Search Results (875)

Fermented foods are produced through controlled microbial activity and are valued for their extended shelf life, sensory attributes, and potential health benefits. This study examined the effects of production methods on microbial ecology by comparing microbial community structure, Shannon diversity, and pH changes in traditional and commercially produced Korean fermented foods. Cabbage and radish kimchi were fermented for four weeks to assess microbial succession and physicochemical changes, and additional fermented foods, including soy sauce, soybean paste, pepper paste, fruit vinegar, yogurt, and aged kimchi, were compared according to production method. Microbial communities were analyzed using amplicon sequencing targeting the V3–V4 regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and the fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Traditionally produced cabbage kimchi exhibited high microbial diversity at the early fermentation stage, initially dominated by Weissella and Leuconostoc, followed by a gradual shift toward lactic acid bacteria dominance at later stages. In contrast, commercially produced cabbage kimchi maintained a simplified microbial community dominated by a limited number of lactic acid bacteria throughout fermentation. Radish kimchi showed production-method-dependent patterns, with the rapid dominance of lactic acid bacteria during traditional fermentation and partial recovery of microbial diversity during commercial fermentation. Shannon diversity was consistently higher in traditionally produced kimchi during fermentation. In contrast, commercially produced kimchi exhibited more rapid acidification. Across other fermented foods, traditionally produced soy-based products exhibited complex microbial communities dominated by Bacillus spp., whereas commercially produced products were characterized by yeast-dominant profiles. Fruit vinegar and yogurt showed low microbial diversity regardless of the production method. These findings demonstrate the importance of production strategies in shaping microbial ecology, fermentation dynamics, and resulting product characteristics across various Korean fermented foods. Full article

The extensive diversification of flower shape and organs underpins the adaptive success of angiosperms. Despite substantial knowledge of the molecular mechanisms controlling flower induction and development, few studies have quantified the variability in floral traits within species or explored their correlation with other reproductive traits. In cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), human selection has driven fruit diversification in terms of size and shape. In the present study, 48 landraces representing tomato diversity in reproduction-related characteristics were phenotyped for 18 flower structural or dimensional traits. Flower traits exhibited lower coefficients of variation compared to other reproductive traits, though organ numbers showed high heritability values. Flower organ number and size were tightly correlated, but the correlation between dimensional traits was weaker. This likely reflects the selective pressures on pistil traits during domestication, including specific mutations affecting carpel number and ovary morphology. While ovary and fruit size were positively correlated, no relationship was found between ovule and seed size, suggesting that genes related to seed size generally act after fruit set. The collection was genotyped at the Fasciated (Fas) locus, and 13 floral traits were significantly different in fas mutants. The phenotypic variability described in this study could help breeders select for more fertile flowers and assist reproductive biologists in linking genes to flower development. Full article

This paper presents the design of a high-efficiency apple harvesting robot based on a hybrid pneumatic-electric drive system, capable of operating around the clock. The robotic system comprises a mobile platform with two degrees of freedom (DOF) and a five-DOF PRRRP manipulator for fruit picking. To meet the harvesting requirements, a spoon-shaped end-effector with pneumatic control was developed, enabling precise manipulator control and flexible grasping. The robot’s vision system integrates machine vision and deep neural network approaches. Additionally, an industrial computer and AC servo drivers were employed to control the manipulator and end-effector. An integrated nighttime illumination system allowed for all-weather operation. Initial experiments were conducted in a controlled laboratory. Subsequently, comprehensive identification and harvesting tests were performed in both laboratory and field environments to validate system robustness. Experimental results validated the effectiveness of the proposed system, demonstrating an apple harvesting success rate of 81% and an average harvesting time of 7.81 s per apple. The system achieved a fruit damage rate of less than 5% during field experiments, demonstrating its potential for gentle handling. The primary innovation of this work lies in its hybrid drive architecture and adaptive vision strategy, which together offer a cost-effective and robust solution for all-weather automated harvesting, addressing key limitations of high cost and environmental sensitivity in existing robotic harvesters. Full article

Morus macroura ‘Panzhihua No. 1’ is a dual-purpose cultivar valued for its edible leaves and fruits. Derived from an ancient mulberry tree, it is a unique local germplasm resource. During asexual propagation, M. macroura exhibits sexual variation closely associated with fruit and leaf yield. To explore the molecular mechanisms of sexual dimorphism and its effects on nutritional traits, we integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of male and female inflorescences and leaves. Key sex-biased genes were enriched in plant hormone signaling, flavonoid biosynthesis, and carbohydrate metabolism pathways. Female plants had elevated expression of ethylene-responsive transcription factor 1 (ERF1), EIN3-binding F-box proteins (EBF1/2), and Chalcone synthase (CHS) genes and higher levels of bioactive flavonoids, including isoquercitrin and kaempferol derivatives. In contrast, male plants had increased expression of gibberellin 20-oxidase (GA20ox) and DELLA genes and accumulated glycosides, which are beneficial for leaf development. These findings reveal how sex-linked metabolic networks shape mulberry tissue functional profiles, providing molecular targets for breeding. Full article

Brassinosteroids are recognized regulators of anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin biosynthesis in grapevine; however, their spatiotemporal effects remain insufficiently characterized. This study examined the stage-specific impacts of exogenous 24-epibrassinolide and brassinazole on these phenolic compounds in Cabernet Sauvignon. Treatments were applied at fruit set and veraison, with skin and seed tissues collected across six developmental stages. Berry ripening and quality parameters were evaluated, and phenolic profiles were quantified via HPLC. The results revealed that both 24-epibrassinolide and brassinazole significantly influenced grape maturation and phenolic biosynthesis in a timing-dependent manner. Specifically, 24-epibrassinolide application at fruit set increased the content of proanthocyanidins and trihydroxylated subunits, as well as the galloylation percentage, in both skins and seeds, while also altering their composition and subunit architecture. In contrast, veraison-stage treatment reduced these parameters in seeds but promoted them in skins, highlighting a tissue-specific response within the same developmental window. Moreover, compared with fruit-set treatment, 24-epibrassinolide application at veraison more significantly enhanced total anthocyanin content in skins, predominantly through the accumulation of specific monomeric forms. Together, based on two consecutive growing seasons (2022–2023) in Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon, these findings demonstrate that brassinosteroid regulation of anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin biosynthesis in grape berries depends not only on the tissue but also on the phenological stage of application. In conclusion, this study reveals distinct spatiotemporal patterns in the regulation of phenolic biosynthesis by 24-epibrassinolide in grapevine, providing new insights into the hormone-mediated modulation of secondary metabolism and suggesting a potential agronomic strategy for precisely shaping the phenolic profile of wine grapes through stage-targeted brassinosteroid application. Full article

This paper investigates the hypothesis that it is particularly in the field of symbolic interpretation that, in Ricoeur, the intertwining of philosophical reason and religious faith remains strong and proves fruitful without one discourse cancelling out the other. The interest in Ricoeur’s hermeneutics of symbols is reinforced by the fact that it seems to be a privileged field for evaluating the productivity of philosophical work in the service of religion and religious work for the benefit of philosophy. Moreover, his research gives shape to a specific philosophy of the symbol and of symbolic creativity, which finds its deepest and most meaningful expression precisely in the field of the hermeneutics of revelation. Full article

Fruit ripening involves coordinated metabolic and molecular changes that shape quality traits, yet tissue-specific regulation in Selenicereus megalanthus remains unclear. Fruit development in S. megalanthus was investigated through an integrated analysis of pulp and peel across five developmental stages to elucidate tissue-specific metabolic and molecular regulatory dynamics. Proteomic profiling combined with targeted metabolomic analyses of sugars and phenolic compounds, multivariate statistics, and protein–protein interaction analysis was applied. A total of 411 proteins were identified in the pulp and 812 in the peel, of which 255 and 362 proteins, respectively, showed significant differential accumulation across development (p < 0.05), indicating higher regulatory plasticity in the peel. Multivariate analyses revealed clear stage-dependent reorganization of the proteome in both tissues. Functional annotation highlighted coordinated modulation of pathways related to cell wall remodeling, carbohydrate metabolism, antioxidant and detoxification systems, protein folding, and myo-inositol biosynthesis, directly associated with fruit texture and quality attributes. Metabolomic analyses revealed progressive sugar accumulation during ripening, with sucrose predominating at advanced stages, and pronounced tissue- and stage-dependent modulation of phenolic compounds, characterized by early enrichment in the pulp and sustained accumulation in the peel. Overall, these results demonstrate that yellow pitaya development involves tightly coordinated biochemical and regulatory mechanisms and identify the peel as a metabolically active tissue with relevance for postharvest management, fruit quality, and sustainable horticultural valorization. Full article

Fruit quality in melon (Cucumis melo L.) is determined by complex traits such as texture and aroma, which are shaped by both genetic factors and environmental conditions. In this study, we applied an integrated physiology–metabolomics–transcriptomics approach to examine the genetic and seasonal regulation of these traits in the near-isogenic line SC10-2, carrying a defined introgression on linkage group X (LG X), in comparison with its recurrent parent ‘Piel de Sapo’ (PS). Fruit firmness, juiciness, respiration, ethylene production, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were evaluated over postharvest ripening across two growing seasons. SC10-2 consistently exhibited firmer flesh, reduced juiciness, and distinct VOC profiles relative to PS, although the magnitude of these differences varied between seasons. Transcriptomic analysis identified 2954 differentially expressed genes genome-wide, including 909 genes located within the LG X introgression, among which candidate genes such as CmTrpD, CmHK4-like, and CmNAC18 showed expression patterns associated with texture- and aroma-related traits. Seasonal comparisons indicated that VOC composition was particularly sensitive to environmental variation, underscoring the contribution of genotype × season interactions to fruit quality expression. Together, these results refine the phenotypic and molecular characterization of the LG X introgression in SC10-2 and provide testable candidate genes and hypotheses for understanding the genetic basis of melon texture and aroma under the studied conditions. Full article

Virgin olive oil (VOO) quality is strongly influenced by olive cultivar and fruit maturity stage, yet their combined effects remain insufficiently characterized in many traditional olive-growing regions. This study evaluated the physicochemical parameters, phenolic compounds content, antioxidant activity, fatty acid profile, volatile compounds, and sensory attributes of VOOs obtained from five autochthonous cultivars of Extremadura (Spain)—‘Corniche’, ‘Manzanilla Cacereña’, ‘Morisca’, ‘Pico Limón’, and ‘Verdial de Badajoz’—harvested at three ripening stages (Green, Verging-on-ripe, and Ripe). Early harvest oils exhibited significantly higher total phenolic content (up to 478 mg/kg expressed by caffeic acid equivalent, CAE), oxidative stability (up to 188 h), intense green-fruity notes dominated by (E)-2-hexenal and (Z)-3-hexenal, and stronger bitterness and pungency. As ripening progressed, phenolic compounds and LOX-derived C6 volatiles markedly decreased, while oil yield, linoleic acid, saturated aldehydes, and oxidation markers increased in most cultivars. Cultivar-specific responses were evident: ‘Corniche’ and ‘Manzanilla Cacereña’ maintained higher oleic acid and stability, whereas ‘Morisca’ and ‘Pico Limón’ were more prone to phenolic compound loss and sensory deterioration at full ripeness. Multivariate analysis confirmed strong genotype × maturity interactions shaping oil quality. Optimal harvest timing must therefore be tailored to each cultivar to maximize phenolic content, oxidative stability, and sensory excellence while balancing industrial yield. Full article

Camellia reticulata is a valuable woody species prized for both its ornamental and oil-producing qualities. This study focused on four qualitative traits and nine quantitative traits of the fruits collected from nine wild populations and 30 cultivated varieties of C. reticulata. Multivariate statistical methods were employed to analyze the variation patterns of these fruits among populations and varieties, aiming to provide a scientific basis for the resource utilization and genetic improvement of this species. The results showed that the pericarp color clustered into two series: an orange-yellow (red) series (found in eight populations and all 30 cultivars) and a yellow-green series (unique to the Heiniu Mountain I population). The a* value was identified as the key indicator for distinguishing between these two color-series. The fruit shape was predominantly spherical, the seed shape was mostly hemispherical, and the seed coat color was primarily brown. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed among the nine quantitative phenotypic traits. Fruit weight exhibited the greatest variation (ranging from 28.499 g to 149.068 g), with particularly prominent differences among populations (Fengqing I was the heaviest at 149.068 g, while Yongping I was the lightest at 28.499 g). The coefficients of variation (CV) for phenotypic traits within populations ranged from 17.209% to 60.803% (mean 31.655%), and within varieties from 13.951% to 72.911% (mean 35.290%). Based on CV weights, seed weight showed the largest variation amplitude (21.342%) among populations, while seed number showed the largest variation amplitude (22.956%) among varieties. Correlation analysis revealed that all nine traits exhibited highly significant correlations across different populations and cultivars. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that the eigenvalues of the first two principal components were both greater than 1.00, with cumulative contribution rates reaching 73.570% for populations and 76.064% for cultivars, respectively. Cluster analysis grouped the studied materials into three clusters. The comprehensive evaluation identified the cultivar ‘Lichan’ as having the optimal performance (F = 2.410). Box plots revealed greater dispersion in seed number and pericarp thickness within wild populations, while cultivated varieties showed a wider distribution in locule number and fruit transverse diameter. Frequency distribution analysis demonstrated that all traits followed a normal distribution (R² = 0.673~0.999). Among them, fresh seed weight and fruit transverse diameter displayed obvious skewness. Furthermore, the variation in seed number was significantly higher in wild populations than in cultivars. This study reveals rich phenotypic variation in fruit traits between wild populations and cultivated groups of C. reticulata, with fruit size and seed number identified as key traits. These findings provide an important basis for the subsequent selection of hybrid parents and breeding of high-yield, high-oil varieties. Full article

The purpose of this study is to construct diverse forms of exact soliton solutions and conduct a comprehensive qualitative analysis. For this aim, we use the Gross–Pitaevskii system, which belongs to the family of nonlinear Schrödinger equations. This model is considered to be iconic and significant because it has potential applications in applied sciences, such as in physics, where it is used to exemplify quantum systems like Bose–Einstein condensates and illustrate the propagation of waves in optical fibers. Employing analytical techniques, the modified sine–cosine/sinh–cosh and extended rational sinh–Gordon expansion methods, we extract several waves from solutions in the shape of trigonometric, hyperbolic, and rational forms. To further deepen our insights related to the system’s behavior, we execute a detailed dynamical analysis, including sensitivity, bifurcation, and chaos, using the corresponding Hamiltonian structure. We also derive the instability modulation using linear stability theory. Using Mathematica, we systematically simulate and verify all constructed results and present some solutions for appropriate parameter values using 2D, 3D, and contour plots. The outcomes provide fruitful insights relevant to multiple scientific domains, including optical fiber technology, plasma, and condensed matter physics. This work contributes to the ongoing study of nonlinear models by applying novel solution techniques and offering a broader perspective on the complex behavior of such systems. The novelty of this study lies in the fact that the proposed model has not been previously explored using the aforementioned advanced methods and comprehensive dynamical analyses. Full article

Chilli pepper agroecosystems (Capsicum annuum L.) are increasingly threatened by cadmium (Cd) contamination, with emerging climatic stressors such as drought further exacerbating risks to food safety and crop productivity. This review synthesizes current evidence on microbiome-mediated Cd phytostabilisation in chilli pepper, with a particular focus on the roles of capsaicinoids and cultivar-specific genetic regulation in shaping rhizosphere microbial communities. Existing studies demonstrate that capsaicinoid-rich cultivars selectively recruit specialized rhizosphere microbes, enhancing root-level Cd sequestration and achieving Cd retention efficiencies of approximately 40–55%, thereby substantially restricting Cd translocation to edible fruit tissues. Multi-strain plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) consortia, especially when combined with structured organic amendments, have been reported to reduce fruit Cd and nickel (Ni) accumulation by more than 87% in contaminated soils. These responses are regulated by pungency-associated genetic loci, including Pun1 (pungency locus 1) and Pun4 (pungency locus 4) genes, which influence secondary metabolism and microbial assembly under metal stress conditions. The review highlights key knowledge gaps regarding the long-term stability of engineered rhizobiomes, the in situ dynamics of the Capsicum volatilome as a microbial recruitment signal, and the interactive effects of Cd contamination and drought in field environments. Overall, this synthesis provides a mechanistic framework for deploying high-pungency cultivars and microbiome-based strategies to improve Cd phytostabilisation, with important implications for sustainable chilli production in drought-prone, metal-contaminated agroecosystems. Full article

Phenotypic and genetic divergence along environmental gradients often reflects local adaptation in broadly distributed species. The Fabaceae family is one of the largest and most ecologically important angiosperm groups; it has a centre of diversity in South America and shows high versatility in arid and disturbed environments. Here, we selected Vachelliacaven, a native tree with ecological breadth and taxonomic complexity, to investigate whether phenotypic trait variation among populations reflects adaptive divergence. We examined neutral genetic differentiation in six varieties among populations from Argentina, quantified the phenotypic differentiation of quantitative traits by an ANOVA, and performed P_ST—F_ST comparisons. We also assessed correlations between phenotypic variation, environmental variables, genotypic variation, and geographic distances. F_ST estimates revealed significant genetic divergence (0.329), in line with isolation by distance and environmental heterogeneity. P_ST—F_ST comparisons showed that all traits were under diversifying selection, supporting the hypothesis of adaptive phenotypic variation. We further detected that fruit width and length were significantly correlated with specific environmental variables like precipitation and temperature. These findings confirm that phenotypic divergence in V. caven is shaped by both geographic and environmental factors. This study offers a preliminary insight into the local adaptation of the examined traits, highlighting how morphological and genetic differentiation has enabled V. caven to thrive in diverse environments and contributing information as to how to face climate change scenarios. Full article

Carapa guianensis Aubl., widely distributed throughout the Amazon, is recognized for its ecological, economic, and social importance, and constitutes a key source of income for numerous extractive communities. However, fruit production exhibits marked spatial variation that may be influenced by soil properties and climatic factors. In this study, we assessed this variability using data from 21 studies conducted in the Brazilian Amazon, incorporating georeferenced information from each site on climate and soil characteristics. Environmental variables were evaluated using Random Forest models. Although the number of independent production estimates available in the literature is limited, average fruit productivity showed a broad range (0.34 to 34.6 kg·tree⁻¹·year⁻¹), with higher values in várzea forests (16.5 kg·tree⁻¹·year⁻¹) and lower values in igapó forests (2.5 kg·tree⁻¹·year⁻¹). The Random Forest model explained 42% of the variability in fruit production according to cross-validation, whereas the model fit using the full dataset showed a higher R² value (0.83). Soil organic carbon, mean annual temperature, and clay content were the most influential predictors. These findings demonstrate that fruit production is shaped by the interaction between edaphic and climatic conditions, which determine the species’ productivity patterns and highlight the need to foster adaptive management strategies that ensure the sustainable use of andiroba across Amazonian ecosystems. Nevertheless, it is acknowledged that the number of available production estimates is limited and that methodological heterogeneity exists among the analyzed studies. Despite this, the results reveal consistent patterns of association between Carapa guianensis fruit production and edaphoclimatic gradients, highlighting the influence of climatic and soil-related variables at a regional scale. Full article

A principled, model-agnostic framework for structural feature extraction in time series is presented, grounded in topological data analysis (TDA). The motivation stems from two gaps identified in the literature: First, compact and interpretable representations that summarise the global geometric organisation of trajectories across scales remain scarce. Second, a unified, task-agnostic protocol for evaluating structure preservation against established non-topological families is still missing. To address these gaps, time-delay embeddings are employed to reconstruct phase space, sliding windows are used to generate local point clouds, and Vietoris–Rips persistent homology (up to dimension two) is computed. The resulting persistence diagrams are summarised with three transparent descriptors—persistence entropy, maximum persistence amplitude, and feature counts—and concatenated across delays and window sizes to yield a multiscale representation designed to complement temporal and spectral features while remaining computationally tractable. A unified experimental design is specified in which heterogeneous, regularly sampled financial series are preprocessed on native calendars and contrasted with competitive baselines spanning lagged, calendar-driven, difference/change, STL-based, delay-embedding PCA, price-based statistical, signature (FRUITS), and network-derived (NetF) features. Structure preservation is assessed through complementary criteria that probe spectral similarity, variance-scaled reconstruction fidelity, and the conservation of distributional shape (location, scale, asymmetry, tails). The study is positioned as an evaluation of representations, rather than a forecasting benchmark, emphasising interpretability, comparability, and methodological transparency while outlining avenues for adaptive hyperparameter selection and alternative filtrations. Full article