Vegetable production is an important economic activity and a major source of vitamins, minerals, and income in Ethiopia. However, the production of vegetables is much less developed than the production of food grains in the country. Vegetable production still needs improvement in combating biotic and abiotic threats with innovative technologies. Nowadays, excess use of chemical fertilizers to satisfy

The influence of β-glucan on the human gut microbiota is closely related to the physicochemical structure of β-glucan. We purified a homogeneous water-soluble polysaccharide from Tibetan hull-less barley 25 and studied its structure and the in vitro fermentation profile. Analysis by gas chromatography (GC), Fourier-transformed infrared (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), scanning electron microscopy

Soybean is a major economic crop worldwide, but its yield and quality are greatly affected by root-knot nematode infection. This study aimed to assess the effects of Meloidogyne javanica parasitism on soybean growth, yield, and quality. Soybean plants were inoculated with 0, 1000, 2000, or 4000 eggs + second-stage juveniles (J2) of M. javanica and evaluated for vegetative and nematode parameters. Grains

In the list of abiotic stresses, salt stress is a main growth retarding factor which affects 7% of rain-fed while 30% worldwide irrigated agriculture. However, various strategies are assumed to manage this problem, but the use of endophytes is cheap and eco-friendly. The goal of this study was to evaluate the behavior of endophytic Aspergillus awamori (EWF) in creating salt tolerance in mung bean in

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Noni (Morinda citrifolia Linn.) is a tropical tree that bears climacteric fruit. Previous observations and research have shown that the second day (2 d) after harvest is the most important demarcation point when the fruit has the same appearance as the freshly picked fruit (0 d); however, they are beginning to become water spot appearance. We performed a conjoint analysis of metabolome and transcriptome

Biochar is widely assumed as an effective soil amendment. It improves soil structure and fertility, thereby enhancing crop growth and development. There is still a knowledge gap in research on the beneficial impact of biochar on root growth and root architecture in perennial woody plants. Therefore, in our 14-week greenhouse study, pinewood-based biochar was applied as soil amendment for muscadine

The jujube is mainly grown in the subtropical and tropical regions of Asia. Due to owning bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, it was considered as medicinal and nutritional plant in traditional medicine. This study aimed to extract phenolic compounds from Ziziphus jujuba using subcritical water (SCW) process. The possible combinations of temperature, time, and fruit-to-solvent ratio were investigated

Mulches are materials applied in a soil surface for different roles and purposes. Plastic mulches with different colour have been developed and utilized in different crop production systems. Using coloured plastic mulches is mainly focused in modifying the radiation budget and decreasing the soil water loss. Besides, it helps to regulate soil temperature, water use efficiency, plant growth, yield,

In this research, the effects of exogenous application of certain biostimulants [amino acid (AA), humic acid (HA), fulvic acid (FA), and seaweed extract (SE)] on the fruit yield and quality, leaf mineral contents, and some critical physio-chemical characteristics of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cv. ‘Yaghouti’ were investigated under well-watered (WW) and drought-stressed (DS) conditions. Drought stress

Rumex abyssinicus (RA) is one of indigenous plants to Ethiopia having traditional values during butter refinement in rural areas. This paper presents a comparative study of the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of RA sample extract to that of Zingiber officinale (ZO) and Curcuma longa (CL). Phytochemical screening tests were, first, done using different confirmatory tests prior to quantitative

The use of biochar-based N fertilizers have been considered among the most effective strategy for reducing nitrogen loss and improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). However, effect and mechanism of biochar-coated urea (BCU) controlling the loss of nitrogen from soil and NUE are rarely reported. In this study, a 65-d culture pot experiment of oilseed rape was used to investigate the impact of BCU on

Plant growth regulators are chemical substances which govern all the factors of development and growth within plants. The application of plant growth regulators to crops modifies hormonal balance and growth leading to increased yield, enhanced crop tolerance against abiotic stress and improved physiological trait of crops. Paclobutrazol (PBZ) [(2RS, 3RS)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)- 4, 4-dimethyl-2-(1H-1, 2

To establish bioplastics as a real alternative to conventional plastics, high production costs must be constrained by using different kinds of wastewater streams as organic substrates and novel microbial strains as material-accumulating bacteria with high performance. Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from the effluent of dairy wastewater biodigestion represent a new and inexpensive feedstock, which was

The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica can infect beetroots, causing extensive damage to this food crop. As chemical and genetic control tactics have shown limited efficacy, new strategies are needed to improve the integrated management of this parasite. This study assessed the influence of potential defence elicitors and M. javanica infection on the mineral composition of beetroot. Plants were

Barberry has long been used as an herbal remedy since ancient times which is found throughout temperate and subtropical regions of the world. Given the short harvesting season and limited shelf life of the barberry, we evaluated the possibility of using modified atmosphere packaging and oxygen-scavenger sachets to increase its storage period. For this purpose, the physicochemical characterization (antioxidant

The ketogenic diet (KD) can promote the anti-inflammatory metabolic state and increase ketone body level in rats. This study was to explore the effects and differences of KD with or without medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) on serum inflammatory factors and mTOR pathway in Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats. Male SD rats were assigned to five groups: control diet (C), 20% caloric restriction diet (LC), 20% caloric

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Plants primed by humic acids showed physiological and molecular response against different abiotic stresses without the presence of stressor agents (salinity, drought, heavy metal toxicity). It is plausible that humic acids themselves can act as chemical priming substances in plants. We hypothesized that humic acids can trigger the weak acids stress response in cell plants acidifying the cytosol and

Generally, zinc (Zn) is an essential element and acts as a plant nutrient, but at higher concentrations, it is toxic. Higher uptake and translocation of Zn into plant tissues can cause serious physiological and biochemical alterations. However, salicylic acid (SA) is an endogenous regulator of growth and signaling molecule responsible for inducing environmental stress tolerance in plants. Therefore

Orange (Citrus sinensis L.) production in Tanzania is constrained by several pre-harvest factors that include pests. Hexanal, sprayed as Enhanced Freshness Formulation (EFF) is a relatively new technology that has been reported to reduce pre-harvest loss in fruits. However, the effects of hexanal on pre-harvest yield loss of orange are not known. We studied the effects of hexanal as EFF on yield losses

Royal jelly (RJ) represents the most valuable product of beekeeping activities. The illegal introduction of RJ of uncertain quality/origin in European agrofood markets is not controlled, since the conventional analytical methods cannot unambiguously distinguish foreign from autochthonous RJ products. Here, we applied liquid-state NMR spectroscopy combined with chemometry to characterize the metabolic

Fumes from high-temperature heated plant leaves containing volatile phytochemicals generated from Lantana camara, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Azadirachta indica and Ocimum sanctum were tested for their insecticidal activity against adult southern cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus chinensis L.) and their F1 progeny production/emergence. Volatile phytochemicals containing fume was generated using a flameless

Different approaches have been used to improve mineral nutrient status of plants in absence of chemical fertilization and toward safer products and improved human health. Amino acids have been proposed with such roles in different recent studies. In this study, glycine was applied as foliar (250, 500 and 1000 ppm) or as soil (250 and 500 mg/plant) to cucumber plants compared to unfertilized control

Animal husbandry is one of the agricultural activities that generates economic benefits for agriculture. We detected significant development of these activities in Morocco. Currently, it is stuck between the increase of organic waste polluting the farm environment and the energy needed to ensure the activities. Faced with this challenge, we determined all physical, chemical, and microbiological characteristics

An insight into the molecular composition of ombrotrophic peats of different geographical origin and collected at different depths was achieved by the humeomics method. The humeomic fractionation allowed the separation of molecular components in either organic solvents or water on the basis of their progressive binding strength to the humic matrix. The solubilized matter in fractions was analyzed by

Soil microbiota plays a key role in suppressing soil-borne plant pathogens improving the natural soil suppressiveness. Microbiome disturbance triggers specific perturbation to change and shape the soil microbial communities’ network for increasing suppression against phytopathogens and related diseases. Very important goals have been reached in manipulation of soil microbiota through agronomical practices

Water shortage can limit plant growth, which can be ameliorated by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis through physiological and metabolic regulations. Deciphering which physiological and metabolic processes are central for AM-mediated regulations is essential for applications of mycorrhizal biotechnology in dryland agriculture. In this study, the influence of AM symbiosis on growth performance,

Edible mushroom fruiting bodies and their mycelia have become attractive functional foods. Mushroom mycelia have been investigated for their potential food applications. Here, soybeans were fermented using medical mushroom mycelia from Ganoderma lucidum, Hericium erinaceus, and Hericium ramosum to develop novel functional food materials for human health. Wild mushroom fruiting bodies were collected

Biochar is utilized in modern society for multiple agricultural and environmental purposes in the framework of circular economy. The aims of this study were to review the leading edge of knowledge of studies where biochar was used in the agriculture sector, as an input for growing media, composting and to improve soil physical and chemical properties along with crop yield. Usage of biochar is promising

Essential oils and antimicrobial peptides are two well-known safe and natural products that have been considered as alternatives to antibiotics. In the present study, the antibacterial activity of four plant essential oils and one lactoferrin-derived peptide was investigated. The chemical profile of each essential oil was determined by GC and GC–MS. Antimicrobial activity was shown against seven clinically

Sago palm (Metroxylon sagu) is a versatile crop and has been hailed as the next viable commodity in Sarawak, Malaysia. Sago palm can thrive in the harsh swampy peat, from low flooded areas to uplands and in acidic to neutral soils. Sago palm has been neglected and unfortunately, very little is known about the sago palm proteome. This study aimed to determine the best protein extraction method of Metroxylon

Recently, biochar has been widely used for versatile applications in agriculture and environment sectors as an effective tool to minimise waste and to increase the efficiency of circular economy. In the present work, we review the current knowledge about biochar role in N, P and K cycles. Ammonia volatilisation and N2O emission can be reduced by biochar addition. The content of available P can be improved

Global market of humic substances has been increasing steadily based on the perception of the multifunctional properties as plant biostimulant, microbial vehicle and plant protective agent against environmental stress. Some field assays and many experimental observations have shown that humic matter could relieve the abiotic stress effects. Here, we explored the plant chemical priming effect concept

Application of nanotechnology for crop protection in the form of nanopesticide has attracted significant interest in modern agriculture for the management of devastating polyphagous pests. In the present work, highly stable, ready-to-use water-based nanoformulations of hydrazine-based pesticides were evaluated for their Insect Growth Regulatory potential against the polyphagous insect pest—Spodoptera

The use of biostimulants like humic substances is a promising innovative approach in agriculture to activate and sustain physiological plant processes. The development of specific bioassays is required to study their bioactivity in laboratory conditions. In previous investigations, a soil-less bioassay with cress seedlings (Lepidium sativum L.) was developed for a biostimulant used in the biodynamic

Boron (B) is an essential micronutrient and necessary to plants for their proper growth. The concentration of B in soil and plant is greatly critical for the growth and productivity. Even at the low amount available in soils, B can be extremely toxic to plants especially in semi-arid and arid environments. In the present study, the effects of high B concentrations (2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg) were

The clean and pro-environmental technologies are one of the crucial instruments to produce healthy food without any chemicals. Recycling the agricultural residues by composting them is a clean and pro-environmental technology. Local rich compost as a clean and pro-environmental technology is the factor which strengthens agricultural soils in terms of organic materials and healthier crops production

In the present study, different concentrations of lead (factor A; 0, 15, and 30 mg L −1) and cadmium (factor B; 0 and 5 mg L −1) were applied via irrigation water during 6 months to evaluate their effects on growth of European hackberry (Celtis australis L.) plants. The experiment was arranged in factorial with completely randomized design and four replications under greenhouse conditions. Application

We applied Fourier-Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques in combination with selective humus extractions to investigate in situ the chemical features of organic matter in three soil profiles recently developed from Dutch sand dunes, under well-documented vegetation sequence and containing a relatively simple mineral-organic matter system. Water-soluble and alkaline-soluble extracts were

Ample quantities of ashes generated from domestic biomass energy combustion in Ghanaian kitchens are currently disposed of despite their potential agricultural value. This study aimed to investigate the potential agricultural value of charcoal and firewood ashes in terms of differences in the chemical and mineralogical compositions, and to identify the suitability of aqua regia, H2SO4, vinegar and

A new prototype of bio-conditioner useful in rehabilitation of degraded soils was performed. In order to obtain this aim two stages were established: production of biomass of Microbacterium sp. CSB3 and formulation of this inoculum in a sediment supplemented with low-rank coal (LRC). The effect of agitation and pH on microbial growth was determined. As response variables, the final production of biomass

A modified PAMPA (parallel artificial membrane permeability assay) is proposed for evaluating the passive cuticular membrane permeability of potassium in several foliar nutrient formulations. The modified PAMPA can measure the passive permeability of ionic nutrients under fully hydrated conditions through an artificial membrane designed to more closely resemble a plant cuticle, rather than the traditional

The standard method for grain moisture measurement is the conventional air oven-drying technique. This method requires a longer period of time to determine the moisture content (m.c.). Although electric moisture meters are popular in rice industries, it has to be calibrated frequently with the oven-drying method. Therefore, an alternative but fast and reliable method is required, especially, for the

Black bean is one of the important beans as the second most consumed bean globally after soybean. It has been reported as a sustainable source of anthocyanins, important natural colorants used in food and consumer products. However, industrial uses of black bean anthocyanins in pharmaceutics and cosmetics have rarely been explored. Thus, here, a black bean anthocyanin extract was prepared, quality

The use of organic materials as soil nutrients to improve agricultural production is well documented. However, these organic materials may contain toxic pollutants that may bio-accumulate in plant tissues and eventually be consumed by humans. There is a misconception about the use of organic materials (sludge, urine, human waste and urban waste) in agriculture and organic farming. The review work examined

Impact assessment is an important process that helps the policy makers to understand the consequences of possible and actual government interventions. Assessing the impacts and consequences is considered as applicable means for policy makers and planners of projects, since not only it measures and presents the plans’ developments, but also for determining their impacts on the target group. Therefore

The use of humic substances as plant biostimulants has been increasingly attracting farmers and stunning researchers. The ability of these substances to enhance root growth by changing root architecture is often linked to their hormonal activities, such as auxin effects and nitric oxide production. Humeomics accesses the molecular constituents of humic substances, revealing the importance of alkyl

Contamination of vegetable crops with heavy metals is a great threat to human health. On the other hand, monitoring plant tissue content of heavy metals at different growth stages could have important implications. In this study, shoot and root samples of garden cress and sweet basil were collected from five farms, from heavy metal polluted fields located in Shahre Rey, south of Tehran, Iran, in either

Soil salinity is a real challenge in nowadays crop production in many regions. Various strategies have been applied to increase plant salinity tolerance. Salicylic acid (SA) frequently has been reported to increase plant salinity tolerance; however, the comparative efficiency of soil (root) or foliar application of SA has not been well tested yet. In this study, the effects of root or leaf pretreatment

This study evaluated the antimicrobial potentials of Citrus essential oils (CEOs) against spoilage microorganisms isolated from selected fruits. The fruits were randomly purchased from different markets in Akure, Nigeria. The microorganisms were isolated and identified using molecular tools. In vitro antimicrobial efficacies of CEOs and their synergistic potentials were tested against spoilage microorganisms

Fusarium root rot disease in Indian mulberry (Morinda officinalis How.) (FRRBK), caused by Fusarium proliferatum (FP), is widespread and responsible for serious economic losses in Viet Nam. The efficacy of a new bio-product named MICROTECH-1(NL) is compared with other commercial products for suppression of FP under in vitro, pot, nursery as well as in the field conditions. In in vitro antagonistic

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi provide benefits to plants, especially under stressful growing conditions. These symbiotic fungi can be applied as biofertilizers prior to transplant in order to increase establishment success in the field. Roots are often trimmed at the time of transplant to reduce the probability of J-rooting, the upward orientation of roots within a planting hole which can lead to root

Exploration of composition and chemical characteristics of soil dissolved organic matter (DOM) is significant to understand its biogeochemical role in terrestrial ecosystems. A total of 43 cropped and 16 natural soils (0–20 cm) under four soil types (cinnamon, chernozem, red and paddy soils) across China were collected to investigate the spectral characteristics of DOM using UV–Vis and 3D-EEM spectroscopy

Mosquitoes are vectors for diseases damaging human health and thus, there is an urgent need for insecticidal compounds to control their population. The objective of this study was to determined the efficiency from trans-cinnamic acid isolated from Alpinia galanga (Zingiberales: Zingiberaceae) for control of Aedes aegypti (Dipetera: Culicidae), Anopheles dirus B (Dipetera: Culicidae) and Culex quinquefasciatus

The study area exhibits a first class catena; variation in soils is a result of differences in drainage and lateral movement of materials. The site was delineated into Soil Mapping Units (SMUs) through augering, into soils differing in macro relief. Slope categories included 0 to 5%, 5 to 8%, 8 to 16%, 16 to 30% and > 30%. Profile pits were opened in the five mapping units using stratified random sampling

Detection of anthraquinone in tea samples marketed in Europe is raising a concern due to the possible carcinogenicity of this compound. The European Union has set a very low maximum residue level (MRL) for anthraquinone residue in tea (0.02 mg/kg). The available method analyses for anthraquinone are mostly by gas chromatography (GC) coupled by mass spectrophotometer (MS) which are relatively more expensive

Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) belong to a family of organic thickeners or alternative hydrocolloids of microbial origin. Because the chemical structure offers beneficial bioactive functions, biocompatibility and biodegradability, EPSs are used in the chemical, food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and packaging industries as well as in agriculture and medicine. In this study, new bacterial strains were selected

The negative consequences of industrial agriculture greatly affect human health and the environment. Debating our dietary requirements and challenging the means of food production are necessary. In the first years of transitioning to agroecological production, crop yields normally decrease. Humic acids and beneficial bacteria used as plant growth promoters can be helpful during this stressful time

The 2-phenylphenol is used as an agricultural fungicide. It is generally applied for the post-harvest treatment of fruits and vegetables to protect against microbial damage. It is also used for waxing of citrus fruits and for disinfection of seed boxes. It has been reported that 2-phenyphenol has some toxic effects human beings due to its disposal in the environment. Therefore, preparation of selective