Effects of Orange Waste Extract Produced by Hydrodynamic Cavitation on the Germination of Chenopodium album L. and Lactuca sativa L

Francesca Ugolini (), Alfonso Crisci, Silvia Baronti, Gabriele Cencetti, Aldo Dal Prà, Lorenzo Albanese, Marco Michelozzi, Federica Zabini and Francesco Meneguzzo
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Francesca Ugolini: Institute of BioEconomy—National Research Council of Italy (IBE-CNR), 10 Via Madonna del Piano, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
Alfonso Crisci: Institute of BioEconomy—National Research Council of Italy (IBE-CNR), 10 Via Madonna del Piano, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
Silvia Baronti: Institute of BioEconomy—National Research Council of Italy (IBE-CNR), 10 Via Madonna del Piano, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
Gabriele Cencetti: Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources—National Research Council of Italy (IBBR-CNR), 10 Via Madonna del Piano, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
Aldo Dal Prà: Institute of BioEconomy—National Research Council of Italy (IBE-CNR), 10 Via Madonna del Piano, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
Lorenzo Albanese: Institute of BioEconomy—National Research Council of Italy (IBE-CNR), 10 Via Madonna del Piano, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
Marco Michelozzi: Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources—National Research Council of Italy (IBBR-CNR), 10 Via Madonna del Piano, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
Federica Zabini: Institute of BioEconomy—National Research Council of Italy (IBE-CNR), 10 Via Madonna del Piano, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
Francesco Meneguzzo: Institute of BioEconomy—National Research Council of Italy (IBE-CNR), 10 Via Madonna del Piano, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 7, 1-15

Abstract: A byproduct from orange juice processing known as pastazzo represents a significant organic waste stream. Rich in essential oils and known for its inhibitory effect on plant germination, pastazzo could serve as a valuable input for agricultural purposes. This study assesses the effects of a 40% w / v orange pastazzo water extract (OPWE) produced by hydrodynamic cavitation on the germination of two species, one of economic interest ( Lactuca sativa L.) and one common weed ( Chenopodium album L.). Three dilutions of OPWE in water (25%; 50%; 75%) were compared to a control treatment in four experiments, using (i) seeds in Petri dishes; (ii) seeds in commercial substrate; (iii) C. album seeds and transplanted L. sativa in commercial substrate; and (iv) other weeds in an open-field plantation of L. sativa . Highly rich in limonene, OPWE applied at higher concentrations in Petri dishes caused the effective inhibition of germination in C. album and a germination delay in L. sativa . Similar results were observed in the germination of the two species in commercial substrate, with none of the dilutions affecting L. sativa biomass. In the field experiment, despite a relatively low number of weeds in the control treatment, higher OPWE concentrations reduced the number of grasses and forbs, largely confirming the inhibitory effects. We conclude that OPWE produced with hydrodynamic cavitation, an efficient and affordable method of extraction, represents an effective crop treatment due to the species-specific effects of its constituent limonene on plant germination. Further tests are essential to understand the extent to which OPWE interacts with other species and types of substrate.

Keywords: byproduct; circular economy; citrus; limonene; plant biomass; seed germination (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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