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11 pages, 2386 KiB  
Article
Genome-Wide In Silico Analysis Expanding the Potential Allergen Repertoire of Mango (Mangifera indica L.)
by Amit Singh, Aayan Zarif, Annelise N Huynh, Zhibo Yang and Nagib Ahsan
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(15), 8375; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15158375 - 28 Jul 2025
Viewed by 242
Abstract
The potential of a protein to cause an allergic reaction is often assessed using a variety of computational techniques. Leveraging advances in high-throughput protein sequence data coupled with in silico or computational methods can be used to systematically analyze large proteomes for allergenic [...] Read more.
The potential of a protein to cause an allergic reaction is often assessed using a variety of computational techniques. Leveraging advances in high-throughput protein sequence data coupled with in silico or computational methods can be used to systematically analyze large proteomes for allergenic potential. Despite mango’s widespread consumption and growing clinical reports of hypersensitivity, the full extent of their allergenicity is yet unknown. In this study, for the first time, we conducted a genome-wide in silico analysis by analyzing a total of 54,010 protein sequences to identify the complete spectrum of potential mango allergens. These proteins were analyzed using various bioinformatics tools to predict their allergenic potential based on sequence similarity, structural features, and known allergen databases. In addition to the known mango allergens, including Man i 1, Man i 2, and Man i 3, our findings demonstrated that several isoforms of cysteine protease, non-specific lipid-transfer protein (LTP), legumin B-like, 11S globulin, vicilin, thaumatin-like protein, and ervatamin-B family proteins exhibited strong allergenic potential, with >80% 3D epitope identity, >70% linear 80 aa window identity, and matching with >80 known allergens. Thus, a genome-wide in silico study provided a comprehensive profile of the possible mango allergome, which could help identify the low-allergen-containing mango cultivars and aid in the development of accurate assays for variety-specific allergic reactions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches in Food Allergy)
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18 pages, 1984 KiB  
Review
Progress on 3-Nitropropionic Acid Derivatives
by Meng-Lin Feng, Zheng-Hui Li and Bao-Bao Shi
Biomolecules 2025, 15(8), 1066; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15081066 - 24 Jul 2025
Viewed by 302
Abstract
3-Nitropropionic acid (3-NPA) is a deadly neurotoxic nitroalkane found in numerous fungi and leguminous plants. 3-NPA, known as an antimetabolite of succinate, irreversibly inhibits succinate dehydrogenase and disrupts mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Its utility in modeling Huntington’s disease (HD) and oxidative stress has garnered [...] Read more.
3-Nitropropionic acid (3-NPA) is a deadly neurotoxic nitroalkane found in numerous fungi and leguminous plants. 3-NPA, known as an antimetabolite of succinate, irreversibly inhibits succinate dehydrogenase and disrupts mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Its utility in modeling Huntington’s disease (HD) and oxidative stress has garnered significant research interest. Derivatives of 3-NPA, formed through esterification, have a wide range of biological activities including neurotoxic, antiviral, insecticidal, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. This review systematically summarizes the structural characteristics, biological activities, and chemical synthesis of 3-NPA-derived compounds, providing valuable insights for further research and therapeutic applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products and Their Derivatives with Antiviral Activity)
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28 pages, 13059 KiB  
Article
Transformation of Arable Lands in Russia over Last Half Century—Analysis Based on Detailed Mapping and Retrospective Monitoring of Soil–Land Cover and Decipherment of Big Remote Sensing Data
by Dmitry I. Rukhovich, Polina V. Koroleva, Dmitry A. Shapovalov, Mikhail A. Komissarov and Tung Gia Pham
Sustainability 2025, 17(13), 6203; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17136203 - 7 Jul 2025
Viewed by 532
Abstract
The change in the socio-political formation of Russia from a socialist planned system to a capitalist market system significantly influenced agriculture and one of its components—arable land. The loss of the sustainability of land management for arable land led to a reduction in [...] Read more.
The change in the socio-political formation of Russia from a socialist planned system to a capitalist market system significantly influenced agriculture and one of its components—arable land. The loss of the sustainability of land management for arable land led to a reduction in sown areas by 38% (from 119.7 to 74.7 million ha) and a synchronous drop in gross harvests of grain and leguminous crops by 48% (from 117 to 61 million tons). The situation stabilized in 2020, with a sowing area of 80.2 million ha and gross harvests of grain and leguminous crops of 120–150 million tons. This process was not formalized legally, and the official (legal) area of arable land decreased by only 8% from 132.8 to 122.3 million ha. Legal conflict arose for 35 million ha for unused arable land, for which there was no classification of its condition categories and no monitoring of the withdrawal time of the arable land from actual agricultural use. The aim of this study was to resolve the challenges in the method of retrospective monitoring of soil–land cover, which allowed for the achievement of the aims of the investigation—to elucidate the history of land use on arable lands from 1985 to 2025 with a time step of 5 years and to obtain a detailed classification of the arable lands’ abandonment degrees. It was also established that on most of the abandoned arable land, carbon sequestration occurs in the form of secondary forests. In the course of this work, it was shown that the reasons for the formation of an array of abandoned arable land and the stabilization of agricultural production turned out to be interrelated. The abandonment of arable land occurred proportionally to changes in the soil’s natural fertility and the degree of land degradation. Economically unprofitable lands spontaneously (without centralized planning) left the sowing zone. The efficiency of land use on the remaining lands has increased and has allowed for the mass application of modern farming systems (smart, precise, landscape-adaptive, differentiated, no-till, strip-till, etc.), which has further increased the profitability of crop production. The prospect of using abandoned lands as a carbon sequestration zone in areas of forest overgrowth has arisen. Full article
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17 pages, 935 KiB  
Article
Feeding Behavior of the European Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus, Leu2 Haplotype) on Pianosa Island: Insights into the Absence of Trophic Competition
by Pierangelo Freschi, Simonetta Fascetti, Francesco Riga, Marco Zaccaroni, Francesca Giannini, Emilia Langella and Carlo Cosentino
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(6), 546; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12060546 - 3 Jun 2025
Viewed by 494
Abstract
This study investigates the feeding behavior of the European brown hare on Pianosa Island, Italy, focusing on seasonal dietary preferences in coastal and inland areas. We quantified plant species frequencies in vegetation and fecal pellets, assessed α and β diversity, compared diets via [...] Read more.
This study investigates the feeding behavior of the European brown hare on Pianosa Island, Italy, focusing on seasonal dietary preferences in coastal and inland areas. We quantified plant species frequencies in vegetation and fecal pellets, assessed α and β diversity, compared diets via Bray–Curtis matrices, and evaluated selection preferences using the Resource Selection Ratio. During spring, the coastal diet was predominantly composed of grasses, particularly Dactylis glomerata, while non-leguminous forbs like Hedypnois rhagadioloides were prominent inland. Fabaceae, including Lotus ornithopodioides, were highly preferred. In autumn, non-leguminous forbs, such as Crepis foetida, were favored on the coast, while grasses like Bromus hordeaceus dominated inland. Fabaceae, particularly Trifolium species, remained a key component of the diet. Plant diversity peaked in spring and decreased markedly in autumn. Dietary overlap between seasons was moderate, with higher similarity observed in the coastal area. The study underscores the importance of Fabaceae and seasonal vegetation changes in shaping the hare’s diet. These findings provide valuable insights for conservation, emphasizing the need to preserve key plant species and habitats to support isolated hare populations in Mediterranean ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Veterinary Microbiology, Parasitology and Immunology)
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30 pages, 592 KiB  
Review
Effect of Bioprocessing on the Nutritional Composition, Antinutrients, Functional Properties, and Metabolites of Bambara Groundnut and Its Prospective Food Applications: A Review
by Mpho Edward Mashau, Kgaogelo Edwin Ramatsetse, Thakhani Takalani, Oluwaseun Peter Bamidele and Shonisani Eugenia Ramashia
Molecules 2025, 30(11), 2356; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30112356 - 28 May 2025
Viewed by 969
Abstract
Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) is an underutilized leguminous crop, with its grains consumed differently, especially in developing countries. Bambara groundnut (BGN) is the cheapest source of protein and a rich source of dietary fiber, carbohydrates, amino acids, and minerals. It [...] Read more.
Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) is an underutilized leguminous crop, with its grains consumed differently, especially in developing countries. Bambara groundnut (BGN) is the cheapest source of protein and a rich source of dietary fiber, carbohydrates, amino acids, and minerals. It also contains a variety of non-nutritional components known as phytochemicals. The phytochemicals in BGN include polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, phytic acid, oxalate, and trypsin inhibitors. Nevertheless, some phytochemicals are classified as antinutrients because they impair nutrient absorption. Bambara groundnut also contains metabolites, such as epicatechin, catechin, procyanidin, esters, and citric acid. Bioprocessing, such as dehulling, germination, malting, fermentation, ultrasonication, micronization, and others, reduces BGN flour’s antinutrients. However, bioprocessing may increase or decrease the levels of metabolites in BGN flour. For example, fermentation increases esters, whereas malting decreases them. Various studies have reported the use of BGN flour in bakery products, meat products, non-alcoholic beverages, pasta, and others. Thus, this study aimed to review the influence of bioprocessing on the nutritional quality, antinutrients, functional characteristics, and metabolites of BGN flour and its potential food applications. This study will explore the health benefits of bioprocessed BGN flour and promote its use in various food products. Full article
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19 pages, 2133 KiB  
Article
Phytochemical Characterization and Antioxidant Activity of Cajanus cajan Leaf Extracts for Nutraceutical Applications
by Mariel Monrroy and José Renán García
Molecules 2025, 30(8), 1773; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30081773 - 15 Apr 2025
Viewed by 1067
Abstract
Cajanus cajan (guandú) is a widely cultivated leguminous plant in Panama; however, its phytochemical composition remains underexplored. Traditionally used in Asia and Africa for its medicinal properties, the plant’s bioactive compounds responsible for these benefits have not been fully identified. The phytochemical profile [...] Read more.
Cajanus cajan (guandú) is a widely cultivated leguminous plant in Panama; however, its phytochemical composition remains underexplored. Traditionally used in Asia and Africa for its medicinal properties, the plant’s bioactive compounds responsible for these benefits have not been fully identified. The phytochemical profile and antioxidant capacity of C. cajan leaf extracts from Panama were characterized, highlighting their potential applications. Ethanolic extracts obtained via ultrasonication were analyzed through phytochemical screening, confirming the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, and steroids. Spectrophotometric analysis revealed high total phenolic (71 mg g−1) and flavonoid (30 mg g−1) contents. Antioxidant assays demonstrated significant 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical cation (ABTS+) inhibition and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified 35 bioactive compounds in C. cajan leaves for the first time, including lupeol (antimicrobial and antitumor), lupenone (antidiabetic), squalene (antitumor and antioxidant), tocopherol (antioxidant), and β-amyrin (antibacterial and anti-Alzheimer’s). These findings expand the known phytochemical profile of C. cajan, supporting its pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and agro-industrial potential. Moreover, this research provides a foundation for further studies on the plant’s bioactive compounds and their applications in human health and sustainable agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Antioxidants in Functional Food)
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19 pages, 3591 KiB  
Article
Effects of Fertilization on Soil Physicochemical Properties and Enzyme Activities of Zanthoxylum planispinum var. Dingtanensis Plantation
by Yurong Fu, Yanghua Yu, Shunsong Yang, Guangguang Yang, Hui Huang, Yun Yang and Mingfeng Du
Forests 2025, 16(3), 418; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16030418 - 25 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 543
Abstract
Zanthoxylum planispinum var. Dingtanensis (hereafter Z. planispinum) has excellent characteristics, including Ca and drought tolerance. It can flourish in stony soils, and it is used as a pioneer plant in karst rocky desertification control. However, soil degradation, coupled with the removal of [...] Read more.
Zanthoxylum planispinum var. Dingtanensis (hereafter Z. planispinum) has excellent characteristics, including Ca and drought tolerance. It can flourish in stony soils, and it is used as a pioneer plant in karst rocky desertification control. However, soil degradation, coupled with the removal of nutrients absorbed from the soil by Z. planispinum’s fruit harvesting, exacerbates nutrient deficiency. The effects of fertilization on soil nutrient utilization and microbial limiting factors remain unclear. Here, we established a long-term (3 year) field experiment of no fertilization (CK), organic fertilizer + chemical fertilizer + sprinkler irrigation (T1), chemical fertilizer + sprinkler irrigation (T2), chemical fertilizer treatment (T3), and leguminous (soybean) + chemical fertilizer + sprinkler irrigation (T4). Our findings indicate that fertilization significantly improved the nutrient uptake efficiency of Z. planispinum, and it also enhanced urease activity compared with CK. T1 increased soil respiration and improved water transport, and the soil nutrient content retained in T1 was relatively high. It delayed the mineralization rate of organic matter, promoted nutrient balance, and enhanced enzyme activity related to the carbon and nitrogen cycle. T4 caused soil acidification, reducing the activity of peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO). The soil microbial community in the Z. planispinum plantation was limited by carbon and phosphorus, and T1 mitigated this limitation. This study indicated that soil nutrient content regulated enzymatic activity by influencing microbial resource limitation, with organic carbon being the dominant factor. Overall, we recommend T1 as the optimal fertilization strategy for Z. planispinum plantations. Full article
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22 pages, 6020 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Effects of Different Cultivars of Falcataria falcata on Soil Quality
by Qiang Ran, Han-Yan Yang, Yan-Yu Luo, Guo-Hui Lu, Qian-Xi Lin, Shu Yan and Ying-Qiang Wang
Forests 2025, 16(3), 404; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16030404 - 24 Feb 2025
Viewed by 645
Abstract
The soil microbial community influences and maintains soil quality and health. Leguminous plants are widely used in forestry due to their nitrogen-fixing ability, significantly improving soil quality. However, there are few studies on the effects of woody legumes on soil microbial communities and [...] Read more.
The soil microbial community influences and maintains soil quality and health. Leguminous plants are widely used in forestry due to their nitrogen-fixing ability, significantly improving soil quality. However, there are few studies on the effects of woody legumes on soil microbial communities and soil quality. Here, the composition and structure of bulk soil microbial communities associated with six cultivars of Falcataria falcata (L.) Greuter & R. Rankin were analyzed using full-length 16S rRNA sequencing. Additionally, the minimum dataset approach was employed to integrate indexes of soil microbial communities and physicochemical properties, allowing the calculation of a soil quality index to evaluate the cultivars’ soil quality. Although the growth characteristics of the six cultivars were identical, there were significant differences in physiological functions. Notably, cultivar 6 demonstrated a significant advantage over the other cultivars in its overall physiological characteristics. Compared to the control sample, all cultivars clearly improved soil quality, with cultivars 8 and 16 significantly outperforming the others. The findings indicate that the different cultivars improve soil fertility by recruiting microorganisms with specific functions. The stability of soil microbial communities is a crucial biological and ecological factor that influences and sustains soil quality and health and is a key index for the evaluation of these properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Soil)
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12 pages, 3128 KiB  
Article
Fly High: Volatile Organic Compounds for the Early Detection of the Seed-Borne Pathogen Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens
by Dario Gaudioso, Luca Calamai and Stefania Tegli
Agronomy 2025, 15(2), 497; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15020497 - 19 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 999
Abstract
The global demand for legumes has grown significantly since the 1960s, due to their high protein content and environmental benefits. However, this growth could also facilitate the spread of seed-borne pathogens like Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens (Cff). Cff is a Gram-positive bacterium [...] Read more.
The global demand for legumes has grown significantly since the 1960s, due to their high protein content and environmental benefits. However, this growth could also facilitate the spread of seed-borne pathogens like Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens (Cff). Cff is a Gram-positive bacterium causing bacterial wilt in common beans and poses substantial challenges in regard to its detection and management, due to its long latent period and xylemic nature. Traditional diagnostic methods have proven insufficient, highlighting the need for innovative approaches. This study explores the potential of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by Cff to be used as diagnostic markers to prevent the spread of seed-borne pathogens. First, we analyzed the VOCs emitted by different Cff strains in vitro, identifying a unique blend of five major VOCs. Subsequently, we verified the presence of these VOCs in vivo in artificially infected Cannellino beans. Phenylmethanol and 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol emerged as key diagnostic markers, differentiating Cff from other bacterial pathogens of beans, such as Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. phaseolicola and Xanthomonas phaseoli pv. phaseoli. Our findings suggest that VOC fingerprinting offers a non-invasive, effective method for the early detection of Cff, even in asymptomatic seeds. This innovative approach holds significant promise for improving seed-borne disease management and supporting the development of practical diagnostic tools for field applications. Further research should aim to enhance the sensitivity and specificity of VOC-based diagnostics, facilitating the rapid and accurate screening of plant materials at ports of entry. This would contribute to the sustainability and health of leguminous crop production. Full article
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26 pages, 8496 KiB  
Article
Land Degraded by Gold Mining in the Ecuadorian Amazon: A Proposal for Boosting Ecosystem Restoration Through Induced Revegetation
by Fiodor N. Mena-Quintana, Willin Álvarez, Wilfredo Franco, Luis Moncayo, Myriam Tipán and Jholaus Ayala
Forests 2025, 16(2), 372; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16020372 - 19 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1586
Abstract
Deforestation caused by gold mining in the Ecuadorian Amazon has increased by 300% in the last decade, leading to severe environmental degradation of water and land resources. Effective remediation and revegetation technologies are still needed to address this issue. This study aimed to [...] Read more.
Deforestation caused by gold mining in the Ecuadorian Amazon has increased by 300% in the last decade, leading to severe environmental degradation of water and land resources. Effective remediation and revegetation technologies are still needed to address this issue. This study aimed to foster revegetation on 0.5 hectares of degraded land in Naranjalito, a mining site in the Ecuadorian Amazon, by applying plant-based biocompost and biochar and planting Ochroma pyramidale and Arachis pintoi, two pioneer species. The project’s objective was to evaluate the impact of these treatments on vegetation cover recovery through physicochemical and microbiological improvements in the soil. Four blocks and sixteen experimental plots were established: eight plots received treatments with varying doses of biocompost+biol (BIOC), four plots included plantations without biocompost (Not-BIOC), and four served as control plots (bare land). Over six months, dasometric characteristics of O. pyramidale and the expansion of A. pintoi were recorded. The data were analyzed using multivariate methods. The results revealed significant differences between treatments, with BIOC plots T4 and T1 showing greater improvements in vegetation development compared to Not-BIOC plots T3 and T2, confirming the positive influence of biocompost+biol. The BIOC treatment favored not only the planted species but also the secondary successional plant communities including certain grasses, leguminous plants, and other shrub and tree species, thus accelerating the revegetation process. This study demonstrates that biocompost application is an effective strategy to enhance plant recolonization on land severely degraded by gold mining in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecology and Management)
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16 pages, 11083 KiB  
Article
Quantifying the Impacts of Precipitation, Vegetation, and Soil Properties on Soil Moisture Dynamics in Desert Steppe Herbaceous Communities Under Extreme Drought
by Yifei Zhang, Hao Lv, Wenshuai Fan, Yi Zhang, Naiping Song, Xing Wang, Xudong Wu, Huwei Zhang, Qingrui Tao and Xiao Wang
Water 2024, 16(23), 3490; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16233490 - 4 Dec 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1352
Abstract
The security of water resources in the desert steppe ecosystem faces threats due to large-scale vegetation restoration. Dynamic changes in soil moisture result from the interplay of precipitation replenishment and evapotranspiration depletion, both directly regulated by vegetation and soil. To achieve sustainable vegetation [...] Read more.
The security of water resources in the desert steppe ecosystem faces threats due to large-scale vegetation restoration. Dynamic changes in soil moisture result from the interplay of precipitation replenishment and evapotranspiration depletion, both directly regulated by vegetation and soil. To achieve sustainable vegetation restoration, understanding the quantifiable impacts of precipitation, evapotranspiration, soil, and vegetation on spatiotemporal soil moisture dynamics is crucial. However, these effects remain insufficiently understood. In this study, against the background of an extreme drought from 2020 to 2022, four typical herbaceous plant communities—Agropyron mongolicum, Sophora alopecuroides, Stipa breviflora, and Achnatherum splendens—were selected for investigation in Yanchi County, Ningxia Province, Northwest China. We analyzed dynamic changes in soil moisture at 0–120 cm during depletion, recovery, and stability periods, quantifying the relative contributions of precipitation, evapotranspiration, soil clay/sand ratio (C/S), and biomass to soil moisture dynamics. The results showed that the 0–120 cm soil moisture of the four plant communities in the depletion, recovery, and stability periods decreased from 7.38% to 6.81%, 11.22% to 8.08%, and 11.70% to 5.84%, respectively. In terms of relative importance, precipitation and evapotranspiration accounted for 25% to 50% and 23.6% to 39.6% of the total explanation for the soil moisture in each plant community, respectively. C/S primarily influenced soil moisture in the S. alopecuroides community, demonstrating a significant positive correlation with soil moisture and accounting for 49.1% of the total explanation. Biomass mainly affected soil moisture in the A. mongolicum, S. breviflora, and A. splendens communities and had a significant negative correlation with soil moisture, accounting for 5.7%, 13.1%, and 9.8% of the total interpretation, respectively. The continuous extreme drought caused the soil moisture deficit to extend from the shallow to the deep layers. The effects of C/S and biomass on soil moisture occurred in leguminous and gramineous communities, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Erosion and Soil and Water Conservation)
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14 pages, 2473 KiB  
Article
Crop Rotation of Sainfoin on the Longzhong Loess Plateau Has a Positive Effect on Enhancing Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential
by Hang Xiang, Jingjing Xu, Shaochong Wei, Hang Yang, Jianchao Song and Xiaojun Yu
Agriculture 2024, 14(12), 2160; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14122160 - 27 Nov 2024
Viewed by 868
Abstract
The impact of various crop rotation systems on the potential for soil carbon sequestration and stoichiometric characteristics is not yet fully understood, which poses challenges for effective land management and utilization. This study selected three typical crop rotation methods in the Longzhong Loess [...] Read more.
The impact of various crop rotation systems on the potential for soil carbon sequestration and stoichiometric characteristics is not yet fully understood, which poses challenges for effective land management and utilization. This study selected three typical crop rotation methods in the Longzhong Loess Plateau: maize–alfalfa rotation (MA), maize–sainfoin rotation (MS), and maize–wheat rotation (MW). Soil physical and chemical indices were measured, and the soil carbon density and soil stoichiometry were calculated and analyzed. The results show that the soil C/N of the surface soils was low across the rotation methods, indicating a rapid rate of organic matter decomposition and mineralization, which may hinder soil nutrient accumulation. The soil N/P was found to be lower than the national average of 8.0, indicating that nitrogen is a limited nutrient in the soil under the three crop rotation systems in this region. The soil total nitrogen content can be increased by rotation with leguminous forage. Sainfoin rotation can enhance the soil total carbon and organic carbon content, thereby improving the soil’s carbon sequestration potential. The research findings provide a theoretical foundation for the selection of appropriate rotation methods and the maintenance of the stability of agricultural ecosystems in semi-arid regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Chemical Properties and Soil Conservation in Agriculture)
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14 pages, 2584 KiB  
Article
Positive Effect of Camelina Intercropping with Legumes on Soil Microbial Diversity by Applying NGS Analysis and Mobile Fluorescence Spectroscopy
by Marina Marcheva, Mariana Petkova, Vanya Slavova and Vladislav Popov
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(19), 9046; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14199046 - 7 Oct 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1650
Abstract
Camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz) is a valuable source of essential amino acids, especially sulphur-containing ones, which are generally lacking in leguminous crops, thus representing an alternative source of protein for both humans and farm animals. Rhizosphere soil samples from five experimental [...] Read more.
Camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz) is a valuable source of essential amino acids, especially sulphur-containing ones, which are generally lacking in leguminous crops, thus representing an alternative source of protein for both humans and farm animals. Rhizosphere soil samples from five experimental plots with mono- and mixed cultivations of three camelina cultivars, including two introduced varieties Cs1.Pro (Luna) and Cs2.Pro (Lenka) and one Bulgarian variety Cs3.Pro (local Bulgarian landrace) with variety 666 of vetch (Vicia sativa L.) (Cs3-Vs.Pro) and variety Mir of pea (Pisum sativum L.) (Cs3-Ps.Pro), were collected and analysed. The total DNA was isolated from the rhizosphere soils and the presence of the 16S rRNA gene was confirmed by amplification with the universal primer 16SV34. In the present study, the structure of the soil bacterial community in five different plots (Cs1.S.Pro, Cs2.S.Pro, Cs3.S.Pro, Cs3.Vs.S.Pro, and Cs3.Ps.S.Pro) where camelina was grown alone and by being intercropped with pea and vetch was analysed via a metagenomic approach. The number of observed species was highest in the local genotype of the camelina Cs3 grown alone, followed by soil from the intercropped variants Cs3-Vs and CsS-Ps. The soil bacterial communities differed between the sole cultivation of camelina and that grown with joint cultivation with vetch and peas, indicating that legumes considerably affected the growth and development of beneficial microorganisms by aspects such as nitrogen fixing, levels of nitrifying bacteria, and levels of phosphorus-dissolving bacteria, thus helping to provide better plant nutrition. The α-diversity indicated that bacterial communities in the rhizosphere were higher in soils intercropped with vetch and pea. The optical properties of cereals and legumes were determined by their energy structure, which includes both their occupied and free electronic energy levels and the energy levels of the atomic vibrations of the molecules or the crystal lattice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Microbiology Safety and Quality Control)
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15 pages, 1823 KiB  
Article
Ribulose 1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase Is Required in Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens for Efficient Soybean Root Colonization and Competition for Nodulation
by Rocío S. Balda, Carolina Cogo, Ornella Falduti, Florencia M. Bongiorno, Damián Brignoli, Tamara J. Sandobal, María Julia Althabegoiti and Aníbal R. Lodeiro
Plants 2024, 13(17), 2362; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13172362 - 24 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1329
Abstract
The Hyphomicrobiales (Rhizobiales) order contains soil bacteria with an irregular distribution of the Calvin–Benson–Bassham cycle (CBB). Key enzymes in the CBB cycle are ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO), whose large and small subunits are encoded in cbbL and cbbS, and phosphoribulokinase (PRK), encoded [...] Read more.
The Hyphomicrobiales (Rhizobiales) order contains soil bacteria with an irregular distribution of the Calvin–Benson–Bassham cycle (CBB). Key enzymes in the CBB cycle are ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO), whose large and small subunits are encoded in cbbL and cbbS, and phosphoribulokinase (PRK), encoded by cbbP. These genes are often found in cbb operons, regulated by the LysR-type regulator CbbR. In Bradyrhizobium, pertaining to this order and bearing photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic species, the number of cbbL and cbbS copies varies, for example: zero in B. manausense, one in B. diazoefficiens, two in B. japonicum, and three in Bradyrhizobium sp. BTAi. Few studies addressed the role of CBB in Bradyrhizobium spp. symbiosis with leguminous plants. To investigate the horizontal transfer of the cbb operon among Hyphomicrobiales, we compared phylogenetic trees for concatenated cbbL-cbbP-cbbR and housekeeping genes (atpD-gyrB-recA-rpoB-rpoD). The distribution was consistent, indicating no horizontal transfer of the cbb operon in Hyphomicrobiales. We constructed a ΔcbbLS mutant in B. diazoefficiens, which lost most of the coding sequence of cbbL and has a frameshift creating a stop codon at the N-terminus of cbbS. This mutant nodulated normally but had reduced competitiveness for nodulation and long-term adhesion to soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) roots, indicating a CBB requirement for colonizing soybean rhizosphere. Full article
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17 pages, 1936 KiB  
Article
Vicia faba L. Pod Valves: A By-Product with High Potential as an Adjuvant in the Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease
by Carmen Tesoro, Filomena Lelario, Fabiana Piscitelli, Angela Di Capua, Paolo Della Sala, Paola Montoro, Giuliana Bianco, Maria Assunta Acquavia, Mario Dell’Agli, Stefano Piazza and Rosanna Ciriello
Molecules 2024, 29(16), 3943; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29163943 - 21 Aug 2024
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Abstract
Vicia faba L. is a leguminous plant with seeds rich in nutritional compounds, such as polyphenols and L-dopa, a dopamine precursor and first-line treatment for Parkinson’s symptoms. Recently, its by-products have been revalued as a sustainable source of bioactive compounds. In this study, [...] Read more.
Vicia faba L. is a leguminous plant with seeds rich in nutritional compounds, such as polyphenols and L-dopa, a dopamine precursor and first-line treatment for Parkinson’s symptoms. Recently, its by-products have been revalued as a sustainable source of bioactive compounds. In this study, aqueous extracts of Lucan broad bean pod valves (BPs) were characterized to evaluate their potential use as adjuvants in severe Parkinson’s disease. L-dopa content, quantified by LC-UV, was much higher in BPs than in seeds (28.65 mg/g dw compared to 0.76 mg/g dw). In addition, vicine and convicine, the metabolites responsible for favism, were not detected in pods. LC-ESI/LTQ-Orbitrap/MS2 allowed the identification of the major polyphenolic compounds, including quercetin and catechin equivalents, that could ensure neuroprotection in Parkinson’s disease. ESI(±)-FT-ICR MS was used to build 2D van Krevelen diagrams; polyphenolic compounds and carbohydrates were the most representative classes. The neuroprotective activity of the extracts after MPP+-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells was also investigated. BP extracts were more effective than synthetic L-dopa, even at concentrations up to 100 µg/mL, due to the occurrence of antioxidants able to prevent oxidative stress. The stability and antioxidant component of the extracts were then emphasized by using naturally acidic solutions of Punica granatum L., Ribes rubrum L., and gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica L.) as extraction solvents. Full article
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