Biology and Life Sciences

Abstract: Rootstocks that reduce the tree vigor in demand for all fruit species, including peach. The study evaluated the suitability of four rootstocks (Prunus besseyi, Hui-Hun-Tao, Rakonievicka, and Minnesota) and two peach cultivars (‘RedHaven’ and ‘Harnaś’) for the production of maiden peach trees in a nursery. The percentage of successful budding, tree height, stem diameter, branching characteristic, and root system development were evaluated according to rootstock and cultivar. In addition, the accumulation of macronutrients in the leaves were determined., The highest percentage of successful maiden trees was obtained on the Hui-Hun-Tao rootstock (89.7%), whereas the lowest percentages were recorded for the Rakonievicka (81.1%) and Minnesota seedling (80.4%). The cultivar ‘Harnaś’ showed significantly higher budding success (86.0%) than ‘Red Haven’ (82.7%). The Minnesota seedling and Prunus besseyi rootstocks significantly reduced tree height and stem diameter compared with the Hui-Hun-Tao and Rakonievicka rootstocks. The two cultivars did not differ significantly in tree growth. Better-branched maiden trees were produced on the Rakonievicka and Hui-Hun-Tao rootstocks. Trees budded onto the Rakonievicka rootstock had the greatest fresh weight. The highest number of roots was recorded for young trees on the Prunus besseyi rootstock (13.4), whereas the Minnesota seedling produced the fewest roots (8.7). Leaves of trees budded onto the Rakonievicka and Prunus besseyi rootstocks contained higher accumulation of phosphorus and magnesium. Potassium level was highest in leaves from trees produced onto the Rakonievicka rootstock. Leaves of trees on the Minnesota seedling contained significantly lower calcium content than those on the other rootstocks, which was associated with its lower vigor and less-developed root system. Compared with the Rakonievicka rootstock, the Minnesota seedling reduced maiden tree height by 18%, while Prunus besseyi reduced it by 17%. In addition, the Minnesota seedling reduced the number of lateral shoots by 29%, and their total length by 32%, whereas the corresponding reductions for Prunus besseyi were 41% and 35%, respectively. Despite its dwarfing effect, Prunus besseyi produced a root system comparable in size to that of the well-rooted Hui-Hun-Tao rootstock. The Minnesota seedling and Prunus besseyi rootstocks appear to be suitable for the production of maiden peach trees with reduced growth in the nursery.

Abstract: Star fruit (Averrhoa carambola L.; A. carambola) is an important fruit crop cultivated mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. The high soluble oxalate content of star fruit has become a major obstacle to the further expansion of its consumer market. Elucidating the origin and accumulation mechanisms of oxalate from the perspective of star fruit physiology is particularly important, as it provides the theoretical foundation for modern molecular breeding and the development of advanced cultivation and management practices. In this study, we quantified three oxalate-related organic acids in star fruit at two developmental stages and performed an integrated analysis combining targeted metabolomic and transcriptomic data. Our results showed that during the fruit expansion stage, when oxalate accumulation is relatively high, genes encoding several key enzymes involved in the glycolate oxidative degradation pathway and the L-ascorbate oxidative degradation pathway were significantly up-regulated. Our findings suggest a potential physiological role in regulating cell expansion and conversion between glycolate and amino acids for oxalate in star fruit, thereby addressing the knowledge gap regarding the mechanism underlying the progressive increase in oxalate content during fruit growth.

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Ionizing radiation induces oxidative damage and disrupts plant growth and photosynthetic function. This study evaluated whether seed pre-treatment with a synthesized imatinib–zinc complex (ZnIM), with the proposed composition Zn(C₂₉H₃₁N₇O)₂, could mitigate the effects of gamma irradiation in maize (Zea mays L.). Maize seeds were pre-treated with 0.001%, 0.01%, or 0.1% (w/v) ZnIM and subsequently exposed to 150 Gy gamma irradiation. Germination, seedling growth, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, photosynthetic pigments, maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), and selected mature-plant traits were assessed. Irradiation reduced germination, germination energy, root length, and shoot length by 9.3%, 9.7%, 9.8%, and 12.7%, respectively. Chlorophyll a, total chlorophyll, and Fv/Fm decreased by 32.0%, 30.4%, and 6.2%, while first-week MDA content increased 2.06-fold. Plant height and 1000-grain weight declined by 11.1% and 5.4%, respectively. ZnIM partially mitigated these effects, with responses varying among concentrations. The 0.01% treatment most consistently restored germination, germination energy, and root length and improved chlorophyll a, total chlorophyll, and Fv/Fm. The 0.1% treatment produced the most sustained MDA reduction. Improvements in mature-plant traits were numerical but not statistically significant. Overall, ZnIM provided partial radioprotection, particularly during germination and early seedling development.

Abstract: Wheat and rice have high economic and food importance, making the use of seeds with proven physical and physiological quality essential. This study aimed to evaluate whether reducing sampling intensity changes the results of mandatory and complementary analyses used in the seed certification system. Sampling was performed in big bags from commercial wheat and rice seed lots, using four collection intensities corresponding to 100, 75, 50 and 25% of the recommended number of primary samples. The samples were analyzed at the Flávio Farias da Rocha Seed Laboratory, Federal University of Pelotas, for physical purity, determination of other seeds, inert material, germination and viability by the tetrazolium test. The results were compared based on the tolerances established in the Rules for Seed Testing, at 5% probability. No significant differences were observed among the evaluated intensities for the studied lots and cultivars. Thus, under the conditions of this study, sampling intensity could be reduced to 25% without impairing the interpretation of laboratory results.

Abstract: This study examined the effect of fertilizer amendment type and tillage practice on the chemical properties and the bacterial community’s assessment as biological indicators of the soil fertility, with conserving this biological system of agro-ecosystem production. The experiment compared conventional tillage (CT) with three (3) minimum tillage (MT) methods. Metagenomic analysis was executed out to determine the phyla of the bacteria. The impacts of the treatments were primarily observed in phosphorus (P) dynamics, while other mineral elements remained relatively stable due to differences in nutrient availability mechanisms. The results showed similarities between different treatments, particularly between minimum tillage (MT) with the same mineral (M) input as well as between organic (O) inputs, while CT with mineral input appeared to be the most distinctive treatment. Tillage has a small but statistically have significantly structural impact on the configuration of microbial communities (P-Value <0.05), for major bacteria’s’ phyla. In this analysis, the Shannon index varied between 5.48 and 5.23, indicating a particularly diverse bacterial community, characteristic of agricultural soils with significant biological activity. The bacteria of the phyla Planctomycetota and Verrucomicrobia are correlated positively with the Actinobacteriota phyla, and we consider beneficial bacteria and consider them all as biological indicators of agricultural soil bio-fertility. The results demonstrated that tillage seems to have a bigger impact on bacterial diversity than fertilization. Reduced tillage using a combination of two implements (cover crop incorporation and tine cultivator) is suggested as the most suitable option for this type of soil.

Abstract: Land fragmentation, particularly in irrigation systems, has emerged as a pervasive global event that profoundly shapes farmers’ decision-making. While land fragmentation has been widely studied, irrigated land fragmentation has received limited scholarly attention. Hence, this study aimed to identify key drivers and assess the level of land fragmentation among smallholder irrigators. Cross-sectional data were collected from 618 randomly selected households. Simpson index and Tobit model were used to assess the level and identify factors linked to land fragmentation, respectively. The Simpson index results show a moderate irrigated land fragmentation level of 38% in the study area. Tobit model results found that; household size, participation in agricultural commercial cluster, farm experience, machinery application, and distance from the nearest market were positively significant, whereas the amount of rented land, land certificate, and soil fertility status were negatively significant drivers of irrigated land fragmentation. Overall, policymakers and development practitioners should focus on these key drivers in designing effective rural development and irrigation policies. To do so would require enhancing family labor productivity; facilitating rental markets and transfer of small parcels; enhancing soil fertility beyond irrigated land; ensuring land certifications; promoting cluster farming initiatives beyond irrigated land; encouraging greater diversity of machinery and technology across different crops; and more robust sharing of experiences among farmers are crucial to keep irrigated land fragmentation at an optimal level.

Abstract: Cover crops (CCs) are widely used to improve soil function, support water regulation, and moderate vine vigor. This study evaluated alternative vineyard floor management strategies designed to improve ecosystem services while minimizing excessive competition with grapevines under semiarid Mediterranean conditions. A long-term, three-season field experiment was conducted in Bekoa, Israel, using 4 treatments: standard-management control, selective herbicide promoting annual winter grasses, interrow tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea-TF), and full-TF ground cover. Unlike conventional perennial CCs, the selective herbicide treatment promoted naturally occurring winter grasses that completed their life cycle before the dry summer period, thereby limiting prolonged competition with grapevines. Vine water status, vegetative-growth, yield components, and wine-quality parameters were monitored. Grass-based treatments progressively reduced vegetative growth and induced moderate vine water stress, as reflected by lower leaf area index and more negative stem water-potential. Yield declined over the three growing seasons due to reductions in cluster number, with the strongest effects observed in perennial turfgrass. In contrast, the selective herbicide treatment consistently produced intermediate physiological and agronomic responses. In the third season, wines from the perennial turfgrass treatments exhibited greater color intensity, particularly under full-cover TF, while hue was not significantly affected. Overall, CC-based vineyard floor management affected vine performance and wine quality, but the response depended on cover-type and duration of use. The selective promotion of naturally occurring winter grasses through targeted herbicide application represents a practical vineyard floor management strategy that retains many of the benefits associated with vineyard floor vegetation while minimizing excessive summer water competition under Mediterranean conditions.

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Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and biochar may improve crop growth in drought-prone sandy soils, but their interactive effects under different water regimes remain unclear. We investigated their effects on potato growth and nutrient uptake under water deficit. A semi-field rainout-shelter experiment was conducted in Denmark using low-phosphorus (P) sandy soil (Olsen P: 18.3 mg kg⁻¹), unamended (BC−) or amended with wheat-straw biochar (BC+). Potato plants were grown without (M−) or with Rhizophagus irregularis inoculation (M+) and irrigated at three soil water thresholds (75, 50, and 25% of field capacity). Biochar increased P and nitrogen (N) uptake and tuber biomass, with biomass gains strongly correlated with nutrient uptake. Under high irrigation, BC+M+ increased tuber biomass, P uptake, and N uptake by 55, 73, and 32%, respectively, compared with BC−M−. Without biochar, AMF did not increase nutrient uptake and reduced tuber biomass. AMF root colonization and its soil lipid biomarker were affected by water deficit, with responses also associated with soil pH and P availability. Overall, adequate water availability was critical for realizing the benefits of combined biochar and AMF application in low-P sandy soil.

Abstract: Wild Lentinula edodes is distributed in many provinces of China, and southwestern China has the greatest genetic diversity of L. edodes germplasm. As determined by phylogenetic analyses of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), L. edodes was re-solved into two non-sister lineages, known as Group I and Group V, and also referred to L. edodes and L. aff. edodes. In this study, the ITS fragments of 44 wild L. edodes strains, mainly from Yunnan Province of southwestern China, were cloned, sequenced, and analyzed. It revealed that eight strains contained both Group I and Group V ITS. The protoplast monokaryotization strains (PMSs) and single spore isolates (SSIs) were obtained from YAASM2342, whose mating types and ITS types were analyzed. The results confirmed that two heterokaryons of YAASM2342 contained Group I and Group V ITS, respectively. The strains of both Group I and Group V were present in the SSIs of each mating type at a ratio of ~1:1. Moreover, analyses of the population genomic dataset suggested that the re-covered genetic groups could not correspond to Group I and Group V. These results con-firmed that Group I and Group V of L. edodes belong to the same phylogenetic species.

Abstract: The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is one of the most directly consumed legume globally. Post-harvest damage is mainly caused by two species of bruchids, involving losses from 1.9 to 11.1 million tons per year around the world; one of them is Acanthoscelides obtectus. In the present research, we study the genetic response of the resistance to A. obtectus in a common bean HIF population and, in this way, to be able to select lines with resistance to A. obtectus. Two bean varieties, Pinto Saltillo (P-saltillo) and Azufrado Higuera (A-higuera), were used to develop the HIF population of 120 Near Isogenic Lines (NILs). Were carried out two lattice experiments with two repetitions and 120 NILs. The 120 NILs were evaluated in bottles of 98.17 cm3 (5×5). Five seeds were placed per repetition. The parents P-saltillo and A-higuera, as well as PS-AZH-15 and PS-AZH-15-18 as susceptible controls and T-amarillo, T-negro and T-cafe as resistant controls. All characteristics studied showed normal distribution and therefore quantitative inheritance. The Line-16 exhibited the highest resistance to A. obtectus with 0.0 grain consumption, 0.0% seed consumption, 1 adult on average present in the bottles at the end of the experiments, 0.0 grains damaged, and 29.95 of hundred seed weight. A. obtectus is probably genetically different and adapted to the varieties produced and consumed in each region of the world. The HIF population presents high variability for resistance to A. obtectus from Mexico and Spain.

Abstract: The 24 solar terms (STs) comprise a traditional Chinese seasonal calendar that has long guided agricultural practices, but its agronomic relevance under climate change remains uncertain. We assessed 24ST applicability in Shanxi Province using daily temperature, precipitation, and sunshine duration records from 23 meteorological stations. Climate trends were analyzed at the ST scale, and the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) CERES-Maize model was applied to simulate maize phenology and yield in evaluating phenological shifts and sowing-date effects. Results showed that (1) warming was concentrated during Yushui–Qingming and Xiaoxue–Dahan, with sunshine declines across Mangzhong–Xiaoshu and Bailu–Hanlu. Precipitation trends were weak and spatially variable. (2) The calibrated CERES-Maize model reliably reproduced regional yields and phenology. Simulated V3 growth stage, anthesis, and maturity dates advanced by 1.53, 1.88, and 3.11 days per decade, respectively. V3 was driven by early-spring hydrothermal radiation, while anthesis and maturity was closely associated with Xiazhi/Xiaoshu/Dashu summer heat. (3) Optimal sowing windows were Guyu-H2–H3, Xiaoman-H1–H2, and Xiaoman-H2–H3 for northern, central, and southern Shanxi, respectiely. Optimized sowing shifted V3 towards Xiaoman–Mangzhong, delayed anthesis from early Xiaoshu to late Dashu–Liqiu, and postponed maturity towards Qiufen. These findings provide a scientific basis for continued use of the 24 STs in guiding agricultural practices for maize.

Abstract: Seedlessness, a key market trait in citrus, is governed by interdependent processes whose expression is strongly influenced by genotype and environment. In this study, we integrated complementary experiments conducted on six lemon cultivars to (i) quantify pollen viability and in vitro germination across temperatures; (ii) characterize pollen tube kinetics in vivo; (iii) evaluate fruit set, seed traits and fruit size, under field conditions; (iv) identify the S-genotypes. Pollen viability was generally high, but in vitro germination was temperature-sensitive, and these results were sustained under field conditions. In vivo, germination on the stigma increased over time, and pollen tubes generally reached the base of the style within 9 days, progressing faster after cross- vs. self-pollination. In field experiments, most cultivars were moderately self-compatible, ‘Fino 49’ was the most self-compatible and ‘Verna 51’ the least; parthenocarpy was consistently low except in ‘Lisbon’. Cross-pollination improved the fruit set in several combinations but did not systematically increase fruit size. The number of seeds per fruit in cross-pollination was similar to that in the self-pollination experiments, however, a substantial proportion of aborted seeds was observed, especially after self-pollination. Together, these results indicate that lemon cultivars are varyingly self-compatible and broadly cross-compatible, with parthenocarpy insufficient on its own to ensure stable seedless production. Breeding and orchard design should therefore consider parental compatibility, temperature windows at bloom, and the limited parthenocarpic capacity of many cultivars.

Abstract: Drought stress is a major abiotic factor that negatively affects plant growth, physiological processes, and yield in pepper cultivation. This study evaluated the ameliorative effects of exogenous glutathione (GSH) at 50 µM and 100 µM in pepper seedlings grown under water-restricted conditions (60% field capacity), using morphological, physiological, and biochemical parameters. Water restriction caused significant reductions in seedling height, stem diameter, leaf area, and plant and root fresh and dry weights, and decreased chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll content, as well as plant growth hormones. Conversely, water restriction significantly increased hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), malondialdehyde (MDA), proline, sucrose, and abscisic acid (ABA) content. Glutathione application, on the other hand, significantly reduced water-restriction-induced growth damage, increased biomass production and chlorophyll content, and supported the antioxidant defense capacity of plants by decreasing H₂O₂ and MDA levels, which are indicators of oxidative stress. It also improved osmotic balance by regulating proline and sucrose accumulation and increased seedling adaptation to water restriction. In conclusion, exogenous GSH is an effective and viable biostimulant for increasing drought tolerance in pepper seedlings and has significant potential for sustainable pepper cultivation under water-deficit conditions.

Abstract: Frost damage to reproductive tissues is a major constraint to stable yield in ‘Hass’ avocado (Persea americana Mill.) orchards, yet practical protected-cultivation strategies for mature trees remain limited. While shading nets are widely used to mitigate heat stress, their potential to reduce frost damage in mature, bearing avocado trees remains insufficiently understood. We evaluated the effects of winter deployment of high-density (60%) silver shading nets on microclimate, physiological performance, and productivity of mature ‘Hass’ avocado trees over two consecutive winters. During a severe frost event (minimum −3.5 °C; approximately 11 h below 0 °C), shading nets had little effect on minimum nighttime temperatures but reduced daytime solar irradiance and maximum temperatures. Following the frost event, control trees suffered extensive vegetative and reproductive damage, whereas net-covered trees exhibited substantially lower injury, with floral bud damage declining from 80% to 22%. Net-covered trees exhibited significantly higher maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm; 0.74 vs. 0.48 in control trees). These responses were associated with greater flowering intensity and a significant yield advantage in the subsequent season (16 vs. 0.4 kg tree-¹). In contrast, no treatment differences were observed during a frost-free winter. This findings indicate that winter deployment of shading nets can sustain reproductive performance in mature avocado trees following a severe frost event. Validation across additional orchards and frost events is required to establish their potential as a protected-cultivation strategy to improve orchard resilience under increasing climatic variability.

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Salinity is a growing problem for cereal cultivation because it causes multiple stresses, such as osmotic, ionic, nutritional, and oxidative, on the crop. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is considered a climate-smart C4 cereal to grow for food, feed, fodder, forage, and bioenergy, but recent studies have indicated that salinity continues to hinder establishment, biomass, reproductive growth, and yield. This review compiles the latest literature on the impacts of salinity on sorghum from 2021 to 2026 with a focus on germination, vegetative growth, physiological and biochemical responses, ion homeostasis, genetic control, productivity, mitigation, and future breeding priorities. The 160 records found in the structured search were screened, with 44 recent sources included. Salt stress has been shown to lower germination rate, rate of root and shoot elongation, expansion of leaves, stability of chlorophyll, gas exchange, dry matter accumulation, panicle fertility, and grain filling. Tolerant genotypes have a higher K: Na ratio, greater antioxidant potential, greater osmotic adjustment, more stable photosynthetic systems, and stronger root systems. Recent omics and genome-wide association studies suggest that tolerance to salinity in sorghum is polygenic and consists of genes involved in ion transport, stress signalling, antioxidant regulation, osmolyte metabolism and growth maintenance. The review suggests a shift from descriptive trait lists to full-cycle field validation, as well as the use of multi-trait selection indices and a convergence of breeding with seed priming, soil-water management, amendments, and beneficial microorganisms. Sorghum shows great potential in salt-affected systems; however, sustainable productivity will require the matching of tolerant varieties with agronomic packages that have been locally tested.

Abstract: Streptomyces sp. HR58, isolated from the hop rhizosphere, exhibits antifungal activity against a variety of fungal phytopathogens affecting many crops. HR58 was characterized using phenotypic and genomic approaches. Growth tolerance and enzymatic activities were characterized, while whole-genome sequencing enabled biosynthetic gene cluster prediction. The strain HR58 displayed morphological and biochemical traits characteristic of the genus Streptomyces growing from pH 5 to pH 12 and salt tolerance up to 5% NaCl. Genome analysis revealed a size of 8,270,372 bp with a GC content of 71.76% and the presence of gene clusters associated with antifungal activity. Although ANI analysis showed 96.6% identity with Streptomyces anulatus ATCC 11523, the dDDH value of 66.5% fell below the species delineation threshold of 70%, indicating that HR58 cannot be confidently assigned to any currently described Streptomyces species. A biosynthetic gene cluster encoding the antifungal compound cycloheximide was located in its genome. Cycloheximide production was confirmed in liquid cultures. Silver nanoparticle (AgNPs) biosynthesis by strain HR58 was confirmed and their antimicrobial activity was evaluated. The ability of strain HR58 to biosynthesize antifungal nanoparticles further enhances its potential applications in sustainable agriculture, offering a promising alternative for the development of eco-friendly plant disease control strategies.

Abstract: Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI) is increasingly used to integrate remote sensing, geographic information systems, machine learning, Internet of Things sensing, weather information, soil data, and farm-management records for precision agriculture. This systematic review examines how GeoAI supports crop monitoring, yield forecasting, pest and disease detection, soil-property mapping, irrigation and nutrient management, climate adaptation, and decision support. Recent literature published between 2019 and 2026 was synthesized to characterize application domains, data sources, model families, multimodal integration approaches, cloud–edge processing pathways, deployment models, benefits, and barriers. The review shows that GeoAI is most useful when heterogeneous observations are combined into field-validated, interpretable, and timely decision-support products rather than used only for isolated mapping or retrospective prediction. Mature applications include yield estimation, crop monitoring, disease detection, and soil-property prediction, while emerging directions include digital twins, explainable AI, uncertainty-aware recommendations, edge analytics, and privacy-preserving data sharing. Reported benefits include improved prediction accuracy, earlier stress detection, more targeted input use, and potential environmental gains, but outcomes remain context-dependent. Wider adoption is constrained by data quality, interoperability, model generalization, computation, connectivity, privacy, affordability, digital literacy, and institutional support. Future work should prioritize trustworthy models, standardized data ecosystems, operational validation, affordable tools, clear governance, and inclusive co-design.

Abstract: In the process of sisal defibration, large amounts of residues are produced, classified as liquid (green juice) and solid (pulp/mucilage and broken fiber). Pulp/mucilage and broken fiber have been used for sisal fertilization by the farmers in Brazil, but no studies have demonstrated the optimal rate of solid residues to promote better sisal production. The study tested rates of sisal residues (pulp and broken fiber) on the development of sisal seedlings in the region of Conceição do Coité, Bahia, Brazil, based on the Agro-circular economy. The study was developed using two scientific methods: (i) modeling of sisal residue production (pulp and broken fiber) in Bahia/Brazil during recent years (2000 - 2024), and (ii) field test using rates of sisal residue (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 L plant^-1 of a mixture of pulp and broken fiber) on the development of sisal seedlings. Results showed that in the last decades, the annual residue production of pulp and broken fiber was 4.3 million tons year^-1 with an accumulated production of 107.8 million tons between 2000 and 2024. The rates of sisal residues promoted the development of plants with an increase weight of plant (87.9 %; from 29.7 to 247.4 g/plant), shoot (80.8%; from 4.3 to 22.4 g/plant), and root (88.7%; from 25.4 to 225.0 g/plant). Sisal seedlings produced more roots than shoots. The sisal residues fitted a linear response, indicating that increasing rates promoted the sisal seedling testing rates from 0 to 12 L plant^-1. Based on the results, conclude that the sisal sector produces a great volume of solid residues can be used in sisal planting at a rate of 12 L plant-1, promoting higher initial plant development and an agro-circular economy in Bahia, Brazil.

Abstract: Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is a major horticultural crop valued for its distinctive flavor, nutritional quality, and health-promoting properties, including antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The characteristic aroma and health benefits of garlic are primarily attributed to its organosulfur compounds. This study evaluated the effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on sulfur metabolism and organosulfur compound accumulation in garlic using integrated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) and gas chromatography (GC)–MS analyses. Compared with the untreated soil (negative control) and conventional ZnSO₄ (positive control), ZnO NP treatments significantly increased the concentrations of alliin, allicin, diallyl sulfide (DAS), diallyl disulfide (DADS), and diallyl trisulfide (DATS), but decreased ajoene, indicating selective redistribution of metabolic flux. The ZnO NP–50 treatment consistently produced the highest metabolites, demonstrating a strong dose-dependent response. The coordinated increase in precursor and downstream sulfur metabolites suggests that ZnO NPs enhanced sulfur assimilation, alliinase-mediated conversion, and allicin-derived secondary transformations. Mechanistically, the response is consistent with improved Zn bioavailability, enhanced enzymatic activity, redox regulation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated signaling that stimulates sulfur metabolic pathways. Overall, nano-enabled Zn fertilization effectively improved the phytochemical quality of garlic and represents a promising agronomic strategy for enhancing the functional value of horticultural crops.

Abstract: The rhizosheath is a dynamic plant–soil interface in which root traits, microbial activity, and soil physical properties jointly regulate plant adaptation to drought and nutrient limitation. Despite the growing interest in this field, it remains conceptually fragmented. This study mapped the development, structure, and emerging directions of rhizosheath research, with particular attention to plant–soil–microbiome interactions and stress responses. Bibliometric and science-mapping analyses were performed on 136 publications (2015–2026) retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Using the Bibliometrix framework, we examined publication dynamics, collaboration networks, citation patterns, keyword co-occurrence, and thematic structures. The dataset comprised 136 publications, 6,366 citations, and 723 authors, with 54.41% international co-authorship. Logistic modeling identified a growth inflection in 2022.54 and a projected saturation of nearly 160% publications. Document coupling resolved nine clusters dominated by soil–root interface processes (n = 51; 1,358 citations) and plant–microbe interactions (n = 18; 895 citations). Thematic analysis positioned soil and rhizosheath as central domains and identified water stress as a key motor theme, whereas mucilage, hydraulic functioning, and microbiome assembly emerged as recent trends. Rhizosheath research is transitioning from descriptive characterization to integrative, mechanistic perspectives linking root traits, soil processes, and microbial dynamics. Progress will depend on resolving genotype × soil × microbiome interactions and advancing field-based cross-scale phenotyping to support climate-resilient cropping systems.