Search Results (20)

Despite its rapid growth and economic success, the sustainability of the floriculture industry as it is presently conducted is debatable, due to the huge environmental impacts it initiates and incurs. Achieving sustainability requires joint efforts from all stakeholders, a fact that is often neglected in discussions that frequently focus upon economically driven management concerns. This review attempts to raise awareness and collective responsibility among the key practitioners in floriculture by discussing its sustainability in the context of soil health, as soil is the foundation of agriculture systems. Major challenges posed to soil health arise from soil acidification and salinization stimulated by the abusive use of fertilizers. The poisoning of soil biota by pesticide residues and plastic debris due to the excessive application of pesticides and disposal of plastics is another significant issue and concern. The consequence of continuous cropping obstacles are further elucidated by the concept of plant-soil feedback. Based on these challenges, we propose the adoption and implementation of several sustainable practices including breeding stress-resistant and nutrient-efficient cultivars, making sustainable soil management a goal of floriculture production, and the recycling of plastics to overcome and mitigate the decline in soil health. The problems created by flower waste materials are highlighted and efficient treatment by biochar synthesis is suggested. We acknowledge the complexity of developing and implementing the proposed practices in floriculture as there is limited collaboration among the research and operational communities, and the policymakers. Additional research examining the impacts the floriculture industry has upon soils is needed to develop more sustainable production practices that can help resolve the current threats and to bridge the understanding gap between researchers and stakeholders in floriculture. Full article

This study examines the sustainability of livestock farming in Jordan’s arid regions, focusing on smallholder Awassi sheep and Baladi goat farming. It assesses breeders, economic factors, herd productivity, and sustainability, evaluating the vitality of these breeds by examining reproductive success through birth and survival rates. In 2021–2022, a total of 53 traditional Awassi sheep and Baladi goat farms in Northern Jordan’s Mafraq Governorate were surveyed using a comprehensive questionnaire to gather data on breeders’ information, farm economics, and herd indicators. Dry seasons in arid lands are tough on sheep and goats, with limited fodder and water availability harming their health and reproductive capacity. While wet seasons bring relief, they can also introduce diseases. Special care for these animals throughout the year is crucial to maintain healthy herds in arid regions. Linear models were employed to analyze sample data, with variance and correlation tests used to explore relationships among variables. Additionally, chi-squared analysis was utilized to assess the impact of male replacement plans on these herds. The main outcomes of this study reveal that breeder indicators pose challenges to the sustainability and growth of Awassi sheep and Baladi goat farming. Conversely, economic indicators suggest a blend of financial stability alongside obstacles related to profitability and resource ownership. Breeder age emerges as a significant factor in livestock herd management, influenced by elements such as experience, resource availability, and adherence to traditional practices. Experience notably influences breeders’ decisions regarding male insemination replacements, likely due to acquired skills. Crop cultivation is shown to reduce fodder costs, thereby enhancing profitability for each young animal sold and consequently increasing the breeders’ returns. Winter conditions elevate animal mortality rates due to cold stress, while other animals within herds contribute to increased kid mortality by facilitating disease transmission. Breeder experience significantly impacts lamb survival, underscoring its importance in ensuring proper care. Increasing ewe proportions within herds enhances lamb production and lowers lamb mortality rates. Effective ram management and yearling lamb sales further contribute to herd health and productivity. A higher proportion of goats within a herd positively correlates with the number of young yearlings sold but inversely affects breeding males and overall kid numbers, indicating a delicate balance that influences herd productivity and mortality rates. Sheep (92.5%) and goat herds (90.6%) demonstrate reproductive success, indicative of superior long-term vitality. While sheep excel in birth rates, survival, and sales, they exhibit lower ewe and lambing percentages. Goat farming demonstrates high birth rates, sales, and overall success but requires particular attention to ensuring kid survival, especially during the winter months. Improving the characteristics of the Awassi sheep and Baladi goat flocks is crucial for ensuring sustainability, achievable through proper care practices in dry lands. In conclusion, despite the challenges, there are promising opportunities to enhance sheep and goat farming in Jordan. Effective management, informed by the breeders’ experience and economics, is crucial. Empowering small-scale herders and implementing targeted interventions, like winter mortality solutions and selective breeding, is vital for sustainable growth. Full article

Establishing plant regeneration systems and efficient genetic transformation techniques plays a crucial role in plant functional genomics research and the development of new crop varieties. The inefficient methods of transformation and regeneration of recalcitrant species and the genetic dependence of the transformation process remain major obstacles. With the advancement of plant meristematic tissues and somatic embryogenesis research, several key regulatory genes, collectively known as developmental regulators, have been identified. In the field of plant genetic transformation, the application of developmental regulators has recently garnered significant interest. These regulators play important roles in plant growth and development, and when applied in plant genetic transformation, they can effectively enhance the induction and regeneration capabilities of plant meristematic tissues, thus providing important opportunities for improving genetic transformation efficiency. This review focuses on the introduction of several commonly used developmental regulators. By gaining an in-depth understanding of and applying these developmental regulators, it is possible to further enhance the efficiency and success rate of plant genetic transformation, providing strong support for plant breeding and genetic engineering research. Full article

In the last decade, the use of natural antimicrobial agents, like polyphenolic extracts in postharvest applications, has gained attention. However, a significant challenge lies ahead. Demonstrating these agents’ commercial-scale production feasibility, practical applications, and economic viability compared to traditional agrochemicals is crucial. This review focuses on the achievements and obstacles in using polyphenolic extracts from Mexican crops as natural antimicrobial agents against postharvest phytopathogens and foodborne microorganisms. A comprehensive knowledge of the molecular mechanisms in vitro and in vivo, as well as plant systems, is essential for better results. Toxicity assessments and an evaluation of the impact on fruit quality are needed. Incorporating coating and encapsulation techniques can enhance the effectiveness of extracts. An integrated approach is needed for efficient, cost-effective control throughout the preharvest, harvest, and postharvest phases. Successful commercialization depends on the cost–benefit analysis, infrastructure, raw materials, local needs, and technical facilities, among other factors. Additionally, incorporating strategies related to circular economy can improve plant residue utilization and enhance technological and marketing approaches. Full article

Screening programs for early lung cancer diagnosis are uncommon, primarily due to the challenge of reaching at-risk patients located in rural areas far from medical facilities. To overcome this obstacle, a comprehensive approach is needed that combines mobility, low cost, speed, accuracy, and privacy. One potential solution lies in combining the chest X-ray imaging mode with federated deep learning, ensuring that no single data source can bias the model adversely. This study presents a pre-processing pipeline designed to debias chest X-ray images, thereby enhancing internal classification and external generalization. The pipeline employs a pruning mechanism to train a deep learning model for nodule detection, utilizing the most informative images from a publicly available lung nodule X-ray dataset. Histogram equalization is used to remove systematic differences in image brightness and contrast. Model training is then performed using combinations of lung field segmentation, close cropping, and rib/bone suppression. The resulting deep learning models, generated through this pre-processing pipeline, demonstrate successful generalization on an independent lung nodule dataset. By eliminating confounding variables in chest X-ray images and suppressing signal noise from the bone structures, the proposed deep learning lung nodule detection algorithm achieves an external generalization accuracy of 89%. This approach paves the way for the development of a low-cost and accessible deep learning-based clinical system for lung cancer screening. Full article

Transplanting has been widely used in American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.) cultivation in Northwest China to mitigate the negative effects of continuous cropping obstacles. Because of the accumulation of pathogenic microorganisms and the change in soil properties, transplanting American ginseng to newly cultivated fields after two years of growth has become a major planting pattern. Despite transplanting improving the quality of American ginseng, the effects of soil properties and microbiota on growth during the transplanting process are poorly understood. In the present study, microbial communities, soil physico-chemical properties and morpho-physiological parameters were analyzed to investigate the effects of microbiota and soil characteristics on American ginseng growth in both soil and ginseng root microhabitats. Results indicated that the structure and species of bacterial and fungal communities changed significantly in different microhabitats before and after transplantation. Moreover, the assemblage process of the bacterial community was dominated by deterministic processes. The stochastic process ratio increased and niche breadth decreased significantly after transplanting. While the assembly of the fungal community was dominated by stochastic process, and there was no significant difference in NST, βNTI or niche breadth before and after transplanting. Bacterial co-occurrence networks demonstrated a higher connectivity but a lower aggregation in soil microhabitat, while the fungal community networks remained stable before and after transplantation. Gammaproteobacteria was the biomarker in the soil microhabitat, while Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria and Gemmatimonadetes were biomarkers in the ginseng root microhabitat. Sordariomycetes was a biomarker with high relative abundance in the fungal community before and after transplanting. The bacterial functional and important ASVs were significantly correlated with pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, total potassium root fresh weight, taproot diameter and stem height of American ginseng. Partial least squares path modeling showed that soil properties significantly affected the formation of different microbial specific ASVs. The important functional ASVs in ginseng root microhabitat had a positive effect on American ginseng growth, while the rare taxa had a negative effect. Our results provide a good starting point for future studies of microbial community succession in different microhabitats influenced by the transplantation pattern of American ginseng. Full article

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a valuable staple crop that provides nutrition for a large part of the human population around the world. However, the domestication process reduced its resistance to pests and pathogens. Phytophthora infestans, the causal agent of late blight disease, is the most destructive pathogen of potato plants. Considerable efforts have been made to develop late blight-resistant potato cultivars, but the success has been limited and present-day potato production requires the extensive use of fungicides. In this review, we summarize known sources of late blight resistance and obstacles in P. infestans control. We outline the problematic aspects of chemical treatment, the possible use of biological control, and available resources of natural resistance in wild Solanum accessions. We focus on prospective putative markers of resistance that are often overlooked in genome-centered studies, including secondary metabolites from alkaloid, phenylpropanoid, and terpenoid classes, lipids, proteins, and peptides. We discuss the suitability of these molecules for marker-assisted selection and the possibility of increasing the speed of conventional breeding of more resilient cultivars. Full article

The use of excessive chemicals in agriculture can cause harm to the environment and human health. Sustainable agriculture systems promote agroecological practices to reduce chemical use and promote environmental and human health. However, there is a lack of data on the status of chemical use and the adoption of agroecological practices in the Fez-Meknes region, which is a significant national vegetable production area. To address this gap, we conducted cross-sectional surveys with 603 farmers to analyze their practices, behaviors, and knowledge regarding chemical and bio-product use, as well as the risks to crops, health, and the environment. Additionally, we aimed to diagnose the diffusion of agroecological practices and identify the most relevant obstacles and motivations for adoption. Our results indicate that a majority of farmers (95%) use chemicals throughout the production process but lack a good understanding of their use and associated risks. However, farmers do have access to alternative practices such as crop rotation (99.67%), manure (96.35%), drip irrigation (74.46%), and intercropping (69%). The success of these practices among farmers was a significant motivation for their adoption (50%), whereas the difficulties of managing pests and diseases without pesticides (73.2%) and the lack of technical advice and support (70.8%) were the main barriers to adoption. In conclusion, our study highlights the need for training and financial encouragement from the state to promote healthy and eco-friendly farming practices. This research provides valuable insights into the current status of chemical use and the adoption of agroecological practices in the Fez-Meknes region, which can inform policy decisions and promote sustainable agriculture practices for the future. Full article

The North Carolina hemp industry has fallen short of its projected success despite its potential economic benefits and opportunities for farmers. The floral hemp sector specifically has been struggling due to excessive production and decreasing prices. The objective of the research was to examine the experiences and obstacles faced by early adopters and stakeholders of the hemp industry in NC. Through structured focus group discussions and interviews, data were collected and analyzed to gain insight into the industry’s direction. The results revealed that many floral hemp farmers have abandoned the crop because of financial setbacks, leading to a reduced interest in cultivation compared to five years prior. The floral hemp industry’s rapid growth and decline have tempered farmers’ expectations of the crop’s potential. The findings will provide a foundation for further research into NC’s hemp production and economy, enabling the provision of necessary information and extension services for profitable hemp farming in the state. Full article

Natural rubber (NR) remains an indispensable raw material with unique properties that is used in the manufacture of a large number of products and the global demand for it is growing every year. The only industrially important source of NR is the tropical tree Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex A.Juss.) Müll.Arg., thus alternative sources of rubber are required. For the temperate zone, the most suitable source of high quality rubber is the Russian (Kazakh) dandelion Taraxacum kok-saghyz L.E. Rodin (TKS). An obstacle to the widespread industrial cultivation of TKS is its high heterozygosity, poor growth energy, and low competitiveness in the field, as well as inbreeding depression. Rapid cultivation of TKS requires the use of modern technologies of marker-assisted and genomic selection, as well as approaches of genetic engineering and genome editing. This review is devoted to describing the progress in the field of molecular genetics, genomics, and genetic engineering of TKS. Sequencing and annotation of the entire TKS genome made it possible to identify a large number of SNPs, which were subsequently used in genotyping. To date, a total of 90 functional genes have been identified that control the rubber synthesis pathway in TKS. The most important of these proteins are part of the rubber transferase complex and are encoded by eight genes for cis-prenyltransferases (TkCPT), two genes for cis-prenyltransferase-like proteins (TkCPTL), one gene for rubber elongation factor (TkREF), and nine genes for small rubber particle proteins (TkSRPP). In TKS, genes for enzymes of inulin metabolism have also been identified and genome-wide studies of other gene families are also underway. Comparative transcriptomic and proteomic studies of TKS lines with different accumulations of NR are also being carried out, which help to identify genes and proteins involved in the synthesis, regulation, and accumulation of this natural polymer. A number of authors already use the knowledge gained in the genetic engineering of TKS and the main goal of these works is the rapid transformation of the TKS into an economically viable rubber crop. There are no great successes in this area so far, therefore work on genetic transformation and genome editing of TKS should be continued, considering the recent results of genome-wide studies. Full article

In poplar cultivation, continuous cropping obstacles affect wood yield and soil-borne diseases, primarily due to structural changes in microbes and fungus infection. The bacterium Bacillus cereus BJS-1-3 has strong antagonistic properties against pathogens that were isolated from the rhizosphere soil of poplars. Poplar rhizospheres were investigated for the effects of Bacillus cereus BJS-1-3 on microbial communities. Three successive generations of soil were used to replant poplar seedlings. BJS-1-3 inoculated poplars were larger, had higher plant height and breast height diameter, and had a greater number of total and culturable bacteria than non-inoculated controls. B. cereus BJS-1-3 inoculated poplar rhizospheres were sequenced, utilizing the Illumina MiSeq platform to analyze changes in diversity and structure. The fungi abundance and diversity in the BJS-1-3 rhizosphere were significantly lower than in the control rhizosphere. In comparison to the control group, Bacillus sp. constituted 2.87% and 2.38% of the total bacterial community, while Rhizoctonia sp. constituted 2.06% and 6.00% of the total fungal community. Among the potential benefits of B. cereus BJS-1-3 in poplar cultivation is that it enhances rhizosphere microbial community structure and facilitates the growth of trees. Full article

In the dynamic and unstructured environment where horticultural crops grow, obstacles and interference frequently occur but are rarely addressed, which poses significant challenges for robotic harvesting. This work proposed a tactile-enabled robotic grasping method that combines deep learning, tactile sensing, and soft robots. By integrating fin-ray fingers with embedded tactile sensing arrays and customized perception algorithms, the robot gains the ability to sense and handle branch interference during the harvesting process and thus reduce potential mechanical fruit damage. Through experimental validations, an overall 83.3–87.0% grasping status detection success rate, and a promising interference handling method have been demonstrated. The proposed grasping method can also be extended to broader robotic grasping applications wherever undesirable foreign object intrusion needs to be addressed. Full article

Promoting crop residue-based bioenergy (CRB) is a strategy for mitigating climate change and ensuring water-energy-food security. Although China has abundant crop residues, CRB is not well developed, and several policy targets are not being reached. These implementation gaps need critical examination as CRB development mainly relies on policy support. This examination provides a framework to assess the feasibility of this policy that covers several cross-cutting issues. By reviewing national policies, this paper analyzes the horizontal coherence of multisectoral CRB policies during the last two decades. Based on 55 semi-structured interviews, conducted with stakeholders, civil servants and experts, we analyzed the vertical coherence among policy implementation to further explore the causes of the limited success of CRB policies. The priority given to the cultivation and livestock sectors (particularly for soil improvement) in crop residue utilization policies and the development of energy policy targets resulted in horizontal policy incoherence. Furthermore, financial limitations were shown to be the most significant obstacle to CRB policy implementation. Successful CRB policy implementation requires a debate about the crop residue utilization for either energy or fertilizer to determine the more sustainable application. Appropriate incentives and increased technological quality of bioenergy projects are also recommended. Full article

Amomum villosum, which is an important perennial medicinal plant, easily suffers from continuous cropping obstacles in the plantation. The aim of this study is to find an effective method to solve the problem of A. villosum continuous cropping. In this study, we analyzed four fields in which A. villosum was continuously cropped and a fallow field to reveal the effects of continuous cropping on the rhizosphere soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, and bacterial and fungal communities. Most of the soil nutrient contents gradually increased as the number of years of continuous cropping increased, whereas the soil pH decreased slightly. The soil urease and acid phosphatase activities tended to increase as the length of the continuous cropping period increased, which may have accelerated the conversion of soil substances. Furthermore, the alpha diversity of the bacterial and fungal communities decreased as the duration of the continuous cropping period increased. Additionally, the redundancy analysis revealed that bacterial and fungal community structures at the phylum level were the most correlated with pH value and catalase activity, respectively. This study may be useful for promoting the continuous cropping and sustainable development of A. villosum. Full article

Ganoderma lucidum has been used as a rare medical mushroom for centuries in China, due to its health-promoting properties. Successive cropping obstacles are common in the cultivation of G. lucidum, although the remaining nutrients in the germ substrate are sufficient for a second fruiting. Here, we aimed to study the metabolite profile of G. lucidum via nontargeted metabonomic technology. Metabonomic data revealed that organic acids played an important role in the cropping obstacles of G. lucidum, which is accordance with the pH decrease in the germ substrate. A Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis indicated that most differential acids participated in the metabolic pathways. Five acids were all significantly upregulated by two MS with high energy (MS^E) modes in two cultivars, among which 5-hydroxy-2-oxo-4-ureido-2,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylic acid is also involved in purine metabolism regulation and microbial metabolism in diverse environments. Taken together, this work illustrated the organic acid stress generated by G. lucidum, which formed the autotoxicity feedback, and resulted in cropping obstacles. Determining the cause of the cropping obstacles in G. lucidum will promote the utilization rate of fungus substrate to realize the sustainable use of this resource. Full article