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Now showing items 687-706 of 3247
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(2020)We analyse the forest reference level (FRL) projection in Finland. FRLs are included in the European Unions’ new land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) regulation (EU 2018/841) that is part of the actions towards the Paris Agreement’s climate mitigation targets. The regulation defines the accounting rules for carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions within the sector. We build on the LULUCF regulation, the provided guidance documents on the FRL projection, national forestry accounting plans and the existing studies concerning the FRL projections. Business-as-usual reference levels were used for the Kyoto Protocol’s second commitment period. The parties of the Kyoto Protocol had an incentive to report high harvest levels (Frieden et al. 2012). Thus, the reference levels overestimated the harvests by including in assumptions about future policies. Some of the assumptions did not materialize and this led to windfall carbon credits (Grassi et al. 2018, Krug 2018). Such overestimation has happened, for example, in Finland. In this thesis we analyse, whether the new forest reference levels are able to avoid problems that occurred during the Kyoto Protocol. The LULUCF regulation is set for the compliance period (CP) of 2021-2030. The forest reference level is a baseline projection for the forest carbon sink, defined by the historical forest management practices of the reference period (2000-2009). Age-related dynamics of the forest can be taken into account but any anticipated policy changes need to be excluded from the projection. The FRL indirectly defines the level of harvests that are not considered as emissions. The excess carbon sink can be traded to other Member States or be used to compensate the effort sharing sector’s emissions. One of the suggested principles to project historical forest management is to utilize the intensity of management (Grassi and Pilli 2017, Grassi et al. 2018), which is calculated by dividing the reference period’s harvest by the amount of biomass that was available for the wood supply during the same period. The future harvest level is computed by keeping the intensity of management constant. This principle is used in Finland and in several other EU member states. To analyse the suggested principle, we utilize a partial equilibrium model for forestry and agriculture (Mitra and Wan 1985, 1986, Salo and Tahvonen 2004). Using this model, we are able to compute a FRL in a case where policy shock has increased harvest levels after the reference period. This resembles the situation in Finland. Our numerical results show that the choices on the biomass available for wood supply, interest rate and the starting year of the projection can have significant impacts on the FRL computation. By these choices, a member state is able to overestimate the harvest possibilities. Thus, the EU fails to set a regulation that fully excludes national incentives in specifying the FRL. The setting of the Finnish FRL includes a tendency of minimizing the restrictions on the future harvest levels. This outcome follows by choosing high interest rate, early starting year for the projection and a loose definition for the biomass available for wood supply.
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(2014)Nitrogen leaching is the main cause of nitrogen loss from Finnish agricultural soils. Nitrogen leaching can exceed 20 kg/ha/year. The Finnish waters and the Baltic Sea are affected by nitrogen leaching due to that nitrogen increases algae blooming. Studies have shown that the loss of nitrogen can be decreased by cultivating catch crops. Nitrogen leaching can in some cases be decreased by up to 90 %. In Finland catch crops are seldom grown. Catch crops are thought to be too costly and time consuming. The aim of this study was to investigate how efficiently winter wheat, rye and winter turnip rape function as catch crops and what effect the preceding crops of fallow, barley and peas have on autumn sown crops, with regard to nitrogen levels. A three year-long field experiment was established in 2010 at Viikki research farm in Helsinki. Winter wheat, rye and winter turnip rape were cultivated as catch crops; the preceding crops were fallow in 2010-2011 and barley and pea in 2011-2012. In 2012 winter wheat, rye and winter turnip rape were cultivated with fallow, peas and barley as preceding crops. In this study the soil’s mineral nitrogen content was measured before sowing in autumn and in spring. In 2010-2011 the soil’s mineral nitrogen content was also measured after harvest. The nitrogen content of the plants was measured in autumn. The seed quality and the seed yield were also measured. In autumn 2011 the mineral nitrogen content of the soil was higher after barley than after peas. However, there was more mineral nitrogen after cultivating fallow, compared to peas and barley in autumn 2012. The loss of mineral nitrogen between autumn 2010 and spring 2011 was slight. The nitrogen loss was greatest where winter turnip rape was cultivated, due to the plant’s high nitrogen assimilation. Winter turnip rape accumulated much more nitrogen than rye and winter wheat, whereas rye accumulated more nitrogen than winter wheat in 2010 and 2011. Mineral nitrogen loss between autumn 2011 and spring 2012 was high, over 80 % of the nitrogen was lost due to heavy rainfall and a mild winter.
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(2022)There is a growing demand for new, environmentally sustainable, clean label food additives driven by consumers’ desire for healthier and sensorially appealing food products. The aim of this thesis is to study a novel, “clean label” food additive called fibrillated microcrystalline cellulose (fMCC) in the formation of emulsions, elucidate its stabilization mechanism, as well as emulsion storage stability at room temperature over time. To this aim, oil-in-water emulsions with fMCC and vegetable oil were formed via mechanical treatment. It was found that the oil droplets anchor on the surface of the fibrils attached to the microcrystalline cellulose. After homogenization fMCC formed large, entangled aggregates that were located in the continuous phase of the emulsion. This increased the viscosity of the emulsion, which contributed to the stability of the system. During storage, further aggregation was observed. High oil content emulsions exhibit some coalescence, while oil droplets in low oil content emulsions remained unchanged. In this thesis, it was shown that fMCC can be used as a suitable and environmentally sustainable ingredient for emulsion formation and stabilization, with the added benefit of increasing the fiber content of many processed foods and thus increasing their nutritional value.
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(2017)Over the last decade the focus on locally produced food has notably grown in Finland. The same trend has been visible globally for longer, but the trend has picked up speed in recent years. This is visible by assessing the amount of media attention and the growing interest shown by consumers. This master’s thesis focuses on local food, and specifically on what the consumers value when buying locally produced food in a farm shop. It also studies their attitudes and motivations related to local food and organic products. The material that is used for the study originates from a farm in Southern Finland. The farm’s focus lies on selling all that is produced directly to the consumer via their own farm shop. The study was carried out using a questionnaire that was given to the customers visiting a farm shop in the summer of 2014. 54 customers in the farm shop of Mörby gård filled out a questionnaire consisting of 27 questions. The questionnaire featured both open-end questions and questions with given answers to choose from. The data was analysed with both qualitative and quantitative methods. Most of the participants were female, and more than three quarters had a degree from either a vocational university or a university. The two most commonly used borders for what can be defined as locally produces was the municipality or the county where one resides. Most of the participants identified taste as an important aspect when they buy products in the farm shop. Simultaneously a great many stated that the price wasn’t that important, or they had a neutral viewpoint for this factor. As a negative aspect of shopping for local food in a farm shop participants stated the amount of logistical effort it takes when one has to drive out to a lot of different places in order to get a hold of all the products one wants to buy. At the same time many stated that they value the fact that they can see the production site and the animals for themselves when they visit the farm shop. The study didn’t find that one’s income affected how important one found the price aspect to be. Neither was there statistically significant correlation between how many times per week a person cooked food and the importance of the price aspect.
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(2020)Mikrolevät ovat yksisoluisia organismeja, jotka sisältävät lajista ja kasvatusolosuhteista riippuen proteiineja 25–63 % kuivapainosta, lipidejä 2–25 % kuivapainosta, hiilihydraatteja 35–57 % kuivapainosta ja kivennäisaineita 6–30 % kuivapainosta. Lipideistä 15–57 % on triasyyliglyseroleja ja 0,7–37 % poolisia lipidejä, kuten fosfo- ja glykolipidejä. Mikrolevien koostumusta sekä mikrolevien lipidien uuttoa on tutkittu aiemmin Helsingin yliopistossa, ja näissä tutkimuksissa on herännyt tarve lisätiedolle mikrolevien poolisista lipideistä. Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli luokitella mikrolevien sisältämät lipidit poolisuuden mukaan selvittäen osuudet rasvahappokoostumuksen perusteella. Lisäksi tavoitteena oli kehittää HPLC-menetelmä mikrolevien fosfo- ja glykolipidien määrittämiseen. Poolisten lipidien rasvahappojen määrityksessä mikroleväuutteiden lipidit erotettiin poolisuuden mukaan kiinteäfaasiuutolla ja uutteista määritettiin rasvahappopitoisuudet kaasukromatografisesti. HPLC-menetelmä kehitettiin tutkimalla poolisten lipidien profiileja nestekromatografia-valonsirontadetektorilla (LC-ELSD). Kehitetyllä LC-ELSD-menetelmällä tutkittiin Euglena gracilis ja Selenastrum sp. -mikrolevänäytteiden poolisia lipidiluokkia. Mikrolevänäytteissä esiintyvät fosfo- ja glykolipidit tunnistettiin nestekromatografia-massaspektrometrisesti (LC-MS). Tutkimuksen tuloksista selvisi, että Selenastrum sp. -mikrolevän kokonaislipidipitoisuus oli suurempi kuin E. gracilis -mikrolevän. Molemmilla lajeilla eniten rasvahappoja oli poolisissa lipideissä ja molempien lajien rasvahappokoostumukset vaihtelivat kasvatuserästä ja -olosuhteista riippuen. Kehitetyllä LC-ELSD-menetelmällä mikrolevänäytteiden poolisten lipidien profiileissa erotettiin monogalaktosyylidiasyyliglyseroli (MGDG) ja fosfolipidit luokkana. Tulosten perusteella MGDG vaikuttaisi olevan yleisin glykolipidi tutkituissa mikrolevänäytteissä ja fosfatidyylietanolamiini yleisin fosfolipidi. Glyko- ja fosfolipidiluokissa ei ollut eroa mikrolevälajien tai kasvatuserien välillä. Mikrolevien MGDG:t vaikuttivat sisältävän monityydyttymättömiä rasvahappoja ja fosfolipidit tyydyttyneitä tai kertatyydyttymättömiä rasvahappoja. Lisätutkimusta tarvitaan poolisten lipidien kvantitatiiviseen määrittämiseen ja menetelmän kehittämiseen fosfolipidien erottumisen osalta.
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(2019)Research on phosphorus (P) fertilization of white cabbage has been limited even though white cabbage is an important field vegetable in Finland. The quantities of phosphorus recommended in Finland when cultivating white cabbage are relatively large and excessive fertilization increases the risk of runoff to water systems. Scientific research is needed to determine fertilization levels that ensure good yields while reducing risks to the environment. The effects of P fertilization on yield, phosphorus uptake and phosphorus balance of white cabbage were studied in two soils of different P status in Piikkiö, Finland. The experiment on soil with loamy sand texture and high P status consisted of four fertilization treatments between 0-32 kg P ha-1 while the experiment on clay parcel with relatively low P status consisted of five treatments between 0-100 kg P ha-1, including a starter treatment. Yield, plant P content and P uptake were unaffected by the treatments. Yield was 83-87 t ha-1 on high P soil and 66-69 t ha-1 on low P soil. In high P soil, uptake of P by the plants was 50 kg ha-1 and field P balance was negative in all treatments. In low P soil, uptake was 40-45 kg ha-1 and P balance was positive starting from treatment level 30 kg P ha-1. It is likely that P fertilization levels based on the maximum limits set by the national Agri-environmental Programme are unnecessarily high for white cabbage. A level of fertilization equaling the P uptake of the yield can be recommended.
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(2019)Ruokasipuli (Allium cepa L.) on yksi Suomen eniten viljellyistä avomaan vihanneksista. Sipulin fosforinotosta on vähän kotimaisia tutkimustuloksia ja nykyiset fosforilannoitusmäärät perustuvat asiantuntija-arvioihin ja laskennallisiin keskiarvoihin fosforin otosta. Fosfori on kasveille välttämätön makroravinne, jonka puute heikentää merkittävästi kasvien kasvua. Lannoitteiden sisältämä fosfori on louhittu pääosin uusiutumattomista luonnonvaroista, joten fosforilannoitteiden käytön tulisi olla ympäristön kannalta järkevää. Sipulin fosforinottoa tutkittiin 2014 kahdella maalajilla (karkea hieta, korkea fosforipitoisuus ja hiuesavi, välttävä fosforipitoisuus) Luonnonvarakeskuksen toimipaikalla Piikkiössä. Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli selvittää fosforilannoitustasojen vaikutus sipulin kasvuun, ravinteikkuuteen ja satoon sekä seurata maaperän liukoisen fosforin pitoisuutta kasvukaudella. Tutkimuksessa mitattiin sipulin lehtien kasvu ja ravinnepitoisuus kerran kasvukauden aikana, sekä sadonkorjuun jälkeen satotaso, sipulien ja lehtien ravinnepitoisuus sekä sadon mukana poistuneet ravinteet. Maan helppoliukoisen fosforin pitoisuutta seurattiin viikoittaisilla maanäytteillä. Neliportaisen lannoituskokeen tulokset osoittivat, ettei yksivuotisella lannoituskokeella saatu esiin tilastollisesti merkitseviä eroja satomäärissä tai sadon mukana poistuneiden ravinteiden määrissä eri lannoitustasojen välillä. Fosforilannoitus vaikutti sipulien ravinnepitoisuuksiin vain yksittäisten ravinteiden osalta. Myös maan liukoisen fosforin pitoisuudet tasoittuivat lannoituseroista huolimatta nopeasti samalle tasolle kummallakin maalajilla. Sipulin ravinteiden otto oli hietamaalla 22–26 kg P /ha, 86–102 kg N /ha ja 92–111 kg K /ha ja savimaalla 18–20 kg P/ha, 84–90 kg N /ha ja 92–101 kg K /ha. Sipuleissa ei havaittu fosforinpuutosta, eikä kasvustonäytteiden perusteella voida sanoa, soveltuuko sipulikasvuston mittaaminen tai lehtien ravinteiden analysointi mittaamaan kasvuston fosforin ottoa tai tunnistamaan fosforinpuutoksen oireita. Kokeen tulosten perusteella nykyisin käytettävät fosforilannoitusmäärät ovat sipulin sadonmuodostuksen kannalta riittävät.
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(2016)Loppijärvi on Kanta-Hämeessä sijaitseva matala humusjärvi, jonka rehevöityminen on edennyt poikkeuksellisen nopeasti viimeisen kymmenen vuoden aikana. Useista hoito- ja kunnostustoimista huolimatta järven rehevöityminen on jatkunut voimakkaana ja tilannetta pidetään huolestuttavana. Järven veden laadussa tapahtuneista muutoksista vesikasvillisuudesta ja kalastosta on saatavilla paljon tutkittua tietoa. Sen sijaan järven pohjasedimentistä tiedetään hyvin vähän. Tämän pro gradu -tutkielman tavoitteena oli kartoittaa järven pohjasedimentin tilaa, luoda yleiskuva järven rehevöitymiseen vaikuttavista fysikaalis-kemiallisista ominaisuuksista sekä arvioida sedimentin kuormituspotentiaaliin vaikuttavien ilmiöiden merkitystä. Tutkimus koostui kahdesta osasta. Ensimmäisessä tutkittiin järven pohjasedimentin ominaisuuksia järven eri osista otettujen sedimenttinäytteiden ja niistä määritettyjen raudan, alumiinin, kalsiumin ja fosforin kokonaispitoisuuksien avulla. Toinen osa koostui muhituskokeesta, jossa tarkasteltiin sedimentin happitilan ja järvikunnostuksessa yleisesti käytetyn alumiinikloridin vaikutuksia sedimentin sisältämän fosforin pidättymiseen ja jakautumiseen sekä arvioitiin sen soveltumista järvikunnostukseen laboratoriomittakaavassa. Sedimenttitutkimuksen perusteella Loppijärven nykyinen rehevöitymiskehitys johtuu sisäisestä kuormituksesta, eikä järveen kohdistu kuormitusta pistemäisistä lähteitä. Loppijärven sedimentin Fe:P-suhde vaihteli välillä 15–30. Sedimentin fosforipitoisuus oli noin 2,1 g P kg-1 koko sedimenttiprofiilin syvyydellä ja Fe:P-suhteen vaihtelu johtui pääasiassa sedimentin rautapitoisuudesta. Tulosten perusteella sedimentin fosforinpidätyskyky ei vastannut Fe:Psuhdetta, mikä viittaa muiden tekijöiden vaikuttavan raudan kykyyn pidättää fosforia. Muhituskokeen perusteella alumiinikloridikäsittely ei soveltunut sitomaan fosforia alumiinin aiheuttaman happamoitumisen takia. Alumiinikloridikäsittelyn vaikutus fosforin käyttäytymiseen vaihteli näytteiden hapetustilasta riippuen. Tulosten perusteella rauta sääteli fosforin vapautumista sedimentistä ja paras tulos kunnostustavoitteiden kannalta saatiin hapellisissa olosuhteissa ilman alumiinikloridikäsittelyä. Sedimenttitutkimuksen perusteella kemikaalikäsittelyt voivat auttaa kunnostustavoitteiden saavuttamisessa, mutta rehevöitymisen pysäyttäminen vaatii toimenpiteitä, jotka vaikuttavat sedimentissä vallitseviin olosuhteisiin tai sisäistä kuormitusta sääteleviin prosesseihin.
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(2023)Phosphorus is one of the three main nutrients for plants and sufficient phosphorus uptake is a prerequisite for crop production. Phosphorus exists in organic and inorganic forms in soil, and the stability and biological availability of different forms of phosphorus vary. Fertilizer phosphorus is efficiently adsorbed by aluminium and iron oxides in mineral soils, and due to positive phosphorus balances in the last decades, cultivated soils contain residual phosphorus. In addition to topsoil, phosphorus can accumulate in soil layers below the plough layer. Knowing the size of the phosphorus reserves in soil profile and the proportions of different forms of phosphorus could provide a more reliable assessment of the possibilities for utilizing and considering phosphorus reserves for example in fertilization. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution and stocks of different forms of phosphorus in depth profiles of conventionally and organically managed clay soil and in unmanaged natural grassland. In a field experiment that has lasted 24 years before the sampling, conventional plots were fertilized with inorganic fertilizers, and organically managed plots with organic fertilizers. Total phosphorus, organic phosphorus, and water-extractable phosphate phosphorus were determined in 10 cm layers to an average depth of 70 cm. The stocks of soil total carbon and nitrogen were also determined. Changes in the carbon-to-phosphorus (C:P) and carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratios of soil can affect the mineralization of soil organic matter and thus the release of nutrients for use by organisms. In addition, oxalate-extractable aluminium and iron, representing the concentrations of aluminium and iron oxides, were determined from the samples. Stocks were calculated using the equivalent soil mass (ESM) method, which quantifies stocks in terms of soil mass layers rather than depth layers. The differences in the concentrations and total stocks of the investigated forms of phosphorus between management systems were found to be relatively small. The slight differences in total stocks may indicate that phosphorus fertilization in the cultivated plots has corresponded well with the amount of phosphorus taken up by the crops. However, both conventional and organic plots also showed indications that phosphorus had accumulated in organic form below the plough layer. The use of organic fertilizers on the organically managed plots appeared to maintain the organic carbon content at deeper soil depths, as the carbon concentration of the organically managed plots and the unmanaged grassland with the highest carbon total stock did not differ statistically significantly at depths of 20–30 cm and below 40 cm. In all management systems, approximately one-third of the total phosphorus stock was in organic form. Based on the carbon-to-organic-phosphorus ratios (C:Porg), the soil organic matter in the cultivated plots contained more phosphorus than the unmanaged grassland, which may indicate that more phosphorus net mineralization occurs in the cultivated plots than in the unmanaged grassland.
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(2010)Tutkimuksessa tarkasteltiin öljy-yhdisteryhmien horisontaalista ja vertikaalista jakautumista öljyjätteen loppusijoituspaikkana käytetyssä pellossa. Työn tarkoitus oli saada tietoa maassa tapahtuneesta öljyn mikrobiologisesta hajotuksesta sekä öljyn liikkuvuudesta. Tutkimus on osa viisivuotista kenttäkoetta, jossa selvitetään vuohenherneen (Galega orientalis) kykyä edesauttaa öljyllä pilaantuneen maan biopuhdistumista. Kentän maaperän ominaisuudet karakterisoidaan kattavasti kemiallisin, fysikaalisin ja biologisin menetelmin. Koekenttä perustettiin syksyllä 2006. Se sijaitsee kaltevalla pellolla ja sitä reunustaa toisella puolella metsä ja toisella pengermä. Kenttä jaettiin viiteen kerranteeseen, joista jokainen jaettiin edelleen kasvilliseen ja paljaaseen koeruutuun. Kasvillisiin koeruutuihin kylvettiin vuohenherneen siemeniä. Tutkimusta varten otettiin pintamaanäytteet kuudesta ruudusta, joista kolme oli kasvillisia ja kolme paljaita. Öljyn vertikaalisen jakautumisen tarkastelua varten otettiin näytteet kahdesta maaprofiilista ruutujen ulkopuolelta syvyyksiltä 0–20 cm, 20–40 cm ja 40–60 cm. Yhdisteryhmien suhteellisten osuuksien kvantitointia varten kehitettiin fraktiointimenetelmä, jossa alifaattiset, aromaattiset ja pooliset öljy-yhdisteet eluoitiin poolisuudeltaan kasvavilla liuottimilla silikapylvään läpi. Alifaattien ja aromaattien fraktioista yhdistettiin osa gravimetrisesti määritettävien kokonaisöljyhiilivetyjen määrittämiseksi. Lisäksi analysoitiin kokonaisöljyhiilivedyt C10–C40 ISO 16703:2004 -standardin mukaan (eluointi Florisil-pylvään läpi) sekä kokonaisuuttuva aines. Alifaatit, aromaatit ja kokonaisöljyhiilivedyt C10–C40 määritettiin kaasukromatografisesti. Gravimetrisesti määritettävien kokonaisöljyhiilivetyjen lisäksi kokonaisuuttuva aines ja pooliset yhdisteet määritettiin gravimetrisesti. Pintamaanäytteiden yhdisteryhmien konsentraatiot kasvoivat mentäessä koekentällä pengermää kohti, mikä johtui öljyn kerääntymisestä alarinteeseen ja veden seisomisesta. Profiilinäytteiden konsentraatiot kasvoivat syvemmälle mentäessä, koska öljy liikkuu maaperässä painovoiman vaikutuksesta. Yhdisteryhmät korreloivat positiivisesti keskenään. Poikkeuksen muodosti poolisten yhdisteiden fraktio, joka ei noudattanut samoja trendejä kuin muut öljy-yhdisteryhmät. Kokonaisöljyhiilivetyjen C10–C40 konsentraatiot olivat suunnilleen yhtä suuria kuin alkaanien. Tästä voidaan päätellä, että Florisil oli pidättänyt aromaattiset yhdisteet. ISO 16703:2004 -standardin perusteella saadun kokonaisöljyhiilivetyjen C10–C40 pitoisuuden käyttö mm. riskinarvioinnissa on siten kyseenalaista.
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(2019)Some horses experience a problem called free faecal liquid (FFL). The condition is not characterized by classical diarrhoea but by free liquid that is voided separately from the solid part of the faeces. Problems with FFL include irritation and abrasive lesions in the skin in the rear end. No health issues of more severe character are usually present in these horses, apart from preliminary findings indicating a higher risk of colic when compared to horses without FFL. The reason for why horses develop FFL, and its effects on the horse, are unknown as the subject has not been studied much. It has been suggested that one reason could be in how the horses are fed. It has been speculated that haylage could have an impact on the development of FFL. A study was done with the aim to collect information about feeding and management of horses affected with FFL in Sweden and Norway (n = 100), and to compare faecal composition in horses with and without FFL. This particular part of the study focused on the faecal properties. The objective was to compare chemical composition of the faeces of affected and unaffected horses, in order to detect possible reasons for FFL, which could be studied further. The study was performed with three repeated samplings on all horses. Case and control horses were paired and were housed at the same farm and were fed the same forage. The horse owners were collecting faecal samples using a standardized protocol. The variables examined in faecal samples were dry matter (DM), pH, volume of free liquid after centrifugation, sand, osmolality, acetate, propionate, isobutyrate, n-butyrate and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration of the samples. In samples from the first sampling occasion, differences (P < 0.05) between cases and controls were found in concentration of acetate, isobutyrate and total amount of VFA. Tendencies toward differences (0.10 < P > 0.05) were found in the volume of liquid and sand as well as in n-butyrate concentration. At the second sampling tendencies toward differences were found in the amount of sand and in n-butyrate concentration. In samples from the third sampling a tendency toward difference was present for pH value. All values were or tended to be higher for horses with FFL. Also, clear correlations were found between nearly all the variables. The pH value was found to correlate negatively with osmolality and all the VFAs except for isobutyrate where no correlation was found in any of the sampling occasions. Osmolality was also found to correlate positively with all the VFAs. VFAs correlated positively with one another. The results showed a tendency toward difference in n-butyrate concentration and presence of sand in faecal samples when case and control horses were compared, although not with consistency as samples form the third sampling occasion did not follow results from the first and second samplings. As the results were not constant throughout the study, these two variables may not be reliable when trying to find possible reasons for FFL. Almost all the variables were found to correlate with one another, exception being isobutyrate with pH. As butyrate is a major source of energy for horses and important for the health of the equine intestine, this information could be useful in further studies concerning the possible reasons for FFL.
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(2023)Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, is a common condition in the elderly population that can lead to malnutrition and other health complications. Texture-modified food (TMF) has traditionally been used to address this issue, but they often lack the visual appeal and variety of regular food, which can impact the quality of life of individuals with dysphagia. 3D food printing technology offers a promising solution by allowing for the creation of customised and visually appealing food with modified textures, shapes, flavours and nutrient contents. In addition, fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake of individuals in residential aged care facilities (RACF) is considerably low, hence innovative solutions such as 3D food printing technology has potential to address some of these challenges and improve the provision of nutrient-dense foods in aged care settings. This report investigates the provision and consumption of F&V-based TM and 3D printed foods in RACF. The report explores 1) TMF provision and consumption in Australian RACF by a quantitative data analysis of food consumption data, 2) barriers and enablers in the current TMF provision and consumption while exploring the potential of 3D food printing to be an answer for better nutrition among residents, 3) the sensory acceptance of 3D printed food among RACF staff members and 4) modelling the use of 3D printed food in a current TM menu. The results of the study suggest that F&V consumption of RACF residents is below recommendations, although the intake is still considered adequate on average. The provision and consumption of F&V-based food were spread throughout the day, although there was great between-meal variation. The average total provision of vegetables, fruit and juice were 4.1, 0.7 and 1.2 respectively, whereas consumed amounts were lower: 3.6, 0.6 and 1.1 respectively. Interviewees disclosed 3D printed food to be acceptable, albeit there are multiple barriers for its implementation. 3D printed food has the potential to provide benefits for residents on a TM diet in RACF but was not considered timely or practical for the moment. In particular, 3D printed food was considered to be a promising technology to address the emerging challenges that aged care sector will face in the next decades, however, the technology and its implementation still require development and planning. Menu modelling demonstrated how easily F&V intake can be altered, yet its impact on the intake of nutrients need to be further researched. The study highlights that further research and development are needed to improve technical feasibility and practicality of 3D food printing in aged care settings. Overall, while F&V-based 3D printed food has potential benefits, there are significant challenges that need to be addressed before this technology can be widely adopted in RACF, and for it to be beneficial for the nutritional intake and quality of life of the residents.
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(2015)Ruisleipä on keskeinen elintarvike suomalaisten ravitsemuksessa. Sen valmistuksessa käytetään yhä perinteistä juuritaikinaa eli raskia, joka sisältää maitohappobakteereja ja mahdollisesti hiivoja. Ruis sisältää runsaasti fruktaaneja ja lisäksi raskin fermentoinnin aikana muodostuu mannitolia. Fruktaani ja mannitoli imeytyvät huonosti ohutsuolesta, mutta suoliston bakteerit fermentoivat ne nopeasti. Nopeasti fermentoituvat substraatit saattavat aiheuttaa vatsaoireita jopa yli 10 % väestöstä. Opinnäytetyössä tutkittiin erään teollisen raskin fruktaani- ja mannitolimetaboliaa, raskimikrobistoa sekä raskimikrobiston fruktaaninhajottamiskykyä. Tutkimuskohteeksi valittiin BF-raski. BF-raskin fruktaanin, mannitolin ja pelkistettyjen sokerien pitoisuutta mitattiin raskituksen edetessä. Mittausten jälkeen käyttövalmiista BF-raskista eristettiin maitohappobakteerit ja niiden fruktaanin hajottamiskykyä testattiin kromogeenisillä maljoilla ja puhdasviljelmistä tehdyillä fermentaatioilla. Lisäksi valmistettiin BF-raskin kaltainen spontaani raski pienessä mittakaavassa ja mitattiin sen fruktaanipitoisuutta. Tutkimuksessa havaittiin, että BF-raskin raskitusprosessin aikana fruktaani ja prosessissa syntynyt mannitoli hävisivät. Yhdellä raskin maitohappobakteereista havaittiin olevan kyky kuluttaa tehokkaasti fruktaania ja geenit, jotka koodaavat solunulkoista fruktaanihydrolaasi-entsyymiä sekä FOS/fruktoosi-kuljetussysteemiä. Lisäksi siltä löytyivät mannitolin käyttöön tarvittavat geenit. BF-raskin kaltainen fruktaania kuluttava raskisysteemi saatiin aikaan myös spontaanisti pienemmässä mittakaavassa. Fruktaanivapaan ruisraskin avulla voidaan valmistaa niukasti fruktaania ja mannitolia sisältävää ruisleipää. Tällainen ’vatsaystävällinen’ ruisleipä voisi sopia perinteisestä ruisleivästä vatsaoireita saaville kuluttajille.
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(2019)The complex inflorescence architecture in Asteraceae is characterized by the presence of morphologically distinct flowers having specialized functions. In gerbera, the presence of three different flower types (ray, trans and disc), intricate inflorescence organization and an underlying complex molecular control makes it an excellent target for research on functional genomics, flower development and evolution. The genes governing flower development have been shown to have undergone sub- and neo-functionalization in gerbera leading to morphological features that are not present in the conventional model plant species. The genes encoding the CYC2 subclade of CYC/TB1-like TCP domain transcription factors are known to regulate the flower type identity in gerbera inflorescence. Although most genes of the CYC2 subclade have demonstrated functional redundancy, one such gene, GhCYC5, was found to have diverged function in regulating rate of initiation of flowers. This study aimed at investigating and affirming the function of GhCYC5 by studying two RNAi lines. Phenotypic analysis of the RNAi inflorescences showed that the length of ray ligules was significantly decreased along with the number of disc flowers and the number of involucral bracts. However, gene expression analysis could not confirm the downregulation of GhCYC5 in the RNAi lines mainly due to low endogenous expression of the gene. However, GhCYC3, another CYC2 clade gene was found to be downregulated due to the off-target silencing effect of the RNAi product and the observed phenotype was associated with suppression of GhCYC3. Further, the role of GhCYC5 in regulating the rate of involucral bract and flower initiation was unclear based on the SEM imaging and expression analysis of the inflorescence meristem, and still requires further studies.
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(2017)The Rosaceae family accounts for more than 90% of the total fresh fruit production in Finland and for more than 25% worldwide in 2013. Thus, improving the yield potential of Rosaceae species works in favor of economic growth and food security. To achieve that, expanding the knowledge on Rosaceae species is required. Fragaria vesca (F. vesca), particularly the everbearing F. vesca semperflorens accession ‘Hawaii-4’ (H4), provides several features that makes it formidable as a model organism for the study of physiological processes in Rosaceae species, where the CENTRORADIALIS/TERMINALFLOWER 1/SELF-PRUNING (CETS) genes play a remarkable role. In this Thesis, I have studied the expression patterns and functions of the CETS genes by performing gene expression analysis, generation of H4 transgenic lines and observation on H4 plants (both transgenic and wild type) grown under different sets of conditions. My results confirmed the expression patterns and functions previously reported for F.vesca TERMINAL FLOWER1 and F.vesca FLOWERING LOCUS T1. I showed that F.vesca CENTRORADIALIS-LIKE2 is a floral repressor and demonstrated that F.vesca FLOWERING LOCUS T3 is a flowering promoter. Additionally, our data suggest that F.vesca MOTHER OF FT is directly related with stolon formation and that F.vesca CENTRORADIALIS-LIKE1 is most likely a floral repressor. This new information could be used in the future to improve the efficiency of Rosaceae crops farming by adapting flowering and vegetative responses and also for breeding more productive Rosaceae crops.
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(2017)Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is a widely-cultivated legume with high nutritional value, especially rich in protein. However, the presence of antinutitional factors (e.g. phytic acid, condensed tannins, vicine and convicine and others) are hindering its utilization. Lactic acid fermentation is widely applied in food production and it is closely related with the promotion of nutritional, technological and health properties of the fermented food. The aim of this master’s thesis was to explore several functional characteristics of 28 lactic acid bacteria previously isolated from Italian and Finnish faba bean sourdoughs. In this study, phytase activity, β-glucosidase activity and the effect on degradation of condensed tannins, which are potentially directed towards reduction of anti-nutritional factors, were investigated. Three peptidase activities and dextran production capacity of the isolates were also evaluated. Besides, six antibiotics were used to study antibiotic susceptibility among the strains. Leuconostoc mesenteroides I01 and Pediococcus pentosaceus I214 expressed the highest phytase activity while P. pentosaceus I02, F01, F213 had the highest β-glucosidase activity. P. pentosaceus F15 was the most effective to decrease condensed tannins. Among analyzed peptidases, PepL showed the highest activity, especially in Pediococcus strains. High dextran production capacity was observed among isolates of Weissella spp. The strains showing functional traits could be used as starter to improve the nutritional and technological properties of faba bean. Further investigation is still ongoing to evaluate other properties of these lactic acid bacteria as functional starter cultures for faba bean and legume fermentation.
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(2013)The transition from vegetative growth to flower formation is especially crucial for the reproduction of flowering plants. This transition is controlled through the regulatory activities of a group of genes named as floral meristem identity genes, of which LEAFY (LFY) is thought as the most important one. As a plant-specific transcription factor, LFY controls flower formation and floral patterning, which has been most intensively studied in the model annual plant Arabidopsis. In contrast to the plant architecture and flower morphology in Arabidopsis, Gerbera (Gerbera hybrida), belonging to the large sunflower family (Asteraceae), processes head-like inflorescences with different types of flowers distinct in floral morphs, sex and sometimes coloration. Within the last decades, a number of MADS-box and TCP transcription factor genes have been functionally characterized using stable transgenic plants. Recently, another functional assessment method using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) has been developed in Gerbera hybrida. In this study, the expression pattern of GhLFY was analyzed in wild-type Gerbera and TRV-based GhLFY silencing was conducted in two Gerbera cultivars – Terra Regina and Grizzly. It could be concluded that the activity of GhLFY is involved in regulating flower development. In VIGS:GhLFY lines, leaf-like organs emerged in disc flowers and the identity of stamen and carpel was interrupted. However, further VIGS trials are needed verify the observed phenotypes. At the same time, two potential lfy mutants – Pingpong and Marimbo were analyzed in both phenotype and genotype. These cultivars show phenotypic alteration in inflorescence development and floral organ structures that were distinct from WT Gerbera. Although the expression level of GhLFY did not change among these cultivars, but the GhLFY sequences contained amino acids mutation sites and four missing proline amino acids in Marimbo were detected. The role of these mutation sites need to be further analyzed in later experimental steps.
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(2016)There is a need to find more sustainable sources of protein due to increasing demand and population growth. Dry milling and air classification yields oat protein concentrate (OPC, 45.5% protein) from defatted oat kernels. However, applications of oat protein in foods require improved technological functionalities. The literature review of this study discusses the chemical composition of oats, and modifications of plant protein through thermal treatment, microfluidizer, and high hydrostatic pressure (HHP). The experimental work aimed to understand the effect of heat treatment (40, 60, 80 °C), microfluidization (50 MPa), and high hydrostatic pressure (HPP, 300 and 600 MPa) on the applicability of OPC in semi-solid food matrices. The treatments were performed on OPC suspensions with 2.4, 4.6, 8.5, 12, or 20 % protein. Changes in particle size, protein solubility, surface hydrophobicity, and rheological properties were measured. Stability of OPC dispersion was improved by microfluidizer treatment while HHP at 600 MPa accelerated sedimentation. Viscosity increased significantly by thermal treatment at 80 °C and HHP at 600 MPa. Gel formation occurred at 12 and 20% protein concentration with 80 °C heat treatment. Highest increase in particle size was shown by HHP at 600 MPa resulting in volume mean diameter, d4,3 of 32-38 µm. On the other hand, microfluidizer reduced d4,3 to 3.3-3.4 µm. Protein solubility increased from 13 to 23% by increasing protein concentration from 2.4% to 20%. Protein solubility was improved by 1-1.7% at 2.4-8.5% protein concentration by thermal treatment at 60 °C, homogenization, and HHP at 300 MPa. Protein solubility was reduced by HHP at 600 MPa by 1.4-1.5 %. Protein surface hydrophobicity was increased by thermal treatment at 60 and 80 °C and HHP. Microfluidizer showed slight increase in solubility at 4.6% protein concentration (1.1-1.6 %) and lowered surface hydrophobicity at 8.5% protein concentration. Thermal treatment showed best result in achieving gel-like structure, whereas microfluidization showed potential for stabilising dispersion.
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(2020)Constant increase in protein consumption is global trend and can be seen in consumer behavior of Finnish markets. Consumers are interested in replacing meat proteins with plant proteins, and therefore, it is important to develop locally grown-domestic products and invest in local crop research. Due to this, the current study focuses on the domestic vegetable protein (faba bean and oat) texturing by extrusion cooking and on their functionality when included in burgers. The literature section presents an overview of previous studies on extrusion of vegetable proteins and the functionality of textured vegetable proteins (TVP). In the experimental work the research materials were faba bean protein concentrate and oat concentrate with high β-glucan content. The flour concentrates were texturized with high-moisture extrusion, in different mixtures. Mixtures were prepared in the ratio of: 3:1 (FO) and 1:3 (OF) and soy protein concentrate (S) was used as a reference sample. Moisture content and water absorption capability of TVP samples were measured instrumentally. TVPs were later on applied to develop burgers based on a mixture of meat and vegetable sources. Burgers were prepared for instrumental analysis with seven different recipes, where TVP inclusion, water addition and meat content varied. TVP was included in three different percentages: 0, 25 and 50% and water was added in 0, 12.5 and 25%. In relation to TVP inclusion and water addition, the meat content varied between 25-100%. Sample with 100% meat was used as control sample (0-sample) and burgers with S inclusion as reference samples. Samples were analyzed for cooking loss, shear force and texture profile (hardness, fracturability, springi-ness, cohesiveness, gumminess, chewiness and resilience) which was measured with a compression method. Based on the results of the instrumental analysis, five different burger samples were selected and evaluated for sensorial properties (chewiness, biting force, juiciness and pasty mouthfeel). The highest TVP moisture content was in OF and lowest in FO, hence the difference between S and FO was not significant. The highest water absorption was in S and lowest in OF. 25% TVP inclusion in burgers reduced the cooking loss (p<0.05) and 50% inclusion reduced it even more (p<0.05). With 25% TVP inclusion S had higher (p<0.05) cooking loss compared to FO and OF. With 50% TVP inclusion the difference was eliminated. Water addition increased cooking loss significantly (p<0.05) with each type of TVP. The FO and OF inclusion showed to weaken (p<0.05) the textural properties of burgers and reduced (p<0.05) the shear force. The reference sample S was found to maintain the structure similar as from the meat control sample. Water addition, while replacing meat, weakened also the textural properties and shear force in each TVP included sample. Based on the results, the inclusion of FO and OF in burgers reduces the cooking loss compared to the 0-sample and the reference sample S. The texture of burgers became weaker with FO and OF inclusion, however sensory evaluation revealed them to be similar to S included sample. Therefore additional studies focusing on improving the textural properties of these TVPs are needed. Faba bean and oat concentrates with higher protein contents could be needed to obtain a texture closer to meat.
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(2015)Tässä tutkielmassa selvitetään, kuinka venäläiset kuluttajat suhtautuvat funktionaalisiin elintarvikkeisiin. Funktionaaliset elintarvikkeet ovat Venäjällä verrattain uusi ilmiö ja kuluttajien asenteet tuotteita kohtaan yhä vakiintumattomia. Tutkimuksen kannalta keskeisiä aiheita ovat kuluttajien asenteet teknologisesti muokattuja elintarvikkeita kohtaan, elintarvikkeen terveysväitteen merkitys tuotteen lisäarvon muodostumisen kannalta sekä venäläisten kuluttajien yleinen suhtautuminen terveysväittämällä varustettuja elintarvikkeita kohtaan. Suhtautumista selvitettiin venäläisille kuluttajille suunnattuna internet-kyselynä. Tutkielman aineisto koostuu 159 vastauksesta, jotka analysoitiin tilastollisia työkaluja apuna käyttäen. Tutkimuksen tulosten perusteella voidaan todeta, että Venäjällä ollaan hyvin kiinnostuneita funktionaalisista elintarvikkeista, mutta käsite ”funktionaalinen elintarvike” ei ole kuluttajille juuri itsessään tuttu. Saatujen tulosten mukaan suurin osa kuluttajien funktionaalisiin elintarvikkeisiin liittyvistä epäilystä kohdistuu hyvin periaatteellisiin kysymyksiin, esimerkiksi uusi valmistusteknologia saattaa saada valintatilanteessa merkittävää painoarvoa. Funktionaalisten elintarvikkeiden omaksumisessa korostuu kuluttajan luottamus niin tieteelliseen tutkimukseen, tuotteiden valmistajiin kuin tuotteiden markkinoijiin. Tulosten mukaan kuluttajat harvemmin luottavat markkinointikampanjoihin, joten erityisesti asiantuntijoiden rooli tiedonvälittäjänä on tärkeä. Terveydenhuollon ammattilaisilla nähdään olevan olennainen rooli kuluttajien tietoisuuden kasvattamisessa Venäjällä, sillä elintarviketeollisuuden yritykset koetaan liian puolueellisina todenmukaisen informaation levittämiseen. Lisäksi tulokset osoittavat, että terveysväitteen nähdään tuovan tuotteelle lisäarvoa. Motivaatio tuotteen käytölle syntyy kuitenkin ainoastaan siinä tapauksessa, mikäli kuluttaja ymmärtää terveysväitteen ja tuotteen terveysvaikutus tuntuu itselle merkitykselliseltä. Venäjällä suomalaisia elintarvikkeita pidetään saatujen tulosten perusteella korkealaatuisina, ja tuotteen suomalainen alkuperä lisää kuluttajien luottamusta funktionaalisen elintarvikkeen toimivuuteen. Hyvin Suomessa menestyneet funktionaaliset elintarvikkeet luovat uskoa alaan kohdistuville suurille odotuksille, ja saadut tutkimustulokset lisäävät toivoa menestystarinoihin myös Venäjällä.
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