Search Results (1,246)

Sweet cherry trees are one of the most important crops worldwide, producing fruits with high economic importance due to the nutritional value and bioactive properties of cherries, providing benefits to human health. Due to the currently unstable climatic conditions, cherry cracking has become a significant problem, strongly affecting the quality and yield of cherry orchards. A cracking rate of 20–25% at harvest can render cherry production unprofitable, decreasing the commercial value of the fruit, as only the cracked ones can be sold to processing industries. This study aims to assess the impact of calcium- and seaweed-based biostimulant applications on sweet cherry quality and profitability in cv. Sweetheart. Applying 300 g hL⁻¹ of calcium led to a significant 52% reduction in the cracking index and a substantial 136% increase in orchard yield. Similarly, applying 150 mL hL⁻¹ of seaweed resulted in a 2% increase in fruit weight and a 3% decrease in the cracking index. Therefore, our findings suggest that calcium- and seaweed-based biostimulants could serve as novel and sustainable alternatives for orchard producers, enhancing cherry profitability and marketability. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on microspore embryogenesis and green plant regeneration in wheat anther culture. Five culture media, as well as the inclusion of 1% DMSO in the surface disinfection solution, were investigated in three winter wheat genotypes. Our results showed that the Altındane genotype produced the highest number of embryoids, 215 per 100 anthers cultured in CHB-3 medium, whereas the Dariel and Pehlivan genotypes produced 6.6 and 0 embryoids, respectively, from 100 anthers cultured. On the other hand, the addition of 1% DMSO to the same medium adversely affected embryoid production compared to the medium without DMSO. A 70% ethanol solution with 1% DMSO for the surface disinfection of spikes was effective in increasing the embryoids from approximately 0 to 17.8% and from 1 to 48.4% in CHB-3 + 1%DMSO and CHB-3 medium, respectively. Furthermore, the Altındane genotype produced 22.2 plantlets/100 anthers (17.7 albino and 4.4 green plants) and 17.7 albino plantlets per 100 anthers in CHB-3 and CHB-3 + DMSO, respectively. Our results suggested that the inclusion of 1% DMSO in the disinfection solution increased the number of embryoids without supporting the production of green plants. Full article

Berry fruit seeds should be treated as a valuable waste product of the fruit industry. In the following study, oils from cranberry, black currant, red currant, strawberry and chokeberry seeds were extracted by conventional and pressurized liquid extraction. The quality of oils was assessed by determining oxidative stability (onset and maximum time of induction) with the use of pressure differential scanning calorimetry, fatty acids composition by gas chromatography and health indices, such as atherogenicity, thrombogenicity and hypocholesterolemic indexes. Additionally, health-promoting index was calculated. It was found that the fatty acid profile was not affected when pressurized liquid extraction was used. The major fatty acids in the studied oils were linoleic acid ranging from 36% for cranberry seed oil to 69% for chokeberry seed oil, followed by α-linolenoic acid in the case of cranberry, strawberry and red currant seed oils or by oleic acid for chokeberry and black currant seed oils. The oxidative stability of fats extracted with the use of pressurized solvent was significantly lower compared to oils obtained using the conventional extraction process, e.g., the maximum induction time for conventionally extracted chokeberry seed oil was 40.74 ± 0.66 min and 9.24 ± 0.57 min when pressurized liquid extraction was applied. The studied oils had low values of atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indexes, which, when combined with high values of hypocholesterolemic index, qualifies them as high nutritional quality oils. However, further studies regarding the process optimization are needed in order to obtain oils with improved quality, especially better oxidative stability. Full article

Background and Aims: Obesity is a public health problem. The usual treatment is a reduction in calorie intake and an increase in energy expenditure, but not all individuals respond equally to these treatments. Epigenetics could be a factor that contributes to this heterogeneity. The aim of this research was to determine the association between DNA methylation at baseline and the percentage of BMI loss (%BMIL) after two dietary interventions in order to design a prediction model to evaluate %BMIL based on methylation data. Methods and Results: Spanish participants with overweight or obesity (n = 306) were randomly assigned to two lifestyle interventions with hypocaloric diets: one moderately high in protein (MHP) and the other low in fat (LF) during 4 months (Obekit study). DNA methylation was analyzed in white blood cells using the Infinium MethylationEPIC array. After identifying those methylation sites associated with %BMIL, (p < 0.05 and SD > 0.1), two weighted methylation sub-scores were constructed for each diet: 15 CpGs were used for MHP diet and 11 CpGs for LF diet. Afterwards, a total methylation score was obtained by subtracting the previous sub-scores. These data were used to design a prediction model for %BMIL through a linear mixed effect model in which the interaction between diet and total score. Conclusion: Overall, DNA methylation predicted %BMIL of two hypocaloric diets after 4 months and was able to determine which type of diet is the most appropriate for each individual. These results confirm that epigenetic biomarkers may be further used for precision nutrition and the design of personalized dietary strategies against obesity. Full article

Sustainable corn starch nanoparticles were prepared using media milling to stabilize omega-3-rich Pickering emulsions based on chia oil. The milling conditions were as follows: 24 h (milling time), 0.4–0.6 mm (bead diameter), 1600 rpm (impeller speed), 30% (volume occupied by the grinding media), 7% w/v (starch concentration), and 0, 0.07 and 1% w/v of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Nanosuspensions containing 7% w/v of starch and the three concentrations of SDS were filtered, centrifuged, homogenized, and spray-dried to obtain redispersible powders. The particle size ranges were 2288 ± 211, 385 ± 21, and 278 ± 11 nm with 0, 0.07 and 1% w/v of SDS, respectively. The most stable backscattering profiles obtained during a period of one week were observed with 0.07 and 1% w/v of SDS. Therefore, the surface dilatational rheology of these particles adsorbed at chia oil/water interfaces was studied. A rapid decrease in the interfacial tension within 1 h was obtained with 1% w/v of SDS (down to 3 mN/m). Moreover, the most stable particle size after redispersion was obtained with the highest concentration of SDS. Finally, Pickering emulsions were prepared, and significant coalescence was observed with 0 and 0.07% w/v of SDS (within a few minutes). Nonetheless, in the presence of 1% w/v of SDS, oil droplets showed mean diameters and polydispersity indexes of 280.13 ± 4.60 nm and 0.35 ± 0.02, respectively, with no significant variations during storage for around 1 month. The results show that wet-stirred media milling can be applied to produce sustainable, new food-grade starch nanoparticles able to deliver bioactive compounds from chia oil. Full article

Pleurotus ostreatus has potent antimicrobial properties. In this study, bioactive compounds were extracted from P. ostreatus and screened against bacterial and fungal phytopathogens. In terms of the antibacterial activity, the n-hexane extract of P. ostreatuse exhibited a significant inhibition zone of 88.55 mm against Xanthomonas axonopodis, while the highest antifungal activity of 83% was against Fusarium oxysporum. It was observed that the highest level of concentrations, i.e., 25 mg mL⁻¹, caused a 76, 82, 82, 83, and 60% decrease in fungal biomass over the control against the fungal strains, i.e., A. alternata, A. flavus, D. australiensis, F. oxysporum and M. phaseolina, respectively. GC-MS analysis was performed on the n-hexane extract depicting the presence of 26 compounds. A compound identified as Toluene (Molecular weight = 92) exhibited a peak area of 91% followed by another compound named Cyclopentane, methyl- (Molecular weight = 84) showing a peak area of 56%. A well-known antimicrobial compound Aziridine (Mol. Weight = 99) was identified and showed a maximum hit of 84%, with a peak area of 56%. P. ostreatus could be a potent biocontrol antagonist against the plant pathogens. Full article

Annual Medicago species contribute significantly to improved fodder production in Algeria. The leguminous plant model is Medicago truncatula Gaertner. Because of its high protein content, this plant is essential for natural soil fertilization as well as good quality nutrition for animals and humans. However, abiotic stresses such as salinity are the leading cause of land degradation and crop productivity limitations worldwide, and they have an impact on legume physiology and metabolism. We investigated the pollen tube growth behavior in two contrasting Medicago truncatula ecotypes under salt stress (Tru 42, tolerant, and Tru 242, sensitive) with different NaCl concentrations (68, 102, and 137 mM) because pollen tube growth mechanisms can be affected by environmental stresses such as water and salt stress. According to the data, the Tru242 ecotype has a pollen tube elongation of 1.41 to 8.45 um, whereas the high pollen tube elongation of the Tru 42 ecotype is between 2.8 and 18.83 um. It is crucial to comprehend the physiological reactions of male gametophytes in order to reproduce, as salinity stress can hinder their ability to do so. It is intriguing to include the tolerant genotype in a selection program for leguminous breeding, as the analysis revealed that the tolerant ecotype has better pollen tube elongation than the sensitive one. in fact, there is not enough knowledge about pollen tolerance mechanism to salt stress of Medicago truncatula or other Medicago species. Full article

Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) is a potential threat for the successful cultivation of cotton all over the world. Despite the use of modern management strategies, the damage caused by this pest is increasing. The repeated exposure of this pest to Bacillus thuringenisis (Bt) crops resulted in resistance development, which has threatened the continued success of Bt cotton cultivation. Salicylic acid has been reported to enhance the efficiency of crops. The present study was carried out to determine the effect of salicylic acid on the oviposition (pre-oviposition and post-oviposition time) and feeding behavior (pre-feeding time and post-feeding time) of pink bollworm larvae in two cotton varieties, i.e., CIM-70 and NIAB-78. In the first experiment, leaves and bolls treated with different concentrations of salicylic acid were kept in an oviposition chamber and adults were released in a chamber with a ratio of 5:5 males to females, respectively. The experiment was performed following a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications and six concentrations of salicylic acid (0, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 ppm). In a second complementary experiment, salicylic acid was evaluated against feeding behavior, i.e., larval duration, pre-feeding time, feeding time, post-feeding time, and percentage mortality of pink bollworm. In both experiments, the results revealed that the application of salicylic acid at a maximum concentration was effective against the oviposition and feeding of pink bollworm only in the NIAB-78 cultivar. It is concluded that salicylic acid has the potential to reduce pink bollworm risks, and the present investigation will help researchers as well as farmers plan for the timely sustainable management of pink bollworm. Full article

Metallocenes are toxic chemicals that are used for the growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The study of the toxicity of metallocenes on plants is very important. It governs the issues of genetics. Toxicity studies should consider (I) the growth kinetics of carbon nanotubes, (II) the chemical reaction of metallocenes inside carbon nanotubes, and (III) investigations into the electronic properties of filled carbon nanotubes. Toxicity studies are influenced by the investigation of the growth processes of metallocene-filled carbon nanotubes, the evaporation of metals, and the formation of multiple-walled carbon nanotubes. Investigations into the modification of the Fermi level of filled carbon nanotubes also play a role in toxicity studies. Metallocenes are filled into carbon nanotubes through the various methods discussed here, including solution methods and gas-phase methods, each differing in methodology and requiring optimization. Many authors have published different methods of filling carbon nanotubes with metallocenes. They lead to high-filling ratios and allow future modifications of the electronic properties of carbon nanotubes. The kinetics of carbon nanotube growth are investigated with different methods. Environmental transmission electron microscopy is applied to studies with a time resolution of several nanoseconds. Here, we use Raman spectroscopy to study the growth process, which is revealed to have activation energies, growth rates, and temperature dependence. The dependence of growth temperature on the tube diameter and metallocene-type is revealed. It is shown that the growth temperature increases with the larger diameter of inner CNTs. The growth temperature increases for ferrocene compared to nickelocene and cobaltocene. With X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, we show that the heating of metallocene-filled SWCNTs at 360–600 °C causes the n-doping of SWCNTs. Heating at higher temperatures results in p-doping. The obtained data are needed to tailor the toxicity issues of metallocene-filled carbon nanotubes on plants. Full article

Meloidogyne graminicola (Mg), commonly referred to as rice root-knot nematodes (RKNs), is one of the most prevalent plant parasitic nematodes in rice agroecosystems, and sustainable agricultural practices are still limited. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of soil microbiotas extracted from different agricultural practices in reducing RKN damage to rice plants. We used conservation agriculture (CA), cover crops with machine tillage (CA), conservation agriculture without tillage (CAU), and conventional agriculture practices (CT). All types of soil microbiotas were isolated from soil samples collected from each rice agricultural practice in the Preah Vihear and Kampong Thom provinces of Cambodia in order to test the effectiveness of the microbiotas against Mg on rice plants (Variety IR64). The experiment was conducted in test tubes, using sterilized sand to grow rice. Then, 250 juveniles (J2) were used to infect each tube and were classified into three treatments: (1) infected 25 mL of microbiota suspensions from non-sterilized soil (M); (2) infected 25 mL of microbiota from sterilized soil (ST); and (3) a control with only J2 (CT). After 3 weeks of infection, rice plants were examined under microscopes to measure the number of nematodes (J2 and eggs). The results showed that the number of nematodes was significantly different under treatment (ST) 230 ± 100.132 compared to treatment (M) 159 ± 64.41, respectively. The data demonstrated that soil microbiotas in CA were effective in reducing Mg damage to rice roots, a method which can be used as a biological control to lower RKN in rice plants. However, further research is required to conduct the assessment of the effects of microbiotas on rice development and yield and determine the taxa of beneficial microbiomes with the most benefit to rice growth. Full article

Plant-soil sensing devices coupled with Artificial Intelligence autonomously collect and process in situ plant phenotypic data. A challenge of this approach is the limited incorporation of phenotype data into decision support systems designed to harness agricultural practices and forecast plant behavior within the intricate context of genotype, environment, and management interactions (G × E × M). To enhance the role of digital phenotyping in supporting Precision Agriculture, this paper proposes a sensing network based on the Internet of Things. The developed system comprises three modules: data collection, communication, and a cloud server. Several processes co-occur in the server, namely data visualization to confirm the correct sensors and data stream functioning. In addition, a crop growth model (CGM) runs on the server, which is powered by the collected data. The simulations generated by the model will support agricultural decisions, obtaining, in advance, insights about plant behavior considering several G × E × M scenarios. To assess the performance of the proposed network to provide reliable data to the model, a greenhouse was equipped with several sensors that collect plant, environment, and soil data (e.g., leaf numbers, air temperature, soil moisture). The proposed network can provide real-time causal support for advanced agricultural practices, evolving from a data-driven approach to an integrative framework where context (G × E × M) drives decision making. Full article

Pollination is a crucial reproductive process that underpins crop yield and quality as well as sustains other ecosystem services essential for our planet’s life. Insects are the largest group of pollinators, particularly bees, handling the pollination of 71 of the 100 crops that contribute to 90% of the world’s food supply. Nevertheless, both biotic and abiotic factors exert considerable influence on bee behaviour, which in turn affects the pollination process. Moreover, the alarming decline in bee populations and other essential insect pollinators presents a major challenge to natural pollination. This work focuses on Actinidia, a dioecious plant, i.e., with female and male flowers on separate plants, which introduces entropy into the pollination phase. In this plant, the number of pollinated seeds directly influences the size of Actinidia fruits (kiwi), so the success of the pollination phase is fundamental. However, natural pollination in Actinidia is mainly entomophilic, i.e., by insects. Hence, the exploration of alternative approaches becomes essential. To address this need, there has been a growing interest in robotic solutions for pollination, which include several tools to perform pollination. This research investigates the existing technologies for conducting artificial pollination procedures. It involves a comprehensive examination of various methods outlined in the literature, thoroughly analysing their strengths and weaknesses. The ultimate objective is to provide valuable insights and guidance to enhance the efficacy of artificial pollination processes Full article

GSH (glutathione) is crucial for the removal and detoxification of carcinogens in healthy cells, while in cancer cells, GSH is associated with cancer expansion and increased resistance to drugs. O₂^•− acts as a secondary messenger and plays a major role in the cell signalling pathways of normal and cancer cells. Herein, the levels of O₂^•− and GSH were measured in MRC-5 and HCT-116 cells after incubation with BAL (Bifidobacterium animalis spp. lactis) and BAL/EALS (ethyl acetate extract of Laetiporus sulphureus) in co-culture systems, and for the first time, sensitivity was compared between these cell lines. The O₂^•− and GSH parameters were measured spectrophotometrically after 12 and 24 h. The levels of the O₂^•− were slightly increased in the MRC-5 cells after the effect of BAL and BAL/EALS (10 µg/mL), while the highest concentration of O₂^•− was recorded in treatment with BAL/EALS (50 µg/mL). On the other hand, the GSH values were elevated already after 12 h of incubation, and then further increased after 24 h in the MRC-5 cells. In the HCT-116 cells, the concentration of O₂^•− was not enhanced at 12 and 24 h of incubation compared to that of the control. The GSH level also remained relatively low. We observed a positive dose-dependent effect on the GSH levels in the MRC-5 and a negative dose-dependent effect in the HCT-116 cells. Generally, high GSH levels in the MRC-5 after 12 and 24 h indicate a strong reaction to oxidative stress and more sensitivity compared with the HCT-116 cells, where GSH stayed at a low concentration. Full article

With the rising impact of climate change on agriculture, insect-borne diseases are proliferating. There is a need to monitor the appearance of new vectors to take preventive actions that allow us to reduce the use of chemical pesticides and treatment costs. Thus, agriculture requires advanced monitoring tools for early pest and disease detection. This work presents a new concept design for a scalable, interoperable and cost-effective smart trap that can digitize daily images of crop-damaging insects and send them to the cloud server. However, this procedure can consume approximately twenty megabytes of data per day, which can increase the network infrastructure costs and requires a large bandwidth. Thus, a two-stage system is also proposed to locally detect and count insects. In the first stage, a lightweight approach based on the SVM model and a visual descriptor is used to classify and detect all regions of interest (ROIs) in the images that contain the insects. Instead of the full image, only the ROIs are then sent to a second stage in the pest monitoring system, where they will be classified. This approach can reduce, by almost 99%, the amount of data sent to the cloud server. Additionally, the classifier will identify unclassified insects in each ROI, which can be sent to the cloud for further training. This approach reduces the internet bandwidth usage and helps to identify unclassified insects and new threats. In addition, the classifier can be trained with supervised data on the cloud and then sent to each smart trap. The proposed approach is a promising new method for early pest and disease detection. Full article

Salinization is an increasing problem worldwide, limiting crop production. Soil salinity causes ion toxicity, osmotic stress, nutrient deficiency, and oxidative stress in plants, leading to the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). To counterbalance these effects, plants activate a complex detoxification system through the action of antioxidant pigments, carotenoids, phenolics, and flavonoids, and the accumulation of minerals, that play an important role in human health against several diseases. In this study, we investigated the impacts of salinity (0, 50, 100, and 300 mM NaCl) on the flowers of three Tagetes patula cultivars harvested after 14 days, recording mineral, total phenol and protein contents. Overall, all compounds increased with an increase in salinity levels, in comparison with control conditions. Results showed that edible marigold flowers are a promising crop with enriched nutritional contents and antioxidant activity that can be a new source of source of nutraceuticals. However, further tests are needed to evaluate the implications that salinity might have on the viability and yield of flowers. Full article