With increasing global environmental awareness and concerns about food safety, biodegradable active packaging has garnered widespread attention. In this study, the stability and bioactivity of tea polyphenol (TP) were enhanced through the preparation of TP-ferric nanoparticles (TP-Fe NPs) using metal-polyphenol ion coordination. Moreover, the introduction of Fe ions can further enhance the antibacterial effects of TP-Fe NPs. Using the hydrogen bonding between konjac glucomannan (KGM) and zein to enhance the hydrophobicity and mechanical properties of the film. By employing KGM and zein as the matrix, we incorporated TP-Fe NPs as active fillers to create multifunctional active packaging films. This study aimed to meet the needs of food safety and sustainable development goals. The resulting film exhibited excellent water resistance (water contact angle: 117.73(degrees)), mechanical strength (tensile strength: 21.82 MPa, elongation at break: 94.30 %), ultraviolet-shielding ability (>99 %), biodegradability (5 days in soil), and antioxidant (>85 %) and antibacterial (>99 %) properties. Moreover, the film significantly reduced strawberry decay and extended its shelf life by 10 days. These findings provide new insights into the application of nanomaterials in active packaging, highlighting their potential and advantages in food preservation.

Iron (Fe) deficiency is a critical constraint on global food security, particularly affecting high-value horticultural crops such as strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa). This study examines the roles of melatonin and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) signaling in mitigating Fe deficiency stress by improving Fe bioavailability and enhancing plant resilience. Strawberry plants were cultivated under Fe-sufficient and Fe-deficient conditions and treated with 100 mu M melatonin and 3 mM dl-propargylglycine (PAG), an inhibitor of L-cysteine desulfhydrase (L-DES), which regulates H2S production. Fe deficiency significantly reduced chlorophyll content and photosynthetic efficiency while elevating oxidative stress markers such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA), and electrolyte leakage (EL). Melatonin application alleviated Fe deficiency effects by enhancing Fe utilization, stimulating L-DES activity, and promoting H2S production. Melatonin also improved antioxidant defenses by boosting the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD), as well as maintaining ascorbate-glutathione (AsA-GSH) redox dynamics. The addition of 3 mM PAG inhibited L-DES activity, resulting in reduced H2S levels and diminished melatonin-induced benefits, underscoring the essential role of L-DES-mediated H2S synthesis. Despite the presence of PAG, the co-application of 0.2 mM sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) and melatonin restored Fe bioavailability, growth, and antioxidant capacity, suggesting a synergistic interaction between melatonin and H2S. This study highlights the potential of melatonin and H2S signaling to improve Fe homeostasis and mitigate oxidative stress in Fe-deficient plants. The findings offer strategies to enhance crop resilience and productivity in nutrient-deficient soils, thereby promoting sustainable agriculture and global food security.

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.

Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) is a horticultural crop known for its sensitivity to mechanical damage and susceptibility to postharvest decay. In recent years, various strategies have been implemented to enhance both the yield and quality of strawberries, among which the application of nitric oxide-producing compounds has garnered special attention. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of varying concentrations of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), specifically 0, 200, 400, and 600 mu M, on strawberries (cv. Camarosa) cultivated in a soilless culture system. It was attempted to identify optimal treatment concentrations that would improve the quality and yield of the strawberries. The analysis of variance revealed significant differences (p <= 0.01) in all morphological and phytochemical properties, as well as antioxidant and enzymatic activities, between the treated samples and the control group. Notably, the highest concentrations of total phenolics, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) enzyme activity, guaiacol peroxidase enzyme activity, and potassium content in the fruit were recorded at the 400 mu M SNP treatment. Specifically, these values were 6.67 mg GAE 100 g(-)1 FW, 57.42 nmol g(-)1 FW min(-)1, 0.183 mu mol H2O2 min-1 100 ml-1 extract, and 5.9% DW, respectively. Furthermore, the 200 mu M SNP treatment yielded the highest ascorbic acid content (0.587 mg AA 100 g-1 FW) and the lowest 50% inhibitory concentration for free radicals at 44.18 mu l. In contrast, the 600 mu M treatment resulted in the highest total flavonoid content (0.529 mg QE 100 g(-)1 FW). In conclusion, the findings indicated that SNP treatment can effectively enhance the yield and improve the quality and marketability of the strawberry fruit.

Salinity is a major abiotic stressor that impedes plant growth and negatively affects crop yield. However, Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can establish a symbiotic relationship with over 80% of terrestrial plant roots. This relationship ultimately results in increased plant growth, improved plant stress resistance, and, consequently, a promising agricultural production and environmental protection solution. The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the photosynthetic physiology of strawberries under salinity stress. The greenhouse experiment involved the strawberry cultivar 'Benihoppe', which was inoculated with Glomus mosseae under three salt stress levels (0 mM, 30 mM, and 60 mM). Subsequently, the results showed that salinity stress led to a significant decline in leaf area, fresh biomass, and photosynthetic characteristics of the strawberries. Under salt stress, especially at the concentration of 60 mM. Pn, Gs, Tr, Ci, Fv/Fm, and NPQ showed significant differences. After inoculation of AMF, arbuscular mycorrhiza established a beneficial symbiotic relationship with strawberry roots, which effectively reduced salt damage and promoted the growth of strawberry plants. Leaf area, fresh biomass, and relative chlorophyll content were significantly increased. Pn, Tr, and Gs of mycorrhizal strawberry were significantly higher than those of control group. In addition, the light energy conversion efficiency of strawberry plants inoculated with AMF was improved, thus increasing the potential photosynthetic capacity and photosynthetic rate of strawberry.

Cadmium (Cd), a toxic metal element, can be absorbed by plants via divalent metal ion transporters, thereby retarding plant growth and posing a threat to human health. Strawberries are popular and economically valuable berry species that are sensitive to soil pollutants, especially Cd. However, the mechanisms underlying Cd stress responses in strawberry plants remain largely unclear. Here, we investigated the physiological and molecular basis of Cd stress responses in strawberry plants using the diploid strawberry 'Yellow Wonder' as a material. The results indicated that Cd stress induced oxidative damage, repressed photosynthetic efficiency, and interfered with the accumulation and redistribution of trace elements. Furthermore, Cd stress reduced the concentrations of indoleacetic acid, trans-zeatin riboside and gibberellic acid while increasing the concentration of abscisic acid, thus altering the phytohormone signaling pathway in strawberry plants. Cd stress also inhibited the expression of genes involved in nitrogen uptake and assimilation while promoting the energy supply for plant survival under Cd toxicity. Moreover, the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway was induced, and the anthocyanin concentration increased, thereby improving the free radical scavenging capacity of strawberry plants under Cd toxicity. Additionally, we identified several transcription factors and functional genes as hub genes based on a weighted gene coexpression network analysis. These results collectively provide a theoretical foundation for strawberry breeding and ensuring agriculture and food safety.

Drought, soil salinization and the extreme heat events increments associate to climate change will notably impact sensitive crop species, such as strawberry. A greenhouse experiment was arranged to evaluate the potential of a PGPR-based biofertilizer, with multiple PGP properties, including ACC deaminase production highly related to the limitation of ethylene levels under abiotic stress, in modulation of photosynthetic apparatus tolerance responses by severe drought (complete water withholding), salinity in irrigation water (340 mM NaCl) and short extreme heat event (37/28 degrees C maximum and minimum temperature range). Our results show that all stress factors triggered acute injury effects on strawberry carboxylation capacity and photosystem II energy assimilation efficiency ability; whose intensity varied depending on factor nature. However, bacterial inoculation diminished similar to 67 %, 20 % and 18 % the deleterious impact imposed by drought, heat and salinity stress on the net photosynthetic rate (A(N)). This effect was primarily mediated by counterbalancing the diffusion of CO2 in the stomata and biochemical limitations in response to heat and salinity stress, while the reduction of biochemical damage was more notable in response to drought. Complementarily, inoculation was able to highly buffer the photochemical limitations imposed by all abiotic stress factors tested. Despite these positive effects, the application of PGPR-based biofertilizer was unable to completely reverse the impact of stress factors on strawberry photosynthesis metabolism. However, the signal of these ameliorative effects was significant enough to consider the implementation of PGPR-based biofertilizer application as a complementary tool in the management of strawberry cultivation in increasingly stressful agronomic contexts.