Biotechnical Educational Centre Ljubljana

Abstract This study examined the effect of pulsed electric field pre-treatment at three intensities (1.78, 5.3, and 10.7 kJ/kg) on the yield and physicochemical properties of aronia and haskap juices. PEF significantly increased juice yield by 18.0% points in aronia (from 39.3% to 57.3%) and 30.6% points in haskap (from 29.2% to 59.8%) at 10.7 kJ/kg. Physicochemical properties were also affected: pH, total soluble solids, and viscosity increased, while both juices retained pseudoplastic flow behaviour. PEF induced significant colour changes, with total colour difference increasing progressively with treatment intensity. PEF enhanced sugar extractability, increasing total sugars from 169.4 to 210.0 g/L in aronia (mainly glucose and sorbitol) and from 115.2 to 142.1 g/L in haskap (mainly glucose and fructose). Organic acids increased by 26-27%, with higher citric, malic, and quinic acids. Phenolic compounds, especially anthocyanins, increased from 8.60 to 15.12 g/L in aronia and from 5.65 to 10.18 g/L in haskap, along with increases in flavonols and total phenolics. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships between juice yield, sugar content, total acids, and phenolic compounds in aronia, while moderate positive correlations were observed between these parameters in haskap. Overall, PEF at 10.7 kJ/kg effectively improved yield and compositional quality of both aronia and haskap juice.

BackgroundThe genetic diversity and ploidy of apple varieties in Slovenia is not well known so far. In this study, a total of 233 genotypes and 8 reference varieties were analysed with a set of 15 SSR markers in order to estimate the genetic diversity and to determine the genetic structure and relationships among the apple germplasm studied.ResultsA total of 228 different alleles were successfully amplified, with an average of 15.2 alleles per locus. All markers were highly discriminating and powerful for varietal identification, with an average power of discrimination of 0.94. The results showed that the germplasm is highly diverse with a mean expected heterozygosity of 0.83 and a mean observed heterozygosity of 0.86. Of the 233 genotypes, 51 were recognised as synonyms and duplicates (22% redundancy), and a total of 182 unique genotypes were identified in the collections. An amount of 23% of the genotypes were identified as triploids by flow cytometry. The UPGMA clustering revealed three main groups. The genetic analysis, which was performed using the Bayesian model, revealed a very strong differentiation into two main groups. The first group comprised 85 genotypes (72% with qI > 0.80), including four reference varieties and seven local varieties. The second group comprised 105 genotypes (65% with qI > 0.80), including 4 reference varieties and two local varieties. In addition, nested Bayesian clustering was applied to these two groups, and four and two sub-groups were found, respectively.ConclusionsAltogether, this study of apple germplasm in the Slovenian landscape indicate a high diversity of apple varieties present and underline the importance of preserving these varieties. The SSR markers used, helped to identify duplicates, synonyms and homonyms within and between collections, which will help us to establish a core collection.

Abstract The research aims to improve the durability and functionality of traditional wooden structures through innovative technologies, reducing the ecological footprint and enhancing the economic viability of local materials. The model benches are made from five different types of indigenous conifer wood: Norway spruce, scots pine, larch, thermally modified spruce, and spruce treated with a copper-ethanolamine based biocide. Sensors installed on the benches allow continuous monitoring of wood moisture, a key factor in determining material durability under specific climatic conditions. Collected data will enable the evaluation of optimal wood types for various climatic conditions, promoting the wider use of indigenous, environmentally renewable materials. The project also aims to connect the wood protection industry with end-users, fostering sustainable approaches to environmental preservation, cultural landscapes, and wooden heritage. The research results support the application of wood materials in sectors such as agriculture, maritime transport, and tourism, contributing to ecologically sustainable and economically efficient use of natural resources.

Obesity is a complex disease marked by excessive, dysfunctional adipose tissue accumulation. Recent research underscores the pivotal role of brown adipose tissue (BAT) in metabolic health and its potential as a therapeutic target for obesity management. Emerging preclinical and clinical evidence suggests that second-generation anti-obesity drugs, especially dual agonists such as tirzepatide, may enhance BAT activity. Additionally, beige adipose tissue, derived from white adipose tissue (WAT), may contribute significantly to whole-body thermogenesis, yet its role remains underexplored. This investigator-initiated, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate the effects of tirzepatide on BAT activity and WAT browning in premenopausal women with obesity. Thirty-four participants will be randomized 1:1 to receive either tirzepatide or a placebo for 24weeks. Primary outcomes include changes in BAT volume and activity, assessed using 18F-FDG-PET/CT, MRI, and infrared thermography, as well as the induction of WAT browning, evaluated through changes in mRNA expression patterns and histomorphometric alterations in subcutaneous adipose tissue samples. Secondary outcomes will involve the assessment of whole-body composition, resting energy expenditure, and various metabolic health markers, correlated with thermogenic adipose tissue changes. Comparative analysis of BAT assessment methods will refine protocols for research and clinical use. This study is the first to systematically explore the potential of pharmacological obesity management to enhance BAT activity and induce WAT browning. Results may establish thermogenic adipose tissue augmentation as a novel mechanism of action for second-generation anti-obesity medications. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06893211. Registered on 2025 March 25.

Controlled experiments suggest that the seasonal build-up of nitrogen (N) limitation constrains the responses of forest autumn phenology to elevated temperatures. Therefore, rising soil N is expected to increase the delaying effects of elevated temperature on the end of the season, i.e., leaf senescence. However, the interactive effects of temperature, soil N, and aridity on xylem autumn phenology remain unknown. We conducted a wide spatial analysis from 75 conifer sites in the Northern Hemisphere and found that rising soil N increases the delaying effects of elevated temperature on the end of xylem cell wall thickening but reduced the delaying effects on the cessation of cell enlargement, especially in humid regions. The contrasting effects of elevated soil N on cell enlargement versus cell wall thickening could affect xylem cell anatomy, thereby induce changes in wood density, and induce a decoupling of stem size growth from photosynthate production. These analyses extend previous findings on forest autumn phenology by systematically investigating the spatial variation in the interactive effects of temperature and soil N on xylem autumn phenology at the cellular scale.

This study investigated the effect of a local Plant Growth Promoting Bacterium (PGPB strain I-II) on the vegetative growth of Cinnamomum verum under field conditions. A field trial was conducted using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in the Low Country Wet Zone of Sri Lanka. Three treatments were tested: an untreated control, the recommended dose of inorganic fertilizer, and the PGPB strain I-II. Four-month-old cinnamon plants were established in two blocks, with four replicates per treatment in each block. Inorganic fertilizer was applied twice a year according to standard recommendations. For the bacterial treatment, a suspension of PGPB strain I-II (10⁹ CFU mL-1) was sprayed on the foliage every two weeks. After 18 months, data were collected on plant height, stem circumference, number of leaves, internodal length, and chlorophyll content index (CCI). Plants treated with PGPB strain I-II did not differ significantly in plant height (104.13±7.31 cm) and CCI (42.73±1.96) compared to those treated with inorganic fertilizer (92.75±6.63 cm and 35.95±4.33, respectively; p>0.05). However, the total number of leaves in the PGPB strain I-II treatment (238.75±49.49) was significantly higher than that of the fertilizer (121.75±27.81) and control (118.38±35.29) treatments. The positive impact of PGPB strain I-II on vegetative growth enhancement suggests its potential as an alternative to inorganic fertilizer, warranting further validations across diverse cinnamon-growing regions.