Search Results (525)

The gradual decline in wine consumption in Czechia poses significant challenges for domestic winemakers. Moreover, the sector faces mounting pressure from climate change—most notably global warming—which is increasingly affecting viticulture and wine production across the region. Using advanced predictive models, we estimated developmental trends and calculated forecasts for yield-generating components of grapevine cultivation. The results confirm stagnation or modest growth in the sector, with its development remaining strongly influenced by structural changes and external economic factors. While consumer demand is shifting toward white (or lighter) wines, climate change in Czechia is enhancing conditions for cultivating grape varieties suited to red wine production. This article examines the imbalance between supply and demand in the Czech wine market and identifies wine tourism as a possible solution for resolving the discrepancy. Full article

This study examines the socio-ecological impacts of soybean cultivation in the Brazilian Amazon, a region of critical importance for global climate regulation and biodiversity conservation. It explores how the expansion of soybean cultivation in this region since the 1990s, driven by international demand and domestic policies, has triggered a series of unsustainable socio-ecological consequences, such as deforestation, overuse of agrochemicals, displacement of indigenous communities, and land tenure conflicts. Inadequate governance, at both national and international levels, has exacerbated these challenges, undermining efforts to balance soybean cultivation with sustainable development in Brazilian Amazon. Through a mixed analysis method, this study proposes pathways for sustainable soybean production in the Amazon, including extending the Soy Moratorium to the Cerrado, strengthening indigenous land rights, enhancing international cooperation, and adopting sustainable agricultural practices such as agroforestry. These findings contributes to reconciling soybean cultivation with sustainable development in the Brazilian Amazon. Full article

Gerronema lapidescens (Lei Wan), a valued medicinal basidiomycete traditionally employed for antiparasitic and digestive ailments, faces severe conservation threats due to unsustainable wild harvesting and the absence of reliable cultivation protocols. To address this crisis and unlock its pharmacotherapeutic potential, we present the first chromosome-scale genome assembly and comprehensive methylome profile for the wild strain G. lapidescens QL01, domesticated from the Qinling Mountains. A multi-platform sequencing strategy (Illumina and PacBio HiFi) yielded a high-quality 82.23 Mb assembly anchored to 11 chromosomes, exhibiting high completeness (98.4% BUSCO) and 46.03% GC content. Annotation predicted 15,847 protein-coding genes, with 81.12% functionally assigned. Genome-wide analysis identified 8.46 million high-confidence single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Notably, methylation profiling revealed 3.25 million methylation events, with elevated densities on chromosomes 4, 9, and 10, suggesting roles in gene silencing and environmental adaptation. Phylogenomic analyses clarified the evolutionary status of G. lapidescens, whilst gene family evolution indicated moderate dynamics reflecting niche adaptation. Carbohydrate-Active enzymes (CAZymes) analysis identified 521 enzymes, including 211 Glycoside Hydrolases (GHs), consistent with organic matter degradation. Additionally, 3279 SSRs were catalogued as molecular markers. This foundational resource elucidates G. lapidescens’s genetic architecture, epigenetic regulation, evolutionary history, and enzymatic toolkit, underpinning future research into medicinal compound biosynthesis, environmental adaptation, germplasm conservation, and sustainable cultivation. Full article

Three wild edible plant species native to the Mediterranean region, Sanguisorba verrucosa, Eruca vesicaria, and Scorzonera laciniata, were investigated to evaluate their potential for cultivation and integration into human diets. All three species were positively rated in sensory evaluations and exhibited high levels of specific metabolites of nutritional and health-related interest. Moderate concentrations of β-carotene were found across all species. Notably, S. verrucosa and E. vesicaria contained appreciable amounts of vitamin C, and the phenolic content in S. verrucosa exceeded that of many commonly consumed vegetables. Each species also proved to be a rich source of distinct organic acids: S. verrucosa for fumaric acid, E. vesicaria for citric acid, and S. laciniata for quinic acid. Although domestication led to a reduction in several bioactive compounds, the nutritional value of these plants remains significant. The compositional and sensory profiles of these species highlight their promise as leafy vegetables for sustainable diets and as functional food ingredients. Furthermore, their cultivation could support biodiversity conservation efforts and reduce harvesting pressure on wild populations, contributing to more sustainable agricultural practices. Full article

Cannabis sativa is a crop which has been cultivated since ancient times, with important cultural and industrial value. Due to its substantial economic impact, cannabis has attracted widespread scientific attention. A pan-genome is a significant tool for breeding, because it provides a comprehensive representation of genetic diversity. To provide a valuable tool for Cannabis breeding, we constructed a Cannabis pan-genome based on 113 accessions. A total of 24,679,380 bp of non-reference-genome sequences were assembled, identifying 1313 protein-coding genes. Using pan-genome analyses, a total of 32,428 gene presence/absence variations (PAVs) were obtained, and gene loss was recovered during the domestication of Cannabis. By partitioning the pan-genome using PAVs, a total of 23,309 core genes were identified, accounting for 71.88% of all genes in the pan-genome. In particular, there were 7148 flexible genes, making up 22.05% of the pan-genome. The flexible genes were associated with adaptive traits, including stress resistance and disease resistance in Cannabis. Population genetic analysis presented gene distribution, gene flow, and gene specificity on a pan-genome level. These results provide important genetic basis, functional genes, and guidance for Cannabis breeding. Full article

Hedeoma multiflora Benth. is an endangered aromatic and medicinal wild species native to Argentina, widely used in traditional medicine, whose cultivation represents a small and untapped sector within the agricultural industry. Current market supply relies on wild harvesting practices by rural communities, leading to population decline and genetic diversity loss through inappropriate extraction methods, including uprooting during suboptimal phenological stages. This study evaluated phenotypic and phytochemical variability in four populations of H. multiflora in the province of Córdoba to develop conservation strategies and cultivation protocols. Forty individuals were sampled from each population to analyze morphological, chemical, phenological, edaphological, and climatic variables. Significant differences were observed between populations: Tulumba had the tallest plants and largest leaves, while Bialet Massé had the highest number of internodes. Essential oil yield ranged from 1.01% to 2.10%, with Ongamira having the highest content. Phytochemical analysis revealed two chemotypes: pulegone-dominant (Bialet Massé and Río Cuarto) and menthone-dominant (Ongamira and Tulumba). Phenological patterns differed significantly, with Ongamira showing the greatest reproductive synchronization. Soil organic matter content significantly influenced morphological and chemical traits. The high variability among populations underscores the importance of preserving genetic diversity for domestication and conservation strategies. Full article

Domestication has been proven to significantly impact the biosynthesis of plant secondary metabolites. Cultivated green jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.), as an important autotetraploid fruit crop widely planted in tropical regions, exhibits differential physicochemical traits compared with its wild progenitor. To assess the traits lost in cultivated green jujube during domestication, the study performed comprehensive genomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic investigations of flavonoid pathways in wild and cultivated green jujube. Based on the four haplotype genomes of wild and cultivated green jujube, for the first time, the study bulk-identified 16 key gene families associated with flavonoid biosynthesis. Collinearity analysis revealed that tandem duplication was the predominant event in flavonoid-related genes rather than WGD. Through the expression profiles in different tissues, the distinct member of these gene families was classified as “redundant” or “functional”. Transcriptomic analyses illustrated the significant differential expressions (p < 0.05) of 13 flavonoid-related gene families in fruits of six cultivated and three wild green jujube accessions, except for FLS, LAR and PPO. The wild green jujube fruits accumulated more abundance of flavonoid metabolites than in cultivated fruits (p < 0.0001), as evidenced by upregulated chalcones, dihydroflavonol, isoflavones and flavonoid carbonoside. Gene–metabolite co-expression modules further validated the potential transcription regulators, such as BBX21, WRI1 and bZIP44. Together, the study suggested a genomic, transcriptomic and metabolic perspective for domestication regarding fruit flavonoid pathways in green jujube, which provides a valuable genetic resource for fruit quality improvement in cultivated green jujube. Full article

Single-factor and orthogonal experiments were conducted to investigate the biological characteristics of Dichomitus squalens strains isolated from wild fruiting bodies collected in Tekes County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Building upon the optimal mycelial culture conditions identified, domestication cultivation studies were performed, including experiments to induce fruiting body formation. Liquid strains were inoculated into substrates to monitor developmental stages from primordia formation to mature fruiting bodies, with macroscopic characteristics recorded throughout the cultivation process. Crude polysaccharides were extracted from the cultivated fruiting bodies using the water extraction and ethanol precipitation method. The scavenging rates of these polysaccharides against hydroxyl radicals (OH⁻) and superoxide anion radicals (O₂⁻) were measured to evaluate their in vitro antioxidant activity. Results demonstrated that the optimal growth conditions for D. squalens were as follows: sucrose as the preferred carbon source, yeast extract powder as the optimal nitrogen source, a pH of 5.0, and a temperature of 30 °C. Among these factors, pH exerted the most significant influence on the mycelial growth rate, followed by nitrogen source, carbon source, and temperature. Mature fruiting bodies developed approximately 57 days after inoculation with liquid strains. The crude polysaccharide extraction yield from the cultivated fruiting bodies reached 7.07%, with a total polysaccharide content of 24.69% in the extract. The crude polysaccharides exhibited potent radical scavenging activity: at a concentration of 5.0 mg/mL, the hydroxyl radical scavenging rate was 56.74%, while the superoxide anion radical scavenging rate reached 78.3%. These findings indicate that D. squalens possesses significant antioxidant potential. Full article

Polyculture, or intercropping, is the practice of growing two or more crops simultaneously in time and space. The milpa is a systematic polyculture involving the simultaneous cultivation of maize (Zea mays), beans (Phaseolus spp.), squash (Cucurbita spp.), and other crops. Milpa polyculture initially emerged in the Mesoamerican region (Mexico and Central America) through the concurrent processes of managing, utilizing, and domesticating its constituent crops. It subsequently spread throughout the Americas via the diffusion of maize and the convergence of its domestication with that of its companion crops and other domesticated plants in the continent. Mesoamerican farmers made an outstanding contribution by domesticating and bringing together crops with contrasting morphological and physiological traits that are ecologically, agronomically, and nutritionally complementary. Despite its importance, few quantitative evaluations of this polyculture exist. However, these evaluations indicate that its productivity and land efficiency use (Land equivalent ratio = 1.34) are comparable to those of other intercrops studied on a global scale. We emphasize the importance of transdisciplinary efforts to study this polyculture and highlight its potential applications related to ecological interactions, plant microbiomes and breeding in order to reach sustainable production goals. Full article

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) is globally valued for protein, oil, and biofuel applications. Thailand imports 99.8% of its soybean consumption due to declining cultivation areas. Northeastern Thailand presents substantial potential for expanding soybean production through integrated seed rotation systems in post-sugarcane (upland) and post-rice (lowland) environments. This study evaluated the newly developed ‘Morkhor 60’ soybean variety compared to three commercial varieties (SJ 5, 223*Lh-85, and CM 60) across thirteen diverse environments in Northeastern Thailand during 2022–2023. Field experiments employed a randomized complete block design with four replications per site. The ‘Morkhor 60’ demonstrated favorable yield stability and competitive performance across most environments. The variety showed broad adaptability across soil types (sandy loam to clay) and seasonal conditions (rainy and dry seasons) with minimal genotype-by-environment interactions. Chemical analysis revealed favorable protein content (39.63%) and oil content (14.66%). These findings support the cultivation of ‘Morkhor 60’ in integrated seed rotation systems, offering a viable strategy to reduce national soybean seed shortages while enhancing domestic production and agricultural sustainability. Full article

With the rapid development of the social economy, human activities have increasingly disrupted water environments, and the continuous input of pollutants poses significant challenges for water environment management. Taking the Xiaoxingkai Lake basin as the study area, this paper develops a social–economic–water environment model based on the system dynamics methodology, incorporating subsystems for population, agriculture, and water pollution. The model focuses on four key indicators of pollution severity, namely, total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N), and simulates the changes in pollutant loads entering the river under five different scenarios from 2020 to 2030. The results show that agricultural non-point sources are the primary contributors to TN (79.5%) and TP (73.7%), while COD primarily originates from domestic sources (64.2%). NH₃-N is mainly influenced by urban domestic activities (44.7%) and agricultural cultivation (41.2%). Under the status quo development scenario, pollutant loads continue to rise, with more pronounced increases under the economic development scenario, thus posing significant sustainability risks. The pollution control enhancement scenario is most effective in controlling pollutants, but it does not promote socio-economic development and has high implementation costs, failing to achieve coordinated socio-economic and environmental development in the region. The dual-reinforcement scenario and moderate-reinforcement scenario achieve a balance between pollution control and economic development, with the moderate-reinforcement scenario being more suitable for long-term regional development. The findings can provide a scientific basis for water resource management and planning in the Xiaoxingkai Lake basin. Full article

Euterpe precatoria Mart. is an increasingly important palm for subsistence and income generation in central and western Amazonia with growing demand for its fruit pulp, which is an alternative source of açaí juice for domestic and international markets. This study synthesizes current knowledge on its systematics, ecology, fruit production in natural populations, fruit quality, uses, population management, and related areas, identifying critical research gaps. A systematic literature survey was conducted across databases including Web of Science, Scopus, Scielo, CAPES, and Embrapa. Of 1568 studies referencing Euterpe, 273 focused on E. precatoria, with 90 addressing priority themes. Genetic diversity studies suggest the E. precatoria may represent a complex of species. Its population abundance varies across habitats: the highest variability occurs in terra firme, followed by baixios and várzeas. Várzeas exhibit greater productivity potential, with more bunches per plant and higher fruit weight than baixios; no production data exist for terra firme. Additionally, E. precatoria has higher anthocyanin content than E. oleracea, the primary commercial açaí species. Management of natural populations and cultivation practices are essential for sustainable production; however, studies in these fields are still limited. The information is crucial to inform strategies aiming to promote the sustainable production of the species. Full article

Hericium coralloides is a highly valued gourmet and medicinal species with growing market demand across East Asia, though industrial production remains limited by cultivation challenges. This study investigated the molecular characteristics, biological traits, domestication potential, and cultivation protocols of Hericium coralloides strains collected from the Changbaishan Nature Reserve (Jiling, China). Optimal conditions for mycelial growth included mannose as the preferred carbon source, peptone as the nitrogen source, 30 °C incubation temperature, pH 5.5, and magnesium sulfate as the essential inorganic salt. The fruiting bodies had a protein content of 2.43% g/100 g (fresh sample meter). Total amino acids comprised 53.3% of the total amino acid profile, while essential amino acids accounted for 114.11% relative to non-essential amino acids, indicating high nutritional value. Under optimized domestication conditions—70% hardwood chips, 20% cottonseed hulls, 8% bran, 1% malic acid, and 1% gypsum—bags reached full colonization in 28 days, with a 15-day maturation phase and initial fruiting occurring after 12–14 days. The interval between flushes was 10–12 days. The average yield reached 318.65 ± 31.74 g per bag, with a biological conversion rate of 63.73%. These findings demonstrate that Hericium coralloides possesses significant potential for edible and commercial applications. This study provides a robust theoretical foundation and resource reference for its artificial cultivation, supporting its broader industrial and economic utilization. Full article

During a prolonged domestication and environmental selection, Brassica rapa has formed diverse morphological types during a cultivation process of up to 8000 years, such as root-type turnips (Brassica rapa var. rapa), leaf-type Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa var. pekinensis), oil-type rapeseed (Brassica rapa L.), and other rich types. China is one of the origins of Brassica rapa L., which is spread all over the east, west, south, and north of China. Studying its origin and evolution holds significant importance for unraveling the cultivation history of Chinese oilseed crops, intraspecific evolutionary relationships, and the utilization value of genetic resources. This article summarizes the cultivation history, evolution, classification research progress, and germplasm resource diversity of Brassica rapa var. oleifera in China. Combining karyotype analysis, genomic information, and wild relatives of Brassica rapa var. oleifera discovered on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, it is proposed that Brassica rapa var. oleifera has the characteristic of polycentric origin, and Gansu Province in China is one of the earliest regions for its cultivation. Brassica rapa var. oleifera, originating from the Mediterranean region, was diffused to the East Asian continent through two independent transmission paths (one via the Turkish Plateau and the other via Central Asia and Siberia). Analyzing the genetic diversity characteristics and evolutionary trajectories of these two transmission paths lays a foundation for clarifying the origin and evolutionary process of Brassica rapa var. oleifera and accelerating the breeding of Brassica rapa var. oleifera in China. Despite existing research on the origin of Brassica rapa L., the domestication process of this species remains unresolved. Future studies will employ whole-genome resequencing to address this fundamental question. Full article

Despite increasing interest in including indigenous and local people in forest restoration initiatives, their views on which species are most useful, or reasons behind not planting native tree species are often ignored. Focused on south-western Rwanda, this study addressed these knowledge gaps. We carried out 12 focus group discussions with village elders to determine the following: main benefits provided by native forests, the native species they prefer for different uses, and the main barriers to species’ cultivation. Then, considering other key information from the literature, we performed a ranking exercise to determine which native species had the greatest potential for large-scale tree planting initiatives. Our results show that native forests provide 17 benefits to local communities, some of which cannot be replaced by plantations with exotic species. Among the 26 tree species identified as most useful for timber, firewood, medicine and fodder, ten were ranked as with the greatest potential for restoration initiatives. Of these, two had not been included in recent experimental plantations using native species in Rwanda, and none were considered among the priority species for domestication in Africa. Overall, our study highlights the need to better connect the ecological and social dimension of forest reforestation initiatives in multiple contexts. Full article