Search Results (714)

Potato sensory quality is a key determinant of consumer acceptance and processing suitability; however, it remains insufficiently explored in Bulgarian potato breeding programs. This study aimed to characterize the sensory profiles of advanced Bulgarian mutant potato lines developed through induced mutagenesis, in comparison with their parental genotypes and untreated controls, after steaming and oven-frying. A trained descriptive sensory panel evaluated attributes related to appearance, aroma, flavor, texture, taste, and aftertaste, and the resulting data were explored using principal component analysis (PCA). Steamed samples were mainly associated with potato identity, earthy and raw potato peel aromatics, and potato-like flavor, whereas oven-fried samples were more strongly associated with overall sweet impression, buttery, earthy, and potato flavors, together with nutty aftertaste. Texture-related attributes were expressed in both culinary preparations, while undesirable bitter, sour, and astringent aftertastes occurred less frequently and were mainly linked to specific genotypes rather than to the overall sensory profile. Exploratory PCA supported the visualization of genotype-related sensory tendencies across both datasets. Several mutant lines showed favorable sensory profiles aligned with desirable parental characteristics, whereas others were more often associated with less favorable attributes, including increased bitter and astringent aftertastes. Overall, steaming emphasized inherent potato like, earthy, and raw-related notes, whereas oven-frying enhanced color development, sweet–buttery flavor impressions, and richer texture expression. Full article

Bedellia somnulentella (Lepidoptera: Bedelliidae) is an invasive, leaf-mining, and defoliating pest of sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas L.) that has recently established in Brazil. Its colonization and infestation levels in cultivated fields are influenced by the availability of wild Ipomoea species that sustain populations during off-season periods. The objective was to evaluate the biology and life history of B. somnulentella feeding on wild plants of the genus Ipomoea and on I. batatas cv. Beauregard. Vegetative and reproductive parts of Ipomoea plants were collected and cultivated, and the biology and life history of B. somnulentella were studied using twenty adult pairs of the insect per host plant in a climate-controlled room. The wild species Ipomoea hederifolia L., Ipomoea indica (Burm.f.) Merr., Ipomoea purpurea L., and cultivated I. batatas were used for the assays. The experiment followed a completely randomized design with ten replicates. Hatching, larval stages, prepupa, pupa, and adult phases were observed and recorded daily. Variations in the coloration of B. somnulentella larvae feeding on leaves of I. hederifolia, I. indica, and I. purpurea were observed. The survival and development of B. somnulentella were higher on I. batatas and I. hederifolia than on I. indica and I. purpurea, mainly during the larval and adult stages. The results provide information on infestation in alternative wild hosts and on biological aspects of B. somnulentella. Full article

Efficient crop health monitoring is crucial for global food security. Supervised deep learning approaches are often impractical due to the scarcity of large, labeled datasets. To address this limitation, this study adapts EfficientAD, an unsupervised, label-free anomaly detection framework originally designed for industrial inspection, for agricultural imagery on small datasets. The method utilizes a Patch Description Network (PDN) for localized feature extraction, a student network for local anomalies, and an autoencoder for global structural constraints. Benchmarked against AnoGAN, Pix2Pix, InTra, and Teacher–Student models, the framework demonstrated superior performance on the MVTec AD, PlantVillage, Coffee Leaf, and a custom real-world Sweet Potato dataset. The model achieved perfect area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) scores of up to 100% in categories like “Pongamia”, “Potato”, and “Coffee Leaf”. While image-level classification was exceptionally robust, pixel-level localization (AUPRO) proved sensitive to complex agricultural backgrounds. To overcome this, a background interference analysis was conducted using Background Removed (BGRM) and out-of-distribution Background Replaced-Green (BGRP-G) strategies on the custom dataset. Notably, the BGRP-G strategy remarkably improved the image-level AUROC from 88.9% to 99.5% and substantially boosted the pixel-level AUPRO from 47.1% to 61.9%, successfully preserving the boundary integrity of severe structural defects. Achieving millisecond-level latency without complex data augmentation, this adapted label-free framework offers a versatile, highly efficient solution for real-time crop health diagnostics on resource-constrained Edge AI devices. Full article

Nitrogen and potassium are the two most essential elements for the growth of sweet potatoes. A balanced nitrogen and potassium supply is crucial for producing high-quality, high-yield sweet potatoes. This study aimed to establish an optimal nitrogen-to-potassium ratio model for diagnosing the nitrogen-to-potassium balance in sweet potato, and to achieve quantitative management of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers in sweet potato cultivation. The experimental design comprised four potassium levels (K0: 0, K1: 100, K2: 200, K3: 300 kg/ha) and four nitrogen levels (N0: 0, N1: 60, N2: 120, N3: 180 kg/ha). Biomass and nitrogen and potassium content were determined in different sweet potato organs. Bayesian modeling was employed to construct the critical plant nitrogen concentration models under varying potassium levels and the critical plant potassium concentration models under varying nitrogen levels. The results established critical nutrient concentration models for sweet potato: N_c = 3.31 DW^−0.46 and K_c = 3.39 DW^−0.47 for nitrogen and potassium, respectively. Furthermore, the critical N/K ratio was modeled as N_c/K_c = 0.976 DW^0.01. Using independent experimental data from 2020, the nitrogen–potassium nutritional balance in plants was diagnosed based on the ratio of the measured N/K ratio to the critical N/K ratio. The results demonstrated that the model exhibited satisfactory predictive performance. Accordingly, the model enables quantitative diagnosis of the in-plant N/K ratio, offering a valuable tool for assessing nutrient balance in sweet potato and providing a theoretical foundation for precise nitrogen and potassium fertilization. Full article

To address the challenge of depleting traditional feed resources, this study aimed to biovalorize sweet potato waste (SPW), a major byproduct of the Japanese shochu industry, into a high-value functional animal feed. An innovative two-stage solid-state fermentation (SSF) was employed, featuring an initial aerobic stage with Aspergillus oryzae for substrate degradation, followed by an anaerobic stage with Lactobacillus plantarum for nutritional enhancement. To optimize this complex, multi-variable process, the predictive performance of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Random Forest (RF) machine learning models was compared based on an augmented experimental dataset (N = 80). To ensure statistical robustness and prevent data leakage, a repeated k-fold cross-validation strategy was implemented. The RF model demonstrated significantly superior accuracy and reliability than the ANN model, particularly in predicting the primary metric, crude protein (R² = 0.61 ± 0.04 vs. R² = 0.12 ± 0.15). Subsequently, the validated RF model was integrated with a Constrained Differential Evolution (CDE) algorithm for global parameter optimization. The optimized process was predicted to yield a final product with a crude protein content of 25.0%, alongside significant increases of 114.1% in total amino acids and 123.9% in essential amino acids. These projections were experimentally validated in vitro, confirming the model’s accuracy with a relative error of less than 5%. Furthermore, comprehensive biochemical assays demonstrated a massive degradation of anti-nutritional factors and significant enhancements in total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. This study provides a scientifically validated, data-driven framework for the valorization of SPW. It confirms the superior efficacy of ensemble learning methods for optimizing complex bioprocesses with limited data, offering a contribution to the development of a circular bioeconomy and sustainable feed resources. Full article

DREB (Dehydration-Responsive Element-Binding Protein) transcription factors are a subfamily of the AP2/ERF transcription factor family and play a crucial role in the regulation of plant responses to abiotic stress. In this study, we successfully cloned the IbDREB1d gene from the leafy sweet potato cultivar Fucaishu18. The open reading frame (ORF) of the IbDREB1d gene comprises 792 base pairs and encodes a protein consisting of 263 amino acids. Protein sequence analysis indicates that IbDREB1d is characterized by acidic, hydrophilic, and unstable properties, with its closest phylogenetic relationships to Ipomoea trifida and Ipomoea triloba. Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis revealed that IbDREB1d is expressed in the roots, stems, and leaves of sweet potato, with increased expression under low temperature, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and drought conditions. Overexpression of IbDREB1d in sweet potato resulted in transgenic plants exhibiting dwarfism, shortened internode lengths, smaller leaf size, and microscopic evidence of impaired vascular tissue development. Hormonal analysis indicated significant reductions in the levels of indole-3-acetic acid, indole-3-butyric acid, salicylic acid, and zeatin in these transgenic plants. These decreases may explain the observed phenotypic changes, such as inhibited growth and reduced leaf size. This study provides novel theoretical insights into the role of IbDREB1d in stress-responsive expression and modulating plant growth in sweet potato. Full article

Pectate lyase (PeL) is a key cell wall-degrading enzyme in the infection process of plant-parasitic nematodes, with a large gene family exhibiting functional redundancy. The dominant PeL isoform during the initial infection time course remains unclear. In this study, 21 Ddpel genes were identified in Ditylenchus destructor Thorne, 1945, 7 of which were differentially expressed during the initial infection time course of this nematode. The purified proteins of these seven DdPeLs showed pathogenicity toward both sweet potato and tobacco, and their optimal enzymatic pH varied significantly. Prior to host infection, D. destructor preferentially expresses Ddpel genes encoding pectate lyase with higher activity at pH 5.8. However, within 5 days post-inoculation with nematodes, the expression of genes encoding acidic DdPeL enzymes (enzymes with optimal activity in acidic pH) was upregulated, while genes encoding alkaline DdPeL enzymes (optimal activity in alkaline pH) were concurrently downregulated. Through site-directed mutagenesis, we demonstrated that the loss of enzymatic activity in DdPeLs abolished their ability to induce plant cell death. Furthermore, when acidic or alkaline DdPeLs were pre-treated with dialysis in their respective optimal pH buffers prior to infiltration, their pathogenicity was significantly enhanced. Together, these findings demonstrate that enzymatic activity, governed by protein structure and local pH, is a key determinant of pathogenicity. Previous studies have reported that phytopathogens can secrete organic acids during the initial infection phase, leading to localized acidification of the host microenvironment. We therefore hypothesize that, during the initial infection time course, nematodes may actively acidify the host microenvironment to specifically enhance the enzymatic activity of acidic DdPeLs, thereby promoting cell wall degradation and facilitating infection establishment. Full article

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) is an important food and energy crop. Soil salinization is a major abiotic stress that limits agricultural productivity and severely reduces yield of crops. Protein hydrolysates, as a class of natural biostimulants, have gained increasing attention for their potential to improve crop yield, quality and stress tolerance. This study investigated the effects of peptides from swine blood (PSB) on high salinity stress tolerance in sweet potato. Application of PSB promoted the growth of both aerial and underground parts of sweet potato under normal and high-salinity conditions. Further analysis revealed that, under high salinity stress, exogenous PSB up-regulated the expression of genes associated with stress responses, increased the accumulation of organic osmotic adjustment compounds such as free amino acids, promoted K⁺ uptake to elevate the K⁺/Na⁺ ratio, and enhanced the activity of key antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) involved in the reactive oxygen species-scavenging system. These biochemical responses contributed to maintaining cellular osmotic balance and redox homeostasis, protecting the cell membrane from damage while preserving its structural integrity and normal physiological functions, and improving photosynthetic efficiency, thereby enhancing high salinity stress tolerance in sweet potato. Thus, PSB holds significant potential as an effective natural biostimulant for sweet potato cultivation in saline soils. Full article

Insect sex pheromone receptors (PRs) are crucial for regulating mating and reproduction. In the insect olfactory perception pathway, the pheromone-binding protein (PBP) facilitates the efficient translocation of sex pheromones, enabling them to bind to PRs. PRs convert chemical signals into electrical signals, which are transmitted to the insect central nervous system to ultimately regulate reproductive behaviors. Thus, conducting functional analysis of PRs not only clarifies the molecular mechanism underlying insect mating via sex pheromone recognition and reveals the intrinsic regulatory link between sex pheromone detection and mating behavior but also provides theoretical support for the scientific understanding of the insect olfactory system. Additionally, this research lays a core theoretical foundation for the development of green pest control technologies in agriculture and forestry. This paper systematically reviews the research methods, technical principles, and advantages and disadvantages of techniques used to study insect PR genes. It summarizes representative identified PRs and their corresponding research strategies, aiming to provide a reference for future investigations into insect chemical communication and for the advancement of pest control practices. Full article

Vegetable sweet potato shoot tips are harvested repeatedly for fresh markets, but harvest timing and cut length are still determined largely by experience, limiting their translation into mechanized design parameters and control thresholds. We conducted a two-factor shear-mechanics experiment using three cultivars (‘Fu 23’, ‘Fu 18’, and ‘HD-V4’) and five shoot-tip length levels (10–30 cm), while also measuring stem diameter and moisture content. Because shear tests were performed on short stem segments sampled from a fixed internodal position relative to the apex, the length factor is interpreted mainly as a field-operable harvest criterion and only secondarily as a variable partly associated with tissue position. Moisture content was uniformly high and did not differ among cultivars (p > 0.05). In a pooled two-way ANOVA, length significantly affected maximum shear force (p < 0.01), cultivar was also significant (p < 0.05), and the interaction was not significant (p > 0.05). After including stem diameter as a covariate, both diameter and length remained significant, whereas cultivar became non-significant, indicating that stem diameter explains much of the apparent cultivar difference in absolute load. The reported stress is nominal shear stress. Laboratory-based 95th percentile design loads with γ = 1.3 provide conservative engineering thresholds for preliminary design and harvest-window back-calculation. Full article

Canna (Canna edulis Ker.) starch is an important non-conventional starch in global applications. In this study, the structural and physicochemical properties of canna starches extracted from four different geographical regions in China were investigated. The four starches (CES-DH, CES-MS, CES-YB, and CES-YX) exhibited relatively high total starch contents (82.51–93.22%). Apparent and true amylose contents varied markedly among samples, ranging from 31.44% to 43.62% and from 15.21% to 35.90%, respectively. Morphologically, the granules were oval and disc-shaped, with D₅₀ values of 20.19–48.35 μm. CES-YX showed a distinct C-type pattern, while other starches exhibited B-type crystallinity, and relatively crystallinity values among samples were between 20.53% and 25.36%. IR absorbance ratios R_1047/1022 and R_995/1022 varied from 0.56 to 0.63 and from 1.15 to 1.26, respectively. Gelatinization temperatures and enthalpy revealed distinct thermal behaviors among the starches, corresponding to substantial differences in pasting properties with wide ranges in peak, breakdown, and setback viscosities. All starch pastes exhibited shear-thinning behaviors and weak gel characteristics. Notably, CES-YB demonstrated high potential as an effective food thickener and stabilizer, as distinguished by the high final viscosity and consistency coefficient (K), whereas the high amylose and resistant starch content in CES-YX made it a promising ingredient for low-glycemic-index food formulations. These findings provided a theoretical basis and practical guidance for the targeted utilization of canna starch in the food industry. Full article

Waste sweet potato vine fiber (WSVF) effectively extends asphalt service life by enhancing cracking resistance in gel-like base asphalt matrices, yet its crack-resistant mechanism lacks mechanical characterization. This study proposes an analytical method for evaluating WSVF-modified asphalt’s crack-resistant behavior based on the principle of mechanical energy balance. First, alkali-treated WSVF with a mass fraction of 1% was added into 70# gel-like base asphalt to prepare WSVF-modified asphalt. Lignin fiber (LF)-modified asphalt and 70# gel-like base asphalt were selected as control groups, and three types of time sweep and scanning electron microscopy tests were conducted. Then, the three-dimensional cracking volume model and damage kinetics model were established for analyzing the cracking response behavior, defining the asphalt damage variable and determining the cracking damage activation energy (E_acd). Finally, the E_acd was used to quantify the difficulty of the cracking damage process for the WSVF-modified asphalt. The reinforcement and cracking resistance mechanisms of WSVF in asphalt were analyzed by the E_acd and asphalt microstructure. The results show that the cracking volume response of WSVF-modified asphalt under cyclic loading presents three-stage nonlinear behaviors. The established fatigue damage kinetics model can accurately describe the fatigue damage evolution process of alkali-treated WSVF-modified asphalt. The E_acd values of WSVF-modified asphalt, LF-modified asphalt, and 70# gel-like base asphalt are 10.60 kJ·mol⁻¹, 21.83 kJ·mol⁻¹, and 29.74 kJ·mol⁻¹, respectively. After alkali treatment, the WSVF surface exhibits grooves, demonstrating superior adsorption and storage capacity for asphalt. The WSVF can cross link through the bonding effect of asphalt and form a three-dimensional network framework structure, which can significantly increase the E_acd and provide strengthening and toughening effects on gel-like base asphalt. In summary, E_acd values are used as a mechanical indicator to quantitatively evaluate the fatigue cracking resistance of WSVF-modified asphalt. Full article

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) has become a relevant crop in global research due to its remarkable resilience to abiotic stress, richness in bioactive compounds, nutritional relevance, and growing importance within sustainability and circular economy frameworks. This study conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of scientific production indexed in Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed, mapping how research links the crop’s biochemical properties with sustainability-oriented innovation. Literature on bioactive compounds, food waste management, circular economy strategies, and by-product valorization was examined through keyword co-occurrence, authorship networks, citation patterns, and thematic clustering. Results reveal a rapidly expanding research landscape over the past decade, with strong connections between phytochemical composition, health benefits, sustainable cultivation, and industrial applications. Biology, Chemistry, and Food Science emerged as the most interconnected areas. Collaboration networks remain fragmented, and high-income countries achieve disproportionate citation impact, underscoring structural inequalities. Theoretically, this study contributes to understanding how sweet potato research consolidates as a multidisciplinary field aligned with global sustainability goals. Practically, it highlights opportunities to strengthen equitable international collaboration, advance circular economy approaches, and integrate biotechnology with environmental sustainability to support more resilient food systems. Full article

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is cultivated globally and generates a large quantity of plant-derived residues, including leaves, stems, and non-commercial cull roots, which remain insufficiently utilized despite their potential functional value. Although the antioxidant properties of sweet potato leaves have been reported, comparative investigations of different plant parts evaluated under the same experimental conditions, particularly in relation to skin-associated biological functions, are still limited. In this study, aqueous extracts prepared from sweet potato leaves, stems, and cull roots were obtained using a food-grade extraction process suitable for practical application. The phenolic composition and biological properties of the extracts were comparatively analyzed. Antioxidant capacity was examined using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), as well as assays associated with superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like and catalase-related activities. Skin-related biological responses were further evaluated by measuring elastase and collagenase inhibition, type I procollagen synthesis, and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) secretion in CCD-986Sk human dermal fibroblasts. Among the tested samples, the leaf-derived aqueous extract exhibited a higher total phenolic content, greater accumulation of chlorogenic acid, and stronger antioxidant responses compared with stem and cull root extracts. In addition, the leaf extract showed more pronounced effects on collagen metabolism, including enhanced procollagen synthesis and reduced MMP-1 secretion, while maintaining acceptable cell viability within the tested concentration range. Overall, these results demonstrate clear tissue-dependent functional differences among sweet potato residues and indicate that leaf-derived extracts represent a promising functional material for skin-related and cosmetic applications. Full article

Cylas formicarius is a significant quarantine pest worldwide, causing year-round outbreaks in tropical and subtropical regions. This pest is characterized by a highly cryptic nature, a high reproduction rate, and broad environmental adaptability, which makes it difficult to control. Frequent use of pesticides is not cost-effective, as it brings the accompanying effects of pesticide residues and environmental pollution. With the rapid development of green agriculture, biological control has become an important component in an integrated green management system for C. formicarius. Therefore, this paper critically reviews the research progress in insect pathogenic microorganisms, plant-based pesticides, natural enemy insects, insect sex pheromones, transgenic technology, as well as the screening, identification, and breeding of insect-resistant varieties. The aim is to provide theoretical references for the research and application of sustainable management of C. formicarius. Full article