Rhodiola rosea potential of cultivation in an indoor vertical farming system enhancing the production of bioactive substance

Rhodiola rosea ist eine mehrjährige Heilpflanze, deren Wurzeln für die Pharmaindustrie bedeutsame Wirkstoffe enthält. Im Rahmen des Projekts “Aufbau eines Forschungsschwerpunkts Indoor Farming“ forschen die Fachbereiche Gartenbau und Biotechnologie der Hochschule Weihenstephan-Triesdorf gemeinsam an einer optimierten Kultivierung und der Nutzung des pflanzlichen Rohstoffes. Dabei steht insbesondere die Inkulturnahme von Rhodiola rosea in das hydroponische Kulturverfahren einer Indoor Vertical Farm im Vordergrund. Die erfolgreiche Inkulturnahme von Rhodiola rosea in den zwei unterschiedlichen Bewässerungssystemen, Deep Water und Aeroponik, lieferte erste Erkenntnisse hinsichtlich potenzieller Erträge in Indoor Vertical Farmen und ermöglicht fortlaufende Untersuchungen zur Identifikation einer angepassten Kulturführung. Für die chemische Analyse der Sekundärmetaboliten erfolgte eine Anpassung der Extraktionsmethode für Salidrosid, Rosavine und Tyrosol. Die Untersuchungen zu den Gehalten an Sekundärmetaboliten aus dem Feldanbau wurden an Modell-Pflanzenmaterial unterschiedlichen Alters durchgeführt. Hierfür wurden sowohl oberirdische als auch unterirdische Pflanzenteile miteinbezogen. Im mehrlagigen Indoor Farming System lag die Trockenmasse der jungen Rhodiola-Pflanzen nach 63 Tagen Kulturzeit bei 1,54 ± 0,77 g/Pflanze im Deep Water System und bei 0,91 ± 0,35 g/Pflanze im Aeroponischen System. In zukünftigen Versuchen sollen sowohl das Aeroponische System als auch die Einflüsse einer Indoor Vertical Farm auf die Produktion von Sekundärmetaboliten näher betrachtet werden. Diese und folgende Ergebnisse bilden die Basis für die Optimierung der Herstellung von Rhodiola rosea Produkten.Rhodiola rosea is a perennial medicinal plant whose roots contain active ingredients that are of special interest to the pharmaceutical industry. As part of the project "Establishment of a research focus on indoor farming", horticulturists and biotechnologists at the University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf conduct joint research with an overall aim to optimize plant cultivation and a holistic use of all plant raw materials. In particular, the focus is on the incultivation of Rhodiola rosea in the hydroponic cultivation systems of an indoor vertical farm. The successful cultivation of Rhodiola rosea in deep water and aeroponic as hydroponic systems, provided first insights regarding potential yields that can be reached in an indoor vertical farm as well as valuable data for the ongoing investigations to identify an adapted culture management. For the chemical analysis of secondary metabolites, an existing extraction method was adjusted for salidroside, rosavine and tyrosol. The investigations on the contents of secondary metabolites from field cultivation were carried out on model plant material. For this purpose, both above-ground and below-ground plant parts were included. In the multilayer indoor farming system, the dry weight of the Rhodiola rosea plants was 1.54 ± 0.77 g/plant in the deep water system and 0.91 ± 0.35 g/plant in the aeroponic system after a cultivation time of 63 days. In future trials, both the aeroponic system and the influences of an indoor vertical farm on secondary metabolite production will be considered in more detail. These and the following results will form the basis for optimizing the production of Rhodiola rosea products

Sculpting the soil microbiota

Soil is a living ecosystem, the health of which depends on fine interactions among its abiotic and biotic components. These form a delicate equilibrium maintained through a multilayer network that absorbs certain perturbations and guarantees soil functioning. Deciphering the principles governing the interactions within soils is of critical importance for their management and conservation. Here, we focus on soil microbiota and discuss the complexity of interactions that impact the composition and function of soil microbiota and their interaction with plants. We discuss how physical aspects of soils influence microbiota composition and how microbiota–plant interactions support plant growth and responses to nutrient deficiencies. We predict that understanding the principles determining the configuration and functioning of soil microbiota will contribute to the design of microbiota-based strategies to preserve natural resources and develop more environmentally friendly agricultural practices

A randomized controlled trial testing the effectiveness of a universal school-based depression prevention program 'Op Volle Kracht' in the Netherlands

Contains fulltext : 102521.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)Background: The incidence of depressive symptoms increases during adolescence, from 10.0% to 24.5% at age 11 to 15, respectively. Experiencing elevated levels of depressive symptoms increases the risk of a depressive disorder in adulthood. A universal school-based depression prevention program Op Volle Kracht (OVK) was developed, based on the Penn Resiliency Program, aimed at preventing the increase of depressive symptoms during adolescence and enhancing positive development. In this study the effectiveness of OVK will be tested and possible mediators of program effects will be focus of study as well. Method: The effectiveness of OVK will be tested in a randomized controlled trial with two conditions, intervention (OVK) and control condition (care as usual). Schools are randomly assigned to research conditions. OVK will be incorporated in the school curriculum, maximizing program attendance. OVK consists of 16 lessons of 50 min, given by trained psychologists to groups of 11-15 students. OVK contains Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, social skills training, problem solving and decision making. Outcomes are measured at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months follow up, to monitor long term program effects. Primary outcome is level of depressive symptoms, secondary outcomes are: anxiety, hopelessness, cognitive bias, substance use, truancy, life satisfaction, coping, self-efficacy, optimism, happiness, friendship, school performance and school attitude. The questionnaires for students will be administered in the school setting. Parents will complete a questionnaire at baseline only. Discussion: In this paper the study into the effectiveness of the depression prevention program OVK was described. It is expected that OVK will prevent the increase in depressive symptoms during adolescence and enhance positive development in the intervention condition, compared to the control condition. If OVK will be effective, it can be implemented in the school context by which numerous adolescents can be reached.9 p

An Evaluation of a Mental Health Promotion Programme to Improve Emotional, Social and Coping Skills in Children and Young People Attending Special Schools

Background: Research evidence suggests that a child's emotional, social and psychological well-being influences their future health, education and social prospects, and that positive, well-developed coping skills and high emotional literacy lead to improved self-esteem, reduced stress, and reduced incidence of serious emotional problems in later life. Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are at a disadvantage as they tend to have lower levels of emotional literacy and may have limited opportunities or capacity to develop coping skills. Few targeted, evidence-based programmes aimed at improving emotional literacy and coping skills are currently available for use in SEND schools.Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness, acceptability and feasibility of the school-based mental health promotion programme Zippy's Friends in SEND schools. The study concentrated on the first three modules of the programme, implemented over the course of an academic year in a cohort of children and young people with SEND.Methods: Fifty-three children and young people attending eight SEND schools participated in the educational programme and study. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected using standardized assessment scales, purposed-designed questionnaires, emotion recognition tasks and interviews to assess typical and maximal behavior of the children as well feedback on the programme. Data were collected from children, parents/guardians/care givers, and teachers before and after the intervention. The results of the qualitative data will be presented elsewhere.Results: Teachers' ratings indicated that the children's and young people's social skills, emotional literacy, and emotional recognition improved over the course of the study. Significant improvements were observed in teachers' ratings of communication, cooperation, assertion, responsibility, and self-awareness. Parental ratings did not change over time.Conclusions: This small-scale study indicates that the Zippy's Friends programme is feasible and may lead to improved emotional literacy. However, further research is needed that uses a comparison group to isolate the effects of the programme from factors such as age-related maturation, development, and usual school-based learning