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01/11/2017 10:12

Tiny plants with huge potential

Stephan Laudien Stabsstelle Kommunikation/Pressestelle
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena

    Jena University scientists investigate potential of duckweed

    Wolffia globosa, a tiny, rootless duckweed, or water lens, apparently has what it takes to achieve great things.

    Researchers at the University of Jena (Germany), together with colleagues in India and Germany, have investigated the potential of various duckweeds as a human food source. The results, which are very promising, have been published under the title ‘Nutritional value of duckweeds (Lemnaceae) as human food’ in the leading journal ‘Food Chemistry’.

    “Duckweeds can definitely serve as a source of protein in human nutrition,” says Prof. Gerhard Jahreis of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena. It is not without reason that duckweeds are dubbed ‘green machines’, the nutritional scientist adds. Jahreis explains that the protein content of duckweeds is comparable to that of lupins, rape or peas, with a protein yield of 30 per cent of dry weight. What is more, these tiny plants contain valuable omega-3 fatty acids such as stearidonic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. Possible uses for duckweeds would be in the ever-popular smoothies or gluten-free baked goods.

    “Duckweeds multiply very rapidly, but do not require any additional cultivable land,” says Dr Klaus Appenroth, associate professor at Friedrich Schiller University Jena. In view of the decrease in areas of farmland, this gives duckweed a huge advantage over soya, for example. For thousands of years, duckweed species have been on the menu in Asian countries such as Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. As a plant physiologist, Appenroth has dedicated nearly his entire research career at the University Jena to the tiny plants, and he has built up an extensive collection of Lemnaceae (commonly known as duckweeds or water lenses), among other things. He singles out in particular the species Wolffia globosa, which is served up in Asia in the form of soup, as a vegetable or in omelette. In the latest tests by the research group, Wolffia globosa showed itself to be the most promising.

    As yet these duckweeds have not been cultivated, but simply ‘harvested’ from bodies of water. However, there are some initial experimental facilities in Israel and the Netherlands, where duckweeds are produced on an industrial scale. Wolffia globosa measure only 0.7 to 1.5 mm, are oval in shape and rootless. They multiply so rapidly that in a short time they can cover the entire surface of a body of water. A further argument in favour of having these plants as part of the human diet is that duckweeds easily absorb trace elements that are dissolved in water. This means that with little expense and effort, they can be used to relieve deficiency symptoms due to malnutrition.

    Other potential applications for duckweeds are fish farming and water purification. The minute plants could also be used for producing bio-ethanol.

    Original publication:
    Klaus-J. Appenroth, K. Sowjanya Sree, Volker Böhm, Simon Hammann, Walter Vetter, Matthias Leiterer, Gerhard Jahreis: ‘Nutritional value of duckweeds (Lemnaceae) as human food’; Food Chemistry; DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.08.116

    Contact:
    Dr Klaus Appenroth (Privatdozent, Associate Professor)
    Institute of General Botany and Plant Physiology of Friedrich Schiller University Jena
    Dornburger Straße 159, 07743 Jena, Germany
    Phone: ++49 3641 / 949233
    E-mail: Klaus.Appenroth[at]uni-jena.de

    Prof. Gerhard Jahreis
    Institute of Nutrition of Friedrich Schiller University Jena
    Dornburger Straße 24, 07743 Jena, Germany
    Phone: ++49 3641 / 949610
    E-mail: b6jage[at]uni-jena.de


    More information:

    http://www.uni-jena.de/en/start.html


    Images

    Duckweed has a huge potential as a human food source.
    Duckweed has a huge potential as a human food source.
    Photo: Jan-Peter Kasper/FSU Jena
    None

    Klaus Appenroth (r.) and Gerhard Jahreis in a laboratory of the University Jena with a great collection of duckweed.
    Klaus Appenroth (r.) and Gerhard Jahreis in a laboratory of the University Jena with a great collect ...
    Photo: Jan-Peter Kasper/FSU Jena
    None


    Criteria of this press release:
    Journalists
    Biology, Nutrition / healthcare / nursing
    transregional, national
    Research results, Scientific Publications
    English


     

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