Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture最新文献

Background: Multifunctional fluorescent probes have attracted much attention due to their wide range of applications and high utilization. In this study, a multifunctional fluorescent probe (E)-3-(4-(7-(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)benzo[c] [1,2,5]thiadiazol-4-yl)phenyl)acrylic acid (TBAC) based on triphenylamine was designed and synthesized.

Results: The TBAC probe provided excellent aggregation-induced emission (AIE) performance and could be used as a fluorescent ink for printing. It was also prepared successfully for application as a fingerprint powder, facilitating the visual detection of invisible fingerprints on surfaces such as glass, plastic, tinfoil, metal, aluminum, and resin. The probe exhibited a clear fluorescence response to 12 volatile amines via an AIE-based 'on-off' mechanism in an EtOH/H₂O (4/6, v/v) solution. The TBAC/bromocresol green (BCG) indicator label also enabled non-destructive and rapid assessment of salmon freshness through dual-channel colorimetric and fluorescence responses.

Conclusion: The versatility of TBAC makes it a promising material for various applications, including fluorescent materials, criminal detection, and food safety. This study provides a new basis for the multifunctional application of fluorescent probes. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Wheat-maize cropping systems in semi-arid regions are expected to be affected by climate change in the future, which is alarming for global food security, environmental sustainability and socioeconomic development. Therefore, management practices like optimized plant geometry and fertilization need to be explored to counter these expected threats. To do this, the APSIM model was calibrated using 5-year data (from 2017/2018 to 2022) regarding yield, biomass, plant height, emergence, anthesis and crop maturity of wheat and maize from farmer fields.

Results: The performance of a model run was assessed using root mean square error, normalized root mean square error, coefficient of residual mass, coefficient of determination (R²) and Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency, whose average was 1.59, 0.13, 0.001, 0.84 and 0.78, respectively, for calibration while 2.75, 0.20, -0.009, 0.80 and 0.75, respectively, for validation. Regarding crop phenology, it was modelled that the emergence, anthesis and maturity were earlier by 7-9 days, 8-10 days and 2-6 days, respectively, for wheat; 6-10 days, 13-20 days and 16-24 days, respectively, for spring maize; 3-5 days, 5-11 days and 8-19 days, respectively, for autumn maize under different climate change scenarios in near to far future. Simulations revealed the average reduction in the yield of wheat, spring maize and autumn maize by 11.5%, 11.8% and 11.0%, respectively, in near future (2025-2065) while 17.5%, 20.5% and 17.0%, respectively, in far future (2066-2100). Further, simulations discovered the potential of higher levels of fertilization (nitrogen = 60-100 kg ha^-1 and phosphorus = 40-75 kg ha^-1 for wheat while nitrogen = 75-120 kg ha^-1 and phosphorus = 40-80 kg ha^-1 for maize) and plant density (100 to 150 plants m^-2 for wheat and 8 to 13 plants m^-2 for maize) to enhance the yield of wheat, spring maize and autumn maize by 31-36%, 22-38% and 26-43%, respectively, in near future while 33-38%, 21-55% and 19-31%, respectively, in far future.

Conclusions: The findings underscore the effects of climate change on wheat-maize cropping systems and the importance of implementing optimized fertilization and adjusting plant density to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, thereby safeguarding food security and sustaining agricultural productivity. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) was modified by a sulfuric and nitric acid mixed system to improve the solubility of the material and the gas selective permeability of the film. SN1 and SN5, synthesized from mixed acid systems (with ratios of nitric acid and sulfuric acid of 1:1 and 1:5, respectively) were chosen because they had comparable nitro groups but differing sulfonyl groups. To investigate the impact of the type and content of sulfonated and nitrated polyether ether ketone (SNPEEK) on the structure and physicochemical properties of the films, SN1/polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and SN5/polyvinyl chloride films were made by adding varying amounts of SN1 and SN5 (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0% and 2.5 wt%), respectively.

Results: SNPEEK (with ratios of nitric acid and sulfuric acid of 1:1-9) with high nitric acid group concentration outperformed nitrated polyether ether ketone (NPEEK) (with ratios of nitric acid and sulfuric acid of 3-9:1) with a low nitric acid concentration in terms of solubility at room temperature and expanded the application range. The inclusion of SNPEEK resulted in more micropores on the membrane microstructure, and higher contents of -SO₃H and -NO₂ groups enhanced the polarity, which improved permeability and selectivity for CO₂ and O₂ and the moisture permeability of the membranes. During grape storage (4 ± 1 °C), 1.0% SN1/PVC and 1.0% SN5/PVC membranes reached equilibrium gas concentration on day 4 (4.6-5.4% CO₂, 17.6-18.1% O₂; 3.5-4.1% CO₂ and 18.6-19.1% O₂), grapes showed lower electrolyte leakage as well as higher hardness, total soluble solid content and vitamin C content.

Conclusion: Because there are few studies on modified PEEK air conditioning packaging for grape preservation, SNPEEK/PVC membrane has practical value. In the present study, 1.0% SN1/PVC and 1.0% SN5/PVC membranes extended the shelf life by more than 16 and 8 days, respectively, compared to the blank group (unsealed packaging). © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Biowaste accounts for about 40% of total waste. Food-industry waste is one major biowaste stream. The available technological approaches to biowaste treatment are expensive, not circular, unsustainable, and they require pre-treatments such as dehydration, extraction of inhibitors, pH correction, or the addition of other organic matrices. The NP-bioTech process uses a biocatalyst adsorbed onto an inert material enabling accelerated fermentation of critical biomass without pre-treatments, transforming it into biostabilized and pasteurized material, and converting waste into new usable products rapidly. Biocatalysts consist of naturally fortified selections of microbial colonies, enzymes, and fungi that are resistant to the action of d-limonene and other fermentation inhibitors.

Results: The NP-bioTech process was able to activate vigorous fermentation of citrus waste without any of the pre-treatments required by other available biowaste-treatment technologies. The horticultural use of the biostabilized output of such process for greenhouse crops was verified. The addition of such output to the growth media was beneficial for plants and did not show negative effects on quality and yield of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum L.). The concentration of Ca, K, Zn, Fe, and polyphenol increased; the average number of berries per plant was improved; the concentration of Pb and Cd contaminants decreased.

Conclusion: The NP-bioTech process emits no odors or pollutants. It does not generate leachate, and its output can be used in agriculture. It is capable of reconciling compliance with strict environmental restrictions, industrial feasibility, and economic sustainability. Its potential impact thus aligns well with the circular economy model. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: The health benefits of organic food provide one reason for consuming it. Various studies have shown that regular organic food consumers (REG eco-con) follow a healthier diet. However, this topic has not been explored in Poland. This study aimed to evaluate the diet quality of mothers with children under 6 years old, residing in three provinces of Poland, who consumed organic food at varying frequencies. Data were collected using validated questionnaires.

Results: Among the mothers surveyed (N = 667), 84% achieved an average Diet Quality Index (DQI) score, indicating a neutral impact of their diet on health. Meanwhile, 15% of respondents exhibited diets with a high intensity of health-promoting characteristics. Women with a higher frequency of organic food consumption displayed more health-promoting dietary behavior. Regular organic food consumers demonstrated significantly higher DQI and Pro-Healthy Diet Index (pHDI) scores than those with lower organic food consumption frequency. The REG eco-con mothers also reported significantly more frequent consumption of vegetables, fruit, whole-grain bread and cereals, fermented dairy products, legumes, and fish. Respondents who rated their state of health as better than that of their peers were characterized by more frequent consumption of organic food.

Conclusion: An organic diet may play a significant role in an individual's quality of life and well-being. The results of this study could be relevant for the organic food sector and policymakers in developing nutritional transformation towards sustainability. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

In recent years, changes in dietary patterns from an omnivore diet to a moderate-to-restrictive diet that includes more plant food are becoming popular for various reasons and the associated health benefits. Despite the increased consumption of plant food as recommended by these seemingly healthy diets, micronutrient deficiency is still prevalent particularly among the health-conscious populations. The aim of this review is to help guide interventions by understanding micronutrient deficiency trends from a dietary habit and plant physiology context. In this review, the author discusses how modern agricultural practices coupled with climate change, and with particular emphasis on the extreme dietary habits that lack variation and excessive consumption, may contribute to an increased ingestion of antinutrients which in turn potentially exacerbate vitamin and mineral deficiencies. While plants possess a wide range of secondary metabolites that exert beneficial health effects, some of these compounds are also antinutrients that interfere with the digestion and absorption of nutrients and micronutrients. Furthermore, the article also raises questions concerning the fate of antinutrient traits in future crops that were to be redesigned with improved stress tolerance, and the impacts it may have on human nutrition and the environment. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Incorporating β-carotene into food systems improves nutritional value by providing a natural source of vitamin A. However, maintaining its stability during processing and storage is a significant barrier for its bioavailability.

Results: This study investigated the utilization of banana rachis nanocellulose (BRNC) as a natural stabilizer in the formulation of Pickering nanoemulsion (PNE). Parameters were optimized for developing PNE using BNRC. A 20 g kg ^-1 concentration of BNRC was found to be suitable in terms of particle size and zeta potential. The PNE, with a particle size of 196 nm and a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.463, remained stable for 35 days. β-Carotene (1 g kg^-1) on encapsulation in PNE showed enhanced chemical stability with a retention rate of 0.81. The BRNC-based PNE demonstrated enhanced stability against phase separation. Additionally, β-carotene-infused PNE mayonnaise was developed and characterized. Hydroperoxide formation in developed mayonnaise increased in control sample up to day 14, while samples with β-carotene showed no significant increase (P > 0.05) throughout the analysis period. Furthermore, mayonnaise added with the BRNC-based PNE enriched with β-carotene exhibited improved functionality, including enhanced rheological (R² = 0.99), textural, and colour attributes. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed 612.6 ± 0.8 μg β-carotene kg ^-1 of mayonnaise.

Conclusion: The developed mayonnaise successfully reduces fat content while enhancing its overall functionality. The potential of BRNC as a promising bio-based stabilizer was thus elucidated for the development of functional food products with improved nutritional value and stability. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: This study aimed to elucidate the transport mechanism of lycopene-loaded nanomicelles to improve intestinal absorption of lycopene. The interactive mechanism between lycopene and nanomicelles was investigated through isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, endocytosis, and intracellular transport pathways of lycopene-loaded nanomicelles were investigated using the Caco-2 cell model.

Results: The ITC results demonstrated that nanomicelles/lycopene binding was an entropy-driven spontaneous exothermic reaction, and hydrophobic interactions were the main driving force. Lycopene-loaded nanomicelles were not cytotoxic, and uptake of lycopene by Caco-2 cells increased 2.20-fold after nanoencapsulation. The results of intracellular transport of lycopene-loaded nanomicelles indicated that the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and lysosomes play key roles in this process. The intracellular transport results showed that the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and lysosomes were important organelles for intracellular transport of lycopene-loaded nanomicelles.

Conclusion: Nanomicelles effectively enhance the cellular uptake of lycopene and are promising carriers for its delivery. This study contributes to the understanding of the transport mechanism of nanomicelles through intestinal epithelial cells. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Fresh Cistanche deserticola, a valuable medicinal and dietary ingredient with exceptional functional properties, exhibits a high moisture content and is susceptible to deterioration due to its high moisture content. Therefore, it is imperative to identify an appropriate dehydration method. This study primarily focuses on enhancing the efficiency and quality of dried C. deserticola, through a hybrid drying process that combines freeze-drying (FD) and infrared drying (IRD). The samples were first dehydrated by FD and then transferred to IRD until the end of drying, with different moisture transition points (based on FD durations of 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, and 7.0 h, and the corresponding groups are marked as FD5.5h-IR, FD6.0h-IR, FD6.5h-IR, and FD7.0h-IR).

Results: The FD6.5h-IR method proved to be 32.08% more energy efficient than the sole FD method. The microscopic examination revealed that the surfaces of samples treated using the FD6.5h-IR and FD7h-IR techniques were smoother and clearer with smaller and more uniform pores, similar to the microstructure of the solely FD sample. Furthermore, the FD6.5h-IR treatment has been demonstrated to be highly effective in maintaining the retention of active ingredients in products.

Conclusion: Given the disadvantage of FD7h-IR treatment in terms of energy consumption, FD6.5h was identified as the best moisture transition point. This investigation offers a theoretical basis for enhancing quality control and refining the process during the FD-IRD processing of newly harvested C. deserticola slices. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Dynamic high-pressure microfluidization (DHPM) is an emerging treatment technology and has been widely used for the recovery of natural polysaccharides. The aim of the present contribution is to discuss the DHPM-assisted extraction and processing of polysaccharides from some foods and by-products by reviewing the instrument and working principle, procedures, key parameters, and effects of DHPM on the structures, food properties, and bioactivities of resulting polysaccharides. It was found that a DHPM instrument with Z-type chamber is preferable for extracting polysaccharides, and a DHPM with Y-type chamber is applicable for processing polysaccharides. The solid-to-liquid ratio (or concentration), pressure, and number of passes are the key parameters influencing the outcome of DHPM extraction and processing. The DHPM under suitable conditions is conducive to boosting the extraction yields of polysaccharides, enriching the carbohydrates and uronic acids in polysaccharides, lowering the protein impurities, and transforming insoluble dietary fibers into soluble ones. In most cases, DHPM treatment improved the food properties of polysaccharides via decreasing viscosity, molecular weight, and particle size, as well as losing the surface morphology. More importantly, DHPM is a mild treatment technique that barely affects the chain backbones of polysaccharides. DHPM-assisted extraction and processing endowed polysaccharides with enhanced antioxidant, hypolipidemic, and hypoglycemic activities, exhibiting potential for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. In addition, DHPM-treated polysaccharides exerted certain potential in whitening cosmetics via inhibiting tyrosinase. In conclusion, DHPM is a mild, efficient, and green technology to recover and modify polysaccharides from natural resources, especially foods and by-products. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.