Search Results (2,339)

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], as a globally commercialized crop, is an important source of protein and oil for both humans and livestock. With more frequent extreme weather disasters, abiotic stress has become one of the critical factors restricting soybean production. Proline (Pro) is a well-known substance in plants that responds to abiotic stress. To identify potential effector genes involved in soybean resistance to abiotic stress, we focused on the pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase (P5CDH) which is a key enzyme in the degradation process of Pro. Through homologous sequence alignment, phylogenetic tree, and predicted expression, we chose GmP5CDH1 (Glyma.05G029200) for further research. Tissue-specific expression assay showed that GmP5CDH1 had higher expression levels in soybean seed and cotyledon development. Subcellular localization assay revealed that GmP5CDH1 was a nuclear-membrane-localized protein. As the result of the predicted cis-acting regulatory element indicates, the expression level of GmP5CDH1 was induced by low temperature, drought, salt stress, and ABA in soybean. Next, we constructed transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing GmP5CDH1. The results showed that GmP5CDH1 also strongly responded to exogenous Pro, and overcame the toxicity of abiotic stress on plants by regulating the endogenous concentration of Pro. The interaction between GmP5CDH1 and GmSAM1 was validated through yeast two-hybrid, LUC fluorescence complementary, and BIFC. In conclusion, overexpression of a soybean pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase GmP5CDH1 regulates the development of Arabidopsis thaliana by altering proline content dynamically under salt stress, especially improving the growth of plants under exogenous Pro. Full article

Phospholipid: diacylglycerol acyltransferase (PDAT) is crucial in triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis as it represents the final rate-limiting step of the acyl-CoA-independent acylation reaction. PDAT not only regulates lipid synthesis in plants, but also plays an important function in improving stress tolerance. In this study, the full-length coding sequence (CDS) of XsPDAT1, totaling 2022 base pairs and encoding 673 amino acids, was cloned from Xanthoceras sorbifolium. The relative expression of XsPDAT1 was significantly and positively correlated with oil accumulation during seed kernel development; there were some differences in the expression patterns under different abiotic stresses. Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants overexpressing XsPDAT1 were obtained using the Agrobacterium-mediated method. Under low-temperature stress, the transgenic plants exhibited a smaller decrease in chlorophyll content, a smaller increase in relative conductivity, and a larger increase in POD enzyme activity and proline content in the leaves compared with the wild type. Additionally, lipid composition analysis revealed a significant increase in unsaturated fatty acids, such as oleic (C18:1) and linoleic (C18:2), in the seeds of transgenic plants compared to the wild type. These results suggest that XsPDAT1 plays a dual role in regulating the ratio of fatty acid composition and low-temperature stress in plants. Full article

Nigella sativa (N. sativa; Ranunculaceae), commonly referred to as black cumin, is one of the most widely used medicinal plants worldwide, with its seeds having numerous applications in the pharmaceutical and food industries. With the emergence of antibiotic resistance in pathogens as an important health challenge, the need for alternative microbe-inhibitory agents is on the rise, whereby black cumin has gained considerable attention from researchers for its strong antimicrobial characteristics owing to its high content in a wide range of bioactive compounds, including thymoquinone, nigellimine, nigellidine, quercetin, and O-cymene. Particularly, thymoquinone increases the levels of antioxidant enzymes that counter oxidative stress in the liver. Additionally, the essential oil in N. sativa seeds effectively inhibits intestinal parasites and shows moderate activity against some bacteria, including Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. Thymoquinone exhibits minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 8–16 μg/mL against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and exhibits MIC 0.25 µg/mL against drug-resistant mycobacteria. Similarly, quercetin shows a MIC of 2 mg/mL against oral pathogens, such as Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus. Furthermore, endophytic fungi isolated from N. sativa have demonstrated antibacterial activity. Therefore, N. sativa is a valuable medicinal plant with potential for medicinal and food-related applications. In-depth exploration of the corresponding therapeutic potential and scope of industrial application warrants further research. Full article

The use of pesticides causes significant environmental problems, which drives the search for natural and non-toxic alternatives. In this study, a glycolipid biosurfactant (BS), produced by the yeast Starmerella bombicola ATCC 22214, was utilized as an active ingredient in natural agricultural defensive blends. The mixtures were tested for their fungicidal potential against phytopathogenic fungi isolated from fruits such as papaya, orange, and banana, demonstrating strong inhibition of fungal growth. The genera Penicillium, Colletotrichum, and Aspergillus were the pathogens present in the deterioration of the fruits used in the experiment. The biosurfactant was produced in a fermenter, yielding 10 g/L and reducing the surface tension to 31.56 mN/m, with a critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 366 mg/L. Blends of BS with oleic acid (T1) and lemongrass oil (T2) were found to be effective in controlling fungi. Additionally, the phytotoxicity of these formulations was assessed using Cucumis anguria (gherkin) seeds, where the blend of BS with castor oil (T4) showed the best performance, promoting seed germination. These results indicate the potential of such mixtures as natural alternatives for fungal control in plants and for application in sustainable agricultural systems. Full article

Incorporating of agro-industrial co-products into animal nutrition could represent an opportunity to lessen the environmental impact of the food production chain. One such co-product is a hempseed cake originating from cold pressing hemp seeds to extract oil for human consumption. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the action of hempseed cake in the diet on male rabbit reproductive and some non-reproductive indexes. Male rabbits were fed either a standard diet (control group; C; n = 10) or a diet enriched with hempseed cake (experimental group E5 with 5% of a hempseed cake; n = 10, and experimental group E10 with 10% of a hempseed cake; n = 10) in 100 kg of the milled complete feed mixture. Rabbit weight gain, sperm concentration, motility, progressive motility, and sperm quality were evaluated using CASA and flow cytometry. Feeding with a hempseed cake, given at both tested concentrations, had no effect on weight gain per week and the total average weight gain compared to the control group (p > 0.05). Hempseed cake addition had no effect on sperm concentration in ejaculate, sperm motility, and progressive motility (p > 0.05). Selected haematological and biochemical indexes were examined. The E5 group showed positive tendencies in hepatic profile parameters, while in the E10 group the tendencies were opposite, though within the reference values. Based on our results, no negative effects of hempseed cake feeding on rabbit reproduction and health status were found, and we can recommend the use of hempseed cake at doses up to 10% in the nutrition and feeding of rabbits. Therefore, agro-industrial co-products can decrease the feeding cost. Full article

Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) oil press-cake (SIPC) represents a new source of proteins of high biological value, with promissory food applications. However, knowledge of these proteins remains limited. In this study, a Sacha Inchi protein concentrate (SPC) was extracted from the SIPC, and proteomic analysis was performed to identify the major alkaline-soluble proteins. The electrophoretic profile highlighted the efficacy of alkaline pH and moderate temperature to extract the major proteins, from which a group of proteins, not previously reported, were registered. LC-MS/MS analyses produced abundant high-quality fragmentation spectra. Utilizing the Euphorbiaceae database (DB), 226 proteins were identified, with numerous well-assigned spectra remaining unidentified. PEAKS Studio v11.5 software generated 1819 high-quality de novo peptides. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD052665. Gene ontology (GO) classification allowed the identification of sequenced proteins associated with biological processes, molecular functions, and cellular components in the seed. Consequently, the principal alkali-soluble proteins from SPC were characterized through derived functional analysis, covering 24 seed-storage-, 27 defense-, and 12 carbohydrate- and lipid-metabolism-related proteins, crucial for human nutrition due to their sulfur-containing amino acids, antioxidant properties, and oil yields, respectively. This research makes a significant contribution to the current understanding of the Sacha Inchi proteome and offers valuable insights for its potential applications in the food industry. Full article

Salinity is an increasing problem for agriculture. Most plant species tolerate low or, at best, moderate soil salinities. However, a small (<1%) proportion of species, termed halophytes, can survive and complete their life cycle in natural habitats with salinities equivalent to 200 mM NaCl or more. Cakile maritima is a succulent annual halophyte belonging to the Brassicaceae family; it is dispersed worldwide and mainly grows in foreshores. Cakile maritima growth is optimal under slight (i.e., 100 mM NaCl) saline conditions, measured by biomass and seed production. Higher salt concentrations, up to 500 mM NaCl, significantly impact its growth but do not compromise its survival. Cakile maritima alleviates sodium toxicity through different strategies, including anatomical and morphological adaptations, ion transport regulation, biosynthesis of osmolytes, and activation of antioxidative mechanisms. The species is potentially useful as a cash crop for the so-called biosaline agriculture due to its production of secondary metabolites of medical and nutritional interest and the high oil accumulation in its seeds. In this review, we highlight the relevance of this species as a model for studying the basic mechanisms of salt tolerance and for sustainable biosaline agriculture in the context of soil salination and climate change. Full article

The tree peony (Paeonia ostii), a newly recognized woody oil plant endemic to China, is noteworthy for its high content of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), particularly alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Fatty acid desaturases (FADs) are integral to plant development and defense mechanisms. Nonetheless, there is limited understanding of (i) the molecular mechanism underlying FA biosynthesis in various varieties during seed maturation and (ii) a genome-wide analysis of FAD family genes within the tree peony. We selected three distinct cultivars of tree peony for transcriptome sequencing and performed an extensive analysis of PoFAD genes. In total, 67,542 unigenes were acquired and annotated with six protein databases available to the public. Forty-one differentially expressed genes (DEGs) pertinent to FA biosynthesis and lipid metabolism were identified in this study. Notably, genes such as PoFAD2, PoFAD6, and PoSAD were found to be significantly upregulated, contributing to a differential linolenic acid and linoleic acid content across the three cultivars. Herein, 24 PoFADs from the P. ostii genome were recognized and categorized into four distinct clusters according to their conserved structural features. The distribution of PoFADs was found to be random and uneven across five chromosomes, indicating a complex genomic architecture. Six colinear gene pairs were found between P. ostii and V. vinifera, indicating a potential link due to their close relationship. Together, these findings significantly enhance our knowledge of the molecular processes governing fatty acid synthesis, elucidate the functional roles of the FAD gene family, and lay the groundwork for using genetic manipulation to boost lipid levels. Full article

Background: Flaxseeds are functional foods popular in current diets. Cold-pressing is a solvent-free method to extract flaxseed oil, resulting in a by-product—defatted flour. Objectives/Methods: This study compared whole flaxseeds and defatted flour (proximate composition, fatty acids, vitamin E, total phenolics and flavonoids, antioxidant activity, amino acids, and protein quality) and updated the composition of cold-pressed oil (oxidative stability, peroxide value, UV absorbance, colour, fatty acids, vitamin E, total phenolics and flavonoids, and antioxidant activity) to assess the nutritional relevance and potential for food applications of these samples. Results: The flour had higher ash (6% vs. 4%), fibre (36% vs. 34%), protein (28% vs. 16%), phenolics (205 vs. 143 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g), and antioxidant activity than seeds (p < 0.05), so it should be valued as a novel high-fibre food ingredient with high-quality plant-based protein, as it contains all essential amino acids (106 mg/g) and a high essential amino acids index (112%), with L-tryptophan as the limiting amino acid. The oil, while low in oxidative stability (1.3 h), due to its high polyunsaturated fatty acids sum (75%), mostly α-linolenic acid (57%), contains a significant amount of vitamin E (444 mg/kg), making it a specialty oil best consumed raw. Conclusions: The exploration of the flour as a minimally processed food ingredient highlights its role in supporting food security, circular economy, and sustainability goals, aligning with consumer preferences for natural, low-fat foods. Future research should investigate the bioactivity and shelf-life of the samples, as well as the bioavailability of compounds after digestion. Full article

Biochar derived from poultry manure increases nutrient availability and promotes plant growth. This study investigated the effect of biochar with mycorrhizal and/or plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on soil fertility, chemical properties, oil, and seed yield of Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.) plants. A split-plot design with three replicates was employed, with biochar derived from poultry litter (BC) applied at rates of 0, 5, and 10 t ha⁻¹, with beneficial microbes such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) affecting the growth of Black Cumin plants, and some soil properties, such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic matter (SOM) and fertility index (FI), showing significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) among biochar and/or bio-fertilizer treatments. All biochar treatments with or without bio-fertilizers significantly increased pH, EC, OM and FI in comparison to the control treatment. The results demonstrated that applying biochar at the highest rate (10 t ha⁻¹) increased fresh and dry capsule weights by 94.51% and 63.34%, respectively, compared to the control treatment (C). These values were significantly increased by 53.05 and 18.37%, compared to untreated plants when combined with AMF and PGPR. Furthermore, when biochar was applied in conjunction with both AMF and PGPR, fresh and dry capsule weights saw significant increases of 208.84% and 91.18%, respectively, compared to the untreated control treatment. The interaction between biochar, AMF, and PGPR significantly improved plant growth, yield, soil properties, and the fixed and volatile oil content of Black Cumin. These findings suggest that the combined application of biochar, AMF, and PGPR enhances nutrient availability and uptake, leading to improved growth and higher yields in Black Cumin plants, resulting in increased yield production. Full article

Soil physicochemical properties, root characteristics, and fruit economic traits were determined in Camellia oleifera plantations under spontaneous vegetation + mowing (W1), spontaneous vegetation + glyphosate (W2), and no weeding (CK) treatments. Compared with CK, W1 reduced soil bulk density and increased total nitrogen, total phosphorus, ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and effective potassium content. W2 treatment resulted in higher bulk density than W1 and lower water-holding capacity, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and available potassium of the soil. Generally, both W1 and W2 inhibited weed morphological traits while favoring the C. oleifera root system, with the W1 treatment resulting in the greatest increase. Fruit transverse diameter, longitudinal diameter, yield, and oil yield were higher in W1 than in CK and W2 treatments. Weed root systems and C. oleifera root systems ultimately affect oil production and yield by affecting bulk density, ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, fruit transverse diameter, seed yield, and seed kernel oil content. In summary, W1 treatment improved the physicochemical properties, root growth, fruit growth, and soil quality in C. oleifera plantations. Full article

Cannabis seed oil oleogel structured with Glycerol Monostearate (20% w/w) was mixed with xanthan gum hydrogel (2% w/w) at different ratios ranging from 0% w/w hydrogel to 75% w/w hydrogel, using a syringe-to-syringe apparatus, for the preparation of 3D-printable food inks. This process enabled the simultaneous blend of oleogel and hydrogel phases and the incorporation of air in a reproducible and accurate manner. The printability of bigel inks with different mass ratios was evaluated by using a conventional benchtop food 3D printer. The printability of the inks was found to be negatively affected by the presence of higher portions of the hydrogel phase, while the printing performance of pure cannabis seed oil oleogel was superior compared to the printing performance of the bigel inks. The physicochemical properties of hybrid gels were investigated with rheological studies, thermophysical studies (Differential Scanning Calorimetry), Polarized Light Microscopy, and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy. The microstructure of the aerated inks was affected by the presence of a higher oleogel fraction, in terms of air bubble shape and distribution. The addition of hydrogel at concentrations higher than 50% w/w had a strong negative effect on the mechanical properties of the inks leading to a partial collapse of the printed structures and subsequently to poor printing performance. Full article

Acid value (AV) serves as an important indicator to assess the quality of oil, which can be used to judge the deterioration of edible oil. In order to realize the quantitative prediction of the AV of camellia seed oil, which was made from camellia oleifolia, hyperspectral data of 168 camellia seed oil samples were collected using a hyperspectral imaging system, which were related to their AV content measured via classical chemical titration. On the basis of hyperspectral full wavelengths, characteristic wavelengths, and fusing spectral and image features, the quantitative prediction AV models for camellia seed oil were established. The results demonstrating the 2Der-SPA-GLCM-PLSR model fusing spectral and image features stood out as the optimal choices for the AV prediction of camellia seed oil, with the correlation coefficient of calibration set ($R_c^2$) and the correlation coefficient of prediction set ($R_p^2$) at 0.9698 and 0.9581, respectively. Compared with those of 2Der-SPA-PLSR, the $R_c^2$ and $R_p^2$ were improved by 2.11% and 2.57%, respectively. Compared with those of 2Der-PLSR, the $R_c^2$ and $R_p^2$ were improved by 5.02% and 5.31%, respectively. Compared with the model based on original spectrum, the $R_c^2$ and $R_p^2$ were improved by 32.63% and 40.11%, respectively. After spectral preprocessing, characteristic wavelength selection, and fusing spectral and image features, the correlation coefficient of the optimal AV prediction model was continuously improved, while the root mean square error was continuously decreased. The research demonstrated that hyperspectral imaging technology could precisely and quantitatively predict the AV of camellia seed oil and also provide a new environmental method for detecting the AV of other edible oils, which is conducive to sustainable development. Full article

Seed cakes, by-products from the cold press extraction of vegetable oils, are valuable animal feed supplements due to their high content of proteins, carbohydrates, and minerals. However, the presence of anti-nutrients, as well as the rancidification and development of aflatoxins, can impede their intended use, requiring alternative treatment and valorisation methods. Thermal treatment as a procedure for the conversion of seed cakes from walnuts, hemp, pumpkin, flax, and sunflower into valuable products or energy has been investigated in this paper. Thermogravimetry shows the particular behaviour of seed cakes, with several degradation stages at around 230–280 and 340–390 °C, before and after the typical degradation of cellulose. These are related to the volatilisation of fatty acids, which are either free or bonded as triglycerides, and with the thermal degradation of proteins. Torrefaction at 250 °C produced ~75–82 wt% solids, with high calorific values of 24–26 kJ/g and an energy yield above 90%. The liquid products have a complex composition, with most parts of the compounds partitioning between the aqueous phase (strongly dominant) and the oily one (present in traces). The structural components of seed cakes (hemicelluloses, cellulose, and lignin) produce acetic acid, hydroxy ketones, furans, and phenols. In addition to these, most compounds are nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds from the degradation of protein components, which are highly present in seed cakes. Full article

This study aimed to assess the efficiency of the use of α-pinene and essential oils of Gaultheria procumbens, Juniperus communis, Protium heptaphyllum, and Protium pallidum in treating corn seeds (Zea mays) under storage conditions for the management of Sitophilus zeamais. Contact toxicity, fumigation, repellency, persistence, and residual effects of the targeted essential oil and phytocompound on germination were performed. G. procumbens oil, high in methyl salicylate (96%), was the most toxic in contact tests, with an LC₅₀ of 26.83 µL/20 g. P. heptaphyllum oil, containing 40.1% limonene, was the second most toxic with an LC50 of 45.78 μL/20 g. When test separately, α-pinene was more toxic than J. communis oil, which has 67% α-pinene. P. pallidum oil, with 31.17% o-cimene, also showed toxicity. In fumigation tests, the toxicity order was G. procumbens ≥ P. heptaphyllum > α-pinene > J. communis > P. pallidum. All products were repellent. G. procumbens had the longest persistence (71 days), while J. communis and α-pinene had shorter persistence. J. communis oil and α-pinene did not affect corn seed germination or vigor. The findings are crucial for managing S. zeamais in stored maize and determining the appropriate use of natural insecticides without affecting their ability to germinate and grow. Full article