Search Results (1,284)

Nitrogen deposition continuously alters the invasibility of terrestrial ecosystems, but how the composition of local plant functional groups regulates this process by root-associated microbial during invasion, especially under the background of resource changes, remains unclear. This study focused on the invasive plant Cenchrus spinifex Cav. and conducted an interactive experiment using nitrogen addition and four different functional group combinations of local plant communities. The results show that the community with the closest phylogenetic distance (PD = 189) had the strongest resistance to invasion. Nitrogen addition was the core factor driving invasion (total effect 0.86), which promoted invasion by increasing soil nitrogen pools and altering microbial community structure. The role of leguminous plants changed fundamentally with nitrogen availability; they were competitors under low-nitrogen conditions, while under high-nitrogen conditions, they transformed into “synergistic invaders” by shaping the root-associated environment rich in microorganisms such as Proteobacteria that facilitate rapid nutrient turnover. Plant nitrogen and phosphorus content (PNP) is a key indicator reflecting the nutrient absorption capacity of invasive plants and is closely related to invasion success. It significantly promotes the ability of root resources acquisition. The study shows that invasion success depends on the dynamic balance among resource input, the phylogenetic background of the local community, and the microbial feedback regulated by it. Future ecological management should consider the coordinated regulation of aboveground functional group selection and underground microbial processes. Full article

Anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) in terrestrial plant feeds constrain efficient herbivore production, an issue intensified by rising feed costs and growing demand for animal products. Unlike previous reviews that focus on single ANFs or feed types, this review provides an integrated, cross-species framework linking ANF chemistry, rumen microbial interactions, and mitigation strategies. It examines major ANF classes—tannins, phytates, saponins, oxalates, protease inhibitors, lectins, glucosinolates, and gossypol—and their distribution and biochemical modes of action. Mechanistic pathways are grouped into digestive effects (reduced palatability and enzyme inhibition), microbial effects (altered rumen microbiota and fermentation), metabolic effects (impaired absorption), and mineral interactions (nutrient complexation and chelation). Species-specific responses are evaluated, emphasizing the partial detoxification capacity of the rumen microbiome and the dose-dependent nature of ANF effects. Mitigation strategies—physical, chemical, microbial, enzymatic, probiotic, and genetic—are critically assessed for efficacy, scalability, and sustainability. Emerging metabolomic and metagenomic evidence shows that certain ANFs confer functional benefits at controlled doses; for example, tannins improve nitrogen retention, saponins reduce methane, and phytic acid scavenges free radicals. This synthesis supports strategic management rather than complete elimination, informing safe and sustainable use of terrestrial feeds under evolving food-security and environmental challenges. Full article

Legume–grass intercropping and phosphorus (P) fertilization are recognized strategies for enhancing forage productivity, but their interactive effects on soil microbial processes and plant phosphorus nutrition in a semi-arid climate remain poorly understood. We conducted a field experiment with common vetch (Vicia sativa) and oat (Avena sativa) under two monocultures and three intercropping treatments (legume–grass ratios of 1:3, 2:3, and 1:1), combined with three P fertilization rates (0, 60, and 120 kg P ha⁻¹). The results showed that common vetch/oat intercropping with moderate legume–grass proportions (1:3 and 2:3) significantly outyielded monocultures across all P levels and exhibited a stronger net biodiversity effect than the 1:1 intercropping at P fertilization. Plant P concentration was primarily increased by P fertilization. Crucially, all intercropping treatments showed a significantly lower microbial biomass carbon/phosphorous ratio than the monoculture in the absence of P fertilization. However, this difference disappeared when P was applied, indicating P fertilization overrode the intercropping-induced stoichiometric shift. Correlation analyses further showed that forage yield and plant P uptake were positively linked to microbial biomass P and negatively to the microbial biomass carbon/phosphorous ratio. Together, our findings reveal that a common vetch/oat intercropping system combined with P fertilization may improve the nutrient use efficiency through microbial pathway. This improvement in nutrient use efficiency leads to higher nutrient uptake by plants, thereby causing more rapid soil reserve depletion. Full article

Microbial diversity and sustainable agriculture are key players for the mutual harmony of the nature/agriculture ecosystem that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, to harness their best potential, it is necessary to understand the complex interactions between microbial communities and plants. This has become feasible with the intervention of advanced multiomics techniques including genomics, metagenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, etc. With the advent of next-generation technologies, production of biological data at a cost-effective expense has escalated rapidly. Thus, it is feasible for all researchers to explore these advanced technologies for a better understanding of how to harness the full potential of microbial diversity toward sustainable agriculture. The growth of biological databases, particularly microbial databases, and interphasic tools are bound to the rapid growth of bioinformatics domains. Additionally, bioinformatics provides the direction for better understanding of the interaction of the microbe–plant system. Keeping in view the expansion of escalated biological datasets, the role of big data analytics is vital to understand the interplay of the diverse datasets along with the growing biological databases. The relevant case studies employing big data analytics in sustainable agriculture have been discussed. This will help to make better decisions toward the productivity of sustainable agriculture. This review is an attempt to showcase the recent growth of bioinformatics databases and the role of big data analytics in achieving sustainable agriculture. Full article

Replacing peat in green roof substrates with sustainable alternatives while maintaining plant performance and ecosystem services remains a critical challenge. We studied biochar-substrate interactions across four commercial green roof formulations (based on the type of organic component) in a greenhouse experiment: pure vermicompost, vermicompost + fen peat, fen peat, and mixed fen/high-moor peat. Substrates were amended with straw biochar, pine bark biochar, or left unamended (5% v/v, n = 4 replicates) and planted with a grass seed mixture mimicking early green roof establishment. Plant growth, nutrient contents (nitrate and phosphate contents), and microbial indicators (microbial biomass carbon (MBC), qCO₂, and enzyme activities) were measured 30 days after the experiment began. Straw biochar in vermicompost boosted nitrate (90.8 mg kg⁻¹) and root N (3.1%) compared to the control, while pine bark biochar in mixed peat released phosphate (+375%) and maximized MBC (874 µg g⁻¹). Biochar intensified substrate effects, suppressing CO₂ in peat through liming effects (pH from 4.6 to 6.5–7.1) but priming respiration in vermicompost via labile C supply. PCA explained 63% of the variance, with nitrate, plant N, and microbial parameters driving substrate separation. These short-term greenhouse results demonstrate critical biochar-substrate specificity for green roof substrate development, emphasizing formulation-specific matching over universal biochar application. Full article

Laural (Laurus nobilis) is a Mediterranean plant with reported antibacterial properties, yet the genetic basis of its antibacterial efficacy remains largely unexplored. This study evaluated the antibacterial activity of Laurus nobilis methanolic extracts against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus cereus, combined with genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and machine learning (ML) approaches to identify genetic markers and predict antibacterial efficacy in 92 plant samples. Antibacterial tests revealed significant variability in inhibition zones, with E. coli showing the highest inhibition (Canakkale2: 24.5 mm), followed by S. aureus (Aydin2: 26.0 mm). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) analysis demonstrated notable regional differences; extracts from Mersin3 showed the highest efficacy (MIC = 6.25 mg/mL), while Aydin1 exhibited the lowest activity (MIC = 100 mg/mL). Population structure and neighbor joining tree analysis split the germplasm into two groups. GWAS identified significant genetic markers associated with antibacterial traits, including marker 26557159 for EC-MEAN (Escherichia coli-Mean) (p = 1.10 × 10⁻⁴, MarkerR² = 0.1799, genetic variance = 9.41792) and marker 26584774 for BC-MEAN (Bacillus cereus-Mean) (p = 8.89 × 10⁻⁵, MarkerR² = 0.18512, genetic variance = 12.48948). Protein–protein interaction network of loci associated with marker trait association (MTA) marker (26557159) indicated involvement in high-affinity secondary active ammonium transmembrane transporter activity, providing insights into genetic regions influencing antibacterial properties. ML models predicted antibacterial activity with high accuracy. XGBoost achieved the best performance for MIC predictions (R² = 0.999, RMSE = 0.434), while random forest (R² = 0.984) demonstrated robust performance for both MIC and disc diffusion assays. LightGBM performed well for MIC prediction (R² = 0.988) but showed limited accuracy for disc diffusion outcomes (R² = 0.695). This study is the first to combine GWAS and ML for predicting antibacterial efficacy in L. nobilis, identifying specific genetic markers (e.g., 26557159, 26584774) and demonstrating that XGBoost achieves near-perfect MIC prediction (R² = 0.999). These findings provide a genomic and computational foundation for marker-assisted breeding of laurel with enhanced antibacterial properties and support the sustainable use of plant-derived anti-microbials. Full article

This study aims to reveal the synergistic degradation and conversion of lignocellulose by spatially distributed gastric microorganisms, facilitating efficient anaerobic fermentation of plant biomass. Contents from camel stomach compartments, feces, and plant biomass were collected for analyses of total carbon, total nitrogen, lignocellulose, FTIR, and XRD. Portions were cultured in vitro to measure gaseous products, organic acids, and ammonia nitrogen, combined with high-throughput sequencing for microbial community analysis. The results indicate a compartment-specific degradation pattern of protein, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin across stomach compartments, driven by distinct pH environments: cellulose in the rumen (pH 7.71), hemicellulose and protein in the reticulum (pH 7.78), and lignin in the abomasum (pH 3.72). Synergistic interactions among key degraders in the reticulum, including Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group (15.9%), Cyllamyces (5.1%), Prevotella (7.4%), and Methanobrevibacter (39.6%), enhanced production of reducing sugars, organic acids, and ammonia nitrogen, with CO₂, CH₄, and NH₃ yields being 1.3, 3.1, and 2.0 times those in the rumen. These findings reveal an efficient sequential bioconversion system, highlighting the reticulum as a key region with a stable microbial network, and offer a biomimetic basis for expanding enzyme resources and designing staged anaerobic bioreactors, thereby contributing to sustainable bioenergy development and conversion of lignocellulosic resources. Full article

Soil acidification is a widespread consequence of intensive agriculture and represents a major abiotic stress affecting plant performance, nutrient availability, and ecosystem functioning. Long-term tea (Camellia sinensis) plantations provide model systems of chronic acidification, where sustained low pH imposes strong environmental filtering on soil microbial communities. Although microbial responses to acidification have been extensively studied, research has focused predominantly on bacteria and fungi, leaving other key functional groups, particularly protists, largely overlooked. Here, we synthesize current knowledge on microbial communities in acidified soils and highlight trophic interactions, especially protist-mediated regulation, as a potentially critical but underexplored dimension linking abiotic stress to plant–soil processes. We propose that soil acidification may not only filter microbial community composition but also reshape trophic interactions. Based on evidence from other soil systems, protist-mediated trophic interactions could influence nutrient cycling, pathogen suppression, and ultimately plant responses under stress conditions. Integrating environmental filtering with trophic perspectives provides a conceptual framework for understanding microbiome dynamics in acidified soils. However, direct evidence linking protist-mediated trophic regulation to ecosystem functioning and plant performance in tea plantation soils remains limited and requires experimental validation. We further suggest that these systems provide unique opportunities to investigate how abiotic constraints and biotic interactions jointly shape plant performance. Addressing this gap is essential for advancing predictive understanding of plant–microbiome interactions under ongoing environmental change. Full article

The digestive system is one of the most complex systems in the body, integrating multiple functions, closely linked to and influenced by chemosensory mechanisms, as well as by the presence, composition, and dynamics of the microbiome. Increasing attention has been directed toward plant-derived foods and medicines, which interact with gut microbiota and modulate host physiological responses through microbial metabolism, leading to the formation of bioactive metabolites that influence host signaling pathways and therapeutic response. The review, based on relevant articles from major international databases using specific terms with a focus on microbiome-mediated interactions and molecular mechanisms, highlights the role of microbiome and diagnostic methods through the analysis of specific composition and changes in microbiota, as well as the importance of microbiomes in relation to the treatment of chronic diseases, given their complex influence on drug metabolism. The microbiome influences the response to medications and resistance to therapy, being also involved in the metabolism of plant-derived foods and medicines through complex microbial interactions, while the importance of modern diagnostic approaches supports the use of microbiome analysis to improve diagnosis, monitoring, and personalized medical strategies. Full article

The growing diversity of food fermentation systems has intensified interest in non-Saccharomyces yeasts due to their broad metabolic capabilities and technological potential. However, current understanding of yeast functionality remains fragmented and frequently relies on taxonomy-centered classification, which often provides limited predictive value across fermentation systems. This review critically examines how strain-specific microbial traits, food matrix composition, and process conditions collectively shape fermentation performance across brewing, wine, cereal, plant-based, and functional fermentation systems. Particular emphasis is placed on key determinants of microbial functionality, including carbon metabolism, aroma biogenesis, acidification, enzymatic activity, microbial interactions, and transformation of food-associated bioactive compounds such as glycosides, phenolics, terpenes, and matrix-bound metabolites. The available evidence demonstrates that fermentation-relevant functionality cannot be reliably inferred from species identity alone because microbial performance is strongly modulated by strain variability and matrix-dependent environmental constraints. To address these limitations, this review proposes a matrix–trait–function framework that integrates microbial metabolic capabilities with food matrix characteristics and technological objectives to support a more predictive and application-oriented approach to yeast selection in food fermentation systems. Full article

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent emerging contaminants characterized by high environmental stability and biotoxicity. Ubiquitous detection of these contaminants across aquatic environments poses severe threats to ecosystem stability and human health, while constructed wetlands (CWs) serve as a sustainable low-carbon alternative for the remediation of PFAS-laden wastewater. However, traditional mechanisms such as matrix adsorption, phytoaccumulation, and microbial transformation often suffer from low efficiency, rapid saturation, and incomplete degradation. To overcome the above drawbacks, the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)–plant–microbe synergistic consortium has become a promising remediation candidate, which facilitates PFAS immobilization and biodegradation via symbiotic crosstalk among three components. This paper reviews recent advancements in PFAS remediation within AMF-facilitated systems, examining fundamental synergistic mechanisms, treatment efficiencies, and key influencing factors. We propose several optimization strategies, including substrate modification, operational parameter refinement, and the integration of advanced technologies. Furthermore, we emphasize the necessity of elucidating the molecular pathways governing long-chain PFAS degradation and addressing current bottlenecks in engineering applications. Future research should prioritize molecular interaction level interaction mechanisms, the development of anti-interference systems, and field-scale validation. This review provides a theoretical foundation and technical framework for leveraging AMF–plant–microbe synergism to enhance PFAS removal in CWs. Full article

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is widely recognized as a major forage crop, yet its role as a multifunctional biological input in sustainable horticultural production remains underexplored. This review evaluates alfalfa as a biological nitrogen source, organic fertilization resource, and biofertilizer-supporting crop within vegetable, medicinal, and perennial horticultural systems. Due to its high capacity for biological nitrogen fixation, alfalfa can supply substantial amounts of plant-available nitrogen, reducing dependency on synthetic fertilizers and supporting environmentally sound nutrient management. When used as green manure, cover crop, intercrop, mulch source, compost feedstock, or processed organic fertilizer, alfalfa enhances the soil organic carbon (SOC), improves soil structure, and increases the water-holding capacity properties particularly critical in intensive horticultural production. Higher SOC levels also contribute to the improved tolerance of horticultural crops to drought and heat stress through enhanced soil moisture retention and rhizosphere buffering. Alfalfa-based organic inputs stimulate rhizosphere microbial biomass, enzymatic activity, and functional genes associated with nitrogen cycling, strengthening plant–microbe interactions that underpin biofertilizer effectiveness. Evidence from vegetable and perennial systems indicates that alfalfa-derived amendments and rotations increase soil nitrogen availability, support yield stability, and improve soil health over the long-term. In orchards and vineyards, alfalfa cover cropping contributes to carbon sequestration, erosion control, and enhanced soil biological functioning. Overall, alfalfa emerges as a strategic species for integrating organic fertilization and biofertilizer-based approaches into modern horticultural systems, supporting reduced mineral fertilizer inputs while sustaining productivity, soil health, and environmental quality. Full article

The management of livestock manure is associated with substantial ammonia (NH₃) emissions and the accumulation of emerging contaminants, including antibiotics, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and microplastics, posing risks to environmental quality and public health. Biochar has emerged as a promising strategy for mitigating gaseous emissions and reducing contaminant mobility during manure storage and composting processes. This review synthesizes recent research on the application of biochar in livestock manure management systems, focusing on NH₃ emissions, antibiotic degradation, ARG reduction, and microplastic removal. Particular attention is given to the effectiveness of biochar in mitigating pollutants during manure storage, housing operations, and composting processes. Across the literature, reported NH₃ mitigation efficiencies vary widely, from negligible effects to reductions exceeding 90–97%, depending on feedstock type, pyrolysis conditions, particle size, and application strategy. Biochar also promotes antibiotic degradation and ARG mitigation, with reductions of up to 98% reported in composting systems. Emerging evidence further suggests that biochar can reduce microplastics by approximately 15–64% in sludge composting. Plant-derived and chemically modified biochars generally outperform manure-derived biochars due to higher surface area, cation exchange capacity, and greater abundance of functional groups. The review highlights that activation treatments, co-composting strategies, and microbial interactions are key factors controlling pollutant mitigation efficiency. Despite promising outcomes, large-scale application remains limited by economic constraints, variability in biochar properties, and the lack of long-term field-scale validation. Future research should prioritize standardized production protocols, field implementation studies, and integrated environmental and economic assessments to support the practical adoption of biochar in sustainable livestock waste management systems. Full article

Sleep and dietary behavior are deeply conserved biological processes that co-evolved under ecological pressures shaping human anatomy, metabolism, immunity, cognition, and life history strategies. Major transitions in human dietary ecology, including plant-dominant hominin foraging, increased meat consumption, control of fire and cooking, agricultural domestication, industrialization, and postindustrial globalization, restructured nutrient intake, pathogen exposure, microbial ecology, metabolic demands, and temporal organization of behavior. Emerging evidence from evolutionary genomics, chronobiology, neuroendocrinology, and microbiome science indicates that sleep–feeding interactions represent a conserved adaptive regulatory module optimized for fluctuating energy availability and strong photoperiodic entrainment. Modern environments characterized by widespread availability of highly palatable, energy-dense foods rich in refined carbohydrates, added sugars, and multiple industrial additives, together with artificial light at night, continuous caloric access, sedentary behavior, and psychosocial stress produce a profound evolutionary mismatch destabilizing circadian–metabolic homeostasis. This mismatch is characterized by circadian disruption, temporal misalignment of feeding and sleep behaviors, and, in many populations, insufficient sleep duration. Within this conceptual landscape, the emerging framework of “evolutionary chrononutrition” proposes that metabolic health and sleep integrity depend not only on what humans eat, but critically on when food is consumed in relation to endogenous circadian architecture shaped across deep evolutionary time. This review synthesizes anthropological, physiological, and molecular evidence to develop an integrative evolutionary framework linking sleep and diet to contemporary cardiometabolic, neurodegenerative, inflammatory, and psychiatric disorders, with particular emphasis on how each major dietary transition plausibly altered sleep duration, architecture, circadian timing, neuroendocrine regulation, and the temporal alignment between feeding behavior and biological rhythms. Full article

Abiotic stresses affect the growth of tea plants (Camellia sinensis) and reduce their yield and quality. The tea plant is a perennial crop. Its adaptability to abiotic stresses and the formation of quality depend not only on internal physiological regulation, but also on long-term interactions with the surrounding soil environment. However, how abiotic stresses reshape the tea rhizosphere community structure, and the knowledge of how these changes shape tea quality remains limited. This review summarizes current knowledge on the tea rhizosphere microbiome under abiotic stress. First, we examine how stress reshapes microbial communities, including their composition, metabolic functions, interaction networks, and the recruitment driven by root exudates. Second, we explore the mechanism of rhizosphere microorganisms affecting tea plants, including participation in nutrient cycling, interaction mediated by exudates, and the regulation of secondary metabolic pathways related to the quality of tea. Finally, we discuss several nutrient-based and microbiome-based management strategies, such as the use of combined fertilizer, intercropping, PGPR, AMF, and SynComs. This review connects stress physiology, rhizosphere ecology, and tea quality regulation within a microbiome-centered framework, providing a basis for strategies that enhance stress tolerance and tea quality stability in the tea plant. Full article