. Full article

This study investigates the applicability of the Peleg model to the osmotic dehydration of various sweet potato variety samples in sugar beet molasses, addressing a notable gap in the existing literature. The osmotic dehydration was performed using an 80% sugar beet molasses solution at temperatures of 20 °C, 35 °C, and 50 °C for periods of 1, 3, and 5 h. The sample-to-solution ratio was 1:5. The objectives encompassed evaluating the Peleg equation’s suitability for modeling mass transfer during osmotic dehydration and determining equilibrium water and solid contents at various temperatures. With its modified equation, the Peleg model accurately described water loss and solid gain dynamics during osmotic treatment, as evidenced by a high coefficient of determination value (r²) ranging from 0.990 to 1.000. Analysis of Peleg constants revealed temperature and concentration dependencies, aligning with previous observations. The Guggenheim, Anderson, and de Boer (GAB) model was employed to characterize sorption isotherms, yielding coefficients comparable to prior studies. Effective moisture diffusivity and activation energy calculations further elucidated the drying kinetics, with effective moisture diffusivity values ranging from 1.85 × 10⁻⁸ to 4.83 × 10⁻⁸ m²/s and activation energy between 7.096 and 16.652 kJ/mol. These findings contribute to understanding the complex kinetics of osmotic dehydration and provide insights into the modeling and optimization of dehydration processes for sweet potato samples, with implications for food processing and preservation methodologies. Full article