Seed quality health

ZENECA is a major international company active in four main areas of business Pharmaceuticals, Agrochemicals and Seeds, Specialty Chemicals, and Biological Products. ZENECA s skill and innovative ideas in organic chemistry and bioscience create products and services which improve the world s health, nutrition, environment, and quality of life. ZENECA is committed to the support of education in chemistry. 

Currently only natural seed may be used, with any sort of seed dressing being prohibited. Some growers are concerned about the loss of quality and vigour in seed, particularly the potential increase in seed-borne diseases and viruses. This could quickly cause problems over a few generations of production and create further problems with the health of organic crops. 

Bringel, J.M.M. M.H.D. de Moraes J.O.M. Menten I.P. Bedendo. Health and physiological quality of soybean seeds produced in the south region of Maranhao/Brazil. Summa Phytopathologica 2001,27,438-441. 

The requirements for Mo in cereal crops are low, and the Mo concentrations in the seeds of wheat, oats, and barley are low (see Chapter 5). Hence there is little danger of accumulation of Mo in cereal grains to an extent that would cause concern for the health of livestock. Consequently, S-Mo relationships in cereal crops are unlikely to cause concern for feed quality. Seed legumes such as soybeans, however, accu-... 

Six different A PMI PUFAs have been identified in pine nut as shown in Figure 17.1. Pinolenic acid is the most prevalent A PMI PUFA in most pine nut species, though contents vary greatly across species. Table 17.1 shows the A PMI PUFA composition of selected pine nut species that are most commonly available in the food supply and/or are researched for their health-promoting qualities. A more extensive listing of pine species and their seed fatty acid compositions was done by Wolff etal. [12]. 

In addition to health hazards, several mycotoxins have phytotoxic impacts on host plants and may cause loss of viability and reduced quality of plant seed (Nishiuchi, 2013). Several mycotoxins have antimicrobial activity and thus may also influence the behaviour of other microbes present in the same surrounding. Mycotoxins may have adverse effects on animal health if they are transmitted to sidestreams used as animal feed. Consumption of contaminated batches at farms can lead to reduced livestock productivity and to serious illness or even death (Murphy et al., 2006). Some of the most common mycotoxins associated with foods and beverages are presented in Table 6.2. 

Soil Health. To support a crop with the highest possible yields, the soil in which the seeds are planted must be in good condition and must match the needs of the particular plant breed. The health of soil can be measured on the basis of its physical properties, its chemical makeup, and the biological material it contains. These qualities are tracked by soU surveys that are conducted and published regularly. Many formers switch the types of crops they grow in a particular field every few years in order to keep certain soil nutrients from being depleted. This practice is known as crop rotation. 

Olive oil is one of the oils that have been subjected to adulteration by seed oils for a long time. Although the adulteration is done for economic reasons, the action affects the quality of the foods in which olive oil is a component. Furthermore, the health implications of adulteration of olive oil with seed oils are a concern. 

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