ACS agricultural science & technology最新文献

Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) is a devastating disease within the Citrus industry. Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) is one of the most prevalent HLB-associated strains that has not been cultured in vitro. To ensure the accuracy and comparability of the molecular diagnostic method for HLB detection, certified reference materials urgently need to be developed for CLas detection. Here, we developed a series of DNA reference materials of CLas using 16S rDNA as the target gene and the SAND gene as the Citrus reference gene. The 16S rDNA gene fragment cloned by the NCBI sequence and Citrus DNA extracted by healthy Citrus leaves are thoroughly mixed for preparation. Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) was used as an accurate quantification method for 16S rDNA, and the SAND was established and optimized through this study. Nine laboratories collaborated in determining these two parameters, and the homogeneity and stability were adequate. The quantification results demonstrated that the copy number certified values and expanded uncertainty of 16S rDNA and SAND in the high-concentration reference material were (3.86 ± 0.34) × 10³ and (4.43 ± 0.39) × 10³ cp/μL, respectively. The copy number certified values and expanded uncertainty of 16S rDNA and SAND in the low-concentration reference material were (3.98 ± 0.36) × 10² and (4.34 ± 0.37) × 10³ cp/μL, respectively. In addition, this certified reference material will provide reliable quality control for detecting CLas.

Organic contaminants, such as pesticides and pharmaceuticals, are commonly found in agricultural systems. With the growing use of plastic products, micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are increasingly detected in these agricultural systems, necessitating research into their interactions and joint effects to truly understand their impact. Unfortunately, while there has been a long history of research into the uptake of organic pollutants by plants, similar research with MNPs is only beginning, and studies on their mutual effects and plant uptake are extremely rare. In this study, we examined the effects of three agriculturally relevant organic pollutants with distinctive hydrophobicity as measured by log K_OW (trimethoprim: 0.91, atrazine: 2.61, and ibuprofen: 3.97) and 500 nm polystyrene nanoplastics on their uptake and accumulation by lettuce at two different salinity levels. Our results showed that nanoplastics increased the shoot concentration of ibuprofen by 77.4 and 309% in nonsaline and saline conditions, respectively. Alternatively, organic co-contaminants slightly lowered the PS NPs uptake in lettuce with a more pronounced decrease in saline water. These results underscore the impactful interactions of hydrophobic organic pollutants and increasing MNPs on a dynamic global environment.

Mesotrione is used for weed control in corn and sorghum (pre-emergence) but not in wheat. Corn metabolizes mesotrione via the activity of cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes. To understand the response of wheat genotypes to mesotrione application, a collection of wheat germplasm including winter, spring genotypes, and mutant lines was used in this research. In response to a 6× (1× = 105 g ai ha^–1) dose of mesotrione, two winter wheat genotypes (WW-1 and WW-2) were found to be least sensitive compared to the most sensitive genotype (WW-24), mutant lines (J38 and J327), and spring wheat. Further, application of a P450-inhibitor (malathion) before mesotrione treatment enhanced the sensitivity of WW-1 and WW-2 to mesotrione, suggesting a possible role of P450 enzymes in the detoxification of mesotrione. WW1 and WW2 were found to tolerate higher doses of mesotrione and could be potential donors for the transfer of the mesotrione-resistant trait into elite wheat genotypes.

The objective of this work was to determine whether pulcherriminic acid was responsible for the urease inhibition activity of the extracts of the yeast Metschnikowia pulcherrima. Pulcherriminic acid was synthesized through a seven-step pathway from l-leucine, starting with the thermal cyclodimerization of l-leucine to the corresponding 2,5-diketopiperazine, followed by oxidation to the 2,5-dichloropyrazine through three consecutive steps without purification of the intermediates, oxidation to the corresponding di-N-oxide, dechlorination by nucleophilic aromatic substitution with benzyloxide, and deprotection with trifluoroacetic acid without isolation of an intermediate. The urease inhibition assay showed 57 ± 2.3% inhibition of the urease activity at 500 ppm of pulcherriminic acid, much lower than the percent inhibition obtain with the extract, in which pulcherriminic acid was not detected. The cyclic dimer of l-leucine was present in the extract, and its inhibitory capacity was also tested, showing a percent inhibition of 56.1 ± 6.11% of the urease activity at 400 ppm, again much lower than the percent inhibition of the extract. This work demonstrates that the inhibitory capacity of the extracts of the yeast M. pulcherrima is not due to either only pulcherriminic acid or only its cyclic dipeptide precursor.

Inappropriate pesticide usage leads to unsustainable agricultural practices and deteriorates the quality of fruits and vegetables by introducing potentially hazardous substances. Raman spectroscopy, specifically surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), offers high-sensitivity in situ monitoring of pesticide residues. This review emphasizes the importance of advanced databases and algorithms in interpreting Raman signals. Various statistical models are introduced for spectral analysis, including self-modeling curve resolution, multivariate curve resolution, and self-modeling mixture analysis. Additionally, this study provides comprehensive information on different SERS substrates and shows great potential in the determination of food pesticide residues. However, a multicomponent analysis is needed for pesticide mixtures. The overlapping of the bands needs to be considered due to the complex matrices of biological samples. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are applied as nonlinear models when the analytes are in a multicomponent mixture. Further research is needed to establish standardized protocols for SERS-based pesticide quantitative detection, including sample preparation and data analysis.

A major drawback of using Bacillus in the promotion of plant growth is the loss of viability under adverse field conditions and during storage. Here, we propose an encapsulation strategy using an emulsion/cross-linking technique with a starch/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based matrix for enhancing the cell viability of Bacillus megaterium. The cross-linking agent, trisodium trimetaphosphate (STMP), combined with either starch (ST) or montmorillonite (MMT), allowed the formation of microparticles (ST/PVA-STMP + ST and ST/PVA-STMP + MMT, respectively). Characterization was performed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Both microparticles exhibited cell viability higher than 10.75 log₁₀ CFU g^–1 after the encapsulation procedure. When exposed to heat and fungicide stresses, the microparticles showed a protective role, maintaining cell viability around 9.5 log₁₀ CFU g^–1. The encapsulation also proved advantageous in the accelerated shelf-life test (ASLT) assay, meeting the commercialization requirements of different countries. These findings highlight the potential of the encapsulation procedure to expand the use of microbial inoculants for sustainable agriculture.

Seed soaking is a viable solution for reducing cadmium (Cd) levels in wheat, given the limited options for economically controlling it. This study aimed to explore the precise mechanisms behind seed priming to reduce Cd levels in wheat seedlings via plant ionomics, transcriptomics, and high-throughput sequencing technologies. The results showed that seed soaking with Mn²⁺ (100 μM) significantly improved the growth parameters of wheat seedlings. Seed priming with Ag⁺ (1, 2 μM) significantly decreased Cd levels in the roots (32.9 and 40.6%, respectively) and stems (19.4 and 20.3%, respectively), whereas seed priming with Zn²⁺ (10 mM) and Mn²⁺ (20, 100 μM) significantly decreased Cd levels in the leaves (29.4, 15.6, and 33.5%, respectively) compared to that in the control group. These varied reductions of Cd in wheat seedlings induced by seed soaking were attributed to the restructuring of gene transcription involved in Cd absorption and the recruitment of the genus Rhizopus (plant-beneficial fungi tolerant to Cd) in the rhizosphere soil. It shows that seed soaking could effectively control Cd absorption by wheat in a weakly alkaline soil.

The management of residential and golf course environments entails the use of pesticides and raises concerns about human exposure. Previous research demonstrated that exposure to some turfgrass pesticides is at a level that would concern risk assessors (Murphy K.C.; Cooper R.J.; and Clark J.M. Dislodgeable and volatile residues from insecticide-treated turfgrass. In, World Scientific Congress of Golf II. 1995). Using environmental monitoring, dosimetry, and biomonitoring, absorbed pesticide doses, as well as transfer and absorption dynamics, were determined following the play of golf, allowing an estimation of risk. The hands and lower legs received most of the dermal exposure, whereas airborne residues contributed little to exposure. The risk associated with pesticide exposure was determined by the hazard quotient (HQ) and margin of exposure (MOE) methods. HQs > 1.0 or MOEs < 100–300 give rise to a level of concern about possibly unsafe exposures. Dermal HQs ranged from ∼0.0001 (cyfluthrin with irrigation) to ∼0.006 (chlorothalonil without irrigation, 2,4-D, MCPP-p), while MOEs ranged from ∼160,000 (2,4-D) to 1,170,000 (cyfluthrin with irrigation), indicating limited concern from these exposures.

Maize production plays a crucial role in ensuring global food security. However, the utilization of nanozymes in enhancing maize yield and quality has rarely been reported. In this work, for the first time, the preparation and application of carbon dot (CD) nanozymes to improve maize yield and quality are presented. The Michaelis–Menten equation demonstrates that CD nanozymes exhibit excellent enzymatic kinetic characteristics, thereby possessing catalase-like enzyme activity. The enzyme-like activity of CDs effectively mitigates oxidative damage caused by the external environment in maize. Moreover, CDs have the capability to convert solar ultraviolet light into bright blue light, enhancing the levels of essential elements such as Mg, Fe, and Zn in maize. Consequently, this promotes chlorophyll synthesis and photosynthesis. Furthermore, confocal imaging verifies that CDs can easily penetrate maize cells and subsequently regulate the endogenous antioxidant enzyme activity of maize. This leads to a reduction in peroxidation metabolites of malondialdehyde and an increase in antioxidant small molecule substances such as glutathione and ascorbic acid (VC). The combined effects mentioned above significantly increase maize yield by approximately 20% in planting experiments while also improving its nutritional quality. This study sheds light on the potential application of nanozymes in enhancing the maize yield and quality.

The rapid growth of human population and frequent changes in environmental conditions pose challenges in providing nutrient-rich food to the current population. The demand for poultry products is increasing exponentially as they are a good source of low-cost proteins. Ensuring the well-being of birds and delivering nutritious poultry products is essential for both current and future food security needs and sustainable agriculture. This article is motivated by the potential of emerging digital technologies in agriculture to provide innovative solutions to challenges faced by farmers, particularly in poultry farming. It aims to shed light on various issues encountered by farmers like diseases on poultry farms and offers valuable insights for researchers seeking to address these challenges using the advancements in digital technologies. Precision farming in poultry involves leveraging technologies such as the internet of things, artificial intelligence, and edge computing to enhance animal health management. A smart poultry farm maintains the farm environment and detects diseases at early stage in the chickens. The farm resources are utilized optimally in the smart poultry farm. This research work provides a systematic literature review of intelligent systems designed for (i) poultry birds’ health and welfare management using technologies like the internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and edge computing and (ii) early disease detection, estimation of weight, and feeding behavior of birds with the use of computer vision and vocalization analysis. This article also explores various sensors employed in the development of IoT infrastructure. It has been demonstrated in the literature that modern digital technologies automate the management operations of poultry farms. As a result, the farmer’s income increases, and high-quality food products are available to people at low cost.