Due to the serious environmental pollution generated by plastic packaging, chitosan (CS)-based biodegradable films are gradually gaining popularity. However, the limited antioxidant and bacteriostatic capabilities of CS, the poor mechanical properties and water resistance of pure CS films limit their widespread adoption in food packaging. In this study, new multifunctional bioactive packaging films containing monosaccharide-modified CS and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were prepared to address the shortcomings of pure CS films. Initially, Maillard reaction (MR) products were prepared by conjugating chitosan with galactose/mannose (CG/CM). The successful preparation of CG/CM was confirmed using UV spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and high-performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC). At an 8 mg/mL concentration, the DPPH radical scavenging activities of CM and CG were 5 and 15 times higher than that of CS, respectively. At the maximum concentration of 200 mu g/mL, both CM and CG exhibited greater inhibitory effects on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, compared to CS. Additionally, CM and CG demonstrated significantly stronger protection against oxidative damage in Vero cells than CS. These results indicate that CG and CM possess superior antioxidant and antibacterial capabilities in comparison to CS. Then, the effects of the MR on the structures and functional properties of chitosan-based films were extensively examined. Compared with pure CS films, the MR in the CG/CM films significantly changed the film microstructure, enhanced the UV-barrier property and water resistance, and only slightly reduced thermal stability. The MR reduced the tensile strength but increased the elongation at break. Meanwhile, the composite films hold good soil degradation ability. Moreover, the CG/CM films possessed excellent antioxidant and antibacterial properties and demonstrated superior fresh-keeping capacity in the preservation of strawberries and cherry tomatoes (effectively prolonged for at least 2 days or 3-6 days). Our study indicates that CG/CM films can be used as a promising biodegradable antioxidant and antibacterial biomaterial for food packaging.

The growing preference for 'Hass' avocado on a worldwide scale has encouraged the release of new cultivars as well as their evaluation under different soil and climatic conditions. The cultivar 'Carmen Hass', resulting from a spontaneous mutation, achieved excellent performance in Mexico and South Africa, producing fruits earlier than 'Hass' trees and allowing commercialization during periods of high market prices. The objective of this research was to compare the performance of 'Hass' and 'Carmen Hass' avocado trees under the soil and climate conditions of southeast region Brazil. The climate of region is subtropical humid with dry winter. Between the fourth and fifth year after planting, plants were evaluated for flowering (panicles branch-1, percentage of determinate and indeterminate inflorescences), fruit maturation (dry matter content), yield (kg plant-1, fruits plant-1), yield efficiency (kg m-3), morphological characteristics of fruit (weight, length, diameter, length/diameter ratio), and postharvest quality (pulp firmness, occurrence of pulp discoloration, chilling injury, vascular browning, lenticel damage, and skin color change). Fruit size, shape, and postharvest quality were also evaluated in the sixth year after planting. 'Carmen Hass' is a promising alternative for producing 'Hass'-type avocados, reaching physiological maturity sooner and allowing harvesting 15 days earlier than 'Hass'. Its higher proportion of indeterminate inflorescences contributed to greater yields, although resulting in smaller fruits, and no off-blooming was observed under the conditions of this study. Postharvest performance was comparable between cultivars, with 'Carmen Hass' maintaining firmer flesh after 21 days and showing reduced vascular browning after 28 days of storage.

Drought significantly reduces cotton boll yields across various fruiting branches (FBs). Potassium (K) application can partially mitigate the drought-induced damage by modifying the biosynthesis of photoassimilates in the leaf subtending to cotton boll (LSCB) and facilitating their transport to the subtending bolls, although its effects vary among FBs. The underlying mechanisms remain unclear. To investigate this, potting experiments were conducted at three soil relative water content (SRWC): 75 +/- 5 % (W75), 60 +/- 5 % (W60), and 45 +/- 5 % (W45), along with K rates of 0 (K0), 150 (K150) and 300 (K300) kg K2O ha-1. Compared to W75, the W60 and W45 treatments reduced the photosynthesis of LSCBs in different FBs, adversely affecting carbohydrate accumulation in the subtending cotton bolls. K application can mitigate this negative impact, with the most pronounced effects observed in the middle and upper FBs. K application (K150 and K300) enhanced the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, maximum mass yield of PSII and chlorophyll content of LSCB in the middle and upper FBs compared to K0 under drought conditions. Additionally, K application significantly increased K content in LSCBs within the middle and upper FBs, which in turn elevated sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS), and sucrose synthase (SuSy) activities, reducing the conversion of sucrose into starch, ultimately facilitating carbohydrate exports to the subtending bolls. In summary, we propose a model that elucidates how K application mitigates drought damage by enhancing the exports of photoassimilates from the middle and upper FBs to their respective subtending cotton bolls.

Crops produced using the practice of continuous cropping can become seriously damaged by plant-parasitic nematodes, an important indicator of continuous cropping obstacles. As a typical and important perennial economic crop, dragon fruit is prone to serious plant-parasitic nematode infestation; however, whether it encounters continuous cropping obstacles remains unclear. Here, we studied plant-parasitic nematodes (Meloidogyne spp. and Tylenchorhynchus sp.) in the soil and roots, soil nematode communities, metabolic footprint, soil integrated fertility, and the yield of intensively planted dragon fruit under non-continuous cropping (Y1) and 3 years (Y3) and 5 years (Y5) of continuous cropping, to determine potential continuous-cropping obstacles and factors that affect the yield of this fruit. The largest numbers of plant-parasitic nematodes in the soil and roots were observed in Y5; the associated yield was reduced, and the dragon fruit was severely stressed. Further analysis of the composition, diversity, and ecological function indices of soil nematodes showed that the soil ecological environment deteriorated after 3 years of continuous cropping, with Y5 having the worst results. Similarly, the soil at Y5 had a significant inhibitory effect on the growth and reproduction of Caenorhabditis elegans. Mantel test analysis and a random forest model showed that soil available phosphorus, soil exchange calcium, and soil nematode abundance and diversity were related significantly to yield. Partial least squares path modeling revealed that soil fertility and soil nematode diversity directly impacts the yield of continuously cropped dragon fruit. In summary, continuous cropping obstacles occurred in Y5 of intensive dragon fruit cultivation, with soil nematode diversity and soil fertility determining the crop's yield.

Blueberries are the most popular small berries, in order to solve the problem of unbalanced blueberry resources in different regions of China. In this study, 18 blueberries were analyzed by chromatography and mass spectrometry for 9 soil elements, 6 anthocyanins, 7 phenolic acids, 9 organic acids, and 12 flavonoids. The result showed that blueberry physico-chemical indicators were significantly variable across production regions by Wenn and volcano maps, chlorogenic acid, ascorbic acid, citric acid, catechin were the main antioxidant active components, soil pH was significantly correlated with low content of anthocyanins and organic acids, soil elements were not significantly correlated with fruits antioxidant activity by the network correlation analysis. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis classified the antioxidant activity and fruit quality: represented by YNorthland, SNorthland, JSharpblue. It provides theoretical support for screening high quality blueberries and promoting the development of blueberry industry.

Kiwifruit soft rot is a disease caused by fungal pathogens such as Botryosphaeria dothidea, which considerably restricts the development of kiwifruit industry. To provide novel management strategies against kiwifruit soft rot disease, potential biocontrol actinomycete strains were isolated from kiwifruit rhizosphere soil. A total of 21 actinomycete strains were obtained and strain SC-3 exhibited the highest biocontrol activity against B. dothidea. Based on the morphological, biochemical and molecular characteristics strain SC-3 was identified as Streptomyces albidoflavus. The SC-3 and its aseptic filtrate (AF) exhibited excellent antifungal activities against 11 tested pathogenic fungi. AF displayed antifungal effects through suppressing mycelial growth, spore germination, and the pathogenicity of B. dothidea. Electron microscopy analysis revealed that AF could cause significant alterations on ultrastructure of B. dothidea. Moreover, AF severely damaged cell membrane integrity, resulting in the leakage of cellular components in B. dothidea. Metabolomic analyses of SC-3 AF revealed the presence of several important antifungal compounds in the AF such as antimycin, and candicidin. Correspondingly, the whole genome analyses of SC-3 identified gene clusters responsible for the biosynthesis of these compounds. Overall, SC-3 is a potential biological control agent against B. dothidea and other fungal phytopathogens.

The increasing consumption and demand of jujube fruits has accelerated production over the recent past. However, the aspects of eco-friendly strategies for pest control and high-quality fruit production are becoming more important to combat the impending dangers of repeated chemicals use in orchard management. This study identified for the first time, the sap beetle (Phenolia (Lasiodites) picta) larvae (based on mitochondrial DNA barcode sequencing), as the major insect pest causing damage in jujube fruits in Korea. The study investigated the insecticidal potential of cuticle-degrading enzymes from Bacillus licheniformis PR2 against P. picta larvae, and the enhancement of fruit quality and yield, through phytohormone production, ammonia production and phosphate solubilizing properties of the bacterium. Bacillus licheniformis PR2 produced chitinase and protease and caused larval mortalities of 55.56 % and 68.89 % when treated with the bacterial broth culture and crude enzyme fraction, respectively. The insecticidal activity in both treatments were characterized by deep cuticle fissures with swollen/depressed surfaces and loss of sensilla. Field application of B. licheniformis PR2 effectively controlled P. picta larvae in jujube orchard during active feeding period as they moved from fruit-to-fruit which reduced the damage and premature fruit-drop. Moreover, B. licheniformis PR2 produced indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellic acid (GA) phytohormones, and increased the soil concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus concentration in the soil. The application of B. licheniformis PR2 in jujube orchard increased the chlorophyll content/photosynthetic activity, fruit yield, fruit characteristics (such as length, diameter and fruit weight) and the organoleptic properties (such as the Ca content, firmness and sugar concentration) of jujube fruits, compared to the control and conventional treatment. Thus, we demonstrate that B. licheniformis PR2 can be a viable alternative to chemical pesticides and fertilizers and could enhance the eco-friendly and sustainable production of high-quality jujube fruits to meet the increasing demands.

Salinity stress disrupts water uptake and nutrient absorption, causing reduced photosynthesis, stunted growth, and decreased crop yields in plants. The use of indole acetic acid (IAA), arginine (AN), and mango fruit waste biochar (MFWB) can be effective methods to overcome this problem. Indole acetic acid (IAA) is a natural auxin hormone that aids cell elongation and division, thereby increasing plant height and branching. L-arginine, an amino acid, is crucial for plant defense mechanisms, forming proline, polyamines, and nitric oxide, which regulate biological activities and prevent oxidative damage. Mango fruit waste biochar enhances soil fertility and water retention, thereby enhancing fruit development and yield. This study investigates the effects of combining IAA and AN as amendments to fenugreek, with and without MFWB. Four treatments (control, 2mM IAA, 250 mg/L AN, and 250 mg/L AN + 2mM IAA) study were conducted in four replications using a completely randomized design. Results demonstrate that the 250 mg/L AN + 2mM IAA with MFWB treatment led to a significant rise in fenugreek plant length (30.26%), plant fresh weight (36.37%), and plant dry weight (15.78%) over the control under salinity stress. There was a notable increase in chlorophyll a (5.13%), chlorophyll b (14.06%), total chlorophyll (7.79%), and shoot N, P, K from the control under salinity stress also showing the potential of 250 mg/L AN + 2mM IAA with MFWB. In conclusion, applying 250 mg/L AN + 2mM IAA with MFWB is a strategy for alleviating salinity stress in fenugreeks.

W. Chan-Cupul, J. M. Palma-Garcia, E. Ruiz-S & aacute;nchez, and E. Cruz-Crespo. 2025. Assessment of the effects of inoculation with entomopathogenic fungi on the vegetative growth and yield of Capsicum chinense under water stress conditions. Int. J. Agric. and gastronomic value. The cultivation of C. chinense is increasingly challenged by global warming and droughts, which impact both plant health and market stability. Climate change affects agriculture by altering temperature and precipitation patterns, leading to soil moisture loss, drought, phenological damage, and increased pest and disease incidence. The use of bioinoculants, including entomopathogenic fungi (EFs), may be a strategy to mitigate drought in C. chinense production. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of Beauveria brongniartii and Purpureocillium lilacinum inoculation on the vegetative growth and yield of C. chinense var. Chichen Itza under two water stress conditions. Experiments were conducted in a gothic greenhouse, and C. chinense seedlings were transplanted into growth bags [coconut fiber (70%) and dust (30%)] with controlled irrigation at 75% and 100% levels. The EFs were applied weekly for the first month (50 mL at 1x107 conidia mL-1). Agronomic parameters, including plant height, stem diameter, chlorophyll index, leaf area, fruit quality, and yield, were measured. The results indicated that both B. brongniartii and P. lilacinum significantly increased plant height and stem diameter in the early stages of growth under water stress conditions. B. brongniartii notably increased plant growth and maintained fruit yield even under reduced irrigation. However, no significant differences were observed in the chlorophyll index or overall fruit yield among the treatments. The results of this study suggest that B. brongniartii and P. lilacinum can improve C. chinense resilience to water stress, suggesting potential applications in sustainable agriculture amidst climate change.

Suitable planting systems are critical for the physicochemical and bioactivities of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) polysaccharides (SPs). In this study, SPs were prepared through hot water extraction, and the differences in physicochemical characteristics and bioactivities between SPs derived from elevated matrix soilless planting strawberries (EP-SP) and those from and conventional soil planting strawberries (GP-SP) were investigated. A higher extraction yield was observed for EP-SP (5.88%) than for GP-SP (4.67%), and slightly higher values were measured for the average molecular weight (632.10 kDa vs. 611.88 kDa) and total sugar content (39.38% vs. 34.92%) in EP-SP. In contrast, a higher protein content (2.12% vs. 1.65%) and a more ordered molecular arrangement were exhibited by GP-SP. Monosaccharide composition analysis revealed that EP-SP contained higher levels of rhamnose (12.33%) and glucose (49.29%), whereas GP-SP was richer in galactose (11.06%) and galacturonic acid (19.12%). Thermal analysis indicated only minor differences in decomposition temperatures (approximately 225-226 degrees C) and thermal stability between the samples. However, GP-SP showed a higher enthalpy change (Delta Hg = 18.74 J/g) compared to EP-SP (13.93 J/g). Biological activity assays revealed that GP-SP generally exerted stronger non-enzymatic glycation inhibition at both early and final stages (IC50: 7.47 mg/mL vs. 7.82 mg/mL and 11.18 mg/mL vs. 11.87 mg/mL, respectively), whereas EP-SP was more effective against intermediate alpha-dicarbonyl compounds (maximum inhibition of 75.32%). Additionally, GP-SP exerted superior alpha-glucosidase inhibition (IC50 = 2.4583 mg/mL), in line with kinetic and fluorescence quenching analyses showing a higher enzyme-substrate complex binding affinity (Kis = 1.6682 mg/mL; Ka = 5.1352 x 105 M-1). Rheological measurements demonstrated that EP-SP solutions exhibited a pronounced increase in apparent viscosity at higher concentrations (reaching 3477.30 mPas at 0.1 s-1 and 70 mg/mL) and a stronger shear-thinning behavior, while GP-SP showed a comparatively lower viscosity and lower network order. These findings suggest that different planting systems significantly affect both the molecular structures and functionalities of SPs, with GP-SP demonstrating enhanced hypoglycemic and anti-glycation properties. It is therefore recommended that suitable planting systems be selected to optimize the functionality of plant-derived polysaccharides for potential applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries.