The chemical composition and efficiency of biogas production in the methane fermentation process of silages of wild and cultivated varieties of reed canary grass were compared. An attempt was made to answer the question on how the habitat and the way of utilization of plants affect chemical composition and biogas yield. Physicochemical properties such as dry matter, organic dry matter, protein, fat, crude fiber fraction, macro- and microelements content were considered. The anaerobic digestion process and FTIR analysis were also carried out. The results showed that the two varieties differ essentially in their physical and chemical properties. The cultivated variety was characterized by higher biogas yield (406Ndm(3)kg(-1) VS) than the wild one (120Ndm(3)kg(-1) VS). This was probably related to the chemical composition of plants, especially the high content of indigestible crude fiber fractions and ash. These components could reduce biogas quantity and quality.

Although fungi that belong to Petriella genus are considered to be favorable agents in the process of microbial decomposition or as plant endophytes, they may simultaneously become plant pests. Hence, nutrition factors are supposed to play an important role. Therefore, it was hypothesized that Petriella setifera compost isolates, precultured on three different waste-based media containing oak sawdust, beet pulp (BP) and wheat bran (WB) will subsequently reveal different metabolic properties and shifts in genetic fingerprinting. In fact, the aim was to measure the influence of selected waste on the properties of P. setifera. The metabolic potential was evaluated by the ability of five P. setifera strains to decompose oak sawdust, BP and WB following the MT2 plate® method and the catabolic abilities of the fungus to utilize the carbon compounds located on filamentous fungi (FF) plates®. Genetic diversity was evaluated using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism analysis performed both on DNA sequences and on transcript-derived fragments. P. setifera isolates were found to be more suitable for decomposing waste materials rich in protein, N, P, K and easily accessible sugars (as found in WB and BP), than those rich in lignocellulose (oak sawdust). Surprisingly, among the different waste media, lignocellulose-rich sawdust-based culture chiefly triggered changes in the metabolic and genetic features of P. setifera. Most particularly, it contributed to improvements in the ability of the fungus to utilize waste-substrates in MT2 plate® and two times increase the ability to catabolize carbon compounds located in FF plates®. Expressive metabolic properties resulting from being grown in sawdust-based substrate were in accordance with differing genotype profiles but not transcriptome. Intraspecific differences among P. setifera isolates are described.

The article examines the possibility of using residues from greenhouse cucumber and tomato cultivation as biomass for energy and CO 2 production in order to meet greenhouse needs. Methane fermentation and combustion were compared. Moreover, the legitimacy of ensiling as a storage method for biogas plant was evaluated. The tested waste was found to be an unsuitable feedstock for the production of silage due to low sugar and high protein content. Fresh waste had a higher biogas yield than silage; however, its fermentation lasted longer. Furthermore, the results showed that, in the case of fresh residues, the methane fermentation proved to be a more energy-efficient process, while air-dry biomass is a more sustainable feedstock for combustion. The energy and CO 2 balance showed that, regardless of the method used, the available quantity of waste is too small to meet the greenhouse needs.

Saponins belong to the group of plant glycosides widely distributed in more than 100 families of both wild and cultivated plants and in some marine organisms. They consist of the steroidal or triterpene hydrophobic aglycone and one to three sugar chains (hydrophilic part) attached by ester or ether linkage. Based on number of chains attached to the aglycone, they can be categorized as monodesmosides, bidesmosides, or tridesmosides. To this group of compounds, the glycoalkaloids are also included. Some saponins may contain in their structures (in aglycone part or in sugar chain) glucuronic acid, what makes them acidic. A big number of structurally divergent compounds have been described. Their structures and concertation can be different even in the organs (roots, rhizomes, stems, bark, leaves, seeds, and fruits) of the same plant species. Depending on the structure, they express different biological activities. Triterpenoid saponins can be found in many legumes (alfalfa, soybean, chickpeas, beans, peanuts, broad beans, kidney beans, and lentils), ginseng roots, sunflower seeds, horse chestnut, liquorice roots, spinach leaves, tea leaves, quillaja bark, quinoa seeds, sugar beet, or alliums species. Steroidal saponins can be found in oats, Yucca, tomato seeds, yam, fenugreek seeds, ginseng roots, asparagus, aubergine, or capsicum peppers. Glycoalkaloids are characteristic compounds mostly for Soalanaceae species. In general these compounds show no or little toxicity and do not seem to be of hazard for consumers. Depending on the structure, they express different biological activities. In general, saponins have been related to immunostimulatory, hypocholesterolemic, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiparasitic activities. The major feature of these compounds is their sterol affinity, which seem to be responsible for most of activities they express. When consumed they may provide different health benefits, out of which cholesterol reducing activity is most pronounced.

The phytochemical constituents of apple waste were established as potential antifungal agents against four crops pathogens, specifically, Botrytis sp., Fusarium oxysporum, Petriella setifera, and Neosartorya fischeri. Crude, purified extracts and fractions of apple pomace were tested in vitro to evaluate their antifungal and antioxidant properties. The phytochemical constituents of the tested materials were mainly represented by phloridzin and quercetin derivatives, as well as previously undescribed in apples, monoterpene–pinnatifidanoside D. Its structure was confirmed by 1D- and 2D-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic analyses. The fraction containing quercetin pentosides possessed the highest antioxidant activity, while the strongest antifungal activity was exerted by a fraction containing phloridzin. Sugar moieties differentiated the antifungal activity of quercetin glycosides. Quercetin hexosides possessed stronger antifungal activity than quercetin pentosides.

The use of natural compounds derived from agricultural crops and other plants as health promoting chemicals gains tremendous growing interest in various industrial sectors as well as among people worldwide. These chemicals have been more and more employed by the food industry as food additives, functional food ingredients, nutraceuticals, by feedstuffs industry, but also by the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. The general idea for this interest is to use natural products as potential alternatives to synthetic chemicals. On the other hand, some plants characterized by high yield and being used as energy crops also contained significant amount of bioactive compounds. This review focuses on the wide spectrum of the phytochemicals present in available biomass plants. It is supposed that extraction of bioactive chemicals from energy crops before their energetic use may increase economical effectiveness, providing simultaneously a double benefit in the form of phytochemicals and bioenergy as value added products. This remains in line with bioeconomy, which is defined by European Commission as ''the production of renewable biological resources and the conversion of these resources and waste streams into value added products, such as food, feed, bio-based products and bioenergy''. However, the issue is still a challenging effort due to the high costs, technology readiness and regulatory hurdles.

This paper analyses the suitability of common goldenrod plants as monoand co-substrates for biogas production. Furthermore, the role of bioactive compounds included in the biomass of this plant species was investigated. The results showed that the common goldenrod species produced lower biogas and methane yields than maize silage. However, the methane fermentation of their mixture resulted in approximately 9.5% higher biogas yield and 16.6% higher methane yield compared to the theoretical yields estimated based on two mono-digestions. A statistically significant increase in biogas production efficiency resulted from more favorable C/N ratio and the influence of bioactive compounds contained in common goldenrod. The addition of goldenrod crude extract caused an approximately 30% increase in the biogas yield of maize silage. This effect may be associated with a positive impact of biologically active substances on microorganisms or with a decrease in redox potential of the fermenting mass.

Billions of tons of agro-industrial residues are produced worldwide. This is associated with the risk of pollution as well as management and economic problems. Simultaneously, non-edible portions of many crops are rich in bioactive compounds with valuable properties. For this reason, developing various methods for utilizing agro-industrial residues as a source of high-value by-products is very important. The main objective of the paper is a review of the newest studies on biologically active compounds included in non-edible parts of crops with the highest amount of waste generated annually in the world. The review also provides the newest data on the chemical and biological properties, as well as the potential application of phytochemicals from such waste. The review shows that, in 2020, there were above 6 billion tonnes of residues only from the most popular crops. The greatest amount is generated during sugar, oil, and flour production. All described residues contain valuable phytochemicals that exhibit antioxidant, antimicrobial and very often anti-cancer activity. Many studies show interesting applications, mainly in pharmaceuticals and food production, but also in agriculture and wastewater remediation, as well as metal and steel industries.