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Petrakis T, Ioannou P, Kitsiou F, Kavga A, Grammatikopoulos G, Karamanos N. Growth and Physiological Characteristics of Strawberry Plants Cultivated under Greenhouse-Integrated Semi-Transparent Photovoltaics. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:768. [PMID: 38592777 PMCID: PMC10975373 DOI: 10.3390/plants13060768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
The integration of semi-transparent photovoltaics into the roof of greenhouses is an emerging technique used in recent years, due to the simultaneous energy and food production from the same piece of land. Although shading in many cases is a solution to maintain the desired microclimate, in the case of photovoltaic installations, the permanent shading of the crop is a challenge, due to the importance of light to the growth, morphogenesis, and other critical physiological processes. In this study, the effect of shade from semi-transparent photovoltaics on a strawberry crop (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) was examined, in terms of growth and quality (phenolic and flavonoid concentration of fruits). According to the results, in non-shaded plants, there was a trend of larger plants, but without a significant change in leaf number, while the total number of flowers was slightly higher at the end of the cultivation period. Moreover, it was found that the percentage change between the number of ripe fruits was smaller than that of the corresponding change in fruit weight, implying the increased size of the fruits in non-shaded plants. Finally, regarding the antioxidant capacity, it was clearly demonstrated that shading increased the total phenolic content, as well as the free-radical-scavenging activity of the harvested fruits. Although the shading from the semi-transparent photovoltaics did not assist the production of large fruits, it did not affect their number and increased some of their quality characteristics. In addition, the advantageous impact of the semi-transparent photovoltaics in the energy part must not be neglected.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paraskevi Ioannou
- Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis & Matrix Pathobiology Research Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (P.I.); (N.K.)
| | - Foteini Kitsiou
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (F.K.); (G.G.)
| | - Angeliki Kavga
- Department of Agriculture, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece;
| | - George Grammatikopoulos
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (F.K.); (G.G.)
| | - Nikos Karamanos
- Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis & Matrix Pathobiology Research Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (P.I.); (N.K.)
- Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH)/Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences (ICE-HT), 26504 Patras, Greece
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Zykova MV, Brazovskii KS, Bratishko KA, Buyko EE, Logvinova LA, Romanenko SV, Konstantinov AI, Krivoshchekov SV, Perminova IV, Belousov MV. Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship, Ontology-Based Model of the Antioxidant and Cell Protective Activity of Peat Humic Acids. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:3293. [PMID: 36015549 PMCID: PMC9412878 DOI: 10.3390/polym14163293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Peat humic acids are well known for their wide range of biological effects which can be attributed to the complex chemical structure of naturally occurring humic substances. One of the promising tools is an ontology-based quantitative analysis of the relationship between physical and chemical parameters describing a chemical structure of peat humic acids and their biological activity. This article demonstrates the feasibility of such an approach to estimate the antioxidant and cell protective properties of the peat humic acids. The structural parameters of the peat humic acids were studied by electronic, fluorescence, infrared, 13C-NMR spectroscopy, titrimetric analysis, elemental C,H,N, and O- analysis, and gel chromatography. Antioxidant and antiradical activities were assessed by physicochemical methods of analysis: electronic paramagnetic resonance, cathodic voltammetry, ABTS•+ scavenging, assay of DPPH radical-scavenging activity, assay of superoxide radical-scavenging activity, iron chelating activity, and scavenging of hydroxyl radicals. Cytoprotective activity was evaluated by the neutral red-based cytotoxicity test in 3T3-L1 cell culture in a wide range of concentrations. Assessment of intracellular ROS production was carried out using a 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluoresceindiacetate (DCFDA) fluorescent probe. Intracellular ROS production was induced using two common prooxidants (tert-butyl hydroperoxide, Fe2+ ions). We suggested an ontology-based model for the antioxidant and cytoprotective activity of humic acids based on experimental data and numerical models. This model establishes the way to further research on the biological effects of humic acids and provides a useful tool for numerical simulation of these effects. Remarkable antioxidant and cell protective activity of humic acids makes them a promising natural source of new pharmaceutical substances that feature a wide range of biological effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria V. Zykova
- Pharmaceutical Faculty, Siberian State Medical University, Tomsk 634050, Russia
| | - Konstantin S. Brazovskii
- Research School of Chemistry & Applied Biomedical Sciences, National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk 634050, Russia
| | | | - Evgeny E. Buyko
- Pharmaceutical Faculty, Siberian State Medical University, Tomsk 634050, Russia
| | | | - Sergey V. Romanenko
- Pharmaceutical Faculty, Siberian State Medical University, Tomsk 634050, Russia
- Research School of Chemistry & Applied Biomedical Sciences, National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk 634050, Russia
| | - Andrey I. Konstantinov
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskiye Gory 1-3, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | | | - Irina V. Perminova
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskiye Gory 1-3, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Mikhail V. Belousov
- Pharmaceutical Faculty, Siberian State Medical University, Tomsk 634050, Russia
- Research School of Chemistry & Applied Biomedical Sciences, National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk 634050, Russia
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