Search Results (2,585)

Young barley, derived from the early vegetative stage of Hordeum vulgare L., constitutes a plant-based functional ingredient whose phytochemical profile differs markedly from that of mature grain. Two principal commercial forms exist—dried grass powder and juice-derived products—differing in matrix composition and bioactive compound concentration. This narrative review critically evaluates the current knowledge on the phytochemical composition, biological activity, and translational relevance of young barley preparations considered as a functional plant food. The phytochemical spectrum is dominated by C-glycosyl flavones, particularly saponarin and lutonarin, alongside phenolic acids, chlorophylls, enzymatic antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Experimental evidence implicates the modulation of redox homeostasis, inflammatory signaling, and metabolic regulators as the primary biological mechanisms. In vitro studies additionally demonstrate antiproliferative activity in human cancer cell lines and immunomodulatory properties mediated by polysaccharide-rich fractions, extending the biological profile of young barley beyond classical antioxidant activity. Although preclinical models consistently demonstrate antioxidant and metabolic effects, high experimental doses and limited preparation standardization restrict the direct extrapolation to human supplementation contexts. Available clinical trials suggest modest improvements in selected lipid, glycemic, and oxidative stress markers; yet, most are small in scale and brief in duration. Agronomic variables including fertilization strategy and soil composition represent additional, underappreciated sources of phytochemical variability and safety concern. Overall, the current evidence supports the biological plausibility of young barley as a functional plant food; yet, the clinical data remain preliminary. Future research should prioritize preparation standardization, dose–response characterization, and agronomic transparency to strengthen translational reliability. In conclusion, young barley preparations represent a biologically plausible functional plant food ingredient with preliminary clinical support, pending confirmation from adequately powered, standardised randomised controlled trials. Full article

Mulching is an agronomic practice that improves orchard soil and promotes root growth. To investigate the regulatory effects of different mulching materials on soil properties, microbial communities, and root function in apple orchards, eight treatments were established: clean tillage (CK), organic fertilizer mulching (OFM), chopped corn straw mulching (SM1), chopped and bundled corn straw mulching (SM2), intact corn stover mulching (SM3), composted apple branch mulching (BM), horticultural ground cover fabric mulching (FM), and weed mulching (WM). The results showed that OFM, BM, SM1, and SM3 exhibited effective cooling effects during summer. During the peak root-flush period, OFM, SM3, and BM significantly reduced soil bulk density, increased porosity, enhanced soil organic matter and available nutrient contents, and elevated the activities of soil sucrase, urease, and catalase. Moreover, these treatments promoted the accumulation of carbohydrates and the uptake of mineral nutrients in roots. OFM and SM3 significantly increased the Simpson index of both soil bacterial and fungal communities, while BM improved the beta diversity of bacterial and fungal communities. OFM, SM3, and BM can effectively improve soil physicochemical properties, optimize microbial community structure, and enhance root nutrient uptake. It is recommended as a mulching measure for soil in northern apple orchards. Among the eight treatments evaluated, OFM, SM3, and BM exhibited superior performance in improving soil physicochemical properties, promoting root function, and enhancing microbial community diversity. Therefore, the findings of this study provide an effective soil management strategy for apple orchards in the cold northern regions of China. Full article

Rootstock selection is a key component of sustainable vineyard planning, as it strongly influences vine adaptation to soil and environmental conditions. Despite its importance, this decision is often based on empirical knowledge rather than on structured, site-specific approaches. This study presents SR-Vitis, a decision-support module developed within the Vitis system, designed to support rootstock selection through a rule-based framework integrating pedological, climatic, and agronomic variables. The model translates site-specific characteristics into suitability criteria for a set of widely used European rootstocks. The system was applied to four vineyards located in two contrasting Italian winegrowing regions (Chianti Classico and Alta Murgia) to assess the coherence of the model outputs under different pedoclimatic conditions. The comparison with existing tools and current grower choices showed a general agreement in most cases, while also identifying situations where alternative rootstocks may better match site constraints. These results suggest that SR-Vitis can effectively support a more structured and transparent decision-making process. Although not intended as a predictive validation study, this work provides a first operational assessment of the model and highlights its potential as a practical tool for vineyard planning. By integrating expert knowledge and soil-based criteria into an accessible digital framework, SR-Vitis contributes to bridging the gap between empirical practices and data-supported approaches, supporting viticultural adaptation under increasing environmental variability. Full article

Soybean is an important global crop used for oil, food, and feed production. To increase yield and land-use efficiency, growers often plant soybean at a high density or use intercropping systems. Under these systems, soybeans frequently experience shade stress, which directly affects agronomic traits such as plant height. Although researchers have well documented the genetic basis of plant height under normal conditions, the loci responsible for height variation under shade stress remain largely unexplored. Therefore, we performed a restricted two-stage multi-locus multi-allele genome-wide association study (RTM-GWAS) using SNP linkage disequilibrium block (SNPLDB) markers to identify QTLs associated with soybean plant height under shade stress. We evaluated a natural population of 181 soybean accessions for plant height traits under both normal and shaded conditions across four environments for three years. Using the Soybean40K chip, we derived 11,463 SNPLDB markers and identified 42, 33, and 28 significant SNPLDBs associated with plant height, average internode length, and number of main-stem nodes, respectively. For each SNPLDB, we estimated haplotype (allele) effects and assembled QTL–allele matrices to summarize the population’s genetic composition. Four SNPLDB loci proved stable across multiple environments, exhibiting high −lg(p) values and explaining substantial phenotypic variation. Finally, we projected that 80 candidate genes resided within 180 kb of these stable loci, and we identified four strong candidate genes linked to plant height traits based on combined positional and functional evidence. These results clarify genetic factors that influence soybean height under shading and could aid development of high-yielding soybean varieties. Full article

Understanding how plants regulate nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) allocation among their organs under adverse environmental and climatic conditions remains a significant challenge, despite its direct impact on the value of plant residues and agricultural products. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the dynamics of N and C through their stable isotope ratios in two soybean varieties of differing maturity groups (Merlin and Laulema) inoculated with various nitrogen-fixing Bradyrhizobium japonicum bacterial strains. The contents of N and C as well as their isotopic ratios in soybean plant parts were analyzed at full-flowering (R2) and full-maturity (R8) stages. The results demonstrated overall compatibility between soybean varieties and selected B. japonicum strains, resulting in up to 32 nodules per plant; however, significant variation in root nodule numbers was observed. From a physiological perspective, both the soybean variety and the strain of nitrogen-fixing bacteria significantly influenced nitrogen stable isotope ratios across different plant organs, including roots, shoots, stems, pods, and seeds, with similar trends in δ(¹⁵N) variation among plant parts observed in both varieties. In contrast, the main differences in carbon stable isotope composition were observed among varieties less affected by the amendment strategy. N content was higher in roots and shoots during flowering and declined by twofold in roots and fivefold in aboveground biomass at maturity, reflecting extensive nitrogen remobilization to support seed formation. From an agronomic perspective, the highest yields were achieved by the inoculated soybean Merlin, with more than 3 t ha⁻¹. However, the positive effects of symbiosis can improve yields in less productive varieties like Laulema, making them comparable to those of more productive varieties. Soybean inoculation not only influenced the isotopic redistribution within the plant but also proved to be an effective practice for increasing seed N content, with strain AGF78 producing the highest number of nodules and a significantly high amount of nitrogen in seeds, followed by SEMIA5079, the least effective being RF10. Full article

Reducing nitrogen (N) fertilization is essential for sustainable agriculture, but it frequently suppresses photosynthetic capacity and diminishes grain yield in sorghum. To determine whether exogenous brassinolide (BL) can offset these negative effects, a two-year field experiment was conducted using foliar BL application (0.1 mg L⁻¹) under three N levels (0, 75, and 150 kg N ha⁻¹), with assessments of grain yield, photosynthetic parameters, dry matter accumulation, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Results showed that BL significantly increased grain yield under zero N (by 15.47%) and moderately under 50% N reduction (by 4.32%), primarily by increasing grains per panicle. Under N-reduced conditions, BL enhanced net photosynthetic rate (Pn), chlorophyll content, Rubisco/PEPC activities, and dry matter partitioning to panicles, with these traits positively correlated with yield. Under 50% N reduction, BL improved N recovery efficiency (RE) and agronomic efficiency (AE) while leaf N content correlated positively with SPAD, Pn, and yield. No significant BL effects occurred under normal N. Thus, exogenous BL application partially compensates for N reduction-induced yield loss by enhancing photosynthesis, source–sink partitioning, and NUE, providing a promising, environmentally sustainable strategy for sorghum production under reduced N input. Full article

A total of 159 wheat–Thinopyrum intermedium derivatives, originating from six Zhong partial amphiploids, were evaluated for resistance to powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici) at both seedling and adult-plant stages, as well as for field resistance to wheat aphids, together with key agronomic traits. Adult-plant resistance to powdery mildew was common across three years: 34 lines (21.4%) exhibited stable resistance, and 27 (17.0%) were moderately resistant. Resistance frequencies differed among pedigree backgrounds, with Zhong 2 & 5 derivatives showing the highest proportion of stable resistant lines (35.7%). Seedling resistance was detected in 63 lines (39.6%). Aphid resistance was less frequent, with 61 lines (38.4%) classified as resistant, including two highly resistant lines derived from Zhong 3 and Zhong 1 & 3 backgrounds. Combined resistance traits were comparatively rare. Thirty-two lines exhibited resistance to powdery mildew at both seedling and adult-plant stages, while nine lines displayed combined resistance to seedling mildew, adult mildew, and aphids. Analysis of agronomic traits indicated that environmental effects accounted for a substantial proportion of the observed phenotypic variation, whereas pedigree background and resistance responses contributed comparatively little. Correlation analyses revealed generally weak associations between resistance responses and agronomic traits, suggesting that resistance was not a major determinant of agronomic performance within the evaluated population. The identified resistant materials, therefore, represent valuable pre-breeding resources for the incorporation of resistance to multiple biotic stresses in wheat. Further genetic characterization and multi-environment evaluation will facilitate their effective utilization in wheat improvement programs. Full article

Integrating semi-transparent photovoltaics (STPV) into greenhouse structures offers an effective approach to optimizing the Food–Energy Nexus and maximizing sustainable land-use efficiency. However, a knowledge gap remains regarding how specific STPV spectral signatures drive plant morpho-physiological acclimation across multiple cultivation cycles. This study presents a 19-month multi-cycle, proof-of-concept evaluation of the structural growth dynamics and physiological responses of generative (tomato) and vegetative (lettuce) crops under greenhouse prototypes with two distinct thin-film STPV technologies: Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) and amorphous Silicon (a-Si), compared to an unshaded transparent control. Biometric monitoring revealed that morphological acclimation (Shade-Avoidance Syndrome) was highly plastic, driven by the interplay between spectral filtering and seasonal irradiance limits. While structural adaptations, such as foliar expansion and stem elongation under the a-Si spectrum, were pronounced during specific transitional seasons (e.g., early spring), these morphological differences largely homogenized across treatments during periods of extreme high or low natural irradiance. Despite the shading penalty, this morphological acclimation successfully sustained agronomic fresh mass. Systemic efficiency, quantified by the Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) as a relative biophysical synergy index, demonstrated notably crop-specific synergies. Under an extended single fruiting cycle, the CdTe prototype showed potential to improve yield, achieving a maximum LER of 1.66 for the high-light-demanding tomato (Y_crop = 1.40). Conversely, the a-Si module excelled with the shade-tolerant lettuce during early vegetative stages in high-radiation periods, achieving peak LERs up to 1.55. These findings provide a biophysical baseline to help guide future scalability assessments prior to full-scale commercial agrivoltaic (APV) implementation for sustainable food systems. Full article

Biochar, a carbon-rich by-product of wood pyrolysis, improves soil structure, water retention, and plant growth. A two-year field experiment (2024–2025) was conducted in Poggibonsi (Tuscany, Italy) on tomato cv. “Canestrino” under contrasting climatic conditions. A single biochar application (15 t ha⁻¹) was evaluated for its effects on soil properties, water dynamics, plant water status, and ecophysiological and tissue-level responses. From the results, it emerged that biochar improved soil quality by increasing organic matter (+7.7%) and the C/N ratio (+10.6%), while reducing bulk density (1.42 to 1.25 Mg m⁻³). Soil water content was higher in amended plots, particularly in 2024 (32.84% vs. 24.87%), with a smaller increase in 2025 (24.66% vs. 24.08%). Improved soil water availability enhanced plant water status, as shown by less negative leaf water potential under stress conditions. Microscopic analyses confirmed better xylem integrity in treated plants, with reduced formation of tyloses and improved hydraulic functionality during drought. Agronomic responses reflected climatic variability: yield increased in biochar in 2024, whereas in 2025 drought stress reduced productivity in both treatments, with no significant differences. Overall, biochar improved soil moisture retention, plant water status, and ecophysiological performance, with effects dependent on seasonal rainfall patterns and environmental stress intensity. Full article

Light quality is a pivotal environmental signal governing the morphogenesis and metabolic programming of edible fungi. This study evaluated the effects of eight light qualities—red (R), green (G), blue (B), red-green (RG), red-blue (RB), green-blue (GB), red-green-blue (RGB), and dark control (CK)—on the agronomic traits of Lentinula edodes. Among all treatments, blue light (B) emerged as the most effective regulator, yielding the highest productivity per log (228.12 g), and significantly enhancing pileus diameter (45.17 mm) and stipe thickness (29.45 mm). To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms, integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were performed on primordia and mature fruiting bodies. Transcriptomic profiling identified 4280 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under blue light, which were significantly enriched in energy metabolism and structural development pathways. Metabolomic analysis revealed 45 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs), highlighting a 7.64-fold upregulation of 9(S)-HPODE and a marked downregulation of L-arginine at the harvest stage under blue light. Multi-omics integration demonstrated that blue light orchestrates a strategic metabolic shift: it activates arginine and proline metabolism during the primordial stage, maintains linoleic acid metabolism throughout development, and triggers alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism during the transition to maturity. These pathways facilitate the conversion of amino acids into energy precursors and enhance cell membrane fluidity through unsaturated fatty acid synthesis to support rapid growth. Conversely, red light treatment triggered stress-related MAPK signaling, delayed primordium formation, and redirected resources toward stipe elongation via phenylalanine accumulation, resulting in significantly lower yields. In conclusion, this study confirms that blue light is the optimal condition for L. edodes cultivation, providing a robust molecular foundation for precision light-regulation strategies to maximize yield and quality in commercial production. Full article

Intercropping medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) with olive trees provides significant economic and ecological benefits in Mediterranean agroecosystems; however, belowground competition for water and nutrients often limits understory plant development. Therefore, the main aim of this two-year field study, conducted in Kilis, Türkiye, was to evaluate the effects of black polyethylene mulch on the vegetative growth and essential oil characteristics of lavender (Lavandula x intermedia) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) cultivated as intercrops between olive rows. The results demonstrated that black polyethylene mulch application significantly enhanced lavender’s vegetative growth, substantially increasing average fresh (1665.5 g for mulched vs. 785.0 g for non-mulched control) and dry biomass (783.5 g for mulched vs. 403.0 g for non-mulched control), plant height (83.37 cm vs. 63.42 cm), and canopy diameter (89.03 cm vs. 71.85 cm) compared to the non-mulched control. Furthermore, lavender essential oil yield improved significantly (5.40% vs. 4.09%), with linalool (30.22%) and camphor (12.69%) identified as the major volatile compounds. For rosemary, mulching positively impacted plant height (42.50 cm vs. 35.00 cm) and shoot length (28.65 cm vs. 22.62 cm), while maintaining a stable essential oil yield (0.40% on average) composed primarily of camphor, eucalyptol, and α-pinene. In conclusion, mulching emerges as a highly effective agronomic practice for mitigating resource competition, promoting vegetative growth, and optimizing essential oil production—particularly for lavender—thereby increasing the sustainability and overall productivity of olive and MAP intercropping systems in semi-arid environments. Full article

Potatoes are a crop of great importance for global food security, and their industrialization requires certain postharvest quality characteristics that are affected by cultivation practices. Unlike previous studies that focused on single agronomic factors or genotype effects, to increase knowledge, this work evaluates the interaction between planting method (bag vs. soil) and cultivation condition (greenhouse vs. open field) on postharvest and frying quality of the high-altitude variety ‘Diacol Capiro’. A completely randomized design was used with four treatments arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial layout, where the first factor was the planting method (in bags or in soil) and the second factor was the cultivation conditions (in a greenhouse or in an open field). Tubers grown in a greenhouse, especially with planting in bags, showed greater starch retention, higher firmness, lower soluble solids content, and less mass loss during storage. The starch content varied significantly among treatments, reaching a maximum of 6.9% after 35 days of storage. The specific gravity of the fried potatoes was higher in greenhouse-grown tubers (1.080) than in those planted in the open field (1.070), with values close to the industrial standard (>1.080). The skin luminosity decreased by 16.2% during storage, while the b* parameter of the flesh (yellow color) was higher in tubers from greenhouse planting. Overall, ‘Diacol Capiro’ tubers grown in a greenhouse with planting in bags showed better postharvest attributes and greater potential for frying quality. Full article

Direct-seeded industrial tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) systems are highly vulnerable to early-season interference, yet the role of seed vigor as a competitive determinant remains under-quantified. This study evaluated the performance of high-vigor (HV; 91% germination) and accelerated-aged low-vigor (LV; 60% germination) tomato seeds against two weeds: green foxtail (Setaria viridis) and jimsonweed (Datura stramonium). While mean emergence timing was statistically comparable between HV and LV cohorts (6.0 vs. 7.2 days), LV seedlings entered the post-emergence phase with a numerical deficit in initial seedling dry weight (7.1 mg vs. 8.5 mg for HV; difference not statistically significant), suggesting a potential early competitive disadvantage. In replacement series experiments, HV tomatoes maintained stable leaf and root biomass within the 0.76–1.24 relative yield (RY) confidence interval when competing with jimsonweed. In contrast, LV plants were significantly suppressed at low weed proportions (25%), where root RY dipped below the 0.76 threshold. Against the aggressive below-ground strategy of S. viridis (which produced ~1200 mg of root mass by 40 DAE), LV tomato root RY collapsed to 0.10–0.15, whereas HV plants maintained significantly higher niche occupancy. Physical separation of above- and below-ground competition confirmed that HV seeds provide a “physiological buffer”; specifically, in below-ground treatments, HV plants achieved a root mass of 0.25 g/plant compared to only 0.15 g/plant for LV plants. These results identify seed vigor as a primary driver of the “priority effect” and suggest that high-vigor lots are essential for Integrated Weed Management (IWM) strategies to mitigate early-season resource pre-emption. These findings suggest that seed vigor assessment should be integrated into seed quality standards for direct-seeded tomato systems as a component of Integrated Weed Management. Future field-based studies are needed to validate these greenhouse findings under variable agronomic conditions. Full article

Wheat powdery mildew and stripe rust, caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt) and Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), respectively, are two devastating diseases that threaten global wheat production. Long-term reliance on a limited number of resistance genes can accelerate resistance breakdown. Triticum urartu (2n = 14, A^uA^u), the progenitor of the wheat A subgenome, serves as a valuable gene pool for disease resistance. In this study, we identified three T. urartu accessions exhibiting high resistance to Bgt and Pst. Molecular marker analysis indicated that PI 428215 and PI 428315 carry Pm60b, whereas CITR 17664 carries both Pm60 and YrU1. Durum–T. urartu amphiploids (AABBA^uA^u) displayed resistance responses identical to their T. urartu parent and were used as bridges to transfer these resistance genes into a common wheat (AABBDD) background. Using marker-assisted selection (MAS), recurrent backcrossing, selfing, and phenotypic screening, we developed wheat lines carrying Pm60, Pm60b, YrU1, or Pm60 + YrU1. Segregation analysis in backcross-derived populations supported the functionality of these genes in the common wheat background. The selected introgression lines have high resistance to Bgt and Pst and showed no obvious adverse agronomic effects, providing useful germplasm for wheat disease resistance breeding. This study used a “multi-resistance, multi-combination” pyramiding strategy by MAS to introduce resistance genes from wild wheat into common wheat. Full article

Nitrogen (N) fertilization is a fundamental agronomic practice that governs crop productivity, yet its effects on the molecular composition and chemical stability of soil organic carbon (SOC) remain poorly understood, especially in cereal–legume intercropping systems. Traditional studies have focused on total SOC stocks rather than molecular-level changes, and the mechanistic pathway linking N addition to SOC functional group transformation remains unclear. This study addressed these critical gaps by investigating how graded N addition (0, 180, 270, and 360 kg N ha⁻¹) reshapes SOC chemistry in a subtropical soybean–maize intercropping system. Soil physicochemical properties, inorganic N pools, N-transformation enzyme activities (urease, nitrate reductase, and glutaminase), microbial biomass indices, labile organic carbon fractions (particulate, mineral-associated, and dissolved organic carbon), and SOC functional groups characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were quantified across a two-year field experiment (2024–2025). Results showed that increasing N rates significantly elevated nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N) accumulation while depressing soil pH. Nitrogen-transformation enzymes, especially nitrate reductase and glutaminase, responded strongly and positively to the N gradient. Microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN) increased with moderate N input but exhibited saturation or decline at 360 kg N ha⁻¹, accompanied by reduced microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) and a lower MBC/MBN ratio. Among labile carbon fractions, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was the most responsive pool, increasing markedly with N addition and correlating strongly with NO₃⁻-N. FTIR analysis revealed that N addition shifted SOC functional group composition toward chemically recalcitrant structures: the relative abundances of aromatic C=C and carbonyl C=O groups increased significantly, whereas labile C–O groups declined. Random forest modelling identified C=C, NO₃⁻-N, and DOC as the three most influential predictors of SOC chemical composition. Structural equation modelling (SEM) demonstrated a sequential mechanistic pathway: N fertilization increased NO₃⁻-N, which stimulated glutaminase activity and enhanced DOC, ultimately promoting C=C/C=O stabilization and explaining 91.3% of the variance in SOC aromaticity. These findings reveal that N addition does not merely augment SOC quantity but fundamentally transforms its molecular architecture toward greater chemical stability through a nitrate-mediated, enzyme–labile carbon coupling mechanism. This study provides a novel spectroscopic–mechanistic framework for understanding carbon–nitrogen interactions in intercropping agroecosystems and informs precision N management strategies aimed at simultaneous crop production and long-term soil carbon sequestration. Full article