Search Results (819)

Brassica crops, encompassing globally important vegetables and oilseeds, face severe threats from diverse biotic and abiotic stresses. Plant secondary metabolites constitute the chemical foundation of defence, and metabolomics has emerged as an effective systems biology tool for comprehensively dissecting stress-induced metabolic changes. Recent progress in applying metabolomics to elucidate defence mechanisms in Brassica crops is systematically synthesised here. Major stresses confronting Brassica crop production and the metabolic basis of plant defence are first outlined. Current analytical platforms, including liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, ion mobility spectrometry, and mass spectrometry imaging, are critically evaluated alongside data processing workflows and multi-omics integration strategies. Key defence-related metabolite classes identified in Brassica crops, notably glucosinolates (GSLs) and their hydrolysis products, phenolic compounds, and lipid-derived signalling molecules, are surveyed with emphasis on their respective functions in biotic and abiotic stress responses. Metabolomics has been instrumental in revealing distinct metabolic reprogramming patterns triggered by diverse stresses, including pathogen infection, insect herbivory, drought, salinity, temperature extremes, and heavy metal stress. Metabolomics-informed crop improvement strategies, including marker-assisted breeding, genetic and metabolic engineering, and precision agronomic practices, are discussed together with current technical bottlenecks and future directions involving artificial intelligence, metabolic modelling, and spatial metabolomics. The compiled knowledge provides a comprehensive reference for leveraging metabolomics to enhance stress resilience and sustainable production of Brassica crops. Full article

Food and beverage contamination by microbial and chemical hazards during product processing and handling has significant risks to quality, public health, and regulatory compliance. Cleaning and sanitation practices are essential components of food safety management systems, with their effectiveness dependent on factors such as product characteristics, residue composition, surface properties, biofilm formation, and environmental conditions during production and processing. A comprehensive analysis of cleaning agents and sanitizers, including alkaline, acidic, enzymatic, surfactants, and oxidizing compounds, as well as emerging and sustainable approaches (e.g., organic acid-based formulations, bio-based surfactants, electrolyzed water, and ozone), and their roles during the processing and handling of products, is key to minimizing risks but also to creating resilience in the entire food chain. This review highlights the importance of understanding food-soil composition when selecting appropriate cleaning solutions and methods, particularly for removing carbohydrate-, protein-, fat-, and mineral-based residues, as well as biofilms from food-contact surfaces. Sector-specific challenges, such as biofilm persistence in seafood processing, fouling in dairy operations, moisture control in low-moisture food facilities, and microbial contamination in fresh produce, meat, poultry, cereal grain, and beverage processing, are also discussed. The overall goal is to support researchers, food industry professionals, and regulatory stakeholders in selecting and optimizing cleaning and sanitizing protocols that ensure food safety and regulatory compliance across diverse food industries. Full article

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element in animals and humans, usually acquired via nutrition and thus often dependent on the Se content of the soil from where the food crops originate. The uneven distribution of Se in soils may therefore result in regional Se deficiencies, often further exacerbated due to climate change and its subsequent effects on Se speciation (i.e., the chemical forms in which Se occurs) and the element’s mobility. In recent years, biofortification has emerged as a promising approach to address this issue. This review provides an overview of how climate-driven changes in Se cycling influence soil Se availability and discusses the resulting implications for plant resilience, crop biofortification and dietary Se supply. Although plants do not require Se per se, an increased Se content of plants may improve their yields, antioxidant defences, and tolerance to various—climate (change)-related—stresses such as drought, salinity, and oxidative stress at low concentrations. So far, selenite (SeO₃²⁻) and selenate (SeO₄²⁻) are the most commonly employed Se species in agriculture, often via foliar and soil applications, and due to their excellent solubility in water are subject to leaching or other weather-related limitations. Alternative Se compounds, such as Se nanoparticles (SeNPs) and selenium sulfide (SeS₂) present promising approaches that may enable a more controlled Se release in soils. Nonetheless, their long-term agronomic performance and environmental behaviour require further investigations. Full article

Rainfall–runoff pollution poses a major challenge to urban water quality management, particularly in rapidly developing regions. However, its spatial variability and source characteristics remain inadequately understood. This study investigates the types, concentrations, and sources of pollutants in rainfall runoff across different urban land-use settings, with the aim of providing insights for more effective water management strategies. By quantifying pollutant occurrence frequencies, comparing reported event mean concentrations, and summarizing literature-reported pollution sources, we evaluated the spatial heterogeneity of runoff contamination from a descriptive perspective. The compiled literature data showed descriptive differences in reported pollution levels among land-use types, with relatively high pollutant concentrations frequently reported in residential and traffic areas. These differences should be interpreted as functional-area-based patterns rather than continuous geographic spatial distributions. Pollutants such as chemical oxygen demand (COD), suspended solids (SS), and total nitrogen (TN) frequently exceeded China’s Class V surface water quality standards. Atmospheric deposition and surface litter were the most frequently reported pollution sources, while traffic-related activities were frequently associated with elevated heavy metal concentrations in the reviewed studies. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted, land-use-specific pollution control strategies that not only reduce runoff pollution but also improve source-control efficiency for sustainable urban water management. This study offers valuable insights that may be transferable to other urban environments worldwide, with important implications for policy development and urban resilience in the face of increasing environmental pressures. Full article

The mutualistic association between plants and their seed-associated microbiota has emerged as a key determinant of crop productivity, influencing plant nutrition, immunity, and tolerance to abiotic stress. Seed biopriming, the controlled application of beneficial microorganisms to seeds before sowing, exploits this interaction to enhance germination, seedling establishment, and stress resilience. Unlike conventional chemical priming, seed biopriming induces coordinated molecular reprogramming through changes in the seed metabolome, proteome, and epigenome. This review synthesizes current evidence demonstrating that seed biopriming promotes the accumulation of osmoprotectants, strengthens antioxidant defenses, enhances secondary metabolism, and generates priming-specific proteomic responses. We further examine how these changes interact with phytohormonal signaling networks and epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and small RNA-mediated regulation, to establish stress memory and improve plant adaptation. The review also discusses recent advances in synthetic microbial communities and nanobiotechnology for improving inoculant stability and efficacy. Despite promising progress, large-scale application remains constrained by inconsistent field performance, formulation stability, and regulatory challenges. Finally, we highlight the integration of multi-omics and artificial intelligence as promising approaches to improve mechanistic understanding, optimize microbial selection, and accelerate the development of reliable seed biopriming strategies for sustainable agriculture under climate change. Full article

Abiotic stresses increasingly threaten crop productivity, whereas reliance on chemical and resource-intensive interventions can compromise environmental sustainability. Existing literature identifies Trichoderma spp. as multifunctional biocontrol agents, biofertilizers, and microbial biostimulants capable of influencing plant growth, stress signaling, and rhizosphere processes; however, evidence remains fragmented across strains, crops, formulations, and stress conditions. This review aimed to integrate current knowledge on Trichoderma-mediated resilience to salinity, drought, heavy metals, temperature extremes, and emerging pollutants, while distinguishing experimentally validated mechanisms from statistical associations and conceptual inference. It evaluates constraints governing reproducibility from controlled studies to field deployment. The synthesis shows that selected crop–strain systems improve root architecture, photosynthesis, antioxidant regulation, osmotic adjustment, nutrient acquisition, ion homeostasis, hormonal balance, and stress-responsive gene expression. Benefits arise through coordinated delivery, root colonization, metabolite and protein signaling, physiological reprogramming, and rhizosphere modulation. Nevertheless, microbiome co-occurrence patterns do not establish causal network repair, evidence for broad heat and cold protection remains limited, and biochar co-application should not be interpreted as a carrier formulation without direct validation. Future progress requires strain- and crop-specific screening, mechanistic gene and protein studies, standardized formulations, combined-stress experiments, multi-location field trials, biosafety evaluation, and farmer-level economic assessment to develop reliable precision microbial technologies. Full article

Food security faces significant challenges due to the growing threat of insect pests and global climate change, making it essential to adopt sustainable agricultural strategies. Plants possess intrinsic defense systems that are activated in response to herbivore attack, including the emission of specialized volatile organic compounds (VOC) known as herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs). These volatiles aid the foraging of natural enemies (predators and parasitoids), thereby contributing to biological control of pest populations. Harnessing these chemical defense mechanisms offers a promising avenue for pest management, although natural enemy attraction does not necessarily result in pest suppression or increased crop yield. This review synthesizes plant and insect-derived chemical signaling mechanisms with direct relevance to biological control in crop agroecosystems, including field crops, orchards, vegetable systems, and protected cultivation. We emphasize recent applied research while retaining selected foundational studies that established the principal concepts and mechanisms underlying chemically mediated pest management. Considering the importance of chemical signaling in sustainable agriculture, we propose four key research directions: (1) optimizing plant defense induction mechanisms; (2) integrating HIPVs with natural enemy pheromone-based attractants; (3) combining habitat management with the provision of plant-derived food resources; and (4) harnessing plant defenses through breeding and infochemical-based genetically modified crops. Additionally, we examine the potential impacts of environmental stressors on plant–herbivore chemical communication, underscoring their importance for resilient and environmentally sustainable agricultural systems. Full article

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

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

The plant-based diets market has grown in popularity over recent decades and is projected to reach USD 27 billion by 2030. Innovative systems such as intercropping, defined as growing two or more crop species in proximity, are promising contributors to the advancement of sustainable agriculture by improving resource efficiency, enhancing crop resilience, and cutting down the need for chemical inputs. However, legume seed lots grown under intercropping versus monocropping systems differ in composition, which, in turn, can influence seed flour quality. Furthermore, antinutritional properties of legumes, such as phytic acid, condensed tannins (CTs), and raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs), limit their utilisation in product formulation. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to reduce these antinutritional compounds for utilisation of the intercropped legume flour in bakery products. A harvest of intercropped peas and faba bean mix (IM) obtained from Irish farmers was soaked (S) for 8 and 16 h and germinated (G) for 24, 48, and 72 h. Non-germinated intercropped mix (IM) was used as a control. All flours were subsequently used to substitute for wheat flour and fortify wheat-based cakes. The 72 h germinated intercropped mix (pea bean; 95.5:4.5) flour showed significantly (p < 0.05) lower levels of antinutritional compounds than the non-germinated intercropped flour. Raffinose, stachyose, and verbascose contents were reduced by 43%, 38%, and 46%, respectively, while phytic acid and condensed tannins decreased by 32% and 57%, respectively. The germination process also reduced the green hue (a*) from −8.37 to −6.49 and enhanced levels of soluble dietary fibre by 2.67% of the flour, while improving their suitability for bakery applications. Wheat-based cakes fortified with germinated and non-germinated intercropped legume flours showed a significant enhancement in protein and soluble dietary fibre contents. Compared with the control cake, protein content increased from 9.52 to 12.80%, while soluble dietary fibre content increased from 0.47 to 1.99% in the fortified cakes. Cakes containing up to 40% germinated flour (G72) showed comparable specific volume values 1.84–1.86 mL/g) and slice brightness (112.50–94.23) to the control cake. Additionally, cakes formulated with 40% intercropped flour showed significantly lower condensed tannin and phytic acid contents (p < 0.05), with reductions of 38% and 31.38%, respectively. Samples containing intercropped legume flours proved suitable for bakery applications, supporting up to 40% substitution in wheat-based cakes, and the germination process was effective in reducing antinutritional properties in intercropped legume flour fortified cakes. Full article

Fruit mites, particularly Panonychus ulmi, Tetranychus urticae, and eriophyid mites, are among the most economically important arthropod pests in apple orchards, causing significant reductions in photosynthetic efficiency, fruit quality, and yield. Their management has traditionally relied on chemical acaricides; however, the widespread development of resistance, adverse effects on beneficial arthropods, and increasing environmental concerns have highlighted the limitations of pesticide-dependent control strategies. This review critically evaluates current advances in the management of major fruit mite species affecting apple orchards, with particular emphasis on Panonychus ulmi, Tetranychus urticae, and eriophyid mites. The biology, ecology, and economic significance of these pests are examined together with contemporary chemical control strategies, mechanisms of acaricide resistance, and sustainable resistance management. Particular attention is given to predatory mites, conservation biological control, habitat management, and ecological engineering as essential components of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The review also examines the integration of biological, chemical, and cultural control measures within IPM programs and provides a regional perspective on fruit mite management in Southeastern Kazakhstan, highlighting local challenges, knowledge gaps, and opportunities for implementing ecologically based IPM systems. Emerging approaches, including precision agriculture, digital monitoring, molecular diagnostics, and climate-adaptive pest management, are also assessed. The available evidence indicates that sustainable fruit mite management requires a transition from pesticide-centered control toward integrated, ecologically resilient orchard protection systems in which biological control and IPM serve as the foundation, while chemical control functions as a targeted supporting tool. To our knowledge, no previous review has comprehensively integrated biological control, acaricide resistance management, ecologically based IPM, and region-specific challenges for fruit mite management in Southeastern Kazakhstan into a unified framework while also identifying key research priorities for Central Asia, including resistance surveillance, biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and digital decision-support technologies. Full article

The objective of this study was to determine the energy balance and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the production of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) under semi-arid Central Anatolian conditions. A field experiment was conducted using the registered industrial hemp cultivar ‘Vezir’ under semi-arid conditions, and energy use indicators and greenhouse gas emissions were quantified through an input–output analysis based on field-level agricultural inputs and biomass yield. The total energy input was calculated as 13,688.50 MJ ha^–1, of which chemical fertilizers (54.339%) and diesel fuel (32.09%) jointly accounted for more than 90%, followed by irrigation water (4.66%), machinery 2.87%), and human labor (0.21%). The corresponding energy output reached 388,073.80 MJ ha^–1, yielding an energy use efficiency of 28.35, a specific energy of 0.62 MJ kg^–1, an energy productivity of 1.61 kg MJ^–1 and a net energy of 374,385.28 MJ ha^–1. Of the total energy input, 36.95% was direct and 63.05% indirect, while 89.35% originated from non-renewable sources and only 10.65% originated from renewable sources. Total GHG emissions amounted to 590.14 kg CO₂ eq ha^–1, with diesel fuel and nitrogen fertilizer identified as the dominant emission sources. These findings indicate that industrial hemp combines high productivity with low environmental burdens under semi-arid conditions. Beyond its favorable energy balance, hemp offers potential contributions to climate-smart agriculture through efficient resource use, reduced greenhouse gas emissions per unit of output, and diversification of cropping systems in water-limited environments. Therefore, industrial hemp can support the transition toward more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems in semi-arid regions of Türkiye and similar agroecological zones. Full article

Conventional poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels struggle to integrate the mechanical robustness, thermal management, and fire safety demanded by extreme environments. To overcome this, we fabricate a multifunctional hydrogel via a synergistic strategy combining freeze–thawing and citrate-driven Hofmeister salting-out. Kosmotropic citrate ions aggressively strip polymer hydration shells, driving intense intermolecular hydrogen bonding, elevated crystallinity, and severe network densification. Consequently, the optimized cit@PVA hydrogel exhibits a balanced mechanical performance, achieving a tensile strength of 1.31 MPa and an elongation at break of approximately 150%. The citrate-induced network densification not only reinforces the mechanical integrity of the hydrogel but also regulates its thermal transport characteristics. Benefiting from the dense polymer framework and intrinsic infrared-active chemical structures, the cit@PVA hydrogel demonstrates excellent thermal management capability, including effective high-temperature thermal insulation and high mid-infrared emissivity (~85%) for passive radiative cooling. Furthermore, the incorporated citrate shifts the degradation pathway toward catalytic charring, rapidly forming a dense carbonaceous shield to completely prevent burn-through during direct flame exposure. This scalable structural design overcomes traditional performance limitations, creating resilient soft materials for advanced flexible electronics and smart protective wearables. Full article

Protein hydrolysates (PHs) have emerged as a pivotal category of plant biostimulants in sustainable agriculture. They are derived from the enzymatic, chemical, or thermal hydrolysis of agro-industrial by-products of animal or plant origin. These complex mixtures of free amino acids, oligopeptides, and polypeptides enhance crop productivity, nutrient use efficiency, and abiotic stress resilience. This review examines and compares the production methods, chemical composition, agronomic performance, physiological mechanism, and safety profiles of animal-derived (A-PHs) and vegetal-derived (V-PHs) protein hydrolysates, with particular emphasis on hydrolyzed collagen (HC) as an emerging biostimulant. Furthermore, the specific physiological roles of proline in mediating plant stress tolerance and hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins in maintaining cell wall integrity are evaluated. Animal-derived sources, including collagen, keratin, and fish by-products, are characterized by elevated glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline concentrations, amino acids with established roles in root architecture promotion, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, and osmotic adjustment under stress. Conversely, V-PH exhibit richer bioactive peptide profiles and superior environmental sustainability indices. Underlying mechanisms encompass hormone-like activities mimicking auxin and gibberellin signaling, transcriptional reprogramming of nitrogen assimilation pathways, antioxidant enzyme modulation, and rhizosphere microbiota stimulation. Full article

Geothermal energy production requires durable well-cementing materials capable of withstanding extreme thermal fluctuations, yet the high carbon footprint and cost of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) necessitate sustainable alternatives such as fillers and supplementary cementitious materials. This study investigates whether waste-based Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC), a sugar beet industry by-product, is feasible for use as a sustainable partial replacement/filler material in OPC-based concrete mixtures considered for geothermal-related cementitious applications. The experimental program was conducted in two distinct phases. Initially, PCC replaced OPC at 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% by weight to evaluate mechanical performance. In the second phase, optimized mixes with 0%, 5%, and 10% PCC were subjected to thermal cycling between 10 °C and 250 °C for up to 30 cycles to simulate harsh geothermal conditions. Results showed that 5% PCC increased compressive strength by 9.47% (34.3 MPa) and tensile strength by 2.93% (3.0 MPa) relative to the control mixture. During thermal cycling, the 5% PCC mix demonstrated superior stability, maintaining 32.1 MPa after 10 cycles, while higher PCC contents led to significant degradation. Within the limits of the laboratory tests conducted, the study concludes that a low PCC replacement level, particularly 5%, is an optimal threshold, offering improved thermal resilience and mechanical strength while reducing OPC consumption and carbon emissions. Further slurry-level, chemical durability, and field-representative testing are required before broader geothermal well cementing validation. Full article