Agronomy

28 pages, 7842 KB

Open AccessReview

Weed-Suppressive Crops in Agricultural Systems: Impacts on Ecosystem Services and Crop Yield

by Masoomeh Shemshad and Katarzyna Pużyńska

Agronomy 2026, 16(15), 1494; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16151494 - 3 Aug 2026

Agroecological approaches are increasingly recognized as sustainable alternatives to conventional weed management practices. This review examines the role of soybean, potato, and winter wheat as key crops within agroecological systems for effective weed suppression. Four management strategies—crop rotation, post-harvest mulching, optimized planting density [...] Read more.

Agroecological approaches are increasingly recognized as sustainable alternatives to conventional weed management practices. This review examines the role of soybean, potato, and winter wheat as key crops within agroecological systems for effective weed suppression. Four management strategies—crop rotation, post-harvest mulching, optimized planting density (for soybean and potato), and varietal mixtures (for winter wheat)—are evaluated for their influence on weed dynamics and overall system performance. The synthesis of current studies indicates that these practices can significantly reduce weed pressure while enhancing soil health, biodiversity, and the provision of key ecosystem services, including provisioning, regulating, and supporting functions. In addition, these approaches contribute to improved crop productivity and reduced reliance on chemical inputs. Agroecological strategies also support pest regulation, water-use efficiency, and climate resilience, promoting more sustainable and resource-efficient agricultural systems. Despite these benefits, challenges related to farmer adoption, labor requirements, and limited policy support remain. Overall, this review highlights the potential of integrated agroecological practices to achieve sustainable agricultural intensification while balancing ecological sustainability with economic viability. Further research and supportive policy frameworks are needed to facilitate the wider implementation of these approaches across diverse agroecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecological Approaches to Enhancing Productivity and Ecosystem Services)

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28 pages, 4209 KB

Open AccessArticle

Aerodynamic Design and Laboratory Evaluation of a Variable Cross-Section Wind-Suction Channel for Capturing Small Agricultural Pests

by Qiang Wu, Zhu Chen, Huihua Ji, Wen Sang, Zihan Zhang, Zhongkai Shen and Huacai Chen

Agronomy 2026, 16(15), 1493; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16151493 - 3 Aug 2026

Abstract

Physical control technology as an alternative to chemical pesticides is of great significance for modern sustainable agriculture. However, small pests such as tea green leafhoppers and tea thrips possess sensitive aerodynamic receptors that easily perceive disturbances generated by suction airflow and initiate stress-induced [...] Read more.

Physical control technology as an alternative to chemical pesticides is of great significance for modern sustainable agriculture. However, small pests such as tea green leafhoppers and tea thrips possess sensitive aerodynamic receptors that easily perceive disturbances generated by suction airflow and initiate stress-induced escape behavior. The current bottleneck in the state of the art is that conventional straight tube capture devices generate severe airflow pulsations and turbulence near the intake which act as alarm signals causing pests to escape before entering the effective capture zone. To resolve this trade-off, this study developed and validated a variable cross-section wind-suction channel based on the principle of biological behavioral suppression. This design incorporates a three-stage functional structure consisting of a flow-stabilizing intake section a guided acceleration section and a high negative-pressure throat to achieve a synergistic balance between low disturbance induction and strong aerodynamic confinement. Numerical simulations and prototype experiments show that this design establishes a stable rectified environment at the intake with relative wind speed deviations within 5%. Under controlled laboratory conditions, the average capture rate for target pests exceeded 85% within an effective operating radius of 20 cm. Comparative biological validation further confirms that the capture efficiency of this design is improved by more than 32 percentage points compared with a conventional straight-tube benchmark device. Furthermore, the critical stress-response distance was reduced by approximately 50%, significantly enhancing the concealment of the capture process. These findings elucidate the critical role of channel geometry in resolving the conflict between suction intensity and environmental disturbance providing a theoretical foundation and technical support for the development of high efficiency and precision plant protection equipment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Pest and Disease Management)

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22 pages, 1952 KB

Open AccessArticle

Suppression of Fusarium graminearum and Mycotoxin Mitigation in Durum Wheat by Trichoderma harzianum ITEM 3636

by Jessica Erazo, Paula Vanella, Juan Palazzini, Silvana Plem, Adriana M. Torres and Sofía A. Palacios

Agronomy 2026, 16(15), 1492; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16151492 - 3 Aug 2026

Abstract

Durum wheat is highly susceptible to Fusarium head blight (FHB), a severe fungal disease caused primarily by Fusarium graminearum. FHB affects durum wheat production by causing significant yield losses and grain contamination with mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA). Given [...] Read more.

Durum wheat is highly susceptible to Fusarium head blight (FHB), a severe fungal disease caused primarily by Fusarium graminearum. FHB affects durum wheat production by causing significant yield losses and grain contamination with mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA). Given the limitations of chemical fungicides, finding sustainable biological control agents is essential. This study evaluated the antagonistic and biocontrol capabilities of Trichoderma harzianum ITEM 3636 against F. graminearum through in vitro and greenhouse experiments. In vitro dual and sandwich culture assays demonstrated that T. harzianum significantly inhibits pathogen mycelial growth through direct interaction and the emission of volatile compounds. In a competition test on rice kernels, co-inoculation with ITEM 3636 significantly reduced pathogen biomass, leading to maximum reductions of 96.5% for DON and 98% for ZEA. Furthermore, greenhouse trials on a commercial durum wheat cultivar revealed that T. harzianum ITEM 3636 significantly decreased FHB severity by 40% and reduced DON contamination by up to 32% only when a combined seed-coating and spike-spraying application was performed. Additionally, ITEM 3636 exhibited biostimulant-like effects on yield parameters, causing an increase in kernel weight of 33% in the greenhouse assay. These findings highlight T. harzianum ITEM 3636 as a promising and ecological alternative to synthetic fungicides for managing FHB, safeguarding crop production, and ensuring food safety. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress of Beneficial Microorganisms in Controlling Crop Pathogens)

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12 pages, 450 KB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Intensification of Napier Grass: Intercropping with Legumes and Reduced Nitrogen Fertilization for Yield Maintenance and Carbon Sequestration

by Nuo-Ya Lou, Shyh-Rong Chang and Uei-Chern Chen

Agronomy 2026, 16(15), 1491; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16151491 - 3 Aug 2026

Abstract

Driven by global climate change and Taiwan’s Net-Zero initiatives, high-input livestock farming faces urgent pressures to transform. Pennisetum purpureum, a primary forage and bioenergy crop, traditionally relies on heavy chemical nitrogen inputs, thereby exacerbating its carbon footprint. This study evaluated a sustainable [...] Read more.

Driven by global climate change and Taiwan’s Net-Zero initiatives, high-input livestock farming faces urgent pressures to transform. Pennisetum purpureum, a primary forage and bioenergy crop, traditionally relies on heavy chemical nitrogen inputs, thereby exacerbating its carbon footprint. This study evaluated a sustainable cultivation model integrating legume intercropping with reduced fertilization. A field trial in central Taiwan utilizing a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) compared four treatments: conventional full nitrogen (800 kg N/ha), sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) intercropping with half nitrogen, sunn hemp intercropping only, and organic compost. We monitored biomass, forage chemistry, and soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics. The sunn hemp plus half-nitrogen treatment achieved dry matter yields (30–35 Mg/ha) and crude protein levels (7.1–7.4%) statistically equivalent to the full-nitrogen control, significantly surpassing other groups. While short-term SOC stocks (72–81 Mg C/ha) showed no significant differences, trends indicated carbon accumulation in deep soil (30–50 cm). Consequently, substituting 50% of chemical nitrogen through biological fixation proves a viable strategy to maintain yield while reducing inputs. This model sustains productivity and mitigates greenhouse gas emissions, offering an economically feasible, potential carbon-negative solution for tropical forage systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Water and Fertilizer Management in Agroecosystems Under Climate Change: From Irrigation to Fertigation)

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14 pages, 956 KB

Open AccessArticle

Integrating Disease Severity and Growth Retention Reveals Distinct Resistance Responses to Spring Black Stem and Leaf Spot in Alfalfa

by Shi Cao, Xiaoyu Liu and Ziwen Zeng

Agronomy 2026, 16(15), 1490; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16151490 - 3 Aug 2026

Abstract

Alfalfa spring black stem and leaf spot (ASBS), caused by Ascochyta medicaginicola, threatens alfalfa yield, forage quality, and stand persistence. Conventional resistance assessments of alfalfa cultivars generally rely on disease incidence, disease severity, or the percentage of healthy plants. Although these measures [...] Read more.

Alfalfa spring black stem and leaf spot (ASBS), caused by Ascochyta medicaginicola, threatens alfalfa yield, forage quality, and stand persistence. Conventional resistance assessments of alfalfa cultivars generally rely on disease incidence, disease severity, or the percentage of healthy plants. Although these measures describe symptom occurrence and development, they do not capture biomass retention or root growth after infection. In this study, 12 alfalfa cultivars were spray-inoculated with A. medicaginicola under greenhouse conditions and evaluated 14 days after inoculation. Disease incidence was positively correlated with the disease severity index and negatively correlated with relative fresh weight, relative dry weight, and relative root length. We integrated these five indicators using a membership-function-based standard-deviation coefficient weighting method to derive a comprehensive response score (D value). D values ranged from 0.0340 to 0.9611. Magnum 2 had the highest D value, followed by Gannong No. 3, Adrenalin, and Dryland, whereas Thunder, Zhongmu No. 1, and Aohan had the lowest values. Compared with the National Alfalfa and Forage Alliance classification based on the percentage of healthy plants, the D-value ranking provided additional discrimination among cultivars within the same resistance class under the present greenhouse conditions. The first two principal components explained 89.24% of the total variation and separated resistant, intermediate, and susceptible response types. Thus, combining disease suppression with growth retention yielded a complementary quantitative description of cultivar performance under the conditions tested. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Pest and Disease Management)

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1 pages, 138 KB

Open AccessCorrection

Correction: Yu et al. Optimization and Experimental Study on No-Tillage Dense Planting Precision Seed-Fertilizer Co-Sowing System for Maize Oriented to High-Yield Agronomy. Agronomy 2026, 16, 860

by Zhongyi Yu, Guangfu Wang, Xiongkui He, Song Shi, Yingbo Gao, Kuan Ren, Xing Nian and Chaogang Li

Agronomy 2026, 16(15), 1489; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16151489 - 3 Aug 2026

Abstract

Professors Gao Wangsheng and Chen Yuanquan confirmed that they only provided general guidance and suggestions in the early stages of the research, and did not participate in substantive work such as experimental implementation, data analysis, and manuscript writing [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Innovative Cropping Systems)

23 pages, 1907 KB

Open AccessReview

Mutation Breeding as a Tool for Sustainable Crop Production and Climate Resilience: Experiences from the South-Eastern Europe (SEE) and Central Asia (CA)

by Sandra Cvejić, Aleksandra Radanović, Dragana Trkulja, Svetlana Glogovac, Igor Vukelić, Mirela Kajkut Zejković, Marina Antić, Sonja Umićević, Jasmin Grahić, Mirjana Jankulovska, Nadica Sandeva Atanasova, Biljana Kuzmanovska, Boris Lazarević, Eleni Abraham, Eleni Tani, Efi Sarri, Dimitrios N. Vlachostergios, Christos Petsoulas, Anastasia Kargiotidou, Chrysanthi Pankou, Rustam Usmanov, Bakytzhan Anapiyayev, Konirsha Iskakova, Nasya Tomlekova, Emilia Nacheva, Daniela Ganeva, Sibel Aziz, Ali Şenay, Hayrettin Peşkircioğlu, Emine Seçer, Aslıhan Göktuğ, Kadriye Yaprak Kantoğlu, Jolanta Kwasniewska, Siniša Jocić, Ankica Kondić Špika and Dragana Miladinović Show full author list Hide full author list

Agronomy 2026, 16(15), 1488; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16151488 - 3 Aug 2026

Abstract

The review summarizes practical experiences in using mutation breeding for crop improvement in South-Eastern Europe (SEE) and Central Asia (CA), demonstrating that mutation breeding can be a field-validated, effective approach for developing climate-resilient crops. Drawing on coordinated research conducted within national breeding programs [...] Read more.

The review summarizes practical experiences in using mutation breeding for crop improvement in South-Eastern Europe (SEE) and Central Asia (CA), demonstrating that mutation breeding can be a field-validated, effective approach for developing climate-resilient crops. Drawing on coordinated research conducted within national breeding programs and international initiatives supported by FAO/IAEA, applied methodologies, trait-evaluation strategies, and concrete breeding outputs in cereals, legumes, and industrial crops are presented. The use of gamma irradiation, fast neutrons, and chemical mutagens has successfully generated stable mutant lines stable mutant lines with enhanced traits, such as increased thousand-grain weight in wheat, altered oil quality in sunflower, and improved drought tolerance in common bean and sesame. The integration of classical pedigree selection with modern breeding tools such as high-throughput phenotyping, molecular and biochemical markers, and doubled-haploid technology has enabled earlier and more efficient identification of superior genotypes in mutation breeding programs. The review underscores the practical relevance of mutation breeding in contemporary pipelines to maintain yield stability and quality under adverse environmental conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Crop Breeding and Genetics)

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18 pages, 5077 KB

Open AccessArticle

Responses of Leaf Senescence, Shoot Biomass, and Grain Yield of Maize to Drought–Flood Abrupt Alternation

by Dongliang Qi, Wenjun Yue and Si Chen

Agronomy 2026, 16(15), 1487; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16151487 - 3 Aug 2026

Abstract

With global warming, both the frequency and intensity of drought–flood abrupt alternation (DFAA) have been increasing, posing a severe threat to the sustainability of crop production. This study involved a two-year rainproof-pond experiment on maize (Zea mays L.) to investigate the effects [...] Read more.

With global warming, both the frequency and intensity of drought–flood abrupt alternation (DFAA) have been increasing, posing a severe threat to the sustainability of crop production. This study involved a two-year rainproof-pond experiment on maize (Zea mays L.) to investigate the effects of varied DFAA combinations on leaf senescence characteristics and grain yield. The treatments consisted of well-watered conditions throughout the maize growing season (CK), maintaining soil moisture at 55–60% of field capacity (D), waterlogging for 6 days (W), and abrupt alternation between drought (D) and slight (3 days), moderate (6 days), and severe (9 days) waterlogging, denoted as D-LW, D-MW, and D-HW, respectively. The water stress was applied at the sixth leaf (V6) stage. Compared to CK, D, W, D-MW, and D-HW significantly decreased the leaf area index, soil and plant analyzer development (SPAD) value, net photosynthetic rate, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase activities, soluble protein content, shoot biomass, harvest index, ears per hectare, kernels per cob, and 1000-kernel weight, thus significantly lowering grain yield (reduced by 9.4–74.9%). D-LW, however, behaved in the opposite manner and achieved a high grain yield (reduced by 7.0%). Enhanced root growth contributed to the relatively stable grain yield under D-LW. Thus, drought–slight waterlogging abrupt alternation could sustain maize yield by stabilizing leaf size, photosynthesis, antioxidant defense system, shoot biomass, and harvest index. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Resilience: Mechanisms, Management, and Yield Stability)

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30 pages, 3547 KB

Open AccessArticle

Deep Learning-Based Phenotypic Analysis of Soybean Diseases and Assessment of Phylogenetic Signal

by My Abdelmajid Kassem, Dounya Knizia and Khalid Meksem

Agronomy 2026, 16(15), 1486; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16151486 - 3 Aug 2026

Abstract

Soybean diseases caused by fungal, bacterial, and viral pathogens represent a major constraint to global agricultural productivity. Although molecular phylogenetic analyses have advanced the understanding of pathogen evolution, the extent to which disease phenotypes reflect evolutionary relationships remains poorly understood. In this study, [...] Read more.

Soybean diseases caused by fungal, bacterial, and viral pathogens represent a major constraint to global agricultural productivity. Although molecular phylogenetic analyses have advanced the understanding of pathogen evolution, the extent to which disease phenotypes reflect evolutionary relationships remains poorly understood. In this study, we developed an integrative framework combining deep learning-based phenotypic analysis with phylogenetic inference to investigate the relationship between soybean disease symptoms and pathogen evolution. An EfficientNet-B0 convolutional neural network (CNN) was trained to classify 10 soybean disease classes comprising 703 leaf images and achieved a mean cross-validation accuracy of 98.72 ± 1.17%, a weighted F1-score of 98.74 ± 1.16%, and a macro F1-score of 98.47 ± 1.74%. Evaluation on a held-out test set generated through image-level partitioning yielded an accuracy of 96.19%, a weighted F1-score of 96.28%, and a macro F1-score of 95.86%. Latent feature embeddings revealed a structured phenotypic space with clear separation among most disease classes and enabled quantitative analyses of phenotypic similarity. To provide biological context, taxonomy-derived distance matrices and sequence-based phylogenetic analyses of the fungal subset using 28S rRNA sequences were compared with CNN-derived phenotypic representations. A Mantel test identified a moderate and statistically significant association between phenotypic and phylogenetic distances (Spearman r = 0.3393, p = 0.0050), indicating that pathogen evolutionary history contributes to disease phenotype while explaining only part of the observed phenotypic variation. Overall, the results demonstrate that deep learning effectively captures biologically meaningful phenotypic information while highlighting that disease symptoms arise from the combined influence of pathogen evolution, host responses, and environmental conditions. This study provides an integrative framework for combining image-based phenotyping with phylogenetic analysis to support biologically informed interpretation of plant disease phenotypes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Crops Genome Evolution and Phylogenomics)

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17 pages, 4658 KB

Open AccessArticle

Exogenous Application of an RXLR-Fused CRa Protein Systemically Colonizes Roots and Suppresses Clubroot via Rhizosphere Bacterial Community Remodeling in Tumorous Stem Mustard

by Qing Wang, Jingjing Liao, Tailin Chen, Zhaoming Cai, Zhiyi Chen, Xueliang Tian and Diandong Wang

Agronomy 2026, 16(15), 1485; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16151485 - 3 Aug 2026

Abstract

Clubroot, caused by the obligate biotrophic protist Plasmodiophora brassicae, is a devastating soil-borne disease threatening global cruciferous crop production. To explore non-transgenic control strategies, this study investigated the efficacy of a crude protein extract containing RXLR motif-fused recombinant CRa protein against clubroot [...] Read more.

Clubroot, caused by the obligate biotrophic protist Plasmodiophora brassicae, is a devastating soil-borne disease threatening global cruciferous crop production. To explore non-transgenic control strategies, this study investigated the efficacy of a crude protein extract containing RXLR motif-fused recombinant CRa protein against clubroot in tumorous stem mustard (Brassica juncea var. tumida) and its regulatory mechanisms in the rhizosphere. Mechanistically, fluorescence tracking confirmed that the CRa protein exploits the xylem stream for systemic translocation, colonizing the stele and vascular tissues within 24 h and significantly reducing the disease index. Ecologically, CRa protein reshaped the rhizosphere microbiome by enhancing α-diversity (Shannon and Simpson indices), increasing network complexity, and specifically enriching beneficial genera such as Pseudomonas. Metabolically, CRa protein induced the reprogramming of root exudates, upregulating defensive compounds including jasmonic acid methyl ester, 4-hydroxyglucobrassicin, and (2R)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethylglucosinolate. Overall, exogenous CRa protein activates a coordinated defense response through three key mechanisms: rapid vascular translocation, recruitment of beneficial microbiota, and metabolic reprogramming. This study provides novel insights for developing non-transgenic, microbiome-based green control strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Pest and Disease Management)

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16 pages, 1606 KB

Open AccessArticle

Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus Stoichiometric Characteristics and Enzyme Activity Dynamics in Soils of Navel Orange Orchards with Different Ages

by Liming Xiao, Yanlan Huang, Rui Chen, Lu Wang, Jianfu Wu and Zongqiang Wei

Agronomy 2026, 16(15), 1484; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16151484 - 2 Aug 2026

Abstract

Soil C, N, and P, along with their stoichiometric ratios, are important indicators for evaluating soil fertility. However, the dynamics of C:N:P stoichiometry in soils under citrus cultivation of varying durations remain unclear. This study investigated soil C:N:P stoichiometry and extracellular enzyme activities [...] Read more.

Soil C, N, and P, along with their stoichiometric ratios, are important indicators for evaluating soil fertility. However, the dynamics of C:N:P stoichiometry in soils under citrus cultivation of varying durations remain unclear. This study investigated soil C:N:P stoichiometry and extracellular enzyme activities (βG, NAG, and AP) across different soil depths (0–10, 10–20, and 20–40 cm) in navel orange orchards with different ages (3-, 5-, 10-, and 15-year-old). Soils cultivated for 10 years exhibited significantly higher DOC, available N, and P contents compared to other durations. The TC:TN and TC:TP ratios at 0–10 cm were significantly 0.17–4.78 and 3.94–16.1 higher than those at 10–40 cm, respectively (p < 0.05). Notably, the TC:TP and TN:TP ratios observed in the 5-, 10-, and 15-year-old orchards were lower than in the 3-year-old orchard, suggesting an alleviation of P limitation in older orchards. The MBC:MBN ratio remained largely stable with orchard age at 0–20 cm (p > 0.05), whereas younger orchards (3- and 5-year-old) exhibited significantly 18.2–168 and 2.17–17.4 higher MBC:MBP and MBN:MBP ratios than older ones (10- and 15-year-old) at 10–40 cm (p < 0.05). At 0–10 cm, the 15-year-old orchard exhibited higher βG:NAG and βG:AP ratios than the younger orchards. Soil total C:P and microbial C:P ratios explained 29.7% and 20.1% of the variation in enzyme activity composition among abiotic and biotic factors, respectively (p < 0.01). These findings highlight the importance of monitoring P availability in mature orchards to maintain sustainable soil fertility. Future research should focus on long-term field experiments to validate optimal P fertilization thresholds and investigate the specific microbial community shifts driving these stoichiometric changes across different soil depths. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Plant-Soil Interactions, 3rd Edition)

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24 pages, 32433 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Handsome Cross Grasshopper Oedaleus decorus (Germar) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in the Asian Part of Its Range

by Sofiya A. Peshkova, Natalya S. Baturina, Vladimir V. Molodtsov, Kristina V. Popova, Sergey Yu. Storozhenko, Oxana V. Yefremova, Vasily D. Zharkov and Michael G. Sergeev

Agronomy 2026, 16(15), 1483; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16151483 - 2 Aug 2026

Abstract

The handsome cross grasshopper Oedaleusdecorus (Germar), which was a minor pest in the 19th and first half of the 20th century, in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, became one of the emerging regional pests in the Asian part of its range, [...] Read more.

The handsome cross grasshopper Oedaleusdecorus (Germar), which was a minor pest in the 19th and first half of the 20th century, in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, became one of the emerging regional pests in the Asian part of its range, especially across the intermountain basins of the mountains of South Siberia, Mongolia and North and Northeast China. This is why it is necessary to identify the main trends of possible changes in its distribution. Several sets of data on the species distribution (1895–1960, 1961–2023, and all data) are analysed and several various approaches to modelling (graphic, maximum entropy and multidimensional ellipsoid) are utilised. The models produced for modern conditions describe well the known geographical and ecological distributions of the species in the Asian part of its range. Graphic models characterising the species’ distribution within a system of life zones and major ecosystem types show its general preference for dry steppes and semideserts. The models demonstrate apparent opportunities for this species to pierce northwards (at least up to 58° N in West Siberia, 62–63° N in East Siberia) in the future. This means that in the future, there is a certain probability that some individuals will migrate to these more northern regions. In the context of global warming, further northwards and northeastward shifts in the range boundaries of O. decorus can be predicted. In addition, there have been some changes in its population distribution and abundance, especially in the optimal parts of its population system where O. decorus normally colonises all applicable habitats; its average abundance is relatively high and it is common even during depressions. These shifts may be justified by both climatic changes (especially northwards) and some transformations of human activities (mainly for eastwards relocation). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Locust and Grasshopper Management: Challenges and Innovations)

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18 pages, 5171 KB

Open AccessArticle

Biochar Effects on Soil Chemical Properties, Microbial Communities, Tea Quality and Yield in a Strongly Acidic Tea Plantation: A Field Study

by Xianyu Cheng, Xinyue Zhang, Diao Yan, Hao Guo and Zhigang Yi

Agronomy 2026, 16(15), 1482; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16151482 - 2 Aug 2026

Abstract

Soil acidification severely threatens soil health, tea quality and yield in tea plantations, making it essential to use appropriate soil amendments to address this issue. Biochar can enhance the agricultural soil environment, but its effects on microbial communities, soil fertility, tea quality and [...] Read more.

Soil acidification severely threatens soil health, tea quality and yield in tea plantations, making it essential to use appropriate soil amendments to address this issue. Biochar can enhance the agricultural soil environment, but its effects on microbial communities, soil fertility, tea quality and yield remain incompletely understood. In this field study, three treatments were applied in a strongly acidic tea plantation: CK (traditional fertilization), BC1 (CK with 4.5 t ha⁻¹ biochar) and BC2 (CK with 9 t ha⁻¹ biochar). Soil chemical properties, microbial communities, tea quality and yield were measured, and their correlations were analyzed. Compared with CK, BC2 significantly increased soil pH from 4.25 to 4.58 and elevated soil total carbon, total nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen by 99.18%, 21.29% and 166.67%, respectively. The BC2 treatment also enhanced soil microbial diversity and increased the relative abundance of potentially beneficial bacterial genera, which were positively correlated with improved tea quality and yield. In particular, BC2 increased free amino acids, water extracts (WE) and tea yield by 10.64%, 13.01% and 13.65%, respectively. Applying biochar at 9 t ha⁻¹ combined with traditional fertilization appears to be a promising management practice under the conditions of this study to improve soil conditions, tea quality and yield in strongly acidic plantations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)

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22 pages, 7181 KB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Barley—Introgression Lines Between Annual Barley and the Perennial Hordeum bulbosum in a Cold-Temperate Climate

by Anna Westerbergh, Mohammad Sameri, Estelle Lerceteau Köhler and Per-Olof Lundquist

Agronomy 2026, 16(15), 1481; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16151481 - 2 Aug 2026

Abstract

Perennial wild relatives of annual crops possess traits associated with stress tolerance, efficient nutrient uptake, and increased soil carbon sequestration. They therefore represent valuable genetic resources for developing perennial crops that may reduce environmental and climate impacts and enhance food security. We evaluated [...] Read more.

Perennial wild relatives of annual crops possess traits associated with stress tolerance, efficient nutrient uptake, and increased soil carbon sequestration. They therefore represent valuable genetic resources for developing perennial crops that may reduce environmental and climate impacts and enhance food security. We evaluated 151 introgression lines (ILs) derived from crosses between barley and the perennial relative Hordeum bulbosum, each carrying unique H. bulbosum chromosome segments in a barley genetic background. Growth and regrowth after harvest were evaluated in two field trials, established by spring and fall planting in separate years in central Sweden, and under simulated two-year seasonal cycles in a climate chamber. In the climate chamber, 54% of the ILs exhibited strong regrowth, and two-thirds of these ILs showed reproductive growth across two seasonal cycles. In the field, most ILs showed regrowth after harvest but did not survive the cold winter. The parental genetic background had a strong effect from the barley parent on several growth and reproductive traits, but some ILs exhibited phenotypes not expected based on the barley parent. Of the divergent ILs with high regrowth, identified by PCA combining all studied traits, H. bulbosum introgressions at chromosome arms 2HL and 4HL were highly represented among ILs with cultivar Emir as a barley parent, and introgressions at 1HL among ILs with cultivar Morex as a parent. Perennial growth was observed only under mild conditions, indicating that perenniality of these ILs in a cold-temperate climate requires not only regrowth capacity but also adaptation to photoperiod, vernalization, and frost. ILs with high regrowth and reproductive growth may be used in crossing efforts with cold-tolerant germplasm to support the development of perennial barley. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Domestication and Genetic Improvement of New Crops)

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37 pages, 7933 KB

Open AccessArticle

Physiological and Transcriptomic Profiling of Exogenous Jasmonic Acid-Mediated Cold Tolerance in Seedlings of Poa pratensis var. anceps cv. Qinghai

by Chunxu Zhao, Guodong Nai, Yujuan Zhang and Wenke Dong

Agronomy 2026, 16(15), 1480; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16151480 - 2 Aug 2026

Abstract

Poa pratensis var. anceps cv. Qinghai is a high-quality forage grass widely distributed across the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, exhibiting exceptional cold tolerance, a well-developed root system, and outstanding soil consolidation capacity, rendering it of great significance for ecological management in alpine regions. Jasmonic acid [...] Read more.

Poa pratensis var. anceps cv. Qinghai is a high-quality forage grass widely distributed across the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, exhibiting exceptional cold tolerance, a well-developed root system, and outstanding soil consolidation capacity, rendering it of great significance for ecological management in alpine regions. Jasmonic acid (JA), as an endogenous phytohormone, plays a pivotal role in regulating low-temperature adaptation and is hypothesized to be a core regulatory hormone underlying the cold tolerance of this cultivar. In this study, using seedlings of P. pratensis var. anceps cv. Qinghai (PQ) and the cold-sensitive cultivar P. pratensis “Barun” (PB) as a control, exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA, a JA analog) and the JA biosynthesis inhibitor DIECA were applied, and physiological and transcriptomic analyses were conducted to elucidate the mechanism by which JA regulates low-temperature adaptation. The results showed that MeJA significantly alleviated the growth inhibition induced by low temperature (4 °C) in both materials, with a more pronounced effect in PQ. Specifically, compared with the corresponding cold-only controls, MeJA treatment increased chlorophyll content by 5.55% in PQ and 22.40% in PB after 72 h of cold stress; soluble sugar content by 61.40% and 33.40%; soluble protein content by 47.16% and 36.50%; and proline content by 80.82% and 59.17%, respectively. MeJA also enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, with SOD increasing by 49.28% and 15.61%, POD by 73.93% and 43.10%, CAT by 36.68% and 12.95%, and APX by 53.05% and 21.10% in PQ and PB, respectively. Additionally, non-enzymatic antioxidant contents (GSH and AsA) increased by 15.55% and 48.31% in PQ, versus 3.37% and 19.54% in PB. In contrast, DIECA suppressed these enhancements, with a more distinct inhibitory effect on PB, confirming that the JA pathway is a critical mechanism mediating low-temperature response in PQ, with significantly higher regulatory efficiency than that in the control. Transcriptome sequencing generated 1.787 million transcripts and identified 16,267 differentially expressed genes (10,054 up-regulated, 6213 down-regulated) in the MeJA-treated PQ group. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed pathways associated with photomorphogenesis and carotenoid biosynthesis. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified two core modules, and eight key genes including PpHY5 and PpCOR410 were screened, suggesting their coordinated roles in JA-mediated cold tolerance. These findings provide a comprehensive physiological and transcriptomic basis for understanding JA-enhanced cold tolerance in PQ seedlings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant-Crop Biology and Biochemistry)

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29 pages, 8453 KB

Open AccessArticle

Water Availability Modulates Leaf Functional Trait Responses of Robinia pseudoacacia L. Seedlings to Nitrogen–Phosphorus Supply

by Bingqian Su, Yanyan Zi, Wenlong Xu, Yaobin Wang and Zhuoxia Su

Agronomy 2026, 16(15), 1479; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16151479 - 2 Aug 2026

Abstract

Water availability strongly influences nutrient utilization and plant adaptive strategies, yet how nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) supply interact with water conditions to regulate leaf functional traits remains insufficiently understood. In this study, Robinia pseudoacacia L. seedlings were subjected to contrasting water regimes [...] Read more.

Water availability strongly influences nutrient utilization and plant adaptive strategies, yet how nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) supply interact with water conditions to regulate leaf functional traits remains insufficiently understood. In this study, Robinia pseudoacacia L. seedlings were subjected to contrasting water regimes combined with N and P additions to examine leaf morphological, structural, physiological, and stoichiometric traits. The results showed that water availability significantly modulated seedling responses to N and P supply. Under well-watered conditions, nutrient addition promoted leaf growth and biomass accumulation, whereas under water deficit, seedlings enhanced osmotic adjustment and altered resource allocation. Significant interactions among water, N, and P were observed for leaf morphological, physiological, and stoichiometric traits. Soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and available phosphorus (AP) in rhizosphere soil were the soil factors most strongly associated with the variation in leaf functional traits, among which SOC exhibited the highest explanatory power. Functional trait network analysis revealed that specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio (N:P) were identified as central hubs of the leaf trait network. Overall, drought shifted R. pseudoacacia seedlings from a resource-acquisitive strategy toward a resource-conservative and stress-tolerant strategy. This study elucidates the short-term response patterns of R. pseudoacacia seedlings to combined water and nutrient stress, providing preliminary insights for water and fertilizer management during seedling establishment in arid regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)

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30 pages, 903 KB

Open AccessArticle

Self-Supervised Multimodal Learning for Preharvest and Postharvest Fruit Quality Assessment Using Images and Environmental Sensors

by Chuhuang Zhou, Tanghua Wang, Xin Zeng, Fei Wang, Fanfei Meng, Zheng Yang and Min Dong

Agronomy 2026, 16(15), 1478; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16151478 - 2 Aug 2026

Abstract

Fruit preharvest–postharvest quality assessment is essential for precision harvesting, intelligent grading, storage management, and supply-chain loss reduction. However, conventional approaches mainly rely on single-point postharvest inspection and cannot adequately capture the long-term effects of preharvest fruit phenotypes and environmental dynamics on quality formation. [...] Read more.

Fruit preharvest–postharvest quality assessment is essential for precision harvesting, intelligent grading, storage management, and supply-chain loss reduction. However, conventional approaches mainly rely on single-point postharvest inspection and cannot adequately capture the long-term effects of preharvest fruit phenotypes and environmental dynamics on quality formation. To address limited prediction accuracy under few-label conditions, insufficient multimodal fusion, and weak cross-orchard generalization, this study proposes FruitSSL-QNet, a self-supervised multimodal learning framework for jointly modeling preharvest fruit images, environmental sensor time series, and postharvest quality indicators. The framework employs visual masked reconstruction to learn fine-grained phenotype features, including color, texture, lenticel distribution, disease spots, and maturity patterns. Environmental temporal masked modeling is used to capture the cumulative effects of temperature, humidity, light intensity, soil moisture, and rainfall. Bidirectional cross-attention, gated fusion, and contrastive alignment are further integrated to learn complementary and semantically consistent image–environment representations. Experimental results demonstrate that FruitSSL-QNet outperforms SVM, Random Forest, XGBoost, LSTM, GRU, TCN, Transformer, and MM-Transformer across multiple quality assessment tasks. The proposed model achieves a maturity recognition accuracy of

89.6 %

, exceeding MM-Transformer by

4.4

percentage points. Compared with the corresponding baseline results, the prediction errors for sugar content, firmness, and shelf life are reduced by

21.1 %

,

22.2 %

, and

22.5 %

, respectively. The decay-risk AUC reaches

0.921

, and the cross-site F1-score reaches

0.867

, indicating strong risk discrimination and stable generalization across orchard environments. Ablation experiments further confirm the contributions of visual self-supervision, environmental temporal self-supervision, and cross-modal alignment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Precision and Digital Agriculture)

31 pages, 7290 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Role of Biostimulants in Wheat: Nutritional Quality and Resistance to Abiotic Stresses, a Systematic Review

by Annamaria Di Serio, Alfredo Lorenzo, Lisa Antonucci, Nausicaa Occhipinti, Enrica De Falco, Domenico Ronga, Giancarlo Pagnani and Michele Pisante

Agronomy 2026, 16(15), 1477; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16151477 - 2 Aug 2026

Abstract

Wheat is a major staple crop, and improving its productivity and grain quality is essential to meet rising global food demand. Biostimulants have attracted growing interest because they can enhance nutrient use efficiency, improve tolerance to environmental stresses, and support crop performance without [...] Read more.

Wheat is a major staple crop, and improving its productivity and grain quality is essential to meet rising global food demand. Biostimulants have attracted growing interest because they can enhance nutrient use efficiency, improve tolerance to environmental stresses, and support crop performance without acting as conventional fertilizers, yet a focused synthesis of their effects on wheat remains limited. Following a systematic search of Scopus and Web of Science (2000–2026), this review synthesizes 52 primary studies on microbial and non-microbial biostimulants in common and durum wheat, addressing grain yield, nutritional quality, and resilience to drought, salinity, heavy metals, and temperature extremes. Across studies, 88% reported significant positive effects and none reported a consistent negative effect; grain yield increases ranged from +6% to +123%, with parallel improvements in grain protein and micronutrient biofortification, notably zinc and iron. Microbial biostimulants, especially bacteria and microbial consortia, produced the largest but most variable gains, whereas non-microbial products gave more moderate and consistent responses. Benefits were greatest under low nitrogen, drought, and saline conditions and in nutrient-poor soils, and were modulated by wheat genotype and product dose. Biostimulants are promising tools for sustainable wheat production, though standardized field trials and reporting are still needed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Nutrients in Crop Performance Under Biotic and Abiotic Stresses)

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18 pages, 1461 KB

Open AccessArticle

Matching Cultivar to Nitrogen and Soil: A Diagnostic Framework for Closing Wheat Yield Gaps in the Huang-Huai Region

by Dianyong Jia, Yuli Xie, Qiankun Li, Ting Lei, Pengfei Duan, Wei Chang, Xilei Song, Yaoyao Zhang and Ying Liu

Agronomy 2026, 16(15), 1476; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16151476 - 2 Aug 2026

Abstract

Closing yield gaps in wheat production requires optimized cultivar selection and nitrogen (N) management; however, the cultivar-specific responses to N fertilizer and soil fertility remain largely unquantified. Twenty-eight wheat cultivars were evaluated under three fertilization treatments (T) (CK, no-fertilizer; N1, 210 kg N [...] Read more.

Closing yield gaps in wheat production requires optimized cultivar selection and nitrogen (N) management; however, the cultivar-specific responses to N fertilizer and soil fertility remain largely unquantified. Twenty-eight wheat cultivars were evaluated under three fertilization treatments (T) (CK, no-fertilizer; N1, 210 kg N ha⁻¹ as single basal application; and N2, split-N at 105 + 105 kg N ha⁻¹, applied only in 2022–2023 and 2023–2024) over three growing seasons in the Huang-Huai region. Two-way interactions (cultivar × T, cultivar × year, and T × year) and the three-way cultivar × T × year interaction were significant (p < 0.001), whereas the year main effect was not significant (p = 0.329). Fertilization accounted for the largest proportion of yield variance (η² = 0.589), followed by cultivar × year (η² = 0.244) and cultivar (η² = 0.141). Yield ranged from 3435 to 5231 kg ha⁻¹ (a 1.52-fold difference). Hierarchical clustering of basic soil productivity contribution rate (BSPCR) classified cultivars into high, moderate, and low soil fertility dependence classes, enabling fertility-based cultivar matching. Within-cultivar correlation analysis identified spike number as the predominant yield-limiting factor (71.4%). Based on composite scores integrating yield, stability, split-N response index (SNRI), and BSPCR, Tier I cultivars (C20, C1, C21, C14) are recommended for high-fertility fields with split-N application, combining high yield (5004–5231 kg ha⁻¹), strong N responsiveness (SNRI ≥ 1.10), and high BSPCR; Tier II cultivars (C7, C3, C18, C12, C22) offer a balanced performance in yield and stability. The proposed tiered system—prioritizing Tier I and Tier II cultivars according to field fertility and production goals—provides an exploratory, site-specific framework for closing wheat yield gaps in the Huang-Huai region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)

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