Search Results (1,825)

Epichloë endophytic fungi are important microbial resources in agriculture and animal husbandry. Because of their stable symbiosis, species transmission, and positive effects on host plants, the use of endophytic fungi in grass breeding is of great significance. In this study, six inoculation methods were used, including the sterile seedling slit inoculation method, sterile seedling cut inoculation method, sterile seedling injection inoculation method, seed soaking inoculation method, seed piercing and then soaking inoculation method, and seed slit inoculation method. Spectrometry was used to construct new symbionts, and Liquid Chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to analyze the effects of endophytic fungi on the metabolism of new hosts. The physiological response of the new symbionts to salt and alkali stress was studied using a pot experiment. The results were as follows: In this study, Epichloë bromicola was successfully inoculated into Bromus inermis via the sterile seedling slit inoculation method, and new symbionts (EI) were obtained; the vaccination rate was 2.1%. Metabolites up-regulated by EI are significantly enriched in citrate cycle and ascorbate and aldarate metabolism, suggesting that the symbiosis of endophytic fungi indirectly triggers the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through multiple metabolic pathways. The saline–alkali stress test showed that the host antioxidant system was active after inoculation, and the total antioxidant capacity was significantly increased compared with non-symbionts (EF) under mild stress (p < 0.05), which provided important clues to reveal the complex mechanism of plant–fungus symbiosis. This study provides practical guidance and a theoretical basis for plant adaptation under climate change, health management of grass seeds, and soil improvement through endophytic fungi. Full article

Solar radiation is crucial for intercropping, while partial shading can protect intercropped soybean leaves from irradiation damage during the pod-ripening period under high solar radiation. This study explored the leaf dynamics and soybean quality for the maize–soybean system, for monoculture soybean (MS), monoculture maize (MM), two-row maize + three-row soybean (IS2-3), and four-row maize + four-row soybean (IS4-4). The results revealed that soybean leaves under IS2-3 and IS4-4 treatments showed increases in Rubisco activity of 59.8% and 12.4% compared with MS, respectively. The antioxidant capacity in soybean leaves in MS was higher than that under intercropping treatments. Soybean leaves under IS2-3 and IS4-4 exhibited higher alpha and beta diversities in their endophytes compared with MS. The relative abundance of pathotrophs under IS2-3 was reduced by 19.1% and 22.6% compared to that of those under MS and IS4-4, respectively. The total land equivalent ratio (LER) under IS2-3 was more than 1.00, and increased by 6.4% and 15.7% compared with IS4-4 in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Soybean seeds under IS2-3 and IS4-4 showed 4.1% and 4.2% increases in crude protein content compared to those of MS, respectively. Among various biosynthesis and metabolism processes, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis exerted a stronger influence on soybean seeds in MS, IS2-3, and IS4-4. Soybean seeds under IS2-3 showed elevated genistein content and reduced daidzein content compared with those of MS. Intercropping soybean treatments, especially IS2-3, maintained leaf health during the pod-ripening period and enhanced the crude protein content compared with sole soybean treatment, thus guiding the design of intercropping in areas with high solar radiation. Full article

Background: The health benefits associated with the consumption of nuts and seeds are well established, yet this food group is known to be the furthest from the recommended intake; therefore, actions aiming to increase nut intake are needed. The main front-of-pack communication device in Australia, the Health Star Rating (HSR), inadvertently penalises nuts with negative points associated with energy and saturated fat content. Methods: This study aims to suggest options to policy makers by (i) examining how the HSR rates a sample of 82 nuts, seeds and products containing them and (ii) testing three sets of moderate adjustments of the HSR algorithm on the sampled products: discounting the energy from nuts and seeds (S1), discounting the saturated fat from nuts and seeds (S2) and applying an adapted algorithm based on that for ‘oils and spreads’ for foods with ≥50% nuts and seeds (S3). Results: All three scenarios improved the Spearman correlation between the HSR score and the nut and seed content (−0.80, −0.75 and −0.71 for S1, S2 and S3, respectively) compared to the original HSR (−0.66). Products with more than 50% of their weight being nuts and seeds benefited much more from these adjustments than those below 50%. For all scenarios, but most clearly for S3, the products that had a lower HSR score than the original HSR (the healthier products) benefited more from the changes brought about by the adjusted algorithms than those of lower nutritional quality. The HSR of foods that contained no nuts or seeds remained unchanged. Conclusions: With minor changes to the HSR algorithm, nut and seed products could be brought into alignment with the current evidence, encouraging their regular inclusion in dietary patterns, which could help guide consumers at the supermarket shelf. Full article

The Cucurbitaceae family includes commonly consumed plants such as pumpkin, watermelon, melon, horned melon, and cucumber, which are valued for their rich nutritional composition and health-promoting properties. These plants provide essential macronutrients, minerals, and bioactive compounds that contribute to their dietary and therapeutic significance. Particularly, Cucurbitaceae plants exhibit antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, and anticancer properties, making them valuable in addressing metabolic disorders and alleviating health risks associated with oxidative stress. This review aims to systematize current knowledge on selected cucurbits’ nutritional composition, mineral content, and phytochemical profile. It also examines their caloric value, glycemic index, and glycemic load, offering insight into their potential role in dietary strategies for patients with obesity, insulin resistance, or diabetes. Additionally, this review explores often-overlooked by-products, including seeds, leaves, and flowers, which are rich in bioactive compounds with potential health benefits. By compiling and analyzing existing data, this review highlights the nutritional and functional potential of Cucurbitaceae plants, reinforcing their significance in a health-promoting diet and disease prevention. Full article

The blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) is a red fruit with great potential as a functional food thanks to its composition, which is rich in antioxidants. This work focused on the study of two byproducts of blackberry (skins and seeds) after juice production, with the aim of characterizing them and studying their bioactivity. The phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity of the products, determined by ABTS, as well as their colonic fermentation fractions, were analyzed. In addition, their genotoxicity and effect on the intestinal microbiota were evaluated after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion and fermentation. Blackberry byproducts, namely skin and seeds, are rich in phenolic compounds, especially the skin, which is rich in anthocyanins and presents an antioxidant capacity that makes it potentially usable as a functional ingredient. All the fermented samples present in vitro genoprotective activity and a modulation effect on the intestinal microbiota, promoting the growth of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus and reducing the abundance of the Clostridia XIVa cluster and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. A similar effect was observed for the skin and seeds. The results provide insights into the digestive properties and health benefits of blackberry byproducts after consumption. Full article

This study aimed to investigate: (1) the bioactive profile of seeds, husks, and leaves of selected conilon coffee genotypes (n = 42) from three consecutive crops for the selection of plants to meet health interests, (2) the variability in the content of these bioactive compounds over the crops, and (3) possible correlations among the contents of the evaluated compounds in the different parts of the plant. Selected conilon plants were reproduced by clonal propagation. Bioactive compounds were analyzed using HPLC-DAD. Eight chlorogenic acids (CGA), caffeine, trigonelline, and minor phenolic compounds were quantified (dry basis) in all extracts. CGA contents in seeds, husks, and leaves ranged between 3.71 and 9.71 g/100 g, 0.43 and 1.65 g/100 g, and 0.80 and 2.22 g/100 g, respectively. Caffeine contents ranged between 1.21 and 2.63 g/100 g, 0.13 and 0.84 g/100 g, and 0.33 and 2.01 g/100 g in seeds, husks, and leaves, respectively. Trigonelline contents ranged between 0.83 and 1.12 g/100 g, 0.59 and 1.24 g/100 g, and 0.74 and 1.84 g/100 g, respectively. Variation among the three crops was observed to be higher for CGA. A discrete correlation between CGA and caffeine was observed in the seeds (r: 0.72, p = 0.003). Some of the genotypes showed consistently higher contents of these bioactive compounds than others (not only in the seeds but also in the husks and leaves), being good candidates for cultivar registration to meet various market demands in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Studies that evaluate the potential use of new genotypes and byproducts are important for diversification and maximum use of coffee plants, promoting sustainability and financial return to the farmers and the producing country. Full article

We, a group of native scholars based in the Himalayan region, co-author this article to propose an environmental humanities South—concurrently as an Asia-specific interdisciplinary field and a planetary human–nature epistemology of the Global South inextricably entwined with that of the Global North. Framed in the broader field of planetary health, this article begins with a perspectival shift by reconceptualizing the Global South and the Global North as the Planetary South and the Planetary North for the purpose of laying the epistemological groundwork for two interconnected arguments and subsequent discussions. First, the Planetary South is not merely epistemological, but is at once geographically epistemological and epistemologically geographical. Our debates with the currently dominant epistemologies of the South open up a decolonial conversation with what we call the Australian School of the environmental humanities, the initial seed bank of our interdisciplinary environmental work in Asia’s Planetary South. These multilayered epistemological debates and conversations lead to the second argument that the South and the North relate to one another simultaneously in symbiotic and paradoxical terms. Through these two arguments, the article addresses the conundrum of what we call the “postcolonial continuation of the colonial environmentality” and attempts to interweave the meaningful return of the eroding Himalayan native knowledges of nature with modern scientific findings in a way that appreciates the livingness of the earth and is inclusive of nonwestern environmental worldviews. Full article

Hemp is a multiuse crop used for fiber, food, and medicinal purposes. The seed of hemp has attracted great attention as a good plant protein resource with remarkable nutritional and biological properties. However, the application of hemp seed protein (HSP) is limited due to its unsatisfactory functional properties. Physical, chemical, and biological technologies have been explored to modify the structure of HSP and improve its functionality. The investigation of the biological activity of HSP and its derived peptide to deal with intestinal, metabolic, and muscle concerns has broadened its utilization in healthy products. Therefore, the current review is performed to summarize the recent research progress on the novel extraction and modification of HSP, as well as the purification and identification of active peptide. The multi-functional multi-bioactive properties and adverse effects of HSP and peptide are also depicted to facilitate their potential applications in the food industry. Full article

Research in metagenomics and metaproteomics can reveal how microbiological interactions in fermented foods contribute to their health benefits. This study examined three types of fermented vegetables: a standard formulation, a probiotic formulation with Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG, and a polyphenol formulation with vitexin from Mung bean seed coat. Measurements were taken at day 0 (after 36 h of fermentation at room temperature) and after 15 days. We applied 16S rRNA sequencing to evaluate microbial diversity and utilized LC-MS/MS to investigate the proteomic profiles of specific genera (Lactobacillus and Weissella) and species (Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus and Levilactobacillus brevis) of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). All of these taxa demonstrated significant relative abundance between 0 and 15 days of fermentation in our metagenomic analysis. Our findings from principal component analysis and clustering analysis categorically distinguished protein expression patterns at various stages of fermentation. By comparing samples from day 0 to day 15, we identified proteins associated with DNA replication and repair mechanisms, including transcription elongation factor GreA, tRNA pseudouridine synthase B, and helicases. We also observed their roles in protein synthesis, which encompasses oxidoreductases and aspartokinase. Furthermore, we identified strong correlations of specific proteins across the three formulations with antioxidant markers. In conclusion, the results of this study decisively enhance our understanding of the role of the proteins related to specific LAB in fermented foods, highlighting their potential to improve texture, flavor, nutritional quality, and health benefits. Full article

Amazonian oils and fats (AOFs) have promising composition and bioactive properties, and their processing with supercritical fluids presents several opportunities and challenges for the industry. Our review is dedicated to unraveling the advances in the application of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) to produce these exceptional oils and fats from Amazonian raw materials, such as fruits, pulps, seeds, and industrial by-products. Our review found that Amazonian plant species produce lipid-rich raw materials and also grow naturally in other regions with similar climates. AOFs present high nutritional value and functional properties due to their content of bioactive compounds. The properties of AOFs are attributed to their major and minor components; lipid molecules represent the major fraction and some fat-soluble compounds, such as tocopherols, phytosterols, terpenes and others, constitute the minor fraction. The production of AOFs by SFE requires properly prepared raw materials and process optimization. Several scientific articles report on the production of AOFs by SFE, but application studies in product development are still scarce. The composition and technological properties of AOFs show a wide spectrum of opportunities for the development of nutritional and functional products. Aspects such as the scaling up of the SFE process, agroforestry or agronomic production, and product development require further studies to promote the AOFs industry in a way that contributes to sustainable development, food security, and the quality of life and health of the Amazonian populations. Full article

Cropping sequence can have a major impact on diseases, pests, nutrient cycling, crop yield, and overall financial return at the farm level for crops that are grown on an annual basis. In some cases, implementing an effective rotation sequence can allow growers to avoid using nematicides to suppress plant-parasitic nematodes. Two cropping system trials were established with ten rotations each in 1997 and have been maintained through 2022. From 2013 through 2019, rotation sequences were both favorable and unfavorable for peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) plant health. Peanut (2020), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) (2021), peanut (2022), and corn (Zea mays L.) (2023) were planted in all plots to determine the residual effects of the previous cropping sequence. In 2020, 2021, and 2022, fluopyram at 0.25 kg ai/ha was applied in the seed furrow at planting in the same area of each plot to determine if the response of nematode populations and crop yield to this nematicide differed based on previous crop sequence. Differences in nematode populations in soil and yield of peanut (2020 and 2022) and cotton (2021) were observed when comparing crop rotation sequences regardless of fluopyram treatment. Increasing the number of years peanut was in the rotation or including soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rather than corn or cotton often resulted in higher populations of nematodes and a lower peanut yield. While fluopyram occasionally reduced nematode populations in soil and root injury from nematode feeding, the yield of peanut did not differ when comparing non-treated and fluopyram-treated peanut. When pooled over crop rotation sequence, peanut yield at Lewiston–Woodville was 5970 kg/ha vs. 6140 kg/ha for these respective treatments. At this location in 2021 and at Rocky Mount in 2019 and 2020, peanut yield for this comparison was 4710 vs. 4550, 5790 kg/ha vs. 6010 kg/ha, and 6060 kg/ha vs. 6120 kg/ha, respectively. These data indicate that previous crop sequences can influence crop yield more than the continuous use of fluopyram. Therefore, fluopyram is not recommended for application in the seed furrow at planting to suppress nematodes in cotton or peanut in North Carolina. Full article

Debaryomyces hansenii naturally colonize wheat grain and can potentially inhibit the pathogens responsible for Fusarium crown rot (FCR). Seed dressing is a recommended method for protecting crops against FCR pathogens. The effectiveness of seed dressing with antagonistic yeasts in reducing the incidence of FCR remains insufficiently investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of seed dressing with a triazole fungicide and a suspension of D. hansenii cells on the health status and development of durum wheat cultivars (Durasol and Floradur), and to analyze the structure of the mycobiome in the rhizosphere of seedlings. Under field conditions, the incidence of FCR was reduced by 57.1% by triticonazole and 35.7% by the biocontrol agent relative to the control treatment. Seed dressing with D. hansenii decreased the number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of Fusarium pathogens by 47.24% in cv. Durasol and 87.4% in cv. Floradur. The number of OTUs of autochthonous yeast species and Mortierellomycota increased in the rhizosphere of both durum wheat cultivars. The effectiveness of seed dressing with yeasts is determined by the quality and local adaptation of biocontrol agents. Full article

Biofilm-associated amyloid proteins have emerged as significant contributors to the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, representing a complex intersection of microorganisms and human health. The cross-beta sheet structure characteristic of amyloids produced by gut-colonizing bacteria remains intact, crucial for the resilience of biofilms. These amyloids exacerbate neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s by cross-seeding human amyloidogenic proteins like amyloid-beta and α-synuclein, accelerating their misfolding and aggregation. Despite molecular chaperones and heat shock proteins maintaining protein homeostasis, bacterial amyloids can overwhelm them, worsening neuronal damage. Genetic variations in chaperone genes further influence amyloidogenesis and neurodegeneration. Persistent bacterial infections and inflammation compromise the blood-brain barrier, allowing inflammatory molecules and amyloids to enter the brain, perpetuating the cycle of neurodegeneration. The gut-brain axis underscores the impact of dysbiosis and gut microbiota on brain function, potentially contributing to neurodegeneration. The enhancement of biofilm resilience and antibiotic resistance by functional amyloid fibrils complicates the treatment landscape. The interplay among chaperone systems, microbial amyloids, and neurodegenerative diseases underscores the urgent need for advanced treatment strategies targeting these pathways to attenuate disease progression. Understanding the processes that relate biofilm-associated amyloids to the onset of neurological disorders is critical for diagnosing and developing novel treatment strategies. Full article

The presence of heavy metals in groundwater and wastewater has been a concern for health organizations. This study investigated the effectiveness of activated carbon derived from various natural precursors, including acorns from red oak trees (Quercus rubra), date seeds, and peach seeds, employing the thermal activation method for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions. Batch adsorption tests investigated the effects of sorbent quantity, pH levels, disinfectant presence, and dissolved organic matter (DOM) on the removal efficiency of Pb and Cu. Characterization of the prepared activated carbon was conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Lead removal efficiency diminished at pH 7 relative to pH 3 and 5, but copper exhibited superior removal efficiencies at pH 7 compared to pH 5. The addition of monochloramine at 4 parts per million (ppm) effectively eliminated lead from the solution. A rise in free chlorine concentration from 2 to 4 mg/L led to a reduction in metal removal from water by 20 to 60%. DOM at concentrations of 1 and 6 mg/L reduced metal removal efficacy relative to DOM at 3 mg/L. Date seed-activated carbons underscore their distinctive potential, offering useful insights for the enhancement of water and wastewater treatment systems. Full article

Xanthoceras sorbifolium Bunge is an oil-bearing shrub native to China, whose seeds are rich in oil and can be used for extracting edible oil. The primary extraction methods for Xanthoceras sorbifolium Bunge oil (XSBO) include pressing, solvent extraction (SE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), aqueous enzymatic extraction (AEE), micro-wave-assisted extraction (MAE), and supercritical carbon dioxide extraction (SFE-CO₂). This review not only compares the advantages and disadvantages of these oil extraction techniques regarding extraction principles, oil yield efficiency, and cost-effectiveness but also reviews the existing purification processes for the active components in oil. XSBO exhibits various health benefits, including antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties. In particular, it contains a special component called nervonic acid, which rarely exists in other plant oils, and has garnered significant attention for its potential in alleviating the impact of neurological diseases. XSBO has been widely applied in food, pharmaceuticals, and health supplements. However, the underlying mechanisms of its bioactive functions have not been fully elucidated, and there is limited research on encapsulation techniques, which restricts its application in food and pharmaceutical health products. Further studies in this domain can focus on purification processes, identifying the precise mechanism of action, to achieve efficient development and utilization of XSBO. Full article