Potato early blight caused by Alternaria solani generates significant economic losses in crops worldwide. Forecasting the risk of infection on crops is indispensable for the management of the fungal disease, ensuring maximum economic benefit but with minimal environmental impact. This work aimed to calculate the interrupted wet periods (IWP) according to the climate conditions of A Limia (Northwest of Spain) to optimize the prediction against early blight in potatoes. The study was performed during nine crop cycles. The relative hourly humidity and Alternaria concentration in the crop environment were taken into account. Alternaria levels were monitored by aerobiological techniques using a LANZONI VPPS-2000 volumetric trap. The relationships between weather conditions and airborne Alternaria concentration were statistically analyzed using Spearman correlations. To establish the effectiveness of wetness periods, the first important Alternaria peak was taken into account in each crop cycle (with a concentration greater than 70 spores/m 3 ). Considering the six interrupted wet periods of the system, it was possible to predict the first peak of Alternaria several days in advance (between 6 and 38 days), except in 2007 and 2018. Automated systems to predict the initiation of early blight in potato crop, such as interrupted wet periods, could be an effective basis for developing decision support systems. The incorporation of aerobiological data for the calculation of interrupted wet periods improved the results of this system.
There is an increase in the consumption of natural foods with healthy benefits such as honey. The physicochemical composition contributes to the particularities of honey that differ depending on the botanical origin. Botanical and geographical declaration protects consumers from possible fraud and ensures the quality of the product. The objective of this study was to develop prediction models using a portable near-Infrared (MicroNIR) Spectroscopy to contribute to authenticate honeys from Northwest Spain. Based on reference physicochemical analyses of honey, prediction equations using principal components analysis and partial least square regression were developed. Statistical descriptors were good for moisture, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), color (Pfund, L and b* coordinates of CIELab) and flavonoids (RSQ > 0.75; RPD > 2.0), and acceptable for electrical conductivity (EC), pH and phenols (RSQ > 0.61; RDP > 1.5). Linear discriminant analysis correctly classified the 88.1% of honeys based on physicochemical parameters and botanical origin (heather, chestnut, eucalyptus, blackberry, honeydew, multifloral). Estimation of quality and physicochemical properties of honey with NIR-spectra data and chemometrics proves to be a powerful tool to fulfil quality goals of this bee product. Results supported that the portable spectroscopy devices provided an effective tool for the apicultural sector to rapid in-situ classification and authentication of honey.
The aim of the present work was to determine the main quality parameters on tuber potato using a portable near-infrared spectroscopy device (MicroNIR). Potato tubers protected by the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI “Patata de Galicia”, Spain) were analyzed both using chemical methods of reference and also using the NIR methodology for the determination of important parameters for tuber commercialization, such as dry matter and reducing sugars. MicroNIR technology allows for the attainment/estimation of dry matter and reducing sugars in the warehouses by directly measuring the tubers without a chemical treatment and destruction of samples. The principal component analysis and modified partial least squares regression method were used to develop the NIR calibration model. The best determination coefficients obtained for dry matter and reducing sugars were of 0.72 and 0.55, respectively, and with acceptable standard errors of cross-validation. Near-infrared spectroscopy was established as an effective tool to obtain prediction equations of these potato quality parameters. At the same time, the efficiency of portable devices for taking instantaneous measurements of crucial quality parameters is useful for potato processors.
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