Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture最新文献

Background: Wheat germination increases α-amylase activity, leading to significant biochemical and structural changes that influence flour rheological properties. Understanding the correlation between internal kernel structure and flour rheology is essential for predicting processing performance and optimizing the use of germinated wheat in food applications.

Results: In this study, five selected Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat cultivars were germinated for up to 36 h. Germinated wheat kernels were used for microstructural analysis and whole wheat flour was used for rheological tests and enzyme assays. Germination induced structural degradation across all varieties, including crease widening and increased porosity after 24 h, with more pronounced changes at 36 h. α-Amylase activity increased significantly after 24 h, resulting in lower Falling Number and apparent viscosity values. Extended germination (36 h) also weakened gluten aggregation. Correlation analysis revealed strong links between microstructural and rheological properties, with outer layer thickness having the greatest influence. Total porosity was strongly negatively correlated with breakdown (r = -0.64) and peak maximum time (r = -0.64). Outer layer thickness showed even stronger negative correlations with peak maximum time (r = -0.84), peak viscosity (r = -0.82), and breakdown (r = -0.82).

Conclusion: These results showed that extended germination altered wheat kernel structure and functionality, as evidenced by increased porosity, enhanced α-amylase activity, and reduced gluten aggregation capacity and flour viscosity. Among the structural features, outer layer thickness emerged as a key factor influencing flour rheology. © 2026 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: The present 2-year field trial aims to assess the effects of permanent living mulches (pLMs) of Trifolium repens (TRFRE) and Lotus corniculatus (LOTCO) on agronomic performance, and phytochemical and nutraceutical profile of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) in an organic-conservative Mediterranean vegetable system. Standard organic management, including tillage and fertilization, was used as the reference cropping system (CNT). Parameters assessed included biomass accumulation, glucosinolates (GSLs), phenols, chlorophylls, ascorbic acid, and antioxidant activity in broccoli inflorescence.

Results: Although broccoli cultivated with pLMs showed reduced marketable biomass in 2022, both treatments maintained stable yields across 2 years despite differing environmental conditions. In contrast, CNT, which yielded well in 2022, had a marked biomass reduction in 2024, due to soil compaction from intense post-transplant rainfall. LOTCO consistently enhanced total phenol accumulation and antioxidant capacity across seasons, while chlorophyll and ascorbic acid content fluctuated in line with biomass performance. GSL concentrations in broccoli showed marked seasonal variability, with overall higher levels in 2022 compared to 2024. This difference was particularly pronounced for glucoraphanin and 4-methoxyglucobrassicin (4OM-GBS). In both seasons, the effects of pLMs, which reflected broccoli biomass production, modulated the concentration of specific GSLs. A positive correlation was observed between broccoli biomass and GSL concentration, especially for 4OM-GBS, glucobrassicin, and neoglucobrassicin.

Conclusion: pLMs can support broccoli production in organic and conservative cropping systems by enhancing phytochemical profiles and improving resilience to abiotic stresses. While biomass reductions may occur compared to conventional organic systems, pLMs show potential to stabilize both yield and nutraceutical quality. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Millet and highland barley, as low glycemic index (GI) grains, are considered promising ingredients for the development of new plant-based milks. In this study, a millet-highland barley compound milk (MHM) was created by boiling the grains after baking. The product achieved the highest sensory and e-tongue ratings when the millet-to-barley ratio was 1:4.

Results: During storage, MHM showed increasing acidity and colony count, accompanied by an increase in particle size and a decrease in centrifugal sedimentation rate. The flavor of MHM changed significantly with the increase in microbial activity, as evidenced by a shift from an initial sweet and fresh aroma to a rancid and sour odor. A database of volatile compounds and their correlation heat map with storage time was established by gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS).

Conclusions: This study provides a theoretical basis and robust data to support the development of personalized, precision-nutrition plant milk beverages and flavor prediction. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Green extraction techniques represent significant advances in natural product extraction, aligning with the increasing demand for sustainable practices in food and pharmaceuticals. Solid-state fermentation (SSF), enzyme-assisted extraction, and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) green methods enhance extraction efficiency and are crucial for environmental protection and public health.

Results: This study focuses on green extraction methods to boost lutein content in marigold petals. Microbes isolated from these petals were identified as Aspergillus terreus ATCC 1012 using the 18S rRNA gene and utilised for solid-state fermentation to optimise the process. Additionally, cellulase and pectinase enzymes were applied to treat the petals, further improving extraction efficiency. Both enzymatic and microbial treatments of the marigold petals involved various green extraction techniques. Results showed that the combination of SSF and UAE significantly improved lutein yield (51.75 g kg^-1) compared to non-fermented + UAE samples (9.87 g kg^-1). This enhancement correlated with pronounced microstructural breakdown observed under high-resolution field emission scanning electron microscopy, where fermented petals displayed fully ruptured cell matrices, confirming improved pigment accessibility.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates an eco-sustainable strategy for maximizing lutein extraction from marigold petals. The combined SSF + UAE treatment effectively disrupted cellular structures, yielding approximately 5.24 times higher lutein recovery compared to conventional methods. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: In Brazil, the slaughter of female cattle, particularly older animals, has increased substantially. However, meat from this category presents limitations in terms of quality, mainly because of its toughness resulting from a high concentration of cross-links between collagen fibers. The aging process is an effective strategy to improve the quality of meat in this category because it stimulates the activity of cathepsins, which are enzymes responsible for collagen degradation. Calcium chloride (CaCl₂) injection, in addition to activating calpains, can destabilize lysosomal membranes, releasing cathepsins and enhancing the effects of aging. Additionally, freezing inhibits calpastatins, which are natural inhibitors of calpains, resulting in increased activity of these proteolytic enzymes. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of CaCl₂ injection, in combination with freezing prior to wet aging, on the meat quality of cull cows.

Results: Meat samples injected with CaCl₂ showed higher b* values. In the samples that were not previously frozen, higher L* values were recorded after 14 days of aging. At 3 days of aging, total collagen content was higher in previously frozen samples, whereas, at 14 days, no effect of freezing was observed.

Conclusion: Under the conditions of this study, CaCl₂ injection, whether combined with freezing or not, minimally affected the quality of aged cull cow meat. Furthermore, prior freezing can be avoided because it negatively impacts meat color. However, when freezing is already part of the industrial process, 14 days of aging has the potential to counteract its adverse effects. © 2026 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) serve as a protein-rich staple, particularly in Mediterranean countries, where they are often grown in marginal and water-stressed areas. This meta-analysis synthesized evidence from peer-reviewed publications across Mediterranean countries to assess how chickpea rhizobial inoculation influences chickpea performance under different edapho-climatic conditions. The results demonstrated that the highest impact of rhizobial inoculation on nodule number (NN) occurred under semi-arid conditions (+34.98 nodules). Under sub-humid conditions, the most substantial gains of inoculation were observed in nodule dry weight (NDW) (+135.44 mg plant^-1), shoot dry weight (SDW) (+7.67 g plant^-1), and grain yield (GY) (+906 kg ha^-1). Regarding soil types, fine-textured soils showed the most significant inoculation benefits for NN (+36.54 nodules) and NDW (+212.63 mg plant^-1), whereas medium-textured soils showed the highest increase in SDW (+9.21 g plant^-1) and GY (+1517.02 kg ha^-1). Additionally, alkaline-pH soils demonstrated the highest inoculation impact on SDW (+7.65 g plant^-1) and GY (+1054.78 kg ha^-1). While soil salinity had a significant beneficial effect only on SDW in no-saline soils (+4.36 g plant^-1), soil phosphorus (P₂O₅) showed a positive impact on both SDW (+7.59 g plant^-1) and GY (+1527.6 kg ha^-1). For seed protein content (SP), rhizobial inoculation showed no significant effect. However, co-inoculation of Mesorhizobium sp. and Enterobacter sp. consortium showed a promising improvement in NN, GY, and SP. Rhizobial inoculation showed a promising effect on Mediterranean chickpea performance. However, to address edapho-climatic challenges while ensuring potential contribution to soil health and food security, further research on tailored and adapted inoculants is mandatory. © 2026 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Microbially fermented feeds enriched with peptides possess high nutritional value and offer potential for antibiotic-free feed development. Understanding the mechanisms of peptide generation during solid-state fermentation (SSF) is essential for process optimization. This study investigated transcriptional changes in Bacillus subtilis SBM_1 during SSF to explore the mechanisms underlying peptide production.

Results: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were primarily enriched in pathways associated with metabolism, ABC transporters, amino acid biosynthesis, and biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites. Genes involved in extracellular protease synthesis and secretion were up-regulated, including those encoding proteases, chaperones, signal peptides, signal peptidases, and translocases. Bacillus subtilis SBM_1 also demonstrated the capacity to synthesize and secrete both ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) and non-ribosomal peptides (NRPs), as reflected by significant up-regulation of the amylocyclicin-encoding Acc cluster (1.44-1.59-fold) and the subtilin-related Spa cluster (8.37-17.95-fold). Gene clusters involved in the synthesis and transport of surfactin, bacitracin, and bacillaene, including Srf, Bac, Pks, and Acp, exhibited varying degrees of up-regulation. Gene clusters associated with intracellular peptide transmembrane transport (App, Opp, and Dpp) were also substantially up-regulated (4.02-20.79-fold) during fermentation.

Conclusions: These results indicate that during SSF, B. subtilis SBM_1 can synthesize peptides and secrete extracellular proteases to hydrolyze soybean proteins for peptide production. The synthesized peptides are subsequently exported via the ABC transporter pathway, collectively contributing to the accumulation of peptides in the fermentation system. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis poses significant challenges to microbial homeostasis, necessitating effective prebiotic interventions. Given the increasing interest in dietary polysaccharides for modulating microbial imbalance, this study systematically investigates the prebiotic potential of native tamarind seed polysaccharide (NTSP) and its enzymatic hydrolysates (ETSP1, ETSP2) in restoring clindamycin-disrupted intestinal microbiota in mice, with a focus on the impact of molecular weight on structure-activity relationships.

Results: Enzymatic depolymerization selectively reduced the molecular weight (M_w from 5.36 × 10⁵ to 4.05 × 10⁴ g mol^-1) and enhanced chain rigidity while preserving the galactoxyloglucan backbone, as confirmed by monosaccharide composition, nuclear magnetic resonance, and high-performance size-exclusion chromatographic analyses. In vivo, both NTSP and ETSPs ameliorated clindamycin-induced intestinal dysbiosis via suppression of pathogenic genera (e.g., Escherichia-Shigella, Klebsiella) and enrichment of beneficial taxa. Notably, the low-M_w ETSP2 preferentially promoted Lactobacillus and Paludicola, whereas moderate-M_w ETSP1 enhanced Bacteroides, Flavonifractor, and unclassified_f_Lachnospiraceae, and significantly increased short-chain fatty acid production, particularly of acetic acid and valeric acid, as quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Conclusion: These findings highlight the critical role of molecular weight in determining prebiotic efficacy, offering insights into the rational design of structure-function optimized polysaccharide-based therapeutics to combat antibiotic-associated dysbiosis. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: This study investigates the relationship between spirituality and sustainable eating behaviours, addressing a gap in the Italian literature. Although food sustainability is often examined through economic, environmental or health-related lenses, recent research has highlighted the growing importance of ethical and spiritual values in shaping consumer choices. Spirituality, understood as a personal connection with nature, a sense of duty and inner balance, can motivate individuals to adopt more environmentally conscious dietary habits. Based on a modified Norm Activation Model and incorporating spiritual constructs, the research examines if (and how) spirituality aspects affect sustainable consumer behaviours. An online survey was administered to individuals responsible for household grocery decisions, using validated psychometric scales to assess environmental attitudes, ecological identity, spirituality and eating behaviours. Data were analysed through confirmatory factor analysis and hierarchical multiple regression.

Results: The findings demonstrate that spiritual dimensions, especially duty orientation and equanimity, positively affect personal norms, which significantly predict sustainable eating behaviours. Additionally, awareness of environmental consequences and a sense of personal responsibility emerged as key mediators.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that spirituality can serve as a powerful motivational driver for sustainability, supporting more ethical, mindful and low-impact food choices. Educational and policy interventions that recognize and engage with spiritual values may enhance their effectiveness in promoting sustainable food systems. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: The broiler industry is facing major challenges following the prohibition of antibiotic growth promoters, with phytobiotics being a promising potential alternative. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary chestnut burs and flower phytobiotics on performance, jejunal morphology, cecal microflora, visceral organs, and blood biochemicals in broiler chickens. Day-old male Ross broiler chickens (n = 384) were assigned to eight replicates, which were randomly allocated to six treatment groups for a 42-day feeding trial. The treatments were as follows: BD - basal diet (without the addition of burs or flower chestnut extract or powder); VE - BD supplemented with 100 mg kg^-1 vitamin E; BP - BD supplemented with 0.1% chestnut burs powder; FP - BD supplemented with 0.1% chestnut flower powder; BE - BD supplemented with 0.015% chestnut burs extract; and FE - BD supplemented with 0.015% chestnut flower extract.

Results: The FP group achieved the highest body weight, gizzard weight, the longest gastrointestinal tract and small intestine length, and the lowest liver weight (P < 0.01). The FP group also had a significantly lower feed conversion ratio than the BP and BE groups (P = 0.049). All chestnut waste treatments increased the population of Lactobacillus spp. (P < 0.01). The BE diet resulted in the lowest serum cholesterol level (P < 0.01).

Conclusion: The FP group exhibited the highest growth performance and feed efficiency, whereas chestnut-derived phytobiotics enhanced the villi surface area and the Lactobacillus spp.

Population: © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.