Journal of Agriculture and Food Research最新文献

Citrus diseases pose threats to citrus farming and result in economic losses worldwide. Nucleic acid and serology-based methods of detection such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and immunochromatographic assays are commonly used but these laboratory tests are laborious, expensive and might be subjected to cross-reaction and contamination. Timely intervention for better control over the spread of disease is essential to minimize crop loss, as no cure is available for citrus diseases like Huanglongbing. Modern optical spectroscopic techniques offer a promising alternative to traditional methods, as they are label-free, sensitive, rapid, and non-destructive. They also demonstrate potential as a mass screening tool and could be incorporated into autonomous systems for disease detection in citrus orchards. Nevertheless, the majority of optical spectroscopic methods for citrus disease detection are still in the trial phases and, require additional efforts to be established as efficient and commercially viable methods. The review presents an overview of fundamental working principles, the state of the art, and explains the applications and limitations of the optical spectroscopy technique including the spectroscopic imaging approach (hyperspectral imaging) in the identification of diseases in citrus plants grown over a large area. The review highlights (1) majorly used optical spectroscopic tools that can potentially be utilized in field measurements, (2) their applications in screening citrus diseases through leaf spectroscopy, and (3) discusses their benefits, challenges, and limitations, including future insights on how to enhance them further for efficient label-free identification of citrus diseases. Moreover, the role of artificial intelligence is reviewed as potential effective tools for spectral analysis, enabling accurate detection of infected citrus leaves even before the appearance of visual symptoms by leveraging compositional, morphological, and chemometric characteristics of the plant leaves. The review aims to encourage researchers to enhance the development and commercialization of field-based, label-free optical tools for the rapid and early-stage screening of citrus diseases in plants.

The critical nitrogen (N_c) dilution curve is considered an effective method for crop nitrogen (N) diagnosis, fertilization decision-making, and crop modeling. The N_c dilution curve is typically described using a power function curve (N_c = A₁W^−A2). This study established a universal N_c dilution curve and evaluated its potential application in flue-cured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) N diagnosis, yield, and quality regulation. Field experiments were conducted involving three tobacco varieties (Honghuadajinyuan, Yunyan87, and K326) and four N application rates (0 to > 90 kg N ha⁻¹). The study was conducted in Southwest China from 2021 to 2022. The universal N_c curve obtained across all experimental data was 3.45 W^−0.39. The parameter A₂ was more susceptible to genotype and environment interactions than parameter A₁. The uncertainty first rapidly decreased and then remained at a lower value as biomass increased. The relationship between leaf biomass and days after transplantation and accumulated growth degree was robust. The N nutrition index (NNI) and accumulated N deficiency effectively determined leaf N status and N demand, respectively. There was an inverse correlation between the NNI, leaf yield, and between the superior and medium leaf ratios. The quantitative relationship can be used to adjust the synergistic production of tobacco yield and leaf quality.

Anxiety is a state of mind with some fear that affects physical health by disrupting neurotransmission and hormonal control. Both diet (inadequate and unhealthy dietary patterns) and environment (social and financial factors) trigger its progression; therefore, diet is considered to have a significant involvement in its prevention or adjunct therapy. A unique nutrient profile and bioactive ingredients are seen in fruits to provide health outcomes beyond nutritive properties. The relaxing potential of such fruits is attributed to the functional nature and therapeutic ingredients i.e., catecholamines, myricetin, quercetin, betalains, etc. that enhance the efficiency of hormones, neurotransmitters, and metabolic pathways. This review presented certain fruits having positive associations with mental health and anxiety amelioration. Various types of research evidenced the anxiolytic effect of certain fruits through clinical trials. Among them, berries, opuntia, and black pepper also have shown anxiety-relieving effects in clinical studies by restoring antioxidant enzymes, hormonal modulations, and managing neurotransmitters. Citrus species are loaded with flavonoids which are involved in the expression of GABA (Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid) to calm the nervous system. Some other fruits also potentiate memory and cognition when taken in ample amounts owing to their secondary metabolites. Thus, the incorporation of such fruits into a regular diet has been found to have a significant impact on mental well-being and brain health.

Fibrous plants with higher biomass, particularly industrial hemp, have ability to withstand and accumulate significant quantities of heavy metals from contaminated environments. The present study aimed to evaluate the dynamics of different levels (ratios) of macronutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) viz., NPK₁NPK (1:1:1); NPK₂NPK (2:1:1); NPK₃NPK (3:1:2); NPK₄NPK (4:1:2) on hemp growth and Cu contents under various levels of Cu stress (100, 400 and 800 mg kg⁻¹ on dry soil basis using CuSO₄·5H₂O). Results revealed that by increasing the Cu stress, growth and biomass decreased linearly and lipid per oxidation and enzymatic antioxidants increased. Balanced application of NPK improved the biomass and decreased the membrane damage by the modulation of malonaldehyde contents. Maximum concentration of Cu in roots (377.47 ± 4.90 mg kg⁻¹), shoots (137.45 ± 5.60 mg kg⁻¹) and (150.07 ± 3.57 mg kg⁻¹) was recorded at Cu₃NPK₂ treatment as compared to control. Maximum translocation factor (TF) and bioaccumulation coefficients (BAC) in the shoots and leaves of hemp plant were noticed where Cu stress was applied at the rate of 100 mg kg⁻¹. However, BAC and TF were below 1. The NPK₂ treatment enhanced biomass and increase Cu content both in leaves and stems, rather than the roots. Our study suggests that balanced application of NPK is a practicable approach to alleviate Cu stress and improve biomass production of industrial hemp plant. These findings indicate that optimum nutrient supply, under Cu stress, can maximize the growth potential and overall health of industrial hemp, making it a viable option for phytoremediation and sustainable agriculture on contaminated soils.

Vitis vinifera L. ‘Gewürztraminer’ produces distinctive, aromatic wines that are strongly influenced by their terroir. This metabolomic study used a data-driven approach, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Multifactorial Analysis (MFA), to correlate a quali-quantitative multivariate concept of terroir (including soil characteristics, and altitude) with sensory, phenolic, antioxidant, and volatile profiles of wines. The study analyzed wines from seven ‘Gewürztraminer’ vineyards, chosen to minimize the variability due to climate differences. Based on the soil data, the vineyards were clustered into two distinct groups: clay silicate (Group A) and dolomitic (Group B) soils. Group A exhibited lower levels of aromatic compounds such as linalool and higher levels of phenolic compounds such as gallocatechin than Group B. These findings indicate that even small changes in terroir within the same region can significantly impact the chemical, functional (antioxidant), and sensory properties of ‘Gewürztraminer’ wines, highlighting the importance of terroir in wine production. Statistical analyses confirmed the significance of these correlations (p < 0.05), highlighting the need for further research into the intricate relationship between terroir and wine quality.

The potential of a cactus mucilage (CM)-based edible coating enriched with ascorbic acid (AA) for preserving microwave-roasted pecan nuts’ quality during accelerated storage was investigated. CM (3 %) was mixed with different concentrations of AA, which were 0.03, 0.015, and 0.09 %, to formulate edible coating solutions that were applied to microwave-roasted (700 W, 2.27 min) pecan nuts before accelerated storage for 25 days at 60 °C. Samples were taken at a 5-day interval to be analysed for colour properties (L = lightness, BI = browning index, and TCD = total colour difference), hardness, total yeast and mold, total flavonoids content (TFC), total phenolic content (TPC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), DPPH radical scavenging activity, peroxidase (POD), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzyme activities. Coating microwave-roasted pecan nuts with 3 % CM enriched with AA at low concentrations such as 0.015 % proved effective in preserving the colour, hardness, TPC, TFC, FRAP, and reducing the activities of POD and PPO enzymes. This study has demonstrated that CM enriched with AA edible coatings has the capacity to protect the quality and prolong the shelf-life of microwave-roasted pecan nuts.

Phytoconstituents are being emphasized as chemotherapeutic agents, as well as probable anticancer agents. The purpose of the present research was to assess the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties of crude ethanolic extracts and bioactive fractions of Adiantum venustum D. Don collected from three sites in Himachal Pradesh, India. The bioactive phytoconstituents were examined qualitatively and quantitatively in crude ethanolic extracts and fractions of all sites, and biological activities were analyzed. The potential presence of terpenoids, saponins, tannins, phenols, and flavonoids was examined, and it came to light that BF-II [n-butanol fraction of Site-II (2000 m altitude)] had a significantly higher phytochemical concentration. Additionally, the crude ethanolic extracts and fractions were examined for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and BF-II was found to have potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, as verified by the IC₅₀ values (lowest half inhibitory concentration) in the DPPH (57.86 ± 0.72 μg/mL), reducing power assay (45.20 ± 0.72 μg/mL), FRAP (73.12 ± 0.23 μM Fe equivalent), BSA (56.76 ± 0.25 μg/mL), and EAA (EAA59.84 ± 0.13 μg/mL). Following that, the anticancer potential was investigated further using the MTT assay on the HeLa cell line, MTT assay revealed that BF-II possesses significantly higher anticancer potential. Furthermore, the dominant crude ethanolic extract and fraction were further investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy, and high-performance thin layer chromatography techniques from the selected plant. Overall, the study suggests that the n-butanol fraction of A. venustum possesses significantly higher therapeutic value but is still not explored to the extent of its potential.

Mycotoxins and particularly aflatoxin are a concern for peanut growers, processors, and consumers. Aflatoxins are responsible for approximately 25 % of liver cancer cases worldwide, while also costing millions of dollars in lost revenue on an annual basis. Current detection techniques based on high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) are time, labor and cost intensive. Peanut product can be held multiple days before testing is complete, costing processors additional revenue loss. Over the past few years, The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) has been investigating the use of plant-based biogenic volatile organic compounds (bVOCs) for monitoring the status of peanut plants. Initially, GTRI utilized these bVOCs to monitor for heat/drought stress in peanut plants. They quickly saw very promising indications of the ability of bVOCs to monitor other parameters in these plants. More recently, the team has started to investigate the of use of bVOCs to monitor aflatoxin development in plants, pods, and kernels pre- and post-harvest. A field trial for detection of aflatoxin using bVOCs was conducted in August–September of 2020 where three test groups were prepared: plants treated with Aspergillus fungus; plants treated with Afla-Guard (biocontrol agent); plants not treated – acting as a control group. Plant-based bVOCs were collected from the plants before treatment, and once a week post treatment using Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction (SBSE) devices or Twisters®. Each Twister® was then analyzed via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Pods from tested plants were harvested and sent to GTRI where bVOCs were collected and analyzed using GC/MS. Several statistical analysis and machine learning techniques were applied to all the collected GC/MS data. It was found using only bVOCs, that Random Forest classification performed well for the analysis of the pod and kernel samples with an F1 score of 0.80. On the other hand, Linear Discriminate Analysis (LDA) was only able to correctly classify 50 % of plant-based samples solely on bVOCs alone, which may be due to training models developed using original labels assuming no cross contamination at the field level. These results indicate the potential for bVOC screening for aflatoxin as an important way to lower impacts to growers, shellers, and consumers.

Net food-importing developing countries, which account for 30% of countries globally, and roughly 20% of the global population, must seek to reduce their vulnerabilities in food production trade shocks. This study investigates per capita food consumption patterns in 60 net food-importing developing countries using ICP 2017 data for eight food categories. Employing the linear approximate, almost ideal demand system model, the research derives marginal shares, income and price elasticities of demand, shedding light on consumption behaviors and responsiveness to changes in income and prices. Results highlight that additional expenditure on per capita food consumption is primarily allocated to fruits, vegetables, meat, and bread and cereals, with considerable variations among countries. At the same time, minimal allocation is observed for sugar and honey, as well as fats and oils. Income elasticities indicate varying degrees of responsiveness across food categories. In contrast, own-price elasticities underscore significant sensitivity to price fluctuations, notably for beverages, milk, cheese, and eggs, meat, fats and oils, and fish and seafood. Moreover, cross-price elasticities suggest predominantly substitution relationships between pairs of food categories, on average. Additionally, a visually informative map displaying estimated marginal shares, income elasticities, and own-price elasticities for the eight food categories was created. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders in understanding consumption dynamics and formulating effective strategies to address food security and welfare concerns in net food-importing developing countries.

Bread, a staple food, primarily utilizes wheat as the main ingredient due to its high carbohydrate content, despite being considered nutritionally deficient. In the present study, wheat flour was substituted with cowpea and yam flours. The raw materials were processed into flour, and the proximate composition, functional properties, and anti-nutritional contents of the individual and blend flours (B₁ = 85 % wheat + 5 % cowpea +10 % yam, B₂ = 70 % wheat + 10 % cowpea +20 % yam, and B₃ = 55 % wheat + 15 % cowpea +30 % yam) were analyzed. The main findings revealed that the incorporation of cowpea and yam flours led to significant increases (p < 0.05) in the total ash content, crude protein content, crude fiber content, bulk density, water absorption capacity, oil absorption capacity, swelling power, phytic acid content, tannin content, and oxalate content. Additionally, the effects of the blending ratio, baking temperature (180–220 °C) and baking time (25–35 min) on the bread formulation were investigated using response surface methodology (RSM). As the blending ratio progressed from B₁ to B₃, a noticeable decrease in both the specific volume and sensory attributes of the bread were observed. Similarly, with an increase in baking temperature and duration, the bread exhibited a decline in its crude protein and crude fiber contents. Breads formulated with up to 10 % cowpea flour and 20 % yam flour, baked at higher temperatures and times, received greater overall acceptability from panelists. These findings suggest that substituting bread wheat flour with cowpea and yam flours is an innovative approach for developing nutritious and appealing bread products.