Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture最新文献

Background: The quality and commercial value of black tea are significantly influenced by its geographical origin. Traditional traceability methods for black tea are often time-consuming, complex, and inefficient. This study proposes a novel method for the rapid geographical origin traceability of black tea by integrating an electronic tongue (ET) and hyperspectral imaging (HSI) combined with an improved Transformer-graph fusion network (MSTNet). First, taste and spectral image fingerprints of black tea samples are collected by using ET and HSI systems, respectively. To address the complexity and redundancy of ET signals, a composite exponential weighting strategy is employed to optimize the feature representation, followed by a multi-scale parallel fusion Transformer (MPFT) to extract temporal features from ET signals. Meanwhile, given the inherent high dimensionality within HSI images, principal component analysis (PCA) is applied to select informative components, after which a spatial-enhanced Swin Transformer (SEST) is used to capture spatial features from HSI images. Subsequently, a novel graph network is proposed to achieve multi-source feature fusion and classification.

Results: The experimental results indicate that the proposed method achieves superior recognition performance, with a classification accuracy of 99.07%.

Conclusion: This study provides a novel method for black tea origin traceability, which offers broad application prospects for the traceability detection of other food industries. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Grape is regarded as a functional food because it contains glucose, fructose, and high content of phenolic compounds. The effect of foliar application of selenium (Se) is limited by the leaf absorption barrier and photooxidation loss of grapes. In contrast, soil application may provide a stable Se pool for root absorption, but its effect on Se morphology and nutritional value of grapes is not clear.

Results: In this study, grapes were used as the research object. Through field experiments, different concentrations of Se fertilizer spraying treatments were set up to study the effect of soil Se on improving grape quality and organic Se forms, as well as the effect of Se on nutrient elements and heavy metals. The results showed that total Se (165.6-480.3 μg kg ^-1) was accumulated in a dose-dependent manner, while selenoformic acid (Se-Met, 4.14%), selenocysteine (SeCys₂, 1.13%) and methyl selenocysteine (Se-MeSeCys, 0.97%) constituted the key organic forms.

Conclusion: Soil Se application can effectively improve the Se enrichment ability of grapes. Moreover, the biofortification of Se in soil has a dual role, significantly increasing nutrient elements (Ca, Zn, Mo) and effectively reducing the accumulation of heavy metals (As, Pb). © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Botanical extracts are widely consumed for their claimed health benefits, yet their safety profile with respect to chronic consumption remains poorly characterized. Understanding the potential health risks associated with their inorganic content is a crucial issue for ensuring safe use, along with a characterization of the concurrent nutritional contribution of the mineral component.

Results: The present study aimed to quantitatively assess exposure levels and potential health impacts of chronic intake of ten essential (Ca, K, P, Fe, Mg and Zn) and potentially toxic (Al, As, Ni and Pb) elements through the consumption of botanical extracts (n = 25) among Italian adults. A probabilistic approach was employed to estimate exposure levels and both risk and benefit metrics. Results indicated that botanicals alone contributed only minimally to mineral intakes, with 5^th to 95^th percentile (P5-P95) ranges covering 0.01-16.80% of the dietary reference values. Exposure to inorganic As (iAs) raised health concerns because margin of exposure (MOE) values for skin cancer a ranged between 0.05 and 80.50 (P5-P95). When botanical extracts were considered alongside the baseline reference diet, Pb intake also raised concern because MOEs for nephrotoxic and cardiovascular effects fell below the critical threshold of 10. Similarly, cumulative exposure to Al, iAs, Fe, Ni and Zn revealed potential non-carcinogenic risks (mean hazard index > 1) only when considering the consumption of botanicals in addition to the baseline diet.

Conclusion: The findings of the present study underscore the importance of the cautious dietary use of botanical extracts because of potential risks that may outweigh the presumed benefits. © 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: Effective hybrid breeding in maize depends on accurate heterotic group classification and reliable prediction of heterosis. However, the reliability of different prediction methods and the factors influencing their performance remain unclear.

Results: This study assessed heterotic group classification methods and heterosis prediction models using 102 crosses derived from three testers and 34 recombinant inbred lines (RILs). Among the methods classified, the heterotic group-specific and general combining ability (HSGCA) approach was the most effective for heterotic group classification. The Tropical group contained a higher number of molecular markers in key genomic regions, whereas crosses involving the Tropical × Reid pattern showed a greater proportion of heterozygous markers. Both the Tropical × Reid and Tropical × Non-Reid heterotic patterns exhibited higher genetic distance (GD). Genetic distance showed the strongest correlation with grain yield heterosis among all molecular measures evaluated. After the heterotic group classification, inter-group GD correlated more strongly with heterosis than intra-group GD. The GD within the Tropical × Reid inter-group pattern showed the highest positive correlation with heterosis.

Conclusions: For grain yield heterosis in maize, it is concluded that: (1) HSGCA is the most suitable method for heterotic group classification; (2) GD is a robust molecular predictor of heterosis; and (3) the predictive power of GD is maximized within the Tropical × Reid inter-group heterotic pattern, which offers a clear framework for future breeding programs. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: 'Hidden hunger' is an increasing concern at the global scale among both developing and developed countries. Quality protein maize (QPM) lines are nutritionally superior and with selection can be more productive than normal maize lines. However, diversification of QPM germplasm and establishing a broad genetic base is crucial to maintain a sustainable biofortified maize program. In the present study, 15 inbreds derived from diverse pedigrees, as lines (L), were crossed with three superior inbred testers (T) in L × T fashion to generate 45 hybrids.

Results: The hybrids and parents were evaluated for eight agro-morphological traits across two seasons, revealing significant genetic variation for all the traits. Classification of inbreds into different clusters revealed eight clusters, indicating substantial genetic divergence among inbreds. Additionally, the QPM inbreds and their hybrids were characterized for lysine and tryptophan content. The average lysine among inbreds and hybrids was 3.37% and 3.39%, respectively, whereas the average tryptophan content was 0.84% and 0.89%, respectively. For grain yield, significant heterosis was recorded at the mid-parent and better parent level. Hybrid G12 × G16 (111.91%) at the better parent and hybrid G2 × G17 (135.12%) at the mid parent level were found to have the highest heterosis.

Conclusion: These findings established that, leveraging nutritional superiority, a heterotic breeding program can be established for QPM. Wide genetic variation among inbreds can be utilized to develop diverse populations, as observed in the African maize biofortification program. Therefore, the present study reveals potential for establishing a sustainable, broad-based QPM breeding. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Geographical indications (GIs) certify the link between coffee origin and quality, enabling premium pricing and protecting producers. However, the high market value of GI coffees increases their vulnerability to fraud, underscoring the need for reliable and practical authentication methods. Portable near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy represents a rapid and non-destructive alternative, but its capability to discriminate Brazilian GI coffees requires systematic assessment.

Results: This study compared NIR transmittance spectra of aqueous coffee extracts with NIR reflectance spectra of the corresponding ground samples for the authentication of four Brazilian GIs from southeastern Brazil: Cerrado Mineiro, Mogiana Paulista, Mantiqueira de Minas, and Matas de Minas. Distinct spectral signatures were observed in the 900-1650 nm range. Data-driven soft independent modeling of class analogy (DD-SIMCA) was employed, resulting in excellent classification performance. Although both acquisition modes showed satisfactory performance during calibration and validation, reflectance consistently outperformed transmittance in the prediction of a test set, achieving accuracies ranging from 97% to 100%. The superior performance of reflectance-based models was attributed to the preservation of chemically informative features in the solid coffee matrix, including lipids and other compounds poorly extracted into water, whereas aqueous extracts were dominated by water absorption and exhibited greater intraclass variability.

Conclusion: Portable NIR spectroscopy, particularly in reflectance mode combined with DD-SIMCA, provides a fast, non-destructive, and highly reliable approach for authenticating Brazilian GI coffees. These findings highlight its potential as a practical tool to protect producers and consumers against fraud and to ensure the integrity of products bearing protected geographical indications. © 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: Iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) persists as a global public health burden, urging the development of high-efficacy iron supplements with improved bioavailability and stability. Egg yolk phosphopeptides (EYPPs) possess excellent metal-chelating potential due to their abundant functional groups, making them ideal carriers for iron fortification.

Results: This study synthesized and characterized an egg yolk phosphopeptide-ferrous (EYPP-Fe) chelate, optimizing reaction conditions as follows: 7.5% peptide concentration, 3:1 peptide-to-iron salt mass ratio, 55 °C reaction temperature, pH 7, and 40 min reaction time. Structural analyses via ultraviolet-visible, fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed chelate formation, with ferrous ions coordinating with EYPP's amino, carboxyl, and phosphate groups. In vitro assays demonstrated EYPP-Fe's robust stability against heat, salt, acid, and gastrointestinal digestion. In a zebrafish model of phenylhydrazine-induced anemia, EYPP-Fe significantly ameliorated anemia (P < 0.05), increasing cardiac erythrocyte staining intensity by 78.57% compared to the model group - outperforming ferrous pyrophosphate.

Conclusion: These findings validate EYPP-Fe as a promising iron supplement candidate with enhanced stability and bioavailability, offering a viable solution for IDA mitigation. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) has been recognized for its therapeutic properties in traditional medicinal systems for centuries. Common applications include ginger tea, decoctions, and chewable fresh rhizomes used to address inflammatory and metabolic issues. These traditional uses are closely linked to the numerous bioactive compounds present in ginger. These compounds can be extracted and studied to improve their overall efficacy and safety. This process also allows the identification of the principal bioactive compounds contributing to specific pharmacological effects through evaluation with pharmacological models, providing mechanism-based validation of traditional uses. The aim of this study was to provide detailed pharmacological insights regarding ginger bioactive compounds at both preclinical and clinical stages, with a focus on evidence-based therapeutics. Based on existing literature, gingerols have been identified as major phenolic compounds in ginger, which contribute to a variety of pharmacological effects, including antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective activity. Gingerols have been studied extensively at the preclinical level and account for over 80% of the reported therapeutic impacts of fresh ginger. However, their clinical effectiveness is limited primarily by an inadequate pharmacokinetic profile. To address this limitation, nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems have been investigated to improve the therapeutic profile of ginger bioactive compounds, representing a promising strategy for the development of more effective treatment options than traditional approaches. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: The length of the stipe is a key commercial trait in oyster mushrooms, but the genes and molecular mechanisms regulating its development remain unclear. This study aimed to identify genes linked to stipe length in oyster mushrooms.

Results: An F₂ segregating population associated with stipe length was developed and used for phenotypic analysis. The results showed that stipe length followed a typical normal distribution, indicating that this trait is polygenic in nature. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping and bulked segregant analysis (BSA-Seq) were used to identify genomic regions linked to stipe length. A high-density genetic map with 17 604 SNP (single-nucleotide polymorphism) markers was constructed for QTL mapping. A significant QTL associated with stipe length was identified on linkage group 7, located on contig00004 (1 771 973 to 2 139 983 bp). This region contains 122 putative candidate genes. In the BSA-Seq analysis, three significant candidate regions were identified on contig00004, contig00016, and contig00018, collectively containing 26 potential candidate genes. Genes identified through BSA-Seq and QTL mapping are enriched in the cell wall biosynthesis pathway, which plays a key role in stipe elongation. Integrating QTL mapping with BSA-Seq results, a refined candidate region was pinpointed on contig00004 (2 049 583 to 2 063 927 bp). This region contains four candidate genes, which potentially regulating stipe length in oyster mushrooms.

Conclusion: The combined QTL mapping and BSA-Seq approach proved effective for identifying genetic regions associated with stipe length. The candidate genes identified in this study provide valuable insights for future research and applications in stipe-length-related breeding programs for oyster mushrooms. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Natural products with strong antioxidant properties and selective cytotoxic effects are increasingly recognized as promising candidates for cancer-related applications. In this context, Medicago lupulina and Trifolium arvense have garnered interest due to their diverse phytochemical profiles. This study aimed to compare the antioxidant potential and cytotoxic activity of methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts obtained from the aerial parts of both species.

Results: The methanolic extract of T. arvense exhibited the highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents, with values of 47.46 mg GAEs g^-1 and 42.28 mg REs g^-1, respectively. It demonstrated excellent antioxidant activity, with strong radical scavenging capacities (DPPH and ABTS values of 47.37 mg TEs g^-1 and 95.18 mg TEs g^-1). Meanwhile, M. lupulina extracts, especially the ethyl acetate one, showed significant metal chelating activity at 17.89 mg EDTAs g^-1. In cytotoxicity tests, T. arvense's methanolic extract had a strong antiproliferative effect on HeLa cancer cells, with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values of 0.492, 0.954, and 0.515 mg mL^-1 at 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively, and lower toxicity towards L929 fibroblast cells. All results were statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: The methanolic extract of T. arvense has been identified as a powerful source of natural antioxidants that exhibit selective anticancer properties. This highlights its potential importance for future pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. These findings establish a strong scientific foundation for further in vivo and mechanistic studies. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.