Browsing by Subject "Seed yield"

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Screening and cultivation of chia (Salvia hispanica L.) under Central European conditions : the potential of a re-emerged multipurpose crop
(2021) Grimes, Samantha Jo; Graeff-Hönninger, Simone
Nowadays, lifestyle and health consciousness are leading to an ever-increasing consumer demand for so-called “superfoods”, which are believed to provide multiple simultaneous health benefits beyond their nutritional value. In parallel, there is greater awareness regarding food origin, social and environmental impacts of consumer’s food choices. To meet those consumer demands, a regional, sustainable production of chia as the most well-accepted “superfood” among German consumers, presents a highly promising opportunity in different industries (packaging, cosmetic, medical, pharmaceutical, neutraceutical, technological, and crop protection) and fields of applications. The potential usage and application of chia is plenty fold and live up to the status of a multipurpose crop. However, as chia is a short-day plant with a threshold of 12–13 h, cultivation was geographically limited to the tropics and subtropics. Yet cultivation expansion of chia to temperate regions (40°-60°) within the cool temperate climate as it prevails for example in Germany however, required an adaptation of genotypes regarding day length sensitivity as cultivation is only feasible during the summer months as the temperature conditions are only fulfilled in these months. Due to the efforts of breeders the photoperiodic sensitivity was overcome and new long-day flowering species, able to induce flower formation under day lengths of up to > 15 hours, were developed. The breakthrough in overcoming the photoperiodic sensitivity enabled the cultivation of chia for its seed production in Europe and made the development of a holistic cultivation system for chia under the given climatic conditions essential. However, abroad from day length additional climate requirements need to be fulfilled, and agronomic management practices need to be developed to finally meet chis seed yield and quality goals. Therefore, within the current thesis the following objectives were evaluated to select new chia genotypes and establish agronomic management practices improving chia yield and quality traits under European conditions: - to investigate the cultivability of different chia genotypes under Central European climate conditions - to determine and specify agronomic and quality traits of different chia genotypes cultivated under Central European climate conditions - to optimize and establish an applicable cultivation system for chia under the climatic conditions given in Central Europe - to select new chia genotypes that can be cultivated under Central European climatic conditions In this respect, climate chamber and field experiments at the University of Hohenheim and its experimental stations ‘Ihinger Hof’ and ‘Eckartsweier’ were conducted between 2015 and 2018. Findings of the first publication showed that three cultivated chia genotypes either day length insensitive (Sahi Alba 914) or adapted to day lengths greater than 12 h surpassed the yields obtained by their countries of origin, and obtained oil, protein, and mucilage contents in line with current literature and the Novel Food-Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, thus possibly representing an attractive alternative to local farmers in Germany. Considering the results, it became apparent that Germany could be seen as a seminal opportunity to expand the cultivation area of chia to latitudes up to 48° N. In times of climate change the broadening of the food base with respective crops could be crucial in the future. Results presented within the second publication confirmed that the given environmental conditions significantly influenced seed yield and nutrient composition of chia, while the applied agronomic management practices (i) row spacing (35, 50, and 75 cm), (ii) sowing densities (1, 1.5 and 2 kg ha-1) and (iii) N-fertilization rates (0, 20 and 40 kg N ha-1) showed a limited influence. Nevertheless, under the prevailing conditions in Germany, a row spacing of 50 cm, a sowing density of 1.5 kg ha-1 and an N-fertilization rate of 20 to 40 kg N ha-1 could be recommended. It became obvious that more field trials were necessary to provide information regarding the influence of agronomic management practices on overall chia performance and to adapt management practices to maximize chia seed yields and their associated seed quality traits under the given conditions. Within the third publication it could be concluded that within the given biodiversity of Salvia species, there are existing Salvia hispanica L. (SALV66) and Salvia columbariae Benth. (Golden Chia) varieties adapted to day lengths greater than 12 h showing seed yields almost in line with those of their countries of origin. Both selected chia varieties SALV66 and Golden Chia represented very promising raw materials from a nutritional point of view. The significant seed shattering level of Golden Chia, however, is a huge drawback regarding its commercial production. Therefore, especially concerning Golden Chia breeding efforts and scientific studies on agronomic management practices are of enormous importance. The establishment of chia cultivation under local conditions could be considered as the first step towards a local and sustainable chia value chain in Europe. Chia cultivation in Europe, including Germany would on the one hand fulfil the steadily increasing demand for healthy, environmentally sustainable, and regionally produced food and non-food products. While on the other hand, it would simultaneously represent a profitable economic source of income for local farmers, potentially leading to an economically and environmentally profitable way of broadening the food chain and food base. Improved basic understanding about chia cultivation, the effect of plant constituents, and processing possibilities could help to translate research into new technological advances.