Search Results (1,243)

Canavanine (CAN) is a nonproteinogenic amino acid, synthesised by many legumes (e.g., alfalfa, hairy vetch) and acts as a strong inhibitor of root growth. Thus, CAN may be considered as an allelopathic compound, influencing natural and agroecosystems. CAN is a structural analogue of arginine (Arg), so its toxicity results from its primary mode of action due to interference with Arg-dependent processes, especially incorporation into proteins instead of Arg. The aim of the work was to investigate the impact of CAN (10, 50 µM) treatment (24 or 72 h) on Arg catabolism and content of polyamines (PAs) in the roots of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) seedlings. In the roots of plants cultured in the presence of CAN for 72 h, whosegrowth was completely inhibited, arginase activity and transcript levels of ARG1 and ARG2 were elevated, while ornithine (the product of Arg catabolism by arginase) content was low. CAN application resulted also in decreased total PAs level and increased relative contribution of spermine in the roots of tomato seedlings. CAN-induced alterations in PAs content in the roots were accompanied by changes in transcript levels of genes related to PAs synthesis (SPMS, SPDS) and PAs catabolism (PAO1). Full article

Almería’s high-yield Mediterranean agricultural model is based fundamentally on eight main greenhouse vegetables, with tomato, peppers, and cucumber identified as the principal crops. To facilitate regional diversification, the biological adaptation and techno-economic viability of Vanilla planifolia are examined. The physiological requirements of this orchid, an obligate CAM plant, regarding light intensity and water-use efficiency highlight the need to implement active heating systems, a double internal roof, high-density shading, and misting to emulate the tropical conditions required for this crop in Mediterranean-climate greenhouses. Globally, the market value fell from 898 million USD in 2020 to nearly 328 million USD in 2025, revealing extreme price volatility. Around 75% of global production is absorbed by European and North American markets. While primary production is concentrated in Madagascar, Indonesia, Uganda, and Papua New Guinea, strategic commercial roles are maintained by traders in non-producing nations such as France, the Netherlands, and Germany. Between 2022 and 2024, a systemic collapse was recorded in export revenues. During this period, mean prices fell from 130.83 USD/kg to 44.57 USD/kg. In 2025, wholesale prices rose slightly to 48.59 USD/kg, and global vanilla demand stands at around 6760 t, a volume similar to that of previous years. Viable cultivation of Vanilla planifolia in southeastern Spain and processing it into cured pods are favored by its geographical proximity to European markets. This strategic positioning can ensure optimal harvest maturity and achieve superior biochemical quality through the incorporation of agro-industrial procedures. This information will provide the knowledge necessary to design a field trial aimed at validating Vanilla planifolia as a crop of interest for Mediterranean greenhouses. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study examined the effect of three different cultural media—coconut coir, peat moss, and deep-water culture—on the metabolomic profiles of two tomato cultivars, Heinz and Roma. Tomato fruit quality is influenced by intricate interactions between the genotype and root-zone environment; nevertheless, little is known about how substrate-based systems compare metabolically to deep-water hydroponics. Methods: Fruit samples from both cultivars grown under controlled greenhouse conditions were analyzed using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) spectroscopy to identify treatment-dependent biochemical changes. Polar metabolites were extracted using a methanol–water solvent solution and examined using a 600 MHz NMR spectrometer. Spectral datasets were processed and analyzed with multivariate statistical tools such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA), and Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA). Results: Distinct clustering patterns were observed, indicating both cultivar-specific and cultivation-system-dependent metabolic differentiation. The PCA model displayed excellent explanatory and predictive capacity, while supervised OPLS-DA improved group discrimination, demonstrating that both genotype and growing medium significantly influenced the chemical composition of the fruit. Soluble sugars (glucose, fructose, and sucrose), sugar alcohols, organic acids such as citric and malic acids, and a variety of amino acids involved in nitrogen metabolism and stress reactions were among the key distinguishing factors. Carbohydrate-related spectral areas (3.0–5.5 ppm) were highly associated with treatment separation, indicating that the cultivation system had a significant impact on carbon allocation and energy metabolism. Conclusions: Fruits grown in deep water culture have distinct metabolic fingerprints from those grown on coconut coir and peat moss, implying that root-zone oxygen availability and nutrient dynamics may influence primary and secondary metabolism. Full article

Late blight in tomato caused by Phytophthora infestans can lead to severe economic losses. Early detection is essential for effective disease management. This study investigates the spectral characteristics of healthy and late blight-infected tomato leaves and plants using non-destructive hyperspectral imaging and proposes a cost-effective machine vision system for early disease detection. Hyperspectral images from seven batches of leaf sets and six batches of whole plant sets were taken hourly over a 96 h period under both controlled and artificially infected conditions. The hyperspectral data cubes were processed with an image analysis model that identified healthy vs. infected regions. Key wavelengths (77 from leaf datasets and 24 from plant datasets) were selected using recursive feature elimination and analysed with four machine learning classifiers: k-nearest neighbour, support vector machine, random forest, and artificial neural network. The models differentiated healthy and infected tissue with high accuracy (98–99%). The hyperspectral data were simplified into a multichannel image with most informative wavelengths, using a custom spectral index and binary decision rule. Experimental limitations were addressed, and a conceptual design of practical hardware was proposed: a monochrome camera combined with a multichannel light source and polariser mounted on mobile equipment. Although further trials will be needed, this proof-of-concept study and conceptual hardware design can be adapted in other crops facing similar disease challenges. Full article

The valorization of food industry by-products is a promising strategy for developing natural additives to increase food quality. This study examined the efficiency of tomato processing industry waste (TPIW), which is a significant agro-industrial by-product, in enhancing the oxidative stability of three common edible vegetable seed oils (i.e., sunflower, soybean, and corn oils) under accelerated storage conditions. A custom response surface methodology (RSM) approach was employed to design and optimize the experiments, also using butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), a potent synthetic antioxidant (i.e., oil type, TPIW and/or BHT enrichment). Oils were incubated under controlled conditions at 60 °C for 28 d (Schall oven test), wherein both darkness and light exposure were employed. Untreated (control), TPIW-enriched, and BHT-fortified (positive control) oils were examined in this study. The oxidative stability and shelf-life of oils was thoroughly evaluated using standard oxidative indices for both primary and secondary oxidation by-products, antioxidant capacity (DPPH radical scavenging activity), total carotenoid content, chromatic coordinates (CIE 1976 L*a*b*), and Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy to monitor structural changes. The results revealed that enrichment with TPIW significantly (p < 0.05) reduced both primary and secondary oxidation products compared to untreated oils, approaching the protective efficiency of BHT in some assays. Specifically, it was observed that the combination of soybean oil enriched with both BHT and TPIW was the most preferable to enhance oxidation stability. Results from FT-IR supported these findings; slower formation of oxidative derivatives was revealed. Light exposure did not show a significant impact on the oxidation process regardless of the oil sample when compared to the temperature parameter. The results of this study confirm that TPIW could assist shelf-life prolongation of edible vegetable oils and promote a circular economy strategy by valorizing food by-products as a viable alternative to synthetic antioxidants. Full article

This study considers multi-class visual detection for processing tomato sorting under controlled laboratory conditions. In densely arranged images, occlusion and visual similarity can weaken the local boundary and texture cues needed to distinguish ripe tomatoes, unripe tomatoes, defective tomatoes, and soil clods. We propose SG-RTDETR, an RT-DETRv2 adaptation that combines detail-preserving downsampling, saliency-guided token encoding with residual spatial refill, context-aware feature organization, and adaptive cross-scale fusion. A four-class dataset was constructed from 1000 multi-object images and 400 single-object images used for supplementary representation learning. Across three independent training runs under controlled laboratory evaluation, SG-RTDETR achieved $87.8\pm 0.4$% ${\mathrm{mAP}}_{50:95}$, $92.4\pm 0.4$% ${\mathrm{mAP}}_{50}$, and $95.5\pm 0.3$% ${\mathrm{mAR}}_{50:95}$ (mean ± sample standard deviation). Relative to RT-DETRv2, the mean ${\mathrm{mAP}}_{50:95}$ increased by 3.4 percentage points, while total FLOPs remained at 61.17 G and forward-pass inference throughput decreased from 110.5 to 103.6 FPS. These results indicate an accuracy-oriented trade-off under the laboratory evaluation protocol; validation under realistic postharvest sorting conditions remains necessary. Full article

Plant-parasitic nematodes rely on the perception of host-derived chemical cues released from plant roots to locate suitable hosts, representing a critical prerequisite for successful plant infection. In this study, we selected four representative tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) root-derived chemical signals and demonstrated their distinct effects on the host-seeking behavior of the southern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita). Among these compounds, the flavonoids quercetin and luteolin exhibited significant attractant effects, whereas the alkaloids dihydrocapsaicin and solasodine showed repellent effects. RNA interference (RNAi) experiments further indicated that multiple chemosensory neurons are involved in the recognition of plant-derived chemical cues. Silencing of key chemosensory genes significantly impaired the directed chemotactic response of M. incognita toward tomato roots and reduced its infectivity, demonstrating that the chemosensory system represents a crucial molecular basis regulating host localization and parasitic establishment. This study provides new insights into host recognition mechanisms in root-knot nematodes and offers a theoretical foundation for developing environmentally sustainable strategies for nematode management by targeting host perception processes. Full article

The continuous growth of the global population and the need to ensure food security require the development of sustainable agricultural technologies capable of maintaining crop productivity while reducing environmental impact. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria belonging to the genera Azotobacter and Azospirillum have attracted increasing interest due to their ability to improve plant nutrition and stimulate physiological processes associated with growth and productivity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the commercial biostimulant Azotofertil, based on Azotobacter chroococcum and Azospirillum lipoferum, on the agrophysiological response of tomato and pepper plants, in comparison with conventional nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization. A field experiment was conducted using a randomized block design with three fertilization treatments and three biological replicates for each crop species. Soil pH, cultivable Azotobacter spp. populations, plant height, photosynthetic pigment content, vitamin C content, and total yield were evaluated. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Duncan’s multiple range test (p < 0.05) and Pearson correlation analysis. The application of Azotofertil significantly increased the abundance of cultivable Azotobacter spp., photosynthetic pigment content, and vitamin C content, while no statistically significant differences were observed for soil pH or plant height. The most pronounced effect was observed for photosynthetic pigment content, which increased by 26% in tomato and by 21% in pepper compared to the control. Full article

Fruit firmness is a pivotal agronomic and commercial trait that determines the storability, transport tolerance and edible quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Fruit softening severely restricts postharvest performance and economic benefits of tomato products worldwide. This review summarizes the latest research progress on factors and regulatory mechanisms governing tomato fruit firmness. Multiple environmental factors including temperature, light, moisture and atmospheric composition jointly affect cell wall structure and metabolism, thereby altering fruit firmness. Mineral nutrition, postharvest handling and pathogen infection also exert profound impacts on texture characteristics by modulating physiological activities and cell wall integrity. Phytohormones such as gibberellin, ethylene, abscisic acid, jasmonic acid and salicylic acid form complex signaling crosstalk to mediate fruit softening processes. Furthermore, we elaborate on the functions of transcription factors, quantitative trait loci, and key functional genes, as well as research advances in transcriptomics and metabolomics, including transcriptome analyses identifying differentially expressed genes related to cell wall remodeling, and metabolomic profiling revealing hydroxyproline and galacturonic acid as firmness-associated markers. Cell wall metabolism is confirmed as the core pathway controlling fruit softening. Finally, future research directions are proposed, focusing on single-cell and spatial transcriptomics to map softening regulatory networks, AI-driven predictive modeling for softening kinetics and shelf-life optimization, and CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing for precise trait improvement. Full article

The increasing generation of agro-industrial residues requires the development of sustainable valorization strategies for converting low-value biomasses into high-added-value products within a circular bioeconomy framework. In this study, tomato peels (TP) derived from the tomato-processing industry and green waste (GW) from urban pruning activities were investigated as substrates for solid-state fermentation (SSF) mediated by Trichoderma harzianum, with the aim of evaluating fungal growth, metabolomic remodeling, and the production of antioxidant bioactive compounds. Different substrate formulations containing TP and GW were subjected to SSF for 7 days, and fungal colonization was monitored. The highest fungal colonization was observed in substrates containing high proportions of GW, whereas pure tomato peels showed negligible colonization, indicating a strong substrate-dependent effect on fungal development. UPLC-QToF-MS metabolomic profiling was subsequently performed on the fermented substrate formulations using three independent biological replicates per treatment, whereas the 100% TP formulation, which showed negligible fungal colonization, was excluded from metabolomic analysis. Results revealed marked differences among fermented substrates, and 22 discriminant metabolites significantly enriched in those containing higher proportions of TP were identified. These metabolites mainly included hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, flavonoids, lignans, phenolic glycosides, and organic acids, such as coumaric acid, hydroxycaffeic acid, cinnamoylglucose, citric acid, and cyanidin glycosides, suggesting fermentation-associated transformation and release of phenolic compounds. Fermented extracts obtained from mixed substrates enriched in TP exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, with DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging capacities reaching up to 63.48 µmol TE/g dw and 119.67 µmol TE/g dry weight, respectively, together with increased total phenolic content. The integration of microbiological, metabolomic, and antioxidant analyses demonstrated that co-fermentation of tomato-processing byproducts with green waste can modulate fermentation outcomes and enhance antioxidant potential. Overall, this study provides new insights into substrate-driven metabolic transformations during Trichoderma-mediated SSF and highlights the potential of mixed agro-industrial residues as sustainable feedstocks for the production of antioxidant-rich extracts with possible nutraceutical and biotechnological applications. Full article

The valorization of vegetable processing by-products is increasingly recognized as a key strategy for improving sustainability and supporting circular economy principles. This study evaluated the effects of freeze–thaw pretreatment and cold-press dewatering prior to dehydration on the energy demand of whole tomato by-product processing. Tomato by-products were divided into different batches and subjected to freezing and thawing and/or to cold-press dewatering before dehydration at 60 °C. Only the cold-pressed samples, with or without freeze–thaw pretreatment, were also evaluated at 50 and 70 °C. A mathematical model previously reported in the literature was applied to estimate water removal during dehydration and quantify the energy demand associated with cold-press extraction, drying, and milling operations, enabling comparison among the investigated processing strategies. The results showed that the inclusion of a cold-press dewatering step decreased the energy demand, as the energy required for dewatering was lower than that needed to evaporate the same amount of water during drying. Freeze–thaw pretreatment further reduced the amount of free water to be removed in the subsequent dehydration stage. Although drying temperature had a limited effect on total energy demand, a slight decrease was calculated when increasing the temperature from 50 to 70 °C. These findings demonstrate the potential of combining freeze–thaw and cold-press dewatering as pretreatments for reducing energy demand throughout tomato by-product processing. Full article

The escalating volume of agricultural waste presents not only a significant environmental challenge but also a substantial opportunity for resource recovery within a circular bioeconomy. This study investigates the feasibility of extracting high-quality cellulose from two underutilized agricultural residues: flower stems and tomato stems. Raw materials were subjected to a multi-stage chemical pulping process involving alkaline treatment, acid treatment, and hydrogen peroxide bleaching in order to remove lignin, hemicellulose, and other impurities. The resulting cellulose samples were comprehensively characterized for their yield, purity (α-cellulose content), degree of polymerization (DP), chemical structure (FT-IR), crystallinity (XRD), and inorganic elemental composition. The results demonstrate that both feedstocks can yield cellulose with an α-cellulose content exceeding 91% and a DP greater than 600, meeting the stringent quality requirements for dissolving-grade pulp intended for such applications as textiles, composite additives and others products. Flower stems showed a higher pulping yield (26.8%) compared to tomato stems (13.7%), highlighting their greater potential. This work validates agricultural residues, particularly flower stems, as a viable and sustainable alternative to traditional wood sources for cellulose production, offering a pathway to mitigate waste and add value to agricultural supply chains. Full article

The increasing generation of agro-industrial by-products from fruit processing represents both an environmental challenge and a valuable opportunity for resource recovery. In this study, tomato, apple, and orange by-products were selected as sustainable substrates for valorization through lactic acid bacteria (LAB) fermentation. The objective was to enhance their functional potential while contributing to waste reduction within a circular bio-economy framework. Selected Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains were applied to each matrix, and microbial growth dynamics were monitored throughout fermentation. In parallel, experimental data were used to build and validate machine learning-assisted models to predict growth kinetics and identify optimal fermentation conditions. To validate the model, the growth of LAB at 32 °C with a bacterial inoculum of approximately 108 CFU/mL was predicted and subsequently compared with experimental results. The developed models demonstrated reliable predictive capability, with low-to-moderate Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) across different substrates and growth parameters, ranging from 0.143 (vMaxAvg in apple) to 7.155 (LagAvg in orange). Following model validation, selected matrix–strain combinations were applied to develop food products, in which fermented by-products were incorporated as functional ingredients. The resulting formulations exhibited enhanced antioxidant activity and increased total phenolic content, as determined by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay and phenolic analysis, reaching 56.56 mg GAE/100 g (p < 0.05) and 33.76 mg Trolox eq./100 g (p < 0.05), respectively. Full article

Agro-industrial by-products are increasingly considered as feed resources for circular animal production, but their value should not be interpreted only as a low-cost replacement of conventional ingredients. This scoping review critically examines how by-products from grape, olive, tomato, citrus, cereal, brewery, oilseed and vegetable processing chains may contribute to the development of high-value animal-derived foods. Particular attention is given to bioactive compounds, polyphenols, carotenoids, tocopherols, fermentable fibres and residual lipids, as well as to microbiome-mediated biotransformation, host metabolic pathways, compound transfer, product-quality modulation, feed safety and circular valorization. Available evidence indicates that selected by-products can influence milk, cheese, meat, eggs and fish products by modifying fatty acid profile, oxidative stability, antioxidant-related traits, pigmentation, volatile compounds, shelf-life and, in some cases, the transfer of specific metabolites to edible products. However, these responses depend on by-product source, processing method, inclusion level, active dose, animal species, basal diet and analytical endpoints. Chemical richness alone is therefore insufficient to support functional claims. Stronger evidence requires studies that connect matrix characterization, processing stability, microbial and host-mediated transformation, biological intermediates and final product quality within the same experimental design. Precision circular feeding should therefore combine local availability, safety, active-dose definition, metabolomic and lipidomic traceability, and product-level validation to support reproducible improvements in high-value animal-derived foods. Full article

Food waste represents a significant environmental and economic challenge, partly due to inefficient portion management during preparation, storage, and consumption. One strategy to mitigate this issue is to use single-dose (monodose) packaging, which allows precise dosing and encourages complete consumption, thereby minimizing leftovers. This work presents the design, construction, and experimental validation of an automated machine engineered for single-dose packaging of low-viscosity sauces. The system is capable of filling, sealing, and cutting off a continuous plastic film to produce hermetically sealed 60 mL pouches. The system contains a deposit equipped with an ultrasonic level sensor, a pneumatic dispenser mechanism, a PI-based temperature controller for the sealing and cutting processes, and a Human–Machine Interface (HMI) for system configuration and process monitoring. The general controller was implemented using a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and coordinated the stages of pouch filling, sealing, cutting, and counting. Experimental tests demonstrated stable and repeatable volumetric dosing. Mean dosing errors remained below ±1 mL for water and tomato-based sauce, whereas tomatillo-based and Chilean sauce exhibited higher deviations of +2.10 mL and +3.25 mL, respectively, reflecting the influence of viscosity and product heterogeneity. In addition, the system achieved hermetic sealing in more than 95% of samples and stable operation during continuous cycles. Additionally, the system showed thermal stability under PI control and high precision in the deposit level. Full article