Search Results (1,239)

Drought is the most severe natural hazard threatening agricultural production. Mulberry (Morus alba L.) is an important crop for the sericulture industry, and its drought tolerance has been extensively studied. In this study, the phenotypic and physiological responses of two different mulberry tree genotypes (711 and NS8) to drought stress were investigated, with the aim of screening potential nondestructive traits and understand interrelationships. The significant reductions of digital biomass (DB), leaf area (LA), and projected leaf area (PLA) in morphological traits indicated that drought led to a decrease in mulberry yield. The change of color traits R_FarRed and R_NIR were associated with pigments and leaf morphology. Vegetation indexes were also significantly affected by drought stress. Due to their had high correlation coefficients and good linear relationships with yield, DB and LA can be used as yield proxy traits for this measure. Drought-sensitive traits were identified using PCA and correlation analysis, and the results showed that greenness (GR) was a proxy predictor of drought stress. For antioxidant defenses, CAT activity and phenolic compound content were significantly decreased. Metabolomics analysis revealed that genotype 711 exhibited 1691 differential metabolites under drought stress; these mainly comprised amino acids, lipids, and phenolic acids, which were mainly enriched in secondary metabolism and flavonoid biosynthesis. Drought also reprogrammed carbohydrate, secondary compounds, and amino acid metabolism. The results revealed that the phenotypic response of two mulberry trees to drought, as well as the integration of phenotypic traits with metabolic traits, could help us to understand drought tolerance mechanisms and benefit efficient selection and breeding of fitter genotypes. Full article

Rapid, non-destructive estimation of leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD) is crucial for assessing plant photosynthetic health and nutrient status. However, conventional methods rely on specialized instruments (e.g., SPAD meters and hyperspectral sensors) which are costly, cumbersome, or unsuitable for large-scale field deployment. While RGB image analysis offers a low-cost alternative, most existing approaches depend solely on color features, which are susceptible to environmental interference and lack robustness across growth stages. To address these limitations, this study proposes a novel machine learning framework that fuses both color and texture features from smartphone-captured RGB images for accurate SPAD estimation in walnut seedlings and explores its linkage with potassium nutrition. ‘Wen 185’ walnut seedlings were subjected to seven potassium concentration treatments to induce a chlorophyll gradient. From the leaf images, 22 color indices and 8 texture features based on the Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM) were extracted. Prediction models were built and compared using Random Forest (RF), XGBoost, and a Support Vector Machine (SVM), with two fusion strategies: data-level and feature-level fusion. Results demonstrated that the RF model with feature-level fusion achieved optimal performance (validation set: R² = 0.939, RMSE = 0.014, and RPD = 4.539), significantly outperforming models using single-feature types. SHAP analysis identified normalized red, normalized blue, and green-band correlation as the most influential features. This work fills a critical gap by establishing a robust, cost-effective, and interpretable method for SPAD monitoring using ubiquitous RGB imagery. Furthermore, the strong correlation between image-predicted SPAD and potassium levels confirms the method’s high potential for early and non-destructive diagnosis of potassium deficiency in orchard management. Full article

As both an energy source and a signaling cue, light quality regulates graft healing by modulating endogenous phytohormone homeostasis, callus formation, and vascular reconnection. To elucidate the regulatory roles of red/blue (R/B) light ratios and green light supplementation on healing and seedling quality of grafted tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), a controlled-environment experiment was conducted in a plant factory using ‘Zhongza 105’ as the scion and ‘Zhezhen No. 1’ as the rootstock. LED lighting treatments were established with different R/B ratios (1.0, 2.5, 4.0, 5.5 and 7.0) with or without supplemental green light. The results show that moderate R/B ratios (4.0–5.5) significantly increased scion elongation, the stem diameter of both scion and rootstock, the mechanical strength of the graft union, and sap flow, while also enhancing leaf chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, and root activity. Under optimal R/B conditions, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellin (GA) levels were elevated, whereas abscisic acid (ABA) was reduced, favoring callus proliferation and vascular reconnection. Green light supplementation under moderate R/B further promoted stem thickening, leaf area expansion, water transport across the graft union, and total biomass accumulation. Overall, an R/B ratio of 4.0–5.5 combined with appropriate green light supplementation optimized the morphology, structure, and physiological performance of grafted tomato seedlings during the healing stage. The results aim to provide a scientific basis for optimizing light environments in a controlled environment, thus enhancing the stability and quality of grafted tomato seedlings. Full article

Intensive porcine livestock production generates approximately 15 million cubic meters of slurry annually, exerting significant environmental pressure on groundwater and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. The AEROFER project aims to mitigate this impact by demonstrating the conversion of nitrogen-rich waste into liquid fertilizers for soilless cultivation. Using an Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled aeroponic platform controlled by an ESP32 microcontroller, this study evaluated filtration (40 microns) and ozone-based stabilization (N-Amatic technology). Three lettuce varieties (Lactuca sativa L.)—Longifolia (Romaine lettuce), Capitata (Butterhead lettuce), and Capitata (Red leaf lettuce)—were grown to compare Filtered Slurry (FS) and Filtered–Ozonated Slurry (FOS) against a mineral control standard solution (SS). The results indicate that ozone treatment eliminated detectable E. coli and coliforms while increasing the phosphorus availability by 78% (from 30.9 to 55 mg/L), despite an 11% reduction in the potassium content (from 180 to 160 mg/L). Agronomic data reveal variety-specific responses, and mass balance analysis shows that the solutions are potassium-deficient, meeting only 32–64% of crop needs. In conclusion, while aeroponics is a viable tool for nutrient recovery and requires targeted mineral supplementation to achieve full parity with commercial fertilizers, it satisfies a substantial proportion of plant nutritional requirements. Consequently, it represents a sustainable approach to food production through waste recycling, contributing to a circular economy in the pig industry without apparent sanitary risks. Full article

Urban river degradation demands remediation strategies that are both environmentally sustainable and technically feasible. This study evaluated the performance of Floating Treatment Wetlands (FTWs) vegetated with Chrysopogon zizanioides (vetiver) and incorporating four substrate configurations: leaf litter (LL), red volcanic rock (RVR), corn cobs (CC), and a composite mixture of all three, for the rehabilitation of the “Paseo de Los Ahuehuetes” River in Veracruz, Mexico. Over a 182-day monitoring period, in situ water quality parameters and plant growth responses were systematically assessed. The results indicate that substrate selection is a decisive design factor governing the establishment and development of C. zizanioides in FTWs. Among the substrates tested, LL exhibited the most favorable performance, achieving the highest plant survival (82%), enhanced shoot elongation (71.5 ± 12.1 cm), greater root development (49.7 ± 10.0 cm), and the highest relative growth rate (0.028 g g⁻¹ d⁻¹), with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) compared to CC. Additionally, localized improvements in water quality within the FTW zone were observed, including an increase in dissolved oxygen (2.07%) and a reduction in total dissolved solids (5.65%), likely associated with intensified rhizospheric processes. Overall, these findings identify leaf litter as a low-cost, locally available, and environmentally sustainable substrate that enhances vetiver establishment in FTWs. The study provides practical, evidence-based criteria for the design of nature-based phytoremediation systems aimed at the restoration of urban river ecosystems. Full article

Rapid urbanization and population growth demand sustainable food systems. This study investigated hydroponic vertical farming with LED lighting for Chinese kale (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra), comparing white LEDs (WL), 20% red + 80% blue (20% RL: 80% BL), and 80% red + 20% blue (80% RL:20% BL). Plants grown under control conditions were assessed at weeks 2, 4, and 6. The 80% RL:20% BL treatment enhanced fresh weight, leaf area, root length, and biomass, while 20% RL:80% BL maximized chlorophyll, anthocyanin, and phenolics. Leaf number and quantum yield remained similar, though stress was evident. The findings of this research highlight red-dominant light for growth and blue-dominant light for phytochemical enrichment. Full article

Remote sensing is commonly employed in agriculture for crop monitoring and environmental studies. However, the accuracy of satellite-based products is impacted by image frequency, spectral sensibility and density, and cloud cover. This study evaluates the impact of assimilating Planet Fusion (PF) data into the AgriCarbon-EO (ACEO) crop modeling chain, alone or combined with Sentinel-2 (S2) data, compared to assimilating (S2) data only. Parallel experiments were conducted using PF data alone, or PF data in addition to S2 data in the simulations. Satellite data are used to estimate the Green Leaf Area Index (GLAI), CO₂ flux dynamics, biomass and yields of winter wheat, maize and cover crops in south-west France. We analyzed the data availability and spectral resolution impact when using PF alone, a combination of PF and S2 data, and S2 alone. We demonstrate that PF’s lack of red-edge spectral information can lead to GLAI overestimation during vegetation growth. This is mitigated by applying a statistical correction derived from S2-based GLAI. Assimilating both S2 and PF reduces the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and bias for biomass estimates by 19.75 g.m⁻² and 117.78 g.m⁻², respectively, in maize and by 2.15 g.m² and 13.19 g.m⁻² in cover crops, compared to using S2 data alone. However, it did not improve wheat CO₂ flux components estimates. We show that the crop biomass accuracy is more strongly affected by the spectral resolution than by image frequency. The synergistic use of S2 and PF data demonstrates potential for improving biomass accuracy, particularly in cloud-prone regions. Full article

The cultivation of potatoes is essential for rural food security, and the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Red-Green-Blue (UAV-RGB) imagery allows for precise and cost-effective estimation of yield and identification of varieties, overcoming the limitations of manual assessment. We evaluated four INIA varieties (Bicentenario, Canchán, Shulay and Tahuaqueña) by integrating agronomic measurements (height, number and weight of tubers, leaf health) with color and textural indices derived from RGB orthomosaics. Yield prediction was modeled using Random Forest (RF) and Gradient Boosting (GB); varietal identification was approached with (i) a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) that classifies RGB images and (ii) classical models such as Random Forest, Support Vector Machines (SVMs), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNNs), Decision Trees and Logistic Regression trained on EfficientNetB0 embeddings. The results showed significant genotypic differences in yield (p < 0.001): Tahuaqueña 13.86 ± 0.27 t ha⁻¹ and Bicentenario 6.65 ± 0.27 t ha⁻¹. The number of tubers (r = 0.52) and plant height (r = 0.23) correlated with yield; RGB indices showed low correlations (r < 0.3) and high redundancy (r > 0.9). RF achieved a better fit (Coefficient of determination, R² = 0.54; Root Mean Square Error, RMSE = 2.72 t ha⁻¹), excelling in stolon development (R² = 0.66) and losing precision in maturation due to foliar senescence. In classification, the CNN and RF on embeddings achieved F1-macro ≈ 0.69 and 0.66 (Receiver Operating Characteristic—Area Under the Curve, ROC AUC RF = 0.89), with better identification of Bicentenario and Shulay. We conclude that UAV-RGB is a cost-effective alternative for phenotypic monitoring and varietal selection in high Andean contexts. These findings support the integration of UAV-RGB imagery into breeding and monitoring pipelines in resource-limited Andean systems. Full article

Early flowering is a key element of the rice speed-breeding protocol that enables improved genetic gain and accelerates the cultivation of new varieties. Although far-red light (FR) is commonly used to modulate plant developmental processes, the mechanisms by which it influences flowering and growth in rice are poorly understood. In this study, the control treatment (CK) consisted of red-blue-green composite light at 300 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹, while two additional treatments were applied: one with the photon flux density (PFD) increased to 350 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ (HI—high intensity) under the same light spectrum as CK, and the other supplemented with 50 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ of FR based on CK. The results demonstrated that both elevated PFD and supplemental FR significantly enhanced vegetative growth, as evidenced by increased plant height, tiller number, leaf area, and biomass accumulation, along with improved photosynthetic capacity and chlorophyll fluorescence. Under the FR treatment, flowering occurred 53 days after transplanting, which was 12 days and 9 days earlier than in the CK and HI treatments, respectively. Physiological profiling revealed that FR enrichment significantly increased leaf soluble sugar and starch levels, while simultaneously decreasing chlorophyll and carotenoid concentrations. FR also reshaped the endogenous hormonal profile, which was marked by elevated levels of gibberellin (GA3) and abscisic acid (ABA), and reduced auxin (IAA) content. Transcriptomic profiling revealed that FR enrichment activated the circadian rhythm pathway and upregulated genes associated with photoperiodic flowering and inflorescence development. In summary, FR promotes rice growth and early flowering through the integrated regulation of leaf area expansion, enhanced photosynthetic efficiency, hormonal rebalancing, and activation of flowering gene expression. This study provides a theoretical foundation and technical support for optimizing light environments and improving the economic viability of crop speed breeding systems in controlled environmental facilities. Full article

In Chinese cuisine, seasoning oil enhances the aroma and appearance of dishes. This study examined how processing affects flavor release in multi-ingredient oils. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), relative odor activity value (ROAV), and variable importance projection (VIP) were used to assess flavor changes. Optimal frying was 160 °C for 15 min with 11% green Sichuan peppercorn, 3% ghost pepper, 6% green onion, 0.1% bay leaf, 0.2% deseeded tsaoko, 0.5% star anise, 0.3% fennel seeds, 1.5% dried Erjingtiao chili, 5% ginger, and 2.5% red Sichuan peppercorn. Gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyzed heating at 150 °C, 160 °C, and 170 °C. Temperature strongly influenced VOC formation; 160 °C produced the most diverse VOCs, including aldehydes, ketones, terpenes, esters, and alcohols. Multivariate analysis identified 73 key compounds (VIP > 1) between 150 and 160 °C, but only 39 between 160 and 170 °C, indicating that high heat reduces complexity. Compounds such as 2-methylpyrazine and (E)-2-heptenal contributed caramel, nutty, buttery notes, with 2-methoxy-3-(1-methylethyl)-pyrazine as the core aroma. Frying at 160 °C balanced sweet, floral, and roasted aromas, offering guidance for precise seasoning oil flavor control. Full article

Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) breeding is an important component of plantation forestry in Central and Eastern Europe; however, clone trials are still mainly evaluated using conventional field surveys, and the application of high-resolution red-edge satellite indices at the intraspecific level remains rarely applied. As a result, less information is available on the phenological status of black locust clones derived from red-edge satellite data. This study evaluates a clone trial established in Eastern Hungary on slightly acidic Arenosol soil, assessing the growth performance and seasonal spectral dynamics of newly bred black locust clones during their fifth growing season by integrating field measurements with PlanetScope-derived Normalized Difference Red-Edge Index (NDRE) time series. Clone NK2 exhibited the most vigorous growth, reaching a mean height of 11.1 ± 0.15 m and a diameter at breast height (DBH) of 11.21 ± 0.19 cm, which were 35.4% greater in height and 19.0% larger in DBH than those (8.2 ± 0.12 m height, and 9.42 ± 0.23 cm diameter) of the control (‘Üllői’ cultivar). Clone PL251 also exceeded the control by 25.6% in height and 19.2% in DBH. Spectral analysis (NDRE value ± standard error) revealed marked differences in phenological development: in the early stage (April 15), NK1 and PL040 had the highest NDRE values (0.472 ± 0.020 and 0.461 ± 0.019), whereas NK2 showed delayed leaf emergence (0.398 ± 0.019). By June 21, PL251 had reached an NDRE value of 0.692 ± 0.013, which was higher than that of the control (0.673 ± 0.016). In mid-July, NDRE peaked for NK2 and NK1 (0.732 ± 0.012 and 0.731 ± 0.013), with ‘Üllői’ showing consistently lower values across the season. In the final stage, NK2 maintained the highest NDRE values (October 22: 0.618 ± 0.015; November 9: 0.466 ± 0.021), indicating prolonged photosynthetic activity, while NK1 and ‘Üllői’ declined earlier (e.g., November 9: 0.354 ± 0.018 and 0.390 ± 0.027, respectively). These findings highlight NK2 and PL251 as superior candidates for high-yield, climate-resilient tree plantations because of their strong growth and extended physiological activity. Full article

This study examined the effects of different LED light spectra on the in vitro development of plantlets of Bletilla striata (Orchidaceae), a frost-hardy ornamental orchid with increasing horticultural relevance outside its native East Asian range. The objective was to optimize growth conditions using energy-efficient lighting to support sustainable cultivation practices. Plantlets approximately 4 cm in length with 0.5 cm leaves were cultured on standard Orchimax medium in 200 mL Erlenmeyer flasks and exposed to five LED treatments: 100% blue (B), 100% red (R), red/blue at 70:30 (RB), 50% yellow + RB (7:3), and 50% green + RB (7:3). Fluorescent light served as controls. The photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) was maintained at approximately 40 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ across all light treatments. After seven weeks, selected LED spectra improved plantlet performance compared with the control. Leaf number remained stable, while RB light promoted leaf expansion, resulting in the widest leaves. Root formation occurred under all LED treatments, supporting subsequent acclimatization. Light quality strongly affected photosynthetic pigments and secondary metabolism. The highest total chlorophyll content was recorded under RB illumination (581 µg g⁻¹ FW), whereas monochromatic red light resulted in the lowest pigment levels. Carotenoid accumulation was significantly enhanced under RB and RBG spectra. Blue-containing treatments (B and RB) markedly stimulated the accumulation of phenolic compounds, including flavonols and anthocyanins, while red light suppressed phenolic biosynthesis. Total soluble sugars showed an organ-specific response, with red light promoting sugar accumulation in shoots and blue light in roots. These findings demonstrate that targeted LED lighting not only improves plant quality but also offers an environmentally sustainable and economically viable approach for commercial micropropagation and conservation of B. striata. Full article

The light spectrum and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) are key environmental factors that significantly influence the morphophysiological development and survival of micropropagated woody plants during acclimatization. However, few studies have focused on their interactive effects under ex vitro conditions. This study examined the combined effects of four light spectra (white, blue, red, and red–blue) and two VPD levels (low: 0.2 kPa; high: 1.0 kPa) on growth, photosynthesis pigments, biochemical indices, and leaf temperature of Pistacia spp. ‘UCB1’ plantlets over a 30-day acclimatization period. The results demonstrated that red–blue light under low VPD significantly enhanced plantlet performance across multiple parameters, resulting in the highest leaflet number (79.25 pieces), stem diameter (2.13 mm), leaf dry weight (0.048 g), leaf fresh weight (0.15 g), root length (1.48 cm), and leaf area (103.3 cm²). Furthermore, this treatment markedly increased anthocyanin, total soluble carbohydrate content, and photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids). Principal component and correlation analyses identified that red–blue light under low VPD was strongly associated with traits linked to growth and photosynthetic ability, whereas blue and white light under high VPD showed the weakest responses. Entropy-weighted TOPSIS ranked red–blue light under low VPD as the most effective treatment for balanced morpho-physiological functions during acclimatization. These findings highlight the importance of optimizing spectral quality and VPD to enhance autotrophic transition and ex vitro establishment in pistachio plantlets. These findings are important for improving ex vitro survival and large-scale propagation efficiency of micropropagated pistachio plantlets. Full article

To overcome the limitations of ground-based observations, this study aims to identify optimal color indices for detecting tree phenological events using time-series Unmanned Aerial Vehicle(UAV) orthomosaics. We monitored 37 woody taxa at the Korea National Arboretum from April to November 2025. By extracting Red, Green, and Blue (RGB) values from canopy polygons, we calculated four indices: Brightness, Green Chromatic Coordinate (GCC), Red Chromatic Coordinate (RCC), and Green-Red Vegetation Index (GRVI). We then evaluated signal detectability using Z-score standardization. The analysis confirmed that 74.6% of phenological events were detectable. Specifically, flowering and autumn coloration showed high detection rates (88.9% and 100%, respectively), identifying Brightness, RCC, and GRVI as key indicators for capturing these distinct visual changes. Conversely, gradual transitions like leaf-out showed lower detectability. These findings demonstrate that selecting specific color indices based on the visual characteristics of each event enables effective quantitative monitoring. This study provides a methodological basis for utilizing UAV-based indices as a complementary tool in long-term ecological monitoring. Full article

Sapium discolor is a valuable native species in southern China, valued for its rapid growth and vibrant foliage, and widely used in ecological restoration and landscaping. To identify superior propagation materials with fast growth and red leaves, regional open-pollinated progeny trials of 10 elite trees were established in Nanping, Sanming, and Zhangzhou (Fujian Province) in 2015. Growth (tree height and diameter) was monitored from 2015 to 2023, and leaf color (the proportion of red in leaf color) was assessed in 2024. The species showed early fast growth, with mean tree height and diameter at breast height (DBH) reaching 7.98 m and 9.99 cm at six years, then slowing. Family-level phenotypic variation was limited. ANOVA revealed highly significant differences among families for growth traits from 2016 onward and for leaf color in 2024. Broad-sense heritability was moderate for 2023 tree height (0.3839), DBH (0.1879), and 2024 leaf color (0.2102), with low narrow-sense heritability, indicating non-additive genetic effects. Clonal selection based on genotypic values achieved notable genetic gains, especially for growth. One superior clone combined improvements in height (13.1%), diameter (10.1%), and red coloration (8.3%). These results highlight the value of clonal selection and the need to consider genotype × environment interactions in breeding programs. Full article