Scientia Agropecuaria

Nutritional profile, processing potential and food applications of Macrotermes nigeriensis powder: A comprehensive review

2025-12-08T02:38:21+00:00

Macrotermes nigeriensis is increasingly recognized as a nutrient-dense edible insect with significant potential for food and non-food applications. This review synthesizes current evidence on proximate composition, mineral and vitamin content, amino acid and fatty acid profiles, functional properties, and safety considerations of its powder. Existing studies consistently report high levels of protein, essential minerals (Fe, Zn), and vitamin C, together with low concentrations of antinutritional factors. When incorporated into various food matrices (including cakes, biscuits, and fermented cassava beverages) M. nigeriensis powder markedly enhances protein density, micronutrient content, and, in some cases, sensory acceptability. Protein isolates exhibit desirable emulsifying and foaming properties, supporting their potential use in food formulation. Beyond nutrition, the species also provides oils that may serve as unconventional feedstock for biodiesel production. Overall, M. nigeriensis represents a promising sustainable protein resource, but further multidisciplinary investigation is required to support its large-scale utilization. Future research should focus on: (i) long-term safety and toxicological evaluation, (ii) nutrient bioavailability and digestibility, (iii) detailed lipid profiling and its health implications, (iv) standardization of processing and preservation methods, and (v) consumer acceptance and market feasibility beyond endemic regions.

Analysis of rice (Oryza sativa l.) bioeconomy: Data Envelopment Analysis method highlights the need for cooperation to improve productivity and sustainability

2025-12-12T01:05:56+00:00

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) production is a cornerstone of Ecuador's economy. This research evaluates the efficiency of 609 production units during 2019, addressing the need for statistical robustness in agricultural efficiency estimators. Using a national representative survey, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was applied under Variable Returns Scale (VRS) and Constant Returns to Scale (CRS). To account for sampling noise, the Simar & Wilson (2007) bootstrap procedure (2,000 replications) was implemented to provide bias-corrected scores and 95% confidence intervals. The bootstrap-corrected analysis revealed a mean technical efficiency of 0.632 (95% CI: 0.596 – 0.668), suggesting a potential 36.8% input reduction without output loss. Significant provincial heterogeneity was observed: Manabí led in technical efficiency (0.743), while El Oro achieved the highest cost efficiency (0.435) due to superior allocative performance. Conversely, Loja showed high technical proficiency (0.645) but the lowest allocative efficiency (0.197). Findings underscore that "one-size-fits-all" policies are inadequate; instead, province-specific interventions, focusing on scale optimization and financial training, are required to enhance the sustainability of Ecuador's rice bioeconomy.

Axillary shoots: Initiation to acclimatization on micropropagation of Philodendron ‘Super Atom’

2025-12-26T05:53:50+00:00

Philodendron ‘Super Atom’ is among Indonesia's most favoured ornamental foliage plants, yet traditional propagation methods pose challenges. Establishing an in vitro propagation protocol for this plant was crucial to sustainably produce high-quality planting materials to meet consumer demand. All experiments were conducted using a completely randomized design (CRD) with four replicates. High axillary shoots with regeneration issues were used as explant sources, initiated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 1 mg L^-1 thidiazuron (TDZ) and 3 mg L^-1 N6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). A total of 4.8 shoots per explant were regenerated on MS medium supplemented with 0.3 mg L^-1 BAP and 0.005 mg L^-1 IAA. A slight enhancement in axillary shoot proliferation was noted on MS medium with 0.5 mg L^-1 BAP, 0.5 mg L^-1 TDZ, and 0.025 mg L^-1 α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), yielding 6.7 shoots explant^-1, and 0.2 mg L^-1 BAP and 0.01 mg L^-1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), yielding 6.9 shoots explant^-1. A significant improvement was achieved on MS medium fortified with 0.2 mg L^-1 BAP and 0.005 mg L^-1 indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), resulting in 13.6 shoots explant^-1. Rooted shoots were readily observed in the proliferation medium. A 100% survival rate of plantlets was successfully acclimatized using a mixture of burned rice husks, hyacinth organic manure, and cocopeat (1:2:1, v/v/v), as well as burned rice husks and hyacinth organic manure (1:1, v/v). The findings of this study can serve as a model for developing and establishing new in vitro mass propagation protocols for other Philodendron species with appropriate modifications.