Search Results (55,532)

Fertilization is a regular management approach that can enhance soil fertility and stimulate the proliferation of beneficial microorganisms. However, the prolonged influence of fertilization practices on soil quality, microbial functional characteristics, and the underlying mechanisms still remain incompletely understood. In this study, we examined the impact of various fertilization strategies on the soil quality index (SQI) and community-level physiological profiles (CLPP) during two crop seasons (maize and soybean, respectively) in a 45-year field trial. Four treatments were implemented: unfertilized control (CK), inorganic nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium fertilizer (NPK), organic fertilizer (M), and organic–inorganic fertilization (MNPK). Results showed that across both seasons, NPK application reduced soil pH and the McIntosh index, whereas organic amendments (M and MNPK) notably enhanced total and available nutrients, SQI, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities. CLPP analysis revealed that organic fertilization significantly enhanced microbial metabolic activity and functional diversity, particularly boosting the utilization of carbohydrates (20–38%) and carboxylic acids (18–36%). Random forest modelling indicated available potassium (AK) as the primary driver of carbon metabolic activity in both seasons, revealing its critical role in regulating microbial functions. Functional metabolic diversity during the maize season was most strongly influenced by microbial entropy (qMB), whereas in the soybean season, it was available nitrogen (AN). Additionally, organic fertilization led to an indirect improvement in SQI during the maize and soybean seasons by increasing microbial biomass. In conclusion, the study underscored the importance of long-term organic fertilization for improving soil quality and provided empirical evidence to maintain the sustainable practices of agriculture in Northeast China. Full article

As populations around the world continue to age, promoting healthy ageing has become a key public health priority. Nutrition plays a vital role in maintaining physical and cognitive function later in life, and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are essential components of cell membranes and are known for their anti-inflammatory and cardio-protective effects. Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress are major contributors to age-related decline, and omega-3s help mitigate these processes by modulating immune responses and improving endothelial function. This systematic review aims to examine the potential of omega-3 fatty acids to reduce inflammatory markers and improve overall health. Moreover, it aims to present the most effective dietary interventions in dairy cows that increase PUFA content in milk. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for relevant articles published up to November 2025. Evidence suggests that older adults who consume higher levels of PUFA tend to have better cardiovascular health, preserved cognitive function, and a lower risk of age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s and arthritis, and reduce the risk of frailty and disability in later years. Dietary manipulation to enhance PUFA in bovine milk represents a promising strategy for improving human nutrition while potentially benefiting cow health. Full article

Cadmium (Cd) contamination severely threatens crop productivity and food safety, particularly in maize (Zea mays L.), which exhibits relatively high capacities for metal uptake and translocation. Metal tolerance proteins (MTPs) play essential roles in metal homeostasis and detoxification; however, the functions of maize MTP under Cd stress remain poorly understood. In this study, a comprehensive expression analysis of the maize MTP gene family revealed that two Zn-CDF members, ZmMTP1-1 and ZmMTP1-2, displayed the strongest and most consistent transcriptional induction in response to Cd stress, especially in roots. Phylogenetic and structural analyses confirmed that both genes are closely related to MTP1 homologs from other plant species, while exhibiting distinct gene structures and regulatory features. Functional characterization in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana demonstrated that overexpression of ZmMTP1-1 or ZmMTP1-2 significantly enhanced tolerance to Cd and Zn stress, as reflected by improved seed germination, root growth, survival, and biomass accumulation. Enhanced metal tolerance was associated with elevated antioxidant enzyme activities, reduced oxidative damage, and coordinated upregulation of endogenous metal transporter genes. Moreover, heterologous expression of ZmMTP1-1 in yeast further supported its conserved role in Cd tolerance. Collectively, these findings indicate that ZmMTP1-1 and ZmMTP1-2 contribute to Cd detoxification through coordinated metal transport and stress-response pathways, providing potential genetic resources for improving heavy metal tolerance in maize. Full article

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is versatile and rapidly developing, offering new prospects to producers as a multipurpose crop, yet limited water availability in the Mediterranean area due to climate change makes its sustainable management challenging. Although the plant’s water requirements have been studied, a significant gap remains regarding irrigation management based on the hydraulic properties that govern water movement. The present study elucidates the role of soil hydraulic parameters in water dynamics within the rhizosphere of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L., ‘Felina 32’). For this purpose, a pot experiment of three irrigation treatments (100% FC, 80% FC, 60% FC; FC is the field capacity) was set up using two different soil types (clay loam CL and sandy clay loam SCL). SCL soil showed a higher C_max of about 4 cm⁻¹ compared to the C_max of 0.11 cm⁻¹ of CL soil, but dropped drastically within a narrow frame of soil moisture. CL soil resulted in about 12-fold higher diffusivity (D_max ≈ 0.23 cm² min⁻¹) within a wider range of soil moisture compared to the SCL soil (D_max ≈ 0.02 cm² min⁻¹), which facilitated water redistribution at CL, allowing the plant to maximize its water uptake, even at the lowest water input. As a result, the CL soil allowed more flexible scheduling and in contrast, SCL soil necessitated a high frequency irrigation protocol. The integration of hydraulic properties into irrigation planning revealed the potential of CL to apply water to plants efficiently across full and deficit irrigation, showing the peak performance of the irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) (0.929 g/mm) under the 60% FC regime. The findings provide a framework for linking soil physics–agricultural hydraulics with irrigation strategies in controlled environments. Full article

Background: The early detection of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is imperative for enhancing long-term developmental outcomes. Nevertheless, conventional screening methods depend on time-consuming, expert-driven behavioral assessments and are characterized by limited scalability. Automated video-based analysis provides a noninvasive and objective approach for the extraction of behavioral biomarkers from naturalistic recordings. Methods: A modular multimodal framework was developed that integrates motion-based video analysis and facial feature extraction for the purpose of ASD versus typically developing (TD) classification. The system is capable of processing RGB videos, skeleton/stickman representations, and motion trajectory streams. A comprehensive set of kinematic features was extracted, encompassing joint trajectories, velocity and acceleration profiles, posture variability, movement smoothness, and bilateral asymmetry. The repetitive stereotypical behaviors exhibited by the subjects were characterized using frequency-domain analysis via FFT within the 0.3–7.0 Hz band. Facial expression features derived from normalized face crops and landmark-based morphological descriptors were integrated as complementary modalities. The feature-level fusion process was executed subsequent to z-score normalization, and the classification procedure was conducted using a Random Forest model with stratified 5-fold cross validation. The implementation of GPU acceleration was instrumental in facilitating near real-time inference. Results: The motion-based ComplexVideos pipeline demonstrated a cross-validated accuracy of 94.2 ± 2.1% with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.93. Skeleton-based KinectStickman inputs demonstrated moderate performance, with an accuracy range of 60–80%. In contrast, facial-only models exhibited an accuracy of approximately 60%. The integration of multiple modalities through feature fusion has been demonstrated to enhance the robustness of classification algorithms and mitigate the occurrence of false negative outcomes, thereby surpassing the performance of single-modality models. The mean inference time remained below one second per video frame under standard operating conditions. Conclusions: The experimental results demonstrate that the integration of multimodal cues, including motion and facial features, facilitates the development of effective and efficient video-based screening methods for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The proposed framework is designed to offer a scalable, extensible, and computationally efficient solution that can support early screening in clinical and remote assessment settings. Full article

Tomato fruit rot severely impacts yield and quality, causing economic losses. This study aimed to identify the pathogenic fungi associated with post-harvest tomato fruit rot and characterize the transcriptomic responses of tomatoes. Pathogens were isolated from diseased tomato fruit tissues and identified using morphology, phylogenetic analysis, and in vitro pathogenicity tests. The genome of Cladosporium oxysporum Co-1 was assembled and annotated. RNA-seq analysis was used to profile transcriptional changes in tomatoes infected with C. oxysporum Co-1, with RT-qPCR validating the RNA-seq data and spectrophotometric assays analyzing the host physiological responses. Three pathogenic fungi were isolated. Colonies of C. oxysporum exhibited a near-circular shape, with colonies transitioning from an olive-green center to gray-green at the edges, and based on ITS, β-tubulin, and EF-1α gene sequences, this isolate exhibited 99% identity with C. oxysporum. The other two fungal isolates were identified as Alternaria alternata and Fusarium incarnatum, respectively, based on morphological and multi-locus sequence analysis. All three strains induced fruit rot and browning in tomatoes, confirming their pathogenicity. The genome size of C. oxysporum Co-1 was 34,515,558 bp, comprising 52 scaffolds with a GC content of 52.82%, and encoding 10,081 protein-coding genes. RNA-seq analysis showed dynamic gene expression changes in tomatoes infected with strain A, with differentially expressed genes enriched in pathogenicity-related pathways. Spectrophotometric assays revealed that peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities decreased initially followed by an increase post-inoculation with C. oxysporum, indicating that tomatoes defend against pathogen infection through the antioxidant enzyme system. These findings revealed the pathogenic fungi were associated with post-harvest tomato rot disease, provided genomic resources for C. oxysporum, and provided insight into the host’s response to this strain. Full article

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is a highly appreciated fruit species for consumption but susceptible to climate change-induced weather, such as heavy rainfall, which catastrophically compromises yield and commercial fruit quality. Brassinosteroids (BRs) represent a novel biologically safe class of hormones that have been shown to increase plant resilience against these adversities and enhance crop yield and fruit quality in some fruit species. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the potential efficacy of the preharvest foliar spray treatments with 24-epibrassinolide (24-BL) at 0.01, 0.1 and 1 µM on crop yield, cracking incidence and fruit quality of ‘Sunburst’ and ‘Skeena’ sweet cherry cultivars, during two seasons with different weather conditions (2022 and 2023). Results revealed that 24-BL treatments improved fruit growth, fruit weight, and increased commercial crop yield, especially at 0.1 µM during the first season. Notably, in 2023, when extreme rainfall occurred, 24-BL at 0.01 and 0.1 µM significantly decreased cracking incidence by up to 50% for ‘Skeena’. Additionally, firmness, red colour and bioactive compounds, such as total phenolics and total anthocyanins, were also found at higher levels in fruits from 24-BL-treated trees compared to controls, in both cultivars and years. In conclusion, the foliar spray application of 24-BL at 0.01 µM and, especially at 0.1 µM, can be a useful and eco-friendly tool to reduce cracking incidence, improve crop yield and enhance sweet cherry quality traits regardless of environmental negative events, such as heavy rainfall. Importantly, the enhancement of bioactive compounds would promote additional antioxidant properties and enhance health benefits to consumers. Full article

This study investigated the phytochemical profiles of 41 Korean wheat cultivars harvested over two consecutive years (2019 and 2020), with a focus on alkylresorcinols (ARs), phytosterols, vitamin E, and carotenoids. Validated chromatographic analyses revealed considerable variation among cultivars. AR levels, particularly heneicosylresorcinol, showed relatively consistent patterns across years, whereas the concentrations of phytosterols, vitamin E, and carotenoids varied more noticeably between years, suggesting possible associations with environmental conditions. Hierarchical clustering analysis classified the cultivars into five distinct groups according to their overall phytochemical profiles. ‘Dajoong’ and ‘Shinmichal’ exhibited the highest AR levels; ‘Hanbaek’, ‘Goso’, and ‘Joah’ were richest in β-sitosterol; ‘Eunpa’ and ‘Namhae’ showed elevated β-tocotrienol content, while ‘Uri’ and ‘Chungkye’ were notable for high lutein concentrations. ‘Saekeumkang’ displayed a balanced profile across all phytochemical classes. These findings provide baseline data on phytochemical variation among Korean wheat cultivars and offer insight into differences in phytochemical diversity. Full article

Plant-derived materials previously regarded as low-value by-products are increasingly investigated as sources of bioactive compounds, yet hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) leaves remain underutilized despite their rich phytochemical profile. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the in vitro antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content of methanolic extracts obtained from the leaves and inflorescences of four hemp cultivars (Finola, Futura 75, Dioica, and Kompolti). Antioxidant capacity (AC) was assessed using ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP assays, while total phenolic content was determined spectrophotometrically. Inflorescences exhibited significantly higher total phenolic content than leaves, with the highest values observed in the Finola cultivar. In contrast, leaf extracts showed greater radical-scavenging capacity in the ABTS and DPPH assays, whereas inflorescences demonstrated higher ferric ion–reducing power in the FRAP assay. Both cultivar and plant part had a significant effect on all evaluated parameters. Overall, hemp leaves and inflorescences displayed distinct and complementary antioxidant profiles in vitro, with Kompolti and Finola leaves characterized by strong radical-scavenging activity and Finola inflorescences showing the highest reducing capacity. These findings provide a comparative characterization of hemp morphological parts with respect to phenolic content and antioxidant behavior, highlighting the potential value of leaves as a source of bioactive compounds. Full article

Modern agriculture faces increasing pressure to maintain productivity while reducing soil degradation, chemical inputs, and ecological footprint, making biologically based soil-improvement strategies highly relevant. This study examined whether microbial inoculation, combined with conservation tillage practices (loosening and no-tillage), can enhance soil physical quality during pea (Pisum sativum) cultivation in an agroecological market garden in Hungary. A 2 × 2 factorial field experiment was established, testing tillage (loosening vs. no-tillage) and microbial inoculation (with vs. without) in a randomized design with three replications per treatment (12 plots total). A single microbial application was performed prior to planting using a consortium of Rhizobium spp., Ensifer spp., Pseudomonas spp., and Bacillus spp. The research focused on (I) soil penetration resistance, (II) soil moisture dynamics, and (III) infiltration capacity, with most parameters measured before and after planting. Microbial inoculation significantly reduced penetration resistance under both tillage systems and influenced soil moisture behavior, indicating improved soil structure and water retention. Infiltration rate did not change significantly within the study period. Overall, the results demonstrate that microbial amendments can rapidly improve key soil physical properties, offering a practical, nature-based strategy for resilient, low-input farming systems. Full article

The dynamic interaction between plants and their root-associated microbiota represents a sophisticated and profound biological communication that regulates plant development and the formation of adaptation to the surrounding environment. These interactions function as critical regulators of multiple physiological processes, finally influencing soil fertility and agricultural productivity. Plants have evolved epigenetic networks that regulate beneficial plant–microbe interactions through regulating immune responses, gene regulation, and metabolite production to enhance stress tolerance and soil adaptation. These regulations collectively govern microbial colonization patterns while establishing reciprocal feedback loops through root exudate–microbe interactions. This review systematically updates contemporary advances in understanding how epigenetic modifications shape rhizosphere microbiome composition and function, and discusses their potential applications in enhancing the yield and quality of horticultural crops, as well as in mitigating continuous cropping obstacles. Full article

Endophytes are a type of microorganism that lives in harmony with plants, playing a significant role in promoting the growth of the host and enhancing the host’s stress resistance. Understanding the ecological functions of root endophytic fungi and screening functional strains can effectively alleviate the stress conditions of crops. In this study, endophyte 1R13 was isolated from the roots of rice. Through morphological observation and five-gene combined phylogenetic analysis, it was identified as Bussabanomyces oryzae (B. oryzae), which was proposed as a new species, Bussabanomyces oryzae nov. The colonization pattern of B. oryzae was mainly through invasion of the rice roots, entering the epidermal cells and then the cortical cells, and finally reaching the vascular bundle cells. In the co-culture assays with rice, B. oryzae can promote the growth of rice, increasing its growth volume by approximately 23% and its fresh weight by 52%. Meanwhile, it could enhance the stress resistance of rice, mainly manifested as increasing the ability of rice leaves to resist rice blast and improving the survival rate of transplanted seedlings in the field. Full article

Medicinal plants from South and Central America are widely used, but the scientific literature remains fragmented and strongly concentrated in laboratory-based studies. This scientometric review mapped research trends and translational gaps for five focal species (Amburana cearensis, Libidibia ferrea, Justicia pectoralis, Lippia origanoides, and Spondias mombin). These species were selected because they combine ethnobotanical relevance, recurrent pharmacological and phytochemical interest, and sufficient representation in the retrieved corpus to support comparative scientometric analysis. Records indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection (1991–2024) were analyzed using VOSviewer and Bibliometrix within a transparent and reproducible workflow. Evidence was also organized across four domains, chemistry, preclinical, clinical, and safety, to support cross-species synthesis. A total of 183 publications were included. Brazil accounted for more than 60% of the records and concentrated the most productive authors and institutions. The Journal of Ethnopharmacology was the main publication outlet, followed by Industrial Crops and Products, indicating overlap between ethnopharmacological research and application-oriented development. Keyword networks were dominated by Spondias and Lippia, with recurring themes such as antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity, and in vitro assays. Across species, preclinical evidence substantially exceeded controlled human studies and systematic safety reporting. Controlled trials were found only for Amburana and Justicia, whereas clinical and safety gaps remained evident for the other species despite the extensive experimental literature. Overall, the field is expanding, but its translational progress remains uneven. Future advances will depend on stronger chemical standardization, mechanism-driven study designs, and better integration of clinical and safety evidence. Full article

The miRNA172–APETALA2 (AP2) regulatory module is a conserved mechanism governing floral development in plants. Disruption of the miR172 target sites in AP2 genes has been shown to be key to the domestication of double flowers in ornamental species. Camellia japonica, a woody ornamental plant with diverse floral forms, serves as an important model for studying double-flower formation. In this study, we characterized two AP2-like transcription factors, CjAP2-1 and CjAP2-2, which possess evolutionarily conserved miR172-binding sites and exhibit broad expression across floral tissues. To investigate the role of the miR172–AP2 module in C. japonica, we identified four members of the miR172 family and demonstrated that miR172 is directly involved in the cleavage of CjAP2-1 and CjAP2-2 transcripts. Through bulked amplicon sequencing of cultivars with diverse floral forms, we uncovered natural variations at the miR172-binding sites of CjAP2-1 and CjAP2-2, which can potentially disrupt miR172-mediated mRNA cleavage. We showed that two dinucleotide mutations (CjAP2-1-mut5 and CjAP2-1-mut9) significantly reduced the miR172-mediated repression of CjAP2-1 transcripts. Functional analysis in Arabidopsis revealed that overexpression of the CjAP2-1-mut5 variant caused significant floral abnormalities, including ectopic formation of reproductive organs, loss of floral determinacy, and fusion of floral organs. Further analysis of downstream genes indicated that key regulators of floral homeotic and meristem activity were markedly altered in the transgenic plants. Our findings demonstrate that perturbations in the miR172–AP2 regulatory relationship underlie the formation of double flowers in C. japonica by altering floral meristem determinacy and organ identity. Full article

Background: Chenopodium formosanum Koidz. (djulis) is an indigenous cereal crop native to Taiwan, and its effects on patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) warrant exploration. The present study investigated whether the consumption of djulis can alleviate chronic colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in mice. Methods: Forty mice were randomly divided into five groups: blank group (B), control group (C), low-dose group (L), medium-dose group (M), and high-dose group (H). Body weight and disease activity index (DAI) were recorded throughout this study. Groups C, L, M, and H were administered 2% DSS water on days 1–5 and 10–15 to induce chronic colitis. Groups L, M, and H were administered 5%, 10%, and 15% djulis, respectively. Serum and colon samples were collected for further analysis. Results: The DAI scores of groups L, M, and H were significantly lower than those of group C (p < 0.05), and the DAI scores of group H on day 18 were significantly lower than those of group L (p < 0.05). Colon length analysis revealed that DSS intervention significantly shortened colon length in group C (p < 0.05), whereas mice consuming djulis (groups L, M, and H) exhibited a restoration of colon length, with the effect being most pronounced in group H. DSS significantly increased the secretion of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines in the serum, such as interleukin (IL)-1β (p < 0.05), and the expression of some pro-inflammatory proteins in the colon, such as the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) (p < 0.05); however, djulis reversed these effects (especially in group H). In addition, mice in group H exhibited beneficial gut microbiota. Conclusions: Djulis alleviated chronic colitis in mice by reducing inflammation and modulating the gut microbiota. Further research is required to confirm these potential benefits in humans and elucidate the mechanisms involved. Full article