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Fermented food has unique properties and high nutritional value, and thus, should constitute a basic element of a balanced and health-promoting diet. However, it can accumulate considerable amount of biogenic amines (BAs), which ingested in excess can lead to adverse health effects. The application of plant-derived additives represents a promising strategy to ensure safety or enhance the functional and organoleptic properties of fermented food. This review summarizes currently available data on the application of plant-origin additives with the aim to reduce BA content in fermented products. The importance of ensuring fermented food safety has been highlighted considering the growing evidence of beneficial effects resulting from the consumption of this type of food, as well as the increasing number of individuals sensitive to BAs. The examined plant-origin additives reduced the BA concentration to varying degrees, and their efficacy depended on the type of additive, matrix, autochthonous, and inoculated microorganisms, as well as the manufacturing conditions. The main mechanisms of action include antimicrobial effects and the inhibition of microbial decarboxylases. Further research on the optimization of bioactive substances extraction, standardization of their chemical composition, and development of detailed procedures for its use in fermented products manufacturing are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contrast to the macrophyte‐dominated regime (MDR), the phytoplankton‐dominated regime (PDR) in shallow lakes is characterized by relatively high nutrient concentrations, excessive phytoplankton growth and turbid water column. Some floating‐leaved plants can grow under both regimes and aid in reducing nutrient concentrations in water bodies. Their epiphytic bacterial assemblages play an essential role in the health and adaptation of these plants; however, there is limited understanding of this plant‐bacteria interaction. Here, we used 16S rRNA gene‐based high‐throughput sequencing to compare the diversity, composition and co‐occurrence patterns of planktonic and epiphytic bacterial assemblages associated with the submerged roots and floating leaves of Trapa natans, growing under the PDR and MDR in Lake Taihu, China.Alpha diversity of PDR epiphytic bacterial assemblages was lower than in MDR. The opposite trend was observed for planktonic bacterial assemblages. We detected a strong compositional difference between epiphytic and planktonic bacterial assemblages. Bacterial assemblages found on root and leaf surfaces showed only minimal compositional overlap with those in the water column.The composition of epiphytic bacterial assemblages differed more between the two regimes than did planktonic bacterial assemblages. The PDR co‐occurrence network of bacterial assemblages was more complex than that of the MDR, with the PDR epiphytic habitats enriched more network keystone taxa. The proportion of positive edges was also greater in the PDR networks of epiphytic bacterial assemblages than in the epiphytic MDR networks, whereas it was lower in the planktonic bacterial network from the PDR than from the MDR.The comprehensive view of the diversity, composition and co‐occurrence patterns of epiphytic and planktonic bacterial assemblages of MDR and PDR in large shallow lakes provided by our results showed that the structure of epiphytic bacterial assemblages was mediated by both host and water properties, and the observed core taxa and network keystone species may play an important role in maintaining plant growth and adaptation to environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant protection is increasingly problematic in a climate-challenged world where the need for food security is increasingly urgent. Plant Health Clinics (PHCs) are an effective way of improving the capability of extension services to assist farmers to manage plant problems, by delivering personalised advice. They are also recognised as an important element in the building of the region's plant health system, with links to biosecurity and research. Based on a medical model, the advice is provided by extension officers trained as 'plant health doctors', at a clinic accessible to farmers. Indications are that in the Pacific, farmers are very supportive of the PHC approach. In this paper, we consider the background and need for PHCs and the training of plant health doctors. We then discuss the important role of three of the region's universities – Fiji National University (FNU), Solomon Islands National University (SINU), and the University of Goroka (UoG) in PNG which now provide PHC education to students of agriculture and beyond to sustain the programme once donor funding ceases. Overall, the experience of including PHCs offers authentic learning for students, as well as opening a wide range of research opportunities to investigate and support the programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phyllosphere, comprising the aerial portions of plants, is a vibrant ecosystem teeming with diverse microorganisms crucial for plant health and productivity. This review examines the functional roles of phyllosphere microorganisms in rice (Oryza sativa), focusing on their importance in nutrient uptake, disease resistance, and growth promotion. The molecular mechanisms underlying these interactions are explored along with their potential applications in enhancing sustainable rice production. The symbiotic relationships between rice plants and their associated microorganisms are highlighted, offering insights into improved agricultural practices. Furthermore, this review addresses the challenges and future developments in translating laboratory findings into practical applications. By synthesizing current research, this comprehensive analysis serves as a valuable resource for leveraging phyllosphere microbes in rice farming and related fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) serves as a valuable proxy for photosynthesis. The TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) aboard the Copernicus Sentinel-5P mission offers nearly global coverage with a fine spectral resolution for reliable SIF retrieval. However, the present satellite-derived SIF datasets are accessible only at coarse spatial resolutions, constraining its applications at fine scales. Here, we utilized a weighted stacking algorithm to generate a high spatial resolution SIF dataset (500 m, 8-day) in China (HCSIF) from 2000 to 2022 from the TROPOMI with a spatial resolution at a nadir of 3.5 km by 5.6–7 km. Our algorithm demonstrated high accuracy on validation datasets (R2 = 0.87, RMSE = 0.057 mW/m2/nm/sr). The HCSIF dataset was evaluated against OCO-2 SIF, GOME-2 SIF tower-based measurements of SIF, and gross primary productivity (GPP) from flux towers. We expect this dataset can potentially advance the understanding of fine-scale terrestrial ecological processes, allowing for monitoring of ecosystem biodiversity and precise assessment of crop health, productivity, and stress levels in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBiosurveillance is the ongoing systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of biospheric data essential to planning, implementing, and evaluating national security interests. Biosurveillance efforts often focus on disease activity and threats to human, animal, or plant health to improve situational awareness of and early warnings of disease emergence or activity. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is an important subdomain of biosurveillance that monitors the consumption of, or exposure to, chemicals and pathogens at the community/population level. However, ecological, environmental, economic, cultural, and political variability yields an asymmetric landscape of threats, subsequent exposure(s), and community burden. This work presents an exact approach based on mixed-integer programming to optimize sensor placement in a wastewater network. The primary goal is to maximize the amount of information captured from the network while narrowing down the potential geographical sources of chemical or biological markers (i.e., signals). We use the wastewater systems of Los Angeles (US) and Regina (CAN) to demonstrate the scalability of our approach in realistic scenarios and how it can enhance stakeholders’ ability to identify emerging threats or assess the effectiveness of strategic interventions post-deployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global citrus industry faces a great threat from Huanglongbing (HLB), a destructive disease caused by ' Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' (C Las) that induces significant economic losses without any known cure. Understanding how citrus plants defend against HLB, particularly at the early stages of infection, is crucial for developing long-term solutions. This study investigated the earliest metabolic responses of fresh citrus leaves to C Las infection using untargeted metabolomics and machine learning models. HLB-tolerant and HLB-sensitive cultivars were compared to analyze their biochemical reactions within 48 hours post-infection. HESI/Q-Orbitrap MS analysis identified temporal differential metabolites, revealing distinct metabolic pathways activated in response to C Las infection. Both cultivars responded by increasing specific metabolite concentrations, such as flavonoids, within 2 hours post-infection, but the HLB-tolerant cultivar maintained higher levels throughout the 48-hour period. This early metabolic activity could influence long-term plant health by enhancing disease resistance and reducing pathogen impact. These findings provide potential biomarkers for breeding HLB-resistant cultivars and offer valuable insights for developing sustainable management strategies to mitigate the impact of HLB on the citrus industry, ensuring its long-term productivity and economic viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring airborne fungal spores is crucial for public health and plant production since they belong to important aeroallergens and phytopathogens. Due to different land use, their concentration can differ significantly between urban and rural areas. We monitored their spectrum and quantity on two geographically close sites with a different degree of urbanisation: Bratislava City and Kaplna Village in Slovakia, located 38 km apart. We recorded the spectrum of airborne fungal spores over a year and confirmed the microscopic results by amplicon-based metagenomic analysis. The main spore season of the most frequent genera lasted over a week longer in Kaplna, but its intensity was approximately two-fold higher in Bratislava. This can be possibly connected to the microclimatic conditions of the urban area (especially wind speed and heat island effect) and the lesser use of fungicides. Cladosporium was the dominant genus on both sites, influencing the intensity most significantly. Through statistical analysis of the influence of meteorological parameters on airborne fungal spore levels, we identified a significant relationship with temperature, while the impact of other parameters varied depending on the spore type and release mechanism. Our results show the differences in airborne fungal spore levels between urban and rural areas and highlight the necessity for more monitoring stations in various environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Rice (Oryza sativa) is a staple food worldwide, but its production is under constant pressure from both abiotic and biotic stresses, resulting in high use of agrochemicals. The plant microbiome harbours microorganisms that can benefit plant health and provide alternatives to the use of agrochemicals. The composition of plant microbiomes depends on many factors (soil composition, age, and health) and is considered a primary driver of future plant health. To identify plant microbiomes that protect against disease, we hypothesised that asymptomatic rice plants in fields under high pathogen pressure (i.e., healthy islands of plants among predominantly diseased plants) might harbour a microbiota that protects them from disease. Material and Methods: We sampled healthy and leaf-diseased plants in rice fields with high disease incidence in Cambodia and profiled their microbiota at leaf, root, and rhizosphere levels using 16S V3V4 and 18S V4 amplicon barcoding sequencing. Results: Comparison of amplicon sequence variants (ASV) of the microbiota of healthy and diseased samples revealed both disease and healthy signatures (significant enrichment or depletion at ASV/species/genus level) in both fields. The genera Methylobacterium and Methylorubrum were identified health taxa signatures with several species significantly enriched in healthy leaf samples (Methylobacterium indicum , Methylobacterium komagatae , Methylobacterium aerolatum , and Methylorubrum rhodinum). A cultivation approach on rice samples led to the isolation of bacterial strains of these two genera, which were further tested as bioinoculants on rice leaves under controlled conditions, showing for some of them a significant reduction (up to 77%) in symptoms induced by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae infection. Discussion: We validated the hypothesis that healthy plants in fields under high disease occurrence can host specific microbiota with biocontrol capacities. This strategy could help identify new microbes with biocontrol potential for sustainable rice production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to prepare and deliver risk assessments for commodities listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as 'High‐risk plants, plant products and other objects'. This Scientific Opinion covers plant health risks posed by plants of hybrids of Prunus cerasus x Prunus canescens imported from Ukraine, taking into account the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by Ukraine. All pests that may be associated with the hybrids of P. cerasus x P. canescens were evaluated against specific criteria for their relevance for this opinion. None of the pests fulfilled all relevant criteria due to the production method and risk mitigation measures carried out by the nursery; therefore, none were selected for further evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to evaluate the probability of entry of pests (likelihood of pest freedom at entry), including both regulated and non‐regulated pests, associated with unrooted cuttings of the genera Petunia and Calibrachoa produced under physical isolation in Costa Rica. The relevance of any pest for this opinion was based on evidence collected according to specific criteria, following the methodology used for high‐risk plants adapted for the specificity of this assessment. Twenty‐two EU regulated pests (beet curly top virus, Bemisia tabaci, Chloridea virescens, Eotetranychus lewisi, Epitrix cucumeris, Epitrix tuberis, euphorbia mosaic virus, Helicoverpa zea, Liriomyza huidobrensis, Liriomyza sativae, Liriomyza trifolii, pepper golden mosaic virus, potato spindle tuber viroid, Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum, Ralstonia solanacearum, Spodoptera ornithogalli, squash leaf curl virus, Thrips palmi, tomato golden mosaic virus, tomato leaf curl Sinaloa virus, tomato spotted wilt virus, tomato yellow leaf curl virus) and one pest that is not regulated in the EU (Aleurodicus dispersus) fulfilled all relevant criteria and were selected for further evaluation. For these pests, the risk mitigation measures proposed in the technical dossier from Costa Rica were evaluated taking into account possible factors limiting their efficacies. Additionally, an expert judgement is given on the likelihood of pest freedom taking into consideration the risk mitigation measures acting on the pest, including uncertainties associated with the assessment. The estimated degree of pest freedom varies among the pests evaluated, with tomato spotted wilt virus being the pest most frequently expected on the imported cuttings. The expert knowledge elicitation indicated, with 95% certainty that between 9927 and 10,000 bags containing unrooted cuttings of Petunia spp. and Calibrachoa spp. per 10,000 would be free of tomato spotted wilt virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to prepare and deliver risk assessments for commodities listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as 'High risk plants, plant products and other objects'. This Scientific Opinion covers plant health risks posed by plants of Betula pendula and B. pubescens imported from the United Kingdom (UK) taking into account the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by the UK. The commodities were grouped in the risk assessment as (a) bundles of 10–20 graftwood/budwood (up to 1‐year‐old), (b) bare root plants which include bundles of 25 or 50 seedlings or transplants (1–2 years‐old), bundles of 5, 10 or 15 whips (1–2 years‐old) and single bare root plants (1–7 years‐old), (c) plants in pots which include bundles of 5 and 10 cell‐grown plants (1–2 years‐old) and rooted plants in pots (1–7 years‐old), and (d) large specimen trees up to 15‐years‐old. All pests associated with the commodities were evaluated against specific criteria for their relevance for this opinion. Two EU quarantine pests i.e. Meloidogyne fallax and Phytophthora ramorum (non‐EU isolates) and two protected zone quarantine pests i.e. Entoleuca mammata and Thaumetopoea processionea fulfilled all relevant criteria and were selected for further evaluation. For the selected pests, the risk mitigation measures described in the technical dossier from the UK were evaluated considering the possible limiting factors. For these pests an expert judgement is given on the likelihood of pest freedom taking into consideration the risk mitigation measures acting on the pest, including uncertainties associated with the assessment. In the assessment of risk, the age of the plants was considered, as larger trees are more likely to be infested mainly due to longer time grown in the field. In addition, larger canopies and root systems are more difficult to inspect, thereby making the detection of pests more challenging on large trees. The likelihood of pest freedom varies among the pests evaluated, with M. fallax being the pest most frequently expected on the imported plants. The Expert Knowledge Elicitation (EKE) indicated with 95% certainty that between 9735 and 10,000 per 10,000 large specimen trees will be free from M. fallax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Media filters are important in wastewater recycling schemes for pathogen removal. Filter selection depends on health targets and plant scale; however, there is a data gap concerning pathogen removal efficacy at full scale. This study compared the pathogen removal performance of two full-scale filtration technologies, including a small 17,000 m³/d pressurized media filtration (PMF) plant and a large 120,000 m³/d gravity filter in the form of dissolved air flotation filtration (DAFF). The preceding clarification processes were also assessed. Validation of protozoa and virus removal was estimated by dosing model organisms yeast and MS2 bacteriophage to demonstrate removal potential. The DAFF process (coagulation, flotation and filtration) was most efficient at removing bacteriophage with a mean log10 reduction value (LRV) of 2.90 (±0.64), compared with 0.98 (±0.37) achieved by coagulation, sedimentation and PMF. Yeast log10 reduction though both systems were similar measuring 3.80 (±1.06) through DAFF and 4.57 (±0.14) through coagulation, sedimentation and PMF. The DAFF process showed greater variability in MS2 and yeast removal, which was attributed to filtration. Energy and chemical usage were also evaluated, revealing trade-offs between these factors, treatment scale and pathogen LRVs, offering practical insights into the technological and economic aspects of designing fit-for-purpose recycled water schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the global importance of sweet potatoes as a nutrient-rich staple food, this research aimed to find the optimal cultivation practices to improve both yield and carotenoid content, with a particular focus on enhancing β-carotene content. In this study, the effects of different cultivation methods and plant densities on the agronomic parameters, physiological characteristics and carotenoid content of the 'Beauregard' variety were investigated across two consecutive growing seasons. Besides storage root yield, the key physiological parameters, including SPAD and chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm), were monitored to assess plant health and photosynthetic performance. Carotenoid content, including trans-β-carotene, cis-β-carotene, and ζ-carotene, was quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results indicated that the ridge cultivation method, particularly when combined with twin-row planting, consistently produced the highest yields, reaching the maximum of 40.87 t ha−1 in 2020. The flat cultivation method, especially in simple rows, showed the lowest yield. The analysis revealed that plant density had a more pronounced effect on yield and carotenoid content than the ridge or flat cultivation method alone. The maximum β-carotene content was achieved in the simple row (17,500 plants/ha) treatment planted on ridges with 247 µg/g. Significant correlations between both SPAD readings and Fv/Fm and yield were revealed, but no correlations with storage root carotenoid content were found. This suggests that, while these leaf physiological traits can be used to estimate the yield, they are not directly associated with the carotene content of the storage root. The study highlights the ridge cultivation and 35,000 plants/ha method as a stable and high-yielding option for 'Beauregard' in terms of improving and balancing the yield and carotenoid content; however, reducing the plant density resulted in elevated carotenoid content with significant yield reductions. The findings contribute to the understanding of how agronomic practices influence the nutritional and physiological traits of sweet potatoes, with implications for improving food security and nutritional outcomes in sweet potato cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromium (Cr) toxicity, even at low concentrations, poses a significant health threat to various environmental species. Cr is found in the environment in two oxidation states that differ in their bioavailability and toxicity. While Cr(III) is essential for glucose metabolism, the oxyanion chromate Cr(VI) is mostly of anthropogenic origin, toxic, and carcinogenic. The sources of Cr in the environment are multiple, including geochemical processes, disposal of industrial waste, and industrial wastewater. Cr pollution may consequently impact the health of numerous plant and animal species. Despite that, the number of published studies on Cr toxicity across environmental species remained mainly unchanged over the past two decades. The presence of Cr in the environment affects several plant physiological processes, including germination or photosynthesis, and consequently impacts growth, and lowers agricultural production and quality. Recent research has also reported the toxic effects of Cr in different aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Whereas some species showed sensitivity, others exhibited tolerance. Hence, this review discusses the understanding of the ecotoxicological effect of Cr on different plant and animal groups and serves as a concise source of consolidated information and a valuable reference for researchers and policymakers in an understanding of Cr toxicity. Future directions should focus on expanding research efforts to understand the mechanisms underlying species-specific responses to Cr pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to monitor the implications of climate change on savanna ecosystem drought using time series data from the Landsat 8 sensor, spanning from 2013 to 2022. We employed a remote sensing computational approach with the semi-automatic classification plugin (SCP) in the open-source QGIS software. Specifically, we utilized channels from the operational land imager (OLI), including Band 4 Red (0.636-0.673 µm) and Band 5 Near-Infrared (0.851-0.879 µm), as well as Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) channels Band 10 TIRS-1 (10.60-11.19 µm) and Band 11 TIRS-2 (11.50-12.51 µm). These channels were used to calculate the vegetation health index (VHI) using the raster calculator, followed by data reclassification with specific thresholds to compare drought-affected areas. Our findings reveal a significant impact of climate change on savanna ecosystem drought over the decade, with the most extreme conditions observed in 2015 and 2019, where drought coverage reached 42.74% and 26.58%, respectively. Other years exhibited relatively low drought dynamics, affecting less than 3% of the area. This period aligns with the el niño-southern oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon, particularly the transition from El Niño to La Niña, known to cause global weather variations, and significantly influenced by the positive phase of the Indian Ocean dipole (IOD). The novelty of this research lies in two main aspects: firstly, the use of Landsat satellite sensors for this specific region has not been extensively studied before; secondly, the discovered impacts of drought in relation to global climate change phenomena are particularly noteworthy. A limitation of this study is the relatively short investigation period of just one decade, which does not fully capture the long-term impacts of climate change. Future research is recommended to utilize imagery with higher temporal resolution over extended periods to better represent extreme climate events and derive drought patterns over durations exceeding one decade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop segmentation, the process of identifying and delineating agricultural fields or specific crops within an image, plays a crucial role in precision agriculture, enabling farmers and public managers to make informed decisions regarding crop health, yield estimation, and resource allocation in Midwest Brazil. The crops (corn) in this region are being damaged by wild pigs and other diseases. For the quantification of corn fields, this paper applies novel computer-vision techniques and a new dataset of corn imagery composed of 1416 256 × 256 images and corresponding labels. We flew nine drone missions and classified wild pig damage in ten orthomosaics in different stages of growth using semi-automatic digitizing and deep-learning techniques. The period of crop-development analysis will range from early sprouting to the start of the drying phase. The objective of segmentation is to transform or simplify the representation of an image, making it more meaningful and easier to interpret. For the objective class, corn achieved an IoU of 77.92%, and for background 83.25%, using DeepLabV3+ architecture, 78.81% for corn, and 83.73% for background using SegFormer architecture. For the objective class, the accuracy metrics were achieved at 86.88% and for background 91.41% using DeepLabV3+, 88.14% for the objective, and 91.15% for background using SegFormer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this study was to create a prototype of an unmanned aerial system equipped with intelligent hardware and software technologies necessary for surveillance and monitoring the health and growth of crops from orchards with vines and fruit trees. Using low-cost sensors that accurately measure ultraviolet solar radiation was an important objective. The device, which needed to be attached to the commercial DJI Mini 4 Pro drone, had to be small, portable, and have low energy consumption. For this purpose, the widely used Vishay VEML6075 digital optical sensor was selected and implemented in a prototype, alongside a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W minicomputer. To collect data from these sensors, a program written in Python was used, containing specific blocks for data acquisition from each sensor, to facilitate the monitoring of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, or battery current. By analyzing the data obtained from the sensors, several important conclusions were drawn that may provide valuable pathways for the further development of mobile or modular equipment. Furthermore, the plantation state analysis results with proposed models in the geographic information system (GIS) environment are also presented. The visualization of maps indicating variations in vegetation conditions led to identifying problems such as hydric stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Monitoring crop spike growth using low-altitude remote sensing images is essential for precision agriculture, as it enables accurate crop health assessment and yield estimation. Despite the advancements in deep learningbased visual recognition, existing crop spike detection methods struggle to balance computational efficiency with accuracy in complex multi-scale environments, particularly on resource-constrained low-altitude remote sensing platforms. Methods: To address this gap, we propose FDRMNet, a novel feature diffusion reconstruction mechanism network designed to accurately detect crop spikes in challenging scenarios. The core innovation of FDRMNet lies in its multi-scale feature focus reconstruction and lightweight parameter-sharing detection head, which can effectively improve the computational efficiency of the model while enhancing the model's ability to perceive spike shape and texture.FDRMNet introduces a Multi-Scale Feature Focus Reconstruction module that integrates feature information across different scales and employs various convolutional kernels to capture global context effectively. Additionally, an Attention-Enhanced Feature Fusion Module is developed to improve the interaction between different feature map positions, leveraging adaptive average pooling and convolution operations to enhance the model's focus on critical features. To ensure suitability for low-altitude platforms with limited computational resources, we incorporate a Lightweight Parameter Sharing Detection Head, which reduces the model's parameter count by sharing weights across convolutional layers. Results: According to the evaluation experiments on the global wheat head detection dataset and diverse rice panicle detection dataset, FDRMNet outperforms other state-of-the-art methods with mAP@.5 of 94.23%, 75.13% and R2 value of 0.969, 0.963 between predicted values and ground truth values. In addition, the model's frames per second and parameters in the two datasets are 227.27,288 and 6.8M, respectively, which maintains the top three position among all the compared algorithms. Discussion: Extensive qualitative and quantitative experiments demonstrate that FDRMNet significantly outperforms existing methods in spike detection and counting tasks, achieving higher detection accuracy with lower computational complexity. The results underscore the model's superior practicality and generalization capability in real-world applications. This research contributes a highly efficient and computationally effective solution for crop spike detection, offering substantial benefits to precision agriculture practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fertilization practices control bacterial wilt-causing Ralstonia solanacearum by shaping the soil microbiome. This microbiome is the start of food webs, in which nematodes act as major microbiome predators. However, the multitrophic links between nematodes and the performance of R. solanacearum and plant health, and how these links are affected by fertilization practices, remain unknown. Results: Here, we performed a field experiment under no-, chemical-, and bio-organic-fertilization regimes to investigate the potential role of nematodes in suppressing tomato bacterial wilt. We found that bio-organic fertilizers changed nematode community composition and increased abundances of bacterivorous nematodes (e.g., Protorhabditis spp.). We also observed that pathogen-antagonistic bacteria, such as Bacillus spp., positively correlated with abundances of bacterivorous nematodes. In subsequent laboratory and greenhouse experiments, we demonstrated that bacterivorous nematodes preferentially preyed on non-pathogen-antagonistic bacteria over Bacillus. These changes increased the performance of pathogen-antagonistic bacteria that subsequently suppressed R. solanacearum. Conclusions: Overall, bacterivorous nematodes can reduce the abundance of plant pathogens, which might provide a novel protection strategy to promote plant health. 6HVRaGfzCN9g8_uHWKg5j1 Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection of apple leaf diseases plays a crucial role in ensuring crop health and yield. However, due to variations in lighting and shadow, as well as the complex relationships between perceptual fields and target scales, current detection methods face significant challenges. To address these issues, we propose a new model called YOLO-Leaf. Specifically, YOLO-Leaf utilizes Dynamic Snake Convolution (DSConv) for robust feature extraction, employs BiFormer to enhance the attention mechanism, and introduces IF-CIoU to improve bounding box regression for increased detection accuracy and generalization ability. Experimental results on the FGVC7 and FGVC8 datasets show that YOLO-Leaf significantly outperforms existing models in terms of detection accuracy, achieving mAP50 scores of 93.88% and 95.69%, respectively. This advancement not only validates the effectiveness of our approach but also highlights its practical application potential in agricultural disease detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants are in intimate association with taxonomically structured microbial communities called the plant microbiota. There is growing evidence that the plant microbiota contributes to the holistic performance and general health of plants, especially under unfavorable situations. Despite the attached benefits, surprisingly, the plant microbiota in nature also includes potentially pathogenic strains, signifying that the plant hosts have tight control over these microbes. Despite the conceivable role of plant immunity in regulating its microbiota, we lack a complete understanding of its role in governing the assembly, maintenance, and function of the plant microbiota. Here, we highlight the recent progress on the mechanistic relevance of host immunity in orchestrating plant‐microbiota dialogues and discuss the pluses and perils of these microbial assemblies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBio-stimulants are crop supplements that have the potential to foster robust growth, increase productivity, and enhance the quality of yields, even in the face of climate change and abiotic stresses. Recent studies have shed light on the benefits of plant bio-stimulants across horticultural and perennial crops. However, their utilization is limited to agricultural land, hydroponic systems, soilless media, and fertigation systems. Uncertainties exist regarding the safety, durability, and inconsistent results of bio-stimulants in the glasshouse and field applications. To expand the global bio-stimulant market, it is essential to implement innovative strategies to improve their safety and overall quality. In this context, we present a comprehensive review that addresses the key challenges in developing plant bio-stimulants, along with practical insights and constructive ideas for enhancing their value and quality. By adopting these suggested improvements, bio-stimulant production can be widely integrated into hydroponics and fertigation systems, improving growth and disease prevention, given their inherent bio-stimulation and biocontrol properties. This article critically examines the utilization of nanotechnology, encapsulation approaches, and novel assessment methods to enhance bio-stimulant efficacy, facilitate the integration of organic active components, improve application techniques, and achieve precise delivery. Introducing innovative bio-stimulant products is expected to be crucial in promoting sustainable, high-value, intensive crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The liver is the largest internal organ in the body and has vital functions such as metabolism, elimination of toxins, and bile production. Liver diseases include various conditions that affect the functions of this organ. The most common liver diseases include hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, and liver cancer. These diseases can develop due to genetic factors, alcohol consumption, viral infections, and obesity. A healthy lifestyle is of great importance in preventing liver diseases. Measures such as a balanced diet, regular exercise, limiting alcohol consumption, and protection from viral infections (e.g., vaccinations) help protect liver health. In addition, avoiding exposure to toxins is also important. Interest in phytotherapy has increased considerably in recent years, except for medical applications, in the protection of liver health and the treatment of liver diseases. Among the plants used for this purpose, foods such as artichoke, pomegranate, grapes, and grapefruit, teas such as chamomile, or extracts containing active ingredients such as ellagic acid, resveratrol, and curcumin can be listed. This article will discuss the effects of some plants on liver health. In addition to the plants mentioned here, many other plants are used in this area. While plants are beneficial when used in food format for general health, if they are used for treatment purposes and as an extract, they should be used under the supervision of a physician who has received phytotherapy training. As a result, liver diseases can be prevented, and when they do occur, most of them can be treated. A healthy lifestyle, regulating habits, healthy choices in food intake, and herbal supplements can play an important role in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dairy milk is a core food in many food‐based guides to healthy eating. However, plant‐based milk alternatives are becoming increasingly available as substitutes. While these products serve a subset of the population unable or unwilling to consume milk, plant‐based milk alternatives can be perceived by consumers as direct equivalents, or even more healthful alternatives to dairy milk. This commentary addresses the significant differences in nutrient content that may have implications for the intake of key nutrients in the case of direct substitutions. Furthermore, while there is a significant body of knowledge demonstrating the significant health benefits associated with dairy milk consumption and a small number of potentially negative associations, there is a paucity of data on the health benefits of plant‐based milk alternatives directly. A "health halo" may exist based on matching individual nutrients through fortification, lower energy levels, and the health properties of the unprocessed raw characterizing ingredients of plant‐based milk alternatives. This may mislead consumers regarding healthfulness. Similarly, environmental attributes based on volumes of production, without considering contribution to nutrients, may also skew consumer perception. Positioning of plant‐based milk alternatives in food‐based dietary guidelines, marketing, and personal recommendations should acknowledge the differences in nutritional, bioactive, and health properties between plant‐based milk alternatives and dairy milk to ensure appropriate adaptations are made to account for shortfalls in nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corn stunt disease complex, caused by the mollicutes Spiroplasma kunkelii (Css) and the maize bushy stunt (MBS) phytoplasma, is a major phytosanitary issue for corn production in the neotropical region of Brazil. In this study, we investigated the presence of alternative hosts for S. kunkelii (Css) in the Brazilian Cerrado biome and explored the potential for asymptomatic Css infections in maize plants. To identify possible alternative hosts, we collected samples from ornamental and native plants located in Cerrado regions with a high incidence of corn stunt disease. We also monitored the disease's progression over time and calculated the area under the disease progression curve (AUDPC). Additionally, we sampled healthy, asymptomatic maize plants growing near symptomatic ones and analyzed all the samples using qPCR to detect the pathogen. Our results showed no Css infection in the sampled alternative host species and no asymptomatic infections in the nearby maize plants. The incidence of maize stunting varied significantly among the sample years and counties. In Aparecida do Rio Negro, the infection rate was six times higher in 2020 compared to 2019, while Porto Nacional showed an 11-fold increase. During surveillance from March to July, the infection rate at the Sierra site went from less than 3% in March 2019 to 6% in July (F1,4 = 415.84; p = 0.0003). MBS infection increased significantly, while S. kunkelii remained stable below 3%. In 2020, MBS increased from 3% to more than 12%. A similar trend was observed at the Sede site, where MBS increased from 9% in 2019 to 11% in 2020. An increase in the AUDPC was observed both within individual years and between 2019 and 2020, indicating a worsening trend in disease severity. Overall, our findings reinforce the need for preventive measures in managing maize crop fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the effect of sulphur and magnesium application on the growth and yield of wheat crops in the Central Plains Zone of Uttar Pradesh, India. It highlights how the application of these elements impacts various growth parameters such as plant height, tiller number, ear length, and yield components.

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco 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.)

Surfactants get discharged indiscriminately in wastewater which increased several fold during COVID-19, raising environmental concerns. In this study, two locally available plant species Canna indica and Acorus calamus were compared for the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS, − a chemical surfactant) removal in vertical flow constructed wetlands (VFCWs) augmented with biochar. The dose-response relationship was studied for 144 days in four phases by varying the SDS concentration at 10, 25, 50, and 100 ppm in wastewater. The mean SDS removal efficiencies varied from 85 % - 98 % during the different phases. The results suggested that planted artificial wetlands acted more stable than unplanted ones, although the removal efficiencies of the planted and unplanted were found similar (97.9 % - 98.4 %) in phase 4. Further, GC–MS analysis confirmed C2 products formed during SDS degradation indicating mineralization of SDS. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) studies revealed no accumulation of SDS in the roots of both plants as BCF (root) 1 in the case of both plants, among which translocation of SDS in C. indica with biochar amendment (TF = 17.8) was found to be highest. TF values indicated that biochar may have supported the uptake and translocation of SDS in C. indica whereas biochar has not supported the pollutant transfer in A. calamus. In terms of plant health, C. indica showed better growth and higher biomass increase than the A. calamus. The results implicate that C. indica with biochar-amended CW systems has great potential and can be recommended for efficient removal and uptake of SDS.

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.)

Rhizosphere microbiotas play vital roles in resisting environmental stress, transforming soil nutrients, and promoting plant health, growth, and productivity. The effects of rhizosphere microbial community shaping and the characteristics and functions of keystone taxa on blueberries were comprehensively studied by examining the rhizobacteria of healthy old trees (O), young seedlings (OG), and poorly growing seedlings (OB) of O'Neal blueberries. Our results showed that rhizobacterial diversity followed the order OB > > OG > O, and the microbial community of OG was similar to that of O, while that of OB was distinctly different. The predominant rhizobacteria identified included Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Chloroflexi, and Acidobacteria. Firmicutes were highly enriched in healthy blueberries, with Bacillus identified as a key genus that significantly enhanced blueberry growth when inoculated. Bradyrhizobium and Gaiellales were common core bacteria in the blueberry rhizosphere. In contrast, Acidobacteria were the predominant phylum in poorly growing OB, with the specific Vicinamibacterales-related and Latescibacterota-related genera acting as keystone taxa that shaped the microbial community. In addition, bacterial species in Vicinamibacterales might act as a potential pathogen predicted by BugBase. Taken together, these findings provide fundamental insights into the development of the blueberry rhizosphere microbial community and highlight the role of beneficial rhizobacteria, such as Bacillus, in enhancing blueberry growth. This knowledge could contribute to the exploitation of beneficial rhizobacteria and the prevention of pathogens in modern agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to produce Odontoglossum ringspot virus (ORSV)-free Cymbidium orchid 'New True' plants from ORSV-infected mother plants by culturing their meristems and successively repeating subcultures of protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) derived from the meristems. Results: Initially, ORSV was confirmed as the causative agent of viral symptoms in orchid leaves via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. Meristems from infected plants were cultured to generate PLBs, which in sequence were repeatedly subcultured up to four times. RT-PCR and quantitative RT-PCR analyses revealed that while ORSV was undetectable in shoots derived from the first subculture, complete elimination of the virus required at least a second subculture. Genetic analysis using inter-simple sequence repeat markers indicated no somaclonal variation between regenerated plants and the mother plant, suggesting that genetic consistency was maintained. Conclusion: Overall, our findings demonstrate that subculturing PLBs for a second time is ideal for producing genetically stable, ORSV-free Cymbidium orchids, thus offering a practical means of generating genetically stable, virus-free plants and enhancing plant health and quality in the orchid industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) are the most widespread terrestrial symbiosis and are both a key determinant of plant health and a major contributor to ecosystem processes through their role in biogeochemical cycling. Until recently, it was assumed that the fungi which form AM comprise the subphylum Glomeromycotina (G-AMF), and our understanding of the diversity and ecosystem roles of AM is based almost exclusively on this group. However recent evidence shows that fungi which form the distinctive 'fine root endophyte' (FRE) AM morphotype are members of the subphylum Mucoromycotina (M-AMF), so that AM symbioses are actually formed by two distinct groups of fungi. Results: We investigated the influence of nitrogen (N) addition and wheat variety on the assembly of AM communities under field conditions. Visual assessment of roots showed co-occurrence of G-AMF and M-AMF, providing an opportunity to compare the responses of these two groups. Existing 'AM' 18S rRNA primers which co-amplify G-AMF and M-AMF were modified to reduce bias against Mucoromycotina, and compared against a new 'FRE' primer set which selectively amplifies Mucoromycotina. Using the AM-primers, no significant effect of either N-addition or wheat variety on G-AMF or M-AMF diversity or community composition was detected. In contrast, using the FRE-primers, N-addition was shown to reduce M-AMF diversity and altered community composition. The ASV which responded to N-addition were closely related, demonstrating a clear phylogenetic signal which was identified only by the new FRE-primers. The most abundant Mucoromycotina sequences we detected belonged to the same Endogonales clades as dominant sequences associated with FRE morphology in Australia, indicating that closely related M-AMF may be globally distributed. Conclusions: The results demonstrate the need to consider both G-AMF and M-AMF when investigating AM communities, and highlight the importance of primer choice when investigating AMF community dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grapevine pruning is an agronomical operation required to regulate growth and yield, improve fruit quality, and maintain plant health and vigour. However, the intensification of the crop in the last decades, driven by efforts to increase productivity and decrease costs, has led to reduced attention to this operation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether different pruning styles during the first years of vineyard training affect grapevine development. Three pruning styles were followed in a newly planted cv. "Tempranillo" vineyard for four consecutive pruning seasons: (i) respectful (RESP), where pruning cuts were always made leaving protection wood between the cut and vine perennial structures, and the preferential sap flow path was chosen; (ii) aggressive (AGGR), where no protection wood was left and, when possible, the nonpreferential sap flow path was followed; and (iii) winegrape grower (WIN), where the common practices used in the area were followed, which corresponds to an intermediate style between RESP and AGGR. In general, the RESP style increased the vegetative development compared to WIN and AGGR styles over the years and produced a higher yield in the first production year, although the intensity of the effect was not the same in the two vineyards considered. This was the first effort to systematically assess the effects of respectful pruning techniques on vine vegetative growth and demonstrate scientifically its impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Despite their adverse environmental effects, modern agriculture relies heavily on agrochemicals to manage diseases and pests and enhance plant growth and productivity. Some of these functions could instead be fulfilled by endophytes from the plant microbiota, which have diverse activities beneficial for plant growth and health. Methods: We therefore used a microbiome-guided top-down approach to select ten bacterial strains from different taxa in the core microbiome of tomato plants in the production chain for evaluation as potential bioinoculants. High-quality genomes for each strain were obtained using Oxford Nanopore long-read and Illumina short-read sequencing, enabling the dissection of their genetic makeup to identify phyto-beneficial traits. Results: Bacterial strains included both taxa commonly used as biofertilizers and biocontrol agents (i.e. Pseudomonas and Bacillus) as well as the less studied genera Leclercia, Chryseobacterium, Glutamicibacter, and Paenarthorbacter. When inoculated in the tomato rhizosphere, these strains promoted plant growth and reduced the severity of Fusarium Crown and Root Rot and Bacterial Spot infections. Genome analysis yielded a comprehensive inventory of genes from each strain related to processes including colonization, biofertilization, phytohormones, and plant signaling. Traits directly relevant to fertilization including phosphate solubilization and acquisition of nitrogen and iron were also identified. Moreover, the strains carried several functional genes putatively involved in abiotic stress alleviation and biotic stress management, traits that indirectly foster plant health and growth. Discussion: This study employs a top-down approach to identify new plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs), offering an alternative to the conventional bottom-up strategy. This method goes beyond the traditional screening of the strains and thus can expand the range of potential bioinoculants available for market application, paving the way to the use of new still underexplored genera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In accordance with the EFSA Strategy 2027 outlining the need for fit‐for‐purpose protocols for EFSA generic scientific assessments, the EFSA Panel on Plant Health (PLH Panel) developed standard protocols to harmonise the problem formulation process and outputs for mandates addressing recurrent scientific questions. Three types of recurring EFSA plant health mandates require generic scientific assessments: (i) pest categorisation; (ii) commodity risk assessment for the purpose of derogation to provisions of the EU plant health law and (iii) quantitative pest risk assessment. The three standard protocols are tailored to the appropriate level of detail and build on the existing guidance documents laying out the methods for conducting risk assessment in the plant health domain. To develop a standard protocol for pest categorisation, the PLH Panel adapted the latest version of the standard template reporting the evidence needs and the assessment questions to conclude whether a pest fulfils the criteria for being considered a potential quarantine pest for the EU. To develop a standard protocol for commodity risk assessment, the PLH Panel adapted the procedure and standard templates used for commodity risk assessment of high risk plants. To develop a standard protocol for quantitative pest risk assessments (qPRA), the Panel reviewed the existing guidance document on qPRA and the qPRAs published by the PLH Panel. The hierarchy of assessment questions and sub‐questions used were identified and extracted. Based on this, a hierarchically organised IT‐tool was formulated as protocol for the planning and documentation of future qPRAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a group pest categorisation for the EU territory of non‐EU Scolytinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on non‐coniferous hosts, which total 6495 known species. Most species attack apparently healthy, weakened or dead trees, either feeding on the phloem ('bark beetles' subgroup) or on fungi inoculated into the sapwood ('ambrosia beetles' subgroup). Smaller subgroups feed and reproduce in seeds and fruits, or in herbaceous plants. Some species are polygynous, the males initiate a gallery or a chamber on or in a new host and attract females. Others are monogamous, and the females initiate the new galleries. Many species respond to primary volatile attractants emitted by the hosts, and some produce aggregation pheromones that attract conspecifics of both sexes. The species attacking living hosts are often associated with fungi that contribute to weakening the host defences and provide nutrients to the insects. Some are inbreeding; the males in the offspring mate with their sisters and rarely leave their natal tree. The larvae of all species develop and pupate within their hosts. Based on catalogues and other published data, a database was constructed providing information on hosts, feeding and reproductive habits, geographic distribution and the Köppen–Geiger climate types in countries where species occur. The Scolytinae were screened to exclude species in the following categories: (i) 708 species attacking conifers; (ii) 127 species present in at least four EU Member States and (iii) 440 species occurring in areas with climatic conditions not occurring in the EU. Among the remaining 5220 species, 88 species known for their mobility, occupying at least two landmasses separated by geographical barriers and some of which had impact levels documented in literature, were extracted. They were grouped into four subcategories: (i) 12 species with high impact on plant health; (ii) 16 species with low or doubtful impact; (iii) 48 species with no impact; (iv) 12 species with no impact and which had never been recorded as 'introduced' in the consulted catalogues but occurring on at least two landmasses. All 88 species could enter the EU with wood or wood products, or with plants for planting, and could establish because host plants are available, and climate is suitable in parts of the EU. Control measures to inhibit introduction are available. There is considerable uncertainty regarding the potential impact of many species. Methods for the reliable identification of many species are lacking. For some species of non‐EU Scolytinae on non‐coniferous hosts, all criteria assessed by EFSA for consideration as potential quarantine pest are met. Nevertheless, the Panel was not able to develop a method to discriminate confidently between species that clearly meet the criteria for potential quarantine pest status and those that do not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objectives of EFSA's activities on emerging risks encompass: (i) conducting activities to identify emerging risks; (ii) developing and improving emerging risk identification (ERI) methodologies and approaches; and (iii) communicating identified issues and risks. The outcome of these activities equips EFSA to anticipate forthcoming challenges in the continuously evolving landscape of risk assessment. EFSA networks of knowledge contributing to the emerging risks identification activity include the Emerging Risks Exchange Network (EREN), the Stakeholder Discussion Group on Emerging Risks (StaDG‐ER), EFSA's scientific units, the scientific panels, the Scientific Committee and their working groups. The current technical report summarises the activities of all groups involved in the emerging risk identification procedure, the issues identified in the course of 2022, the emerging risk identification methodologies being developed, and the collaborative activities. In total, 13 potential emerging issues were discussed in 2022 and two were concluded to be emerging risks. The potential issues were classified according to the hazard. The year 2022 marks a turn in EFSA's activities on emerging risk identification. To achieve strategic objective no. 2 'Ensure preparedness for future risks analysis needs' of the EFSA Strategy 2027, a new process 'Environmental scanning and strategic options definition' has been developed. The process adds to the already existing emerging risks analysis workflow a second workflow that is more forward‐looking, to deal with horizon scanning in the areas of food and feed safety, plant health and animal health. Similarly to the emerging risks analysis workflow, the new workflow for horizon scanning strongly relies on partnership to be prepared for future challenges, build resilience, and proactively shape the future in a one‐health approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botanic gardens can pose biosecurity risks due to potential pathogen invasions and spread. Botanic gardens involved in conservation and ecological restoration have a crucial responsibility in phytosanitary control, ensuring the health of their plants and preventing them from becoming a threat for the regional flora. Additionally, the large number of visitors and the proximity to urban areas and environmental reserves can pose risks to the health of their collections. The Bauru Botanic Garden is working to address this issue in its daily routines, by implementing and improving its biosafety practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant disease epidemics often transcend land management boundaries, creating a collective-action problem where a group must cooperate in a common effort to maximize individual and group benefits. Drawing upon the social-ecological systems framework and associated design principles, we review variables of resource systems, resource units, actors, and governance systems relevant to collective action in plant health. We identify a need to better characterize how attributes of epidemics determine the usefulness of collective management, what influences actors' decisions to participate, what governance systems fit different plant health threats, and how these subsystems interact to lead to plant health outcomes. We emphasize that there is not a single governance structure that ensures collective action but rather a continuum of structures that depend on the key system variables identified. An integrated social-ecological systems approach to collective action in plant health should enable institutional designs to better fit specific plant health challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of climate change on plant growth and productivity is profound, resulting in significant stresses such as biotic and abiotic factors. Among the abiotic stresses, temperature extremes, nutrient imbalances, heavy metals, drought, and salinity stand out as prominent contributors to substantial crop yield losses globally, exacerbating food insecurity concerns. Various methods are currently being explored to enhance plants' resilience to these stresses. We undertook an extensive literature review to assess the current landscape of knowledge in Nano biotechnology and identify areas where existing research is deficient or underexplored. This examination focused on identifying gaps related to methodology, scope, applications, and specific challenges within nanobiotechnology. We also evaluated recent developments and emerging trends in the field, identifying areas where research interest is expanding but remains relatively uncharted. By narrowing our research scope, we aimed to pinpoint specific aspects of Nano biotechnology requiring further investigation or that have not been sufficiently addressed. One promising approach involves the use of nanoparticles, which have shown to positively influence plant performance under stressful conditions. Nanoparticles facilitate nutrient uptake by plants, combat plant diseases and pathogens, and enable the detection and monitoring of trace components in soil through signal absorption. Understanding the mechanisms by which nanoparticles assist plants in mitigating abiotic challenges holds great promise for developing enduring solutions. However, urgent action is needed to implement rapid strategies that alleviate abiotic stress and enhance agricultural productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Economia e Sociologia Rural is the property of Sociedade Brasileira de Economia e Sociologia Rural 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.)

Cover crops have emerged as a crucial tool in promoting sustainable agricultural practices, particularly in improving soil quality and soil–plant health. This study investigates the impact of single cover crop plants each with varying fungal and/or bacterial symbiosis capacities in a pot experiment. The growth of non-symbiont Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata), the associative bacterium symbiont black oat (Avena strigosa) and the double (fungus–bacterium) endosymbiont broad bean (Vicia faba) was studied on three distinct soil types, namely a less-fertile sandy soil (Arenosol), an average value of loam soil (Luvisol) and a more productive chernozem soil (Chernozem). Beside the biomass production, nitrogen content and frequency of AM fungi symbiosis (MYCO%) of cover crops, the main soil health characteristics of electrical conductivity (EC), labile carbon (POXC) and fluorescein diacetate enzyme activity (FDA) were assessed and evaluated by detailed statistical analysis. Among the used soil types, the greatest biomass production was found on Chernozem soil with the relatively highest soil organic matter (2.81%) content and productivity. Double symbiotic activity, assessed by soil nitrogen content and mycorrhiza frequency (MYCO%), were significantly improved on the lowest-quality Arenosols (SOM 1.16%). In that slightly humous sandy soil, MYCO% was enhanced by 45%, indicating that symbiosis was crucial for plant growth in the less-fertile soil investigated. After the initial cover crop phase, the accumulated biomass was incorporated into the Luvisol (SOM 1.64%) soil, followed by the cultivation of corn (Zea mays, DK 3972) as the main crop. The results indicate that incorporating cover crop residues enhanced labile carbon (POXC) by 20% and significantly increased the FDA microbial activity in the soil, which positively correlated with the nutrient availability and growth of the maize crop. This study emphasizes the importance of selecting suitable cover crops based on their symbiotic characteristics to improve soil quality and enhance soil–plant health in sustainable agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the effect of using selected herbs as companion crops in soybean cultivation on the yield and overall health of soybeans. A three-year field experiment (2021–2023) was conducted using a randomized block design with three replications, where the primary experimental variable was the sowing method. The innovative cropping system involved cultivating soybeans alongside different companion herbs, such as alyssum (Lobularia maritima L.), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), borage (Borago officinalis L.), French marigold (Tagetes patula L.), calendula (Calendula officinalis L.), and a herbal mixture referred to as 'MIX'. The study showed that cultivation of soybean with fennel improved the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the yield, with a significant increase in seed yield (on average by 0.27 t ha−1) as well as protein (7.67%) and oil yield (8.57%) compared to the pure soybean crop. The following fungal diseases were identified during the three-year study period (2021–2023): Cercospora leaf blight, Ascochyta blight, Fusarium wilt, and downy mildew. Cultivation of soybean with herbs as companion crops was implemented to improve the health of soybean to a varied extent. Borage, marigold, and calendula companion crops reduced infection of soybean by the fungi C. kikuchii and F. oxysporum. Cultivation with fennel and marigold was also beneficial for soybean health. On the other hand, cultivation with sweet alyssum and a mixture of herbs increased the occurrence of the fungus A. sojaecola. Cultivation of soybean in association with herbs is legitimate and requires further research given the priorities facing 21st-century agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing consumer awareness of the importance of food quality on their health is the main driving force for increasing the market for sustainable agricultural products. This makes sustainable, environmentally friendly production methods into non-chemical plant protection products against pathogens, including microbial biopreparations, increasingly important among farmers. Strawberry fruits (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) are often negatively affected by fungal pathogens. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of five combinations of newly developed microbial biopreparations (from K2 to K6) on fungal pathogens and the yield of three strawberry cultivars. The research was conducted on a certified organic strawberry plantation in Poland in 2020–2021. In the first year of the study, no statistically significant positive impact of tested treatments on strawberry yields have been found. At the same time, yields of 'Honeoye' treated with K4 combination showed a tendency (with no statistical significance) to have higher yields than the control object by about 33%. In the second year of the study, yields of 'Honeoye' and 'Rumba' treated with K4 combination (containing Bacillus sp. Sp116AC*, Bacillus sp. Sp115AD, Bacillus sp. AF75BC and Bacillus subtilis AF75AB2, humic acids, yeast culture effluent, micronized dolomite, and mustard and rapeseed oil) significantly increased by 79% and 49%, respectively. Fruit infestation by fungal pathogens was reduced under some microbial treatments; however, the effect varied between years, cultivars, and tested biopreparations. The K2 combination showed a tendency (with no statistical significance) to limit B. cinerea infestation rate by 23% in 2020 and 21% in 2021, C. acutatum by 16% in 2021, and P. cactorum infestation rate by 30% in 2021. Tested microbial biopreparations showed a positive impact on the yield of strawberries and (to some extent) on disease infestation, with an impact on pathogen infestation strongly dependent on the year, variety, and biopreparation tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Xylella fastidiosa is a multi‐host bacterium that can be detected in hundreds of plant species including several crops. Diseases caused by X. fastidiosa are considered a threat to global food production. The primary method for managing diseases caused by X. fastidiosa involves using insecticides to control the vector. Hence, it is necessary to adopt new and sustainable disease management technologies to control not only the insect but also the bacteria and plant health. We demonstrated that N‐acetylcysteine (NAC), a low‐cost cysteine analogue, is a sustainable molecule that can be used in agriculture to decrease the damage caused by X. fastidiosa and improve plant health. RESULTS: Using 15N‐NAC we proved that this analogue was absorbed by the roots and transported to different parts of the plant. Inside the plant, NAC reduced the bacterial population by 60‐fold and the number of xylem vessels blocked by bacterial biofilms. This reflected in a recovery of 0.28‐fold of the daily sap flow compared to health plants. In addition, NAC‐treated citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC) plants decreased the oxidative stress by improving the activity of detoxifying enzymes. Moreover, the use of NAC in field conditions positively contributed to the increase in fruit yield of CVC‐diseased plants. CONCLUSION: Our research not only advances the understanding of NAC absorption in plants, but also indicates its dual effect as an antimicrobial and antioxidant molecule. This, in turn, negatively affects bacterial survival while improving plant health by decreasing oxidative stress. Overall, the positive field‐based evidence supports the viability of NAC as a sustainable agricultural application. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural soils and its accumulation in plant organs have become a global issue due to its harmful effects on human health. The in-situ stabilizing technique, which involves using organic amendments, is commonly employed for removing Cd from agricultural soils. Thus, the current study investigated the effect of vermicompost (VC) on soil properties and plant physio-biochemical attributes, leaf ultrastructure analysis, antioxidant defense mechanisms, and grain yields of two different fragrant rice cultivars, Xiangyaxiangzhan (XGZ) and Meixiangzhan-2 (MXZ-2), under Cdstress conditions. The results showed that Cd toxicity deteriorates soil quality, the plant's photosynthetic apparatus, and the plant's antioxidant defense mechanism. Moreover, under Cd stress, both cultivars produced significantly lower (p < 0.05) rice grain yields compared to non-Cd stress conditions. However, the VC application alleviated the Cd toxicity and improved soil qualitative traits, such as soil organic carbon, available nitrogen, total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Similarly, VC amendments improved leaf physiological activity, photosynthetic apparatus function, antioxidant enzyme activities and its related gene expression under Cd stress These enhancements led to increased grain yields of both fragrant under Cd toxicity. The addition of VC mitigated the adverse effects of Cd on the leaf chloroplast structure by reducing Cd uptake and accumulation in tissues. This helped prevent Cd-induced peroxidation damage to leaf membrane lipids by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). On average across the growth stages, the Pos-Cd + VC3 treatment increased SOD, APX, CAT, and POD activities by122.2 and 112.5%, 118.6, and 120.6%, 44.6 and 40.6%, and 38.6 and 33.2% in MXZ-2 and XGZ, respectively, compared to the plants treated with Pos-Cd treated alone. Enhancements in leaf physiological activity and plant antioxidant enzyme activity strengthen the plant's antioxidant defense mechanism against Cd toxicity. In addition, correlation analysis showed a strong relationship between the leaf net photosynthetic rate and soil chemical attributes, suggesting that improved soil fertility enhances leaf physiological activity and boosts rice grain yields. Of the treatments, Pos-Cd + VC3 proved to be the most effective treatment in terms of enhancing soil health and achieving high fragrant rice yields. Thus, the outcomes of this study show that the addition of VC in Cd-contaminated soils could be useful for sustainable rice production and safe utilization of Cdpolluted soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]