Sort by
Future Food: The Possible Impact of Potato Biofortification on Climate Resilience and Space Food
Saeed Rauf
,Farghama Khalil
,Rodomiro Ortiz
Posted: 21 January 2026
Seasonal and Diurnal Variations in the Yield and Chemical Composition of Lippia grata Schauer Essential Oil
Ana Valéria Vieira de Souza
,João Claudio Vilvert
,Rayssa Camargo de Oliveira
,Yuri Mangueira do Nascimento
,Jackson Roberto Guedes da Silva Almeida
,Flávio José Vieira de Oliveira
,José Magno Queiroz Luz
Posted: 21 January 2026
Functional and Nutritional Quality of Eggplant Cultivars Under Grafted and Fertilization
Saad Masood Abdelnaby Elhawary
,Anamaria Ciubotarita
,Jose Luis Ordóñez-Díaz
,Jose Manuel Moreno-Rojas
,Gabriel-Ciprian Teliban
,Silvana Nicola
,Vasile Stoleru
Posted: 21 January 2026
Weed Biomass Responses to Tillage Systems in a Long-Term Mediterranean Cereal–Legume Experiment
Fernando Oreja
,Eva Hernández Plaza
,Marina Carmona
,Jose L. Gonzalez-Andujar
Posted: 20 January 2026
Climate-Smart Aonla and Custard Apple Agri-Horti Systems for Enhanced Yield and Soil Sustainability Under Rainfed Conditions
M. Joseph
,S. Manoharan
,B. Bhakiyathu Saliha
,G. Guru
,V. Sanjivkumar
,M. Manikandan
,A. Selvarani
,K.B. Sridhar
,K.A. Gopinath
,J.V.N.S. Prasad
+1 authors
Posted: 20 January 2026
Melipona beecheii (Apidae) Propolis Floral Origin from La Gloria Cosautlán de Carvajal, Veracruz, Mexico
María del Rocío Azcárraga Rossete
,Karla Samanta Hernández Méndez
,Betsabé Rodríguez Pérez
,Julieta Grajales Conesa
,Tonatiuh Cruz Sánchez
This study aimed to identify and characterize the Melipona beecheii propolis botanical origin from La Gloria, Cosautlán de Carvajal, Veracruz, Mexico. We compiled a floristic inventory of 75 foraging species, and their pollen and propolis from nests. The pollen was processed by acetolysis, and each species was analyzed by using optical microscopy resulting in diagnostic micrographs. We counted 1500 pollen grains from the processed propolis, where we identified 25 pollen types; Mimosa albida, Miconia xalapensis, Sambucus nigra, Coffea arabica, Struthantus aff. quercicola, Trichilia havanensis, and Pimenta dioica, among others. Based on our results we observed that M. beecheii preferred M. albida for propolis elaboration, even though also used other trees and shrubs with numerous inflorescences, small flowers, and pollen between 9 and 35 µm, which contain phytochemicals with significant biological activity. Finally, it is important to mention that M. beecheii is an excellent pollinator that contributes to the regeneration and conservation of biodiversity; its knowledge and management could be incorporated into meliponicultural practices as an ecosystem service that will help to human population conservation in its origin place.
This study aimed to identify and characterize the Melipona beecheii propolis botanical origin from La Gloria, Cosautlán de Carvajal, Veracruz, Mexico. We compiled a floristic inventory of 75 foraging species, and their pollen and propolis from nests. The pollen was processed by acetolysis, and each species was analyzed by using optical microscopy resulting in diagnostic micrographs. We counted 1500 pollen grains from the processed propolis, where we identified 25 pollen types; Mimosa albida, Miconia xalapensis, Sambucus nigra, Coffea arabica, Struthantus aff. quercicola, Trichilia havanensis, and Pimenta dioica, among others. Based on our results we observed that M. beecheii preferred M. albida for propolis elaboration, even though also used other trees and shrubs with numerous inflorescences, small flowers, and pollen between 9 and 35 µm, which contain phytochemicals with significant biological activity. Finally, it is important to mention that M. beecheii is an excellent pollinator that contributes to the regeneration and conservation of biodiversity; its knowledge and management could be incorporated into meliponicultural practices as an ecosystem service that will help to human population conservation in its origin place.
Posted: 19 January 2026
Severity of Vibration at Operating Station of a Tractor with and Without Seeder Fertilizer Coupling Under Different Operating Conditions
Maria T R Silva
,Fábio L Santos
,Rafaella V Pereira
,Francisco Scinocca
Posted: 19 January 2026
Investigating the Effect of Digestate on Basil Growth, Soil Properties, and Secondary Metabolite Synthesis
Argyrios Kalaitzidis
,Eirini Sarrou
,Dimitrios Katsantonis
,Spyridon Koutroubas
,Panagiotis G. Kougias
,Nicholas E. Korres
Posted: 16 January 2026
The Critical Role of Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) in Agroecosystems: Richness, Abundance, and Structure in Coffee Plantations of Southern Ecuador
Allison Minuche-Rodríguez
,Diego Marín-Armijos
Posted: 15 January 2026
Silicon Application in the Plant–Insect Interaction Between Cowpea Genotypes and the Black Aphid Aphis craccivora (Hemiptera: Aphididae)
João Vitor Soares Morais
,Thayline Rodrigues de Oliveira
,Ana Clara Marcelino de Moura
,Sara dos Santos Nunes
,Daniel Marques Pacheco
,Jenilton Gomes da Cunha
,Alexandre Igor Azevedo Pereira
,Bruno Ettore Pavan
,José Bruno Malaquias
,Luciana Barboza Silva
Posted: 15 January 2026
Developmental and Reproductive Impacts of Arsenophonus Symbiont on the Population of Nilaparvata lugens
Qianqian Li
,Salah M. Mohamed
,Yile Hu
,Yongmao Lian
,Adams Ibrahim
,Sheng Lin
The Brown Planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål.) (Hemiptera: Delphinidae), is one of the most destructive pests of rice. Its reproductive and developmental traits are influenced by various environmental and biological factors including endosymbiotic microorganisms. Arsenophonus, a widespread endosymbiotic bacterium of insects, can affect host fitness and metabolic processes. This study investigates the role of Arsenophonus in modulating the developmental and reproductive traits of N. lugens fed on transgenic cry30Fa1 rice (KF30-14) and its parent variety Minghui 86 (MH86). Life table analysis revealed that Arsenophonus infection (Ars+) increased the development time and reduced the reproductive capacity of N. lugens, especially those feeding on KF30-14. The first-instar nymphs in MH86 Ars+ (infected) exhibited slower development compared to MH86 Ars- (uninfected). Similarly, the third and fourth-instar nymphs in KF30-14 Ars+ exhibited prolonged development time compared to KF30-14 Ars-. In addition, KF30-14 Ars+ females had significantly reduced reproductive capacity, smaller ovarian tubules and lower relative expression levels of reproduction-related genes including Trehalose transporter (Tret), Vitellogenin (Vg) and Cytochrome P450 hydroxylase (cyp314a1), while Juvenile hormone acid methyltransferase (JHAMT) expression was upregulated. RNA sequencing and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed significant enrichment of genes involved in lipid, amino acid, and vitamin metabolisms, with Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase implicated as a key regulator of lipid metabolism and reproductive fitness. These results highlight the complex interactions between endosymbionts, host plants and pest biology, offering a solid foundation for sustainable approaches to control N. lugens in rice production systems.
The Brown Planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål.) (Hemiptera: Delphinidae), is one of the most destructive pests of rice. Its reproductive and developmental traits are influenced by various environmental and biological factors including endosymbiotic microorganisms. Arsenophonus, a widespread endosymbiotic bacterium of insects, can affect host fitness and metabolic processes. This study investigates the role of Arsenophonus in modulating the developmental and reproductive traits of N. lugens fed on transgenic cry30Fa1 rice (KF30-14) and its parent variety Minghui 86 (MH86). Life table analysis revealed that Arsenophonus infection (Ars+) increased the development time and reduced the reproductive capacity of N. lugens, especially those feeding on KF30-14. The first-instar nymphs in MH86 Ars+ (infected) exhibited slower development compared to MH86 Ars- (uninfected). Similarly, the third and fourth-instar nymphs in KF30-14 Ars+ exhibited prolonged development time compared to KF30-14 Ars-. In addition, KF30-14 Ars+ females had significantly reduced reproductive capacity, smaller ovarian tubules and lower relative expression levels of reproduction-related genes including Trehalose transporter (Tret), Vitellogenin (Vg) and Cytochrome P450 hydroxylase (cyp314a1), while Juvenile hormone acid methyltransferase (JHAMT) expression was upregulated. RNA sequencing and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed significant enrichment of genes involved in lipid, amino acid, and vitamin metabolisms, with Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase implicated as a key regulator of lipid metabolism and reproductive fitness. These results highlight the complex interactions between endosymbionts, host plants and pest biology, offering a solid foundation for sustainable approaches to control N. lugens in rice production systems.
Posted: 14 January 2026
Soil Profile Heterogeneity Strongly Affects Yield in a Young Almond Orchard Grown on Unfertilized Mediterranean Soil
Catalina Cabot
,Rafael Bosch
,Antònia Romero-Munar
,Maria Cañellas
,Joan Miquel Durán
,Pilar Roca
,Jaume Vadell
Posted: 13 January 2026
Agroecological Maize–Legume Systems for Improving Soil Fertility, Climate Resilience, and Smallholder Food Security in Sub‐Saharan Africa
Petros Chavula
,Fredrick Kayusi
Posted: 12 January 2026
Comparative Study on B Vitamins in Oilseed Crops Reveal Sesame of Valuable Resource in Vitamin B3, B6 and B12
Yijia Zhang
,Ting Zhou
,Zishu Luo
,Desawi Hdru Teklu
,Lei Wang
,Rong Zhou
,Wei Wang
,Jun You
,Huan Li
,Linhai Wang
B vitamins are essential micronutrients for human health with prominent antioxidant properties, capable of scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and maintaining redox homeostasis, protecting cells from oxidative damage. To address global nutrient deficiencies and identify plant-based antioxidant sources, this study quantified seven B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12) in seeds, leaves, and seedlings of five oilseeds (sesame, peanut, soybean, rapeseed, perilla) and two leafy vegetables (spinach, lettuce) via LC-MS/MS, revealing distinct species- and tissue-specific patterns. Notably, sesame seeds exhibited exceptional vitamin B3 (niacin, 39.3 μg/g), surpassing other oilseeds by 1.6-8.2-fold; its leaves contained outstanding vitamin B6 (2.88 μg/g), with 2.57–8.31-fold higher than spinach (1.12 μg/g) and lettuce (0.34μg/g), whereas, vitamin B12 (0.44 μg/g), with levels of ~13–20 times higher than other leaves samples. Sesame seedlings recorded high vitamin B6 (1.6 μg/g) and B12 (0.1 μg/g) among the oilseed crops seedlings. These findings highlight sesame as a multifunctional B vitamin resource for antioxidant nutrition, supporting dietary optimization, crop biofortification, and mitigation of global B vitamin inadequacies via plant-based solutions.
B vitamins are essential micronutrients for human health with prominent antioxidant properties, capable of scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and maintaining redox homeostasis, protecting cells from oxidative damage. To address global nutrient deficiencies and identify plant-based antioxidant sources, this study quantified seven B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12) in seeds, leaves, and seedlings of five oilseeds (sesame, peanut, soybean, rapeseed, perilla) and two leafy vegetables (spinach, lettuce) via LC-MS/MS, revealing distinct species- and tissue-specific patterns. Notably, sesame seeds exhibited exceptional vitamin B3 (niacin, 39.3 μg/g), surpassing other oilseeds by 1.6-8.2-fold; its leaves contained outstanding vitamin B6 (2.88 μg/g), with 2.57–8.31-fold higher than spinach (1.12 μg/g) and lettuce (0.34μg/g), whereas, vitamin B12 (0.44 μg/g), with levels of ~13–20 times higher than other leaves samples. Sesame seedlings recorded high vitamin B6 (1.6 μg/g) and B12 (0.1 μg/g) among the oilseed crops seedlings. These findings highlight sesame as a multifunctional B vitamin resource for antioxidant nutrition, supporting dietary optimization, crop biofortification, and mitigation of global B vitamin inadequacies via plant-based solutions.
Posted: 08 January 2026
Effect of Reduced Water Potential on Imbibition Curve and The Triphasic Pattern of Seeds in Solanaceae Species
Astryani Rosyad
,Abdul Qadir
,M. Rahmad Suhartanto
,Okti Syah Isyani Permatasari
,Arif Tirtana
,Punung Medaraji Suwarno
This study aimed to analyze the effect of reduced water potential on the imbibition curve and triphasic pattern of seeds in several Solanaceae species. The experiment was conducted at the Seed Physiology and Health Laboratory and the Seed Biology and Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Bogor Agricultural University, from April to September 2025. The study used seeds from three Solanaceae crops—chili (Capsicum annuum L., varieties Simpatik and Sempurna), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L., varieties Niki and Rempai), and eggplant (Solanum melongena L., varieties Tangguh and Provita). The seeds were subjected to various levels of osmotic stress using polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) to simulate water potentials of 0.00, –0.30, –1.90, and –4.10 MPa. Lower water potential in the growing medium reduced the seed’s ability to absorb the water. The triphasic pattern consistently appeared only in chili seeds, whereas in tomatoes and eggplants, it varied across varieties and water potential conditions. The lower water potential made the later the phase I ended, and the longer the phase II lasted. These findings confirm that the standard imbibition pattern cannot be generalized to all seeds, and therefore, the imbibition response is specific to seed type, variety, and germination environment.
This study aimed to analyze the effect of reduced water potential on the imbibition curve and triphasic pattern of seeds in several Solanaceae species. The experiment was conducted at the Seed Physiology and Health Laboratory and the Seed Biology and Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Bogor Agricultural University, from April to September 2025. The study used seeds from three Solanaceae crops—chili (Capsicum annuum L., varieties Simpatik and Sempurna), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L., varieties Niki and Rempai), and eggplant (Solanum melongena L., varieties Tangguh and Provita). The seeds were subjected to various levels of osmotic stress using polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) to simulate water potentials of 0.00, –0.30, –1.90, and –4.10 MPa. Lower water potential in the growing medium reduced the seed’s ability to absorb the water. The triphasic pattern consistently appeared only in chili seeds, whereas in tomatoes and eggplants, it varied across varieties and water potential conditions. The lower water potential made the later the phase I ended, and the longer the phase II lasted. These findings confirm that the standard imbibition pattern cannot be generalized to all seeds, and therefore, the imbibition response is specific to seed type, variety, and germination environment.
Posted: 07 January 2026
Effects of Harvesting Height and Processing Methods on Silage Quality and Cellulose Degradation Characteristics of Cenchrus fungigraminus
Hongyuan He
,Ziting Wang
,Fuke Hako
,Ben Menda Ukii
,Jufen Deng
,Mengying Zhao
,Zhanxi Lin
,Peishan He
,Jing Li
,Simeng Song
+2 authors
Posted: 07 January 2026
Untangling Genotype × Environment Interaction for Yield Superiority, Stability, and Grain Quality in Newly Developed Wheat Lines
Levitikos Dembure
,Peter Amoah
,Abdoul-Razak Oumarou Mahamane
,Moise Hubert Byiringiro
,Theophilus Adu-Gyamfi
,Nezif Abajebal Abadura
,Fadhila Ahmed Urassa
,Bernard Ojuederie Omena
,Jairos Masawi
,Peter Mavindidze
+1 authors
Posted: 07 January 2026
Genetic Mapping Identifies Stable QTL and Candidate Genes Regulating Internode Proportion for Maize Plant Architecture Improvement
Xueying Li
,Hao Zhang
,Keying Wan
,Xiaoqian Qiu
,Qiankun Xie
,Geming Guo
,Yuehua Zhao
,Zhibo Ding
,Xiaoyang Chen
,Hongyu Chen
+4 authors
Posted: 07 January 2026
Genome‐Wide Identification and Functional Analysis of WRKY Transcription Factors in Tetraploid Camellia oleifera Highlights a Key Regulator of Anthracnose Resistance
Jihua Cheng
,Kefang Ou
,Yangwen Du
,Yingchun Jiang
,Dezhi Jiang
,Yawen Xu
,Junhua Peng
,Junyong Cheng
Posted: 06 January 2026
Transcriptomic Analysis of Soybean Defense Mechanism Against Aphid and Nematode Co-Infestation
Surendra Neupane
,Adam Varenhorst
,Madhav P. Nepal
Soybean aphid (SBA), Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), and soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines Ichinoe (Tylenchida: Heteroderidae), are major pests of soybean, Glycine max L. Merr., in the U.S. Midwest. This study examined three-way interactions among soybean, SBA, and SCN using demographic and transcriptomic analyses. SCN-resistant and SCN-susceptible cultivars were evaluated under three treatments (SBA, SCN, SCN+SBA) in a randomized complete block design with six replicates, repeated eight times in greenhouse cone-tainers. Plants were infested with 2,000 SCN eggs at planting or 15 SBA at the V2 stage. Aphid populations were counted at 5-, 15-, and 30-days post-infestation (dpi), and SCN eggs sampled at 30 dpi. SCN egg density increased significantly in the susceptible cultivar but remained unchanged in the resistant cultivar in the presence of SBA, while SBA populations declined under SCN infestation. RNA-seq identified 4,637 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at 5 dpi and 19,032 DEGs at 30 dpi. Analyses focused on DEGs shared across treatments but discordantly expressed in resistant cultivars during SBA–SCN interactions. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis revealed seven and nine modules at 5 and 30 dpi, respectively. Enrichment analyses identified ‘Plant–Pathogen Interaction’ and ‘Cutin, Suberin, and Wax Biosynthesis’ at 5 dpi, and ‘Isoflavonoid Biosynthesis’ and ‘One-Carbon Pool by Folate’ at 30 dpi. Several DEGs overlapped with SCN resistance QTLs, identifying candidate genes for cross-resistance breeding.
Soybean aphid (SBA), Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), and soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines Ichinoe (Tylenchida: Heteroderidae), are major pests of soybean, Glycine max L. Merr., in the U.S. Midwest. This study examined three-way interactions among soybean, SBA, and SCN using demographic and transcriptomic analyses. SCN-resistant and SCN-susceptible cultivars were evaluated under three treatments (SBA, SCN, SCN+SBA) in a randomized complete block design with six replicates, repeated eight times in greenhouse cone-tainers. Plants were infested with 2,000 SCN eggs at planting or 15 SBA at the V2 stage. Aphid populations were counted at 5-, 15-, and 30-days post-infestation (dpi), and SCN eggs sampled at 30 dpi. SCN egg density increased significantly in the susceptible cultivar but remained unchanged in the resistant cultivar in the presence of SBA, while SBA populations declined under SCN infestation. RNA-seq identified 4,637 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at 5 dpi and 19,032 DEGs at 30 dpi. Analyses focused on DEGs shared across treatments but discordantly expressed in resistant cultivars during SBA–SCN interactions. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis revealed seven and nine modules at 5 and 30 dpi, respectively. Enrichment analyses identified ‘Plant–Pathogen Interaction’ and ‘Cutin, Suberin, and Wax Biosynthesis’ at 5 dpi, and ‘Isoflavonoid Biosynthesis’ and ‘One-Carbon Pool by Folate’ at 30 dpi. Several DEGs overlapped with SCN resistance QTLs, identifying candidate genes for cross-resistance breeding.
Posted: 06 January 2026
of 97