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21 pages, 2452 KB  
Article
In Vitro Plantlet Regeneration and Accumulation of Phenolic Compounds in Microshoots of Astragalus glycyphyllos L.
by Ulyana Panova, Olga Kotsupiy, Evgeniya Karpova and Elena Ambros
Int. J. Plant Biol. 2026, 17(4), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb17040025 - 30 Mar 2026
Abstract
Astragalus glycyphyllos (Fabaceae) is known to be a source of flavones, flavonols, and isoflavones, and its in vitro culture may promote the efficiency and sustainability of obtaining pharmacologically valuable fractions. The aim of this study was to develop an effective plantlet regeneration protocol [...] Read more.
Astragalus glycyphyllos (Fabaceae) is known to be a source of flavones, flavonols, and isoflavones, and its in vitro culture may promote the efficiency and sustainability of obtaining pharmacologically valuable fractions. The aim of this study was to develop an effective plantlet regeneration protocol for A. glycyphyllos, providing the accumulation of phenolic compounds and antioxidants in cultured tissues. The results show a maximum seed germination rate (67.8%) after scarification (mechanical with sandpaper followed by treatment with 50% sulfuric acid) and subsequent sterilization with 1.1% sodium hypochlorite solution. The maximum regeneration rate (95%) was achieved on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 0.5 mg·L−1 thidiazuron. A thidiazuron concentration of 0.05 mg·L−1, combined with a twofold increase in iron chelate content, induced the maximum yield of total flavonoids (8.74 mg·g−1 DW), and significant levels of total phenolics (4.15 mg·g−1) and antioxidants (1.83 mg AAE·g−1) in the microshoot tissues. HPLC analysis showed kaempferol glycosides (1.51 mg·g−1) and acylated kaempferol glycosides (2.76 mg·g−1) as major components. Formononetin in a modest amount (0.09 mg·g−1) was detected in hydrolyzed extracts. The phenolic profiles of the microshoots and native plants coincided in hydroxycinnamic acid composition; meanwhile, quercetin glycosides were present only in in situ plants, and formononetin was found only in the plantlets. The results confirm the prospects of biotechnological methods for the industrial production of standardized medicinal raw materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Plant Reproduction)
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20 pages, 1151 KB  
Article
Response Surface Methodology-Optimized Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction Combined with Folin–Ciocalteu Assay for Total Polyphenol Determination in Grape Seeds: Development and Application
by Chujun Li, Ruiqi Liu, Linlin Meng, Yuxin Meng, Shuang Xu, Xin Wang, Lihong Wang, Tao Lan and Tong Zhou
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(7), 3306; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16073306 - 29 Mar 2026
Abstract
A robust Folin–Ciocalteu method, coupled with an optimized ultrasonic-assisted extraction, was established for accurate quantification of total polyphenols in high-oil grape seed matrices, where lipid interference and low extraction efficiency have been persistent challenges. Samples were first defatted with n-hexane to eliminate lipid [...] Read more.
A robust Folin–Ciocalteu method, coupled with an optimized ultrasonic-assisted extraction, was established for accurate quantification of total polyphenols in high-oil grape seed matrices, where lipid interference and low extraction efficiency have been persistent challenges. Samples were first defatted with n-hexane to eliminate lipid interference. Key colorimetric parameters—Folin–Ciocalteu reagent volume, Na2CO3 concentration, reaction temperature, and time—were systematically optimized and validated for linearity, precision, and recovery. Subsequently, using defatted grape seed powder as the raw material, a four-factor, three-level Box–Behnken design combined with response surface methodology was employed to optimize the four extraction parameters: solid-to-liquid ratio, ethanol concentration, extraction temperature, and extraction time. The optimal conditions were 0.5 mL of Folin–Ciocalteu reagent, 20% Na2CO3, and reaction at 30 °C for 2.0 h, yielding a linear calibration curve (R2 = 0.9991) with satisfactory methodological validation. Optimal extraction (52% ethanol, 1:50 w/v, 68 °C, 21 min) achieved a total polyphenol content of 2.93 × 104 mg·kg−1, closely matching the predicted value (relative error = 0.34%). Analysis of seven grape seed varieties from the Hebei Province revealed significant content variation (p < 0.05), ranging from 3.24 to 7.47 × 104 mg·kg−1, with Rose grape seeds exhibiting the highest level. The developed method effectively overcame matrix interference from high oil content, offering a reliable, efficient tool for screening high-polyphenol grape seed varieties and supporting the development of value-added functional products. Full article
14 pages, 287 KB  
Article
Screening of Bioactive Compounds from Rosa canina L. Peel and Seed Herbal Dust Using Eco-Friendly Extraction Techniques
by Valentina Masala, Carlo I. G. Tuberoso, Krunoslav Aladić, Ema Pavičić, Snježana Keleković, Vlatko Kopić and Stela Jokić
Processes 2026, 14(7), 1086; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14071086 - 27 Mar 2026
Viewed by 174
Abstract
The rising demand for sustainable and circular approaches in the agro-industrial sector has generated interest in repurposing herbal tea residues as sources of high-value bioactive compounds. This work focusses on recovering phytochemicals from Rosa canina L. peel and seed dust (by-products of processing [...] Read more.
The rising demand for sustainable and circular approaches in the agro-industrial sector has generated interest in repurposing herbal tea residues as sources of high-value bioactive compounds. This work focusses on recovering phytochemicals from Rosa canina L. peel and seed dust (by-products of processing of herbal tea in filter tea bags) using green extraction techniques. Two environmentally friendly technologies were used: ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) with a sonotrode and subcritical fluid extraction (SBFE). The extracts were qualitatively profiled using (HR) LC-ESI-QToF-MS/MS and quantified using HPLC-PDA. Both by-products contained phenolic substances, including gallic acid derivatives, ellagic acid, and flavonoids such as quercetin and quercetin-3-O-glucoside (only in the peel). Additionally, Folin–Ciocalteu’s assay was used to determine Total Phenolic content (TP). The extraction efficiency was considered in terms of phenolic compound recovery and total phenolic content obtained under the respective experimental conditions. The maximum TP for SBFE was reported in samples extracted with ethanol–water (48:52) at 180 °C, producing 3876.67 GAE mg/L for peel and 1648.57 GAE mg/L for seeds. In the UAE, extraction with ethanol–water (48:52) for 10 min yielded the maximum TP of 2773.81 GAE mg/L for peel and 957.86 GAE mg/L for seeds. These findings highlight the potential of R. canina infusion by-products as long-term sources of bioactive compounds for use in nutraceutical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biological Processes and Systems)
30 pages, 2146 KB  
Article
Research on a Precision Counting Method and Web Deployment for Natural-Form Bothriochloa ischaemum Spikes and Seeds Based on Object Detection
by Huamin Zhao, Yongzhuo Zhang, Yabo Zheng, Erkang Zeng, Linjun Jiang, Weiqi Yan, Fangshan Xia and Defang Xu
Agronomy 2026, 16(7), 706; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16070706 - 27 Mar 2026
Viewed by 119
Abstract
Bothriochloa ischaemum is a key forage species with strong grazing tolerance and high nutritional value, making precise quantification of spike and seed traits essential for germplasm evaluation and yield prediction. However, the compact architecture and minute seed size in natural field conditions render [...] Read more.
Bothriochloa ischaemum is a key forage species with strong grazing tolerance and high nutritional value, making precise quantification of spike and seed traits essential for germplasm evaluation and yield prediction. However, the compact architecture and minute seed size in natural field conditions render manual counting inefficient and labor-intensive. To address this limitation, this study presents a non-destructive and automated quantification framework integrating advanced object detection and regression analysis for accurate in situ estimation of spikes and seed numbers. To further address the challenges of dense spike detection caused by occlusion and small object sizes, this study developed a modified model named YOLOv12-DAN by integrating DySample dynamic upsampling, ASFF feature fusion, and NWD loss, which achieved a mean average precision (mAP) of 91.6%. Meanwhile, for the detection of dense kernels on compact spikes, an improved YOLOv12 architecture incorporating an Explicit Visual Center (EVC) module was proposed to enhance multi-scale feature representation. The optimized model attained a bounding box precision of 96.5%, a recall rate of 86.4%, an mAP50 of 94.3%, and an mAP50-95 of 73.9%. Furthermore, a univariate linear regression model based on 132 spike samples verified the reliable consistency between the predicted and actual seed counts, with a mean absolute error (MAE) of 6.30, a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 9.35, and an R-squared (R2) value of 0.808. Finally, the model was deployed through a lightweight end-to-end web application, enabling real-time field operation and promoting its applicability in breeding programs and agronomic decision-making. This study provides a robust technical pathway for automated phenotyping and precision forage improvement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Twins in Precision Agriculture)
20 pages, 4339 KB  
Article
Cytotoxic Potential Evaluation of Innovative Pressurised Cyclic Solid–Liquid Extracts from Withania somnifera
by Rosanna Culurciello, Karen Power, Sergio Esposito, Ilaria Di Nardo, Simone Landi, Gionata De Vico, Domenico Palatucci, Elio Pizzo, Daniele Naviglio and Armando Zarrelli
Plants 2026, 15(7), 1027; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15071027 - 26 Mar 2026
Viewed by 183
Abstract
Ethnopharmacological relevance. Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, widely used in traditional medical systems such as Ayurveda, Unani, and Middle Eastern folk medicine, is valued for its adaptogenic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. These activities are primarily attributed to withanolides, with Withaferin A recognized [...] Read more.
Ethnopharmacological relevance. Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, widely used in traditional medical systems such as Ayurveda, Unani, and Middle Eastern folk medicine, is valued for its adaptogenic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. These activities are primarily attributed to withanolides, with Withaferin A recognized as one of the most bioactive constituents. Although traditional preparations often rely on the root, leaf use provides a more sustainable alternative and may yield significant quantities of active metabolites. Identifying efficient, modern extraction technologies that can enhance the recovery of bioactive compounds from leaves is essential for developing effective, standardized ethnopharmacological formulations. Materials and methods. Plants of W. somnifera grown from seeds were subjected to different environmental conditions (control, drought, cold, yeast extract treatment). Leaves were extracted using Pressurized Cyclic Solid–Liquid Extraction (PCSLE) with hydroalcoholic solvents and compared with conventional infusion of dried leaves. Extracts were fractionated with solvents of varying polarity and analyzed by TLC, HPLC, and NMR for quantification of Withaferin A. Expression levels of key withanolide-biosynthetic genes (CAS, SMT1, DWARF1, CYP71, CYP76) were assessed using qRT-PCR. Antimicrobial activity of pure Withaferin A, aqueous extract, and hydroalcoholic PCSLE extract was evaluated through MIC and MBC assays against Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. Cytotoxic activity was measured via MTT assays in six human cancer cell lines after 3, 6, and 24 h of treatment. Results. PCSLE yielded substantially higher levels of Withaferin A than traditional infusion, especially in medium-polarity fractions (chloroform and ethyl acetate), with concentrations reaching 0.70% in fresh leaf mass (4.8% dry weight), compared to 0.11% obtained by infusion. Gene expression analysis revealed that 24-week-old plants exhibited the highest transcription of withanolide-biosynthetic genes, and drought stress significantly upregulated CAS, SMT1, DWARF1, CYP71, and CYP716, indicating enhanced metabolic flux toward withanolide production. Hydroalcoholic PCSLE extracts showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, with MIC and MBC values comparable to pure Withaferin A and demonstrating bactericidal effects against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes. The aqueous extract showed activity only against Gram-positive strains. Cytotoxicity assays demonstrated an optimistic, dose-dependent reduction in cell viability across all tumour cell lines treated with the hydroalcoholic PCSLE extract, closely mirroring the activity of pure Withaferin A and consistently exceeding the effect of the aqueous extract. IC50 values confirmed the high bioactive content of PCSLE extracts and suggested mechanisms like those known for Withaferin A. Conclusions. PCSLE proved to be a highly efficient extraction technology for obtaining leaf extracts rich in Withaferin A, outperforming conventional extraction methods while exploiting sustainable plant tissue. Developmental stage and drought stress significantly modulated the expression of genes involved in withanolide biosynthesis, highlighting agronomic strategies capable of enhancing metabolite production. Hydroalcoholic PCSLE extracts exhibited antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities comparable to pure Withaferin A, supporting their relevance as promising therapeutic candidates. These findings advocate for the use of W. somnifera leaves as a sustainable source of bioactive compounds and demonstrate that advanced extraction technologies can contribute to the development of innovative ethnopharmacological preparations for antimicrobial and anticancer applications. Full article
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18 pages, 2525 KB  
Article
Effects of Polymer-Based Soil Conditioner and Humic Acid on Soil Properties and Cotton Yield in Saline–Sodic Soils
by Yilin Guo, Xiaoguo Mu, Guorong Ma, Jihong Zhang and Zhenhua Wang
Water 2026, 18(7), 780; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18070780 - 26 Mar 2026
Viewed by 241
Abstract
Secondary salinization in mulched drip-irrigated cotton fields of arid oasis–desert transition zones in Xinjiang imposes coupled root-zone constraints, including salt-induced aggregate structural degradation and ionic stress. However, field evidence remains limited on whether integrating a structure-oriented soil conditioner with humic acid can generate [...] Read more.
Secondary salinization in mulched drip-irrigated cotton fields of arid oasis–desert transition zones in Xinjiang imposes coupled root-zone constraints, including salt-induced aggregate structural degradation and ionic stress. However, field evidence remains limited on whether integrating a structure-oriented soil conditioner with humic acid can generate stable improvements across growing seasons. A two-year field experiment with a randomized block design (three replicates) was conducted to evaluate four treatments: control (CK), polyacrylamide (PAM, 30 kg ha−1), humic acid (HA, 450 kg ha−1), and PAM + HA. Soil physical and chemical properties and aggregate-size distribution were determined after harvest, while enzyme activities and root traits were assessed at the flowering–boll stage. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and random forest (RF) analysis were used to explore soil–root–yield linkages and identify key soil predictors associated with yield variation. Treatment effects were most evident in the 0–20 cm layer, with PAM + HA showing the greatest overall improvement. In the topsoil, PAM + HA lowered soil pH from 8.35 to 7.88 in 2024 (p < 0.05), increased soil organic carbon (SOC) to 4.29 g kg−1 in 2025 (p < 0.01), and increased NO3–N to 25.51 and 30.27 mg kg−1 in 2024 and 2025, respectively (both p < 0.05). PAM + HA also enhanced cellulase activity from 6.17 to 16.85 mg glucose g−1 72 h−1 in 2024 and increased seed cotton yield to 6683.69 and 5996.89 kg ha−1 in 2024 and 2025, with a 51.0% yield increase over CK in 2024. SEM showed that root development had the strongest direct positive effect on yield (β = 0.79, R2 = 0.63; goodness of fit (GOF) = 0.74), while random forest identified alkaline phosphatase, cellulase, and NO3–N as the main yield predictors (out-of-bag R2 (OOB R2) = 0.672, p = 0.01). This study elucidated the effects of the combined application of a structure-oriented soil conditioner and humic acid on the root-zone environment of mulched drip-irrigated cotton fields in arid regions, providing a theoretical basis for the coordinated regulation of soil structural improvement and nutrient activation in saline–sodic cotton fields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment and Management of Soil Salinity: Methods and Technologies)
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21 pages, 6652 KB  
Article
Green Extraction of Polysaccharides from Gleditsia japonica Var. delavayi Seeds: Optimization and Physicochemical Properties
by Xiangzhong Mao, Chengyan Pi, Xiaowei Peng, Boxiao Wu, Changwei Cao, Huan Kan, Yun Liu and Fang Li
Foods 2026, 15(7), 1139; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15071139 - 26 Mar 2026
Viewed by 215
Abstract
The endosperm of Gleditsia japonica var. delavayi seeds is a valued medicinal and edible material, rich in polysaccharides exhibiting excellent functional properties for food applications. However, conventional methods for extracting Gleditsia japonica var. delavayi polysaccharides (GJP) are often inefficient and environmentally unfriendly. Thus, [...] Read more.
The endosperm of Gleditsia japonica var. delavayi seeds is a valued medicinal and edible material, rich in polysaccharides exhibiting excellent functional properties for food applications. However, conventional methods for extracting Gleditsia japonica var. delavayi polysaccharides (GJP) are often inefficient and environmentally unfriendly. Thus, we developed a green, ultrasound-assisted process for extracting GJP. We systematically optimized key parameters (liquid-solid ratio and ultrasonic time, temperature, and power) using single-factor, Plackett–Burman and Box–Behnken experimental designs to maximize yield and characterize the product. The optimized process (200 mL/g, 62 min, 51 °C and 180 W) exhibited an extraction yield of 76.11%, producing GJP with a purity of 79.89%, which satisfies standards for food additives. The extracted GJP exhibited a semi-crystalline structure, high solubility (80.06%), low esterification degree (2.60%) and high viscosity and thermal stability between 30 °C and 70 °C. Crucially, this process required no chemical reagents and consumed only 0.18 kW·h of energy. Analysis indicates that the optimized ultrasound-assisted extraction of GJP is a green and efficient method with high extraction rates and reduced processing time and energy consumption; furthermore, it does not require any chemical reagents, making it a promising alternative to conventional techniques. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
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17 pages, 3926 KB  
Article
Stable qw12-1 Locus Across Environments: High-Resolution QTL Mapping for Sustainable Southern Soybean Crinkle Leaf Disease Resistance Control
by Wenjie Chen, Chunting Zhang, Qian Shi, Xiaohong Guo, Xiayan Qin, Shufang Chen, Kai Sun, Qingyuan Wei, Fuyue Tang, Jiang Liang, Tuanjie Zhao and Yuan Chen
Plants 2026, 15(7), 1010; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15071010 - 25 Mar 2026
Viewed by 210
Abstract
Severe southern soybean crinkle leaf disease (SSCLD) reduces soybean seed yield by approximately 40%. Identifying the genes that control SSCLD is crucial for breeding resistant varieties and elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying SSCLD infection. In this study, recombinant inbred lines (RILs, n = [...] Read more.
Severe southern soybean crinkle leaf disease (SSCLD) reduces soybean seed yield by approximately 40%. Identifying the genes that control SSCLD is crucial for breeding resistant varieties and elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying SSCLD infection. In this study, recombinant inbred lines (RILs, n = 236) derived from a cross between Nannong1138-2 (NN1138-2) and Zhengxiaodou (ZXD) were used as experimental materials. A field trial employing a randomized block design was conducted in four environments across two locations, Nanning (2019–2021) and Du’an (2020) in Guangxi, to identify the disease severity grades of SSCLD in the field. QTLs controlling SSCLD were detected via a genetic map constructed using 3255 SLAF (specific locus amplified fragment) markers from the recombinant inbred lines. RT–qPCR was used to analyze candidate gene expression at major effect loci. The results revealed that eight SSCLD-associated QTLs were identified on chromosomes 3, 6, 12, and 17. Notably, the qw12-1 locus on chromosome 12 was detected across three developmental stages in three of the four environments, explaining 10.18–58.20% of the phenotypic variation. RT–qPCR analysis of 12 disease resistance-related genes within the qw12-1 interval revealed that GLYMA_12G233000 and GLYMA_12G239200 presented significantly higher expression in crinkled leaf lines than in normal leaf lines during the V5 (fifth trifoliolate stage), R2 (full bloom stage), and R6 (full seed stage) stages. These genes were prioritized as potential prime candidates for SSCLD resistance genes. This research provides foundational data for the fine mapping of qw12-1 and cloning SSCLD-related genes, advancing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying SSCLD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology)
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33 pages, 1803 KB  
Article
An AI-Driven Dual-Spectral Vision–Language Sensing Framework for Intelligent Agricultural Phenotyping
by Lei Shi, Zhiyuan Chen, Chengze Li, Yang Hu, Xintong Wang, Haibo Wang and Yihong Song
Sensors 2026, 26(7), 2045; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26072045 - 25 Mar 2026
Viewed by 163
Abstract
Seed varietal purity and physiological viability are critical determinants of crop yield and quality. However, non-destructive assessment faces significant challenges in fine-grained variety discrimination and the perception of internal defects. This study proposes S3-Net, an AI-driven multimodal sensing framework that integrates vision–language alignment [...] Read more.
Seed varietal purity and physiological viability are critical determinants of crop yield and quality. However, non-destructive assessment faces significant challenges in fine-grained variety discrimination and the perception of internal defects. This study proposes S3-Net, an AI-driven multimodal sensing framework that integrates vision–language alignment with dual-spectral sensor fusion for autonomous seed quality evaluation. We introduce a Knowledge–Vision Alignment (KVA) module that incorporates encyclopedic morphological descriptions to guide feature learning, significantly enhancing few-shot generalization. Complementarily, a Dual-Spectral Fusion (DSF) module combines high-resolution RGB textures with penetrative Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) sensing to jointly characterize external and internal traits. Experimental results on a custom multimodal dataset of 6000 samples across 12 crop categories demonstrate that S3-Net achieves 96.9% accuracy for species identification and 95.8% for viability detection. Notably, S3-Net outperforms ResNet-50 by 40.3% in extreme 1-shot scenarios. With a stable inference throughput of 95 fps, the system meets the high-throughput demands of industrial-scale applications, providing a robust and efficient solution for intelligent agricultural phenotyping. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Artificial Intelligence-Driven Sensing)
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21 pages, 1752 KB  
Article
From Fruit Development to Harvest: Impact of Exogenous Sorbitol on Physico-Chemical Traits and Yield of Pomegranate Fruit
by Ander Solana-Guilabert, Alberto Guirao, María Emma García-Pastor, Huertas María Díaz-Mula, María Serrano, Juan Miguel Valverde and Domingo Martínez-Romero
Horticulturae 2026, 12(4), 406; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12040406 (registering DOI) - 25 Mar 2026
Viewed by 195
Abstract
The ‘Mollar de Elche’ pomegranate cultivar is highly valued for its organoleptic properties, yet it often suffers from inadequate fruit pigmentation, reducing its commercial competitiveness. This study, carried out in a mature commercial orchard located in Spain (Alicante), evaluated the impact of preharvest [...] Read more.
The ‘Mollar de Elche’ pomegranate cultivar is highly valued for its organoleptic properties, yet it often suffers from inadequate fruit pigmentation, reducing its commercial competitiveness. This study, carried out in a mature commercial orchard located in Spain (Alicante), evaluated the impact of preharvest applications of sorbitol at different concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.5, and 1% in 2023, and 2.5 and 5% in 2024) and three application periods: S1 (nine applications from fruit set), S2 (six applications from seed hardening), and S3 (three applications at the onset of colour change) over two consecutive growing seasons (2023 and 2024). Treatments were applied via foliar spraying from the time of fruit set until the onset of external colour change. The results showed that sorbitol acted as an effective metabolic ‘vector’, significantly increasing fruit weight and total yield, particularly at concentrations of 1 and 5%. Furthermore, sorbitol treatments enhanced fruit firmness by stabilizing cell wall structures and significantly improved exocarp red pigmentation by reducing the hue angle. While the highest doses (1, 2.5, and 5%) enhanced biomass accumulation, they also triggered a potential negative feedback loop in sugar sensing that could interfere with secondary metabolism at excessive thresholds. These findings suggest that preharvest sorbitol applications, particularly at concentrations between 1 and 5% starting from early application period (S1), serve as an effective strategy for improving yield and external pigmentation in ‘Mollar de Elche’ pomegranate fruit. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Farm to Table in the Era of a New Horticulture in Spain)
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39 pages, 1820 KB  
Review
Metastatic Odyssey: Decoding the Genomic Journey from Primary Colorectal Cancer to Disseminated Disease
by Taxiarchis Konstantinos Nikolouzakis, John Souglakos, Epameinondas Evangelos Kantidakis, Katerina Achilleos, Troye van Staden and Emmanuel Chrysos
Cancers 2026, 18(7), 1062; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18071062 - 25 Mar 2026
Viewed by 300
Abstract
Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) accounts for 90% of CRC-related mortality. This review synthesizes insights from comparative genomics tracing evolutionary trajectories from primary tumor to disseminated disease. Multi-region sequencing reveals metastatic seeding often occurs early—before clinical detection—challenging linear progression models. The metastatic bottleneck reduces [...] Read more.
Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) accounts for 90% of CRC-related mortality. This review synthesizes insights from comparative genomics tracing evolutionary trajectories from primary tumor to disseminated disease. Multi-region sequencing reveals metastatic seeding often occurs early—before clinical detection—challenging linear progression models. The metastatic bottleneck reduces clonal diversity while enriching for dissemination-competent traits including SMAD4 loss, PTEN inactivation and metabolic reprogramming. Organ-specific adaptation yields distinct molecular signatures: liver metastases exhibit Wnt hyperactivation and TGF-β-driven immune suppression; peritoneal tumors display mucinous features; brain metastases show HER2 enrichment. The immune microenvironment evolves toward immunosuppressive configurations, with Microsatellite instability high (MSI-H) tumors acquiring B2M or JAK1/2 mutations. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) enables real-time tracking of clonal dynamics, detecting molecular residual disease months before radiographic progression. Therapeutic resistance follows predictable evolutionary trajectories—from RAS/BRAF mutations to EGFR ectodomain alterations, HER2/MET amplifications and lineage plasticity—with metastasis-specific mechanisms including microenvironmental protection and cellular dormancy. The clinical future lies in interception: leveraging liquid biopsies for early detection, targeting both tumor-intrinsic vulnerabilities and permissive metastatic niches and adapting therapy dynamically to anticipate resistance. Understanding this genomic odyssey is essential for transforming mCRC into a controllable chronic condition. Full article
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34 pages, 6848 KB  
Article
Impact of Regulation of Microbial Seed Coating on Alfalfa Growth and the Soil Microbial System
by Ying Zhang, Shanmu He, Xiaolei Yang, Aolei He, Bingpeng Shen, Changning Li and Tuo Yao
Agronomy 2026, 16(7), 683; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16070683 (registering DOI) - 24 Mar 2026
Viewed by 154
Abstract
Seed coating technology is regarded as one of the optimal strategies to promote sustainable agricultural development. It can effectively optimize the physical and physiological characteristics of seeds, improve germplasm quality, and enhance crop resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. Saline–alkali soils, characterized by [...] Read more.
Seed coating technology is regarded as one of the optimal strategies to promote sustainable agricultural development. It can effectively optimize the physical and physiological characteristics of seeds, improve germplasm quality, and enhance crop resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. Saline–alkali soils, characterized by high salinity and alkalinity, severely restrict plant growth and development. However, alfalfa, a high-quality leguminous forage, faces substantial challenges in large-scale popularization and cultivation in saline–alkali regions. At present, research on the application of microbial seed coating technology in alfalfa production under saline–alkali conditions remains insufficient, and relevant techniques and formulations still require optimization. Under field conditions, this study used a randomized complete block design with alfalfa as the research material. Different coating treatments combining plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), rhizobia, and extracellular polysaccharides (EPSs) were established to systematically investigate the effects of various coating formulations on alfalfa yield, nutritional quality, root system architecture, and rhizosphere soil properties. Meanwhile, high-throughput sequencing was employed to analyze shifts in rhizosphere soil microbial community structure. The results demonstrated that all microbial coating treatments exerted significant growth-promoting effects on alfalfa grown in saline–alkali soils, among which the T8 treatment (combined coating of rhizobia + PGPR + EPS) performed the best. This treatment not only significantly improved alfalfa yield and nutritional quality but also modified root system architecture and enhanced soil enzyme activities, soil nutrient contents, and soil physical structure, thereby creating a favorable growth environment for plants. Among the single microbial coating treatments, the combined coating of rhizobia and EPS outperformed other single treatments and exhibited favorable application potential. Sequencing results revealed that microbial seed coating treatments significantly increased the relative abundance of beneficial soil bacteria, decreased the abundance of harmful fungi, regulated rhizosphere microbial community structure, and consequently promoted improvements in alfalfa yield and quality by optimizing the plant growth microenvironment. The findings of this study provide important theoretical support for the popularization and application of microbial seed coating technology in crop cultivation in saline–alkali soils, offer a key reference for optimizing alfalfa-specific seed coating formulations for saline–alkali conditions, and are of great significance for promoting the efficient utilization of saline–alkali land resources and the development of ecological agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Grassland and Pasture Science)
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15 pages, 1096 KB  
Article
Optimization of Mechanized Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Harvesting in Mediterranean Conditions: Technical and Environmental Aspects
by Alberto Assirelli, Rossella Manganiello, Enrico Santangelo, Francesco Ciavarella, Carmen Manganiello, Giuditta De Santis and Michele Rinaldi
Agriculture 2026, 16(7), 715; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16070715 (registering DOI) - 24 Mar 2026
Viewed by 179
Abstract
Quinoa attracts growing interest thanks to its nutritional value, biomass potential, and tolerance to cold, salinity, and drought, making it suitable for Mediterranean environments. Harvesting can be carried out with conventional wheat combine harvesters, although specific adjustments are required to ensure efficient seed–biomass [...] Read more.
Quinoa attracts growing interest thanks to its nutritional value, biomass potential, and tolerance to cold, salinity, and drought, making it suitable for Mediterranean environments. Harvesting can be carried out with conventional wheat combine harvesters, although specific adjustments are required to ensure efficient seed–biomass separation and minimize losses. This study examined technical and environmental aspects of mechanized quinoa harvesting in southern Italy to identify the most effective threshing drum (TD) speed that limits losses while ensuring adequate seed separation. Field trials conducted in Puglia in 2022 and 2024, using modified combine harvesters and TD speeds between 600 and 900 rpm, showed wide variability in seed losses across settings. The 700-rpm setting yielded minimal losses in 2022 (Threshing Index, TI 6%), but proved inadequate in 2024 (TI 93%), as uneven ripening and lower yields compromised threshing efficiency. Conversely, 900 rpm produced the highest losses in 2022 (TI 67%) and the lowest cleaning efficiency with the highest residue percentage in 2024, confirming excessive mechanical aggressiveness. In 2024, 650 rpm showed relatively low losses (53%), but these were affected by reduced yield and incomplete detachment (TI 50%). In both years, 750 rpm provided the most stable performance, offering a balanced compromise between efficient seed detachment (TI 23% in 2022; 55% in 2024) and moderate seed losses (25% and 63%, respectively). Adaptive harvesting strategies, focused on appropriate machinery calibration and optimized agronomic practices, could promote the sustainable integration of quinoa into Mediterranean crop diversification systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Technology)
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28 pages, 22901 KB  
Article
IAMS (Interior-Anchored Mean-Shift) Algorithm for Supervoxel Segmentation of Airborne LiDAR Roof Points
by Hanyu Zhou, Liang Zhang, Zhiyue Zhang, Haiqiong Yang, Xiongfei Tang, Hongchao Ma and Chunjing Yao
Remote Sens. 2026, 18(6), 965; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18060965 - 23 Mar 2026
Viewed by 158
Abstract
Accurate building roof classification from airborne LiDAR point clouds is fundamental to reliable three-dimensional (3D) urban reconstruction. While supervoxel-based methods offer efficiency and resilience to uneven point density, their performance is critically undermined by cross-boundary segmentation errors—a direct consequence of random seed initialization [...] Read more.
Accurate building roof classification from airborne LiDAR point clouds is fundamental to reliable three-dimensional (3D) urban reconstruction. While supervoxel-based methods offer efficiency and resilience to uneven point density, their performance is critically undermined by cross-boundary segmentation errors—a direct consequence of random seed initialization that merges geometrically similar yet semantically distinct objects. To address this root cause, this study proposes Interior-Anchored Mean-Shift (IAMS), a novel supervoxel segmentation framework that rethinks seed placement as a geometry-aware interior localization problem. By integrating local geometric consistency point density, and spatial correlation into a unified kernel density estimator, supplemented by density-adaptive voxel weighting and a semi-variogram-driven bandwidth, IAMS reliably anchors seeds within object interiors, yielding highly homogeneous supervoxels without post-processing. Extensive experiments on three diverse airborne LiDAR datasets demonstrated that IAMS consistently outperformed state-of-the-art baselines. On the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) Vaihingen benchmark, our approach improved roof classification completeness, correctness, and quality by up to 7.1% (per-object) over the conventional Voxel Cloud Connectivity Segmentation (VCCS) algorithm while being significantly faster than recent boundary-preserving alternatives. Critically, IAMS maintains robust performance under challenging conditions, including sparse sampling and dense vegetation occlusion, making it a practical solution for real-world urban remote sensing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Urban Remote Sensing)
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17 pages, 4795 KB  
Article
Identification and Expression Analysis of the Goji Haploid-Inducible Gene DMP
by Zijun Yang, Cuiping Wang, Zhonghua Wang and Jiali Wu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(6), 2912; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27062912 - 23 Mar 2026
Viewed by 184
Abstract
Goji, a plant unique to China, is recognized for its dual use as both a food and a medicine and is rich in various nutrients. However, long-term asexual propagation often leads to cultivar degeneration and viral accumulation, which severely impact its yield, quality, [...] Read more.
Goji, a plant unique to China, is recognized for its dual use as both a food and a medicine and is rich in various nutrients. However, long-term asexual propagation often leads to cultivar degeneration and viral accumulation, which severely impact its yield, quality, and disease resistance. Homozygous seeds can stably produce offspring with uniform traits. Haploid breeding technology, which involves doubling the chromosomes of haploid plants to obtain homozygous diploids, can significantly accelerate the breeding process. The DMP (Domain of Unknown Function 679 Membrane Protein) family is a plant-specific family of membrane proteins involved in various biological functions, including physiological processes, reproductive development, and senescence. Concurrently, loss-of-function of the DMP gene impedes the proper integration of the paternal genome following fertilization. Consequently, the embryo develops with exclusively maternal chromosomes, a mechanism that underlies the induction of haploids. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide identification of the DMP gene family in goji, analyzing the physicochemical properties, chromosomal locations, cis-acting elements, phylogenetic relationships, sequence characteristics, expression patterns, and subcellular localization of its members. The objective was to identify DMP genes capable of inducing haploid production in goji berry for future breeding applications. The results revealed a total of 11 DMP family members in the goji berry genome, distributed across seven chromosomes. The proteins encoded by these members contain 136 to 237 amino acids, with molecular weights ranging from 15,267.96 to 26,141.01 Da and isoelectric points (pI) ranging from 5.14 to 9.32. The LbDMPs were found to contain numerous cis-acting elements that play roles in plant responses to abiotic stresses and various phytohormones. Notably, LbDMP1 and LbDMP11, which contain the typical DUF679 domain, are predominantly expressed in pollen, suggesting their involvement in the reproductive process of goji berry. They were therefore identified as candidate genes for haploid induction. Subcellular localization analysis demonstrated that LbDMP1 is localized to the plasma membrane, while LbDMP11 is localized to membrane systems such as the endoplasmic reticulum. This research provides a fundamental basis for further exploration of the functional roles of the DMP gene family in goji berry and offers valuable genetic resources for haploid induction in its breeding programs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Genetics and Genomics)
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