To ensure the quality of fresh corn and improve production line efficiency, automating the identification and detection of deficiencies and diseases in corn grains is essential. This study addresses the limitations and accuracy issues among contemporary techniques in real-world production settings by developing a corn detection model known as Corn-Net, which utilizes semantic segmentation. By imitating the UNet architecture, Corn-Net incorporates a multi-scale strip convolutional attention block (MSCAB) into its encoder–decoder structure, significantly enhancing feature extraction for various sizes of corn kernels, deficiencies, and diseased areas. To mitigate the potential computational costs and efficiency reductions associated with large-scale convolution kernels, MSCAB adopts a strip convolution kernel design of 1 + K, effectively achieving a receptive field effect similar to K. Experimental results demonstrate that Corn-Net, utilizing the 1 + K design, achieves an average segmentation rate of 83.03%, an average Dice coefficient of 80.22%, and an average accuracy of 90.82%, surpassing vanilla K designs. Furthermore, this approach reduces the model latency by 41.09% and increases the frame rate, thus improving the operational efficiency compared to K designs. Corn-Net exhibits superior segmentation performance on a self-compiled fresh corn dataset compared to existing models. Incorporating Corn-Net into a unified hardware and software system offers a practical automated solution to sorting corn grades, marking a significant advance in automating and enhancing agricultural production processes.
{"title":"Post-harvest sorting of fresh corn based on semantic segmentation","authors":"Riyao Chen , Mingchao Yang , Haixia Qi , Xiwen Luo , Yu Liang , Zihong Chen , Tiancan Jian , Jinzhuo Jiang , Huiliang Huang , Junwei Ouyang","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102656","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102656","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To ensure the quality of fresh corn and improve production line efficiency, automating the identification and detection of deficiencies and diseases in corn grains is essential. This study addresses the limitations and accuracy issues among contemporary techniques in real-world production settings by developing a corn detection model known as Corn-Net, which utilizes semantic segmentation. By imitating the UNet architecture, Corn-Net incorporates a multi-scale strip convolutional attention block (MSCAB) into its encoder–decoder structure, significantly enhancing feature extraction for various sizes of corn kernels, deficiencies, and diseased areas. To mitigate the potential computational costs and efficiency reductions associated with large-scale convolution kernels, MSCAB adopts a strip convolution kernel design of <span><math><mrow><mi>K</mi><mspace></mspace><mo>×</mo></mrow></math></span> 1 + <span><math><mrow><mn>1</mn><mspace></mspace><mo>×</mo></mrow></math></span> K, effectively achieving a receptive field effect similar to <span><math><mrow><mi>K</mi><mspace></mspace><mo>×</mo></mrow></math></span> K. Experimental results demonstrate that Corn-Net, utilizing the <span><math><mrow><mi>K</mi><mspace></mspace><mo>×</mo></mrow></math></span> 1 + <span><math><mrow><mn>1</mn><mspace></mspace><mo>×</mo></mrow></math></span> K design, achieves an average segmentation rate of 83.03%, an average Dice coefficient of 80.22%, and an average accuracy of 90.82%, surpassing vanilla <span><math><mrow><mi>K</mi><mspace></mspace><mo>×</mo></mrow></math></span> K designs. Furthermore, this approach reduces the model latency by 41.09% and increases the frame rate, thus improving the operational efficiency compared to <span><math><mrow><mi>K</mi><mspace></mspace><mo>×</mo></mrow></math></span> K designs. Corn-Net exhibits superior segmentation performance on a self-compiled fresh corn dataset compared to existing models. Incorporating Corn-Net into a unified hardware and software system offers a practical automated solution to sorting corn grades, marking a significant advance in automating and enhancing agricultural production processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102656"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038257","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Household refrigeration slows the deterioration of perishable produce, yet the physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying nutrient retention and coordinated postharvest trait networks remain poorly understood. This study evaluated green chilli (Capsicum frutescens), guava (Psidium guajava), and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) stored under ambient (25 ± 2 °C) and refrigerated (6 ± 1 °C) conditions over 12 days, applying multivariate and network analyses to clarify trait interactions shaping postharvest quality. Regression- and threshold-based analyses were incorporated to validate key predictors and classify quality status. Refrigeration at 6 °C preserved quality. By day 12, weight loss in green chilli was limited to 4.7 % compared to 25.2 % under ambient conditions, while tomato firmness declined by 43.6 % versus 77.2 %. Guava retained 68.5 % ascorbic acid under refrigeration, markedly higher than 19.3 % at ambient temperature. Mineral traits remained stable across all treatments. Network analysis identified two coordinated trait modules representing quality preservation and deterioration. Firmness emerged as a strong predictor of quality, with R2 values ranging from 0.31 to 0.75 across crops. Firmness thresholds effectively identified unacceptable quality, supporting early detection of deterioration. Strong correlations between firmness and antioxidant retention (ascorbic acid r = 0.84; total phenolics r = 0.83) further established firmness as an integrative trait linking physicochemical, antioxidant, and mineral attributes. Across the 12-day period, produce maintained acceptable quality for up to 8 days under refrigeration and approximately 2 days under ambient storage. These findings provide mechanistic insights into coordinated postharvest responses and offer practical tools, including trait networks and firmness monitoring to enhance nutrient retention, preserve quality, and reduce household food waste.
{"title":"Coordinated postharvest trait networks in green chilli, guava, and tomato: Multivariate insights into physicochemical, antioxidant, and mineral quality retention under household storage","authors":"Most Altaf-Un-Nahar , Sudipta Joydhar Pretha , Sarif Istiak Akash , Md Rezaul Karim","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102686","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102686","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Household refrigeration slows the deterioration of perishable produce, yet the physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying nutrient retention and coordinated postharvest trait networks remain poorly understood. This study evaluated green chilli (<em>Capsicum frutescens</em>), guava (<em>Psidium guajava</em>), and tomato (<em>Solanum lycopersicum</em>) stored under ambient (25 ± 2 °C) and refrigerated (6 ± 1 °C) conditions over 12 days, applying multivariate and network analyses to clarify trait interactions shaping postharvest quality. Regression- and threshold-based analyses were incorporated to validate key predictors and classify quality status. Refrigeration at 6 °C preserved quality. By day 12, weight loss in green chilli was limited to 4.7 % compared to 25.2 % under ambient conditions, while tomato firmness declined by 43.6 % versus 77.2 %. Guava retained 68.5 % ascorbic acid under refrigeration, markedly higher than 19.3 % at ambient temperature. Mineral traits remained stable across all treatments. Network analysis identified two coordinated trait modules representing quality preservation and deterioration. Firmness emerged as a strong predictor of quality, with R<sup>2</sup> values ranging from 0.31 to 0.75 across crops. Firmness thresholds effectively identified unacceptable quality, supporting early detection of deterioration. Strong correlations between firmness and antioxidant retention (ascorbic acid r = 0.84; total phenolics r = 0.83) further established firmness as an integrative trait linking physicochemical, antioxidant, and mineral attributes. Across the 12-day period, produce maintained acceptable quality for up to 8 days under refrigeration and approximately 2 days under ambient storage. These findings provide mechanistic insights into coordinated postharvest responses and offer practical tools, including trait networks and firmness monitoring to enhance nutrient retention, preserve quality, and reduce household food waste.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102686"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-15DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102672
Lutécia Beatriz Canalli , Laíse da Silveira Pontes , Guilherme Leonardi , Marcelo Augusto de Aguiar e Silva , Tiago Santos Telles
This study aimed to verify whether diversified crop rotation systems are more productive and profitable than the wheat-soybean crop rotation system. In southern Brazil, five crop rotation systems with varying levels of species diversification (ranging from 4 to 10 species per three-year cycle) were compared to a wheat-soybean crop rotation system over six agricultural years (2017–2018 to 2022–2023, in two three-year cycles). Yield and economic indicators were evaluated. At the end of the six agricultural years, all treatments were profitable. The highest accumulated profit was observed in the treatment that rotated corn, bean, and soybean in summer with cover crops and cereals in winter. This system was 38 % more profitable than the wheat-soybean crop rotation system. The results suggest that crop rotation with species diversification, especially when incorporating cover crops in conservation agriculture, can be more profitable, enhance soybean yields, and require lower investments compared to traditional wheat-soybean crop rotation system.
{"title":"Conservation agriculture and cover crops enhances yield and profitability of grain production systems","authors":"Lutécia Beatriz Canalli , Laíse da Silveira Pontes , Guilherme Leonardi , Marcelo Augusto de Aguiar e Silva , Tiago Santos Telles","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102672","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102672","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to verify whether diversified crop rotation systems are more productive and profitable than the wheat-soybean crop rotation system. In southern Brazil, five crop rotation systems with varying levels of species diversification (ranging from 4 to 10 species per three-year cycle) were compared to a wheat-soybean crop rotation system over six agricultural years (2017–2018 to 2022–2023, in two three-year cycles). Yield and economic indicators were evaluated. At the end of the six agricultural years, all treatments were profitable. The highest accumulated profit was observed in the treatment that rotated corn, bean, and soybean in summer with cover crops and cereals in winter. This system was 38 % more profitable than the wheat-soybean crop rotation system. The results suggest that crop rotation with species diversification, especially when incorporating cover crops in conservation agriculture, can be more profitable, enhance soybean yields, and require lower investments compared to traditional wheat-soybean crop rotation system.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102672"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038805","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102663
M. Esperanza Valdés , Laura Martín , Álvaro Vergara , Raquel Pavo , M. Victoria Alarcón , M. Mar Alguacil
Environmental conditions strongly influence grape amino acid profiles, which are key for fermentation and wine aroma. However, the combined effects of climate-driven warming and reduced rainfall together with vineyard management on berry amino acid composition remain poorly understood under field conditions. This study evaluated the effects of warming (W) and reduced rainfall (RR) on the nitrogen composition of cv. Monastrell berries under conventional (CON) and organic (ORG) vineyard management systems. A field experiment was established in 2023 in a rainfed vineyard (Murcia, SE Spain) using open-top chambers and rain-exclusion shelters to simulate warming and reduced rainfall respectively, with ambient conditions as controls. Individual amino acids and ammonium were analyzed by HPLC at harvest in 2023 and 2024, and nitrogen parameters including total free amino acids (FAN), yeast-assimilable nitrogen (YAN) and precursor aromatic nitrogen (PAN) were determined. ORG management showed higher amino acid concentrations than CON, with increases exceeding 100 % for GABA and proline. In 2023, climate treatments significantly affected 13 amino acids, whereas vineyard management effects and vineyard management × climate interactions were each significant for 4. Warming increased FAN, AAN, YAN and PAN by 25–75 % under ORG and by 111–160 % under CON, while ammonium increased by 96 % and 28 % under ORG and CON, respectively. Reduced rainfall had negligible effects in both years, confirming temperature as the dominant driver. These findings indicate that warming strongly alters grape nitrogen metabolism, whereas organic management mitigates its impact, supporting its role as a sustainable strategy to preserve nitrogen compounds under future climate scenarios.
{"title":"Nitrogen composition in cv. Monastrell berries under climate change: The role of vineyard management","authors":"M. Esperanza Valdés , Laura Martín , Álvaro Vergara , Raquel Pavo , M. Victoria Alarcón , M. Mar Alguacil","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102663","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102663","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Environmental conditions strongly influence grape amino acid profiles, which are key for fermentation and wine aroma. However, the combined effects of climate-driven warming and reduced rainfall together with vineyard management on berry amino acid composition remain poorly understood under field conditions. This study evaluated the effects of warming (W) and reduced rainfall (RR) on the nitrogen composition of cv. Monastrell berries under conventional (CON) and organic (ORG) vineyard management systems. A field experiment was established in 2023 in a rainfed vineyard (Murcia, SE Spain) using open-top chambers and rain-exclusion shelters to simulate warming and reduced rainfall respectively, with ambient conditions as controls. Individual amino acids and ammonium were analyzed by HPLC at harvest in 2023 and 2024, and nitrogen parameters including total free amino acids (FAN), yeast-assimilable nitrogen (YAN) and precursor aromatic nitrogen (PAN) were determined. ORG management showed higher amino acid concentrations than CON, with increases exceeding 100 % for GABA and proline. In 2023, climate treatments significantly affected 13 amino acids, whereas vineyard management effects and vineyard management × climate interactions were each significant for 4. Warming increased FAN, AAN, YAN and PAN by 25–75 % under ORG and by 111–160 % under CON, while ammonium increased by 96 % and 28 % under ORG and CON, respectively. Reduced rainfall had negligible effects in both years, confirming temperature as the dominant driver. These findings indicate that warming strongly alters grape nitrogen metabolism, whereas organic management mitigates its impact, supporting its role as a sustainable strategy to preserve nitrogen compounds under future climate scenarios.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102663"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102668
Lijuan Zhang , Peifeng Zhu , Peng Zhang , Afsar Khan , Huixi Su , Qiong Jin , Junying Huang , Lu Liu
Elsholtzia rugulosa Hemsl., a plant with a long history of use as an herbal tea, a honey source, and a folk medicine, is widely distributed in Southwest China. To investigate the effect of various drying approaches on the metabolites and biological activities of E. rugulosa, this study applied an untargeted metabolomics approach, utilizing ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), combined with chemometric analysis of the experimental data. The results indicated that vacuum freeze drying (VFD) yielded the highest contents of total phenols, total flavonoids, and total triterpenoids. In contrast, shade drying (SD) was more effective in preserving total proteins and soluble total sugars; while hot air drying (HAD) resulted in the most abundant volatile metabolites. Dattelic acid and epigallocatechin were identified as the most significantly differential metabolites in E. rugulosa among the three drying methods. Additionally, comparative analysis of metabolic pathways identified flavonoid biosynthesis as the core differentially enriched pathway among various metabolites, underscoring its significance in the metabolic response to drying. Compared with SD and HAD, the VFD resulted in samples with superior inhibitory activities against α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and lipase. For α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and lipase, five differential metabolites were selected as targets for molecular docking studies, all of which exhibited high binding affinities towards their respective receptors. These findings provide a scientific basis for optimizing processing strategies to enhance the health-promoting properties of E. rugulosa. Furthermore, this study offers a systematic insight into the metabolic characteristics and variations in E. rugulosa under three different drying methods, providing a crucial scientific basis for future process-optimization and targeted exploration of bioactive constituents.
{"title":"Revealing the impact of different drying methods on the metabolites and bioactivities of Elsholtzia rugulosa based on untargeted metabolomics combined with chemometrics","authors":"Lijuan Zhang , Peifeng Zhu , Peng Zhang , Afsar Khan , Huixi Su , Qiong Jin , Junying Huang , Lu Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102668","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102668","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Elsholtzia rugulosa</em> Hemsl., a plant with a long history of use as an herbal tea, a honey source, and a folk medicine, is widely distributed in Southwest China. To investigate the effect of various drying approaches on the metabolites and biological activities of <em>E. rugulosa</em>, this study applied an untargeted metabolomics approach, utilizing ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), combined with chemometric analysis of the experimental data. The results indicated that vacuum freeze drying (VFD) yielded the highest contents of total phenols, total flavonoids, and total triterpenoids. In contrast, shade drying (SD) was more effective in preserving total proteins and soluble total sugars; while hot air drying (HAD) resulted in the most abundant volatile metabolites. Dattelic acid and epigallocatechin were identified as the most significantly differential metabolites in <em>E. rugulosa</em> among the three drying methods. Additionally, comparative analysis of metabolic pathways identified flavonoid biosynthesis as the core differentially enriched pathway among various metabolites, underscoring its significance in the metabolic response to drying. Compared with SD and HAD, the VFD resulted in samples with superior inhibitory activities against <em>α</em>-glucosidase, <em>α</em>-amylase, and lipase. For <em>α</em>-glucosidase, <em>α</em>-amylase, and lipase, five differential metabolites were selected as targets for molecular docking studies, all of which exhibited high binding affinities towards their respective receptors. These findings provide a scientific basis for optimizing processing strategies to enhance the health-promoting properties of <em>E. rugulosa</em>. Furthermore, this study offers a systematic insight into the metabolic characteristics and variations in <em>E. rugulosa</em> under three different drying methods, providing a crucial scientific basis for future process-optimization and targeted exploration of bioactive constituents.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102668"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145979563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102678
Benita Hryć , Gunes Ak , Sakina Yagi , Elwira Sieniawska , Łukasz Świątek , Kinga Salwa , Mehmet Veysi Cetiz , Evren Yildiztugay , Stefano Dall’Acqua , Gokhan Zengin
Some species of the genus Cousinia (family Asteraceae) are traditionally used to treat various diseases, and scientific research has demonstrated that they possess interesting biological activities. This study offers the first comprehensive evaluation of the aerial parts of Cousinia iconica Hub.-Mor, incorporating phytochemical profiling, bioactivity assays, and network pharmacology. High-resolution LC–ESI-QTOF–MS analysis revealed that the plant is rich in phenolic acids, hydroxy- and methoxy-flavonoid glycosides, and lignans. The aqueous extract contained the highest levels of total phenolics (78 mg gallic acid equivalents/g) and flavonoids (15.5 mg rutin equivalents/g). It also exhibited the strongest radical scavenging, reducing power, and metal chelating activities. Biological tests showed that, while all three organic extracts had similar cytotoxic effects against the RKO colorectal cancer cell line, none demonstrated measurable antiviral activity against HHV-1 or human coxsackievirus B3. In silico analyses supported these results by identifying 22 disease-relevant targets of C. iconica compounds linked to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Molecular docking showed strong binding affinities of key phytochemicals to cancer-related targets (CDK2, CHEK1, PDGFRA) and metabolic enzymes (acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, tyrosinase, amylase, glucosidase). Overall, the results highlight C. iconica as a promising source of bioactive phenolic compounds with significant cytotoxic potential, though its antiviral effects appear limited. Further research, especially on isolated constituents and mechanism-based assays, is necessary to better understand its therapeutic potential.
{"title":"Exploring the therapeutic potential of Cousinia iconica Hub.-Mor extracts through chemical profiling, in vitro and in-silico assays","authors":"Benita Hryć , Gunes Ak , Sakina Yagi , Elwira Sieniawska , Łukasz Świątek , Kinga Salwa , Mehmet Veysi Cetiz , Evren Yildiztugay , Stefano Dall’Acqua , Gokhan Zengin","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102678","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102678","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Some species of the genus <em>Cousinia</em> (family Asteraceae) are traditionally used to treat various diseases, and scientific research has demonstrated that they possess interesting biological activities. This study offers the first comprehensive evaluation of the aerial parts of <em>Cousinia iconica</em> Hub.-Mor, incorporating phytochemical profiling, bioactivity assays, and network pharmacology. High-resolution LC–ESI-QTOF–MS analysis revealed that the plant is rich in phenolic acids, hydroxy- and methoxy-flavonoid glycosides, and lignans. The aqueous extract contained the highest levels of total phenolics (78 mg gallic acid equivalents/g) and flavonoids (15.5 mg rutin equivalents/g). It also exhibited the strongest radical scavenging, reducing power, and metal chelating activities. Biological tests showed that, while all three organic extracts had similar cytotoxic effects against the RKO colorectal cancer cell line, none demonstrated measurable antiviral activity against HHV-1 or human coxsackievirus B3. <em>In silico</em> analyses supported these results by identifying 22 disease-relevant targets of <em>C. iconica</em> compounds linked to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Molecular docking showed strong binding affinities of key phytochemicals to cancer-related targets (CDK2, CHEK1, PDGFRA) and metabolic enzymes (acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, tyrosinase, amylase, glucosidase). Overall, the results highlight <em>C. iconica</em> as a promising source of bioactive phenolic compounds with significant cytotoxic potential, though its antiviral effects appear limited. Further research, especially on isolated constituents and mechanism-based assays, is necessary to better understand its therapeutic potential.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102678"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038256","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102655
Yifan Wang , Yujie Zha , Qiuliang Cai , Dianjun Lu , Xiaoqin Chen , Yiliu Wang , Solomon Yokamo , Bin Wang , Xinyuan Lu , Huoyan Wang
Accurate assessment of soil fertility is crucial for enhancing mango productivity and quality. However, rare soil fertility surveys have been reported on mango orchards, especially in karst mountainous areas of China. In this study, an investigation was conducted using 152 paired soil-fruit samples collected from commercial mango orchards in Baise City, Guangxi Province, southwestern China. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to establish a minimum data set (MDS), and two distinct weighting methods were compared to calculate the soil integrated fertility index (IFI). The 5 representative indicators—pH, available potassium (AK), organic matter (OM), available phosphorus (AP), and available boron (AB)—were selected to construct the MDS. Together with a correlation-based weighting method, the average IFI was determined to be 0.51 (range: 0.17–0.92), grading the overall fertility as “Medium.” Significant positive correlations were observed between IFI and both yield (R2 = 0.45, p < 0.01) and fruit quality index (FQI) (R2 = 0.49, p < 0.01). Notably, AK and OM were identified as the primary determinants of yield and FQI using random forest model, with 20 g/kg for OM or 120 mg/kg for AK as the critical thresholds for achieving high yields. Furthermore, AP, AB, and altitude were determined as the secondary limiting factors, with corresponding high yield thresholds of 20 mg/kg, 0.30 mg/kg, and 300 m, respectively. These findings provide a theoretical basis and practical guidelines for optimizing orchard establishment and nutrient management in karst agroecosystems.
准确评价土壤肥力对提高芒果产量和品质至关重要。然而，在中国的喀斯特山区，对芒果果园进行了罕见的土壤肥力调查。本研究对广西百色市商品芒果果园的152个配对土壤-果实样本进行了调查。采用主成分分析（PCA）建立最小数据集（MDS），并比较两种不同的加权方法计算土壤综合肥力指数（IFI）。选取ph、速效钾（AK）、有机质（OM）、速效磷（AP）和速效硼（AB） 5个代表性指标构建MDS。结合基于相关性的加权方法，确定平均IFI为0.51（范围：0.17-0.92），将整体生育力评为“中等”。IFI与产量（R2 = 0.45, p < 0.01）和果实品质指数（FQI）均呈极显著正相关（R2 = 0.49, p < 0.01）。值得注意的是，利用随机森林模型确定速效钾和速效钾是产量和FQI的主要决定因素，速效钾20 g/kg或速效钾120 mg/kg是实现高产的关键阈值。此外，确定AP、AB和海拔为次要限制因素，相应的高产阈值分别为20 mg/kg、0.30 mg/kg和300 m。研究结果为优化喀斯特农业生态系统果园建设和养分管理提供了理论依据和实践指导。
{"title":"Soil fertility assessment for mango production in karst agroecosystems of Southwest China","authors":"Yifan Wang , Yujie Zha , Qiuliang Cai , Dianjun Lu , Xiaoqin Chen , Yiliu Wang , Solomon Yokamo , Bin Wang , Xinyuan Lu , Huoyan Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102655","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102655","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate assessment of soil fertility is crucial for enhancing mango productivity and quality. However, rare soil fertility surveys have been reported on mango orchards, especially in karst mountainous areas of China. In this study, an investigation was conducted using 152 paired soil-fruit samples collected from commercial mango orchards in Baise City, Guangxi Province, southwestern China. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to establish a minimum data set (MDS), and two distinct weighting methods were compared to calculate the soil integrated fertility index (IFI). The 5 representative indicators—pH, available potassium (AK), organic matter (OM), available phosphorus (AP), and available boron (AB)—were selected to construct the MDS. Together with a correlation-based weighting method, the average IFI was determined to be 0.51 (range: 0.17–0.92), grading the overall fertility as “Medium.” Significant positive correlations were observed between IFI and both yield (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.45, p < 0.01) and fruit quality index (FQI) (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.49, p < 0.01). Notably, AK and OM were identified as the primary determinants of yield and FQI using random forest model, with 20 g/kg for OM or 120 mg/kg for AK as the critical thresholds for achieving high yields. Furthermore, AP, AB, and altitude were determined as the secondary limiting factors, with corresponding high yield thresholds of 20 mg/kg, 0.30 mg/kg, and 300 m, respectively. These findings provide a theoretical basis and practical guidelines for optimizing orchard establishment and nutrient management in karst agroecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102655"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102658
Giulia Modica , Luana Pulvirenti , Alessandra Gentile , Giuseppe Ruberto , Laura Siracusa , Alberto Continella
Lemon [Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f.] is an important species cultivated in several citrus-producing countries. Lemon fruits are usually used for fresh consumption and for processed juice due to their excellent nutraceutical properties attributed to their high levels of bioactive compounds, mainly specialized (secondary) metabolites. A total of 24 cultivars were studied (20 belonging to the Italian germplasm plus 4 international varieties) for their morphological parameters, specialized metabolite content evaluated by HPLC/Uv–Vis/DAD and UPLC/ESI/Orbitrap MS analyses and antioxidant activity of juices assessed by ABTS+ and DPPH• tests. State of the art statistical tools were used to rationalize the data, specifically Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and clustering analysis, Random Forest and Heatmap were performed. The results obtained allowed us to assess biochemical variability and to identify a commercial placement (fresh market vs industrial transformation) for the analyzed genotypes. The results indicated that F. Adamo, F. Scandurra, F. Continella, F. Cerza and F. Akragas could be suitable for the fresh consumption due to their favorable morphological parameters. Conversely, F. Siracusano, F. Cocuzzaro and F. S.Teresa, F. 2Kr and F. Fragalà were distinguished by their high levels of metabolic compounds. Lemox and Fino 49 exhibited the largest fruit weight, suggesting their potential use for processed juice production.
柠檬[柠檬类]发热管。[f]是几个柑橘生产国栽培的重要品种。柠檬水果通常用于新鲜消费和加工果汁，因为它们具有优异的营养保健特性，这要归功于它们高水平的生物活性化合物，主要是专门的（次级）代谢物。采用HPLC/ Uv-Vis /DAD、UPLC/ESI/Orbitrap MS分析了24个品种（意大利品种20个，国际品种4个）的形态参数，ABTS+和DPPH•测定了果汁的抗氧化活性。使用最先进的统计工具来合理化数据，特别是主成分分析（PCA）和聚类分析，随机森林和热图进行。获得的结果使我们能够评估生化变异，并为分析的基因型确定商业定位（新鲜市场vs工业转型）。结果表明，Adamo、F. Scandurra、F. Continella、F. Cerza和F. Akragas因其良好的形态参数而适合生鲜食用。相反，F. Siracusano， F. Cocuzzaro和F. S.Teresa， F. 2Kr和F. fragal以其高水平的代谢化合物而闻名。Lemox和Fino 49表现出最大的果实重量，表明它们在加工果汁生产中的潜在用途。
{"title":"Biochemical discrimination and market-oriented qualitative traits of a 24 lemon cultivar collection","authors":"Giulia Modica , Luana Pulvirenti , Alessandra Gentile , Giuseppe Ruberto , Laura Siracusa , Alberto Continella","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102658","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102658","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lemon [<em>Citrus limon</em> (L.) Burm. f.] is an important species cultivated in several citrus-producing countries. Lemon fruits are usually used for fresh consumption and for processed juice due to their excellent nutraceutical properties attributed to their high levels of bioactive compounds, mainly specialized (secondary) metabolites. A total of 24 cultivars were studied (20 belonging to the Italian germplasm plus 4 international varieties) for their morphological parameters, specialized metabolite content evaluated by HPLC/Uv–Vis/DAD and UPLC/ESI/Orbitrap MS analyses and antioxidant activity of juices assessed by ABTS<sup>+</sup> and DPPH<sup>•</sup> tests. State of the art statistical tools were used to rationalize the data, specifically Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and clustering analysis, Random Forest and Heatmap were performed. The results obtained allowed us to assess biochemical variability and to identify a commercial placement (fresh market vs industrial transformation) for the analyzed genotypes. The results indicated that F. Adamo, F. Scandurra, F. Continella, F. Cerza and F. Akragas could be suitable for the fresh consumption due to their favorable morphological parameters. Conversely, F. Siracusano, F. Cocuzzaro and F. S.Teresa, F. 2Kr and F. Fragalà were distinguished by their high levels of metabolic compounds. Lemox and Fino 49 exhibited the largest fruit weight, suggesting their potential use for processed juice production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102658"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078175","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102661
Saurav Das , Emmanuel C. Omondi , Philip O. Hinson , Khang D. Nguyen , Rachel Olson , Robert Beelman , Zachary Bitzer , Dongxiao Sun , Gladis Zinati , Andrew Smith , John Fagan
This study investigated how long-term farming systems and tillage practices regulate ergothioneine (ERGO) dynamics in agricultural soils and grains, considering microbial mediation and oxidative stress interactions. The work was conducted in the Farming Systems Trial (FST) at the Rodale Institute using a split–split plot randomized complete block design comprising three farming systems, conventional (CNV), legume-based organic (LEG), and manure-based organic (MNR), under two tillage intensities, full tillage (FT) and reduced/conservation tillage (RT). The analysis was cross-sectional across treatments. Grain and soil ERGO were quantified using UPLC–MS/MS, microbial communities were assessed by PLFA profiling, and herbicide-induced oxidative stress was represented by a semi-quantitative Oxidative Stress Exposure Index (OSEI) derived from literature-based toxicity weights. Grain ERGO concentrations and partitioning coefficient were highest in CNV–RT systems, where herbicide exposure (glyphosate, atrazine, 2,4-D) increased oxidative stress. Organic systems maintained higher microbial biomass and residual soil ERGO but lower grain partitioning efficiency, indicating that microbial enrichment improves ERGO supply but not necessarily plant uptake. Reduced tillage enhanced grain ERGO across systems, consistent with increased arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) activity. The weak correlations between microbial biomass and grain ERGO (R2 < 0.2) suggest that oxidative signaling, rather than total microbial abundance, governs ERGO uptake. A weak negative association between soil organic matter and ERGO Partitioning Coefficient indicates that biologically buffered soils reduce oxidative demands in plants. Overall, ERGO accumulation in grain reflects the interaction between soil microbial context and plant oxidative status. These findings suggest that oxidative stress is a key management-responsive factor linking tillage practices, farming systems, soil health, and crop ERGO partitioning between soil and grain pools.
{"title":"Ergothioneine dynamics in a long-term farming systems trial: Effects of tillage, management, and oxidative stress on grain and soil ergothioneine","authors":"Saurav Das , Emmanuel C. Omondi , Philip O. Hinson , Khang D. Nguyen , Rachel Olson , Robert Beelman , Zachary Bitzer , Dongxiao Sun , Gladis Zinati , Andrew Smith , John Fagan","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102661","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102661","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigated how long-term farming systems and tillage practices regulate ergothioneine (ERGO) dynamics in agricultural soils and grains, considering microbial mediation and oxidative stress interactions. The work was conducted in the <em>Farming Systems Trial</em> (FST) at the Rodale Institute using a split–split plot randomized complete block design comprising three farming systems, conventional (CNV), legume-based organic (LEG), and manure-based organic (MNR), under two tillage intensities, full tillage (FT) and reduced/conservation tillage (RT). The analysis was cross-sectional across treatments. Grain and soil ERGO were quantified using UPLC–MS/MS, microbial communities were assessed by PLFA profiling, and herbicide-induced oxidative stress was represented by a semi-quantitative Oxidative Stress Exposure Index (OSEI) derived from literature-based toxicity weights. Grain ERGO concentrations and partitioning coefficient were highest in CNV–RT systems, where herbicide exposure (glyphosate, atrazine, 2,4-D) increased oxidative stress. Organic systems maintained higher microbial biomass and residual soil ERGO but lower grain partitioning efficiency, indicating that microbial enrichment improves ERGO supply but not necessarily plant uptake. Reduced tillage enhanced grain ERGO across systems, consistent with increased arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) activity. The weak correlations between microbial biomass and grain ERGO (R<sup>2</sup> < 0.2) suggest that oxidative signaling, rather than total microbial abundance, governs ERGO uptake. A weak negative association between soil organic matter and ERGO Partitioning Coefficient indicates that biologically buffered soils reduce oxidative demands in plants. Overall, ERGO accumulation in grain reflects the interaction between soil microbial context and plant oxidative status. These findings suggest that oxidative stress is a key management-responsive factor linking tillage practices, farming systems, soil health, and crop ERGO partitioning between soil and grain pools.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102661"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145979547","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Livestock in sub-Saharan Africa is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly enteric methane (eCH4), with emissions intensities and yield often elevated. In this region, wet-season rangeland fodder is the primary feed source for livestock. This study evaluated the effects of fodder growth stage and feed allowance on feed intake, digestibility, average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and eCH4 emissions in cattle. Over a 112-day period, including a 14-day adaptation and a 98-day data collection phase, ten Sudanese Fulani zebu bulls (52 ± 1.2 months of age, 195 ± 14.6 kg body weight) were fed green rangeland fodder. They were divided into two groups of five animals each: one received fodder at a high allowance level of 4.5 % of body weight (BW) dry matter (DM) basis (4.5ING), while the other received 2.5 % of BW (2.5ING). Voluntary intake, digestibility, and eCH4 (GreenFeed®) were measured daily across three fodder growth stages: vegetative stage (VeS), reproductive stage (ReS), and mature stage (MaS). ADG and FCR were assessed fortnightly. DM intake decreased progressively from VeS to MaS with the highest values recorded for 4.5ING (P < 0.05). Digestibility was affected only by growth stage, decreasing from VeS to MaS (P < 0.05). Both ADG and FCR were influenced by fodder growth stage and feed level. The lowest eCH4 yield and intensity were observed in VeS (P < 0.05). Fodder level influenced eCH4 intensity (P < 0.05). Intra-wet season fodder growth stage significantly affected intake, digestibility, growth, and eCH4 emissions in cattle, while feed allowance influenced performance and eCH4 intensity. Significant interactions effects were observed between fodder growth stage and feed allowance for all parameters except digestibility. The best animal performance, along with the lowest eCH4 yield and intensity were observed in 4.5ING animals during VeS. These findings suggest that optimizing feed availability at the beginning of the wet season is an effective feeding strategy to enhance productivity while mitigating methane emissions in extensive livestock systems.
{"title":"Intra-wet season variation in rangeland fodder quality influences feed conversion, growth and methane emissions in West African zebu cattle","authors":"Gérard Xavier Gbenou , Boko Michel Orounladji , Luc Hippolyte Dossa , Denis Bastianelli , Ollo Sib , Bienvenu D'Ela Somda , Palipougni Diabri , Florentin Sanou , Souleymane Sanogo , Laurent Bonnal , Paulo Salgado , Alexandre Ickowicz , Philippe Lecomte , Mohamed Habibou Assouma","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102670","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102670","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Livestock in sub-Saharan Africa is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly enteric methane (eCH<sub>4</sub>), with emissions intensities and yield often elevated. In this region, wet-season rangeland fodder is the primary feed source for livestock. This study evaluated the effects of fodder growth stage and feed allowance on feed intake, digestibility, average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and eCH<sub>4</sub> emissions in cattle. Over a 112-day period, including a 14-day adaptation and a 98-day data collection phase, ten Sudanese Fulani zebu bulls (52 ± 1.2 months of age, 195 ± 14.6 kg body weight) were fed green rangeland fodder. They were divided into two groups of five animals each: one received fodder at a high allowance level of 4.5 % of body weight (BW) dry matter (DM) basis (4.5ING), while the other received 2.5 % of BW (2.5ING). Voluntary intake, digestibility, and eCH<sub>4</sub> (GreenFeed®) were measured daily across three fodder growth stages: vegetative stage (VeS), reproductive stage (ReS), and mature stage (MaS). ADG and FCR were assessed fortnightly. DM intake decreased progressively from VeS to MaS with the highest values recorded for 4.5ING (P < 0.05). Digestibility was affected only by growth stage, decreasing from VeS to MaS (P < 0.05). Both ADG and FCR were influenced by fodder growth stage and feed level. The lowest eCH<sub>4</sub> yield and intensity were observed in VeS (P < 0.05). Fodder level influenced eCH<sub>4</sub> intensity (P < 0.05). Intra-wet season fodder growth stage significantly affected intake, digestibility, growth, and eCH<sub>4</sub> emissions in cattle, while feed allowance influenced performance and eCH<sub>4</sub> intensity. Significant interactions effects were observed between fodder growth stage and feed allowance for all parameters except digestibility. The best animal performance, along with the lowest eCH<sub>4</sub> yield and intensity were observed in 4.5ING animals during VeS. These findings suggest that optimizing feed availability at the beginning of the wet season is an effective feeding strategy to enhance productivity while mitigating methane emissions in extensive livestock systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102670"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038806","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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