Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.3
2.5
Journals
Applied Sciences
Special Issues
Tropical Biotechnology
applsci-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Applied Sciences Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Tropical Biotechnology

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2025 | Viewed by 12354

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Javier Linares-Pastén

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Lund University, 22100 Lund, Sweden
Interests: molecular biotechnology; biocatalysts engineering; development of biorefinery processes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The tropics encompass ecosystems of remarkably high biological value. Even today, a massive number of biological species are still unknown. The tropics are also regions of growing productive activities, mainly agriculture. Several native species are of global interest for their nutritional value, bioactive compounds for medicinal applications, oils for food and cosmetics products, biopolymers for material industries, and many others. At the same time, updating conventional agriculture practices is a need. In this line, the research on the sustainable use of tropical resources is fundamental for reducing deforestation, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, for this Special Issue, we invite submissions that investigate diverse strategies in plant biotechnology, microbial and enzyme technology, biorefinery technologies, and environmental bioanalysis that could contribute to the sustainable use of ecosystems resources.

Dr. Javier Linares-Pastén
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • plant biotechnology
  • microbial technology
  • enzyme technology
  • biorefinery technology
  • molecular biotechnology
  • environmental bioanalysis

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

16 pages, 2699 KiB  
Article
Water-Based Supplementation Technology for Grazing Cattle in the Tropics: A Large-Scale Commercial Case Study
by Eliéder Prates Romanzini, Vivienne McCollum, Sarah Mcilveen, Evandro Maia Ferreira, William Luiz de Souza, Marcelo Augusto Oliveira Castro, Priscila Arrigucci Bernardes, Ryan J. Batley, Mark G. Trotter and Diogo Fleury Azevedo Costa
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 851; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15020851 - 16 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1658
Abstract
Water-based nutrient injection technology, widely used in sectors like viticulture, hydroponics, and intensive animal systems, has previously seen limited application in livestock production. Early mechanical dispensers for nutrients, such as non-protein nitrogen (NPN) and phosphorus (P), were prone to malfunction, leading to inconsistent [...] Read more.
Water-based nutrient injection technology, widely used in sectors like viticulture, hydroponics, and intensive animal systems, has previously seen limited application in livestock production. Early mechanical dispensers for nutrients, such as non-protein nitrogen (NPN) and phosphorus (P), were prone to malfunction, leading to inconsistent dosing and potential livestock health risks. This contributed to skepticism and slow adoption among producers. However, recent technological advancements have renewed interest in water-based supplementation for grazing animals. This case study assessed the use of water injection technology to deliver nutrients and a methane-reducing compound to cattle on a commercial cattle station under extensive grazing conditions. A total of 120 steers [initial liveweight (LW) 322.5 ± 28.3 kg] were assigned to three groups: water only (Control), a water supplement containing nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, known as uPRO GREEN® (Green), and uPRO GREEN® combined with Agolin Ruminant L® (Blue). The experiment lasted 90 days, during which LW was continuously monitored via a walk-over weighing system, and water disappearance was measured at the mob level. Methane emissions were forecasted using dry matter intake estimates based on observed animal growth rates. Additionally, 24 steers were equipped with on-animal sensors with GPS to monitor behavioral changes. The results indicate that despite the potential reduction in water intake (Control and Green: 948.1 and 973.5 L/d, respectively, versus 547.5 L/d for Blue), there were no negative effects on growth (mean average daily gain of 1.32 kg/d) or animal behaviors. The predicted methane emission of 209.04 g CH4/head/day could potentially be reduced by 10–15% with the compound used in the current trial. These findings suggest that water-based supplementation can be used to optimize nutrient delivery and a methane-reducing compound without compromising cattle productivity in extensive grazing environments. In addition, the potential enteric methane mitigation presents an opportunity for livestock producers to generate additional revenue through carbon credits or to create new markets for beef with low greenhouse gas emissions when cattle consume methane-reducing compounds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tropical Biotechnology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 3391 KiB  
Article
Extracellular Haloalkalophilic Pectinase Produced by Virgibacillus salarius Strain 434—A Useful Tool for Biotechnological Applications
by Ivanka Boyadzhieva, Kaloyan Berberov, Nikolina Atanasova, Nikolay Krumov and Lyudmila Kabaivanova
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(20), 9295; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14209295 - 12 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1160
Abstract
The interest in microbial pectinases is increasing due to their use in the biotechnological and food industries in response to global demand. In this study, among the 22 halophilic bacterial strains screened, 20 showed pectinase activity. The highest activity was measured for Virgibacillus [...] Read more.
The interest in microbial pectinases is increasing due to their use in the biotechnological and food industries in response to global demand. In this study, among the 22 halophilic bacterial strains screened, 20 showed pectinase activity. The highest activity was measured for Virgibacillus salarius strain 434. As pectinase production meets many parameter optimization constraints, optimal production conditions for maximizing the yield of the pectinase synthesized using the investigated strain were followed. Enzyme purification was accomplished at up to 11.5-fold via ultrafiltration and gel filtration chromatography, until the enzyme’s specific activity had increased 10-fold (104.3 U/mg). The enzyme’s molecular weight was determined to be 68 kDa. Km and Vmax values of 0.38 mg/mL and 120 U/mg, respectively, were determined. The purified pectinase from Virgibacillus salarius strain 434 showed good thermal stability. A half-life of 20 min at 70 °C and high catalytic activity under haloalkaline conditions (pH 9 and 70 g L−1 NaCl) were observed. Its storage stability at −20 °C exceeded 2 months. This demonstrates its potential for application in industries where these extremes are present, as the harsh conditions in industrial processes require novel pectinases with unique properties instead of the use of hazardous chemicals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tropical Biotechnology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 481 KiB  
Article
Ensiling Typha (Typha latifolia) Forage with Different Additives for Ruminant Feeding: In Vitro Studies
by Trinidad de Evan, Ahmad Rufai Musa, Carlos N. Marcos, Johnson Sunday Alao, Eva Iglesias, Fernando Escribano and Maria Dolores Carro
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(11), 6546; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13116546 - 27 May 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3169
Abstract
Typha is a wild plant with invasive growth that causes environmental problems in different areas worldwide. This study investigated the ensiling potential of typha (Typha latifolia) to be preserved and used for ruminant feeding. Four silage treatments were evaluated: typha with [...] Read more.
Typha is a wild plant with invasive growth that causes environmental problems in different areas worldwide. This study investigated the ensiling potential of typha (Typha latifolia) to be preserved and used for ruminant feeding. Four silage treatments were evaluated: typha with no additives (CON); with formic acid (FA; 4 mL/kg); with urea and molasses (UM; 19 and 24 g/kg, respectively); and with formic acid, urea, and molasses (FAUM; all at previous concentrations). Three bags of each silage were prepared and stored for 4 months before being analysed and fermented in vitro with ruminal fluid from sheep. All of the silages were well preserved, and their pH was greater (p < 0.05) for UM and FAUM (8.50 and 7.70, respectively) compared with CON and FA (5.39 and 4.75). The high concentrations of volatile fatty acid and ammonia−nitrogen in the UM and FAUM silages indicated undesirable fermentations and precluded their use in practice. However, neither CON nor FA silages improved the in vitro ruminal degradability of pre-ensiling typha (61.7, 58.2, and 65.2%, respectively), which was lower than that of a medium-quality triticale hay (68.0%). The results indicate that typha silage could replace low-quality forages in ruminant diets, being adequate especially for low-producing animals or for those under maintenance conditions. More studies with different doses of additives are needed to identify the optimal conditions for ensiling typha and increasing its nutritive value. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tropical Biotechnology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 6175 KiB  
Article
Organic Matter Structural Composition of Vascular Epiphytic Suspended Soils of South Vietnam
by Evgeny Abakumov and Alen Eskov
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(7), 4473; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13074473 - 31 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1759
Abstract
The biosphere organic matter is stored in nature in various forms. Most of it is associated with classical terrestrial organo-mineral soils. The carbon of woody plant biomass is counted separately from soil as carbon of the standing biomass. Nevertheless, humification as a universal [...] Read more.
The biosphere organic matter is stored in nature in various forms. Most of it is associated with classical terrestrial organo-mineral soils. The carbon of woody plant biomass is counted separately from soil as carbon of the standing biomass. Nevertheless, humification as a universal process already begins in plant residues before they reach the surface of the classical tropical mineral soil. Moreover, in tropical humid-forest ecosystems, most of the organic matter does not reach the soil surface at all and accumulates in the state of suspended soils. The data obtained in this study characterize, for the first time, the component and structural composition of the organic matter of plant residues of suspended soils, as well as the products of their transformation—humic substances formed in suspended soils. With the use of micro morphological methods, it was shown that humification appears in merged areas of organic remnants. There were statistically significant differences in the elemental composition of humic acids and initial organic material for all elements—C, H, O and N. It has been shown that the aliphatic part dominates (75–93%) in the initial organic materials of suspended soils, whereas the humic substances are characterized by a relatively increased fraction of aromatic fragments (31–42%) in the composition of their molecules, which confirms that humification takes place. Thus, even in the suspended soils, classical humification occurs, and this is not limited by the low content of mineral particles and cations in the suspended soils and the rather acidic reaction of the material. Therefore, the existence of tiering and the formation of the corresponding layers of suspended soils is accompanied by the stabilization and humification of organic matter, which is accompanied by a radical change in its structural and component composition. This process is the “natural biotechnology” of organic matter conservation and stabilization is discussed in article. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tropical Biotechnology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 2026 KiB  
Article
Primed Seeds of NERICA 4 Stored for Long Periods under High Temperature and Humidity Conditions Maintain Germination Rates
by Emmanuel Kiprono Bore, Eri Ishikawa, Julie Ann Mher Alcances Libron, Keita Goto, Emmanuel Odama, Yoshihiro Nakao, Shin Yabuta and Jun-Ichi Sakagami
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(5), 2869; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13052869 - 23 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2812
Abstract
Agriculture depends on the ability of seeds to survive until the next planting season under ambient conditions that may be averse to seed quality even when the seed is in a quiescent state. Seed priming invigorates seeds, but the impact on the longevity [...] Read more.
Agriculture depends on the ability of seeds to survive until the next planting season under ambient conditions that may be averse to seed quality even when the seed is in a quiescent state. Seed priming invigorates seeds, but the impact on the longevity of seeds has limited its adoption. This study investigated the effect of the storage of primed rice seed on seed viability, vigor, and longevity. Three seed priming methods were employed on the rice cultivar New Rice for Africa (NERICA 4) seeds. Subsequently, the seeds were stored for 120 days at 25 °C and 65% relative humidity, simulating the ambient seed storage conditions of the tropics and sub-tropics. The primed seed recorded increased vigor compared to the non-primed seed until 90 days of storage. However, seed storage for 120 days reduced seed vigor and viability for all the seeds. The results indicated a significant reduction in seed vigor, increased solute leakage, generation of hydrogen peroxide, and accumulation of malondialdehyde after storage. Priming enhances cell membrane integrity and maintains seed vigor in storage at near ambient conditions long enough before reversal of its performance by the storage conditions. This assures that primed seed can either be stored until the following planting season or remain viable in the soil during delayed germination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tropical Biotechnology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop