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Chili anthracnose, a fungal disease caused by Colletotrichum scovillei, is among the most devastating diseases affecting pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Although WRKY transcription factors play important roles in plant immunity, it is unknown how WRKY gene family members contribute to pepper plant resistance to C. scovillei. Here, CaWRKY20 was found to negatively regulate pepper resistance to C. scovillei, which was demonstrated by virus‐induced gene silencing and transient overexpression in pepper. Moreover, overexpression of CaWRKY20 enhanced susceptibility to C. scovillei in tomato. Additionally, our findings demonstrated that CaWRKY20 can indirectly regulate the expression of salicylic acid (SA)‐related defense genes (CaPR1, CaPR10 and CaSAR8.2) as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐scavenging enzyme genes (CaCAT, CaPOD and CaSOD) in response to C. scovillei. In addition, CaWRKY20 was found to interact with CaMIEL1 in the nucleus to regulate the defense response to C. scovillei in pepper. Furthermore, CaWRKY20 directly bound to the W‐box in the promoter of SYSTEMIC ACQUIRED RESISTANCE DEFICIENT 1 (CaSARD1) and suppressed its expression, resulting in reduced resistance to C. scovillei. These results will clarify the mechanism by which WRKY transcription factors are involved in pepper disease resistance and can thus facilitate molecular breeding for anthracnose‐resistant varieties. Summary statement: Chili anthracnose has greatly affected the yield and the high quality of pepper in the pre‐ and postharvest stages of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.).The CaWRKY20 acts as a negative regulator of pepper anthracnose tolerance by SA and ROS signalling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study investigated the extraction of capsaicin from Capsicum chinense cv Bhut Jolokia using rice bran oil (RBO) as a 'green solvent' via microwave- and ultrasound-mediated techniques (MME and UME) as an alternative to hazardous organic solvents. Extraction conditions were optimised using MME at 180 and 300 W for 2 and 8 min and UME at 300 and 400 W for 10 and 30 min. The maximum capsaicin yield obtained was 12.47 mg/mL, with a corresponding gamma oryzanol content of 8.46 mg/mL. The peroxide value of the extract (capsaicin-infused RBO) was found to be within permissible limits as per Codex Alimentarius specifications. Results strongly suggest the potential of RBO as a novel solvent for extraction of capsaicin. The capsaicin-enriched oil can be used as a functional food ingredient due to its health-promoting properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the cultivation of green chili peppers, the similarity between the fruit and background color, along with severe occlusion between fruits and leaves, significantly reduces the efficiency of harvesting robots. While increasing model depth can enhance detection accuracy, complex models are often difficult to deploy on low-cost agricultural devices. This paper presents an improved lightweight Pepper-YOLO model based on YOLOv8n-Pose, designed for simultaneous detection of green chili peppers and picking points. The proposed model introduces a reversible dual pyramid structure with cross-layer connections to enhance high-and low-level feature extraction while preventing feature loss, ensuring seamless information transfer between layers. Additionally, RepNCSPELAN4 is utilized for feature fusion, improving multi-scale feature representation. Finally, the C2fCIB module replaces the CIB module to further optimize the detection and localization of large-scale pepper features. Experimental results indicate that Pepper-YOLO achieves an object detection accuracy of 82.2% and a harvesting point localization accuracy of 88.1% in complex scenes, with a Euclidean distance error of less than 12.58 pixels. Additionally, the model reduces the number of parameters by 38.3% and lowers complexity by 28.9%, resulting in a final model size of 4.3MB. Compared to state-of-the-art methods, our approach demonstrates better parameter efficiency. In summary, Pepper-YOLO exhibits high precision and real-time performance in complex environments, with a lightweight design that makes it well-suited for deployment on low-cost devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant opportunities exist for the innovative development and use of NPs for plant protection. Here we report the green synthesis of cuprous oxide (Cu2O)-NPs using menteng fruit (Baccaurea racemosa) extracts. We determined the best application time and concentration to control tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) in Chenopodium amaranticolor and tested the efficacy of the NPs on chili peppers either before or after inoculation with TMV. On the basis of transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and UV–visible spectral data, the Cu2O-NPs are spherical particles with an average diameter of 5.1 nm, have a well-crystallized structure with a crystallite size of 4.3 nm, and a specific absorption at 400–500 nm, respectively. Based on Fourier-transform infrared spectra, B. racemosa fruit extracts acted as reducing and capping agents for biosynthesizing Cu2O-NPs. Bioassays on indicator plants indicated that Cu2O-NPs were most effective against TMV when sprayed at 80–100 ppm on plants after infection. Applying Cu2O-NPs on chili pepper did not increase peroxidase activity compared to the untreated control. Among the concentrations tested on chili pepper, 100 ppm was the best; disease severity and TMV titer were significantly lower compared to the untreated control. Applying Cu2O-NPs caused fracture and aggregation of the viral particles, indicating their antiviral potential. The Cu2O-NPs also stimulated growth of the chili pepper plants, indicating their potential as plant growth promotors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is an important agricultural crop because of the nutritional value of the fruit and its economic importance. Various techniques have been practiced to enhance pepper's productivity and nutritional value. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the impact of different training methods and biostimulant applications on sweet pepper plants' growth, yield, and chemical composition under greenhouse conditions. For the training method, unpruned plants were compared with one stem and two stem plants. Unpruned plants had the fruit number of 33.98, fruit weight of 2.18 kg$plant-1, and total marketable yield of 1 090.0 kg$hm-2. One stemplant gave the best average fruit weight of 86.63 g, vitamin C content of 13.66 mg$kg-1 FW, and TSS content of 7.21%. However, two stem plants had the highest fruit setting of 62.41%, carotenoid content of 0.14mg$kg-1 FW, and fruit chlorophyll content of 3.57mg$kg-1 FW. For biostimulant applications, control plants were compared with the Disper Root (DR) and Disper Vital (DV). DR application significantly increased total sugar, carotenoid, fruit chlorophyll, and TSS contents compared to the control and DV applications. While, applying DV increased fruit setting, plant fruit number, weight, and total marketable yield. In addition, integrating one stem plant with the DR application improved fiber, vitamin C, and TSS contents significantly. Two stemplants, and the DV application improved fruit setting and carotenoid content. Thus, one and two stemtraining methods integrated with the DR and DV biostimulant applications could be considered for developing agricultural practices to obtain commercial yield and improve the nutrition values of sweet peppers, as unpruned plants without biostimulant applications have a negative impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transcriptional cascade and regulatory loop play crucial roles in regulating plant-specialized metabolite biosynthesis. Capsaicinoids are unique to the genus Capsicum and confer a pungent flavor to its fruits. However, the transcriptional regulation of capsaicinoid biosynthesis remains largely unknown. In this study, two AP2/ERF transcription factors (TFs), CaERF102 and CaERF111, were characterized for their role in the capsaicinoid biosynthesis process. Expression analysis of two ERFs and capsaicinoid biosynthetic genes (CBGs) suggested that they were associated with capsaicinoid biosynthesis. Both ERFs encode nuclear-localized proteins and function as transcriptional activators through their C-terminal activation motifs. The two ERF TFs participated in capsaicinoid biosynthesis by directly activating the promoters of key CBGs, and this activation was significantly enhanced when CaMYC2 was co-expressed. Moreover, CaERF102 and CaERF111 were found to interact with CaMYC2. This study helps elucidate the AP2/ERF TF regulatory network that governs capsaicinoid biosynthesis in Capsicum species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is a typical self-pollinating crop with obvious heterosis in hybrids. Consequently, the use of morphological markers during the pepper seedling stage is crucial for pepper breeding. The color of hypocotyl is widely used as a phenotypic marker in crossing studies of pepper. Pepper accessions generally have purple hypocotyls, which are mainly due to the anthocyanin accumulation in seedlings, and green hypocotyls are rarely observed in pepper. Here we reported the characterization of a green hypocotyl mutant of pepper, Cha1, which was identified from a pepper ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutant library. Fine mapping revealed that the causal gene, CaTTG1, belonging to the WD40 repeat family, controlled the green hypocotyl phenotype of the mutant. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) confirmed that CaTTG1 regulated anthocyanin accumulation. RNA-seq data showed that expression of structural genes CaDFR, CaANS, and CaUF3GT in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway was significantly decreased in Cha1 compared to the wild type. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) experiments also confirmed that CaTTG1 activated the synthesis of anthocyanin structural genes by forming a MBW complex with CaAN1 and CaGL3. In summary, this study provided a green hypocotyl mutant of pepper, and the Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) marker developed based on the mutation site of the underlying gene would be helpful for pepper breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the waterlogged regions of Bangladesh, climate change exacerbates agricultural challenges, particularly for sensitive crops like chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). This two-season study evaluated the growth and development of eight chili pepper varieties (four cultivated in the summer and four in the winter) in floating beds and traditional soil-based farming systems. Morphological traits, root development, and reproductive traits of the chili plants were evaluated. The results showed that floating beds significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced shoot morphology, root development, and reproductive traits during the winter season but had no effect in the summer season. Floating beds provided better moisture retention, nutrient availability, and pH stability, contributing to increased shoot and root growth and ultimately leading to superior reproductive traits. Although the effects of variety were less pronounced, significant differences in specific traits were observed within the seasons. Among the summer varieties, V2 (BARI Morich-2) performed best in the soil bed for plant height, fruit number, and yield, while V3 ("Anol-1701") performed best in floating beds. In the winter, V7 ("Jhilik") exhibited superior performance in floating beds, particularly for reproductive traits. The winter variety V7 achieved the highest production under floating conditions, with 3.2067 kg m–2, representing a 655.3% increase over soil-based beds, while the summer variety V3 yielded 0.4321 kg m–2, a 53.5% increase. Additionally, a significant interaction between bed type and variety was observed for the number of fruits and yield in summer, and leaf area in winter, indicating the synergistic effects of these factors on chili growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity is one of the predominant abiotic stressors that reduce plant growth, yield, and productivity. Ameliorating salt tolerance through nanotechnology is an efficient and reliable methodology for enhancing agricultural crops yield and quality. Nanoparticles enhance plant tolerance to salinity stress by facilitating reactive oxygen species detoxification and by reducing the ionic and osmotic stress effects on plants. This experiment was conducted to study the effects of NaCl salinity stress (0, 100, and 200 mM), and foliar application of quantum dot-graphene oxide, nano-TiO2, and CeO2 (zero and 2 g/l) on the growth and physiological responses of Capsicum annum L. The results revealed that the interaction effects of treatments significantly affected plant and fruit fresh weight, chlorophyll a, total soluble solids, phenolics, malondialdehyde, H2O2, and proline content. Moreover, catalase activity and sodium, and phosphorus content were responded to the treatments. The highest fresh weight of plants and fruits, fruit diameter, and chlorophyll a content were recorded under no-salinity × quantum dot-graphene oxide foliar use. The highest data for total phenolics content was recorded at NaCl100 mM × quantum dot-graphene oxide. In contrast, the maximum flavonoids content belonged to NaCl100 mM × quantum dot-graphene oxide and NaCl100 mM × TiO2. The experimental treatments independently affected the number of fruits, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, and vitamin C content, as well as K/Na ratio. The foliar treatment of quantum dot-graphene oxide nanoparticles improved the carotenoids and vitamin C content, stem diameter, and fruit number. The overall results disclosed that, when plants were exposed to high salinity levels; the foliar treatments were unable to effectively mitigate the negative impacts of salt stress on the plant, except for certain traits such as total phenolics, flavonoids, and TSS levels. However, under the low and mild salinity depression, the foliar treatments were enough capable to overcome the salinity defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of the cellular stress response in plants, the ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS) plays a crucial role in regulating the protein stability of stress‐related transcription factors. Previous study has indicated that CaSAP14 is functionally involved in enhancing pepper plant tolerance to dehydration stress by modulating the expression of downstream genes. However, the comprehensive regulatory mechanism underlying CaSAP14 remains incompletely understood. Here, we identified a RING‐type E3 ligase, CaFIRF1, which interacts with and ubiquitinates CaSAP14. Pepper plants with silenced CaFIRF1 exhibited a dehydration‐tolerant phenotype when subjected to dehydration stress, while overexpression of CaFIRF1 in pepper and Arabidopsis resulted in reduced dehydration tolerance. Co‐silencing of CaFIRF1 and CaSAP14 in pepper increased sensitivity to dehydration, suggesting that CaFIRF1 acts upstream of CaSAP14. A cell‐free degradation analysis demonstrated that silencing of CaFIRF1 led to decreased CaSAP14 protein degradation, implicating CaFIRF1 in the regulation of CaSAP14 protein via the 26S proteasomal degradation pathway. Our findings suggest a mechanism by which CaFIRF1 mediates the ubiquitin‐dependent proteasomal degradation of CaSAP14, thereby influencing the response of pepper plants to dehydration stress. Summary statement: We previously reported that pepper stress‐associated protein CaSAP14 functions as a positive modulator of dehydration response. Building on this in the present study, we identified the RING‐type E3 ligase CaFIRF1 as an interactor of CaSAP14, which plays a negative role in response to dehydration stress via regulation of CaSAP14 stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superhydrophobic sand (SHS) is a plastic-free mulching technology that re- duces surface evaporation of water from irrigated soils. Here, we present the results of two experimental field trials conducted in the 2019-20 and 2021-22 cropping seasons, comparing the efficacy of SHS with those of traditional plastic mulches on the growth and yield performance of sweet pepper (Capsicum annum L.) plants. The experiments were conducted at the King Abdulaziz University (KAU) agriculture research station at Hada Al-Sham (21°48′3″N, 39°43′25″E), Al-Jamoom, Saudi Arabia. The effects of bare soil (i.e., control treatment), 5 mm SHS thickness, and 10 mm SHS thickness, along with white and black plastic mulches (120-um-thick polyethylene) were recorded on the plants via a randomized complete block design with three replicate plots. We found significant benefits of all of the mulches during the 2021-22 season, as evidenced by 51% (P < 0.001), 31% (P 0.0102), and 32% (P = 0.0048) more fruits for the 10-mm SHS, white plastic, and black plastic mulches, respectively, compared with the unmulched con- trols. Consequently, the total fruit yield per plant increased by 112% (P=0.000), 71% (P<0.001), and 83% (P<0.001), under 10 mm SHS, white plastic, and black plastic mulches, respectively. Curiously, the field trial conducted in 2019 in an adjacent field did not reveal significant benefits of SHS, which we attribute partially to erratic rain showers and field heterogeneity. Taken together, this study and our previous work show that 10-mm-thick SHS mulch is optimal for boosting irrigation efficiency in regions where water is a limiting factor. Unlike plastic mulches, SHS biodegrades in <1 year and becomes a part of the sandy soil matrix, thereby obviating landfilling. Thus, the benefits of SHS exceed those of plastic mulches in terms of closing the yield gap and carbon footprint. These findings underscore the potential of SHS as a sustainable solution for growing plants in hot and dry arid regions in Saudi Arabia and globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic farming systems are often plagued with challenges such as nutrient stress complexing with other biotic and abiotic issues. These issues can significantly affect the growth and productivity of vegetable crops, including peppers (Capsicum spp.). Grafting with suitable rootstocks is a promising technique to address these challenges and improve the growth and productivity of peppers in low-input systems. In the United States, grafting is not as commonly practiced in pepper as compared with other solanaceous and cucurbit crops, in part because of limited availability of rootstocks. This study examined promising rootstocks with demonstrated disease resistance and further explored their suitability for organic systems under normal and reduced fertilization. A hybrid Italian sweet pepper 'Mama Mia Giallo' was used as scion and grafted onto four different rootstocks and grown in a greenhouse in summer with natural heat stress. The plants received organic fertilizer weekly or biweekly for a period of 5 weeks. Results showed that grafting plants with the rootstocks 'CM-334', 'YC-207', 'Keystone Resistant Giant', and 'Scarface' resulted in similar or improved growth relative to nongrafted and self-grafted plants under normal and reduced fertilization. The rootstocks showed promising traits that could be explored in further stress tolerance studies. Specifically, 'YC-207'-grafted plants showed higher nitrogen utilization efficiency, shoot nitrate content, and phosphorous content as well as higher stomatal conductance, transpiration, and electron transport rate, which is indicative of stress tolerance. 'YC-207'-grafted plants also had lower malondialdehyde content, indicating less oxidative damage to the cell membrane. 'CM-334'-grafted plants showed higher antioxidant activity, nitrate reductase (NR) activity, and shoot nitrate content. This study provides evidence of the value of evaluating potential rootstocks and explores grafting as a promising technique for pepper crop to improve plant growth and performance under organic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A plant-based beverage enhanced with GABA was developed through serial co-fermentation using Leuconostoc citreum S5 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KS2020. The first lactic acid fermentation was performed by Leu. citreum S5 with a vegetable mixture consisting of sliced radish, ginger, garlic, red pepper, bell pepper, and sucrose. The viable cell count of Leu. citreum S5 increased to 9.11–9.42 log CFU/mL with higher sucrose contents, indicating the highest value of 9.42 log CFU/mL at 5% sucrose on day 1. Mannitol and dextran production levels in the first fermented vegetable mixture were 6.66–14.54 mg/mL and 0.44–2.26%, respectively. A higher sucrose content produced more dextran, resulting in a concomitant increase in viscosity of 49.4 mPa·s. The second co-fermentation for the kimchi beverage base was performed by Lb. plantarum KS2020 for 5 days, resulting in 8.22–9.60 log CFU/mL. The pH of the co-fermented kimchi beverage base increased to 6.19–9.57 with an increasing monosodium glutamate (MSG) content (3–7%), while titratable acidity significantly decreased to 0.0–0.8%. The final co-fermented kimchi beverage base was enriched with 2.6% GABA. Consequently, a GABA kimchi beverage base with probiotics, a red pigment, and a pleasant flavor was developed using only vegetable ingredients by serial co-fermentation using lactic acid bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the drying of red chili peppers (Capsicum annuum) has garnered increasing attention in the global food industry, resulting in significant advances in drying techniques. This study presents a bibliometric analysis of red chili drying research from 2004 to 2023, using VOSviewer and Bibliometrix software. The analysis adopts a two-pronged approach: (1) research structure analysis, which maps collaborative networks among researchers, and (2) topic development analysis, which explores thematic evolution in this field. The results indicate a steady annual growth rate of 6.65% in publications, with major contributions from countries such as Turkey, India, and China. Drying technologies have advanced from traditional methods like sun drying to modern techniques, including solar, convective, infrared, ultrasound, radio-frequency, microwave, and freeze drying. These innovations not only improve efficiency but also help retain the sensory and bioactive qualities of chili peppers, such as color, texture, capsaicinoids, and antioxidants. Recent trends highlight the importance of optimizing processes to enhance product quality while minimizing energy consumption, contributing to food sustainability. Innovations in pre-treatment techniques, such as blanching and cold plasma, have also demonstrated potential in preserving bioactive compounds. Additionally, hybrid methods that combine drying techniques with pre-treatment strategies offer an optimal balance between efficiency and quality. The study recommends that future research focus on comparative analyses of different drying methods, examining their effects on product quality and energy efficiency. These insights aim to guide researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders in developing more sustainable and effective drying technologies for red chili. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Perianal fistula is one of the complications of deepened anal fissure. The present case-control study aimed to assess the risk factors of fissure-associated fistulas due to the limited available evidence. Methods: Patients with fissure-associated fistulas were considered as case, and patients with anal fissure who were undergoing medical treatment without any previous anorectal surgeries were considered as control group. Data were collected through medical records or by directly contacting patients. Risk factors of fissure-associated fistulas were assessed using a multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: The current study included 119 patients, consisting of 54 cases and 65 controls. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of demographic characteristics. Our analyses revealed that chili pepper consumption (odds ratio [OR] = 2.96, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06–8.31, P-value = 0.039) and the duration of fissure symptoms (OR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00-1.05, P-value = 0.035) were associated with perianal fistula in patients with fissure, after adjusting for age and sex as potential covariates. Conclusions: An independent association was found between chili pepper consumption as well as the duration of fissure symptoms onset with an increased odds of perianal fistula in patients with fissures. Therefore, limiting chili consumption and early management of fissure symptoms are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the optimal production conditions and application rates of biochar derived from greenhouse crop by-products to enhance soil improvement and increase crop yield, thereby promoting sustainable agriculture in South Korea. The expansion of greenhouse cultivation has resulted in significant waste management challenges, and biochar production has emerged as a promising recycling solution for these by-products. Biochar was produced from red pepper stalks through pyrolysis at 200 to 600 °C, and its chemical properties, including pH, EC, T-C, and T-N, were analyzed. In this study, the chemical properties of biochar showed a significant increase in pH (from 5.8 to 10.3), EC (from 46.0 to 119.5 dS m⁻¹), and T-C (from 47.7 to 63.1%) with rising pyrolysis temperatures, while T-N decreased due to nitrogen volatilization above 300 °C. In the lettuce cultivation experiment, biochar application significantly improved fresh weight yield, with the biochar-treated group achieving a maximum of 83.3 g pot− 1 in the first cropping season, compared to 62.8 g pot− 1 in the NPK-only treatment group. However, excessive biochar application rates (≥ 800 kg ha⁻¹) led to yield reductions in the second cropping season, likely due to increased soil pH and EC. These results suggest the potential of recycling greenhouse crop residues into biochar to enhance soil fertility and crop productivity while indicating the need to manage application rates to minimize negative impacts from excessive use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial inoculants offer an environmentally friendly approach to enhance plant growth and control disease. In this study, two Bacillus velezensis strains, HKSSLJEBR3 (R3) and Ya-1 were isolated from pepper plant roots and tropical rainforest soil, respectively. Both strains exhibited strong antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. capsici , with inhibition rates of 48.54 ± 0.66% for R3 and 49.35 ± 1.44% for Ya-1. In greenhouse trials, R3 significantly boosted pepper growth, with a 22.12% increase in plant height, 46.44% more leaves, and 56.29% greater fresh weight. These enhancements were likely due to the strong affinity between R3 and pepper plants. Both strains also improved soil quality, with R3 increasing available potassium (AK) by 5.13% and soil organic matter (SOM) by 4.03%, while Ya-1 showed more significant increases. Metagenomic analysis revealed that both strains altered the rhizosphere microbiome, with R3 promoting Pseudomonas and suppressing Fusarium. These results suggest that the R3 strain has strong potential for enhancing pepper growth, improving soil health, and reshaping the rhizosphere microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBell peppers, sweet potato, and oranges contain ß-carotene. An ultrasensitive stochastic sensor based on a nanocarbon paste matrix modified with calix[4]arene, coupled to a portable instrument able to send data to a smartphone operated by a special program which process data and send the quality results to a database, was developed. The sensor can be used between 10 amol L-1 and 0.10 mmol L-1, with high sensitivity for the assay of ß-carotene in vegetables and fruits. Recoveries higher than 98.00% were obtained when the sensor was used for the assay of ß-carotene in different types of vegetables and fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the effects of varying exposure times of microelement fertilization on hydrochemical parameters, plant growth, and nutrient content in an aquaponic system cultivating Capsicum annuum L. (pepper) with Cyprinus carpio (Common carp L.). It also investigates the potential of visible–near-infrared (VIS-NIR) spectroscopy to differentiate between treated plants based on their spectral characteristics. The findings aim to enhance the understanding of microelement dynamics in aquaponics and optimize the use of VIS-NIR spectroscopy for nutrient and stress detection in crops. The effects of microelement exposure on the growth and health of Cyprinus carpio (Common carp L.) in an aquaponic system are investigated, demonstrating a 100% survival rate and optimal growth performance. The findings suggest that microelement treatments, when applied within safe limits, can enhance system productivity without compromising fish health. Concerning hydrochemical parameters, conductivity remained stable, with values ranging from 271.66 to 297.66 μS/cm, while pH and dissolved oxygen levels were within optimal ranges for aquaponic systems. Ammonia nitrogen levels decreased significantly in treated variants, suggesting improved water quality, while nitrate and orthophosphate reductions indicated an enhanced plant nutrient uptake. The findings underscore the importance of managing water chemistry to maintain a balanced and productive aquaponic system. The increase in root length observed in treatments 2 and 6 suggests that certain microelement exposure times may enhance root development, with treatment 6 showing the longest roots (58.33 cm). Despite this, treatment 2 had a lower biomass (61.2 g), indicating that root growth did not necessarily translate into increased plant weight, possibly due to energy being directed towards root development over fruit production. In contrast, treatment 6 showed both the greatest root length and the highest weight (133.4 g), suggesting a positive correlation between root development and fruit biomass. Yield data revealed that treatment 4 produced the highest yield (0.144 g), suggesting an optimal exposure time before nutrient imbalances negatively impact growth. These results highlight the complexity of microelement exposure in aquaponic systems, emphasizing the importance of fine-tuning exposure times to balance root growth, biomass, and yield for optimal plant development. The spectral characteristics of the visible–near-infrared region of pepper plants treated with microelements revealed subtle differences, particularly in the green (534–555 nm) and red edge (680–750 nm) regions. SIMCA models successfully classified control and treated plants with a misclassification rate of only 1.6%, highlighting the effectiveness of the spectral data for plant differentiation. Key wavelengths for distinguishing plant classes were 468 nm, 537 nm, 687 nm, 728 nm, and 969 nm, which were closely related to plant pigment content and nutrient status. These findings suggest that spectral analysis can be a valuable tool for the non-destructive assessment of plant health and nutrient status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi are the prominent phytopathogens that have significant impact on the productivity of agriculture worldwide. Streptomyces species have been extensively studied for the production of various bioactive metabolites. These metabolites have been used as biocontrol agents for the management of diseases caused by phytopathogenic fungi. The purpose of this investigation is to assess the efficacy of Streptomyces sporoverrucosus B-1662, an antagonistic agent in the control of red pepper anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum acutatum KACC 42403 and apple anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum siamense CGCP6 (GYUN-10348). On the basis of the morphological, and molecular characterization using 16S rRNA, the strain B-1662 was determined to be S. sporoverrucosus. The strain B-1662 exhibited antagonistic activity against seven fungal phytopathogens, including C. acutatum KACC 42403 and C. siamense CGCP6. The culture filtrates (CF) from B-1662 showed antifungal activity against all seven fungal pathogens with greater inhibition rate (%) in comparison with a control. The bacterial suspensions of B-1662 showed an excellent biological control effect on the red pepper anthracnose and apple bitter rot using an in planta assay. The anthracnose disease rate (%) was controlled by over 90% with B-1662 cell suspensions at 105 to 107 CFU/mL. Compared to a control, the strain B-1662 played a more effective role in controlling the anthracnose disease in field conditions in both years 2022 and 2023. From the effective solvent fractions, the effect compound (dibutoxybutane) has been isolated exhibiting with antifungal effect. The genetic base underlying the biocontrol traits of B-1662 was characterized using the whole-genome sequence of B-1662, which was compared with closely related strains. Consequently, these results collectively suggest that S. sporoverrucosus B-1662 can aid in the management of red-pepper anthracnose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capsanthin and capsorubin are red κ-xanthophylls exclusively found in a handful of other plant species. Currently, capsanthin and capsorubin are extracted from red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Here, high purity production of capsanthin and capsorubin was achieved in carrot (Daucus carota L.) taproot by a synthetic metabolic engineering strategy. Expression of a capsanthin-capsorubin synthase gene (CaCCS) from pepper resulted in dominant production of capsanthin, whereas expression of a LiCCS gene from tiger lily (Lilium lancifolium Thunb.) resulted in production of both capsanthin and capsorubin in carrot taproot. The highest content of capsanthin and capsorubin was obtained in LiC-1 carrot taproot hosting the LiCCS gene. Co-expression of DcBCH1 with CCS could improve the purity of capsanthin and capsorubin by eliminating the non-target carotenoids (e.g. α-carotene and β-carotene). The highest purity of capsanthin and capsorubin was obtained in BLiC-1 carrot taproot hosting DcBCH1+LiCCS genes, 91.10% of total carotenoids. The non-native pigments were esterified partially and stored in the globular chromoplast of carrot taproot. Our results demonstrated the use of carrot taproot as green factories for high purity production of capsanthin and capsorubin. The capsanthin/capsorubin carrot germplasms are also valuable materials for breeding colorful carrots cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have applied aqueous suspensions of magnetite-maghemite nanoparticles functionalized with quaternized chitosan and phosphate groups on yellow maize (Zea Mays) and chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) plants, at greenhouse conditions, to evaluate if any beneficial or adverse effects are produced by these nanocomposites in the development of these kind of plants at morphological and physiological level. Phytotoxicity assays with yellow maize seeds showed excellent germination percentages in all treatments evaluated, as well as increasing indicators of biomass and root length of germinated seeds for suspensions of nanoparticles with iron contents up to 50 ppm. Suspensions of nanoparticles with iron contents higher than 50 ppm led to decreasing indicators of biomass and root length of germinated seeds compared to lower iron contents. Iron contents of 100 ppm showed indicators lower than those of the control, suggesting phytotoxic effect of these nanocomposites for iron contents above 100 ppm. Measurements of morphological and physiological parameters of plants of both crops in greenhouse conditions, treated with suspensions of nanoparticles with iron-phosphorus contents of 25 − 3, 35 − 4 and 45 − 5 ppm, commercial fertilizer as positive control and tap water as a negative control did not evidence any phytotoxic or beneficial effect. The results suggest that, although these nanocomposites did not have a noticeable effect as vehicles of micro and macro nutrients as iron and phosphorus in the evaluated plants, they did not produce phytotoxic effects on them at the morphological and physiological level for iron contents less than 50 ppm, as they showed adequate growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rational use of chemical fungicides in chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) for controlling Phytophthora capsici Leo. should include molecules that promote induced systemic resistance in the plant. The study objective was to assess how the application of fungicides, bio-controllers and resistance inducers affects bioactive compounds production and oxidative metabolism in pepper plants when inoculated with P. capsici zoospores. Statistical analyses show significant differences in total flavonoids, total phenols and salicylic acid concentrations in plants treated with Trichoderma harzianum, Acibenzolar-S-Methyl (ASM) and phosphonic acid. In addition, the application of ASM and Bacillus subtilis showed the highest values of antioxidant capacity. On the other hand, ASM application favoured increases in superoxide dismutase and phenyl ammonium lyase activity with values of 4.42 ± 0.016 (units · min−1 · g−1) and 3.90 ± 0.22 U · g−1, respectively. However, hydrogen peroxide production was similar to that of phosphonic acid treatments. Similarly, plants treated with B. subtilis and Metalaxyl-M showed increases in peroxidase enzyme activity with values ranging from 2.86 ± 0.05 to 4.52 ± 0.02 (μmol · [mg protein]−1 · min−1). Likewise, phosphonic acid-treated plants exhibited high catalase enzyme activity with values ranging from 2.38 ± 0.032 μmol H2O2 · min−1 · g−1 to 4.30 ± 0.024 μmol H2O2 · min−1 · g−1. The complementary use of products with biological and resistance-inducing functions could help to mitigate the environmental impacts that occur due to the use of chemical fungicides for controlling P. capsici on chilli pepper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Dickeya consists of Gram-negative bacteria capable of causing soft rot symptoms in plants, which involves tissue breakdown, particularly in storage organs such as tubers, rhizomes, and bulbs. These bacteria are ranked among the top ten most relevant phytopathogens and seriously threaten economically valuable crops and ornamental plants. This study employs a genomic analysis approach to taxonomically classify and characterize the resistome and virulome of two new strains, CCRMP144 and CCRMP250, identified as Dickeya dadantii. These strains were found to be the causative agents of soft rot symptoms in chili pepper (Capsicum spp.) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa), respectively, in the northeastern region of Brazil. The methodology employed in silico techniques, including tetra correlation search (TCS) and Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) analysis, in association with a phylogenomic tree inference. TCS and ANI analysis showed that the studied strains belong to the Dickeya dadantii species. The phylogenomic analysis grouped the studied strains in the D. dadantii clade. The genomic characterization demonstrates 68 virulence genes, 54 resistances of biocide and heavy metal genes, and 23 antibiotic resistance genes. As far as we know, this is the first genomic study with Brazilian D. dadantii strains. This study demonstrates the efficacy to taxonomic classification and provides insights into the pathogenesis, host range, and adaptability of these strains which are crucial for the development of more effective management and control strategies for soft rot diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit colour is a crucial factor influencing both the marketability and quality of pepper (Capsicum annuum), particularly ornamental varieties. Fruit colour is a complex multigenic trait in plant species. Previously, the Arabidopsis pseudo-response regulator 2 (APRR2) gene, one of the regulators that control fruit chlorophyll content and chloroplast development, thereby influencing fruit colour at the green immature stage in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and pepper, was reported. Functional molecular markers associated with this homologous gene in pepper could be employed to discern fruit colour at the seedling stage, thus improving the efficiency of green/white-fruited pepper breeding. In this study, a derived cleaved amplified polymorphic sequences (dCAPS) marker was developed based on the mutation site in the sequence of a CaAPRR2-like gene that was cloned from the inbred line B1-2, which exhibits milky white fruit at the green immature stage. The marker was subsequently validated in a CaAPRR2-like progeny segregation population. After digestion with the restriction endonuclease TaqI, the amplification product exhibited evident polymorphic bands, enabling it to distinguish between peppers with milky white and green fruit colours. The developed molecular marker displayed remarkable stability and repeatability, thus offering a straightforward and effective tool for enhancing fruit colour in pepper breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of minimally processed fruits and vegetables is essential for consumers' health and effective marketing. This study investigates the effects of UV-C irradiation, applied alone and combined with various natural antioxidants, on the preservation of bioactive compounds and the colour of dehydrated fruits and vegetables. To achieve this, red peppers, yellow peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplants, and melons were subjected to pre-treatments with natural antioxidants and UV-C before processing using low-temperature airflow (50 °C). The drying kinetics showed typical curves of hygroscopic materials, while the drying time was high due to the low temperature applied. The higher drying rate was found for eggplant, due to its porosity, thus allowing a faster moisture removal. The application of antioxidants and UV-C treatments effectively preserved the colour parameters L*, a*, and b*, while in the case of untreated dried vegetables, a significant worsening of colour parameters was noted. However, most applied pre-treatments had positive effects on bioactive compound losses. The best results were obtained using a combination of UV-C with one antioxidant mix that was composed of vanillin, rosemary, and citrus extracts, and combined with a mixture of olive, onion, garlic, and citric acid extracts, which was highly effective in preserving the colour and bioactive compounds of most dried vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary challenge encountered by marketers of green chili peppers is the rapid post-harvest deterioration. The application of pre- and post-harvest moringa leaf extract (MLE) is an effective approach to preserving the quality of fruits after being harvested. This study aimed to assess the effect of MLE application at pre- and post-harvest periods on physical and chemical properties of green chili during storage. For this purpose, a completely randomized design was arranged with nine replications. Pre-harvest MLE (seed soaking + foliar spraying with MLE) treatment showed a similar response to the control. Meanwhile, post-harvest MLE application on fruit by dipping method had better results on L*, a*, weight loss, firmness, and vitamin C after 7 d of storage compared to the control. These results suggested that post-harvest MLE application was more effective in prolonging the self-life of green chili, particularly in maintaining the physical attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated agronomic management strategies, including nutrient management, planting density, and cultivar selection, are crucial for improving vegetable yield and quality. Here, we conducted a 2-year field experiment to examine the effect of cultivars, planting density and optimal nitrogen application rate on pepper yield, nutrient absorption and quality, and further screened the suitable cultivars and planting density. The experiment included two N application rate treatments (0, 250 kg ha−1), five pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars ('Xin xiang #8', 'King', 'Strip pepper #28', 'Er jing tiao', 'Red pepper #425'), and three planting density treatments (0.4 m × 0.6 m; 41,667 plants ha−1, 0.5 m × 0.6 m 33,333 plants ha−1; and 0.6 m × 0.6 m; 27,778 plants ha−1). Our results showed that the optimal N application rate can significantly increase the yield, nutrient absorption (e.g., N accumulation) and quality (e.g., Vitamin C content) by 23.7–120.2%, 66.1–125.5%, and 1.0–20.0%, respectively. Different cultivars had different responses to N-fertilizer. Under the optimal nitrogen fertilizer rate, 'King' and 'Strip pepper #28' had the strongest response to N, and their yield, nutrient uptake and quality (e.g., VC content) were significantly higher than those of other cultivars by 3.4–56.7%, 22.7–227% and 21.3–42.0%, respectively. The highest index of Nutritional Quality (INQ) values for Fe, Mn, and Cu were found in 'Er jing tiao', and the highest INQ values for Zn and VC were found in 'King', indicating that 'Er jing tiao' and 'King' have greater nutritional value. In addition, the yield and aboveground dry matter biomass accumulation increased with increasing planting density. Therefore, integrated agronomic management measures, which included high-yield cultivars ('King', 'Strip Pepper #28'), suitable planting density (0.4 m × 0.6 m) and reasonable nutrient management, could be a potential strategy to achieve a high yield and quality of pepper production in southwest China. This study serves as a practical example for the highly efficient development of vegetable production in southwest China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Capsaicin‐containing red pepper sauce suspension augments esophageal contraction amplitude on conventional manometry. This study used high‐resolution manometry (HRM) to investigate if capsaicin infusion modulates segmental esophageal smooth muscle peristalsis in healthy adults. Methods: Sixteen healthy volunteers (mean age 37 years, 14 male) underwent HRM for the evaluation of primary peristalsis and secondary peristalsis using slow and rapid air distensions. Both primary and secondary peristalsis were assessed following infusions of capsaicin‐containing red pepper sauce and saline. Key Results: Capsaicin infusion significantly increased heartburn symptoms compared to saline infusion (p < 0.001), and significantly decreased threshold volumes of secondary peristalsis during rapid air distensions (p = 0.02). The frequency of secondary peristalsis during rapid air distensions was significantly increased by capsaicin infusion (p = 0.03). Neither capsaicin infusion (p = 0.06) nor saline infusion (p = 0.27) altered threshold volume during slow air distensions. Capsaicin infusion significantly increased distal contractile integral (DCI) of primary peristalsis (p = 0.04), particularly in the proximal smooth muscle segment (p = 0.048). It enhanced secondary peristalsis during rapid air distensions (p = 0.003) but not during slow air distension (p = 0.23). Saline infusion significantly increased DCI of secondary peristalsis during rapid air distension (p = 0.01). Conclusions and Inferences: Augmentation of distension‐induced secondary peristalsis can be modulated by activation of capsaicin‐sensitive afferents similar to mechanosensitive afferents. Capsaicin‐induced augmentation of primary peristalsis isolates to the cholinergic‐mediated proximal smooth muscle segment, which warrants study in ineffective esophageal motility to determine therapeutic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the influence of varying weight ratios of Shuanla and Erjingtiao peppers (10:0, 8:2, 6:4, 5:5, 4:6, 2:8, and 0:10, corresponding to samples PA, PB, PC, PD, PE, PF, and PG, respectively) on the sensory attributes, chromatism, acid values (AVs), peroxide values (POVs), capsaicinoids, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of seven chili oil samples. GC–IMS was employed to detect the VOCs of the chili oil samples, which were subsequently analyzed using multivariate statistical methods. The results revealed significant differences in pungency among the samples, with the PA sample exhibiting the strongest pungency. The PG sample demonstrated the highest values for a*, b*, and C*, while the PA sample displayed the highest L* and h*. The AVs of seven samples ranged from 0.490 ± 0.005 to 1.727 ± 0.015 mg/g. The POVs of the chili oil samples, ranging from 0.094 ± 0.000 to 0.127 ± 0.002 g/100 g, were significantly lower than those of extra virgin olive oil, 0.183 ± 0.001 g/100 g. The contents of capsaicinoids ranged from 15.26 ± 0.07 g/kg in the PA sample to 0.38 ± 0.00 g/kg in the PG sample (p < 0.05). Additionally, 56 volatile flavor substances were identified, and 10 key flavor compounds (ROAV ≥ 1) were screened among them. Multivariate data analysis via OPLS-DA indicated that 20 VOCs (VIP > 1) could serve as flavor markers in a clustering heat map to differentiate among the seven chili oil varieties. The findings of this study provide a valuable reference for the promotion of Shuanla and Erjingtiao peppers in chili oil production and the development of specific flavor profiles in chili oil to cater to diverse consumer preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Katokkon chili (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) is a unique chili plant belonging to the family of Solanaceae. This chili is one of the site-specific genetic resources found in Tana Toraja and North Toraja Regencies, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. The presented research sought to determine the use of different 2,4-D (Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid) concentrations for callus initiation and further in-vitro mutation breeding program, conducted at the Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia. The chili seeds' germination occurred in sterile environment, with the hypocotyl part of the sprouts cut and placed on Murashige-Skoog (MS) medium containing 2,4-D concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 mg L-1). The experimental layout was a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Results showed 2,4-D concentration 0.5 mg L-1 had a significant effect on callus weight (24.23 mg), while concentration 1.5 mg L-1 at the rate of callus appearance and callus formation proportion (6.73 days after culture and 86.7%, respectively). Overall, the callus colors were gray-yellow, yellow-white, orange-white, gray-white, and gray-brown, with friable texture. In addition, the callus was embryonic at concentrations 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg L-1. The next research plan is to explore the regeneration potential by analyzing somaclonal variation in the regenerated plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meloidogyne hispanica infects many economically important crops worldwide and has been listed as a quarantine pest in many countries and as an invasive alien species in China. Accurate identification of this pathogen is essential for the establishment of efficient and sustainable integrated pest management programs. During the field investigations in Hainan, China, we discovered galled roots caused by nematode infestation in the pepper field. Further identification of the nematode isolated from the root galls, including morphological and molecular techniques, confirmed that the isolated population infesting the pepper roots belonged to the species M. hispanica. Upon artificial inoculation under greenhouse conditions, the isolated nematodes induced symptoms that closely resembled those observed in the field. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented case of M. hispanica parasitizing pepper crops in China, which will provide valuable basis to formulate targeted control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The elemental composition of twenty hot pepper (Capsicum spp. L.) collections obtained from eight distinct agroecological locations across Ghana, were assessed by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis. The hot peppers fruits that were analysed contained five macroelements, Ca, Cl, K, Mg, Na, two microelements, Al, and Mn, and one trace element, Br. One collection from Volta region and three collections from the Northern region revealed elevated sodium contents in their fruits. In addition, the levels of Aluminium, Bromine, Calcium, Potassium and Sodium in fruits were found to be strongly positively correlated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manual planting and picking cannot fully meet the large-scale industry of green Sichuan pepper in recent years. It is crucial to accurately segment the field scene of green Sichuan pepper, and then extract the navigation path of agricultural machinery. Field management can be advanced in the intelligence of agricultural machinery in green Sichuan pepper fields. In this study, field images were collected from three planting demonstration bases of green Sichuan pepper in Jiangjin District, Chongqing Municipality, in the various planting stages. A total of 400 images were gathered to divide the dataset and test set, according to a 3:1 ratio. The open-source annotation tool Labelme was utilized to annotate the images. A navigation dataset was constructed between the rows of green Sichuan peppers, followed by data enhancement. Given the complex scenes of a green Sichuan pepper field, a lightweight network, Mobile-Unet, was proposed for the semantic segmentation of five scene types: road, trunk, tree, sky, and background. U-Net network was taken as the base semantic segmentation framework and then MobileNetV2 as the feature extraction network. The last three layers of the original MobileNetV2 network were omitted to adapt MobileNetV2 for semantic segmentation. 8-layer 5-times downsampling structure was then aligned with the U-Net architecture. Additionally, the LeakyReLU activation function was employed in the convolutional units to avoid neuron death during training. After segmentation, a navigation line extraction was then introduced to incorporate dual characteristics of roads and tree trunks. Experimental results demonstrate that the dataset and Dice Loss as the loss function effectively enhanced the prediction accuracy of the model. Compared with the two lightweight networks, Fast-Unet and BiseNet, Mobile-Unet has achieved the higher segmentation accuracy on the test set, with a pixel accuracy of 91.15%, mean pixel accuracy of 83.34%, and mean intersection over union of 70.51%. Compared with U-Net, the recognition accuracy was slightly reduced, but the complexity of the model was significantly reduced, with a 92.17% decrease in the memory occupation, and the inference speed of nearly 10 times faster. Additionally, the tests were conducted on 100 test set images for navigation line extraction. A total success rate of 91% was achieved for the extraction. The average deviation of yaw angle was 2.6° and 6.7°, respectively, to extract the navigation line using road contour and tree trunk features. The accuracy requirements were fully met in the field navigation. The finding can offer a valuable reference to explore the visual navigation in green Sichuan pepper fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Modern Food Science & Technology is the property of Editorial Office of Modern Food Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Actinomycetes are a group of bacteria that have been reported as potential controllers of several plant pathogens and plant growth-promoting agents. This study focused on the isolation of 60 actinobacterial strains from the Cuatro Cienegas Basin, Coahuila, Mexico, with an emphasis on evaluating their potential as biocontrol agents against plant pathogens. Among the strains tested, the isolate PR69 exhibited significant in vitro antagonistic activity against eight plant pathogens, with inhibition rates ranging from 44% to 73%, including Phytophthora capsici. The genome of PR69 was sequenced and assembled. It was identified as Streptomyces by phylogenetic analysis based on concatenated multiple sequence alignments of 81 core bacterial genes. Additionally, volatile compounds produced by PR69 enhanced the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings in vitro, increasing seedling weight, primary root length, and the number of secondary roots. Furthermore, the soil treated with Streptomyces sp. PR69 effectively controlled the infection caused by the pathogen P. capsici in bell pepper plants, reducing mortality by 47% compared to plants inoculated solely with the pathogen. PR69-treated plants also showed 30% increase in fresh weight compared to untreated controls. These findings suggest that Streptomyces sp. PR69 holds promise as a bioinoculant for promoting pepper plant growth and controlling P. capsici populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research addresses challenges in capsicum peduncle detection in night-time greenhouse environments, including low light, uneven illumination, and shadows, using advanced computer vision models. A dataset of 200 images was curated, capturing diverse distances, heights, occlusion levels, and lighting conditions, and was rigorously pre-processed and augmented. Two YOLOv9 instance segmentation variants, YOLOv9c-seg and YOLOv9e-seg, were custom-trained and fine-tuned using Google Colaboratory. YOLOv9c-seg (56.3 MB) achieved superior mean Average Precision (mAP) scores of 0.751 (box) and 0.725 (mask), outperforming YOLOv9e-seg (121.9 MB) with mAP scores of 0.674 (box) and 0.658 (mask). Grounded SAM, a zero-shot segmentation model, achieved maximum peduncle detection confidences of 59% and 49% with positional prompts. Comparative testing on 50 images containing 70 capsicums showed YOLOv9c-seg achieving mean precision, recall, and F1-scores of 0.93, 0.86, and 0.89, respectively, outperforming Grounded SAM (0.86, 0.70, and 0.77). This study highlights the efficacy of single-shot versus zero-shot segmentation models for automated capsicum peduncle detection in controlled agricultural environments, offering insights into model performance and future research directions for model optimization and dataset expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study aimed to explore different extraction methods, extraction solvents, as well as solvent/water mixtures that could potentially yield(s) the best growth-enhancing, yield- and qualitypromoting effects of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts (MLEs), when applied foliarly to tomatoes and peppers. Research Method: This study was laid out following a complete randomized design with three replications. Foliar application of MLEs tested included: control, aqueous (hot water, MLE HW), aqueous (cold water, MLE CW), ethanolic (MLE ETH) and methanolic (MLE METH) extracts. These treatments were repeatedly sprayed onto the leaves of selected plants, from two weeks after transplanting in weekly intervals until fruit set. Findings: Foliar application of all MLEs significantly enhanced growth of both pepper and tomato plants compared with the control. MLE HW application positively affected yield parameters, followed by MLE ETH and MLE METH. All MLEs significantly enhanced the colour coordinate a* and TSS, excluding MLE CW. Carotenoids in red peppers were significantly higher, following all MLE treatments, excluding the MLE CW, while in red tomatoes MLEs enhanced lycopene and ß-carotene content. The concentration of Vitamin C was also significantly enhanced by MLE application to peppers, while in tomatoes, only MLE METH and MLE ETH positively altered the fruit Vit C concentration. These results generally prove that MLE application could potentially be used to improve crop production and their nutritive value. Research limitations: There were no limitations identified. Originality/Value: The results obtained in this study highlight the potential MLEs, particularly hot water MLE, to enhance growth, yield and nutritional quality of pepper and tomato, without compromising human health and environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Science & Technology of Food Industry is the property of Science & Technology of Food Industry Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants are extensively utilized in culinary and spice industries, rendering their cultivation pivotal in agricultural production. Enhancing their growth and yield is a critical research area for producers and horticulturists. Recent investigations have delved into the use of pulsed magnetic fields (PMFs) as a potential growth stimulant. Unlike static magnetic fields, PMFs are characterized by transient, high-intensity magnetic bursts, potentially eliciting varied responses in plants. To assess PMFs' impact on pepper plants, several experiments were setup comprising two solenoids, each wound around an 18-cm-diameter rigid plastic pipe but with differing coil turns, one with 40 and the other with 80 turns. These solenoids were utilized to generate PMFs at a frequency of 1 kHz with two intensities: 17 micro-Tesla (µT) and 34 µT. The pepper plants were situated within the PMF zone under controlled conditions, ensuring consistency in light, temperature, and moisture levels. The experimental design included three plant groups: a control group with no PMFs exposure except that of the Earth's magnetic field, and two groups subjected to 17 µT and 34 µT PMFs intensities with Earth's magnetic field, ranging between 25-65 µT. The treatment spanned 15 days, involving 6 hours of daily continuous exposure. Key growth indicators such as plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, and fresh and dry weights of both shoot and root systems were measured and analyzed. This analysis revealed significant increases in plant height, leaf area, and fresh and dry weights of the shoot, but not in root systems. Further research is warranted to deepen the understanding of PMFs' effects on pepper plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capsaicin and quercitrin have proved to be two major ingredients in fresh chili pepper. However, the effect of these two compounds on hyperlipidemia and the related molecular mechanisms were still unclear. This work was performed to examine the hypolipidemic capacity of capsaicin and quercitrin as well as the related signaling pathways. Hyperlipidemia was induced in mice by feeding them with a high-fat diet for 4 weeks. Both capsaicin and quercitrin were beneficial to inhibit a rise in fasting glucose, total cholesterol, total triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and total bile acids and to lift the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the serum. The optimal lipid-lowering data were achieved in the capsaicin and quercitrin/3:1 group. Supplementation with capsaicin and quercitrin both singly and together in the feed caused a significant influence on the metabolite profiles of mouse serum. The signaling pathway for the hypolipidemic effect of capsaicin and quercitrin was related to the down-regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) but the up-regulation of phosphatidylin-ositol-3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase Bb(Akt), farnesoid X receptor 1 (FXR1), and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1). This study confirmed the jointly hypolipidemic effect of capsaicin and quercitrin, which would benefit the valorization of chili pepper resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]