Search Results (14,728)

Drought significantly reduces global crop yields and agricultural productivity. This study aims to isolate drought-tolerant PGPR strains and evaluate their effects, both individually and in combination with salicylic acid (SA), on cowpea plants growth, physiological traits, antioxidant enzymes, and mineral content under both drought stress and non-stress conditions. Among fifteen bacterial isolates, AO7, identified as Streptomyces diastaticus subsp. ardesiacus PX459854 through 16S rRNA sequencing, demonstrated significant plant growth promotion in cowpea under gnotobiotic conditions. On the other hand, varying salicylic acid concentrations (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mM) was exposed to assess the plant growth of cowpea plants in a gnotobiotic system. A pot experiment in 2023 used a split-plot design with treatments for irrigation (unstressed and stressed) and different soaking treatments (control, S. diastaticus, salicylic acid (2 mM), and a combination). After 60 days, the combination treatment enhanced growth metrics, outpacing the control under stress. The microbial community in the T4 treatment exhibited the highest counts, while T8 (combination, stressed) showed lower counts but the highest chlorophyll content at 6.32 mg g⁻¹ FW. Notable increases in proline and significant changes in enzyme activities (PO, PPO, CAT, and APX) were observed, particularly in treatment T8 under stress, indicating a positive response to both treatments. Mineral content of cowpea leaves varied with soaking treatments of S. diastaticus and SA (2.0%) especially under drought stress which the highest values were 1.72% N, 0.16% P, and 2.66% K with treatment T8. Therefore, T8 (combination, stressed) > T6 (S. diastaticus, stressed) > T7 (salicylic acid, stressed) > T5 (control, stressed) for different applications under stressed conditions and T4 (combination, unstressed) > T2 (S. diastaticus, unstressed) > T3 (salicylic acid, unstressed) > T1 (control, unstressed) for the other applications under normal conditions. Thus, using S. diastaticus and SA (2.0%) in combination greatly enhanced the growth dynamics of cowpea plants under drought stress conditions. Full article

For successful potato production, maintaining a proper balance of mineral nutrients is crucial, as high yields cannot be achieved in fields lacking essential elements. The exact amount of fertilizer should be determined based on the expected yield, crop nutrient requirements, soil analysis, cultivation technology, and specific growing conditions. N (N) plays a crucial role in potato tuber growth. It is involved in the synthesis of proteins that are stored in the tubers and helps prolong the lifespan of the leaf canopy. On average, potato crops require a N supply of 80–120 kg/ha. Based on several studies, N fertilization significantly increased potato tuber yield, while dry matter content showed a slight decline. This indicates that higher N rates can enhance yield but potentially decrease tuber quality. To achieve high tuber yields while preserving desirable dry matter and starch content, the optimal N rate is approximately 100–120 kg N/ha. Although higher N inputs (>150 kg N/ha) may temporarily boost vegetative growth, they ultimately delay tuber maturation, reduce dry matter and starch accumulation, and increase production costs due to inefficient fertilizer use. Excessive N fertilization accelerates soil degradation and contributes to environmental pollution (soil acidification, NO₃⁻ leaching, NH₃ emissions, NO, N₂O, and NO₂, leading to additional long-term ecological burdens. Therefore, minimizing N losses through sustainable soil management is essential for maintaining both farm profitability and environmental protection. Integrating N fertilization with biofertilizers—such as beneficial bacteria that colonize roots, enhance nutrient uptake, and stimulate root development—can improve yields while reducing reliance on costly synthetic fertilizers. This supports both soil fertility and crop productivity. Full article

Background/Objectives: Osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma are the predominant malignant bone tumors of the lower limbs in children. With 5-year survival rates of 70–77% for localized disease, limb salvage with growth-compatible reconstruction has replaced amputation as the standard. This review aimed to synthesize current reconstruction strategies, propose an age-and defect-based decision algorithm, and highlight growth-preserving innovations for skeletally immature patients. Methods: This narrative review of surgical techniques—including rotationplasty, biological reconstruction (vascularized/non-vascularized fibula, allograft, recycled autograft, “hot dog” composite), bone transport, and endoprosthetic replacement (modular, extendable, 3D-printed)—was conducted, with a literature search covering January 1990 to October 2025 and emphasized pediatric studies published after 2020, emphasizing pediatric outcomes, complication profiles, and functional scores. Results: Across pediatric and mixed-age cohorts (typically n ≈ 10–30 per technique; median follow-up 3–10 years), rotationplasty demonstrated high durability with Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) scores of 21–28/30, especially in children < 6 years. Biological reconstruction achieved >80% union in defects < 6 cm, while vascularized fibula grafts yielded 82–95% union for 6–15 cm defects. Bone transport produced reliable union for 3–15 cm defects but required prolonged fixation (40–60 days/cm) and had high pin-tract infection rates (50–60%). Extendable endoprostheses demonstrated 5-year prosthesis survival of 54–87%, while early joint-preserving 3D-printed implants improved MSTS scores from 17 to 28 points in a pediatric series (n = 7, mean follow-up 30 months). Conclusions: Personalized reconstruction guided by a child-centered algorithm optimizes oncologic control, skeletal growth, and long-term function. Emerging 3D-printed joint-preserving implants and noninvasive lengthening technologies promise further reduction in revisions and complications in pediatric limb salvage. Full article

This study developed a process for producing prebiotic-fortified instant rice macaroni to diversify rice-based convenience foods. Resistant starch (RS) rice flour from three varieties—IR504 and two pigmented, anthocyanidin-rich rice cultivars (Huyet Rong and MS2019)—was blended with wheat flour and fixed ingredients (tapioca starch, salt, and vegetable oil at a ratio of 9g:1g:1g), together with hot water. The instant rice macaroni with the highest RS content (11.64%) was obtained using IR504 RS and wheat flour (44:6), gelatinized at 100 °C for 20 min, microwaved at 36 W/g for 30 s, retrograded at 4 °C for 24 h, and sterilized at 115 °C for 15 min. For anthocyanidin-containing macaroni, the combination of Huyet Rong RS and wheat flour (39:11) yielded 9.47% RS under similar retrogradation and sterilization conditions, but with a shorter gelatinization step (100 °C, 15 min) and longer microwave treatment (50 s at 27 W/g). The other optimized colored-RS formulation was based on MS2019 RS and wheat flour (21:29) processed under similar conditions. All optimized formulations exhibited lower estimated glycemic index (eGI) values of 64.1, 65.7, and 68.2, which were significantly lower than those of the control instant rice macaroni (78.2–85.9, p < 0.05). This study confirms the potential of developing instant rice macaroni rich in RS to enhance prebiotic effects that support the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria, strengthen immune function, and improve nutritional quality through the incorporation of anthocyanidin-rich rice varieties and a processing procedure combining heat–moisture treatment with microwave heating. Full article

Nitrogen deficiency is a major constraint on maize (Zea mays L.) productivity in Afghanistan, where poor soil fertility limits yields. This study investigated the effect of urea fertilizer on maize growth, physiology, and yield under semi-arid conditions in Balkh Province with a Calcisols soil type, focusing on maize cultivated for grain production. A field experiment was conducted in 2019 using a randomized complete block design with three replications and four nitrogen levels: 0 (control), 38.4, 76.8, and 115.2 kg ha⁻¹. The region consists of fertile alluvial plains suitable for crop cultivation, though maize productivity is constrained by soil nutrient limitations, especially nitrogen deficiency. The soil at the experimental site is silty loam in texture, moderately fertile with alkaline pH (8.1), low organic matter (0.5%), and limited available nitrogen (15 mg kg⁻¹). Growth traits (plant height, leaf number, leaf area, SPAD value), physiological parameters (leaf area index, crop growth rate, biomass), and yield components (cob length, cob diameter, seed number, 100-seed weight, biological yield, and Brix content) were recorded. Results showed that nitrogen application significantly improved all traits compared to the control. The highest values for plant height (260.2 cm), cob length (31.67 cm), biological yield (216.6 t ha⁻¹), and Brix content (8.6%) were observed at 115.2 kg ha⁻¹, although 76.8 kg ha⁻¹ produced nearly similar results. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive associations between SPAD values, vegetative traits, and yield. The findings indicate that 115.2 kg ha⁻¹ urea is an efficient and practical nitrogen rate for enhancing maize productivity under Afghan conditions. Full article

To investigate the effects of varying degrees of shading on the photosynthetic characteristics of Spuriopinnella brachycarpa (Kom.) Kitag. experiments were conducted under five shading treatments: 0% (full sunlight), 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%. The results demonstrated that shading significantly influenced plant growth and photosynthesis. Plant height, stem diameter, and leaf area in the control group (0% shading) were significantly greater than those in shaded treatments, although a 40% shading treatment notably increased the aboveground harvestable biomass, demonstrating greater potential for economic yield compared to the control. All shading treatments significantly enhanced the net photosynthetic rate of S. brachycarpa compared to the control; however, excessive shading (i.e., 80% shading) led to a reduction in the net photosynthetic rate, falling below that observed under full sunlight. The 40% shading treatment yielded the most substantial improvement in net photosynthetic rate. Shading also significantly enhanced the maximum quantum yield of PSII, facilitating improved use of light energy for photosynthesis while reducing energy dissipation as heat. Additionally, antioxidant activity in shaded plants was markedly higher than in the control, with the highest levels observed under 40% shading. These findings suggest that moderate shading, particularly at 40%, is optimal for improving photosynthetic efficiency, light energy utilization, and antioxidant activity in S. brachycarpa Full article

Climate change and soil degradation represent a threat to essential crops such as maize. In Mexico, this grain is of strategic importance, yet yields are often low. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) can help mitigate this problem. The potential of Paenibacillus dendritiformis, isolated from the “El Chichonal” volcano (Chiapas, Mexico), was evaluated as a PGPB under laboratory conditions using infertile soil. Its capacity for nitrogen fixation (NF), phosphate solubilization (PS), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, biocontrol activity, and tolerance to different pH levels, temperature, and salinity were assessed. The effect of inoculation on maize seed germination and vigor was examined in vitro through morphological variables and dry weight. Completely randomized and randomized block designs were used, along with Duncan’s test (p < 0.05) for mean comparison. Cohen’s d was used to estimate the size of the treatment effect. P. dendritiformis demonstrated NF, PS, and IAA production, a wide range of environmental tolerance, and promoted root length and number of root hairs in maize at seven days, as well as increased leaf length and area and foliar and root dry weight at 14 days. It is concluded that P. dendritiformis has potential as a PGPB for infertile soils, based on laboratory evaluations. Full article

This study aimed to develop and evaluate new hybrid strains of Pleurotus cystidiosus with enhanced functional and physiological characteristics. Hybridization between the parental strains KMCC01257 and KMCC05164 yielded four promising hybrid lines (PA-054, PA-104, PA-122, and PA-132), which were selected based on superior mycelial growth and yield performance. Morphological traits and productivity were evaluated across three developmental stages: primordium formation (C1), fruiting body development (C2), and maturation (C3). As cultivation progressed, the number of fruiting bodies decreased, whereas total yield per cultivation bag increased, indicating that late-stage management plays a critical role in maximizing productivity. Chemical analyses revealed that water extracts contained higher levels of polysaccharides, ergothioneine, and total phenolics than EtOAc extracts. Among the tested strains, PA-132 exhibited the highest phenolic content and strongest antioxidant activity, while PA-104 showed greater polysaccharide and ergothioneine accumulation than the parental strains. Antioxidant activity increased over developmental stages and was consistently higher in water extracts, whereas α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was detected primarily in EtOAc extracts with minimal variation among strains or stages. Overall, the results demonstrate that hybridization effectively enhanced the biosynthesis of bioactive metabolites and the functional properties of P. cystidiosus. The selected hybrid strains, particularly PA-132 and PA-054, represent promising candidates for the development of high-value functional mushroom cultivars and nutraceutical applications. Full article

This study examines the impact of health expenditure on economic growth in the BRICS countries during the period 2000–2021. Economic growth is measured by GDP per capita, while per capita health expenditure serves as the principal explanatory variable. Consistent with the framework of endogenous growth theory—which conceptualizes health as a form of human capital that enhances productivity—we additionally incorporate natural capital, education, and population share as control variables. Methodologically, the analysis employs panel unit root tests under cross-sectional dependence and estimates a dynamic panel ARDL model to assess both short- and long-term effects. To further validate the robustness of the model, additional explanatory variables relevant to endogenous growth theory are also evaluated. The results indicate that, in the long run, all explanatory variables exert a statistically significant influence on the economic growth of the BRICS countries. In the short run, however, only per capita health expenditure demonstrates a positive and statistically significant effect on GDP per capita, whereas the other variables do not yield significant short-term effects. Full article

Background: Sucrose metabolism plays a crucial role in plant responses to abiotic stresses such as drought and high temperatures, significantly influencing plant growth and yield formation. In higher plants, the second step in sucrose bioconversion involves sucrose phosphate phosphatase (SPP) hydrolyzing sucrose-6-phosphate to form sucrose. This study determined the number of SPP gene family members in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), systematically analyzed their fundamental characteristics, physicochemical properties, phylogenetic relationships, chromosomal localization, and expression patterns across different tissues and under various abiotic stresses. Methods: The SPP gene family in hirsutum was identified using Hidden Markov Models (HMMER) and the NCBI Conserved Domain Database (NCBI CDD), and its physico-chemical properties were analyzed via the SOPMA online analysis website. Phylogenetic relationships were determined using MEGA 12.0 software. Promoter regions were analyzed with PlantCARE, sequence patterns were identified via MEME, and transcriptome data were downloaded from the CottonMD database. Results: This study identified four members of the hirsutum SPP gene family, with amino acid lengths ranging from 335 to 1015, molecular weights between 38.38 and 113.28 kDa, and theoretical isoelectric points (pI) between 5.39 and 6.33. These genes are localized across four chromosomes. The SPP gene family in hirsutum exhibits closer phylo-genetic relationships with SPP genes in Arabidopsis thaliana and Chenopodium quinoa. Their promoter regions are rich in cis-elements associated with multiple abiotic stress resistance functions, and their expression patterns vary across different tissues and under different abiotic stress conditions. Conclusions: The GhSPP gene may play an important role in the growth and development of upland cotton and its responses to salt stress and drought. Therefore, it could be considered as a candidate gene for future functional analysis of cotton resistance to salt and drought stress. Full article

Microalgae have been characterized as an effective raw material for obtaining bioproducts from a biorefinery approach. However, production costs limit the large-scale production of microalgae, which makes these processes uncompetitive in the market. Therefore, in the present work, different agricultural fertilizers were evaluated as low-cost culture media for microalgae growth and the use of the biomass for biocrude production. The tests were carried out in three phases: phase I, Laboratory scale 1 L Erlenmeyer (Boeco, Hamburg, Germany) and phase II–III Pilot scale with cylindrical photobioreactors (PBRs) (Atb services S.A.S, Medellin, Colombia) with a capacity of 20 L. In phase I, four commercial fertilizers Crecilizer^® (C), Florilizer^® (F) (Fertilizer, Bogota, Colombia), AcuaLeaf Macros^® (Ma), and AcuaLeaf Micros^® (Mi) (Deacua, Medellin, Colombia) were tested separately and in combination (C + Ma, F + M, and Ma + Mi). The most effective treatments (C and F) in phase I were chosen for scale-up during phase II. In phase III, the concentration of the best treatment from phase II was increased. The biomass obtained from the best phase III treatment showed a cultivation medium cost 50% lower than the biomass obtained using Bold’s Basal Medium (BBM). Following each treatment, the harvested biomass was processed via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) to yield biocrude. The reduction in culture medium cost contributed to an estimated 40% decrease in the relative biocrude yield cost. Full article

Honeyberry plants (Lonicera caerulea L., family Caprifoliaceae), which produce small, highly nutritious berries, have recently been subject to an outbreak of root rot, resulting in a drastic decrease in fruit yield. In this study, we isolated the fungal community from the roots of diseased plants and analyzed the mechanisms of interaction between key fungi and honeyberry plants. Nine fungal morphotypes were identified via observation of cultures and internal transcribed spacer gene sequence analysis. Pathogenicity assays showed that infection with isolates from the genus Fusarium reproduced the typical root rot symptoms, and Fusarium foetens caused the most severe inhibition of root growth. Transcriptomic analysis of infected plants and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis revealed that the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites was enriched in roots of honeyberry plants infected with F. foetens. This study elucidates that when honeyberry is affected by root rot disease, it produces secondary metabolites to defend against pathogenic invasion, providing a theoretical basis and molecular targets for the green management of this disease. Full article

Rhodotus palmatus is commercially marketed as ‘fruity-scented mushroom’, a novel cultivar first brought into commercial cultivation in China at the end of 2023. It is characterized by a distinct pinkish pigmentation, a pileus with a distinct reticulated surface pattern, and an intense fruity aroma. To date, only a few natural strains have been documented in China, and scientific research on this species remains scarce. This study successfully bred a new variety of Rhodotus palmatus and established corresponding efficient techniques for its industrial-scale cultivation. As a result, strain ZJGWG001, known for its short growth cycle (23 d), high yield potential (177.43 ± 10.08 g·bag⁻¹) and biological efficiency (59.1%), and distinctive, stable phenotypic traits, is well suited for industrial cultivation. This cultivar is the first newly registered Rhodotus palmatus variety in China to receive provincial-level certification and has been officially designated as ‘Zhongjunguoweigu No. 1’. It represents an important discovery in the collection and exploration of wild fungal germplasm resources in recent years. Full article

Biological soil amendments of animal origin (BSAAOs) provide risk for foodborne contamination. Soils are often enriched with BSAAOs to increase nutrient value, enhance and support crop growth and yield. Little is known about the interactions of soil microorganisms and the potential impact on food safety. Although BSAAOs provide benefits to soil and crops, BSAAOs are a risk for contamination. Another source of risk includes adjacent land use of concentrated animal feed operations (CAFOs) and the risk of contaminated dust with pathogens such as Escherichia coli or Salmonella is becoming more of a concern. Studies have shown that crops planted adjacent to a cattle feedlot were contaminated with pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 which originated from the cattle feedlot. Further research is needed to evaluate novel bioremediation techniques to lower/prevent the risks of windborne contamination of dust and risks posed by untreated BSAAOs. One potential novel technique is the utilization of mycofiltration. The risks of pathogenic contamination of BSAAOs could be reduced by developing a cost-effective and sustainable mycofiltration practice using naturally formulated by-products from filamentous fungi. Ligninolytic white-rot fungi can degrade a wide variety of toxic or persistent environmental contaminants and degrade pollutants in the environment. Recent studies have shown that white-rot fungi can inhibit pathogenic E. coli in bioreactor systems. Exploring white-rot fungi as a biocontrol agent for on-farm mycofiltration may prove to be a cost-effective treatment and limit certain routes of contamination to the edible portion of the crop, certainly worthy of exploration in this review. Full article

The AP2/ERF (APETALA2/ethylene-responsive factor) superfamily is one of the largest transcription factor families in plants and is not only vital for plant growth and development but also participates in responding to various abiotic stresses. However, few studies have investigated the function of the AP2/ERF gene family in natural rubber (NR) biosynthesis in Hevea brasiliensis. Here, 174 HbAP2/ERF genes were identified genome-wide and classified into 18 subclades based on gene-conserved structure and phylogenetic analysis. Gene duplication analysis revealed that 7 tandem and 100 segmental duplication events were major drivers of this gene family. Cis-element analysis in HbAP2/ERF promoters identified light-, hormone-, stress-, and development-associated cis-elements. Tissue-specific expression profiles revealed that 160 HbAP2/ERFs were expressed in at least one tissue. The protein–protein interaction network identified 59 potential interactions among the HbAP2/ERFs. Critically, dual-luciferase reporter assays confirmed that two key regulators exhibit distinct regulatory modes on NR biosynthesis-related genes: HbAP2/ERF25 significantly repressed the transcriptional activities of HbMVD1, HbCPT7, and HbSRPP1, whereas HbAP2/ERF46 repressed HbMVD1 but activated HbHMGR1, HbFPS1, and HbSRPP1. These findings reveal the complex regulatory network of HbAP2/ERFs in NR biosynthesis, establish a comprehensive framework for understanding their evolution and functional diversification, and provide novel molecular targets for genetic improvement of NR yield in rubber tree breeding and metabolic engineering. Full article