Pub Date : 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102669
Hangfei Han , Xinhai Liu , Jilian Li , Chuan Ma
Royal jelly (RJ), a bioactive secretion of honeybees (Apis mellifera), is a functional food valued for its nutritional and therapeutic properties. Its physicochemical properties are critically influenced by pollen sources, a primary diet for honeybees. In this study, we investigated compositional changes of RJ produced from colonies fed camellia bee pollen (CBP) versus rapeseed bee pollen (RBP) through integrated metabolomic and proteomic approaches. We observed no significant differences in larval acceptance rate or RJ yield between the two RJ groups on feeding days 63, 66, and 69 (p > 0.05). Principal component analysis (PCA) of metabolome data revealed an increasingly pronounced compositional divergence between the two RJ groups harvested on days 9, 21, 42, and 63. While trans-10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA) and major sugars (glucose, fructose, and sucrose) exhibited comparable abundance, RBP-RJ contained significantly higher abundance of multiple bioactive compounds, including kaempferol, lysine, taurine, trigonelline, and acetyltaurine, indicating superior nutritional value and potential functional benefits. Proteomic analysis of day-63 samples identified only nine low-abundance differentially expressed proteins (0.31 % of total protein abundance), with no significant differences in major RJ protein (MRJP) levels. Our multi-omics findings highlight the compositional superiority of RBP-RJ, offering insights for optimizing dietary strategies in high-quality RJ production.
{"title":"Metabolomic and proteomic profiling of royal jelly from honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies fed with camellia versus rapeseed bee pollen","authors":"Hangfei Han , Xinhai Liu , Jilian Li , Chuan Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102669","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102669","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Royal jelly (RJ), a bioactive secretion of honeybees (<em>Apis mellifera</em>), is a functional food valued for its nutritional and therapeutic properties. Its physicochemical properties are critically influenced by pollen sources, a primary diet for honeybees. In this study, we investigated compositional changes of RJ produced from colonies fed camellia bee pollen (CBP) versus rapeseed bee pollen (RBP) through integrated metabolomic and proteomic approaches. We observed no significant differences in larval acceptance rate or RJ yield between the two RJ groups on feeding days 63, 66, and 69 (<em>p</em> > 0.05). Principal component analysis (PCA) of metabolome data revealed an increasingly pronounced compositional divergence between the two RJ groups harvested on days 9, 21, 42, and 63. While <em>trans</em>-10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA) and major sugars (glucose, fructose, and sucrose) exhibited comparable abundance, RBP-RJ contained significantly higher abundance of multiple bioactive compounds, including kaempferol, lysine, taurine, trigonelline, and acetyltaurine, indicating superior nutritional value and potential functional benefits. Proteomic analysis of day-63 samples identified only nine low-abundance differentially expressed proteins (0.31 % of total protein abundance), with no significant differences in major RJ protein (MRJP) levels. Our multi-omics findings highlight the compositional superiority of RBP-RJ, offering insights for optimizing dietary strategies in high-quality RJ production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102669"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145979566","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.2026.102633
Sajjad Ali , Shehla Sammi , Muhammad Aamir Javed , Abdul Majid , Zia ul Hassan , Mati Ur Rehman , Abdul Mueed , Iqra Bibi , Shabaz Ahmad Zakki , Muhammad Jahangir , Huaiji Zheng
This study is an inclusive assessment of the metabolite profile and biological potential of Himalrandia tetrasperma leaf extract. The crude extract was prepared using 80 % methanol and fractionated with hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone, and distilled water. The assessed biological activities include antioxidant (DPPH), phytochemical, antimicrobial, and in vitro and in silico AChE inhibitory and cytotoxic effects against the leukemia U937 cell line. Metabolomic analyses were performed with ATR-FTIR and UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS. The crude extract showed significant antioxidant activity (IC50: 395 ± 3 μg/mL). The MIC values ranged from 500 to 1375 μg/mL against bacteria and from 625 to 1375 μg/mL against fungi. The ethyl acetate fraction exhibited the uppermost AChE inhibitory activity (IC50: 620 ± 2 μg/mL), and the hexane fraction displayed the most significant cytotoxic effect (GI50: 531 ± 1 μg/mL). FTIR study recognized various functional groups indicative of phytochemicals such as phenolics, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, ketones, ethers, esters, and amines. UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS detected 182 metabolites, including terpenoids (49.28 %), lipids (17.77 %), steroids (11.13 %), flavonoids (4.94 %), carbohydrates (3.67 %), and phenols and phenolic acids (3.65 %). The most abundant individual metabolite was Oleanolic acid (10.11 %), followed by Ursolic acid (4.67 %), Coriolic acid (3.52 %), and Gulonic acid (2.82 %). Docking studies confirmed that Quercetin 3-glucoside-7-rhamnoside (BE -12.11 kcal/mol) and Alcesefoliside (−11.6 kcal/mol) showed significant inhibitory potential against AChE and DNA Topoisomerase II (for cytotoxicity), respectively. Overall, this research represents a sustainable approach, identifying numerous potent bioactive metabolites with promising antioxidant, antimicrobial, AChE-inhibitory, and anticancer activities, which may potentially lead to new drug development through further advanced studies.
{"title":"In vitro and in silico biological activities and comprehensive metabolomic profiling using UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS of Himalrandia tetrasperma: A novel source of bioactive metabolites from Pakistan","authors":"Sajjad Ali , Shehla Sammi , Muhammad Aamir Javed , Abdul Majid , Zia ul Hassan , Mati Ur Rehman , Abdul Mueed , Iqra Bibi , Shabaz Ahmad Zakki , Muhammad Jahangir , Huaiji Zheng","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102633","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102633","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study is an inclusive assessment of the metabolite profile and biological potential of <em>Himalrandia tetrasperma</em> leaf extract. The crude extract was prepared using 80 % methanol and fractionated with hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone, and distilled water. The assessed biological activities include antioxidant (DPPH), phytochemical, antimicrobial, and <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in silico</em> AChE inhibitory and cytotoxic effects against the leukemia U937 cell line. Metabolomic analyses were performed with ATR-FTIR and UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS. The crude extract showed significant antioxidant activity (IC<sub>50</sub>: 395 ± 3 μg/mL). The MIC values ranged from 500 to 1375 μg/mL against bacteria and from 625 to 1375 μg/mL against fungi. The ethyl acetate fraction exhibited the uppermost AChE inhibitory activity (IC<sub>50</sub>: 620 ± 2 μg/mL), and the hexane fraction displayed the most significant cytotoxic effect (GI<sub>50</sub>: 531 ± 1 μg/mL). FTIR study recognized various functional groups indicative of phytochemicals such as phenolics, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, ketones, ethers, esters, and amines. UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS detected 182 metabolites, including terpenoids (49.28 %), lipids (17.77 %), steroids (11.13 %), flavonoids (4.94 %), carbohydrates (3.67 %), and phenols and phenolic acids (3.65 %). The most abundant individual metabolite was Oleanolic acid (10.11 %), followed by Ursolic acid (4.67 %), Coriolic acid (3.52 %), and Gulonic acid (2.82 %). Docking studies confirmed that Quercetin 3-glucoside-7-rhamnoside (BE -12.11 kcal/mol) and Alcesefoliside (−11.6 kcal/mol) showed significant inhibitory potential against AChE and DNA Topoisomerase II (for cytotoxicity), respectively. Overall, this research represents a sustainable approach, identifying numerous potent bioactive metabolites with promising antioxidant, antimicrobial, AChE-inhibitory, and anticancer activities, which may potentially lead to new drug development through further advanced studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102633"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038800","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.2026.102665
Sidharth Chauhan , Basharat Ali , Dixit Sharma , Vikram Singh , Yogesh Kumar Rawal
Overuse of chemicals in aquaculture practices has raised serious concerns regarding the environmental impact and health implications of chemical-based feed additives, resulting in the search for natural alternatives. The present study investigated the effects of ethanolic extract of Himalayan nettle (Urtica ardens) leaf extract as dietary supplementation on the gene expression of genes responsible for growth and immunity, and histological structures of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Experimental diets were formulated for five groups by supplementing various percentages of the nettle extract (0, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, and 1.2 %) into a basal feed (38 % crude protein). Common carp fingerlings with an average weight of 16.03 ± 1.83 g were randomly assigned to 15 tanks (10 fish/tank; five groups; triplicate groups per treatment) and fed on formulated diets for 90 days. Histological analysis revealed reduced hepatic lipid vacuolation and enhanced intestinal villi morphology. The gene expression analysis showed upregulation of growth-related genes (GH, IGF1, IGF2) and modulation of immune-related cytokines (IL1β, IL10, TNFα). Molecular docking analysis was performed using receptor structures from the Protein Data Bank and compounds from PubChem, all of which satisfied Lipinski's rule of five. Significant binding affinities were observed, with 8-Methyl-6-nonenamide showing strong interactions with TLR-2, Ghrelin, and Telomerase; cis-vaccinic acid with NLR-1; and histamine with TLR-3. Hydrogen bond formation at the active sites indicated stable protein-ligand complexes, contributing to molecular recognition and binding specificity. These findings suggest that U. ardens supplementation can enhance growth performance, immune responses, and tissue integrity in common carp, providing a potential natural alternative to synthetic feed additives in aquaculture.
{"title":"Impact of dietary administration of Himalayan nettle (Urtica ardens) on histological architecture and gene expression related to growth and immunity in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fingerlings","authors":"Sidharth Chauhan , Basharat Ali , Dixit Sharma , Vikram Singh , Yogesh Kumar Rawal","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102665","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102665","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Overuse of chemicals in aquaculture practices has raised serious concerns regarding the environmental impact and health implications of chemical-based feed additives, resulting in the search for natural alternatives. The present study investigated the effects of ethanolic extract of Himalayan nettle (<em>Urtica ardens</em>) leaf extract as dietary supplementation on the gene expression of genes responsible for growth and immunity, and histological structures of common carp (<em>Cyprinus carpio</em>). Experimental diets were formulated for five groups by supplementing various percentages of the nettle extract (0, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, and 1.2 %) into a basal feed (38 % crude protein). Common carp fingerlings with an average weight of 16.03 ± 1.83 g were randomly assigned to 15 tanks (10 fish/tank; five groups; triplicate groups per treatment) and fed on formulated diets for 90 days. Histological analysis revealed reduced hepatic lipid vacuolation and enhanced intestinal villi morphology. The gene expression analysis showed upregulation of growth-related genes (<em>GH</em>, <em>IGF1</em>, <em>IGF2</em>) and modulation of immune-related cytokines (<em>IL1β</em>, <em>IL10</em>, <em>TNFα</em>). Molecular docking analysis was performed using receptor structures from the Protein Data Bank and compounds from PubChem, all of which satisfied Lipinski's rule of five. Significant binding affinities were observed, with 8-Methyl-6-nonenamide showing strong interactions with TLR-2, Ghrelin, and Telomerase; cis-vaccinic acid with NLR-1; and histamine with TLR-3. Hydrogen bond formation at the active sites indicated stable protein-ligand complexes, contributing to molecular recognition and binding specificity. These findings suggest that <em>U. ardens</em> supplementation can enhance growth performance, immune responses, and tissue integrity in common carp, providing a potential natural alternative to synthetic feed additives in aquaculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102665"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078768","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 : 2026-01-10DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102615
Matteo Egiddi , Mariana Rodrigues da Silva , Eva Ortner , Bastien Debeuf , Helene M. Loos , Andrea Buettner , Jonathan Beauchamp
Off-flavours are a major challenge in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), with geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB) among key contributors to earthy taints. Purging unfed fish in flow-through (FT) water is a standard strategy for off-flavour removal, yet it entails high costs. This descriptive study examined off-flavour development in Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) reared in two systems (RAS and FT depuration) under fed or unfed conditions. Sturgeon fillets, water of both systems, and the commercial feed were analysed via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry/olfactometry (GC–MS/O) combined with aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA), leading to the identification of 85 odour-active compounds. Water and fillets from RAS showed greater off-odour diversity and potency in terms of their flavour dilution (FD) factors, including geosmin, 2-MIB, 1,3-benzothiazole and pyrazines. In contrast, water and fillets from depuration exhibited fewer off-odours and more desirable notes, such as green, fruity and popcorn-like attributes. The influence of feeding was system-dependent: in depuration, fed animals exhibited lower FD values of key compounds (e.g., geosmin) but higher odour diversity, including both pleasant (e.g., mushroom-like, citrus-like) and unpleasant (e.g., ink-like, sweaty, pungent) notes, whereas in RAS, lower compound diversity and minor odour profile differences were detected in fed sturgeons. Although not statistically relevant, observed differences between groups arose from shifts in relative odour attribute frequencies, compound diversity and FD values across water types and between feeding groups. Overall, sturgeon fed during depuration exhibited a preferable odour profile and a lower geosmin level, but new feedborne odorants were also introduced. The hypotheses generated in this study warrant future targeted sensory assessments and suggest formulation of finishing feeds that can mitigate off-odours and improve the marketability of RAS-reared fish.
{"title":"Feeding during off-flavour purging in recirculating aquaculture systems? An exploratory characterisation of waterborne and feedborne odour-active compounds in Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii)","authors":"Matteo Egiddi , Mariana Rodrigues da Silva , Eva Ortner , Bastien Debeuf , Helene M. Loos , Andrea Buettner , Jonathan Beauchamp","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102615","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102615","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Off-flavours are a major challenge in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), with geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB) among key contributors to <em>earthy</em> taints. Purging unfed fish in flow-through (FT) water is a standard strategy for off-flavour removal, yet it entails high costs. This descriptive study examined off-flavour development in Russian sturgeon (<em>Acipenser gueldenstaedtii</em>) reared in two systems (RAS and FT depuration) under fed or unfed conditions. Sturgeon fillets, water of both systems, and the commercial feed were analysed via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry/olfactometry (GC–MS/O) combined with aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA), leading to the identification of 85 odour-active compounds. Water and fillets from RAS showed greater off-odour diversity and potency in terms of their flavour dilution (FD) factors, including geosmin, 2-MIB, 1,3-benzothiazole and pyrazines. In contrast, water and fillets from depuration exhibited fewer off-odours and more desirable notes, such as <em>green</em>, <em>fruity</em> and <em>popcorn-like</em> attributes. The influence of feeding was system-dependent: in depuration, fed animals exhibited lower FD values of key compounds (e.g.<em>,</em> geosmin) but higher odour diversity, including both pleasant (e.g.<em>, mushroom-like, citrus-like</em>) and unpleasant (e.g.<em>, ink-like, sweaty, pungent</em>) notes, whereas in RAS, lower compound diversity and minor odour profile differences were detected in fed sturgeons. Although not statistically relevant, observed differences between groups arose from shifts in relative odour attribute frequencies, compound diversity and FD values across water types and between feeding groups. Overall, sturgeon fed during depuration exhibited a preferable odour profile and a lower geosmin level, but new feedborne odorants were also introduced. The hypotheses generated in this study warrant future targeted sensory assessments and suggest formulation of finishing feeds that can mitigate off-odours and improve the marketability of RAS-reared fish.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102615"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145979544","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 : 2026-01-10DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102667
Wei Yang , Chenjian Zhao , Zhijie Chen , Xiaopeng Deng , Junying Li , Junwei Sun , Panlei Wang , Bo Zhu , Bingxue Wang , Zhengqin Xiong , Yu'e Li , Bin Wang
Optimizing nutrient management measures is fundamental to balancing tobacco yield and quality. While individual effects of fertilizers are well-documented, the integrated synergy of organic amendments with water-soluble fertilizers or microbial agents remains relatively scarce. Hence, a two-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the comprehensive effects of five distinct nutrient management measures, no fertilization (CK), conventional chemical fertilizer (CF), organic fertilizer combined with conventional chemical fertilizer (CM), organic fertilizer combined with water-soluble fertilizer (WS), organic fertilizer combined with a compound microbial agent (OM), on tobacco growth, nutrient uptake and its use efficiency, leaf chemical composition, yield, quality, and revenue. The results revealed that WS and OM treatments increased tobacco yield and quality (proportion of premium and medium-grade tobacco leaves) by 14.9 %–24.6 % and 1.6 %–6.3 %, respectively, compared to the CF treatment. These improvements were primarily driven by enhanced plant height, stem girth, number of leaves, leaf area index, biomass, nutrient use efficiency and total sugar, potassium contents. Specifically, WS and OM increased N use efficiency by 106.0 %–130.9 % and 97.4 %–126.1 %, P use efficiency by 62.7 %–149.6 % and 79.2 %–112.4 %, K use efficiency by 473.1 %–551.4 % and 474.6 %–480.5 %, tobacco yield by 20.9 %–24.6 % and 14.9 %–19.1 %, the proportion of premium-grade leaf by 6.5 %–17.2 % and 8.9 %–11.1 %, and tobacco revenue by 26.8 %–29.0 % and 22.8 %–31.5 %, respectively. In summary, both the WS and OM treatments significantly improved the nutrient use efficiency, tobacco yield, leaf quality and revenue; among these, the WS treatment demonstrated the best comprehensive performance. Thus, organic fertilizer combined with water-soluble fertilizer is crucial for promoting the sustainable development of the tobacco industry.
{"title":"Integrating chemical, organic, water-soluble and microbial fertilizers achieve mutually benefits of high nutrient utilization, improved yield and quality in tobacco cultivation","authors":"Wei Yang , Chenjian Zhao , Zhijie Chen , Xiaopeng Deng , Junying Li , Junwei Sun , Panlei Wang , Bo Zhu , Bingxue Wang , Zhengqin Xiong , Yu'e Li , Bin Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102667","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102667","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Optimizing nutrient management measures is fundamental to balancing tobacco yield and quality. While individual effects of fertilizers are well-documented, the integrated synergy of organic amendments with water-soluble fertilizers or microbial agents remains relatively scarce. Hence, a two-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the comprehensive effects of five distinct nutrient management measures, no fertilization (CK), conventional chemical fertilizer (CF), organic fertilizer combined with conventional chemical fertilizer (CM), organic fertilizer combined with water-soluble fertilizer (WS), organic fertilizer combined with a compound microbial agent (OM), on tobacco growth, nutrient uptake and its use efficiency, leaf chemical composition, yield, quality, and revenue. The results revealed that WS and OM treatments increased tobacco yield and quality (proportion of premium and medium-grade tobacco leaves) by 14.9 %–24.6 % and 1.6 %–6.3 %, respectively, compared to the CF treatment. These improvements were primarily driven by enhanced plant height, stem girth, number of leaves, leaf area index, biomass, nutrient use efficiency and total sugar, potassium contents. Specifically, WS and OM increased N use efficiency by 106.0 %–130.9 % and 97.4 %–126.1 %, P use efficiency by 62.7 %–149.6 % and 79.2 %–112.4 %, K use efficiency by 473.1 %–551.4 % and 474.6 %–480.5 %, tobacco yield by 20.9 %–24.6 % and 14.9 %–19.1 %, the proportion of premium-grade leaf by 6.5 %–17.2 % and 8.9 %–11.1 %, and tobacco revenue by 26.8 %–29.0 % and 22.8 %–31.5 %, respectively. In summary, both the WS and OM treatments significantly improved the nutrient use efficiency, tobacco yield, leaf quality and revenue; among these, the WS treatment demonstrated the best comprehensive performance. Thus, organic fertilizer combined with water-soluble fertilizer is crucial for promoting the sustainable development of the tobacco industry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102667"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145979549","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 : 2026-01-10DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102660
N.A. Husin , N.A.H.M. Baktiar , V.U. Tagang , S. Khairunniza–Bejo , M.F.M. Yusuf
Basal Stem Rot (BSR) caused by Ganoderma boninense is the foremost threat to global oil palm productivity, yet its early and scalable detection remains profoundly challenging. This study presents an integrated UAV-based framework that combines RGB and thermal imagery with top-view structural palm features - crown area, frond number, and frond angle to classify BSR severity levels (T0–T3) using machine learning. A total of 1278 field-verified oil palm trees were assessed, and the Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) was applied to address substantial class imbalance. Vegetation indices (VARI, ExG, GLI), thermal pixel intensities, and canopy structural attributes were extracted and Principal Component Analysis was enabled in Machine Learning before training 30 classification models. Among these, the Ensemble Bagged Trees classifier achieved the most robust and consistent performance, recording 94.20 % accuracy for both validation and testing phases, with high per-class precision up to 98.5 % and recall up to 99.7 %. VARI demonstrated the strongest and most consistent spectral response to disease progression, while ExG and GLI exhibited unstable patterns due to canopy shadowing and radiometric variability. The findings highlight the potential of integrating multisensor UAV data with ensemble learning to develop an accurate, scalable, and cost-efficient BSR severity mapping system, supporting improved surveillance and precision disease management across commercial oil palm plantations.
{"title":"UAV-based integration of RGB, thermal, and structural features with machine learning for multi-class basal stem rot (BSR) severity detection in oil palm","authors":"N.A. Husin , N.A.H.M. Baktiar , V.U. Tagang , S. Khairunniza–Bejo , M.F.M. Yusuf","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102660","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102660","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Basal Stem Rot (BSR) caused by <em>Ganoderma boninense</em> is the foremost threat to global oil palm productivity, yet its early and scalable detection remains profoundly challenging. This study presents an integrated UAV-based framework that combines RGB and thermal imagery with top-view structural palm features - crown area, frond number, and frond angle to classify BSR severity levels (T0–T3) using machine learning. A total of 1278 field-verified oil palm trees were assessed, and the Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) was applied to address substantial class imbalance. Vegetation indices (VARI, ExG, GLI), thermal pixel intensities, and canopy structural attributes were extracted and Principal Component Analysis was enabled in Machine Learning before training 30 classification models. Among these, the Ensemble Bagged Trees classifier achieved the most robust and consistent performance, recording 94.20 % accuracy for both validation and testing phases, with high per-class precision up to 98.5 % and recall up to 99.7 %. VARI demonstrated the strongest and most consistent spectral response to disease progression, while ExG and GLI exhibited unstable patterns due to canopy shadowing and radiometric variability. The findings highlight the potential of integrating multisensor UAV data with ensemble learning to develop an accurate, scalable, and cost-efficient BSR severity mapping system, supporting improved surveillance and precision disease management across commercial oil palm plantations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102660"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145979565","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 : 2026-01-10DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102657
Rui Zhang , Si-Qi Wang , Ming-Zhu Li , Liu Yang , Shi-Kang Shen
Freshly harvested vegetables, such as Ottelia acuminata, are prone to water loss, wilting, yellowing, and microbial damage owing to accelerated biochemical reactions. Slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) enhances the activity of disease-resistant enzymes, improves disease resistance in vegetables during storage, and maintains postharvest freshness and nutritional quality. Although SAEW has been widely used in order to enhance the postharvest quality of various vegetables, research on its regulatory mechanisms in aquatic vegetables remains limited. In this study, physiological and biochemical indicators and metabolomic data were integrated to elucidate the differences in the preservation mechanisms of SAEW, low-temperature storage, and PE bag treatments in O. acuminata. Physiological and biochemical results showed that the key indicators of appearance and nutritional quality, including flavonoids, total phenols, chlorophyll, chlorophyll b, and starch content, reached their highest levels under the combined treatment of SAEW and low-temperature storage. Metabolomic analysis revealed that numerous differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) participate in key pathways, including phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis. These findings indicate that SAEW treatment allocates more resources to the accumulation of antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds in secondary rather than primary metabolic pathways. DAMs were enriched in pathways related to antioxidant activity, membrane stabilization, and stress responses, suggesting their potential contribution to postharvest preservation under SAEW treatment. This study has elucidated how SAEW combined with low-temperature storage preserves the postharvest quality of O. acuminata, and proposes SAEW as an effective postharvest strategy to reduce spoilage and deterioration and meet consumer demand for high-quality vegetables.
{"title":"Effects of slightly acidic electrolyzed water on the postharvest quality of Ottelia acuminata","authors":"Rui Zhang , Si-Qi Wang , Ming-Zhu Li , Liu Yang , Shi-Kang Shen","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102657","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102657","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Freshly harvested vegetables, such as <em>Ottelia acuminata</em>, are prone to water loss, wilting, yellowing, and microbial damage owing to accelerated biochemical reactions. Slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) enhances the activity of disease-resistant enzymes, improves disease resistance in vegetables during storage, and maintains postharvest freshness and nutritional quality. Although SAEW has been widely used in order to enhance the postharvest quality of various vegetables, research on its regulatory mechanisms in aquatic vegetables remains limited. In this study, physiological and biochemical indicators and metabolomic data were integrated to elucidate the differences in the preservation mechanisms of SAEW, low-temperature storage, and PE bag treatments in <em>O. acuminata</em>. Physiological and biochemical results showed that the key indicators of appearance and nutritional quality, including flavonoids, total phenols, chlorophyll, chlorophyll b, and starch content, reached their highest levels under the combined treatment of SAEW and low-temperature storage. Metabolomic analysis revealed that numerous differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) participate in key pathways, including phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis. These findings indicate that SAEW treatment allocates more resources to the accumulation of antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds in secondary rather than primary metabolic pathways. DAMs were enriched in pathways related to antioxidant activity, membrane stabilization, and stress responses, suggesting their potential contribution to postharvest preservation under SAEW treatment. This study has elucidated how SAEW combined with low-temperature storage preserves the postharvest quality of <em>O. acuminata</em>, and proposes SAEW as an effective postharvest strategy to reduce spoilage and deterioration and meet consumer demand for high-quality vegetables.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102657"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145979590","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 : 2026-01-10DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102666
Jun Ji , Mohamed Brahmi , Emilie Dumas , Nour-Eddine Chihib , Adem Gharsallaoui
Food antimicrobials are essential to curb spoilage and pathogens, but many antimicrobials, particularly natural ones, suffer from poor solubility, instability, and uncontrolled migration in food matrices. Plant-based biopolymer encapsulation offers an emerging and sustainable solution, providing protection and controlled release of these sensitive compounds. This review synthesizes recent advances on plant-derived polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids as edible encapsulation carriers for food antimicrobials. We discuss sources, structures, and techno-functional properties, encapsulation efficiency, and release behavior, with emphasis on release mechanisms/kinetic modeling and in situ performance in real foods. We critically appraise current limitations, mechanical weakness, and moisture/oxygen permeability of many plant-derived matrices; batch-to-batch variability of botanical polymers, and compatibility issues with hydrophobic actives, together with promising solutions: chemical/enzymatic/physical modifications, hybrid and nanocomposite systems, and formulation tactics (e.g., complex coacervation, Pickering stabilization, and multilayer coatings). We also outline emerging computational approaches (model-based design, AI-assisted optimization) and highlight the need for pilot-scale validation, standardized testing, and clearer regulatory pathways. Overall, plant-based biopolymers constitute a versatile and eco-friendly platform for antimicrobial delivery and active packaging, but future progress requires resolving key engineering and scale-up challenges, including reproducible raw-material sourcing, high-solids continuous processing of viscous biopolymer systems, uniform micro/nanostructure formation at industrial throughput, and integration of encapsulation steps into existing food-packaging lines.
{"title":"Plant-based biopolymers for the encapsulation of food antimicrobials: Current advances and challenges","authors":"Jun Ji , Mohamed Brahmi , Emilie Dumas , Nour-Eddine Chihib , Adem Gharsallaoui","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102666","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102666","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Food antimicrobials are essential to curb spoilage and pathogens, but many antimicrobials, particularly natural ones, suffer from poor solubility, instability, and uncontrolled migration in food matrices. Plant-based biopolymer encapsulation offers an emerging and sustainable solution, providing protection and controlled release of these sensitive compounds. This review synthesizes recent advances on plant-derived polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids as edible encapsulation carriers for food antimicrobials. We discuss sources, structures, and techno-functional properties, encapsulation efficiency, and release behavior, with emphasis on release mechanisms/kinetic modeling and in situ performance in real foods. We critically appraise current limitations, mechanical weakness, and moisture/oxygen permeability of many plant-derived matrices; batch-to-batch variability of botanical polymers, and compatibility issues with hydrophobic actives, together with promising solutions: chemical/enzymatic/physical modifications, hybrid and nanocomposite systems, and formulation tactics (e.g., complex coacervation, Pickering stabilization, and multilayer coatings). We also outline emerging computational approaches (model-based design, AI-assisted optimization) and highlight the need for pilot-scale validation, standardized testing, and clearer regulatory pathways. Overall, plant-based biopolymers constitute a versatile and eco-friendly platform for antimicrobial delivery and active packaging, but future progress requires resolving key engineering and scale-up challenges, including reproducible raw-material sourcing, high-solids continuous processing of viscous biopolymer systems, uniform micro/nanostructure formation at industrial throughput, and integration of encapsulation steps into existing food-packaging lines.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102666"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145979550","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 : 2026-01-10DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102662
Bojana Petrovic , Daniel Paluba , Adenan Yandra Nofrizal , Ales Kucera
Climate change and increasing weather variability pose significant challenges to agricultural productivity, particularly in temperate regions. This study examines climate impacts on yields of barley, rapeseed, rye, and wheat across the Czech Republic (2016–2024) using meteorological data and evaluates three machine learning models (Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, Support Vector Regression) for yield prediction solely on meteorological variables. Three validation strategies were tested: random (70/30 %), spatial (region-based), and temporal (last three years). Random partitioning yielded the highest accuracy, but risks data leakage and is therefore not recommended for forecasting. Spatial partitioning showed low to moderate accuracy, suggesting ML approaches can partially interpolate yields in areas with no data (interpolation), particularly for barley and wheat. Temporal partitioning caused a substantial drop in predictive skill, producing unreliable forecasts for rye and rapeseed and indicating that meteorological data alone are insufficient for robust yield prediction. Support Vector Regression produced consistently negative R2 values across all validation strategies, demonstrating fundamental model-task incompatibility. Wheat showed highest accuracy (random: 72.57 ± 7.19 %; spatial: 53.45 ± 19.31 %; temporal: 25.10 %), driven largely by Year (>50 % importance). Without Year, spatial R2 dropped to 0.2–27 %, confirming limited predictive power of meteorological variables alone. Crop climate analysis revealed distinct responses: rye was highly heat-sensitive, wheat and rapeseed benefited from late-season warmth, excess soil moisture during dormancy reduced rapeseed and wheat yields, and barley responded positively to stable warm conditions. These findings emphasize the importance of choosing an appropriate validation approach for yield prediction, depending on the intended task (interpolation or forecasting), as well as the value of feature interpretability. Key limitations include reliance on meteorology-only predictors without management or soil data, a small temporal test set (3 years, 42 observations per crop), and models' strong dependence on Year and Region features that limit operational forecasting utility.
{"title":"Analyzing meteorological effects on crop yield and yield prediction through machine learning with different data partitioning approaches: A case study from Czech Republic","authors":"Bojana Petrovic , Daniel Paluba , Adenan Yandra Nofrizal , Ales Kucera","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102662","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102662","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate change and increasing weather variability pose significant challenges to agricultural productivity, particularly in temperate regions. This study examines climate impacts on yields of barley, rapeseed, rye, and wheat across the Czech Republic (2016–2024) using meteorological data and evaluates three machine learning models (Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, Support Vector Regression) for yield prediction solely on meteorological variables. Three validation strategies were tested: random (70/30 %), spatial (region-based), and temporal (last three years). Random partitioning yielded the highest accuracy, but risks data leakage and is therefore not recommended for forecasting. Spatial partitioning showed low to moderate accuracy, suggesting ML approaches can partially interpolate yields in areas with no data (interpolation), particularly for barley and wheat. Temporal partitioning caused a substantial drop in predictive skill, producing unreliable forecasts for rye and rapeseed and indicating that meteorological data alone are insufficient for robust yield prediction. Support Vector Regression produced consistently negative R<sup>2</sup> values across all validation strategies, demonstrating fundamental model-task incompatibility. Wheat showed highest accuracy (random: 72.57 ± 7.19 %; spatial: 53.45 ± 19.31 %; temporal: 25.10 %), driven largely by Year (>50 % importance). Without Year, spatial R<sup>2</sup> dropped to 0.2–27 %, confirming limited predictive power of meteorological variables alone. Crop climate analysis revealed distinct responses: rye was highly heat-sensitive, wheat and rapeseed benefited from late-season warmth, excess soil moisture during dormancy reduced rapeseed and wheat yields, and barley responded positively to stable warm conditions. These findings emphasize the importance of choosing an appropriate validation approach for yield prediction, depending on the intended task (interpolation or forecasting), as well as the value of feature interpretability. Key limitations include reliance on meteorology-only predictors without management or soil data, a small temporal test set (3 years, 42 observations per crop), and models' strong dependence on Year and Region features that limit operational forecasting utility.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102662"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145979548","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 : 2026-01-10DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102635
Yuyang Su , Weiqing Qian , Xiaohan Cao , Hongying Wang , Xiaocan Lei , Weidong Gong , Jialin Hu
Objective
Polysaccharides, as natural bioactive macromolecules with anti-tumor potential, have become a research hotspot in the context of limited traditional cancer treatment methods. However, there is a lack of systematic reviews and clear delineation of future trends in this field regarding polysaccharide-based anti-tumor therapy. To fill this gap, this study aims to analyze the research hotspots and trends using bibliometric methods, providing support for promoting clinical translation.
Method
Relevant literature was retrieved from the Web of Science database, and key indicators such as annual publication volume, national/institutional collaboration models, and research hotspots were visually analyzed.
Result
The global publications on polysaccharide-based anti-tumor therapy have been on the rise. China, the United States, and India are the top three countries in terms of output. The research hotspots can be clustered into three major directions: “Polysaccharide-based nanocarriers and tumor-targeted delivery”, “Polysaccharide-mediated drug delivery systems and efficacy enhancement”, and “Polysaccharide anti-tumor mechanisms and tumor treatment effects”. Current research focuses on nanocarrier construction, targeted delivery mechanisms, and exploration of the anti-tumor activity of natural polysaccharides.
Conclusion
Research on polysaccharide-based anti-tumor therapy is steadily developing and has a cross-disciplinary characteristic. Based on the analysis of the research dynamics in this field, this study not only further validates and highlights the anti-tumor potential of polysaccharides, but also clearly indicates that future research will focus on precision medicine, combined treatment, and green synthesis technologies, providing key references for promoting clinical innovation and transformation in tumor treatment.
目的多糖作为具有抗肿瘤潜力的天然生物活性大分子，在传统肿瘤治疗方法有限的情况下成为研究热点。然而，目前缺乏系统的综述和对该领域以多糖为基础的抗肿瘤治疗的未来趋势的明确描述。为了填补这一空白，本研究旨在利用文献计量学方法分析研究热点和趋势，为促进临床翻译提供支持。方法从Web of Science数据库中检索相关文献，可视化分析年发表量、国家/机构合作模式、研究热点等关键指标。结果全球多糖类抗肿瘤药物的研究文献呈上升趋势。中国、美国和印度是产量最高的三个国家。研究热点可集中在“基于多糖的纳米载体与肿瘤靶向递送”、“多糖介导的药物递送系统与功效增强”和“多糖抗肿瘤机制与肿瘤治疗作用”三大方向。目前的研究主要集中在天然多糖的纳米载体构建、靶向递送机制以及抗肿瘤活性的探索等方面。结论以多糖为基础的抗肿瘤治疗研究正在稳步发展，具有跨学科的特点。在分析该领域研究动态的基础上，本研究不仅进一步验证和凸显了多糖的抗肿瘤潜力，也明确了未来的研究方向将集中在精准医疗、联合治疗、绿色合成技术等方面，为推动肿瘤治疗的临床创新和转型提供关键参考。
{"title":"Global research hotspots and trends in polysaccharide anti-tumor therapy: A systematic bibliometric analysis and review","authors":"Yuyang Su , Weiqing Qian , Xiaohan Cao , Hongying Wang , Xiaocan Lei , Weidong Gong , Jialin Hu","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102635","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102635","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Polysaccharides, as natural bioactive macromolecules with anti-tumor potential, have become a research hotspot in the context of limited traditional cancer treatment methods. However, there is a lack of systematic reviews and clear delineation of future trends in this field regarding polysaccharide-based anti-tumor therapy. To fill this gap, this study aims to analyze the research hotspots and trends using bibliometric methods, providing support for promoting clinical translation.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Relevant literature was retrieved from the Web of Science database, and key indicators such as annual publication volume, national/institutional collaboration models, and research hotspots were visually analyzed.</div></div><div><h3>Result</h3><div>The global publications on polysaccharide-based anti-tumor therapy have been on the rise. China, the United States, and India are the top three countries in terms of output. The research hotspots can be clustered into three major directions: “Polysaccharide-based nanocarriers and tumor-targeted delivery”, “Polysaccharide-mediated drug delivery systems and efficacy enhancement”, and “Polysaccharide anti-tumor mechanisms and tumor treatment effects”. Current research focuses on nanocarrier construction, targeted delivery mechanisms, and exploration of the anti-tumor activity of natural polysaccharides.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Research on polysaccharide-based anti-tumor therapy is steadily developing and has a cross-disciplinary characteristic. Based on the analysis of the research dynamics in this field, this study not only further validates and highlights the anti-tumor potential of polysaccharides, but also clearly indicates that future research will focus on precision medicine, combined treatment, and green synthesis technologies, providing key references for promoting clinical innovation and transformation in tumor treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102635"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145979564","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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