Search Results (73)

Glyphosate (GLYP) is an effective and low-cost broad-spectrum herbicide. However, this herbicide and its primary degradation product, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), have been linked with adverse human health effects. The global use of glyphosate has significantly increased in recent years, resulting in more direct and indirect human exposure. In this context, GLYP and AMPA are often detected in fresh and processed foods for adults and infants, as well as in drinking water worldwide. Diverse extraction and quantification methods for GLYP and AMPA from foods have been developed. Solid-phase extraction and QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) are the most frequently employed cleanup strategies, while LC-MS/MS is one of the most sensitive and selective techniques for detecting GLYP and AMPA in food products. Although most studies show that GLYP and AMPA concentrations in foods remain within established maximum residue limits, occasionally they exceed legal limits. Thus, the widespread presence of GLYP and AMPA in foodstuffs is a public concern that may lead to consumers exceeding the acceptable daily intake due to prolonged dietary exposure, even if levels remain within thresholds. Therefore, this review explores the different approaches and techniques used in the extraction, detection, and quantification of GLYP and AMPA in foods. Full article

The effects of wound healing on crop stand and productivity were examined on the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars Alturas (Alt), Russet Burbank (RB), and Clearwater Russet (CW). Tuber yields increased linearly with an advancing wound healing period irrespective of the cultivar (R² = 0.91). In contrast to unhealed controls, RB and CW wound-healed for 8 days produced a 6% and 8% greater yield, respectively, while a shorter wound healing period of 2 days increased Alt yield by 7%. Increases in tuber yield, a consequence of enhanced specific tuber weight across wound healing periods, contributed towards increased relative crop value in Alt (13%), RB (22%), and CW (19%). In further lab evaluations, Alt exhibited increased desiccation resistance and was associated with an earlier induction (24 h post-wounding) of feruloyl transferase (FHT) compared to CW and RB. Since FHT facilitates suberin and wax development, delayed FHT induction likely promoted fresh-weight loss in CW and RB compared to Alt. Enzymatic evaluations to assess the production of reactive oxygen species to protect fresh-cut seed found that RB had the highest activities of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase. This study demonstrates the broad benefits of planting wound-healed seed while highlighting opportunities to improve best practices and genetic improvement for wound healing response. Full article

Grapevine root distribution and density influence mineral and water absorption and are affected by soil management and the use of cover crops. This study, conducted in a ten-year-old commercial Mediterranean vineyard with desiccant-managed inter-rows, compares the effects of three different soil management practices—minimum tillage (MT), spontaneous natural covering (NC), and a commercial grass mixture (GM)—on root development in Montepulciano vines grafted onto Kober 5BB rootstocks. Root length, diameter, and weight across different soil layers were analyzed by digging trenches. The results show that thin roots, primarily responsible for water and nutrient absorption, ensure greater soil volume exploration, while medium-to-large roots contribute mainly to root biomass. The presence of cover crops reduces root development in the upper soil layers due to competition with herbaceous species; however, this promotes deeper root exploration and increases the total root length per plant. In the deeper soil layers, root growth is limited by higher soil compaction. Tillage enhances the development of medium-to-large roots and increases the total root biomass per plant. In conclusion, soil management influences vine root development, and competition from cover crops stimulates the growth of absorbing roots in deeper soil layers. Full article

Plant abiotic stresses are the main cause of significant crop losses worldwide. The moss Pseudocrossidium replicatum is highly tolerant to different types of abiotic stress, such as desiccation. Our group is interested in identifying and characterising differentially expressed genes in response to abiotic stress in this species. However, a collection of validated reference genes for RT-qPCR analysis is essential to normalise the expression of genes in response to the conditions of interest. Here, we assessed 13 candidate reference genes for P. replicatum based on their expression stability across transcriptomes from six abiotic stress-related conditions using the RefFinder, BestKeeper, geNorm, and NormFinder programs. The stability and reliability of the proposed reference genes were evaluated under six experimental conditions: control, dehydration, rehydration, abscisic acid (ABA), NaCl, and sorbitol. Interestingly, most proposed reference genes exhibited high stability (low M values) across all analysed abiotic stress conditions. A pairwise variation analysis indicated that only one pair is necessary to normalise RT-qPCR experiments. Each gene was confirmed to normalise the expression of both upregulated and downregulated genes. This represents the first report of validated reference genes for RT-qPCR gene expression studies under abiotic stress in the protonemal tissue of a fully desiccation-tolerant moss. Full article

Nostoc flagelliforme, a filamentous cyanobacterium inhabiting desert biological soil crusts (BSCs), has developed exceptional strategies to endure extreme environmental stresses, including severe desiccation, intense ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and drastic temperature fluctuations. These organisms must effectively sense and predict environmental changes, particularly the onset of desiccation. This review explores recent advancements in the molecular mechanisms that enable N. flagelliforme to survive under such harsh conditions, with a focus on stress signal sensing, transduction pathways, and photosynthetic adjustments. Key molecular adaptations include the production of extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) sheaths for water retention, the accumulation of compatible solutes like trehalose, and the synthesis of UV-absorbing compounds such as scytonemin and mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs). Furthermore, N. flagelliforme utilizes a complex signal transduction network, including light-sensing pathways, to regulate responses to rehydration and desiccation cycles. This review emphasizes the integrative nature of N. flagelliforme’s adaptive mechanisms and highlights their potential for biotechnological applications, such as enhancing drought tolerance in crops and advancing ecological restoration in arid regions. Full article

Rosa rugosa is an excellent aromatic plant species valued for both essential oil extraction and ornamental applications. This study aimed to evaluate its adaptive responses, bioaccumulation capacity, and production quality under cadmium (Cd) stress, providing insights for phytoremediation and sustainable agriculture. A controlled pot experiment was conducted using two cultivars (R. rugosa ‘Zizhi’ and its bud mutation R. rugosa ‘Baizizhi’) subjected to various Cd treatments. Growth parameters and physiological indices, such as antioxidant enzyme activities, chlorophyll content, photosynthesis rates, and floral volatile organic compounds, were systematically analyzed. Cd concentrations ranging from 5 to 50 mg·kg⁻¹ maintained plant growth, but significantly elevated antioxidant activities (SOD + 65.94–300.53%, POD + 37.58–75.06%, CAT + 12.48–12.62%) and chlorophyll content (+20.27–242.79%). In contrast, 400 mg·kg⁻¹ Cd severely inhibited growth, inducing chlorosis and leaf desiccation. Total floral volatiles showed a hormetic response, peaking at 200 mg·kg⁻¹ (+46.08%). Sesquiterpenoids showed greater Cd-responsiveness than monoterpenoids, though core aromatic profiles remained stable. The species exhibited root bioconcentration BAF > 0.1 and limited translocation TF < 1, indicating phytostabilization potential. Despite tolerance up to 400 mg·kg⁻¹, field application is recommended below 50 mg·kg⁻¹—a threshold exceeding China’s soil Cd limits (GB 15618-2018). These findings position it as a dual-purpose crop for ecological restoration and fragrance production in Cd-impacted areas. Full article

The coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), a valuable tropical crop, is rapidly declining in genetic diversity due to natural disasters, pest and disease attack, and land clearing for other crops. Seed banking is impractical for coconut conservation due to its large, recalcitrant seed, and maintaining field gene bank collections is costly and vulnerable to environmental pressures. Cryopreservation offers a promising alternative method for conserving coconut genetic diversity, but the success in recovering cryopreserved materials remains limited, with few studies consistently reporting high rates of recovery. This highlights the need for improved cryopreservation protocols, particularly in tissue dehydration, which is one of the critical steps in the process of cryopreservation and plant recovery. A desiccator was developed that enabled rapid embryo dehydration with ultra-dry airflow. The desiccator reduced embryo moisture content to 20% (the predetermined viability threshold) within 6 h representing a 2-h improvement when compared to a previous dehydration approach, while maintaining a high germination rate (71%). Smaller embryos (500 to 550 mg fresh weight) desiccated faster than larger embryos (800 to 900 mg fresh weight) but germination was reduced (30%), making small embryos unsuitable for cryopreservation. A 5-day sucrose (0.4 M) pre-treatment further reduced the dehydration time to 4 h, while maintaining a high germination rate (70%). These advances in the use of a sucrose pre-treatment, the rapid embryo dehydration, and selection of large embryos size will help to enhance the success of coconut embryo cryopreservation and recovery. Full article

Resurrection plants employ unique metabolic mechanisms to protect themselves against damage caused by desiccation. This study aimed to identify metabolites, using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, which were differentially abundant in Eragrostis nindensis at different stages of dehydration and rehydration in leaves which are destined to senesce on desiccation termed “senescent tissue” (ST) and those which remain desiccation-tolerant during water deficit and are termed “non-senescent tissue” (NST). Furthermore, the study compared the shoot and root systems during extreme water deficit and recovery therefrom to unravel similarities and differences at the whole plant level in overcoming desiccation. Shoot metabolomics data showed differentially abundant metabolites in NST, including raffinose, sucrose, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, proline, alpha-ketoglutaric acid, and allantoin, which act as major drivers for plant desiccation tolerance and aid the plant post-rehydration. The metabolites which accumulated in the ST-indicated initiation of programmed cell death (PCD) leading to senescence. The roots accumulated fewer metabolites than the shoots, some exclusive to the root tissues with functions such as osmoprotection, reactive oxygen species quenching, and signaling, and thus proposed to minimize damage in leaf tissues during dehydration and desiccation. Collectively, this work gives further insight into the whole plant responses of E. nindensis to extreme dehydration conditions and could serve as a model for future improvements of drought sensitive crops. Full article

Germinated whole seeds possess elevated levels of bioactive nutrients; however, their application is hindered by several constraints. The germination process is typically time-consuming, and germinated seeds present challenges in terms of storage and transportation compared to dry seeds. This study introduces a novel processing method for rice, termed prolonged priming (PLP), aiming to combine the benefits of germinated and dry seeds. PLP involves soaking the seeds until the embryo exposure stage, followed by redrying. At 10 h (hour) germination post PLP, the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in Hanyou73 (HY73) and IRAT exceeded 20 mg/100 g. Additionally, there was an induction of various nutrient components, including an increase in protein content, a reduction in amylose levels, and an elevation in fatty acid content, among others. Malondialdehyde levels, indicating oxidative damage, remained stable, and PLP preserved better seed integrity compared to routine priming in the desiccation-tolerant HY73. Collectively, the PLP treatment demonstrates an optimization of the nutritional value and storage in germinated brown rice (GBR). This novel process holds potential for enhancing the nutritional profile of GBR and may be applicable to other crop species. Full article

Olive tree orchards are suffering from wildfires in many Mediterranean countries. Following a wildfire event, identifying damaged olive trees is crucial for developing effective management and restoration strategies, while rapid damage assessment can support potential compensation for producers. Moreover, the implementation of real-time health monitoring in olive groves allows producers to carry out targeted interventions, reducing production losses and preserving crop health. This research examines the use of deep learning methodologies in true-color images from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to detect damaged trees, including withering and desiccation of branches and leaf scorching. More specifically, the object detection and image classification computer vision techniques area applied and compared. In the object detection approach, the algorithm aims to localize and identify burned/dry and unburned/healthy olive trees, while in the image classification approach, the classifier categorizes an image showing a tree as burned/dry or unburned/healthy. Training data included true color UAV images of olive trees damaged by fire obtained by multiple cameras and multiple flight heights, resulting in various resolutions. For object detection, the Residual Neural Network was used as a backbone in an object detection approach with a Single-Shot Detector. In the image classification application, two approaches were evaluated. In the first approach, a new shallow network was developed, while in the second approach, transfer learning from pre-trained networks was applied. According to the results, the object detection approach managed to identify healthy trees with an average accuracy of 74%, while for trees with drying, the average accuracy was 69%. However, the optimal network identified olive trees (healthy or unhealthy) that the user did not detect during data collection. In the image classification approach, the application of convolutional neural networks achieved significantly better results with an F1-score above 0.94, either in the new network training approach or by applying transfer learning. In conclusion, the use of computer vision techniques in UAV images identified damaged olive trees, while the image classification approach performed significantly better than object detection. Full article

Modern agriculture faces the challenge of increasing production without expanding cultivated areas, promoting sustainable practices that ensure food security and environmental preservation. Integrated crop–livestock systems (ICLSs) stand out as an effective strategy, diversifying and intensifying agricultural production in a sustainable manner, ensuring adequate soil cover, and improving nutrient cycling efficiency. Thus, this study aimed to explore and compare integrated crop–livestock systems with Zuri guinea grass (Panicum maximum cv. BRS Zuri) and Quênia guinea grass (Panicum maximum cv. BRS Quênia) against the conventional soybean/maize succession method in a tropical region, and how these systems affect biomass decomposition, C:N ratio, nutrient cycling, and fertilizer equivalents. A field experiment was conducted in two phases: the first in the second-crop season and the second in the main season, using a randomized block design with four replicates. The treatments consisted of two ICLS systems, one with Zuri and Quênia guinea grasses established after soybean, and a succession system with maize established after soybean. The results indicated that Quênia guinea grass showed greater desiccation efficiency, with an injury rate of 86.5% at 21 days, 8.5% higher compared to Zuri guinea grass. In terms of biomass, Zuri and Quênia guinea grasses had average productions of 7021.1 kg ha⁻¹, which was 43.25% higher compared to maize biomass. The biomass decomposition of the grasses was faster due to their lower C:N ratio, resulting in greater nutrient release into the soil. Both forage grasses (Zuri and Quênia guinea grasses) are suitable for integrated crop–livestock systems, as they showed similar biomass production and nutrient accumulation. Soybean yield was not influenced by the different cropping systems, showing similar results between the biomass of Zuri and Quênia guinea grasses and maize. However, grass biomass enriches the soil more through the return of fertilizer equivalents, which in future studies could be considered for the reduction of mineral fertilizers, ensuring greater sustainability of agricultural systems. Full article

Soil salinization typically exerts a highly negative influence on soil productivity, crop yields, and ecosystem balance. As a typical region afflicted by soil salinization, the soda saline–alkali soils in the Songnen Plain of China demonstrate a clear cracking phenomena. Nevertheless, the overall spectral response to the cracked soil surface has scarcely been studied. This study intends to study the impact of salt parameters on the soil cracking process and enhance the spectral measurement method used for cracked salt-affected soil. To accomplish this goal, a controlled desiccation cracking experiment was carried out on saline soil samples. A gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) was calculated for the contrast (CON) texture feature to measure the extent of cracking in the dried soil samples. Additionally, spectroscopy measurements were conducted under different surface conditions. Principal component analysis (PCA) was subsequently performed to downscale the spectral data for band integration. Subsequently, the prediction accuracy of back-propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN) models developed from the principal components of spectral reflectance was compared for different salt parameters. The results reveal that salt content is the dominant factor determining the cracking process in salt-affected soils, and that cracked soil samples had the highest model prediction accuracy for different salt parameters rather than uncracked blocks and 2 mm comparison soil samples. Furthermore, BP-ANN prediction models combining spectral response and CON were further developed, which can significantly enhance the prediction accuracy of different salt parameters with R² values of 0.93, 0.91, and 0.74 and a ratio of prediction deviation (RPD) of 3.68, 3.26, and 1.72 for soil salinity, electrical conductivity (EC), and pH, respectively. These findings provide valuable insights into the cracking mechanism in salt-affected soils, thereby advancing the field of hyperspectral remote sensing for monitoring soil salinization. Furthermore, this study also aids in enhancing the design of spectral measurements for saline–alkali soils and is also helpful for local soil remediation with supporting data. Full article

Salinity causes widespread crop loss and prompts plants to adapt through changes in gene expression. In this study, we aimed to investigate the function of the non-tandem CCCH zinc-finger (non-TZF) protein gene AtC3H3 in response to salt stress in Arabidopsis. AtC3H3, a gene from the non-TZF gene family known for its RNA-binding and RNase activities, was up-regulated under osmotic stress, such as high salt and drought. When overexpressed in Arabidopsis, AtC3H3 improved tolerance to salt stress, but not drought stress. The expression of well-known abscisic acid (ABA)-dependent salt stress-responsive genes, namely Responsive to Desiccation 29B (RD29B), RD22, and Responsive to ABA 18 (RAB18), and representative ABA-independent salt stress-responsive genes, namely Dehydration-Responsive Element Binding protein 2A (DREB2A) and DREB2B, was significantly higher in AtC3H3-overexpressing transgenic plants (AtC3H3 OXs) than in wild-type plants (WT) under NaCl treatment, indicating its significance in both ABA-dependent and -independent signal transduction pathways. mRNA-sequencing (mRNA-Seq) analysis using NaCl-treated WT and AtC3H3 OXs revealed no potential target mRNAs for the RNase function of AtC3H3, suggesting that the potential targets of AtC3H3 might be noncoding RNAs and not mRNAs. Through this study, we conclusively demonstrated that AtC3H3 plays a crucial role in salt stress tolerance by influencing the expression of salt stress-responsive genes. These findings offer new insights into plant stress response mechanisms and suggest potential strategies for improving crop resilience to salinity stress. Full article

The genus Selaginella holds a key phylogenetic position as a sister species to vascular plants, encompassing desiccation-tolerant members. Some Selaginella species thrive in extremely arid conditions, enduring significant water loss and recovering upon rehydration. Consequently, Selaginella has emerged as a model system for studying desiccation tolerance in plant science. However, the absence of an efficient genetic transformation system has limited the utility of Selaginella species as a model. To address this constraint, we developed a nanoparticle-mediated transformation tool utilizing arginine-functionalized nanohydroxyapatites. This biocompatible system enabled the transient expression of the GFP, GUS, and eYGFPuv reporter genes in Selaginella moellendorffii. Establishing a stable genetic transformation technique for S. moellendorffii holds promise for application to other Selaginella species. This tool could be instrumental in identifying genetic resources for crop improvement and understanding genome-level regulatory mechanisms governing desiccation tolerance in Selaginella species. Furthermore, this tool might aid in identifying key regulatory genes associated with desiccation tolerance, offering potential applications in enhancing drought-sensitive crops and ensuring sustainable food production. Full article

Wheat is one of the most important food crops globally, and understanding the regulation of grain size is crucial for wheat breeding to achieve a higher grain yield. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play vital roles in plant growth and development. However, the miRNA-mediated mechanism underlying grain size regulation remains largely elusive in wheat. Here, we report the characterization and functional validation of a miRNA, TamiR397a, associated with grain size regulation in wheat. The function of three TaMIR397 homoeologs was determined through histochemical β-glucuronidase-dependent assay. MiRNA expression was detected using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and the function of TamiR397a was validated through its transgenic overexpression and repression in wheat. It was found that TaMIR397-6A and TaMIR397-6B encode active TamiR397a. The expression profiling indicated that TamiR397a was differentially expressed in various tissues and gradually up-regulated during grain filling. The inhibition of TamiR397a perturbed grain development, leading to a decrease in grain size and weight. Conversely, the overexpression of TamiR397a resulted in increased grain size and weight by accelerating the grain filling process. Transcriptome analysis revealed that TamiR397a regulates a set of genes involved in hormone response, desiccation tolerance, regulation of cellular senescence, seed dormancy, and seed maturation biological processes, which are important for grain development. Among the down-regulated genes in the grains of the TamiR397a-overexpressing transgenic plants, 11 putative targets of the miRNA were identified. Taken together, our results demonstrate that TamiR397a is a positive regulator of grain size and weight, offering potential targets for breeding wheat with an increased grain yield. Full article