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Sustainable improvements in agricultural production and productivity necessitate efficient resource utilization; relay intercropping can improve crop yield and land productivity while using fewer inputs. Thus, in a three-year field trial, different cucurbit vegetable crops were tested to see if they were suitable for relay intercropping with perennial castor (Ricinus communis L.). These treatments encompassed various intercropping strategies involving castor, each paired with a different cucurbit: bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula), snake gourd (Trichsanthus cucumerina), bottle gourd (Legenaria siceraria), coccinia (Trichsanthus dioica), and cucumber (Cucumis sativus). Castor and cucumber relay intercropping systems produced the highest castor equivalent yield (1701 kg/ha), followed by castor and ridge gourd (1596 kg/ha). Among all the cucurbit intercropping systems, the castor + cucumber relay system had the highest productivity (4.66 kg/ha/day), profitability (338.8 Rs/ha/day), and relative economic efficiency (198.5%). The best moisture-use efficiency was achieved by castor and bitter gourd relay intercropping (6.58 kg/ha/mm), followed by castor and bottle gourd relay intercropping (6.35 kg/ha/mm). There was a higher net return for relay intercropping of castor and cucumber (Rs.1,23,662/ha), followed by castor and ridge gourd (Rs.1,20,515/ha). Perennial sole castor produced 1312 kg of seeds per hectare, despite its low monetary returns of Rs 41,801/hectare. It has been found that relay intercropping between castor and ridge gourd (3.29), followed by castor and bitter gourd (3.29), produces the highest benefit-cost ratio. As a result, the relay intercropping system, which determines the competitive interaction and productivity of castor and cucurbits, can provide the greatest benefits.

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Aim: Evidence indicates that demographic factors such as age, gender, and mother's literacy are important predictors of fruit and vegetable consumption among adolescents. So, this study was conducted in order to survey the relation between socio-demographic factors and fruit and vegetable consumption among Tehranian adolescents in 2013. Methods: This cross-sectional study (descriptive-analytic) was carried out for surveying Tehranian adolescents, socio-demographic factors and fruit and vegetable consumption. The total of 500 adolescents (11-14 years old) was included in the study using multistage random sampling method. Being at the age of 11-14 years, giving informed consent, and voluntary participation were criteria for students' selection. Data were gathered using questionnaire encompass socio-demographic characteristics (11 items) and Frequent Fruit and Vegetable Questionnaire (FFQ). Data were analyzed using statistical software SPSS 18 (descriptive statistics, and tests of independent t and one way ANOVA). Findings: There was no relationship between age, gender, family size, parent’s job, and fruit and vegetable consumption. Based on one way ANOVA test, there was a significant relation between vegetable consumption and mother’s and father’s literacy, as well as between home size and fruit and vegetable consumption. Conclusion: The finding that economic factors and parent’s education level have a strong association with the adolescents’ intake of fruits and vegetables in this sample concurs with other research findings regarding the importance of family environment to promote healthy eating behaviors among adolescents.

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The effect of six diets including Scenedesmus quadricauda), manure (cattle+poultry, 1:1 ratio), vegetable (spinach+parsely+coriander, 1:1:1 ratio), algae+soil, vegetable+soil, and manure+soil were examined on culture of freshwater copepod, Acanthocyclopsrobustus, under the experimental conditions of 23±1ºC, 12 hours dark: 12 hours light photoperiod, and light intensity of 60 µmol photons/m²/s. The maximum population density (1282.6±163.7 individuals/L), maximum specific growth rate (SGR) (0.17±0.0 /day) and minimum doubling time (Dt) (4.0±0.1 days) were obtained when A. robustus fed on algae+soil. The nauplii production was 727.3±42.4 (±SE),  272.0±23.5, 267.6±17.7, 147.0±18.2, 33.6±3.8 and 25.0±7.1 ind./L and copepodit production was 311.3±26.8, 124.3±11.1, 183.0±13.0, 59.0±7.1, 14.3±8.1, and 17.6±3.6 ind./L in algae, algae+soil, vegetable, vegetable+soil, manure+soil, and manure, respectively. Correspondingly, the adult production was 208.5±26.8, 51.6±16.5, 192.7±23.7, 91.7±28.4, 8.7±5.4 and 8.7±3.6 ind./L, respectively. The maximum body length (663.8±29.1 µm) and width (526.2±23.7 µm) of A. robustus were recorded when fed with vegetable+soil and vegetable, respectively. The number of nauplii, copepodit, adults, length and width were significantly correlated with EC, BOD and COD. According to results, the A. robustus has suitable potential culture on algal and non-algal diets based on production, growth, body size, BOD and COD, but the better performance obtain on algae+soil and vegetable.

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Regarding the increasing usage of pesticides to a broad variety of crops in Iran, and the importance of public concerns about possible health risks from pesticide residues, chlorinated pesticide residues in vegetables were determined in National Nutrition & Food Technology Research Institute in 2005. Thirty samples (melon, maskmelon, watermelon) were evaluated by an descriptive method. Sample extraction was carried out with ethyl acetate, and the extracts were cleaned up by high performance gel permeation chromatography. Pesticide residues were identified and quantified using gas chromatography ion trap mass spectrometry detector. Recoveries of chlorinated pesticides were within a range from 95-178%. Detection limit of pesticide residues were from 0.01 to 0.05 mgkg-1. The data demonstrated that the samples analysed did not contain residues of the monitored pesticides above the accepted maximum residue limit (MRL) as adapted by the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission.This method proves to be successful in analyzing pesticides in vegetables and provides reliable and accurate results.

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  One of the most important step in the edible oil refining is the elimination of free fatty acids or the acidification. This step is important not only for consumer acceptance, but also because it has the maximum economic impact on production. The good operation of this step can decrease the loss of edible oil in process and affect strongly the final price of production. Industrially the most commonly used method for deacidification is alkali neutralization known mainly as caustic refining. In this method, there is considerable oil loss due to the hydrolysis of neutral oil by caustic. In addition, loss of oil also occurs in the form of occlusion in soapstock, thereby reducing the overall yield of refined product. In the present paper, we have measured these excessive losses of neutral oil in the refinery units of JAHAN vegetable oil Company (Karaj, Iran). Caustic refining units were studied several times in different dates. The samples were withdrawn from input and outputs of each centrifugal separator. The flowrates and operational conditions of each unit were also recorded. The results showed a very variable excessive loss which changes from 0.75 to 2.4 times of sum of free fatty acids and phosphatide contents of crude oil. The crude oil mainly used in the refinery units was degummed soybean oil. Regarding this result, it was concluded that the optimization and control of operation conditions in caustic refining is essential for diminishing the oil losses significantly.

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The study was conducted to determine the distribution of the common Meloidogyne species in research stations and vegetable farms in Ibadan, south-western Nigeria. Galled roots were collected from inoculum plots of four research stations and two vegetable farms. Identification of species was based on juvenile and female morphological characters and specific SCAR primers for Meloidogyne species. The pathogenicity of M. incognita and M. javanica was evaluated at different inoculum levels on tomato in a screenhouse study. M. incognita was the dominant species encountered in research plots, although it often occurred in mixed population with M. javanica and other unidentified species. Growth parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, and yield responded negatively to increasing inoculum levels for all the cultivars except Small Fry and Celebrity. Both cultivars were categorized as resistant to M. incognita and tolerant to M. javanca. The most popularly grown tomato cultivars, Ibadan Local, Roma (Roma type) and Beske were susceptible to both species of root-knot nematodes.  

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  According to increasing trend of the consumption of ready to use leafy vegetables, mainly impact of freezing on sensory attributes of the vegetables and necessity of determination of the best conditions for frozen storage of leafy vegetables, this research carried out for determination of the best frozen storage time and temperature of Allium ampeloprasum, Lepidium sativum and Stureia hortensis mixtures. This study was done at first for storage of ready to use and comminuted leafy vegetables entitled Ghormeh Sabzi mixture in -9, -12 and -18°C as well as 120, 150 and 180 days by explorer method. At second for frying of vegetables of Ghormeh Sabzi and comparison of sensory attributes of freezed vegetables at each month by experimental method. Sensory attributes all treatments containing color, taste and acceptability were evaluated and compared statistically. The results of freezing temperature in 3 times indicate that color in -18°C is the first rank (P≤0.05). Flavour has the first rank in -18°C in 120 and 150 days but flavour in 180 days in -12°C is the first rank without significant difference with -9°C and -18°C. Furthermore, acceptability in -18°C in 3 times is the first rank. The results of freezing time during 3 temperatures indicate that color, flavour and acceptability are not significantly different. The research results indicate that sensory attributes of the vegetables during 180 days frozen storage is affected by freezing temperature mainly rather than freezing time.  

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Efficiency of many herbicides can be increased by adding adjuvants to the spray solution. So, the addition of an appropriate adjuvant to foliar herbicides is important in weed control researches. To identify an appropriate adjuvant for sulfosulfuron and sulfosulfuron + metsulfuron-methyl herbicides against Japanese downy brome Bromus japonicus, two experiments were conducted in randomized complete block design with two factors under field condition separately in Zabol and Zahedan, Iran. Factor A was different doses of herbicide namely 0, 50, 75 and 100% of their recommended dose and factor B was adjuvants including: sweet almond oil, olive oil, sesame seed oil and D-Octil. Results showed that efficiency of sulfosulfuron and sulfosulfuron + metsulfuron-methyl herbicides increased by increasing their doses and adjuvant addition. The addition of sesame seed oil (followed by D-octil) had the highest effect on sulfosulfuron efficacy against Japanese downy brome control. In general, sulfosulfuron at 100% of its recommended dose (26.5 g ha^-1) plus sesame seed oil was the best formulation to control of Japanese downy brome. In addition, this formulation significantly improved wheat grain and biological yield. Adding of D-Octil had the highest influence on sulfosulfuron plus metsulfuron-methyl performance in Japanese downy brome control. The highest wheat grain and biological yield were mainly obtained at 100% recommended dose (40 g ha^-1) of sulfosulfuron + metsulfuron-methyl plus D-Octil followed by sesame oil.
 

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 Few studies have investigated the efficacy of natural enemies against pests in hydroponic farming. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of two predators Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), and Macrolophus pygmaeus Rambur (Hemiptera: Miridae), for controlling Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in hydroponic cultures of Batavia lettuce. Both C. carnea and M. pygmaeus were released weekly with spot treatment: 10-20 individuals /m² and 0.25-5 individuals/ m²/release, respectively. One of the more substantial conclusions from our current study is that C. carnea and M. pygmaeus highly reduced the F. occidentalis larvae and adults (45.85 and 60.91%) over the control treatments. The efficiency of M. pygmaeus was higher than that of C. carnea. The population of F. occidentalis decreased from 8.75, 7.75, and 7.5 individuals /leaf in control to 8.25, 7.0, 6.25, and 3.5, 3, and 2.5 individuals/leaf in the C. carnea and M. pygmaeus, respectively in all three planting cycles. Results also showed that in control and M. pygmaeus, the variation was only significant between cycles 1 and 3. While the C. carnea group showed a significant difference between cycles 1 and 3 and 1 and 2. Results also indicated that M. pygmaeus was more effective than C. carnea as a biocontrol agent against the larvae and mature F. occidentalis. Thus, using M. pygmaeus and C. carnea to manage the thrips damage is advised.

 

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Aims: The consumption of fruits and vegetables has a protective effect on cardiovascular disease and its associated risk factors. The present study aimed to assess the effect of educational intervention on fruit and vegetable consumption, as well as its effect on blood lipid parameters, in government employees.
Materials & Methods: This quasi-experimental cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted in two offices in Qaem Shahr. The data collection tool included a 31-item questionnaire on the frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption and a laboratory test to measure blood lipid parameters. The Chi-square test, t-test, paired sample t-test, and ANCOVA were used for data analysis.
Findings: The study groups significantly differed in mean fruit and vegetable consumption after the six-month intervention (p<0.001). The mean total cholesterol (p<0.001) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C; p=0.005) levels were significantly different between the groups after the intervention. The mean difference of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels showed a significant relationship with the study groups and the interaction of gender and group (p<0.001). The mean difference of total cholesterol (p=0.008) and LDL-C had a significant relationship with the study groups (p=0.03).
Conclusion: Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables is only effective in improving the levels of total cholesterol and LDL-C, but not in lowering triglyceride and HDL-C levels. Therefore, influencing factors, such as the duration of fruit and vegetable consumption, as well as the time required to monitor their effect on these parameters, should be more closely examined.

 

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Enteric viruses are among those pathogens which are responsible for a significant portion of food-borne diseases. Unfortunately, robust, quantitative methods for sampling and analysis of viruses in foods are not well-established. As a result, epidemiologically determined etiologies or pathogen sources in food-borne outbreaks are rarely confirmed by routine virological analysis. In this study, MS2 coliphage was used as a model for enteric viruses. In addition, elution method of virus from the surface of vegetables by different buffers was investigated. Among ten buffers used  for elution of the coliphage,  four buffers (0.05 M glycin and 150mM NaCl, pH 9.5; 0.05 M glycin and 1%(w/v)beef extract, 3%(w/v)beef extract in pH 9.5 or 7.5) showed the highest coliphage recovery (82%, 88%, 92% and 82%  respectively). Furthermore, the coliphage concentration index using polyethylene glycol [10%(w/v)] and NaCl (0.3M) was also evaluated. Up to 80% of the inculated of coliphages were recovered and confirmed that type of buffer had no effect on the concentration index. According to our results, incubation time in solution of polyethylene glycol was an important factor in concentration index. The highest index of concentration was detected in overnight incubation at 4°C.  

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Three dose-response experiments were conducted separately to study the effect of several adjuvants on nicosulfuron efficacy for controlling Amaranthus retroflexus L., Chenopodium album L. and Echinochloa crus-galli L. The experiments were arranged in a completely randomized block design with a factorial arrangement of the treatments and four replications. The treatments consisted of six doses of nicosulfuron at 0 (control), 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 g a.i.ha^-1 of the recommended dose with and without the adjuvants of cotton oil, rocket oil, soybean oil, maize oil, Adigor®, Volck^®, HydroMax^™ at 0.5% (v/v), Cytogate, Trend^® 90, and D-octil^® at 0.2 % (V/V). The efficacy of nicosulfuron in control of A. retroflexus, C. album, and E. crus-galli increased significantly when the adjuvants were used. HydroMax^™ and Trend^® 90 were the best adjuvants, considering enhanced nicosulfuron efficacy for controlling C. album, E. crus-galli, and A. retroflexus. In the presence of HydroMax^™ nicosulfuron efficacy was raised by a factor of 4.02, 3.45, and 1.65-fold for controlling A. retroflexus, E. crus-galli, and C. album, respectively. In general, the efficacy of nicosulfuron to control A. retroflexus and E. crus-galli was higher than C. album.






 

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Extraction of protease from Withania coagulans’ fruits and the effect on proteolysis of Iranian UF white cheese in comparison with pure chymosin and fungi rennet (fromase) were investigated during ripening. The results indicated that, except for pH which was significantly (P< 0.05) lower in cheeses made with Withania coagulans, there was no significant difference observed among the cheeses produced with different rennet preparations as in moisture, fat and salt contents during ripening. The values of pH 4.6- SN and the Urea-polyacrylamide gel Electrophoresis (PAGE) pattern revealed severe proteolysis in cheeses produced with Withania coagulans’ enzyme as compared with animal and fungi rennets. The caseins
s1- and
disappeared in cheeses made with Withania coagulans enzyme preparations. Furthermore, a noticeable increase of soluble nitrogen in 12% trichloroacetic acid (SNTCA) was observed during ripening of cheeses made with vegetable rennet, probably due to an unspecific proteolitic activity of Withania coagulans enzymes as compared to other rennets.

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AISI 4340 steel is a low alloy steel with high tensile strength that has numerous applications in industry. Machinability of this alloy steel has difficulties due to its low heat conduction and high heat concentration in cutting zone. Therefore, use of cutting fluids in machining of this steel is inevitable. On the other hand, environmental problems of using mineral lubricants lead industries into use of biodegradable oils such as Vegetable based cutting fluids. The aim of this study is to investigate the drilling of AISI4340 alloy steel in presence of semi-dry lubricant and using soybean vegetable-based oil. For this purpose, drilling parameters including feed rate and cutting speed at three levels and workpiece hardness at two levels were chosen. Totally 18 experiments were carried out using coated carbide drill. Results revealed that vegetable-based oil can effectively be used in drilling using a semi-dry lubrication method. In addition, feed rate was the most effective parameter on cutting force and surface roughness and by increasing it, the cutting force increased, and the surface quality deteriorated. Also, workpiece hardness showed significant effect on surface roughness.

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A total of 58 bacteria from three fermented vegetables samples were isolated. These isolates were identified as 64% Lactobacillus, 5% Pediococcus, 4.5% Leuconostoc and 26.5% unclassified bacteria based on phenotypic characterizations using morphological and biochemical tests. This identification was completed by culture-independent molecular method based on next-generation sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicons. The V3 and V4 regions of 16S rRNA gene were amplified and sequenced using Illumina MiSeq platform. These data were analyzed with BaseSpace software and Greengenes database. The analysis revealed 77.12% Lactobacillus, 7.51% Pediococcus, 5.61% Leuconostoc, 1.20% Acinetobacter, 1.00% Enterobacter, 0.35% Erwinia, 0.35% Dickeya as the predominant genera and 2.79% unclassified bacteria. At species level, 19.32% Lactobacillus brevis, 15.71% Lactobacillus japonicus, 13.25% Lactobacillus pentosus, 10.26% Lactobacillus senmaizukei, 4.6% Lactobacillus plantarum, 2.65% Leuconostoc mesenteroides and 2.32% Lactobacillus acidifarinae and 17.26% unclassified bacteria were identified. The same identification results were obtained by both phenotypic and Next- generation sequencing assays at genus level. In this study, application of next generation sequencing in identification of whole microbial community of this fermented product revealed that lactic acid bacteria include Lactobacillus, Pediococcus and Leuconostoc as dominant flora, were involved in fermentation process. Non-lactic acid bacteria such as Acinetobacter, Enterobacter, Erwinia and Dickeya genera also play important role in fermented pickled vegetable with tomato juice ripening. Moreover, probiotic bacteria such as Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus pentosus, Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Lactobacillus brevis were identified in this fermented product.

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Various adjuvants carry out different functions depending on the herbicides types and the target species. Outdoor pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of three post-emergence herbicides, namely, clodinafop-propargyl, haloxyfop-p-methyl, and difenzoquat-methyl-sulfate, as influenced by two adjuvants, on wild oat (Avena ludoviciana Durieu.) control. The study was carried out at the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, during 2010. The applied adjuvants were Adigor^® and Propel^™, registered and sold for use with pinoxaden and tralkoxydim herbicides, respectively, at 0.1 and 0.2% (v/v). These two adjuvants in tank-mixture with the tested herbicides were completely compatible physically and resulted in improvement in controlling wild oats. When Propel^™ was added to all three herbicides, herbicidal activity was higher than when Adigor^® was added. With increasing adjuvant concentrations, the performance of the tested herbicides increased significantly. In general, the benefit of the two adjuvants appeared greater for clodinafop-propargyl than for the other herbicides. The performance against wild oat of clodinafop-propargyl, haloxyfop-p-methyl, or difenzoquat-methyl-sulfate plus Propel^™ at 0.2% was higher by 2.92, 1.42, and 1.67 times, respectively, compared with the use of those herbicides without adjuvants. This result may be related to differences in the physio-chemical characteristics of the tested herbicides. Overall, use of Propel^™ with clodinafop-propargyl is recommendable.

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The objective of this work was to study the responses of two baby lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cultivars, namely, green Paris Island and red Sanguine, to different NaCl concentrations (0, 5, 10, and 20 mM). The study was conducted in a floating system and plants were harvested at the stage of 5-6 leaves, outside leaf 6-10 cm in length (25 and 31 days after sowing for green and red lettuce, respectively). Photosynthetic parameters (photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and intercellular CO₂ concentration) and yield (leaf fresh weight) as well as color [L* (lightness), C* (saturation), Hº (object’s color)], pigments (Chla, Chlb, total chlorophyll, carotenoids and anthocyanins) and quality indices (appearance, freshness, taste and texture) were determined. The results indicated that, in both cultivars, leaf fresh weight was reduced at 20 mM NaCl; the reduction depended on the limited water accessibility and photosynthetic rate was suppressed in high salt concentration through stomatal limitations aiming at the retention of water but resulting in restricted availability of CO₂. Nevertheless, no limitations were observed in photosynthetic pigments and, thus, stomatal closure was the dominant factor limiting photosynthesis. On the other hand, salinity improved anthocyanin content and coloration in red lettuce and enhanced freshness in green lettuce.

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The use of chemical compounds is a very simple and effective way to protect agricultural products, against pests. Increasing the unplanned use of these pesticides is a concern, because the pesticides residue in fruits and vegetables can lead to very dangerous side effects in humans. Olive is one of the most useful and consuming fruits in the Iranian community that can be used as pickled olive. Therefore, in this study, fermentation ability to reduce residues of two commonly used pesticides, Malathion and Diazinon studied, and their changes due to product acidity, pH and salt content during the preparation and fermentation processes were meassured. The results showed that washing and debittering operations reduced Malathion and Diazinon to 73.59 and 93.38%, respectively. However, after 20 days fermentation, their reduction was 63.68% and 69.57%, and after 40 days, at the end of production, this decrease was approximately 90.5% and 97.98%, respectively. The residue of Malathion pesticide was significantly different in fermentation days; 1, 10 and 20 (P<0.05), while the mean value for Diazinon was not significant. Overall, the results showed that the fermentation process had a significant effect on Malathion residue (P<0.05) but did not affect Diazinon residue. Also, fermentation had a significant effect on the percentage of salt, pH and acidity (P<0.05). At the end of the fermentation process, no mould growing was observed, but the yeast grow was showed (CFU/g 1450), much lower than the number that could affect the quality of the product. Generally, the fermentation process effectively reduced the amount of residual pesticides, and the operations carried out in the production of pickled olives are more effective to reduce the amount of pesticide residues than the fermentation process itself.

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Despite the relative success of different chemical compounds to improve meat tenderness, adverse effects caused by the use of these compounds on the physicochemical and sensory characteristics of meat, have led to restrictions on their use on an industrial scale. Therefore, in order to prevent these undesirable chemical effects, the application of some natural tenderizers has been considered. Natural meat tenderizers, are substances in those fruits and vegetables containing proteolytic enzymes such as cysteine protease, serine protease, metalloprotease and aspartic proteases. In this paper major biochemical changes that have led to meat tenderness, as well as proper plant sources used in tenderizing process have been reviewed.

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Wild barley has invaded wheat fields ever since flamprop-isopropyl was outdated in Iran. Newly developed herbicides such as sulfosulfuron or sulfosulfuron plus metsulfuron-methyl can control it at higher than recommended dosages, but causing significant wheat injury. Hence, two dose-response experiments were conducted to evaluate their efficacy when tank-mixed with thirteen different vegetable oils, at the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, during 2013. Moreover, a wheat cultivar (Gaskogen) was also treated with effective dose of 90% (ED₉₀) of both herbicides (21.44 grams active ingredient (g ai) of sulfosulfuron ha^-1 and 41.95 g ai of sulfosulfuron plus metsulfuron-methyl ha^-1) with and without each vegetable oil to check selectivity. Averaged over vegetable oils, the effective dose of 50% (ED₅₀) was decreased 2.6- and 3.0-fold with sulfosulfuron and sulfosulfuron plus metsulfuron-methyl, respectively. Among the evaluated vegetable oils, cottonseed and coconut oil were the best ones to enhance the efficacy of both herbicides. The castor oil had the least effect. A negative correlation was observed between the efficiency of vegetable oils and its unsaturated/saturated fatty acids ratio. No phytotoxic effect on wheat was observed when these herbicides were applied with or without the vegetable oils.