A model is presented that predicts pH and electrical conductivity (EC) changes in the root zone of lettuce (Lactuca sativa cv. Vivaldi) grown in a deep–trough hydroponic system. A feedforward neural network is the basis of that modeling. The neural network model has nine inputs (pH, EC, nutrient solution temperature, air temperature, relative humidity, light intensity, plant age, amount of adde...

This paper examines the potential for phytoremediation of MTBE, a gasoline additive that has become a prevalent and persistent groundwater pollutant, due to its' non-sorbing and non-reactive nature in water. A novel experimental design is developed to measure plant uptake and transpiration of MTBE from hydroponic systems, separating these processes from passive volatilization of the chemical. P...

In the regions of Campinas and Sumaré, São Paulo, Brazil, hidroponically grown crops of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) cv. Verônica, which showed virus-like symptoms were examined by electron microscope, biological, serological and molecular tests. Pleomorphic, enveloped particles (80-100 nm in diameter) were always detected in these samples. Experimentally inoculated host plants, including lettuce, ...

Fertigation systems, especially hydroponic systems with recirculating nutrient solution, are an ideal environment for algal growth, but it is not clear if this contaminant affects the crop. Therefore, greenhouse experiments were carried out to monitor the development and composition of algae, as well as their effects on lettuce and cucumber performance. In addition, several different substrates...

A hydroponic system was developed and used for purification of an anaerobically treated dairy manure and production of forage crops. The effect of light duration, seeding rate and wastewater application rate on the crop yield and pollution potential reduction were studied. The results indicated that a wheat forage crop can be produced in 21 days from germination to harvest in this system and re...

Several studies have shown that enteric viruses can be transferred onto the surface of vegetables and fruits through spray irrigation, but, recently, reports have suggested viral contamination of vegetables sub-irrigated with reused wastewater. Hydroponic cultures, used to grow ready to eat fresh lettuce, have also been used to study the possibility of viral absorption through roots. This study...

Cyanovirin-N (CV-N) is a microbicide candidate that inactivates a wide range of HIV strains by binding to gp120. Production of CV-N, or any protein microbicide, needs to be at extremely high levels and low cost to have an impact on global health. Thus, it is unlikely that fermentor-based systems will be suitable, including recombinant E. coli, where CV-N aggregates and dimers have consistently ...

Due to water shortage, application of saline water for irrigation is an urgent in agriculture. In this study the effect of calcium and potassium application as additive in saline root media for reduce salinity adverse effects was investigated on tomato growth in a hydroponic system with unequal distribution of salts in the root media, which was divided in to two equal parts containing full John...

To investigate the soybean (Glycine max Merr.) wet endurance, and the affect of the maturity and the ambient temperature to the response, the plantlet in growth stage ranged from R1 to R2 of 8 Japanese soybean cultivars which characterized as various wet endurance in a past report were cultured under hypoxic-hydroponic condition for a month. Two experiments at different periods differed signifi...

We explored the impact of quantum dot (QD) coat characteristics on NP stability, uptake, and translocation in Arabidopsis thaliana, and subsequent transfer to primary consumers, Trichoplusia ni (T. ni). Arabidopsis was exposed to CdSe/CdZnS QDs with three different coatings: Poly(acrylic acid-ethylene glycol) (PAA-EG), polyethylenimine (PEI) and poly(maleic anhydride-alt-1-octadecene)-poly(ethy...