The Effects of Astaxanthin Type 2 Diabetes

 

Draining the World Wealth

Diabetes mellitus is a worldwide epidemic that is critically linked to prevalence of obesity. More than 220 million people have diabetes and by the year 2030 the figures are expected to grow to 360 million. The diabetes is aggressively growing in both emerging and developed country. According to WHO, the Asian continent has over 90 million people suffering from diabetes – India (40 million) China (29 million); Indonesia (13 million) and Japan (7 million). The prevalence of diabetic patients remains pervasive in USA (22 million), Brazil (6 million), Pakistan (8 million); Russia (6 million); Italy (5 million) and Turkey (4 million). Even in the African region over 10 million people suffer from diabetes, especially in Nigeria where it is expected to reach 5 million within the year 2030.
Diabetic complications lead to heart disease (approximately 65% of death amongst diabetics), blindness, kidney failure and amputations. As a result, the indirect and direct medical expenditure of diabetics represent almost 5 times that of a non-diabetic.

Type 2 Diabetes: A Preventable Disease

 

In most cases, diabetes is treated with medication, although about 20% of diabetics may be managed by lifestyle changes. This means that even if we cannot change the genetic influences, fortunately, for most of us diabetes is preventable; for example, making dietary changes, taking nutritional supplements and exercising. To highlight this, people in high risk groups who achieve a 5-7% cut in body weight will reduce risk of developing diabetes approximately 58% across all age and ethnic groups.
While the debate between the contributory effects of carbohydrate and fat intake continues unabated, research reveals a strong link between foods with high glycemic index and prevalence of type 2 diabetes. Excess blood glucose needs to be converted by insulin (produced by the pancreas ß-cells) into glycogen stores, however, when glycogen stores are full, glucose is converted into fat. Over time, the body’s cells may eventually become desensitized to insulin making it necessary to produce more insulin to achieve the same affect. It is this process that would eventually lead to a state known as hyperinsulinaemic state. As a result, the body looses its ability to control high blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia) that could result in toxic conditions and promote further complications such as kidney failure.

New Evidences Emerging from Human Studies

In an anti-aging study conducted by Iwabayashi et al., (2009), 20 female volunteers with increased oxidative stress burden ingested 12 mg/day of astaxanthin for 8 weeks. Results evidenced a significant decrease of diabetes-related parameters that collectively predict trends in diabetes development. Firstly, astaxanthin reduced cortisol by 23 percent.

Astaxanthin Retards Glucose Toxicity and Kidney Damage

Astaxanthin displayed positive effects in a type 2 diabetic mouse model in that it reduced the disease progression by retarding glucose toxicity and kidney damage. This has profound implications for people who belong to high risk groups, display pre-diabetic conditions (impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance) or want to manage advanced diabetic kidney problems (nephropathy).
Studies suggested that reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by hyperglycemia contributes to the onset of Diabetes mellitus and its complications. Non-enzymatic glycosylation of proteins and mitochondria, prevalent in diabetic conditions, is a major source of ROS. For example, pancreatic ß-cells kept in high glucose concentrations show presence of advanced glycosylation products, a source of ROS, which cause the following: i) reduction of insulin expression and ii) induction of cell death (apoptosis). ß–cells are especially vulnerable to ROS because these cells are inherently low in antioxidant status and therefore, requires long term protection. A recent study demonstrated that antioxidants (N-acetyl-L-cysteine, vitamins C and E) exerted beneficial effects in diabetic conditions such as preservation of ß-cell function, so it is likely that a more potent antioxidant such as astaxanthin can do the same or better.
In another study conducted by Preuss et al. (2009), 12 rats fed with 25mg/kg of astaxanthin show a significant decrease in insulin resistance by 13.5%.

Modulation of Glucose Toxicity

Uchiyama et al., 2002 demonstrated in obese diabetes type 2 mouse model that astaxanthin preserved pancreatic ß -cell dysfunction against oxidative damage. Treated mice received 1 mg astaxanthin/day at 6 weeks of age and then tests performed at 6, 12 and 18 weeks. Observations of astaxanthin treated mice (N=8) included: i) significantly reduced fasting glucose sugar levels at 12.

Figure 1. Astaxanthin improved the glucose levels in the Intraperitoneally Glucose Tolerance Test (IPGT) in diabetic mouse model (Uchiyama et al., 2002)

Figure 2. Astaxanthin preserved insulin sensitivity in the diabetic mouse model (Uchiyama et al., 2002)

Figure 3. Astaxanthin protected kidney function measured by urinary albumin protein loss (Naito et al., 2004) 

 

Prevention of Diabetic Nephropathy

As well as substantiating observations by Uchiyama et al., Naito demonstrated that astaxanthin treated type 2 diabetic mice which normally shows renal insufficiency at 16 weeks of age in fact exhibited 67% less urinary albumin loss.

Figure 4. Astaxanthin reduced the amount of DNA damage indicated by urinary 8-OHdG levels (Naito et al., 2004) 

 

Figure 5. Astaxanthin preserved the relative mesangial area.

 
Earlier it was unclear how astaxanthin could ameliorate the progression of diabetic nephropathy, but new evidence revealed additional information in the mechanism of action. Naito et al., (2006) examined changes in the gene expression profile of glomerular cells in diabetic mouse model during the early phase of diabetic nephropathy. The mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation pathway was most significantly affected by high-glucose concentration (mediated via reactive oxygen species). Long term treatment with astaxanthin significantly modulated genes associated with oxidative phosphorylation, oxidative stress and the TGF-ß-collagen synthesis system.

Manabe et al., 2007 went further and analyzed normal human mesangial cells (NHMC) exposed to high glucose concentrations. In the presence of astaxanthin, it significantly suppressed ROS production (Figure 6) and inhibited nuclear translocation and activation of NF-?B (Figure 7) in the mitochondria of NHMC. Furthermore, this was the first time to detect astaxanthin in the mitochondrial membrane (Table 1) and its presence also suppressed ROS attack on membrane proteins.

Figure 6. Astaxanthin reduced ROS production in NHMC-mitochondria exposed to high glucose (Manabe et al., 2007) 

   

Top left panel: mitochondria as green fluorescence, Top right panel: ROS as red fluorescence; Bottom right panel: Merged picture as yellow fluorescence.

Figure 7. Astaxanthin suppressed high-glucose induced nuclear translocation and activation of NF-?B (Manabe et al., 2007) 

 

Table 1. Astaxanthin content in NHMC mitochondria expressed as percentage of total astaxanthin added. 

Mean of 3 samples. (Manabe et al., 2007)

Outlook

Although clinical trials involving antioxidants in humans have only recently begun, these preliminary results concluded that strong antioxidant supplementation may improve type 2 diabetic control and inhibit progressive renal damage by circumventing the effects of glycation-mediated ROS under hyperglycemic conditions. Astaxanthin improved pancreas function, insulin sensitivity, reduced kidney damage and glucose toxicity in diabetic mouse models. New techniques by gene chip analysis and fluorescence imaging revealed further details of mechanism and site of protection by astaxanthin. Further research and clinical studies are still required. However, it is reasonable to suggest that astaxanthin may be useful as part of a nutrigenomic strategy for type 2 diabetes and diabetic nephropathy.

References

1. Forefront (Summer/Fall) 2005, American Diabetes Association.
2. Functional Foods & Nutraceuticals June 2004. "The dietary solution to diabetes."
3. HSR Health Supplement Retailer July 2004. "Fighting Diabetes the natural way."
4. Iwabayashi M, Fujioka N, Nomoto K, Miyazaki R, Takahashi H, Hibino S, Takahashi Y, Nishikawa K, Nishida M, Yonei Y. (2009). Efficacy and safety of eight-week treatment with astaxanthin in individuals screened for increased oxidative stress burden. J. Anti Aging Med., 6 (4):15-21.
5. Manabe E, Handa O, Naito Y, Mizushima K, Akagiri S, Adachi S, Takagi T, Kokura S, Maoka T, Yoshikawa T. (2008). Astaxanthin protects mesangial cells from hyperglycemia-induced oxidative signaling. J. Cellular Biochem. 103 (6):1925-37.
6. Naito Y, Uchiyama K, Aoi W, Hasegawa G, Nakamura N, Yoshida N, Maoka T, Takahashi J, Yoshikawa T. (2004) Prevention of diabetic nephropathy by treatment with astaxanthin in diabetic db/db mice. BioFactors 20:49-59. Nutritional Outlook April. "Fighting Diabetes"
7. Naito Y, Uchiyama K, Mizushima K, Kuroda M, Akagiri S, Takagi T, Handa O, Kokura S, Yoshida N, Ichikawa H, Takahashi J, Yoshikawa T. (2006). Microarray profiling of gene expression patterns in glomerular cells of astaxanthin-treated diabetic mice: a nutrigenomic approach. Int. J. Mol. Med.,18:685-695.
8. Preuss H, Echard B, Bagchi D, Perricone VN, Yamashita E. (2009). Astaxanthin lowers blood pressure and lessens the activity of the renin-angiotensin system in Zucker Fatty Rats. J. Funct. Foods, I:13-22.
9. The Global Diabetes Community. http://www.diabetes.co.uk. Article retrieved on June 8th, 2010.
10. Uchiyama K, Naito Y, Hasegawa G, Nakamura N, Takahashi J, Yoshikawa T. (2002). Astaxanthin Protects ?–cells against glucose toxicity in diabetic db/db mice. Redox Rep., 7(5):290-293.

CCRES special thanks to 

 Mr. Mitsunori Nishida, 

 
President of Corporate Fuji Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.

Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES) 

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The Beginning of a Food Growing Revolution

As those of you who follow me on Twitter or on Facebook will know, growing food is my absolute passion. Its something I do because its just a part of who I am and one of the things I am lucky to not only do myself, but also teach other people to do, hopefully infecting them with the same excitement it has for me.

The Incredible Edible movement has always been of fascination to me, mainly due to the fact that it not only aims for the areas that link into its ethos to grow within the public sphere but also because it brings different communities together to work on projects and so makes new communities. Often growing anything in the urban landscape is beyond the realms of possibility for many, let alone the idea of growing food, and yet places such as the amazing Todmorden in West Yorkshire have made it possible to do just that, whilst creating communities of people whilst they are gardening.

So when I tweeted last week asking why there was no Incredible Edible Bristol and would anyone be interested I wasnt that surprised to hear people saying they were definitely interested. Bristol is a city of food growing people. Many of them are allotment gardeners but equally there are a myriad of food growing projects that rely on communities to support them and help them with their growing. However, often these are hidden way and not that well publicised and so unless youre looking for a project to work with you may not realise they are there. The city farms all have amazing growing projects and there are several great community allotments and orchards. Incredible Edible Bristol wants to bring the wonderous nature of these projects together to bring food growing to the streets and to the people. We aim to be completely inclusive, to create links between the growing groups, to grow food in and on any spare land we can find both in the city centre and in every area of the city and to give people a learning expereince so that they can go away having learned how to put the idea of growing into practice for themselves.

The scary facts are that Britain is never more than 3 days away from a food crisis and that, mixed with the facts that there are people relying on food banks up and down the country and that often people dont know how to deal with fresh produce and so are slightly put off by it, are terrifying. We rely on a chain of delivery that could fall apart easily as was seen when the fuel tanker drivers went on strike only a few years ago. By creating this project people can take back the responsibility of food production, stop being reliant on the huge supermarkets who are far more interested in their profits than they are in the state of the nations health and know how and where the food on their tables was produced.

So people of Bristol, "if you eat, youre in"

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Environment

Quality of life for the planet

Need for high quality water and other resources

Clean water is the primary pre-requisite to successful aquaculture. A clean environment is therefore critical for its commercial success. Any environmental impact that would compromise the quality of the water used on fish farms must be monitored and minimised through appropriate siting (choice of locations) of farms and production processes.

 In recent years, the development of aquaculture has raised some associated environmental concerns. Like any farming operation on land, fish farm cages produce waste materials. These fall into three categories - uneaten feed, fish faeces and dead fish. Most of the environmental impacts of aquaculture can be managed and minimised through understanding of the processes involved, responsible management and the effective siting of farms.

 Uneaten feed - Should uneaten feed reach the bottom of a cage, processes that break it down can reduce the amount of oxygen in the sediment. In severe cases, oxygen levels in the water above may also decrease, creating "anoxic" conditions in which only a few animal species can survive. Should the feed contain antibiotics used to treat the farmed fish above, bacteria in the sediment and the natural breakdown of waste material might be affected.

In practice, fish farmers do everything they can to prevent such a situation, since the cost of fish feed amounts up to 40 percent of the total production cost. Feed reaching the sediment is lost, and it is in the farmers interest to minimise such waste. On well-managed farms, feeding is carefully regulated to ensure that the maximum amount of food is taken up directly by the fish and farmers aim to ensure that less than 5 percent of the feed is wasted. To improve uptake by fish, feed pellets are manufactured to either float or to sink slowly through the water.

Fish faeces - Unlike land animals, fish do not generally produce compact solid faecal material and more often excrete a loose cloud of faecal material that is easily dispersed by water currents. In still conditions, however, faecal material can build up beneath fish cages. It is, however, not in the farmers interest to let this happen, since the buildup of faecal material can lead to anoxic conditions which affect the fish above. Fish farmers wanting to ensure the health of their fish will frequently check the bottom below their fish cages to ensure that faecal material is not building up. In addition, in many EU Member States, the government employs diving teams to carry out inspections.
If faecal build-up is observed, farmers will be advised to move their cages, allowing the bottom to recuperate for a short period, however full recovery typically takes between three to ten years. In recent years, improved feed formulations have also been introduced that fish digest more efficiently, producing less waste.

Fish farmers generally avoid overly sheltered and stagnant sites, preferring areas that contain a healthy flow of water through the cages. Such flows disperse fish faeces so it can enter the natural food chain.

Dead fish - Dead fish are a loss to the farmer and a potential health hazard to the stock as well as a source of pollution. Fish farmers will, at all times, endeavour to minimise the number of dead fish on their farms and to remove such mortalities where they occur.

Fish farms are required to report significant fish deaths when they occur and are inspected by state agencies at least twice a year.

Shellfish cultivation

Shellfish such as oysters, mussels and clams are filter feeders and take their food directly from the water in which they live. This means that they do not require supplementary food and, if anything, actually improve the quality and clarity of the water. Shellfish farming can only provide the best quality products if practiced in pristine environments with the highest water quality.

Environmental problems can arise on shellfish farms where the animals are held at overly high densities, leading to depletion of food in the water and build-up of faeces below the holding areas. Both effects will harm the outcome for the farmer and hence shellfish farms are generally sited where water exchange is high and the stock is kept at densities that are compatible with the level of water exchange. In many cases, stocking densities on farms are lower than those of clusters of shellfish (e.g. mussels) that occur on natural beds.

Shellfish farms have been thought to disturb wildlife habitats by taking up space on a beach where wading birds feed. It has been shown, however, that wading birds and oyster farms can exist side by side. The fallen oyster or mussel can have a positive impact on a birds feeding pattern.

Other potential impacts include the importation of parasites, pests and diseases onto the shellfish farm which would then spread to other areas. The microscopic oyster parasite Bonamia ostrea, for example, gradually spread through Europe with the spread of oyster farming. Oyster farmers have responded by significantly reducing the density at which their shellfish are farmed.

Some people complain of "visual pollution" caused by large numbers of floating barrels or shellfish trestles in otherwise unspoilt areas. Low-profile and dark-coloured floats have recently been developed to minimise the visual impact.

Pond fish farming

Fish pond systems represent the oldest fish farming activity in Europe, at least dating back to medieval times. Ponds were built in areas where water supply was available and the soil was not suitable for agriculture. The wetlands of Central and Eastern Europe are good examples of this. The total European production from pond farming is approximately 475,000 tonnes. About half of this production is cyprinid fish, such as common carp, silver carp and bighead carp. The main producer countries are the Russian Federation, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Ukraine and Hungary.

Typical fish ponds are earthen enclosures in which the fish live in a natural-like environment, feeding on the natural food growing in the pond itself from sunlight and nutrients available in the pond water.

In order to reach higher yields, farmers today introduce nutrients into the pond such as organic manure. This is accompanied by stocking of fingerlings and by water being flushed through the pond. Fish pond production, however, remains ‘extensive or ‘semi-intensive (with supplementary feeding) in most countries, where semi-static freshwater systems play an important role in aquaculture. Chemicals and therapeutics are not usually used in such ponds. Hence the main environmental issue is the use of organic fertilisers, which may cause eutrophication in the surrounding natural waters. The use of organic fertilisers is regulated at national levels.

Extensive fish ponds are usually surrounded by reed belts and natural vegetation, thus providing important habitats for flora and fauna. They play a growing role in rural tourism. Many pond fish farms have been turned into multifunctional fish farms, where various other services are provided for recreation, maintenance of biodiversity and improvement of water management.

In areas where water is scarce, some farm systems recirculate, treat and re-use their water. Such systems are generally self-contained and therefore pose little threat to the environment. Solid waste material produced in such systems is rich in organic compounds and often used as a fertilizer elsewhere. Alternatively, new hydroponic systems have been developed to grow vegetables and other food crops in the nutrient-enriched water. There is much interest in these systems, but their economic viability remains challenging.

Trout farming in flow-through systems

 The most widely-practiced form of inland aquaculture in Europe is trout farming. Water is taken from the river, circulated through the farm and treated before being released downstream. All water in the farm is renewed at least once per day. Where more than one farm exists on the same river, it is in everyones interests that the quality of the outflowing water from one farm is good, as this then becomes the inflowing water for the next farm. Other water sources include spring water or drilled and pumped ground water. In some countries, heated industrial water sources (such as electricity generating plants) are used to increase the water temperature (by heat exchange)
used in the farm, thereby saving energy costs to heat the water. Geothermal water also provides naturally warmed water, thus allowing the farming of new fresh water species (especially eel, sturgeon, perch and tilapia) with low environmental impact.

Recirculation Aquaculture Systems

Recirculation Aquaculture Systems (RAS) are land-based systems in which water is re-used after mechanical and biological treatment so as to reduce the needs for water and energy and the emission of nutrients to the environment. These systems present several advantages such as: water and energy saving, a rigorous control of water quality, low environmental impacts, high biosecurity levels and an easier control of waste production as compared to other production systems. The main disadvantages are high capital costs, high operational costs, requirements for very careful management (and thus highly skilled labour forces) and difficulties in treating disease. RAS is still a
small fraction of Europes aquaculture production and has its main relevance in The Netherlands and Denmark. The main species produced in RAS are catfish and eel but other species are already being produced using this type of technology such as turbot, sea bass, pikeperch, tilapia and sole.

Other environmental impacts of fish farming - the case of escaped fish

It is inevitable that fish farmed in net pens in either fresh or salt water will sometimes escape into the wild. In some cases, there will be a small but steady release of fish. Sometimes, large numbers will escape due to severe damage to the net pen by way of storms, predator attacks or vandalism.

 There has been vigorous debate on the potential impact of escaped farmed fish, in particular salmon, on wild populations. On the one hand, it has been suggested that escaped farmed salmon could compete for living space, breeding partners and food resources, spread disease, or interbreed with wild fish, causing "genetic pollution" and thereby weakening the wild strain and reducing its ability to survive . On the other hand, scientists have argued that farmed salmon, which are bred for fast growth in perfect conditions, are less able to compete for food, territory and mate in the wild than their wild colleagues. Therefore, a limited escape of farmed fish would be unlikely to have a serious effect on wild fish populations. Only if very large numbers of fish escape into a small area, would interbreeding occur and the fitness of the local population potentially be reduced.

 In its Aquaculture Europe 2005 conference, the European Aquaculture Society invited the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) to hold a special workshop on the interactions between wild and farmed salmon. The summary report of this event "Wild and Farmed Salmon - Working Together" drew the following main conclusions:

Through the use of single bay management, single generation sites and synchronised fallowing, real progress is being made in relation to minimising impacts of diseases and parasites, which are key issues for wild fish interests. The development of third-party audited containment management systems may represent a significant step forward. The liaison group should look more at the possibilities of rearing all-female triploid salmon, which could eliminate genetic interaction with the wild stocks, but which need to be balanced by the production cost of these fish, as well as consumer resistance to what could be seen as genetic manipulation.

Restoration programmes can benefit from fish farmers expertise, but habitat protection and restoration have equal or greater importance in species restoration than stocking programmes alone.

CCRES AQUAPONICS

part of NGO

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES)

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CCRES FUCUS

Fucus vesiculosus, may be an effective alternative treatment for hypothyroidism for some people as it contains iodine found naturally in the sea. Hypothyroidism, also called underactive thyroid, is a condition where the thyroid gland fails to produce enough thyroid hormone. This results in one’s metabolism falling outside of the desired range. There are a wide range of thyroid medications available, both natural and pharmaceutical. As with all medicines, Fucus can occasionally cause side effects, so always consult your healthcare practitioner before starting treatment.

#Hypothyroidism

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the most common form of hypothyroidism. It is considered to be an autoimmune disease as the body mistakes the thyroid gland for a foreign body and sends antibodies to attack it which eventually destroy it over time. This leaves the body without essential thyroid hormones that are required for controlling body temperature, appetite and rate of metabolism. If left untreated, hypothyroidism can lead to serious health disorders that could prove fatal.

Symptoms

Symptoms of an underactive thyroid include tiredness, reduced heart rate and pulse, weight gain, dry skin and hair, hair loss, sensitivity to cold, confusion, anxiety, depression, joint pain, headaches, numbness in the extremities and menstrual problems. However, as these symptoms can be attributed to any number of health problems they are often overlooked. If you are experiencing a combination of the aforementioned symptoms without any obvious cause, contact your doctor immediately for a check-up.

#Iodine

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, those who experience hypothyroidism due to a iodine deficiency may be able to treat their condition with kelp. Iodine, found naturally in kelp, is required to enable the thyroid gland to function correctly. The majority of people in the western world use iodized salt and therefore do not need to supplement with iodine unless they suffer from hypothyroidism.

#Fucus

Fucus is rich in iodine and is available in many different forms including tinctures and standardized extracts. According to the NYU Langone Medical Center, fucus is often referred to as kelp as it is present in a large number of kelp tablets. However, kelp is not considered to be the same as fucus as it is actually a different form of seaweed. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends a dose of 600mg fucus one to three times per day to stimulate thyroid activity. It is not recommended to self-treat hypothyroidism with fucus.

#CCRES #ALGAE TEAM

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Take Advantage of Your Garden Condition

Take advantage of your garden assets. Every garden has some strong points or the other. But most of the time people complain about what they are missing. There is no harm in improving your garden conditions, but it is also important and sometimes more fulfilling to utilize the prevailing conditions and use them to their full effect.

In this article we want to emphasize these points. Here are some of these garden conditions which bother people, and just how you can use them to your benefit.

1. Too much sunlight:
   If your garden receives bright sunlight most of the time, you should consider yourself lucky. There are very few plants in this world which dont like bright sunlight. Most of the vegetables and fruit growing plants require at least six hours of direct sunlight ( check out Sun or No Sun for more information). Many bright-coloured flowers grow fantastically well under bright sunlight. You can choose variety of colours and combinations.
2.  Lack of sunlight:
   If your garden conditions are just the opposite of the previous one i.e, you rarely receive bright sunlight; you dont need to worry. Consider this as an opportunity to create cool and soothing environment around. One of the major benefits of having a darker garden is that you dont need to worry about wilting of plants. It will provide a fresher look to your garden. Not every plant requires 6 hours of direct sunlight; grow leafy vegetables. Many flowers actually prefer dark environment and not the direct sunlight. More details about shade gardening is here in this article.
3. Dry conditions:
   If your garden soil and surroundings are too dry, and you think it is not possible to grow anything; think again. These days, there are so many options available with growers that you dont even need to think about watering most of the time. Start from cacti and the option is endless. You might think this as a blessing in disguise. You can start with the nursery shops and ask for their help in selecting the plants; or you can use the Internet to research about this.
4. Wet or soggy condition:
   Dont neglect these parts of the garden just because they are soggy and damp. Grow plants that love damp environments. This might look a little unconventional but it will help to redecorate your landscape. Skunk cabbage can be a good option for this type of environments. You can check this article for a detailed list of various plants for this kind of environment.
5. Acidic soil:
   A soil pH lower than 6.5 is called acidic soil. Acidic soil is actually good for many plants. Potatoes, Strawberries, Radishes etc love acidic soil. You can also turn your empty acidic patch of land into a rose garden in case the soil is slightly acidic. Different types of fern also grows well in acidic soil.
6. Alkaline soil:
   In contrast to the above, here the soil pH is 7.5 or more. Other than lowering the pH (which is always an option), you can also use the conditions to grow plants that are more suitable to grow in alkaline soil. Plants such as Sunflowers, Daisies, Leeks, Oranges are ideal for alkaline soil. You can also opt for plants like Maple is you have the required space.

These are just some of the examples. You can always use your creativity and gardening knowledge to create more such solutions.

What do you think about the article? Give your feedback using the comment box below. We would like to hear from you.

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BritishFlowers

For a long time now I have been a huge advocate of the British Flower grower and in particular of the new phase of growers, who are absolutely passionate about what they do, as they should be. Buy a bouquet or have your wedding flowers done by these growers and you can be guaranteed that they will be seasonal, have been grown without pesticide use and usually to organic standards, that they will have been cut and conditioned beautifully and that they last for at least a week in a vase.

So imagine, to my horror, seeing a tweet that said that Interflora had collaborated with the RHS to make, what they are marketing as The Ultimate Love Bouquet using flowers with different symbolic meanings of love. However,to me having Agapanthus in the same bouquet as Hyacinths puts two fingers up at seasonality and whilst I want to believe their tweet that 60% of the flowers in the bouquet are sourced in the UK, I assume by that they mean bought at markets in the UK but not British grown. Perhaps the Ivy is UK grown and a few of the tulips but my overall feeling is that most of those flowers have been flown in from Africa and South America, where they are grown on vast farms that rely on pesticides to keep the plants in tip top health and use water for irrigation that is needed much more by local people.

So, and heres to the power of Twitter, Interflora asked for my number and their Commercial Director, Helen Quinn rang me. Knowing how Interflora work, (they are all franchises and the individual florist is responsible for buying their own stock), I asked how they felt they could be certain that any of the flowers were UK grown, to be met with the reply that after speaking to a couple of their florists today they had found that up to 5 out of the 10 stems were UK grown but this could not be guaranteed as they are countrywide and obviously there is no way that all the florists could be contacted. So at the most, the ivy, tulips, hyacinths, myrtle and chysanthemums (although I question the chrysanths and I am not alone in that) may be in some part UK grown. However, in the conversations they had with The RHS where the plants were grown was never discussed, it was all about the symbolic use of the flowers. And I just want to reiterate that Interflora cannot guarantee any of the bouquet will be British grown.

At this point I want to say fair play to Interflora for their transparency. But in the mean time  I also want to ask what the foremost horticultural charity, The RHS, is doing to promote the growers in this country and sadly it appears they are doing very little if anything at all. They were included in all the tweets today and there was not one single reply, so at best theyre hiding in embarrassment and at worst? The RHS do stirling work in its gardens and with initiatives such as Britain in Bloom and their growing in schools projects but the British horticultural industry, of which our flower grower are an integral part, needs them to be behind it and this seems to show, not for the first time, that they are not.

There will, of course, be some people doubting that there are enough flowers being grown in the UK at this time of year to create beautiful Valentine bouquets, but to them I say, have faith and look around you. There are beautifully scented flowers around right now as well as amazing bulbs such as narcissi and hyacinths coming from Cornwall and the Channel Islands. I for one would rather have 10 stems of stunningly scented Sarcococca than roses with no scent that have been flown half way across the world, quite literally.

So heres my thoughts. Dont not buy flowers, but be aware of the fact that there is an industry in this country that grows and prepares and sells and does floristry with, stunning British grown flowers all year round. As a nation weve become used to picking up flowers in the supermarket for tiny prices but be aware of the environmental impact those flowers are having and think twice. Surely flowers are a luxury, not to be taken forgranted and so rather than picking up a bunch unthinkingly, ask where they are from and if the shop has a British equivalent, and if not ask why not. All British flowers in the supermarkets are labelled as such and your florist really ought to be able to tell you the provenance of their flowers, and if they cant, speak up and ask them to find out. Tell your friends and neighbours about the British flower industry and ask them to support it too. Explain to your partner why you are asking for British grown flowers, and be proud to support an industry that is thriving and exciting.

And for all you non-believers, here are a selection of flowers from Common Farm Flowers in Somerset, an artisan florist business that both grows beautiful flowers and prepares them to send out across the country every day. All these flowers are seasonal and available now.

And finally, thank you from all the flower growers, large and small, for taking the time to read this and if you fancy joining in the chat there is a #britishflowers hour every monday from 8-9 on Twitter and all the growers are online and have Facebook pages that you can follow all year around.

There is an adendum to this now.
I spoke to the RHS earlier this afternoon and they have apologised, mainly because when the bouquet was first tweeted their press stuff wasnt ready and thay had hoped to offer the Interflora bouqet alongside the Tregothnan one, with the whole thing being a bit tongue in cheek. They are aware that this has gone awry for them and I think are mortified that the British flower industry and all our small growers have felt so maligned by them. I am going to do some work with them to try to improve relations between growers and the RHS so watch this space for more details.

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CCRES AQUAPONICS CROATIA

 

  

HRVATSKI CENTAR OBNOVLJIVIH IZVORA ENERGIJE

predstavlja Vam 

 Projekt

CCRES AQUAPONICS

Više informacija o Projektu CCRES AQUAPONICS na :

http://ccresaquaponics.yolasite.com/

 All the food CCRES produced during the year is given to poor families.

Za sve dodatne informacije slobodno nas kontaktirajte.

HRVATSKI CENTAR OBNOVLJIVIH IZVORA ENERGIJE (HCOIE)

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CCRES SOURCES OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES 

(CCRES)

 Sources of Alternative Energy

 

Alternative energy or renewable energy is important for creating clean energy future not only for the individual nations but the whole world. It offers excellent alternatives to the fossil fuels to reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases. The sources of the alternative energy are inexhaustible and one can rely on them for long-term basis Here are some important sources of alternative energy:

 

1) Solar energy:

The energy obtained from the radiations of the sun is called as solar energy. Sun is the massive source of energy releasing radiations since billions of years non-stop. The radiations emitted by sun are vital for all the plant, animal and human lives on the earth. At present solar energy is being tapped successfully for a number of applications.

Solar cooker is small box type equipment used for cooking of the food without requiring any additional fuel. There are number of variations of solar cooker with different efficiencies and different sizes. Solar water heaters are used extensively for heating water that can be used for bathing, domestic use and industrial purposes. It saves lots of electricity costs and the burning of other fuels like wood, coal, LPG etc. Another very important application of the solar energy is the photovoltaic or PV cells. The PV cells comprise of the solar panels that absorb solar energy and store them in the batteries. The energy from the batteries can be used for different domestic as well industrial applications

Besides these, there are number of other applications of solar energy like solar street lights, solar lanterns, calculators, mobiles etc. Solar energy is available abundantly in countries like India, China, US and others. It is considered to be one of the most resourceful sources of energy for future.

2) Wind energy:

The energy obtained from naturally flowing wind in the atmosphere is called as wind energy. Wind energy is available extensively in specific geographical locations without any costs. The wind in motion carries kinetic energy and it can be converted into mechanical and electrical energy. Presently wind energy is widely used for the generation of electricity.

To tap the energy from wind turbines are used. The wind turbine comprises of large blades looking like the fan. The blades are attached to the hub, which in turn is mounted on a shaft When the moving wind comes in contact with the blades it causes the rotation of the blades, which in turn causes the rotation of the shaft at low speeds. This shaft is connected to the gear box and causes slow rotation of the input gears and fast rotation of output gears and shaft. The output shaft rotates in an alternator that produces electricity. To get sufficient amount of grid power, large number of wind turbines are required at a specific location, which is called as wind farm or wind power plant.

3) Hydropower:

The power obtained from the flow of water is called as hydraulic power or hydro power or water power. The alternative energy from water can be obtained in a number of ways, the most popular being the hydroelectric power plants. In these power plants huge dams are built across the flow of the river. The water is stored in the dam at large heights and it carries potential energy. When the water flows down the potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. The flowing water comes in contacts with the large water turbines and makes them rotate in the transformer that produces electricity. Hydroelectric power plants are important source of electricity in a number of countries including US, China, India, Russia, and others.

Alternative energy obtained from the tides of the oceans is called as tidal energy. The waves in the waters of the oceans can also be utilized to produce electricity.

4) Geothermal Energy:

The heat energy obtained from the deep layers of earth is called as geothermal energy. The heat is produced continuously in the deep layers of earth, which can be utilized for various purposes like heating water, operating the heat pumps, producing electricity etc. Large amount of heat is generated in the core of earth and it gets conducted through the surrounding layers of rock. It comes to the surface of the earth in various forms like lava, hot springs etc, while other heat is stored below the surface of the earth. This heat is the geothermal energy and is available in unlimited quantity.

5) Biomass energy:

Biomass is the organic material obtained from the plants. The plants absorb energy from the sun by the process of photosynthesis so the energy is store in them. The biomass is the garbage leftover by the plants in the form of fallen leaves, broken branches, dead trees, wood chips, wasted crops etc. A number of other garbage and waste materials can be considered to be biomass. The energy obtained from the biomass is called as the biomass energy.

When the biomass is heated, the chemical energy within it is converted into heat energy, which can be used for heating water, producing steam, cooking food etc. Biomass can also be used to produce the methane gas, which can be used as the fuel. Rotten garbage and human waste can also be considered as biomass that can be used to produce methane, which is called as landfill gas or biogas. Biomass can also be converted biodiesel, which can be mixed with the traditional diesel fuel to run the vehicles.

CCRES 

special thanks to   

Escapeartist, Inc

 CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES 

(CCRES)

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Benefits of Astaxanthin

                                                                       Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring high-value  ketocarotenoid pigment with excellent antioxidant effects belonging to the  xanthophyll group of carotenoids, or the oxygenated carotenoids.  The hydroxyl and keto functional groups  present in the ending ionone ring of astaxanthin  is responsible for its uniquely powerful  antioxidant activity. They differs from other antioxidants in its ability to  penetrate the blood brain and retina barriers. Therefore, it is believed to  protect the brain and nervous system from neurodegenerative diseases (e.g.  cerebral thrombosis and stroke) and aging. 

Natural astaxanthin production  and commercialization is estimated to be a 1.2 billion dollar annual market.  Today, essentially all commercial astaxanthin for aquaculture is produced  synthetically from petrochemical sources, with an annual turnover of over $200  million, and a selling price of around $2000 per kilogram of pure astaxanthin.  Natural astaxanthin is sold for over $7000 per kg.

Source of Astaxanthin
Astaxanthin is present in many types of seafood, including  salmon, trout, red sea bream, shrimp and lobster, as well as in birds such as  flamingo and quail. As of today, astaxanthin is commercially produced from the  microalga Hematococcus pluvialis.
Benefits of Astaxanthin

• Astaxanthin acts as a chain-breaking  anti-oxidant, and therefore protect lipid-rich cell membranes from degradative  oxidation.
• Natural astaxanthin is a dietary supplement  with extremely powerful antioxidant benefits for human applications.
• Astaxanthin traps more free radicals than any  other antioxidant. 
• Astaxanthin has been proven to cross the human  blood-brain barrier, and therefore has the ability to directly act as a superb  antioxidant in the brain and the eyes.
• Astaxanthin enhances the action of other  antioxidants like Vitamin E and C.
• Astaxanthin protects nucleic acid components  of DNA, avoiding mutations to genetic material due to oxidative stress and  protects muscle cells from damaging effects of active oxygen produced upon  swimming upstream.
• Astaxanthin has been documented to  prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and enhance immune functions.

Applications of Astaxanthin

• Astaxanthin finds application in  the nutraceutical Industry, pharmaceutical  Industry and food coloration application
• Astaxanthin is  used as an animal feed additive to impart  coloration to salmonids (salmon and trout), as well as to red sea bream and  Tai.
• Recent studies revealed the wrinkling  and moisturizing effect of astaxanthin which suggest its potential  cosmeceutical applications in protection against skin aging.

Algae Strains for Astaxanthin Production

The most commonly  used algae strain that is used for Astaxanthin production is Haemotococcus Pluvalis. H  pluvialis is believed to accumulate the highest levels of astaxanthin in  nature. Commercially grown H pluvialis can accumulate more than 40g  of astaxanthin per kilogram of dry biomass. Other strains that could be used  for astaxanthin production include: Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella zofingiensis,  Coelastrella striolata var. multistriata

Haematocyst of Haemotococcus pluvialis with red pigment astaxanthin.

Astaxanthin

Commerical Production of Astaxathin
Natural astaxanthin is produced in a two-stage culture process and its concentration can reach 1.5% to 4% of the dry weight.



Market Scope
The demand for natural astaxanthin is now emerging in the multi-billion dollar nutraceutical market. Astaxanthin is principally consumed by the salmon feed industry. The annual worldwide aquaculture market of this pigment is estimated at US$ 200 million with an average price of US$ 2500/kg.
The global astaxanthin market is estimated at about $257 million, most of which is used in fish coloration (2009 data; estimates by BCC Research for astaxanthin market size are however lower). The human uses market is growing and estimated at about $27-$40 million. Most astaxanthin is derived from the algae, H pluvialis, which is commonly consumed by fish and crustaceans – like salmon and lobster – and is responsible for their pink coloration.

Market Sectors	Market Size   ( as of 2009) ( Million USD)	Potential Market(2020) ( Million USD)
Animal feed colouring agents	300	800
Antioxidant nutraceuticals	30	300
Pharmaceuticals	Emerging	500
Cosmetics	Emerging	30

Table: Market Sectors and Future Market Potential  of Astaxanthin

Prominent Players in the Astaxanthin Market

Company	Location
Alga Technologies	Israel
Cyanotech	Hawaii
CCRES	Croatia
Algaetech International	Malaysia
Parry Nutraceuticals	India
Mera Pharmaceuticals Inc.,	Hawaii
Fuji Chemicals	Japan, Sweden
Valensa International	Florida

University and Research Efforts
Arizona State University – Recently developed a harvesting system for Astaxanthin production from Hematococcus combining acidification and dissolved air flotation. This system is capable of harvesting more than 95% of the biomass without the need for a coagulant or flocculent, and extracting over 95% of the intracellular astaxanthin from Haematococcus biomass.	Ben-Gurion University of Negev Professor Sammy Boussiba of the Microalgal Biotechnology Laboratory in the Ben Gurion University of Negev has developed the biotechnology of producing astaxanthin-rich Haematococcus pluvialis biomass.

Challenges in Astaxanthin Production

• Although natural sources have long been exploited for astaxanthin production, it is still uncertain if natural astaxanthin can be produced at lower cost than that of synthetic astaxanthin or not.
• One of the major limitations with the H pluvialis production system is that the astaxanthin gets trapped behind thick cells walls, thus complicating the extraction process and the production yields.
• Production capacity of H pluvialis is constrained by its intrinsic slow growth, low cell yield, ease of contamination by bacteria and protozoa, and susceptibility to adverse weather conditions. These challenges are magnified as processes are scaled up, and therefore require advanced technology to control

H pluvialis cannot be efficiently cultivated in dark heterotrophic mode, which requires high levels of irradiance, making the process economically less reasonable.
Astaxanthin - Factoids

• One of the technical challenges to developing Haematococcus algae astaxanthin has been the tough cell wall of the spores, which must be ruptured to allow the cell contents to be effectively digested by animals.  Cyanotech Corporation in Hawaii uses a combination of closed photobioreactors and open culture ponds to successfully mass produce astaxanthin-rich Haematococcus biomass, and proprietary milling technology to crack the cell walls.
• Commercial production of astaxanthin is being carried out in USA, India, Japan and Israel
• Astaxanthin is a carotenoid. Astaxanthin has been shown in studies to have 100-500 times the antioxidant capacity of Vitamin E as well as 10 times beta-carotene’s antioxidant capacity. Astaxanthin is found in many places in nature, but it is usually in small quantities as in salmon or shrimp.  
• By far the most concentrated and natural source of astaxanthin is the Haematococcus pluvialis algae.  These green algae also provide other important carotenoids such as beta-carotene. It accumulate the highest levels of astaxanthin in nature; commercially more than 40g of astaxanthin per kilo of dry biomass.
• Research shows that due to astaxanthins potent antioxidant activity, it may be beneficial in cardiovascular, immune, inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. Some sources have demonstrated its potential as an anti-cancer agent. Research supports the assumption that it protects body tissues from oxidative damage. It also crosses the blood-brain barrier, which makes it available to the eye, brain and central nervous system to alleviate oxidative stress that contributes to ocular, and neurodegenerative diseases such as glaucoma and Alzheimers.
• Astaxanthin, as other carotenoids, can act as a quencher of singlet oxygen and other free radicals by absorbing the excited energy of singlet oxygen onto the polyene electron-rich chain, resulting first in the excitation of the carotenoid to a triplet state, and then in the dissipation of the extra energy in the form of heat by relaxation back to the ground state. In this way, it prevents cellular components or tissues from being damaged. The carotenoid structure remains unchanged, and ready to act as a radical quencher.
• Astaxanthin has been shown to protect against free radicals and promote numerous health functions. Astaxanthin offers protection against a broad range of human diseases like neuro-degenerative disorders. The antioxidant of astaxanthin is stronger than ?-carotene and vitamin E by 40x and 1,000x respectively.

CCRES ALGAE PROJECT
part of 
Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES)

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The Life of Algae

This video from Sapphire Energy tracks the cultivation of algae from their San Diego lab in microscopic images, to petri dishes, to flasks, and then outside in their Las Cruces, NM facility and into 14?, 40?, 100? and half-acre ponds. This is the path that many thousands of strains have taken as Sapphire refines their library of commercial strains that will be used in their Green Crude Farm or Integrated Algal BioRefinery (IABR) now under construction in Columbus, NM. At the Green Crude Farm, the world’s first commercial demonstration scale algae-to-energy facility, algae will be cultivated in ponds over 2 acres in size.

CCRES SPIRULINA

 part of 

Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES)

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The Innocence of Childhood

The last few days have been a roller coaster of emotions, despair leading to optimism and back again, sometimes in the blink of an eye.

And then I heard a story. And a true one at that. A story that made me smile and made me cry all at the same time. Perhaps a story of naivety, of immature innocence but still one that warmed the cockles.

Many of you will be aware of Skipchen, and many of you will have seen Sam or one of his colleagues talking passionately about their Pay As You Like restaurants that are popping up UK wide, feeding people with food that would otherwise have gone to landfill, and asking people to pay what theyd like, or what they can, for the food. Any way, Sam spoke at an event I was at last night and heres the story he shared........

Bristol has a reasonably affluent area called Henleaze, which has the citys only full sized Waitrose, who regularly throw food into skips that go to landfill. There had obviously been some conversation around food waste at school, and Skipchen had obviously been discussed. So 25 children, as only children could do, wrote to the manager of Waitrose and asked him to give his food that normally went into the skip, to Skipchen.

And he agreed!!!

Theres a lesson to be learnt here. If a child says to you, but that doesnt make sense, listen to them. Ask them why. Enter into a meaningful discussion with them without using any adult rhetoric or economic figures. Just listen. 

Food that goes into skips to go to landfill?

Beans being brought from desert areas in Africa? 

Cutting down trees on our most fertile soil?

I could go on but you get my point. 

And well done Sam and the Skipchen crew. Youre awesome. As are all the other organisations out there putting food into mouths rather than bins and shouting about food waste and the horrors of it.

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Nor Cal Biodiesel

CCRES promotes Nor Cal Biodiesel

Nor Cal Biodiesel currently offer two models to choose from: the BioPro190 and the larger BioPro380.

BioPro190

BioPro190 General Information and Specifications Dimensions: 21"w x 21"d x 67"h. Overall height adjustable +/- 2” Weight: 325 Lbs. (empty). Capacity: 50 gallons oil yields 50 gallons of finished fuel.                10 gallons methanol - yields approx. 10 gallons glycerin. Construction: TIG welded 304 stainless steel body; Powder coated carbon steel covers. Fittings: 304 stainless steel or glass filled polypropylene. Electrical: 110 VAC / 15 Amp Circuit. Controls: AUTO mode controlled by program logic controller;                Start button initiates completely automated process;                MANUAL mode controlled by switch actuation. Reaction Method: Acid-catalyzed esterification of free fatty acids                Then base-catalyzed transesterification of triglycerides; Wash Method: Triple-stage turbulent water wash.                1) Mist Spray, 2) Mist & Agitation, 3) Mist & Agitation Batch Time: Reaction Time – approximately 8 hrs;                Initial settling - 16 hrs;                Water wash – approximately 14 hrs;                Drying cycle - Approx 10 hrs: Total Processing Time: Approx. 48 hours start to finish. Items You Will Need To Get Started: 50 Gallons of new or used filtered vegetable oil or oil derived from animal fats 400 micron, or finer, filter to strain the oil 10 Gallons of methanol (racing fuel) For your safety and convenience, we suggest obtaining a methanol compatible and an oil/grease compatible transfer pump 1520 grams (3.41 lbs) Sodium Hydroxide - NaOH or 2350 (5.17 lbs) grams Potassium Hydroxide - KOH 190 mL (6.43 oz) Sulfuric Acid (93% Purity or higher) - Do not use common battery acid 50 Gallons of fresh, standing water 50 Gallon container or receptacle for “water in” 50 Gallon container or receptacle to collect the wash water – or connect directly to a drain. Air tight storage containers for methanol (typically, a 55-gallon drum), catalyst potash, and sulfuric acid Protective gloves, face mask, apron, and safety goggles (included) Transfer hoses, scales, and measuring cups (included) (1) 110-120 volt / 15 amp & (1) 220 volt / 30 amp AC power source

  BioPro380

BioPro380 General Information and Specifications Dimensions: 64"w x 34"d x 91"h. Overall height adjustable +/- 2” Weight: Approximately 675 Lbs. (empty). Capacity: 100 gallons oil yields up to 100 gallons (380 liters) of finished fuel Batch Sizes: - Capable of processing 50, 75, or 100 gallons of oil feedstock (190, 284, or 380 liters). Construction: TIG welded 304 stainless steel body; Powder coated carbon steel covers. Electrical: 220 VAC / 30 AMP & 110 VAC / 15 Amp Circuit. Dedicated Circuits are preferred but not required. Controls: AUTO mode controlled by program logic controller;                Start button initiates the automated process;                MANUAL mode controlled by switch actuation. Reaction Method: Acid-catalyzed esterification of free fatty acids                Then base-catalyzed transesterification of triglycerides; Method: Triple-stage turbulent water wash.                1) Mist Spray, 2) Mist & Agitation, 3) Mist & Agitation Batch Time: Reaction Time – approximately 8 hrs;                Initial settling - 16 hrs;                Water wash –(total three (3) cycles, approximately14 hrs;                Drying cycle - Approx 10 hrs: Total Processing Time: Approx. 48 hours start to finish. Items You Will Need To Get Started: 100 Gallons of new or used filtered vegetable oil or oil derived from animal fats (triglycerides Minimum 400 micron, or finer, filter to strain the oil 20 Gallons of methanol (racing fuel; 99.99% pure) 3040 grams Lye (Sodium Hydroxide - NaOH) or 4700 grams Caustic Potash (Potassium Hydroxide - KOH)* *Recommended 380 mL Sulfuric Acid (93% Purity or higher) - Not common battery acid 100 Gallons of fresh standing water (can also be connected directly to a pressurized water line) 100 Gallon container for water in (or connect to a clean, pressurized water source) 100 Gallon container for water out (or connect directly to a drain) Air tight storage containers for methanol, lye/caustic potash, and sulfuric acid Protective gloves, face mask, apron, and safety goggles (included) Transfer hoses, scales, and measuring cups (included) For your safety and convenience, we suggest obtaining a methanol transfer and oil/grease transfer pump (1) 110-120 volt / 15 amp & (1) 220 volt / 30 amp AC power source

 Since its introduction, the BioPro line of products have steadily found their way into the hands of many an independent souls.

 Click on the links below to read about

  World renowned Dr. Andrew Weil with his BioPro190 

CONTACT Nor Cal Biodiesel

Please feel free to contact  Nor Cal Biodiesel for additional information regarding our products or services.

 

 Nor Cal Biodiesel also welcome any comments or suggestions regarding  products, web site and overall experience regarding your initial interaction with Nor Cal Biodiesel.

General Inquiries and Sales Information info@norcalbio.com
Projects, Business Development or Specific Requests danny@norcalbio.com

Nor Cal Biodiese web site : http://norcalbio.com/index.html

For any additional information, please contact 

Danny Lesa, telephone 707-766-9782 

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
 (CCRES)

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Most Common Diseases of Potatoes

This article is a follow up from our earlier article about Potato growing. So if you have not read our earlier article please read that before continuing. In this article we will inform you about some of the most common diseases which potato plants suffer.

Wart:

Wart in Potato tuber

It is one of the most dreaded diseases of potatoes. In this case potatoes grow swelling or tumors.
One or more tumors can be seen in the tubers. Most of the time tubers turned into warty mass and turn black with age.
The best way to control this is to use immune varieties.  

Common scab:

Scab in potato tuber

These are bacterial infections. It makes the tissue corky to the surface. These form patches. The infections are mostly superficial and you can eat the tubers.
Scab is much more destroying if the soil is alkaline (Know more about soil pH by clicking here). Do not add lime to the soil. For better results, use resistant varieties of the plant. Keep the moisture level in the soil by watering frequently.

Blight in potato leaf

Early and Late blight: This is caused by fungal infection. It causes brown spots in the leaves. In case of late blight the leaves of the plant wilt and turn brown within weeks. These conditions also deteriorate in case of humid or moist
weather.
To prevent this from happening use disease free variety of seed potato. Use thick layer of mulch to prevent tuber infection.

Slugs and snails: Several snails and slugs love to chew the leaves and tubers of the potato plant. They create holes in the tubers. The attack is especially severe in the rainy season. Click here to see our article on gardening in rainy season.
Don’t water in the evening. Check for visible pests and remove them manually.

Canker stem:

Canker in a tuber

The most common symptoms are irregular lumps of tubers. The infection can also spread to the roots.

One of the solution suggested is to use crop rotation.

Dry rot in potato

Dry rot: This is a situation where the potato skin becomes brown or
even darker and develops wrinkles. It is more or less to do with the storage problem. You need to be more careful while harvesting and storing.



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