Low-intensity light cycles improve the quality of lamb's lettuce (Valerianella olitoria [L.] Pollich) during storage at low temperature

The influence of light on fresh-cut vegetables during storage is controversial, since both positive and negative effects on shelf-life and quality of such products have been observed. In this work, the effect of low-intensity light treatments on lamb's lettuce, a fresh-cut leafy and ready-to-eat vegetable, was investigated during storage at low temperature (6 °C), in comparison with conventional storage (in the dark at 4 °C). Although continuous light treatment (1 cycle of 8 h per day) was deleterious, cycles of light treatments (8 cycles of 1 h per day; 16 cycles of 0.5 h per day) showed positive effects, assessed by evaluating the content of chlorophylls, carotenoids, ATP, glucose and ascorbate. These analyses were performed at the beginning and after 6 days of storage, in comparison with samples stored in the dark at 4 °C. Under low-intensity light treatments, even if performed at a higher temperature (6 °C), the content of such bioactive compounds increased or was at least similar to that found in samples stored in the dark at the same temperature. We suggest that continuous low-intensity light treatments during cold storage of lamb's lettuce are able to promote photosynthesis but, at the same time, induce photo-damage. On the contrary, under intermittent low-intensity light cycles, photosynthesis is only partially activated, while the metabolism of the green tissues is still able to provide carbon moieties for the synthesis of bioactive molecules involved in delaying senescence. Therefore, low-intensity light cycles at 6 °C could contribute to maintain quality of lamb's lettuce, with respect to samples stored in the dark at both 6 and 4 °C. Finally, setting the temperature at 6 °C allows reduction of refrigerator energy consumption during storage.     

田菁翻压还田对滩涂土壤碳氮及微生物生物量的影响

为探讨不同施肥处理下田菁翻压还田对滩涂土壤的改良效果,通过田间小区试验对不同施肥处理(CK、SN1、SN2、SN3、SN4及SN4+OF对应的施氮量分别为N 0、90、135、180、225 kg/hm~2及N 225 kg/hm~2+有机肥)下田菁生物量、碳氮养分含量及翻压还田对土壤碳氮、微生物生物量的影响及各指标间的相关性进行了研究。结果表明:SN3处理对提高田菁总生物量及两次刈割地上部碳氮含量效果明显。SN4+OF处理下田菁翻压还田后土壤有机碳、全氮及固定态铵含量明显提升,分别为6.44 g/kg、0.62 g/kg和40.1mg/kg,土壤活性有机碳、硝态氮、铵态氮、微生物生物量碳氮(MBC、MBN)含量及碳库管理指数(CPMI)均以SN2处理下田菁翻压还田效果较优。土壤C/N、MBC/MBN比值分别以SN4+OF和SN2处理下田菁翻压还田最高。因此,SN3处理可明显提高田菁生物量和碳氮养分含量,而田菁翻压还田效果则以SN2及SN4+OF处理较优。