Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture最新文献

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: Baby corn has emerged as a new high-value vegetable that offers excellent economic benefits to farmers along with exceptional silage for livestock. Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) provides an effective alternative to manual detasseling which is otherwise essential in baby corn farming.

Results: Here we identified, validated, and deployed CMS-Texas (CMS-T), CMS-Charrua (CMS-C), and CMS-USDA (CMS-S) systems to the development of male sterile baby corn hybrids. Markers (T-urf13, orf355-orf77 and atp6-atp9) specific to three CMS cytoplasm were employed to differentiate CMS types. CMS systems were further introgressed into 11 elite inbreds. CMS-T revealed complete and stable pollen sterility, followed by CMS-C. Whereas CMS-S exhibited partial to complete fertility restoration. CMS-T based ABSH4-1 was later commercialized as 'Pusa HM4 Male Sterile Baby Corn (Shishu)'. It recorded a dehusked baby corn yield (BCY) of 2274 kg/ha while the original fertile version, HM4 possessed BCY of 2192 kg/ha across the five locations for the 2 years. ABSH4-2 with C-cytoplasm was further commercialized as 'Pusa HM4 Male Sterile Baby Corn-2', and exhibited BCY of 1655 kg/ha with similar BCY of HM4 across the 20 locations for the 2 years. Both hybrids showed complete male sterility across locations. ABHS-27, a CMS-T version of CMVL Baby Corn-2, also demonstrated stable sterility performance with BCY of 2137 kg/ha across five locations and 2 years, and released as as 'Pusa Male Sterile Baby Corn-3'.

Conclusion: The study highlighted the successful development, characterization, multi-location evaluation and commercial cultivation of CMS-based baby corn hybrids. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Clean-label stabilization of plant-based emulsions often requires a combination of interfacially active proteins and polysaccharide networks. The present study examined the stability window of cellulose nanofiber (CNF)-soy protein isolate (SPI) emulsions by screening CNF:SPI ratios (0:10-10:0) and oil fractions (20-80%), and then focused on 40% oil for systematic evaluation. We determined the zeta potential (ζ), emulsifying activity/stability indices (EAI/ESI), droplet size distributions, confocal microstructure, and rheology to elucidate the complementary roles of CNF and SPI.

Results: All emulsions were electrostatically stabilized, exhibiting zeta potentials between -31.5 and -49.9 mV, with increasing CNF fraction producing more negative surface charges. The SPI-only formulation generated small but polydisperse droplets (~15-80 μm) and displayed weak viscoelasticity, whereas the CNF-only system produced coarse, bimodal droplets (20-100 μm) despite a strong surface charge. By contrast, mixed formulations, particularly C8S2-C6S4, formed uniform droplets (10-20 μm), demonstrated broad linear viscoelastic ranges, and showed pronounced shear-thinning behavior. Among them, C6S4 achieved the highest EAI = 8.18 m² g^-1 and ESI = 70.4 min, together with the largest critical strain = 68.5%, indicating the most effective synergy between interfacial protein film formation and CNF-reinforced bulk network. These findings quantitatively confirm that balanced CNF:SPI ratios yield optimal structural stability and rheological performance for clean-label plant-based emulsions.

Conclusion: These findings support a cooperative mechanism: SPI furnishes elastic interfacial films, whereas CNF reinforces the continuous phase via a weak fibrillar gel network. Balanced CNF:SPI ratios (C6S4-C8S2) optimize droplet uniformity, electrostatic repulsion, and bulk viscoelasticity. These results provide practical design rules for obtaining robust clean-label plant-based emulsions. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Radiotherapy often causes radiation-induced myelosuppression, adversely affecting patient health and treatment outcomes. Danggui Buxue Decoction (DBD), a traditional Chinese Medicine formula, has shown potential in alleviating X-ray-induced myelosuppression (X-IM) and promoting hematopoietic recovery, though its specific targets and mechanisms remain unclear. This study seeks to clarify DBD's targets and mechanisms in combating X-IM using bioinformatics and experimental methods.

Results: Network pharmacology was employed to identify 153 key targets of DBD for treating X-IM. Gene ontology enrichment analysis highlighted critical biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions, including nucleus, cytoplasm, protein binding, and DNA binding. KEGG/DAVID analysis underscored the pivotal role of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway in DBD's protective effects against X-IM. Molecular docking validated the interaction of DBD's main components with core targets. The high-performance liquid chromatographic fingerprint analysis of DBD revealed distinct and reproducible peaks, indicating that its quality is controllable. Further content detection and component identification of calycosin and ferulic acid showed that the contents of key ingredients in DBD and their identities fully met the established requirements. Animal experiments demonstrated that DBD significantly accelerated the recovery of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets in X-IM-exposed mice, enhanced the secretion of hematopoietic factors like erythropoietin and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and improved bone marrow cellularity and cell arrangement in the femurs of treated mice, as revealed by histopathological examination. Molecular analyses further confirmed that DBD significantly upregulated the mRNA expression of PI3K and AKT, consistent with the predictions from network pharmacology. The research employed a comprehensive strategy to explore the benefits and underlying mechanisms of DBD in addressing X-IM, ultimately laying a fresh groundwork for identifying and advancing natural therapeutic agents. © 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: 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: This study investigated the combined effects of high planting density and drought stress on morpho-physiological traits, yield, and fruit quality in tomato plants. The research addresses knowledge gaps in plant responses to multiple concurrent stressors and explores strategies for maximizing yield per cultivation area under water scarcity conditions. Two experimental approaches were employed: a controlled environment study with 30-day-old tomato seedlings grown under low density (LD) or high density (HD) conditions with normal or restricted water supply, and a field experiment carried out up to the fruiting stage. Measurements included morphological traits, photosynthetic parameters, oxidative stress markers, pigment content, gene expression of shade marker genes, yield components, and fruit quality attributes.

Results: HD cultivation triggered typical shade avoidance syndrome responses, but unexpectedly enhanced photosynthetic rates compared to LD. HD did not exacerbate the physiological response to drought but did reduce per-plant yield when combined with drought. Light quality modifications under HD led to increased lycopene content in fruits, suggesting potential nutritional quality benefits.

Conclusions: The findings challenge simplistic views of combined stress effects, revealing that moderate shade from HD cultivation may mitigate certain aspects of drought stress. While combined HD and drought reduced yield, the enhanced photosynthetic efficiency and improved fruit quality parameters suggest optimized HD cultivation could represent a viable strategy for sustainable intensification of tomato production under water-limited environments. © 2025 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: This study explored the upcycling of lignosulfonate, a by-product of the pulp and paper industry, into polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB)-based films for sustainable food packaging applications. Glycerol and lignosulfonate were incorporated to enhance film flexibility, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial properties, addressing the growing demand for functional and eco-friendly packaging materials.

Results: Glycerol increased film thickness and water vapor permeability but reduced tensile strength, confirming its plasticizing effect. The incorporation of lignosulfonate improved barrier and functional properties by reducing water uptake, enhancing antioxidant capacity, and inhibiting Staphylococcus sp. When applied to choux cream, the optimized lignosulfonate-PHB film (245 g kg^-1 glycerol, 120 g kg^-1 lignosulfonate) markedly suppressed microbial proliferation, showing the lowest growth rates (μ = 0.56 log CFU g^-1 d^-1 for total plate count and 0.35 log CFU g^-1 d^-1 for yeast and mold count at 30 °C) and temperature coefficients (Q₁₀ = 2.16 and 1.78, respectively). This indicates strong thermal stability and effective control of microbial spoilage across 10-30 °C storage.

Conclusion: Lignosulfonate-based PHB films demonstrate high potential as biodegradable and functional food packaging materials. Their ability to extend shelf life and maintain microbial stability supports the transition toward sustainable, clean-label, and low-emission packaging solutions. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Proso millet protein (PMP) has attracted increasing attention as a plant-based carrier for hydrophobic bioactives, yet its poor stability and solubility limit its application.

Results: In this study, waxy (W-YS1) and non-waxy (N-YM2) PMP were used to fabricate Cur-EGCG-NaCas-P-1 (2) complex nanoparticles via anti-solvent precipitation for curcumin (Cur) delivery. Under optimal fabrication conditions (pH 3.0 or 7.0, Cur/PMP ratio of 1:5, and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) concentration of 1.2 mg mL^-1), Cur was successfully encapsulated into PMP-based nanoparticles. The incorporation of EGCG markedly enhanced the physical stability, encapsulation efficiency, and antioxidant activity of the nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed that Cur existed in an amorphous state after encapsulation, while Fourier transform infrared and fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic interactions, and hydrogen bonding were the main driving forces for nanoparticle formation. Furthermore, Cur bioaccessibility was significantly improved in a simulated gastrointestinal environment.

Conclusion: These results indicate that PMP/NaCas/EGCG complex nanoparticles represent a promising protection and delivery system for hydrophobic bioactive compounds, with considerable potential for applications in functional foods and pharmaceutical formulations. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Peony seed kernels (Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews) face limited food application because of their bitterness and astringency. Roasting, a well-established technique for flavor enhancement, presents a viable strategy to improve their sensory characteristics. This study investigated the effects of thermal processing on the flavor compounds and bioactive components of Peony seed kernels.

Results: Using a Box-Behnken design coupled with response surface methodology, the optimal processing conditions were determined to be drying at 70 °C for 60 min followed by roasting at 200 °C for 8 min, achieving a tannin inhibition rate of 63.8%. HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry analysis revealed a significant reduction (50.53-69.85%) in the content of paeoniflorin, a key bitter component. Principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis effectively discriminated the flavor profiles, demonstrating a clear clustering of samples based on their flavor components.

Conclusion: Thermal processing not only effectively mitigated bitterness and astringency, but also modulated the bioactivity of peony seed kernels. In vitro activity assays confirmed that roasting influenced the total phenolic and flavonoid content, alongside the antioxidant capacities, thereby positively impacting their potential for human metabolic regulation. This study provides a theoretical foundation for the industrial development of peony seed kernels as palatable and functional food ingredients. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.