Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture最新文献

{"title":"Dietary impact of agri-food by-products on the volatile composition of Tenebrio molitor larvae.","authors":"María Lourdes Morales, José Raúl Aguilera-Velázquez, Raquel María Callejón, Juan Bautista, Daniel Gutiérrez-Praena, Cristina Ubeda","doi":"10.1002/jsfa.71195","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.71195","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Incorporating Tenebrio molitor larvae as ingredients in common foods is a promising strategy to encourage their consumption. To achieve this, knowing their volatile profile and the factors that may modify the profile is essential. The effect of larval feeding over volatile composition remains under-researched, for this reason; the aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of different feeding substrates on T. molitor larvae volatile profile.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Volatile compounds from both substrates and crushed larvae were determined by solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS) followed by untargeted data processing. The larvae fed with leaves of olive trees exhibited peak area values higher for most compounds than the other samples, indicating that feed substrates significantly affect the larvae's volatile composition. Furthermore, 20 compounds detected in both the feeding substrates and the larvae showed a direct correlation. Three of these - elemicin, myristicin, and lavender lactone - which are of plant origin, were detected for the first time in T. molitor larvae, suggesting through ingestion.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The feeding substrates provide both volatile compounds and their precursors. Therefore, the choice of feed for T. molitor larvae is important not only to modify their nutritional composition but also their volatile profile. © 2026 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":17725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149298364","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predicting grapevine stem water potential (Ψ_stem) using UV-visible-NIR spectroscopy across contrasting vineyard environments.","authors":"Martina Galaverni, José Ignacio Manzano, Marta Rodríguez-Febereiro, María Fandiño, Mar Vilanova, Javier José Cancela","doi":"10.1002/jsfa.71192","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.71192","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Climate change is intensifying water scarcity in viticulture, increasing the need for rapid and reliable tools to monitor vine water status. Spectroscopic techniques have emerged as promising approaches for rapid assessment of plant water status, although their robustness across different environments remains a key challenge. This study aimed to predict grapevine stem water potential (Ψ_stem) using UV-visible (UV-Vis) and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy (190-2600 nm), and to evaluate the robustness and transferability of predictive models across grapevine varieties, vineyards in Galicia (Spain), growing seasons and contrasting climatic conditions. Leaf reflectance spectra (UV-Vis-NIR) and Ψ_stem measurements were obtained from 193 dried leaf samples collected from five vineyards representing five grapevine cultivars over three growing seasons under contrasting environmental conditions and analysed in the laboratory. Partial least squares (PLS) regression models were subsequently developed using different preprocessing techniques.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The best-performing global model, based on spectroscopic preprocessing over the full spectral range, achieved R² _val = 0.85 and root-mean-square error of prediction = 0.17 MPa, demonstrating strong predictive capacity across varieties and sites. However, performance decreased in specific vineyards (Leiro; R² _val = 0.37), highlighting the influence of local environmental and management conditions. Region-specific models showed variable performance, with Quiroga providing the highest accuracy (R² _cval = 0.84; square error of cross-validation = 0.13 MPa). Exploratory analyses revealed consistent relationships between Ψ_stem, climatic variables and spectral responses, and model outputs were successfully translated into agronomically meaningful water status classes.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy combined with PLS provides a rapid and reliable approach for estimating Ψ_stem and supports precision irrigation. Although global models show strong overall performance, site-specific calibration may improve accuracy under heterogeneous environmental conditions. © 2026 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":17725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149298376","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cold atmospheric plasma-mediated zearalenone degradation in corn: process optimization and nutritional quality implications.","authors":"Omer Serif Aydin, Pınar Manarga Birlik, Neslihan Turan, Ufuk Bagci, Sine Ozmen Togay, Yasemin Sahan","doi":"10.1002/jsfa.71178","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.71178","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Zearalenone (ZEN) is a heat-stable Fusarium mycotoxin frequently detected in cereals and is of food-safety concern because of its estrogenic and toxic effects. This study evaluated cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) for reducing ZEN in aqueous model systems and artificially contaminated corn and optimized the processing conditions using response surface methodology with a Box-Behnken design.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Treatment distance (2-6 cm), exposure time (20-300 s), and initial ZEN concentration (100-900 μg L^-1) significantly affected ZEN reduction (P < 0.05; adjusted R² = 0.9711). Under the optimized distance and time (2 cm and 300 s; model-system center concentration 500 μg L^-1), ZEN was not detected in the aqueous system (<1.8 μg L^-1, method detection limit). In artificially contaminated corn, ZEN decreased from 474 ± 55.50 to 278 ± 31.85 μg kg^-1, corresponding to a 41.27% reduction. CAP did not significantly alter crude protein, crude fat, titratable acidity, or amino acid composition. In contrast, α-tocopherol decreased by approximately 94%, whereas β-carotene increased, possibly because of enhanced extractability after plasma-induced matrix modification.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>CAP reduced the concentration of ZEN, but its efficacy was strongly matrix dependent and the treatment caused substantial α-tocopherol loss. Because degradation products and their toxicological properties were not characterized, the present data demonstrate parent-compound reduction rather than complete detoxification. Further process optimization and toxicological evaluation are required before application to cereal processing. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":17725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149298404","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chemical composition and antimicrobial potential of part-specific essential oils from Eucalyptus tereticornis: insights from molecular docking and network pharmacology.","authors":"Ritesh Sharma, Pallavi Sharma, Kapil Dev, Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, Aparna Maitra Pati, Vijai K Agnihotri","doi":"10.1002/jsfa.71189","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.71189","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Growing concerns over synthetic antimicrobials have increased interest in plant-derived essential oils as safer alternatives. Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm. (Myrtaceae) is known for its bioactivity; however, variations in chemical composition and antimicrobial potential among plant parts remain poorly understood.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Essential oils (EOs) were extracted from leaves, fruits, and stems and characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), revealing 24 phytoconstituents with distinct part-specific profiles. Leaf EO was dominated by α-phellandrene (49.26%). Fruit EO exhibited stronger antibacterial activity against gram-positive than gram-negative strains, with Micrococcus luteus showing the largest inhibition zone (27.86 ± 0.18 mm) and a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 2.5 mg mL^-1. Stem EO demonstrated good antibiofilm activity, disrupting 64.08% of the biofilm produced by M. luteus. Among the tested fungi, Fusarium graminearum showed the highest susceptibility to stem EO, with an inhibition zone of 22.43 ± 0.24 mm, an MIC of 1.25 mg mL^-1, and a minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of 5 mg mL^-1 (MFC/MIC ratio = 4), confirming its fungicidal effect. Molecular docking identified α-eudesmol as the strongest binder to the fungal target (-8.29 kcal mol^-1), exceeding fluconazole (-7.64 kcal mol^-1) and carbendazim (-7.10 kcal mol^-1). Network pharmacology suggested the involvement of the PI3K-Akt, IL-17, FoxO, and Th17 signaling pathways. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) analysis predicted favorable physicochemical properties for most constituents.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Part-specific E. tereticornis essential oils exhibit selective antimicrobial effects with potential applications in food preservation and sustainable crop protection. Molecular docking, network pharmacology, and ADMET analyses provided complementary mechanistic insights; however, these computational predictions require further experimental and in vivo validation. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":17725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149298308","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nanocellulose in food science: structure-property relationships, functional applications, safety, and future perspectives.","authors":"Berkani Somia, Cancan Shan, Mei Cui, Habib Ullah, Rongxin Su, Maina Mwangi, Daniel Pasquini, Renliang Huang","doi":"10.1002/jsfa.71181","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.71181","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nanocellulose, a nanoscale material derived from renewable biomass, has attracted increasing interest in food science because of its high mechanical strength, large specific surface area, tunable surface chemistry, film-forming ability, and barrier properties. This review critically summarizes recent advances in the use of nanocellulose in food-related applications, with particular emphasis on sustainable food packaging, edible films and coatings, active and intelligent packaging systems, food freshness monitoring, and agro-industrial waste valorization. Nanocellulose can improve the mechanical, oxygen-barrier, and water-vapor barrier properties of biodegradable packaging materials, thereby contributing to extended food shelf life and reducing reliance on petroleum-based plastics. Its incorporation into edible films and coatings, together with essential oils, probiotics, vitamins, antioxidants, or other bioactive compounds, can provide additional antimicrobial, nutritional, and protective functions. In smart packaging, nanocellulose can serve as a matrix for colorimetric sensors and other indicator systems that can track changes in food freshness and spoilage in real time. Nanocellulose production from crop residues and food processing waste such as sugarcane bagasse and fruit peels also offers opportunities for resource recovery and circular bioeconomy approaches. However, production cost, energy consumption, material aggregation, moisture sensitivity, large-scale processing, safety assessment, regulatory approval, and commercialization remain challenges. Overall, nanocellulose presents significant opportunities for developing sustainable, functional, and intelligent food systems, but standardized material characterization, commercial-scale production, and comprehensive safety evaluation are still needed. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":17725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149298428","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide enhances the freezing stability of wheat starch gel by modulating water state and reinforcing fractal network.","authors":"Zhang Tong, Fu Xiong, Wang Ping-Ping, Chen Jian-Sheng, Xie Yu, Chen Chun","doi":"10.1002/jsfa.71134","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.71134","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Frozen starch gels are prone to structural deterioration and hardening. Conventional cryoprotective strategies often fail to preserve both texture and nutritional quality. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism by which Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide (DOP) enhances the freezing stability of wheat starch gels through multiscale structural reorganization.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide reduced suppressed starch granule swelling by 1700 g kg^-1 and reduced amylose leaching by 2.30%, while increasing the microscopic elastic constant (α) from 0.32 to 0.41 at an assumed backbone fractal dimension (x) of 1.0, indicating a shift toward less strong-link-dominated behavior within the transition regime. This transition, driven by DOP-starch self-assembly, yielded a structure characterized by rigid aggregates interconnected by flexible linkages. Consequently, the gel network became denser, as evidenced by an increase in the rheological fractal dimension from 2.15 to 2.37. During 30-day frozen storage, DOP effectively mitigated starch retrogradation, restricted the increase in freezable water content, and reduced brittle fracture. Notably, the optimized structure modulated by 12 g kg^-1 DOP redirected resistant starch formation from retrograde starch toward RS5 amylose-polysaccharide complexes, thereby harmonizing high enzymatic resistance (resistant starch content increased by 3.30%) with a pleasing frozen texture (hardness decreased by 3.31 N).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This work provides novel insights into the multiscale mechanisms by which polysaccharides improve the low-temperature stability of starch-based foods and demonstrates the potential of DOP to maintain frozen texture and nutritional functionality. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":17725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149287483","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Endpoint-specific dose-response of nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots in tomato seed germination and root elongation revealed by fluorescence imaging.","authors":"Qi Wang, Hao-Ran Song, Wen-Hao Su, Tianzhen Yin, Yankun Peng, Yongyu Li, Yongqiang Ma, Yukui Rui, Longguo Wu, Kai Yu","doi":"10.1002/jsfa.71185","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.71185","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>It is important to understand how nano-enabled materials influence plants in order to interpret concentration-dependent responses and assess agricultural potential. This study evaluated nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) in two independent tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) assays involving seed germination and seedling root exposure.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The synthesized N-CQDs were approximately 3 nm in diameter, water-dispersible, and photoluminescent. Tomato seeds and 3-week-old seedlings were exposed to 0-400 mg L^-1 N-CQDs by seed soaking and root immersion for 48 h, respectively. Germination showed a peaked response, increasing from 56.67% in the control to 82.50% at 50 mg L^-1, followed by weaker stimulation at higher concentrations. In the seedling assay, plant height and fresh weight increased significantly at all tested concentrations, with no decline up to 400 mg L^-1. A constrained Hill1 model provided a descriptive fit to the mean relative growth index trajectory (R² = 0.9994) and yielded an estimated half-maximal effective concentration (EC₅₀) of 67.91 mg L^-1, indicating an apparent tendency toward stabilization at higher concentrations. Whole-plant fluorescence imaging revealed concentration-associated signals that were more evident in visible root and basal-stem regions immediately after treatment and gradually decreased over 25 days. These signals were interpreted as treatment-associated optical dynamics rather than direct evidence of nanoparticle uptake, translocation, or accumulation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Tomato responses to N-CQDs differed between the two assays, showing that concentration-response patterns depended on exposure and growth context. The findings provide a quantitative basis for further evaluation of N-CQDs in plants, although denser concentration gradients, direct exposure quantification, physiological measurements, and longer term safety assessments remain necessary. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":17725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149287479","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bacillus YB4 with dual detoxification mechanism and probiotic potential for zearalenone degradation.","authors":"Yihan Jiao, Chongren Zhong, Xiaoxuan Zong, Ruoshi Zhang, Xinyu Wang, Han Chen, Xingjun Feng","doi":"10.1002/jsfa.71199","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.71199","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Zearalenone (ZEN) is a widespread mycotoxin contaminating cereals and feed, posing health risks to livestock and humans. Biological detoxification using ZEN-degrading Bacillus strains has attracted growing interest, yet most reported strains lack clear mechanisms or sufficient probiotic traits for practical use. This study aimed to isolate and characterize a novel ZEN-degrading Bacillus strain with superior efficiency and to elucidate its mechanism.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A ZEN-degrading bacterial strain, designated YB4 and identified as Bacillus sp., was isolated from fecal samples. The strain exhibited a dual detoxification mechanism: extracellular enzymatic degradation accounted for the majority of ZEN removal (72.33%), with cell adsorption serving as a complementary pathway (26.73%) - a combined mode rarely reported in single Bacillus isolates. Under optimized conditions determined using response surface methodology (37 °C, pH 6.5, 20 g kg^-1 inoculum), YB4 achieved a degradation rate of 94.12 ± 0.86% within 48 h. Unlike many previously reported ZEN-degrading Bacillus strains that function solely via enzymatic hydrolysis or adsorption, YB4 integrates both mechanisms, offering enhanced detoxification efficiency. Furthermore, YB4 demonstrated strong environmental tolerance (surviving at 70 g kg^-1 NaCl and 3 g kg^-1 bile salts), a trait critical for probiotic application in the gastrointestinal tract and lacking in several earlier isolates.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>YB4 is a novel Bacillus strain distinguished by its dual enzymatic-adsorptive mechanism and robust salt/bile tolerance. These features position it as a promising candidate for biological detoxification, advancing beyond existing strains that typically rely on a single pathway or show limited environmental resilience. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":17725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149287498","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Processing-induced assembly pathways of rice glutelin: from nanostructure formation to functional performance.","authors":"Xiuju Wang, Yaping Sun, Zhengtao Zhao","doi":"10.1002/jsfa.71198","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.71198","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Rice glutelin (RG), the major rice endosperm storage protein, has poor solubility because of its compact, β-sheet-rich, highly aggregated architecture stabilized by disulfide cross-links and hydrophobic interactions, limiting its use in food and biomedical applications. No current review has systematically linked RG assembly pathways to resulting functionalities, leaving a critical gap in predictive material design. This review establishes a process-driven assembly framework mapping processing parameters to three RG assembly categories: collapsed, extended, and interactive co-assembly. Unlike previous studies of isolated assembly phenomena, it addresses three gaps: lack of unified classification criteria for RG nanostructures, ambiguous mapping between processing conditions and structural outcomes, and absence of a structure-function correlation matrix to guide application. Collapsed assembly states, formed by pH cycling or antisolvent precipitation, produce spherical nanoparticles with enhanced solubility and encapsulation. Extended assembly states, generated by acid-assisted thermal treatment, form amyloid-like fibrils with high β-sheet content, superior interfacial activity, and improved rheology. Interactive states arise from co-assembly with polysaccharides, proteins, or polyphenols, creating multicomponent complexes with tunable functionality. These processing-induced nanostructures deliver substantial functional gains, including enhanced solubility (>90%), emulsifying activity index values up to 147.61 m² g^-1, encapsulation efficiencies > 90%, and up to fivefold increases in gel strength. We further establish explicit structure-function correlations linking these nanostructures to different functionalities. Finally, we outline future directions, including quantitative structure-function prediction using machine learning, with measurable inputs used to predict key outputs. This framework provides a theoretical foundation for designing sustainable RG-based biomaterials and delivery systems through integrated, application-oriented pathways. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":17725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149287527","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nitrogen response differences at the flowering stage of maize (Zea mays L.) affect nitrogen use efficiency: a physiological and pathway analysis of nitrogen uptake, photosynthetic characteristics, and carbohydrate synthesis.","authors":"Fei Jin, Yinghao Zhang, Yuchen Shao, Yuanye Ma, Ran Li, Dan Liu, Ruixia Ding, Wennan Su, Qingfang Han","doi":"10.1002/jsfa.71186","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.71186","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Reducing nitrogen (N) inputs while maintaining crop yield aligns with sustainable development goals. It is therefore important to elucidate the physiological mechanisms underlying maize N use efficiency (NUE). The physiological traits and transcriptional profiles of two maize cultivars, 'Qiangsheng 101' (QS) (a low N-sensitive cultivar) and 'Zhengdan 958' (ZD) (a low N-tolerant cultivar), were analyzed at two N application rates: 150 kg ha^-1 (low N, LN) and 300 kg ha^-1 (normal N level, NN).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared with LN-ZD, LN-QS showed reductions of 11.22% to 14.29% in grain yield (GY), 11.73% to 23.53% in NUE, and 13.11% to 15.97% in radiation use efficiency (RUE). Relative to LN-ZD, LN-QS showed a 17.14% to 17.60% reduction in the relative chlorophyll content (SPAD) value and a 14.29% to 19.23% reduction in the net photosynthetic rate (Pn). Soluble sugar content decreased and starch content increased in LN-QS relative to LN-ZD (P < 0.05), whereas no significant differences were observed between NN-ZD and NN-QS. Transcriptome analysis revealed downregulation of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in N metabolism, chlorophyll biosynthesis, photosynthesis, and starch and sucrose metabolism in the comparison of LN-ZD with LN-QS. Notably, DEGs encoding nitrate reductase (NR) (Zm00001d039831), uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (UROD) (Zm00001d028083), protochlorophyllide reductase (POR) (Zm00001d001820), and sucrose synthase (SUS) (Zm00001d029091) may be key candidate genes responsible for the low efficiency of LN-QS.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Under low N conditions, the reduction in N uptake and metabolic capacity in QS led to diminished photosynthetic performance, which subsequently constrained carbon assimilation, ultimately reducing NUE and GY, while ZD remained stable. These results provide valuable insights for the optimization of N management strategies and the improvement of maize productivity. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":17725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149287463","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}