Search Results (903)

The flower thrips, Frankliniella intonsa, is a major pest threatening citrus production. However, chemical control remains the primary management measure, which poses significant risks on ecosystems. Hence, it is urgent to prioritize more eco-friendly measures to efficiently control thrips. The ladybird, Cheilomenes sexmaculata, is a predominant natural enemy in the local citrus agroecosystem and could play a key role in suppressing thrips in agricultural landscapes. Although some ladybirds are known to be attracted to herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs), little is known about the specific attractive compounds and the effect of F. intonsa-infested lemon plants on the predatory response of C. sexmaculata. Here, we studied the chemical interaction between F. intonsa, C. sexmaculata, and lemon plants. In dual-choice behavioral assays, C. sexmaculata adults significantly preferred volatiles from F. intonsa-infested plants over those from healthy plants. Volatile collection and analysis identified six monoterpenes, five of which (α-pinene, β-pinene, sabinene, myrcene, and eucalyptol) individually attracted C. sexmaculata at specific concentrations. Moreover, a blend of these five compounds, formulated at their optimal attractive concentrations, elicited a stronger attraction in C. sexmaculata than individual compounds, indicating a synergistic interaction. This attractive blend can thus be used to develop a kairomone-based lure to enhance biological control and to complement existing integrated pest management approaches against thrips in lemon agroecosystems. Full article

Modern agriculture faces the critical need to develop sustainable, safe, and effective strategies for enhancing productivity, protecting plants and animals, and ensuring food security. Challenges posed by antibiotic resistance and the adverse environmental and consumer health impacts of chemical agents are driving the search for eco-friendly alternatives. In this context, bacteriocins—naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides synthesized by diverse bacteria—represent a promising alternative to traditional chemical compounds. This article reviews the potential and current advances in bacteriocin applications across agricultural sectors, with particular focus on their targeted antagonistic activity, structural diversity, commercial bacteriocin-based products, and their utilization in livestock farming, crop production, poultry farming, and aquaculture. Key findings demonstrate that bacteriocins, particularly nisin and pediocin PA-1, exhibit potent activity against major agricultural pathogens including Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens, and Escherichia coli, with efficacy rates reaching 90% in mastitis treatment and significantly reducing pathogen loads in poultry and aquaculture systems. Commercial products such as Nisaplin, Wipe Out, and ALTA 2431 have been successfully implemented in veterinary medicine and food production. In aquaculture, bacteriocins effectively control Lactococcus garvieae, Aeromonas spp., Vibrio spp., and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, contributing to sustainable disease management with minimal environmental impact. It can be suggested that bacteriocins may play an essential role in combating pathogens and offer viable alternatives to conventional antibiotics across primary food production systems, though optimization of production methods and regulatory frameworks remains essential for broader commercial adoption. Full article

Eutrophication is a major threat to freshwater ecosystems, leading to harmful algal blooms, biodiversity loss, and hypoxia. Excessive nutrient loading, primarily from nitrates and phosphates, is driven by fertilizer runoff, sewage discharge, and agricultural practices. Sediment microbial fuel cells (sMFCs) have emerged as a potential bioremediation strategy for nutrient removal while generating electricity. Although various studies have explored ways to enhance sMFC performance, limited research has examined the relationship between external resistance, electricity generation, and nutrient removal efficiency. This study demonstrated effective nutrient removal from overlying water, with 1200 Ω achieving the highest nitrate and phosphate removal efficiency at 59.0% and 32.2%, respectively. The impact of external resistances (510 Ω and 1200 Ω) on sMFC performance was evaluated, with the 1200 Ω configuration generating a maximum voltage of 466.7 mV and the 510 Ω configuration generating a maximum current of 0.56 mA. These findings show that external resistance plays a major role in both electrochemical performance and nutrient-removal efficiency. Higher external resistance consistently resulted in greater voltage output and improved removal of nitrate and phosphate. The findings also indicate that sMFCs can serve as a dual-purpose technology for nutrient removal and electricity generation. The power output may be sufficient to support small, eco-friendly biosensing devices in remote aquatic environments while mitigating eutrophication. Full article

Microbial fermentation is a key biotechnological tool for producing bioactive metabolites such as alkaloids, carotenoids, essential oils, and phenolic compounds, among others, with applications in human health, agriculture, and food industries. This review comprehensively reviews recent information on the synthesis of valuable compounds and enzymes through fermentation processes. Here, we discuss the advantages of the different types of fermentation, such as submerged and solid-state fermentation, in optimizing metabolite production by bacteria, fungi, and yeast. The role of microbial metabolism, enzymatic activity, and fermentation conditions in enhancing the bioavailability and functionality of these compounds is discussed. Integrating fermentation with emerging biotechnologies, including metabolic engineering, further enhances yields and specificity. The potential of microbial-derived bioactive compounds in developing functional foods, pharmaceuticals, and eco-friendly agricultural solutions positions fermentation as a pivotal strategy for future biotechnological advancements. Therefore, microbial fermentation is a sustainable tool to obtain high-quality metabolites from different sources that can be used in agriculture, animal, and human health. Full article

Postharvest losses caused by potato tuber moths severely impact storage in the Andean highlands, where reliance on synthetic insecticides poses sustainability and safety concerns. This study evaluated eco-friendly alternatives for protecting stored seed tubers of the widely adopted cultivar INIA 302 Amarilis in Cajamarca, Peru. In two storage facilities, a completely randomized block design compared four treatments: Bacillus thuringiensis plus talc (Bt-talc), talc, agricultural lime, and wood ash against an untreated control. Powders were applied at 50 g per 10 kg of tubers, and incidence, severity of damage, and live larvae were assessed over 150 days. Bt–talc consistently achieved the lowest damage. Incidence in Cochapampa was 16.8% ± 6.2 with Bt-talc, compared with 58.1% ± 3.9 in the control; in Sulluscocha, incidence was 25.5% ± 4.8 and 64.2% ± 3.0 for Bt-talc and the control, respectively. A similar pattern was observed for moth-damage severity in both localities. Live larvae per unit were also markedly lower with 1.3 ± 0.3 (Cochapampa) and 1.6 ± 0.6 (Sulluscocha) under Bt–talc. A single dusting with Bt–talc, or alternatively agricultural lime, offers effective, accessible, and sustainable control of potato tuber moths in high-Andean storage. Full article

Chromium (Cr) toxicity poses a significant challenge to agricultural productivity, human health, and food security. Biochar (BC) is a versatile amendment employed to alleviate Cr toxicity. Chromium stress impairs growth by inducing membrane damage and cellular oxidation, as well as inhibiting chlorophyll synthesis, photosynthetic efficiency, water uptake, and nutrient absorption. This review consolidates information on the mechanisms through which BC mitigates Cr stress. Biochar facilitates Cr immobilization by reduction, adsorption, precipitation, and complexation processes. It enhances growth by improving photosynthetic efficiency, water and nutrient uptake, osmolyte synthesis, and hormonal balance. Additionally, biochar promotes resilient bacterial communities that reduce Cr and enhance nutrient cycling. The effectiveness of BC is not universal and largely depends on its feedstock properties and pyrolysis temperature. This review provides insights into soil quality, plant function, and human health, which contribute to providing a comprehensive assessment of the capacity of BC to mitigate Cr toxicity. This review highlights that BC application can reduce Cr entry into the food chain, thus decreasing its health risk. This review also identifies knowledge gaps and outlines future research directions to increase the efficiency of BC in mitigating Cr toxicity. This review also offers insights into the development of eco-friendly measures to remediate Cr-polluted soils. Full article

The increasing contamination of agricultural soils with microplastics (MPs) represents an emerging environmental challenge. While conventional plastics such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE) persist for decades, biodegradable alternatives like polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) are promoted as eco-friendly solutions. However, their environmental safety for crop plants and soil microbiota remains poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated the effects of LDPE and PBAT microplastics (1% w/w) on the growth and physiological state of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivated in soil, either alone or in combination with the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and the plant-beneficial fungus Trichoderma citrinoviride. Growth parameters (root and shoot length and mass), germination index, chlorophyll content, antioxidant enzyme activity, and lipidomic profiles of wheat were assessed. PBAT stimulated biomass accumulation but simultaneously triggered oxidative stress and remodeled membrane phospholipids, indicating physiological disturbance. T. citrinoviride enhanced wheat growth and mitigated oxidative stress under non-contaminated conditions; however, its beneficial effect was generally suppressed in the presence of PBAT and/or 2,4-D. The results suggest that, despite its biodegradability, PBAT may pose a higher phytotoxic potential than conventional LDPE, particularly by altering oxidative balance and membrane lipid composition in wheat. Full article

To address challenges such as small target size, high density, severe occlusion, complex background interference, and edge device computational constraints, a lightweight model, GAFNet, is proposed based on YOLO11n, optimized for rice pest detection in field environments. To improve feature perception, we propose the Global Attention Fusion and Spatial Pyramid Pooling (GAM-SPP) module, which captures global context and aggregates multi-scale features. Building on this, we introduce the C3-Efficient Feature Selection Attention (C3-EFSA) module, which refines feature representation by combining depthwise separable convolutions (DWConv) with lightweight channel attention to enhance background discrimination. The model’s detection head, Enhanced Ghost Detect (EGDetect), integrates Enhanced Ghost Convolution (EGConv), Squeeze-and-Excitation (SE), and Sigmoid-Weighted Linear Unit (SiLU) activation, which reduces redundancy. Additionally, we propose the Focal-Enhanced Complete-IoU (FECIoU) loss function, incorporating stability and hard-sample weighting for improved localization. Compared to YOLO11n, GAFNet improves Precision, Recall, and mean Average Precision (mAP) by 3.5%, 4.2%, and 1.6%, respectively, while reducing parameters and computation by 5% and 21%. GAFNet can deploy on edge devices, providing farmers with instant pest alerts. Further, GAFNet is evaluated on the AgroPest-12 dataset, demonstrating enhanced generalization and robustness across diverse pest detection scenarios. Overall, GAFNet provides an efficient, reliable, and sustainable solution for early pest detection, precision pesticide application, and eco-friendly pest control, advancing the future of smart agriculture. Full article

Slugs are significant agricultural pests and act as vectors for zoonotic parasites. However, current molluscicide options are limited and associated with substantial environmental risks. This study investigates the role of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) in the biosynthesis of farnesoic acid (FA), a key intermediate in the sesquiterpenoid hormone pathway, in two slug species: Philomycus bilineatus and Laevicaulis alte. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that both species possess conserved sesquiterpenoid biosynthetic pathways, yet they exhibit distinct levels of ALDH gene expression and differences in FA content. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated gene silencing was employed to validate the potential of these candidate genes as targets for molluscicide development. Structural modeling of ALDH proteins using AlphaFold2 demonstrated notable divergence in the architecture of their active sites, suggesting species-specific enzymatic properties. Citral, a known inhibitor of ALDH, significantly reduced FA production in vivo and exhibited contact toxicity against both slug species. The lethal concentration 50 (LC₅₀) values were determined to be 378.2 g/L for P. bilineatus and 85.2 g/L for L. alte, respectively. Molecular docking analyses indicated that citral binds within the conserved substrate-binding tunnel of ALDH, potentially inhibiting the oxidation of farnesal. These findings establish ALDH as a critical enzymatic target for disrupting endogenous hormone biosynthesis in slugs and support the development of novel, eco-friendly molluscicides targeting the sesquiterpenoid pathway. Full article

Phytopathogenic fungi that affect postharvest are a serious problem for agriculture, so this research explores the antifungal potential of three different “rosemary” species growing in Chile through in vitro and in silico assays. The analysis of essential oils (GC/MS) reveals the dominant constituents of Salvia rosmarinus (camphor: 66.96%), Baccharis linearis (lachnophyllum ester: 88.62%) and Fabiana imbricata (an oxygenated sesquiterpene: 43.66%) and shows profiles that differ from chemotypes of the same species from other areas of the world. B. linearis oil was shown to be a versatile antifungal substance, inhibiting Botrytis cinerea and Monilinia fructicola at moderate concentrations; F. imbricata oil stood out as a major inhibitor of mycelial growth of the same isolate of M. fructicola used to test B. linearis oil (EC₅₀ of 15.86 + 0.67 µg/mL) and completely inhibited of its conidial germination. In silico assays confirmed the complexity of interactions of F. imbricata sequiterpenoids with catalytic sites of succinate dehydrogenase and catalase 2, key enzymes in mycelial growth and in maintaining redox homeostasis in the early development of M. fructicola, respectively. The results of this research make F. imbricata a good candidate for the development of a formulation applicable in vivo as an eco-friendly post-harvest antifungal agent. Full article

Plant byproducts represent a valuable and underutilized source of bioactive compounds. Among these, phenolic compounds have attracted growing interest from the agricultural, cosmetic, and food industries due to their diverse biological activities. These naturally occurring compounds are derived from various plant species, and they exhibit strong antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties. Their yield, as well as quality and bioavailability, has improved with more recent advancements within green extraction, as well as purification and characterization techniques. Several phenolic compounds exhibit strong antiviral and antioxidant activities, which are highlighting their value as bioactive compounds. It is essential to evaluate extraction methods for high-yield phenolic compounds from plant byproducts so that they can contribute to the circular bioeconomy, reduction in environmental waste, and development of biomedical and food industrial applications. Their physicochemical characteristics and potential applications may lead to a determination by contributing to promising fields through expanded in vitro, in vivo, and in silico experiments. This review summarizes current research on the extraction, recovery, and applications of phenolic compounds derived from plant byproducts, providing new insights into their sustainable utilization and bioactive potential. Full article

Geopolymers are a new breed of construction materials that are environmentally friendly and replace old Portland cement. These materials are produced through the alkaline activation of industrial and agricultural waste rich in aluminosilicates. The growing interest in sustainable building solutions has driven research into their development. Palm oil fuel ash (POFA) and waste ceramic tile powder (WTCP) are both highly rich in reactive aluminosilicates and widely recommended for the production of sustainable geopolymers. This study aims to evaluate the suitability of POFA and WTCP as sustainable alternatives to conventional binders and to identify the potential advantages of each waste material in developing eco-friendly, high-performance geopolymers. The results indicate that specimens prepared with a high content (50 wt%) of POFA or WTCP, incorporating fly ash and slag, can achieve compressive strengths of up to 50 MPa after 28 days of curing. However, increasing the proportion of POFA or WTCP from 50% to 60% and 70% resulted in a significant reduction in compressive strength. In contrast, specimens containing higher proportions of POFA and WTCP demonstrated superior durability when exposed to aggressive environments. In summary, the findings indicate that WTCP is more suitable than POFA for producing geopolymers as eco-friendly construction materials. Its superior reactivity, workability, early-age strength development, and durability make it a promising precursor for sustainable applications in the construction sector. Full article

The infestation of Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P.Beauv. in crop fields results in significant yield loss in many agricultural systems. Currently, the most effective strategy for controlling E. crus-galli is the application of synthetic herbicides. However, biotypes of E. crus-galli that are resistant to different modes of herbicide action often emerge. Thus, it is necessary to develop alternative control methods and address ecological concerns about synthetic herbicides. During the field survey, we observed diseased E. crus-galli exhibiting symptoms of leaf blight. These symptoms indicate a potential pathogen infection and subsequent phytotoxin production during the pathogenesis. Therefore, we aimed to isolate and identify the phytotoxic substances present in the diseased leaves. Aqueous extracts of the diseased leaves exhibited phytotoxicity, suppressing the growth of Echinochloa crus-galli seedlings in a concentration-dependent manner. A phytotoxic substance was isolated from the leaf extracts through a bioassay-guided separation process using the E. crus-galli bioassay. Spectrum analysis revealed that the phytotoxic substance was monocerin. Monocerin inhibited the growth of coleoptiles and roots of E. crus-galli seedlings at concentrations greater than 30 and 10 μM, respectively, and inhibited germination at concentrations greater than 100 μM. Therefore, monocerin may be involved in the phytotoxic activity exhibited by the extracts of E. crus-galli leaves with blight symptoms. Creating bioherbicides based on the monocerin structure could be an environmentally friendly approach to weed management. Full article

Biostimulants are increasingly recognized in modern agriculture as eco-friendly inputs that enhance plant growth, improve stress tolerance, and promote product quality. This study investigated the effects of fulvic acid, amino acids, and chitosan on the growth, yield, and nutritional quality of parsley grown under hydroponic greenhouse conditions. The research was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, different doses of fulvic acid (80–120 ppm), amino acids (40–80 ppm), and chitosan (0.3–0.6 mL L⁻¹) were evaluated. In the second stage, the most effective treatments were tested in combination. The results showed that all biostimulants positively influenced plant growth, productivity, and nutritional parameters. In the first experiment, the highest total yield was obtained with chitosan at 0.3 mL L⁻¹ (2068 g m⁻²; +30.1%). The greatest increase in total phenolic content was observed with AA 40 (391.1 mg GA 100 g⁻¹ FW; +64%), while the strongest nitrate reduction occurred with FA 120, reducing nitrate levels from 1048 to 405 mg kg⁻¹ (−61%). In the second experiment, the FA 80 + C 0.3 combination was the most effective treatment, increasing total yield from 493 to 856 g m⁻² (+73.7%) and reducing nitrate content from 937 to 460 mg kg⁻¹ (−50.9%). These findings suggest that fulvic acid and chitosan, applied individually and particularly in combination, may serve as effective biostimulant strategies for improving yield and nutritional quality while reducing nitrate accumulation in hydroponically grown parsley. Full article

Converting agricultural solid waste into porous biochar for HCHO adsorption is considered as a “two birds with one stone” strategy, which can achieve the environmental goal of “treating waste with waste”. Unfortunately, the HCHO adsorption performance of pristine biochar is generally unsatisfactory, which is derived from its poor surface activity and insufficient number of pores. In this study, a series of nitrogen-doped porous biochars with adjustable N-containing groups and porosity were synthesized by one-step pyrolysis of melamine and waste jujube pit in different mass ratios (NBC-x, x represented the mass ratio of melamine to waste jujube pit, x = 4–12) for HCHO adsorption. The HCHO adsorption tests indicated that the insertion of nitrogen-containing species improved the adsorption capacity of pristine biochar (BC). However, after the insertion of excessive nitrogen-containing species, the porosity of the samples significantly decreased due to the blockage of pores, which could be disadvantageous for HCHO adsorption. DFT calculation results showed that N doping (especially pyrrolic-N) significantly increased the maxima of absolute ESP values of the carbonaceous models and consequently enhanced the affinity between polar HCHO and carbonaceous models (varied from −20.65 kJ/mol to −33.26 kJ/mol). Thus, the NBC-8 possessing both substantial nitrogen content (19.81 wt. %) and developed porosity (specific surface area of 223 m²/g) exhibited the highest HCHO uptake of 6.30 mg/g. This was approximately 6.4 times larger than that of BC. This work not only deepens the understanding of the HCHO adsorption mechanism at molecular scale, but also concurrently offers a facile and eco-friendly route of N-doped porous biochar preparation, an efficient technology with high-value utilization of waste biomass resources, and a sustainable method of pollution remediation. Full article