Search Results (1,449)

The application of pulsed electric fields (PEFs) as a pre-treatment in the meat industry offers significant potential for intensifying mass transfer processes. This study investigated the effect of PEF treatment at three energy levels (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 kJ/kg) on the efficiency of osmotic dehydration of pork loin using two ternary osmotic solutions: 5% NaCl + 40% maltose syrup and 10% NaCl + 40% maltose syrup. Key physicochemical and quality parameters were analyzed, including mass change, muscle tissue shrinkage, water-holding capacity (WHC), moisture content, salt content, and color attributes. The results demonstrated that PEF pre-treatment applied before osmotic dehydration significantly improved water-holding capacity and reduced water activity in pork. Moreover, the effect of the lowest tested energy level (0.1 kJ/kg) on dehydration-related parameters depended on the osmotic solution composition and was most evident in the 10% NaCl system after 6 h of dehydration, while this treatment also limited NaCl uptake by the tissue. A noticeable decrease in lightness (L*) and a shift toward negative b* values were also observed, which may be associated with structural condensation and reduced light scattering on the meat surface. Overall, the findings confirm that PEF pre-treatment combined with ternary osmotic solutions effectively modifies the physicochemical properties of pork, enabling the production of a stable product with distinctive quality characteristics and supporting process efficiency. The obtained results constitute a valuable contribution to the existing knowledge on the combined use of PEF and osmotic dehydration, as studies addressing this integrated approach in pork have not been published to date. Full article

Polyamine treatments are beneficial against various stress factors due to direct protective effects and the regulation of metabolite remodelling and gene expression. However, their protective, specific effects as priming under stress conditions remain not fully understood. We hypothesised that the positive effect of priming decreases even shortly after priming. To investigate the duration of action of putrescine treatment against osmotic stress, and to reveal species- and time-dependent differences, the effects of putrescine seed-soaking were monitored in wheat and maize during osmotic stress. The putrescine pre-treatment was effective in both species against osmotic stress during three trials ran in parallel, even when the stress was applied 7 days after seed-soaking. Leaves and roots responded differently, and putrescine induced certain unique changes under control and osmotic stress conditions. The effects of the treatments at the metabolite level changed between the sub-experiments and differed between the two species. Putrescine alone had an increasing effect on jasmonic acid-isoleucine level in the roots of both wheat and maize, and it induced the expression of WRKY97 in both the leaves and roots of maize plants throughout the experiment. These results highlight that different hormonal and transcriptional changes induced by putrescine were associated with the observed positive effects. Full article

This study used Poacynum hendersonii (Hook. f.) Woods. seedlings as experimental material. A soil drought group (gradual soil drying) and a PEG-simulated drought group (15% PEG-6000 treatment) were established. By combining physiological measurements, metabolomics, and transcriptomics, we investigated the physiological and molecular mechanisms of P. hendersonii in response to drought stress. The results showed that under drought stress, P. hendersonii alleviated oxidative damage by activating the antioxidant enzyme system (catalase, CAT; superoxide dismutase, SOD; peroxidase, POD), and enzyme activities recovered significantly after rehydration. In the osmotic stress group (PEG), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents increased significantly in the later stages, whereas membrane damage was milder in the soil drought group. Metabolomics analysis revealed significant enrichment of starch and sucrose metabolism pathways during early drought, shifting to unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis and carbon metabolism in later stages. PEG-simulated drought specifically induced the accumulation of arachidonic acid, which may be associated with ferroptosis-like processes, although direct evidence is lacking. Transcriptomics analysis identified 23,623 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with transcription factor families such as bHLH, MYB, and NAC playing key roles in drought response. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) further revealed gene modules significantly correlated with physiological traits, indicating that enhanced respiratory metabolism (glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle) is an important strategy for P. hendersonii to adapt to drought. The study also found that while PEG-simulated drought could simulate the physiological effects of soil drought, significant differences existed in molecular pathways, particularly during later stress stages. This research provides a theoretical basis for elucidating the drought resistance mechanisms of P. hendersonii and offers potential targets for crop drought resistance breeding. Full article

Climate change is intensifying soil salinization, posing a major threat to crop establishment and productivity, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), one of the most salt-tolerant cereals, offers valuable genetic resources for improving salinity resilience at early growth stages. This study exploited the genetic diversity of the Nested Association Mapping (NAM) population Halle Exotic Barley-25 (HEB-25) to dissect salinity tolerance during germination and seedling developmental stages. First, the HEB-25 parental lines (25 wild barley genotypes and cv. Barke) were evaluated under salinity treatment to identify contrasting responses. Based on this screening, four HEB families (01, 04, 09, and 22) were selected out of 25 HEB families for detailed phenotypic and genomic analysis. Seeds of the selected HEB families were subjected to 40% seawater salinity stress and control treatments to assess germination percentage and seedling traits, including shoot length, root length, fresh weight (FW), dry weight (DW), DW/FW ratio, root–shoot ratio, and salt tolerance index (STI). Substantial variation was observed among families for all measured traits under salinity stress. STI values enabled clear differentiation among families: Family 01 exhibited the most consistent overall tolerance profile, Family 22 showed the strongest sensitivity in biomass traits, and Family 04 displayed a trait-specific response with sensitivity at the family-mean level but exceptional within-family diversity, harboring some of the highest individual TI values across the population. A genome-wide association study was conducted using 32,995 SNP markers. A total of 27 significant SNPs were identified, corresponding to 20 quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Of these, 12 QTLs were detected under control conditions, 16 under seawater treatment, and 21 based on tolerance indices, indicating both constitutive and stress-responsive genetic effects. Gene annotation within these regions revealed approximately 23 candidate genes associated with abiotic stress tolerance, including genes involved in ion transport, osmotic adjustment, kinases and stress signaling pathways. HEB_22_003, HEB_04_087, and HEB_01_013 represent the most promising genotypes for salinity breeding. These findings highlight the effectiveness of combining precise phenotyping with high-resolution genomic analysis in the HEB-25 population to uncover the genetic architecture of salinity tolerance at early developmental stages. We identified 20 salinity-responsive QTLs, including five major-effect loci on chromosomes 2H, 4H, 5H, and 7H that consistently explained the largest share of phenotypic variation. These loci co-localized with candidate genes linked to ion homeostasis, Ca²⁺-mediated signaling, protein glycosylation, epigenetic regulation, and root system plasticity, revealing key mechanisms underlying early-stage salt adaptation in barley. The strong and contrasting responses of Family 01 and Family 04 provide an excellent genetic framework for functional validation of tolerance alleles. Collectively, these genomic resources establish a robust foundation for QTL pyramiding, marker-assisted breeding, and the development of climate-resilient barley cultivars for saline agroecosystems. Full article

Salinity stress severely inhibits crop growth and reduces yield. Exogenous selenium (Se) enhances plant abiotic stress tolerance, but how different selenium forms exert their impacts and pathways in mitigating salinity remains ambiguous. Under salt stress, this work compared two Se forms, selenate [Se(VI)] and selenite [Se(IV)], regarding their impacts on development, photosynthetic performance, antioxidative system, osmotic regulators, Se buildup, and stress-related gene expression in Nicotiana tabacum L. Both Se species significantly promoted tobacco growth. (1) Under 150 mmol/L NaCl stress, biomass, net photosynthetic rate and antioxidant enzyme activities decreased significantly, while soluble sugar, free proline, Na⁺/K⁺, Na⁺/Ca²⁺, H₂O₂, MDA contents and NtROS2a, NtLEA5 expression increased significantly. (2) Exogenous Se increased biomass, photosynthetic parameters; antioxidant enzyme activities and NtNAC2, NtCDPK12, NtROS2a expression; elevated Se deposition in roots and leaves; and reduced oxidative damage, ion imbalance and NtLEA5 expression in salt-stressed tobacco, suggesting that Se may improve salt tolerance by regulating these physiological processes and stress-related gene expression. (3) Compared with Se(IV), Se(VI) significantly increased root length, chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, K⁺ content, SOD/CAT activities, leaf and root Se accumulation as well as and NtNAC2, NtCDPK12 expression, while Se(IV) resulted in higher root diameter, free proline content, Na⁺/K⁺ ratio and NtROS2a expression. In conclusion, both sodium selenate and sodium selenite effectively enhanced tobacco salt tolerance. The salt stress alleviation effect of Se(VI) may be associated with upregulating NtNAC2 and NtCDPK12 to improve antioxidant capacity and photosynthesis, thereby potentially maintaining cell membrane integrity and ion balance, while Se(IV) may exert its effect through upregulating NtROS2a to promote root thickening, reactive oxygen species scavenging and osmotic adjustment. At the tested concentrations, selenate was more effective. Full article

The southeastern coastal region of China is extensively influenced by the circum-Pacific geothermal activity, particularly during the excavation of deep-buried tunnels, where the confined space leads to the accumulation of heat flow, resulting in high-temperature and high-humidity environments. These conditions are detrimental to both the physical and mental health of workers and the safe operation of equipment. Based on this, the Lijiashan deep-buried high-temperature tunnel along the Wen-Yu High-Speed Railway (Wenling-Yuhuan) was selected as a case study. Field monitoring was conducted to assess the surrounding rock stress, temperature distribution characteristics of the surrounding rock and structure, and the humid and high-temperature environment within the tunnel during construction. A comprehensive evaluation index considering both temperature and humidity was employed to evaluate the tunnel construction environment. The results indicate the following: (1) During tunnel excavation, the maximum surrounding rock pressure occurs at the arched shoulder, and the fractures induced by blasting effectively relieve stress, mitigating the risk of rockburst. (2) The seepage paths of the surrounding rock are redistributed during excavation, converging towards the invert, with the osmotic pressure being approximately 10 times that of the upper structure. (3) The temperature at the tunnel face, secondary lining, and surrounding rock is significantly influenced by the heat released from concrete hydration. The closer the surrounding rock is to the support structure, the higher the temperature, with the secondary lining reaching up to 58.6 °C and the working area up to 35.2 °C. (4) Water spraying can reduce the temperature in the construction area by approximately 0.65% at the Kelvin temperature conditions, but it increases humidity by about 16%. The average humidity levels within the tunnel are 75.3% during the day and 87.5% at night. (5) Evaluation of workers’ physiological parameters reveals that the humid and high-temperature environment during tunnel construction is consistently unfavorable for workers’ health. Full article

Background/Objectives: Perioperative fasting combined with procedure-related trauma increases the risk of malnutrition and determines the treatment outcomes of surgical patients. The aim of this study was to assess the range of metabolic deficiencies and the effectiveness of oral nutritional supplements (ONSs) after surgical intervention. Methods: 84 patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery were included in this study. Patients were divided into three groups: receiving a low-osmotic ONS (Group I), high-osmotic ONS (Group II), and Group III, who did not receive any oral supplementation. The clinical assessment involved body weight measurements and metabolic blood tests preoperatively and on the 4th, 7th, 14th, and 28th postoperative days. Results: The mean blood levels of total protein, albumin, cholesterol, and blood lymphocyte count decreased in the first 4 days after surgery and returned to baseline between 7 and 14 days. Similarly, BMI dropped during the first two weeks and then stabilized or returned to pre-surgery values. Triglycerides initially increased and, after 14 days, started to normalize. Patients receiving an ONS compensated quicker than the control group and more efficiently with low-osmotic supplements. Conclusions: Surgical trauma is associated with metabolic deficiency. The early administration of ONSs provides significant benefits to patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Low-osmotic supplements are especially recommended due to better tolerance. Full article

Dry direct seeding (DDS) is a water-saving and high-efficiency rice cultivation system. However, drought stress during DDS severely constrains seedling establishment. This study used the conventional rice variety Zhonghua 11 (ZH11) and the drought-tolerant hybrid Hanyou 73 to investigate the effects of exogenous silicon (Si) on seed germination and seedling growth under drought stress, and to explore the underlying mechanisms of Si-enhanced drought tolerance. Drought stress was imposed using PEG-6000 simulation and pot experiments with different soil relative water contents (60%, 45%, 25%, and 10%). Si treatment significantly alleviated simulated drought inhibition of seed germination, increasing germination percentage and index, improving seedling growth in both varieties. Under simulated DDS conditions, Si significantly improved plant height, biomass, and root development, while maintaining higher net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO₂ concentration, transpiration rate, and chlorophyll content. Meanwhile, Si reduced oxidative damage by promoting proline accumulation, enhancing peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activities in both leaves and roots, reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, and upregulating the expression of key drought-responsive genes (SNAC1, DREB1A, SKIPa, P5CS2). Furthermore, Si upregulated the expression of genes involved in abscisic acid (ABA) (ABA1, ABA2, MHZ5, ABI3) and jasmonic acid (JA) (AOS2, AOS3, JAR1, JAR2, MYC2, COI1a) biosynthesis and signaling. Compared with the wild-type, the ABA signaling mutant abi3 and the JA signaling mutant myc2 exhibited significantly attenuated improvement of plant growth by Si treatment. Collectively, Si enhances antioxidant capacity and osmotic adjustment, maintains photosynthetic function, and is associated with the activation of ABA and JA signaling pathways, which together alleviate the inhibition of rice seedling establishment under DDS-associated drought stress. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for the application of Si fertilizer in DDS rice production. Full article

This review explicitly focuses on agricultural attachments and executing components that interact directly with soil and crops, rather than the tractor vehicle itself. Operating within complex and variable farmland media environments, the key components of agricultural machinery have long been constrained by bottlenecks such as high-energy draught resistance, severe solid–liquid interfacial adhesion, and intense abrasive wear. Bionic functional surfaces, based on the coupling of micro-geometric morphology and surface-interface physical chemistry, provide a scientific approach to overcoming traditional tribological limitations by reconstructing the contact mechanics and fluid dynamics boundaries at the interface. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the latest research progress regarding bionic functional surfaces in the fields of friction reduction, wear resistance, and anti-adhesion in agricultural machinery. The article systematically categorises typical biological prototypes, such as soil-burrowing animals, aquatic organisms, and plant leaves, alongside their multidimensional feature extraction methods. It provides an in-depth analysis of core interaction mechanisms, ranging from static air cushion effects and dynamic wetting evolution to active electro-osmotic soil detachment, interfacial stress redistribution, and microscopic wear debris capture. Furthermore, it evaluates the efficacy of cross-scale coupled numerical simulation technologies in resolving interfacial interactions. At the engineering application level, this review extensively discusses the field performance of bionic structures in typical operational scenarios, including draught reduction in tillage and land preparation, blockage prevention in seed-metering channels, and low-damage harvesting in agricultural machinery. Finally, countermeasures are proposed to address the fatigue degradation of bionic surfaces under alternating field loads and the barriers to the large-scale fabrication of large-sized components. The paper further highlights the development trend towards the deep integration of bionic tribology with digital twins and intelligent wear-state perception technologies, aiming to provide systematic underlying theoretical and technical references for the research and development of the next generation of intelligent agricultural equipment characterised by low energy consumption and a prolonged service life. Full article

Preharvest climatic conditions and irrigation management are decisive determinants of avocado postharvest performance. Avocado trees are highly susceptible to the water regimen, conditions that disrupt carbon assimilation, mineral nutrient uptake, and biomass partitioning. This study evaluated the effects of deficit irrigation imposed during early stages of fruit growth, coinciding with active cell division, on fruit development and postharvest quality of ‘Hass’ avocado. Deficit and excess irrigation induced physiological stress, reducing stem water potential (≈−1 MPa) and altering photochemical efficiency, while F_V/F_M remained unaffected. Fruit growth was strongly affected, with weight reductions of up to 26% during development and 22% at harvest under severe deficit, resulting in fruits becoming more yellowish-green. In contrast, excessive irrigation promoted larger fruit with darker green skin, with delayed maturation. Metabolomic revealed that the fruit developmental stage was the main driver of metabolic variation, while irrigation effects were minor and stage-dependent, limited to osmotic-related metabolites such as GABA. These findings indicate that early-season water imbalances primarily affect fruit growth through changes in water relations rather than metabolic reprogramming, highlighting the importance of precise irrigation management during critical developmental stages. Fine-tuning water supply during early developmental stages is a strategic tool for optimizing fruit size and postharvest quality in avocado. Full article

Sports nutrition products are increasingly expected to deliver bioactive compounds that aid in recovery, reduce fatigue, and support physiological regulation, going beyond merely providing energy and nutrients. However, many bioactive compounds face challenges such as poor aqueous dispersibility, limited stability, low bioaccessibility, or inefficient absorption, which hinder their practical use in real food products. This review critically examines food-grade, gel-based delivery systems for bioactive compounds in sports nutrition from a design-driven perspective. It focuses on hydrogels, microgels, emulsion gels, protein gel matrices, and multicomponent gel architectures that prioritize structural stability, digestion-triggered responsiveness, and compatibility with food. Key design principles are discussed, including the need to maintain stability during processing and storage, balance protection with release, and tailor delivery structures to sports-specific constraints such as gastrointestinal tolerance, osmotic load, nutrient timing, and changes in digestion related to exercise. The review also analyzes the effectiveness of gel-based and hybrid systems in liquid, solid, and semi-solid sports nutrition products, emphasizing how the product format and consumption scenario can influence delivery performance. A design decision framework is proposed to align bioactive properties, food format, target release profile, and exercise-stage requirements with appropriate delivery architectures. Current challenges are also addressed, including difficulties in predicting structure–function relationships, limited robustness during scale-up processes, and inadequate functional evaluation. Overall, gel-based food delivery systems provide a promising solution for improving the stability, release behavior, and practical functionality of bioactives in sports nutrition. Full article

Selenium (Se) biofortification is a promising approach to improve the nutritional value and functional quality of microgreens, although species-specific responses to Se remain insufficiently understood. This study investigated the effects of Se biofortification on physiological status, antioxidant responses, phenolic composition, and molecular changes in four Brassica microgreens: broccoli, kohlrabi, pak choi, and kale, using biochemical analyses, HPLC, and FTIR spectroscopy. The indicators of nutritional quality and stress-related metabolism in Brassica microgreens showed species-specific responses due to selenium treatment. Kohlrabi showed coordinated osmotic and metabolic adjustment involving osmolyte accumulation and enhanced antioxidant response, although moderate membrane sensitivity was observed at the highest selenium concentration. Pak choi maintained tolerance through balanced metabolic adjustment and enzymatic defense, while broccoli responded predominantly through enzymatic antioxidant mechanisms. Kale exhibited pronounced non-enzymatic responses, including anthocyanin accumulation and enhanced radical scavenging capacity. PCA confirmed species-specific response strategies and differential associations among biochemical parameters. Changes in antioxidant functionality were associated with both metabolite accumulation and structural reorganization of phenolic-related compounds. Overall, Se biofortification improved functional and nutritional traits of the investigated Brassica microgreens, although higher selenium concentrations induced moderate oxidative and membrane-related stress in certain Brassica microgreens. These findings highlight the importance of species-specific optimization of Se application to maximize crop quality while minimizing potential effects of Se toxicity. Full article

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are among the most destructive pests in protected watermelon production under continuous cropping systems. Although both pepper rotation and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation have shown potential for suppressing RKNs and promoting plant growth, their combined effects remain unclear. This study conducted greenhouse pot experiments using continuously cropped watermelon soil over two consecutive cycles. In the first cycle, chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) or watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) was planted, followed by watermelon cultivation in the second cycle with inoculation of Funneliformis mosseae or Glomus versiforme. Compared with continuous watermelon cropping, both rotation and AMF inoculation improved root vitality, osmotic regulation, antioxidant enzyme activities, and photosynthetic performance, thereby enhancing watermelon growth and resistance to RKNs. Among all treatments, chili pepper rotation combined with Glomus versiforme showed the best performance, increasing shoot fresh weight by 31% and reducing disease index (DI), gall index (GI), and egg mass index (EI) by 30.8%, 77.0%, and 57.1%, respectively. In addition, the populations of second-stage juveniles (J2) in soil and roots and adult females in roots decreased by 85.4%, 55.5%, and 50.8%, respectively. High-throughput sequencing results showed that the combined treatment enriched several potentially beneficial microbial taxa, including Ochrobactrum, Bacillus, Acinetobacter, and Delftia. In addition, it enriched predicted metabolic pathways that may be associated with plant growth promotion and stress tolerance. Overall, pepper rotation combined with Glomus versiforme inoculation represents a promising, environmentally friendly strategy for the management of watermelon root-knot nematode disease. Full article

To combat coastal wind erosion and develop sustainable stabilization technologies, a resource-efficient technique was developed based on the Enzyme-Induced Carbonate Precipitation (EICP) principle in the coastal regions of China. Utilizing seawater as a multi-ion source and discarded soybean hulls (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) as a crude urease source, this method is synergized with vegetation to form an environmentally friendly anti-erosion strategy. This study first explored the feasibility of soybean hull-derived urease, then analyzed the impacts of urease activity, reaction liquid volume, and seawater concentration on the germination and growth of Kalimeris indica. The results show that the biochemical mineralization process effectively sequesters soluble Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ from seawater into stable mineral phases, thereby mitigating salt-induced osmotic stress. Optimal plant growth was achieved at a seawater concentration of 0.2 mol·L⁻¹ and a liquid volume of 200 mL. Furthermore, the biocementation provided robust protection for initial plant growth, achieving an approximately 92.3% reduction in soil loss. Despite the presence of nitrogenous byproducts, the synergistic effect of EICP crusts and developing root systems ensures long-term wind erosion resistance and ecological integrity. This study highlights a functional transition from artificial mineralization to biological anchoring for sustainable coastal restoration. Full article

Global crop production faces serious threats from soil salinization. Microbial resources are often exploited to be used as fertilizers or seed coatings to address this issue. Parametarhizium changbaiense, as a novel beneficial microorganism, has been discovered to be capable of assisting limited crops such as mung bean in resisting salt–alkali stress. To investigate the effects of P. changbaiense on sugar beet under salt–alkali stress, the salt (NaCl:Na₂SO₄, molar ratio 9:1) and alkali (NaHCO₃:Na₂CO₃, molar ratio 9:1) stress were set on sugar beet germplasm 780016B. Results demonstrated that P. changbaiense improved the phenotypic characteristics of sugar beet seedlings under salt–alkali stress. The biomass parameters such as plant height and fresh weight significantly increased by growth-promoting effect. The elevated antioxidant enzyme activity could help protect plants from ROS damage induced by stress. Relative electrical conductivity and MDA content decreased with inoculation, thereby mitigating membrane lipid peroxidation and improving membrane system stability. The higher content of soluble sugar could maintain cell turgor pressure and alleviate osmotic stress. Inoculation with P. changbaiense enhanced chlorophyll content, fluorescence, and photosynthetic capacity. The more superior root vitality and architecture were suitable for the functions of metabolism and absorption. P. changbaiense could promote the growth and physiological characteristics under salt–alkali stress, so it has practical application value in agricultural production. Full article