Search Results (632)

Sugar beet, one of the most important natural sources of sugars in the world, is well known as a recalcitrant crop for genetic transformation. In the present study, several key components of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of sugar beet have been studied. The correct choice of explant and plant regeneration potential of domestic breeding lines was evaluated; however, most attention was paid to the search for the most efficient selectable marker gene and selection agents. To produce transgenic plants, we applied a method based on the agrobacterial inoculation of wounded morphogenic structures previously initiated on in vitro cultivated leaves. Four selective marker genes conferring antibiotic or herbicide resistance were evaluated. In the case of selection using kanamycin or G418 (nptII gene controlled by the nos promoter), no transgenic plants were obtained, while the addition of the aminoglycoside antibiotic hygromycin (hpt gene, driven by the nos promoter) to the medium ensured the successful production of transgenic plants from three breeding lines with a frequency ranging from 1.5 to 5.1%. The selection of transgenic tissues using herbicides such as phosphinothricin and glyphosate after transformation with the bar and cp4-epsps genes (both controlled by the CaMV 35S promoter) also ensured the obtaining of transgenic plants, but the transformation efficiency was significantly low, reaching only 1.0 and 0.4%, respectively. Primary transgenic sugar beet plants grown in the greenhouse demonstrated enhanced resistance to herbicides in dosages commonly used in the field. In addition, after self-pollination of the primary T0 transgenic lines, homozygous T2 offspring were successfully selected, which demonstrated stable resistance to glyphosate due to the constitutive expression of the introduced cp4-epsps gene. Full article

Tandem mass tag (TMT) quantitative proteomic and flavonoid-targeted metabolomic analyses were applied to evaluate the unintended effects of five herbicide-resistant soybean varieties, in addition to three natural genotypic soybean varieties. A total of 65, 29, 56, 38, and 26 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified in ZLD6010, FD3003, JY2812, ZLD8001, and ZLD2426, respectively, compared with ZH13. Twenty-four and 16 DEPs were identified in ZLD2426 compared with JD12 and KS1, respectively. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis revealed that most of the DEPs were involved in ribosome, protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, and tropane, piperidine, and pyridine alkaloid biosynthesis. Proteomic analysis of the studied soybean seeds revealed no significant changes in herbicide-resistant soybean varieties compared with natural genotypic soybean varieties. Flavonoid-targeted metabolomics analysis detected and quantified 12 flavonoids. Daidzein, genistein/apigenin, taxifolin, and luteolin contents in the herbicide-resistant soybean variety seeds were significantly greater than those in the natural genotypic soybean variety seeds. Their contents in the seeds of three natural genotypic soybean varieties also significantly differed according to pairwise reciprocal comparisons. The introduction of 3-phosphoshikimate 1-carboxyvinyltransferase (EPSPS) might affect flavonoid accumulation of herbicide-resistant soybean varieties. The genetic background of soybean also influences its flavonoid metabolomic profile. 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

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a frequent pregnancy pathology with poor maternal and fetal outcomes and risk of type 2 diabetes in later life. Despite known risk factors, such as obesity, age, and familial history, new data suggest that environmental exposure to agents, such as pesticides, can play a role in the etiogenesis of GDM. Objective: The epidemiologic, experimental, and mechanistic evidence between pesticide exposure and GDM risk is summarized here, and we concentrate on recent research (2000–2025). Methods: We conducted a literature search in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for studies published from January 2000 to December 2025 using combinations of the terms “fertilizers”, “herbicides”, and “pesticides” with “diabetes mellitus” and “gestational diabetes”. After deduplication, 12 unique studies met inclusion criteria for qualitative synthesis (GDM endpoint or pregnancy glycemia with pesticide exposure). Results: Occupational and agricultural exposure to pesticides during first pregnancy was determined to be associated with a significantly increased risk of GDM through various epidemiologic studies. New studies have implicated new classes of pesticides, including pyrethroids and neonicotinoids, with higher GDM risk with first-trimester exposure. Experimental studies suggest that pesticides provide potential endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can induce insulin resistance through disruption of hormonal signaling, oxidative stress, inflammation, β-cell toxicity, and epigenetic modifications. However, significant limitations exist. Most of the evidence is observational, measurement of exposure is often indirect, and confounding factors are difficult to exclude. Notably, low dietary and residential exposure is not well studied, and dose–response relationships are undefined. Conclusions: New data indicate that pesticide exposure during early pregnancy and occupational exposure may increase the risk of GDM. Prospective cohort studies using biomonitoring, chemical mixture exposure, and geographic variation in pesticide exposure should be the focus of future research. Due to potential public health implications, preventive strategies to ensure the quality of nutrition and to reduce maternal exposure to pesticides during pregnancy are rational. Full article

Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden., or H. sosnowskyi, of the Apiaceae was first cultivated in the USSR in 1947 as a potential fodder plant. Due to the development of cold-resistant cultivars and the characteristics of H. sosnowskyi, it quickly became feral. As a result, H. sosnowskyi began to spread as an aggressive invasive species in the 1970s and 1980s. By the 90s it had become an ecological disaster. As well as forming monocultures and displacing native species, H. sosnowskyi contains furanocoumarins, photosensitizing compounds that increase skin sensitivity to ultraviolet rays and cause severe burns. In addition, furanocoumarins have cytotoxic, genotoxic, mutagenic and estrogenic effects. H. sosnowskyi also contains essential oils, which are particularly active during flowering and can irritate the mucous membranes of the eyes and respiratory tract, as well as cause allergic reactions in the form of bronchospasm in people with asthma and hypersensitivity. When released in high concentrations, these biologically active compounds have an allelopathic effect on native plant species, displacing them and reducing biodiversity. As H. sosnowskyi is not native; the biologically active compounds it secretes have a xenobiotic effect, causing serious damage to the ecosystems it occupies. However, in parallel with these negative properties, furanocoumarins have been found to be effective in the treatment of cancer and skin diseases. Furanocoumarins possess antimicrobial antioxidant osteo- and neuroprotective properties. Essential oils containing octyl acetate, carboxylic acid esters, and terpenes can be used in the pharmaceutical industry as antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agents. Additionally, essential oils can be used as biofumigants and natural herbicides. A comprehensive approach allows H. sosnowskyi to be viewed in two ways. On the one hand, it is an aggressive alien species that causes significant damage to ecosystems and poses a threat to human health. On the other hand, it is a potentially valuable natural resource whose biomass can be used within the principles of the circular economy. It is hoped that the use of H. sosnowskyi for economic interests can be a partial compensation for the problem of its aggressive invasion, which is of anthropogenic origin. Full article

Weed stress remains a major limiting factor in cotton production, and glyphosate-tolerant varieties provide an effective solution for chemical weed control. However, achieving a balance between herbicide tolerance and agronomic physiological traits remains challenging. In this study, three hybrid combinations were generated by crossing a glyphosate-tolerant cotton line (GGK2) with conventional elite lines and were comprehensively evaluated. Gene expression analysis revealed that the classical detoxification gene GAT was significantly downregulated in all hybrid combinations, whereas the expression of GR79-EPSPS, a gene associated with glutathione metabolism and oxidative stress response, was markedly elevated, particularly in the GGK2 × Y4 combination. This differential expression pattern suggests that GR79-EPSPS may compensate for the reduced function of GAT by conferring oxidative protection under herbicide stress. Physiological determination indicated that hybrid combinations with enhanced GR79-EPSPS expression, especially GGK2 × Y5, exhibited superior photosynthetic pigment composition and photosystem II (PSII) efficiency, validating the role of GR79-EPSPS in maintaining photosynthetic stability. Agronomic trait assessment demonstrated that GGK2 × Y4 achieved significant biomass accumulation and yield improvement through heterosis, although fiber quality improvement was limited. This study effectively enhanced the herbicide resistance of conventional cotton through crossbreeding and revealed that the interaction between GR79-EPSPS and GAT can improve cotton tolerance to herbicides, thereby providing a breeding strategy for developing cotton varieties with both herbicide tolerance and superior agronomic traits. Full article

The invasive plant Sphagneticola trilobata (Asteraceae), known for its rapid growth and strong adaptability, has spread widely across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, posing a serious threat to local plant diversity. Traditional weed control approaches have limited effectiveness, and the overuse of chemical herbicides such as glyphosate not only leads to resistance but also harms the environment. This study elucidated the important roles of jasmonic acid (JA) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in jointly promoting the herbicide resistance of S. trilobata. Firstly, the herbicide tolerance of S. trilobata was tested. Then, a field experiment was conducted to test the relation between AMF colonization and herbicide resistance in S. trilobata by high-throughput sequencing, and the metabolomics analysis was conducted to test the secondary metabolite difference by AMF colonization. Lastly, a greenhouse experiment was conducted to assess the synergistic effects of JA and AMF on S. trilobata’s herbicide resistance. Results showed that invasive S. trilobata has stronger glyphosate tolerance than its native congener. The field experiment showed that glyphosate treatment significantly increased the AMF colonization in S. trilobata and altered the composition of the rhizosphere AMF community. Metabolomics analysis revealed that AMF colonization upregulates the expression of stress-related metabolites, especially JA content. The greenhouse experiment further validated that both AMF colonization and JA application could enhance the stem and root length and plant biomass. Under glyphosate application, AMF and JA enhanced plant growth and relative chlorophyll content, while reducing relative flavonol and anthocyanin contents. Furthermore, the interaction of AMF and JA treatments led to a significant synergistic effect in plant growth and resistance to glyphosate. Our findings emphasize the necessity to simultaneously consider eliminating the promoting effects of JA and AMF on the herbicide resistance when implementing chemical control management strategies for the control of S. trilobata. This study provides new theoretical bases and sustainable control strategies for invasive plant management, as well as important references for research on plant-microbe interactions and stress resistance mechanisms. Full article

Modern weeding technologies include chemical weeding, non-contact methods such as laser weeding, and conventional mechanical inter-row cultivation characterized by soil loosening and weed uprooting. For maize, mechanical inter-row cultivation is key to cutting herbicide use and enhancing the soil–crop environment. This study developed a vision-guided intelligent inter-row cultivator with electric lateral shifting—its frame fabricated from Q235 low-carbon structural steel and assembled mainly via bolted and pinned joints—that computes real-time lateral deviation between the implement and crop rows through maize plant recognition and crop row fitting and uses delay compensation to command a servo-electric cylinder for precise ±15 cm inter-row adjustments corresponding to 30% of the 50 cm row spacing. To test the system’s dynamic response, 1–15 cm-commanded lateral displacements were evaluated at 0.31, 0.42, and 0.51 m/s to characterize the time-displacement response of the servo-electric shift mechanism; field tests were conducted at 0.51 m/s with three 30 m passes per maize growth stage to collect row-guidance error and root-injury data. Field results show that at an initial offset of 5 cm, the mean absolute error is 0.76–1.03 cm, and at 15 cm, the 95th percentile error is 7.5 cm. A root damage quantification method based on geometric overlap arc length was established, with rates rising with crop growth: 0.12% at the V2 to V3 stage, 1.46% at the V4 to V5 stage, and 9.61% at the V6 to V8 stage, making the V4 to V5 stage the optimal operating window. Compared with chemical weeding, the system requires no herbicide application, avoiding issues related to residues, drift, and resistance management. Compared with laser weeding, which requires high tool power density and has limited effective width, the tractor–implement system enables full-width weeding and shallow inter-row tillage in one pass, facilitating integration with existing mechanized operations. These results, obtained at a single forward speed of 0.51 m/s in one field and implement configuration, still require validation under higher speeds and broader field conditions; within this scope they support improving the precision of maize mechanical inter-row cultivation. Full article

Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide worldwide and in Mexico; however, its effects on soil microbiota in traditional agroecosystems remain unclear. We evaluated bacterial, archaeal, and fungal responses to commercial glyphosate in three representative karst soils of the Yucatán Peninsula (black Leptosol, red Leptosol, and red Cambisol) historically associated with the Mayan milpa system. The high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA V4 and ITS1 regions was used to assess diversity patterns and differential abundance. Glyphosate application did not significantly alter alpha or beta diversity; however, fifteen taxa classified at the genus level exhibited shifts in relative abundance. Most bacterial taxa were depauperated in treated soils, whereas others, such as Arthrobacter, were enriched after application, indicating the presence of tolerant or resistant bacteria that may play a role in glyphosate degradation. Cordyceps, an entomopathogenic fungus, was depleted, indicating potential for natural pest control. The similarity of the core microbiota between samples with and without glyphosate application indicates that these communities are resilient. Overall, under short-term exposure, glyphosate induced compositional shifts in specific taxa without major effects on community structure but with potential implications for soil functionality and resilience in the Mayan milpa. Full article

Cyhalofop-butyl is a gramineous herbicide with good control effect, but it causes some damage when used in foxtail millet fields. Brassinolide (BR) is a type of plant growth hormone that can enhance the stress resistance of crops and plays a crucial role in eliminating and alleviating herbicide damage. To investigate the alleviating effect of BR on cyhalofop-butyl damage in foxtail millet, a study was conducted using Jingu 21 as the test material, combining pot experiments and field experiments. All test treatments were sprayed with cyhalofop-butyl at a concentration of 67.5 g a.i./ha. Three BR spraying times were set: the same day as cyhalofop-butyl spraying (D1), one day later (D2), and three days later (D3). Four BR concentrations were set—0 mg/L (C0), 0.05 mg/L (C1), 0.1 mg/L (C2), and 0.2 mg/L (C3)—resulting in a total of 12 treatments. The results showed that after BR spraying, all agronomic trait indicators of Jingu 21 in both pot and field experiments were alleviated. Compared with the control treatment, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) increased to varying degrees, the malondialdehyde (MDA) content decreased, and the drug damage level was alleviated to different extents. In addition, spraying BR can increase the yield of Jingu 21 under cyhalofop-butyl herbicide damage. The results of all indicators indicated that spraying BR one day after cyhalofop-butyl spraying had the best effect. Therefore, spraying BR at a concentration of 0.1 mg/L can effectively alleviate the damage of Jingu 21 plants. It is recommended that when using BR to alleviate damage in foxtail millet, the application should be spaced one day apart from the herbicide spraying. Full article

Weed management is always a challenge in crop production, exacerbated by the issue of herbicide resistance. Excessive herbicide application not only leads to the development of herbicide resistance weeds but also causes environmental problems. In precision agriculture, innovative weed management methods, especially advanced remote sensing and computer vision technologies for targeted herbicide applications, i.e., site-specific weed management (SSWM), have recently drawn a lot of attention. Challenges exist in accurately and reliably detecting diverse weed species under varying field conditions. Significant efforts have been made to advance computer vision technologies for weed detection. This comprehensive review provides an in-depth examination of various methodologies used in developing weed detection systems. These methodologies encompass a spectrum ranging from traditional image processing techniques to state-of-the-art machine and deep learning models. The review further discusses the potential of these methods for real-time applications, highlighting recent innovations, and identifying future research hotspots in SSWM. These advancements hold great promise for further enhancing and innovating weed management practices in precision agriculture. Full article

Herbicides are chemical compounds that are toxic to weed plants. Modern agriculture relies heavily on herbicides for the control of weeds to maximize crop yields. Herbicide usage in the Australian grains industry is estimated to have increased by more than 65% from 2014 to 2024, which equates to more than AUD 2.50 billion dollars per year. The increased popularity of herbicides in farming systems has raised concerns about their negative impacts on the environment, human health and agricultural sustainability due to the rapid evolution of herbicide resistance, as well as their behaviour and fate in the soil. Due to excessive use of herbicides, soil and water pollution, reduced biodiversity and depression in soil heterotrophic bacteria (including denitrifying bacteria) and fungi are becoming increasingly common. Biological degradation governed by microorganisms serves as a major natural remediation process for a variety of pollutants including herbicides. This review provides a brief overview of the present status of herbicide residues in Australian farming systems, with a focus on the microbial degradation of herbicides in soil. It highlights key bacterial and fungal strains involved and the environmental factors influencing the biodegradation process. Recent advancements, including the application of omics technologies, are outlined to provide a comprehensive understanding of the biodegradation process. Full article

The specific objectives include three points: (1) to clarify the dynamic change laws of the contents of three key endogenous hormones, namely, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellin (GA), and abscisic acid (ABA), in foxtail millet leaves after penoxsulam treatment, and their correlations with drug dose and treatment time; (2) to analyze the effects of different doses of penoxsulam on the antioxidant system of foxtail millet, specifically including the change characteristics of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), superoxide anion (O₂⁻), reduced glutathione (GSH) content, and cell membrane permeability (MP); and (3) to reveal the correlation between endogenous hormone changes and antioxidant system indicators through correlation analysis so as to provide a direct experimental basis for the screening of safe doses of penoxsulam application in foxtail millet fields and the research on the herbicide stress resistance mechanism of foxtail millet. Using Jingu 21 as the test material, four penoxsulam dose levels were set through pot and field experiments. The changes in endogenous hormone content, antioxidant system indexes, and phenotypic indicators of foxtail millet were determined at different periods after treatment, and the correlation between endogenous hormones and antioxidant systems was analyzed. Compared with the control (P₀), the contents of IAA and GA in foxtail millet showed a “first increasing and then decreasing” trend, while the content of ABA showed a continuous increasing trend. With the increase in penoxsulam concentration, the contents of H₂O₂, O₂⁻, GSH, and MP in foxtail millet gradually increased. A correlation analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between leaf endogenous hormones and the defense capacity of the antioxidant system. After penoxsulam treatment, foxtail millet leaves showed dynamic changes of “first increasing and then decreasing” in IAA and GA contents, and a continuous increase in ABA contents. At the same time, H₂O₂, O₂⁻, GSH content, and MP increased significantly with the increase in the drug dose. It is speculated that foxtail millet may indirectly regulate the defense ability of the antioxidant system by regulating the content of endogenous hormones to alleviate the damage of herbicide stress. Full article

The herbicides used with crops that have been made resistant to them with transgenes are assumed to have no significant effects on these crops. Crops made resistant to glyphosate, glufosinate, dicamba, 2,4-D, mesotrione, and isoxaflutole are discussed in this paper. Most of the literature on this topic has been on glyphosate-resistant crops, as these have been the most successful of all herbicide-resistant crops. Reports of adverse effects, such as phytotoxicity symptoms, disrupted mineral nutrition, and reduced yield, caused by these herbicides on these crops are reviewed and critiqued herein. These reports are often conflicting, however, and there is no consistent evidence of any major adverse effects of these herbicides on these crops. Literature on the accumulation of residues of the intended herbicides in the parts of the plants that are used as food is also discussed. Reports of potential unintended beneficial effects, such as effects on crop pests and stimulation of crop growth and development are also critiqued. Full article