Fakultät Agrarwissenschaften

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Die Fakultät entwickelt in Lehre und Forschung nachhaltige Produktionstechniken der Agrar- und Ernährungswirtschaft. Sie erarbeitet Beiträge für den ländlichen Raum und zum Verbraucher-, Tier- und Umweltschutz.

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A low-tech approach to mobilize nutrients from organic residues to produce bioponic stock solutions
(2024) Heintze, Sebastian; Beckett, Marc; Kriem, Lukas Simon; Germer, Jörn; Asch, Folkard; Heintze, Sebastian; Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology, Nobelstr. 12, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany; (S.H.); (L.S.K.); Beckett, Marc; Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology, Nobelstr. 12, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany; (S.H.); (L.S.K.); Kriem, Lukas Simon; Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology, Nobelstr. 12, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany; (S.H.); (L.S.K.); Germer, Jörn; Hans-Ruthenberg Institute for Tropical Agricultural Sciences, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 13, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany; (J.G.); (F.A.); Asch, Folkard; Hans-Ruthenberg Institute for Tropical Agricultural Sciences, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 13, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany; (J.G.); (F.A.); Liu, Guodong
Organic residues, as a nutrient source suitable of producing solutions for hydroponic crop production, have the potential to reduce the dependence on mineral fertilizers. Especially in remote and resource-constrained regions, organic residues might be the only option to produce hydroponic nutrient solutions. However, nutrient solutions made from organic residues, called bioponic solutions, are usually unbalanced in their nutrient composition, which leads to deficiencies and poor plant growth. This study aimed to experimentally develop a low-tech approach to produce bioponic stock solutions rich in NO3−, P, and K, to create a balanced bioponic solution. The mixed bioponic solution contained 58 mg L−1 NH4+-N, 43 mg L−1 NO3−-N, 50 mg L−1 PO43−-P, and 246 mg L−1 K+. This approach resulted in satisfactory levels of P, K and micronutrients. The solution was tested pure and spiked with Ca(NO3)2 on lettuce in comparison with a mineral Hoagland nutrient solution. Neither the bioponic nor the spiked bioponic solution achieved comparable lettuce yields to the Hoagland solution. The poor growth of the plants in the bioponic solution was attributed to an unfavorable NH4+:NO3− ratio, high microorganism load, and elevated pH levels. However, the approach of preparing bioponic stock solutions could be promising for future research into the production of balanced bioponic nutrient solutions from organic residues.
The active core microbiota of two high-yielding laying hen breeds fed with different levels of calcium and phosphorus
(2022) Roth, Christoph; Sims, Tanja; Rodehutscord, Markus; Seifert, Jana; Camarinha-Silva, Amélia
The nutrient availability and supplementation of dietary phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) in avian feed, especially in laying hens, plays a vital role in phytase degradation and mineral utilization during the laying phase. The required concentration of P and Ca peaks during the laying phase, and the direct interaction between Ca and P concentration shrinks the availability of both supplements in the feed. Our goal was to characterize the active microbiota of the entire gastrointestinal tract (GIT) (crop, gizzard, duodenum, ileum, caeca), including digesta- and mucosa-associated communities of two contrasting high-yielding breeds of laying hens (Lohmann Brown Classic, LB; Lohmann LSL-Classic, LSL) under different P and Ca supplementation levels. Statistical significances were observed for breed, GIT section, Ca, and the interaction of GIT section x breed, P x Ca, Ca x breed and P x Ca x breed (p < 0.05). A core microbiota of five species was detected in more than 97% of all samples. They were represented by an uncl. Lactobacillus (average relative abundance (av. abu.) 12.1%), Lactobacillus helveticus (av. abu. 10.8%), Megamonas funiformis (av. abu. 6.8%), Ligilactobacillus salivarius (av. abu. 4.5%), and an uncl. Fusicatenibacter (av. abu. 1.1%). Our findings indicated that Ca and P supplementation levels 20% below the recommendation have a minor effect on the microbiota compared to the strong impact of the bird’s genetic background. Moreover, a core active microbiota across the GIT of two high-yielding laying hen breeds was revealed for the first time.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-based bioremediation of mercury: insights from zinc and cadmium transporter studies
(2023) Guo, Yaqin; Martin, Konrad; Hrynkiewicz, Katarzyna; Rasche, Frank; Guo, Y.; Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics (Hans-Ruthenberg-Institute), University of Hohenheim, 70593, Stuttgart, Germany; Martin, K.; Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics (Hans-Ruthenberg-Institute), University of Hohenheim, 70593, Stuttgart, Germany; Hrynkiewicz, K.; Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100, Torun, Poland; Rasche, F.; Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics (Hans-Ruthenberg-Institute), University of Hohenheim, 70593, Stuttgart, Germany
Phytoremediation, a sustainable approach for rehabilitating mercury (Hg)-contaminated soils, can be enhanced by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which promote plant growth and metal uptake, including Hg, in contaminated soils. Hg, despite lacking a biological function in plants, can be absorbed and translocated using Zn and/or Cd transporters, as these elements belong to the same group in the periodic table (12/2B). In fact, the specific transporters of Hg in plant roots remain unknown. This study is therefore to provide fundamental insights into the prospect to remediate Hg-contaminated soils, with a focus on the role of AM fungi. The hypothesis posits that Hg uptake in plants may be facilitated by transporters responsible for Zn/Cd, affected by AM fungi. The Scopus database was used to collect studies between 2000 and 2022 with a focus on the ecological role of AM fungi in environments contaminated with Zn and Cd. Particular emphasis was laid on the molecular mechanisms involved in metal uptake and partitioning. The study revealed that AM fungi indeed regulated Zn and/or Cd transporters, influencing Zn and/or Cd uptake in plants. However, these effects vary significantly based on environmental factors, such as plant and AM fungi species and soil conditions (e.g., pH, phosphorus levels). Given the limited understanding of Hg remediation, insights gained from Zn and Cd transporter systems can guide future Hg research. In conclusion, this study underscores the importance of considering environmental factors and provides fundamental insights into the potential of Hg phytoremediation with the assistance of AM fungi.
Assessing functional properties of diet protein hydrolysate and oil from fish waste on canine immune parameters, cardiac biomarkers, and fecal microbiota
(2024) Cabrita, Ana R. J.; Barroso, Carolina; Fontes-Sousa, Ana Patrícia; Correia, Alexandra; Teixeira, Luzia; Maia, Margarida R. G.; Vilanova, Manuel; Yergaliyev, Timur; Camarinha-Silva, Amélia; Fonseca, António J. M.; Cabrita, Ana R. J.; REQUIMTE, Network of Chemistry and Technology, LAQV, Laboratory for Green Chemistry, ICBAS, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Barroso, Carolina; REQUIMTE, Network of Chemistry and Technology, LAQV, Laboratory for Green Chemistry, ICBAS, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Fontes-Sousa, Ana Patrícia; Department of Immuno-Physiology and Pharmacology, Center for Pharmacological Research and Drug Innovation (MedInUP), ICBAS, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Veterinary Hospital of the University of Porto (UPVET), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Correia, Alexandra; ICBAS – School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Teixeira, Luzia; ICBAS – School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Maia, Margarida R. G.; REQUIMTE, Network of Chemistry and Technology, LAQV, Laboratory for Green Chemistry, ICBAS, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Vilanova, Manuel; ICBAS – School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Yergaliyev, Timur; HoLMiR – Hohenheim Center for Livestock Microbiome Research, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Camarinha-Silva, Amélia; HoLMiR – Hohenheim Center for Livestock Microbiome Research, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Fonseca, António J. M.; REQUIMTE, Network of Chemistry and Technology, LAQV, Laboratory for Green Chemistry, ICBAS, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
Locally produced fish hydrolysate and oil from the agrifood sector comprises a sustainable solution both to the problem of fish waste disposal and to the petfood sector with potential benefits for the animal’s health. This study evaluated the effects of the dietary replacement of mainly imported shrimp hydrolysate (5%) and salmon oil (3%; control diet) with locally produced fish hydrolysate (5%) and oil (3.2%) obtained from fish waste (experimental diet) on systemic inflammation markers, adipokines levels, cardiac function and fecal microbiota of adult dogs. Samples and measurements were taken from a feeding trial conducted according to a crossover design with two diets (control and experimental diets), six adult Beagle dogs per diet and two periods of 6 weeks each. The experimental diet, with higher docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acids contents, decreased plasmatic triglycerides and the activity of angiotensin converting enzyme, also tending to decrease total cholesterol. No effects of diet were observed on serum levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-8, and IL-12/IL-23 p40, and of the serum levels of the anti-inflammatory adipokine adiponectin. Blood pressure, heart rate and echocardiographic measurements were similar between diets with the only exception of left atrial to aorta diameter ratio that was higher in dogs fed the experimental diet, but without clinical relevance. Diet did not significantly affect fecal immunoglobulin A concentration. Regarding fecal microbiome, Megasphaera was the most abundant genus, followed by Bifidobacterium , Fusobacterium , and Prevotella , being the relative abundances of Fusobacterium and Ileibacterium genera positively affected by the experimental diet. Overall, results from the performed short term trial suggest that shrimp hydrolysate and salmon oil can be replaced by protein hydrolysate and oil from fish by-products without affecting systemic inflammatory markers, cardiac structure and function, but potentially benefiting bacterial genera associated with healthy microbiome. Considering the high DHA and EPA contents and the antioxidant properties of fish oil and hydrolysate, it would be worthwhile in the future to assess their long-term effects on inflammatory markers and their role in spontaneous canine cardiac diseases and to perform metabolomic and metagenomics analysis to elucidate the relevance of microbiota changes in the gut.
Challenges of green production of 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid from bio‐derived 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural: Overcoming deactivation by concomitant amino acids
(2022) Neukum, Dominik; Baumgarten, Lorena; Wüst, Dominik; Sarma, Bidyut Bikash; Saraçi, Erisa; Kruse, Andrea; Grunwaldt, Jan‐Dierk
The oxidation of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is highly attractive as FDCA is considered as substitute for the petrochemically derived terephthalic acid. There are only few reports on the direct use of unrefined HMF solutions from biomass resources and the influence of remaining constituents on the catalytic processes. In this work, the oxidation of HMF in a solution as obtained from hydrolysis and dehydration of saccharides in chicory roots was investigated without intermediate purification steps. The amount of base added to the solution was critical to increase the FDCA yield. Catalyst deactivation occurred and was attributed to poisoning by amino acids from the bio‐source. A strong influence of amino acids on the catalytic activity was found for all supported Au, Pt, Pd, and Ru catalysts. A supported AuPd(2 : 1)/C alloy catalyst exhibited both superior catalytic activity and higher stability against deactivation by the critical amino acids.
Composition of the ileum microbiota is a mediator between the host genome and phosphorus utilization and other efficiency traits in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)
(2022) Haas, Valentin; Vollmar, Solveig; Preuß, Siegfried; Rodehutscord, Markus; Camarinha-Silva, Amélia; Bennewitz, Jörn; Haas, Valentin; Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Vollmar, Solveig; Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Preuß, Siegfried; Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Rodehutscord, Markus; Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Camarinha-Silva, Amélia; Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Bennewitz, Jörn; Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
Background: Phosphorus is an essential nutrient in all living organisms and, currently, it is the focus of much attention due to its global scarcity, the environmental impact of phosphorus from excreta, and its low digestibility due to its storage in the form of phytates in plants. In poultry, phosphorus utilization is influenced by composition of the ileum microbiota and host genetics. In our study, we analyzed the impact of host genetics on composition of the ileum microbiota and the relationship of the relative abundance of ileal bacterial genera with phosphorus utilization and related quantitative traits in Japanese quail. An F2 cross of 758 quails was genotyped with 4k genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and composition of the ileum microbiota was characterized using target amplicon sequencing. Heritabilities of the relative abundance of bacterial genera were estimated and quantitative trait locus (QTL) linkage mapping for the host was conducted for the heritable genera. Phenotypic and genetic correlations and recursive relationships between bacterial genera and quantitative traits were estimated using structural equation models. A genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP) and microbial (M)BLUP hologenomic selection approach was applied to assess the feasibility of breeding for improved phosphorus utilization based on the host genome and the heritable part of composition of the ileum microbiota. Results: Among the 59 bacterial genera examined, 24 showed a significant heritability (nominal p ≤ 0.05), ranging from 0.04 to 0.17. For these genera, six genome-wide significant QTL were mapped. Significant recursive effects were found, which support the indirect host genetic effects on the host’s quantitative traits via microbiota composition in the ileum of quail. Cross-validated microbial and genomic prediction accuracies confirmed the strong impact of microbial composition and host genetics on the host’s quantitative traits, as the GBLUP accuracies based on the heritable microbiota-mediated components of the traits were similar to the accuracies of conventional GBLUP based on genome-wide SNPs. Conclusions: Our results revealed a significant effect of host genetics on composition of the ileal microbiota and confirmed that host genetics and composition of the ileum microbiota have an impact on the host’s quantitative traits. This offers the possibility to breed for improved phosphorus utilization based on the host genome and the heritable part of composition of the ileum microbiota.
Computing optimal allocation of trials to subregions in crop‐variety testing in case of correlated genotype effects
(2025) Prus, Maryna; Prus, Maryna; Biostatistics Unit (340c), Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
The subject of this work is the allocation of trials to subregions in crop variety testing in the case of correlated genotype effects. A solution for computation of optimal allocations using the OptimalDesign package in R is proposed. The obtained optimal designs minimize linear criteria based on the mean squared error matrix of the best linear unbiased prediction of the genotype effects. The proposed computational approach allows for any kind of additional linear constraint on the designs. The results are illustrated by a real data example.
Cow’s microbiome from antepartum to postpartum: a long-term study covering two physiological challenges
(2022) Tröscher-Mußotter, Johanna; Deusch, Simon; Borda-Molina, Daniel; Frahm, Jana; Dänicke, Sven; Camarinha-Silva, Amélia; Huber, Korinna; Seifert, Jana
Little is known about the interplay between the ruminant microbiome and the host during challenging events. This long-term study investigated the ruminal and duodenal microbiome and metabolites during calving as an individual challenge and a lipopolysaccharide-induced systemic inflammation as a standardized challenge. Strong inter- and intra-individual microbiome changes were noted during the entire trial period of 168 days and between the 12 sampling time points. Bifidobacterium increased significantly at 3 days after calving. Both challenges increased the intestinal abundance of fiber-associated taxa, e.g., Butyrivibrio and unclassified Ruminococcaceae. NMR analyses of rumen and duodenum samples identified up to 60 metabolites out of which fatty and amino acids, amines, and urea varied in concentrations triggered by the two challenges. Correlation analyses between these parameters indicated a close connection and dependency of the microbiome with its host. It turns out that the combination of phylogenetic with metabolite information supports the understanding of the true scenario in the forestomach system. The individual stages of the production cycle in dairy cows reveal specific criteria for the interaction pattern between microbial functions and host responses.
Diacetoxyscirpenol, a Fusarium exometabolite, prevents efficiently the incidence of the parasitic weed Striga hermonthica
(2022) Anteyi, Williams Oyifioda; Klaiber, Iris; Rasche, Frank; Anteyi, Williams Oyifioda; Institute of Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics (Hans-Ruthenberg-Institute), University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Klaiber, Iris; Core Facility Hohenheim, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Rasche, Frank; Institute of Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics (Hans-Ruthenberg-Institute), University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
Background: Certain Fusarium exometabolites have been reported to inhibit seed germination of the cereal-parasitizing witchweed, Striga hermonthica , in vitro . However, it is unknown if these exometabolites will consistently prevent S. hermonthica incidence in planta . The study screened a selection of known, highly phytotoxic Fusarium exometabolites, in identifying the most potent/efficient candidate (i.e., having the greatest effect at minimal concentration) to completely hinder S. hermonthica seed germination in vitro and incidence in planta , without affecting the host crop development and yield. Results: In vitro germination assays of the tested Fusarium exometabolites (i.e., 1,4-naphthoquinone, equisetin, fusaric acid, hymeglusin, neosolaniol (Neo), T-2 toxin (T-2) and diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS)) as pre- Striga seed conditioning treatments at 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 µM, revealed that only DAS, out of all tested exometabolites, completely inhibited S. hermonthica seed germination at each concentration. It was followed by T-2 and Neo, as from 10 to 20 µM respectively. The remaining exometabolites reduced S. hermonthica seed germination as from 20 µM ( P < 0. 0001). In planta assessment (in a S. hermonthica -sorghum parasitic system) of the exometabolites at 20 µM showed that, although, none of the tested exometabolites affected sorghum aboveground dry biomass ( P > 0.05), only DAS completely prevented S. hermonthica incidence. Following a 14-d incubation of DAS in the planting soil substrate, bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and fungal 18S rRNA gene copy numbers of the soil microbial community were enhanced; which coincided with complete degradation of DAS in the substrate. Metabolic footprinting revealed that the S. hermonthica mycoherbicidal agent, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. strigae (isolates Foxy-2, FK3), did not produce DAS; a discovery that corresponded with underexpression of key genes (Tri5, Tri4) necessary for Fusarium trichothecene biosynthesis ( P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Among the tested Fusarium exometabolites, DAS exhibited the most promising herbicidal potential against S. hermonthica . Thus, it could serve as a new biocontrol agent for efficient S. hermonthica management. Further examination of DAS specific mode of action against the target weed S. hermonthica at low concentrations (≤ 20 µM), as opposed to non-target soil organisms, is required.
Disc mower versus bar mower: Evaluation of the direct effects of two common mowing techniques on the grassland arthropod fauna
(2025) von Berg, Lea; Frank, Jonas; Betz, Oliver; Steidle, Johannes L. M.; Böttinger, Stefan; Sann, Manuela; von Berg, Lea; Evolutionary Biology of Invertebrates, Institute for Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Frank, Jonas; Fundamentals of Agricultural Engineering, Institute for Agricultural Engineering, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Betz, Oliver; Evolutionary Biology of Invertebrates, Institute for Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Steidle, Johannes L. M.; Chemical Ecology, Institute for Biology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Böttinger, Stefan; Fundamentals of Agricultural Engineering, Institute for Agricultural Engineering, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Sann, Manuela; Chemical Ecology, Institute for Biology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
1. In Central Europe, species‐rich grasslands are threatened by intensive agriculture with frequent mowing, contributing to the reduction of arthropods such as insects and spiders. However, comprehensive and standardised studies on the direct effects of the two most agriculturally relevant mowing techniques, e.g., double‐blade bar mower versus disc mower, are lacking. 2. In a 2‐year experiment, we have investigated the direct effect of mowing on eight abundant arthropod groups in grassland, covering two seasonal mowing events in both years, using a randomised block design. We compared (a) an unmown control, (b) a double‐blade bar mower and (c) a disc mower. 3. For most of the taxonomic groups studied, a significantly lower number of individuals was found in the experimental plots immediately after mowing, regardless of the mowing technique, compared to an unmown control. This was not the case for Orthoptera and Coleoptera, which did not show a significant reduction in the number of individuals for both mowing techniques (Orthoptera) or only for the double‐blade bar mower (Coleoptera). 4. Between both mowing techniques, no significant differences were found for all taxonomic groups investigated. 5. Synthesis and applications: Our findings suggest that mowing in general has a negative impact on abundant arthropod groups in grassland, regardless of the method used. Tractor‐driven double‐blade bar mowers do not seem to be a truly insect‐friendly alternative to a conventional disc mower. Other factors such as cutting height and mowing regimes should be seriously considered to protect spiders and insects from the negative effects of mowing. In addition, we strongly recommend the maintenance of unmown refugia. Insects and spiders that are spared by mowing can take refuge in these unmown areas to avoid subsequent harvesting and thermally unfavourable conditions that arise on mown areas. Further, unmown refugia are basic habitat structures for a subsequent recolonisation of mown areas once the flora has recovered.
Do lower nitrogen fertilization levels require breeding of different types of cultivars in triticale?
(2022) Neuweiler, Jan E.; Trini, Johannes; Maurer, Hans Peter; Würschum, Tobias
Breeding high-yielding, nitrogen-efficient crops is of utmost importance to achieve greater agricultural sustainability. The aim of this study was to evaluate nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of triticale, investigate long-term genetic trends and the genetic architecture, and develop strategies for NUE improvement by breeding. For this, we evaluated 450 different triticale genotypes under four nitrogen fertilization levels in multi-environment field trials for grain yield, protein content, starch content and derived indices. Analysis of temporal trends revealed that modern cultivars are better in exploiting the available nitrogen. Genome-wide association mapping revealed a complex genetic architecture with many small-effect QTL and a high level of pleiotropy for NUE-related traits, in line with phenotypic correlations. Furthermore, the effect of some QTL was dependent on the nitrogen fertilization level. High correlations of each trait between N levels and the rather low genotype-by-N-level interaction variance showed that generally the same genotypes perform well over different N levels. Nevertheless, the best performing genotype was always a different one. Thus, selection in early generations can be done under high nitrogen fertilizer conditions as these provide a stronger differentiation, but the final selection in later generations should be conducted with a nitrogen fertilization as in the target environment.
Effects of different ground segmentation methods on the accuracy of UAV-based canopy volume measurements
(2024) Han, Leng; Wang, Zhichong; He, Miao; He, Xiongkui; Han, Leng; College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China; Wang, Zhichong; Tropics and Subtropics Group, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; He, Miao; College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China; He, Xiongkui; College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
The nonuniform distribution of fruit tree canopies in space poses a challenge for precision management. In recent years, with the development of Structure from Motion (SFM) technology, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing has been widely used to measure canopy features in orchards to balance efficiency and accuracy. A pipeline of canopy volume measurement based on UAV remote sensing was developed, in which RGB and digital surface model (DSM) orthophotos were constructed from captured RGB images, and then the canopy was segmented using U-Net, OTSU, and RANSAC methods, and the volume was calculated. The accuracy of the segmentation and the canopy volume measurement were compared. The results show that the U-Net trained with RGB and DSM achieves the best accuracy in the segmentation task, with mean intersection of concatenation (MIoU) of 84.75% and mean pixel accuracy (MPA) of 92.58%. However, in the canopy volume estimation task, the U-Net trained with DSM only achieved the best accuracy with Root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.410 m 3 , relative root mean square error (rRMSE) of 6.40%, and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 4.74%. The deep learning-based segmentation method achieved higher accuracy in both the segmentation task and the canopy volume measurement task. For canopy volumes up to 7.50 m 3 , OTSU and RANSAC achieve an RMSE of 0.521 m 3 and 0.580 m 3 , respectively. Therefore, in the case of manually labeled datasets, the use of U-Net to segment the canopy region can achieve higher accuracy of canopy volume measurement. If it is difficult to cover the cost of data labeling, ground segmentation using partitioned OTSU can yield more accurate canopy volumes than RANSAC.
Effects of harvest date and ensiling additives on the optimized ensiling of Silphium perfoliatum to prevent faulty fermentation
(2024) Baumgart, Marian; Hülsemann, Benedikt; Sailer, Gregor; Oechsner, Hans; Müller, Joachim; Baumgart, Marian; State Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 9, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany; (B.H.); (G.S.); (H.O.); Hülsemann, Benedikt; State Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 9, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany; (B.H.); (G.S.); (H.O.); Sailer, Gregor; State Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 9, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany; (B.H.); (G.S.); (H.O.); Oechsner, Hans; State Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 9, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany; (B.H.); (G.S.); (H.O.); Müller, Joachim; Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Tropics and Subtropics Group, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 9, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany;; Hu, Wei; Zhou, Zhiguo; Zhao, Wenqing
Silphium perfoliatum , an energy crop with a high fiber content but low concentrations of fermentable carbohydrates, presents challenges for complete fermentation in biogas production. To overcome this, a bioeconomic approach proposes the use of the fibers for paper and board production, which requires high-quality silage with minimal butyric acid, which affects the marketability of the fibers. This study aims to optimize the silaging process of Silphium perfoliatum by investigating the effects of harvest date, bacterial cultures and additives on fermentation results. Laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of three harvest dates on fermentation acid composition, with a focus on increasing lactic acid production to inhibit butyric acid formation. Results indicate that an early harvest date (early September) is critical for achieving stable fermentation and minimizing ensiling losses. The addition of sugar-rich additives, such as syrup, was found to be essential, especially for later harvest dates. Despite these interventions, a late harvest (early November) consistently resulted in suboptimal fermentation. The results suggest that optimizing harvest timing and incorporating appropriate additives are key strategies for producing high quality silage and ensuring the suitability of Silphium perfoliatum fibers for industrial applications.
Efficacy of various mechanical weeding methods - single and in combination - in terms of different field conditions and weed densities
(2021) Naruhn, Georg-Peter; Peteinatos, Gerassimos G.; Butz, Andreas F.; Möller, Kurt; Gerhards, Roland
Public awareness and environmental policies have increased interest in applying non-herbicide weed control methods in conventional farming systems. Even though mechanical weed control has been used for centuries in agricultural practice, continuous developments—both in terms of implements and automation technologies—are continuously improving the potential outcomes. Current mechanical weed control methods were evaluated for their weed control efficacy and effects on yield potential against their equivalent herbicide methods. Furthermore, not much is known about the correlation between weed control efficacy (WCE) of different mechanical methods at varying weed density levels. A total of six experiments in winter wheat (2), peas (2), and soybean (2) were carried out in the years 2018, 2019, and 2020 in southwestern Germany. Harrowing and hoeing treatments at different speeds were carried out and compared to the herbicide treatments and untreated control plots. Regarding the average WCE, the combination of harrowing and hoeing was both the strongest (82%) and the most stable (74–100%) mechanical treatment in the different weed density levels. Whereas, in average, hoeing (72%) and harrowing (71%) were on the same WCE level, but harrowing (49–82%) was more stable than hoeing (40–99%). The grain yields in winter wheat varied between 4.1 Mg∙ha−1 (control) and 6.3 Mg∙ha−1 (harrow), in pea between 2.8 Mg∙ha−1 (hoe slow) and 5.7 Mg∙ha−1 (hoe fast) and in soybean between 1.7 Mg∙ha−1 (control) and 4 Mg∙ha−1 (herbicide). However, there were no significant differences in most cases. The results have shown that it is not possible to pinpoint a specific type of treatment as the most appropriate method for this cultivation, across all of the different circumstances. Different field and weather conditions can heavily affect and impact the expected outcome, giving, each time, an advantage for a specific type of treatment.
Extracellular vesicles isolated from dsRNA-sprayed barley plants exhibit no growth inhibition or gene silencing in Fusarium graminearum
(2022) Schlemmer, Timo; Lischka, Richard; Wegner, Linus; Ehlers, Katrin; Biedenkopf, Dagmar; Koch, Aline; Schlemmer, Timo; Institute of Phytomedicine, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Lischka, Richard; Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany; Wegner, Linus; Intitute of Botany, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany; Ehlers, Katrin; Intitute of Botany, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany; Biedenkopf, Dagmar; Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany; Koch, Aline; Institute of Phytomedicine, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
Numerous reports have shown that incorporating a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-expressing transgene into plants or applying dsRNA by spraying it onto their leaves successfully protects them against invading pathogens exploiting the mechanism of RNA interference (RNAi). How dsRNAs or siRNAs are transferred between donor host cells and recipient fungal cells is largely unknown. It is speculated that plant extracellular vesicles (EVs) function as RNA shuttles between plants and their pathogens. Recently, we found that EVs isolated from host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) or spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) plants contained dsRNA-derived siRNAs. In this study, we evaluated whether isolated EVs from dsRNA-sprayed barley ( Hordeum vulgare ) plants affected the growth of the phytopathogenic ascomycete Fusarium graminearum . Encouraged by our previous finding that dropping barley-derived EVs on F. graminearum cultures caused fungal stress phenotypes, we conducted an in vitro growth experiment in microtiter plates where we co-cultivated F. graminearum with plant EVs isolated from dsRNA-sprayed barley leaves. We observed that co-cultivation of F. graminearum macroconidia with barley EVs did not affect fungal growth. Furthermore, plant EVs containing SIGS-derived siRNA appeared not to affect F. graminearum growth and showed no gene silencing activity on F. graminearum CYP51 genes. Based on our findings, we concluded that either the amount of SIGS-derived siRNA was insufficient to induce target gene silencing in F. graminearum, indicating that the role of EVs in SIGS is minor, or that F. graminearum uptake of plant EVs from liquid cultures was inefficient or impossible.
Fed-batch bioreactor cultivation of Bacillus subtilis using vegetable juice as an alternative carbon source for lipopeptides production: a shift towards a circular bioeconomy
(2024) Gugel, Irene; Vahidinasab, Maliheh; Benatto Perino, Elvio Henrique; Hiller, Eric; Marchetti, Filippo; Costa, Stefania; Pfannstiel, Jens; Konnerth, Philipp; Vertuani, Silvia; Manfredini, Stefano; Hausmann, Rudolf; Gugel, Irene; Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy, (S.V.);; Vahidinasab, Maliheh; Department of Bioprocess Engineering (150k), Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstrasse 12, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany; (E.H.B.P.);; Benatto Perino, Elvio Henrique; Department of Bioprocess Engineering (150k), Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstrasse 12, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany; (E.H.B.P.);; Hiller, Eric; Department of Bioprocess Engineering (150k), Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstrasse 12, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany; (E.H.B.P.);; Marchetti, Filippo; Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy, (S.V.);; Costa, Stefania; Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy, (S.V.);; Pfannstiel, Jens; Core Facility Hohenheim, Mass Spectrometry Unit, University of Hohenheim, Ottlie-Zeller-Weg 2, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany; Konnerth, Philipp; Department of Conversion Technology of Biobased Resources, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 9, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany;; Vertuani, Silvia; Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy, (S.V.);; Manfredini, Stefano; Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy, (S.V.);; Hausmann, Rudolf; Department of Bioprocess Engineering (150k), Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstrasse 12, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany; (E.H.B.P.);; Gudiña, Eduardo
In a scenario of increasing alarm about food waste due to rapid urbanization, population growth and lifestyle changes, this study aims to explore the valorization of waste from the retail sector as potential substrates for the biotechnological production of biosurfactants. With a perspective of increasingly contributing to the realization of the circular bioeconomy, a vegetable juice, derived from unsold fruits and vegetables, as a carbon source was used to produce lipopeptides such as surfactin and fengycin. The results from the shake flask cultivations revealed that different concentrations of vegetable juice could effectively serve as carbon sources and that the fed-batch bioreactor cultivation strategy allowed the yields of lipopeptides to be significantly increased. In particular, the product/substrate yield of 0.09 g/g for surfactin and 0.85 mg/g for fengycin was obtained with maximum concentrations of 2.77 g/L and 27.53 mg/L after 16 h, respectively. To conclude, this study provides the successful fed-batch cultivation of B. subtilis using waste product as the carbon source to produce secondary metabolites. Therefore, the consumption of agricultural product wastes might be a promising source for producing valuable metabolites which have promising application potential to be used in several fields of biological controls of fungal diseases.
Food informatics - Review of the current state-of-the-art, revised definition, and classification into the research landscape
(2021) Krupitzer, Christian; Stein, Anthony
Background: The increasing population of humans, changing food consumption behavior, as well as the recent developments in the awareness for food sustainability, lead to new challenges for the production of food. Advances in the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, including Machine Learning and data analytics, might help to account for these challenges. Scope and Approach: Several research perspectives, among them Precision Agriculture, Industrial IoT, Internet of Food, or Smart Health, already provide new opportunities through digitalization. In this paper, we review the current state-of-the-art of the mentioned concepts. An additional concept is Food Informatics, which so far is mostly recognized as a mainly data-driven approach to support the production of food. In this review paper, we propose and discuss a new perspective for the concept of Food Informatics as a supportive discipline that subsumes the incorporation of information technology, mainly IoT and AI, in order to support the variety of aspects tangent to the food production process and delineate it from other, existing research streams in the domain. Key Findings and Conclusions: Many different concepts related to the digitalization in food science overlap. Further, Food Informatics is vaguely defined. In this paper, we provide a clear definition of Food Informatics and delineate it from related concepts. We corroborate our new perspective on Food Informatics by presenting several case studies about how it can support the food production as well as the intermediate steps until its consumption, and further describe its integration with related concepts.
Governance of land rehabilitation and remediation: case studies of Ghana’s small-scale mining sector
(2024) Adu-Baffour, Ferdinand Ababio; Birner, Regina
The artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector is a complex and evolving industry that presents unique challenges within the global resource landscape. Despite its traditional labeling as artisanal, ASM operations are increasingly becoming mechanized, utilizing heavy machinery and hazardous chemicals such as mercury and cyanide for mineral extraction. Concurrently, the informal nature of most ASM operations limits effective top-down regulatory enforcements due to governance challenges. These developments have led to wide spreads of degraded, contaminated and abandoned rural community lands which also serve as valuable agricultural and forest lands for inhabitants of affected mining communities. While the existing literature has extensively analyzed the impacts of these developments on local, national, and global economies, ecologies, health, and welfare, there remains a notable gap in understanding the governance of rehabilitating and remediating affected environments post-mineral extraction. Furthermore, phytoremediation – a biological innovation which can help remediate contaminated sites and address the problem of soil degradation and erosion, with reported economic and environmental benefits – has only seen very limited global commercial adoption. In regions where traditional remediation approaches are financially untenable, like in the Global South, however, phytoremediation is argued to be a suitable and viable solution towards a greener future for remediation and environmental restoration. This thesis aims to address the knowledge gaps pertaining to the governance of rehabilitating and remediating affected environments affected by mineral extraction in the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector. Specifically, it focuses on systematically investigating the governance challenges in ASM, exploring community-based solutions for sustainable land restoration, and proposing a framework for the broader-based application of phytoremediation to address land contamination in the small-scale gold mining sector in Ghana. These research objectives are structured around three chapters, with the first two focusing on empirical case studies and the last chapter serving as a review of scientific and grey literature, as well as project reports on land rehabilitation and phytoremediation. Chapter 2, which addresses the first objective, delves into the obstacles hindering the implementation of the legal framework for artisanal small-scale mining (ASM) in Ghana. The first part conducts an institutional analysis of the legal and political framework governing Ghana’s small scale mining sector, with a particular focus on its implications for post-mined land rehabilitation efforts. This is followed by an assessment of the practical application of the legal framework in the context of small-scale gold mining (ASGM) value chain, using the Process Net-Mapping tool along with stakeholder interviews. The study reveals outdated legislation, formal licensing bureaucracies, land tenure issues, and ineffective collaboration among stakeholders as major bottlenecks. Drawing on these insights, the chapter discusses the broader implications of the findings for the effective running of the ASGM value chain and recommends, among other things, the adoption of collaborative governance systems, like co-management, to ensure sustainability. Chapter 3, which addresses the second objective, examines community-based solutions for sustainable mined land restoration through a case study of an NGO-initiated project in five active mining communities in Ghana's Amansie West district. The chapter utilizes a combination of qualitative methods including the participatory Net-Mapping tool to explore conditions under which local communities would engage in restoration efforts without financial incentives, revealing community support, using communal labor, dependent on factors like land tenure arrangements and local leadership influence. The study underscores the potential of community-led efforts for land rehabilitation, emphasizing the role of social networks, norms, and land tenure structures. Chapter 4, which addresses the third objective, introduces a conceptual framework for the effective and sustainable application of phytoremediation to clean contaminated lands resulting from mining activities. This is the result of insights drawn from existing phytoremediation literature, including case studies where the field application or/and commercialization of phytoremediation has been successful, and lessons gleaned from other real-world applications of the technology. The framework encompasses technical considerations across the phytoremediation process and identifies the socio-cultural, economic, political, and institutional conditions necessary for successful large-scale implementation. The paper provides valuable guidance for regions seeking to leverage phytoremediation to benefit society and the environment. In conclusion, this thesis contributes to understanding the challenges facing the ASM sector and proposes innovative solutions to address governance issues, promote community-based land restoration, and facilitate the scaling of phytoremediation initiatives for sustainable development in the mining sector, particularly in developing regions. The holistic approach advocated in this thesis underscores the importance of legal reforms tailored to the constantly evolving ASM sector, stakeholder collaboration, adaptive governance systems, and community engagement to effectively navigate the intricate ASM landscape and maximize its beneficial effects on local livelihoods and development worldwide.
How many checks are needed per cycle in a plant breeding or variety testing programme?
(2025) Piepho, Hans‐Peter; Laidig, Friedrich; Piepho, Hans‐Peter; Biostatistics Unit, Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Laidig, Friedrich; Biostatistics Unit, Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
Check varieties are used in plant breeding and variety testing for a number of reasons. One important use of checks is to provide connectivity between years, which facilitates comparison among genotypes of interest that are tested in different years. When long‐term data are available, such comparisons allow an assessment of realized genetic gain (RGG). Here, we consider the question of how many check varieties are needed per cycle for a reliable assessment of RGG. We propose an approach that makes use of variance component estimates for relevant random effects in a linear mixed model and plugs them into an analysis of dummy datasets set up to represent the design options being considered. Our results show that it is useful to employ a larger number of checks and to keep the replacement rate low. Furthermore, there is intercycle information to be recovered, especially when there are few checks and replacement rates are high, so modelling the cycle main effect as random pays off.
Impacts of different light spectra on CBD, CBDA and terpene concentrations in relation to the flower positions of different cannabis Sativa L. strains
(2022) Reichel, Philipp; Munz, Sebastian; Hartung, Jens; Kotiranta, Stiina; Graeff-Hönninger, Simone
Cannabis is one of the oldest cultivated plants, but plant breeding and cultivation are restricted by country-specific regulations. The plant has gained interest due to its medically important secondary metabolites, cannabinoids and terpenes. Besides biotic and abiotic stress factors, secondary metabolism can be manipulated by changing light quality and intensity. In this study, three morphologically different cannabis strains were grown in a greenhouse experiment under three different light spectra with three real light repetitions. The chosen light sources were as follows: a CHD Agro 400 ceramic metal-halide lamp with a sun-like broad spectrum and an R:FR ratio of 2.8, and two LED lamps, a Solray (SOL) and an AP67, with R:FR ratios of 13.49 and 4, respectively. The results of the study indicated that the considered light spectra significantly influenced CBDA and terpene concentrations in the plants. In addition to the different light spectra, the distributions of secondary metabolites were influenced by flower positions. The distributions varied between strains and indicated interactions between morphology and the chosen light spectra. Thus, the results demonstrate that secondary metabolism can be artificially manipulated by the choice of light spectrum, illuminant and intensity. Furthermore, the data imply that, besides the cannabis strain selected, flower position can have an impact on the medicinal potencies and concentrations of secondary metabolites.

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